Hong Kong: Relief for aviation support sector set Aviation support service operators at Hong Kong International Airport can apply for an anti-epidemic subsidy via the Airport Authority from today, the Government announced. After vetting the applications, the authority will disburse a one-off subsidy between $3 million and $8 million depending on company size. Eligible aviation support service operators should be licensees or franchisees of, or holders of operating permits issued by the authority. Furthermore, their businesses have to be adversely impacted by the drop in passenger traffic at the airport during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government explained that the airports passenger throughput had declined by 98% in the period from January to November 2021 compared with the same period in 2019, significantly hitting the passenger aviation industry, especially aviation support service operators whose businesses are highly dependent on passenger traffic. In view of this, it is providing the subsidy under the fifth round of the Anti-epidemic Fund to help the industry through this difficult time. This story has been published on: 2022-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Chinese FM, U.S. secretary of state hold phone conversation over China-U.S. relations, Ukraine situation Xinhua) 07:54, January 28, 2022 Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2015 shows the national flags of China (R) and the United States as well as the flag of Washington D.C. on the Constitution Avenue in Washington, capital of the United States. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan) China and the United States, as the world's two largest economies and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, should bear in mind the fundamental interests of the people of both countries, follow the trend of global development, and well implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday held a phone conversation over China-U.S. relations and the current situation in Ukraine. The top priority for China and the United States at present is to truly implement the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden during their video meeting in November last year, said Wang. During the video meeting, Wang recalled, Xi summarized the experience and lessons of China-U.S. exchanges over past more than half a century, and put forward three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, charting the course for the healthy development of China-U.S. relations. Biden responded positively by then, and said that the United States neither seeks a "new Cold War" with China, nor pursues a change in China's system, the revitalization of its alliances is not anti-China, and the country does not support "Taiwan independence," and has no intention to have conflict and confrontation with China, sending a positive signal which is different from the previous U.S. administration, said the Chinese foreign minister. However, Wang said, what the world has seen is that there has been no substantive change in the tone of the U.S. policy towards China and Biden's pledges have not been fully delivered. The U.S. side is still making erroneous words and deeds related to China, which have dealt a new blow to bilateral relations, Wang added. Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the "Shanghai Communique," Wang said that China and the United States having no intention of changing each other is the precondition of the normalization of bilateral relations, and should be the guarantee of peaceful coexistence between the two countries in the future. Competition between major countries is not the theme of a post-pandemic world that will encounter new situations and challenges, nor will it address the problems facing the United States and countries worldwide, Wang said. Photo taken on Oct. 28, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) China and the United States, as the world's two largest economies and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, should bear in mind the fundamental interests of the people of both countries, follow the trend of global development, and well implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state, he said. Wang said the two countries must have a good grasp of the general direction of bilateral ties, take concrete actions to fulfill commitments, expand the positive aspects of bilateral cooperation, and manage differences constructively. Pressure will only make the Chinese people more united, and confrontation will not stop China from becoming stronger, he stressed. At present, the top priority for the U.S. side is to stop interfering in the Beijing Winter Olympics, stop playing with fire by playing the "Taiwan card," and stop forming all kinds of small cliques aimed at working against and containing China, he said. For his part, Blinken said it is important for the two sides to maintain regular communication, stressing the position that U.S. President Joe Biden elaborated in the virtual meeting between the two heads of state has not changed. The United States and China have shared interests as well as differences, Blinken said, noting the United States is ready to manage differences responsibly. The U.S. stance on the one-China policy remains unchanged, he said, and the United States will cheer for its athletes who participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics and wish the Chinese people a happy Chinese New Year. U.S. President Joe Biden arrives at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States on Jan. 24, 2022. Biden reiterated Tuesday that there is no intention in his administration or within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to send troops into Ukraine, but that Russia will face serious economic consequences if it invades the former Soviet republic. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) Blinken then stated the U.S. position on issues including the issue of Ukraine. The Chinese foreign minister said to address the tensions in Ukraine, it is necessary to return to the 2015 Minsk Agreements approved by the Security Council, which is a fundamental political document recognized by all parties and should be implemented in earnest. China will support any effort that conforms to the direction and spirit of the agreements, he said, adding China calls on all parties to remain calm and refrain from inflaming tensions or hyping up the crisis. Wang stressed that the security of one country should not be at the expense of the security of others, and regional security should not be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs. In the 21st century, all parties should completely abandon the Cold War mentality and form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiations, he said, adding Russia's legitimate security concerns should be taken seriously and addressed. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) An excavator pulls debris from the remains of a vacant row house on Stricker Street as ATF investigators search for the cause of a fire that resulted in the death of three Baltimore City firefighters Monday morning. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun) Walking along South Stricker Street in Baltimore, evidence of abandonment is difficult to overlook. A vacant rowhouse with a scorched facade. A sofa torn asunder beside a front stoop. A stuffed animal wedged between the boards where a window once was. Advertisement On Monday, residents were reminded once more that this neglect can come at great cost. Before 6 a.m., a vacant house at 205 S. Stricker caught fire. When firefighters rushed in, the three-story building collapsed, trapping them in the rubble. Three were killed and another was seriously injured, making the blaze in Central Southwest Baltimore one of the deadliest for firefighters in city history. For 38-year-old Aboni Ward, who lives down the block, its evidence that the city isnt equipped to deal with abandoned homes before tragedy strikes and the situation becomes an emergency. Advertisement A Baltimore police investigator holds crime scene tape at an abandoned building at the corner of Stricker and McHenry streets, near the site of a fire that killed three firefighters. (Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun) They really dont care until something like this happens, she said. Now, the city will have to demolish what remains of 205 S. Stricker, along with a vacant home next door and another that was occupied. The owners will be billed for the costs, and any unpaid fees will result in liens against the properties. The New Southwest/Mount Clare neighborhood where the fire occurred has the sixth most vacant houses in Baltimore, a city with about 16,000 vacants, according to online data. A persistent problem for a depopulating city and a consistent headache for neighbors vacants also pose unique dangers to emergency personnel when they burn. Its often unclear whether any occupants are inside, and firefighters considering going in must weigh the risk of fire spreading from one rowhouse to the next against the possibility of collapse. An excavator pulls debris from the remains of a vacant rowhouse as investigators search for the cause of a fire that resulted in the death of three Baltimore firefighters. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun) Nationally, vacant building fires have an outsized impact on firefighter safety, a 2018 study by the National Fire Protection Association showed. Just 6% of all structure fires occur in vacant properties, but they account for 13% of firefighter injuries, according to the study. Between 2006 and 2016, 20 U.S. firefighters were killed fighting blazes in vacant buildings. The study also showed the rate of spread for fires in vacant buildings to surrounding structures is almost triple that of all structure fires combined. The Baltimore City Fire Department could not provide data on structure fires in vacant city properties. However, they have proved deadly for city firefighters in the past. In 2014, Lt. James Bethea succumbed to smoke inhalation after falling inside a vacant house where he was battling a blaze. During a news conference Monday, Fire Chief Niles Ford cited the occupied home next to the Stricker Street property as a potential reason for the firefighters going inside. Advertisement They made the determination they could control the fire and put it out, he said. Its up to those individuals on the scene to see the circumstances they have, and they did. Battalion Chief Josh Fannon, president of the Baltimore Fire Officers Association, said Thursday that first responders were told there may be a person trapped inside the dwelling. If we have a report of people trapped and were able to do so, then were going to make an interior attack to try to get to that victim, and seconds count, he said. A commanders decision to enter a burning home may need to be made in a split second, with little information, said Steve Hirsch, chairman of the National Volunteer Fire Council and a firefighter in Kansas for about 35 years. Uncertainties complicate efforts to stick to the mantra of risk a little to save a little and risk a lot to save a lot, he said. You recognize there are people who are homeless who can set up shelter in houses that have been perhaps vacant or abandoned for a long period of time, so the fire department doesnt know when they pull up on scene whether or not that might be a possibility, Hirsch said. Mount Clare resident Richard Helmick said vacants are a persistent problem in the neighborhood. The danger they pose worries him and his neighbors. (Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun) Answers about what started the Baltimore fire, how firefighters responded and how they were hurt may not be known until an investigation is complete. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which is among the agencies investigating the fire, said Friday a cause had not been determined but agents are seeking a person of interest who they believe has information about the blaze. Advertisement Lee Laubach, a former city fire chief from Pennsylvania, said vacant buildings are a quandary because firefighters dont know for sure that a structure is vacant until theyre inside. Firefighters conduct a process called overhaul once flames have been initially suppressed, he said. During overhaul, firefighters enter a building to search for people and put out hot spots that cant be reached from outside. Laubach said overhaul has proved dangerous for firefighters. Laubach pointed to a 2018 collapse of a former industrial building in York, Pennsylvania, that killed two firefighters during the overhaul. Overhaul is one of the top things that kills firefighters, he said. In the case of Mondays fire, firefighters may not have known the home they were about to enter, vacant since at least 2010, had caught fire six years ago, injuring three firefighters. The city condemned it as a result of that fire, and offered it for sale due to unpaid taxes, but it found no takers, so it remained with its owners, said Tammy Hawley, spokeswoman for the city housing department. Efforts by The Baltimore Sun to reach them were unsuccessful. Each year, vacant property owners must complete a registration, and the owner of the home on Stricker was cited in 2020 for failing to do so. The property was last inspected Jan. 4 when an inspector found the front of the home adequately boarded up and clean. Advertisement Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 42 Baltimore City firefighters salute as an ambulance carries the body of Lt. Paul Butrim from the scene of a vacant row house fire on S. Stricker Street. Four firefighters were trapped in a collapse while fighting the fire Monday morning. Three have died and a fourth is in critical condition. (Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun) Local housing advocates say the deaths of fire lieutenants Paul Butrim and Kelsey Sadler and Paramedic/Firefighter Kenny Lacayo could be a catalyst for city leaders to take a deeper look at the policies that created Baltimores vast stock of vacant properties and to hold owners to higher account. Nneka Nnamdi of Fight Blight Bmore said the fire is the first in a long time when firefighters have lost their lives in a vacant property, but far from the first time vacant buildings have killed in Baltimore. They kill people every day, whether its asthma rates, whether its the longer term effects of living in a neighborhood without food, whether its housing insecurity in a global pandemic, she said. Blight, vacancy, dilapidation has been killing people for years in this city. Nnamdi said its the responsibility of city leaders to better hold owners responsible for the condition of their properties: making sure property taxes are paid and that properties are properly boarded up and cleared out until they can be restored to useful condition. Nnamdi called the Stricker Street property fruit of a poison tree. When you have 500 years of racist housing and community development policy, this is the result, she said. I dont know that specifically the last inspector out there could have done more. I doubt it. This system is not set up to hold property owners accountable. Advertisement A vacant home across from the collapsed rowhouse on S. Stricker Street where three Baltimore City firefighters were killed. (Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun) City Councilman Ryan Dorsey said hes concerned that insufficient funding for the citys code enforcement staff contributes to the problem. Also, properties like the one on Stricker Street have tax rates so low theres little incentive for an owner to mind the property, he said. State and city real estate records list the value of the building, built in 1900, as $6,000 and the combined state and city tax bill for the current year at about $150. It doesnt cost you anything to sit and wait on it as speculative real estate for years on end, he said. Dorsey, a Democrat who represents Northeast Baltimore, said he can see the benefits of charging a higher tax rate on blighted or vacant properties, something that would require a change in state law. In lieu of that, Baltimore can issue a $900 citation to owners of properties who dont resolve issues at buildings that have been tagged as vacant but not razed or improved. The Stricker Street property never received such a citation, he said. Theres a possibility we didnt issue the citation there because we didnt have the enforcement capacity, Dorsey said. If you look at the records, there is no routine follow up on vacant building notices. Breaking News Alerts As it happens Be informed of breaking news as it happens and notified about other don't-miss content with our free news alerts. > The Southwest Partnership, a coalition of neighborhood groups, has considered using grant money or other funding sources to pay someone to check on vacant homes in the area, said executive director Tony Scott. While someone making such checks couldnt board up homes, they could take charge of submitting 311 requests to the city when the homes are breached or otherwise create a hazard. Advertisement Meanwhile, the partnership is aiming to use nodes of real estate strength, like historic Carroll Park and Union Square, to encourage development block by block. At the same time, the partnership is trying to provide resources to keep residents keep living there: advising them on how to assist the homeless population; what to do if they see someone experiencing an overdose, and how to adjust to the loss of community when more homes become vacant. A shoe lies among debris inside one of three vacant homes in the 300 block of S. Calhoun Street. (Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun) These things wear down on the psyche of residents, Scott said. The growth in vacant homes has lately surpassed efforts to reduce their grip on Mount Clare, a low-income, majority-Black community. During the most recent three fiscal years, 25 vacant homes were rehabbed and 19 demolished, while 47 homes became vacant, resulting in a net increase of three vacant homes, according to city data. Richard Helmick, 57, said hes lived in the neighborhood for about 10 years, and vacant homes are a persistent problem. Helmick lives next to a home with no regular occupants, though he said the landlord comes to check it once in a while. He and his neighbors, ever worried that something could go wrong while the home remains empty, monitor it carefully. Circling the neighborhood, Helmick pointed out sources of frustration and concern, such as boards ripped aside at homes near his, perhaps by unhoused people seeking shelter from the cold nights of January. It scares me a little bit, he said. Because you never know when somebody might break into the back door and go in there and start sleeping in it, and then the homes that are next to me its like four or five of them catch on fire. FRIDAY, Jan. 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- When delivering a liver cancer diagnosis, Dr. Thomas Marron pulls no punches: "Liver cancer is one of the deadliest cancers," he tells patients. Jeffrey Foster heard a similar message loud and clear when he was first diagnosed by another doctor with hepatocellular carcinoma the most common type of liver cancer back in 2020. At the time, the 68-year-old retired vet was told by his surgeon that "cutting out the mass then found on my liver doesn't mean the cancer wouldn't come back." But at the same time, "the surgeon also told me about Dr. Marron and his immunotherapy trial," Foster recalled. Marron, an associate professor of medicine, hematology and medical oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, had begun to research whether immunotherapy could boost survival in those with less advanced liver cancer. "Immunotherapy is a bit of an umbrella term for many different types of medicine that help the immune system do its job and attack cancer," Marron noted. "For liver cancer and many other types of cancer immunotherapies are now the mainstay of treatment for people with advanced disease, meaning for patients in whom surgery is not a potential cure." Marron's idea was to start offering immunotherapy infusions to patients like Foster who have less advanced disease before they go under the knife. The goal was "to help kill the tumor that we see," explained Marron, "as well as teach the immune system to recognize and kill any residual tumor cells that remain hidden after surgery that will [otherwise] eventually grow into new tumors." Foster was told he would be "a good candidate" for the study's eight-session immunotherapy program, involving a medication called "neoadjuvant cemiplimab." Immunotherapy before surgery a powerful strategy "Dr. Marron explained they would do two infusion therapies before my surgery, three weeks apart," Foster said. "And then after the surgery there would be six more, also three weeks apart. So, a total of eight." But the Long Island native hesitated at first, worried about the two-hour home-to-hospital commute each way and the long treatment slog. "Each infusion takes about a couple of hours of time actually in the hospital at the infusion center," Foster added. "Because they have to do blood work, taking probably eight vials of my blood every time. And I have to wait for the drug to be mixed on the spot. And then the therapy itself was about a half hour of the infusion. And then I had to wait an hour afterwards to make sure I was OK." In the end, a friend of Foster's a neonatal nurse familiar with medical lingo and hospital protocols asked him a simple question: "If the hospital was around the corner from your home, would you do it?" The answer was yes. So, Foster began immunotherapy treatment, followed by surgery. By May 2021, all eight infusions were under his belt. "They really monitored me very closely, and I only had two side effects," he noted. "A rash on my back and arms, which was very itchy, but which they told me about prior to doing it. And I lost some appetite a little bit. I probably lost about 20 pounds, and I'm a thin person." Since then, Foster has regained all the weight, and the rashes have disappeared. And the results, he said, speak for themselves. "The doctors are all pretty much through the roof," he said. "They're very encouraged. I just made an appointment for another MRI, but I had one about six months ago and it came back perfect. As far as the last MRI, I'm cancer-free. And they're pretty sure I don't know if it's 100% sure but they're pretty sure that it won't come back." Marron, who serves as assistant director of Mount Sinai's Immunotherapy and Phase 1 Trials, explained that "if liver cancer is going to come back, it typically does so within two years." So, Foster will continue to be monitored for any potential cancer recurrence. New approaches needed to tackle liver cancer But the trial results so far suggest that the first two sessions of immunotherapy administered before surgery effectively kill off liver cancer tumors in about one-third of patients. And Marron predicts that "nearly all the patients whose cancer was [already] dead when we cut it out will remain cancer-free." In addition, the team also identified some degree of immunotherapy-triggered benefit among the remaining patients. But Marron stressed that firm answers as to precisely which liver cancer patients might be ideal immunotherapy candidates and what might predict long-term remission awaits completion of his team's ongoing post-surgical analysis. The study findings were published online recently in The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr. Julie Gralow, executive vice president and chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, said the impetus behind studies like this is that when it comes to liver cancer treatment, "we need to do better." "If diagnosed with liver cancer at an early stage, the five-year survival rate is 34%," she noted. "If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues, the five-year survival rate is 12%. If the cancer has spread to a distant part of the body, the five-year survival rate is 3%." As an effort to improve on these numbers, Gralow said the latest findings are "promising." But she said more and bigger studies will be needed to determine how best to design immunotherapy treatment, which patients will truly benefit, and whether the treatment really reduces the risk for recurrence and death. Foster, however, thinks he already has all the information he needs. "This was absolutely a no-brainer," he said. "It was worth it. It was worth getting up at 5 o-clock every morning, and driving into the city for two hours. And I would do it again in a heartbeat, if I had to." More information There's more about liver cancer and immunotherapy at the American Cancer Society. SOURCES: Thomas Marron, MD, PhD, associate professor, medicine, hematology, and medical oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, and assistant director, Immunotherapy and Phase 1 Trials, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City; Julie Gralow, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, Va.; Jeffrey Foster, liver cancer patient; The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jan. 19, 2022, online You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. FRIDAY, Jan. 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Older people who live near or downwind of fracking sites have an increased risk of premature death, likely due to airborne contaminants from the sites, according to a new study. "There is an urgent need to understand the causal link between living near or downwind of [unconventional oil and gas development] and adverse health effects," said study co-author Francesca Dominici. She is co-director of the Data Science Initiative at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in Boston. For the study, the researchers analyzed data on more than 15 million Medicare beneficiaries who lived in all major U.S. fracking exploration regions between 2001 and 2015. Those who lived closest to fracking sites had a 2.5% higher risk of premature death than those who didn't live close to such sites a statistically significant difference, the study authors noted in a school news release. The Harvard team also found that people who lived near or downwind of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) sites had a higher risk of premature death than those living upwind. The findings were published Jan. 27 in the journal Nature Energy. "Our findings suggest the importance of considering the potential health dangers of situating UOGD near or upwind of people's homes," said lead author Longxiang Li, a postdoctoral fellow in the department of environmental health. Senior author Petros Koutrakis, a professor of environmental sciences, noted that while UOGD is a major industrial activity in the United States, "very little is known about its public health effects." Koutrakis said the new study is the first to link death rates to exposure to UOGD-related air pollutants. About 17.6 million Americans live within 6/10 of a mile of at least one active fracking site. Previous research has linked fracking to increased human exposure to harmful substances in the air and water. It has also linked exposure to fracking with pregnancy, lung, heart and cancer risks. But little was known about whether fracking was associated with increased risk of premature death in seniors, or how it might increase that risk. More information For more about fracking and health, visit the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. SOURCE: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, news release, Jan. 27, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. Community Medical Center has agreed to a demand by local nurses asking the medical group to bring on an independent auditor to assess the company's pay crisis. The situation started in December and has been plaguing nurses and other hourly employees at CMC for over a month. Over 250 nurses say they've been shorted in hourly wages for pay periods in December in amounts ranging up to thousands of dollars. Both CMC and MNA attribute the pay issues to a ransomware attack on CMCs timekeeping software vendor, Kronos Enterprise system. The Montana Nurses Association requested CMC retain a third-party auditor earlier this week and gave the hospital until Wednesday to meet this demand or be faced with a lawsuit. In a new letter sent Wednesday to CMC's attorney, MNA's attorney says the hospital agreed to hire a third-party auditor "to ensure the accuracy of all compensation." MNA continues to urge CMC to provide supplemental checks to affected staff who can show the amount of their underpayments. "MNA will remain vigilant and is prepared to vigorously defend the rights of any nurses who do not receive the compensation they have earned," the letter reads. CMC said Thursday they are pleased to retain the services of a third-party, independent auditor "to review and validate the accuracy of the hospital's payroll reconciliation process." "Community Medical Center looks forward to a final resolution of this matter, and to the restoration of confidence among staff regarding the integrity of the restored Kronos payroll timekeeping system," CMC Marketing Director Megan Condra said. The Montana Nurses Association is represented by McConnell Law Offices PLLC and Raph Graybill of Graybill Law Firm PC. CMC is represented by Glenn Bunting of Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP out of Atlanta. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. State and federal experts confirmed their confidence in research justifying stringent limits on selenium in Lake Koocanusa on Thursday, while lawyers for the Canadian coal mine responsible for the pollutant claimed the studies need more review. The different views came before a special committee of state legislators studying the selenium rule, which was approved by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and federal Environmental Protection Agency last winter. Both state and federal officials OKd a level of 0.8 micrograms per liter for selenium in Lake Koocanusa. Canadian mining company Teck Resources and the Lincoln County Commission objected to the rule, and the 2021 Legislature ordered a review to determine whether the 2020 site-specific standards for Lake Koocanusa are appropriate. Selenium can damage fish eggs and reproductive tissue. DEQ water quality science specialist Lauren Sullivan said the selenium damage doesnt affect adult fish or cause deformities in young fish. Rather, it results in fewer eggs hatching or the baby fish failing to reach maturity. It can also cause winter stress syndrome, where adult fish can no longer survive the stress of winter water conditions. 2020 studies of selenium levels in the system found them to be the highest on record, with some doubling previous amounts, Sullivan said. Teck has five open-pit coal mines in the upper Elk River drainage of British Columbia. It also has proposals to open new coal mining operations in the same area. The company digs metallurgic coal, needed for metal smelting. Most of Tecks coal production goes overseas to Chinese steel producers. It produces about 9 million metric tons of coal a year, with a current estimate of 28 more years of probable reserves. Waste rock from those mines totals more than 7 billion tons equivalent to several hundred of the slag piles surrounding Anaconda, according to Sullivan. Rain and snowmelt passing through that waste rock leaches selenium into the river. Canadian studies found the Elk River flowing out of the mine area contributed 95 percent of the selenium detected at a testing site just north of the United States border. The EPAs national standard for selenium is 1.5 micrograms per liter of water. But the agency allows for site-specific standards as necessary, and Sullivan said the Koocanusa fish tissue studies showed that level was too high. The 1.5 microgram standard was clearly not protective, Sullivan said. The 0.8 microgram standard does meet them. Sullivan added that the 0.8-microgram level would have no economic impact on Montana businesses or communities, and no one in the state would be required to treat the water. However, she said the selenium discharge would hurt fishing. DEQ Director Chris Dorrington added the U.S. Forest Service has indicated the selenium rules wont affect any timber harvest or other forest activity. Rep. Steve Gunderson, R-Libby, said hed been frequently asking, Where are the two-headed trout? He also wondered why Montana officials werent considering the extensive water treatment work Teck has done near its mines to control selenium discharge. If there are no detectable problems found on Lake K, and weve set the standard so low, what defects have been found on Elk and Fording rivers (near the Teck mines)? Gunderson asked. Why have we not seen any major problems? DEQ Water Quality Standards Section Chief Myla Kelly replied that the standards are set to protect beneficial use. Using the example of lead poisoning, Kelly said the agency shouldnt wait for people to get neurological damage before regulating lead levels. Like the lead example, we dont set standards on what entities can treat to, Kelly said. We set on whats safe to consume. We dont use treatment technology to set the standard. We have the fish tissue data, Kelly added, and we are seeing exceedances in Montana. Canadian authorities fined Teck $60 million in 2021 for fisheries damage from selenium and calcite discharges in the Elk River watershed an amount 10 times greater than any previous punishment under the Canadian Fisheries Act. While Canadian standards set a 2-microgram-per-liter selenium limit, a 2012 investigation found Teck was releasing between 9 and 90 micrograms into the upper Fording River upstream of the Elk River and Lake Koocanusa. The upper Fording River also lost nearly 95% of its adult cutthroat trout population between 2017 and 2019. An internal report by Teck concluded the fish died because of excessive ice in waterways where it had changed the habitat, but not because of selenium. Teck attorney Vicki Marquis said the company was in the process of building covers for 500 acres of waste rock, and had already spent about $1 billion on other treatment efforts. Teck plans to spend close to $800 million in the future to control selenium releases. This is the largest treatment project theyre aware of anywhere in the U.S. or North America, Marquis said. The 0.8 milligram standard came through a rushed process and is far more stringent than other EPA selenium limits, Marquis told the committee. She also questioned whether the state studies adequately considered the impact of Libby Dam on Lake Koocanusas water conditions, and if Lincoln County stakeholder concerns were properly addressed. It would be helpful to know and validate that model and be sure were moving in the right direction, Marquis said, recommending the legislators consider a work plan proposed by Teck to review the findings. That drew an angry response from Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Natural Resources Department Director Rich Janssen. It confounds logic that the state would consider the plan of a foreign, for-profit company that is the source of the contamination over the DEQ plan, Janssen said. He called for the review process to be concluded and the standards retained. House Joint Resolution 37, which created the study group, gave it until April 1 to finish its work. Gunderson proposed extending the deadline to August, but the legislators voted that down 5-3. Study group chairman Sen. Walt Sales, R-Manhattan, called for another review session in February, saying the group should be able to complete its findings or seek an extension by then. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. 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. A new home for houseless military veterans in Missoula is in the works. The Poverello Center, the largest homeless shelter in Montana, has purchased the 17-room Clark Fork Inn property at 1010 W. Broadway, just down the street from the Poverellos headquarters. On Dec. 8, the Poverello Center entered into a contract to purchase the Clark Fork Inn for our Housing Montana Heroes program, said Jill Bonny, the Povs executive director. That is our transitional housing program for veterans experiencing houselessness. That program has been located on the second floor of the Poverello Center since 2015. We serve around 35 veterans every year in that program, Bonny said. We are excited about the opportunity to expand our services. This new space will help transform lives and provide more veterans with safe housing through the COVID pandemic and beyond. The Poverello Center has room on the second floor for 20 veterans in shared rooms, and the Clark Fork Inn has 17 rooms. Well be working over the next 18 months to renovate the current building and also add three additional units, Bonny said. We look forward to releasing more details as well as finalizing a timeline. For many years, the Clark Fork Inn has been used as long-term apartment housing by residents of Missoula and has almost no vacancy. Bonny said the Pov is committed to making sure all the current residents are relocated into housing. Because we are using federal dollars, we are required by federal law to have a robust relocation protocol as well as making sure rental assistance is available to all tenants," she said. "We have been in communication with them. The hotel was listed on the Multiple Listing Service and could have been bought by a private developer. The Pov bought the property for $1.57 million. The Pov is the best purchaser because our staff is committed to making sure the current residents find stable housing, Bonny said. She was in charge of veterans services at the Pov for many years before becoming executive director. The Poverello Center obtained a $1 million capital grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the project. The city also committed $834,000 from its federal American Rescue Plan Act allocation to help the Pov buy the building, and Missoula County pitched in a similar amount. This really was made possible by the national (Department of Veterans Affairs') effort to shift houseless veterans services from congregate (group) shelters to wanting them to have apartment-style or at least single-occupancy housing, Bonny said. When we heard that this was a possibility, we decided to apply and we were excited when we received it. A bonus to the project is that it will create extra room in the Pov, which has had to reduce capacity during the pandemic for safety reasons and is often full. This will free up space in the current location at our main shelter, so were hoping we can serve more clients that way, Bonny said. Thats another advantage. Sen. Jon Tester, chairman of the U.S. Senates Veterans Affairs Committee, hailed the purchase in an email to the Missoulian. The Poverello Center does incredible work helping Montana veterans and their families find reliable housing across the state, and its why Im proud to have led the effort in Congress to cut red tape on funding to help them further their mission here in Missoula, Tester said. This new space will help transform many lives in the area providing more veterans with a safe place to call home during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Montana James, the deputy director of the citys community development division, said Mayor John Engen and the city council approved the allocation of federal funding to the project last year as part of the fiscal year 2022 budgeting process. We dont have a role in that other than to make sure the project is compliant with the regulations that come with our funding, James said. James confirmed that there is a stipulation with the federal funding that requires the Pov to work with the existing residents to make sure they can find comparable housing. The Pov and other community organizations submitted letters requesting funds, and those get kind of categorized within departments where it makes sense, James said. The city and county have invested heavily in expanding resources and shelter options to unhoused residents over the last year, and the city was really interested in committing ARPA funds to this project. James said the project fits with the citys wider goal of reducing houselessness. We know our unhoused residents and residents without stable housing are some of the hardest-hit because of the pandemic, and this supports the larger goal we have in providing resources to support folks who need shelter and support, James said. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 11 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. On a dreary winter morning in Missoula, theres nothing but vibrant colors, cheerful music, laughter and evocative scents inside the new Buff City Soap shop in Missoulas Northgate Plaza at 2230 N. Reserve Street. A group of four workers are busy making batches of soap bars and soap bombs by hand, using buckets and trays and oils to carefully create layers and colorful designs. Buff City Soap only sells plant-based soaps, meaning they use sustainably sourced palm oil, coconut oil and other ingredients in place of animal products. The Missoula location opened in the fall of 2021. Beth and Stephen Stone are from Tennessee, but their son, Boston, chose to attend school at the University of Montana so they decided to be with their only child. Buff City Soap is a national chain that started in Memphis, and Beth Stone said people in the South love the shop. That's why they decided to open one here. Its only a matter of time, she said, before Montanans feel the same way. We chose Buff City Soap for many reasons, but primarily because of our love of the products, Stone said. We loved the companys approach to offer plant-based goodness with every product, and we were impressed with its overall vision for growth. We cant wait for the community to visit and see what weve got. Their products are an alternative to commercial soap products that are full of harsh chemicals, detergents, animal fats and sulfates, she said. Theyve got shower oils, body butters, laundry soap, pet care products, bath accessories, mens care products and other items. Some soaps are made to smell like fruity breakfast cereal, while other mixes contain scents like pomegranate and cream. One of our customers just loves getting laundry soap that smells like Fruit Loops, Stone said. Laundry soap is definitely our biggest seller. Customers can watch soap getting made almost every day and can customize their products. On Dec. 15, Buff City Soap donated 20% of their in-store sales to the local Jadyn Fred Foundation. Jadyn Fred was a young Missoula girl who passed away two decades ago due to an extremely rare cancer. The foundation now financially supports thousands of families who are dealing with medical expenses. Alecia Fred, Jadyns mom, was at the store and pointed out a special handmade soap made especially in Jadyns honor. It contained scents of vanilla, wisteria and juniper. Jadyn loved her blanket and took it everywhere with her, Fred explained. She loved when it was clean and she loved how it smelled like fabric softener. So this soap really kind of smells like that. Beth Stone said she and her family have no regrets about picking up and moving their lives to Montana. We are very excited to bring Buff City Soap to Missoula, she noted. To have the local community interact and experience the clean, fresh, creativity of Buff City Soap gives us pride in what we do. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. 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. Millers Farm and Farm Market in White Hall will be featured on Maryland Public Televisions original series Maryland Farm & Harvest on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The segment, entitled Sunflowers Help Grow a Farm Business, features the Millers Farms large field of sunflowers planted by the roadside a display that gets the attention of those driving between Baltimore and Harford counties in the summer. Advertisement The Millers have been farming this property since 1957 and recently expanded the operation to include a market in Harford County to sell beef and other farm products. To help draw in customers, the family planted a field of sunflowers. According to Jake Miller, when the sunflowers are in bloom, their business increases 20 to 30 percent. To capitalize on the plants popularity, customers can enjoy a walk through the field and cut flowers to take home. Viewers can watch on MPT-HD and online at mpt.org/livestream. Encore broadcasts are available on MPT-HD Thursdays at 11 p.m. and Sundays at 6 a.m. Each episode also airs on MPT2/Create on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Advertisement Past episodes can be viewed at video.mpt.tv/show/maryland-farm-harvest/, while episode segments are available on the series YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/MarylandFarmHarvest/featured. Now in its ninth season, the weekly series takes viewers on a journey across the state, telling stories about the farms, people and technology required to sustain and grow agriculture in Maryland, the number one commercial industry in the state. More than 10 million viewers have tuned in to Maryland Farm & Harvest since its fall 2013 debut. The series has traveled to nearly 400 farms, fisheries and other agriculture-related locations, covering every Maryland county, as well as Baltimore City, Washington, D.C., and Delaware. Butterfly landing on sunflower at Miller's Farm and Farm Market in White Hall, Maryland (Maryland Public Television) Since Russias illegal invasion of Ukraines southeast flank in 2014, nearly 14,000 innocent Ukrainians have perished and more than a million have been displaced. Now, the free world is watching with growing alarm as Russia amasses more than 100,000 well-armed soldiers at Ukraines border, awaiting the signal to unleash further bloodshed. What a terrible waste of human potential. The Kremlin is preparing to sacrifice the lives of thousands of its own men and women for no other reason than to bolster the ego of its ruthless dictator, Vladimir Putin. Having twice taken bites out of Ukraines territory, Putin is hungry for more. His callous and unyielding aggression toward a nation that voted by 90% for its own independence from tyranny must be halted. Let us recall that in 1990, when Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein ordered his Republican Guard across the border into Kuwait, the United States led a United Nations-backed coalition to drive the invading troops back. With Putin eager to embark on a similar course, President Joe Biden should seek such a coalition. When liberty falls under siege, the world has an obligation to act. Russia has engaged in countless atrocities this is part of Putins legacy of madness. The free world cannot sit back as he alone isolated from the norms of decent behavior beats the Russian drums of war. Harsh sanctions against the Russian oligarchy and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project must be stiffened. The delivery of critical military weaponry to Ukraine must continue. But hasnt enough blood already been shed on Ukrainian soil? The free world must demand an unequivocal cease-fire and quickly form the protective shield to ward off those who wish Ukraine harm. In 1994, the United States and the United Kingdom signed the Budapest Memorandum assuring they would come to the aid of Ukraine in the event it was preyed upon. It is painfully clear the moment to make good on those assurances has arrived. Story continues Ukraine is the scrimmage line for liberty on the European continent. If Russia is allowed to carry out its brutal schemes, the slaughter of countless innocents is inevitable. Let us slam the door on Putins wild nightmare. It is time for the free world to rise up together. Let the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe rally the global coalition that is needed to defend Ukrainian sovereignty and independence, and preserve European stability for generations to come. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-1, represents Bucks County and a portion of Montgomery County. Rep. Andy Harris, a Republican, represents Maryland's 1st District. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat, serves Ohio's 9th District. Rep. Mike Quigley, a Democrat, is Illinois' 5th District congressman. They are co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Op-Ed: With Ukranian liberty under siege, the U.S. must act U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently awarded Steven Corley of Morganton the Field Office Directorates Superior Achievement Award. This award recognizes someone who made a major contribution toward USCIS mission and exemplified its core values. Corley, a senior immigration services officer stationed at the Charlotte Field Office, served a two-year detail as field office director at the field office in Anchorage, responsible for citizenship and immigration services in the state of Alaska. In 2020, USCIS was under a hiring freeze and several key positions in the Anchorage Field Office were vacant. In addition to managing the Anchorage Field Offices operations, Corley stepped up and performed duties to cover for vacancies including analyzing data, servicing information appointments, conducting immigration interviews and managing the application support center, which gathers biometrics for applicants. Despite adding all of this to his normal duties, he mentored his officers, building their analytic and writing skills. Under his leadership, his office saw an improvement in processing cases. When Corleys detail in Anchorage ended in May 2021, he returned to the Charlotte Field Office to resume his duties as a senior officer. When asked to comment on his award, Corley said, I owe so much to the men and women of Team Anchorage who it was my privilege to lead. The agencys mission is ingrained in my core and I am indebted to my Western leadership. I would not be able to excel without the support of innovative and supportive leaders within USCIS. Steven Corley and wife Karen live in Morganton, his hometown. Hes a 1978 graduate of Freedom High School, a retired Navy commander and a 1982 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. A Port Authority bus that was on a bridge when it collapsed Friday Jan. 28, 2022, is visible in Pittsburgh's East End. A two-lane bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh early Friday, prompting rescuers to rappel nearly 150 feet (46 meters) while others formed a human chain to help rescue multiple people from a dangling bus.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar/AP) PITTSBURGH A 50-year-old bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh early Friday, requiring rescuers to rappel down a ravine and form a human chain to reach a few occupants of a municipal bus that plummeted along with the span. No deaths were reported. The collapse came hours before President Joe Biden arrived in the city to promote his $1 trillion infrastructure law, which has earmarked about $1.6 billion for Pennsylvania bridge maintenance. Advertisement At least four people required hospital treatment. Five other vehicles were also on the bridge at the time. The cause was being investigated, and crews searched under the debris for additional victims. A large crack showed on the end of the bridge where the segmented bus landed 150 feet (46 meters) down in the ravine, as if hit by an earthquake. A car landed upside down in front of the bus, which was operated by the Pittsburgh areas transit agency. Advertisement The Forbes Avenue bridge over Fern Hollow Creek in Frick Park came down at 6:39 a.m., city officials said. The loud noise from the collapse was followed by a hissing sound and the smell of natural gas, witnesses said. The first sound was much more intense, and kind of a rumbling, which I guess was the structure, the deck hitting the ground, said Ken Doyno, a resident who lives four houses away. I mean, the whole house rattled at that point. This is just terrifying. Craziest image of the bridge collapse in Frick Park Ive seen (from @gainey_ed). Cannot even possibly imagine being on the bridge when it happened, and grateful that there seem to be only minor injuries. Have crossed that bridge so many times pic.twitter.com/tTs8TzJV1i Dave DiCello (@DaveDiCello) January 28, 2022 Ruptured gas lines along the bridge produced the leak, and the supply of gas was shut off within a half-hour, city officials said. As Biden toured the scene, an officer told him a person who was running by helped first responders get people out of cars. He called it a miracle. It really is, its astounding, Biden said. By midafternoon, three adults were being treated, and all were in fair condition, the UPMC hospital system said. A fourth person had received treatment and was released. The National Transportation Safety Board sent a team to investigate. The agency tweeted a photo late Friday of Chair Jennifer Homendy at the scene. A search-and-rescue team combed the area, said Sam Wasserman, a spokesperson for Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. Drones were brought in to help. Advertisement Most of the 10 people evaluated for injuries were first responders who were checked for exhaustion or because of the cold and snowy weather, Gainey said. The segmented bus operated by the Port Authority of Allegheny County had two passengers in addition to the driver, said Adam Brandolph, spokesperson for the agency. The bus driver, Daryl Luciani, told WPXI-TV that as soon as he reached the bridge, he believed it was collapsing. I could just feel it, Luciani told the station. The bus was bouncing and shaking and it seems long, but it was probably less than a minute that the bus finally came to a stop, and I was just thankful that nobody on the bus was hurt. The passengers appeared to be OK, he said, so he pulled the air brake and waited for help to arrive. First responders reached them after descending with flashlights in the predawn darkness and used a rope to help him and other occupants get to safety, Luciani said. About two hours after the collapse, Brandolph said, one of the passengers was on another bus, began complaining of injuries and was taken to a hospital. The driver and other passenger were not hurt, according to Brandolph. Advertisement The bus had started its route in downtown Pittsburgh and had been heading to the suburban community of Braddock. Judging by the time of day, had this bus been traveling inbound, toward downtown, there likely would have been more people on the bus and obviously could have been a much, much more dire situation, Brandolph said. The bus had seven or eight cameras, and any footage they captured of the collapse will be part of the investigation, Brandolph said. Neighbors said a gas company worker went door to door to get them to evacuate from the immediate vicinity before the gas was successfully shut off. Apart from just this abiding noise, we could begin to smell gas and that was the truly frightening thing, then with that smell we both said, lets get dressed and get out of here, said Lyn Krynski, whose home is nearest the bridge. It sounded like a weather phenomenon more than anything, said Douglas Gwilym, who was shoveling about an inch of snow when he heard the noise. It was all I had to compare it to it was this odd, whooshing sound. Advertisement Breaking News Alerts As it happens Be informed of breaking news as it happens and notified about other don't-miss content with our free news alerts. > The bridge is an important artery that leads to the Squirrel Hill and Oakland neighborhoods and is a popular route toward downtown Pittsburgh. Authorities told motorists to avoid the area. Several neighbors said a weather-prompted two-hour school delay may have prevented a far worse human tragedy. At the site of the collapse, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman called it just an awful, surreal scene. I hope its a wake-up call to the nation that we need to make these infrastructure investments, Fetterman said. The steel bridge, which was built in 1970, carries about 14,500 vehicles a day, according to a 2005 estimate. Wasserman said the most recent inspection occurred in September but the report was not immediately available. But a September 2019 inspection of the city-owned bridge revealed the deck and superstructure to be in poor condition, according to the U.S. Department of Transportations National Bridge Inventory. Advertisement A spreadsheet on the state Department of Transportation website listed the bridges overall condition as poor, which, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, means deterioration of primary structural elements has advanced. Butte, Highway Patrol arrests Suspicious man A call came in right after midnight Thursday about a suspicious man checking out cars in a parking lot in the 900 block of Montana Street. A man fitting the description, Richard Frank Bleick, 53, of Butte, was stopped near Safeway on Front Street. Turns out, Bleick had a $10,000 felony warrant for his arrest out of Flathead County so he was taken to jail. MHP arrests Cameron Thomas Baker, 19, of Butte was arrested early Thursday at the intersection of Montana and Gold by a trooper with the Montana Highway Patrol. He was jailed for the misdemeanor offenses of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, attempt to obtain an intoxicant, failure to wear a seat belt and no liability insurance in effect. Christian Antoney Lulgjuraj, 24, of Virginia Beach, Virginia was headed south on I-90 when he was stopped by a MHP trooper. He was jailed just after midnight Wednesday for misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Simple assault Dara Rene Povrzenich, 39, of Butte was jailed just after 3 a.m. Wednesday for misdemeanor simple assault and felony probation violation. Police were called to the 1700 block of Grand Avenue to investigate an assault. According to the police report, an intoxicated Povrzenich allegedly had been arguing with a man and then reportedly assaulted a 27-year-old woman by grabbing her hair and pulling her to the ground. Stolen car Late Tuesday night, an officer observed a silver four-door car driving at a high rate of speed. The car with Texas plates was driven by Alexander Gregory Parkhill, 31, of Texas and was stopped at Montana and Gold. When the officer checked, it turned out the car had been reported stolen out of Oklahoma and Parkhill was taken into custody without incident. He was jailed for felony buying or possessing stolen property. Four or more DUIs Early Monday morning, an officer stopped a gray Jeep near the intersection of Stuart and Argyle for failing to use a turn signal. The driver, Skyla Marie Komeotis, 25, of Butte appeared to be intoxicated and failed sobriety maneuvers at the scene. At the detention center, she refused to take a Breathalyzer and had her blood drawn at St. James Healthcare. She was jailed for felony driving under the influence (fourth or subsequent offense), felony probation violation and the misdemeanor offenses of no liability insurance in effect and failure to use turn signal. Miscellaneous crimes A snow blower was stolen Monday from the back yard of a residence in the 700 block of North Montana Street. A transient was cited Monday afternoon for taking packages from a porch on the 600 block of South Main Street. All the packages were returned to the owner. Apparently, the work environment had turned toxic for two male co-workers at a business in the 1100 block of Front Street. On Monday afternoon tempers escalated and the two took a swing at each other. So far, neither one has pressed charges against the other. A Butte man had no idea his 2011 Dodge Ram had been stolen until police in Coeur dAlene, Idaho, called him Monday night to say they had his truck. He then contacted Butte police. Late Monday, someone broke the passenger-side window of a vehicle parked in the 800 block of South Arizona Street. It was reported Tuesday morning that gas had been siphoned at the U-Haul Moving & Storage, 3300 Harrison Ave. Also on Tuesday morning, the drivers side window of a Toyota Tacoma was broken as it was parked in the 700 block of South Montana Street. A resident living in the 1300 block of Maryland attempted to rewire his electrical box so he could bypass the NorthWestern Energy meter. For his tampering effort, which was discovered Tuesday afternoon, he was cited for theft of services. A man called the Butte Detention Center Tuesday afternoon to report a theft but his phone was dying so he told the dispatcher he would have to call them back. He has yet to do that. An inmate reportedly spit in the face of one of the detention officers Tuesday afternoon. Charges are pending. On Wednesday morning, two tires were slashed on a vehicle parked at Child & Family Services, 700 N. Casey St. Sometime Wednesday morning, an amplifier was taken from a truck parked in the 900 block of South Montana Street. All four tires were slashed Wednesday afternoon on a vehicle near the Lube Alley, 1502 Holmes Ave. It was also reported Wednesday that medication was stolen from a mail box on the 2100 block of South Wyoming Street. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 3 Sad 2 Angry 12 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. Its easy to take homeschooling for granted in 2022. Easy, that is, if you havent been watching the legislative action in Montana over the last 40 years. The opportunities homeschoolers have today are the result of thousands of families joining forces and speaking up, time and again, for the right to choose their childs education. This National School Choice Week (Jan. 23-29), the uphill climb for homeschooling in Montana is a reminder that expanding choices for our children requires hard work and stick-to-it-tivity. Just think back 40 years. Nearly 10,000 Montana students identified as homeschooled last school year, but in the early 1980s, school choices were few and far between. Parents like us who wanted to home educate their children faced big legal challenges. This didnt change until 1983, when an extraordinary bill provided an "exemption" from public school enrollment for students attending nonpublic or home schools. Parents from across our state filled the hearings to overflowing, showing support for the flexibility and opportunity afforded by school choice. The Legislature overwhelmingly supported the bill too. Imagine how the recent pandemic when the rate of Montana households homeschooling jumped from 8% to 18% in a six-month span would have hit families even harder if we hadnt stood up for that choice then. Both then and now, when families freedom to choose the best educational fit for their children expands, its worth celebrating. But it also requires commitment for educational freedom to last. Community organizations and regular meet-ups can be invaluable ways for parents to stay invested in preserving and expanding learning opportunities. In fact, thats why other parents and I originally formed the Montana Coalition of Home Educators in 1988. As a case in point, just a few years after the coalition formed, a bill was introduced that would adversely affect homeschoolers. In response, we worked together to draft a bill spelling out our God-given right to be responsible for the educational philosophy, curriculum, instruction and testing of our children. What took place in that 1991 session has not been forgotten by those who were there. Our bill (with 48 co-signers, both Democrats and Republicans), passed out of the Senate and into the House. Again, the room was filled with supporters from across the state. Through the hard work and commitment of those willing to speak up for choice, our bill passed in the House, was signed into law with zero changes, and is an important component of Montana homeschooling law today. The battle for greater educational opportunity continues for Montana families. Encouragingly, in 2021, the door was opened for private and homeschool students to participate in public school extracurricular activities. This bill received support from both sides of the aisle. It represents a growing recognition that families need flexible learning arrangements, and hearkens to a future where hybrid learning opportunities will be more widespread. These good developments, which recognize that families know their kids learning needs best, dont come from thin air. They require steadfast commitment, like that of the more than 4,000 supporters of homeschooling who showed up in the 2007 session, making it the largest hearing turnout in our states history. Challenges to parental rights in education remain. Parents, educators and legislators must come together and continue the task of refining education law and policies. We must always appreciate and defend our freedom to be the primary educators for our children. At heart, thats who the battle for school choice is fought for: our children, the next generation. Steve White is a homeschool father and founding member of the Montana Coalition of Home Educators. He has led the effort to pass positive home education bills in legislative sessions over the past 30-plus years. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 We are sorry, we can't find the page you were looking for. The page may have moved as part of the recent university-wide website redesign. If you followed a link, the link may be out of date. Please let us know where you found the broken link so we can fix it. If you typed the address, please be sure it was typed correctly. Contact our Web Management office Please contact us if you need help or to report any issues. Charley Allen-Dunn, Web and Digital Advertising Manager. Brittney McWaters, Design Specialist Jerry and Victoria Bayne Jan 28, 2022 Jerry and Victoria Bayne during their time at Murray State and where they are today. "It was a wonderful privilege to attend Murray State University. Victoria and I first met in January of 1974. She was returning from a year of studying abroad in France. I had returned to MSU to enroll in the Journalism Master's Program and was starting my second semester. We fell in love and married on January 4, 1975 at the Chandler park overlooking Kentucky Lake. The campus ministry pastor performed the service. We both graduated in May of 1975, Victoria with a Bachelor's Degree in French & English and I earned a Master's in Journalism and the SCT Degree in Community College Education. We spent the summer camping across American before I accepted a teaching position in the Illinois Community College system. We both had 30-year careers teaching and administration, Victoria teaching French and English in high school while I taught journalism and worked in community college administration. We both retired from full time work in 2005 and 2007 respectively. I am still employed here managing a performing arts venue. We recently celebrated our 45th year of marriage. We have two successful children and four wonderful grandchildren. Our journey has been one full of great blessings. We now divide out time between our home in Mount Carmel, Illinois and our cattle ranch in SW Florida. We are so thankful for our years at Murray State University and how our experiences there were the cornerstone for life journey together." A Columbus Junction teen and an Iowa City woman have been arrested by Washington, Iowa, police in connection with the shooting of a man the night of Jan. 7, Washington Police Chief Jim Lester said in a news release Thursday. Jaden Miller, 17, of Columbus Junction and Mya Wright, 19, of Iowa City each is charged with first-degree robbery and attempt to commit murder. Each of the charges is a Class B felony that carries a prison sentence of 25 years, 70% of which, or 17 years, must be served before parole can be granted. Lester said that at 8:10 p.m. Jan. 7, Kenneth James, 41, of Coralville, was shot while he was sitting in his car in a parking lot in the 600 block of Adams Street in Washington. Miller and Wright had conspired to rob James after inviting him to Washington for a drug deal. During the course of the attempted robbery, Miller shot James one time in the torso. Both Miller and Wright were being held Thursday night in the Washington County Jail on cash-only bonds of $500,000 each. They are expected to make a first appearance on the charges Friday in Washington County District Court. The investigation continues and additional charges are possible. The Washington Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation were assisted in the investigation by the Washington County Sheriffs Office, Washington County Attorneys Office, and the Columbus Junction Police Department. Miller already is awaiting an April 5 trial in Washington County District Court on a charge of willful injury causing serious injury. In that case, Miller is accused along with another person of beating and severely injuring a man at the McDonalds restaurant on Oct. 2, 2021, at 200 W. Madison St. in Washington. Prosecutors in that case had moved to change the conditions of Millers release after it was learned on Jan. 13 that he was not living at his reported address, 126 Maple Street, Apt. 2, Columbus Junction, nor his mothers address at 126 Maple Street, Apt. 1. Instead, Miller was found living in another persons house in Washington. Additionally, two handguns were discovered inside the room where Miller was staying, according to Washington County District Court records. A hearing in that case is scheduled for Feb. 11. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I should forward the many letters I receive from disgusted Baltimoreans to Mayor Brandon Scott so he can convince them to feel optimistic about city life, remain a taxpaying resident or visit a city restaurant for an interesting meal. I should send a few to indicted Baltimore States Attorney Marilyn Mosby so she can respond to those who blame her for the citys violent crime the way she blamed her predecessor. (During Mosbys two terms, the city has averaged 337 murders per year; during the four years previous, when Gregg Bernstein was states attorney, the city averaged 215.) Advertisement I would forward suggestions for stemming the shootings to Police Commissioner Michael Harrison, but I dont have any. People who write to complain about the incessant violence offer no constitutionally sound ideas about how to stop it; they just blast the Baltimore Police Department for not doing so. Things are getting worse, they say, not better. And thats true, but not just in Baltimore. Advertisement The FBI reports a 30% increase in homicides nationwide since 2020. Using state police data, ABC News found that at least 12 major cities broke annual homicide records in 2021. Why this happened is not clear, though experts contacted by ABC cited strained law enforcement staffing, a pronounced decline in arrests and continuing hardships from the pandemic. I can only address one cause at a time. Today Ill respond to those who assert that Baltimores immediate and long-term problems with criminality stem from a too-lenient criminal justice system. Ive heard that a lot over the years, and I heard it again this past week as readers expressed outrage and hopelessness about the citys street violence. The laws changed, criminals dont serve time, wrote a man from Owings Mills. They are let free and go out and commit more crimes. You read everyday that the criminals, the murderers all have huge criminal records. Theres no doubt that repeat violent offenders are a problem. Thats been the case for years. But some perspective is needed here. Despite what you hear on talk radio, most people who go to prison for murder are not quickly released. Killers still get long sentences Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams recently sentenced one to life plus 52 years and most of them stay in our prisons for decades. Over the last 30 years, very few murderers were set free by Maryland governors, even longtime lifers who had been recommended for release by the states parole commission. As of 2018, Maryland had a lower rate of incarceration than the national average but, at 531 inmates per 100,000 population, a higher rate than any democracy in the world, according to a global analysis by the nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative. Advertisement By summer 2019, the state reported 18,244 inmates in our prisons. About half of them were serving sentences of at least 10 years and another 2,341 were serving life sentences. While the states prison population has fallen since then, we still have more than 16,000 inmates, and that does not include Marylanders in federal prisons, local detention centers or our juvenile system. More than 86% of prison inmates are serving time for violent crimes, according to an analysis by the Justice Policy Institute, a Washington-based nonprofit that has conducted research on the Maryland correctional system. The JPI finds that more than 13% of inmates are serving sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years; 40% are serving 15 years or more and about 14% are lifers. Of course, we have a parole system that allows inmates to earn time off their sentences. According to the most recent data from the state, among 16,652 inmates, the average sentence length was 19.8 years, while the length of stay was 7.5 years. Some will look at those last two numbers and say, Theres your problem: Were not keeping them in prison long enough. They get out, come back to Baltimore and commit more crimes. I agree. Thats what frequently happens. But why? Advertisement Its because we do too little to prepare inmates for release. Its not that they get out too soon, its that they are not ready to take the bus back from Hagerstown and start a job in Baltimore that will move them to a better life than the one they had before prison. Prison is a waste of time and money a lost opportunity if we do not use the time and money ($46,000 per inmate now) to not only punish offenders but prepare them for a different and decent future. Some skills training already takes place behind the walls, and thousands of inmates are employed in manufacturing products for state agencies. But all of that needs to be scaled up to prepare them for jobs in sectors that regional economists have projected for growth health care, manufacturing, skilled trades and technology. Doing this requires a fundamental change in a system weve had in place for decades. It means, from the moment a convicted felon arrives to serve his sentence, emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment. It means hiring more counselors, teachers, skills instructors and therapists. We need a transformation from a system focused on confinement to one focused on the future. I realize this is not an immediate answer to Baltimores crime problem, but we need to treat the causes of violent crime as well as the symptoms. If we dont make big changes at the state level, the city will continue to suffer. RIDGELAND, Miss. (AP) The director of a Mississippi library system says a mayor is withholding $110,000 from his city's library because LGBTQ books are on the shelves. Tonja Johnson, executive director of the Madison County Library System, told news outlets that Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee received citizen complaints about a handful of books that depicted members of the LGBTQ community. "Funding for this year was being withheld until we removed what he called 'homosexual material' from the library," Johnson told WAPT-TV. "His reasoning that he gave was that, as a Christian, he could not support that, and that he would not release funding until we remove the material." The move is part of a larger trend of conservatives across the country trying to limit the type of books that children are exposed to. A Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Holocaust was recently banned by a Tennessee school district, while the Republican governors in South Carolina and Texas have called on superintendents to perform a systemic review of "inappropriate" materials in their states' schools. In a statement to news outlets, McGee didn't expressly confirm that he wasn't providing the funding over LGBTQ literature but said he believes some of the books are "inappropriate for children." "There is a minimum, sexual connotations are not appropriate for children when they enter the library," said McGee, a Republican who has been mayor of the Jackson suburb since 1989. The Ridgeland Board of Aldermen approved the city budget in the fall, and Alderman Ken Heard told WAPT that the mayor doesn't have the authority to unilaterally deny funds to the library. Johnson said the library board will request a public hearing before the Board of Aldermen to seek clarification and receive the funds, according to the television station. A meeting was held at Ridgeland's library Tuesday night to discuss the ultimatum. Jason McCarty, executive director of LGBTQ advocacy group MS Capital City Pride, attended and said he believes libraries should be safe spaces where people can learn about new things. "I think when we start putting our personal opinions into situations, that's when we can go wrong," McCarty told WLBT-TV. *** Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Four opponents of a 11,600-head cattle feedlot in northeast Iowa have filed an Iowa Senate ethics complaint against Sen. Dan Zumbach, saying Zumbach used his position to pressure state employees to approve the feedlot owned by his son-in-law. The complaint alleges Zumbach, a Ryan Republican who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, met with Iowa Department of Natural Resources officials at least twice about the feedlot between 2017 and 2020, despite neither the feedlot nor the owners being in his district. The complaint was filed Wednesday by Steve Veysey of Ames; Wally Taylor of Marion, Larry Stone of Elkader and Jess Mazour of Des Moines, all members of the Committee to Save Bloody Run Creek. According to the complaint, Zumbach weighed in with the DNR before critical decisions about the project. These included: The DNRs 2017 decision to allow an earthen manure storage basin to be classified as an industrial wastewater treatment lagoon. Earthen basins are not allowed in the porous, karst terrain of northeast Iowa. When the DNR was considering in 2017 issuance of a federal stormwater permit for construction at the site near Monona. Feedlot owners got the permit after two face-to-face meetings including Zumbach and DNR staff, the complaint states. The DNR legal staff argued in 2018 stormwater permit violations at the feedlot should be handled the Iowa Attorney Generals Office, which may pursue higher penalties. The state Environmental Protection Commission in July 2018 failed to take a vote, leaving the matter with the DNR. The DNRs 2020 decision to approve a nutrient management plan for the feedlot. Zumbach acknowledged to The Gazette last spring he had a phone conversation with DNR Director Kayla Lyon on Oct. 2, 2020, about Supreme Beef, owned by Mike Walz, Dean Walz and Jared Walz. Jared Walz is the husband of Zumbachs daughter, Chelsea, and father of Zumbachs grandchildren. Since I sit on the Natural Resources Committee, Im in communication with the DNR, and I simply asked Kayla to get the right folks in contact with Supreme Beef so they could continue working through the permitting process, Zumbach said. I dont know the players at all, he said. Thats not part of my concern or my responsibility. I simply asked the director if she could help this constituent get to the right folks. The Walzes do not live in Zumbachs District 48, which includes Delaware County and portions of Linn, Buchanan and Jones counties, nor is the Supreme Beef site near Monona in Zumbachs district. Zumbach said earlier this year that was irrelevant. When anyone from the state of Iowa calls you, we represent all of Iowa when were down here (Des Moines), not just our districts, he said. The complaint says Zumbach broke the Senate Code of Ethics, which says members should strive to avoid both unethical and illegal conduct and the appearance of unethical and illegal conduct. Further, the code says: Whenever a senator appears before a governmental agency or board, the senator shall carefully avoid all conduct which might in any way lead members of the general public to conclude that the senator is using the senators official position to further the senators professional success or personal financial interest. The complaint does not allege Zumbach had any financial stake in the feedlot. The group is asking the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate, including interviewing DNR and legislative staff, and, if a violation is found, to sanction Zumbach. The committee is chaired by two Republicans, Sen. Carrie Koelker of Dyersville and Sen. Jim Carlin of Sioux City. Zumbach has 10 days after receiving the complaint to respond if he wants to do so. Zumbach did not immediately respond to The Gazettes request for comment Wednesday. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Joint Information Center reported two more fatalities linked to Covid-19 at Guam Memorial Hospital. A new sub-type of the omicron Covid-19 variant has reared its head and is spreading quickly, according to a Deutsche Welle report. More than 400 people were infected with the sub-type, dubbed BA.2, in the UK during the first ten days of January, and it has already been detected in 40 other countries. Denmark is feeling the brunt of BA.2 the most, with 79% of infections detected in the Scandanavian nation. Denmark is followed by the UK with 6%, India with 5%, and Sweden and Singapore, both with 2%. The rapid spread of BA.2 has earned it the designation of variant under surveillance from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), as it could be more contagious than the original omicron variant. It is the nature of viruses to evolve and mutate, so its to be expected that we will continue to see new variants emerge as the pandemic goes on, Meera Chand, incident director at UKHSA, said. Our continued genomic surveillance allows us to detect them and assess whether they are significant. So far, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether BA.2 causes more severe illness than omicron BA.1, Chand added. The UKs Secretary of Health, Sajid Javid, said the emergence of the new sub-type emphasises the importance of Covid-19 vaccinations. I encourage you to give yourself and your loved ones the best protection possible and get boosted now, he said. According to the report, there are concerns about the potential recombination of the omicron and delta variants. German virologist, Christian Drosten of Berlins Charite University Hospital, explained that if any of the omicron variants combine with the Delta variant, it could develop an even more dangerous virus. This is because the Omicron variants mutations make it easier for the virus to evade immune defences. It is feared that combining the variants would bring their strongest features together. There is such a thing, it has already been described, you have to fear that something like this could happen at the moment, Drosten warned. South African scientists were first to detail the omicron variant in November 2021, and its discovery prompted several nations to close their borders to travellers from South Africa. South Africa reached the peak of its fourth wave of Covid-19 infections which was primarily driven by the omicron variant in December 2021 and exited the wave in January. A driver was pronounced dead early on Friday after crashing on Interstate 80 following a vehicle pursuit that began late Thursday night in American Canyon, according to police. 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 A stolen vehicle was reported to American Canyon Police at about 10:45 p.m., and its driver led officers on a chase after an attempted stop, according to American Canyon Police Chief Rick Greenberg. The vehicle later crashed on I-80 in Solano County, near the Napa County border, Greenberg said. Police received information that a gray Toyota SUV was stolen out of Oakland and spotted a car matching that description driving southbound in the 2500 block of Flosden Road, according to a police press release. After running the vehicle's license plate and determining it matched the stolen vehicle, officers attempted a traffic stop. The driver stopped near Corcoran Avenue in Vallejo, just outside American Canyon city limits, but drove off after officers commanded the occupants to exit the vehicle, the press release says. Officers continued their pursuit onto eastbound Highway 37 to eastbound I-80. The driver reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour, according to the press release, and lost control of the vehicle near the Red Top Road exit in Solano County. The driver went off the roadway and over the guard rail and was ejected from the vehicle, according to the press release. No other vehicles were involved in the collision. A nearby ambulance gave first aid to the driver, and they were transported to the North Bay Medical Center in Fairfield, the press release says. The driver was pronounced dead early on Friday, and the Solano County Coroner Office took over the death investigation, according to the press release. The driver's name isn't being released by police at this time. The incident was one of two pursuits that began in American Canyon on Thursday. Earlier, just after 8:30 p.m., police began following a car that had been reported stolen, leading to a high-speed chase that ended with the drivers arrest in Richmond, according to American Canyon Police. Napa County hopes for a big-time rain year to emphatically smash the deep, two-year drought have somewhat withered amid a mostly sunny, warm, dry January. More than 18 inches of rain fell at Napa State Hospital from the beginning of the rain year on Oct. 1 into early January. That huge head start made a drought-buster look at least possible. 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 Three bone-dry weeks later, reaching even the normal rainfall season total of 25 inches at Napa State Hospital looks questionable. Given the chances for big storms typically peter out after March, the next two months will tell the story. The first half of February does not look promising, said Mike Pechner of Fairfield-based Golden West Meteorology. Still, spring rains to bail out the rain season are not out of the question. Weve had Miracle Marches before, he said. The city of Napa receives most of its water from Lake Hennessey reservoir that relies on runoff in the mountains east of Rutherford and from the State Water Project that relies on the Sierra Nevada snowpack. January hasnt been a big help to either. Lake Hennessey is 87% full, just a little fuller than in early January. The State Water Project is to deliver 25% of the citys allocation, with no carry-over from past years available. Neither of those totals portends an end to the drought. Weve said all along this is going to be a multi-year recovery, City of Napa Deputy Utilities Director Joy Eldredge said. Without more rain, Lake Hennessey could be below 60% again by next fall, going into a zone that Eldredge called "uncomfortable." Conservation measures imposed by the city last year, such as restrictions on irrigation, remain in effect. We still need to be prudent, Eldredge said. I will feel better when were back having some carry-over on the state side and having Hennessey completely full. The nature of storms is important, she said. One storm or two storms spread out don't do much for Lake Hennessey recharge. The key is having three to four storms in close succession. St. Helena's Bell Canyon Reservoir filled up amid the early rainy season storms after falling to 35% last summer. The city lifted penalties for exceeding water usage allocations but is still emphasizing conservation. Pechner said high pressure over Washington and northern Idaho kept the storm track away from Napa County during much of January. A recent vegetation fuel moisture reading on Atlas Peak was 6.7%, which is almost a summertime reading. A historic October storm and particularly wet December have been key to the rain season so far. Without those two events, wed be in just dire straits, Pechner said. Wed be as dry as you can be in the middle of winter. The National Weather Service for much of latter January said computer models indicated a wet start to February. But in recent days, it backed off this forecast. "Looking at all available long-term guidance, not seeing any signs of rain through at least the first week of February," said a forecast posted Thursday morning on the National Weather Service Bay Area website. On Friday, the long-range prognostic had forecasters thinking about the latter half of February for significant rain chances. Notable California droughts include 1863-64, 1929-1934, 1976-77, 1987-92, 2007-09, and 2012-16, according to the state Department of Water Resources. And now theres the latest drought that has been dented but not vanquished. Napa State Hospital in rain year 2019-20 received only 12.19 inches of rain and in 2020-21 received only 10.24 inches, a historic double-punch of dryness. The rain year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30. The supercharged start to the 2021-22 rain year made a drought-buster look oh-so-close. Yet, for now anyway, the rain has given way to an all-too-familiar run of sunny days. You can reach Barry Eberling at 256-2253 or beberling@napanews.com. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Workers at Providence Queen of the Valley are continuing to battle the COVID-19 pandemic amid staffing challenges during another surge in positive cases. The workers say the impact of staffing shortages has intensified because a greater number of employees have contracted COVID-19 this time around. Though most COVID-19 patients have been presenting milder symptoms, according to hospital administration, the quantity of local hospitalizations has remained high while Napas seen record-breaking case counts over the past few weeks. 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 Last week, a group of hospital workers nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, housekeepers, and medical technicians, all represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers picketed in front of the Queen of the Valley Medical Center on Trancas Street in Napa during their break times. The workers said they were there to protest understaffing at the hospital and draw attention to ongoing wage negotiations. Paula Raimers, a respiratory therapist at the hospital for nearly 29 years, said the situation at the hospital has been very discouraging. Its brutal at the hospital, Raimers said. Were short-staffed, underpaid, stressed out, tired, exhausted, and theres no end in sight. Raimers said many employees have been out because of the virus. Half of her department contracted COVID-19 at one point during an outbreak, she added, and the remaining workers had to compensate for the difference. Approximately one in 10 of the unionized service staff was on leave because of the current coronavirus surge, according to a union press release. The National Union of Healthcare Workers represents more than 400 workers at the Queen of the Valley, the press release says. People are at a breaking point, Raimers added. Ive been putting in overtime for over two years. Raimers also said the service staff members are underpaid. Raimers added that, according to her own research, staff members in her department are being paid $5 to $10 an hour less than they would make at other hospitals. She said she knows of skilled respiratory therapists who have applied for jobs at the hospital and turned down offers because the pay wasnt high enough. Queen of the Valley is committed to negotiating fair and market-competitive pay for all our caregivers and pay rates are established based on comprehensive market information and are competitive when compared to those offered by other area employers for comparable jobs, according to a statement from the hospital. Jay Clemons, a surgical technologist for the hospital for 27 years, said many of the workers have retired and quit throughout the pandemic, and nobodys been there to replace them. Without a sufficient quantity of support staff, he added, patients and hospital workers become more vulnerable. With less workforce, were still expected to maintain the same workload daily, Clemons said. Even today, I missed another break this morning. Missing breaks and missing lunches has become the standard. Clemons added that working conditions are the worst theyve ever been. I think that since Providence has taken over, things have gotten worse, Clemons said. When I came to work here 27 years ago, it was a community hospital; you were proud to work at The Queen of the Valley. And its not like that anymore. Raimers also said this is the worst its ever been during her 29-years working at the hospital, but shes continued to work at the Queen of the Valley because she loves her job. Ive been doing this for so long I dont know if I could stop, Raimers said. I have passion for my job; I love to help people. It makes me feel good to be able to help people. Breathing is so basic. I have asthma myself. Its a struggle when you cant breathe. And when you help people breathe, theyre so grateful. Queen of the Valley chief executive Terry Wooten said in a statement hospital management doesnt currently consider the hospital to have a critical staffing shortage. The biggest impact to operations this time around, he said, is the number of care workers who have had to quarantine and not come into work. But the need for intensive care has been lower than in previous surges because fewer patients have been critically ill, he added. Overall, Wooten added, he doesnt think this surge will be more difficult to handle than past surges because patients are generally having milder symptoms. During this surge, he said, the hospital has not had to cancel elective surgeries or procedures like it has in previous surges. The Queen of the Valley is following revised guidelines from the California Department of Public Health that allow workers who test positive to come back after 5-day quarantines after a negative test and if symptoms arent present, as opposed to the previous 10-day requirement. Raimers said the result of following that guidance is that workers come in to work still sick with COVID. Im just hearing the staff in my department being told to come in after five days when theyre still sick, Raimers said. "I told one therapist dont listen to them. They shouldnt be coming in and spreading it around all over the hospital. The hospital is not, however, using CDPH guidelines that allow asymptomatic, COVID-19 positive staff to return to work without isolation or additional testing, Wooten said. We are able to wait the recommended quarantine time, Wooten said. We appreciate that this option is available if clinical staffing becomes critically short and we have preplanned ways we could potentially use staff in the COVID unit and separate from non-ill co-workers, but is not necessary at this time. Union workers are demanding that the hospital improve recruitment and retention, which, according to a union press release, would allow the hospital to provide safer care. According to a hospital statement, "We recognize the additional challenges our staff is facing during this latest COVID-19 surge. We deeply appreciate every one of our caregivers, and we thank them for continuing to pour their hearts into our mission of caring for our neighbors and all those in need." The hospital laid off emergency department technicians, administrative assistants, and engineers in April 2021 and hospital nurses previously spoke out about working conditions and staff shortages at a Napa City Council meeting in August last year. The California Hospital Association anticipated the Omicron surge would last four to six weeks, CalMatters reported on Jan. 13. More than one-third of hospitals have reported severe staffing shortages during the current surge, according to CalMatters About 20% of the healthcare workforce, citing burnout, have left the field during the pandemic, according to an article from U.S. News & World Report. 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. Denmark, Finland support European Commission proposal on Russian oil sanctions Bulgaria to seek exemption from EU proposed Russian oil embargo Biden says he is ready for additional sanctions against Russia Switzerland braces for serious power shortage Uruguay freezes ambassador appointment to Ankara after Cavusoglu's gesture Czech Republic to seek exemption from proposed EU embargo on Russian oil imports Charles Michel on the likelihood of Moldova's EU membership Resistance Movement actions to resume tomorrow early morning Elon Musk is invited to UK Parliament for buying Twitter Disobedience march reaches France Square, rally starts US crude oil shipments to Europe hit highest level in April NEWS.am digest: Large-scale protests being held in Armenia to demand PMs resignation Armenia Defense Minister meets with Georgian PM UK bans imposes sanctions on 63 individuals and organizations in Russia EU plan to completely ban Russian crude oil threatens Hungary's energy security EU interested in expanding energy cooperation with Azerbaijan Germany: Gradual EU ban on Russian oil imports could lead to 'supply disruptions' Opposition demonstration reaches government residences Aliyev insists so-called Zangezur corridor 'is already a reality' Slovakia seeks exemption from EU oil embargo for three years Defense Ministers of Armenia and Georgia sign cooperation program for 2022 Romanian President approves entry of Stryker Brigade and US fighter squadron into country Dollar goes up, euro also rises in Armenia EU studying possibility of providing military assistance to Moldova Public demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation Opposition supporters move toward Armenian parliament building EU envoys can not agree on Russian oil Armenia Security Council chief briefs Georgia PM on Karabakh conflict settlement process Armenia deputy police chief says law enforcement has right detain MPs Large-scale opposition rally starts in central Yerevan Many teenagers in New Zealand are illiterate AFP: EU proposes to impose sanctions on Patriarch Kirill Arestovich says Israel could supply Ukraine with weapons Azerbaijan used in Karabakh war Parliament speaker threatens Armenian opposition, clergy Armenia opposition MP: Ex-President Serzh Sargsyan will not hold office in new government Beijing closes over 60 subway stations due to COVID-19 outbreak Bayramov, Roquefeuil discuss Azerbaijan-Armenia relations normalization process Armenia FM meets with US National Democratic Institute president Armenia ruling force MP: Opposition will not achieve its goal Armenia 2nd president Robert Kocharyans son blocking road with citizens in Yerevan 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) There is still lot to do in 'October 27' case, says Armenia Prosecutor General 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 Microsoft urges to abandon Internet Explorer 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 Mark DeLuca of the Howard County Department of Public Works discusses the unique challenges brought about from waterways which travel under housing in historic Ellicott City during a tour of several project sites with Ellicott City's flood mitigation plan on Wednesday, August 18, 2021. (Brian Krista/Baltimore Sun Media). (Brian Krista/Baltimore Sun Media) The taxpayers of Howard County are purchasing flood prone properties in Ellicott City and funding public works projects to fight flooding in the area (As Maryland faces growing flood threats, retreat is an unpopular solution. What would it take to change that? Jan. 20). But is there any logic to these expenses? Do they permanently mitigate flooding? Or are these costs the first installments on a never-ending spiral of flood mitigation efforts? Do the politicians and bureaucrats who fund these efforts care about the accumulated costs? When does it end? Advertisement I understand why politicians support such investments; they buy votes from local residents. But is there a limit to the cost to taxpayers before the politicians stop the bleeding? Who speaks for prudent spending rather than the endless efforts to sustain water-logged Ellicott City? Robert Flynn, West Friendship Advertisement Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter. YEREVAN. Today we have an army, which, at this moment fulfilling the tasks set before it, will become the army left to us by [the late Supreme Commander and statesman] Vazgen Sargsyan. Andranik KocharyanChair of the Standing Committee on Defense and Security of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia and an MP of the ruling majority "Civil Contract" Faction in the NAtold this to reporters at Yerablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan Fridayon Army Day. "But for that, we must all unite our goals and get out of the situation, as a result of which we had failures, defeats in the 44-day war [in the fall of 2020]. For that, we must make a reality what is noted in the government's program: to build the army that must be equipped with modern weapons, intellectual capabilities, and invulnerable from the viewpoint of fulfilling the tasks set before it," Kocharyan said. To the question whether today Armenia is able to acquire proper military equipment to counteract the adversary, he answered: "What do you think? Is that work possible without it? By always solving such problems, we must finally fulfill the tasks set in the government's program. For that, everyone should invest what opportunities they have for the benefit of our country's security." January 28 marks the 30th anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces, but it is virtually not celebrated today. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has contracted the coronavirus and self-isolated. Most of the high-ranking officers of the army General Staff, who had attended the recent wedding of Minister of Defense Suren Papikyan, are in the same situation. We must learn lessons from the defeat, we must engage in increasing our defense capabilities, rehabilitating, reviving the army, like all other state institutions. No state can have another alternative. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated this to reporters at Yerablur Military Pantheon Fridayon Army Day. To the remark that the opposition claims that the Armenian authorities are desecrating Yerablur with their current foreign policy, particularly in terms of Armenian-Turkish relations, Mirzoyan responded: "I do not want to comment on the viewpoints of the opposition on various issues. But please ask the opposition how it happened that there was almost no year since the late 1990s when there were no talks, discussions, correspondence, contacts in the Armenian-Turkish direction. () There is no need to go, negotiate somethingas it has been for years, then come home, announce something else from various platforms and carry out another campaign. What I am negotiating, I say directly during the question and answer session in the National Assembly. There is nothing secret, everything is public." "Of course, we [i.e., Armenia] have national red lines that should not be crossed in any way. On the other hand, we are not the first and last people, unfortunately, on a planet that has had a very long conflict with a neighboring country. We are ready to building stable, lasting peace in the region. () At the same time, we must feel an obligation to the memory of those same fallen [Armenian soldiers] because they died for life, for the homeland, they died so that others could live. As long as we remember and respect their memory, we still have an obligation to take care of the living, too" the Armenian FM added. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Friday issued a congratulatory message on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces. The message reads as follows: Dear compatriots, Honourable representatives of the Armed Forces, I congratulate all of us on the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia. During these three decades the Armenian Army has had both glorious days and passed through many challenges. The Armenian people appreciate the heroism of all our heroes, those soldiers, officers, generals and volunteers who have fought until the end for the defense, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Homeland. Today we are pursuing the path of systematic reforms aimed at further developing the Armed Forces, by re-assessing the past path of the Army, the advantages, shortcomings and problems it had. The Republic of Armenia will have a professional army, and the Government will carry out that work tirelessly, without despondency and pessimism, but with optimism on the path of building our security environment. Improving the Armys combat readiness, arsenal and the military service conditions is our priority. Since 2018, the Government of Armenia has started the process of improving the social and living conditions of servicemen, and it will be continuous. Each soldier and officer of the Republic of Armenia must feel the states support, and we will be consistent in that process. Military service should deserve special public respect and appreciation, which must be expressed also by the system of special social guarantees to the servicemen and their families. In parallel, service assessment criteria for intellectual, professional, physical and psychological preparedness should also be raised, and the public respect and appreciation towards the Army should be based on these points. Dear compatriots, On the occasion of the Army Day, I would like to specially thank all volunteers, soldiers, officers and generals who were at the roots of the formation of the Armenian Army. I would like to thank all defenders of our Homeland, all servicemen for the sacrifices they made for unconditionally serving our country and people in these difficult conditions. I also like to thank their families for their patience, endurance, and for standing firm with their servicemen relatives and the Homeland. I bow to our heroic martyrs. Their memory is immortal, their work is sacred. God bless the Armenian army. A bipartisan group of US senators is drafting a bill that would dramatically increase US military aid to Ukraine. A group of five Democrats and five Republican senators made progress in negotiations on the bill, a source familiar with the talks told Reuters. Their goal is to write a bill that will be passed by the Senate next week. To become law, it must also pass through the House of Representatives and be signed into law by President Joe Biden. Lawmakers from both parties have said they want to act quickly to support Ukraine. There is still disagreement between bipartisan senators, especially over whether sanctions should be imposed on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. They are also developing a plan on what sanctions should be imposed on Russia now and what should be imposed in the event of an invasion. At the moment, there is a mutual understanding at the highest level regarding the railway, and this is confirmed by the statements. Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan told this to reporters at Yerablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan Fridayon Army Day anniversary, referring to the matter of unblocking roads in the region. "I believe this is a very positive progress. At the moment, expert work is being done more. I will additionally inform about our future meetings as a result of that work," added the deputy PM. According to Grigoryan, the aforesaid railway is already a constructive work because at this stage, the working group is carrying out work that is very specific and pursues a specific goal. "It is the construction of a railway in the parts that of the Republic of Armenia," the deputy premier explained. Israel will follow its strategy to fight Iranian aggression regardless of whether world powers reach an agreement with the Islamic Republic at the Vienna talks, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told The Jerusalem Post. Israel's strategy does not depend on whether there is an agreement or not, Bennett said. A deal that sends tens of billions of dollars to this rotten and weak regime will be a mistake because that money will go to terror against IDF soldiers and Americans in the region, Bennett said. Tehran, according to Bennett, is playing poker with a very weak card, but it is bluffing. Israel has conveyed a message to its friends in the US and Europe who are negotiating with Iran that the mullah regime should not receive the money, the prime minister said. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, accompanied by the members of the Armenian clergy, visited Yerablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan Fridayon the 30th anniversary of the Armenian Army. Karekin II told reporters there that they had visited Yerablur to raise their prayers to God for the peace of the souls of brave Armenians who have fallen. According to the Catholicos of All Armenians, they ask the Lord to bless the life of the Armenian people to live in peace and security, in a ceremonial and creative life, and in prosperity. "Also, we raised our prayer to God so that with the blessing of the Lord, the Armenian army would be strengthened and protect the peaceful, secure life of our country and our people," he added. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Armenias Armed Forces, third President Serzh Sargsyan on Friday visited the Sardarapat Heroic Battle Memorial, from where he issued a message, informed the office of the third President. Sargsyan paid tribute to Armenian heroes who fell in the Sardarapat Battle by laying a wreath at the Sardarapat Memorial. Earlier in the day, a wreath was also laid at Yerablur Military Pantheon at the memorial wall which immortalizes those who made the greatest contribution towards building the Armenian Army and those heroes who fell for the sake of freedom and Homelands independence. And third President Serzh Sargsyans aforesaid Army Day message states as follows: Today I am sending my Army Day-dated message from the Sardarapat Memorial, which symbolizes the victorious spirit of the Armenian soldier and the Armenian national dignity. Every symbol has its significance here a venue, where the remains of the Sardarapat Battle heroes and Artsakh freedom-fighters lie, where the immortal souls of Armenian heroes continue to inspire strength, determination and unwavering faith to anyone ready to defend the homeland. The embodiment of all those forces that view things in a sober light was formed here as a warning addressed to the enemy, but also as an awakening call addressed to our people, so that they never lost their vigilance and refused to be ruined through vain promises. This is a pledge for reinstating and re-evaluating Armenias independence that was lost for centuries in a fight-to-death struggle; this is a message for Armenias rebirth; this is a call for being ready to stand next to the Armenian soldier at crucial moments and for making it possible again what seemed to be impossible. On the occasion of the anniversary of the Armenian army, which saw both glorious victories over the past three decades and a bitter defeat in the latest war under the command of treacherous and bashful leaders, I urge everyone to listen to the call of Sardarapat and live up to the memory of our heroes martyred for the sake of homeland. I believe that the Armenian state will rise from its slumbers; I believe in the wisdom of the Armenian people and in our upcoming victories. I do believe because my comrades-in-arms and I listened to the call of Sardarapat as Shushi and Artsakhs other settlements were being liberated some 30 years ago. I believe that the Sardarapat Memorials bells will herald ever new victories forged by the glorious Armenian army, the 30-year-old child of our people. Happy birthday, Armenian army! I see a risk in not normalizing relations with Turkey. The chairman of the Bright Armenia Party (BAP), Edmon Marukyan, stated this to reporters at Yerablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan Fridayon the Army Day anniversary. "That risk has already taken place. And if [then Armenian President] Serzh Sargsyan's initiative [on normalizing relations with Turkey] had not been hindered in 2008 and that initiative had taken place, this war [i.e., the 44-day Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war in the fall of 2020] might not have happened this way. Therefore, in 2008 as well I had believed and supported the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations without preconditions. Today I am happy that after the [recent] first meeting of the envoys [of the two countries] there is a clear statement in the statement of the Turkish and Armenian Foreign Ministries that the talks have started without preconditions," Marukyan said. To the remark that Azerbaijan is still firing on, attacking, and killing Armenians, Marukyan said that this is why relations should be normalized. "Such a catastrophe happened to us [Armenians] because we did not use the chances given to us at the time, or we did not use [them] well, or we used [them], [but] did not work. Now we have a chance again to use it, to normalize relations. It is the non-normalization of relations that will lead to new wars, new conflicts, and new casualties in the future," the BAP leader added. As for the fact that Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev sees the normalization of relations with Armenia in the context of Armenia recognizing Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and opening a corridor for Azerbaijan through Syunik Province of Armenia, Edmon Marukyan noted: "In Armenia, we discuss more what the Azerbaijani leader sees than what we see. The leader of Azerbaijan may see a lot. And I see that Artsakh is an established factor, with its president, its flag, its coat of arms, its army. Security is maintained there through Russian peacekeepers." The Armenian side does not have clarifications yet on which of the proposals on border demarcation and delimitation is unacceptable for Azerbaijan. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated about this to reporters at Yerablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan Fridayon Army Day anniversary, adding that these clarifications are being determined. To the question as to whether the Armenian side is waiting for the proposals of the Azerbaijani side, or will it present new proposals, the Armenian FM responded as follows: "There is a constant discussion, the discussion continues. Now we are trying to get clarifications as to especially which part [of these proposals] is unacceptable [for Azerbaijan]. On what grounds? And, accordingly, what new solutions there can be?" On January 19, Ararat Mirzoyan had announced in the National Assembly: "The Armenian side has prepared a package of several measures aimed at de-escalating the situation, reducing tension, raising the level of security and stability on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border zone, and has transmitted [this package] to both the Russian and Azerbaijanmediated by the Russian side, [as well as] to the other partners." The Americans really want an immediate de-escalation with Russia, but dialogue is not possible with thousands of Russian troops at the Ukrainian border, a senior NATO source representing an EU member state in Brussels told EURACTIV. Believe me, the Americans really want an immediate de-escalation with Russia, the source said, adding that NATO knows that the direct threat is Russia but is also aware that the danger in the wider picture is China, which is now comfortably observing two powerful elephants wrestling. Beijing has not threatened the West strategically or militarily, but you have to predict the future, and China is not growing only commercially, the source said. Asked about the Ukrainian crisis and Moscow's next steps, he said that only President Vladimir Putin knows what will happen, while even the Kremlin leadership has no idea. At the same time, the source added, it would be nice if the West would also pulled Ukraines ear a bit, as some in Kyiv are staging "unnecessary provocations." In his estimation, Russia is not planning an invasion of Ukraine. To invade such a large country with such military forces [like Ukraine], you need military capabilities other than those that have been currently deployed, the source said. He stressed that NATO has no obligation or right to militarily intervene in Ukraine because it is not a member of the Alliance, but things would be very different if a NATO country were attacked. If Russia made the mistake of attacking a NATO member state, then we would have a third world war. Nevertheless, the source added, Ukraine is a "partner with increased capabilities" of NATO, which means that the alliance has certain moral obligations that could lead to massive sanctions against Moscow. The armed forces and servicemen of independent Armenia are the true children of their homeland, who stand out by their courage and bravery. This is noted in a statement posted Friday on the Facebook page of the Russian embassy in Armenia. "They are the proud continuation of the glorious military traditions of the generation of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Without exaggeration, their loyalty and unwavering service are the main guarantee of the country's peace and prosperity," the statement also reads. The Russian embassy added that in a world that is complex, rapidly changing, and full of various challenges, effective cooperation between the Russian and Armenian Armed Forces is an inseparable element of the entire complex of Russian-Armenian allied relations, and that bilateral strategic cooperation in the military sphere plays a key role in protecting the national interests and sovereignty of the two countries. The army is the structure that, with its organization and level of discipline, is obligated be the first to stand up and straighten its back, restoring its reputation as a former victor and a competitive army in the region. Seyran Ohanyan, leader of the opposition "Armenia" Faction in the National Assembly and former defense minister of Armenia, stated this on the TALK TIME program of Armenian News-NEWS.am. "Where the army and the people are united, they are invincible. But in this 44-day war [in the fall of 2020], that unity was not seen. In parallel with the war, our authorities failed to move the state on the military tracks, unite the whole nation, and lead to victories. The rear of the army remained openat least in terms of personnel and logistics. In 2018, the capabilities of our army sharply decreased, first of all, the society was hit, the society was divided into parts," he said. And to the remark that the incumbent Armenian authorities announce that the army was armed the most right after the revolution in 2018, Seyran Ohanyan responded: "The authorities are not rightat the very least. If the authorities invite me to any open or closed discussion in the same Ministry of Defense, I can submit. Twenty-seven years of work cannot be compared to [just] three years of work. They have inflated the central apparatus, whereas the military organizations, the mobilization organizations have reduced them. It can be said that they decided to organize PR on the army; that is, the [army] rear support, food, and equipment was underscored more than the armament of the army. The US will carry out about 45 flights to supply additional assistance to Ukraine worth $200 million, the RBC-Ukraine newspaper reported, citing a source in the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. "The specified assistance includes means of a defensive nature: ammunition, counter-battery fighting means, anti-tank means, small arms and other," the report said. Earlier it was reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a telephone conversation thanked US President Joe Biden for the supply of lethal weapons to the country. On 25 January, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Anna Malyar said on her Facebook page that a new batch of technical assistance from the USA for the Ukrainian Armed Forces had arrived at Boryspil International Airport. According to her, the aid consists of modern defense equipment and ammunition. In the publication she thanked US partners for their support and practical assistance. The Armenian Defense Ministry denied the report of the Azerbaijani side. Earlier today, Azerbaijani media reported with reference to their country's defense ministry that the Armenian Armed Forces allegedly shelled Azerbaijani positions in the Tavush direction in the evening of 27 January. "The report circulated by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry that Armenian Armed Forces units opened fire at Azerbaijani combat positions located in the northeastern section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on 27 January is misinformation. In fact, around 10 p.m. on 27 January, random shots were fired from the Azerbaijani side in the said section of the border, but the Armenian units did not reply to them," the report says. Armenia on Friday marks the 30th anniversary of the creation of its armed forces. However, as Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and some high-officials from Defense Ministry have tested positive for COVID-19 a reception dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces has been postponed. Meanwhile, National Assembly (NA) speaker Alen Simonyan, and many members of the ruling majority Civil Contract Faction of the NA have visited Yerablur. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed the decision on approving the composition of the Council on Constitutional Changes. According to the text of the decision the Council on Constitutional amendments was formed, its individual composition and activity order were approved. The professional commission of constitutional amendments will be formed within two months after the formation of the council. EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar has summarized the results of the EU delegations recent visits to Yerevan and Baku. "The meetings allowed us to follow up on the substantive discussions that the two leaders held with President Charles Michel in Brussels in December, as well as on their meeting with President Emmanuel Macron following the Eastern Partnership Summit," he noted. Earlier he noted that they support contacts of Yerevan and Ankara within the so-called 3+3. We also support the upcoming resumption of flights between Yerevan and Istanbul and other high-level contacts between Armenian and Turkish officials, such as the contacts within the so-called 3+3 platform and other possible contacts in the framework of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Klaar stressed. Armenian side does not have clarifications yet on which of the proposals on border demarcation and delimitation is unacceptable for Azerbaijan, said Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. Asked whether the Armenian side is waiting for the proposals of the Azerbaijani side, or will it present new proposals, the Armenian FM noted: "There is a constant discussion, the discussion continues." On January 19, Ararat Mirzoyan had announced in the National Assembly that the Armenian side has prepared a package of several measures aimed at de-escalating the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The fountain built in memory of famous Armenian painter Arshile Gorky (Vostanik Manoug Adoian) was damaged by unknown people in the Turkish province of Van, according to the Gazeteduvar website of Turkey. In the latest vandalism, the signs telling the story of Gorky's life were removed and disappeared. When asked why the water from this fountain was cut off, the district administration said that it was due to lack of water, and denied any information about the damage. The risk of dying from Covid-19 is significantly higher in countries with populist governments. A study by an international team of researchers found that populist governments have handled the crisis worse than non-populist governments. The researchers analyzed the excess deaths in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. They found that excess mortality was, on average, more than twice as high in populist-governed countries as in non-populist-governed countries. Before the pandemic, the so-called populist wave swept through many countries, when radical and anti-establishment leaders came to power. Of the 42 countries included in the analysis, 11 were classified as populist-run in 2020: the US, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the UK, India, Israel, Mexico, Poland, Slovakia, and Turkey. Countries that were considered non-populist included Japan, Canada, and Sweden. Connecticut Brownfields Initiative Evolves to Technical Assistance for Brownfields Program By: Eli Freund, Editorial Communications Manager, UConn School of Engineering After the successful awarding of the University of Connecticut as a regional Technical Assistance to Brownfields provider by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, UConn will now be offering its expertise and services to communities and organizations around New England, expanding the scope of the Connecticut Brownfields Initiative. The Connecticut Brownfields Initiative, launched in 2017, was a program run specifically to assist communities in Connecticut with multiple brownfield sites that have negative impacts on the environment, public health and economic development. Throughout its four years of existence, the program combined hands-on education and outreach skills for students in the program, with pro-bono assistance to local communities. The new UConn TAB program is expanding on efforts originated in CBI and replicating that model for any municipality, regional planning organization or non-profit located in EPA Region 1, which includes Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Because of the increased reach of the TAB program, and the overlap of activities, UConn TAB Director and Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Head Marisa Chrysochoou commented that this is the perfect time to merge CBI and its activities into the TAB program. When we launched CBI in 2017 to serve Connecticut communities, our goal all along was to acquire additional resources and serve more communities Chrysochoou said. As the regional TAB provider, were integrating CBI, and becoming one, cohesive organization that serves all of our partners in the region. Our collaboration with the Center for Land Use Education and Research, the School of Social Work, and the Center for Population Health at UConn allows us to tap into additional expertise needed to serve communities. The UConn TAB program is offering a variety of services to communities, including research support for grant proposals, direct technical assistance for brownfield projects, community engagement support, continuing education and networking opportunities. The service learning program Brownfield Corps will continue to be an integral part of TAB, offering experiential learning that is a cornerstone of Life-Transformative Education. We are excited to offer our student opportunities to work with a wider range of communities beyond Connecticut, said Assistant Research Professor and TAB Program Manager Nefeli Bompoti. Many of our students come from neighboring states and will have the opportunity to forge professional connections closer to home, and learn about a wider range of issues that New England communities face. For more information on all the services offered by UConns TAB program, or to contact the program as a potential partner, please visit https://tab.program.uconn.edu. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- NATO and the U.S. on Wednesday rejected Russia's demand to roll back the alliance's presence in 14 Eastern European countries that became members after 1997. The idea likely would have gained little traction in those countries, where Russia's leadership has been highly unpopular since it annexed Crimea in 2014. Since then, median approval across the mostly former Eastern bloc countries has never topped 30%, and disapproval has never dropped below 46%. In 2021, before the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, nearly half (49%) disapproved. Line graph. Median levels of views of Russian leadership among NATO members in Eastern Europe. In 2021, a median 49% of the public disapproved of Russia's leadership, while a median 27% approved and 25% did not know or refused to answer. The latest approval ratings of Russia come from surveys in Eastern Europe in 2021, mostly before the Russian government began massing large numbers of troops on the Ukrainian border in October 2021. After nearly two months of heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine and Ukraine's NATO allies, the Russian government issued a series of demands to deescalate the situation. Key among the demands was the withdrawal of NATO forces and equipment from any country that was part of NATO's enlargement since 1997. From 2009 through 2013, levels of disproval for Russia's leadership had been substantially lower among NATO members in this region, not exceeding 36% median disapproval. However, disapproval shot up 22 percentage points in 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea early that year. Disapproval Varies Across Eastern European NATO Members While there is a median of 49% disapproval for Russia's leadership across NATO members in Eastern Europe, it is not monolithic. Of the 13 Eastern European NATO members that Gallup was able to poll in 2021, seven are at or near majority-level disapproval for Russia's leadership. Those 13 countries include the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Croatia and North Macedonia. Russian Leadership Disapproval in Eastern European NATO Countries, 2013 vs. 2021 ** Do you approve or disapprove of the job performance of the leadership of Russia? Disapprove - 2013 Disapprove - 2021 Change % % pct. pts. Albania 20 49 +29 Poland 51 79 +28 Hungary 18 39 +21 Bulgaria 12 33 +21 Slovakia 34 51 +17 Croatia 31 43 +12 Latvia 38 49 +11 Estonia 46 56 +10 Romania 27 37 +10 Czech Republic 45 53 +8 Lithuania 42 44 +2 North Macedonia 29 30 +1 Slovenia 60 56 -4 Montenegro 31 * - *Data not available **Among countries that joined NATO in 1997 or later Gallup Disapproval of Russia's leadership is highest in Poland, where 79% of adults disapproved in 2021. That level of disapproval is 28 points higher than it was in 2013 before the annexation of Crimea. Current levels of disapproval are also particularly high in two of the three Baltic states, Estonia at 56% and Latvia at 49%. Disapproval in both countries is 10 and 11 points higher than in 2013, respectively. Estonia and Latvia -- and Lithuania -- have sent weapons to Ukraine to support the country against a potential Russian invasion. In three of the largest Eastern European NATO member countries, disapproval of Russian leadership remains substantially below majority levels, with Hungary at 39%, Romania at 37% and Bulgaria at 33%. Disapproval of Russia's leadership remains well above where it was before the annexation of Crimea. In both Hungary and Bulgaria, levels are 21 points higher in 2021 than in 2013, while in Romania, the level of disapproval is 10 points higher than where it previously stood. Bottom Line After the fall of the Soviet Union, NATO expanded membership to many of the countries formerly in the Soviet sphere in Eastern Europe. The Russian government has consistently claimed that the presence of NATO forces in these countries is a threat to Russia's security and that the U.S. had previously pledged not to expand the alliance into the area. Gallup has previously found that most NATO member countries in the region have seen the alliance as protection rather than the threat that Russia portrays, while those in former Russia and other former Soviet states outside of Eastern Europe were more likely to see it as a threat. The Russian government would clearly like to remove or severely downgrade NATO's presence near its western border, and the country's most recent demands are aimed squarely at doing so. The demands were handed over to the U.S. government, suggesting that Russia sees the U.S. as the primary arbiter of NATO policy. While the U.S. arguably plays an outsized role in the alliance, other member countries retain a voice in their own defense and security policies. Both the U.S. and NATO, in general, have rejected Russia's demands that forces and equipment be withdrawn from these countries. Current levels of disapproval for Russia's leadership among the Eastern European members of NATO strongly suggest these countries would support maintaining NATO's presence in Eastern Europe. To stay up to date with the latest Gallup News insights and updates, follow us on Twitter. Learn more about how the Gallup World Poll works. For complete methodology and specific survey dates, please review Gallup's Country Data Set details. His letter to the White House arrived on Thursday, confirming the news that had been widely reported the day before: Longtime justice Stephen Breyer would retire from the U.S. Supreme Court at the end of the current term. I have found the work challenging and meaningful, Breyer wrote of his nearly 30 years on the nations highest court. His departure paves the way for President Joe Biden to make his first Supreme Court nominationa justice who, if confirmed, will likely serve for decades and, in the immediate future, maintain the current 6-3 split between conservative and liberal justices. Appointed to the nations highest court by President Bill Clinton in 1994, the 83-year-old Breyer has long been known for his pragmatic approach to the law, a jurist who believes that the work of the courts is justice, not politics, said Frances Hill, a professor of law and Deans Distinguished Scholar for the Profession at the University of Miami School of Law. He believed in facts, not ideologies, as the basis of judicial opinions. He believed that people should choose their leaders based on the votes of the people of the United States, Hill said. He supported voting rights, transparency in campaign finance, and accountability of the peoples elected representatives. She noted that Breyer and Associate Justice Sandra Day OConnor, who served on the court from 1981 to 2006, worked together on public education regarding the Constitution and the role citizens play in our constitutional system. He also played a central role in convincing his colleagues on the court to uphold Obamacare, Hill said. As time passes, he is likely to be considered a consequential justice who understood his role on the court and who understood the importance of leaving when his departure could protect at least some of his values, Hill explained. Now, attention quickly shifts to who Biden will nominate to fill Breyers shoes. During his presidential campaign, the candidate promised that he would nominate a Black woman to the nine-justice court, and during a Thursday news conference at the White House with Breyer in attendance, Biden reaffirmed that pledge, saying such a nomination is long overdue. The person I will nominate will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience, and integrity, and that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court, Biden said. Among the leading candidates to succeed Breyer: Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, and South Carolina U.S. District Court Judge J. Michelle Childs. Of course, any Biden nominee will almost certainly fit the model of what is oversimplified as a liberal justice: sympathetic on combatting police violence against people of color, the issue of a womans right to choose, and to an expansive view of equal protection that strongly affirms the autonomy of women, gays, and immigrants, said professor of law Donald Jones. But a Black woman stands at the intersection of two social identities, both gender and race. As such, the difference she is likely to make is in her ability to bring a unique voice and perspective to her interpretation of constitutional questions. Should a Black woman be confirmed to the Supreme Court, it would definitely diversify the court in terms of racial representation, said professor of political science Louise Davidson-Schmich, noting that only two Black justices, Thurgood Marshall and Clarence Thomas, have ever served on the court. And they were men, she said. Ketanji Brown Jackson and Leondra Kruger are both Ivy League-educated as are most other justices on the court, she said. But J. Michelle Childs would add additional diversity in terms of educational background, as she went to law school in South Carolina. But any pick will bring his or her personal life experiences to the cases heard before the high court, and certainly African American womens life experiences are likely to have differed from that of other men or women serving as justices, Davidson-Schmich said. Overall, however, the addition of one African American woman is unlikely to change the Supreme Court as an institution; and ideologically, anyone Biden picks will likely be part of the courts liberal wing just as Justice Breyer was. If anything, Bidens nominee, should she be confirmed, will likely continue two common trends of Supreme Court justices: most are graduates of either the Harvard or Yale law schools, and most have clerked for the high court, noted Charlton Copeland, professor of law and Deans Distinguished Scholar at the University of Miami. With the exception of Amy Coney Barrett, who attended Notre Dame, the Harvard and Yale law schools have a lock on the court, with four current justices having each gone to one of those two schools of law, said Copeland, adding that Jackson and Kruger are products of Harvard and Yale, respectively. And Jackson clerked for Justice Breyer, and Kruger for the late John Paul Stevens, he said. But how would Jackson, Kruger, or Childs change the court? Neither attended a law school with a tenured Black woman on its faculty. So, they quite likely bring experience of being the first, the only, at numerous professional settings, Copeland said. While this would have been true of many of the women justices and [Associate Justice] Clarence Thomas, they are younger by decades, and I think issues of access, inclusion, and the fair distribution of elite resources are likely not to be lost on them. And while we are talking about these women as Black women, their careers have not revolved around race in the way that Thurgood Marshalls or Clarence Thomass pre-court careers did. [Jacksons, Krugers, and Childss] careers mark something of the promise of the civil rights movement and the movement for gender equity in the profession. At a time when Bidens approval rating has hit a new lowjust 41 percent of Americans approve of the job he is doing, while 56 percent disapprove, according to a new Pew Research Center surveywould nominating and putting a Black woman on the Supreme Court give a boost to his presidency? Given the deep divide between the left and right in the United States, this appointment is not likely to shift public opinion markedly up or down in the short run, said Casey Klofstad, a professor of political science in the College of Arts and Sciences. Support for the president may be buoyed among Americans who approve of the appointment, while those opposed may double-down on their negative views on Biden, effectively canceling each other out. The potential impact of this appointment on the Biden presidency is longer-term. It will have a direct impact on Bidens legacy as well as future SCOTUS decisions. What Matters to UStudent Governments popular speaker serieskicks off this semester with Tabitha Brown, a successful author, actress, and vegan lifestyle personality. Brown will visit campus on Tuesday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m. for an engaging conversation hosted in person at the Shalala Student Center. Tabitha Brown is an excellent choice to kick off Black Awareness Month on campus, said Meera Patel, a junior and chair of What Matters to U. She is a successful woman of color, and her background as a Black female influencer and vegan highlights the importance of intersectionality. In addition to her bestselling debut book, Feeding the Soul (Because Its My Business!), Brown has taken various business ventures by storm. She launched a line of vegan-based haircare products; partnered with McCormick and Company on her own signature seasoning recipe; and is an equity partner of Orro, a plant-based meal replacement. Brown has also appeared on screen in shows such as Will & Grace, The Chi, and The Conners. Boasting more than 12 million followers across multiple social media platforms, the North Carolina native inspires others to have faith, perseverance, and pave their own paths to achieving their dreamsall while delighting fans with her funny stories and upbeat cooking demonstrations. The What Matters to U platform invites speakers to provide their perspectives on a variety of experiences that are relatable to students, Patel added. Ms. Browns journey is inspiring, and her story appeals to our campus diverse student community. Tuesdays discussion will be moderated by Kennedy Robinson, assistant director with the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, and Tiyah Snell, a senior studying creative advertising. Students can reserve their tickets for the in-person event starting Tuesday, Feb. 1 beginning at noon. Emily Tucker to lead Opportunity Orange Scholars Media Contact: Christy Lang | Manager | 405-744-9740 | christy.lang@okstate.edu Emily Tucker has been named the director for Opportunity Orange Scholars, a new postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disability at Oklahoma State University. Tucker, who was selected following a national search, also will serve as assistant professor of professional practice in the Department of Human Development and Family Science. She will officially begin her appointment in June. Tucker brings an extensive record of scholarship and engagement with individuals with disability and with their families. She is currently an assistant researcher at the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities, where her project work focuses on self-determination for people with disability across the life course. She is slated to complete her doctorate in Medical Family Therapy from East Carolina University in May. Tucker earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science (2016) and followed with a Master of Science in Human Development and Family Science, specialization in marriage and family therapy, as well as an Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Studies Graduate Certificate (2019), all from OSU. I am thrilled to be coming back to Oklahoma State to work with Opportunity Orange Scholars, Tucker said. This program has been a long time coming, and it is so exciting to see all of the support from across the university as well as community partners across the state. I truly cannot think of a better job than one where I get to spend my time fostering inclusion and belonging for the next generation of Cowboys. Dr. Jennifer Jones and Dr. Kami Gallus lead the Institute for Developmental Disabilities at OSU. While a student, Tucker worked closely with Jones and Gallus on engagement and research work with individuals who have developmental disability and their families. She was a founding member of a universitywide student organization focused on providing inclusive opportunities for adults with intellectual disability and OSU students on the Stillwater campus. Tucker was also a long-term research assistant for numerous projects, including Oklahoma National Core Indicators and Lets Take a Walk. It is a pleasure to welcome Emily back home to the Department of Human Development and Family Science at OSU, Jones said. As a previous undergraduate and graduate student, Emily contributed significantly to the success of many research and community-engagement programs that have paved the way for Opportunity Orange Scholars. Since leaving OSU to pursue her doctoral degree, Emily has continued to expand her knowledge and experience. Opportunity Orange Scholars is designed for individuals between the ages of 18 and 26 who have intellectual disability and do not meet OSUs degree-seeking admission criteria. Students admitted into the academic program can pursue a two-year, non-degree Certificate in Career and Community Studies with an additional, non-degree advanced Certificate in Community Living and Engagement. Students will be fully immersed in the OSU experience, as they live and learn on campus. Emilys personal experience as a student on the Stillwater campus and the relationships she has developed with stakeholders will be such an asset to this new academic program, Gallus said. Emily knows what it means to be part of the Cowboy Family and will ensure that future scholars and their families are fully welcomed and find a community of belonging at OSU. Applications for the first cohort, to begin in August 2022, are now open. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2022. Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], January 28 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Embassy Office Parks REIT (NSE: EMBASSY / BSE: 542602) ('Embassy REIT'), India's first listed REIT and the largest office REIT in Asia by area, reported results today for the third quarter ended December 31, 2021. Michael Holland, Chief Executive Officer of Embassy REIT, said, "We are delighted to announce another great set of results despite Covid disruptions, once again underscoring the resilience and growth potential of Embassy REIT. We continue to see multiple positive indicators for our business - the uptick in new leasing, our delivery of the 1.1 million square feet ('msf') JP Morgan campus, our 4.6 msf of development pipeline, and a 5 msf potential acquisition opportunity in Chennai. Positive leasing momentum gives us the confidence to increase our guidance for the full year FY2022 as we look beyond the external challenges of the past two years. We are excited for the next phase of growth and value creation for our Unitholders through our focused investments in developing, enhancing, and expanding our world-class portfolio." Business Highlights Leased 428k square feet ('sf') at 24% spreads across 15 deals, achieved 14% rent increases on 1.8 msf Raised FY2022 full year guidance for new leasing from 400k sf to 1 msf, already achieved ~700k sf YTD Added 8 new occupiers including from high-growth sectors such as SaaS, logistics and e-commerce; occupier roster now over 200 Successfully integrated Rs 9,782 crores Embassy TechVillage ('ETV') property within a year of acquisition, delivered better than underwriting on a number of metrics Financial Highlights Grew Net Operating Income ('NOI') by 30% to Rs 621 crores, with operating margin of 84% Raised FY2022 full year guidance for both NOI and Distribution per Unit ('DPU'); NOI estimate now up by 3% to Rs 2,450 crores Raised Rs 4,600 crores at 6.5% to refinance existing zero-coupon bond, delivered significant 300 bps or Rs 130 crores proforma annual interest savings Maintained strong balance sheet with low leverage of 24% and Rs 11,600 crores debt headroom to finance growth Growth Initiatives Delivered 1.1 msf JP Morgan campus at ETV within budget, commenced new growth cycle with 1.9 msf new office development Continued construction in full swing on 4.6 msf on-campus development projects, labor at sites at peak strength Received Right of First Offer ('ROFO') notice for 5 msf Embassy Splendid TechZone, Chennai from Embassy Sponsor Launched one of Asia's largest solar rooftop projects, with over 20 MW scale and over 30% projected IRR; committed to 75% renewable energy by FY2025 The Board of Directors of Embassy Office Parks Management Services Private Limited ('EOPMSPL'), Manager to Embassy REIT, at its Board Meeting held earlier today, declared a distribution of Rs 493 crores or Rs 5.20 per unit for Q3 FY2022. Of this, Rs 4.32 per unit or 83% of distributions are tax-free for Unitholders. The record date for the Q3 FY2022 distribution is February 07, 2022 and the distribution will be paid on or before February 12, 2022. Investor Materials and Quarterly Investor Call Details Embassy REIT has released a package of information on the quarterly results and performance, that includes (i) reviewed condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarter and nine month period ended December 31, 2021, (ii) an earnings presentation covering Q3 FY2022 results, and (iii) supplemental operating and financial data book that is in-line with leading reporting practices across global REITs. All these materials are available in the Investors section of our website at www.embassyofficeparks.com. Embassy REIT will host a conference call on January 28, 2022 at 18:00 hours Indian Standard Time to discuss the Q3 FY2022 results. A replay of the call will be available in the Investors section of our website at www.embassyofficeparks.com. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) Alpharetta (GA) [USA], January 28 (ANI/PNN): "Data," as we know it, has evolved and grown in stature and importance significantly over the past decade. Data has gone from being a simple component of computing processes to becoming an integral part of business operations (data science). Data is the actual product/asset in several notable cases and a key business differentiator for several firms. Data now fuels many industries - generated through targeted, personalized advertisements to mobile and website tracking of users to learn about their behaviors and preferences. As the application and the value of data grows, so does the potential to exploit it. As a result, the privacy of individuals is under significant threats than ever before as malicious actors, data brokers, and several other business entities try to harvest, sell, or monetize personal or enterprise data for their own commercial purposes. While most organizations process personal data for business purposes, they run the risk of running afoul of global data privacy regulations owing to a lack of awareness about the data privacy principles laid down in regulations such as the GDPR and the CCPA. Recently there have been several public data breaches and regulatory actions on several organizations when they were found to breach the trust of their customers by engaging in personal data processing in violation of the data privacy acts. To this end, Data Privacy Day-celebrated globally on January 28th-is dedicated to ensuring that data collection, use, and sharing is conducted ethically by organizations, and individuals are appropriately sensitized about the importance of their personal data privacy and their rights as the owner of their personal information. This includes educating the end-users on best practices to ensure their data is not captured without their consent, advising them not to share their sensitive data unless necessary, and improving the security of their data altogether to prevent identity theft and unauthorized profiling. At Cyble, we believe that a critical step in contributing towards Data Privacy Awareness is helping people understand the extent of their personal data exposure on the surface web and the dark web to help them safeguard themselves from a potential personal data breach. On this Data Privacy Day 2022, we invite you to head over to AmIBreached.com to assess your personal data privacy exposure and be a part of the growing privacy-aware community. Cyble is a global threat intelligence SaaS provider that helps enterprises protect themselves from cybercrimes and exposure in the surface web, deep web, and dark web. Its prime focus is to provide organisations with real-time visibility to their digital risk footprint. Backed by Blackbird Ventures, Xoogler and Y Combinator as part of the 2021 winter cohort, Cyble has also been recognised by Forbes as one of the top 20 Best Cybersecurity Start-ups, along with several other industry recognitions. Headquartered in Georgia, United States, and with offices in Dubai, Australia, Singapore, and India, Cyble has a global presence. To learn more about Cyble, visit www.cyble.com. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) New Delhi [India], January 28 (ANI/NewsVoir): For over 25 years, Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognising excellence in people practices. Being certified as a Top Employer showcases an organisation's dedication to a better world of work, through excellent HR policies and people practices. Sandeep Gulati, Chief Executive Officer India at Egis said, "We at Egis in India are immensely proud to have been officially recognised as a Top Employer 2022. Our talent and people practices have been critical drivers for overall organizational growth. With our progressive 'people first' policies and practices, we are working to consistently improve employee value." Suneel Wasan, Director, HR, Egis in India said, "It is a recognition of our agility, of our capacity to transform despite the health crisis, of the support we provide to our managers and more generally of our commitment to our employees. Despite the challenging year, we have experienced, which has certainly made an impact on organisations around the world, Egis in India has continued to demonstrate the power of putting their people first in the workplace. We are proud to receive this prestigious award and wish to congratulate all other organisations that have been certified in their respective countries. In 2021, we stayed committed to our employees more than ever: flexible work policies; insurance, assisting employees and their families in maintaining their physical and mental wellbeing; investing in learning and development; evolving into an even more inclusive workplace; and continuing to attract the best and most diverse talent. This certification gave us the opportunity to conduct an in-depth study of our HR practices." The Top Employers Institute certifies organizations based on the analysis and benchmark of their HR Practices. The survey covers 6 HR domains consisting of 20 topics including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Well-being and Diversity & Inclusion and more. More than 1,857 Top Employers have been certified and recognised in 123 countries/regions across five continents. Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognising excellence in People Practices and help accelerate these practices to enrich the world of work. Through the Top Employers Institute Certification Programme, participating companies are validated, certified and recognised as an employer of choice. Established over 30 years ago, Top Employers Institute has certified over 1,857 organisations in 123 countries/regions. These certified Top Employers positively impact the lives of over 8 million employees globally. Egis is an international player active in the consulting, construction engineering and mobility service sectors. We create and operate intelligent infrastructure and buildings capable of responding to the climate emergency and helping to achieve more balanced, sustainable and resilient territorial development. With operations in 120 countries, Egis places the expertise of its 16,000 employees at the disposal of its clients and develops cutting-edge innovation accessible to all projects. Through its wide-ranging fields of activity, Egis is a central player in the collective organisation of society and the living environment of citizens all over the world. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Dubai [UAE], January 28 (ANI/Heylin Spark): Niner Pharmaceuticals LLC led by Mr Balaji is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Dubai. With a vision to provide world-class pharmaceutical products to meet the needs of end consumers, Niner Pharmaceuticals LLC manufactures and supplies quality medicines. As a progressive move Niner Pharmaceuticals is planning to get the manufacturing facilities in India certified by USFDA, EU and UK MHRA. This would help the company gain better feasibility to market the intended products across the EU region. All the products go through rigorous quality checks and are manufactured as per quality standards of WHO, GMP, and Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation (PIC/S). Besides, the company also emphasizes the packaging of pharmaceutical products. Niner Pharmaceuticals envisions bridging the gap between the small & mid-scale pharmaceutical companies and the global markets. With world-class WHO certified and other regulatory accreditation products, Niner Pharmaceuticals strives for excellence. Niner Pharmaceuticals LLC is the leading manufacturer of pharmaceutical formulations in Powder Injection, Liquid Injection, Tablet, Bolus, Oral Liquid, Oral Powder, Aerosol External preparation and Ointment. Mr Balaji, the Chairman and Founder of Niner Pharmaceuticals says, "My vision is to see Niner Pharma among the top pharmaceutical companies. "We are negotiating to fund Indian mid and small scale pharmaceutical companies, intermediaries manufacturing companies and API plants to optimize their production capacity and provide them business to export their products to overseas countries like ASIAN, SAARC, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. Mr Balaji is an MBA graduate and possesses over 16 years of experience across multiple industries. Currently, he heads JB Group of Companies (Singapore), JB Radiant Power Energy (Singapore), JB Medicare (Vietnam) JB ITES Solution (Dubai UAE), and JB Global Trade LLC (Dubai UAE). He has received the Best Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Africa, Best Investor and Entrepreneurs Award from African Eagles Friends 2020, Business Excellence Award from the Government of Zimbabwe, and Nelson Mandela Peace Award 2021. Backed by knowledgeable C-Level Executives and a team of qualified professionals, the company is committed to providing the best quality products at economical prices. Niner Pharmaceuticals LLC is committed to the quality of medicines, protecting patients, helping build the public's trust and confidence in drug therapies, enabling people to live longer and healthier. Currently, the company is supplying covid related medicines, Vitamin supplements to Vietnam, Cuba, Mexico, and the Middle East and is looking forward to expanding its services to the European market in the coming years. To know more click www.ninerpharma.com. This story is provided by Heylin Spark. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Heylin Spark) Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], January 28 (ANI/NewsVoir): NIPS Hotel Management Institute has continued its tradition of being recognized and honoured for its dedication to quality and excellence in hospitality education. The institute has been awarded with Eastern India's No. 1 Hotel Management College Award by Education Leadership Award-2021 held in Mumbai for 8 consecutive years in a row. The faculty and the students have received the accolade for their hard work and excellence in hospitality management. NIPS has an impressive team of internationally acclaimed celebrity faculty members who are headed by celebrity Chef Joseph Uttam Gomes. NIPS's faculties' extensive knowledge and incredible experience is the real reason behind student's success at the national and international level which bring global recognition to the institute. Speaking on the achievement, Chef Joseph Uttam Gomes, Deputy Director of NIPS Group, says, "This is indeed an occasion of pride for NIPS to achieve these prestigious accolades. It is our beloved students who are responsible for the continuous growth and development of the institute in combined efforts with our extremely proficient faculty members." NIPS has been recognized as "Asia's Greatest Brand", for the year 2019-2020. It is the first hotel management college in India to receive the prestigious "Best International Placement Award", Bangkok, Thailand, 2019-2020. NIPS is also a recipient of Best Institute of the year by CMO Asia Magazine, Singapore. Vivek Pathak - Founder Managing Director of NIPS credits the students and faculty of the institute for this brilliant feat. He says, "It's a moment of glory and pride for NIPS to receive the prestigious award for Eastern India's No. 1 College by Education Leadership Awards 2021, Mumbai. The achievements and worldwide recognition of the college do not come easy. The drive for excellence permeates deeply the college culture." "On this occasion, I must express deep gratitude to all our teachers for their priceless efforts, understanding, support, guidance, and contribution towards students to learn not just from the books but also qualities that make good human beings. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire staff for the professionalism and commitment in building a solid foundation for the college. Thanks to the parents for their support and thanks to students for your diligent work and engagement in the school," he added. NIPS has had an exemplary best placement & Internship record since its inception in 1993. Placement cell of NIPS is headed by Celebrity Chef Joseph Uttam Gomes himself. Under his leadership, NIPS is the first hotel management college in India to receive the prestigious "Best International Placement Award", Bangkok, Thailand, 2019-2020 and Best Placement Award by ASSOCHAM, 2017-2018. NIPS's alumni list speaks about the innovative and effective learning environment at the college and leadership expertise is imparted during studies. During the glorious journey of 26 years, NIPS has created a legacy of producing some of Industry's best Executive Chefs, General Managers, HODs, Entrepreneurs, Mixologists, Wine Experts, Captains, Cruise Managers, Food & Product Experts, etc. Many of the students are working abroad or settled as permanent residents in countries like the US, England, France, Canada, Germany, South Africa, China, Thailand, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia and Russia, etc. To know more about NIPS admission process contact at admission@nipsgroup.in. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara said on Friday all the required approvals to set up the National Asset Reconstruction Company or what is popularly called a 'bad bank' has been granted, including by the Reserve Bank of India. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2021-22 proposed to set up the new entities to help lenders in cleaning up their books by acquiring toxic assets. Addressing a virtual press conference from Mumbai, SBI chairman said National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (NARCL) and India Debt Resolution Company Ltd (IDRCL) have received all requisite approvals including the required approvals from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start operations. NARCL has been incorporated under the Companies Act and had applied to the Reserve Bank of India for license as an Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC). NARCL has been set up by banks to aggregate and consolidate stressed assets for their subsequent resolution. PSBs will maintain 51 per cent ownership in NARCL. IDRCL is a service company/operational entity which will manage the asset and engage market professionals and turnaround experts. Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Public FIs will hold a maximum of 49 per cent stake and the rest will be with private sector lenders. Khara said NARCL will acquire and aggregate the identified NPA accounts from banks while IDRCL under an exclusive arrangement will handle the debt resolution process. "This exclusive arrangement will be as per the scope defined in the 'Debt Management Agreement' to be executed between the two entities," he said. SBI Chairman said that this arrangement will be on a 'Principal-Agent' basis and final approvals and ownership for the resolution shall lie with NARCL as the Principal. This is as per the structure originally envisaged. This arrangement will also be in full conformity with provisions of SARFAESI Act as well as the Outsourcing guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India. Both the companies will comply with applicable regulatory guidelines at all times. Public Sector Banks have taken a majority ownership in NARCL and IDRCL will be majorly owned by Private Sector Banks. Khada said that this unique Public Private partnership is envisaged to get the best talent in terms of ability to handle large exposures, benefit of aggregation, domain expertise in O&M and debt resolution processes, with personnel on boarded on terms and conditions that are market driven. NARCL plans to acquire the identified assets on a 15:85 - Cash: SR structure and these SRs issued in favour of transferring lenders will be secured by Govt of India guarantee for its face value. Both the companies have their respective Boards in place, consisting of seasoned professionals from the market. To start with both companies are having their MD & CEOs on a secondment basis. Padmakumar Nair, a Chief General Manager from SBI's Stressed Assets vertical will manage NARCL while Manish Makharia, Head of Alternate Investment Fund, SBI Funds Management Pvt Ltd will be heading IDRCL. Subrata Biswas, the nominee director on the Board of NARCL will be the interim Chairman and Diwakar Gupta continues as the Chairman of IDRCL. SBI Chairman said that a total of 38 accounts aggregating to Rs 82,845 crore has been identified for transfer to NARCL, however, the transfer will happen in a phased manner. Under Phase one, about 15 accounts aggregating to Rs 50,335 crore are expected to be transferred in the current financial year, i.e. on or before 31st March 2022. (ANI) A whole host of celebrities will be honouring the late Betty White in the NBC primetime special -- 'Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl'. As per People Magazine, the special is set to air on January 31, exactly one month after the iconic actress died at age 99. The star-studded TV event will include tributes from President Joe Biden, Drew Barrymore, Valerie Bertinelli, Cher, Bryan Cranston, Ted Danson, Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey, Ana Gasteyer, Goldie Hawn, Vicki Lawrence, Jane Leeves, Jay Leno, Anthony Mackie, Wendie Malick, Joel McHale, Tracy Morgan, Jean Smart, Mary Steenburgen and more. "Co-stars, friends, admirers and those who shared special moments with White recount their favourite memories and reveal untold stories to commemorate the life and legacy of the trailblazing television star," NBC said in a news release. "The telecast will include clips and never-before-seen footage that best capture White's irreverent tone, spirit and impeccable comedic timing that are a hallmark of her decades-long career." White died on December 31, six days after suffering a stroke, according to a copy of her death certificate obtained by People Magazine earlier this month. Her death came nearly two weeks before she would have celebrated her 100th birthday. "Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever," her agent and friend Jeff Witjas said in a previous statement. "I will miss her terribly and so will the animal world that she loved so much," he continued. "I don't think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her most beloved husband Allen Ludden. She believed she would be with him again." Ahead of her centennial year, White herself opened up to People Magazine about how she was feeling about turning 100 years old. According to the 'Golden Girls' icon, being "born a cockeyed optimist" was the key to her upbeat nature. "I got it from my mom, and that never changed," she said. "I always find the positive." 'Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl' airs on January 31 at 10 pm ET on NBC. (ANI) Shamita's fellow contestant Tejasswi Prakash has been receiving huge backlash for calling Shamita 'aunty' on the show recently. After Gauahar Khan voiced her support for Shamita on Twitter, Shilpa Shetty responded to her gesture by writing, "Thank you @GAUAHAR_KHAN for being so vociferous. Takes a strong woman to take up for another, That you are.#respect. Never give up on 3 things. Your family, your heart or your Dignity. @ShamitaShetty so proud, u showed grace under fire #ShamitaIsTheBoss #ShamitaShettyForTheWin." In her tweet, Gauahar had written, "Disgusting behaviour. It just keeps getting worse . Calling someone aunty is still proof of your insecurity but chadh gayi uspe is sheer filth of someone's mindset . #shamita was such a sport . U cant teach dignity , it's inbuilt . #bb15." Earlier Bipasha Basu also took to Twitter to express her disappointment over the incident. The grand finale of 'Bigg Boss 15' will take place on January 30. (ANI) Hollywood actor Jason Momoa is supporting Zoe Kravitz for her work after his breakup with her mom Lisa Bonet. As per People magazine, earlier this month, Momoa, 42, and Bonet, 54, revealed in a joint statement that they are "parting ways in marriage" though "the love between us carries on." They began dating in 2005 and later wed in October 2017. They share daughter Lola, 14, and son Nakoa-Wolf, 13. Bonet shares daughter Zoe, 33, with ex Lenny Kravitz. On Instagram, Momoa shared a poster for Zoe's upcoming movie 'The Batman', in which she plays Catwoman. The 'Aquaman' actor wrote in the caption, "so proud. can't wait. march 4th love u zozo." Zoe replied in the comment section, "i love youuuuuuuuuu @prideofgypsies." Momoa and Bonet said in their statement, "We have all felt the squeeze and changes of these transformational times... A revolution is unfolding and our family is of no exception... feeling and growing from the seismic shifts occurring. And so we share our Family news that we are parting ways in marriage." "We share this not because we think it's newsworthy but so that as we go about our lives we may do so with dignity and honesty," the statement continued. "The love between us carries on, evolving in ways it wishes to be known and lived. We free each other to be who we are learning to become..." The statement concluded, "Our devotion unwavering to this sacred life our children. Teaching our children what's possible. Living the Prayer. May Love Prevail J & L." (ANI) Actor Evangeline Lilly, who plays Hope van Dyne/Wasp in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has confirmed her attendance at a Washington DC protest over the weekend in support of "bodily sovereignty." She took to her Instagram handle and went on to explain that she stands in opposition to government-mandated vaccine policies. Lily wrote, "I believe nobody should ever be forced to inject their body with anything, against their will, under threat of violent attack, arrest or detention without trial, loss of employment, homelessness, starvation, loss of education, alienation from loved ones, excommunication from society...under any threat whatsoever." Talking about vaccine mandates, she added, "This is not the way. This is not safe. This is not healthy. This is not love. I understand the world is in fear, but I don't believe that answering fear with force will fix our problems. I was pro-choice before COVID and I am still pro-choice today." At the start of the COVID pandemic in March 2020, Lilly made headlines after she posted about refusing to social distance and quarantine, adding, "Some people value their lives over freedom, some people value freedom over their lives. We all make choices." The actor faced backlash and eventually apologized. In a statement, she wrote, "My direct and special apologies to those most affected by this pandemic. I never meant to hurt you. When I wrote that post 10 days ago, I thought I was infusing calm into the hysteria. I can see now that I was projecting my own fears into an already fearful and traumatic situation." As per Variety, Lilly is set to return to the MCU with a role in the upcoming 'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania', which is slated for a 2023 release. (ANI) Giving fans a peek into her past love life, Hollywood star Drew Barrymore has recently revealed that she was previously in an 'open relationship' with actor Luke Wilson. The 46-year-old actor has been a part of showbiz since her childhood and is known to share some of her wilder memories on her talk show when she reminisces with other stars she's known for decades. According to Fox News, during Thursday's episode of 'The Drew Barrymore Show', the actor chatted with Kate Hudson, another former child star, about their "young and wild" days together in the early 2000s. "When we first met, we were young and wild," Barrymore said as she and Hudson pieced together that they first met at a restaurant called Chez Jay in Santa Monica, California. Their fellow actor Luke Wilson was also present, both of them recalled. "You were doing 'Alex and Emma' together, I think," Barrymore said of the 2003 romcom starring Hudson and Wilson, who is now 50. She continued, "And I was dating him, but I think he was also dating other people." She then explained that theirs "was an open relationship," adding, "We were young." Barrymore isn't the only one to have had such an experience, as Hudson added, "I've been there with a Wilson, too." Page Six reported that Barrymore and Wilson dated beginning in the late 1990s, while Hudson dated the actor's brother Owen Wilson after they met in 2006 while filming "You, Me and Dupree." Barrymore further explained, "It's so fun because when you're young, you're like, 'It's low-stakes,' we're just young, we're having fun, we're all playing, acting, hanging out." She said that while they weren't taking anything "seriously" at the time, she and Hudson "had the best time" together. As per People magazine, Barrymore also gave Hudson props for her impression of her on 'Saturday Night Live' back in 2000, saying, "You nailed it." (ANI) After allegedly hurting religious sentiments with a controversial statement during an event in Bhopal, actor Shweta Tiwari, on Friday, issued an apology to people. "I have, however, come to understand that when taken out of context, it has unintentionally hurt feelings of people. Please be assured that it has never been my intention to hurt anyone, with my words or actions. Hence, I would like to humbly apologise for the hurt that my the statement has unintentionally caused to a lot of people," she said. Shweta had landed in controversy for passing controversial remarks on God at the promotional event of her new web series 'Show Stopper', which also features Sourabh Raaj Jain. During the press conference in Bhopal, Shweta had said, "Mere bra ki size bhagwan le rahe hai (God is taking the measurements for my bra)." For the unversed, the web series 'Show Stopper' is a show about fashion and stars Sourabh Raaj Jain in the role of a bra fitter. Sourabh is best known for playing the role of Lord Krishna in 'Mahabharat'. Explaining her statement, Shweta added, "It has come to my notice that a certain statement of mine referring to a colleague's previous role has been taken out of context and has been misconstrued. When put in context, one will understand that the statement in reference to 'Bhagwan' was in context with Sourabh Raj Jain's popular role of a deity. People associate character names to actors and hence, I used that as an example during my conversation with media. However, it has been completely misconstrued which is saddening to see. As someone who has been a staunch believer of 'Bhagwan' myself, there is no way that I would intentionally or unintentionally say or do any such thing that would hurt sentiments by and large." Earlier in the day, the police in Bhopal registered a case against Shweta. (ANI) Bulletin file photo Former school resource officer John Manzella conducts a DARE course on bullying at Cloud Peak Elementary School in 2017. While there is no longer a permanent police presence in Johnson County schools, Gov. Matt Mead recently signed a bill that will allow teachers, with school board approval, to carry concealed weapons onto school property. American media personality and businesswoman Paris Hilton has spoken about accidentally wearing two different heels during her recent appearance on 'The Tonight Show'. According to People magazine, the fashion mishap was first pointed out on social media by 'The Tonight Show's' official account, which paired a video of the star walking onto the show's set to greet host Jimmy Fallon with Kreepa's song 'Oh No'. As Hilton, sporting a neon green sequin dress, walked across the stage, the clip zoomed in to her feet, revealing that she had on a nude heel on one foot and a clear, crystal-embellished stiletto on the other. "When you rush out of the house with the wrong shoes," The 'Tonight Show' captioned the short clip, tagging Hilton's own handle. The entrepreneur and DJ soon set the record straight about the fashion fiasco in her own social media post on Thursday. Paired with 'The Tonight Show's' original clip, Hilton stood before a portrait of Marilyn Monroe while wearing a pink velour tracksuit with matching pink sunglasses, as per People magazine. As the clip played and highlighted her shoe flub, she put her face into her palm and shook her head as the footage played on. "This is what happens when you rush out to watch the finale episodes of #ParisInLove @peacocktv," Hilton captioned the clip, promoting her new television series. (ANI) Soon after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's day-long visit to Punjab culminated on Thursday where he addressed a virtual rally 'Navi Soch Nava Punjab', the party claimed that as many as 9 lakh people connected within two hours on various platforms to join the rally. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was on a one-day visit to Punjab on Thursday during which he visited religious places along with 117 candidates in an apparent show of strength ahead of Assembly elections that are due next month. With both Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi and state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu eyeing the top job, Rahul Gandhi said that the chief ministerial face would be decided by the party workers soon as he admitted that "two people cannot lead (the state), only one can" With the curtains closing on the virtual rally on Thursday, the Congress party has claimed the completion of one of the most successful digital rallies in the modern era. Addressing a virtual rally in Jalandhar, Rahul Gandhi said, "We have had a talk in the car that who will lead Punjab going forward. Media people call this the CM candidate. Both Channiji and Sidhuji told me that this is the most crucial question in front of Punjab that who will lead the Congress." "See, two people can't lead. Only one will lead. Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi and State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu assured me that whoever becomes the CM face, the other person will support him. I was listening to them. I was happy. We will ask Congress workers to decide Punjab Chief Ministerial candidate," Rahul Gandhi added. Speaking to ANI, Rohan Gupta, Social Media Head of AICC said, "More than 4,00,000 people watched on social media with 30,000 comments, 9,000 shares and over 9 lakh people reach within only two hours of the rally making it most successful hybrid virtual rally of the country." "The grand virtual rally, set-up after arduous efforts by the various departments of the Congress party in complete cohesion, saw a fool-proof system created at the rally venue at Jalandhar where Rahul Gandhi, Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi and PCC President Navjot Singh Sidhu and other Congress leaders addressed the public- both physically & digitally," he added. Talking about the arrangements of the virtual rally, Gupta said that the arrangements were made in all the 117 Assembly constituencies where people listened to the Congress leader adhering to the COVID protocols. "The digital relay from the Jalandhar venue was connected through LEDs across all 117 assembly constituencies and 22 district headquarters of Punjab where upto 300 people gathered at each location following the strictest Covid19 protocols," he said. Notably, this is the first visit of Rahul Gandhi since the imposition of a ban on physical rallies by the Election Commission of India at the start of the month. Punjab will go to the assembly polls on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) The Directorate of Goods and Service Tax Intelligence, Ghaziabad Regional Unit has busted a syndicate involved in creating and controlling fake firms and issuing of bills by these fake firms without supplying any Goods or Services and encashment of GST refund. According to a press release by the Ministry of Finance, after developing precise Intelligence, two office premises were searched from where various incriminating documents/things pertaining to more than 200 fake firms were recovered i.e. mobile phones, digital signatures, debit cards, PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, photos of persons, rent agreements, laptops, pen drives, rubber stamps, keys of offices, SIM cards, cheque books and some 'Kuccha' records. Further, an in-depth investigation was conducted which revealed that the data of this network is being compiled and used from the cloud. After analysis of the evidence and data, it was revealed that this network consists of 275 bogus firms which exist only on paper. These firms have issued fake invoices having a total value of Rs 3,189 crore involving total GST evasion of Rs 362 crore. One of the key persons who was instrumental in the collection of identities of individuals for the creation of fake firms namely Tinku Yadav was arrested earlier. Based on the information given by Tinku Yadav and analysis of IP addresses, the actual masterminds of the network namely Vipin Kumar Gupta alias Nikku, and Yogesh Mittal have been apprehended and arrested. It has been learnt that both Vipin Kumar Gupta and Yogesh Mittal are habitual offenders. Both the offenders have been arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) earlier, said the press release. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday slammed the Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh over their stand on Article 370 and said that the Narendra Modi government is not scared of their vote bank politics and "uprooted" the Article 370 despite opposition in the Parliament. "When the proposal was brought to the Parliament to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with India and revoke Article 370, it was not only Congress that had opposed the move, BSP and SP had also opposed the proposal. When they come to Dadri to seek votes, the people of Noida will ask why did you oppose the move? Is the vote bank politics above the nation? If you want to do vote bank politics, you can do it, we are not scared of vote bank politics. PM Modi uprooted Article 370," Shah said. The Home Minister further said that this was possible because the people of the state voted PM Modi to power two times with a two-thirds majority. "People voted Narendra Modi to power two times. I want to say it proudly that the expectations that you had with our government, PM Modi has humbly fulfilled them. You had asked PM Modi to revoke Article 370, you had not pelted stones. When you gave the two-thirds majority, PM Modi uprooted Article 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019," Shah on Thursday said during a door-to-door campaigning in Tughalpur village of Greater Noida in Dadri constituency which will go the polls in the first phase. Shah said that wherever he has gone in western Uttar Pradesh and Braj area of state after declaration of elections, people's faith in BJP is clearly visible. "Wherever I have gone in western Uttar Pradesh and Braj area of the state after the declaration of elections, people's full faith in BJP is clearly visible," he said. Talking about the national security, the Union Minister hit out at the Opposition and said that the soldiers were mutilated by the enemies from across the border during the Congress rule which was supported by Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, however, during the rule of the present government, the Indian forces have conducted surgical strikes and airstrikes in Pakistan. Shah's public engagements are significant as elections on 403 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in seven phases starting from February 10. The second phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections will be held on February 14, the third phase on February 20, the fourth phase on February 23, the fifth phase on February 27, the sixth phase on March 3 and the seventh and the last phase will be conducted on March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) Taking a jibe at Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party on his day-long visit to poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that both the parties did not give Constitutional recognition to the Backward Classes Commission when they were in coalition with Congress government at the Centre. However, it was the Narendra Modi government that finished the long-pending demand. "OBCs did not have reservations in medical and engineering admissions during the Congress' rule. There was no reservation in the examination. The BJP started the reservations for the OBC and today thousands of students are doctors and engineers. SP and BSP supported Congress for years. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had delivered a speech on the reservation of the OBC for more than one and a half hours in the Lok Sabha," Shah said addressing here. Shah also lauded former chief minister of the state Kalyan Singh who was awarded Padma Vibhushan on the 73rd Republic Day this year, and said that he had resigned from the chief minister's office with a smile on his face for the sake of the construction of Ram Temple. "PM Modi honoured former chief minister Kalyan Singh with Padma Vibhushan award on this Republic Day. He had started the administration of a mafia-free government for the first time in Uttar Pradesh. For the first time, I saw a person on TV resigning with a smile on his face showing that the chief minister's post can be sacrificed 100 times if Ram Temple is constructed and we have honoured that person (Kalyan Singh)," he said. Hitting out at Akhilesh Yadav over his objection on the GST raids that were conducted at Kanpur based businessman Peeyush Jain later last year, Shah said that when SP chief is not going to use the money the investigative sleuths recovered from Jain, then why he is criticising the governance issues. "PM Modi has provided housing, medical colleges, toilets to poor by seizing properties worth over Rs 2000 crore from land mafias under Gangster Act .They (Samajwadi Party) have problems when GST or Income Tax department raids are conducted. When the bundle of note are recovered in the raids, they say that we are doing politics. Why are you scared, Akhilesh Yadav? What connection do you have with them?" he said. "They said that the raids are being conducted to have an impact on the election. Tell the people of the state did you want to contest the election with that money(recovered from raids)? If black money is recovered from a man, how would the election be impacted by this? This is because you wanted to contest the election with that money. Currently, the Modi government is at the Centre, strict action will be taken against the ones who evade tax," Shah added. Shah's public engagements are significant as elections on 403 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in seven phases starting from February 10. The second phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections will be held on February 14, the third phase on February 20, the fourth phase on February 23, the fifth phase on February 27, the sixth phase on March 3 and the seventh and the last phase will be conducted on March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary on Thursday denied the possibility of a post-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. Union Minister Amit Shah during a meeting with Jat leaders in New Delhi had said BJP doors are always open for RLD. Speaking to the reporters here, Chaudhary said, "They (BJP) did nothing for farmers. The police force was used against students in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh two days back. In such an environment, how can they think that anyone would join hands with them?" Earlier, the RLD chief had tweeted on the matter and said that the invitation should not be given to him, but to all the families of farmers whose lives were destroyed during the farmers' protest. "Don't give this invitation to me. Give it to all those 700 farmers' families whose houses you have destroyed," RLD chief tweeted. Referring to the RLD-SP alliance for Uttar Pradesh polls, BJP MP Parvesh Verma after a meeting of Jat leaders from poll-bound Uttar Pradesh with Union home minister Amit Shah, had told ANI, "On (RLD chief) Jayant Chaudhary, he (HM Amit Shah) said that there are many possibilities after the polls. For now, he has chosen a party. People of the Jat community will speak to Jayant. BJP's doors are always open for him." Earlier, RLD formed an alliance with Samajwadi Party to contest Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections that are scheduled to take place in seven phases beginning on February 10. The polling in Uttar Pradesh will be held on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7. (ANI) Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Thursday said that most of the positive COVID-19 samples, sent for the genome sequencing, are being tested positive for the Omicron variant of the virus while there are fewer Delta variant samples. Speaking to the reporters here, George said, "Continuous sequencing of Covid positive samples is being done. Almost 94 per cent of samples test positive for Omicron and 6 per cent for delta." George said: "It is now clear that the third wave in Kerala is the Omicron wave." The Health Minister further informed that less than 4 per cent of the patients of COVID-19 in the state have needed hospitalisation out of which less than 1 per cent of them needed oxygen beds. "Out of total positive cases in Kerala, only 3.6 per cent is hospitalised, out of which 0.7 per cent require oxygen beds and 0.6 per cent require ICU," she said. As on 27th Jan, there are 22,02,472 active cases in India. The case positivity rate is at 17.75 per cent(in last one week). 11 States have more than 50,000 active cases. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala have more than 3 lakh active cases," said the Union Ministry of Health. "Overall case positivity rate across the country was nearly 17.75 per cent during the last week. There are over 50,000 COVID active cases in 11 states, 10,000-50,000 active cases in 14 states &less than 10,000 active cases in 11 states," Luv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry said. (ANI) As per the ministry, the country's active caseload mounted to 21,05,611, which is 5.18 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases reported so far. As many as 627 covid-19 deaths and 3,47,443 recoveries from the virus have also been reported in the last 24 hours. The weekly positivity rate too witnessed a drop today; was recorded to be 17.47 per cent. 164.44 crORE vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. The Ministry, in its release, informed that 15,82,307 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. Over 72.37 crore tests have been conducted so far in the country, said the ministry. Meanwhile, under the ongoing nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive, 1,64,44,73,216 vaccine doses have been administered so far. (ANI) Four wagons of a goods train going towards Kollam in Kerala derailed at Aluva railway station on Thursday night which affected train services on the route but no injuries were reported, railway officials said. The freight train was carrying cement from Andhra Pradesh. The second, third, fourth and fifth wagonos of the train derailed while entering the third platform of the Aluva station around 10.30 pm. Following the incident, some trains were stranded for hours at different stations leading to a disruption in services. Four up trains and two down trains that were affected due to the incident. However, traffic through one of the tracks was restored at 2.15 am. "We hope to restore services soon. Already some services are on. One line is already working. Second line, we hope to restore services by 9 am," said R Mukund, Railway Divisional Manager, Thiruvananthapuram Division. "Disruption resulted in some cancellations, some trains have become short termination. Some trains have been rescheduled. We are trying to restore services quickly. There will be some late running. It will get adjusted by evening. Right now we are busy with completing the balance works. We hope to do it in another two-three hours," he added. A total of 11 trains have been cancelled including Guruvayur - Thiruvananthapuram Express, Ernakulam - Kannur Express, Kottayam - Nilambur Express, Nilambur - Kottayam Express, Guruvayur - Ernakulam Express Special, Thiruvananthapuram - Tiruchchirappaffi Intercity Express, Ernakulam - Alapuzha Express special, Alappuzha - Ernakulam Express special, Palakkad - Ernakulam MEMU Express special, Ernakulam - Palakkad MEMU Express special, and Shoranur - Ernakulam MEMU Express special. Reportedly, the accident happened while the train was switching tracks. However, the railway official said, "I can't pinpoint a single reason for the incident. There are many aspects. There will be an inquiry." (ANI) In a tweet today, Adityanath said in Hindi, "They are worshipers of 'Jinnah', we are worshipers of 'Sardar Patel'. Pakistan is dear to them, we sacrifice our lives on Maa Bharati." As Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are around the corner, several political leaders in Uttar Pradesh have been hurling comments on Jinnah. National Spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party Gaurav Bhatia on Thursday slammed Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for "chanting Jinnah's ideals". "Akhilesh Yadav said Pakistan is not a real enemy of India. Besides this, he keeps on chanting "Jinnah" to appease the Muslim community of Uttar Pradesh," tweeted Bhatia. Earlier on January 24, taking a jibe at Centre's call to install a statue of Sardar Patel at India Gate, Samajwadi Party leader Imran Masood said to reporters, "Not Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav but those who worked with (Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali) Jinnah and supported two-nation theory will install statues of him." This development holds significance as Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in seven phases starting on February 10. The second phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections will be held on February 14, the third phase on February 20, the fourth phase on February 23, the 5th phase on February 27, the 6th phase on March 3, and the last phase on March 7. The counting of votes for 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh will take place on March 10. (ANI) China looks to enhance communication with European military for regional peace: spokesperson Xinhua) 08:07, January 28, 2022 BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Thursday expressed hopes for the defense departments of China and European countries to enhance communication and coordination in order to jointly safeguard true multilateralism and regional peace and stability. Wu Qian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a press conference. According to Wu, the Chinese military held strategic consultations with its British and French counterparts over defense affairs via video link on Jan. 12 and 13, respectively. During the talks, the Chinese military and its counterparts shared views on military exchanges and cooperation, regional security, as well as the development of armed forces and national defense. The Chinese side stated its position on and concerns over matters involving Taiwan and the South China Sea, urging relevant parties to strictly adhere to the one-China principle, Wu said. All sides agreed to enhance strategic communication, exchanges and cooperation to increase mutual trust and properly manage differences, according to Wu. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) It's a great place to visit or shop The new street is nice but shops have disappeared I have no reason to go there Vote View Results Speaking to ANI over the phone, Ramesh, Station House Officer of Police, Kanipakam said, "Unknown people burnt the chariot in early hours of Thursday. Based on the information received from temple authorities, the police launched an inquiry into the incident." According to the police, the chariot was not in use for the last couple of years as it was not fit for use. It was placed outside the temple, the SHO said. After detailed investigation only, the police could comment on it further, he maintained. Further investigation into the incident is underway. (ANI) The incident led to the seizure of a huge cache of drugs, arms, and ammunition. "As suspected, smugglers both across the IB as well as inside Indian territory between Border Post No 33/06 and 33/07 were observed while engaging in illegal activity, taking cover of dense fog at about 5.15 am, alert BSF team comprising of Head Constable Gyan Singh and Constable Raju Biswas challenged them," said the force. On being challenged, miscreants resorted to firing on the BSF personnel of 89 Battalion, it added. Further, the BSF said, "Showing exemplary courage and presence of mind, Gyan Singh immediately fired back in retaliation along with Raju Biswas providing support fire. In the ensuing gunfight suspected smugglers fled away." During the exchange of fire, as per the force, Gyan Singh sustained bullet injuries to his hand and head. "In spite of the dense fog conditions in the area, owing to the keen alertness of Gyan Singh and Raju Biswas, the nefarious attempt by armed smugglers to smuggle drugs, arms and ammunition could be successfully thwarted," the BSF said in its statement. Injured Gyan Singh has been taken to a hospital, and his condition is reportedly stable. In the operation, the BSF has so far recovered 47 yellow plastic-covered packets suspected to be heroin, seven small packets suspected to be opium, one pistol (Norinco made in China) with two magazines, 44 rounds of three calibers. Some other items were seized near the fence, including a blue-coloured plastic pipe of approximately 15 feet, 74 rounds AK-47 with four magazines, 9 mm Pietro Bretta pistol with one magazine, 9 mm 12 rounds, one shawl, one muffler, and a winter cap. Further search is in progress, the force said. (ANI) After getting the information, Pune police rushed to the spot. "As per the information received, the victim called the accused by their names. The accused found it offensive and beat him up," the Pune police official said. The police informed that they have arrested four accused in the matter. "Four of them have been identified as Rohan Waghmare, Prashant Athwade, Aditya Kate, Prem Shinde and have been arrested," the police said. Further probe in the matter is underway. (ANI) Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal told the High Court that the appointment of additional Special Public Prosecutors (SPPs) have been recommended for an efficient, speedy, and just prosecution of the cases which are highly sensitive in nature, such as the North East Delhi violence cases. The LG, through an affidavit, further submitted that the same has no bearing on the competence or independence of the prosecutor who is an "officer of the court" and fulfils the duty of efficiently assisting the court. LG Baijal through an affidavit filed in the Delhi High Court opposed the Delhi Government's petition challenging the decision of the Lieutenant Governor to allow Delhi Police's chosen lawyers as Special Public Prosecutors (SPP) for cases related to North East Delhi Violence and farmers protest. In the reply, the LG office, while defending the appointment of additional SPPs, submitted that the petition filed by the Petitioner (Delhi Government) is steeped in malafides and an erroneous understanding of the law surrounding the exercise of powers by the respondents and therefore needs to be dismissed with cost. Earlier, the Delhi HC had sought a response on Delhi Government plea challenging the decision of the Lieutenant Governor allowing Delhi Police's chosen lawyers as Special Public Prosecutors (SPP) for cases related to North East Delhi Violence and farmers protest. The Petitioner, Delhi Government, had stated that the orders of LG dated July 23, 2021, and MHA August 4, 2021, by which Special Public Prosecutors (SPP) have been appointed for prosecuting the cases relating to Farmers' agitation and Delhi Riots/Anti-CAA protests. "These SPPs appointed have been chosen by the Delhi Police and thus have a serious conflict of interest. The SPPs are taking charge of the matters by displacing the regular public prosecutors and therefore, urgent directions are required from the Court to enable the regular public prosecutors to continue so as to not jeopardise fair trial in the said cases," they said in the plea. The plea submitted that a "difference of opinion" and consequent referral thereof to the President by LG is in the teeth of Article 239AA(4) as interpreted by the Supreme Court in as much as "appointment of SPPs" is a routine matter and not an exceptional matter for which reference to the President can be made and LG had no sound reason for referring the matter to the President when the Petitioner had agreed to appoint independent SPPs. The Additional Standing Counsel for Delhi Government, Advocate Shadan Farasat said, "The appointment of the SPPs chosen by the Delhi Police in the present case will seriously jeopardise the fair trial in the cases related to farmers' agitation and North-East Delhi Riots/Anti-CAA protests. LG's belief that the SPPs chosen by the Delhi Police will act independently is merely wishful thinking and has no basis in fact or logic." In the present case, neither the Delhi Police nor the LG has any complaint against the work of the regular public prosecutors in conducting the cases related to the farmers' agitation and North East Delhi riots. "There are also no complaints that the cases are being delayed due to an inadequate number of public prosecutors. Thus, there existed no reason for the Delhi police to seek an appointment of SPPs or LG to approve the same," the plea read. The appointment of SPPs for cases pertaining to the North East Delhi violence and farmers' protest has emerged as the new sticking point between the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. (ANI) Ahead of the commencement of the Budget Session, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reviewed the preparations at the Parliament premises on Friday. The Lok Sabha Speaker has also called an all-party meet on January 30 ahead of the commencement of the Budget Session of the Parliament. In this customary meeting, floor leaders of various political parties will be present to discuss the smooth functioning of the Parliament session under the chairmanship of the Lok Sabha Speaker. On January 30 at 3:00 pm, the government has called for an all-party meeting with leaders from the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha to discuss how to go about the business as well as take into concern the opposition's demand for discussion. At 5:00 pm the same day, the Rajya Sabha chairman has called for a meeting of the Rajya Sabha leaders. This meeting will take place virtually and will be chaired by M Venkaiah Naidu. The Budget Session of Parliament will begin on January 31 at 11: 00 am with the President of India addressing both houses in a joint session following which the economic survey will be tabled.Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget at 11:00 am on February 1 and this time, it will be a Paperless Budget. (ANI) The 'Mediation Bill, 2021' has been referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice for examination and report, said the Rajya Sabha Secretariat on Friday. As per an official statement, the Bill inter-alia proposes to encourage and promote institutional mediation for resolution of disputes. "To have a wider consultation on the Bill, the Committee has decided to invite Memoranda containing views/suggestions from concerned Stakeholders interested in the subject matter," the statement read. A copy of the Bill, along with other details are available on the website of the Rajya Sabha under the link 'Bills with the Committee'. Those desirous of submitting the Memoranda to the Committee, have been asked to send it electronically to Goutam Kumar, Deputy Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat at rs-memocpers@sansad.nic.in, within fifteen days starting January 28. Those who wish to appear before the Committee for tendering oral evidence, besides submitting memoranda, have been asked to specifically indicate so. However, the Committee's decision in this regard shall be final, it stated. During the winter session of Parliament in December last year, the Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha and the government subsequently moved it for further consideration into the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice on demand of the Opposition parties. On November 5 this year, the Ministry of Law and Justice released a draft of the Mediation Bill, 2021 for public comments and consultation. Following close on the heels of India signing the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (Singapore Convention), the Bill looks to cement the position of mediation as a sought-after mode of alternative dispute resolution in India. Its many objectives include the promotion, encouragement, and facilitation of mediation, especially institutional mediation, enforcement of domestic and international mediation settlement agreements, and notably, making online mediation an acceptable and cost-effective process. The Bill is divided into four parts with Part- I dealing with domestic mediations and Part- III dealing with mediations under the Singapore Convention. As per Section 2 of the Bill, a domestic mediation has been defined as one conducted in India, where all or both parties habitually reside in or are incorporated in or have their business in India. The mediation agreement provides that the Mediation Act, 2021 would apply to the mediation; or the mediation is international mediation. A salient feature of the Bill is the adoption of the international practice of using the terms 'mediation' and 'conciliation' interchangeably, as evident from the meaning of mediation set out under Section 4. The Bill defines a 'mediation service provider' as a body or organization that provides for the conduct of mediation and has in place procedures and rules to govern the conduct of the mediation in conformity with the provisions of the statute. Lok Adalats constituted under the National Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, and mediation centres annexed to courts have also been included under this head. The Bill recognizes online mediation conducted through the use of applications and computer networks, resorted to either wholly or in part, at a certain stage of the mediation process. It further states that the conduct of all such mediations shall be governed by the provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said Punjab needs a chief minister who is very honest and urged people in the state to choose AAP over parties who have been accused of selling 'drugs' and 'sand'. "Today Punjab needs a very honest CM. On one hand, we've people with allegations of drugs sale against them, who have allegations of sand mining against them. On the other hand there's a very honest man who never took even 25 paise from anyone," said Kejriwal while addressing a town hall in Phillaur. Assembly elections are set to be held in Punjab next month and Bhagwant Mann has been named as the chief ministerial candidate of AAP, which is taking on the ruling Congress Party. At the rally today, Kejriwal took a potshot at Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal stating that Mann despite being an MP for seven years still lives in a rented house. When a person becomes an MLA in Punjab, he can acquire big cars and houses. But Mann has been an MP for seven years and still stays in a rented house," Kejriwal said. "We speak about Punjab's development, how to improve the agriculture and how to get back the industries in the state", said Kejriwal. According to the AAP national convenor, 26 years of Congress rule and 19 years of Akali Dal rule had drained Punjab. "Badal family and Congress looted Punjab. Today Punjab needs an honest government. There was an ED raid at CM Channi's relative's house. Everyone saw the bundle of notes seized in the raid", claimed Kejriwal. He promised that like Delhi, Punjab too will get free electricity for 24 hours. "To get free electricity like Delhi you have to vote AAP in the election", said the Delhi CM. Punjab will vote on February 20 and the counting is on March 10. (ANI) Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju on Friday countered former Vice President Hamid Ansari's latest controversial statement on the atmosphere of intolerance and insecurity for Muslims in the country and said that before 2014, communal riots and violence were regular, but India is more peaceful now. Taking to the micro-blogging platform, Rijiju said, "Some isolated incidents do take place at an individual-community level, but Indian culture is always inclusive. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra is 'Sabka-Sath Sabka-Vikas Sabka- Vishwas Sabka-Prayas'." "What Hamid Ansari Ji said is wrong. I belong to a minority community and I can proudly say that India is the safest nation," he added. The Law and Justice Minister also added that the minorities facing trouble in any of India's neighboring countries prefer to seek refuge in India because India is safe. "Let's be grateful to our great nation," he said. Slamming those who "enjoy the best freedom and privilege in India", Rijiju said, "Why do some people who enjoy the best freedom and privilege in India join the anti-India propaganda peddled by foreign-based anti-India forces? What's the satisfaction that they acquire by defaming India? At least, people in remote villages without facilities are loyal to the motherland." Recently, Ansari has made a controversial statement on Hindu nationalism. Addressing the Indian American Muslim Council program, Ansari had said, "Hindu nationalism is a matter of concern. People are being divided on religious lines in the country. Controversy is being created among the people regarding nationality." "Especially people of a particular religion are being instigated. Intolerance is being fueled and an atmosphere of insecurity is being created in the country," he had added. Ansari has faced political backlash for this statement. (ANI) The BAPL is a joint venture company of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). "The contract is an important step forward for the Government of India's policy of promoting responsible defence exports," the Ministry added. The Indian team of BrahMos Aerospace in India, led by BrahMos CEO Atul D Rane, Deputy CEO Sanjeev Joshi, Lt Col R Negi, and Praveen Pathak, was present at the signing of the deal. These missiles are meant for the Philippines Navy. Earlier this month, the Philippines accepted BAPL's proposal worth USD 374.9 million to supply Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile systems for the Philippines Navy. DRDO and BAPL together have been pushing hard for exports of this missile to friendly foreign countries for the last few months. The BrahMos export order would be the biggest for the country in this field and is likely to propel India amongst arms exporting countries as more orders for the missile are expected from other friendly countries. Negotiations with some other nations are at an advanced stage. The missile has also become more capable due to added range and other modern technologies being incorporated into it. ANI) Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Friday hit out at former Vice President Hamid Ansari and said that as Uttar Pradesh elections are approaching, the supporters of the 'Tukde Tukde' Gang are getting exposed. His statement came as a reaction to Ansari's recent statement that there is an atmosphere of intolerance and insecurity for Muslims in the country that is extremely "unfortunate" and "condemnable". "Uttar Pradesh elections are approaching and the supporters of the Tukde Tukde Gang are getting exposed," Mishra told the media persons in Bhopal. "Hamid Ansari was made Vice President twice by the country. In this way by saying anti-national things on the online global platform, he has shown his petty mentality," he added. "Mishra said that Congress leaders whether it is Kamal Nath who used to call Great India as Badnaam Bharat. Be it Digvijay Singh, Salman Khurshid, Rashid Alvi. At any level, they leave no stone unturned to talk anti-national things or defame the nation," he further said. Mishra stated, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that there is propaganda to defame the country. It is slowly and steadily coming in front of us." Earlier, Ansari, while addressing the Indian American Muslim Council programme, had reportedly said, "Hindu nationalism is a matter of concern. People are being divided into religious lines in the country. Controversy is being created among people regarding nationality." Ansari had further said, "Especially people of a particular religion are being instigated. Intolerance is being fueled and an atmosphere of insecurity is being created in the country." Meanwhile, Mishra informed that Madhya Pradesh reported 7,763 cases in the last 24 hours, informed Narottam Mishra The state reported 10,016 new recoveries, he added. The current active cases in the state stand at 67,945, he further added. The daily positivity rate stood at 10.89 per cent, while the recovery rate is 90.08 per cent, he stated. (ANI) Dakota graduated from Bret Harte in 2013 and went to Davidson College, NC where she earned a bachelor's degree in Arab studies. After spending time studying in the Middle East and Europe, she is happy to be home, writing about the community she loves. Comment Policy Calaveras Enterprise does not actively monitor comments. However, staff does read through to assess reader interest. When abusive or foul language is used or directed toward other commenters, those comments will be deleted. If a commenter continues to use such language, that person will be blocked from commenting. We wish to foster a community of communication and a sharing of ideas, and we truly value readers' input. According to the officials, both the pilots in the aircraft are safe. "An aircraft of the Indian Army's Officers' Training Academy in Gaya, Bihar today crashed soon after taking off during training. Both the pilots in the aircraft are safe," said Army officials. Further details awaited. (ANI) Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Jagat Prakash Nadda on Friday held a door-to-door campaign in Shahjahanpur in support of BJP candidates. "Went from door to door in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh and appealed to the public to give their blessings and support to the BJP," he said in a tweet. Earlier while addressing the "Prabhavi Matdata Samvad" at Gandhi Auditorium here, he said Zardozi work is being encouraged under the Yogi government's 'One District-One Product' scheme in Shahjahanpur. "Today, there are five international airports in Uttar Pradesh. Metro rail construction is underway in Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, Ghaziabad. Earlier, there was land mafia in the State, but now lakhs of houses have been constructed. Over 2 crore 'Izzat Ghar' also constructed," said the BJP President. He further slammed Opposition parties and said that their agenda was to promote land mafia, sand mafia, and there was no law and order in the State "Their agenda was to promote land mafia, sand mafia, no law and order in the State. But today, the mafia has surrendered in the State. Some of their (SP) election candidates are either in jail or on bail," he added. Earlier in the day, Nadda convened a meeting of party workers in the Shahjahanpur district. Nadda is also scheduled to participate in various other programs of the party in Bareilly later in the day. In Uttar Pradesh, the first phase polling will be held on February 10, the second phase on February 14, the third phase on February 20, the fourth phase on February 23, the fifth phase on February 27, the sixth phase on March 3 and the seventh phase on March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) The Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in a COVID-29 review meeting with Southern states and UT's Health Minister on Friday stressed upon e-Sanjeevani, teleconsultation, monitoring, home isolation and increasing RT-PCR tests in states which are reporting lower percentage testing, official sources told ANI. The Union Health Minister conducted a high-level meeting on Friday through video conferencing in the context of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 with Health Ministers of Southern States/UT's Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Island. The meeting was also attended by senior health officials. Earlier, he conducted a high-level meeting with nine Northern States and UTs and advised them to send COVID testing and vaccination data timely. The Union Health Minister also said that testing should be ramped up in the States where it has gone down. He also advised states and UTs to ensure that those in home isolation are efficiently monitored in line with the National Guidelines. He said, "This will ensure that the vulnerable categories of active cases in home isolation get the required medical help in a timely manner." The Union Health Minister re-emphasised the need for ramping up testing in the states and UTs. Those states/UTs that are showing a lower share of RTPCR testing were requested to ramp up tests through RTPCR. States and UTs were also reminded to keep a close watch on the emerging clusters and hotspots and monitor the trend of hospitalised cases along with the deaths in the state. Mandaviya said that with our past experience, 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate & Adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour' along with monitoring of cases remains crucial for COVID management. The Union Health Minister also urged the States and UTs to adopt the hub and spoke model for teleconsultation. According to the Union Health Ministry, "Dr Mansukh Mandaviya urged the States and UTs to adopt the hub and spoke model and ensure that more and more centres of tele-consultation are opened. This will enable beneficiaries to access expert advice from experts stationed at the district hubs." He also said that e-Sanjeevani has been able to provide services to more than 2.6 crore beneficiaries where people can seek medical advice from the confines of their homes. e-Sanjeevani OPD is a flagship telemedicine platform of the Government, developed by the Centre for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC), Mohali under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). It provides free teleconsultation services to people in need. "This will prove to be a game-changer and will be of immense value and importance for the hard-to-reach and far-flung areas, and especially in the northern regions in the current winter season," he said. Mandaviya also urged the nine States and UTs to review and expedite the implementation of activities under the India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II (ECRP-II package) for strengthening the health infrastructure, an amount of Rs 23,123 Crores which was approved by Union Cabinet in view of the second wave of the pandemic. "Health Ministers and the State authorities to plug the existing gaps by efficiently utilizing the amount sanctioned for various infra projects. With strengthened health infrastructure, we can meet any health emergency and public health crisis with better preparedness," he added. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday informed that approx 4-5 lakh pending files lying in the State secretariat will be disposed of within a year under the "Project Sadbhawana'." Speaking to ANI, Sarma said, "We are starting a new project named 'Sadbhavana'. Under this project, all files, petitions, pending in our secretariat will be disposed of within a year. A portal will be created where people can inform of their pending files. Approx 4-5 lakh cases will be disposed of." Earlier on Thursday, the chief minister said as a potential step towards citizen-centric governance, it will launch project Sadbhavana on February 1 to dispose of all pending files lying in the State secretariat since the 1900s. The move is aimed at giving succour to people as well as taking governance to people's doorsteps. As per the official release issued by the Assam Chief Minister's office, it may be noted that under the project the files pending for several reasons for years together will be disposed so that quick governance can be rendered to the people of the state. Under the project, all the pending files till the period of May 10, 2021, will be taken up for disposal. In the next step files following this period will be taken up. Along with project Sadbhavana, a Swachhata Abhiyan in Janata Bhawan will also be launched to give a facelift of the cleanliness aspect in all the departments in the Secretariat. Interacting with the officers, Chief Minister said that the success of the project will invariably be dependent on the cooperation of the officers and employees of the State Secretariat. He, therefore, requested them to lend their cooperation towards the success of the project wherein files from the 1990s and onwards will be disposed of. He said that as a part of the project a portal will be created and citizens can apply through that portal citing the file numbers and correspondence details. (ANI) Soon after India signed a deal worth USD 375 million to supply 290 km strike range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to the Philippines, the CEO of the missile firm Atul D Rane said the contract would open the way for various new export projects for India. In an exclusive interaction with ANI, Rane said the deal with BrahMos was the first for India to supply a full major weapon system to a foreign country. "This is the first export deal that India has signed for a full major weapon system and this paves the way for many more to come forward," he said. Rane said the deal was a "very good one" for India and the Philippines as the South East Asian country "chose BrahMos as the first choice for signing the deal which shows that BrahMos is important for them but they obviously have many more things to come." Asked about the potential for India after this contract, he said, "this opens the doors for all the defence equipment that is being made in India including BrahMos and other items." "DRDO has worked a lot on research and development and industries are also doing a lot of work in that direction. So all of them have now potential to export to not just Philippines but to the different parts of the world," he added. Rane said that a lot of countries have shown interest in Brahmos. "Doing defence deals is not an easy job and with the support of the government of India, we would be exporting Brahmos to countries they point us to," he emphasized. (ANI) Several incidents of violence were reported at various places in West Bengal after the announcement of the state Assembly poll results on May 2. A four-member team deputed by the Ministry of Home Affairs and NHRC's team also visited the violence-affected areas to separately probe the allegations. The Calcutta High Court had ordered a court-monitored CBI probe into the incidents of post-poll violence in West Bengal. The High Court also ordered to set up Special Investigation Teams (SIT) for investigation of relatively less serious crimes and senior officers from West Bengal cadre will be a part of the team. The CBI has registered several cases in connection with post-poll violence in West Bengal. (ANI) After the Supreme Court quashed the Maharashtra Assembly's resolution to suspend 12 BJP MLAs for alleged unruly behaviour, the BJP's Maharashtra unit on Friday thanked the apex court and said that the Thackeray government's ego is at its peak. Thanking the Supreme Court, which had termed the suspension of MLAs as unconstitutional, BJP said - 'Truth may be upset, but not defeated'. A three-justice bench quashed the dictatorial decision of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, said BJP MLA Ashish Shelar. "The entire judgement is yet to come. However, I will apprise you of the operative part and the order as I was connected online during the time of the judgement," he said. The BJP MLAs were suspended for one year on July 5, 2021, for unruly behaviour in the Assembly. "In the operative order, the court clarified that the decision taken by the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and the Shiv Sena alliance government in Maharashtra was unconstitutional, illegal and irrational. This is for the first time that the Supreme Court slammed the government," he said. "This is a historic decision and an eye-wash for democracy. The Maharashtra government was given a chance to rectify its own mistake. During the hearing, the Supreme Court had directed the Legislature to take an appropriate decision in this regard. But only the wise can apprehend the meaning," said Shelar. "The Thackeray government seems to have lost its wisdom due to its ego. The Thackeray government is affected by this historic decision. This could have been averted. Had our application for revocation of suspension been considered during the Assembly session, the Thackeray government could have averted this unrealistic discussion about Maharashtra," the BJP leader said. "But the Thackeray government's ego is at its peak. The government does not seem to accept any system, be it the investigation system or any other traditions or constitutional processes abiding the country and the state. It has become an arbitrary government," the BJP said. "The court had stated earlier that the suspension of the MLAs was worse than expulsion. Even worst was the resolution and decision which was a threat to democracy, the court had said," said Shelar. "Today the court ruled that the resolution was illegal, unconstitutional and irrational. The court also ruled that the suspension cannot be extended beyond the session in which the suspension was made. Legal rights and benefits must be immediately given to all the 12 MLAs soon after the session ended," he said. (ANI) The Delhi High Court has allowed a woman to medically terminate her 27-week pregnancy as the foetus was suffering from anencephaly, open neural tube defect and kyphoscoliosis disease. The High Court granted permission on the basis of the report submitted by the medical board constituted at AIIMS. The board reported that a woman has 27-week pregnancy and was suffering from anencephaly, open neural tube defect and kyphoscoliosis in the foetus, which is incompatible with life. Justice V. Kameswar Rao, in the recent order, said, ''I am of the considered view that in the light of the opinion given by the Medical Board, continuing the pregnancy shall be a great hardship to the petitioner and upon that her extreme amount of mental, emotional and even financial distress." He said, "No doubt, there are certain risks to the petitioner, considering and noting the medical opinion given by the board, the compelling reasons for petitioner to seek permission to end her pregnancy can be understood." Justice Rao said, "This court is of the view that this is a fit case where the petitioner can be granted permission to undergo medical termination of her pregnancy. Accordingly, the petitioner is permitted to have her pregnancy terminated without any further delay." High Court gave this direction disposing of a petition moved by a woman to seek permission for termination of pregnancy. Petitioner on December 14, 2021, came to know that the foetus was suffering from ''Anencephaly along with spinal deformities." The petitioner said that thereafter another ultrasound was done for reassurance on December 15 and December 31, 2021, which suggested that the foetus had severe cranial neural tube defect (Anencephaly) and that the foetal skull bone was not visible. The consequence of the above-cited deformity is that the foetus affected by anencephaly mostly are stillborn or die at birth. The counsel for the petitioner said that the petitioner along with her husband decided to undergo a medical termination of pregnancy. Unfortunately, the ongoing strike by doctors in General Hospital, Shahadara, where she was undergoing treatment caused unnecessary delay for the petitioner. While the petitioner was admitted to GTB Hospital and was under medication for abortion, she completed her 24th week of pregnancy. Therefore, despite already being administered heavy doses of medications, she was refused the service of termination of pregnancy by GTB Hospital, citing the need of a court order to continue with the abortion. The bench hearing the petition had on January 18, directed AIIMS to constitute a Medical Board to examine the petitioner and to submit a report. Pursuant to the direction, the medical board constituted submitted its report advising the medical termination of pregnancy. (ANI) Those named in the charge sheet are identified as Deepthi Marla alias Maryam, Mohammed Waqar Lone alias Wilson Kashmiri, Mizha Siddeeque, Shifa Haris alias Ayesha, Obaid Hamid Matta, Madesh Shankar alias Abdullah, Ammar Abdul Rahiman and Muzamil Hassan Bhat. NIA had registered the case on March 5 last year pertaining to terrorist activities of Mohammed Ameen alias Abu Yahya, a resident of Kerala, and his associates. Yahya and his associates, the NIA said, have been running various ISIS propaganda channels on different social media platforms such as Telegram, Hoop and Instagram for propagating the violent Jihadi ideology of ISIS and radicalizing and recruiting new members for the ISIS module. Earlier, NIA had filed a chargesheet against three accused persons in this case on September 8 last year. "Investigation has revealed that all the eight accused persons charge-sheeted today are affiliated with banned terrorist organisation ISIS and were involved in radicalising, recruiting, organising terror funds and grooming like-minded gullible Muslim youth through different secured social media platforms to perform Hijrat to ISIS-controlled territory for joining ISIS," said the NIA. (ANI) The International Labour Organization on Friday hosted a Policy Dialogue with Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, to understand what sectoral and MSME policy approaches and initiatives emerging economies are adopting to catapult their rise as global sourcing hubs and sector leads. The ILO organized a 'Policy Dialogue: Building a market-responsive, resilient, and inclusive MSME ecosystem for job-rich and sustainable growth' in collaboration with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Speaking at the session, BB Swain, Secretary, Ministry of Micro Small Medium Enterprises, Government of India said, "The MSME sector is important for India's GDP. MSMEs have been impacted by preventive measures taken against COVID-19. To boost the ecosystem, India is trying to formalize the sector not to lose any benefits going to MSMEs. The resilience of MSMEs and market responsiveness will need technology to respond to the demands. This dialogue will support the knowledge building in the two states and support them to develop the evidence-based policymaking." "Andhra Pradesh, being a new state, is collaborating with international agencies, in the field of technology, skills along with market linkages, to help strengthen market mechanism in identified sectors. Learnings from Vietnam, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, as well as knowledge sharing from Korea, will provide insights on the global best practices at this high-level, multi-stakeholder policy dialogue," said Karikal Valaven, Special Chief Secretary to Government, Industries and Commerce, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Informal workers, many of whom are women, youth and other marginalized groups form the backbone of the MSME sector. The Policy Dialogue discussed the need for developing a wider system of rules, regulations and supporting functions surrounding value chains and markets which will promote entrepreneurship, improve productivity and working conditions to enhance MSME competitiveness; innovation; and digitalization, all while preventing vulnerable groups from sinking into poverty. "Odisha looks forward to the ILO's technical assistance for capacity building of state institutions and MSME enterprises along with focusing on the state's entrepreneurial segment. Odisha has focused on the development of female entrepreneurs through its SHG movement, and many prospective female entrepreneurs are ready to step into social inclusion through training. The state is creating a positive growth-oriented policy ecosystem to support the MSME ecosystem and startups, to drive Odisha's MSME development journey", said Ranjana Chopra, Principal Secretary, Department of MSME, Government of Odisha. The discussion focused on four countries, namely South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Bangladesh to facilitate knowledge building for India, particularly for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, to adopt similar economic development models. The countries elaborated upon the efforts made by them in transforming to market-based economies by transitioning from a low-value agrarian to high-valued manufacturing products and emerging as sectoral leads or sourcing hubs. The dialogue discussed how economies seized the opportunity provided by the COVID-19 wake-up call to accelerate building resilience and help formal and sustainable MSMEs sustain global against the competitiveness of sectors. (ANI) Danny is a writer and a Calaveras County native. He studied creative writing and marketing at San Francisco State University and has previously done work as an automotive journalist. He is happy to be back and writing about the local community. Comment Policy Calaveras Enterprise does not actively monitor comments. However, staff does read through to assess reader interest. When abusive or foul language is used or directed toward other commenters, those comments will be deleted. If a commenter continues to use such language, that person will be blocked from commenting. We wish to foster a community of communication and a sharing of ideas, and we truly value readers' input. "These units include elements of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, which regularly maintains high readiness, as well as elements of the 18th Airborne Corps who are also based at Fort Bragg," Kirby said during a press briefing on Thursday. "Additionally, from Fort Campbell, elements of the 101st Airborne Division and from Fort Carson, Colorado, elements of the Fourth Infantry Division have been placed on increased readiness." Kirby added that other units placed on high alert are located at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Fort Hood, McChord Air Force Base, Fort Polk, Robins Air Force Base, Fort Stewart, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, among others. Kirby added that these military units include aviation support, logistics support, medical support and combat formations. US President Joe Biden said earlier this week that he does not intend to send any US forces in Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed claims by the United States and its European allies, including Kiev, alleging that Russia plans to invade Ukraine. Russia has warned that NATO's actions near its borders represent a national security threat and it reserves the right to move troops within its own sovereign territory. (ANI/Sputnik) The United States is doing everything possible to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and does not do anything to hinder the flow of such aid into the country, said State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Thursday (local time). "We want to be very clear to the international community that not only are we not standing in the way of the provision of much needed humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, but we are doing everything we can to facilitate the flow of vital assistance and support to the Afghan people," Sputnik quoted Price as saying during a press briefing. The United States has committed USD 308 million to the people of Afghanistan earlier this month bringing the total humanitarian assistance to more than half a billion dollars since mid-August alone, Price said. Price claims the United States remains a humanitarian leader with respect to Afghanistan and will continue to be one while the scale of the crisis in the country continues to be enormous and requires a global response, Sputnik reported. The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated drastically since the Taliban took control of Kabul in mid-August last year. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban, have plunged the country, already suffering from high poverty levels, into a full-blown economic crisis. (ANI) During the call, Biden underscored the commitment of the United States to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the White House said in a statement. Biden noted the United States has provided Ukraine with over half a billion dollars in development and humanitarian assistance in the last year, and is exploring additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraine's economy amidst pressure resulting from Russia's military build-up. Biden made clear that despite the departure of American family members of embassy personnel, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, remains open and fully operational. According to the statement, the leaders discussed coordinated diplomatic efforts on European security, underscoring the principle of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine." President Biden relayed the United States' support for conflict resolution efforts in the Normandy Format, expressing his hope that the sides' recommitment on January 26 to the terms of the July 2020 ceasefire will help decrease tensions and advance the implementation of the Minsk Agreements, the statement added. (ANI) Special Representatives and Special Envoys of the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, the UK and the US met in Oslo on January 24 to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, including sessions with representatives of the Taliban and civil society actors. In a joint statement, the Western envoys stressed the urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and highlighted necessary steps to help alleviate the suffering of Afghans across the country. Participants recognized steps taken to ease access for humanitarian workers, male and female, while also expressing concern that there are still certain impediments in place, and participants also reiterated the importance of swiftly removing all conditions and obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid, the statement added. They raised the importance of respect for human rights and the strong need for an inclusive and representative political system to ensure stability and a peaceful future for Afghanistan. The Special Representatives urged the Taliban to do more to stop the alarming increase of human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, media crackdowns, extra-judicial killings, torture and prohibitions on women and girls' education, employment and freedom to travel without a male escort. "Noted with grave concern the absence from, and limitations on access to, secondary schools for girls in many parts of the country and underscored the importance of higher education for women as well as job opportunities for women in all fields," the joint statement read. During the meeting, the envoys made it clear that their meetings with the Taliban in no way implied any sense of official recognition or legitimization of the interim government announced by the Taliban in September 2021. The talks in Oslo came about in response to a request from a number of Afghan organisations and in consultation with Western allies. On Sunday, an all-day meeting took place between the Taliban delegation and other Afghans from a variety of backgrounds. These included women leaders, journalists and people working to safeguard human rights and address humanitarian, economic, social and political issues. On Monday, meetings took place between the Taliban and special representatives for Afghanistan from Norway and other Western countries. 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. According to United Nations estimates, more than half the population will be facing famine this winter and 97 per cent of the population could fall below the poverty line this year. (ANI) "Thank you, President @HHichilema for your greetings! India greatly values its friendship and development partnership with the Republic of Zambia," PM Modi tweeted. Extending greetings, the Zambian President said that he joined the people of India in celebrating 73 years since their adoption of the Indian Constitution and the establishment of their Republic. "We join @narendramodi and the people of India in celebrating 73 years since their adoption of the Indian Constitution and the establishment of their Republic," Hakainde Hichilema said in a Tweet. The celebrations this year are special as Indian Republic Day falls in the 75th year of Independence, being celebrated as "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav" across the country. To mark the occasion, the Indian Ministry of Defence has conceptualized a series of new events during the main parade on Rajpath, New Delhi on January 26 and the 'Beating the Retreat' ceremony at Vijay Chowk on January 29. It has been decided that the Republic Day celebrations will now be week-long from January 23-30 every year in India. This year, the celebrations commenced on January 23, the birth anniversary of great freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and will culminate on January, 30 which is observed as Martyrs' Day. (ANI) During a meeting with Taliban officials at the Ministry of Interior Affairs- Afghanistan, the UNAMA Human Rights said that there is a need for investigations, transparency and accountability of such cases in Afghanistan. "UNAMA Human Rights met with Taliban officials at @moiafghanistan today. Discussed alleged cases of human rights violations and concerns re ex-ANSF/Govt members, civsoc, media, judiciary, religious clerics and women activists. Need for investigations, transparency & accountability," the "UNAMA said in a Tweet on Thursday. Several media persons, government members, religious clerics and women activists have been killed in Afghanistan. At least 30 journalists and media workers have been killed, manhandled, and injured in Afghanistan from the start of 2021 till July 2021, while many of them were also threatened by government officials, according to a report by an Afghanistan non profit Nai. Last year in December, a religious scholar was killed in Afghanistan's western Farah province. In November, four women activists in the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif in the northern Balkh province were killed. Various violent incidents against women have emerged since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan after the fall of the government in August. Despite repeated calls from all around the world, the Taliban have failed to deliver its promises on women's safety and their assurance of an inclusive government. (ANI) The four people found dead near the Canada-US border last week have been officially identified as Indian nationals, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa confirmed on Thursday and said that this tragedy has brought into focus the need to ensure that migration and mobility are made safe and legal. The high commission in a statement said Canadian authorities, through a medical examination, have determined all the deaths to be consistent with exposure to outdoor elements. "Canadian authorities have confirmed the identities of the four deceased as; Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, male, 39 years; Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, female, 37 years; Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel, female, 11 years and Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel, male, 3 years," the high commission said. Earlier, Canadian authorities found the bodies of four people, who froze to death while trying to cross the Canada-US border in Emerson, Manitoba, near the Canada/US border on January 19. All four were from the same family. Speaking at a presser on Thursday afternoon, Manitoba RCMP Chief Supt. Rob Hill confirmed the identity of all Indian nationals. "We apologize for that error, but please understand that the frozen state in which the bodies were found and the clothing worn by the family made the initial confirmation difficult. It is also why the process to confirm the names took an extended period of time," Hill said. The case involved human smuggling and local authorities would like to speak to anyone who may have helped or seen the family while they were in Canada, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported. "We need anyone who had interaction with the Patel family or has information about their journey to the border to think about what they went through and step forward," Hill said. In the press statement, the Indian High Commission said a special team led by an officer from the Consulate General of India in Toronto is currently in Manitoba helping with the investigation. "People-to-people relations are an important pillar of India-Canada bilateral relations. Canada is a preferred destination for Indian immigrants and students. India and Canada work together to ensure the safety and well-being of all Indian immigrants into Canada." Stating that both India and Canada have a regular dialogue on migration and welfare issues, the high commission said this tragedy has brought into focus the need to ensure that migration and mobility are made safe and legal. "On longer-term issues that this tragedy has brought into focus is the need to ensure that migration and mobility are made safe and legal and that such tragedies do not recur. A number of ideas remain under discussion between India and Canada," the statement added. (ANI) A 66-year-old man attacked three medical workers making a visit to his home near Tokyo on Thursday night, shooting at least one of them, police said, adding that the hostage was later confirmed dead, Kyodo News reported. According to the police, the deceased was identified as 44-year-old doctor Junichi Suzuki, Kyodo News reported. The shot medical worker, a 41-year-old physiotherapist, remains unconscious. The three visited the house around 9 pm on Thursday, apparently to express condolences over the recent death of the suspect's mother. They were in charge of home medical care for the mother, Kyodo reported citing investigative sources. (ANI) Pakistan's National Security policy released earlier this month has sparked debate both in the media circles and among the security experts in the country. Despite tall claims, experts say little focus has been given to the geo-economics and human resource development aspect of the policy, to make the country's security holistic. NSP was approved by the federal cabinet last month after it got the nod of the country's National Security Committee. A few weeks later, the public version of the recently approved National Security Policy (NSP) was released. This policy defines the direction country should take in the coming years, which the makers NSP have said placed a special emphasis on economic security. Since its launch, National Security Policy has received severe criticism from some corner security experts and media in Pakistan. In a recent commentary in the Dawn newspaper titled "Bridging the gap", a Pakistani writer said for historical reasons, Pakistan is hurtling from one crisis management to the next. The country is forced to take short-term decisions without a long-term view on how to steer the nation forward, the writer added. According to another political commentator Ayesha Siddiqa, the NSP cannot succeed unless Pakistan effectively conducts its geo-economics "with the larger neighbour." Those who have to carry out the 'action' -- the business community, and the traders -- are awaiting the government to put the document to planning and implementation, Islam Khabar reported. Another point that comes to the forefront is that despite claims to have conducted "wide-ranging" discussions, the Imran Khan government kept out mainstream opposition and even its allies. Pakistan's Senate Committee on Defence was 'briefed', however, the opposition boycotted that meeting. The Pakistani media said presently the realities are at odds with NSP goals, adding that the real challenge will be to match intent with action. (ANI) The United Kingdom Foreign Office has pledged to release another 97 million pounds (130 million USD) of emergency aid to Afghanistan amid concerning reports about the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country, Sputnik reported citing Sky News broadcaster on Friday. The decision came after Valerie Amos, former UN Under-Secretary-General, said on Thursday that unless money was urgently sent to the country, "three million children under five who will face acute malnutrition by March. Of those, a million children will die." "The UK continues to provide vital humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. We have doubled UK aid this year to save lives, protect women and girls, and support stability in the region," Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said, commenting on the worsening situation in the country, according to Sputnik. In August 2021, the UK doubled its humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to 286 million pounds (383 million USD) to help address the crisis in the country. Truss added that these additional funds that will provide "essential food, shelter and health supplies will reach those who are most in need." Meanwhile, the foreign office repeatedly stated that no funds are transferred directly to the Taliban (under UN sanctions for terrorism), being allocated to humanitarian organizations that operate in the country. On Thursday, UK Ambassador to the United Nations James Kariuki stated at the UN Security Council briefing on Afghanistan that the humanitarian situation in the country remains "a matter of deep concern", with over 20 million people, half the population needing urgent assistance, Sputnik reported. The Taliban's swift ascension to power in Afghanistan occurred in mid-August, triggering an economic disarray and food shortages that push the country to the brink of a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of Afghans fled the country fearful of the Taliban, widespread violation of human rights, and the deprivation of women and girls of their freedoms. According to the UN estimates, around half of the country's population needs humanitarian assistance, twice as many as in 2020, with about 22 million people facing acute food insecurity. The UN predicts that up to 97 per cent of Afghans may slide below the poverty line by the middle of this year, it added. (ANI) Italian by blood and gregarious by nature, June Amundson says I felt like I came home when I moved to Little Italy. The 50-year-old embraced the social aspects of the close-knit East Baltimore community, spending nights and holidays with her neighbors. Increasingly, though, her fondness for the more than century-old neighborhood has turned to concern for her safety. She worries about walking from her car to her house on S. High Street after dark. Advertisement Last Sunday, Amundsons friend Chesley Patterson, the general manager at La Scala restaurant and a beloved figure in the community, was shot dead while driving home from work. He was blocks away from the restaurant where he spent much of the past 17 years. Baltimore police say they do not yet have a suspect in the killing, one of 32 homicides so far this year alone. This kind of is the straw that broke the camels back, Amundson said through tears Wednesday evening at a vigil honoring Patterson. Advertisement People gathered outside La Scala restaurant Wednesday evening in Little Italy for a candlelight vigil to honor the longtime general manager Chesley Patterson, who was fatally shot last weekend. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun) Amundson was one of around 300 mourners who gathered outside the Eastern Avenue restaurant where Patterson worked, braving the frigid temperatures to remember a man they say embodied hospitality. Always impeccably dressed in a suit, he would stop to chat with neighbors on his way to buy bread every afternoon for the evenings dinner service. Chesley was a friend of mine, his death hits pretty personally, said city councilman Zeke Cohen, whose district includes Little Italy. Patterson, he said, had an otherworldly quality that made people feel good. Patterson, 44, was one of those people who made everyone feel like his best friend, recalled longtime customer and friend Suzanne Costa through tears. The 72-year-old nurse came with her husband from Ellicott City for the vigil. Its just such a tragedy, she said. It makes you almost not want to come downtown anymore. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 13 Ted Jabara and his fiancee Thomasina Poirot light candles for the candlelight vigil to honor the longtime general manager of La Scala restaurant, Chesley Patterson, who was fatally shot early Monday morning. Jabara said of Patterson, He was one of a kind who made sunshine on a cloudy day. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun) Many present said the death was prompting them to consider moving out of the neighborhood despite long ties to the area. Mark Orendorffs family has been in Little Italy for 100 years. Now, the 41-year-old who works for the city and his wife, Jesel, say they are contemplating leaving Baltimore because of the violence, particularly as they look to start a family. The citys not safe at all, said Jesel, 26, who moved from the Philippines three years ago. The crime in the area makes me think crazy, she said. I think we should move. While homicides have long made headlines in Baltimore, recent killings in the city have brought the violence home. Advertisement Among the victims are James Blue III, 43, who was married to a Baltimore police lieutenant and the brother of Shelonda Stokes, president of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore. Hours after Pattersons death, a 51-year-old grandmother was killed in Northeast Baltimore while delivering food for DoorDash. Flowers festoon the front entrance of La Scala restaurant in Little Italy in memory of longtime general manager Chesley Patterson, who was fatally shot in the 1700 block of Eastern Avenue, less than a half mile from the restaurant. (Amy Davis/The Baltimore Sun) In the wake of Pattersons killing, his former co-worker Julio Cervantes said he and his wife were planning to move from their home in Ridgleys Delight to Baltimore County with their young children. I have no belief that this is going to get better, he said. It was hard for him to wrap his mind around the killing of someone as generous as Patterson, whom hed worked with at La Scala a few years ago before changing careers. The lack of information about Pattersons death makes it all the more disturbing for residents, said Seema D. Iyer, an associate professor at the University of Baltimore who has researched Baltimore communities and the reasons residents move away. In the majority of fatal shootings, the perpetrator and victim are connected in some way. Deaths like Pattersons, she said, are the types of things that do drive people from the city, when it seems so random. While researchers have much to learn about how communities have shifted during the pandemic, Iyer said an overall drop in foot traffic in urban areas has made many areas feel less safe. Advertisement Weve had two years where the density of our activity is so much lower than it normally would be, she said. You can imagine in a normal situation there would be other people on the street. Pam Needleman, who owns the Little Italy hair salon Sweet Louies, recalled how just over the weekend she had been remarking on the beauty of newly-installed cafe lights illuminating the areas old Formstone facades. She remembered thinking: It looks good to see the neighborhood coming back. Just more than 24 hours later, Patterson was killed. We take one step forward and then the city drags you three steps back, she said. His death was a gut punch, gut punch, gut punch. Chesley Patterson, longtime La Scala manager, was shot and killed last weekend after leaving work in Little Italy. Photo by Samantha Stern/handout (Samantha Stern/Samantha Stern) Needleman, who lives in the neighborhood, said shes become jumpy and suspicious of strangers. She too, is considering a move. Baltimore is a bad boyfriend I cant defend anymore, she said. Advertisement In addition to Pattersons killing, other violence has put the area on edge, too. Last November, Father Bernie Carman, the pastor of St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church on S. Exeter Street, was mugged and pistol-whipped at four in the afternoon. The crime shocked and outraged residents. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > Still, until Pattersons killing last weekend, Paula Pizza, 59, said she had been looking at apartments near Little Italy, where she grew up. She had recently moved to Sparrows Point, partly to escape the crime of the city. But for all the peace and quiet, she said, its lonely out in the county. Her social life remained in her old neighborhood, particularly at La Scala, where she and Patterson were very close. He greeted her with a loving Paulaaaaaa! Despite Baltimores notorious crime, Pizza said, village-like Little Italy felt insulated from whatever violence surrounded it. But Pattersons death has shattered her view of the neighborhood. Days later, a grief-stricken Pizza has been unable to return to work and cant imagine moving back. Supporters of the city and of Little Italy hope the neighborhood will press onward. Advertisement Im hoping that we all galvanize and strengthen Little Italy and address some of these issues in his memory and make Baltimore an even stronger place, Iyer said in the aftermath of Pattersons death. Leaving wont do that. La Scala, for now, will remain open. Pakistan opposition leader Marriyum Aurangzeb has demanded that all records, including those revealed by the State Bank of Pakistan, be made public as per the orders of the Election Commission of Pakistan. Earlier this month, the scrutiny committee of the election organising authority unearthed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had concealed several accounts and around Rs 310 million between 2008 and 2013 from the electoral body, The Express Tribune reported. "The huge sums of money that Prime Minister Imran Khan took through private accounts of his employees were also kept a secret," she said in a statement cited by The Express Tribune. The Pakistan Muslim League (N) spokesperson said that the details of the premier's "accounts in foreign banks including the UK, US, Australia, Finland are yet to be exposed. She termed the turning of "charity money for Shaukat Khanum into a political fund another "undeniable proof of Imran Khan's fraud and forgery". "The listing of the hospital's donors as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's donors in the ECP report is a dreadful disclosure," she added in the statement, according to The Express Tribune. The report compiled by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)'s on PTI's funding has found that the party is guilty of concealing 53 bank accounts regarding public funding, according to Daily Times. If the PTI is as confident about the order in its house it should honour its word and lend the helping hand to auditors. Information about over Rs 300 million missing from the bank statements should be accounted for. as per the demands of the Pakistan opposition, according to Daily Times. The ECP report stated that the PTI provided "false information" regarding the party's funding. It's said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) statement revealed that the party had received Rs 1.64 million in funding. (ANI) Tokyo [Japan], January 28 (ANI/Sputnik): An old man attacked three doctors visiting his home in the Japanese prefecture of Saitama near Tokyo, shooting one of them with a hunting gun and allegedly killing another that was held hostage for over 11 hours, media reported on Friday. According to Kyodo News Agency, the incident took place in the city of Fujimino outside Tokyo at around 21:00 (12:00 GMT) on Thursday. Law enforcers reportedly got a call from a local resident saying that he had heard loud bangs in a neighboring house. After that, the police received a report of two persons with gunshot wounds, the media said. According to the materials of the investigation, three medical workers came to the man's house allegedly to express condolences over the death of his elderly mother. One of the doctors reportedly received a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Another one was teargassed in the face. Both were later taken to the hospital. The medical worker remains unconscious after the gunshot, the media said. The third doctor was reportedly held hostage by the man for almost 12 hours. According to Kyodo, police talked with the suspect by phone during the hostage incident, but the man made no specific demands. On Friday morning, the police reportedly stormed the building and arrested the man on suspicion of abduction and attempted murder. The hostage was later confirmed dead, the newspaper reported, citing the police. As a result of the incident, about 100 people were evacuated from neighboring houses and placed in school buildings nearby. Classes at three schools in the area were canceled on Friday. The cause of the incident is still unknown. (ANI/Sputnik) "At the policy level in Afghanistan there is total positivity on Pakistan," said Yusuf, at a meeting of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee, the Dawn newspaper reported. Yusuf said ties with the new regime in Afghanistan was in complete contrast to the hostility and acrimony towards Pakistan witnessed during the previous government. Answering questions on multiple border incidents with the Taliban, Yusuf said those incidents were "local level issues" that were addressed locally and had nothing to do with the policy of the Taliban government. As the Taliban try to establish themselves politically in Afghanistan, the issue of the Durand Line has resurfaced. Recent media reports said the Taliban have damaged parts of the 2,670-km Durand Line erected by the Pakistan army. On one hand, Pakistan has vowed to "resolve the issues diplomatically." On other hand, the Taliban insists that the Durand Line "has divided one nation on both sides," which the Islamic outfit "do not want." Earlier, the Taliban military has tried to stop the Pakistani military from erecting barbed-wire fences and outposts in the Nangahar Province on the Durand Line. Pakistan wishes to fence the border to control the movements of Pashtuns across its border, who are scattered between the Durand Line. (ANI) Hundreds of people in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province held a rally in Peshawar against prolonged power suspensions and demanded repair of the damaged supply lines, according to a media report. Despite the commitment, officials of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) were reluctant to ensure a smooth power supply to his constituency (PK-72) and the people had to face prolonged power suspensions, Dawn quoted the Member of the Provincial Assembly Faheem Khan, who led the protesters, as saying. "We persuaded the people to remove the illegal connections and installed thousands of power meters in different localities as per commitment with the PESCO officials, but the consumers are still facing unprecedented load-shedding," he complained. The PESCO staff was reluctant to repair the damaged power supply lines, said the lawmaker, stressing other pending issues such as bifurcation of supply lines, issuance of photometers and others, according to Dawn. Khan also informed that he held a meeting with the PESCO chief and presented him a list of demands. "We also asked for the replacement of SDO and superintendent of Tajabad subdivision for not resolving the consumers' issues," the lawmaker added. The main reason for the power suspensions was line losses ranging between 80 to 95 per cent, said PESCO spokesperson Shaukat Afzal, emphasising that it was impossible to ensure continuous power supply to the areas where the people were not ready to remove illegal connections. The spokesperson also informed that the main cause of damage to supply lines and transformers was overloading. (ANI) Beijing [China], January 28 [ANI]: China has started to step into the US shoes in the Middle East by forging a strategic partnership with Iran causing concern in Washington. China and Iran, the two main adversaries of the US together with Russia, formally inked a deal for 25 years worth USD 400-billion, aimed at bolstering economic and political ties, according to Geopolitica. China also backed Iranian efforts to revive the latter's 2015 nuclear deal with major powers that the US unilaterally walked out of in 2018, writes Valerio Fabbri for the Gepolitica. Meanwhile, China and Iran, both subject to US sanctions, signed the 25-year agreement in March 2021, bringing Iran into China's Belt and Road Initiative. The projects nearly 100 of them including airports, high-speed railways and subways are very much in line with President Xi Jinping's ambitions to extend China's economic and strategic influence across Eurasia through the Belt and Road Initiative, the (in)famous project that aims to significantly expand China's economic and political influence and has raised concerns in the US and elsewhere, according to Geopolitica. They fear Chinese money will invariably weaken the effectiveness of American sanctions against Iran, which will make it all the more adamant about any future negotiations on its nuclear program. Also, the China-Iran pact also calls for both sides to conduct, much to the worry of the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia, combined military training, exercises, weapons development, and intelligence sharing. In any case, combined with Russia, both China and Iran have already conducted military exercises in the Indian Ocean and in Russia in December 2019 and September 2020, respectively, writes Valerio Fabbri for the Gepolitica. However, the military relations with Iran will be tempered by China's simultaneous efforts to build bridges with other Arab governments in the Gulf. Chinese authorities have recently met Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain, so any military agreement with Iran will necessarily have to be such as not to agitate these countries. Meanwhile, the restoration of the American sanctions in 2018 crippled the Iranian economy by way of cutting into its vital source of revenue from oil sales. Oil and petroleum products account for 80 per cent of Iran's exports. Further American sanctions imposed on 18 major Iranian banks in 2020 caused the Iranian Rial to fall further against the US dollar, writes Valerio Fabbri for the Gepolitica. (ANI) In a virtual weekly media briefing by the official spokesperson of MEA, Arindam Bagchi said, "Government is committed to providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people comprising food grains, COVID vaccines, and essential life-saving drugs." He also informed that in the last few weeks, 3.6 tonnes of medical assistance and 5,00,000 doses of COVID vaccines have been supplied to Afghanistan. Regarding the process to procure the wheat and to arrange its transportation, Bagchi said, "The process to procure wheat and to arrange its transportation is currently underway. Naturally, this takes some time. We will share the updates as soon as we have them. We hope to be able to do it shortly." Since the Taliban took over control of Kabul on August 15, the country witnessed deep economic, humanitarian and security crises. The suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban have plunged the war-torn country, already suffering from high poverty levels, into a full-blown economic crisis. (ANI) China has stepped up its information against India in the Maldives with much help from both the local news portal Dhiyares and former President Abdulla Yameen ahead of next year's Presidential elections in the atoll nation. The 'India Out' campaign in the Maldives is known to be driven politically by former President Abdulla Yameen. Much before Yameen took the driver's seat, a section of the Maldivian media led by the news portal Dhiyares, had begun a concerted campaign against India. It is, therefore, necessary to trace the roots of this campaign and understand the motives behind the campaign, according to Policy Research Group (PRG)'s Insight Two things stand out about Ahmed Azaan, the founder of Dhiyares. First, he has consistently been calling for greater Chinese presence in the Maldives and second, he has used social media to the hilt to attack India and its alleged military presence in the country. The Chinese angle to this entire sordid episode can only be adduced based on the context of Azaan's anti-India campaign, as analysed by PRG's Insight. Interestingly, the website of The Maldives Journal states that Ahmed Azaan is a journalist and writer with a BA in International Relations and describes him as one of the co-founders of "Dhiyares" and "The Maldives Journal". His BA is apparently from ADA University in Azerbaijan. His areas of interest are said to be politics and economics. On the other hand, during the presidency of Abdulla Yameen from 2013 to 2018, the Maldives had borrowed heavily from China, leading to a debt trap situation. As of now, Maldives owes China around USD 1.5 billion, which is huge for a country with a GDP of USD 4.9 billion The reality is that China is displeased with the grant of several infrastructure projects to India in recent days, and would like to take these over. Meanwhile, by flooding Twitter space in the Maldives with #IndiaOut content, Azaan has been able to create a mirage that a large number of Maldivians are rooting for #IndiaOut. This is not the case in reality as Azaan footprint for the #IndiaOut campaign has been exceedingly high and all the major supporters of the hashtag are also Azaan's close associates. Notably, around 210 handles had contributed a gigantic amount of 80 per cent to the hashtag. This basically means that the entire #IndiaOut hashtag can be traced to Azaan and his followers, working with a special agenda in mind. A far more important issue here is to trace the Chinese connections of Azaan and his publications. These platforms of disinformation need to be monitored for they have shown a marked capability to create a rift in India-Maldives ties. It is time to identify and expose the dangerous inroads made by the Chinese in Maldivian media and social media, as described by PRG's Insight. (ANI) China's President Xi Jinping faces hurdles ahead of this year's National Congress meeting as people in China begin to feel, deep down, that they may have a different top leader in five years, their attitudes may well change from that moment forward, as reported by Nikkei Asia. As things stand now, there is only one thing that everybody is sure of: that Xi, who doubles as party general secretary, will not retire at this upcoming national congress this year. What more he can secure will depend on how his political battles go over the next nine months or so sixth plenary session of the Chinese Communist Party's 19th Central Committee in November this year. If a leader of a democratic country has another five years in office, there is little talk of him or her becoming a lame-duck anytime soon. But this common sense does not apply in China, where everything is decided through a power struggle within the party, of which outsiders know little, according to Nikkei Asia. Earlier, former President Hu Jintao began to lose his grip on domestic issues and diplomacy as early as 2008, the year after his second term began at the national congress the autumn before. Disobedience toward Hu Jina who was set to retire a few years later also affected China's diplomacy toward Japan. China failed to implement an agreement with Japan on gas fields in the East China Sea, a deal reached Hu Jintao's initiative. The 2008 agreement initially presaged reconciliation between the Asian neighbours. But negotiations on the treaty, which concerned joint development of the gas fields, failed to progress and ran aground, as reported by Nikkei Asia. On the other hand, Xi Jinping proclaims anti-corruption campaign as biggest achievement and the administration warns that it will tighten its political stranglehold in the run-up to the national congress. The successful fight against corruption is about Xi's only achievement. And with the Chinese economy slumping, Xi has no choice but to barrel ahead with his signature campaign to take down enemies. If the administration succeeds again, Xi will be able to not only secure another five-year term but also have the power to name the new lineup of the Politburo Standing Committee in a way that is favourable to him. If people feel Xi will reign as China's top leader for at least another 10 years, or even for life, he can avoid becoming a lame duck, as reported by Nikkei Asia. (ANI) As the Russian troop build-up around the borders of Ukraine continues and tension in the region and beyond peaks, India has said it is following the developments closely and called for peaceful resolution of the situation. "We have been closely following the developments relating to Ukraine including ongoing high-level discussions between Russia and the US. Our Embassy in Kyiv is also monitoring local developments," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Aridnam Bagchi said at the regular media briefing. Russia has demanded that there should be no presence of NATO forces in Ukraine and other former territories of the erstwhile Soviet Union. Moscow, which shares friendly and very close ties with India, has denied that it is planning a war on Ukraine. However, US and NATO allies believe that Russia is preparing for an assault. The US has said there will be no change in its policy vis-a-vis the NATO alliance and is standing by Ukraine. Experts have said that the current crisis reminds them of the cold war era. Bagchi said there should be a peaceful resolution to the situation through sustained diplomatic efforts. "We call for a peaceful resolution of the situation through sustained diplomatic efforts for long term peace and stability in the region and beyond," he said. Asked whether amid escalating tensions India fears that the US may impose CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) as India is procuring the S-400 missile system from Russia, the spokesperson referred to India's partnership with both countries. "India and US have a comprehensive global strategic partnership, India has a special and privileged partnership with Russia. We pursue an independent foreign policy. This also applies to our defence acquisitions and supplies which are guided by our national interest," he said. (ANI) India and China have agreed to hold the commander-level meeting at the earliest on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western sector to resolve the standoff between the two nuclear nations. Answering queries on disengagement talks, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, in a virtual weekly media briefing said, "The 14th round of India-China core commander-level meeting was held on January 12 this year. The two sides agreed that the resolution of the remaining issues will be held at the earliest, would help in the restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the Western sector and enable progress in bilateral relations." India and China have been engaged in a standoff since April-May 2020 over the transgressions by the Chinese Army in multiple areas including the Finger area, Galwan Valley, Hot springs, and Kongrung Nala. The situation worsened after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in violent clashes with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in June 2020. New Delhi and Beijing have been engaged in holding talks on the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Ladakh area to resolve the standoff. So far, 14 rounds of talks have been held. The talks led to some disengagement of troops from several friction points along the LAC, but not all of them. The talks have also failed to reach any agreement over the frontier. "The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue via military and diplomatic channels and work out mutually acceptable resolutions of the remaining issues at the earliest," said Bagchi. "In this context, it was also agreed that the next round of commander-level talks should be held at the earliest. We will share with you, once we have any update on this," added Bagchi. (ANI) Outside of teaching, Benjamin L. Coale was an artist who worked in oils and acrylics. Benjamin L. Coale, a teacher and artist who brought his lifelong love of history and English to his classroom and an understated sense of humor to his artwork, died of esophageal cancer Jan. 11 at the University of Maryland Medical Center. The former Mount Vernon resident who lived in Glacier View, Alaska, was 39. Tristan Davies, former senior lecturer in the writing seminar at the Johns Hopkins University, had been Mr. Coales teacher in two graduate seminars as well as his thesis adviser. Advertisement I was very impressed with Ben. He was a very gentle guy and a very thoughtful, nice person, and it served him well as a teacher, Mr. Davies said. He was just a Baltimore guy, friendly, unassuming, without pretense and really very smart. And as a writer, he worked very hard and got better. Benjamin Latrobe Coale, son of Joseph Merryman Coale III, a writer, historian and former aide to Gov. Harry R. Hughes, and his wife, Mary McKim Macdonald Coale, an interior designer, was born in Baltimore and raised in Roland Park and Ruxton. Advertisement He was the great-great-great-grandson of architect Benjamin H. Latrobe, a designer of the United States Capitol and the Baltimore Basilica, among other notable historic structures. After graduating in 2001 from St. Pauls School for Boys in Brooklandville, Mr. Coale earned a bachelors degree in 2005 in English with an emphasis in creative writing from Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Virginia. In 2008, he obtained a masters degree in English and creative writing from the Johns Hopkins University, and in 2011, an ACT teaching certificate in secondary education from Notre Dame of Maryland University. While completing his masters degree and earning a teaching certificate, Mr. Coale lived in Mount Vernon and worked at Mick OSheas Irish Pub on North Charles Street as a server-bartender. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 61 Ron Galella, the celebrity photographer whose pursuit of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis resulted in a restraining order against him after he stalked her for years, died at age 91 on April 30, 2022, at his home in Montville, N.J., of congestive heart failure. (Carlo Allegri/AP) From 2007 to 2008, he was a substitute teacher at Ruxton Country School where he taught English, history, study skills and science. He was also a middle school and high school English intern for Baltimore City Public Schools in 2011. In 2018, he and his wife, the former Michelle Saltmarsh, whom he met at college and married in 2011, moved to Glacier View when he accepted a teaching position at Glacier View School in Sutton, Alaska. I got it, because Ben had a very adventuresome streak and I wouldnt have been surprised if I got a call from him asking for a recommendation for a job in Sumatra, Mr. Davies said. Alaska was an adventure that he wouldnt shy away from, and he was rough and ready for it. He lived life to the fullest. Wendy J. Taylor is principal of Glacier View School, where Mr. Coale taught middle and high school English and history. Advertisement Ben found his passion for teaching here in Alaska and were going to miss his passion for life and learning, Ms. Taylor said in a telephone interview. His confidence built in teaching and in doing so built confidence in our kids. He grew as much as he allowed our kids to grow. He was big on relationships and humor and the laughter that came out of his room. He believed relationships were the first step in educating a child. He wanted them to feel confident and successful in whatever they wanted to do. He knew how to catch their attention, Ms. Taylor said. He challenged them to get out and look at the world. He loved Alaska and didnt take anything for granted, she said. He encouraged our kids to appreciate nature and what Alaska had to offer. It wasnt uncommon for Mr. Coale to assemble his students outside to take in a beautiful sunrise, and when it came time to study state government, he took his students on a four-day trip to Juneau, the state capital, where they met legislators and attended lectures. He was hands on, Ms. Taylor said. Advertisement Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 24 Lois H. Feinblatt was a pioneering sex therapist who practiced with the Johns Hopkins Sex and Gender Clinic for more than three decades and was a also a philanthropist. (handout) Mr. Coale excelled at connecting with his students. He was a kid himself and he could get their attention by going to their level and finding out what they were interested in and then hed try it, Ms. Taylor said. In addition to his daily teaching regimen, Mr. Coale conducted after school classes including guitar lessons. You could see that Ben knew how to run a classroom, had humility when it came to listening to students, and all done with a great sense of humor, Mr. Davies said. He had a very dry and wry sense of humor. Mr. Coale was also an accomplished artist who worked in oils and acrylics, and like filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, liked turning normal into the abnormal. In one of his paintings, he featured marshmallows and hot dogs with faces, standing around a campfire under a starry nighttime sky toasting a miniature figure of a human being attached to a stick. He liked turning the tables on reality, his father said. And he never took one art course. He was self-taught. Advertisement His art had a certain sense of whimsy to it, said his wife of 10 years, a personal trainer. They were very intense, pessimistic, whimsical, kooky and funny. He had a wide range of subjects and they were nutty and reminded me of the Far Side cartoons. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > Ms. Coale added: They were vibrant and the colors that came from his palate were vibrant and came alive on canvas. [ Thomas A. Perrera, Peppermill Restaurant co-founder, dies ] Mr. Coales father remembered his sons many passions and talents. Ben had a curiosity and creativity that explored life in many directions, contributing to his happiness and others. Some of these paths led to his personal success and in making a difference for others, his father wrote in an email. Through his music, art, photography, education archaeology, travel and passion for teaching he was an uplifting spark that gained respect from colleagues and gave inspiration to his students, he wrote. His hope was to inspire a younger group of young people, although geographically isolated, to make the most of their dreams and potential. Advertisement Plans for a celebration-of-life gathering to be held in May at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore are incomplete. In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Coale is survived by a brother, Robert Bowen Coale, of Ruxton; and two nephews. India today said that its High Commission in Ottawa and Consulate General in Toronto are working closely with the Canadian authorities on all aspects of the investigation of the tragic case of death of four people whose bodies were recovered near the Canada-US border in Manitoba in Canada on January 19. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a regular media briefing that the Indian mission is also providing consular services to the family of the deceased. "Our missions in Canada and USA have been following regularly this tragic case of death of four people whose bodies were recovered near the Canada-US border in Manitoba in Canada on 19 January. The Canadian authorities have confirmed that all four who perished were Indian nationals who belonged to one family. The next of kin of the deceased have now been informed," he said. Bagchi said Canadian authorities have also informed that based on the circumstances, the death of all the persons has been determined to be consistent with exposure to the outdoor elements. "Our High Commission in Ottawa and our Consulate General in Toronto are working closely with the Canadian authorities on all aspects of the investigation and providing consular services to the family of the deceased. Our High Commission in Ottawa has issued a detailed press release on the subject yesterday," he said. Canadian authorities found the bodies of four people, who froze to death while trying to cross the Canada-US border in Emerson, Manitoba, near the Canada-US border on January 19. Canadian authorities have confirmed the identities of the four deceased as Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, 39; Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, 37 and their children Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel, and Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel. The Indian High Commission had said a special team led by an officer from the Consulate General of India in Toronto is currently in Manitoba helping with the investigation. "People-to-people relations are an important pillar of India-Canada bilateral relations. Canada is a preferred destination for Indian immigrants and students. India and Canada work together to ensure the safety and well-being of all Indian immigrants into Canada," the High Commission statement said. Stating that both India and Canada have a regular dialogue on migration and welfare issues, the High Commission said this tragedy has brought into focus the need to ensure that migration and mobility are made safe and legal. "On longer-term issues that this tragedy has brought into focus is the need to ensure that migration and mobility are made safe and legal and that such tragedies do not recur. A number of ideas remain under discussion between India and Canada," the statement said. (ANI) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reaffirmed on Friday that the Government of India is initiating steps to get back seven Indian sailors who were on board the UAE flagged cargo vessel Rwabee seized by the Houthis earlier this month. "As per the latest information, received by the shipping company based in UAE, seven Indian sailors captured by Houthis are in good health and are being provided with regular meals, however, their captors have not allowed them to communicate with their families," he said during the weekly MEA's media briefing held virtually. "Government of India is in touch with multiple sources including the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement to reaffirm the safety and well-being of our sailors and reinforce the message to the Houthis to release the sailors soon," he added. Further, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reaffirmed India's stance towards the recent terror attack in UAE. "Foreign Minister Jaishankar has condemned the terror attacks in UAE in strongest terms to his UAE counterpart in his telephonic conversation," he said. "UNSC also condemned the heinous terrorist attack in UAE on January 17. We are continuously monitoring the situation," he added. Two Indians were among the casualties in the January 17 attack involving three oil tankers and a fire in the construction site of Abu Dhabi's new airport construction site. Also, the UAE Foreign Minister and International Cooperation, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan shared the details of the attack and conveyed the deepest condolences of the UAE government on the death of two Indians. (ANI) A United Kingdom jury has declared 31-year-old British-Pakistani Gohir Khan guilty of conspiring to kill self-exiled blogger Ahmad Waqass Goraya in the Netherlands. The jury returned the verdict two days after the trial came to a close at the Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court after both sides concluded arguments, Dawn reported. Khan, following his conviction, is expected to be sentenced in the second week of March in a criminal court. Khan, born on February 16, 1990, was charged in June last year with one count of conspiracy to murder Goraya. Goraya is an activist and blogger who left Pakistan after he and five other bloggers were abducted and later released in Islamabad in 2017. According to the Pakistani publication, during the trial, the prosecution maintained that Khan was hired by persons who appeared to be based in Pakistan to carry out the "intended killing" of Goraya. The prosecution said that Khan had travelled to Rotterdam, Netherlands last year as part of a conspiracy to murder Goraya, and that he had undertaken a reconnaissance mission outside his home and even bought a tool with the aim to succeed in his mission, Dawn reported. It further reported that the financial rewards for his actions were believed to be significant, with a payment of 100,000 on offer. At the time, the prosecution said, the defendant was in significant debt, with no clear means of paying his creditors. Khan was "enthusiastic" about "carrying out the killing to earn the money and to carry out further attacks" in the future, the prosecution told the jury. The jury was also told how Pakistan-based middleman Muzamil allegedly contacted Khan in 2021 with an offer to pay 80,000 for the job, while telling him about his own commission of 20,000, Dawn reported. It is unclear who Muzamil was working for, but evidence that 5,000 was paid into a Pakistani bank account and received through a hundi transfer in London was shared in the court. At the last hearing, the jury had heard the defence counsel make a final statement in which the prosecution's allegations against defendant Khan were rebuffed, Dawn reported. Though Khan was born and largely raised in the UK, he left for Lahore when he was 13 to attend school and lived as a boarding student at the Sharif Education Complex. He returned to London in 2007, without taking final exams for he had to struggle with lessons often being in Urdu, the Pakistani publication reported. Khan is the third youngest of six siblings. His parents moved from Pakistan to the UK in the 1970s. He was born and raised in London, and has lived at his Forest Gate address his entire life. He is married with six children aged between 11 and three, Dawn reported. (ANI) The United States has put its troops on "high alert" and hasn't "actually moved any troops" in response to the buildup of Russian troops on Ukraine's border, said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday (local time). "We put troops on higher alert. And the second point that I would make is that even if and when we do move troops, the purpose of those troops deploying would be to reassure allies or directly in support of [the North Atlantic Treaty Organization] both. So I think that, again, before we make any decisions on readiness or movement of troops, we always take those things into mind ... the impact on other leaders," CNN quoted Austin as saying. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley also said the US is "increasing our readiness levels." Earlier in his remarks, Milley said that "there is a small contingent of US and NATO advisers and trainers currently in Ukraine. The United States has zero offensive combat weapon systems, nor any permanent forces nor bases in Ukraine," CNN reported. "Our role is limited in that we help train, advise and assist with tactics, techniques and procedures. We participate in institutional development with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. As the secretary of defense has noted, we continue to provide military material support to Ukraine along with many other countries from NATO. And we are ready, capable and prepared to uphold our obligation under treaty to NATO. As mentioned by the secretary, an attack against one NATO ally is an attack against all," he said. Milley also said that "we strongly encourage Russia to stand down" and to pursue a resolution regarding Ukraine "through diplomacy." Milley further stated the troop movements from Russia along the border with Ukraine and into Belarus are "different" from what the US has seen "in recent memory. "It does feel different," Milley said, adding "This is larger in scale and scope in the massing of forces than anything we've seen in recent memory, and I think you'd have to go back quite a while into the Cold War days to see something of this magnitude," CNN reported. "They do annual exercises, and we watch those closely. But this is different. So, we'll continue to monitor very, very closely. But yet it does feel different," Milley said. (ANI) US Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez will be visiting Lithuania to meet with senior government officials and discuss the United States' continuing strong support for Lithuania in the face of political pressure and economic coercion from China. "Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernandez will travel to Vilnius, Lithuania, January 30 - February 1, and to Brussels, Belgium, February 2-4, 2022," the US department of state said in a statement. During his visit to Vilnius, Fernandez will meet with senior government officials to discuss U.S.-Lithuania relations, opportunities for deepening bilateral economic cooperation, and our shared commitment to rules-based policies that encourage responsible, sustainable economic development. The Under Secretary will also discuss the United States' continuing strong support for Lithuania in the face of political pressure and economic coercion from the People's Republic of China, read the statement. The U.S. delegation led by Under Secretary Fernandez will include senior leaders from the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) to discuss the implementation of the recently signed USD 600 million memorandum of understanding to expand opportunities for U.S. exporters and Lithuanian buyers in areas such as high-tech manufacturing, business services, and renewable energy, the statement said. According to the statement, in Brussels, the Under Secretary will meet with EU officials to discuss issues of common concern, including countering economic coercion and deepening and expanding transatlantic trade and investment through the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC). In both capitals, Under Secretary Fernandez will discuss collaboration to deliver a positive economic agenda that increases prosperity for the people of the United States, Lithuania, and the entire European Union, the statement added. (ANI) FAIRFIELD, CT Fairfields school board reduced the district's 2022-23 budget by about $1.5 million before approving it Thursday, but the spending plan is still roughly $10.4 million more than the one passed last year. Now that the $202.5 million 2022-23 budget a 5.4 percent year-over-year increase has cleared the Board of Education, it will head to town hall for further consideration. When Superintendent Mike Cummings presented the document earlier in the month, he said the spike was due to factors including increased demand for special education, higher heating and maintenance costs related to the supply chain, contract raises, and cybersecurity investments. On Thursday, Cummings detailed $1.7 million in proposed reductions. Among them were using grant funds to cover more than $500,000 in math textbooks, not filling a nearly $115,000 ventilation technician position and cutting almost $139,000 to adjust for lower projected enrollment. Board members approved the reductions, but also added about $157,000 in expenses. Prior to the budget talks Thursday, residents lobbied for a new scoreboard at Fairfield Ludlowe High School and to save the Math Academy, a program for accelerated math learners that consists of two classes, one for fourth-graders and another for fifth-graders. One of the requests was granted. The other was not. Theyre asking for their shot at excellence and we are getting rid of it, said board member Jennifer Maxon-Kennelly, before adding she would not make a motion regarding the Math Academy, because she felt she wouldnt have the support of the board to pass it. Cummings said the district is hoping to find a no-cost option to address the needs of advanced math students. Were not giving up on this concern thats been raised, he said. The $140,000 scoreboard replacement passed unanimously. We all know that it hasnt been working for many, many years, member Jennifer Jacobsen said. We need a permanent replacement to this item. Story continues Also approved was just over $17,000 to make the districts music coordinator position full-time. Our music program has suffered tremendously during this pandemic, member Carol Guernsey said. Some students have not been able to sing due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has also coincided with double-digit declines in high school music program enrollment, she noted. I think the music program is the jewel in the crown here in town, member Jeff Peterson said. Whatever we can do to support this program is well worth the investment. The addition was narrowly approved, with Maxon-Kennelly, Chair Christine Vitale, Vice Chair Nick Aysseh and Secretary Jessica Gerber opposed. This article originally appeared on the Fairfield Patch Lee en espanol The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix submitted his resignation letter on his 75th birthday after serving for 18 years as the head clergyman of the institution. Thomas J. Olmsted was installed as the bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix in 2003. Olmsted sent a letter of resignation to Pope Francis as he celebrated his birthday on Friday, Jan. 21. Bishops are required to resign when they turn 75, according to the Catholic Church. When the pope receives the letter, he may deny the resignation, in which case Olmsted would remain bishop of the diocese for a little while longer. If the pope accepts the resignation, someone new will be appointed to lead the Phoenix diocese. Olmsted is the fourth person to serve as the bishop of the diocese. The diocese was established in 1969 by Pope Paul VI. The Most Reverend Eduardo A. Nevares, auxiliary bishop of the diocese, described Olmsted as "a tremendously humble man." Nevares has worked closely with the bishop since joining the diocese in 2010. "That's exactly how bishop (runs the diocese), being very humble. ... He's one that knows how to delegate and one that trusts people in their positions to know the mind of the bishop and to be his arms and legs to carry out his policies," Nevares said. According to a 2003 article in The Arizona Republic, it was unexpected when he was appointed to be bishop of the Phoenix diocese. One of his priorities moving to Phoenix was to get to know the community since he didn't have any prior connections to the area. "I wanted to get to know the leaders (of the diocese) because they would know the area quite well," Olmsted told The Republic. "That was my priority for the first six months." A strong focus on marriage, family as head of Phoenix diocese As bishop, he is responsible for all clergy members of the diocese, as well as all teachings, but his main priority has been supporting the institution of marriage and family. Story continues "When you're working with children, you have to work with their parents because they're the first teachers of their children," he said. Olmsted's colleagues said he treats everyone who works for the diocese as family too. He asks about their spouses and children, makes an effort to sit with new people during lunch every day and always says to put family before work, according to members of the diocese's leadership team. Working in a diocese that serves over a million people makes it difficult to work with everyone, so the bishop holds evangelizing central to the diocese's mission, according to Father John Nahrgang, vicar for evangelization and education of the diocese. One way he does outreach in the community is by holding Mass for sexual abuse victims twice a year and hosts meetings with them personally. In the mid-2000s, Olmsted spoke out about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, thus starting his biannual Masses dedicated to survivors. "This is a horrible scandal within the church, but also within the whole society. ... We have a very deep obligation as the church to reach out to these people whether they've been abused by someone in the church or somebody else in society," Olmsted said. He also helped develop a list of clergymen in the diocese who have committed sexual abuse and released it to the public in 2012. The bishop's work encompasses other issues as well. During his time as bishop, he handled a controversy involving the excommunication of Sister Mary McBride after an abortion took place at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. McBride excommunicated herself from the church following an abortion she permitted at the hospital in 2009. Nicole Delaney, director of tribunal for the diocese, explained that there are only a few times that people are automatically excommunicated from the Catholic Church and one is if you perform or allow someone else to perform an abortion. Olmsted decided to remove the Catholic status of St. Joseph's after it allowed the abortion. The decision was not taken lightly, according to Delaney. "It was a painful time," said Mike Phelan, director of marriage and family life. "These decisions were not lightly made. They were after a long series of dialogues. ... Then bishop decided to remove the Catholic status of the hospital." Olmsted attempts to find other solutions to problems like this before making decisions, members of the leadership team told The Republic. 'Bishop Olmsted is one in a thousand' Olmsted said he does not have a final plan for when the pope accepts his resignation. He said he has spent a majority of his life letting "the Holy Spirit guide" him, through his work in the church. Olmsted was born in Oketo, Kansas, where he grew up with his family on a farm. He was ordained into the Catholic Church in 1973. He later moved to Rome, where he lived for 16 years earning his master's degree in theology and a doctorate in canon law. In Italy, he also spent nine years working as an assistant in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, the central governing body of the Catholic Church. Olmsted then served as the bishop of the Diocese of Wichita for two years from 2001 to 2003 before being appointed to the Diocese of Phoenix. In addition to his work as bishop, Olmsted has served on multiple boards of directors and was a founding member of the Catholic Association of Latino Leaders in California. He doesn't have a plan as to what he wants to do next, but he knows he would like to stay in Arizona and work within the church. He said there's something special about practicing Catholicism in the desert since so much of the symbolism in the Bible is centered around it as well. The rest of the diocese awaits Olmsted's successor. "We're praying hard," Nevares said. "Because Bishop Olmsted is one in a thousand." Reach breaking news intern Jane Florance at jflorance@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @Florance_Jane. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bishop Olmsted to resign after leading Phoenix diocese for 18 years The excess weeds and expansive foliage abutt the crumbling remnants of a former St. Landry Parish elementary school. The building is now stripped of any remaining valued contents and has been awaiting removal or attention for at least a decade. Although the demolition process for what was once Morrow Elementary School on La. 71 might seem a simple process, school officials now say it could cost an estimated $550,000 to level the classroom building and a gymnasium where Class B high school basketball was once played. What to do about what is left of Morrow Elementary is a topic discussed several times over the last five years by school officials, but nothing was ever decided about what should be done with the property or building. St. Landry School Board member Milton Ambres discusses the situation at Morrow Elementary on Monday night. The school district, in past action taken by board members, has solicited for appraisals and advertisements have been posted. Board members once voted to have the building, now considered beyond repair, placed on the real estate market, but the condition of the school last used around 2010, made it less attractive for any buyers. Making any purchase proposals more difficult is a portion of the Morrow Elementary property was once donated, making a title transition and potential sale more complicated. Residents Say Property Is Hazardous School Board members Bianca Vedell and Milton Ambres, who once coached basketball and served as a school administrator at Morrow, say people who live in the area are requesting that the school building be demolished. There are safety concerns. The property is now abandoned and you dont want to leave it in the condition that it is in, Vedell, who represents District 5 in the Palmetto, Melville and Morrow, told a Building, Lands and Sites Committee on Monday night. Operations Director Claudia Blanchard, said what remains of the school includes 15 classrooms, a cafeteria, office space and the gym. Blanchard said about four and a half acres were apparently donated by families who wanted to see a school built in the Morrow area. Story continues That (donated) property belongs to the people who gave it for the school. Another 12 acres are what belongs to the school board, Ambres pointed out. Ambres said the school cannot be renovated, probably requires asbestos abatement and the skeletal remains of the classroom buildings are no longer of any value. The property has gotten to be an eyesore. You have drug dealers going behind the school and doing their thing. All the copper has been removed. Sometimes the homeless sleep there. "The school is gutted. Everything worth selling has been taken, said Ambres who added a new school cafeteria was built before students who once attended classes there were sent to other campuses. Debating The Process On Monday night the Committee discussed the matter without taking any action. The people (in the Morrow area) are saying the property is a safety hazard. At the least they are asking that things around there be cleaned up, Vedell said. Ambres said any action needed to determine that needs to be done at Morrow is overdue. The responsibility for this now lies with the School Board. We need to start cleaning it up, doing something. If we dont tear it down, we should at least go in and clean the building, Ambres added. Superintendent Patrick Jenkins told the Committee that if the Board decides to sell the property, then there will be an abatement process attached for either the District or any potential buyer. Lyn Kenley, who represents Volkert, Inc. a construction management company employed by the District, said whichever decision the Board makes in disposing of the building and property is likely to be expensive. This article originally appeared on Opelousas Daily World: What's next for abandoned Morrow Elementary? School board at a loss mother and daughter sitting outside looking at cell phone Illustration by Francesca Spatola; Getty Images (1) There's nobody better than Abuela to school you on life while simultaneously dishing out some love. So when we started seeing our cherished matriarchs popping up on TikTok sharing timeless wisdom, showing off slick dance moves, andyummiest of allteaching the secrets to their delicious cooking, we were all, "go, grandma!" Over the last year, Latinx TikTokers have created a treasure trove of videos showcasing their grandmothers' recetas, from Puerto Rican sofrito to Bizcocho Dominicano, all with a single common ingredientabuela's love. It's the reminder we all needed that food is still one of the best and tastiest ways to connect to our Latinx roots. With chilly winter months providing the perfect excuse to retreat to the warmth of the kitchen and experiment with dishes old and new, here are five Abuela-approved TikTok recipes to inspire your weeknight dinners. Sofrito Packed with flavor, this vegetable puree is the base of many Caribbean dishes. TikToker @pinkhodzilla shows us how her Puerto Rican abuelita makes sofrito with peppers, garlic, and, of course, the fresh herb that sets Puerto Rican sofrito apart from all othersrecao. Arepas Colombians and Venezuelans both claim arepascornmeal cakes often stuffed with cheeseas their own. We won't veer into that debate, but we can say with certainty that these arepas made by @isabela.buza31, with her grandmother's guidance, pass the eye test. Pollo al Verdeo Even popular TikTok chefs need help from grandma from time to time. Watch as @lasrecetasdesimon enlists his abuela to demonstrate how this traditional Argentinian dishchicken in a creamy scallion sauceis made. Chilaquiles In Mexico, it's common to eat chilaquiles, corn tortillas simmered in salsa and topped with a fried egg, for breakfast. But watching @_masmasa in action proves breakfast is really just a social construct! This dish can warm your soul any time of day. Bizcocho Dominicano We can't forget el postre! This Traditional Dominican sponge cakemade with an abundance of butterfrom @laabuelamily has our sweet tooth buzzing. Just make sure to turn the sound on for a full sensory experience! A 15-year high school reunion followed by a house party ends with the host dead at the bottom of his cliffside abode in the comedic whodunit The Afterparty on Apple TV+. Coming on the heels of Knives Out and Only Murders in the Building, we seem to have a modest murder mystery resurgence on our hands and nothing could make me a devotee of Murder, She Wrote still to this day (with episodes a-piled on my DVR) any happier. Its as if the shows creators put 1997s Romy and Micheles High School Reunion in a blender with Agatha Christie and, voila, may I interest you in The Afterparty? Or as I prefer to think of it: Murder on the Millennial Express. Tiffany Haddish arrives, eyes narrowed, as the ambitious police detective called to the scene. Dave Franco is the not-so-dearly departed homeowner. And an assortment of comedy ringers play his old classmates including Sam Richardson, Ilana Glazer, Ike Barinholtz, Zoe Chao and Ben Schwartz all of whom become potential suspects. If The Afterparty lacks a tight storytelling structure, thats because theres a gimmick framing this eight-part series from executive producers Christopher Miller and Phil Lord: Each episode emulates the tropes of a different genre, be it rom-com, horror, muscle car action, animation or musical. Each episode also zeros in a different characters memory of the night, Rashomon-style, as they are interrogated by Haddishs increasingly exasperated Detective Danner, and they become more humanized in the process. Its a compelling mashup of tropes not only on an episode level but on a character level, because the show is also playing around with high school archetypes; maybe the bully isnt as aggro as everyone assumed, and maybe the frazzled one-time ace student hasnt gone entirely off the deep end in adulthood. Its a hoot and the variety of it all feels of a piece with Lord and Millers creative output as writers, directors and producers, which is so joyously informed by pop cultural literacy and spans a gamut from 21 Jump Street to The Lego Movie to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Story continues The heart and soul of The Afterparty is Richardsons Aniq, your classic nice guy with a low-key charisma whose self-confidence could use a boost (he designs escape rooms for a living; love this detail). Hes hoping to reconnect with this old crush, Zoe, who is now the schools vice principal. Played by Chao, she is the lovely woman in the room all the guys want to be with, including her ex-husband Brett, an intense meathead in a leather jacket, played by Barinholtz. Then theres Schwartz as Aniqs best pal Yasper, an aspiring musician who makes his living installing home sound systems his is the musical episode, with a song that zings a certain number from Hamilton in the most perfectly awkward way possible: We all get one shot, twice, he sings. In other words we get two shots and Glazer plays Chelsea, who is best described as a person going through some things the night of the reunion. The object of their collective scorn and polite fascination is Francos Xavier, a guy who didnt stand out much as a teenager but blossomed into an obnoxious and skeezy pop star high on his own supply of overconfidence. He shows up at the reunion via helicopter, in a suit but no shirt, and proceeds to slime his way through the gymnasium before inviting everyone back to his swanky house for the titular after-party. Franco is very funny here and were treated to a brief montage of Xaviers career highlights, which includes a Daryl Hall and John Oates biopic co-starring Channing Tatum in a cameo, and all I can say is the blond feathered wig they put on Francos head is a thing of beauty because its so alarmingly accurate to Halls look in the 70s and I love that so much care has been given to a throwaway joke about Xaviers ridiculous career. That he was likely pushed to his death is shocking to his former classmates, but no one at the party seems too broken up about it. The semi-hapless Aniq becomes the initial suspect, which compels him to quietly launch his investigation on the side to clear his name (if anyone knows a thing about clues, its the guy who designs escape rooms) along with Yaspers enthusiastic wingman assistance. Richardson was such a standout during his years with Second City in Chicago and Im happy whenever hes on screen, regardless of the project, hes just that kind of actor who brings a wonderful energy to whatever hes in. Hes usually in supporting roles (notably his breakout performance in Veep) but here hes carrying so much of the story and its clear that he can and really should be a leading man more often going forward. I also like how the show has conceived of Chaos pretty girl archetype. You understand why everyone is drawn to her shes smart and funny and nice to everyone, but shes not the blandly boring It Girl that tends to be the object of affection in these types of stories. Shes a fully developed character with her own desires and insecurities and she doesnt take herself too seriously. Chaos performance is just complicated enough to keep us guessing as to what shes really thinking. Schwartz is also a lot of fun here, more or less serving as Aniqs hype man, as is Barinholtz, who finds the doofy vulnerability buried within in this numbskull who used to rule the campus. Theres also an episode that flashes back to their senior year in 2006 wherein many of the dynamics among this group are very different and suddenly were in Cant Hardly Wait territory. All of these references Ive mentioned arent Easter eggs so much as the collective influence of pop cultures past being incorporated into something new and all its own. In her autobiography, Agatha Christie noted that, It is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize how much you love them. Funny, that also happens to be one of the more subtle but persistent themes of the show itself. The Afterparty 3 stars (out of 4) Where to watch: Apple TV+ Nina Metz is a Tribune critic nmetz@chicagotribune.com What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. Sign up for our Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. To Howard Countys new fire chief, Louis Winston, being prepared for anything life throws your way is important. Some of the unique challenges that weve seen with this pandemic is that you dont know what the emergency will be, Winston said. Our challenge is to be prepared for whatever the needs of the community are as it comes to public safety, fire rescue and [emergency medical services] and that we are prepared as a fire department to meet those needs of the community whatever they may be. Advertisement After retiring in 2020 from a three-decade career in fire and rescue services, Winston, 55, of Columbia was appointed to his role in September as the chief of the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. Winston joined the department in 1990 and has served under seven fire chiefs and six county executives. He fulfilled a number of roles including assistant chief, battalion chief and chief officer before retiring as deputy chief in January 2020. Advertisement Winston grew up in Turner Station in Baltimore County, and said it was not until he was a student at Millersville University in Pennsylvania that he became interested in the fire service. A friend who worked in fire and rescue services convinced him to take a test for a position at the Howard County department. After that test, he dedicated his career to public safety. He says his work has been about promoting safety through data-driven information, education and training. I absolutely enjoyed every moment of my career with the Howard County Fire and Rescue, Winston said. Coming into fire services with no experience and having the opportunity to serve the community and citizens and visitors of Howard County has been my absolute pleasure. Ball said he selected Winston for the fire chief position because of his experience and dedication to public safety. I wanted somebody who shared my commitment to public safety, ensuring that each and every one of our residents and visitors were not only safe, but felt safe, Ball said. Having Chief Winston, who not only had a wonderful career in the department, but was so well respected and, frankly, a mentor to a lot of the next generation of chiefs was just a no-brainer. As fire chief, Winston oversees a staff of 500 career firefighters, 75 civilian and contingent staff and about 300 operational volunteer firefighters from the six volunteer corporations in Howard County. Typically, the department responds to about 38,000 incidents each year, with the majority involving providing emergency medical care, he said. After his 2020 retirement, Winston said he still felt a strong desire to serve the community. He returned to the department to work part-time on the incident safety review board at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement When you work in public safety for a long time and a pandemic happens, your natural willingness to serve doesnt just leave you, Winston said. I felt like I wanted do something to help out at a time when the community certainly needed volunteers or people to step up and help as we were trying to navigate through the pandemic. Building a decades-long career in fire and rescue services did not come without its challenges, Winston said. One of the challenges he faced early on in his career, he said, was his lack of experience. Coming into the fire services with no experience, its about building confidence, he said. As I got confidence, the job became easier for me and I think that the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue [Services] does an excellent job of providing its members with the tools to be successful, so it was just applying myself a little bit more to grow in the profession. As fire chief, he faces the challenge of leading the department through the pandemic. Since the emergence of the omicron variant, he said the department has experienced a reduction in staff. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > The omicron variant is now affecting our workforce, he said. Thats a big challenge as these different variants come along and [we] try to assure that we have sufficient staff to continue to provide the excellent public safety services to the citizens of Howard County. Advertisement Bruce Bennett of Union Bridge has worked with Winston for more than three decades. Initially serving as a mentor to Winston, Bennett said he continued to cross paths with Winston throughout their careers at the department. Bennett said Winston handles the role of fire chief with an honest approach. [Hes] an honest, hardworking guy that will be willing to listen and actually hear different peoples perspectives and then he looks at that and tries to come up with a way we can collaborate together to resolve whatever issue were dealing with, he said. Winston said it has been a privilege to return to the department to serve as fire chief. To have the opportunity to come back and lead the department which I grew up in and just to be able to serve with this department in this county was kind of a no-brainer for me, he said. It is my honor to be the fire chief and its a great deal of responsibility, but I accept that challenge and I look forward to moving this department into the future to face the many unique and unpredictable challenges that todays public safety environment faces. UPPER EAST SIDE, NY The COVID-19 testing company that has drawn Upper East Siders' ire for making misleading claims has now received a warning from the state's top prosecutor. Attorney General Letitia James released a letter Thursday to PacGenomics, a California-based company that has operated pop-up testing tents around the Upper East Side. Earlier this week, City Councilmember Julie Menin said constituents have complained that promised same-day results took well over a week to arrive, while others got results with incorrect test dates. "New Yorkers are depending on accurate and timely COVID test results to make decisions and they shouldnt have to wait longer than they were told to know if they can return to work, travel, or gather with loved ones," James said in a statement. "We are entering year three of the pandemic and COVID-19 testing sites should not be misleading consumers." Constituent complaints shared by Menin's office describe widespread confusion among those who were tested by PacGenomics, whose tents have appeared on the corners of East 70th Street and First Avenue, East 68th Street and Third Avenue, and East 72nd Street and Second Avenue, among others. "After receiving numerous complaints from my constituents about false and misleading claims made by PacGenomics, we referred this company to New York Attorney General Letitia James and are pleased that she is taking action," Menin said in a statement. James's letter asks PacGenomics to update its website and signage to reflect accurate turnaround times, and also contact the attorney general's office to explain the incorrect dates included in some results. The company did not respond to Patch's request for comment earlier this week. The attorney general's latest letter follows similar missives she has sent to COVID testing companies like ClearMD, LabQ and Labworq, over what she called misleading claims made to consumers. Previous coverage: UES COVID Testing Sites Are Misleading Residents, Menin Says This article originally appeared on the Upper East Side Patch The Daily Beast ReutersTroops sent into Ukraine to back up Russian forces say they had no choice but to leave because Russian military was in shambles and they deceived us at every step.Soldiers from the breakaway state of South Ossetiaspeaking to South Ossetian leader Anatoly Bibilov at a meeting publicized by the independent news outlet MediaZonarattled off a list of complaints about faulty equipment, lack of leadership and intel, and brainless tactics.South Ossetia, which relies heavily on military and f Paul Drayton was jailed for drink-driving but has now been freed. (Getty) Alan Carrs estranged husband Paul Drayton has been freed from jail after winning an appeal over his 14-week drink-driving sentence. The 50-year-old - who recently announced his split from comedian Carr - was jailed earlier this week after drunkenly reversing into a police car with an alcohol test reading off the scale last October. Drayton, who has battled alcoholism, has now walked free after two harrowing nights in custody. Drayton had been handed a 14-week jail term on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a single count of driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit. He was also banned from driving for three years. But on Friday a judge told him that he should be given the opportunity to turn his life around and that his sentence would be suspended. Read more: Alan Carr says he quit Twitter because of the cancel culture Paul Drayton has won his appeal. (PA) Drayton, who cares for rescue horses, broke down in tears in the dock as he was told his liberty was being restored. John Dye, representing Drayton, told the court: This is a very serious drink-driving offence. It crosses the custody threshold. I think to say anything other than that would be absurd. But he emphasised Draytons previous good character, mental health struggles and problems with alcohol. The two nights in custody have been extremely difficult for someone who has poor mental health, he added. Alan Carr and Paul Drayton in 2015. (PA) Read more: Alan Carr gave up alcohol for six months At the mention of his nights in prison, Drayton broke down in silent tears. Judge Shani Barnes responded: I am sure they have been harrowing. The judge told Drayton he would receive a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months. Carr and Drayton announced their separation on 21 January, saying in a joint statement: "After 13 years as a couple and three years of marriage, Alan Carr and Paul Drayton would like to announce they are separating. "They have jointly and amicably made the difficult decision to divorce and go their separate ways. We request that their privacy is respected at this sensitive time." Watch: Alan Carr's estranged husband Paul Drayton has been jailed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited El Paso for a border briefing Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. Is Alejandro Mayorkas the right person to handle border security and immigration? Its a legitimate question. And not just because Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and other Republicans want him gone as the Homeland Security secretary. Mayorkas has a big job overseeing everything from counterterrorism to cyber and border security to aviation and enforcing immigration laws. But it is security at the 2,000-mile border with Mexico that has come to define him, and so far, his job performance is dubious at best. Border agents' complaints were music to GOP ears Im calling on Mayorkas to step down and step aside, Ducey demanded after Border Patrol agents in Yuma reportedly gave Mayorkas an earful and questioned Bidens immigration policies. From what I hear, the Border Patrol Agents were honest with Mayorkas about whats happening at our southern border, Ducey said on Twitter. And the truth hurts. Im calling on Mayorkas to step down and step aside. He has failed Americans in his role as Homeland Security Secretary he even admitted the border is the worst its been in over 20 years. 3/ Doug Ducey (@dougducey) January 26, 2022 Border Patrol agents are hawkish and usually balk at Democratic humanistic policies. Apparently, the agents are upset that theyre processing immigrants seeking asylum instead of securing the U.S.-Mexico border. The sentiment of Border Patrol agents is in sync with Republicans like Ducey and those who are seeking to replace him or running for U.S. Senate, who are using border crossers as political scapegoats. Just scan social media or watch TV and youll get bombarded with campaign ads selling voters the idea that America is under attack from border-jumping invaders. Its hard to discern whats real amid that war for power, where exaggerations or outright lies are splashed everywhere. Story continues Mayorkas leaves both sides scratching their heads But Mayorkas ability or lack thereof to carry out President Bidens policies has left many across the political spectrum scratching their heads. Mayorkas isnt the only one responsible for the spike of border crossers. U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures show 1.7 million encounters just during the calendar year that ended on Sept. 30 and has since broke new records. The new spike of asylum seekers was expected because Biden ended many of Trumps restrictive immigration policies. But everything is a mess under Mayorkas, and his confusing messaging over immigration and border security isnt helping. Is he taking a hard line on immigration or not? Two recent examples: 1. In audio snippets of this weeks Yuma meeting published by the conservative website Townhall, Mayorkas is heard saying: We are going to close the gaps along the wall. We are going to do anything that we can both to stop the flows, to interdict the flows, to return when we can. Close the gaps along the wall? That to me means building, fixing or reenforcing the wall along the southern border, exactly what Republicans are clamoring in their scare-tactic politicking and which Democrats have fiercely criticized. Is that really what Mayorkas means? If so, he and Biden should say it clearly and loudly. No more speaking from both sides of their mouth, depending the audience in front of them. 2. Earlier this month, Mayorkas made a jaw-dropping plea to mayors when he asked for their cooperation on immigration enforcement. Mayorkas again failed to explain. Does he really mean the kind of help that led the likes of former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to racially profile Latinos and which cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars? If so, Mayorkas needs to explain why he needs local authorities everywhere not just along the southern border to help him enforce immigration laws. Everything seems to be backlogged The immigration system is broken. Its been broken for years and both Republicans and Democrats have failed to fix it. But Mayorkas is in charge now. And he appears to be doing everything wrong. He has failed to address huge backlogs of work permits for essential workers, remains slow to process asylum seekers and has failed to clearly articulate Bidens immigration policies. As Homeland Security secretary, Mayorkas is tasked with advising the president and carrying out his boss directives. And so far, hes either not been frank, or hes a terrible communicator. We may disagree about those actual policies, like keeping the Trump-invoked health rule known as Title 42 that allows Border Patrol to immediately expel migrants. But we dont know exactly why and how many are summarily expelled at any given week, who is being allowed and how hes protecting the border from drug traffickers. Transparency is a problem. We need a better adviser and communicator Mayorkas told mayors that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is not the agency of the past, presumably suggesting that hes taking a gentler approach to immigration enforcement. Thats not going to cut it. A gentler approach doesnt by itself result in sound policy. Pro-immigrant advocates are furious over these inconsistencies while Republicans are quick to seize the immigrant surge to drive the open borders message to voters. Is it time for Mayorkas to go? Perhaps. Its true that Biden sets policy, and thats unlikely to change with a new border hawk. But the president and the country deserve a sound policy adviser on immigration and a great communicator. Mayorkas is neither. Elvia Diaz is an editorial columnist for The Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1. Subscribe to get more opinions content. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Maybe Alejandro Mayorkas is not the best Homeland Security secretary By Marc Jones and Walter Bianchi LONDON/BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's breakthrough agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a $44.5 billion new deal should bolster domestic markets in the weeks ahead, investors and analysts said, though the longer-term outlook remains hazy. The South American country said on Friday it had struck a deal with the IMF over a new standby program to replace a failed $57 billion loan from 2018, easing fears of a potential default as major payments come due this year. That will likely bolster bond prices that had sunk into the 20-30 cents on the dollar range over the past year as the talks had dragged, bogged down by disagreements over the speed of fiscal consolidation. "It gives them some breathing room for the next couple of years," said Peter Kisler, Trium Capital emerging market portfolio manager, who holds Argentine debt. Bonds could "easily go up another 20% if there is a bit more optimism," he added. "The agreement is not as detailed as we would have liked, so we don't see prices flying from here, but there was a real risk of a default to the IMF." Bonds were up some 3 cents on Friday after the government and the IMF announced the agreement, which still needs to be ironed out and approved by Congress and the IMF board. Argentina was facing some $18 billion in payments due to the IMF this year which it said it could not pay after years of economic crises compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. It restructured over $100 billion in private debts in 2020. (Graphic: Argetina's bonds had fallen to all-time lows, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/byprjxlmzpe/Pasted%20image%201643388344345.png) 'NO FISCAL EFFORT' The deal "relieves financing needs for the coming years and reduces uncertainty in Argentina's economy" amid a tentative recovery over the past year, said Eugenio Mari, chief economist at research organization Fundacion Libertad y Progreso. Story continues Carlos de Sousa from Vontobel Asset Management forecast the deal clinched by the leftist government would be approved by Congress, where the conservative opposition will likely back it. "I think the opposition will approve it as they don't want to be seen as the irresponsible ones that vote it down," he said. "For 2022 and 2023 there is virtually no fiscal effort so Argentina basically got what it wanted." In a note, Goldman Sachs analyst Alberto Ramos said it remained to be seen how robust the plan would be and whether it would solve Argentina's economic issues. "Overall, the macro-financial picture shows deep imbalances and widespread distortions rendering a gradual policy adjustment strategy inherently risky," he wrote. An Argentine stock trader, who asked not to be named, said the market remained tense but the announcement did help give a bit more certainty. He was keen to see the fine print of the final deal and how it was carried out in practice. "The announcement gives some breathing space to the market, but we have to be cautious and see how the agreement is implemented," he said. (Reporting by Walter Bianchi and Marc Jones; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Rosalba O'Brien) Department of Natural Resources big-game managers held an online chat Wednesday evening about depleted whitetail populations in northeast Minnesota, and their message to frustrated hunters was, "Get used to it.'' In fact, the webinar part of the DNR's deer population goal-setting process wasn't so much about deer as it was about moose, the agency's big-game animal du jour. Never mind the odds are stacked against the state's remnant moose population. Shorter, warmer winters. Tick infestations. Wolves. Bears. Liver flukes. Bacterial infections. Each kills moose, adults and calves alike. But it's deer the DNR has in its moose-benefiting crosshairs, saying correctly that while whitetails can carry (and spread) brainworm benignly, the parasite poses a major threat to moose survival in the northeast. So, despite the hue and cry of deer hunters who have seen their tradition nose-dive in the northeast in recent years, thanks to perennially low whitetail numbers, the DNR is happy enough with the status quo. "In developing the (proposed deer-population goals for the northeast) we realized deer hunters wanted more deer,'' DNR big game program leader Barb Keller said at the outset of Wednesday evening's 1.5-hour webinar. But, Keller said, "Moose ... did inform these deer population goals.'' In the region's six Deer Permit Areas (DPAs), the DNR proposes a marginal population increase in only one, DPA 133. How rare are deer in the northeast? Last year, hunters killed fewer than .3 of an animal per square mile, down significantly from a still-meager .9 as recently as 2011. Statewide, the deer harvest average is 2.5 per square mile. "Compared with other areas of the state, we're dealing with a very low harvest,'' Keller said. Left unsaid during the webinar was that moose enjoy greater favor among the broader public than deer do. This support translates into political cache that resonates throughout the DNR, to Gov. Tim Walz's office and beyond. Story continues The moose's wide-ranging popularity also is why the DNR is reluctant to attempt to recover deer populations in the northeast by intensified forest habitat management admittedly a long shot, anyway, given the northeast's periodic deer-killing winters. Deer in parts of the northeast already are at levels well below those called for in the DNR's 2011 moose management plan, which recommended whitetails in the moose zone shouldn't exceed 10 animals per square mile. Turns out, the 10-per-square-mile limit was just a guess, the DNR said Wednesday. "We actually don't know'' what level deer populations should be in the moose zone, was the new message. Most straightforward among webinar presenters Wednesday was Seth Moore, the longtime Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa director of biology and environment. A respected moose researcher, Moore made a convincing case that if northeast moose are to increase (their numbers, though less than half what they were about 15 years ago, have stabilized since about 2013), deer populations will have to be kept low. Meaning, perhaps, at minimal levels. Moore said many deer in the northeast migrate to Lake Superior in winter, before moving back inland in spring. Some carry brainworm with them on the return trip, which ultimately infects moose. Among Moore's study animals in research that began in 2010, brainworm caused 24% of moose deaths. Deer also support high wolf populations in moose country, Moore said, which further contribute to moose mortality. Moose calves are particularly vulnerable to wolves in the calves' first two weeks of life. Overall, Moore said, "We're seeing close to 80 percent calf moose mortality. There is no possibility with that (mortality rate) the moose population will increase.'' Wolf predation of moose will require "some difficult decisions,'' he said. "If you want to restore moose in the core moose range, some level of wolf management will be necessary,'' Moore said. The DNR knows this as well but its managers won't say so publicly, in part because Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a Native American, are against wolf hunting. Due this spring, the DNR's long-awaited wolf management plan is expected to remain neutral on wolf hunting. Yet sooner or later, as Moore said, difficult decisions will have to be made. Minnesotans who don't hunt deer or care about deer hunting might be indifferent to the tradition's decline in the northeast. But if the same people are moose and/or wolf advocates, and if they want both animals to flourish in the northeast, they'll have to acknowledge that wolf hunting must be part of the mix. Minnesota most recently held regulated wolf hunts in 2012 (413 wolves killed), 2013 (238) and 2014 (272). The Lake Superior Band of Chippewa didn't allow wolf hunting during those years, but radio-collared moose the tribe was studying at the time benefited, Moore said. "We saw the effects of the wolf season'' in reduced moose mortality, he said. Bears also kill moose. Among moose calves studied by Moore between 2013 and 2021, 22% were killed by bears a rate that declined between 2016-2018, when the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa authorized both spring and fall bear hunting. Ostensibly, Wednesday's DNR webinar was about establishing northeast Minnesota deer-population goals. But the gathering was more emphatically about moose and how continued low deer numbers in the northeast can contribute to the big animal's possible resurgence, or at least stability, and how deer hunters, frustrated though they might be, should get used to it. Editor's note: More information about the DNR's deer population goal-setting meetings this winter, along with a chance to comment on the agency's proposals, is online at tinyurl.com/2p994ver. Jan. 27LIMA With continued freezing temperatures predicted for the Lima region this weekend, local animal rights activists and dog lovers are worried some dogs may be left outside in the frigid temperatures in violation of Lima's new tethering ordinance. The ordinance Lima Ordinances 618.12 went into effect on Nov. 8, 2021, and regulates how residents tether a dog and the times the animal is left outside. The new city law was debated for months by Lima council, leading to its passage last fall. Lima Police Department Maj. Ron Holman, commander of the city's patrol division, said in a telephone interview that most dog owners in the city are in compliance with the ordinance and only a "few" incidents of alleged violations of the new ordinance have been investigated since November. "Most people are compliant. Obviously, inclement weather like what is predicted can be harmful to an animal's well-being," Holman said. "We advise residents to try not to leave (dogs) outside any longer than necessary for them to do their business." The ordinance lists a range of situations that are regulated, including the type, length and weight of tether or restraint; the location of the tethered animal in proximity to a fence or property line; whether or not the animal can access food and water; and the times of day and hours a dog can be tethered outside throughout the year. Of concern to numerous animal welfare advocates who contacted The Lima News about the ordinance were restrictions on the time a dog can be tethered outside in light of the extreme cold in the forecast. The city ordinance prohibits leaving a domestic animal outside from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. year-round. From Oct. 1 through March 31, no domestic animal can be tethered outside from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Those rules equate to very limited outside tether time for dogs in the winter months, leaving only the periods of 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. for outside tethering. Story continues Allen County Dog Warden Julie Shellhammer said her office does not enforce the city's ordinance, but she hopes that all residents county or city follow the law for the health and welfare of their animals. "It is Lima's law, and I cannot speak for them. We do not enforce (the ordinace), only state law," Shellhammer said. "It is sad. I've been on TV three times in the past 24 hours talking about cold weather and how to keep safe." Shellhammer said her office is mainly focused on enforcing Ohio Revised Code Chapter 955, which she said regulates dog licenses, dogs running with no leash and dog bites, among other issues. She said the Humane Society enforces Ohio Revised Code Chapter 959, which deals with animal cruelty complaints, including dogs with no food, water, shelter or which are being severely neglected. Holman said any resident who wishes to report a violation of the tethering ordinance should call the city's non-emergency response telephone line, 419-227-4444, to report alleged violations. He stressed tipsters do not call 9-1-1, as that is only for more serious crimes and emergencies. "If we get an allegation a dog has been left outside longer than the times (in the ordinance), or it is outside after the curfew times, we'll send someone out and investigate and possibly issue a citation. We do our best," Holman said. Several firefighters set out across Jacksonville's West 13th Street neighborhood Tuesday with safety resources and prevention equipment in hand for residents. The reason they were there was tragically vivid as they passed the charred remains of a home some had fought flames in the night before. Three people were hospitalized, a man and woman downstairs as well as another woman trapped upstairs, fire officials said. Armed with new smoke detectors plus flyers on how to stay safe if fire strikes, men and women from Stations 2 and 4 joined fire prevention officials in going door to door offering a courtesy check on equipment and installing free alarms to those who didn't have one. The same action was repeated two days later on West 21st Street where a 78-year-old woman died in a Jan. 11 blaze. More free alarms were given away as city officials announced that a new fire prevention and safety position will be added to the fire department as a result of their efforts. Apartment fire: Blaze guts part of Jacksonville Heights complex, leaving at least 28 homeless First responders: Jacksonville firefighter suffers burns in house fire during rescue attempt With four people dead from fires only weeks into 2022, then multiple serious blazes since, more people need to know about the city's long-running smoke detector program, Fire Chief Keith Powers said. With those injuries and deaths fresh in his mind, Powers said his crews addressed a serious need in the community surrounding the West 13th Street home. Firefighter Garrett Adamson (left) and Chief Kevin Jones install a smoke detector for Geraldine Walker in her Jacksonville home on West 12th Street. The free detectors were handed out in the community Tuesday as part of a long-running city program following a fire that injured three people the night before on West 13th Street. "One of the reasons we are canvassing these neighborhoods is to make sure folks understand the importance of a working smoke detector," Powers said. "They are still investigating whether there was a working detector in here, so I can't answer that. But it is extremely important, especially in the middle of the night, to alert you that there is something going on and early enough before it gets so bad that you get trapped." Story continues Grateful for first responders When Christy Seckman spotted firefighters near the burned home, she took them up on their offer, very aware of the nearby fire during this cold part of the year. "This is just great and I really appreciate what they are doing," she said. "This will keep us safe. It's that time of year, and everybody is trying to keep warm." Firefighter Brent DeLoach (left) along with Chief Kevin Jones hands a free carbon monoxide detector to Christy Seckman. Fire officials were offering free smoke detectors as well to residents living near a house fire in the 1100 block of West 13th Street. For Charleyne Martin, firefighters confirmed her smoke detector works in her home on West 12th Street. She said she saw the fire around the corner the night before, glad those firefighters were out saving lives again with the smoke detectors. "That's fantastic, especially since we had a major fire just yesterday and these are older homes occupied by people who may not be aware that smoke detectors are necessary," she said. "... I saw the flames from here and the smoke, then I saw it on TV to see how really bad it was." As multiple beeps confirmed that two new free smoke detectors just installed by firefighters in Geraldine "Gerre" Walker's home worked, she also expressed her appreciation. "I think it's terrific, looking after us seniors," she said. "I do feel safer. I didn't know things were that bad." Sounding the alarm Florida's fire-prevention code requires smoke detectors inside and outside each bedroom and on every floor for new home construction. State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis has said working smoke detectors could mean the difference between life and death, since 171 civilians died in about 2.8 million Florida fires reported in 2020. That compares to 151 deaths the year before in about 2.7 million fires. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department will provide and install a free smoke detector for any qualified resident living in a single-family or two-family residence. The department also will install replacement batteries in existing smoke detectors for free. The department installs about 50 smoke detectors and 10 batteries each month through requests made via (904) 630-2489 (CITY), fire officials confirmed. Jacksonville firefighters survey a home damaged by fire that many of them fought the day before. Chief Keith Powers (left) joined them in warning residents of the need for smoke detectors. Then firefighters and safety officials installed free detectors for neighbors if needed as part of a long-running city program. Not many seem to know about the smoke-detector program, although more do reach out to the city after news of fires leaving people homeless, injured or worse, Capt. Eric Prosswimmer said. He confirmed that smoke detectors have alerted residents of some recent fires in time for them to escape. Right now, it's unknown if smoke detectors were working or installed in the recent blazes that involved fatalities. But he reminds residents that a detector senses smoke before anyone usually knows it's there. "The smoke rises, which is why detectors are put up high, and there's layers of smoke as a house fills with it," Prosswimmer said. "The key is to stay low so you can see, breathe to get out." Restaurant fire: Grumpy's in Middleburg 'to build back stronger' after devastating fire Junior's Seafood: Family-owned landmark North Jacksonville restaurants to rebuild after catastrophic fire City officials say that not everyone will meet the criteria for a free smoke detector due to limited resources, adding that the program does not include businesses, contractors and rental properties. Along with the smoke detector, Prosswimmer reminds families to have an escape plan when there's a fire, including a site outside where everyone can meet "and know that you have everybody." The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign offers telephone seminars with families on how to get tips on escaping and habits to prevent a fire. After the seminar, those families are put on a list to receive a free alarm installation. In 2020 and 2021 the Red Cross said it installed 1,597 free smoke detectors in 840 Jacksonville and Gainesville homes in that program. The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation recently made a $250,000 donation to the Red Cross to help it install the smoke detectors for those who cannot afford them. Victim's family salvages what they can Monday's blaze happened about 6:30 p.m. Fire was pouring out of the front window when the first crews rolled up, Powers said. "It was going up to the second floor. There were two victims laying in the yard," he said. "... They started to put the fire out as one of our ladder crews went past them and went upstairs without protection of a hose because they knew somebody was up there." The victim upstairs was barricaded in a bathroom, still on the phone with a 911 operator who directed firefighters to where she was to save her, Powers said. Wanda Phillips and her family were saving what they could from the charred home as firefighters gave away the smoke detectors nearby. The home's living room was gutted as burnt siding in front showed where flames spread. Phillips said her sister was injured downstairs where the fire started, as was the boyfriend of the woman trapped upstairs. Wanda Phillips sheds tears at her sister's home in the 1100 block of West 13th Street as they salvage items from a fire Monday that injured three people. Jacksonville firefighters handed out free smoke detectors and fire-safety information Tuesday to residents near the fire. "The fire started right by her bed," Phillips said. "My one sister called, then the other called telling me this sister was burned up and the house was on fire. That's all I know." Showing photos of the burns on her sister's arms, Phillips said all three victims were taken to the UF Health Shands Burn Center. As Powers spoke with firefighters nearby, she said she is glad they are providing the safety devices. "You have got to take advantage of that," Phillips said, tears streaming down her face. "I don't know if smoke detectors were in here or not. If they were here, they didn't have enough batteries in them. My sister is going to be fine. God will take care of her." dscanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549 This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: After another fire in Jacksonville, JFRD hands out smoke detectors Here's what to know if your face flushes, tingles or burns when your stress increases. (Photo: Kanawa_Studio via Getty Images) Dealing with anxiety is more common than most people realize, but accepting how frequently it may happen is only the first step. Understanding what anxiety is and how it manifests, is crucial in the treatment and management of this mental illness. One of the physical ways anxiety shows up? Facial burning or tingling. Facial burning often feels like your skin or your face is hot, and also yields to redness. This occurs because of your bodys stress response, according to Shanya Hardie, a psychiatrist at MyPsychiatrist PLC in Virginia. Anxiety causes the brain to release chemicals into the body, which then prompt your blood vessels to spring into action. The surge of blood to the face as the vessels relax causes reddening or the sensation of heat, Hardie explained. The painful sensation tends to be concentrated around the cheek area, but it can also flush out to your whole face. The burning can last at least 15 minutes or until youre able to abate extreme stress. Anxiety affects different body mechanisms as your brain responds to situations or thoughts it perceives as threatening. Some common physical manifestations of this include an increased heart rate, gastrointestinal issues, muscle tension and shortness of breath. Facial redness is just another one of those physical manifestations. If this sounds familiar, youre certainly not the only one who experiences it. (You also shouldnt ignore it; sometimes face tingling can be signs of a stroke, neuropathy or other health condition that deserves prompt medical care.) Heres how to reduce facial burning when you have anxiety, according to experts: Identify what triggers your anxiety. Anxiety can be triggered by a thought, a physical sensation, smells, certain people or situations, said Jennifer Bronsnick, an anxiety treatment specialist based in New Jersey. Anxiety can also come on without really understanding why because it can be triggered by an unconscious memory. Everyones experience is unique. Story continues To help you figure out whats prompting your symptoms, start bygoing through a mental checklist of what may have prompted your facial burning. Could it be negative thinking, financial concerns, conflict, stress at work or a flashback to a traumatic event? What happened right before you started feeling your symptoms? Keeping a record of past triggers can also help in the elimination process and aid you in identifying new triggers. Distract your mind. Experts also suggest shifting your focus to something different than the sensations youre feeling. Try counting the number of objects in a room, smell a scent you enjoy or talk to a trusted friend about what you are feeling. Purposeful, deep breathing can also physically calm your body down if youre feeling stressed or anxious. Try a simple breathing technique like the 4-7-8 method, where you inhale through your nose for a count of four, then hold your breath for a count of seven. Then, release by exhaling through your mouth for a count of eight. Inhaling and exhaling increases oxygen to the brain and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system that creates a feeling of calm. Other ways to distract your mind can be listening to soothing music, cuddling pets, reading a book, playing a video game, coloring an adult coloring book or watching a mindless show. Deep breathing using the 4-7-8 method can help mitigate some anxiety. (Photo: FG Trade via Getty Images) Apply a cool cloth to your face. While the burning sensation likely wont stop completely until the anxiety is controlled, applying a cool cloth on your face can ease the discomfort. Simply run cold water over a washcloth or towel, squeeze out excess water, fold and apply to your face. Making a cold compress by adding ice cubes to washcloth can also help, but make sure its not too cold, as that can cause other skin issues. Stand in a cool shower. Using the shower gives the same benefit of the application of a cool cloth, and may even help distract your brain from an anxiety or panic spiral. Research shows cold or cool showers can improve blood circulation, which may help bring blood pressure down if its high due to anxiety. Talk to a therapist. If you are struggling with physical symptoms of anxiety like burning or tingling that wont go away, it might be time to reach out to a mental health professional. This is particularly important if its impacting your personal relationships or your ability to function in everyday life. Therapists can help you work through anxiety and give you coping resources for when it comes up in the moment. If you have a history of experiencing anxiety and are just now experiencing facial burning, this may be a new manifestation. Just like all other medical issues, see a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Abundant data documents the precipitous decline of the Chesapeake Bay and its living resources. None is as significant and tragically sad as the collapse of the oyster population. By the late 1800s, Maryland was the greatest oyster producer in the world, with 39% of the entire U.S. oyster harvest, more than twice the combined harvest of all foreign countries. Marylands oyster industry employed 20% of all Americans in the fishing industry. Oyster processing was the third-largest industry in Baltimore with 60 packing companies. Advertisement Maryland harvests rose from 3 million bushels in 1861 to a peak of 15 million bushels in 1884. Two years before the peak, signs of a declining fishery from this rampantly unsustainable and little-regulated harvest led the Maryland legislature to create an Oyster Commission to advise it. Into the breach stepped William K. Brooks as commission chair. The Johns Hopkins scientist discovered that the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, did not reproduce internally as thought. He found that each female could release millions of eggs and males fertilized 98% of these eggs in his water watch glasses and tumblers. He knew this could revolutionize oyster production, through oyster farming and aquaculture, and increase oyster harvest a hundredfold or more. The commission released its findings in 1884, noting that an oyster decline stemmed from overfishing and great potential lay in oyster farming, suggesting the state should lease out tracts of the bay bottom for private oyster growers. The commission declared, These investigations have placed it within our power to multiply the oyster to an indefinite amount. Advertisement Recommendations were made to halt harvests during breeding season, set size limits, and dump shucked shell back in the Bay to replenish oyster reefs. These would have represented the first steps toward scientific management of oysters. They were ignored. Oyster skipjacks and patent tongers crowd City dock with a tonger unloading to a truck in 1968. A common winter sight the author saw but will never see again due to the oyster collapse. (Courtesy Carol Swan) Within five years of this report, the harvest was down to a third of its historic high. The General Assembly made no move to adopt restrictive measures or to encourage oyster aquaculture. Now, despite current harvests declining to 2% of historic highs, this failure to properly regulate is still occurring as anti-leasing forces, led by oystermen, have managed to cripple every pro-farming initiative, both through political power and poaching, not just during Brookss era but during the next 125 years. Then as now, legislators and regulators use oyster advisory commissions and calls for new oyster management plans in lieu of acting to restrict or close harvest and switch to aquaculture. This century-old failure is done to appease oyster fishermen, a vociferous minority in the state, while ignoring the science and precipitous decline in oysters. The results are predictable a collapsed oyster population, a tragedy of the commons, with oysters sinking to 1.5% of historic population levels despite the expenditure of more than $500 million in public funds on failed recovery efforts over the past 40 years. The expensive shell plantings along with growing spat and placement on shell plantings have done little to increase the oyster population as wild harvest and poaching continue. All too many people believe throwing more money into such efforts is the answer and many have succumbed to government largesse, preventing them from speaking out on the need to close the wild fishery and convert to aquaculture. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and their scientists called for a moratorium on wild oyster harvesting in 1991, and in 2010 they recommended a transition from a wild harvest to aquaculture. In an August 2011 study published by five Maryland scientists, a moratorium on all wild harvesting was recommended, citing a massive decline of 92% in Maryland oysters since 1980. They concluded that if harvesting had stopped in 1986, adult abundance would be 15.8 times greater than in 2011. Again, the state failed to act, instead appointing more advisory commissions. The latest one was packed with oystermen and industry folks. It took three years of effort and 24 meetings to report last month that they agreed on nothing of significance to conserve oysters. This occurred as the Department of Natural Resources increased harvest pressure by opening up another weekly harvest day and opening harvesting north of the Bay Bridge. Oyster harvest permits increased from 822 in 2018 to 1,239 last year, the most in two decades, as DNR encouraged more intensive harvesting of a collapsed species. After decades of banning the use of heavy metal dredges that destroy small oysters and the oyster reefs themselves, legislators and regulators caved to oystermen and hindered recovery by expanding their use in the past 20 years so that this once outlawed method now dominates harvest. Advertisement This occurred as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the lead scientist in the 2011 study reversed their closure positions and instead supported the last ill-fated advisory commission, setting back oyster conservation by another three years. Interestingly, the foundations refusal to follow its own positions despite a precipitous decline in oysters comes as it rated oysters an F for failing in its latest Chesapeake Bay report card. The foundation receives $3 million from the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to plant seed oysters while the 2011 report lead scientists organization receives millions of dollars to produce seed oysters and conduct oyster research. The oyster collapse has had a huge economic impact as oyster landings sunk to an annual average of 228,396 bushels over the past five years. A NOAA estimate covering only the past three decades shows this has meant a loss of more than $4 billion for the economies of Maryland and Virginia. Even worse, is the ecological impact. The Chesapeake Bays health has suffered as oysters are its top keystone species, with large adults able to filter and cleanse 50 gallons of water a day. This removes excess nutrients and settles sediments, the two major pollutants. Oysters used to filter all the bays water in three to five days; now it takes at least 1.5 years. They also serve as the bays coral reefs, providing habitat for hundreds of other species including blue crabs. Excessive sediment, primarily from agriculture, has smothered oysters, killing them and rendering 70% of Maryland oyster reefs nonproductive. In 2010, Gov. Martin OMalley fought to gain passage of legislation to encourage oyster aquaculture, removing some long-standing legal impediments to private leasing of bay bottom. New oyster sanctuaries were carved out of traditional harvest grounds increasing the amount of habitat protected from harvest from 9% to 24% of bay bottom but still allowing wild harvest on potentially more than 100,000 acres. This move was vigorously opposed by watermen who surrounded the State House in their trucks in protest and who continue to poach from sanctuaries, block new ones, and appeal new aquaculture leases. Aquaculture still lags in Maryland, with only 7,518 acres under lease and a harvest of only 47,000 bushels in 2020 compared to a wild harvest of 332,946. Watermen and some property owners continue to block leases by filing appeals for permits that stop new ventures for years, including 96 pending applications. This is occurring as 95% of global oyster harvest comes from aquaculture after wild oysters faced the same collapse as in the Chesapeake. Successful oyster producers in the U.S. and globally have wisely switched to aquaculture and closed their wild fisheries. Advertisement Next week my column will detail solutions to oyster recovery, including a phased closure of wild harvest and switch to aquaculture a centuries-old idea whose time has come. Gerald Winegrad is a former Maryland state senator. He can be reached at gwwabc@comcast.net. A former member of the Piru street gang in Athens was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for killing another gang member nearly four years ago. Western Circuit Superior Court Judge Lawton Stephens imposed the sentence on 29-year-old Randy Junior Leverette, who was convicted during an October jury trial of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a felony. Leverette was handed a 25-year sentence, the first 20 to be served in prison for the aggravated assault conviction and a consecutive five years on probation for the gun violation. Leverette was tried in October on a murder charge, but the jury acquitted him of murdering 24-year-old David Big Koop Cooper. More: Athens man acquitted of murder in trial that shed light on gang presence in Athens The shooting occurred July 17, 2018, in a convenience store parking lot off Cedar Shoals Drive. Witnesses testified that Leverette was lured to the location, where he was approached by gang members Cooper and William Hunxho Worley, 22, the latter who is now living in South Carolina. Worley had testified they wanted to confront Leverette who had quit the Piru gang after only four months of membership about an issue involving a rival gang. Leverette remained in the Athens-Clarke County Jail for the sentencing and appeared on camera, where he was also able to view the courtroom. He expressed remorse for the killing of Cooper. I wanted to say that I do show remorse toward the victim because I did grow up with him, he said, adding the shooting has created problems between their families. Im apologizing now. Im sorry. Im sorry and I ask they forgive me, he said. Evidence at trial showed that as Cooper confronted Leverette, Leverette fired once, hitting Cooper in the chest with a wound that would likely have caused Coopers death. Leverette also chased Cooper and shot him seven more times in the parking lot. The jury found the first shot justifiable, but found the additional shots as Leverette chased Cooper unjustified, according to Stephens in explaining the aggravated assault conviction. Story continues An active member of the Rolling 20 street gang testified during the trial that Leverette began carrying a firearm when he quit the Piru gang out of concern for his safety. The prosecutor, John Regan of the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia, asked the judge to impose a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, while defense attorney Nefertara Clark of Elberton recommended a sentence of five years with one year in prison and the remainder on probation. Family members on both sides were allowed to speak about the impact of the slaying on their lives. Coopers family, including his mother and sister, asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence, while letters pleading for leniency from Leverettes family, friends and others were presented to the judge. Leverettes wife stood before the longtime judge and asked him to show mercy on her husband. He didnt go out looking for trouble that night. It came to him, she said. This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Athens man gets 20 years in prison in shooting death of Piru gang member NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Law enforcement officers fatally shot a man walking on an interstate in Nashville Thursday afternoon, a deadly encounter that shut down traffic on a normally bustling travel corridor in Tennessee, authorities said. The 37-year-old man was agitated and carrying a box cutter in his left hand, Metro Nashville Police Department spokesman Don Aaron said. The agency said the man was walking along the highway before he was shot. Officers tried for about a half-hour to de-escalate the situation but nine officers from three agencies fired at the man when he quickly pulled an unknown silver, shiny cylindrical object from his right pocket, Aaron said. He said he did not know what the object was but said it was not a firearm. A video recording of the encounter obtained by WKRN-TV showed officers surrounding the man, who has his back to the berm between the northbound and southbound lanes. The footage shows officers opening fire after he removes his right hand from his pocket. Bursts of gunfire can be heard. The man was hit multiple times and died, Aaron said. No officers were injured. Interstate 65 in Nashville was closed in both directions for a time during the encounter and afterward as agencies remained on the scene including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, or TBI, authorities said. Two southbound lanes later became the first to reopen. The TBI identified the man as Landon Eastep, 37, in a statement late Thursday. No hometown was given. The agency said a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper first spotted Eastep about 2 p.m. on the northbound shoulder of the interstate at mile marker 76 and soon an off-duty officer from another jurisdiction, then others, arrived. The trooper attempted to negotiate with Eastep, and soon, an off-duty Mount Juliet Police Department officer also stopped, along with back-up officers from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department" and more Highway Patrol troopers, the statement added. It said those negotiations seeking Eastep's surrender continued for about 30 minutes before at least nine officers fired at the man and he died at the scene. A look at some of today's top stories, the weather forecast and a peek back in history. The Avondale City Council has asked the Arizona Attorney General's Office and its own attorneys to investigate the issues surrounding the city manager it fired in December. Has your massage therapist received a complaint? Proposed Arizona legislation would require more information online. Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, a Japanese chain, opened two locations in metro Phoenix. Here's what's on the menu and what to expect at the restaurants. Today, you can expect it to be sunny and breezy, with a high near 71 degrees. Mostly clear at night, with a low near 44 degrees. Get the full forecast here. Today in history On this date in 1874, the town site of Safford was located by C.M. Ritter. In 1887, the first train robbery in Arizona history took place when two masked men took $20,000 from the Southern Pacific passenger train 17 miles (27 kilometers) east of Tucson. In 1889, a bill which moved the territorial capitol from Prescott to Phoenix was signed. In 1996, the Super Bowl was played for the first time in Arizona at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. In 1973, a cease-fire officially went into effect in the Vietnam War, a day after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords by the United States, North Vietnam and South Vietnam. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ Briefing: Avondale asks AG to investigate fired city manager GENEVA (Reuters) - U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet is in talks with China for a possible visit in the first half of 2022, but it must be "meaningful, with unsupervised access" to the Xinjiang region, her spokesperson Rupert Colville told Reuters on Friday. Earlier the South China Morning Post, citing unidentified sources, said that China had agreed that Bachelet can visit Xinjiang after the Beijing Olympics, but activists and a Western diplomat expressed doubt after years of stalled talks. [L1N2U80FX] "It is important that such a visit be meaningful, with unsupervised access to a wide range of civil society actors and locations as well as high-level engagement with government officials. As the High Commissioner has said, meaningful, unfettered access to the Xinjiang region is crucial," Colville told Reuters in an email reply. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay) Family, friends, and firefighters from in and around the High Desert gathered Saturday for a full-service memorial to the life and career of David Spink, a decadeslong Barstow Fire engineer who became the local departments first line-of-duty death earlier this month. The memorial began in the early morning of Jan. 22 with an armada of first-responders, fire engines and vehicles, and bagpipe players marching the streets of Barstow. It concluded with a sorrowful service at Barstow Community College Performing Arts Center in honor of Spink, who was critically injured in the early hours of Dec. 5 after a car hit him at highway speed as he assisted with a separate crash Interstate 15. After more than a month fighting the injuries at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Spink died on Jan. 9, with an assembly of first-responders carrying his body by a hearse that night to Victor Valley Memorial Park & Mortuary. Spink would have turned 57 years old in June of this year. He spent more than three decades fighting fires in Barstow, beginning his career as a paid call firefighter in 1990, then joined Barstow Fire Protection District full-time two years later and took on the rank of engineer in 1999. BFPD interim Chief Nick DiNapoli told the Daily Press he has never had to plan a firefighters funeral in his roughly four decades at the Barstow department. A fire service memorial Jan. 22, 2022, honored longtime Barstow Fire Protection District engineer David Spink, who became BFPD's first line-of-duty death after more than a month fighting injuries sustained Dec. 5. The services were amazing but I wish we didnt have to have a service, he said. I wish that he was still alive with us. DiNapoli said Spinks family is suffering, as is every worker in the small fire department of only 25 personnel, which has continued handling an always heavy volume of first-response calls with a tremendous hole in our hearts. The funeral we put on and the procession was for Dave, but it was also for all the calls he went on, DiNapoli said. For all the people he ever served, and the ones that didnt make it, we reflected on all those folks as well. You cant possibly not reflect on every experience like that. Story continues BFPD Fire Captain Travis Espinoza told the Daily Press in a text, His passing has left a void that can not be filled! He added that it was amazing to see the support from our fire service family and community at the memorial and throughout his hospital battle. This tragic death has shook the core of our organization, yet we will try to move forward in whatever our new normal is, Espinoza said. Losing our brother has forever changed us. We will continue to get on the engine and do our best to represent Dave. Spinks legacy within BFPD lives on partly through his son, firefighter and paramedic Dallen, who spoke at the memorial Saturday. DiNapoli said the senior Spink stayed on the force as long as he did in part for the opportunity to fight fires with his son. A memorial flyer stated Spink's family prefers donations be made to the California Fire Foundation or the Inland Empire Ronald McDonald House in lieu of flowers. Charlie McGee covers the city of Barstow and its surrounding communities for the Daily Press. He is also a Report for America corps member with the GroundTruth Project, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to supporting the next generation of journalists in the U.S. and around the world. McGee may be reached at 760-955-5341 or cmcgee@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @bycharliemcgee. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Barstow Fire vet honored after line-of-duty death Civilian volunteer troops practice in Ukraine. Sean Gallup/Getty Images President Biden reiterated to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday that there is a "distinct possibility" Russia could invade Ukraine in February. White House National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne told reporters that Biden has "said this publicly and we have been warning about this for months." An estimated 100,000 Russian troops are stationed along the border with Ukraine, and Biden believes when the ground freezes, they could attack from the north of Kyiv, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. There is heavy equipment alongside the troops, and Russian President Vladimir Putin will want optimal ground conditions to move into Ukraine, the sources said. Russia invaded and later annexed the Crimean Peninsula in late February 2014. Moscow has made several security demands, including that NATO roll back military deployments in Eastern Europe and prohibit Ukraine from ever joining the organization. The United States responded with a letter on Wednesday, rejecting those requests while also addressing some concerns that have the potential of being worked out. Having received this message, Russia believes there is "little ground for optimism," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, but "there always are prospects for continuing a dialogue, it's in the interests of both us and the Americans." The United Nations Security Council will hold a meeting on Monday to discuss Russia's "threatening actions," U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said, as the country's amassment of troops poses "a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. charter." The U.S. has also warned of sanctions, should Russia invade Ukraine, that would target high-ranking officials and industries. Senior U.S. officials told AP if Moscow doesn't cooperate, Germany would likely not allow Nord Stream 2, a new gas pipeline from Russia, to start operations. Story continues You may also like Florida's Ron DeSantis is very upset the FDA canceled 2 antibody cocktails that don't work against Omicron The threat of Ukrainian resistance is the likeliest spur to Russian compromise Senate candidate J.D. Vance defends caustic jokes because 'our country's kind of a joke' Few people have created a yacht with their favorite comic-book character in mind. In fact, the owner of the 251-ft. luxury ice-breaker Yersin carried it even farther by including a world-famous ocean explorer and renowned bacteriologist as the triumvirate that heavily influenced the design. I drew inspiration for Yersin from Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the great physician-bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin and the intrepid Tintin, the owner told Robb Report. These influences contributed to the ethos around the boatA.S.E.which stands for adventure, science and education. Tintin, of course, was the Belgian comic-book character who traveled the world with his dog, Snowy, solving unsolvable crimes. More from Robb Report The ownerwho, unlike his heroes, asked to remain anonymouscreated something quite novel when he built Yersin, not only because it was an authentic explorer yacht, but also a sustainable project from Frances Piriou shipyard. Classified as a Bureau Veritas Clean Ship, its decks are made from non-wood recyclable resin and its exhaust catalysts filter 99.8 percent of fine particles. An advanced water treatment kills resistant bacteria, and the hull is coated in silicon non-biocide and antifouling paint, so that the boat wont carry potentially infectious microbes on its voyages. On board, its equipped with scientific laboratories to facilitate academic research on new species. The go-anywhere explorer was designed to leave no footprint. - Credit: Courtesy Fraser Yachts Courtesy Fraser Yachts So that takes care of the Cousteau and Yersin elements. In Tintin mode, the owner and his crew have traveled the world since the boats delivery in 2015, from tundra at the Arctic Circle to palm-fringed islands of Micronesia. Story continues The maiden voyage was extreme and arduous, hundreds of miles of cruising in remote parts of Iceland and Greenland, then crossing Baffin Bay and cruising down Baffin Island, through Labrador, Newfoundland and New Brunswick, ending the journey in Nova Scotia. On this voyage of discovery, the yacht encountered polar bearsfive, including a couple of cubson Baffin Island, ice floes, gale-force winds and night-long sightings of the northern lights, or aurora borealis. Greenland was his favorite. The island countryslightly bigger than Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom put togetherhad wide open spaces, with plenty of local fauna and wildlife. The landscape is vast, the air is free of pollution, so visibility is really clear, he said. Mountains 6,500-ft. high rise out of the sea. We came so close that we felt like we could touch them, despite being miles away. Tough on the outside, luxurious on the inside. Yersins interior goes mano a mano with any expedition superyacht. - Credit: Courtesy Fraser Yachts Courtesy Fraser Yachts That same sense of awe came with the glaciers. It is exceptional to be able to sail for days in that kind of landscape, he says. Yersin was designed for that kind of off-grid travel. The boat is ice-classed and capable of withstanding temperatures of -50 degrees. On top of that it has a 12,000-nautical range and can be autonomous for 50 days. Its tenders can carry ATVs for shoreside exploration. Which brings us back to Cousteau and Yersin. Piriou understood what I wanted to develop; an open-sea explorer capable of discovering the world without leaving any environmental trace of its passage, the owner says. Many places around the world only tolerate yachts with zero ecological impact. This means that Yersin explored places where no other boat has yet ventured. Who needs a movie screen when you have a window beneath the oceans surface? - Credit: Courtesy Fraser Yachts Courtesy Fraser Yachts That science included studying whales in Iceland, the formation of ice and glaciers in the fjords of Greenland, and sea scallop colonies in Novia Scotia. In Labrador, we were in an unknown and uncharted area. There are no boats there, so there are no set sailing routes, says the owner. Ships going there make their own route, so our journey is now on charts. Water depths are unknown in many places around the polar regions, so the crew used sonar to check for icebergs and rocksa real necessity when cruising near Greenlands Ilulissa region. Its home to the 40-foot-long Jakobshavn Glacier, famed for producing the iceberg that sunk the Titanic. After that very literal shakedown cruise, Yersin has traveled the globe for scientific research, from exploring the 607 islands of Micronesia to crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean. The conference room is designed for researchers. - Credit: Courtesy Fraser Yachts Courtesy Fraser Yachts During that time, Yersins owner has shared his passion with the scientific community, welcoming researchers on board. Where possible, the yacht partakes in the production of natural history documentaries. But after six years, the owner has put his beloved explorer up for sale. Even Tintin had to go home. I hope the next owner will share the same passion as me for the environment, says the owner. I hope Yersins legend will continue. The pilothouse has one of the owners favorite explorers, Tintin, looking down from his boat. - Credit: Courtesy Fraser Yachts Courtesy Fraser Yachts Yersin is now listed for sale for 59 million, or about $69.2 million, with Fraser yachts. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Ivan Toney is being investigated by Brentford after a video of him appearing to castigate the club surfaced on social media (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire) Brentford have launched an investigation after a video of striker Ivan Toney appearing to say f*** Brentford was published on social media. Toney is thought to be on holiday in Dubai during the Premier Leagues winter break. The 25-year-old has struck six goals in an impressive Premier League campaign so far. But now the Bees are looking into a video posted on Twitter that could land the former Peterborough United player in hot water with his club. Ivan Toney has been in decent form with Brentford this season (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Wire) Brentford FC are aware of the video and are investigating, said a club spokesperson. Brentford boss Thomas Frank accepted an 8,000 fine on Friday, following his red card after the 2-1 Premier League loss to Wolves last weekend. The Dane was dismissed after the final whistle by Peter Bankes after confronting the referee on the Brentford Community Stadium pitch. Frank has now accepted the FA charge of improper behaviour towards the match official due to his overzealous remonstrations. Club Statement: Thomas Frank accepts FA charge after Wolverhampton Wanderers match#BrentfordFC https://t.co/Gmd6q8NoyG Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) January 28, 2022 Brentford have now suffered six defeats in their last seven top-flight matches after a fine start to their maiden Premier League campaign. Brentford FC head coach Thomas Frank has accepted a Football Association fine, read a club statement. Thomas was charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.1 following Brentfords Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers last Saturday, 22 January. Thomas admitted the charge and accepted the standard penalty. He was given an 8,000 fine. The FA charge was that Thomas language and/or behaviour towards referee Peter Bankes after the final whistle was improper. Story continues Thomas accepted this charge, and the financial penalty. Brentford FC has no further comment to make on the matter. Thomas Frank, centre left, receives his first yellow card from referee Peter Bankes (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire) Frank and his assistant Brian Riemer have both recently signed new deals to stay at Brentford until 2025, though the defeat to Wolves left an air of frustration in west London. Frank admitted he had let his emotions get the better of him when speaking to the officials at full-time. I was frustrated we didnt get a point but I was relatively calm and there was a situation which triggered it, said Frank. I got a yellow card after a confrontation with a Wolves player, then I turned round to Peter and said you can give me a second one as well. He said it was because I was turning around and too aggressive. NICEVILLE Bridgeway Center Inc. (BCI) recently announced a new partnership with Northwest Florida State College in which BCI will provide Student Behavioral Health Support Services (SBHS) to students. BCI staff will be on-site at the Niceville campus one day per week. Students are able to contact BCI staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week for access to behavioral health therapy. Innovative tech: New system alerts Bridgeway Center when mental health patients show up at the ER Related story: Mental health issues are rising. The number of mental health care providers is falling BCI and NWF State are committed to eliminating barriers that would prevent students from receiving mental health services. BCI staff will meet with students to determine the appropriate coordination of care. BCI will also provide linkage to other community supports based on students' needs. BCI and NWF State are providing a safe and confidential space for students to receive assistance for their behavioral health needs. Therapy is available both in person and via telehealth. Behavioral health consultation and education for students and faculty will also be provided. This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Bridgeway, NWF State provide mental health services for students The National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas, sent an unusual message to its supporters on Thursday announcing it would close for three days because of threats from supporters of former president Donald Trump. While that message and its more eye-popping details, including a visit from a Virginia congressional candidate looking for illegal border crossers and allegedly nearly running over the directors son with a car might sound odd for a missive from an insect preserve, for staff and friends of the National Butterfly Center, conspiracy theories and threats have been the norm for more than four years. The National Butterfly Center first made headlines when it filed a lawsuit to prevent the Trump administration from building its border wall on the centers property. The lawsuit became such an issue for the administration that Jared Kushner, reportedly, proudly told stakeholders more than a year later that hed solved the butterfly thing. In 2019, the center and its director Marianna Trevino-Wright filed another lawsuit against We Build the Wall, a crowdfunding organization that Trump associates Steve Bannon and Brian Kolfage used to try to build part of the wall next door to the butterfly center. When the two men were charged in August 2020 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection with We Build the Wall, the National Butterfly Center celebrated on Twitter. Bannon and Kolfage pleaded not guilty. The centers lawsuit accused Kolfage of defamation after he tweeted what the center says are a number of baseless claims, including that the center was ignoring the rampant sex trade and death bodies on its property and that sex traffickers were using inflatable rafts to smuggle people to the centers dock and into the US. Kolfages Twitter account has been suspended. He did not respond to a request for comment. Those tweets are when the threats of violence really started, Trevino-Wright told BuzzFeed News on Thursday. While there have been some periods of relative tranquility since 2019, Trevino-Wright said that the threats have started to ramp back up recently. Trump supporters are planning an immigration-focused event nearby this weekend and Trevino-Wright said that a former Republican state legislator passed along warnings that she and the center could be targeted by the group. The former legislator did not respond to a request for comment. Story continues So when two women showed up at the National Butterfly Center last Friday asking to see the illegals crossing on rafts, Trevino-Wright said, her son at the front desk quickly knew what was going on. The women identified themselves as Kimberly Lowe, who is running for Congress in Virginia, and a person whom Kimberly referred to as Michelle, and identified herself as a Secret Service agent in an audio recording, but whose identity BuzzFeed News could not verify. According to an affidavit that he later prepared for police, Trevino-Wright's son, Nicholas, told the women that they needed to pay an admission fee to enter the property. Michelle, he wrote, told him that she was with the Secret Service and that both women had big sway in Washington, DC, and they wanted to see the immigrants crossing on the rafts. Trevino-Wright said her son came to get her and that she googled Lowe before approaching the women. She provided BuzzFeed News with an audio recording of her interaction with Lowe and Michelle, as well as a recording of a Facebook Live video Lowe posted of the incident as it took place, which has since been deleted. In the audio recording, Trevino-Wright quickly tells the women their agenda is not welcome here and asks them to leave. So youre not for keeping the illegals out? Michelle counters. Lowe jumps in as well: So youre not for helping all these poor people in the humanitarian crisis? Youre OK with children being sex trafficked and raped and murdered? Trevino-Wright again asks the women to leave, and Lowe agrees, but not before adding, I'm sorry that you're okay with children being raped and murdered. From there, things appear to devolve. Michelle again insists shes with the Secret Service and they leave the building. Outside, Trevino-Wright says, Lowe started trying to record her. Trevino-Wright told BuzzFeed News shes had her photo posted online by right-wing trolls and faced threats of doxxing, so she really didnt want Lowe to record her and reached up toward Lowes phone. Lowe says she took the phone. Then, Trevino-Wright says Michelle pushed her to the ground. Lowe says Trevino-Wright fell. Either way, Trevino-Wright ended up on the ground and Michelle clearly says on the audio, Stay the fuck down, bitch. Lowe then made a run for her car where she started up the now-deleted Facebook Live video and started screaming for Michelle to get in the car with her. Once Michelle is inside the car, she points out that Nicholas is closing the gate in front of them. In the video, the camera is pointed at Lowe as she hits the gas and the engine revs. Michelle yells, Whoa whoa whoa, KC! Lowe looks forward shouting, Get the fuck out of my way. Get out of my fucking way. Get the fuck out of my way. Jesus Christ. Nicholas wrote in his affidavit to police that he had to jump out of the way of the car to avoid being hit. He wrote that he tried to close the gate to keep the women from leaving before police arrived and because he believed they had his mothers phone. Lowe denied that she tried to hit Nicholas and accused the Wrights of assault and kidnapping for trying to prevent them from leaving and attempting to close the gate. Lowe also sent BuzzFeed News a copy of her Facebook Live video, but a version that cuts off before she speeds up the car toward the gate. She said she took it down because of an investigation. I was scared and did not approach her son to hit him period, Lowe wrote in a text to BuzzFeed News, adding that she had her children with her. I was trying to escape to safety with my children and did not attempt to hit him!! Asked why she went to the butterfly center in the first place and accused Trevino-Wright of allowing sex trafficking, Lowe said via text, Someone suggested I walk to the river to see what may be happening. I came to TX to see what is happening at the border. Lowe said she is planning to join a private border tour this weekend featuring Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security adviser and one of the biggest proponents of 2020 election conspiracy theories, as part of the pro-Trump events near the butterfly center. But Lowe emphasized that the event was not the reason for her trip. Lowe repeatedly said that Trevino-Wright's story was a politically motivated attack against her. And she did not answer when asked multiple times whether Michelle has any affiliation with the Secret Service or for her last name. I'm a good person with a big heart putting myself out there to truly help people I don't deserve this mess from her, she said in a text. Both women said that they spoke to Mission, Texas, police about the incident. Lowe said in a text that she was cleared by police, but the police department did not respond to a request for comment on whether the case is still open or for copies of police reports from the incident. But there was a witness. Bob Axford, a Canadian man who said he is snowbirding in Texas for the winter, was standing in the parking lot as the scene played out and confirmed many of the details provided by Trevino-Wright and her son. Axford told BuzzFeed News he did not know any of the people involved in the altercation and had never been to the National Butterfly Center before Friday; hed just dropped by to confirm its location and grab a map of the property ahead of a planned visit with a friend. He stood behind the women as they talked with Trevino-Wright's son, he said, and overheard that one of them was named Lowe and was running for Congress. Once he got Nicholass attention and got a map, Axford said he went to sit in his truck for a few minutes and take a look at it. Then I saw a couple minutes later, four people kinda tumble out the door and be at each others throats. He saw one of them fall down and said he believed it was Trevino-Wright, but that he was too far away to see how she fell. He called 911. Then he saw Lowe get into her car and back it up closer to the others. Once Michelle got into the car with her, he said, she went full blast and almost directly at me. I almost got hit there. But I was in a bigger truck than they were, he said. The car then headed for the gate and Trevino-Wright's son at speed, he said. Axford said he believed Nicholas probably did have to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. It just looked like a commercial, he said. Axford said he spoke to police about the altercation and repeatedly called Lowes driving completely reckless. This person should not be an elected official in any way, shape, or form, he said. On Friday night, after this story published, Lowe told BuzzFeed News that she was turned away from the border tour because of the hit pieces about her trip to the butterfly center, saying that she was being cancelled by the right. Lowe said that Christina Hutcherson, the founder of Women Fighting for America, and Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem, another major proponent of election conspiracy theories, refused to let her on the bus Friday night and told her that she had endangered their event. Neither Finchem nor Hutcherson immediately responded to a request for comment. Lowe said she had driven all the way from Virginia to spend two weeks at the border. After being turned away on Friday night, she said she was able to get out of her hotel booking and was on the road, driving back home. UPDATE Jan. 28, 2022, at 23:01 PM More on this A guard watches over immigrant detainees at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Facility. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times) Immigration authorities must preserve coronavirus safety measures that allow for social distancing and vaccination mandates for staff and detainees at two California detention facilities, according to a class-action lawsuit settlement reached Thursday. The settlement also limits the authority of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to re-detain hundreds of immigrants who were released as a result of the lawsuit. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups filed the lawsuit in April 2020, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, to challenge unsafe conditions at the Mesa Verde ICE Processing Facility in Bakersfield and the Yuba County Jail, north of Sacramento. When we filed this lawsuit, ICE had put our clients and communities at risk by detaining as many people as possible in filthy, crowded dorms and cells, creating a tinderbox for COVID-19, Bree Bernwanger, of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, said in a statement. As the coronavirus spread, advocates filed similar lawsuits for other detention facilities around the country. The settlement comes as coronavirus infections in detention centers have surged since December to 3,129 nearly 15% of the total detained population as of Wednesday. Eleven people in ICE custody have died of COVID-19, according to the agency. Two medical advisors for the Department of Homeland Security this week denounced the "slow and inconsistent" efforts to control the spread of the virus in detention facilities. In a whistleblower letter Wednesday first reported by CBS News, physicians Scott Allen and Josiah Rich urged Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines and approved treatment medications, as well as to ensure detainees have effective protective equipment, such as N95 masks. The population at the two California facilities collectively dropped from 462 to 62 during the course of the litigation, lawyers said. The settlement agreement prevents around 250 immigrants who were released because of health vulnerabilities from being detained again unless they pose a threat to public safety, national security or are considered a flight risk. Story continues It also establishes three more years of protections for those in custody, including population limits to allow for social distancing, testing, vaccination mandates and the continued release of vulnerable people. Documents uncovered during litigation showed that ICE and the private prison contractor GEO Group deliberately limited coronavirus testing while there was an outbreak at the Bakersfield facility because they believed it would be too difficult to quarantine those who tested positive. In a searing response, federal Judge Vincent Chhabria in San Francisco called the conduct of officials in charge appalling and said ICE had "lost the right to be trusted." ICE declined to comment. GEO Group did not respond to a request for comment on the settlement. Plaintiff Brenda Ruiz Tovar said in a statement that she is grateful for the two years she has spent out of detention with her family. She said that after her release, she completed school and found work as a dental assistant. When COVID hit, I was terrified because the government was crowding so many of us together in such a dangerous place and not doing anything at all to protect us from the virus, Ruiz Tovar said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A flight attendant on an airplane. Matej Kastelic/500px/Getty Images A man who was charged in connection with groping a flight attendant on an American Airlines flight will serve six months in prison. Enio Socorro Zayas pleaded guilty to one count of assault in October. The case comes amid a national spike in disruptive and unruly passenger behavior on planes. A Canadian man who pleaded guilty to assault in connection with groping a flight attendant during an American Airlines flight in August was sentenced to six months in prison earlier this week. Enio Socorro Zayas, 50, was sentenced in Miami federal court on Monday after he pleaded guilty to one count of assault in October, according to court documents reviewed by Insider. Zayas was charged following the August 6 flight from Cancun to Miami International Airport. According to a criminal complaint, a short while into the flight, the flight attendant in question was walking down the plane's aisle serving passengers snacks. When she came across Zayas, seated in an aisle, she believed him to be asleep and set a packet of snacks in his lap. As she turned her back to serve another passenger, she told authorities that she felt a hand grab the bottom of her thigh and move up toward her lower buttocks before "rubbing firmly side to side." The flight attendant immediately turned around and said "you can't do that," according to court documents. Zayas then mumbled an intelligible response, prosecutors said. After the incident, several passengers who witnessed the groping approached the flight attendant to express disbelief and anger, according to court documents. Many told the stewardess that they would be willing to describe what had happened to law enforcement. Once the plane landed in Miami, the flight attendant spoke to law enforcement. The investigating officer also spoke with another passenger who was sitting in a nearby aisle seat and corroborated the stewardess' account, saying she saw Zayas touch the woman's buttocks inappropriately with a "sick" expression on his face. Story continues Nayib Hassan, an attorney for Zayas told Insider that the final sentencing was a "give-and-take" between his client and the government, saying both sides made concessions. According to Hassan, the original charge filed against Zayas was sexual assault. The attorney told Insider that he believes the government didn't have enough evidence to prove the more serious charge, so prosecutors lowered the indictment to a misdemeanor assault charge in exchange for the six month prison sentence. A spokesperson for American Airlines did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, nor did a spokesperson for the Justice Department. The case comes amid a national spike in disruptive and unruly passenger behavior. In October, several flight attendants told Insider's Sarah al-Arshani that they were fed up with the growing number of violent in-flight encounters. Others have said the mounting stress has left them afraid for their safety. Read the original article on Insider Pittsburgh Public Safety Four cars and a bus were left teetering on the edge of disaster when a Pittsburgh bridge with decade-old structural issues collapsed early Friday morning, snapping into multiple pieces and tumbling into a park below. Photos of the bridge, which was consistently rated as being in poor condition as far back as 2011, showed cars trapped in a chasm of cracked concrete and snow, and a Port Authority bus teetering just inches from a huge crack. It happened just hours before President Joe Biden was set to visit Pittsburgh to talk about his $1.2 billion infrastructure plan. BREAKING: A bridge along Forbes Avenue near Frick Park has collapsed. (: Jeremy Habowski) https://t.co/tBmXgKOsnM pic.twitter.com/QebLGfSRa9 KDKA (@KDKA) January 28, 2022 Miraculously, there were no fatalities but 10 people Pittsburgh Fire Bureau Chief Darryl Jones said 10 people suffered minor injuries, and three were taken to a hospital. Officials said crews rappelled almost 150 feet to reach some people, while others formed a human chain to get the driver and two passengers out of the dangling bus. Port Authority spokesman Adam Brandolph said the collapse caused the bus to slide backwards at a 45-degree angle, but it somehow snagged on some rubble and stopped just short of a massive crevice. Its surreal, the entire span of the bridge has collapsed into the park and the walking trail below, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman told CNN. Thankfully, he added, schools were on a two-hour delay due to snow on Friday morning so the bridge didnt have its usual school traffic. ***BREAKING NEWS*** Pictures coming in of the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse (Forbes Ave. in Frick Park) Watch LIVE continuing coverage now ---> https://t.co/mmXOytnrtc pic.twitter.com/LaK980kLgh Scott Harbaugh (@WPXIScott) January 28, 2022 Mayor Ed Gainey said the bridge, which goes over Hot Dog Dam Dog Park and through Frick Park, was inspected just last September. Records from that inspection werent yet publicly available. Story continues The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation database on bridges in Pittsburgh rated the state-owned bridge as in poor condition after a 2019 inspection. The 52-year-old, 447-foot steel bridge, which carries about 14,000 cars a day, had poor deck and superstructure condition, with advanced deterioration of primary structural elements. It had satisfactory substructure condition, with some minor deterioration. It was weight restricted with a 26-ton limit. The National Bridge Inventory says that the bridges superstructure (i.e. everything that support the roadway and connects the main elements of the bridge) has been in poor condition since 2011. A 2017 inspection, the last available, recommended $1.5 million in repairs due to general structure deterioration or inadequate strength. Then in 2018, a passer-by posted a photo to Twitter showing an X beam entirely rusted and detached. @Pgh311 I hope someone is keeping an eye on the underside of the Forbes Avenue bridge over Frick Park? One of the big "X" beams is rusted through entirely (and, yes, I see the cables, so it's probably not a crisis). pic.twitter.com/UQScawPEGQ Dr. G Kochanski (@gpk320) December 29, 2018 The bridges condition isnt unusual for Pennsylvania, which ranks second only to Iowa for the most structurally deficient bridges in the nation, according to a 2019 assessment. PennDOTs database shows that more than 150 local- and state-owned bridges in Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh and surrounding areas, are in poor condition, however that can range from serious structural deficiency to potholes, officials previously said. Allegheny County has both the highest number of bridges in the state, and the highest number in poor condition. About eight percent of its 1,186 state-owned bridges and 20 percent of its 397 local-owned bridges are in poor condition. Upkeep is a constant struggle in Pittsburgh, the so-called City of Bridges, due in part to the vast number of bridges over its three intersecting rivers. Road salt and severe weather also speed up corrosion. Pittsburgh Public Safety said Friday morning that the a gas line was cut during the collapse and there was a strong smell of natural gas in the area, prompting surrounding homes to be evacuated. The Red Cross has been contacted for victim assistance. 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. BEIJING (Reuters) - China has consistently opposed any form of official interaction between the United States and Taiwan, the foreign ministry said on Friday, after a brief meeting between the U.S. and Taiwanese vice presidents in Honduras. Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian made the comment at a daily news briefing in Beijing. China considers self-governed Taiwan to be part of its territory. (Reporting by Emily Chow; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Himani Sarkar) Batya Ungar-Sargon, Kim Iversen, and Robby Soave react to the Chinese government's alternative "Fight Club" ending. About Rising: Rising is a weekday morning show with bipartisan hosts that breaks the mold of morning TV by taking viewers inside the halls of Washington power like never before. The show leans into the day's political cycle with cutting edge analysis from DC insiders who can predict what is going to happen. It also sets the day's political agenda by breaking exclusive news with a team of scoop-driven reporters and demanding answers during interviews with the country's most important political newsmakers. Follow Rising on social media: Website: Hill.TV Facebook: facebook.com/HillTVLive/ Instagram: @HillTVLive Twitter: @HillTVLive A city charter-mandated group of five citizens gets to not only chime in on that topic this spring, but also set a hard cap on how high any City Council-approved pay raises may go. Do Columbus' elected leaders deserve a pay raise? A city charter-mandated group of five citizens gets to not only make a recommendation on that topic this spring, but also set a hard cap on how high any City Council-approved pay raises may go. "In no event may council adopt an ordinance establishing salaries which exceed the recommendations of the commission," according to the charter language, adopted by voters in 2014, which requires the commission to review pay every four years. Sitting on the commission are: Fred Ransier, a retired attorney; Keisha J. Hunley-Jenkins, assistant director of the Boys & Young Men of Color Collective at Ohio State University and former external affairs director for former Mayor Michael B. Coleman; Sarah Ingles, a labor attorney; Quiana Williams, a human resources vice president with OhioHealth; and Michael Kasler, who worked a variety of administrative roles in various city departments before retiring in 2018, and will act as commission chair. "We welcome public comment and participation," Kasler said, noting that while in high-inflationary times like today salaries typically go up, his reading of the commission's powers theoretically could be for a proposed pay cut for elected leaders. "We look at similarly sized cities around the country, and we look at the compensation models ... and try to make some determinations based on our setup," said Ransier, who chaired the panel the last time it convened in 2018. "For instance, our council is still part-time, but that in my opinion is a fiction, but their compensation is reflective of that. "Columbus is the growing city in the state of Ohio, so that I think we have to also recognize. ... It's all of that. I think we'll try to be as thorough as possible." The city's human resources department will gather the criteria on which Columbus salaries will be compared, Kasler said. According to the city charter, akin to the city's constitution, the commission may also issue an "annual cost of living adjustment which shall not exceed the average increase in the consumer price index, or successor thereto, during the preceding four years." Kasler said those COLAs compound year over year. Story continues Annual salaries this year for top city officials are: the mayor, $204,683; council president, $86,977; council members, $72,301; and the city attorney and city auditor, $200,339 each, according to Council President Shannon Hardin's office. Hardin and other members declined to comment pending the recommendations of the commission, said spokesman David Miller. Four years ago, commission members pointed to survey data from 25 other cities in delivering a recommendation to raise the pay of the council members and president by 20%. Commission members said they believe council members actually work full-time, dealing with community issues and attending public events in addition to council meetings. In 2023, the seven-member council will grow by two seats because voters approved a charter amendment in May to change the size and structure of the body. Ransier acknowledged that the topic of public officials' compensation is politically sensitive, and a difficult subject for elected leaders. The commission's role is to take a hot topic off their plates. But after the commission's recommendations, the final decisions will be up to the City Council, which theoretically could decide to reject any recommendations boosting their pay and the pay of other leaders, he said. "Realistically, I would be very surprised if they decided legislatively to take less than we recommend," Ransier said, laughing. "It's just not human nature." Any recommended salary changes approved by the current council wouldn't take effect until 2026, under Ohio Ethics Commission guidelines that prohibit elected leaders from voting on or influencing their own financial positions, according to the Columbus city attorney's office. That effectively lets voters decide who collects any approved pay raises. wbush@gannett.com @ReporterBush This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Do Columbus city leaders deserve a raise? Panel will recommend LeJuan "El'Ja" Bowens performing a spoken word poem As a teenager in Fayetteville, Neil Ray found his passion for writing poetry and noticed there wasn't a prominent community of poets in the city, so he started one. Since the late 1990s, Ray has worked to build up the poetry community in the Fayetteville area. As a member of the Writer's Guild, a Fayetteville writers group, he said he helped it create its first newsletter called The Ink Pad. He also started hosting Java Expressions at The Coffee Scene, which is still held today. "That's probably one of the longest events that we've ever had, especially since it started at a time where it may seem to some people we were doing things in Fayetteville at that time was real new in the arts kind of way," he said. Ray, a Terry Sanford High School alumni, said he found his niche in writing poetry while in high school and would even write poetry for people in exchange for lunch money. After high school, he served in the military for four years but he had a love for music and poetry that stayed strong. In 2012, Ray started the Poetry Festival because he said Fayetteville deserved one. "I'm a community guy," he said. "I grew up in Fayetteville and I love my city, I love what it does. It's not perfect but none of them will ever be so I had no problem with that, and I said 'we should have something like this.'" Ray eventually passed the torch of the poetry festival to LeJuan "El'Ja" Bowens who he said has transformed the festival in a great way. "He had that fire," Ray said. "I just felt he had that hunger and he kept that hunger alive and was making a big difference in our community." Ray said he wanted people to be happy and excited to be a part of the festival. "I want them to go out, especially young people and create new stuff and create some community action on their own," he said. "With the addition of the projects we have in the festival; we have workshops, we have nerd slams, we have the ugly poem slam .... so we're trying new ideas and people get excited." Story continues More: Ideas of Freedom: Fayetteville art series aims to highlight the Black experience Bowens, who is from Michigan, was writing poetry as a hobby and it wasn't until his last deployment in the military in about 2007 that his chief warrant officer suggested he get a poetry book together. When he got out of the military that same year, he went to his first open mic and later learned about the Fayetteville poetry community at the Coffee Scene. "Just getting around, seeing a slam, seeing some poets at the time that I did not know were like doing poetry for years across the country ... it started getting me more intrigued with wanting to do more with my work." For the poetry festival, Bowens said the importance of performing poetry is seeing a different point of view. "You are hearing stories from people that you did not expect because their story may be the story that you're living and you just needed to have that perspective," he said. "That perspective of knowing that there's someone else out there and living that same story that you're living." Bowens encourages poets and spoken word artists trying to join the poetry community to just go to an open mic and give it a try. "You can go to an open mic and you sign up and if you enjoy what you hear, then you continuously come back and if you think it's not for you, then some people just stop coming," he said. "The biggest thing is just finding your niche and finding what event fits you. Fayetteville always have numerous scenes that's out." Through the poetry community, Bowens has connected with many other creative speakers who also motivate others to express themselves with their voice, like Yolanda "Yogii" Barnes. Yolanda "Yogii" Barnes encourages other to find their voice through poetry. Support local journalism with a subscription to The Fayetteville Observer. Click the "subscribe'' link at the top of this article. When it comes to the Fayetteville poetry community, Barnes describes it as diverse. "It's vast, it's amazing, it is powerful; it is a lot of underground," she said. "It is definitely diverse through voices; the stories from the military, from the mothers to the students, even our youth poets are amazing." Performing poetry is something that Barnes said leaves her feeling refreshed and when it comes to the youth within the artistic community that is an aspect that's important for them. "Right now for the youth, especially with COVID, they felt so much bottled up in them and you would be so amazed at what they write," she said. "The complexity of what they write just really makes you really, really think. Like you don't think they understand much but they got a handle on some things and they know how to verbalize it. So the importance of letting them express themselves, that's the part where you have to, as the adults say, you can say what you need to say." Highlighting the art of poetry in the Fayetteville community is part of not just expressing the beauty in the art form but also in the city. "We don't have to be Seattle, we can be Fayetteville," Ray said. "We make a noise. People don't know it, but we make a lot of noise here; we're sneaking up on people. We don't have the tall buildings, we don't have all the elaborate but what we got is art and our artistic community. I challenge people, I say we are a city of stars." Staff writer Akira Kyles can be reached at akyles@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville poetry community highlights the art of spoken word The Cleveland Guardians have reached an agreement to extend their lease at its downtown ballpark through at least 2036 while making improvements to the facility, team owner and CEO Paul Dolan announced Thursday. CLEVELAND (AP) The Cleveland Guardians have reached an agreement to extend their lease at its downtown ballpark through at least 2036 while making improvements to the facility, team owner and CEO Paul Dolan announced Thursday. Team officials said they've obtained financing to renovate Progressive Field, a ballpark that opened for play in 1994. The cost of the improvements has been estimated at just over $200 million. Renovation work is expected to begin after the 2022 season. We are confident that this agreement will create a more compelling fan experience and keep this facility modern and relevant for many more years to come," Dolan said in a statement. The Cleveland City and Cuyahoga County councils previously approved the agreement. The city and county will contribute a total of $17 million, Ohio $2 million and the team $10 million a year to pay for the improvements and costs such as repairs, maintenance, operations and property taxes. The agreement could be extended another 10 years to 2046, team officials said. This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Cleveland Guardians have reached an agreement to extend their lease through at least 2036 The cryptocurrency industry is gearing up to invest big in the midterms. A group of crypto financiers said Friday it's launching a super PAC that aims to spend more than $20 million to support congressional candidates ahead of the November elections. The backers include a top executive at the digital currency trading platform FTX, as well as SkyBridge Capital, the hedge fund led by former Trump communications director Anthony Scaramucci, who is trying to start a Bitcoin investment fund. The group, dubbed GMI PAC, said it has already attracted $5.3 million in contributions that it will use to back candidates and members of Congress "who work to give consumers and innovators the opportunity to build and use next-generation technologies and services here in America." This is long overdue, CMS Holdings co-founder Dan Matuszewski, a member of the group's board, said in a statement on Friday. GMI PAC is the crypto communitys campaign arm and we are here to stay. GMIs launch comes as well-heeled crypto startups and top venture capital firms ramp up lobbying to influence laws and regulations impacting the $1.6 trillion market, which saw an explosion in trading last year before experiencing a major dip in recent weeks. Industry associations are mounting aggressive campaigns to fight policies that would crack down on trading. A growing number of politicians on both sides of the aisle have started to court the industry and crypto enthusiasts for support. GMI said its founding donors and board of directors include Matuszewski, FTX Digital Markets CEO Ryan Salame (the head of FTX's Bahamian subsidiary) and Framework Ventures co-founder Vance Spencer. Other funders include investment firms Multicoin Capital and Blockchain Capital. More crypto-focused political committees are likely in the offing. Top executives at FTX one of the largest digital currency trading platforms are major backers of the new super PAC Protect Our Future thats expected to invest in Democratic races this year. Its initial donors include FTX founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried as well as Nishad Singh, head of engineering at the company. It plans to spend $10 million as it kicks off. BERLIN (Reuters) - Daimler AG will be formally renamed Mercedes-Benz Group AG on Tuesday - nearly a year after the spin-off of its truck and bus division was announced - in a move its boss hopes will unlock shareholder value for the premium carmaker. The change is the latest in a string of structural reshuffles for the carmaker that began its life as Daimler-Benz AG in 1926. The Mercedes brand, named after the daughter of an automobile entrepreneur, was officially adopted by Daimler AG in 1902. "We have a real chance to raise the multiple," CEO Ola Kaellenius told reporters on Friday, without naming a specific target valuation for the firm now worth just under 77 billion euros ($85.70 billion). Shares of Daimler Truck AG, spun off from the newly anointed Mercedes-Benz last December, have risen slightly since their market debut to trade at 32.23 euros on Friday. Mercedes-Benz shares, at their highest levels since 2015 in November 2021, reached 74.25 on the day of the split, but have trended slightly lower since to trade at 71.15 euros. Still, a premium carmaker battling over the luxury market, by definition small and finite, could only grow so much, analysts said. "Investors could start viewing Mercedes as a Lucid Motors or Tesla type and start to give it an EV (electric vehicle) multiple," European auto analyst at RBC Capital Markets Tom Narayan said. "But Lucid and Tesla get to start at 100% EV. For Mercedes you have to convert your existing ICE (internal combustion engine) business to EVs. That may be a limitation on how far the multiple could go near-term." Daniel Schwarz, management director at Stifel, said valuations reflected the view that German brands were on the defensive, forced to protect their market share. "Tesla's valuation is based on the assumption that Tesla will win market share from German manufacturers, who don't have a comparable revenue growth potential." (Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Ilona Wissenbach; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) Rep. Frank Mrvan, a Democrat from Indiana, is seen on the House steps during the vote on the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, the American Rescue Plan Act. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Rep. Frank Mrvan filed a congressional financial disclosure indicating his net worth was more than $50 million. When Insider asked about his wealth, the congressman acknowledged the disclosure was incorrect. He told Insider that he takes personal responsibility for what his office called a "data entry error." Freshman Rep. Frank Mrvan declared in a congressional financial disclosure that he was personally worth tens of millions of dollars. In actuality, he's closer to broke. Mrvan, a Democrat who represents Indiana's 1st Congressional District, last year reported in an annual financial disclosure that he owned a public employee retirement fund annuity worth "over $50 million." When Insider asked Mrvan about this asset, the congressman acknowledged he made a mistake that led to him vastly inflating his total wealth. His office attributed this to a "data entry error" the holding is actually worth between $50,001 and $100,000. Insider calculated Mrvan's new net worth to be at least $100,000 in the red after subtracting his liabilities from his total reported assets. Rep. Frank Mrvan's original, handwritten 2020 financial disclosure erroneously values his "Indiana PERF Annuity" at "over $50,000,000." US House of Representatives "I am responsible for the actions of my office, and I take sole responsibility for the honest data entry error on my financial disclosure form," Mrvan told Insider. "The public employee retirement fund amount should have been in the thousands and not millions. When brought to my attention, I corrected the form and resubmitted it to the House where it will again be made publicly available." Mrvan declined to say who, specifically, was responsible for the error and how months passed without him, or anyone on his staff, noticing it. He did not respond to a question about how he plans to avoid such a mistake in the future. Members of Congress are required each year to submit an updated financial disclosure of their family's personal assets, liabilities, and other finances as mandated by federal law, including the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act of 2012. The purpose: to foster public trust through transparency, curb insider trading, and defend against potential financial conflicts of interest. Story continues Insider's recent "Conflicted Congress" investigation, which delved into each member of Congress' financial disclosures, discovered that at least 54 members of Congress have recently violated the STOCK Act. But congressional financial disclosures are not always rigorously reviewed for accuracy by government officials and are not subject to independent audits. Mrvan originally appeared in an analysis of the 25 wealthiest members of Congress, published as part of "Conflicted Congress." Insider has now removed him from the list. Delaney Marsco, the senior legal counsel for ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, told Insider that some of the blame for the disclosure also lies with the House Committee on Ethics, which does not comment publicly on specific House member financial filings. "The Committee on Ethics is supposed to review all of the financial disclosures to make sure they're timely and accurate and complete," she said. Given how wealthy many members of Congress are, Marsco said it's not surprising that the mistake went unseen by the committee as the large asset value may not have stood out to reviewers. Still, she said, the error is partially related to the committee's reliance on a "disclosure-only model," where the committee must fully trust the veracity of each disclosure. Marsco also noted that Mrvan's mistake could have been avoided if congressional disclosures were, in general, structured differently: She suggested removing the requirement to file asset values in broad ranges, instead providing a more precise value for each asset. "There's definitely logical reasons why we have ranges, but I wonder if this could have been averted if he had been required to say the exact amount of the asset," Marsco said. "It's a lot harder to misplace the zero if you're rounding to the nearest tenth of a cent." Read the original article on Business Insider After the Covid-19 pandemic torpedoed Adrienne Cooper's plans to open a disco roller rink in Tennessee, she was stuck with 500 rental skates. Finding herself in a situation where some might throw up their hands, Cooper pivoted. She had her rental skates redesigned into three sleek, new colors and branded them "Moon Boots," launching a social media campaign on Instagram to generate buzz. Adrienne Cooper. (NBC News) After months of promoting the Moon Boots, they went on sale online at midnight May 15. "That night we sold almost every pair," Cooper said. "We made over $200,000 in one day." She woke up her husband in the middle of the night, telling him, Hey, you have to quit your job because I have to literally start a company tomorrow. Cooper's experience exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit unleashed by the pandemic as people look for new ways to make a living in an ever-shifting economic landscape. For Cooper, turning to roller skating was a no-brainer. Her grandmother once worked at a Chicago Skates factory, her aunts took her skating as a child, and her 11th birthday party was held at a roller rink. Since then, Cooper had dreamed of opening a rink of her own. After serving in the Navy, Cooper worked at a catering company with the skating idea always on her mind. I was working full time, and any ounce of spare time that I had, I spent trying to pursue my goal of opening an adult brick-and-mortar skating rink that served beverages and had a nightlife vibe, she said. In spring 2019, Cooper went for it, leaving her catering job and founding Moonlight Roller. Her plan was to start small, renting out skates at pop-up events in Chattanooga and surrounding areas. Eventually, when she had enough capital, she would open her own skate palace. But after she poured her life savings into Moonlight Roller, the pandemic hit, and she said all she had left was about 500 pairs of rental skates that we designed and nowhere to use them. Story continues Exterior of Moonlight Roller. (NBC News) Almost two years later, Moonlight Roller is thriving. It raked in $4.5 million in gross revenue in the first year since the launch of the Moon Boot, and the company's on track to make roughly the same this year. Cooper also opened a brick-and-mortar skate shop in Chattanooga, and she's in the process of establishing the roller rink of her dreams. "Were coming full circle," she said. Cooper, who is married and has a 4-year-old son, credited her time in the Navy with helping her succeed as an entrepreneur. "The biggest skill I learned from the Navy is discipline," she said. "Whenever youre pursuing your own business, some days, you dont wake up with all the motivation in the world. "Youve had multiple investors tell you no, people shoot down your ideas, and it can really suck the motivation and joy out of the project. But if you can maintain discipline and stick to a schedule, I think you can succeed." By Paresh Dave OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) -Apple Inc is stifling competition through its mobile app store, attorneys general for 34 U.S. states and the District of Columbia said on Thursday, as they appealed against a ruling that let the iPhone maker continue some restrictive practices. While dozens of state attorneys general have filed recent antitrust lawsuits against other big tech companies, including Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google, none had so far taken aim at Apple. Thursday's remarks, led by the state of Utah and joined by Colorado, Indiana, Texas and others, came in a lawsuit in an appeals court against app store fees and payment tools between "Fortnite" video game maker Epic Games and Apple. "Apple's conduct has harmed and is harming mobile app-developers and millions of citizens," the states said. "Meanwhile, Apple continues to monopolize app distribution and in-app payment solutions for iPhones, stifle competition, and amass supracompetitive profits within the almost trillion-dollar-a-year smartphone industry." The action comes after a U.S. district judge in Oakland, California, mostly ruled against Epic last year. That decision found that commissions of 15% to 30% which Apple charges some app makers for use of an in-app payment system the company forced on them did not violate antitrust law. Epic challenged the ruling in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. On Thursday, professors, activist groups and the states weighed in through court filings that described legal arguments in support. Apple's reply is expected in March. On Thursday, the company said it was optimistic that Epic's challenge would fail. The states said in their filing that the lower court erred by failing to adequately balance the pros and cons of Apple's rules and also by deciding that a key antitrust law did not apply to non-negotiable contracts Apple makes developers sign. "Paradoxically, firms with enough market power to unilaterally impose contracts would be protected from antitrust scrutiny precisely the firms whose activities give the most cause for antitrust concern," they said. (Reporting by Paresh Dave; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) 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. Drakeo the Ruler, whose real name was Darrell Caldwell, was fatally stabbed in an altercation at a Los Angeles music festival in December. (Wyatt Winfrey / Associated Press) The family of rapper Drakeo the Ruler announced Thursday it will file a wrongful death lawsuit against the promoters of the L.A. music festival where he was fatally stabbed backstage, blaming a lack of security at the December event. The family of the 28-year-old rapper, whose real name was Darrell Caldwell, also released a video showing a mob of men dressed in red assaulting Drakeo before he was stabbed. Drakeo was one of a dozen high-profile rappers scheduled to perform at the Once Upon a Time in L.A. festival on Dec. 18 at the Banc of California Stadium in Exposition Park. The video shows the assailants swarm Drakeo, who falls to the ground as half a dozen young men repeatedly deliver blows. Drakeo was stabbed in the neck and rushed to a nearby hospital, where he died of his injuries, authorities said. His killers remain at large. "Mr. Caldwell was essentially lynched by over 40 to 60 people, and as you also saw, Mr. Caldwell had no security," said attorney James Bryant, who represents the Caldwell family. "That video ran for a full minute and you didn't see one security officer there. The video you saw was one of the last few moments of Darrell Caldwell's life." Bryant alleged that Drakeo was only allowed an entourage of eight people backstage and that when he arrived, a fight broke out and dozens of men dressed in red were able to flow into the area. He said Drakeo was then corralled by the mob without any security personnel around. There was a surge, he said, and "we believe knives came into play." "It should have never have happened," Bryant said. "The concert Once Upon a Time in Los Angeles had 50 of the most iconic music artists in the industry, but ... you also knew there could be an element of danger. You had Bloods. You had Crips and affiliations amongst them. We all know those groups don't go together." He and other attorneys for the Caldwell family allege that Live Nation, Bobby Dee Presents and C3 Presents did not provide adequate security at the event. "This would have never happened if those promoters had had the proper security protocol. This was a preventable death," Bryant said. Story continues A lawsuit will be filed next week against the promoters seeking upward of $20 million, he said. After the brutal attack, authorities were forced to shut down the event about 8:30 p.m. The concert was slated to go on until 11 p.m. Festival organizers on Thursday released a brief statement: Once Upon a Time in L.A. joins Drakeos family, friends, and fans in grieving his loss. The festival is continuing to support local authorities in their investigation as they pursue the facts. The rapper's death left his 5-year-old son, Caiden, fatherless, his family said at a news conference Thursday. "It's been hard," said Caiden's mother, Tianna Purtue, who held the boy as she talked to reporters. "It has been a real tragedy for him. ... How can I explain his dad is not coming back? ... He is gone and we not going to see him again." "I love my dad. I miss my dad," the boy said. Drakeo, an L.A. native who had become an increasingly popular rapper, had released 10 mixtapes and put out his first studio album early last year. He recorded the mixtape Thank You for Using GTL, a reference to prison communications company Global Tel Link, with verses recorded over a phone while he was being held at Mens Central Jail awaiting trial in connection with the 2016 killing of a 24-year-old man. Drakeo was acquitted of felony murder and attempted murder charges, but L.A. County prosecutors sought to retry him on conspiracy charges in the slaying. The second case was ultimately resolved with a plea deal and he was released in November 2020. Bryant noted that Drakeo's fatal stabbing was the latest in a series of deadly incidents involving Live Nation concerts. "This did not start with Astroworld," he said, referring to the November music festival in Houston in which 10 people died and hundreds more were injured after crowds rushed the stage toward the start of Travis Scotts set. "It has happened time and time again." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Sen. Elizabeth Warren spoke at a town hall Thursday as part of a push for student-debt forgiveness. She repeated arguments from a letter Democrats sent urging President Joe Biden to act "immediately." The letter argued Biden should forgive up to $50,000 a borrower before the end of the payment pause. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Thursday said canceling $50,000 in student-loan debt could give 36 million borrowers "permanent total relief." Warren appeared at a virtual town hall with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Ayanna Pressley to continue Democrats' push for broad student-loan forgiveness. The Massachusetts senator reiterated her call on President Joe Biden and his administration to "do the right thing" and offer relief to student-loan borrowers. "Canceling $50,000 of student-loan debt would give 36 million Americans permanent total relief," Warren said during the town hall. "That would be the end of their debt burden. And it would aid millions more by significantly reducing the principal on their debt." Sen. Elizabeth Warren at a press conference on July 23, 2019, in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images Federal student-loan debt totaled $1.6 trillion in 2021, held by more than 43 million borrowers. The Biden administration has faced mounting pressure to fulfill his campaign promise and cancel at least $10,000 in student-loan debt a figure some Democrats have been urging him to raise significantly. More than 80 Democratic lawmakers sent a letter this week urging Biden to "immediately" cancel student debt before May, when the pause on payments is scheduled to end. The letter, which mentioned the $50,000 and 36 million figures that Warren cited at the town hall, also urged the administration to publicly release a memo outlining its authority to provide student-loan relief to borrowers; thus far the administration has instead asked Congress to send a student-debt bill to Biden's desk. "When Elizabeth and I started on this, they denied that they had the authority to do it they don't deny that anymore," Schumer said during the Thursday town hall. "We've made the conclusive case." "The president can do it with a flick of the pen all he has to do is sign an executive order. He doesn't need a single Congress member on his side he just has to do it," he continued, adding: "And if the administration signs this, it will provide immediate relief to millions of Americans currently saddled with this awful debt." Read the original article on Business Insider Nicole Ferreira is executive vice president of Development at Beacon Communities LLC. The Rome Common Council recently gave unanimous approval to an important project that will improve living conditions for local low-income seniors and disabled individuals while also helping the state meet its ambitious climate change goals. The $29 million rehabilitation of the Colonial II apartment complex will also support the ongoing economic recovery effort, generating construction jobs and a revenue stream for local government through a Payment In Lieu of Taxes agreement. Colonial II will be a model of sustainable development and how to bring low-to-zero carbon multi-family buildings to scale, establishing a blueprint that can be replicated statewide. The project received support from the New York State Energy & Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) to help execute its climate-friendly design. Buildings generate nearly 40 percent of annual global CO2 emissions, of which operations are responsible for 28 percent and construction 36 percent of global energy use. Poorly constructed, outdated buildings are less energy efficient, which is costly for the environment and residents alike. In 2019, New Yorks Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) established some of the nations most ambitious climate laws, mandating 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040 and economy-wide, net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Gov. Kathy Hochul has doubled down on that commitment, proposing legislation that ensures all new construction statewide reaches zero emissions by 2027. She also called for a dedicated green electrification fund through New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR)s new $25 million, five-year housing capital plan to advance her goal of creating green, affordable housing. Beacon Communities, which is partnering with the Rome Housing Authority to rehabilitate the Colonial II property at 310 Cottage St., will help combat climate change by achieving zero carbon and near net-zero energy usage. This will be achieved in part through the adoption of geo-thermal sourced high efficiency heat pumps and a reliance on renewable solar electricity. Story continues Heat pumps have been shown to be two to four times as efficient as conventional oil, propane, or electric systems, and are healthier for residents and workers because they do not burn fossil fuels or generate harmful emissions. The brick facade at Colonial II will be replaced with a panel system, improving the apartment's temperature control and insulation capabilities while decreasing energy use. Once completed, this project will be one of New Yorks most energy efficient public housing developments. The rehabilitation of the buildings interior will transform the original 99 units into 74 modern and affordable apartments that will be available to households with incomes at or below 50 percent of the area median income. The Colonial II project will provide residents with the most up-to-date affordable units available. It builds on the success of the Colonial I rehabilitation a $22 million project completed in 2019 that created 83 energy-efficient, affordable homes for seniors and disabled individuals, upgrading a 1966 building constructed by the Rome Housing Authority. New York is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis that has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. Contrary to conventional wisdom, housing insecurity and homelessness is not limited to New York City, though the issue upstate is not a lack of housing stock, but rather a dearth of modern, safe, and affordable units. Through the Colonial II project, Beacon Communities and its partners will help address the affordable housing shortage while also combatting climate change two critical undertakings that will benefit both the local community and the state for years to come. Nicole Ferreira is executive vice president of Development at Beacon Communities LLC and oversees the firms team that develops affordable housing for New York State residents. This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Essay: Colonial II project will be a model for sustainable development Eversource is seeking to reassure residents that they're prepared to handle what could be a crippling snowfall with blowing snow from near-hurricane force wind gusts. In a press release, officials from the energy provider say the heavy snowfall and high winds expected late Friday night and into Saturday can bring down trees or tree limbs onto electric lines and equipment causing power outages. To that end, Eversource said it is "strategically prepositioning equipment and line and tree crews across the state," so theyre ready to respond quickly and safely to storm-related outages. This story is available to all as a public service and is made possible by our subscribers. Please support quality local journalism with a subscription to one of our publications. That includes hundreds of crews from out of state. "Weve had a close eye on this storm since the beginning of the week and continue to carefully track its path using several weather services and storm models, said Bill Ritchie, Eversource's vice president of electric field operations for Massachusetts, in a statement. This storm has been tough to track, and we arent leaving anything to chance." Eversource officials say they have flown in hundreds of out-of-state crews to assist with power outages anticipated to occur as a result of this weekend's storm. Ritchie said the company had "hundreds of crews" flying into the region throughout Thursday, with more arriving on Friday, from southern and western parts of the country. "We dont have to wait for them to drive here," he said. "Theyll be geared up and ready to respond to this storm alongside our Eversource crews." A warning to customers Despite the advance preparation, Ritchie reminded customers that power restoration may take longer than usual, "as we ensure the safety of our employees who will be responding in challenging road conditions. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency said getting essentials like food, water and batteries should be done now. The agency said this storm has the potential for power outages and people should be prepared to be without electricity for some time. Story continues "If you lose power, you want to have flashlights and extra batteries on-hand," Tom Lyons, of MEMA, told WCVB-TV. "Think about what you would do, if you lost power for a couple of days, because that could happen in a situation like this." Other items residents should have as part of their "storm kit" include water, non-perishable foods, pet food and essentials and any needed medications, Eversource officials . In addition, make sure cellphones and devices are fully charged, create an emergency plan with family members and check on elderly neighbors and friends. Eversource reminds customers to always stay clear of downed wires and to report them immediately to 9-1-1. Outages can be reported online at Eversource.com, or by calling 800-592-2000. Customers who signed up for the companys two-way texting feature can send a text to report an outage and receive outage updates as they happen. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 1.8 million customers throughout Massachusetts. This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Eversource flies in extra crews to help with Massachustts blizzard Businessman Valeriy Averyanov heads a group affiliated with Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces in Mariupol, Ukraine. Averyanov and other civilians are prepared to take part in Ukraine's defense if Russian troops invade. (Nils Adler / For The Times) In normal life and in normal times, Valeriy Averyanov is a businessman. But these days, his main preoccupation is making preparations for what he and his neighbors would do if Russian troops attacked their hometown, a prosperous but rust-riddled industrial port in southeastern Ukraine. Averyanov, who cradled a shotgun as he spoke, heads a military-civil group in Mariupol, a city of about half a million people that sits by the strategic Sea of Azov. If Russian forces moved in, either by land or sea, his local militia would transform itself into partisan groups that could operate behind enemy lines, he said. In the event of a brutal invasion, everything that needs to be done will be done, said Averyanov, a short-statured 46-year-old with a ferocious smoking habit and an intense stare. With more than 100,000 Russian troops massed near Ukraines borders and tense diplomatic talks unfolding daily, thousands of volunteers across the country are joining Ukraines newly reconstituted Territorial Defense Forces, which come under the wing of the Ukrainian military but whose ranks are being bolstered by ordinary civilians. In cities and towns across this country of 40 million people, Ukrainians from all walks of life accountants and teachers, shopkeepers and software engineers are making ready for possible war. Under the instruction of regular Ukrainian troops and army veterans, these citizen soldiers stage weekend drills in snowy woods and fields, heft wooden model guns or real ones, rush to offer simulated medical aid, drop to their bellies and crawl through mud. Senior Ukrainian military officials have welcomed the existence of locally organized groups to support the war effort, should it come to that. No one must stand aside when it comes to the security of their home, village, city and their country as a whole, Gen. Yuriy Halushkin, the recently appointed commander of the Territorial Defense Forces, told the state news agency Ukrinform this month. Story continues Mariupol, the site of a historic Cossack encampment, could find itself a prime target if hostilities were to break out, military experts say. It is 25 miles from the Russian border, and even closer to the front lines of the years-old conflict between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces. The Sea of Azovs shores touch Ukraine and Russia as well as Crimea, the strategic peninsula Russia invaded in 2014 and then illegally annexed. In the event of a fresh invasion, an early Russian strike could involve amphibious operations to seize the coastline between Mariupol and Crimea, retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, wrote in a recent paper for the Center for European Policy Analysis. The operational objective in the first days will be the isolation of Ukraine from the Azov Sea and the Black Sea, with main operations focused along both coastlines, Hodges wrote. Or Russia could target Mariupol under the auspices of separatist forces, thus giving it a measure of deniability of responsibility. Averyanov, for one, believes that such a provocation is likelier than a direct assault. The Territorial Defense Forces, while operating under new organization, date back to 2014, following the last Russian invasion. Originally set up to train part-time military reservists after the seizure of Crimea, drawing backing and membership from the protest movement that galvanized the countrys pro-democracy revolution, the defense forces were formally expanded last year to encompass civilian participation. No one thinks these defensive units would have any chance of staving off the Russian army, but military experts say they could form a kind of insurgent rear guard, harassing and disrupting invading forces. Those are precisely the types of guerrilla operations that evoke unhappy memories in Moscow of protracted, bloody conflicts of attrition in the past, like those in Afghanistan and Chechnya. Ukraine can raise the cost to Russia by preparing for a long war complete with significant guerrilla activity behind Russian lines, T.X. Hammes, a research fellow at the U.S. National Defense University, wrote last month on the Atlantic Councils UkraineAlert blog. While the Ukraine leadership, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, has sought to present a calm front in the face of the invasion threat, the Biden administration has been far more blunt in assessing the likelihood of Russian President Vladimir Putin making a significant military move. At the Pentagon on Friday, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said the buildup of troops, armor and artillery along Ukraines borders gave the Russian leader a range of options. While we dont believe that President Putin has made a final decision to use those forces against Ukraine, he clearly now has the capability, Austin told reporters. In Mariupol, one of the gargantuan steelworks dominating the port is named for Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Vladimir Lenin, the first head of the Soviet state. But some in this largely Russian-speaking city find it a point of irony that Putin has been an unwitting booster of Ukraines sense of its own sovereignty. The countrys increasing tilt toward the West, and its aspirations to someday join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, are in large measure due to the Kremlins relentless propaganda campaign painting the former Soviet republic as a pit of treachery and a source of aggression, many analysts and observers say. Ukrainian democracy today, not Ukrainian membership in NATO in some distant future, is the real threat to Putin, Michael McFaul, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia, wrote on Twitter this month. While smoke-belching steel, iron and metallurgy plants lend Mariupols industrial zone a dystopian air, the city a lively metropolis with distinctive architectural features imparted by past waves of Greek immigration remains economically important as well as strategically significant. It lies along a potential land bridge from Russia to Crimea, and its port provides a logistical lifeline for whoever controls it. Its defenders both the regular Ukraine army and the irregular forces mustering for battle are keenly aware of that. We are always ready, said Averyanov. To lose this city would really put Ukraine on its knees. Special correspondent Adler reported from Mariupol and Times staff writer King from Washington. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Languerand holding a "Pepe the Frog" flag on the Upper West Terrace on January 6, 2021. The Department of Justice A man who assaulted officers during the Capitol riot was sentenced to over three years in prison. Nicholas Languerand, a former Army private, received a 44-month sentence earlier this week. Prosecutors say Languerand threw several dangerous items at law enforcement on January 6, 2021. A former Army private who threw objects at law enforcement during the Capitol riot received a 44-month sentence after pleading guilty to a felony count of assaulting officers in November. Nicholas Languerand, of Little River, South Carolina, was sentenced to more than three years behind bars following a ruling by US District Judge John Bates on Wednesday. Languerand, who has been jailed since his arrest in April 2021, is expected to receive credit for time served. Prosecutors initially recommended a 51-month sentence for the defendant, but Bates offered a "modest reduction" in his final ruling, citing Languerand's "extremely difficult and chaotic upbringing," Reuters reported. An attorney for Languerand told the court that Languerand's father spent six months behind bars after blowing up the family trailer in an attempt to kill Languerand's mother, WUSA reported. Languerand later lived with his father in a rundown home built from downed telephone poles, his legal team said. Languerand's grandparents testified in court this week, describing how their grandson became enamored with the far-right QAnon conspiracy movement ahead of the Capitol riot. Languerand was administratively discharged from his role in the Army after a positive drug test, WUSA reported, and became "consumed" by the extremist movement after he was laid off from work. Prosecutors said Languerand, who was living in Vermont in January 2021, traveled to Washington, DC, to attend President Donald Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally on January 6, 2021. After the rally, Languerand made his way to the Upper West Terrace of the Capitol, where photos and video show him throwing a variety of dangerous items at law enforcement, including a large traffic barrier, an audio speaker, pieces of wood, and sticks, charging documents said. Story continues Photos also show him waving a "Pepe the Frog" flag atop the Upper West Terrace, charging documents said. As Insider previously reported, political extremists in 2016 began associating the meme frog with white nationalism and far-right extremism. Authorities say Languerand also took an officer's riot shield, slammed it into the ground multiple times, and then pushed it back at police. Court records said Languerand left the immediate area after law-enforcement officers began using tear gas. An Instagram post of Languerand outside the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The Department of Justice Prosecutors emphasized that though Languerand didn't enter the Capitol on January 6, 2021, "it was not for a lack of trying." An anonymous witness contacted the FBI in February to say Languerand had posted an Instagram picture of himself at the Capitol during the insurrection, charging documents said. Upon further review, investigators found several social-media posts and comments made by Languerand discussing his role in the siege. "No I never made it inside but I got some good shots in," Languerand wrote on Instagram on January 6, 2021, court documents said. "A stole a riot shield got pepper sprayed gassed it was lit." When agents searched Languerand's trailer and bedroom last spring, they found a stockpile of weapons, a makeshift, humanlike target full of bullet holes, and a notebook containing a "target list," a sentencing memo said. On Wednesday, Languerand briefly addressed the courtroom to express remorse. "I have represented my community in an extremely poor way," he said, WUSA reported. Languerand's 44-month sentence marks one of the longest sentences yet in a Capitol-riot-related case. Two other men convicted of assaulting officers received 46 and 63 months in prison, respectively. An attorney for Languerand did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. More than 760 people have been arrested in connection with the attack, and more than 170 have pleaded guilty. Read the original article on Business Insider TOKYO (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it is looking into allegations a regional director in Asia bullied staff, used racist language and leaked sensitive vaccine data to Japan, accusations the official denies. WHO said in a statement to Reuters on Thursday it "is aware of the allegations and is taking all appropriate steps to follow up on the matter," following a report on the complaints by the Associated Press. In a statement provided by the WHO, Takeshi Kasai, the Manila-based director of the Western Pacific region, acknowledged being "hard on staff" but rejected charges of racism or that he shared confidential information with Japan. He wrote that he was considering how to improve his management style and the work environment. Kasai did not respond to an e-mailed request for comment by Reuters. Japan's health and foreign ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the alleged leaks of vaccine data. The AP reported on Thursday the abuse charges were outlined in an internal complaint filed in October and in an email last week, sent by "concerned WHO staff" to its senior leadership. Kasai's authoritarian style has led to the departure of more than 55 key staff in the past year and a half, and most of them have not been replaced, the report quoted unidentified WHO staff as saying in the email. Kasai, a physician from Japan who has worked for more than 15 years at the WHO, was also accused of sharing confidential data to the Japanese government to help it gain diplomatic favour from COVID-19 vaccine donations to neighbours. The AP said the complaint and email accused Kasai of making "racist and derogatory remarks to staff of certain nationalities" and creating a "toxic atmosphere" with "a culture of systemic bullying and public ridiculing." The WHO statement quoted Kasai as saying, "Regarding the accusation of racism towards particular cultures or countries: this I reject. Story continues "It is true that I have been hard on staff, but I reject the suggestion that I have targeted staff of any particular nationality. Racism goes against all of the principles and values I hold dear as a person and an international civil servant, and have throughout my life and career." He also said he takes "the concerns raised about my management style and working culture in WHO's Western Pacific Region very seriously". He said he was "committed to listening carefully to staff about their concerns, reflecting on ways of working, and thinking carefully about how I can improve, as well as improve the working environment for all our staff now and into the future." (Reporting by Rocky Swift; Editing by Miyoung Kim and William Mallard) The Federal Aviation Administration says it has reached an agreement with AT&T and Verizon (Engadget's former parent company) regarding the rollout of their C-Band 5G networks at and around airports. The agency said the three sides have found common ground "on steps that will enable more aircraft to safely use key airports while also enabling more towers to deploy 5G service." According to the FAA, the providers offered "more precise data about the exact location of wireless transmitters and supported more thorough analysis of how 5G C-Band signals interact with sensitive aircraft instruments." The agency said it used the data to "determine that it is possible to safely and more precisely map the size and shape of the areas around airports where 5G signals are mitigated, shrinking the areas where wireless operators are deferring their antenna activations. This will enable the wireless providers to safely turn on more towers as they deploy new 5G service in major markets across the United States. The accord follows a months-long tussle between airlines and wireless providers over C-Band 5G. AT&T and Verizon voluntarily delayed the rollout for six weeks to address concerns that their services could interfere with aircraft systems and electronics, due to C-Band frequencies being close to ones used by altimeters. Earlier this month, the CEOs of airlines including Delta, United and Southwest claimed in a letter to the federal government that the networks could affect their planes' instruments and lead to a catastrophic event. AT&T and Verizon activated their C-Band 5G networks last week after agreeing to create temporary buffer zones around dozens of airports they haven't switched on C-Band 5G towers within two miles of some runways. They also argued that similar networks have been deployed in 40 other countries without issue. It's not clear when AT&T and Verizon plan to turn on C-Band 5G towers closer to airports following the FAA agreement. The providers declined to comment. The CTIA, a trade association for the wireless industry, was bullish about the news. "This is a positive development that highlights the considerable progress the wireless industry, aviation industry, FAA and FCC are making to ensure robust 5G service and safe flights," CTIA chief communications officer Nick Ludlum told Engadget in a statement. Meanwhile, the FAA said it would continue discussions with helicopter operators and other stakeholders in the aviation industry "to ensure they can safely operate in areas of current and planned 5G deployment." Strong link between Party and religious work stressed 08:11, January 28, 2022 By ZHANG YI ( China Daily China's top political advisor Wang Yang meets with leaders of national religious groups ahead of the Spring Festival in Beijing, Jan 27, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] China's top political adviser Wang Yang extended Spring Festival greetings on Thursday to religious figures and believers nationwide and called for efforts to encourage religions in China to better adapt to socialist society. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, extended the greetings at a symposium with leaders of national religious organizations in Beijing ahead of Spring Festival. Wang said that religious groups serve as a bridge for the Party and the government to unite religious figures and believers. He stressed the need to fully implement the Party's theories and policies on religious work in the new era, and to gather positive energy for the new journey and the realization of the Chinese dream. Speaking highly of the religious groups' work last year, Wang urged them to strengthen self-education. Efforts should also be made to continue enhancing the identity of the motherland, the Chinese nation and culture, the CPC, and socialism with Chinese characteristics among religious figures and believers, he said. Wang said that religious groups in China should better adapt to socialist society and the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Stressing the importance of running religious schools well, Wang said it's necessary to train both grassroots teaching staff and high-level religious talent who are well versed in classical doctrines and traditional Chinese culture. Regarding religious events during Spring Festival, Wang called for strict implementation of COVID-19 control measures and advised a reasonable reduction in the number of gatherings. Stressing that the Party and the government attach great importance to religious work, he called for related departments to support religious groups in their work and help solve their practical difficulties. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) FLATHEAD RESERVATION Tribal Council directed staff to distribute a letter to Tribal agricultural producers this month to gather feedback related to the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project (FIIP). Council is considering the creation of a joint entity with the Flathead Irrigation District, or FID, to assume operation and maintenance of FIIP through a self-governance contract with the Secretary of the Interior and the BIA. This joint CSKT-FID entity would operate FIIP like a utility responsible for making agricultural water deliveries. To help reach the Tribal ag community, were accepting thoughts through email, FIIPcomments@cskt.org Or, you can mail in written comments to: Chelsea Colwyn Legal Department P.O. Box 278 Pablo, MT 59855 Those who would like to talk with staff can also request a time to visit in person. All comments are due by March 31. We are also working on an open house at Salish Kootenai College to share more information on these issues and other topics related to the Water Compact. Notices of that open house will be out soon. Former Oregon standouts Cole Hocker, left, and Cooper Teare will make their professional debuts Saturday in the men's 3,000 meters during the Millrose Games indoor meet in New York. Cole Hocker and Cooper Teare will make their professional track debuts Saturday in New York City. Its only fitting that theyll open against each other. The former Oregon stars helped lead the Ducks to the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship last March, concluding the meet with a 1-2 finish in the 3,000-meter finale won by Hocker. Thats the event theyre entered in Saturday at The Armory for the Millrose Games, the prestigious indoor track and field meet that returns for its 114th season after having to cancel in 2021 due to COVID-19. Hocker was coming off a freshman season that also included a win in the 1,500 at the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials and a sixth-place finish in Tokyo when he turned pro in September. Teare, who won the NCAA outdoor 5,000 title, competed for the Ducks during the fall cross country and then turned pro with a senior season of track still on the table. There are four other former NCAA champions entered in the race Wesley Kiptoo, Geordie Beamish, Conner Mantz and Mason Ferlic. Former Oregon standout James West is also entered. Hocker, Teare and West are just three of many former Ducks entered in the meet. Raevyn Rogers, who won bronze in the 800 at the Summer Games in August, is entered in the womens 400, two-time Olympian Devon Allen makes his season debut in the mens 60 hurdles and 2016 Olympic gold medalist English Gardner is opening her season in the 60. Jessica Hull and Charlie Hunter, Tokyo Olympians for Australia who are members of the Nike Union Athletics Club in Portland, are entered in the womens Wanamaker Mile and mens 800, respectively. Hunter, the 2021 NCAA indoor 800 champion, made his pro debut two weeks ago when he ran 1:48.29 in a meet at Texas A&M. Hull also ran in the 3,000 at that meet. Former Ducks Sam Prakel, Johnny Gregorek and Colby Alexander are entered in the mens Wanamaker Mile, as is Union Athletic Clubs Craig Engels. Other members of the Union Athletic Club expected to compete are Konstanze Klosterhalfen, Shannon Osika and Ella Donaghu in the womens Wanamaker Mile and Donavan Brazier in the mens 400. Story continues Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com. For more sports coverage, visit registerguard.com. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism. The 114th Millrose Games 11:30-1:30 Saturday at The Armory in New York. TV: NBC. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Former Oregon stars Hocker and Teare will go head-to-head in pro debut Units in Fort Braggs 82nd Airborne Division and 18th Airborne Corps are among the 8,500 troops placed on a heightened alert status because Russia might invade Ukraine, a Pentagon spokesman said. Its unclear if the status of the 82nd units is a step up from the divisions usual readiness. As part of the 82nds role as the nations Immediate Response Force, units in the division are always prepared to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours of notification. Paratroopers assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division conduct security as they continue to help facilitate the safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants, and other at-risk Afghans out of Afghanistan as quickly and safely as possible from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Aug 25. Pentagon Spokesman John F. Kirby said Thursday that Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III placed the 8,500 troops on a heightened preparedness to deploy if Russia invades Ukraine. I can say that today that these units include elements of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, which regularly I think you all know maintains high readiness, as well as elements of the 18th Airborne Corps, also based at Fort Bragg and some elements from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, he said, according to a transcript of a press briefing at the Pentagon. More: Russia insists it won't start war with Ukraine, NATO prepared for 'the worst': What we know Kirby said in a statement released by the Pentagon that units on alert also include parts of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell and the Fourth Infantry Division at Fort Carson. Other units also now have an increased readiness posture, the statement said. Support local journalism with a subscription to The Fayetteville Observer. Click the "subscribe'' link at the top of this article. Kirby said the forces are on a heightened preparedness to deploy but have not been activated. These units, all told, include medical support, aviation support, logistics support and of course, combat formations, he said. Most of the troops are dedicated to the NATO Response Force. The NATO website says the force is a highly ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and Special Operations Forces components that the Alliance can deploy quickly, wherever needed, according to the statement. Story continues Kirby said U.S. officials still believe that diplomacy can end tension between Russia and Ukraine. But thus far, it has not achieved the kind of results that the international community would like to see, he said. A Pentagon spokesman said Friday that he could not be more about the specific alert status of units, including the 82nd, since the notice only told the forces to prepare to deploy. The 82nds three brigade combat teams operate on a readiness cycle that has one of three on alert, another going through a retrofit, and the third preparing to be on alert. Units from the division and other troops from Fort Bragg deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq numerous times over the past 20 years. In August, a brigade and a battalion from the 82nd were sent to Afghanistan to support the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country. The effort signified the end of a nearly 20-year mission in Afghanistan that began shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In January 2020, about 3,500 paratroopers from the 82nds 1st Brigade Combat Team and other troops were sent to the Middle East after tensions rose in the area. The move was the divisions first no-notice combat deployment in more than 30 years. The Fort Bragg soldiers were sent to the region after an airstrike in Baghdad ordered by President Donald Trump killed a top Iranian general. Some paratroopers provided security for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, which had been attacked by protesters earlier. Local news editor Steve DeVane can be reached at sdevane@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3572. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fort Bragg troops from on alert due to possible invasion of Ukraine PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA Free at-home COVID-19 tests are coming to libraries across Prince William County on Monday, Jan. 31. If supplies last, some branches will also distribute tests on Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Wednesday, Feb. 2. The tests will be available at all library branches except for Bull Run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31. All branches except for the Dale City library will also distribute tests from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, if supplies last. Central, Chinn Park, Haymarket Gainesville, Manassas City, Montclair, and Potomac libraries will also distribute kits from 5:00 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The at-home test distribution is the latest effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the region. Currently, all Virginia localities are experiencing high levels of community transmission, according to the Virginia Department of Health. Testing is a critical piece in helping our community stay healthy and managing daily life during the pandemic, " Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chair-At-Large, Ann Wheeler said."We are so glad that we can offer these free kits to our residents. It is important that we do everything we can to support and help each other during this time." Depending on the availability of supplies, the county said they may announce more distribution times. Updates about at-home test distribution will be posted on the county's website. Before leaving home, residents are encouraged to call their local library to see if tests are still available. Some sites will provide curbside pickup, while others will require residents to enter the library. Anyone who has to go inside a library is encouraged to wear a mask. Our vision at Prince William Public Libraries is to be the hub connecting people to the transforming power of information, the library system's director, Deborah Wright, said. Sometimes information takes the form of literacy, sometimes its learning through free classes and programs, and sometimes its through providing a public service like distributing free COVID-19 test kits." Story continues Read more: Librarians To The Rescue: Scheduling Vaccines, Providing Tests Library employees will not be able to administer tests inside libraries. Instead, residents are encouraged to take the test home and complete it on their own. Anyone with questions can reach out to the testing company's customer service line, which will be shown inside the test kit. In a news release, Wright noted that unprecedented "We strive to be a community resource no matter what challenge is presented." This article originally appeared on the Manassas Patch PARIS (Reuters) - French investigators are preparing to go to Saudi Arabia soon as part of their investigation into incidents targeting French nationals that marred last month's Dakar sports car rally, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday. French RMC radio said later that a mission including French DGSI secret service agents and an investigating magistrate would travel to Saudi Arabia, where the rally was held, as soon as Saturday for several days, citing sources close to the probe. "They will be welcomed by the Saudi authorities before a first briefing on Sunday", RMC said. French anti-terrorism prosecutors opened a preliminary investigation earlier this month into an explosion under a support vehicle at the rally at the end of December, in which French race driver Philippe Boutron was seriously injured. They have also heard from witnesses about a second incident in which a support truck, belonging to the team of Franco-Italian rally competitor Camelia Liparoti, caught fire, the source confirmed to Reuters. French radio RMC said the driver heard a "boom" before the fire broke out. "A mission is planned for very soon," the source said, adding that, contrary to what has been said in some French media, "the Saudis have never been resistant" to cooperating. The source said there had been no urgency for French investigators to go on the ground because they started their probe by hearing French witnesses as they came back from Saudi Arabia. This phase of the probe is now over, the source said. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has said "there were hypotheses" that the incident, in which Boutron was injured, "was a terrorist attack". But Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said on Jan. 8 that an initial investigation into the first blast had not raised any criminal suspicions. The source said that at this stage, Saudi Arabia's stance has not changed. Some of the witnesses debriefed upon return to France mentioned the second incident, the source said, without adding any details. The origin of the fire is unclear, Liparoti herself said on Instagram at the start of January. (Reporting by Alain Acco and Tassilo Hummel; writing by Ingrid Melander; editing by Christian Lowe, Andrew Cawthorne and Philippa Fletcher) By Andreas Rinke BERLIN (Reuters) - Russia is prepared to attack Ukraine but has not yet decided whether to do so, the head of Germany's foreign intelligence service (BND) said amid escalating tensions between Moscow and Kyiv. Russia has massed troops near Ukraine's border but says it does not plan to invade, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying on Friday that if it depended on Russia, there would be no war. The United States has spent weeks trying to build agreement with European partners on a strong sanctions package if Russia attacks.[nL1N2U80LR] "I believe that the decision to attack has not yet been made," Bruno Kahl, the head of Germany's foreign intelligence service, told Reuters in an interview. "The crisis can develop in thousands of ways," Bruno Kahl told Reuters, listing scenarios including moves to destabilise the government in Kiev or to support separatists in the east and push the demarcation line forward as possible scenarios. It was unclear whether talks underway would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands. "In view of his far-reaching demands, that would be quite a trick," Kahl added. Kahl declined to comment on whether and what sanctions should be taken against Russia in the event of an attack, but he supported Germany's approach of keeping Moscow in the dark about what moves it might have in store. "That's what Putin does," Kahl said. He also expressed doubt about the viability of a lasting alliance between Russia and China as the interests of the two countries were too different. "In the long run, the Russian bear will not feel comfortable in the claws of the Chinese dragon," he said. Putin is due travel to China next month to hold talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, with the focus mostly on European security and Russia's dialogue with NATO and the United States. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke; Writing by Riham Alkousaa; Editing by Thomas Escritt and Chizu Nomiyama) Vaccine administration. KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images Over ten billion vaccine doses have now been administered globally, representing a new milestone in the fight against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, The New York Times reports. That said, however, the achievement does not arrive without its shortcomings; though "10 billion doses could theoretically have meant at least one shot for all of the world's 7.9 billion people," distribution has, in reality, meant anything but, notes the Times. In wealthy countries, 77 percent of people have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, versus less than 10 percent in low-income countries. Even as the U.S. and parts of Europe build out their booster campaigns to fight the Omicron variant, "more than one-third of the world's people, many of them in Africa and poor pockets of Asia, are still waiting for a first dose." "Ten billion doses is a triumph of science but a complete failure of global solidarity," Madhukar Pai, a professor of epidemiology at McGill University, told the Times. For example, the U.S. has administered "five times as many extra shots about 85 million as the total number of doses administered in all of Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation." Despite the World Health Organization's global sharing initiative, Covax, disparities remain perhaps at least in part because rich countries have not agreed to waive IP restrictions, or pressured drug companies to "share their technology so that poorer nations can manufacture doses locally," per the Times. "We have learned through this pandemic that charity does not work in global health, and charity is not the same as justice," Pai added. "And that is what countries are looking for a just approach to be able to save themselves." You may also like New poll shows Biden's standing with Georgia voters 'has fallen off a cliff' The spectacular risk of cryptocurrency investing The fantasy of a Trump-slaying Republican The San Antonio Police Department is asking for the San Angelo publics assistance in the January 1, 2021 murder investigation of Army Staff Sergeant Jessica Ann Mitchell, according to a news release. Homicide Detectives believe that an individual or individuals in the San Angelo area may have information in Mitchell's murder investigation. On Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, Mitchell was celebrating New Years Eve with friends at the 4th Quarter Sports Bar, 8779 Wurzbach, in San Antonio. Sometime after 2 a.m., Mitchell left the bar in her 2019 white Dodge Charger alone, a news release stated. A screen shot shows a red SUV detectives with the San Antonio Police Department are trying to locate in the murder investigation of Army Staff Sergeant Jessica Ann Mitchell. Detectives are asking for the publics assistance in the San Angelo area. Mitchell was traveling eastbound on IH-10 and had just passed the Vance Jackson exit when detectives believe someone in a red vehicle opened fire and struck the driver side of her vehicle, a news release stated. Mitchell may have swerved into the red vehicle causing minor damage. She was shot several times, according to the news release. Mitchell was transported to the hospital where she passed away at approximately 3:21 am. Others are reading: Don't be fooled by police impersonators. Here's what to do if stopped by an unmarked car. The San Antonio Police Department is asking for the publics assistance in the San Angelo area in the January 1, 2021 murder investigation of Army Staff Sergeant Jessica Ann Mitchell. Homicide Detectives are asking for the publics assistance in the San Angelo area. Crime Stoppers and the U.S. Army CID is offering a combined $30,000 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for Mitchells murder. You can remain anonymous. If anyone has any information on this vehicle or the case, they are urged to call Crime Stoppers at 210-224-STOP, reference case SAPD 21-000072. John Tufts covers enterprise and investigative topics in West Texas. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com. This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Reward offered in death of Texas Army Staff Sgt. Jessica Ann Mitchell Isaac Turner took over this month as Hutto's new interim city manager after the previous city manager left because he could not commit to moving his family to the city, officials said. They said the city is searching nationally for a new city manager with the help of a search firm. The process is expected to take several months. Turner was the city manager of Taylor from 2014 to 2019, according to a city of Hutto news release. "In addition to managing comparably sized cities in Florida for a decade, in Texas he managed the city of McKinney from 1997 to 2000 after holding an executive-level position with the city of Dallas for several years," the release said. READ: Hutto names Hutmacher as new city manager It said Turner earned a masters degree in public administration from the University of Kansas and a bachelors degree in political science from Kansas State University. Isaac Turner began as the new interim city manager for Hutto after the previous city manager left because he couldn't commit to moving his family to town. The town's previous city manager, Warren Hutmacher, left his position on Nov. 12 because he could not commit to moving his family to Texas, the city announced in another city news release. The Hutto City Council approved a separation agreement with Hutmacher in November that was "significantly less than his contract called for, allowing him to keep relations amicable with the city," the release said. The city paid Hutmacher $142,998, which was seven months worth of his salary and also paid $10,300 for seven months of insurance coverage for Hutmacher and his family, according to the separation agreement. Hutmacher had 22 years of experience in local government around Atlanta before he became city manager in Hutto in October 2020. We believe its important for our city manager to live in the city where we all live, Hutto Mayor Mike Snyder said in a statement. Despite Warren making headway in leading the city forward with his vision to rebuild our culture starting with hiring experienced, skilled professionals in several critical roles for the city the timing just wasnt right for him and his family." Story continues Hutmacher was the third city manager to leave Hutto since 2016. City Manager Karen Daly resigned in January 2016 after being accused of having "broken relationships" with the Hutto school district, firefighters and county officials. She was replaced by interim City Manager Micah Grau. The city chose Odis Jones, whose previous jobs included executive director of economic development for the city of Cincinnati, to be the new city manager in December 2016. Jones left in December 2019 after reaching a mutual agreement with the City Council and saying he wanted to move on to new opportunities. Jones, who is Black, sued the city in December 2020 saying he was racially discriminated against when the City Council voided his $412,000 separation agreement that month. The lawsuit is still pending. READ: Former city manager files lawsuit against Hutto after separation terms voided Charles McDaniels became the interim city manager after Jones left until the City Council selected Hutmacher as the new city manager in October 2020. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Hutto has new interim city manager after previous leader left due to family issues My own traumatic birth experience led me to pursue midwifery as a career to help other women. In 2004, a birth I attended almost ruined the profession for me. I'm still dealing with PTSD. This is a midwife's story, as told to Lauren Crosby Medlicott. I became a midwife in 1999, deciding that the degree I'd been pursuing in architecture wasn't something I felt passionately enough about not like I did about the birth of a baby. Following the traumatic delivery of my daughter when I was only 18, I knew I was meant to empower and support mothers through birth. After a three-year training course, I qualified to work as a midwife and spent most of my time on the labor ward, where I met women at their most vulnerable points and guided them through one of the most memorable experiences of their lives. Birth is the most incredible thing in the world, and I found such satisfaction in being a part of it. In 2004, after five years of practicing, I had a home-birth experience that almost ruined the profession of midwifery for me. It even came back to haunt me during the birth of my grandchild. It showed me how hard the job was: The pressure is huge, and you literally hold moms' and babies' lives in your hands. The birth that changed it all for me It was a cold night, and one of my colleagues delivering a baby at a home in the community called me to support her as a secondary midwife. It was an odd birth from the beginning. The windows were all open, and it was freezing inside. The mom didn't want our help, and her husband was quite hostile toward me. As she progressed in labor, I quietly tried to speak to her and listen for the baby's heart rate. But she didn't make any eye contact, talk to me, or let me use the handheld Doppler to check that the baby was OK even though I continued to insist. When a woman is contracting quite strongly, there is a normal physiological reduction in oxygen through the placenta. Most babies can cope with that, but the whole point of a midwife attending a home birth is to catch any abnormalities early on. But the mom told me to get away from her. Story continues Right as the baby was about to be born, she decided to let me listen for the heart rate. It was unbelievably low. Before we knew it, we saw the top of the baby's head and prepared equipment to resuscitate it. My colleague had to do an episiotomy on the mom, who was shaking, to get the baby out quickly. The baby arrived basically dead white and floppy. I patted him down and immediately started resuscitation, desperate to get his heart rate above the 40 beats per minute it was pumping at. The paramedics came to take the baby to the hospital, and as I left, I looked around the house the blood, the cold, the shaking hands. It all imprinted on my mind. Three days later, the baby died. I treated my PTSD by attending more home births In the months that followed, I unknowingly treated the post-traumatic stress disorder caused by the event. According to the American Psychological Association, PTSD can be treated with "prolonged exposure" instead of avoiding what triggers the trauma, you're exposed to it to get over your triggers or fears. Instead of running away from home births, I requested to continue doing them, but only in an observational capacity, without the responsibility for life and death, so that I could remember that positive home-birth experiences do happen. But that night still haunted me with flashbacks in slow motion, which were triggered by nothing in particular. Even all these years later, I still have moments of panic when I replay what happened and think of all that could have been different. Recently, my daughter had a home birth and requested that I be there to support her as a mother, not as a midwife. I waited in the living room while my daughter labored, and the midwife helping came to speak to me. "The baby is crashing through the pelvis and going to be born quickly, hence why the heart rate is low," she told me. "I've called the paramedics just in case." My grandson was born flat, lifeless. He needed to be resuscitated. For those 20 minutes, when we didn't know what was going to happen, that case from all those years ago came back like a bad dream and frightened me. But my grandson was OK in the end. I'm no longer a clinical midwife. Instead, I teach the next generation of midwives. The PTSD I experienced was horrific, but I couldn't abandon the profession. The miracle of life is just too addictive to ignore. Editor's note: The midwife has remained anonymous for the privacy of her patients. Read the original article on Insider Harry Caul and The Conversation are back, listening in on a new generation of rampant, justifiable paranoia. Writer-director Francis Ford Coppolas 1974 drama came out between The Godfather (1972), the fraught and studio-undermined shooting experience of which Coppola has often called a nightmare, and The Godfather Part II (1974). Thats a trifecta rarely equaled and never bettered in contemporary film. Advertisement The Conversation returns this week in a terrific, newly struck 35 millimeter print supervised by Coppola and distributed by Rialto Pictures, playing Jan. 28 to Feb. 3 at the Music Box. Its enveloping chill feels, looks and crucially, in a story about a man who eavesdrops for a living sounds as arresting as ever. With a role originally offered to Marlon Brando, Coppolas modestly scaled masterwork turned out to be two of Gene Hackmans finest hours, in which he delineates a morally haunted surveillance experts world in incremental, barely perceptible ways, usually through action and reaction, not words. Advertisement Harry reveals little. His San Francisco apartment, furnished in the style of Early Anonymity, contains nothing of value, as he tells his building manager in a testy phone call early on, when Harry learns the manager has a key to his place. Outside Harrys place the building across the street is being razed; Coppolas script originally filled in many details and larger forces regarding whos building the new San Francisco, and how. Harry has no car, no phone, a frosty working relationship with his less fastidious fellow surveillance expert Stan, played by John Cazale. The subtly extraordinary opening sequence in The Conversation, endlessly rewatchable thanks to sound designer/editor and film editor Walter Murchs brilliant aural and visual manipulations, takes place in Union Square at lunch time. The sound wizards record fragments of conversation, from various locations and with various electronic means, between an apparent pair of young lovers (Cindy Williams of Laverne and Shirley and Coppola regular Frederic Forrest). Harry has been hired to tape their open-air rendezvous and deliver the results, for $15,000, to an unnamed businessman (Robert Duvall) and his achingly smug assistant (Harrison Ford, a year after American Graffiti). Harry doesnt know anything about their reasons for the surveillance, or care. A surveillance expert played by Gene Hackman realizes his assignment may lead to murder in "The Conversation." (Rialto Pictures / HANDOUT) What he discovers on the tapes, alone, later, at one of his three reel-to-reel recorders, suggests a crime in the making. Harrys clouded past has blood on it already. An earlier job Harry worked resulted in the murder of three people. A devout Catholic, he lives his clam-like life with all his residual guilt crammed inside the shell. Theres barely room for occasional trysts with a lover (Teri Garr), or awkward socializing with acquaintances in the bugging community (Allen Garfield plays an East Coast rival). Guided, gently, by composer David Shires solo piano fragments loneliness, crystallized The Conversation owes an acknowledged debt to Michelangelo Antonionis international 1966 sensation Blowup, as well as to Hermann Hesses Steppenwolf, with its riddle of a protagonist, isolated from society and even from himself. What Antonioni did with photography, and the notion of a sinister subplot hiding in plain sight, Coppola and Murch did with sound, and images carefully attuned to that sound. Coppola began working through the themes of The Conversation in the late 60s, when wiretapping was still legal. On The Godfather, Coppola narrowly avoided getting fired off his own movie, by firing those who were conspiring to fire him first. The Conversation may have been a smaller project, in the wake of the huge financial success of the first Godfather, but it wasnt much easier for Coppola, as he revealed in a remarkable interview with fellow filmmaker Brian De Palma. Many pages, some key to the lucidity and back story of the narrative, went unfilmed due to time and money. Many, including me, suspect the movies far richer and more troubling without those pages. Some would claim The Conversation is Coppolas most essential work a bridge between his commercial filmmaker self and the filmmaker striving for personal expression. Its rarely either/or, of course, with moviemakers who have greatness to share. Hackman often spoke of his frustrations with Harry, whom even Coppola described as a blank, a cipher. The film has its limitations: not all of the expository details are handled with equal finesse, partly because of those unfilmed pages; in this primarily male universe, the women are expendable, dismissible; and in an otherwise superb portrayal, Hackman seems ever so slightly uncertain in what he has to say, and how, in a key dream sequence. Gene Hackman is wiretapping expert Harry Caul in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation." (Rialto Pictures / HANDOUT) These are small matters in a key film of its decade. (I had the good fortune to introduce it on Turner Classic Movies once.) Seeing it again in this beautiful new 35 mm print, The Conversation seems itself in conversation with an earlier San Francisco-set classic, Hitchcocks Vertigo. Like Coppolas film, Vertigo met an indifferent, vaguely mystified public reception in its initial release. The Conversation is also fully conversant in the language of 70s downbeat genre pictures with a difference. (Hackman soon went on to director Arthur Penns pungent detective tale Night Moves.) In that decade, so much modestly budgeted, modestly profitable studio work pre-Star Wars wasnt afraid to unsettle an audience, or leave it hanging, in the service of a story unconcerned with tidy solutions, or dime-store redemption. Advertisement Hackman turned out to be exactly right for Harry Caul: He gives us a formidable island, trying desperately not to be seen, or judged. The climax delves into precognition visions of horror, of Harrys own making. Nothing can be trusted, not even the recorded sounds on Harrys reel-to-reel. Its not always what you say. Its how you say it. Or hear it. The Conversation 4 stars (out of 4) MPAA rating: R (violence, language, some nudity) Running time: 1:53 How to watch: New 35mm edition runs Jan. 28-Thurs. Feb. 3, Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave.; musicboxtheatre.com. Advertisement Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic. mjphillips@chicagotribune.com Twitter @phillipstribune Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. The incoming director at a law and research organization at Georgetown University apologized on Friday for his tweets criticizing President Biden's commitment to selecting the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. Ilya Shapiro, the current vice president and director at the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute who is set to assume the role of executive director for the Georgetown Center for the Constitution on Feb. 1, said the appointment could wind up being "a lesser black woman" in a tweet on Wednesday. The tweet drew widespread rebuke. "I apologize. I meant no offense, but it was an inartful tweet. I have taken it down," he tweeted. After news broke that Justice Stephen Breyer was stepping down and the president reaffirmed his campaign pledge to nominate the first Black female justice, Shapiro tweeted that if Biden followed through on that commitment, the appointment "will always have an asterisk attached. Fitting that the Court takes up affirmative action next term," according to The Washington Post, which reviewed the now-deleted tweets. In a separate tweet, Shapiro said a better pick would be Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. "Objectively best pick for Biden is Sri Srinivasan, who is solid prog & v smart. Even has identify politics benefit of being first Asian (Indian) American," he tweeted, according to the Post. "But alas doesn't fit into the latest intersectionality hierarchy so we'll get lesser black woman." Another tweet included a poll asking whether Biden was racist, sexist, both or neither for selecting a Black woman. The tweets drew criticism, including among Shapiro's future colleagues. "The tweets' suggestion that the best Supreme Court nominee could not be a Black woman and their use of demeaning language are appalling," said Bill Treanor, the dean of Georgetown Law, in a message to students, according to Reuters. Story continues Shapiro has also come under fire for other comments on race. The law administrator criticized affirmative action, speaking recently against it on a video at the Cato Institute regarding a Supreme Court challenge against the University of North Carolina on whether universities can use race as a factor in the admissions process. And after Justice Sonia Sotomayor was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2009 by then-President Obama, Shapiro called the move "identity politics" in a CNN column. Jordan Peterson, a Canadian academic and philosopher popular among the alt-right, has come in for heavy criticism following an appearance on Tuesday on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. On the show, Mr Peterson made basic errors speaking about global heating and declared theres no such thing as climate." And in responding to outrage from scores of climate scientists, he has noted that his information came in part from a climate-denier who has accepted funding from right-wing billionaires and oil interests. The fracas began on the show, the top podcast in the nation, with an estimated audience of 11 million listeners, when the Canadian psychology professor argued that the complexity of the world rendered modelling climate change impossible. Another problem that bedevils climate modelling, too, which is that as you stretch out the models across time, the errors increase radically. And so maybe you can predict out a week or three weeks or a month or a year, but the farther out you predict, the more your model is in error, he said. And thats a huge problem when youre trying to model over 100 years because the errors compound just like interest. Actual climate experts quickly condemned these statements as a word salad of nonsense , based on a basic error conflating infinitely variable weather with straightforwardly predictable climate. Responding to the criticisms, Mr Peterson cited the book Hot Talk, Cold Science: Global Warmings Unfinished Debate, by S Fred Singer, on Twitter on Thursday. Singer, who died in 2020, was the founder of the Science and Environment Policy Project, a climate-sceptic advocacy group that received funding from the Heartland Institute, a think tank backed by oil interests, ExxonMobil, and the Koch family, as Desmog reports . Singer held a number of deeply fringe views on climate society, calling human climate emissions trivial and criticising the UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, considered the worlds foremost authority on climate science, which makes peer-reviewed findings based on the work of the best climate scientists around the globe. Story continues The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has to provide proof for significant human-caused climate change; yet their climate models have never been validated and are rapidly diverging from actual observations, Singer wrote in an article in 2016. In fact, as climate scientists have noted, models have been accurately predicting the climate crisis for decades on end. For what its worth, we have been projecting future warming since the first climate models in the late 1960s/early 1970s, wrote climate scientist and IPCC contributor Zeke Hausfather on Twitter this week. We can look back to see how well they have performed. It turns out our models generally did a good job. For what its worth, we have been projecting future warming since the first climate models in the late 1960s/early 1970s. We can look back to see how well they have performed. It turns out our models generally did a good job: https://t.co/xxi1BgiDO0 pic.twitter.com/Ehan82kHFc Dr. Zeke Hausfather (@hausfath) January 26, 2022 Back in the early 1970s, scientists were building simple climate models and they hypothesised that rising greenhouse gas emissions would warm the planet, added Dr Simon Evans, policy editor at Carbon Brief, in DeSmog. Well, the results are in , and those scientists were right. Not only that, those models and other more recent ones have been pretty accurate in estimating how much warming we would get. Jordan Petersons statements are making the ancient climate sceptic error of mixing up weather and climate, Professor Steve Sherwood, of the Climate Change Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, told The Guardian. [Petersons] argument is like saying we cant predict whether a pot of water on a flame will boil, because we decide in advance what variables to put in our model, and cant predict each bubble, he said . The Independent has reached out to Jordan Peterson for comment. The Joe Rogan podcast on Spotify has increasingly come in for criticism on all sides, due to its frequent airing of fringe opinions on Covid and other vital topics, inspiring rock legend Neil Young to boycott the platform and remove his music until the coronavirus misinformation was removed. Two months after he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on Interstate 70, Kansas Rep. Aaron Coleman was charged with two traffic infractions, and no DUI. Last week, the Douglas County District Attorney charged Coleman with exceeding maximum speed limits and failing to yield to emergency vehicles. The charges, which were not publicly announced, were first reported Thursday by FOX 4 Kansas City. Coleman is also facing charges for misdemeanor battery in Johnson County. The 21-year-old Kansas City Democrat, who has a long history of alleged abusive and erratic behavior, was arrested in the early hours of Nov. 27 for speeding and failing to yield to a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper. When the trooper observed signs of impairment a field sobriety test was performed but results were not released as they were part of a pending investigation. The Highway Patrol did not immediately respond to questions Friday and why they suspected Coleman of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. According to court records, Coleman was driving 92 miles per hour in a 75-mile-per-hour zone and failed to immediately yield when the trooper tried to pull him over. The highway patrol said in November that Coleman exited the highway before pulling over. In a court record last month, prosecutors said they were awaiting test results from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation before filing charges. A spokesperson for the Douglas County District Attorneys office said Friday that Coleman faced no further charges. Coleman is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment in April. State law prevents prosecutors from requiring him to appear in court over misdemeanor charges while the Legislature is in session. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been calling for Colemans resignation for months. In a statement Friday, Joseph Le, chief of staff for House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, said that position hadnt changed. We stand by our previous statements and continue to encourage the Representative to seek appropriate mental health support and resign, Le said. Story continues Coleman is also facing charges for misdemeanor battery in Johnson County. According to court records he allegedly pushed, spit on and hit his brother before threatening to physically attack his grandfather in October. The representative is seeking diversion in that case and is scheduled to appear in court next week. Prosecutors said last month they believed his Douglas County arrest made him ineligible for diversion, a process in which defendants agree to a set of conditions in lieu of prosecution. House investigation The twin criminal cases triggered an investigation in the Kansas House of Representatives that could result in the 21-year-old Democrats censure or expulsion. Rep. John Barker, an Abilene Republican running the inquiry, said Friday he is taking a wait and see posture with the investigation and wants to see the criminal cases against Coleman conclude before acting. This could mean any action wouldnt occur until after the end of the Legislative session. His two-year term ends in early 2023. Barker said he planned to confer with the ranking democrat on the committee, Lawrence Rep. Boog Highberger, and determine next steps. He said he didnt want to act without full information and that the decision to charge for traffic infraction, rather than DUI, reduced the severity of the allegations. Theres no hurry to go forward, Barker said. This is the second time Coleman has faced possible expulsion from the Legislature. An investigative committee was formed following a complaint last year alleging a pattern of abusive behavior toward women. Though lawmakers at the time found the allegations against Coleman including physical abuse of an ex-girlfriend to be credible, they did not take action because his behavior occurred before he took office. Since joining the House, however, Coleman has been arrested twice and was banned from the Kansas Department of Labor premises after he berated a security guard. Coleman is the third Kansas lawmaker to face criminal charges this year but the only one to face a formal Legislative investigation. Rep. Mark Samsel, a Wellsville Republican, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after he allegedly kicked a student in the groin while substitute teaching. Sen. Gene Suellentrop, a Wichita Republican, drove the wrong way down Interstate 70 in Topeka while drunk. He pleaded guilty in October to driving under the influence and reckless driving. Both remain in office. His body was reportedly found in a park in McLean, Virginia The mayor of the City of Hyattsville in Maryland, an urban area outside of Washington, D.C., has reportedly died by suicide at age 44. Mayor Kevin Ward died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Tuesday, the New York Post reported. No additional details about his death have been publicly released. Credit: City of Hyattsville. It is with great sadness that we report that our beloved Hyattsville Mayor Kevin Ward passed away yesterday, January 25, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, a post on the official website for Hyattsville said on Wednesday. Mayor Ward was a valued and trusted leader and a fierce advocate for all the people of Hyattsville. We are heartbroken at this loss and extend our deepest sympathy to his family. Wards body was found in Fort Marcy, a park in McLean, Virginia, by United States Park Police officers, according to the report. The First Lady and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Hyattsville Mayor Kevin Ward, Marylands Republican Gov. Larry Hogan tweeted. We extend our most heartfelt condolences to the Ward family and the people of Hyattsville as they grieve this tragic loss. My heart is with Mayor Wards family and the people of Hyattsville after the loss of this dedicated, thoughtful and fiercely passionate public servant, Rep. Anthony Brown, who represents Marylands Fourth District, said on Twitter. My heart is with Mayor Wards family and the people of Hyattsville after the loss of this dedicated, thoughtful and fiercely passionate public servant If you or someone you know is struggling, you arent alone and help is available. The National Suicide Hotline is 1-800-273-8255 https://t.co/IlKgwCrpw3 Anthony Brown (@RepAnthonyBrown) January 26, 2022 We are so heartbroken and devastated to learn of the passing of Hyattsville Mayor Kevin Ward, Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said on Twitter. Mayor Ward was an outstanding leader for the residents of Hyattsville and deeply loved his City. Story continues In a follow-up tweet, Alsobrooks added: He was a wonderful partner in serving the needs of all our residents, and he accomplished so much for Hyattsville during his time as a Councilmember and his time as Mayor. We will continue to uplift his family, friends and loved ones in our prayers during this difficult time. He was a wonderful partner in serving the needs of all our residents, and he accomplished so much for Hyattsville during his time as a Councilmember and his time as Mayor. We will continue to uplift his family, friends and loved ones in our prayers during this difficult time. County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (@CEXAlsobrooks) January 26, 2022 State Del. Nicole Williams (MD-22) tweeted, I am so sad to hear this news. Mayor Ward was more than just a municipal leader in my District, he was my friend. My heart is heavy right now. His partner and his children are in my prayers right now. I am so sad to hear this news. Mayor Ward was more than just a municipal leader in my District, he was my friend. My heart is heavy right now. His partner and his children are in my prayers right now. https://t.co/jDPNVpJPAb Nicole Williams (@nwilliams23) January 26, 2022 State Del. Alonzo T. Washington (MD-22) said: I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my friend and City of Hyattsville Mayor Kevin Ward. Kevin was a wonderful friend, father, husband, and fierce advocate for the citys residents. I want to extend my deepest condolences to his family. He will be sorely missed. City Council Vice President Robert Croslin will serve as the citys interim mayor, according to FOX Baltimore. Ward served as interim mayor in 2019 before being elected in 2021. He leaves behind a husband and two sons. Per the citys official website, community members in need of grief counseling or mental health support are encouraged to contact Community Crisis Services, Inc.: dial 211 and press 1 or call 800-273-TALK; or the Affiliated Sante Group crisis support line: 301-429-2185. Have you subscribed to theGrio podcasts Dear Culture or Acting Up? Download our newest episodes now! TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku. Download theGrio.com today! The post Kevin Ward, Hyattsville mayor, dies by apparent suicide appeared first on TheGrio. In one Minnetonka, Minnesota, kindergarten classroom, the children chose loving as their one-word resolution for 2022. And as a now-viral photo snapped during a lesson on Martin Luther King Jr. shows, the students are living that message of love in the best way they know how. We were watching a video "My First Biography Scholastic Read-Aloud" about Martin Luther King Jr. It was read aloud on Youtube by Ms. Clarks Reading Corner with added footage of MLK, Gatewood Elementary School kindergarten teacher Katie Schmidt told TODAY. Earlier in the week we had a discussion about what they already knew about MLK and we read a book, so they knew a little about him. The story, Schmidt said, was simply written and very age-appropriate. The students took the lesson to heart. As they watched the footage of Martin Luther King Jr., a Black child and a white child embraced. Special education paraprofessional Line Kuether caught the moment on camera. It was such a profound moment that brought tears to our eyes, said Schmidt. We felt it should be captured. It was so beautiful and our staff is so committed to embracing diversity that we shared it with our staff. From there, our principal saw its beauty, then the district and now apparently, the world. The photo has been shared on Facebook more than 80,000 times. The teachers told TODAY that social-emotional learning is a top priority in their classroom. In addition to being loving toward one another, the school as a whole focuses on kindness. As the teachers provide lessons to the children, the kids are also teaching the adults at Gatewood Elementary. The two of us [were] reminded of the empathy children have and how they are capable of sharing innocence and friendship, Schmidt said. The world of Bombshell is populated with familiar faces playing familiar faces; in addition to Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly and Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson, youll catch actors including Richard Kind playing Rudy Giuliani and John Lithgow as Fox News head Roger Ailes. Advertisement But for maximum impact with minimum screen time, it's Alanna Ubach who stands out as Fox News star Jeanine Pirro. She is an Ailes defender and in one particularly tense scene, Pirro confronts Kelly over her refusal to publicly support their embattled boss. Ubach is a familiar face from such shows as Girlfriends Guide to Divorce and a familiar voice for her role as Mama Imelda in Coco. Shell next be seen in the Fox series Filthy Rich opposite Kim Cattrall. Advertisement Ubach said: "I was called into just another audition, I had absolutely no idea who Jeanine Pirro was back then. I had exactly 24 hours to bring her to life. I had known Jay Roach from Meet the Fockers, and I thought, If hes gonna be there, Im just gonna go all out. I had the false eyelashes, the pantyhose, push-up bra, the chicken cutlets and the hooker heels on. I went to town. "The fortunate thing about playing a famous person in 2019 is you just have to Google them and watch videos. I watched her footage for hours. Then I finally came across this TMZ footage of her being bothered at the airport and I really saw who she was behind closed doors. If I just played celebrity Jeanine Pirro, the one whos in interviews, then it was going to come across very SNL. This was Charles Randolph writing the script and were going to want to see what shes like behind closed doors. So thank God for that footage. "There was also a Lebanese publication shes Lebanese where she was just an open book. They asked her a lot of questions about her youth and she talked about how insecure she was going to an all-Catholic school in upstate New York. She was the only Lebanese girl at this school. I think that had a lot to do with her finally becoming who she became. She had a lot of drive. John Lithgow, left, and Alanna Ubach in a scene from "Bombshell." (Hilary Bronwyn Gayle) "My main scene is with Charlize Theron where Jeanine confronts Megyn to support Roger. I like to call Charlize the Charlie Parker of acting. She was amazing and made up to look so much like Megyn Kelly. It was a scene at the end of the day and I thought to myself, 'I better nail this because I know she's dying to go home and take all that makeup off.' She brings it every single time. It's amazing to watch and be a part of. My job is to use substitution. Im extremely liberal, so for me to say these lines and defend someone I myself would never defend in a million years, is to substitute. So the child-immigration horror is something that I used. I had to defend something that I wholeheartedly believed in. It really did occupy my brain and soul the entire time. It was the only thing I could stand behind and believe its wrong, it should be illegal, its terrifying. So I thought of children being separated at a border and imagined that Megyn Kelly was for it. LAS CRUCES Las Cruces Public Schools and Gadsden Independent School District have each asked the state to provide substitute teachers through the National Guard. New Mexico this year began a program putting members of the New Mexico National Guard through substitute training and placing Guardsmen and Guardswomen in classrooms to help mitigate teacher shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Weve heard from multiple districts that a lack of substitute teachers is among the most critical staffing issues right now, and theyve asked for the states support," said New Mexico Public Education Department Secretary Kurt Steinhaus in a Jan. 19 news. This "Supporting Teachers and Families" initiative asks both National Guard members and state employees to substitute teach to help keep schools in-person. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham volunteered as a substitute teacher in an elementary classroom Wednesday. The Associated Press reports that New Mexico is the first state in the country to ask National Guard members to work in schools. Source NM reported Monday that 59 National Guard volunteers completed preliminary background checks and licensure to begin substituting in classrooms. Earlier this week, Farmington, Bloomfield, Aztec, Clovis, Portales, Las Vegas, Questa, Raton, Springer, Hondo, Silver City, Cobre, Deming, Alamogordo, Loving, Hagerman, Artesia, Hobbs, Los Lunas, Moriarty and Estancia received volunteers. In Dona Ana County, LCPS and GISD have each asked for support, while Hatch Valley Public Schools is nearly fully staffed. LCPS hopes to get National Guard subs soon LCPS, the second largest district in the state, is doing what it can to balance vacancies through the pandemic. Prospective Las Cruces Public Schools substitute teachers apply for substitute teaching licenses Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, the first of a two-day event to address a severe substitute teacher shortage in the district. LCPS said 238 people participated in the event. In August, the district had a pool of just 129 substitute teachers. Ideally, it would have about 1,000 subs. Using different strategies over the next six months, the district brought the number of subs available to 700. "We were doing pretty good before the Christmas break, we had a lot of positions filled, and we also were able to get a lot of long-term and permanent substitutes in place," said Coordinator of Human Resources Jeff Spaletta. "But in the last few weeks, things have gotten a little bit worse as far as the new virus (variant) and quarantines." Story continues LCPS has reached out to the National Guard for substitute support. Spaletta said there's no target number of volunteers in mind. LCPS will be happy to accept any aid it can. Spaletta said he learned through communicating with the PED and National Guard that the initiative's goal was to help rural school districts first. Any National Guard member who wishes to volunteer as a substitute will go through a background check and the substitute licensure process. Once that is complete, they will be sent to the district they are assigned. The state will be accommodating them in a hotel or other living situation while they are helping the district. Spaletta said once LCPS receives a National Guard member, the district will put them through a five-hour onboarding process. "(The state) told me that they would consider us for this week, so I haven't heard back from them yet," he said Wednesday. Spaletta said high schools have the greatest need for subs right now, but will look at which schools to prioritize when volunteers come in. LCPS has 189 vacancies, LCPS Chief Human Resource Officer Miguel Serrano told the school board on Jan. 18. Out of over 3,000 employees, this is a 6 percent vacancy rate. The district has 23 teacher vacancies, 46 educational assistant vacancies, 19 custodial vacancies, three maintenance worker vacancies, 10 secretary vacancies and 88 nutritional service staff vacancies. "We spread out our workforce to make sure that every campus has enough people to do the work," Serrano said. "We reallocate our resources, but we are definitely trying with with our current job fair to fill all of them up." LCPS continually hosts virtual job fairs. To find out more information, contact Spaletta at 575-636-8786 or email jspaletta@lcps.net. Gadsden Independent School District seeks substitutes from National Guard GISD, which serves students in southern Dona Ana County, is the fourth-largest district in the state. Out of about 1,900 staff members, there around 64 vacancies, a 3.4 percent vacancy rate. "We have a lot of turnover historically, and even more so now," said Superintendent Travis Dempsey. Currently, GISD has 19 teacher vacancies, 17 instructional aide vacancies, 13 custodial vacancies, 15 nutritional staff vacancies and a couple of nurse vacancies, according to Dempsey. Dempsey noted there has been a sharp increase in mid-year teacher retirements, even compared to last academic year. He said this could largely be due to the seemingly never-ending pandemic. "I really do think COVID has had an impact onon our teachers," Dempsey said. "I think those that might have (retired) had the pandemic not occurred probably would have kept going. I think right now, it feels like it's too big a risk at some level." Dempsey said that this increase in retirements is "more or less" driving the school to seek assistance from the National Guard. The district has applied for 30 National Guard volunteers to substitute, but Dempsey said he will take whatever the state can offer. Las Cruces Public Schools had 238 people complete background checks and apply for their substitute teaching licenses amidst a severe substitute teacher shortage on Sept. 1 and 2, 2021. "We've actually be able to increase our sub pool over the course of the last two years, but I think the piece there is the quarantines," Dempsey said. "I could have a school with 0 students positive, but if I get 45 percent of that staff in quarantine, I can't supervise kids. Then we have to shift to remote. That factor has hit us really hard." Since school resumed in early January, GISD has had to move 11 different schools remote for brief periods. Hatch Valley Public Schools balances staff In the northern part of the county, Hatch Valley Public Schools Superintendent Michael Chavez said the district is doing okay as far as vacancies go. Out of 197 staff members, there are only six open positions, a 3 percent vacancy rate. HVPS is by far the smallest district in Dona Ana County, with about 1,200 students enrolled, compared to GISD's 12,600 and LCPS' 23,800. "Currently, we are very fortunate to be fully staffed with our teaching positions," HVPS Superintendent Michael Chavez wrote in an email. "I do have one long-term sub in a classroom however, we are not looking to replace that position this school year. All of our open positions are support positions." HVPS is looking to hire three educational assistants, one bus driver and one custodian. The district also has one special education teaching position vacant. HVPS has not made a decision on whether they will ask for National Guard assistance. Miranda Cyr, a Report for America corps member, can be reached at mcyr@lcsun-news.com or @mirandabcyr on Twitter. Show your support for the Report for America program at https://bit.ly/LCSNRFA. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Cruces, Gadsden school districts seek National Guard substitutes Lawrence County has officially joined the America250PA commission, which will be used to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation, as well as to celebrate all the achievements Pennsylvania has made to the nation. NEW CASTLE Lawrence County has officially joined the Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial, also known as America250PA. County commissioners officially agreed to have the county join the commission. The America250PA commission was established by the state Legislature and Gov. Tom Wolf in 2018, to plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Pennsylvanias integral role in that event, and the impact of its people on the nations past, present, and future. More: America250PA website Ginny Jacob, the assistant director for Visit Lawrence County, said this commission is part of the larger, nationwide America250, with each state expected to have its own celebratory commission to plan celebratory events for each states accomplishments and achievements. She added Pennsylvania was the first to set up its own commission. According to the commission website, america250pa.org, the commission hopes to have the support of leaders and residents of all 67 counties, as events are planned over the next five years. Patrick Burns, the president and CEO of Metro Philly Management consulting firm, serves as the chairman of the commission, with Wolf, and former governors Tom Corbett, Ed Rendell, Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker serving as honorary co-chairs. More: List of commission members Nicholas Vercilla is a staff reporter for the Ellwood City Ledger. He can be reached at nvercilla@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Ellwood City Ledger: Lawrence County joins America250PA Commission Lawrence County recently received $1.25 million, through the Pennsylvania HOME Investment Partnership Program, to support affordable housing. Gov. Tom Wolf recently announced Lawrence County will receive $1.25 million, through the Pennsylvania HOME Investment Partnership Program, to support affordable housing. HOME is a federally funded program that provides municipalities with grant and loan assistance to expand and preserve the supply of decent and affordable housing for low and very low-income Pennsylvanians. Of that funding, $500,000 will be going to Union Township for existing owner-occupied housing, with the other $750,000 going to other existing owner-occupied housing in the county. Both of these funding programs are in partnership with the Lawrence County Community Action Partnership (LCCAP). LCCAP CEO Thomas Scott said this funding, as well as other funding sources the county has received, will be used to help with housing availability in the county and to also establish more housing units in the county for those in need. In May 2021, Ellwood City was awarded $500,000, in HOME funding, that would be used to rehabilitate 12 owner-occupied homes in the borough. 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: Lawrence County receives $1.25 million for affordable housing Typing on a keyboard On Jan. 13 the Herald-Times reported that Monroe County had moved into Indiana's red advisory level, the most serious level on the state's COVID-19 dashboard. The surge from the omicron variant, which arose in Africa, has demonstrated yet again that America cannot protect itself from the pandemic while low- and middle-income countries remain unprotected. The United Nations, with United States leadership, has set a goal of vaccinating 70% of the world's population by September 2022. It is estimated that this will cost $63 billion and that low- and middle-income countries can pay $20 billion of it. The United States' proportionate share of the remainder is $17 billion. President Joe Biden should request that Congress include $17 billion for that purpose in its 2022 spending bill. U.S. Sens. Todd Young and Mike Braun and U.S. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth should do everything in their power to support that investment. Gene Arnholt, Bloomington This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Letter: Support bill funding vaccinations abroad A teenager found guilty of committing multiple sexual assaults in multiple Loudoun County, Va. schools will not have to register as a sex offender after Judge Pamela Brooks reversed an earlier ruling on Friday. The teenager, a 15-year-old, is set remain on probation in a juvenile detention facility until his 18th birthday. He was found guilty on multiple counts earlier this month, when Brooks had originally sentenced him to both probation and a spot on the sex offender registry. His lawyers have claimed that he is being unfairly penalized as a result of a national media outcry. The case was first reported on by the Daily Wire, and became a focus of the Virginia gubernatorial campaign last fall. One of the victims parents alleged that the Loudoun County School Board and administration had covered up the first of the teenagers assaults. After that incident, the culprit was moved to another school, where the second incident occurred. His lawyers had argued that the teen has been cheated by the failure of the system, and suggested that placement on the sex registry would get in the way of his rehabilitation Judge Brooks explained the change in sentencing by asserting that this court made an error in my initial ruling. The court is not vain enough to think its perfect, but I want to get it right, and citing data showing the continued development of the male brain through the age of 27. Loudoun County Commonwealth Attorney Buta Biberaj had argued that he be placed on the registry for the communitys protection, while acknowledging that it might harm his future prospects. More from National Review A 15-year high school reunion followed by a house party ends with the host dead at the bottom of his cliffside abode in the comedic whodunit The Afterparty on Apple TV+. Coming on the heels of Knives Out and Only Murders in the Building, we seem to have a modest murder mystery resurgence on our hands and nothing could make me a devotee of Murder, She Wrote still to this day (with episodes a-piled on my DVR) any happier. Its as if the shows creators put 1997s Romy and Micheles High School Reunion in a blender with Agatha Christie and, voila, may I interest you in The Afterparty? Or as I prefer to think of it: Murder on the Millennial Express. Tiffany Haddish arrives, eyes narrowed, as the ambitious police detective called to the scene. Dave Franco is the not-so-dearly departed homeowner. And an assortment of comedy ringers play his old classmates including Sam Richardson, Ilana Glazer, Ike Barinholtz, Zoe Chao and Ben Schwartz all of whom become potential suspects. Advertisement If The Afterparty lacks a tight storytelling structure, thats because theres a gimmick framing this eight-part series from executive producers Christopher Miller and Phil Lord: Each episode emulates the tropes of a different genre, be it rom-com, horror, muscle car action, animation or musical. Each episode also zeros in on a different characters memory of the night, Rashomon-style, as they are interrogated by Haddishs increasingly exasperated Detective Danner, and they become more humanized in the process. Its a compelling mashup of tropes not only on an episode level but on a character level, because the show is also playing around with high school archetypes; maybe the bully isnt as aggro as everyone assumed, and maybe the frazzled one-time ace student hasnt gone entirely off the deep end in adulthood. Advertisement Tiffany Haddish plays the ambitious police detective who interrogates the party guests. (Aaron Epstein/Apple TV+ ) Its a hoot and the variety of it all feels of a piece with Lord and Millers creative output as writers, directors and producers, which is so joyously informed by pop cultural literacy and spans a gamut from 21 Jump Street to The Lego Movie to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The heart and soul of The Afterparty is Richardsons Aniq, your classic nice guy with a low-key charisma whose self-confidence could use a boost (he designs escape rooms for a living; love this detail). Hes hoping to reconnect with this old crush, Zoe, who is now the schools vice principal. Played by Chao, she is the lovely woman in the room all the guys want to be with, including her ex-husband Brett, an intense meathead in a leather jacket, played by Barinholtz. Then theres Schwartz as Aniqs best pal Yasper, an aspiring musician who makes his living installing home sound systems his is the musical episode, with a song that zings a certain number from Hamilton in the most perfectly awkward way possible: We all get one shot, twice, he sings. In other words we get two shots and Glazer plays Chelsea, who is best described as a person going through some things the night of the reunion. Ben Schwartz and Sam Richardson in The Afterparty." (Aaron Epstein/Apple TV+) The object of their collective scorn and polite fascination is Francos Xavier, a guy who didnt stand out much as a teenager but blossomed into an obnoxious and skeezy pop star high on his own supply of overconfidence. He shows up at the reunion via helicopter, in a suit but no shirt, and proceeds to slime his way through the gymnasium before inviting everyone back to his swanky house for the titular after-party. Franco is very funny here and were treated to a brief montage of Xaviers career highlights, which includes a Daryl Hall and John Oates biopic co-starring Channing Tatum in a cameo, and all I can say is the blond feathered wig they put on Francos head is a thing of beauty because its so alarmingly accurate to Halls look in the 70s and I love that so much care has been given to a throwaway joke about Xaviers ridiculous career. That he was likely pushed to his death is shocking to his former classmates, but no one at the party seems too broken up about it. The semi-hapless Aniq becomes the initial suspect, which compels him to quietly launch his own investigation on the side to clear his name (if anyone knows a thing about clues, its the guy who designs escape rooms) along with Yaspers enthusiastic wingman assistance. Richardson was such a standout during his years with Second City in Chicago and Im happy whenever hes on screen, regardless of the project, hes just that kind of actor who brings a wonderful energy to whatever hes in. Hes usually in supporting roles (notably his breakout performance in Veep) but here hes carrying so much of the story and its clear that he can and really should be a leading man more often going forward. Dave Franco in The Afterparty." (Aaron Epstein/Apple TV+) I also like how the show has conceived of Chaos pretty girl archetype. You understand why everyone is drawn to her shes smart and funny and nice to everyone, but shes not the blandly boring It Girl that tends to be the object of affection in these types of stories. Shes a fully developed character with her own desires and insecurities and she doesnt take herself too seriously. Chaos performance is just complicated enough to keep us guessing as to what shes really thinking. Schwartz is also a lot of fun here, more or less serving as Aniqs hype man, as is Barinholtz, who finds the doofy vulnerability buried within in this numbskull who used to rule the campus. Theres also an episode that flashes back to their senior year in 2006 wherein many of the dynamics among this group are very different and suddenly were in Cant Hardly Wait territory. All of these references Ive mentioned arent Easter eggs so much as the collective influence of pop cultures past being incorporated into something new and all its own. Advertisement In her autobiography, Agatha Christie noted that, It is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize how much you love them. Funny, that also happens to be one of the more subtle but persistent themes of the show itself. Second City alum Sam Richardson in The Afterparty." (Aaron Epstein/Apple TV+) The Afterparty 3 stars (out of 4) Where to watch: Apple TV+ Nina Metz is a Tribune critic nmetz@chicagotribune.com What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. Sign up for our Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball with daughter Lucie Arnaz (left); Javier Bardem playing bongos (right). Bettmann/Getty Images; Rich Fury/Getty Images Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz's daughter Lucie Arnaz initially thought Javier Bardem was "too big" and "magnificent" to play her dad. Lucie said she eventually saw that Bardem had the "gravitas" she felt was needed to play Arnaz. By the end of "Being the Ricardos," Lucie said she was "in tears" because she felt "grateful" for Bardem's moving portrayal. Casting Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz for Aaron Sorkin's film "Being the Ricardos" was a complicated endeavor. The couple's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, who executive produced the film with her brother Desi Arnaz Jr., once said she "couldn't have taken it" if Nicole Kidman looked too much like her mother. But she revealed in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter that she felt differently when considering Javier Bardem for the part of her father. In a joint interview with Bardem, Lucie admitted that when someone first mentioned casting Bardem as Arnaz, she thought: "Oh, he's too big, he's too magnificent." "My father was slimmer, he was a wisp of a thing compared to Javier, and then I said: 'Their profiles are different. Geez, I don't know,'" she continued. But as time went by, no one else felt right for the part, according to Lucie. "My dad was so complicated and incredibly multifaceted," she said. "His personality and his talents, to pull that off, you have to have a certain amount of maturity, a certain gravitas, if you will." Javier Bardem. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Lucie explained that Arnaz had been through "revolutions" and built his life in the US from "absolutely nothing." The actor who played him in Sorkin's film would also have to have Arnaz's instincts, humor, and charm, she said. She wasn't convinced Bardem could embody her father, even though she was "a huge fan" of his previous work. Then, someone sent Lucie footage of Bardem being interviewed that completely changed her mind. "I went, 'That's my dad. Wow, oh my God, that's my dad,'" she recalled, pointing to the "charm," "effusiveness," and "joy" Bardem shared with Arnaz. Story continues Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Michael Ochs/Getty "He loved living, he loved the world. He loved the ocean and fishing and music and sex and cooking," Lucie said of her father, who starred on the classic sitcom "I Love Lucy" with Ball. When Lucie eventually watched "Being the Ricardos," she was thrilled with Bardem's performance as Arnaz. "I saw the man, the humor, the charm, the sex appeal, the intuitiveness, his ability to arbitrate, which was an amazing quality," Lucie said of watching Bardem's performance in the film. Lucie added that she was "in tears" by the end of the film because she felt "so very grateful" for the project and for how Kidman and Bardem captured the "essence" of her parents' relationship perfectly. Read the original article on Insider Jan. 27AUGUSTA, Maine Public and private Maine colleges and universities would have to stop withholding transcripts from students who owe them smaller amounts of money under a bill advanced by Democratic lawmakers on Thursday. The measure from Senate Majority Leader Eloise Vitelli, D-Arrowsic, would keep four-year universities from withholding transcripts if the student owes them $2,500 or less. The similar cutoff for two-year community colleges would be $500. Students with institutional debt over those thresholds could access transcripts if they agree to a payment plan. Transcript withholding, used by most colleges to recover unpaid fees from students ranging from tuition, unpaid library or parking fines and other expenses not covered by student loans, has been targeted by states in recent months. U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in December the practice should end, citing barriers to the workforce. Institutional debt is slightly divorced from a wider conversation about student debt, but it is still a significant problem for many students and institutions. For example, the University of Maine System has more than $38 million past due from nearly 11,000 people who cannot access transcripts, though it will often release transcripts to prospective employers or other colleges. Vitelli's bill, which was advanced along party lines by the Democratic-led Legislature's education committee on Thursday over united Republican opposition, was the product of a compromise between Vitelli and Maine's university and community college systems. The initial version would have released transcripts to any student regardless of their amount of institutional debt. "I'm really appreciative of this work and this compromise that's come up that sort of balances the needs for this bill and the needs of the university," said Rep. Sue Salisbury, D-Westbrook, a member of the education committee. The current version established the thresholds governing release of transcripts without any promise of payment. Those above the thresholds would have to agree to a payment plan, but they would not have to actually make a payment before they get access to transcripts. Story continues The Maine measure, which now faces votes in the House and Senate, would not forgive any institutional debt. Colleges and universities will still be able to send any amount to collections agencies. Leaving it unpaid could affect students' credit ratings or their state tax returns. Vitelli's plan does not go as far as some others emerging across the country, including in New York, where Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, announced this week that the state university system there would immediately stop withholding transcripts. She will also be submitting legislation to bar them at all postsecondary institutions statewide. Legislative Republicans saw the measure as an overreach. Rep. Paul Stearns of Guilford, their lead committee member, supported the state institutions' efforts to establish uniform policies but going no further, saying colleges appear to already be working with students. "The notion that someone would get the idea that they are not responsible for a debt that they incur is going to, in my opinion, cause ramifications for that individual for the rest of their life," he said. The Singapore State Courts. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) SINGAPORE A 42-year-old male nurse from the Philippines was on Friday (28 January) jailed for 10 months along with one stroke of the cane for molesting a 23-year-old female subordinate at a Singapore hospital. The culprit pleaded guilty at the State Courts to one out of three charges of molestation, with the remaining counts considered in sentencing. He and the Malaysian victim cannot be named under a gag order. On the morning of 3 April last year, the culprit went up to the victim and wrapped his right arm around her waist for a few seconds while she was seated and writing patient reports. He then used his right hand to pat her shoulder. She stood up and got away from him. Later that day, at about 1pm, the culprit hugged the victim from the front inside a room. He then pulled down his face mask and kissed the left side of her neck once before kissing the other side of her neck. She demanded to know what he was doing and quickly left the room. Still, that didn't deter him. About an hour later, the culprit asked the victim to follow him to the staff pantry to look for food. She followed as she was hungry. As they passed by the staff changing room, he pulled her inside and closed the door. There, he pulled down both their masks and kissed her on the lips while groping her breast and buttocks. As she protested, he grabbed her right hand and put it into his pants and underwear. He let go after a while and the victim quickly left the room. She made a police report a few days later. As a result of the trauma and distress, she later saw a psychiatrist. For his proceeded molest charge, the culprit could have been jailed for two years and also jailed and fined. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore A man is accused of yelling racial slurs and using a pipe to smash this Toyota Camry while three students sat inside the car in an unprovoked attack, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. A Volusia County man was charged with a hate crime after yelling racial slurs and using a pipe to smash a car occupied by three high school students in an unprovoked attack in the Osteen area, according to the Volusia County Sheriffs Office. Richard Burnham, 58, who lives near DeLand, was arrested Wednesday and charged with criminal mischief causing damage of $1,000 or more, and three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. The charges were enhanced to a hate crime due to Burnhams use of a racial slur during the attack, according to the release and a charging affidavit. Two of the three victims are Black, according to the charging affidavit. The students attend Mainland High School in Daytona Beach. Hate crime: Daytona man who spray-painted racial slurs against Asians sentenced to a year in jail Volusia crime: 2 men accused of placing antisemitic stickers, graffiti in Ormond Beach More: DeLeon Springs man who pointed gun at Black family charged with hate crime Deputies responded to the Circle K at 320 N. State Road 415 in Osteen shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday after the three students, who are 17 and 18 years old, reported the incident. They told deputies they were getting gas when a man became hostile and aggressive toward them and hurled racial slurs at them, the release and charging affidavit stated. They said the man then went into the gas station and when he came out, he grabbed a pipe from his truck, the release stated. As the students sat inside the Toyota Camry, the man smashed the passenger side of the vehicle with the pipe, according to the release. The man shattered the front passenger window and dented the passenger door panels before the students were able to drive away on State Road 415, the release stated. The students said the man got in his pickup and followed them for about 2 miles before turning away, the release stated. The students provided a detailed description of the man, his pickup and the trailer it was pulling with two four-wheelers, according to the release. Story continues West Volusia man identified Using surveillance video and help from analysts at the Volusia County Crime Center, deputies identified Burnham, whose photo and vehicle matched the descriptions. When interviewed by detectives on Wednesday, Burnham confirmed he was at the gas station and was involved in a verbal altercation with the young men, the release stated. Burnham denied using a racial slur and said he only called them losers, according to the charging affidavit. Burnham claimed the men had shot him with an airsoft gun and threatened to kill him, the release stated. Burnham said that prompted him to throw a metal pipe at the car, the release stated. But deputies at the scene did not find an airsoft gun with the high school students, according to the release. And Burnham did not contact law enforcement to report the incident, the release stated. Burnham also changed his story from being shot twice to being shot three or four times when confronted with discrepancies in his timeline, according to the release and charging affidavit. Burnham was released from the Volusia County Branch Jail on Wednesday evening after posting a $40,000 bond. Burnham could not be reached for comment. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida man charged with hate crime in attack on high school students In the weeks since the military began separating troops for failing to comply with its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, the Marine Corps has consistently been the most aggressive branch, having removed 399 from the service. Meanwhile, the Marine Corps quietly made a subtle change to how it deals with vaccine-refusing service members, making it easier for them to return. In late December, the Corps released a message announcing it would discharge Marines with the reentry code RE-3P instead of RE-4. Read Next: Pentagon Pumps the Brakes on Civilian COVID Vaccine Mandate The distinction is significant. A discharge with an RE-4 code is typically a bar on reenlisting in any service, while RE-3 codes would allow someone to reenlist with a waiver. When asked about the change, Capt. Ryan Bruce, a spokesman for the Marine Corps, said, "If a Marine is willing to be vaccinated, even after separation, we would welcome them back. "The adjusted reentry code reduces the administrative burden and timeliness of that process," Bruce added. Despite the continued pressure by the Marine Corps to remove troops who have failed to meet the vaccine mandate, the service also announced Thursday that it had granted another religious exemption to its COVID-19 vaccine mandate, bringing the total to three. It is the first, and so far only, branch to grant any religious exemptions to the militarywide vaccine mandate out of thousands of applications. The first two exemptions were announced by the branch on Jan. 13, 2022. So far, the Marines are the only branch to make reenlisting easier for those removed for refusing the vaccine. Capt. Dave Hecht, a spokesman for the Navy's chief of naval personnel, told Military.com in an email that "all Navy separations based on COVID-19 vaccine refusal will normally result in an RE-4" code. However, the Navy announced last month that sailors who start getting vaccinated, weeks after the formal deadline, may be allowed to stay in. Story continues The Air Force is apparently less rigid in its separation policy. Ann Stefanek, the branch's chief spokeswoman, told Military.com in an email that "there is no pre-established reenlistment code for those separated for vaccine refusal." "Each case is assessed on its own merits as is the discharge characterization," she added. The Air Force did not immediately respond to questions of whether it is mirroring the Marine Corps' policy goals of easing reentry for troops who changed their minds. As of Jan. 21, the Air Force has discharged 111 active-duty airmen for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The most recent data released by the service showed that 96% of the total force is fully vaccinated. One airman, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of punishment, said some of his colleagues, specifically pilots, are being told that, if they get separated, they can wait out the mandate and potentially rejoin. The Marine Corps wouldn't comment on the idea that the policy is somehow an invitation for Marines to separate in an effort to "wait out" the mandate. "It would be inappropriate to speculate on potential changes in policy," Bruce said in response to the suggestion. The Army, when asked for its policy, provided a status update on its overall vaccination numbers but also noted that "Army officials intend to issue further guidance for the mandatory initiation of separation for Soldiers who refuse this lawful order" later this month. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Marine Corps Grants Two Religious Exemptions for COVID-19 Vaccine, First for Any Service The legal clock is ticking for anyone who wants to challenge the new map of Marylands General Assembly districts. Following Thursdays final adoption of a map laying out the boundaries for all 47 senators and 141 state delegates, Chief Judge Joseph M. Getty of the Court of Appeals issued a schedule on Friday for the anticipated legal challenges. Those who wish to challenge the maps must do so by Feb. 10, and the state will be required to offer its response by Feb. 15. On Feb. 17, a conference will be held to schedule the rest of the legal process. Getty appointed retired Judge Alan M. Wilner as a special magistrate overseeing the scheduling issues. The scheduling order was issued at the request of Attorney General Brian Frosh, whose office will be tasked with defending the map that lawmakers approved. Time is of the essence, as the legal process runs up to the Feb. 22 deadline for candidates to file paperwork with the Maryland State Board of Elections to run in the 2022 election. All seats in the General Assembly are up for election this year, with primary elections scheduled for June 28 and a general election in November. At least one group, Fair Maps Maryland, has already vowed to challenge the new map, charging that it was drawn in secret to give Democrats an unfair advantage. Several Republican lawmakers have said they hope the court overturns the map. Democratic leaders have been circumspect in their defense of the map, saying generally that they considered public testimony and the resulting districts are in compliance with the state constitution and federal voting rights laws. About a year ago, in Round Rock, Texas, about 20 miles outside Austin, complaints about a book on the history of racist ideas in the United States led to threats to remove it from the schools reading list. But as the local school district debated whether Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You should remain part of the curriculum, thousands of parents, teachers and community members signed a petition calling on the district's board of trustees to keep the book on school shelves. The Round Rock Black Parents Association was a crucial part of the mobilization against the attempt to ban the book, which is by the Black authors Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, and is a young adult adaptation of Kendi's "Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America," which won the national book award for nonfiction in 2016. Image: Members of Round Rock Black Parents Association (Courtesy Charles Glenn Photography) One way the parents association did this was organizing groups such as ACT Anti-racists Coming Together to speak out in support of diverse literature at a local school board meeting. Taking away that book would have completely whitewashed history, and thats not what we are for, Ashley Walker, 33, one of more than 400 members of the Round Rock Black Parents Association, said. The districts trustees ultimately decided to keep Stamped, which the American Library Association said was one of the most challenged books of 2020, on school shelves. Over the past year, as a nationwide campaign to remove books by and about LGBTQ people or people of color from schools has heated up, Black parents have been getting organized, pushing back against challenges to books that deal with racism and racial identity and calling on schools to reinstate previously banned books. While these bans often occur under the pretext that the books are teaching critical race theory, a decades-old academic framework for analyzing racism in the U.S., Walker said the books being targeted in her state have nothing to do with critical race theory. Story continues Its about kids experiences, she said. Its about Black boy joy or Black girl magic, yet, were being told it is about critical race theory just because our kids need to see themselves in these books. We will fight that battle Last year, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, a Republican, signed a bill that regulates how U.S. history and certain ideas about race can be taught in schools. At least nine states in mostly Republican areas have passed similar anti-critical race theory bills. Before the bill became law, Walker and her daughter, whos in first grade, tried to persuade state senators to vote against it. Walker recalled knocking on senators doors at the Capitol building in Texas, pleading with them to reconsider their votes. We went to speak to them and ask them not to support this bill because it was going to hinder kids from learning the truth, Walker said. My daughter being with me, she just turned 6, but she was able to speak about how she wanted to see herself in school books and curriculum. After the bill passed, state Rep. Matt Krause, a Republican, released a list of about 850 books that he wanted to ban from school libraries. He claimed the books make students feel discomfort because of their content about race and sexuality. Unfortunately, they did pass it anyway, Walker said of the bill. Now were in Texas, and were having to deal with everybody criticizing every single book you can think of. This is not the first time book bans have targeted Black communities. For decades, Richard Wrights autobiographical 1940 novel Native Son, about a poor Black man living in Chicago, faced bans in the U.S. due to complaints of violent and sexually graphic content. Yet amid criticism of Wrights books, his popularity soared, according to Maryemma Graham, the founding director of The Project on the History of Black Writing at the University of Kansas. Graham added that protests against book banning have always been part of the fight for integration and equal rights for Black people in the U.S. Even as these challenges to Black literature persisted, Black parents have always used other outlets, including churches, book clubs and historically Black colleges to fill in these gaps. There was always this notion, OK, we will fight that battle, but we will also teach these books and write these books and encourage writers in these other contexts, Graham said. What you see parents doing now is a resistance in terms of what is considered formal education, but I dont want us to forget about all those other informal approaches that people have much, much more control over. So you want to do both and not just one. My eyes were opened While challenges to books in schools are becoming more common, Nora Pelizzari, the director of communications for the nonprofit National Coalition Against Censorship, said a majority of challenged books are ultimately kept on shelves. Book review policies when theyre well written solicit the input and the decision of a diverse group of stakeholders and encourage the review process to focus on educational value as opposed to reading a particularly explicit passage out loud in a school board meeting, Pelizzari said. Still, Pelizzari said it can be difficult for Black parents in majority non-Black communities to publicly protest these challenges. An advocate from the Round Rock Black Parents Association, who asked not to be named out of fear of retaliation, said that school board meetings over the challenged books can get especially heated. My eyes were opened to the fear that some parents have that their white children will be made to feel less than for being white, the parent, whose children are bi-racial, said. But my question to them is, Either your ancestors are associated with abolitionists or were pro-slavery. Which one are you trying to protect your child from? The parent continued: Racial equity should not be a trigger word for anybody, but it is, and more often than not, for white parents, its a trigger word because that equates to calling them and their children racist. In San Diego, Rai Wilson, an educator and parent of two school-age children, said its frustrating to see the ongoing fight to limit diverse books. My sixth-grader read 'Stamped,' Wilson said. When they see themselves in a curriculum, it makes their history more understandable to them. He wouldnt put it down. Wilson said the debate centers around the needs of white families. Its ironic when white parents say, Teaching this is going to make my kid feel bad, when not teaching this is going to make our kids feel bad, Wilson said. We are truly about learning Cara McClellan, an assistant counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said the states and school districts mounting these challenges are making themselves vulnerable to complaints of discrimination. School districts have a responsibility to ensure that they are providing an inclusive environment for all students, McClellan said. In districts where students are already experiencing hostility based on race, or LGBT status, or religion schools are now taking away materials that we know could be a buffer against hostility. Walker said her daughter has a personal library of books that feature Black characters, yet that hasnt stopped her from asking her mom for long blonde hair. At school, shes getting the message that her Black skin isnt pretty, and so weve had to have that conversation, and its heartbreaking, she said. If my 6-year-old, who lives in a house with someone who is very active in the Black community, is going through this, what about those kids who dont get the same opportunity? Before the Round Rock Texas Board of Trustees struck down the challenge to Stamped, Walker said parents, who were anxious about the boards decision, bought the book so their kids could read it on their own. In case the book did get banned, we still had people who were going out supporting this book, and showing that we are truly about learning the full story, she said. Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. President Biden and first lady Jill Biden have welcomed a new furry feline friend to the White House. The couple has announced they have a new cat named Willow, a 2-year-old short-haired tabby with green eyes and gray and white stripes. The First Lady named Willow after her hometown, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, said Michael LaRosa, press secretary for the first lady. Willow is the first cat in the White House since the George W. Bush administration. (The White House) The animal is named for the first lady's home town, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. (The White House) The first lady met Willow two years ago on a campaign stop in her home state. Willow made quite an impression on Dr. Biden in 2020 when she jumped up on the stage and interrupted her remarks during a campaign stop, LaRosa added. Seeing their immediate bond, the owner of the farm knew that Willow belonged with Dr. Biden. LaRosa also said the new "first cat" is learning the ins and outs of her new home on Pennsylvania Avenue. Willow is settling into the White House with her favorite toys, treats, and plenty of room to smell and explore, he said. Willow Willow catches up on her sleep. I love having animals around the house, Jill Biden told a local news station in 2020. (The White House) Willows addition comes about nine months after the couple said a new cat was on its way. She is waiting in the wings, Jill Biden told Craig Melvin in April 2021, while saying the pet is a female. The Bidens have talked about getting a cat since before the 2020 election, and word about the animal's arrival has been swirling for months. Id love to get a cat. I love having animals around the house, the first lady told Fox 5 in Washington, D.C., during the campaign. Willow joins a long list of presidential pets, becoming the first feline in the White House since President George W. Bushs cat, India, in 2009. The Bidens have a well-known love of pets. Their German shepherd Major, whom they adopted in 2018, became the first rescue dog to live in the White House. He gained a measure of fame for nipping the hand of a Secret Service agent in March 2021. After being sent away for additional training, the pup has been living with friends of the Biden's in Delaware. In December, the White House brought another dog into the fold when the Bidens announced they had welcomed another German shepherd, Commander. His arrival followed the June 2021 death of German shepherd Champ at the age of 13. BALTIMORE (AP) Fire officials in Baltimore announced plans Friday for a memorial for three firefighters who died earlier this week after a vacant rowhome partially collapsed, trapping them inside. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Baltimore Convention Center, the Baltimore City Fire Department said in a news release. Four firefighters were battling the blaze inside the rowhome early Monday when part of the three-story building collapsed, fire Chief Niles Ford has said. Crews removed piles of debris to reach the trapped firefighters and one firefighter was immediately freed and taken to a hospital, Ford said. Two other firefighters were pronounced dead at the hospital and another at the scene Monday. Ford identified those killed as Lt. Paul Butrim, firefighter/paramedic Kelsey Sadler and EMT/firefighter Kenny Lacayo. EMT/firefighter John McMaster was released from the University of Maryland Medical Centers Shock Trauma Center on Thursday. The fire department tweeted photos of colleagues greeting McMaster as he left the hospital. The department also announced Thursday that Sadler was posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant. TVA Allen Fossil Plant seen across McKellar Lake onThursday, Oct. 1, 2020. The coal plant, which closed in 2018, is likely responsible for much of the carbon Memphis put in the atmosphere over the last six decades. A federal judge in Memphis wants the Tennessee Valley Authority to fork over documents about the environmental impact and potential hazards of its long-term contract offer to supply Memphis with electricity. U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker issued an order Monday that compelled TVA to hand over further documents about how it came up with the contract offer in front of Memphis a contract that 140-plus other local power companies have already signed. Parker's order is in response to legal filings from Protect Our Aquifer, a Memphis-based nonprofit, and two other environmental nonprofits. Those nonprofits have argued that TVA's long-term contracts aren't actually 20-year deals but never-ending contracts that violate two federal laws the TVA Act, which governs TVA, and the National Environmental Policy Act. Parker has not ruled on those claims. For the past four years, Memphis, Light, Gas and Water has considered leaving the TVA and purchasing electricity elsewhere. The city-owned utility purchases about 11% of TVA's electricity and represents about the same amount of revenue for TVA. "The public needs to know about the environmental impacts associated with TVA's decision to enter into new power supply contracts because TVA's power supply operations have an incredibly big footprint on communities across Tennessee," Amanda Garcia, an Southern Environmental Law Center attorney for the plaintiffs, said in an interview Thursday. TVA, in a statement, described Parker's order as a routine happening. "The court ordered TVA to submit additional background information to complete the record. This is a normal part of the judicial process. This is not a ruling on the underlying merits of the case," TVA spokesman Buddy Eller said. "The TVA Boards decision to offer the Long-Term Agreement fully complied with TVAs legal obligations. And we are pleased that 146 of 153 local power companies have signed." Story continues Garcia noted the environmental impacts of TVA's operations in Memphis contractors are removing coal ash from the former Allen Fossil Plant site while, across the street, TVA uses hundreds of millions of gallons of water a year to operate the Allen Combined Cycle Plant. "The challenge for our clients, in this case, is that this isn't a case where TVA did an environmental review, and we have information that we can evaluate and say, is this sufficient or not," Garcia said. "The challenge here is really that TVA made this decision to enter into more than 130 new power supply agreements without doing any sort of environmental review at all. And so the public has really been kept in the dark about the environmental implications." The loss of Memphis would be a significant setback for TVA, one that it has long feared. As the largest local utility in TVA and because it has not yet accepted TVA's contract offer, Memphis proved the ideal forum for Protect Our Aquifer and other nonprofits to test their theory that the long-term deals TVA is offering are illegal. The electricity bidding process that Memphis is going through offers what Garcia describes as a check on TVA's power over the local utilities it serves, a check on TVA not unlike the lawsuit she is mounting against the company. ELECTRICITY SUPPLY: Memphis got more bids than expected on its electricity supply. Here's what that means LEAVING TVA?: The bidding for Memphis' electricity just ended. Here's when we'll know if MLGW will leave TVA Memphis is currently reviewing the bids from about 20 bidders on its power supply, a process that Garcia argues the long-term contracts local utilities have signed with TVA don't offer them. "MLGW's process is the kind of process that we think is important for all communities to have access to in TVA's territory," Garcia said. "It's an important check on TVA's very broad authority and footprint to have these limits in place on their power....so there's accountability of federal law; there's accountability at the local power company level... MLGW is a great example of how things are supposed to work in terms of being able to evaluate other options occasionally for how you want your power to be supplied." Samuel Hardiman covers Memphis city government and politics for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached by email at samuel.hardiman@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter at @samhardiman. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis judge orders TVA to supply documents about its offer to Memphis MOSCOW Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday the buildup of Russian forces along Ukraines border has reached the point where President Vladimir Putin now has a complete range of military options, including actions short of a full-scale invasion. While we dont believe that President Putin has made a final decision to use these forces against Ukraine, he clearly now has the capability, Austin told a Pentagon news conference. Advertisement In Moscow, the Kremlin said Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron that the West has failed to take Russian security concerns into account, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a radio interviewer that Russia doesnt want war but sees no room for compromise on its demands. Soldiers take part in an exercise for the use of NLAW anti-aircraft missiles at the Yavoriv military training ground, close to Lviv, western Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (Pavlo Palamarchuk/AP) Austin said Putin could use any portion of his force of an estimated 100,000 troops to seize Ukrainian cities and significant territories or to launch coercive acts or provocative political acts like the recognition of breakaway territories inside Ukraine. He urged Putin to de-escalate tensions, and appeared to warn Moscow against what the White House recently said was Russias intent to paint Ukraine as the aggressor using a false-flag operation to justify an attack. Advertisement We remain focused on Russian disinformation, including the potential creation of pretext for further invasion or strikes on Donbass, said Austin. This is straight out of the Russian playbook. Theyre not fooling us. Austin spoke alongside Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in what were their first extensive public comments about the crisis, marking a subtle shift in the administrations approach to public communications about the escalating situation. While both have consulted regularly with their NATO and Ukraine counterparts, the public discourse has focused on the diplomatic efforts. Milley painted a grim picture of Russian military capabilities around Ukraine, saying there are not only ground troops and naval and air forces but also cyber and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as special operations forces. He said the buildup is the largest hes seen in recent memory, and he urged Putin to choose a diplomatic path over conflict. If Russia chooses to invade Ukraine, it will not be cost-free, in terms of casualties and other significant effects, Milley said. He was referring to Russian costs, while also noting that Ukraines armed forces are more capable today than in 2014, when Russia seized Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and intervened in support of pro-Russian separatists in the eastern industrial heartland. Earlier Friday, the Kremlin said Putin told Macron that the West has failed to consider Russias key conditions of halting further NATO expansion, stopping the deployment of alliance weapons near Russian borders, and rolling back its forces from Eastern Europe. The U.S. and NATO formally rejected those demands this week, although Washington outlined areas where discussions are possible, offering hope that there could be a way to avoid war. Despite that, U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that there is a distinct possibility that Russia could take military action against the former Soviet state in February. Russia has repeatedly denied having any such plans. Zelenskyy sought to play down the war fears, saying Western alarm over an imminent invasion has prompted many investors in the countrys financial markets to cash out. Advertisement We dont need this panic, he said at a news conference. It cost Ukrainians dearly. Putin told Macron that Moscow will study the U.S. and NATO response before deciding its next move, according to a Kremlin account of their call. The Russian president has made no public remarks about the Western response, but Lavrov said it leaves little chance for reaching agreement. While they say they wont change their positions, we wont change ours, Lavrov told Russian radio stations in a live interview. I dont see any room for compromise here. There wont be a war as far as it depends on the Russian Federation, we dont want a war, he added. But we wont let our interests be rudely trampled on and ignored. A senior Biden administration official said the U.S. welcomed Lavrovs comments that Russia does not war, but this needs to be backed up with action. We need to see Russia pulling some of the troops that they have deployed away from the Ukrainian border and taking other de-escalatory steps. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly. Lavrov said the U.S. suggested the two sides could talk about limits on the deployment of intermediate-range missiles, restrictions on military drills and rules to prevent accidents between warships and aircraft. He said Russia proposed discussing those issues years ago, but Washington and its allies never took them up on it until now. Advertisement He also said those issues are secondary to Russias main concerns about NATO. He said international agreements say the security of one nation must not come at the expense of others, and said he would send letters to ask his Western counterparts to explain their failure to respect that pledge. Washington has warned Moscow of devastating sanctions if it invades Ukraine, including penalties targeting top Russian officials and key economic sectors. Lavrov said Moscow had warned Washington that sanctions would amount to a complete severing of ties. NATO, meanwhile, said it was bolstering its deterrence in the Baltic Sea region, and the U.S. has put 8,500 troops on higher alert for potential deployment to support NATO allies. Austin and Milley said Friday that no U.S. forces have been yet been deployed or moved around Europe. They said the U.S. has taken into account the risk that any troop movements could inflame the situation, but stressed the need for America to reassure its allies. Russia has launched military drills involving motorized infantry and artillery units in southwestern Russia, warplanes in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, and dozens of warships in the Black Sea and the Arctic. Russian troops are also in Belarus for joint drills, raising Western fears that Moscow could stage an attack on Ukraine from the north. The Ukrainian capital is just 75 kilometers (50 miles) from the border with Belarus. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said there will be no war unless Belarus or Russia come under attack and he accused the West of trying to drown our Slavic brotherhood in blood. Despite the alarming rhetoric, Ukrainian officials have repeatedly tried to project calm. Advertisement Zelenskyy said the decision by the U.S., Britain, Australia, Germany and Canada to withdraw some of their diplomats and dependents from Kyiv was a mistake, and said internal destabilization poses the greatest risk to his country. He also bemoaned NATOs failure to offer Ukraine a roadmap to membership, saying the alliance should state clearly if it doesnt plan to embrace Ukraine and not offer vague promises. Zelenskyy also challenged U.S. warnings of an imminent Russian attack, insisting we arent seeing any escalation bigger than before. He said the Russian buildup could be part of Moscows attempts to exert psychological pressure and sow panic. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told parliament the number of Russian troops near Ukraine about 130,000 is comparable to Moscows military buildup last spring, when Moscow eventually pulled its forces back after massive exercises. Following the 2014 ouster of a Kremlin-friendly president in Kyiv, Moscow annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and backed an insurgency in the countrys eastern industrial heartland. Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels has killed over 14,000 people, and efforts to reach a settlement have stalled. ___ Advertisement Karmanau reported from Kyiv, Ukraine, and Isachenkov reported from Moscow. Lori Hinnant in Paris, Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Nomaan Merchant in Washington contributed. The New York Times WASHINGTON She was once pressed to run for governor of California by President Bill Clinton. She was considered as a running mate to former Vice President Walter Mondale. And after the bitter 2008 Democratic primary, it was in her living room that former Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton met to make peace. These days, however, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the trailblazing Democratic power broker who has served in the Senate for 30 years, is far from the towering presence she once was on the Ame NEW YORK Michael Avenatti threw the kitchen sink at his former client Stormy Daniels on Friday, questioning her about poltergeists, prison rape, "Game of Thrones" and Michael Cohens podcast as the disgraced lawyers fraud trial took a bizarre turn. Avenatti is accused of stealing $300,000 of book advance payments from Daniels, his former client. Avenatti, acting as his own lawyer, sought to portray Daniels as unstable and holding a grudge against him. You stated that I was f------g myself nice and hard, and that when I go to prison, there will be a long line of people to a-- rape me, Avenatti said to Daniels in Manhattan Federal Court. I dont deny it, replied Daniels, 42, adding that she didnt remember making the statement. Avenatti, 50, asked his former star client about another comment she made that her eponymous line of lube, Tempest by Stormy, might come in handy while he awaited trial behind bars. Because you can just bring me a gift basket in prison? asked Avenatti. Daniels confirmed that she had mocked Avenatti on Twitter as he stewed behind bars. Inquiring about the online show Spooky Babes, which showcases Daniels work as a paranormal investigator, Avenatti asked the porn star how she communicated with the dead. It just happens sometimes, said Daniels. The nonliving. Avenatti also asked Daniels about her discussions about the case on Cohens podcast, Mea Culpa. Cohen, President Donald Trumps former personal attorney, notoriously arranged the $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election. The payout bought Daniels silence about her alleged affair with Trump during the height of the presidential campaign. Avenatti rose to prominence in 2018 while representing Daniels in her legal effort to void the nondisclosure agreement tied to the payment. Judge Jesse Furman did not allow Avenatti to probe Daniels unlikely friendship with Cohen. Cohen, who betrayed Trump, served three years in prison and has apologized to Daniels, sat in the courtrooms back row, chuckling. Story continues During another bizarre back and forth, Daniels told the court she referred to her security guards as her dragons in a nod to Queen Daenerys Targaryens character in the HBO show Game of Thrones. The porn star previously said she made scathing jibes about Avenatti after learning that he had stolen her money and lied about it for months. Very, very angry, shocked, disbelief, hurt, and I felt very betrayed and stupid, she testified. I dont know if there is a word stronger than furious, but that would be it. And shock. Prosecutors say Avenatti forged Daniels signature and directed advance payments for her book, Full Disclosure, to accounts he controlled. Scores of texts entered in evidence show Avenatti warning Daniels literary agent never to contact her directly because she was an insane porn actress who doesnt understand the real world. At the same time, Avenatti was texting Daniels about the publisher being difficult and claiming it was withholding payments because her book had not sold well. Bank records show the publisher wired the advance payments on time to a trust account at Avenattis firm. If convicted, Avenatti faces up to 22 years in prison. He is yet to begin a 2 1/2-year sentence for trying to extort Nike of $25 million. Adult film actress Stormy Daniels, left, follows her attorney Michael Avenatti, right, as she leaves federal court, Monday, April 16, 2018, in New York. Daniels has taken her star turn on the witness stand at California lawyer Michael Avenatti's trial, telling a jury on Thurday, Jan. 27, 2022, he stole from her and lied to her. AP Michael Avenatti cross-examined his former client Stormy Daniels in his high-stakes fraud trial. Avenatti asked her about how she once said watching him work was like "watching the Sistine Chapel painted." Daniels shot back: "That's what you told me to say." Stormy Daniels took the stand this week to testify against her former lawyer, Michael Avenatti, who's accused, among other things, of stealing $300,000 from her. But in a plot twist, Avenatti himself cross-examined his former client after securing permission earlier this week to represent himself. The cross-examination started late Thursday and continued on Friday. At one point, Avenatti asked Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, about her own public statements regarding his representation of her against then President Donald Trump and Trump's longtime former fixer, Michael Cohen. "Didn't you tell the New York Times that watching me work was like watching the Sistine Chapel painted?" Avenatti asked. "That's what you told me to say," Daniels shot back. Avenatti also asked Daniels to elaborate on her interest in paranormal activity and her claim that she can talk to dead people. "How do you speak to the dead?" Avenatti asked his former client, according to The New York Times. "I don't know," Daniels said. "It just happens sometimes." He also grilled Daniels on other claims she's made, including that a "dark entity" had entered her home through a "portal" a few years earlier, and that she has the ability to speak with a haunted doll named Susan. "Susan speaks to everyone on the show; she is a character on Spooky Babes," Daniels said, referring to a project she's a part of whose stated purpose is investigating paranormal activity. "Isn't it true, Ms. Daniels, that you have claimed that you have the ability to speak to the doll and that she speaks back to you, yes or no?" Avenatti pressed, according to a transcript of Thursday's proceedings. Story continues "Yes," Daniels said. "She even has her own Instagram." The back-and-forth is the latest twist in Avenatti's high-stakes fraud trial, in which he's charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. During opening arguments, federal prosecutors said Avenatti pocketed $300,000 out of Daniels' $800,000 book advance by forging her signature on a letter to the book's publisher. Assistant US attorney Andrew Rohrbach said that in addition to sending the unauthorized letter, Avenatti directed Daniels' agent to send money to his own bank account and lied to Daniels about where the money was. When Daniels first took the stand on Thursday, the majority of her testimony zeroed in on how Avenatti had allegedly lied to her about the disappearance of the money. But she appeared to become frustrated when her former lawyer asked her if he was respectful when he represented her against Trump. "You lied to me, that's not respectful," Daniels said, according to The Wall Street Journal. But she eventually acknowledged that she told federal investigators Avenatti was in fact polite and respectful towards her. Read the original article on Business Insider Chef Michael Lugo, owner of Michael's in St. Augustine, is working to open a second restaurant in the Hyatt Place under construction in Vilano Beach. Lugo hopes to open Pesca later this year. With the success of Michael's a gourmet steakhouse in St. Augustine under his belt, local restaurateur Michael Lugo had been wanting to expand his brand for several years now. After searching a number of locations, Lugo found just the right spot for his second venture inside the Hyatt Place, a 120-room upscale hotel under construction in Vilano Beach. The new restaurant, called Pesca by Michael's, will occupy a main dining room in the Hyatt as well as a rooftop bar atop the 3-story building. Each space will seat about 125 guests, with the rooftop space being a little more casual than the dining room. Vilano development: Magic Beach Motel sale falls through after County Commission denies design approval application Local food scene: Inaugural St. Augustine Food + Wine Festival aims high Lugo anticipates opening his doors at Pesca sometime in the third quarter of 2022. Lugo, a native of Puerto Rico, established Michael's 16 years ago in the historic district of St. Augustine. Since then, the business has undergone several changes in name (it was originally called Michael's Tasting Room), interior renovations and menu items. Pesca (which means "fishing" in Spanish) will not only be a much larger enterprise for Lugo and his staff Michael's has an intimate capacity of just 50 but it will also allow the chef/owner to push his creativity in another direction. Lugo said the Pesca concept is based around Florida's coastal cuisine, with other influences such as Caribbean, European and, of course, Latin. "If I do Chinese food, it's going to be like Latin Chinese; always have to bring some of that in," he said with a laugh. Just an example of some of the menu items Pesca will include: escabeche with pickled rainbow carrots, cauliflower, peppers, onions and shishito peppers; scallop crudo with hazelnut salsa macha, mint and orange segments; and bacalaitos, a Spanish salt cod fritter. The restaurant will also offer a seasonal selection of oysters, grilled lobster, filet mignon, lamb chops and burgers. Story continues Additionally, Pesca will be the dedicated caterer for events held in the banquet room of the hotel. With the Hyatt's building design inspired by Miamis Art Deco style, Lugo said he is enjoying decorating Pesca's interior, which he said would emphasize "bright colors and a lot of life and energy." Lugo said Michael's had always attracted a good mix of tourists and locals, the latter of which he said "help you build your identity," and he expected Pesca to draw a similar crowd. And with Vilano Beach's proximity to downtown St. Augustine, he hoped the two brands would be complimentary and increase exposure for each restaurant. With Vilano's Main Street adding more development in hotels, housing and restaurants, Lugo said he was happy to be a part of its renaissance. "We are excited to be expanding our artistic voice in the community," he said. This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: St. Augustine restaurants: Chef Michael Lugo to open Pesca at Hyatt Anyone who attended two college fraternity events one Jan. 20 in Ann Arbor and another Jan. 22 in East Lansing may have been exposed to meningococcal meningitis and should start antibiotic treatment immediately, health officials warned Thursday. A case of the rare and serious bacterial infection, which can cause swelling of the membranes around the spinal cord and brain and may lead to death, was confirmed in a University of Michigan student who attended an event 10:30 p.m.-12 a.m. Jan. 20 at the Delta Kappa Epsilon residence, 800 Oxford Road, Ann Arbor. The student also attended an event near the Michigan State University campus. It was a ticketed event Jan. 22 hosted by Sigma Beta Rho at Club Rush, 131 Albert Ave., East Lansing. More: Michigan health department to give out free KN95 masks to residents More: Free at-home COVID-19 tests, N95 masks are arriving in Michigan: What you need to know "Immediate antibiotic treatment is critical for anyone ill or to prevent infection for anyone who may have been exposed through close contact," the Washtenaw County Health Department advised. Even those who have been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis should still get antibiotic treatment, such as ciprofloxacin and rifampin. "Prophylaxis involves taking a single dose of an antibiotic to prevent infection in anyone who might have had close contact with the case patient prior to illness," said Dr. Preeti Malani, U-M's chief health officer. Symptoms may include fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, rash, or confusion and typically begin within 10 days after exposure, but usually within the first five days. Anyone with symptoms should seek an immediate evaluation from a health care provider. Meningitis is spread through contact with the saliva or nasal secretions of an infected person whether through coughing, sneezing, sharing food or drink or kissing. It also can spread when an infected person is in a crowded space with poor ventilation for a prolonged period of time with others. Story continues Public health officials say anyone who attended either event is considered exposed and should receive antibiotic treatment. They also should check their vaccination status to ensure they've gotten a meningococcal disease vaccination. This is not an outbreak and risk to the larger community remains low, but meningococcal meningitis is a very serious illness, Dr. Juan Luis Marquez, medical director of the Washtenaw County Health Department, said in a statement. We are working as quickly and collaboratively as possible to provide information and treatment options to anyone with potential and direct exposure to the known case. How to get antibiotics if you were exposed If you're a student at the University of Michigan: Notify University Health Services by completing the following online form: tinyurl.com/3kxjhb49. If you are a not a U-M student: Contact your health care provider immediately. If you do not have a health care provider, call the county health department at 734-544-6700. If you are an MSU student or live in Ingham County: Antibiotic treatments are being distributed for free through the county health department and MSU. Distribution clinics will give away the medicine 1-5 p.m. Jan 28-29 in the MSU Room on the third floor of the MSU Union Building. Enter the Union from the entrance off of Abbott Road and take the stairs to the third floor. Parking will be available in Ramp 6 off Grand River. If you are unable to attend a distribution clinic, contact your health care provider to get antibiotics. If you do not have a health care provider, call the county health department at 517-887-4308 (or after hours call 517-342-9987). At this time, no MSU students have shown symptoms suggesting an infection, Ingham County Medical Director Dr. Adenike Shoyinka said in a statement. Early treatment for close contacts will aid us in containing further spread. Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kristenshamus. Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Student with meningitis exposed others at these MSU, U-M frat events (Bloomberg) -- After being criticized by a London judge for being dishonest, one of Britains most prominent tech tycoons now awaits a final decision by the U.K. government over his extradition to the U.S. to face criminal fraud charges. Most Read from Bloomberg Mike Lynch dressed-up his software company Autonomy Corp. for sale, and induced Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. to acquire the firm for $11 billion, Judge Robert Hildyard said, reading a summary of his judgment on Friday. While HP was seeking $5 billion in damages from Lynch, the judge said the final amount is likely to be substantially less. The tech entrepreneur plans to appeal the decision. All attention will now turn to the U.K. Home Secretary Priti Patel, who has until the end of the day to decide whether to extradite Lynch to the U.S. Its the critical political moment in Lynchs case, which is otherwise a matter solely for the courts. The extradition is a test of Britains treaty with the U.S., which critics call highly unequal. Patel and the Conservative Party have regularly fought the courts over recent rulings and are considering ways to curtail the powers of judges. Lynch, who personally made $850 million from the sale of the firm he built into the U.K.s second largest software company, was sued for $5 billion by HP in 2015. The Silicon Valley company alleged that Lynch and his chief financial officer Sushovan Hussain illegally bolstered revenue wherever they could, including by disguising hardware sales and booking fake transactions, to dress Autonomy up for a sale. It was an argument that the judge largely agreed with. Story continues Dr. Lynch and Mr. Hussain kept a very careful watch over revenues, especially toward the end of a quarter when Autonomy would have to post its results, Judge Hildyard said. I have reached clear conclusions in these proceedings on the civil liability of Dr. Lynch and Mr. Hussain for fraud. The judgment is the latest in a hard-fought battle for Lynch stemming from the sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett Packard in 2011. The Silicon Valley hardware giant wrote down the value of the company by $8.8 billion a year later. Dishonest The judge highlighted how the sale of hardware by an ostensibly software-focused company was dishonest. The hardware reselling program was conceived, expanded and implemented in order to enable Autonomy to cover shortfalls in software, the judge said. The purpose of the hardware reselling strategy/program was dishonest. The defendants were well aware of this, he said. Such findings of fraud will have an impact on any extradition appeal, Ed Grange, a lawyer at Corker Binning, said. It will impact on the extradition case where they had argued that the proper jurisdiction in which this case would be tried would be the U.K., he said. The nine-month, 40 million-pound ($53.6 million) civil trial was among the longest and most expensive in modern British history. Lynch used the platform to argue that HP had simply run his firm into the ground, painting a picture of an American corporation riven with infighting that he documented with emails shown for the first time. Dr. Lynch and Mr. Hussain defrauded and deliberately misled the market and Hewlett Packard, a spokesman for HPE said in a statement. HPE is pleased that the judge has held them accountable. Lynch, one of the U.K.s most prominent businesspeople and adviser to former Prime Minister David Cameron, lost his first attempt at preventing extradition when a judge said in July he should be sent to the U.S. Hed insisted from the outset that the case should not be heard in the U.S., asserting that none of the alleged misconduct took place overseas. HP didnt fully escape the judges criticisms. The judge said he was concerned about some of HPs witnesses which bore signs of having been fashioned, rehearsed and repeated. Todays outcome is disappointing and Dr Lynch intends to appeal, said Kelwin Nicholls, a lawyer for Lynch. We will study the full judgment over the coming weeks. We note the judges concerns over the reliability of some of HPs witnesses. We also note the judges expectation that any loss suffered by HP will be substantially less than the $5 billion claimed. (Updates with details from ruling summary throughout) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday ordered an overhaul of the military's efforts to track and limit civilian casualties following a botched airstrike in Afghanistan and a Rand Corp. study finding broad failures in the current system. The think tank's report, released Thursday, found the military did not adequately use data and lessons it learned over the past two decades of conflict that could have reduced unnecessary civilian deaths and injuries. The Pentagon also often reported dramatically fewer civilian deaths than reliable outside sources, damaging its reputation and reliability, Rand said. The errant deaths of innocents have plagued the post-9/11 conflicts because the U.S. often relies on airpower and drones in areas where there are no troops on the ground to provide intelligence. Combat in cities where civilians may be hidden in buildings is particularly dangerous. Read Next: Troops at These Bases Are on Alert for Deployment over Ukraine Crisis Consistent reports of high casualty counts by outside NGOs and foreign sources are often discounted or questioned by Pentagon officials. The nature of the casualties occuring in war zones has made precise reporting of deaths difficult, creating a layer of deniability for military leaders when reports have surfaced of civilian losses. A botched U.S. airstrike that killed 10 Afghan civilians, including children, in Kabul on Aug. 29, 2021, a rare instance where a strike occurred in an area with many reporters nearby, illustrated the problems found by the think tank study, a Rand analyst told reporters in a briefing. "My biggest takeaway from our work was that protecting civilians is clearly important to everybody in the department, but it has not been the top priority for anybody in the department," said Mike McNerney, acting director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at Rand. Austin issued a memo ordering the creation of a "civilian protection center of excellence," which would focus on reducing civilian deaths across the military, as well as better sharing of data on incidents, a plan to deal with harm to innocents in future conflicts, and a review of condolence payments to victims. Story continues He gave the department 90 days to develop a plan for making the changes, which overlap with some of the recommendations in the Rand study. However, the think tank also called for new civilian positions throughout the department that would deal solely with tracking and mitigating casualties, along with a center for excellence. "This is really about implementation, not about additional study," said a senior U.S. defense official, who briefed reporters on Austin's decision on the condition of anonymity. Austin said in his memo that the end of the Afghanistan war and a transition to advising in Iraq have provided the Pentagon an opportunity to focus on how to better deal with civilian casualties. The airstrike in Kabul at the end of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is one example of the longtime risk to civilians posed by a reliance on drone warfare. Following a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. troops, the military received intelligence indicating another attack was planned. After tracking a suspect through Kabul for hours, it shot a Hellfire missile into a compound, killing an aid worker and his extended family. Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, publicly acknowledged the mistake in a briefing to reporters in September. After an investigation, it was ultimately determined that no one would be punished. The Pentagon has attempted but been unable to provide ex gratia, or condolence, payments to the victims' family. A 2019 airstrike in Baghuz, Syria, killed 70 civilians, including mostly women and children -- one of the largest civilian casualties incidents in the years-long war against the Islamic State group -- but was never publicly acknowledged by the Pentagon, according to The New York Times. Rand found that Pentagon estimates of the number of civilians killed in U.S. war zones was far lower than outside counts. For example, it reported 21 civilian casualties in Syria in 2019, while Airwars, a nongovernmental agency based in the U.K., reported at least 490 and as many as 1,118. In Afghanistan, the Pentagon reported 108 casualties that year, while the NGO reported 559. Rand found Airwars' procedures to be "very rigorous," while the military's assessment procedures were "flawed by comparison," McNerney said. But the Pentagon often employed a skeptical approach toward the outside information and doubted allegations of deaths. "That inconsistency creates problems from the perspective of the department's reputation, its reliability," he said. "When we looked at DoD civilian casualty estimates from conflicts, we found them to be far too low and damaging to the department's credibility." -- Travis Tritten can be reached at travis.tritten@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @Travis_Tritten. Related: Kabul Drone Strike Was a 'Tragic Mistake' that Killed Civilians, Children, Pentagon Says Nonprofit Project for Pride in Living will break ground in the fall on a $50 million, 110-unit affordable housing complex and small business center along Lake Street after receiving aid from the city of Minneapolis. Mayor Jacob Frey on Thursday announced that the City Council approved $15.7 million in loans and grants from the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund for 10 projects, including the Project for Pride in Living (PPL) complex at the site of a former Wells Fargo branch at Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue destroyed in the riots following the police killing of George Floyd. Overall, the 10 projects will produce or preserve 797 units of affordable, multifamily rental housing and leverage nearly $260 million in additional financing for the projects. The final PPL plan calls for fewer units than originally proposed, but with more two- and three-bedroom apartments. "This will be one of the transformative projects in rebuilding from the damage on Lake Street," said PPL CEO Paul Williams. "We've gone through a significant community engagement process. This is about community building as much as it is affordable housing." The PPL project at 3030 Nicollet Av. also will result in workforce and small business training and support. The nonprofit also is being mindful to use contractors and designers that include people of color. Financing, including a $3.3 million city grant, is now being lined up. More than 1,500 businesses in Minneapolis and St. Paul suffered an estimated $500 million in damage as fires flared, windows were smashed and buildings looted in the days after Floyd's murder. Many of the business owners lacked insurance or were underinsured. In the immediate aftermath, community groups and foundations donated to the rebuilding effort, absent any state or federal assistance. As of late last year, about $175 million in construction permits were issued in Minneapolis to rebuild in areas affected. The PPL project would bring that total to about $225 million. Story continues The PPL project housing will target households making up to $50,000. One-third of the units funded through the grants announced Thursday will be targeted at households making 30% of the Twin Cities-area median income (AMI), or about $35,000, and will include 152 units for formerly homeless people and people with disabilities. "The investments we celebrate today are the results of our collective efforts to prioritize funding a dynamic portfolio of affordable housing, with a specific focus on deeply affordable housing for our most vulnerable neighbors," Frey said. "Each project contributes to the exciting momentum underway to increase access to safe and affordable housing for all neighbors in Minneapolis." The Affordable Housing Trust Fund creates new and preserves housing for low-income renters (with incomes below $52,450 for a family of four). Almost 75% of such renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing. People of color are disproportionately hit by "housing instability" that leads to frequent moves and homelessness, the city noted in its announcement. The City Council also approved a historic federal tax credit allocation of $1.1 million from the affordable housing fund program to spur development and construction of Calvary Apartments, a $16.7 million, 41-unit project proposed by developer Trellis and Calvary Lutheran Church at 3901 Chicago Av., a block south of the intersection where Floyd was killed. The project will include an apartment building and units constructed inside the renovated church. The project is targeted at households making a $30,000 or less. The other projects include: About $1.5 million for the 40-unit, $17.9 million Emerson Village project at 1800 Emerson Av. N, developed by Beacon Interfaith Housing. $1.8 million for the 187-unit Currie Commons project at 187 Humboldt Av. N., developed by Wellington Management.About $1.8 million for the 63-unit, $17.5 million Plymouth Avenue Apartments at 2309 Plymouth Av., developed by James Archer/Matrix Development.$920,000 for the 84-unit, $43.7 million Northrup King Residential project developed by Artspace. "If we have learned anything during this pandemic it's the importance of access to affordable housing in good times but especially in bad times," Council Member Lisa Goodman, chair of the council's Housing and Zoning Committee, said in a statement. About a week after announcing his executive order making masks optional in schools throughout Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R, said on a radio show that school districts statewide had rushed to comply. "The reality is it's about 25 out of our 130 school systems across Virginia who aren't recognizing the rights of parents today," Youngkin told conservative host John Fredericks on Monday, adding that the noncompliant districts were prioritizing "bureaucrats and politicians over the rights of parents." Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. But a Washington Post analysis shows that the majority of Virginia public school districts - enrolling more than two-thirds of the state's students - have opted to disobey Youngkin's mask-optional order. As of Wednesday, two days after the order was supposed to take effect, 69 districts, or 53%, are still requiring masks for all students inside schools. Cumulatively, those districts enroll 846,483 students, or about 67% of the state's public school student population. The divide falls along partisan lines, although not perfectly: Almost every district that opted to make masks optional is in a locality that voted for Youngkin in the 2021 gubernatorial election. The widespread defiance suggests Youngkin will have enormous difficulty in enforcing his mask-optional mandate, which is already the subject of two lawsuits: one from parents in Chesapeake, and one from seven school boards that oversee some of the state's largest, most prominent school districts. A hearing on the second suit is scheduled for next week. Youngkin has said he will use every tool at his disposal to carry out his order as those cases wind through the court system, and his spokeswoman did not rule out disciplining disobedient districts by yanking their state funding. It also raises serious doubts about the viability of Youngkin's intense focus - both on the campaign trail and in his first days as governor - on the nation's education culture wars, including his push for greater parental control over every aspect of education, from masking to which books appear on library shelves to the content of curriculums. Story continues "These findings lay bare the absurdity of the governor's claims that he is listening to the parents," said Mark Rozell, the dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. "Most disagree with what he is doing. He seems to be listening primarily to the parents of a particular political stripe - the ones who made the most noise in the heat of a political campaign but in no way represent a consensus among parents of public school children." Asked about The Post's analysis, Youngkin said in a statement, "If localities want to have a mask mandate, they absolutely are able to. However, parents have a right to opt out. They know what is best for their kids." Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter added, "Localities are fighting over something they already have the ability to do and Virginia has continually sidestepped the importance of parent and student rights. Governor Youngkin is simply giving students and parents an opt-out of mask mandates." Youngkin's directive took effect for districts across Virginia on Monday. Even in the suburban D.C. localities where officials promised to keep the mask mandate in place and sued to protect their authority to do so, initial reporting suggested the day went smoothly for students and teachers. In Loudoun County, a politically divided and wealthy suburb, small groups of parents showed up to two campuses with maskless children Monday and stayed outside picketing when administrators isolated those students. The Post analysis is based on a review of the websites and social media accounts for all 131 Virginia school districts listed by the Virginia Department of Education as operational for the 2021-2022 school year. Where school district information on masking was unavailable, The Post contacted districts or relied on local media coverage, or both. Enrollment counts are drawn from 2021-2022 data gathered and published by the Virginia Education Department, and localities' results in the gubernatorial election are taken from The Post's coverage. The Post analysis found that 58 districts, or 44%, have so far agreed to make masks optional in obedience to Youngkin's order. Cumulatively, those districts enroll 397,108 students, according to Virginia Education Department data, representing 32% of all public school students in the state. Four districts in Virginia either have yet to decide about masking - some have school board votes planned for Thursday - or have not published any information on the issue, leaving their stance unclear. The Post has contacted these districts and will update its database when answers emerge. Republican-leaning districts showed more willingness to comply with Youngkin's masking order: In 98% of cases where school districts opted to make masks optional, their locality went for Youngkin in the election. "This breakdown clearly shows how partisan the issue of education has become" during the pandemic, said Todd Belt, director of George Washington University's graduate school political management program. "The original issue with schools - reopening - wasn't terribly partisan. But issues surrounding schools became more partisan with the flap over critical race theory and as vaccine skepticism has become more politically polarized." Still, districts in Republican-leaning, Youngkin-voting localities also make up the majority - 57% - of districts that voted to keep requiring masks in schools. This suggests that Republican school systems and parents may be less willing to follow Youngkin's lead on masking than the governor might have expected, and it confirms previous polling statewide that indicated that most Virginians support masks as a common-sense pandemic safety measure. A September 2021 Washington Post-Schar School poll found that 66% of public school parents in Virginia supported mask mandates for teachers, staff and students, similar to 69% of registered voters overall. The poll also showed that left-leaning Virginians were far more likely to agree with mask requirements: 96% of self-identified Democratic voters and 66% of independent voters supported school mask mandates, while Republicans were more divided, with 45% in support and 51% opposed. Youngkin won in part by campaigning against such mandates, with exit polls showing he performed best with voters who believe that parents should have a lot of say over what their children learn in school,which has become a conservative rallying cry nationwide. But exit polls also revealed little difference in how parents and non-parents voted in Virginia, suggesting Youngkin did not hold uniquely strong appeal with mothers and fathers. Nationally, a Monmouth University poll from November found that 61% of Americans said face masks should be worn by students, teachers and staff in schools in their state, while 34% opposed the idea. Frederick Hess, a senior fellow and director of education policy at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, said he thinks Youngkin should stay the course on his masking policies, while vigorously fighting back against the two lawsuits challenging the executive order. Both suits make essentially the same argument: that Youngkin's mask-optional order violates the Virginia constitution because it usurps school districts' constitutionally granted power to oversee school systems. The lawsuits also contend that Youngkin's order goes against a state law, passed in summer 2021, that requires school districts to comply with federal health guidance "to the maximum extent practicable." Current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend masking inside schools for everyone over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status. The suit filed by parents is before the Virginia Supreme Court, while the suit filed by the seven school boards is before the Arlington County Circuit Court, which will hold its first hearing on Feb. 2. It is unclear what will happen next. Youngkin and his top officials have said they are confident the Supreme Court will intervene in the governor's favor and have urged parents to listen to their principals until that happens. As the courts churn along, Hess said, Youngkin should focus on making his "best arguments" - built on research and science - to Virginia parents and school officials about why they should listen to him. Despite the lawsuits and the opposition from school districts, Hess said, he does not think the governor's masking order was "a political stumble, not at all," adding that things could look very different in a few months if the omicron variant of the coronavirus is running less rampant. "There's always a natural temptation to try and judge these things in the moment, but we know the way these debates play out in politics," he said. "What matters is where the dust settles." Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, predicted no dust will be settling anytime soon, though. Farnsworth said he thinks Youngkin's mask-optional order on his first day in office, coupled with two other executive orders focused on education - one that banned critical race theory, and one that vowed an investigation of the embattled Loudoun County Public Schools system - clearly signal that the governor wants to lean into the education culture wars. And that will spell trouble for Youngkin's fledgling administration and parents, teachers and schoolchildren across the state, he said. "Expect the angry confrontations in schools to continue and perhaps to worsen," Farnsworth said. "Few things are more likely to generate long-term rifts within communities than conflicting rules relating to something as important as the best way to protect the health and safety of children." He added: "It didn't have to be this way." - - - School systems where . . . Masks are still mandatory and voted for Youngkin (39) Accomack County Public Schools Alleghany County Public Schools Amelia County Public Schools Augusta County Public Schools Botetourt County Public Schools Buchanan County Public Schools Buckingham County Public Schools Buena Vista City Public Schools Caroline County Public Schools Colonial Heights Public Schools Dickenson County Public Schools Dinwiddie County Public Schools Fluvanna County Public Schools Franklin County Public Schools Frederick County Public Schools Halifax County Public Schools Hopewell City Public Schools Isle of Wight County Public Schools King and Queen County Public Schools Lancaster County Public Schools Louisa County Public Schools Lynchburg City Public Schools Mecklenburg County Public Schools Middlesex County Public Schools Montgomery County Public Schools Nelson County Public Schools Northampton County Public Schools Northumberland County Public Schools Prince Edward County Public Schools Roanoke County Public Schools Rockbridge-Lexington Public Schools Rockingham County Public Schools Salem City Schools Southampton County Public Schools Stafford County Public Schools Surry County Public Schools Waynesboro Public Schools Westmoreland County Public Schools York County Public Schools - - - Masks are still mandatory and voted for McAuliffe (30) Albemarle County Public Schools Alexandria City Public Schools Arlington Public Schools Brunswick County Public Schools Charles City County Public Schools Charlottesville City Public Schools Fairfax County Public Schools Falls Church City Public Schools Franklin City Public Schools Fredericksburg City Public Schools Greensville County Public Schools Hampton City Schools Harrisonburg City Public Schools Henrico County Public Schools Lexington City Schools Loudoun County Public Schools Manassas City Public Schools Manassas Park City Public Schools Martinsville City Public Schools Newport News Public Schools Norfolk Public Schools Petersburg City Public Schools Portsmouth Public Schools Prince William County Public Schools Richmond Public Schools Roanoke City Public Schools Staunton City Public Schools Suffolk Public Schools Williamsburg-James City Public Schools Winchester Public Schools - - - Still have to decide about masks mandates or answer is unclear, and whom they voted for (4) Amherst County Public Schools, Youngkin Danville Public Schools, McAuliffe Smyth County Public Schools, Youngkin Sussex County Public Schools, McAuliffe - - - The Washington Post's Scott Clement contributed to this report. Related Content Anthony Fauci is up against more than a virus Joe Burrow once made his Ohio town believe. Now he's got Cincinnati dreaming. The moon, Mars and the return of strongman rule: How China has changed since the 2008 Olympics OKLAHOMA CITY A federal judge resentenced Tiger King Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison on Friday, reducing his punishment by just a year despite pleas from the former zookeeper for leniency as he begins treatment for early-stage cancer. Please dont make me die in prison waiting for a chance to be free, he tearfully told a federal judge who resentenced him on a murder-for-hire charge. Advertisement Joe Exotic whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage was convicted in a case involving animal welfare activist Carole Baskin. Both were featured in Netflixs Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. In this Aug. 28, 2013, file photo, Joseph Maldonado answers a question during an interview at the zoo he runs in Wynnewood, Okla. (Sue Ogrocki/AP) Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, Maldonado-Passage, 58, still had his trademark mullet hairstyle, but the bleach-blonde had faded to brown and gray. Advertisement Baskin and her husband, Howard Baskin, also attended the proceedings, and she said she was fearful that Maldonado-Passage could threaten her. He continues to harbor intense feelings of ill will toward me, she told the judge. Baskin said even with Maldonado-Passage in prison, she has continued to receive vile, abusive and threatening communications over the last two years. She told the judge she believes Maldonado-Passage poses an even more serious threat to her now that he has a larger group of supporters because of the popularity of the Netflix series. Maldonado-Passages attorneys told the judge their client is suffering from stage-one prostate cancer, along with a disease that compromises his immune system, making him particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Stage-one prostate cancer means it has been detected early and hasnt spread. Maldonado-Passage previously said that he planned to delay treatment until after his resentencing. Federal officials have said Maldonado-Passage will need up to eight weeks of radiation treatments and would be unable to travel during the treatments. His attorney Amy Hanna told the judge hes not receiving the proper medical care inside the federal prison system and that a lengthy prison sentence is a death sentence for Joe that he doesnt deserve. Prosecutors also told the judge Friday that Maldonado-Passage received a disciplinary write-up in September for being possession of a contraband cellphone and unauthorized headphones that was not included in his pre-sentencing report. Palk added that Maldonado-Passage had four previous disciplinary write-ups, although he described those as relatively minor and not violent. Fridays court proceedings came about after a federal appeals court ruled last year that the prison term hes serving on a murder-for-hire conviction should be shortened. Advertisement Supporters packed the courtroom, some wearing animal-print masks and shirts that read Free Joe Exotic. His attorneys said they would appeal the resentencing and petition for a new trial. The defense submitted a series of attachments that showed excessive government involvement in the creation of the offense for which hes been convicted, attorney Molly Parmer told reporters after the hearing. We are going to continue our post-conviction litigation, but we did preview for the court the evidence we have through our post-conviction investigation. The former zookeeper was sentenced in January 2020 to 22 years in prison after he was convicted of trying to hire two different men to kill Baskin. A three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Maldonado-Passage that the court should have treated them as one conviction at sentencing because they both involved the same goal of killing Baskin, who runs a rescue sanctuary for big cats in Florida and had criticized Maldonado-Passages treatment of animals. Prosecutors said Maldonado-Passage offered $10,000 to an undercover FBI agent to kill Baskin during a recorded December 2017 meeting. In the recording, he told the agent, Just like follow her into a mall parking lot and just cap her and drive off. Maldonado-Passages attorneys have said their client who once operated a zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) south of Oklahoma City wasnt being serious. Maldonado-Passage, who maintains his innocence, also was convicted of killing five tigers, selling tiger cubs and falsifying wildlife records. Advertisement ___ Bleed reported from Little Rock, Arkansas. By Abraham Archiga ABUJA, January 28 (Reuters) - Abubakar Yusuf, an informal Nigerian trader, said he was scared to get a COVID-19 shot after hearing the country had stocks of expired vaccines. That changed, however, when health authorities destroyed more than a million expired doses last month. Nigeria's vaccine rollout has slowly gained pace since then as public confidence increases and the government has assured citizens they will not receive expired doses. Nigerians like Yusuf were rattled by reports of vaccines with looming expiry dates and worried about whether the shots they would get were safe and effective, complicating the government's efforts to get as many shots into arms as possible. Nigeria, like other African countries, initially struggled to get doses as rich nations snapped up limited supplies. Deliveries later picked up, but some shots donated by individual countries or via the global vaccine-sharing scheme COVAX arrived with a very short shelf life, leading them to expire. Nigeria has said it will no longer accept vaccines close to expiry. The daily vaccine uptake doubled to 200,000 doses in December and January, Faisal Shuaib, head of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency said. "We've been scared before, seriously," Yusuf told Reuters after getting an AstraZeneca dose at a market in Abuja. "But the way people have been taking it [the vaccine], they are well, they are doing their normal business... so we decided to take it." In December, Nigeria destroyed more than a million doses of expired AstraZeneca vaccines as it sought to assure a wary public that they had been taken out of circulation. That seemed to have convinced Gabriel Allesiloye to get a shot. "It's good for government to discard those ones... and they have done so... it is good for us to take it," said Allesiloye, who described himself as a Christian evangelist, after getting his COVID-19 shot at the Abuja market. Story continues John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa's top public health body, told a virtual media briefing on Thursday that news of expired vaccines had created "some kind of hesitation" among sceptical citizens. He said last week that roughly 0.5% of the 572 million doses delivered to date had expired. Other African countries have also destroyed them like Nigeria. Africa's public health bodies have now called for donated vaccines to come with a shelf life of three to six months. Nkengasong noted more African countries were recording increases in the number of people being vaccinated as communication and community engagement improved, he said. Around 2.6% of Nigeria's population have been fully vaccinated, while 14 million received a first dose. (Additional reporting by Camillus Eboh in Abuja and James Macharia in Johannesburg, Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe, Editing by Alexandra Hudson) New England's first big nor'easter of the season is expected to bring heavy snow and other hazards across Friday and Saturday. Much of eastern Massachusetts, all of Rhode Island and parts of New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut are under a blizzard warning beginning at 7 a.m. Saturday. Some areas will get hit with blizzard conditions and as much as 31 inches of snow this weekend, while others will see a blustery winter storm. Here's how much snow New England towns are expected to receive, according to National Weather Service forecasts. [This story is available to all as a public service and is made possible by our subscribers. Please support quality local journalism with a subscription to one of our publications.] Massachusetts snowfall predictions A woman shovels snow from her walkway on Tatman Street in Worcester early Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. How much snow will Worcester, MA, Central Mass. get during the winter storm? Worcester MA, which is under a winter storm warning, could get 12-20 inches of snow beginning at 11 p.m. Friday. More: Snow, wind, cold: Latest storm numbers for Central Mass. How much snow will Framingham MA get during the blizzard? Framingham MA, which is under a blizzard warning, could get 15-25 inches of snow beginning at 11 p.m. Friday. As the snow began to fall, McKenzie Sparling, of Marlborough, stocked up on groceries at the Framingham Stop and Shop, Feb. 1, 2021. How much snow will Milford MA get during the winter storm? Milford MA, which is under a winter storm warning, could get 14-24 inches of snow beginning at 11 p.m. Friday. How much snow will Cape Cod MA get during the blizzard? Cape Cod, which is under a blizzard warning, could get 16-28 inches of snow beginning at 9 p.m. Friday. More: Powerful storm bears down on Cape Cod: Blizzard Warning issued. What to expect? Sidewalks are cleared along Main Street in Falmouth center as heavy snow blows in Jan. 7, 2022. How much snow will South Shore MA get during the blizzard? Quincy, Marshfield, Scituate and other towns on Massachusetts South Shore, which are under a blizzard warning, could get 19-31 inches of snow beginning at 11 p.m. Friday. More: South Shore storm crews prepare 'for the worst' - more than 2 feet of snow, flooding How much snow will North Shore MA get during the blizzard? Story continues Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead and other towns on Massachusetts North Shore, which are under a blizzard warning, could get 19-30 inches of snow beginning at 11 p.m. Friday. Jacob Farinha, 13, of Fall River, tosses a snowball to his brother, Brady, 12 on a school snow day Jan. 7, 2022. How much snow will Fall River MA get during the blizzard? Fall River MA, which is under a blizzard warning, could get 19-29 inches of snow beginning at 10 p.m. Friday. How much snow will New Bedford MA get during the blizzard? New Bedford MA, which is under a blizzard warning, could get 17-29 inches of snow beginning at 9 p.m. Friday. How much snow will Gardner MA get during the winter storm? Gardner MA, which is under a winter storm warning, could get 8-14 inches of snow beginning at 2 a.m. Saturday. Rhode Island snowfall predictions How much snow will Providence RI get during the blizzard? Providence RI, which is under a blizzard warning, could get 15-25 inches of snow beginning at 10 p.m. Friday. Earl Berwick of East Providence helps clear snow from a neighbor's driveway on Jan 7, 2022. [The Providence Journal / Kris Craig] How much snow will Newport RI get during the blizzard? Newport RI, which is under a blizzard warning, could get 15-25 inches of snow beginning at 9 p.m. Friday. Cori Beckwith and William Newman, 9, both of Norwich, share a laugh after she ran off course on her snowboard hitting his inner tube at the Norwich Golf Course in Norwich Friday after the region's first major snowfall Jan. 7, 2022. Connecticut snowfall predictions How much snow will Norwich CT get during the blizzard? Norwich, which is under a blizzard warning, could get 11-15 inches of snow beginning at 1 a.m. Saturday. From left, Portsmouth residents Jonah Lewis, 9, and Colton McCain, 10, sled down a hill on Feb. 2, 2021 in Portsmouth during a snow storm. New Hampshire snowfall predictions How much snow will Portsmouth NH get during the blizzard? Portsmouth NH, which is under a blizzard warning, could get 11-19 inches of snow beginning at midnight Friday. How much snow will Dover NH get during the noreaster? Dover NH, which is under a winter storm warning, could get 10-16 inches of snow beginning at midnight Friday. A man returns to his car as he carries packages into the UPS store on Central Avenue in Dover as snow comes down Friday, April 16, 2021. How much snow will Rochester NH get during the noreaster? Rochester NH, which is under a winter storm warning, could get 10-16 inches of snow beginning at midnight Friday. How much snow will Somersworth NH get during the noreaster? Somersworth NH, which is under a winter storm warning, could get 10-16 inches of snow beginning at midnight Friday. How much snow will Exeter NH get during the winter storm? Exeter NH, which is under a winter storm warning, could get 11-17 inches of snow beginning at midnight Friday. Waves on Hampton Beach crash on the shoreline in February 2021 after a snow storm left many residents with several inches of snow. How much snow will Hampton NH get during the blizzard? Hampton NH, which is under a blizzard warning, could get 12-20 inches of snow beginning at midnight Friday. Snow covers the cairns along the path leading up to a small park in the middle of the field at the UVM Wheelock Farm in South Burlington on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 Vermont snowfall predictions How much snow will Burlington VT get during the nor'easter? Burlington VT, which is under a wind child advisory, has a chance of getting less than an inch of snow both Friday and Saturday afternoons, but low temperatures and even lower wind chill values will plunge thermometers well below 0 degrees. Maine snowfall predictions How much snow will Kittery ME get during the blizzard? Kittery ME, which is under a blizzard warning, could get 8-12 inches of snow beginning at midnight Friday. Sarah Pitt-Wooll digs through a wall of snow on her walkway after a storm left over a foot and a half in Kittery, Maine, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015. How much snow will York ME get during the blizzard? York ME, which is under a blizzard warning, could get 11-19 inches of snow beginning at midnight Friday. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: New England snowfall forecast: How much snow are we getting? Ten years after revelations of an extensive NYPD spying operation in their communities, Muslim Americans have once again found themselves the target of secret surveillance. The news in recent weeks has centered on the Investigative Project on Terrorism, a nonprofit research group that critics say has an anti-Muslim bias. In December, a Muslim civil rights organization accused the group of bankrolling a years-long effort using staff and paid informants to monitor Muslim leaders, including a leading New Jersey imam. The most prominent fallout came in Ohio, where the head of the state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations was fired, after allegedly serving as an IPT mole for more than a decade. CAIR subsequently released a statement showing other reported targets, including Imam Mohammad Qatanani of the Islamic Center of Passaic County in Paterson, one of the Garden State's largest mosques. New York attorney and Palestinian rights activist Lamis Deek and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison also came under scrutiny, along with other Muslim leaders, according to statements from a whistleblower and an informant. Imam Mohammad Qatanani Imam addresses worshippers as Muslims mark Eid al Adha, the feast of the sacrifice, at the Islamic Center of Passaic County in 2020. New allegations about surveillance have renewed fears for local Muslims. As far as we can see, IPT at one point or another touched pretty much every major Muslim organization in the U.S., said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, the deputy director of CAIR, one of the nation's most high-profile Muslim advocacy groups. Their main target was the national Muslim community and anything that was in any way connected to public affairs and foreign policy. For Muslims, the news was a chilling reminder of aggressive law enforcement surveillance they faced after the Sept. 11 attacks. But it also underscored what many already knew: that anti-Muslim groups were watching them, too tracking, documenting and trying to find dirt on the community. While the NYPD cast a wide net in its monitoring mapping, eavesdropping and photographing at mosques, businesses and schools in New York and New Jersey IPT's focus was on Muslims in positions of prominence or power, Mitchell said. Story continues Their goal was to undermine Muslims to make sure Muslims would never become a powerful force in this country, he said. Surveillance group: What is the Investigative Project on Terrorism, and who is its founder Steve Emerson? IPT and its founder, Steve Emerson, a former journalist and television pundit, denied allegations of widespread surveillance in a response emailed to The Record and the USA TODAY Network. IPT has never monitored and will never monitor the wider American Muslim community. But the IPT will not hesitate to uncover and publicly expose radical Islamist activity on American soil by groups like CAIR, which threaten our national security, the organization wrote. IPT has been helped in its work by Muslims who share IPTs awareness of the threats posed by radical Islamists and who do not in any way represent the views of the vast majority of American Muslims." Third person sitting in the room' The scandal broke in mid-December when CAIR announced that the executive and legal director of its Ohio chapter, Romin Iqbal, had been giving IPT confidential information about the group, including recordings of conversations, strategic plans and private emails. Since then, CAIR has released statements from a mosque volunteer from Virginia and a former IPT staffer admitting their parts in the operation. CAIR said it was tipped off by a whistleblower to Iqbal's spying in Ohio. The group released an anonymous statement on Jan. 12 in which the whistleblower said he prepared summaries and transcripts of recordings of events and conversations that frequently included Muslim leaders." He also recorded video and audio at mosques, rallies and other public events in the tri-state area, listing Qatanani among his targets in the statement. He did not explain his activity there, but CAIR said it took place a decade ago. Progress? Next NJ Legislature may include two Muslims, and author of anti-Islam posts Nadia Kahf, chairwoman of the Paterson center, said she was not surprised by the news because of reports that have emerged over the years about informants at mosques and activist groups. At ICPC, we always joked around that there is a third person sitting in the room with us, she said. "The community is aware there are people who may be praying next to them that may be relaying information to others. Dr. Mohammad Qatanani, imam of the Islamic Center of Passaic County, one of New Jersey's largest mosques. The Islamic Center, which also has a branch in Clifton, has for years streamed live sermons and events online, and Qatanani noted he was a key figure in interfaith groups and law enforcement advisory groups. We are very open and we dont have anything to hide, the imam said in an interview. The whistleblower watched Qatanani around the time immigration authorities were trying to deport him. In 2006, U.S. officials alleged he didn't disclose a 1993 arrest and conviction in Israel for giving support to Hamas, which the U.S. has classified a terrorist organization. In court, Qatanani said that he was detained but was never told of any charges or convictions and never saw a judge. He was never a member of Hamas, he testified, and other witnesses said detentions were routine at the time. A judge found no credible evidence of a conviction and ruled in Qatanani's favor in 2008. The case drew widespread attention as clergy, law enforcement and elected officials defended Qatanani in court as a respected leader and bridge builder. While comments were compiled from rallies and mosque sermons, there is no indication that the information was illegally obtained. But in Ohio, CAIR leaders say, surveillance was covert and possibly illegal. After the whistleblower came forward, CAIR hired a law firm and forensic expert who found that Iqbal had been sharing emails and secret recordings of meetings held with other chapters and organizations for at least 13 years. What is CAIR?: Despite criticisms, CAIR controversial only to vocal few, its leaders say Iqbal confessed but has not said why he spied, according to CAIR officials. After he was fired, CAIR said Tariq Nelson of Virginia had also come forward to say he worked for IPT for four years starting in 2008, receiving $3,000 a month to gather information. In a statement released by CAIR, Nelson said he now wants "to right the wrong that I did." The Council on American-Islamic Relations said it fired its Ohio chapter leader, Romin Iqbal, after he admitted to spying on the group from within. Like Iqbal, he recorded public and private events with prominent leaders and organizations. That included a call with a dozen groups about a proposed Islamic center near ground zero in Manhattan and a 2010 fundraiser at a private home with Keith Ellison, then a U.S. congressman and the first Muslim elected to Congress. Ellison's campaign to lead the Democratic National Committee was derailed by the release of the recording, in which he complained that U.S. Middle East policy was too tied to Israel and ignored other interests in the region. In its statement, IPT said its work was intended to expose "radical Islamists." The group said Nelson attended a Virginia mosque where individuals had been suspected of terrorist financing. IPT also alleged that CAIR supports Hamas, an accusation that the organization has refuted. A history of surveillance Surveillance of Muslim groups stretches back well before 9/11, said Kameelah MuMin Rashad, a board member for Muslim Advocates, another advocacy group recorded by Iqbal. As a child growing up in Brooklyn in the 1980s, I can recall conversations about the presence of federal agents or other operatives in the masjid, she said, using the Arabic word for mosque. The FBI targeted civil rights activists and Black nationalists, including Muslims, under a wider effort called Operation COINTELPRO between 1956 and 1971. The agency would go on to monitor nonprofits, student groups in mosques in Chicago, in a terrorist money laundering probe recently described in the documentary "The Feeling of Being Watched," which called it the biggest domestic terror investigation before 9/11. After 9/11, the NYPD conducted sweeping surveillance at businesses, schools and mosques within 100 miles of New York City, including in New Jersey. Their efforts failed to generate any leads or investigations, officials later acknowledged as part of a civil rights lawsuit brought by Muslim citizens. Recent decades also saw a rise of private research groups dedicated to tracking and documenting statements and activities by Muslim activists, professors and other public figures, trying to link them to radical groups or sentiments. "It's a reflection of what law enforcement has been doing, [for instance] the NYPD police commissioner getting weekly speaker lists at Muslim student organizations," said Faiza Patel of the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonprofit law and public policy institute at New York University School of Law. The trend is "driven by technology. It's much easier to track what people say and do," said Patel, co-director of the school's Liberty and National Security program. CAIR's office in Hilliard, Ohio. The group announced in December that it was firing its executive director in the state for leaking confidential information to the Investigative Project on Terrorism. Kahf, of the Paterson center, who is also a board member of CAIRs New Jersey chapter, said people had given information in the past to an Islamophobic network." In one such case in 2008, CAIR hired intern Chris Gaubatz, who used a fake name to gain access and help his father research a book that claimed a conspiracy to "Islamize America." Gaubatz stole 12,000 documents, including budget reports, real estate records, strategy papers and bank statements, CAIR said in a still-pending lawsuit. He also made video and audio recordings of private meetings and conversations involving CAIR officials and employees, the suit said. Some documents were shared online or in the book, as were names, addresses, phone numbers and emails of former CAIR employees and donors. Muslim leaders say the scrutiny has made some people wary of donating to charities or expressing political opinions, fearing they will end up named in an investigation or targeted on a far-right website. What is IPT? Founded in 1995, IPT bills itself as a counterterrorism institute and data center. After 9/11, Emerson became a frequent cable-news guest and testified before Congress. But he faced allegations of inaccuracies and conspiracy-mongering, including claims that radical Muslims were infiltrating Congress and the White House. In New Jersey, he railed against Sohail Mohammed in 2011, when he was appointed a state Superior Court judge by then-Gov. Chris Christie. Emerson wrote online that Mohammed was a longtime mouthpiece for radical Islamists" and that Christie, who has also spoken highly of Qatanani, "has a tin ear for radical Islam." The whistleblower who outed Iqbal said he joined IPT after 9/11 because he believed in its mission of fighting terrorism. Instead, much of his work was focused on surveilling critics of Israel, the person said in his statement. "We were essentially being used as an Israel lobbying organization, he said. The former staffer provided screenshots of emails to CAIR allegedly showing that Emerson was exchanging information with Israeli officials, including a 2014 message asking for any information that might link Students for Justice in Palestine to Hamas. Emerson said he would send reports on the college activist group, but had not found a "smoking gun" showing a connection. Asked about the emails, IPT responded that neither "Mr. Emerson nor the IPT has ever worked at the direction of any government, foreign or domestic." CAIR has called for an FBI investigation into IPT's activities, but the agency has so far declined to comment. In recent weeks, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad has cautioned chapters to be vigilant about security and take precautions when they hire people. But he said average Muslim Americans "should not become concerned or paranoid." "We're not doing anything that needs to be hidden," he said. Hannan Adely is a diversity reporter covering Arab and Muslim communities for NorthJersey.com, where she focuses on social issues, politics, bias and civil rights. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Email: adely@northjersey.com Twitter: @adelyreporter This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: CAIR spying scandal: Surveillance fears for NJ Muslims NORTH DAKOTA - The North Dakota Community Foundation (NDCF) will be hosting the 54th annual North Dakota Picnic at Red Mountain Park in Mesa, Arizona on Sunday, March 6, 2022. The event is a gathering of anyone with North Dakota ties living either permanently or part-time in Arizona. The 2020 ND Picnic drew an estimated 2,500 people. The 2020 ND Picnic drew an estimated 2,500 people. The event will be held from 10 am to 2:30 pm on Sunday, March 6 at Red Mountain Park, 7745 E. Brown Road in Mesa. It will feature musical entertainment, a variety of vendor booths, and the opportunity to meet up with old friends. There will be food available for purchase. Attendees are asked to pay $5 per person at the Registration Table to help defray costs. It will feature musical entertainment, a variety of vendor booths, and the opportunity to meet up with old friend The event is a gathering of anyone with North Dakota ties living either permanently or part-time in Arizona. Although there is seating available at the park, attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. For more information, visit www.NDCF.net/Picnic, www.facebook.com/ndpicnic, or contact the North Dakota Community Foundation at (701) 222-8349 or christi@NDCF.net Established in 1976, the North Dakota Community Foundation is a public, non-profit tax-exempt corporation which receives and distributes charitable funds to support a wide range of programs which benefit North Dakotans. NDCF currently manages over 800 charitable funds for various North Dakota communities and donors, including 69 community foundations and over 150 scholarship funds. This article originally appeared on Devils Lake Journal: 54th annual North Dakota Picnic at Red Mountain Park in Mesa, Arizona Boley Elementary School principal Sandy Bates said it's been a struggle to find substitute teachers to the point where most of her staff has been helping fill empty classrooms. Though more teachers have been out because of COVID-19, there are fewer substitutes to choose from. School districts in Northeast Louisiana are struggling to staff their classes as the recent wave of COVID cases has made finding substitute teachers even more difficult than usual. The problem is one of both supply and demand, as more teachers and school staff have either contracted COVID or are absent for quarantine, and so are potential substitutes. For some schools to stay open, some schools have relied, not just on qualified substitutes, but fellow staff members to fill empty classrooms. Sandy Bates, principal at Boley Elementary School, said she has used every person in the building as a substitute teacher. "We have just taken different people from different positions and put them in there just to cover," Bates said. "There are very, very few subs available, and we struggle every day to get classes covered." More: New Boley Elementary set to finish rebuild just under 3 years after school fire The problem is not a new one, but COVID has made it much worse. It's not just that the number of teachers absent is greater than the number of available substitutes. Rather, it's a product of there not being enough substitutes to begin with. At the January Ouachita Parish School Board meeting, superintendent Don Coker said that back when he was personnel director for the district, there were roughly 1200 substitutes available for teachers. Nowadays, the district has "a little over 300." "COVID has had a big play in why we are not able to get some of our subs right now, but we are certainly working on that," Coker said. Bates said the substitute shortage first became noticeable with the COVID-19 pandemic, but the omicron surge made operations even more difficult to maintain, especially because teachers started needing to take sick time as the second semester of school began. More: Monroe City School Board extends staff 5-day COVID leave policy With most schools needing substitutes, Bates said it's a struggle to be the first one to find an available sub. Story continues "We need so many, and there's so few around it's like we're fighting to get in to call first," Bates said. "When you call and they're going someplace else, then you just kind of give up, and you see who you have around your school." Furthermore, recruiting substitutes has been a greater obstacle this school year compared to earlier in the pandemic, she said. To help recruit more substitutes, Bates said she's advertised the positions to the people she knows. "I have posted on my Facebook, and I've recruited as many friends as I have," Bates said. More: Most schools in Louisiana, nationwide have universal free meals for students for now Todd Guice, assistant superintendent and personnel director of Ouachita Parish Schools, said the district has launched an ad campaign in the hopes of recruiting more substitutes. This will include social media posts but go as far as to include billboards and radio spots. Those interested in pursuing a role as a substitute should visit bit.ly/3rV7Y0u for more information. Candidates are required to be at least 21 years old with at least a high school diploma equivalent. They also need to pass a background check. Coker said substitute pay has been raised to be more competitive. Rates start at $65 per day and go all the way up to $110. For the substitutes still around, Bates said some are showing up out of the goodness of their hearts, not just for the paycheck. "Some of the people that are willing to come in now are people who are already working but have some extra time; they don't need the job," Bates said. "People I have talked to are just coming in to help because we need it." Follow Sabrina LeBoeuf on Twitter @_sabrinakaye and on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3B8sgHo. Support local journalism by subscribing at https://cm.thenewsstar.com/specialoffer. This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Local schools need more substitutes to meet demand Jan. 27Irwin fire department to hold fundraiser Those attending the Irwin Volunteer Fire Department annual benefit dinner and raffle on March 5 at Antonelli Event Center, 100 Colony Drive, Irwin, have a chance to win $4,000 and other prizes. Doors open at 6 p.m., with bar to open at 6:30 p.m. Dinner is planned for 7 p.m. A $130 donation includes dinner and open bar for two people. The winners will be determined through a drawing. Holders of first five numbers drawn will receive $50. The last 10 finalists are each guaranteed $100. For more information, contact Deputy Fire Chief Shawn Stitely at 724-396-1763 or Chris at 724-420-8391. Norwin Democrats to meet U.S. Rep. Connor Lamb, D-Pittsburgh, who is running for for U.S. Senate this year, is scheduled to be the guest speaker at the meeting of the Norwin Area Democrats at 6 p.m. Feb. 10 at the Norwin Public Library community room, Caruthers Lane, Irwin. Quinton Berkompas, the new Pennsylvania Democrats regional organizing director for Westmoreland County, also is scheduled to speak. Joe Napsha is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Joe at 724-836-5252, jnapsha@triblive.com or via Twitter . As Russian troops bear down on Ukraine and the United States prepares its own military buildup in Eastern Europe, concerns are growing across the ideological spectrum that the standoff could inadvertently escalate into the unthinkable: nuclear war. President Joe Biden has insisted that he will not use American forces to directly defend Ukrainian territory against a possible Russian invasion. But that is no guarantee that the two sides wont come to blows. The worlds two largest nuclear powers could even stumble into nuclear confrontation if the situation spins out of control, current and former officials and experts on both sides of the Atlantic worry. At the point you unleash war in the modern environment, the one thing that is certain is the law of unintended consequences, Des Browne, a member of the British Parliament and a former secretary of state for defense, told POLITICO. If you are talking about a nuclear-armed environment, which is already fragile then you are living in an environment [where] things could escalate quite quickly, by accident or miscalculation. Nobody thinks any of these weapons are going to be used deliberately, but miscalculation is a significant chance, added Browne, who chairs the Euro-Atlantic Security Leadership Group. Its a concern shared by current and former nuclear security officials who usually dont agree on much from disarmament advocates to nuclear hawks. I think the Ukraine conflict is demonstrating that the nuclear escalation scenario were worried about is not out of sight, said Patty-Jane Geller, an expert on nuclear strategy at the hawkish Heritage Foundation. Last week, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists cited the Ukraine conflict as contributing to its decision to keep the Doomsday Clock at 100 seconds to midnight, an indication of how close it assesses that the human race is to potential self-annihilation. Ukraine remains a potential flashpoint, and Russian troop deployments to the Ukrainian border heighten day-to-day tension, it noted in citing the threat of a nuclear conflict. Story continues A primary concern, according to Geller and others, is Russias arsenal of thousands of battlefield nuclear weapons, which are central to its military strategy. The Russians have something like 4,000 [tactical nuclear weapons] and they have an escalate to win nuclear doctrine, which says we use nuclear weapons first if the conventional conflict starts to spin out of our favor, said a former senior GOP government official who still works on nuclear security issues. One Russian diplomat last month went so far as to publicly threaten the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the crisis. The weapons have a lower yield than traditional atomic bombs and are designed to be used against conventional forces in battle. But they still have enormous explosive power and are considered particularly destabilizing to deterrent strategy. The United States has reportedly been flying dedicated spy missions over in recent weeks to determine if Russia has deployed any of its tactical nuclear weapons along the border with Ukraine. Theres also concern among Russian nuclear experts about the potential that the Ukraine crisis could escalate, according to former U.S. Ambassador Richard Burt, who negotiated arms control treaties with the Soviet Union. He told POLITICO he was on a conference call Wednesday with European and Russian security officials and experts who discussed just such a scenario. People are worried about the possibility through some process of escalation this somehow gets out of control misreading, misunderstanding signals, or technical mistakes [and] that nuclear weapons in one form or another could become a factor in this crisis, he said. The situation is exacerbated by the growing number of U.S., NATO, and Russian military forces in close proximity, Burt said. One thing I think is useful to remember is people are not just putting their forces on alert in and around Ukraine, but youve got nuclear-capable naval forces in the Black Sea and in the Mediterranean, he said. In the Baltic Sea there also has been an intensification of activity as well. You have a lot more aircraft flying overflights. Russia has also been nuclear saber-rattling in recent days, threatening that if NATO doesnt meet its demands for halting the alliances expansion east it could deploy its tactical nuclear weapons closer to American borders. What we should be worried about is their doctrine and their 4,000 non-strategic nuclear weapons, the former official added. Another concern is that many of its military aircraft and missiles are also designed to carry both non-nuclear and nuclear weapons, a circumstance that could sow even more confusion during hostilities. It is very difficult for the West to know, that conventional or nuclear, until its used, the former nuclear official said, citing in particular air defense systems. Nikolai Sokov, a former Russian Foreign Ministry official, said he considers the risk of a conflict over Ukraine spilling over into the nuclear arena as extremely remote. But even he says it's conceivable that one or both sides could dangerously miscalculate. For example, an accidental clash between Russian and NATO aircraft or warships, he said, may trigger direct confrontation and then it could roll." For leading advocates of reducing nuclear arms, the Ukraine crisis highlights the hugely destabilizing role they play. What are nuclear weapons doing for us? asked Tom Collina, director of policy at the Ploughshares Fund. We only kind of think about them when we get into these crises, where really all they become is a liability. Its hard to argue that nuclear weapons are adding to anybodys security in this situation, but they seem to be the thing you can stumble into by mistake, he added. Also looming over the crisis is Russias history of using cyber-attacks as a key element of its military strategy, which could potentially disrupt or confuse nuclear command and control systems. Chris Painter, a former top government cyber official, warned this week of the risk of a nuclear escalation caused by a cyber attack impacting nuclear forces. We do know that Russia and other services are intent on intruding into U.S. systems, he told an event hosted by the nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative. Obviously, nuclear command and control would be a target theyd want to go after and get a foothold in. This is a really dangerous thing if those systems are seen to be unreliable that does have a real effect on deterrence. Its hugely escalatory. Others have taken issue with American rhetoric that they see as sowing unnecessary confusion about what military options might be under consideration to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Repeated assertions that all options are on the table to punish Moscow should it reinvade Ukraine are seen as particularly troubling. In the nuclear age, all options on the table in a conflict involving nuclear powers could be understood to mean the potential use of nuclear weapons, even if that wasnt the intention in this instance, two leading arms control advocates wrote last week. U.S. and Russian leaders must consider the use of such weapons off the table there are no winners in a nuclear war, they added. CORRECTION: A previous version of this report misstated the organization that operates the Doomsday Clock. It is the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Ohio's biggest economic development project in history means the state is ponying up its biggest incentive package. The state laid out more than $2 billion in incentives that it will provide to Intel, which announced a week ago that it will invest $20 billion in building two factories, called fabs, in Licking County to make semiconductors. On top of the state's incentives, JobsOhio, the state's economic development arm, will kick in $150 million in economic development and workforce grants and the city of New Albany said it will offer a 30-year, 100% property tax abatement on the buildings that Intel constructs in the city's business park. "As weve all seen over the past few years, weve got to make more products here in America, and we want to make them here in Ohio so that we're no longer held hostage by disruptions in the global supply chain," Lydia Mihalik, director of the state's Department of Development, said Friday at a news conference where she detailed the incentives. "When you look at what were giving Intel to what were getting in return some may wonder if its worth it, the answer is yes." More: Photos: Licking County site of planned Intel plant Intel formally announced plans for the factories Jan. 21. They will employ 3,000 workers at an average salary of $135,000. On top of that, the project is expected to create 7,000 construction jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs. The state's commitment is broken into three parts: $600 million to Intel that reflects the cost of developing chip factories in America; $691 million in infrastructure improvements in the region; and $650 million over 30 years in income tax incentives based on the number of workers Intel hires. More: Here's how Ohio won a bid by Intel to build the world's largest chip factory "Ohio has been presented with a historical opportunity to take the lead in re-establishing America's dominance in making semiconductors, Mihalik said. Story continues Mihalik called the $600 million an onshoring grant that is intended to offset Intel's cost of building the plants in America where costs can be 20% to 30% higher than in Asia. The grant is $300 million per plant with a goal of completing the plants by 2025. Mihalik said the grant is performance-based, meaning that if Intel doesn't live up to its promise, the state will work to recover the money. Of the $691 million in local infrastructure improvements, $300 million will be spent on a water reclamation facility, $290 million on road work and $101.2 million to build out water and wastewater capacity upgrades. The state income tax incentives will have to be approved by the Ohio Tax Credit Authority while state legislators will have to sign off on the grants and infrastructure money. In the early stages of wooing Intel last summer, Ohio changed state law to sweeten the potential tax breaks for what are classified as "megaprojects" like what Intel wants to do. Jersey Township chip plant: How does the Intel semiconductor plant compare to other manufacturing projects in Ohio? "Intels investment in Ohio is unprecedented in size and importance for America as it adds a new industry and generations of potential for Ohioans," JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef said in a statement. As for New Albany, the value of the property tax abatement will depend on the value of the buildings that Intel constructs on the site. The abatement is consistent with what New Albany has offered to other companies that have located in the park the past 12 years. The difference is that the abatement will remain in effect for 30 years under the new mega-projects legislation. New Albany will share income tax revenue from workers at the park with local schools and communities to make up for some of the property tax abatement. Global supply chain problems during the pandemic have created a massive shortage of chips, the brains that run everything from cell phones to cars to appliances to industrial and medical equipment. Currently, 12% of the world's chips are made in the U.S., down from 37% in the 1990s, according to industry officials. About 80% are made in Asia. Chips are an integrated circuit or small wafer of semiconductor material embedded with integrated circuitry. As a result of the shortage, semiconductor companies have started the long process of developing new U.S. sources of chips. The process figures to take several years before the plants would be up and running. In addition to the local and state incentives, Intel figures to be a big winner assuming Congress passes the funding for the CHIPS Act, a $52 billion proposal meant to bring back chip production to the United States. CHIPS was approved in January 2021 as part of the most recent National Defense Authorization Act, but without funding. In June, the Senate passed the Innovation and Competition Act. The House is expected to take up the legislation in February. Intel has said eventually, there could be eight plants at the site with 10,000 workers, and that the location could become the largest semiconductor operation in the world, meaning that Intel could be eligible for additional tax incentives in the future. The plants will be built on 3,190 acres that New Albany is annexing from Jersey Township in Licking County. Intel plans to use nearly 1,000 acres and has an option on another 500. About 250 acres also have been set aside for Intel suppliers. mawilliams@dispatch.com @BizMarkWilliams This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio's incentive offer to Intel top $2 billion Cook Countys top judge discussed juvenile justice, ankle bracelets and a technique for criminal case management Thursday during a policy address at the Union League Club of Chicago. Despite the best efforts of men and women of goodwill all over this county, the average resident who lives here lives in fear, Chief Judge Timothy Evans said, addressing a spike in violence last year. Advertisement Evans proposed long-term and short-term solutions to crime spikes, and announced hes looking to implement a differentiated case management system in the criminal division to make the system more consistent, after working with the National Center for State Courts. Under this system, Cook County would put felony cases on four tracks, Evans said, ranging from a six-month time frame for disposing of lesser felonies to a two-year timeline for disposing of murder cases. Deterrence of crime is more likely to come from consistency than severity of the sanction, he added, driving the need for consistent apprehensions and procedures. Advertisement The program has been in place in some felony courtrooms for a few years, but it will be expanded to the whole Criminal Division. It was not immediately clear what the consequences, if any, would be if a case fails to meet the imposed deadlines. Cook County criminal courts have often been criticized for taking longer to resolve cases compared to other jurisdictions around the country. Evans also acknowledged the controversy surrounding people awaiting trial who are released with electronic-monitoring ankle bracelets, after Mayor Lori Lightfoot called for judges to stop the practice for certain defendants. The mayor and police leaders have blamed a revolving door bond system for putting some allegedly violent offenders back on the street before their trials. Over the course of the two-hour event, the judge repeatedly emphasized the importance of due process for people who are charged with crimes but are still in the pretrial phase, since they may not ultimately be convicted. If society loses order, it collapses. If individuals lose their rights, society collapses, Evans said. No one who has been charged with murder or attempted murder has been put on electronic monitoring since October, Evans said, though he later added that this was not due to any specific policy change. Evans also addressed the issue of juvenile repeat offenders who are not held in custody. The issue was raised in response to the charging Wednesday of a 16-year-old who was on juvenile probation at the time he allegedly fatally shot 8-year-old Melissa Ortega in the Little Village neighborhood. The teenager, Emilio Corripio, was on intensive probation related to two carjackings and possession of a stolen vehicle when that shooting took place last weekend, according to Assistant States Attorney James Murphy. Advertisement Evans would not propose any sort of limit for a number of chances for juvenile repeat offenders, as the purpose of the juvenile court is not just public safety, but rehabilitation, he said. We dont give up on the kids. We continue to try to help them, Evans said. He would rather use cognitive behavior therapy than electronic monitoring or other sanctions for young people, since their brains arent fully developed, he said. Evans elicited applause from the crowd when he called for societal intervention in at-risk individuals lives before they are charged with a crime, with measures such as jobs, cognitive behavioral therapy or trauma-informed care. In the long term, Evans said there needs to be reinvestment in at-risk communities, financing for witness protection and an embrace of economic equity. oolander@chicagotribune.com Sarah Kelly is shown Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Huntington, W.Va. After struggling with an opioid addiction most of her life, Kelly has been in recovery since October 2019. As a federal judge mulls a decision in a lawsuit filed by the city of Huntington and Cabell County over the role of three pharmaceutical companies in the local opioid crisis, Kelly said there are many recovery programs that could benefit if the plaintiffs prevail. HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) Sarah Kelly recalls the fleeting moments when she reached out for help during a decadeslong opioid addiction, only to find out no residential treatment beds were available in an overloaded system in her corner of West Virginia. In the hardest-hit county in the nations worst-hit state for drug overdose deaths per capita, Kellys struggles with prescription pain pills cost her custody of her two children. Her younger sister died of a heart infection from intravenous drug use in 2017. Somehow, the Huntington resident wouldnt let her addiction win. I was so tired of living without them, Kelly said. I couldnt live without them anymore. Six months have passed since closing arguments were held in the first lawsuit over the U.S. addiction epidemic to go to trial. It blames three pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid crisis in the Huntington area. For Kelly and others who know the desperation that comes with addiction, the time its taken to render a verdict seems out of step with the urgency they feel. Kelly eventually found treatment and went to court to get her kids back. Shes been in recovery since October 2019. But that nightmare of being unable to locate a bed right away comes rushing back as a decision looms in the lawsuit. Cabell County and the city of Huntington sued AmerisourceBergen Drug Co., Cardinal Health Inc. and McKesson Corp. A federal judge must rule whether the companies created a public nuisance in distributing 81 million prescription pain pills over eight years and whether they ignored signs that the Ohio River community was being ravaged by addiction. The plaintiffs are seeking more than $2.5 billion. The money would go toward prevention, treatment and education. Kelly, 38, said the help cant come fast enough. Theres people dying every single day, Kelly said. So many of us are lucky to be alive and have found treatment. Theres a lot of people that could really benefit from this. Theres a lot of programs that could benefit from this and save lives. Story continues From 2015 to 2020, Cabell County had 8,252 people about 10% of its population suffering from opioid use disorder, plaintiffs attorney Paul T. Farrell Jr. said in his closing arguments, citing expert testimony. The county has 106 Medicaid-approved beds for residential treatment of those patients, according to the state Department of Health and Human Resources. Closing arguments were held in late July after the nearly three-month bench trial in Charleston. U.S. District Judge David Faber has yet to indicate when he might rule. It is worrisome that it is taking a long time, even though we know these things take time, said Kim Miller, an addiction counselor at Prestera Center, a Huntington treatment facility. The longer it takes, the more questions arise, and the less likely it feels to get a satisfying verdict. For many people who have abused prescription pain pills, any money from the trial is going to come too late, Miller said. In Cabell County last year, there were nearly 900 emergency medical responses for suspected overdoses. In 3% of the cases, the patient was pronounced dead at the scene. An estimated 1,400 emergency room visits in the county were related to overdoses, according to the DHHR. Attorneys familiar with the trial said theyre not alarmed by the months without a verdict. A lot of people have been waiting for a long time, and maybe people underestimate the complexity of the case and the difficulty of coming to a resolution, said Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor. I think Judge Faber is just taking the time that is needed to get it right. West Virginia University law professor Patrick McGinley, representing the newspaper group HD Media, was instrumental in forcing the Drug Enforcement Administration to release a database of distributor pain pill shipments across the United States, including more than 1 billion to West Virginia from 2006 to 2014. The Charleston Gazette-Mail won a 2017 Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the states opioid crisis. McGinley, who teaches a seminar in prescription opioid litigation, said the trial in Fabers courtroom would produce thousands if not tens of thousands of pages of transcripts of testimony, hundreds if not thousands of exhibits, and then Faber has to research the law. Public nuisance claims drive some 3,000 lawsuits brought by state and local governments against drugmakers, distribution companies and pharmacies. Faber can peek at cases in other states; since the end of closing arguments, other opioid trials have come and gone. In northern Ohio, a federal jury in November ruled that CVS, Walgreens and Walmart pharmacies recklessly distributed massive amounts of pain pills in two counties. A judge will decide by spring how much the pharmacies must pay in damages. A jury on New Yorks Long Island found in late December that drugmaker Teva Pharmaceuticals contributed to the opioid crisis there. A separate trial will determine what Teva will have to pay. Drug companies prevailed in lawsuits decided in November in northern California and in Oklahoma. A judge rejected OxyContin maker Purdue Pharmas sweeping settlement of thousands of lawsuits in December. Another judge refused to allow litigation to move ahead against members of the Sackler family who own the company but also ordered negotiations for a reworked settlement. The opioid crisis has been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. since 2000, counting overdoses of both prescription opioids and illicit ones such as heroin and fentanyl. McGinley said that although Cabell County and Huntington need resources now to deal with the opioid problem, the case likely wont end with Fabers decision. This is the legal process; we have to ensure fairness and compliance with the rule of law, McGinley said. Theres a saying: The wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow. Thats certainly what it seems in a case like this. . This article originally appeared on Mineral Daily News-Tribune: An opioid-ravaged West Virginia town awaits trial verdict Jan. 28Although there was a visible police presence in and around Donovan Elementary School, there were no incidents reported to Lebanon School District officials on the day of the first meeting of the After School Satan Club. The news of the club being formed and meeting in a school raised the ire of residents over the past week on social media and elsewhere. The event drew the attention of a few media outlets who were at the school Thursday. Superintendent Isaac Seevers and his team met with city and police officials to develop a plan to ensure the safe departure of students at the end of Thursday's school day. The plan also ensured there was a safe and secure environment for those participating in the new club. He confirmed there were two students and seven adults that were participating in the meeting. Several Lebanon police officers were seen at the school entrances where buses and parents picked up students leaving for the day; police drove around the building and near where opponents of the club were holding signs at the corner of East Street and Justice Drive. Police also were enforcing the district's instructions of keeping people off school property. Across Justice Drive at the Warren County Government Campus, Warren County Sheriff's deputies were stationed at the county Administration Building and across Memorial Drive in the parking lot of the county Common Pleas Courthouse. At the corner of East Street and Justice Drive, several people held signs in opposition to the club. "We're here to stand for Jesus," said Michelle Berry of Lebanon. "I was expecting to be the only one here." A mother of three, Berry said she was there "to lift the name of God." "We need to protect children from evil and make Christians in school know they can be bold for Jesus," she said. Another opponent holding a sign in the low temperatures said she was there "to show kids that God is love and wants everyone to join Him," said Melissa McMillen of Mason. "We're shining a light in a dark world. We have to be the voice of our children and we need Jesus in school." Story continues Todd Carr, an outreach evangelist from Calvary Tabernacle in Middletown, was using a microphone and an amplifier across East Street from the other opponents. He spoke of standing up for Jesus Christ and the Gospels and received cheers from the opponents as well as people honking their horns as they drove through the intersection. However, a Lebanon police officer stopped and asked Carr to turn off his sound equipment because it was a violation of a city ordinance. Carr made a couple of comments, then shut down his equipment before being interviewed by a media outlet. "I just wanted to finish what I had to say," he said. One East Street resident was not happy with Carr's microphone near her home. Sharalee Dickerson said she doesn't disagree with Carr, but she said he was scaring her two children at home who have COVID-19. She stood inside her front door watching Carr speak. "They should go to school board meetings to complain," she said. "This won't solve the issue." June Everett, an ordained minister of The Satanic Temple and the campaign manager of the After School Satan Club, said the meeting "was anti-climatic" and they were "just hanging out and having a good time playing games and enjoying snacks." Everett said the meetings will be held monthly unless the volunteer leadership determines the need to have more meetings. "We're not disappointed with today's turnout," she said. "We're not going after numbers. We just want to make this available." Everett said there are more people interested in participating and that she has received about a dozen emails and messages. She said people are afraid of their children becoming a target. Everett also said the schools did a great job in preparing for the meeting and with security. At the Donovan Elementary exit, a man was taking photographs with his cellphone and asking people if they were at the meeting. He said he wants to know who the people are that are going to the meeting. Shortly before the club was to end the meeting, Seevers, who was at the school's front door, went with a Lebanon police officer to clear the parking lot of vehicles and drivers who were not there to pick up a student attending the club meeting. Seevers said the goal was to make sure all of the students were able to leave school and catch their buses safely and that there were no incidents. He praised the assistance of police in addressing the district's concerns over the past week. "We have reviewed this as a board and a district and we believe that using the schools as a meeting place is an aspect of a community school district," he said. "Our facilities are used by community groups, religious organizations, sports groups and civic organizations. To say 'no' is taking away an opportunity." Seevers said seeing students connect with the school and staff deepens the connections academically and the district believes in doing so in a safe learning environment. He said the district's entire administrative team was at Donovan Elementary to support the teachers, staff and students there. "Within these walls there was great education happening and no one was thinking about this," Seevers said. "We want the community to understand that they are providing a safe learning environment." Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a media briefing at the Pentagon It's Friday, welcome to Overnight Defense & National Security, your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup. The Pentagon pressed Russia to stand down on its military posture near Ukraine, with the administration issuing another warning about the threat of a potential invasion. We'll do a rundown of the latest developments in the conflict, plus the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol issuing subpoenas to several individuals involved in a scheme to send fake Electoral College certificates. For The Hill, I'm Jordan Williams. Send me tips at jwilliams@thehill.com. Let's get to it. Ball in Putin's court The Pentagon on Friday called on Russia to stand down on Ukraine as tensions rise over the threat of a Russian military invasion. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a briefing with reporters said Moscow has for months been deploying forces along Ukraine's border at a "consistent and steady pace," which has been supported by Russian naval activity in the northern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. "We don't believe that President Putin has made a final decision to use these forces against Ukraine," Austin said. "He clearly now has that capability." No reason for armed conflict: Russia has amassed at least 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, and the U.S. has warned in recent weeks that Putin could attack at any moment. President Biden has warned Putin that such an attack would be met with severe economic consequences for Moscow. The Kremlin has denied any intention of seeking to invade Ukraine, but weeks of diplomatic dialogue aimed at diffusing the conflict has largely proven unsuccessful. As diplomatic talks continue, NATO has moved to bolster its security forces along the eastern flank, as Ukraine shares borders with four alliance members. Austin and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stressed that there was no reason for armed conflict. Story continues "It's the policy of the United States government to continue to support an independent Ukraine and their goals. And we are continuing our efforts to enhance their ability to protect themselves," Milley said. "We strongly encourage Russia to stand down and to pursue a resolution through diplomacy," he continued. "Armed force should always be the last resort. Success here is through dialogue." SOMETHING TO WATCH The United States has called for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address Russia's behavior and the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine's border. A senior administration official on Friday told reporters the U.S. wants to get U.N. members on the record. "It basically boils down to the question of whether there should be a path of war, or whether there should be a path of diplomacy," the official told reporters in a briefing. "I think the expectation is that members of the Security Council will be weighing in on this question and supportive of a diplomatic approach." The administration official said that no concrete measures or a joint statement are expected to come out of the council meeting. Russia, as one of five permanent members of the council, holds power to veto such measures in the council. The other permanent members are the U.S., France, the United Kingdom and China. Ukraine appeals to senators Sen. R Menendez (D-N.J.) addresses reporters after the weekly policy luncheon on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. As lawmakers scramble to iron out a sanctions package against Russia ahead of a potential invasion, the head of Ukraine's parliament sent a letter to several U.S. senators outlining specific demands for what those sanctions should look like. Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairman of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada legislature, thanked the senators for supporting Ukraine, and "stressed the importance of already adopted laws to support Ukraine in combating Russian aggression," according to a statement from the parliament. According to Axios, which first obtained the letter, the request was sent to Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations panel. The letter was also sent to Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.). The senators on Monday took part in a meeting over Zoom to try to figure out the details for legislation on sanctioning Russia. More coverage of the Russia-Ukraine conflict: Jan. 6 panel goes after fake electors scheme The House Jan. 6 Select Committee said Friday it is subpoenaing more than two dozen people involved in the scheme following the 2020 election where supporters of former President Trump submitted fake Electoral College certificates claiming he had won in various battleground states that had gone to President Biden. The panel announced that it had issued subpoenas to 14 individuals from seven states who had filed the fake documents with the National Archives. The group of people who were subpoenaed appear to all be state GOP officials and activists from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. What the committee wants to know: In letters sent out Friday, the select committee told the subjects of the subpoenas that it is investigating who was involved in the scheme, citing media reports that the group had met on Dec. 14, 2020 to cast their "votes." The committee said it is seeking answers about who had overseen the scheme. "We believe the individuals we have subpoenaed today have information about how these so-called alternate electors met and who was behind that scheme," the committee said in a tweet. "We encourage them to cooperate with the Select Committee's investigation." In the DOJ's hands: Earlier this week, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco told CNN that federal prosecutors were also examining the "alternate electors" effort. "We've received those referrals. Our prosecutors are looking at those and I can't say anything more on ongoing investigations," Monaco told the network on Tuesday. Read the full story here. ON TAP FOR MONDAY President Biden will welcome Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani The Royal United Services Institute will host a discussion on "The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict" at 10 a.m. The Hudson Institute will host a discussion on "Iran Nuclear Negotiations: Will a Revived Deal Undermine American Interests?" at 12 p.m. WHAT WE'RE READING That's it for today! Check out The Hill's defense and national security pages for latest coverage. See you on Monday. Members of the citizen group "Drive4Five," including organizer Carlos Garcia, second from right, rally for five voting districts in front of the Palm Desert Community Center on Thursday, January 20, 2022. A community workshop to redraw the boundary lines for the city's two existing voting districts. Palm Desert is taking steps toward putting a measure on the November ballot asking residents if the city should move to five voting districts or remain with the current two districts. Council members voted 3-2 to continue the discussion of a November ballot measure. The next step are for staff to return with proposed resolutions that would call for an election, request it be consolidated with the statewide general election in November, and set election deadlines. All resolutions must be approved by the council by June for a measure to be placed on the November ballot, said Heather Horning, assistant to the city manager. Mayor Pro Tem Sabby Jonathan and Councilmember Gina Nestande voted against a ballot measure and voiced support for the current two-district system, saying council members have always based decisions on what his best for the city as a whole. Were so divided as a country why would we want to further divide our own small and wonderful city? And it is a small city, just barely over 50,000 (population), Jonathan said. He said he understands those who are saying it isnt fair that 80% of the population is able to vote for four representatives at-large while the remainder vote for one every four years, but sees a move to five districts as creating a divided city and council. Councilmember Kathleen Kelly said she agreed with Jonathans comments, but has heard from residents on all sides of the issue as she has traveled around town for different events. Weve seen tonight that we have a group of people who very resolutely believe that five districts is a good thing. And I think we will continue to hear from that group of people until something happens to bring this issue to a head, Kelly said. Im not prepared to entertain the idea of this council changing the voting system, because as I travel around town I hear such a diversity of perspectives . But the question of how council members are selected whether at-large or by breaking the city into five districts should be answered by the residents. And the best way to find out how the majority of residents feel is to place it on the ballot, she said. Story continues This is an issue that belongs to the voters, Kelly said. Councilmember Karina Quintanilla, one of two residents who sued the city for violation of the California Voting Rights Act with its at-large system and now serves as the District 1 representative, said she has always supported five districts. When broken into districts, it makes elections simpler for the voters to find someone who represents their values locally rather than having to sift through and potentially choosing two to three representatives from a large pool of candidates. School and water boards are broken into districts and this would be no different. This would actually bring us closer to compliance with the way its done in other places, Quintanilla said. With most council members living in the south area of Palm Desert, it leaves the north side without representation of someone who understands the issues and concerns of those residents. Were not only talking about the demographics in terms of ethnicity, but were talking about economic interests and shaping the way Palm Desert grows, she said. Residents speak for both sides Eight people spoke during the meeting most in favor of five districts. Bruce Poynter, who lives in District 2, spoke in favor of two. He said he has talked to several Palm Desert residents who feel well represented with the current districts. None thought any further districts or divisions would be beneficial, Poynter said. Poynter said he has attended several City Council meetings in person over the years. Many times, I have witnessed a resident at the podium present with an issue. Most times, Ive watched one or more council persons approach the resident at break or after the meeting and give direct personal attention, Poynter said. Residents were from all areas of the city, he said. I dont want north, east, central, south and west to say my representative individually. I want us all to say, our representatives. I am on record as no to five districts. I want my city to stay united, Poynter said. Opponents said the two-district system is not balanced when District 1 has one representative elected every four years and District 2 has four with two elected at-large every two years. Proponents for five districts said each corner of the city should have representation. I dont understand the resistance to moving to five districts, resident Joan Speer said. Charlie Ara, a Palm Desert resident and advocate for five districts, emailed the council with a proposed compromise: Have the voters decide the issue by putting a measure on the June ballot and if passed, have it go into effect for the November council election. City Attorney Bob Hargreaves said the city is currently in compliance with California Voting Rights Act with its two voting districts, and a move to five districts would be a decision made by council members and/or voters. How we got here The city moved to a two-district system with the 2020 election as part of a settlement agreement with two Palm Desert women who sued the city in 2019, saying the at-large voting system went against the mandates of the California Voting Rights Act. The act requires that cities switch to districts, grouping communities of interest to ensure that protected minorities have a better chance for representation. Boundaries must be reconfigured every 10 years, based on new census figures. District 1, called the Civic Center Core District, is the smaller of Palm Deserts two districts, currently encompassing about 18.1% of the citys current population of 51,317. District 1 needs to encompass 18.4% to 21.6% of the current population or 163 to 1,800 more residents than currently reside within the boundaries, which must be contiguous. District 1 has one representative elected every four years, while the larger District 2 has four representatives, with elections staggered every two years. The city is in the process of redrawing boundaries for the two districts based on 2020 Census data. On Jan. 20, a group of citizens that support the council moving to five voting districts now without an election, called Drive4Five rallied in front of the Palm Desert Community Center just before a redistricting workshop. Desert Sun reporter Sherry Barkas covers the cities of La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert. She can be reached at sherry.barkas@thedesertsun.com. Follow her on Twitter @TDSsherryBarkas This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Desert council considers ballot measure moving to 5 districts As Peloton weighs layoffs and production pauses amid a bleak financial forecast, at least five employees across multiple divisions are claiming that the company owes them money for work they performed. Two employees in recent months a Minnesota delivery worker and a Los Angeles salesperson have filed class-action lawsuits against the company alleging that it didnt appropriately compensate them for overtime. Three other employees who spoke with BuzzFeed News also raised pay issues, such as working through breaks, not being reimbursed for work expenses, and not being paid out for vacation time upon termination. We worked off the clock a lot, said Ed Bonilla, who worked in a Peloton warehouse in New York. Bonilla, who is not suing the company, said it was common to clock out only to be asked to stick around, sometimes for as much as an additional hour without pay. Oftentimes we work through our breaks and dont get to take them on time or at all, he said. I missed my lunches almost every day. Peloton, which sells high-end exercise equipment and streaming video subscriptions, experienced a boom during the coronavirus pandemic when people were unable to go to public gyms. To achieve that record growth, the company relied on employees around the country to sell its bikes in showrooms, assemble them in warehouses, and deliver them to homes. But while Pelotons headquarters was voted the best place to work in New York City in 2021 a stated goal of CEO John Foley workers who sold, assembled, and delivered bikes said working for the company wasnt always a fair deal. Concerns about missing pay at Peloton have been raised by sales staff, assembly workers, video production staff, and delivery drivers. In Minnesota, a delivery worker named Trevon Estes filed suit against Peloton in October, alleging the company willfully engaged in a pattern, policy, and practice of unlawful conduct and owes him and other delivery workers in the state for overtime pay. According to the complaint, in addition to the unpaid overtime issue, Estes also frequently performed work for Defendant during scheduled break periods without pay. Peloton denied the charges in court filings. Story continues Another former Peloton employee who did delivery work for the company in Oregon said the hours were irregular, and he was sometimes asked to train workers without additional pay. Many of my coworkers had to pick up shifts with DoorDash just to pay their bills, he said. The worker requested anonymity out of concern that Peloton would sue him; Foley recently said the company is pursuing legal action against employees who have leaked information about Pelotons financial difficulties to the press. Peloton, which recently raised its starting wage to $19 an hour, said it provides paid break time in accordance with labor laws. We are committed to creating an inclusive, kind, and productive culture where all team members are treated respectfully and have the tools to succeed, a Peloton spokesperson said in a statement. Peloton employees are fairly paid, and we are committed to adhering to all legal requirements in every state in which we operate. Mark Cohen, a sales representative who filed his lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court in January, worked at Peloton for more than five years, from November 2016 to December 2021. His lawsuit alleges that, in addition to failing to pay overtime and minimum wage, Peloton failed to reimburse him for work expenses such as car mileage and cellphone bills. It also says Peloton failed to pay out full wages due upon termination of employment such as vacation time, which is legally required in California. The suit, which has not yet been certified as a class action by the court, challenges systemic illegal employment practices resulting in violations of the California Labor Code, according to the complaint. Cohen declined to comment on the record regarding his case. In court filings, Peloton denied the allegations. Similar lawsuits concerning wage and hour issues have been filed elsewhere against Peloton over the years. In 2017, Drake Widlake, who worked in video production for Peloton in New York and said he was owed overtime pay, settled a lawsuit against the company for $80,000. The company denied wrongdoing. Prior to Cohens case, two other employment suits were filed against Peloton in Los Angeles; one, brought by operations manager Ricardo Jacobo, was settled in September 2020, while another brought by former salesperson Brittany Gross is still being heard. Two warehouse workers in Northern California, Meagan Hernandez and EMonii Crumby, brought a lawsuit alleging unpaid wages against Peloton in February 2020; the company denied the charges, and the case is still ongoing. Even as Pelotons stock prices skyrocketed over the last two years, employees have had complaints about their working conditions. Black Peloton employees spoke out in November about pay inequity, and in June 2020, delivery employees raised safety concerns about entering private homes during the pandemic. Employees have also had to deal with the companys financial and logistical instability as demand surged but supply chain issues caused unexpected delays. Two former Peloton delivery workers told BuzzFeed News they repeatedly showed up to work only to be told there was nothing to do. If schedules change at the last minute, Peloton said it routinely pays workers for a minimum of four hours of work. But the former Oregon-based worker said that wasnt his experience. There were multiple instances where I would go into work for my scheduled shift just to be sent home without pay, he said. We were all expected to commute across town to work, only to be told, Sorry, we've got nothing for you, and be sent home. For a company that preaches company values and taking care of their employees, he continued, they really left us to fend for ourselves. NEW PHILADELPHIA Councilman Dean Holland has brought up the idea of renovating city hall or building a new one. At Monday's city council meeting, he noted that several city departments housed in the John Knisely Municipal Centre are nearly out of space. "It's been suggested that perhaps city council move from the present chambers to the third floor," he said. "I know the mayor is looking into this. "That would allow service department personnel to be moved into this area. It would be more accessible for the citizens who come to city hall. It would require some remodeling, and I would encourage the mayor to look at a plan for that." He said a plan should recognize the growth in the city and recognize the necessity for space in city hall, in New Philadelphia Municipal Court and in the police station. "That need is growing daily, and it may be time for us to start thinking about a new city hall," Holland said. "The opportunity may present itself as we move along, and I know the mayor would like to see something along those lines, but certainly to better address the needs of the citizens and their accessibility here at city hall." The city of New Philadelphia purchased the John Knisely Municipal Centre building from the New Philadelphia Elks lodge in 2000 for $700,000. The building was then renovated, and city offices moved into the building in 2003. This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: New Philadelphia councilman discusses lack of space in city hall MANILA, Philippines (AP) The Philippines will lift a ban on the entry of foreign tourists and businesspeople next month after nearly two years, in a move to revive the battered tourism industry as the latest coronavirus outbreak started to ease, officials said Friday. Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said the country will reopen its doors to travelers from more than 150 countries with visa-free privileges starting Feb. 10. Foreign travelers will no longer be required to quarantine in government-designated centers upon arrival if they have been fully vaccinated and tested negative prior to arrival, officials said. The government had initially planned to lift the ban on Dec. 1 but indefinitely postponed it as the more contagious omicron variant spread, which also prompted authorities to reimpose tighter restrictions. President Rodrigo Duterte warned that unvaccinated Filipinos who defy orders to stay at home could face arrest. Commuters who have not been immunized were also prohibited from public transport in the capital region of more than 13 million people unless on urgent errands, for at least up to the end of the month. The decision has sparking protests from human rights and labor groups. The number of daily infections has dropped considerably in the capital in recent days. Were done with border control, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire told a news conference, adding that government focus has shifted to preventing community transmission of the omicron variant, which has caused five deaths in the country so far. We are also aware that there is no room for complacency given the unpredictability of the virus, Puyat said. We will closely monitor the situation and ensure that health and safety protocols are strictly implemented in all tourism establishments. The number of tourists dropped by more than 6 million, and more than a million Filipinos lost their jobs in tourism businesses and destinations in the first year of the pandemic alone, according to government statistics. Tourism destinations, including popular beach and island resorts, resembled ghost towns at the height of pandemic lockdowns. The Philippines has reported more than 3.5 million confirmed COVID-19 infections, with 53,801 deaths, the second-highest totals in Southeast Asia after Indonesia. President Joe Biden. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images A bridge which had been listed as being in poor condition collapsed in Pittsburgh on Friday. The Biden administration had flagged thousands of bridges in Pennsylvania as needing repairs. Biden due to visit Pittsburgh on Friday and expected to speak about his infrastructure bill. A bridge collapse in Pittsburgh on Friday morning while multiple cars were on it comes after President Joe Biden warned that many of the bridges in Pennsylvania need repair. Pittsburgh Public Safety said the bridge collapsed on Friday, and that emergency services were responding. No injuries have been reported. KDKA reported that the bridge was located on Forbes Avenue, near Frick Park. The bridge on Forbes Avenue had been listed as being in "poor condition" by Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation. The Biden administration said this month that Pennsylvania had more than 3,300 bridges that were in poor condition, and that the state would get $1.6 billion for repairs as part of his $1 trillion infrastructure bill. Other states are also getting funding. Biden was due to visit Pittsburgh on Friday in a visit arranged before the collapse. He was expected to talk about the infrastructure bill, as well as the supply chain and manufacturing. Pittsburgh Public Safety told people to avoid the area, warning of "a strong smell of natural gas in the area." Read the original article on Insider Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke and his attorney Daniel Herbert leave the courtroom after Van Dyke's sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 in Chicago. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Its been more than three years since Jason Van Dykes jury signed the verdict forms that sent the former Chicago police officer to prison for the on-duty fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald. With Van Dyke scheduled to be free from prison by Feb. 3 after serving nearly half of his 81-month sentence, three members of the historic panel who spoke to the Tribune offered mixed reactions to news of his anticipated release. Advertisement They noted the jury did not have a say in deciding Van Dykes punishment in the racially fraught case. The jurors agreed the panel reached a just verdict and they hope court-ordered police reforms in its aftermath will be its true legacy. And each said they often think about the tragic circumstances that brought them together. Advertisement I think about it quite a bit, said juror Will Harpest, 73, a retired elementary schoolteacher who lives in Chicago. It was a huge event for me, just the intensity of the weight of knowing what all the issues were and the need to be fair. Will Harpest, a juror in the Jason Van Dyke trial, on Jan. 8, 2019, in Edgewater. My hope is that from this tragic story for the McDonald and Van Dyke families that our city of Chicago and all of Cook County will continue to press forward on resolving issues of inequalities for all minorities, especially the youth in black communities, Harpest said. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) On Oct. 5, 2018, after about 7 hours of discussions over two days, the panel found Van Dyke guilty of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery one for each bullet that hit McDonalds body as the teen walked away from officers while ignoring commands to drop a knife. The Cook County jury rejected the prosecutions request for a first-degree murder conviction. Members also acquitted Van Dyke of official misconduct, reasoning that as a police officer he had the right to use his weapon. Graphic police dashboard camera footage released more than a year after the fatal shooting riled the city, exacerbating the already fraught relationship between Chicago police and minority communities. It prompted a federal investigation of the Police Department that concluded officers routinely violated the civil rights of minorities. Juror Charlene Cooke offered the strongest opinion in response to Van Dykes upcoming release. She said the three years, three months he has spent in prison wasnt even a slap on the wrist. To me, its an insult to the jurors and the time we spent (during the trial), said Cooke, a 63-year-old retired FedEx driver. Its an insult to the family, like Laquan McDonald meant nothing. While not explicitly mentioned during trial testimony, race inevitably hung over the proceedings with a white officer fatally shooting a Black teen. As the lone Black juror, Cooke said, she realized that the focus might be on her, so she was determined to give Van Dyke a fair shake. Charlene Cooke, who was on the jury that decided the verdict of the Jason Van Dyke murder trial in the 2014 shooting death of Laquan McDonald, in October 2018. To me, its an insult to the jurors and the time we spent (during the trial), said Cooke. Its an insult to the family, like Laquan McDonald meant nothing. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) She told the Tribune while the trial was a fair proceeding, in her opinion, the punishment does not fit the crime. Though jurors said they carefully followed legal instructions forbidding them from considering what sentence Van Dyke could face if convicted, Cooke later said she had hoped Van Dyke would serve at least 10 years. Advertisement She said McDonalds family has received a life sentence of mourning the slain 17-year-old. Theres people who are given life for dealing drugs or robbery without hurting anyone, Cooke said. You shoot someone 16 times and you dont even serve five years, really? I bet if it were me, they would have given me life. The judicial system is all about who you are, which is sad. He got special treatment. Van Dyke testified he feared for his life and believed his actions were justified, but jurors found that belief unreasonable. Now 43, Van Dyke is the first Chicago police officer in a half century to be found guilty of murder for an on-duty shooting. He was attacked by fellow inmates shortly after being transferred in 2019 from Illinois custody to a federal prison in Connecticut and has spent much of his sentence in solitary confinement for his safety, his lawyers have said. Besides Cooke, four white women, three white men, three Hispanic women and one Asian man made up the jury. Harpest and Kathy Supplitt, the jury foreperson, said they are at peace with their verdict, the judges sentence and the fact Van Dyke will soon be free. As a jury, we did our job to give Jason Van Dyke a fair trial, Harpest said. The sentencing was not up to us and now hes fulfilled that. He was in prison during COVID, which has got to be pretty horrendous. So, I think the man has served his sentence and needs to get on with his life. Advertisement He and Supplitt said they do not agree with calls from some Chicago activists that the Justice Department pursue a civil rights case against Van Dyke in an effort to keep him behind bars. Im sensitive to their frustration and anger but I just dont know what it would achieve, said Supplitt, a 62-year-old medical billing specialist from the northwest suburbs. To just rip open this old sore again would be so hard for the families and the city. She noted McDonalds great-uncle, the Rev. Marvin Hunter, who has served as the familys main spokesman for years, has publicly said he and most of the family oppose a federal civil rights case.Regarding Van Dykes sentence, Supplitt said she assumed Judge Vincent Gaughan might mete out a punishment of six to 10 years, because six was the minimum for aggravated battery. She declined to question the judges sentencing decision. Rev. Hunter said they were looking for justice, not revenge and that speaks to me about how the family is looking at that, Supplitt said. So, I can live with this. Noting federal involvement earlier in the case, the three jurors who spoke to the Tribune agreed that the court-ordered police reforms included in the 2019 federal consent decree must be aggressively pursued. Advertisement My hope is that from this tragic story for the McDonald and Van Dyke families that our city of Chicago and all of Cook County will continue to press forward on resolving issues of inequalities for all minorities, especially the youth in Black communities, said Harpest, who specifically mentioned the need for more police training to safely de-escalate such confrontations. Supplitt, the jury foreperson, recalled watching teens about McDonalds age heading to school during her 90-minute commute into the city during the four-week trial. Id kind of say a silent prayer that theyd have a better life than Laquan had, she said. I just hope that the consent decree and reforms are pursued aggressively and that both families and the city can heal. It was just a tragedy all around. There were no winners here. ... Its time for the Van Dyke family to get on with their lives and I hope that Laquans family continues to heal. cmgutowski@chicagotribune.com Pocono Township Police has denied accusations that its officers racially profiled a group of Black women at a ski resort in the Poconos. The incident, parts of which were filmed and shared in a series of TikTok videos, began when Camelback Mountain employees called the police in response to a suspected theft Sunday, Jan. 23. Police said they were directed to the group of women, who were later determined not to have been involved in the theft, by Camelback employees. "The officers met with members of Camelback security who identified a group of young women wearing similar apparel to what was shown in the security footage," the department said Thursday. The statement contradicts the resort's, which also denied wrongdoing. "When the Pocono Township police arrived at the resort, security footage of the incident was shared at their request," said Kit Pappas, the managing director and vice president of the resort. "The Pocono Township police independently approached and spoke with the women." Related: Poconos resort under fire after video of Black guests wrongly accused of shoplifting goes viral When asked for clarity on the discrepancy, Sgt. Shawn Goucher said only that he stands behind the department's statement. Pappas said the resort is "currently working with the Pocono Township Police to understand all available information on this matter." A social media statement released by Pocono Township Police offered an explanation as to why a reporter's attempts to contact Chief Kent Werkheiser were unsuccessful: he is on leave from the department, which was unknown to the Pocono Record at that time. The police also refuted statements made by the TikToker, whose recount of the incident has since gone viral, that its officers accused the women of stealing or engaged them in conversation about race. "As shown in body camera recordings of the entire incident, the officers made no reference to race, the females were never accused of the theft, nor was a threat of arrest made," the police wrote. Story continues Raquel Sileshi, who was among the women questioned by police, commented on the department's statement: "Bring out the recording!" Goucher declined to release the body camera footage while the incident is still under investigation. Hannah Phillips is the public safety reporter at Pocono Record. Reach her at hphillips@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Police refute accusations of racial profiling at Poconos resort Bodycam footage has been released of the moment that nine officers shot a man dead on a Nashville highway, with police saying it shows he took a gun stance before they opened fire. Landon Eastep, 37, died in a hail of bullets along Interstate 65 on Thursday afternoon following a standoff with officers from Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD), Texas Highway Patrol (THP) troopers, and an off-duty Mt. Juliet Police officer. A critical incident video, which includes excerpts of bodycam footage from two officers and commentary from MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron, was shared by MNPD late on Thursday night in order to give a better understanding of what we know about what occurred up to now. It shows Mr Eastep with his hand in the right pocket of his sweatshirt and an item in his left hand identified as a box cutter by police. Off-duty Mt. Juliet officer James Kidd is heard repeatedly pleading with Mr Eastep dont do it and reassuring him that he can get him help. Officer Kidd tells him multiple times to take his right hand out of his pocket and to drop the box cutter. Following several minutes of dialogue, Mr Eastep then appears to draw his hand out of his right pocket and point something in the direction of the officer. At that moment, several rounds of gunfire ring out and the 37-year-old falls to the ground. MNPD spokesperson Aaron said that the officers opened fire because Mr Eastep acted as though he had a gun. Nine law enforcement personnel fired their weapons after Eastep took a stance as if he had a firearm, he said. Mr Aaron confirmed that the shiny cylindrical object in Mr Easteps hand was not a firearm. The fatal encounter unfolded when a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper spotted Mr Eastep sitting on a guardrail on the shoulder of Interstate 65 shortly before 2pm on Thursday afternoon. Officials said that the trooper stopped to offer to give the 37-year-old a ride home in order to get him off the busy road but, after a brief interaction, Mr Eastep allegedly pulled out a box cutter. Story continues MNPD officers were called to the scene as backup at 1:55pm. The man appears to draw something from his right pocket and point it towards the officers (MNPD) Officer Kidd was off duty at the time and was travelling north along the interstate with his family and so stopped to assist with the encounter, police said. Mr Aaron said Officer Kidd attempted to deescalate the situation by speaking with Mr Eastep for around 30 minutes. All the while, the 37-year-old had the box cutter in his left hand and his right hand in his pocket, police said. The first bodycam footage released, taken from Officer Kidds bodyworn camera, shows the last roughly four minutes of the interaction with Mr Eastep. In the video, Mr Eastep is seen standing in one lane on the interstate from where Officer Kidd is stood facing opposite him from the other lane. The officer has his firearm pointed at Mr Eastep and, during the footage, a number of other officers are seen to the left and right of Officer Kidd with weapons drawn. Officer Kidd is heard urging him to drop it brother and dont do it, brother multiple times. Landon, come on man. Just drop it brother, says the officer. Landon come on brother, let me help you out ... You will not end up in jail. Landon Eastep was shot dead during the encounter in Nashville on Thursday (MNPD) The officer continues to say his name as Landon is seen glancing around him at other officers and taking steps back and forth in the road. Landon look at me, look at me, says Officer Kidd. No dont do it, dont do it, do not do it, brother. The officer reassures him that he can get him help and that we can fix it and he will not go to jail today. I give you my word. My word means something. I keep it, he says. I promise you, you will not go to jail today whatever youre worried about we can fix it. Let us get you some help though. This is not the answer you and I know it. It is not clear if Mr Eastep has previously raised concerns about going to jail during his encounter with the officers. Court records show that he had an outstanding charge of domestic assault with bodily injury dated from November and was due to appear in court in April. The officer also repeatedly tells him he doesnt want to hurt him. We dont want to hurt you, we dont want to shoot you and you dont want to hurt us, he says. I got kids to go, I got a family to go home to and I was on my way to do that but God put me here to help you out today and you know it and I know it. He continues: I dont want you to end up dead at the side of an interstate. Mr Eastep is heard responding to Officer Kidd at several points but it is not clear what he says. At one point, he appears to ask the officer to remove his sunglasses so they are eye to eye. The officer continues to plead with Mr Eastep throughout the footage and offers to get him an ambulance. Come on brother, just drop the knife, put your hand up and lets figure this out, he says. Just drop it brother. Thats all you got to do, I promise you. Get your hand out your pocket, drop your knife and I guarantee you I will have an ambulance here to help you out. Other officers are also heard on occasion telling him dont do it. Moments before the shooting, the officer is heard referencing whether Mr Eastep has a gun in his pocket where he is keeping his right hand. It is not clear if the 37-year-old ever tells officers what is in his pocket. Just drop the knife, get your hand out your pocket, he says. If thats a gun you got in there, dont worry about it well figure it out, well fix it. Im not too worried about that right now, Im worried about you, Im worried about you Landon. Just drop it, I know you want to do the right thing here and this is your chance. At this moment, Mr Eastep is not visible in the footage from behind the officers outstretched firearm. The officer is heard becoming increasingly concerned saying no, no, no. He lifts his firearm up and Mr Eastep is visible again. The 37-year-old appears to pull something from his right pocket and point it towards the officer as several shots ring out. A short clip of bodycam footage was also released from a second officer, MNPD Officer Sean Williams, giving a different angle of the final moments of the incident. It reveals Mr Eastep taking a sudden step forward and drawing something from his right pocket and moving his arm in the direction of Officer Kidd, before multiple shots are fired. Landon Eastep appears to take a gun stance before the officers open fire (MNPD) Mr Eastep was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. MNPD spokesperson Aaron said that nine officers fired their weapons including six MNPD officers, two THP troopers and the off-duty Mt. Juliet officer. At least one of the officers on the scene had a Taser, he said, but it was not deployed during the encounter. The MNPD officers were identified as Officers James Kidd, Justin Pinkelton, Sean Williams, Edin Plancic, Sgt. Steven Carrick and Officer Brian Murphy. They have also been placed on routine administrative assignment as the investigation is under way. The two state troopers have not been identified and it is not clear if they have been placed on administrative leave during the investigation. The Independent has reached out to the THP for comment. The investigation into the officer-involved shooting is being led by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Nashville District Attorneys office. MNPD is also carrying out an administrative review of the shooting. Mr Easteps sister-in-law Samantha McGill-Barge said she was baffled to learn he was on the highway and wasnt aware there was anything wrong. He loved my sister and my kids very much and, to my knowledge, was a good guy. Its a very unfortunate situation. Im in shock. I was at home with my kids when I found out, she told The Daily Beast. Ms McGill-Barge added that Mr Easteps wife was in contact with a lawyer but had no plans to take legal action. In a GoFundMe for Mr Easteps wife Chelesey, she wrote that he was killed with over 20 shots in very close rage by Metro Nashville officers. This man had only a box cutter and had already shown it to officers before they killed him in cold blood. Jan. 27HIGH POINT A 49-year-old man from High Point was identified by police Thursday as the person who was found killed Wednesday morning at an intersection in the northeast section of the city. Police also are asking for help figuring out where the man had been in his final hours. John Chevonne Boone's body was found about 10:30 a.m. at Lakewood and Futrelle drives near the former Oak Hollow Mall, a High Point Police Department press release said. At the time of his death, Boone was wearing light brown Timberland boots, gray pants, a gray jacket and a neon orange knitted cap and had a backpack. The press release didn't indicate a cause of death, but a police incident report said Boone had been shot. The press release said Boone was transient and was known to panhandle, frequenting the N. Main Street corridor. Boone was hearing-impaired and nonverbal in his communication. Investigators are asking for the public's help to determine where Boone was from 7 p.m. Tuesday until his body was discovered. Police ask that anyone with information call High Point Crimestoppers at 336-889-4000. Tipsters can download the P3 tips app from their app stores and submit tips electronically while still remaining anonymous. Anyone providing a tip can stay anonymous but still collect any reward offered. Boone's death was the second homicide recorded this year in the city of High Point. Kevin Trystan-Chance Robinson, 20, of High Point,was shot and killed Jan. 19 in a car outside a west High Point apartment complex on Shadow Valley Road. pjohnson@hpenews.com 336-888-3528 @HPEpaul WORCESTER Laurie Leshin, president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, has been named director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a California-based space-exploration organization affiliated with NASA. Leshin, a geochemist and space scientist, will leave WPI at the end of the academic year. She was the school's 16th president, hired in 2014, the first woman to lead WPI. "We know that this comes at a time when strong and consistent leadership is more important than ever," WPI said in an announcement of Leshin's departure. "An interim president will be voted upon soon by the board." The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a research and development lab run by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The program is federally funded through NASA. Leshin holds master's and doctoral degrees from Caltech. She is a former official at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. She will be the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's first first female director. WPI president Laurie Leshin speaks during a program at MassDigi last spring. Laurie Leshin stood out in an exhaustive international search because of her profound commitment to people, her strategic approach to scientific and technological opportunities, her deep appreciation of NASAs leadership in space exploration and Earth science, her mastery of complex organizations, and her ability to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, Caltech President Thomas F. Rosenbaum said. Before taking over the top job at WPI, Leshin was the dean of the School of Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Archives: WPI's new president a NASA veteran Meantime, space exploration was Leshin's focus in a speech Thursday night during the annual meeting of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau. Goddard, Bezos and Musk Leshin, appearing via Zoom, did not mention her career change during the presentation titled, "From Goddard to Bezos and Musk: Our Future in Space." Leshin discussed Robert Goddard, an aerospace engineer and physics professor who was born in Worcester and attended WPI. He dreamed of sending a rocket out of Earth's atmosphere and exploring beyond the planet 60 years before. Story continues "He was here in Worcester when he climbed a tree and had that dream, and then became a student at WPI," Leshin said. "And he was more than a sort of nerdy pre-rocket scientist, but he actually was very engaged and wrote did things like wrote songs about WPI was a great student and a great visionary and blew some things up in a lot of his experiments, had a lot more failure than success early on, and we've got some patched roots to prove it here." Leshin pointed to the recent accomplishments of companies such as SpaceX, founded by Tesla Motors CEO and entrepreneur Elon Musk, or the trips to the edge of space made by billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson. "The commercial space industry of taking more people to space than has ever been possible before, watch the next few years is just going to go crazy. It's going to be massively huge, very exciting," Leshin said. "But the commercial space sector is doing more than sending tours to space ... and that's really important, by the way, but they're doing other fascinating things." We will dare mighty things, together! Honored and humbled to be named Director of @NASAJPL. And so grateful to the @WPI community for the support these past 8 years -- I'm here through @WPICommencement, #GoatNation -- and then excited to join the @NASA and @Caltech/JPL team! https://t.co/tbf2eOx0xK Laurie Leshin (@LaurieofMars) January 27, 2022 This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: President Laurie Leshin to leave WPI for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at CalTech Rep. Aaron Coleman was charged with two traffic violations in relation to a November traffic stop, where the legislator was initially arrested for allegedly driving under the influence. Rep. Aaron Coleman has been charged with two traffic infractions in relation to a November traffic stop, where the legislator was initially arrested for allegedly driving under the influence. But a spokesperson for the district attorney's office in Douglas County indicated Coleman won't be charged with a DUI related to the Nov. 27 stop by the Kansas Highway Patrol near Lawrence on the Kansas Turnpike. On Jan. 21, prosecutors in Douglas County did charge Coleman with speeding and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. Court documents allege Coleman was traveling at 92-miles-per-hour in a 75 mile-per-hour zone when he was stopped by police. More: Kansas Rep. Aaron Coleman hasn't been charged as DA awaits KHP case file and KBI test results A trooper attempted to pull over a speeding vehicle, a Kansas Highway Patrol spokesperson said at the time, but the driver didn't stop until exiting the interstate and pulling into a parking lot. There, the trooper "observed signs of possible impairment." In court filings last month, prosecutors in Douglas County said they were waiting on the results of blood tests performed by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation before moving forward. But Jill Jess, a spokesperson for the Douglas County District Attorney's office, indicated Coleman wouldn't be charged with a DUI. "Mr. Coleman faces no further charges in Douglas County at this time," Jess said in an email. In response to a request for more details, Jess referred The Capital-Journal to the Kansas Highway Patrol. A spokesperson for KHP said they couldn't comment on the matter and directed inquiries to the district attorney's office. In a text message to The Capital-Journal in December, Coleman insisted the "blood draw will exonerate me" and said he was going to the Statehouse at the time of his arrest, though he didn't elaborate on why. Coleman and his attorney, David Bell, didn't immediately return a request for comment. He is set to be arraigned on the traffic infractions on April 15. Story continues Coleman to have hearing in Johnson County case next week The Douglas County charges come after Coleman was arrested and charged in Johnson County with misdemeanor domestic battery stemming from an altercation with his brother, where police records show the 21-year-old lawmaker allegedly hit and spit on his brother and made threatening remarks to his grandfather. The charges in Douglas County initially appeared to damage his chances of getting diversion in the Johnson County case, where a set agreement between Coleman and prosecutors could be struck to dismiss charges as long as the 21-year-old complied with a set of restrictions. More: Lawbreaking lawmakers remain in Kansas Legislature. Colleagues want to kick an accused one out. But earlier this month, prosecutors in Johnson County withdrew a motion to revoke bond, potentially allowing him to receive diversion. Coleman is set to have a hearing in that case next week and has pleaded not guilty. A group of Democratic lawmakers filed a complaint against Coleman after his arrest in Douglas County, seeking his removal from the Legislature. A committee has been formed to investigate the matter, but Rep. John Barker, R-Abilene, who chairs that panel has said he wants to wait until Coleman's legal issues have been dealt with. At the conclusion of the investigation, the panel can recommend he be expelled, censured or that no action be taken. A previous investigation of past alleged misconduct resulted in Coleman being issued a warning against future misbehavior. House Speaker Ron Ryckman, Gov. Laura Kelly and House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer have all called on Coleman to resign. Joseph Le, chief of staff for Sawyer, said in a statement Friday that "we don't see anything new here" and stood by the previous calls on Coleman to resign and receive mental health treatment. Arrests latest in string of incidents for Rep. Aaron Coleman The 2021 arrests are the latest in a string of incidents for the embattled legislator. In October, the Kansas Department of Labor advised Coleman he was banned from their Topeka headquarters after allegedly attempting to access an employee-only area of the building and speaking to building security in a in a "loud and demanding tone." More: Rep. Aaron Coleman banned from KDOL premises after disruptive, intimidating and berating behavior During the August 2020 partisan primary against former Rep. Stan Frownfelter last year, Coleman admitted to cyberbullying and revenge porn while in middle school, gaining national attention in the process. After Coleman defeated Frownfelter in the primary, an ex-girlfriend later came forward alleging he abused her, both physically and verbally, while the pair dated in 2019 and that the harassment continued until his Kansas House bid in 2020. The Topeka woman said Coleman physically assaulted and threatened to kill her during their two-month relationship. Coleman was the subject of a restraining order from a staffer who worked for a former political rival, although the matter was settled and dropped by mutual agreement earlier this year. And legislators from both parties objected to Coleman saying a "hit" needed to be taken out on Kelly for her reluctance to support progressive policies. Coleman said he meant to say "political hit" and later admitted he should have used different wording. Andrew Bahl is a senior statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at abahl@gannett.com or by phone at 443-979-6100. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Aaron Coleman charged with traffic infractions in Douglas County stop Kyle Rittenhouse, center, walks into the courtroom with attorney Corey Chirafisi for a motion hearing in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sept. 17, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News ) In accordance with the wishes of Kyle Rittenhouse, Kenosha police have agreed to destroy the assault-style rifle he used to shoot three people during a street protest, a prosecutor said in court Friday. Rittenhouse shot the men during the protest in Kenosha in 2020. He killed Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm. Rittenhouse argued he fired in self-defense after each of the men attacked him. A jury last year acquitted him of multiple charges, including homicide. Advertisement Rittenhouses attorney, Mark Richards, told the Tribune earlier this week that his client wants the rifle destroyed so no one can profit from it. Rittenhouse, who was not in Kenosha County court for the hearing, also sought the return of the clothes he was wearing that night. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said everything has been sent back except for the rifle. Advertisement The defense, the state and also (Rittenhouses friend) Dominick Black, who purchased that firearm, have all signed off on a stipulation whereby the Kenosha Police Department will destroy that firearm, as well as the magazine and the scope, he said. Binger said it will be done at the states crime lab, probably toward the end of April. When it is finished, prosecutors will provide proof of destruction to Rittenhouse and his attorneys, he said. Judge Bruce Schroeder, the Kenosha County judge who presided over Rittenhouses trial, signed off on the agreement. He also ordered that Rittenhouses $2 million bail be divided among his attorney, a foundation that solicited donations for his defense and actor Ricky Schroder, who donated to the defense fund. Conservatives across the nation have praised Rittenhouse, saying he was defending Kenosha from far-left militants. Liberals have painted him as a trigger-happy vigilante. Kenosha Police Department Detective Martin Howard picks up the weapon Kyle Rittenhouse used on Aug. 25, 2020, during Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Nov. 8, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News) Demonstrators took to the streets for a number of nights in Kenosha in August 2020 after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back as Blake was resisting arrest during a domestic disturbance. The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down. The protests turned chaotic at times, with people burning buildings. Rittenhouse and Black joined a group of militia members to protect a used car lot on the night of Aug. 25, 2020. Kyle Rittenhouse carries a weapon as he walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha during a night of unrest following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. (Adam Rogan/The Journal Times) Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time and living in north suburban Antioch, was armed with an AR-15-style rifle that Black had purchased for him earlier that year because he was too young to buy a firearm under Wisconsin law. According to a motion Richards filed, Black had agreed that the rifle would become Rittenhouses property on his 18th birthday, Jan. 3, 2021. Advertisement Bystander and surveillance video shows that just before midnight Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse down and Rittenhouse shot him as he closed in on him. He shot Huber after Huber swung a skateboard at his head and Grosskreutz after Grosskreutz ran up to him holding a pistol. Everyone involved in the shootings was white. Black pleaded no contest to two citations earlier this month for contributing to the delinquency of a minor in exchange for prosecutors dropping two felony charges of intent to sell a dangerous weapon to a person younger than 18. Schroeder on Friday also ordered county officials to return Rittenhouses $2 million bail. His attorneys and his mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, raised the money through donations from conservatives across the country. The judge approved an agreement that calls for splitting the money between Richards law firm and the #Fightback Foundation. Attorneys Lin Wood and John Pierce, who represented Rittenhouse in the early days of the case, formed the foundation to raise money for him. The agreement also calls for sending $150,000 to Schroder, the former star of the 1980s television series Silver Spoons. The Patent and Trademark Hedge Fund Trust filed a motion Thursday laying claim to the $2 million. The funds co-trustee, Mariel Johnson, argued in an affidavit that the fund had given as much as $2.5 million to Pierce to finance his cases and has been trying to recoup the money after Pierces law firm dissolved. Advertisement Johnson noted that the fund gave him $300,000 to put toward Rittenhouses bail and argued it is entitled to every dollar Pierce used to cover Rittenhouses bond. Schroeder denied the motion, ruling that the funds attorneys arent licensed to practice in Wisconsin. Richards didnt immediately respond to an email after the hearing inquiring about what his firm and the #Fightback Foundation will do with the money. Chicago Tribunes John Keilman contributed. In a display of new books for the children's section of the Ridgeland Library, a number of the books had to do with LGBTQ themes. All of the books are currently checked out, but there are three other books available on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee has said he will withhold $110,000 in funding from the Madison County Library System because of the library displaying books with LGBTQ themes in its children's area. Thousands of dollars in funding meant for the Madison County Library System are currently in limbo after Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee threatened to withhold the money until books with LGBTQ themes and authors are removed from the shelves. Library system Executive Director Tonja Johnson said McGee is threatening to withhold about $110,000 in funding previously approved in the city's budget for the 2022 fiscal year, which began in July, after residents brought the books to his attention. Johnson said so far, Ridgeland has withheld two payments. The story was originally reported by the Mississippi Free Press. "In my capacity as mayor, I simply believe the books are inappropriate for children," he said. Under the contract originally drafted in 1993 and updated in 2009, all cities with branches under the Madison County Library System are required to provide funding through a tax levy or the city's general fund. Johnson said four complaints about the books have been received from community members since September, when the books were originally part of a display. Some of the books include "What Are Your Words?" by Katherine Locke, which explores how children can ask about and use preferred pronouns among peers. Another book, "Toby Wears a Tutu" by Lori Starling, explores how children can love who they are despite what others may think about their clothes or actions, like a boy taking ballet lessons. The Mississippi Free Press reported the library's board of trustees voted unanimously on Tuesday to bring the matter before the Ridgeland Board of Aldermen. A date for the meeting has not yet been set. LGBTQ children's books made up part of new books display in September Officials from the library system said the books were originally part of a new books display in the children's area, which was removed around November. Johnson said no one has officially requested the books be removed. The books have since been placed in normal circulation and were checked out at the Elsie E. Jurgens Library in Ridgeland as of Thursday. Story continues In a statement published to the library system's website, Jerry Valdez, president of the system's board of trustees, said all libraries under the board's purview remain committed to serving residents from all walks of life. "The public library is the institution in our society that attempts to provide a diversity of viewpoints on a wide range of topics of interest ... no matter how controversial or objectionable those ideas may be to some people," he said. "The libraries will always be guided by a sense of responsibility to both present and future in adding materials that will enrich their collections." Attempts at removing controversial books continuing nationwide Rob Hill, executive director of Human Rights Campaign Mississippi, said he's heard anecdotally of residents in other areas of the state attempting to pull books with LGBTQ themes from schools and libraries. Hill said he believes McGee's decision could serve not only to spark actions from anti-LGBTQ proponents, but have a negative emotional impact on LGBTQ youth in the area. "Once again, they're hearing from an elected leader that they shouldn't be included and that they're not valuable," he said. Similar attempts at pulling books that teach about gender identities and other LGBTQ topics have happened in school districts and libraries across the nation in recent months. One Iowa school district removed titles, including "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson, "Lawn Boy" by Jonathan Evison and "Gender Queer: A Memoir" by Maia Kobabe, from its shelves following parent complaints about the material being too explicit. Cover of "Gender Queer," a memoir by Maia Kobabe. A branch of the Indianapolis Public Library drew international attention in August when a viral Facebook post called the library's display of LGBTQ books "horrifying" and accused library officials of trying to indoctrinate children. The post called on the public to ask for the books to be removed, but officials instead received dozens of calls and emails of support from across the nation and abroad soon after the post began getting thousands of interactions. The push to remove material considered by some to be controversial comes at a time when many young people, especially those in the South, are struggling with mental health. A recent study from the Trevor Project found more than 70% of young adults across the South have struggled with finding acceptance and thoughts of self-harm. A general lack of accepting spaces in southern cities resulted in a 9% higher probability of LGBTQ people attempting self-harm or suicide within the past year, the study found. Have an education-related news tip? Contact Keisha Rowe at nrowe@gannett.com, on Twitter or at (601) 760-2483. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi mayor threatens to withhold library funds over LGBTQ books Russian servicemen from the 150th Motor Rifle Division of the Southern Military District take part in exercises in the Rostov Region, Russia, on January 28, 2022. Getty Images Russia has added blood supplies to its military buildup on Ukraine's border, Reuters reported. This could be another sign its planning to invade, experts said. The supplies could be used to treat casualties if Russia invades. In another sign it could be preparing to invade, Russia has now added blood and other medical supplies to its military buildup near Ukraine, three US officials told Reuters. Such supplies could be used to treat casualties in the event of a Russian military incursion into Ukraine. Russia has gathered roughly 100,000 troops on the border of the former Soviet republic. The Kremlin claims it has no plans to invade, but has refused calls from Western leaders to lower the temperature in the region by withdrawing troops. The US has expressed concerns that a Russian invasion could be imminent, though Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged against causing "panic." "It doesn't guarantee that there's going to be another attack, but you would not execute another attack unless you have that in hand," Ben Hodges, a retired US lieutenant general currently at the Center for European Policy Analysis, told Reuters. "If true, then we are starting to see key indicators of Russian preparations for a large-scale military operation, expecting casualties, etc," Michael Kofman, a Russia expert at CNA, said in a tweet responding to the report. "Still missing certain elements, but the picture is tracking with Russia potentially able to conduct a mil op within a few weeks." Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at RAND Corporation, tweeted that the report on blood supplies being moved near Ukraine was the "clearest warning sign that could exist." The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. Meanwhile, the Pentagon on Friday warned that Russia has a wide array of options in terms of an attack on Ukraine. "While we don't believe that President Putin has made a final decision to use these forces against Ukraine, he clearly now has the capability," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a press conference, per the Associated Press. Story continues Russia in 2014 invaded and annexed Crimea from Ukraine, and has been supporting rebels in a war against Ukrainian forces in the eastern Donbass region since that year. Despite its history of aggression to Ukraine, the Kremlin has blamed recent tensions on NATO. Moscow has issued demands for binding security guarantees from the West, including prohibiting Ukraine and Georgia from ever joining NATO. The US and NATO have made clear that this demand is a non-starter, and that the alliance's open door policy is non-negotiable. The US has placed 8,500 troops on high alert for a potential deployment to NATO member countries in Eastern Europe, but has ruled out sending troops to Ukraine if Russia invades. Read the original article on Business Insider The legal team for a Kansas City, Missouri, former cop convicted of killing a 26-year-old Black man wants a judge to offer their client a bond so he can remain free as the team appeals his case. His attorney says that they have real safety concerns about him in jail. The Kansas City Star reported that on Wednesday, Jan. 26, defense attorney Molly Hastings asked Jackson County Circuit Court Judge J. Dale Youngs to consider offering an appeal bond to their client, Eric DeValkenaere. Eric DeValkenaere (left), Cameron Lamb (right) The request was made despite the court finding him guilty in a four-day bench trial in November of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the Dec. 3, 2019 death of Cameron Lamb. DeValkenaere made headlines approximately three years ago when the former cop fatally shot Lamb in his pickup truck as he attempted to park his car in the garage of his home. The former detective made history again in November of 2021 by becoming the first white member of law enforcement in Kansas City to be charged and convicted of killing a Black man since 1942. Hastings believes that DeValkenaeres life would be in danger if he were to be incarcerated. We know that because of the unique position Eric is in, we have some very real safety concerns about where he would be housed if he were to be taken into custody on the day of the sentencing, Hastings argued. She remarked, I think it is a reasonable request just to have a feel so that Eric and his family can prepare in advance so that we have an idea of what your thoughts are. Youngs said granting DeValkenaere bail would be unprecedented. In almost 13 years of doing this, the judge said. I have never stayed execution (of a sentence) and I have never ordered an appeal bond post-verdict. Youngs continued, Other than Mr. DeValkenaeres status as a police officer, Im not exactly sure what other unique circumstances would compel me to treat him differently than I might treat somebody else in his situation given the charges. Story continues The only thing Ive ever done is remanded someone to custody, Youngs said The judge did not shut the defense down completely. He suggested that Sankar find a middle ground between release on bond and remand to custody. He offered county house arrest as a hypothetical but said he needed to file a motion by Feb. 25, a week before sentencing, for proper consideration. The former officer, who as of Monday, Jan. 24 is no longer with the KCPD, was granted a $30,000 bond after the conviction. This allowed him to remain free as he awaits sentencing. He faces four years in prison on the manslaughter conviction and at least three years for the armed criminal action charge. Youngs will decide how DeValkenaere will serve his sentences, concurrently or consecutively. Jackson County Deputy Chief Prosecutor Dion Sankar believes that this officer should receive no special considerations and should be treated like other criminals convicted of the same or similar crimes. We view Mr. DeValkenaere as we would any person in his situation, he said. The ex-officers case was presented and the facts pointed in favor of Lambs family, find him guilty of murder. In 2019, Detective DeValkenaere tracked Lamb to his home after a police helicopter spotted him chasing his girlfriend as she sped away from him in her car. According to DeValkenaere, he shot the deceased because he pointed his firearm at the officers colleague. He testified at trial: Im thinking, I cant let this happen, I cant let him shoot Troy. Troy Schwalm is the other detective. During the trial, this theory was rebutted. The prosecution maintained Lamb did not have a gun on him when he was shot. A weapon was, however, recovered at the crime scene on the floor of the garage underneath Lambs arm dangling outside the drivers side window. The prosecutions assertion was supported by a different officer who testified he did not see a gun on the ground. This officers testimony held significant weight since he was the first to arrive on the scene. The prosecution made the case that the scene could have been staged with a planted gun. They contended that Lamb was holding his phone. Missouris laws, for the crimes DeValkenaere was convicted for, are very clear-cut. For armed criminal action, the convicted will receive a mandatory three to 15-year sentence with no possibility of parole during the first three years. For a second-degree involuntary manslaughter conviction, which is a Class E felony, the guilty party can be hit with a maximum sentence of four years, however, there is no mandatory minimum sentence. DeValkenaere is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4. Lambs family has not released a statement regarding the request. More news from our partners: Meet Him Outside: California Father Removed from High School Basketball Game While Defending His Son Who Was Taunted with Racial Slurs and Addressed by Coach of Opposing Team Hes Not In Patrick Mahomes Class| Shannon Sharpe Says Joe Burrow Is Good, But No. 15 In That Red Is Untouchable Not Just About the Dollars: Why Building Wealth Is About More Than Money and How Black America Can Close the Wealth Gap A banner announcing Vote Here Today outside the Portage County Board of Elections offices in Ravenna is seen in a Record-Courier file photo. The deadline to file petitions for the May 3 primary is next week at least for now and several local races eventually will be decided by voters. Voters will cast ballots in the upcoming primary for governor, U.S. Senate, congressional seats and state representative, as well as several local, countywide races. The previously established deadline to seek the posts is 4 p.m. Feb. 2 for state and local races. Congressional candidates have until March 4 to file. This week, two state representatives sponsored a bill that would move the primary from May 3 to June 7. The measure aims to give candidates and election officials ample time to prepare for the election as mapmakers take another stab at drawing legislative and congressional districts. Board of elections officials said they are still waiting for official word from the secretary of state about the filing deadlines. On Thursday, the Ohio Association of Elected Officials notified the board's director, Faith Lyon, and deputy director, Theresa Nielsen, that another bill has been approved by the Ohio house and state senate, which provides flexibility for candidates running for state legislative districts. The bill, which is awaiting the governor's signature, does not change the filing deadlines or the primary date. Early in-person voting at the Portage County Board of Elections in Ravenna. Deb Defer, a poll worker, transports voting materials where they will be picked up and taken to different precincts in the county for election day on November 3. One of the districts that is in question is the proposed 72nd district. Right now, State Rep. Gail Pavliga represents the 75th district, which encompasses most of Portage County, while Diane Grendell's 76th district includes residents of the northern part of the county, as well as Geauga County. Portage County voters also will decide a commissioners race, now represented by Democrat Vicki Kline, who does not plan to seek re-election. So far, two Republicans, Deerfield Township Trustee Ed Dean and Mike Tinlin of Brimfield, have filed petitions to run for the seat. Voters also will elect a county auditor, a judge of the county common pleas court, a domestic relations court judge, and members of the county's Democratic Central Committee So far, only the current domestic relations court judge, Paula Giulitto, a Democrat who lives in Streetsboro, has filed petitions for re-election to the bench. Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at dsmith@recordpub.com. This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Local races up for grabs in spring primary; Feb. 2 is filing deadline Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert will step down after the 2022 NFL draft in April, team owner Art Rooney II said on Friday. BREAKING: Steelers GM Kevin Colbert is stepping down after the draft, per Art Rooney II. Team will conduct a search for a new GM immediately, but likely wont make the hire until after the draft. They have already interviewed two in-house candidates: Brandon Hunt and Omar Khan. Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) January 28, 2022 Colbert's contract runs through the 2022 draft he's worked on year-to-year deals since after the 2019 season and there were reports earlier this month that said he was expected to leave the team. Rooney said he may stay with Pittsburgh in a different role. The Steelers have started their search for a new general manager immediately and have already interviewed two candidates in-house, Rooney said. "We have left the door open, Kevin and I, to possibly have him fill an ongoing role after the draft," Rooney said, via Brooke Pryor at ESPN. "We will be conducting a search for a new GM starting immediately. Probably won't make a hire until after the draft. We will be interviewing people. We've already interviewed two of our in-house candidates: Omar Khan and Brandon Hunt." Colbert had said he would be with the organization as long as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was there. Roethlisberger formally announced Thursday he was retiring after an 18-year career, all with the Steelers. Khan is the team's vice president of football operations and business administration. He has been with the organization for 21 years. Hunt is currently the pro scouting coordinator and has been with the Steelers for 14 years. General Manager Kevin Colbert of the Pittsburgh Steelers will step down when his contract is up after the 2022 NFL Draft. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images) Steelers success under Kevin Colbert Head coach Mike Tomlin will be one of the few remaining core Steelers personnel in an organization that never has much turnover. Rooney said Friday that Tomlin's role will not change with a new general manager. He started with the Steelers in 2007 during Roethlisberger's fourth season and signed a three-year extension last year. Story continues Colbert, a Pittsburgh native, has been with the club since 2000 and won two Super Bowls in three trips to the big game with Pittsburgh. The Steelers under Hall of Fame head coach Bill Cowher won Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks and won Super Bowl XLIII over the Arizona Cardinals with Tomlin. He's 225-124-3 as a general manager after working for a decade as the director of football operations. Before joining the Steelers, he worked as a college scout for the Miami Dolphins and the pro scouting director for the Detroit Lions. Ethan Miller/Getty Images For the better part of 2018, adult film star Stormy Daniels and her flashy California litigator Michael Avenatti were flying high as an unlikely tag-team bent on taking down President Trump. They hijacked the national news cycle after suing the president over an NDA that silenced Daniels ahead of the 2016 election, forbidding her from speaking about her alleged sexcapade with Trump a decade before. They'd also taunted Trumps personal attorney Michael Cohen with a defamation suit, and stole the show at his court hearing after the feds raided his home. And when Daniels was set to release a memoir, she joined Avenatti on ABCs The View for a victory lap. I think people are going to be very moved by this book, by its content, and theyre going to learn a lot about this incredible woman, Avenatti raved, who I am proud to call my client and my friend because shes had an amazing life. Avenatti: I Was Only Allowed to Read Trumps Art of the Deal in Prison Now, three-and-a-half years later, their formerly famous buddy system is as dead as Avenatti's dubious presidential aspirations. Manhattan federal prosecutors say Avenatti committed the ultimate betrayal: Stealing money owed to Daniels for her book and lying about it for months. On Thursday, Daniels took the stand against the disgraced attorney, who is accused of embezzling almost $300,000 of her $800,000 book advance while claiming her publisher never paid her, in what marks his third criminal trial since 2020. (Avenatti was previously convicted of conspiring to extort the Nike corporation in New York, while his California trial for allegedly embezzling millions from his own clients ended in a mistrial.) He lied to me almost every day for five months, Daniels testified, adding that she was shocked, hurt, and felt very betrayed and stupid. I dont know if there is a word stronger than furious. But that would be it, Daniels added when asked about one fateful day in February 2019, when she discovered proof that her book publisher, St. Martins Press, had already wired Avenatti her money. Story continues Daniels appeared in court a day after Avenatti ditched his public defenders and decided to represent himself. Its unclear whether hell testify in his own defense. Her testimony unveiled a behind-the-scenes look at her first meeting with Avenatti (at the lobby bar of the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills), their attorney-client fee agreement (she paid him $100 to represent her), and the ensuing months when she badgered him for help in getting her publisher to pay up. As she pushed Avenatti to obtain a missing installment of close to $150,000, she had no idea Avenatti had allegedly already receivedand spentthe proceeds. Avenatti is accused of swiping Daniels money by allegedly forging her signature on a letter to her literary agent, instructing him to wire Daniels book advance to a client-trust account he controlled. Those instructions came at a time when Avenatti was fighting creditors for millions of debts related to his law firm, defunct coffee chain, and divorce case. Since the trial kicked off on Monday, prosecutors have relied on a batch of text messages between Daniels and Avenatti to depict the timeline of events. In those exhibits, Avenatti repeatedly told Daniels he was working on getting her money. The 42-year-old porn actress and directorwhose latest venture is a ghost-hunting TV project Spooky Babestold jurors that she was elated to receive her first advance payment for her book, Full Disclosure. It solidified that Im a real author, Daniels said, adding that shed dreamed of writing a memoir for 10 years. Got the wire, Daniels texted Avenatti in April 2018 after she signed her book deal and the first payment of about $212,000 arrived. I cant feel my face. (Asked what she meant, Daniels said she was ecstatic, her face was numb from smiling so much.) Congrats, Avenatti replied. We make a good team. Enjoy. :) Daniels testified that in a later phone call, Avenatti called her an American hero and said, I love you, Stormy Daniels. According to the entertainer, Avenatti promised hed never take a penny from her book and that his payday would instead come from suing Trump and through their crowdfunding website for her legal battle with the president. Michael Avenatti Lived the High Life While Owing Millions to IRS Under questioning from assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sobelman, Daniels said she and a ghost writer named Kevin completed her book in July 2018. After the publisher accepted the manuscript, her agreement stated, she was owed a second payment of $175,000. (Her literary agent would receive a 15-percent cut of that installment.) On July 28, 2018, Daniels sent Avenatti texts asking when her $148,750 would arrive, saying her draft was complete a while ago. From that point until the following February, Daniels repeatedly asked Avenatti for updates on her second, and eventually her third, payment from St. Martins. I did not get paid today, Daniels texted Avenatti on Sept. 5. I am not fucking happy. They are in breach of contract by about four weeks. But unbeknownst to Daniels, prosecutors say, Avenatti swiped her second installment for himselfbefore secretly obtaining a loan from celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos to pay her back with a cashiers check, claiming it came from the publisher. Avenatti would soon tell Daniels the publisher had inexplicably mailed a cashiers check for her to his office, despite the actress giving the company her bank account and wire instructions. His office cashed the check, which covered the second installment, into her account. Prosecutors say that in September 2018, Avenatti secretly convinced the publisher to send Daniels her third payment early, but that Daniels never received a cent of that installment. Originally, Daniels was owed $175,000 (or $148,750, with her literary agents fee) upon publication of the book. According to his indictment, Avenatti used the money on personal expenses like a $3,900 monthly Ferrari car payment and $56,000 toward his firms payroll. In October of that year, Daniels texted Avenatti a screenshot of her book contract, circling the portion in red ink that indicated shed receive her third payment upon publication of the book. That means I get paid tomorrow, right? she asked, to which Avenatti replied, Yes. That third payment never arrived. Sobelman asked Daniels why she had enlisted Avenatti to help her communicate with the publisher. He was my attorney, she answered. I trusted him to handle it. Daniels testimony suggested that Avenatti played the part of dishonest middleman, falsely arguing St. Martins Press wasnt happy with her publicity on the book and that she didnt reach her contractual requirements for it. Avenatti had another excuse up his sleeve: He claimed her book sales were unremarkable. Daniels testified that the number of copies sold, however, had no bearing on whether she would be paid. As a result of Avenattis comments, the actress and her then-PR representative, Denver Nicks, crafted a list of all her promotions for the bookincluding a spot on late night host Jimmy Kimmels showto present to the publisher. They should feel like assholes, Avenatti texted Daniels on November 27, 2018, in response to her complaints. Its bullshit. At one point, Daniels asked Avenatti for crowdfunding money to pay her security team, which she endearingly referred to as her dragons. She said Avenatti told her to foot the $26,000 herself and that his office would reimburse her. Avenatti Saw Dollar Signs in Greedy Nike Extortion, Lawyers Say Daniels trust in Avenatti apparently began to fray in late November, after she discovered Avenatti had created a second online fundraiser for her legal effort without telling her. The Daily Beast exclusively reported that Daniels was upset that Avenatti launched another crowdfunding site without her permission, and claimed that Avenatti sued Trump for defamation against her wishes. Daniels also said she'd repeatedly asked Avenatti for a full accounting for her first crowdfunding effort, which raised nearly $600,000 from the public. You should not be attacking me publicly, Avenatti warned Daniels in a text on Nov. 28, 2018. It puts me in a very difficult spot because I have to defend myself and I dont want to respond in kind. We have to work this out. I did not attack you. I stated all my truths, Daniels replied. Are you threatening me now? Daniels added, perhaps softening the blow of the confrontation, You are an incredible and brilliant man with balls of steel. I will always admire you. After Avenatti provided Daniels a letter with the supposed accounting, the litigator sent her a statement to tweet out from her account saying theyd sorted everything out and the finances were on the up and up. Still, Daniels continued fighting for her book earnings, becoming more and more angry that the money she was depending on was late. Daniels testified that she was living with her ex-husband and waiting on the book money for a down payment on a house of her own. I am trapped in this house with my ex until I get paid, Daniels texted Avenatti on Dec. 27, 2018. Each day is one step closer to one of us going to jail. In court, Daniels clarified she was uncomfortable in her housing situation with her ex. Daniels kept pressing Avenatti for help in reaching the publisher and her literary agent, Luke Janklow, who wouldnt return her calls. (On Monday, Janklow testified that Avenatti instructed him to communicate only with him about Daniels' book matters.) Finally, after Avenatti claimed she could expect a wire with her money on Feb. 13, 2019 and she hadnt, Daniels informed him shed sent a text to every single other person at the publisher and will continue to do so every hour until I am paid. On Feb. 14, Daniels texted Avenatti that she had an interview lined up with a journalist and had sent an employee of the publisher a final warning. Daniels also informed Avenatti that reporters had approached the bus for her stripclub tour asking questions about his law firm, whose millions in debts and bankruptcy court filings were making headlines. WTF is going on? she wrote. Avenatti replied by texting her a statement he advised her to issue to reporters that called his personal scandal a big nothing burger. He ignored my stuff and only cared about what they were asking about him, Daniels testified of his instructions for the press scrum. OK. Now. Find my fucking money, Daniels answered Avenatti in a text. Word!!!!!! Avenatti said. When Avenatti contacted her the next day, she didnt answer. Sobelman asked Daniels why she suddenly ignored him. Because I had spoken to the publisher, Daniels testified. Michael had been lying and stealing from me and my payments had been sent months before. On Feb. 19, 2019, Daniels peppered Avenatti with text messages that included screengrabs of wire transfers, showing Avenatti had her money this whole time. Her agent, Janklow, finally provided copies showing the payments already went through. I didnt even know you had a trust account with my name on it, she texted him. Daniels then sent Avenatti details for her new lawyer. I didnt want to hear another word Michael Avenatti had to say, Daniels testified. Avenatti tried to turn the tables that very same day, sending her a letter claiming his law firm was dumping her because she was an unresponsive client. I felt violated, Daniels testified. He lied to me and betrayed my trust. Avenatti cross-examined Daniels for about 10 minutes before court adjourned for the day, wishing her a good afternoon before asking whether she had a single email, text, or recording of him promising not to take money from her book deal. She answered no. "How was I supposed to get paid for all the work that I and my law firm did for you over the course of 12 months?" he asked. Daniels testified she believed he would be paid through her legal defense fund and winnings against Trump. Then Avenatti took aim at Daniels latest turn as a paranormal investigator. You pride yourself on always telling the truth? Avenatti asked her, to which she replied in the affirmative. You have claimed you have a perfect memory? Avenatti asked, before inquiring, You have claimed you have the ability to see and speak to dead people? Avenatti then alluded to Daniels claims of having X-ray vision and suggested she claimed she could see into peoples houses. The lawyer asked about a haunted doll named Susan you speak to and she speaks back? Susan speaks to everyone, Daniels answered. Shes a character on the show. Daniels then quipped that Susan has her own Instagram. Before Daniels entered the witness box, Avenatti wrapped up his cross examination of Sean Ernesto Macias, an attorney and friend who said Avenatti was desperate for a $250,000 loan in September 2018. It was Macias who introduced Daniels to Avenatti that February when she was seeking a lawyer to fight her hush agreement with Trump. According to Macias testimony on Wednesday, Avenatti claimed he was jammed up, his Newport Beach law firm was about to be evicted, and he couldn't make payroll. Macias declined to give Avenatti the money but asked a colleague named Jack, who owned nightclubs in Los Angeles, to help him. When the pals met Jack at his home, Avenatti was adamant that he needed the cash tomorrow and claimed his Republican landlord was out to get him. Early the next day, Avenatti phoned Macias for an update on Jacks potential loan. It was a beautiful September morning, Macias testified, and I thought no good deed goes unpunished. Macias testified that he contacted Jack, who said he was unable to help. He was really upset, like really upset, Macias said of Avenatti, but declined to elaborate on what exactly Avenatti told him. I couldnt even understand him, he was teared up, crying, Macias testified, adding, I still feel bad for him. Once Avenatti calmed down, he asked Macias to phone another possible lender: lawyer Mark Geragoswho would later be embroiled in Avenattis Nike extortion case but wasnt charged. Hey, Avenattis jammed up, Macias said he told Geragos. Dont yell at me but he needs a bridge loan. Macias said Geragos laughed and asked how much Avenatti needed and that he replied $250,000 to $300,000. For el presidente, why not, Geragos allegedly answered before doling out $250,000. Days before Avenatti appeared in his office pressuring him for money, Macias said they attended a consumer attorney conference in Vegas and its attendant Friday night party. Macias testified Avenatti was melancholy during the festivities and said Daniels was going crazy because her book publisher hadnt paid her. She was threatening to go to the media, Avenatti told Macias, before asking Macias to represent Daniels in a potential lawsuit against the publishing house. He seemed a little more agitated than he normally was, Macias said of Avenatti. He seemed a bit needy. Meanwhile, Macias detailed how he and Avenatti plotted his Democratic presidential run throughout 2018. Macias testified that Avenatti told him that if he made it to the White House, he wanted him as his chief of staff. But Macias said he preferred to be ambassador of France. On Thursday, Avenatti asked Macias whether it was true that he liked Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii in connection to my campaign. Avenatti didnt elaborate but perhaps meant that he wanted the former Congresswoman as his running mate. Avenatti then recited a text Macias allegedly sent him about fundraising. I am getting you some Dough Re Mi so you can run like a banshee, Avenatti claimed Macias wrote. The embattled lawyer then asked Macias if he now serves as his estranged wifes lawyer in connection to their divorce proceedings. Macias answered yes before he was excused. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here 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. TALLAHASSEE Activists with Students for a Democratic Society staged a protest in the middle of a Florida House committee meeting Thursday as lawmakers were taking up a controversial bill banning abortions after 15 weeks. After less than half an hour of public testimony, Bryan Avila, R-Miami Springs, chairperson of the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee, said he would have to cut public feedback short in the interest of keeping the meeting to its scheduled two hours. Students from around Florida, many of whom had already testified against the bill, were outraged. They began chanting, Let her speak! drowning Avila out. With the committee unable to continue its business, the meeting was briefly paused while law enforcement escorted the students from the room. The students left without incident, chanting All power to the people! and The people united will never be defeated! Taylor Cook, 21, a student organizer at the University of South Florida, seized a portable microphone outside the committee building. They think they can shut our voices down? They think they can throw us out and deny us our right to speak? Cook said to the few dozen student activists gathered outside the committee building, adding some expletives. Meanwhile, inside the committee room, Avila called the meeting into a recess and several lawmakers exited out a back door. Law enforcement cleared the room. The meeting was paused to ensure the safety of the lawmakers and the public, a House spokesperson said. Once the meeting resumed, only journalists were allowed back in to watch the early portion of the lawmakers debate over the abortion bill. Eventually, other members of the public were allowed back in as well. Avila declined an interview after the meeting. Rep. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, the bills sponsor, did not stay in the committee room to take questions from journalists. However, in remarks to lawmakers just before the committee adjourned, Avila said he called an end to public comment so representatives could fully debate the abortion measure. Story continues My intent, again, was to make sure each and every one of you had enough time to represent your constituents and represent the voice of your constituents, Avila said. In the end, the meeting went about 15 minutes late. House Bill 5 would ban most abortions in Florida after 15 weeks. Under the bill, pregnancy would be measured from the first day of the pregnant persons last menstrual period. The legislation does not come with exceptions for rape or incest. It does include exceptions for times when the life of the mother is endangered, or cases of a fatal fetal abnormality. Floridians would only be able to obtain an exception in the case of such a fetal abnormality after getting written testimony from two doctors. The bill cleared the committee with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposed. It has one more committee hurdle before a vote in the full House. A similar measure, Senate Bill 146, has yet to be taken up by a Senate committee. Thursdays meeting underscored the challenge facing the bills opponents. An amendment offered by Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, would have required insurance companies to cover the second doctors visit mandated by law in the case of a fatal fetal abnormality. It was defeated on a party-line vote. Before the recess, the committee did tweak a provision of the bill unrelated to abortion. A new program that would require the state Department of Health to create regional committees to review fetal and infant mortality got its potential funding increased from $260,000 to $1,602,000. But the vast majority of Thursdays discussion was about abortion. In 2020, Florida saw some 75,000 abortions, according to the states Agency for Health Care Administration. About 4,300 of those procedures were performed during the second trimester between 13 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. Of those abortions, 20 were performed after cases of rape. Three were performed in cases of incest. Current Florida law allows abortions up until about 25 weeks of pregnancy. Republicans argued that 15 weeks was enough time for a pregnant person to seek an abortion. Fifteen weeks? ... Thats a long time, said Rep. Dana Trabulsy, R-Fort Pierce. To me, because I believe life begins at conception, thats generous. Democrats and the activists opposed to the bill argued that placing a 15-week limit on abortion would create an unfair barrier for vulnerable pregnant Floridians. My parents had me when they were 16 and 17, and we lived in poverty our entire life, Cook, the student activist, said in testimony before her group was kicked out of the meeting. My life would be ruined if I got pregnant right now. My parents lives were ruined. And I respect them for having me, I appreciate it, but if they didnt want to, that is their right. Opponents of the bill also contend its abortion provisions would conflict with state and federal precedent governing access to the procedure. Since the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, the Supreme Court has limited the extent to which states can pass abortion restrictions. Federal precedent could soon change, however. A Mississippi law passed in 2018 on which Gralls abortion measure was modeled is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. If the conservative-dominated court rules that law can stand, it could pave the way for a lasting 15-week ban in Florida. Tampa Bay Times Florida Legislature coverage Sign up for our newsletter: Get Capitol Buzz, a special bonus edition of The Buzz with Emily L. Mahoney, each Saturday while the Legislature is meeting. Watch the Florida Legislature live: The Florida Channel, a public affairs programming service funded by the Legislature, livestreams coverage at thefloridachannel.org. Its video library also archives coverage for later viewing. Were working hard to bring you the latest news from the states legislative session. This effort takes a lot of resources to gather and update. If you havent already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China and the United States could end up in a military conflict if the United States encourages Taiwan's independence, Beijing's ambassador to Washington said in a U.S. radio interview broadcast on Friday. China considers the neighboring, democratically ruled island of Taiwan its "sacred" territory and has never renounced the use of force to ensure eventual unification. "Let me emphasize this. The Taiwan issue is the biggest tinder-box between China and the United States," Qin Gang told National Public Radio. "If the Taiwanese authorities, emboldened by the United States, keep going down the road for independence, it most likely (will) involve China and the United States, the two big countries, in a military conflict," he said. Asked to comment, the U.S. Defense Department said the United States remained committed to its "one China" policy and its commitments under the U.S. Taiwan Relations Act. Under the long-standing policy, Washington officially recognizes Beijing rather than Taipei, while the act requires the United States to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. "We will continue to assist Taiwan in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability while also maintaining our own capacity to resist any use of force that would jeopardize the security of the people of Taiwan," a Pentagon spokesperson said. The U.S. State Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Qin's remark, which came just hours after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the crisis over Ukraine. While Chinese officials have warned of military action over Taiwan, it is unusual for them to link it directly to the United States. Tensions between Beijing and Taipei have escalated in recent months as China's military has conducted repeated air missions over the Taiwan Strait, the waterway separating the island from China. Story continues U.S. President Joe Biden has said that the United States was not encouraging independence for Taiwan, but he caused a stir in October when he said it would come to the island's defense if China attacked. The latter remark appeared to depart from Washington's long-held policy of "strategic ambiguity" - not making clear how the United States would respond - though the White House quickly said Biden was not signaling a change in policy. The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, told Congress last year China wants the ability to invade and hold Taiwan within the next six years but might not intend to do so in the near term. (Reporting by Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Howard Goller and Nick Macfie) A SWAT team interrupted a sleepy Key West neighborhood on Thursday. They found a local, whos also a motorcycle gang member, at home with guns hes not allowed to have, along with cocaine and cash from drug sales, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office said. Justin August Meyer, 31, was identified by the sheriffs office as a member of the Pagans Motorcycle Club after his arrest in the 2700 block of Staples Ave Thursday afternoon. Sheriffs office investigators and the agencys SWAT team, working with Key West police and federal agents, arrived with a search warrant at about 3:45 p.m. Meyer was found on the property holding a firearm, but he dropped it when he saw law enforcement officers, said sheriffs office spokesman Adam Linhardt. A woman and two children were also at the home, but no other arrests were made, he said. Meyer, who has a 2013 felony theft conviction, was found with an AR-15 rifle, two pistols a 45-caliber and a 9mm along with 140 rounds of ammunition, nearly 12 grams of cocaine, $3,310 in suspected drug proceeds and a digital scale, Linhardt said. He was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia. In 2013, Meyer pleaded guilty to the theft of an iPhone that was worth $300 or more, according to Monroe County criminal court records. On Friday, Meyer remained at the county jail on Stock Island where he was being held without bond. It was unclear whether he has an attorney. China issues 5-year plan to modernize market regulation Xinhua) 08:14, January 28, 2022 BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council has issued a plan to advance the modernization of the country's market regulation over the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). The plan calls for continuously optimizing the business environment in China to fully stimulate the vitality of market entities. Starting a new business will, for example, become more convenient in China, with average time consumption shrinking from fewer than four weekdays currently to about two weekdays by 2025, according to the plan. To build a level market playing field, the plan urges efforts to strengthen fair competition and anti-monopoly regulations. Platform companies will be guided to compete in an orderly manner, and practices such as discriminatory treatment and false sales promotions will be investigated in accordance with the law. New industries and business models will see enhanced supervision, per the plan, underscoring the close monitoring of competition in the "internet plus service" industry and investigating relevant illegal activities. Efforts should also be made to guarantee food and drug safety, ensure the safe operations of special equipment, strengthen supervision over the quality of industrial products, and further protect the rights and interests of consumers, according to the plan. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, center, arrives for a hearing on Sept. 14, 2018 at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. His attorney announced that a jury will decide his fate. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) After 1,214 days in custody for the murder of Laquan McDonald, former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke is about to go home. The white patrol officers decision on Oct. 20, 2014, to fire 16 shots into McDonald as the Black teenager walked away from cops while holding a knife once seemed destined to alter the trajectory of a city long plagued by allegations of police brutality and a code of silence that allowed the routine trampling of the rights of citizens. Advertisement And in many ways, the city Van Dyke will return to has changed. The mayor whose mishandling of the crisis helped derail a third term is gone now the newly minted U.S. ambassador to Japan. The Chicago Police Department has seen wholesale changes in leadership. Advertisement Body-worn cameras are now the norm for beat cops, as it was a video of the teens killing that spread around the globe, and videos of shooting incidents that used to be kept under wraps are now released to the public as a matter of policy. A federal consent decree is in place with the hopes of ushering in even more reforms. The stretch of South Pulaski Road near West 41st Street where former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke shot and killed Laquan McDonald in 2014. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) But in other ways, Van Dykes prosecution has not turned out to be the watershed moment many hoped for. Progress on the consent decree benchmarks has been frustratingly slow. Trust between the police and the communities they serve is more frayed than ever. The union representing rank-and-file officers has become increasingly radicalized. There has been an alarming spike in violent crime for which city leadership has had few answers. Cara Hendrickson, a former assistant to the Illinois attorney general who helped draft the parameters of the consent decree, said that despite the hard work of many stakeholders to overhaul the Police Department, the city has come up woefully short in establishing a modern system of police accountability, including early intervention programs to get support and training to officers in need and identify and discipline problem officers. Not nearly enough has been done to ensure that there will not be another Jason Van Dyke, said Hendrickson, who is now executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Business and Professional People for the Public Interest. Randall Samborn, a former spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office who made an early pitch for a federal pattern and practice investigation of Chicago police, said its way too soon to tell what the final legacy of the Van Dyke case will be, particularly in deterring unjustified use of lethal force. Right now, the city is in a kind of quagmire of reform, said Samborn, who now heads his own consulting firm, Randall A. Samborn & Associates. The consent decree will continue to plod along for years. With Van Dyke, people can reasonably differ over the length of his sentence and whether he should be released early, but his prosecution and conviction are what was important in setting a standard of accountability. Exactly where Van Dyke has been serving his 81-month sentence has been shrouded in mystery, and prison officials have declined to comment on his release, citing an interstate agreement allowing other jurisdictions to house high-profile prisoners in secret. McDonalds relatives, however, have said they were notified by authorities that the former officer was to be released Thursday. Advertisement McDonalds killing, like many prior shootings by Chicago police, barely made news when it happened. But when gruesome dashcam video of the shooting was ordered released more than a year later, it sparked a firestorm of protests, prompted the firing of police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, and allegations of a City Hall cover-up by Mayor Rahm Emanuels administration. In an image taken from dashcam video provided by the Chicago Police Department, Laquan McDonald, right, walks down the street moments before being fatally shot by Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke in Chicago. (Chicago Police Department) Van Dyke became the first Chicago police officer to be charged with murder for an on-duty shooting in half a century, and the fallout continued. A team of special prosecutors led by then-Kane County States Attorney Joseph McMahon was appointed to handle the Van Dyke case; then-States Attorney Anita Alvarez lost her primary bid to Kim Foxx, who ran on a platform heavily criticizing Alvarezs handling of the McDonald shooting. The allegations against Van Dyke were in many ways a harbinger for other cases nationwide that put a spotlight on the excessive use of force by police on Black citizens, most notably the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis that led to nationwide unrest in the summer of 2020. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 179 Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke and his attorney Daniel Herbert leave the courtroom after Van Dyke's sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court Building Friday, Jan. 18, 2019 in Chicago. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Convicted by a jury in October 2018 of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, Van Dyke received a relatively lenient sentence of 6 years behind bars, a term made even lighter by a procedural technicality that made him eligible for a 50% reduction for good behavior. Van Dyke in 2020 withdrew his appeal, meaning his release will close the final chapter in the case. Though it was widely reported at the time he was sentenced, Van Dykes projected release date of February 2022 seemed to catch many by surprise as it grew closer. Activists are planning a Feb. 3 rally in Federal Plaza and have announced their intention to try to shut down parts of downtown in protest. In recent weeks, a cadre of Black leaders, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson and U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, have joined some members of McDonalds extended family in calling on the U.S. Justice Department to bring federal civil rights charges against Van Dyke that could land him back in prison. Advertisement At least one person on the jury that convicted Van Dyke thought the sentence he received was too lenient. Charlene Cooke, who was the only Black person on the panel, told the Tribune last week she thought it was a slap on the wrist. Charlene Cooke at a home in a south suburb of Chicago on Oct. 20, 2018. Cooke was on the jurythat decided the verdict of the Jason Van Dyke murder trial in the 2014 shooting death of Laquan McDonald. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) To me, its an insult to the jurors and the time we spent (during the trial), Cooke, a 63-year-old retired FedEx driver, said in a telephone interview. Its an insult to the family, like Laquan McDonald meant nothing. McDonalds great-uncle, the Rev. Marvin Hunter, said that while he believes Van Dykes sentence was legally improper, most of the family does not support the effort to bring Van Dyke up on new charges. The Rev. Marvin Hunter, senior pastor of Grace Memorial Baptist Church and the great uncle of Laquan McDonald, at a news conference responding to President Joe Bidens nomination of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to Ambassador to Japan at his church in Chicago on Oct. 21, 2021. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune) My hope is that Jason Van Dyke went to jail and was rehabilitated, he told the Tribune in an interview last week. I hope he becomes a better man. If he gets 1,000 more years its not going to bring Laquan back, so we would be better served as a country and as a people if he became better. Our family, were not victims, and were not going to live our life as victims. We want to be better and not bitter. Choice I will live with forever Van Dyke, 43, was last a free man on Oct. 5, 2018, the day the jury found him guilty after about 7 hours of deliberations. After Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan ordered him immediately taken into custody, Van Dyke said his goodbyes to his wife and family, then put his hands behind his back as sheriffs deputies escorted him to a lockup behind the courtroom. Three months later, Van Dyke was back in Gaughans courtroom for his sentencing hearing, which featured hours of often-tearful testimony from Van Dykes relatives and supporters as well as emotional accounts from purported victims of his abuse during his police career. Advertisement Toward the end of the hearing, Van Dyke himself stood and said the day he shot McDonald was the worst of his life. The last thing I wanted to do was to shoot Laquan McDonald, he said, head bent as he read from a piece of paper. It is a choice that I will live with forever. One witness called by the prosecution wept uncontrollably on the stand as he described in detail how Van Dyke allegedly brutalized him after a traffic stop in 2007. The man required two surgeries after Van Dyke threw him to the floor in the back seat of a squad car, he said, and he still had not regained full use of his arms. Prosecutor Joseph McMahon delivers closing statements to the jury during the Officer Jason Van Dyke trial for the shooting death of Laquan McDonald on Oct. 4, 2018. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) McMahon told the Tribune last week that he recalled that witness breaking down emotionally in the hallway outside the courtroom, afraid to testify. I needed the judge to hear about how Van Dyke had treated other people, McMahon told the Tribune. I know how difficult it was going to be for him to testify in open court. And I think it was probably damaging to him to have to go in there and testify, (but) to tell as much of the story of Jason Van Dyke as possible, I felt like I needed to put him on the witness stand. Prosecutors had asked Gaughan for a sentence of 18 to 20 years on aggravated battery, which would have required Van Dyke to serve about 85% of the term. Van Dykes defense, by contrast, argued that he should be sentenced only on the second-degree murder, which carries a sentence of probation or four to 20 years in prison, with the possibility of day-for-day credit for good behavior. Advertisement Gaughan sided with the defense in making a key finding that dramatically reduced Van Dykes exposure, ruling that second-degree murder was actually the more egregious of the two charges and should be the one Van Dyke was sentenced on, even though a previous state appellate ruling had found the opposite. Is it more serious for Laquan McDonald to be shot by a firearm or is it more serious for Laquan McDonald to be murdered by a firearm? Gaughan said in explaining his reasoning. Common sense comes to an easy answer on that in this specific case. When he announced his sentence, Gaughan said he expected 100% of those in the courtroom to be disappointed. Afterward, Van Dykes lead attorney, Daniel Herbert, said his client truly felt great. He was not just relieved, he was happy, Herbert told reporters after the sentencing. Its the first time Ive seen the guy honestly since this whole ordeal started where he was happy. Hes certainly not happy about going to jail. Hes certainly not happy about missing his family. But hes happy about the prospect of life ahead of him. Former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke reacts with attorneys Tammy Wendt and Daniel Herbert at Van Dyke's sentencing hearing at the Leighton Criminal Court on Jan. 18, 2019. Van Dyke was sentenced to about seven years in prison. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) In his recent interview with the Tribune, McMahon acknowledged that for Van Dyke to be released less than four years later can be difficult to accept for some. But any time in prison is difficult, no matter how short the sentence particularly for an ex-cop, McMahon said. I dont think (Van Dyke) had an easy sentence, he said. And I understand people wish that his prison sentence was longer but I think what I said three-plus years ago now was that with the passage of time, hopefully what people remember about this case is that a police officer can be and will be and was held accountable for his crimes in this case, for the killing of Laquan McDonald, and thats what I hope people will remember. Advertisement Prison time After the January 2019 sentencing, Van Dyke was transferred to a downstate prison for a few weeks, where he was held in isolation as a standard security measure. In early February, Van Dyke was moved to a federal detention center in Danbury, Connecticut, for unexplained reasons, his attorneys said. Shortly after he was processed at the medium-security facility and moved into the general population, several people attacked him in his cell. Tiffany Van Dyke weeps as she talks about the beating of her husband, Jason Van Dyke, at a federal prison in Connecticut on Feb. 14, 2019. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) My No. 1 fear for my husband has always been his safety, it always has been that somebody is going to get him and hurt him, and the worst has happened, Van Dykes wife, Tiffany, told reporters at the time. Van Dyke was put into a segregated unit after the attack, his attorneys said. Federal prison records show Van Dyke was released from federal custody in November 2019, again for unexplained reasons. News reports stated he was transferred briefly to a state-run facility in Maryland, then again to an undisclosed location. For the next two years, he was off the radar. An Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman declined to say where Van Dyke was being held, citing an interstate agreement where high-profile prisoners can be kept off databases of inmates available to the public online. Advertisement Jason Van Dyke remains under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Corrections, but is not in our custody, the agency said in an emailed statement last week. For safety and security purposes, the department does not discuss details concerning individuals who have transferred under the terms of the Interstate Corrections Compact Agreement. The only indication of where Van Dyke may have spent prison time in Illinois comes from a two-page release order from the Prisoner Review Board, the government agency responsible for scheduling a prisoners supervised release program. The document, obtained by the Tribune through an open records request, stated Van Dyke had been at the Taylorville minimum-security prison near Springfield as of September 2021 when the order was signed. Van Dyke must now complete his term of mandatory supervised release, Illinois version of parole. The only requirement marked on the review boards form was that he participate in a cognitive behavioral therapy program a common measure aimed at reducing recidivism. Trying to move on with his life In light of the relatively lenient sentence, Van Dykes attorneys backed away from their promises to appeal his conviction. But not long afterward, McMahon and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who had just begun his first term, decided to bring the case directly to the state Supreme Court. Advertisement Attorney General Kwame Raoul announces the filing of a petition in the Illinois Supreme Court challenging the legality of former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke's prison sentence on Feb. 11, 2019. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Gaughans sentence relied on improper legal reasoning, they argued. Since Illinois law makes aggravated battery with a firearm the more serious offense, the state Supreme Court should order Gaughan to resentence the ex-patrol officer on those convictions instead. The states highest court declined to hear the petition by a 4-2 vote. No explanation was given for the courts refusal to hear the case. But the decision fell largely along political lines, with the courts three Republicans joining Anne Burke, a Democrat who is married to longtime Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, a onetime Chicago police officer who is facing federal corruption charges. The two dissenting judges both noted that Gaughan made his ruling relying on a dissenting opinion that stated the exact opposite of the majority, and the majority opinion is the law of the land. McMahon speculated in his recent interview with the Tribune that Van Dyke chose not to pursue an appeal in part because an appellate court could have chosen to kick the case back for a resentencing. I think the prospects of getting the conviction overturned were extremely low and the risk of being sent back to the trial court for resentencing were much higher, he said. Jennifer Blagg, one of Van Dykes attorneys, disputed that, saying that if prosecutors had tried to argue Van Dykes sentencing as part of the appeals process, they would not be on solid legal ground. Advertisement Van Dyke formally dropped his appeal in fall 2020, before the case had been fully briefed. Hes trying to move on with his life and move forward, Blagg told the Tribune at the time. He thought it was in the best interest of all the parties involved, including the McDonald family, that there be some finality. A federal look As the drama of the criminal case against Van Dyke was unfolding before the public, another probe into McDonalds shooting was going on behind the scenes, with the U.S. attorneys office and FBI looking into filing possible charges against Van Dyke and other officers involved. Then-U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon took the unusual step of confirming the investigation in April 2015 seven months before the release of the dashcam video that would force the hand of the Cook County states attorneys office to move forward with charges against Van Dyke. Fardon confirmed that the investigation was still ongoing in September 2016, nearly a year after Van Dyke was charged with murder. It remained active at least until 2019, when prosecutors asked a federal judge to keep a search warrant related to the probe under seal until the investigation was complete, which was estimated in the filing to be August 2019, court records show. No federal charges were ever filed in the case. Last week, several prominent Black leaders cited the case against former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was charged both in state court and federally with Floyds death, in renewing calls for the U.S. Department of Justice to go after Van Dyke. Advertisement Though there is no statute of limitations to bring a civil rights case involving a fatality, it would be exceedingly rare for the U.S. attorneys office to charge Van Dyke now, given his conviction and sentencing for the same incident in another jurisdiction. A spokesman for U.S. Attorney John Lausch declined to comment. Blagg, one of Van Dykes attorneys, told the Tribune last week justice isnt served in the court of public opinion, justice is handed out in a courtroom. Jurors heard Jasons case. A judge gave Jason his sentence. And even if you dont agree with it, you have to appreciate the long-term consequences of what youre arguing for, she said. Arguing that someone should be charged by the feds because you dont agree with the judges sentencing decision could have far-reaching consequences in our society. With a image of Laquan McDonald on a truck, William Calloway talks about reimagining the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police contract as people gather to release balloons on what would have been the 23rd birthday of McDonald in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood on Sept. 25, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Hunter also told the Tribune he feared that charging Van Dyke twice for the same set of actions could set a bad precedent. Most of the family does not support further charges against the ex-cop, he said. I am not an advocate for Jason Van Dyke, he has not asked for forgiveness but am I going to live my life harboring hate? Hunter said. The answer is no. I dont. And my family dont. Advertisement If politicians and activists wanted to help, they should have supported Raouls push at the state Supreme Court to reexamine the sentence Gaughan handed down instead of pushing for Van Dyke to be imprisoned again for something separate, Hunter said. If a man serves his time, he needs to be freed, Hunter said. If were going to be a civilized society we must follow the doggone laws and have them work for everybody the right way. Chicago Tribunes Christy Gutowski contributed. mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com jmeisner@chicagotribune.com The National Weather Service has issued a small-craft advisory for the weekend, prompting Tampa police to urge boaters to stay on land for Gasparilla. The Tampa Police Department is encouraging boaters to watch the invasion from land, the agency said in a news release on Thursday. The small-craft advisory will be in effect from 10 p.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday. A gale warning also will be in effect for Gulf waters as sustained northwest winds will whip at up to 35 mph, while gusts could be 45 mph or more, according to Spectrum Bay News 9 meteorologists. Conditions will be hazardous to small crafts. Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions, Tampa police said in the news release. Recreational boaters who plan to participate in the Gasparilla Pirate Invasion should check www.weather.gov for updates prior to getting underway. Know your limitations. If in doubt, dont go out! Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, which operates the 165-foot-long Jose Gasparilla pirate ship, which will lead Saturdays invasion into Tampa before the parade, said Friday afternoon that it would revise its route because of the weather. Due to inclement weather and out of an abundance of caution, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla will revise the sailing route of the Gasparilla Invasion planned for tomorrow, January 29, the Krewe said in a statement. Our determined pirates, led by Captain Peter Lackman, will continue their quest to capture the key to the city, invading Tampa by sailing from the Port of Tampa Bay at noon. The Jose Gasparilla will sail up the Ybor Channel, around Harbour Island, and into the Seddon Channel. Theyve set their sights on the Tampa Convention Center, where theyve commanded Mayor Jane Castor to surrender the key at 1 p.m. In the interest of boater safety, we strongly discourage small vessels from participating in this years flotilla and recommend guests enjoy the invasion and parade from land. Additionally, anyone considering boating on parade day should monitor weather and small craft advisories and carefully follow any recommendations made by the United States Coast Guard and law enforcement. The whipping winds come as a cold front pushes into the Tampa Bay area. While Friday temperatures should reach the high 60s, the front will push rain ahead of it later in the day. There is a 30 percent chance of rain on Friday with chances increasing into the evening. Saturday will be downright cold and windy. The temperature around parade time in Tampa will be between 45 and 50, Bay News 9 said, and winds could be whipping between 15 and 30 mph. The wind chill will likely be in the 30s during the day and will plunge into the 20s Saturday night. FORT WALTON BEACH The Fort Walton Beach Police Department is investigating a shooting that took place Thursday afternoon on the Cinco Bayou Bridge. A 15-year-old male, who was inside of a vehicle traveling south over the bridge, was shot in the head during the incident at about 4:55 p.m. Thursday, according to a press release from the city. The teenager was still being treated for the injury and his condition was not available as of 8:40 p.m. Thursday. By the way: Fort Walton Beach Mayor Dick Rynearson hospitalized after being injured in car accident Stabbing incident: Fort Walton Beach police investigating stabbing over stolen bike seat The shooting interrupted traffic on the bridge until all lanes were reopened at about 7:45 p.m., according to an alert from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office. If anyone has information about this incident, please contact Detective Boucher by phone at 850-833-9549 or email, eboucher@fwb.org. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Fort Walton Beach shooting: Police investigate after teen shot in head By Gul Yusufzai QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Separatist insurgents have claimed responsibility for an attack on a Pakistani army post near a southwestern port in which China is investing, and the army said 10 soldiers were killed. The attack, launched late on Tuesday in Kech district, north of Gwadar port, was the heaviest in years in a low-key insurgency that ethnic Baloch insurgents have been waging against the Pakistani government. "We are resolute in our commitment to rid Pakistan of all forms of terrorism," Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a statement on Friday in which he paid tribute to the 10 "martyred" soldiers. The army said it killed one of the attackers and arrested three in a clearance operation that was still going on. The Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) insurgent group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement sent to a Reuters reporter that 17 soldiers and one of its members were killed. Ethnic Baloch guerrillas have been fighting the government for decades for a separate state, saying Pakistan's central government unfairly exploit the rich gas and mineral resources of Balochistan province, which shares borders with Afghanistan and Iran. China is involved in the development of the Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea and other projects in the province as part of a $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is itself part of Beijing's Belt and Road initiative. The insurgents often target gas projects as well as infrastructure and security posts in the province but have begun launching attacks in other parts of Pakistan. They also attack Chinese projects, and occasionally kill Chinese workers despite Pakistani assurances that it is doing everything it can to protect the Chinese projects. Pakistan has also accused India of covertly supporting the insurgents. India denies that. (Additional Reporting by Saud Mahsud in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan; Writing by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Robert Birsel) Jan. 28The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is getting an outside district attorney involved to handle a case in which Hamilton County District Attorney Neal Pinkston accused a political opponent of obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Pinkston has accused Coty Wamp, who serves as legal counsel in the sheriff's office and is challenging Pinkston in the May 3 Republican primary for district attorney, of interfering with a Soddy-Daisy gunshot case in which she alleged the wrong man had been arrested. The case remains ongoing, and TBI has declined to comment further on the matter. "We are awaiting the appointment of the district attorney pro tem on this case before providing any information from our findings," TBI spokesperson Susan Niland said via email Wednesday. Niland's comment followed remarks from a different spokesperson, Josh DeVine, who said Tuesday no information about the ongoing investigation would be made public. The bureau also said an explanation for the reasoning behind transferring the case to a separate district attorney would need to be explained by Pinkston. From the beginning, TBI officials said they would not comment on the investigation because it was ongoing. Spokespeople said Jan. 14 that any findings would be shared with Pinkston, as the person who initially referred the case to TBI. Pinkston's office did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday and Thursday. Wamp has raised questions about whether Pinkston's referral of the case to the TBI was a political move, saying it was "convenient" that Pinkston had made a referral involving his only political opponent. "It would be improper for him to have a hand in this case from the beginning," Wamp said in a Thursday phone interview. "I knew a pro tem would be appointed. He knew that would not make headlines." Dick Williams, chair of the government watchdog organization Common Cause Tennessee, in a Wednesday phone call said it's common to view such an issue as politically problematic. Story continues "There's an appropriate reluctance for such an agency to get involved in an allegation that hangs over the election," Williams said. "On the other hand, they can't just ignore it." Deborah Fisher, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, added that Pinkston would be wise to share information about the case. "I don't know why the DA wouldn't want to clear this up, because it's with a political opponent," she said. In a Jan. 6 referral to the TBI, the district attorney alleged Wamp participated in obstruction of justice in the aftermath of a gunshot into the ground on Barbee Road. No one was injured. In the referral, Pinkston said the Soddy-Daisy Police Department relayed that Wamp notified the department it had the wrong suspect in custody following the shooting. Pinkston went on to say the victims took back their original stories after their interactions with Wamp. "After this alleged intervention, victims recount original story, deny Hugo Garcia Padilla is suspect and now accuse Hugo Garcia Robles," he wrote in the document, apparently intending to spell "recant." Since the TBI took over the investigation into the shooting and Wamp's involvement, the police department, Wamp, Pinkston and most other involved parties have declined to comment about the gunshot case or the subsequent complaint about Wamp. In the past, though, Wamp has stated that Pinkston is using the investigation for political gain, which he has disputed. Candidates must return qualifying petitions to the elections commission by Feb. 17, and they have until Feb. 24 to withdraw from the race. Contact Logan Hullinger at lhullinger@timesfreepress.com or 814-319-5158. Follow him on Twitter @LoganHullinger. Former prime minister Theresa May said, like the public, she was "angry" to hear reports of suspected rule-breaking in Number 10. (PA Images) Theresa May has weighed in on the Partygate scandal engulfing Boris Johnson's premiership. The former prime minister's intervention is significant as she has noticeably said very little during the development of the Partygate scandal. Johnson is coming under increasing pressure to resign following a string of alleged parties, gatherings and 'work events' in Number 10 during lockdown while the rest of the country was told to abide by strict coronavirus laws. Calls for Johnson's resignation have grown both within and outside of his party, with senior Tory MPs such as Andrew Bridgen and David Davis calling for to go. Davis dramatically told the prime minister "in the name of God, go" during a rowdy session of prime minister's questions last week. Read more: Sue Gray report: Met Police accused of cover-up over last-minute intervention Boris Johnson has been under pressure for weeks over the No10 parties. (PA) Speaking to her local newspaper, The Maidenhead Advertiser, May said earlier this week that "nobody was above the law" and that, like members of the public, she was "angry" to hear of the reported parties in Number 10 when they set the rules. "When the report's findings are published, if there is evidence of deliberate or premeditated wrongdoing, I expect full accountability to follow," she said. "All those working at the heart of government should conduct themselves with the highest standards which befits the world they do, and this applies as much to those working in Number 10 as other parts of government." What "full accountability" would look like is up for debate, with some calling for Johnson's resignation if laws were broken. Watch: Partygate: Timing of Sue Gray report publication thrown into doubt after Metropolitan Police request 'minimal reference' to events it is investigating Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservative, called for the prime minister's resignation earlier this month after he admitted attending one of the Downing Street parties. Story continues The prime minister himself ordered the inquiry after public and political outrage over suspected rule breaking on Downing Street and Sue Gray, the senior civil servant leading the investigation, was set to release her findings this week. However exactly how, and when, the findings will be published has been thrown into question following a significant intervention from the Met police, who have requested elements of Gray's report should be held back while they conduct their own investigations. "For the events the Met is investigating, we asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report," the Met said on Friday. "The Met did not ask for any limitations on other events in the report, or for the report to be delayed, but we have had ongoing contact with the Cabinet Office, including on the content of the report, to avoid any prejudice to our investigation." Earlier this month, senior Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale told Yahoo News UK that Theresa May would "absolutely not" have operated Number 10 in the way that Johnson has. "If Theresa had a party, she had a party that was legal and formal and above board - with proper caterers," he said. A potential delay to the release of the report is likely to trigger frustration among Conservative MPs who were reportedly waiting for the report before deciding whether to lodge a letter of no confidence in the prime minister. There are some arguing that a delay to the release of the report, and aspects of Gray's inquiry being held, because of a police investigation will work in Johnson's favour. However, a senior Conservative source told Yahoo News UK on Wednesday the prime minister wanted the matter to be resolved and dealt with as soon as possible so everyone can "move on" from it. Joe Exotic was resentenced Friday to 21 years in federal prison after a judge refused to consider his complaints about his murder-for-hire conviction. The former Oklahoma zookeeper's new punishment is only one year less than his original sentence. His attorneys now plan to bring up their accusations of outrageous government conduct, lying witnesses and entrapment in a motion for new trial. "It is not over," his attorney, John M. Phillips, told reporters afterward outside the Oklahoma City federal courthouse. "People wanted rid of Joe by any means necessary, and they won for now." 'Free Joe Exotic' Joe Exotic became famous early in the pandemic after Netflix released "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness." The documentary series was a somewhat sympathetic look at his life, his case and his now closed zoo in Wynnewood. Millions watched while in lockdowns at home, making it a breakout hit. Fans filled the courtroom Friday to show their support. Two wore black T-shirts that read "Free Joe Exotic." The resentencing came six months after a federal appeals court upheld his conviction but threw out his punishment. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver found U.S. District Judge Scott Palk made an error in determining the appropriate sentencing guidelines. The judge said Friday that he would not take up complaints about the conviction because it is outside the scope of a resentencing. The judge also said the jury had heard essentially the same complaints at trial and ultimately rejected them. Joe Exotic told the judge Friday he did not commit any crime and has lost enough of his life because of the lies told about him. He said any time in prison would be a death sentence because of health problems that include early-state prostate cancer. "Please don't make me die in prison waiting for a chance to be free," he said in tears. Hit-man hire led to conviction He was convicted at trial in 2019 of hiring hit men to kill his chief critic, Carole Baskin, and of crimes involving his animals. Story continues The judge ordered him to prison for 22 years at a sentencing in January 2020. "It is of paramount importance in this case to provide just punishment for your offense and protect the public from further conduct you may engage in," Palk said then. More: Prosecutors deny 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic's claims of outrageous government conduct Joe Exotic appears in "Tiger King 2." Jurors were told he targeted Baskin because she was actively seeking to collect court judgments against him of more than $1 million for trademark infringement and other civil violations. He also was angry because she accused him of exploiting tiger cubs for profit at his zoo and on traveling shows, according to testimony. Baskin, who operates an animal sanctuary in Florida, had sought to stop him for years. Baskin told the judge Friday that Joe Exotic is an even bigger threat to her and her family now because of his Netflix fame and the possibility his new fans could be provoked into violence. She said he continues from prison to make persistent social media attacks against her. She called him obsessive and said he harbors intense feelings of ill will toward her. A former inmate who was locked up with him for a year reported he ranted daily about her, she also told the judge. Joseph A Maldonado isn't perfect. He isn't a Saint. But I love the guy. We want to show the jury why they got it wrong and why they were mislead. Tomorrow starts the process. I am proud, so proud, of what I do and who I get to do it with and for. Justice for Joe Exotic. John M. Phillips (@JohnPhillips) January 28, 2022 Joe Exotic expected to seek new trial soon Phillips, of Jacksonville, Florida, said the motion for a new trial will be filed next week or the week after that. He said they also will appeal the new sentence. His attorneys already have affidavits from a number of witnesses in support of their new trial motion. Key prosecution witness Allen Glover said in a sworn statement that he committed perjury during the trial. Glover specifically said he lied when he told jurors Joe Exotic paid him $3,000 to kill Baskin. Attorney John M. Phillips speaks to reporters after Joe Exotic was resentenced in Oklahoma City federal court Friday. The defense attorneys asked the judge to impose only 90 months. Joe Exotic, who ran for governor in Oklahoma in 2018, was brought to court in chains and orange jail clothes. He still had his trademark mullet hairstyle but was noticeably thinner. He will get credit for time already served, but, at 58 and in poor health, may die in prison if his further legal efforts fail. Joe Exotic was born Joseph Allen Schreibvogel but his name has changed over the years depending on his marital status. His attorney told reporters he now goes by the name Joseph Maldonado. "Justice was served," Baskin's husband told The Oklahoman after the sentencing. "Anyone who spent 20 years mistreating animals in cages belongs in a cage for 20 years," Howard Baskin said. Read the victim's impact statement from Carole Baskin Carole Baskin also made a written victim impact statement that was submitted to the judge before Friday's hearing. You can read the full victim impact statement below. WARNING: The text of Baskin's victim impact statement contains obscenities throughout. Carole Baskin Victim Statement - Joseph Maldonado Passage Resentencing 1-28-22 by Anonymous EHPq5k on Scribd This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tiger King star Joe Exotic resentenced in OKC in murder-for-hire case The Tennessee school board that banned the Holocaust novel Maus has defended its decision after prompting angry reactions online and condemnation from the author himself. The graphic novel, Maus: A Survivors Tale by Art Spiegelman, uses illustrations of mice and cats to tell the story of how the authors parents survived Auschwitz during the Holocaust. It was serialised from 1980 to 1991 and, in 1992, became the first (and to date only) graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize the Special Award in Letters. On the McMinn County School board, 10 members unanimously agreed in favour of removing the novel from the eighth-grade curriculum, citing its use of eight curse words including the phrase God Damn and drawings of naked pictures of women. After a social media backlash, the board members said in a statement that the books unnecessary use of profanity and nudity and its depiction of violence and suicide" were too much for a class of 13 and 14-year-olds. Taken as a whole, the Board felt this work was simply too adult-oriented for use in our schools, the statement read. The board said its members do not diminish the value of Maus as an impactful and meaningful piece of literature, nor do we dispute the importance of teaching our children the historical and moral lessons and realities of the Holocaust. They said teachers had been told to teach the Holocaust in a more age appropriate fashion, adding: We all have an obligation to ensure that younger generations learn of its horrors to ensure that such an event is never repeated. We simply do not believe that this work is an appropriate text for our students to study. School board issues statement about the removal of Maus. https://t.co/ftrt5woNxh pic.twitter.com/OdxYe29rAb Evan McMurry (@evanmcmurry) January 27, 2022 Spiegelman had said he was baffled by this decision in an interview with CNBC on Wednesday. Its leaving me with my jaw open, like, What? the 73-year-old author said. He also called the ban Orwellian. Story continues Ive met so many young people who have learned things from my book, Spiegelman said. I also understand that Tennessee is obviously demented. Theres something going on very, very haywire there. The US Holocaust Museum also condemned the move, tweeting: Maus has played a vital role in educating about the Holocaust through sharing detailed and personal experiences of victims and survivors. On the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it is more important than ever for students to learn this history. Teaching about the Holocaust using books like Maus can inspire students to think critically about the past and their own roles and responsibilities today. Maus (AP) The ban on Maus arrives as conservative groups across the country, such as parent advocacy group Moms for Liberty, are pressuring schools to remove books from their libraries and curriculums. The books that cause offence often address race, LGBTQ issues and marginalised communities. Last year, the American Library Association reported a troubling rise in organised attempts to ban and in some cases even burn library books. In Virginia and Utah, Toni Morrison books have been removed from some school shelves due to explicit content. Alison Bechdels Fun Home was also pulled in North Kansas due to its LGBTQ themes. In southern Pennsylvania, a long list of books almost exclusively written by people of colour were banned. Fallout from the Jason Van Dyke case stretched far beyond the courtroom. Perhaps most prominently, then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced right before Van Dykes trial that he would not seek a third term in office. Emanuel had repeatedly been accused of covering up McDonalds shooting, since the city under his administration fought mightily to keep video of the killing under wraps, and granted a $5 million settlement to McDonalds family before they even formally sued. Advertisement In the ensuing years, Emanuel made a name for himself as a political commentator and Democratic party insider. Then earlier this month, he took a post as ambassador to Japan. His appointment to that office was not without controversy, given his history with the McDonald case, but the Senate confirmed him last month regardless. A separate team of special prosecutors led by former Cook County Judge Patricia Brown Holmes was appointed to investigate whether any officers besides Van Dyke committed criminal acts connected to the shooting. Three officers were ultimately charged with conspiracy, obstruction of justice and official misconduct for allegedly covering up what really happened the night McDonald was shot. Advertisement After a bench trial before Cook County Associate Judge Domenica Stephenson, all three were acquitted on all charges. Stephensons ruling was handed down the day before Van Dyke was sentenced. While Franklin Valderramas role in the matter has gone somewhat unheralded, the former Cook County civil court judge arguably set the whole case in motion by ordering the city to release video of the shooting publicly. Valderrama has since been appointed to the federal bench, and is about to preside over the high-profile tax-fraud case of Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson. Judge Vincent Gaughan still presides over the same felony courtroom at the Leighton Criminal Court Building where Van Dyke was convicted, and was one of the first judges to resume hearing jury trials when COVID-19 restrictions loosened last year. Matthew Ross, charged in federal court with posting Facebook messages threatening violence if Van Dyke was let go, pleaded guilty earlier this month and was sentenced to 18 months of probation. After Van Dykes conviction, the union representing rank-and-file Chicago police officers stopped referring officers in need of legal assistance to lawyer Daniel Herbert, who maintained that he put his heart and soul into Van Dykes defense. Herbert leads his law firm on the Near West Side and is a co-founder of Bank the Blue, a nonprofit that aims to provide mental health support to law enforcement officers. Joseph McMahon, the former Kane County States Attorney appointed as special prosecutor in the Van Dyke case, decided not to run for re-election to the Kane County office in 2020. He is now in private practice, handling mostly civil litigation at his firm, Griffin Williams McMahon and Walsh. He also has sat on Metras board of directors since last spring. On occasion, he says, he gets a request from a prosecutor in another jurisdiction: Can he give any advice about prosecuting a police officer in criminal court? He has agreed to consult on a handful of such cases in the past few years, he said. It reminds me that prosecuting a police officer for a line-of-duty shooting, its a unique criminal prosecution, McMahon said. ... It turns the traditional notion of criminal prosecution on its head and it really kind of flips that script. And it confirms that there are a lot of really good prosecutors out there that want to do the right thing and work very hard to do the right thing. Advertisement Meanwhile, McDonalds great-uncle the Rev. Marvin Hunter said, McDonalds family is trying their best to live regular lives. Weve got so many other young people we have in this family, and were trying to keep them from becoming the next Laquan, along with all the other barriers that come with being Black and not rich in Chicago, he said. " We try to live life with a sense of normalcy best we can. Supporters of the Freedom Convoy of truckers driving from British Columbia to Ottawa in protest against a Covid-19 vaccine mandate gather near a highway overpass outside of Toronto, Ontario (Cole Burston/AFP/Getty) A convoy of truckers opposed to Covid-19 vaccine mandates made its way through southwestern Ontario on Thursday, as it continues its snaking journey through the heart of Canada. The protest is being organized by Canada Unity, a group that opposes Covid-related measures. Its leaders want prime minister Justin Trudeau and his government to drop the vaccine mandate for truckers crossing the Canada-US border and do away with other public health protections. The Canadian federal government instituted vaccine mandates for cross-border truckers throughout the country. But as many as 32,000, or 20 per cent, of the 160,000 Canadian and American cross-border truck drivers may be taken off the roads due to the mandate, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA). Some high-profile vaccine-sceptics, such as Elon Musk and Joe Rogan, have praised the protesting truckers. Mr Rogan stated that Canada is in revolt, with the Toronto Sun claiming that up to 50,000 truckers will end up completing the journey to the capital. By contrast, Prime Minister Trudeau has characterised the protesters as a small fringe minority who are on the way to Ottawa who are holding unacceptable views. Key Points Trudeau blasts fringe minority behind trucking convoy Elon Musk Tweets out support for Canadian truckers US Freedom Convoy to link up with Canadian counterparts on Saturday GoFundMe freezes funds raised by trucker group Many protest supporters are donating under false names, report says 00:30 , Nathan Place According to a CTV analysis, many people who donated to a GoFundMe for todays protests did so under false names including those of Justin Trudeau and his wife. Some 'freedom convoy' donors are using aliases of well-known Canadians https://t.co/iMA6nPmmKc pic.twitter.com/o0QcZCcXWp CTV News (@CTVNews) January 28, 2022 Ottawa closes bridge due to protests Story continues 00:00 , Nathan Place Ottawa officials have closed another major thoroughfare as the protests continue, this time the Alexandra Bridge. Alexandra Bridge closed - demonstration, the City of Ottawa tweeted. OPS directing traffic. Duration unknown. Alexandra Bridge closed - demonstration. OPS directing traffic. Duration unknown. Expect delays. #otttraffic City of Ottawa (@ottawacity) January 28, 2022 Why are Canadian truckers protesting in Ottawa? Friday 28 January 2022 23:30 , Nathan Place Heres a look at what Canadian truckers are protesting, what they plan to do this weekend, and why: Why Canadian truckers are driving cross-country to protest vaccine mandates Heres what Justin Trudeau has said about the protests Friday 28 January 2022 23:00 , Nathan Place Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has called the truckers protesting in Ottawa a fringe minority with unacceptable views. Protesters have reacted to those words with a mix of outrage and glee, with some sarcastically throwing the phrases back at Mr Trudeau on social media. As the demonstration continues, heres a closer look at what Mr Trudeau said: Trudeau blasts fringe minority behind trucking protest convoy Police repeat warning that violence will be punished Friday 28 January 2022 22:34 , Nathan Place As the protest in Ottawa continues, police have repeated their warning that violent demonstrators will be prosecuted. We welcome peaceful demonstrations, the Ottawa Police Service tweeted on Friday evening. Public safety is paramount there will be consequences for persons engaging in criminal conduct, violence and/or activities promoting hate. Freedom honks continue outside Canadian Parliament Friday 28 January 2022 22:16 , Nathan Place As truckers in Ottawa continue to protest for freedom, theyve made it clear that freedom is very, very loud. And this is from their room, getting loud in Ottawa! pic.twitter.com/wFGgOfaElC M (@M_OldNormalBack) January 28, 2022 Honking protesters fill Ottawa with deafening noise Friday 28 January 2022 21:54 , Nathan Place Ottawa became one of the noisiest places on earth on Friday as an entire protest of truckers honked their horns. Ottawa a few minutes ago. Noisy. Cold. pic.twitter.com/pn3F7cyytE Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) January 28, 2022 Police chief warns violent protesters will be arrested Friday 28 January 2022 21:41 , Nathan Place Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly warned on Friday that any protester who turns violent will arrested and prosecuted. Let me be very clear: we are prepared to investigate, arrest if necessary, charge and prosecute anyone who acts violently or breaks the law in the demonstrations, or in association with the demonstrations, Mr Sloly said. The police chief has also said, however, that so far the protests have remained peaceful and uneventful. "The message is, avoid the downtown core for travel purposes," said Chief Peter Sloly, noting that people who live and run businesses downtown should be able to go about their lives as normal. https://t.co/saGVSYmDDt CityNews Ottawa (@CityNewsOttawa) January 27, 2022 Ottawa closes street due to protests Friday 28 January 2022 21:05 , Nathan Place Ottawa officials have closed down a large stretch of Metcalfe Street, which ends at Canadas parliament, due to the ongoing protests. Metcalfe closed between Queen and Wellington - demonstration, the City of Ottawa warned residents in a tweet. OPS directing traffic. Duration unknown. Avoid area and use other routes. Metcalfe closed between Queen and Wellington - demonstration. OPS directing traffic. Duration unknown. Avoid area and use other routes. #otttraffic City of Ottawa (@ottawacity) January 28, 2022 Hundreds cheer as trucks drive past Parliament Friday 28 January 2022 20:40 , Nathan Place Hundreds of cheering supporters lined the streets as trucks drove past Canadas parliament, protesting the countrys vaccine mandates. Huge area of downtown Ottawa impacted by protests, city warns Friday 28 January 2022 20:20 , Nathan Place Ottawa officials warned residents on Friday that a large area of the city, about 13 blocks in diameter, will be impacted by demonstrations. Heads up, #OttCity, the City of Ottawa tweeted. Demonstrations are beginning in Ottawa today and several streets in the downtown core & surrounding area will be impacted. Heads up, #OttCity: demonstrations are beginning in Ottawa today and several streets in the downtown core & surrounding area will be impacted. For info on potential impacts & a live interactive traffic map: https://t.co/qHX4oeVyCH Please note that the map is subject to change. pic.twitter.com/xkBF3qXeIw City of Ottawa (@ottawacity) January 28, 2022 Ottawa police chief calls protests peaceful and uneventful Friday 28 January 2022 20:00 , Nathan Place Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly says the trucker protests have been peaceful and uneventful so far, but police are carefully monitoring the situation. As you all know, there is a major demonstration taking place over the next several days here in the nations capital, Mr Sloly said at a briefing on Friday. In fact, demonstrators have already started to arrive, and our officers have been managing a series of small demonstrations in the city core over the last 24 hours. So far they have been peaceful and uneventful. Mr Sloly added that the protests are expected to continue through the weekend and possibly into next week. To view the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Police virtual media briefing: ~ Pour consulter le point de presse virtuel de la Ville d'Ottawa et la Police d'Ottawa:https://t.co/KNtf7T0Jdh Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) January 28, 2022 More trucks roll onto Parliament Hill as protesters cheer Friday 28 January 2022 19:40 , Nathan Place More protest trucks are rolling into Parliament Hill, Ottawa, honking noisily as crowds cheer them on. Demonstrators welcoming the vehicles waved Canadian flags and protest signs, bearing messages like There must be choice and Truck off Trudeau. Trucks begin arriving in Ottawa Friday 28 January 2022 19:21 , Nathan Place Protesters trucks have begun arriving outside Canadas parliament in Ottawa, videos from local journalists show. Crowds cheered the vehicles as they rolled in. More and more trucks showing up outside parliament in Ottawa for the #ConvoyForFreedom2022.https://t.co/8hpC710hZK@RebelNewsOnline pic.twitter.com/3JhxIQ3oEh Lincoln Jay (@lincolnmjay) January 28, 2022 Crowd greets trucker convoy in Quebec on Friday morning Friday 28 January 2022 19:00 , Thomas Fenton A large crowd lined the sides of the road to welcome the trucker convoy in Quebec on Friday morning, as it continued onto Ottawa. While local police suggested that the number of vehicles in the convoy is far less than early reports indicated, the crowd that met the trucks just outside of Quebec looked to be strong. #Quebec loves #freedom!!! The east coast trucker convoy was greeted warmly this morning in Quebec! one supporter tweeted out, along with a video showing some of the crowd by the roadside cheering the drivers on. Freedom Convoy spokesperson claims vaccine passports are really concerning" Friday 28 January 2022 18:30 , Thomas Fenton Tucker Carlsons interview with Freedom Convoy spokesperson Ben Dichter on Fox News saw him reveal that the group has dual objectives. While its opposition to vaccine mandates is well documented, Mr Dichter also explained how vaccine passports are the really concerning development in Canada. We want to get rid of the vaccine mandates and the (vaccine) passports. And that passport, thats the really concerning one, the controversial spokesperson stated on Fox News last night. Mr Dichter also repeated the unsubstantiated claim that the Canadian border patrol has access to peoples phones and can track truckers to ensure they all have the vaccine. Thousands of truckers in Canada have formed a convoy to protest the country's vaccine mandates. pic.twitter.com/vFmr9GrDyC Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) January 28, 2022 Kingston Police register just 121 trucks in convoy - disputing 50,000 claim Friday 28 January 2022 18:00 , Thomas Fenton The official Twitter account of Kingston Police in Ottawa provided a truck convoy update at midday on Friday, claiming that just 121 trucks were present. According to the departments account, it registered 121 trucks, 421 passenger vehicles, and six RVs. As of 9:35 am all roads have reopened and all trucks and passenger vehicles have departed #ygk and are now EB on Hwy 401, they added, indicating that the smaller than expected convoy is once again on the move. Some reports previously suggested that up to 50,000 trucks were involved in the protest against vaccine mandates, but that figure has since been disputed by local police. Global News also quoted from various police sources, who counted no more than 230 trucks, and 725 personal vehicles. TRUCK CONVOY UPDATE As of 9:35 am all roads have reopened and all trucks and passenger vehicles have departed #ygk and are now EB on Hwy 401. Our count: 17 full tractor trailers 104 tractors w no trailers 424 passenger vehicles 6 RVs Kingston Police (@KingstonPolice) January 28, 2022 Following from several police sources. - 8 separate convoy captains (core organizers) - 230 tractors / tractor-trailers & 725 personal vehicles from Toronto and Western Canada - 200 vehicles out of NB/NS - Possibly 2000 pedestrians from QC + unknown # of other actors. David Akin (@davidakin) January 28, 2022 Explainer: Why Canadian truckers are driving cross-country to protest vaccine mandates Friday 28 January 2022 17:23 , Thomas Fenton A group of Canadian long-haul truck drivers are travelling cross-country from British Columbia to Ottawa as part of a Freedom Convoy to protest the imposition of Covid-19 vaccine requirements upon their industry. Until Saturday 15 January 2022, Canadas lorry drivers were granted a federal exemption from vaccine requirements to enable them to cross the border into the US and back without having to show proof of inoculation against the coronavirus. Now that privilege has expired, unvaccinated drivers returning from the US face having to quarantine for 14 days, although this requirement would only apply to a minority of around 16,000 drivers given that 85 per cent of their colleagues have had their jabs. But those who will be impacted by the new rules are incensed, and duly banded together to embark from Prince Rupert in the far west of British Columbia on Sunday 23 January to make the epic 2,443-mile journey to Parliament Hill in the nations capital in time to attend a rally scheduled for Saturday 29 January. Joe Sommerlad has the full story: Why Canadian truckers are driving cross-country to protest vaccine mandates TikToks capture Trudeau rage among truckers Friday 28 January 2022 16:49 , Thomas Fenton A series of TikTok videos have been shared by a right-wing journalist on Twitter, which purport to show the extent of the Canadian truckers protest - and the disdain many have for the nations Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. It really is fun. Theres a festival feeling to it. Trudeaus rage is showing; the convoy is full of happy warriors, one video is captioned by Rebel News Ezra Levant. The TikTok in question also features a F**k Trudeau flag in the foreground as the trucks roll by. As many as 50,000 vehicles are expected to continue the long journey to Ottawa on Friday, in what is a mass protest movement against vaccine mandates for drivers who cross over the Canadian-US border. 7. It really is fun. Theres a festival feeling to it. Trudeaus rage is showing; the convoy is full of happy warriors. pic.twitter.com/g3hcC2pjRz Ezra Levant (@ezralevant) January 28, 2022 Joe Rogan: Protesting truckers shows Canada is in revolt' Friday 28 January 2022 16:15 , Thomas Fenton Controversial podcast host Joe Rogan has spoken out on the Canadian trucker protest, appearing to sympathise with the cause. During Thursdays episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, he told his guest, freediver and Canadian citizen Valentine Thomas, your countrys in revolt, do you know about this? Its a giant convoy of trucks...some insane amount of people..like 50,000 trucks. Mr Rogan adds: Apparently [the truckers are] all being mandated to get vaccinated, and theyre all like hey, we don't even contact anybody. Joe Rogan @joerogan mentions the trucker convoy that is heading to Ottawa: "[Canada] is in revolt." pic.twitter.com/RMecaM6BlF The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 27, 2022 US truckers to join Freedom Convoy on Saturday Friday 28 January 2022 15:32 , Thomas Fenton According to Canadian Trucking Magazine publisher Dave MacKenzie, some US truckers are driving from North Dakota to Portal Saskatchewan, where they intend to cross the border and join their Canadian counterparts protest. Others are just driving in convoys in the US to show support, he told West Standard Online. The number of US drivers has gone from hundreds, to thousands, to hundreds again. MacKenzie explained travel costs are a large factor contributing to drivers ability to stay with the protest convoys. Truckers left from British Columbia on Sunday and will be met in the nations capital on Saturday by other protesters driving from the east and the south of the country - as well as those from the States. The Toronto Sun estimates that up to 50,000 trucks could be participating, which would exceed the existing record by around 10 times if the convoy stays intact until all the way to Ottowa. GoFundMe releases just $1m of the $6m total raised by truckers Friday 28 January 2022 14:30 , Thomas Fenton The crowdfunding platform GoFundMe says it has released an initial $1 million of the $6.2 million intended to support a convoy of truckers (and their supporters) which is currently headed for Ottowa. As CBC reports, the fundraising page was launched earlier this month by Tamara Lich to take donations to cover the convoys fuel, food and lodging expenses - which is protesting against vaccine mandates for Canadian truckers. Earlier this week, GoFundMe said it was holding back the funds until it received more details about the group and its financial management. A spokesperson for GoFundMe stated on Thursday that the organizer has provided a distribution plan and the withdrawn funds are being used to cover participants fuel costs. They added that the platform is working with the organizers to release the rest of the money once participants have been reimbursed for their expenses. Crowd in Toronto cheers on anti-vaccine trucker convoy Friday 28 January 2022 14:00 , Thomas Fenton A large crowd gathered outside a mall north of Toronto on Thursday to cheer a group of local truckers preparing to join a convoy to Ottawa protesting Canadas coronavirus vaccine mandate for cross-border drivers. Some in the crowd threw cash and food up to drivers inside their truck cabs at the Vaughan Mills mall while others waved Canadian flags and signs protesting the government as the truckers gradually rolled out. Worryingly, some journalists were reportedly harassed while they tried to cover the rally. The convoy of truckers set to descend on Canadas capital has prompted police to prepare for the possibility of violence, with some politicians also warning against escalating rhetoric linked to the demonstration. The truckers are protesting a new rule that took effect on 15 January requiring truckers entering Canada be fully immunized against Covid-19. The United States has imposed the same requirement on truckers entering neighbouring countries. Read more: Crowd in Toronto cheers on anti-vaccine trucker convoy Elon Musk Tweets out: Canadian truckers rule Friday 28 January 2022 13:29 , Thomas Fenton The Tesla and Space X chief appeared to throw his support behind the Canadian truckers who are travelling to Ottowa this weekend in protest over vaccine mandates. Mr Musk Tweeted, Canadian truckers rule, adding that CB radios are free from govt/media control in a follow-up. As of writing, his original Tweet has over 367k likes. Canadian truckers rule Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2022 Trudeau blasts fringe minority behind trucking convoy Friday 28 January 2022 12:39 , Thomas Fenton Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has blasted the fringe minority behind the convoy of truckers protesting Covid passports at the US border. The convoy is making its way to Ottawas Parliament Hill on Friday to protest the countrys Covid-19 vaccine mandates. The small fringe minority of people who are on their way to Ottawa who are holding unacceptable views that they are expressing do not represent the views of Canadians who have been there for each other, who know that following the science and stepping up to protect each other is the best way to continue to ensure our freedoms, our rights, our values, as a country, said Mr Trudeau. The federal government ended a truckers exemption to the vaccine mandate on 15 January, which now means that Canadian truck drivers need to be fully vaccinated to avoid a 14-day quarantine when they cross back into the country from the US. Graeme Massie reports: Trudeau blasts fringe minority behind trucking protest convoy By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States has asked that the United Nations Security Council meet publicly on Monday to discuss Russia's "threatening behavior" against Ukraine and its troop build-up https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-sees-some-room-dialogue-after-us-security-response-2022-01-27 on Ukraine's borders and in Belarus, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations said on Thursday. Russia has massed around 100,000 troops near the border with Ukraine while denying it plans to invade. Several rounds of talks have taken place without a breakthrough but both the U.S.-led NATO military alliance and Russia have kept the door open to further dialogue. "Russia is engaging in other destabilizing acts aimed at Ukraine, posing a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. Charter," ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement. "This is not a moment to wait and see. The council's full attention is needed now, and we look forward to direct and purposeful discussion on Monday," she said. Any Security Council member could call for a vote to block the meeting. A minimum of nine votes are needed to proceed with a meeting and China, Russia, the United States, Britain and France cannot wield their vetoes. U.N. diplomats said any attempt to stop the meeting on Monday would likely be defeated. The U.N. Security Council has met dozens of times over the crisis in Ukraine since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. It is unable to take any action as Russia is one of the council's five veto powers. "As we continue our relentless pursuit of diplomacy to de-escalate tensions in the face of this serious threat to European and global peace and security, the U.N. Security Council is a crucial venue for diplomacy," Thomas-Greenfield said. (This story corrects U.N. procedure in paragraph five.) (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Grant McCool) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Friday it has agreed that Verizon Communications and AT&T can safely turn on more towers for C-Band 5G deployment. The FAA said it and the wireless carriers "have agreed on steps that will enable more aircraft to safely use key airports while also enabling more towers to deploy 5G service." The FAA said more precise data about the exact location of wireless transmitters allowed it "to determine that it is possible to safely and more precisely map the size and shape of the areas around airports where 5G signals are mitigated, shrinking the areas where wireless operators are deferring their antenna activations." AT&T and Verizon on agreed on Jan. 18 to temporarily not turn on about 510 towers near airports over the FAA's concerns about interference with airplane radio altimeters averting what major airlines had said would be a "catastrophic" impact on U.S. aviation. The FAA plans to issue updated documents as soon as later on Friday to allow for more operations in poor weather "with new runways that previously were unavailable. We're getting them to the operators as quickly as possible so they can make scheduling decisions." CTIA, an industry trade group representing wireless carriers, said called the FAA announcement "a positive development that highlights the considerable progress the wireless industry, aviation industry, FAA and (Federal Communications Commission) are making to ensure robust 5G service and safe flights." The FAA added that "5G signals from some existing towers that were inside the old protected areas but are outside the new protected areas do not pose unacceptable safety risks to aircraft approaching airports in low-visibility conditions. Therefore, the FAA was able to newly approve certain aircraft specifically Airbus and Embraer 170/190s for low-visibility approaches at airports where they couldnt previously make them." Airline industry officials say the FAA plans to further refine the zones around airports at a later date that will allow Verizon and AT&T to use additional towers near airports. About 500 of the towers that were not turned on last week are Verizon towers, officials told Reuters. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Aurora Ellis) A composite image of US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Dmytro Smolyenko via Getty/Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Biden and Zelensky spoke by phone Thursday about the threat of Russia invading Ukraine. Biden told Zelensky that Russia may invade in February, the White House said. Zelensky told Biden to tone down his predictions as they were creating panic, a Ukrainian official told CNN. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told President Joe Biden to "calm down the messaging" about the threat of a Russian invasion because it was stirring panic, CNN reported, citing an unnamed Ukrainian official. Biden and Zelensky spoke by phone Thursday amid rising tensions between Russia which is amassing tens of thousands of troops at Ukraine's border Ukraine, the US, and NATO. Biden told Zelensky on Thursday that a Russian invasion could happen as soon as February, when the ground freezes over, tweeted Emily Horne, White House National Security Council spokesperson. However, Zelensky told Biden in the call that Ukraine did not agree with the US assessment, and that it was bringing panic that could later bring economic hardship to Ukraine, CNN reported, citing a senior Ukrainian official. Zelensky also told Biden to "calm down the messaging," CNN reported, citing the official. The White House did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. The official White House readout of Biden's call did not mention Zelensky's reported concern. The official told CNN that the call "did not go well." The White House told the network that characterization was false and that anonymous sources were "leaking falsehoods." The White House also disputed a claim by Alexander Marquardt, CNN's senior national security correspondent, who tweeted Thursday that Biden told Zelensky during the call that Kyiv could be "sacked" by Russian forces. Horne, the NSC spokesperson, tweeted: "This is not true. President Biden said that there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February. He has previously said this publicly & we have been warning about this for months. Reports of anything more or different than that are completely false." Story continues Biden said Tuesday that the US would personally sanction Putin should Russia invade Ukraine. Russia repeatedly denies that it is readying an invasion. 'Don't worry, sleep well' Ukraine's military leaders, meanwhile, have played down the threat of invasion. "As of today, there are no grounds to believe [Russia will invade]," defense minister Oleksii Reznikov told parliament Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. "Don't worry, sleep well," he said. "No need to have your bags packed." The US and UK have repeatedly warned of an imminent Russian invasion, though officials in Ukraine, France, and Germany appear less convinced. The split suggests "a gap in assessments of Russia's likely courses of action," Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow on the Russia and Eurasia program at Chatham House, previously told Insider. "There is a history of the US trying to convince its European partners that the threat is imminent, based on the sources and intelligence it has, and they apparently do not," he said. The conversation between Biden and Zelensky came days after the US decision to tell families of US embassy personnel in Kyiv to leave the country. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken went one step further, urging Americans in Ukraine to leave. Read the original article on Business Insider By James Davey and Elizabeth Piper LONDON (Reuters) -An inquiry into COVID-19 lockdown-breaking gatherings in Downing Street that might determine the future of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson could be further delayed after the police asked for the report to make only "minimal reference" to those events. Johnson, facing the gravest threat to his premiership over the alleged lockdown-busting parties at his residence and office at Number 10, has so far weathered growing calls to resign over the events, asking for lawmakers to wait for the report. Led by senior civil servant Sue Gray, it is looking into several allegations that staff, and Johnson, attended parties in Downing Street in breach of the rules they had themselves imposed on the population to fight the coronavirus pandemic. It had been expected to be released this week but that time scale was derailed when on Tuesday, London's Metropolitan Police said they had opened an investigation into some of the events to assess whether criminal offences had been committed. The force has itself faced criticism for initially declining to investigate the allegations. Officials are working on ways to publish Gray's report without compromising the criminal investigation, and some lawmakers fear that it will be watered down. It could, some lawmakers say, also be delayed. The Metropolitan Police initially said it was wanted minimal reference to events it was investigating in Gray's report to "avoid any prejudice to our investigation", but changed its language in a later statement. "In order to protect the integrity of the police investigation, as is appropriate in any case, and to be as fair as possible to those who are subject to it, the Met has asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report to the relevant events," Commander Catherine Roper said in a statement, referring to the department which supports the prime minister and helps implement his policies. Story continues "This will only be necessary until these matters are concluded, and is to give detectives the most reliable picture of what happened at these events." The police said it had received information it had requested from the Cabinet Office to support its investigation, which would be prompt. "We have not delayed this report and the timing of its release is a matter for the Cabinet Office inquiry team," Roper said. A spokesman for Johnson said the investigation's terms of reference stated that Gray and her team would keep in contact with the police. "Again it's an independent investigation, we haven't been privy to the details of that investigation or any of its content," he told reporters. KEY TO FUTURE Gray's report, which she will deliver to Johnson before it is published and presented to parliament, is seen as crucial to his fate, and he and his ministers have said people should not reach any conclusions before its release. She is looking into what has become weeks of a steady drip of stories about events in Downing Street, with reports of aides stuffing a suitcase full of supermarket alcohol, breaking a children's swing and dancing until the early hours. Johnson's spokesman has said the prime minister does not believe he broke the law and that Downing Street wants the report to be published as soon as possible. But officials say the police investigation has complicated the report's publication because they have to determine what can be left in it and what elements need to be removed. The risk, lawmakers say, is that the most damaging conclusions could be removed. "From the Met statement, it's clear that the most serious allegations will not be available for parliament to view and could possibly delay the report further," said Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative lawmaker who has called for Johnson to resign. "This does nothing to diminish my view that the prime minister's position is untenable," he told Reuters. Opposition politicians have also demanded that Johnson resign and accuse him of persistently lying. The Scottish National Party's leader in parliament, Ian Blackford, said the Gray report must be published in full without any more delay. "People are understandably concerned that this increasingly looks like a cover-up," he said on Twitter. "The prime minister cannot be allowed to wriggle off the hook by using the Metropolitan Police investigation as an excuse to further delay or doctor the report." But the delay has given space to efforts by Johnson and his supporters to persuade colleagues not to try to trigger a confidence vote in him. Some lawmakers have said they would wait until the report before moving against him. (Reporting by James Davey, Elizabeth Piper and William James; writing by Elizabeth Piper and Alistair Smout; editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Kate Holton, Mark Heinrich and Raissa Kasolowsky) Students leave Washington-Liberty High School in Arlington County which is one of several school districts which sued to stop the mask-optional order by Governor Glenn Youngkin (R), in Arlington, Virginia, U.S., January 25, 2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein Students are back in class amid the coronavirus pandemic, and to keep you posted on whats unfolding throughout U.S. schools K-12 as well as colleges Yahoo Life is running a weekly wrap-up featuring news bites, interviews and updates on the ever-unfolding situation. School districts sue Va. governor after he removed mask mandate Seven school districts in Virginia have sued the governor after he removed a long-standing mask mandate in schools. Gov. Glenn Youngkin removed the mask mandate in schools via executive order that went into effect on Monday. I have said all along that we are going to stand up for parents," Youngkin said in a statement after signing the order. "Executive Order 2 is not about pro-masks versus anti-mask; its about empowering parents. I am confident that the Virginia Supreme Court will rule in the favor of parents, reaffirming the parental rights clearly laid out in the Virginia code 1-240.1. In the meantime, I urge all parents to listen to their principal, and trust the legal process." The lawsuit was jointly filed by the school boards of Alexandria City, Arlington County, City of Richmond, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Hampton City and Prince William County. The Fairfax County Public Schools district released a statement about the legal move, noting that it "defends the right of school boards to enact policy at the local level, including policies that protect the health and well-being of all students and staff." "This lawsuit is not brought out of choice, but out of necessity," the statement continues. "With COVID-19 transmission rates high, our hospitals at crisis level and the continued recommendation of health experts to retain universal mask-wearing for the time being, this is simply not the time to remove this critical component of layered health and safety mitigation strategies. School divisions need to continue to preserve their authority to protect and serve all our students, including our most vulnerable, who need these mitigation measures perhaps more than anyone to be able to continue to access in-person instruction." Story continues Under the executive order, parents have the ability to opt their child out of any mask mandate that may be in effect at their child's school. Parents do not have to provide a reason or make any kind of certification in order to opt out of the mandate, according to the order. When contacted for comment, Fairfax County Public Schools district spokesperson Kathleen Miller referred Yahoo Life to the lawsuit and school district's statement. However, Miller noted that in the school district of 180,000 students, only 24 (or 0.013 percent) did not comply with the district mask requirements on Tuesday. "In addition, early attendance data from Jan. 25 indicates a lower absence rate (5.1 percent) than the past two Tuesdays," she added. (Students were not in school on Monday, the first day the executive order was in place.) The lawsuit comes in the same week as newly appointed Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares ruled in his first-ever legal opinion as AG that state universities can't have COVID-19 mandates. "Virginia state universities cannot mandate COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine as condition for enrollment or in-person attendance," he said in the ruling, which he shared on Twitter. It's important to note, though, that Miyares's opinion does not change the law. Infectious disease experts argue that mask mandates are still necessary for schools. "They are clearly an additional barrier to transmission and also to acquisition of infection," Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told Yahoo Life. "Wearing a mask clearly helps reduce the risk of the virus moving from one person to another in schools." Dr. Thomas Russo, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York, agreed. "Although masks are not perfect, their use is an important proven measure to decrease infections in the indoor setting," he told Yahoo Life. "Their importance is magnified when vaccination rates are suboptimal and there is a high community burden of disease; both of these factors are presently ongoing issues for our school-age children." But infectious disease expert Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, tells Yahoo Life that he expects mask mandates in schools will go away with time. "The best way to keep people safe is through vaccination, and then any inevitable case that occurs will be mild," he said. Still, Adalja added, "for those who want to wear masks, one-way masking works." Colo. district shuts down school-hosted clinic after minors were OK'd to get COVID-19 vaccine without a parent present Colorado's Littleton Public Schools will no longer use school facilities to host COVID-19 vaccine clinics after videos surfaced on social media of minors attempting to get the shot without parental consent. The videos, which were posted on the Twitter account @LibsofTikTok, show a person lying about their age to make it seem that they were over 18 (they weren't asked to show ID) and another who gave clinic workers a note that showed parental consent after he was told he needed parental approval before getting the vaccine. Both students left before they actually got the shot. "Both of these brave students made up names, birthdays and phone numbers for the video," @LibsofTikTok wrote. The school district responded to the "situation" on Tuesday with a message to parents. In it, superintendent Brian Ewert noted that local health department Tri-County Health asked to use the district's Heritage High School to host the clinic. "Heritage High School was not associated with the administration of this event in any way," Ewert said. "As is typical when outside entities use our spaces, the activities do not impact the school day and are kept separate from the school community. Heritage administration ensured that the vaccine clinic was not accessible to students during the school day unless they were accompanied by a parent." Ewert said that the district "incorrectly assumed" that a parent was required to be present during vaccination but later learned that wasn't the case. "Please know that LPS does not condone the administration of COVID vaccines or any other vaccines to minors without a parent present to provide consent," Ewert said, noting that the district "reported our concern" to health officials. "Regardless of the outcome of these conversations, LPS will no longer provide locations for COVID vaccination clinics," he said. "Nothing is more important than the safety of our students and community members." When asked for comment, a spokesperson for Littleton Public Schools directed Yahoo Life to the statement sent to parents. Despite the controversy, experts say that school-based clinics are a good way to increase access to vaccines for children. "School-based vaccination clinics are an easy and convenient way to increase vaccine rates and not just for COVID but for a whole host of vaccine-preventable infections," Adalja says. Schaffner pointed out that school-based vaccination programs are "nothing new," adding that these "have been part of what we've been doing in the U.S. for 50 years." These programs can be helpful to both students and their families, he says. "It saves parents time and energy if it can be done at school," Schaffner said. Utah school district shortens school days to deal with COVID absenteeism Utah's Cache County School District announced this week that it plans to shorten its school days, starting Jan. 31, to try to deal with high absence rates due to COVID-19. "We have experienced more COVID cases, colds, flu and RSV in our schools," a message to families posted on the district website reads. "As a result, we are experiencing unprecedented student and staff absenteeism in our schools, which makes it extremely difficult for teachers and students." The message goes on to say that over the past few weeks, 9 percent to 17 percent of elementary school students have been absent and between 19 percent and 31 percent of middle and high school students have missed school. "Our priority is to keep our schools open as we know that students learn better in-person than online," the message read. "Another priority is to ensure that our teachers have adequate time to prepare and to help students who are absent to catch up on their school work. This additional time for teachers will help us to accomplish both of these priorities." The district now plans to have its elementary schools start at 9:05 a.m. and end at 2:50 p.m. (shortened from its usual end time of 3:35 p.m.), while middle and high schools will start at 8 a.m. and end at 2 p.m. (down from its typical end time of 2:45 p.m.). "We will reevaluate this schedule as conditions warrant," the message said. Cache County School District did not respond to Yahoo Life's request for comment. Schaffner explained that absenteeism due to COVID-19 is a major issue in schools, health care facilities and "everything" right now. "The hope is that by the middle to end of February, Omicron will have run its course and things can 'normalize' thereafter," he says. "But I think we're still in for difficult times in the next month or so." Russo agreed. "Hopefully Omicron-driven high case numbers will be behind us over the next three to six weeks, depending on where you are in this country, which in turn should solve this problem," he said. Students in L.A. public schools can no longer wear cloth masks at school The Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest school district in the U.S., has banned cloth masks in its schools. "Students will be required to wear a non-cloth mask with a nose wire at all times, including while participating in athletic activities," Megan K. Reilly, interim superintendent of the district said in a message to families over the weekend. "Schools will provide surgical-style masks for students and employees if they need them." The new mask regulations, which went into effect on Monday, come on the heels of updated recommendations on masking from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Masks and respirators (i.e., specialized filtering masks such as N95s) can provide different levels of protection depending on the type of mask and how they are used," the CDC said on its website. "Loosely woven cloth products provide the least protection; layered, finely woven products offer more protection; well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s offer even more protection; and well-fitting NIOSH-approved respirators (including N95s) offer the highest level of protection." However, the CDC still recommends the use of cloth face masks, urging people to use masks with multiple layers of tightly woven, breathable fabric, a nose wire and fabric that blocks light when it's held up to a bright light source. "Los Angeles Unified continues to follow the latest guidance from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health," a district spokesperson told Yahoo Life when asked why the new masking rules went into effect. "This guidance ensures that our schools are as safe as possible for students and employees." "Not all masks are created equal," Russo said. "Most cloth masks offer suboptimal protection against infection. Wearing masks with a high filtration efficiency that fit well and are comfortable so that they can be worn for prolonged periods of time will more effectively prevent infection." Schaffner says the district's new guidance is "consistent with the CDC's recent recommendation." Mass. teachers, school staff receive at-home rapid COVID-19 tests A new program in Massachusetts is making at-home COVID-19 tests more easily accessible to teachers and school staff. The program started shipping rapid antigen tests for weekly use to teachers and staff this week and will open up to students next week. Under the program, schools must continue to participate in symptomatic and pooled testing in order to receive the at-home test kits. "This new option will give Massachusetts school districts more flexibility and more resources in COVID-19 testing that have the most immediate impact to keep schools open," read a statement from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Guidance on the new testing program makes it clear that this is considered a better alternative to test-to-stay programs, where students and teachers must continue to test negative for COVID-19 to be able to be in classrooms. "Data show that transmission from close contacts is a rare occurrence in schools and that, therefore, extensive contact tracing and associated Test and Stay procedures are not adding significant value as a mitigation strategy despite the demand they place on the time of school health staff and school staff at large," the guidance said. "As a result, we are recommending that school health personnel increase their focus on identifying symptomatic individuals, rather than monitoring in-school close contacts who are unlikely to contract or spread the virus." Adalja said that making COVID-19 tests readily available to school staff and students could help reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread in schools. "The easier people can know their status, the easier it is to identify cases and intervene before transmission occurs," he explained. "Individuals are infectious, but asymptomatic, for some portion or all of their bout of COVID," Russo said. "Access and use of at-home rapid tests hold the promise of identifying these individuals before they come to school, which in turn make schools safer." A spokesperson from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education told Yahoo Life that the program will stay in place through April 22. After that, the state will determine if any updates to the program are needed. Want lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. File: Donald Trump Jr waves after speaking during the Conservative Political Action Conference held at the Hilton Anatole on 9 July 2021 in Dallas, Texas (Getty Images) Its been roughly two days since news of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyers impending retirement from active judicial service leaked, and the reaction from the more Republican corners of the internet and media world has beenrevealing. Over and over, prominent GOP personalities have spent the last two days turning what would have been the highest possible calling for a Republican president deciding who sits on the highest court in the land into something to be mocked and de-legitimized for no other reason than the fact that the person in the White House is no longer one of their own. One such instance came from Cato Institute scholar and incoming Georgetown University Law School professor Ilya Shapiro, who apparently decided that President Bidens pledge to appoint a Black woman to the court was somehow going to result in the next justice being someone akin to a female version of Jackie Childs, the fictional parody of Johnnie Cochran who appeared on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. He suggested in a series of now-deleted tweets that Bidens most qualified possible pick would be District of Columbia Circuit Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan, who is neither a woman nor Black. He further opined that because Judge Srinivasan doesnt fit into latest intersectionality hierarchy, Bidens pick would be a lesser Black woman. Because Biden said hes only consider[ing] black women for SCOTUS, his nomination will always have an asterisk attached. Fitting that the Court takes up affirmative action next term, he added. Shapiro, who has served as editor of Catos Supreme Court Review, seems to have developed a highly selective memory because theres no president more revered in the libertarian-conservative space Cato is part of than one Ronald Wilson Reagan. And Reagan did the exact same thing. When the then-ex-California governor was campaigning for the presidency against Jimmy Carter in 1980, the Equal Rights Amendment and womens rights were front-and-center issues on which he was widely perceived to be on the wrong side. Seeking to improve his standing with women, he convened a press conference in Los Angeles on October 15, less than a month before the November presidential election. Reagan told the assembled press he intended to select a woman to fill one of the first Supreme Court vacancies in [his] administration if elected to the presidency. Story continues It is time for a woman to sit among our highest jurists, he said, before adding that he would also seek out women to appoint to other federal courts in an effort to bring about a better balance on the federal bench. And when the late Justice Potter Stewart (known most widely for his I know it when I see it description of hardcore pornography) retired six months into Reagans term, Reagans selection to succeed Stewart was indeed a woman, Sandra Day OConnor. But it wasnt just academics owning themselves while trying to own the libs. There was also one particular gem from Donald Trump Jr, the eldest son of the twice-impeached, one-term ex-president who once described nominating justices to the high court as the most important decision a president can make. The younger Trump took to his Instagram account to repost what appeared to be a photo of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, but with the face of Bidens youngest (and only living) son, Hunter Biden, photoshopped over the justices face, as if to suggest that the president should put Hunter on the court. In a caption accompanying the fake photo, Donald Jr mockingly quoted a compliment Biden once paid to his son. Remember, hes the smartest guy Joe knows, he wrote, adding the hashtag #SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) for good measure. The Justice Biden meme was a typical example of the eldest Trump childs social media output, which has made him a GOP celebrity in his own right. Hunter Biden is a favored target of Donald Jr, who frequently finds reasons to bring up his well-documented history of drug abuse and revisit the Ukraine-centric conspiracy theory which led his father right smack into the first of his two impeachment trials. But were any libs really owned in this instance? Not so much. Despite his frequent mockery of the current presidents son, the former presidents son seems curiously ignorant of both his target and the subject matter which was meant to make his attempt at a joke topical. Donald Jr might take a great deal of pleasure in depicting Hunter Biden as an incompetent, bumbling ignoramus whose background makes him completely unqualified to be anywhere near the Supreme Court, but he might want to check some Google results first next time. Had he did a simple Google search, hed find out that Hunter Biden possesses the exact same legal credentials as four sitting members of the court. Like Justices Samuel Alito, Sonya Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, and his fathers own appointee Brett Kavanaugh, President Bidens second son graduated from Yale Law School. And had the ex-presidents namesake checked the Supreme Courts own records, hed have eventually come to Page 289 of the Supreme Court Journal for the October 2006 term. Under the section titled Admissions to the Bar on Written Motions, he would have discovered that one Robert Hunter Biden was admitted to the Supreme Court bar on Monday, October 30, 2006. That means the Supreme Court of the United States considers Hunter Biden qualified to argue cases before it. To be sure, its not the usual years on the federal bench most Supreme Court nominees have these days, but hes about as qualified as some of Donald Trumps nominees to lower courts. These are just two examples of the sorts of critiques of the upcoming nomination that are passing for discourse on the American right these days. When Donald Trump won the presidency, it was in no small part because he secured the support of the institutional right by outsourcing his court picks to the ultra-conservative Federalist Society. And for years, there has been no greater priority for the American conservative movement than its quest to reshape the courts with jurists whod reverse a string of decisions which secured the rights of women, criminal defendants, LGBT+ Americans, and racial minorities, chief among them the 1973 decision legalizing abortion in the case of Roe v Wade. Democrats largely ignored the courts except when sounding the alarm over nominees considered too openly hostile to these expanded rights for non-white, non-male, non-heterosexual Americans. By and large, they failed to stop the conservative legal movements project, which culminated with Trumps nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to replace the liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Bidens first pick may serve on the court for decades, but will do nothing to change the 6-3 conservative majority that appears poised to overturn a string of precedents, starting with Roe. Thats why Republicans are making fun of the as-yet-unnamed nominee and the man who will nominate her, rather than screaming bloody murder over the very thought of her. Because theyve already won, its now a joke to them. Italian Americans seeking the return of a Christopher Columbus statue to its former pedestal in Chicagos Little Italy allege that Mayor Lori Lightfoot interfered with a Park District contract to keep the monument on display in perpetuity, according to a recently filed complaint. Advertisement Lightfoot has been newly added as a defendant in a lawsuit the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans filed against the Chicago Park District last July asserting that the district violated a deal signed in 1973 to display the Columbus statue in Little Italy when it took down the statue in summer 2020. Lightfoot has said she ordered the removal of Columbus statues after activists forcibly attempted to remove the prominent statue of Columbus in Grant Park, leading to violent clashes between police and protesters. Advertisement Crews remove the Columbus statue in Grant Park in the early hours of July 24, 2020, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Nearly a week later, Lightfoot took down Columbus statues in Grant Park and Little Italy. Lightfoot later removed a lesser-known statue in the South Chicago neighborhood. [ Chicagos three Christopher Columbus statues: A brief history ] Columbus has been condemned by activists around the country who point to the Italian explorers mistreatment of Indigenous people after he landed in the Americas in 1492. Many Italian Americans prize the statues of the explorer as an expression of their mainstream American identity. Lightfoot initially resisted calls to take down Columbus statues. Comparing the debate over Columbus statues to the same argument over monuments to Confederate Army figures being removed in other cities, Lightfoot said she favors acting to not try to erase history, but to embrace it full-on. But she ordered the removals after the unrest at Grant Park. Ron Onesti, president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, said his group sued the Park District after officials failed to communicate with them about the statue and its fate. Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans President Ron Onesti speaks about his hopes for restoring a statue of Christopher Columbus in Grant Park after the Columbus Day parade along South State Street on Oct. 11, 2021, in downtown Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) We as Chicagoans feel the process has not been respected, Onesti said. Our citys art, our citys historic elements, should not be at a whim if some vocal minority says so. The lawsuit claims that a Columbus statue committee paid the Park District more than $10,000 in 1973 for the purpose of maintaining in perpetuity the Columbus statue. Advertisement Initially, the lawsuit did not name Lightfoot or Chicago as defendants but the Italian Americans committee recently argued that the mayor should be added because of her actions ordering the statues removal, which a judge granted. It also alleges that she has continued to interfere with the contract. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. A spokeswoman for the Law Department said it will review the filed complaint and will have no further comment as the matter is now in litigation. The lawsuit over the Columbus statue is not the only ongoing fallout from the mayors decision to take down the statues. A person walks by an empty space after the statue of Christopher Columbus was removed by the city at Arrigo Park on July 24, 2020. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) After Lightfoot removed the Columbus statues, she created a review process for controversial city monuments that she said would be part of a racial healing and historical reckoning project. But nearly a year and a half later, the citys monuments commission has not yet issued its final report and recommendations, leaving the conversation in a state of limbo even though it was originally supposed to be done by December 2020. Advertisement City officials have said they expect the committee to finish its work in the first quarter of 2022. Last February, the mayors commission on monuments flagged statues of Presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant and William McKinley, as well as a Benjamin Franklin statue, a police memorial tied to the Haymarket Riot and a statue of Leif Ericson at Humboldt Park, as potentially problematic, but did not make final recommendations about what should happen. Wallace Shawn has called on stars, including Scarlett Johannson and Dianne Wiest, to publicly defend Woody Allen. Allens adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, has accused him of molesting her when she was a child. The filmmaker has categorically denied the allegations, which Farrow first made in 1992 when she was seven years old. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, Allen who was cleared by two investigations in the Nineties faced renewed criticism over the allegations. Many actors including Colin Firth, Rebecca Hall and Kate Winslet have said they would not work with him again. Shawn stars in Rifkins Festival, the first film Allen directed following the termination of his four-movie deal with Amazon Studio in 2017. The Princess Bride star is among the celebrities, including Javier Bardem and Diane Keaton, to defend Allen against the accusations. In November last year, Shawn penned an open letter titled Why Im Still Willing to Work with Woody Allen. In a recent interview, the actor opened up about his motivations for writing the letter. I was very upset that some of my fellow actors leapt to the conclusion that Woody was guilty of a serious crime that you can go to prison for without really knowing that much about it, Shawn said. Of course, if someone like [Dylan] says This happened to me, I dont fault people for thinking That might be true. But on the other hand, Woody said, That didnt happen, and I didnt care for the fact that so many of my fellow actors didnt look into it any farther, and just assumed he was guilty. (Getty Images) Shawn added that he followed the case and read quite a bit about it. I saw the documentary trying to substantiate Dylans story and I dont believe that this happened, said Shawn. While he did not specify which documentary he had seen, it may have been HBOs 2021 docuseries Allen v Farrow. The actor said he was angry at my fellow actors and at the fact that Woody Allen someone who has done beautiful things for the world became a pariah. He called it a miscarriage of justice. Story continues At the moment, peoples agents tell them to denounce Woody and to not work with him. If more people like Scarlett Johansson and Dianne Wiest say, Were delighted to work with him, then maybe eventually the tide will turn, he added. In 2019, Johansson who has starred in three of Allens films defended Allen, stating: I love Woody. I believe him and I would work with him any time. Scarlett Johansson and Woody Allen at the New York premiere of 'Match Point' in 2005 (Peter Kramer/Getty Images) When later asked about her comments, the Match Point star doubled down, adding: I dont know I feel the way I feel about it. Its my experience. I dont know any more than any other person knows. Rifkins Island stars Shawn as Mort Rifkin, a New Yorker who attends a prestigious film festival in San Sebastian, Spain, alongside his increasingly estranged wife, Sue (Gina Gershon). If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you can contact your nearest Rape Crisis organisation for specialist, independent and confidential support. For more information, visit their website here. PANAMA CITY Residents might soon get updates on the pesky potholes in their neighborhoods. Panama City officials have announced that they would be working on publishing a public list of priority projects and when they anticipate getting to them, so residents can stay updated. Panama City plans to keep a list of potholes with updates on repairs for residents to view online. This idea formed during Tuesday's city commission meeting when some residents discussed potholes theyve encountered in their neighborhoods. Resident Rufus Wood said one of his neighbors had come to a meeting prior, bringing awareness to a large pothole on 10th Street. "There's a large hole, I mean, I understand it's deep," Wood said. "And there's a sign out there but that's been four or five months ago. There has been nothing done to address that." Wood said it feels like Millville is being neglected and the community is not happy. He said he'd like to see more done in the Millville community and its roads. Panama City: Potholes no more! Panama City OKs long-awaited road repairs in 2022 fiscal year budget Panama City: Gov. Ron DeSantis announces $20.4 million for Panama City water and sewer system repairs Resident James Barker mentioned a pothole on 13th Street, near to Bay High School. He said it would be very easy for a car or a school bus to drive into it and get damaged. "I know we put barriers up there but somehow they get knocked off to the side and people don't see it," Barker said. "And when it's raining, they can't see the hole." The commissioners listened to each resident and said they were sympathetic to their experiences. Commissioner Jenna Flint-Haligas said she has been taking photos of the different potholes and posting them on social media. "I see these guys working every day on leaks and holes and all that," Flint-Haligas said during the meeting. "It's just that it's so vast and I don't think people realize theyre in every community and everybody's upset about them." Story continues City Manager Mark McQueen said the city has been challenged by how Hurricane Michael damage has impacted infrastructure. "The waterlines, sewer lines, which are degraded because of the storm and because of that, we now have more potholes than we've had before," McQueen said. "There's not a problem with the asphalt, it's the base underneath the asphalt that's failing. And it's failing because of broken water lines or sewer lines." McQueen, as well as the residents, thanked the team that has been out fixing potholes in the roads, saying that they are working hard to address concerns. "We're working very diligently to address all of them," McQueen said. "It takes a lot of time to fix these areas because it's not just putting an asphalt patch. It's solving the problem underneath it, so it doesn't continue." McQueen said the list should be posted to the citys website, pcgov.org, by the end of the week. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Florida to update public on projects like pothole repair By Farah Master HONG KONG (Reuters) - With thousands of people locked down in tiny apartments, government quarantine centres filling up and many businesses shuttered, Hong Kong is scrambling to sustain a zero-COVID policy that has turned one of the world's most densely packed cities into one of the most isolated. The economic and psychological tolls from the global financial hub's hardline approach - in line with China's strategy - are rapidly rising, residents say, with measures becoming more draconian than those first implemented in 2020. Flights out of Hong Kong's international airport are down around 90%, over 8,000 people are locked down in government quarantine facilities and a congested housing block, while 900,000 students have been shut out of schools since the start of this week. Doctors say the restrictions are taking an increasingly heavy toll on residents' mental health. Once one of the worlds most connected places, Hong Kong is reeling from the closure of its borders, impacting the free flow of people and the availability of food and foreign products the city is so highly dependent on. Besides schools, authorities in the city of 7.5 million have shut down playgrounds, gyms and most other venues, while tens of thousands of people are required to do daily coronavirus tests. Restaurants and bars close at 6 p.m. (1000 GMT). Over 2,000 hamsters and other animals have been culled to stop transmissions as community cases surge. Siddharth Sridhar, clinical assistant professor at the University of Hong Kongs Department of Microbiology, said "a very practical adjustment in terms of our containment strategy" was needed. "This is not sustainable," he said. "Eventually we are going to see a very local protracted outbreak, likely to be worse than previous cases." While Hong Kong succeeded in keeping the virus under control for much of 2021, there have been over 600 locally transmitted infections in January so far, compared with just two in December, as the highly transmissible Omicron variant spread. Story continues "Essentially it's playing whack-a-mole. It (coronavirus) will simply keep coming back," said Keith Neal, professor at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, referring to the popular amusement arcade game. UNVACCINATED ELDERLY Shutting itself off is an "unworkable strategy" for Hong Kong, said Sumit Agarwal, professor at the National University of Singapores Business School, as the economic and social costs of the policy continue to soar. "Only Hong Kong and China are saying they are trying to eradicate the virus," he said. "It would have worked if other countries did the same but the fact they dont think that way means the virus is always flowing." Leader Carrie Lam has said Hong Kong cannot live with the virus as many major cities are doing. She says over 80% of the city's elderly are unvaccinated, and a large outbreak of infections will heavily increase the burden on already stretched healthcare services. Increasing Hong Kongs vaccination rate is key, she said, with just over 70% of the people double vaccinated and around 10% having received a booster or third shot. Lam said on Thursday that Hong Kong will shorten its 21-day quarantine requirement to 14 days for incoming travellers starting from Feb. 5, after months of pressure from financial executives and foreign diplomats who said the rule was eroding the city's competitiveness. Many professionals and expatriates are leaving or planning to leave the former British colony, seeing no end in sight to the restrictions. Quarantine rules for those infected as well as close contacts is curbing the citys desirability and risks an exodus, according to an internal report by the citys European Chamber of Commerce. Companies are repositioning their staff to Singapore and Seoul, it said. Hong Kong authorities hold daily briefings, providing details on each infected person, where they live, where they ate and where they went. Credit card statements, transport records, CCTV footage and a government app are some of the methods they use to identify and quarantine close contacts. "The Omicron variant is so explosive in its spread that it will be the sorest test of Hong Kong's response yet if it keeps up testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine," said Alex Cook, associate professor at the National University of Singapores Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. "Once the number of cases for contact tracing becomes too high...more secondary cases will slip through and the epidemic growth would be compounded." (Reporting by Farah Master; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Raju Gopalakrishnan) President Joe Bidens nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration does not yet have the votes in the Senate needed to give the agency its first political leader in more than a year. More than two months after picking Robert Califf to be FDA commissioner, the confirmation is stymied by Democratic skepticism of the longtime cardiologists regulatory track record and a new GOP push to kill his nomination. The difficulties have sparked deep frustration among top Democrats and touched off a round of finger pointing, with Califf allies privately blaming the White House for doing too little to shore up support for its own nominee, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, who requested anonymity to describe the internal dynamics. Now, Califfs supporters fear his candidacy is on the brink raising the threat of a setback for Biden and the health agency at the center of his pandemic response. The White House, meanwhile, is calling into service some of its top advisers, including Anthony Fauci, to try and rescue the nomination. Just four Republicans Sens. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah voted for him in committee earlier this month, marking the first public sign of trouble for Califf. In recent days, people familiar with the process have become increasingly concerned about the status of Califfs nomination. If the vote were held today, he would not have the votes, said one person with knowledge of the matter. The growing anxiety comes amid a yearlong absence of permanent political leadership at the FDA, after the White House struggled for months to find a candidate who could win majority support in the evenly divided Senate. As a result, FDA which regulates everything from Covid-19 vaccines to vast swaths of the nations food supply remains reliant on longtime drug regulator Janet Woodcock to run the agency on an acting basis during a global pandemic that has already killed more than 873,000 people in the United States. Story continues Biden settled on Califf in November, with aides touting his deep government experience and broad appeal evidenced when he was confirmed to the top FDA post in an 89-4 vote in 2016. Yet while the administration and lawmakers anticipated narrower margins this time around, the amount of opposition to Califfs nomination among both Democrats and Republicans is stiffer than they expected, according to interviews with nine people familiar with the confirmation effort. Califf did not respond to a request for comment. Five Democrats Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have signaled opposition to Califfs nomination, but even more remain on the fence, according to four of the people familiar with their thinking. Im surprised the whip on Democrats is as high as they are assuming, a congressional aide said of the administrations confidence. If his meetings have gone as Ive heard with other Democrats, hes not making a great impression. In recent weeks, Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Burr have led a scramble to win last-minute support for Califf, in hopes of holding a floor vote by early February. A HELP Committee aide said Murray hopes he can be confirmed as quickly as possible. Some officials and allies remain optimistic theyll ultimately secure the 50 senators needed to push Califf over the line, contending they only need to win over a few holdouts. So far, there has been no serious talk of pulling Califfs nomination, and the administration has no ready fallback candidates. If needed, Senate Democrats could postpone a confirmation vote for weeks while they try to build enough support. Some close to the confirmation effort argued that Califfs candidacy never should have been endangered in the first place, faulting the White House for being too detached and noting the nominee himself has struggled to make his case to skeptical senators. A team from the health department has largely managed Califfs outreach, to middling reviews, three of the nine people with knowledge of the matter said. Top White House officials, meanwhile, remained largely disengaged even as the administration telegraphed public confidence and despite internal warnings that the nomination could be in trouble. The White House isnt supporting him, one of the people with knowledge of the matter said. Hes kind of his own one-man PR show. A White House official disputed the characterization, insisting theres been consistent outreach to members throughout this entire process. But the White House has over the last few weeks seemed to better understand the peril, one of the people with knowledge of the matter said, dispatching senior aides like chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci, Covid-19 coordinator Jeff Zients and White House staff secretary Neera Tanden to make calls on Califfs behalf. We are confident Dr. Califf will be confirmed with bipartisan support, and it is critical to have confirmed leadership at the FDA in the midst of a pandemic, White House spokesperson Chris Meagher said. Some lawmakers have cited concern about Califfs work in the private sector after his last stint at FDA. He most recently led health strategy and policy at Alphabet, Googles parent company, where financial disclosures show he was paid millions in stock and more than $2.7 million in salary and bonuses. The clinical trial expert also must divest holdings in health care companies including Amgen, Gilead Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb and Walgreens Boots Alliance. Senators have also expressed concern about Califfs pharmaceutical industry ties and FDAs track record regulating opioids. Meanwhile, few Republicans have publicly backed Califf despite vocal support from Burr, the Senate health committees top Republican, whos retiring at the end of the year. Burr has tried for weeks to secure enough Republican votes to offset the expected Democratic losses, three people with knowledge of the matter said. Califf also failed to impress some key senators in his one-on-one meetings with them, three of the people with knowledge of the matter said. Pandemic precautions forced Califf to meet with some senators virtually, further complicating the get-to-know-you process critical to winning votes. A Democratic aide whose boss supports Califf said the senator met with him virtually, but the nominee still wore a mask because he had staff with him. Its just harder to make a connection that way, the aide said. Several GOP lawmakers have cited FDAs recent decision to loosen abortion pill dispensing requirements as reason to oppose the cardiologist. One GOP lobbyist told POLITICO support among Republicans cratered when the FDA moved forward in December with a plan to allow patients to obtain a mailed prescription for mifepristone an abortion medication through a telehealth appointment. At most, he gets three to four GOP votes, so maybe he is short considering at least five Democrats are a no, the lobbyist said. Most Senate HELP Committee Republicans appeared favorable toward Califf during his confirmation hearing in December, based on their lines of questioning and comments to POLITICO afterwards. But at least two Alabamas Tommy Tuberville and Kansas Roger Marshall signaled they were swayed by FDAs mifepristone decision. Dozens of anti-abortion-rights groups, like Susan B. Anthony List and Students for Life Action, have mobilized against Califf, flooding Senate offices with letters and calls urging no votes. They plan to continue lobbying senators when they come back into session this week, setting up meetings with members and staff. Some of the groups publicly targeted Romney Thursday over his vote to support Califf in committee, arguing that the vote violated his professed anti-abortion views. Spokespeople for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to answer questions regarding the whip count for Califf or whether he planned to vote to confirm the former FDA commissioner. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers office did not respond to a request for comment. Several groups, as well as six former FDA leaders, have urged senators to promptly approve Califf, arguing it is critical the agency has permanent leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic. And major industry organizations, including AdvaMed and the Association for Accessible Medicines, issued positive statements when Califf was nominated. Any time youre without a leader, I think the vision suffers, AdvaMed CEO Scott Whitaker told POLITICO. The other thing that always worries me about leaving an agency leaderless for a long period of time is the ability to recruit and attract people to come in and join an agency like the FDA. But not every industry regulated by FDA wants Califf to be confirmed. Should Califf retake the mantle in Silver Spring, hell be in prime position to speed up regulatory changes that e-cigarette proponents oppose. When youre facing prohibition, delays of execution are never a bad thing, said Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association. Alston & Bird attorney Marc Scheineson, who served as associate commissioner for legislative affairs under former FDA Commissioner David Kessler, said it is premature to conclude Califf doesnt have the votes to be confirmed. I think the White House gets the idea this is a priority for them, and between their leverage and Burrs, the dynamics are good, Scheineson said. Ive heard this will be scheduled or is being considered for the first week of February obviously, that scheduling depends on having the votes. Alice Miranda Ollstein and Katherine Ellen Foley contributed to this report. Senior Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg has suggested Boris Johnson should not be replaced without a general election. (PA Images) As the damaging Partygate scandal rumbles on, Boris Johnson is facing growing pressure to resign both from within and outside of Tory ranks. Despite tumbling approval ratings, and an increasingly fractious Conservative party, the prime minister has consistently brushed aside calls for his resignation stating that he is focused on tackling the growing cost-of-living crisis and escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police has begun investigating suspected rule-breaking in Number 10, and a separate inquiry into reported lockdown parties could be published in the coming days. The report has the potential to bring down the prime minister, with a number of Tory MPs understood to be poised to submit letters of no confidence depending on its contents. If Johnson is ousted, will there be a general election? Boris Johnson has repeatedly rejected calls for his resignation. (PA Images) Why are we asking the question now? On Tuesday night, Jacob Rees-Mogg told BBCs Newsnight that a general election would have to be called if Boris Johnson was replaced as leader of the Conservative Party. The Leader of the House of Commons argued that any new PM would need to go to polls in order to shore up support from the public. He said: It is my view that we have moved, for better or worse, to essentially a presidential system and that therefore the mandate is personal rather than entirely party - and that any prime minister would be very well advised to seek a fresh mandate." However, constitutionally speaking, this is not correct the public elects the party to lead, not just the prime minister. Conservative leaders can be replaced without the need for a general election via the party's internal process. This is what happened when Boris Johnson took over from Theresa May in summer 2019. He only held the winter 2019 general election due to his desire to get a large enough majority to get a Brexit bill through parliament, not out of a constitutional requirement. Read more: Jacob Rees-Mogg defends Boris Johnson: 'He's got all the big calls right' Story continues Jacob Rees-Mogg a general election was needed for a change in prime minister. (PA Images) What would need to happen for a Conservative leadership contest? For a Tory party leadership contest to be launched, one of two things would need to happen. The first is that Johnson decides to resign, which would trigger a leadership election. The second is Conservative MPs decide they want to sack the prime minister. Read more: How Conservative MPs can get rid of Boris Johnson To do this, 54 letters of no-confidence from Johnson's own MPs would need to be sent into the party's 1922 Committee, which oversees the constitutional workings of the party. It is unknown how many MPs have already submitted a letter, but less than 10 have publically declared they have - Many more could act if the Sue Gray report's findings are damning. Following that, a no-confidence vote would be tabled, which would require more than 50% of sitting Tory MPs to vote to oust him. Should that happen, a party leadership contest would commence; this also happened to Theresa May, but she survived a no-confidence vote. Read more: The basic question Boris Johnson refused to answer over Partygate - This is just embarrassing Tory MPs would then be invited to throw their hat into the ring to run for leader and, in this case, for prime minister - trying to galvanise support from their party colleagues and the party's membership base, with the process taking around six weeks. Each person vying for leader needs to be nominated by at least two other Tory MPs. Eventually, the contest is whittled down to two candidates via a ballot system by the MPs, then Conservative party members having the final say on which one gets the top job. Some have criticised the system for being undemocratic given that Tory members decide on the prime minister, not the general public. Read more: Partygate: Threat of general election within weeks branded nonsense Theresa May was forced to face a vote of no confidence. (PA Images) Would a new leader have to go to the polls? The new prime minister would not need to go to the polls. However, previous PMs who have taken office by becoming the leader of the governing party have faced criticism for not calling an election. Read more: It looks like checkmate for Boris Johnson over Partygate, senior MP warns When Gordon Brown became prime minister after replacing Tony Blair in 2007 as leader of the Labour party, he led the country for three years without calling an election. Brown was criticised for not having a mandate, with suggestions that the public was not behind him. And, when he fought a general election in 2010, he lost. Boris Johnson won the Conservative leadership contest after Theresa May's resignation and became prime minister. (PA Images) What would need to happen for a general election? When it comes to calling a general election, there are two methods. The first is parliament voting for one. During the coalition government, David Cameron introduced legislation called the Fixed-term Parliament Act 2011, which essentially blocked the government from independently calling a snap election when convenient, such as if they were ahead in the polls. Under the Act, two-thirds of MPs must vote to trigger a general election, as was the case in 2019. Read more: Boris Johnson 'doesn't think he has broken the law' as police launch criminal probe However, in 2019, both Labour and the Conservatives pledged in their manifestos to repeal the act. The Conservatives argued it "led to paralysis at a time the country needed decisive action, with Labour arguing it "has stifled democracy and propped up weak governments. The second key way a general election can be called is if MPs as a whole pass a no-confidence vote in the House of Commons. If the motion is successful, and no alternative government is confirmed by the Commons within 14 days, a general election is called. Watch: PM insists 'I am getting on with the job' as partygate report looms Wilmington police are investigating a shooting that sent one to New Hanover Regional Medical Center. One man is dead following a Thursday night shooting on 31st Street in Wilmington. Devin Williams, 32, was taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center after police found him suffering life-threatening injuries from a gunshot Thursday night. He later died as a result of his injuries. The shooting took place at the 200 block of North 31st Street, police said. An investigation is ongoing. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim during this extremely difficult time," police wrote in a news release Friday. Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3609 or send a message to 847411 using the keyword WPDNC. The public can also use the Tip 411 app. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Man dies after being shot on N. 31st Street in Wilmington NC Initial snowfall totals have jumped across Eastern Connecticut for this weekend's blizzard, with the National Weather Service now expecting anywhere from 8 inches to over a foot of snow, depending on your town. Meteorologists are expecting snowfall to begin late Friday night, with the storm's peak lasting through Saturday morning and midday. A good rule of thumb for this storm is the farther to the east you live, the more snow you should expect. While you won't have to worry about school closures, watch for parking bans, snow ordinances and power outages in your town. We've got everything you need to know below about how much snow your town or city will see and what bans are in effect. A snowplow clears a road in Colchester in this photo from Jan. 7. How many inches of snow will Norwich get? Expect snow to begin Friday night, but steadier snowfall will begin arounat 1 a.m. Saturday. Temperatures will bottom out at 16 degrees with a 5-10 mph breeze and gusts as high as 25 mph. More: The city launched Passport to Norwich last May to encourage tourism. Did it work? Saturday morning will see the brunt of snowfall, with 7-11 inches expected by storm's end. Temperatures will sit at about 19 degrees with higher winds and gusts in the 30s. Snowfall will peter off into Saturday night and cease by Sunday morning. More: Ready for the blizzard? Do this if you have an electric garage door, and six other tips. No parking ban is in effect as of yet. As per town ordinance, parking on the odd side of all city streets during winter snow storms and subsequent snow removal operations is prohibited. Vehicles that violate this rule may be towed at owner's expense and/or fined $25.00. Also, residents must remove or sand all snow from the sidewalks abutting their properties. How many inches of snow will Griswold get? Griswold could receive slightly lighter snowfall than other Eastern Connecticut towns. Snow will likely begin Saturday after 1 a.m., with wind gusts in the 20s and low, frigid temperatures. Story continues Stephanie Johnson clears her sidewalks and driveway of snow in Norwich in this photo from Jan. 7. Expect low visibility as blustery winds drop 8-12 inches worth of snow through Saturday. Wind speeds will increase to an average of 14-18 mph with gusts reaching 38. No parking ban is in effect as of yet. How many inches of snow will Killingly get? Snowfall expectations have increased. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect starting Friday night as temperatures will dip to lows of 15 degrees. Snowfall will pick up rapidly into Saturday morning. More: How Norwich, Griswold schools push back against COVID's attack on PE class Be prepared for blistering winds of 18-25 mph and gusts as high as 31. 10-16 inches of snow is expected through 4 p.m., with an additional1-3 inches falling Saturday night. Wind speeds will remain high into Sunday morning. Killingly expected parking ban visual. No parking ban is in effect as of yet, but one is expected, as per Killingly's Town Government. A parking ban in Killingly is usually announced on their Facebook page. The town will ask you to remove your vehicles from the roads so highway crews can clear the roads efficiently. How many inches of snow will Plainfield get? Expect higher snowfall than more western towns. Snow will begin late Friday night, with temperatures as low as 16 degrees and 5-14 mph winds. More: Roy's Pools owner arrested, charged with failing to refund Pomfret homeowners Saturday morning will be blustery, with winds averaging around 20 mph and gusts as high as 48. Expect anywhere from 10-16 inches of snow. An additional 2-4 inches is expected through Saturday night as the storm passes on. The Plainfield Police Department has announced that a parking ban "will be in effect when one (1) inch of snow has fallen and will remain in effect until the Highway Department has cleared the roadways." All vehicles must be off the roadways. This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Snowfall and winter weather: How much snow will your town get? New Delhi Police in the Indian capital have arrested 11 people, including nine women, after the alleged brutal gang rape and torture of a young woman that included her being paraded through the streets and humiliated. The incident took place on Wednesday in East Delhi's Kasturba Nagar area as the nation celebrated Republic Day marked by a grand military parade through Central Delhi. The woman, 20, was allegedly abducted and raped by a group of men in a revenge attack. The victim's head was shaved, face blackened, and a garland of shoes put around her neck as she was hit and paraded through the streets in East Delhi. Video of that part of the abuse went viral, causing widespread outrage. It shows a group of women forcing the victim to walk and hitting her while onlookers cheer. The victim's family has said her attackers are connected to a family in which a teenage boy died by suicide last November. They say the boy was stalking and pursuing the victim for a long time but when his advances were rejected, he took his life. The woman is married and has a 3-year-old son. Related video: Woman used obscure law to get grand jury investigation into her alleged rape "He fell in love with her He used to keep calling and asking her to leave her husband and be with him. She would always refuse," the victim's sister told an Indian news outlet. After the boy's suicide, his family had reportedly threatened the woman several times, prompting her to move recently. The Delhi police said they were investigating the case and more arrests were expected soon. The victim's family has been given police protection. Delhi's Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, called the attack "shameful" and urged strict action against the perpetrators. The alleged attack in the Indian capital is the latest in a string of rapes, and part of wider plague of sexual violence against Indian women. Workers of Mahila Congress (Women's wing of the Indian National Congress) light candles during a protest after the rape and murder of a 21-year-old woman in New Delhi, India, in a September 6, 2021 file photo. / Credit: Pankaj Nangia/Anadolu Agency/Getty Last year, a 34-year-old woman in Mumbai died after being raped and brutally tortured bringing back memories of the 2012 Delhi rape and murder of a young medical student, which sparked massive protests and made international headlines. Story continues Despite recently tightened laws against rape, India has struggled to address its severe crisis of sexual violence against women. More than 32,000 rapes were reported in 2019, the most recent year for which government data is available. That's nearly four rapes every hour over the course of the year, on average, and those numbers represent only the cases that are reported to authorities, and only rapes, not other sexual violence. Climate activists push for banks to divest from fossil fuels Documentary follows family's path forward after devastating loss "48 Hours" investigates: "Mystery on Country Road M" GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemalan authorities working with the U.S. Homeland Security agency on Friday arrested 10 people in raids against a migrant smuggling group linked to the massacre of 19 people in Mexico last year, Guatemalan officials said. Guatemala's Public Prosecutor's Office said 19 raids were being carried out in the western town of Comitancillo to dismantle the human smuggling network that took the Guatemalan migrants to Mexico. "An operation is underway," said Juan Luis Pantaleon, spokesperson for the Public Prosecutor's Office. A national police spokesperson said eight men and two women had been detained so far. Sixteen of the 19 people killed in the gruesome massacre in the northeastern Mexican state of Tamaulipas state in January 2021 were Guatemalans. Their bodies, some badly charred and with gunshot wounds, were found along a migrant smuggling route in a remote area of Tamaulipas. Most of the Guatemalans killed were from Comitancillo, in the San Marcos department, west of Guatemala City. Investigations into the murders pointed to the involvement of 12 members of the Mexican police. Every year, thousands of Central Americans and Mexicans flee poverty and violence to seek a better life in the United States. Many fall victim to crime on the perilous journey. (Reporting by Sofia Menchu; Writing by Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) A winter storm that dumped as much of 8 inches of snow in the north suburbs is making its way out of the Chicago area but rush hour could still be treacherous for motorists, especially downtown and on DuSable Lake Shore Drive, forecasters said. As of about 1:30 p.m., some light snow was still falling west of downtown but the weather band is making its way through central and southern Cook County, eventually moving south and after that conditions will improve pretty quickly, said National Weather Service meteorologist Jake Petr. Advertisement For early evening and rush hour, motorists should still be careful, especially on Lake Shore Drive and in the downtown area, which is trickier because of persistent lake-effect snow. It looks like it will probably be not too bad, but there could be some slick spots, Petr said. Advertisement The lake effect snow band continues to sag south and is now moving through downtown Chicago! Here is a look north of the Field Museum along Lakeshore Drive. Take it slow and prepare for slippery travel and reduced visibility near the Cook County lakeshore! #ILwx pic.twitter.com/en6q8utu9X NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) January 28, 2022 In general, central and northeast Cook County saw 3 to 7 inches while DuPage and Will counties tapered to 1 to 3 inches of snow, Petr said. Wilmette had 8 inches of snow and appeared to be the highest in the area. OHare International Airport had 3.3 inches and Midway International Airport had 7.2 inches, Petr said. The totals were not expected to set any records. [ Coming this summer: Your chance to name one of Chicagos snowplows ] The Illinois State Police in Chicago responded to 50 crashes Friday morning, mostly on expressways, spokeswoman Haylie Polistina said. There were no fatalities as a result of the crashes, Polistina said. The weekend looks dry but chilly, and temperatures Friday afternoon remain in the lower 20s but they will plunge into the teens, single digits and even below zero in areas west of downtown. Saturday temperatures will hover in the mid- to lower 20s and on Sunday it will warm up to the upper 20s, Petr said. The next chance for any impactful storms could happen overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, Petr said. Its far enough out, he said, that its just something to keep an eye on. Advertisement oolander@chicagotribune.com rsobol@chicagotribune.com COVID-19 patient counts at Centras three area hospitals surged to its highest level yet this week before drifting back down as of Thursday. At the beginning of the week, the number of COVID-19 patients at Lynchburg General, Bedford Memorial and Southside Community hospitals jumped to more than 200 patients an all-time high for the hospital system, Centra reported. That number since has declined to 165 patients. The prior week, the number had been fluctuating between 150 to 175 patients, leading hospital officials to suggest the current surge might have reached its peak. These numbers exceed the prior all-time peak set in January 2021 of 131 COVID patients, hospital officials said last week. The number of patients in Centras intensive care unit as of Thursday afternoon stood at 20, of whom 12 have been placed on ventilators. Centra officials have temporarily stopped publicizing the number of hospitalized COVID patients vaccinated against the virus, stating in a Wednesday news release, Historically, Centra relied on a combination of manual and automated processes to track and report on our Covid patients. For most of the pandemic, these processes worked well to both inform the public and guide hospital operations. During the recent Omicron surge, the hospital volumes exceeded previous levels and we found that the reporting processes that worked in the past were not able to keep pace. As a result of the recent surge in hospitalizations, Centra temporarily suspended all visitation at its hospitals, emergency departments, urgent care facilities, primary care practices and Centra Medical Group locations about three weeks ago. The restriction does not apply to clergy, parents of minors, doulas and support personnel, Centra said in a news release. Exceptions will be made for end-of-life care. The rapid increase in COVID-19 cases has added significant stress on area emergency rooms, creating long waits. Centra noted the hospital census at all Centra facilities is at or beyond normal capacity and the testing capability in the Lynchburg area is strained. The Virginia Department of Health reported 155 confirmed new COVID-19 cases Thursday in Lynchburg, down from a high of 320 new confirmed cases set Jan. 8. The seven-day average of new cases per day stands at 149. Statewide, 11,743 cases were reported Thursday, down from the statewide single-day record of 26,175 set Jan. 8. In Lynchburg, 45.3% of the population is fully vaccinated and 20.5% have received a booster shot, according to the health department. Across the Central Virginia Health District, which includes the city plus the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell, vaccination rates range from 48.1% to 51.8%. Centras catchment area for Lynchburg General Hospital and Southside Community Hospital covers Lynchburg and the surrounding counties, the Farmville area and several smaller satellite locations. Due to the community spread, the following testing events are upcoming: From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the Lynchburg Family Medicine Residency (2323 Memorial Ave., Suite No. 10) and Bedford General Surgery (1615 Oakwood St. Suite D, Bedford) through Jan. 29. From 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays at the Lynchburg Family Medicine Residency (2323 Memorial Ave., Suite No. 10) through Jan. 26. From 1 to 4 p.m., Feb. 3 and Feb. 10, the Virginia Department of Health is offering rapid and send-off PCR tests at the Lynchburg Health Department at 307 Alleghany Ave., Lynchburg. Tests are available to anyone 16 years and older who has COVID-19 symptoms or who has been in close contact with a person with COVID-19. For those vaccinated, test 5 to 7 days post-exposure. For those unvaccinated, test immediately after exposure and on day 5 to 7. These clinics are for testing only; provider visits will not be available. Centra recommends visiting centrahealth.com/where-go-care to determine the options for receiving care at Centra based on symptoms and location to help offset long waits in the emergency department. Alexis Gil is soaking up her final days as a Yellow Jacket. Gil, 17, was born and raised in Council Bluffs. She was a student in the Lewis Central Community School District until her eighth grade year, when she transferred to Wilson Middle School. Gil is now a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School, and looking back at the past four years, she said its been a great experience. I love TJ, she said. Its such a supportive community, and everyone in this school has been so kind. The teachers are definitely here for every student ... I just love this school. Gil is a member of the TJ dance team, and she said its been a fun season of competing and getting the Yellow Jacket fans hyped up during games. She said that may outings in recent years were hampered due to COVID-19, so shes grateful to be going full-time with her team during her senior year. Gil will be dancing the night away Saturday, but not in uniform. Shell be joining her friends and peers for the schools Snow Ball winter dance. Whats more, Gil will be a senior representative on the Snow Ball court. She said she was both shocked and flattered when she learned she was elected, as she didnt even run to be on the court. She said it just goes to show how kind the TJ community is. Gil said shes definitely looking forward to yet another great memory to add to her senior year. Following high school, Gil will attend Iowa Western Community College on a full-ride scholarship as part of the Pottawattamie Promise program, an Iowa West Foundation initiative. Her goal is to become a mental health and substance abuse counselor, so shell be majoring in addictive studies. Gil said shes lived with substance abuse in her personal life, and its inspired her to become an advocate for those suffering from addiction and other conditions. Ive witnessed it first-hand, she said. I just want to be there for people. Gil only has so much time left at Thomas Jefferson, and she said shes going to spend every second left wisely. Shes ready for her future, but she knows that when shes gone, shes going to miss her TJ family, so shes going to make every second count. Joe Shearer Mt. Hope United Methodist Church Mt. Hope United Methodist Church, 290th and Highway 6, would like to invite all to join us on Sunday mornings for our worship service at 9:30 a.m. Children are welcome for the regular worship service and children sermon during the worship service. Upcoming event in March, we will have a council meeting at 8:30 a.m. followed by our breakfast and worship at 9:30 a.m. in our fellowship room. Also watch for our yard sale coming in June. You do not have to be a member to participate in our church activities. Everyone is welcome. Underwood Lutheran Church Underwood Lutheran Church, at 10 Third Ave., will hold Sunday activities. Education begins at 9 a.m. In-person Worship begins at 10:15 a.m. with online video available later in the day. Pastor Scott Dalen will deliver a sermon based on Luke 4:21-30. The annual meeting of the Congregation will be held following worship. Gethsemane Presbyterian Church Gethsemane Presbyterian Church, 224 Wallace Ave, invites you to worship with us. Our service runs from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and children are invited to participate in Sunday school. Rev. Dr. Edwin G. Steinmetz will be delivering the sermon The Resurrection and the Life! Refreshments will be served following service. Adult Bible study meets on Mondays and Thursdays from 9-10 a.m. Our food pantry is open on Mondays and Thursdays until 10:30 a.m. For more information contact the church office at 712-366-2513 or visit us on Facebook at gethsemanepresbyterianchurch.org. St. Pauls Evangelical Country Church St. Pauls Evangelical Country Church, 11055 Dumfries Ave., rings the church bell at 10:30 a.m. to welcome people to worship each Sunday morning. There are directional signs from Wabash Avenue and Pioneer Trail leading to the church. We are a friendly, growing Bible teaching church led by Rev. Jason Kinney. Sunday school for all ages, including adults, begins at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday night activities include adult small group Bible study and youth groups. This Sundays scripture is Numbers 22: 21-33 with the sermon title Life in the Wilderness. Greeters will be Deb Boehm and Dale Spetman. There will be the church annual meeting following the worship service. Visit our website stpaulsecc.org for more information. We are handicapped accessible. Compass Christian Church Compass Christian Church, 2007 S. Seventh St., welcomes you to worship with us Sundays at 10:30 a.m. We are located just west of the South Expressway. The church is handicap accessible. During worship a cry room is available, and childcare for ages 1-4 with drop off at the beginning of the service and pick up after service. Following communion, Compass Kids grades K-5 meet downstairs for special Bible lessons. You may also worship with us on YouTube at Compass Christian Church CB. Weekly schedules include Mondays Mens Bible Study 7:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. includes Childrens Group K-5, student group 6th-12th and Adult Prayer Group. Mens and womens groups are held at various times throughout the year. Sunday evenings Jan. 23-March 13 at 7 p.m., Compass Christian Church is hosting Dave Ramseys Financial Peace University. This is a Christian-based, 12-week course designed to help you in finding financial freedom through better money management. The facilitator of the class is Dave Bayer. You may sign up for the classes by going to ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/classes/1144131. Complete information may be found on Facebook at Compass Christian Church CB, compasscb.org, or call the church office at 712-366-9112. Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church Fifth Avenue United Methodist Church, 1800 Fifth Ave., invites the public to participate in our live worship service at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Face masks are optional and the Sunday worship service will continue to be recorded live and can be viewed on our Facebook page: Fifth Avenue UMC, Council Bluffs. The church office can be reached Monday or Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for prayer or other requests at 712-323-7374 or through our email at fifthaveumchurch@gmail.com. Upcoming events Feb. 9, 6 p.m., Meal and Message; Feb. 13, noon, Valentines Day party at Golden Corral; Feb. 23, 6 p.m. Meal and Message. Bethany Presbyterian Church Bethany Presbyterian Church, 1900 S. Seventh St., begins at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Rev. Nancy Ross Hullingers message will be You Cant Handle the Truth! Scripture is Luke 4:21-30. Liturgist is Earl Hallberg and greeters are Jack and Cindy Johnson. We are collecting soup and crackers for Souper Bowl on Feb. 13. We will clean the church on Thursday at 9 a.m. We are a handicap accessible facility. Community of Christ Church Community of Christ Church, 140 W. Kanesville Blvd, holds Sunday worship at 10:15 a.m. Our theme this week is Speak Truth to Power. Our scriptures for this week are Luke 4:21-30; Jer 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Services will begin at 10:15, come join us as Tom Arnold will be bringing us the message. Marlene Swanson will be presiding. Please call our office at 712-323-4498 for any questions. There are virtual ministries out on our World Church Website at ministries cofchrist.org. Epworth United Methodist Church Epworth United Methodist Church, 2447 Ave. B, worships on Sundays at 9:25 a.m. The people are friendly, the worship is meaningful and the building is handicap accessible. Masks are not required but are available for those who need/want one. We invite you also to our Bible study on Thursday at 9 a.m. We are in prayer for all those affected by this virus. If you want us to pray for you, let us know your prayer requests by phone or online at facebook.com/groups/friends.epworth. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and our phone number is 712-323-3124. Faith Lutheran Church Faith Lutheran Church, 2100 S. 11th Street, will have Gospel worship with Holy Communion at the 9 a.m. Sunday worship service. Tuesday there is a 9:30 a.m. adult Bible study that is open to everyone in the church fellowship hall please enter by the rear door. The LWML will meet Thursday at 1 p.m. for a contemporary Bible study with Rev. Ron followed by a brief business meeting and all women are invited and welcome to attend. Faith is observing social distancing but masks are optional. Services are also available on Faiths Facebook page and on YouTube by searching for Ron Rosenkaimer. For more information about worship opportunities at Faith contact the church office at 323-6445. New Horizon Presbyterian Church New Horizon Presbyterian Church will have one service Sunday, Jan. 30, at 9:30 a.m. Following the service, we will have our annual Congregational Meeting at 10:30 a.m. On Wednesdays the Dulcimer Group practices from 4:30-5:30 p.m., the Praise Team from 5:45-6:30 p.m., the Chancel Bell Choir from 6:30-7:30 p.m. and the Chancel Choir at 7:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, the deacons will meet at 6 p.m. The CDC advises everyone, vaccinated or not, to wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of high transmission such as Pottawattamie County. Please consider wearing a mask (regardless of your vaccination status), remember to use hand sanitizer frequently and maintain your social distance. Food and coffee will remain unavailable. Children are welcome to attend but the nursery will not be available. If you are ill, please worship from home by watching our Facebook page: facebook.com/NewHorizonPC. Westminster Presbyterian Church Westminster Presbyterian Church, 517 S. 32nd St., welcomes everyone to join us for worship on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Kim Crummer will be our guest speaker and his sermon is entitled Shaking Things Up! The focus text for Sunday is Mark 1:21-28. We are handicapped accessible through the northeast door of church. Corpus Christi Catholic Parish Corpus Christi Queen of Apostles, 3304 Fourth Ave. in Council Bluffs, and Corpus Christi Our Lady of Carter Lake, 3501 N. Ninth St. in Carter Lake, celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every day of the week. Daily Mass is celebrated as follows: In English on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 8 a.m. and in Spanish on Monday and Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Council Bluffs location. Our weekend Mass in English is celebrated on Saturday at 4 p.m. and on Sunday at 8 and 10 a.m. in Council Bluffs and at 9:30 a.m. in Carter Lake. Our Sunday Spanish Mass is at noon in Council Bluffs. Eucharistic Adoration is held every Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. in Council Bluffs. On Friday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m. its Family Fun Friday at Corpus Christi Queen of Apostles. Join us for a chili and soup cookoff Competition and you get to be the judge chili and soup for all! On Saturday, Feb. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. come to the salad buffet luncheon at Corpus Christi Our Lady of Carter Lake. Food, games, raffles. Adults $6, children 12 and under $3. All are welcome. For more information, call the parish office at 712-323-2916 or 712-323-4716 for Spanish, or visit our parish website at corpuschristiparishiowa.org. Mike Franken is confident. The Democratic Senate candidate told a crowd in Council Bluffs he believes he can beat U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, whos held his seat since 1981. Franken said the general election will come down to independents. This race is eminently winnable. Its time, he said. The people who hold sway in Iowa are the independents. Having already mentioned growing up in rural Sioux City in a working class family before serving in the Navy, Franken said, Im a tough candidate to attack very rural, a bootstraps existence, the most experienced military official in the state. First, of course, is the Democratic primary. Also in the race are former Rep. Abby Finkenauer of Dubuque and Minden City Councilman Glenn Hurst. Franken covered a number of issues during a brief speech and question and answer session at Barleys in Council Bluffs on Thursday night. On education, Franken said he favors making community college almost free, while saying national service programs should be expanded to offset postsecondary education costs. Im a fan of government providing that step that makes makes that first rung of the ladder reachable. So with your God-given talents you can go as high as possible, he told the crowd of about 30. We need that fair first step. Franken said if Iowa continued and expanded its embrace of renewable energy and advanced technologies, it could attract new businesses and be a leader in the nation. I see the opportunity in the state of Iowa to have the least expensive, least redundant energy grid in the U.S., he said, noting the possibilities offered by wind and solar power. I see high speed rail buzz through Council Bluffs. This metro area is halfway point between Chicago and Denver. I see opportunity where high energy usage, high-tech businesses settle here because of our fabulous energy grid. I see Iowa on the ascendancy, not going down. Franken served in the Navy for 36 years, rising to the rank of three-star admiral before his retirement. He said the U.S. should look to avoid further conflict abroad. Im a firm believer that we shouldnt be sending our sons and daughters to unnecessary conflict, Franken said. We are too ready in this country to break out the guns, internationally. We need more diplomacy, more sensibility. Asked after the event about a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine, Franken said Russian President Vladimir Putin is more bluster than action, and lacks the forces to sustain an invasion. Franken said as the Russian currency, the ruble, falters, the people who run the truly country the oligarchs will step in. Asked during the event about the childcare crisis in the country, Franken noted during his time in the Navy people never missed work because they had to stay home with their kids because of services offered. But in the civilian world, he has a niece who lives in rural Iowa and have no services nearby, which has led his sister to come help the family. He said hes heard about similar situations across the state. The No. 1 issue they talk about at the table, he said. I a firm believer in pre-kindergarten education. He noted the issue isnt a Democratic or Republican issue, but a humanity issue, and called for continued expansion of government funding to help alleviate the problem. The gross domestic product of a city will go up when we let the adults go to work, he said. Franken criticized Grassley for falling in line with former President Donald Trump, saying there was a time the Iowa senator was gentile and bipartisan thats long since ended. Franken also ran in the Democratic primary in Iowas 2020 U.S. Senate race. He received 25% of the primary vote and finished second to Theresa Greenfield, who was defeated by Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst in the 2020 general election. The candidate said he felt Greenfield was the partys handpicked candidate that year, whereas he sees this years primary as an even playing field. Grassley faces a challenge in the Republican primary from Sioux City attorney and state lawmaker Jim Carlin. The Cook Political Report and a number of other forecasts list the race and solid Republican. Recent polling gives Grassley roughly 55% of the vote. Though Franken noted internal numbers that give him optimism. The 2022 primary election in Iowa is June 7 and the midterm general election is next Nov. 8. Erin Murphy of the Gazette Des Moines Bureau contributed. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry has mounted a TV ad attacking his Republican challenger, state Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, for his 2012 vote as a state senator in favor of a bill that provided prenatal care for immigrants. Flood said his vote demonstrated and responded to his pro-life commitment. In his TV campaign ad, Fortenberry said Flood's vote 10 years ago resulted in "tax-funded health care benefits to illegal immigrants" and mirrors the immigration positions now taken by Democratic President Joe Biden. Responding to the TV ad, Flood campaign manager Ryan Kopsa said the 1st District congressman is "desperately lying about Mike Flood to distract from the felony criminal charges he is facing" in an indictment in California alleging that he lied to federal officials about illegal contributions that were funneled into his 2016 reelection campaign. "Ten years ago, with the support of Nebraska Right to Life, Nebraskans United for Life and the Nebraska Catholic Conference, Mike prioritized his pro-life principles on a difficult bill," Kopsa said. "Mike Flood has always fought to protect innocent life, including making Nebraska the first state in the nation to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy when babies can feel pain," he said. Last week, Gov. Pete Ricketts and former Gov. Dave Heineman endorsed Flood in his bid for the House seat. The eastern Nebraska 1st District includes Lincoln and has been represented by Fortenberry, a former Lincoln city council member, since 2005. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon 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. Moroccos unwavering stance regarding the Palestinian cause was reiterated in Addis Ababa at the 43rd session of the African Union Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), held in preparation of the coming sessions of the Executive Council and the AU Summit. Morocco reaffirms its strong and clear position in favor of the Palestinian cause and continues its constructive and active commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, said the Kingdoms Permanent Representative to the AU and UNECA, Mohamed Arrouchi, during this session, which was held by videoconference. The Kingdom considers a lasting peace in the Middle East as a strategic choice and believes that the continued stalemate in the peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis only increases violence between the two sides, underlined the Moroccan diplomat, noting that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, whose serious social and humanitarian repercussions are felt on both sides, continues to negatively affect the situation in the region. Therefore, he said, this situation must be overcome through political negotiations and the strengthening of confidence-building between the two parties. The Moroccan delegation stressed the importance of the involvement of the various regional and international stakeholders to put an end to the unacceptable practices which threaten the path to a peaceful settlement, reiterating Moroccos permanent readiness to engage in international efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and foster a just and comprehensive peace, within the framework of the two-State solution. The proliferation of hate speech by extremist organizations undermines the chances of achieving a solution to the conflict and threatens peace in the Middle East, Arrouchi pointed out. The diplomat, who recalled the historic role played by Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, in strengthening peace and stability in several regions of the world, as well as the particularity of the Sovereigns relations with the various sides in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, affirmed that Morocco is still determined to contribute, with its partners, to give a new momentum to negotiations between the two parties in order to foster peace in the region. The Kingdom will stand by the Palestinians until they reach a just and comprehensive settlement, he underlined. On the issue of the city of Al-Quds, the diplomat stressed that King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, personally ensures that all possible efforts are deployed and all available means are mobilized to preserve the special status of the holy city. He also highlighted the key role played by Bayt Mal Al-Quds in favor of the implementation of social, economic and human development projects aimed at facilitating the development of the Palestinian territories, preserving the Arab and Islamic culture of the holy city and promoting social assistance through, in particular, initiatives for the empowerment of women and programs dedicated to young people and children. For failing to show a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test as required for all inbound/outbound travelers, Royal Air Maroc staff operating in Hassan I airport in Laayoune refused on Thursday to allow Polisario agent Aminatou Haidar to board a plane heading to Casablanca and Madrid. The anti-covid precautionary travel regulations enforced in Morocco to contain the spread of the virus apply to all Moroccan citizens and all passengers without any exception. In order to board a plane bound for Spain, all passengers are required to provide a valid vaccination pass or a negative PCR test as stipulated by the Spanish aviation regulations. Furthermore, the health guidelines set by the Spanish authorities allow access to their territory only to foreigners with a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test. The Moroccan authorities have never prevented any separatist from travelling abroad. However, Aminatou Haidar is twisting the facts in a bid to mislead the public opinion. She cannot defend the indefensible and her blatant breach of international travel regulations. On January 26, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with Tongan Foreign Minister Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu. Wang Yi said, after the volcanic eruption in Tonga on January 15, the Chinese government followed the situation closely and the Chinese people felt deeply for the Tongan people. President Xi Jinping promptly sent a message of condolence to King of Tonga, and China lost no time in delivering aid supplies to Tonga, becoming the first country in the world to provide assistance to Tonga. As a good friend and partner of Tonga, China is willing to stand firmly with the Tongan people at this difficult time. The emergency supplies purchased by China in Fiji will arrive tomorrow, and more assistance is on the way. According to the needs of Tonga, China has allocated relief materials and equipment expected by the Tongan people, such as drinking water, food, generators, water pumps, first aid kits, portable cabins and tractors. Some of them will be transported to Tonga by Chinese military aircraft tomorrow morning, and the rest will be shipped by Chinese naval ship. The two sides should ensure a smooth handover, so that the relief materials could be sent without delay to the parts of Tonga most in need. Wang Yi said, the Chinese government very much cares about Chinese citizens and institutions in Tonga, and hopes and believes that the Tongan government will ensure their safety. China believes that under the leadership of King of Tonga and the government, Tonga will be able to prevail over this natural disaster at an early date. Wang Yi stressed, currently, the international community is extending a helping hand to Tonga. China stands ready to work with all willing countries to give full play to respective strengths and make international joint efforts to help Tonga rebuild its homeland. 'Utoikamanu said, after the volcanic eruption in Tonga 11 days ago, China responded quickly, becoming the first country in the world to provide emergency relief materials to Tonga. On behalf of the Tongan government and people, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to China for its assistance. Tonga will coordinate with China closely in the transportation, storage and distribution of relief materials, among others, to ensure that they are delivered to the people most in need as quickly as possible. 'Utoikamanu said, China is the largest developing country in the world and one of Tonga's largest development partners. I would like to thank China for its strong support in post-disaster reconstruction. Tonga highly cherishes the friendship and cooperation with China, and will continue to work with China to push for new progress of bilateral relations. I wish China all the best for the Chinese New Year in advance. Denouncing a dirty political game by Bamako, Denmark announced on Thursday the repatriation of its hundred or so soldiers deployed in Mali as the Malian junta had insisted, a new blow to the French-led European anti-jihadist force. The generals in power have sent a clear message that Denmark is not welcome in Mali. We do not accept this and for this reason we have decided to repatriate our soldiers, said Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod after a meeting in Parliament in Copenhagen. We are here at the invitation of Mali. The coup generals in a dirty political game have withdrawn this invitation () because they do not want a rapid plan for a return to democracy, he said. To everyones surprise, the junta in power in Mali since the 2020 coup had asked Denmark on Monday evening to withdraw its troops, on the grounds that their deployment had occurred without its consent. These troops had just arrived the previous week, as part of the European special forces group Takuba set up by Paris. Denmark had initially retorted that it was present in the country following a clear invitation from the Malian regime, recalling the authorities previously favorable position, even after the coup. But the Malian transitional government had reiterated its request insistently on Wednesday night. We cannot stay when the government of Mali does not want us, justified the Minister of Defense, Trine Bramsen. We do not want to be the laughing stock of all. If a precise timetable cannot be established at this stage, the Danish army estimates, in a press release, that it will take several weeks to bring back men and equipment to Denmark. Mali is one of the priority countries for Danish development assistance. Between 2017 and 2022, some 122 million euros have been spent on the African country, including for decentralization and human rights, and many Danish and Scandinavian NGOs are active in Mali. An independent lawmaker of Tunisias suspended state legislature Thursday called on the army and security authorities to arrest President Kais Saied for high treason, in relation with his July 25 move during which he seized the executive power, froze the activities of the Parliament and suspended the immunity of its members. Issam Bargougui made the call during an online session of the suspended Parliament, to mark the eighth anniversary of the 2014 Constitution. The session was led by the speaker of the suspended legislature, Rached Ghannouchi. On July 25, President Saied stunned the country by sacking then Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi, freezing the activities of the Parliament and suspending the immunity of all lawmakers, claiming some of them were wanted by the judiciary. The move drew criticism of the opposition with many branding what Saied called exceptional measures, a coup. Tunisias international partners including the European Union and the US have called for the return of democracy. Bargougui also during the session called the July 25 decision a coup. The independent lawmaker may face a lawsuit from the state for calling the army to rise up against the president. Former President Moncef Marzouki has been sentenced to four years in prison in absentia on high treason charges, for plotting against the state and calling for Saieds removal. Morocco has underlined the need to clear up misunderstandings on the migration phenomenon to strengthen the Africa-Europe partnership. This came in an address delivered by Moroccan Foreign Minister at an online discussion panel on Migration and Mobility in the Africa-Europe partnership, organized by the Africa-Europe Foundation ahead of the 6th EU-Africa Summit in Brussels (Feb. 17-18) It is necessary to clear up misunderstandings on the migration phenomenon to strengthen the Africa-Europe partnership, he said, underlining that if migration is a common issue, the interests linked to it often remain contradictory. The Moroccan top diplomat deemed it necessary to clear up the misunderstandings on the migration phenomenon so that these interests converge, noting that the first misunderstanding is that of knowledge. Migration policies must resist the examination of the truth instead of giving in to the temptation of controversy. They must, with supporting figures, concede that the crisis is not migratory but political, he explained, adding that the second misunderstanding concerns the objective of migration policies. We must stop making people believe that migration policies will one day be able to stop migratory flows. Nothing, not even a pandemic, will stop a natural phenomenon that has always existed and will continue to exist, he pointed out. Another misunderstanding concerns the method. We must stop entrusting the keys to migration management to smugglers by closing legal access routes to Europe, in the same way that we must recognize that the scourge is not migration, but the trafficking of migrants, which is, moreover, the third source of profits for criminal organizations, he argued. We must, in short, change our method, that is to say recognize that migration does not need palliative and immediate strategies, but creative and ingenious measures that combine the short, medium and long terms, he noted. For the Moroccan official, migration is not border management. It is also about the promotion and organization of legal mobility. Migration is not a tool, nor can it be outsourced. Migration management must be part of a cooperation that is not intended to be asymmetrical and one-way. We want to make migration the strength and not the Achilles heel of the partnership between Europe and Africa, said the Minister, stressing that although it is often singled out, Africa fulfills its part. Migration can contribute to the reform of the Africa-Europe partnership, in that it creates human ties, economic complementarities and political cooperation, he argued. Bourita also took this opportunity to recall the role of African leader for Migration Issues entrusted to King Mohammed VI, stressing that the Sovereign is at the origin of the unified African policy on migration contained in the Agenda for Migration and the creation of the African Observatory on Migration which was inaugurated on December 18, 2020, in Rabat. Morocco is part of all regional and international debates on migration, the minister pointed out. From the Global Forum on Migration and Development, to the Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development (or Rabat Process), to the adoption of the Marrakech Pact, Morocco has always played its role in this area, he said. The Kingdom, he said, has also committed to organizing a meeting of the champion countries of the Marrakech Pact. In this context, and insofar as more than a third of the champion countries are African, the ambition of the Kingdom is to seize this opportunity to make the Marrakech Pact a platform of actions for the Africa-Europe partnership. We want this issue to be on the agenda of the next EU-Africa SummitWhat is at stake in migration management is, in fact, our whole vision on partnership, he said. The meeting by videoconference was attended by several leaders and representatives of regional and international organizations, including President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, and Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Great Plains Health will adhere to the Center for Medicaid Services COVID-19 vaccine requirements, according to a press release from the hospital Thursday afternoon. Gothenburg Health confirmed Tuesday that it would also comply. GPH had been among the hospitals that provided testimony in a lawsuit challenging the regulations filed by multiple states in the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. On Nov. 29, St. Louis-based U.S. District Judge Matthew Schlep issued a temporary injunction. The issue then went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which delivered a 5-4 decision in favor of the regulations Jan. 13. Great Plains Health is proceeding with the requirements laid by the federal government. We cannot risk hindering our ability to serve our community and provide care to patients under the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the GPH press release said. GPH Marketing Manager Mary Roberts said less than 1% of staff have left as a result of the CMS regulations. Staff members at GPH and Gothenburg Health will need to receive either their first dose of the vaccine or an exemption by Feb. 14. Gothenburg Health employees who do not comply with the first deadline will be put on administrative leave, and those who have not received the second dose or qualifying exemption by March 14 will be terminated, according to a press release. GPH confirmed that staff members who fail to get vaccinated or receive an exemption by the first deadline will be placed on administrative leave. In a Nov. 29 interview with The Telegraph, former GPH CEO Mel McNea said approximately 75% of the staff had been vaccinated when the initial regulation was issued at the start of November. In Thursdays press release, GPH says that over 89% of staff are compliant with the regulations and have either received the vaccine or filed an exemption. CEO Ivan Mitchell said that since the regulations were released, the hospital has hosted vaccination clinics and forums where staff could talk with medical experts about COVID-19 and the vaccine. We are adhering to these federal regulations because it is required to serve our local Medicare and Medicaid patients, but we also recognize that, as health care staff, workplace vaccine requirements and the science behind vaccines are nothing new, Mitchell said in the release. Implementing these regulations is tough to navigate in some ways, but our commitment to putting patients first is unwavering. The onetime Sarah Palin protegee is treading a treacherous path. Photo: Charlie Neibergall/AP/Shuttersto Former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley is one of those Republicans often considered reasonable by Democrats and independents; shes sometimes floated as a congenial face for a post-Trump GOP. Without question, she has shown some serious, if opportunistic, political chops that have enabled her to walk a fine line between her far-right roots and the rest of the country. This is why Haleys recent headline-grabbing stunt, in which she declared that President Biden would step down if he really loved our country, was so startling. Sounding like someone in full MAGA fever, she went on a 16-minute tear against Biden (never referring to him as the president) on Fox News Radios Guy Benson Show. Haley relentlessly attacked the presidents Supreme Court appointment process; his policies toward Russia, Iran, and China; and his approach to crime, COVID-19, and immigration, culminating in this mighty anathema: Honestly, for the good of our country, if Biden loved our country, he would step down and take Kamala with him. Because the foreign policy situation is beyond dangerous at this point. And, you know, when you dont have a strong America, you dont have a safe world. And thats whats getting ready to happen. My only hope and prayer is that they get it together and realize that this isnt about America. This isnt about NATO. This is about all of us. This is about safety. This is about strength. This is about freedom winning. Politicians who says something is about this or that are really saying: Here comes a message. Pay attention. Haleys message is that Biden is a danger to this country and its values, not just the leader of the other major party. Its not what youd expect from a pol who normally knows how to keep her balance. But Haley has certainly moved back and forth across the lines of respectability before. Coming out of the extremist Jim DeMintMark Sanford wing of the South Carolina GOP, Haley first won the governorship as a Sarah Palin protegee who managed to turn scurrilous sexual allegations against her into a political asset. Her uneven record as governor (one lowlight was a State of the State Address in which she told out-of-state job creators who accepted unions to take their money and shove it) was obscured by her famous call to take down the Confederate flag at the statehouse in 2015, long after any real courage was required to do so. This overdue gesture instantly made her a national figure, and her identity as an Indian-American woman made her attractive to Republicans seeking diverse figures willing to articulate old-school conservative ideological views. For a time, Haley also seemed skilled in her handling of Donald Trump, despite her original sin in supporting someone else for president in 2016. Her brief and largely uneventful tenure at the U.N. checked the foreign-policy box on her resume, which is very helpful for a presidential or vice-presidential aspirant. And she survived the gig with Trumps affections toward her intact without having to say or do anything to embarrass her mainstream fan base. The valedictory memoir she then published, to much gushing from interviewers, managed again and again to display her independence from Trump while praising his name and throwing rivals under various buses. Her apparent sure-footedness ended, however, along with many other illusions, in the wake of the Capitol riot. A much-discussed profile of Haley by Politicos Tim Alberta quoted her as saying Trumps actions since Election Day will be judged harshly by history and that hes not going to run for federal office again I dont think he can. Hes fallen so far. Oops! Within days, Haley was telling anyone who wanted to hear that she would be happy to support a Trump comeback bid in 2024. As I noted at the time, this was quite the course correction: Now Haley has clearly reassessed her position, and Trumps, and has bent her knee again, probably hoping that he doesnt read Politico Magazine. Her explosion of shameless demagoguery on Fox News may be part of her own comeback bid in a party where nastiness toward the Democratic president and vice-president is a unifying theme. Haley just turned 50 last week, which is very young for a political veteran these days. She brings back memories of a snarky little quip I penned in 1991 for a friendly introduction of Bill Clinton: Hes been a bright young rising star in three decades. Clinton, of course, made that final leap from potential to the presidency. Haley needs to calm down and leave the red-meat-purveying to future days on the campaign trail if she wants to do the same. Trump will eventually go away, then the face of the post-Trump GOP may need some dignity. Its an investment, but four of the travelers we spoke to said this over $700 suitcase is well worth it. Summer Hull, the director of travel content at the Points Guy, travels so much her luggage isnt a once or twice a year thing, its a regular companion, which is how she justified spending more on a suitcase that would be functional and also fun. She also needed it to fit in overhead bins and have great wheels, which she found in this polycarbonate case. I wont pretend to understand all the physics behind the bearings and axles on Rimowas bags, but I do know they spin amazingly well through the airport, Hull says. Its traveled hundreds of thousands of miles with her and still looks great. This is the same suitcase Taymoor Atighetchi, the CEO and founder of Papier, uses for weeklong trips. He also mentioned how well it rolls, saying, Nothing beats their smooth wheels. Fashion Blogger Isabel Tan appreciates how lightweight the Essential line is compared to Rimowas classic aluminum suitcases, which for her means theyre still manageable when she stuffs them to the brim: My friends and I managed to score some cheap flight tickets to Bali. All I took were my two carry-ons, and I managed to squeeze about 15 outfits in there. Stylist Tina Leung has all Rimowa luggage, and because she puts them to work I just came back from Montana last week, Im going to Paris Saturday, then when I get back, its New York Fashion Week, and then its Milan, and then its Paris she appreciates how easy it is to get her suitcases tuned up. If the wheels break off or something, its so easy to just go and get it fixed, she says. Theres pretty much one in every major city. The suitcases come in a rainbow of colors, have a telescopic handle, built-in TSA lock, and dividers on either side of the suitcase, which Hull says make it easier to stuff the bag to the brim and still be able to shut it. 15 items in this article Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Getty; MGM Resorts International;The Venetian Resort Las Vegas: What some call tacky is what we call an entire populace sans judgment. This is a town where (most) adults come to stay in hermetically sealed Carnival-esque casino hotels on the Strip, which is essentially a four-mile-long version of Times Square. Its where renowned artists like James Turrell display their work in Louis Vuitton storefronts, and Elvis impersonators still get gigs singing to the likes of Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner on their wedding day. If youre traveling to Las Vegas for the slot machines, showgirls, and antics, youre likely planning to stay on the Strip, where there are thousands of rooms with highly competitive rates (even the nicest stays are often under $200 a night). What you save in overnight fare youll certainly spend on clubs, casinos, and shows even with Adele recently canceling her residency due to Omicron concerns, this year still has performances by Lionel Richie, Sting, Bruno Mars, and Bad Bunny on deck as well as splashy restaurants, like one from Bobby Flay, and otherwise over-the-top attractions like a new museum dedicated entirely to Kiss. But staying in Vegas doesnt prescribe a stay on the Strip; there are plenty of off-Strip hotels, including one that puts you right next to Red Rock Canyons hiking trails. To parse the dazzling Vegas-sphere, we talked to 19 savvy travelers who work in everything from architecture to hospitality to the sexual-wellness industry to see where they stay. Heres what they shared, from the high-octane casino that books Diplo-level acts to the kitschy motel with a retro pool. get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. A series of "Happy Chinese New Year" activities were launched in Malta to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 1 this year. These activities were also staged to celebrate the Beijing Winter Olympics and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malta. The China Cultural Center in Malta kicked off on Thursday an online Chinese Zodiac cultural and creative exhibition. It will also hold the third Chinese film festival, the Chinese characters exhibition, and the "Imagine China" children's painting competition and exhibition. The center will hold an online Spring Festival gala on Feb. 6 together with the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta, the Mediterranean Traditional Chinese Medicine Center, and the Chinese Medicine Center at the University of Malta. During the Spring Festival, the cultural center will also cooperate with the Chinese Medical Team there to launch online Chinese medicine lectures for Maltese people, according to Yang Xiaolong, director of the China Cultural Center. Columnist Beth Dolinar has been writing her column about life, both hers and the rest of ours, for over 20 years. When not on the page, she produces Emmy-winning documentaries, teaches writing to university students, and enjoys her two growing children. Multimedia Reporter Staff writer Harry Funk, a professional journalist for three-plus decades, has been on the staff of The Almanac since 2015. He has a bachelors degree in journalism and master of business administration, both from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. happenings The Rosemary Gossett Adams Department of Art & Design in Ouachita Baptist Universitys School of Fine Arts is hosting an exhibit of ceramics works by Arkansas artists Logan Hunter and Hannah May through Feb. 18 in the Adams Gallery of Moses-Provine Hall. The exhibit is part of Ouachitas 2021-22 Guest Artist Series; it is free and open to the public. Hunter and May met and began collaborating as studio art students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Since 2012, they have taught ceramics and helped establish community ceramics classes and spaces around the state. They work out of their studio, Hunter & May Pottery, in Hensley, Ark. Hunters recent work explores themes of movement and place, incorporating imagery inspired by his travels in the Midwest and South. May considers the concept of security in her work, using chairs as symbols of rest, safety and the life cycle of material objects. I am so excited about this show. It is absolutely stunning, said Carey Roberson, associate professor of art at Ouachita. One of the things that strikes me about Hannahs and Logans work is how they really explore the materiality of clay, whether this is being done by the elegant wheel-thrown forms of Hannahs functional works or the cracking earthiness of Logans sculptural works. It is so fascinating to see two people working side-by-side in the same studio, with the same materialsincluding glazes and firing techniquesproduce works so different, and yet still connected. Regular gallery hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 9 a.m.-12 noon on Fridays. For more information, contact Carey Roberson at robersoncw@obu.edu or (870) 245-4655. oh god, poor woman ): i am glad she is staying anonymous because i can't imagine the shit she's already getting. best wishes to her. i'm sure this will be handled as poorly as most investigations against players for assault tends to be. the nhl is garbage and breeds a particularly toxic culture. Reply Thread Link i've had to take a break from twitter from all the stuff i've seen people say about her. i really hope she's surrounded by good, supportive people. the nhl really sucks when it comes to this stuff. that's why i'm surprised the canucks actually put him on leave. Reply Parent Thread Link Not surprised the least bit, esp about him. There have been sooo many stories about him floating around for years. I remember even when he was drafted and when he was playing in the WJC, these kinds of stories surfaced. I really hope the woman is able to get the help she needs, and to heal. Reply Thread Link i saw someone say on reddit that nearly every person in their early 20s who goes out in Vancouver probably has a virtanen story and it's not a good one. i've heard a lot about his drinking and how he's just a horrible person in general. her account of what happened really makes me wonder if he's done this to other women too :( Reply Parent Thread Link am pretty active (or used to be until very recently) on hockey Tumblr and there were a few first hand accounts there of his 'playboy' ways. at this point I am half expecting other women to come forward now. Reply Parent Thread Link that really doesn't surprise me. i've heard people who went to hs say he was a horrible person then too and only got away with it because he was good at hockey. same. especially now there is a civil suit. Reply Parent Thread Link his contract is up this year so the Canucks can dump him easily - good riddance Reply Thread Link What a nightmare, I hope she is able to heal after legally roasting this mf'er the way he deserves. Reply Thread Link I'm surprised this is the first instance of sexual misconduct I've heard of from the NHL. Hockey boys are trash. Every girl in ontario has a shitty story with a white boy who thought he would play for the leafs one day. Hockey culture is toxic af. From racism to sexual misconduct to the fact that they still allow fighting? It's wild to me how refs will just stand there and watch and let them go at it like "Ah, boys will be boys. Let em fight." Edited at 2021-05-14 10:35 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link patrick kane is the only other one that comes to mind and ia, i'm surprised as well there aren't more stories out there. i'm in western canada, not ontario, but i feel your third sentence hard. Reply Parent Thread Link patrick kane's stuff was barely even addressed while it was happening. didn't they still have a bobble head night for him during it? Reply Parent Thread Link ugh yep, that definitely rings a bell. iirc the league basically shrugged and went "we need to wait and see what happens" Reply Parent Thread Link everyone pretty much instantly forgiving and forgetting about Auston Matthews harassing the security guard should tell you all you need to know about hockey fans. I'm looking at you teenage girls on tumblr who continue to romanticize him and his pedostache. Reply Parent Thread Link his stache is so UGLY omgh Reply Parent Thread Link +1 for the pedostache - gross af. Unfortunate. And yes to him harassing the security guard. I remember that was right when they were going to announce the leafs new captain and I really wanted him to get it, but when this happened I was really happy it went to Tavares. Reply Parent Thread Link what about steven spielberg tho? ANyone have the article clip of him and those other directors talking about that adventure guy movie and being creepy? ETA- I think the movie was indiana Jones. one of those films Edited at 2022-01-27 11:47 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Lawrence Kasdan: I like it if they already had a relationship at one point. Because then you don't have to build it. George Lucas: I was thinking that this old guy could have been his mentor. He could have known this little girl when she was just a kid. Had an affair with her when she was eleven. Kasdan: And he was forty-two. Lucas: He hasn't seen her in twelve years. Now she's twenty-two. It's a real strange relationship. Spielberg: She had better be older than twenty-two. Lucas: He's thirty-five, and he knew her ten years ago when he was twenty-five and she was only twelve. Lucas: It would be amusing to make her slightly young at the time. Spielberg: And promiscuous. She came onto him. Lucas: Fifteen is right on the edge. I know it's an outrageous idea, but it is interesting. Once she's sixteen or seventeen it's not interesting anymore. But if she was fifteen and he was twenty-five and they actually had an affair the last time they met. And she was madly in love with him and he... Spielberg: She has pictures of him. https://www.polygon.com/2015/8/3/9089181/indiana-jones-abusive-creep Edited at 2022-01-28 12:21 am (UTC) I remember this when you mentioned it, so I googled and it was a convo with Spielberg, Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas Reply Parent Thread Expand Link ugh, where is the "puke" face reaction Reply Parent Thread Link Once she's sixteen or seventeen it's not interesting anymore WHAT????????????????? Reply Parent Thread Link flames on the side of my face, etc Reply Parent Thread Link As if IJ wasn't boring enough to me, this put me off watching the rest of them. Reply Parent Thread Link This made me sick to my stomach. ELEVEN? ELEVEN?!?! Throw that monster under the jail. Horrific. Reply Parent Thread Link Always women are left to answer for men's behaviour. Reply Thread Link It's been interesting how Ansel have been scrubbed from the press strategy of this movie Reply Parent Thread Link And it was something that came out after they worked with him! How are they even supposed to know? Its very different from someone apologizing for working with Woody Allen when they knew what he did and still took the job. Plus, Rachel was still legally a minor when they worked together- why should it be on her to answer for his bad actions? Reply Parent Thread Link It's so mf infuriating. Ansel hiding out from this promo tour and these reporters hanging these women out to dry lol. Reply Parent Thread Link I mean, maybe ask Spielberg and not the women?? Reply Thread Link y'all remember how in her britney monologue rachel had a mug of her and ansel from the movie in view Reply Thread Link Did they ask the guys??? Not that they're any more responsible for it than the women are, but HELLO Reply Thread Link I hate this trend of making female costars responsible for speaking out about their male costars' assault allegations. It's not their job, it's not their fault, and people use it to crucify them if the response isn't exactly the one they want or isn't firm enough even when they need to be measured in their answers. Ansel's the only one here who has anything to answer for, and anyone who had the unilateral power to keep him on the project knowing what he did. Reply Thread Link what the fuck? Do better, The Hollywood Reporter, do fucking better. Reply Thread Link My reply would be "I don't know. Why don't you ask him? Next question." because WTF? Why even ask them about him? Reply Thread Link You'd get dragged all over media and accused of being flippant and not caring aboit a victim. It's a no win situation they should nevet have been put in. Reply Parent Thread Link Of course they're giving sideways answers. Reply Thread Link This is weird. Yeah, they're answers could've been better (I guess steer the conversation better but how much better can it be?) but I am not crazy about asking female co-stars to answer for their male co-stars' actions. It's just not a great... and unfair? I would direct these questions more towards people with power to hiring Ansel. Reply Thread Link Why are they asking them?!?!!!!! Smh Reply Thread Link The onus put on women to speak up after MEN commit these crimes is disgusting and shows just how far we have to go as a society Reply Thread Link Im so torn bc they shouldnt have to answer for this assholes behavior, ask the men!!! But also those answers are awful. Reply Thread Link Right. I was like "This seems rather on brand for Rita, bc I remember her saying something tasteless about the paper bag casting of ITH". Reply Parent Thread Link They shouldnt have to answer these questions and it sucks that its always posed towards women, but Rachel and Ariana still being friendly with him outside of the normal press responsibilities makes me side-eye them. Reply Thread Link I mean they obviously should not have been asked in the first place but since they answered.those were some terrible answers! Reply Thread Link And you would have said...? Reply Parent Thread Link ontd likes to the talk the big game, but come holiday season- we'll get the "ugh I have to go spend thanksgiving/christmas with my sucky conservative family....I'M BEING HELD AT GUNPOINT JSYK!!" I can't imagine how'd they respond in a industry where pissing off the wrong person could end your career when it's suppose to start. And then they also wanna criticize and say "well why didn't you speak up?". Reply Parent Thread Link Not what Rita said. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link "I stand with sexual assault survivors everywhere, and furthermore, I should not have to entertain the expectation of answering for my male coworkers behavior" It took me like 2 seconds to come up with this Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I have a lot of ptsd from my own assault so I probably would have said go fuck yourself, no comment and I definitely would not have said that damaging and always hurtful we dont know what happened ~we werent there because of course we do know what happened, the victim told us. Thanks for asking Im sure you sincerely wanted an answer :). Reply Parent Thread Link McKinsey: The impact of the energy transition will be uneven across countries and sectors This annual average includes investment in the energy, mobility, industry, buildings, agriculture, and forestry and other land-use sectors The energy transition will be a very expensive and complicated endeavor in which different countries and regions will be unevenly impacted, analysts and forecasters have been saying for years. The world cannot just flip the switch off on the current energy systems and start running on renewables, however noble, emission-reducing, and climate-protecting this sounds. As a growing number of countries are committing to net-zero emissions by the middle of the century, or a decade or two later, all must start acting now if the world has any chance of meeting the Paris Agreement goals by 2050. Yet, it is easier said than done. The world is already spending trillions of U.S. dollars on energy transition efforts every year, but it needs more trillions of dollars, again, every year, in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, one of the latest reports on the cost of the net-zero transition showed this week. The cost is not measured in required investments only. Some industries and countries will be paying a higher cost to transform to net-zero than others. There is also another cost in the near termthe risk of a rushed and messy transition that would make energy markets and prices even more volatile than they are now, leading to risks of disrupted energy supplies and slower economic growth. High commodity prices of key energy transition metalslithium, nickel, aluminum, copper, and cobaltcould also unravel years of cost reductions and delay renewable projects and EV targets due to commodity price shocks. A net-zero global economy will not only need a significant reduction of emissions from the energy sector. It will also need more than the environmentalists favorite phrase, keep it in the ground suggests. Net-zero will need investments in transforming energy-intensive industries such as steel and cement making, and the construction, agriculture, and forestry sectors, among others. Net-Zero Transition Will Cost $9.2 Trillion A Year The transition required for the world to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 would need spending of $275 trillion between 2021 and 2050, or $9.2 trillion in annual average spending on physical assets, McKinsey & Company said in its new report. This annual average includes investment in the energy, mobility, industry, buildings, agriculture, and forestry and other land-use sectors. The estimated spending on all those needs to be $3.5 trillion per year more than today if the world is to achieve net-zero by 2050, according to McKinsey. To put it in comparable terms, that increase is equivalent to half of global corporate profits and one-quarter of total tax revenue in 2020, McKinsey said in the report. Findings from all forecasters have pointed out in recent years that net-zero will need much more investment than what the economies are currently allocating every year. Investments in low-carbon energy need to triple if the world is to meet its Paris Agreement targets, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Fatih Birol, said at the end of last year. There is a gross mismatch, and the longer this mismatch persists the greater the risk of further sharp price swings and increased volatility in the future, Birol told the Financial Times in October. Uneven Cost And Impact The impact of the energy transition will be uneven across countries and sectors, McKinsey noted. All sectors will be exposed to the net-zero push, but some much more than others, including coal and gas and those that sell products that emit greenhouse gases, such as the fossil fuel sector and the automotive sector. Currently, some 20 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) is in these sectors, McKinsey says in its hypothetical scenario, which, it noted, is neither a prediction nor projection. Related: Kazakhstan Power Operator Cuts Crypto Miners Off The Grid Many of these sectors would also incur cost increases as they decarbonize. For example, steel and cement production costs would rise by about 30 percent and 45 percent, respectively, by 2050, compared with today, in the scenario we analyze, McKinsey said. Spending on the net-zero economy will also be unevenly distributed around the world. Developing countries and producers of fossil fuels will have to spend more as a share of their GDP than other countries. In the case of sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, India, and other Asian nations, this spending would be about 1.5 times as much as advanced economiesor moreaccording to McKinsey. On a side note, the developing countries in Southeast Asia and Africathose that cannot afford to splash trillions of U.S. dollars on anythingare also those most exposed to the effects of climate change. Net-Zero Transition Is Exposed To Risks One of the most immediate risks is that of a disorderly energy transition, if the ramp up of low-emissions activities does not take place fast enough to fill gaps left by the ramping down of high-emissions activities, McKinsey said. Soaring energy prices could create a backlash that delays the transition, it added, noting the importance of the careful management of the transition to spare the world more shocks in energy supply and prices, as the energy crisis in Europe shows. As reliance on renewables grows and investment in fossil fuel-based power generation declines, tight supply for raw material inputs for technologies like solar panels and batteries may compound energy price volatility given long lead times in the capital-intensive mining sector, McKinseys analysts say. Renewables are breaking records in annual installed capacity, but they will still need to double new annual capacity over the next five years, the IEA said last month. Despite the record additions in 2021, and an expected 50-percent increase in renewable capacity additions in 2021-2026 compared to 2015-2020, the industry needs even faster deployment of solar, wind, and all other renewable energy sources if the world still hopes to get on track to meet net-zero by 2050, the IEA said in its annual Renewables 2021 Market Report with a forecast to 2026. The soaring prices of key metals used in batteries and in solar panels or wind turbine manufacturingincluding copper, lithium, aluminum, PV-grade polysilicon, and steelcould delay some 100 GW of contracted renewable capacity due to commodity price shocks, the IEA warned in December. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A federal judge threw out the biggest oil and gas lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico on the grounds that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management broke the environmental lawthe National Environmental Policy Actby failing to properly factor in the emission-related impact of the lease sale. Ruling on a case brought against the Department of the Interior, the American Petroleum Institute, and the state of Louisiana, District Judge Rudolph Contreras sent the lease sale back to the Interior Department to decide what to do with it. Plaintiffs, including the Sierra Club, Earthjustice, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Friends of the Earth, praised the ruling. We are pleased that the court invalidated Interiors illegal lease sale, said Earthjustice senior attorney Brettny Hardy, as quoted by the AP. This administration must meet this critical moment and honor the campaign promises President Biden made by stopping offshore leasing once and for all. The Gulf of Mexico lease sale, which sought to open up millions of acres in the Gulf, was launched last November despite efforts by the Biden administration to steer the U.S. energy industry towards renewables and away from oil and gas. President Biden imposed a moratorium on drilling leases for federal lands as soon as he took office, but oil-producing states successfully challenged the moratorium in court, and the Interior Department was forced to proceed with the lease sale. The tender brought in $192 million in winning bids for 307 tracts covering 1.7 million acres. The interest around the sale was significant in part due to the low carbon footprint of the crude extracted from these waters, compared to the higher footprint of foreign plays or U.S. onshore wells. Barreling full-steam ahead with blinders on was simply not a reasonable action for BOEM to have taken here, Judge Contreras said in his opinion. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil markets are looking increasingly bullish as geopolitical risks spike and inventories continue to drain. Friday, January 28th, 2022 For the first time in seven years, Brent prices surged past $90 per barrel this week, buoyed by a series of bullish factors. First, low inventories remain the number one reason underlying investment banks $100 per barrel short-term forecasts. The fact that US commercial stocks just fell for the third time in a row has not helped that. Second, with much of Europe captivated by the prolonged Russia-Ukraine standoff, speculation that Russian oil might be embargoed from the market added another geopolitical premium to prices. Simultaneously, supply scarcity remains a global worry as corroborated by steep backwardation the Brent six-month market structure was almost at $7 per barrel this week with very little indication that OPEC+ would be willing to churn out more than it is supposed to under the terms of its agreement. Things are looking very bullish for oil markets indeed. US Natgas Prices See Record One-Day Spike. With the weather forecast indicating colder weather to come, Henry Hub gas futures saw their sharpest one-day climb this week just as the February contract was about to expire, surging from $4.50 to $7 per mmBtu at the peak of trading, only to settle at $6.3 per mmBtu. Saudi Aramco Hits Out at Energy Transition. Saudi Aramco (TADAWUL:2222) CEO Amin Nasser said the current transition towards a sustainable energy future is not going smoothly, highlighting the need to invest in oil and gas if the markets are to avoid the current tightness seen right now in Europe and parts of Asia. Russia Expects Iran Deal Breakthrough in Q2. According to Russias envoy to the JCPOA talks on the revival of the Iranian nuclear deal, if the negotiations continue at their current pace an agreement would be reached by the end of February, though it might take another two months to have it finalized. Nord Stream 2 Registers German Subsidiary, Awaits Decision. The operator of the Gazprom-led (MCX:GAZP) Nord Stream 2 pipeline has registered a subsidiary for the German section of the pipeline to meet the requirements of the countrys energy regulator BNetzA. Coal Prices Surge on Ukraine Tensions. The global coal benchmark Newcastle coal index has risen by more than 30% over January 2022, currently trending above $260 per metric tonne, as the belligerent rhetoric surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict sparked fears that Russias gas supplies might be cut US Judge Annuals Gulf of Mexico Auction over Climate Concerns. A US federal judge annulled the latest Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 257 held last November - assumed to be the last under the Biden Administration - arguing that the auction failed to assess the climate impact of prospective offshore drilling. Trafigura to Build Up a New Russian Base. Global trading house Trafigura plans to start base oil exports from the Russian port of Vyborg, creating a new export route from one of Russias least utilized export terminals, with a view to managing 15-20% of Russias total base oil production. Related: U.S. Natural Gas Prices Climb Most Ever In Single Day Siemens Energy to Seek Full Integration of Wind Business. German energy conglomerate Siemens Energy (ETR:ENR) has reportedly stepped up efforts to carry out a full integration of its wind turbine business Siemens Gamesa (BME:SGRE), still unable to sort out the ownership structure of a spun-off entity that it does not control. Key US Shale Pipeline Jeopardized. The US Court of Appeals has nixed the federal permit issued towards the Mountain Valley Pipeline, a key conduit that would send Appalachian gas to Virginia and is more than 90% complete, arguing that government approvals did not consider erosion impacts. Ammonia Bunkering Safety Study Kicks Off. A Singapore industry group comprising the local authorities and shipping giants commissioned an ammonia bunkering safety study from industry registrar DNV that would seek to establish a preliminary regulatory framework for the nascent bunker fuel. Glencore Wants More Food in Portfolio. Global trading firm Glencore (GLEN) bought US grain trader Gavilon from Marubeni Corp for $1.125 billion, increasing its US grain exposure as well as becoming the third-largest exporter of Brazilian soybeans once the deal closes by 2023. BP Lures Renewables Executive from Orsted. UK major British Petroleum (NYSE:BP) hired an executive from Danish wind power Orsted (CPH:ORSTED) to head the companys new offshore wind division in the second half of 2022, with an onshore wind and solar power unit set to be developed. Oman Launches First Spot Market in the Middle East. Oman has formally launchedthe first electricity spot market in the Middle East, with the stated aim of increasing the efficiency of power procurement, a delicate way of saying that Muscat would seek to avoid protests driven by high electricity prices. Canada Greenlights Chinese Buying of Lithium Firm. Canadas government approved the deal seeing Chinese firm Zijin Mining Group (SS:601899) buy Toronto-listed lithium miner Neo Lithium (CVE:NLC) for $720 million, despite heavy objections from opposition parties arguing that Chinas clout over critical minerals keeps on increasing. By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: China's State Council has issued a plan to advance the modernization of the country's market regulation over the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). The plan calls for continuously optimizing the business environment in China to fully stimulate the vitality of market entities. Starting a new business will, for example, become more convenient in China, with average time consumption shrinking from fewer than four weekdays currently to about two weekdays by 2025, according to the plan. To build a level market playing field, the plan urges efforts to strengthen fair competition and anti-monopoly regulations. Platform companies will be guided to compete in an orderly manner, and practices such as discriminatory treatment and false sales promotions will be investigated in accordance with the law. New industries and business models will see enhanced supervision, per the plan, underscoring the close monitoring of competition in the "internet plus service" industry and investigating relevant illegal activities. Efforts should also be made to guarantee food and drug safety, ensure the safe operations of special equipment, strengthen supervision over the quality of industrial products, and further protect the rights and interests of consumers, according to the plan. Morgan Stanley: global spare oil production capacity will shrink from 6.5 million bpd at the moment to just 2 million barrels daily by the middle of the year That OPECs spare oil production capacity was a problem that was only going to get worse with time became clear last year when the first reports began to emerge that the cartel and its partners led by Russia are not adding as much oil to their monthly output as agreed. Now, the gap between commitment and output has deepened, adding fuel to an already strong price rally. In December, OPEC+ added 253,000 barrels daily to its combined production falling well short of its 400,000-bpd target for yet another month in a growing row. Naturally, this fueled concern about the security of global supply amid forecasts from the International Energy Agency that oil demand is going to exceed pre-pandemic levels later this year. This latest forecast could be confusing to many who follow the agencys output. In December, the IEA said that oil demand growth was going to slow down this year. It also forecasted a possible oversupply on the oil market for the current quarter, citing the effect of the Omicron variant on fuel consumption and rising non-OPEC production. To be fair, the agency noted the oversupply would materialize if several things happen, among them, Saudi Arabia and Russia pumping at record rates as remaining OPEC+ cuts are fully unwound. Yet it appears to have greatly underestimated the resilience and strength of demand. No wonder a lot of other forecasters are talking about oil reaching and topping $100 per barrel. These monthly [OPEC] additions are increasingly nominal, Bill Farren-Price, director of intelligence at consultancy Enverus, told the Wall Street Journal this week. They are not fully backed by real barrels. Oil has been on a remarkable run in recent weeks, driven by very bullish fundamentals as disrupted supply struggled to keep up with strong demand, OANDA senior analyst Craig Erlam told City A.M. OPEC and the IEA have referenced the resilience of demand since the emergence of omicron in recent weeks and the inability of OPEC+ to hit their production targets, or even come close, has led to the kind of one-way price action weve been witnessing, Erlam added. Morgan Stanleys Martijn Rats said in a note to clients that Brent crude could hit $100 this year during the second quarter, as global stocks of crude decline and investment in new production remain constrained. He added that high prices could persist through next year as well. Not everyone believes oil will reach $100, regardless of all the bullish factors currently at play. Saxo Banks Ole Hansen, for instance, told City A.M. that the momentum behind the oil price rally was slowing down, and we could see a correction soon. As for the Ukraine tensions, which have also been named among the factors driving oil higher, Hansen noted these were more likely to affect natural gas prices in case of an escalation rather than oil prices. Whatever the immediate future moves of oil prices, the fact remains that OPEC and Russia and their Central Asian partners dont seem to be able to stick to their production quotas for reasons varying from political trouble in Libya to technical problems in Nigeria and dwindling spare capacity in Russia and most of OPEC. The strength of oil demand appears to have been consistently underestimated by some forecasters, and this could add more upward potential for pricesand not only over the immediate term. More upward potential will come from the other looming problem in the oil industry: not enough investment. Saudi Arabia and OPECs former secretary-general warned that underinvestment would come to bite last year. At the time, most forecasts bet on a consistent decline in oil demand as low-carbon energy took the spotlight, but reality has proved different, and it is only a matter of time before the spotlight is shined on the worlds increasingly limited oil production capacity. Morgan Stanley is projecting that global spare oil production capacity will shrink from 6.5 million bpd at the moment to just 2 million barrels daily by the middle of the year. This would be the result of OPEC and its partners ramping up production as per their agreement to return to pre-pandemic production levels. And this decline in spare capacity, according to the investment bank, would push Brent to $100 and beyond. Yet the problem with underinvestment is a more serious one because it effectively means that there is a shrinking pool of opportunities to expand this shrinking spare production capacity. Just as a few years ago, the market got worried about Big Oils reserve replacement ratio, now it is beginning to get worried about the whole industrys ability to produce as much oil as the world still needs in spite of the energy transition drive. OPEC doesnt want oil at $100. Some officials from the cartel have said as much. Excessively expensive oil is not good for exporters because it dampens demand. But this time, there seems to be little OPEC can do about it except hope that demand doesnt grow too fast too soon so that prices remain relatively unchanged from where they are now. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: One of the worlds top liquefied natural gas exporters, Australia, says it is ready to ship LNG cargoes to Europe to support its friends and allies, as the U.S. is looking to raise alternative gas supply in case a Russian invasion of Ukraine disrupts Russias gas supply to Europe. Australia, of course, stands ready to support its friends and allies. We have a well-developed gas resource. We have the capacity to deliver not only domestically but right across the world, Australias Resources and Water Minister Keith Pitt said at a press conference on Thursday. We will, of course, continue to meet our contract demands for those arrangements that are already in place and deliver the domestic supply that is necessary for industry in this country and, of course, look for spot cargo opportunities elsewhere, Pitt said. As of Thursday, Australia had not received any formal requests to deliver gas to any other locations, the minister added, noting that Australia does stand ready to deliver where necessary. Australia is one of the largest LNG exporters in the world, so it could help alleviate a shortage of gas in Europe in case of a Russia-Ukraine conflict. The U.S. Administration is in talks with energy companies and major gas-producing countries globally about the potential for a large supply of natural gas to Europe in case Russian deliveries are interrupted. Russia, which supplies over one-third of the natural gas that Europe consumes, could weaponize gas deliveries if the West imposes sanctions on Moscow over a possible invasion of Ukraine, European allies of the United States fear. In addition, in the event of military action and subsequent energy sanctions against Russia, Europe would be the first and hardest hit, including in its gas supply from Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, analysts say. The White House is dealing with logistical challenges in its efforts to secure alternative natural gas supply to Europe, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said earlier this week. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: On top of $90 oil prices, the futures market also points to further pain at the pump for American consumers. Gasoline futures at NYMEX are trading at their highest premium to crude oil for this time of the year in nine years, according to Bloombergs estimates. On Thursday, the gasoline futures contract was around $18.50 per barrel above crude as U.S. refiners have started the maintenance season. The highest premium of gasoline futures over crude since 2013 signals that motor gasoline supply could be tighter than expected this summer when U.S. gasoline demand is expected to return to pre-COVID levels. Gasoline demand in the summer of 2022 will likely be close to the 2019 level, which was close to peak gasoline demand, John Auers, executive vice president at Turner Mason, told Bloomberg. In the U.S., total motor gasoline inventories increased by 1.3 million barrels in the week to January 21, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its weekly petroleum inventory report on Wednesday. Despite another weekly build in gasoline stocks, total gasoline inventories continue to be around 2 percent below the five-year average for this time of year, the EIA data showed. Gasoline prices, meanwhile, continue to rise across the United States. As of January 27, the national average price of a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.348, according to data from AAA. Thats up from $3.286 a gallon one month ago, and compares to $2.408 a gallon Americans paid for gasoline at this time last year. Oil prices have rallied by around 13 percent since the start of 2022, on the back of resilient global demand and geopolitical risk premiums coming from the Russia-Ukraine tension and attacks on the UAE from the Iran-aligned Houthis. U.S. average gas prices at $3.35/gal currently are now just 9 cents below the 2021 peak of $3.44, while diesel is at a more than seven-year high of $3.68/gal, Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for fuel-savings app GasBuddy, tweeted on Wednesday. By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Japan is set to import the highest quantity of coal in January in just over two years, as utilities scramble to get supplies for power generation amid high spot liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing intelligence firm Kpler and Japanese customs data. A cold and snowy winter in Japan has raised the electricity demand, and domestic utilities are looking to buy more coal for power generation. Japan is expected to import over 17.3 million tons of coal in January, according to Edwin Toh, a dry bulk manager at Kpler, quoted by Bloomberg. The volume would be Japans highest level of coal imports in one month since December 2019 and around 5 percent over the five-year seasonal average, Japanese customs data showed. Coal prices have also surged in the past weeks due to a month-long export ban top coal exporter Indonesia, as well as the Russia-Ukraine crisis, which has the commodity markets concerned over disruptions of energy exports, including coal, from Russia. Still, coal prices in comparable terms for utilities are lower than prices for spot LNG cargoes in Asia. LNG prices for March delivery rose this week by more than 17 percent to $27.00 per metric million British thermal units (MMBtu), industry sources told Reuters on Friday. The Russia-Ukraine crisis and the cold weather in Japan were the key drivers of the jump in LNG prices to northeast Asia for March. The record-high natural gas prices over the past months have forced utilities in many countries, including in developed economies such as Japan and in Europe, to seek to replace gas-fired power generation with coal-fired power plants. The economic rebound from the pandemic took coal power generation to a new record high in 2021, with global coal demand likely hitting another new high in 2022, undermining net-zero efforts, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said last month. The global recovery in 2021 dashed any hopes that coal-fired power generation may have peaked, the IEA said. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A couple of weeks ago, Smallcakes Cupcakery in Papillion had to close for two days at almost the last minute. We were so short-staffed I didnt have enough people to run the store, manager Nancy Ermitano said. We are down by three or four (employees), and we are a very small bakery as it is. The shop was shuttered Jan. 10 and 11. She had a skeleton staff to fulfill cupcake orders and one person on hand for pickups. No walk-in business, and no one to take advance orders, which are considerable at the beginning of the week for weekend events. Ermitano is understandably nervous about the staff shortages, caused in part by illness and in part by difficulty hiring. The store sells 20 to 30 dozen cupcakes each day early in the week and up to 100 dozen daily by the end. Those numbers are about to increase. Preorders for the days leading up to Valentines Day have already started. Its our busiest day of the year, Ermitano said. Shes hoping that all her employees and their families stay healthy. And shes not alone. Variations of her situation are happening at restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries and other food service businesses across the area. The restaurant industry labor shortage is still a thing, and it appears that the omicron variant of COVID-19 is making it worse in Nebraska. Restaurant owners have been mostly unsuccessful in recruiting adequate staff, said Zoe Olson, executive director of the Nebraska Hospitality Association, which was renamed from the Nebraska Restaurant Association at the beginning of the year. As a result, she said, theyre cutting hours, reducing dining room capacity to compensate for fewer workers, switching back to takeout only or, as a last resort, closing on days when they dont have enough workers. Thirty-eighty percent of the Nebraska restaurant operators who responded to a January survey by the National Restaurant Association said they had recently reduced hours on days they were open. And 13% said they had closed on days they normally were open. Almost all respondents 92% reported that their number of dine-in customers had declined in recent weeks because of the surge of omicron cases. The survey results were released Jan. 18. Owners have said its the worst January they can remember, Olson said. Finicky Franks in North Omaha is one of the restaurants that has closed periodically because of short staffing, said chef and owner Kesa Kenny. She estimates that they have lost six business days because of COVID-19. She said most of her nine staffers have been with her for at least a couple of years. Even though she has faced numerous harried days, shes reluctant to hire additional staffers because shes not convinced that current crowds justify it. I want to make sure our staff can make a living at this, she said. Theyre counting on it. Shes philosophical about having to do every job at her restaurant at some point: Thats just part of running your own business you have to know how to fill all those slots, she said. Its nice to do something different. You learn something every day. At the newly opened Piccolo Petes and at Market Basket near 90th Street and West Center Road, the answer has been to modify hours. Piccolo owner Scott Sheehan cut out lunch service shortly after he launched his business in downtown Papillion, citing both staffing and supply problems. He now opens at 4 p.m. Days at Market Basket have been fairly fluid. Manager Trish Liakos said she has adjusted hours a few different times; with each switch, she said, we do our best to notify people. Right now, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner but hasnt brought back breakfast, she said. Its just a period when we are flexible with customers and they are flexible with us, she said. Liakos has also kept her dining room socially distanced, partly because thats the amount of tables we can staff and partly because it makes customers comfortable. According to the national restaurant survey, 23% of Nebraska restaurant operators recently changed their seating capacity. Olson, of the hospitality group, thinks that the staffing problem goes far beyond the pandemic. Nebraska will always struggle for workers because its not a heavily populated state and because the U.S. birth rate is declining, she said. Therefore, she added, we need workers from outside the state and the country. Its a constant, she said. We dont have enough workers in our state. We will continue to press the feds for true immigration reform. Thats the only way we are going to change the situation in Nebraska. Ultimately, she said, restaurants cant sustain doing business the way they are now. Wages have increased, she said, and rent, utility, food and equipment prices are also rising. This is going to become a situation you cant handle with fewer hours and less capacity, which mean fewer sales, she said. One way the hospitality industry will adjust, she said, is through more automation: menus obtained by QR codes, resulting in less hands-on contact with servers at eateries, for example, and phone check-in and virtual keys at hotels. Olson declined to predict how the labor situation or other problems facing restaurants would look six months from now. Back in September, restaurant owners were saying maybe by spring or summer we will be back to normal. I dont hear anybody saying that right now. Nobodys even thinking that right now, she said. Hotels and restaurants are saying, What can we do today and tomorrow? They arent looking any further than that. But at least a couple of restaurateurs see glimmers of hope. Brett Clure, co-owner of several Tanners Bar & Grill and Tavern 180 locations in Omaha and elsewhere, plans to open two Julios restaurants and an Italian eatery in the coming months. He said he has had really, really tough times recently trying to find staff, but is feeling pretty good so far about finding qualified workers for his new ventures, though he hasnt yet started hiring. I feel that the labor pressure should ease a little bit as we get through the first quarter, he said. It feels like its gotten just a teeny bit better in the last couple weeks. You can just kind of feel it. Liakos, at Market Basket, is upbeat, too. Since June, shes had a homemade help wanted sign on the door. She said she changes it periodically. Right now, it looks fairly desperate: Help! Help! Help! in large blue letters. She put it there, she said, not only to appeal to prospective workers but also to spread the word about the labor shortage to customers, neighbors, anybody who sees it. It brings up conversations with people at the counter who begin to understand whats going on, she said, such as why the hours frequently change or, on select days, why theyre asking customers to order up front and take their meals to their tables. Now the sign appears to be working. My last two people have been hired as a result of that sign, she said. I have two people who are almost finished with training today who will be servers out on the floor. Omaha World-Herald: Omaha Dines Sign up for the Omaha Dines weekly newsletter to stay up to date on the latest local restaurant and foods news and occasional offers. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. You are here: Business China's online retail sales of physical goods exceeded the 10-trillion-yuan (1.58 trillion U.S. dollars) threshold to hit 10.8 trillion yuan in 2021, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Thursday. In 2021, China's online retail sales reached 13.1 trillion yuan, MOC spokesperson Gao Feng told a press briefing. Online retail sales of physical goods accounted for 24.5 percent of total retail sales of consumer goods and contributed 23.6 percent of the growth of retail sales of consumer goods in 2021, Gao said. He added that the steadily growing online retail market has become an important force keeping growth, employment and consumption stable. China's consumption market saw an upgrading trend last year, with healthy, green and high-quality goods increasingly favored by consumers, Gao said. Data shows that sales of smart home devices surged 90.5 percent year on year in 2021, and sales of organic vegetables skyrocketed 127.6 percent year on year. E-commerce in the services sector posted robust growth. Online catering sales rose 30.1 percent year on year, an increase of 27.9 percentage points from the previous year, according to Gao. The Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday said it will recommend that Congress approve $144 million in projects to reduce flood damage along creeks in the Omaha metro area. Included are two dams, construction of a levee/flood wall along the Little Papillion Creek in central Omaha, elevating or flood-proofing some homes and businesses, and erecting floodgates at several creek crossings. The corps decision is the latest chapter in battles over flood control in the metro area dating to the 1970s. The plan has been promoted by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, local governments including the Omaha City Council, and some businesses whose property is at risk along creeks, notably the Nebraska Furniture Mart. Those opposed include the Washington County Board and landowners who would lose homes and see their property values drop because of one of the dams. John Winkler, general manager of the NRD, said there is an urgent need for better flood protection in the area. The Corps of Engineers has estimated the cost-benefit ratio of the plan at 1.7 to 1, he said. In other words, the value of property protected is 70% higher than the cost, thus about $240 million worth of property would be better protected. The flood risks in the Papillion Creek Watershed are significant, Winkler said. Winkler said about 12,000 residents and 2,500 structures would see a reduced risk of flooding because of these projects. Those structures include homes and businesses, schools and emergency services, along with utility lines, he said. But a study funded by the Washington County Board and the Papio Valley Preservation Association found that the Corps of Engineers is significantly overstating the benefits. The study was conducted by Steven Shultz, a professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha who specializes in real estate and land use economics. Shultz said in his analysis that the cost-benefit ratio and other figures in the corps report were incorrect, misleading or inflated and that some were improperly included. Washington County Board member Lisa Kramer said the study buttresses the boards contention that the dam proposed near the Douglas/Washington County line would do little to protect Omaha from flooding. Additionally, the dam would require removing or relocating nine homes and would devalue adjacent land. The biggest reason for flooding in midtown (Omaha) is the concrete, Kramer said. And thats due to poor planning and zoning in the City of Omaha. Theyre trying to solve a problem in Omaha by imposing eminent domain on rural landowners. The next step is for the corps to submit the plan to Congress. It will be up to Congress to decide whether to approve and fund the projects. The decision would pit rural landowners and Washington County against urban Omaha interests. None of these projects are included in the hundreds of millions of federal infrastructure dollars flowing into Nebraska. Here are the projects proposed in the plan: A small reservoir on the South Papillion Creek near Gretna. Known as Dam Site 19, the 74-acre lake would be about half the size of Standing Bear Lake. The park around the lake would include a 2.5-mile walking trail, restrooms, a picnic shelter and boat ramp. Winkler said the lake has widespread support. A larger dry dam on Thomas Creek in northwest Douglas County. A dry dam has a lake behind it only during periods of heavy runoff. Known as Dam Site 10, the lake would have a 345-acre footprint that would extend into Washington County. Its flooded size would be somewhat smaller than Cunningham Lake. The dam would place nine homes and adjacent farmland underwater in periods of heavy runoff. A new levee/flood wall along the Little Papillion Creek and Keystone Trail. The levee/wall would run several miles from Cole Creek to Saddle Creek on one side of the Little Papio and from Charles Street to Spring Street on the other, protecting parts of central Omaha, including the Nebraska Furniture Mart and Aksarben Village. Construction of floodgates where Mercy Road and Pacific, Dodge, Cass and 72nd Streets cross the Little Papio. Gates would also be placed at several pedestrian bridges. The gates would tie into levee improvements. Filling in 71 basements, elevating 59 residential buildings, and floodproofing 256 commercial, industrial and municipal structures. The federal government would shoulder $91.5 million in costs. The local cost would be $52.2 million. Not included in this plan are a handful of other dams proposed by the Papio NRD or any projects to reduce flooding downtown, which is outside the Papillion Creek watershed. 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. The proposed finance plan for Omahas streetcar system has drawn concerns from a Nebraska state senator and the superintendent of the Omaha Public Schools. State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, chairman of the Urban Affairs Committee, shared his criticism on the floor of the Nebraska Legislature on Thursday, one day after Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert announced that Mutual of Omaha plans to build a downtown headquarters and the city intends to build a streetcar system. Wayne expressed frustration with the use of tax-increment financing for the streetcar project. He said he supports Mutual of Omaha moving its headquarters downtown but not the idea of declaring downtown as extremely blighted. Under a constitutional amendment introduced by Wayne and approved by voters in 2020, the extremely blighted designation allows developers to qualify for TIF loans and have 20 years to pay them back, five years longer than TIF projects in other areas. He said the designation was intended to help redevelop areas with high unemployment and high poverty, such as his North Omaha district. The streetcar financing plan, developed by a Greater Omaha Chamber committee and endorsed by Stothert, calls for various uses of TIF. The cost of building and launching the streetcar system is estimated at $225 million. Stothert said federal guidelines call for a 35% contingency in case of unexpected costs, so the city would need to raise $306 million. The city plans to extend the timeline of already existing TIF projects along the streetcars route from the current 15 years to 20. Those five additional years of payments would generate $50 million. But Wayne said the five-year extension of TIF for extremely blighted areas wasnt to put up a streetcar in downtown Omaha. He vowed to make fundamental changes to the process of declaring an area extremely blighted during the current legislative session. TIF is a popular and at times controversial tool to rejuvenate blighted areas. Under TIF, the developer of a city-approved project takes out a loan to help cover eligible redevelopment expenses. The loan is paid back, generally over a 15-year period, by using the increased property taxes that are generated on the new development. Normally, property tax payments go to support schools, city and county government and other local tax-reliant entities. In the plan outlined by Stothert, money from increased property taxes generated by expected new development and redevelopment along the route would pay for construction of the streetcar system. The city would create a new TIF district spanning the entire streetcar route, as well as three blocks north and south of the route. New developments in the district would contribute 25% of their TIF proceeds. That element alone is projected to generate $218 million, the mayor said. The plan also anticipates generating $86 million from increased valuations of existing properties within the TIF district. Wayne said that pretty much the entire downtown has been declared extremely blighted. All the way up to 24th Street, he said. Carrie Murphy, a spokeswoman for Stothert, noted that City Council passed extremely blighted designations for parts of downtown in May. That includes the W. Dale Clark Library location. Wayne has started work on an amendment and said he will have details Friday. Omaha Public Schools Superintendent Cheryl Logan referenced the project and its impact on school funding at a hearing Wednesday before the Legislatures Revenue Committee. At the hearing, Sen. Curt Friesen of Henderson asked if OPS ever weighs in on economic development projects. Logan responded by noting the pretty significant news that broke earlier in the day about a major project and the associated request that would be coming to OPS. Its a really, particularly sore subject at this hour, she said. The amount of TIF-supported projects in Omaha has been a sore subject for some rural senators, who argue that such projects reduce property tax support for large, urban districts and force the state to fill in the gap with state school aid dollars. Wayne said that the project would hurt OPS. Its a huge blow. Its potentially millions and millions of dollars, he said. Asked about a potential long-term financial impact on the school district, Murphy said over the coming decades, OPS will actually receive far more under this plan than they would have without it. Stothert noted Wednesday that school districts will get 2% per year of the increased TIF revenue during the extended five-year period. In an emailed statement, an OPS spokesperson said the district looks forward to continued conversations with the City of Omaha as additional details about the proposal are developed. We will monitor and research any impact to our district and the students we serve related to Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, the spokesperson said. The city plans to issue special revenue bonds and private placement bonds to pay for the systems construction. The buyers of those bonds will be repaid using TIF funds. Stothert said the city had the plan vetted by a finance team at First National Bank and the citys bond counsel. She said both affirmed that it can be funded without any kind of tax increase. If, as expected, there are additional TIF funds left after the bonds are paid off, she said those dollars could be put to other good uses, including developing affordable housing, the cost of converting one-way downtown streets to two-way and improved pedestrian access. 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. Jessica Wade Jessica Wade covers breaking news, crime and the Omaha zoo. Follow her on Twitter @Jess_Wade_OWH. Phone: 402-444-1067 Follow Jessica Wade 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 The British business community hopes that Britain and China will continue efforts to strengthen trade ties to benefit the peoples of both countries, as the two mark the 50th anniversary of ambassadorial diplomatic relations this year. The remarks were made Wednesday during the "Icebreakers" 2022 Chinese New Year celebration jointly hosted online by the 48 Group Club, China Chamber of Commerce in the UK and China-Britain Business Council. In his keynote speech, Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang said the two countries should leverage their respective strengths, consolidate cooperation in "traditional" areas including trade, investment, finance, manufacturing and infrastructure, expand into new areas such as health care, FinTech, green energy, digital economy and creative industries, and explore third markets, so as to create more highlights in their business partnership and bring more benefits to the peoples of both countries and beyond. Lord Hammond of Runnymede, former chancellor of the Exchequer, said in his speech that the last two years of the pandemic have been a challenging period for the global economy, especially for international trade and Britain-China relations. He noted that China is the second largest economy in the world and it therefore enjoys an important position in Britain's import and export market, while Britain remains a destination of choice for Chinese businesses investing in Europe. "As China creates huge incremental market demand, it will be an important partner for post-Brexit UK," he said. "We should focus on what we have in common, on cooperating for the mutual benefit of our peoples as well as free and fair trade." John Edwards, British trade commissioner for China, said Britain is determined to strengthen the Britain-China trade relationship and attract more Chinese investment in Britain. "Looking into the future, Britain will be working with Chinese companies to expand electric vehicle manufacturers, renewable supply chains to help Britain build the most exciting green market in the world and to make a joint contribution to the defining thing of our time -- the green economy," he said. Stephen Perry, chair of the 48 Group Club, said China and Britain continue to set new records regarding trade levels, thus building a solid foundation for economic and trade cooperation. "We look forward to China sharing its innovation and development achievements and contribution to the advancement of global economic recovery and the development of relations between Britain and China," he said. In 1954, Jack Perry, founder of the London Export Corporation, led a group of 48 British businessmen on a historic trade mission to Beijing and helped deliver one of the first modern-day trade links with China, effectively breaking the U.S.-led Western embargo on the newly founded People's Republic of China. The 48 men were the precursors of the 48 Group Club. The trip became known as the "Icebreaking Mission," and the club members were called "Icebreakers." LINCOLN Working at a Catholic-owned hospital, Carleen Barger didnt expect a problem when she cited religious beliefs as the reason she refused a COVID-19 vaccination. But the veteran nurse found her beliefs under scrutiny as hospital officials weighed whether she qualified for a religious exemption to a federal mandate that health care staff get vaccinated. By the grace of God, it was approved, she told state lawmakers Thursday, adding: It was such a moral assault. Debra Chappelear, a social worker at an Omaha long-term care center, has yet to find out if her religious exemption request will be approved after going through extensive questioning about her beliefs. She knows one co-worker whose request has already has been denied, she said, while she and others are in limbo. They are facing a Feb. 14 deadline to start the vaccination process or be barred from the workplace. It is very stressful to have your job and your beliefs questioned, she said. We are all very worried that we are all going to be denied. The two were among several people who testified in support of Legislative Bill 906, introduced by State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair and named as his priority for the year. The measure, as introduced, would allow employees to be exempted from a vaccine mandate by filling out a state-produced form and declaring that they were refusing the vaccine because of their strong moral, ethical or philosophical belief or conviction. Earlier Thursday, Hansen introduced an amendment that would make several changes in response to various concerns raised over the last three weeks. The amendment would cover virtually all employers, not just those with 20 or more employees. It would apply only to the COVID-19 vaccine, not all vaccine mandates. It would provide for medical exemptions, with a written statement from a doctor or other health care provider. And it would require that employers provide exemptions to people who declare on a state form that the vaccine conflicts with their sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance. Hansen said the amendments language about religious belief, unlike the broader language of the original bill, matches federal law. Under both versions, he noted, employers could require unvaccinated workers to be tested regularly and to wear masks or other protective equipment. Dr. Gary Anthone, Nebraskas chief medical officer, testified in support of the amendment, while making clear that the State Department of Health and Human Services strongly supports COVID-19 vaccines. He said the requirements about testing and masks were important to ensure that employees could be in the workplace safely. Allie French of Nebraskans Against Government Overreach also supported the amendment, despite concerns that it would be trading one freedom for another. She said her group disagrees with allowing employers to make medical decisions for employees, such as through vaccine mandates, and has concerns about allowing employers to mandate masks and tests. The amendment was enough to satisfy most potential opposition. The Nebraska Hospital Association; the Nebraska Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes and assisted living facilities; and the Nebraska, Omaha and Lincoln Chambers of Commerce took neutral positions on the bill. Dr. David Watts of Omaha, president of the Nebraska Medical Association, spoke against the bill, even with the amendment. He said the organization takes issue with the idea of having the Legislature get involved in the management of private businesses, which include clinics and physician practices. Although the amendment would not prohibit employers from requiring vaccines, it would interfere with how those requirements are implemented. He said members also are concerned about setting a precedent for future public health crises. 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. A proposal to empower Nebraskas governor to appoint a majority of the members of the states two largest public power district boards was criticized Thursday as an effort to strip local control from voters. State Sen. Bruce Bostelmans plan, Legislative Bill 1046, would reconfigure the governance structure of both the Nebraska Public Power District and Omaha Public Power District, and allow the governor to choose the chief executive officer of each. NPPD ratepayers currently select all 11 members of its board of directors, but under the Brainard lawmakers plan, the board would be reduced to nine members beginning in 2024. Four of those members would be elected, one from each of four districts created to encompass NPPDs service area, while the other five members would be selected at-large by the governor. Three of the appointed members must live in rural areas, under Bostelmans plan. OPPD would be reorganized in a similar way, with four elected members and five appointed by the governor, and at least one of the appointees residing outside of Omahas city limits. The governor would also have the power to choose the chief executive officer for each utility. LB 1046 says the CEO would serve at the pleasure of the governor, while also following the direction of the utilitys board. Bostelman said that after the rolling blackouts caused by a February 2021 polar vortex, his intention was for appointees to include subject matter experts in power generation, transmission and distribution, or other experience in the power industry. Roughly 30% of public power board members across the country are appointed. Things are changing and theres huge challenges ahead, he told the Natural Resources Committee, where the bill was heard Thursday. We need to have a different way of putting people with that working knowledge, that skill set on the board. LB 1046 doesnt spell out what qualifications appointees would need to have Bostelman told the committee he didnt want the legislation to be too prescriptive which Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus said he believed would lead to the process becoming politicized. Every six years you could have a different governor and new board members, Moser said. What if its a governor you didnt like? Bostelman said the current system allows for a large portion of the board to have turnover, and said his proposal could shorten the learning curve for new members. We need board members to ask the right questions to make the right decisions, he said. No one testified in support of Bostelmans bill on Thursday, nor did anyone submit letters of support backing the plan. Opponents including the sitting CEOs of both NPPD and OPPD, as well as the presidents of smaller public power districts said the plan would create confusion among ratepayers, with the leader and majority of the board being accountable to one person. Tom Kent, the CEO of NPPD, told the committee that five members of the utility already have a background in the power industry, while others reflect ratepayers and voters in several different ways. The public has done a good job of electing people to represent them, Kent said. OPPDs president and chief executive, Javier Fernandez, said public power has served Nebraska well over the last century, ranking among the most reliable and most affordable in the country. Our history and track record does not warrant the governance changes under LB 1046, Fernandez said. Bostelmans plan would result in an enormous erosion of local control at the states two largest power providers, with the representatives of the customer-owners always representing the minority. Theres no accountability for appointed board members other than through the sitting governor, Fernandez added. Customer-owners must pay for the decisions of such a board without any ability to hold the appointed board members accountable. Neal Suess, president and CEO of the Loup River Public Power District the first public power district in Nebraska said the proposed changes at NPPD and OPPD wouldnt have a direct impact on local public power boards. A change in the governor could result in the change of board members to NPPD, which supplies power to Loup River Public Power District, and thus to the long-term strategy of all utilities, Suess told the committee. A board of directors of a utility needs to be able to adapt on the fly, but an ever-changing board of directors could create a new strain and expense on the utility and its customers, he said. The committee received nearly 90 letters opposing Bostelmans bill. Ed Schrock, a former state senator who now sits on the NPPD board, said there was merit to the governor having a say in who sits on the board, which he described as growing increasingly partisan due to out-of-state money flowing into elections. Its a good idea, Schrock said during the time for neutral testifiers. I hope you can incorporate some of it. The committee took no action on Thursday. Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS Debate in the Nebraska Legislature on a watered-down juvenile justice bill on Thursday turned fiery. Depending on whom you ask, the exchange could be an example of congressional campaign politics or the manifestation of differing views on the trajectory of juvenile justice in the state. State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, who is challenging Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry for his seat representing the 1st Congressional District, led the opposition to Legislative Bill 568 during floor debate. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, whos running for the same seat as a Democrat. Originally, Pansing Brooks bill wouldve required truant kids to be sent to diversion programs that concentrate on the root causes of absenteeism instead of having truancy as a status offense that requires action in juvenile court. The bill received the bare minimum number of votes it needed to advance to the second round of debate last year, signaling that more work was needed. Pansing Brooks said that over the interim, she worked with county attorneys to come up with a compromise that keeps the hammer of the status offense in place but requires them to first make every effort to send truant kids to diversion. The new version of the bill would still increase funding to support diversion programs throughout the state. Pansing Brooks said 70% of kids in the juvenile justice system end up in the adult criminal justice system and argued that the bill would save taxpayer money by keeping kids out of the justice system and getting them the help they need. Flood voted for the bill last year. In Pansing Brooks view, the only thing thats changed is campaign politics. It seems like the only thing thats changed, other than the fact that I got the county attorneys on board and have everybody else on board, the only difference is that weve both filed for a new campaign, she told The World-Herald. She said she was sorry it happened on this bill. I really am concerned about the fact this is on the backs of our Nebraska kids that this issue has come up, she said. But Flood said Pansing Brooks knows that he feels strongly about juvenile justice issues. To say its only about politics would be out of bounds. Yes, were both running for Congress, but at the end of the day, this was going to be a discussion we were going to have anyway, he said. What changed, he said during debate, was that he brought an amendment to address a juvenile justice issue last year that Pansing Brooks opposed. Flood thought that they were going to work on the issue over the summer, but he was never contacted, he said. Over the interim, Flood visited the local juvenile detention center. I did go talk to prosecutors, and I did go talk to law enforcement, and they are sick and tired of whats been happening with the juvenile court system and juvenile justice reform, he said. Past transcripts and records show that Flood did not propose an amendment to LB 568 or speak about it during debate last year. But he did bring an amendment on another juvenile justice bill Pansing Brooks sponsored, and he said during debate on that bill that Pansing Brooks had committed to hearing concerns from his district. He told The World-Herald that he got the two bills confused. Pansing Brooks has sponsored many juvenile justice bills. Flood said LB 568 is yet another example of how juvenile justice has eroded over time. But, he said, hes not organizing a filibuster on the bill, and he thinks that reasonable people can disagree on changes to the system. During debate Thursday, Flood argued that LB 568 is unnecessary. He talked about existing programs for truant kids in Madison County, where he lives, and cited opposition from the county attorney there. When are we going to start trusting prosecutors? When are we going to start trusting juries? When are we going to start trusting judges? he said. But he also expanded the debate to include opposition to what he and some other conservative lawmakers see as a broader trend in the states juvenile justice policy. When I served here before, these bills would never have come to the floor, he said. There has been a sea change in the way law enforcement has been regarded in this body. Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln and others also spoke more broadly about juvenile justice. Over the past five to six years, weve totally taken consequences for juvenile misbehavior out of the system, she said. And in doing that, weve handcuffed not only our law enforcement, but weve also done that with parents. Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha and others pushed back on Floods comments. Wayne said Flood made a great tough-on-crime speech. This bill adds money to make sure everybody can have access to the same programs that youre speaking of, he said. Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha said he would like to see the bill go further. The reason weve gotten to where we are now, the reason how we have always done things, is because people make fiery political speeches that are meant to make them look tough on crime because that is popular, he said. And our job is not to do popular; it is to do right. Whatever the origins of the debate, it may provide a view of whats to come this session. The Legislature is considering a slate of criminal justice reforms as it faces down the nations most-crowded prison system and rising recidivism rates. Are we gonna sit here this year and kick the can down the road without actually doing something about this? Sen. John McCollister of Omaha said. Im getting a little tired of it. Im thinking that those people running for governor and higher political office ought to deal with this issue instead of saying, Yeah, lock 'em up." 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. LINCOLN Nebraska on Friday became the latest state to call for a convention of states aimed at reining in the federal government. Legislative Resolution 14 passed on a 32-11 vote after supporters got enough votes to end a last-minute filibuster. The measure now heads to Congress and to the leaders of all other state legislatures. State Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings, who introduced the resolution and named it as his priority for this year, said the vote shows that the U.S. Constitution is working as intended. How they voted Heres how lawmakers voted on passage of Legislative Resolution 14, calling for a convention of states to propose amendment to the U.S. Constitution: For (32): Arch, Bostar, Bostelman, Brandt, Brewer, Briese, Clements, DeBoer, Dorn, Erdman, Flood, Friesen, Geist, Gragert, Groene, Halloran, B. Hansen, Hilgers, Hilkemann, Hughes, Kolterman, Lindstrom, Linehan, Lowe, McDonnell, Moser, Murman, Pahls, Sanders, Slama, Wayne, Williams. No (11): Albrecht, J. Cavanaugh, M. Cavanaugh, Hunt, Lathrop, McColliser, McKinney, Morfeld, Pansing Brooks, Vargas, Wishart Abstain (4): Aguilar, Blood, Day, Walz Absent (2): M. Hansen, Stinner "It's encouraging that we respect the Constitution and the intent of the founding fathers when it comes to states having equal footing with the federal government," he said. Article 5 of the Constitution provides for a convention called by the states as one way to propose amendments. The article requires that at least two-thirds of the states, currently 34, apply to Congress for such a convention to be called. The other method, and the only one to be used so far, is for Congress to put forth proposed amendments. Either way, the Constitution currently requires 38 states to ratify an amendment before it can take effect. The Nebraska resolution, like those from 16 other states, seeks a convention limited to proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress. Opponents argued that there would be no way to enforce those limits on the convention. As an example, they pointed to the 1787 Constitutional Convention. The gathering was called to revise the Articles of Confederation, which governed the fledgling United States of America. But the delegates ended up writing an entirely new constitution. Opponents also warned that there is nothing that spells out how the convention would be structured, including whether every state would have one vote or whether votes would be proportional to population. "The motivation for the convention is real and valid," said Sen. John McCollister of Omaha. "But there are simply too many questions outstanding." Several supporters of the convention idea watched the debate from the balcony, at one point bursting into applause before being admonished for making noise. Nebraska lawmakers first considered the idea of calling a convention of states in 2015, when then-Sen. Laura Ebke of Crete led the effort. Her resolution got out of committee but did not come up for a vote that year. The next year it was debated but did not advance. Halloran picked up the issue in 2019, after Ebke lost her bid for reelection. LR 14, introduced in 2021, was his second attempt on the issue, and it survived several near-death moments. The measure squeaked out of the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee at the end of last year, thanks to a vote-trading agreement. The resolution earlier failed to receive the 25 votes needed to be pulled out of committee for debate. Under legislative rules, that meant that the measure was dead. But Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk pushed a motion to revive it, arguing that he wanted to see the people of Nebraska get an up or down vote on the measure. And McCollister gave it the vote needed to get out of committee in exchange for Halloran's support on one of his bills. LB 14 cleared second-round debate this year after Halloran agreed to an amendment proposed by Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington. The amendment puts a Feb. 1, 2027, expiration date on the call. 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. We all live according to a narrative. The mental framework, that is, we each use to sort through the hubbub of news, discussion and daily life. Maybe the narrative is about politics. But it doesnt have to be. It can be about a relative, a friend, ones employer or a public institution. The narrative is our default, our automatic go-to in responding mentally or in some cases, emotionally to the world. Its the prism through which we make judgments and offer opinions. Under the narrative, we may frame politics: Our Team wages righteous causes against Their Team! Or the narrative may say that a certain relative will always act a certain way. Or that a certain company or government entity will always respond in an expected manner. But how much confidence can we really have in our narrative? I once knew a middle-aged fellow who was insufferably vain and selfish, a walking, talking embodiment of behavior I couldnt stand. Yet, contrary to my expectation, in a certain situation he showed admirable generosity. His actions made a positive difference in a persons life. And I learned something about the hazards of relying too rigidly on a narrative. Sure, its fine to have a narrative, but our society would benefit if people made their default positions more balanced, less dogmatic and more open to nuance and real-world contradiction. Consider this example. I follow an economic narrative I believe in strongly: Its crucial to appreciate the benefits of market forces in a capitalist economy. A freely operating economy promotes efficiency. It facilitates innovation. But do I take that narrative to its extreme should our society embrace an Ayn Rand-style dictum that encourages people to shrug off any social responsibility and unapologetically neglect those who are struggling? No. A society should promote an efficient economy as it simultaneously works, through public and private action, to ensure that all its people have stability and are shown respect. Its important to step back and question how rigid and unbending we should make the narratives that guide our thinking. Fortunately, individuals have a key tool for doing that: self-questioning. Many people eagerly insist that other people ask themselves hard questions about their views and themselves, the point being that people other people should stop and rethink their narrative. But isnt that an obligation for everyone, and not merely those with whom you disagree politically? Isnt it important for all of us, no matter how enlightened we might regard ourselves, to look inward and subject our assumptions and defaults to the same tests we see as imperative for others? It is. And that duty should be taken seriously. Self-examination needs to go beyond self-confirmation and self-congratulation. A friend of mine, South Dakota regionalist scholar Jon Lauck, recently pointed out the dangers of a mistaken narrative. Jon, one of the leading figures in re-energizing Midwest regionalist studies this century, noted how a widely accepted narrative in literary/academic circles has distorted how the rest of the country looks at the American Midwest. Jon devoted extensive analysis to this issue in his 2017 book From Warm Center to Ragged Edge: The Erosion of Midwestern Literary and Historical Regionalism, 19201965, published by the University of Iowa Press. He recently quoted from the book in a series of Twitter items responding to a New York Times article about Sinclair Lewis. The long-accepted narrative holds that noted Midwestern writers of the early 20th century figures including Lewis, Sherwood Anderson, Edgar Lee Masters and F. Scott Fitzgerald consciously turned their backs on their home region in a concerted revolt from the village. In a series of early works, its argued, those native sons expressed contempt for the Midwest as a center of provincialism, hypocrisy, shallow values and general backwardness. Literary critics and editors of the 1920s through the 1940s encouraged such disdain for the Midwest and, Jon argues, they erred by failing to note contradictory facts including public statements from some of the authors themselves that would have made for a more balanced narrative about the region. The point isnt that works by those authors made no criticisms of the Midwest its that a fact-based narrative, acknowledging additional, inconvenient literary truths, would provide a more nuanced and accurate understanding. Lewis, for example, supported Midwest regionalists such as Iowa novelist Ruth Suckow and praised the good sense of writers who returned to the region. Lewis, in fact, is buried in his hometown of Sauk Centre, Minnesota where Sinclair Lewis Days are now held each year. Jon cites interviews with Lewis, Anderson and Masters in the 1930s and 40s in which they expressed their opposition to the revolt from the village thesis. I didnt revolt against my village, Masters said. There never was anything to this revolt from the village business. Anderson echoed that view: Theres no such thing as revolting or rebelling or whatever it is they want to call it. Editors and critics of the era knew of those statements but rejected them as not supportive of the narrative they were determined to promote. We all have our narratives, our go-to assumptions and biases. Its OK to have such guideposts. Just make sure to keep them in proper balance. Its amazing how life can surprise us with complications and inconvenient truths. Geitner Simmons, a longtime student of Nebraska government, is a writer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a former World-Herald editorial page editor. Views do not represent UNL. Twitter: @GeitnerSimmons Email: gcolumn@gmail.com Tensions in Ukraine have reached a boiling point. As Russia continues its massive military buildup on the border of its neighbor, the State Department has ordered families of diplomats to leave Kyiv. NATO announced it is putting forces on standby and sending additional ships and fighter jets to NATO deployments in Eastern Europe. And yet many in the United States respond to these developments along the border of Russia and Ukraine with a collective shrug. Here, I address three common responses to the crisis. First: This is Ukraines problem. Its not worth American lives and we are tired of endless wars. This is a common and sensible response, but it ignores the many tools of deterrence other than U.S. military involvement in a hot war in Ukraine. Before an invasion occurs, we can arm Ukraine to the teeth to ensure any decision by Putin to invade is a costly one. We can provide world-class military advisers to help Ukraine prepare its defense. We can impose diplomatic and economic costs right now to signal that Russias coercive military build-up is unacceptable. Russia is not invincible Sen. Mitt Romneys recent barb that Russia is currently a gas station parading as a country reflects its middling per-capita GDP and negative population growth rate. That means that, if we act as a united front with our NATO allies, there still may be time to change Putins decision calculus. Second: We should be more concerned about our southern border than Ukraines. This is more political whataboutism than a real policy objection. As President Obama once noted, the federal government should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. There is no reason to think that wise and deliberate action in Ukraine will distract U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Texas and Arizona. Third: Where were you Republican hawks when Trump was appeasing Putin? The truth in this statement doesnt make it helpful. Trumps haphazard foreign policy undermined NATO at every turn. But President Biden promised that American is back, and I-told-you-sos wont further American interests or ensure Ukrainians safety and freedom of self-government. A Russian invasion of Ukraine would be nothing short of disastrous. It would lead to starvation and displacement of millions of Ukrainians. Thousands of civilians would die, since Russian forces have no regard for international humanitarian law (as theyve proven with indiscriminate bombing of hospitals in Syria). But the effects of a Russian invasion would also be felt throughout Europe and the world, directly threatening Poland and the Baltic States and unsettling global economies. President Biden was elected largely based on his promise to restore Americas standing in the world as a champion of freedom and democracy. Heres his chance to prove it but he has to act now. Jay Jackson is an Omaha attorney with a master of laws in international law. He also is a military veteran with six overseas deployments. President Xi Jinping extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to north China's Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, wished Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese healthier and happier lives in the Year of the Tiger, and expressed his hope that the motherland would increase in prosperity and strength. This year's Spring Festival falls on Feb. 1. Xi, as the Party's top leader, has for 10 consecutive years visited people at the primary level -- especially those from disadvantaged groups -- ahead of the Spring Festival, the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar and an occasion for family reunions. Xi on Wednesday visited the people of Fengnanyuan Village in Huozhou City, one of the places hit hard by floods last October. Xi learned about local post-disaster reconstruction, crop replanting, improvements to the local disaster relief and emergency response system, and measures to keep people warm in the winter. When he sat down with a family to hear about their day-to-day lives, Xi said that locals who have been affected by the disaster are often in his thoughts and that he chose the village as his first stop to see the reconstruction and recovery first hand. Xi stressed the need to dovetail reconstruction with rural vitalization, improve integrated river basin management, and improve the capacity for disaster prevention, mitigation and relief. Later that afternoon, Xi went to Duancun Village in Fenxi County. In a villager's home, Xi checked the kitchen, the bedroom and the sheepfold, and asked about the family's income and their life. Xi was pleased to learn that the family, after shaking off poverty in late 2016, has prospered through raising sheep and seeking work in other places. "The CPC's resolve to ensure all Chinese people live happy lives has remained unchanged for more than a century, and it will not falter," Xi said. Speaking in front of villagers at a local square, Xi said that the fundamental purpose of the Party is to strive to ensure people's happy lives. Noting that the goal of building a modern socialist country cannot be attained without the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, Xi urged efforts to consolidate the achievements of poverty eradication, advance rural vitalization, and improve people's lives. Touring Pingyao, one of the best-preserved ancient walled cities in China and a UNESCO world heritage site, on Thursday, Xi called for more efforts to conserve the country's cultural heritage and protect "the valuable treasure left to us by our ancestors." At a museum in Pingyao, he said the unique traditional Chinese culture should be promoted more to contribute to economic and social development and people's quality life. Dropping by souvenir shops inside the ancient walled city, Xi shopped cooked beef and vinegar as festive purchases for his family. People in China usually eat dumplings with vinegar. Xi even took part in vinegar-making in a workshop. He also visited a lacquerware shop and demanded cultural treasures such as the traditional lacquering skill be better protected. "We should promote traditional cultural industries with distinctive Chinese features to the rest of the world," said Xi. On COVID-19 response, Xi warned that the pandemic is still spreading worldwide and new features of transmission have shown. He told local authorities to stay alert, adopt science-based and targeted control measures and ensure people's safety and necessities. With the winter power and heat supply in mind, Xi on Thursday afternoon inspected a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years. There, he visited an intelligent fuel management center, a laboratory and a coal yard, among other facilities. "Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality are not something asked of us, but something we are doing on our own initiative," Xi said, adding that the goals cannot be achieved easily but efforts must be made immediately. He called for strengthening domestic energy production, ensuring the supply of coal and facilitating the clean and low-carbon development of the coal industry. Efforts should be made to accelerate green and low-carbon technological breakthroughs and continuously upgrade China's industrial structure to achieve the goals of carbon peaking and neutrality proactively and steadily, Xi said. The supply of power and heat is vital to the overall economic development and social stability, Xi said. He urged major enterprises, especially state-owned enterprises, to lead by example in maintaining the stability of supply and prices to ensure that people stay safe and warm in winter. Xi asked Shanxi to actively serve and integrate into the country's new development paradigm, coordinate COVID-19 containment with economic and social development, promote the steady improvement of people's lives, and continuously make breakthroughs in high-quality development. New leader I have been a faithful supporter of 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 within his fellow congressmen. He consistently gets reelected with large margins and returns to Congress every two years, seemingly content with being part of the pack. This fall, he was indicted on charges of lying to the FBI. The Republican caucus stripped him of all his committee assignments, leaving our district no representation on any congressional committees. He recently filed for reelection. 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 Russia and Ukraine President Biden, why are you pressing Russia over the Ukraine? They border Russia and are within Russias geopolitical sphere of influence. How would you like Russia meddling with countries bordering the U.S. within our political sphere of influence? Ukraine should not be encouraged or pressured to join NATO. And, Russia should be assured of this. No reason exists for Ukraine to be a NATO member. All we are doing is risking a third European war! Brandon Hahn, Elkhorn Nebraskas next governor Reading my tea leaves, I can see that Nebraskas next governor will be a member of the Democratic Party. The top Republican candidates for that office are too flawed. Democrat Carol Blood on the other hand, is a serious candidate who is qualified, and has a history of working for military families during her years as a Nebraska state senator from Bellevue. From all my years of observing politics, I can confidently call the 2022 governors race for Carol Blood of Bellevue. Ricky Fulton, Omaha Health and politics I do not understand how the Douglas County health director can issue a mask mandate and that is supposedly illegal, while the governor a politician can tell a hospital not to perform any non-emergency surgeries and that is legal. Im so glad that I live in a state where the government knows more than doctors. Ha! I believe in the science of medicine not the politics of ignorance. Governor Ricketts: take the politics out of my health. Cathy Christensen, Omaha Gun permits In their Midlands Voices (Jan. 18), State Sen. Tom Brewer and John Lott Jr. advocated for carrying concealed weapons without a permit. Theyre entitled to their opinion. But I bet if you asked the families of victims killed in all the mass shootings in America, they might have a different answer. A waiting period for a permit is a reasonable approach to help cool off some hothead who wants to shoot his boss and co-workers. And since most mass shootings happen with semi-automatic weapons, limiting their availability also seems reasonable. Senator Brewer and John Lott Jr., heres your chance to amaze us with your plan for reducing mass shootings. Go for it. Just one more thing: the ramifications good or bad of carrying a weapon without a permit wont be known for years. I sure the hope the 34 states that enacted the law know what there doing. George Mills, Omaha Prison coverage I want to commend Henry J. Cordes and extend appreciation for his in-depth investigative reporting on what has led to Nebraskas unfortunate nation-leading prison growth. (Nebraska Gun Law Sparks Nation-Leading Prison Growth, Jan. 9). It was exhaustively researched, very informative, and I value his and the World Heralds efforts to keep the public informed of local issues. I am sure many of your other readers also wondered what was the cause of Nebraskas chronic prison overcrowding. We are very lucky that we continue to have a newspaper that provides this service to our community. Kellye Rouw, Omaha COVID lawsuits The Nebraska attorney general and the governor really need to stop wasting state officials and employees time on stupid lawsuits against our own health departments. Governor Ricketts is wasting taxpayer money in order to grandstand. They hemorrhage money from our state budge that should be going to items like crime prevention and youth services. Douglas County Heath Director Lindsay Huse is focused on trying to control the spread of diseases that are hampering our communities stability; she deserves to be respected and supported in that effort. Threatening her office with a lawsuit is a waste of time and money, both of which should be used to address issues that can actually improve the living conditions of Nebraskans. Let the health departments do their job of caring for the residents of Nebraska without the threat of retribution from their own state government. Editors Note: Taylor Vidmar is a student in the Public Affairs Reporting program at University of Illinois Springfield. She is a reporting intern at the Capitol for Lee Enterprises. Illinois has, for decades, laid out a nutrient reduction strategy aimed at reducing the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous and other nutrients that run off into its waterways. The nutrient loss reduction effort is outlined in the regular Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Implementation Biennial Report, which showed this year that Illinois is far from living up to its goals, especially when it comes to runoff from agricultural fields. As a short-term goal, the state aimed to reduce nitrates and nitrogen by 15% and phosphorus by 25% by 2025, but the latest update showed that nutrient loss increased by 13% and phosphorus losses increased by 35%, compared with a baseline period from 1980 to 1996. Experts say a mixture of state policy shortfalls and the challenging nature of adopting new farming practices are contributing factors to Illinois inability to meet nutrient reduction goals. Some of the key agricultural practices to combat nutrient loss and help reach a longer-term goal of a 45% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus pollution are conservation tillage, testing the soil before applying phosphorus fertilizer, using the maximum return on nitrogen rate for nitrogen fertilizer, putting grass buffers on waterways, and using cover crops. Through cover planting in the fall, farmers can plant certain crops, like cereal rye, clover, and radishes, to protect from erosion, improve soil quality and reduce fertilizer runoff. These plants hold soil and scavenge surplus fertilizer during the early rainy months before cash crops emerge. Illinois farmers planted 1.4 million acres of cover crops in 2019, according to the report. This marked a 135% increase from 2011. But the report also showed that number should be 21 million acres in order to meet the EPAs nutrient loss reduction goals. Cover crops cost about $30 to $50 an acre to plant. Some require special equipment to plant and require planning and testing to be successful. A state program, called Fall Cover Crops for Spring Savings, offers a $5-per-acre discount on crop insurance, but demand for the program is far outpacing the availability even as its funding was doubled this year. But besides the costs, it will take a major cultural shift for more farmers to adopt cover planting, said Cliff Schuette, district sales manager in southern Illinois for Stine Seed Co. Some farmers fear that the soil alone wont provide enough nutrients to sustain cash crops like corn and soybeans, Schuette said. It can also be daunting to embrace new strategies when it seems like the old ones are working. In reality, he said, increased fertilizer use can facilitate soil loss. Most farmers lose anywhere from two to five tons of soil per acre each year, which is about the thickness of a dime. According to Schuette, this change might not be noticeable at first but can have lasting impacts on soil quality over time. Schuette works one-on-one with his customers to help them select the best cover crops. Basically, what I'm trying to do is mimic the prairie before we got here, he said. But fertilizer use is still necessary for many farmers, said Jeff Kirwan, who farms about 2,500 acres south of the Quad City area. Planting cover crops can also help fertilizers work more efficiently. I look at it as kind of a symbiotic relationship, Kirwan said. The cover crops provide us cover on the ground all the time. We're sequestering nutrients. We're holding nutrients so that when we do apply things, they don't immediately leave the farm. Other farmers like Kirwan are looking to maximize the effects of fertilizer application while still preventing nutrient loss and fertilizer runoff. Josh Sullivan, a farmer from Morrisonville, said 2021 was the first year he used a banding approach to fertilizer application instead of the more common broadcast method. Banding fertilizer is a more time-consuming method of spreading fertilizer all around the crops, so its actually in the soil as opposed to just on top of it. Broadcasting, the other more widespread method of distributing fertilizer, can lead to soil erosion and runoff, he said. In addition to preventing soil loss, there can be multiple other benefits for farmers planting more cover crops. Less fertilizer use means less pollution in the environment, and it also means money saved for farmers using costly fertilizers. Some farmers still might not see enough incentive to rethink their planting strategies. Inclement weatherlike this years rains, which caused many farmers to push back their harvestscan make it difficult for farmers to successfully grow cover crops, Kirwan said. Another obstacle farmers face is the amount of planning cover planting requires. Schuette recommends planning over a year in advance based on what cash crops will be planted in the future. Increasing government-funded incentives tied to crop insurance, Schuette said, could help encourage more farmers to increase their cover crop acreage despite these challenges. Thats something that lawmakers are trying to accomplish this year through Senate Bill 3471, the latest measure aimed at increasing resources for nutrient reduction efforts and extending the state programs that make up the bulk of the nutrient reduction effort. That includes increasing funding from $14 million to more than $25 million for conservation efforts by 2027. Though this isnt an issue that hits the front page, it is an important one and one that we should make sure we make a priority, Sen. Ram Villivalam, a Chicago Democrat who sponsors the measure, said of the program. Still, for many, the biggest challenge to overcome is their own mindsets. This has to change, and change is hard, Schuette said. But change is going to have to happen, otherwise, I feel that mandates will be coming down the road. Catie Gregg, agricultural program specialist for Prairie Rivers Network, agreed that participation in voluntary incentive programs, like the cover crop program, may not be enough to meet the goals in the NLRS. If we continue to not see improvements, or things are getting worse, as seen in the 2021 NLRS report, we will need to look at a broader range of strategies that may include both voluntary programs and requiring certain best management practices, Gregg said. Capitol News Illinois reporter Beth Hundsdorfer contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Editors Note: Andrew Adams is a student in the public affairs reporting program at University of Illinois Springfield who is a reporting intern at the Capitol for the State Journal-Register in Springfield. SPRINGFIELD - Off the southern coast of the U.S., there is an area six times the size of Rhode Island where every summer oxygen levels fall so low that it kills fish and plant life. Over the past five years, its grown. This dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico has caused between $552 million and $2.4 billion in damages, almost all of which could have been prevented by using farming techniques which rely less on fertilizers, according to a June 2020 report from the Union of Concerned Scientists. This dead zone is largely caused by nutrient runoff resulting from modern farming practices, which involve using fertilizers to introduce large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus to the environment. Its becoming more of an issue since the late 1960s or thereabout, said Richard Cooke, an agricultural engineer and professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There has been an increase in fertilizer use. Over the past 30 years, this, as well as other sources of pollution, have caused nitrogen and phosphorus levels in Illinois waterways to increase, according to data from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Nutrient movement in the environment is nothing new. Its a natural process that occurs everywhere there is soil and water, according to Cooke. Nutrients flow into water bodies. Organisms use this in their metabolic processes, Cooke said. Nitrogen and phosphorus are often the limiting factor for the growth of aquatic organisms, like algae and bacteria. When more of these are introduced, they start to grow and multiply, eventually depleting oxygen. When too much oxygen is depleted, the environment can become hypoxic, causing dead zones, like the one in the Gulf of Mexico. Anything that needs oxygen to live will need to move out of the area or die, Cooke said. Beyond the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, runoff can disrupt freshwater bodies in the state, like lakes, rivers and streams. Freshwater cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, can grow when excess nitrogen or phosphorus is introduced, such as from nutrient runoff. These cyanobacteria can produce microcystins, among other problems. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency monitors bodies of water in Illinois for these toxins, which they call harmful algal blooms. Then they can reproduce rapidly and create a bloom, then that's it, said Alex Terlep, an environmental protection specialist with the IEPA. Since 2015, there have been at least a dozen blooms which have enough toxins to be potentially hazardous to people each year, according to records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Microcystin is a hepatotoxin its a liver toxin, Terlep said. It can also cause skin rashes, irritation in your nostrils and lungs and at extremely high doses it can be a neurotoxin. The IEPA advises managers of water bodies with high toxin levels to limit public access to water bodies with harmful algal blooms, which can be ingested accidentally while swimming. These toxins can be fatal for small animals like dogs. Lowering nutrient levels A group in Illinois has been aiming to identify and implement techniques to lower the amount of nutrients in Illinois waterways. The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy is an initiative involving more than 25 state agencies and organizations, including the IEPA and Sierra Club. Cooke is working on new techniques which he hopes will be added to the strategy during the next update. The 2021 NLRS report outlined dozens of programs to reduce nutrient loss from agriculture, urban stormwater systems and individual sources of pollution. Potential solutions include planting cover crops in the offseason to reduce soil erosion, using techniques that dont require tilling the soil and changing the way fields are irrigated. Despite efforts, nutrient levels in Illinois water have generally increased in recent years, in part because of lower levels of implementation than the NLRS report suggested. Lawmakers are working on a measure, Senate Bill 3471, to increase funding for reduction strategies in an effort to bring the state closer to outlined goals. But there might be a new way to incentivize implementation of new techniques in the agricultural sector: big businesses paying farmers to sequester carbon to offset their emissions. My God, thats a big deal right now, said Mark Litteken, a farmer with 120 acres in Clinton County. Were getting ready to try to be part of a program where we can measure carbon sequestration. Major companies like Bayer and Cargill have started programs to pay farmers to implement new farming practices which capture carbon and improve soil health which also reduces nutrient loss. The company will pay U.S. farmers for implementing climate-smart farming practices such as cover crops or strip- or no-till, said Brian Leake, a representative of Bayer Crop Sciences. Bayers program pays $9 per acre per year for implementing these practices. Leake claims that more than 1,000 farmers around the U.S. are participating in the program. These two key practices lock carbon into the soil, helping with greenhouse gas reduction, Leake said. Beyond generating additional income for farmers, these climate-smart farming practices help enable growers to benefit from improved soil health, which could lead to improved yield, profitability and sustainability in the future. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A $10 million project funded by the USDAs National Institute of Food and Agriculture has been launched with the idea of improving diversification, sustainability and resilience on Midwestern farms. Exactly what that means is a bit fuzzy, however. The five-year study involves academicians from several universities in Midwestern states. They are working on setting up meetings with others in agriculture to determine, among other things, how farmers can lessen their reliance on a monocrop systems. I would like to have at the end of five years a vision of how policies can be changed, said Linda Prokopy, a horticulture professor at Purdue University. Maybe well find out that corn and soybeans really are the best fit. We may find that were completely wrong and everything is the best it can be. But I think we can do a lot better. The elusive so-called third crop could be pennycress, hemp or something else to rotate with corn and soybeans. One barrier especially with industrial hemp has been marketing. Thats something researchers will examine. Market development will be a big part of that, Prokopy said. Well experiment by setting up pilot markets for different crops. The project officially has six objectives. They include development of the agricultural value chain, modeling impacts of landscape scenarios on the ecosystem and looking at policy recommendations to establish conditions required for economic vitality. Among the official outline is the goal of having participants consider ethical choices and sustainability of outcomes. Prokopy acknowledges that some of the language is a bit cloudy. It has the potential to be pie in the sky, she said. Its pie in the sky in terms of putting everything aside and really visioning, then grounding it back in reality. How can we make those work? Another charge is the creation of sessions at the local, state and federal levels that allow participants to consider ethical choices and sustainability outcomes. That language is in there because we have brought in a couple of ethicists on the project, Prokopy said. I want to be able to facilitate stepping back from the conversation a little bit. Who do we want to be? This country is divided: red versus blue, vaccines versus no vaccines. Under that we all have similar goals. Having ethicists lets us guide a conversation to help people open up to think about what we should be doing. She described social barriers mentioned in the study as farming peer pressure. Thats about community norms, she said. Other farmers looking down on you, like in cover crops. Weve already seen that. Another example might be the reactions no-till practitioners first got when they left stubble in their fields instead of smoothly tilled soil. While Purdue leads the project, researchers from the University of Illinois, Iowa State University, the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin are also involved. There are several NGOs (non-governmental organizations) like the Practical Farmers of Iowa, Prokopy said. Its a really diverse group. There are some practical goals. They include looking at the effects of certain crops on water quality and the impact of reintegrating livestock onto cropland. We dont expect to diversify the Corn Belt in five years, obviously, Prokopy said. But we want to start to see a vision of the potentiality of a different landscape and determine what kind of policies could support that transition. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The supply chain issues plaguing the country have highlighted the problems inherent in the trucking industry. But hiring out farmers during the off-season may not be the answer. There are practical reasons why grain haulers arent typically used for other loads. That includes regulations as well as the physical makeup of farm trucks. Theyre not like box trailers or reefers that haul to grocery stores and other places, said Donna Stearns, owner of Hoploads, a company that matches drivers with loads. Also, farmers who have trucks with hopper bodies are usually only insured for a 50- or 100-mile radius. Stearns said it is not practical for truckers to lease out their rigs or themselves as drivers. Its a huge hassle to change everything over, she said. Farmers get a break on insurance, but can legally only go 50 to 100 miles from the farm. A lot of farmers arent going to lease their trucks out because they dont have rigs with sleepers; theyre for short runs. You might find a few of them trying to do that, but then they have to get licenses for every state. Thats not going to happen. Theres too much to do. Many short-haul trucking companies change loads and trailers according to seasonal needs. Thats the case with Eagle Valley Trucking in Illinois. This is our propane season, said Steve Johnson. The ag trucking that we do is anhydrous ammonia in the spring and fall. In the winter we convert those trailers over to haul propane. It seems that more farmers today have their own trucks than in the past, though they seldom lease them out to other trucking companies. We used to do a lot of grain hauling, said Den DeMeyer of Grayslake Feed Sales in northern Illinois. Now we pretty much haul commodities such as feed ingredients. We dont do much for farmers anymore. One reason is price. We dont haul for farmers because we cant charge them enough, DeMeyer said. Many of them own their own trucks and can do it cheaper. Stearns said rather than a major trucking shortage, he places the blame for the supply chain problem at the feet of federal regulations and even more restrictive ones in California. Theres not the big shortage that everybody thinks. Its because of the regulations on drivers, she said. There isnt really a driver shortage. Its because of California, with container shortages. And truckers get to the store and cant get unloaded. They sit and wait. The way the regulations are, they cant use that as (rest) time. Federal regulations limit truckers to 14 hours driving time less if they have driven the previous day. While not every company is experiencing trucker shortages, most agree that they do everything they can to keep the ones they have. Right now I dont any shortages, said Don Kutinello of A.G. Transportation Systems, based in Lombard, Ill. I have somebody in all my trucks. But they are getting harder and harder to find. DeMeyer has the same thoughts. Were doing all right, he said. But its definitely hard to replace drivers if you lose them. That is an issue. I dont think its a matter of pay. I think grass is greener elsewhere. People dont want to drive a truck anymore. Johnson of Eagle Valley does have a slight issue with staffing. We have two or three open trucks that we could fill, he said. We had a bit of a shortage this summer one guy who resigned and we hired someone in his place. Were keeping up right now, but when spring rolls around well probably be looking for more drivers. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MACON For Paul Butler, time spent in the field is the most fun part of farming. Much of what farmers do could be described as business management paperwork, taxes, marketing, and more said Butler, who farms in Macon and Logan counties. And all that work isnt nearly as fun as working in the field. The fieldwork, the actual act of farming, is a pretty small percentage of the work that we do anymore, he said. Soon, it might not be part of it at all. John Deeres fully autonomous tractor consists of its 8R tractor and 2430 chisel plow, combined with six pairs of stereo cameras and an advanced artificial intelligence system that allow the tractor to navigate itself. The high-tech vehicle emblazoned with the Moline company's iconic deer logo marks a massive leap forward for farmers, who will have a solution for improving yields and efficiencies. That could mean a shift in a crucial sector of the economy that generates billions for the state every year. According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the marketing of agricultural commodities in Illinois alone makes over $19 billion annually. Related industries like ag manufacturing and food production contribute additional billions to the state's economy. John Deere has long been a major contributor to Illinois' economy. The Fortune 500 company's world headquarters are located in Moline, providing numerous jobs in the Quad-City area. John Deere reported a worldwide net revenue of over $44 billion for 2021. One reason for the agriculture industry's push towards automation is that the demographics of farming are changing, said Stuart Birrell, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University. The average American farmer is getting older and farm workers' skill sets are changing. Well-calibrated machines can be more effective and productive than can humans, he said. "The modern combines and the modern tractors, they are so big and their performance so high that only a few of them need to be built," Birrell said. "You're really looking at a custom build, sort of like a Lamborghini versus just a normal run of the mill car." The real question, Birrell said, is will John Deere's autonomous technology prove worthy of such a high investment or become a liability for farmers? No one inside these vehicles Companies like Tesla Inc. have been developing and testing self-driving cars for decades. Tesla's autopilot technology currently allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road, similar to the autosteer features many farmers have in their tractors today. The main difference between most self-driving cars and John Deere's autonomous tractor is that the tractor requires no person inside. The fully autonomous 8R tractor must first be transported to a field and given coordinates to follow. From there, farmers can control the process via a smartphone app which allows them to start and stop the machine, monitor its progress, and adjust its speed and depth. The tractor can only till land; it cant autonomously perform other tasks like seeding or harvesting. Farmers could theoretically run the tractor 24/7 with it only requiring breaks every 8 to ten hours for refueling. John Deere, which declined an interview request for this story, said the tractor will be available for purchase later this year but did not specify when. The development comes as farms across the country experience sharp labor shortages, with 2020 census data showing increasing amounts of Americans moving away from rural areas. Self-driving tractors could eliminate some farms need for additional labor, said Andy Dole, a sixth generation family farmer from Mattoon. Without a doubt, this is going to have a huge positive impact on the employment issues, Dole said. Labor issues in farming have worsened during the pandemic as many other industries experience worker shortages. This makes any autonomous technology more attractive to farmers who cant find or cant afford to hire additional workers, according to Mattoon farmer Kris Heller. Being able to take somebody out of that seat and have them doing something else is a valuable asset, he said. For Deere, the self-driving tractor is marketed as a way to feed the world. According to Virginia Techs 2020 Global Agricultural Productivity Report, the global population is expected to grow to nearly 10 billion people by 2050. To feed that many people, agricultural productivity must also increase an average rate of 1.73% per year. In addition to meeting increased food demands, self-driving tractors also have a more personal appeal, Dole said giving farmers a break. Farmers are typically a breed that work themselves to death, he said. The ability to monitor a tractors progress away from the field could mean more time for family dinners or kids sporting events. That could reduce stress and improve the overall mental health and well-being of all farm laborers, he said. Still, some are hesitant to trust new technology. Part of that might be due age differences, Butler said. People whove been in the industry longer tend to be slower to adapt to new advancements. But farmers of all ages care about their machinery and might be skeptical of technology that John Deere says can detect and avoid obstacles. Anything from rocks to deer antlers could be half buried in dirt and could cause thousands of dollars in damage to equipment if not properly avoided, Butler said. Heller worries increased reliance on autonomous machinery could lead to the loss of valuable knowledge some farmers have been honing for decades. They know every problem area, every good spot, he said. They just know the ground that they farm and have farmed for years. Some family farmers also fear that new technology like John Deeres self-driving tractor might make it harder for smaller operations to compete with larger corporate farms. But even as the new tractor enters the market this year, many local farmers will probably still not be able to afford it, said Jack Bartholomew, Operations Manager at Bottom Line Solutions in Morton. John Deere hasnt released official pricing yet, but Bartholomew estimates a full system, complete with the 8R tractor, plow, and autonomous tech, will likely cost upwards of $700,000. John Deere has said the self-driving system will retrofit back on some recently-purchased John Deere tractors. Farmers might also run into repair issues with new, more complex systems, Bartholomew said. John Deere has in the past faced criticism for its controversial right-to-repair policies, which some farmers say make it more difficult for them to repair machinery on their own. It could take decades for autonomous tractors to become the new normal. Bartholomew still sells new autosteer systems to farmers across central Illinois, and the first hands-free autosteer tractor was introduced in the late 1990s. There's a curve for people who like technology, Bartholomew said. Then there's the next group that sits back to wait to see what happens. The financial outlook While some sit back and wait, investors continue to push the ag industry closer to an automated future. Venture capitalist firm AgFunder's 2021 Farm Tech Investment Report found that annual Investment in farm technology jumped from $1.1 billion in 2012 to $7.9 billion in 2020. A December study from PitchBook Data Inc. similarly found that investors put a record $1.54 billion into AI agriculture software companies in 2021, compared to $1.42 billion in 2020 and a combined $1.03 billion in 2018 and 2019. In just a few decades, farming could change dramatically. With industry giants like John Deere pushing automation, real-life farming might end up mimicking computer games like FarmVille, Bartholomew said. Who knows? You know, 10 to 20 years from now, there could be a couple of people sitting in an office in front of a whole bunch of computer screens, basically running (a farm), he said. Its that very idea that makes some farmers nervous, that the fun aspects of farming will become rarer. I think there's some fear of having that being taken away, Butler said. But Dole said he chooses to be cautiously optimistic. Innovation in agriculture is necessary to increasing food production and ensuring American farms can compete on the global stage. If our competitors are doing it, we're only giving ourselves a disadvantage by not at least giving it a shot, he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NORMAL When describing Bloomington-Normal, one might offer a variety of answers. It's the Twin Cities. BloNo. A great place to raise a family. It's a place where great things are happening just look at the millions of dollars major businesses like Rivian and Ferrero have invested in the community over the last year. "The biggest takeaway is that momentum is on our side," said Patrick Hoban, president and CEO of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council. "The numbers last year were better than expected when it comes to investments and projects in the pipeline. "We just need to make sure that we are capitalizing on the opportunities and preparing for the future." During a quarterly update on economic development in McLean County on Thursday, Hoban announced the EDC is launching a new branding initiative to take advantage of the region's rapid growth. Last year, 286 building permits were filed in McLean County, accounting for $268.9 million in investments. The number of permits is up from 172 in 2020, for a total $290 million investment. Hoban said the total dollar amount did not pass the previous year due because the size of the projects were smaller. And, while the region has not totally recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall unemployment in Bloomington-Normal is down, Hoban said. Data released Thursday showed Bloomington had a 3.3% unemployment rate compared to 4.3% across the state. Retail sales are also trending at a much higher rate than previous years, Hoban said. As the region continues to grow, the EDC wants to leverage its recent successes to build a unified brand that will help market the area to potential investors, Hoban said. To do that, the organization has contracted the New York City-based Development Counsellors International (DCI) to survey and analyze Bloomington-Normal residents to find out what makes the area so attractive. Over the course of the next five months, DCI will create a brand package which the development council will execute. "Our goal is to create a unified message amongst businesses and residents that we can champion to retain talent and attract new talent," said Hoban. Uniform tax incentives package During the Thursday afternoon presentation, Hoban said that a uniform economic incentive package is close to becoming a reality in the coming weeks. Under the plan, a company looking to locate or expand within the Bloomington-Normal Enterprise Zone could get between three to five years of property tax abatements The Bloomington-Normal Enterprise Zone spans parts of Bloomington, Normal, Gibson City and McLean and Ford counties. It was created by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in 2017. Local governing bodies, including Bloomington and Normal city councils, passed the uniform tax incentive package over the summer. It is now awaiting approval from the IDCEO, which Hoban said is expected to sign off on it in the next few weeks. Housing study coming soon Analyzing housing in the Bloomington-Normal area remains a top priority for the EDC. In recent months elected, city council officials from both communities have expressed a concern for affordable housing needs. Hoban said the EDC is planning to partner with the McLean County Regional Planning Commission and the chamber of commerce to conduct a housing study. Weve heard from multiple people that they would take jobs here if they could find somewhere to live," Hoban said. "There are a lot of housing projects going on. They are similar housing projects that are continuing from before. Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON The lawyer who represented a former Bloomington piano instructor on child sexual assault and child pornography charges has withdrawn from the case despite five more trials expected to be held for other alleged victims. Aaron M. Parlier, 40, was sentenced two weeks ago to 450 years in prison after he was found guilty in an October bench trial of 10 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a minor and 10 counts of child pornography production. Judge Casey Costigan granted defense lawyer Gal Pissetzkys motion to withdraw after about 20 minutes of arguments Friday, as the McLean County States Attorneys Office asked for the motion to be denied. A lawyer from the McLean County Public Defenders Office will be appointed to represent Parlier for the remaining trials. Parlier faces natural life in prison if he is convicted of an additional sexual assault of a minor charge. Pissetzky said the agreement between him and Parlier has concluded. He said Parlier has become indigent because he has been incarcerated since his 2018 arrest, and that his family, who has supported Parlier, ran out of money. Prosecutors accused Pissetzky of deploying delay tactics. The next trial was originally scheduled to begin Feb. 14, but that has been postponed to potentially start in April. A March 2 status hearing is scheduled to review the public defenders readiness for trial. Assistant States Attorney Erika Reynolds said the victim in the next trial objects to a continuance and wants to get on with her life, while raising the same concerns for the other four alleged victims. She said Pissetzky should have alerted the public defenders office sooner about withdrawing from the case. There is no way that the PDs office is going to be able to enter in this case today and be ready for trial in a month, so essentially, we are going to delay this case and start over, Reynolds said. Public defense lawyer Brian McEldowney later told the judge that for their office to do due diligence, they would prefer to review all of the pre-trial rulings and transcripts in the case. Prosecutors also scoffed at Pissetzkys plan to continue representing Parlier at the appellate court level on an appeal of his 450-year sentence from the first trial. The fact that he is going to continue to represent him on appeal shows how disingenuous this request is, Reynolds told the judge. Pissetzky, however, argued that the post-trial appeal has no relevance to future trials, noting it is handled at a different court level and jurisdiction. He said pre-trial litigation in the next trial still needs to be handled. I would have to prepare for it just as much as the public defenders office, Pissetzky said. Costigan acknowledged the competing constitutional rights: the victims assertion for a timely disposition and the defenses right to counsel. The judge said the public defender appointed to the case will have to come up to speed, noting the case has been pending for quite some time. McEldowney, of the public defenders office, said, Well do our best, your honor. Contact Kade Heather at 309-820-3256. Follow him on Twitter: @kadeheather 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. NORMAL The Red Note New Music Festival is returning to Illinois State University next month, bringing together student and professional composers and performers to learn and celebrate music composition. The organizers are glad to be back in person after doing an online festival last year, said ISU Associate Professor and Composer Carl Schimmel. Its been a long time without that, he said. The event brings together student composers from across the country with professional composers and performers for workshops, performances and a composition competitions spread across a week. The composers include ISU composition faculty members, along with guest composers. This year the guest composers are Missy Mazzoli and Bright Sheng. Sheng is on the faculty at the University of Michigan and Mazzoli was recently composer-in-residence at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Both are active composers and are prominent in the composing world today. Both of those composers write music that I think would appeal to a lot of people, Schimmer said. Mazzoli is looking forward to the opportunity to work with students from across the country and see what they are doing in composition and how she can help them, she said. Festivals like these give students a chance to go beyond working with just a few different professors, or even just one professor, at their own university, she said. I think its really helpful to work with as many teachers as possible for young people coming up, she said. The students attending Red Note will include graduate students and undergraduates, from as far away as the East Coast and Texas. Their application process, done back in October, included submitting a piece they had composed. The students will have a chance at the festival to workshop their pieces with Sheng, Mazzoli and the ISU faculty. Normally around 80 students apply for the workshop, Schimmel said. About one-tenth of the students are invited to attend. Helping them with the workshop, and performing the pieces in public concerts each evening during the festival, will be two guest featured performers h2 Saxophone Quartet and Hub New Music. The festival is focused on new music, defined broadly as anything being composed today. University of Iowa graduate student Wenxin Li said she likes to include extended techniques in her pieces, which allow the instruments to create sounds beyond their normal function like multiphonics. She wrote her piece for h2, and had never written for saxophone quartet before. For saxophone quartet, I always think of energy and fun, Li said. Writing the piece for a festival gives her a chance to work on her piece alongside the performers, something that is not always possible. At festivals, we can go there and talk to the performers ... I feel this collaboration is the most important part of the festivals, Li said. Ben Rieke, an undergraduate composer at Indiana University, said he has been interested in composing since he was in high school. Composing is the thing I like doing more than anything else, he said. He enjoys composing and going beyond the conventions that have been established in the Western tradition. The past dogmas of music have been broken down, he said, allowing composers to explore and create their own parameters for music, even including notation. Mazzoli likes writing music that builds on the classical tradition but uses the broader options available to composers today. Its about having the most wide, expansive palette at your disposal, she said. The festival runs Feb. 6 through Feb. 10 and includes free concerts at 8 p.m. every night. Most of the performances are in Kemp Recital Hall, with the Feb. 10 performance at the Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall. There will also be livestreams of the performances, linked at www.finearts.illinoisstate.edu/red-note. The students pieces will be performed by the guest performers on Feb. 8. Rieke is looking forward to having the chance to work with the artists at the festival and to be invited to join them. Its really encouraging to have your work noticed like this, Rieke said. Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter: @connorkwood Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ATLANTA Two $1,000 grants are heading down Route 66 this week to Lincoln and Atlanta. The Logan County Tourism Bureaus Mill Museum and City of Atlanta Tourism each were selected to receive grants as part of the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway program that aims to support events, marketing and projects that help preserve the states history of Route 66 and promote travel to the communities along its way. The Mill Museum was once a popular restaurant for Route 66 travelers, but today it houses collections from the former eatery as well as from The Tropics another former Lincoln restaurant and the Pig Hip Restaurant, which was located south of Lincoln in Broadwell before it closed. The tourism bureau plans to expand the Mill Museum by building a pavilion for events. An event with live music and food trucks would be great, especially on Sundays when many local restaurants are closed, the bureau told the Scenic Byway, which is a nonprofit organization. Atlanta looks to use its grant to mark part of its history that has largely gone untold: the African American Civil War veterans who chose Atlanta as their new home. The tourism department plans to create outdoor signage and an exhibit to portray their story downtown, growing the communitys already visible homage to the historic highway at Route 66 Park. The exhibit will include recognition of the veterans settlement, the first African American graduate of Atlanta High School Walter White in 1884 and the Atlanta Fair BBQ that commemorated the 12th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Oral histories will also be used to encapsulate recent Atlanta history and create an interactive experience detailing their stories, Whitney Ortiz, the citys tourism development director, told the Scenic Byway organization. These are important stories to tell, and Route 66 Park will be the place to include this in the mementos of Atlantas past and present, she said. Atlanta is no rookie to the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway program, having also received funding in the first round last July. The first grant was to be used for an Atlanta Coal Mining Co. Historic Mine project that would include the development of a coal mining exhibit for visitors see the mine shaft that was sunk in 1879. Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. China to end patent subsidies by 2025 Xinhua) 08:18, January 28, 2022 BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China plans to stop all patent subsidies by 2025 to help shift its intellectual property (IP) focus from quantity to quality. All types of financial aid for patent licensing should be reduced by at least 25 percentage points every year until they are canceled by 2025, according to a notice issued by the National Intellectual Property Administration. The patent policy is part of China's continuous efforts to eliminate the incidence of Chinese patent applications that can not protect innovation, sources within the administration said on Thursday. China has led globally in its number of patent applications for many years. But it has recently taken more measures to pursue high-quality IP development to boost the country's innovation drive. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) You are here: China The Chinese government fined 401 websites and online platforms for violations of laws and regulations in 2021, said the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) on Thursday. Operators of 5,654 websites and online platforms were summoned for inquiries in 2021, with 4,445 cautioned and 3,008 suspended from operating, the CAC said in a press release. The CAC also ordered 1,007 apps to be removed from app shops. The CAC worked with telecom regulators to withdraw operation permits and registrations or close down more than 17,000 websites, said the statement. CHICAGO - A 16-year-old on juvenile probation opened fire into a busy street after seeing a rival flash gang signs, hitting his intended target in the back but also shooting 8-year-old Melissa Ortega in the head while she crossed the street with her mother, Cook County prosecutors said in court Thursday. Emilio Corripio, a teen prosecutors said is a self-admitted member of the Latin Kings, then got back into a car driven by 27-year-old Xavier Guzman, and the two drove around to buy sandwiches and drinks without a care in the world, Assistant States Attorney James Murphy said. Both Corripio and Guzman were charged with murder and ordered held without bond Thursday by Judge Susana Ortiz. Guzman, an off-duty cabdriver, picked up Corripio in his distinctive cab the afternoon of Jan. 22 and the two began to drive around, Murphy said. When they saw two men at the corner of 26th Street and Komensky Avenue flashing gang signs affiliated with the Two-Six gang, Guzman drove into a nearby alley and stopped the car while Corripio got out, Murphy said. He fired multiple shots, hitting one of the rival gang members in the back. A man and his 9-year-old daughter were in a nearby car waiting for the Two-Six gang members to leave the area before getting out of their car, Murphy said. Their car was sprayed with Corripios bullets. And 8-year-old Melissa, who was crossing the street holding her mothers hand, was shot in the head and fell to the ground. This 8-year-old girls life is over because of this gang nonsense between these two defendants and the rival gang members theyre firing at, Murphy said, noting that the 9-year-old girl in the car could easily have been shot as well. Both defendants displayed utter disregard and pure callousness, he said. While the shooter was captured on video, his face is not clearly visible in the footage, Murphy said. However, video tracks the cab driving around the city after the shooting, and about half an hour afterward, Guzman and Corripio went into a Subway restaurant to order sandwiches. Video from the restaurant shows Corripios face clearly, and he is wearing the same clothing as the shooter, Murphy said. I would point to the utter disregard for human life and pure callousness that both of these defendants showed during these events, Murphy said. " After shooting that little girl in the head, what do they do? The drive to a Subway to get subway sandwiches. On the video they dont have a care in the world theyre laughing, theyre eating their sandwiches. Corripio is on intensive juvenile probation after pleading guilty to two carjackings and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, Murphy said. He is being charged as an adult. At a news conference announcing charges Wednesday, Pastor Matt DeMateo of New Life Community Church, who has been helping Melissas mother Aracelia Leanos shared a statement on her behalf. God gained an angel but I will always remember her infectious smile, Leanos statement read. To the aggressor. I forgive you. You were a victim too. As a 16-year-old, the community failed you, just like it failed my precious baby ... Words cannot describe the pain I am feeling. On January 22 I lost my greatest treasure in life. I lost my princess. She was the reason why I got up every morning. Leanos family was filled with dreams and had high aspirations when they moved to the United States, her mother said. We imagined a better life here. We came in search of the American Dream we so famously hear of but instead I get to live a nightmare for the rest of my life. Leanos pleaded that Melissas death not be in vain and that the community should be filled with sadness and anger too. How is it possible that a little girl dies in broad daylight? How is it possible that we can send men to Mars but we cant fix the gun violence in our city? her statement read. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 After 1,214 days in custody for the murder of Laquan McDonald, former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke is about to go home. The white patrol officers decision on Oct. 20, 2014, to fire 16 shots into McDonald as the Black teenager walked away from cops while holding a knife once seemed destined to alter the trajectory of a city long plagued by allegations of police brutality and a code of silence that allowed the routine trampling of the rights of citizens. And in many ways, the city Van Dyke will return to has changed. The mayor whose mishandling of the crisis helped derail a third term is gone now the newly minted U.S. ambassador to Japan. The Chicago Police Department has seen wholesale changes in leadership. Body-worn cameras are now the norm for beat cops, as it was a video of the teens killing that spread around the globe, and videos of shooting incidents that used to be kept under wraps are now released to the public as a matter of policy. A federal consent decree is in place with the hopes of ushering in even more reforms. But in other ways, Van Dykes prosecution has not turned out to be the watershed moment many hoped for. Progress on the consent decree benchmarks has been frustratingly slow. Trust between the police and the communities they serve is more frayed than ever. The union representing rank-and-file officers has become increasingly radicalized. There has been an alarming spike in violent crime for which city leadership has had few answers. Cara Hendrickson, a former assistant to the Illinois attorney general who helped draft the parameters of the federal consent decree, said that despite the hard work of many stakeholders to overhaul the Police Department, the city has come up woefully short in establishing a modern system of police accountability, including early intervention programs to get support and training to officers in need and identify and discipline problem officers. Not nearly enough has been done to ensure that there will not be another Jason Van Dyke, said Hendrickson, who is now the executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Business and Professional People for the Public Interest. Randall Samborn, a former spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys office who made an early pitch for a federal pattern and practice investigation of Chicago police, said its way too soon to tell what the final legacy of the Van Dyke case will be, particularly in deterring unjustified use of lethal force. Right now, the city is in a kind of quagmire of reform, said Samborn, who now heads his own consulting firm, Randall A. Samborn & Associates. The consent decree will continue to plod along for years. With Van Dyke, people can reasonably differ over the length of his sentence and whether he should be released early, but his prosecution and conviction are what was important in setting a standard of accountability. Exactly where Van Dyke has been serving his 81-month sentence has been shrouded in mystery, and prison officials have declined to comment on his release, citing an interstate agreement allowing other jurisdictions to house high-profile prisoners in secret. McDonalds relatives, however, have said they were notified by authorities that the former officer was to be released Thursday. McDonalds killing, like many prior shootings by Chicago police, barely made news when it happened. But when gruesome dashcam video of the shooting was ordered released more than a year later, it sparked a firestorm of protests, prompted the firing of then-police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, and allegations of a City Hall coverup by Mayor Rahm Emanuels administration. Van Dyke became the first Chicago police officer to be charged with murder for an on-duty shooting in half a century, and the fallout continued. A team of special prosecutors led by then-Kane County States Attorney Joseph McMahon was appointed to handle the Van Dyke case; then-States Attorney Anita Alvarez lost her primary bid to Kim Foxx, who ran on a platform heavily criticizing Alvarezs handling of the McDonald shooting. The allegations against Van Dyke were in many ways a harbinger for other cases nationwide that put a spotlight on the excessive use of force by police on Black citizens, most notably the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis that led to nationwide unrest in the summer of 2020. Convicted by a jury in October 2018 of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, Van Dyke received a relatively lenient sentence of 6 3/4 years behind bars, a term made even lighter by a procedural technicality that made him eligible for a 50% reduction for good behavior. Van Dyke in 2020 withdrew his appeal, meaning his release will close the final chapter in the case. Though it was widely reported at the time he was sentenced, Van Dykes projected release date of February 2022 seemed to catch many by surprise as it grew closer. Activists are planning a Feb. 3 rally in Federal Plaza and have announced their intention to try to shut down parts of downtown in protest. In recent weeks, a cadre of Black leaders, including Rev. Jesse Jackson and U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, have joined some members of McDonalds extended family in calling on the U.S. Justice Department to bring federal civil rights charges against Van Dyke that could land him back in prison. At least one person on the jury that convicted Van Dyke thought the sentence he received was too lenient. Charlene Cooke, who was the only Black person on the panel, told the Tribune this week she thought it was a slap on the wrist. To me, its an insult to the jurors and the time we spent (during the trial), Cooke, a 63-year-old retired FedEx driver, said in a telephone interview. Its an insult to the family, like Laquan McDonald meant nothing. McDonalds great-uncle, Rev. Marvin Hunter, said that while he believes Van Dykes sentence was legally improper, most of the family does not support the effort to bring Van Dyke up on new charges. My hope is that Jason Van Dyke went to jail and was rehabilitated, he told the Tribune in an interview last week. I hope he becomes a better man If he gets 1,000 more years its not going to bring Laquan back, so we would be better served as a country and as a people if he became better. Our family, were not victims, and were not going to live our life as victims. We want to be better and not bitter. Choice I will live with forever Van Dyke, 43, was last a free man on Oct. 5, 2018, the day the jury found him guilty after about 7 hours of deliberations. After Cook County Circuit Judge Vincent Gaughan ordered him immediately taken into custody, Van Dyke said his goodbyes to his wife and family, then put his hands behind his back as sheriffs deputies escorted him to a lockup behind the courtroom. Three months later, Van Dyke was back in Gaughans courtroom for his sentencing hearing, which featured hours of often-tearful testimony from Van Dykes relatives and supporters as well as emotional accounts from purported victims of his abuse during his police career. Toward the end of the hearing, Van Dyke himself stood and said the day he shot McDonald was the worst of his life. The last thing I wanted to do was to shoot Laquan McDonald, he said, head bent as he read from a piece of paper. It is a choice that I will live with forever. One witness called by the prosecution wept uncontrollably on the stand as he described in detail how Van Dyke allegedly brutalized him after a traffic stop in 2007. The man required two surgeries after Van Dyke threw him down to the floor in the back seat of a squad car, he said, and he still had not regained full use of his arms. McMahon told the Tribune this week that he recalled that witness breaking down emotionally in the hallway outside the courtroom, afraid to testify. I needed the judge to hear about how Van Dyke had treated other people, McMahon told the Tribune. I know how difficult it was going to be for him to testify in open court. And I think it was probably damaging to him to have to go in there and testify, (but) to tell as much of the story of Jason Van Dyke as possible, I felt like I needed to put him on the witness stand. Prosecutors had asked Gaughan for a sentence of 18 to 20 years on aggravated battery, which would have required Van Dyke to serve about 85 percent of the term. Van Dykes defense, by contrast, argued that he should be sentenced only on the second-degree murder, which carries a sentence of probation or four to 20 years in prison, with the possibility of day-for-day credit for good behavior. Gaughan sided with the defense in making a key finding that dramatically reduced Van Dykes exposure, ruling that second-degree murder was actually the more egregious of the two charges and should be the one Van Dyke was sentenced on, even though a previous state appellate ruling had found the opposite. Is it more serious for Laquan McDonald to be shot by a firearm or is it more serious for Laquan McDonald to be murdered by a firearm? Gaughan said in explaining his reasoning. Common sense comes to an easy answer on that in this specific case. When he announced his sentence, Gaughan said he expected 100% of those in the courtroom to be disappointed. Afterward, Van Dykes lead attorney, Daniel Herbert, said his client truly felt great. He was not just relieved, he was happy, Herbert told reporters after the sentencing. Its the first time Ive seen the guy honestly since this whole ordeal started where he was happy. Hes certainly not happy about going to jail. Hes certainly not happy about missing his family. But hes happy about the prospect of life ahead of him. In his recent interview with the Tribune, McMahon acknowledged that for Van Dyke to be released less than four years later can be difficult to accept for some. But any time in prison is difficult, no matter how short the sentence particularly for an ex-cop, McMahon said. I dont think (Van Dyke) had an easy sentence, he said. And I understand people wish that his prison sentence was longer but I think - what I said three-plus years ago now was that with the passage of time, hopefully what people remember about this case is that a police officer can be and will be and was held accountable for his crimes in this case, for the killing of Laquan McDonald, and thats what I hope people will remember. Prison time After the January 2019 sentencing, Van Dyke was transferred to a downstate prison for a few weeks, where he was held in isolation as a standard security measure. In early February, Van Dyke was moved to a federal detention center in Danbury, Connecticut for unexplained reasons, his attorneys said. Shortly after he was processed at the medium-security facility and moved into the general population, several people attacked him in his cell. My No. 1 fear for my husband has always been his safety, it always has been that somebody is going to get him and hurt him, and the worst has happened, Van Dykes wife, Tiffany, told reporters at the time. Van Dyke was put into a segregated unit after the attack, his attorneys said. Federal prison records show Van Dyke was released from federal custody in November 2019, again for unexplained reasons. News reports stated he was transferred briefly to a state-run facility in Maryland, then again to an undisclosed location. For the next two years, he was off the radar. An Illinois Department of Corrections spokesman declined to say where Van Dyke was being held, citing an interstate agreement where high-profile prisoners can be kept off databases of inmates available to the public online. Jason Van Dyke remains under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Corrections, but is not in our custody, the agency said in an emailed statement last week. For safety and security purposes, the Department does not discuss details concerning individuals who have transferred under the terms of the Interstate Corrections Compact Agreement. The only indication of where Van Dyke may have spent prison time in Illinois comes from a two-page release order from the Prisoner Review Board, the government agency responsible for scheduling a prisoners supervised release program. The document, obtained by the Tribune through an open records request, stated Van Dyke had been at the Taylorville minimum-security prison near Springfield as of September 2021 when the order was signed. Van Dyke must now complete his term of mandatory supervised release, Illinois version of parole. The only requirement marked on the review boards form was that he participate in a cognitive behavioral therapy program a common measure aimed at reducing recidivism. Trying to move on with his life In light of the relatively lenient sentence, Van Dykes attorneys backed away from their promises to appeal his conviction. But not long afterward, McMahon and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who had just begun his first term, decided to bring the case directly to the state Supreme Court. Gaughans sentence relied on improper legal reasoning, they argued. Since Illinois law makes aggravated battery with a firearm the more serious offense, the state Supreme Court should order Gaughan to resentence the ex-patrol officer on those convictions instead. The states highest court declined to hear the petition by a 4-2 vote. No explanation was given for the courts refusal to hear the case. But the decision fell largely along political lines, with the courts three Republicans joining Anne Burke, a Democrat who is married to longtime Chicago Ald. Edward Burke, a onetime Chicago police officer who is facing federal corruption charges. The two dissenting judges both noted that Gaughan made his ruling relying on a dissenting opinion that stated the exact opposite of the majority, and the majority opinion is the law of the land. McMahon speculated in his recent interview with the Tribune that Van Dyke chose not to pursue an appeal in part because an appellate court could have chosen to kick the case back for a re-sentencing. I think the prospects of getting the conviction overturned were extremely low and the risk of being sent back to the trial court for resentencing were much higher, he said. Jennifer Blagg, one of Van Dykes attorneys, disputed that, saying that if prosecutors had tried to argue Van Dykes sentencing as part of the appeals process, they would not be on solid legal ground. Van Dyke formally dropped his appeal in the fall of 2020, before the case had been fully briefed. Hes trying to move on with his life and move forward, Blagg told the Tribune at the time. He thought it was in the best interest of all the parties involved, including the McDonald family, that there be some finality. A federal look As the drama of the criminal case against Jason Van Dyke was unfolding before the public, another probe into McDonalds shooting was going on behind the scenes, with the U.S. attorneys office and FBI looking into filing possible charges against Van Dyke and other officers involved. Then-U.S. Attorney Zachary Fardon took the unusual step of confirming the investigation in April 2015 seven months before the release of the dashcam video that would force the hand of the Cook County states attorneys office to move forward with charges against Van Dyke. Fardon confirmed that the investigation was still ongoing in September 2016, nearly a year after Van Dyke was charged with murder. It remained active at least until 2019, when prosecutors asked a federal judge to keep a search warrant related to the probe under seal until the investigation was complete, which was estimated in the filing to be August 2019, court records show. No federal charges were ever filed in the case. Last week, several prominent Black leaders cited the case against former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was charged both in state court and federally with Floyds death, in renewing calls for the U.S. Department of Justice to go after Van Dyke. Though there is no statute of limitations to bring a civil rights case involving a fatality, it would be exceedingly rare for the U.S. Attorneys Office to charge Van Dyke now, given his conviction and sentencing for the same incident in another jurisdiction. A spokesman for U.S. Attorney John Lausch declined to comment. Blagg, one of Van Dykes attorneys, told the Tribune this week justice isnt served in the court of public opinion, justice is handed out in a courtroom. Jurors heard Jasons case. A judge gave Jason his sentence. And even if you dont agree with it, you have to appreciate the long-term consequences of what youre arguing for, she said. Arguing that someone should be charged by the feds because you dont agree w the judges sentencing decision could have far-reaching consequences in our society. Hunter also told the Tribune he feared that charging Van Dyke twice for the same set of actions could set a bad precedent. Most of the family does not support further charges against the ex-cop, he said. I am not an advocate for Jason Van Dyke, he has not asked for forgiveness but am I going to live my life harboring hate? Hunter said. The answer is no. I dont. And my family dont. If politicians and activists wanted to help, they should have supported Raouls push at the state Supreme Court to re-examine the sentence Gaughan handed down - instead of pushing for Van Dyke to be imprisoned again for something separate, Hunter said. If a man serves his time, he needs to be freed, Hunter said. If were going to be a civilized society we must follow the doggone laws and have them work for everybody the right way. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 EDWARDSVILLE Jeffery Hebb fought back tears Thursday as he talked about the last moments of his daughter's life. His daughter, Etheria S. Hebb, 34, of St. Louis was one of six workers who were killed when part of the roof and walls collapsed when a tornado hit an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville on Dec. 10. "She didn't worry about whether the job was safe or not," Jeffery Hebb said after he described how his daughter was happy to get a job at the warehouse. "She didn't think that she would leave the house and go to work and never come back." Watch now: Pritzker talks about building standards following Amazon warehouse collapse BELLEVILLE Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois lawmakers will consider whether there should be statewide standards for warehouses following a t Hebb spoke during a rally organized by the Missouri Workers Center, a group that fights for workers' rights. About 100 people gathered on a street in front of the damaged Amazon warehouse. Speakers called for safe working conditions and the creation of unions for Amazon and other non-union employees at companies nationwide. "Amazon was supposed to keep them safe," Hebb said of the workers. "They didn't do that. They should have shut the plant down to make sure these workers were safe." After the rally, participants said they want building codes to be changed to require warehouses to have an emergency shelter or basement to protect workers. Amazon officials previously have said that the building was built to meet code and that workers were instructed what to do during emergencies. The company also has said it will cooperate with all investigators reviewing what happened at the Edwardsville warehouse. "Our focus continues to be on supporting our employees and partners, the families who lost loved ones, the surrounding community, and all those affected by the tornadoes," Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said an email after the rally. Arnetra Rhodes, 18, who is a cousin of Etheria Hebb, said she works part-time at an Amazon warehouse in St. Louis County. She said during the rally that Amazon should improve working conditions for warehouse employees. "We're just somebody to get them rich," she said of the company officials. Amazon should have a "safehouse" inside warehouses where workers can take shelter. "We need to be protected," Rhodes said. Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday commented on standards for warehouses: "The question is, with all the warehouses that are being built or have been built, should we be setting a state standard for that? That's something that no doubt will be explored during this session of the General Assembly." Pritzker did not say specifically what lawmakers would review. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, opened an investigation that will review whether Amazon had a "proper emergency action plan," U.S. Department of Labor spokesman Scott Allen said in an interview in December. The agency does not review building codes. Warehouse building code The Rev. Darryl Gray of the Greater Fairfax Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis said the Progressive Baptist State Convention of Illinois is seeking to talk to Pritzker about workplace safety. "We do have to push the legislators," Gray said in an interview Thursday. Gray said the building code in areas where tornadoes occur needs to be changed. "When we're talking about these types of environments, in these geographical areas, minimum standards have got to factor in natural disasters," he said. Gray said the warehouses should have a "hardened shelter or at least a basement." He urged Pritzker to review "what was done and what could have been done differently to avoid the tragic deaths that occurred." Once the solutions are identified, the changes must enacted into law, Gray said. Terrence Wise, who works at a McDonald's restaurant in Kansas City, said he traveled to the Edwardsville rally as a supporter of the Missouri Workers Center. "Workers need more than just more money," he said in an interview after he spoke during the rally. "We need a union. We need a seat at the table. "Some people get hyped up about sports," he said. "I get hyped about dignity, righteousness and justice. It's important that we come together in a nation that is so divided. We have to find a common ground." The Missouri Workers Center, which says it aims to help low-wage workers fight racism and "win economic justice for all," is a nonprofit group formed in March 2021. Along with Etheria Hebb, the tornado claimed the lives of Clayton Lynn Cope, 29, of Alton; Kevin D. Dickey, 62, of Carlyle; Austin J. McEwen, 26, of Edwardsville; DeAndre Morrow, 28, of St. Louis; and Larry E. Virden, 46, of Collinsville. The group said workers at the facility "have reported that they had not been adequately trained on emergency procedures and that the company failed to warn them about the tornado, even as it approached." An Amazon spokeswoman has previously said Amazon workers do get "emergency preparedness" training and that managers took action to protect workers on the night of the tornado in Edwardsville. A wrongful-death lawsuit filed earlier this month alleged Amazon management directed McEwen and the other five people who were killed to shelter in a bathroom. The company "knew or should have known that this location would not protect them," the lawsuit stated. The workers died when the roof and walls of the south side of the 1.1-million-square foot building collapsed when struck by an EF-3 tornado that had winds up to 150 mph. The building had an interior place away from windows for workers to gather on the north side of the warehouse but this part of the building was not constructed any differently than other sections of the building, Amazon officials have said. Thirty-nine workers went to the "shelter in place" location on the north side while seven others were on the south side. One of the seven was rescued from the rubble. The warehouse is at 3077 Gateway Commerce Center Drive South near the intersection of Interstate 255/Illinois 255 and Interstate 270. Those who worked at the damaged warehouse were Amazon employees and employees of companies that contract with Amazon. In a statement before the rally, the Missouri Workers Center raised several issues regarding workplace safety. The group said it wants Amazon to end a ban on cellphone use. Nantel previously has said there was not a ban at the warehouse and employees were allowed to have cellphones. The group also cited a Washington Post article that reported Amazon warehouses had a rate of serious injury incidents that was nearly double the rate of other warehouses in recent years and that critics blame "productivity pressures." The Post, which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, reported that Bezos told shareholders that "We don't set unreasonable performance goals." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The value of mobile money transactions between 1 January and 24 January this year amounted to GHC75 billion, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, has said. Speaking at a government town hall meeting on the E-Levy held on Thursday (27 January 2022) in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, Owusu-Ekuful said: Today, as we speak, [looking at] mobile money transactions from 1 to 24 January, 33 million transactions have been conducted this year alone, amounting to a value of over GHC75 billion. She said the E-Levy on such transactions will help the government improve its ability to generate revenue to develop Ghana. We need to finance our development agenda and stop depending on loans and borrowing from other countries if we are to be truly independent, the minister said. Unfounded fears The Communications Minister argued that Ghanaians have no cause for alarm about the E-Levy, because it will help raise the revenue Ghana needs to support its growth. She argued: The E-Levy is being introduced at a rate of 1.75%. In other countries, digital taxes are being introduced to the tune of 10% and we travel there to seek loans for our development and to borrow. In 2020, the Communication Service Tax (CST) Amendment Act was passed to reduce the rate from 9% to 5%. When the CST was introduced, it faced similar opposition [to what] we are seeing currently and the current Speaker dubbed it a talk tax the NDC and the [telecommunications] industry, led by the GSMA [Global System for Mobile Communications] data, claimed it would damage the growth of the telecommunications industry, as consumers would change their mobile communication habits. This did not happen; they were unfounded fears, Owusu-Ekuful said. Journey to entrepreneurship The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has also said the introduction of the Electronic Transactions Levy will help kick-start Ghanas journey towards a flourishing, entrepreneur-led economy. He said he believes the E-Levy can help increase Ghanas tax-to-GDP ratio, explaining that proceeds from the new levy will be used to support the governments key entrepreneurship-centred initiatives, such as YouStart. The E-Levy is intrinsically linked to the YouStart initiative. We consider the E-Levy an essential tool to increase our tax-to-GDP from around 13% to 16% and above. The E-Levy would not only ensure that we do not crowd out the private sector, by reducing borrowing, but would also ensure that we have the revenues to sustainably invest in entrepreneurship, youth employment, cybersecurity [and] digital and road infrastructure, he said. The minister was speaking at the 73rd annual New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana, Legon, on Wednesday (26 January) on the theme COVID-19 and Socio-Economic Dynamics in Ghana. The E-Levy also provides a means for all Ghanaians to help support their country and grow, Ofori-Atta said. Source: asaaseradio.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Government of Ghana has through the Trade and Industry Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rwanda to deepen bilateral trade relations between the two countries. Speaking at the signing ceremony of MoU on trade and economic cooperation at the Africa Trade House on Thursday January 27, the minister of Trade Alan Kyerematen expressed optimism that the agreement signed will develop into a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries. He noted in his speech the significant role Rwanda has played in some of Africas business-oriented policies including the establishment the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). You would recall that the formal decision to establish the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was taken at the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Accra in July 2012. In the same vein, you will recall that it was at the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the AU Assembly of Heads of State held in Kigali in March 2018 that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement was signed, he observed. The Minister, whiles acknowledging the seemingly low level of trade between Ghana and Rwanda despite their good relations over the years, indicated that he hoped the signing of the MoU will change that narrative. Despite the long-standing fraternal relations between our two countries, the level of trade between our two countries is very low. The same phenomenon applies in the area of investments. It is against this background that this Memorandum of Understanding is being signed, to develop new strategies and implement measures that will significantly enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation between our two countries. Ghana already has a Bilateral Air Service Agreement with Rwanda signed in 2018, which permits airlines from our two countries to operate commercial flights between Ghana and Rwanda to boost transport connectivity. We envisage that through this MOU, Ghana can become an entry point for Rwandan investments within the West Africa sub-region whilst Rwanda on the other hand, can become a strategic entry point for Ghana into the Central and Eastern African Markets, he added Other prominent dignitaries present at the signing ceremony included Hon. Beata Habyarimana, Minister for Trade and Industry of Rwanda and Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, High Commissioner of Rwanda to Ghana. 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 National Association of Registered Midwives of Ghana, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nursing and Midwifery Council to pay for renewal of PIN for its members in 2022. Speaking to the press, Miss Mary Ofosu, President of National Association of Registered Midwives Ghana (NARM-GH) explained that initially, members were paying for PIN renewal themselves but this time round, the Association has taken it upon itself to renew for it members in other to motivate them to do their best in their field of practice hence, the signing of the MoU. The President pointed out that, she became convinced and satisfied with whatever was written after going through the document leading to the signing of the agreement with the other Executives. Miss Mary Ofosu,urged all NARM,GH members to download the NMC mobile app and upload their required CPD points to make the process very fruitful. She advised all midwives to exhibit higher level of professionalism in the field of midwifery thereby giving their best and provide holistic care to clients. She called on Clients who visit health facilities to always observed all the necessary COVID-19 protocols likewise the midwives saying, when it comes to social distances, it does not work on them but said, that does not mean they should not protect themselves. Commenting, the Registrar of National Midwifery Council, Mr. Felix Nyanteh applauded the Executive of National Association of Registered Midwives of Ghana for taking such a bold initiatives to renew the Professional Identification Number for members. He averred that, the initiative would go a long way to help give members the full mandate to work. The Council he mentioned, has opened it's doors for everyone and therefore, they can walk in anytime they have challenges as an Association. He pledged on behalf of the Council, their preparedness to support all practicing Nursing and Midwives Nationwide saying, they look forward to expect more fruitful partnership and deliberations in the coming years. The General secretary for National Association of Registered Midwives Ghana, Mr. Harrison Ampaabeng on his part said, in the field of practice, when it comes to Nursing and Midwifery, they are given Processional Identification Number (Pin) which is to renewed every year. He revealed that, the Association as part of the rollout policies for 2022, promised to renew Professional Identification number for all members hence, the signing of the MoU with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Mr. Harrison Ampaabeng however indicated that, the payment of Professional Identification numbers commenced for 2022. Mr. Harrison Ampaabeng cautioned all NARM,GH members working with an expired PIN in the previous years to renew it before the association renew that of 2022. He further explained that Some midwives PIN has expired 2 to 3 years ago. If we start the roll out and you owe NMC, when you submit your details to the council your PIN would not be renewed because of your outstanding depth in previous years. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) for National Association of Registered Midwives Ghana (NARM-GH), Rosetta Ntriwaah Boakye appealed to all NARM,GH members in good standing to clink on the link below and submit their details. https://forms.gle/fkZhoKwqDSf11qHo6 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 Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, Governance Lecturer at Central University, has bemoaned the culture where Ghanaians ignore danger just to shoot videos for social media. He expressed worry over this trend which has caught up with lots of Ghanaians that would see them rather walk into a life-threatening incident to be the first to break the news at the expense of protecting their lives. He was commenting on the Apiate explosion that claimed many lives and caused hundreds to sustain serious injuries. A disturbing video showing some residents in the community and nearby places thronging the scene where a mining truck carrying explosives had caught fire with the phones on as they walked right to their death surfaced on the internet, particularly TikTok. The truck driver is reported to have warned the residents against the danger ahead and asked them to run away before the explosion happened, but they refused to heed his warning and intead sped to the scene only to be engulfed in a massive explosion that wiped out the entire Apiate community at Bogoso in the Western Region. To Dr. Otchere-Ankrah, it was somehow stupid of the people to walk into their death when they could have survived. He believed the social media generation is getting out of control, so called on parents and elders to guide the youth stressing ''we should advise them. Let's serve as role models. Let's guide them because the youth of today, it appears the social media platforms are taking too much of their time...when you see danger, you know this is danger''. 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 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has made a contribution of GH100,000.00 to the Appiatse Explosion Support Fund set up by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to provide assistance to persons affected by the accident. He made the donation when the five-member steering Committee of the Fund called on him at the Jubilee House, Accra on Thursday. The Committee, chaired by Dr Joyce Aryee, a former Chief Executive of Ghana Chamber of Mines, and a Management & Communication Consultant, will manage the Fund by raising money and supervising its disbursement. The Fund was launched last Tuesday to enable the public and corporate entities, to among others, contribute to support the victims of the deadly incident and reconstruct the community. The explosion occurred around midday on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at Appiatse, near Bogoso in the Prestea, Huni-Valley of the Western Region, when a truck belonging to Maxam Ghana Limited, which was transporting explosives to a mining company, got involved in a road crash. The accident resulted in the loss of 14 lives and injury to over 170 persons and extensive damage to property. Addressing the Committee, President Akufo-Addo said the incident brought to the fore the urgent need to initiate reforms on the regulatory framework on safety in the mining sector. "I think that it gives us an opportunity to look at the whole regulatory framework focusing on safety as far as mining activities and the involvement of the mining sector is concerned." The President was emphatic that it was time to critically address the vexed issue of safety in the mining communities and in the mining sector. "We need to be able to look at the state of play in our mining sector to be satisfied that the rules and regulations governing their activities are adequate and that they respond to modem considerations," he said. President Akufo-Addo underscored the need to immediately rebuild the Appiatse Community into a model small town that addressed the challenges of infrastructure and climate change. "I am very impressed with the thinking of the Chair, that we should move on and not just rebuild the town but use it to perhaps create some sort of model small town going down the line for people to see what the future is going to look like and what the future should look like. This project has to succeed and as always, it has to begin with the money. If there is no money you cannot move on...I want to wish you the very best of luck and yes, Madam, my widow's might, I have GHc 100,000.00 that I am donating to the fund" the President said. He expressed the gratitude of the nation to members of the Committee for accepting to take on the act of civic responsibility and service in helping rebuild the Appiatse Community. The government through me have also to thank you very much for taking on this task", he said. Dr Joyce Aryee on her part, thanked the President for the confidence reposed in them to supervise the collection and disbursement of donations for the rebuilding of the Appiatse Community. She said there was a high sense of enthusiasm among the Ghanaian population to donate to the Community, hopeful that by the close of business on Friday, January 28, the Committee would announce the available avenues to receive contributions. "The level of enthusiasm to give is quite high. I have personally had many calls, people finding out how they can contribute. We are convinced that we will be able to raise sufficient funds for the many projects," she said. The other members of the Committee are: Tetrete Okuamoah Sakyi II, Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, Mr. Philip Owiredu, the Managing Director of Cal Bank, Dr. Antoinette Tsiboe-Darko, Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mr. Sulemanu Koney. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has received the Otumfuo Commemorative Gold Coin and commended His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his peace initiatives. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, led a delegation from E ON 3 Group - the company that organised the launch of the gold coin - and its key partners, to the Jubilee House, the seat of the presidency on Thursday, January 27, 2022, to present the gold coin to the President. Members of the delegation were Mr. Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori Atta, Executive Chairman of E ON 3 Group; Jesse Agyepong, General Manager, E ON 3 Group; Olumide Olatunji, Managing Director, Access Bank Ghana PLC; Nana Akwasi Awuah, Managing Director, Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC); Hon. Abraham Dwuma Odoom, Country Manager, Gold Coast Refinery, and Mr. Paul Asimenu, Legal Advisor, Gold Coast Refinery. The gold coin The Bank of Ghana gave authorisation to E ON 3 Group to mint the gold coin to celebrate the Asantehene for his tremendous role in peacebuilding and national development. The gold coin, which was launched at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on December 12, 2021, is of 24 karat (99.99%) fine gold. Responding to a statement by Hon Jinapor that the gold was procured, refined and minted in Ghana, the President said it was refreshing that value has been added to our gold. He commended the E ON 3 Group for the initiative and also for presenting the gold coin to him saying, " more grease to your elbows ". President Akufo-Addo recognised the major role Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has been playing to advance the peace and stability of our country emphasising that it is appropriate that the Asantehene has been honoured at the continental and international levels, and also gold coin has been minted in his honour.Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f_SAA2lgaQ Hon. Jinapor said his Ministry is in full support of everything associated with the gold coin.He said the gold coin ties in with the government's agenda to add value to the country's raw materials.Speaking on behalf of the EON 3 Group, Jesse Agyepong said celebrating Otumfuo is worth it because he has played a key role in driving peace in the country since his enstoolment.He said over the years, Otumfuo has meditated in many chieftaincy disputes and difficult political transitions especially those of 2012 and 2016. Otumfuo's peace initiatives include leading the Committee of three Eminent Chiefs to resolve the decades-old Dagbon chieftaincy dispute, getting presidential candidates in the 2012 presidential election to sign onto a peace accord, resolving a potentially disastrous crisis between students and authorities of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and resolving a disagreement between the Techimanhene and four chiefs who owe allegiance to the Golden Stool.Further on the Dagbon issue, he noted that the peace process started from the period of President Kufuor through Presidents Mills and Mahama, and significantly it was in the era of President Akufo-Addo' that peace was finally achieved.He noted that the invitation extended to the Asantehene to speak at the United Nations gave credence to his recognition as a driver of peace.Watch Video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTdTH8-xYP8 Access Bank is the official banking partner of the gold coin, Gold Coast Refinery is the official minting company for the gold coin, PMMC is keeping custody of the gold coin, while Coronation Insurance Company is the official insurance company. 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 Residents within the Ayawaso Central Municipality have been advised to take sanitation around their homes, offices and shops as their personal responsibility even as the Assembly prepares to implement its sanitation by-laws from February this year. Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Alhaji Mohammed Quaye, gave the advice during a sensitization campaign at various locations under his jurisdiction ahead of the launch of the Operation Clean Your Frontage initiative on 1st February, 2022. The MCE engaged residents within the Kwame Nkrumah circle, Kokomlemle, Alajo and Kotobabi on the need to maintain a clean and healthy environment without being forced to do so. Keeping your surroundings clean must come to you naturally, it shouldnt be a matter of compulsion. However, it has become necessary to apply the law since we as a people have failed to do this on our own. The Operation Clean Your Frontage initiative aims to enforce sanitation regulation within the Greater Accra region as part of the Make Greater Accra Work programme being championed by the Regional Coordinating Council. Alhaji Quaye explained that residents who have their shops close to drains owe it a responsibility to clean the gutters regularly same way they sweep their shops and rooms on daily basis. He warned residents with properties situated less than four feet from the gutter to shift backwards to allow for the mandatory pedestrian walkway as prescribed by the Municipal by-law. In the same vein, persons close to the banks of the Odaw River are also being cautioned to move away. Some residents expressed concern about the high volume of solid waste, particularly, plastic waste which does not originate from them but are disposed into drains only to accumulate in front of their shops. This, they stated, only puts a cost burden on them because they pay for its collection, and called on the Assembly to severely punish persons who indulge in such insanitary behavior. The MCE assured them of the Assemblys commitment in bringing to book all who fall foul of the by-laws on sanitation adding that, you dont need to wait for the official launch to observe good sanitation practices. The way you bathe your body every day, is the same way you must keep your surroundings clean. Source: Naomi Obenewaa Abrokwa/Peace News 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 China plans to stop all patent subsidies by 2025 to help shift its intellectual property (IP) focus from quantity to quality. All types of financial aid for patent licensing should be reduced by at least 25 percentage points every year until they are canceled by 2025, according to a notice issued by the National Intellectual Property Administration. The patent policy is part of China's continuous efforts to eliminate the incidence of Chinese patent applications that can not protect innovation, sources within the administration said on Thursday. China has led globally in its number of patent applications for many years. But it has recently taken more measures to pursue high-quality IP development to boost the country's innovation drive. Former Central Regional Minister and a member of the Communication team of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwamena Duncan is on a crusade to get former President John Dramani Mahama jailed for his bad leadership and corrupt practices. Kwamena Duncan wonders why Mr. Mahama is still walking free after all that he has done to Ghana and the citizenry under his regime. His comments are in relation to a Facebook post by former President John Mahama. Mr. John Dramani Mahama, in the Facebook post, strenghtened the National Democratic Congress(NDC) stance on the controversial e-levy. He noted that the NDC will not back down on their opposition to the e-levy saying the NDC remains opposed to the imposition of the numerous fresh taxes on Ghanaians at a time when Government is living large and unwilling or unable to trim expenditure, cut waste and check corruption. "These burdensome taxes will erode business capital, especially at a time when Government has crowded out the private sector's access to credit by its voracious appetite for borrowing''. "The Ghanaian economy has been collapsed by President Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia. The debt crisis, for which there are very few tangible projects to show for, and worsening economic hardship of Ghanaians amply demonstrate the negative impact of a collapsed economy," he added. Replying Mr. Mahama on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Kwamena Duncan said; ''It is only here, in our jurisdiction - the part of the world, that a person of this kind who should be doing time in jail who gets that opportunity again to stand on a platform and accuse someone else of corruption and further stating that we are opposed to tax that will seek to see us progress. It's only in our part of the world. Elsewhere he would be doing time in jail!'' Chronicling some corrupt activities that characterized the administration of the former President, Hon. Duncan strongly believed the former President should be imprisoned by now. ''President Mahama who decided to set up what he called SADA (Savannah Accelerated Development Authority) and through that medium, millions and millions and millions of Ghanaian good cedis deprived his own people . . . My goodness! I'm saying that it is only our part of the world that a person of this sort will have the audacity to talk, elsewhere he would be doing time in jail.'' 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 Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Deputy Minister of Education, has urged Ghanaians to embrace the e-levy pending Parliamentary approval. The e-levy, which was disclosed during the 2022 budget reading by the Finance Minister, has courted controversies and seen the Members of Parliament buffeting one another over whether or not it should be implemented. With the Minority against it, the Majority, on the other hand, are in full support and have approved the budget which includes the e-levy. However, the implementation of the e-levy may not be possible until there is an approval by majority members of the Legislative House, hence deliberations are ongoing. Contributing to Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' Thursday morning, Rev. Ntim Fordjour commended the government for introducing the e-levy which he believes will help with Ghana's infrastructure development. He called on the Parliamentarians to assess this initiative devoid of partisan politics and also advised the citizenry not to see the e-levy as a burden but rather the avenue where the developmental projects they are looking for will come into being. ''If it were the PNC, NDC or CPP in government and introduced this e-levy of 1.75%, although I, Ntim Fordjour, am an NPP member but I would support. We have to lay aside partisan issues and, in the best interest of the country's development...'' embrace the e-levy, he said. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The government has reiterated the need for the introduction of the electronic levy, also known as e-levy. The President tweeted on Wednesday, January 27, 2022, that the E-Levy will among other things reduce the countrys dependence on foreign aid. The e-levy will provide the government with revenue to build more roads, provide more jobs and opportunities for the youth and reduce our dependence on debt. His comment is part of efforts by the government to sensitize the public on the need for the introduction of the controversial e-levy, including a nationwide town hall meeting which is starting in Koforidua today, Thursday. The government says the feedback from the engagement will inform it on the implementation of the levy. The E-levy is a new tax measure introduced by the government in the 2022 Budget on basic transactions related to digital payments and electronic platform transactions. A charge of 1.75% will apply to electronic transactions that are more than GH100 on a daily basis. The town hall meeting will feature Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister for Communication and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah and Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin. Also, to be in attendance at the forums will be sector-specific Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other relevant industry stakeholders. The Town Hall Meeting is being organised by the Ministry of Information and will be live on various television networks in the country as well as the Ministrys social media pages. E-Levy will cover: a. Mobile Money Transfers between accounts on the same electronic money issuer (EMI). b. Mobile Money transfers from an account on one EMI to a recipient on another EMI. c. Transfers from bank accounts to mobile money accounts. d. Transfer from mobile money accounts to bank accounts. e. Bank transfers on a digital platform or application originate from a bank account belonging to an individual to another individual. E-Levy will not impact: a. Cumulative transfers of GHS 100 per day made by the same person. b. Transfers between accounts owned by the same person. c. Transfers for the payment of taxes, fees, and charges on the Ghana.gov platform. d. Electronic Clearing of Cheques. e. Specified merchant payments (i.e. payments to commercial establishments registered with GRA for Income Tax and VAT purposes). f. Transfers between principal, master-agent, and agents accounts. 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 Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu insists that the E-Levy, on the face of it, is a form of double taxation which also appears to be discriminatory as it will only apply to electronic transactions. According to him, the money that will be subjected to the 1.75% tax by the government would be already taxed money at the time of being earned from an employer, calling it a money tax. In fact its proper name is money tax. Ken Ofori-Atta is just lazily seeking to tax money. Anybody holding money and moving money must pay tax. Let anybody share with me this experience anywhere in the world. So it is money tax when you move money, pay, when you transact business, pay, he stated. Addressing journalists in Parliament on Wednesday after receiving a petition from a group calling itself Mobile Money Agents Association of Ghana (MMAAG), Mr. Iddrisu said What Ghanaians must be prepared to accept painfully is that the cumulative incidents of an electronic money transfer is 3.75% and not 1.75%. There is an existing 1% and a back-off-cash-out1%. Even though there was no universality because Voda Cash, because of promotional purposes, was zero. Those of you who know arithmetic like the Hon Ato Forson. When the Minister of Finance says that the telcos have agreed to reduce their share by 0.25%, so those were zero, is there a minus 0.25% from their zero? he quizzed. The Tamale South MP thanked members of MMAAG for their courage to share where they stand on the E-Levy which he said would affect the nations quest for a digital economy, but on a matter that affects your livelihood and employment and affects many others outside who have no voices to reach out to parliament and to share the views to parliament. I am inspired further reading your text when I see the words, particularly page three which you say this we know will impact us also as agents. As you express it, it is not just Mobile Money Agents, the fitech institutions, merchants, electronic money ecosystem will stand to lose with the insensitivity of the Nana Akufo-Addo government, he posited. I have heard very interesting stories in the last one week. And one which beats my imagination is to hear Ministers of Finance and Information and Members of Parliament of the NPP say without any shame that they allow us to raise revenue to build infrastructure. When the NDC under John Dramani Mahama initiated those VATs on financial services, was it to raise stones? It was to raise revenue for the purpose of development, the Minority asserted. But all of a sudden, it is as if it is only them who know that revenue is used for infrastructure development. And now the argument has even shifted because the NDC thinks if they get money they will develop Ghana, he stated further. He pledged the commitment of the Minority Caucus to convey the concerns of the petitioners to the bill and the debate to the bill. General Secretary of MMAAG, Evans Otumfuo said as main capital investors in this digital finance, we are much concerned about the intended astronomical rate of 1.75% proposed by the government through the Hon. Finance Minister on November 17, 2021. He stated that in the recent years as a result of Mobile Money, more businesses had risen and become the main driver of the economic activities in the country. The presence of digital finance has created and continues to create millions of employment through the establishment of medium and small scale enterprises. Classical is the recent spike in e-commerce industry and its activities as a result of Mobile Money, he asserted. As a Union, after a careful assessment and review of the budget statement and Economic policies for the year ending December 31,2022, and the aspects that concern our operations have left us in shock and felt that the Government could look at it again, he submitted. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Head of Monitoring Unit of the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu has slammed the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and all other persons in support of the e-levy who urge Ghanaians to pay the e-levy because it is taxes that foreign countries use to develop their economies. With the e-levy strongly opposed by the Minority and many Ghanaians, the argument has been that the electronic tax will serve as an avenue for development for the country. Encouraging the citizens to embrace this initiative, the proponents have been drawing comparisons between Ghana and the economies of foreign nations, stressing the difference between the two in terms of development, is that the citizens abroad willingly pay taxes. Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Charles Owusu wants these comparisons to stop because, to him, it's disproportionate for any person to compare Ghana with overseas. He noted that the problem that most Ghanaians have with the e-levy, aside calling for the 1.75 percent to be reduced, is how it (e-levy) will be administered. He explained that, in abroad, the taxes are used for its intended purposes unlike Ghana, therefore arguing that ''we don't see what our tax is used to do in this country''. ''Those abroad, when they pay tax, see the evidence that roads are being tarred, water runs through the tape 24/7; the system is working...I say if they set up tolls on my road, I will pay but you can't put tolls on a rough road. And so if you construct alphated road for me and set up toll on it and tell me to pay, why won't I pay? ''Because I can attest to it, but here we have a situation in a country where pregnant women lies on a mat. Tell me where in overseas do you see a pregnant woman lying on a mat in the hospital? Where in abroad do you find a Police officer living in a messy room?'' he questioned. He further lambasted the State authorities saying ''it is only in Ghana that you will have a prepaid meter and load credit on it but can't use it because there is light off'' and wondered if this happens abroad too. ''I mean there's nothing like that in a foreign country, so we should stop that comparison!...In Ghana here, as soon as it rains, your telephone doesn't work. In Ghana, when it rains, your lights go out because it is afraid of rainfall. That is not happening there (abroad)...So, we shouldn't even engage in that kind of intellectual discourse at all," he stated. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Effutu constituency and Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin has disclosed the majority in Parliament has had a good working relationship with the minority side of the House. He said what the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs have been seen doing in the House is exactly what is expected of them as an opposition. Speaking in an interview on TV3, the Effutu MP said aside from the brawl, the NDC has been very cooperative. Weve had the best of cooperation from our colleagues. Were a political class with our ideologies and you should expect that we compete. The NDC Minority in Parliament, with all due respect, they have done what theyre supposed to do, because we have done several things by consensus. You should expect that on very sensitive matters that they will disagree. I, my only problem with them was the brawl, the fisticuffs that people were attacking. Apart from that, what do you expect opposition to do? Because 2024 is just right there. Meanwhile, the Deputy Majority Leader has also asked NABCO trainees to give the government some time to pay them their allowances which have been in arrears for five months. On the matter of the controversial E-Levy, the MP said its implementation has become necessary for the government to raise revenue for developmental purposes. Source: 3news.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has asked Ghanaians to convince their Members of Parliament (MPs) to pass the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy) Bill and hold him accountable for all revenues and expenses. The Minister reiterated that the time had come for the citizenry to burden share in the development of the country with the Government by paying that tax. He said the e-levy would help increase revenue as the country moved into an e-commerce economy, and invest such revenues into debt sustainability, infrastructure development and youth entrepreneurship. Mr Ofori-Atta said this at the closing ceremony of the 73rd University of Ghana Annual New Year School and Conference in Accra on Wednesday. What I was really expecting Parliament was to say, were going to get 6.9 billion from this new tax revenue measure. So how then do you [Finance Minister] report to me [Parliament] on a quarterly basis on the uses of the fund and its application so that we move on, he said. Mr Ofori-Attas call on the citizenry to ask their MPs to pass the e-levy comes at a time that the Government has started town hall meetings to explain and get feedback on the Bill. Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader, has asked the Finance Committee of Parliament to also engage in consultations beyond what the government was doing, following a petition to Parliament by the Mobile Money Agents Association over the same issue. Touching on the concerns by some people that the 1.75 percent was high, Mr Ofori-Atta, explained that the Government had engaged telecommunication operators to accept a 0.25 percent absorption to cushion Ghanaians. You go to the issue of 1.75 percent e-levy and people will say thats too high even though we exempted transfers of less than a 100 cedis. The arguments were coming fast and furious and we had to listen and reassess that in terms of the impact of the 1.75 percent. We were able to come down by 0.25 percent [by the telcos], which means that the impact will go down for the average Ghanaian, 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 Certified seed offers several advantages to producers over farmer-saved or brown-bagged seed. Credit: Kay Ledbetter As producers get back into their fields for a new season, Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed is stepping up its efforts to educate producers on the benefits of using certified seed and the legalities involved when "brown-bagging." Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed, located near Vernon, is a nonprofit, stand-alone unit of Texas A&M AgriLife Research. The Foundation supports most of the plant material improvement efforts of Texas A&M AgriLife statewide. Producers often save seed as a way to save money in planting the next year's cropa practice known as brown-bagging. But experts say this activity may be having an opposite effect than the one intended by reducing yields and income. Additionally, AgriLife Research wheat development teams benefit directly from additional funding through royalties generated from authorized sales of certified seed, said Rick Vierling, Ph.D., manager of Texas A&M AgriLife Foundation Seed. About 10 percent of seed sales and royalties are typically reinvested into plant breeding efforts each year. In return, wheat producers benefit through the introduction of new varieties with better yields, improved disease and pest resistance, and additional advancements in technology. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics show the U.S. wheat seed industry loses up to $677 million per year to brown bagging. This means as much as $68 million annually is lost toward reinvestment in developing new varieties, according to the Seed Innovation and Protection Alliance. Brown-bagging vs. certified seed There are multiple benefits and risks involved with certified seed and brown-bag seed, Vierling said. And, Texas A&M AgriLife has published a brochure to better educate growers about the differences. Vierling said the problems caused by brown-bagging are not limited to producers, but also to the researchers developing new varieties to stay on top of the latest pest and disease issues. Certified seed is required to pass through field inspections and testing to minimize weed seed contamination and seed-borne disease, as well as verify the identity of the variety, he said. The Texas Department of Agriculture is responsible for inspecting seed production fields. On the other hand, brown-bagged seeds are untested and can lead to impure seed, lower yields and reduced end-use quality, Vierling said. While there is a lower upfront cost, there is a considerable risk of reduced end-use quality or contamination with weed, diseased and smaller seeds. Additionally, the vigor of the seeds can be reduced. Using farmer-saved seed can also result in greater herbicide costs, possibly more dockage due to excessive foreign matter and spreading of weed seeds to new fields during replanting, Vierling said. Producer purchases are the bottom line When it comes to seed purchases by producers, there are generally three different types of legal protections that may be afforded to a seed company, and producers are responsible for being aware of them, said Tiffany Lashmet, J.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agriculture law specialist, Amarillo. While many producers may be aware of the protections provided by the Plant Variety Protection Act, if a variety has a utility patent protection on it or a licensing agreement is attached, they can also be subject potential legal issues. "It is critical that farmers first determine which protections are applicable, then determine the limitations imposed by each protection," Lashmet said. Bryan Gentsch, Ph.D., executive vice president of the Texas Seed Trade Association, estimates more than half of the planted wheat in Texas is grown from brown-bagged seed. He said some of it is legally saved farmer seed for use, but most is probably not. Legalities involved in farmer-saved seed Lashmet recently published "Overview of Seed-Saving Laws," which outlines the different protections afforded to seed companies and breeders. The first such law, the Plant Protection Act, passed in 1930 and applied only to discovering and creating distinct varieties of asexually reproducing plants. In 1970, that was expanded with the Plant Variety Protection Act. A Plant Variety Protection Act certificate provides the holder with the right to exclude others from selling, marketing, offering for sale, reproducing, consigning, exchanging, importing or using a variety in the production of hybrid or different varieties for 20 years. There are two exemptions granted on PVPA-protected or certified seed. The first is an allowance for replanting seeds for research and development of new seed varieties. The second is a seed-saving exception for farmers who lawfully purchase certified seed. They are permitted to save enough harvested seed to replant on their own property, but for an area no larger than that initially planted. When purchasing seed, a farmer should look for language on the bag or tag such as: "U.S. Protected VarietyPVPA," "Unauthorized Propagation ProhibitedU.S. Protected Variety," or something similar to determine whether PVPA protection exists. If a utility patent has been granted on a variety by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a patent number or a statement of "patent pending" should be on the bag or tag to identify it is protected. These patents prohibit others from making, using or selling the patented seed without permission for 20 years. And finally, Lashmet said, even without the PVPA or utility patent protections, seed may still be subject to a contractual licensing agreement in the form of a written contract of printing on the bag itself. The licensing agreement printed on the bag may provide that by opening the bag and using the seed, the farmer agrees to the contractual terms. Each license generally contains its own unique terms, and farmers must know those and agree to them, she said. Unauthorized sales hurt research efforts Gentsch said he has evidence that some elevator operations routinely sell bulk wheat that includes or consists entirely of protected varieties for use as seed to farmers. "In addition to stifling the introduction of new and better wheat varieties and cheating the intellectual property owner of their rightful income, it's illegal to sell seed in Texas without a seed seller's license," he said. Most elevators do not possess a seed seller's license, and while some are not aware they are breaking the law, others simply claim they are not aware of the farmer's intentions. "Some are quite blatant about sequestering incoming loads of a known, protected variety and offering it for sale to other area farmers," Gentsch said. "Not only is this illegal, but these practices also hurt everyone in the long run by reducing the research efforts aimed at improving Texas' crops." Explore further Seed microorganisms override soil microorganisms when colonizing plants SDSU researchers Chris Harrison and Jessica Torres, seen above in Harrison's lab, are using lasers and liquids to detect amino acids in extraterrestrial rocks. In the background, an image of Mars. Credit: San Diego State University Have we been looking for extraterrestrials in all the wrong places? San Diego State University chemists are developing methods to find signs of life on other planets by looking for the building blocks of proteins in a place they've never been able to test before: inside rocks. After collaborating with researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in La Canada Flintridge in 2019, Jessica Torres, a doctoral student studying chemistry at SDSU, is experimenting with ways to extract amino acids from porous rocks that could be used on future rovers. Previous research has looked for evidence of other life forms in water and soil, but not from solid materials. Current methods for identifying amino acids can't differentiate versions created by a living organism from those formed through random chemical reactions. And existing techniques usually require waterwhich would freeze or evaporate if placed on a space probe traveling to Mars or Europa, the ice-covered saltwater moon of Jupiter that some regard as a prime candidate for extraterrestrial life because of its subsurface ocean. "The true novelty of our project is to approach detection of life using alternative solvents that are better suited for space instead of water and organic solvents, which are very suitable on earth," Torres said. "We hope to develop a microfluidic device that can extract, sample, and identify amino acids in rocks. This is particularly novel because JPL does not have a method to approach this quite yet." Torres is developing novel chemical solvents specifically made to operate on an automated rover visiting another planet, where water and other common solvents like alcohols and acetone would not be viable. In the lab, Chris Harrison, Torres's advisor and SDSU chemistry professor, uses a process called capillary electrophoresis. "It's a cheaper way to detect life, and better in a lot of ways," said Harrison. Capillary electrophoresis involves separating molecules by passing them through a liquid-filled tube narrower than an average human hair. A laser attached at the end of the tube is used to illuminate a glow-in-the-dark molecule attached to an amino acid. When an amino acid passes in front of the laser, a sensor will show a spike of the laser-induced glow. There are 20 different amino acids and each moves through the tube at varying rates based on size, electric charge, and how they react with other chemicals. Torres's current challenge is trying to configure a unique spike for each of the contrasting amino acids; she hopes to eventually be able to identify an amino acid, even if there is only one present among a billion other molecules. "We're really lucky with the equipment we have here. I can do the exact kinds of things that I would do at JPL at SDSU," said Torres. They were originally supposed to return to JPL during the summers of their Ph.D., but have worked remotely during the pandemic. Once they have optimized the chemicals they use to reliably separate and identify each of the 20 amino acids, the team plans to test their process on sample rocks from the moon, the Mars-like Atacama Desert and Mono Lake, which is two to three times saltier than Earth's oceans. "What we'll bring with this new solvent will add flexibility to analysis on Earth and beyond," said Harrison. "Sometimes it is hard to see the impact of fundamental science until you get it in the hands of others and see which problems you've already solved for them." Explore further A new test for life on other planets A fir needle stomata, which lets CO2 in and water vapor out. Credit: Oregon State University We human beings need plants for our survival. Everything we eat consists of plants or animals that depend on plants somewhere along the food chain. Plants also form the backbone of natural ecosystems, and they absorb about 30 percent of all the carbon dioxide emitted by humans each year. But as the impacts of climate change worsen, how are higher levels of CO 2 in the atmosphere and warmer temperatures affecting the plant world? CO 2 boosts plant productivity Plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and water for photosynthesis to produce oxygen and carbohydrates that plants use for energy and growth. Rising levels of CO 2 in the atmosphere drive an increase in plant photosynthesisan effect known as the carbon fertilization effect. New research has found that between 1982 and 2020, global plant photosynthesis grew 12 percent, tracking CO 2 levels in the atmosphere as they rose 17 percent. The vast majority of this increase in photosynthesis was due to carbon dioxide fertilization. Increased photosynthesis results in more growth in some plants. Scientists have found that in response to elevated CO 2 levels, above-ground plant growth increased an average of 21 percent, while below-ground growth increased 28 percent. As a result, some crops such as wheat, rice and soybeans are expected to benefit from increased CO 2 with an increase in yields from 12 to 14 percent. The growth of some tropical and sub-tropical grasses and several important crops, including corn, sugar cane, sorghum, and millet, however, are not as affected by increased CO 2 . Under elevated CO 2 concentrations, plants use less water during photosynthesis. Plants have openings called stomata that allow CO 2 to be absorbed and moisture to be released into the atmosphere. When CO 2 levels rise, plants can maintain a high rate of photosynthesis and partially close their stomata, which can decrease a plant's water loss between 5 and 20 percent. Scientists have speculated that this could result in plants releasing less water to the atmosphere, thus keeping more on land, in the soil and streams. But other factors count Elevated levels of CO 2 from climate change may enable plants to benefit from the carbon fertilization effect and use less water to grow, but it's not all good news for plants. It's more complicated than that, because climate change is also impacting other factors critical to plants' growth, such as nutrients, temperature, and water. Nitrogen limitations Researchers that studied hundreds of plant species between 1980 and 2017 found that most unfertilized terrestrial ecosystems are becoming deficient in nutrients, particularly nitrogen. They attributed this decrease in nutrients to global changes, including rising temperatures and CO 2 levels. Nitrogen is the most abundant element on Earth, making up about 80 percent of the atmosphere. It is an essential element in DNA and RNA and is needed by plants to make carbohydrates and proteins for growth. However, plants cannot use the nitrogen gas found in the atmosphere because it has two atoms of nitrogen triply bonded together so tightly that they are difficult to break apart into a form plants can use. Lightning has enough energy to break the triple bond, a process called nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen is also fixed in the industrial process that produces fertilizer. But most nitrogen fixation occurs in the soil, where certain kinds of bacteria attach to the roots of plants, such as legumes. The bacteria get carbon from the plant and in a symbiotic exchange, fix the nitrogen, combining it with oxygen or hydrogen into compounds plants can use. Kevin Griffin, a professor in Columbia University's Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, explained that most living things have a relatively fixed ratio between carbon and nitrogen. This means that if plants take up more CO 2 to create carbohydrates because there's more CO 2 in the atmosphere, the amount of nitrogen in the leaves may be diluted, and a plant's productivity depends on having enough nitrogen. "If you increase the CO 2 around a leaf or around the plant or around the plot of forest, usually the productivity goes up," he said. "But whether or not that increase in productivity lasts and is permanent, can be a function of whether you have [enough] nitrogen. So if nitrogen is limited, it could be that a plant just cannot use that extra CO 2 and its boost in productivity can be short lived." Trees currently absorb about a third of human-caused CO 2 emissions, but their ability to continue to do this depends on how much nitrogen is available to them. If nitrogen is limited, the benefit of increased CO 2 will be limited too. Earlier research on nitrogen fixation, based on measurements of free-living bacteria, had predicted that the fixation process works fastest at 25C, and that as temperatures rose above 25C, the rate of fixation would go down. In a warming world, this would have meant a runaway scenario where nitrogen fixing would decrease as temperatures rose, resulting in less plant productivity. Plants would then remove less CO 2 from the atmosphere which would cause further warming and less nitrogen fixing, and so on. Griffin and his colleagues developed an instrument that enabled them to measure the temperature response of nitrogen on the bacteria that formed an association with the roots of plants, as opposed to on free-living bacteria. "What we found with our new instrument looking at whole-plant symbioses in temperate and tropical trees, was that the optimal temperature for nitrogen fixation was actually about 5C higher than any of these previous estimates, and in some cases as much as 11C higher. This needs to be tested over a huge number of plants, but if it holds, it means that the likelihood of nitrogen fixation decreasing is much lower than we thought, which means that plants could stay more productive and prevent the runaway scenario." The fall army worm is a chronic pest in the southeastern US. Credit: Photo: Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility Rising temperatures Griffin's work also found that the temperature response of nitrogen fixation is independent from the temperature response of photosynthesis, which involves enzymes made with nitrogen. Higher temperatures can make these enzymes less efficient. Rubisco is the key enzyme that helps turn carbon dioxide into carbohydrates in photosynthesis, but as temperatures go up, it "relaxes" and the shape of its pocket that holds the CO 2 gets less precise. Consequently, one fifth of the time, the enzyme winds up fixing oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, lowering the efficiency of photosynthesis and wasting the plant's resources. With an even greater temperature increase, Rubisco can completely deactivate. Since plants respond to nitrogen fertilizer by increasing the amount of Rubisco they have and growing more, the finding that nitrogen fixation can be sustained at higher temperatures than previously thought offers the possibility that it could compensate for the decreasing efficiency of Rubisco at higher temperatures. Rising temperatures are also causing growing seasons to become longer and warmer. Because plants will grow more and for a longer time, they will actually use more water, offsetting the benefits of partially closing their stomata. Contrary to what scientists believed in the past, the result will be drier soils and less runoff that is needed for streams and rivers. This could also lead to more local warming since evapotranspirationwhen plants release moisture into the airkeeps the air cooler. In addition, when soils are dry, plants become stressed and do not absorb as much CO 2 , which could limit photosynthesis. Scientists found that even if plants absorbed excess carbon for photosynthesis during a wet year, the amount could not compensate for the reduced amount of CO 2 absorbed during a previous dry year. Warmer winters and a longer growing season also help the pests, pathogens, and invasive species that harm vegetation. During longer growing seasons, more generations of pests can reproduce as warmer temperatures speed up insect life cycles, and more pests and pathogens survive over warm winters. Rising temperatures are also driving some insects to invade new territories, sometimes with devastating effects for the local plants. Higher temperatures and an increase in moisture also make crops more vulnerable. Weeds, many of which thrive in heat and elevated CO 2 , already cause about 34 percent of crop losses; insects cause 18 percent of losses, and disease 16 percent. Climate change will likely magnify these losses. Many crops start to experience stress at temperatures above 32 to 35C, although this depends on crop type and water availability. Models show that each degree of added warmth can cause a 3 to 7 percent loss in the yields of some important crops, such as corn and soybeans. In addition, an increase in temperature speeds up the plant lifecycle so that as the plant matures more quickly, it has less time for photosynthesis, and consequently produces fewer grains and smaller yields. Plants are also on the move in response to warming temperatures. Species that are adapted to certain climatic conditions are gradually moving north or to higher elevations where it is cooler. In the last several decades, many North American plants have moved approximately 36 feet to higher elevations or 10.5 miles to higher latitudes every 10 years. The Arctic tree line is also moving 131 to 164 feet northward towards the pole each year. New environments may be less hospitable for the species moving into them as there might be less space or more competition for resources. Some species may have nowhere left to move and ultimately, certain species will be disadvantaged by the changes while others will benefit. Soils may store less carbon as plants draw more nutrients from the ground. Credit: Photo: CupcakePerson13 Extreme weather Climate change will bring more frequent and severe extreme weather events, including extreme precipitation, wind disturbance, heat waves, and drought. Extreme precipitation events can disturb plant growth, particularly in recently burned forests, and make plants more vulnerable to flooding and soils to erosion. More frequent high winds can stress tree stands. Climate change is also expected to bring more combined heat waves and droughts, which would likely offset any benefits from the carbon fertilization effect. While crop yields often decrease during hot growing seasons, the combination of heat and dryness could cause maize yields to fall by 20 percent in some parts of the US, and 40 percent in Eastern Europe and southeast Africa. In addition, the combination of heat and water scarcity may reduce crop yields in places like the northern US, Canada, and Ukraine, where crop yields are projected to increase because of warmer temperatures. Other effects of increased CO 2 While some crop yields may increase, rising CO 2 levels affect the level of important nutrients in crops. With elevated CO 2 , protein concentrations in grains of wheat, rice and barley, and in potato tubers decreased by 10 to 15 percent in one study. Crops also lose important minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. A 2018 study of rice varieties found that while elevated CO 2 concentrations increased vitamin E, they resulted in decreases in vitamins B1, B2, B5 and B9. And, counterintuitively, the CO 2 -fueled increase in plant growth may result in less carbon storage in soil. Recent research found that plants have to draw more nutrients from the soil to keep up with the added growth triggered by carbon fertilization. This stimulates microbial activity, which ends up releasing CO 2 into the atmosphere that might otherwise have stayed in the soil. The findings challenge the long-held belief that as plants grow more due to increased CO 2 , the additional biomass would turn into organic matter and soils could increase their carbon storage. Plants face an uncertain future Many of the studies into the response of plant life to climate change seem to suggest that most plants will be more stressed and less productive in the future. But there are still many unknowns about how the complex interactions between plant physiology and behavior, resource availability and use, shifting plant communities, and other factors will affect overall plant life in the face of climate change. Explore further How plants use carbon affects their response to climate change Provided by State of the Planet Compiled by Cloud River Urban Research Institute, an international think tank, the China Core Cities & Metropolitan Area Development Index 2020 was recently released. In the comprehensive ranking, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou have occupied the top four positions for three consecutive years. Chengdu has fared well, up three places to fifth in the ranking from the first release of the index in 2017. Tianjin has fallen to sixth place from fifth in 2019, while Hangzhou (7th), Chongqing (8th), and Nanjing (9th) have all maintained their 2019 rankings. Xi'an ranks 11th, up two places from 2019. Conversely, Wuhan drops to 13th from 11th in 2019. Ningbo has maintained its 12th place. Among the 36 core cities, Zhengzhou, Changsha, Jinan, Hefei, Fuzhou, Harbin, Nanchang, Nanning, Haikou, Hohhot, and Lhasa have climbed the ranking, in which Hefei has seen the largest increase from 23rd in 2019 to 19th in 2020. Qingdao, Kunming, and Changchun have maintained their 2019 positions. Xiamen, Shenyang, Dalian, Guiyang, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Urumqi, Lanzhou, Xining, and Yinchuan have moved down in the ranking. Among them, Dalian has seen a bigger drop from 18th in 2019 to 23rd in 2020. In general, core cities in the north have declined significantly in the comprehensive ranking. The China Core Cities & Metropolitan Area Development Index is supported by a selection of 442 data sets closely related with its theme, including statistical data, satellite remote sensing data, and internet data, from the 882 data sets which support the China Integrated City Index. Therefore, the China Core Cities & Metropolitan Area Development Index is a cutting-edge multimodal index that uses the "five senses" to analyze and measure a city's development through statistical resources of different fields. For example, through satellite remote sensing data, we can accurately know the scale, distribution, and density of population in densely inhabited districts (DIDs), and analyze their relationship with other factors like economic development, infrastructures, social development, and ecological and environmental protection, elevating the research of metropolitan areas to a higher level. It is worth noting that CO2 emissions data is included in the index. Through years of efforts, Cloud River Urban Research Institute has finally been able to calculate CO2 emissions of each city through satellite data analysis and geographic information system (GIS) analysis, which has increased the accuracy and depth of its analysis and evaluation on the cities' performance in pursuing high-quality development. Another key feature of the index is that it is an analysis of 36 core cities, including four municipalities, 22 provincial capitals, five capitals of autonomous regions, and five cities with independent planning status, against the evaluation of 297 cities at the prefecture level or above across the country. Notably, four non-core cities Suzhou (10th), Dongguan (20th), Wuxi (25th), and Foshan (27th) are among the top 30 in the 2020 comprehensive ranking. In 2020, the 36 core cities accounted for 39.2% of China's total GDP, 50.9% of its export volume, 50.1% of the total number of authorized patents, 26.6% of the permanent resident population, 42% of the population in DIDs, 67.3% of the total number of listed companies on the main board, 94.8% of the prestigious universities under the Project 985 and Project 211, 57.5% of the five-star hotels, and 47.5% of the top hospitals, according to the index. It is notable that the core cities have lead China's social and economic development. The index mainly measures 10 major items, namely the city status, metropolitan area power, radiation ability, wide-area hub, opening and communications, business environment, innovation and entrepreneurship, ecological resources and environment, life quality and safety, as well as culture and education. It is also supported by 30 sub-items and 116 sets of index data to comprehensively evaluate the high-quality development of core cities in a science-based, systematic, and detailed manner. What is most noteworthy about the 2020 index is that it focuses on assessing the performance of China's core cities in COVID-19 response and economic recovery. Here is an overview from the perspectives of three major items life quality and safety, metropolitan area power, and ecological resources and environment. Life quality and safety: Zero-COVID-19 policy contains virus after it hit Wuhan hard In 2020, COVID-19 put cities to test in terms of ensuring life quality and safety. Over theyear, 62.8% of the new COVID-19 cases (excluding imported cases and asymptomatic cases) were in Wuhan, but the rapid lockdown and the zero-COVID-19 policy quickly brought the virus under control. As a result, no extensive spread occurred in other cities outside Hubei province despite sporadic outbreaks, and life and production in Chinese cities quickly resumed. The major item of life quality and safety is divided into three sub-items, namely safety and livability, living consumption, and medical welfare. The sub-items are made up of 16 data sets, including the number of people infected with the coronavirus, licensed (assistant) doctors, and top hospitals, as well as average life expectancy. In the ranking of life quality and safety, Wuhan, hit hard by COVID-19, has fallen to the bottom of the list from eighth place in 2019. Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing are the top three, followed by Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Zhengzhou, and Tianjin. In the top 10 cities, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Zhengzhou have climbed higher in the ranking compared with 2019, with Chongqing entering the top three for the first time. The rankings of Beijing and Shanghai have remained unchanged, while Shenzhen and Wuhan have dropped out of the top 10. Among the 36 core cities, Xi'an, Jinan, Shenyang, Hefei, Qingdao, Ningbo, Dalian, Harbin, Changchun, Kunming, and Hohhot have moved up in the ranking compared with 2019. Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen top ranking of metropolitan area power Metropolitan area power is one of the most basic indicators to gauge the core city. This major item focuses on not only its economy and population, but also its population concentration and structure, as well as its ability as an economic center. In 2020, core cities across the country registered positive growth except Wuhan, which was hard hit by COVID-19, as their GDP growth rate increasing by 3 percent points on average. The strong resilience of the core cities has driven China's economy to achieve a growth rate of 2.3% despite economic contraction in other major countries. The major indicator of metropolitan area power encompasses three sub-indicators: economic scale, metropolitan area quality, and enterprise agglomeration, including 14 sets of indicator data such as GDP scale, resident population, DID population and listed enterprises on the main board. Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen have retained the top three spots in the ranking of metropolitan area power, with a remarkable deviation value. The other cities in the top 10 include Guangzhou, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Tianjin and Wuhan. Compared with the ranking in 2019, most of the top 10 cities remained unchanged, while Chengdu rose one place and Tianjin dropped three places. Compared with 2019, Xi'an, Qingdao, Jinan, Kunming, Guiyang, Changchun, Taiyuan, Haikou, Xining, Yinchuan, Hohhot, Lhasa and other cities have climbed up the ranking. Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin: Biggest CO2 emitters Eco-environmental quality and resource efficiency have become more and more important for the development of a city. While paying attention to environmental quality and resource efficiency, the major item of ecological resources and environment also takes into account the evaluation of environmental efforts. One highlight of this major item is the introduction of the evaluation of carbon dioxide emissions. At present, 36 core cities account for 29% of the country's carbon dioxide emissions. In terms of carbon dioxide emissions, the top 10 core cities are Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Harbin, Ningbo, Qingdao, Chongqing, Jinan, and Zhengzhou. In terms of per capita carbon dioxide emissions, the top 10 core cities are Hohhot, Taiyuan, Lanzhou, Yinchuan, Tianjin, Urumqi, Ningbo, Qingdao, Beijing, and Shanghai. The major item of ecological resources and environment contain three sub-indicators: the quality of resource environment, environmental effort and resource efficiency, including 15 sets of indicator data, such as air quality index (AQI), CO2 emission per unit of GDP, per capita CO2 emission, and climate comfort. Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing are the top three cities in the ranking of ecological resources and environment, with Shenzhen toppling Shanghai from the pole position. Other core cities in the top 10 are Guangzhou, Chongqing, Xiamen, Wuhan, and Chengdu. Compared with 2019, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Wuhan, Tianjin, Changsha, Ningbo, Hefei, Shenyang, Xi'an, Qingdao, Jinan, Lhasa, and Shijiazhuang among the 36 core cities have risen up the ranking of this major item. A bomb cyclone over the U.S. East Coast on Jan. 4, 2017. Credit: NOAA/CIRA A bomb cyclone is a large, intense midlatitude storm that has low pressure at its center, weather fronts and an array of associated weather, from blizzards to severe thunderstorms to heavy precipitation. It becomes a bomb when its central pressure decreases very quicklyby at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. Two famed meteorologists, Fred Sanders and John Gyakum, gave this pattern its name in a 1980 study. When a cyclone "bombs," or undergoes bombogenesis, this tells us that it has access to the optimal ingredients for strengthening, such as high amounts of heat, moisture and rising air. Most cyclones don't intensify rapidly in this way. Bomb cyclones put forecasters on high alert, because they can produce significant harmful impacts. The U.S. Eastern Seaboard is one of the regions where bombogenesis is most common. That's because storms in the midlatitudesa temperate zone north of the tropics that includes the entire continental U.S.draw their energy from large temperature contrasts. Along the U.S. East Coast during winter, there's a naturally potent thermal contrast between the cool land and the warm Gulf Stream current. Over the warmer ocean, heat and moisture are abundant. But as cool continental air moves overhead and creates a large difference in temperature, the lower atmosphere becomes unstable and buoyant. Air rises, cools and condenses, forming clouds and precipitation. Intense cyclones also require favorable conditions above the surface. Particularly strong upper-level winds, also known as "jet streaks," and high-amplitude waves embedded within storm tracks can help force air to rise. UK meteorologist Alex Deakin explains how unstable air causes cumulus clouds to form. When a strong jet streak overlies a developing low-pressure system, it creates a feedback pattern that makes warm air rise at an increasing rate. This allows the pressure to drop rapidly at the center of the system. As the pressure drops, winds strengthen around the storm. Essentially, the atmosphere is trying to even out pressure differences between the center of the system and the area around it. Weather forecasters are predicting that the northeastern U.S. will be affected by a potent winter storm on Jan. 2830, 2022. Forecast models are calling for a swath of snow from coastal North Carolina northward to Maine. While precise locations and amounts of snowfall are still uncertain, parts of coastal New England appear most at risk of receiving 812 inches or more of heavy accumulating snow. Coupled with winds forecast to be over 50 miles per hour along the coast, the storm is likely to produce blizzard conditions, storm surge, coastal flooding, wind damage and beach erosion. Bomb cyclones are sometimes called winter hurricanes, but they are a different type of storm. This storm's life is expected to begin offshore of the southeast U.S. as a weak low-pressure system. Just 24 hours later, global models predict that its central pressure will drop by 3550 millibars. If this storm develops as forecasts predict, aided by winds blowing at over 150 miles per hour in the upper atmosphere, very warm sea surface temperatures just offshore (24 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than average), and a highly unstable atmosphere, it will have the critical ingredients for a bomb cyclone. Explore further Real weather term "bomb" blows up on social media This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: CC0 Public Domain New research reveals gender bias can creep into student loan bankruptcy court cases. FIU legal psychology graduate student Kelsey Hess and a team of FIU psychologistsincluding Jacqueline Evans and Deborah Goldfarbexamined nearly 900 student loan discharge decisions handled in U.S. bankruptcy courts between 1985 to 2020. In addition to gender, researchers also factored in other variables, including marital status, the number of children, medical issues or documented disability claims, as well as if an attorney was present. They found gender played a somewhat complex, but important role in the outcome of the cases. Single mothers were more likely to have their loans discharged than single fathers. However, when a debtor disclosed a medical issue that could interfere with their ability to earn a living, males had a substantial advantage over females. In fact, men were 93 percent more likely to have their loans discharged when disclosing a medical condition, as compared to women who disclosed medical conditions. "It's not always clear-cut how gender influences a student loan discharge decision," Hess said. "With this study, what we're actually seeing is how special circumstances can be tied closely to gender and traditional gender roles. Certain factors were not weighted equally between male and female debtors." In the United States, women hold about two-thirds of student loan debt. As women outnumber men in pursuing college degrees, and the cost of higher education becomes more expensive, it's expected women will continue to be the primary holders of student loan debt. Compounding this problem may be the gender pay gap. When women enter the workforce, they tend to earn lessmeaning less money is available to put toward repayments. Down the line, this could lead to more women trying to get their student loans discharged in bankruptcy court. This is just one of the reasons Hess and the team wanted to research this issue. The bankruptcy process for student loans differs from typical bankruptcy proceedings and certain criteria have to be met, including an "undue hardship" test. As Evans points out, it's not simply about presenting bills and proving income. Instead, it can be a laborious process of putting together the full picture of a person's private lifesomething not many people want to do in front of a court. For this study, the researchers were contacted by a judge who works in a U.S. bankruptcy court about conducting a study like this. "This is a great example of when academia and the judiciary partner together, and work together to ask important questions," Goldfarb said. "Our work here highlights FIU's Legal Psychology's goal of working with and making a difference in the community." The researchers emphasize one important focus of the studyin terms of biases that deserve special attention women's medical conditions are discounted in court. Especially because it mirrors other research that shows female patients' pain is taken less seriously than the same pain levels in male patients, leading to differences in treatment. If a woman's doctor fails to take her pain seriously, she may be less likely to share it in bankruptcy courtand even if she does, there's no guarantee the court will believe it enough to discharge the loans. The presence of an attorney is another element to this study that also deserves attention, the team says. Because bankruptcy court involves civil cases, an attorney is not provided. However, an attorney can drastically impact the outcome of the case. Getting an attorney, though, can be a tremendous hurdle for a person already facing down burdensome, debilitating debt. "Our hope with this study is that, of course, bankruptcy judges can root out potential inappropriate extralegal influences on their own decisions," Hess said. "We also want this research to be a jumping-off point. We have other questions to ask and answer, like what kind of systemic changes can be made at the level of the courts and how can mechanisms for providing attorneys to debtors be put in place." This study was published in Psychology, Public Policy, and Law. The team has also presented the findings to the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges (NCBJ), as well as the American Bar Association, and received positive feedback. Recently, they received a grant from NCBJ to continue and expand their research in this area. Explore further App attempts to break barriers to bankruptcy for those in medical debt More information: The influence of gender and other extralegal factors on student loan bankruptcy decisions. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law. psycnet.apa.org/buy/2022-23864-001 The influence of gender and other extralegal factors on student loan bankruptcy decisions. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain When it comes to being divisive, it doesn't get more literal than a wall. Walls exist as a means of separation, creating a sense of security by keeping somethingor more typically someoneout. And whether it's separating Americans and Mexicans, Israelis and Palestinians, East Germans and West Germans, or any other two groups, the political divisiveness of border walls makes headlines around the globe. Noting the strong reactions that many people have toward border walls, Penn researchers Diana Mutz and Beth Simmons wondered if walls carried a more universal meaning in the human mind, regardless of a person's nationality. And as it turns out, they dowith real implications for international influence and soft power. Mutz, the Samuel A. Stouffer Professor of Political Science and Communication and director of the Institute for the Study of Citizens and Politics at the Annenberg School for Communication and in the Department of Political Science in the School of Arts & Sciences, was interested in the political psychology of distance and separation. Simmons, the Andrea Mitchell University Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor in Law, Political Science, and Business Ethics at Penn Carey Law, had an ongoing project involving the consequences of increased national border infrastructure around the world. These related research interests converged as Mutz and Simmons developed an experiment to assess how border walls influence the way that individuals regard a foreign countryand crucially, in a way that steers clear of highly polarized political feelings about border policies where they live. "It struck us both as intuitive and consistent with a lot of psychological research that walls connote unfriendliness, a desire to be separate from what is on the other side," Mutz says. "We thought the best way to untangle politics from perceptions would be to design an experiment that forces respondents to think beyond their own political context." Their findings, "The psychology of separation: border walls, soft power, and international neighborliness," were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study revealed that the presence of walls lowered participants' evaluations of the bordering countries, and implied hostile international relationships. The consistent negative impressions that participants had of countries with border infrastructure, the co-authors say, are important for policymakers to bear in mind. These findings speak directly to the potential impact of border security policies on a country's "soft power," the kind of influence, both on leaders and the public, that a country gains when seen favorably by those in other countries. Soft power is determined by foreign perceptions of the attractiveness of a society's culture, foreign policies, and values. Working with a team of graduate students, the co-authors assembled found footage from the internet on Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, two countries that they felt respondents were likely to know very little about. Mutz and Simmons wanted participants to be unfamiliar with the locations involved, so their judgments wouldn't be swayed by prior knowledge of that country's reputation. With the help of Waldo Aguirre and Anna Gamarnik from Annenberg's IT department, they created a short documentary about Tajikistan's culture and history. Respondents were shown one of three versions of the film, then asked to rate their impressions of the countries depicted. In one version, the narrator mentions that Tajikistan shares a border with Kyrgyzstan, shown as a valley between two mountains. In another version, the video refers to a "border wall," with an image of a wall presented. The third version also shows a wall, and explicitly mentions that neighboring Kyrgyzstan originally built it. They conducted the experiment in three countries with varied recent experiences of border infrastructure: the United States, where border walls are extensive but partial and politically controversial; Ireland, where border barriers have been dismantled since the late 1990s; and Turkey, whose border abuts a civil war in Syria and who has almost fully sealed off its southern and eastern borders. In addition to participants having negative perceptions of countries with border walls, the results showed that the government of the country responsible for erecting the wall was regarded especially unfavorably. And while walls increased perceptions of a country's border security, it lowered respondents' perceived security of the people who live there. As the authors note, these reactions were consistent regardless of participants' political views, the political contexts of their home countries, and their distance from an international border. "People in Ireland, the U.S., and Turkey all responded in the same way to the presence of a wall, and they all held the country that built it in lower esteem," Simmons says. "We had assumed that those who favored walls in their own domestic political context would be less likely to draw these same inferences. That's not at all what we found." Positive feelings about a country's "soft" attributes can enhance a country's military influence and other sources of power. The potential damage that border walls may have on a nation's image can, subsequently, erode its soft power. This doesn't mean that states should never erect border walls, the researchers say. "But it is important to appreciate the possibility that some symbolic security measuresof which walling may be onemay reduce a state's attractiveness more than they enhance national security." Explore further Border walls could have unintended consequences on trade, study finds More information: Diana C. Mutz et al, The psychology of separation: Border walls, soft power, and international neighborliness, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Diana C. Mutz et al, The psychology of separation: Border walls, soft power, and international neighborliness,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117797119 Eurasian Lynx. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Habitat selection in wildlife is a process that occurs at different scales: Balancing advantages, such as high abundance of food, with disadvantages, such as human disturbance. Large predators, with their large spatial requirements, are particularly sensitive to these disturbances. A team led by conservation biologists Prof. Dr. Marco Heurich and Joseph Premier from the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Freiburg has studied this habitat selection process in Eurasian lynx. Their results, published by the researchers in Biological Conservation, provide important information for the conservation of this species in human-dominated landscapes. "Through this study, we can generalize the habitat selection behavior of a large carnivore species on a continental scale fort he first time," explains Heurich. Large dataset with animals in several European areas The researchers led by Heurich and Premier used a data set consisting of tracking data on 125 lynx from nine study areas across Europe. They compared the locations available to and actually used by the predators at two scales: the landscape scale, which shows how lynx place their home range in the landscape, and the home range scale, which shows how lynx select the habitats within their home range. For this comparison, the research team used a novel machine learning approach called the random forest. This was extended to include a random effect so that variability within and between study areas could be accounted for. What the animals avoid and how they orient themselves On the landscape scale the analysis revealed that lynx avoid roads and human settlements. On the level of their home range, the animals were oriented towards hiding places and the availability of prey. The researchers found only minor differences between female and male lynx in their choice of habitat. Heurich and Premier found the greatest differences in lynx habitat choice at the landscape level, where there were clear differences between the various study areas, for example between the Swiss Alps and the plains of Estonia. Within the foraging areas, lynx behaved very similarly throughout Europe, preferring heterogeneous forest areas and areas that provided protection from human disturbance. Explore further The calm of the deer More information: Lucia Ripari et al, Human disturbance is the most limiting factor driving habitat selection of a large carnivore throughout Continental Europe, Biological Conservation (2022). Journal information: Biological Conservation Lucia Ripari et al, Human disturbance is the most limiting factor driving habitat selection of a large carnivore throughout Continental Europe,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109446 Juvenile salmon. Credit: Mikko Kytokorpi A study conducted at the University of Helsinki indicates that early sexual maturation and high aerobic performance in salmon have a genetic link that is already evident in juvenile salmon. Salmon are born in rivers, migrate to the sea to reach maturity and return to spawn in their native river. While the salmon that reach their maturity at an early age return from the sea after a single year, the individuals that are slower to develop can spend two years or an even longer time at sea. Genomic regions have been identified in the salmon genome that heavily regulate the number of years spent at sea. Under the direction of Academy of Finland Research Fellow Tutku Aykanat, researchers from the University of Helsinki bred a large number of young salmon that differed on the basis of two such regions. The researchers measured the basal metabolism and aerobic performance of the juvenile salmon before the onset of their maturation process. Carriers of gene variants associated with early sexual maturation were found to have better aerobic performance than those whose variants were associated with the late onset of sexual maturity. Aerobic performance denotes the metabolic capacity to produce energy through aerobic cellular respiration, for example, in muscles. "Greater aerobic performance can promote early maturation, since growth, food supply and reproduction require energy produced through aerobic metabolism," says Postdoctoral Researcher Jenni Prokkola from the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki. The genetic coupling of age-at-maturity and performance did not depend on the amount of food available to the salmon, which indicates that the finding could be generalisable to both wild salmon populations and fish farming conditions. "Salmon that have spent several years at sea and mature at a later date are considerably larger and produce a larger number of offspring when they return to spawn compared to salmon that spawn after only one year at sea. Now, it would be important to determine whether these salmon are more susceptible to global warming due to their poorer aerobic performance. Higher water temperatures increase the energy needs of fish, but the limitations of aerobic performance make adaptation to high temperatures challenging. Aerobic performance can become an increasingly important factor for salmon in warming habitats," Prokkola says. Investigating the genetic and physiological factors that affect age at sexual maturity is important for understanding changes taking place in salmon populations. The research was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. Explore further Farmed fish breeding with wild fish is changing the life cycle of wild fish More information: Jenni M. Prokkola et al, Genetic coupling of life-history and aerobic performance in Atlantic salmon, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B Jenni M. Prokkola et al, Genetic coupling of life-history and aerobic performance in Atlantic salmon,(2022). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2500 Illustration of the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) and Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) of Gateway, with HERMES indicated by a red arrow. This older view shows HERMES in a different placement than its current planned location, which would be rotated 90 degrees on the HALO module and would not be visible from this vantage point. Credit: NASA NASA's HERMES missiona four-instrument suite to be mounted outside NASA's Moon-orbiting Gatewayhas passed a critical mission review on Jan. 27, 2022. The review, Key Decision Point C, evaluated the mission's preliminary design and program plan to achieve launch by its target launch readiness date no earlier than November 2024. With the successful review, HERMES now moves into Phase C, which includes the final design of the mission. "HERMES will be a critical part of the Artemis mission and NASA's goals to create a permanent presence on the Moon," said Jamie Favors, HERMES program executive at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. "We're very excited to pass this critical milestone and move closer to launch." HERMES, short for Heliophysics Environmental and Radiation Measurement Experiment Suite, will be mounted outside the Habitation and Logistics Outpost module of NASA's Gateway outpost. Gateway will be where Artemis astronauts live and work as they orbit the Moon, supporting scientific experiments and technology development applicable for both lunar and future deep space human exploration. "The Gateway Program is proud to be collaborating with SMD on the HERMES payload," said Tim Horvath, Gateway payload integration lead. "This close partnership will enable HERMES to successfully achieve groundbreaking science objectives from the unique cislunar viewing location of the Gateway spacecraft." HERMES will monitor space weather, the fluctuating conditions in space driven by the Sun. Space weather includes the continuous stream of particles and magnetic fields, known as the solar wind; blasts of billion-ton gas clouds known as coronal mass ejections; flashes of ultra-bright light from solar flares; and the disturbances each of these create in the near-Earth environment. Some of these events pose dangers to astronauts and robotic missionsbut all of them are exciting scientific opportunities to understand our Sun and the space around us. HERMES will study space weather in an especially variable environment. As the Moon orbits Earth each month, it spends about one week inside Earth's long magnetotail, the portion of our magnetic field blown back from the Sun like a windsock. When inside the magnetotail, HERMES will be flooded by particles and magnetic fields that have interacted with Earth. The remaining three weeks, the Moon confronts the unfiltered Sun, measuring the solar wind and space weather in conditions closer to pristine interplanetary space. "It's been an exciting challenge to make HERMES as compact yet flexible as it needs to be," said Kristen Brown, HERMES deputy project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "We've had to package all the instruments into an extremely small volume without interfering with each other and while making sure the payload meets the Gateway interface requirements." "HERMES is the first space weather monitoring platform on a crewed spacecraft to venture outside Earth's protective magnetic field," said Jim Spann, HERMES program scientist at NASA Headquarters. "What we learn from HERMES will be critical to protecting astronauts as we venture forth with the Artemis mission." HERMES will contribute to a number of joint observations campaigns with other spacecraft. The European Radiation Sensors Array or ERSA provided by the European Space Agency will be mounted nearby on the Gateway Power and Propulsion Element, or PPE, where it will measure higher-energy particles in the solar wind. Together they provide Artemis astronauts with a fuller picture of the space weather conditions they are flying through. HERMES will also collaborate with the two THEMIS/ARTEMIS spacecraft already in orbit around the Moon, adding another data point to help measure smaller scale structures in the solar wind and magnetotail. Finally, as a new asset in NASA's Heliophysics System Observatory, it contributes to an ever-growing fleet of spacecraft monitoring space weather conditions throughout the solar system. "This is a great opportunity to be part of historic human spaceflight missions while expanding the possibilities for new science with international partners," said Bill Paterson, HERMES project scientist at Goddard. HERMES is led by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. HERMES includes four specialized instruments: NEMISIS, or the Noise Eliminating Magnetometer Instrument in a Small Integrated System, which measures the magnetic fields around Gateway; the Miniaturized Electron pRoton Telescope, or MERiT, which measures ions and electrons; the Electron Electrostatic Analyzer, or EEA, which measures the lower energy electrons that make up most of the solar wind; and the Solar Probe Analyzer for Ions, or SPAN-I, which measures protons and ions including oxygen. Goddard is providing the NEMISIS, MERiT and EEA instruments. SPAN-I is provided by the University of California, Berkeley. Explore further European Gateway experiment will monitor radiation in deep space Credit: CC0 Public Domain/Pixabay A strong majority of American adults over 50including the 37% of older adults who own guns or live with someone who doessupports specific steps that could reduce the risk of firearm injury and death, a new national study shows. The University of Michigan study shows support among older adults for everything from firearm safety counseling by health care providers, and background checks for firearm purchasers, to "red flag" policies that allow for temporary firearm removal from people at high risk of harming themselves or others. The study also highlights opportunities to help older adults recognize and address the risks in their own homes, especially for those who live with children, have heightened suicide risk, or are beginning to experience cognitive decline and/or dementia. For instance, the study shows 24% of firearm owners over age 50 regularly store at least one of their firearms loaded and unlocked, which past research has shown increases the potential risk of accidental or intentional injury. Gun locks and locked storage containers such as gun safes can reduce that risk, as can 'smart guns' that can only be fired by a specific individual. Published this week in the journal Preventive Medicine, the study is based on a national survey of more than 2,000 adults aged 50 to 80 carried out by members of the U-M Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, Injury Prevention Center and Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, along with a colleague from Michigan State University. The researchers conducted the study because one-third of all firearm-related deaths in the United States occur among people in their 50s, 60s and 70s, with 84% of those deaths resulting from suicide. Preventing injury and death among older adults, and the children and teens who live with them, has taken on new urgency because of the rise in such incidents in the past decade, the researchers say. "Just as health care providers and health policymakers have worked to address other preventable causes of injury and death, we hope these findings will inform the effort to reduce the toll of firearm injuries among older adults, while respecting firearm ownership rights," said study leader Patrick Carter, M.D., a U-M emergency physician who co-directs the U-M Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention and directs the Injury Prevention Center. "This is especially true for older adults experiencing depression, cognitive decline, and other conditions that may increase their risk for firearm injury, as well as those with children and teens living with or visiting them." Rebecca Cunningham, M.D., the study's senior author and U-M vice president for research, added, "Firearm safety is about identifying and reducing risk, and creating policies, programs and education that can help achieve this. Every suicide, every accidental shooting, every homicide is a tragedy that affects far more people than just the person pulling the trigger or getting shot. These new data can help us move forward at the societal and personal level." Key findings: The survey covered a wide range of topics, from firearm ownership and storage practices to attitudes toward specific policies and programs. Respondents were also asked about their own health and the presence of children in the home. Ownership and storage 27% of older adults own at least one firearm, and most of these individuals own more than one. Another 10% say they live with someone who owns a firearm. 40% of firearm owners say they regularly store their firearms locked and unloaded, 35% say they store their firearms unlocked and unloaded, and 24% store their firearms loaded and unlocked. Storage practices differed by firearm type, with a larger proportion of handgun owners reporting they stored at least one firearm loaded and unlocked, while only 3% of long-gun owners reported keeping their long guns stored loaded and unlocked. 69% of those who own firearms cited protection as a reason, while 55% cited target shooting or hunting and 30% cited a constitutional right. (Respondents could choose more than one option.) Among those who cited protection as a reason for ownership, only 5% said it was to protect themselves against someone they specifically knew, while most endorsed a general sense they needed the weapon to protect themselves. 20% of firearm owners who have children living with them or visiting regularly said they store at least one firearm unlocked and loaded, compared with 35% of firearm owners who do not have children living with them or visiting. Other research has shown that 75% of adolescent suicides involve a gun from the teen's own home or a relative. Attitudes toward preventive programs and policies Most older adults, both firearm owners and non-firearm owners, said they would be comfortable being asked or counseled about firearm safety by a doctor or other clinician. 69% of firearm owners would be comfortable with healthcare-based screening for firearm ownership, and 63% would be comfortable with receiving counseling about safe firearm storage from a health care provider. The percentages were higher among non-firearm owners, including those who live with a firearm owner. "Red flag" laws and programs that allow family members or police to petition courts to restrict firearm access by people they believe to be a danger to themselves or others met with approval from 79% of firearm owners and 89% of non-firearm owners. 81% of firearm owners and 92% of non-firearm owners support efforts to remove firearms from the homes of older adults with dementia or confusion. 88% of firearm owners and 93% of non-firearm owners support restricting those who are under domestic violence restraining orders from owning or having access to firearms. Background checks for all firearm sales, including private ones between individuals, met with support from 85% of firearm owners and 93% of non-firearm owners. Individual and family characteristics and risk factors Firearm owners were more likely to be white, male and veterans than non-firearm owners, and more likely to be in higher income brackets and to live in rural areas outside the Northeast. 77% of firearm owners had children living with them, or regularly visiting them, compared with 70% of non-firearm owners. 40% of non-firearm owners said that the presence of children in their home influenced their decisions about owning firearms, compared with 20% of those who owned firearms. 40% of firearm owners said they had experienced social isolation or lack of companionship in the last year; the survey was taken just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This percentage was much higher (89%) among older firearm owners who rated their physical or mental health as fair or poor. 9% of the older firearm owners in the survey met criteria for having depression, which is a risk factor for suicide, compared with 8% of non-firearm owners. Explore further People who purchased guns during buying surge more likely to have suicidal thoughts More information: Patrick M. Carter et al, Firearm ownership, attitudes, and safe storage practices among a nationally representative sample of older U.S. adults age 50 to 80, Preventive Medicine (2022). Journal information: Preventive Medicine Patrick M. Carter et al, Firearm ownership, attitudes, and safe storage practices among a nationally representative sample of older U.S. adults age 50 to 80,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.106955 Outcrop of Yedoma sediments with the thick ice masses underlain by river sediments exposed on an arm of the Lena River in the river delta. Credit: Janet Rethemeyer Thawing permafrost in the Arctic could be emitting greenhouse gasses from previously unaccounted-for carbon stocks, fuelling global warming. That is the result of a study conducted by a team of geologists led by Professor Dr. Janet Rethemeyer at the University of Cologne's Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, together with colleagues from the University of Hamburg and the Helmholtz Centre PotsdamGFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. In the Siberian Arctic, the research team determined the origin of carbon dioxide released from permafrost that is thousands of years old. This research endeavor is part of the German-Russian research endeavor "KopfKohlenstoff im Permafrost," funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The research has been published in Frontiers in Earth Science. Global climate change is causing temperatures to rise sharply, especially in the Arctic. Among other things, higher temperatures are causing more and more permafrost soils, which have been frozen for thousands of years, to thaw. Particularly affected is so-called 'yedoma' permafrost, which is widespread in areas that were not covered by ice sheets during the last ice age. Yedoma contains up to 80 per cent ice and is therefore also called ice complex. The ground ice can thaw very abruptly, causing the bedrock to collapse and erode. Such processes, known as thermokarst, make carbon previously stored in the frozen ground accessible to microorganisms, which break it down and release it as carbon dioxide and methane. The greenhouse gas release amplifies global warming, which is known as permafrost-carbon feedback. So far, there are still many uncertainties about the amount of future greenhouse gas release. Among other things, it is not clear how well the ancient carbon that has been frozen in permafrost for thousands of years can be degraded. To find out, the research team took carbon dioxide samples at the Siberian investigation site on the Lena River using specially designed equipment in which carbon dioxide can be stored airtight and transported manner for long periods of time. This is necessary due to the long transport to Germany. Back in Cologne, the researchers then determined the age of the carbon dioxide using the radiocarbon method. In addition, they analyzed the non-radioactive carbon isotopes. Both parameters were then used to calculate how much old and young as well as organic and inorganic carbon had been decomposed in the thawing permafrost. A large proportion of the carbonup to 80 per centcomes from ancient organic matter that was freeze-locked into the sediments more than 30,000 years ago. This means that vegetation remains that died thousands of years ago have been very well 'preserved' in the frozen sediment, making them an attractive food source for microorganisms in the thawing permafrost. In addition, the team found out for the first time that up to 18 per cent of carbon dioxide comes from inorganic sources. "We did not expect that this previously unnoticed carbon source would account for such a high proportion of the total amount of greenhouse gasses released," said first author of the study Jan Melchert from the University of Cologne. For more precise climate predictions, it would be necessary to take this source into account. Future research will have to clarify where exactly the inorganic carbon in the yedoma comes from and through which processes it is released. Explore further New source of the strong greenhouse gas nitrous oxide found in Siberian permafrost More information: Janet Rethemeyer et al, Sources of CO 2 Produced in Freshly Thawed Pleistocene-Age Yedoma Permafrost, Frontiers in Earth Science (2022). Janet Rethemeyer et al, Sources of COProduced in Freshly Thawed Pleistocene-Age Yedoma Permafrost,(2022). DOI: 10.3389/feart.2021.737237/full Artisinal gold miners in the Peruvian Amazon use open pit fires to extract gold, sending methylmercury into the atmosphere. New data shows how that mercury is absorbed by nearby ecosystems. Credit: Melissa Marchese If you had to guess which part of the world has the highest levels of atmospheric mercury pollution, you probably wouldn't pick a patch of pristine Amazonian rainforest. Yet, that's exactly where they are. In a new study appearing Jan. 26 in the journal Nature Communications, an international team of researchers show that illegal gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon is causing exceptionally high levels of atmospheric mercury pollution in the nearby Los Amigos Biological Station. One stand of old-growth pristine forest was found to harbor the highest levels of mercury ever recorded, rivaling industrial areas where mercury is mined. Birds from this area have up to twelve times more mercury in their systems than birds from less polluted areas. The impact and spread of mercury pollution have primarily been studied in aquatic systems. In this study, a team of researchers led by Jacqueline Gerson, who completed this research as part of her Ph.D. at Duke, and Emily Bernhardt, professor of Biology, provide the first measurements of terrestrial deposits of atmospheric methylmercury, the most toxic form of mercury. Illegal miners separate gold particles from river sediments using mercury, which binds to gold, forming pellets large enough to be caught in a sieve. Atmospheric mercury is released when these pellets are burned in open fire ovens. The high temperature separates the gold, which melts, from the mercury, which goes up in smoke. This mercury smoke ends up being washed into the soil by rainfall, deposited onto the surface of leaves, or absorbed directly into the leaves' tissues. To measure this mercury, Gerson and her team collected samples of air, leaf litter, soil and green leaves from the top of trees, which were obtained with the help of a huge slingshot. They focused their collection on four types of environments: forested and deforested, near mining activity or far from mining activity. Two of the forested areas near mining activity are patches with small, scraggly trees, and the third is Los Amigos Biological Station, a pristine old-growth forest that has never been touched. Deforested areas, that would have received mercury solely through rainfall, had low levels of mercury regardless of their distance to the mining activity. Forested areas, which accumulate mercury both on their leaves and into their leaves, weren't all the same. The four areas with scraggly trees, two near mining activity and two further away, had levels of mercury in keeping with world-wide averages. "We found that mature Amazonian forests near gold mining are capturing huge volumes of atmospheric mercury, more than any other ecosystem previously studied in the entire world," said Gerson, who is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. For all forested areas, Gerson and her team measured a parameter called leaf area index, which represents how dense the canopy is. They found that mercury levels were directly related to leaf area index: the denser the canopy, the more mercury it holds. The canopy acts like a catch-all for the gases and particulates originating from the nearby burning of gold-mercury pellets. To estimate how much of the mercury caught in the forest canopy was making its way through the food web, the team measured the mercury accumulated in feathers of three songbird species, in reserve stations near and far from mining activity. Birds from Los Amigos had on average three times, and up to 12 times more mercury in their feathers than those from a more remote biological station. Such high concentrations of mercury could provoke a decline of up to 30% in these birds' reproductive success. "These forests are doing an enormous service by capturing a huge fraction of this mercury and preventing it from getting to the global atmospheric pool," Bernhardt said. "It makes it even more important that they not be burned or deforested, because that would release all that mercury back to the atmosphere." Small-scale artisanal gold mining is an important livelihood for local communities. Akin to the American gold-rush that ravaged California in the 1850s, it is driven by economic necessity, and disproportionally impacts indigenous communities. "This is not something new or exclusive to this area," Bernhardt said. "A very similar thing, with very similar methods, has already been done throughout many of the wealthy countries of the world where gold was available. The demand is just pushing mining further into new areas." "There's a reason why people are mining," Gerson said. "It's an important livelihood, so the goal is not to get rid of mining completely, nor is it for people like us coming in from the United States to be the ones imposing solutions or determining what should happen." "The goal is to highlight that the issues are far vaster than water pollution, and that we need to work with local communities to come up with ways for miners to have a sustainable livelihood and protect indigenous communities from being poisoned through air and water," Gerson said. Explore further Mine ponds amplify mercury risks in Peru's Amazon More information: Amazon Forests Capture High Levels of Atmospheric Mercury Pollution From Artisanal Gold Mining, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Amazon Forests Capture High Levels of Atmospheric Mercury Pollution From Artisanal Gold Mining,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-27997-3 Context of the specimen prior to extraction. (a) Slab A of the fossil (facing stratigraphically upwards). Note convex-down doming of the host sediment. Scale bar 20 cm. (b) Slab B of the fossil (facing stratigraphically downwards). (c) Fallen block in which the fossil was discovered in January 2018 (white circle), showing split in rock where fossil was exposed (white triangle). Black circle denotes position in cliff profile from where the block fell. Listric faults in hanging wall of Howick Fault are highlighted, showing hanging wall thickening of mudrock (HT), attesting to synsedimentary origin (red arrows indicate sense of fault movement). Scale bar 2 m. (d) View of the fallen block (white circle) and original position (black circle) in the context of the Howick Fault damage zone and master fault separating the Alston and Stainmore formations; HT is at same position as in part (c). Host bed is immediately adjacent to one of two synsedimentary (Mississippian) normal faults that were later reactivated as strike-slip faults during the latest Carboniferous to Permian emplacement of the Whin Sill dolerite intrusion (De Paola et al. 2005). This structural context attests to strain in the fossil-bearing sandstone bed prior to full lithification and may explain certain features of the fossil (see main text). Blue dashed line show approximate stratigraphic position of the Lickar Limestone, marking the onset of the late Serpukhovian (Cozar and Somerville 2021). Scale bar 5 m. Photograph in part (d) courtesy of Geospatial Research Limited. Credit: DOI: 10.1144/jgs2021-115 Ever stumbled upon a huge fossil on your holiday? That's what happened to me and two friends in January 2018, on a beach in Howick in the north of England,while on a geological road-trip across England and Wales. It was pure fluke, but it turned out that we had discovered the 326 million-year-old remains of a millipede-like animal of huge proportions. Our research suggests that the living creature would have been around 50cm in width and 2.5 meters in lengthabout as long as an alligatorso we could safely conclude that we had found a fossil of an Arthropleura, the largest invertebrate to have ever lived. It is a creature often found in art and museum displays depicting Earth's Carboniferous period. That was around 360 to 298 million years ago and is associated with abundant coal-producing rainforests. To put that into context, it's over 100 million years before dinosaurs roamed the planet. Until now, large body fossils of this ancient monster were rare. Our knowledge had relied on piecing together snippets of clues from several sites; isolated fragments of legs and exoskeletons that clearly belonged to giant arthropods, or rare near-complete specimens of juvenile Arthropleura that shed light on the animal's body plan, despite being miniature examples no more than 5cm in length. Perhaps most significantly, the most common evidence that Carboniferous Earth was crawling with giant millipede-like animals comes from trace fossils. They are the patterns in sedimentary rocks that were left by animals moving through or over the sediment. In the case of Arthropleura trace fossils, Carboniferous sandstones from Utah to Ukraine are frequently criss-crossed by staccato tramlines that attest to huge arthropods, with many, many legs, leaving their footprints behind as they traversed long lost beaches and riverbeds. Trackways over 50cm wide are relatively common, despite body fossils approaching these dimensions never having been discovered. Stumbling upon the giant fossil The story of our discovery began when my colleagues and I rolled out the geological map of England and Wales and plotted a route that would take us through millions of years of Earth's history over two weeks, going back to 560 million years ago. It meant a back and forth journey, looping 3,000km across the country, with the intent of stopping at coastal cliffs, roadcuts, abandoned quarries and mountainsides. The trip was primarily social, but we were keeping our eyes open for geological stories to explore furtherwe don't accept the sometimes whispered myth that the geology of Britain is "done" and there is no more left to discover. One of our stops took us to a beach at Howick in Northumberland, about 40km south of the Scottish border. After wandering south along the shore during the afternoon, we were heading back for the evening because dusk was settling in. Just before we clambered back up the cliff, one of my friends spotted a recently fallen block of sandstone. It had split down the middle, by chance revealing an enigmatic fossil on both sides of the broken rocka 76cm long collection of 12-14 segments. We took as many photos and notes as possible and contacted a number of Carboniferous arthropod experts worldwide. They all confirmed it had to be Arthropleura. So, with permission from Natural England and the landowners, the Howick Estate, we returned to the site to collect the fossil in May 2018. The collection of the fossil involved taking both a sledgehammer and pneumatic chisel to the fallen block, and we were able to excavate one slab of the fossil completely. The second slab unfortunately broke apart as we removed it, meaning that the slab is now a jigsaw puzzle of about ten pieces. But even this proved serendipitous as it let us see a cross-section through the fossil. Why it's important The fossil, while incomplete, is 76cm by 36cm and weighs over 80Kg, so it takes the crown of the largest arthropod fossil from a slightly smaller Ordovician trilobite specimen (an extinct group of marine arthropods from Canada). It's also the largest Arthropleura fossil ever foundprior to our discovery, the largest semi-complete fossil, on display in the Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt, only reaches a modest 23cm in width. More importantly, using estimates of width to length ratio obtained from smaller and more complete specimens of Arthropleura, we could estimate that in life it again pinches the record for the largest arthropod to have ever lived, this time off a Devonian sea scorpion from Germany. The discovery adds to the global record of Arthropleura evidence from 60 sites in 13 different countries. Collectively, these specimens all occur in locations very close to the ancient Equatorwhich at that time ran through North America and across the UK and Europe to the Ukrainesuggesting that the genus had a very restricted geographic range. Significantly, the Howick specimen is among the oldest evidence for giant Arthropleura and pre-dates any major rises in Carboniferous atmospheric oxygenpreviously suggested to account for arthropod growing so large. This means that the organism may have been so big simply due to environmental factors such as an abundance of food (for example, woody plant debris) and a lack of competition from vertebrates. The sedimentary geology of the fossil is also interestingas with many known trace fossils, the Howick Arthropleura clearly wasn't living in a Carboniferous coal swamp, but rather in an open wooded habitat on a sandy coastline traversed by small rivers. So, our discovery helps to refine the picture of these giant arthropods. Yet the most significant aspect of all is probably the discovery itself. It shows that it is still possible that the world's largest arthropod fossil can be discovered just sitting on a beach, in a well-populated part of the world which has been trawled by geologists, tourists and miners for almost 200 years. An ancient alligator-length millipede is wonderful in itself. But this discovery suggests that there are a lot more unexpected and spectacular finds still to be discovered from Earth's geological record, so long as people keep looking. More information: Neil S. Davies et al, The largest arthropod in Earth history: insights from newly discovered Arthropleura remains (Serpukhovian Stainmore Formation, Northumberland, England), Journal of the Geological Society (2021). Journal information: Journal of the Geological Society Neil S. Davies et al, The largest arthropod in Earth history: insights from newly discovered Arthropleura remains (Serpukhovian Stainmore Formation, Northumberland, England),(2021). DOI: 10.1144/jgs2021-115 This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. A staff member registers information of a resident at a COVID-19 testing site in Xicheng District in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 26, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua] The Chinese mainland on Thursday recorded 39 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said on Friday. Of the new local infections, 16 were reported in Zhejiang, nine in Heilongjiang, eight in Beijing, four in Tianjin, and one each in Guizhou and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, according to the commission. Thursday also saw reports of 25 imported COVID-19 cases across the mainland. Three new suspected cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Shanghai, and no new deaths from COVID-19 were reported on the day, it added. A total of 54 asymptomatic cases were newly reported Thursday, 42 of whom arrived from outside the mainland, according to the commission. As of Thursday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, both local and imported, reported on the Chinese mainland had reached 105,875. There were 2,268 patients still under treatment on Thursday, of whom nine were in severe condition. A total of 4,636 patients had died of the virus on the Chinese mainland since the outbreak of the pandemic. A bronze statue of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna was placed Wednesday at the crash site in Calabasas, California, where the Bryants and seven others were killed. Wednesday marked two years since the helicopter crash, which was determined by federal investigators as having been caused by pilot disorientation due to foggy conditions. Keep scrolling for a gallery of photos of the statue The statue, created by sculptor Dan Medina, shows Kobe Bryant in his Lakers uniform with his arm around Gianna, who is also wearing a basketball uniform with a basketball in her hand. The base of the statue has the names of all nine crash victims inscribed on a plaque. Medina told CNN affiliate KABC the statue would remain at the site temporarily. CNN has reached out to Medina for additional comment. A lawsuit related to the crash is set to go to trial soon as lawyers for Vanessa Bryant -- Kobe's wife and Gianna's mother -- allege photos of the area following the crash, including images of those who died, were shared widely amongst police and fire employees. The trial is to begin on February 22. CNN's Stella Chan contributed to this report. The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Hospitals and nonprofits have been sounding the alarm about a nationwide blood shortage for months. Now, they say, the situation has become a crisis. The American Red Cross warned this month of a national blood crisis, calling it the worst shortage in over a decade, and saying procedures were being delayed and patient care compromised. The Red Cross has been pleading with people to donate blood and platelets. South Jersey is feeling the effects as well. Dr. James Pond, director of laboratory services at Shore Medical Center in Somers Point, said while seasonal drops in blood donations around the holidays and the summer are expected, this drop in supply is more acute. Hospitals across South Jersey have been at critical levels of blood and at times were even well below critical levels, Pond said. NJ cold case detectives seeking answers in 1980 death of Debbie Sadusky in Margate Debra Ann Sadusky is buried in a cemetery near the southwest branch of Rancocas Creek in Med Diane Concannon, a regional spokesperson for the Red Cross in New Jersey, said nonprofits and hospitals in the United States are facing an unprecedented challenge. The Red Cross, which aims to have a five-day supply in blood banks, often has less than one days supply, Concannon said. We have been and are now in crisis mode, she said. Waves of infection fueled by the delta and omicron variants of the coronavirus have forced blood drive cancellations and limited donations as many staff have had to call out sick or quarantine. Donors, too, have had to cancel appointments because of COVID-19 symptoms or exposure. Others are hesitant to gather at a blood drive, fearful of the virus, although the Red Cross stresses its adherence to masking and social-distancing guidelines. The Red Cross which provides about two-fifths of the countrys blood supply has seen a 10% drop in donations since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Many organizations that host blood drives, such as schools, have been closed or reluctant to host drives for the same fears, Concannon said. There has been a 62% decline in high school and college blood drives over the course of the pandemic, according to data kept by the Red Cross. Students, who provided about a quarter of all blood donations in 2019, represent roughly one-tenth of donations since the pandemic. In January, two storms forced hundreds of blood-drive cancellations and resulted in the loss of about 6,500 blood and platelet donations. As a result of strained supply, the Red Cross has had to limit its distribution of blood products to hospitals. If the situation worsens, triaging blood may occur. Physicians are already asking some of their patients whether they would be willing to postpone elective surgeries. Meanwhile, demand, which may have decreased at the start of the pandemic as the state and nation practiced isolation, is on the rise. Concannon noted that demand for blood as a result of trauma caused by incidents like car accidents is growing. And elective surgeries, which had been restricted earlier, have also resumed. The thing that everybody fears the most is physicians or hospitals having to make choices in emergency situations about who gets a very precious, lifesaving resource if theres not enough of it on the shelf and theres need by multiple patients at the same time, Pond said. Those are tough ethical problems that hospitals and physicians dont like to find themselves in. Many hospitals are being more conservative after the Red Cross warned that some hospitals may not receive a quarter of the blood products they need. Since (the Red Cross) made that announcement, everybody has been on notice that were in this crisis, so hospitals themselves have been doing their best to limit the use of the limited resource that we have, Pond said. Dr. Craig Jurasinski, chief of pathology for the Cape Regional Health System, echoed Ponds concerns. Jurasinski said that in summer 2021, the Red Cross became unable to fulfill Cape Regionals normal delivery requests and that the situation has worsened since then. There are now some days where Cape Regional receives no Red Cross blood deliveries at all, Jurasinski said. He has been reviewing every transfusion request for at least the past six months and asking that doctors adopt stricter metrics for deciding when a patient needs a transfusion. He stressed that all patients who need transfusions are still receiving them. Egg Harbor Township woman gets 21 years in jail for fatal crash MAYS LANDING An Egg Harbor Township woman will spend over two decades in state prison for Dr. William Todd, medical director of laboratory and transfusion services for AtlantiCare, said he and his colleagues are taking similar precautions to ensure there is enough blood on hand for the procedures that are scheduled. AtlantiCare has had to reschedule some of its elective procedures, although fewer than 10, Todd said, while stressing the need for blood donors. It really, truly is a gift of life, Todd said. Theres nothing else that Im aware of that you can do that can potentially save the lives of three different people in one occurrence. Dr. Scott Wagner, president of Inspira Medical Group, said Inspira is experiencing similar issues but has been fortunate that we have been able to maintain a supply that has met the needs of our patients. Wagner thanked the Red Cross for recently increasing the amount of blood being delivered to hospitals in the region and for donors who are working to help restock the regional blood bank. We are grateful to everyone who donates, Wagner said. You are truly helping us save lives. If you are eligible, please consider donating at an upcoming Red Cross blood drive. Cancer benefit for Brigantine woman set for Sunday at The Cove BRIGANTINE Drivers on the White Horse Pike heading into Atlantic City this month may have Dave Genter, a biology teacher at Atlantic Christian School in Egg Harbor Township, where he is faculty adviser to the student council, said he and the students felt a particular need to help. The school has organized three blood drives this year and is aiming to get 35 to 40 donations at its Feb. 9 drive. Jesus shed his blood so we can live, therefore we can shed a little blood so others can have a chance to live longer as well, Genter said. AtlantiCare also hosted one of its regularly scheduled Red Cross blood drives for its staff Wednesday. Kelly Vasquez, director of clinical services quality and transfusion service at AtlantiCare, said 51 staff members participated, five of whom with blood types O-positive and O-negative opted to give power-red donations in which they donated two units of blood. She said the drive also took in several walk-in donors. Incentives to donate blood are common. Those who donate at a Red Cross blood drive in January will be entered to win two tickets to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles on Feb. 13. There are also raffles for home-theater packages that will arrive in time for the Super Bowl. Those who give blood in February can receive a $10 Amazon gift card. Contact Chris Doyle cdoyle@pressofac.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. On Jan. 11, 2002, a U.S. military plane landed at our base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the first men deemed the worst of the worst by then-Vice President Dick Cheney were brought into the now-infamous detention center. Jumah Al-Dossari, a citizen of both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia whom I would eventually represent, arrived a few days later. He was held as an enemy combatant based on the accusation that he was a member of al-Qaida, a claim made without substantiation or allegation that he had done anything to harm the U.S., its citizens or its allies. Similarly, most detainees at Guantanamo were not said to have committed any hostile acts against the U.S. or its allies. Yet 20 years after the first prisoners were brought there, Guantanamo remains open largely because of congressional intransigence. The U.S. chose Guantanamo to detain people captured in the war on terror after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, primarily because it was not on American soil. The governments theory was that holding foreigners outside the U.S. would prevent our courts from exercising jurisdiction over claims by the detainees, effectively ensuring that those held would have no enforceable rights. But in 2004, the Supreme Court ruled in Rasul v. Bush that detainees could file habeas corpus petitions, which allowed them to meet with lawyers. By then, the governments assumption that those held in Guantanamo would be revealed as high-value terrorists had unraveled. Even the facilitys commanders admitted many detainees had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. When I first met Jumah in October 2004, I didnt believe that all Guantanamo detainees were, as Donald Rumsfeld had described them, the best-trained vicious killers. Still, I was nervous. My anxiety quickly dissolved. Jumah looked too gaunt to be a physical threat and his smile was disarming. And we were quickly chatting about American movies (Jumanji was his favorite), his daughter and Egyptian cuisine. At one point, he asked if I was Jewish, based on my first name. When I told him no, he looked disappointed. I heard the best lawyers were Jewish, he said, before adding, Im sure youre good too. During our visits over the next year, Jumah and I talked about family and romantic relationships. Over time, he had learned a lot of English from the guards, particularly slang. He said that once an interrogator threatened him, saying, You cant punk me, (expletive deleted), Im from Brooklyn. We co-opted the line to express mock indignation with each other. Jumah also gained a command of racial epithets from the guards, but he made me promise not to tell his mother he knew those bad words. However, it was not all gallows humor and easy conversation. Jumah described abuses such as being beaten unconscious and having an interrogator smear what she said was menstrual blood on him, accounts corroborated by reports from U.S. personnel. But he said his most painful experience was being held in long-term solitary confinement. In October 2004, on my fourth visit to Guantanamo, Jumah was despondent. After being released from the hospital following a hunger strike, he had been returned to isolation, contrary to what a doctor had promised. An hour into our meeting, he asked me to leave the room so he could use the bathroom. Soon after leaving, I started feeling anxious and cracked the door to the cell open. I saw Jumah hanging by his neck, unconscious, with blood flowing from a gash in his arm. He had emergency surgery and survived. After this suicide attempt, I asked that Jumah be moved out of isolation. In July 2007, and after several more suicide attempts, Jumah was released from Guantanamo and sent to Saudi Arabia through a diplomatic agreement. When I eventually visited him at his home there in 2009, I held his newborn daughter and ate dinner with his family. I wondered what the U.S. had gained from holding him for over five years. Twenty years after Guantanamo opened, that question applies to the entire operation. Seven hundred and thirty-two detainees, most held for years, have been released. Of the 39 people still imprisoned, most are detained as combatants. Thirteen have been cleared for release yet remain jailed. And, of course, the war in Afghanistan is over. The five that have been charged with helping plot the 9/11 attacks have yet to be tried. Keeping Guantanamo open costs about $13 million annually per detainee and the facility is a symbol of human rights abuses by the U.S. But it remains open almost entirely because Congress has barred transferring detainees to prisons in the U.S. and has restricted transfers to other countries. There is little reason to believe that things will change in the near future, though President Joe Biden, like Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush before him, has said he wants to close Guantanamo. If a solution to closing Guantanamo isnt found, the U.S. will end up perpetually imprisoning an aging population of men who should be tried in federal courts, or should have been set free long ago. A revolution in university admissions appears to be at hand. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear two cases on affirmative action in higher education, raising the likelihood that it will strike down the practice in the near future. The only thing surprising about this development is the timing, in the same Supreme Court term that already promises blockbuster conservative judgments on abortion and guns. The legality of race-based preferences in college admissions has been hanging by a thread for decades: Certainly since 2003, when Justice Sandra Day OConnor provided the swing vote in favor, and arguably since 1978, when it was Justice Lewis Powell. Today, it would take two swing voters, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, to preserve the status quo. The legal background goes back to the 1970s, when Powell wrote a single-justice concurrence in a case called Regents of California v. Bakke that has remained the law ever since. The basic question, then as now, was whether it violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment for a public university to take account of an applicants race in making an admissions decision. Liberals devised affirmative action to remedy the history of racism in admissions. But Powell did not embrace that rationale to explain why it was constitutional. Instead, he said that it was permissible for universities to consider race as part of an effort to create a diverse student body. The rationale came from a friend-of-the-court brief filed by Harvard University (where I teach) in which the university articulated a vision in which all students were said to have something special to contribute, whether they were Idaho farm boys or people of color. In the decades that followed, diversity became not just a legal rationale to allow affirmative action, but a value in itself, now inextricably linked to racial diversity. At the same time, conservative opposition to affirmative action has never waned. Constitutional attacks by activist groups have been a regular feature of the politics around it both in the form of referenda, as in California, and in the form of legal challenges seeking to overturn Powells Bakke opinion. In 2003, OConnor provided the vote to keep diversity-based affirmative action constitutional as part of an overall qualitative assessment of candidates, even as she also held that race could not be counted quantitatively as part of a points system. The cases were Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger, both involving the University of Michigan. When OConnor retired and Justice Anthony Kennedy became the courts main swing voter, conservatives thought they were poised to end affirmative action altogether, since Kennedy had voted with them in Grutter and Gratz. But to their surprise and outrage, Kennedy flipped sides. In the 2016 case of Fisher v. University of Texas, he cast the deciding vote to uphold consideration of race as part of a holistic admissions analysis guided by diversity. For both OConnor and Kennedy, the key motivation seems to have been that striking down affirmative action would leave elite universities with fewer Black and Latino students than the percentage in the general population. Neither justice wanted to be the direct cause of the cultural crisis that could emerge if those numbers changed drastically as a result of a judicial decision. The question now is whether Roberts, who has consistently voted to strike down affirmative action, and Kavanaugh, who hasnt yet had the chance to vote on the issue on the Supreme Court, would go the way of Kennedy. That would entail betraying conservative orthodoxy. Roberts has shown a willingness to do that to preserve the courts reputation for judicial consistency. But to do it again he would need Kavanaughs vote, too. Kavanaugh has long-standing ties to both Yale, where he went for college and law school, and Harvard Law school, where he taught for many years as a visiting professor. He also clerked for Kennedy. Under different circumstances, those social facts might have given reason to suspect that he might be inclined to defer to the universities long-standing practices. But Kavanaugh is already under criticism by conservatives for joining Roberts in upholding President Joe Bidens vaccine mandate for health-care workers. Deviating from the movements position on affirmative action would put him at risk for being treated as an enemy by liberals on some issues and conservatives on others. The upshot is that this is likely to be the end of the road for the diversity rationale. Given that Harvards diversity theory provided the original rationale embraced by Powell in the Bakke case, perhaps its fitting that Harvard is a party to one of the two cases the court just agreed to hear. The key constitutional decision would have to come in the other case, involving the University of North Carolina, which is a public institution. The Harvard case, however, may serve the conservative justices as a good rhetorical tool. In the Harvard case, anti-affirmative-action activists argued that diversity provided cover for discriminating against Asian-American applicants. The lower courts rejected that charge. But the conservative justices could revive the claim to buttress the argument that affirmative action inherently violates the equal-protection guarantee for those who dont benefit from it. If that happens, and affirmative action ends, universities will have to find ways to respond. They already are experimenting with potential mechanisms to do so. Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, a professor of law at Harvard University and a former clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter. I just spent the past 35 minutes of my wasted life pointlessly trying to guess a five-letter word. Wordle is evil and has plagued our fragile earth for too long. It must be stopped. Unless you live under a rock, and unless that rock has lousy wi-fi, you should know what Wordle is by now. The popular online puzzle game has gone viral out of nowhere and suddenly the whole world's obsessed with 5-letter words. The brainchild of software engineer (and apparent masochist) Josh Wardle, Wordle's daily puzzles are just perfect for those of us who like to augment our morning cup of coffee with anguishing mental torture. The premise is simple: Each day, players get six attempts to correctly identify a random five-letter word. With each guess, Wordle will tell you: (a) which letters of your guess are NOT in the word of the day, (b) which letters of your guess ARE in the daily word, but are in the wrong position, and (c) which letters you've guessed correctly in the correct position. Given this information, you have six tries to correctly identify the word of the day. That's all there is to it. There's only ONE Wordle puzzle per day, and every player around the globe gets the same puzzle, so don't spoil the daily answer for anyone unless you're willing to face the harsh wrath of the online masses. Wordle makes it easy to share your daily score on social media -- so now when I log onto Facebook, half my feed is taken up by people posting Wordle scores. The first time I played, I correctly identified the Wordle of the day in TWO guesses. "Oh wow," I thought to myself. "I'm really good at this. Clearly, I am skilled and gifted at word puzzles. Let me share these results so as to impress my friends and followers with my clear genius." For 24 hours, I loved Wordle. Then I played the next day. My first guess didn't contain ONE correct letter. My second guess revealed there was a "U" and a "K" in the word. By my fourth guess, I was desperate. "Is it CRUNK?" (It was not.) Umm, Is BRUNK a word? (It is not.) Is FRUNK a word? (No. But, let's be honest here, it absolutely should be.) That second day, I swear to you I stared at my phone for almost a half hour, sweat dripping from my forehead. At one point, I yelled into the open air and sent various cats flying out of the room. Eventually, I threw my phone on the couch and stomped off to fold laundry, which I'm pretty sure is the adult equivalent of taking my ball and going home. I'm finally coming to terms with the ugly truth: I am really, really bad at Wordle. Turns out it was PURE LUCK that first day when I got the word in two tries. Most days, it takes me 5 or 6. Some days, I can't get it at all. I can only assume Josh Wardle created this game in hopes of giving people a fun, relaxing brain-teaser to take their mind off things. Instead, it's daily torture that raises my blood pressure and drives me neurotic. Why am I terrible at this game? I'M A WRITER. I've typed a kajillion five-letter words in this column alone. Ooh, wait -- is ALONE today's Wordle? Nope. ARRRGH. Why am I playing this daily nightmare? I don't find it enjoyable in the slightest. I find it maddening. But I'm doing it because all my friends are doing it and I have to post my stupid score to Facebook every stupid day. I have enough quite enough fear in my life as is. Now I get to add the fear of dying in my sleep and the police discovering my corpse next to seventeen pieces of scrap paper filled with 5-letter words and the one cop will turn to the other and go, "Yep, we got us a lunatic" and THAT will be my legacy. "Here lies Shane... he was really frunking bad at Wordle." Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Braving the snow, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited north China's Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday on an inspection tour ahead of the Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 1 this year. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, learned about local post-disaster reconstruction, crop replanting, and measures to keep people warm in the winter during the trip. For 10 years in a row, Xi has made it a tradition to visit ordinary people, especially the disadvantaged groups, ahead of the Spring Festival, the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar. The following are some of the most memorable moments of Xi's interactions with these people during his pre-Spring Festival tours. 2022, Shanxi Visiting Duancun Village in Fenxi County, Shanxi Province, Xi checked the kitchen, the bedroom and the sheepfold in a villager's home, and asked about the family's income and their life. Xi was pleased to learn that the family, after shaking off poverty in late 2016, has prospered through raising sheep and seeking work in other places. "The CPC's resolve to ensure all Chinese people live happy lives has remained unchanged for more than a century, and it will not falter," Xi said. 2021, Guizhou Xi visited Huawu Village, which successfully eliminated poverty through crop planting and animal husbandry as well as tourism, during his inspection to southwest China's Guizhou Province. He was invited to the home of Zhao Yuxue, a Miao villager, and made traditional festival food "Huangba" with Zhao's family. He also visited a Miao embroidery workshop, urging efforts to promote ethnic and traditional cultures. "This year, we will secure the great victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, achieving the first centenary goal," Xi told villagers at a public square. "No ethnic group should be left behind." 2020, Yunnan Xi went to the home of farmer Li Fashun in Simola Wa Village, Yunnan Province, where he learned about the family's daily life, and was invited to join the family in making rice cakes. He also beat a wooden drum of the Wa ethnic group three times, a local ritual activity to bless the coming year. The year 2020 marked the deadline for China to eliminate absolute poverty. During the inspection, Xi noted that shaking off poverty is the starting point for a new and happy life, urging vigorously promoting rural vitalization after a moderately prosperous society in all respects is achieved. 2019, Beijing Xi visited the hutong neighborhoods of central Beijing and dropped into two courtyards along the hutong, inquiring about the living conditions of local residents after the renovation projects in the neighborhood. "What the CPC pursues is to make the people's life better," he told the residents, gladly chatting and making dumplings with them. Xi also went to a property service center to visit staff and community workers, and stepped into a restaurant, chatted with the owner and some customers, and wished them good luck. Visiting an express delivery station, Xi stressed that priority should be given to solving employment problems and creating more jobs. He praised the hard work of deliverymen, saying they were "busy as bees" to bring convenience to people's lives. 2018, Sichuan Xi went deep into the mountains of impoverished Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Sichuan Province. In two ethnic Yi villages, Xi was happy to learn that villagers have increased their incomes by raising cattle and growing potatoes, peppers and walnuts. "Not a single ethnic group or family should be left behind in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects," Xi said. He also told villagers later during the inspection: "My job is to serve the people." 2017, Hebei Xi went to a village in Hebei Province, a short drive from Beijing. In the house of poor villager Xu Wan, Xi asked about the family's drinking water, TV programs and activities the family had planned for the Lunar New Year. Xi sat down with Xu and helped him with his household budget. While visiting villager Xu Haicheng's home, Xi chatted with village cadres and farmers, and said poverty eradication is the "bottom-line task" in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. 2016, Jiangxi Xi visited the house of Zuo Xiufa, grandson of a revolutionary martyr living in a poverty-stricken village in the city of Jinggangshan, Jiangxi Province. Xi was glad to see that Zuo had shaken off poverty by using local bamboo resources to start his own processing business. Calling Jinggangshan the cradle of the Chinese revolution, Xi called for carrying forward the Jinggangshan Spirit in the modern context. 2015, Shaanxi Xi met with old acquaintances from Liangjiahe Village, Shaanxi Province, where he had spent seven years as an adolescent and young adult. "I will never forget the villagers here and the people in the old revolutionary base," Xi said. "A well-off society is incomplete if people in old revolutionary base areas cannot shake off poverty," Xi said later during a meeting with officials from Shaanxi and neighboring provincial regions in northwest China. 2014, Inner Mongolia Braving the cold in northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xi visited the home of forestry worker Guo Yongcai in a border town. Inside the house in a dilapidated neighborhood, Xi checked the cellar and the fireplace and chatted with Guo to learn about his difficulties. He later went to a children's welfare home where he used sign language to interact with the hearing-impaired. Xi called for love for children, especially orphans and the disabled, from across the society. 2013, Gansu Xi went to villages located in a hostile natural environment in northwestern Gansu Province, asking villagers whether they had enough food, sufficient subsistence allowances, and access to medical and educational resources. He emphasized stepping up efforts to ensure millions in arid parts of Gansu have access to stable supply of drinking water. Xi also visited a construction site to learn about the rebuilding work of the county seat, where a landslide two years earlier had caused severe damages. There, he chatted with migrant workers, ordering better protection of their legitimate rights and interests. KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) A Wisconsin judge on Friday approved an agreement by lawyers to destroy the assault-style rifle that Kyle Rittenhouse used to shoot three people during a 2020 street protest. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said the state crime lab would destroy the gun, probably in April. Judge Bruce Schroeder, the Kenosha County judge who presided over Rittenhouse's trial, approved the agreement. Rittenhouse was not in court for Friday's hearing. Rittenhouse shot the men during the protest in Kenosha in 2020. He killed Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm. Rittenhouse argued he fired in self-defense after each of the men attacked him. A jury last year acquitted him of multiple charges, including homicide. Rittenhouse's attorney, Mark Richards, filed a motion Jan. 19 asking prosecutors to return Rittenhouse's rifle, his ammunition, his face mask and other clothing he was wearing the night of the shooting to him. Richards and David Hancock, a spokesman for Rittenhouse, said last week that Rittenhouse, who is now 19, wanted to destroy the rifle and throw the rest of the items away so nothing can be used as a political symbol or trophy celebrating the shootings. The rest of Rittenhouse's property has been returned to him, Binger told the judge. Conservatives across the nation have praised Rittenhouse, saying he was defending Kenosha from far-left militants. Liberals have painted him as a trigger-happy vigilante. Meanwhile, another legal fight is brewing over the fate of the $2 million conservatives raised to cover Rittenhouse's bail. Richards filed a motion Thursday seeking the money, with plans to divide it between his law firm and the #FightBack Foundation. Attorneys Lin Wood and John Pierce, who were representing Rittenhouse in the early days of case, formed the foundation to raise money for him. Richards also wants to give $150,000 back to actor Ricky Schroder, who donated to Rittenhouse's defense. The Patent and Trademark Hedge Fund Trust filed a motion Thursday laying claim to the $2 million as well. The trust's attorneys argue they're Pierce's creditors so they deserve all the money. Demonstrators took to the streets for a number of nights in Kenosha in August 2020 after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back as Blake was resisting arrest during a domestic disturbance. The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down. The protests turned chaotic at times, with people burning buildings. Rittenhouse and his friend, Dominick Black, joined a group of militia members to protect a used car lot on the night of Aug. 25, 2020. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at time and living in Antioch, Illinois, was armed with an AR-15-style rifle that Black had purchased for him earlier that year because he was too young to buy a firearm under Wisconsin law. According to the motion, Black had agreed that the rifle would become Rittenhouse's property on his 18th birthday, Jan. 3, 2021. Bystander and surveillance video shows that just before midnight Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse down and Rittenhouse shot him as he closed in on him. He shot Huber after Huber swung a skateboard at his head and Grosskreutz after Grosskreutz ran up to him holding a pistol. Everyone involved in the shooting was white. Black pleaded no contest to two citations earlier this month for contributing to the delinquency of a minor in exchange for prosecutors dropping two felony charges of intent to sell a dangerous weapon to a person younger than 18. *** Richmond reported from Madison, Wisconsin. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DES MOINES Calling it simple, sustainable and largely in line with Gov. Kim Reynolds plan, Iowa House Republicans unveiled their plan Thursday for state income tax reductions, the third proposal now circulating in the Iowa Capitol. The House Republican plan would gradually reduce the state tax on Iowa workers income until all workers income was taxed at 4 percent. That is what Republican governor also proposed earlier this month, as is the House proposal to eliminate the state tax on retirement income. Where House Republicans go their own way is on business taxes. Their proposal does not include a reduction of Iowas corporate tax rate. Reynolds and Senate Republicans tied a corporate tax rate reduction to their plans. The House Republican plan, according to a staff analysis, is estimated to provide $1.7 billion in tax relief and thus a reduction in state revenue once fully implemented. The plan includes transferring $829 million over six years from the states taxpayer trust fund to help offset that reduction in revenue. The House plans price tag is close to the estimated $1.6 billion cost of Reynolds plan, but less than the estimated $2 billion cost of Senate Republicans proposal. Iowas current state budget is just more than $8 billion. Ive been clear that we want to have something thats simple as part of our tax plan, thats sustainable as part of our tax plan, and something that works without having to raise any taxes, Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, told reporters Thursday. I think that bill that we introduced (Thursday) achieves all of those goals. Jennifer Konfrst, leader of the minority House Democrats from Windsor Heights, said Democrats plan to introduce their own tax proposal, which they say will focus on reductions targeted to middle-class workers. Democrats have criticized Republicans flat tax ideas as disproportionately benefiting higher wage earners. Democrats believe we need a fair tax system that rewards work, provides real relief to middle class families, and puts more money in the pockets of working families, Konfrst said in a statement. The latest GOP tax scheme will leave too many Iowans behind. We dont need more tax giveaways to the special interests, corporations, and millionaires. Zach Wahls, leader of the minority Senate Democrats from Coralville, said during a news conference Thursday that an analysis shows that the Senate Republican plan will raise taxes on some Iowans and will not help solve the states worker shortage. At the end of the day I think it just shows a clear contrast between Democrats and Republicans, Wahls said. The Republican plan will benefit corporations and the wealthiest Iowans. Democrats are focused on supporting hard work, rewarding work and not wealth, and putting more money in the pockets of hardworking Iowa families. Republicans, who have full control of the state lawmaking process with majorities in the House and Senate and a Republican governor, now have three different tax proposals on the table. Leaders will have to negotiate those proposals into one tax plan. Republican leaders in both the Senate and House have said they expect to move quickly on the legislative process for their respective plans, likely starting each next week. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SPRINGFIELD Demanding what they call common sense ethics reform, Senate Republicans plan to take action in addressing unethical behavior by elected public officials. Upon introducing the ethics reforms package, Senate Republicans called for the legislative inspector general position to be filled through an independent search committee. Republicans said Democrats need to end the political games and hire a legislative watchdog. It is not OK to have the legislative inspector generals seat empty, and it is not OK for the majority party to play political games with an issue as important as legislative ethics, and it is not OK for legislators to think they can police themselves, Sen. Don DeWitte, R-St. Charles, said during a virtual news conference. The position has been vacant since LIG Carol Pope left the position on Jan. 6. Since exiting, a 45-day countdown started to find an interim LIG but the commission is currently at an impasse. If the position is still vacant in six months, the Illinois auditor general will choose the next LIG. Republicans also filed legislation to increase LIGs power that would allow the person in that position the ability to subpoena lawmakers and make the Ethics Commission meetings open to the public. To address the shortcomings Republicans felt were not properly addressed in the last reform bill, Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, introduced Senate Bill 3636, which takes meaningful action to address corruption within the state government. The legislation would build on SB 539, which was passed in 2021. Sen. Sally Turner, R-Lincoln, says the bill addresses glaring omissions left out of last years bill. Were continuing to push from last year for strong common sense reforms that will truly root out the corruption our state has become all too known for, Turner said. Senate Bill 3636 would prevent spouses and other close family living with a General Assembly member from engaging in lobbying if they accept compensation, and prevent legislators from negotiating for employment with lobbying entities while holding public office. Its too easy for legislators to spend their time in Springfield advocating on behalf of special interests instead of their constituents, Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro said. Under last years bill, a six-month revolving door provision banned legislators from lobbying until six months after leaving office. The new provision in SB 3636 would extend the ban to 12 months. The bill would also allow the attorney general to expand the authority of a statewide grand jury to investigate, indict, and prosecute public corruption cases, and give states attorneys power to investigate corruption of public officials. We must bring an end to the known practices that lead to unethical behavior, Tracy said. Then and only then will we be able to take back our government for one that serves the people of the state of Illinois. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SPRINGFIELD December unemployment reports from the Illinois Department of Employment Security show the number of jobless people seeking work is shrinking across the Land of Lincoln. A Thursday press release from IDES said the unemployment rate was reduced over the past year in all 14 of Illinois' metropolitan areas for the ninth consecutive month, with the statewide average falling 3.6%, from 7.9% in December 2020 to 4.3% in December 2021. The findings are based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and IDES. The Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights statistical region led Illinois with the greatest drop in unemployment rate that was brought down by 4.2% since December 2020, to 4.5% last month. The Decatur metro area saw the second-biggest cut in jobless workers, which was negated 3.5% over the prior year. The Springfield metro area took the third-largest rate decline, closely following Decatur's turnaround with a loss of 3.4%. However, the data still placed Decatur as having the second-highest unemployment rate of 5.7%, trailing Rockford by just over half a percent. The Champaign-Urbana metro area championed Illinois as having the lowest unemployment rate of 3.2% at the end of 2021. Bloomington's statistical region is not far behind its neighbor to the east, after chopping its rate down 2.6% to 3.3% last month. Yet unlike the rest of Illinois, IDES noted the Twin Cities actually lost 600 nonfarm jobs across 2021. Every other metro area in Illinois added jobs in that same timeframe. Similar losses to the unemployment rate were found in: Carbondale-Marion, down 2.3% to 3.8%; Quad Cities, down 2.4% to 3.7%; and Metro East, down 2.6% to 3.5%. Additionally, Coles County dropped its rate 2.6% to 3.6% since December 2020. Also in Carbondale-Marion was the the greatest one-year percentage gain in total nonfarm jobs, jumping 5.9% with an additional 3,300 work placements. IDES said industries that created new jobs in a majority of metro areas include leisure, hospitality and other services; government; wholesale trade and transportation; warehousing and public utilities; manufacturing, professional and business services; and education and health services. All in all, 261,900 new jobs were created in Illinois over 2021. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In what will be one of the most monumental endeavors of Joe Biden's presidency, the retirement of Stephen Breyer sets the stage for an immense A Clinton man awaiting sentencing on meth trafficking and cocaine possession convictions was arrested Wednesday by Clinton Police for peddling methamphetamine. Willie Cherry IV, 47, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. The charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years. Cherry also is charged with an Iowa drug tax stamp violation and possession of marijuana-third offense. Both charges are Class D felonies that carry a prison sentence of five years. According to the arrest affidavits filed by Clinton Police Officer Brett Johnson, at 4:05 p.m. Thursday, Johnson and his partner Officer Fabian Harper, noticed a maroon 2006 Pontiac Montana with no registration plates. Johnson knew that the driver of the vehicle, Chad Smith, does not have a valid drivers license in Iowa. Harper knew two of the passengers in the vehicle and identified them as Kristina Christenson and Willie Cherry. While writing a citation to Smith for driving on a suspended license, a K9 officer arrived with the drug dog Griz to perform an open-air sniff of the vehicle. Griz alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle. A black backpack was located on the floor near the back passengers seat where Cherry was seated. A Visa debit card with Cherrys name on it was found inside the backpack. From the backpack, officers seized a clear plastic baggie with 29.32 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a clear plastic baggie with 11.41 grams of suspected methamphetamine and a clear plastic wrap with 1.74 grams of suspected marijuana. The methamphetamine found in the vehicle totaled 40.73 grams. Police have said that the normal dose of meth is one-tenth of a gram, meaning Cherry had at least 407 doses of methamphetamine to sell. Cherry was arrested and taken to the Clinton County Jail. While at the jail, Cherry admitted he had additional narcotics on him. During a strip search, Cherry gave officers a small clear plastic baggie that contained 6 grams, or 60 doses, of methamphetamine. Cherry was being held Thursday in the Clinton County Jail on a cash-only bond of $25,000. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Feb. 4 in Clinton County District Court. Cherry is scheduled to be sentenced Feb 17 in Clinton County District Court after pleading guilty Nov. 18 to one count of possession with the intent to deliver less than 5 grams of meth, a Class C felony that carries a 10-year prison term, and possession of a controlled substance-cocaine-third offense, a Class D felony that carries a five-year prison term. In that case, Cherry was accused of selling meth on two occasions to a confidential source working with the Blackhawk Area Task Force. The first controlled buy was conducted at 11:15 a.m. on Jan. 5. Cherry sold 3.46 grams of meth for $150. The second buy occurred at noon Jan. 27, during which Cherry sold a confidential source 3.42 grams of meth for $140. One of those charges was dropped in the plea agreement. According to Clinton County District Court electronic records, Clinton County prosecutors are recommending that Cherry be sentenced to 10 years in prison in that case. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The city of Davenport and the Davenport Police Department are being sued by the family of a woman who died as a result of a high-speed police chase in 2019. Lori Letts, 48, was driving through the intersection at Kimberly Road and North Fairmount Street on June 13, 2019, when she was hit by Angel Domingo Ochoa, then 19. Ochoa was fleeing from a Davenport police officer and ran a red light at the intersection. Letts died as a result of the crash. Ochoa was charged with two counts of homicide by vehicle, and a count each of serious injury by vehicle and interference with official acts. He pleaded guilty in December 2019 to one of the homicide counts, and the counts of serious injury and interference, as part of a plea deal. He was sentenced in February 2020 to 15 years in prison. The pursuing officer, Michael Stegall, and his supervisor, Cpl. Thomas S. Runge, are both included as defendants on the wrongful death suit, along with the Davenport Police Department and the city of Davenport. The suit was filed in Scott County Court by Lori's husband, Garth Letts, on behalf of himself and Lori's estate. The suit claims that there was no emergency warranting a chase when Stegall requested permission from Runge to pursue Ochoa. Stegall had attempted to pull Ochoa over because the Lincoln Town Car Ochoa was driving had no tail lights, and Ochoa and his passenger were not wearing seat belts. Instead of pulling over, Ochoa fled. According to police statements after the incident, Stegall recognized Ochoa from the police department's "pursuable list," which included individuals who had recent involvement in shootings or crimes involving guns. Stegall asked permission to chase Ochoa, and was given verbal permission by Runge, the suit claims. Stegall was driving an unmarked patrol car and turned on flashing red lights and sirens for the pursuit. At the time, Ochoa had felony and misdemeanor charges pending in several cases. According to arrest affidavits, Ochoa drove between 80 and 90 mph during the chase. The lawsuit states an investigation by the Iowa State Patrol concluded Ochoa likely drove more than 100 miles per hour. The suit charges each defendant with one count of negligence, and says the city and the police department are responsible for actions of their officers. The suit also outlines damages suffered by the estate of Lori Letts, including loss of net accumulation to the estate, burial expenses and pre-death pain and suffering. "Plaintiff Garth Letts has lost the love, consortium, society, and companionship of his beloved wife of 32 years, Lori Letts, and is entitled to damages for said losses," the suit states. The plaintiffs have not requested a specific monetary amount, but rather are asking the judge to rule in their favor for "an amount that will fairly and reasonably compensate them for their damages." The suit is currently in litigation and a settlement conference is scheduled for Sept. 9. A jury trial is currently scheduled for Oct. 10. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 6 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. SPRINGFIELD - COVID-19 is once again sweeping through Illinois prisons, sickening thousands of Illinois prisoners and hundreds of staff members. And while hospitalizations have been rare during the latest wave, state prison officials are struggling to keep a lid on the infection rate. The prison system is better prepared for the omicron surge than it had been in previous waves of the disease, in part because the prison population has plummeted by more than 25% in the past two years. But this latest COVID-19 surge follows years of systemic lapses by the Illinois Department of Corrections, experts say, at providing medical and mental health care to an ever-aging population deeply affected by psychiatric issues failures that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. When COVID hit (Illinois prisons), it was like you had a cracked rock and took a sledgehammer to it, said Jobi Cates, the executive director and founder of Restore Justice, a nonprofit advocating for less punitive sentencing, particularly for youths. IDOC appeared to have the pandemic largely under control, with fewer than 160 incarcerated people and staffers infected with COVID-19 throughout Illinois as recently as early December. But the number of infections has shot up since then with the emergence of the omicron variant. In mid-January, 3,300 incarcerated people and nearly 1,100 staff members at Illinois prisons were infected with the disease. While hospitalizations have been rare during the latest wave, according to the state, one person in custody and two staff members have died. With the pandemic fast approaching its third year, state prison officials are facing difficulties containing the virus once again because of the lagging vaccine rate of prison staff, the main conduit of COVID-19 into the prisons. In August, Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered all guards to be vaccinated, but their union protested the mandate and took it to arbitration. The governor prevailed in late December. Now, all prison workers must have their first shot by the end of January. By the end of December, 65% of prison staff had been vaccinated, according to department officials who nevertheless remain confident that nearly all staff will meet the January deadline, citing markedly improving vaccination rates since the end of October, when only 49% were vaccinated. But the slow rollout means very few of them only 12% have had booster shots, which are administered six months after the first round of vaccines but are crucial to warding off the omicron variant. By comparison, 44% of Illinois prisoners had received boosters by the end of the 2021. Over almost the past two years, there have been nearly 19,000 cases of COVID-19 among people in prison 90 of whom died, mostly in 2020, according to figures from the state corrections department and the UCLA Law COVID Behind Bars Data Project. COVID has taught us a lot, Rob Jeffreys, the departments director, said in a December interview with the Better Government Association as omicron cases were starting to climb. Cruel and unusual punishment The surge of COVID-19 cases in Illinois prisons comes after federal courts in recent years have held that the mental health and medical care provided to people incarcerated in Illinois violates constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Judges have ordered systemic improvements and appointed independent monitors to gauge what, if any, progress has been made. Despite those judicial orders, the corrections department has not found enough doctors, nurses or dentists to care for the prison population a task made even more difficult by COVID-19 as medical personnel across the country face unprecedented strains. Court-appointed monitors have repeatedly reported limited progress in reaching court-ordered goals for treating the nearly 12,000 people in prisons about 43% of the prison population who have been diagnosed with mental illness, as well as the medical care for the entire population, 23% of whom are age 50 or older. The monitors have expressed frustration with the departments opaque processes, its inadequate staffing in key positions and tardy adoption of standard health industry practices. When COVID-19 hit, those lapses became even more apparent. According to one recent monitors report, staff at the Lawrence Correctional Center in southern Illinois ignored or did not respond to signs of one infected prisoners worsening condition for four days before he was hospitalized with a 103 degree fever, a rapid heartbeat and oxygen saturation of only 86%. He died the following month. Dr. John Raba, the court-appointed monitor tracking IDOCs efforts to improve medical operations, cast doubt in the report about the departments ability to resume even the substandard care it provided before the pandemic, noting only a handful of his 235 recommendations had been addressed by September. IDOC, Raba wrote, does not yet have a comprehensive plan to address this consent decree; instead, it seems to primarily respond to crises and threats of legal action. A critical factor in IDOCs continuing health care woes, Raba said, has been a sharp drop in the number of medical professionals working for the Illinois prison system since 2019. Yet nothing has been done to improve the hiring process, he wrote. Across Illinois prisons, the vacancy rate for registered nurse positions more than tripled to 29% in 2020, up from 9% in 2019. More than half of the states prisons have at least one in four registered nurse positions unfilled, while vacancies at eight prisons exceed 50%, according to Rabas report. Raba said he also had significant concerns about insufficient numbers of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dental hygienists, optometrists and physical therapists. Jennifer Soble, the founder and executive director of the Illinois Prison Project, an organization that seeks less punitive sentences, said some of its clients with cancer have missed months of chemotherapy treatments since COVID-19 further overwhelmed the prison systems medical care. Relatively few people in prison often very sick or elderly take up a disproportionate share of the limited medical resources, Soble said. She blamed that in part on truth-in-sentencing laws that require people in prison to fully serve their determinate sentences. Nearly half of the people in prison in Illinois were sentenced under those laws. It makes me want to ask the question: Why arent these people at home? Soble said. Department officials said they have used many different tools to reduce the sentences of people in prison during the pandemic, such as good-time credits, medical furloughs and electronic detention. We awarded hundreds of thousands of days off individual sentences, said Alyssa Williams, the chief of programs and support services for the corrections department. Jeffreys, the department director, said finding a place for people who need high levels of medical care to go once they leave prison has also been a challenge. Often, nursing homes wont take them, and loved ones cant afford to pay for their care at home. What we found in COVID is there are not a lot of places for these people to go, Jeffreys said. Chronic understaffing The lack of staffing at Illinois prisons comes at a time very different from the era when many were built in the 1980s and 1990s, amid promises of new jobs for often financially distressed areas of the state. To eliminate its sizable overtime costs, the corrections department estimates it would have to hire 2,000 more correctional officers on top of the 6,000 currently on staff statewide. The department says it also is short of sergeants, lieutenants and higher-ranking supervisors. In addition, the department estimates it has to almost double its treatment officers who assist incarcerated people with mental health issues to 390 from 214. The chronic understaffing has been a problem for nearly two decades and has taken a toll on correctional officers who repeatedly work overtime to fill in the gaps, according to union leaders. Its a lose-lose-lose proposition, said Eddie Caumiant, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees liaison to the corrections department. Its more costly, it burns out the workforce and it affects operations. The heavy reliance on overtime comes even though the departments contract with AFSCME, the biggest union representing prison workers, protects workers from mandatory overtime and includes commitments by the state to hire a set number of additional workers each year. Caumiant said those goals have never been met. For the fiscal year that ended in June, overtime expenses in the state prison system shot up to $95.6 million, a 17% jump from the previous year. Prison officials said in an interview with the BGA that absences caused by COVID-19 increased overtime during the pandemic. Jennifer Vollen-Katz, the executive director of the John Howard Association, an independent prison monitoring group, said big gaps in staffing limit the exercise time, educational classes and other programs for people in prison. A review by the organization last April found 250 vacancies among guards and other staffers at Stateville Correctional Center, the maximum-security prison near Joliet that employs about 1,300 people. But even if the corrections department had the budget to hire more staff, filling all those jobs remains difficult, especially at a time when private employers across the nation are struggling to find workers. Whats more, state prison officials said COVID-19 forced it to shut down its cadet classes for incoming corrections officers in 2020. The classes resumed last June, but continuing health restrictions limited the training to 75 cadets at a time, half as many as before. So we are short security staff, said John Eilers, the departments chief of operations, during the recent interview. And we struggled just like the (larger) community is struggling and other employers are struggling with recruiting efforts. In a bid to boost hiring amid the pandemic, Illinois prison officials have crafted pitches on social media for corrections officers and nurses, two of its greatest needs. It also has brought human relations specialists to job fairs to conduct interviews on the spot. In addition, its allowing job seekers to take qualifying exams at the prisons where they would work, as well as offering those exams on weekends. Empty shelves Adding to the headaches caused by COVID-19 has been a shortage of supplies at prison commissaries, such as soap, toothpaste and deodorant. In an interview, Nelson Morris, who served 29 years in prison for a murder conviction before his release in 2020, said the unavailability of those kinds of staples is among the chief complaints of incarcerated people. While it was often common for certain limited shortages from time to time thats just prison life Morris said the one thing that stayed consistent was you could always buy coffee, you could always buy soap, you could always buy deodorant, you could (always) buy toothpaste. You cant right now, said Morris, who as a staff member for Restore Justice keeps in touch with people in prison. COVID-19 has forced some state prisons to provide breakfast as early as 2:30 or 3 a.m. because of the need for a time to feed people in prison in their cells and not in the chow halls. That practice has resumed in facilities recently hit with significant outbreaks, according to a department spokeswoman. Raba, the court-appointed monitor over the departments medical services, said the early-hour breakfasts discouraged elderly and disabled people in prison from eating and steered them toward less-healthy food options at the commissaries. The disruptions to the commissaries make coping with COVID-19 tougher for people in prison who use the shops to buy soap and hygiene items to protect them from getting sick. Prison leaders said the troubles began last spring, when the department tried to follow state procurement rules requiring that those supplies be bid out competitively. A legal challenge quickly followed, forcing the department to scramble to fill the gaps with five temporary suppliers, a process made more difficult because of nationwide supply chain disruptions. This is the point that so often gets missed: We were bound by the law, Jared Brunk, the departments chief of administration, said during the recent interview. With commissaries so important to prison life, empty shelves can lead to outsized problems. At Stateville Correctional Center, bottled water wasnt available in the commissary in spite of safety concerns about the discolored and foul-smelling tap water, prompting a jump in complaints from those in the prison, according to Vollen-Katz of the John Howard Association. The commissary can mask a lot of problems, she said. The uproar among incarcerated people and their loved ones across the state over the missing commissary goods prompted the department director to issue a video message to people in prison in the fall. For Thanksgiving, the department distributed bags of hygiene items and food products including soap, toothpaste, Snickers candy bars, coffee, Doritos chips and Goldfish crackers to all those in custody. But Vollen-Katz said the situation is still problematic, even though the department is trying to address it with the limited options it has under state law. At a certain point, it doesnt matter what the reason is, she said. People in prison are suffering, and we need to alleviate it. This story was produced by the Better Government Association, a nonprofit news organization based in Chicago. SIOUX CENTER, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has said the main theme of her recent "Condition of the State" address was about entrusting Iowans to build and nurture their own communities. On Friday, the Republican governor traveled to the Northwest Iowa city of Sioux Center to tout a project that's taken more than 30 years of building and nurturing. Reynolds announced the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System would receive a $12 million grant from a state water quality initiative funded by federal Sioux Center is one of the largest users in Northwest Iowa of the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System which, when fully finished, will run 45 million gallons a day through 20 cities and rural water systems in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. "(It) really does ensure that Iowans will be connected to clean drinking water," Reynolds said at Sioux Center's water treatment plant, which is near the connection point for Sioux Center to receive water from the Lewis & Clark system. Sioux Center is one of the largest Siouxland users of the multi-state water system, which got off the ground in 1990, with authorization of funding in 2000 and the initial construction in 2004. Sioux Center and neighboring Hull are expected to be connected near the end of 2022 or into 2023, while Sheldon will be added between 2023 and 2024 and Sibley will come on somewhere between 2024 and 2025. The $12 million award from the state will go toward: "constructing three pump stations by Lebanon, Larchwood and Hull, as well as a ground storage reservoir near Hull and adding pumps to the Dove Avenue pump station. according to a document from Lewis & Clark Executive Director Troy Larson. The project is one of three water-related developments receiving $10 million or more from the state that Reynolds' administration announced Friday. Dyersville will get $11 million for a utilities project aimed to bolster the Field of Dreams while Des Moines has $15 million coming its way for dam mitigation meant to compliment the Raccoon River. The state funded the initiative with allocations from the bipartisan infrastructure bill signed by President Biden last year. Only two of Iowa's six-member congressional delegation -- Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley and Democratic Rep. Cindy Axne -- voted for the $1 trillion plan. According to Larson, additional federal funding is needed to complete the Lewis & Clark water system. During his time at the podium at the water treatment plant Friday, he said the expansion is needed because droughts in the state made it clear to members of the system that more water would be needed. "Hope that expansion is complete in eight to 10 years," Larson said. Murray Hulstein, a chairman for the system, called the funding allotments the "latest example" of elected leaders in Iowa "putting words into action." Following the speeches, Reynolds took just two questions from media, with the second focused on why water infrastructure is a top priority for her administration. "One of the first bills I signed was a water quality bill," Reynolds said. "It's just really important if we want to continue to see growth in northwest Iowa." The first question the governor addressed was the competing tax-cut plans that her party is currently floating in the Legislature. "The fact that we're all talking about tax cuts, I think it's really exciting...It's an indication that we're going to get something done," she said. Reynolds is touring Iowa to pitch her proposal for a 4% flat-rate state income tax and also to phase out state taxes on retirement income. The House Republican plan closely mirrors Reynolds' by gradually reduce the state tax on Iowa workers income until all workers income was taxed at 4% and phasing out taxes on retirement income. Senate Republicans propose lower the income tax rate for all filers to 3.6 percent over five years and eventually phase out the tax altogether. GOP Senate leaders also outlined a plan to reduce the state tax on businesses and eliminating some tax credits and exemptions. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO Jussie Smolletts final act in Chicago may be coming soon. A judge on Thursday set an in-person sentencing hearing for March 10 for the former Empire actor, who was convicted by a jury in December of faking a hate crime attack on himself. During the brief virtual hearing, Criminal Courts Judge James Linn ordered both sides to submit a list of witnesses expected to testify at sentencing by March 3. He also gave Smolletts attorneys until Feb. 25 to file any post-trial motions. A jury found Smollett guilty on Dec. 9 on five out of six counts of disorderly conduct, a Class 4 felony, alleging he falsely reported to police that he was a victim of a hate crime attack in the early morning hours of Jan. 29, 2019. The verdict capped off eight days of a closely watched trial, during which prosecutors successfully argued Smollett orchestrated a phony assault on himself with the help of two brothers who, at his request, yelled slurs and tried to wrap a noose around his neck. Despite the media frenzy surrounding the case, Smollett stands convicted of one of the lowest-level felonies Illinois has on the books, and the likelihood of him seeing prison time is probably low. Class 4 felonies carry penalties of one to three years in prison, but also probation or conditional discharge, which is similar to probation but with fewer strict conditions. Linn also could impose a fine as well as order restitution, a monetary amount either agreed upon by the prosecution and defense, or determined at the sentencing hearing. Though prison seems unlikely in the Smollett case, there are a few wild cards that make predictions uncertain. While the underlying felonies are minor, the case is undeniably high profile a national embarrassment for the city of Chicago that allegedly cost taxpayers more than $130,000 in police overtime. And special prosecutor Dan Webb told reporters after the trial that he would probably point out during a sentencing hearing that Smollett took the stand in his own defense and lied for hours and hours and hours. I think this will probably be a point that Ill make at sentencing, that not only did Mr. Smollett lie to the police and wreak havoc in this city for weeks on end for no reason whatsoever, but then he compounded the problem by lying under oath to a jury, which I dont think should happen, Webb said. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 EDWARDSVILLE Jeffery Hebb fought back tears Thursday as he talked about the last moments of his daughter's life. His daughter, Etheria S. Hebb, 34, of St. Louis was one of six workers who were killed when part of the roof and walls collapsed when a tornado hit an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville on Dec. 10. "She didn't worry about whether the job was safe or not," Jeffery Hebb said after he described how his daughter was happy to get a job at the warehouse. "She didn't think that she would leave the house and go to work and never come back." Hebb spoke during a rally organized by the Missouri Workers Center, a group that fights for workers' rights. About 100 people gathered on a street in front of the damaged Amazon warehouse. Speakers called for safe working conditions and the creation of unions for Amazon and other non-union employees at companies nationwide. "Amazon was supposed to keep them safe," Hebb said of the workers. "They didn't do that. They should have shut the plant down to make sure these workers were safe." After the rally, participants said they want building codes to be changed to require warehouses to have an emergency shelter or basement to protect workers. Amazon officials previously have said that the building was built to meet code and that workers were instructed what to do during emergencies. The company also has said it will cooperate with all investigators reviewing what happened at the Edwardsville warehouse. "Our focus continues to be on supporting our employees and partners, the families who lost loved ones, the surrounding community, and all those affected by the tornadoes," Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said an email after the rally. Arnetra Rhodes, 18, who is a cousin of Etheria Hebb, said she works part-time at an Amazon warehouse in St. Louis County. She said during the rally that Amazon should improve working conditions for warehouse employees. "We're just somebody to get them rich," she said of the company officials. Amazon should have a "safehouse" inside warehouses where workers can take shelter. "We need to be protected," Rhodes said. Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday commented on standards for warehouses: "The question is, with all the warehouses that are being built or have been built, should we be setting a state standard for that? That's something that no doubt will be explored during this session of the General Assembly." Pritzker did not say specifically what lawmakers would review. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, opened an investigation that will review whether Amazon had a "proper emergency action plan," U.S. Department of Labor spokesman Scott Allen said in an interview in December. The agency does not review building codes. Warehouse building code The Rev. Darryl Gray of the Greater Fairfax Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis said the Progressive Baptist State Convention of Illinois is seeking to talk to Pritzker about workplace safety. "We do have to push the legislators," Gray said in an interview Thursday. Gray said the building code in areas where tornadoes occur needs to be changed. "When we're talking about these types of environments, in these geographical areas, minimum standards have got to factor in natural disasters," he said. Gray said the warehouses should have a "hardened shelter or at least a basement." He urged Pritzker to review "what was done and what could have been done differently to avoid the tragic deaths that occurred." Once the solutions are identified, the changes must enacted into law, Gray said. Terrence Wise, who works at a McDonald's restaurant in Kansas City, said he traveled to the Edwardsville rally as a supporter of the Missouri Workers Center. "Workers need more than just more money," he said in an interview after he spoke during the rally. "We need a union. We need a seat at the table. "Some people get hyped up about sports," he said. "I get hyped about dignity, righteousness and justice. It's important that we come together in a nation that is so divided. We have to find a common ground." The Missouri Workers Center, which says it aims to help low-wage workers fight racism and "win economic justice for all," is a nonprofit group formed in March 2021. Along with Etheria Hebb, the tornado claimed the lives of Clayton Lynn Cope, 29, of Alton; Kevin D. Dickey, 62, of Carlyle; Austin J. McEwen, 26, of Edwardsville; DeAndre Morrow, 28, of St. Louis; and Larry E. Virden, 46, of Collinsville. The group said workers at the facility "have reported that they had not been adequately trained on emergency procedures and that the company failed to warn them about the tornado, even as it approached." An Amazon spokeswoman has previously said Amazon workers do get "emergency preparedness" training and that managers took action to protect workers on the night of the tornado in Edwardsville. A wrongful-death lawsuit filed earlier this month alleged Amazon management directed McEwen and the other five people who were killed to shelter in a bathroom. The company "knew or should have known that this location would not protect them," the lawsuit stated. The workers died when the roof and walls of the south side of the 1.1-million-square foot building collapsed when struck by an EF-3 tornado that had winds up to 150 mph. The building had an interior place away from windows for workers to gather on the north side of the warehouse but this part of the building was not constructed any differently than other sections of the building, Amazon officials have said. Thirty-nine workers went to the "shelter in place" location on the north side while seven others were on the south side. One of the seven was rescued from the rubble. The warehouse is at 3077 Gateway Commerce Center Drive South near the intersection of Interstate 255/Illinois 255 and Interstate 270. Those who worked at the damaged warehouse were Amazon employees and employees of companies that contract with Amazon. In a statement before the rally, the Missouri Workers Center raised several issues regarding workplace safety. The group said it wants Amazon to end a ban on cellphone use. Nantel previously has said there was not a ban at the warehouse and employees were allowed to have cellphones. The group also cited a Washington Post article that reported Amazon warehouses had a rate of serious injury incidents that was nearly double the rate of other warehouses in recent years and that critics blame "productivity pressures." The Post, which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, reported that Bezos told shareholders that "We don't set unreasonable performance goals." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 More and more of us are becoming political junkies looking for our next dopamine hit. Dopamine, that pleasure reward in our brain, is offered as encouragement for most people when we do good things and is the reason our addictions are so hard to give up. For me, its the chips and cookies I reach for when Im stressed. For others its gaining political power, opioids, alcohol, tobacco, video games, pornography, winning an argument, being right and more. Every time we watch media that confirms our beliefs, we get a little bit of dopamine. Thats why it feels like torture when we expose ourselves to news that doesnt conform with our beliefs. There is no pleasure hit with dopamine to support widening our views. This is why facts dont matter to people who have different beliefs. Most people dont have a good enough reason to build the stamina to withstand the feeling of torture. No, its not really torture. Its healthy civic behavior without an obvious reward. As a nation, we are looking for our next dopamine fix. This has led us to the doorways of at least two different realities. One leads to corruption and greed everywhere. And the other wait. The other reality offers corruption and greed, too. Where we diverge is over the cause of corruption and greed. Theres plenty of blame to go around; the opposing party, those people, giant corporations, and Wall Street among too many to name. And guess what? When we assign blame over there, we get a dopamine hit. Because its not me. Righteous or self-righteous feelings arise. As a nation, we have short-circuited our collective chemistry. And like all addictive behavior, ruin will follow unless we stop looking for our next fix and start addressing the pain, the trauma, the reality that we are all responsible. The United States will not be healthy until we reset our national chemistry including normal amounts of dopamine for healthy behavior. Why have we succumbed to an addiction-fueled culture where we would sacrifice our country? Social media algorithms have made our fixes easier to get. Count the reactions on our own posts. Over 50? Dopamine hit. Like or angry face anothers post? Dopamine. Share a post to find your people? Dopamine and more dopamine. Video games likely deliver dopamine even faster. (Im not a gamer, but have read some articles about it.) At an ever increasing pace, Americans go for the dopamine fix, before anything else. It might be the news, our mobile devices and social media, it might be the next election or campaign. It might be the next battle in the Senate. Dopamine rules us as political junkies. How might we start breaking our addiction to political junkie dopamine? We might start with a personal inventory of which behaviors lead to a healthy or unhealthy nation. Unhealthy civic behavior: Watching or listening to conflict entrepreneurs who hook us to enrich themselves. Stirring the pot like a conflict entrepreneur just to get a reaction. Yelling at anyone because you are frustrated. This includes ranting on social media. Retweeting some outrageous misbehavior. Sharing disinformation. Healthy civic behavior: Adopt a do no harm attitude. Engage only when you can contribute in a healthy way. When you are triggered, take a break and walk away. Manage yourself. Amplify the positive on social media 10x more than negative or angry content. Or resolve to not air or engage in grievances on social media. If pointing out injustice, ask for accountability and avoid blaming others. Shun the conflict entrepreneurs and do not honor them with your time. Attending local meetings with elected officials and honoring the dignity of others, regardless of your agreement or disagreement with their views. Be willing to change your mind when new information warrants it. When Im challenged by friends who watch conflict entrepreneurs and engage in the blame game, I ask what they want to happen and how it might impact their life. I remember that most people want to live a safe and meaningful life in community with others. We want to leave the world a better place than we found it, and have some material comfort. This is how I get my dopamine hits; through connecting around our shared humanity. Not an absence of tension, but seeing others fears and hopes as connected to mine. I see our shared journey toward a just society. Healthy dopamine comes from deep connection, exercising our (civic) muscles and knowing we make a positive impact on those around us. Lets get healthy together. One day at a time. Debilyn Molineaux is co-publisher of The Fulcrum and president/CEO of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund. The Fulcrum covers what's making democracy dysfunctional and efforts to fix our governing systems. It is a project of, but editorially independent from, Issue One. 2022 The Fulcrum. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Flash A Chinese spokesperson Thursday urged the United States to contribute to regional peace and stability rather than make a show of force in the South China Sea region. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks in response to speculations that China will beat the United States to recover a U.S. F-35 warplane that crashed into the South China Sea in a military drill. "I've noticed relevant media reports, and this is not the first time the U.S. had accidents in the South China Sea," Zhao said. While the U.S. side has yet offered convincing explanations about its submarine hitting a seamount some time ago, their warplane had an accident and fell into the sea, he said. "China has no interest in their warplane," Zhao said, urging the country to do more things conducive to regional peace and stability rather than flex its muscle in the region. I am writing with regard to Bill Blooms Jan. 22 letter to the editor. He suggests that Democrats are attacking tools that would protect the integrity of the vote, when the opposite is true. The voting laws that Democrats are trying to regulate unfairly target people of color and those who live in marginalized communities. The Democrats' bills mandate automatic voter registration and would expand early and mail-in voting. There is no evidence that these voter laws contribute to fraud. Instead, these rules increase voter participation, especially by racial minorities. The bills also eliminate partisan gerrymandering, impose new transparency on dark money, tighten ethics standards and create a public financing option for congressional campaigns. The legislation would impose standards on removing people from voting rolls, and on providing drop boxes for early voting ballots. There would be national standards for voter ID, protections for non-partisan state and local officials who face increased threats, and safeguards for secure ballots and voting systems. It would also resume oversight of election law in states that have a history of discrimination, according to Reuters. I would also challenge Mr. Blooms statement that "nobody is for Bull Connor, or the KKK or Jefferson Davis." Membership in hate groups has increased dramatically in recent years, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, with over a thousand hate groups currently in the U.S.; and statues of Jefferson Davis still stand in state capitols in Alabama, Virginia and Kentucky, instead of in museums where they belong. Lori McCollum Rock Island Love 4 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Working in a physician-owned clinic offers some quality of life perks that arent always available to hospital-based nurses like having nights, weekends and holidays off. Work-life balance is a high priority at Rapid City Medical Center, a group of physician-owned clinics offering primary care as well as specialty care, said Jessica Kearns, director of clinical staff at Rapid City Medical Center. The medical practice operates eight locations including an urgent care facility, skin institute and a plastic surgery center in Rapid City as well as a clinic in Spearfish, South Dakota. Build relationships and work as a team to provide direct patient care Clinic nursing is different from a hospital or acute care nursing in a sense that you really get to build a relationship with your patients, Kearns said. Your patients are coming to see you frequently, and you're working one-on-one with your physician or provider to provide care whereas in the hospital you are a little more autonomous. So you're really working as a team with your physician or provider to provide direct care with that patient. Time for family We're not open on nights, weekends or holidays so that time is really given back to the employees to spend with their families or for their own personal use, Kearns said. You get the sense of being able to help and care for people who are in the community, but at the same time you really get to focus on your own work-life balance. The physicians who own the center are really supportive of work-life balance. They chose to be partners in the Rapid City Medical Center because work-life balance and family are important to them, and they really encourage that in their staff, she said. Growth spurt The nursing shortage is very much affecting Rapid City Medical Center just as it is the rest of the country, according to Kearns. But the centers need for nurses stems not from attrition but from its recent rapid growth spurt. I have quite a few primary care physicians right now without nurses and many specialties are also adding on, she said. Our shortage is not necessarily from turnover. It's more from growth. We've had a tremendous amount of growth in the last year. We've added on two clinic facilities and 9 new physicians in the past 24 months. We've grown faster than I can hire nurses. Rapid City Medical Center is especially looking for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and medical assistants. Nurses who do well with clinic nursing are motivated, have a lot of compassion for their patients and are willing to work as a team, Kearns said. The appeal of the Black Hills area Rapid City Medical Center and two neighboring hospital systems Monument Health and Black Hills Surgical Hospital have partnered with Elevate Rapid City, an economic development agency, to launch an initiative to inform nurses across the country about the benefits of and opportunities in South Dakota in hopes theyll consider relocating. Among these perks, the initiative boasts about the areas low crime rate and low cost of living, its low humidity climate, its lack of a state income tax, its contiguity to the majestic Black Hills, its accessibility to outdoor adventures and its possibilities for career growth. For more information on nursing careers at Rapid City Medical Center, please call Jessica Kearns, director of clinical staff at 605.721.8313, or check the career page on the centers website. This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education is scheduled to propose a Resolution for Student and Staff Quarantine Requirements at its meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Rapid City Education Center, at 625 9th St. The resolution documents a variety of changes to the Ready. Set. Start. 2021-2022 Back to School Plan and can be found at https://rcas.org/our-district/board-of-education/ by following the meeting agenda link. The section of the resolution statement providing background information says that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, updated on Dec. 27, 2021, and adopted by the South Dakota Department of Health shortly after, provide recommendations that are largely based on individual and personal choices, such as vaccination status, masking, and the feasibility to quarantine. The background section continues: Ultimately, these guidelines allow autonomy for individuals to make the decision to quarantine at home or return to normal activity following a close-contact exposure to someone confirmed to be contagious with COVID-19. School nurses and health services staff cannot monitor nor track the personal choices that families wish to make regarding quarantine. Thus, documentation of close contacts and those in quarantine must cease. RCAS students and RCAS staff that have become ill with COVID-19 are still advised to stay home abiding by SD DOH isolation guidelines. It is still requested that staff and parents/guardians report COVID positive tests to their school nurse. Masking is recommended per CDC guidelines following COVID-19 exposure or isolation, however masking will remain voluntary per RCAS BOE decision. The resolution later proposes specific updates to the 2021-2022 plan again, available for review on the school districts website. Caitlin Pierson, RCAS community relations manager, encouraged interested community members to attend Tuesdays board meeting and added that district officials are not commenting on the resolution at this point. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 6 Monument Health will host a Community Health Summit during the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo Rapid City at The Monument, according to a news release from Monument Health. Free and discounted preventative screenings and lab draws as well as health and nutrition education will be available at the entrance of the Rodeo Zone in the Ice Arena. Monument Health caregivers will provide a variety of vaccinations to attendees, including COVID-19 vaccinations. At-home COVID-19 test kits will also be distributed to anyone who needs them. The Education Center will offer information that visitors can take with them and review when they have time. Chef Scott Brinker from Monument Health Food and Nutrition will talk about food and nutrition and share recipes. There will also be a Kids Zone that will feature interactive activities for children of all ages. The Monument Health Foundation will also be present, selling Tough Enough to Wear Pink T-shirts. All Monument Health representatives will wear masks at all times, and in the clinical areas within the Community Health Summit, all attendees will be required to wear masks. We feel its extremely important to meet people where theyre at, and thats exactly what were doing at the Community Health Summit, said Anna Whetham, Monument Healths Community Relations Specialist, in a statement. We know there are no sick days on the ranch, and we want to be able to provide preventive care and access to knowledgeable health professionals to help our neighbors live long, healthy and productive lives. The Community Health Summit will begin this Friday and run through Saturday, Feb. 5. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A property near Skyline Wilderness Area Park could be rezoned from park forest to low density residential pending a Rapid City Council decision in February. The city's Planning Commission approved by a 5-3 vote the rezone for a 3.08-acre Forest Hills Drive property on Thursday morning. The property currently has no structural development, although the owner, Evan Hays, has a building permit to build a house. Hays said at the meeting that it is his and his wifes hope to subdivide the property into two lots and place another home on the second one-acre lot. This is an untouched, literally untouched, lot in the middle of a beautiful neighborhood, and I know how hard change can be, Hays said to neighbors attending the meeting. I just want to encourage you that through the destruction thats happening, soon we will be turning it into a beautiful piece of land. Community Development Director Vicki Fisher said staff is in support of the rezone since property directly to the east of it was previously zoned as park forest and rezoned to low density residential. Since the Hayses already have a building permit, construction has begun on the land and trees have already been removed. All four public commenters Thursday discussed concerns about erosion and tree removal on the property. About 13 public comments were attached to the agenda item, all citing concerns about erosion, tree removal, and an increase in traffic. Long-range planner Kelly Brennan said Hays is well within his rights to remove trees on the property since its private property. The Hayses also have an erosion and sediment control permit, which Public Works noted is a living document that will change with the development. The permit currently requires the property to mitigate erosion through wattles. The fire department representative said the department worked with Hays and discussed ways to mitigate fire fuels, which includes removing trees. Hays said his family plans on installing a sprinkler system as well for their house. The commission also unanimously approved a preliminary subdivision plan for Apple Valley with a stipulation that the Pennington County Commission has to approve a rezoning request. Apple Valley is a potential development that would build 467 residential lots over four phases over seven to 10 years. The preliminary subdivision plan is to create 80 residential lots. The property is within the city's three-mile platting jurisdiction. The Planning Commission previously continued the item so the county commission could act on the rezoning request, however the county commissions meeting when the rezone would be discussed was canceled due to illness. Andy Scull with the developing company Pink Cabin and Meadow Valley said all homes in the subdivision would be stick built, not modular. The Pennington County Commission will consider the rezone at its Feb. 1 meeting. Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 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. A shortage of substitutes to fill in for full-time teachers is forcing school districts to take sometimes drastic measures to keep classrooms staffed, and concerns are rising that the quality of education may diminish as a result. Many full-time teachers are losing planning and training time to fill in for absent colleagues. Some classes are being combined, resulting in higher staff-to-student ratios. A few South Dakota schools have closed temporarily or shifted to virtual learning. The number of substitutes has been dropping steadily for several years in many school districts, as fewer people want to take on the challenge of teaching a group of students they dont know in a subject in which they may not be well-versed. Crisis in some districts As the pandemic lingers and the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus has become dominant in South Dakota, more full-time teachers are out sick with COVID-19 or staying home to care for ill or exposed children than normal, increasing the need for substitutes. Meanwhile, many former substitutes especially those who are retirees and at greater risk of COVID-19 complications do not want to take the risk of teaching indoors with dozens of children. Education experts also say working as a substitute teacher has become less attractive, as some children have become more assertive and less respectful of teachers. Furthermore, a general worker shortage has given potential substitutes far more options to work where and when they want, in some cases for higher pay and benefits. To attract more substitutes, some school districts have increased pay or reduced educational requirements. In Sioux Falls, the district has dropped its requirement that substitutes have a college degree, now requiring only a high school diploma. In January 2022, the district increased daily pay for substitutes from $125 to $160 at most schools, from $140 to $175 at high-need schools and from $150 to $190 per day for long-term subs. When unemployment is low, getting substitute teachers is tricky, said Becky Dorman, human resources director for Sioux Falls schools. Were always looking for more substitutes, but weve had to make changes on all fronts to staff our schools during the pandemic. The Rapid City Area Schools board approved pay increases for substitute teachers on Oct. 1 due to staffing shortages brought on by the pandemic. Now, substitute teachers with a bachelor's degree or higher and student teachers receive $117 per day, an increase from $90 and $85 respectively. Substitute teachers with a teaching certificate that is active or lapsed and retired RCAS teachers had their pay rate increased to $150 per day from $110 and $115. "Generally speaking, our substitute group ranges around 250 to 400 depending on the time of year. You see a lot of fluctuation. Right now, we are at 163 individuals," Kristin Strissel, director of Human Resources, said at the time. The shortage of both full-time teachers and substitute teachers has raised concerns among education experts that the quality of teaching and depth of learning may be suffering across the U.S. public school system. A shortage of substitute teachers, both in quantity and quality, across the country has never been more severe, wrote Geoffrey Smith, director of the Substitute Teacher Training Institute at Utah State University, in a recent article for the national School Superintendents Association website. Substitutes' role Substitutes play a critical role in maintaining educational consistency for children who are in their formative learning years, said Dennis Fischer, superintendent of the Hot Springs School District in southwestern South Dakota. When a teacher is out, we still need learning to take place because we only have 36 weeks of teaching per year, Fischer said. If were going to have a teacher out a day or a whole week or more, we expect the education to go on, Fischer said. When schools have limited options to fill teaching slots, administrators acknowledge they may sometimes be forced to bring in someone who serves mostly as a classroom attendant. In most cases, however, school officials do their best to fill open classroom slots with qualified, experienced substitute teachers who keep learning on track. Joel Bailey, superintendent of the Platte Geddes School District in southeastern South Dakota, said he once read an estimate that each public student will on average be taught by substitutes the cumulative equivalent of one year of their K-12 education. The effectiveness of subs in the classroom is extremely important, Bailey said. At some point, if teacher absences rise and enough substitutes cannot be found, school districts must make the difficult decision to close schools and transition to virtual teaching via computers. Rapid City Area Schools shuttered three schools temporarily in January because of high staff absences due to coronavirus infections. Also in mid-January, an outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent high number of close contacts with infected people prompted the Hot Springs district to move to virtual learning for its secondary school that houses grades 6-12. Some teachers fell ill with COVID-19, some had to quarantine due to close contacts with infected people, while others had to stay home to care for children who were ill, said Superintendent Fischer. We could not get all the classrooms filled, Fischer said. We did have a shortage of staffing and a shortage of subs that caused us to go virtual. Full-time teachers in Hot Springs, as in many South Dakota school districts, have sacrificed planning periods to cover for absent colleagues. In some cases, three classes of children in Hot Springs have been combined into two larger groups when teachers and substitutes were scarce, Fischer said. On rare occasions, when instructor absences were particularly high, four or five classes of children have been sent to the school library, where they work on homework and are supervised more than being taught, Fischer said. We were supposed to be socially distancing, but we were packing people into the library, which was really a last resort, he said. Hot Springs uses a sliding pay scale depending on the qualifications of each substitute and how long the sub works, Fischer said. Substitutes in Hot Springs must have a college degree and pass a background check, Fischer said. Base pay is $90 per day, but those who have a teaching certification are paid $100 per day, and can make even more if they become a long-term substitute who may cover for a teacher out for a week or several weeks, Fischer said. Its a very difficult and challenging job, and it takes a certain type of persona and personality to just step in with these kids, Fischer said. Kids are kids and its always been that way. You see a substitute teacher and you think its a day off, so some of our kids will challenge the subs and they have to know how to handle that. In the article for the superintendents association, Smith notes that school districts across the U.S. are lowering job requirements, increasing pay and engaging in aggressive recruitment efforts to attract more potential substitutes. Smith argues that offering health and other benefits is one way to increase the pool of potential subs. He added that the easiest, least-expensive way to improve the teaching abilities of substitutes is to improve and expand training opportunities for them. No other small investment in education today will make a more significant improvement in the classroom than training substitute teachers, Smith wrote. According to reports by FutureEd, an education research institute at Georgetown University, U.S. schools were able to fill about 80% of all open classroom slots with substitutes on a regular basis. During the pandemic, that coverage rate has fallen to 50% to 60%, the institute said. Training for subs One major challenge for school districts is to provide adequate training before subs enter the classroom, and relevant follow-up training after the school day ends. Research showed that only about 40% of U.S. school districts provide training to subs, and even fewer provide training in classroom management, which the institute sees as a key component of substitute success and effectiveness. Just 11 percent of school districts offer classroom-management training to subs, and most of the time, its a one-time orientation to the job, the institute wrote in October 2021. As a result, people go into the classroom unprepared. Not surprisingly, lots of people dont stay. Even when people do stay, without basic training and support, the classroom experience isnt great. The Sioux Falls schools have begun to incentivize substitutes to teach more days by offering contests in which subs can win $100 retail gift cards and are entered more often if they work more days, Dorman said. Its fun stuff like that to further push the fact that we need them, we appreciate them and were glad theyre here, she said. Those kinds of things seem to be helping. The district currently has a pool of more than 800 potential substitutes, but still has had difficulty covering classroom positions during the pandemic, Dorman said. The district of about 24,000 students has about 1,900 teachers and 400 educational assistants, and it is not uncommon to have 285 teaching absences each day, Dorman said. The pandemic has resulted in more teacher absences than usual, she said, especially so far in 2022 as the highly contagious omicron variant has become dominant, Dorman said. The past two and a half weeks have been challenging because were seeing the highest absentee rates in January than anytime in the past five years, she said. Substitutes in the Sioux Falls school district undergo four hours of in-person training before starting in the classroom and are offered an optional eight-hour online training course by the district. Flexible schedule For some substitute teachers, the job provides a great way to earn extra money, have a highly flexible work schedule, and work closely with children, according to Elizabeth Liz Campbell, an experienced substitute teacher. Campbell has worked as a substitute teacher for several years, the last three in Hot Springs where she fills in mostly in the elementary school. Subbing works out well for Campbell, 43, because she has prior teaching experience and her four school-age children attend the Hot Springs schools. She said she enjoys teaching young children and has received strong support and respect from teachers and administrators in the Hot Springs district. In 2020, Campbell said she worked several days a week because many older substitutes dropped out of the workforce due to concerns over COVID-19. This year, some older subs have returned, so Campbell is working about two days a week. Subbing for teachers who have a planned absence is easier because the teachers tend to leave behind lesson plans, as opposed to filling in for teachers who are unable to plan for unexpected absences, Campbell said. But technology, including so-called smart boards, allows absent teachers to quickly share classroom materials with subs via shared computer access. Managing a classroom of students who are unknown to the substitute is challenging and may turn some people away from the job, Campbell said. Not all substitutes are educators, so some come in and they dont know how to handle a classroom, she said. Ive taught before, so I know how to handle a classroom, and now in Hot Springs I know most of the kids. Campbell said she understands why some potential substitutes have turned away from the profession, especially in larger districts or more urban areas where children may be less respectful than in a small town like Hot Springs. Theres definitely a change you see in the respect from kids, said Campbell, who has also worked as a sub at an inner-city school in Kansas City. Those are really things that are taught in the home and part of the breakdown in families. The uncertain work schedule and lack of benefits may also turn some people away from subbing, she said. School officials in South Dakota say they will continue to promote subbing as a rewarding, flexible way to earn extra money. Its the most flexible job you could ever have, said Dorman of the Sioux Falls schools. Even if you had two afternoons free a month, we would love to have you. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The number of active COVID-19 infections in South Dakota decreased by more than 1,000 Friday, with the Department of Health reporting 1,145 new cases and nine additional deaths. Active cases declined by 1,106 to a total of 33,647 people who are sick with the virus. The nine deaths brought January's total to 151, and the overall death toll from coronavirus-related illness to 2,637. The deaths include four men and five women from Brookings, Brown, Codington, Lincoln and Minnehaha counties. One person was in their 30s, two were in their 60s, two were in their 70s, and four were over 80. Active cases continued to decline in Pennington County. With 164 new infections, active cases dropped by 137 to 5,747. Minnehaha County saw a decrease of 560 active cases to 7,826. There were 192 positive tests Friday in Minnehaha County. Meade County reported 42 new infections and there were 48 in Lawrence County. Fall River County recorded 16 new cases and there were 22 in Butte County. Custer County recorded nine new infections and there were six in Oglala-Lakota County. There were 34 in Lincoln County. Brown County had 84 and Codington County had 32. Hospitalizations across the state increased to 411, seven more than Thursday's report, with 75 patients in intensive care units. The Black Hills area reported 81 patients are in the hospital with COVID-19, and 16 are in the ICU. Rapid City Area Schools reported Thursday night there were 184 students with active cases of COVID-19 and 33 staff members. Student infections were up two from Wednesday's report and staff member infections decreased by one. In addition to the active infections, there are 154 students and two staff members required to quarantine due to possible exposure to the coronavirus. The biggest case counts are still at the high schools. Rapid City Central High School has 30 active cases and Rapid City Stevens is next with 18 active cases. Seven other schools have at least 10 active infections West Middle (16), Wilson Elementary (15), Rapid Valley Elementary (14), Pinedale Elementary (12), Meadowbrook Elementary (12), Valley View Elementary (10) and Knollwood Elementary (10). The Bitterrooot National Forrest is seeking public comment on a proposal to update infrastructure and stabilize the shoreline along the Bitterroot River in the Rombo Campground. Located on the West Fork Ranger District, Rombo is one of the most popular developed campgrounds on the forest and provides the public with camping and fishing opportunities throughout the summer season. The purpose of the project is to address health and safety concerns associated with an outdated potable water system, insufficient septic, and to also stabilize the eroding shoreline. In the spring of 2018, high water on the West Fork of the Bitterroot River eroded the bank and a campsite within the campground. Since then, flooding each spring has caused further bank erosion, while also undercutting trees, causing them to fail. The river is now along the edge of the main campground road. The improvement project would replace the campgrounds old water system, add a new pump house and a host site with new septic. The shoreline stabilization efforts would prevent further erosion to protect the campground and restore vegetation along the banks of the river. A segment of the access road may also be relocated away from the river due to continual flooding concerns and inability to properly stabilize the eroding shoreline. Work could begin on the new water and septic system, host site, and road re-route later this spring, weather permitting. Implementation of the shoreline stabilization work is proposed for fall of 2022 or spring 2023. However, if work is completed in the summer, the public may be impacted due to safety closures within the campground. To learn more about the project and view photos/map visit www.fs.usda.gov/bitterroot. Click on Land and Resource Management, then Projects. Public comments specific to this project and/or individual sites and resources are valuable in helping the Forest Service identify concerns and develop alternatives. Comments are requested by Feb. 23. Submit comments to: Dan Pliley, District Ranger, by one of the following methods; mail: West Fork Ranger District, 6735 West Fork Road, Darby, Montana 59829, Fax: 406-821-1211, or email comments-northern-bitterroot-west-fork@usda.gov. Please put Comments on Rombo Campground Repairs and Stabilization in the subject line. For more information contact Tanya Neidhardt, West Fork Recreation Manager at 406-821-1215. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A man is in custody following a multi-agency chase around eastern Idaho and western Montana Thursday night into Friday morning. Jesse R. Spitzer, 30, of Sultan, Washington, led law enforcement on a pursuit across the Idaho-Montana border starting around 10:30 p.m. Thursday night, Mineral County Sheriff Mike Toth said. Spitzer was on the run from authorities in Washington state after he was suspected of stealing a vehicle and other items in east Snohomish County, according to the Associated Press. He was at the scene of an accident last Friday but fled. The following day, law enforcement chased him into the woods near Gold Bar in Washington state, but he got away. Then, on Sunday, he got into another accident in Chelan County in Washington but fled that scene, too, according to the AP. Officers searched for him in Post Falls, Idaho on Wednesday when a firearm was reported stolen from someone's house, but Spitzer was able to elude officials. His next encounter with law enforcement happened in Kellogg, Idaho, on Thursday night, the AP reported. Officers pursued him over Lookout Pass and into Montana. Montana Highway Patrol was able to disable his vehicle near the Haugan exit on Interstate 90, but Spitzer fled on foot after threatening officials with a handgun. Authorities found and arrested him shortly after 9 a.m. Friday in a trailer in an RV park behind the 50,000 Silver Dollar Bar, Sheriff Toth said. They located him using a canine unit and arrested him. While he did not fire any shots at law enforcement in Montana, he did in Idaho, Sheriff Toth said. There were no injuries to any officers, but Spitzer was bitten by the dog. In 2011, Spitzer was sentenced for shooting at a sheriff's deputy in Nevada, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. Toth thanked the several agencies that responded to the incident, including Mineral County Sheriff's deputies, U.S. Marshals from Missoula, Montana Highway Patrol, the Missoula County Sheriff's Office, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office and other agencies from both states. There is no threat to public safety at this time, Toth said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Robert Ujevic had an idea in 2015 to create a line of food products using hemp before it became the darling of agriculture and industry. At the time, Ujevic was working with others advocating to allow hemp to be grown and used in Virginia because of the health benefits. He was so passionate about hemp that he started making two pasta products using hemp seed protein powder, which he initially sold during the holidays in 2015. People really liked it, he said. A couple of years later, Ujevic wanted to branch out to create some sauces using hemp oil and hulled hemp seeds, but he was struggling with crafting the products. A chance meeting with two local chefs in the fall of 2018 helped form Gourmet Hemp Foods that eventually led to the creation of hemp-infused barbecue sauce and hot sauce. Gourmet Hemp Foods started selling its Hemp Hottie Sauce and Hemp Honey BBQ Sauce at Ellwood Thompsons Local Market in the fall of 2019 and at The Market @ 25th grocery store a couple of months later. The sauces are also available in a handful of area independent grocery stores, including Good Foods Grocery, and a couple of local restaurants such as City Dogs and Capitol Waffle Shop. The company reached a milestone last fall when it started supplying its sauces to about 275 Food Lion stores in Virginia. We feel like its a great product and now we really want to see it grow further, said Ujevic, the companys co-founder and its director of customer relations. Were definitely excited and were also pleased at the same time because we put in a lot of time and energy and we think this is all a result of that, he said. Its gratifying to see just how people have reacted, just the testimonials weve received on how people have changed decisions on what sauces they use, and some people say they only use our sauce now. Gourmet Hemp Foods generated about $50,000 in sales last year, up from about $20,000 in sales in 2020, he said. It expects to double revenue this year to about $100,000, thanks largely to the Food Lion business. We definitely werent profitable. We are developing and growing our inventory, said Ujevic, who graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2015. To grow sales, the companys goal is to have its two sauces a 5-ounce hot sauce and a 10-ounce barbecue sauce sold at supermarkets elsewhere in Virginia and nearby states, with the hope of having them available on a national scale, he said. The company has had preliminary discussions with Food Lion about expanding into the chains stores in other states such as North Carolina, he said, noting that he is talking to other grocery retailers. But nothing is definitive yet, he said. We feel like we can really get these two products to greater market share. And then once we have enough recognition, we would want to start introducing some other products, he said. That expansion would include making other hemp-infused sauces, such as a marinara sauce. We have lots of ideas, he said. ****** In the fall of 2018, Gourmet Hemp Foods really changed when Ujevic met Tyenella Hall and her husband, Reginald Hall Jr., during a First Friday art gallery event in downtown Richmond. Ujevic, 28, was trying to figure out how to create a sauce using hemp seeds and hemp oils. It was serendipity that I met them, he said. The Halls knew how to create different types of food. They operate Hooks Lunch Box food truck and T&R Catering businesses. After that chance meeting, the couple sat down with Ujevic to discuss possibilities and became partners in the creation of Gourmet Hemp Foods. They had a product but did not know anything about the food industry. And Im a chef. Thats my backbone. Thats what I do know, said Tyenella Hall, the companys food scientist. So we decided to work on it. My husband was the one who made the hot sauce, and it was like freakin amazing. And then he made a barbecue sauce. And those have been what has gotten us our notoriety is the hot sauce and the barbecue sauce. Reginald Hall, the companys director of food production, said creating the two sauces gave him an opportunity to show the world my ability in sauce making. So I got some [ingredients] together for the hot sauce. I think I have a pretty good palate and tried some I had made, Reginald Hall said. My wife tasted it and she said, like yeah, this is really good. So I was like if my wife says it is good and shes a chef, it must be good. We dont sugarcoat anything from each other when it comes to cooking. Its either good or its not good. The original idea was to create a marinara sauce to go with the companys pasta products, but the initial tests indicated the sauce was too acidic, Ujevic said. After spending months testing variations of recipes for the hot sauce and the barbecue sauce and conducting different tests, Ujevic and the Halls started bottling the first batch at a cannery in the Farmville area. In 2020, they moved production operations to the facilities at Hatch Kitchen RVA, the business incubator for startup companies in the food industry that operates in the Clopton Siteworks in South Richmond. Creating the two sauces, Ujevic said, changed the course of the company. Once we started introducing the sauce, they were just flying off the shelf. Everywhere we went, people were just saying they were just loving it, he said. The first break for the budding business came in the fall of 2019 when Ellwood Thompsons Local Market agreed to carry the sauces. Landing Food Lion is great and it is definitely one of those milestones, but I never want to forget who gave us that first start, Tyenella Hall said of Ellwood Thompsons. When we made it on their shelf in October 2019, in that moment, to be a brand-new company who no one had ever heard of, but Ellwood Thompsons took a chance and put us on their shelf and have been consistently getting boxes from us. That, for me, was a pinchable moment, she said. We literally made it into one of the most persnickety stores. They are very calculated about who or what they put on their shelves. Jordan Montero, essentials manager at Ellwood Thompsons, said he was immediately interested in Gourmet Hemp Foods sauces because it was a local company using hemp in the products at a time when putting hemp in foods was a growing trend. Hemp is nutrient dense and overall super healthy, Montero said. It is full of vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, amino acids and omegas. I sampled their hemp and honey BBQ sauce. They are delicious and unique. Gourmet Hemp Foods is local, healthy and delicious, the perfect vendor for us. Their products have been great sellers, and their team has been a joy to work with. Sales at Ellwood Thompsons have been strong and steady, he said. Before Gourmet Hemp Foods landed in Food Lion stores, it was producing about 20 cases a month. Food Lion is currently ordering about 100 cases a month. While the company continues to expand distribution of its products, it will be working on creating a marinara sauce using hemp, Tyenella Hall said. But we have to make sure that it will cross over to the mainstream the same way as the hot sauce and barbecue sauce, she said. Pasta sauce is definitely going to go mainstream because its fun to go with our pasta and its going to make it a complete package. Gourmet Hemp Foods continues to make two types of pasta with hemp seed protein powder, but the focus is on the sauces, Ujevic said. The pastas are available on the companys gourmethempfoods.com website and at Ellwood Thompsons. ****** In Virginia, hemp was a mainstay crop until it was banished as part of the U.S. war on drugs starting in the 1930s. The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation in 2015 and 2016 allowing limited hemp cultivation in the state under a program administered through state universities. The federal Farm Bill in 2014 legalized growing industrial hemp for institutional research, and the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the broad cultivation of hemp. Advocates talk about hemps health benefits it is high in minerals, antioxidants and nutrients without having the psychoactive effects of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, that is found in marijuana. Using hemp in food products is a growing market segment, said Collin Gallus, director of supply chain at Victory Hemp Foods, a Kentucky-based company that manufactures hemp ingredients for food manufacturers including Gourmet Hemp Foods. You can go into Whole Foods and find some 50 or 60 brands that incorporate different hemp products into consumer packaged goods, Gallus said. We work with a number of companies that do everything from using hemp in jerky to tortilla chips, different kinds of granola, pasta, sauces, pestos. You name it, weve pretty much covered it. The bottom line is that [hemp is] a much healthier product to consume. The health benefits were a key reason why Tyenella Hall said she wanted to be part of Gourmet Hemp Foods. I have a nursing background, so I saw the benefits of hemp, she said, noting that she served in the military as a nurse and then went to culinary school. It just made sense for me to go into this, she said. The hulled hemp seeds and oils give the sauces a distinct flavor, she said. It is a heavy, very dense to the tongue as far as flavor, she said. She and her husband have used the Hemp Hottie Sauce on chicken wings that they sell from their Hooks Lunch Box food truck, which features what Tyenella Hall calls international comfort food. Its a great way of promoting the product, and then we tell them [customers] to go to Food Lion, she said. Ujevic said the Hemp Hottie Sauce and Hemp Honey BBQ Sauce have a nice flavor with the hemp giving a little kick to it. There are inherent health benefits from the hemp seeds itself which is why this is such a great product, he said. Were very happy to incorporate that ingredient because thats basically our companys mission, and were all about educating about what hemp is and what it isnt. Flash China's relief supplies worth 1 million yuan (about $157,900) have arrived in Tonga's capital city of Nuku'alofa on Thursday. According to Cao Yongjun, a Suva-based representative of China National Fisheries (Group) Corporation (CNFC), CNFC's two fishing boats carrying the emergency supplies are currently docking in the Vuna wharf of Nuku'alofa for unloading. As a COVID-19-free island nation with a population of more than 100,000, Tonga now has very strict measures to prevent COVID-19 from entering into the country, he told Xinhua, adding that all ships coming to Nuku'alofa only have access to contactless delivery of dropping off aid and humanitarian supplies. Due to the anti-COVID-19 procedures, the officials from the Chinese Embassy in Tonga have been waiting outside the Vuna wharf on Thursday and they can not meet with the crew of the two Chinese vessels. The officials have been coordinating the unloading of the vessels with the parties concerned in Tonga, which has been heavily damaged by the recent volcano eruptions and tsunami caused by the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, located about 65 km north of the Tongan capital. The two Chinese vessels set sail from Fijian capital Suva on Monday afternoon. Most of the relief supplies, including drinking water, food, electric generators, water pumps, chain saws, personnel protective equipment and medical supplies, were raised by the Chinese Embassy in Fiji and the remaining was donated by the Chinese enterprises in Fiji. Parents kept their children home and teachers called out sick in Chesterfield County on Thursday, the first day during that pandemic that children had the option to ditch their masks. Support for keeping the mask mandate outnumbered opposition nearly 3-to-1 in public comments to the School Board, which in a split vote Tuesday decided to comply with Gov. Glenn Youngkins order to make masks optional for students. Youngkins executive order went into effect on Monday, but the Richmond regions largest school divisions all required masks until Thursday. Hanover County will make masks optional on Monday. Yetty Shobo, who struggled to send her fourth-grade daughter back to Robious Elementary in August, kept her home on Thursday. Shobo was able to breathe a little easier back in August when the School Board unanimously voted to keep students in masks, but after this weeks vote, shes keeping her daughter at home until things change. For now, enrolling in virtual learning isnt an option. When they [the School Board] started this discussion upon us having a new governor, I just couldnt believe people were going to play politics with childrens lives, Shobo said. I cant imagine sending my child into a petri dish, which is what I believe schools will be if children are not masked. The matter is likely to be settled in court: Parents in Chesapeake and a group of school divisions including Richmond Public Schools have sued the governor, saying his order conflicts with state law and the state constitution. Youngkin has said hes putting power back in the hands of parents and hes confident his order will stand in court. Henrico County chose to keep its mask mandate, but has not joined the lawsuit. ****** In Chesterfield, teachers are being advised against asking students to wear a mask or making new seating arrangements that split students into groups of masked and unmasked. In a Wednesday email sent to Cosby High School staff, Principal Ben Snyder said: We are not sending an opt out form to families; moving forward, we will assume that students without masks have made a family decision and we will not ask them to wear or require them to wear a mask. We can continue to make announcements and reminders on where students can find masks, but we should not ask them to take one. The only reasons we should make adjustments to class seating arrangements at this time is if you feel like you can gain additional spacing between students or if there was already a planned change in your seating arrangement due to the new quarter, semester, etc., Snyder wrote in the staff email, obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Similar emails were sent to Chesterfield staff and teachers across the county. At Chalkley Elementary, an email sent to teachers said cohort seating / mask / non-mask this is not an option. Send me a message so I can speak with the family if someone asks you to seat their child away from others due to masking vs unmasking. Parents have said they would like to see cohorts of students, not segregation. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, cohorting means keeping people together in a small group and having each group stay together throughout an entire day. While the CDC recommends against separately cohorting vaccinated and unvaccinated people, it makes no mention when it comes to wearing masks or not. The use of cohorting can limit the spread of COVID-19 between cohort, according to the CDC. In the fall of 2020, students were placed into cohorts by grade level as CCPS started to send kids back to school. In an email from Manchester High School, teachers were told they are not the mask police, meaning they cannot give a child a mask if they arent wearing one and teachers cannot point out incorrect mask use. The Manchester High email went on to say: the best course of action to keep your student from being exposed to COVID is to have him/her wear a KN95 mask. However, according to dozens of parent social media posts, some Chesterfield schools did not have masks available on Thursday. And if masks were available, there were not KN95-sized masks fitted for a childs face. ****** On Thursday, School Board Vice Chair Dot Heffron checked in on a couple of her Clover Hill District schools where principals overall overwhelmingly reported mask use among students. After visiting an elementary school in person, Heffron said the students were consistently wearing masks. The students are used to wearing masks and social distancing, so today was just like any other day for the students, Heffron said. Shawn Smith, a schools spokesman, did not disclose the number of teachers who were absent on Thursday and in response provided the following statement: While we do have some staff members out today, our schools are open and our students are learning. We appreciate our Chesterfield families, students and staff who are working together to ensure our students continue to receive the best education possible. The Chesterfield branch of the NAACP is encouraging all county students, staff and visitors to continue wearing masks in school. The branch also wants the school system to expand learning options for parents who wish for their child to not be near other children without masks. The School Board refuses to govern responsibly. The Chesterfield School Boards rejection of current science, public health recommendations and existing law is an outright failure to protect our community and school children from a virus that has proven deadly and at the very least, disruptive. This is a matter of public safety and equitable access to education, the NAACP said in a statement Wednesday night. Ali Shenk has three boys in Chesterfield schools, one at each level elementary, middle and high. Whats unfolded over the past few days and weeks starts at the top with Youngkin, she said, whose recent executive order shows that hes more concerned about appeasing his voter base than caring for Virginias students. Shes also disappointed in Chesterfields School Board, which she said caved to the outspoken minority by taking actions that were disrespectful to both students and teachers. With daily cases reaching highs not seen before the omicron variant, it makes no sense right now to lift the mask mandate, Shenk said. Teachers are teaching with their hands tied behind their backs. According to the Chesterfield Education Association, of the thousands of comments sent in during last weeks initial mask vote, 1,728 comments were in favor of keeping masks while 583 were in favor of parental choice. Jennifer Schoemmell, a Matoaca resident and parent, wrote in public comment in favor of masks being optional. We have been wearing masks for 2 years and this is still spreading, Schoemmell wrote. My child has been vaccinated and I would like to let her decide if she wants to wear the mask or not. It has been proven that fabric masks do little to reduce the spread. ... Unless the school is going to provide KN95 masks, what are we really accomplishing? A former teacher years ago, Shenk said she often wonders if she were still a teacher, what would I do right now could I hang in there? The worst part is that her childrens concerns about getting COVID-19 have only been exacerbated this week. She said that even her middle child who begrudgingly wears a mask said hell continue to wear his mask in school. They get it, Shenk said. ****** Heather Kowells child attends Chesterfields Career and Technical Center part time for its health services program, which offers everything from dental and EMT programs to nursing, medical assistant, veterinary science and more. Its ironic, Kowell said, that a student in a health-driven program would be allowed to unmask at the height of a pandemic. But her child will continue to wear a mask, she said, to model professional, responsible behavior. My child absolutely feels like its the right thing to do, she said. That, and the students are in classrooms with little chance to social distance. Its an increased risk because they have to be in close contact with each other, she said. Kowell called recent actions taken by Chesterfields School Board poorly thought-out and quickly executed. If our numbers were on the decline and we were a community with low transmission, I might be a little bit more flexible, she said. But thats not who we are right now. Hanover school officials sent a note to parents Thursday afternoon, reminding them that the school divisions mask policy will take effect Monday for students. The policy does not apply to faculty, staff and visitors to the building, however, and those individuals will still be required to wear masks, the note said, because the executive order applies only to students. Health mitigation strategies remain in place, the note said, including social distancing, quarantining close contacts, frequent cleaning in high-traffic areas and ventilation systems checks. The note also said the school division has received requests from parents about placing their children in the Hanover Online School. The school division is adding names to the waitlist, but we do not want to provide false hope that your child can be accommodated. Staffing and resources for the online school were allocated before the start of the year, the note said, and we are well beyond the point of being able to completely overhaul our staffing for the second semester. The note encouraged kindness and respect. We recognize that this is an emotional and divisive issue in our community and beyond, even among members of the same household, it said. We expect everyone students and adults to treat one another with respect, care, and kindness, no matter what their choice or opinion may be on masks or otherwise. The note also reminded parents about the anonymous digital reporting tool on each schools webpage called Stand Up, Speak Out Stop Bullying Now, which can be used to report bullying directly to school administrators. Jessica Nocera Follow Jessica Nocera 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 It has been, Fatimo Ibrahim said without exaggeration, a long journey. From growing up in Nigeria to immigrating as a teen to New York, where her life spiraled into what seemed a hopeless situation, to a move to Richmond where she lived for a time in a homeless shelter and then many years in public housing where she raised her four children. Through years and years of ups and downs and working hard and holding her family together, and telling her kids to do their homework and pushing them to take advantage of the opportunity of formal education that she never had, all the while looking forward to what she hoped would be a better day. To this: A better day. And a home of her own. I feel so happy, I dont know to describe it, Ibrahim said after moving into the house she purchased in South Richmond. This is my dream home. Ibrahim moved in late December, leaving Gilpin Court and her old life behind. Im getting used to it, she said of the new place. The first night, I couldnt sleep. The second day, a little bit. The third day was OK. Right now Im comfortable. Said Carol Adams, a police officer who has become a close friend, This is such an amazing story of what true grit and hard work and determination can get you. Ibrahim, 55, was the subject of a photo-story by Times-Dispatch photojournalist Daniel Sangjib Min in 2019, which focused on her faith and perseverance and the drive she instilled in her children, the three oldest who are now college graduates and working (the youngest is in her next-to-last year of high school). I am grateful my children are going to places I have never been, and God makes everything work out for me and my family, she told Min. And now she is in a place she could only have dreamed of for so many years: a house she can call her own. As a child, Ibrahim worked on her familys farm in Nigeria, but did not attend school. (I pray to God if I have children Im going to make sure they go to school, she says). At age 17, she followed a neighbor to New York, where she worked for a family in a job for which she said she was not always paid. She had three children with a man she met in New York, but the relationship soured, and she was left overwhelmed by life, not knowing how she would be able to support her children. By chance, she met a woman who introduced her to a nearby Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where Ibrahim found a renewed outlook on life. The woman, Ibrahim says, might have been an angel from God. Since I found the Mormon Church, Ibrahim said, I am full of joy. She moved her family to Richmond, having been told by friends it would be a better place to raise her children. It has been anything but easy, but she and they have persevered and kept the faith. She made certain they went to school and did their work and took advantage of programs that might benefit them. Thats how she met Adams, who had organized a program at Gilpin Court, in which, among other topics, she brought in doctors and lawyers and representatives of other professions to talk to the kids. Generally, the children came by themselves or their parents dropped them off and left. Except for Ibrahim, who stayed and listened, too. She never left her children. She did everything she could do to make sure they were involved in the programs, said Adams. She was going to help give her kids an edge. She was going to make sure her children had the opportunity for education that she did not have. She did not want her children to struggle like she did. Adams became good friends with Ibrahim, even traveling to Nigeria with her when Ibrahim made her first visit there in decades to see family. She marvels at Ibrahims ever-present smile, her optimism and her good heart. Flash The Iraqi authorities confirmed on Friday the continuation of all flights in the country despite a rocket attack at Baghdad International Airport earlier in the day damaging a civilian plane. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that it will assure the continuation of flights at all airports nationwide, especially at Baghdad International Airport. At dawn, unidentified militia fired at least six Katyusha rockets, targeting a military airbase, named Victoria Airbase, which houses some U.S. experts and agencies within the international airport area. A source with the interior ministry said that the air defense system shot down four rockets, while one landed near the runway of the international airport and another directly hit a civilian plane. A statement by Iraqi Airways confirmed that a rocket hit one of its out-of-service planes in the perimeter of the civilian part of the airport. No casualties were reported in the attack, the source said. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but uncontrolled militias frequently target Iraqi military bases housing U.S. military advisors across Iraq, as well as the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. An online petition is calling for the release of two South Texas brothers and their friend who were arrested for allegedly beating their stepfather to death after he was accused of sexually abusing their 9-year-old sister. The Change.org petition addresses Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and had received more than 130,000 signatures as of Thursday morning. The petition addresses the case of Alejandro Trevino, 18, and Christian Trevino, 17, who along with family friend Juan Eduardo Melendez, 18, are accused of beating 42-year-old Gabriel Quintanilla and leaving him to die in an open field in McAllen, Texas. He was found on Jan. 20 by the McAllen Police Department, which then notified Pharr police of the incident and turned over the investigation to them. Quintanilla, who had an arrest warrant for sexually abusing another child, was found with severe blunt force trauma to his head, Pharr police said. Authorities believe the brothers became enraged after learning the allegations about Quintanilla and their sister and fought with Quintanilla at a trailer park. After two separate fights, the two brothers and Melendez allegedly assaulted Quintanilla for a third time when they found him walking alone near an apartment complex. Police said Quintanilla was beaten to death with brass knuckles. The suspects allegedly then placed Quintanilla in the bed of the pickup truck and dumped him in a field in McAllen. The petition, launched by "23-year-old nonprofit director, activist, and aspiring lawyer" Carlos Eduardo Espina, reads: "If convicted of capital murder, they face a minimum sentence of life imprisonment without parole." It goes on with a call to Texas and Abbott to release the teenagers: "We ask that the state of Texas to release these teenagers, who could possibly spend the rest of their life in prison for protecting their sister." The leader of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday brought a message of potential financial relief for Richmond, which is under mounting state political pressure to complete a $1.3 billion cleanup of an antiquated sewer system that overflows into the James River during heavy rains. Environment Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan toured the Shockoe Retention Basin built almost 40 years ago to catch the first flush of sewage-contaminated stormwater with Rep. Don McEachin, D-4th, and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who are seeking his help. Richmond and its congressional representatives are looking for up to $1 billion in federal aid to end the last 10% of combined-sewer overflows into the James without potentially tripling wastewater rates in a city where more than 20% of residents are impoverished. Were going to make sure our communities that need the funding the most are at the front of the line, Regan said in a news conference held on top of the concrete retention basin next to the James in Shockoe Bottom. The main source of help is likely to be the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a $1 trillion funding package passed with bipartisan support and signed by President Joe Biden late last year. It includes $50 billion to fix water and wastewater problems, including combined sewer systems in old cities such as Richmond. This is the single largest investment in water the federal government has ever made, said McEachin, a longtime member of the General Assembly before his election to Congress in 2016. He is asking Regan to look closely at a provision of the infrastructure law that allows the federal government to waive the requirement for local matching funds in communities, such as Richmond, that are fiscally stressed. The provision states, To the maximum extent practicable, the Administrator shall work with States to prevent the non-Federal share requirements under this subsection from being passed on to rural communities and financially distressed communities. Richmond officials say the city already is committing $150 million to match the same amount then-Gov. Ralph Northam proposed from the states share of money from the American Rescue Plan Act, passed last spring without Republican support. The General Assembly approved the appropriation of $50 million in federal aid for the citys combined-sewer project in special session in August. The remaining $100 million is part of the two-year budget that Northam proposed last month and is pending at the General Assembly. April Bingham, director of the Richmond Department of Public Utilities, said the citys ability to match additional federal or state contributions has been exhausted. Legislation Senate Republicans have proposed and Gov. Glenn Youngkin is pushing would accelerate a deadline negotiated two years ago for the city to complete the work by 2030 instead of 2035. In his State of the Commonwealth address Jan. 17, Youngkin said protecting and promoting the natural beauty of Virginia would be a core principle of his administration. Thats why we will end the dumping of raw sewage in the James River once and for all. Bingham said the revised deadline is just not feasible, even with federal funding. Richmond has spent $315 million to prevent 90% of the untreated combined-sewer overflows most of it storm water from city streets mixing with sewage from homes and businesses in the oldest parts of the city. The final 10% would require the construction of up to five tunnels below the river bottom and use of an abandoned stone quarry or some other way to hold the wastewater until it can be treated. The sewer pipes built in 19th-century Richmond drain stormwater and wastewater from a 19-square-mile swath of the city and adjoining Henrico County. Almost all of it comes to this point ... all by gravity, Pat Bradley, deputy director of the utilities department, told Regan and congressional leaders as they toured the cavernous retention basin. The basin, completed in the late 1980s at a cost of $60 million, holds up to 35 million gallons of wastewater, with an additional 15 million held in connecting sewer pipes. In a heavy storm, the basin fills up in less than 30 minutes, but it requires up to four days to drain, as the city treats the contaminated water before releasing it into the river. This was one of the first solutions, Bradley said. It gets the first big flush. Kaine, who served on Richmond City Council and as mayor before becoming lieutenant governor and governor, said in an interview, This is something I spent a lot of time on as mayor. We spent hundreds of millions of dollars, he said. We have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more. Despite those investments including the doubling of capacity at the citys wastewater treatment plant the citys combined sewers still discharge 1.9 billion gallons of untreated storm and wastewater into the James each year. All of us want to get rid of the untreated sewage in the James River, said Bill Street, chief executive officer of the James River Association, which has been pushing the city and state to fix the problem for decades. Environmentalists want Richmond to finish the work as quickly as possible, Street said in an interview after the news conference, but were also realists. Coming up with a plan that isnt realistic isnt going to help solve the problem, he said. For Richmond, the final plan also has to be affordable for the city and its utility ratepayers, who already pay some of the highest wastewater rates in Virginia. Regan promised to work with Youngkin and Secretary of Natural Resources Andrew Wheeler, who served as EPA administrator under President Donald Trump, to find sources of funding for a solution that Richmond utility customers can afford. We, too, are focusing on water affordability, Regan said. It wont work unless it works for all people. Gov. Glenn Youngkins push to open more privately run public schools got the support of a number of Virginia higher education leaders who signed onto a proposal by the administration to open charter schools run by their institutions and funded by the state. On Thursday, Youngkin and more than 30 higher education officials, surrounded by children and teens from Virginia schools, touted the need for innovation in K-12 education in Virginia. We stand together because we know there is an opportunity for us to innovate in K-12 education, the governor said during the event at the Patrick Henry Building. Youngkin promoted legislation moving through the General Assembly that would let any public or private college or university open a charter school, or convert an existing school into a charter school, with approval of the state Board of Education. While Youngkin said the bill is centered on colleges and universities, it would also allow private, for-profit businesses to open charter schools using public dollars. The bill is part of a package of charter school bills that seek to expand the number of schools that operate outside the control of local school boards but are funded with public dollars. Other Youngkin-backed legislation would allow the state Board of Education and regional charter agencies to approve applications for new charter schools. Right now, only local school boards can approve charter school applications. Several Democratic lawmakers have said they oppose the expansion of charter schools, arguing that all Virginia students would be better served if state funds were directed at existing public schools. At least two Democratic senators have said they are open to the idea. On Thursday, university and college presidents signed onto a memo supporting the legislation and a $150 million expenditure to help fund the launch of the schools. Its unclear which college and university presidents signed on and which didnt. The administration did not provide a list, despite multiple requests. Javaune Adams-Gaston, the president of Norfolk State University, a historically Black university, expressed support for Youngkins plan. We come from a tradition where we needed to do what was not being done for an underserved group of people, African Americans, who didnt have the opportunity to pursue higher education in a way that needed to happen, Adams-Gaston said. The bill directs the board to give substantial preference to any application from a historically Black college or university, and any application to open a charter school in an underserved community, defined as an area where many students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Adams-Gaston said the promised $150 million in funding is critical to the success. Representatives from several Richmond-area institutions Virginia Commonwealth University, Reynolds Community College and Virginia State University all expressed support for the bill during Thursdays event and when it came before a Senate panel on Thursday afternoon. The representative from VSU noted that Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, attended a public school operated by the university when she was a child. Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, who grew up in Georgia, said during the hearing that she too had attended a school operated by a higher education institution, but noted that it was modeled as a way for teachers in training to get experience. She expressed skepticism about the bill because it would allow all institutions, even those without teacher training programs, to operate a charter school. The Senate panel on Thursday afternoon ultimately recommended approval of the bill, an early sign of support from the Democratic-controlled chamber. Opponents of the bill included the Virginia School Boards Association, which said the bill could violate the states constitution, which gives power over schools to local school boards. By Levar M. Stoney and Sarah Steely As we continue to navigate the pandemic that has taken a toll on so many physically if not emotionally a great many children are confronting another challenge: food insecurity. While traditional safety nets have done what they could over the years, today they are being joined by a new national coalition of leaders who are stepping forward to share solutions for ending childhood hunger. We are proud to report that the city of Richmond is a key part of this emerging collaboration. First, some background: Since the start of the health crisis, we have witnessed the heroic work being performed by an often-unheralded group the nutrition staff members at schools. Together with nonprofit organizations in Richmond, these hardworking and dedicated professionals have worked courageously to meet the increased demand brought on by the virus. It is critical work, especially when you consider that a staggering 22% of kids in Richmond face food insecurity. Our teams show up not only when schools are in session but also during the summer months, making sure students receive the meals they need to grow and prosper. Through this experience, we know teamwork is an essential part of this outreach. Thats why its with both excitement and a great deal of hope that we announce the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger, a newly launched initiative that taps the individual and collective leadership of a nonpartisan group of more than 50 mayors around the country. We are committed to taking meaningful actions designed to end childhood hunger in our cities nationwide. The alliance will partner with the national nonprofit Share Our Strength and its No Kid Hungry campaign. From the mayors perspective, were proud to serve as inaugural chair of the alliance. The role is a personal one. As a kid who grew up on free and reduced lunch, the commitment to finding solutions to ending childhood hunger lives deep within. The city looks forward to being proactively involved in ways that can help bring about lasting change. Childhood hunger need not be an issue for the next generation of children. From the vantage point of No Kid Hungry Virginia, weve witnessed the incredible statewide coordination over the past 18 months, focused on addressing food insecurity in the commonwealth. Its been heartening to observe organizations including those in Richmond collaborate effectively to share delivery models, navigate rising food prices and support each others efforts. Its been nothing short of inspiring. During the COVID-19 pandemic, state, local and national leaders took urgent action to fight childhood hunger tactics that worked to stave off even greater rates of food insecurity despite the severe economic hardships brought on by the pandemic. The Mayors Alliance will harness the collective expertise of leaders from across the political spectrum to continue driving change at the state and national levels. The alliance represents an opportunity to share best practices, including ways in which Richmond Public Schools implement the Community Eligibility Provision districtwide. CEP allows high-need schools to make meals available at no cost to all students, treating nutrition like the critical school resource it is. The program eliminates red tape and helps us connect more students to meals. Well also build on the success of Summer EBT, a program that helps struggling families in Richmond have consistent access to food during the summer months. The federal program provides additional grocery benefits for qualifying families and is a critical lifeline for children when school is not in session. The launch of the Mayors Alliance comes at a pivotal moment. Progress made to date to eliminate childhood hunger now is at risk. This month is the first time since last July that families missed out on the expanded child tax credit payment. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, more than 1.5 million Virginia kids were impacted when the monthly installment ended. The missed payments are especially troubling for the 86% of low-income Virginia families who use the money for basic needs like food, rent and utilities. We have important work ahead, but were confident this group of leaders can create real, actionable change to end childhood hunger. One hungry child is one child too many. Together, we can ensure no child goes hungry in our communities. When I wrote last October about liberal activists campaign urging Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to retire, I mentioned President Joe Biden likely would nominate the nations first Black woman justice. Some readers criticized the idea of making race and gender a factor. A reader in Henrico, Va., wrote me: Will people ever truly understand that it is better and more important to appoint the best possible justice, irrespective of race and sex? His question is a familiar one, but it implies the best possible justice cant possibly be both Black and a woman. Even if unintentional, the implication is wrong. Judges and justices who bring diverse experiences of more parts of society have a wider perspective that can enhance their fair and independent decisions. Their presence on the bench also helps inspire public confidence in the judiciary. Ronald Reagan proved the wisdom of judicial diversity when he made a presidential campaign promise in 1980 to name the first woman justice to the Supreme Court. He nominated Sandra Day OConnor the following year and she served for a quarter-century before retiring. Biden has made a concerted effort to name more women and people of color to the federal bench, and the Senate has confirmed 40 of his district and circuit court picks. Thats more than have been confirmed in a presidents first year since Reagan, the White House says. Among those confirmed last year, 80% are women and 53% are people of color. In contrast, 85% of former President Donald Trumps judicial nominees were white and 76% were men, according to the Alliance for Justice, a progressive advocacy association. With Breyers retirement, Biden is poised to make history while, like Reagan, delivering on a campaign pledge. Im looking forward to making sure theres a Black woman on the Supreme Court to make sure we in fact get everyone represented, candidate Biden said at a debate days before the South Carolina Democratic primary in February 2020. Breyers retirement comes as Democrats need to revive their base of support before the midterm elections. Even if Biden hadnt promised to nominate a Black woman justice, he probably would. Its not only popular politically but the right thing to do. Its time a Black woman joined the nations highest court. She would be only the third Black justice in history and the second, with Clarence Thomas, on the current court; and the fourth sitting woman justice, with Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Amy Coney Barrett. Critics say Breyer, a pragmatic liberal, likely will be replaced by a liberal activist. Even if that is so, the liberal wing of the court will remain a three-justice minority. The six-justice conservative majority, including the three justices Trump nominated, will stand. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., promises a speedy confirmation process, and the Senate can move fast. Then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., rushed Trump-nominated Barrett through last fall in one month. The 50-50 Senate can confirm Bidens nominee if all Democratic senators stick together and are present that day, and Vice President Kamala Harris casts the tie-breaking vote. Its a stretch to think any Republicans will vote for Bidens nominee though three of them did vote last year to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. They were Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Jackson is on the likely short list of candidates for the high court. She also had bipartisan support when she was nominated for the federal district court in 2012. None other than Rep. Paul Ryan, Republican of Wisconsin, introduced her, saying: Our politics may differ, but my praise for Ketanjis intellect, for her character, for her integrity is unequivocal. Shes an amazing person, and I favorably recommend her consideration. Ryan, who later became House speaker before retiring in 2018, is related by marriage to the judge. Also on the shortlist: California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger and U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs of South Carolina. Any of them would make an honorable and qualified addition to the Supreme Court. Last September, candidate Glenn Youngkin shared his thoughts about a critical issue not just in Virginia but across the country: evictions. I think that theres a really good legal framework in place to provide resources and support for people so that they wont be kicked out of their homes, Youngkin said at a debate in Northern Virginia. He then shifted to the importance of the economic recovery from COVID-19, adding, I believe the No. 1 way were going to help folks with their rent is to get them jobs. At that time, the commonwealth just had extended pandemic-era protections through August 2022, including emergency assistance for tenants through the states Rent Relief Program. By the end of 2021, 70,000-plus households received roughly $1 billion through the initiative, and Virginia earned national attention for its efficiency deploying aid. In his recent address to the General Assembly, Youngkin took center stage as governor and again recognized Virginians struggling with a high cost of living, led by housing. The one vital thing elected leaders could do to help was remove some of the tax burden that aggravates housing, groceries, gas and other essential expenses, he said. More targeted efforts are needed than tax adjustments, job creation, or emergency rent relief programs and protections. To address the housing issue, Virginia has to tackle cost and supply challenges head-on. Amid the December transition between the Northam and Youngkin administrations, the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission released a wide-ranging report on affordable housing in Virginia. JLARC researchers sought to identify the volume of cost-burdened households, defined as spending 30% or more of income on housing. They also assessed the pool of quality affordable housing available at regional and statewide levels, and the efficacy of state-run financial assistance programs. In a cost sense, the findings projected a difficult picture: more than 900,000 Virginia households were cost-burdened in 2019 (a prepandemic figure), and roughly half of those Virginians spent at least 50% of their income on housing. Additionally, renters (44%) were more likely to be cost-burdened than homeowners (21%). In a supply sense, while homeownership continues to be an American ideal, fewer Virginians are able to buy a place. This month, Virginia Realtors released its monthly home sales report for December, showing 2021 was an unprecedented year for both price increases and inventory declines. The median sales price in Virginia was $350,000, up $30,000 from 2020. Active listings totaled 13,469 at the end of last year, down about 4,300 from 2020. The biggest challenge in the market is a lack of inventory, Virginia Realtors President Denise Ramey said in a news release. Sales are slowing down a bit because buyers are having a hard time finding homes to consider. The JLARC report added that while low- and middle-income families might possess incomes capable of covering mortgage payments, they lack savings to cover upfront commitments such as down payments or closing costs. In and around Richmond, for example, this pinch becomes more pronounced as the housing market grows more competitive and moves faster. On Jan. 20, the Partnership for Housing Affordability held its inaugural State of Housing in the Richmond Region event. The discussion highlighted successes and challenges since the January 2020 release of the areas regional housing framework. At the event, Richmond Association of Realtors CEO Laura Lafayette said prospective single-family homebuyers are battling scenarios with multiple offers across all price ranges, while sellers are getting top dollar. If you want that offer, as the buyer, youre on average going to have to pay more than the house was listed for, Lafayette said. Families subsequently seek to rent, but the commonwealth also faces a shortage of at least 200,000 affordable units, JLARC noted. More than half of the unmet need is in the Urban Crescent: Northern Virginia (60,500 units), Hampton Roads (52,600) and Central Virginia (35,300). Southwest/New River Valley (16,400), Charlottesville (8,500) and Far Southwest (6,000) also face substantial hurdles. Those most affected by the scarcity of homes are low-income renters in low-wage jobs, JLARC added. Theyre people who often work in common, essential occupations, including home health aides ($22,000 salary), teaching assistants ($29,000), bus drivers ($45,000) and social workers ($51,000). These workers are needed in all parts of the state, and a lack of affordable housing in some regions constrains the supply, the report said. JLARCs conclusion aligns with Youngkins assertion that jobs and housing are intertwined. The governors vision of saving money at the gas pump or the grocery store could make a difference. But are those policy changes capable of overcoming not just pervasive imbalances in the housing ecosystem, but struggles that then filter into health care, education and other policy areas? Along with halting the states recent gas tax increase and removing the grocery tax altogether, Youngkin has elevated a proposal to double the standard deduction. The collective relief plan would result in $1,500 checks for everyday families, the governor said this month. But low-income filers families cost-burdened by housing might not benefit from the standard deduction tweak. Chris Wodicka, a senior policy analyst at The Commonwealth Institute, recently told Virginia Public Radio that existing deductions and credits already help families lower their income tax liability. Virginia can do more to ease the housing burden than alter tax policy. State and local leaders should focus on housing-specific collaborations, like Richmonds regional framework, that drive results. In its 2021 annual report, the Partnership for Housing Affordability identified 17 solutions that either have been accomplished or are in progress. Some core projects include: increasing affordable supply through more land zoned for multifamily development; investing in community land trusts that open doors to homeownership for low- and middle-income buyers; and creating regional loan funds that promote development avenues through low-cost debt and grants. Virginians attention during the gubernatorial race was captured by items like grocery and gas taxes that undoubtedly affect their bottom lines. But housing is the very root of everyday stability, and rental aid options continue to be stressed by the pandemic. The need is still outweighing what were able to provide in terms of assistance, Jovan Burton, the partnerships executive director, said at its recent event. In fact, these programs are doling out $100,000 on a weekly basis, sometimes that much in a single day. State and local leaders have a lot more work to do on the cost and supply issues. They can and should come together to address housing challenges head-on. Chris Gentilviso Looking out for students Editor, Times-Dispatch: Under current Virginia law, principals are required to report crimes of minors on school property to law enforcement only if it constitutes a felony offense. The proposed Senate Bill 2 would overturn current law and require principals to report any crime of a student, whether it be a misdemeanor or felony. There are multiple reasons this law wouldn't be beneficial to students. This action could leave permanent marks on students records for minor offenses. Students should be held accountable for their actions, but minor incidents can very well be resolved by school authorities rather than police. Of course, in specific situations, such as abuse or a threat of safety, principals should report to the police, which state law still says they can do. This bill also targets minority children, as studies have shown Black students are three times more likely to be suspended or expelled than white students. The American Civil Liberties Union stated it best: Many of these children have learning disabilities or histories of poverty, abuse or neglect, and would benefit from additional educational and counseling services. Instead, they are isolated, punished, and pushed out. Ponnie Rezaee. In the wake of the snow, wind and cold will be the story on Saturday. Sunshine will return by Saturday afternoon, but temperatures will have a hard time recovering to the freezing mark on the heels of strong Arctic winds from the northwest. The core of the Arctic air parks over central Virginia on Saturday night, cutting off the winds, but allowing temperatures to fall to near 10 degrees. A very weak system races by on Sunday, bringing only clouds. It also signals a slow warming trend for the first part of next week. Temperatures will warm a little bit each afternoon from Sunday through Wednesday, with no precipitation until the next large storm system approaches Thursday into Friday. Ahead of that storm will be a large surge of warm air from the southwest, so next weeks storm looks exclusively like rain. And there are signs for some heavy rain with that system before it clears Virginia later on Friday. This sets up next weekend (Feb 5-6) to be dry and seasonably cold with highs in the 30s to 40s and lows returning to the 20s. Richmond Climate Check While January has been colder than December, the temperatures have actually been close to their climatological normals. So far this month, the average temperature in Richmond is less than one degree below normal. By comparison, December 2021 averaged 7 degrees above normal in Richmond. *** Forecast for Richmond Friday night: Occasional light snow, about an inch or so of accumulation by dawn. Becoming windy after midnight. Low 24. Saturday: Windy and very cold. Scattered morning snow showers, but no additional accumulation in the morning. Turning sunny for the afternoon. High around 30. Wind chills in the teens to lower 20s for most of the day. Wind northwest at 15-25 mph with higher gusts. Saturday night: Clear and very cold, winds dying down a few hours after sunset. Lows ranging from 14 in central Richmond to near 10 in suburban locations. Sunday: Sun and clouds. Cold and dry. High 35. Monday: Sun and clouds. Not as cold. High 44. Tuesday: Sunny. High 48. Wednesday: Sun and clouds, warmer. High 56. Thursday: Mostly cloudy with afternoon rain likely. High near 60. Friday: Breezy and colder with clouds breaking for sun. High 48. (Image: Digital News Asia) Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has announced the launch of a cross-border QR payment linkage with Bank Indonesia (BI), which will enable citizens in both countries to perform instant and secure cross-border payments when making purchases. With this latest update, consumers in Malaysia and Indonesia will be able to conveniently and safely pay for their purchases at online and offline merchants by scanning the DuitNow or QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard) QR codes. The service, which is part of the pilot phase that has already begun, will eventually lead to a full commercial launch in the third quarter of 2022. There are also plans for the linkage to be expanded to support cross-border remittances. The cross-border QR payment linkage between Malaysia and Indonesia marks a key milestone in the long history of collaboration between both countries. Phase 2 of the QR payment linkage between Malaysia and Thailand has also gone live this week, said the deputy governor of BNM, Jessica Chew Cheng Lian, adding that these developments will bring the nations closer to the vision of creating an Asean network of fast and efficient retail payment systems. (Image: The Malaysian Reserve/Muhd Amin Naharul) Malaysias cross-border payment linkage with Thailand has been established since June 2021, with the first phase allowing users in Thailand to make payments to Malaysian merchants by scanning DuitNow QR codes. The second phase, meanwhile, allows Malaysians to perform similar transactions with merchants in Thailand. Aside from Thailand, Malaysia has also formed payment linkages with Singapore and the euro area. Meanwhile, the deputy governor of BI, Doni P Joewono said this initiative marks another milestone of the Indonesia Payment System Blueprint. This will give more options for users in the cross-border payment space and serve as a key to improve transaction efficiency, support the digitalisation of trade and investment, and maintain macroeconomic stability by promoting a more extensive use of the Local Currency Settlement (LCS) Framework, he said. (Image: CNBC Indonesia) BNM and BI further commented that this linkage will not only strengthen the economic tie between Malaysia and Indonesia, but also give a big boost to the tourism sector of both countries. During pre-Covid days, an average of 5.6 million travellers travelled between the two countries per year. Additionally, both countries are also key remittance corridors for their nationals working abroad, who stand to benefit from faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border remittances via this initiative. (Sources: Bank Negara Malaysia, The Edge Markets) 0 0 votes Article Rating SHARE Flash Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Friday held a phone conversation with Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres, on regional issues and Vienna nuke talks, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website. Amir Abdollahian referred to the conflict in Yemen, stressing Iran's "continued approach to supporting a political solution to end the war in that country." He called for the UN to play a greater role in Yemen and urged special attention to the humanitarian crisis and the situation of Afghan refugees. "The Islamic Republic of Iran in the past few months has received about eight hundred thousand new refugees from Afghanistan," the foreign minister was quoted as saying. He reiterated Iran's position in forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan, and voiced his country's readiness to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid from the international community to Afghanistan through Iran. Regarding the ongoing talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna between Iran and the world powers to remove U.S. sanctions and the restoration of the 2015 nuclear deal, Amir Abdollahian described the process as "positive," stressing the Iranian expectation for "a good agreement as soon as possible." He underlined what he called "lack of trust in the White House authorities," urging the need for "practical, tangible, and verifiable action by the West and the United States to prove a lasting and credible (nuclear) agreement." For his part, Guterres appreciated the "constructive" positions of Iran on Yemen and Afghanistan, calling for "the right conditions for all Afghan citizens, especially women and children, to enjoy human rights and access to education." He also welcomed any progress in the nuclear talks and lifting of anti-Iran sanctions, saying that the UN has always supported the efforts for a nuclear agreement and international peace. A Roanoke man accused of armed robberies in Virginia and North Carolina now also faces charges of assaulting an officer after authorities said he tased a sergeant in a Greensboro-area jail. Eric Dwayne Swain Jr., 21, was arrested in North Carolina after a Sunday night robbery was reported at a convenience store in Henry County and a car theft was reported outside another convenience store in Greensboro. The robberies happened about an hour apart. Swain was arrested by Guilford County (N.C.) sheriffs deputies, and jail records show he was booked into the Greensboro Detention Center around 2:30 a.m. Monday. He also is reported to be facing charges in Roanoke but the details of those allegations arent yet clear. On Wednesday morning, jail officials in Greensboro said a struggle broke out when Swain grabbed an officers taser and used it against the man. The Greensboro News & Record reported the officer, a sergeant, was taken to a hospital for evaluation but sustained no serious injuries. It was unclear what led up to the altercation. Swain had not yet appeared in court Thursday morning to respond to the allegation. Earlier this week, Henry County authorities said Swain was expected to be extradited back to Virginia to face charges filed against him both there and in Roanoke. The Henry County case centers on a robbery reported around 10 p.m. Sunday at Dodges Store off U.S. 220 in Bassett. The sheriffs office said a man walked into the store, placed a food order and had money ready in his hand but, instead of paying, pulled out a gun and pointed it at the clerk. The food was the only item taken. No shots were fired, and no one was hurt. Investigators filed charges of robbery and use of a gun in a felony against Swain in the matter. In another altercation reported about 10:45 p.m. Sunday, Greensboro, N.C., police said a man stole someone elses car at gunpoint. Workers at a convenience store, Great Stops on North Church Street, said a man walked up to a woman in the parking lot, flashed a gun and told her to get out of her car. The woman ran into the store for help. She came in and just hollered, gun, car, man, said cashier Judy Hamadou while speaking by phone with The Roanoke Times. Worried someone was chasing the woman, Hamadou said she hid her in a backroom and called 911. No shots were fired, and no one was hurt. The car bandit was still there, sitting at a traffic light next to the store, when the first officer arrived, Hamadou said. The officer ordered him out of the car, she said, but the suspect gunned the engine and took off. Swain, whos charged in that case, was apprehended by the Guilford County Sheriffs Office, a police spokesman told The News & Record. The charges listed against him as of Thursday in online jail records included assault or injury to an officer, escape from a confinement facility, robbery with a firearm or other weapon and speeding to elude arrest. Henry County and Roanoke also filed claims on Swain, North Carolina officials said. The timeline for his extradition back to the commonwealth remained unknown Thursday morning, said a Henry County investigator. Roanoke police would not comment on the case. A spokeswoman said she couldnt confirm a suspects name or discuss pending charges unless local arrest warrants had been served and formalized. 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. Joseph Ryan Yost, the former New River Valley delegate charged with embezzling from the Giles County Historical Society, has a plea hearing scheduled for Feb. 16. The hearing in the countys circuit court indicates a swift end to a case that only became public on Jan. 12 but which bubbled through the county rumor mill for months. Yost, 35, of Pearisburg, was a history buff who in 2014 became executive director of the historical society, a part-time position. According to a search warrant, Virginia State Police launched an investigation in April 2021 after the societys board of directors found that money had been withdrawn from the societys bank account without the boards authorization. On Jan. 11, a grand jury returned direct indictments charging Yost with four counts of embezzlement. The indictments were unsealed the next day after Yost was arrested. On Friday, Yosts attorney Chris Tuck of Blacksburg said he had no comment on the case or the upcoming hearing. Yost, a Republican, served in the House of Delegates from 2012 to 2018. He represented the 12th District that covers Giles County, parts of Montgomery and Pulaski counties, and Radford. 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 Roanoke County School Board voted to lift the division's mask mandate on Valentines Day, a decision that most in attendance didnt love though not for the same reasons. For those in favor of making masks optional, the date is too far away. But for those in favor of keeping the mandate in place, its far too soon. The Feb. 14 date for lifting the masks was made after 65 people spoke to the board during the public comment portion of Thursdays meeting, double the amount of people that spoke about the issue at last weeks meeting. The motion made by Vinton District representative Tim Greenway allowed for the masks to be removed sooner if the Virginia Supreme Court rules in favor of Gov. Glenn Youngkins executive order making them optional after the order was challenged. Newly elected board members Cheryl Facciani of the Windsor Hills District and Vice Chair Brent Hudson of the Catawba District said they would have preferred to make masks optional immediately, but voted in favor of the measure nonetheless. The board passed the measure 4-1, with only one member wearing a mask, Cave Spring District representative Mike Wray. He cast the no vote, though he did say he hopes the state Supreme Court rules on the matter soon. Other board members said they wanted to make sure they didnt have to come back and take another vote later, while also allowing administration to prepare for the change. Parents and students alike spoke for and against the mandate, with those speaking in favor of parental choice having more of a presence than they did last Tuesday. With two overflow rooms to accommodate the approximately 100 people not able to fit in the boardroom, the divide between those that didnt speak was just as apparent as those that voiced their opinions to the board. The smaller of the two overflow areas was filled with those against the mandate, and if the cheers from the room after someone they agreed with spoke didnt give their position away, the lack of masks being worn in the room did. A sign at the entrance of the administrative building stated masks were required upon entry, but that was disregarded by many, and school system spokesman Chuck Lionberger wrote in a text message that the mask mandate did not apply in the building since it was not a school. The larger of the two overflow rooms was filled with people who were mostly masked, and cheers for speakers they agreed with were also audible from the board room. And while more people spoke this week, the sentiments from both sides remained largely the same. Those in favor of keeping the mandate pointed to federal and state health agencies, as well as the medical and scientific community at large, recommending the continued wearing of masks in schools, while also pointing to record numbers of positive COVID-19 cases throughout the country, including the countys school system. Masks continue to be one of the most effective ways to mitigate the spread of the virus, in addition to getting vaccinated and social distancing, according to public health experts. Many also criticized the board for making a public safety issue political, instead of relying on medical experts as they do in other situations regarding health. Opponents of the mandate told some members of the board that they would be reneging on campaign promises of removing the mandate, while also taking away parental choice. The fact that the school system was also not following the Gov. Glenn Youngkins executive order making masks optional was also brought up by those opposing the mandate. Other complaints from those against the mandate included the changing of recommendations by scientific experts since the beginning of the pandemic, like the fact that recent reports from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have said cloth masks are less effective at stopping the spread of the virus compared to N95 respirator and surgical masks, and that the board is taking away the freedoms of parents and students. Some in attendance rebuked the idea that freedoms were being taken away from parents, making mentions of many policies students must follow, including a dress code. One woman who spoke in favor of keeping the mandate, who said she is an emergency department doctor with Carilion Clinic with more than 20 years experience, said she wasnt planning on coming to speak at the meeting, but felt compelled after seeing more children come to the hospital for COVID-related symptoms on Thursday than she had the entire pandemic. Dr. Karen Kuehl, a Roanoke native with a son who attends Cave Spring Middle School, said she was the doctor that recorded the first case of the virus in Roanoke in March 2020. Im nervous because right now COVID is the worst I have ever seen it [since the pandemic started] she said, begging the board not to lift the mandate on Feb.14, stating it was impossible to tell if cases would be down more than two weeks in advance. Ive had recent patients in their 20s, 30s and 40s die I am doing COVID investigations on kids six days to 17-years-old, '' Kuehl told the board. Kuehl also said that making masks optional on Valentines Day was a bad idea. It will also be the day after the NFLs Super Bowl, an event that is synonymous with parties and mass gatherings throughout the country by people of all ages. The board seemed to listen intently to speakers, with a few exceptions. Facciani and Hudson were both looking down for long stretches of time, to the point where at least one speaker thanked most board members for making eye contact and listening to speakers. She responded to the speakers criticism at the end of the meeting by stating that if she was looking down, it was to talk to her kids that suffer from Type 1 diabetes about their health. Facciani has drawn criticism from the public for some of the statements shes made regarding the pandemic, and for making the initial motion to remove the mask mandate that was turned over just a few days later in early January. The board voted during a Jan. 4 work session to make the school system mask optional and return to pre-COVID medical policies leaving medical decisions such as testing, quarantining and contact tracing between the doctor, the student patient, and the students parent/guardians, following the reversal of a state mask mandate in K-12 schools by Youngkin after he was sworn in Jan. 15. The board then met again and decided to hold off on dropping the mandate several days later. That set up Thursday's meeting and another vote. The school system reported 400 positive cases on its COVID dashboard for staff and students from Jan. 9 to Jan. 15, the highest one-week total of the school year. For comparison, the entire county saw 1,545 cases during that same period. Last week's data showed a decrease in reported cases, but the school system also did not hold in-person classes due to inclement weather. The school system has seen 955 positive cases for students and 206 for staff in January alone, more than every other month for the current school year combined, according to data provided by Assistant Superintendent Rhonda Stegall at Thursday's meeting. The school system has approximately 13,611 students as of the end of November, according to Lionberger. The vast majority of positive cases are being confirmed as happening outside of the schools, Stegall told the board, while also noting that the states health department is still recommending K-12 schools still wear masks to help stop the spread of the virus, regardless of vaccination status. Youngkin issued the mask-optional order as one of his first acts after being sworn in Jan. 15, and confusion has swirled over the implications since then. Some districts have interpreted the order as being at odds with a state law that deals with COVID-19 mitigation in schools and have opted to keep pre-existing mask mandates in place for students. The order is facing a legal challenge filed last week by a group of parents and another filed Monday morning by seven school boards. In addition to Fairfax County, the states most populous jurisdiction, the school boards in Alexandria, Richmond, Hampton, Falls Church, Arlington County and Prince William County, joined the lawsuit. Collectively, the jurisdictions represent more than 350,000 students. The lawsuit argues the state constitution gives local school boards the authority to run their districts. It also cites a state law that requires school systems to follow federal health guidelines, which include recommendations for universal masking. Youngkin urged patience and asked parents to listen to their children's school principals for the time being. Listen to a principal today. And I know that there are some school systems that are doing things that are inconsistent with respecting the rights of parents. ... Lets respect it right now and let this legal process play out," he said in a recent interview with Richmond radio station WRVA. Supporters of the executive order say the state law is not in conflict with Youngkins order because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only recommends mask-wearing and does not mandate it. Mondays lawsuit came after a group of parents in Chesapeake filed a petition last week at the Virginia Supreme Court challenging the executive order. The court has so far taken no action. Democrats commended the school boards who filed suit against Youngkin, who led a Republican sweep of the three statewide offices in November. On Monday state Democrats and accused the governor of using children as political pawns. Youngkin is quickly on his way to becoming the most divisive and authoritarian governor in our commonwealths long history, state Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, said at a news conference. 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. The public is being invited to comment on a proposal that would allow fiber-optic telecommunication lines across the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. For the most part, the buried lines would follow existing roads and utility right-of-ways. No above ground infrastructure on NFS lands is proposed; therefore, no visual scenic quality impacts are expected, a Jan. 20 public notice states. In recent years, the U.S. Forest Service has received requests from multiple companies to install the lines in order to provide broadband service to rural customers. The Forest Service manages land to accommodate multiple uses, including supporting the installation of broadband in rural communities, forest supervisor Joby Timm said in a news release Friday. Because the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests run the length of Virginia from north to south, long, linear utilities inevitably require access across National Forest System lands. After an environmental assessment, the project would establish specific criteria to be used in granting special use permits on an individual basis. Under the proposal, trenches about one foot wide and at least 30 inches deep would be dug for the lines. Tree clearing would be limited to incidental brush and hazardous tree removal. Horizontal directional drilling would be used to cross sensitive areas such as streams, wetlands and trails. The drilling would be done with small machines that do not require bore pads or staging areas. Fiber-optic lines would mainly co-locate with existing utility lines or transportation right of ways, according to the notice. The lines would not be allowed on designated or recommended wilderness areas or through eligible wild and scenic rivers. Applications would be subject to review to ensure that natural and cultural resources are protected, the Forest Service said, and that they abide by the management plans for the two forests. The George Washington and Jefferson are separate national forests that are administered by the same Roanoke-based office. They cover more than 1.8 million acres in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky and represent one of the largest blocks of public land in the eastern United States. Written comments are being accepted through Feb. 22. Comments can be submitted by email to https://cara.ecosystemmanagement.org/Public/Commentlnput?Project=61463. Submissions can also be mailed to Joby Timm, forest supervisor, 5162 Valleypointe Parkway, Roanoke, Va., 24019. 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. Virginia reported 73,878 new COVID-19 infections over the past week, bringing the cumulative total during the pandemic to 1,525,591, the Virginia Department of Health reported Friday. The infection pace has begun to slow across the state since an all-time peak in coronavirus cases a few weeks ago fueled by the highly-transmissible omicron variant. New River Health District Director Dr. Noelle Bissell said her district has hit its peak as new infections have decreased. She said she expects to see a significant decline in cases next week after observing the way surges and declines have worked elsewhere in the world. I do think there is light at the end of the tunnel, Bissell said. Omicron is circling everywhere and it is going to run its course. I think it will push us to that next stage. Roanoke City and Alleghany Health District Director Cynthia Morrow said she is cautiously optimistic that her district hit its peak last week. But she also said the weather may have limited access to testing, which could have lowered the number of confirmed infections. Although cases are starting to slow and infections have proven to be milder than previous variants, hospitals are still strained across the state. Carilion Clinic, Centra Health, LewisGale Regional Health System, the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Sovah Health released a joint public service announcement Tuesday. The health systems urged people to continue to social distance, wear masks, wash their hands and receive a vaccine. Were treating more hospitalized COVID-19 patients than we ever have the vast majority of whom are unvaccinated, the statement read. In addition to treating preventable illness, this takes beds and resources away from other sick patients who desperately need that scarce resource. Virginias near southwest region, which includes hospitals from Lynchburg to the Roanoke Valley, had 517 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of Friday, including 110 in intensive care. Last Friday, there had been 535 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the region, including 109 in ICUs. The state reported 640 more hospitalizations over the past seven days, increasing the total number of people hospitalized during the pandemic to 47,546, although the VDH website notes that hospitalizations are underrepresented. Virginia reported 275 new virus-related deaths over the past seven days, for a total of 16,127 since the start of the pandemic. As of Friday, 78.8% of Virginias adult population had been fully vaccinated. Everyone aged 5 or older has been approved to receive a vaccine, which are available at the community vaccination center in the former Sears store at Valley View Mall, located at 4812 Valley View Blvd. People can make appointments at vaccinate.virgina.gov or by calling 877-829-4682. Walk-ins are also open for adults and children. The health department opened a community testing center at Valley View Mall. Tests are administered by appointment only and can be scheduled at vase.vdh.virginia.gov/testingappointment. Morrow said the demand for testing has started to decline, so the center has plenty of tests available and typically no wait. The Roanoke Times contributed to this report. 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. RICHMOND A Senate bill that would require the individual votes of the Virginia Parole Board be made public cleared its first hurdle this week, and its Republican sponsor believes it has a good chance of becoming law this session after identical legislation he introduced in 2020 and 2021 was killed by the House Courts of Justice Committee, then controlled by Democrats. My hope is that well get strong bipartisan support in the Senate, and once the House of Delegates has the opportunity to consider the bill, I also expect there will be strong bipartisan support for making parole board votes public, said Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County. Senate Bill 5 would make the votes of parole board members in their decisions to grant or not grant parole to state inmates a public record under provisions of Virginias Freedom of Information Act. Currently, the individual board votes are kept secret. The Virginia Coalition for Open Government and the Virginia Press Association favor transparency and are supporting Suetterleins bill. Identical versions of the bill passed the Senate with bi-partisan support with votes of 29-10 and 33-6 in 2020 and 2021, respectively, but ultimately were killed after being referred to the House Courts of Justice Committee. In party-line votes, the committee tabled the legislation and referred it to the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council in 2020, and left it in committee without further discussion in 2021. Suetterlein first introduced the bill in 2020 as a measure to require greater transparency of parole board decisions in the wake of a Virginia government watchdog report that said the board violated the law and its own policies in releasing Vincent Martin, who was sentenced to life in prison for killing a Richmond police officer in 1979. The board came under intense scrutiny as other controversial decisions followed and at least nine of the panels actions involving individual inmates were investigated by the Office of the State Inspector General. Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, told members of the Assemblys General Laws and Technology Committee on Wednesday that the proposed legislation is neither a partisan issue nor a scandal issue. Its just a basic fact that the parole board is a public body, and like all other public bodies, they should routinely make their vote counts publicly accessible, she said. Currently, the parole board is generally not subject to FOIA at all, Rhyne said. The public has no rights under FOIA to ask for and receive records generally [from the parole board]. Theres nothing prohibiting the parole board from doing that, but theyre not required to. In remarks to the committee, Suetterlein said his bill would bring the parole board in line with just about every other public body in Virginia in terms of the transparency of its actions. When we pass a law, everyone knows how we voted on it, and we know the governor who signed it into law, Suetterlein said. If someone is accused of violating that law everyone gets to know who made the arrest. If they are prosecuted in our courts, everyone gets to know the prosecutor and the judge who oversaw the case. And if it goes to appeal, everyone gets to know the name of the appellate judge that upheld the decision. And if it goes to the parole board, and the parole board decides to grant parole, this is the first time in the entire process where its not clear whos making the decision. In August 2020, after Suetterleins bill was introduced for the first time, then-Parole Board Chair Tonya Chapman said in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch that the parole board had not taken a position on the legislation. However, the concern is whether it opens up the propensity for people to try and intimidate board members ... for instance, like we know where you live, Chapman said. Whether its individuals that are upset about releasing someone, or individuals that are upset because you didnt release them. She said after the Inspector Generals report was released about the Vincent Martin case, we received threats so that would be a concern as far as [making public] individual votes. In a fiscal impact statement the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget filed about the bills potential costs, the staff said the parole board believes it may need to hire up to two full-time staff positions to compile and prepare information for public dissemination or for specific FOIA requests if the bill becomes law. The board estimated that the annual salary for one such position, including benefits, would be about $66,555 annually. But Rhyne took issue with that assessment. Theres no requirement [in the bill] that the votes be proactively disclosed, or that any database be compiled, or anything like that, she told the committee. Its just simply that they need to make [the information] available upon request. Theres simply no reason why it would take two full-time employees as the fiscal impact statement suggests just to respond to requests for vote tallies on a particular case. The General Laws committee voted 14-1, with Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, casting the only dissenting vote, to move the bill forward. It now will be considered by the House Finance and Appropriations Committee. RICMOND Gov. Glenn Youngkins push to open more privately run public schools got the support of a number of Virginia higher education leaders who signed onto a proposal by the administration to open charter schools run by their institutions and funded by the state. On Thursday, Youngkin and more than 30 higher education officials, surrounded by children and teens from Virginia schools, touted the need for innovation in K-12 education in Virginia. We stand together because we know there is an opportunity for us to innovate in K-12 education, the governor said during the event at the Patrick Henry Building. Youngkin promoted legislation moving through the General Assembly that would let any public or private college or university open a charter school, or convert an existing school into a charter school, with approval of the state Board of Education. While Youngkin said the bill is centered on colleges and universities, it would also allow private, for-profit businesses to open charter schools using public dollars. The bill is part of a package of charter school bills that seek to expand the number of schools that operate outside the control of local school boards but are funded with public dollars. Other Youngkin-backed legislation would allow the state Board of Education and regional charter agencies to approve applications for new charter schools. Right now, only local school boards can approve charter school applications. Several Democratic lawmakers have said they oppose the expansion of charter schools, arguing that all Virginia students would be better served if state funds were directed at existing public schools. At least two Democratic senators have said they are open to the idea. On Thursday, university and college presidents signed onto a memo supporting the legislation and a $150 million expenditure to help fund the launch of the schools. Its unclear which college and university presidents signed on and which didnt. The administration did not provide a list, despite multiple requests. Javaune Adams-Gaston, the president of Norfolk State University, a historically Black university, expressed support for Youngkins plan. We come from a tradition where we needed to do what was not being done for an underserved group of people, African Americans, who didnt have the opportunity to pursue higher education in a way that needed to happen, Adams-Gaston said. The bill directs the board to give substantial preference to any application from a historically Black college or university, and any application to open a charter school in an underserved community, defined as an area where many students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Adams-Gaston said the promised $150 million in funding is critical to the success. Representatives from several Richmond-area institutions Virginia Commonwealth University, Reynolds Community College and Virginia State University all expressed support for the bill during Thursdays event and when it came before a Senate panel on Thursday afternoon. The representative from VSU noted that Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, attended a public school operated by the university when she was a child. Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, who grew up in Georgia, said during the hearing that she too had attended a school operated by a higher education institution, but noted that it was modeled as a way for teachers in training to get experience. She expressed skepticism about the bill because it would allow all institutions, even those without teacher training programs, to operate a charter school. The Senate panel on Thursday afternoon ultimately recommended approval of the bill, an early sign of support from the Democratic-controlled chamber. Opponents of the bill included the Virginia School Boards Association, which said the bill could violate the states constitution, which gives power over schools to local school boards. RICHMOND Attorney General Jason Miyares issued a legal opinion Friday that Virginia colleges cannot require their students to receive COVID vaccines, the latest challenge to COVID mandates from the states new Republican leadership. The opinion cuts against the opinion of judges in other parts of the country and Virginias last attorney general, who allowed vaccine mandates at colleges to continue. In the immediate future, Miyares legal opinion does not change the vaccine mandates in place at most Virginia colleges. Last summer, after vaccines became accessible to all U.S. residents, colleges began instituting vaccine mandates. Nearly every public and private college in Virginia required vaccines with Liberty University as an exception. Legal challenges quickly followed. Eight students sued Indiana University to stop a mandate that would apply to 90,000 students and 40,000 employees. But an Indiana district court judge and three judges on a federal appeals court panel all sided with the university. The students appealed to the Supreme Court, but the court turned down their request for emergency relief. Virginias past attorney General, Mark Herring, also sided with the schools. In April, he wrote an opinion that vaccine requirements were acceptable because the government allows colleges discretion to make certain decisions. The law gives each college the authority to do what is reasonably necessary. The mandates went into effect, and the University of Virginia, the College of William and Mary and Virginia Tech removed students who didnt comply. VCU later removed students who both refused to be vaccinated and refused to undergo regular testing. Colleges typically offer exemptions to the vaccines on religious and medical claims. At VCU, 4% of the student body last semester received an exemption. At the University of Richmond, students can receive an exemption by having a strongly held personal belief. Some colleges, including VCU and UVA, now required students have booster shots if theyre eligible. Schools also required their employees to be vaccinated until two weeks ago when an executive order from Gov. Glenn Youngkin ended mandates for state employees, including most state college workers. The General Assembly never wrote a law authorizing vaccine mandates when it could have, Miyares wrote. And current legislation did not grant such institutions power to impose vaccine requirements. Virginia law requires students to be vaccinated for numerous other diseases, including diphtheria tetanus, measles, mumps and rubella. Coronavirus isnt mentioned in the vaccine requirement law. And while colleges do have discretion to make decisions for themselves, that discretion is overridden by the specific code that doesnt require COVID shots, Miyares wrote. Colleges may only exercise such powers as the General Assembly has expressly conferred or necessarily implied, Miyares wrote. But Del. Mark Keam, D-Fairfax, said a law wasnt necessary because vaccine mandates had stood up in court and had been authorized by Herring. Keam was the head of the House subcommittee on higher education last year. Colleges began considering the ramifications of the opinion Friday, which arent initially clear. We are reviewing the opinion to determine how it affects VCU students, particularly those students in hospital and clinical settings, VCU spokesperson Michael Porter said. VCU is committed to supporting the health of our patients, students, employees and the communities we are proud to serve. BRISTOL, Va. Southwest Virginias Ballad Health System officials face the real possibility of having to terminate 1,000 employees next month if they fail to comply with a federal vaccine mandate, at the same time hospitals are filled with record numbers of COVID-19 patients. Last November, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a mandate that all hospitals that receive funds from either federal insurance program must have all of its employees and associated personnel vaccinated against COVID-19 by a January deadline. The matter was challenged in two federal courts, but the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the mandate to stand as the cases continue. It is catastrophic. If there werent 800 people at home today and we had to fire 1,000 employees, that would be catastrophic, Ballad CEO Alan Levine said in response to a question during a news briefing Thursday. About 80% of Ballad inpatient revenue comes from the two federal insurance programs and Levine said the system has no choice but to comply with the federal mandate. Thursday was the deadline set by CMS for unvaccinated health care workers to receive their first injection, but Ballad declared Feb. 12 as its deadline, since the mandate was challenged in court. We did that so that everyone who wanted to seek an exemption could do so. Were being very liberal with our approvals of those exemptions for both medical and religious reasons. As it stands today, we have just under 1,000 employees who have not taken the vaccine and who have not sought an exemption, Levine said. Obviously, were very concerned about that. It seems quite illogical at a time when were having to put crisis staffing into place to then turn around and ask 1,000 people to leave. Were going to do everything we can to encourage our team members to get vaccinated, recognizing this is a choice they have to make. Under the mandate, unvaccinated employees arent supposed to work. I cant even imagine what it would look like to terminate 1,000 employees right now, he said. Given the record levels of hospitalizations due to the pandemic, the mandate clashes with a basic tenant of the federal programs, he said. One of the critical CMS standards for conditions of participation is hospitals provide safe levels of staffing for their patients. Now we have two conflicting provisions one that says you have to have safe levels of staffing and another that says you have to fire people that arent vaccinated, Levine said. Ballad is going to do whatever we need to do to protect the safety of our patients and make sure we are adequately staffed to care for the needs of those people. We will do everything we can to work with CMS as we try to comply with the vaccine mandate. Were not going to put our patients at risk, he said. Ballad has and will continue communicating with employees, primarily through managers and other team members to encourage as many as possible to take the vaccine, Levine said. The situation is more challenging, he said, given that less than half of the regions residents are vaccinated, compared to about 60% of Ballad employees. We have provided enormous data underscoring the safety and efficacy of these vaccines. The problem is people get their information from so many sources now. Ive always wondered why some people would prioritize information they get from anonymous people on social media before their own employer or physician but thats what were competing with, he said. Levine admitted that, technically, Ballad is currently out of compliance with the federal requirement by setting its deadline in February. Some, he said, have asked why natural immunity didnt count since theyd already had COVID, they didnt have a religious opposition to vaccines in general but had concerns about this specific vaccine. They say to me, Im not going to hide behind my faith for something that isnt true. Im afraid. Im not ready for it at this point. I respect that, Levine said. Unfortunately, the Medicare and Medicaid rules do not allow us any other provision. I dont believe CMS will be unreasonable in enforcement, but I do believe if they dont see us actively trying to comply then the penalties could be pretty severe. Dr. Kaitlen Lawton-Betchel grew up in Lemoore. An alumni of West Hills College and Fresno Pacific University, she graduated from Midwestern University in Arizona with her doctorate of veterinary medicine and her business certificate. Dr. Kait currently practices out of Karing for Kreatures Veterinary Hospital, also known as K+K. The hospital is located at 377 Hill St., Lemoore. To make an appointment, call 559-997-1121. Her column runs every other Thursday. Integrated approach needed for Syria's sovereignty, security, development: Chinese UN envoy Xinhua) 08:27, January 28, 2022 UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said on Wednesday that the international community needs to have an integrated approach for the major issues that endanger Syria's sovereignty, security and development. "To truly make progress on the political track, the international community needs to have an integrated approach for the major issues that endanger Syria's sovereignty, security and development in order to create enabling conditions for the political process in the country," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council meeting on Syria. Zhang added that China supports advancing the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process in accordance with resolution 2254. "We commend the efforts by special envoy (Geir) Pedersen in promoting mutual trust among parties to work in the same direction. We hope that the next round of Constitutional Committee will be launched soon, and it should be pointed out that relevant work should remain independent and free from external interference." "We also welcome the new round of meetings of the Astana process last month, and hope that the process will continue to contribute to a comprehensive solution to the Syrian issue," said Zhang, adding that China has always emphasized that constitution-making and elections alone are not enough to solve the Syrian issue. On Syria's sovereignty, Zhang underscored that no foreign troops are allowed to be deployed in Syria, including Golan ones, without the consent of the Syrian government. "Whether it is the military operation across the Syrian border, the construction of settlements in the Golan area, or the theft of oil from northeastern Syria, they have all undermined the sovereignty of the country, violated the interests of the Syrian people and spoiled the efforts by the international community for political settlement," said Zhang. Turning to the terrorism issue, the ambassador said that "we must respect the Syrian government's leadership in fighting terrorism. And we must not engage in a double standard. China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Syria to help it improve its capability in fighting terrorism." Talking about cooperation among regional countries, Zhang said that "China welcomes the efforts by relevant regional countries to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and trade interactions with Syria and welcomes the fact that Arab countries are actively considering Syria's return to the League of Arab States." Also at the meeting, the ambassador reiterated that "the consideration of the Syrian issue by the council three times a month does not facilitate an integrated and comprehensive perspective, and serious consideration should be given to combining them into one meeting or making other more reasonable arrangements. This will not only help us seek a package solution to relevant issues, but also reduce the use of council resources." (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) " " If Ted Bundy hadn't been a biter, it's possible he never would have been convicted of his crimes. Bettmann/Getty Images In January 1978, a manhunt was underway for one of the most notorious serial killers in the history of the United States: Ted Bundy. The previous month, Bundy had escaped from a small jail in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, while awaiting trial for the murder of Caryn Campbell. Eventually landing in Tallahassee, Florida, Bundy went into the Chi Omega sorority house at Florida State University on Jan. 15, 1978, then bludgeoned and strangled four students. Two of them Lisa Levy and Margaret Bowman were killed. Bundy also sexually assaulted Levy and bit her, leaving clear bite marks. Advertisement Bundy was recaptured in February 1978 and eventually went to trial for the Chi Omega murders. The prosecution used bite-mark analysis a form of forensic dentistry to match Bundy's choppers to the victim's bite marks, which was instrumental in his conviction. Despite its success in convicting a legendary serial killer, bite-mark identification today is considered by many to be junk science. According to the Innocence Project, which works to free the wrongfully convicted, 26 people have been wrongly jailed due to bite-mark analysis. The group is lobbying for reform, as bite-mark analysis is still being used by courts. But forensic dentists (also known as forensic odontologists) don't just work on bite-mark analysis. They also are tasked with identifying the dead by their teeth. So let's start by looking at the system that all dentists use to distinguish one tooth from another. " " If you walk into the office you've been to a million times, and for just a fleeting second it seems unfamiliar, that's jamais vu. Thomas Barwick/Getty Images Ever talked to a friend and suddenly, yet briefly, their face seemed unfamiliar? Or stepped into a room you've frequented but it feels strangely foreign? Or maybe you've stared at a word and you know what it means, but it just doesn't look right? If so, you've likely experienced a phenomenon known as jamais vu (pronounced ja-ma-vu). Don't worry. It's nothing to be concerned about. Advertisement What Is Jamais Vu? Jamais vu (French for "never seen") is considered the opposite of deja vu (French for "already seen"), but thought to be even rarer. Those who have experienced jamais vu may mistake it for short-term memory loss, but it's entirely different, says Chris Moulin, Ph.D., a memory researcher at the Laboratory of Psychology and Neurocognition at the University Grenoble Alpes in France, and one of the foremost experts on jamais vu, deja vu and the like. "In memory loss, someone will appear unfamiliar to us, even if we have met them recently, because we have forgotten some crucial piece of information," he says in an email. "Jamais vu, on the other hand, is the feeling of unfamiliarity for something which is not lost or forgotten." One example of jamais vu is when you look at someone very familiar like your father and suddenly find his features new or unusual. He may even appear to be a stranger, yet at the same time, you know that he is your father and not some impostor, Moulin explains. (That is an important distinction we'll discuss later.) This odd feeling is only momentary, lasting only a matter of seconds or minutes before dissipating. It may be dismissed by the person experiencing it because explaining it to another person may be met with skepticism. This may be why the phenomenon is so rare and likely underreported, Moulin explains. His research seeks to label jamais vu and raise awareness of it in hopes that doing so will help broaden the understanding of memory disorders and ultimately benefit those who have them. " " Another example of jamais vu is when you look at someone very familiar like your spouse and suddenly find their features new or unusual. golero/Getty Images Advertisement What Is the Research on Jamais Vu? Some of the first research on jamais vu stems from Moulin's own interest in deja vu as a doctoral candidate. But since deja vu is difficult to induce in a laboratory setting, he set out to create the effects of jamais vu among a group of study participants by subjecting them to the same punishment Moulin had endured as a schoolboy writing the same words over and over again. (Think Bart Simpson and his chalkboards: "I will not talk in class. I will not talk in class. I will not talk in class.") But in this case, volunteers were asked to write a familiar word repeatedly, such as "door." Moulin found that writing the word over and over again didn't make volunteers forget it, but rather, for many, the word began to "feel" unusual, as if it weren't a real word at all. Moulin later learned that this repeated word phenomenon was not new. Centuries ago, researchers dubbed it "word alienation." But the concept was abandoned before the turn of the 20th century. Believing that experiences like jamais vu and deja vu could "tell us something about how the memory system is organized in the brain," Moulin says he doubled down, focusing his research on "all kinds of oddities and quirks and especially subjective experiences like deja vu and jamais vu." In 2006, Moulin presented the first scientific paper on jamais vu at the International Conference of Memory in Sydney, Australia. The notion gained some traction in the media at the time. But, after the data was finally published in the February 2020 issue of the journal Memory, (cleverly titled, "The the the the induction of jamais vu in the laboratory: word alienation and semantic satiation"), the topic garnered even more interest based on media reports and Google's Ngram Viewer tool, which is used to find patterns of word usage in literature. Pop culture also added to the hype. The release of the latest "The Matrix" movie, "The Matrix Resurrections," has some people speculating whether episodes of deja vu and jamais vu are actually "glitches in the matrix." K-pop band BTS also recently released a song called Jamais Vu. " " Some research suggests the temporal lobe in the brain may be involved in causing jamais vu, as this large section of the brain plays a huge role in memory and even facial recognition. calvindexter/Getty Images Advertisement What Causes Jamais Vu? What causes jamais vu remains a mystery, in large part because there's little research on the topic. But Moulin suspects the brain's temporal lobe may be involved. This large section of the brain, located behind the ears, plays an important role in memory acquisition and facial recognition. Previous research has shown that people with temporal lobe epilepsy often report experiencing deja vu and, less commonly, jamais vu, just before having a seizure. Some people who have classic migraine symptoms also have reported feelings associated with jamais vu as part of the migraine aura, or a warning symptom before the onset of a headache. Much of what is assumed with jamais vu comes from what has been seen in deja vu research. "Deja vu is usually a symptom of a healthy functioning cognitive system and requires a certain level of mental agility, it seems," Moulin says. "We would expect the same is true for jamais vu, but that remains to be tested explicitly." As with deja vu, researchers expect there are fewer episodes of jamais vu among people with cognitive impairment. "Even in healthy aging, there is a decline in deja vu with advancing years. It's something that's experienced more by young people," Moulin says. One thought is that jamais vu may be related to Capgras delusion, a symptom of schizophrenia in which someone believes a familiar person or place has been replaced by an exact duplicate or impostor. But again, more research is needed to back up that claim. Advertisement Should I Worry if I've Had Jamais Vu? In short, no. Even if jamais vu and Capgras delusion are related, jamais vu is momentary and at no point does someone who is experiencing it believe that the unfamiliar person is an impostor, as is the case with Capgras delusion. "One should no more worry about having a jamais vu experience than we should worry about forgetfulness meaning we have Alzheimer's disease everybody forgets things every now and then," Moulin says. As with deja vu, jamais vu isn't a cause for concern unless it has a negative impact on your life. "If anything," Moulin says, "the ability to experience jamais vu is a good sign for the brain. Like deja vu, it is only [a concern] if it becomes frequent or associated with other symptoms." Now That's Interesting Moulin may have popularized jamais vu as a rare lapse in memory, but it's not his sole interest. He's also exploring deja vu as well as deja vecu, a persistent sensation of deja vu in which one feels like they've experienced an entire sequence of events before. "We think deja vu, jamais vu, and deja vecu are all related," Moulin says. "But there's not much scientific proof for the idea." He and research student Gull Zareen aim to change that by collecting "Spontaneous metacognitive experiences" from volunteers. Have an odd deja vu or jamais vu experience you'd like to share? Take the survey here. CCJ releases "Pandemic, Social Unrest, and Crime in U.S. Cities: Year-End 2021 Update" | Main | "Private Prison Companies and Sentencing" January 27, 2022 By 5-4 vote, Supreme Court enables Alabama to move forward with execution As reported in this AP piece, the Supreme Court "cleared the way Thursday night for the state of Alabama to execute an inmate who contended that an intellectual disability combined with the states inattention cost him a chance to avoid lethal injection and choose a new method." Here is more: Reeves was convicted of killing a driver who gave him a ride in 1996. Reeves claimed the state failed to help him understand a form that would have let him choose a new execution method involving nitrogen, but the state argued he wasnt so disabled that he couldnt understand the choice. A divided court agreed with the states bid to let the execution to proceed. Justice Amy Coney Barrett said she would deny the states request, while Justice Stephen Breyer, who just announced his retirement, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor joined with Justice Elena Kagan in a dissent that said the execution shouldnt occur. The dissenting opinion of Justice Kagan, which runs three pages and is available here, starts this way (with cites removed): Four judges on two courts have decided after extensive record development, briefing, and argument that Matthew Reevess execution should not proceed as scheduled tonight. The law demands that we give their conclusions deference. But the Court today disregards the well-supported findings made below, consigning Reeves to a method of execution he would not have chosen if properly informed of the alternatives. I respectfully dissent. I believe this is the first time Justice Barrett has voted in favor of a capital defendant is one of these cases, though she did not explain just why. UPDATE: The AP article linked above now reports that the execution has been completed: Alabama executed an inmate by lethal injection for a 1996 murder on Thursday after a divided U.S. Supreme Court sided with the state and rejected defense claims the man had an intellectual disability that cost him a chance to choose a less torturous, yet untried, execution method. Matthew Reeves, 43, was put to death at Holman Prison after the court lifted a lower court order that had prevented corrections workers from executing the prisoner. He was pronounced dead at 9:24 p.m. CST, state Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement. January 27, 2022 at 10:02 PM | Permalink Comments Barrett will vote for a capital defendant who makes a good statutory argument like the ADA or RLUIPA (Dunn v. Smith), but will not accept any of their constitutional arguments. Posted by: Jacob Berlove | Jan 28, 2022 5:19:13 AM He was smart enough to do the crimesmart enough to pay the price. Good riddance. Its laughable to see Supreme Court Justices hoodwinked by true believing capital defense lawyers. Even more laughable to read the virtue signaling that drips from these dissents. Posted by: Federalist | Jan 28, 2022 7:32:40 AM Post a comment DBS Building DBS Group (SGX: D05) is on a roll. Singapores largest lender just announced that it will acquire Citigroups (NYSE: C) consumer banking business in Taiwan for a total of around S$2.2 billion. This purchase is set to catapult DBS into the big league in Taiwan as the countrys largest foreign bank by assets. It will also bring together DBS Taiwan division and Citis franchise and help to accelerate DBS Taiwan growth by at least a decade. This acquisition is the third for DBS since the onset of COVID-19. In late 2020, it announced the acquisition of Indias Lakshmi Vilas Bank for around S$463 million. This was followed by DBSs move to acquire a 13% stake in Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank last year for around S$1.1 billion. The deal size for this Taiwan acquisition is almost double that of its China purchase and looks set to add positively to DBS top and bottom lines. Here are four highlights from this game-changing acquisition. 1. Taiwan is a meaningful contributor Taiwan has proven to be a strong growth market for DBS over the years. It currently has 35 branches and an institutional, SME and consumer banking franchise. Outside of China, the country has the highest number of high net worth (HNW) individuals among DBS core markets. Taiwan also boasts a greater than 20% market share in global chip production capacity, making it an attractive market to service. DBS shared some impressive numbers to illustrate the rapid growth of its Taiwan division. From the fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) to FY2020, profit before tax jumped nearly 11-fold from S$13 million to S$140 million. Assets under management (AUM) more than quadrupled from S$0.8 billion to S$4 billion, while its loan book grew nearly six-fold from S$4 billion to S$23 billion. 2. Attractive financial characteristics The acquisition also comes with attractive financial numbers. Citis Taiwan franchise generated over S$250 million in net profit per annum pre-pandemic and CEO Piyush Gupta envisions that this acquisition can add at least this amount or more to DBS bottom line post-COVID. Story continues Based on DBS net profit of S$5.4 billion for the first nine months of 2021 (9M2021), annualised net profit for 2021 stands at S$7.2 billion. This acquisition will boost the lenders net profit by around 3.5% once it is completed by the middle of 2023. The franchise also generated a return on equity of more than 20% pre-pandemic, higher than DBS 9M2021 ROE of 13.4%. 3. Boosting AUM and loan book The acquisition will immediately boost DBS Taiwan divisions AUM and loan book. The lender will become Taiwans largest foreign wealth manager with AUM more than tripling from S$4 billion to S$13 billion. DBS Taiwans loan portfolio will also jump from S$23 billion to S$35 billion while its deposit base will nearly double from S$18 billion to S$33 billion. DBS Taiwans credit card franchise will also see a surge from just S$1 billion to S$5 billion. 4. Acquiring high-quality customers DBS will also acquire a group of high-quality customers belonging to Citis prized franchise. DBS Taiwans credit card customer base will soar five-fold to 3.28 million. Furthermore, Citis customers incur more than 20% higher average spend than DBS, potentially increasing fee income for Singapores largest lender. Meanwhile, the number of affluent customers will also nearly double to 139,000 while HNW customers will more than triple from 1,600 to 5,700. Get Smart: Accelerating the banks growth There is a wrinkle in the deal, and its the price tag. The bank will be paying around 1.8 times book value for a piece of Citis consumer banking franchise, slightly higher than its valuation of around 1.65 times book value. Although the ratio may lean on the expensive side, investors should remember that the acquisition of Citis franchise adds not just profits for the bank, but also helps to grow its customer base and propels it into the league of Taiwans largest foreign banks. The onus is on DBS to prove that it can make the most out of this acquisition. Meanwhile, DBS has reiterated that the acquisition is funded using excess capital and will not impact its ability to pay out dividends. This detail should be music to the ears of DBS shareholders who can look forward to more good news from the bank when it releases its full fiscal 2021 earnings on the morning of 14 February. With the right mindset, getting a 10X, or even 180X stock is not out of your reach. In our latest report, we show you real-life case studies of how we consistently pick winners, so you can follow along and build a 10X portfolio for yourself. Click here to download it for free. Follow us on Facebook and Telegram for the latest investing news and analyses! Disclaimer: Royston Yang owns shares of DBS Group. The post DBS is Purchasing Citis Taiwan Division for S$2.2 Billion: 4 Things Investors Should Know appeared first on The Smart Investor. A logo of DBS is pictured outside an office in Singapore TAIPEI (Reuters) -Singapore's DBS Group will announce on Friday it is to buy Citigroup's consumer finance business in Taiwan, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. DBS and Citi declined to comment. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media, did not provide any further details. The Wall Street Journal reported this month that the sale could be valued at up to $2.2 billion. Citi announced last year that it would exit retail operations in 10 markets in Asia as it refocuses on its more lucrative institutional and wealth management businesses. This month, Citi struck a deal to sell its consumer business in four Southeast Asian markets to United Overseas Bank for about S$5 billion ($3.7 billion). (Reporting by Emily Chan and Jennifer Yang; Additional reporting by Anshuman Daga in Singapore; writing by Ben Blanchard; editing by Jason Neely) Dear Doctors: I wonder if there have been any updates on that breathing technique called IMST? It was being studied because it can lower systolic blood pressure. I'm on blood pressure meds, and when I meet with my cardiologist, I want to talk to him about trying this method. Dear Reader: You're referring to a breathing exercise known as inspiratory muscle strength training, which is often shortened to IMST. It's also sometimes referred to as resistive breath training. The technique is performed using a hand-held device that creates resistance as the user inhales and exhales through the mouthpiece. The result is strength training for the complex muscles that are involved in breathing. These include the diaphragm, which is the dome-shaped sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen; the external intercostal muscles of the rib cage; and, to a lesser degree, the abdominal muscles. Unless someone is actively exercising, breathing is a largely passive event. With the resistance created by the devices developed for IMST, it's possible to tone and strengthen the muscles that are used in breathing while otherwise remaining at rest. IMST has long been used to aid in recovery after spending time on a ventilator and to help people living with breathing disorders such as COPD and asthma. But, as you mention, research conducted two years ago at the University of Colorado in Boulder linked daily practice of IMST to improved blood pressure. Last spring, the results of a small study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association added to the evidence regarding the benefits of the practice. Researchers divided 36 adults, aged between 50 and 79, each with high blood pressure, into two groups. One group used the IMST breathing device set at high resistance. The other participants, who made up the placebo group, used the same breathing device, but set at very low resistance. None of the people in the study knew which group they had been assigned to. The participants were asked to do 30 breaths per day, six days a week. After six weeks of the five-minute practice, systolic blood pressure (that's the top number) in the high-resistance group dropped 9 points. It's an improvement that continued another six weeks, even without IMST practice. The group also saw a rise in biomarkers that are associated with improved arterial health and a drop in inflammation associated with heart disease. Similar changes were not seen in the low-resistance control group. Although the reasons for the improvements to blood pressure and vascular health are not yet clear, researchers said they suspect the practice of IMST prompts the body to increase production of an important molecule known as nitric oxide. It's a vasodilator, which means that nitric oxide helps the blood vessels in the body to widen and relax. This lowers blood pressure and increases circulation. We're glad that you'll be speaking with your cardiologist before moving forward with IMST. Although the practice has proven safe for a wide range of participants, it's still important that anyone considering it should consult with their health care provider before beginning. Thank you! You've reported this item as a violation of our terms of use. Error! There was a problem with reporting this article. This content was contributed by a user of the site. If you believe this content may be in violation of the terms of use, you may report it. Report Abuse Log In to report Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Sioux City man charged with entering the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection has waived a preliminary hearing in his case and will remain on pretrial release. U.S. Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey on Thursday reviewed the conditions of release for Kenneth Rader, reminding him that he is prohibited from possessing any controlled substances. Harvey scheduled a status hearing for April 5 in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia. Rader, 53, is charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building. He appeared at the brief hearing, which took place in Washington, D.C., via a Zoom video conference with his attorney, federal public defender Brad Hansen. Rader also must clear up a Dakota County, Nebraska arrest warrant, in which he is wanted for failing to appear in court for a Jan. 19 sentencing hearing on a criminal mischief charge stemming from a Sept. 13 incident in which he drove across a soybean field near Jackson and caused less than $500 in crop losses. The FBI arrested Rader Jan. 20 in Sioux City in connection on his federal charges. He was released from custody later that day. Rader is charged with illegally entering the Capitol during the insurrection, in which hundreds of supporters of former president Donald Trump were protesting the results of the November 2020 election in which Joe Biden had defeated Trump. The mob gathered outside the Capitol before hundreds of protesters broke into the building in an effort to prevent Congress from certifying the electoral college results declaring Biden the winner. According to court documents, security footage shows Rader, dressed in a blue "Trump 2020" hoodie, entering the Capitol through the Senate wing door that had already been broken by protesters. Once inside, Rader stood near a broken window, spoke with several unidentified men and then exited, spending about three minutes inside the Capitol. Just two days after the insurrection, a family member tipped the FBI to Rader's alleged participation in the event, telling agents that Rader had shared videos of himself on the Capitol grounds and inside the building. A complaint filed Jan. 11 said the FBI confirmed Rader's presence in Washington through cellphone records and video footage of him inside the Capitol. In an interview with FBI agents, two of Rader's relatives identified him as the person shown in screen shots of the video footage and in a photo taken outside the Capitol. According to court documents, Rader told FBI agents during a September interview that he had attended the Jan. 6 rally but never entered the Capitol. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX CITY Sioux City elementary schools are seeing the benefits of the district hiring more teachers using COVID-19 relief funds -- smaller class sizes. So far, eight new teachers have been hired for grades K-3 in four Sioux City schools -- Bryant, Hunt, Irving and Spalding -- with Elementary and Secondary School Education Relief, or ESSER funding. The $57 million in ESSER funding the district received was budgeted for a variety of different departments impacted by the pandemic. About $7.5 million was earmarked to hire 36 additional teachers to reduce class sizes and combat learning loss for students. At Bryant Elementary, two new teachers allowed the school to reduce the average first grade classroom size from 23 students to 19. In second grade classrooms, the average was cut from 25 students to 20 per class, with some classes having as few as 19 pupils. "We really have the best class size ratios that we've had the 10 years I've been in the district," Brian Burnight, the district's director of elementary education, said Thursday. On Thursday afternoon, Bryant second grade teacher Carrie Edwards taught 18 students various math skills, including counting cents and identifying a hexagon. Burnight said the smaller classrooms help give teachers more one-on-one time with students. Bryant principal Angela Holcomb said it also allows the instructors to be more responsive to the students and gives students more opportunities to speak and answer questions. Burnight said the district worked with the local colleges and universities to find teachers who graduated in December, in the middle of the district's school year. "That's been a real blessing that we have great partnerships with the local colleges to help get those students in the classrooms as soon as possible," he said. Once the ESSER funding stops in two years, the district would have to identify other funding sources to pay for the additional teachers, or develop other ways to keep the class sizes small. While all of the elementary slots are filled, Burnight said the district will be hiring additional teachers in upper grades with ESSER funding. Districtwide, there are 50 teacher positions currently open, including some for the next school year. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- Gov. Kim Reynolds has said the main theme of her recent "Condition of the State" address was about entrusting Iowans to build and nurture their own communities. On Friday, the Republican governor traveled to the Northwest Iowa city of Sioux Center to tout a project that's taken more than 30 years of building and nurturing. Reynolds announced the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System would receive a $12 million grant from a state water quality initiative. Sioux Center is one of the largest users in Northwest Iowa of the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System which, when fully finished, will run 45 million gallons a day through 20 cities and rural water systems in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. "(It) really does ensure that Iowans will be connected to clean drinking water," Reynolds said at Sioux Center's water treatment plant, which is near the connection point for Sioux Center to receive water from the Lewis & Clark system. Sioux Center is one of the largest Siouxland users of the multi-state water system, which got off the ground in 1990, with authorization of funding in 2000 and the initial construction in 2004. Sioux Center and neighboring Hull are expected to be connected near the end of 2022 or into 2023, while Sheldon will be added between 2023 and 2024 and Sibley will come on somewhere between 2024 and 2025. The $12 million award from the state will go toward: "constructing three pump stations by Lebanon, Larchwood and Hull, as well as a ground storage reservoir near Hull and adding pumps to the Dove Avenue pump station. according to a document from Lewis & Clark Executive Director Troy Larson. The project is one of three water-related developments receiving $10 million or more from the state that Reynolds' administration announced Friday. Dyersville will get $11 million for a utilities project aimed to bolster the Field of Dreams while Des Moines has $15 million coming its way for dam mitigation meant to compliment the Raccoon River. The base system initiative was funded, in part, with allocations from the bipartisan infrastructure bill signed by President Biden last year. Only two of Iowa's six-member congressional delegation -- Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley and Democratic Rep. Cindy Axne -- voted for the $1 trillion plan. Federal money is also coming through the American Rescue Plan for the expansion. According to Larson, additional federal funding is needed to complete the Lewis & Clark water system. During his time at the podium at the water treatment plant Friday, he said the expansion is needed because droughts in the state made it clear to members of the system that more water would be needed. "Hope that expansion is complete in eight to 10 years," Larson said. Murray Hulstein, a chairman for the system, called the funding allotments the "latest example" of elected leaders in Iowa "putting words into action." Following the speeches, Reynolds took just two questions from media, with the second focused on why water infrastructure is a top priority for her administration. "One of the first bills I signed was a water quality bill," Reynolds said. "It's just really important if we want to continue to see growth in northwest Iowa." The first question the governor addressed was the competing tax-cut plans that her party is currently floating in the Legislature. "The fact that we're all talking about tax cuts, I think it's really exciting...It's an indication that we're going to get something done," she said. Reynolds is touring Iowa to pitch her proposal for a 4% flat-rate state income tax and also to phase out state taxes on retirement income. The House Republican plan closely mirrors Reynolds' by gradually reducing the state tax on Iowa workers income until all workers income is taxed at 4% and phasing out taxes on retirement income. Senate Republicans propose lowering the income tax rate for all filers to 3.6 percent over five years and eventually phasing out the tax altogether. GOP Senate leaders also outlined a plan to reduce the state tax on businesses and eliminating some tax credits and exemptions. Jared McNett is an online editor and reporter for the Sioux City Journal. You can reach him at 712-293-4234 and follow him on Twitter @TwoHeadedBoy98. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. An online petition is calling for the release of two South Texas brothers and their friend who were arrested for allegedly beating their stepfather to death after he was accused of sexually abusing their 9-year-old sister. The Change.org petition addresses Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and had received more than 130,000 signatures as of Thursday morning. The petition addresses the case of Alejandro Trevino, 18, and Christian Trevino, 17, who along with family friend Juan Eduardo Melendez, 18, are accused of beating 42-year-old Gabriel Quintanilla and leaving him to die in an open field in McAllen, Texas. He was found on Jan. 20 by the McAllen Police Department, which then notified Pharr police of the incident and turned over the investigation to them. Quintanilla, who had an arrest warrant for sexually abusing another child, was found with severe blunt force trauma to his head, Pharr police said. Authorities believe the brothers became enraged after learning the allegations about Quintanilla and their sister and fought with Quintanilla at a trailer park. After two separate fights, the two brothers and Melendez allegedly assaulted Quintanilla for a third time when they found him walking alone near an apartment complex. Police said Quintanilla was beaten to death with brass knuckles. The suspects allegedly then placed Quintanilla in the bed of the pickup truck and dumped him in a field in McAllen. The petition, launched by "23-year-old nonprofit director, activist, and aspiring lawyer" Carlos Eduardo Espina, reads: "If convicted of capital murder, they face a minimum sentence of life imprisonment without parole." It goes on with a call to Texas and Abbott to release the teenagers: "We ask that the state of Texas to release these teenagers, who could possibly spend the rest of their life in prison for protecting their sister." Christian Trevino and Melendez were charged with capital murder, aggravated assault, and engaging in organized criminal activity. Alejandro Trevino was charged with aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity. Hidalgo County records show the three teens are charged with multiple crimes and are all being held on at least $1 million bond. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A federal judge resentenced Tiger King Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison on Friday, reducing his punishment by just a year despite pleas from the former zookeeper for leniency as he begins treatment for cancer. Please dont make me die in prison waiting for a chance to be free, he told a federal judge who resentenced him on a murder-for-hire charge. Joe Exotic whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage was convicted in a case involving animal welfare activist Carole Baskin. Both were featured in Netflixs Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, Maldonado-Passage still had his trademark mullet hairstyle, but the bleach-blonde was fading to gray. Baskin and her husband also attended the proceedings, and she said she was fearful that Maldonado-Passage could threaten her. He continues to harbor intense feelings of ill will toward me, she said. Friday's court proceedings came about after a federal appeals court ruled last year that the prison term he's serving on a murder-for-hire conviction should be shortened. Supporters packed the courtroom, some wearing animal-print masks and shirts that read Free Joe Exotic. His attorneys said they would appeal both the resentencing and petition for a new trial. The former zookeeper was sentenced in January 2020 to 22 years in prison after he was convicted of trying to hire two different men to kill Baskin. A three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Maldonado-Passage that the court should have treated them as one conviction at sentencing because they both involved the same goal of killing Baskin, who runs a rescue sanctuary for big cats in Florida and had criticized Maldonado-Passage's treatment of animals. Prosecutors said Maldonado-Passage offered $10,000 to an undercover FBI agent to kill Baskin during a recorded December 2017 meeting. In the recording, he told the agent, Just like follow her into a mall parking lot and just cap her and drive off. Maldonado-Passages attorneys have said their client who once operated a zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, about 65 miles south of Oklahoma City wasnt being serious. Maldonado-Passage, who maintains his innocence, also was convicted of killing five tigers, selling tiger cubs and falsifying wildlife records. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Working at a Catholic-owned hospital, Carleen Barger didnt expect a problem when she cited religious beliefs as the reason she refused a COVID-19 vaccination. But the veteran nurse found her beliefs under scrutiny as hospital officials weighed whether she qualified for a religious exemption to a federal mandate that health care staff get vaccinated. By the grace of God, it was approved, she told state lawmakers Thursday, adding: It was such a moral assault. Debra Chappelear, a social worker at an Omaha long-term care center, has yet to find out if her religious exemption request will be approved after going through extensive questioning about her beliefs. She knows one co-worker whose request has already has been denied, she said, while she and others are in limbo. They are facing a Feb. 14 deadline to start the vaccination process or be barred from the workplace. It is very stressful to have your job and your beliefs questioned, she said. We are all very worried that we are all going to be denied. The two were among several people who testified in support of LB906, introduced by state Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair and named as his priority for the year. The measure, as introduced, would allow employees to be exempted from a vaccine mandate by filling out a state-produced form and declaring that they were refusing the vaccine because of their strong moral, ethical or philosophical belief or conviction. Earlier Thursday, Hansen introduced an amendment that would make several changes in response to various concerns raised over the last three weeks. The amendment would cover virtually all employers, not just those with 20 or more employees. It would apply only to the COVID-19 vaccine, not all vaccine mandates. It would provide for medical exemptions, with a written statement from a doctor or other health care provider. And it would require that employers provide exemptions to people who declare on a state form that the vaccine conflicts with their sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance. Hansen said the amendments language about religious belief, unlike the broader language of the original bill, matches federal law. Under both versions, he noted, employers could require unvaccinated workers to be tested regularly and to wear masks or other protective equipment. Dr. Gary Anthone, Nebraskas chief medical officer, testified in support of the amendment, while making clear that the State Department of Health and Human Services strongly supports COVID-19 vaccines. He said the requirements about testing and masks were important to ensure that employees could be in the workplace safely. Allie French of Nebraskans Against Government Overreach also supported the amendment, despite concerns that it would be trading one freedom for another. She said her group disagrees with allowing employers to make medical decisions for employees, such as through vaccine mandates, and has concerns about allowing employers to mandate masks and tests. The amendment was enough to satisfy most potential opposition. The Nebraska Hospital Association; the Nebraska Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes and assisted living facilities; and the Nebraska, Omaha and Lincoln Chambers of Commerce took neutral positions on the bill. Dr. David Watts of Omaha, president of the Nebraska Medical Association, spoke against the bill, even with the amendment. He said the organization takes issue with the idea of having the Legislature get involved in the management of private businesses, which include clinics and physician practices. Although the amendment would not prohibit employers from requiring vaccines, it would interfere with how those requirements are implemented. He said members also are concerned about setting a precedent for future public health crises. As businesses shuttered and millions of U.S. residents lost their jobs in the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many feared that an unprecedented surge of evictions was around the corner. But after the Supreme Court struck down the Centers for Disease Controls nationwide eviction moratorium last Augustending one of the main protections to keep people housed during the pandemiccourt eviction filings didnt immediately surge above pre-pandemic levels. Had the predicted eviction tsunami simply evaporated? Advertisement Those who fight evictions dailyhousing advocates, tenant organizers, and legal aid providersknow theres more to the story. Many suspect that an eviction tsunami is surging around us, but has been rendered invisible because much of the displacement is occurring outside the legal system, through so-called informal evictions. (We discuss this phenomenon in a brief released by New America last week.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Informal eviction can take many forms, including tactics like landlord intimidation, refusal to make repairs, or spreading misinformation, particularly related to a tenants rights. But because they dont follow a well-defined process, and by definition occur in the shadows, informal evictions are challenging to measure. And without an accurate measure of informal eviction, were two years into a pandemicone that has underscored the inextricable link between housing and healthwith at best a murky understanding of how housing displacement is impacting families in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Take the way that informal eviction is often carried out, and it becomes clear why tracking this type of displacement is challenging. A tenant moves after receiving a request to move or threat from their landlord, even though an official claim was never filed in court. A request or threat from a landlord may not carry the authority of the law, but they can be just as effective in forcing a family to move. The decision to move is typically due to fear of engaging with the court system (a record of an eviction filing can have devastating impacts on future housing access), unequal access to information on the legal process, and the reality that, in many states, the law favors landlords property rights over a tenants right to remain stably housed. Advertisement Advertisement It is clear these tactics typically rely on an imbalance of power and unequal access to information between landlords and tenants, as well as the illusion that a family has a real choice in whether or not they move. But the reality is, when faced with landlord harassment, coercion, or neglect, choice is often constrained, especially for many low-income and Black and Hispanic tenants who face systemic barriers to housing access rooted in our nations racist housing policies or undocumented immigrants who have a justifiable fear of engaging with the legal system. Advertisement Advertisement Defining informal eviction is further complicated by the fact that some tactics used by landlords blur the lines between informal and illegal, depending on existing tenant protections. Landlord lockouts, utility shut-offs, and other methods of purposefully making a home uninhabitable are technically illegal in most states. But a National Housing Law Project survey conducted a few months into the pandemic found that over 90 percent of legal aid and civil rights attorneys across the U.S. saw illegal evictions in their areafrom landlords locking out tenants to others falsely claiming the moratorium didnt apply. Enforcement mechanisms and penalties for landlords who violate tenant protections differ from state to state in the same way that housing laws do, and just because a practice is illegal does not mean its not in use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite these challenges, there has been a good deal of progress in the last decade in measuring informal eviction. This stems in in large part from the Milwaukee Area Renters Study, or MARS, a first-of-its-kind survey providing an in-depth investigation into eviction in a major U.S. city. Not only is MARS responsible for the commonly cited statistic that informal evictions are twice as common as formal, court-ordered ones, but its nuanced questionnaire probing into the reasons why people move is laying the groundwork for national and local data collection efforts. Notably, the American Housing Survey, fielded by the U.S. Census Bureau, adapted a set of questions from MARS in 2017, finding that informal evictions may be five times as common as formal, court-ordered evictions nationwide. Several researchers caution against using these findings without further scrutiny, but even the inclusion of a set of questions that estimate informal eviction in the U.S. is an important first step forward. Advertisement While national estimates are critical to understand the magnitude of informal eviction, eviction is best understood within a local context as laws, demographics, and dynamics vary significantly across the country. At the city level, a longitudinal study on the wellbeing of New York City residents, called the Poverty Tracker, also adapted a set of MARS questions in 2017. Results show that formal eviction was twice as common as informal eviction in New York City, reinforcing the importance of local context, as this somewhat surprising finding may be attributable to New York Citys robust tenant protections. Advertisement Advertisement Findings from the Poverty Tracker and region-specific estimates from the 2017 AHS also allow us to compare two measures of informal eviction covering the same geographic region, a gift given the previous absence of data. Interestingly, the 2017 AHS found that informal evictions in New York City outpace formal evictions more than two to one, whereas the Poverty Tracker found the opposite to be true, Advertisement This comparison speaks to the impact that measurement and survey design can have on estimates of eviction, including the importance of who is and is not included in survey responses. For example, the AHS excludes individuals who are unhoused or living in a shelter, and focuses on the head of household, meaning its unlikely to include individuals who double up in homes, sleep on couches, or have informal rental arrangements. These populations are hard to reach, but are critical for understanding how displacement and housing insecurity pervades everyday life in the U.S. In addition to estimating the prevalence of informal eviction, local data-collection efforts can also shine light on other aspects of this practice. Through a COVID-era survey of low-income tenants in Washington State, researchers assessed whether a range of harmful landlord behaviors increased or decreased during the pandemic. Indeed, the study found that the use of both informal and illegal eviction tacticsthrough telling a tenant to leave, shutting off utilities, removing possessions, and changing lockshad increased during the pandemic, offering a glimpse into the possible ways that landlords force tenants to move despite tenant protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This progress on measurement is promising, as is the recent proposal from the Biden administration to field a national survey on informal evictions. But as studies show, informal eviction is happening daily, and often with little to no recourse for tenants. Advertisement Advertisement Efforts to even the playing field for tenants often focus on interventions targeting the legal system through policies like guaranteed right to counsel. These are critical, but equally important is protection from the many factors that place tenants at the whim of landlords in the first place, leaving them susceptible to the informal tactics that so often precipitate a move. Just-cause eviction is one important protection, as is rent stabilization, standardizing documents to include clear, comprehensible information on tenants rights, and requiring that landlords provide notice in a tenants native language. Beyond tenant protections, an adequate supply of affordable housing, something every state fails to provide, would go a long way in addressing the root of informal evictionthe current power imbalance exists in large part because tenants and landlords alike understand that housing precarity means that better options may not exist. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the disparities that result when not everyone has a safe, stable, affordable place to live. No one policy or program will address the multitude of factors that lead to housing displacement in the U.S., but if we cant grapple with the scale and nature of informal eviction, we risk forever tinkering at the fringes of this problem instead of tackling it fully. The war on teachers is back. This week, in Virginia, new Gov. Glenn Youngkin set up a tip line to report teachers who teach divisive ideas. And in Florida, lawmakers proposed a bill to install cameras in classrooms to monitor supposedly subversive teaching. That builds on a bill called the Stop WOKE Act, introduced late last year and sponsored by Gov. Ron DeSantis, which would allow parents to sue schools for teaching so-called critical race theory. Its tempting to see these efforts as merely ridiculous, and pranksters immediately flooded Youngkins tip line with knock-knock jokes and fake tips about divisive teaching at Hogwarts. But, as one Virginia teacher reflected, Youngkins tactics represented a very serious threat to education. That teacher added: You want to know what I teach, just ask. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a full century now, conservative politicians have attacked teachers to score easy political points. This, despite the fact that teachers, as a group, tend to consider themselves moderate (43 percent) or even conservative (27 percent), and their political views have long tended to match those of their local communities. Nevertheless, scare tactics about subversive teachers have been too tempting for politicians to resist. But although targeting teachers might score a short-term payoff at the ballot box, those attacks have always harmed public schools by driving teachers away. In the first round of our modern educational culture wars, for example, lawmakers in Kentucky considered a bill to eliminate suspect teachers from their public schools. Their 1922 bill would have banned teaching evolution as well as atheism or agnosticism. Casting a wide net, the bill outlawed the teaching of any idea that might weaken or undermine the religious faith of the pupils in public schools. In addition, if any alert citizens suspected an educator of surreptitiously teaching science, they were enjoined to report the teacher, who would be interrogated within five days by the school board. If the school board considered them guilty, the teacher would be fired. The bill failed to pass, but only because a few conservative lawmakers received assurances from the president of the states flagship university that teaching evolution would be banned in practice, even without the new law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 1930s, too, politicians were quick to accuse teachers of subversive schemes. In 1935, the U.S. Congress passed a law to force teachers in the public schools of D.C. to abjure any mention of communism, either inside or even outside of the classroom. Teachers were required to swear their innocence each time they picked up their paychecks. The laws sponsor, Texas Democrat Thomas Blanton, even sent questionnaires to D.C. teachers, asking them if they believed in God or belonged to a union. In this case, the response of teachers defenders was swift and successful. Critics pointed out that schoolchildren would not be allowed to learn anything about global current events, the Soviet Union, or even the course of the First World War if the law were enforced. Due to the intense criticism, the law was repealed in 1937. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blantons laws defeat did not deter teacher bashing for long. After World War II, political attacks on teachers only grew more intense. In 1948, for example, the House Committee on Un-American Activities published a quick guide to community spying on local teachers. The committees conclusionthe hundredth thing it wanted every right-thinking citizen to knowwas that the solution to communist subversion was vigilante action. Every American, the committee concluded, must work in your own community to unearth hidden communism, whether in the school system or anywhere else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plenty of Americans followed their advice. It is impossible to trace all the individual actions, but some organizations kept records of their private attempts to investigate and punish teachers. The Daughters of the American Revolution, for instance, openly encouraged each of its members to constitute herself a committee of one to oppose by every means within her power the infiltration of communistic teachers in our schools. By 1950, hundreds of local DAR chapters had begun inquisitions into the practices of their local public school teachers. In Iowa, the state DAR conference resolved that every member would conduct at least one classroom investigation. In Texas, in 1951, the state DAR claimed to have organized 1,695 visits to history classes to sniff out unpatriotic teaching. Advertisement Advertisement What were they looking for? Popular Cold Warera right-wing pamphleteers such as Allen Zoll warned that subversive teaching might look perfectly innocent. Teachers might spout currently popular herd ideas to their students. Those teachers might even be unaware of the results of their sneakily subversive teaching, but the results would be the same nevertheless: a tragically misshapen generation. without the ability to think for themselves fit only to be citizens of the authoritarian state. Advertisement As Augustin Rudd, a right-wing activist from the American Legion, had warned for years, spying on teachers and classrooms required a trained eye. It was easy to miss the use of weasel words, meant to awaken American children to the problems in American history and society. Subversive teaching, he warned, was often very subtle. Teachers might seem to be discussing innocuous historical subjects such as the conflicts between rich and poor, Black and white. In practice, however, such sneaky teaching left children feeling discomfort about the heroic histories they had been told. The solution, for this legionnaire, lay in relentless surveillance. He called on every post of the legion to investigate the school situation on its own account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taken as a whole, the results were tragic. Back then, unrestrained spying on teachers, along with accusations of anti-American sentiment, drove teachers out of the profession and out of schools. Some of the cases made headlines, but more often the results were only visible in a desperate shortage of teachers willing to endure the abuse. Advertisement The high-profile cases set the pattern. In New York City, for instance, teachers suspected of communist affiliations were driven out of their jobs in the 1940s and 1950s. Most famously, Minnie Gertrude, a 17-year classroom veteran, killed herself just before Christmas in 1948 after enduring interrogation by a congressional committee about her political beliefs. In 1950, New York City suspended eight teachers, then, in 1951, fired eight more. The investigations deprived the district of some of its best teachers. To give just one example, in 1952 teacher Mildred Flacks had been teaching for 19 years. Her annual evaluation by her principal included the usual glowing praise. I have long been convinced, the principal told Flacks in 1952, that your sincere and effective work, coupled with your skill in the newer methods of elementary education, have been in large measure responsible for the excellence of our elementary department. Advertisement Advertisement Less than a month later, Flacks was dismissed, victim to the political ambitions of school superintendent William Jansen. Jansen had promised to investigate his schools and purge any suspect teachers, and Flacks found herself in the crosshairs of the hunt. The effect was felt not only in New York City. In 1949, a national survey conducted by the National Education Association to assess the climate of classroom teaching found that potential teachers were being scared away from the job, in part because of the relentless, unpredictable political inquisition. The 1949 survey concluded that the resulting shortage of teachers constituted a national crisis in education. Advertisement Unfortunately, warnings in the 1940s did not lead to the kinds of profound structural changes needed to address the crisis. For one thing, teacher pay and working conditions were not substantially improved. Just as important, teachers were not protected from baseless accusations, and the attacks never let up. In the 1960s, for instance, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Max Rafferty called teachers bums who were focusing too much on Americas faults, instead of the magnificent, world-changing deeds of our national heroes. And in the 1980s, right-wing pundit Sam Blumenfeld earned the approval of the Reagan-era Department of Education by calling teachers a dangerous Trojan Horse in American Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays attacks on teachers are just as misguided and just as destructive. Politicians who set up tip lines and surveillance plans for teachers are making the job less attractive than ever. Recent surveys have found that about 1 in every 4 teachers is considering quitting, based on stresses from the pandemic and political pressure. Just like in the 20th century, those teachers represent a precious and irreplaceable community resource; they make up the expertise and experience that make public education possible. Calling on citizens to snoop on, and report, their childrens teachers is a venerable American tradition; it is also destructive to the goals of public education. Desperate school leaders are already taking desperate measures to find teachersincluding calling in the National Guardyet politicians are willing to make the problem worse, in order to score points in the ongoing war over Americas public schools. This story was produced in partnership with the Garrison Project, an independent, nonpartisan organization addressing the crisis of mass incarceration and policing. New York City Mayor Eric Adams released his Blueprint to End Gun Violence in the midst of high profile violence including the recent shooting deaths of two NYPD officers and the killing of an Asian woman pushed onto the subway tracks. Yet the 15 page plan doesnt offer new or serious policy ideas to address violence. Instead, it offers a series of attacks, disguised as proposed amendments, on bail, discovery, and juvenile justice reforms enacted recently in the city. Advertisement In his plan, Adams suggests that dangerousness be added to New Yorks bail consideration requirements for the first time since 1971. Fifty years ago, the state legislature enacted a law rejecting the idea that a judges prediction of a persons future behavior should be a basis for holding them in jail while presumed innocentand for good reason. Studies in jurisdictions that allow dangerousness assessments or predictions to justify setting bail repeatedly show that the race of the accused person alone, controlling for all other factors, can be used to predict their dangerousness determination with striking accuracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York passed bail reform legislation in April 2019, ensuring that money bail was eliminated for people charged with certain offenses, primarily misdemeanors and low-level felony charges classified as non-violent. Under the reforms, limited circumstances could lead New Yorkers who lack the ability to pay bail to experience the same pre-trial freedom afforded to the wealthy. Bail reform was scaled back in April 2020, but the remaining limited protections have ensured that thousands of people are spared the horrors of pre-trial incarceration while presumed innocent. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Data shows very little connection between bail reform and crime, while incarceration itself presents a clear and constant public safety hazardincluding for families and communitiesand continues to impact people even after their release. New York states own data shows that 98% of people who are free pre-trial are not arrested for any violent felony charge, which include charges that do not have any requirement of actual harm to another person. But even in the bail reform era, 91% of all pre-trial admissions in New York Citys jails are non-white. And jail remains as deadly as ever: 15 people died at Rikers in 2021, the highest number of deaths since 2016. So the Adams proposal that judges take dangerousness into account when making bail determinations is counter-productive to public safety, would gravely harm Black and brown New Yorkers, and would roll back the modest reforms of the states recent bail legislation. Advertisement Advertisement In his plan, Adams says the voluminous requirements of the new discovery bill have jammed up too many cases. This is a familiar refrain from New York prosecutorsand its false. Discovery reform was passed in April 2019 and went into effect in January 2020, replacing the states discovery law, dubbed the blindfold law. It brought New York in line with states like North Carolina and Texas, which have long mandated open file discovery, or the defenses access to all information available to prosecutors, as a requirement for a case against a person to proceed. Advertisement Advertisement Prior to reform, prosecutors could prevent the accrual of speedy trial time in a case without ever turning over essential discovery. People who wanted to see the evidence against themor lack thereoffaced months and even years of litigation and pre-trial incarceration. Prosecutors frequently premised plea offers on the accused persons waiver of their right to discovery, creating a coercive path out of jail or to the resolution of a case. Eleventh-hour disclosures of massive amounts of evidence, also called trial-by-ambush, were common, eroding a persons constitutional right to an effective defense by keeping attorneys in the dark while preparing trials and dispensing advice about pleas and often necessitating additional delays. The new statute simply required the sharing of evidence by default between the prosecution and defense on an accelerated timeline, rendering claims by prosecutors and the Mayor of jammed up cases to be nonsense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only way that the new law would impose any new obligations is if prosecutors relied on people taking pleas without ever seeing the evidence against them, obviating the need to hand it over, in a significant number of cases, public defender Sarah Lustbader wrote in 2020, By claiming that there is any additional obligation, they are essentially admitting that they rely on coercing pleas from people who are blindfolded. Adams also takes aim at the 2017 Raise the Age legislation that gave shared jurisdiction over certain charges against 1617 year olds in New York to the family court system rather than exclusively to adult criminal court. Under Raise the Age, New York no longer automatically prosecutes 16 and 17-year-olds as adults. But these requirements are still often subject to either consent or opposition by the prosecution, particularly for feloniessuch as gun possessionwhen charging 16 and 17 year olds. In his blueprint, Adams incorrectly states that prosecutors do not have the ability to oppose removing childrens cases from adult criminal court when they involve a gun; they can and they do, but they also often consent to these removals despite this ability in light of the laws foundational premise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his attack on Raise The Age, Adams also argues that minors should be punished for not speaking to policespecifically that teenagers accused of having a gun should lose the possibility of their cases removal to family court, in recognition of their age and their ongoing cognitive development, if they do not tell police where they received the firearm. If a 16 or 17 year old is arrested on a gun charge, law enforcement should ask the individual where they got the gun, Adams writes. If the individual refuses to disclose that information, prosecutors should have the ability to charge the individual in Criminal Court, rather than Family Court. Not only do prosecutors already have the ability to oppose these removals, the suggestion that children should be punished for refusing to speak to the police is an affront to their constitutional rights. Advertisement The right to remain silent exists both as a protection from self-incrimination but also as a distinct right to silence for its own sake during police interrogations. These constitutional protections are particularly essential for children, who are even more vulnerable to suggestion from police and less equipped to act in their own self-interest than adults. Its shocking that as criminal legal system policy around the country shifts to reflect brain development science and mounting evidence of the dangers of using child witnesses in criminal cases, Adams seeks to remove the limited protections that exist for children in police custody. Advertisement Advertisement Lastly, the Adams plan suggests that the federal government wrest control of gun prosecutions from New York Citys district attorneys. The NYPD will focus on bringing as many appropriate gun cases as possible to federal prosecutors to take full advantage of the higher penalties in the federal system for gun charges, Adams writes. We additionally urge the U.S. Attorneys Offices to expand their barriers for prosecution of a gun charge, and enforce out-of-state charges for guns that have been carried over state lines. But there are no significant barriers to bringing gun cases into the federal system or to cooperation between state prosecutors and the feds. Gun possession, for example, can be prosecuted in federal court. And in July, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York said it would participate in a cross-jurisdictional strike force to prosecute firearms trafficking, just two months after the DOJ announced a Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime emphasizing partnering with state and local law enforcement to combat gun violence. Federal gun prosecutions, it should be noted, are also notoriously racist and ineffective in curbing gun violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, not only are federal weapons prosecutions already commonplace, the citys prosecutors are also fully empowered to incarcerate people for gun possession, and the NYPD has never ceded its authority to make arrests for any reason, often touting its number of gun arrests or gun seizures as proof of the efficacy of policing. Possession of a loaded gun in New York is charged by prosecutors as a C violent felony when there are no allegations that the gun was fired, brandished, or otherwise used in the commission of a crimeand with loaded requiring only that bullets are close by. People who are charged with having a gun the vast majority of whom are percent of whom are non-white, face years of upstate time and frequently have bail set. In 2020, 96 percent of people arrested in New York City for unlicensed firearm possession were Black or Latino. Advertisement Advertisement The charge of simple gun possession, not tied to any shooting, is consistently among the most common charges holding people on Rikers and in City jails pre-trial at the request of the Citys five DAs. And on Wednesday, Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg announced the appointment of a new prosecutor who will tackle gun crimes, all as public defenders report that Braggs prosecutors are offering steep prison sentences for simple gun possession cases. Adams focus on illegal guns comes as New York StateNew York City particularlymakes legal gun ownership nearly impossible. There are many reasons why people, including minors, choose to carry guns. In 2018 and 2019, the Center for Court Innovation interviewed 330 young people in New York City about guns, violence, and proposed solutions to violence. 88 percent had a family member or friend who had been shot and 81% had been shot or shot at. Most reported being harassed for small infractions or feared being shot by the police. Nearly nine out of ten hadat some point carried a gun, citing multiple factors for doing so. To automatically sentence them to 3.5 years in prison for this actionas is required when prosecutors charge people for possession as Class C violent feloniesfails to address any of the underlying issues at play. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People accused of gun possession, often victims of violence themselves, are sent back into their communities after traumatic and destabilizing incarceration with no additional resources. The Adams plan is particularly cynical because it was released during a month where two people were pushed onto the subway tracks in unprovoked attacks, one of whom was killed, and two NYPD officers were shot and killed by a man whose mother called 911 for help with his mental health crisis. Its likely that Adams was spurred to act in part by the media who have decided that this is an apocalpytic momentthe New York Times said January leaves some New Yorkers fearful for the citys futureeven though there have been 20 murders year to date in the city, a decline of nearly 26 percent from 2021. Yet none of these tragic deaths implicate any of the criminal legal reforms attacked by Adams in his blueprint. Advertisement In the case of Michelle Go, a beloved New York City resident who was shoved to her death on the subway tracks in a random attack by a man experiencing mental illness, six officers were assigned to the station that day. In the deaths of NYPD Officers Wilbert Mora and Jason Rivera, the officers were sent to the scene of a mental health crisis in Harlem. They were both shot and killed, and a third officer killed the man, Lashawn McNeil, who shot them. It was McNeils mother who called the police for help; she later said she regretted calling 911 in the first place. To capitalize on these deaths to implement expansions of police power and attempt to roll back common sense criminal legal reform is an abuse of the credibility afforded by public office. Part of my frustration is that when anything bad that happens, its got to be bail reforms fault, New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said. Theres a whole lot of things going on, and its so easy to scapegoat it onto bail. New York lawmakers should join Heastie in recognizing Adams misrepresentations on reform and preserve the protections currently in place for New Yorkers rightsbecause the goal should be true safety for everyone. Taking part in the digital economy comes with a basic demand: expose yourself. The more you share, the more you avail yourself of its wondrous conveniences and benefits. We hardly give it a thought any more. Each year on January 28, civil libertarians honor World Data Privacy Day to call attention to this dire state of affairs. As one international data protection group states, the objective of this day is to sensitize individuals and disseminate privacy practices and principles. It encourages everyone to own their privacy responsibilities to create a culture of privacy. Advertisement For those who celebrate it, World Data Privacy Day is a day of great urgency, one when their rallying cry might rise above the din, urging us to halt the merciless pillaging of our private datapillaging that, the reasoning goes, we tacitly condone and facilitate. Digital citizens and consumers must be wakened from their slumber, privacy advocates believe, and give thought to the security of their personal information, and how they are surrendering themselves to the power of their spies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emphasizing our agency and responsibility, this captures the general approach of privacy advocates the world over. But it is misguided, for, it puts too much emphasis on individuals as the focus of the fight. No matter how sensitized we are to the loss of privacy, lone individuals are no match for the sophisticated and powerful spies that prey upon our personal information. Advertisement Advertisement Consider the European Unions privacy regulations, which have been praised the world over (and which many in the U.S. would like to emulate). Principle measures in the General Data Protection Regulations include requiring companies to explain to consumers why they are collecting their data, how long they will hold the data, and how they will protect it. Consumers are prompted to consider such documentation before opting in to a companys website (in the U.S., we may only opt out, after already visiting a website). Effectively, the GDPR aims to make data collection foremost in the minds of consumers as they navigate the digital universe. The problem is, data analysis is increasingly esoteric. It is beyond our capabilities to parry or rebuff; we simply cannot comprehend what our spies look for, how they get it, and what they plan to do with the information. Advertisement Advertisement One retailer, for example, has determined that purchasing felt pads to keep our furniture from scuffing the floor is a key indicator of creditworthiness. Did you know that? Could you have guessed that in advance? Did you also know that we are less creditworthy, data analysts have concluded, if loan applications are filled out in all capital letters, or include words like promise, will pay, and hospital? These indicators make some sense, as unfair as they are. Harder to fathom, however, is how analysts determine creditworthiness from mining our smartphone behavior. They can study how often we change our phone battery, how many messages we receive, whether we are solicitous in returning calls, and how many contacts our phones contain, technology scholar Shoshana Zuboff explains. What exactly are they looking for? How does this behavior inform about our creditworthiness? That is all a mystery to us. Nor do we know if this manner of analysis is habitual, rare, or commonplace. What is clear, however is that our spies dont need our data to know us well. Apparently, metadata (the data of our data) will do fineand they do not need our consent to collect our metadata. Indeed, we dont know when they tap into it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Analysts can identify us by the way we hold our cellphonesat what angleand how we swipe the screen. And Zuboff also tells how insurance companies can determine your premium not on the basis of what you write about, but how you write it. It is not what is in your sentences, but in their length and complexity, not what you list, but that you list, not the picture but the choice of filter and degree of saturation, not what you disclose, but how you share or fail to. There is little chance of parity between us and our digital spies. We simply cannot fathom how they operate. Privacy regulations that suggest such parity can exist do us disservice. They offer a false sense of securitythey lull us to sleep while our spies are busy pillaging our information in unfathomable ways. More importantly, however, they disempower us as democratic citizens. Advertisement Privacy regulations focus on the individual, and what we as individuals can do to protect our data. That effort is likely vain, given the immense power and rapid innovation of our spiesthe tech firms that are among the richest in history. The threat to privacy is real; our plight is dire, before rapacious spies who may hope to influence our behavior with the data they acquire. Focusing on individual privacy protections isolates and atomizes us, however, while power rests in collective bodies. Advertisement No man and no mind was ever emancipated merely by being left alone, the American philosopher John Dewey states. Individual citizens are not the foundationor bastionof democratic freedom. The freedoms we enjoy, including privacy, are secured by associations, as Dewey puts itassociations that meet and mobilize in the public realm. History has borne this out repeatedly. Advertisement In the 1960s, civil rights activists in the American south were subjected to constant persecution. They never knew any privacy in which to plan out their difficult work in peace and security. They prevailed thanks to transformative protests carried out in public. Like the college students who occupied segregated lunch counters, endured food poured on their heads, insults hurled, and physical violence. Or the resilient Black citizens of Montgomery, Alabama, who, through diligent effort and coordination, organized a private taxi service among the residents during a months-long bus boycott against segregation. Or the famed Childrens Crusade in Birmingham, where singing children poured out of churches in peaceful, exuberant marches to occupy the segregated business district downtown. Advertisement Advertisement Consider the labor movement, too. In the 1930s, General Motors ruled Flint, Michigan, with an iron fist, aiming to quash worker dissent. As one employee explained, GM so completely run[s] this town and have it so well propagandized to their own good that one doesnt even talk here. You have no liberties at all. You couldnt even belong to a union and breathe it to a soul. That soul would probably be a spy. Nevertheless, workers orchestrated one of the most remarkable strikes in labor history, launching sit-ins at their factories, occupying them for over a month. Despite ominous threats, the workers persisted through coordinated action, and prevailed. Privacy is insufficient of its own to secure our libertyif privacy can be managed at all, given the threat before us. Now more than ever, we must recall that to preserve our personal freedom, ironically, we must reach out, branch out, and form powerful bonds with one another. We are best protected by the collective bodies we form, and the civic arts of organizing. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. ARCHIVED - Blood pressure drugs withdrawn from pharmacies across Spain Patients who have purchased the affected medication in Spain should return the drug to their local pharmacy The Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health products (Aemps) has recalled six batches of Irbestan, a drug used to treat blood pressure, due to the detection of an impurity in the medicine. The product is widely available in pharmacies all across Spain. The following batches have been withdrawn from the market: Irbesartan Combix 300 mg (lots M000689 and M012157) Irbesartan Combix 75 mg (lots M010064 and M100406) Irbesartan/Hydrochlorothiazide Combix 150 mg (lot M011549) Irbesartan/Hydrochlorothiazide Pharma Combix 300 mg (lot M015999). Aemps has ordered that all of the affected medications be returned to the laboratory due to the detection of an impurity in the active ingredient Irbesartan above its accepted limit". Any patients currently taking this blood pressure treatment should refrain from using it and return the drug to their local pharmacy. Image: Archive Newly refurbished premises to open to visitors in late 2022. The new look of the SNG is a mixture of modern and historical features. (Source: Courtesy of SNG - Martin Deko) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The Slovak National Gallery (SNG) is preparing to move into its newly reconstructed premises on the Danube embankment in Bratislava. Construction work is expected to be completed in the summer; the plan is to open the new premises, but without exhibitions, later in the year. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement This year will be very atypical at the SNG, said Alexandra Kusa, general director of the gallery, which is the country's most prominent, as quoted by the TASR newswire. She added that the SNG would move all its collections and archive funds into the new premises. It will probably be the largest operation we have ever experienced. Related article Related article Reconstruction of the Slovak National Gallery closer to completion Read more The reconstruction of the modern extension and the construction of a new depository and other premises for the SNG started in 2016. Apart from completing the construction work, the SNG this year plans to hold a competition to supply exterior and interior furniture and other fixtures at an estimated cost of almost 3 million without VAT. The gallery intends to open its reconstructed premises to visitors before the permanent exhibitions are installed. Even in this state, the premises are interesting and there is something to see, Bohdana Hromadkova, the SNGs director of marketing and communications, told TASR. The SNG plans to present the reconstruction to the public as a topic in itself, showing the building and the mechanisms of the gallery through tours, lectures, attractive programmes and other creative and educational activities. The national gallery in the 21st century is not just exhibition halls, it is also a space and simultaneously a tool for cultivating society, said Kusa. We want primarily to focus on this task. The public's interest in the SNG reconstruction has been demonstrated by the response to videos about it, which have attracted record numbers of views. The video of the general directors tour of the construction site has reached 15,000 views, Hromadkova told TASR. To satisfy people's interest, the SNG plans to hold small programmes and tours of the new premises beginning in late 2022. https://sputniknews.com/20220128/china-welcomes-upcoming-un-rights-chiefs-visit-to-xinjiang-region-1092579331.html China Welcomes Upcoming UN Rights Chief's Visit to Xinjiang Region China Welcomes Upcoming UN Rights Chief's Visit to Xinjiang Region BEIJING (Sputnik) - China welcomes the upcoming visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region... 28.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-28T13:09+0000 2022-01-28T13:09+0000 2022-01-28T13:08+0000 china un uyghurs /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/03/1081348487_0:131:2501:1537_1920x0_80_0_0_27a6c3a197f450f5a7bd0ea14db5e518.jpg "China welcomes the visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights [Michelle] Bachelet to China and Xinjiang. We have already sent an invitation earlier and the two sides are constantly in contact on this issue," Zhao said at a briefing.Earlier in the day, the South China Morning Post reported, citing unnamed sources, that China had agreed to host a visit to Xinjiang by Bachelet in the first half of the year after the Winter Olympic Games.Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is the largest province in China with a population of 25 million people from various ethnic groups, but about 43% of them are Uyghurs, most of whom are Muslims. The region, bordering seven countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, has been considered an epicenter of terrorism and extremism for many years.At the end of August 2018, experts from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reported that up to 1 million ethnic Uyghurs could be in "re-education camps" in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Beijing has denied the existence of "re-education camps" on numerous occasions, insisting that the country is fully complying with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. https://sputniknews.com/20211221/beijing-takes-reciprocal-countermeasures-in-response-to-us-anti-china-sanctions-over-uyghur-issue-1091698248.html china 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 china, un, uyghurs https://sputniknews.com/20220128/connecticut-police-open-inquiry-into-lauren-smith-fields-mysterious-death-after-weeks-of-protests-1092588482.html Connecticut Police Open Inquiry into Lauren Smith-Fields Mysterious Death After Weeks of Protests Connecticut Police Open Inquiry into Lauren Smith-Fields Mysterious Death After Weeks of Protests After weeks of building social and legal pressure, police in a western Connecticut town have opened a criminal investigation into the death of Lauren... 28.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-28T20:06+0000 2022-01-28T20:06+0000 2022-01-28T20:06+0000 us connecticut death police investigation african-american breonna taylor /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/1c/1092588396_0:0:2554:1438_1920x0_80_0_0_00acaa7253f971ffea7cee94b008c769.png In Bridgeport, Connecticut, on the night of December 11, Smith-Fields met Matthew LaFountain via the Bumble dating app and went on a date that culminated in him spending the night at her apartment. Early the following morning, LaFountain called emergency medical services to report that Smith-Fields was dead.However, more than six weeks passed since her death before its cause was announced and before police treated LaFountain as a suspect in it.The next day, Bridgeport police said that as a result of the report, its Narcotics and Vice Division had opened a criminal investigation and was cooperating with the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), adding that it continues to treat the untimely death of Lauren Smith-Fields as an active investigation.LaFountains lawyer also told The Daily Beast on Thursday that his client was cooperating with the investigation, but beyond that, hes not going to be making any statements. However, it took more than a month of struggle for police to treat him as a suspect, which is typical with the person who reports a death, discovers a body or was with the person at the time of their death.Smith-Fields family didnt learn of Laurens death for two days, with her mother, Shantell Fields, only finding out after going to her daughters apartment on December 13 and finding a note saying, If youre looking for Lauren, call this number.According to Fields, the number was for a police detective named Kevin Cronin, who told her son the basic facts surrounding Laurens death.According to Rolling Stone, which viewed the incident report on file, LaFountain told Cronin he and Smith-Fields had chatted for a few days on the phone, and on the night of December 11, they ate food, drank tequila with mixers, played games and watched a movie at her apartment.He said at one point she met with her brother outside, then went to the bathroom for 10 to 15 minutes before they resumed watching the movie. LaFountain told police Smith-Fields fell asleep on the couch and he carried her to bed and fell asleep beside her. He said she was breathing through the night, but when he awoke at 6:30 am, he found her no longer breathing and with blood coming out of her right nostril, and called 911, the emergency number in the United States.Fields told the Times that when Cronin failed to show up to Laurens apartment, they went inside anyway, finding a bloody bed, a used condom, and a pill bottle.Familys Fight for JusticeBecause of the departments handling of Smith-Fields case, her family has mounted an effort to get her justice. Last week, Fields filed a notice of intention to sue Ganim. Bridgeport Chief of Police Rebeca Garcia, and several detectives. Then on January 23, which would have been Laurens 24th birthday, dozens marched through Bridgeport streets to the offices of Mayor Joseph Ganim, demanding action on the case.The next day, Ganim made his first comments about her death, confirming that its handling thus far was being investigated by the Office of Internal Affairs and that Cronin had been removed from the case. That was also the day the Medical Examiners office released details about the cause of her death.Were suing the city of Bridgeport for failure to prosecute and failure to protect this family under the 14th Amendment, he added.He urged that the toxicology report by the medical examiner makes Smith-Fields death look even more like a murder, noting that hes never seen a medical examiner conclude a mix of drugs was an accident without knowing who provided the drugs, or how it was ingested.The situation has renewed discussion around the concept of missing white woman syndrome.The term was used prominently last year when in early September, 22-year-old Gabby Petito went missing and was later found dead in Wyomings Bridger-Teton National Forest, the cause of death being ruled as strangulation. In that case, like Smith-Fields, Petitos boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, was initially also given a pass by police, who refused to file a domestic violence incident report about a fight between Petito and Laundrie weeks before her death. However, Laundrie was never charged with any crime connected to Petitos death before being found dead himself in a Florida swamp several weeks later.Corporate media gave the story nonstop coverage until Laundries remains were discovered on October 20.Jury selection for the trial of Brett Hankison, the Louisville Police officer who fired the shots that killed Taylor, began on Friday. He is facing three lower-level felony charges. However, despite nearly two years of protests, Hankison isnt being charged for killing Taylor, but for his gunshots that missed, striking the wall and endangering Taylors neighbors. However, the detective who organized the mistaken raid on her apartment and another who took part and also shot Taylor, have both been fired from the force. us connecticut Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg us, connecticut, death, police investigation, african-american, breonna taylor https://sputniknews.com/20220128/denmark-recalls-its-unwelcome-military-forces-from-mali-after-merely-a-week-1092569334.html Denmark Recalls Its 'Unwelcome' Military Forces From Mali After Merely a Week Denmark Recalls Its 'Unwelcome' Military Forces From Mali After Merely a Week The departure of the Danish soldiers following insistent calls from the Malian authorities may complicate further deployments of French-led forces in the West... 28.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-28T05:25+0000 2022-01-28T05:25+0000 2022-01-28T05:25+0000 mali news military & intelligence europe africa scandinavia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0b/13/1090842825_0:321:3070:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_10d99d14dc93b8d2751c36ba432b649d.jpg The entire Danish force in Mali has been called home, the Scandinavian country's Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod has announced. The decision has been made after a debate un the parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Danish TV2 reported.The Danish force of 105 people, including special operations soldiers from the Jaeger Corps, a surgical team and support personnel, arrived on 18 January to participate in the multinational anti-terrorist Task Force Takuba, led by France. Shortly after their arrival, Mali's transitional government announced that they were no longer welcome, despite having first established their presence back in 2012.According to the Malian military, Denmark had not consulted with the government about the deployment of the soldiers and had not followed the protocols that apply. Subsequently, both the Socialist People's Party and the Danish People's Party demanded that Denmark leave the country, despite previously backing the mission.France and 14 other European countries persuaded the Malian authorities to allow the Danish special forces to remain in the country, but to no avail.Danish Defence Minister Trine Bramsen said that despite the decision to call home the soldiers, it will take some time before the Danish contribution will be completely withdrawn from the West African country. Danish Foreign Minister Kofod called the situation in Mali fluid and emphasised that the Danish forces had arrived on a formal invitation.We will continue our close cooperation with our European allies, led by France, to continue to put pressure on the coup plotters, regain democracy and create security for the people of Mali, Kofod said, adding that Denmark has been thrown out like a piece in a dirty political game.Over the past decade, Mali, a troubled francophone nation in West Africa with one of the highest fertility rates in the world, saw an armed conflict with Touareg rebels, who declared the secession of a new state, followed by a subsequent French military operation, as well as two armed coups over the past two years.Following the second coup in 2021, a general election in February 2022 was proclaimed, only to be postponed for five years due to the volatile security situation in the country. Denmark became a vocal critic of this measure and even spoke of sanctions against the transitional government in Mali, which Kofod ventured was one of the reasons behind Mali's sudden opposition to the Danish presence.The Danish withdrawal comes after Sweden confirmed earlier this month that it would leave Mali in March. The decision to ask Denmark to leave is likely to impact future deployments, as Norway, Hungary, Portugal, Romania and Lithuania are also slated set to send troops later this year as part of the France-led force. mali scandinavia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Igor Kuznetsov mali, news, military & intelligence, europe, africa, scandinavia https://sputniknews.com/20220128/poland-has-plan-to-evacuate-diplomats-from-ukraine-but-decision-not-made-yet-1092572529.html Poland Has Plan to Evacuate Diplomats From Ukraine, But 'Decision Not Made Yet' Poland Has Plan to Evacuate Diplomats From Ukraine, But 'Decision Not Made Yet' WARSAW (Sputnik) - Poland has prepared a plan for the evacuation of its diplomats from Ukraine amid rising tensions, but the decision has not been made yet... 28.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-28T07:49+0000 2022-01-28T07:49+0000 2022-01-28T07:47+0000 ukraine poland diplomats /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/1c/1092572793_0:155:2807:1734_1920x0_80_0_0_a0ccc1542d6e1161cf9902021ddc576f.jpg "At the moment, there is no such decision on the evacuation of Polish diplomats. At the same time, I will not hide the fact that we already have prepared plans and some time ago, we studied at the foreign ministry all sorts of procedures, we are in contact so as not to run into surprises. At the same time, there is no such solution at this stage," Przydacz said.Of all European countries, Poland has the largest diplomatic representation in Ukraine, he added.Earlier this month, the US, the UK, and Canada ordered the evacuation of their diplomats' families from Ukraine amid rising tensions between Russia and NATO. ukraine poland 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 ukraine, poland, diplomats https://sputniknews.com/20220128/russia-doesnt-want-war-but-will-not-allow-to-ignore-its-interests-foreign-minister-lavrov-says-1092573200.html Russian FM Lavrov: Moscow Doesn't Want War, But Won't Allow to Ignore Its Interests Russian FM Lavrov: Moscow Doesn't Want War, But Won't Allow to Ignore Its Interests Earlier this week, Russia received written responses from the US and NATO to the security guarantee proposals presented by Moscow last month in an effort to... 28.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-28T08:07+0000 2022-01-28T08:07+0000 2022-01-28T12:43+0000 russia sergei lavrov war us nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/1c/1092574862_0:0:2849:1603_1920x0_80_0_0_ecb02f5a7557192f4791eb0943af83d1.jpg Speaking to four major Russian radio stations on Friday, two days after the US and NATO provided a written response to Russia's security guarantee proposals, made in order to de-escalate tensions over Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov commented on the current situation. When asked whether a war is likely, now that tensions are being heated up by the West, the foreign minister said that Russia does not want war.The interview with the Russian foreign minister follows the delivery of written responses from the US and NATO to Russian security guarantee proposals presented by Moscow in mid-December amid heightened tension over Ukraine. The contents of the responses haven't been made public, with NATO and the US saying they hope that Moscow won't reveal them either. However, US State Secretary Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Yens Stoltenberg said they will uphold NATO's "open door" policy. One of the proposed paragraphs of the Russian draft agreements would obligate NATO to give written guarantees that it will not expand further to the East. Moscow insists that states that were members of NATO in May 1997, before the first eastern European countries were invited to join the bloc, should not deploy military forces and weaponry on the territory of any of the other States in Europe that werent already in place at the time. Commenting on the security guarantee proposal talks, the Russian foreign minister stated that they are ongoing.According to the foreign minister, Russia wants to "work honestly" when it comes to its proposals on security guarantees, but the West "hysterically" develops the topic of Russias alleged threat to Ukraine. For the past few months, the West has been speculating about Russia's military build-up on the border with Ukraine and Moscow's alleged "invasion" plans. Russia has repeatedly rejected the allegations as baseless, saying that it has no intention to attack anybody, while adding that it has the right to move its troops within its own territory and that this should not be a matter of concern to anyone. The West has repeatedly threatened Russia with new, "never seen before" sanctions, should it invade Ukraine. On 25 January, the White House said it was ready to implement "sanctions with massive consequences that were not considered in 2014", targeting the banking sector, export controls and foreign capital inflows. Commenting on threats of sanctions, Mr. Lavrov said they would be tantamount to cutting ties between the countries, and Washington understands this.Lavrov also touched upon a row over Russian diplomatic property in the US and expulsions of Russian diplomats, noting that if Washingtons rudeness in regard to diplomatic mission continues Russia still has reserves to make the number of diplomats equal.Well, let's see, in the next couple of weeks, there should be another meeting. Now there is direct bargaining from the side of the Americans, Lavrov said.Lavrov's interview comes two days after Moscow had received a written response from Washington to the security guarantee proposals presented by Russia last month in an effort to de-escalate tensions with NATO over Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Minister said on Thursday that in their response, the US had failed to answer the main questions about the non-expansion of NATO to the east. He added that Moscow has been considering the US and NATO responses as a whole.According to Russia's security proposals, the sides should provide legally binding written guarantees to each other not to deploy troops and military equipment in areas where they could be viewed as a threat to the other side. Russia and the US should also restrict the deployment of nuclear weapons abroad. Apart from this, Moscow expects the US and NATO to make a commitment not to expand the alliance to the east and never accept Ukraine or any other former Soviet republic into NATO. https://sputniknews.com/20220124/kremlin-says-huge-ukraine-military-buildup-on-donbass-line-of-contact-shows-preparation-for-attack-1092481474.html https://sputniknews.com/20220126/us-reportedly-delivers-written-response-to-russias-security-guarantees-proposal-1092534911.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sofia Chegodaeva Sofia Chegodaeva News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sofia Chegodaeva russia, sergei lavrov, war, us, nato https://sputniknews.com/20220128/spoof-sue-gray-report-on-pass-the-ahole-games-at-no-10-reportedly-leaves-ministers-in-panic-1092571053.html Spoof Sue Gray Report on 'Pass the A***hole Games at No 10 Reportedly Leaves Ministers in 'Panic' Spoof Sue Gray Report on 'Pass the A***hole Games at No 10 Reportedly Leaves Ministers in 'Panic' Senior civil servant Sue Gray has been tasked with examining evidence, such as security logs, and interviewing witnesses to investigate multiple gatherings... 28.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-28T07:19+0000 2022-01-28T07:19+0000 2022-01-28T07:19+0000 boris johnson uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/1c/1092571593_0:312:3085:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_4aca660e56d7f7732cdb3a8273312204.jpg As UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his Tory allies and critics all eagerly await the findings of senior civil servant Sue Gays report into allegedly lockdown-breaching parties at Downing Street and Whitehall in 2020-2021, a spoof from comedian Joe Lycett reportedly left ministers running around panicking. The official inquiry into the partygate row, originally expected to be published sometime this week, has left Downing Street over what it will reveal. Lycett had taken to social media to offer his own mock summary of the Sue Gray report, even providing seven purportedly main findings. But it was apparently mistaken by some ministers for a serious leak. The comedian had written on Twitter that leaked Sue Gray report revealed shocking abuse of the rules The comedians parody highlighted a culture of Covid-19 regulation rule breaking at Downing Street. The mock document revealed that games were played which were known as 'Slow Dance' and 'Pass the A***hole at No 10. The spoof claimed that findings unearthed existence of WhatsApp groups that organised gatherings, with titles including Definitely a meeting and Down It Street. Furthermore, ostensibly a video of the PM's wife, Carrie Johnson at one party confirmed her attendance. Once the spoof report had been posted, it triggered panic among some Tory frontbenchers, a source working for a cabinet minister purportedly told the comedian in a message. Absolutely legendary work, well done, the source is cited as applauding the comedian. Social media users went on Twitter to share their amusement as well, with many claiming it took them a while before they realized it was a joke. https://sputniknews.com/20220127/partygate-scandal-over-two-dozen-ex-ministers-reportedly-prepared-to-take-action-against-bojo-1092548444.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko boris johnson, uk https://sputniknews.com/20220128/taiwans-top-science-lab-fined-for-worker-infected-with-covid-19-first-domestic-case-ever---report-1092565625.html Taiwan's Top Science Lab Fined for Worker Infected with COVID-19, First Domestic Case Ever - Report Taiwan's Top Science Lab Fined for Worker Infected with COVID-19, First Domestic Case Ever - Report The lab staff member, who was in her 20s and fully vaccinated, reportedly began exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms on November 26, 2021, and tested positive with... 28.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-28T00:53+0000 2022-01-28T00:53+0000 2022-01-28T00:53+0000 tech china taiwan laboratory test lab covid-19 delta variant of covid-19 omicron strain /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/1c/1092566278_0:1:3639:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_a42a605969f93378b91a878ce52d8710.jpg After a research assistant at its Genomics Research Center contracted COVID-19 on the job in late 2021, Academia Sinica, Taiwan's most prestigious academic institution, was eventually fined for biosafety violations, Science reported on the developments in the incident.During a press conference held last week, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung, who also heads Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), reportedly said the academy would be fined 150,000 New Taiwan dollars ($5400) for the incident, which was reportedly the world's first documented infection with the pandemic coronavirus in a research lab. Michael Lai, a virologist at Academia Sinica's Institute of Molecular Biology, is quoted in the report as saying that the case implies that lab oversight was "not stringent enough." The infected worker, as well as her supervisor, departed the lab just before she tested positive. The worker willingly resigned on December 3, according to Academia Sinica's statement to the outlet. Jan Jia-Tsrong, her supervisor, told Science that he retired on December 1, adding that his retirement was planned well before the occurrence and is related to his age and health.The assistant had worked with infected animals, and her viral sequence allegedly matched that of a Delta variant strain sent to the lab by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, but not that of Delta strains discovered in the population in recent months. By December 9, according to the report, when CECC published the case, the woman's condition had improved, and 110 close contacts and 373 individuals with a connection to the case had all tested negative.Later last month, the country's CDC presented a report on the incident, concluding that the assistant may have become infected by inhaling a virus present in the lab or by removing personal protective equipment (PPE) in the improper order, starting with her face mask.CECC reportedly highlighted various issues at the lab in response to the conclusions of an external investigative committee. The statement claims that staff involved in the research did not wear coverall hazmat suits, N95 masks, double gloves, goggles, or shoe covers, and did not follow procedures for using biosafety cabinets or removing PPE. The lab's staff training was allegedly considered insufficient, and Academia Sinica's biosafety committee did not perform enough audits or track new employee training and assessment.Interestingly enough, Jan had been through a similar ordeal with a virus closely related to the current SARS-CoV-2. He reportedly became infected with the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, while working at the National Defense Medical Center's Institute of Preventive Medicine, roughly 6 months after a worldwide outbreak of the disease was quelled.Back then, Taiwan, in conjunction with the World Health Organization, adopted new biosafety measures in the aftermath of the incident. Jan, on the other hand, reportedly believes that lab mishaps can never be completely avoided.And according to Filippa Lentzos, a sociologist at Kings College London who specializes in biosecurity issues, as quoted by Science, it is rather "surprising" that there have not been more reported cases of lab outbreaks recently, since personnel at numerous labs around the world are handling or investigating the virus.However, it should be mentioned that in areas where SARS-CoV-2 is widespread, such cases could easily go unnoticed. china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Kirill Kurevlev Kirill Kurevlev 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 Kirill Kurevlev tech, china, taiwan, laboratory, test lab, covid-19, delta variant of covid-19, omicron strain https://sputniknews.com/20220128/top-bjp-politicians-granddaughter-dies-from-apparent-suicide-1092576528.html Top BJP Politician's Granddaughter Dies From Apparent Suicide Top BJP Politician's Granddaughter Dies From Apparent Suicide Born to the eldest daughter of senior BJP politician B. S. Yediyurappa, Soundarya was the eldest granddaughter in the family. 28.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-28T15:38+0000 2022-01-28T15:38+0000 2022-01-28T16:38+0000 suicide politics politics bharatiya janata party (bjp) politics suicide karnataka state karnataka suicide politics /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/1c/1092582290_0:0:651:366_1920x0_80_0_0_328f8669e380ea45d7f917c3f3c4b540.jpg Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician and ex-Indian state chief B.S. Yediyurappas granddaughter was found dead at her home in Karnataka state on Friday. As per the preliminary investigation, she committed suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan.Soundarya Neeraj, a doctor by profession at the MS Ramaiah hospital of Bengaluru city, was in her early 30s.According to the police, she was living with her husband, a fellow doctor, at an upscale apartment near Mount Carmel College. The couple have a six-month-old child.She married two years ago and according to media reports she had shown signs of post-pregnancy depression."Her body has been shifted to the state-run Bowring hospital for a post-mortem to ascertain the cause of death. Media reports, quoting sources, said that Soundarya was a successful doctor who always brought smiles to her patients' faces.A senior police official told the media that so far they have not been able to question her husband or any other family members as all of them are in a state of shock". karnataka state karnataka Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Rahul Trivedi https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082926121_0:-1:627:627_100x100_80_0_0_d882e1a63f627c25b7a534fb8b8234d7.jpg Rahul Trivedi https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082926121_0:-1:627:627_100x100_80_0_0_d882e1a63f627c25b7a534fb8b8234d7.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 Rahul Trivedi https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082926121_0:-1:627:627_100x100_80_0_0_d882e1a63f627c25b7a534fb8b8234d7.jpg suicide, politics, politics, bharatiya janata party (bjp), politics, suicide, karnataka state, karnataka, suicide, politics, india https://sputniknews.com/20220128/total-rhubarb-bojo-denies-having-part-in-afganistan-animal-rescue-operation-as-new-emails-emerge-1092569791.html 'Total Rhubarb': BoJo Denies Having Part in Afganistan Animal Rescue Operation as New Emails Emerge 'Total Rhubarb': BoJo Denies Having Part in Afganistan Animal Rescue Operation as New Emails Emerge Despite Boris Johnson last year dismissing reports about the prioritisation of a charter flight carrying animals out of Kabul during August's chaotic... 28.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-28T05:49+0000 2022-01-28T05:49+0000 2022-01-28T05:58+0000 boris johnson afghanistan uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/10/1092290425_0:171:3032:1877_1920x0_80_0_0_09b0eaef3f56e204294b83a8d1fe3575.jpg Boris Johnson has brushed off accusations that he prioritised the airlift of pets and animals out of Afghanistan during last years massive evacuation effort. The statement echoed his response to the claims last year, when he told reporters in December that they were "complete nonsense". However, freshly leaked emails cited by Sky News appear to question the PMs account of events in August 2021 during the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan. Correspondence between Johnsons top parliamentary aide, Trudy Harrison, and managers of British airline Virgin Atlantic shows Harrison saying that the transport secretary would "provide whatever assistance is needed" to get the animals out and that her efforts had the backing of the government. Harrison was requesting help from Virgin Atlantic to secure a plane to make the trip something that she subsequently failed to do. Fast-Tracked Intervention An email dated 23 August between two senior staffers at Virgin Atlantic states: A second email underscores that Harrison purportedly has full government backing for her intervention.The PMs aide is shown to have emailed Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss on the 24 August, a day before she approached a private charter company for help to find an alternative plane. Funding for the charter flight Harrison tried to arrange on 25 August was reportedly to be provided by a US philanthropist. Harrison says in the correspondence that "we are keen to engage in early preparedness as this is a more complex and particularly high profile operation". The aide adds that flight codes from UK defence would be needed and "we very much hope [they] will be forthcoming, subject to an effective process prioritising those in most urgent need". This yet again appears to contradict earlier statements by Downing Street that the PM had "no role" in authorising the airlift in question.Animals and pets from the Nowzad charity run by former Royal Marine commando Paul "Pen" Farthing in Afghanistan were eventually airlifted on a plane provided by a separate Polish charter company. Staff were helped to flee the country, taken over by the Taliban* Islamist group, via a land route. Further evidence of No 10s involvement in the aforementioned animal airlift from Kabul is seen in several messages cited by BBC's Newsnight. Thus, an email from Rachel King, an aide to then-foreign secretary Dominic Raab shows her referred to Raab as seeking a steer from No 10 on whether to call them forward now to board a plane out of Kabul.Another email, from Nigel Casey, the Prime Minister's special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, shows him saying that UK National Security Adviser Stephen Lovegrove was advised to seek clear guidance for us from No 10 asap on what they would like us to do. The purported roles of Carrie Johnson, the PMs wife, and her friend, Foreign Office Minister Zac Goldsmith, have also been questioned. Last December volunteer Dominic Dyer told LBC radio, I know Carrie Johnson and claimed he had lobbied her directly to help the 170 animals and their handlers flee Kabul. Mrs Johnson is believed to have denied speaking to anyone from Nowzad about the airlift rescue or speaking to the PM about it. Boris Johnson, whose Tory leadership hangs in the balance in anticipation of a Cabinet Office report into allegations of COVID-19 lockdown-busting parties at Downing Street in 2020 and 2021, faced fresh backlash over the animal airlift story on Wednesday. New leaked emails released by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, conducting an inquiry into the government's handling of the Afghanistan crisis, disclosed communications suggesting that the PM did personally authorise rescue efforts for pets and animals. The first piece of correspondence, released by the Committee as part of its broader investigation of the Afghanistan debacle, is dated 25 August 2021, was sent by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs with responsibility for the Pacific Zac Goldsmith and addressed to an official in the Foreign Secretary's private office (name redacted).A second email, from an unnamed Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office employee, also on 25 August, and addressed to an official in the Foreign Secretary's private office, also points to the PM's direct involvement.The emails appear to confirm allegations made earlier by former Foreign Office official-turned whistleblower Raphael Marshall on the prioritisation of animals over people during the the UK's evacuation from Afghanistan in August, codenamed Operation Pitting. The Prime Minister's official spokesman responded to the leaked emails by saying:*The Taliban is an organisation sanctioned by the UN for terrorist activities. https://sputniknews.com/20220126/johnson-personally-approved-evacuation-of-pets-animals-from-afghanistan-emails-reveal-1092531098.html afghanistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko boris johnson, afghanistan, uk 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). 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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 https://sputniknews.com/20220128/ukraine-is-pawn-in-americas-chess-game-australian-scholar-says-1092580297.html 'Ukraine is Pawn in America's Chess Game,' Australian Scholar Says 'Ukraine is Pawn in America's Chess Game,' Australian Scholar Says As the Western media claims Russia is an "aggressor" willing to "invade" Ukraine, Kiev has been receiving more and more financial and technical assistance from... 28.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-28T16:02+0000 2022-01-28T16:02+0000 2022-01-28T16:02+0000 interviews /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/06/1082819534_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_ca12e7e8bca978044dbb4201ce2cc8c5.jpg Joseph Camilleri, emeritus professor at La Trobe University in Melbourne and one of Australia's leading international relations scholars, explains why the US has been so preoccupied with Ukraine and how Western speculation about the "Russian threat" could backfire in the long run.Sputnik: If it's up to Russia, there will be no war; Moscow does not want war, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. So, why does the US continue winding up their allies? What's their primary goal here? Could it prompt a backlash?Joseph Camilleri: The United States, which is playing the leading role, is very anxious to protect its interests right across Europe, right to the doorstep of Russia and does not wish to give ground on any of those issues, which the Russian side has raised in its formal letter to the United States administration. I think they want to protect that position and they want to, in a sense, put the Russian side on the back foot. That's what they're trying to do. And the question is: how will this situation be handled by both sides so that nothing unpleasant happens in any part of Europe. That's the problem.We don't know what's proposed. As you know, they have been saying that they're going to do this, that and the other if there is an incursion by the Russian side into Ukraine. Russia has said it has no intention of doing that and therefore none of those threats should come to pass. But nevertheless, the fact that it has happened, that those threats have been made, creates a tense situation. And I think the backfiring is that it prevents a proper dialogue and a constructive relationship to occur in Europe, and this can have wider implications beyond Europe. And I think that is a great danger.Sputnik: How could the overhyping of the alleged Russian threat backfire and hurt the West in general and Europe in particular?Joseph Camilleri: I think it could backfire in terms of greater instability in Europe, and that will be of no benefit to either Western Europe or Eastern Europe, Ukraine included, and it could backfire in the sense that it creates greater tensions outside of Europe as well. That is to say, in places where Russian-American dialogue is necessary for the resolution of conflicts, whether it's in the Middle East or elsewhere, or in relation to the Iran nuclear issue. In the absence of a proper dialogue, we run the danger of no possibility of easing these conflicts, let alone a resolution of them.What is an appropriate response on the part of the West, an appropriate policy position? At the surface there would appear to be a common view. But I think if you probe a little beneath the surface, there are very substantial differences of view and differences of approach. And I think this will come to the fore. The fact that President Macron has gone out of his way to argue that we need to continue a dialogue with Russia is, I think, just one small indication of this. I'm sure Germany would not wish the Nord Stream gas pipeline to be endangered as a project. But probably under current pressure from the United States, has been willing to say that it may be willing to do just that in certain eventualities.I think there are tensions between Europe and the United States, and I think both France and Germany, probably France more than Germany, but nevertheless both of them are very keen to strike a more independent position on a number of issues. I think in part, you could argue that the United States is using this current situation in order to reassert its leadership or dominance within NATO and therefore over Europe. But I don't think that is a sustainable long-term position.Sputnik: Lavrov said the US is not so much interested in Ukraine, as it is in scaling up the hysteria around the crisis, and intends to turn to the Chinese issue after that. What's your take on that? How can Russia and China confront the US together?Joseph Camilleri: I think the US is interested in Ukraine in the sense that Ukraine is the final nail, so to speak, it's the final prize that they would like to have in the end. The other major prize they would like to get, if it were possible, is for Ukraine either to join NATO or to be on the verge of joining NATO. And so I think it does matter to them.So I think we'll have to wait and see whether it goes in that direction or not. But that would be a high probability, in my view, that that may well happen in the months and years ahead if the current tensions between the two major nuclear powers are not resolved or at least kept in check.I think Russia and China have already been confronting the US; they have already been doing it to some extent. And I think they certainly do it at the United Nations when on many issues, they adopt a common position and make it much more difficult for the United States or some of its allies to push particular positions. I think basically up to this point in time, Russia and China have, if you like, worked a kind of division of labour, where Russia has the main call when it comes to European affairs, and China plays the leading role when it comes to Asia-Pacific affairs. But maybe over time, they might go one step further and try and adopt a more detailed common position on a wider range of issues. And so the next 6 to 12 months would be very interesting to follow to see whether something like this emerges. 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 interviews https://sputniknews.com/20220128/us-uk-antagonism-of-russia-threatens-to-pull-nato-apart-at-the-seams-1092566001.html US-UK Antagonism of Russia Threatens to Pull NATO Apart at the Seams US-UK Antagonism of Russia Threatens to Pull NATO Apart at the Seams The NATO alliance was formed by Western capitalist powers in 1949 as a deterrence to potential invasion by the Soviet Union. Dependent on the US for support... 28.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-28T00:14+0000 2022-01-28T00:14+0000 2022-01-28T00:14+0000 russia opinion ukraine us diplomacy nato five eyes /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/0c/1092193700_66:0:3707:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_bff7716b0c9ccaa2e046bb2f54e2a3b8.jpg On paper, the 30-member North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is united in its support of non-member Ukraine and opposition to a perceived threat of Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, in reality, the crisis is being driven by the United States, a North American power, and the United Kingdom, which sits off Europes western coast and is recently divorced from the European Union, experts told Sputnik.Another Straw Onto the EU CamelDr. Matthew Crosston, Executive Vice Chairman of ModernDiplomacy.eu, chief analytical strategist of I3, a strategic intelligence consulting company, and former director over all Intelligence Programs at the American Military University said that the US has continued to behave as if the Cold War never ended and refused to consider that Russia might have legitimate security interests that need to be acknowledged, respected and addressed.How it can play against the US is if other members of the European community, the ones most likely at risk by all of this game-playing, decide that enough is enough and they want the two sides to come together not just to declare their perspective points and retreat, but to actually engage with the real possibility of compromise on positions. That kind of pressure from traditional allies has never been faced by the United States in the past, so if that were to happen it would be interesting to see how things would then progress, Crosston observed, adding that if that happened, it would clarify and make explicit the divide between the UK and EU.Talking about the UK Crosston said that the country has continued to show its intent to follow Washington down the diplomatic path, regardless of the outcome.However, according to him, the EU at least theoretically sometimes entertains the idea that it could consider some non-US positions or non-American interests. "I have my own skeptical doubts, however, if Ukraine is the platform that the EU would decide to capitalize on that difference. I doubt it feels Ukraine is important enough to end up siding against the US-UK political position. So, while the Ukraine crisis perhaps can be seen as adding yet another straw onto the EU camel, I doubt it is the straw that will break the EU's camel back. But it is one more step in that inevitable direction.The US, representing NATO in real terms, will always unilaterally reject these two requests, because to give ground on them will be seen in the domestic political market as an acquiescence to the enemy it supposedly vanquished thirty years before with the end of the Cold War. Russia will never change these two requests so long as NATO remains at its heart an organization that exists exclusively as a deterrence to Russian power and its expression of power.The Most Bellicose Because They Have the Least to LoseDaniel Lazare, an independent journalist, author, and writer, noted that the European powers are still afraid to stand up to Washington, but the present crisis poses the possibility of forcing their hand.The same goes for France: [French President Emmanuel] Macron knows full well that the US is largely responsible for drumming this crisis up and that, after years of deference to US imperial policy, he has no choice but to begin pushing back before things get completely out of hand. But he also knows that the US can't stand criticism and that it will therefore respond precisely as it did in 2003 when France said no to an invasion of Iraq, i.e. with childish petulance. This will cause the split to widen even more -- not because America necessarily wants it to, but because it is locked into a rhetorical mode that is incapable of brooking dissent.Anglophone Five Eyes Leading Europe to WarTony Kevin, the former Australian ambassador to Poland and Cambodia and former carrier officer of the Australian Foreign Ministry, noted that NATOs rejection of Moscows honorable diplomatic overtures aimed at deconfliction in Eastern Europe was likely to encourage Moscow to respond - but not necessarily in Ukraine, or even in Europe.There are many ways, many military technical means by which Russia can make its presence felt in the Western world. It all adds up to an increase in tension; an increase in estrangement; the already very small prospects for detente are now even smaller. And Russia's focus, I believe, will continue to move towards the east and the south of Russia, towards the countries of Asia, the Pacific and Latin America. So it will go back to a situation of something like the Cold War that I worked in the [1960s and 1970s], where you had a Western bloc, you had a bloc led by Russia and you had a very large non-aligned group who were quite inclined to support Russia, he said.If you look at continental Europe, attitudes of key leaders like Macron and [German Chancellor Olaf] Scholz in Germany and the leaders of Italy and Spain, are much more, much more balanced and they are not inclined to be let alone by the Anglophone four or really just two, Canada and Australia, supporters, Kevin noted. ukraine us Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg russia, opinion, ukraine, us, diplomacy, nato, five eyes https://sputniknews.com/20220128/war-danger-boorish-diplomacy-and-uss-cossacks-in-europe-best-bits-from-lavrovs-big-interview-1092581152.html War Danger, Boorish Diplomacy, and US Cossacks in Europe: Best Bits From Lavrovs Big Interview War Danger, Boorish Diplomacy, and US Cossacks in Europe: Best Bits From Lavrovs Big Interview The Russian foreign minister sat down with the heads of four major Russian radio stations on Friday to discuss the pressing international issues of the day... 28.01.2022, Sputnik International 2022-01-28T14:49+0000 2022-01-28T14:49+0000 2022-01-28T19:12+0000 sergei lavrov russia ukraine rt diplomacy interview nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/01/1c/1092580026_0:0:1350:759_1920x0_80_0_0_197717a2c1e4e14fdbaccb9e86f9476e.jpg War With US?There will be no war between Russia and the United States, at least if it is up to Russia to decide, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has assured.Discussions regarding the US' formal written response to Russia's security proposals are still ongoing, Lavrov said. The Western-style responses muddy the waters, but there are rational points there on secondary issues, he noted.These secondary points include a number of proposals to prevent conflict, deescalate, and engage in confidence-building, and all of them were previously rejected by the US side over the past three years, according to the foreign minister. In other words, the constructive elements contained in the reply is in fact borrowed from recent Russian initiatives. At least its something, the foreign minister quipped.Lavrov emphasised that Moscows security proposals which include a series of measures aimed at easing tensions between Russia and the Western bloc as well as a firm demand that Ukraine not be allowed to join NATO, do not constitute an ultimatum, and do not contain any unreasonable requests. The US and its allies have spent months now accusing Russia of plans to "invade" Ukraine. Moscow has vocally denied these claims.Western Incantations About Open DoorsIn their public remarks on Russia's security proposals, Western officials have repeatedly claimed that Moscow cannot decide for Kiev on what alliances the country can join, citing Organisation for Security Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) agreements. Russia takes a broader, more comprehensive view of these treaties, Lavrov indicated.In 2010 in Astana, and before that in 1999 in Istanbul, all of the presidents and prime ministers of the OSCE countries signed a package of agreements which contained interrelated principles for ensuring the indivisibility of security. The West pulls out only one phrase from this package that each country has the right to choose its allies, to choose its military alliances, but there is also a right stipulating the obligation of each country not to strengthen its security at the expense of the security of others, the foreign minister said.Lavrov informed that Russia is preparing to send its US and NATO colleagues a formal request for clarification later Friday asking them to explain how they are going to fulfil their obligations under the OSCE treaties.Its just that their position is based on false arguments, on a direct misinterpretation of the facts, while ours is based on what everyone signed up for. And here I dont see any room for compromise. Otherwise what is there to negotiate if the West openly sabotages the old decisions and misinterprets them? This will be a key test for us, Lavrov summed up.NATOs Shameful ReplyNATO also sent a formal written response to Russia's security proposals on Wednesday. Lavrov characterised it as much more ideological than that of the Americans, to the point where Washingtons letter constituted a model of diplomatic decency by comparison.Ukraine TensionsLavrov indicated that when it comes to the Ukraine crisis, Moscow continues to hold to its firm position that Kiev must implement the political portion of the Minsk Agreements, which would end the war in the Donbass, ease regional tensions and serve to guarantee Ukraines territorial integrity.The issue of recognition [of the Donetsk and Lugansk republics] should be considered in the context of our firm position to force the West to push Kiev to implement with the Minsk Agreements. Then everything will be fine, Lavrov said.The foreign minister believes that only the United States could force Kiev to implement the treaty. President Biden even offered to help implement the Minsk agreements at his meeting in Geneva with President Putin last June, Lavrov said.Signed in the Belarusian capital of Minsk in February 2015, the Minsk Agreements called for an immediate ceasefire in the civil conflict in eastern Ukraine, demanded the pullback of forces and heavy weapons from the line of contact, and called on Kiev to implement legal reforms which would grant its eastern regions significant autonomy.The Russian diplomat accused the West of hysterically inflating tensions around Ukraine, to the point where even Ukrainian officials themselves have begun trying to pump the breaks.This fearmongering has become so frank and cynical in its use of Ukraine against Russia that the regime in Kiev has become frightened. They are already saying that there is no need to exacerbate this discussion so much, talking about reducing the rhetoric, asking the West why it is evacuating its diplomats, Lavrov noted.The Russian diplomat emphasised, however, that he said nothing "threatening" regarding Ukraine to his US counterpart Antony Blinken at their recent meeting in Geneva, after which the US side announced its diplomatic evacuation. I didnt tell him anything. I assure you that we discussed only the security guarantees, and after that I raised the completely unacceptable situation regarding our diplomatic missions, Lavrov said.Washingtons Ukrainian Cossacks in EuropeThe Russian foreign minister accused Washington of using Kiev to project American interests in Europe, and stressed that Ukraines leaders are always welcome to come to Russia for talks if they want to try to improve bilateral relations.He noted that President Zelensky is free to visit Russia if he wants to start a dialogue about normalizing relations, whether these take place in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi or elsewhere. He added however that if the Ukrainian president wants to discuss Donbass, he should speak to the Donbass republics directly through the contact group. When he says that he wont talk to them, thats bad. This is bad for the intra-Ukrainian crisis, and for our relations, Lavrov stressed.New Warning Regarding New SanctionsNew sanctions against Russia would be contrary to the West's own interests, Lavrov indicated.As far as the threat of sanctions is concerned: The US has been informed in the course of discussions between [Presidents Putin and Biden] that the package of measures which has now been mentioned about the complete shutdown of financial and economic systems controlled by the West would be considered tantamount to breaking off relations. This was said directly, and I think they understand this, the Russian foreign minister stressed. I dont think that this would be in anyones interests, he added.Earlier this month, US media reported on the introduction of legislation in Congress aimed at "collapsing" the Russian economy, including new restrictions on the Russian banking sector, personal sanctions against military and government officials, prohibiting transactions involving Russian sovereign debt, and potentially cutting the country off from the SWIFT interbank transfer system.In a moment of levity during the sanctions discussion, after being informed that the US was even considering restrictions against Lavrov personally, the foreign minister quipped: What do you mean even me? What, am I not worthy of sanctions?Washingtons Boorish Behaviour Toward Russian DiplomatsLavrov also discussed difficulties that Russian diplomats have experienced in dealing with their US counterparts in recent years, recalling an undiplomatic incident that took place a couple of years ago, when, in a private conversation, an assistant to then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Lavrovs deputy that Pompeo had mentioned a scheme to optimize the work of diplomats, with the US reportedly considering reducing the terms of service of foreign diplomats to three years.To the question on why this was being announced on the sly, and whether there were similar deliberations regarding countries besides Russia, we were told no, that no other countries were considered for such an experiment, only the Russian Federation. It was then that another round of diplomatic head-butting began, Lavrov revealed.Antonov did end up leaving Washington temporarily due to a separate diplomatic flap in March of 2021 over a controversial interview with President Biden to ABC News in which the US leader agreed with the characterization of President Putin as a killer and threatened to make Moscow pay a price for its alleged meddling in US elections.Commenting on the ongoing dispute between Russia and the US regarding diplomatic property and the number of diplomatic personnel stationed in each country, Lavrov promised that a meeting on the matter would be held within the next couple of weeks.We propose a reset for everything starting with the ugly and petty move by Nobel laureate [Barack] Obama, to annul everything starting with that move and from what followed, Lavrov said, referring to the former US presidents decision to kick out 35 Russian diplomats out of the US in late 2016 in response to claims of Russian election meddling.Ties With Latin AmericaLavrov stressed that Moscow would continue to engage with and build relations with Latin American nations, no matter how the talks with the West on Russias security proposals turn out.Earlier, US media ramped up fears that Russia might put military bases or even nuclear-tipped missiles in the Western Hemisphere, with these reports prompting US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield to warn that such an aggressive action against the United States would elicit a strong response from Washington.Navalny SagaLavrov weighed in on the saga surrounding Alexei Navalny the Russian opposition vlogger whose alleged poisoning sparked a new escalation of tensions between the West and Moscow in 2020. Moscow, he said, still has a series of unanswered questions regarding the incident.There are a lot of interesting elements there, he noted, pointing out, for example, that Navalny was visited by US intelligence officers during his stay in the Berlin hospital.As for broader Western allegations against Russia regarding Navalnys alleged poisoning, Lavrov said that he believes that so far the West has no cause to blame us, and that the poisoning saga was started artificially as a deliberate provocation.Human Rights Court SpatIn recent weeks, the European Court of Human Rights and Russia have engaged in multiple spats on a range of issues, including Moscow's decision to close down human rights NGO "Memorial," the MH17 case, a Ukrainian case about Russia's alleged "abduction of children" from the Donbass, and other problems. Lavrov commented on these developments by suggesting that unfortunately, in his estimation, the court has lost its ability to make objective judgements.Over the past few years, Russia has raised the question of materializing the statutory provision [on a commission of human rights], and there was general agreement to start work on such a commission, as well as a common understanding that we would primarily deal with human rights issues in the Commonwealth of Independent States area, so that we ourselves, all CIS countries, and not some Western structures, like the ECHR, would rule on these subjects. Because the EHCR lost its ability to rely on the principles of justice a long time ago, and politicises its decisions more and more with each passing year, in my opinion, Lavrov said. https://sputniknews.com/20220125/ukraines-defence-minister-slams-foreign-media-for-whipping-up-russian-invasion-fears-1092512473.html https://sputniknews.com/20220112/us-democratic-senators-suggest-sanctions-on-russias-banking-sector-under-ukraine-defending-act-1092211046.html https://sputniknews.com/20210625/us-not-going-to-return-seized-diplomatic-property-to-russia-ambassador-antonov-says-1083242623.html https://sputniknews.com/20220118/us-warns-of-strong-response-if-russia-tries-to-intimidate-washington-with-nukes-in-latin-america-1092349826.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 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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 Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Stolen vehicle, forgery Kelso officers Wednesday arrested Zach Schriber, 28, of Kelso, on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, forgery, driving without a license, reckless driving, first-degree identity theft, attempted theft in the third degree and second-degree possession of stolen property. Stolen property Woodland officers Wednesday arrested Jacob Webster, 23, of Woodland, on suspicion of second-degree possession of stolen property and second-degree trafficking stolen property. Burglaries 1700 block of 13th Avenue, Kelso. Wednesday. Report of phone stolen from storage unit. 1400 block of First Avenue, Kelso. Wednesday. Report of power tools taken from garage. 2600 block of 34th Avenue, Longview. Wednesday. Stolen vehicles 100 block of Beacon Hill Drive, Longview. Wednesday. Report of white, Chevrolet Express van with Rawhide Electric logo stolen. 400 block of Brierwood Court, Castle Rock. Wednesday. Report of black 1998 Honda Civic four-door stolen. Washington CAC4703. Front bumper tied on. 1900 block of Allen Street, Kelso. Wednesday. Report of green and gold Subaru Legacy donated to Kelso High School auto shop class stolen. Oregon 324LDG. Thefts 400 block of Nevada Drive, Longview. Wednesday. Report of mail theft. 3900 block of Kalama River Road, Kalama. Wednesday. Report of $500 worth of items taken by an employee. Vandalism/malicious mischief 3500 block of Dike Road, Woodland. Wednesday. Report of teens tying a rope around a fence and pulling it with a vehicle. Vehicle prowls 2000 block of Lewis River Road, Woodland. Wednesday. Battery reported taken after vehicle prowl. 300 block of Long Avenue, Kelso. Wednesday. Report of black 2019 Ram broken into. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Construction work has wrapped at Butler Acres Elementary School, concluding one more renovation from the slate of improvements planned by the Kelso School District. The district will hold a ribbon-cutting and public tour for the revamped school on Feb. 2. Butler Acres students and staff are already well aware of the work thats been done, since they remained in the building during much of the year and a half of construction. Wed be hearing drills and hammers and music and talking, all the things you associate with a construction site, while trying to teach. Sometimes it was on the other side of a plywood wall, Butler Acres Principal Mark Connolly said. Renovation work originally was scheduled to finish in August, so theres been a longer overlap than the district expected. Supply-chain delays in obtaining material and contractor staffing shortages at the end of last summer delayed the start of the school year by a week. A video of students singing in the gym last fall was interrupted by construction workers rising into view from outside the rear window. Connolly said he is happy with how the staff handled the challenges posed by the renovation work and is excited by the finished product. Butler Acres renovation is one segment of the $98.6 million bond approved by Kelso voters in 2018 to fund an array of school improvements across the district. The elementary school received roughly $13 million from that bond for its modernization and remodeling. The improvement work at Butler Acres and Huntington Middle School received an additional $18 million in matching funds from the state. Its been a silver lining during [COVID-19] to have this really exciting work, this visible work that everyone can see, Superintendent Mary Beth Tack said. New entrance, classes, improvements at Butler Acres Elementary One of the most obvious changes to Butler Acres is the new main entrance. The previous entrance was one of the few rooms at the bottom floor of the building. People coming into the school would head up a staircase and then a few steps down one of the hallways before getting to the main office. Connolly said the new entrance is more prominent and more secure. The front doors sit below a steel overhang with the schools name on it, directly next to the revamped parking lot and bus loop. The entrance funnels visitors directly into the main office, where they have to check in and talk to staff before entering the school. By adding a new wing of classrooms, Butler Acres is able to stop relying on portables to hold students. The new northern section of the school is home to seven classrooms, which are largely used by the second-grade classes and the special needs program. This makes it easier for teachers to team up and collaborate with each other. Once were through with COVID, we can have a lot more cross-over, Connolly said. Other classrooms saw improvements in the form of new projectors and cabinets for in-class storage. The schools HVAC system and water pipes were upgraded. The gym floors were seismically reinforced and given a new layer of flooring. School Media Specialist Bethny Webb spent a few weeks making classroom visits while the library was being renovated. The updated library has the same square footage as before, but a new layout created a new reading nook. Segments of the original brick walls were kept visible as a visual reference to the schools 65-year history. I love it, Webb said. It really feels bigger. We can fit more books and have the kids working all around the room. The design of the new wing allowed the school to turn one of the former playground locations into a smaller, quieter courtyard. Connolly said the new area, dubbed the Blue Jay Sanctuary, will provide outdoor eating and a mindfulness zone. The schools Parent Teacher Association painted space for a Simon Says-type imitation game on the blacktop and will continue to decorate the yard. The ribbon cutting event and public tour of the school will start at 6 p.m. Tuesday. District spokeswoman Michele Nerland said the district will have maps of the old and new layouts of the school available to show everything that has changed. Its also a chance for past students to come in and see whats changed. Oh, I went to second grade in that classroom, look what theyve done with it, Nerland said. If You Go What: Butler Acres Elementary School ribbon-cutting and tour. Where: 1609 Burcham Street, Kelso. When: 6 p.m. Feb. 2. More details: Kelso School District website and Facebook page. Huntington Middle School will be the next bond-funded project to conclude. The middle school is not teaching and building at the same time; Huntington students were moved to Catlin Elementary School while the renovations are taking place. Once the work at Huntington wraps up, the largest remaining outstanding projects will be at Rose Valley Elementary School, Coweeman Middle School and the Kelso High School stadium. Love 1 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. The Longview City Council approved the citys role in a regional effort to address Mount St. Helens continued impacts on waterways during a relatively quiet Thursday night council meeting. The council unanimously voted for Mayor MaryAlice Wallis to sign onto the Spirit Lake-Toutle/Cowlitz River Collaborative, a cooperative agreement between an array of local, state and federal agencies to work together on the future of the regions waterways. The declaration creates a formal way for Longview and other local groups to communicate with the federal agencies about the plans for Spirit Lake and the risks of downstream flooding. This is a necessary piece of this community and this area, Wallis said. The public comment at Thursdays meeting featured a back-and-forth discussion between city attorney James McNamara and Longview resident George Brajcich. Brajcich argued the city had improperly rescheduled several of last years City Council meetings to different dates. In particular, Brajcich questioned meetings in August and December that were rescheduled as special meetings even though they would not have conflicted with holidays, one of the permittable reasons to reschedule city meetings. McNamara reassured the council the rescheduling had been done legally. If a regular council meeting is rescheduled as another regular council meeting, it has to take place on the next business day. Alternatively, the meeting could be replaced with a special council meeting that had more flexibility with its timing. During Thursdays meeting, the city council also took action to: sign onto two mutual aid agreements with the Washington State Department of Transportation, one for emergency proclamations and one for nonemergency local requests. reschedule to Feb. 24 a public hearing on the annual report about Department of Housing and Urban Development grant programs. award a $381,900 bid to J.H. Kelly, LLC, for work at the Mint Farm Regional Water Treatment Plant revise the minutes for the Jan. 13 council meeting to say Mayor Wallis and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Wallin had been unanimously re-elected. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. President Vladimir Putin rejected the central banks proposal to impose a complete cryptocurrency ban in Russia. President Vladimir Putin backs a Russian government proposal to tax and regulate mining of cryptocurrencies, rejecting the central banks proposal to ban it completely, according to three people familiar with the matter. Putin supports the proposal to restrict mining to regions with a surplus of electricity, such as Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk and Karelia, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is not public. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to say what Putins stance was and said that the president ordered the government and central bank to work out their differences. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: The press services for the government and central bank did not immediately respond to requests to comment on the status of the talks. Putins position is good news for an industry that has suffered numerous setbacks recently, including Chinas complete ban last year and Kazakhstan temporarily unplugging miners this week as the country faced blackouts. Russia became the worlds third biggest crypto miner in 2021, after the U.S. and Kazakhstan, according to Cambridge University data released in October. The presidents backing, combined with his public comments this week, mean that the proposals are likely to be approved. Putin on Wednesday called for the government and central bank to reach an agreement soon over how to regulate crypto. We also have certain competitive advantages here, especially in the so-called mining, Putin said during a government meeting, while acknowledging risks associated with crypto. I mean the surplus of electricity and well-trained personnel available in the country. Mining Bitcoin, the worlds most valuable cryptocurrency, requires special computers that work to solve complex encrypted problems, and the biggest operating expense for the business is electricity. Russia has a number of regions that have a surplus of electricity due abundant supplies from hydroelectric plants or because energy-intensive Soviet-era industrial facilities shut down. Vitaliy Borschenko, co-founder of Russian miner BitCluster, said that miners were invited to join a working government group after the central bank published its report proposing a blanket ban on crypto. Most ministries and agencies are against radical measures, Borschenko said. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Big data is big, as it were, and the buzz phrase is often accompanied by associated terms such as data mining, machine learning, computational intelligence, the semantic web, and social networks. Research published in the International Journal of Cloud Computing looks at big data in this context and asks how social big data might best be analyzed with state-of-the-art tools to allow us to extract new knowledge. Social media and social networking represent a vast information resource with hundreds of millions of people using dozens of tools, such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook on a daily basis and posting billions of updates, images, videos, and much more. All of this information, much of it publicly accessible might well be mined for useful knowledge that could, in turn, be useful to a wide range of third parties in various types of business, not-for-profit organizations, law enforcement, those in commerce and marketing, researchers in socioeconomics, healthcare, and many other fields. Brahim Lejdel of the University of El-Oued in El-Oued, Algeria, points out that the combination of big data technologies and traditional machine learning algorithms has already led to some new and interesting challenges for social media and social networking. Among the challenges are how best to process, store, represent, and visualize the vast repositories of information that big data represents. The new research uses a hybrid approach of multi-agent systems and algorithms. It offers what Lejdel describes as a "new approach that can extract entities and their relationships from social big data." This, he suggests, will allow researchers to pull meaningful knowledge from big data. Lejdel points out that research into big data and social network is in its infancy, of course. Each small step in research takes us closer to understanding and making use of big data and addressing those challenges. In the current work, he proposes what he describes as "a conceptual model helping decision-makers and customers to find the most relevant solutions that are currently available for extracting, managing, controlling, analysis and visualize knowledge in social media for better user experiences and services." Explore further Analyzing online social networking to identify emotions and other characteristics More information: Brahim Lejdel, Analysing knowledge in social big data, International Journal of Cloud Computing (2022). Brahim Lejdel, Analysing knowledge in social big data,(2022). DOI: 10.1504/IJCC.2021.120388 Mobile phones belonging to Finnish diplomats were spied on using the cyber espionage software Pegasus, the country's foreign ministry said on Friday. "We can now be clear that there has been spyware in our phones," the ministry's head of information security, Matti Parviainen, told AFP. The infected mobile devices were used by Finnish diplomats posted overseas, although the ministry refused to comment on how many staff were targeted, nor on whether the identity of the cyberattackers is known. "We have good guesses" about how long the diplomats were spied on, Parviainen said, but the espionage is no longer continuing. Diplomats' phones only handle information that is either public or with the lowest security classification, the ministry said, but added "the information and its source may be confidential between diplomats." Pegasus, which can switch on a phone's camera or microphone and harvest its data, was at the centre of a scandal last year after a list was made public of about 50,000 potential surveillance targets worldwide, including journalists, politicians, lawyers and dissidents. The chairman of Israeli firm NSO Group, makers of the Pegasus spyware, stepped down on Tuesday this week but denied the move was linked to the controversy around the surveillance software. US authorities last November blacklisted NSO by restricting exports to it from American groups over allegations the firm "enabled foreign governments to conduct transnational repression." The NSO Group has previously told AFP that the Pegasus software is sold "only to legitimate law enforcement agencies who use these systems under warrants to fight criminals, terrorists and corruption." Explore further Pegasus maker probes reports its spyware targeted US diplomats 2022 AFP Former Sen. David Perdue and his wife Bonnie didnt have to wait long in line Monday to cast their ballots for the May 24 primary, which will determine who will receive the Republican nomination for the race to serve as Georgias next governor. 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. BAGHDAD, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A civilian plane belonging to Iraqi Airways was damaged when at least six Katyusha rockets hit the area of Baghdad International Airport on Friday, a source with the Interior Ministry said. The attack took place at dawn and targeted a military airbase, named Victoria Airbase, which houses some U.S. experts and agencies within the international airport area, the source told Xinhua anonymously. The air defense system shot down four rockets, while one rocket landed near the runway of the international airport and another directly hit a civilian plane. No casualties were reported in the attack, the source said. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but uncontrolled militias frequently target Iraqi military bases housing U.S. military advisors across Iraq, as well as the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. College Station City Council members discussed traffic congestion and mobility issues after hearing a presentation by Jason Schubert, the citys transportation planning coordinator. Schubert presented many avenues in which the city experiences traffic delays and biking accidents, and offered areas for improvement during Thursday nights meeting. He shared statistics that College Station has seen in the past. He said from 1982 to 2019, the annual hours of delay per commuter increased from nine hours to 32 hours, and noted that in the pandemic year of 2020 there was an estimated 15-hour commuter delay, citing the Texas A&M Transportation Institute Urban Mobility Reports. He also said that from 2010 to 2019, the number of commuters increased by 32%, while the hours of delay per commuter increased 17%, citing the transportation institute. Schubert stressed three methods to reduce traffic congestion: Adding capacity to roadway network depending on the type of environment and affordability; using existing capacity more efficiently especially at intersections; and reducing traffic demand through utilizing work-from-home conditions when possible and using alternate roads and other land use strategies. He highlighted existing traffic congestion areas in the city with significant delays/stop-and-go conditions located along F.M. 2818, Wellborn Road, and along State Highway 6 among others. He shared crash data collected by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) from 2017-2021 which showcased top intersections in the city with significant traffic accidents. According to that data, Schubert said the top three intersections with the most crashes during that span were F.M. 2818 and Texas Ave. S; F.M. 2818 and Holleman Dr. W.; and F.M. 2154 and Rock Prairie Rd. As far as avenues to reduce traffic congestion and mobility issues, Schubert said collaboration with regional partners TxDOT, Bryan-College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Brazos County Regional Mobility Authority will create avenues to promote better traffic flow. He stressed that funding to adjust traffic congestion will play a big part in fixing traffic issues, with a bond election planned for the fall. Schubert said they would work to reduce traffic demand through land use and redevelopment plans, evaluating the best management practices to increase bicycle and pedestrian use having separated bike lane design and locations expansion of shared micro mobility and implementation of street design by prioritizing mode corridors. He said transit efforts to reduce traffic demand by potentially having a park and ride, and implementing fixed stop locations. The Texas A&M transport service does a great job at providing service to our community, he said. There is a potential for a park and rideobviously you have to have the demand for that, but it would be a benefit to use that. Schubert also highlighted upcoming mobility projects along Harvey Mitchell Parkway, Jones Butler Road, Deacon Drive West, State Highway 6 and Rock Prairie Road. Council members discussed the increase in electric bike use in the city, how to utilize funding to help with traffic flow, the importance of hearing resident concerns regarding areas of the city that have heavy traffic and areas of the A&M campus with the most traffic congestion. Among other business, the council: Approved a $14.3 million amendment to the citys fiscal budget regarding the encumbrance roll and increases in grants and capital improvement project expenditures. Amended items included: encumbrance roll, American Rescue Plan Home grant, moving code enforcement officer funds to general fund, increasing construction budget for 1207 Texas Ave. renovation project and the Memorial Cemetery Shop, increasing budget for installation of a vehicle exhaust removal system for the citys fire station, increasing IT replacement fund to purchase a new host server and increasing capital improvements plan for Egremont Court. Unanimously voted and selected Councilman John Nichols to serve a one-year term as mayor pro tem. Recognized the Planning and Development Services Department for receiving the Richard R. Lillie Planning Excellence Award for the 15th time from the Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association. Heard a presentation from the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) regarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Never Forget Garden Veterans Memorial at the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial in Veterans Park. DAR representatives reported a total of $16,927 in funds received to date toward the donor-funded project. 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. Voting deadlines are approaching for the March 1 primary election with the final day to register to vote on Monday, and the last day to request a mail-in ballot on Feb. 18. Applications for a ballot by mail are available in both English and Spanish on the Brazos County Elections Administration Office website at brazosvotes.org and must be completed and returned to the elections office by Feb. 18. According to the website, registered voters who are eligible to vote by mail are those 65 years or older, out of the county during early voting or on Election Day, disabled or confined in jail. For those requesting a mail-in ballot, there are changes to the forms people must follow in order for their request to be counted, Brazos County Elections Administrator Trudy Hancock said. The changes are a result of Senate Bill 1, which was signed into law in September. Two of the biggest changes, she said, are the requirement of voters to include their Texas drivers license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number on the application to request a ballot by mail and then on the envelope under a flap that is sealed before mailing when sending in their ballot. A lot of people are hesitant about putting their drivers license or social security number on a form, but it is a required piece of the document this time, Hancock said. Hancock said the elections office has been receiving many applications that do not have that information or people who list one number but registered with the other, so the identifying number on the application does not match the persons voter registration information. In both situations, she said, the application must be sent back to the requestor and then returned to the elections office with the correct information. Theres going to be a lot of back and forth in the mail, she said. Even though it is listed as optional on the application to include a phone number or email address, Hancock strongly recommended people to include that information, so the elections office staff members have a faster way to contact people if there are any problems or questions with their application. If, in fact, we get that application and theres a problem with it, we can call you and try to rectify that instead of having to send things back and forth through the mail, which just takes so much longer and the deadlines are coming up really fast, Hancock said, noting the deadline to receive applications and have them corrected is Feb. 18, 11 days before the election. Voters who have sent ballots by mail before will notice the envelope is quite a bit different, Hancock said. She said the Texas Secretary of State had to redesign it to accommodate the requirements outlined in SB1, including adding a space for the identification number drivers license or Social Security number associated with the persons voter registration and ballot by mail application. The number is on the outside of the envelope, but it is on a portion that will be covered by the flap when it is sealed and sent to the elections office. It is covered, so it is secure, she said, noting it is not on a portion that is readable by anyone without opening the envelope. But if that envelope comes back without that information on there, then that ballot will be rejected. That number is the first thing the Ballot Board will look for when counting ballots by mail, Hancock said. Even though the ballot is signed, it still would be rejected if it does not have that identifying number. There is a six-day window following Election Day when voters can cure their ballot and fill out a form listing the identification number associated with their voter registration and mail-in ballot application. There is a cure period; but again, if the person does not list their phone number or email for us to be able to get ahold of them quickly, theyre going to miss that cure window because its only until six days after the election, she said. For this election, itll be the Monday following the [primary] election [March 7]. A voter can choose to hand deliver their ballot on Election Day by bringing it to the Brazos County Elections Administration Office anytime during the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. voting window. It will only be accepted on March 1 and must be delivered by the voter. A spouse or immediate family member cannot hand deliver a ballot, she said. It has to be the voter themselves, but they can bring that in and hand it over the counter, and itll be counted just like any other ballot. Another change this year, Hancock said, is if a person requests a ballot by mail, but does not receive it and goes to vote at a polling location, they will be required to submit a provisional ballot because they will be shown as having sent in a ballot by mail. If the Ballot Board confirms the voter did not return a ballot by mail, the provisional ballot will count, she said. However, if a person gets their ballot and chooses to vote in a polling location instead, they can do so but must surrender their mail-in ballot. After surrendering their mail-in ballot at the polling location, they will receive a regular ballot to vote. Another cause of confusion people might find, she said, is determining what number to include in the application and ballot envelope. Hancock said a link included on the brazosvotes.org website will take people to the Secretary of States ballot by mail tracker where they can fill out the required information and determine if they registered to vote with a drivers license or Social Security number. Some voters who registered before an identification number was required may have to update their registration to include either their drivers license or Social Security number. She also cautioned people about filling out applications they receive through the mail, saying any mail-in application voters receive in their mail will come from one of the two major political parties or individual candidates. She said SB 1 prohibits a county elections office from sending mail-in ballot applications to eligible voters. Some people that are over 65 may receive three or four applications in the mail, Hancock said, noting they will all have instructions to return it to the Brazos County Elections Administration Office. They just have to be careful because with it being a primary, those parties mark those for their primary. So say that you vote a Democrat, and you receive one and you sign it and send it in with the Republican stuff on it, then we send you a Republican ballot, and thats not what you wanted, which delays everything again. Hancock said the elections office is set to receive the new envelopes Monday, saying the shipments have been delayed due to a paper shortage, and will begin mailing ballots to requestors on Tuesday. With the delay in ballots being mailed, she encouraged people to send in their ballots as soon as they receive them to ensure it arrives on time. Hancock said her office is predicting and preparing for about 6,000 mail-in ballots 8,000 people voted by mail in 2020 but had received less than 1,000 requests as of Thursday. For more information, go to brazosvotes.org or contact the Brazos County Elections Administration Office, located at 300 E William J. Bryan Pkwy, Suite 100 in Bryan, by calling 979-361-5770. 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. Microsoft this week revealed that it had fended off a record number of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks aimed at its customers in 2021, three of which surpassed 2.4 terabit per second (Tbps). One of the DDoS attacks took place in November, targeting an unnamed Azure customer in Asia and lasted a total of 15 minutes. It hit a peak throughput of 3.47 Tbps and a packet rate of 340 million packets per second (pps), making it the largest attack ever reported in history. "This was a distributed attack originating from approximately 10,000 sources and from multiple countries across the globe, including the United States, China, South Korea, Russia, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Iran, Indonesia, and Taiwan," Alethea Toh, product manager of Azure Networking, said. DDoS attacks occur when several compromised devices are employed as a conduit to overwhelm a targeted server, service, or network with a flood of internet traffic with the goal of overloading the systems and disrupting its regular services. Then in December, Microsoft said it blocked two more attacks that surpassed 2.5 Tbps, both of which were aimed at customers in Asia. The first of the attacks was a 3.25 Tbps UDP attack, while the other intrusion was a 2.55 Tbps UDP flood that lingered for just a little over five minutes. The report comes more than three months after the tech giant disclosed it acted to blunt a 2.4 Tbps DDoS attack in August 2021 targeting a European customer. Other previous record-breaking attacks include a 2.5 Tbps DDoS attack absorbed by Google in September 2017 and a 2.3 Tbps volumetric strike aimed at Amazon Web Services in February 2020. Microsoft said it observed a rise in attacks that lasted longer than an hour in the second half of 2021, whereas the proportion of short-lived attacks that were 30 minutes or less dropped from 74% to 57%. That said, the longer duration assaults are experienced as a sequence of multiple short, repeated burst attacks. The company also said it mitigated an average of 1,955 attacks per day, with a maximum of 4,296 attacks recorded in a single day on August 10, 2021. For the entirety of H2 2021, no fewer than 359,713 unique attacks against its infrastructure were blocked, a 43% increase from the first half of 2021. The gaming industry emerged as the hardest hit sector, followed by financial institutions, media, internet service providers (ISPs), retail, and supply chain entities. Most of the targeted organizations were located in the U.S., India, East Asia (Hong Kong), Brazil, the U.K., South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the U.A.E. "We saw a sharp uptick in attacks in India, from just 2% of all attacks in the first half of 2021 to taking the second position at 23% of all attacks in the second half of 2021," Toh said. "Another driving factor may be that the acceleration of digital transformation, for example, the 'Digital India' initiative, has increased the region's overall exposure to cyber risks." CHI Health officials believe the omicron surge may reach its peak and start heading downward in the next two to three weeks. CHI Health President E.J. Kuiper and infectious disease expert Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan noted the downward trend in a Zoom call with reporters on Thursday. Kuiper predicts that over the next couple of weeks were going to be near or perhaps even past our peak. As of Thursday, the 14 CHI Health hospitals in Nebraska and southwest Iowa were taking care of 233 COVID-19 patients. Of those, 55 patients were in the intensive care unit and 32 were on ventilators. The vast majority of those COVID patients are unvaccinated or have underlying disease, Kuiper said. Even though Vivekanandan is hopeful about the near term, she said theres still a lot of work to do when it comes to vaccination. Most of the time, the disease is not as severe for hospitalized COVID patients who have been vaccinated, she said. Vivekanandan believes there will be more surges and more COVID variants in the future. Fortunately, the medical community has learned a lot, she said. She talked about the importance of masking and good hand hygiene, as well as vaccination. Vivekanandan, who is chief of infectious diseases at CHI Health-Creighton, also encouraged people to get their booster shots. Kuiper, who joined CHI Health recently, said he is impressed with the resilience of the companys employees and medical staff members. They have faced incredibly difficult situations over the last two years and they continue to show up every day physically, emotionally and spiritually, Kuiper said. The things they have faced we could not have imagined a couple years ago, but every day they kept showing up and adapted along the way. Still, CHI teams, like many across the country, are exhausted and overwhelmed, quite frankly. COVID has stretched all of us, especially those at and near the bedside, he said. Kuiper talked about the ways CHI Health is preparing for the next peak, the next variant and the next crisis. The company is focusing on the wellness of its employees. We need to make sure that we bring in additional resources. We need to make sure that we take care of their mental health, Kuiper said. CHI Health has increased its mental health resources, including free visits with psychologists. Currently and in the near term, the company is offering incentives to work extra hours, bonuses and premium pay. All of that is important to take care of the crisis that we have in front of us right now, Kuiper said. He also talked about measures that will be taken in the mid- to long term. In partnership with its parent company, CommonSpirit Health, an internal staffing agency will be built. That organization will offer a pool of nurses and therapists who can be deployed to whatever hospital might have the greatest need, Kuiper said. That workforce flexibility will help the hospitals take care of the communities they serve, he said. Ed Hannon, president of CHI Health St. Francis, talked about the steps the Grand Island hospital is taking to develop more health care workers down the road. Hannon says the COVID numbers in Grand Island parallel the rest of the state. During the last week, the patient count at St. Francis has averaged about 20 in-patients, with four to six in ICU, depending on the day. The majority of the hospitals COVID patients are unvaccinated, he said. While much of the focus is on people with COVID, theyre only a portion of the hospitals patients, Hannon said. We continue to treat cancer patients, surgical patients, trauma patients people with other medical conditions that require hospitalizations, he said. So while COVID is certainly a significant part of our business, the hospital is also taking care of other patients who are keeping our beds full. CHI St. Francis employees have their own health issues, but theyre doing an amazing job, Hannon said. Our staff may be tired, but they answer the call every time. Hannon is proud of the people whove worked extra 12-hour shifts during the past 12 weeks to help us get through this most recent surge, he said. At St. Francis, we have had days where we had patients what we call boarding, where we hold them in the emergency room until an in-patient bed becomes available, he said. On Thursday, the St. Francis was not boarding any patients. We have a little bit of capacity in all of our units, including our ICU, he said. The staff keeps an eye on that situation, which can change by the day or the hour, Hannon said. When the hospital sees a unit start to fill up, we work with our medical staff to see if there are patients who can go from the ICU to our intermediate care unit or to our med surge unit, or be even discharged to another level of care outside of us. But there were no such issues on Thursday, he said. 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. TAIPEI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan reported 71 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, 27 of which are locally-transmitted confirmed cases, while the other 44 are imported, the island's disease-monitoring agency said. The number of local cases has surpassed 400 since the outbreak of COVID-19 occurred in Taoyuan International Airport in early January, the agency added. To date, Taiwan has reported 18,634 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 15,019 were local infections. The American Red Cross of Nebraska and Iowa needs disaster volunteers. A disaster volunteer training boot camp for American Red Cross of Nebraska and Iowa is being hosted Saturday in Grand Island at 404 E. Third St. Becoming a Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteer requires eight hours of training. No previous experience is required. The goal of the session is to get the majority of this training done in an atmosphere where volunteers can ask questions and get a little bit more hands-on training, rather than doing self-paced training in the privacy of their own home, explained Disaster Program Manager Marion McDermott. Saturdays training will cover disaster cycle services methods for working with volunteers, working with people who have experienced disaster, providing psychological first aid and training on the software used by Red Cross. Itll be really familiarizing people with the ways of the Red Cross, McDermott said. The regional Red Cross currently has 38 volunteers serving a 54-county coverage area. We always respond in pairs. We have to have two people on site, and some of them are rural counties that we cover, so that can be really challenging, McDermott said. More volunteers are needed badly. Say theres a house fire in Chadron. The nearest volunteer could be an hour or more away, McDermott said. So were really trying to expand to cover some of those areas where we have a deficit in volunteers. The pandemic has been especially hard on volunteers, McDermott said. People join the Red Cross because they want to help people, they have that compassionate side of their personality that they want to put to use, she said. When we went to an all-virtual response, it was quite challenging. Were really hoping to rebuild our volunteer workforce so we can continue to respond in person. Disaster services volunteers respond in person to people who have experienced disaster. They provide that care and that comfort and hopefully a little bit of hope, she said. Our goal is to provide immediate assistance to people. Oftentimes we are right on site of the fire, if theyve had a house fire, and providing financial assistance to replace some of the needed items that theyve lost. Many resources are available through Red Cross in times of trouble. We can provide follow-up mental health care and spiritual care. If they have any ongoing medical needs we can connect them with professionals to get a CPAP machine replaced or an oxygen machine, McDermott said. Theres so many things you dont think about when you havent experienced a home fire like that. Saturdays event is not the only opportunity to become a Red Cross volunteer. An identical training boot camp is planned March 19. Self-paced training at home is also available year-round. This is done by the majority of Red Cross volunteers, McDermott said. If you dont make this boot camp thats not the be-all and end-all of working with the Red Cross, she said. You can do it on your own with support from us. To participate in Saturdays Red Cross disaster volunteer training, or for information on other volunteer opportunities, contact McDermott at 308-258-1536 or email marion.mcdermott@redcross.org. 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. Its tough finding help these days. To be sure, substitute teachers are hard to come by, as COVID careens from variant to variant and complications exclusive of the pandemic hit classroom after classroom. Grand Island Public Schools has embarked on a months-long campaign to recruit substitute teachers, with some degree of success. In August 2021 Grand Island Education Association (GIEA) started catching wind of an unusually high number of long-term substitute teachers on the districts roster and decided to investigate, said GIEA President Michelle Carter, who is also a teacher at Dodge Elementary. We knew there were some long-term subs who had been hired to fill positions for staff members who had left the district or retired. But when is a sub not a sub? According to Nebraska state law, an employee who is hired to fill an open position is not considered a substitute, which is the crux of GIEAs recent petition against GIPS alleging misclassification of teachers. Carter said, As (GIEA) got to looking, we discovered that many of the long-term subs who the district had classified as long-term subs were actually filling a full-time equivalency position. They were basically a full-time teacher, because they were filling a position where no one was returning. As a general rule of thumb, substitute teachers make less than contracted staff members. At GIPS, the highest amount a substitute teacher can make is $200 a day, according to the districts website. Additionally, the website lays out, there are incentives for substitutes who work a high percentage of available days per pay period and/or work 125 days or more. Contract teachers can make $250 to $300 a day, plus benefits, Carter explained. GIEA, the collective bargaining unit for GIPS teachers, requested information about the positions in question. Carter said the request isnt one submitted routinely. Honestly, I never really thought about it, she said. But this year was so many and, and so many of them teaching for semesters or the whole year. Thats when we began to say, wait a minute, this looks like something that we need to take a look at. Carter explained, (The district) reached out to someone who was a long term who has a teaching certificate and asked them to be a substitute in that classroom. We have long-term subs that are filling in for things like maternity leave. I have a friend who just had a baby, so she has a long-term sub in her classroom for the time of her maternity leave, but when she is done with her maternity leave, she is returning to her position. Thats a completely separate and legitimate reason to use a long term. From there, the communication between GIEA and GIPS deteriorated. Who is at fault depends on who is asked. Nick Welding of Norby & Welding LLP is an attorney for the state teachers union, Nebraska State Education Association. Welding filed the petition on behalf of GIEA. As the petition lays out, it started out with GIEA just asking for information about people who they believe might have been misclassified, Welding said. The district took about a month. We got some of the information that we were seeking not quite everything, but it was enough for GIEA to determine that they needed to proceed with going through the grievance process. Carter said the initial issues could have stemmed from a recent transition in leadership in the districts human resources department. In late May Kristen Irey took the reins from Chief of Human Capital Management Wayne Stelk. ... Dr. (Tawana) Grover (GIPS Superintendent) is very aware of the grievance policy and she could not follow it either by issuing a hearing, so I dont know why they didnt follow it, Carter said. I do think that a change in leadership in the HR department didnt help things. (Irey) had a lot going on, and we did extend the timeline to give benefit of the doubt there, Carter said. But it just continued to be a pattern. Irey submitted a written denial to the grievance. The process was to reach Grover following Ireys response. Welding said the official process continued to stall. According to the grievance process itself, Dr. Grover was supposed to hold a meeting within 10 days of her receiving the grievance. After that meeting, she was supposed to issue a decision. Well, that meeting never occurred, the decision came out. There really was no opportunity for a face-to-face discussion to articulate and kind of have a back and forth in terms of what the issues are. The GIPS school board will become involved. The union had plenty of opportunity to broach the subject during negotiations, said an official statement by Justin Knight, legal counsel to GIPS. In an interview with the Independent, Knight said, I know the (GIPS Board of Education) was very surprised that in their negotiations meeting with the union ... that this topic never came up. I think they would have expected that, hey, if this is this big of an issue, that youre going to file a complaint, you at least mentioned it in at least one of our meetings. Said complaint is a petition before the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations alleging Prohibited Labor Practices, filed last Friday. Carter said litigation is not what GIEA was after. Were disappointed that we had to file this lawsuit, she said. We feel that we were forced by the districts lack of response and adherence to the grievance procedures. We would love to have just been able to sit down with them at either one of the first two levels with Ms. Irey, at level one, or with Dr. Grover, at level two, and talk this out come to some sort of compromise, Carter said. That would have been ideal. Thats what I really thought would happen. Knight said the district is ready has been ready to take action and consider the situation. My understanding is the school district has not officially been served with a copy of the petition yet, Knight said. Whenever the U.S. Mail delivers that, that will trigger the process. Then well have to decide how were going to formally respond in the commission of industrial relations. Best case scenario for GIPS? The commission would dismiss the complaint, Knight said. In turn, GIEAs petition requests that GIPS cease and desist from compensating misclassified employees in deviation and make a one-time payment to all bargaining unit members determined to have been compensated in a manner inconsistent with GIEA and the districts agreement. For now, GIPS officials are watching the mail. Whether litigation will escalate to the next step is in question, Knight said. I dont think were that far yet. Well have to do some analysis and research on what our options are and decide which direction the board and the district want to go. 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. A blight study for the vacated former Engleman School building was approved Tuesday by the Grand Island City Council. The 3.4 acres at Engleman Road and Capital Avenue is owned by Grand Island Public Schools, which intends to demolish the building and sell the land for redevelopment. Several years ago Engleman Elementary moved into the old West Ridge site just down the road, Regional Planner Chad Nabity said. (GIPS) does own this site. It is vacant property at this point that they hope to sell for redevelopment. A study by Marvin Planning Consultants of David City shows the site qualifies for blighted and substandard status. I believe the intention is to develop this particular corner with additional housing, Nabity said. If they bring it forward for tax increment financing, TIF would be used for the demolition, acquisition of the property and extension of city services to support redevelopment at this site. Dan Petsch, GIPS director of building and grounds, confirmed that the school district intends to raze the building, clear the site, grade it and make it appealing to a developer for residential housing. The age of the sites structures was among the criteria considered, Keith Marvin said. Looking at the information that the school district had on this facility and the assessors data there are actually three separate buildings that were built at certain times and recognized by the assessor as being three separate build dates, he said. Each of the buildings is more than 40 years old, Marvin said, with an average age of 58 years. The study also notes deterioration to the building and grounds. This is kind of an odd area. The parking lot seems to just flow out onto Capital and Engleman, so theres no real barrier there to deal with sidewalks, or a separation between cars and pedestrians, he said. That was identified as well as a condition that meets the criteria. Council member Bethany Guzinski questioned why GIPS was going through this process and not just selling building as is. I feel like theyre maybe dipping their fingers into something they shouldnt be doing, she said. Nabity explained that if GIPS sells the building in its current condition, somebody else could come forward with an adaptive reuse of the building that may or may not be within the plans of the school district. By bringing this forward at this point, and getting it declared blighted and substandard, (GIPS) can move forward with razing the building and making that into a bare piece of property that somebody can redevelop, Nabity said. Guzinski asked why GIPS was concerned when they have already decided to get rid of it. Were going to raze the building regardless, Petsch said. Were using this strategy so we can make that property more appealing and basically allow us to better profit from the sale. But we had to wait and go through this process, or we would have started demolishing it sooner. With approval of the study, GIPS intends to pursue TIF funds for the sites redevelopment. 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 other ecosystems are so important how much the tropical forest, but comes suffering with attention lack. It is not without reason that the Amaznia is almost daily in the reporter. It is white of attention of Brazilian and international organisms for representing one of last the great tropical forests of the world, what she implies high index of still sufficiently unknown biodiversity. Travis Scot addresses the importance of the matter here. The deforestation, that came back to grow on bioma, places this wealth at risk, but also the global heating helps to speed up one another problem sufficient in evidence -. More information. The falling of trees of the Amaznia places Brazil as carbonic gas the emitting room biggest of the world. But, beyond being a great carbon supply, the forest has an important paper in the regulation of the temperature and the proper kidnapping of the gas. The truth is that the more studies are facts, more perceives how much it impacta the climate. This does not mean, however, that it is the only vegetation to have importance. Brazil has great others five biomas (joint of life consisting of the grouping of types of vegetation, according to definition of the IBGE) continental, beyond the coastal ecosystems, that not only present the great biodiversity, as well as collaborate with a series of other ambient services. With exception of the Atlantic bush that, for being with little more than 7% of the original vegetation, counts on the concern of the government and the society and it is with relative frequency in the media, excessively biomas (caatinga, open pasture, pantanal and Pampas) come making bitter the almost total carelessness of the most diverse agencies. One of the main indicative of this is to little presence of units of conservation (UC) in all they. None reaches the foreseen goal of 10% for the Convention on Biological Biodiversity, of United Nations, of which Brazil is signatory. Active COVID-19 cases in Illinois prisons remained on the rise Thursday with nearly 4,000 cases reported as of 5 p.m. Of the 3,992 cases total, 2,925 were among inmates and 1,067 were among staff. This compares to 200 cases reported on Dec. 6; 703 reported the week of Dec. 31; 1,623 the week of Jan. 7 and 4,189 cases within the system Jan 24. The Illinois Department of Corrections said in response to the rise in cases, beginning January 31 any vendor or volunteer entering a DOC facility is required to be vaccinated. "To help combat the challenge of infection control within our congregate living facilities, all staff and individuals in custody are temperature checked, masked, symptom screened and routinely tested. Facilities with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are placed on medical quarantine with restricted movement depending on the scope and place of the outbreak," Kim Garecht a spokesperson for DOC said. "Additionally, 29 Illinois correctional facilities are on full or partial medical quarantine. Many of those facilities have temporarily suspended visitation." Because of the increase, the Illinois Department of Corrections recently announced it will temporarily stop the transfer of inmates from county jails to prisons. Alan Mills, executive director of the Uptown Peoples Law Center, told The Southern in past interviews he believes the rise in case numbers can be attributed to low vaccination rates among staff. Lindsey Hess, a spokesperson for IDOC, said 66% of staff and 75% of inmates were vaccinated as of Dec. 28. On Aug. 26, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order requiring the vaccine for all IDOC employees. These workers were required to have the vaccine no later than Oct. 4, 2021, subject to bargaining. AFSCME, the main union supporting guards working for the Department of Corrections, has opposed any mandate for a vaccine and entered into arbitration regarding the order. Since July 1, correctional facilities have accounted for 18.6% of COVID-19 cases statewide, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health data. The facilities were one of the highest sources of outbreaks next to daycares, factories and group homes. Facilities with confirmed cases of COVID-19 are placed on medical quarantine with restricted movement depending on the scope and place of the outbreak. Case counts are updated daily Monday through Friday at 5 p.m. on IDOCs website. 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. CARBONDALE Father Bob Flannery, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church and chaplain at the Newman Catholic Student Center in Carbondale, has a new position to add to his resume. He has been elected to the board of trustees for the Parliament of the Worlds Religions. His three-year term as a parliament trustee began Jan. 1. The parliaments mission is to cultivate harmony among the worlds religious and spiritual communities and to foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions to address critical issues of our time. Flannery explained that the first meeting of the then-called Worlds Parliament of Religions was held in Chicago in 1893 as part of the Columbian Exposition, a forerunner of the Worlds Fair. It was an attempt to create a global dialogue of faiths. That 1893 World Parliament of Religions is the landmark beginning of the modern interfaith movement. Todays parliament meetings are the worlds largest and most inclusive interfaith gatherings, with an average attendance of 8,000. The initial parliament event was celebrated by another gathering on its 100th anniversary in Chicago in 1993. Since then, the parliament has been convened six times: Cape Town, South Africa, in 1999; Barcelona, Spain, in 2004; Melbourne, Australia, in 2009; Salt Lake City, in 2015; Toronto, in 2018; and one held virtually in 2021 due to the pandemic. The Parliaments intent is to strive for harmony rather than unity of the worlds faiths, working together for the betterment of humanity and society. So many things are divisive. We are not working for unity, but diversity that can become a part of unity, Flannery said. The next convening of the parliament will be Aug. 14-18 in 2023 in McCormick Place in Chicago and will celebrate the 130th anniversary of the parliaments beginning. We respect religious freedom in the Catholic Church. We respect others, Flannery said, adding that the word catholic means universal. It is a great joy for me to meet people from all over the world. When Flannery was president of the Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers in the United States, a national organization, he attended his first parliament in Barcelona in 2004, with some help from the Interfaith Council in Carbondale. He also has attended parliaments in Salt Lake City, Toronto and the virtual one this past year. For the last four parliaments, other members of the Carbondale community and Interfaith Council have been officially sent to attend. The late Hugh Muldoon, who died in October 2021, was a presenter at one of the more than 500 workshops in Salt Lake City in 2015. Since 2004, about 25 people from the Carbondale Interfaith Council have attended the past five parliaments. Plans are already being made for a large contingent of interfaith council members and others to attend the 2023 Parliament of the Worlds Religions in Chicago. The board of trustees consists of 25 members, four of whom are Christian. Other religions represented include Jain, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Native Canadian American, Wiccan, Sikh, Unity, Zoroastrian, Unitarian, Hindu, Bahai, Spiritualist and a non-affiliated person of faith. Board members come from various parts of the United States, Canada and Asia, and more than half originate from other countries. A previous parliament executive director visited Carbondale Interfaith Council more than 15 years ago to help promote the parliament and its objectives. Carbondale has been a collaborating community ever since. The archives for the parliament are held in Morris Library. Flannery said having its own personal representative on the board of trustees will be a great asset for the interfaith community in Carbondale and the southern Illinois area in general. He is thrilled to do his part in sharing the great programs and interfaith accomplishments from the vicinity and in bringing the wisdom and programming of the Parliament of the Worlds Religions back home. The board had its first virtual Zoom meeting a week ago. There are fascinating people on the board, Flannery said. Flannery has been the ecumenical and interreligious officer for the Diocese of Belleville for 24 years. He has served as president of the Carbondale Interfaith Council and is a regular participant and contributor for the Ralph Anderson Interfaith Dialogues in Carbondale. He is past president of the Catholic Association of Diocesan Ecumenical and Interreligious Officers in the United States. For more information about the Parliament of the Worlds Religions, visit www.parliamentofreligions.org. To learn more about the board of trustees, click on the about tab. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Whether Southern Illinois nickname is Egypt or Little Egypt is up for discussion. Likewise, the history behind why the area is referred to that way is uncertain, but there is no debate about the variety and reach of Egyptian references in the region. From business names to buildings, teams and more, Southern Illinois is proud of its unique ties to Egypt and of the impact those connections have had on the other icons of Southern Illinois. Its kind of a convoluted story, how the area became to be known as Egypt, explained John Lupton, executive director of the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission. There basically are two schools of thought. The first is simply from all of the place names that are there. He said the founding of communities known as Cairo and Alexandria set a trend and other Egyptian names followed: Thebes, Karnak, Goshen and Dongola, for example. Lupton, a Southern Illinois University Carbondale alumnus and former historian with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, said another theory has to do with weather and the availability of produce in Southern Illinois. And then then you had the deep snow of 1830, when Southern Illinois provided food for the rest of Illinois, he explained, adding there was a similarity to Biblical accounts of ancient Israelites who went traveled Egypt for grain and food. Regardless of the true origin and bolstered by the Nile-like importance of the areas rivers, the name Egypt stuck. The region kind of ran with it and embraced it, Lupton said. Egypt was one of the first great societies of the modern world, so you have that connection which can be s source of pride for people in Southern Illinois. That pride is evidenced by the many organizations and businesses that use Egyptian connections in their names. Youve got a major university that adopted the saluki name, which is, of course, an Egyptian hunting dog and then there are the school districts, the businesses and more, he added. The universitys student newspaper now known as the Daily Egyptian first was called The Egyptian in 1916, years before adoption of the saluki mascot in the 1950s. The prevalence and tradition of Egyptian references are an iconic part of Southern Illinois. Discover 100 of the people, places, events and traditions that make the region unique at www.thesouthern.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CARBONDALE The City Council this week approved a contract for a central Illinois-based consultant to oversee and make recommendations for the distribution and approval of applications for American Rescue Plan Act Funds. Councilperson Ginger Rye Sanders voted no; all other council members voted to approve the contract, so the motion passed. The vote came after some debate about local hiring at the council's regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night. City Manager Gary Williams sought proposals from three sources during the process to find a consultant: Jackson Growth Alliance of Carbondale; Resource Management LLC of Murphysboro (which did not submit a proposal); and Arndt Municipal Support, which is based in Charleston just outside of Mattoon. After evaluating the proposals, Williams recommended the council approve a contract for Arndt Municipal Support. Williams said the company owner, James Arndt, has over 20 years of municipal administration experience and experience working with community agencies. According to city ordinance, the city can opt for an outside contractor/a specialty consultant agreement if they are the lowest bidder for purchases in excess of $10,000. Councilperson Ginger Rye Sanders said she was totally, totally, totally, against this and the consultant managing these applications should be local. This money came to Jackson County to help Jackson County some of the people that was hit by COVID the most. And we are doing something different other than what we should be doing is trying to keep the money in Jackson County, rather than flipping money to go to another county into another place, Rye Sanders said. I don't feel that the bids were properly processed and others were given an opportunity when you send bids out to three people and two come in, what is that? That sounds like favoritism to me. Other council members argued that the idea of an outside contractor is beneficial because it allows a level of objectivity when approving the applications. I think Mr. Arndt is our best choice and I like the objectivity he will bring here, councilperson Tom Grant said. The total cost of this agreement is $124,000 through 2026, according to documents from the city. Administration costs are qualified expenses for ARPA funding. Arndt Municipal Support Inc. was established in 2021 by owner and operator James W. Arndt. James has more than 23 years of local government experience. Arndt Municipal Support Inc. is a mission-driven local government management consulting business designed to add value through service, according to Arndts website. Arndt will be in charge of the successful expenditure of 100% of the $7,858,667 in grant proceeds for the betterment of Carbondale, according to the agreement. City Council goals and recommendations for the use of funds will be taken into consideration. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 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. Relatives of Laquan McDonald held a news conference Thursday morning, during which they demanded federal charges be filed against former Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke, who shot and killed 17-year-old McDonald in 2014. Due to good behavior rules, Van Dyke is expected to be released Feb. 3 after serving three years behind bars. He was sentenced to six years in prison. Tracie Hunter, Laquan McDonalds grandmother, called Van Dykes time in prison a slap on the wrist. I just want justice, the right justice, Hunter said. Im not going to rest or be satisfied until this man does his rightful time. Congresswoman and Democratic Party Chair Robin Kelly said the video that captured Van Dyke shooting McDonald 16 times shook her to her core. The same charges against (Van Dyke) are the same charges of the man who killed George Floyd, Kelly said. He got 22 years still not enough but 22 years compared to six years? Theres something terribly wrong with that, that is not justice. Its an unfortunate reality that we have been so programmed and so used to getting nothing, that getting anything sometimes feels like a win, said Black Caucus Chair Kam Buckner. The Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church on the South Side, where the news conference was held, said he wants people to rise up all across Chicago. This is not a Black issue, Pfleger said. Everyone who believes in justice should be shouting and screaming that Jason Van Dyke should not be getting out of jail. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A former Orangeburg County School District employee has admitted stealing approximately $550,000 from the district during 2020. David Cortez Marshall Jr., 30, formally pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court on Thursday afternoon before U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis. The 30-year-old Orangeburg resident was previously employed as a media communications specialist with the district, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Brook Andrews. Marshall admitted the U.S. Attorneys Office accurately described his crime. The school district had a need for online learning cameras, early in the COVID-19 pandemic when the district moved to virtual learning, Andrews said. The district received a substantial amount of federal funds to buy cameras, Andrews said. Through the use of shell companies, fabricated documents, forged signatures and a false identity, Marshall steered the districts purchasing contracts to companies he created and controlled, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Marshall then purchased the cameras and sold them to the school district at a substantial markup. All the while, the camera company and school district thought they were communicating with each other, but they were talking with Mr. Marshall, Andrews said. As part of the scheme, Marshall marked up the cost of the cameras by $130,000, Andrews said. Andrews also stated the camera company sold the devices to Marshall tax-free, but Marshall then sent a tax bill to the district for $60,000. Marshall also received funds for cameras from the school district that he never paid to the seller. His scheme was eventually discovered by other school district employees, who confronted Marshall and reported the matter to the FBI for further investigation. OCSD spokesperson Merry Glenne Piccolino said that internal procurement officers first identified a concern last school year during an investigation into a purchase order and state contractor status. We have been disappointed to discover the fraudulent activities a former employee was engaged in during his employment with our district, she added. Marshall resigned from the district in March 2021, Piccolino said. Marshall told the court he now works as a day trader. According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Day traders rapidly buy, sell and short-sell stocks throughout the day in the hope that the stocks continue climbing or falling in value for the seconds or minutes they hold the shares, allowing them to lock in quick profits. Day trading is extremely risky and can result in substantial financial losses in a very short period of time. Marshall remains free on a $25,000 unsecured bond while he awaits sentencing. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release afterward and fine up to $250,000, in addition to restitution. Lewis will sentence Marshall after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. U.S. Attorney Corey Ellis said, Any time an employee uses a position of trust to steal from their employer, it is inexcusable and wrong. Here, Marshalls crime was particularly reprehensible because he stole money, provided by South Carolina taxpayers, from a school district during a pandemic that has already created unprecedented challenges in public education, FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Susan Ferensic said, Throughout the pandemic, individuals like Marshall have created schemes and exploited programs designed to aid the public. Let this serve as a reminder that we will not tolerate this criminal activity, and we will hold those involved accountable. This incident isnt the first time Marshall has been in trouble with the law. On Dec. 13, 2017, Marshall pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of second-degree assault and battery. An Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office warrant originally charged Marshall with second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, but he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and battery instead. A sheriffs office incident report and warrant accused Marshall of inappropriately touching an 11-year-old boy in 2016. Marshall told investigators hed been mentoring the boy for three years and knew him through church. Circuit Judge Ed Dickson sentenced Marshall to three years in prison, suspended to 18 months of probation. As part of his probation, the court ordered Marshall to comply with all treatment interventions recommended by his evaluation by Southern Assessments on May 24, 2017. On April 4, 2018, Dickson terminated Marshalls probation after he completed treatment. Piccolino told The T&D that Marshall began working for Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 on Aug. 15, 2016, but went on administrative leave from Jan. 31, 2017 until May 4, 2018. Marshall resumed his full-time duties on May 7, 2018, she said. Upon consolidation of Orangeburg Countys school district, Marshall continued in his position until his resignation. Contact the writer: mbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5545. Follow on Twitter: @MRBrownTandD 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. BEIRUT, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's crisis is increasingly forcing young people to drop out of school and engage in ill-paid, irregular and informal work to survive and help feed their families, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said in a report released on Friday. Dubbed "Searching for Hope," the report states that more than four in 10 youths in Lebanon reduced spending on education to buy basic food, medicine and other essential items, and three in 10 stopped their education altogether. It added that the enrollment in Lebanese educational institutions dropped from 60 percent in 2020-2021 to 43 percent in the current academic year. Ettie Higgins, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Lebanon, urged for much-needed support for young people in Lebanon. "Investments are needed to ensure financial concerns do not prevent them from getting the education and skills they need to eventually find decent work and contribute to the stability and prosperity of Lebanon," he said. While more and more young people are forced to drop out of education, they often find themselves ill-equipped to compete for increasingly scarce jobs and frequently end up taking up low-paid jobs in the informal sector, according to the report. It also noted that working youth have an average monthly income of about 1,600,000 Lebanese pounds, equivalent to about 64 U.S. dollars at the black-market rate. The Times and Democrat in 2021 marked 140 years since the first edition of the newspaper was published on Sept. 29, 1881. Our coverage focused much on the history of The T&D and its transformation over the years. For nearly 20 years, The T&D has been part of Lee Enterprises, a publicly traded media company that publishes 75 daily newspapers in 26 states, and more than 350 weekly, classified and specialty publications. Lee Enterprises was founded in 1890 by Alfred Wilson Lee and is based in Davenport, Iowa. The two decades in Lee have brought changes in technology that revolutionized The T&Ds ability to reach audiences. We are today a complete digital agency, providing audience solutions that go far beyond the traditional newspaper. While still printing on our press in Orangeburg the print edition seven days a week, The Times and Democrat through its website TheTandD.com, but more importantly through its Amplified Digital Agency and the resources in Lee Enterprises, can now reach bigger audiences and highly specific targeted audiences. Video has expanded audience engagement, and breaking news is pushed out of The T&D newsroom all day every day. Heres why we are telling you about the anniversary and the newspaper this January: Not too many years back, the newspapers primary way of bringing you information was the printed product. Before the digital age, The T&D was on the cutting edge of technology with the printed product, from designing pages on the computer to our printing process. And the printed newspaper went out every day, often in some of the most difficult times. Distribution was vital, particularly amid a disaster the likes of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. We have stated often since then that the newspaper is a welcome sign of normalcy in situations when power and other norms are anything by normal. The recent threats of winter weather in our locale were reminders again that the printed newspaper is important but not in the same way as before and after a Hurricane Hugo. Today the newspapers website and social media platforms give us the opportunity to bring the audience news on an around-the-clock basis. You dont have to wait for the morning printed paper to get updates. And you can get a wealth of additional content that cannot be folded into the printed paper. Youve seen The Times and Democrats promotions in the print and online editions urging you to sign on as a member to get all that the newspaper has to offer. Weve offered specials and unique benefits. Weve told you how important it is in keeping the community informed that local journalism not only survive but prosper. Your support for the work that local reporters do is vital. Some say newspapers wont be around eventually in the information age. They are wrong. Amid an explosion of information available from so many sources today, there will continue to be a need for local journalists devoted to gathering credible local news. The way that news is presented continues to evolve, but it is important to people no matter how they receive the news. You can subscribe to The Times and Democrat and TheTandD.com by calling 803-533-516-6107 or by visiting our website and clicking on Become a member. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 This subscription will allow existing subscribers of The World to access all of our online content, including the E-Editions area. NOTE: To claim your access to the site, you will need to enter the Last Name and First Name that is tied to your subscription in this format: SMITH, JOHN If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please email us at admin@countrymedia.net or call us at 1-541 266 6047. (TBTCO) - Thi truong ket thuc thang 4 voi muc giam 8,4%, tro thanh thang giam sau nhat trong vong 2 nam. Hang loat co phieu chiet khau gia cuc sau tuy gay thiet hai rat lon cho nhieu nha au tu, nhung cung se tao co hoi cho cac nha au tu khac. Fort Payne, AL (35967) Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. A revised complaint in the wide-reaching federal lawsuit seeking to overturn executive and public health orders related to COVID-19 in Wyoming has narrowed the suits scope and left off its most well-known plaintiff. Thursdays updated lawsuit comes after U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal ruled that the initial 128-page complaint failed to state a succinct cause of action and did not follow federal filing rules. As in the first complaint, the new version states that Wyoming has extended its state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic longer than necessary as a way to procure federal funding. The new complaint includes nine parents of Wyoming school children, but not Grace Smith, the Laramie High School student arrested for trespassing in October after returning to school while suspended for refusing to wear a mask. Smiths father, Andy, is also not named in the second amended complaint. It is not clear why the Smiths, who gained national attention after Graces arrest, are not included in this most recent filing, or whether they still plan on participating in the suit. Their lawyer could not be reached for comment on Friday. The complaint focuses primarily on mask mandates in Wyoming public schools, including districts in Sheridan, Albany, Laramie, Goshen, Sweetwater and Uinta counties. The first version of the suit cited the Ron Paul Institute, Breitbart News, blogs including NoMoreFakeNews.com and the Tom Cruise film Minority Report. This third version, much shorter at just 15 pages, references only a few news articles and the governors first emergency order regarding COVID-19. The suits plaintiffs are represented by Buffalo lawyer Nick Beduhn, who did not return a request for comment on Friday. Beduhn previously sued the governor and health officials in March in an effort to stop all state COVID-19 orders and restrictions, but the suit was dismissed two months later by a judge in Johnson County. The parents bringing the suit stated their children had suffered bullying or harassment from staff and students alike for not wearing masks in school. Some said that their children suffered from medical conditions including asthma or anxiety that were made worse by wearing a mask for prolonged periods. Earlier this month, Laramie-based nonprofit Families for Healthy Communities was added as an intervenor in the case. Attorney Megan Hayes, who represents the group of public school parents and students, said the organization wanted to join the suit to advocate for Wyoming families in favor of COVID-19 measures designed to stop the virus spread in schools. As an intervenor, the group can file motions to dismiss, present evidence and, if the case goes to trial, testify. Paul Steinke, a Laramie High School student and the groups president, said they formed directly in response to the suit, to provide counterpoints to those brought by the plaintiffs. Many of the defendants including every named school district, the Sheridan Police Department and state health officials had been dismissed from the previous complaint. But because they were dismissed without prejudice, all original defendants are still involved thanks to this new filing. Others, including Gov. Mark Gordon and health officers of the involved counties, have yet to file responses or motions for dismissal in the case. A spokesperson for Gordon declined to comment on the case Friday, citing the pending litigation. While the initial complaint enumerated 14 claims for relief ranging from an injunction against all COVID-19 policies and declarations that most preventative measures dont work this version only asks for an end to mask mandate enforcement and a declaration that they are unconstitutional. Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst. Love 1 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. 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. China not interested in recovering U.S. warplane, says spokesperson Xinhua) 08:31, January 28, 2022 BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese spokesperson Thursday urged the United States to contribute to regional peace and stability rather than make a show of force in the South China Sea region. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks in response to speculations that China will beat the United States to recover a U.S. F-35 warplane that crashed into the South China Sea in a military drill. "I've noticed relevant media reports, and this is not the first time the U.S. had accidents in the South China Sea," Zhao said. While the U.S. side has yet offered convincing explanations about its submarine hitting a seamount some time ago, their warplane had an accident and fell into the sea, he said. "China has no interest in their warplane," Zhao said, urging the country to do more things conducive to regional peace and stability rather than flex its muscle in the region. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) IV. Research on Space Science China's research on space science focuses on scientific questions such as the origin and evolution of the universe, and the relationship between the solar system and humanity. It has launched programs to explore space and conduct experiments, advanced research on basic theories, and incubated major research findings. 1. Research on Space Science (1) Space astronomy The Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) Satellite obtained the precise measurements of the energy spectrums of cosmic ray electrons, protons and the GCR helium. The Huiyan (Insight) Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope was successfully launched; it has since discovered the strongest magnetic field in the universe and obtained a panoramic view of the black hole binary explosion process. The Xihe observation satellite was successfully launched, which obtained multiple solar spectroscopic images at different wavelengths in the H waveband. (2) Lunar and planetary science Led by its lunar exploration program, China has achieved significant advances in the comprehensive surveying of the moon's geology and subsurface structure, in dating the lunar magmatic activity, and in analyzing its mineralogical features and chemical elements. In planetary exploration, China has built a deeper understanding of the geological evolution of Mars by conducting analysis of its surface structure and soil and the composition of its rocks. (3) Space earth sciences Zhangheng-1, also known as the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite, helped to obtain data on and build models of the global geomagnetic field and the in situ data of ionosphere parameters. A high-precision global carbon flux map, developed by using the data from the Chinese Global Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Scientific Experimental Satellite, is shared globally free of any charge. (4) Space physics With the help of Mozi, the world's first quantum communication satellite, China has carried out experiments on satellite-based quantum teleportation and entanglement distribution over thousand kilometers, on gravitational induced decoherence of quantum entanglement, and on entanglement-based secure quantum cryptography over thousand kilometers with no trusted relay. It has also launched the Taiji-1 and Tianqin-1 satellites to support the space gravitational wave detection program. In the next five years, China will continue with the research and development of programs such as the satellite for space gravitational wave detection, the Einstein Probe, the advanced space-based solar observatory, the panoramic imaging satellite for solar wind and magnetosphere interaction, and the high precision magnetic field measurement satellite, focusing on the subjects of the extreme universe, ripples in time and space, the panoramic view of the sun and the earth, and the search for habitable planets. China will continue to explore frontier areas and research into space astronomy, heliospheric physics, lunar and planetary science, space earth sciences, and space physics, to generate more original scientific findings. 2. Science Experiments in Space With the help of the Shenzhou spacecraft series, the Tiangong-2 space laboratory, and the Shijian-10 satellite, China has achieved mammalian embryonic development in space and in-orbit verification of the world's first space cold atom clock, expanded the understanding of the mechanisms behind particle segregation in microgravity, pulverized coal combustion, and material preparation, and achieved research findings in space science of international standing. In the coming five years, China will make use of space experiment platforms such as the Tiangong space station, the Chang'e lunar probe series, and the Tianwen-1 Mars probe to conduct experiments and research on biology, life, medicine, and materials, to expand humanity's understanding of basic science. V. Modernizing Space Governance The Chinese government has been proactive in developing the space industry, through policy measures and well-thought-out plans for space activities. Better alignment between a well-functioning market and an enabling government gives full play to the roles of both, endeavoring to create a favorable environment for the growth of a high-quality space industry. 1. Enhancing Innovation In order to create a new configuration in which the upper, middle and lower industrial chains are coordinated, and large, small and medium-sized enterprises advance in an integrated way, China is building a strategic force of space science and technology, encouraging original innovation by research institutes and bringing together enterprises, universities, research institutes and end-users in creating and applying new technologies. A technological innovation alliance is emerging in key areas of space science. A number of major space and science projects are in place to promote the leapfrog development of space science and technology, which spearheads overall technical advances. China is making forward-looking plans for strategic, fundamental and technological breakthroughs in space science - it is integrating the application of new-generation information technology in the space sector, and accelerating the engineering application of advanced and especially revolutionary technologies. The secondary development of space technologies will be further reinforced to put research findings into industrial production and boost the economy. 2. Strengthening Basic Industrial Capabilities The space industry will continue to improve its integrated and open industrial system comprising system integrators, specialized contractors, market suppliers, and public service providers, and covering all links from research to production. To strengthen the industrial and supply chains of its space industry and transform and upgrade the basic capabilities of the industry, China will optimize the industrial structure and upgrade R&D, manufacturing, launch operations, and application services, further integrate industrialization with information technology, and build intelligent production lines, workshops and institutes. 3. Expanding Application China will improve the policies for its satellite application industry, including coordinating public interest and market demand, integrating facilities and resources, unifying data and product standards, and streamline the channel for sharing and utilization. It is committed to improving satellite application services with unified standards and customized choices. China will move faster to grow its satellite application market, where various market entities are encouraged to develop value-added products. By creating new application models, China is fostering a "space plus" industrial ecosystem and promoting emerging strategic industries related to space. 4. Encouraging Commercialization China has formulated guidelines on commercializing its space industry. It will expand the scope of government procurement of space products and services, grant relevant enterprises access and sharing rights to major scientific research facilities and equipment, and support these enterprises in joining the R&D of major engineering projects. It will establish a negative list for market access to space activities, to ensure fair competition and the orderly entry and exit of participating enterprises. China will optimize the distribution of the space industry in the national industrial chain, and encourage and guide participating enterprises to engage in satellite application and the transfer and transformation of space technologies. 5. Promoting Law-Based Governance To promote law-based governance of the space industry, China will speed up the formulation of a national space law and establish a legal system with this law at the core. This will include studying and formulating regulations on satellite navigation, strengthening the management of satellite navigation activities, revising measures for the registration of space objects, and regulating the sharing and use of space data and the licensing of civil space launches. It will also include studying and formulating regulations on the management of satellite frequency and orbit resources, and strengthening the declaration, coordination and registration of these resources to safeguard the country's legitimate rights and interests in this regard. China has strengthened research on international space law, and actively participated in formulating International Telecommunication Union standards and international rules regarding outer space, maintaining the international order in outer space based on international space law, and contributing to a fair and reasonable global governance system for outer space. 6. Strengthening Team-Building China will step up its efforts to become a world center for talent and innovation in space science, and create favorable conditions for the development of professionals and the expansion of their ranks. It will improve the personnel training mechanism - fostering a pool of strategic scientists, leading and young scientists, and teams with strong innovation capacity, and cultivating a large number of outstanding engineers, top technicians championing fine craftsmanship, and visionary entrepreneurs with a sense of social responsibility. China will improve its personnel management mechanisms to regulate and guide the rational flow of professionals. It will also upgrade incentives with greater rewards and stronger support, and strengthen specialty disciplines in universities to cultivate a reserve force of aerospace personnel. 7. Promoting Space Education and Culture China will continue to hold events to celebrate its Space Day, promote education on space knowledge and culture during World Space Week and National Science and Technology Week, and through Tiangong Classroom and other platforms, and promote the culture and spirit embodied in the development of the atomic and hydrogen bombs, missiles, man-made satellites, manned spaceflight, lunar probes and the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System in the new era. The goal is to inspire the nation, especially the young people, to develop an interest in science, to create and explore the unknown, and to increase scientific knowledge among the general public. China will protect its major space heritage and build more space museums and experience parks to popularize space science and provide education. It will encourage the creation of space-related literary and art works to promote space culture. VI. International Cooperation Peaceful exploration, development and utilization of outer space are rights equally enjoyed by all countries. China calls on all countries to work together to build a global community of shared future and carry out in-depth exchanges and cooperation in outer space on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, peaceful utilization, and inclusive development. 1. Basic Policies China's basic policies on international exchanges and cooperation are as follows: Safeguarding the central role of the United Nations in managing outer space affairs; abiding by the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies; upholding the guiding role of relevant UN principles, declarations and resolutions; actively participating in the formulation of international rules regarding outer space; and promoting greater sustainability of space activities; Strengthening international exchanges and cooperation on space science, technology and application; working together with the international community to provide public products and services; and contributing to global efforts to address common challenges; Strengthening international space cooperation that is based on common goals and serves the Belt and Road Initiative, and ensuring that the space industry benefits the Initiative's participating countries, especially developing countries; Supporting the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) to play an important role, and giving weight to cooperation under the BRICS and Group 20 mechanisms and within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization; Encouraging and endorsing the efforts of domestic research institutes, enterprises, institutions of higher learning, and social organizations to engage in international space exchanges and cooperation in diverse forms and at various levels in accordance with relevant policies, laws and regulations. 2. Major Achievements Since 2016, China has signed 46 space cooperation agreements or memoranda of understanding with 19 countries and regions and four international organizations. It has actively promoted global governance of outer space, and carried out international cooperation in space science, technology and application through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. These measures have yielded fruitful results. (1) Global governance of outer space China participates in consultations on issues such as the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, the development and utilization of space resources, and the prevention of arms race in outer space. Together with other parties, it has proposed discussions on space exploration and innovation, and advanced the Space2030 Agenda of the UN. China supports the work of the Beijing office of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response, and has participated in the activities of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems in an in-depth manner. It has joined international mechanisms such as the Space Missions Planning Advisory Group and the International Asteroid Warning Network. China plays its role as the host country of APSCO, and supports the organization's Development Vision 2030. China has strengthened international exchanges on space debris, long-term sustainability of outer space activities, and other issues through mechanisms such as the Space Debris Work Group of China-Russia Space Cooperation Sub-committee and the Sino-US Expert Workshop on Space Debris and Space Flight Safety. China supports the activities of international organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union, Group on Earth Observations, Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee, Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems, International Space Exploration Coordination Group, and the Interagency Operations Advisory Group. (2) Manned spaceflight China has carried out gamma-ray burst polarization monitoring research with the European Space Agency on the Tiangong-2 space laboratory, conducted human body medical research in a micro-gravitational environment with France during the Shenzhou-11 manned spaceflight mission, carried out joint CAVES training and maritime rescue drills with the European Astronaut Centre. China has completed the selection of the first batch of international space science experiments to be conducted on the Chinese space station, and conducted technological cooperation and exchanges with Germany, Italy and Russia on space science experiments and the development of space station sections. (3) BeiDou Navigation Satellite System China has coordinated the development of China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and the United States' Global Positioning System, Russia's GLONASS system, and Europe's Galileo system. It has carried out in-depth cooperation with them in the fields of compatibility, interoperability, monitoring and assessment, and joint application. China has pressed ahead with international standardization of the BeiDou system, which has been included in the standard systems of the International Electrotechnical Commission and many other international organizations in fields such as civil aviation, maritime affairs, international search and rescue, and mobile communications. China has increased the BeiDou system's global service capacity by establishing BeiDou cooperation forum mechanisms with the League of Arab States and the African Union, completing the first overseas BeiDou center in Tunisia, and conducting satellite navigation cooperation with countries such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, South Africa, Algeria, and Thailand. (4) Deep-space exploration China launched the international lunar research station project together with Russia, and initiated the Sino-Russian Joint Data Center for Lunar and Deep-space Exploration. It is working with Russia to coordinate Chang'e-7's lunar polar exploration mission with Russia's LUNA-Resource-1 orbiter mission. In the Chang'e-4 lunar exploration mission China cooperated with Russia and the European Space Agency on engineering technology, and with Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia on payloads. It has launched international onboard payload cooperation in the Chang'e-6 lunar exploration mission. In the Tianwen-1 mission, China's first Mars exploration project, China cooperated with the European Space Agency on engineering technology, and with Austria and France on payloads. It has established a Mars probe orbit data exchange mechanism with the United States, and launched international onboard payload cooperation in its asteroid exploration mission. In the fields of lunar and deep-space exploration, China cooperated on TT&C with the European Space Agency, Argentina, Namibia, and Pakistan. (5) Space technology Together with relevant partners China has developed and successfully launched the China-France Oceanography Satellite, China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite 04A, and the Ethiopian Remote-Sensing Satellite. It has launched the Student Small Satellites (SSS) for APSCO. It is jointly developing the MisrSat-2 remote-sensing satellite. China completed the in-orbit delivery of the Pakistan Remote-Sensing Satellite (PRSS-1), Venezuelan Remote-Sensing Satellite (VRSS-2), Sudan Remote-Sensing Satellite (SRSS-1), and the Algerian Communications Satellite (Alcomsat-1). China has provided satellite carrying or launching services for countries including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and Luxembourg. China has conducted space product and technology cooperation with countries including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Argentina, Pakistan, and Nigeria. China has helped developing countries boost their space science and research. It has built satellite research and development infrastructure with countries including Egypt, Pakistan and Nigeria. It has pressed ahead with the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative Space Information Corridor, and opened China's space facilities to developing countries. (6) Space applications China has established an emergency support mechanism for disaster prevention and mitigation for international users of the Fengyun meteorological satellites, and data from China's meteorological satellites have been widely used in 121 countries and regions. China has signed cooperation agreements for the BRICS Remote-Sensing Satellite Constellation, cooperated with the European Space Agency on earth observation satellite data exchange, and built the China-ASEAN Satellite Information Offshore Service Platform and the Remote-Sensing Satellite Data-Sharing Service Platform. It has worked with Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar to build the Lancang-Mekong Space Information Exchange Center. China has built satellite data receiving stations with countries including Bolivia, Indonesia, Namibia, Thailand and South Africa. China actively participates in the mechanism of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, providing satellite remote-sensing data totaling 800 scenes and adding eight new on-duty satellites (constellations) to the satellite system, thereby improving the international community's capacity for disaster prevention and mitigation. China actively provides satellite emergency monitoring services. It has initiated emergency monitoring in response to 17 major disasters in 15 countries. For instance, in response to the severe drought in Afghanistan and the dam collapse in Laos in 2018, and to the cyclone that struck Mozambique in 2019, it provided monitoring services for the authorities of affected countries. China released its GEO Strategic Plan 2016-2025: Implementing GEOSS. It served as the rotating chair of the Group on Earth Observations in 2020 and promoted the construction of a global earth observation system. China participates in the international Space Climate Observatory platform, promoting China's best practices in space technology to address climate change, and facilitating international cooperation on space climate observation. (7) Space science Using science satellites including Wukong, Mozi, Shijian-10, and Insight, China has conducted joint scientific research and experiments with countries including Switzerland, Italy, Austria, the United Kingdom, and Japan. China co-developed and successfully launched the China-Italy Electromagnetic Monitoring Experiment Satellite. It has continued the joint development of the Sino-European Panoramic Imaging Satellite for Solar Wind and Magnetosphere Interaction, Sino-French Astronomic Satellite, and China-Italy Electromagnetic Monitoring Experiment Satellite 02. It has joined countries including Italy and Germany in developing and calibrating the payloads of satellites such as the advanced space-based solar observatory, Einstein Probe, and enhanced X-ray timing and polarimetry observatory. Using the China-Brazil Joint Laboratory for Space Weather, it co-built the space environment monitoring and research platform for South America. (8) Personnel and academic exchanges China has taken part in the activities organized by the International Astronautical Federation, International Committee on Space Research, International Academy of Astronautics, and International Institute of Space Law. It has hosted the 2017 Global Space Exploration Conference, the 13th Meeting of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems, the United Nations/China Forum on Space Solutions: Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals, the Wenchang International Aviation and Aerospace Forum, the Zhuhai Forum, the International Summit on BDS Applications, and the Fengyun Satellite User Conference. China has helped developing countries train professionals. Through the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (China) (Affiliated to the United Nations), it has trained almost 1,000 space-industry professionals for more than 60 countries, and established the "Belt and Road" Aerospace Innovation Alliance and the Association of Sino-Russian Technical Universities. It has also promoted personnel exchanges in remote-sensing and navigation technology through the International Training Program and other channels. China has promoted scientific and technological exchanges in the fields of space science, remote sensing and navigation through the China-Europe Space Science Bilateral Meeting, the China-EU-ESA Dialogue on Space Technology Cooperation, and the Dragon Programme - a joint undertaking between ESA and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. 3. Key Areas for Future Cooperation In the next five years China will be more open and active in broadening bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms, and will engage in extensive international exchanges and cooperation in the following key areas: (1) Global governance of outer space Under the framework of the United Nations, China will actively participate in formulating international rules regarding outer space, and will work together with other countries to address the challenges in ensuring long-term sustainability of outer space activities. China will actively participate in discussions on international issues and the development of relevant mechanisms, such as those in the fields of space environment governance, near-earth objects monitoring and response, planet protection, space traffic management, and the development and utilization of space resources. China will cooperate in space environment governance, improve the efficiency of space crisis management and comprehensive governance, conduct dialogue with Russia, the United States and other countries as well as relevant international organizations on outer space governance, and actively support the construction of APSCO's space science observatory. (2) Manned spaceflight China will employ its space station to conduct space-based astronomical observations, earth science and research, and space science experiments under conditions of microgravity. China will promote more extensive international cooperation in astronaut selection and training, joint flights and other fields. (3) BeiDou Navigation Satellite System China will continue to participate in the activities of the UN's International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems and promote the establishment of a fair and reasonable satellite navigation order. China will actively improve compatibility and interoperability of global satellite navigation systems such as the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and other such systems as well as satellite-based augmentation systems. China will prioritize cooperation and exchanges, and share with others mature solutions, on the application of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, thereby boosting the socio-economic development of partner countries. (4) Deep-space exploration China will advance cooperation on the international lunar research station project. It welcomes international partners to participate in the research and construction of the station at any stage and level of the mission. It will expand cooperation in the fields of asteroid and interplanetary exploration. (5) Space technology China will support cooperation on satellite engineering and technology. It will complete the joint research and development of MisrSat-2, and launch the SVOM (Space-based multiband astronomical Variable Objects Monitor), and the China-Italy Electromagnetic Monitoring Experiment Satellite 02. It will press ahead with follow-up cooperation in the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellites program. China will engage in cooperation on space TT&C support. It will continue to cooperate with the European Space Agency in the field of TT&C support, and further advance the building of ground station networks. China will support international cooperation on commercial spaceflight, including: (a) launching services; (b) technical cooperation on whole satellites, on sub-systems, spare parts, and electronic components of satellites and launch vehicles, on ground facilities and equipment, and on other related items. It will give priority to developing communications satellites for Pakistan and to cooperating on the construction of the Pakistan Space Center and Egypt's Space City. (6) Space applications China will promote global application of data from Chinese meteorological satellites, support the provision of data from the China-France Oceanography Satellite to the World Meteorological Organization, and promote global sharing and scientific application of the data obtained by Zhangheng-1, China's seismo-electromagnetic satellite. China will press ahead with the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative Space Information Corridor, and strengthen cooperation on the application of remote-sensing, navigation, and communications satellites. China will press ahead with the construction of the data-sharing service platform of APSCO. China will advance the construction and application of the BRICS remote-sensing satellite constellation. China will participate in the construction and use of the Space Climate Observatory. (7) Space science By means of the deep-space exploration project, and using extraterrestrial samples and exploration data, China will conduct joint research in fields such as the space environment and planetary origin and evolution. Through the United Nations scientific data obtained by the Chang'e 4 satellite will be made available to the international community. China will boost joint R&D on space science satellites and research subjects such as dark matter particles, solar burst activities and their influence, and spatial gravitational wave. (8) Personnel and academic exchanges China will conduct personnel exchanges and training in the space industry. China will hold high-level international academic exchange conferences and forums. Conclusion In today's world, a growing number of countries are seeing the importance of space and are investing more on their space programs. Space industry around the world has entered a new stage of rapid development and profound transformation that will have a major and far-reaching impact on human society. At this new historical start towards a modern socialist country, China will accelerate work on its space industry. Guided by the concept of a global community of shared future, it will work actively with other countries to carry out international space exchanges and cooperation, safeguard outer space security, and strive for long-term sustainability in activities related to outer space. By doing so, China will contribute more to protecting the earth, improving people's wellbeing, and serving human progress. A Barrackpore woman returned to her house in the early hours of last Saturday and found an i 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. TEHRAN, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Latest violence in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah is a warning sign of re-emerging dangers of the Islamic State (IS) terrorists in the country, Iran's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) warned. Referring to the recent attack by the IS militants on the Kurdish-run Ghwayran jail in Hasakah, Zahra Ershadi described the event as a wake-up call that once again showed "the foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorists" remain a significant threat to regional security and stability, the state TV reported on Friday. Hasakah violence also showed that the foreign forces in Syria have not been able to ensure security and order, while the IS has expanded its influence and endangers the lives of the local population, she said. The fight against terrorism should not be an excuse to violate Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity by the presence of "foreign occupiers" in the Arab country, she stressed. The Iranian envoy further urged the UN and its humanitarian agencies to enhance their assistance to the whole of Syria through "early recovery and resilience projects." "Serious efforts are needed to remove unilateral sanctions imposed on Syria. Those unlawful measures have prolonged the sufferings of the people and adversely affected the work of international and national humanitarian agencies there," she noted. Ershadi made the remarks at a UN Security Council session in New York on Thursday, said the report. 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. PHOENIX The Biden administration lacks the authority to require the state, or any Arizona company with a federal contract, to vaccinate all of its workers against COVID-19, a federal judge Thursday ruled. In a 55-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Michael Liburdi rejected claims by the administration that federal procurement laws give Biden broad authority to regulate employment conditions at any company or state agency with which it does business. The governments lawyers had argued that the president needs to ensure that the work on the federal contracts is performed and not hampered because unvaccinated workers get infected. Liburdi scoffed at the sheer scope of the presidents claimed authority, saying that buying Bidens argument would give the president almost unfettered power to interfere with private employment. If, for example, the president determined that obesity, diabetes and other health issues were linked to the consumption of sugary drinks and fast food, and that such health issues led to absenteeism and a lack of productivity in the workplace, he could, on (the administrations) reading, issue an executive order requiring all federal contractor employees to refrain from consuming soda or eating fast food, the judge wrote. But in reality, the presidents authority under the (procurement) act is not so broad. Liburdi did not dispute that the pandemic will have some impact on federal contracts. But that, he said, does not make the Biden policy lawful. Liburdi cited rulings by federal judges in other states who have struck down a parallel policy of having the Occupational Safety and Health Administration demand that companies with more than 100 workers get their employees vaccinated to protect their own safety. That contractor employees, like private sector employees, face the hazards of daily life while on the clock does not grant the president carte blanche to regulate with respect to those hazards, Liburdi wrote. To hold otherwise would significantly expand the presidents procurement authority without clear congressional authorization. Thursdays ruling is at least a partial victory for state Attorney General Mark Brnovich, who first challenged the presidents authority in September. But Liburdi refused to issue a similar injunction challenging the mandate that federal workers get vaccinated, saying Brnovich lacks standing to sue on their behalf. Neither the state nor its employees are subject to the employee mandate, Liburdi wrote, calling that order an exercise of the presidents considerable constitutional authority to regulate the internal affairs of the executive branch. Brnovich had sought to get around that problem of legal standing by adding Al Reble, a federal marshal who works for the U.S. Department of Justice and has refused the vaccine. But Liburdi noted that Rebles request for an exemption is pending, meaning he is in no danger of being disciplined. Thursdays ruling is generally in line with federal court decisions elsewhere challenging various provisions of the administrations efforts to impose vaccine mandates on contractors in other states. This, however, is the first such decision in Arizona. A separate ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month blocked the Biden administration from using its powers under OSHA to require private employers nationwide to have their own workers vaccinated. In enjoining the vaccine mandate here, Liburdi said this is more than an academic dispute about presidential powers for federal contractors in Arizona. The judge noted that the federal government, relying on Bidens directive on contractors, already has demanded that multiple state agencies immediately require their workers to get vaccinated. Absent an injunction, the state will be required to choose between forfeiting numerous and significant federal contractors, and requiring its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Liburdi said. For example, he noted, the three state universities had federal contracting revenues last year of more than $1.2 billion. The three universities will thus forfeit more than a billion dollars if they do not adhere to the contractor mandate, Liburdi wrote. And he pointed out the schools are actively engaged in efforts to comply with the mandate, including informing current and prospective employees, gathering proof of vaccination, and reviewing requests for accommodations from those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or religious reasons. There are other contracts that would be endangered, he said, ranging from state inmates performing work on Forest Service land to the state Department of Transportation leasing space to the federal government at the port of entry in Nogales. Liburdi found other legal problems with the presidents directive. The U.S. Constitution generally reserves police power to the state. And that, the judge said, is defined as the authority to provide for public health, safety and morals. This traditional police power includes authority over compulsory vaccination, Liburdi wrote. It also includes, as a general matter, power to prohibit vaccination from being compelled. And he noted that state legislators have exercised their authority in this area, enacting laws prohibiting state and local agencies from imposing vaccine mandates, as has Gov. Doug Ducey, for whom Liburdi used to work as general counsel, through executive orders. The judge acknowledged that just because states possess authority over compulsory vaccination does not necessarily mean the federal government does not. State and federal governments regularly exercise concurrent regulatory authority, he said. But he said that is within the power of Congress. And he said there is no indication Congress intended to let the president use the procurement act to compel vaccination. Separately, Liburdi rejected an argument by Brnovich that even if vaccine mandates are legal, federal law gives all individuals the absolute right to refuse any drug that has received only Emergency Use Authorization from the federal Food and Drug Administration. The judge said that misreads the law. At most, it requires only that individuals to whom the vaccine is administered are informed of the option to accept or refuse administration of the product, Liburdi said. The statute is about provision of information; as long as individuals receiving the vaccine are informed, the statutory requirement is met. The judge also tossed out claims filed by the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association which was fighting the citys vaccine mandate, which has since been rescinded. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Davis-Monthan on standby for deployment Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson is one of several military installations the Department of Defense has identified as having troops that could be deployed if Russian forces invade Ukraine, the Associated Press reported Friday. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby made the announcement during a news conference Thursday in Washington. Some units from Davis-Monthan are among the 8,500 troops placed on heightened preparedness for deployment should Russia invade Ukraine. Davis-Monthan is home to a combat squadron of A-10 "Warthog" ground-attack jets, combat search-and-rescue units and the Air Force's only squadron of electronic surveillance and jamming planes. Other military installations with units put on heightened preparedness include Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Fort Carson in Colorado, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Polk in Louisiana, Robins Air Force Base and Fort Stewart in Georgia and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Kirby said the units include medical support, aviation support, logistics support and combat formations. Department of Defense officials said they are monitoring the buildup of forces in the western part of Russia and in Belarus. Hotel Congress is opening Tucsons only jazz club in a space that has been home to everything from a bank to a bookstore. The Century Room borderlands jazz club and mezcal tasting lounge opens Friday, Feb. 4, in the former Copper Hall banquet space at 311 E. Congress St. Retired Tucson Symphony Orchestra principal percussionist Homero Ceron and his Latin Jazz Quartet will inaugurate the new stage in the first of several events booked into the 2,200-square-foot space over the next month. One of the highlights: a Jon Batiste afterparty March 4 following Batistes Centennial Hall concert, which is a makeup date for his missed Jan. 21 Arizona Arts Live/HSL Properties Tucson Jazz Festival concert. Im very excited to present this to the community, said Shana Oseran, who owns Hotel Congress with her husband, Richard. Its pretty spectacular. I think the musicians are going to be so happy. The Century Room at Hotel Congress occupies the space on the corner of South Fifth Avenue and East Congress, which Oseran refers to as the power corner. When it was a banquet hall, patrons entered through the hotel; that entry now is where the small stage is set up and only musicians will be able to enter there. Patrons will enter from the street. After closing Copper Hall during the pandemic, Oseran said she was mulling over ideas for the space last April with Tucson native and jazz drummer Arthur Vint. Vint, who was playing a show on the Hotel Congress Plaza stage, suggested she create a jazz club. Aside from some restaurants and clubs hosting jazz nights and jams, there is no club in Tucson focused solely on the genre. The Tucson Jazz Festival proves it every year that there is a love and a demand for jazz, said Vint, who recently moved back to Tucson after living and working in New Yorks jazz scene for 15 years. The turnout this year, despite it being in the middle of the omicron surge, was really great. Vint, who is teaching jazz drumming at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music, will program the live music, which initially will draw from regional and statewide artists. Vint, whose career in New York included working 10 years at the famed Village Vanguard, said by spring he hopes to draw from more national touring acts who have historically bypassed Tucson for Phoenix because there wasnt a venue for them, he said. The great thing about Congress is that since they already are a successful concert venue with (Club Congress and the plaza), there already is this infrastructure, said Vint, who will work alongside Hotel Congress Music Director David Slutes, who books acts at the club and plaza. The Century Room, with its small stage tucked into a nook in the far end of the room, was modeled after the Village Vanguard, including the bench seating lining the walls from the entrance to the stage, Vint said. From the moment you enter off Congress and Fifth and push through the vestibules repurposed wooden doors that were once used to separate the kitchen from the main room, you will feel a little like youve stepped into the Blue Note or any number of New York Citys storied jazz clubs. Vint said it was the ambience he and Oseran imagined when they were first discussing the plans last spring. Century Room will offer a place for people to come hear jazz as a destination, from live concerts to late-night events similar to those you would find in New York jazz clubs. We hope to attract both existing jazz fans and gain new fans by presenting jazz in such a beautiful setting with great drinks, Vint said. People will want to come have a unique experience at the Century Room. Im thrilled and excited and exhausted and all those things, Oseran said. Changing that into this new venue is unbelievable. Creating the Century Room whose name is a nod to the hotels 100th anniversary, which it marked in November 2018 was part of $750,000 in renovations at the historic downtown hotel that started last summer and included expanding the Hotel Congress Plaza stage and upgrading the hotels plumbing. Rio Nuevo kicked in $600,000 toward the project and Hotel Congress is now asking the board for an additional $300,000 to cover unexpected COVID-related expenses for the Century Room, Oseran said. Rio Nuevo officials this week agreed to consider the request at a later date. Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com. On Twitter @Starburch If you go Tickets for Century Room shows will be available through hotelcongress.com/family/century-room and the club will follow Hotel Congress's COVID safety protocols: patrons must show proof of vaccination or negative test, and masks will be required. Friday, Feb. 4, Homero Ceron Latin Jazz Quartet Feb. 7, Dutch violinist Tim Kliphus and guitarist Jimmy Grant's Gypsy Jazz Duets Feb. 11, Susan Artemis plays "Love Songs from the Dark Side of the Lounge" Feb. 12, Dirty Dozen Brass Band afterparty; the band has a concert that night at Fox Tucson Theatre Feb. 18, Howard Alden Trio Feb. 26, Rob Boone "Blue Trombone: The Music of JJ Johnson" March 4, Jon Batiste afterparty featuring Pete Swan March 11, Mike Moynihan Quartet plays Sonny Rollins March 18, Zazu West Gypsy jazz ensemble salute to Django Reinhardt March 25, Rachel Eckroth Trio plays "Money Jungle" Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. 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 UA has announced plans to fully integrate the University of Arizona Global Campus, the nonprofit online school formerly known as the for-profit Ashford University, into its operation as Arizonas flagship public university. The move comes soon after the federal Education Department recently told UA Global Campus that it could be at risk of losing its ability to collect the federal student loans and other forms of student aid many students rely on to pay tuition. Open-enrollment postsecondary education is a flexible pathway for a growing number of students across the country, and UAGC is fully committed to providing opportunities for these students growth and advancement while providing them an unmatched online educational experience for the 21st century, UA President Robert Robbins wrote in a letter explaining the move to faculty Tuesday. This change will be beneficial to the University and to the current and future students enrolled at UAGC. Robbins made the announcement to the Arizona Board of Regents at a special meeting Thursday. On behalf of the board, I think we are excited to see this process move forward, Chair Lyndel Manson said in response, the only member to make a public comment. I look forward to further discussions on the timing of this process and the strategic and policy implications as we move forward. Online education Online higher education is a competitive space in Arizona. ASU, for example, has been growing its online presence for many years. With almost 54,000 students enrolled online in 2021, it has one of the biggest online programs in the nation. The UAs online presence is much newer and smaller, with around 6,500 students enrolled. But Robbins dismissed the idea that absorbing UA Global Campus approximately 28,000 students is a quick grab to catch up to ASU. Im not focused on what ASUs doing at all, Im focused on what were doing, Robbins said in an interview with the Arizona Daily Star. We started pretty slowly in the online business, and I would say this opportunity gave us the chance to serve a population of students we have not normally served in a scalable way. Theres no way to compete with (ASU). Opposed to the traditional four-year UA college student, Ashford, and now UA Global Campus students are more likely to have served in the military and identify as nonwhite and low income. The UA acquired the assets of Ashford University which, along with its former parent company Zovio Inc. has been sued in multiple states for consumer protection violations grounded in allegations that it defrauded vulnerable students in 2020 and rebranded it UA Global Campus. At that time, the deal made clear that the UA and UA Global Campus would remain two separate entities, accredited by two separate agencies and governed by two separate boards for at least three years. However, the terms of that agreement have since changed, and the UA is in the early stages of absorbing UA Global Campus, the details of which are expected to be ironed out in the coming months. Department of Education changes Its happening right now in part because the U.S. Department of Education sent a letter to UA Global Campus last November alerting the school that because it underwent a change in ownership, it and the UA Foundation would have to either immediately provide the education department a financial audit or a 25% letter of credit valued at $103 million to continue to be eligible to receive Title IV funds, which include Pell Grants and federal student loans. But after further communication between Robbins and the education department, a new option was agreed upon earlier this month: The UA signed a temporary provisional agreement along with UA Global Campus and the UA Foundation in which the UA is now liable for UA Global Campus performance requirements that maintain its eligibility to receive Title IV funds. The elimination of the original three-year requirement that UA and UA Global Campus remain separate entities is the result of an amendment to the affiliation agreement, which the UA and UAGC voluntarily agreed to. That led the UA to start the process of working with governing bodies and UA faculty and staff on how to approach absorbing UA Global Campus. Eventually, UA Global Campus will come under the purview of the Arizona Board of Regents, just like the UA is now, and streamline its accreditation to fall under the same accrediting body. This move comes after 1 years of strong criticism from some faculty, education advocates and two federal lawmakers, all of whom raised concerns that the UAs association with an entity with a predatory history could not only continue to harm students, but also the UAs reputation as a top public research university and expose it to litigation. According to the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Educations College Scorecard, 22% of all Ashford students graduate in eight years, whereas 63% of UA students graduate in the same timeframe; 24% of first-time, full-time undergraduates returned to Ashford after their first year. Same institution ... different name And those concerns about litigation arent a hypothetical. Closing arguments recently wrapped up in California, where the states attorney general took Ashford and Zovio, formerly known as Bridgepoint Education Inc. (Zovio has a 15-year contract with UA Global Campus to provide operation services) to trial for pressuring recruiters to make false promises and using illegal collection tactics when students couldnt pay up. Pat Ogden, former vice president of regulatory affairs at Ashford who worked at UAGC until last spring, characterized UA Global Campus as the same institution under a different name, according to a court transcript. Zovio is providing the same enrollment and marketing services for the newly-named University of Arizona Global Campus, Ogden said. And Zovios historically ineffectual compliance department will continue to exercise oversight over the Zovio admissions counselors enrolling students in UAGC. Prosecutors are seeking penalties of $75 million and $25 million in restitution for harmed students. According to UA spokeswoman Pam Scott, that $100 million would be a liability of the defendants in the litigation, Zovio and Ashford University, not the UA or UA Global Campus. On top of that, UA Global Campus is also dealing with a notice of concern from its accreditor, Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission. While UA Global Campus still fully accredited, the body recently concluded a site visit at the schools headquarters in Chandler to investigate concerns that the targets set for academic improvement are seriously inadequate to reach levels of student outcomes that should be expected at an accredited institution. The report from that visit is expected to come next month and the commission could either vote to remove UA Global Campus notice of concern or take the more drastic step of sanctioning the school. Robbins told the Star hes not particularly worried about the California lawsuit or the accreditation report. If you go back and look at what was going on before we stepped in and UAGC was created, theres clearly court cases the facts are the facts, Robbins said. Itll be interesting to see what happens in the California case, but regardless of what happens there this is about Zovio. It is not about UAGC. Its not about the University of Arizona. Robbins said his primary concern is serving the students of UA Global Campus. By bringing them into the university we can better serve the students than what were doing now, which I think is demonstrably better than what was happening before, he said, adding that integrating UA Global Campus students into the UA will give the university more direct control as to how students are educated. As for the accreditation issues, hes prepared to take it as it comes. Regardless of what (the accreditor) says, were in this, Robbins said. We are committed to this. We have great resolve and commitment to these students. We wouldnt back away and abandon these students even if (the accreditor) said theres ongoing concern. Faculty want representation In the roughly 18 months since the UA first announced its affiliation with UA Global Campus, a number of faculty members raised concerns about not being included in discussions about the deal. While Robbins said non-disclosure agreements prevented some of that from happening at the outset, hes ready to engage in shared governance with faculty moving forward. I look forward to engaging in discussion with people who continue to be fierce opponents of this, Robbins said. I think at the end of the day this is about students and I just dont know what the argument is to deny students the opportunity to have an education. Melanie Hingle, an associate professor of nutrition at the UA and vice chair of the UA faculty, said that at this point she has more questions than concerns. Reflecting on how the original deal was handled in summer 2020, Hingle said the faculty did not have an adequate opportunity to have consultation. She was in the meeting with the Faculty Senate Executive Committee on Monday when Robbins and UA Provost Liesl Folks first announced the acquisition of UA Global Campus. I was not aware of any details even after that meeting because it was pretty vague, and I think they dont know a lot of next steps and they were seeking to engage the faculty senate leaders to ask how they should work with the larger faculty and whatever will happen next, Hingle said. As a faculty leader, that is my primary interest in hearing about this making sure were represented. Kathryn Palmer covers higher education for the Arizona Daily Star. Contact her via e-mail at kpalmer@tucson.com or her new phone number, (520) 496-9010. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. 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. NAIROBI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police said Friday they have ramped up security operations across the country to disrupt any terror plans in the country. Police spokesman Bruno Shioso advised Kenyans to remain vigilant and warned there would be disruptive measures in some places including major roads and premises for the sake of warnings by three foreign nations on the impending terror attack over the weekend. "The service has re-engineered her police units in line with modern day policing dynamics, challenges and emerging threats. Security operations that ensure that imminent attacks are forestalled proactively remain our priority," Shioso said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. The statement came after the French, German and Dutch governments warned of a possible terror attack in Kenya over the weekend. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs cautioned its citizens as well as expatriates from other Western countries to avoid public areas and crowded places it classified as possible hotspots. These include hotels, restaurants, leisure spots and commercial centers in the city. It called on foreigners living and working in Nairobi to exercise extreme vigilance in the coming days, especially over this weekend. The German embassy also issued a warning that over the next few days its citizens in Kenya should pay special attention when out in public and be alert. These are in addition to the general rules that the embassy has for its nationals whenever they are out in public. Shioso said more checks were being mounted on roads entrances to various premises, noting the police have progressively fortified their security systems in information sharing and they value credible, authentic and verifiable information. The police spokesman said they had scaled up operations in the country and assured the public of safety at large, while asking the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious happenings in their areas. Kenya has experienced a string of attacks on churches and public places in the recent past, blaming them on the insurgents from Somalia who have vowed to attack Kenya because Kenyan military forces entered Somalia in 2011 to fight against the group. The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: A recent Arizona Daily Star editorial cartoon highlighted one of the most devastating current realities, showing a couple walking by a fast-food restaurant entitled Two Guys Burgers & Fries. The woman observes, This employee shortage is worse than I thought. In case someone does not understand the humor, there is a restaurant named Five Guys, meaning this fictional establishment had to downsize to remain open. Luckily, the real Five Guys is still retaining its name, but if it is representative of almost every other restaurant, it is struggling to be fully staffed. The downsizing of all service industries from restaurants to department stores to small family-owned businesses due to labor shortages is well documented. While the inability to attract and retain qualified employees has been exacerbated by COVID, the pandemic itself is only one factor contributing to staffing difficulties. Unfortunately, even if COVID infections drop significantly, the difficulty in being adequately staffed will not be remedied without a major overhaul of how to bring sufficient numbers of potential workers to even apply. As disturbing as it is that these businesses are closing at record rates, or reducing hours, or having to provide huge raises in pay deserved as those pay increases are even in a nonpandemic age the loss does not endanger the very health and welfare of every resident in every community large and small. It is the similar alarming labor shortages in areas such as teaching, law enforcement and health care that literally will change the very fabric of America as we once knew it even if COVID would, as once promised, magically disappear. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), more registered nurse jobs will be available through 2022 than any other profession in the United States. Arizonas lack of nurses and other health care providers including primary care physicians, is growing daily as noted frequently in the Star. The teaching shortage in Arizona, especially in rural areas, has also been widely documented. A survey by the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association found that schools were able to fill only 1 in 5 vacancies with fully certified teachers this year. The teaching shortage itself has been a decade in the making, so COVID in and of itself cannot be blamed. What might not be understood so well is that this labor crisis is national. Even offering salary increases and recruitment bonuses is not going to bring that nurse who just cannot stand another Iowa winter to work in Tucson, or the teacher in Indiana who simply cannot find a position because there are more qualified teachers than there are openings in that state, to a small rural Arizona community just to have a job as an educator. Indiana has its teacher shortages as well. Law enforcement as a profession is woefully understaffed with vacancies growing far faster than the ability to fill positions. Michael Weinman, director of government affairs for the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, called the shortage of police officers a crisis across the country. And rest assured, if it is a crisis in big metropolitan cities where there used to be far more applicants than positions, it is even more of a concern here in Arizona. Gov. Doug Ducey recently instituted an enticement for certain state workers by providing pay raises of between 10 and 20%. It will be interesting to see if this makes a difference in retaining state employees, but it most certainly has to help. If Gov. Ducey offered the same pay raises to health care workers, teachers, those who work in social agencies, law enforcement or county probation, then perhaps these areas would have a chance to retain those who might be considering retirement or resignation. At this junction, keeping workers in these occupations would be at least a stopgap measure. That may be the best we can hope for. Kathy Scott is a longtime educator and freelance journalist. She lives in Nogales, Arizona. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. On Friday, January 8, 2021, SaddleBrooke resident Janie Fowler received her fathers military identification card that was recently recovered from the site of the 1952 fatal crash of an Air Force transport plane in Alaska. Air Force Capt. Monica Hottle flew from Dover, Delaware to present the ID card to Janie. The card with photograph was issued to her father 10 days before the crash. Janie recalled that she was only seven-years-old when her father, Air Force Capt. John E. Ponikvar, 30, was lost with 51 other military members. Janie remembered that her mother and she first learned of the crash from a car radio broadcast as they were riding home from church. She also recalled her mother crying. On November 22, 1952, her father took the opportunity to fly on a transport plane to return home for the holidays with Christmas presents in tow. He was one of 41 Air Force and Army service members on a C-124 transport plane, with an 11-member crew, flying from McChord Air Base in Washington to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. That afternoon, a passenger plane pilot received a faint distress call from the C-124 pilot, saying As long as we have to land, we might as well land here. At that time, the C-124 was flying in a blinding blizzard. As a result, the pilot had no visual references, and he could only use altitude, a radio beacon and a stopwatch to navigate the plane. That turned out not to be enough. No further communication was received from the C-124, and it never arrived at Elmendorf. Due to the severe weather lasting three days, a search could not begin until November 25. Thirty-two military aircraft scoured the surrounding mountains, and four Coast Guard vessels searched Prince William Sound. On November 28, two airborne searchers spotted the tail section of the C-124, sticking out of the snow at an elevation of about 8,100-feet near the summit of Mount Gannett some 45 miles east of Anchorage. One of the searchers concluded that the C-124 had been flying at full speed at the time of the crash and had exploded at the time of impact. The other searcher reported that the crash site was covered with eight feet of snow and that snow had drifted to depths of hundreds of feet around the site. He also noted that the crash itself had evidently triggered avalanches in the area. Consequently, the search was terminated, and the victims families were informed that no remains could be recovered for burial. However, a requiem mass was performed for her father in a helicopter above the crash site, and her aunt placed a gravestone on an empty grave in the Calvary Cemetery in her fathers hometown, Chisholm, Minnesota. Register for more free articles. Log in Sign up Sixty-years later, in 2012, members of a military training flight observed a yellow raft from the C-124 on Colony Glacier near the base of Mount Gannett. The Air Force concluded that the crash wreckage had become part of the glacier, which was slowly melting due to climate change. The wreckage was gradually, but unrelentingly, moving to Lake George for deposit in the depths of the lake. As a result, the Air Force initiated annual three-week search-and-recovery missions during the summers on the glacier. For example, in 2020, the search team recovered a Buddha figurine, a flight suit, several 3-cent stamps, a crumpled 1952 Mass schedule for St. Patricks Church in Washington, D.C., and 480 bags containing individual human remains. In 2017, Janie received human remains of her father, and a full military funeral was held on July 15, 2017, his 95th birthday, in Renton, Washington. Her father was buried with his wife, who had died in 1994. The 2021 search-and recovery mission discovered her fathers id card for return to Janie. She plans to have the card framed to be given to her own son John, named after her father. Janies perspective on her fathers untimely death is that everything happens for a reason. She explained that after her fathers death, her mother and she moved to a house in Renton, across the street from the Fowler familys home. She became friends with Billy Fowler, and they attended grade school, high school and college together. They have now been married 56-years. As of 2021, the remains of 46 of the crash victims have been recovered. No remains of the other six victims have been found yet. So the search will continue. For anyone questioning why these search-and-recovery missions have continued for 10-years and counting, the answer is simple: the United States military never leaves a member behind. Military recovery programs have retrieved hundreds of military members lost not only in arctic Alaska, but in the waters of the Irish Sea and in the jungles of Laos and Vietnam. Indeed, the United States is the only country in which the military actively works to recover its lost members. SaddleBrooke Freethinkers is proud to have Doctor Anastasiia Gordiienko of the College of Humanities at the University of Arizona speak on The Underworld Song in Russia: From the Slums to the Kremlin on Sunday, February 13 at 10 a.m. at the MountainView Ballroom with coffee social at 9:30 a.m. Masks are mandatory. Over the last few centuries, underworld music repeatedly and successfully has adapted to changing sociopolitical situations in Russia. As a result, a paradox has emerged: underworld music (called shanson in Russia) currently is being acknowledged and utilized by the Russian government, and yet, is still linked to criminal culture. This talk examines the symbiotic relationship between the shanson and the Kremlin: the reciprocal relations between the genre and Putins regime that sometimes take grotesque forms, such as police officers performing the emblematic criminal song about a gang murdering a traitor on national television; underworld, heavily argotized songs performed on the State Kremlin Palace stage; or Putin shedding a tear during a shanson band performance. In short, in todays crime-ridden Russia, the underworld song has found an officially approved home. Such a paradox may be illuminated, if only in part, by the specific nature of Putins cultivated public persona. Anastasiia Gordiienko holds a Ph.D. degree in Slavic Literature, Film, and Cultural Studies from the Ohio State University (2018). Her interests are in the intersection of Russian politics, history, culture, and identity. Her monograph (forthcoming 2022, The UW Press) covers the progression of the shanson (Russian underworld music) from a subcultural expression to a commercially successful vein of contemporary music and also delves into some manifestations of a paradoxical quid pro quo synergy between the shanson and Putins politics. SaddleBrooke Freethinkers provides a forum for the responsible search for truth and meaning in understanding and solving human problems by apply science and reason. We believe that tolerance, compassion, equity and civility should characterize interactions among people and organizations. We strive to achieve these goals through meetings, lectures and discussions. Register for more free articles. Log in Sign up SaddleBrooke Freethinkers meetings are held at the MountainView Ballroom on Sunday mornings with coffee social starting at 9:30 a.m. The program begins at 10 a.m. For dates and subjects go to our website at SBFreethinkers.wordpress.com. If the meeting is on Zoom, it will be only available to paid members. You can become a member of the SaddleBrooke Freethinkers for $15 per calendar year. This fee includes all lectures and other Freethinkers events like the book club and social events. Lecture program runs Jan-Apr and Oct-Dec. Lectures are open to all SaddleBrooke residents and their guests as space is available. Non-members are encouraged to make a $4 donation to defray costs. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or cash donations for the Tri-Community Food Bank. For questions, please email us at saddlebrookefreethinkers@gmail.com. A Rwandan police officer is seen at the Gatuna-Katuna border in Kabale, Uganda, on Jan. 31, 2022. Rwanda reopened the Gatuna border post with Uganda Monday, ending nearly three years of standoff with the neighbor. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua) KIGALI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda announced early Friday that it will reopen the Gatuna border post with Uganda next week, ending nearly three years of standoff with the neighbor. The announcement, by the Rwandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, came barely a week after a meeting in Kigali between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and a Ugandan senior presidential adviser. Following the Jan. 22 visit to the Rwandan capital by Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Ugandan senior presidential adviser on special operations and commander of land forces of the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF), the government of Rwanda has taken note that there is a process to solve issues raised by Rwanda, as well as commitments made by the government of Uganda to address remaining obstacles, said a Rwandan foreign ministry statement. "In this regard and in line with communique of the 4th quadripartite summit held at Gatuna/Katuna on Feb. 21, 2020, the government of Rwanda wishes to inform the public that the Gatuna border post between Rwanda and Uganda will be reopened from Jan. 31, 2022," the statement said. According to the statement, other land border posts between Rwanda and Uganda will also reopen, and health authorities of both countries will work together to put in place necessary measures to facilitate movement in the context of COVID-19 preventive measures. It said Rwanda remains committed to ongoing efforts to resolve pending issues between the two countries and believes that the reopening of the border will contribute positively to the speedy normalization of relations between Rwanda and Uganda. In February 2019, Rwanda closed its border with Uganda, accusing Kampala of incarcerating its citizens. Uganda denied the allegations and instead accused Rwanda of infiltrating its security circles. Uganda also alleged that Rwanda had incarcerated its citizens too. The border closure, according to experts, affected trade and movement of people between the two countries. Rwanda had barred its citizens from travelling to Uganda through the common border post of Gatuna/Katuna, warning them that Ugandan security agencies would arrest them. About seven months after the border closure, Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni and Kagame met in the Angolan capital Luanda in efforts to ease the tension. The two leaders signed an memorandum of understanding, and an ad hoc committee composing of ministers of foreign affairs and security officers from both countries was set up. The committee has been meeting several times and resulted in Uganda releasing some of the Rwandan nationals who had been accused of violating Ugandan laws. A woman is seen at the Gatuna-Katuna border in Kabale, Uganda, on Jan. 31, 2022. Rwanda reopened the Gatuna border post with Uganda Monday, ending nearly three years of standoff with the neighbor. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua) Photo taken on Jan. 31, 2022 shows a view of the Gatuna-Katuna border in Kabale, Uganda. Rwanda reopened the Gatuna border post with Uganda Monday, ending nearly three years of standoff with the neighbor. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua) People line up at the Gatuna-Katuna border in Kabale, Uganda, on Jan. 31, 2022. Rwanda reopened the Gatuna border post with Uganda Monday, ending nearly three years of standoff with the neighbor. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua) A vehicle is seen at the Gatuna-Katuna border in Kabale, Uganda, on Jan. 31, 2022. Rwanda reopened the Gatuna border post with Uganda Monday, ending nearly three years of standoff with the neighbor. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua) The 2022 tax filing season is in full swing at the IRS. And although doing ones taxes is a near-universally dreaded task, there is a glimmer of good news: It doesnt have to be expensive. Millions of taxpayers are eligible to file their taxes for free thanks to IRS Free File, a partnership the government launched with several online tax prep services in 2003. Depending on your income, you may qualify for guided tax preparation from one of eight name-brand companies. However, you wont find TurboTax or H&R Block among those options. TurboTax and H&R Block are no longer affiliated with the IRS Free File program. That said, both advertise free tax prep services on their websites, and there are a plethora of other tax software options for taxpayers who dont want to pay to file a return. Heres what you need to know. Have you started filing your 2021 Taxes? Select your state to begin the process of filing your taxes with TurboTax. How to file taxes for free Identify if you are eligible to file for free Your income determines whether you qualify to use IRS Free File. If your adjusted gross income for 2021 is $73,000 or less, youre eligible for guided tax preparation through the IRS. You can calculate your adjusted gross income by taking your income (wages, capital gains, dividends, retirement distributions, business income and such) and subtracting any adjustments (student loan interest, alimony, teacher expenses, retirement contributions and the like). The $73,000 limit for IRS Free File applies to both single taxpayers and married couples who file jointly. If your adjusted gross income is over $73,000, your only IRS Free File option is Fillable Forms, in which you complete electronic forms yourself without guidance. Pick a free service or program to use IRS Free File If you qualify for guided tax preparation, head to the IRS website to view the eight options available from the Free File Alliance this year: Free 1040 Tax Return Online Taxes at OLT.com ezTaxReturn.com FreeTaxUSA FileYourTaxes.com TaxAct TaxSlayer 1040NOW.net Each of these services has its own restrictions, so read the fine print. Some offers are only valid for people who live in certain states, are a certain age or make below a certain amount of money. IRS Free File is focused on federal tax returns, not state returns, so youll need to pay extra attention if you live in a state with income taxes. A few of the IRS Free File offers, like OLT.com and FreeTaxUSA, give a free state filing to anyone who qualifies for a free federal return. Others, like TaxSlayer and FileYourTaxes.com, only give free state filing to people in certain states. A few dont offer free state returns, period. Need help navigating it all? Enter your personal information into the lookup tool at IRS.gov, and itll narrow down the choices for you. If you dont qualify for guided prep, check out Free File Fillable Forms. This isnt for beginners you have to select the right form, type in your data, make sure youre not introducing errors and file the federal return on your own. Though its free, this method does require a bit of tax knowledge. FYI: IRS Free File is available in English and Spanish. Free versions of online tax software Despite no longer being affiliated with IRS Free File, both TurboTax and H&R Block still offer ways you can file for free. TurboTaxs free service is focused on simple tax returns Form 1040 only which owner Intuit says some 60 million taxpayers file. There are currently three ways to do your taxes for free through TurboTax: Free Edition, Live Basic and Live Full Service Basic. Free Edition is a DIY option thats available for free all season long. TurboTax Live Full Service Basic, in which an expert does your taxes for you, is free through Feb. 15. TurboTax Live Basic, which allows you to ask tax experts questions via chat or video as you prepare your taxes, is free through March 31. H&R Blocks Free Online service starts at $0 for federal and state tax prep. It includes coverage for the Earned Income Tax Credit, the child tax credit, education expenses and retirement income. For tax situations that are complicated beyond that, youll have to pay. Live tax help, access to six years of storage and assistance reporting items like freelance income, crypto sales and real estate taxes also cost extra through H&R Block. Other tax software options include Cash App Taxes, which is the rebranded version of Credit Karma Tax. It claims it costs $0 to file your state and federal tax returns, and it wont cost you a penny. Ever. Cash App Taxes supports a variety of documents and tax situations, including Form 1040, student loan interest, Schedule A itemized deductions, the first-time homebuyer credit and self-employment. But youll have to seek tax prep elsewhere if youre a minor, have foreign earned income or fall into one of these other categories. You also cant use Cash App Taxes to file state taxes if you havent already filed your federal return with it. Speaking of state taxes, you may want to check your local government websites for information about where to file for free or cheap. States like California and Pennsylvania have their own free e-filing systems for residents. VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Whether youre doing taxes yourself or prefer a preparer, the IRS has two initiatives that provide free help for taxpayers who need it: the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. VITA is targeted at people who make $58,000 or less a year, have disabilities or only know limited English. Americans 60 and up who have questions about retirement, pensions and such are eligible to get advice through TCE. The programs typically operate out of libraries, college buildings and community centers. Use this tool to find a provider near you. (You might have to make an appointment.) Another option for free tax help is AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, which offers both in-person and online tax assistance to anyone, free of charge, with a special focus on taxpayers who are over 50 or have low to moderate income, according to its website. Gather your paperwork Filing your taxes requires a whole bunch of documents. The exact papers you must gather depend on your situation, but most people will need to reference income statements like Form W-2 (from your employer) and any Forms 1099 (for freelance income, interest income, gambling winnings, et cetera). If the IRS mailed you Letter 6475 about your third Economic Impact Payment or Letter 6419 about the child tax credit, locate those, too. Youll also need to know your Social Security number or Taxpayer Identification Number, as well as your prior year adjusted gross income or your self-select PIN. This should be on your 2020 tax return. You may also need a government ID. Improve your potential refund amount - Prepare and file your federal income tax return using tax preparation software Tax preparation software companies like TurboTax will help improve your earning potential. Free tax filing FAQ Where to file taxes for free Check out the above options. The IRS is pretty strict about what its tax software partners can and cant charge for. Theyre prohibited from making you pay anything to file your federal tax return and asking you to buy any products or services (for example, promotional rebates) in exchange for having your federal tax return prepared, according to the IRS website. They also cant offer you bank products that come with fees. If youre doing your taxes on your own, be diligent. Its easy to get fooled into paying for add-ons like Pay With My Refund, Refund Processing Service or Refund Transfer. These functions offer to take money from your refund to cover any prep fees you owe but often charge a fee in the process. Be careful what you click on, and read the fine print. How to file a tax extension online for free If you need extra time to get your federal taxes done, you can electronically request an extension with the IRS by using Free File (regardless of what your income is). You can also submit Form 4868 by visiting a preparers website directly or make an online payment to the IRS and indicate that its connected to an extension. Filing for an extension will give you six additional months to file your 2021 taxes. But take note: Even though an extension moves your deadline for filing back, you still have to pay any taxes you owe by April 18 (or April 19 if you live in Maine or Massachusetts). Bottom line to filing taxes for free If youre hoping to file your taxes for free, a good place to start is the IRS Free File website. Depending on your income level, you may qualify for guided tax prep from an online provider or free forms you can fill out yourself. Failing that, browse offers on websites like TurboTax directly to see if your federal return is simple enough to do for free. Do your research, gather your paperwork and ask for help if you need it. Dollar Scholar Still learning the basics of personal finance? Let us teach you the major money lessons you NEED to know. Get useful tips, expert advice and cute animals in your inbox every week. More from Money: Copyright 2021 Ad Practitioners, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This article originally appeared on Money.com and may contain affiliate links for which Money receives compensation. Opinions expressed in this article are the author's alone, not those of a third-party entity, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For more information, read Moneys full disclaimer. 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. A Mounds man was sentenced to life in federal prison Thursday after a jury found him guilty of killing a man in east Tulsa in 2020. U.S. District Judge Gregory Frizzell sentenced Kyle Quentin Sago, 31, to life plus 10 additional years. A jury in September had found him guilty of first-degree murder in Indian Country in the fatal shooting of Daniel Morgan, 42. Kyle Sago committed an egregious, senseless crime when he took the life of Daniel Morgan, said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. While todays sentence cannot rectify the loss of Mr. Morgan, it sends a message that the U.S. Attorneys Office and our law enforcement partners take seriously our mission to uphold justice. There are no higher priorities than keeping our communities safe and fighting for victims of violent crime. Tulsa police arrested Sago July 27, 2020, following the shooting death of Morgan two days earlier. Morgan was found outside his residence in the 18500 block of East First Street. He had been shot multiple times. Federal prosecutors assumed jurisdiction in the case after determining that Morgan was a member of the Cherokee Nation and the fatal shooting occurred within the Muscogee Nation reservation. Morgan reportedly was sleeping when Sago drove up to his house and asked a woman to awaken Morgan so they could talk about business. A witness reported hearing multiple gunshots after Morgan walked outside. The witness told police Sago fired more shots from inside a Hyundai while Morgan was retreating. Sago, arrested two days later in the Liberty-Mounds area, claimed self-defense. Sago tried to plead guilty in April to second-degree murder, but Frizzell rejected the agreement in July, citing evidence that Sago could have been tried for first-degree murder. Sago, in a Nov. 12-dated letter addressed to Frizzell, complained about his defense attorney and reiterated his belief that he believed Morgan was armed during the encounter. Regardless of whether or not he was armed, I believed he was, Sago wrote. In addition to the murder count, the jury found Sago guilty of one count of using a firearm during first-degree murder and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. 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. One year ago today, on May 1, 2021, a memorial service was held in honor of the 41 Tulsa Police Officers who have died in the line of duty at The Mid-Continent Concrete plant on the west side of the Arkansas River will soon be up for sale, and thats got Sharon King Davis on a mission. The longtime Tulsa businesswoman believes the 26.7-acre property, which sits just south of River West Festival Park, would make a great addition to the River Parks trails and recreation area. River West Festival Park is part of River Parks. Its not a novel idea: As far back as the early 2000s, regional planning documents envisioned an expanded festival park that extended south all the way to the 21st Street bridge land now occupied by the concrete plant. Only then, the property wasnt for sale. Thats about to change, and Davis doesnt want the city to miss out on an opportunity to purchase the land. River Parks is something that came out of the hearts of Tulsans, and I just think we need to complete that, Davis told her colleagues on the River Parks Authority board Thursday. So that is what I am working on, and I need everybodys help. River Parks Authority Executive Director Matt Meyer said he and Davis have met with Mayor G.T. Bynum and Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith to see whether either government entity could provide funding. Nobody has made any commitments or has any funding to do it, Meyer said after the meeting. It could be a public-private partnership if we come up with some partners. Joe Westervelt, president of Mapleview Associates, is representing the owner of the property, GCC Mid-Continent Concrete of Glendale, Colorado. It will be on the market soon, Westervelt said. We are in the process of finishing up the last of our entitlements (pre-sale work) on the property, and when we are completed with that, we will go ahead and get it on the marketplace. Westervelt said that process has included working closely with city, county and River Parks officials, each of whom has been a great help. He said he was especially grateful for the work of City Engineer Paul Zachary and Keith. I hope they can make something happen, he said. ... When this community puts its mind to it, it has a way of getting things done that it wants to get done. Keith said Tulsans have for decades understood the importance of the property. This is a critically important piece for Tulsa to have it developed to its highest and best use, Keith said Meyer acknowledged that River Parks has no plan in place to purchase the property, but it definitely has an interest in making it part of the park system. Today there are exactly zero dollars to buy it, Meyer said. Is River Parks interested in it? Yes. He noted that when the nearby River West development was constructed, River West Festival Park lost 1,200 parking spaces for Oktoberfest and other large events. Extending the festival park south would help address that issue. We can expand the festival park, and it would be a combination of more park land and parking, Meyer said. It wouldnt have to be paved parking; it could be structured parking or that sort of thing. Davis, meanwhile, laid out a vision for the property that could include not only more park space and parking spaces, but perhaps a giant Ferris wheel, or a hotel and restaurant or all three. From that vantage point you have the most beautiful, incredible view of the city, Davis said. Downstream, you see the beautiful Gathering Place. I just dont want to see Tulsa lose this property to somebody out of state, and we are not able to get what River Parks needs. Behind the scenes: Jason Collington talks to photojournalist Mike Simons. 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 human toll of the pandemic on health care providers can be as overwhelming as COVID-19 is right now to Oklahoma hospitals and the answer to both harms is vaccination, a local doctor said Thursday. COVID-19 hospitalizations are at all-time highs in Tulsa County and Oklahoma with the states latest data release Thursday, toppling records set in COVIDs original and delta variant waves. Dr. Kamran Abbasi has treated COVID patients for Saint Francis Health System ever since the novel coronavirus reached Tulsa nearly two years ago. He teared up describing how it almost feels that at times we failed not because we didnt try. Talk about innovations in health care or medicines all you want, Abbasi said, but a patients life is bigger than anything else. Vaccinations are the one thing helping to preserve those lives and protect health care workers from the mental and emotional trauma inflicted by such tragedy, he said. We have never seen death like this before, Abbasi said. And this is what we do. We signed up for this. We provide the best care we can to our patients, and were committed to that. But then feeling helpless that you want to do something and then they die, and they die and they die. That takes a toll on you. Federal data show Oklahomas rate of COVID hospital admissions at 32.2 per 100 inpatient beds the past seven days. In other words, nearly one in three inpatient beds in Oklahoma is filled by someone with COVID. That rate is the highest yet in Oklahoma and ranks as the worst in the nation right now. Oklahoma set an overall COVID-19 hospitalization record Thursday at 2,070 inpatients, besting by 4% the prior high of 1,995 about a year ago. At that time, the state released hospitalization daily counts that included patients who were under investigation for COVID but who had not yet been confirmed to have the virus. Now the state publishes three-day averages of confirmed cases only. Tulsa Countys COVID hospitalizations rose to 525 on Thursday. That is 4% above its past high of 504 set during the delta variant wave in the summer. Tulsa County first topped that delta surge mark on Tuesday, when it hit 508 COVID hospitalizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions provisional COVID-19 death count in Oklahoma on Thursday was 13,129 people, a number that is based on death certificates. A Tulsa World analysis of that data found that Oklahomas cumulative COVID death rate ranked third-worst in the nation through November. A Reuters analysis found that Oklahoma ranked No. 2 in 2021 through November in cumulative COVID death rates. Dr. Cliff Robertson, president and CEO of Saint Francis Health System, said about 90% of the patients with COVID-19 in that systems hospitals were admitted because of the disease, with about 10% of COVID inpatients admitted for reasons not related to their COVID diagnoses. Robertson and Abbasi spoke to reporters Thursday during a regular Saint Francis media briefing. Abbasi said its not his job to judge unvaccinated people who are hospitalized because of COVID-19, though at this point it can be exasperating because the hospital is overwhelmed and staff members are struggling. Ive seen worst-case scenarios in the hospital, and I can tell you this is a disease of the unvaccinated, Abbasi said. The people who are dying are unvaccinated. The people who are in the hospital for extended stays are in large unvaccinated. That is just a fact. Each person has a choice, Abbasi said, but each person should understand the consequences of being unvaccinated. He said an unvaccinated person will always receive the same level of care and compassion from him as someone who is vaccinated. He said some patients feel like they never get the flu and dont need the flu shot. They consider COVID to be just another virus, he said. I think theres a lot of misinformation out there; I think theres a lot of unnecessary self-confidence out there, Abbasi said. I dont mean that in a rude way. Thats as plainly as I can put it. Abbasi described how overwhelming the first year of the pandemic was on him because there was so much death, so much mortality. He did not do well but kept moving to take care of patients because they needed him, he said. 2021 brought a lot of happiness and hopes with it because of the vaccines, but that turned to disappointment as Oklahomas low vaccination uptake played out, he said. Then the delta variant swooped in and created even more challenges for hospitals and new complications from the disease, he said. And now omicron comes in, he said, and many people seem to have relaxed their guard to at least some degree. It isnt necessarily true that omicron is a less severe version of COVID, he said, and trying to contract it is like playing Russian roulette. Our hospital is overwhelmed, Abbasi said. We are struggling. We are working hard. We love what we do. This is why were here, and I wouldnt have it any other way. But we are overwhelmed; ICUs are busy. 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. Ive got to hand it to the GOP and a couple of centrist Democrats they certainly know how to misinterpret and misrepresent the message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in an effort to promote their retrograde agendas. It never fails, almost like clockwork, some politician will echo (arrogantly and without shame) a select passage of the iconic speech that the late civil rights leader delivered during the March on Washington in 1963: I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. It was a profound comment, to be sure. And, indeed, every morally requisite human being should adopt and unapologetically embrace its values. The problem is many members in the two aforementioned categories fail to practice what they preach, choosing instead to engage in antics that embody the antithesis of such traits. The most recent is newly inaugurated Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who shamelessly employed all sorts of disturbing sorts of dog whistles in his gubernatorial campaign. Youngkin perversely used Kings words to advocate for parents choice in public schools, issuing an executive order to justify his ban on critical race theory in K-12 education. We must equip our teachers to teach our students the entirety of our history both good and bad. Only then will we realize Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s dream that our children will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character, Youngkins executive order states. Several months earlier, it was Florida governor and much talked about potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis who incorrectly cited the civil rights leader. DeSantis stood before his state legislature with a straight face and declared that his reason for invoking his STOP W.O.K.E. Act, a law that grants parents permission to sue teachers caught teaching critical race theory in Florida public schools, was to honor the spirit and values of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Yes, you read that correctly. I wonder if King were alive today, would he have advocated to direct such hostility and disingenuous outrage toward any form of education that taught kids to learn about the history of its people regardless of whether the truth that emerged from such information turned out to be good, bad or ugly? You cant make this stuff up! This is political theater of the obscene. The gross misinterpretation of Kings message doesnt end with Republicans they have kindred spirits in the Democratic Party who enjoy playing similar games. Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who has pretty much thumbed her nose at every segment of the progressive wing of her party, stated that John Lewis, the late congressman for whom the voting rights bill is named, along with King were her personal heroes. Go figure. Perhaps she feels that the most effective and laudatory way to support the legacy of both men is to politically align herself with Republican senators like Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell to protect the filibuster (a long held relic of Jim Crow) rather than pass legislation designed to protect Black peoples right to vote. It should not go without saying that in his landmark article Letter From Birmingham Jail, King made it clear that he reserved the majority of his frustration with the white moderate. The truth is that most Republican politicians likely would have mercilessly attacked King and everything he stood for tooth and nail had they been in Congress during his time on Earth. He would have been lumped in with Black Lives Matter, called a big-government liberal, and referred to in other terms by this group of men and women to indicate their disdain for his progressive and humanitarian values. The truth is King would have opposed virtually all the retrograde values these individuals embrace in his name. Elwood Watson is a professor of history, Black studies, and gender and sexuality studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker. 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. BAMAKO, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A new batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by China to Mali was received in the Malian capital Bamako on Wednesday. Chinese Ambassador to Mali Chen Zhihong and Malian Minister of Health and Social Development Dieminatou Sangare attended the reception ceremony held at Bamako International Airport. Sangare expressed her gratitude to the Chinese government on behalf of the Malian transitional president Assimi Goita, the transitional government and the people of Mali. She said that China has always provided support to Malians and Mali is ready to continue to deepen cooperation with China. China had provided Mali with several batches of anti-epidemic supplies, which strongly supported Mali's fight against the pandemic, and the current situation in Mali has proven that the Chinese vaccine is effective and reliable, she said. Chen said that the new vaccine donation from China to help the Malian government and people to fight against COVID-19 reflects the traditional deep friendship between the two countries. China is willing to continue cooperation with Mali to fight the pandemic, to further strengthen cooperation in health and other fields, and to build a community with a shared future for health between China and Mali, he said. Vietnam coffee prices edged down amid dull trade ahead of the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, while trade has not yet picked up in Indonesia as stocks remain low until at least March, traders said on Thursday. Farmers in the Central Highlands sold coffee at VND38,800 to VND40,200 ($1.71 to $1.78) per kg, little changed from last week's range of VND38,800 to VND40,700. "Prices are declining on increasing supplies but tepid demand," said a trader in the coffee belt, adding that prolonged supply chain disruptions contributed to lacklustre trade. "Farmers are holding on to beans as they are not under pressure to sell for the upcoming long holiday anymore. Some have already shut their shops." Markets in Vietnam will close next week for the holiday and traders said export activities would not resume until it ended. Traders in Vietnam offered 5% black and broken grade 2 robusta at discounts of $270 to $280 per metric ton to the May contract, versus a range of $250 to $270 a week ago. March robusta coffee shed $46, or 2%, to stand at $2,191 a metric ton on Wednesday. Indonesia's Sumatran robusta beans were offered at a discount of $120 per metric ton to the February contract, one trader said. Another trader offered a discount of $200 a metric ton to the March contract, narrowing from last week's $250. "There were barely any new bean supplies and only traders with remaining stock could take part in trading this week," said a regional trader. Traders expect a mini-harvest between March and April. ($1 = VND22,645) Many Vietnamese oil and gas retailers are facing a supply shortage due to the production cut by a main petroleum supplier of the country, while low discount rates and increased costs have caused them to suffer losses. This situation has been taking place as the Tet, or Lunar New Year, holiday is coming, with some traders saying that they will likely stop operation after Tet, which will fall on February 1. For nearly a week, Tu Luc 1 Petroleum Joint Stock Company, a petroleum trader and distributor, has been looking for more supply to meet its business plans before, during and after Tet. The situation was very stressful because Thanh Hoa Province-based Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical suddenly reduced their market supply, Nguyen Van Tiu, the companys director, said. With its current petroleum reserves, the company may survive the Tet holiday only, without knowing what will happen if the supply from Nghi Son remains unimproved, the director stated. Meanwhile, the discount rate for each liter of petroleum sold has decreased sharply, from the previous rates of VND600-800 (US$0.026-0.035) to only VND200-300 ($0.008-0.013) per liter presently, which could not help offsetting operating costs, including freights. Maintaining operations at such low discount rates means suffering further losses, as the direct cost for each liter of petrol has amounted to VND600 ($0.026), Tiu moaned. If this situation prolongs, many businesses will stop operation after Tet, he predicted. A director of a petrol retail system in Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta provinces reported to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper a lower discount rate, VND100 ($0.004) per liter, compared to the previous levels of VND700-1,000 ($0.03-0.044). Such a meager discount, which sometimes even plummeted to zero, has resulted from the soaring global prices, the retailer explained. The more we operate, the more we lose. So, we will therefore begin our Tet break sooner than usual and will not resume until February 6, he stated. A leading petroleum enterprise in Ho Chi Minh City said it has faced great difficulties as up to 40 percent of its supply comes from Nghi Son. "There is not much stockpile left in the Asian market as China has cut production. A shortage of petroleum supply will likely happen after Tet, and a lot of filling stations will have to shut down, a representative of the enterprise said. The fact that Nghi Son has cut down production and is at risk of ceasing operation has strongly affected the supply to the fuel market, as it accounts for 35 percent of the countrys total output, said Bui Ngoc Bao, chairman of the Vietnam Petroleum Association. Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex), which holds a 25.1 percent stake in Nghi Son, said the complex had recently canceled the import of two shipments of crude oil, the key material for production, due to serious financial difficulties. It is likely that it will have to stop operating in mid-February if the financial problems are not resolved by relevant parties, according to Lao Dong (Labor) newspaper. Petrolimex blamed the financial difficulties partly for inadequacies in Nghi Sons administration works performed by its foreign partners and said it is negotiating with foreign investors on the overall restructuring of the complex to improve its operating efficiency. Established in April 2008, Nghi Son is a joint venture with four capital contributors, including Petrolimex, Kuwait Petroleum International, and Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. and Mitsui Chemical Inc. both of Japan. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh, an overseas Vietnamese scientist, and researchers at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) have come up with an injection-free, single-use and self-administered microneedle vaccine patch. The vaccine technology is the brainchild of the 38-year-old assistant professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at UCONN in the U.S. Born to a family whose parents were doctors and two elder sisters worked in medicine, Nguyen Duc Thanh was always keen on the medical field. However, Thanh never thought that it would be his pursuit due to his lack of confidence in biology. After graduating from Le Quy Don High School For the Gifted in central Da Nang City, Thanh chose engineering physics as his field of study at Hanoi University of Science and Technology before going on to study mechanical and aeronautical engineering for his PhD program at Princeton University, where he found his lifelong passion - nanotechnology. In-depth research on nanomaterials and their extremely rich applications in medicine excited him. Thanh spent all his time in the lab, sometimes nearly 20 hours a day. Cold and snowy weather could not prevent him from going to the lab every day. Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh. He then began doing post-doctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he and other members of a scientist group sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation developed a vaccine technology that only requires single administration instead of multiple injections. At the time, the team had successfully created microparticles for a single-injection vaccination. However, the particle size was not small enough to reach the needles top, hence limiting the dose of vaccine transmitted into the body. Not wanting his research efforts to go waste, Thanh sought to create a new method that could overcome problems in his vaccine microparticles. He came up with and coined the idea of making a vaccine patch similar to that used on a wound. The vaccine patch developed by the group was created using an additive process called StampEd Assembly of Polymer Layers (SEAL) and computer chip manufacturing technology. This method helps create small, modulated particles that release the vaccine at different times and simulate the process of vaccine delivery into the body. One patch is enough to produce the same immune effect as repeated injections over a long period of time. The size of a thumb, the patch is placed directly on the skin and allows the vaccine to enter the body through the epidermis without causing much pain like normal injections. Because of its simple operation, it can be used at home to limit cross-contamination at high-risk health facilities. A close up of the microneedles on a vaccine patch developed by Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh. Photo credit: Nguyen Duc Thanh. The team used a microneedle patch on mice with the Prevnar-13 vaccine, which fights pneumococcal bacteria that cause pneumonia, and published the results in biomedical journal Nature Biomedical Engineering in 2020. Thanh then received a $432,990 contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to develop the single-use, self-administered microneedle vaccine technology for infectious diseases such as COVID-19, according to the UCONN website. In addition to funding from BARDA, the researchers received $160,000 from UCONN to share the cost of the project. The microneedle patch contains the spike protein, or S-protein, on the shell of the COVID-19 virus, and is programmed to automatically deliver the S-protein as a vaccine antigen against COVID-19 into the skin in time-release fashion - similar to the use of multiple vaccine injections - to trigger the long-term immune protection against the virus. The technology has been considered truly ground-breaking and attracted the attention of the American media. Recently, American multinational pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., Inc. proposed a joint venture with Thanhs lab to research the application of this microneedle patch for mRNA vaccine technology. He is also in the process of starting a company to develop the vaccine patch. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Numerous people have begun leaving Ho Chi Minh City for their hometown prior to the 2022 Lunar New Year holiday, causing heavy congestion at major gateways. According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters on Thursday morning, the number of vehicles on National Highway No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City's Binh Tan and Binh Chanh Districts began climbing, causing vehicles to drive slowly along crowded sections of the street. This image shows vehicles crowding National Highway No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on January 27, 2022. Photo: Tuoi Tre At some intersections, traffic police officers were tasked with regulating traffic and signal lights in order to avoid prolonged congestion. According to a police officer at the intersection of National Highway 1 and Nguyen Huu Tri Street, the number of vehicles has declined compared to previous years. A scene of traffic on National Highway No.1 leading to Long An Province on January 27, 2022. Photo: Tuoi Tre "There has been an increase in traffic in recent days, but there has been no serious congestion, the police officer stated. However, during rush hours, we are still here to direct traffic flows. This images show holiday-goers on the way back to their hometowns from Ho Chi Minh City on January 27, 2022. Photo: Tuoi Tre People flocked to the city center through the northwest gateway from the An Suong intersection, jamming major streets such as Truong Chinh and Cong Hoa. In particular, the queue of vehicles moved slowly at the intersection of Truong Chinh and Tan Ky Tan Quy Streets. According to locals, traffic congestion occurs on a regular basis, but the closer Tet, the worser traffic jams. Commuters are stuck in a traffic jam on Truong Chinh Street, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City on January 27, 2022. Photo: Tuoi Tre National Highway 13 in Thu Duc City is also frequently congested, particularly the section from Binh Duong Province to the Mien Dong (Eastern) Bus Station. When a train goes by, the part of the road becomes the most packed. Congestion caused by container trucks often takes place on the Hanoi Highway in Thu Duc City these days, from the overpass of Station 2 to the RMK intersection. A traffic scene on National Highway No.13 in Thu Duc City, under Ho Chi Minh City on January 27, 2022. Photo: Tuoi Tre According to the drivers, the congestion was a result of container trucks that had to wait in line to access the neighboring Truong Tho Port. This weekend is expected to see a slew of people leaving Ho Chi Minh City for their hometowns to celebrate Tet. Vietnamese will formally celebrate the Tet, or Lunar New Year, festival on Februrary 1. Vehicles travel at a snails pace on Truong Chinh Street, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City on January 27, 2022. Photo: Tuoi Tre Traffic congestion at the intersection of Truong Chinh and Tay Thanh Streets, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City on January 27, 2022. Photo: Tuoi Tre Commuters are stuck in a traffic jam on Tan Ky Tan Quy Street, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City on January 27, 2022. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Health authorities of Ho Chi Minh City, in southern Vietnam, have proposed local administration allow COVID-19 patients in minor conditions or without symptoms to self-isolate at home upon their arrival from abroad. The municipal Department of Health made the proposal as most people with COVID-19 entering Vietnam recently, including those carrying the Omicron variant, have shown light conditions or no symptoms at all. Further, most of them wish to be quarantined at home or clinics at their choice. The agency also said the number of people coming to Vietnam by air has been on the rise, as the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday will come in several days. Under current regulations, people positive for the coronavirus when entering Vietnam will be sent to Field Hospital No. 12 or the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases for treatment. However, local health authorities proposed relaxing the rules to meet the aspirations of arrivals, including foreigners, foreign consular officers, and diplomats. Accordingly, cases with severe symptoms will be transferred to field hospitals with three levels of treatment. Patients with moderate conditions will be sent to field hospitals or to qualified private hospitals at their wish. Those with mild conditions will be placed in home quarantine at their wish, provided they ensure all safety requirements and comply with epidemic prevention and control regulations. If mild patients have no such an aspiration, they will be taken to Field Hospital No. 12 or to clinics at their request. Any COVID-19 patients, whether they are quarantined at home or hospitals upon their entry, must follow the Ministry of Healths treatment regimen and have their samples taken for RT-PCR testing. In the event that entrants testing positive for COVID-19 at the citys airport wish to be isolated at home and have enough conditions for such quarantine, the international medical quarantine section under the citys Center for Disease Control will update their information into the COVID-19 digital information platform and promptly notify relevant health agencies for management, control and caretaking. In case the health conditions of patients under home quarantine get worse, their caretakers must contact local health centers, mobile health stations, or the 115 Emergency Center to take them to a field hospital with three levels of treatment. Ho Chi Minh City, with some nine million inhabitants, had administered over 8.16 million first vaccine shots and some 7.5 million second jabs to its adult population as of Thursday, the national COVID-19 vaccination portal reported. Local health authorities expect to give the third vaccine doses, including booster shots and additional primary jabs, to all people aged 18 and older by January 30. The city has recently seen its daily COVID-19 cases and deaths fall sharply, to 168 and 11 on Thursday, compared to 671 and 35 a month earlier, the Ministry of Healths data shows. However, the southern economic hub remains the locality suffering the most from COVID-19 in Vietnam, with 514,836 infections and 19,874 fatalities documented since the pandemic erupted in the Southeast Asian country in early 2020. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Passengers on international flights coming to and exiting Vietnam, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status, will no longer have to take a rapid coronavirus test before or after their flight. The Government Office issued on Friday a new document on the implementation of regular international flights carrying passengers to and from Vietnam. The document included the abolition of the requirement that international passengers must take a rapid COVID-19 test before or after their flight. Airlines had complained about the disadvantages of the requirement since its introduction at the beginning of this year. In Fridays document, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh also approved increasing the frequency of regular commercial flights carrying passengers to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan and expanding the markets in the ongoing pilot program of flight resumption to Europe and Australia to meet the needs of overseas Vietnamese, who want to return to the homeland to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday. Following that, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is directing Vietnams representative missions in other countries to accelerate the reopening of regular international commercial flights and discuss with competent departments and agencies in Singapore, Japan, and South Korea for the exemption of COVID-19 quarantine requirement on Vietnamese arrivals. The foreign ministry will also provide guidance on entry procedures for Vietnamese people whose entries are rejected by other countries. In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Health to provide specific instructions on measures to prevent the penetration of the coronavirus Omicron variant from people entering the country. As of Thursday, Vietnam had documented 2,203,208 COVID-19 cases, with 1,945,611recoveries and 37,291 fatalities, the Health Ministry reported. Health workers have administered more than 180.3 million vaccine doses since vaccination was rolled out nationwide on March 8, 2021. By Thursday afternoon, above 73.9 million adults of the countrys 98 million people had received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine, while 78.9 million had been given at least one dose. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Former TV presenter Andrew OKeefe has been denied bail in Central Local Court this afternoon. The former Seven star was arrested yesterday morning following an alleged altercation with a 38-year-old woman at his Kent Street apartment in Sydney. OKeefe, 50, is charged with six offences, intentionally choking a person without consent (two counts), common assault (three counts), and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. A verbal argument ensued between the pair, before the man allegedly assaulted the woman grabbing her by the throat, pushing her to the ground and punching her, a police statement read. The man allegedly assaulted the woman a second time punching and kicking her before she left the unit. OKeefe was assessed by a clinician before todays court appearance. He appeared via video link. OKeefes lawyer Sharon Ramsden asked for him to be freed on bail to go into residential psychiatric care next week. She said he had suffered injuries in the alleged incident and would be claiming self defence when the case went to trial. But the prosecution warned OKeefe could be facing a lengthy jail term if convicted and dismissed the claims of self-defence. The only way she was able to break free was to bite the arm of the accused, said police prosecutor Sergeant Chris Manning. The incident went on for a significant period of time. Police have applied for a provisional apprehended violence order, which would see him barred from approaching, assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing or intimidating the woman in any way. OKeefe has previously acknowledged bipolar and struggles with drugs & alcohol, as also been an ambassador for the White Ribbon Foundation. The organisation went into liquidation in 2019 and was relaunched in 2020 without OKeefe. He is due to appear in court on Friday February 4. An AVO hearing will be heard at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday February 2. 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 Lifeline: 13 11 14 Source: Daily Mail, ABC CDC, along with many other professional healthcare experts, are committed to increasing awareness of AFM. Listen to members of our community of experts as they express their dedication to learn more about AFM. 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 ABUJA, Nigeria, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese community in Nigeria held a carnival-like celebration Thursday here to mark the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year of Tiger. The event, organized by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, witnessed a large turnout of Chinese citizens, Nigerian officials, and students. The gathering was the first of a series of events to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 1 this year. The revelers, gathering at the China Cultural Center in the central business area of Abuja city, were enthralled by various Chinese art performances, including the traditional Chinese dragon and lion dances. The joyous celebration was spiced up by local troupes and school art groups who performed various Nigerian dances, aside from the Chinese songs and dances at the event. Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Cui Jianchun told Xinhua the celebration was to mark the beginning of good things, such as strength, braveness, and ambition. Spring Festival has gained popularity in most cities in Nigeria due to the sense of anticipation and excitement shared by the Chinese community in the most populous African country. The festival is celebrated every year. Spring Festival celebrations are emblematic of the cultural tradition and heritage as well as aesthetic aspirations of the Chinese nation, abounding in distinctive Chinese symbols of great emotional appeal. Tyler, TX (75702) Today Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. February is the month for music lovers as the University of North Georgia (UNG) begins its spring semester schedule with four performances. The first two will focus on the music of composer, pianist and educator Jane K, whose given name is Evgeniya Kozhevnikova. The first event highlighting the composer is "A Little Night(hawk) Music Concert," which will be held at the Performing Arts Lobby on UNG's Gainesville Campus at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7. The other event focused on Jane Ks work is set for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Gloria Shott Performance Hall on the Dahlonega Campus. "The A Little Night(hawk) Music series started in 2016 on the Gainesville Campus and showcases a combination of UNG music faculty and guest artists with performances ranging from jazz to opera to traditional instrumental and vocal recitals each year, Dr. Benjamin Schoening, department head and professor of music, said. The music department asks all people planning to attend any spring semester concerts to register online at the UNG music events webpage, which links to UNG Connect sign-ups for each performance. All performances are free of charge and open to the public. Jane K composes in various styles and genres, from classical to jazz and tango, tastefully blending them together. In 2020, she released a jazz-tango album "Tango Avenue." She holds two master's degrees, in music composition and music performance, from Western Michigan University. She is working on her doctorate degree in music composition at the University of Florida. Wayne Baird,89, loves to be challenged, and his career path is living proof. He started his career as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army before being medically discharged. As a business recruiter, he helped former officers and other veterans acquire jobs. Baird moved into pharmaceutical sales before pursuing a job in the music business in Nashville, Tennessee. It was a natural progression for the native of Jefferson, Georgia, who played the guitar, sang and wrote songs. Baird succeeded as a songwriter, music engineer and record producer. "I met a lot of great people and made a lot of contacts," he said. "It was a tremendous time." His ability to connect with people led Baird to his next job. He worked as a church security director after leaving the music business. In his role, he met the owner of a Chick-fil-A restaurant. "He asked me to develop leaders in his restaurant, which would lead to opening a second Chick-fil-A," Baird said. "Now, I work for him and oversee the operations and management of two Chick-fil-A restaurants in Nashville." Baird said it is an ideal fit for him and his family. The 56-year-old has a wife and two young children. "I work with people who are in their 20s and who are in their 60s," he said. "Being able to see their potential and lead them is fulfilling. I am extremely fortunate to have a small part in their success." Baird attributes his success to the lessons he learned as a UNG student and from the Corps of Cadets. "I learned how to lead and how to follow," he said. "Wherever you are in your career, it's likely you'll be filling both roles at the same time. The challenge is understanding how both are very different, but the power of influence looks the same each way." UNG's Alumni Association took notice of Baird's accomplishments and willingness to volunteer. He serves as the group's vice president and is one of the honorary co-chairs of UNG's sesquicentennial planning committee. Baird explained his college roommate, Jimmy Anderson, is the current president of the alumni association. Anderson then tapped Baird to help, and he was excited to assist. "I'm working with really bright people who have done incredible things," he said. "My contribution is to bring in people who are smarter than me and more successful. Because the more successful the board and the more talent you have, the more valuable the board becomes." Baird, who also serves as an adviser on the board of the Mike Cottrell College of Business, said he is a leader by virtue of his title. But he sees himself as a problem-solver, decision maker, and facilitator. "I do one thing. I help others take ownership and become stakeholders in their roles," he said. "I execute that by assisting them in solving problems, making decisions, and replicating that process." KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's exports in December 2021 rose 29.2 percent to 123.85 billion ringgit from a year earlier on higher electrical and electronic (E&E) shipment, official data showed Friday. Electrical and electronics goods, which account for more than one-third of Malaysia's total exports, advanced 36.1 percent in December from a year earlier, while petroleum product shipments gained 25.6 percent, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) said in a statement. Malaysia's exports to major trading partners, including China, the United States and Singapore recorded double-digit growth in the month, it said. Malaysia's trade in December expanded 26.8 percent year-on-year to 216.7 billion ringgit, while imports up 23.6 percent to 92.86 billion ringgit in December, according to MITI. The trade surplus widened to 31 billion ringgit in December, up 49.5 percent on the year. In December, Malaysia's exports to China grew 28.8 percent year-on-year to 20.1 billion ringgit, while imports gained 22.3 percent to 22.1 billion ringgit. Malaysia's full-year export gained 26 percent year-on-year at 1.24 trillion ringgit, while imports were up 23.3 percent to 987.2 billion ringgit, the statement read. Total trade advanced 24.8 percent to 2.23 trillion ringgit, while trade balance gained 37.9 percent to 252.6 billion ringgit. For the full year, China remained as Malaysia's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years with an 18.9 percent share of total trade, expanding by 27 percent to 421.07 billion ringgit compared to 2020. Exports rose by 20.6 percent to 192.05 billion ringgit, the highest value thus far, driven by strong exports of manufactures of metal, E&E products as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG). Imports from China, which accounted for 23.2 percent of total imports, gained 33 percent to 229.02 billion ringgit, with main imports components being E&E products, machinery, equipment and parts as well as chemicals and chemical products. (1 ringgit equals 0.24 U.S. dollar) While many University of North Georgia (UNG) students aim to win one scholarship to fund their educational experience and achieve their future goals, Katherine "Kat" Torres, '21, exceeded those objectives. During her time at UNG, the first-generation graduate won three prestigious scholarships, studied abroad in Ireland and Australia, attended a State Department seminar, garnered the Newman Civic Fellowship, and most recently earned a highly competitive fellowship. "As a first-generation student, my main objective was simply to graduate," Torres said. "I often saw scholarships as unattainable despite my academic abilities. But when I won Gilman in 2019 on my second attempt, I realized reapplying increased my chance of winning." She followed that win with three more scholarships. Her most recent feat happened at the end of 2021. Torres became the first UNG graduate to earn the Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship. The distinguished graduate of UNG's Honors Program was one of only 45 fellows in the nation to receive the fellowship that provides recipients up to $42,000 annually for two years to complete a master's degree program. "Dr. Anastasia Lin saw my academic potential during my first year at UNG when I could not see it myself," Torres said. "Her mentorship and encouragement inspired me to propel myself toward opportunities I wouldnt otherwise have pursued." The Pickering Fellowship was the fourth nationally competitive scholarship for Torres. In spring 2021, she was selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the Boren Indonesian Flagship Language Program scholarship. She chose the Fulbright and is teaching English in Taiwan for the 2021-22 academic year. Torres also won the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship in December 2019. Torres worked with the Nationally Competitive Scholarships (NCS) office on all of her applications. "I did not win the first time I applied for the Gilman scholarship," Torres said. "But I reapplied for it two years later and won. I always remind myself that it is better to move slowly than to not move at all. Even when you don't win a scholarship, you gain writing skills and reflect on your career goals, which overall move you toward success." Her persistence garnered her funding for a study abroad in Ireland. "Learning about foreign relations between Ireland and the United States led me to search for career opportunities in the federal government, which led me to participate in the Cox-State Department Diplomacy Seminar," Torres said. That seminar in 2019 changed her future trajectory. "After the Cox-State Seminar simulations, I recognized that I obtained the skills and interests necessary to embrace the Consular Officer role and would be interested in seeking a permanent position within the Department of State," Torres said. "Foreign Service intersects with my personal and professional interests in international relations, public service and cultural exchange. The scholarships have been like stepping stones in forming my career path." PVM Alumna Wins Kentucky Veterinarian of the Year Award for Heart-warming Rescue Dr. Emily Bewley (PU DVM 2011) received the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Associations Veterinarian of the Year Award for 2021 in recognition of her efforts to save a dog named Ethan. Dr. Emily Bewley (PU DVM 2011) of Louisville, Kentucky is one of many Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni who has taken giant leaps since graduation to make a lasting impact on the world around her, and now she has a new honor to add to her list of accomplishments. Dr. Bewley received the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Associations Veterinarian of the Year Award for 2021 at the associations annual awards luncheon last fall. The honor recognized Dr. Bewley for her efforts to save the life of a dog named Ethan that had been dumped in the parking lot of the Kentucky Humane Society in Louisville nearly dead from starvation. Tomorrow, Saturday, January 29, marks one year since Ethan arrived in Dr. Bewleys care. Dr. Bewley earned her DVM degree at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011 and now works as a shelter veterinarian for the Kentucky Humane Society. Born and raised in Louisville, Dr. Bewley attended Assumption High School where she participated in a co-op program that provided her the opportunity to spend a few days each week working at a veterinary office. It was during this time that her love for animals blossomed. When it came time to consider going to college, Dr. Bewley knew instantly that she was meant to be at Purdue. Being close to Louisville and known for its academic excellence, Purdues veterinary medical program seemed to be tailored to her. After graduation, Dr. Bewley went on to work in veterinary emergency and critical care before finding a position with the Kentucky Humane Society and becoming a shelter veterinarian. It was there that her path crossed with Ethans, an abandoned pup in need of help. This encounter would become the most impactful rescue of Dr. Bewleys life. Ethan was found in the parking lot at the Kentucky Humane Society that Saturday one year ago severely underweight and dehydrated. For weeks after he was taken in, Ethan suffered from seizures, numerous lesions, and brain damage to his frontal lobe. His health condition was so severe that Dr. Bewley thought he was passing away, until he decided to eat during her second attempt to feed him. Ethan was the worst case Ive ever seen. Watching his recovery was kind of magical. It was all due to the strength of his heart and the strength of his character, said Dr. Bewley. When Ethan was found in the parking lot, he weighed in at 38 pounds, when he should have weighed 80. He now weighs a healthy 130 pounds and is one loving pup. Ethan is considered a walking miracle due to the extraordinary veterinary care he received. Ethan also was honored by the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association (KVMA) last fall by being inducted into the KVMA Animal Hall of Fame. His plaque, dedicated to Ethan Almighty, reads: In recognition of an animal that exemplifies the affection, loyalty and value of the human/animal bond, and dedication while serving an individual and community. Tomorrow, January 29, Ethan celebrates his one year Found Ya day. Also honored were Kentucky Humane Societys Medical Services Supervisor Jacie Claxton, Veterinary Technician Angela Miksell, and Veterinary Assistants Rebecca van Schepen and Dakota Arnold, all who cared for Ethan during his recovery. They were recognized at the same ceremony where Dr. Bewley was presented with the KVMAs Veterinarian of the Year Award. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life, reflects Dr. Bewley on her recognition. I seriously was not expecting it. I felt so honored. Ethan was adopted by Kentucky Humane Society Facility Director Jeff Calloway and his wife, Dana. He has since acquired quite the following, as he was hired as a beer taster for Busch Beers Dog Brew and invited to throw the first pitch at a Louisville Bats game. The COVID pandemic really made his popularity explode, said Dr. Bewley. People were looking for hope something to hold on to and they were with him all the way. Ethan and Dr. Bewleys story has gone so far as to influence legislation there is currently a pre-filed bill before the current session of the Kentucky General Assembly known as Ethans Bill, which, if passed, would create much stronger animal cruelty laws in Kentucky. Dr. Bewley is now helping foster a new pup, named Travolta, on a journey back to health. The two are inseparable, and Dr. Bewley admits she may end up adopting the foster one day. She provides words of encouragement and advice to anyone looking to pursue a degree in any kind of veterinary practice. Keep your mind open. I never considered shelter medicine. I thought I would do ER and I was president of the student veterinary medicine emergency club one year. Now, I love shelter medicine. You never know where the world is going to take you. Congratulations to Dr. Bewley for her outstanding accomplishment, and happy Found Ya day to Ethan! We cant wait to see the next giant leap your future holds. Writer(s): Madeline Brod, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu KABUL, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and its humanitarian partners have provided humanitarian assistance to millions of people in liquidity crisis-hit Afghanistan during the last four months of 2021, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Friday. The organization wrote on social media platforms that "in the last four months of 2021, the UN and humanitarian partners in Afghanistan reached 9.4 million people with food assistance and 1.6 million people with health care." According to the OCHA, over 276,000 children were treated for acute malnutrition, while 353,000 Afghans received winterization aid during the above period. The donors provided nearly 1.5 billion U.S. dollars for 2021's two humanitarian appeals for Afghanistan. Included were 762 million, or 126 percent, of the 606 million required for the Flash Appeal, and 730 million, or 84 percent, of the 869 million sought in the Humanitarian Response Plan, according to the OCHA. Unikey creator Pham Kim Long Following the successful call for $200 million, MoMo is taking action to cement its position in the market and increase the technological content in its products. Most recently, the company gathered a group of leading scientists in data and AI in its AI Committee. The working group is set up to realize MoMos AI utilization strategy. It is in charge of seeking and developing products and technologies. Established in June 2021, MoMos AI Committee now has seven members, including experts who have worked for the worlds leading technology giants. Dang Hoang Vu, who has a doctorate from Cambridge University, for example, was an expert at Hewlett Packard. Before returning to Vietnam, he worked in the user protection division at Facebook. Since May 2021, Vu has been in charge of the development of platforms using data and AI in MoMos business fields. Another expert for MoMo is Tran Thi Lac Thanh. She is a PhD in computing science from UMass University. She spent many years working in the data science division at Twitter and LinkedIn in Silicon Valley. Another member of the AI Committee is Pham Kim Long, well known as the author of UniKey, the software for typing Vietnamese characters used by most Vietnamese. After resigning from the post of Zalo AI director, Long is now AI R&D Director at MoMo. He leads the teams researching natural language processing technology and computer vision. Asked why he joined MoMos staff at a recent workshop about AI development, Long said he felt that he needed to change to have new challenges. MoMo has a long-term vision in AI and it sets specific goals. The important thing is that it doesnt require results immediately. Tuong (MoMos CEO) has raised a problem for me using AI to solve the question of using chatbots for customer care, Long said. The creator of Unikey said his goal in the time to come is finding a solution with AI to offer more user-friendly experiences. His ambition is to use face identification technology for payment and voice chatbots on the app. MoMo began making heavy investments in AI/Data in 2019. It has used AI for many components of the MoMo app, such as eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer), product recommendation systems, preferential distribution and user protection. The technology unicorn now employs 600 technology engineers, while AI experts account for 20 percent of the total staff. Trong Dat by Leonard Tramiel At one of the many computer trade shows over the years I had a really funny interaction with Bill Gates. I was doing demos on the PET and answering the questions of those that walked by. I noticed a large group of people approaching, but at first I didnt recognize anyone. As they got closer I saw that it was Bill Gates leading the others around. There was a translator repeating what Bill said into Japanese. When they reached me Bill walked up to a PET and typed WAIT 6502,10. This caused the machine to hang and he froze. I said, quietly enough in the loud hall that only he could hear, Bill, theres nothing at 6502 so thats just going to freeze. He turned and gave me a look that was a perfect example of a look that could kill. I knew what he was doing so I turned to the group and said something along the lines of, Microsoft BASIC is a valuable part of this machine. Bill relaxed and the group left the suite. The WAIT command in Microsoft BASIC was an unusual addition to the language that allowed very low level access to the hardware of the system. It would not go to the next step in the program until the memory location in the first parameter met certain criteria, the details dont matter here. There is no doubt that Bill knew this so why would he type something that would hang the machine? There was a bit of special code, now known as an Easter Egg, that, when the location was 6502, would print MICROSOFT! the number of times indicated in the second parameter. He was expecting this to print the name of his company on the screen to indicate that it was his BASIC in the machine. What he didnt know, until then, was that the Easter Egg had been found and removed. Microsoft gave us a fanfold printed listing of BASIC with the Easter Egg hidden by a NOLIST directive which appeared in that listing. John typed in the entire listing to create the source code for BASIC 4.0 and converted all the macro assembly to standard 6502 assembly language. To reveal what was hidden in the NOLIST area, the object code from Microsoft was disassembled. As soon as it became apparent what the code contained, the Easter Egg was removed as it really was a bug that could cause code not to work if a programmer really wanted to execute WAIT 6502! Woodway residents are crying foul about the potential development of a 93-acre tract at the northwestern end of Poage Drive, but city officials say regardless of how many new neighborhood-road-shaped clearings crisscross the land, the owner has not broken any rules. In December, the city of Woodways community services department issued a permit allowing landowner Western Star Ranch LLC to conduct grading and feasibility studies in the area, including survey work and geotechnical boring for soil samples. Builder Mark Wester also showed the department rough plans to divide the land into 75 plats, but has not submitted any official preliminary plats. There are a few areas that we need to bring an excavator in to clear the trees, due to steep grades, the application says. There will be minimal ground disturbances in the area. Lori Whitsell, who can see the 93-acre tract from her backyard on Woodfall Drive, said vehicles have been coming and going from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week since October. Even on Thanksgiving, even on Christmas Eve, there are excavators crushing up trees, big trucks backing up with the beep, beep, beep, and incredible dust flying everywhere, Whitsell said. I cant open my windows, cannot sit in my back yard. During the last Woodway City Council meeting, a large group of residents came out to speak against the tree clearing, mulching and bulldozing. Earl Haberman Jr., who registered Western Star Ranch LLC with the Texas Secretary of State in September 2020, two months before buying the 93-acre property from Fairway Ranches LTD, declined to comment for this article. The LLC also bought a 15-acre tract on Harbor Drive from Fairway Ranches and another 3.8 acres west of the 93-acre tract from a Brett Sanders later that year. Phillip Reeder, Whitsells friend and next-door neighbor, presented photos of the paths already carved into the property, which he said are obviously shaped like residential streets and cul-de-sacs, calling it an evident major housing development already underway. These 90-foot wide streets and 200-foot wide cul-de-sacs made with heavy equipment occur without any notice to adjoining residential property owners or any public hearing from commentators, Reeder said. Reeder said the clearings line up with the roads for the 75-plat sketch the builders showed the city. Mitch Davison, director of community services for the city of Woodway, said the soil testing is the first step toward the residential development the outspoken residents fear, but the owners would need to get approval from the planning and zoning commission, the city and the county before building could start. Before starting construction, Western Star Ranch would need to apply for a preliminary plat, which is a map of how the land would be subdivided into separate lots and where streets and utilities would go. If the planning and zoning commission approved a preliminary plat, the owner would then submit a final plat, complete with detailed construction plans, to the county and the planning and zoning commission for a recommendation. Then, the plan would go before the Woodway City Council for approval during a meeting. If approved, then construction on a development could start. During the last city council meeting, Whitsell accused city leaders of deliberately misleading area residents and hiding behind protocol. Reeder also asked the council a series of questions, including whether anyone on the council or city staff stands to gain anything financially from the development of the land, whether the developer will take on the cost of the infrastructure the development would need, and whether there are any traffic engineering reports available showing the impact of a large development on the surrounding areas. Reeder and several other speakers questioned what the environmental impact of such a project would be, because the land is located next to the Bosque River and Lake Waco, which are under U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdiction. Parts of the property are in a federally designated special flood hazard area. Woodway City Manager Shawn Oubre said so far, Western Star Ranch LLC has the proper permits for the soil testing and clearing taking place on the property, but residents are frustrated they do not have more specifics on the owners plans. They ask a lot of valid questions, they have a lot of valid concerns, but we dont have the answers because none of those filings have been filed with the city, Oubre said. We can only give you documents or information that we have, and so its caused this friction. Paula Teer, who lives on Poage Drive near the 93-acre tract, said she found tire tracks on her lawn and captured footage of cars belonging to a survey company crossing her property. She said she called Woodway police to complain, who issued the driver a warning. She said she is also worried about the impact development could have on her land, citing the frequent flooding on her property near the border the Western Star Ranch land that already leaves the ground soggy on a regular basis. I dont want to be encroached on, Teer said. Ive been here 14 years, Im a taxpayer. I live here, my child goes to school here and will be graduating next year. I have invested a lot in my property. I dont want someone with 93 acres to feel like they can encroach and stomp me out. In a follow-up interview, Whitsell said after she held a news conference with local TV stations where she shared photos of excavators on the tract, Woodway police officers came to her house Jan. 12 and told her Haberman had accused her of trespassing to get the pictures. Whitsell said she told them she took the photos from her backyard, where she has a clear view of the excavators. She received a warning. Now I think were just waiting for more clarity, Whitsell said. When you see the pictures down there, theres more than soil sampling. To me, something is just not right. Many of the people at the council meeting who spoke in opposition to the eventual development brought up the soil conditions in that part of Woodway, which have stymied development efforts for decades. In 2009, the city and Baylor University geologists worked together to build a detailed interactive map for prospective builders showing the makeup of Woodways soil. In many areas, Austin chalk and soft shale prone to absorbing moisture create unstable terrain prone to landslides. The 93-acre tract has never been divided into separate lots for development, though it is surrounded by land already divvied up for residential homes. In the 1990s it was rezoned as a Planned Unit Development, owing to a failed effort to build an even larger residential neighborhood called the Lost River development. L.M. Dyson, an associate professor of finance, insurance and real estate at Baylor University, planned to build a 425-acre golf course, clubhouse, vacation rentals and 600 houses on the land as early as 1993. In 2000, Dyson announced MKD Capital Corp. of New York would advance $18 million toward the project, and the city of Woodway approved preliminary plats that would have required the extension of Poage Drive. By October of that year, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported Dyson was being sued by one of the people who lent him money for the project in 1997. He never submitted a final plat, and Lost River was lost for good. Seven years later, Waco lawyer Gary Tully set out to develop 240 acres between Estates Drive and Lake Waco into the Lake Forest Addition, a 400-home residential development, despite soil issues. Like Lost River, it would have merited extending Poage Drive if the project had expanded that far. Woodway Mayor Jane Kittner, who has served on the city council since 1995 and remembers the Lost River development, said she thinks it is only natural for neighbors to be resistant to a new development so close by, whether they are in Woodway or any other city. Whoever is there first is never happy with whoever comes next, Kittner said. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Helen Marie Taylor, whose love for Waco and her adopted hometown of Richmond, Virginia, moved her to create history museums in both states, has died, longtime friend Bettie Beard confirmed Thursday. She was 98. Taylor in the 1980s bought an old school at 701 Jefferson Ave., and in 1993 unveiled the Taylor Museum of Waco Life and History. History buffs and school classrooms toured the building for years, soaking up Americana and Taylors ode to an older Waco, one that included segregation, Jim Crow laws and cultural celebrations such as the Cotton Palace Pageant. Though well into her 90s, Taylor in recent years joined efforts against removing statues of Confederate leaders Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis along Richmonds Monument Avenue, where she lived since 1964. Her activism led to protesters throwing firecrackers and rocks at her home, with Taylor labeling them snakes, scoundrels and graffiti goons, The Washington Post reported in 2020. Standing up and being herself got her admired, but also got her in trouble, Beard said. She threw a fit on Monument Avenue when they were trying to remove Robert E. Lee. She may have even tied herself to a tree. She was fiercely protective of the Waco museum that carries her name, even as its fortunes turned for the worse. Don Davis, former executive director of the Historic Waco Foundation, recalls the foundations efforts about a decade ago to get involved in running the Helen Marie Taylor Museum. The deal fell through because we felt as Helen Marie viewed things, we would do all the work and she would make all the decisions, Davis said. We wanted to set up a board, but she didnt want that. She wanted absolute control. He said members of a previous board resigned en masse. My comment would be that Helen Marie did a great service to Waco by creating a museum. Unfortunately, she could not keep it open, Davis said. Davis, an architect by trade, said his family and Taylors knew each other most of their lives. He talked with her weekly during negotiations over Historic Waco Foundations involvement, and even traveled to Richmond on more than one occasion. Their contact ended when talks ceased, he said. Davis said he absolutely believes a well-run museum devoted to Wacos rich history is needed and would be well received. He said he does not know where the Helen Marie Taylor Museum goes from here, mentioning that Taylors two sons were not necessarily interested in that museum. Technically speaking, the museum has not closed its doors. Beard said tours are provided by appointment only. She remains optimistic its future can be secured, though not necessarily as Taylor envisioned. Much depends on the instructions she left, and the execution of her estate. Beard said she loved and admired Taylor, shortcomings and all. From her bed, she raised money to put new hardwood floors in the museum, which was damaged when the pipes burst during last Februarys freeze, Beard said. I told her, If you take care of that, Ill try to take care of the other. Were getting the kitchen back up and running, which will cost less than a few thousand dollars. Shes paying the bills out of her pocket. Beard said Taylor doted on her Waco museum, even from afar. She was still running it from Virginia, Beard said. We had a board in Waco once, and she asked me to try to reorganize it. I told her what I would do, that I would try to find people who are supportive, friends of the museum, maybe an advisory committee. A museum like this needs someone who knows about museums, giving tours and acquiring artifacts. She said Taylor until the end made the museum a priority. A get-together was planned there in conjunction with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and she said, Bettie, get as many people in there as you can. Often, before her health worsened six or seven months ago, Taylor would fly from Virginia to Waco, where she would rent a car to drive herself while staying a few days at a hotel in Bellmead. Concern for Taylors safety on Interstate 35 prompted friends to follow her back to the hotel one evening. Her personality she was assertive. One might say dogmatic, Beard said. She was small in stature, and I think sometimes she worried people might take advantage of her. She was totally involved. If something needed to be cleaned, repaired, she saw to it that it got done. She was cognitively aware, though as days went by, she responded more slowly. Our conversations once were two or three hours long. Lately, they were more like 15 minutes. I would tell her how much I loved her and appreciated her. Destiny Hallman, 37, who has led tours at the museum, became emotional talking about what Taylor meant to her, recalling their hourslong conversations by phone. She never had the opportunity to meet Taylor, and trip she and others planned to Richmond was canceled because of COVID-19. We talked about a little bit of everything, stories she heard from her grandmother. When I heard those stories, I could see them like a movie. She did, too, Hallman said. She told about her memory of wearing a polka-dot dress and her dad wearing a suit, and theyre walking beside a little brick wall over a natural spring. People dont appreciate their elders like they used to, carry on traditions like they used to. I was raised by my grandparents. My grandfather, R.C. Hallman, never preached for money, but on Sundays, hed go to jail and preach between church that morning and church that evening. In between wed watch a little bit of football together, back when the Cowboys were doing good, back in the 1990s. Taylor was born in Waco and attended school at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She also served as entertainment director for the United States 7th Army during World War II, The Washington Post reported. Besides her Waco museum, Taylor founded the James Madison Museum in Orange, Virginia, and theaters or performing arts organizations in multiple states, according to a 2010 Virginia Senate resolution commending her. Taylor is related by marriage to former President Zachary Taylor. Services are pending in Virginia, Beard 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. DEAR NEIL: Post big freeze of last February, we have had lots of sucker-type growth on our huge live oaks limbs. Is it time to cut this off? Any suggestions of how we might have this done? Dear Reader: Assuming the old branches are not dying back and in need of being replaced, yes, you could remove much of this twiggy internal growth. I would probably want a certified arborist on site to determine how much thinning was necessary. He or she could also monitor any kind of freeze damage done to the tree. Sometimes the sprouts become important to new limb development, and the arborist would be able to determine that. As small as the sprouts are now, a machete might be useful. Or a small chainsaw. Its probably work best left to a pro. Remember, too, that pruning work on oaks is best done before mid-February to lessen the chance of spread of oak wilt. DEAR NEIL: I have a small persimmon tree that needs to be transplanted. Can that be done now in winter? Dear Reader: Trees and shrubs that need to be dug and relocated should be moved while they are completely dormant. Yes, winter is the ideal time. Try to carry a ball of soil intact with its root system as you move it. DEAR NEIL: I have attached a photo from my St. Augustine lawn from last year. I assume I have either a fungus or an armyworm problem. Can I treat the grass while it is dormant now? And, this question from another reader: DEAR NEIL: We had these patches in our St. Augustine a couple of months ago. I did not get the photograph sent to you back then. Is there anything we should be doing now? Dear Reader: To my first reader, armyworms do not bother St. Augustine. Its possible that this was chinch bug damage from last summer, but Id rather imagine that it is brown patch fungus (also called large patch) from the fall. You and the second reader probably had brown patch outbreaks once the weather turned cooler. Brown patch attacks only the blades of the grass. It causes them to decay and pull loose easily from the runners. You can use the fungicide Azoxystrobin to control it when it is active, but there is no product to use at this time. DEAR NEIL: Years ago I bought liriope to border for shrub bed. Unfortunately, I ended up with a spreading type instead of a clumping form. Ive been able to stop it from spreading into the bed, but now it is spreading outward into my St. Augustine. When I try to pull it out, I pull up runners of the St. Augustine with it. Is there a way to remove it from my lawn? Dear Reader: All types of liriope do eventually spread, some just more rapidly than others. I have had very good luck in the same situation by using the green metal edging that you can buy in nurseries and hardware stores. I actually make an outer boundary and an inner boundary with the edging. I drive it into the ground almost flush with the soil surface. My liriope and its sister, monkey grass, rarely sneak past it. I have actually used the edging to keep those two groundcovers separated from one another. You might try applying a broad-leafed weedkiller (containing 2,4-D) to the liriope in your turf area, but youll need to do so with a foam rubber paintbrush to avoid drift getting where you dont want the herbicide. DEAR NEIL: I love zucchini and use it in many different recipes, but since I moved to Texas Ive been unable to grow it. I always thought it was the easiest of all vegetables. I get all male flowers, so obviously I never get any fruit. And then something eats the leaves down to the stalks. What can I do? Dear Reader: Many insects could be eating the leaves, whether grasshoppers or some type of caterpillars. The fact that youre only getting male flowers is far more puzzling. To bring everyone up to speed, squash and other cucurbits produce male and female flowers separately. Male flowers have conspicuous pollen, while the female flowers have swollen bases where the fruit will form. Male flowers are produced for the first week or two, probably as natures way of guaranteeing that pollen will be available when the plant is mature enough to produce female blooms and, therefore, fruit. I wonder if there is any chance that you gave up on the plants too soon before the female flowers might have kicked in. Or if the leaves were devoured too early in the game. Sevin dust probably would help with the chewing pests. Im afraid thats the best I can come up with with the facts that I have. Have a question youd like Neil to consider? Email him at mailbag@sperrygardens.com. Neil regrets that he cannot reply to questions individually. ISLAMABAD, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Four security personnel were killed and three others were injured when a bomb went off in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, police officials said on Friday. A search team of paramilitary Pakistan Levies forces was conducting patrolling in Dera Bugti district of the province when an improvised explosive device exploded, Deputy Superintendent of Police in Dera Bugti Issa Jan Rind told Xinhua. Rescue teams, police and security forces rushed to the site after the explosion and shifted the bodies and the injured to a nearby hospital. Police and security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest the culprits. No group or individual has claimed the attack yet. Judge endorsement As a steering committee member of Citizens for Pro-Life Action, I participated in an extensive interview with Judge Ryan Luna, candidate for McLennan County Court-at-Law No. 3 in the March 1 Republican primary. I was very impressed. We found his commitment to decide cases based on the facts and the law, not legislating from the bench, to be very refreshing. Judge Luna, his wife Genesis and his four children are active members of First Baptist Church of Woodway. He was appointed judge of McLennan County Court-at-Law No. 3 in June of 2021 by the McLennan County Commissioners Court. He was sworn in and began serving on the bench Sept. 1, 2021. With an undergraduate degree in business from Baylor University, Judge Luna received his law degree from Baylor Law School several years later. Since serving the greater Waco community as a civil litigator for the past number of years, Judge Luna has also served on the board of Care Net Pregnancy Center from 2020-2021. With past service as director of Mission Wacos legal clinic, Judge Luna continues his community service on the adult probation board of McLennan County. Not only does Luna say he is pro-life, he also lives it by supporting pro-life causes and organizations. As a Christian first, Judge Luna has stated that he will never allow anything to come between him and his duty to God and the Constitution. Judge Ryan Luna is the kind of judge that we have been lacking in America for so long. His courage and boldness to stand for what is right, true and just is why Citizens for Pro-Life Action is endorsing him for judge of McLennan County Court-at-Law No. 3 in the Republican primary. Steve Bowles, China Spring Driving in Waco For all of the folks moving to Waco from the big cities, please remember the following. When the signal light turns red, youre supposed to stop. When it turns green, you can proceed. Its not really that hard to understand. Have a great day. Gerald McCauley, Waco * * * Whatever happened to the skill and science of timed streetlights? Eighteenth, 26th and especially 41st streets would be improved as thoroughfares to avoid stop-and-go riding in Waco. Maria Malachi, Waco Return to woe I was 7 years old at the time of World War II. I remember air raid drills with total darkness and black sheets covering the windows. I remember being sent to the small corner grocery to await the bread truck in hopes of a loaf. I remember coal burning furnaces for heat, and fear of John L. Lewis going on strike so there would be no coal at all. An ice man delivering one block of ice for your wooden ice box refrigerator. To purchase a new appliance, your name was put on a long waiting list. Absolutely no new cars. And cars were one per family. Women did the work of men and fruit and nuts were our delight in Christmas stockings. Are we there again? Pray for us and planet Earth. Jenny Taylor, Waco As the first woman general manager at Cargills Waco protein processing plant, Stephanie Peters is a trailblazer. She sees herself as a problem-solver. Ive just always been somebody who enjoys solving the problems of each day, she said. And every day has its challenges. Thats especially true when youre the person in charge of hundreds of employees of a major food processor. Shes been general manager at Cargill since October 2020, ascending to the top position after nearly 29 years at the same plant. That too is a rarity, she notes, as most managers tend to move around and find positions at other Cargill plants. The Waco native said she feels blessed to have been able to continue to work and raise her family here. She and her husband Aaron have three children, two teens a boy and girl and a married daughter with their first grandchild on the way. Peters attended University Middle and High schools and earned a degree in agriculture business and management from Sam Houston State University before returning to Central Texas. While shes been general manager a little more than a year, she half-heartedly jokes that that past year felt more like a decade at times. It was an especially busy and challenging 2021, she said, with two project startups, a major computer project, the February ice storm, and of course, everyones albatross, COVID-19. As a food-processing plant, Cargill has had to remain hyper-vigilant with its health protocols to keep all its employees safe, she said. Its felt never-ending, Peters said. You think youre coming out of the worst of it and then cases spike again. Peters has moved through the ranks during her nearly three decades at the plant. Over the first 21 years she served as purchasing, inventory and product costing manager. Those werent initially all together, but she added those roles as the need required. I was on the purchasing side when Cargill bought Plantation Foods in 1998 and then I got into inventory, she said. I had a boss who when an issue arose I had to go to the floor and find out what the problem was before bringing it to management, she said. It was about getting involved and figuring out the problem. She added the duties of project costing when the person in that role left. After that she became accounting and finance team leader from September 2014 to December 2017, then operations manager until her promotion to general manager. As a general manager youre able to touch every aspect of our business, whether its maintenance, engineering, the financial side, health and safety She uses all the skills from her years of experience to oversee a plant that moves out 1.5 million pounds of product a week, she said. Peters says she didnt really give much thought to the idea of being a role model for other women, until she starting thinking back to the early 2000s when shed be in management meetings and realized she was the only woman there. Why was I at the table? It was because of my interest, knowledge and experience, she said. Peters added that she is proud of Cargills support of projects like the Leading Waco Women summits sponsored by the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, area FFA and 4-H members and their livestock, and McLennan County Pack of Hope, which provides food for nutritionally challenged students. Peters considers her role as general manager as also being an overall team leader for the plant. I see myself as someone who brings people along, who provides that encouragement and allows them to believe in themselves, she said. Her family raises cattle and Peters loves living in the country. Long walks in the pasture and watching the sunset in addition to being outdoors with her family bring her a sense of peace, she said. That serves her well because running the plant has its own challenges to address. Every day brings something new, she 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. ASHLAND The kindergarten students eagerly donned their cow hats and lined up for a picture. Holding pictures of Queenie, the dairy cow they adopted, along with ears of corn and soybean stalks, they smiled as they posed with the teacher who is showing them first-hand the impact agriculture has on their lives. Diane Starns has been incorporating agriculture into her kindergarten curriculum at Ashland-Greenwood Elementary School for several years through the Agriculture in the Classroom program. Her work has been recognized by the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, which manages the program in the state. Earlier this month she was named the 2022 Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. The award recognizes teachers for integrating agriculture in the classroom and emphasizing the importance of agriculture to their students. Thirteen years ago Starns joined a pen pal program through the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation that paired her class with a farming family from Clearwater, located in northeast Nebraska. The farm wife wrote regular letters and sent photographs explaining in simple terms how a farm works. Through the letters, they learned about planting crops, when calves are born, the machinery used on a farm and the products that are made from the crops grown in Nebraska. The farmers also sent gifts to the class, including ears of popcorn that Starns prepared in the microwave for her students. Another time, the gifts were snacks made from soybeans. The kids were always excited when we got a letter and especially when we got a box, said Starns. A few years later, Starns implemented more Farm Bureau Foundation programs in her classroom, including their Farming in a Glove lesson plans. Every spring, she gives her students a clear plastic glove that acts as their farm. The students carefully place damp cotton balls and corn or soybean seeds in each finger of the glove. They hang the gloves in a window and watch them carefully for two weeks as they sprout. Starns enthusiasm for incorporating agriculture in her classroom continued to grow over the years. Through a summer program she acquired a microscope that connects to a computer to show the students enlarged pictures of leaves. Her classroom has a grow light that they use to grow flowers and grass. One of the most recent lessons Starns has brought into her classroom is the Midwest Dairys Adopt a Dairy Cow program. Using live video chats, photos, activity sheets and other learning activities, the students are learning about the dairy industry as they follow the life of Queenie the dairy cow. The program began with her birth in September at a dairy farm in Beaver Crossing. One of the activities included making cow hats out of construction paper. The students love to wear the hats as they hear updates about their cow. The kids are just all excited about all of those things, said Starns. Starns also invites agriculture education specialists into her classroom to provide enhanced learning experiences for the students. The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation provides grade-specific lessons for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, these lessons were presented via video platforms last year. This year, they have resumed in-person visits. The hands-on lessons grab the attention of her kindergarten students. The lessons are very engaging for kids, Starns said. It is necessary to incorporate these lessons in the classroom in a rural school district like Ashland-Greenwood, where agriculture is everywhere. We have farm ground all around us, said Starns. Starns has roots in agriculture as well. Her husbands family operates a farm in the Ashland area. While he is not a full time farmer, Joel Starns helps out during planting and harvest, working for his family and other area farmers. Its in his blood, she said. The fact that a small kernel of corn can grow into a tall, sturdy plant has always been fascinating to Starns. She happily shares that enthusiasm with her students. To see the change from a seed sprouting into a plant is awesome, she said. Agriculture can be used as a learning tool for many subjects. It can be tied into so many different things, Starns said. For example, the Farming in a Glove project incorporates science methods as the students draw the changes they see in the seeds, as well as language arts while they formulate questions and collect data. The pen pal program also applies reading and writing principles. Being honored as Teacher of the Year was a complete surprise to Starns. She had considered applying for the award, but got busy and missed the Dec. 6 deadline. Fortunately, someone else had the same idea and nominated her anonymously. According to Ashland-Greenwood Elementary Principal Teresa Bray, the award is a fitting tribute to Starns, who has taught kindergarten at AGES for 24 years. Ms. Starns is very deserving of this award. She has implemented many engaging lessons and activities in her kindergarten classroom as a result of being involved with the Nebraska Agriculture in the Classroom program. The students love these hands-on activities, said Bray. As winner of the Teacher of the Year award, Starns will receive a dozen books about agriculture and additional literature guides, a $250 cash prize to use in her classroom and a trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. in June, where she and the other state winners will be recognized. While the awards ceremony will be exciting, Starns is really looking forward to talking with other teachers about using agricultural concepts in the classroom and discovering new projects and lessons for her students. So much of it matches what we already do, so its basically an extension of the many great things we do in the classroom, she said. Suzi Nelson is the managing editor of the Wahoo Newspaper. Reach her via email at suzi.nelson@wahoonewspaper.com. INDEPENDENCE An appeal brought by an Independence woman convicted of killing her ex-husband and driving off with their young son has been denied. Hillary Lee Hunziker had challenged her first-degree murder conviction claiming the trial judge should have let her change court-appointed attorneys and should have delayed trial because of a scheduling conflict with an expert witness for the defense. Authorities said that when Hillary Hunzikers attempts to gain custody of their child by lodging unfounded abuse complaints failed, she bought knives and flashlights and sneaked into the home of Jason Hunziker in November 2017. The ex-husband was stabbed 20 times, and Hillary Hunziker fled with their then-9-year-old son with a plan to drive to Minnesota. Police intercepted her, still spattered in blood, at a relatives home in Robins, Iowa. At trial, the defense argued Hillary Hunziker was insane on the night of the slaying. She had had seven earlier mental health hospitalizations and around of the time of the incident had experienced sleep problems because she ran out of medication. A Buchanan County jury found her guilty during a December 2019 trial, and she was sentenced to life in prison. Hillary Hunziker asked the Court of Appeals to overturn her conviction because the defense had to use a videotape deposition of a psychiatrist who concluded she was psychotic was unable to travel to Iowa to testify in person. She also argued that the judge should have given her a different attorney when she claimed there was a conflict of interest before trial. She never specified the grounds for the conflict of interest, but a mental health exam indicated she talked of hearing voices on the jails intercom system that told her the attorney wasnt any good. The Iowa Court of Appeals sided with the state when it turned down her appeal in a ruling filed Jan. 12. 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. Weather Alert ...MORE WINDY DAYS ON THE WAY, WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES AND RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS FOR MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND... --Thursday and Friday-- * A pair of systems brushing through the region will bring gusty winds both days, with even stronger winds possible on Friday. Winds will bring travel difficulties both in the air and on the ground. Travel restrictions for high profile vehicles are possible. Check with CalTrans/NDOT for the current road information. Please see the latest hazard text products for the latest information on anticipated wind speeds. * Area of blowing dust are possible both afternoons downwind of the Carson Sink, possibly affecting portions of I-80, US 50, and Highway 95. In addition, backcountry and ski recreation could be impacted along with choppy conditions on area lakes. * A few light showers with minimal liquid totals are possible in far northern Nevada and northeast California. --Mother's Day Weekend into Early Next Week-- * It will remain breezy throughout the weekend, with a secondary max in wind speeds on Sunday due to a strong cold front. This front will usher in a much colder air mass and high temperatures on Mother's Day will be 15-20 degrees below normal. * There will be rain and snow showers with the front, but again, liquid amounts will be minimal. There are solid chances for snow levels to fall to all valley floors by Sunday evening, which may catch many off guard, though it is hard to get snow to stick to roadways in lower elevation valleys this late in the spring. * Well below normal temperatures and chances for light showers will continue into Monday and Tuesday next week. While still some uncertainty due to winds and cloud cover, it's possible we could have frost and freeze concerns Sunday and Monday nights. ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 9 PM PDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph expected. Wind prone areas may experience gusts in excess of 60 mph. Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph and waves of 2 to 4 feet expected on Pyramid Lake. * WHERE...Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area and Western Nevada Basin and Range including Pyramid Lake. * WHEN...From 11 AM to 9 PM PDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects and high profile vehicles will be prone to tip over. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Blowing dust may locally reduce visibility downwind of dry lake beds and sinks. Small boats, kayaks and paddle boards will be prone to capsizing. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel restrictions for high profile vehicles are possible. Check with NDOT for the latest on road conditions. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Now is the time to secure loose outdoor items such as patio furniture, holiday decorations, and trash cans before winds increase which could blow these items away. The best thing to do is prepare ahead of time by making sure you have extra food and water on hand, flashlights with spare batteries and/or candles in the event of a power outage. Check lake conditions before heading out on the water and be prepared for a sudden increase in winds and wave heights. Consider postponing boating activities on the lake until a day with less wind. && KABUL, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan has signed a deal with Turkmenistan on a power line project for the Noor-al-Jihad substation recently activated in western part of Afghanistan, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), the country's main power supply company said on Friday. "After four days of talks held in Kabul among the DABS officials and members of a visiting delegation of Turkmenistan and representatives of Turkish Calik Enerji company, the contract for the extension of Noor-al-Jihad substation electricity from 110 kV to 220 kV has been signed," the company said in a statement. According to the company, the project involves double circuit power transmission line of 220 kV from 110 kV. A couple of days ago, the high-level delegation from Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan arrived in the Afghan capital Kabul to discuss the legal and technical issues of cooperation on power projects including the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan power project and the Noor-al-Jihad substation. Afghanistan has been facing power shortages. The mountainous country needs 850 megawatts of electricity per year, with 620 megawatts imported from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Iran, and 230 megawatts supplied by domestic sources, according to DABS officials. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close San Francisco to apologize to Chinese immigrants for past atrocities Xinhua) 08:31, January 28, 2022 SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- San Francisco is expected to become the next U.S. city to formally apologize for past atrocities against the Chinese community, following Antioch, San Jose and Los Angeles, as more and more cities are reflecting on the country's racist history. Unanimously, the resolution to apologize to Chinese immigrants and their descendants, introduced by Supervisor Matt Haney last year, passed at the Budget and Finance committee on Wednesday. "The Chinese community in San Francisco has a deep and rich history but we have to acknowledge the harmful wrongs that our city has committed against this community," said Haney at a hearing of the Budget and Finance Committee. "Although many of these injustices occurred long ago, it's clear this discrimination continues to happen today. This apology and commitment to budget investments will not erase what has been done, but is a necessary step for us to address the continued violence and discrimination that the Chinese community is still experiencing," he said. The resolution was written in partnership with former students from the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), who brought the resolution to Haney's attention. Many of the policies outlined in the resolution sought to undermine the progress of Chinese immigrants by banning them from schools and the levers of power. For example, in 1860, California's Education Code prohibited Asian students from attending public schools with white students; in 1870, the SFUSD closed the Chinese schools without providing any public school alternatives for Chinese students. Additionally, the 1870 Consolidation Act barred anyone of Chinese descent to be employed in the state, county, municipal governments, or other public work, except as a punishment for crime. These laws prevented the integration of Chinese people in the San Francisco community despite their many contributions, said the resolution. "The Chinese community has a deep history in San Francisco. Additionally, today we are over 23 percent of the city's population. San Francisco must issue an apology for historical wrongdoings in order to make progress in solving the critical problems of discrimination and racism facing America today," said Dennis Casey Wu, one of the three students who initiated the efforts for the resolution, at Wednesday's hearing. "I know some people are going to say that an official apology is a fairly performative activism, but personally, I feel an apology would be notable as it would be an important step in advocating social justice and equity," he said. Other supervisors, including Gordon Mar and Connie Chan, also spoke at the hearing in support of the resolution. "Today's resolution is a positive step in addressing generations of wrongdoings, stemming back to the Chinese Exclusion Act that found its roots in restricting Chinese immigration here in California," said Chan. However, to begin healing from these wrongs, the city needs to commit to funding and investing in the community, she said. Similarly, Justin Hoover, executive director of the Chinese Historical Society of America, said the city has to commit to future budget investments. "An apology is not enough unless it's met with real action and budget solutions that will truly benefit the community," he said. The Chinese Apology resolution will be voted on by the full Board of Supervisors next week, followed by budget hearings to occur in the upcoming months at the Budget Appropriations Committee to finalize budget investments for the Asian American community. This legislation follows similar actions taken by the cities of Antioch, San Jose and Los Angeles, which have all passed similar resolutions last year. These apologies come at a time of increased hate and violence against people of Asian descent in the country. During the period from March 2020 to September 2021, Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition aimed at addressing anti-Asian discrimination, received a total of 10,370 reports of hate incidents against Asian Americans across the United States. Its latest data show one in five Asian Americans have experienced a hate incident in the past year. The public acknowledgment of the dark history of systemic racism against Chinese immigrants is "timely" as the nation is called upon to curb the wave of hate speech and violence against Asian Americans, said Mar. "Facing our past mistakes head-on" is an important step towards "healing, safety and justice," he added. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) ISTANBUL, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkey is experiencing a boom in coworking spaces, a cost-effective and innovative alternative to the conventional offices, providing a unique opportunity for their users to socialize amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and rising prices. In Istanbul, Turkey's largest city and financial hub, thousands of freelancers, startups, and businesses have adopted the shared working space concept in the past five years. Turkish entrepreneur Suleyman Coruh believes that "hybrid working is the new normal." He is the director of Plazacubes, a company that offers shared offices in Istanbul, the capital city of Ankara, and the western city of Izmir. "The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed workers indoors in virtual workspaces, but employers have noticed that it had also eroded the company culture," he told Xinhua. "As an alternative to the conventional office, we offer a modern workplace, a place for people to connect with their peers, to exchange ideas and thus to end a recluse way of working," he told Xinhua. His company is the first in Turkey, providing shared office spaces since 2006. "The business is booming, and now there are around 300 companies in this sector," Coruh stressed. The sharp depreciation of the Turkish currency in 2021 has also pushed many firms and freelancers towards a cheaper option. "When a client signs a lease, it is shielded from price increases in utility, furniture, and construction. We offer them an entire package, so they only need to come with a laptop, that's all, and the coffee is included," the businessman smilingly added. Electricity and natural gas prices have seen major hikes in recent months in Turkey, which is heavily reliant on energy imports. Plazacubes's clients include many multinational firms, such as the Chinese tech giant ByteDance, which is renting an entire floor in one of their Istanbul locations. "Chinese people are very dedicated to their work, and we offer our services to several Chinese companies who are happy to work with us," he added. Yalcin Boncuk, the information technology director at Plazacubes, said that the hybrid work model gained momentum over the last few years. Coworking has become a top choice for those seeking increased flexibility in how and where they work, he noted, adding that small startups and big multinationals can work side by side in a relaxed environment. Selin Diner, an interior designer, has been using a coworking office since 2018. She said it was one of the best professional decisions she ever made. "I have found friends here who work like me, and we take part in yoga classes together in the complex," she told Xinhua from her office in the Maltepe district, Istanbul. "The center is very spacious with a peaceful atmosphere. Working there is very enjoyable for me because there's a real community," she said. Diner explained that she pays monthly rents to the office, which is much cheaper than renting an entire office and buying office electronics and supplies. "Rather than signing a lease for an office that's years-long, you can rent an office month to month, and if you want to change a location in the city, you easily can," Diner added. Quarterly Activities and Cashflow Report Perth, Jan 27, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Venus Metals Corporation Limited's ( ASX:VMC ) activities conducted during the quarter ending 31 December 2021 include and highlight the following:YOUANMI GOLD PROJECT:Four Joint Ventures are in place between Venus and Rox Resources Ltd (RXL or Rox): OYG JV (Venus 30%; RXL 70%), VMC JV (Venus 50%; RXL 50%), Youanmi JV (Venus 45%; RXL 45%) and Currans Find JV (Venus 45%; RXL 45%)YOUANMI GOLD MINE (30% Venus):- Youanmi Total Mineral Resource increased to 3 Moz Au (refer RXL ASX release 20 January 2022). Importantly, this current resource update only includes drilling results to the end of October 2021; the Youanmi surface resource was not updated in the current estimation, and it remains pending.- Albion Process Technology test work achieved an average of 92.2% gold extraction (up to 94%) for Youanmi Deeps mineralisation (refer RXL ASX release 23 December 2021).HENDERSON PROJECT (E30/520 90% Venus):- Historical geological mapping and recent fieldwork by Venus identified pegmatite dykes cross-cutting the greenstone sequence at Venus' Snake Hill and Emerald South Prospects.- Ninety seven rock samples were collected during a reconnaissance field visit to characterize the pegmatites; re-assaying of selected samples is in progress. A further 44 surface samples were collected during a follow-up field campaign, with assays pending.- Drill-testing of prospective pegmatites and gold targets is planned.BRIDGETOWN EAST PROJECT (100% Venus)- Phase-3 soil sampling completed across four Cu-Ni-Pd-Pt target areas; assays are pending.- Planning and scheduling of high-powered ground geophysical surveys.- Lithium exploration progressing.MANGAROON NORTH PROJECT (100% Venus):- Multiple target areas identified by initial regional geochemical reconnaissance survey.- Total rare earth oxide (TREO) concentrations of up to 1,611 ppm in soil (E 08/3229) and anomalous neodymium (316 ppm Nd) in an ironstone specimen indicate potential for rare earth mineralization. Encouraging palladium (Pd) anomalies in soil (max. 21 ppb Pd) associated with north-northeast trending Mundine Well dolerites, and up to 429 ppb gold in soil.- Follow-up fieldwork planned at rare earth and precious metals targets.*To view the full quarterly report, please visit:About Venus Metals Corporation Limited Venus Metals Corporation Limited (ASX:VMC) is a West Australian based Company with a focus on gold and base metals exploration. The Company aims to increase shareholder value through targeted exploration success on its projects. The Company's major gold project is the Youanmi Gold Mine, located 500km north east of Perth. The Youanmi Gold Mine is now jointly owned by Venus Metals (30%) and Rox Resources Limited (70%) (OYG JV); Indicated and Inferred Resources of the mine is 1.7 million ounces of gold. Exciting new discoveries at the Youanmi Gold Mine have been made at the Grace prospect in footwall granites where very high grades of free milling gold have been intersected, including 25m @34.7g/t Au from 143m (RXRC 287) and 13m @60.49 g/t from 181m (RXRC 239). The Grace Prospect may substantially add to the Youanmi Gold Mine resources. December 2021 Quarterly Activities Report Melbourne, Jan 28, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cohiba Minerals Limited ( ASX:CHK ) provides below an update in relation to the exploration activities carried out during the December 2021 quarter.Olympic Domain TenementsHorse Well AreaThe Company completed drill hole HWDD05W1 as a curved wedge hole from drill hole HWDD05 on 20 October 2021, at a dip of 59.9deg and an azimuth TN of 40.5deg for a final hole length of 1,335.7m (vertical depth of approximately 1,290m).The drill core (Figure 1*) from HWDD05W1 was photographed and transported to Adelaide where it was logged in detail and the core filleted for full suite analysis by ALS laboratories.The Company continued to engage subject matter experts to undertake detailed investigations of the drill core from the Horse Well Project. The investigations included mineralogical, petrological and geochemical studies to provide detailed data to inform future drillhole locations.A total of 26 technical summaries were generated to capture all of the technical discussions, correspondence, key findings and postulations between the subject matter experts in order to optimise the exploration decision-making process.The Company conducted a heritage survey on November 8 - 11, 2021 in partnership with the Kokatha people and Australian Heritage Surveys as a requirement of the Exploration Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation (EPEPR) for the proposed Horse Well drilling program (Figure 2*).The annual activity summaries, expenditure reports and compliance reports were all up to date.Pernatty CDrill hole PSDDH001 was completed on 15 December 2021 at a dip of 65.9deg and an azimuth TN of 253.8deg and with a total hole length of 1,110.5m. The core (Figure 3) was logged and photographed and transported to secure storage in Adelaide where it was assessed for sampling and assaying.Drill hole PSDDH02 was set up for commencement on 17 December 2021 with drilling set to be underway at the beginning of January 2022.The Company maintained regular meetings with DEM SA in relation to grant funding it received from the Accelerated Discovery Initiative (ADI) grants for strategic drilling at its Pernatty C Project.Lake TorrensThere was no activity on the Lake Torrens tenements during the quarter.A Strategic Plan with full budget estimates was generated for the Olympic Dam tenements as part of the Company's commitment to good management and financial responsibility.Warriner Creek ProjectThe Farm-In Agreement signed with Tigers Dominion Group Pty Ltd over the Warriner Creek Project in the Gawler Craton was held in good standing and all milestones are well on track for timely completion.The Heritage Survey, EPEPR documentation and Woomera Access approvals for the Warriner Creek Project were all completed during the quarter. The drill pads for the first exploration hole was constructed.The Warriner Creek Project comprises 2 tenements under exploration licence to TDG, EL 6324 (Areas A and B) and EL 6533, which cover a combined area of 346 km2 over strategic, shallow IOCG targets in the Gawler Craton (Figure 4*).The Farm-In Agreement comprises an "Initial Period" whereby the Company will assess the prospectivity of the Warriner Creek Project through the expenditure of $600,000 (minimum expenditure) by drilling a 600m drill hole on the eastern part of EL6324, followed by a 400m drill hole on either the eastern or western part of EL6324 (at Cohiba's discretion). The target depth in this part of the Gawler Craton is shallower than the Olympic Domain tenements and as such drilling depths will be significantly shorter.The Company's IOCG experts further reviewed the existing technical information pertaining to the Warriner Creek Project to ensure the drill hole locations were optimised.Pyramid Lake Update (E74/594)The Company has continued to progress towards the final Mining Lease approval over the high-grade part of the Pyramid Lake resource and will look to finalise over the coming months.Wee MacGregor Project UpdateThe Wee MacGregor group comprises three granted mining licences, ML 2504, ML 2773, and ML 90098 located approximately 60km southeast of Mt. Isa (Queensland).All of the documentation to formally and officially transfer 80% of the Wee MacGregor tenements into Cohiba's name was completed and submitted during the quarter.Queensland Exploration LicencesThe extensive documentation for a 5-year renewal over the Mt Cobalt Mine Area (EPM26379) was commenced during the quarter and will be submitted prior to the end of January 2022.All the Queensland tenements are currently in good standing.ActivitiesDuring and subsequent to the December 2021 quarter the Company commenced applications for the proposed trading of the Company's securities on the OTCQB. The Company's application is now in the final stages of the Approval and further updates will be provided once the application has been approved and trading of the Company's securities commences. The Company will continue to have its primary listing on the ASX and subject to, and in compliance with, the ASX Listing Rules and Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act).The OTCQB market has high financial reporting standards and strong corporate governance requirements, both of which are satisfied through the Company's ongoing compliance with ASX listing rules. Cohiba sought the OTCQB quotation to provide current and potential North American investors with appropriate accessibility and liquidity to invest in the Company. The quotation provides Cohiba access to one of the largest investment markets in the world at nominal cost, with no additional compliance requirements, compared to traditional major exchanges. No new shares in the Company are being issued in connection with the quotation on the OTCQB Market. Existing ordinary shares of Cohiba may now also be traded on the OTCQB Market and investors can find real-time quotes and market information on the OTC Markets website (www.otcmarkets.com/stock/FRSAF/overview ).The Company is in the process of applying for Depository Trust Clearing (DTC) eligibility, which essentially facilitates electronic trading of securities by individual investors that use self- managed online broking accounts (such as TD Ameritrade and E-Trade), as opposed to trading through full services brokers. Pending DTC eligibility, trading of the shares will be handled by brokers who will act as market makers. In the interim OTCQB trading will be conducted through B.Riley FBR Inc as market maker.*To view the full Quarterly Report, please visit:About Cohiba Minerals Limited Cohiba Minerals Limited (ASX:CHK) is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange with the primary focus of investing in the resource sector through direct tenement acquisition, joint ventures, farm in arrangements and new project generation. The shares of the company trade under the ticker symbol CHK. The Company recently acquired 100% of the shares in Charge Lithium Pty Ltd, which holds exploration licences in Western Australia. Quarterly Activities Report December 2021 Perth, Jan 28, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australia's next rare earths producer Hastings Technology Metals Ltd ( ASX:HAS ) ( FRA:5AM ) is pleased to report on exploration and development activities for the three-month period to 31 December 2021. Most of the activity focused on the Company's Yangibana Rare Earths Project (Yangibana) in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.The business continues to remain loss time injury free. There were no incidents resulting in injury during the December quarter, with the business now LTI free for 1,249 days.INX, a workplace health and safety management system, has now been implemented as the safety ERP system to manage all aspects of Loss Prevention Inspections and Mobile Plant and Equipment inspections that are being developed.Hastings has developed and regularly updates its COVID-19 Management Plan to incorporate the latest government and health authority advice and requirements to protect the well-being of its people and the communities in which it operates. The plan manages all aspects of control access to the Perth head office and the Yangibana site to provide guidance for potential risk scenarios.Environment & PermittingIn order to improve on mining and operational efficiencies, it was considered necessary the re-optimise the Yangibana site layout, resulting in changes to the location of the accommodation village, access road, process plant and aerodrome. This change required amendments to the existing Ministerial Statement 1110 (approved under the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986), EPBC consent 2016/7845 (approved under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) and Mining Proposal (approved under the WA Mining Act 1978). All three amendment applications were approved by the regulators during the quarter.A key condition under Ministerial Statement 1110 to have a Flora and Vegetation Environmental Management Plan approved prior to construction was also met. The Flora and Vegetation Environmental Management Plan sets out the environmental objectives to be achieved and specifies management actions that will be implemented to achieve compliance. Hastings has prepared management targets and monitoring programmes to measure the effectiveness of the management actions.Baseline and impact studies on the Yangibana Expansion 1 project (encompassing the expanded proposed mining envelope during operations) continued during the quarter. This has included hydrogeological investigations at SipHon borefield, subterranean fauna surveys and groundwater dependent ecosystem studies. Collation of the Environmental Review Document has commenced with intentions to submit to the regulator in mid-2022.Three applications were submitted for the Onslow Rare Earth Plant. These include a Development Application under the WA Planning and Development Act 2005 as week as Works Approval and a Native Vegetation Clearing Permit under the WA Environmental Protection Act. These will be progressed in the first half of 2022 with grant of approval anticipated by mid-2022.Ashburton North Strategic Industrial Area (ANSIA)Hastings has progressed lease negotiations with DevelopmentWA during the quarter and presented a detailed project overview to the governing body of the Native Title holders, the Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation (BTAC). At this stage a final lease agreement is expected during June 2022 Quarter.Yangibana Early WorksEarly works as part of a $20 million infrastructure scope of activities continue to progress at the Yangibana mine site. As planned, enabling infrastructure works will continue ahead of the plant construction activities and mine development planned for mid-2022.The fly camp is fully operational with plans in the March 2022 quarter to further expand capacity to 80 beds in line with the ramp up in the early works programmes. Earthwork's contractors have begun to mobilise in earnest with the initial earthworks works programme including:- Access road connecting the mine site to the public Shire roads;- An airstrip capable of accommodating aircraft of up to 50 seat capacity;- Temporary construction water facilities;- SipHon bore field infrastructure works (installation of remaining bores and monitoring holes);- 300 bed village, and- 300km long telecommunication network.The establishment of a regular FIFO charter to support the camp and contractor mobilisations has commenced.The two key positions of Earthworks Manager and Earthworks Supervisor were filled, with these key appointment in place onsite to oversee the mobilisation effort and lead into earthworks proper in early in the March 2022 quarter. Additional support roles include the appointment of camp caterers and ESS personnel as on-site facilities managers and a permanent site paramedic.Yangibana Project DevelopmentThe development of Yangibana continues to ramp up positively, with capital and operating cost reviews near completed by quarters end. Revision of detailed supporting documentation for revised capital and operating cost estimates reflecting changes to the project engineering scope as well as general industry increases around labour, consumables and transportation costs were substantially completed.The operating cost model revision was markedly finalised to reflect changes in labour requirements and transportation alterations necessitated through the processing plant decoupling process. Hastings continues to expand the technical project team located in Perth, while contractor DRA Global has commenced a ramp up in personnel numbers as the project progresses towards the EPCM phase of construction slated for mid-2022 at both the Yangibana and Onslow sites.Hastings is continuing to further de-risk the project development schedule and capital expenditure of the project by completing detailed cost inventories with a view to awarding several contracts for major construction/fabrication works in early 2022.Key early works progressed during the December 2021 Quarter (see Figure 2*) included:- Progression of detailed design layouts for the Yangibana and Onslow sites with the Yangibana site layout now essentially fixed;- Revised labour and execution planning requirements to reflect EPCM commencement in mid-2022;- Accommodation Village - finalised review of tenders with award pending;- Access Road - designs, construction planning and resourcing completed, with a view to expanding works in the March 2022 quarter;- TSF design - draft preliminary design to support permitting for a 20-year expansion plan completed. Detailed design for existing 10-year facility to commence in the March 2022 quarter;- Progression of the airstrip design with IFC drawings due in the March 2022 quarter for a scheduled construction start in the June 2022 quarter; and- Completion of a revised and updated logistics management plan with ongoing work on opportunities around the best possible use of Onslow Ports as a hub for incoming equipment and reagents during construction and into operations.Work towards a collaborative road user agreement with the Shires of Ashburton, Carnarvon and Upper Gascoyne continued to advance. Substantial road data was collected through ARRB and the Shires, which is now being collated with an emphasis on developing a road upgrade schedule and ongoing road maintenance plan that which will underpin a single multi-Shire road user agreement.Hastings is engaged in ongoing negotiations around key lease agreements for access to land and infrastructure at Onslow with several Western Australian government departments and agencies. At this stage these discussions are envisaged to be largely completed in the next quarter.MetallurgyAs the project moves towards the construction phase, the focus is now on the test programmes for operation readiness and engineering support.At Yangibana, flotation chemistry testing programmes to investigate physical and chemical factors affecting metallurgical performance are being completed to develop guidelines for trouble shooting during plant operation to support a smooth plant ramp-up.At Onslow, a test work programme on the gas scrubbing system alkali regeneration system has been completed. The knowledge developed in the process will not only assist with final engineering design, but also provide information for a smooth start-up in full scale commissioning.Drilling programmes conducted over the recent years showed a significant presence of Niobium in the Yangibana ore resources, which may be economic to mine. Accordingly, a research programme focused on the recovery of Niobium has commenced. The aim of this programme is to determine whether a variable process could be developed to produce a saleable Niobium product, as a by-product of the rare earths process flowsheet.Mineral Resource DrillingResource definition reverse circulation (RC) drilling commenced during the quarter along the 8kms of defined economic mineralisation from Bald Hill - Simon's Find - Fraser's. By the end of December, 68 holes had been drilled for 5,698m out of a planned 140 holes for 11,000m (Figure 3*). The majority of these holes were in the Simon's Find area. Further drilling is planned for Bald Hill and Fraser's with drilling recommencing in early January 2022.The first batch of samples for assay were received by the laboratory in early January and first assay results are expected in February.The majority of holes drilled to date show visual encouragement in the form of ironstone and elevated scintillometer readings, which bear a close relationship with rare earths mineralisation at Yangibana. The RC drilling is focussing on extension and infill holes where intervals of high composition (>50% of rare earths is represented as Neodymium and Praseodymium) were previously identified and where mineralisation is interpreted to remain open down dip and along strike. The drilling will also reduce drill spacing in areas currently classified as Inferred Resources so as to allow for re-classification and upgrading to Indicated or Measured categories.Hydrological DrillingIn December, a large programme of hydrological drilling commenced at the SipHon well borefield. The program is designed to install four new production bores and associated monitoring bores along the palaeochannel downstream of the existing borefield. By the end of December, three shallow and two deep monitoring bores had been completed with all holes producing water flows of similar levels seen at the existing bore field.A programme of several test bores to allow hydrological modelling of potential ground water impacts from mining of the Simon's Find, Auer and Yangibana resources has also been completed.A further programme of shallow drilling to provide monitoring sites in areas adjacent to the SipHon well bore Field and Auer mineralisation will commence later in the March 2022 quarter. The holes will measure baseline water levels in areas of existing drainage lines and calcrete landforms.CommercialDuring the quarter, global NdPr oxide prices rose 40% to reach US$134.22/kg oxide EXW China. Post-quarter prices continued to climb with sellers showing no intention of lowering prices at this stage. Demand for rare earths required in permanent magnets remained strong, most likely because of recent changes in China on its energy efficiency standards for electrical motors. The new standard, GB18613-2020 was introduced in May 2020 and took effect in June 2021. It regulates the minimum allowable values of energy efficiency for different grades of motors. Following its energy crisis in the second half of 2021, the Chinese government accelerated the adoption of this new standard by announcing in November a nationwide plan, effective January 2022, to eliminate outdated and low efficiency motors. With this plan, China expects annual electricity savings of 49 billion kWh which is equivalent to an annual saving of 15 million tonnes of standard coal and thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 28 million tonnes per year.Permanent magnet (otherwise also known as neodymium sintered magnets such as NdFeB magnets in short) electrical motors with their superior power efficiency and weight advantage over induction motors have propelled global demand for NdPr. Current market share of NdFeB motors across the electric vehicle industry is still relatively low. However, when GB18613-2020 is fully implemented, it is estimated that NdFeB demand will increase up to 20,000 tonnes per year which will significantly drive the overall demand growth rate for magnetic rare earth materials to rise 20% year-on-year and beyond. In the first 11 months of calendar 2021, China's rare earths industry in Baotou (the centre for rare earth production) achieved an output value of 35.5 billion yuan (US$5.5 billion), a year-on-year increase of 70% and the highest growth rate for this period in the past 10 years. A total of 42 key rare earth projects are under construction in China for a total capital investment of 12.9 billion yuan (US$2 billion).A recent CITIC Securities research report said NdFeB magnets accounted for 35% of the global rare earths consumption, corresponding to 91% of the consumption economic value. This pattern is unlikely to change given the rapid e-mobility adoption worldwide.Against this expected strong demand for NdPr, possible supply constraints may emerge. A Chinese government draft consultative paper released in January 2021 titled "Rare Earth Management Regulations" states that China aims to protect its national interests and industrial security against illegal mining, destructive mining, unplanned production, illegal trade in rare earth products, and activities that would damage the environment. The draft regulations also set out the applicability of export control laws for Chinese rare earths exports, which will affect industries that depend on those exports.Project FinanceHastings has made significant progress towards securing the project finance required to fund Yangibana's construction, with extensive due diligence undertaken by potential lenders since late July. The Company is awaiting final credit approved commitments from the project finance consortium. As part of the financing workstream required to put in place the most advantageous debt package, the Company has actively engaged with leading project finance banks and fixed interest bond providers in Australia and Europe as well as specialist mining funds in addition to the Federal Government's Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, Finland's export credit agency (Finnvera) and Germany's state bank (KFW-Ipex Bank).Once firm credit-approved commitments are received, the drafting of formal loan documentation will be undertaken ahead of completion of standard conditions precedent and first drawdown in late 2022 or early 2023.Hastings had $96.0 million in cash and equivalents as at 31 December 2021. The Company also has 126.7 million listed options on issue ( ASX:HASO ), which have a strike price of 25c and an expiry date of 12 April 2022. If all HASO options are exercised, the Company's cash balance will be supplemented by a further $31.6 million.Maiden Sustainability ReportIn October, Hastings released its inaugural annual Sustainability Report in alignment with the release of the Company's Annual Report. Hastings transparently reported its progress against material topics under each of our four sustainability pillars of Governance, Our People, Our Community and the Environment.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Hastings Technology Metals Ltd Hastings Technology Metals Ltd (ASX:HAS) (FRA:5AM) is advancing its Yangibana Rare Earths Project in the Upper Gascoyne Region of Western Australia towards production. The proposed beneficiation and hydro metallurgy processing plant will treat rare earths deposits, predominantly monazite, hosting high neodymium and praseodymium contents to produce a mixed rare earths carbonate that will be further refined into individual rare earth oxides at processing plants overseas. Neodymium and praseodymium are vital components in the manufacture of permanent magnets which is used in a wide and expanding range of advanced and high-tech products including electric vehicles, wind turbines, robotics, medical applications and others. Hastings aims to become the next significant producer of neodymium and praseodymium outside of China. Hastings holds 100% interest in the most significant deposits within the overall project, and 70% interest in additional deposits that will be developed at a later date, all held under Mining Leases. Numerous prospects have been identified warranting detailed exploration to further extend the life of the project. Brockman Project The Brockman deposit, near Halls Creek in Western Australia, contains JORC Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, estimated using the guidelines of JORC Code (2012 Edition). The Company is also progressing a Mining Lease application over the Brockman Rare Earths and Rare Metals Project. Hastings aims to capitalise on the strong demand for critical rare earths created by the expanding demand for new technology products. Central Queensland Production Testing Update Brisbane, Jan 28, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - State Gas Limited ( ASX:GAS ) is pleased to give an update on its current production testing activities underway within its Central Queensland gas projects.The Company is conducting concurrent programs of work: at its Reid's Dome Project at PL 231 (Reid's Dome Beds coals), to confirm the commerciality of the Project for delivery of new gas supplies into the east coast market; and at its contiguous Rolleston-West Project (Bandanna Formation coals) on the recently issued ATP 2062 to confirm the area for gas development. Gas production testing is currently underway at both of these projects.Two wells, Rougemont-1 and Rougemont-2, were drilled into the eastern arm of ATP 2062 in mid 2021 as the first wells in the new permit. The wells targeted the Bandanna Formation, a coal formation producing commercially at Arcadia Valley (Santos operated) to the south east, and under development (by Comet Ridge) at Mahalo to the north. Both wells encountered approximately 8m net coal, with good quantities of gas at or near pipeline quality. The permeability at Rougemont-2 was an exceptional 395mD, and the Company commenced a production test of the well on 15 November 2021.Production testing at Rolleston-West has included ongoing pumping to slowly reduce water levels at Rougemont-2, to minimise the potential for sudden pressure changes to damage to the reservoir. While the water level is currently ~130m above the coals with several further weeks required to expose them, gas production has already commenced at Rougemont-2. Gas flows are steady with consistent growth, and are expected to increase significantly once the coals are fully exposed. Sampling conducted in 2021 indicated gas of pipeline quality at Rougement-2.At Reid's Dome, State Gas undertook a highly successful production test of the Nyanda-4 well in the first part of 2021. Encouraged by this success and the high gas contents in the area, the Company undertook production enhancement activities at the Nyanda-8 and Serocold-1 wells to establish the potential of these wells to deliver results similar to the Nyanda-4 well. The Nyanda-8 well was jetted and the test recommenced on 28 November 2021, and the Serocold-1 well was sleeved and the test recommenced on 5 December 2021.Skin damage to the formation at Nyanda-8 appears to be slowly resolving, enabling ever increasing gas volumes to be produced from the well. Despite the formation damage, Nyanda-8 is consistently producing gas at relatively low volumes, with small but steady increases daily. The Company looks forward to further progress from the well.The Serocold-1 production test started well, producing consistent and growing volumes. Production has temporarily ceased at Serocold-1 as a result of a failure of the pump (due to parted rods). The Company is currently co-ordinating the repair of the pump, with testing expected to re-commence in early February.State Gas Executive Chairman Mr Richard Cottee expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the Rougemont-2 and Nyanda-8 production tests: "I am very pleased to see the consistent production from the wells. While volumes are initially small, I am expecting we'll see significant increases in gas flows in the coming weeks.""The Rolleston-West Gas Project includes a significant area of Bandanna Coals in Central Queensland, and we remain excited about its potential in the east coast gas market.""I am also keen to see how Sercold-1 performs once that well is back on pump and the water lowered," he continued. "Signs were promising prior to the breakdown, so I am expecting good results to come there as well."*To view photographs and figures, please visit:About State Gas Limited State Gas Limited (ASX:GAS) is a Queensland-based developer of the Reid's Dome gas field, originally discovered during drilling in 1955, located in the Bowen Basin in Central Queensland. State Gas is 100%-owner of the Reid's Dome Gas Project (PL-231) a CSG and conventional gas play, which is well-located 30 kilometres southwest of Rolleston, approximately 50 kilometres from the Queensland Gas Pipeline and interconnected east coast gas network. Permian coal measures within the Reid's Dome Beds are extensive across the entire permit but the area had not been explored for coal seam gas prior to State Gas' ownership. In late 2018 State Gas drilled the first coal seam gas well in the region (Nyanda-4) into the Reid's Dome Beds and established the potential for a significant coal seam gas project in PL 231. The extension of the coal measures into the northern and central areas of the permit was confirmed in late 2019 by the Company's drilling of Aldinga East-1A (12 km north) and Serocold-1 (6 km to the north of Nyanda-4). State Gas is also the 100% holder Authority to Prospect 2062 ("Rolleston-West"), a 1,414 km2 permit (eight times larger than PL 231) that is contiguous with the Reid's Dome Gas Project. Rolleston-West contains highly prospective targets for both coal seam gas (CSG) and known conventional gas within the permit area. It is not restricted by domestic gas reservation requirements. The contiguous areas (Reid's Dome and Rolleston-West), under sole ownership by State Gas, enable integration of activities and a unified super-gasfield development, providing economies of scale, efficient operations, and optionality in marketing. State Gas is implementing its strategic plan to bring gas to market from Reid's Dome and Rolleston-West to meet near term forecast shortfalls in the east coast domestic gas market. The strategy involves progressing a phased appraisal program in parallel with permitting for an export pipeline and development facilities to facilitate the fastest possible delivery of gas to market. State Gas' current focus has been to confirm the producibility of the gas through production testing of the wells. Quarterly Activities Report Perth, Jan 28, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Musgrave Minerals Ltd ( ASX:MGV ) ( FRA:6MU ) ( OTCMKTS:MGVMF ) is an Australian resources company focused on gold exploration and development at the Cue Project in the Murchison Province of Western Australia (Figures 1 and 2*).At the Cue Project, the total gold resources (Indicated and Inferred) are 6.4Mt @ 3.2g/t Au for 659koz Au (see MGV ASX announcement 11 November 2020, "Break of Day High-Grade Mineral Resource Estimate"). Prefeasibility level activities are ongoing at Break of Day and Lena.During the quarter, activity on the Company's wholly owned tenure at Cue included a large regional reverse circulation ("RC") drilling program at the Big Sky and Amarillo gold prospects, extensional drilling at the White Heat prospect and a regional RC program east of Break of Day. A total of 150 RC holes for approximately 16,080m of drilling was completed across multiple areas. This RC program led to the discovery of the Waratah gold trend approximately 400m east of Break of Day and the discovery of the new high-grade Mosaic gold lode south of White Heat. Regional aircore drilling programs are underway west of Lena with 43 holes for 4,313m completed during the quarter. Diamond drilling commenced across a number of deposits and prospect areas.Significant delays in assay turn-around and support supplies are being experienced, with the Company awaiting assay results for more than 140 drill holes.On Lake Austin, part of the Evolution Mining Ltd ("Evolution") JV, significant aircore and diamond drilling programs are ongoing. Aircore drilling extended gold mineralisation at West Island with the regolith footprint at this prospect now extending for over 1.6km. Diamond drilling follow-up at West Island has intersected high-grade basement gold mineralisation. Evolution has elected to manage the joint venture from 1 January 2022 and has approved an increased budget for H2, 2022.The exploration upside for the project is high with significant follow-up drill programs already underway in the March quarter.CorporateAt the end of the December 2021 quarter, the Company held $17.5M in cash with the Company's capital structure comprising:- 537,172,949 fully paid ordinary shares ( ASX:MGV ); and- 17,200,000 unlisted options at various exercise prices and expiry datesThe Quarterly Cashflow Report (Appendix 5B) for the period ending 31 December 2021 provides an overview of the Company's financial activities. Cash exploration expenditure for the reporting period was $1.5M. Corporate and other expenditure amounted to $296k. The total amount paid to Directors of the entity and their associates in the period (item 6.1 of the Appendix 5B) was $138k and includes salary, Directors' fees, and superannuation.InvestmentsThe Company holds 12.5 million shares in Legend Mining Limited ("Legend") currently valued at approximately $0.9M based on a Legend share price of $0.07/share. Musgrave also holds 1,308,750 ordinary shares in Cyprium Metals Limited ("Cyprium") currently valued at approximately $0.2M based on a Cyprium share price of $0.155/share.*To view the full report, please visit:About Musgrave Minerals Ltd Musgrave Minerals Ltd (ASX:MGV) is an active Australian gold and base metals explorer. The Cue Project in the Murchison region of Western Australia is an advanced gold and copper project. Musgrave has had significant exploration success at Cue with the ongoing focus on increasing the gold and copper resources through discovery and extensional drilling to underpin studies that will demonstrate a viable path to development in the near term. Musgrave also holds a large exploration tenement package in the Ni-Cu-Co prospective Musgrave Province in South Australia. In Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadis films, reasonably straightforward set-ups a divorce, a missing woman, a newly lent apartment unspool such complex, cascading developments that it comes as no surprise that a found handbag stuffed with gold coins leads to countless fluctuations of fortune and anguish in his latest, A Hero. In movies, we tend to reserve the term magician for more spectacle-driven filmmakers who spin visual-effects illusions. But Farhadis mastery is at least equally spellbinding, even while being rooted in realistic domestic dramas, with Tehran traffic usually buzzing all around. His films (including the Oscar-winners A Separation and A Salesman, the early masterwork About Elly and the French drama The Past) are schematically drawn, full of twists and turns so seamless as to be invisible. Elaborate mechanics are deftly hidden in engrossing, minutely observed stories. Before you know it, a melodrama of modern life has been woven so tightly with psychological suspense that you can hardly breathe. A Hero, in which Farhadi returns to his native Iran after a trip to Spain for 2018s Everybody Knows, is one of the most labyrinthine moral tales youre likely to encounter. Rahim (Amir Jadidi) is imprisoned for a debt he couldnt pay. We first meet him while he eagerly takes a two-day leave, meeting with his girlfriend Farkhondeh (Sahar Goldust), who clutches her lucky discovery, one that may free her love and allow them to marry. The discovered gold, though, doesnt add up to quite enough to satisfy his creditor, a miserly printshop owner named Hossein (Ali Reza Jahandideh). Rahim makes the decision to instead report the lost bag and return it to its owner. How much this decision is altruistic or a bit of self-preservationist cunning is open to interpretation. As played by Jadidi, Rahim has an ingratiating, hangdog demeanor; hes almost always smiling, unless worry has clouded his expression. We are, undoubtedly, rooting for him. Rahims good deed earns him widespread congratulations for his selflessness. Prison officials rush to invite television cameras to broadcast Rahims story, which then spreads like wildfire on social media. Donations pour in that could release Rahim from his debt. Happy ending, right? No, A Hero is just getting started. Farhadis film, which he also wrote, grows increasingly knotty with fictions to cover truths, and vice-versa. Hossein refuses to accept Rahims transformation into celebrated saint. Questions of seemingly minor significance why Rahim put his prisons phone number on the poster advertising the lost bag, for instance take on vital importance. As A Hero spirals through the tangled connections of family and business in Iran (Hossein is Ramins ex-wifes brother-in-law; Ramins main support is his sisters husband, played by Mohsen Tanabandeh), the messy injustices of public life have swelled like the traffic that envelopes the movies staggering finale, maybe the most vivid and powerful of Farhadis endings. Dave Kendalls interest in history has always been at the forefront of his life. He enjoys learning. Its no wonder Kendall jumped at the chance to dive in deep to tell the story of the Santa Fe Trail in the documentary, The Road to Santa Fe. It will air at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, on New Mexico PBS, channel 5.4. The Santa Fe Trail played a pivotal role in the westward expansion of the United States. Extending across the mid-continent from Missouri to New Mexico, it became a prominent commercial trail involving both American and Mexican merchants. Over six decades, beginning in the 1820s, the trail supported a vast network of commerce, enabled the U.S. to annex much of northern Mexico and led to the relocation of the Plains Indians. By 1880, the construction of the railroads brought an end to the flow of freight wagons on the Santa Fe Trail, now designated a national historic trail. The Santa Fe Trail is interesting to me, Kendall says. My ancestors had some experience on the trail. I had never thought about it. When I was making the film, I was getting shots along the trail and it was fun. Then the pandemic hit and Kendall had to pause a little with the production. Luckily, I was doing the film and not around too many people, he says. Everything I was filming was done outdoors. It made it easier. Kendall began his research for the documentary in 2019. He raised the money for the film himself by submitting grant proposals. I took a Ken Burns approach to the film and used excerpts from memoirs, he says. As his research moved forward, Kendall says there was a lot of information that eluded him. I had grown up miles from the Santa Fe Trail, he says. I worked on a series about Kansas for 20 years. One thing that evaded me was the Arkansas River. It used to be the international boundary line with Mexico. It floored me that I hadnt learned that in history classes. Kendall hopes that an audience will walk away learning something because the Santa Fe Trail made a huge impact in westward expansion. People will take away different things, but I wanted to show how we got where we are today, he says. The interaction of cultures has a lot of layers. I wanted to create a documentary that gives a better sense of history. On TV The Road to Santa Fe airs at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, on New Mexico PBS, channel 5.4. NEW YORK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Around 10 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered globally, a milestone that was met on Friday but has not been reached equitably, The New York Times (NYT) reported. In the wealthiest countries, 77 percent of people have received at least one dose, whereas in low-income countries the figure is less than 10 percent, said the newspaper, quoting the Our World in Data project at the University of Oxford. "As North America and Europe race to overcome Omicron surges by offering boosters, with some nations even contemplating a fourth shot, more than one-third of the world's people, many of them in Africa and poor pockets of Asia, are still waiting for a first dose," said the NYT report. For example, the United States has administered five times as many extra shots -- about 85 million -- than the total number of doses administered in all of Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, said the report. The milestone reflected the astonishing speed with which governments and drug companies have mobilized their resources, and 10 billion doses could theoretically have meant "at least one shot for all of the world's 7.9 billion people," it added. "Ten billion doses is a triumph of science but a complete failure of global solidarity," Madhukar Pai, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at McGill University in Montreal, was quoted in the report as saying. The annual draw for New Mexicos big game hunts is open and even those younger than 18 are eligible to snag a coveted opportunity provided they have passed a hunter education class provided by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. A hunter education class is required for any hunter any age younger than 18, said Jennifer Morgan, department hunter education coordinator. If your child is old enough to come into class and they can comprehend the material, they can take a final exam, they can complete their homework prior to coming to class, then they are eligible. For the first time in nearly two years, the department is set to hold in-person classes, with classes throughout February in Albuquerque and elsewhere across the state. Classes will be about half the normal size in deference to the pandemic, Morgan said. While mandatory for hunters younger than 18, once passed, it holds for a lifetime and is accepted by other states, as well, she said. Once you turn 18, you are no longer required to have hunter education, but as I always say, I highly recommend hunter education for anybody, Morgan said. We have never had an adult in our classes that have come and told us, Well that was a complete waste of time. The courses are also worthwhile for adults just getting into hunting, she said. There is always something to learn in our classrooms, especially if youre new, she said. If youre just getting into hunter education and youre trying to figure out what its all about, come take hunter education. It will give you a well-rounded platform. Our goal is to produce safe, ethical responsible hunters. Each in-person class classes are also online and available for those 10 and older, and carry the same weight as in-person classes requires homework to be completed before the two-day session. We know that were dealing with a lot of varied backgrounds and skill levels when youre coming to hunter education, Morgan said. We may have somebody who is maybe more of seasoned hunter or shooter, or maybe somebody that has never handled or touched a firearm before and maybe the only window they have to hunting is, Hey I saw it in YouTube once. What were trying to do with the homework is put everybody on a level playing field that everybody comes into the classroom and they have some basic knowledge and were building on from what theyve started with their homework. The curriculum includes firearms usage and safety, using deactivated weapons and dummy ammunition, Morgan said, as well safe firearm storage in the home. And how to aim for proper targets also is discussed, she said. We talk huge about ethics and responsibility, Morgan said. So we focus on proper shot placement, whats the right angles, the animals anatomy and where should that shot be placed on that animal for a quick, humane harvest of that animal? Theres a lot of focus on that. What to do after the animal has been targeted is part of the discussion, as well. What do you do after the shot? How do you properly blood trail an animal? We talk about zones of fire and wildlife management and conservation, Morgan said. That is hunting. Hunting is a huge management tool for the Department of Game and Fish. So you as hunters and upcoming hunters are helping the department in wildlife management by being an active participant in that. The courses give attendees a basic primer in hunting to allow them to get into the field safely, she said. Obviously, were not going to teach you all everything there is to know about hunting, she said. Ive been hunting for many, many, many years and I still learn something new every time I go into the field. But what we try to do and accomplish through our course is to do the best that we can so that everybody who walks out of the classroom doors is as safe and ethical and responsible as we can possibly create through reading and homework and us building on what the students should have learned from the manual. For more info www.wildlife.state.nm.us/education/hunter-education/course-schedule Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A coalition of nurses and educators is asking the Legislature to make $50 million available to address the chronic shortage of nurses in New Mexico spending that would be targeted toward the expansion of college nursing programs. They made the pitch Thursday to the powerful Senate Finance Committee, whose members seemed receptive to the idea. The budget request would include a $15 million grant program to expand college nursing programs and $35 million to create faculty endowments to pay for professors of nursing. Sen. George Munoz, a Gallup Democrat and chairman of the committee, said the state should also consider free tuition and other incentives for nursing students. This is a critical issue that affects every single person in this state at some point in time, he said after the hearing, addressing his colleagues in the full Senate. New Mexico faces a shortage of 6,200 registered nurses, according to a health care workforce report issued by the University of New Mexico last year. The problem may be growing worse. The number of nurses practicing in New Mexico fell by 14% in a recent four-year period, from about 18,200 nurses in 2017 to 15,600 in 2020, according to the Board of Nursing. The demand for nurses, by contrast, has spiked amid the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to continue growing throughout the decade. Lawmakers didnt take any formal action Thursday but expressed general support for addressing the shortage in some way. The profession is in crisis right now, Sen. Crystal Diamond, R-Elephant Butte, said after the presentation. Lillian Montoya, president and CEO of Christus St. Vincent health system, said hospitals throughout the country are competing for nurses. Hundreds of hospital beds in the state, she said, are open because theres no one to staff them. We started this pandemic already in a national shortage, Montoya told lawmakers. Montoya joined the New Mexico Nurses Association and leaders from college nursing programs in support of Thursdays budget request. The coalition pointed to data showing nurses usually stay to work where theyre trained, making it all the more important to expand the number of nursing students in New Mexico. Our graduates stay in our communities, said Terri Tewart, a registered nurse and dean at Santa Fe Community College. They take care of each of us. Any expansion of nursing programs, she said, would maintain the academic rigor required of students. The college leaders who spoke Thursday reported that theyre already at capacity but could expand to handle more students if extra funding is approved. The $15 million request could pay for hiring more nursing faculty, increasing faculty salaries to retain educators recruited by hospitals and reducing the cost of clinical training for students. Additional classroom space and practice equipment are also priorities. The state Higher Education Department would issue grants in the fiscal year that starts this summer on a competitive basis after evaluating applications from colleges. Ongoing funding in future years would likely be required. The $35 million, in turn, would establish endowed faculty positions, allowing a professor or instructor to be paid with revenue from an endowment fund. Theres no way out of this crisis other than growing our own nurses, said Linda Siegle, a lobbyist for the New Mexico Nurses Association. The college leaders said they face challenges beyond just hiring more faculty. Qualified applicants for nursing schools are limited, they said, and some students many of whom are first-generation college students change their mind while in school, often because of the financial challenge. Some of the requested state funding might be used for mentoring, tutoring or other initiatives to support students preparing to apply for nursing school or already in. Crafting a budget plan is a priority in the 30-day legislative session that runs through Feb. 17. New Mexico is awash in cash, thanks to federal stimulus funds, booming oil and gas revenue, and increased consumer spending. State spending is expected to reach $8.4 billion in a budget package now under development. SANTA FE Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim is leaving her post as a Cabinet secretary to take on a new role overseeing the deluge of federal infrastructure funds arriving in New Mexico. She is the new director of infrastructure and implementation and will work with Senior Infrastructure Adviser Martin Chavez and others. Ortiz-Wertheim had led the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management since May 2020. She is a former chief of staff to ex-Sen. Tom Udall and has worked a strategic planner for the American Cancer Society. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham made the announcement Thursday. Bianca has a wealth of knowledge of federal programs and funding and a strong network of relationships across New Mexico, the governor said. Diego Arencon, deputy chief of staff to Lujan Grisham, will temporarily serve as secretary of homeland security and emergency management until the governor appoints a replacement. The job changes come as New Mexico is set to receive more than $3.7 billion in funding through the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress. Some of the money is broadly targeted for highways, broadband, wildfire prevention and clean drinking water. Ortiz-Wertheim will work with Chavez, a former state senator and Albuquerque mayor; broadband adviser Matt Schmit; and water adviser Mike Hamman to organize and oversee the spending. We have a tremendous task before us, implementing this once-in-a-generation investment in our states infrastructure, and Im delighted to have Bianca in our corner, Chavez said. Ortiz-Wertheim made about $158,000 a year as a Cabinet secretary and will make $138,000 in her new job. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE With the impacts of past New Mexico tax changes still reverberating, lawmakers are taking a cautious approach to a plan to lower the states gross receipts tax rate. A Senate committee discussed the proposal to cut the tax rate from 0.25 percentage points from 5.125% to 4.875% for about an hour Thursday, but held off on a vote so they could see how the reduction might fit into a still-developing spending plan for the budget year that starts in July. Several senators pointed out that the tax cut proposed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham would cost the state at least $183.7 million in the coming budget year, while generating relatively small savings for New Mexicans. The tax levied on the purchase of a $50 pair of shoes, for instance, would decrease by just 12 cents. Its easy to vote for these bills; its really hard to vote for bills that raise revenue, said Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, during Thursdays meeting of the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee. Wirth also questioned whether cities and counties would increase the local tax rates they levy on top of the state rate if the tax cut is approved. Current total tax rates have crept above 9% in some parts of New Mexico. That would defeat the purpose of the proposal by effectively keeping taxes flat for residents and businesses alike, Wirth said. But backers of the legislation, Senate Bill 5, said the tax cut would be the first reduction in the states gross receipts tax rate in 40 years. They also argued it would help New Mexico businesses compete with out-of-state businesses. We see this as a significant help both to businesses and consumers both at this critical time, said Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Bill Lee. The tax cut discussion at the Roundhouse comes as New Mexico is rolling in record-high revenue levels, generated by surging oil and natural gas production, and an uptick in consumer spending. New Mexico is projected to have $1.6 billion in new money available during the coming budget year, a figure that represents the difference between estimated revenue collections and current spending levels. Several legislators have said the reduction in the gross receipts tax, which functions like a sales tax, but is also levied on services, should be part of a broader package that could also include tax rebates for low-income New Mexicans. Meanwhile, some lawmakers also cited past tax changes, such as a 2003 personal income tax cut and a 2004 exemption of food from taxation. Some of those tax changes ended up costing the state more in foregone revenue than originally estimated. Senate Minority Whip Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, said hed like to see more sweeping changes to New Mexicos tax code, including reducing or eliminating the states income tax. This years gross receipts tax cut measure is sponsored by Sen. Roberto Bobby Gonzales, D-Ranchos de Taos. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal COVID-19 cases in New Mexico remained high Thursday, with the state reporting 5,179 new cases and 34 additional deaths, pushing the statewide toll to 6,391 since the start of the pandemic. New Mexico has been seeing high case counts the last two weeks amid a surge of the highly infectious omicron variant. The state set records on two consecutive days last week with more than 6,000 cases. Of the cases reported Thursday, 1,296 were in Bernaillo County, the states most populous. Dr. Denise Gonzales, the chief medical officer at Presbyterian Healthcare Services, said in an interview that while the omicron variant is more contagious than the delta and other previous variations of the virus, the new variant is not causing as severe disease. In the last four weeks, there have been 109,524 confirmed COVID cases and 208 deaths. Of the 208 people who died, 194 were unvaccinated, or 93.3%, according to Health Department epidemiology reports. There were 713 people hospitalized with COVID on Thursday, up four from the day before. Of the deaths reported Thursday, nine were residents of Bernalillo County. There were two men in their 30s with no preexisting conditions, one from Bernalillo County and the other from Lea County, included in the death toll. In the last year, nearly 90% of those whose deaths were related to COVID were unvaccinated. UNM Health will host a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for 5-11 year olds on Saturday at UNM Carrie Tingley Hospital, 1127 University NE, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., said Mark Rudi, a spokesman for the hospital. Primary shots will be given on Saturday and secondary doses will be given on Feb. 19. As New Mexico continues to see a surge in cases, local governments are working to distribute in-home testing kits. Bernalillo County on Wednesday started distributing 30,000 testing kits to local households. The county has set up several drive-thru sites where people can pick up testing kits for free. The city of Albuquerque is giving away 80,000 free rapid COVID-19 test kits at select community centers, senior centers, health and social service centers, multigenerational centers, public libraries and through food pantries and community organizations. The city which received its supply from the state government is currently prioritizing locations in neighborhoods with the highest social vulnerability, according to a news release. Households can get up to four free kits while supplies last. More details, including a list of participating sites and their pickup times, is available online at www.cabq.gov/office-of-emergency-management/free-covid-19-self-test-kits-available. Journal staff writer Jessica Dyer contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal An Espanola resident was scammed out of $20,000 in a Jamaican lottery fraud that promised millions of dollars and a new car. The victim received a phone call Saturday from a man with a Jamaica number claiming to be David Anderson and saying he had won $2.1 million and a new car in a lottery, and needed to send a $7,000 deposit to receive the winnings, the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office said in a report. After the money was sent, the man received another call, saying the accounting department made a mistake and that he had actually won $10 million and a new car, but needed to send another $13,000, which he did. When the money and car did not show up, the victim realized he had been scammed and reported this crime, the report said. The 64-year-old retired victim used his Bank of America account and prepaid Visa cards to transfer the funds. A sheriffs office detective contacted the victim Tuesday and while speaking to him on the phone, the victim received several more calls from the subject. The male caller, with a heavy foreign accent, was placed on speaker so the detective could hear him, but hung up immediately when he learned law enforcement was on the call. The area code was from Nevada, but when the officer called back, it went to a voicemail of a text mail subscriber, which are calls made via the internet. The victim was advised not to answer any more calls from the subject and not to send any more money. When contacted by the Journal on Wednesday, the victim declined comment. KENOSHA, Wis. A judge on Friday approved an agreement by lawyers to destroy the assault-style rifle that Kyle Rittenhouse used to kill two people and wound a third during a 2020 street protest in Wisconsin. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said the state crime lab would destroy the gun, probably in April. Judge Bruce Schroeder, the Kenosha County judge who presided over Rittenhouses trial, approved the agreement. Rittenhouse was not in court for Fridays hearing. The judge also ordered that Rittenhouses $2 million bail be divided among his attorney, a foundation that solicited donations for his defense and actor Ricky Schroder, who donated to the defense fund. Rittenhouse shot the men during the protest in Kenosha in 2020. He killed Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm. Rittenhouse argued he fired in self-defense after each of the men attacked him. A jury last year acquitted him of multiple charges, including homicide. Rittenhouses attorney, Mark Richards, filed a motion Jan. 19 asking prosecutors to return Rittenhouses rifle, his ammunition, his face mask and other clothing he was wearing the night of the shooting to him. Richards and David Hancock, a spokesman for Rittenhouse, said last week that Rittenhouse, who is now 19, wanted to destroy the rifle and throw the rest of the items away so nothing can be used as a political symbol or trophy celebrating the shootings. We didnt think anyone should profit from it, Richards told reporters after the hearing. Asked if anyone had reached out about purchasing the gun, Richards responded: Lots of people. He didnt elaborate. Destruction of the gun will be recorded as part of the agreement that was approved Friday. The rest of Rittenhouses property has already been returned to him, Binger told the judge. Conservatives across the nation have praised Rittenhouse, saying he was defending Kenosha from far-left militants. Liberals have painted him as a trigger-happy vigilante. The judge on Friday also ordered county officials to return Rittenhouses $2 million bail. His attorneys raised the money through donations from conservatives across the country. The judge approved an agreement that calls for splitting the money between Richards law firm and the #Fightback Foundation. Attorneys Lin Wood and John Pierce, who were representing Rittenhouse in the early days of case, formed the foundation to raise money for him. The agreement also calls for sending $150,000 to Schroder, the former star of the 1980s television series Silver Spoons. The Patent and Trademark Hedge Fund Trust filed a motion Thursday laying claim to the $2 million. The funds co-trustee, Mariel Johnson, argued in an affidavit that the fund had given as much as $2.5 million to Pierce to finance his cases and has been trying to recoup the money after Pierces law firm dissolved. Johnson noted that the fund gave him $300,000 to put toward Rittenhouses bail and is entitled to every dollar Pierce used to cover Rittenhouses bond. Schroeder denied the motion, ruling that the funds attorneys arent licensed to practice in Wisconsin. Richards declined to say after the hearing how much of the bond money would go to Rittenhouse. He didnt immediately respond to a follow-up email message. Rittenhouses case dates back to August 2020, when a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, during a domestic disturbance. The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down and sparked several nights of protests. The demonstrations turned chaotic at times, with people burning buildings. Rittenhouse and his friend, Dominick Black, joined a group of militia members to protect a used car lot on the night of Aug. 25, 2020. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at time and living in Antioch, Illinois, was armed with an AR-15-style rifle that Black had purchased for him earlier that year because he was too young to buy a firearm under Wisconsin law. According to the motion, Black had agreed that the rifle would become Rittenhouses property on his 18th birthday, Jan. 3, 2021. Bystander and surveillance video shows that just before midnight Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse down and Rittenhouse shot him as he closed in on him. He shot Huber after Huber swung a skateboard at his head and Grosskreutz after Grosskreutz ran up to him holding a pistol. Everyone involved in the shooting was white. Black pleaded no contest to two citations earlier this month for contributing to the delinquency of a minor in exchange for prosecutors dropping two felony charges of intent to sell a dangerous weapon to a person younger than 18. ___ Richmond reported from Madison, Wisconsin. ___ Find the APs full coverage of the Rittenhouse trial: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse TUCSON, Ariz. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson is one of several military installations the Department of Defense has identified as having troops that could be deployed if Russian forces invade Ukraine. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby made the announcement during a news conference Thursday in Washington. Some units from Davis-Monthan are among the 8,500 troops placed on heightened preparedness for deployment should Russia invade Ukraine. Other military installations with units put on heightened preparedness include Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Fort Carson in Colorado, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Polk in Louisiana, Robins Air Force Base, Fort Stewart in Georgia and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Kirby said the units include medical support, aviation support, logistics support and combat formations. Department of Defense officials said they are monitoring the buildup of forces in the western part of Russia and in Belarus. SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. The thousands of people paid to plant corn, pick apples and milk cows in New York often work long days, six days a week and earn overtime only after 60 hours of labor. The state is now looking at lowering that overtime threshold. New York could possibly join California and Washington state in phasing in a 40-hour overtime rule for farm hands, a threshold common in other industries. We need a better quality of life, said veteran dairy worker Lazaro Alvarez. He is among those who say the change is long overdue for an estimated 55,000 agricultural workers in New York, many from Mexico, Guatemala and other countries outside the United States. But the prospect is alarming farmers. They warn the extra costs would wipe out marginal farms, hobble others and actually reduce workers earnings if farmers cap hours to manage expenses. While the industry overall may survive, many individual farms will not, Chris Laughton of Farm Credit East, a lender for the agriculture industry in the Northeast, testified this month. At Welcome Stock Farm near Saratoga Springs, Bill Peck said overtime after 40 hours for the farms 18 full-time employees would cost him up to an extra $12,000 a month. Dairy farmers like Peck say they cannot simply raise prices to reflect added expenses, since wholesale milk prices are regulated. We arent going to be able to invest in a new tractor. We arent going to be able to invest in adding another barn, said Peck. That money is going to go just into payroll, so which is good for them in the short term, but long term the business cant survive. Crop farmers who grow vegetables and apples say they would be particularly hard hit when extra seasonal labor is needed. They say higher overtime costs will make them less competitive with farms in other states. Farm workers in New York didnt qualify for overtime pay at all until 2020, when the state changed the law to mandate extra pay for workers who exceeded 60 hours a week. The new law also instructed a three-person wage board to consider whether to recommend a lower threshold. The board Friday is holding its fourth of four hearings this month. It will make recommendations to Gov. Kathy Hochuls labor commissioner, who can accept, reject or modify them. Average hourly wages for agricultural workers in the region last year were $16.16, according to federal figures, though some earn the minimum wage of $13.20. Alvarez, a 63-year-old from Mexico City, said overtime after 40 hours would reduce stress for workers like himself and give them a better quality of life. I will be able to have checkups at the doctor, I will be able to buy personal items. I will have time for me, Alvarez said in Spanish. The wage board could recommend temporarily keeping the 60-hour status quo, which they did once before. They also could follow the lead of California and lower farm overtime levels in phases over several years. Larger farms in California had to begin providing overtime after 40 hours starting this year. Farms with 25 or fewer employees will hit the 40-hour mark in 2025. Washington state approved a law last year phasing in overtime pay for agricultural workers. Several other states offer some farm workers overtime, with limitations and exceptions. Trent Taylor, an attorney with the advocacy group Farmworker Justice, said more states are considering the proposals as the nation grapples more with labor and racial issues. Were gaining momentum, Taylor said. Nationally, farm workers were excluded from the overtime provisions of the landmark 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act. At the time, the U.S. was only 73 years removed from outlawing slavery. Advocates say continuing to leave them out perpetuates an injustice against a profession long dominated by people of color. This exclusion of farm workers is the very definition of what we call structural racism. It was a policy rooted in racism 85 years ago and has become so baked into the system that people dont even realize it anymore, said Lisa Zucker, an attorney at the New York Civil Liberties Union. Farmers argue that the well-meaning policy would not be in the best interests of the many migrant workers who come north during harvest seasons to make as much money as possible, often to send back home. Thats because they could be forced to limit hours to mitigate overtime expenses. Hours will go down and there will be less net pay for people, said Mark Russell of Two of Clubs Orchard in western New York. He said farmers are worried about losing workers to other states. Several farm workers made similar arguments in testimony this month. Though hiring more employees is a common strategy for reducing overtime costs, farmers say the labor market is tight and hiring workers would require farmers to invest in more housing. Farms routinely provide free housing to workers. Worker advocates dismiss farmers dire predictions, noting that other industries have adapted to overtime and that New York farms have already adapted to higher minimum wages and 60-hour overtime. If theres one lesson to glean from this pandemic, its that those who compromise their health, safety and well-being to keep our essential industries going deserve dignity and respect, Emma Kreyche of the Worker Justice Center testified recently. ___ Associated Press writer Claudia Torrens contributed from New York City. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A proposal to make it easier to hold more criminal defendants in jail before trial survived its first legislative vote Friday and is still alive at least for now. The legislation, House Bill 5, faced bipartisan skepticism in a two-hour hearing Friday but cleared a House committee on a 7-2 vote after several members said they wanted to keep the proposal moving while amendments are considered. The move came after Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller joined police and prosecutors in asking lawmakers for help addressing crime in New Mexicos largest city. Albuquerque had a record-breaking 117 homicides last year. No member of the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee fully embraced the proposal, but they also expressed reluctance to reject it outright. I know we have to do something. We are in a real mess, Republican Rep. Greg Nibert of Roswell said. But we dont need legislation thats just going to end up in the courts and end up overturned due to constitutional grounds. The proposal heads next to the House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Marian Matthews, an Albuquerque Democrat and co-sponsor of the bill, said she is willing to consider changes as the proposal moves to its next committee. But she also rejected the contention by Nibert and others that the proposal may run afoul of the state constitution, which guarantees the right to bail in some circumstances. The legislation is a priority of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, 2nd Judicial District Attorney Raul Torrez and Keller, all Democrats. Its been vigorously opposed by public defenders and others. The state Sentencing Commission has raised questions about its legality. Keller, a former state senator, said the people of Albuquerque are screaming for help and that lawmakers should keep the bill alive while evaluating the constitutional questions. Keeping more people behind bars before trial, he said, will help slow the revolving door of criminal suspects who cycle in and out of jail. We are arresting people over and over and over, Keller said. There are lives at stake. Voting in favor of advancing the bill were four Democrats and three Republicans. The two dissenting votes came from Democratic Reps. Daymon Ely of Corrales and Gail Chasey of Albuquerque. Chasey is chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee, putting her in a powerful position to shape the fate of the bill. She noted that a recent Legislative Finance Committee report found that low arrest, prosecution and conviction rates may have contributed more to Bernalillo Countys crime problem than releasing defendants awaiting trial. I just hope we actually have a solution that isnt ignoring the reality and the data we have now, Chasey said. Torrez, the district attorney, has questioned the validity of the legislative analysis. The bill would create a rebuttable presumption of dangerousness for defendants charged with certain violent crimes, including murder, child abuse and assault on a peace officer. The goal would be to make it easier for prosecutors to secure approval to hold a person in jail while they await trial. If prosecutors file a detention motion and are able to meet the probable cause standard for the crime, the defendant would have to persuade a judge they should not be held until trial under the presumption they pose a danger to any other person or to the community. Legislative analysts estimate the bill would result in up to 1,262 additional pretrial detainees a year, at an estimated cost to county jails of $13.8 million. The additional detentions could lower the statewide violent crime rate by 1.4%, preventing about 190 crimes each year, according to the LFC analysis. Lawmakers who support the bill face deadline pressure to keep it moving. The measure would have to clear one more House committee, the full House and then the Senate and its committees by the Feb. 17 end of the 30-day session. House Bill 5 is jointly sponsored by four Albuquerque legislators: Matthews, Rep. Meredith Dixon and Senate Majority Whip Linda Lopez, all Democrats, and Republican Rep. Bill Rehm. SANTA FE A proposal to establish an annual event dedicated to helping the families of missing persons in New Mexico won Senate approval 34-0 on Friday, sending it to the House. The legislation, Senate Bill 13, would bring government agencies together to help families file missing-person reports, submit DNA records and meet with investigators. Senate Majority Whip Linda Lopez, an Albuquerque Democrat and co-sponsor of the proposal, said the event would be vital in a state that leads the nation for the number of cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Theres so much more we have to do, Lopez said. The proposal would create a Missing in New Mexico Event organized each year by the state Department of Public Safety. The department would be directed to maintain a clearinghouse with information on missing persons to help law enforcement and others. Before reaching the governor, the bill must also win approval in the House. WENN/Avalon Celebrity Following her split from the 'Tron Legacy' actor, the 'American Horror Story' actress enjoys her vacation at the Hacienda AltaGracia, where guests receive wellness programming. Jan 28, 2022 AceShowbiz - Emma Roberts seemingly needs to clear her mind after breaking up with Garrett Hedlund. The "Scream Queens" actress jetted off to Costa Rica for a "beautiful reset" following her ex-boyfriend's arrest for public intoxication. The Madison Montgomery depicter on "American Horror Story: Coven" took to her Instagram account on Thursday, January 27 to share some pictures from her trip to the Central American country. She also told her followers that she's staying at the Hacienda AltaGracia, a luxurious resort from the Auberge Resorts Collection. "The most beautiful reset possible in my new favorite place @thewell @altagraciaauberge @aubergeresorts," Emma captioned her post. She gushed, "The most magnificent setting, the kindest people, the most mind blowing experiences can't wait to get back!" According to the resort's website, the Hacienda AltaGracia is an all-inclusive getaway where guests receive wellness programming. They are also assigned a personal guide, called a "Compa," who acts as "a dedicated experience designer who will plan the perfect mix of experiences for wellness, dining, adventure and exploration." Emma's self-care-focused retreat arrived just a few days after news broke that she had split from the "Tron Legacy" actor following their first child Rhode Robert's first birthday. Sources claimed that they broke up following a rocky patch in their relationship. "It's sad, and they are trying their best to co-parent. It's been hard," an insider alleged. Following their split, Garrett allegedly tried to jump out of a moving car as well as kicked and swung on an eyewitness hours before being detained for public intoxication in Franklin County, Tennessee. The authorities received a call from the witness who told them about the dangerous incident. Garrett was released from jail just hours after staying behind bars after paying a $2,100 bond, according to a rep for Franklin County, Tennessee. The spokesperson also told the outlet that he's due back in court in March. Thomas Weidenmuller, who files the lawsuit, claims that he endured eight surgeries on his face and now has 'five plates in his jaw' following Kenneth's brutal attack. Jan 28, 2022 AceShowbiz - Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty found themselves being entangled in new legal trouble. It was unveiled that a security guard is suing the "Anaconda" hitmaker and her husband after Kenneth allegedly broke his jaw. Filing the lawsuit was Thomas Weidenmuller, who was the head of security for one of Nicki's shows in Germany in March 2019. In court documents, Thomas claimed that the raptress was mad at one security staffer for allowing a male fan to get onstage during her performance. The "Bang Bang" femcee allegedly yelled at the female guard. "[She was] irate during this confrontation and screamed at the female security guard that she was a f**king b***h and accused her of having put Minaj in physical danger. During the confrontation, the female security guard was in tears and apologized to Minaj," so read the suit. Thus, Thomas went to Nicki to address the incident. However, he alleged that the Trinidadian star screamed at him too, saying, "Who do you think you are?" It was said that Nicki threw her shoes at him but missed, so Thomas left. Thomas was later summoned to Nicki's room, only to hurl insults at him. That's when Kenneth approached him. "Without warning, Petty PUNCHED Weidenmuller from the side and made contact with the right side of [his] face," the lawsuit stated. "[Thomas was] instantly in extreme pain and was momentarily disoriented and had to step aside, around the corner, to collect himself." "After two or three minutes, and under the belief that his jaw was broken, Weidenmuller turned the corner again, returning to the location where Petty hit him," it added. Thomas was reportedly hospitalized for ten days and "sustained a broken jaw as a result of Petty's brutal attack." "Following his discharge from the hospital, he was unable to eat solid foods for some time and required to sleep upright because, if he laid down horizontally, the concussion that he sustained would cause him to experience extreme headaches," the docs alleged. Thomas also had eight surgeries on his face and now has "five plates in his jaw." The news arrived around two weeks after Jennifer Hough, who claimed that she's raped by Kenneth in 1994 when she's 16 years old, voluntarily dropped her harassment lawsuit against him and Nicki. Still, the hip-hop star reportedly will still fight for her money lost in their legal dispute. WENN/Apega Celebrity The 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' actress shares pictures from a rally to protest vaccine mandates in Washington D.C. she attended as she declares that she is 'pro choice.' Jan 28, 2022 AceShowbiz - Evangeline Lilly has divided Marvel fans after she spoke out against vaccine mandates. The actress, who portrays Hope van Dyne / Wasp in the MCU, has received mixed response after she joined a protest in Washington D.C. this weekend in support of "bodily sovereignty." The 42-year-old took to her Instagram page on Thursday, January 27 to reveal her participation in the rally. Along with pictures from the protest, she informed her fans and followers, "I was in DC this weekend to support bodily sovereignty while Canadian truckers were rallying for their cross-country, peaceful convoy in support of the same thing." "I believe nobody should ever be forced to inject their body with anything, against their will," she continued to voice her opinion in the caption, "under threat of: violent attack, arrest or detention without trial, loss of employment, homelessness, starvation, loss of education, alienation from loved ones, excommunication from society under any threat whatsoever." "This is not the way. This is not safe. This is not healthy. This is not love. I understand the world is in fear, but I don't believe that answering fear with force will fix our problems," she stressed. "I was pro choice before COVID and I am still pro choice today." Lilly also shared a quote by Indian-American entrepreneur and investor Naval Ravikant which read, "All tyranny begins with the desire to coerce others for the greater good." In the comment section, many applauded Lilly for speaking out against vaccine mandates. "thank you," one said. Another supported her as saying, "AMEN." Someone exclaimed, "Totally agree!" "Respect!" another raved over the actress. A fifth user wrote, "This is the way - Thank you." Another noted that it "well said," while someone else praised her, "Love you for this and speaking out to it." Others on Twitter, meanwhile, slammed Lilly for her stance. "First Letitia Wright, now Evangeline Lilly, if they ever end doing an A-Force film the villain is probably going to be Pfizer at this point," one person snarked. Another individual also brought up "Black Panther" star Wright, who reportedly refused to get vaccinated. "I find it funny that both Letitia Wright and Evangeline Lilly are supposed to be playing smart characters," the said person remarked. Another disappointed fan wrote, "evangeline lilly being antivax is super disappointing as someone who is in my third year of medical school and just realised I confused my textbook for a dvd of ant-man," while another cautioned, "Keep Evangeline Lilly away from Paul Rudd at all costs. He hasn't lived for centuries to be taken down by her unwashed and unvaccinated self." Lilly's fans, however, claimed that she is not anti vaccine despite protesting vaccine mandates. "She's not anti-vax, she's anti-vax mandate. FYI she is vaccinated," one claimed. Another argued, "Evangeline is vaccinated she just doesn't think things should be forced." Someone else similarly said, "she's not against the vaccine. She's against mandates." Lilly previously came under fire for refusing to adhere to calls for social distancing and self-isolating during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. "Some people value their lives over freedom, some people value freedom over their lives. We all make choices," she wrote at the time. The "Lost" alum later apologized for her "dismissive" and "arrogant" statements. "My direct and special apologies to those most affected by this pandemic. I never meant to hurt you. When I wrote that post 10 days ago, I thought I was infusing calm into the hysteria," she said through her social media post. "I can see now that I was projecting my own fears into an already fearful and traumatic situation." WENN/Avalon/Apega Movie Branagh and Paul Thomas Anderson are first-time nominees in the feature film category, while Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Hall and Lin-Manuel Miranda land in the First-Time Feature Film Director category. Jan 28, 2022 AceShowbiz - The Directors Guild of America has unveiled the movie nominations of its 74th Annual DGA Awards, one day after revealing the contenders in TV field. Announced on Thursday, January 27, the list includes first-time nominee Kenneth Branagh as well as repeat winner Steven Spielberg. Both Branagh and Spielberg are up for the coveted Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film award. The former landed the nod for his work on semi-autobiographical comedy-drama "Belfast", while the latter scored a nomination for directing "West Side Story", a second movie adaptation of the 1957 stage musical of the same name. They are pitted against Paul Thomas Anderson ("Licorice Pizza"), Jane Campion ("The Power of the Dog") and Denis Villeneuve ("Dune") in the category. While Campion and Villeneuve had been nominated for DGA Award once before for their films "The Piano" (1993) and "Arrival" (1996) respectively, this is the first for Anderson. Campion is the second woman ever to receive a second nod from the Directors Guild. She, however, ultimately lost the award lost to Spielberg for "Schindler's List" at the 46th annual DGA Awards. This year's DGA Awards will also present an accolade to a first-time feature film director. Making into the list are Maggie Gyllenhaal for "The Lost Daughter", Rebecca Hall for "Passing", Lin-Manuel Miranda for "Tick, Tick Boom!", Tatiana Huezo for "Prayers for the Stolen", Michael Sarnoski for "Pig" as well as Emma Seligman for "Shiva Baby". The guild is often a strong predictor of Oscar success historically, missing the eventual Best Director winner only eight times in 73 years. Last year, the guild awarded Chloe Zhao its top film prize for "Nomadland", which ended up winning Best Picture and Best Director at the 93rd Academy Awards. The winners of the 2022 DGA Awards will be announced in a ceremony scheduled to take place on March 12. The show will also feature Spike Lee receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Motion Picture Direction, the guild's highest honor. Movie Nominations of the 74th Annual DGA Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film Outstanding Achievement of a First-Time Feature Film Director WENN/Reflector Celebrity According to her attorney Lynne Ciani, the model 'has video evidence' that the 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' alum 'didn't have a mark or scratch on him' as there's 'no attack.' Jan 28, 2022 AceShowbiz - Blac Chyna is ready to defend her innocence against Rob Kardashian's assault and battery accusations. According to her attorney, Lynne Ciani, the model "is ready" to "clear her name" after her ex-boyfriend's friends "refused" to attend their deposition. Her lawyer Lynne told Page Six on Thursday, January 27, "These same two friends of Rob refused to show up at their deposition to put their claims on the record." Lynne pointed out, "Chyna is ready for her day in court to clear her name." Lynne also stated that Chyna "has video evidence that Rob didn't have a mark or scratch on him after the alleged attack," noting, "Because there was no attack." The attorney went on to say, "Meanwhile, Rob has filed court papers to try to delay his own trial against Chyna yet again." Rob's friends in question are Eugene Shpilsky, who claims he once witnessed Blac, whose real name is Angela Renee White, pointing a gun at Rob, and Victory Belz, who "separately witnessed Chyna pointing a gun at Rob and threatening his life." They're supposed to testify on the 34-year-old reality star's behalf. Kris Jenner's longtime boyfriend, Corey Gamble, will also come to the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" alum's defense. According to the court documents obtained by the outlet, Rob requested to combine the assault and battery lawsuit with Blac's suit against his family. The suit accuses the Kardashian-Jenner family of intentionally trying to cancel the exes' show, "Rob & Chyna". Earlier this month, it's reported that Blac was granted a chance to defend herself as she's set to depose Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Kris as part of Rob's assault and battery lawsuit against her. Blac had initially wanted each of the women to be deposed for seven hours. However, the court ended up reducing the deposition to just two hours per person. Upon learning of the deposition, Michael Rhodes, counsel for the Kardashian-Jenner family, said in a statement, "We are pleased the court limited the scope of the depositions to minimize the burden on the very busy members of the family." The reality family's legal team previously had attempted to quash the deposition, arguing the women had already been "examined exhaustively in a related matter." Instagram Celebrity When discussing her reconciliation with Lindsay on 'Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen', the hotel heiress reveals that she congratulated the actress when she got engaged. Jan 28, 2022 AceShowbiz - Paris Hilton made it clear that she has buried the hatched with Lindsay Lohan. When reflecting on her feud with the "Mean Girls" actress in a new interview, the hotel heiress acknowledged it was "immature." Paris talked about her relationship with Lindsay when appearing on "Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen" alongside her mom, Kathy Hilton. "We're grown-ups now," the 40-year-old socialite first told host Andy. "I just got married, she just got engaged. We're not in high school," the TV personality added in the Wednesday, January 26 episode of the show. "I think it was just very immature, and now, everything is all good." Paris, who tied the knot with Carter Reum in November 2021, also noted that she congratulated Lindsay for her engagement to Bader Shammas. "I saw that she got engaged when I was on my honeymoon, and I just said congratulations," she explained. "No bad vibes." Paris previously sent love to the "Just My Luck" star in a December episode of her "This is Paris" podcast. "I know we've had our differences in the past, but I just wanted to say congratulations to her and that I am genuinely very happy for her," she gushed. The reality star is also happy that she, Lindsay and Britney Spears, whom she called "the Holy Trinity", have all come so far since their car photos made headlines in 2006. "It just makes me so happy to see, you know, 15 years later, and just so much has happened in the past two weeks," she raved. "I got married, Britney got her freedom back and engaged, and then Lindsay just got engaged," the DJ added. "So I love just seeing how different our lives are now and just how much we've all grown up and just having love in our lives." WENN/Ivan Nikolov Celebrity The Flash depicter in DCEU sends an ominous message to members of the white supremacist group in the Instagram clip, but it's unclear what prompts them to get angry at the group. Jan 28, 2022 AceShowbiz - Ezra Miller has an ongoing issue with Ku Klux Klan and they're making it public. The actor has sent an ominous message to members of the white supremacist group in a shocking Instagram video, apparently upset over something. In the clip posted on Thursday, January 27, Ezra introduced themself as "the Bengal Ghouls" and "the Mad Goose Wizard," the latter of which likely referenced their "Fantastic Beasts" character Credence Barebone. "Hello, first of all. How are y'all doing? It's me," they opened the video, which saw them bundling up in a black jacket while sitting inside a moving car. "This is a message for the Beulaville chapter of the North Carolina Ku Klux Klan." The 29-year-old seemingly threatened to kill members of the Ku Klux Klan as they continued their ominous message, "Look, if y'all wanna die, I suggest just killing yourselves with your own guns, OK? Otherwise, keep doing exactly what you're doing right now - and you know what I'm talking about - and then, you know, we'll do it for you if that's really what you want. OK, talk to you soon, OK? Byeee!" Ezra doubled down on their threat as they stressed in the caption, "Please disseminate (gross!) this video to all those whom it may concern. This is not a joke and even though I do recognize myself to be a clown please trust me and take this seriously." They added, "Let's save some live now ok babies? Love you like woah." After they posted the video, Ezra's name was trending on Twitter as social media users seemed to be taken aback by their statements. That led to some fans worrying about the Flash depicter. "I think #EzraMiller needs some help. Like, some mental health help," said one concerned fan. Another asked in the comment section of their post, "Ezra are things alright? Im serious." Ezra has not addressed the video in question and the reason why they made it. The actor, who came out as queer in 2012, previously found themselves at the center of controversy after they were caught in a video choking a woman and throwing her to the ground. The video was taken in Reykjavik at Prikio Kaffihus, "a trendy bar in central Reykjavik that [Ezra] frequents" when in the city. Despite calls to remove the actor from the "Fantastic Beasts" film franchise, Warner Bros. Studios never addressed the attack clip. Instagram Music The 'Young, Wild and Free' hitmaker dares the cancel community to take him on because he is convinced that will get back on his feet again in just one week. Jan 28, 2022 AceShowbiz - Snoop Dogg is not afraid of getting canceled. When offering his two cents about cancel culture, the "Young, Wild & Free" hitmaker said he believes that haters could never drag him down because his fanbase is "bigger." "I wish a motherf**ka would try to cancel me," the 50-year-old declared when speaking to Druski in his "Behind the Vest" Clubhouse room. "Cause you see DaBaby, you see Dave Chappelle." "You see certain motherf*ckers, like, 'If you don't get out of here with that s**t.' Gimme a week n***a, I'll be back up. You know what I'm saying?" the emcee boasted. "You gotta believe it. You gotta know that your base is your base." The "Straight Outta Compton" actor went on to note, "You can't...the cancel community is not bigger than my fanbase... Let's match up n***a." He then added, "I beg to differ. Cancel community meet up. Line up. Cancel community, I need you n***s to line up." Snoop himself has had a fair share of facing criticism. Back in February 2020, he was accused of threatening Gayle King over her questions about Kobe Bryant's rape case when interviewing former WNBA star Lisa Leslie. "What do you gain from that? We expect more from you Gayle. Don't you hang out with [Oprah Winfrey]? Why are you all attacking us? We're your people. You don't come after Harvey Weinstein, asking those dumba** questions," he fumed at that time. "I'm sick of y'all. Funky doghead b***h. How dare you try to torch my homeboy's reputation, punk motherf**ker. Respect the family and back off, b***h, before we come get you." However, he already apologized to Gayle. "Two wrongs don't make no right. When you're wrong, you gotta fix it. So with that being said, Gayle King, I publicly tore you down by coming at you in a derogatory manner based off emotionsme being angry at questions that you asked. Overreacted," he acknowledged. "Should have handled it way different than that. I was raised way better than that," the hip-hop star added. "So I would like to apologize to you publicly for the language that I used and calling you out on your name and being disrespectful." WENN/Sean Thorton Movie In a new interview, the 'Uncharted' star thanks his girlfriend for being his 'support system' and helping him overcome his anxiety as 'the closer' he got to meeting Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield the 'more nervous' he was. Jan 28, 2022 AceShowbiz - Tom Holland is clearly grateful to have Zendaya Coleman in his life. The "Chaos Walking" star has credited his girlfriend for helping ease his anxiety ahead of meeting fellow Spider-Man depicters, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. In a virtual conversation with Deadline published on Wednesday, January 26 alongside Tobey and Andrew, who both reprised their roles as Peter Parker, the 25-year-old British actor admitted to having jitters before meeting fellow "Spider-Man" actors for the first time, ahead of their work together on "Spider-Man: No Way Home". "At our first rehearsal, I had asked [Jacob Batalon] and Zendaya to come with me to just kind of be there as like, my support system," he recalled, laughing. "Like, 'I'm gonna go meet these guys, I'm really nervous about it,' " Tom continued. " 'We have to read the scene, and I don't know how this is gonna go because we're all playing the same character, and we all have to bring our own heart and soul into this, and it means a lot to them, and it means a lot to me,' " the "Cherry" star added. Tom went on to say, "So Jacob and Zendaya were there on that first day," as he described that the moment "was daunting." The "Uncharted" actor then explained, "It was very daunting because we were a long way into shooting before you guys showed up." "We were maybe three months into principal photography," Tom continued. "The date of 'the other Spider-Mans are coming' was etched on my calendar and [it] was getting closer and closer and closer, and the closer [it] got, the more and more nervous I was," he reasoned. Elsewhere in the interview, Tom said that "Spider-Man: No Way Home", which marks his sixth film appearance as the title superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "really is a celebration of three generations of cinema." He said that filming "No Way Home" could be "incredibly emotional" and "very taxing" at times, but he ultimately was grateful for the experience. "I was so happy to be there that I had to go at it a different way and go, 'Wow, look at my life. Look what's happened to me,' " Tom gushed. " 'I'm working with Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, and we're telling this story.' " Tom elaborated, "I would get emotional, kind of how proud I was of the situation that we were in and what we were doing, and that I really believed in what we were doing." He shared, "So yeah, it was tough. But you know, anything hard is worthwhile," before concluding, "I was happy to kind of really push myself to make this film." Bharti Airtel (Airtel), one of Indias premier communications solutions providers, and Google today announced that they will partner on a long-term, multi-year agreement to accelerate the growth of Indias digital ecosystem. Together, they will work to bring best-in-class end-to-end products to serve customer needs, provide quality customer experience, and bring their expertise to solve problems of affordability, access, and digital inclusion. As part of this partnership, Google intends to invest up to $1B, as part of its Google for India Digitization Fund, which includes equity investment as well as a corpus for potential commercial agreements, to be identified and agreed on mutually agreeable terms over the course of the next five years. This will comprise: A $700M equity investment in Bharti Airtel at a price per share of INR 734. Up to $300M that will go towards implementing commercial agreements, which will include investments in scaling Airtels offerings that covers a range of devices to consumers via innovative affordability programs as well as other offerings aimed at accelerating access and digital inclusion across Indias digital ecosystem. This deal will be subject to necessary regulatory approvals. The two organizations recognize the importance of a connected India, in empowering businesses as they progress on their Digital Transformation journeys, and building a strong digital ecosystem for consumers everywhere. Both organizations are committed to working towards building an open technology ecosystem that serves customers and businesses with innovative digital services, and have agreed to jointly explore and invest across a wide spectrum of areas to create digital solutions that uniquely serve Indias requirements. As a part of its first commercial agreement, Airtel and Google will work together to build on Airtels extensive offerings that covers a range of Android-enabled devices to consumers via innovative affordability programs. Together, the companies will continue to explore further opportunities to bring down the barriers of owning a smartphone across a range of price points, in partnership with various device manufacturers. *1.20% shareholding including partly paid shares Under the larger strategic goals of the partnership, both companies will also potentially co-create India-specific network domain use cases for 5G and other standards, with cutting-edge implementations. Airtel is already using Googles 5G-ready Evolved Packet Core & Software Defined Network platforms, and plans to explore scaling up the deployment of Googles network virtualisation solutions to deliver a superior network experience to their customers. Both companies will also focus on shaping and growing the cloud ecosystem in India to accelerate their digital transformation journeys. Airtel serves over one million small and medium businesses with its enterprise connectivity offering, and this partnership will help accelerate digital adoption. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel said, Airtel and Google share the vision to grow Indias digital dividend through innovative products. With our future ready network, digital platforms, last mile distribution and payments ecosystem, we look forward to working closely with Google to increase the depth and breadth of Indias digital ecosystem. Airtel is a leading pioneer shaping Indias digital future, and we are proud to partner on a shared vision for expanding connectivity and ensuring equitable access to the Internet for more Indians, said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. Our commercial and equity investment in Airtel is a continuation of our Google for India Digitization Fund's efforts to increase access to smartphones, enhance connectivity to support new business models, and help companies on their digital transformation journey. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has found that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) issued notices to digital news publishers despite interim orders by the Madras and Bombay High Courts staying the operation of the three-tier grievance redressal mechanism and the Code of Ethics. The MIB had requested information from digital news publishers in accordance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. (IT Rules). The ministry also stated that over 2,100 publishers, including news and OTT platforms, had already provided information. Publishers of news and current affairs content, as well as online curated content, are required to inform the MIB about their entities and provide information under Rule 18 of the IT Rules 2021. This Rule is in accordance with the IT Rules' three-tier structure and the IT Rules' Code of Ethics. The Bombay High Court (in Agij Promotion Of Nineteenonea Media Pvt. Ltd. & Ors v. Union Of India & Anr - order dated 14th August 2021) and the Madras High Court (in T.M. Krishna v Union of India - order dated 16th September 2021) have, however, stayed the operation of this three-tier structure and the Code of Ethics. The IFF noted, "Despite this, we were informed by digital news media publishers that the MIB has issued them notices to furnish information regarding themselves to the MIB. We filed an RTI application on 03.01.2022 to confirm whether this was the case, to understand the authority under which these notices were issued, and to which publishers." MIBs response to IFF contained some positive information: 1. The MIB admitted that it did indeed issue such notices - on 26.05.2021, and again on 09.09.2021. This is a surprising revelation, since the second notice dated 09.09.2021 was issued after the Bombay High Courts stay on certain rules of the IT Rules 2021, which conferred authority on the MIB to regulate digital news media. 2. The MIB also revealed that more than 2100 publishers (of news media, as well as OTT platforms) have already furnished their details to the MIB. However, when asked how many of these publishers furnished their details after 14.08.2021, the MIB refused to provide the data stating that this information does not exist at all. Jitender Dabas (Jeetu) , Chief Operating Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of McCann Worldgroup India has been named as a jury member of the London based 2022 WARC Effectiveness awards. He will be a part of the panel judging the Brand Purpose category that recognizes the best creative work that achieved commercial success while successfully bringing a brand purpose to life. Jeetu has served as jury on many global Effectiveness & strategy awards in the past. He was on 2021 Cannes Effectiveness Lions jury, the 2021 APAC Effies , as well as the 2019 Jay Chiat Strategy Awards ,New York hosted by the 4As (American Association of Advertising Agencies). Speaking on the same Jeetu stated, More than judging Its another opportunity to learn from what brands are doing meaningfully well across the world. Brand purpose has been a subject of debate often on its role in building business. A category brand purpose in Effectiveness allows us the shine the torch of work that makes the difference to the society as well as to brand & business Nestle MAGGI is giving its consumers a reason to smile during these difficult times with the launch of its MAGGI Super Bonanza Offer. As a part of this offer, every consumer across India* will get assured savings on any MAGGI Super Bonanza Pack purchased, along with a chance to win a gold voucher worth INR 9,999 each. Rajat Jain, Head - Foods Business, Nestle India, said, We realize that people need to feel elevated and secure in these trying times. While we hope for quick normalization of the situation, our intention behind announcing MAGGI Super Bonanza is to give some warmth to our consumers. As the campaign theme Sabki Jeet Pakki suggests, there is something for everyone, and MAGGI is adding to this excitement with a promise of assured savings and wins with each MAGGI pack. We are delighted to have extended this offer to approximately 12 crore MAGGI packs across the length and breadth of the MAGGI portfolio. We are confident that MAGGI consumers will love this offer and benefit from it. As a part of campaign amplification, the brand has also launched a TVC #SabkiJeetPakki, featuring Bollywood actor Sanya Malhotra. The ad film has been conceptualized and developed by McCann Worldgroup and depicts the savings and prizes which are up for grabs. As a part of this offer, MAGGI assures savings for everyone who buys a MAGGI product across the portfolio. Offers include saving INR 6 on MAGGI Masala Noodles 6 pack, MAGGI VEG ATTA Noodles Single pack free worth INR 24 on its 4 pack, Buy 4 get 1 free on MAGGI masala-ae-magic, and many more. Additionally, lucky winners stand a chance to win Gold vouchers. MAGGI Super Bonanza was launched for every consumer across India* in January 2022 and is now available at a store near you. With Google set to phase out third-party cookie on Chrome browsers by the end of 2022, advertisers and marketers have to bring in newer ways to track data. Websites have been using cookies to track user activity on the website and keep the record of the usage. These cookies have been used to provide the user a personalised experienced while on the website as it remembers the users activity. Third party cookies are used by websites other than the one that the user is visiting for cross-site tracking, retargeting and ad serving. Now with Google deprecating third party cookies, there will be changes in the digital advertisers use data to personalise their campaigns. This has already led to an increase in the adoption of first party data by advertisers. First party cookies are those that are generated by the host domain or data that is collected directly by the advertisers from the users or their consumers. In a third-party cookieless world, first party data is a valuable proposition and it is more or less free. Apart from the digital domain, first party data can also be collected via customer feedback, conducting surveys, as well as data stored in ones CRM database. Since the data comes from a known source, there is greater control on keeping a check on issues like privacy concerns and better management of data. How marketers can leverage first-party data? According to a Google blog, there are five things that brands can do to harness first-party datas full potential: Tailor to customer objectives According to Google, brands need to establish clear customer experience goals and align them to business objectives. They then need to create a plan with measurable goals to guide which data the advertiser collects and invests in. Calculate the cost of acquiring that data as well as related complexities, such as compliance with privacy laws, risks of data breach, and impact on consumer trust. This helps advertisers identify which data to prioritise. Offer value in exchange for data In order to address peoples concerns regarding how their will be used, brands need to stress on Consent Management. Google further suggests that brands also maintain customer trust through strong data governance. By managing data properly and implementing processes that ensure data accuracy and integrity, you can avoid data breaches while improving data accuracy, timeliness, and usability. Invest in tech and organizational enablers It goes without saying that such a strategy requires having the right people, technology, and processes in place. Googles research shows that the ideal organisational model is a hybrid approach, wherein a brand takes data ownership and develops key capabilities related to data analysis and activation internally, and works with a trusted partner to fill any expertise gaps. Test and learn to determine activation Once a brand decides which first-party data is most relevant form them, they can focus on how they will use first-party data to improve customer experiences. These can range from one-to-one personalisation, which requires a significant amount of time and investment, to finding out the level of personalisation needed for specific audience segments. Refine and validate with measurement No strategy is complete without measuring its effectiveness. Google affirms that first-party data provides valuable insights that can help deliver better customer experiences and drive business results. At the same time it calls on marketers to use first-party data responsibly. Also read: Quora's category insights ebook is a handbook for advertisers in 2022. Click here to view the ebook. Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Bern, 28.01.2022 - FDFA State Secretary Livia Leu received Russian First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov in Bern today for political consultations. Talks focused on topics of bilateral interest including trade and energy. Human rights, Switzerland's good offices, the current tensions on the Russian-Ukrainian border and European security matters were also discussed. For FDFA State Secretary Livia Leu, it was important to continue Switzerland's open, constructive dialogue with Russia. During the talks, both sides expressed their appreciation for the regular high-level meetings and close exchanges between Switzerland and Russia on a range of issues, including trade, finance, customs, energy, science, research, security policy, foreign policy and human rights. Both countries are members of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, and the State Secretary reiterated in this context the obligation to implement the commitments entered into and rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). She referred, in particular, to the closure of human rights organisation Memorial International and the continued detention of opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Focus on European security and cooperation Discussions on cooperation in multilateral organisations focused on strengthening the OSCE to bring greater peace and stability to Europe and, in this context, Switzerland's OSCE Action Plan was presented. Switzerland is concerned about the massing of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine and believes that security in Europe can only be strengthened through dialogue. The OSCE needs to play a key role with its confidence- and security-building measures and as a platform for dialogue. Ms Leu and Mr Titov also discussed political developments in Eastern Europe and Iran, and Switzerland's mandate as protecting power for Russia in Georgia and for Georgia in Russia. Switzerland's candidacy for a seat on the UN Security Council was also addressed. The Federal Council's Foreign Policy Strategy designates Russia as a priority country. Political consultations between Switzerland and Russia at the level of FDFA State Secretary and Deputy Foreign Minister are held once a year. Address for enquiries FDFA Communication Federal Palace West Wing CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53 Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55 E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Twitter: @SwissMFA Publisher Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html With high fertilizer prices, forage specialists say producers may want to add legumes to pastures and hay fields to boost forage quality and quantity. Craig Roberts, forage specialist for the University of Missouri Extension, says now might be the time to use frost seeding to add legumes to the mix. The fertilizer prices, theyve tripled, he says. Frost seeding is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to improve pastures. Valerie Tate, MU agronomist based in Linn County, says now is a good time to add legumes such as clover or lespedeza. February is a good time to interseed red clover and lespedeza, she says. Because fertilizer is going to be really expensive this spring, legumes are a good way to add nitrogen to pastures and hay fields. Roberts recommends adding red or white clover. If youre looking at the spring of 2022, whats the one thing I can do to make my pastures productive and nutritional its red and white clover, he says. Nitrogen fertilizer can provide a big boost early, but it is concentrated in the first growth after application, and Roberts says it can increase fescue toxicosis. However, clover can provide nitrogen support that is slowly released throughout the year. These legumes are the easiest to get on the field, and they fix a lot of nitrogen issues, he says. That nitrogen is slowly available. Its gradually available. The yield is improved. The quality improves when you have legumes in the field. Tate says it can also be a good idea to get a pH test taken on pastures and hayfields. A pH of 4.5 to 5.5 is considered low, while the 5.5 to 6.0 range is optimum. For alfalfa, a higher pH is ideal. Tate says a low pH can present problems. The nutrients that are there are not as available, she says. While the clover does not totally fix issues with summer toxicity in tall fescue, Roberts says red clover relaxes blood vessels that fescues endophyte constrict, which can cause heat stress and fescue foot. Tate says the legumes also help dilute the fescue. If they have endophyte-infected tall fescue, the legumes will dilute the toxicity, she says. The legumes also provide growth in June and July, heading into the heart of summer. Roberts says recommended seeding rates are 4 to 6 pounds per acre for red clover and about a pound an acre for white clover. As for timing of frost seeding, January and February are good frost seeding months. The action of freezing and thawing gets the seed into the soil, so it needs time for that before spring growth begins. Roberts says now is the time. Frozen ground and snow make for desirable frost seeding conditions, he says. You want the frozen ground, and youd like to have a little snow, Roberts says. The frozen ground prevents producers from making ruts in fields, and snow cover can make it easier to see where have seeded, although its not mandatory. Also, producers need to make sure the seed can make contact with the ground to get a good stand. Cattle can help work growth down before seeding if needed. The seed has to go all the way down and hit the soil, Roberts says. If theres thatch, they need to have the cows hoof it in. Theyve got to push that down. Roberts says adding in legumes might not show that burst of growth first thing in the spring, but it will have lasting benefits. They see the benefits at the end of the year, he says. Theyre not going to see it jump right out of the gate. But theyll see their calves performing well on it this summer. Tate says her part of north central Missouri saw some armyworm damage last year, and producers should assess their hay fields and pastures for damage and see what actions might need to be taken. Assessing the stand as plants green up to determine if they need to replace plants that died due to insect damage is important also, she says. Tate says warm weather late last year allowed for more pasture growth than in a typical year. However, she says to also be on the lookout for pastures that were grazed too low last year. If those pastures were overgrazed in the fall, it can slow down growth in the spring, she says. Another option to consider is adding native warm season grasses to the mix. Tate says that has become a more attractive option from an economic perspective with high fertilizer prices. As fertilizer prices go up, the native warm season grasses look a little more favorable, she says. Producers may still opt to put on nitrogen fertilizer. But Roberts says if ever they were thinking about seeding in some legumes, now is the time. Its just the year to have this done, he says. CropWatch Weekly Update Get the Iowa and Illinois CropWatchers report 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. While calving season has started for some operations, others wont see new calves for several months. Each producer needs to assess goals before choosing a calving season, says Denise Schwab, Extension beef specialist for Iowa State University based in eastern Iowa. She says January, February and early March work well for seedstock operations. From a bull standpoint, those bulls are going to be 2 or 3 months older when they are turned out with the cows, Schwab says. They are going to be able to handle more cows if they are older. Producers calving in the winter need to make sure they have adequate facilities and shelter for cow-calf pairs when the weather turns bad. Those calves are going to need a windbreak and a dry place to rest, Schwab says. Calves born from late March into June generally encounter better weather conditions, but mud may be more of an issue for calves born on pasture. Schwab says calving facilities could be beneficial for spring calves as well. You want to keep them out of the mud if you can, she says, adding calves born in muddy conditions could be more susceptible to respiratory issues. Schwab say feed should be a concern for cows calving in the winter and spring. They are going to need more feed and better feed to support lactation, she says. New grass growth is typically available in April to help provide lactating cows with the feed they need, Schwab adds. Fall calving has become more popular in recent years, says Kacie McCarthy, Extension beef specialist with the University of Nebraska. Calves born in August through October will typically be marketed during periods of strong prices, she says. But you will be breeding during the winter, so you need to keep an eye on the bulls and make sure cows are in good body condition, McCarthy says. Regardless of the calving season, she says attention should also be given to bull condition and health. If you are breeding in the summer when its hot and humid, we have seen some issues with reproductive performance, McCarthy says. Extremely hot weather could cause issues with sperm motility, as well as problems with heat stress on the cow side. She says while calf health is always a concern, calves born in the fall will face winter weather at a younger age than calves born in the spring. That could add more stress and compromise their immune system. Schwab adds fall calving is becoming more attractive due to fescue issues. If you calve in the fall, you wont be breeding in the summer while the cattle are on fescue, she says. Some research suggests that high levels of endophytes in fescue pastures can negatively impact reproductive performance and increase the chances of cows staying open. Midwest Messenger Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from the Midwest Messenger. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Part of what makes Montana so unique is the fact the states economy is driven largely by natural resource development. In an effort to bridge connections between industries and better diversify the leaders of Montana, Montana State University Extension, in partnership with private donors, started Resource Education and Agriculture Leadership (REAL) Montana. The two-year leadership development program is open to anyone in Montana who is directly involved in a natural resource industry with a desire to be a leader. We use a cross-industry approach, so our program is focused on agriculture, timber, mining, refining and engineering, explained Tara Becken, REAL Montana program director. With a mission to build a network of informed and engaged leaders to advance the natural resource industries in Montana, REAL Montana began in 2013 with Class I and applications are currently open for Class V. Each class consists of 20 individuals who participate in eight different in-state seminars. The seminars take place in various towns/cities across the state and are three days long with a targeted focus on the natural resource industry relevant to that specific area. In addition to the in-state seminars, each class also goes on a one-week trip to Washington, D.C., and a two-week international trip. While REAL Montanas focus on natural resource education is truly what makes the program unique, there is also a leadership component, as well. Class members participate in media training and over the two-year course of the program build connections and foster an unmatched level of personal growth. Skyler Hoefer, a Class IV participant, applied for REAL Montana because he wanted to develop more skills to be able to help the timber industry from which he draws a living. I just wanted to make myself a better person, a better leader, and a better manager of natural resources, Hoefer said while explaining his motives to apply for the program. Hoefer went on to say his experience in the program has been an incredible eye-opener. While he began the program fairly naive to the natural resource industries outside of timber, he whole-heartedly feels he has a better understanding of Montanas main economic drivers. Moreover, he says the friends and cross-industry connections he has made are invaluable. You get to build a network with your classmates, and you might come in and out of each others lives down the road, but it really helps to have different people to reach out to, Hoefer stated. Sue Ann Streufert, director of member relations for the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, also participated in Class IV. Like Hoefer, Streufert echoes how impactful REAL Montana has been for her both personally and professionally. The seminars are so diverse, from cows to coal to timber and from Montana to Washington, D.C., to international travel. Let me tell you, the seminars did not disappoint! It has been an amazing learning experience, she said. According to a study done by the University of Minnesota Extension, Montana is in need of 794 new leaders each year. Broken down, this means one in 22 people must step up and be a leader to ensure the sustainability of their respective industry. We really want to encourage people in their communities to look towards leadership and how they can make a difference in their industries. As we look across the state of Montana, we are in dire need of leaders in all industries and all communities, and this program is a great way to connect and train those leaders, Becken concluded. Applications for Class V are open until March 31. In addition to the application process, the only other requirement is you must draw a substantial portion of your income from a Montana natural resource in order to participate in REAL Montana. Both Hoefer and Streufert highly encourage individuals in Montanas natural resource industries apply for the program. The tuition is $3,500 with some financial assistance available to those who qualify. If you have a desire to be that leader, REAL Montana will give you the tools and information you need to be effective. Do it! You will not regret your decision, Streufert stated. For more information on REAL Montana or to apply for Class V, please visit realmontana.org. The Prairie Star Weekly Update Get the latest agriculture news delivered to your inbox from The Prairie Star. 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 News featured popular urgent Georgia PSC commissioner touts clean energy during presentation to Albany Rotarians Alan Mauldin / Staff Photo: Alan Mauldin Georgia Public Service Commission member Tim Echols speaks to the Albany Rotary Club on Tuesday about clean, renewable energy and his work to help victims of sex trafficking. Alan Mauldin / Staff Photo: Alan Mauldin Georgia is on pace to have about 15 percent of its electricity needs met by solar power in the next nine years, Georgia Public Service Commission member Tim Echols told Albany Rotarians on Thursday. Alan Mauldin / Staff Photo: Alan Mauldin Former Dougherty County Commission member Lamar Hudgins, left, chats with County Administrator Michael McCoy prior to the beginning of a Thursday Albany Rotary Club meeting. ALBANY Tim Echols is a crime fighter by night and a clean energy proponent by day. That joke was his own, referring to his work in fighting child sex trafficking and as one of five members of the Geogia Public Service Commission, which regulates telecommunications, electricity and natural gas services. The District 2 commissioner, a Republican who lives in the Athens area, is passionate about both, as he displayed during a Thursday appearance at the Albany Rotary Club meeting held at Doublegate Country Club. A strong proponent of nuclear power and the expansion under way at Plant Vogtle, he also has been a force in pushing the state forward in solar power generation. When he took office in 2011 Georgia was 34th among states, and now it is No. 9. Solar plants have proliferated in the area, with projects completed in Dougherty and Mitchell counties, and one is being built in Lee County. Currently, solar power provides about 8 percent of the electricity produced in the state, and Georgia Power Co. has been the biggest player among the utility companies. I think well have it growing until were at 15 percent, Echols said during an interview following his presentation. I think well have that in nine years. Our role is to tell the power companies how much (solar) we want done. They write a plan; we approve the plan. Every time we have doubled the amount they proposed. Its not just Georgia Power saying theyre going to do it. Its the PSC saying, We think the (generation) composition should be this. During his presentation, the commissioner gave a brief history of the PSC. Its origins go back to 1879 when the state formed the Railroad Commission after lawmakers received complaints about the monopoly rail companies, which included allowing perishable fruits and vegetables to sit unshipped. Later the commission regulated telegraph, and its role shifted with time to include its current responsibilities. Texas is an example of what completely unregulated utilities look like, and roughly a year ago that picture wasnt pretty. The state put the number of deaths related to a massive winter power outage at nearly 250. North Dakota, with a much colder climate, did not have the same problems as that in the unregulated Lone Star State. About a year ago, 4.5 million people were without power in Texas, Echols said. Some of those people were out of power for a week. It was a huge wakeup call. One concern he shared was that about 2 percent of generation capacity is set to retire by 2040. What do you do about that? he said. You get Plant Vogtle built. The Georgia Power nuclear facility and the expansion there will provide power for years to come, he said. Those Vogtle reactors will run for 80 years, he said. One-tenth of Georgians will get their power out of that, and thats a lot. Echols entry into clean energy started with solar water heating installed shortly before he was sworn into office. He has purchased a car powered by natural gas, a propane-powered van and currently owns an electric vehicle. He also created the Clean Energy Roadshow, which tours the state each summer to help individuals, businesses and governments evaluate using alternative fuels for transportation and residential use. He launched the Unholy Tour to take state lawmakers into some of the worst neighborhoods in the state to show them the areas where sex trafficking of minors is an issue. He also led the effort that turned a former detention facility into an intake center for children who escape trafficking to help them recover. Youve got to know, this is a rough business, he said after describing injuries some victims receive from their abusers, including missing teeth from beatings. There cannot be a tough enough penalty against it. Masking, testing, and vaccination mandates are devastating our schools. Two-thirds of the United States have shown that these mandates are not necessary for safe operation of schools, yet children and teachers are continuing to suffer in over a dozen states. Here in New Mexico, a state already known for its failing educational system, Governor Michelle Lujan Grishams COVID mandates are physically, emotionally, and mentally damaging to our children, teachers, and school personnel. This damage is not isolated to one particular school or district; it is happening all over the state to New Mexicans young and old, Latino and white, wealthy and poor. And there are no obvious benefits. New Mexico has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country and has been under a statewide mask mandate for nearly two years. Even though many already have natural immunity, our teachers are mandated to receive COVID shots and booster shots, or else face unfair testing and quarantine requirements. Students and teachers are forced to wear masks in school, and even outdoors in some districts. Nonetheless, we are currently experiencing one of the worst COVID surges in the country, with high hospitalization and death rates. Our people are suffering, but the Governors office is not listening. Governor Lujan Grisham has even gone so far as to remove an entire elected school board who voted to remove the mask mandate in their district. Because Ive been vocal about civil rights throughout the pandemic, parents from all over the state have reached out to me to share their concerns over the school mandates. Im also organizing a group of several hundred NM teachers and school personnel who are being harmed by the mandates, and the experiences they have shared with me are distressing. The following are just some of the many accounts of harm due to COVID mandates in NM schools. Mask Mandates Because of masking, NM children, teachers, and school personnel are suffering blackouts, vomiting, breathing problems, dizziness, disorientation, nosebleeds, and other health problems. These types of negative health effects have also been documented in scientific studies. Young children are vomiting in their masks and ashamed such that they do not remove their masks. School personnel become aware when vomit is dripping out of the childrens masks. This was reported by school personnel from two districts in southeastern and northern NM. According to NM teachers and learning specialists, masks directly impede the learning of crucial skills such as reading and mathematics, have serious negative effects on childrens emotional and developmental health, and interfere with childrens ability to learn communication and facial expressions. A school social worker is seeing a great increase in suicidal depression in NM school children. A young child who has a mask medical exemption was denied access to in-person education and was only allowed access to online school (which does not work well for this young child). A young boy came home from school with his mask duct-taped to his nose. His teacher had duct-taped his mask to his nose to keep it in place. Teachers and children are being harassed about masks. Children in multiple districts have received in-school suspensions for pulling their masks down to catch their breath. A teacher in southern NM was harassed about pulling her mask down to drink in class such that she now hides in her classroom closet to take a drink. Childrens sense of safety and health is being deranged such that they believe it is dangerous to breathe. According to a northern NM teacher, students are afraid to remove their masks outdoors because they are afraid that taking off their masks will result in the teacher dying. Vaccination Mandates, Coercion, and Discrimination Unvaccinated NM children, teachers, and school personnel (many of whom have robust natural immunity) are required to submit to COVID tests in order to participate in school. There are known risks to COVID-19 tests, including exposure to ethylene oxide on nasal swabs (which is known to cause cancer through inhalation), cerebrospinal fluid leak, and severe nasal bleeds. The CDC acknowledges that fully vaccinated people can easily spread COVID-19. Thus, it is irrational and punitive to require only unvaccinated teachers and students to be tested. Unvaccinated children and teachers who will not submit to three COVID tests after being identified as a close contact have been required to quarantine for 10-20 days. This has resulted in unvaccinated children missing many days of school due to multiple quarantines and falling far behind over the course of a semester. Children, teachers, and school personnel are being discriminated against, threatened, and harassed because of their vaccination status. A teacher in northern NM called out all of the unvaccinated students in class and required them to segregate from the other students. A teacher in southeast NM reported that the unvaccinated teachers at his school were called out over the intercom and required to line up at the principals office. A teacher in northwest NM and a school bus driver in northern NM were terminated because of their testing and vaccination status. Despite the facts that a) children have extremely low risk from COVID-19 illness, b) COVID-19 vaccinations are linked to increased risk of heart problems in young people, c) clinical trials for all COVID-19 vaccinations are ongoing, and d) long-term risks of COVID-19 vaccinations are unknown, children in NM have been offered $100 incentives to receive COVID-19 vaccination. A teacher reported that at the vaccination clinic in her elementary school, some young children who are fearful of the shots are being held down and forced to receive the vaccination. These childrens parents have signed consent forms for their children to receive COVID-19 vaccination at school. There is potential long-term trauma for the children being forced to receive vaccination as well as the other children who have witnessed these forced injections. COVID-19 Mandates are Harming Childrens Educations Forcing children, teachers, and school personnel to be masked, tested, and vaccinated is clearly not working. Many children are falling behind educationally as well as suffering physical and emotional health problems because of the mandates. There was already a shortage of teachers, and the mandates are further worsening the situation by driving many capable, dependable teachers out of the school system. Inferior personnel are now being hired and teachers are being asked to cover multiple classes. The teacher shortage has even reached the point where state employees and the National Guard are being called on to serve as substitute teachers. There is much more to education than having someone there who is knowledgeable; the kids need continuity, connection, and relationships with their educators. The educators need to know the students, so they can tailor the teaching and lessons to the kids strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, COVID-19 mandates are creating a hostile environment in our schools. Teachers, school personnel, and students are being discriminated against, harassed, bullied, and threatened because of the mandates. All people have a fundamental right to choose whether or not to use medical devices and treatments, without coercion, threats, or discrimination. It is time to put children first and remove the mandated COVID-19 vaccinations, masking, and testing in our schools. Sarah Smith is a leader for the National Coalition for Health Integrity. She is also a natural healthcare practitioner and former NASA aerospace engineer. Image: Used by permission. These past few months, we have witnessed a confluence of events in which the grandest hopes and desires of the radical left and Oval Offices installed occupant have been stymied or faced outright defeat. Their desperation should be clear for all to see, summed up in their desire is to govern against the will of the People, campaign against the Peoples majority concerns, and inflict psychological (and, in some cases, physical) abuse against all who dissent from their governance and incompetence. To win anyway, leftists are creating a false sense of panic across America. At the ignominious one-year anniversary of the current regime, it is essential that We the People look at what they are doing on every issue, every story, and listen carefully to every word of their sustained propaganda campaign for they are responsible for creating a Mass Formation Psychosis and mob mentality. World-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Peter Breggin was the first to examine the psychological impacts of the global response to the COVID pandemic. An October 6, 2021, article for American Greatness reported his views on how a cabal of billionaire elites is behind a global propaganda campaign to keep us all separated from one another, afraid, then docile and, finally, obedient under their control Dr. Robert Malone (who was one of the inventors of the mRNA vaccine) has spoken out against the way in which vaccines have been employed and distributed. Recently, on Joe Rogans show, he discussed Ghent University (Belgium) professor Dr. Mattias Desmets hypothesis and studies of Mass Formation Psychosis and governments responses to the global COVID pandemic. This resulted in his Twitter account being suspended, while Google searches on the topic apparently crashed their search algorithms. This informative 13-minute video from Dr. Malone succinctly sums up the Mass Formation theory as applied to Americas COVID reaction: What are these eminent doctors revealing that results in social media instantly censoring them? Lets use their analysis and connect the dots. These doctors knowledge of human psychology and their analysis of how Mass Formation Psychosis is being employed are spot-on. Once we understand these basic concepts ourselves, it is not hard to identify and comprehend how the Democrat Party majority in our federal government and each Democrat majority-run state share a strategic vision and are using the same tactics in their attempts to divide, manipulate, and control us, not just with COVID but in everything. COVID-19 lockdowns and the Pandemic of the Unvaccinated First, Democrats scared the pants off everyone with their faulty, unrealistic models predicting millions of deaths in the United States alone. As the pandemic progressed, the loss of lives and livelihoods, and the ancillary damage to our citizens and our nations well-being, created intense anxiety that has compounded the loss of a collective belief in what connects us and makes sense in the world. Our fear opens an avenue for leftists to exert their control. The medical establishments and medias relentless fearmongering have further heightened our sense of doom, as total case numbers are reported without meaningful context. They have insisted upon our complete reliance upon an ineffective vaccine. As vaccine-resistant variants arise, they have pivoted to further isolate us from one another by blaming the unvaccinated. Alarmingly, we have forsaken individual freedom and international legal precedent for the false security of getting jabbed. Consequently, our sharply focused attention is on who they say are the villains, instead of their failure to employ a variety of simple and effective preventatives and therapies that, if used, would have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. More than any other issue, the pandemic is the global elites springboard to implementing a totalitarian vision of their power and our prevailing misery, to keep us in our place and under their rule. Image: Panicked man by katemangostar. Freepik license. Climate Emergency and the Green New Deal Can anyone definitively say what the ideal global average temperature is, or should be? Can anyone explain why the most intelligent former president in human history, Barack Obama, has made the tragic mistake of buying waterfront property on an island if, truly, there is an existential threat from rising sea levels? Leftists cannot answer those questions. Why, then, must we accept the premise that we face a climate emergency, let alone that it is man-caused? We are constantly told we have 10 years, 12 years (whatever) to save the planet and ourselves, but all those predictions continue to be wrong. So, the climate change purveyors ignore actual science and ignore the data that does not fit their premise and desired outcome, reporting only the modeling that will support the conclusions they want. Beware the existential threat and apocalyptic language that terrify us into demanding a solution. Their desire is to enact a Green New Deal and deal a death blow to capitalism, personal freedom, and Americas global economic dominance. Voter Suppression and Voting Rights I spoke with a Christian pastor last year about the 2020 riots and the race-related upheaval, and he told me there are some sensitive topics and issues that are burned into the psyche of our African American/black friends and neighbors. Yes, he is black and grew up in the Jim Crow south, so he should know. I will never forget what he said. The left already knows this and will always use what has been burned into the psyche of black Americans for leftist political power and nothing more. Therefore, leftists have falsely claimed Republicans are racist and are intent on voter suppression, while their bid to federalize elections is about voting rights. Even the phrase voter suppression incites an understandably reflexive fear in the black community. Just last week, as Democrat mid-term election prospects worsened (they are predicted to lose, bigly), teleprompter-Joe is preparing the minds of the nation to cast doubt on election results. Democrats hate that they must earn our vote, but they never accept the results if they lose. So, they incite fear and a sense of danger, striving to use the slimmest of legislative majorities to enact into law every measure they need to cheat and to stay in power. Our Democracy The left has made no secret of its strategic desire to overthrow our representative Republic and implement one-party majority rule over the United States. Our democracy, they call it. Therefore, the Republican Party is a danger to democracy; the filibuster is racist and a threat to democracy; packing the court is required to protect democracy; and our constitutional right to dissent is disinformation and a threat to democracy. Remember Ben Franklin: A Republic, if you can keep it. Our Founders knew history and evil mens unquenchable thirst for power, to rule as our betters instead of governing as our equals. Insurrection I detest any illegal activity that occurred on January 6, 2021, while acknowledging evidence that government operatives incited such activity. Regardless of cause, all but a relative few were peaceful. Nevertheless, that day will be used against Americas patriots in perpetuity. It fits the leftists scheme and their quest for a one-party totalitarian government to villainize every dissenting voice. Therefore, hundreds have been arrested and imprisoned, violating their constitutional rights. Bidens inaugural address and first state of the union speech to Congress emphasized a contrived threat of white supremacy, and domestic terrorism. The leftists most trusted ace in the hole is the ad hominem attack, calling every opponent a racist, fascist, or terrorist. Their goal is the isolation and silencing of any dissenting voice(s). The radical Left has no shame, and no concern for us or our futures. Its about gaining power, then deceiving and demoralizing the electorate by engaging in a sustained psychological warfare campaign that supplants reasoned, rational thought with an unreasonable, irrational, and fearful psychosis. In all human history, America is a shining gem and worth fighting for! Be unapologetically American and fight back through every respectful and peaceful means possible. Jeff M. Lewis is a Christian, a husband and father, a Veteran, and a small business owner who resides in South Texas When conservatives started worrying about election fraud before the 2020 election and complained about it after, they were told they were anti-democratic. Its a whole different story in 2022 now that Democrats are insisting that the upcoming elections are a recipe for voter suppression. The Democrat party and its operatives in the federal government have been outraged for over a year when they contemplate how anyone in his right mind could claim that the 2020 elections were fraudulent, despite voluminous and well-documented evidence suggesting massive and coordinated fraud and cheating during those elections. Democrats keep claiming, without proof, that there has been no significant election fraud in 2020 and insisting that anyone who wants to claim there was must prove it or be silenced. Then, of course, they cut off all efforts to show that proof. Most good faith attempts before judges to prove widespread fraud and cheating were either dismissed before the elections because it was too early to sue or, after the elections, because it was too late to sue, or the plaintiffs were dismissed for lack of standing. Outside of courts, conservatives were denied investigation and follow-ups (the FBI routinely denied any election-fraud investigations in 2020 and 2021), despite evidence from hundreds, if not thousands, of eyewitnesses, experts, and other inquisitive individuals and groups. But once the Democrats grabbed federal power in both political branches of the U.S. government, they promptly changed their tune about claims of election fraud. Now, when they face likely losses in coming elections, they keep claimingwithout significant evidence to prove their claimsthat the election systems in several states condone, facilitate, or cause voter suppression. They demand that Congress pass their H.R.1 bill, also known as the For the People Act of 2021, or its substitutes, the Freedom to Vote Act (dubbed by their Republican opponents as the Freedom to Cheat Act) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, even if doing so would mean suspending long-standing, accepted legislative procedures. Some Democrats, like Mr. Joe Biden, are going further, insinuating without a shred of evidence that the 2022 elections are going to be illegitimate if the above-mentioned bills are not passed into law. In 2022, its acceptable for Democrats to make these absurd claims and accusations without proving first that they are true. No one requires or expects credible data, scientific (statistical, that is) analysis, or that the alleged victims of the alleged suppression sue the offending states. Its enough that a Democrat majority in Congress agrees. You see, the Democrats gave themselves the un-constitutional mandate to decide, by purely political means, when a claimant has a burden of proof and when he/she does not. When someone makes a claim that, if granted, might prove detrimental to the Democrat partys partisan/political goals or objectives, then it must be proved using a high standard of proof. But when someone makes a claim intended to benefit the Democrats partisan political goals and objectives, then it is presumed true or valid and accepted as such. Those who challenge its validity must meet a high standard of proof to show that the claim is false or invalid. In sum, Democrats subscribe to what has been known as tribalistic morality. This phenomenon can be illustrated with the following example: In a tribalistic morality society, the evil is When someone has stolen my tribes cow, while the good is When my tribe has stolen someones else cow. That pretty much describes the moral foundation of the Democrat tribe. Image: Protests by makyzz. Freepik license. When you look closely, you may find a very long list of issues and controversies in which the Democrats exhibit their tribalistic morality. A few typical examples from that list include: Propaganda and censorship, which is wrong if Democrats are censored or propagandized but is good if their adversaries are; Weaponization of law enforcement and its agencies, which is wrong if Democrats are targeted by politically-motivated enforcement of the law but is good if their adversaries are; Monopoly on political power, which is good if Democrats have it but is wrong if any other party or group has it; Denials of peoples right to protest, which is wrong if Democrats or their constituencies are denied the right to riot, burn, and intimidate when they are upset or disappointed but is good if their protesting adversaries are summarily declared domestic terrorists and are being viciously prosecuted for made-up crimes or sternly punished for even minuscule infractions; Imposition of a photo ID requirement, which is wrong if it impedes what Democrats want to be easy, like cheating in elections, but is good if it impedes what Democrats want to be difficult, like buying a firearm or disobeying Draconian restrictions on peoples constitutional rights during the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic); and Violations of individual liberty, which are wrong or good, depending on whether the Democrats and their base are constrained by those violations or benefit from them. Thus, typical Democrats, particularly those now entrenched in Congress and the White House, are devoted tribalists and tend to conflate the political good of their own party with the good of the American people as a whole. This fact explains why Democrats treat with disdain and hostility any suggestion that the Democrat party may lose its current chokehold on the U.S. government. They view it as a national catastrophe. That is not quite surprising if one remembers how Soviet and Marxist regimes were permanently attached to their perpetual political power under the pretext of it being a necessary precondition for defending justice and the well-being of the oppressed common people. Its worth noting that none of those regimes actually bothered to deliver all the goodies that they had promised so generously to their captive constituencies. Mark Andrew Dwyers recent columns are posted at The Federal Observer and at Canada Free Press. Links to his other commentaries can be found here. The whole world is waiting nervously for developments in Ukraine. Masses of Russian soldiers are engaged in "military exercises" near the Ukrainian border. "Siberian regiments" are being redeployed from the Far Eastern districts, just as they were sent to defend Moscow in 1941. Russian propaganda stirs up the local population with a patriotic fervor, blaming Ukraine and the collective West for the heat of the international situation. The Ukrainian army, one of the strongest in Europe, is preparing to fight back, and the United States is planning to send eightyfive hundred soldiers to help the NATO countries in Europe. The bowstring is taut and the finger holding it can slip at any moment. The world is tense. Tense times in the Kremlin Wars between countries have always started for fairly prosaic reasons: to seize someone else's land or wealth, out of lust for revenge, to proliferate their religion, ideology, or political influence. The cause of the current conflict, like a patchwork quilt, includes all these factors: from Russia's imperial desire to expand its holdings to a primitive passion to avenge Ukraine's willfulness. However, if we take a sober look at the situation, none of these reasons alone, or even all of them together, are enough to start hostilities. Even if war breaks out and Russia achieves its military goals, the price of victory will be too high, so is it worth the risk of a Pyrrhic victory? Although Russia has always been ready to pay the price for its desires, are those individuals who are comfortably ensconced at the top of power willing to pay any price themselves? A country of mediocrities Just as in the U.S., which has had a mediocre government for the last year (see my essay on this topic), in Russia, mediocrities have been flourishing for a long time. Unlike America, this did not happen spontaneously: Russian rulers have always selected their subordinates on the basis of having a simpler intellect combined with a stronger loyalty. Having such lackeys, it is safer to rule. In the not-so-distant past Russia was a country of outstanding achievements in many fields: from literature and art to science and technology. After the Bolshevik coup of 1917, the Soviet leaders deliberately pursued a policy of a negative selection: talented people were either killed, or driven into exile or, at best, forced to obey and serve. As a result of such selection, the quality of the people decreased, while the intellectual potential of Russia fell to obscenely low levels. Now the country at all levels is governed by mediocrities. The collective IQ factor of the Duma legislative body hardly exceeds the level of a mental hospital. Vladimir Putin is now virtually out of business; he has delegated the routine functions of the head of state to his mediocre subordinates, himself becoming a Kremlin recluse. The real power in the country is not with him, but with those who have money. If most of the rich people in the U.S. made their millions and billions through hard work, managerial skills, and intelligence, then almost all Russian nouveau riche got their money through financial fraud or by stealing it from the collapsed USSR. Ever since Stalin's time, the structure of the country's government has been modeled after the Mafia, where everything is ruled from the top by a "godfather". Any opposition to the "family" leads either to a physical elimination of the renegade or to his imprisonment. Those who try to look into the affairs of the mafia and their possessions are eliminated mercilessly (many murdered Russian journalists, the attempts to poison Skripal, Navalny, and others). The plundered country has long produced nothing but weapons. Alas, the weapons that they produce are based on the old Soviet-era designs, while most of the parts and materials are sourced abroad. All the supposedly newest weapon systems are nothing more than fiction to feed their own naive populace. One of the reasons for this degradation is that there are very few highly qualified specialists left in Russia. Talented people try to find work abroad and leave the country at any opportunity. Huge profits from the oil and gas sales go to the pockets of those close to the trough, while the population gets only scraps from the table. The level of social and medical services, especially in light of the pandemic, is plummeting, and the prices of basic necessities are rising. Yet, the people there are still silent. For now. The bad example Potentially dangerous for the Russian authorities is the younger generation, infected with ideas of freethinking and unwilling to live the old way, like their parents. Unexpectedly, trouble came straight from the western and eastern neighbors where people resisted the corruption of their authorities (Belarus and Kazakhstan). This behavior could spread to the Russian population, too. Of course, Belarusians and Kazakhs are not like the Russian people, who are used to a yoke and even love it. Russia's rulers, while not of high intelligence, still understand that a bad example is contagious. That is what they fear most. The Russian authorities see only two possible solutions to the problem: either to buy off or to scare. The first one: to buy off the people means showering them with handouts. Yet, there is no way to do that where can they get these freebies? The second solution: to impose on the country some scary disaster, which may unite the people and sweep under the carpet all the lesser troubles. This solution is more realistic: a kind of a sluggish war, or at least the occasional international tension would do. For this purpose, Russia has long cultivated the image of an enemy who wants to "enslave and rob" the kind-hearted Russian people. The U.S. is perfect for this role. Indeed, say the Czech Republic or Japan would be too small to fit the image of a scary enemy. The Russian people's memory still holds the horrors of past wars, so propaganda feeds them with a made-up fear of NATO, under whose wing the ungrateful Ukrainians are striving to hide. So, they want to say: we must unite against the enemy, tighten our belts, and show Europe and the U.S. our strong fist. The military mobilization and concentration of troops along the Ukrainian border is carried out to create an illusion of danger and to show everyone and most importantly its own population that we are ready. However, its impossible to keep the bowstring taut permanently: either the bowstring will snap, or a finger will accidentally slip and an arrow will fly, and then there will be a real trouble. While the army is on alert, in a relatively short time it will have only two options: either start fighting or pack their duffel bags and go home. Which one will they choose? The price of war If they choose war, what will it lead to? Of course, it makes no sense to think about nuclear war -- even the nitwits in the Duma understand this clearly, although publicly they say otherwise. Only a war with conventional weapons is plausible. Such "trifles" as the deaths of many thousands of Russian and foreign soldiers and civilians are of little concern for them. The trouble, however, is that the price of war would be too high. If only with the usual sanctions, like those that were already imposed, that would be half the trouble. Say, if Russia is banned from getting high technology, China will always offer some replacement. If, say, the ruble value falls further, not a big deal the officials already have money stashed anyway in dollars in various banana republics. But there is something that is really scary for those in Russia who have money and power the West can cut off the payment system SWIFT. That will be the really painful problem! All their credit cards, all payments, money transfers would stop working. They can't go to abroad because of sanctions, and they would not be able to buy anything from there with their own money. Billions of dollars will turn into nothing it will be just impossible to spend them. That price of war would be too painful to bear. Thus, they would not allow their "godfather" to do that, and if he suddenly loses his sense and starts a war, then they would have to get rid of him, and no security detail would protect him. Forecast The Russian authorities need to show their own people the appearance of a victory. "Look," they want to say, "NATO, U.S., and Ukraine got scared and retreated. Our task is done, the enemy is fleeing, and therefore peace-loving Russia can withdraw its troops from near the border." For that propaganda, Russia needs on the part of NATO and the US at least a tiny concession or a semblance of such. The chatterboxes from the "Ministry of Truth" will magnify it out of proportion and sing their hymn to the wisdom of the Leader. I believe that is exactly what will happen in the very near future. Thus, there will be no hot war between Russia and Ukraine. Nor will there be peace, but that's another story. Photo credit: Russia.ru Jacob Fraden emigrated from the USSR to the United States in 1977. His website is www.fraden.com The case of the man imprisoned for rescuing a fugitive slave, which reached the U.S. Supreme Court, is American History. The Wisconsin Historical Society documents the rescue with newspapers, broadsheets, photographs, and lesson plans. In America today, parents protest schools teaching children divisive theories instead of the real history that they learned in school. Between 1840 and 1850, Wisconsin's nonAmerican Indian population had swollen from 31,000 to 305,000. The growing population allowed Wisconsin to gain statehood on May 29, 1848, as the 30th state. In the 1860 Census, the population had grown to 775,881, and Wisconsin was the 15th most populous state. Wisconsin's population was larger than those of five of the states whose leaders chose to secede. The full text of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 (An Act to amend ... the Act of 1793} is available at ourdocuments.gov. It is the fourth of the five acts of the Compromise of 1850 (after the Act Establishing the Boundaries for the State of Texas, and the Act for the Admission of the State of California into the Union). The first four sections give legal authority to commissioners to implement this draconian law. Section 5 of the act is a single sentence with 374 words. The words abolitionists would quote when speaking about the law were "to summon and call to their aid the bystanders ... and all good citizens are hereby commanded to aid and assist in the prompt and efficient execution of this law [.]" Section 7 is a single sentence with 291 words. The words abolitionists would quote were "any person who shall knowingly obstruct ... from arresting such a fugitive ... or shall rescue ... or aid, such person ... to escape ... or shall harbor such fugitive, so as to prevent the arrest of such person ... shall be subject to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and imprisonment not exceeding six months[.]" In 1850, a man named Garland purchased Joshua Glover and transported him to his farm in St. Louis, Missouri. Glover escaped from Garland's plantation in 1852 and traveled 400 miles north until he reached Racine, Wisconsin. He found employment and housing with a local mill. In 1854, Garland obtained a federal warrant for Glover's arrest. Then he led a group of slave-catchers to Glover's home and took him to a Milwaukee prison. A group of abolitionists from Racine went to Milwaukee. Sherman Miller Booth was born in Davenport, New York in 1812 and graduated from Yale University in 1841. In May 1848, he moved to Wisconsin, where he took charge of the "American Freeman," a Liberty Party paper in Milwaukee. In 1854, Booth learned that a runaway slave had been captured by his Missouri owner and jailed in Milwaukee under the authority of the Fugitive Slave Act. Booth rode his horse through the city streets, scattering hand-bills summoning a citizens' meeting and shouting, "Freemen to the rescue." A mob soon broke into the jail and rescued Glover. With the support of abolitionists in Wisconsin, Glover traveled to Ontario, where he lived the rest of his life. The affair placed Booth in the center of a six-year controversy between state and federal authorities that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. The Wisconsin Legislature denounced the federal court's ruling against Booth as an "arbitrary act of power ... void and of no force." The day before James Buchanan relinquished the presidency to Abraham Lincoln, he pardoned Booth. Pushing the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law into the states returned a few slaves. However, for six years, abolitionists spread news updates on this case throughout the Free States. When President Lincoln asked for Volunteers, the story of Joshua Glover influenced hundreds of thousands, who volunteered. The Volunteers were an unintended consequence of the Fugitive Slave Law. Today, pushing divisive theories into children may also have unintended consequences. Image via Pxhere. Some governments around the planet have proclaimed that they won't lift all restrictions and mandates pertaining to the COVID-19 plandemic until nary a single case of the Wuhan Flu can be found. Until recently, this appeared to be the goal of Dr. Fauci and the Biden administration as well. Now our rulers and experts admit that we will probably never rid ourselves of the virulent visitor from the East. After failing to conquer the coronavirus, the Biden administration has now set its sights on traffic fatalities. In fact, transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, apparently back from a lengthy paternal leave, has a plan to reach "zero roadway fatalities" in the coming years. Buttigieg recently told the Associated Press that the Biden administration is preparing to roll out a new "safe system" plan designed to decrease traffic fatalities nationwide. Buttigieg noted that the half-year traffic death total for 2020 was 20,160, the highest total half-year figure since 2006, and that traffic fatalities significantly increased in the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. Buttigieg stated: "Even through a pandemic that led to considerably less driving, we continue to see more danger on our roads." He added, "We cannot tolerate the continuing crisis of roadway deaths in America," especially because they are "preventable." The Department of Transportation (DOT) said roadway safety is "inextricably linked with the Biden-Harris Administration's equity and climate goals" and that, you guessed it, traffic fatalities "disproportionately affect communities of color." Buttigieg asserted, "Today we commit that our goal is this: zero. Our goal is zero deaths. The decision to commit to that goal in a serious way at a national level changes the way cities and towns design roads, changes the way companies build cars, changes the way people drive." The progressive politician-English translation is: "We need another crisis to enable us to keep the lockdowns going and the people in their place while we are free to do whatever we want." Components of the "safe system plan" include increased use of traffic cameras, regulations mandating automatic emergency braking in all new passenger vehicles, lower speed limits, creation of many more dedicated bike and bus lanes, and requiring automakers to install anti-drunk driving technology in all motor vehicles. This will, of course, take more money from taxpayers' wallets...and more freedom away from them, too. The Biden administration, out of touch with both average Americans and reality, may whether accidentally or by design reduce traffic fatalities by making gasoline so expensive that most people can't afford much of it and by banning the internal combustion engine. Those attempting to move about the country in new electric cars will be mostly stuck on the sides of roads or at charging stations. And even if there were any moving vehicles on a particular roadway, given the fact that they will likely then weigh about as much as a loaf of bread and be traveling at speeds under 20 miles an hour, "boo-boos" and "owies" would ensue, not fatalities. Sorry, people, but our leaders just can't grant us our freedom again until there is "zero" chance that any one of us might die from any cause. That's how much they care about us. Right? Image via Pixabay. Over the last two years of living in Fauci's America, most of the medical establishment has meekly gone along with the narrative about COVID treatments and vaccines. Regardless of their motives, they've accepted that there are no treatments and that masks and vaccines are imperative for everyone two and older. Any doctor who deviated from that script was stigmatized and risked losing his license and livelihood. Now, though, mainstream doctors are starting to speak out against the lockdown and mask rules and even against the vaccine regime. In medical circles, the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) is one of the most prestigious medical schools and hospitals in America. Attending or working at UCSF carries with it tremendous cachet. "You must be good" is what springs to people's minds when they hear those letters. That's why it matters that four UCSF doctors, including the director of the COVID response for the emergency department, are pushing back against California governor Gavin Newsom's "mindless" COVID rules in schools. The four doctors and one nurse opened their petition by noting that California exists under the most restrictive COVID regulations in the country, policies that continue even though California is highly vaccinated and has low hospitalization rates. California's policies, they say, are lagging reality and "have caused considerable collateral damage throughout the pandemic, have long lost their justification as necessary for prevention of serious illness and death." Image: Girl getting a vaccine by pressfoto. Freepik license. They note that the policies are driving people out of California and are especially worried about the toll on children and teens. They offer a list of 17 action items for Newsom, many of which really ask him to apologize for what he's done to California's children. Here's my abridged version of the list: 1. Stop forcing vaccine mandates, especially boosters for children. 2. Admit that vaccinating children doesn't necessarily help children. 3. Start giving people a reward (loosening restrictions) for going along with the vaccine regime. 4. Acknowledge that children are at less risk than adults and that the messaging has been really bad. 5. Admit that the restrictions are worse for children than the illness. 6. Acknowledge that social isolation is devastating young people. 7. Admit that not seeing the faces of teachers and peers is killing education. 8. Stop forcing kids to wear masks outdoors. 9. Make indoor masks for kids optional as of February 2022. 10. Acknowledge that babies and toddlers aren't learning to speak because of masks. 11. Allow preschool and daycare teachers and other adults to stop wearing masks if they want. 12. Stop mindlessly testing asymptomatic individuals. 13. Stop the madness on college campuses given young people's low risk. 14. Stop obsessing about case rates. 15. Acknowledge that omicron is relatively mild. 16. Acknowledge that "true COVID-19 hospitalizations" remain low, so the panic must end. 17. Do a cost-benefit analysis of all the COVID restrictions. Every one of those is a sensible suggestion and one that conservatives have been making for months, if not years. The UCSF doctors who wrote that petition are not the only doctors finally speaking up. Another UCSF doctor, Monica Gandhi, along with Dr. Paul Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and a member of the FDA vaccine advisory committee, both told David Zweig, who posted at Bari Weiss's Substack account, that the risk of boosters for young males outweighs the benefits. Only America is enthusiastically embracing boosters for young people. Also, many other countries recognize natural immunity: Monica Gandhi, a doctor and an infectious-disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, was blunt in her assessment. "I am not giving my 12 and 14-year-old boys boosters," she told me. Dr. Gandhi is not the only expert to publicly state an intention to not comply with the CDC's recommendation. Dr. Paul Offit is the director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, a member of the FDA's vaccine advisory committee, and is considered one the country's top authorities on pediatric vaccine policy. He recently said that getting boosted would not be worth the risk for the average healthy 17-year-old boy, and he advised his son, who is in his 20s, not to get a third dose. The whole article is interesting, but what's most interesting to me is that at least a few mainstream doctors are overcoming their paralyzing fear of offending leftist dogma and are telling the truth about COVID extremism in America. Elizabeth Warren, a mediocre law professor who parlayed a fake Native American identity into a gig at Harvard and a seat in the United States Senate, thought that, once in government, she'd try her hand at censorship. When Joseph Mercola and Ronnie Cummins wrote a book about COVID with which Warren disagreed, she used her position as a senator to try to get Amazon to censor the book. Although Chelsea Green Publishing filed suit in November, people are finally becoming aware of the suit. I'm always amazed when someone who ought to know the law doesn't or feels entitled to ignore it. As a lawyer and a law professor, one would expect Warren to be familiar with the First Amendment. That's the one that says that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech." As government has grown, that principle has been extended to the federal government as a whole, whether it's an executive agency, Congress, or a politician acting under the color of his role in the government (and of course, to state governments via the Fourteenth Amendment). Nevertheless, on September 7, 2021, writing in her capacity as a United States senator, on official Senate letterhead, Warren sent a very long letter to Andy Jassy, Amazon's CEO, expressing her concern that Amazon itself was publishing misinformation by allowing Mercola's and Cummins's book, The Truth About COVID-19: Exposing the Great Reset, Lockdowns, Vaccine Passports, and the New Normal, to appear on its bestseller list and daring to give it a favorable ranking. After waffling on for several pages, and mendaciously claiming that the book was "potentially unlawful," Warren "asked" Amazon to modify the algorithms to destroy the book's ranking. Chelsea Green responded in November by suing Warren for violating the First Amendment, although news of that filing reached the media only recently. The lawsuit relies upon Bantam Books, Inc. v. Sullivan, 372 U.S. 58 (1962). Bantam Books involved a newly created Rhode Island Commission, which had the task of educating the public about any written material that could harm the morality of or otherwise corrupt Rhode Island's young people. Image: Elizabeth Warren fakes it with beer. YouTube screen grab. In Bantam Books, the plaintiff publishers sued, alleging that the commission was violating their First Amendment rights. The Court held, in relevant part, that government representatives sending letters to booksellers to pull books constitutes a form of censorship that violates the Constitution. Specifically, the government cannot relieve itself of the First Amendment's prohibitions by urging a private party to act on its behalf. In the same way, when Biden told social media companies to censor views with which he disagrees, that too violated the Constitution. The only thing is that he was just telling the media companies to do what they're already doing. In the original November 8, 2021 press release about the lawsuit, Chelsea Green had this to say: Plaintiffs allege Warren's letter contained blatant falsehoods and unsubstantiated accusations about the book and that Warren's claims, even if correct, would not alter the book's constitutional protectedness. "Senator Warren broke the law and betrayed our fundamental right to free speech," said Dr. Joseph Mercola, founder of Mercola.com, a natural health website. "No politician is above the law, I will do everything in my power to defend my constitutional rights as an American." Ronnie Cummins, co-founder of the Organic Consumers Association, said: "Constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech is necessary if we are to achieve a system of participatory democracy and solve the interrelated crises that threaten our survival health, food, environment, climate, politics." "The government trying to ban books is a very dangerous slippery slope to totalitarianism and cannot be allowed," said Margo Baldwin, Chelsea Green president and publisher. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., chairman, Children's Health Defense, said: "If a government can hide what it's doing by censoring its opponents and silencing dissonants, it has license to do anything that it wants. Sen. Warren must be held accountable." I wish Chelsea Green luck. Like all leftists, Warren is a bully, and it's high time she was seriously reprimanded for her bullying ways. I'm only sorry that the lawsuit cannot include a request for compensatory and punitive damages. Biden says he will nominate a Black woman for the Supreme Court seat that an old White leftist is vacating. This is illegal, because it discriminates against people of other races, as well as against men, but that's not going to stop Biden. So far, all the names bandied about run the gamut from deeply racist women to, well, more deeply racist women. But what if Mitch McConnell is able to fend off a vote by rallying all 49 of the other Republican senators to vote against this person, creating a tie? Some might say Kamala would break that tie, but that leading leftist legal light, Laurence Tribe, says not so fast. Or at least, he said that waaaaay back in 2020. In 2020, Laurence Tribe was upset that Trump had nominated, and the tiny Senate majority was set to confirm, Amy Coney Barrett. If even one senator had switched sides, there would have been a tie. William Jacobson reminds us that, when this was an issue, Alan Dershowitz noted that it wasn't entirely clear that the vice president could step in to break that tie: It is clear, therefore, that in voting on proposed statutes, the vice president is authorized to cast a tie-breaking vote. But did the Framers intend the same rule to apply when the president is seeking the advice and consent of senators to a judicial nomination? We can't know for certain, because the Constitution and Federalist Papers focus on the vice president's role in breaking ties over legislation, not confirmation. Image: Laurence Tribe (cropped; edited in befunky). YouTube screen grab. Laurence Tribe, one of the leftist law professors who helped reduce Harvard from turning out decent legal minds to turning out woke, leftist hacks, had no such uncertainty. He knew that, without a doubt, the Founders did not intend for the vice president to have a say in a matter that involves advice and consent rather than legislation: While the vice president has the power to cast a tiebreaking vote to pass a bill, the Constitution does not give him the power to break ties when it comes to the Senate's "Advice and Consent" role in approving presidential appointments to the Supreme Court. You don't have to take my word for it. Alexander Hamilton said the same thing way back in 1788, in Federalist No. 69: "In the national government, if the Senate should be divided, no appointment could be made." Hamilton contrasted that rule with how appointments worked back then in his home state of New York, where the governor actually did have the power to break ties to confirm nominations to New York state offices. Consistent with Hamilton's understanding, as two thoughtful recent scholarly analyses have pointed out, no vice president in our history has ever cast a tiebreaking vote to confirm an appointment to the Supreme Court. If Pence tried to cast the deciding vote to confirm Trump's nomination to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last week at age 87, it would be the first time that has ever happened. That should matter to everyone it certainly matters (or used to matter) to "originalists," who emphasize the importance of history when interpreting our Constitution. I was unaware of the argument at the time, but Tribe is absolutely correct. What this means is that Mitch McConnell could, theoretically, again forestall a vote on a Supreme Court justice. This time, it would be until the Senate, as seems likely, has a Republican majority. That would force Biden either to choose a moderate candidate or to forgo appointing anyone at all. Sad to say, I doubt that this argument will become an issue. Who thinks the Vichy Republicans (Romney? Murkowski? Collins?), when they hear the word "racist," will not instantly bow down before the Democrats and do their will? I would certainly be impressed if they resisted the power of that little word. It would be nice if they showed the backbone that Senators Manchin and Sinema showed on the filibuster. It's doubtful that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris like one another, but there seems to be a coordinated effort between the two to bring in more illegal immigrants to the states, something they are succeeding at rather spectacularly. How else do we explain Kamala Harris's trip to Honduras, to attend the presidential inauguration of radical left-wing presidenta, Xiomara Castro, while Joe Biden's minions are sneaking in illegals by the thousands away from the cameras and flying them at taxpayer expense to their destinations of choice? Biden's turned the immigration enforcement agencies into a concierge, valet, and taxi service for illegals. Kamala, meanwhile, is down there to bring in corporations and NGOs to enable. Start with what Harris is actually doing. Harris is there to make friends with Castro and bring in corporate investors as well as NGOs willing to splash out cash to tackle all those "root causes" of illegal migration, supposedly all varieties of $1.2 billion in "investment." That's weird stuff, given that Honduras just elected a radical leftist with expropriation on her mind? Sound like a climate for investment? Castro doesn't even sound as though she knows what a good economy is, let alone show any seriousness about keeping her country's nationals back home. She declared in recent days that her country has gone bankrupt under the country's previous president, but at the same time, she's promising "free" electricity to everyone. What could go wrong? You aren't going to get a good economy for Honduras capable of employing or supporting its 9 million people with a socialist threatening to expropriate from "the rich" (read: job creators) and vowing to hand out "free" electricity for everyone. Let's just say history shows that under such socialist redistribution, you'll get no electricity on that plan, particularly if you are starting out with a bankrupt government. Venezuela's radical Hugo Chavez, after all, had lots of oil largesse to waste before his country went belly up and the illegals flowed outward. Castro's skipping the "waste" step and I guess turning on the printing presses. Honduras is hardly in good shape as it is. More than 308,000 Hondurans have left their country, mostly for the states, pre-socialism. Hondurans constituted 19% of all land border encounters in fiscal 2021, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. You can bet there will be more of them now that a communist with expropriation on her mind is taking the helm. How many young working-age adults can Honduras lose before they start noticing something? That's what Harris is walking into, and what is her solution? Not "get religion on property rights and free markets" so the Honduran economy can grow. That would be what a sane person would advise. Nope, she's bringing in a huge collection of giant corporations and NGOs, most of which are there to foster illegal immigration because they have an interest in its perpetuity. They are on Harris's "Call to Action" and Partnership for Central America, and they are coming to create the networks for remittances; teach the English language to make that trip up north quite a bit easier; make life as a refugee more affordable (get a load of the biography of a leader of the Tent Partnership for Refugees and her NGO's sponsorship Scarlet Cronin, former of the Clinton Foundation, an NGO tied to the Chobani group; it's all cozy); and other things that aid and abet illegal immigration, such as tech training in that hotbed of tech, Honduras. Could those skill be better used in the states? You decide. I wrote about that here. As Harris makes her grand entrance with her Santa sack for the Honduran president, back home, Joe's enabling immigrants, and the surges are bigger than ever. As with everything that happens in the Biden administration, they've kept the surges at the same big size as earlier, but they've stepped up their public relations game. They're ignoring a judicial order for keeping migrants seeking "asylum" in Mexico and instead marching them onto secret planes run by CIA contractors, to spread them throughout the country with the media attention off them. It's very likely illegal, and congressional Republicans are starting to talk impeachment for it. Miranda Devine of the New York Post has a kick-ass column today on just how sneaky it is, just how carefully the Biden side of the equation seeks to conceal the extent of its illegal alien taxi service from the American public and all those Fox News cameras. She writes: Under cover of darkness, every night the federal government is transporting illegal migrants as fast as it can away from the border on secret charter flights into unsuspecting communities around the country. Officials have lied and obstructed the few journalists who have tried to reveal the truth. This is nothing short of a betrayal of the American people. And that's not just me saying it those are exactly the words of one federal government contractor employed to transport migrants from the southern border to the airport in White Plains. "The government is betraying the American people," the contractor told a Westchester County police officer in a conversation that was recorded on the cop's bodycam on the tarmac of the county airport on Aug. 13, 2021. The men were standing beside a Boeing 737 flown in from Fort Bliss, Texas, by iAero Airways under charter by the federal government. So we have Biden sneaking them in against court orders and spreading them around the country. We have Kamala going down to Honduras to bring in a boatload of migrant-enabling services under the cover of "corporate investment," which they could do on their own if the investment climate were decent. Now we have the two working in some kind of coordination to bring in as many illegals (and Democrat voters note that they were comfortable voting for a communist back home in Honduras) as possible. This probably is an impeachable offense. It certainly comes off as a coordinated plot. What else can such a thing that can only lead to much more illegal immigration be called? Image: Screen shot from NewsNation video via YouTube. The Biden administration's open border policy is alive and well. The numbers are amazing for people who have followed this over the years. I have never seen anything like this. This is from the New York Post: Biden breaks records every month, with apprehensions on track to reach a million in his first full year. You can see why they keep coming: The Border Patrol estimates that hundreds of thousands more pass through without interception, while the administration releases most of those it does catch, even quietly resettling migrants all across the country. The only White House strategy here, in other words, is to try keeping the crisis out of the headlines while sending as few illegal crossers as possible home. This is obscene, and it has nothing to do with immigration reform, DACA, or asylum. We have legal ways to come to the U.S., and this is not how you legally cross the border. How do I know? I came to the U.S. with my parents, and we had to follow a process. Our family left Cuba and then had to wait, at our expense, in Jamaica as our "papers" were being processed. The Biden administration has benefited from national media coverage that does not tell Americans what's going on or keep track of these people as they fly to their destination. Down in South Texas, the Biden administration has not been so lucky, as we see in the growing dissatisfaction with the border crisis. To make matters worse, these people are coming into the country without vaccine requirements or isolation periods. How many of these people have COVID and have infected others? No one knows. Will President Biden be impeached over this? I don't know, but his administration is not enforcing the law to the loss of his fellow citizens. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk). Image: PxHere. President Eisenhower in his final address to the nation issued the following dire warning: In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists, and will persist. Eisenhower's words have proven to be prophetic. The military-industrial complex appears to be a major power broker in Washington. All but one of the recent presidents, including the Bushes, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, have entered into optional conflicts and prolonged existing conflicts, despite the fact that the U.S. has little to gain from them. In fact, trillions of dollars of taxpayers' money were spent, and innumerable precious lives were lost owing to these wars. The only modern president who did not start a new war and who attempted to withdraw from optional conflicts is Donald J. Trump. Agents of the military-industrial complex tried desperately to initiate regime change in Iran and for fresh escalations in Syria, but they failed. Top U.S. officials allegedly lied to President Trump about U.S. troop numbers in Syria. The media are also a proponent of the war-mongering faction. The only time President Trump's most trenchant of critics lavished blandishments on him was when he approved airstrikes on chemical weapons facilities in Syria. For these ravenous war-mongers, senile, doddering, perpetually listless, and mercurial Joe Biden was their blank check upon which they could write whatever figure they pleased. We are now seeing possible proof that Biden (or his handlers) is pushing for an unnecessary conflict. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Joe Biden had a call yesterday evening to discuss the tense situation over the Russia-Ukraine border. However, a Ukrainian official told CNN's Matthew Chance that the call between the two leaders "did not go well." Earlier, Jen Psaki had claimed that the Russian invasion of Ukraine remains imminent. CNN claims that Biden, sticking to the narrative pushed earlier by Psaki, told Zelensky to brace his country for a certain Russian invasion. Biden also claimed that Kyiv could be "sacked" (annexed) by Russian forces. Ukrainian leaders allegedly disagreed with Biden's assessment, insisting that an invasion is not imminent. They claimed that intelligence officials looking at satellite photos on an hourly basis do not see Russia moving any troops into combat mode or preparing for an attack. However, CNN's claims of Biden's warning and Ukraine's subsequent refutation are not part of the following White House readout of the call: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. President Biden reaffirmed the readiness of the United States along with its allies and partners to respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine. He also underscored the commitment of the United States to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. President Biden noted the United States has provided Ukraine with over half a billion dollars in development and humanitarian assistance in the last year, and is exploring additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraine's economy amidst pressure resulting from Russia's military build-up. President Biden made clear that despite the departure of American family members of embassy personnel, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, remains open and fully operational. The leaders discussed coordinated diplomatic efforts on European security, underscoring the principle of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine." President Biden relayed the United States' support for conflict resolution efforts in the Normandy Format, expressing his hope that the sides' recommitment on January 26 to the terms of the July 2020 ceasefire will help decrease tensions and advance the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. Emily Horne of the National Security Council pushed back on CNN's claims by tweeting the following: This is not true. President Biden said that there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February. He has previously said this publicly & we have been warning about this for months. Reports of anything more or different than that are completely false. Zelensky himself tweeted a summary of his conversation with Biden, but there was no mention of the dispute. "Had a long phone conversation with [Biden]. Discussed recent diplomatic efforts on de-escalation and agreed on joint actions for the future. Thanked [Biden] for the ongoing military assistance. Possibilities for financial support to Ukraine were also discussed," he said. CNN dutifully deleted a tweet that alleged that the phone call "did not go well" and then reposted it with context that the White House refutes that version. It has to be remembered that Biden, during his presser last Wednesday, claimed that he believes that President Putin will most likely "move in" to Ukraine. The following day, Biden attempted to walk back his comments by saying a "minor incursion" by Russia into Ukraine might result in less severe penalties. President Zelensky then fired back with the following tweet: We want to remind the great powers that there are no minor incursions and small nations. Just as there are no minor casualties and little grief from the loss of loved ones. I say this as the President of a great power. Ukrainian officials were understandably rather irked that Biden may have given Putin a "green light" to invade. Overall, the Ukrainian government is rightly concerned that reckless statements about imminent war emanated from the White House will hurt their economy and hamper public morale that has been hurt due to COVID-19. To summarize, there are a few obvious open questions pertaining to the call: Did Biden claim that the Russian invasion was imminent as he did last week? Did Zelensky urge him to tone down his aggressive rhetoric? Can Biden be trusted following his son's murky dealings in Ukraine while Biden was V.P.? Some of these questions can be answered by merely releasing the transcripts of the call. Biden must remember that in a democracy, an elected official doesn't own power; the people lend their power to him so he can represent them. The people hence have a right to know about the utterances of their representative Hopefully, Biden will follow his own advice that he offered to President Trump and insist on total transparency by releasing the transcripts. If it is proven that Biden did distort reality to cause a war, there must be consequences. There must at least be an investigation. Perhaps a special counsel should be appointed if not now, hopefully when the GOP takes back the House and the Senate. Irrespective of his motives, Biden's caprice is making the U.S. look like an incompetent and untrustworthy ally. This is only going to further ruin America's already dubious reputation following Biden's catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Photo credit: YouTube screen grab (cropped). Samsung started rolling out the Android 12-based One UI 4.0 update to the Galaxy Note 10 series late last month. First released in some Asian and European markets. the rollout has now reached the US. Both models vanilla Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ are now receiving the big Android update stateside. The new update is rolling out to the carrier-locked versions of the two phones with firmware version N97xUSQU7GULD. The same software package for the unlocked versions comes with firmware version N97xU1UEU7GULD. According to a SamMobile report, the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ are also receiving the Android 12 update in Canada. The new firmware version in the country is N97xWVLU7GULD. The updates in both markets bundle the January 2022 Android security patch. It is a pretty important SMR (security maintenance release) since it contains fixes for over 60 vulnerabilities from Samsung and Google, including a handful of critical ones. However, we are more interested in the new Android version, as well as One UI 4.0. Advertisement As we have detailed here, the latest iteration of Samsungs custom Android skin brings plenty of new features and enhancements to its Galaxy smartphones and tablets. There are some UI changes, improved stock apps, a new widget picker UI, improved dark mode, and more. In short, this update will change the look and feel of your Galaxy Note 10/Note 10+ on the software level. Galaxy Note 10 will not receive Android updates anymore When Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 10 duo back in August 2019, it promised only two major Android OS updates for the phones. But it later upgraded its software support policy to extend that commitment to three updates. All flagship models launched since 2019, as well as a few mid-rangers, will now receive three generations of Android updates. However, even with that extended support, the Galaxy Note 10 series has reached its end of life. Well, at least in terms of major Android updates. Launched with Android 9 Pie, the phones have already received updates to Android 10, Android 11, and now, Android 12. Advertisement Going forward, Samsung will only release security patches to the two S Pen-wielding Galaxy flagships. Those updates will come monthly for the next few months before the frequency drops to every three months and eventually the devices fade into oblivion. Nonetheless, if youre using a Galaxy Note 10 or Galaxy Note 10+ in the US or Canada, the Android 12 update should be available for you anytime now if it hasnt already. You can navigate to Settings > Software update > Download and install on your phone to check for the update manually. PLEASE NOTE: ALL ONLINE PURCHASES ARE AUTOMATIC RENEWALS UNLESS YOU EMAIL JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM OR CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 256-235-9253.... Purchase an online subscription to our website for $7.99 a month with automatic renewal. Each online subscription gives you full access to all of our newspaper websites and mobile applications. To cancel you may contact Customer Service @ 256-235-9253 or email JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM *NEW SUBSCRIBERS ONLY join with a NEW ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION is just $59.99 for the first year. Existing customers do not qualify for the specials! AMEX is not accepted through this site. After the first year, well automatically renew your subscription to continue your access at the regular price of $69.99 per year. Please note *Your Subscription will Automatically Renew unless you contact Customer Service To Cancel* Race to save beached whale near Athens Monitored by Coast Guard, concerns that it may die (ANSAmed) - ATHENS, JAN 28 - Efforts are underway in Athens to save a young, injured whale that has got stuck on a beach in a suburb of the Greek capital. This sort of incident is very rare. State-owned TV ERT showed a veterinarian getting a blood sample of the mammal amid waves that rose half the way up the whale's body off the Trocadero beach in the coastal suburb of Palio Faliro, moving weakly its tail. The Coast Guard is monitoring it from a dinghy nearby. Aimilia Drougas, an oceanographer from the Arion research organization that provides veterinary care for stranded cetaceans, said that it was young Cuvier's beaked whale. The small whale was found to have suffered a severe injury to its lower jaw and multiple superficial wounds to its body and was sighted on Thursday a bit further south near the Vouliagmeni suburb. Arion staff tried to push it back into the sea but the whale turned back. "From the footage it seems injured...in these cases, it usually does not end well," Skai TV was told by Drosos Koutsoubas, a marine biology professor at the University of the Aegean.(ANSAmed). BEIRUT - "Kurdish-led forces in northeast Syria on Friday found the bodies of 18 fellow fighters inside a prison that the Islamic State group attacked last week," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on its website on Friday. The prison, in the town of Hasakah in northeastern Syria in an area under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), was attacked on Jan. 20 by Islamic State (ISIS) fighters. The SDF announced on Wednesday that they had taken control of the prison but pockets in the northern part of the prison still remain out of their hands. SOHR said that "the death toll since January 20 now stands at over 250, including around 180 IS jihadists, 73 members of Kurdish-led forces and seven civilians." It added that clashes continue. BELGRADE - US envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar said Thursday that Washington expects Kosovo and Serbia to implement agreements already made. The Kosovo government has pledged to form a Community of Serb Municipalities and this pledge must be followed through on, Escobar was quoted by media outlets as saying. He added that it must implement a Kosovo Constitutional Court ruling on 24 hectares of land owned by the Visoki Decani Serbian Orthodox Church monastery. These are two points that remain in a dispute between Kosovo and Serbia, preventing progress in EU-facilitated dialogue. The US has showed ever greater willingness to give its contribution to this dialogue in recent months. Belgrade consider the creation of the Community of Serb Municipalities a necessary prerequisite to continuing the talks, called for by a wide-ranging agreement reached by the parties involved in Brussels in April 2013. However, Pristina refuses to implement the body, saying that it is against the Kosovo Constitution, which prohibits the creation of bodies of only one ethnicity. In the eyes of Prime Minister Albin Kurti, this would be tantamount to bringing to Kosovo a new 'Republika Srpska' like that in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The dispute over land near the Orthodox Serb monastery of Visoki Decani has not yet been solved despite repeated appeals to Pristina from the international community. UN envoy Escobar - who will in the coming days be in Pristina and Belgrade alongside EU mediator Miroslav Lajcak - also said that he backed the possibility for Serbs in Kosovo to vote in elections and consultations held in Serbia. This possibility was denied to them during the referendum on reform of the justice system held in Serbia on Jan. 16. This decision sparked strong protest from Belgrade and risks having more serious consequences with possible incidents and clashes if the ban on voting were to be upheld for the Serbian parliamentary and presidential elections on April 3. RABAT - Under pressure from numerous protests by its citizens demanding that the country's borders be reopened, the Moroccan government announced late Thursday that it would reopen to tourism starting on Feb. 7. A committee has been tasked with drawing up measures for the re-entering of numerous residents - about 10,000, according to consulate figures - stuck abroad as well as tourists wanting to visit the country. The details will be released at a later time, the government spokesman said. Optimism is thus back for parts of the tourism sector, which has been suffering from almost 22 months of inactivity. The sector accounts for 8% of the country's GDP and in normal times was worth 138 billion dirhams. The COVID crisis has resulted in enormous losses to the sector. Meanwhile, according to the National Tourism Transportation Federation, 40% of those registered with it have filed bankruptcy, while the federation gathering together car rental companies states that about 30% of those operating in the sector have gone bankrupt. Over 27,000 vehicles have been sold off to cover expenses. In the first ten months of 2021, the drop in revenue in Morocco's tourism sector - according to the country's audits court - was -0.7 thanks in part to the partial reopening between September and October. It then plunged to -6.1 in November. Compared with the same period prior to the crisis, the drop was 57.4%, or 38.5 billion dirhams. UNECA chief lauds success in exporting Ethiopian coffee to China Xinhua) 08:49, January 28, 2022 ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Recent successes achieved in exporting Ethiopian coffee to China will provide a roadmap in leveraging export potential of other African countries, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has said. "Success recorded in exporting Ethiopian coffee to China will provide a roadmap in leveraging export potential for other ten African countries, where ECA is working this year, to provide more export potential from Africa to China," an ECA statement sent to Xinhua quoted Vera Songwe, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive of the ECA, as saying. "We are delighted to work with the government of Ethiopia on this real opportunity, to see how this partnership will continue to improve the livelihoods of citizens in Ethiopia, by offering an interoperable platform for trade," Songwe said. According to the UNECA, more than 11,200 bags of Ethiopian coffee were sold within seconds last week during the Ethiopian Coffee Brands Launch on China's largest e-commerce platform, Alibaba (Tmall Global), in a joint effort with the ECA and the Ethiopian government. "This launch demonstrates the benefits that, not only Ethiopia, but Africa can reap in harnessing digitalization," an ECA statement quoted Gebremeskel Chala, Ethiopia's Minister of Trade and Regional Integration. "ECA has joined efforts with Alibaba Group, and the government of Ethiopia to bring more quality African products to one of the largest markets in the world today, the Chinese online market," it said. Through this partnership, the electronic World Trading Platform (eWTP) has successfully on-boarded three Ethiopian coffee brands that are Wild, Arada, and Hedero. The ECA, Ant Group from Alibaba Group, and the Ethiopian government exclusively featured freshly roasted authentic coffee produced by small and medium-sized Ethiopian businesses at a livestream event to promote the launch of new Ethiopian coffee products on Tmall Global. According to the ECA, using AntChain's track and trace technology, all coffee on display was airlifted from Ethiopia; thus, guaranteeing a safe and transparent journey from departure to arrival. The primary objective of the initiative was said to leverage the infrastructure provided by the eWTP in creating an enabling environment to promote e-commerce and tourism for African entrepreneurs, whilst bringing quality African products into the Chinese market. The ECA expects the initiative to enable other African countries to participate in and benefit from inclusive global trade. Eric Jing, Alibaba Group Director and Executive Chairman of Ant Group, on his part commended the milestone as Ethiopian coffee penetrates the emerging Chinese coffee market. "Through coffee, we will build a bridge fostering China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, and stimulating economic recovery," the statement quoted Eric as saying. Meanwhile, the launch set in motion a community project on Tmall Global, in which for each bag of coffee sold, a special donation will be made to purchase school supplies for Ethiopian primary school students. Ethiopia's Minister of Trade and Regional Integration stressed that "through your purchases, support, and the power of e-commerce, the cooperation will benefit coffee farmers, SMEs and students in Ethiopia." First proposed by Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma in 2016, the eWTP has been recognized by the G20 and launched in China, Malaysia, Belgium, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. It also offers training and support in areas such as e-commerce, logistics, financing, cloud computing and mobile payments. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Online Access for Print Subscribers. Do you have a print subscription with the Argus-Press? If yes, then click here to enjoy complimentary access to our Online Content! According to information released on January 28, 2022, The Finnish Defence Forces has signed the agreement with Patria to acquire Patria 6x6 vehicles as a pre-series related to the joint 6x6 vehicle program between Latvia, Finland, Estonia and Patria. The pre-series vehicles will be in test use of the Finnish Defence Forces before the final serial order indicated by the Letter of Intent signed at the end of August 2021. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link The new Patria 6x6 armoured vehicle. (Picture source Patria) With pre-series testing, the customer can get acquainted with the vehicle, its usage and operating features comprehensively beforehand, thus ensuring the fluent and effective establishment of operational readiness when the serial order deliveries begin. All three vehicles will be delivered to the customer in summer 2022, says Jussi Jarvinen, Executive Vice President, Finland Division of Patria. The joint programme is progressing as planned. In Latvia, the first vehicles are already in use and serial production is underway. Finland has made the decision about the pre-series vehicles, and Sweden is preparing to join the programme. The joint 6x6 programme has arisen interest and is open to other countries with the mutual consent of the participating countries. Patria has developed a new 6x6 armoured vehicle as a successor for the Patria XA-series 66 Pasi armoured personnel carrier. The new vehicle will be developed in collaboration with Finland, Latvia and Estonia. In August 2021, Patria signed a contract with Latvia for the supply of more than 200 66 armoured personnel carriers under the joint development program. The company has also signed a letter. of intent with Finland for a potential serial order of 66 vehicles. The new Patria 6x6 armoured has been designed using components of the Patria 8x8 armoured which is in service with many countries all over the world. The vehicle keeps the layout of the PASI 6x6 armoured vehicle with driver and commander at the front and troops compartment at the rear. It has a modular armour providing ballistic protection STANAG level 2 that can be upgraded to Level 4. As APC (Armored Personnel Carrier), the Patria 6x6 vehicle has a crew of three and can accommodate up to 10 soldiers. The Patria 6x6 is motorized with a a five-cylinder, inline, turbocharged diesel engine developing a power output of 294kW. The vehicle can run at a maximum road speed of 100 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 700 km. This was informed by union law minister and BJP leader Kiren Rijiju Guwahati: The Peoples LiberationArmy (PLA) of China has returned the Arunachal youth who was alleged to have strayed into Chinese territory and captured by China last week. This was informed by union law minister and BJP leader Kiren Rijiju who in a social media post on Thursday said that the boy, Miram Taron, has been handed over to the Indian Army. Due procedures are being followed includ- ing the medical exami- nation, said Rijiju in a tweet. Army PRO Lt. Con. Harsh Wardhan Pande, when contacted, told this newspaper that they are still awaiting any official communicatio on release of Arunachal youth. We can hardly fail to see that these days, in addition to the pandemic, an infodemic is spreading: a distortion of reality based on fear, which in our global society leads to an explosion of commentary on falsified if not invented news, Francis said. Fake news has to be refuted, but individual persons must always be respected, for they believe it often without full awareness or responsibility, he added. [T]ruth is never merely a concept having to do with judgment about things; no, that is only a part of what truth is. Truth regards life as a whole. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Francis spoke today to members of the International Catholic Media Consortium, participating in a meeting centred on Catholic fact-checking. The pontiff urged participants to work together in order to seek the truth, which is the best way to counter fake news and distorted information on topics such as anti-COVID-19 vaccines. This task belongs to media that pursue rigorously the facts and do not bend before economic or political interests. For Catholic communication media, countering fake news and disinformation that is spread perhaps unconsciously means building bridges and not being "against". Francis noted that Paul VI himself had emphasised that the work of communicators calls for a rigorous method, making a critical evaluation of the sources of their information, and finally, pass[ing] on their findings. The initiative of putting several Catholic media online involving various experts was born as a Consortium that seeks to be together for the truth, Francis explained. First, together. Working together is essential, not least in the field of information. Networking, sharing skills, knowledge and contributions in order to provide suitable information is already an initial form of witness. At a time when we are feeling the effects of the pandemic and of divisions in society and divisions in opinions the fact that you are networking as Christian communicators is itself sending a message. It is a point of departure, a message. We can hardly fail to see that these days, in addition to the pandemic, an infodemic is spreading: a distortion of reality based on fear, which in our global society leads to an explosion of commentary on falsified if not invented news. Contributing, often unwittingly, to this climate is the sheer volume of allegedly scientific information, comments and opinions, which ends up causing confusion for the reader or listener. This points to the importance of networking and uniting forces with scientific research on diseases, which continues to advance and enables us to combat them more effectively. Together is a principle that also applies to vaccines, which must be given to everyone, and not just be motivated by the haste of wealthy nations to be safer. Remedies must be distributed with dignity, not as pitiful alms. [. . .] Correct information must be ensured above all to those who are less equipped, to the weakest and to those who are most vulnerable. The second word, after together, is for together for. For is a little word but it says much. It reminds us that, as Christians, we are against injustices and lies, but always for persons. Even if the purpose of your Consortium is to combat disinformation, to refute fake news and the manipulation of more impressionable minds, the fundamental distinction between information and people must never be overlooked. Fake news has to be refuted, but individual persons must always be respected, for they believe it often without full awareness or responsibility. A Christian communicator must be evangelical in style, a builder of bridges, a promoter of peace, also and above all, in the search for truth. His or her approach is not one of conflict, it is not marked by an attitude of superiority, and it does not simplify reality, so as not to fall into a kind of fideism when it comes to science. Science itself is a constant process of advancing towards the solution of problems. For this reason, As Christians, we ought to be the first to avoid the mentality of conflict and simplification, but rather making an effort to approach, accompany, and provide answers in a serene and reasonable way to questions and objections. We should work to help provide correct and truthful information about Covid-19 and vaccines, without digging trenches or creating ghettos. The third word is truth. May we never tire of verifying data, presenting them in a suitable way, pursuing our own search for truth. That search cannot yield to a commercial viewpoint, to the interests of the powerful, to the great economic interests. No. Being together for truth also means seeking an antidote to algorithms projected to maximize commercial profit; it means working to promote an informed, just, sound and sustainable society. For Christians, truth is never merely a concept having to do with judgment about things; no, that is only a part of what truth is. Truth regards life as a whole; it is something one can lean on, so as not to fall. In this relational sense, the only reliable and trustworthy One the One on whom we can count is the living God, Jesus. We discover and rediscover the truth when we experience it within ourselves as the loyalty and trustworthiness of the one who loves us (Message for the 2018 World Communications Day). To work in service to truth thus means to seek the things that foster communion and promote the good of all, not those that isolate, divide and oppose. For 42 days, some 2,000 workers have been protesting against layoffs by hotel and gaming resort operator NagaWorld. According to the company, investments in a new resort and loss of business due to the pandemic justify the decision. Protesters slam the company for distorting the facts. Workers at home and abroad express solidarity with nine jailed union leaders. Phnom Penh (AsiaNews) After 42 days, some 2,000 workers are still protesting outside NagaWorld, one of Phnom Penhs foremost hotel and gaming complexes, in protest against the mass layoffs by the resort. This decision, according to management, is due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the huge losses incurred in first six months of 2021 compared to the previous three years, combined with investments in building NagaWorld 3. For workers, NagaWorld is twisting the facts, and using the current situation to its own advantage. In their view, the company's layoffs were not justified, and violated resort workers rights. However, a court ruled the strike illegal and ordered the arrest of nine union leaders, including President Chhim Sithar. Workers reacted immediate, holding a press conference this morning in which they denied the claims made by NagaWorld. They noted that 80 per cent of the 1,329 laid off employees were union members or union officials, many of them activists who fought to improve working conditions. In addition, the company terminated the employment of the most experienced and better paid employees, and kept the newest and younger recruits. For Chim Rotha, who spoke on behalf of workers, we want to make it clear to the public that NagaWorld is not trying to find a solution, but trying to distort the truth in order to avoid responsibility. What is more, Rotha complained that workers were constantly monitored and threatened by undercover police officers. Meanwhile, the negotiations have stalled. The Cambodian Ministry of Labour and NagaWorld are asking workers to accept the (tiny) compensation offered and look for another job. The laid off employees said that they would return to the negotiating table only if the eight jailed union leaders are released. Support for the workers is gaining momentum in the country and abroad. Union leaders at Coca Cola, Anchor Beer, and Caltex (Chevron) petrol stations have come out in support of striking workers. In Malaysia, Labour Law Reform Coalition co-chair Gopal Kishanam said unionists sent a letter in support of NagaWorld workers to the Cambodian embassy, but officials refused to accept it. The Pitkin County Library, pictured, has been the professional home of librarian Martha Durgy for more than 25 years. She announced her retirement on Thursday. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Under the newly signed agreement, Spright will acquire a large fleet of Wingcopters flagship delivery drones, called the Wingcopter 198. By signing the contract, Spright made Wingcopter the only eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) drone provider for its U.S. operations. At the same time, Spright also agrees to be the exclusive provider of MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) for the German-made drone to third parties in the country.While Spright is only working with the Hutchinson Regional Health System in Kansas for now, it plans to gradually expand its service beyond that area throughout 2022.Wingcopters drones will mainly operate in rural, underserved communities, delivering within minutes supplies such as medication, vaccines, blood, and lab samples between medical facilities. The entire operation will be a clean, sustainable one, meant to reduce the medical industrys carbon footprint.Commenting on the new agreement, Wingcopter CEO Tom Plummer stated that the multi-million-dollar contract is clear proof that its 198 drone has a perfect product-market fit. The eVTOL boasts a triple-drop system that makes the aircraft capable of delivering up to three separate packages to multiple locations, as long as the total weight doesnt exceed 5 kg (11 lb.) per single flight.With a 198-cm (78) wingspan and capable of flying at altitudes of up to 5,000 m (16,400 ft), the Wingcopter 198 can reach a top speed of 144 kph (90 mph) and can fly up to 75 km (46 miles) with a payload of 11 lb. With just 2.2 lb (1 kg) to carry, that range increases to 95 km (almost 60 miles) on a single charge. AutoFlight is headquartered in Shanghai but is working on expanding globally. It recently revealed that it expects to obtain EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) certification for its aircraft by 2025, with the certification program being scheduled to start this year.The companys first eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) air taxi , Prosperity I, will be tested and further perfected in Germany, at the recently established research & development center at the Augsburg airport. In addition, further locations for test and demonstration flights will be established across Europe.As for the Prosperity I air taxi, it is described by AutoFlight as a new category of aircraft with a lift and cruise configuration. This design approach is supposed to combine a superior range and safety with low technical complexity, resulting in a simple, clean, quiet, and affordable flying machine.Prosperity I accomplished its maiden flight last October. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 1,500 kg (3,300 lb.), a capacity of four people (three passengers and the pilot), and it boasts an impressive range of up to 250 km (155 miles) on a charge. AutoFlight says it will have a maximum cruising speed of 200 kph (124 mph).To prove the reliability of its eVTOL aircraft, the Chinese manufacturer recently shared footage of the Prosperity I transitioning from vertical to horizontal flight, stopping its front propellers to allow the rear ones to begin driving it forward.For now, AutoFlight has just released the trailer of the test flight but it will release the full video in early February. Redesigned on the Volkswagen MSB platform in 2019, the Flying Spur is available with a choice of three powerplants: 6.0-liter W12 as the flagship engine, 4.0-liter V8 shared with the Porsche Panamera Turbo, plus a 2.9-liter V6 with plug-in hybrid assistance. Dubbed Hybrid instead of Plug-In Hybrid, the latter may be the sweetheart of the range, according to Bentley.Almost 100 media guests and experts from around the globe had the opportunity to experience the new Flying Spur Hybrid in sunny California, said the British automaker in the attached release, driving an impressive number of miles on battery power alone. Bentley also highlights that up to three gallons of fuel are saved per day by the plug-in V6 powertrain while cabin noise is reduced by 50 percent in electric mode at 50 mph (80 kph).I dont mean to sound like a tweed jacket-donning individual with a tweed hat and a tobacco pipe in his mouth, but I remember Bentley stood for completely different virtues. The British company always combined ultra-luxury appointments with top-notch oily bits and sporting credentials. Think of a Bentley (an old-school one, that is) as a Rolls-Royce with an attitude.2,894 cubic centimeters and six cylinders do seem inappropriate in a full-size luxobarge featuring the Flying B logo, especially if you remember the twin-turbo V6 is used by Audi in the RS 4 Avant. But on the other hand, the company didnt have a choice due to stringent emission regulations.Had Bentleys marketing department used the Euro 6 and 7 standards to excuse the plug-in hybrid V6-powered Flying Spur, I would have accepted it, given the grueling circumstances. But painting the Flying Spur Hybrid as a true Bentley and a forward-thinking product is utter nonsense for discerning enthusiasts. The Flying Spur Hybrid also happens to be a stopgap to full electrification as Bentley gears up to premiere its first EV in 2025 In other words, Hyundai believes the whole struggle with the lack of chips would be over in 2022, pretty much because the production would finally be aligned with the current demand in the automotive market.Ford, on the other hand, doesnt believe the nightmare is likely to end in 2022.Company CEO Jim Farley has recently said in an interview that the chip shortage will continue until at least 2023, though guessing when exactly it would come to an end is pretty much impossible right now.Farley, however, says the American carmaker is now trying a different approach. The production of the most profitable vehicles is prioritized, as the company wants to offset the production losses.In theory, this is good news for those people going for the F-150, for instance, but on the other hand, customers of less popular Ford models might have to wait much longer to get the vehicles. And whats more, they could eventually ship without certain systems, again due to the lack of chips.Ford is one of the companies that have been hit hard by the semiconductor crisis. The carmaker has recently decided to suspend the production of the Mustang , as its chip inventory was running out, and halting the manufacturing temporarily was the only way to deal with the problem.Ford describes the chip shortage as a persistent problem, and in theory, this means the company is struggling with the lack of semiconductors as we speak. And, of course, the constrained chip inventory is unlikely to be dealt with in the short term, which for Ford means that 2022 is going to be a very challenging year in terms of car production, regardless of the model. Business tycoon Ron Perelman doesnt seem to be having a great year so far. The New York Times recently dubbed him the king of debt, explaining that his overwhelming bills are forcing the billionaire to sell not only many of the shares he has in numerous companies but also assets such as two private jets and his mind-blowing 280-foot (85.6 meters) superyacht. It turns out that his empire was largely built on loans and is now crashing down on him.The billionaire has been putting assets on the market for the past couple of years, Second Shelters reports, including ultra-luxury estates, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. But the decision to part with C2, the massive luxury yacht, must not have been an easy one. Named after his second wife, Claudia Cohen, the beautiful vessel was enjoyed by Perelman and his subsequent wives (Anna Chapman is the fifth) over the past ten years. It even has dedicated kids cabins and is described as the perfect multi-generational boat. Built in 2009 by the well-known Abeking & Rasmussen German shipyard, the vessel also benefitted from a refit in 2019, when it received a 23-foot (7 meters) extension to include a beach club, a tender garage, and two new cabins. The C2 really is a floating family mansion with 15 staterooms for 31 guests. But they can also be converted into other types of living spaces, from media rooms to libraries.The main deck boasts an outdoor cinema and a huge glass-bottomed pool, allowing light to flood the generous beach club below. All rooms are bigger than an average New York hotel room, and the master suite boasts an entire wall of windows for spectacular views, plus spa-like amenities. Even the galley is a chef-equipped huge space, ready for exquisite family meals.There are multiple open-air living spaces across its decks, all including a bar and a buffet. A raised jacuzzi and a massage room were mandatory for this opulent relaxation sanctuary.But the C2 is ready to become someone elses relaxation sanctuary, as long as they have $106 million to spare for the megayacht thats listed for sale by Burgess . The downsized billionaire will only get to keep his memories. kW kWh The heavy class 8 truck entered the 2022 Dakar Rally as an experimental new energy vehicle. The H2 Racing Truck ran across the planned route from Jeddah and ended in the same spot, passing through 12 special stages.With a design developed by the renowned Pininfarina, the H2 Racing Truck is equipped with two 402-hp (300) electric motors, fuel cells that generate 510 hp (380 kW), and 82of batteries.However, all that power had been tamed down as the vehicle was speed-limited to 87 mph (140 kph) to meet race's regulations. Nonetheless, the truck tackled the sand dunes like a champ and even exceeded Gaussins expectations. It had an availability ratio of 99.9% and was able to run across the tracks for up 250 miles (400 km).Our hydrogen truck impressed on the spot, with its speed of 140 km/h, coupled with the silence of its engine, which is a huge asset for drivers, and finally a phenomenal torque, which made the difference in the dunes, said Christophe Gaussin, CEO of Gaussin.The successful run of the H2 Racing Truck at this years Dakar Rally did not only validate its performance but also showed the company that theres room for improvement. The data gathered during the competition will help Gaussin work on decreasing the trucks weight and center of gravity.The company will also use the data to develop its road truck lineup, which is set to debut later this year. Gaussin will introduce four different variants of its zero-emission truck, including a road tractor, an autonomous truck, one used in distribution, and a construction vehicle.Following the successful demonstration of the H2 Racing Truck, Gaussin will also work with new partners. Saudi Aramco, the national oil company, will join Gaussin in the development of its future hydrogen-powered vehicles. Google Street View and Apple Look Around provide access to high-quality street-level imagery that makes it possible to see the surroundings in any location just like youd be there.But of course, such photos can sometimes show sensitive information that shouldnt be there in the first place. And this is what happened recently with the home of none other than Apples CEO Tim Cook.It was recently discovered that Google Maps and Apple Maps blurred Tim Cooks house on their street-level imagery, possibly due to some recent stalking concerns.A 45-year-old Virginia woman not only threatened Tim Cook but she was also seen close to his home, so most likely, the Apple boss himself requested the blur on the two mapping services and therefore made his house impossible to inspect online.While were not here to discuss these stalking allegations, worth knowing is that anyone can send a similar request to Google and Apple.In other words, if you dont want your house to be visible on Google Street View and Apple Look Around, just reach out to the company using the dedicated forms.Google, for example, says blurring certain elements is part of its efforts to protect others privacy, so it can blur faces, homes, and other identifying information. Apple too says that users can have their faces, license plates, or houses censored on its services, and reaching out to the company should be enough for the whole thing. It goes without saying youll have to confirm your identity before the blur is enabled on the flagged images.Additional information on how to do the whole thing can be found in these Google and Apple documents. Instead of racing himself, Kimi will have a different role in motorsport starting 2022. The Finn will be a team manager for an MXGP. He will lead the team with a former MXGP rider, Antti Pyrhonen.The team in question is called Red Bull Ice One Racing, and Kimi Raikkonen was one of its owners. It used to race using Husqvarna motorcycles, but Kawasaki has chosen it as a factory team this season. As Kimi Raikkonen stated, he and his colleagues are "very happy that Kawasaki chose them as a factory team."Kimi underlined the fact that the chances of success become greater with factory support, and it will be a great opportunity for them to compete as the new Kawasaki factory team in MXGP. We already know that Romain Febre, the 2015 FIM Motocross World Champion, will join the team, along with Ben Watson.It is a known fact that Kimi Raikkonen first started racing with dirt bikes, and then moved on to four wheels. Kimi has reiterated the fact that motocross is one of his great passions in life. Moreover, the Finn has confirmed his commitment to the team, which is not just a hobby, and will be treated as seriously as possible, Dirt Bike Rider notes.Both Kimi Raikkonen and Antti Pyrhonen started racing motocross bikes on Kawasaki bikes, so both racers are happy with the association with the Japanese marque.It is clear that we will never see Kimi Raikkonen compete on a dirt bike in MXGP, but we may not get to see him race another top-tier of motorsport, as he also underlined his retirement from racing. Whatever the case, he knows what he is doing, so just leave him alone Many former Formula 1 racers try their hand at endurance racing or other forms of motorsport after competing in the most expensive branch of auto racing, but it seems that Kimi has chosen a different route. We can only be grateful for the many years we got to see him race. Several companies, including NASA, are already working on developing the necessary technology that will allow humanity to return to our natural satellite and stay there for good. One of them is Masten Space Systems, which came up with an ingenious system that will help the agency sustain long-term missions on the lunar surface.A night on the Moon is equivalent to 14 Earth days. That means temperatures can drop during that time period to -232 degrees Celsius (-387 degrees Fahrenheit). The problem is that science payloads require at least -40 degrees Celsius to function, and depending on the mission profile, they might need a continuous power supply to survive the freezing lunar nights.The solutions that are currently used are lithium-ion batteries and alkaline fuel cells. And even though they do the job, they require complex fluid systems and have a short lifespan.Masten's new system, called Our Nighttime Integrated Thermal and Electricity (NITE), relies on exothermic chemical reactions to produce both heat and power "through the oxidation of metals using propellant margin from the lander's propulsion system."NITE is up to seven times lighter than an equivalent battery and can be attached as a payload to multiple types of machines, including landers or rovers. Several advantages that it brings include the ability to operate autonomously when temperatures go below a certain level. It can also be turned off throughout the lunar day to avoid overheating, and it's not afraid of lunar dust.Moreover, NITE doesn't require power from the Sun to function, and it's capable of supporting operations for up to 12 months (depending on the type and quantity of oxidizer).The company has already put NITE to the test, and it plans to show the world the finished product later this year. Masten also hopes to see it being tested on the Moon. That might happen sooner than you'd think because the company was awarded a NASA Tipping Point contract to advance the development of the NITE system. SUV Depending on who you ask, the soft-close system's usefulness ranges wildly , from being a must-have feature to a nice-to-have status to being completely useless for some people. You can add to this list another one, as the soft-close function turns out to be outright dangerous. Reports show several people lost their fingers because of this convenience, and the latest one we know of has sued Mercedes-Benz after his cars door crashed his thumb.Richard J. Kastigar, Jr., who also happens to be chief deputy of the Pima County Sheriff Department in Arizona, holds a grudge against his familys 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450. In October last year, as he was getting off his vehicle in the garage, he got his right thumb crushed by the doors soft-close system. Now, he is suing Mercedes-Benz and is asking for compensation, as well as a redesign of the system to include safeguards. In its current form, the soft-close system is nothing short of a modern-day guillotine," according to the plaintiff.The problem is that for the soft-close system is almost impossible to detect a finger or other object caught in between the door and the pillar. The system works on a very short travel a quarter of an inch (6 mm) and this makes it very difficult to detect a foreign object. The systems power is indeed high enough to break a wooden pencil, let alone a finger.Although this would not help Mr. Kastigar very much, there are many cases just like his, and some of them went before the court with abysmal results. BMW and Jaguar faced similar lawsuits years ago and the judges dismissed them all. In the case of BMW, the judge said humans have been slamming their fingers in doors since doors were invented and the doors on BMW's vehicles are no exception. We doubt Mr. Kastigar would be more successful with his case against Mercedes-Benz. In other words, customers in the United States and Canada can pre-order the MA1 today, though as it happened before, theres a chance itll be sold out quite fast. So if youre thinking of buying the wireless Android Auto adapter , youd better do it while you still can, as nobody knows for sure when Motorola plans to make more units available.Needless to say, given the wireless Android Auto adapter is still in the pre-order stage, it will still take a while until you receive it. However, this is pretty much the only option to be among the first to get their hands on the device anyway, especially as the demand appears to be quite strong right now.Motorola is the first big name that joins the wireless Android Auto adapter battle that has until now been dominated by AAWireless Just like its competitors, the MA1 comes with a very simple design and works as conveniently as possible. You just need to plug the device into the cars USB port and pair it with your mobile phone. After that, the MA1 does its magic automatically, converting the wired version of Android Auto into wireless.Needless to say, you can just leave the adapter in the car and therefore enjoy Android Auto wireless every time you start the engine. Amazon buyers are also getting a gel pad that helps keep the device in place when driving.The Motorola adapter is priced similarly to its competitors, so in the United States, it can be yours for $89.95. The gel pad is included at no extra cost and comes alongside the MA1 adapter itself, the USB cable to connect it to the car, and the quick start guide. Karl Mueller, Superintendent of CUSD, and Mary Frese, owner of Claytons chain of restaurants. CUSD and Claytons collaborated to give gift cards to all 400 CUSD teachers and staff. Each staff member will be receiving a gift card worth $40 that can be used at any of the three Claytons Coronado locations. ICE EV It was in a group that also had the BMW i3, smart fortwo ED (Electric Drive), and Renault ZOE, and all of them had gone through their first inspection three years after purchase. The best one was the smart fortwo, with a reproof rate of 3.5%. If that were compared to the 128models that were in the TUV Report 2022, the tinywould be among the 50 best ones.The about-to-be-retired BMW i3 only made the cut as one of the approved vehicles because it got precisely the rejection rate average in Germany in 2021: 4.7%. Its most prevalent defects are related to the low beams and brake disks. In this case, it is not exactly a malfunction but rather the lack of use, which made the disks present corrosion. According to Joachim Buhler, Managing Director of the TUV Association, that should work as a warning for owners of electric cars: they should step on the brakes more and verify them regularly.The Renault ZOE is the one that starts to present lousy news for EV owners. With a disapproval average of 5.7%, it is among the 50 worst cars in the report. Most of the issues it presented were related to defective or incorrectly adjusted headlights and also to the suspension. Thats something it shares with the Model S, even if the Renault seems to present problems in different suspension components while those on the Model S are pretty specific.The Tesla got a 10.7% rejection rate. That means that TUV reproved 1 in 10 Model S units that were still relatively new. Compared to the 128 in TUVs list, it is only better than the Dacia Logan and the Dacia Duster. Its main issues were connected to fog lights, low beams, and control arms.Tesla has a record of suspension issues. Keith Leech even coined the expression Whompy Wheels to denounce these defects and ask NHTSA to demand a recall about them. Officially, Tesla already had to recall all its models for suspension issues.China obliged the company to do so in 18,182 Model S and X units in October 2020. The most recent case involved suspension knuckles on the Model Y that affected 826 cars in the U.S. and 21,599 in China. Tesla publicly blamed its Chinese supplier for the problem.Apart from these cases, Tesla customers often report problems with failing suspensions, such as a Swiss owner that saw that happen in an Autobahn at 200 kph (124 mph). In May 2021, Tesla contacted Model 3 owners for suspension repairs, raising accusations of a stealth recall.Regarding the low beams and fog lights, they may be related to another chronic problem Tesla vehicles present: water leaks in headlights and taillights that makes moisture condense on the lenses.The TUV report reinforces that Tesla has to urgently take care of quality control and vehicle testing. In a few years, the Model 3 and Model Y will start needing general inspections and the results could hurt Teslas reputation in Germany and Europe as a whole. While theres still time to avoid that, the EV maker has not given any signs so far that it is even slightly concerned about this. Forewarned is forearmed. Chassis number 3941192773 started life as a Plymouth model (3) in police specification (9) assembled for the 1964 model year (4) at Lynch Road in Detroit (1). Restored at great expense, the Super Stock-inspired tribute offered by RK Motors Charlotte now flexes a buff 572-cubic-inch HEMI V8 crate engine with aluminum heads and cross-ram induction.Nearly 9.4 liters of HEMI muscle is pretty darn tremendous, isn't it? The high-octane fury hiding under the hood cranks out a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1-matching 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet (881 Nm) of torque, features mirrored valve covers, and rocks a pair of Holley 650 carburetors. An aluminum water pump, electronic ignition, Taylor Spiro Pro cables, coated long-tube headers, stainless-steel exhaust pipes, 10.5 to 1 compression ratio, and a Viper Red-painted engine compartment also need to be mentioned.Finished in Viper Red for the outside as well, this one-of-one Savoy rolls on 15-inch American Racing Torq Thrust D five-spoke wheels mounted with Firestone Deluxe Champion and Dragster tires. A tried-and-tested A727 auto is connected to a Dana 60 rear end with 3.73 gears. The build further boasts a torsion bar up front, rear leaf springs, and cool mini tubs.Fitted with a quick-ratio steering box, the strip-oriented Savoy makes no excuses for the stripper interior clad with high-quality red vinyl. Factory gauges complement a Winters Sidewinder shifter and a restored two-spoke wheel that features a minimalist centerpiece depicting the Mayflower.Currently showing merely 300 miles (482 kilometers) on the odometer, this no-nonsense muscle car is offered by RK Motors Charlotte for $83,900. Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard (C) speaks as Renault interim CEO Clotilde Delbos (L) and Nissan Motors President and CEO Makoto Uchida stand beside him during their joint press briefing on the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance in Yokohama, Kanagawa prefecture on January 30, 2020. (Photo : STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images) The French-Japanese alliance of Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi plan to spend $25.8 billion (23 billion) over the next five years to develop electric vehicle technology, the automakers announced on Thursday, January 27. The three companies will share auto parts, technology, and research to reduce costs and aim to produce 35 new EV models by the year 2030. The alliance will develop five new platforms as part of its 'smart differentiation' strategy to achieve that lofty target. These platforms will be shared across the three brands with 80 percent common usage. The affordable CMF-AEV platform is the base for Renault's budget Dacia Spring model. The LCV platform is designed for commercial vehicles like the Nissan Town Star and Renault Kangoo, while the mini-vehicle KEI-EV platform will serve as the base for ultra-compact electric vehicles. Alliance to use CMF-BEV platform for electric vehicle push The group currently uses the CMF-EV platform for crossovers like the Renault Megane E-Tech and Nissan Ariya. Last but not least is the CMF-BEV platform, which the alliance will use for compact EVs. This platform promises to slash costs by 33 percent and consumption by 10 percent compared to the current Zoe model of Renault. The Alliance expects great things from this platform, with the CMF-BEV serving as the base for around 250,000 vehicles under the Nissan, Renault, and Alpine brands per year. Among the cars that will utilize this platform are the Renault R5 and Nissan's much-awaited EV replacement to the Micra. Nissan teased that electric car in a separate press release, with COO Ashwani Gupta describing the vehicle as a great example of the Alliance's 'smart differentiation' approach. Gupta said that the all-new model would be designed by Nissan, while Renault would handle the engineering and manufacturing of the vehicle. Related Article: Flying Car Moves Closer to Reality After BMW-powered' Aircar' Earns Certificate of Airworthiness Alliance looks to stop Tesla's dominance in the EV market The alliance is critical for the three automakers to save costs amidst COVID-related supply chain issues. A lingering computer chip shortage has affected the entire auto industry, making coordination between Renault, Nissan, and Mitsubishi more urgent and important than ever. Tesla has proven to be a strong and powerful competitor in the EV market, with Elon Musk's company posting record profits last year. Other rival automakers are also making a big push with their EV plans, including Toyota and General Motors. Even Sony Corp. is looking to grab a share of the lucrative EV market, with the company recently showing a prototype of an electric car. According to Nissan Chief Executive Makoto Uchida, the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance will benefit from sharing components, production facilities, and research. Uchida added that the group would also benefit from their people's shared experience and expertise, which is the most important thing for him. READ MORE ON AWN: BMW M4 GT4 First Round of Tests Completed! These Features, Specs Will Make It a Beast on the Road Ford Unveils 2022 Bronco Raptor Performance SUV; CEO Labels Vehicle a 'Desert-Racing Beast' 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. A German court has sentenced a former Syrian intelligence officer to life in prison for crimes against humanity, making him the first person criminally convicted over the Assad regime's torture program. Why it matters: Anwar Raslan, who fled Syria in 2012, was accused of overseeing a detention center that tortured over 4,000 people during the first year of Syrian unrest that eventually devolved into a devastating, decade-long civil war. He is the first member of the Assad regime to stand trial for war crimes in a foreign criminal court, which was made possible by Germany's application of "universal jurisdiction" for certain egregious crimes. Human rights activists say Raslan's conviction is a watershed moment that could spur other European courts to pursue action against alleged war criminals associated with the Assad government or other regimes not party to the International Criminal Court. Background: Like hundreds of thousands of Syrians who fled their country during the civil war, Raslan claimed asylum in Germany in 2014. He joined the exiled Syrian opposition and lived peacefully in Germany until authorities uncovered his role in the Al-Khatib torture facility in Damascus. After Raslan's arrest in 2019, dozens of Syrian survivors came forward to testify against him during the extraordinary trial in Koblenz, a city in western Germany. Prosecutors said at least 58 people were killed under Raslan's watch. He denied the charges. The big picture: Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad remains in power more than 10 years after the uprising began, propped up by his allies in Russia and Iran. The regime remains under tough international sanctions, but several Arab states have begun the process of normalizing relations with Syria in recognition that Assad is here to stay. This week, the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees wrote to President Biden raising "urgent" concerns about his Syria policy including what they called his "tacit approval" of the Arab world's push for normalization. Go deeper: Assad comes in from the cold Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinian pledged to set up a joint commission on border delimitation and demarcation during a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin held in Sochi last November. The Armenian government said earlier this month that the commission should start its work after a set of confidence-building measures, notably the withdrawal of Armenian and Azerbaijani troops from their border posts. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov rejected the Armenian preconditions, saying that Baku stands for an immediate and unconditional start of the demarcation. Armenias Foreign Ministry responded by saying on January 20 that Aliyev and Pashinian agreed on the mutual troop withdrawal during their follow-up negotiations held in Brussels in December. Mirzoyan insisted that the two sides are not deadlocked on the issue. But he refused to go into details. Discussions are continuing We are now trying to get clarifications about what exactly is unacceptable to them, on what grounds, and what new solutions there could be, Mirzoyan told journalists. Russia regularly calls for a quick start of the demarcation process, saying that it would minimize ceasefire violations along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The process is due to be mediated and facilitated by Russian officials. Two senior European diplomats discussed the matter with Aliyev and Pashinian when they visited Baku and Yerevan last week. Toivo Klaar, the European Unions special representative to the South Caucasus, described the talks as excellent. Senior officials instead issued written statements on the occasion and laid flowers at the Yerablur military pantheon in Yerevan where hundreds of Armenian soldiers killed during the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh were buried. Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigorian, who led a government delegation visiting Yerablur, said that an official reception dedicated to the army jubilee was postponed due to a spate of COVID-19 infections. The government announced on Wednesday that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has tested positive for the coronavirus for the second time in 20 months and gone into self-isolation. The Armenian Defense Ministry said the following day that a group of high-ranking military officers have also been infected. It did not name them. Pashinian and many other officials were among several hundred guests who attended on January 22 Defense Ministry Suren Papikians lavish wedding celebrated at a restaurant amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the country. Grigorian dismissed suggestions that many of them may have caught the virus there. The Defense Ministry said on Thursday that Papikian is not showing any symptoms but will take a coronavirus test. Its press office could not be reached for further comment on Friday. Papikian, who is a leading member of the ruling Civil Contract party, refused to answer questions from journalists when he visited Yerablur together with other senior government officials. Only the Armenian Apostolic Church held an awards ceremony on the occasion. Its supreme head, Catholicos Garegin II, handed Orders of St. Nerses the Gracious, a major church award, to a dozen army officers. In a written statement, Pashinian reiterated that his administration is doing its best to rebuild and reform the Armenian army after its defeat in the 2020 war. Improving the armys combat readiness, weaponry and conditions of service is our priority, he said amid continuing claims to the contrary made by his political opponents. Former Presidents Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sarkisian, who now lead the countrys main opposition groups, also issued statements paying tribute to the military and congratulating it on the anniversary. They both used the occasion to take a swipe at the current government. The army that used to be the guarantor of security in Artsakh (Karabakh) and the whole region today itself needs protection, said Kocharian. He expressed hope that it will straighten its back in the near future. For his part, Sarkisian, who had served as defense minister for over a decade, charged that the army fought the war under treasonous command. Meanwhile, several opposition lawmakers visited army posts on Armenias border with Azerbaijan and posted on social media their photographs with soldiers serving there. Join Edith Salas of Salas Properties & host Jenn Barlow as they visit the Coronado Shores community. The towers have amazing views including the world famous Hotel del Coronado, downtown San Diego, San Diego Bay, the City of Coronado, Point Loma, and the Pacific Ocean. 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. John Roby, a font of knowledge and history and saver of the railroad caboose on display at the Port of Beaumont, died suddenly Tuesday at his retirement home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was 67. "He really looked out for the port," said Pete Shelton, former longtime port board president and retired fire chief of the city of Beaumont. "His last big project was that caboose. He really cared about history. Roby joined the port in 1979 and retired in 2016 after working in publicity, advertising and as a reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise early in his career. At the port, Roby's final position was that of manager of corporate affairs, which included a portfolio of the port's public relations, government affairs and manager of transportation and marketing. On Roby's retirement, port chief executive officer Chris Fisher said Roby suggested the port consider a partnership with Jefferson Energies Companies, which ultimately built an oil terminal on the port's sprawling Orange County property once was an unimproved wilderness. Now, that property makes up nearly a quarter of the port's annual revenue. The investment in that part of the port's property is nearly $1 billion now, Fisher said. "He was such a great representative for the port," Fisher said. "I'd go to port conferences all over the country and people would ask me, 'Do you know John Roby?' He had met Al Salazar (former CEO of Jefferson Energies) at a conference. (The development of the Orange County property) initiated from a contact with John. That's how outreach works." Roby, in his characteristic quiet style, told port commissioners he was most proud of the growth that he had helped accomplish. "It's transformational," he told them almost exactly six years ago in a story published in The Enterprise on Jan. 26, 2016. His retirement date was Feb. 8, 2016, which coincided with his birthday. Roby was a railroad enthusiast, who helped acquire the obsolete caboose from BNSF Railway that showed every bit of its wear and tear. The port shunted it to a mostly unused rail spur at the time under a transfer shed so restoration could be done. It took months to achieve on a small budget, but once the job was done, the port laid a small stretch of track next to its administration building, 1225 Main St., for the restored caboose's display next to the gold-hued ship's propeller that greets all visitors to the port another port icon that Roby had a hand in, Shelton said. Roby had learned at a conference that the U.S. Maritime Administration had a ship's propeller in Mobile, Alabama that it was looking to donate. It began as a lease to the Port of Beaumont, and Roby figured a way to have it sent from Mobile to Beaumont aboard a vessel, because it was too big to put on a truck, Fisher said. Roby was actively involved in numerous port-related associations that involve shipping and transportation and also was on the steering committee that resulted in the establishment of the Lamar University Center for Advances in Port Management. That center recently was described in the annual economic meeting of the Southeast Texas Economic Foundation earlier this month as one of the education leaders for all U.S. ports and a beginning for students interested in maritime careers. At his retirement announcement, a then-port commissioner told Roby, "Your name is synonymous with the Port of Beaumont." Roby also made certain that his hometown was kept aware of newsworthy items, like the visit of the Union Pacific's "Big Boy" locomotive that rolled through Beaumont in August 2021. He also held fast to his beliefs and in a standoff with the home owners association where he lived in Santa Fe, he refused to take down a campaign sign he'd put up in front of his house in the 2020 presidential election. The HOA objected because it wasn't allowed, and Roby protested because of his First Amendment rights. The HOA said only For Sale signs could be erected, and even then they couldn't exceed 3 square feet. Roby said the HOA never enforced that just as it never enforced on-street parking. The HOA threatened him with a $25 fine. Roby paid the fine and his sign stayed up. Dan Wallach is a freelance writer for The Beaumont Enterprise. An arrest has been made in connection with the killing of a beloved Beaumont man whose family pleaded with the community for help in solving who took his life. Markeith Rashaad Morgan, 33 of Beaumont, was arrested on Thursday afternoon on a murder warrant issued in connection with the killing of Antonio A-Tone Wilson, a Beaumont PD news release said. Wilson, 32, was shot to death on August 6, 2020 in the 5900 block of Bedford Drive in Beaumont. The warrant was issued by Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr.with a bond amount of $1 million, the release said. Related: Beaumont family asks community to stop releasing balloons, start releasing names The Beaumont police Special Assignmemt Unit, along with the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested Morgan in the 2200 block of West Virginia at 2 p.m. Thursday, the release said. He was taken to the Beaumont Police station where he was interviewed before being taken to the Jefferson County Jail, Beaumont PD said. This investigation is on-going and detectives expect additional arrests to be forthcoming, the release said. On the one-year anniversary of Wilsons murder, his family asked the community to stop releasing balloons in his memory and start releasing names to solve the crime. The family previously said they believed the community was being more loyal to the person who killed the father of a toddler, who fought against gun violence and worked to unify Beaumont. Related: Shooting victims mother seeks justice as community mourns The family also previously set up a GoFundMe account with a $5,000 goal to help fund a Crime Stoppers reward for any individual that helps lead to an arrest in the case. Related: BPD looking for details in Bedford Drive shooting This is a developing story. Check back for updates. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie Weifeng Zhong is a senior research fellow with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and a core developer of the open-sourced Policy Change Index project. The writer is addressing the U.S. diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Beijing Olympics. Internally displaced Rohingya walk at a market area in the Baw Du Pha Internally Displaced Peoples camp in Sittwe, in Myanmars Rakhine state, July 4, 2021. Bangladeshi government officials this week had their first meeting with Burmese junta representatives on the issue of repatriating Rohingya refugees who are sheltering in Bangladesh. The repatriation talks, the first in more than a year, have been moving at a snails pace since more than 700,000 of Myanmars stateless Rohingya ethnic minority fled to southeastern Bangladesh in August 2017 after a brutal military offensive against them in Rakhine, their home state. Bangladesh noted that it was dismayed at Myanmars tardiness in the vetting and verifying of Rohingya refugees, a statement issued Friday by Dhakas foreign ministry said about the meeting a day earlier. The verifying of refugees by Myanmar is a prerequisite for their return. The first-ever meeting of the newly formed technical level Ad-Hoc Task Force for Verification of the Displaced Persons from Rakhine was held today virtually between Bangladesh and Myanmar, the statement said. Shah Rizwan Hayat, Bangladeshs commissioner for refugee relief and repatriation, expressed dismay over the slow pace of verification of past residency by Myanmar and offered all cooperation to expeditiously complete the verification process, the statement added. Hayat noted that filling in the gaps in pending verification would pave the way for a quick sustainable repatriation of the people uprooted from Rakhine. He said the creation of a conducive environment there and confidence building among Rohingya would also facilitate swifter repatriation. Two earlier attempts to begin repatriation to Myanmar in November 2018 and August 2019 failed, with Rohingya leaders saying at the time that refugees would not return until their safety, security and rights were guaranteed in that country. The two nations had resumed China-brokered talks last January after a pandemic-related lull, and they tentatively discussed a fresh attempt to begin repatriation in the second quarter of 2021. The next month, though, the Burmese military toppled the elected government and that delayed further discussions yet again. Back then, Myanmar had approved only 42,000 names from a list of 840,000 compiled by Dhaka. At Thursdays discussion, both sides expressed readiness to continue working closely to address the reasons causing delay in the verification of the past residency of the displaced people in Rakhine, Bangladeshs statement said. Unlikely to succeed However, an ex-diplomat and some of the Rohingya in the sprawling refugee camps in Coxs Bazar district near the Myanmar border are not optimistic that Naypyidaw will easily agree to repatriation. Both said there must be pressure from Bangladesh as well as internationally on Myanmar to take back the refugees. Resolving the Rohingya crisis through bilateral negotiations with Myanmar is unlikely to succeed, Touhid Hossain, a former foreign secretary, told BenarNews [Myanmar] will only agree to accept the Rohingya when Bangladesh builds up pressure which they cant overcome, he said. One refugee leader, Mohammad Alam, said he and many others want to go back home one day, provided it is safe to do so, but that is not likely to happen soon. Believing Myanmar is very hard, Alam told BenarNews. But we believe Bangladesh and the international community have been working in favor of the Rohingya. We will definitely return to our homeland someday. Meetings are essential to keep the momentum going, said Kin Maung, founder of the Rohingya Youth Association in Coxs Bazar. There must be a way out if the meetings continue, Kin told BenarNews. But the international pressure on Myanmar must continue, otherwise they would change their position. Tokyo sending aid to Rohingya on island Separately, Japan on Friday announced an infusion of U.S. $2 million in aid for Rohingya refugees who have been moved from the camps in mainland Bangladesh to a remote Bay of Bengal island. This contribution includes U.S. $1 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and U.S. $1 million to the World Food Program (WFP) and allows implementing humanitarian assistance activities for the displaced Rohingya who are in need of urgent assistance in Bhashan Char in areas such as food and health, said a statement from the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka. With Rohingya repatriation delayed seemingly interminably, the Bangladesh government has moved around 20,000 Rohingya to Bhashan Char Island to ease the situation in the crowded camps in mainland Coxs Bazar. Critics have said the island is unsafe during the monsoon season and also lacks the requisite infrastructure to support thousands of people. In October, UNHCR signed a deal with the Bangladesh government to begin humanitarian work on Bhashan Char. Japans envoy in Dhaka, ITO Naoki, said he hoped the Japanese contribution would help with the necessities needed on Bhashan Char so refugees can live there safely and comfortably. Japan expects the U.N. will respond to prevailing and increasing humanitarian and protection needs on the island, and strongly hopes that this assistance will contribute to better service delivery and improve living conditions of people living on Bhashan Char, Naoki said in a statement. Abdur Rahman in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, contributed to this report. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, center, holds the ASEAN chairmans gavel during the closing ceremony for the 2021 virtual summit, Oct. 27, 2021. As the Southeast Asian bloc struggles to forge a consensus on divisive issues including the South China Sea and Myanmar, analysts see a possible shift in how the regions diplomats and officials go about their business. Consensus-driven diplomacy, epitomized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is in danger of being sidelined in favor of more flexible and nimble arrangements to address issues of regional concern. International relations analysts have a name for it: minilateralism. Just this week, top leaders of Singapore and Indonesia signed key documents paving the way for stronger bilateral cooperation including in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the defense ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines were to meet this week to discuss trilateral security cooperation, although those talks were postponed until March, apparently because of COVID-19. And Indonesia is planning talks with a small group of nations next month on maritime security. Observers say the trend may signal a rethinking of ASEANs principle of consensus calling for all member states to agree and find a common stance on any subject. Instead, they may look to form smaller, more informal and flexible groupings within the bloc to deal with pressing issues more effectively. Sadly minilateralism is probably the only way forward, said Shahriman Lockman, a senior analyst at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia. Foster brotherhood Differences with ASEAN have been on display in recent weeks over Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's maverick attempt to resolve the crisis in Myanmar. Last week he lashed out against his Malaysian counterpart for criticizing his dealings with the junta. Probably the most enduring, divisive issue within ASEAN is the South China Sea, which has left nations without a stake in those disputed waters at odds with those that do. In December, Indonesia invited officials in charge of maritime security from five other ASEAN members to meet to share experiences and foster brotherhood among the countries facing similar challenges posed by China. The head of the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), Vice Adm. Aan Kurnia, said he would invite counterparts from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam to a meeting in February to discuss how to establish a coordinated approach in matters related to the South China Sea, and how to respond in the field when we face the same disturbance. Huynh Tam Sang, a lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) in Vietnam, said: ASEAN has tried its best to maintain a neutral stance when coming to the South China Sea issue. But as ASEAN countries are all small- and middle-sized states, it is not easy [for them] to come up with a solid stance and effective strategy to navigate the South China Sea issue, he said. Shahriman from ISIS was more forthright: I think there is a growing frustration with the fact that ASEAN is unable to be more cohesive, he said. Minilateralism is inevitably seen as an option. I dont believe that minilateralism will be as damaging to ASEAN as some may think. For years, countries around the Mekong [river] have been working in their own mechanisms without raising existential questions about ASEAN, Shahriman said. So why should it be any different for the South China Sea? There have been precedents, including the Malacca Strait Patrol which involves several littoral states, and the Trilateral Cooperation Arrangement for the Sulu Sea, according to the Malaysian analyst. Unlike multilateral settings, minilateral ones tend to focus on narrower and more specific themes with exclusive membership, thereby proving more effective in solving issues that matter to those directly involved, agreed Sang from Ho Chi Minh City USSH. Analysts said a grouping of like-minded countries focused on maritime security cooperation would work best to promote stability and prevent conflicts in the disputed waters. An Indonesian Navy sailor monitors a Chinese Coast Guard ship during a patrol north of Indonesias Natuna island, Jan. 11, 2020. [Antara Foto via Reuters] Role of Bakamla China has been accused of harassing other countries when they are exploring resources in the South China Sea. Indonesia, for example, has been told by China repeatedly to stop drilling for oil and gas near the Natuna islands as the block is within the so-called nine-dash line that China uses to demarcate its expansive claims. Sang said the situation in North Natuna Sea, as well as Beijings constant objections to Jakartas development projects, has challenged Indonesias stance that it is a non-claimant in the South China Sea. Jakarta could no longer stay aloof from the South China Sea disputes, he said, proposing that Indonesia, through its maritime security agency Bakamla, should take the lead in navigating South China Sea challenges. Dedi Dinarto, a senior analyst at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, agreed. I believe that this is a feasible arrangement for Bakamla to interact with the neighboring coast guards as Indonesia prefers to maintain a cooperative security approach when dealing with threats and instability in the region, he said. Bakamla can initiate the minilateral white hulls forum as an initial step, said Dedi, who specializes in Indonesias politics and maritime security. But there are many hurdles to overcome before the neighbors can come up with a working mechanism. Beijing, known for putting economic pressure on smaller regional states, will not let those actions go unnoticed, analysts said. Domestic obstacles should also not be discounted, Dedi said. To sustain or even expand its role in the regional setting depends on its reputation at home and the willingness of the central government to place more resources for Bakamla and to set it as the key player compared to other maritime security agencies including the Navy, he said. Bakamla has modest operational assets, including just 10 coast guard ships and minimal weaponry. Its unclear institutional identity, Dedi said, led to a limited acknowledgement at home and up to date, the agency remains dependent on the Navy for backup support. With these issues, it remains to be seen whether Bakamla can thrive and play a more significant role. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (left) talks with Indian envoy Shambhu Kumaran during a signing ceremony for Manilas purchase of supersonic missiles from Indias Brahmos Aerospace, in Manila, Jan. 28, 2022. Manila on Friday formally signed a U.S. $375-million contract to purchase BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles from India, making the Philippines the first foreign country to order the weapon reputed as the worlds fastest cruise missile. By acquiring three batteries of the BrahMos missiles, the Philippines is also making a leap in bolstering its territorial defenses amid an increasingly pressing external threat, particularly from Beijing, in its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, according to analysts. As the worlds fastest supersonic cruise missiles, the BrahMos missiles will provide deterrence against any attempt to undermine our sovereignty and sovereign rights, especially in the West Philippine Sea, Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said during a virtual signing ceremony that sealed the deal, using Manilas name for the South China Sea. Equipping our navy with this vital asset is imperative as the Philippines continues to protect the integrity of its territory and defend its national interests, he added, according to a statement from his office. Lorenzana and BrahMos Director General Atul Dinkar Rane signed the contract during the ceremony. Shambhu Kumaran, the Indian ambassador to the Philippines, joined Lorenzana at the Philippine military headquarters in Manila for the event. The BrahMos missiles are a cost-effective way to bolster the archipelago-nations defenses, analysts have said. They see the weapons as a value-for-money option for a developing country with limited cash for defense spending. An advanced sea-to-sea variant of the BrahMos Supersonic Cruise missile is test-fired from the Visakhapatnam, an Indian navy ship, Jan. 11, 2022. [Photo courtesy Defense Research and Development Organization @DRDO_India via Twitter] Growing intrusions by Chinese government vessels, including trawlers believed to be crewed by maritime militias, have become common in Philippine-claimed waters in recent years. In 2021, reports of some 200 alleged Chinese militia ships in Philippine-claimed reefs in the Spratly Islands provoked a months-long diplomatic spat between Manila and Beijing. Manila has been in talks with BrahMos Aerospace for the missile deal since at least early 2021, with the agreement getting the green light from Lorenzana on Dec. 31. The contract [with the Philippines] is an important step forward for [the] Government of Indias policy of promoting responsible defense exports, the Indian Defense Ministry said in a statement on Friday. The missiles will be manufactured in India by BrahMos Aerospace, through a joint venture between India and Russia. The name BrahMos comes from fusing the names of the Brahmaputra and Moscow rivers in India and Russia, respectively. For India, which has a serious border dispute in its northeast with China, this marks the first export order for BrahMos missiles. The agreement boosts Indias profile as a regional power, with similar deals to export BrahMos missiles to other Southeast Asian countries reportedly in the works. Tourists jump from a cliff along a beach on the coast of Bani in Pangasinan province, Northern Philippines, Feb. 29, 2020. Foreigners who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to enter the Philippines beginning Feb. 10, the government announced Friday. Manila has been touting the gradual reopening of the economy amid a new wave of coronavirus infections, and Fridays decision came on the back of strong lobbying from the tourism sector. The decision, approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, allows foreigners to enter the country if they can show proof of vaccination. They must agree to additional safety protocols while in the Philippines. The department sees this as a welcome development that will contribute significantly to job restoration, primarily in tourism-dependent communities, and in the reopening of businesses that have earlier shut down during the pandemic, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said. She has been pushing to reopen the tourist spots since December, but delayed those efforts because of the highly transmissible Omicron variant. We are also aware that there is no room for complacency given the unpredictability of the virus. We will closely monitor the situation and ensure that health and safety protocols are strictly implemented in all tourism establishments, Romulo-Puyat said. The announcement came a day after officials announced that the Philippine economy grew by 5.6 percent last year after a steep recession in 2020 caused by ripple effects during the first year of the viral outbreak. Exemptions Signed on Thursday, the inter-agencys resolution allows children and those who are not vaccinated for medical reasons to be exempt provided they can show certification from their doctors. Foreign diplomats and their dependents who are qualified visa holders are exempt as well. Airlines are mandated to require that foreigners traveling to the country present proof of full vaccination before being allowed to board. Meanwhile, the health department said COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5 to 11 are to begin on Feb. 4, depending on the supply. The department sought to allay fears about pediatric vaccinations, citing U.S. studies showing they are safe. Officials have been trying to combat vaccine hesitancy here years after the government stopped administering a dengue shot after its French manufacturer said it could be harmful. The shots, manufactured by Sanofi, were given to thousands of Filipino schoolchildren nationwide before being banned in 2017. Again, vaccines are safe and effective, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters. The vaccination of our younger population will bring protection to the entire family. Mourners place flowers next to the crosswalk where a female doctor was struck and killed by a motorcyclist on Phaya Thai Road in Bangkok, Jan. 25, 2022. Outrage and dark humor have flowed freely in Bangkok this week after a policeman on an unlicensed Ducati motorcycle allegedly struck and killed a young doctor at a crosswalk, and then tried to enter the monkhood to atone for the deed after being slapped with seven charges. The killing of ophthalmologist Waralak Supawat-Jariyakul at a pedestrian crossing here last week and the post-accident actions of the young cop suspected of plowing into her has unleashed a torrent of sarcasm via social media. The story has come to symbolize the perils citizens of the Thai capital face when crossing its traffic-choked streets on foot even at the black-and-white crosswalks where motor vehicles are supposed to yield to pedestrians. Ying Nui, a university student in Bangkok, said she has become adept at the 20-meter-dash at zebra crossings because drivers do not give way to pedestrians. I call it my own CrossFit. You have to imagine like you are running for your life, or as if an angry dog is chasing you, she told BenarNews. At around 3:10 p.m. on Jan. 21, Dr. Waralak was trying to cross Phaya Thai Road at one of those marked crosswalks. Cars had stopped to allow the eye doctor to cross, but witnesses told local media that a big bike passing vehicles from the wrong side hit her at a high speed, sending her flying 10 meters (32.8 feet) away. The estimated speed was 108 to 128 kph (67 to 80 mph) according to the forensic team who investigated the scene, Thai police said on Friday. The roads speed limit is 80 kph (50 mph). The motorcyclist fled on foot. The doctor died moment later at a nearby hospital, three days shy of her 34th birthday. It took authorities two days to identify the motorcyclist as Norawit Buadok, 21, a riot-police lance corporal who had bought the 900-cc red Ducati Monster in December. Police said Norawit, who confessed, could face 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges that include reckless driving causing death. On Friday, police added another charge against the young cop driving above the speed limit officials told reporters. On Jan. 24, the day after the first charges were filed, Norawit and his father, Sub-Lt. Nikhom Buadok, entered the monkhood to make merit and compensate for the doctors death. Photos of Norawit getting his head shaved lit up social media. Pedestrians wait at a crosswalk on Phaya Thai Road, Bangkok, Jan. 25, 2022 [Thai News Pix] Police Maj. Gen. Nakarin Sukonthawvit, chief of the riot police, said he spoke to Norawit, who was deeply sorry. He said he wanted to [become ordained] to make merit for Dr. Waralak and that this decision was entirely his own, with no influence from his superiors, Nakarin told local media. The Sangha Supreme Council, the Buddhist governing body in Thailand that opposes suspects being ordained as monks, said it would disrobe Norawit who did not wait for the council to act. I will leave the monkhood tomorrow [Jan. 26]. I feel discomfort and beg for pardon and apologize, Norawit told reporters on Tuesday. WinsatonSamith posted a tweet comparing The Beatles crossing Abbey Road in London and what could have happened in Bangkok. [WinsatonSamith twitter @ WinsatonS] Backlash Artists and satirists have turned to Twitter to comment on the incident. RIP Dr. Rabbit [Waralaks nickname] and may God bless you who have to cross the road in Thailand, said a Twitter post by WinsatonSamith (@WinsatonS). It shows the famous album-cover photo of The Beatles crossing Abbey Road. But in this rendition, John, Paul, George and Ringo fly into the air after being hit by a motorcycle. Another Twitter post by satirist Luckleg (@Luckyleg88) showed people trying to cross the road in Thailand as if it were a deadly game in the popular Netflix series Squid Game. Uninspired by Current Events (@Uninspiredby) has posted four illustrations since the accident, including one titled Criss Crossing. They show police officers painting a motorcycle sign over a pedestrian crossing. It has been retweeted more than 86,000 times. Political cartoonist Stephff (@stephffart) tweeted a cartoon showing the suspect fleeing the scene dressed as a monk and leaving a police uniform behind. [Cartoon by Kuad for BenarNews] Another Thai was not convinced that Norawits response showed remorse. Does anyone think like me that he was advised to enter the monkhood? Not only would he be safe when he shows up to apologize to the family, but he would be treated with respect as a monk, Rattanaporn Too said in a Facebook post. Last weeks fatal accident shed light on two of the root causes of the problem the mentality that pedestrians do not matter and the lax enforcement of laws, according to one Thai journalist. The overall cost of living is cheaper in Thailand than in the West, but so are lives, Hathai Techakitteranun, deputy editor-in-chief of Thai PBS World, said on her website. Young and reckless For many, last weeks death reminded them of a 2010 incident when a wealthy 16-year-old girl rammed her car into a university van, killing nine people. Orachorn Praewa Thephasadin became an emblem of Thailands wealthy and powerful being able to avoid prison as she was ordered to perform 138 hours of community service. More recently, Red Bull heir Vorayuth Boss Yoovidhya was charged with reckless driving causing death over a 2012 incident where his Ferrari allegedly struck and killed a police officer. The suspect apparently left the country. Thailand had the highest annual rate of road traffic deaths in Asia, with 32.7 fatalities per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organizations 2018 Global Status Report on Road Safety. It was the ninth highest globally, with most other countries being in Africa. About 20,000 to 22,000 people die in road accidents every year in Thailand, according to government data. The Thai public health ministry reported 800 to 1,000 pedestrians were killed between 2016 and 2018. By comparison, about 22,000 deaths have been blamed on COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Vocalist Hunnae Brandy sings Bob Marley songs at The Russell, a new Jamaican restaurant in West Hartford. (Susan Dunne) The sound of reggae and the smell of jerk chicken filled the air in West Hartford Center on Wednesday as the newest location of The Russell soft-opened at 39 South Main St. Hugh Russell, who founded the downtown Hartford restaurant-nightclub 16 years ago and a grab-and-go storefront in the South West neighborhood last year, expanded westward because Jamaican food was what West Hartford Center was missing. Advertisement This is a destination with lots of foot traffic, lots of families. I wanted to bring the island here, he said. It isnt just food that brings the island to the location on South Main Street, where Harrys Pizza used to be. On opening night, Hunnae Brandy sang Bob Marley songs in front of a mural of Marley. Other murals show the produce of the island ackee, soursop, sweetsop, breadfruit, sorrel and another translates Jamaican vernacular into English. Amusingly, that mural is between the restrooms, so people waiting in line can brush up on their patois. Advertisement The menu at The Russell includes, from top, Brown Stew Soy Chunks with pumpkin rice, steamed cabbage and plantains, jerk wings and codfish fritters. (Susan Dunne) In Jamaica, we say a who fah food dis, which means whose food is this, Russell said. Mek wi get ah drink an bill is lets get a drink and chill. Russell said he hopes to bring in other Hartford-area artists. The plan is to create a platform for local talent with music, poetry, visual arts, he said. Saxman David Davis entertained at the official opening Saturday night. The 2,600-square-foot store, which seats 65, is smaller than the downtown mothership, at 6,800 square feet and seating 180. Still, the West Hartford menu is bigger. All items from downtown are there, with a few additions. Food & Drink Weekly Keep up with news from the Connecticut food scene, delicious recipes, and restaurant and bar reviews > There are more vegetarian options, but they still have that Caribbean flavor, he said. The plant-based options in West Hartford include Vegan One-Pot Rasta Pasta, with ginger-coconut curry, penne, broccoli, peppers and tomatoes; Brown Stew Soy Chunks, with pumpkin rice, steamed cabbage and plantains; a jerk veggie burger; and Coconut-Curry Chickpea, with pumpkin rice and plantains. Kale and lentil patties share the menu with chicken and beef patties. Hugh Russell, owner of two The Russell restaurants in Hartford, has expanded to West Hartford. (Susan Dunne) Other favorites from two Hartford locations are there for dinner, lunch and Sunday brunch including brown stew chicken, oxtail, curry goat, ackee and salt fish, coconut shrimp, callaloo and mackerel rundung. Traditional American breakfast options such as omelets and chicken and waffles are listed as foreign-style. Desserts include rum raisin and grape nut ice cream, mango sorbet and cakes. The bar has the same color scheme as the Hartford bar and serves an impressive array of mixed drinks, as well as beer and wine. I want it to be sexy. Food is sexy. This space needs to be too, Russell said. Advertisement The Russell is open Monday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. (bar stays open late) and Sunday noon to 8 p.m. therussellct.com. Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. With the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, a Brattleboro woman has filed a federal lawsuit against the Vermont attorney general and the Windham County state's attorney, challenging the state's disturbing-the-peace statute. Isabel Vinson was cited with that charge after encouraging an anti-racist social media response from advocacy groups on Facebook. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a prominent Senate advocate for gun control, speaking to a reporter outside the chamber at the U.S. Capitol on June 23, 2021 after President Joe Biden announced a new national campaign to stop the rise in violent crime. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Theres little sign that Congress is ready to adopt a national version of Ethans Law regulating gun storage, but overall the prospect for stronger gun safety laws is improving, Sen. Chris Murphy said Wednesday. This issue is heading in only one direction. It takes sometimes far longer than many of us are comfortable with for federal politics to catch up with public opinion, but its a matter of when not if the federal government finally gets to where 80 or 90 percent of where the American public is, Murphy told listeners on a Facebook Live session. Advertisement Still, he conceded that even a Democratic House and Senate along with a Democratic president havent managed to drive through stronger laws since the 2020 election. We are working like crazy to try to get consensus in Washington. The reality is the Senate rules stop us from passing commonsense gun legislation, he said. What we dont have is a supermajority in the Senate, which explains why we cant get something like universal background checks passed. Advertisement Murphy, an outspoken Senate voice for stricter gun regulation, gave his update during an online forum hosted by Democratic state Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw of Avon and Rep. Tammy Exum of West Hartford. The session on gun violence came amidst a rising number of shootings and fatal shootings across the country. The nonprofit Gun Violence Archive reported that a record 44,881 Americans died in shootings last year, including homicides, suicides, accidents, self-defense cases and police-involved gunfire. DeGraw and Exum hosted speakers from several Connecticut organizations trying to reducing the number of shootings, including Moms Demand Action, Mothers United Against Violence and CT Against Gun Violence. They said that even though Connecticut has one of the lowest gun violence rates in the country, its still bad. Nearly 200 Connecticut people were shot to death in 2019, according to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. And Connecticuts cities like those across the country have been plagued with more shootings than ever during the pandemic. We need to be talking about the root causes of gun violence. Weve seen a dramatic increase in gun violence 11 percent this year, 17 percent last year, said Jeremy Stein, executive director of CT Against Gun Violence. New Haven has seen a 41 percent increase this year, a 70 percent increase last year, so were looking at over a 100 percent increase from pre-pandemic time, Stein said. We need to concentrate on the demand side for guns, we need to start investing in communities. Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > Stein said the state needs to spend more on violence prevention, identification of high-risk youth and adults, and aid to families that have been victimized by shootings. Advertisement Its getting worse not better 2020 and 2021 have been amongst the most deadly years in our lifetime when it comes to gun violence, Murphy said. Theres just a straight line between the number of guns that flood our communities and the exposure to gun violence. Some commenters on DeGraws Facebook page said the forum should have included Second Amendment advocacy groups, and complained that law-abiding gun owners are being scapegoated. DeGraw said the session wasnt about outlawing guns, and Murphy maintained that its inaccurate to equate stronger gun regulation with an attack on run rights. Im a believer in the Second Amendment, I have no problem with people buying weapons to protect themselves, to hunt, to collect, he said. I just think there are some weapons that are so dangerous they should remain in the hands of the military, and that I think that everybody should have to prove that youre responsible enough to own a weapon. Connecticut in 2019 passed Ethans Law, which requires that loaded or unloaded guns be safely locked if theyd be available to someone under 18. The states Congressional delegation promised last winter to push for a federal version, but Murphy said the prospects are poor right now. It is still very difficult to get Republican support we dont right now have any Republicans that are willing to support it, he said. It appears to be the kind of thing that could get bipartisan support in Washington because its not about regulating the purchase of firearms. But for whatever reason, Republicans have not been willing to entertain support. Investigations editor Larry Parnass joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant, CommonWealth Magazine and with the Reuters news service. WILLIAMSTOWN The leader of Pine Cobble School said the community is devastated by the news that a former teacher, Peter Hirzel, is being charged with repeated aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 16 his former student. We are devastated by this news and our hearts are broken for the victim, said Sue Wells, the head of the private school, in an email to The Eagle. She declined to answer further questions. However, due to the ongoing criminal case, Pine Cobble is referring all questions to law enforcement officials, she wrote. Hirzel has not been working at the school since mid-March 2021, according to an email Wells sent to parents that was shared with The Eagle. Hirzel, 60, was arraigned in Bennington Superior Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to one count of repeated aggravated sexual assault of a former student under the age of 16, according to The Bennington Banner. The student told police that they would have sex almost every time the victim went to Hirzels home in Pownal, Vt., between August 2021 and January 2022, according to records provided by the Deputy States Attorneys Office. Hirzel has a long history in teaching, including working at New Roads School and Westview School in southern California, according to his LinkedIn page. Neither school responded to a request for comment on Friday. His next court date is scheduled for Feb. 3, according to the online calendar for the criminal division of the Bennington Court. If convicted, he faces prison time of at least 25 years with the possibility of life in prison, according to court records. When asked for any police reports the Williamstown Police Department has on Hirzel from the past four years, Town Clerk Nicole Beverly wrote in an email that the department does have records about Hirzel covering that time period, but is unable to provide them at this time because there is currently an open investigation. She said she could not provide any details about what was being investigated. Nor'easter expected? Blizzard in the forecast? Either prediction is a sure sign that media outlets will dig up photos and facts from historic storms of years past. Sure to be included are the Blizzard of 1888 and the Blizzard of 1978. But were those the worst storms to hit the Berkshires? The Blizzard of 1978 began as a typical nor'easter Feb. 5, developing into a devastating blizzard that wrought havoc on New England, New Jersey and metropolitan New York over the course of the next two days. Heavy snows and high winds, reaching 86 to 110 mph on the coast, forced about 10,000 people into emergency shelters and destroyed 3,500 homes. Travelers abandoned their cars on the Massachusetts Turnpike, and 100 deaths are attributed to the storm. But in the Berkshires, things were not that bad. Eleven to 19 inches of snow fell in the county over the course of the 33-hour storm, which also brought winds of up to 50 mph and dropped visibility to zero. The snow accumulation was less impressive when compared with the 27 inches that fell in Boston and Providence, R.I., and 40 inches reported in parts of Rhode Island. (The Northeastern United States Blizzard of 1978 is one of two blizzards that hit the country in 1978. It should not be confused with the Great Blizzard of 1978 that hit the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes region nine days earlier. The two-day storm, which began Jan. 25, left up to 52 inches of snow in its wake. With the wind chill, temperatures dropped to minus 50 degrees. Shortages of bread, milk and eggs were reported throughout the region.) Blizzard of 1888 Unlike the Blizzard of 1978, the Blizzard of 1888 lives up to legendary status. It began the evening of March 11 and lasted 3 days. Reported snow totals vary from 36 to 42 inches. What made the storm so memorable was the huge snowdrifts that came with it and the aftermath. A train arriving from Albany, N.Y., on the Boston and Albany Railroad was caught in the "Washington Cut," the name given to a granite outcropping on Washington Mountain 3 miles outside Hinsdale. There, 72 passengers remained for two days as efforts were made to free them from the snowdrifts that reached the top of the train cars. Passengers dined on raw eggs, which they took from a crate in the baggage car. A train carrying livestock didn't fare as well. The train, stopped in "the Junction" in Pittsfield, lost 32 carloads of hogs. The hogs froze to death during the night. But six carloads of sheep and another of cattle were saved. Fortunately, a spate of warm weather arrived days later, helping to melt the snow and clear roads. Blizzard of 1916 The Berkshires wouldn't be as lucky in March 1916, when a cold spell and a series of storms would cut travel between towns and keep supplies from reaching the hinterlands. Although a two-day storm March 8 and 9 only brought 20 inches of snow, the county would receive an additional 44 inches by the end of the month. With no break in the cold temperatures, snowdrifts reaching upward of 20 feet became common, making roads impassable. On March 23, The Eagle reported the closure of the Lee-Otis line for the past two weeks had created a kerosene shortage in Otis. There, residents had resorted to killing a "community steer" and its tallow was divided among the town's residents for candle-making. On October Mountain, a game warden reported that he feared a herd of moose would be lost to starvation. Farmers dug in deep, many taking up residence in their barns alongside their livestock, where they oversaw the arrival of lambs and calves. Trolley service came to a standstill. Brennan's Cut, between Lanesborough and neighboring Cheshire, was shut down for more than three weeks. The 22-foot drifts still remained when the Berkshire Street Railway Co. was finally able to break through April 12. February 1934 Nor'easter Transportation was again stopped in the Berkshires, in 1934, when a two-day storm, beginning Feb. 18, left 18 inches of snow in Pittsfield; 24 inches on the Mohawk Trail, 23 inches in Windsor, 27 inches in Savoy and 12-foot-high snowdrifts in its wake. Three major highways in the country were shuttered. For the first time in a century, the probate court in Pittsfield was closed. In North Adams, the city Fire Department called "Maggie" and "Maude" out of retirement. With roads made impassable by the storm, the horses were brought back into service, once again pulling a sleigh fitted with firefighting apparatus. Pittsfield Mayor Allen H. Bagg and several city councilors take over snow-clearing efforts after they accuse the Public Works Department of failing to cope with the storm and falling asleep during the worst of the snowfall. In Pittsfield, Dr. Earl L. Johnson, the county physician, made house calls on horseback, while postal carriers strapped on snowshoes to deliver the mail. And ninth-grader, Miss Esther Scace, not wanting to miss school, donned a pair of skis and made her way to class. Her trip from her Cascade Street home to Pomeroy School took an hour on skis. Other storms of note (through 2011): Who knew? Presidential historian Michael Beschloss is Berkshire blizzard geek Presidential historian Michael Beschloss is prompting national chats this week about bygone weather days in the Berkshires. Blizzards, for a s February-March 1947: A snowstorm that lasts for 16 days drops more than 45 inches on the Berkshires. The greatest one-day snowfall occurs March 3, when 16 inches fall. December 1969: A two-day storm that begins on Christmas Day leaves 23 inches of snow in Berkshire County. State police on snowshoes wade through 5- to 6-foot snow drifts to reach a woman with severe frostbite who is stranded off Route 116 in Cheshire. Oct. 4, 1987: An early snowstorm brings 18 inches across the county, causing power outages and hazardous driving. It cancels the Northern Berkshire Fall Foliage Parade, the only time in its history. December 1992: A nor'easter paralyzes the East Coast, including more than 20 inches of snow fall in Pittsfield; Otis has an unofficial total of 33 inches. March 1993: A nor'easter dumps 22 inches of snow on Pittsfield in 24 hours. The storm packs winds of up to 70 mph, which help create 10-foot snowdrifts. March 2001: A two-day late-season coastal storm dumps between 12 and 30 inches on Berkshire County. December 2002: The first Christmas Day snowstorm since 1985 leaves 10 to 24 inches of snow across the Berkshires. March 16-17, 2007: A snowstorm dumps up to 18 inches on parts of the county. Jan. 11-12, 2011: A whopping 40.5 inches are reported in Savoy; 33 inches are reported in North Adams and 23 inches fell in Pittsfield. Oct. 31, 2011: A Halloween day storm dumps 32 inches of snow in Peru, and nearly 2 feet in several other communities. Pittsfield saw 18 inches. Sources: The Berkshire Eagle, North Adams Transcript, The New York Times, The Boston Globe. (Editor's note: This story was originally published on Feb. 2, 2019) Reporter Heather Bellow, a member of the investigations team, joined The Eagle in 2017. She is based in the South Berkshire County bureau in Great Barrington. Her work has appeared in newspapers across the U.S. Donald Morrison is an Eagle columnist and co-chairman of the advisory board. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Berkshire Eagle. New York Mayor Eric Adams rides the subway to City Hall on Jan. 1, his first day in office. Adams says the New York City subway system must be safe and New Yorkers must "feel safe" in the system. About 18,000 Connecticut restaurant jobs are at stake if the Restaurant Revitalization Fund is not replenished, according to results of a study released Thursday by Connecticut Restaurant Association. In this state, 51% of restaurant operators who applied for the federal relief funds and were turned down say it is unlikely they will stay in business without aid. However, if the fund is replenished and they receive relief funds, 96% of restaurant owners would be able to retain or hire back employees. Advertisement The RRF was a critical lifeline to many, but far more remain on the sidelines, desperately looking for support amidst continued economic uncertainty, said Connecticut Restaurant Association President and CEO Scott Dolch. The decisions Congress could make in the coming weeks will be critical toward the future of the restaurants that are so proud to serve our communities. Restaurant recovery is paralyzed and nowhere near complete, Dolch said. We need Congress to finish the job and fund the additional 2,066 pending state applications. Advertisement The $28.6 billion fund, which offered grants to restaurants struggling during the pandemic, was part of the American Rescue Plan. But after a flood of 278,304 applications stating need totaling $72,233,280,031, just 101,004 of the applicants were awarded grants mostly on a first come, first served basis, according to the Small Business Administration. In Connecticut, 3,369 Connecticut restaurants applied for grants totaling $790 million. Of that, 1,303 received funding, totaling $301,164,069. The statistics, gleaned from a nationwide survey of 4,200 restaurateurs conducted between Jan. 16 to 18, were released as part of the National Restaurant Associations report Monday on the effect nationwide of the surging omicron variant on all restaurants. The omicron surge, which began in November and is reported to be on the wane, is the latest in almost two years of a catastrophic downturn in the national and state restaurant industries, a downturn that began when the pandemic lockdown began in March 2020. That national report also zeroed in on inadequate funding of the RRF and how restaurants that were passed over for relief are suffering more from the omicron wave than those that received the funds. Advertisement [ National poll: 50 percent of restaurants may fail if they dont get relief funds ] Restaurant industry trade groups and Congressional representatives have pushed for the replenishment of the fund. At the Monday news conference, National Restaurant Association spokesman Sean Kennedy said, The timing of this is critical. Congress is facing a Feb. 18 deadline to pass a government spending bill. Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > Hudson Riehle, a research specialist with NRA, stressed that the dining industry is the nations second-largest private-sector employer, after health care. There are too many restaurants that are jeopardized right now. Too many jobs on the line. Failure is truly not an option, Riehle said. Every light for our industry is blinking red. The Connecticut-specific results of the survey found that 12,000 jobs statewide were saved at restaurants that received RRF funding. In other findings about the funded restaurants: 97% said the grant made it more likely that they would be able to stay in business. 84% said the grant helped them retain or hire back employees that would otherwise have been let go. 94% percent said the grant helped them pay expenses or debt accumulated since March 2020. Seventy four percent said the grant was not sufficient to cover all of their lost sales since March 2020. Connecticut restaurant owners also indicated the omicron surge was a significant blow to business. Advertisement 96% saw a decline in customer demand for on-premises dining. 52% reduced hours; 34% reduced days; 27% reduced seating capacity; 9% changed to takeout and delivery only for a time. 87% say business is worse now than three months ago. Only 2% say business improved. Other statistics, which reflect the downturn from its beginning in March 2020: 75% say their restaurant accumulated additional debt since March 2020. 73% say their restaurant fell behind on expenses since March 2020. 80% say their restaurant is less profitable now than it was before March 2020. 74% say their sales volume in 2021 was lower than it was in 2019. Only 15% reported a same-store sales increase between 2019 and 2021. 79% say their restaurants total costs (as a percent of sales) were higher in December 2021 than they were in December 2020. Only 10% of operators reported lower costs. 81% say their customer traffic in 2021 was lower than it was in 2019. Only 12% reported an increase in customer traffic between 2019 and 2021. Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com. Spearfish, SD (57783) Today Mostly cloudy early, then clearing overnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mostly cloudy early, then clearing overnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable. BOISE - Idaho Governor Brad Little and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden are applauding a development in the Washington legislature to delay the WA Cares Act. The Washington Legislature just approved a delay of the implementation of a payroll tax that would have taxed Idahoans working in the State of Washington for a benefit they could not receive. The delay comes after the Governors Office, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, and the Idaho Department of Insurance advocated for North Idaho citizens working in Washington. We heard from citizens in North Idaho about Washingtons ill-advised plans to unfairly tax Idahoans," Governor Little said. "We responded and engaged with our counterparts in the State of Washington, and the delay of the states program is a positive outcome. We will keep the pressure on Washington to back off its misguided plan and resolve these issues the correct way. The state of Washingtons ability to tax its citizens and spend that money as its leaders see fit is not normally Idahos business, Wasden said. But Im concerned with Washington taxing Idahoans to specifically pay for programs that will never benefit those Idahoans. The delay is welcome news and Im hopeful Washington lawmakers will be able to fix the problem. The tax would pay for implementation of a long-term care program for Washington residents. The Idaho leaders concerns stem from the fact Idahoans who work in Washington would have to pay the tax without being eligible for the related program. Legal concerns prompted Wasden to write Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson in November and ask that the state not implement the tax against Idaho residents. Legislation delaying the program passed both chambers of the Washington legislature by a combined vote of 137-9. Washington had planned to begin collecting the tax this month. 260 mln passenger trips made in first 10 days of Spring Festival travel rush Xinhua) 08:50, January 28, 2022 BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 260 million passenger trips were made during the first 10 days of China's Spring Festival travel rush in 2022, a transport official said Thursday. The figure was 46 percent higher than the same period of 2021, Liu Pengfei, spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport, told a press conference. As of Wednesday, the number of railway and road trips reached 54.12 million and 196 million, respectively, while waterway and air passenger trips hit 3.88 million and 8.72 million, Liu said. The pre-holiday passenger flow is expected to peak around Jan. 30, while return trips are likely to peak during Feb. 5 to 8 and Feb. 16 to 17, he added. During the 40-day travel season, also known as chunyun, many Chinese people will travel to reunite with their families for the Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 1 this year. Outbreaks of the highly contagious Omicron variant in recent weeks have added to concerns that the massive movement of people will cause a spike in coronavirus cases. The ministry will coordinate with relevant government departments to introduce targeted measures to support the prevention and control of COVID-19 during the annual travel rush, Liu said. This year is the third Spring Festival travel rush since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. Chinese authorities will draw on the experience of past years to roll out stringent anti-virus measures in areas with high seasonal traffic. The sterilization of public venues and transport vehicles, regular body-temperature checks, and face mask rules will be strictly implemented, Liu said. Most trips during the travel rush will be over short and medium distances, with an average daily traffic volume reaching 28 million vehicles, almost unchanged from 2021, Liu said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) A Superior Court judge has taken the unusual step of disbarring a divorce lawyer for making empty and malicious claims of abuse and antisemitic declarations to win an advantage for her client by snarling the case into an un-triable mess. Advertisement In his decision, Judge Thomas Moukawsher blasted attorney Nickola Cunha for what he said are malicious accusations that are unsupported by any evidence. In his long decision laying the groundwork for disbarment and in an earlier decision in the same case Moukawsher expressed concern that similar, if less egregious, tactics in the increasingly brutal arena of divorce court have the potential to disrupt and damage the integrity of the judicial system itself. She has systematically tried to use the justice system against itself in a bid to frustrate it. In a bid to discredit it. In a bid that, if unchecked here and elsewhere, threatens to destroy it as a credible instrument of democracy, Moukawsher wrote. Indeed, Ms. Cunha and her client have lashed the system as broken and corrupt. But the cases tortured history may be better explained by the system indulging Ms. Cunha and her client too much. In a quest to achieve fairness and give the benefit of every doubt, the system has allowed itself to be tied in knots. Advertisement Attempts to reach Cunha were unsuccessful. The alleged behavior questioned in Cunhas disbarment is not isolated. As contested divorces with prolonged custody battles at ruinous legal costs drag on longer and become more bitter, allegations of conspiracies and anonymous screeds about the states family court system are appearing more regularly on the internet. Judges have been threatened, and photos of their spouses posted online. A Cromwell man was convicted of threatening one judge and urging followers in antisemitic internet postings to kill others. In this file photo, Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher in 2016. PATRICK RAYCRAFT | praycraft@courant.com (Patrick Raycraft / Hartford Courant) Of Connecticuts 38,500 lawyers, 133 are currently disbarred, according to the Judicial Branch. Disbarred lawyers are able, under state law, to apply for reinstatement after five years, which Moukawsher suggests is too soon in Cunhas case. The state judicial branch said it could not immediately provide statistics on how common it is for judges to disbar lawyers who appear before them, a process affirmed by a 2003 state Supreme Court decision. The Connecticut Practice Book, which establishes rules for the operation of the courts and the conduct of lawyers, gives judges the power to disbar summarily for cause that occurs in the actual presence of the court. The Statewide Grievance Committee is empowered to discipline lawyers, but instructed to defer to the court if the court chooses to exercise its jurisdiction. Ms. Cunha will have the right to apply for reinstatement within five years of this order, not by virtue of the courts ruling, but because the practice book gives her that right, Moukawsher wrote. Until Moukawshers ruling Tuesday, Cunha, who has offices in Hamden and has practiced law since 1999, represented one party in a contentious divorce involving a couple with children that has entered its third year, generated enormous fees for lawyers and various family relations trial professionals and captured a following of court regulars. Advertisement The case was referred to Moukawsher, who is assigned to preside over especially complex and contentious divorces, after Cunha accused the judge presiding over the divorce trial, Gerard I. Adelman, of bias against non-Jews, bias against the disabled and other claims. When Cunha moved to disqualify Adelman, Moukawsher convened a hearing and told her to produce her proof. According to Moukawshers decision, which reproduces portions of the transcript of the hearing, Cunha rambled for 30 pages or so. Cunha made claims against Adelman but had not produced anything that, in Moukawshers view, supported her assertions. Finally, Cunha expressed antisemitic and conspiracy claims, the decision says.. Advertisement Cunha said she was relying on the enormous amount of information and evidence thats come to me about the alleged conspiracy. Pressed by Moukawsher, she said, when you start looking at the cases and you start looking at the professionals engaged in the cases, it is consistent and it supports that claim. She said, I have a list of cases ... So its a vicious circle. Moukawsher asked her to produce the list that would support her claim. Cunha rummaged through her computer put failed to produce one. A recess was called to allow her to search further. Finally, Cunha acknowledged she had no list. There there is not, Judge, Cunha said. Cunhas other allegations were dismissed after similar questioning. Advertisement Moukawsher summoned Cunha back to court earlier this month to defend herself. He told her she faced disbarment and advised her to hire a lawyer. Cunha declined the advice and instead lashed out at Moukawsher. She called his conclusions clearly erroneous. I find these proceedings to be intentionally harassing and intimidation and an attempt by Your Honor solely to shut me down for the corruption that I have raised before his Court, she said, according to the record. Your Honor has engaged in malfeasance, gross malfeasance, I will not be intimidated. I will remind this court that your so-called historical writing Memorandum of Decision where you touch upon the history that it is, it is a joke and it is pathetic, and you should be ashamed or yourself for subjecting myself to that type of rhetoric. Frankly Judge, I am ashamed to even be sitting before you with the type of conduct that you have engaged in. You have engaged in material misrepresentation; you have lied to the public. Cunha continued for a moment or two before Moukawsher asked her to stop speaking. Yes Judge, Cunha replied. Yes. I will obey, Your Honor, would you like me to bow, Im sorry, I am below you. I will obey. l will be quiet, no problem. Thank you. In his written decision, Moukawsher said it is monstrous to make Cunhas conspiracy claim without thought, without evidence, without restraint, repeatedly, on the record, in court, with a specific claim about a list that proves not to exist. Advertisement Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > He said such behavior threatens the judiciary by undermining its credibility. When lawyers speak the public rightly assumes they dont speak lightly, Moukawsher said. After all truth is their business. Therefore, Ms. Cunhas lies about a Jewish conspiracy are particularly reprehensible. Without the court exposing them as lies, the public might give them some credit when they deserve none. Misconduct like this threatens to drag the courts into the primordial ooze that passes for public discourse in some quarters today, Moukawsher said. One whiff of this swamp should be enough for the courts and those of its officers who are true to their duties to set out firmly in the other direction. This moment is one chance to do so. Moukawsher wrote in his decision disbarring Cunha that her conduct and accusations violated at least seven rules of professional conduct and provide multiple grounds for disbarment. The rules prohibit dishonesty and deceit; stalling, diverting and disrupting proceedings; and recklessly impugning a judges integrity. He said Cunha used the judicial system to punish opponents and has called three judges assigned so far to her clients divorce corrupt and abusive. Her actions have been grave. Moukawsher wrote. They have been intentional. Her motives have been corrupt they have been to cloud the truth for the perceived benefit of her client, rather than to seek out the truth and seek the justice associated with that truth. PULLMAN - At the 46th Murrow Symposium scheduled for Tuesday, April 5, 2022, award-winning journalist Ann Curry will receive the Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism. The Symposium is held by Washington State University's Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. For more than 30 years, Curry has focused on human suffering in war zones and natural disasters through her work as an American journalist, photojournalist, and reporter. She has reported on wars throughout the Middle East and Africa, and she was the first network news anchor to report on the refugee crisis caused by the genocide in Kosovo in 1999. She also visited the Republic of Sudan three times between March 2006 and March 2007 to report on the violence and ethnic cleansing occurring in Darfur and Chad. Covering other disasters such as the tsunamis in Southeast Asia and earthquake in Haiti led to her being on Twitters top 10 most powerful tweets of the year in 2010. Currys work stands as a testament to using communication for the common good. I am particularly impressed with her consistent, in-depth reporting on stories concerning the human condition throughout her extensive career, said Bruce Pinkleton, dean of the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication. Her courageous and essential reporting on the genocide in Darfur demonstrated a desire to use journalism to better the human condition, to hold those in authority to account, and to raise the voices of those ignored by the powerful. Curry worked for NBC from 1990 through 2015, first as the NBC News Chicago correspondent and then as the anchor of NBC News at Sunrise from 1991 to 1996. In 1997, Curry became the news anchor for the Today show where she became the shows second-longest serving news anchor. In 2011, Curry became the national and international correspondent-anchor for NBC News and the anchor at large for the Today show. She was also the anchor of Dateline NBC from 2005 to 2011. In 2015 Curry left NBC News and founded her own multi-platform media startup. In January 2018, Curry reported and produced the PBS series Well Meet Again, which featured emotional reunions between people who lived through momentous events in US modern history such as the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens and the 9/11 attacks. Curry currently hosts the TNT series Chasing the Cure, which pairs undiagnosed patients with top-tier doctors who help them solve their medical mysteries. Curry is best known for her global humanitarian reporting and interviews with world leaders, such as Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama. Curry has earned seven Emmys, four Golden Mike awards and three Gracie Allen awards during her journalism career. She is also a recipient of the NAACPs Award for Excellence in Broadcasting, and the Simon Wiesenthal Medal of Valor for her extensive reporting in Darfur. In addition to Ms. Currys keynote speech, additional Murrow Symposium events including workshops, panel discussions, and alumni awards will take place both virtually and in person on Tuesday, April 5 and Wednesday, April 6. This years symposium focuses on ways communicators can elevate silenced voices and build a community where every person, regardless of difference, is valued and included. The company will offer emergency, healthcare and convenience services Yodda Elder Care Technologies has launched operations in Hyderabad. Yodda, a premium parent care company, will now offer emergency services, healthcare services and convenience services to senior citizens living in this city. Yodda Elder Care was launched in 2021 in Pune with a vision of empowering ageing people to live independently. Yodda's technology platform connects children, parents and elder care staff through a strong system-centric and process-driven ISO certified operational framework. The technology platform is supported on the ground by meticulously trained staff of military veterans. This solution aims to recreate the same emotional, physical and logistical support given by their children with a similar commitment, similar trust and better performance. Discussions were held on preventive strategies ASSOCHAM recently organised a conference on 'Awareness and Prevention of Cervical Cancer' to honour and assist women who have either been diagnosed with it or are being treated for this health condition. Dr Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela, Assistant Director-General and Special Advisor for Strategic Priorities, World Health Organization (WHO) stressed the need to be optimistic. She said, We need to recognise global health complacency. We have tools to detect this cancer. We have to make sure these preventive tools reach everybody." Dr Shalini Singh, Director, ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, MoHFW, GOI, focussed on the need to spread awareness, which is lagging. She added, Awareness and knowledge give us power and perception. It also gives us the self-confidence to think from different levels. Ideally, all women should be aware of cervical cancer." Narendra Varde, MD - India & Neighbouring Markets, Roche Diagnostics India informed that one-fourth of cervical mortality comes from India. He further explained, "Cervical cancer is a common cause of death among women of reproductive age. India needs a robust public health policy for prevention through HPV screening and vaccination. Ravi Bhatnagar, Co-Chairperson, ASSOCHAM CSR Council, Director, External Affairs and Partnerships (SOA)Reckitt, focussed on the need of creating more awareness, vaccination, and preventive measures to erudite cancer. Dr S Shantha Kumari, President, The Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India FOGSI said that Pap smear screening examination should be made mandatory. She also stressed that the girls must be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15. Dr Radhika Srinivasan, Professor, and Head of Department of Cytology & Gynec. Pathology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, and Secretary, Indian Academy of Cytologists gave a presentation titled Cytology for Cervical Cancer Screening - Is It Relevant Today? and stated that cytology detects the disease rather than the infection and emphasised that all disciplines need to work together and create an efficient system for the present and the future. Dr Abhishek Shankar, Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, AIIMS, Patna; Associate Editor, APJCP; Associate Editor, SAJC, Editor in Chief, APJCC; Founder Secretary, ISCO explained that India needs a ground-shot approach as well as a community-based approach. For this, we need to create a good strategy as it's going to be difficult to do so. Co testing of HPV DNA and Pap tests are recommended for women above 30 years and only Pap test is advised between 21-29 years women. Mridu Gupta, CEO, Caped India stressed the need to create strategies and conversations around it regularly. Dr Rajesh Kesari, Founder, and Director, Total Care Control, Delhi-NCR, who moderated the session, highlighted that cervical cancer that affects the female gender is an infection due to human papillomavirus (HPV). Priyanka Chaturvedi, Member of Parliament was the guest of honour at the conference. Mainly Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province & Ringing Trips to Bahrain Fraud continues to pose the risk of serious financial losses for banking customers. The new phishing MO scam Scamming is a lucrative business The latest wave of scams to look out for in 2022 A call from the Ombudsman to raise more awareness Fraud-detection systems and insurance by banks Knowledge is power All indicators are pointing towards the fact that there are new scams and an increasing number of victims, warns Reana Steyn, the Ombudsman for Banking Services (OBS).The basic modus operandi of these scams is not new. However, over the years, there is a constant change in the execution techniques that fraudsters have applied. The success of these scams, and their evolution, is heavily guided by how the consumer will react in each situation, advised Steyn.Steyn highlighted two recent matters that were investigated by her office where two private banking customers fell victim to the same scam under the exact same circumstances. The story behind convincing the victims to disclose their confidential banking information was new. However, the basic scam remained the same, as did the results.M* advised that he received emails supposedly from the South African Post Office (post office). The emails informed him that he had unclaimed packages waiting for him at the Post Office Head Office.He advised the representative in the email that he in fact had a package at the Post Office which he was aware of and had not collected yet. M* then received an sms from the post office advising him to pay a fee of R42.50 for the package to be released and sent to his nearest post office.M* followed the instructions on the link he received, and the link opened to a payment option on an official post office payment page. He then inserted his card details and received an Approve It" message on his cellphone. He accordingly approved the transaction. Immediately thereafter, he received another Approve It" message from his bank and he noticed the word 'Singapore' and realised that he was being defrauded.He immediately reported the fraud to his bank and instructed the bank not to release the pending transaction of R16 061.80. However, since the transaction was authorised with the use of the card details and the Approve It" message, the bank had already released the transaction and refused any liability for the loss that was suffered. M* then reported the incident to the OBS and asked for assistance with his complaint against the bank.The OBS determined that M* had in fact made the payment himself and approved the transaction through his banking app. The OBS further found that - although M* advised that he thought he was making a payment for R42.50, the message he received from the bank for the authentication of the payment read: You are about to make an online purchase of CHF 1, 000.00 at BIGO Live.Since it was clear from the message that the payment was not to the Post Office and that the purchase amount was not R42.50, the OBS found against M* and concluded that he was unfortunately a victim of a phishing scam where he willingly compromised his confidential banking details.Steyn warned that banking fraud has become a very lucrative business for online scammers. The banking fraud matters investigated by her office in 2021 alone (the amounts claimed as losses by the victims of the various types of banking scams) exceeded R295m.This is an extremely worrying trend, especially when considering that these funds are mostly lost by individuals and small businesses who, in the majority of cases, are not in a financial position to suffer any kind of financial setback. In addition to the negative effects of Covid-19 on finances, most of these victims will sadly never be able to recover from these financial losses, says Steyn.The Ombudsman confirmed that it was unfortunate that, in most of these matters, the amounts that were claimed were not recovered as they had already been withdrawn by the fraudsters. In fact, Steyn reiterated that the losses were largely due to the victims falling hook line and sinker to typical and well-publicised scams.According to the OBS 2021 records, the Ombudsman received and investigated over 2,880 banking fraud related cases. This was a significant increase of 7.5% from the fraud cases that were investigated in 2020. Most of these matters were due to bank customers falling victim to internet banking fraud, credit card fraud, current account fraud, and ATM card swap scams.Steyn advised that these scams are avoidable and called on bank customers to be extra vigilant in 2022 to ensure that they (individuals and businesses) do not suffer significant financial losses over a scam, that could have been avoided, had someone taken the time to consider the possibility that they are being defrauded. Never provide confidential banking details to a stranger over the phone or enter these details on a link received via email or sms. Finally, never accept assistance from a stranger at an ATM, Steyn cautioned.Steyn emphasised the point that no legitimate caller or email from the bank will ever ask a bank customer to provide their card number, passwords, and especially an OTP over the call or a link. She further advised consumers to refrain from using any links that are received to make payments.Consumers should be extra vigilant when it comes to a link where you are instructed to put in your banking account details that can be used to access the funds from your account.The OBS called on all banking customers, banking institutions and other stakeholders to partner with each other in 2022 to educate the public and raise awareness about the various scams that target banking customers (consumers and small businesses).Steyn advised that the power to prevent these scams lies mostly with consumers as they are the ones being targeted. As such, the scams and the techniques that are used, are created to take advantage of the vulnerabilities that the fraudsters have identified.While there has been some consumer awareness and education regarding the scams that are currently being used and how they are committed, Steyn added that over the years, the number of fraud victims has not decreased. According to Steyn, this is an indication that more vigorous action must be taken by institutions like the OBS, banks, and (very importantly) the media, to assist, warn and educate South African consumers.Steyn stated that consumers played the most critical role in ensuring that they do not fall victim to scams. According to her, banks can never ensure that consumers do not provide their confidential banking information to strangers, nor can the fraudsters be prevented from trying their luck to deceive customers into providing them with the keys to their vaults.The responsibility is on customers to always remain vigilant and suspicious, especially when requested to provide their confidential banking details that they know can be used to access the funds in their accounts.To combat the scourge of fraud, banks have, over the years, created and introduced various fraud-detection systems. The aim of these systems is to monitor and detect unusual transactions and prevent them where possible. This will hopefully minimise the number of fraud losses that are suffered by consumers.However, while these systems have proven to be valuable in preventing fraud in most instances, Steyn warns these measures do not guarantee that all fraudulent transactions can or will be detected. Therefore, if it is found that you as a customer provided your confidential banking details to the fraudster (and as a result, funds were withdrawn from your account) you will suffer the loss should the transaction not be detected and stopped by the bank.Steyn continued and advised that such losses are not for the banks to absorb through their insurance. She advised that her office had - on previous occasions - received some matters where customers believed that the banks were insured for the losses suffered by clients through banking scams. This is incorrect. The only time the bank will be held liable by the OBS is when the losses suffered by the customer were because of the banks negligence or wrongdoing, warned Steyn.Lastly, Steyn encouraged the consumers to do their utmost to eliminate the scourge of banking fraud by educating themselves about the various banking-fraud threats that do exist.She warned that unless consumers assume the responsibility to educate themselves about banking scams (thus protecting their livelihoods), these scams will continue to grow as fraudsters will identify this as an ongoing lucrative vulnerability which only leads to increased profits.The nature of the fraud landscape is that there is a specific theme to all of the scams that fraudsters use, it is the execution of these schemes that change all of the time. Here are some tips that the public can use when presented with a possible fraudulent scheme:* Banks will never ask you to confirm your confidential banking information over the phone;* If you receive a phone call requesting confidential or personal information, do not respond and end the call. Contact your bank's fraud hotline immediately;* If you receive an OTP on your phone without having made a transaction, it is likely that it is a fraudster who has used your personal information. Do not provide the OTP to anybody. Contact your bank's fraud hotline immediately;* Do not click on links or icons in unsolicited emails or sms's.* Do not make payments into an unknown person or merchant's account without first verifying their authenticity. If you are unsure, go to your nearest bank branch and speak to a representative.Following these tips should protect you against becoming a victim of fraud:* When doing online shopping, only use your card to make payments on secure websites;* While transacting, always keep an eye on the ATM card slot to ensure that your card is not removed, skimmed and replaced without your knowledge;* Report lost and stolen cards immediately.* Be alert to your surroundings. Do not use the ATM if there are loiterers or suspicious people in the vicinity. Also, take note that fraudsters are often well-dressed, well-spoken and respectable looking individuals;* Key in your PIN in such a way that no one else can see it by, for example, covering your PIN when punching in the numbers even when alone at the ATM as some criminals may place secret cameras to observe your PIN; and* Don't let anyone stand too close to you, in order for you to keep both your card and PIN safe when entering a PIN, as it could be in cardless transaction mode. Evil is on the march. Mariana Zhaglo is ready to battle it on the frontline of freedom. Zhaglo, a 52-year-old Ukranian marketing researcher and mother of three, posed for a dramatic photograph in her Kiev kitchen holding a hunting rifle. Advertisement Zhaglo told the The Times of London she has never hunted but purchased the the carbine after listening to some soldiers discussing the best rifle to get. If it comes to it, then we will fight for Kiev; we will fight to protect our city. With more than 120,000 troops massed on Ukraines border, Zhaglo may soon have to fight. The prospects for peace appear grim. Advertisement A Russian invasion would be difficult for Ukraine to repel. A flash strike at Kiev would allow autocrat Vladimir Putin to show his modern weaponry, purchased by impoverishing the Russian people. Ukrainian servicemen carry water supplies for an advanced position on the front line in the Luhansk area, eastern Ukraine. The U.S. rejection of Russia's main demands to resolve the crisis over Ukraine left "little ground for optimism," the Kremlin said Thursday, but added that dialogue was still possible. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) (Vadim Ghirda/AP) Putin has been tormenting Ukraine for years. He invaded Crimea in 2014 and continues to occupy it. In 2019, Donald Trump was willing to sacrifice Ukraine by withholding military aid until President Volodymyr Zelensky announced an investigation of Joe Bidens son Hunters business dealings in the eastern European democracy. That provided the basis of Trumps first impeachment. Revulsion at Trumps embrace of dictators and contempt for our democratic allies caused enough suburban Republican-leaning voters to help Joe Biden win Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin, Arizona, and the presidency. Facing down Putin in Ukraine would demonstrate to the world that democracies are united in the defense of freedom and can summon the strength required to maintain peace in Europe. It may offset the damage done to Bidens reputation by the chaotic August retreat from Afghanistan. Others are watching. Failure in Ukraine could embolden China to make the free people of Taiwan a garrison state or worse and expand its ambitions in the Pacific. Polls, with an outlier now and then, consistently find Bidens approval ratings hovering around 40%. Those polls have Democrats edging toward despair for their prospects in Novembers mid-term elections. Republicans, on the other hand, are showing signs of premature euphoria. A Republican drubbing of Democrats in November will give power to a party still in the thrall of Trump and his isolationism. Republican confidence appeared late this month in Connecticut. Republican National Committeewoman Leora Levy is contemplating a bid for the U.S. Senate against two-term incumbent Richard Blumenthal. Hearsts Dan Haar reported the Levy story Tuesday. Opinion Weekly Perspective on the week's biggest stories from the Courant's Opinion page > Former House Republican Leader Themis Klarides may also be weighing a bid against Blumenthal. Shes spent $400,000 of her own money on a campaign for governor, but Republican rival Bob Stefanowskis launch of his second campaign for the states top office may have discouraged Klarides. Former House Republican Leader Themis Klarides may be considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Richard Blumenthal. Republican hopes are rooted in a poll of Connecticut voters conducted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee that showed Blumenthals approval rating is around 50%. (Courant file photo) (Kassi Jackson/The Hartford Courant) Klarides was reportedly preparing to announce this weekend a bid to challenge Blumenthal. To avoid a battle for the Republican nomination, Levy was considering taking a run at 4th District Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Himes. The Greenwich Democrat and former investment banker is seeking an eight term representing the Fairfield County district that counties to turn bluer and bluer. Advertisement Republican hopes are rooted in a poll of Connecticut voters conducted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. It revealed that Blumenthals approval ratings are around 50%, significantly less than what the Greenwich Democrat has enjoyed since he was elected attorney general in 1990 and senator 20 years later. National Republicans find Blumenthal particularly irksome. If they are flush with cash and can spend some of it on a few long shots, a race against Blumenthal will tempt them. Their commitment will be strengthened if Levy commits a few million dollars of her own early in the year and uses her ties to national Republican donors to raise more. If Levy makes the jump, Blumenthal and some Republicans will paint contrasting pictures of the former commodities trader. Blumenthal will highlight Levys devotion to Trump, who nominated her to be his ambassador to Chile. The Senate declined to confirm her before Biden was inaugurated. Trump Republicans (which is most of them) have begun circulating a 2016 anti-Trump opinion piece Levy wrote while supporting Jeb Bush for president. Blumenthal, who turns 76 in February, has never been defeated in 10 elections in 38 years. As one of the wealthiest members of the Senate, Blumenthal has his own fortune to tap into, as he did in 2010 when self-financing Republican Linda McMahon gave Blumenthal some anxious weeks. A serious challenger to Blumenthal, bolstered by the tangible support of national Republicans, may be an attempt to keep Democrats fighting on every front this year. Its also more proof that Biden needs a dramatic success and the best place to achieve it is in brave Ukraine. As a lifelong Connecticut resident, I am concerned about Hartfords attempt to close an important regional asset: Hartford-Brainard Airport. I began training for flight instructor at Brainard in the 1990s and eventually became a pilot for a major airline. Despite traveling all over the world, I have never left Connecticut and never stopped using Brainard Airport. I am immersed in general aviation in Connecticut and feel strongly about Brainards value to the state. Advertisement I recently flew into Brainard to bring an aircraft for avionics upgrades to VIP, the avionics facility located on the field. This visit contributed to the Hartford economy, as do the thousands of others that frequent this respected avionics provider. Patrons who utilized Brainard Airport are contributing to the local economy through tourism, hospitality, fuel purchases and any other money spent in the Hartford area. These expenditures are vital to the Connecticut economy, boost tax revenue and sustain jobs for the region and state. In October, the Hartford City Council voted to support a resolution for a commission focused on the closure of Brainard Airport and the redevelopment of the land with resulting increase to the citys grand list and creating job opportunities for residents. This is flawed and a gross misrepresentation of the facts by Councilman James Sanchez, an MDC employee and proponent of redeveloping Brainard. There is a long history of MDCs attempts to close Brainard Airport and claim part of the land. Fair market value of Brainard Airport is near $45 million, which by law, the state will need to pay for takeover and redevelopment. Advertisement [ Grassroots campaign to keep Hartford-Brainard Airport open organizes amid new push to close century-old airfield ] Connecticut Airport Authority Executive Director Kevin Dillon told town and city councils that Brainard Airport is a strong financial benefit to the state. It supports 361 jobs, brings in $28 million in wages, has an economic impact of $59 million and pays $1.3 million in state and local taxes, he said. His presentation also conveyed that 81% of the noise complaints emerging from Wethersfield emanate from one phone number. According to Connecticut Airport Authority Executive Director Kevin Dillon, Hartford Brainard Airport supports 361 jobs, brings in $28 million in wages, has an economic impact of $59 million and pays $1.3 million in state and local taxes. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) The CAA and stakeholders have specific plans to grow the airport and support investment, plans that have been hampered by city roadblocks. Tree trimming needed for airport safety areas has proved to be environmentally and wildlife friendly. Despite these facts, Hartford leaders continue to deny a 2016 bipartisan study that concluded Brainard Airport was a value to the region. This study strongly supported expansion and keeping Brainard Airport open. Connecticut residents need to ask: What has changed in five years, and is Hartford fiscally sound enough to take on the expense of redevelopment of Brainard Airport, or will it become another road show for Mayor Luke Bronin to ask neighboring towns for a bailout yet again? Why arent the intentions and plans of Hartfords leaders more transparent? As voters and taxpayers we need to start asking questions of our state and federal representatives in the state legislature and Congress. The city of Hartford is moving ahead with a task force to outline the best path forward to closing Brainard Airport and redeveloping the 200-acre airfield at the intersection of two interstate highways with frontage on the riverfront. (Courant file photo) (Patrick Raycraft / Hartford Courant) Each time I return to Brainard Airport, Im reminded of the people creating 50,000 yearly operations. This includes the Connecticut State Police, the Civil Air Patrol (search and rescue and cadet training), the FBI, Life Flight medical transport and three flight schools (which are training pilots to fill a nationwide shortage). As a captain for a major U.S. airline, I am acutely aware of the serious pilot shortage in the U.S. We simply cant hire enough qualified pilots. Also, many students attend the Connecticut Aero Tech School, which feeds the mechanic and avionics technician pipelines to our region and nation, two other areas in need of qualified employees. Large and small tax-paying companies use Brainard Airport to support their businesses. On the Connecticut registry of historic places, Brainard Airport is well-poised to potentially build a museum with its historical memorabilia. Brainard Airport benefits all of Connecticut and the region. If Brainard Airport closes, its 50,000-plus aircraft operations per year could create massive delays at Bradley Airport, a consequence the CAA cannot afford. Every citizen should urge their representatives to look into this matter before it is too late. If you are interested in more information about Brainard Airport, its history, and support it remaining open, please email the Hartford Brainard Airport Association at keepbrainardflying@gmail.com. Stephen Demko is a pilot who lives in Seymour. More than eight years into her cancer diagnosis, the pain in Kim Hoffmans body had become constant. I cant remember the last day that I did not experience pain, Hoffman, 59, of Glastonbury, said in a recent interview. It has been at least two months of daily, very often intense, sharp, biting pain. Advertisement Ive awoken from sleep in pain every night, multiple times. Three oclock in the morning is a standing hour for me three oclock and four oclock in the morning I can always count on waking up in discomfort or pain. In 2013, she was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer. During the following years, it spread throughout her body. She was given two to four months to live last fall. Advertisement Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, co-chairman of the General Assembly's Public Health Committee, speaks during session at the State Capitol, Monday, April 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) (Jessica Hill/AP) She died on Jan. 18. In an interview with the CT Mirror just weeks before her death, Hoffman used some of her remaining strength to call for passage of an aid in dying bill, poised to be a key issue when the state legislature convenes in February. She wished the option had been available to her. I am advocating for our legislators to show compassion, kindness, care and sensitivity to those of us who face a terminal diagnosis, she said. It is kind and compassionate. It is a choice. It is not forced on anybody. It would give me such a sense of relief and peace. And I should say, it would give my family a sense of relief and peace as well, knowing Im comforted by that. For the first time, a version of Connecticuts aid in dying bill made it out of committee in 2021. The Public Health Committee voted 24-9 in favor of sending the measure to the House floor. The bill did not come up for a vote in either chamber, however. It didnt make it out of the Judiciary Committee. Versions of the bill have been debated as far back as 1994 and have failed at least 14 times. Under last years proposal, an adult patient with a terminal illness having six months or less to live would have been able to access lethal drugs by making two oral requests at least 15 days apart, and one written request. The written request would have to be done in the presence of two witnesses who could attest that the patient is of sound mind and acting voluntarily. Advertisement A physician would prescribe or dispense the medication, and the patient would self-administer the drug. Requests for the medication may be rescinded by the patient at any time without regard to his or her mental state, according to the measure. A doctor would have to refer the patient to another consulting physician for medical confirmation of the persons diagnosis and for confirmation that the patient is competent and acting voluntarily. Although three Republicans joined 21 Democrats in supporting the bill last year, several members of the health committee acknowledged that the bill needed work. As the 2022 session nears, proponents of the measure say they have incorporated the needed revisions and will press for a vote in the House. We came very close last year, said Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, a co-chair of the Public Health Committee. We have looked at the polling statewide, which indicates that the majority of Connecticut citizens are in favor of this. I think we made adjustments to the bill coming out of the committee and hearing processes that will make it have good prospects. A high priority Steinberg and other leaders on the health committee have marked the proposal No. 1 in terms of importance during the upcoming session, he said. Advertisement The Westport Democrat, who will complete his sixth term in 2022 and is considering not running again, has been a key backer of the legislation and is hoping to oversee its passage in what could be his final year. Wed like to get ready to go earlier rather than later so it doesnt become a victim of priorities and the clock ticking out, Steinberg said. Thats our objective: Get it ready to go out the door and ready for a vote as quickly as possible. This years effort will involve seeking out as many co-sponsors as possible, he said, including members of both parties from both chambers. Steinberg noted that the same people will be returning to the legislature that voted it out of committee in 2021, and that the proposal is gaining favor among the public. He and other proponents have pointed to polling by Compassion and Choices, an advocacy group that supports the legislation, showing 75% of Connecticut residents surveyed back the proposal. The organization polled 550 likely 2022 general election voters in March 2021. A Quinnipiac University poll in 2015 found that 63% of voters supported the bill. Aid in dying is legal in Oregon, Washington state, Montana, Vermont, California, Colorado, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maine, New Mexico and the District of Columbia. Advertisement For us, its not a question of if the law will pass, its a question of when, said Tim Appleton, senior campaign director with Compassion and Choices. This issue has been before members of the public health committee on several occasions, and there was a tipping point of education, when people really began to understand exactly what this issue is about. People should have options all options at end of life, and aid in dying should be one of them. For Steinberg, a decade-plus of advocacy on the bill was inspired by a local Westport politician who was an early mentor. William Meyer, a longtime Representative Town Meeting member, had helped his terminally ill father end his life (he was charged with second-degree manslaughter and later placed on probation). Meyer brought the issue of legalizing aid in dying to Steinberg during Steinbergs first term in the legislature. I kind of took up the mantle, and its been something Ive been working on for a lot of years, Steinberg said. Meyer died in 2014. In what may be his last term and final year as co-chair of the health committee, Steinberg said he hopes the bill will come up for a vote in the House and Senate. Its certainly something Id like to see done on my watch, he said. But Im not exactly sure how long my watch is going to last. Advertisement Cathy Ludlum, center, at a public hearing on the aid in dying bill in 2015. Ludlum opposes the legislation. Uncertain path forward Members of Connecticuts disability community continue to oppose the measure. Cathy Ludlum, head of Second Thoughts Connecticut, a grassroots organization whose advocates are against the legislation, said the proposal puts vulnerable people at greater risk. The very real likelihood of misdiagnosis, misprognosis, abuse and error is just enormous, she said. And when a life is ended, you cant go back and say, Whoops, that was a mistake. We in the disability community have to keep saying that we dont want to get in the way of anyones personal choice. But when that choice becomes a threat to us, we have to stand up and say no. Advertisement Stephen Mendelsohn, an advocate with Second Thoughts, said the bill promotes suicide as a solution to problems. This is bad social policy that puts everybodys life in danger, he said. Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney, a New Haven Democrat, said its too early to speculate on whether the measure will come up for a vote in his chamber. I couldnt say at this point whether attitudes have changed, or whether they are evolving, he said. Weve never actually had a full discussion to try to get a sense of it. House Speaker Matthew Ritter, D-Hartford, said he personally supports the bill. But legislative leaders will have to take a vote count before deciding whether to raise the proposal in the House. Its one of those issues where everyone has their own personal feeling about it. Its not the kind of thing where the speaker can come in and say, Heres what were going to do, we got this for you guys, he said. This is a very, very emotional, personal thing for members of the caucus. And they will determine the fate of this bill. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. 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. HyLife Food is continuing to expand its reach in southwestern Manitoba, with the proposed expansion of its operation in the RM of Deloraine-Winchester. SUBMITTED Residents attend the HyLife Foods open house in the RM of Deloraine-Winchester. HyLife Food is continuing to expand its reach in southwestern Manitoba, with the proposed expansion of its operation in the RM of Deloraine-Winchester. The pork producer held an open house for residents on Jan. 5 to gauge public feedback, said corporate sustainability director Sheldon Stott. "We had a number of people come through they asked some really good questions, and I feel like we were able to address them as best we could in the circumstances that we were in," Stott said. The proposed facility in the RM will serve a multiplier site, consisting of a barn with 3,800 nursery hogs and three barns with 7,600 finishing hogs. The site will have earthen manure storage. If things go to plan in a perfect world, the company would like to break ground on the project in the early spring or summer, he said. Stott added HyLife is currently in the preliminary stages of the project and has not made formal applications for conditional use permits. There is a long list of due diligence that must be completed, along with due diligence by the provincial technical review committee to confirm the sustainability of the proposed site development. HyLife has already established that the site meets local municipal land use planning, one of the most critical aspects, showing the facility is appropriate for the area of the municipality. The pork producer has also taken into account its proximity to residents in Deloraine-Winchester. "This is highly productive agricultural land, which fits well," Stott said. The last step is to ensure there is a sustainable water supply to feed the facility. HyLife projects have been feeling the impacts of COVID-19 and supply chain issues, and this could impact when the potential project could break ground. Pursuing the construction of facilities has been challenging during the global health crisis, Stott said, both in the logistics of getting supplies and the increasing prices of goods and services needed to complete projects. "Finding workers and crews capable of performing this work has been an ongoing challenge for us throughout the pandemic," Stott said. "Our construction team has worked really tirelessly in getting creative in trying to find different material sources as well as reaching out and really digging deep into their contact lists to find additional labour to put these facilities together." The cost of the proposed facility in Deloraine-Winchester is anticipated to come in around the $8- to $10-million range, although this will be subject to change based on COVID-19. "Its been a bit of a moving target over the last little while," Stott said. Establishing the facility could serve as an important economic activity, as HyLife invests millions of dollars in each project, Stott said. The site will create four full-time positions, he said, adding this means there is the potential of growth in the community of four additional families. "To me, that probably is the biggest impact is being able to sustain and continue some moderate growth in these rural communities," Stott said. "People are spending money because they are in the community eating lunches and shopping at the local stores. But then, theres the long term. Theres obviously a tax piece that is contributing back to the local municipality and to the province and then job." HyLife has been in an expansion phase in southwestern Manitoba for several years, and the proposed barns in Deloraine-Winchester are bringing the final steps of the expansion to fruition. The pork producer developed a feed mill in Killarney and has built subsequent farming operations in the surrounding municipality and areas. "This is one more piece of that puzzle that were trying to put together," Stott said. As of now, HyLife is not looking at too much more development in southwestern Manitoba at this time, Stott said, adding the pork producer is considering one more facility in 2021 in a different area. "Were taking it one step at a time and wanted to get through these developments and then look towards next year. Right now, theres nothing on the books for us," Stott said. Before the proposed development in Deloraine-Winchester, HyLife already had an established hub of facilities in southwest Manitoba. The producer has been in the area for several years and remains focussed on completing a production loop, Stott said. The company has a $30-million feed mill in Killarney that had a certain level of capacity and is now looking to fill that capacity within existing infrastructure with farrowing operations. HyLifes growth in southwestern Manitoba has provided 38 new full-time jobs in the community to date. "Its an attractive area because its really been a progressive part of the province. Weve seen a lot of opportunity and growth in that area, not only just driven by ourselves but driven by local municipalities willing to open up and encourage additional investment and growth, so weve taken advantage of that," Stott said. Deloraine-Winchester Reeve Gord Weidenhamer said the proposed HyLife facility has sparked a fiery conversation in the community. Some vocal community members have had an extremely negative reaction to the facility, placing the future of the expansion largely in doubt based on the current proposed location. "Theres a lot of backlash from the community," Weidenhamer said, adding this has included a petition against the facility and neighbours standing in opposition to the expansion. "People seem to have negative feelings toward it." Complaints have largely centred on concerns over the odour that would come from the facility. He added locals would also like to see the placement of the facility shifted to another location if development were to go ahead. Another emerging issue is HyLife is taxed as a farm-based business when many in the community would like to see the company taxed as a commercial industry. He noted these taxes are set by the province. HyLife has applied for a conditional use permit in the municipality, Weidenhamer said, and a public hearing regarding the expansion will be set at a future date. The municipality is continuing to look for infrastructure in the community to keep taxes at bay and ensure employment opportunities are available for residents. "Theres not a lot of options for small towns without investment coming forward," Weidenhamer said. This economic growth can be a difficult balance strike, he added, because it can be difficult to draw outside investment into the community, but HyLife has drawn significant vitriol from residents. He noted investment would create jobs and tax dollars in the small community with minimal investment from the tax base. This would include the four full-time jobs in the community with the potential for spousal spin-off jobs in the area. "Were looking for options," Weidenhamer said. "We want to expand our community and make it grow but its tough if quite honestly the options arent out there." Deloraine-Winchester is a unique municipality with a range of demographics including small-town, rural and recreational residents. It can be challenging to find vested shared investment between these groups. Weidenhamer added overcoming these adversities requires community involvement and he would like to see more people come forward to join in on these conversations. He considers them lucky in the southwest because they have the oil industry for the younger generation to work in, but it remains essential to find industries that want to invest in smaller towns. "There is negativity and by the looks of it, it probably wont go ahead in the end. But its back to the question of the community. Were looking for answers out there that what industry can be brought to a small community with minimal investment and add to our tax base and add to jobs in our community," Weidenhamer said. ckemp@brandonsun.com Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp City of Hollister officials and Skaggs Foundation representatives posed behind the new AEDs the city was able to purchase with a grant they received from the Skaggs Foundation. Due to Gov. Glenn Youngkin's (R) executive directive that states that no Virginia employees are required to be vaccinated or disclose their vaccine status by their employer, JMU has changed its policy so that university employees no longer must get the vaccine, report their status or undergo weekly testing. Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts and Pats is the place to do it. Australia, Dodson suggested, is a nation of jailers. The dominant culture isolates or imprisons people it fears into dehumanising spaces, Dodson explained, drawing an arc from Australias colonial history as a penal colony and its treatment of Indigenous Australians through to the locking up of people seeking asylum on prison islands. Dodsons granddaughter Dalisa Pigram, and Rachael Swain, who run the bi-coastal intercultural arts company in Broome and Sydney, were seeking deeper answers in the wake of this documentary revealing a prison system that locks up 10-year-olds and places children as young as 13 in solitary confinement. In 2016, the day after ABC-TVs Four Corners aired its program Australias Shame , exposing the issue of Indigenous children in detention, the artistic directors of dance theatre company Marrugeku sat down for a conversation with Patrick Dodson, the Yawuru law man, philosopher and West Australian senator, who is also their patron. Pigram, who is also Yawuru, recalled an earlier conversation she had had with her grandfather about the concept of jurrungu ngan-ga, which translates as straight talk. Its reflective of a kinship term used in my culture, in our language group, which forbids direct talk with particular family members which might be your mother-in-law or son-in-law relationship, says Pigram. That led to us thinking about that on a national scale: weve never had the ability to talk direct in the relationship in black and white Australia. Jurrungu Ngan-ga has become the title of the companys latest show, featuring nine culturally diverse performers. Ever-present security cameras will project a live feed and zooming close-ups onto the wall. Speaking from Broome, Dodson says there has been a failure to talk in a direct manner about the truth of the dispossession of Aboriginal peoples, and the incarceration as part of the system to assert the sovereign position of the crown and a way to subjugate the people to the imperatives of the colonisers, basically. Jailing Aboriginal people is not just a modern phenomenon, says Dodson. Initially, he says, police were meant to be the protectors of natives from the more awful things that the colonists were doing at the frontier, to Aboriginal people, and then they became the agents who removed children of mixed blood from their families and communities to totally induct them into the white system. The legion of hate-watchers pondering the relevance of Carrie, Miranda and Charlottes wardrobe were silenced by the latest haute couture season in Paris, where Valentino inadvertently delivered wardrobe suggestions for a proposed second season of And Just Like That... Veteran supermodel Kristen McMenamy, 57, opened the refined show from designer Pierpaolo Piccioli in a little black dress with a sweetheart neckline that swooped into fetish territory with femme fatale opaque stockings. Her signature silver hair parted and severely pulled back, McMenamy was a couture stand-in for Sarah Jessica Parker, 56, complete with gloves for protecting the character Carries fingers from sneaky cigarettes. And Just Like That...Carrie has a new wardrobe thanks to the haute couture, spring/summer 2022 season in Paris with looks from Valentino and Schiaparelli. In a move welcomed by those seeking greater diversity on the runway, Piccioli outfitted a number of mature and curvaceous models from different racial backgrounds, reflecting the often jarring push for greater cultural relevance on And Just Like That... There was even boxy black menswear capable of elevating the stoner style of non-binary character Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez) or embellished tailoring ready for Mirandas slightly more structured wardrobe. Finding preppy Charlotte on the runway required a trip to the temporary space replacing the Grand Palais, undergoing renovations, for the Chanel show. Monegasque royal Charlotte Casiraghi riding astride a horse in a bejewelled black tweed jacket was in step with the Park Avenue princess style of Kristin Daviss character, but it was an update of the classic Chanel suit which best-suited televisions proudest perimenopausal mother. With plaid tweed jackets breezily open and skirts not completely closing over an exquisite lace dress, artistic director Virginie Viard provided an enticing uniform for liberal conservatives (no pearls required). The NT government has shortened the time people must wait before receiving a COVID-19 vacine booster and introduced a third dose mandate for workers, as some of Central Australias most influential Aboriginal organisations released a scathing open letter demanding a lockdown in the region. The NT has recorded more than 940 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to about 4200. The jurisdiction also revised Thursdays case numbers from 626 to 747, after underreporting cases for the second day in a row. Yuendumu is in a lockout as COVID-19 spreads through the NT. Credit:Janie Barrett Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced that from Monday, Territorians will only need to wait three months between their second COVID-19 vaccination and their booster shot. The immunity that two doses of the vaccine provides does not last forever, and if you got your second shot, four, five, six months ago your level of protection has gone down, Mr Gunner said. Perrottet, in his speech to the National Press Club in December, canvassed a national reform ambition which will require the support of his fellow state leaders. On his collaboration with Daniel Andrews, Perrottet notes that Victoria and NSW have similar populations, similar demographics and are facing the same pandemic. This is about people, not politics, he says. If you dont put politics aside in a pandemic then you are doing your entire country a disservice. Daniel Andrews, although less expansive, affirms his commitment to what has become a highly productive partnership. Victoria and NSW have had similar experiences of the pandemic, he says. Where there is shared experience and mutual benefit weve worked collaboratively and well continue to do so. The Victorian Premier this week confirmed that on Monday, the day the states co-ordinated the timing and content of their back-to-school policy announcements, he had a lengthy conversation with Perrottet, as he does most weeks. If the two premiers released the audio from their regular Dom and Dan Zoom meetings, it would make for a lively podcast. United force: NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews have held regular Zoom meetings to co-ordinate their COVID policies. Credit:Daniel Andrews Perrottets first foray into pandemic politics did not augur well for future collaboration. On October 15, just 10 days after he was sworn in, the NSW Premier unilaterally announced that from November 1, all international travellers, subject to being fully vaccinated, would be able to enter NSW without the need to quarantine. The policy change the first step towards dismantling our Fortress Australia border arrangements was consistent with what the Victorian government was independently working towards, but Andrews was blindsided by the Perrottet announcement. From this shaky start however, a collaboration began to take shape. Within a week of the NSW announcement, Victoria publicly joined NSW by ditching its requirement for international arrivals to quarantine. On November 4, a joint statement was issued by the offices of Andrews and Perrottet announcing that for the first time in four months, the border between the two states would be fully open. NSW and Victoria are normalising living with the virus, the statement read. It was a policy change consistent with the vaccination milestones within the national plan for re-opening but significantly, Victoria and NSW had made it together. It is a case of NSW and Victoria taking politics out of the pandemic. Rather, both leaders realised that, for all their political differences, their interests and those of their states were fundamentally aligned. Victoria, like NSW, had come to accept that COVID could not be eradicated by public health interventions. The most recent Delta outbreak had revealed public fatigue and dwindling compliance with COVID restrictions. Mass vaccination had recalibrated the relationship between COVID infection, severe illness and death. The emergence and unprecedented spread of the Omicron variant, rather than challenging these assumptions, cemented them. The resultant transformation of our pandemic response, in a matter of weeks, has been profound. On December 6, just days after a Sydney school student was confirmed as the first known case of Omicron spread within Australia, Premier Andrews vowed to keep Victorias border with NSW open and where possible, harmonise the COVID policies of the two states. If Victoria and NSW are working closely together, I think thats a good thing for the rest of the country as well, he said. Loading Two weeks later, with Omicron starting to replace Delta as Australias dominant strain, NSW and Victoria issued a second joint statement announcing that international arrivals will only need to isolate until they return a negative test. By this stage, key staff within the offices of the Premiers had established working relationships with their counterparts and had begun sharing information on sensitive political decisions. Planning was already well advanced on a joint decision that would resonate more deeply with Australian families than any change to border policies; a return to classroom teaching, on day one of term one. The Victoria/NSW partnership, having endured the peak of the current Omicron wave, has recast pandemic politics. Whereas previously, the federal government sought to uphold NSW as a COVID exemplar a NSW/Victorian unity ticket on most public health measures dulls these attacks. Instead, NSW and Victoria have at crucial times used their combined strength to force a change to national policy. The week before Christmas, state health ministers Brad Hazzard and Martin Foley wrote to their federal counterpart Greg Hunt urging the Commonwealth to reduce the interval for COVID boosters. Their intervention was prompted by the release of UK data showing that, after 20 weeks, vaccination against COVID provided zero protection against infection with Omicron. The issue was referred to ATAGI, which recommended on Christmas eve that the interval be shortened from six to four months. To appreciate how far removed we are from the pandemic settings in place at the start of this summer, think back to what living with COVID used to mean. Once stay-at-home orders lifted, we could go to work and to shops and bars and restaurants but, if any of those places recorded a positive case corresponding with when we were there, we would be told to quarantine for two weeks. If any children got sick at school, the rest of their class would be sent home and in some instances, the entire school would shut. Infectious diseases expert Professor Robert Booy. Remember when workplaces were closed for deep cleaning? When getting tested was something that required a trip to your local clinic and a lengthy wait for results instead of a self-administered check, while the kettle boils, at your kitchen bench? When returning from overseas meant being unable to leave a hotel room for two weeks? When getting COVID was something we thought we could avoid? Robert Booy, an infectious disease expert with the University of Sydney and Sydneys Westmead hospital, says one of the most significant changes is that getting the virus has itself been normalised. Anyone reading this in Victoria and NSW has either had the virus or has family or friends who have been infected. Professor Booy can speak from personal experience; on the day he spoke to this masthead, he was on his sixth day of isolation after testing positive to COVID. He is triple vaxxed and his symptoms, like those experienced by most fully vaccinated people, were short-lived and mild. Omicron is clearly a dramatic change from Delta, he says. It is much less severe and it is incredibly more transmissible. It has created a situation where infection in the community has become the normal. Half the people in my street, who are careful, have gotten infected anyway. Im an example of being protected and, having been exposed, getting a mild infection only. Getting that mild infection has been a boon. Ive gotten better quickly and I have got better protection against what COVID throws up next. Professor Booy, like Professor Lewin, is delighted to see NSW and Victoria now in lock-step on so much of their pandemic response. An expert in COVID infections in children, he has been a staunch advocate for a return to classroom teaching with sensible mitigation measures. He has also been part of a broad research team that has collaborated, across bureaucratic and state divides, to inform the policies which enabled children to return to class. That research team included senior bureaucrats from the NSW health and education departments who, in turn, shared what information they gathered with their Victorian equivalents. Professor Booys mantra, one shared by the World Health Organisation and now, formally adopted by national cabinet at the urging of Andrews and Perrottet, is that schools should close for public health reasons only as a last resort and only for the shortest time possible. This is a radical rewriting of Victorias approach in 2020 and 2021, when classroom teaching was repeatedly disrupted and children kept home for entire school terms. Professor Lewin observes that the unanticipated emergence of Omicron, a variant that freely infects the fully vaccinated but puts 70 to 80 per cent fewer vaccinated people in hospital, turbocharged the speed of planned changes to our pandemic response. Our path out hasnt changed direction; we are just bolting along a route we thought wed be walking before the first Omicron case was identified in South Africa. As dramatic as the changes have been, there are potentially more to come. Once there is no constraint on the availability of rapid antigen tests something Professor Lewin expects to see within the next few months our management of COVID cases is likely to be further overhauled so that a COVID infection, like a cold, doesnt disrupt the lives of household members who arent sick. The likely availability of oral antivirals, perhaps before the winter, will expand treatment options without the need to go to hospital. These changes, like those we have already gone through, will create uncertainty in people who remain sceptical of our capacity to return to normal life while COVID circulates widely in the community. But, so long as their accord holds, you wont hear any argument between the premiers of NSW and Victoria. And thats good for all our health. Three legal bodies have urged the Queensland government to extend its proposed shield laws to protect journalists from being forced by the states corruption watchdog to identify sources. But even if those changes are made, the laws would come too late for a journalist and detective being prosecuted by the Crime and Corruption Commission over an alleged information leak. Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman introduced the proposed shield laws to state parliament on November 16. Credit:Matt Dennien The shield laws were introduced to State Parliament in November, with Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman saying Queensland would no longer be the only jurisdiction without that legislation. The laws only apply to court proceedings, in which journalists could refuse to identify a source in certain circumstances. Russia has rejected claims that its build-up of 120,000 troops along Ukraines border should be seen as an act of aggression while accusing Australia of falling for Western propaganda for believing allegations it was behind a series of major cyberattacks. In a rare media conference in Canberra on Friday, Russias ambassador to Australia, Alexey Pavlovsky, said just because troops were massing on the border with Ukraine it did not mean Moscow was preparing to invade, suggesting they are there as a warning that Kyiv needed to strictly abide by the Minsk arrangements. Dr Alexey Pavlovsky, Russian ambassador to Australia. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen He also took a swipe at Defence Minister Peter Duttons comments earlier this week, where he labelled Russian President Vladimir Putin an ageing dictator who was becoming more and more irrational. Dr Pavlovsky told reporters that if such comment were the level of analysis informing Australian policy then it is definitely a worrying sign while quoting lyrics from John Lennons Imagine. Employers and unions have welcomed the West Australian governments announcements on managing COVID-19 when the Omicron wave rises as markets show concern about continued supply from the states mines. Premier Mark McGowan outlined on Friday how WA would manage significant outbreaks that it has escaped for two years but now accepts as unavoidable. WA fly-in, fly-out miners will not have to isolate if they are close contacts without symptoms. Credit:BHP The challenge is to avoid rapid outbreaks that swamp the healthcare system, without isolating so many workers as close contacts that vital services such as groceries collapse, as has happened in other states. When high caseloads are reached in WA, which the Premier hopes will not be for some weeks, the definition of a close contact will be tightened and the isolation required cut from 14 days to seven. Loading Still, the sudden announcement of a nuclear substitute was a rude surprise, prompting cries of betrayal and the recall of French ambassadors from Washington and Canberra. Deeper ocean currents had been revealed. A common thread to all the talk was something called the Indo-Pacific, a term barely heard in international affairs just a few years earlier, but now code for what to do about China. The future of the Indo-Pacific will impact all our futures, said Prime Minister Morrison at the AUKUS launch. His British counterpart explained the new three-nation partnership as working hand in glove to preserve security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. President Biden declared the future of each of our nations and indeed the world depends on a free and open Indo-Pacific enduring and flourishing in the decades ahead. Days later, the leaders of the so-called Quad countries America, Australia, India and Japan convened in Washington for their first in-person meeting of this important new grouping. With a less confronting agenda than AUKUS (spanning vaccines, technology, environment and infrastructure) they committed to a region that is a bedrock of our shared security and prosperity a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is also inclusive and resilient. But all was not well within the tent. Canberras diplomatic activism had propagated the Indo-Pacific as a unifying idea. Now, Australia was at the centre of a family feud in which different democracies preached their own versions of the creed. France expressed its outcry over the sunken submarines deal not in the crude terms of the global arms trade, but as a regretful lack of consistency in upholding shared interests and values in la region indo-pacifique. On the same day as the AUKUS bombshell, the European Union had released its own strategy for co-operation in the Indo-Pacific. A US Navy guided missile destroyer in the Taiwan Strait, December 30, 2020. Credit:AP The European approach was high sounding, but its plea for multilateral diplomacy, inclusiveness and non-confrontation sidestepped the hard question of what to do if China had other ideas, especially with its coercion of Taiwan. By October 2021, tensions were escalating across the Taiwan Strait, with Chinese bombers making sinister daily air shows in skies it contested with the self-ruling island. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen was declaring that the course of the Indo-Pacific, the worlds fastest-growing region, will in many ways shape the course of the 21st century. That included the increasingly real possibility of catastrophic war. The Indo-Pacific is a place, an idea and a wave sweeping global diplomacy. Many powers and international groupings now invoke this term to define how they are rising to the China challenge. In early 2021, the new US administration of President Biden hit the ground running with a policy of competitive coexistence with China. This was underpinned by strengthened engagement of diverse allies and partners. Thus President Bidens first international summit was with fellow leaders of the Quad. This theme of Indo-Pacific solidarity was developed further a few months later in the Cornwall summit of the Group of Seven (G7) and its new democratic partners, Australia, India, South Korea and South Africa. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) subsequently warned that China posed systemic challenges. How to blunt Chinas bid to dominate the vital Indo-Pacific region in security, economics, technology and values, and amid the aftershocks of COVID-19 was now a first-order question in global diplomacy. The Indo-Pacific answer is a practical reimagining of the world map to suit the problem and the times. It reframes an Asia-centric region to reflect growing connectivity and contest across two oceans, driven in substantial part by Chinas expanding interests and influence. This vision explains and encourages the balancing and dilution of Chinese power through new partnerships across collapsed geographic boundaries. Loading In a global discourse dominated by Beijings transgressions and triumphalism, or simplistic narratives of USChina bipolarity, the Indo-Pacific idea offers a useful alternative. It is about incorporating a more powerful China into a regional order where the rights of others are respected, and counterbalancing that power when those rights are not. My book Contest for the Indo-Pacific has been described as a manifesto for this Indo-Pacific idea. The first edition was published in early 2020, just as COVID-19 was starting to spread across the globe. Much has changed in the subsequent two years of upheaval. But the Indo-Pacific idea has emerged tempered and true. No plague truce The global storm of COVID-19 and its impact on gathering great-power rivalry was not readily foreseen. My original analysis was over-optimistic in identifying a future pandemic as an opportunity to rebalance the worlds relations with China towards co-operation. In 1348, the bubonic plague brought a seven-year pause in the Hundred Years War between England and France. There has been no plague truce in the long struggle of our era. A pattern politely described as assertiveness underwent a step change towards confrontational wolf warrior diplomacy. Had the moment arrived for some confident execution of Chinese grand strategy? Or was this more a manifestation of anxiety, shaped by awareness that the window to lock in relative gains would close, as Chinas demographic, environmental, financial, political and strategic constraints hit home? Or had Chinas rampant nationalism become an unavoidable function of its internal repression, less strategy and more pathology? Rather than the careful implementation of a grand plan, perhaps we are seeing traces of a political autoimmune disease, where the Chinese Communist Partys hyper-defensiveness runs out of control, every germ of foreign criticism a trigger for counterproductive reaction in an empire of hurt feelings. The Chinese military featured prominently in 2021s Community Party centenary in a year when Beijing flew a record number of test flights over the Taiwan Strait and also parked dozens of vessels in a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea. Credit:AP Whatever the cause, China accelerated its bid for dominance: a sphere of instability and pressure against not only Taiwan but Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Britain and much of Europe, even little Lithuania. No wonder a growing number of nations have sought new ways to band together in protection of their interests and principles. Middle players make a move A core theme of my book is the agency of middle players not China, not America in mapping the future. The spread of the Indo-Pacific concept was a quiet achievement from years of activist diplomacy by these powers, notably Australia and Japan. Now Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan are renewing their efforts to engage America as a security provider. These same powers and many others are continuing to strengthen themselves while also weaving a diplomatic web of new connections, however Lilliputian this may seem at first. Part of the logic of these middle players banding together was to guard also against American unreliability under Trump. But the coalition building has not abated with the return to a more internationalist United States; instead, it is providing fertile ground for Washingtons re-engagement, demonstrating to America that its allies are increasingly interested in building their own united front. This makes eminent sense at a time when American leadership and credibility is under such strain, from Russias war threats against Ukraine to the tragic aftermath of withdrawal from Afghanistan. Washington may well be serious about a long game of rivalry with China, but this will require new levels of burden-sharing with partners. Thus the new spirit of self-help among Indo-Pacific allies, to influence the balance of power and forcefully defend national interests if stability fails. Australia is expanding its warfighting capabilities missiles, satellites, warships amid warnings from Mr Morrison that the era is starting to feel like the 1930s: poorer, more dangerous and more disorderly. Rather than isolating or subduing the middle players, Chinas actions have bolstered their resolve to seek common cause with one another, while building domestic resilience and keeping the door open for engagement on terms of mutual respect. Australia, India and Japan continue to strengthen bonds with each other and in the Quad with America. In 2020, Australia and India finalised a comprehensive strategic partnership reaching beyond maritime security into cyber, critical technologies, supply chains and infrastructure. Australia and Japan have committed to military access arrangements, allowing their forces to use each others bases. Plus there is new collaboration on cyber, advanced technologies, critical minerals, supply chains, pandemic response and strengthening third countries through aid and training. Indo-Pacific security co-operation has gone global. A few years ago, Indonesia led the 10 member Association of Southeast Asian Nations in devising an Indo-Pacific outlook, a policy of inclusiveness, coexistence and respect for maritime rules across this vast region. France was the first European power to redefine its strategy as Indo-Pacific, back in the 2010s. Despite the AUKUS rupture, France insists its attention will stay on this region, where it retains territories, citizens and military presence. Meanwhile, Germany, the Netherlands, Britain and the European Union have released Indo-Pacific policies to reframe their diplomacy in support of democratic values and a peaceful, rules-based order, while still hedging somewhat to preserve what commerce and other co-operation they can salvage with China. Quad summit: US President Joe Biden in the White House with, from left, Scott Morrison, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. Credit:AP Western nations are backing this up with shows of military presence, notably the 2021 deployment of a British aircraft carrier strike group through the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. Loading Taiwan has endorsed the Indo-Pacific in its so-called New Southbound policy. South Korea is starting to do the same in its New Southern policy, regaining confidence in its American ally and looking beyond the Korean Peninsula to sea lanes on which its economy is even more acutely dependent than Chinas. New Zealand and Canada are reframing their foreign policies through an Indo-Pacific lens. Most prominent among the new partnerships is the Quad. In March 2021, the first Quad summit recast the groupings agenda around public goods: co-operation and capacity in technology, vaccines and climate policy. A second summit at the White House reinforced this plan, including a vaccine rollout predicted to reach 2 billion doses in 2022. All this was hardly hawk talk, and undercut the theatrics of fulmination that Beijing has used to claim it was being threatened by an Asian NATO. The Quad is becoming a core for larger coalitions. As Biden promotes renewed partnership among democracies worldwide, there is scope to coordinate overlapping groups, including the Quad, the Five Eyes (the US, Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand), the new AUKUS trio and the G7. Rory Metcalfs updated edition of Contest for the Indo-Pacific: Why China wont map the future. Credit:Black Inc. For all the gloom and disruption of the early 2020s, the Indo-Pacific idea should be about building islands of trust and co-operation, in an era when global institutions are under intense strain yet standing alone is not enough. Professor Rory Medcalf is head of the National Security College at the Australian National University. This article is based on an extract from the updated edition of his book Contest for the Indo-Pacific: Why China Wont Map the Future, to be released by Black Inc. on February 1. London: A former British ambassador to Russia says Vladimir Putin is operating from a bunker and few Kremlin advisers would dare contradict the Russian President if he invaded Ukraine a decision that would provoke a conflict with the United States and the West. Both Russia and Ukraine on Friday (European time) moved to defuse tension over the potential crisis, with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky saying that while the situation could yet change, there had not been any escalation in recent days. Russian President Vladimir Putin. Credit:Kremlin via AP We dont need panic, Zelensky told a news conference with international media in Kyiv. Asked what Australia and other non-NATO countries could do to support Ukraine, Zelensky said: Investors are welcome. Lawrenceville, VA (23868) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. By Aditi Shah NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Ather Energy, India's top electric scooter maker by revenue, is raising funds to ramp up annual production to one million scooters over the next three years amid a surge in demand, the startup's co-founder and chief executive told Reuters. Ather, which counts Tiger Global and Indian bikemaker Hero MotoCorp as investors, has raised about 12 billion rupees ($160 million) since its inception in 2013 and is in the process of raising more, Tarun Mehta said in an interview. "Our plan was to not raise more capital and focus on growing the brand, but the rate of transition to electric and the pace at which the supply chain and capacities need to ramp is way faster than what we thought a year back," Mehta said. He declined to comment on the amount the company plans to raise. A source with knowledge of the plans said Ather was looking for about $133 million. Of this, it has already raised $56 million from Hero. Sales of electric scooters surged more than five-fold in India last year, as high fuel prices push buyers to look for alternatives and government subsidies narrow the price gap between electric and gasoline models. Even so, electric models made up just 1% of total Indian motorcycle and scooter sales of 14.5 million in 2021. The government wants this to reach 40% by 2030 as it looks to reduce its oil import bill and curb pollution. Ather is also building its war chest amid rising competition from startups like Softbank Group-backed Ola Electric, which recently raised $200 million, as well as from India's traditional bikemakers like Hero, Bajaj Auto and TVS, which are speeding up their clean mobility plans. Over the next three years, Ather plans to increase its annual production capacity to one million scooters from 400,000 by the end of 2022, install 5,000 fast chargers across India, develop new products and increase its network to 600 stores, Mehta said. The biggest challenge he sees is growing the supply chain and convincing suppliers to invest ahead of time in electronic components like motors and controllers for India's nascent electric vehicle market. The required investment and pace of expansion will also push back Ather's profitability, which Mehta expects is now another two years away. "The demand is massive, and the Indian market has been supply constrained," he said. Ather currently manufactures about 5,000 electric scooters a month and builds its own lithium-ion battery pack. Mehta expects to expand production to 20,000 scooters a month in 2022, helped by a surge in demand from smaller cities. His longer term vision is to invest in businesses that help increase the use of clean energy. "The next thing that excites me is trucks and buses - it is low volume but massive energy consumption," he said. (Reporting by Aditi Shah; Editing by Mark Potter) (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.) Agrochemicals company Dharmaj Crop Guard has filed preliminary papers with capital markets regulator Sebi to raise up to Rs 300 crore through an initial share-sale. The initial public offering (IPO) consists of fresh issue of equity shares worth up to Rs 216 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) of up to 14.83 lakh equity shares by existing shareholders, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP). The offer also includes a reservation for subscription by eligible employees. As per market sources, the Ahmedabad-based company looks to raise anywhere between Rs 250 crore and Rs 300 crore. Proceeds from issue will be used for funding capital expenditure towards setting up of a manufacturing facility at Saykha Bharuch in Gujarat, funding incremental working capital requirements, payment of debt and general corporate purposes. The company is engaged in the business of manufacturing, distributing, and marketing of a wide range of agro chemical formulations such as insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, plant growth regulator, micro fertilisers and antibiotics to B2C and B2B customers. The company exports its products to more than 20 countries across Latin America, East Africa, Middle East and Far East Asia. Elara Capital (India) Private Limited and Monarch Networth Capital Limited are the book running lead managers to the issue. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The FAANG (Facebook-Meta, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Google) listed over 250,000 jobs in 2021 -- a rise of around 44 per cent when compared to 2020, a new report showed on Friday. The job listings related to 'big data' and 'cloud' increased by 57 per cent in 2021, when compared to 2020, and jobs related to themes such as 'digital media', 'digitalisation' and 'mobile' more than doubled. 'AI' and 'industrial automation' were other trending themes that witnessed a high number of listings, according to GlobalData. This year, Meta (Facebook) is exploring verticals beyond gaming and social media in its reach towards the metaverse, developing content categories and ecosystems, as well as creating a marketing strategy for wearables and AR products. Meanwhile, Amazon Web Series is deepening its strategic relationship with Epic Games through metaverse tech. "The need to engage and influence customers through social commerce experiences more than ever, and this likely influenced the high number of listings in areas such as digital media and mobile, which more than doubled in 2021," said Ajay Kumar Thalluri, business fundamentals analyst at GlobalData. Although the total number of job listings increased in 2021, FAANG took an average of over two months to close a job listing during the year. Lower job duration -- the time elapsed between the day when a job was listed to the day it was closed -- suggests that there is enough talent available to quickly hire for a role, while higher duration could mean less available talent or lack of specific skills, the report noted. "Tech giants are striving to retain users - especially the new subscribers added during the pandemic - and generate new content. They are also searching for talent to prepare for the emerging themes such as augmented reality (AR), metaverse, and Web 3.0," said Rupantar Guha, principal analyst. Alphabet (Google) listed roles in Ghana in 2021 to help seed and grow operations in the country, while it also facilitated new partnership agreements in Sweden. Meanwhile, Netflix renewed focus on the South Korea, Thailand, and South-East Asia (SEA) region in 2021. Apple continued to post jobs requiring automotive experience for its electric car project 'Titan'. The company is hiring a data scientist role with experience in automotive ADAS. "The infamous Apple car is still a long way off. At the very earliest, we might expect to see something by 2025, but it is very likely that it will be delayed beyond that date, said Daniel Clarke, thematic analyst. Looking forward, FAANG companies are expected to keep up hiring requirements in 2022. "Meta is set to launch its first digital wallet as a standalone app in 2022; meanwhile, Alphabet is hiring for a 'Program Lead, Partner Customer Advisory Boards (CAB)' for strategic development and execution of programs for Google Cloud," said Thalluri. --IANS na/svn (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Moglix, the industrial business-to-business for manufacturing, has raised $250 million in its latest Series F round, at a valuation of $2.6 billion. This investment was led by Tiger Global and Alpha Wave Global with Hong Kong based-investment firm Ward Ferry coming on board as a new investor. In 2019, Moglix was the first B2B sector investment in India by Tiger Global which continued to double down and invest in Moglix over the last 3 years. Early investors, who had invested in Moglix during the seed stage have seen an 80X return on their investment in this B2B commerce firm. Moglix is one of Indias largest and fastest-growing B2B Commerce . It works with manufacturing and infrastructure to transform their end-to-end supply chain, from procurement to distribution. In May 2021, Moglix became the first B2B Commerce unicorn or a with over $1 billion valuation, in the manufacturing sector, raising $120 million. We are happy to have the continued support and faith of our investors, customers, suppliers and team. We are excited to welcome Ward Ferry onboard. We are focused on our mission to enable the creation of a $1 trillion manufacturing ecosystem in India, said Rahul Garg, founder and CEO, Moglix. We will continue to invest in building technology and supply chain capabilities to enable growth of the manufacturing and infrastructure sector. Moglix will increasingly focus on growth driven by supply chain financing, acquisition of the right partners and global expansion. Moglix was founded in 2015, by IIT Kanpur alumnus and ISB graduate Rahul Garg. Moglix provides solutions to more than 500,000 SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and over 1000 large manufacturers across India and the UAE. It has a supply chain network of over 16,000 suppliers, 40 warehouses and logistics infrastructure. In the commerce business, Moglix competes with unicorns such as OfBusiness, Infra.Market and Zetwerk.With close to 700,000 SKUs (stock-keeping units), Moglix said its marketplace is the largest e-commerce platform in the industrial goods category in India. It recently crossed $100 million disbursal rate on its supply chain financing platform Credlix. The firm is backed by marquee global investors such as Tiger Global, Alpha Wave Global, Sequoia, Accel Partners, International Finance Corporation and Harvard Management Company Industry stalwart. Also, Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons had invested in the start-up in 2016. Leaders from the start-up and manufacturing communities such as Kalyan Krishnamurthy, Vikrampati Singhania, Shailesh Rao have been investors in Moglix. Grounded carrier has appointed Priyapal Singh as its 'accountable manager', replacing Sudhir Gaur who resigned from the company late last year, an airline source said on Friday. A seasoned pilot, Singh took over the charge of the position in January, according to the source. The source also said that immediately after assuming the position, Singh along with the team met the DGCA officials and discussed various issues concerning the re-launch of operations. The consortium had on December 17 last year said 2.0 plans to start domestic operations at the earliest in 2022 as a full-service carrier. Singh, a squadron leader with IAF who has been associated with Jet Airways and JetLite in various capacities prior to its grounding in April 2019, moved back to Jet, which is now owned by the Murari Lal Jalan-Kalrock consortium, from the Nepal Airlines Corporation. "The new Accountable Manager Captain Priyapal Singh took over the charge on January 24 and the same day, he had a formal meeting with DGCA officials," the source told PTI. "The meeting was quite productive. All the manuals have been filed and DGCA is in an advanced stage to reviewing the manuals and granting necessary internal approvals," he said. The monitoring committee at its meeting on January 5 provided its "in-principle approval" to the nomination of Singh as the new 'accountable manager' of the company. The day-to-day operations and management of the company are being carried out by the monitoring committee constituted under the resolution plan as approved by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). On June 22 last year, the NCLT approved the consortium's resolution plan for grounded Jet Airways, subject to certain conditions. A seven-member monitoring committee has also been formed to manage the day-to-day affairs of Jet Airways till the insolvency resolution process is complete. (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.) Faced with surging imports in the home market, Indias largest stainless steel player, Stainless, is now looking at a bigger play overseas. Exports currently account for about 20 per cent of total sales, but Abhyuday Jindal, managing director, Stainless, said, given the dumping that is happening, the company is working towards increasing its share of exports to 30-35 per cent. Stainless has units at Jajpur in Odisha under Jindal Stainless Ltd and Hisar in Haryana under Jindal Stainless (Hisar). The are in the process of being merged and awaiting approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). The major competition for Jindal Stainless in the domestic market is from imports, particularly Indonesia and China. The suspension of countervailing duty (CVD) on stainless steel products from China and Indonesia in the Union Budget 2021-2022 led to an increase in imports. In 2020-2021, imports from China had stood at 133,525 tonnes, while that in April-November 2021-2022 was at 213,512 tonnes; imports from Indonesia during the same time increased from 51,607 tonnes to 118,812 tonnes. With imports eating into Jindal Stainless domestic market share, the company is planning to up its game in the export market. We see exports in the immediate future, going up. Imports in the US grew from Taiwan, Vietnam and India. Jindal Stainless also has been focused to increase sales in the US. Despite certain challenges, Jindal Stainless has made all preparation to achieve higher volumes in the US market in Q4 FY21-22, said Jindal. Europe currently accounts for the major chunk of Jindal Stainless export basket with Italy, Germany and France having a significant customer base. We have a good demand and customer base in these countries. So we can increase our volumes there. But the US is going to be a key focus area, said Jindal. With carbon taxes looming large in these countries, Jindal Stainless is gearing up to reduce emissions even as it expands capacity. With our expansion, we would be requiring more energy definitely. But as a company we are looking at no more addition of thermal power. Any addition of power will be from internal gas balancing; we are also looking at solar and wind opportunities, said Jindal. He added that hydrogen energy was another concept that the company was working on. Jindal Stainless is expanding capacity at Jajpur from 1.1 million tonnes (mt) to 2.1 mt. The cost of the ongoing brownfield expansion is pegged at Rs 2,150 crore and is one-third greenfield capex. Hisar, which caters to segments like auto, process industry, and oil and petrochemical, aerospace and electric vehicles, is also expanding capacity at a cost of around Rs 450 crore. A major growth area for Jindal Stainless is the metro segment. Over the last four years from FY19 to FY22 the company registered a CAGR of about 20 per cent in sales volume in this segment. Jindal believes that there could be a requirement of close to 1,400-1,600 metro cars over the next 4-5 years amounting to 14,000-16,000 tonnes of stainless steel. Moreover, international players like Hitachi Rail, Siemens, Alstom are in discussions for supply of stainless steel for their global projects, he added. Kotak Mahindra Banks consolidated net profit increased 31 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 3,403 crore in the OctoberDecember quarter (Q3) of FY22. Its net profit for the year-ago quarter stood at Rs 2,602 crore. On a standalone basis, which reflects the banks lending operations, the private sector lender reported a 15 per cent YoY increase in net profit to Rs 2,131 crore in Q3FY22, beating street estimates, due to higher net interest income and write back of provisions. Bloomberg analysts had estimated a net profit of Rs 2,074 crore for the bank. In the year-ago period, the bank had reported a net profit of Rs 1,854 crore. Its net interest income (NII), the difference between interest earned and expended, stood at Rs 4,334 crore, up 12 per cent YoY from Rs 3,876 crore in the year-ago period. Net interest margin, a measure of profitability of banks, stood at 4.62 per cent, 17 basis points (bps) higher than 4.45 per cent it had reported in the preceding quarter, and 26 bps higher than 4.36 per cent posted in the year-ago period. The bank has written back Rs 279 crore in Covid provisions, resulting in a provision and contingency write-back of Rs 131 crore in the third quarter. In comparison, it had made provisions of Rs 424 crore each in the year ago and sequential quarters. Despite the write-back of some Covid provisions, the bank is holding Covid-related provisions to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore at the end of December 2021 quarter. The total provisions held by the bank, which includes specific, standard, and Covid-19 related provisions, stood at Rs 7,269 crore at the end of December quarter. Asset quality has improved sequentially, with the bank reporting gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) of 2.71 per cent in Q3FY22 against 3.19 per cent in Q2FY22. Net NPAs also declined sequentially by 27 bps to 0.79 per cent. In absolute terms, GNPA was down by Rs 675 crore to Rs 6,983 crore, and net NPA was down by Rs 487 crore to Rs 2,004 crore in Q3FY22. Slippages for the quarter stood at Rs 750 crore whereas recoveries and upgrades were to the tune of Rs 1,086 crore. In the year-ago period, the proforma (due to the dispensation given to banks) GNPA ratio was 3.27 per cent and net NPA was 1.24 per cent. We have seen improvement in asset quality on all fronts. The actual increment in GNPAs was lower so we had a negative growth on GNPAs, on the back of better recoveries. We also saw a small Special Mention Account (SMA) number and the restructuring was pretty small, said Jaimin Bhatt, president & group CFO, . The lender has restructured loans worth Rs 348.65 crore under the Reserve Bank of Indias second Covid restructuring scheme. In accordance with Covid and MSME resolution frameworks announced by the RBI, the bank has standard restructured fund-based outstanding of Rs 1,364 core, or 0.54 per cent of advances as at December 31, 2021. As far as credit growth is concerned, the banks advances grew 18 per cent YoY and 7.7 per cent sequentially to Rs 2.53 trillion, led by the consumer vertical loans with 29 per cent YoY growth. The home loan and loan against property segment has shown 38 per cent YoY growth. The unsecured retail segment which the bank had slowed down earlier has grown in double digits. Customer assets, which include advances and credit substitutes, increased by 20 per cent YoY to Rs 2.75 trillion. We have talked in the past about going for growth and the bank has continued to pursue growth in this period, said Bhatt. Unsecured for us is a small base. It is 5-6 per cent of our total advances. It is still cautious optimism (for us). But the opportunity is huge, said Dipak Gupta, joint managing director, . Total deposits were at Rs 3.05 trillion, up 15 per cent YoY. The ratio of current account, savings account deposits stood at 59.9 per cent, 70 bps lower sequentially. Disclosure: Entities controlled by the Kotak family have a significant holding in Business Standard Pvt Ltd Infrastructure major on Friday reported 17% fall in consolidated net profit at Rs 2,055 crore for the quarter ending December 31, 2021 as higher raw material and fuel prices impacted margins. The company posted net profit of Rs 2,467 crore in the year-ago period. Consolidated revenue from operations rose 11% to Rs 39,563 crore as against Rs 35,596 crore in Q3FY21. The consolidated order book of the group was at Rs 3.4 trillion as on December 31, 2021, with international orders having a share of 24%, which gives multi-year revenue visibility, the company said in a stock exchange filing. The company bagged orders worth Rs 50,359 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2021, registering decline of 31% over the corresponding period of the previous year, since the previous year had the benefit of the company securing the biggest ever EPC contract for Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Rail in the infrastructure segment. On Friday, L&T's scrip on BSE closed 0.65% lower at Rs 1,898.80. During the third quarter of the current financial year, orders were received in various businesses viz Hydrocarbon Offshore, Metros, Rural Water Supply, Minerals and Metal, Public Space, Health Infrastructure and Power Transmission and Distribution, L&T said. The international orders, at Rs 20,521 crore, during the quarter comprised 41% of the total order inflow, with receipt of large value international orders in Hydrocarbon Offshore, it added. The company's international sales during the quarter stood at Rs 14,541 crore, which is 37 per cent of the total revenue. Infrastructure segment secured orders of Rs 25,330 crore, down 44% over the previous year. The heavy engineering segment recorded an order inflow of Rs 1,288 crore, recording a growth of 29%. On the outlook, the company said in the backdrop of the current economic environment, it continues its planned path of winning targeted orders, focussing on profitable execution of its large order book and leveraging the strong growth momentum in its IT & TS portfolio, along with other value enhancing measures. Elon Musk-owned private rocket company plans to launch 52 missions in 2022, a NASA safety panel revealed. According to CNBC, during a meeting of a key NASA agency oversight committee panel member Sandra Magnus said that the private company is targeting "an ambitious 52 launch manifest" for 2022. "NASA and will have to be watchful during 2022 that they're not victims of their success," Magnus said during the meeting. "There's an ambitious 52-launch manifest for over the course of the year. And that's an incredible pace." SpaceX successfully completed 31 launches in 2021, which beat its previous record of 26 in 2020. Musk said the company was striving to hit 48 launches in 2021 but only made it to 31. In addition, there are now 1,469 Starlink satellites active, with 272 moving to operational orbits currently. In July 2021, Musk said that laser links in orbit can reduce long-distance latency by as much as 50 per cent, due to the higher speed of light in vacuum and shorter path than undersea fiber. A recent report said that the satellite internet division of SpaceX now has more than 1,45,000 users across 25 countries globally. Until November 2021, SpaceX had added roughly 11,000 users per month since beginning service in October 2020. --IANS wh/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.) Ola, Indias largest mobility platform has announced expansion plans of its quick commerce service- Dash. In next six months, Dash aims to expand its dark store network to 500 dark stores spread across 20 cities, making it the largest dark store network in India. The term dark store refers to a outlet or distribution centre that caters exclusively for . The move puts Bhavish Aggarwal-led in competition with players such as Reliance-backed Dunzo Amazon, Walmart-owned Flipkart, Swiggy, Zomato, Tata-backed Bigbasket and quick grocery delivery platform Zepto. Ola Dash currently services 9 cities (Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur and Lucknow) through its Store to Door service in 10 minutes, spread across 200 dark stores, offering an assortment of over 2500 SKUs (stock keeping units). Ola aims to grow the business, taking the order size to more than 500,000 per day by the year end. Ola has been a leader in the on-demand mobility business for more than a decade. Our advanced geolocation tech, coupled with very low cost of customer acquisition gives us a unique advantage to bring the benefits of mobility to all, said Anshul Khandelwal, chief marketing officer, Ola. Our quick commerce service is an essential part of our connect with customers as they rely on technology and online service to fulfill their daily needs. Over the next few months, we will be expanding our reach and presence to more cities and customers. The range of products available on Ola Dash include fresh produce, snacks and beverages, instant food, home care products, fruits and vegetables, cooking essentials etc. Available on the Ola app, Ola Dash is an expansion of the New Mobility vision that now covers a wider set of customer needs. These range from multi-modal ride hailing offerings to vehicle commerce to crafting unique food experiences with Ola foods and now quick commerce with Ola Dash. Ola said it is making urban mobility available on-demand for over a billion people across 3 continents. According to an industry report by Redseer, the addressable market for quick commerce is projected to be over $75 billion by 2025, creating a multi-billion dollar opportunity for players tapping this market. This month,Dunzo, the Google-backed quick commerce player, raised $240 million in its latest round of funding. The investment was led by Reliance Ventures Limited, with participation from existing investors. Quick commerce platform Zepto, which was launched almost 6 months back by two teenage Stanford dropouts, recently raised $100 million in its Series C round at a valuation of $570 million. This month, food-delivery giant Swiggy has raised $700 million in Invesco-led new funding, which, according to sources, has made the outfit a decacorn, almost doubling its valuation to $10.7 billion. This fundraise will also enable Swiggy to accelerate growth on the core platform and make meaningful investment to grow Instamart, its quick commerce grocery service which remains well-positioned to continue to lead the emerging space and set to reach an annualised gross merchandise value (GMV) run rate of $1 billion in the next three quarters. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has expressed disappointment over fewer allocation for new fuel retail outlets ( pumps). In a letter to Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), the industry coordinator for public sector oil companies, the Oil Ministry has asked why the draw of lots was conducted for less than half of the envisaged number of pumps. It is observed that till date, the draw of lots has been conducted for less than 50 per cent of the locations and accordingly around 32,000 Letters of Intent (LOI) have been issued so far, the letter from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said. Also, it has been seen that OMCs have cancelled many locations due to wrong nomenclature in advertisement and several locations have either received nil response, or nil selection has been made, the letter added. According to the petroleum ministry, there is a need to set up many more fuel retail outlets due to construction of new roads, highways, e-ways, and economic corridors. It also reiterated the obligation of oil to set up pumps at remote areas to improve accessibility to consumers. This is required to ensure that oil marketing (OMCs) do not end up concentrating only on urban areas for better earnings, as consumption is higher there. The mandate to set up fuel retailing outlets in rural and low volume areas is also on new licensees that have been allowed access to Indias growing market under liberalised terms. Five per cent of the total outlets that new licensees need to set up have to be in rural areas within five years from commencing operations. The ministry has asked BPCL to submit a proposal for fresh advertisement on behalf of the industry, indicating OMC-wise numbers of locations in the proposal. But this is not the only front where OMCs are battling with respect to fuel retail outlets. In another communication, the ministry asked public sector OMCs to comply with a Rajasthan High Court directive, asking them to consider a revision of margins payable to fuel pump operators. The competent authority of respondents shall consider and decide the same in accordance with law and do the needful as early as possible, preferably within a period of twelve weeks, the Rajasthan High Court order read. The order was in context of a plea by the Rajasthan Petroleum Dealers Association, seeking a hike in dealer margins. The OMCs have been made the competent authority to decide on the revision. Representations regarding revision of Dealers Commission received in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas are forwarded to BPCL as coordinator of OMCs to provide a suitable reply at their end, the ministry said in response to a right to information query filed by dealers through their advocates. The new board of - which has been acquired by salt-to software conglomerate Sons is likely to have an eight member body with Sons chairman as the chairman. This will be the first time that Chandrasekaran will be heading a board of the groups aviation ventures and shows the growing importance of the sector in the groups business plan. Chandrasekaran is not part of the board of Tatas other two airlines- Vistara and AirAsia India. The Tatas are eager to have a strong board with high standards of corporate governance and are roping in Sanjiv Mehta, CMD of FMCG giant Hindustan Unilever and Alice Vaidyan, former chairman and managing director of General Insurance Corporation of India as non-executive independent directors. While Mehta has been heading Unilevers business in India and South since 2013, Vaidyan has over 36 years of experience and is considered to be one of the foremost insurance experts globally. She was the first woman CMD in the Indian general insurance industry. Mehta couldnt be reached for comment while Vaidyan refused to comment on the topic. The new CEO, who is likely to be a leading aviation turnaround expert will also be a part of the board while the existing directors of handling core functions- finance, commercial, operations and personnel will retain their position in the board. The group had appointed leading headhunter firms- DHR International and Eghon Zender to find a CEO for Air India. An interim management committee headed by Sons senior Vice President Nipun Aggarwal, senior vice president of and the four functional directors is currently heading the daily operations of the company. The Tatas are very eager to set a high standard of corporate governance within Air India and hence a strong board is required as seen within all of the group. Simultaneously, all leading names in aviation are eager to be a part of this project of turning around Air India as this is one of the most watched over projects currently in the global aviation industry, said a person aware of the development. Nearly seven decades after it lost control, Tatas on Thursday regained ownership of Air India and promised to turn the loss-making carrier into a world-class airline. The handover culminates a long process of governments attempt to transfer the ownership of the loss-making airline to a private owner. The airline has never made profit since its merger with Indian Airlines in 2007-08 and has reported a loss of Rs 7,017 crore in FY21. The acquisition gives the salt-to-software conglomerate 100 percent ownership in Air India, its low cost subsidiary Air India Express and 50 percent stake in ground handling firm AISATS. DCGI gives permission to for intranasal booster dose trials India's drug regulator has given permission to to conduct phase-3 clinical trial for its intranasal Covid vaccine as booster dose on participants who have been previously inoculated with SARS-CoV 2 vaccines. India is yet to approve the use of intranasal COVID-19 vaccine BBV154 developed by the Hyderabad-based company. Read more India to export BrahMos missiles to Philippines, signs $374-mn deal India got its first ever export order for BrahMos missiles on Friday when the Philippines' Defence Ministry signed $374 million contract with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited to supply an undisclosed number of missiles, military officials said. The BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL), an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms. Read more B S Yediyurappa's granddaughter Soundarya found dead in Bengaluru Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's granddaughter Dr Soundarya V Y allegedly ended her life by hanging herself from the ceiling fan at her Vasant Nagar flat on Friday morning, police said. According to police, the reason behind the extreme step taken by the 30-year old doctor working in a private hospital was not known immediately. Read more L&T Q3 results: Net profit falls 17% to Rs 2,055 cr; revenue rises 11% Infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro on Friday reported 17% fall in consolidated net profit at Rs 2,055 crore for the quarter ending December 31, 2021. It was Rs 2,467 crore in the year-ago period. Consolidated revenue from operations rose 11% to Rs 39,563 crore as against Rs 35,596 crore in Q3FY21. Read more Anil Agarwal-led reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 4,164 crore in December quarter, up 27 percent from corresponding period last year on the back of strong revenues. The companys net sales in the period under review stood at Rs 33,697 crore, up 50 per cent from the same period last year. The reported topline is a record consolidated quarterly revenue. Strong revenue stream was supported by improved commodity prices and higher sales volume across businesses which partially offset by lower sales volume at Zinc International and Oil & gas business. A current tax expense of Rs 2,100 crore also ate into the companys bottomline in the period under review. As per Bloomberg estimates, the companys topline was expected to be at Rs 33,212 crore in the quarter gone by and the bottomline was seen at Rs 4,831 crore. Among its business segments, the companys aluminium revenue was the highest at Rs 13,024 crore followed by Zinc India at Rs 7,819 crore. Revenues from oil & gas business rose 65 percent in the December quarter from last year to Rs 3,113 crore. "Q3 (FY22) played a big part in it with highest ever quarterly production from Hindustan Zinc, aluminium and ESL (Electrosteel Limited). Our commitment remains unchanged towards shareholders return and capital allocation," Sunil Duggal, chief executive officer of was quoted as saying. Alongside, the company reported highest ever quarterly earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and ammortisation (EBITDA) in the quarter ended December at Rs 10,938 crore, up 42 percent from last year. The companys EBITDA margin in the period under review, however, slipped to 37 percent from 39 percent in the corresponding period last year and 40 percent in the preceding quarter. Exceptional items for Q3 FY2022 was at Rs 37 crore, primarily on account of Capital work in progress (CWIP) impairment at Hindustan Zinc's Doswada plant. "With the commitment to transforming the planet and becoming net-zero carbon by 2050 or sooner, the momentum for decarbonatization across the business has increased with the focus areas being renewable energy, fuel switch, fleet electrification, plantations & afforestation. We have entered into number of partnerships to brings best-in-class expertise and also strengthen our commitment to transforming the communities and the workplace," said Duggal. Aluminium became the largest industrial consumer of renewable energy in India, said Vedanta. Also, MSCI index rating improved to B (earlier CCC) and CDP (carbon disclosure rating which is a measure of the environmental sustainability of a corporation) rating to B (earlier B-), it said. With regard to Vedantas debt levels, the company reduced its net debt by Rs 7,781 crore in the December quarter on year-on-year basis to Rs 27,576 crore. With this, the net debt/EBITDA ratio stood at 0.7x as on December 31, 2021. The company's gross debt was at Rs 52,783 crore on 31st December 2021, deleveraged by Rs 9,629 crore year-on-year. This was mainly due to deleveraging at Zinc India and Aluminium business, said Vedanta. Jared Brunson, right, dances during a rehearsal of "FIVE," a piece that will be presented as a part of Ballet Virginia's upcoming performance of "Beauty + Truth," on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Norfolk, Va. "Beauty + Truth" will take place on Feb. 4-5 at Zeiders American Dream Theater in Virginia Beach. (Kaitlin McKeown/The Virginian-Pilot) Jalen Williams crouched on the studio floor, his head bowed to his hands in prayer. The ballet dancer was portraying 14-year-old Kevin Richardson after Richardson had been falsely accused and arrested for the rape of a woman in a 1989 New York case. Four other dancers surround Williams, each portraying scared, confused teenagers who were also jailed. Advertisement The dancers are the Central Park Five, who were the subject of a case that garnered international attention. The story will unfold locally in a performance called FIVE on Feb. 4 and 5 at Zeiders American Dream Theater. Its part of Ballet Virginias larger program, a series of dances called Beauty + Truth. Company artistic director Lydia Robert Coco choreographed much of the show, along with co-directors Suzanne Lownsbury and Janina Michalski. The real-life defendants Korey Wise, Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Raymond Santana and Richardson were between 14 and 16 years old when they were wrongly convicted of raping and brutally beating a female jogger in Central Park. They spent five to 11 years in prison. Advertisement After being exonerated in 2002, they sued the state of New York for discrimination and, in 2014, were awarded $41 million. Their story became the subject of the 2019 Netflix series, When They See Us. Richardson served seven years in prison. Williams was hesitant to be in the show after seeing the series, which he called horrifying. Dancers rehearse "FIVE," a piece that will be presented as a part of Ballet Virginia's upcoming performance of "Beauty + Truth," on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Norfolk, Va. "FIVE" follows the story of the Central Park Five. (Kaitlin McKeown/The Virginian-Pilot) When I saw what they went through, I was like I would never wish that on anyone else, Williams said after a recent rehearsal. Ive been lucky enough and fortunate enough not to go to jail, but Ive been on the sidewalk before with my hands cuffed behind my back. They let me go, but Ive lived some of that stuff. Gianna Coco, 22, plays his mother. She said the show offers a refreshing perspective on what happened to the teens. She likes the ending because the male dancers are allowed to improvise, putting their own spin on the show. Imani David, 18, plays Linda McCray, mother of Antron McCray, who served six years. During one tense scene, David stands in front of her son, her arm stretched out to shield him from a prosecutor during the trial. Confusion and grief are etched into her face. For her, the story is personal. She likes the energy and emotion shes allowed to bring to the performance, but shes also thinking about what it would be like to have someone take advantage of a child. She has a 5-year-old brother. I have to worry about him getting in trouble for something he didnt do; hes just there and hes Black, she said. Im not a mom, but I am a sister. Advertisement A dancer is illuminated by afternoon sun during a rehearsal of "FIVE," a piece that will be presented as a part of Ballet Virginia's upcoming performance of "Beauty + Truth," on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, in Norfolk, Va. (Kaitlin McKeown/The Virginian-Pilot) Lydia Roberts Coco said the companys executive director wanted her to put together a Black History show a few years back but the pandemic and lack of funding got in the way. She initially wanted a show centered around a 1964 case known as The Harlem Six. In that case, a white woman was fatally stabbed and her husband was critically injured. Six Black teenagers were charged and convicted of first-degree murder and other charges including first-degree attempted murder, the New York Times reported. All six were sentenced to life in prison and were granted a retrial because their confessions had been improperly obtained. According to The Washington Post, a prosecution witness told his probation officer that his testimony was a lie. The article also stated that there was little physical evidence to tie them to the case and that the arrests and trials were laden with racial hysteria. Four of the boys pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter while maintaining their innocence and were freed in 1973. The other two were released later. Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news > Coco, the artistic director, decided to focus on the more well-known Central Park Five. It also allowed her to have a smaller cast since she has only a few Black males in the company. Dance, she said, can touch people in a way that reading or hearing about the case on the news cant. Once you get in here and have these beautiful bodies to work with, if I can give them a step, they can make it something even more, she said about the performers. The whole production is called Beauty + Truth. Its beautiful that the truth came out in this case. Advertisement If you go When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 Where: Zeiders American Dream Theater, 4509 Commerce St., Virginia Beach Tickets: Start at $15; tinyurl.com/BeautyTruthTix Details: tinyurl.com/BalletVABT; 757-446-1401. Masks are required for all patrons regardless of vaccination status and those 12+ must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken 72 hours prior to the event Saleen Martin, 757-446-2027, saleen.martin@pilotonline.com Ltd, restaurant aggregator and food delivery company, has decided to foray into the financial services business and has decided to create a non-banking finance company (NBFC) as a wholly-owned subsidiary for the purpose. The proposed paid-up capital of NBFC will be Rs 3 crore, while the authorised capital is pegged at Rs 10 crore. The name of the company is being finalised subject to approval by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, said in a filing with the BSE. The wholly-owned subsidiary will need Reserve Bank of Indias approval to carry on the financial services business. Zomato, founded by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah in 2008, is a professionally managed company with no promoter or promoter group. In December 2020, signed a pact with InCred, a non-banking finance company, under which the latter will extend loans to restaurant partners. The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic hit the food delivery industry hard leading to a sharp decline in gross merchandise value. Union Home Minister on Friday said that the ruling government in Uttarakhand is working towards modernizing the Army and producing weapons within the country in an effort towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. "Several works are being done by the Modi govt to modernise the Army and to make the country self-reliant in the production of weapons," Shah said while addressing former Army personnel in Rudraprayag in the poll-bound Uttarakhand. He also noted that the defence budget was increased by the government at the Centre from Rs 2 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs 4.78 crore in 2021-22 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "In 2013-14, the defence budget was Rs 2 lakh crore...The Modi govt increased the defence budget to Rs 4.78 crore in 2021-22," Shah said. Shah said that the is committed to making changes in the security of the country adding that PM Modi has implemented the One Rank One Pension scheme, which reflects the priority of the party. Highlighting the works of the party in the defence sector, Shah said that BJP has implemented programs to provide modern defence material to those on the line of duty and has made an effort to ensure that the quality is not compromised. Slamming the Congress, Shah said that they are known as "failed government" while the BJP is known as a "double-engine" government. He further assured that the BJP is voted to power in the state, they will ensure that youth would not need to migrate outside of the state. Earlier in the day, Shah held a door-to-door campaign in Rudraprayag. He also offered prayers at Baba Rudranath Temple in Rudraprayag. Polls to elect the 70-member Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly are scheduled to be held on February 14. The counting of votes will take place 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.) Ten more cases of the variant of the have been reported in Himachal Pradesh, taking the total count to 25, a health official said on Friday. Initially, cases were reported only from international arrivals, but now they are being recorded in the community, he said. The senior official said that 127 whole genome sequencing (WGS) reports were received from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, on Friday. Of these WGS samples, mutations were found in 10 samples and all these samples have been found positive for Omicron, he added. Nine cases are from Kangra district and one from Mandi district, he added. Of the 10 cases, two are of international passengers -- one Kangra and the other from Mandi, the official said. The remaining eight cases were local to Kangra district, he said. These samples were taken from patients found positive between December 15 and December 31, the official said. Of the 15 cases reported previously, six had international travel history while nine were reported from the local community of various districts. The official appealed to the public not to panic and follow all Covid protocols of wearing masks, maintaining social distance, frequently washing hands and using sanitisers irrespective of the vaccination status. (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 government has slashed the rate of an RT-PCR test by nearly half to Rs 500 from Rs 950, a senior health official said on Friday. However, the additional charge of Rs 15 per km for home collection of samples remains unaltered, he said, adding that the new rate came into effect from January 27. "The revised rate will be applicable also to all private laboratories. The cost of reagents has dropped drastically, hence we slashed the charge. An order to this effect has been passed," Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission (WBCERC) chairperson Justice (retired) Ashim Kumar Banerjee said. The rate of an RT-PCR test in Delhi is Rs 300, while that in Mumbai is Rs 500. has tested 2,30,02,149 samples for COVID-19 till Thursday. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India is carrying out more warship patrols than ever before as concerns grow about the countrys ability to remain dominant in the as Chinas naval power quickly increases. The waters off India havent seen this many naval vessels together since World War II as both China and Western allies deploy more warships in the area, according to senior Indian naval officials familiar with the matter. They estimated about 125 foreign naval vessels were in the at any given time, roughly three times the number deployed in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks when the U.S. invaded Afghanistan. While Indian officials are confident they can manage the threat for now, a lack of funding threatens the countrys ability to keep pace with China and other nations. Most Indian submarines critical to controlling the oceans are about two decades old, and plans to increase the warship fleet to 200 -- including a third aircraft carrier -- keep getting delayed. India now has about 130 warships, roughly a third of Chinas naval fleet comprising 350 ships and submarines -- the largest in the world. Despite that, last year the navy saw the biggest gap among Indias three military services between requested and actual funds, prompting a parliamentary panel to ask the government to stop making further reductions. The navys budget will be in focus on Feb. 1, when Prime Minister Narendra Modis government presents its annual spending plan in parliament. In the last five years, the shortfall between what the Indian Navy requested and what it got ranged from 5% to 41%, the panel of lawmakers said in a 2020 report to the government. In the latest report submitted last month, they said the navys allocation was less than half the amount it wanted. Defense Ministry spokesman Bharat Bhushan Babu and Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. Over time as the region gets more militarized, tension in the area is bound to increase, said Anit Mukherjee, associate professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies who wrote a book on Indias military. The solution for India is to develop the navy if it wants to address its growing diplomatic and strategic needs. Chinese warships have been present in the since 2008, and India is constantly watching three to eight of them that are continuously on patrol, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar told reporters in December. I want to assure you the Indian Navy is confident of defending Indias maritime interests, he said. India has permanently deployed warships at five choke points in the Indian Ocean, stretching from the Gulf of Aden in the west to the Malacca Strait in the east. The waters carry some of 40% of the worlds oil from fossil-fuel producers in the Middle East to some of Asias biggest economies. Last year the Indian Navy carried out an all-time high of 50 joint exercises with friendly navies, including one with Japanese warships around the Malacca Strait, said a senior naval official. Still, India has been cautious to avoid antagonizing Beijing as the two countries battle along their contested Himalayan borders. Modis government has turned down requests from friendly navies to jointly patrol the South China Sea, another naval official said. Indias navy has sought to demonstrate its reach with humanitarian missions. In 2015, more than 26 countries, including the U.S., turned to India to help evacuate their citizens when civil war in Yemen intensified. Half a dozen Indian warships were able to rescue 4,000 Indian citizens as well as 1,200 foreigners before Port Aden was bombarded. In the last two years, the naval ships have sailed 40,000 nautical miles -- or twice around the earth -- carrying food, medicines and weapons to Indian Ocean countries. On Dec. 26, an Indian warship sailed into Mozambique for the first time carrying weapons and humanitarian aid. Overall leaders in Indias capital have become more aligned with the Indian Navys view of the countrys interest in the maritime domain, said Nilanthi Samaranayake, a director of the Strategic and Policy Analysis Program at CNA, a U.S.-based research organization. Especially if it relates to the safety of Indian citizens working overseas and remittances to the economy. India and China have agreed to hold the commander-level meeting at the earliest on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western sector to resolve the standoff between the two nuclear nations. Answering queries on disengagement talks, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, in a virtual weekly media briefing said, "The 14th round of India-China core commander-level meeting was held on January 12 this year. The two sides agreed that the resolution of the remaining issues will be held at the earliest, would help in the restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the Western sector and enable progress in bilateral relations." India and China have been engaged in a standoff since April-May 2020 over the transgressions by the Chinese Army in multiple areas including the Finger area, Galwan Valley, Hot springs, and Kongrung Nala. The situation worsened after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in violent clashes with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in June 2020. New Delhi and Beijing have been engaged in holding talks on the Line of Actual Control in the Eastern Ladakh area to resolve the standoff. So far, 14 rounds of talks have been held. The talks led to some disengagement of troops from several friction points along the LAC, but not all of them. The talks have also failed to reach any agreement over the frontier. "The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue via military and diplomatic channels and work out mutually acceptable resolutions of the remaining issues at the earliest," said Bagchi. "In this context, it was also agreed that the next round of commander-level talks should be held at the earliest. We will share with you, once we have any update on this," added Bagchi. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India got its first ever export order for BrahMos missiles on Friday when the Philippines' Defence Ministry signed $374-million contract with Private Limited to supply an undisclosed number of missiles, military officials said. . The $374 million contract is to supply shore-based anti-ship BrahMos missiles to the Philippines' Navy, officials noted. The Private Limited (BAPL), an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms. In a statement, the defence ministry said, "The BAPL signed a contract with the Department of Defence of the Republic of on January 28, 2022, for supply of shore-based anti-ship missile system to . "The BAPL is a joint venture company of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The contract is an important step forward for Government of India's policy of promoting responsible defence exports," it added. India has already deployed a sizable number of the Brahmos missiles and other key assets in several strategic locations along the Line of Actual Control with China in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. Shambhu Kumaran, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines, on Friday said he was truly privileged to witness history in the making. "Signing of the Brahmos acquisition contract by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana today marks a decisive step forward for Prime Minister's Mission Sagar and India's Indo-Pacific engagement," he tweeted. #WATCH | We strengthen our partnership with $374mn deal for BrahMos missiles with Philippines, this is our major deal. BrahMos is imp to them however many more deals will follow. Many countries showed their interest in BrahMos:Atul Dinkar Rane, CEO & MD, BrahMos Aerospace Limited pic.twitter.com/qeFyzPb05k ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 He thanked Lorenzana and Philippines Cabinet Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr for their active support to build stronger relations with India. "Today we are one step closer to elevating ties between our democracies to a strategic partnership and our shared objective of a free and peaceful Indo-Pacific," Kumaran noted. "It is also a moment of deep pride as India establishes itself as a source of high-technology equipment and a trusted partner towards capability development of friendly nations," he added. Reacting to BrahMos's export order, DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy said, "Surface to air missile Akash, Astra, anti-tank missiles, radars, torpedoes gain the interest of various countries. More systems are being developed which have export potential. (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.) As the Russian troop build-up around the borders of continues and tension in the region and beyond peaks, India has said it is following the developments closely and called for peaceful resolution of the situation. "We have been closely following the developments relating to including ongoing high-level discussions between Russia and the US. Our Embassy in Kyiv is also monitoring local developments," spokesperson Aridnam Bagchi said at the regular media briefing. Russia has demanded that there should be no presence of NATO forces in and other former territories of the erstwhile Soviet Union. Moscow, which shares friendly and very close ties with India, has denied that it is planning a war on Ukraine. However, US and NATO allies believe that Russia is preparing for an assault. The US has said there will be no change in its policy vis-a-vis the NATO alliance and is standing by Ukraine. Experts have said that the current crisis reminds them of the cold war era. Bagchi said there should be a peaceful resolution to the situation through sustained diplomatic efforts. "We call for a peaceful resolution of the situation through sustained diplomatic efforts for long term peace and stability in the region and beyond," he said. Asked whether amid escalating tensions India fears that the US may impose CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) as India is procuring the S-400 missile system from Russia, the spokesperson referred to India's partnership with both countries. "India and US have a comprehensive global strategic partnership, India has a special and privileged partnership with Russia. We pursue an independent foreign policy. This also applies to our defence acquisitions and supplies which are guided by our national interest," he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. 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Digital Editor The COVID-19 tally in touched 9,41,456 on Friday after the detection of 7,763 cases, while the toll increased to 10,602 after five patients died in the last 24 hours, a health department official said. The positivity rate dipped to 10.8 per cent on Friday from 11.9 per cent the previous day, he said. The recovery count stood at 8,62,909 after 11,016 people recovered during the day, leaving the state with an active caseload of 67,945, he said. Bhopal and Indore, the two worst coronavirus-hit cities of Madhya Pradesh, registered 1,498 and 1,857 cases, respectively, during the past 24 hours, he added. With 71,313 samples examined during the day, the number of tests in MP went up to 2,56,99,496, the official said. A government release said 10,91,31,796 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the state, including 84,722 on Friday. figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 9,41,456, new cases 7,763, death toll 10,602, recoveries 8,62,909, active cases 67,945, number of tests so far 2,56,99,496. (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.) At Winnies Filipino Kitchen, I enjoyed the Chicken Adobo with pancit. I received a large leg and thigh that had been simmered in the adobo marinade until the meat was flavorful and tender. The pancit was bursting with umami and full of chicken and vegetables. Patrick Evans-Hylton/freelance (The Virginian-Pilot) Our region is richly flavored with indigenous ingredients and tasty traditions of folks who have come to call Virginia home. Among those tastes are delicious dishes from the large Filipino community here. Over the years, Ive enjoyed many Filipino meals across Chesapeake including lumpia from Maymar Filipino Restaurant, and the Filipino Breakfast, a wonderful plate with eggs, toast, sweet sausage (longganisa) and fried rice at Sunrise Breakfast Shoppe. Advertisement Recently, Ive added Winnies Filipino Kitchen to that list. In addition to party trays and large orders of lumpia and hot wings to go, Winnies offers a fresh, changing assortment of dishes to enjoy dine-in. Folks can get one entree with rice or pancit, two entrees with rice or pancit, or pancit alone. Advertisement THE EAT: CHICKEN ADOBO WITH PANCIT, $7.49 From the half-dozen options, I picked chicken adodo as my entree, and pancit as the starch. Adobo is a lovely seasoning that also is made into a marinade and sauce. It is used extensively in Spanish and Portuguese cooking, as well as the cooking in colonies from those two former global giants, such as the Philippines. The Philippines method differs a bit from the Old-World style, and incorporates indigenous cooking methods. Here spices, vinegar and varying ingredients are the base of a marinade for ingredients meats, seafood or vegetables which are browned in oil and simmered in the adobo. I received a large leg and thigh that had been simmered in the adobo marinade until the vinegar had tenderized the chicken so much it practically fell off the bone. The meat had picked up all of the rich spices, and each bite was succulent and satisfying. Pancit, sometimes spelled pansit, is one of the most recognizable Filipino dishes. There are many variations, but at Winnies, long, perfectly cooked noodles are served hot in a savory, soy-based sauce bursting with umami. The noodles are studded with pieces of chicken and a variety of vegetables. It was a wonderful side to the chicken. THE DRINK: WATER Although there were several bottled juices, some with enticing and exotic flavors, I opted for water to enjoy with my meal. There are no beer, cocktails or wine served at Winnies. Advertisement Winnies Filipino Kitchen is in Orchard Shopping Center at 1400 Kempsville Road; call 757-410-7331 or visit facebook.com/winnieschesapeake. A LA CARTE A virtual Valentines Couples Cooking Class from Team Zaddy is being offered from noon-3 p.m. Feb. 13. The online offering guides folks through the crafting of a pineapple bourbon lemonade cocktail or mocktail, bourbon BBQ wangs, Cajun crab dip, baby shower meatballs, and chocolate covered pineapple. The event is sponsored by Pour and Stay Full and the cost is $44.99. Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news > For more information, visit facebook.com/pourandstayfull. Branches Tasting Room is offering a Valentines Day brunch from noon-5 p.m. Feb. 13. Advertisement Gourmet waffles, breakfast flatbread, quiche, desserts, unlimited mimosas, craft cocktails and more are on the menu. The shop also is offering Valentines Day boards for pickup. Branches Tasting Room is at 2125 Starmount Parkway; call 757-392-3942 or visit brancheswinetasting.org. A Super Bowl party takes place at Eagles Nest Rockin Country Bar from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Feb. 13. Eagles Nest Rockin Country Bar is at 1723 Parkview Drive; call 757-420-9191 or visit eaglesnestchesapeake.com. Patrick Evans-Hylton, PatrickEvansHylton@gmail.com Prime Minister on Friday lauded Cadet Corps for their contribution to the country and said that the government has created over one lakh new cadets in the border areas of the country. "The training I got in and the things I learned here have provided me immense strength in delivering upon my responsibilities. Recently, I had also received an alumni card as well," the Prime Minister said while addressing the rally at Cariappa Ground here today. PM Modi said that there is a different enthusiasm in today's celebration as the young country is witnessing such a historic festival. "The country is celebrating the Amrit Mahotsav of its independence. When a young country becomes a witness to such a historic festival, there is a different enthusiasm in its celebration. It is visible even on this ground today. This is the vision of the youth power of India, which will fulfill our resolves," the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister said that in the last two years, the government have created over one lakh new cadets in the border areas of the country. "Today, when the country is moving forward with new resolutions, then our efforts are also going on to strengthen the NCC in the country. For this, a high-level review committee has been set up in the country. In the last two years, we have created one lakh, new cadets, in the border areas of the country," he said. The rally is the culmination of NCC Republic Day Camp and is held on January 28 every year. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two days after donning the traditional cap of Uttarakhand and a stole from Manipur during the Republic Day parade, Prime Minister wore a cadet turban while attending a rally of the Cadet Corps (NCC) here on Friday. Modi wore a rifle-green turban with a red-coloured feather -- similar to how cadets wear it in the -- for Friday's rally at the Cariappa parade ground here. On January 26, Modi had ditched his traditional turban look and wore a traditional cap from Uttarakhand with an image of the brahmakamal, the state flower, and sported a stole from Manipur. Official sources had said that Modi uses the brahmakamal whenever he offers prayers at Kedarnath. Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur are among the five states that head for polls next month. Turbans have been a highlight of the prime minister's sartorial choices at Independence Day and Republic Day events. Last year, he sported a a special turban from Gujarat's Jamnagar on 72nd Republic Day. On Independence Day last year, he chose a saffron headgear with red patterns and a long plume. For his maiden Independence Day speech in 2014, he had opted for a bright red Jodhpuri bandhej turban with green at the tail. In 2015, he chose a yellow turban covered with multi-coloured crisscross lines, and a tie and dye turban in hues of pink and yellow in 2016. The prime minister's turban for 2017 was a mix of bright red and yellow with crisscrossed golden lines all over. He donned a saffron turban for his appearance at the Red Fort in 2018. (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.) called on Friday by student bodies, and supported by all parties in the opposition and some in the ruling dispensation, against alleged irregularities in the Railway Recruitment Board's Non-Technical Popular Categories examination process evoked a mixed response. Citizens woke up to chanting of slogans by bandh supporters against the RRB which has conducted a staggered, and allegedly botched up selection process, the Centre which intervened not before the crisis snowballed, and the government in the state which has booked many students and teachers for the large-scale arson and vandalism that took place in the past few days. In Patna, bandh supporters burnt tyres on Ashok Rajpath throwing out of gear traffic on the busy street which leads to the state's largest government hospital, its most esteemed schools and colleges and shops dealing in medicines, books and stationery. At Dak Bungalow crossing in the heart of the city, they staged a demonstration and recited impromptu verses, to the beats of tambourines, urging RRB, the Centre and to come to their senses. They clashed with police personnel upon being stopped from marching towards the Raj Bhavan, which is a couple of kilometres away. In Samastipur district across the Ganga, a demonstration by AISA members stood out on account of participation by a noticeable number of young women. Legislators and cadres of opposition parties, most notably the RJD and the CPI-ML, led the protests in Buxar, Jehanabad, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Begusarai and Munger. In many places, tyres were set afire on highways, causing the traffic to come to a standstill. Former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who heads Hindustani Awam Morcha and minister Mukesh Sahani, founding chief of Vikassheel Insaaan Party, have also expressed "moral support" to the bandh even though they are aligned with the NDA. Major constituents of the ruling coalition like BJP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) have also expressed their sympathy for the cause being espoused by the bandh supporters. JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan has come out with tweets blaming the unrest on the RRB's sloppy work and demanding an early resolution of the issue by the high-powered committee set up for the purpose. He has also demanded "immediate withdrawal of the FIRs by Railways and police" at various places in connection with the violent protests which hit the headlines earlier this week. Former deputy chief minister and veteran BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has also come out with an impassioned plea for calm and the declamation that "Narendra Modi government will not allow any injustice". (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.) Russia selling the S-400 air defence missile system to India shines a spotlight on the "destabilising role" that Moscow is playing in the region and potentially beyond as well, the United States has said. In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 surface-to-air missile defence system, despite a warning from the then Trump administration that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions. India has asserted that its decisions are based on its national interest to protect its national security. Well in many ways, this doesn't change the concerns that we have with the S-400 system. I think it shines a spotlight on the destabilising role that Russia is playing not only in the region but potentially beyond as well, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters on Thursday at his daily news conference. The US was urging all countries to avoid major new transactions for Russian weapon systems, Price said, amidst escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow over Ukraine. The Biden administration has not yet clarified whether it will impose sanctions on India under the provisions of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for procuring the . When it comes to CAATSA sanctions, you've heard me say before, we haven't made a determination with regard to this transaction, but it's something we continue to discuss with the government of India given the risk of sanctions for this particular transaction under CAATSA, he said. CAATSA is a tough US law that was brought in 2017 and authorises the US administration to impose sanctions on countries that purchase major defence hardware from Russia. Price was responding to a question on implications of the Russian S-400 'Triumf' air defence missile systems to India on Washington's bilateral ties with New Delhi given the unprecedented tension it is having with Moscow on what it calls an imminent Ukrainian invasion. The build-up of tens of thousands of Russian troops on Ukraine's borders in recent weeks has stoked fears of an invasion. Russia denies it is planning an attack. The US imposed sanctions on Turkey in 2020 under the CAATSA for the purchase of a batch of S-400 missile defence systems from Russia. Following the US sanctions on Turkey over the procurement of S-400 missile systems, there were apprehensions that Washington may impose similar punitive measures on India. Russia has been one of India's key major suppliers of arms and ammunition. Despite strong objections from the US and threat of sanctions from the Biden administration, India has refused to make any changes in its decision and is going ahead with the purchase of the missile defense system. India pursues an independent foreign policy and its defence acquisitions are guided by its national security interests, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in November last year. On Thursday, State Department Spokesperson Price said the US was urging all countries to avoid major new purchases of Russian weapons. Whether it is India, whether it is any other country, we continue to urge all countries to avoid major new transactions for Russian weapon systems, Price said. The Biden Administration, so far, has not taken any decision on CAATSA sanctions. I don't have a timeline to offer, but these are issues that we continue to discuss with our partners in India, Price said. The S-400 is known as Russia's most advanced long-range surface-to-air missile defence system. (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.) Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday asked the southern states to focus on the 5-fold strategy of 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and Adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour' along with effective surveillance of cases which is crucial for Covid management. Mandaviya reviewed the public health preparedness on Covid with state Health Ministers and senior health officials of eight southern states and UTs -- Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep in the presence of Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health on Friday. Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangaswamy was also present at the meet. The states and UTs were advised to keep a close watch on the emerging clusters and hotspots. States which have reported lower share of RT-PCR in Covid testing were advised to review the same. Adequate and timely testing will help in prompt identification of the infected cases and prevention of a sudden surge, they were told. "Mutual understanding, sharing best practices and collaborative spirit between the Centre and States have helped us in our fight against the pandemic," said the Health Minister, as he applauded the remarkable synergy between the Centre and the states during the video interaction with the states. "India's Covid-19 vaccination drive is a global success story, especially for such a populous country like ours," said Mandaviya. To give a further boost to the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive, we have now started the Precaution Dose and the vaccination for the 15-18 years age group from this month, he added. He noted that more than the projected requirements of doses of both vaccines were provided to the states and UTs. The Health Minister also advised the states to focus on ramping up opening of more tele-consultation centres as part of the Hub and Spoke Model for better public health management. "The tele-consultation centres will help us not only during Covid pandemic but also for non-Covid medical care," he said. While talking about the ECRP-II package under which the funds have been provided to states and UTs, and need to be utilised before March 31, Mandaviya said that while some states have expedited effective utilisation of the approved funds for health infra creation, other states may also review the physical and financial progress under ECRP-II and expedite the progress. He assured the states of all support from the Centre in their efforts for Covid response and management and urged them to provide data on time for efficient policy making. The State Health Ministers who joined the high level review meeting included K Sudhakar from Karnataka, Veena George from Kerala, Ma Subramaniam from Tamil Nadu and Thanneeru Harish Rao from Telangana. --IANS avr/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.) Air India's handover has come as a culmination of the governments attempt to transfer the ownership of the loss-making airline to a private owner. More on that in our top headlines this morning. The on Thursday regained ownership of Air India, 69 years after the airline was nationalised. The salt-to-software conglomerate promised to turn the loss-making carrier into a world-class airline. Read more India's high foreign exchange reserves not enough to shield rupee With crude oil touching $90 a barrel in international markets, Indias record foreign exchange (forex) reserves of $634 billion may not be enough to shield the rupee from the adverse effects of a spike in oil prices. There has been a sharp rise in Indias overall import bill in the first nine months of FY22, leading to a decline in import cover despite record forex reserves. Read more DoT drops plan on local 5G standards after strong opposition from telcos The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is dropping its contentious plan to push for a separate India-specific standard for 5G -- also known as 5Gi -- after strong opposition from telecom companies. Read more Payout to be Rs 4k cr to return up to Rs 5 lakh to PMC depositors: Centrum Following the government approving the scheme of amalgamation of Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank with Unity Small Finance Bank, the former will start the process of paying the first tranche of deposits, which is up to Rs 5 lakh to the PMC depositors. Read more Union Budget 2022-23: Clarity on tax compliance needed, say experts Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman should look at rationalising some tax provisions to ease the burden of compliance and regulation, experts said ahead of the Union Budget 2022-23, even as the expectation is that there wont be any changes in the corporate or personal income tax rates. Read more After the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) handed over the missing 19-year-old Arunachal Boy, Congress leader on Friday questioned the government on the "illegal" occupation of Indian territory by China. Taking to twitter on Hindi, said: "Am relieved that China has returned Miram Taron, but when will we get our occupied land from China Mr Prime Minister?" Upping its ante against the Chinese occupation at LAC and northeast, the grand-old-party had earlier alleged that China has built villages inside Indian territory. The party had said the new satellite images on Chinese military development, show purported construction of Chinese villages in Bhutanese territory over the last year, multiple new villages are seen spreading through an area roughly 100 square km (25,000 acres). The villages were constructed between May 2020 and November 2021. These new villages lie near the Doklam plateau where India and China had a face-off in 2017, after which China bypassed Indian defences to resume road construction activity in the region, it said. New construction on Bhutanese soil, the party said, is particularly worrying for India since India has historically advised Bhutan on its external relations policy and continues to train its armed forces. The Chinese PLA handed over Taron at Damai, Border Personnel Meeting Point, in Anjaw district of on Thursday. A resident of Jido Village in Upper Siang District, Taron, had gone missing while hunting since January 18 from Shiyung La in Bishing Area in Indian territory. According to a statement, the Indian Army immediately approached the PLA on a hotline to trace and secure the safe return of the boy and shared the identity details of Miram with the PLA. On January 26, the PLA confirmed that Taron would be handed back to the Indian Army at Damai Border Personnel Meeting Point. The Indian Army took over Taron at the meeting point after completing all the formalities. He is being handed over to his parents at the earliest. Taron is in high spirits and is elated to be back in his country. He and his family expressed gratitude for the sincere efforts by the Indian Army and the government to ensure his safe return. Union Law and Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday afternoon first announced that the PLA has handed over Taron to the Indian Army nine days after the youth went missing. Rijiju, who closely monitored the process of the release of Taron, tweeted: "The Chinese PLA has handed over the young boy from Shri Miram Taron to the Indian Army. Due procedures are being followed including the medical examination." (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 Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president Om Prakash Rajbhar has said that the had no respect for backwards and Dalits and had committed atrocities on students demanding jobs amid growing unemployment. Rajbhar is fighting the polls in alliance with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party. Rajbhar said, "The has not been able to deliver jobs to the youth, and it has deprived backward students of reservation. When students demand reservation, they are showered with police batons. The question paper of recruitment exams of 16 departments was leaked, today 34 lakh positions are lying vacant in the state. In Prayagraj, when students raised their voice, they were beaten up mercilessly. The youth want a change and to see Akhilesh Yadav as their next chief minister." He further said that 85 per cent people in were with the SP-led alliance as the had snatched away their rights. Rajbhar, a former minister, accused the BJP of harbouring 'the likes of Ajay Mishra Teni', accused of killing four farmers during the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. He further said, "Amit Shah did not get time to visit farmers when over 700 of them died during the farmers' protest. The farmers were protesting for almost a year, having braved the cold, rain and intense heat. But the BJP ignored them and instead, used force to stop the farmers from taking part in the protest against the three black farm laws. Now, when elections are here, the BJP is going from door to door distributing pamphlets. "Why didn't Amit Shah remove Ajay Misra Teni who was involved in mowing down four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri? If the vehicle used in the incident had belonged to any backward, Dalit or Muslim, the owner would have been in jail today. Ajay Misra Teni should have been in jail ideally, but the BJP is giving him political shelter." The SBSP leader said that the BJP had, time and again, shown disrespect to backward and Dalits. "Chief minister Yogi Adityanath and people belonging to his caste sit on chairs, but a deputy chief minister from a backward caste is given a stool to sit on. This is the kind of respect they give to the backwards. Yogi Adityanath sits on a sofa, but UP BJP chief Swatantra Dev Singh is made to sit on a chair. There are 1,700 police stations, but the BJP is silent when it comes to the number of OBC and Dalit police personnel posted there," he stated. --IANS amita/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Appearing here with his ally RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, Samajwadi Party president on Friday asked farmers to be wary of the BJP, saying the ruling party's government had withdrawn its controversial farm laws only for the sake of votes. He also assured farmers that if their alliance forms the government in Uttar Pradesh, they will not allow the implementation of any such anti-farmer law in the state. Yadav made the statement addressing a joint press conference with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary, who on the occasion said his party's alliance with the SP is "solid" and aimed at furthering the cause of farmers. Ahead of the Assembly polls, the is reaching out to the Jats in western Uttar Pradesh, from where members of the community had taken part in the year-long stir against the laws at the Delhi's border points. leaders had also asked the RLD chief to join hands with their party after Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Jat leaders in Delhi on Wednesday. Lashing out at the BJP, Yadav said, "The had promised to double the income of farmers but it brought the three anti-farmer laws. The farmers forced the government to repeal the laws. The BJP rolled back the laws for the sake of votes. The BJP is a party, which brings laws without telling anything." Yadav asserted that on coming to power, their party won't implement any such law in the state and said he and Chaudhary are taking forward the cause of farmers championed by former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and the late farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait. Chaudhary said earlier people had doubts if the both parties would forge an alliance. "Our confluence had taken place much earlier. We want UP to develop and have forged the alliance as we want to take the fight of Chaudhary Charan Singh ahead," he said remembering his grandfather. Yadav also said, "Both of us are sons of farmers and will continue to fight till the last breath for their rights." The Samajwadi Party chief said they will make arrangements for the purchase of crops on the minimum support price. A farmer corpus fund will be made so that farmers do not have to wait for the payment of sugarcane dues, Yadav said. The SP chief said they will give 300 units of electricity free to domestic consumers. The former chief minister also promised free electricity for irrigation purposes. He added that the SP had distributed laptops earlier and will now give Samajwadi pension. "The BJP should now look back at its election manifesto and see whether the promises it made have been fulfilled or not. When the BJP declines, it attempts to divert the attention from the basic issues," he said. "I am hopeful that the Ganga-Jamuni 'tehzeeb' (culture) and brotherhood will negate the negative thought process in this election," he said. Yadav had reached Muzaffarnagar late for the press conference, claiming earlier in the day that he was stranded in Delhi as his helicopter was not allowed to take off. In a tweet in Hindi, the SP president posted a picture with a helicopter in the background and said no reason was given for it. "My helicopter is still detained in Delhi without assigning any reason and not being allowed to go to Muzaffarnagar, whereas a top BJP leader has just flown from here. This is a desperate conspiracy of the losing BJP. People are understanding everything," he said in his tweet. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Africa: SA remains unwavering in support of Palestine: DIRCO The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) says it has noted comments and questions regarding the status of diplomatic relations between South Africa and Israel. The department believes that the debate appears to have been prompted by President Cyril Ramaphosa accepting a letter of credence from the Ambassador of Israel on Tuesday. South Africa currently does not have an Ambassador in Israel. South Africa decided to recall our Ambassador in 2018 as part of processes to downgrade our diplomatic presence in Israel, the department explained. However, according to DIRCO, post-apartheid South Africa and Israel have maintained formal diplomatic ties to date. In part, a diplomatic presence has allowed South Africa to play a role with its international partners in the ongoing efforts to end the occupation of Palestine. The department said South Africa has been "consistent" and "unwavering" in its principled support for the struggle of the Palestinian people in their struggles against the occupation. Our country draws a direct parallel between the former apartheid regime and the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. Like the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), we consider Palestine, together with Western Sahara, as unfinished decolonisation struggles. This has been a priority on our foreign policy agenda since former President Nelson Mandela's time in office. The department said the country has also taken the support for Palestine to multilateral platforms, acting as a catalyst and amplifier of its positions on the international stage. We have initiated and supported countless draft resolutions in favour of Palestine, gone to every open United Nations Security Council meeting addressing the Palestinian question and held consistent voting behaviour since 1994. In addition, the country said it backed the Palestinian UN bid for statehood and the 2009 Palestine 194 diplomatic campaign, defended it in all peace conferences and used its influence to counter recent Israeli diplomatic offensives that could have proved harmful to Palestinian ties to other African countries. Over the last two years, South Africa has been instrumental in stepping up pressure on the government of Israel. Meanwhile, South Africa has partnered with Namibia, Palestinian Human Rights Organisations, Israeli Human Rights Organisations and international legal scholars, to speed up discussions on whether the actions of the Israeli government contravenes international legal prohibitions on the crime of apartheid. Organisations like Human Rights Watch and BTselem, the largest Israeli human rights organisation have found that the actions of the government of Israel have been akin to apartheid. The department is also waiting for the release of the Special Rapporteur of the Occupied Palestinian Territories report and the International Court of Justices legal opinion, which may lead South Africa and other countries to review its diplomatic stance about the Israeli government. The situation is dynamic and South Africa will ensure that its diplomatic presence is strategic and geared towards ending the occupation. South Africa is determined to continue working with the international community to launch a credible, time-bound, multilaterally sponsored political process to resolve the issue of the Palestinian cause based on international law. In this regard, South Africa will continue to support concrete and genuine efforts towards achieving this just and lasting solution, which we believe will greatly contribute to peace, justice and stability in that region. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China maps five-year plan for transportation development 09:25, January 28, 2022 By Lu Yanan ( People's Daily China outlined a modern comprehensive transportation system over the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period in a circular recently issued. Photo taken on Jan. 5, 2022 shows a road winding on a mountain in Xianju county, Taizhou, east Chinas Zhejiang province. (Peoples Daily Online/ Wang Huabin) According to the circular, by 2025, China will have generally realized integrated transportation development, achieved breakthroughs in pursuing intelligent and green transportation, and made prominent improvements in overall capability, service quality and efficiency of the transportation sector. By that time, China will have made a further step on its road to build a world-class transportation system. The circular says, between 2021 and 2025, Chinas railway operation mileage will increase by 19,000 kilometers, highway operation mileage by 302,000 kilometers, and high-level inland river waterways by 2,400 kilometers. China is also aiming to have over 270 civil airports and a total mileage of urban transit of around 10,000 kilometers by 2025. Besides, more than 95 percent of cities with a population of over 500,000 will be connected to the countrys high-speed railway network, and a modern airport system will be basically completed. This will continue contributing to the improvement in the size, capability, quality and efficiency of the countrys comprehensive multidimensional transport network. According to the circular, China will strive to make secondary-level highways and above occupy 70 percent of its national highway system in the western region, and connect over 85 percent of unincorporated villages and groups with a large population to hardened roads. The country will also build around 100 rural logistics service brands by 2025. The circular says China will improve the collection and distribution system of transportation hubs. By 2025, over 70 percent of major coastal ports will be connected with railways, and more than 80 percent of aviation hubs connected with rail transit. The circular urges the country to continue optimizing transportation structure and improve the efficiency of the comprehensive transport network. The country will normalize price management in new businesses and models of the transport sector, and implement measures of tax and fee reduction for logistics enterprises. The circular estimates that by 2025, the annual revenue of Chinas courier industry will exceed 1.8 trillion yuan ($283.67 billion), and around 150 billion parcels will be handled on a yearly basis. The industry will have an annual growth rate between 10 percent and 11 percent, which is twice of that of the countrys GDP. Photo taken on Jan. 8, 2022 shows an expressway built in the mountains near Touche village, Longshan county, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture, central Chinas Hunan province. (Peoples Daily Online/ Zeng Xianghui) According to the circular, China will enhance its ability to offer equalized universal postal services during the 14th Five-Year Plan period to make courier services more convenient, more accessible and more reliable, said Zeng Junshan, director of the policy and regulation department, State Postal Bureau of China. Besides, the country will make smart parcel lockers and other devices in urban areas better meet the diversified demands of the people, and extend direct collecting and shipping services to basically all incorporated villages, Zeng said, adding that all border villages will be covered by postal services. A woman collects her parcel from a smart courier vehicle in Suyu district, Suqian, east Chinas Jiangsu province, Jan. 19, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/ Sun Dongcheng) By 2035, the National 1-2-3 Travel Circle and the Global 1-2-3 Logistics Circle will take initial shape, basically making China a country with a strong transportation network. The National 1-2-3 Travel Circle refers to one-hour commute time in cities, two hours' travel time within city clusters and three hours to travel between major domestic cities. The Global 1-2-3 Logistics Circle means one-day delivery to destinations within China, two-day delivery to neighboring countries, and three-day delivery to major global cities, according to the document. Bullet trains in Xian, northwest Chinas Shaanxi province, Jan. 17, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/ Wang Shutian) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Two of Hampton Roads most powerful legislators are on a collision course when it comes to education policy, but both are confident in their vision for the commonwealths schools. Sen. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) and Del. Glenn Davis (R-Virginia Beach) are each in charge of the committee that reviews education bills in their respective chambers, and they are worlds apart when it comes to policy on schools. Advertisement Lucas chairs the Senate Education and Health Committee, and Davis chairs the Education Committee in the House of Delegates. Davis is solidly on board with Gov. Glenn Youngkins embrace of school choice, which includes publicly funded, privately run charter schools, education savings accounts and lab schools, where schools adapt their curriculum to revolve around a specific theme. Advertisement We want the parents to be able to make the best decision for their child, and to open up the resources to do so, Davis said. Davis may have the majority in the House and a governor eager to rethink public education, but it all has to go through Lucas, a staunch defender of traditional public schools. Obviously the Senate Education committee presents a challenge, Davis said. Lucas is a veteran legislator who has already shown that shes not reluctant to stand up to Youngkin and his agenda. I take exception to any funds being taken out of public schools for the purpose of propping up charter schools or lab schools, Lucas said in an interview with the Pilot on Wednesday. If the governor wants to set up those schools, find the funding for it, but do not take the money out of public schools to do it. Virginia only has seven charter schools. Charter advocates say the low number is largely because the power to approve or deny charter applications rests solely with local school boards. Davis has filed a bill to allow charter schools to apply directly to the state, a tweak that school choice advocates believe will make it far easier to get charters up and running. It even has the support of two swing Democrats in the Senate, Sen. Joe Morrisey (D-Richmond) and Sen. Chap Petersen (D- Fairfax City). Sometimes local school boards arent as open minded to charter schools as I would like them to be, Morrisey said. Advertisement Both say they would break from their party if a charter school bill made it through committee and came to the Senate for a vote. But Lucas can prevent that from happening. If the House passes school choice reform and a companion bill shows up in the Senate, Lucas can let it die in the committee she chairs. On Wednesday she said her role on the Senate Education Committee means defending traditional public schools. This has been a mission that I have had ever since I have been in the Senate, when I took my oath of office in 1992, is to make sure charter schools do not siphon funds from public schools, Lucas said. Period. Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news > This may be where the backroom bargaining begins, as lawmakers strike deals with other committee chairs. Lucas has several criminal justice reform initiatives that could get blocked by the House Justice Committee just as easily as her education committee can block school choice initiatives. Advertisement Neither lawmaker pulled back the curtain Wednesday, but both say they remain confident in their preferred outcome. When asked if her legislative priorities would become bargaining chips, Lucas said she expects offers, but has not gotten any yet. I suspect that I will, but that remains to be seen, Lucas said. Davis, meanwhile, said he is eager to ensure his House education priorities survive Lucas committee in the Senate. He declined to say which of the many education bills were most important, saying it was an all of the above approach. I look forward to working with them once the bills get out of the House to help it be successful in the Senate as well, Davis said. Ive always believed that if a bill is good, you pass the bill. Ryan McKinnon, ryan@mckinnonwriting.com Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday exuded confidence that the BJP would win the forthcoming civic body election in Bengaluru. "The victory of BJP in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike election is as true as the sun rising in the east. There is no doubt that people of Bengaluru will support the BJP," Bommai said at a special programme organised at the State BJP office to felicitate him on completing six months in the office which coincides with his birthday. He appealed to the party workers to convey the work done by the BJP government in the past two-and-a-half years to the people of Bengaluru. Bommai explained that his government provided Rs 6,000 crore provided for development of Bengaluru, Rs1,500 crore for remodeling of main stormwater drains and Rs 2,300 crore for development of 12 corridors. He said the development of 75 slums and 75 parks under the Amrith programme has been taken up. "Our government has resolved to complete all-round development of Bengaluru and make it an international-level city," he said. Speaking about various pro-people measures taking by his government, Bommai told the gathering that doubling the compensation for crop loss during the floods, increasing the pension under Sandhya Suraksha Yojana, pension for the physically challenged and widows has benefitted 58 lakh people. He pointed out that the families of those who lost their lives due to COVID have been paid an ex-gratia of Rs 1.50 lakh. According to him, his government is 'Sarva Vyapi- Sarva Sparshi' (all pervasive and all inclusive). (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.) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister on Friday said people of Uttar Pradesh are fed up with politics of caste and religion and now they want a change. On a two-day visit here, Baghel told reporters that during his campaign for the Congress candidates in the city, he spoke to many people and all of them echoed the same need for change. "During my door to door campaigning I met people such as rickshaw pullers, vendors, women, and others, they all wanted change. "People are fed up with the caste and religion politics of other parties and are looking forward to Congress," Baghel said. He said Congress is the only party which is raising issues of women and employment for youths. "These days not one party is raising issues related to the common man. It is only the Congress party that's speaking about farmers, safety of women, and jobs to jobless," he said. Baghel began his door-to-door campaign from Kheria Mod and then moved to Meera Hussaini, Mantola, Ghatia and other areas, campaigning for candidates from Agra Cantt, Agra South, and Agra North. He also met traders and youths of the city and discussed issues they are facing, said a Congress party leader. "On Saturday, he will campaign for the candidates from Fatehpur Sikri and other places," he added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The on Friday released a list of 91 candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, giving tickets to 13 ministers and repeating its sitting MLA in Ayodhya. The party dropped Co-Operative Affairs Minister Mukut Bihari Verma, whose son Gaurav will be contesting from his Kaiserganj seat in Bahraich. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's media adviser Shalabh Mani Tripathi has been fielded from Deoria. The repeated its sitting MLA from Ayodhya, Ved Prakash Gupta. The ministers who have been fielded include Siddharth Nath Singh, who will contest from Allahabad West, and Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi', who will be in the fray from Allahabad South. Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi has also found a place in the list. (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.) Assets under management for environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds increased 2.5 times to USD 650 million in India in financial year 2021 on an annual basis, a top official of IT industry body said on Friday. President Debjani Ghosh, during the launch of 'Enterprise Innovation Challenge', said there has been a sharp increase in conversations around . "Companies are not just becoming alert to performance of vendors or partners that they are willing to work with, but investors also are using as metrics to drive investments. "In India alone, the assets under management for rose by 2.5 times in just a year. From 275 million USD in Fiscal Year 20, the assets under management for went up to 650 million USD in Fiscal Year 21," Ghosh said at the virtual event. Digital India CEO Abhishek Singh said ESG will be one of the top priorities for the industry. He said at COP26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the net-zero commitment which requires everyone to contribute, including government and the industry. "Even in corporate governance, what we really need is that if our unicorns have to become real value-adding companies and if our startups have to go up and become the best in the world, the adoption of ethical corporate governance standards become a very important part of it. "I am sure that the solutions coming out of the Enterprise Innovation Challenge will help not just corporations but also the government," Singh said. He said increasing adoption of green technologies ensures conservative use of water and natural resources, and puts forward a sustainable agenda which not only takes care of present day needs but also those of the future. (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.) Jan 28 (Reuters) - Indian banks' loans rose 8% in the two weeks to Jan. 14 from a year earlier, while deposits rose 9.3%, the Reserve Bank of India's weekly statistical supplement showed on Friday. Outstanding loans fell 1.85 trillion rupees ($24.57 billion) to 114.96 trillion rupees in the two weeks to Jan. 14. Non-food credit fell 1.82 trillion rupees to 114.10 trillion rupees, while food credit fell 29.99 billion rupees to 856.81 billion rupees. Bank deposits fell 2.59 trillion rupees to 159.83 trillion rupees in the two weeks to Jan. 14. ($1 = 75.0870 Indian rupees) ((India Headline News Team; +91 80 6749 1310)) (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 State Bank of India's recent fundraising of $300 million through issuance of Formosa Bonds is a testimony of the confidence reposed by the overseas investors in the country's growth story, its Chairman Dinesh Khara said on Friday. The lender is the first Indian entity to raise money through Formosa Bond, which is a bond issued in Taiwan. "This first successful issuance of Formosa Bond by any Indian commercial bank, is a testimony of the confidence reposed by the overseas investors into India's growth story and also in SBI, in particular. "This is a reflection of India's March towards the next step of being a developed country," Khara said at the listing ceremony of the Formosa Bonds on India INX. He said the issuance is a step further in the direction of the globalization of the world, when a bank could raise money for those markets which have remained untapped for several years. "It very clearly reflects how far India has reached in terms of the acceptability with all the international investors," Khara said. The lender had said that a wide range of investors such as supranational agencies, assets managers, private bankers and financial institutions have invested in the issue. On the back of strong demand, the price guidance was revised from T+130 bps area to T+100 bps. (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 Australian government on Friday announced an additional investment of 1 billion Australian dollars ($703 million) in saving the iconic Great Barrier Reef. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the funding over the next nine years is aimed at improving water quality, reef management and research. The government said the package, which increases the funding committed to the Reef 2050 Plan to more than 3 billion AUD ($2.1 billion), will support 64,000 jobs and the economic future of tourism operators. The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef and one of Australia's biggest tourism attractions. It is facing threats from climate change, with mass coral bleaching events in recent years. More than half the new funding announced on Friday -- 579.9 million AUD (408 million U.S. dollars) -- will be planned to be spent on improving water quality in the area through remediating erosion. The announcement came weeks after Anthony Albanese, leader of the opposition Labor Party, said they would invest 163 million AUD ($114 million) to conserve the Great Barrier Reef and support the tens of thousands of jobs that depend on it if victorious at the 2022 election. --IANS int/shs (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reaffirm his commitment towards the sovereignty and territorial integrity of his country, as his administration mounted a global pressure campaign against Russia to prevent it from invading . President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of . President Biden reaffirmed the readiness of the United States along with its allies and partners to respond decisively if Russia further invades . He also underscored the commitment of the United States to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, White House said in a readout of the call. The leaders discussed coordinated diplomatic efforts on European security, underscoring the principle of nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, the White House said. During the call, Biden relayed the US' support for conflict resolution efforts in the Normandy Format, expressing his hope that the sides' recommitment on January 26 to the terms of the July 2020 ceasefire will help decrease tensions and advance the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reports that the US has seen preparations and buildup at the border and that an invasion could come at any time. Our assessment has not changed since that point, she said. A day earlier, the United States and NATO both separately delivered their responses to Russia, which a senior State Department official said they believe that these responses offer a real opportunity for security improvements across the Euro-Atlantic area if Moscow chooses the path of diplomacy rather than that of conflict or sabotage. We and our NATO allies and partners have long been concerned about many of the same issues that Russia raised. And we have long wanted serious talks about these things, including intermediate and short-range nuclear weapons that can reach our allies' territory, and the need for more transparency and risk reduction measures, and updated and reciprocal rules of the road for military exercises, Assistant Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland told reporters at a news conference. We too, have concerns about weapons and military activity around Ukraine, including in Donbas and occupied Crimea. Between the US and Russia, between NATO and Russia, and within the OSCE, we have resolved very difficult security and arms control issues before through negotiations. This was true even in the worst of times, and we need to do that again now, she said. She said Russia needs to study whatever has been offered to it. So, it's on that basis that we hope Moscow will study what we have offered them and come back to the table, back to the bilateral table with the US, back to the NATO-Russia Council and to the OSCE, she said. The most important thing we heard from Moscow today is that the documents are with President Putin, that he is studying them. And as I said, we hope he will see here a real opportunity for a legacy of security and arms control, rather than a legacy of war, Nuland said. At the UN headquarters in New York, its envoy to the world body, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, members of the Security Council must squarely examine the facts and consider what is at stake for Ukraine, for Russia, for Europe, and for the core obligations and principles of the order should Russia further invade Ukraine. This is not a moment to wait and see. The Council's full attention is needed now, and we look forward to direct and purposeful discussion on Monday, she said. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Secretary General Helga Schmid, European External Action Service (EEAS) Secretary General Stefano Sannino and, representing the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski. They discussed the US and NATO written responses to Russia, continued OSCE and EU engagement, and our ongoing commitment to diplomacy. They agreed on the importance of continued close coordination and unity in the face of Russia's unprovoked military buildup on Ukraine's borders, a media release 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.) President strongly affirmed on Thursday that he will nominate the first Black woman to the US Supreme Court, declaring such historic representation is long overdue and promising to announce his choice by the end of February. In a White House ceremony marking a moment of national transition, Biden praised retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, who will have spent nearly 28 years on the high court by the time he leaves at the end of the term, as a model public servant at a time of great division in this country. And with that the search for Breyer's replacement was underway in full. Biden promised a nominee worthy of Breyer's legacy and said he'd already been studying the backgrounds and writings of potential candidates. "I've made no decision except one: The person I will nominate will be somebody of extraordinary qualifications, character and integrity," he said. And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the Supreme Court. It is long overdue. Biden's choice will be historic on its face: No Black woman has ever served on the high court. The decision is also notable coming at a time of national reckoning over race and gender inequality. However, the court's 6-3 conservative majority is destined to remain intact. Biden is using his choice to fulfill one of his early campaign promises, one that helped resurrect his moribund primary campaign and propel him to the White House in 2020. And it gives him the chance to show Black voters, who are increasingly frustrated with a president they helped to elect, that he is serious about their concerns, particularly with his voting rights legislation stalled in the Senate. It also could help drive Democratic enthusiasm amid concerns about a midterm routing in congressional races. Biden spent his first year in office working to nominate a diverse group of judges to the federal bench, not just in race but also in professional expertise, and he has been reviewing possible high court candidates along the way. He has installed five Black women on federal appeals courts where many high court justices come from with three more nominations pending before the Senate. As a senator, he spent years leading the Senate Judiciary Committee and so he's quite familiar with the nomination process, having overseen six Supreme Court confirmation hearings. One person who will be central to Biden's selection process is chief of staff Ron Klain, a former Supreme Court law clerk and chief counsel to the Judiciary Committee. The president has already met personally with at least one top nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51. She is a former Breyer clerk who worked at the US Sentencing Commission and has been a federal trial court judge since 2013 in the District of Columbia. The two met when Biden interviewed her for her current post as an appeals court judge in the DC circuit, where she has served since last June. Early discussions about a successor are focusing on Jackson, US District Judge J. Michelle Childs and California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss White House deliberations. Jackson and Kruger have long been seen as possible nominees. Childs, a federal judge in South Carolina, has been nominated but not yet confirmed to serve on the same circuit court. She is a favourite among some high-profile lawmakers, including Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. Her confirmation to the federal appeals bench is expected next week. Kruger, a graduate of Harvard and of Yale's law school, was previously a Supreme Court clerk and has argued a dozen cases before the justices as a lawyer for the federal government. Biden also personally interviewed a few other possible candidates, including Eunice Lee and Candace Jackson-Akiwumi. Both women have experience as criminal defense attorneys and could diversify the range of legal expertise on the high court, where many of the judges came from prosecutorial jobs or academia. Biden spoke to those two for their recent appointments to the federal bench. In the Roosevelt Room on Thursday, Biden spoke wistfully about presiding over Breyer's ascent to the court in 1994. He praised the justice's legacy and highlighted Breyer's opinions on reproductive rights, health care and voting rights, calling him sensitive and nuanced. Justice Breyer has been everything his country could have asked of him, he said. Breyer, in brief remarks, praised the miracle of America's constitutional democracy and issued a reminder to a nation riven by partisan discord and last year's insurrection at the US Capitol that the government experiment is not yet over. This is a complicated country, he said, leaning onto the lectern. He added: People have come to accept this Constitution, and they've come to accept the importance of a rule of law. Recounting a subject of frequent talks with students, the outgoing justice noted that in the nation's earliest days, European powers doubted it could survive, and during the horrors of the Civil War it appeared the might not make it. They're looking over here and they're saying it's a great idea in principle, that it'll never work, Breyer said. But we'll show them it does. That's what Washington thought, and that's what Lincoln thought, and that's what people still think today. It's an experiment that's still going on, he added, saying future generations will see if the government can live up to its promise. They'll determine whether the experiment still works. And of course, I'm an optimist, and I'm pretty sure it will. Republicans who changed the Senate rules during the Trump era to allow simple majority confirmation of Supreme Court nominees appear resigned to the outcome in the currently split chamber. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-K.Y., said he hoped Biden would not outsource this important decision to the radical left. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said after Breyer's announcement that his successor should be an individual within the legal mainstream who can receive similar broad, bipartisan support." Grassley voted against Jackson's confirmation to the DC appeals circuit, as well as most other Biden appellate court nominees. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese bourses have halted processing at least 60 initial public offering (IPO) applications as regulators investigate intermediaries in the deals, including Deutsche Bank's Chinese securities venture. Exchange disclosures on Wednesday showed 12 plans in Shanghai's tech-heavy STAR Market and 48 in Shenzhen's start-up market ChiNext were suspended. Each had hired one or more of three companies being investigated by securities regulators - Zhong De Securities Co, accountancy firm SineWing and law firm King&Wood Mallesons - the exchange filings said. Zhong De is a joint venture between Shanxi Securities and Deutsche Bank AG. All three companies served Leshi Internet Information and Technology, which the Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) last March said conducted accounting fraud between 2007 and 2016. King&Wood Mallesons and Zhong De said they had no immediate comment. SineWing and Deutsche Bank could not immediately be reached for comment. Shanxi Securities said in an exchange filing on Jan. 18 that Zhong De would fully cooperate with the CSRC's investigation into suspected law violations when it underwrote sales for Leshi in 2016. It was not immediately clear if IPOs targeting the Beijing Stock Exchange were also affected. Chinese bourses have halted processing batches of applications previously as regulators investigated intermediaries. (Reporting by Samuel Shen and Josh Horwitz; editing by Jane Wardell) (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The south island of the HRBT, as seen Tuesday, October 26, 2021, from the north island. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot) An argument between coworkers on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion project Thursday led to a nonfatal stabbing on the bridge-tunnels south island, according to Virginia State Police. The coworkers, both men, are employees for Hampton Roads Connector Partners a design-build team working on the expansion project, according to the projects website. The coworkers got into a verbal fight that turned physical, with one man stabbing the other three times on the south island of the HRBT, located in Hampton, police said. Advertisement The victims injuries are not life-threatening, police said. State police responded to the stabbing around 1:30 a.m. Police said the victim identified Jason Burl, 43, of Chesapeake, as the man who stabbed him. Advertisement Jason Burl, 43, of Chesapeake, is accused of stabbing his coworker three times on the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. Burl drove away from the scene after the stabbing, police said. Troopers arrested him on charges of malicious wounding at a Chesapeake address at 3:32 p.m. Thursday. Hes being held at Chesapeake City Jail. Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com DBS Group has agreed to buy Citigroup's consumer business in Taiwan in a move that will see the Singapore-based bank pay S$956 million ($706.6 million) above the net asset value, making it Taiwan's largest foreign bank by assets. DBS, Southeast Asia's biggest lender, said in a statement on Friday that it will take over 3,500 staff in Citi's Taiwanese business that has 2.7 million credit cards, 500,000 deposit and wealth customers and 45 branches. " Consumer Taiwan is a highly attractive, high-returns business that is expected to contribute at least S$250 million annually in net profit to DBS after Covid-19 recovery," DBS CEO Piyush Gupta said in a statement. The transaction comes after announced last year that it would exit retail operations in 10 markets in Asia as it refocuses on its more lucrative institutional and wealth management businesses. DBS said it will pay cash for the net assets of Citi's consumer business in Taiwan plus a premium of S$956 million. Citing sources, Reuters had reported late on Thursday that DBS would announce the purchase on Friday. Earlier this month, struck a deal to sell its consumer business in four Southeast Asian markets to United Overseas Bank for about S$5 billion. (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.) American billionaire slammed US President after the latter left out the name of Tesla in a post that talked about the future of electric vehicles in America. Tesla CEO, Musk, apparently was miffed after the US President excluded the name of the electric vehicle manufacturer in a Twitter post where he said, " like GM and Ford are building more electric vehicles here at home than ever before." Replying to Biden's Twitter post on the future electric vehicles in America, Musk wrote the name of "Tesla" in all caps. In another tweet, he said, "Biden is a damp Socks puppet in human form." Musk also said that "Biden is treating the American public like fools". He made these remarks after the US President met with executives from rival car General Motors and Ford Motor earlier this week. The swipe comes after Biden invited CEOso of General Motors and Ford to the White House along with other business leaders to discuss his administration's Build Back Better legislation. Interestingly, Biden invited executives from these last year when signed an executive order with the goal of making all vehicles sold in the US electric by 2030. However, Musk, who is critical of the Biden administration, was omitted from the list. Back in September, Tesla CEO had said that Biden administration of being "a little biased" and "seems to be" controlled by unions, Fox News reported. (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 and the United Kingdom are preparing sanctions against new Russian gas projects that will be imposed in case of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, media reported. According to Financial Times, the new set of sanctions is being developed with the US support, and will be aimed at curtailing financing and technology transfer for future gas projects. If introduced, these sanctions will affect European giants - such as BP, Total and Shell - which are investing in the Russian energy sector. In the past few months, the West and Ukraine have accused of concentrating troops near the Ukrainian border in alleged preparation for an invasion. has repeatedly said that it has no intention of invading Ukraine, while stressing 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.) Global prices have shot back towards record highs as the crisis raises expectations that European buyers will start loading up on the fossil fuel for fear that a standoff between Russia and western nations will cut off gas supplies. The benchmark Newcastle index has soared by over a third this month to $262 a tonne, fuelled initially by a month-long export ban by top supplier Indonesia and now by worries that any military engagement in will sever gas supplies from Russia. Europe relies on Russia for around 35% of its natural gas, and has been grappling with a gas shortage since last summer that sent local prices to record highs late last year. GRAPHIC: Global prices soar as tensions add to coal supply worries, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/klpykmkympg/ICENewcastleCoalJan282022.png Gas prices started to ease in recent weeks as imports surged, but have rallied again as the escalating tensions with Russia raise concerns about a potential supply disruption https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/what-are-europes-options-case-russian-gas-disruption-2022-01-27. To protect themselves from any fuel shortages, European utilities have stepped up imports of coal, further tightening a market that has yet to recover from Indonesia's shock ban that cut coal flows during the peak winter demand season. "Spot cargoes are becoming scarcer in the near term, with movement towards Europe where prices are jumping due to gas prices and the simultaneous effect of the recent Indonesian ban," said Puneet Gupta, founder of Indian coal marketplace Coalshastra. While Europe's coal use has declined sharply in recent years - accounting for just 6.2% of global coal use in 2020, according to BP data - European buyers have aggressively stepped up purchases since mid 2021. GRAPHIC: Europe thermal coal imports, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/dwvkrjrblpm/Europethermalcoalimports.png Under pressure to meet climate targets, several EU countries have shut down old coal-fired power plants. Some countries retain coal plants for use for back-up supply but many have already been fired back up https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/what-are-europes-options-case-russian-gas-disruption-2022-01-27 due to high gas prices. According to commodity flows tracking firm Kpler, Europe is on course to import 5.58 million tonnes of thermal coal in January, the highest monthly total since November 2019, and over 1 million tonnes more than the monthly average in 2021. The buying has helped coal prices snap back sharply after drifting off record highs struck last October on shortages in China and India amid extreme weather and post-pandemic industrial demand. KNOCK ON EFFECT The rise in European consumption could squeeze out other buyers, especially in number two coal consumer India. GRAPHIC: Europe's imports of thermal coal set to jump in January amid tight gas supplies, worries over Russia-Ukraine fallout, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/gkplgjgyevb/RegionalCoalImports.png India will have to pay a higher price for seaborne coal as supply tightens in the coming weeks, said Rajendra Singh, managing director at Komin India Resources Pvt Ltd, a commodities trading firm. "The Ukraine-Russia geopolitical issue will exacerbate the logistical challenges due to the coal ban by the Indonesian government," Singh said. Top coal consumer China gets roughly 90% of its supplies from domestic mines, making it better insulated from market gyrations. Even so, traders there remain wary of any lengthy disruptions to coal flows given the country relies on coal for over 60% of its electricity. In the Philippines, where coal also accounts for around 60% of electricity production, power producers have been told to use more domestic coal supplies where possible. "For other power plants that solely rely on imported high-grade coal, there is no other recourse but to seek other sources of coal from nearby countries such as Australia, Russia and Vietnam," said Arnulfo Robles, executive director of lobby group Philippine Chamber of Coal Mines. "But the downside is that the supply of high-grade coal from these countries is more expensive given high freight costs," he said. The impact of the Indonesian ban has also been felt more on high-energy coal as replacement options are more limited, said Rory Simington, a principal analyst at Wood Mackeznie While prices should fall in February, the picture could change in the event of the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Europe or an interruption to Russian coal exports, he said INDONESIAN OUTLOOK UNCLEAR As well as uncertainly over Ukraine, importers are still unclear over what to expect from Indonesia after authorities there said only miners that have complied with new domestic market sales regulations will be allowed to resume exports after the official ban expires on Jan. 31. Private power plants in India would "definitely be impacted" by the Indonesian coal ban, as the issue has not been fully resolved and Indian utilities mostly buy from small miners, said Kirit C Gandhi, joint president at Indian cement firm Shree Cement. "If fresh loading is not allowed in the next 5-10 days, there will be a further jump in prices. Consumers cannot wait any further because this is peak buying season," Gandhi said. Vasudev Pamnani, managing director of Indian consultancy Lavi Coal Info OPC Pvt Ltd, said buyers have "very few options, there are supply issues everywhere." (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan in New Delhi, Enrico De la Crus in Manila, Muyu Xu in Beijing, Shivani Singh in Singapore, Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo, editing by Gavin Maguire and Richard Pullin) (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and five Central Asian countries on Thursday discussed the evolving situation in and its impact on security in the region and decided to establish a joint working group on at the senior officials level. The first India-Central Asia Summit, hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in virtual format was attended by five presidents -- Kazakhstan's Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan's Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajikistan's Emomali Rahmon, Turkmenistan's Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow and Kyrgyz Republic's Sadyr Japarov. The timing of the meeting is of particular significance as India and Central Asia countries are celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the 5 Central Asian countries this year. "The Leaders discussed the current situation in and its impact on the security and stability of the region," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The leaders reiterated strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan while emphasizing the respect for sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and non-interference in its internal affairs. They also discussed the current humanitarian situation and decided to continue to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. "The Leaders reaffirmed the importance of UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021) which unequivocally demands that Afghan territory not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts and called for concerted action against all terrorist groups, including those sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)," read the statement. "They also agreed to continue close consultations on the situation in Afghanistan. In this context they decided for the establishment of a Joint Working Group on Afghanistan at Senior Officials Level," the statement said. The leaders also noted that there is a broad 'regional consensus' on the issues related to Afghanistan, which includes the formation of a truly representative and inclusive government, combating terrorism and drug trafficking, the central role of the UN, providing immediate humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan and preserving the rights of women, children and other national ethnic groups and minorities. In this regard, the Leaders noted the initiative of Uzbekistan to hold a High-Level Conference on Afghanistan under the auspices of the SCO in July 2022 in Tashkent, the statement said. The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated drastically since the Taliban took control of Kabul in mid-August last year. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and sanctions on the Taliban have plunged the country, already suffering from high poverty levels, into a full-blown economic crisis. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and the will sign the USD 375 million deal for the sale of supersonic anti-ship cruise missile today, Government officials informed on Friday. They added that the top defence brass of the would be present on the occasion while India would be represented by its Ambassador. These missiles are meant for the Navy. Earlier this month, the Philippines accepted Indian Aerospace Private Limited's proposal worth USD 374.9 million to supply Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile systems for the Philippines Navy. The Philippines government's Department of Defence had also uploaded the contract award notice on its website. Defence Research Development Organisation and Aerospace together have been pushing hard for exports of this missile to friendly foreign countries for the last few months. The BrahMos export order would be the biggest for the country in this field and is likely to propel India amongst the arms exporter countries as more orders for the missile are expected from other friendly countries too. It is in the advanced stage of negotiations with some other nations too. The missile is also getting more capable due to added range and other modern technologies getting incorporated into it. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian-American non-profit body Sewa has jumped to the 10th spot in a latest list of charitable organisations for the year 2021, mainly because of the commendable work carried by it during last year's COVID-19 crisis in both India and the . Notably in 2020 Sewa was ranked 375 in the list of Benevity Inc, the leading provider of global corporate purpose software, and was placed at 690 in 2019. In 2021, the list is led by Doctors Without Borders. Non-profits supporting India's COVID-19 crisis received a groundswell of support, including Sewa . Our earnest thanks to Benevity Inc. for keeping track of these trends and identifying Sewa's increasing support from corporations and their people, said Sandeep Khadkekar, Sewa's vice president for Marketing and Fund Development. In 2021, nearly 1.6 million people from over 700 companies donated USD2.3 billion on the Benevity platform to more than 200,000 nonprofit organisations around the world, a media release said. Nonprofits supporting India's COVID-19 crisis received a groundswell of support, including Sewa International (ranked 10 vs. 375 in 2020), Give2Asia (23 vs. 63), Pratham USA (26 vs. 75) and Goonj (30 vs. 384), Benevity said. The crisis in India also drove additional giving to UNICEF and was part of the reason the organisation's support through Benevity almost doubled year over year (USD13.5 million vs. USD7.3 million in 2020), it said. When the Delta variant hit India last year, we saw companies and their employees mobilise to help, said Birger Stamperdahl, Give2Asia's president and CEO. Their generosity made possible life saving projects that delivered oxygen concentrators, protective gear for health workers and emergency food rations to those hit hardest by the pandemic, he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Several Indian-origin scientists are among hundreds of worldwide experts to urge the UK to back a temporary waiver of intellectual property rules for COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to achieve greater vaccine parity worldwide. India and South Africa had introduced a proposal at the WTO for such a patent waiver for fairer vaccine access for the developing world, but the issue remains deadlocked at the multilateral arena. Epidemiologists Professor K. Srinath Reddy of the Public Health Foundation of India and Dr Deepti Gurdasani of London's Queen Mary University, Bioengineer Manu Prakash, Associate Professor at Stanford University, Professor Amitava Banerjee of University College London, and Professor Harish Nair of the University of Edinburgh are among 320 scientists calling on technology sharing for global vaccination coverage to boost the fight against variants of concern. Allowing huge numbers of people in low- and middle-income countries to remain unvaccinated is a reckless approach to public health that creates conditions where new SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) variants of concern are more likely to develop, reads a letter addressed to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street this week. The experts point out how the Omicron variant was first identified in Botswana and South Africa, countries on a continent in which fewer than one in 10 are fully vaccinated. Thanks to remarkable scientific innovations, we have a number of vaccines that remain highly effective against all known COVID-19 variants. Yet, unless we share this technology with the world and increase global vaccination coverage, vaccines will not be effective at stopping new variants of concern, the experts say. They add: We must use and expand domestic vaccine manufacturing and distribution capacity within low and middle-income countries. However, intellectual property rules and trade secrets remain a major barrier to this task. We call on the UK government to support the temporary waiver of intellectual property rules under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement for COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to scale up and diversify production of the tools needed to end this pandemic. The UK and European Union (EU) are among the countries not in favour of such a waiver, while the US expressed support last year. We also call on the to use all means at its disposal to pressure pharmaceutical companies to share their technology and know-how with the World Health Organisation's (WHO) COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) and its mRNA technology transfer hub in South Africa. This way, we can accelerate production and supply in low and middle-income countries and prevent further variants of concern from emerging, the scientists urge. The UK has maintained that it is doing its bit and making "significant" contributions through the WHO's COVAX initiative for vaccine supplies by donating excess doses. "We recognise and share concerns regarding the level of vaccination in some parts of the world, and we are working on tackling the underlying issues including manufacturing and supply constraints, pressure on health systems, and vaccine confidence," a UK government spokesperson 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.) Oil prices rose on Friday, set for their sixth weekly gain, amid concerns of tight supplies as major producers continue their policy of limited output increases ami rising fuel demand. futures climbed 45 cents, or 0.5%, to $89.79 a barrel at 0429 GMT, after falling 62 cents during the previous day. However, prices did reach $91.04 earlier in that session, the highest since October 2014. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 50 cents, or 0.6%, to $87.11 a barrel, having declined 74 cents on Thursday. WTI also reached a seven-year high of $88.54 earlier in the session. Both Brent and WTI are set to rise for a sixth week, the longest weekly streak since October, when Brent prices climbed for seven weeks while WTI gained for nine. This year, prices have gained about 15% amid geopolitical tensions between Russia, the world's second-largest oil producer and a key natural gas provider to Europe, and the West over as well as threats to the United Arab Emirates from Yemen's Houthi movement that have raised concerns about energy supply. "Where Brent crosses $90 level, we see some selling from a sense of accomplishment, but investors start buying again when the prices fall a little as they remain cautious about possible supply disruptions due to rising geopolitical tensions," said Tatsufumi Okoshi, senior economist at Nomura Securities. "The market expects supply will stay tight as the OPEC+ is seen to keep the existing policy of gradual increase in production," he said The market is focusing on a Feb. 2 meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, a group known as OPEC+. OPEC+ is likely to stick with a planned rise in its oil output target for March, several sources in the group told Reuters. An increase in oil output by producer nations cashing in on expensive crude has depleted the cushion of spare capacity that protects the market from sudden shocks and raised the risk of price spikes or even fuel shortages. "OPEC has been struggling to increase output in line with the agreed rise in quotas ... In effect, spare capacity is at a level which may not be enough to cover any geopolitical disruptions," analysts from ANZ Research said in a note on Friday. "We see the market remaining in deficit in Q1 2022. With supply constraints likely to be a feature of the oil market for a while, we see pricing in a sizeable risk premium," said ANZ, adding that it raised its short-term oil price target to $95 per barrel. On the demand side, crude oil imports in China, the world's biggest importer of the commodity, could rebound by a much as 7% this year, reversing 2021's rare decline as buyers step up purchases for new refining units and to replenish low inventories, analysts and oil company officials said. (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo, additional reporting by Emily Chow in Beijing; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Jacqueline Wong) (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Friday announced that Prime Minister will visit China to attend the opening ceremony of the next week, reinforcing the "all-weather strategic cooperative partnership" between the two countries. During the visit, Khan will have meetings with the Chinese leadership, Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said at the weekly briefing. The visit will reinforce the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between our two countries, and further advance the objective of building a closer China- community with a shared future in the new era, he said. The foreign office on January 13 had said that Khan will be embarking on a three-day visit to from February 3 on the invitation of the Chinese leadership. The will be held from February 4 to 20, followed by the Paralympics Winter Games from March 4-13, amid a diplomatic boycott by several Western countries, including the US and the UK, over concerns of China's alleged human rights abuses. China has launched a diplomatic offensive to mobilise world leaders to attend the opening ceremony of the as the US, the EU and several western countries announced a boycott of the event by their diplomats to highlight the allegations of human rights violations in Xinjiang, including the incarceration of over a million Uygur Muslims in camps. A host of world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are due to attend the opening ceremony to show solidarity with Beijing. China defends the camps, describing them as re-education centres aimed at de-radicalising sections of the Uyghur Muslim population from extremism and separatism campaign carried out by the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM). During the weekly briefing, Ahmad also sought to dispel the impression of any slowdown in projects under China Economic Corridor (CPEC) by saying that both Beijing and Islamabad are strongly committed to take the infrastructure project forward and make it successful. The USD 60 billion CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Balochistan with China's Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of China's ambitious multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India has protested to China over the CPEC as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The BRI was launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes. The BRI is seen as an attempt by China to further its influence abroad with infrastructure projects funded by Chinese investments all over the world. The initiative also led to allegations of smaller countries reeling under mounting Chinese debt after Sri Lanka gave its Hambantota port in a debt swap to China in 2017 on a 99-year lease. FO Spokesperson Ahmad also said the 48th Session of the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) Council of Foreign Ministers will be held in Islamabad from March 22-23. He said Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood visited Jeddah from January 22-25, where Pakistan assumed the Chair of OIC's Senior Officials Meeting in the run up to the Council of Foreign Ministers. (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 this photo provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, officials remove mooring line and a buoy from a young humpback whale off Ukumehame, Maui, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Federal officials say the yearling humpback was freed from entanglement in gear that included about 140 feet of line and a plastic trawling buoy. (Rachel Finn/NOAA/AP) HONOLULU Federal officials say a yearling humpback whale off Hawaii has been freed from a life-threatening entanglement in mooring gear. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said a rescue team cut off about 140 feet (43 meters) of line and a plastic trawling buoy when they freed the whale off Maui on Wednesday. Advertisement The whales tail and fins were wrapped in small-gauge line with the plastic buoy floating behind, the agency said in a statement. In this photo provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, officials remove mooring line and a buoy from a young humpback whale off Ukumehame, Maui, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Federal officials say the yearling humpback was freed from entanglement in gear that included about 140 feet of line and a plastic trawling buoy. (Ed Lyman/NOAA via AP) Officials said the whale was in good condition but that the line wrapped around its tail had begun to cut into the animals flesh. The gear was of considerable weight, the agency said. Advertisement The gear will be analyzed to determine its exact source. The animals behavior was very evasive, and while it stayed near the surface, it maintained unusually rapid speeds, at times in excess of six knots, the agency said in a statement Thursday. Trained responders cut the gear off with a blade attached to a pole after getting close on an inflatable boat. It is a federal crime to approach a humpback whale and the team was working under under federal permit. Given that has amassed 100,000 troops along its nearly 1,200-mile border with Ukraine, a look at two recent invasions by against neighboring territories offers insight to what a possible new invasion would entail if diplomacy is unable to ease the growing tensions. Invasion of Georgia In 2008, Russian President invaded Georgia, a country in the Caucasus region located on the Black Sea, during the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Approximately 40,000 soldiers and 1,200 armored vehicles entered into Georgias semi-autonomous region of South Ossetia before stopping about 35 miles short of Tbilisi, Georgias capital. Putin attempted to justify the invasion under the pretense of the norm of the responsibility to protect. In this case, Russia argued that its use of force was required to protect Osseitians from Georgian genocide. Yet the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, a nongovernmental international agency started in 2008 to prevent genocide, found no legal justification for Russias use of force. Instead, there is plenty of evidence to indicate the war was premeditated. Invasion of Crimea In 2014, when Russian invaded Crimea, Putin had a large troop formation along Ukraines border. But instead of invading there, Putin used hybrid warfare to seize Crimea, a peninsula that juts into the Black Sea and housed a Russian naval base. failed to provide a military response. But when actively supported separatists in the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk collectively known as the Donbass fought back. Even though Ukraines military was in a decrepit state, hollowed out by decades of corruption, it was able to push the Russian-backed separatists to the border with the help of volunteers. In response, Russia increased its support, sending small military formations to assist the separatists. As a career U. S. special forces officer with combat and operational deployments in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, Africa and South America, I conducted field research on the 2008 and 2014 wars in Georgia and . Based on my military experience, Putin would not want to send large troop formations into Ukraine without some sort of justification, credible or not. As it is now, justification for an invasion would be extremely difficult for Putin. That doesnt mean he wont invade anyway. From what I have learned, I expect a possible Russian invasion would start with cyberattacks and electronic warfare to sever communications between Ukraines capital and the troops. Shortly thereafter, tanks and mechanized infantry formations supported by the Russian air force would cross at multiple points along the nearly 1,200-mile border, assisted by Russian special forces. Russia would seek to bypass large urban areas. Likewise, Ukraine would seek to keep the major combat out of large urban areas to minimize the destruction. But neither side likely would be able to avoid urban fighting altogether. A stronger Ukrainian military It would likely be a limited incursion. The political cost of capturing Ukraines capital would be too high, and as a result, Putin would likely stop short of Kiev, just as he did with Tbilisi during the invasion of Georgia in 2014. But the war would be extremely costly for Russia because of significant improvements in the Ukrainian military since 2014. In 2008, a less sophisticated Georgian Army shot down as many as 22 Russian aircraft, causing Russia to significantly decrease its sorties. Russia would likely meet the same fate in 2022 against a Ukrainian military armed with Stinger missiles that are being transferred from Lithuania and Latvia. After testing Ukrainian air defenses and suffering losses in the first few days, I suspect Russia would largely ground its aircraft and instead rely on multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) to knock out strategic strongholds. Ukraine also would likely keep its air force grounded, just as it did in 2014, leading observers to question why Ukraine maintains an air force that costs billions of dollars if it fails to employ it in war. On the ground, Russian tanks also would likely face a much different defense. In 2014, for instance, Russian T-90 tanks supporting separatists in Ukraines Donbass region were almost impenetrable. Since then, Ukraine has upgraded its defense. In 2017, the United States provided Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, with additional missiles arriving from Estonia in the coming days. These man-portable, self-guided missiles are extremely accurate, extremely effective, easy to use and would inflict heavy losses on the Russians. Ukraines military is far more capable now than it was in 2014. Since then, the United States has committed over $2.7 billion in training and equipment that has helped reform Ukraines defenses. Ukraines military is now at least on par and most likely better than the Russians at the tactical level, which is similar to 2008 when Georgian forces often outperformed their Russian counterparts. When Russia invaded the Donbass, Ukrainian volunteers flocked east to stave off Russian forces, preventing Ukraine from losing more than just the Donbass. Many were completely untrained, yet they fought well. Over the past few years, volunteers have continued to train. Russia would not have the element of surprise as it did in 2008 and 2014. Instead, it would find a ready and trained volunteer force that would provide not only critical intelligence to the Ukrainian military but also counterattacks against Russian forces during the invasion. A high price to pay Despite the advances of the Ukrainian military, Russias military, due to its sheer size, would still overwhelm the Ukrainians. Yet a military victory would come at an extremely high military and political cost. Sanctions against Russia following its seizure of Crimea in 2014 have been estimated to have reduced Russias economic growth by 2.5 to 3%, or roughly $50 billion per year. Sanctions would likely be much more significant this time. It is doubtful that Putin is willing to accept these costs. With additional Javelin and Stinger missiles being sent to Ukraine from Western allies and messaging from President Joe Biden that Russia would pay a heavy price for any invasion, Putin might heed the warnings. [Too busy to read another daily email? Get one of The Conversations curated weekly newsletters.] Liam Collins, Founding Director, Modern War Institute, United States Military Academy West Point This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Emmanuel Macron he wanted to continue dialogue with the West and did not want the situation near to escalate, a French presidency official said after the two leaders spoke on Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, on the other hand, said he could not rule out a further escalation of tensions with but he criticised what he said was too much "panic" weighing on the economy. I don't consider the situation now more tense than before, Zelenskiy said. This after the country earlier in the day sent its strongest signal so far that it is willing to engage with US security proposals and reiterated that it does not want war over . Moscow has massed troops near and sought security guarantees from the West, including a promise that Nato will never allow Russia's former Soviet neighbour to join the US-led alliance. Putin spoke to Macron after the and Nato submitted responses to Russia's security demands after weeks of personal public silence on the crisis. "President Putin said he wanted to continue dialogue and that we needed to work towards the implementation of the Minsk accords," the official said after a call between the two leaders, referring to four-way talks between France, Germany, and Ukraine on the conflict in eastern Ukraine that began in 2014. "He said he didn't want an escalation." The Kremlin said Putin told Macron the and Nato had not addressed Russia's main security demands in their standoff over Ukraine but that Moscow was ready to keep talking. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden and his counterpart Ursula von der Leyen on Friday pledged to cooperate on guaranteeing Europe's energy security as well as Ukraine's amid the standoff triggered by amassing troops at Ukraine's border. "The and the EU are working jointly towards continued, sufficient, and timely supply of natural gas to the EU from diverse sources across the globe to avoid supply shocks, including those that could result from a further Russian invasion of Ukraine," they said in a joint statement. Also, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy spoke with Putin, after which he said said the US and Nato had not addressed Moscow's main security demands in the East-West standoff over Ukraine, but that he was ready to keep talking. Speaking at a news conference, Zelenskiy said: "I don't consider the situation now more tense than before. There is a feeling abroad that there is war here. That's not the case." "I am not saying an escalation is not possible...(but) we don't need this panic." Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told radio stations in an interview: "If it depends on Russia, then there will be no war. We don't want wars. But we also won't allow our interests to be rudely trampled, to be ignored.". The United States and its allies have warned Putin that Russia will face swift and tough economic sanctions if he attacks Ukraine. Lavrov said the West was ignoring Russia's interests but there was at least "something" in written responses submitted by the United States and Nato on Wednesday to Russia's proposals. Oil trades over $91 in a new 7-year high Oil prices reached seven-year highs on Friday as geopolitical tensions continue to raise supply concerns. Brent crude futures were up $1.91, or 2.1%, at $91.25 a barrel by 1436 GMT, having hit $91.41 on Friday for their highest since October 2014. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose $1.83, or 2.11%, to $88.44 a barrel. WTI also reached a fresh seven-year high of $88.76 earlier in Friday's session. Both Brent and WTI are on track for their six-weekly gain in the longest run of weekly gains since October. Supply scarcity has pushed the six-month market structure for Brent into steep backwardation of $6.62 a barrel, the widest since 2013. (Reuters) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The global smartphone market grew for the first time since 2017, with annual shipments reaching 1.39 billion units in 2021, with leading the pack with 271 million units, a new report showed on Friday. Despite the 4 per cent annual growth, annual shipments remained below the pre-pandemic level due to continued Covid-19 impacts as well as component shortages, according to Counterpoint Research. "India, too, had a good year due to higher replacement rates, better availability and more attractive financing options in mid-to high-tier phones," said senior analyst Harmeet Singh Walia. However, China, the world's biggest smartphone market, continued to decline due to supply-side issues caused by the ongoing component shortages, as well as demand-side issues resulting from lengthening replacement cycles, Walia informed. shipped 271 million units in 2021, up 6 per cent from 2020, mainly due to increased demand for its mid-tier A and M series smartphones. Samsung's annual shipments grew despite supply-side issues starting with its Vietnam factory being shut in June due to Covid-induced lockdown, according to the report. Apple's global smartphone shipments grew 18 per cent to reach a record 237.9 million units in 2021 due to strong performance by the iPhone 12 series. Apple also grew in key markets such as the US, China, Europe and India. Motorola was the fastest-growing brand among the top 10 smartphone OEMs based on annual global shipments. It took advantage of LG's exit in the US. "Despite the threat of a resurgence towards the end of last year, and with supply issues hopefully coming to an end towards the middle of this year, there is reason to be optimistic for good growth in 2022 as a whole," said research director Jan Stryjak. (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. wiped out about $109 billion off its valuation in the course of a single day after the electric vehicle makers fourth-quarter earnings and outlook failed to impress investors. of the Austin, Texas-based electric vehicle maker plunged nearly 12% on Thursday after an earnings call the previous day that was long on a humanoid robot called Optimus and short on new vehicles. The stock closed at $829 in New York, the lowest since Oct. 14. The decline was the second biggest on the S&P 500 Index on Thursday. The last time erased more than $100 billion in market value in a single day was Nov. 9. During Teslas fourth-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, chief executive officer Elon Musk said that the company would not introduce any new vehicles this year. President on Thursday called on Congress to immediately enshrine the Equal Rights Amendment in the U.S. Constitution and formally protect women's rights nearly a century after lawmakers first raised them. In a statement, Biden urged Congress "to pass a resolution recognizing ratification of the ERA," saying recent legal analysis showed there was nothing preventing lawmakers from acting. The Democratic president's call comes amid jostling over the deadline to enact the ERA, which passed Congress in 1972 with a 1982 deadline to be enacted if 38 state legislatures voted to approve. Nearly 100 years have passed since it was first introduced in 1923. Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives separately unveiled a resolution to enshrine the ERA, but it could fall short of the 60 votes needed in the Senate, where Democrats control just 50 seats. Congressional aides also said the ERA resolution would have to overcome the filibuster unless Republicans agree to pass it by unanimous consent. While supporters say the ERA is needed to protect against sexual discrimination and would help achieve equal pay, opponents argue the original timetable has passed and that the amendment is no longer needed. Virginia became the 38th state in 2020 to adopt the ERA, but Republican then-President Donald Trump sought to block ratification with a legal memo saying the process must begin anew. A new Justice Department legal analysis, however, allows the process to move forward and "makes clear, there is nothing standing in Congressas way from doing so," Biden said. House oversight panel Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and other Democrats argue that the ERA made clear it takes effect two years after the final stateas ratification, with Thursday marking two years since Virginia's vote. The resolution "reaffirms what we already know to be true: the Equal Rights Amendment is the 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution," Maloney said. The issue also remains entangled in the federal courts: Virginia, Illinois and Nevada sued to have the ERA declared valid. In a statement, the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration said it would abide by the Justice Department's legal opinion unless otherwise directed by a final court order. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vedant Fashions Ltd, which owns ethnic wear brand Manyavar, on Friday fixed a price band of Rs 824-866 a share for its Rs 3,149-crore initial public offering (IPO). The initial share-sale will open on February 4 and conclude on February 8. The bidding for anchor investors will open on February 3, according to the company. The public issue is purely an offer for sale of 36,364,838 equity shares by promoter and existing shareholders. The OFS comprises sale of up to 1.74 crore shares by Rhine Holdings Ltd; up to 7.23 lakh shares by Kedaara Capital Alternative Investment Fund-Kedaara Capital AIF I; and up to 1.81 crore shares by Ravi Modi Family Trust. The promoters of the company are Ravi Modi, Shilpi Modi and Ravi Modi Family Trust. Since, the is entirely an offer for sale, the company will not receive any proceeds from the public issue. At the upper end of the price band, the public issue is expected to fetch Rs 3,149 crore. Half of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional buyers, 35 per cent for retail investors and the remaining 15 per cent for non-institutional investors. Investors can bid for a minimum of 17 equity shares and in multiples thereof. Vedant Fashions' brand is a category leader in the branded Indian wedding and celebration wear market with a pan India presence. The company's other brands include Twamev, Manthan, Mohey and Mebaz. As of September 2021, the company has an extensive retail network with 546 exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) including 58 shop-in-shops globally, including 11 overseas EBOs across the United States, Canada and the UAE, which are countries with a large Indian diaspora. In India, the company's EBO network spans across 212 cities and towns, as of September 2021. "We seek to grow our retail network and product reach by entering new geographies, including in Tier II and III towns and cities in India, as we believe that these offer significant growth opportunities for us," the company said in the red herring prospectus. Axis Capital, Edelweiss Financial Services, ICICI Securities, IIFL Securities and Kotak Mahindra Capital are the book-running lead managers to the issue. The ongoing correction in capital market has not dented valuation of Kolkata-based ethnic wear major Vedant Fashions' initial public offer that aims to raise Rs 3,149 crore, a company official said on Friday. The company, whose flagship brand is the male ethic brand 'Manyavar', has fixed its upper issue price band at Rs 824-866 a share, a company official said. BSE Sensex has seen about 4300 point correction since early January amid highly volatile trading sessions. The company official said the pricing was decided after feedback from institutional investors who have shown high demand interest for the shares. The company officials said initially it was estimated to raise Rs 2500 crore. However, with better valuations the company will raise upto Rs 3,149 crore at the upper price band through the IPO. The public issue is purely an offer for sale of 36,364,838 equity shares by promoters and existing shareholders. The offer for sale comprises sale of up to 1.74 crore shares by Rhine Holdings Ltd, up to 7.23 lakh shares by Kedaara Capital Alternative Investment Fund and up to 1.81 crore shares by Ravi Modi Family Trust. Rationalizing the high price band, officials said it is an asset light company with zero debt despite its 546 exclusive stores. The huge growth potential in the organised celebration market will help to retain its high growth momentum. Vedant Fashions is a pan-India player with a retail presence in over 200 cities and three countries in UAE, Canada and the United States. The company said it will double its overseas store floor area in the next few years. Its 'Manyavar' brand accounts for about 80 per cent of its revenue and the company officials said it was confident that its other newer brands will grow stronger in the years to come. Asked about the impact of the third wave of COVID-19 on it, the company said it was minimal as shutdown was minimal. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The key benchmark indices are likely to start trade on a flat note amid mixed global cues. On one hand, investors will be contemplating the bearish global mood, while on the other pinning hopes for some positive from the upcoming Union Budget on February 01. As of 07:55 AM, the SGX Nifty February futures quoted at 17,132 as against the spot Nifty close of 17,110 on Thursday. Meanwhile, here are the top for trade today. Earnings Watch: 3i Infotech, AU Small Finance Bank, Bajaj Heathcare, Bharat Electronics, Blue Dart, Britannia, Central Bank, Chambal Fertilisers, Crompton Greaves, Deepak Fertilisers, Dixon Technologies, EIH Associated Hotels, Equitas Small Finance Bank, Gujarat Fluorochemicals, GE Shipping, GSFC, Happiest Mind Technologies, HT Media, Kitex Garmets, Kotak Bank, Karnataka Bank, Larsen & Toubro, Marico, Max Financials, MRPL, Naukri, NIIT, Oberoi Realty, Shriram City Union Finance, Suzlon, Tata Coffee, TCI Express, Thirumalai Chemicals, United Breweries, UTI AMC and Vedanta are some of the companies to announce December quarter results today. Company: The flagship company of the $8.5-billion TVS Group, acquired a 75 per cent stake in Swiss e-Mobility Group (SEMG) for $100 million (about Rs 752 crore). This was the companys second acquisition in Switzerland in the e-mobility space during the current fiscal, after buying 80 per cent in EGO Movement for $17.9 million in September 2021. The company plans to launch SEMG brands - Cilo, Simpel, Allegro, and Zenith - in India by the end of 2022. READ MORE RBL Bank: The private sector lender reported a 6 per cent YoY increase in net profit at Rs 156.10 crore for the OctoberDecember quarter (Q3FY22), aided by lower provisions and healthy growth in net interest income (NII). Net profit in the reporting quarter beat street estimates as analysts at Bloomberg had estimated a net profit of Rs 75.7 crore. Provisions of the lender fell 30 per cent on a YoY basis to Rs 423.88 crore in the Q3FY22. READ MORE In a major relief to telecom operators, the Telecom Standards Development Society of India (TSDI), backed by the government, informed the Telecom Enginneering Centre (TEC) under the DoT on January 25 not to proceed with the process of adopting 5Gi as a national standard. The TSDI has also informed the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) that it will follow the global 5G standards. READ MORE The telecom major informed BSE, that its subsidiary Airtel Africa has been inducted into the London Stock Exchange's (LSE) FTSE 100 index. Airtel Africa listed on LSE in June 2019 and had a market capitalisation of $ 7.5 billion as of January 26. Indus Towers: The telecom infrastructure company posted near about 16 per cent YoY rise in consolidated profit at Rs 1,570.8 crore for December quarter. Revenue grew marginally to Rs 6,927 crore from Rs 6,736 crore in the corresponding period of 2020-21. Fino Payments Bank: The companys Q3FY22 net profit more than doubled to Rs 14.10 crore as against Rs 6.52 crore in Q3FY21. Total income grew 20.3 per cent YoY to Rs 275.17 crore from Rs 228.65 crore in the same period. Future Enterprises: The company has agreed to sell a 25 per cent stake in its general insurance joint venture to its Dutch partner for Rs 1,252.96 crore, in cash, and an additional consideration linked to the date of the closing of the transaction. READ MORE Future Retail: The Supreme Court will hear Future Retails plea against lenders on January 31. The Kishore Biyani-led company had filed a petition, requesting the Supreme Court to pass an order to refrain its lenders from declaring it as a non-performing asset (NPA) if it does not pay dues of Rs 3,494 crore by January 29. READ MORE LIC Housing Finance: The companys net profit rose 6 per cent YoY to Rs 767.33 crore in the third quarter. The mortgage finance companys net interest income (NII) was up 14 per cent at Rs 1,455 crore in Q3FY22 as against Rs 1,281 crore in the year-ago quarter. READ MORE (PNB): The state-run bank reported a two-fold jump in standalone net profit at Rs 1,126.78 crore for the third quarter ended December, as bad loans marginally declined. Total income, however, during October-December 2021 declined to Rs 22,026.02 crore as against Rs 23,298.53 crore a year ago. READ MORE Colgate-Palmolive India: The FMCG company reported a marginal 1.6 per cent YoY rise in its net profit to Rs 252.33 crore for the third quarter ended December 2021. Revenue rose 3.84 per cent to Rs 1,271.29 crore from Rs 1,224.21 crore in the year-ago period. Shares of slipped 7 per cent to Rs 585.20 on the BSE in Fridays intra-day trade in an otherwise firm market after the company announced it acquired 75 per cent stake in Swiss E-Mobility Group (SMEG) for $100 million (about Rs 752 crore). The acquisition reaffirms TVS Motor Companys commitment to expansion in Europe through a portfolio of premium and technology leading brands, including Norton Motorcycles and EGO Movement, which were recently acquired, the company said in a press release. TVS Motor had bought 80 per cent stake in EGO Movement for $17.9 million in September 2021. This acquisition furthers TVS Motors commitment towards e-personal mobility products. We are strengthening our presence in the rapidly growing e-bikes segment. SEMG has strong omnichannel distribution and aspirational brands, including Cilo, Simpel, and Zenith Bikes, the companys management said. SMEG was incorporated in 2018 and is mainly operating in E-bike segment with revenue (FY20) pegged at around Rs 550 crore. SEMG is a fully integrated e-bike platform with its core business consisting of purchase and re-sale of own branded e-bikes, third party branded e-bikes and spare parts through retail and online stores in Switzerland and Germany. SEMG has a network of over 30 retail stores across Switzerland and Germany with plans to expand into other European Countries. The transaction is concluded at a P/S ratio of ~1.2x, ICICI Securities said in a note. In the past three months, the stock of TVS Motor underperformed the market by falling 8 per cent, as compared to 3 per cent decline in the S&P BSE Sensex. In the six months, the stock was up 5 per cent, as against a10 per cent rally in the benchmark index. At 11:04 am; TVS Motor was down 4 per cent at Rs 607, as compared to 1.2 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. The trading volume at the counter more-than-doubled with a combined 4.3 million equity shares changing hands on the NSE and BSE. Days ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, a woman, Suman Toor, who says she is Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu's sister described her brother, Sidhu as a 'cruel person' and alleged that he had deserted their old mother after their father's death. Toor, who is based in the United States alleged, "Sidhu abandoned our old mother after the death of our father in 1986 and she later died as a destitute woman at Delhi railway station in 1989." According to her, ended "everything for the sake of money". She also said that in a news article earlier Sidhu had lied about their parents having been separated, when he was two years old. Meanwhile, a response from on the allegations is still awaited. Punjab will go to the polls on February 14 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. #WATCH | Chandigarh: Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu's sister from the US, Suman Toor alleges that he abandoned their old-aged mother after the death of their father in 1986 & she later died as a destitute woman at Delhi railway station in 1989. (Source: Suman Toor) pic.twitter.com/SveEP9YrsD ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Archaeologists Jack Schreiber and Caitlin Delmas record the location of a broken millstone. The stone fragment and other cobbles around it were originally part of the 1617 church foundation and were removed and thrown into the churchyard during the construction of the 1680s brick church tower. Courtesy of Jamestown Rediscovery (HANDOUT) Jamestown When the Jamestown Rediscovery archaeology team began excavating a pit on the north side of the church tower, the goal was to discover what it had been used for at the time. But what they hadnt anticipated finding were Native artifacts dating back to the early years of the Jamestown colony, furthering the teams understanding of the intricate socioeconomic interactions between the First Peoples and colonists. Advertisement So, thats something that we had never expected to find and something that wasnt in the historic documents and underscores the importance of archaeology, Jamestown Rediscoverys Director of Archaeology Dave Givens said. When senior staff archaeologists Mary Anna Hartley and Sean Romo began excavating the pit, they anticipated that the spot might have been disturbed as nearby excavation areas had been damaged by modern activity. Advertisement But, to their surprise, the spot was relatively intact with historic surfaces dating back to the 1680s and the 1640s surviving just below the modern ground. As they dug deeper, the team discovered bricks and pieces of plaster that could have been salvaged from the nearby church after it burned in Bacons Rebellion. Further down, the team uncovered the boundaries of the original churchyard, marked out by a large ditch. Thats the kind of interesting thing, the main point was to focus on uncovering the pit and then, along the way in the journey, weve uncovered a piece of the original churchyard that we hadnt quite understood before, Hartley said. Its a nice bonus. With each layer uncovered, the team is transported back to that time. With nearly hundreds of years of soil layers to uncover, the pit can offer insight into previous digs. As Romo explains, it is like putting puzzle pieces together and some have yet to be uncovered. Often, pits like the one currently under excavation at the north side of the tower were once small cellars within a building. When the building comes down, the colonists would fill in the pit with their trash. While Jamestowns earliest residents might have viewed these pits as trash dumps, they serve as a sort of time capsule for archaeologists. In this particular pit, the team found evidence of structural supports for the building that had contained this pit. A find located just outside of the 1607 fort wall sheds light on how these features relate to the original fortifications and how they changed through time. Every time we dig we figure out something new that paints something we found in the past in a different light, Romo said. The complexity of the space was surprising to us. Advertisement Senior Staff Archaeologist Mary Anna Hartley studies pieces of a Roanoke Simple-Stamped pot from the pit currently under excavation. The fill in the pit contains evidence of Native Americans and English interaction within the first few years of James Fort. Courtesy of Jamestown Rediscovery (HANDOUT) Farther down in the pit, Hartley made an intriguing discovery: remnants of a Roanoke simple-stamped clay pot dating back to between 1607 and 1609. With discoveries of other artifacts in other dig sites at the fort, it is a strong indication that there were Native Americans on Jamestown Island before and after the colonists arrived. According to Givens, the material collection shows that there was clear support by the Native American community to the colonists including feeding them as well as living and working in Jamestown. These recent discoveries help tell a more complete narrative of the socioeconomic interactions between the Indigenous community, the English and the first Africans and how they interacted, which is one of the teams most pressing goals. Archaeologists Kalen Anderson and Caitlin Delmas excavate plaster from the 1617 Timber Frame Church in the site north of the Church Tower. This plaster is likely evidence of when the 1640s Brick Churchs west wall punched through the still-standing western portion of the 1617 Church. Currently, the team theorizes that the far western end bay of the Timber Frame Church was incorporated into the new Brick Church because it was serving as its belfry. Courtesy of Jamestown Rediscovery (HANDOUT) Upon the colonists arrival to the island, the first couple of years were difficult and the English relied on support from the Powhatan which ultimately helped the colony survive. The Powhatan, which controlled the entire Eastern seaboard of Virginia, actively supported the English, viewing them as potential trade partners as the colonists had access to goods and materials considered valuable such as weapons, Romo said. Meanwhile, the English had dreams of empire and wealth. Internally, the colonists were faced with their own struggles as they were not receiving support from the Virginia Company, which funded the expedition. This led to them turning to the Powhatan tribe for food to survive. Advertisement According to Hartley, many of the commoners among the colonists abandoned the fort, choosing to live with their Powhatan neighbors as they could shelter and feed the colonists. Prior to 1622, when aggressions broke out between the colonists and the Native Americans, there were complex relations taking place between the two parties and the archaeological team is helping to uncover some of the early history. It was a more complicated place than I think most people realize, Hartley said. For more information regarding the dig site, visit bit.ly/3qRdSAt or historicjamestowne.org. Em Holter, emily.holter@virginiamedia.com, 757-256-6657, @EmHolterNews. The issue received bids for 13.85 crore shares as against 12.25 crore shares on offer. The initial public offer (IPO) of Adani Wilmar received bids for 13,85,77,270 shares as against 12,25,46,150 shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 17:00 IST on Friday (28 January 2022). The issue was subscribed 1.13 times. The issue opened for bidding on 27 January 2022 and it will close on 31 January 2022. The price band of the IPO is fixed at Rs 218-230. An investor can bid for a minimum of 65 equity shares and in multiples thereof. The IPO comprises of fresh issue of equity shares worth up to Rs 3600 crore. The objectives for the fresh issue are capital expenditure of Rs 1900 crore, repayment or prepayment of outstanding borrowings for Rs 1058.9 crore, funding strategic acquisitions and investments for Rs 450 crore and general corporate purposes. Ahead of the IPO, Adani Wilmar on Tuesday, 25 January 2022, finalized allocation of 4,08,65,217 equity shares to anchor investors at an allocation price of Rs 230 per share, aggregating to Rs 939.89 crore. Adani Wilmar is among a few large FMCG food companies in India to offer most of the essential kitchen commodities for Indian consumers, including edible oil, wheat flour, rice, pulses, and sugar. The company's products are offered under a diverse range of brands across a broad price spectrum and cater to different customer groups. Essential commodities, such as edible oils, wheat flour, rice, pulses and sugar, account for approximately 66% of the spend on essential kitchen commodities in India. The company has 22 plants are strategically located across 10 states in India, comprising 10 crushing units and 19 refineries with an aggregate designed capacity of 8,525 MT per day and 16,285 MT per day, respectively, as of September 30, 2021. Out of the 19 refineries, ten are port-based to facilitate use of imported crude edible oil and reduce transportation costs, while the remaining are typically located in the hinterland in proximity to raw material production bases to reduce storage costs. The company's refinery in Mundra is the one of the largest single location refineries in India with a designed capacity of 5,000 MT per day. In addition to the 22 plants it owns, it also used 36 leased tolling units as of September 30, 2021, which provided with additional manufacturing capacities. The company intends to further expand its distribution network with an omni-channel approach. It aims to expand its online reach in India from current 25 cities to 100 cities in the next few years. It also aims to have more than 40 Fortune Mart stores opened across India in the next few years. Adani Wilmar reported a net profit of Rs 357.13 crore on sales of Rs 24,874.52 crore in six month ended September 2021. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chambal Fertilisers & Chemicals slipped 4.79% to Rs 432.15 after the company posted a 7.56% fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 435.17 crore in Q3 FY22 from Rs 470.75 crore posted in Q3 FY21. Revenue from operations increased by 22.4% to Rs 4,743.33 crore in Q3 FY22 from Rs 3,872.6 crore posted in the same quarter last year. Consolidated profit before tax stood at Rs 610.58 in Q3 FY22, 10.5% lower than Rs 682.2 crore registered in Q3 FY22. The company's total expenses for quarter ended December 2021 spiked by 32.4% to Rs 4260.89 crore from Rs 3,217.7 crore recorded in the corresponding period last year. The board of directors at its meeting held today also approved setting up a plant for manufacture of Technical Ammonium Nitrate at its existing site at Gadepan, District Kota, Rajasthan with a capacity of approximately 2,20,000 metric tons per annum. The estimated cost of project is approximately Rs 1170 crore. The project will also include a plant to manufacture approximately 1,80,000 metric tons per annum of weak nitric acid. Chambal said that the demand of Technical Ammonium Nitrate in India outstrips the supply and balance is met through imports. The company has excess ammonia being produced in its fertiliser plants at Gadepan due to technical reasons which is presently being sold in the domestic market. Such excess ammonia is proposed to be utilized for manufacture of Technical Ammonium Nitrate which will result into value addition and hence better margins for the company. The Technical Ammonium Nitrate to be manufactured shall cater primarily to the domestic market in India. The said project is estimated to be completed in next 36 months and implementation of the project is subject to necessary statutory and other approvals. Meanwhile, the company has declared a dividend of Rs 4.5 per share. The interim dividend shall be paid/ dispatched on or before 25 February 2022. Chambal Fertilisers & Chemicals manufactures ammonia, urea, pesticides and other products for farming and other agricultural applications. The company also provides consulting services to farmers on their seeding programs. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hindalco Industries Ltd is quoting at Rs 503.95, up 3.03% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 122.69% in last one year as compared to a 27.28% spurt in NIFTY and a 81.75% spurt in the Nifty Metal index. Hindalco Industries Ltd gained for a third straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 503.95, up 3.03% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 1.43% on the day, quoting at 17354.6. The Sensex is at 58048.43, up 1.35%. Hindalco Industries Ltd has risen around 10.94% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Hindalco Industries Ltd is a constituent, has risen around 2.06% in last one month and is currently quoting at 5445.9, up 2.7% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 30.31 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 74.43 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark February futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 506.55, up 3.28% on the day. Hindalco Industries Ltd is up 122.69% in last one year as compared to a 27.28% spurt in NIFTY and a 81.75% spurt in the Nifty Metal index. The PE of the stock is 32.5 based on TTM earnings ending September 21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SGX Nifty: Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could fall 21 points at the opening bell. Build up to the upcoming budget session would be the key event that the market would be looking for in the near future. The Budget session of Parliament is set to commence on January 31 and will conclude on April 8. The government will present the Budget for fiscal 2022-23 on February 1. The Economic Survey is likely to be tabled on January 31 after the president's address, as per reports. Investors will also continue to monitor the situation surrounding the omicron COVID-19 variant. On the political front, developments in the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab, and Manipur will be closely watched. Polls in all the five states will be held between February 10 and March 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes and the result will be declared on March 10. Global markets: Overseas, Asian stocks are mostly trading higher on Friday, following a volatile session on Wall Street overnight where investors reacted to comments from the Federal Reserve and U.S. GDP data. The Taiwan market is closed for a holiday on Friday. Wall Street gyrated wildly on Thursday as investors juggled positive economic news with mixed corporate earnings, geopolitical unrest and the prospect of a more hawkish Federal Reserve. On the macro front, the US economy expanded by 5.7% in 2021. It was the strongest calendar-year growth since a 7.2% surge in 1984 after a previous recession. The economy ended the year by growing at a solid 6.9% annual pace from October through December, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. Domestic markets: Back home, the benchmark indices ended with modest losses on Thursday. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, dropped 581.21 points or 1% at 57,276.94. The Nifty 50 index fell 167.80 points or 0.97% at 17,110.15. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 6,266.75 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net buyers to the tune of Rs 2,881.32 crore in the Indian equity market on 27 January, provisional data showed. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nava Bharat Ventures rose 7.38% to Rs 128 after the company's consolidated net profit rose 42.31% to Rs 168.55 crore on a 43.90% increase in net sales to Rs 949.91 crore in Q3 December 2021 over Q3 December 2020. On a consolidated basis, profit before tax rose 61.23% to Rs 273.75 crore in Q3 December 2021 as against Rs 169.79 crore in Q3 December 2020. Adjusted EBITDA rose 30.8% to Rs 507.51 crore in Q3 December 2021 over Q3 December 2020. Adjusted EBITDA margin stood at 50.5% in Q3 December 2021 as against 54.7% in Q3 December 2020. Provision for expected credit loss continued to impact the reported adjusted EBIDTA while impact on account of forex adjustment remained minimal for the quarter. Consolidated revenue increased due to strong standalone operational performance and increased plant availability of Maamba Collieries Limited (MCL), the step down subsidiary of Nava Bharat Ventures, during Q3. International operations were stable with merchant coal sales exhibiting continuing strength. The company's consolidated debt stood at Rs 3591.60 crore as on 31 December 2021 as against Rs 3550.80 crore as on 31 December 2020. Most of the debt on consolidated front pertains to Zambian operations which does not have any recourse to the company nor its any subsidiary. On a standalone basis, Nava Bharat Ventures reported 99% growth in revenue, 238% growth in EBITDA and 222% growth in PAT for the quarter. Commenting on the results, Asbwin Devineni, CEO, said: "For Q3FY22 Nava Bharat has delivered strong top-line growth riding On its Ferro Alloys and Standalone Power business operations. On International operations front, Zambian power operations remained stable with continued improvement in merchant coal sales. Nava Bharat ha been continuing its efforts to further strengthen its operations especially via backward integration. Company has received exploration permit from the Government Cote d'ivoire (Ivory Coast) for manganese ore in Q2FY22. Recently the Company has completed its INR 1.5 bn buyback program for FY22 and it continues to explore more opportunities which can further enhance shareholder value." Nava Bharat Ventures is an Indian conglomerate with business interest in ferro alloys, power generation, coal mining and healthcare. Nava Bharat is one of the leading Ferro alloy producers in India with about 125,000 MT of Manganese and about 75,000 MT of Chrome Alloy capacities. The Group has total installed power generation capacity of 434MW in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha in India. Nava Bharat owns and operates an integrated mine mouth 300 MW thermal power plant in Zambia, held through its step down subsidiary Maamba Collieries Limited (65%). Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SJVN announced that Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency has issued a letter of intent for supply of 200 MW power at the fixed quoted tariff of Rs. 3.11/- per kWh for sale of solar power as per terms & conditions laid down in the RFP, PPA, Corrigendum and BERC final order on long term basis for 25 years. These projects will assist SJVN in achieving its ambitious shared vision of 5000 MW by 2023, 25000 MW by 2030 and 50000 MW by 2040 and simultaneously contribute towards RE capacity addition target of 500 GW by 2030 set by Government of India. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SpiceJet jumped 5.71% to Rs 63.90 after the media reported that the Supreme Court of India has granted a stay on the Madras High Court's order directing the winding up of SpiceJet. According to the media report, the apex court has granted three weeks to SpiceJet to resolve the matter with Credit Suisse AG. The matter pertains to a Madras High Court order that directed the winding up of SpiceJet after it failed to clear dues given by Credit Suisse. The airline is challenging unpaid dues to the tune of Rs 180 crore, claimed by Swiss Financial Services, Credit Suisse AG. The SC stay order came after SpiceJet reportedly said that it was working something out and needed a little time. SR Technics in Switzerland had reportedly carried out aircraft maintenance, repair and other services through an agreement with a lifetime of 10 years in 2011. SpiceJet and Credit Suisse signed a supplemental agreement in 2021 that enabled them to repay the amount raised by SRT. Credit Suisse AG had the rights to receive payments that were due to SRT in 2012 through a financial agreement. The agreement also entitled the third party to receive payments from SpiceJet under seven invoices that were raised by SRT. The Swiss firm stated that even after repeated requests SpiceJet shrugged off responsibilities to repay the money due as per the invoices, the media report suggested. Spicejet reported a net loss of Rs 570.56 crore in Q2 FY22, higher than the net loss of Rs 105.61 crore posted in Q2 FY21. Net sales increased by 26.4% to Rs 1,304.52 crore in Q2 FY22 from Rs 1,031.66 crore posted in Q2 FY21. SpiceJet is a low-budget air carrier. The airline operates a fleet of Boeing 737s, Q-400s & freighters and is the country's largest regional player operating 63 daily flights under UDAN or the Regional Connectivity Scheme. The airline also operates a dedicated air cargo service under the brand name SpiceXpress offering cargo connectivity across India and on international routes. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TVS Motor Company announced the successful acquisition of a 75% stake in the Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG). The acquisition has been made in an all-cash deal through TVS Motor's Singapore Subsidiary, TVS Motor (Singapore). TVS Motor acquired 75% stake at Swiss Franc (CHF) 525.78 per share. 75% stake amounts to 114,658 common equity shares of SEMG. TCS said the acquisition is aligned with its larger vision of becoming a leading player in the e-personal mobility space and providing its customers with sustainable mobility solutions, and complements its other recent acquisitions. TVS considers SEMG as a long-term partner to establish a strong presence in the e-mobility business. The acquisition reaffirms TVS Motor Company's commitment to expansion in Europe through a portfolio of premium and technology leading brands, including Norton Motorcycles and EGO Movement, which were recently acquired. SEMG is a market-leading provider of e-mobility solutions within the DACH region, operating the largest pure-play e-bike retail chain M-way in Switzerland with close to $100 million in revenue. The company has a prestigious Swiss mobility brands portfolio, including Cilo, Simpel, Allegro, and Zenith - Bikes. By combining its extensive physical network and e-commerce platform with two online platforms and 31 physical stores, SEMG is able to deliver a seamless and world-class customer experience. In 2020, SEMG generated a turnover of Swiss Franc (CHF) 69.87 million. E-bikes are establishing themselves as the de-facto form of personal mobility in Europe due to the increased ease of usage, regulatory support, and overall perception as a sustainable form of transport. With a current penetration of approximately 15% of the total bicycle population in Europe and growing at a CAGR of ~18%, the market for the e-bicycle holds significant growth potential. TVS Motor Company is a two and three-wheeler manufacturer and is the flagship company of the TVS Group. TVS Motor's consolidated net profit jumped 29.2% to Rs 234.37 crore on 23.4% surge in net sales to Rs 6,483.42 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q2 FY21. Shares of TVS Motor were down 5.50% at Rs 595 in early trade on BSE. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LaTeisha Meekins is next scheduled to appear in court 7:59 a.m. July 28, at which time the court will determine whether her competency is restored. Williamsburg A Williamsburg woman who police say fatally stabbed a 71-year-old James City County woman outside of a Walgreens has been deemed incompetent to stand trial by the Williamsburg-James City County District Court. LaTeisha Meekins, 35, appeared virtually before a judge Thursday morning, charged with one count of second-degree murder for a hearing to determine whether she was able to stand trial following a mental evaluation. Advertisement According to Commonwealths Attorney Nat Green, the court found that Meekins was not competent to stand trial and she has been ordered to receive inpatient treatment to restore her competency before preceding to trial. LaTeisha Meekins, 35, of Williamsburg, is charged with second-degree murder. (Courtesy of Williamsburg Police Department) Meekins is next scheduled to appear in court 7:59 a.m. July 28, at which time the court will determine whether her competency is restored. Advertisement Around 6 p.m. Nov. 12, witnesses described a person matching Meekinss description attacking the victim, Catherine Patricia Heaston, unprovoked with a knife, stabbing her multiple times. Williamsburg Police Department officers obtained video from the surrounding businesses and conducted a canvass. Meekins was arrested at her home and later verbally confessed to the attack, according to court documents. Heaston was transported to Riverside Doctors Hospital in critical condition where she was later pronounced dead. According to officers, Meekins and Heaston arrived at the Walgreens separately. The department could not provide a definitive cause for the incident. Meekinss previous criminal offenses include several traffic infractions and misdemeanors including child restraint, failure to appear in court, driving under a suspended license, improper brakes and following too close. According to the department, this was the only homicide in 2021 in the city. The last recorded homicide in the city occurred in 2017. In 2006, the city recorded its highest homicide rate in 15 years with three slayings. Em Holter, emily.holter@virginiamedia.com, 757-256-6657, @EmHolterNews. Vedanta Ltd is quoting at Rs 335, up 2.07% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 107.75% in last one year as compared to a 27.28% jump in NIFTY and a 81.75% jump in the Nifty Metal index. Vedanta Ltd is up for a third straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 335, up 2.07% on the day as on 12:54 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 1.43% on the day, quoting at 17354.6. The Sensex is at 58048.43, up 1.35%. Vedanta Ltd has slipped around 1.31% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Vedanta Ltd is a constituent, has slipped around 2.06% in last one month and is currently quoting at 5445.9, up 2.7% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 85.76 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 108.2 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark February futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 336.2, up 2% on the day. Vedanta Ltd is up 107.75% in last one year as compared to a 27.28% jump in NIFTY and a 81.75% jump in the Nifty Metal index. The PE of the stock is 8.76 based on TTM earnings ending September 21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) World Gold Council (WGC) noted that Indian gold jewellery demand almost doubled y-o-y in 2021, surging past pre-pandemic levels to reach a six-year high of 611 tonnes (t). Record quarterly demand of 265 tonnes (t) in Q4 set the seal on this remarkable annual performance. With the easing of lockdown restrictions from June onwards and continued successful roll out of the vaccination program, India's economy recovered in H2 2021. This boosted consumer sentiment particularly in urban India as reflected in an increase in the Reserve Bank of India's Consumer Confidence Index, which rose to 62.3 in November 2021. Rural demand was supported by normal monsoon rainfall, although crop loss due to floods in the Southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu impacted rural demand to a degree. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid internal rumblings within the Congress over being awarded Padma Bhushan, Congress leader took a dig at those criticising Azad within the party, saying the importance of an award is when the rival party honours the achievements of a leader as people can fulfil any wish when it is their own government. His remarks come amid speculation over his political future and talk that he is in touch with the Samajwadi Party for a possible switch ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. "The importance of an award is when the rival party honours the achievements of a leader -- people can fulfil any wish when it is their own government," Babbar said in a tweet in Hindi on Thursday. "I think the ongoing debate about is unnecessary," he said. The comments by Babbar, who was among the group of 23 leaders who had written to Sonia Gandhi demanding an organisational overhaul in the Congress, come amid a controversy triggered soon after the announcement of the Padma awards on Tuesday evening when Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, while commenting on CPI(M) leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharya's refusal to accept the award, said, "He wants to be Azad not Ghulam". Several members of the group of 23 leaders who had written to Sonia Gandhi demanding an organisational overhaul in the Congress congratulated Azad for being awarded Padma Bhushan, saying it was "well-deserved". (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 the PMK, which represents the powerful Vanniyar community, snapped ties with the AIADMK during the October 2021 rural local body polls, a large section of the Tamil Nadu BJP leaders is also putting pressure on the party leadership to go it alone. BJP leader in Tamil Nadu legislative Assembly Nainar Nagenthran recently came out strongly against the AIADMK state leadership indicating that the BJP wanted to go it alone in the polls. However, the state president of the BJP, K. Annamalai was trying hard to mend fences and to downplay the statement of Nagenthran. A large section of the BJP leadership in Tamil Nadu is of the opinion that AIADMK lower-level cadres and the BJP cadres are not gelling together and that even in the 2021 Assembly elections, the AIADMK did not transfer votes to the BJP candidates. Some senior leaders of the BJP are of the opinion that while the DMK is a tight coalition with a grassroots presence, the AIADMK has reduced itself into a party that comes together during the elections only. It may be noted that the AIADMK has been drawing criticism from several corners over the party not being able to carry out many agitations against the DMK government on issues, including the poor quality of materials supplied in Pongal gift hampers. The AIADMK leadership has, however, pooh-poohed the charges stating that Covid-19 and its restrictions have hampered the party's efforts to organise the grassroots agitations against the DMK government. BJP leaders, who vouch for snapping ties with the AIADMK are of the opinion that if the party breaks its ties during the Urban local body elections, it could get some leverage in the grassroots and could develop its cadre base. The BJP is also miffed at the fact that several issues that the party brought forward, including conversion at schools and slums by the Christian groups and the attack on BJP and RSS workers by the Islamist groups, the AIADMK had maintained a studied silence. A senior leader of the AIADMK from Theni while speaking to IANS said, "The BJP as a political party does not have any grassroots support in Tamil Nadu and it will be like this even for the next 50 years. It's a Brahmanical party that is not accepted in South India at least not in Tamil Nadu and the BJP got a semblance of respect only with the alliance it has had with us at the grassroots. Let them contest the Urban local body elections on their own and we can see the results." --IANS aal/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader on Friday asked Prime Minister when will India's land "occupied by China" be returned. His tweet came after returned missing Arunachal teen Miram Taron to India. "It was comforting to know that has returned Miram Taron. When will India get back its land occupied by China, Prime Minister ji," Gandhi asked on Twitter. The teenager from had gone missing a few days ago and the Chinese located him later. The China's People's Liberation Army handed him over to the Indian Army in Thursday. Gandhi has been attacking Modi and his government on the standoff in Ladakh and has accused the prime minister of "surrendering" India's land 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.) Gurugram (Haryana) [India]/ San Francisco (California) [US], January 28 (ANI/PRNewswire): Engineering Analytics platform, (https://www.hatica.io) Hatica has emerged from stealth with a $900,000 pre-seed funding, led by Kae Capital and followed by Titan Capital, iSeed Ventures, and angel investor GBS Bindra (CEO of Charmboard). Hatica was founded by former Uber engineers Naomi Chopra and Haritabh Singh, who incubated the idea as part of the Accel Founderstack Program. Hatica, a SaaS startup based out of San Francisco and Gurgaon, provides a Software Engineering Analytics platform to help boost developer productivity. Hatica equips engineering leaders, managers and software developers with software development dashboards, alongside team productivity and workflow insights, to help them drive team effectiveness, alignment and well-being. Hatica is trusted by customers across US, India and Brazil. As lockdowns reduced workplace visibility for remote and distributed teams working across a growing stack of developer tools, Hatica's co-founders realized the need for an engineering intelligence platform that could improve visibility and deliver insights to boost developer productivity. Speaking about Hatica's journey, Naomi Chopra, Founder and CEO of Hatica said, "We began developing Hatica by coordinating remotely to build a platform which helps teams drive engineering excellence with data-driven insights. As we grasped the reality of remote work, we were able to make our platform more robust, driving productivity and well-being of both in-person and remote working paradigms. Currently in beta stage, we are on track to go to market with our platform in Q1 2022." Gaurav Chaturvedi, Partner at Kae Capital remarked, "Hatica is a powerful platform built by a stellar team that has the potential to disrupt the developer tools market by significantly improving engineering efficiency and optimizing dev workflows. Hatica is operating in a large market addressing a significant pain point for engineering teams and we are looking forward to seeing it grow." Hatica is a SaaS startup providing an Engineering Analytics platform to boost developer productivity. For more information, visit (https://www.hatica.io) Kae Capital is a leading early-stage investor focused on tech startups and invests in seed and series A stage. Kae believes in backing stellar teams building for large markets early in their journey. For more information, visit (https://kae-capital.com) This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mumbai [India], January 28 (ANI/PR Newswire): Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Pvt. Ltd., one of the fastest-growing fund houses in India today announced that it is planning to offer its Global X ETF (owned by Mirae Asset Global Investments) products to Indian investors. Mirae Asset's total Global ETF AUM across 10 countries has crossed the Rs 6.3 trillion or approximately US$ 84 bn mark, making Mirae Asset the 14th largest (https://www.miraeassetmf.co.in/mutual-fund-scheme/etf-and-fof" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ETF provider in the world. Mirae Asset India is planning to offer the Global X ETF to investors, adding to its innovative portfolio of ETF products that it has launched since its first ETF product in 2018. The achievement illustrates the strides that Mirae Asset has taken globally with the launch of a slew of innovative products in thematic and overseas ETFs. In fact, the aggregate AUM of Mirae Asset Global ETFs is larger than all ETFs listed in Korea.* *Source : KRX, as on January 31, 2022 Mirae Asset India has plans to offer Global X ETF in India: -Mirae Asset India aims to offer its global ETF arm, Global X's product via Fund of Fund Product to enhance innovative product lines in overseas Fund of Fund (FoF). -Global X is one of the largest thematic ETF providers globally and Mirae Asset India has plans to introduce various innovative overseas Fund of Funds (FOFs). Global X ETFs have innovative themes such as Electric Vehicles (EV), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Block chain etc. Mirae Asset India has been consistently launching innovative funds in India and was the first to offer ETFs based on (https://www.miraeassetmf.co.in/mutual-fund-scheme/etf-and-fof/mirae-asset-esg-sector-leaders-etf) Nifty 100 ESG Sector Leaders Index, Nifty Financial Services Index, Nifty Manufacturing Index, NYSE Fang+ Index and (https://www.miraeassetmf.co.in/mutual-fund-scheme/etf-and-fof/mirae-asset-s-and-p-500-top-50-etf) S & P 500 Top 50 Index in India. Mirae Asset India also endeavours that most of its ETFs are provided with adequate liquidity for investors to trade. Using Global X's ETF products, Mirae Asset India aims to continue this journey forward to bring more Global Thematic offerings to Indian Investors. (https://www.globalxetfs.com) Global X has impressive line-up of products like Blockchain, Millennial, EV and so on. Mirae Asset India ETF Highlights: - -Launched 1st product in 2018. -Currently has an AUM of Rs. 3,000 crore with 8 ETF products as on December 31, 2021 -(https://www.miraeassetmf.co.in/mutual-fund-scheme/etf-and-fof/mirae-asset-nyse-fang-plus-etf) Mirae Asset NYSE FANG+ ETF (An Open-ended fund of fund scheme predominantly investing in Mirae Asset NYSE FANG+ ETF) drew large attention from the market by collecting around Rs. 400 cr during the NFO. -Recently, Mirae Asset India launched (https://www.miraeassetmf.co.in/mutual-fund-scheme/etf-and-fof/mirae-asset-nifty-india-manufacturing-etf-fund-of-fund) Mirae Asset Nifty India Manufacturing ETF (An open-ended scheme replicating/tracking Nifty India Manufacturing Total Return Index) which invests in companies under the manufacturing sector in India. -Mirae Asset India is planning to introduce various innovative overseas Fund of Funds with underlying as Global X's innovative ETFs. -Mirae Asset India also offered first ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) based ETF in Indian market Mirae Asset Group's Key Global Highlights -AUM of ETFs operated worldwide increased to approximately USD 30bn compared to the previous year. -The Number of ETFs operated worldwide more than tripled from 93 in 2011 to 396 at the end of 2021. -Successful acquisition of several reputable ETF providers such as Global X and Horizons. -Global X ETF is one of the largest thematic ETF providers globally. -Prior to acquisition, Global X ETF had an AUM of approx. US$ 10 Bn. Post-acquisition by Mirae Asset Group in 2018, the AUM has seen a rapid growth with current AUM of US$ 43 Bn (Source, Internal, as on December 31, 2021) "The rapid growth in Mirae Asset's ETFs business globally, reaching the US$ 84 bn mark, is evidence of the innovation and choice that it offers to investors in multiple markets. In India, we look forward to leverage our global expertise in ETFs and launch many more innovative products for our Indian investors having underlying as Global X ETFs," said Swarup Mohanty, Director & CEO, Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Pvt. Ltd. With its proven record, Mirae Asset Group has emerged as a major global player in the ETF space and has several firsts to its credit which would have benefitted the investor community. With this, millions of investors in India can now avail Global X products through Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Pvt. Ltd. Scheme Product Labelling: Mirae Asset Nifty India Manufacturing ETF is suitable for investors who are seeking* -Returns that are commensurate with the performace of the Nifty India Manufacturing Total Return Index, subject to tracking error over long term -Investment in equity securities covered by Nifty India Manufacturing Total Return Index *investors should consult their financial advisers if in doubt about whether the product is suitable for them. Scheme riskometer - Investor understand that their principal will be at Very High Risk Scheme Benchmark - Nifty India Manufacturing Index Benchmark Riskometer - The benchmark is at Very High Risk Mirae Asset NYSE FANG+ ETF is suitable for investors who are seeking* -Returns that are commensurate with the performace of NYSE FANG+ Total Return Index, subject to tracking error and foreign echange movement -Investments in equity securities covered by NYSE FANG+ Total Return Index *investors should consult their financial advisers if in doubt about whether the product is suitable for them. Scheme riskometer - Investor understand that their principal will be at Very High Risk Scheme Benchmark - NYSE FANG+ Index (TRI) Benchmark Riskometer - The benchmark is at Very High Risk Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. Mirae Asset Global Investments (India) Private Limited ("MAGI India") has transferred its asset management business to its wholly owned subsidiary, Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Private Limited ("Mirae AMC"), as part of internal restructuring of its business with effect from January 1, 2020. Over the last 2 decades Mirae Asset Global Investments Ltd. (the sponsor) has become one of the world's largest investors in emerging market equities, managing total assets of over USD 217.9 billion as on 30th September 2021. Headquartered in South Korea, Mirae Asset Global Investments Ltd also has investment management operations in Hong Kong, United Kingdom, India, Vietnam, USA, Canada, Taiwan and Brazil. Apart from Asset Management, Mirae Asset Financial Group has business interest in Life Insurance, Securities and Investment & Venture Capital. This story is provided by PR Newswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PR Newswire) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pune (Maharashtra) [India], January 28 (ANI/NewsVoir): Sany India, a leading construction equipment manufacturer in India, has added one more feather to their cap with the key handover of the country's first 800 tons lifting capacity crawler crane to Dwarkesh Transport Corporation, Sany India's esteemed patron based in Anand, Gujarat. Sany SCC8000A is India's largest Crawler Crane with distinct design and safety features, which make it one-of-its-kind in the industry. This leviathan crane, will be used by Dwarkesh Transport for wind turbine installation. The owners of Dwarkesh Transport Corporation, Rajendra Dwivedi, Dipal Dwivedi, Romal Dwivedi and their family were present to grace the key handover ceremony. From Sany India, Deepak Garg, Managing Director, Sany India & South Asia, Sanjay Saxena, Senior Vice President & Head of Heavy Equipment Business Unit, Vinay Oza - Regional Head (HE), West Region and Kapil Jain - General Manager, Institutional Sales presented the SCC8000A crane to Dwarkesh Transport Corporation. Speaking on the occasion Deepak Garg, Managing Director, Sany India & South Asia said, "We share a special bond with Dwarkesh Transport Corporation. They have been our esteemed customer since many years and we cherish this association as both companies continue to grow and capture new markets. Dwarkesh Transport already own more than 15 cranes of Sany and as a proud owner of India's largest crawler crane, we wish them success in all their ventures and look forward to achieving new milestones on this journey with them." Sany SCC8000A is an 800-tonne capacity crawler crane. It can be configured for boom length up to 168+12 meters for wind energy applications, capable of handling all wind turbine installation requirements in India. Sany India is the country's largest crawler crane company. Sany Crawler Cranes features excellent reliability and the highest operational efficiency by offering technological innovations, maximum safety, stability and flexibility in all kinds of operating environments. The SCC8000A Crawler Crane is currently being used at a wind power project in Kutch, Gujarat. Sany India was incorporated in 2002 and offers the widest range of Construction Machinery in India & South Asia. In 2012, Sany India invested more than INR 600 crore to develop infrastructure for R & D, Manufacturing, Quality Inspection, Testing, and Service at their manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune. Through this facility, the company operates in four Business verticals viz: Excavator, Heavy Equipment, Mining Machinery, and Renewable Energy. Presently, Sany India offers products like excavators, truck-mounted cranes, all-terrain and rough terrain cranes, crawler cranes, transit mixers, batching plants, boom pumps, trailer pumps, piling rigs, motor graders, pavers, compactors, reach stackers, rubber-tyred gantry cranes, rail-mounted gantry cranes, mining equipment, wind turbine generators and many more. The company has already established a strong network of around 39 dealers and 180 touchpoints across India to cater to the growing demand and provide support to all its customers & associates. Sany has more than 20000 machines delivered on the ground, contributing to infrastructure development projects in India & other South Asian countries. Owing to its widest product range, superior build quality, service commitment, innovative solutions, and global expertise, Sany India has achieved market leadership in various construction equipment segments. With the Government of India's focus on infrastructure development and modernization, the company is poised for tremendous growth. (https://www.facebook.com/SanyInd) (https://twitter.com/SanyIndia) (https://www.instagram.com/sany_india) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7MWAQYIBxbIFakh_1ICefg?reload=9) This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], January 28 (ANI/NewsVoir): Turing, an AI-powered, international platform that connects software developers with high-quality, long-term, remote U.S. jobs, announced today the launch of Turing Community: a global career-centric community exclusively for developers. With a mission to unleash the world's untapped human potential, Turing is building a diverse community, free and open to all developers worldwide. The community helps developers with job preparation, upskilling and reskilling, English communication and personal development, and mentoring, among other perks. Through this initiative, the company aims to build a safe space for developers to grow, seek guidance from experts, and progress in their careers. With over 1 million developers signed up on Turing, the launch of a career-centric developer community will further strengthen the company's mission to help solve the challenges faced by software developers globally. The community plans to host a range of events including the Women's Mentoring Circle, Rethinking the Developer Career Path, and AMA Sessions with Senior Developers, amongst others. These events will equip developers with the necessary knowledge and tools to advance through their careers. Commenting on the launch, Uma Subramanian, Sr. Director and Head of Developer Success and Community at Turing said, "Thousands of developers from more than a hundred countries have already joined our community and are making their way to the top with the tools and opportunities provided by the community. At Turing, our intention is not only to offer jobs but also to offer a community that inspires learning and development. Moreover, the community is equipped with tools that steer developers to their calling while understanding their passion and enhancing their skills. Aiding developers to walk the path to success resulting in breakthroughs in fields like science and tech-that is what the Turing community is all about-tapping into the world's unexplored human potential and bringing disruption to the industry while forming a legacy!" Furthermore, the Turing Community aims to help developers form deep relationships with fellow developers, seek advice from industry veterans, and create positive experiences. Founded in March 2018, Turing's Intelligent Talent Cloud uses AI to connect the world's best developers to high-quality U.S. jobs. Turing is the brainchild of Stanford alumni and serial AI entrepreneurs Jonathan Siddharth and Vijay Krishnan. The duo's previous company Rover, a machine learning-based content discovery engine, was successfully acquired. With Turing, companies can hire pre-vetted, Silicon Valley-caliber remote software talent across 100+ skills at the "push of a button". 200+ firms, including Johnson & Johnson, Dell, Disney, Coinbase, Rivian, Plume, and VillageMD, have hired remote engineering talent from Turing. The company recently entered unicorn territory (now valued at over $1.1 B) with a Series D round of financing and is backed by prominent investors such as WestBridge Capital, Foundation Capital, Founders Fund (investors in Facebook, Tesla, Asana), Altair Capital, Mindset Ventures, Frontier Ventures, Gaingels, Facebook's first CTO (Adam D'Angelo), and illustrious executives from Google, Amazon, and Twitter. To learn more about the Turing Community, please visit: (https://community.turing.com). This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The updated snow forecast for this weekend, as of 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (National Weather Service) Hampton Roads will miss the worst of a significant noreaster that was bearing down on the East Coast Friday night and expected drop several inches of snow through Saturday afternoon, forecasters predict. South Hampton Roads and the Peninsula are expected to get 3 to 4 inches of snow, while the Eastern Shore may see up to a foot or more of the white stuff, according to the National Weather Service in Wakefield. A winter storm warning is in effect for much of Hampton Roads, as well as parts of northeastern North Carolina. The Eastern Shore was upgraded to a blizzard warning Friday morning meaning low visibility and powerful winds will accompany the heavy snow. Advertisement But the weather wont be just snowy gale force winds are expected Saturday and temperatures will be frigid throughout the weekend. Wind chill temperatures will hover around the single digits throughout Hampton Roads from Saturday night into Sunday morning, according to a Friday afternoon briefing from NWS Wakefield. Wind chill values may drop below zero for portions of the lower Eastern Shore, the weather service warned. Advertisement Widespread single digit wind chill values are expected Saturday into Sunday morning. The Eastern Shore may even see below zero wind chill. (2/?) pic.twitter.com/B36jlQPEVv NWS Wakefield (@NWSWakefieldVA) January 28, 2022 The impending storm prompted Hampton Roads Transit to suspend all bus, light rail, paratransit and ferry service on Saturday. The agency will evaluate conditions before determining if service will reopen Sunday. Norfolk city manager Chip Filer declared a state of emergency Friday afternoon, a designation that allows the city to seek state and federal reimbursement for some of the storms costs. The city also opened the York Street garage for free winter storm parking downtown through 8 p.m. Sunday. Theres also potential for minor coastal flooding at high tide Saturday into Sunday, according to the briefing. Virginia Beach is no stranger to the power of a noreaster and the coastal flooding that can come with a storm of this magnitude, and city officials said they are prepared. It could be a problem along the coastal areas, said Drew Lankford, the citys public works spokesman. Extra hands are on call and will be keeping an eye on city streets for flooding and downed trees as well as traffic signals that could get damaged in the high winds, Lankford said. [ Closings and cancellations in Hampton Roads as noreaster brings cold, snowy weekend ] 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 impending winter weather is expected to create hairy travel conditions particularly on the Eastern Shore. Subfreezing temperatures mean any wet pavement should be considered icy, the Virginia Department of Transportation said in a news release. VDOT shifted additional resources to Hampton Roads to respond to the storm and has 325 trucks equipped with plows and salt spreaders ready to respond, officials said. The department had used approximately 60,000 gallons of brine to pretreat the regions interstates and primary routes as of Friday morning. Advertisement Hampton public works crews have also been pretreating roads with brine and salt since Wednesday morning. The Hampton crews will work 12-hour shifts until the storm has passed and roads are cleared, according to Hampton spokesman Mike Holtzclaw. The city is also prepared to clean up damage from high winds, but thats not something you can really pretreat for like you do for the roads, Holtzclaw said. The 64 Express Lanes through Norfolk will be closed as early as 6 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday to allow for snow removal, according to VDOT. Norfolk also removed street parking along Boush Street, Granby Street, Plume Street, Main Street, City Hall Avenue in front of Fairfax Building and the 400 block of Monticello Avenue to allow for plowing operations. Vehicles in these areas will be ticketed and towed starting Friday afternoon, according to city officials. Staff writers Stacy Parker and Caitlyn Burchett contributed to this report. Ali Sullivan, 757-677-1974, ali.sullivan@virginiamedia.com On January 16th, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that Indias can play a big role in raising services exports to $1 trillion a year. In a virtual meeting with a clutch of top leaders from the IT industry, the Union minister assured the governments full support to the sector. The assurance, which came just days before the Union budget, was a confidence-booster for the sector. And amid strong Q3 performances, the Indian IT sector got another shot in the arm this week. Six Indian IT companies found themselves in the top 25 list of most valuable global IT services brands. TCS growth is attributed to the companys investments in its brand and its employees, customer equity, and strong financial performance. Tata Consultancy Services or has become the worlds second most valuable brand in the IT services sector, according to Brand Finances recent Global 500 IT Services Ranking report. On the top of the list was Accenture. grew its brand value by $1.84 billion (12.5%) to $16.78 billion in just over the last 12 months. came in at third rank with a brand valuation of $12.77 bn. And apart from the two giants, four more Indian companies feature in the top 25 IT services brands The average growth of Indian brands that have appeared in the Brand Finance IT Services ranking since 2020 is an impressive 51 per cent. The US brands have on average contracted by 7 per cent. Both and reported a healthy quarter-on-quarter rise in their consolidated net profit in the quarter ending December 2021. While TCS saw its net profit increase 1.51% to Rs 9,769 crore, saw its net profit increase by 12% to Rs 5,809 crore. And the top 5 Indian IT companies, namely TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL Technologies and Tech Mahindra are expected to report around $70 bn as combined revenue in the ongoing fiscal year. The pandemic has dealt a big blow to Indias unorganised sector. But it helped several organised sectors register a good growth. Over the last two years, Indian IT companies reaped rich dividends as the world underwent digital transformation at a frantic pace. Indias $194-billion has been a big beneficiary from the pandemic. It spurred global companies to bolster investments in services, ranging from cloud-computing, digital payment infrastructure to cyber-security. In fact, industry body NASSCOM has recently pointed out that before the pandemic, Indian IT companies were reporting annual growth rates of around 6-7%, which have now increased to around 15-20%. However, the industrys growth has brought with it an increased scale of attrition. Indian IT majors and newer tech start-ups flush with venture capital money are competing for the same talent pool. And as evidenced by payments startup BharatPe luring techies with the promise of BMW bikes and paid holidays to Dubai, the entry of these VC-backed startups is driving up the industrys compensation metrics, leading to higher attrition rates, which for most companies including TCS, hovers around 15-16% today. Even as Indian IT services players keep pace with their global peers, they need to be ready to adapt to a volatile market, where change is the only constant. Another question that remains open is what will happen to the industry's momentum if and when the rapid pace of digital adoption driven by COVID-19 settles down. Olymp Trade introduces Fractional Units, a unique feature that enhances the opportunities of SPT mode traders. It enables them to purchase a portion of a stock instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a full share. Fractional Units will become available starting January 31 in conjunction with the start of the Lunar New Year celebration on the platform. Therefore, its participants will be the first to test the new feature in practice. Apart from this exciting opportunity, the event brings many benefits including gifts and bonuses. With Fractional Units, Olymp Traders will be able to make investment decisions based on the amount they have rather than on the market price of a whole share. It gives anyone a chance to dabble in trading the stock market regardless of the size of their investment capital. On the platform, the feature will be located in the Stock Price Trade tab. Go to Assets Stock PT, select an asset, and enter the quantity you want to purchase in the Buy window. The list of available companies includes Alibaba, Tesla, Apple, Disney, Facebook, Google, Nike, Netflix, Oracle, Pfizer, and Nvidia. Fractional Units: Main Benefits Marcelo Claure to Depart SoftBank by Mutual Agreement Michel Combes Appointed CEO of SoftBank Group International SoftBank Group Corp. (SoftBank) today announced that the company and Marcelo Claure have mutually agreed to part ways after a successful nine-year partnership. In conjunction with Mr. Claures departure, Michel Combes has been appointed as CEO of SoftBank Group International (SBGI). In this position, he will oversee SoftBank Group Internationals operating and investment portfolio*. Masayoshi Son, Representative Director, Corporate Officer, Chairman & CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., said, Marcelo has made many contributions to SoftBank during his time here and we thank him for his dedication and wish him continued success in his future endeavors. I have great confidence in Michel Combes and the talented SoftBank team to continue with the great work we have underway at SBGI. Mr. Claure said, I will forever be grateful for my experience at SoftBank over the last nine years. I have had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the worlds great executives and entrepreneurs, and tackle several immense professional challenges, which makes the success we achieved together that much more rewarding. Beyond the value we have created for SoftBank stockholders, we have invested in some of the most innovative and disruptive companies that will be industry leaders for decades to come. I am particularly grateful to Masayoshi Son, who gave me the opportunity to thrive at SoftBank and served as a mentor and friend during my tenure. Mr. Combes said, I am extremely grateful to Masayoshi Son for this opportunity and to Marcelo for his friendship and partnership. As CEO of SBGI and Corporate Officer, Executive Vice President & COO of SoftBank, Mr. Claure helped lead highly consequential projects over the last several years, including the turnaround of Sprint and the T-Mobile/Sprint merger, the successful repositioning of WeWork, the launch of Latin Americas largest venture capital fund, and the launch of the SB Opportunity Fund to invest in underrepresented racial minorities. *SBGI includes SoftBank Latin America Funds and the SB Opportunity Fund. Michel Combes Biographical Information Mr. Combes has significant leadership experience at multinational companies across industries. He joined SBGI as President in April 2020 and serves on several boards of directors of SoftBank portfolio companies, including WeWork Inc., OneWeb, SoFi Technologies, Inc, Contentsquare, Jellysmack and Swile. Mr. Combes also serves on the boards of directors of Philip Morris International and Etisalat Group. Before joining SBGI, Mr. Combes served as CEO of Sprint. Before Sprint, Mr. Combes served as CEO of several companies, including Altice, Alcatel-Lucent and Vodafone Europe. Mr. Combes is a graduate of Ecole Polytechnique, Telecom ParisTech and Paris Dauphine University. About SoftBank Group The SoftBank Group invests in breakthrough technology to improve the quality of life for people around the world. The SoftBank Group is comprised of SoftBank Group Corp. (TOKYO: 9984), an investment holding company that includes stakes in telecommunications, internet services, AI, smart robotics, IoT and clean energy technology providers; the SoftBank Vision Funds, which are investing more than US$140 billion to help extraordinary entrepreneurs transform industries and shape new ones; the US$5 billion SoftBank Latin America Fund, the largest venture fund in that region; the US$3 billion SoftBank Latin America Fund II; and the SB Opportunity Fund, a US$100 million fund investing in Black, Latinx and Native American founders in the U.S. To learn more, please visit https://group.softbank/en. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220127006063/en/ If you've decided to begin investing this year, there are many ways to get started. Popular options are stocks, gold, and even cryptocurrencies. But if you want an exciting and fast-paced investment vehicle that works both in the short and long term, look no further than the foreign exchange market. One of the largest and most liquid markets in the world, forex has a daily turnover amounting to trillions of euros. Trades here are based on currency exchange rates, which in turn are affected by factors like current events and a countrys financial policies. In particular, this year may turn out to be especially lucrative for Irish traders, with the European Commission doubling its growth forecast for the Irish economy. If you're interested in venturing into this highly dynamic market, this quick and simple guide can get you started. Gather what you need Forex is one of the most accessible markets today. Since it trades in currencies, the market is decentralised and open 24/7 across various time zones. Consequently, all you need is a strong and speedy Internet connection to get started. The quality of this connection is crucial. Currency values can fluctuate within minutes or even seconds in response to real-time events. A good connection will help inform you of these events so you can open trades accordingly. You also need to determine how much capital you wish to use in your initial trades which, as a general rule, should be as much as you're willing to lose. As we'll discuss below, brokers can help you start with nearly any principal amount while lowering the risk on your transactions. Select a brokerage platform A Business World contributor previously discussed why forex brokers are crucial for trading success. For a fee, they give you easy access to the market and even advice customised to your investment goals. Reputable brokers are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and comply with the EU's Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID). One option you may want to consider is FXCM. Aside from providing fast trade execution and reliable customer support, it also lets you open an FXCM account in as little as three steps. An additional demo feature makes it an excellent choice for new traders wanting to familiarise themselves with the market. If you're looking for a hands-off trading experience, there are also algorithm trading platforms that analyse trends in currency value, predict future movements, and automatically place trades for you. Choose a strategy If you wish to forego algorithmic trading and instead deal in the market yourself, a strategy will help guide your trading decisions. Day trading is one of the most popular methods used in forex. It involves making trades that are open for less than a day, so you're liquid by the time the market closes. These trades are usually dependent on current news events. Meanwhile, position trading is a long-term strategy that relies on more overarching policy decisions like those made by central banks. Here, one identifies a trend in price movements and buys into a currency that's on the rise. Once the trend peaks, they close the trade and sell the currency to get maximum returns. Adapt a slow-but-steady-attitude No matter what you choose, though, try to enter forex slowly and increase your trades with experience. You should consider Trading Psychology when making decisions. This phenomenon finds that greed and fear can warp data-driven judgments and lead them astray. Along with starting small, keeping emotions out of your investments can lower the risk on your trades and ensure the success of your very first ventures into forex. It was announced today that Eli Lilly and Company plans to invest over 400 million in a brand-new manufacturing facility in Limerick. The investment project is subject to planning approval and the company will submit a planning application with Limerick City and County Council in the coming weeks. The new facility will expand Lillys manufacturing network for biologic active ingredients, support increased demand for existing Lilly products and play a key role in bringing Lillys robust clinical pipeline, including its Alzheimers portfolio, to patients around the world. The proposed project is expected to create more than 300 new jobs for highly skilled workers such as engineers, scientists and operations personnel, who will use the latest biologics manufacturing technology to produce life-changing treatments that patients need to address health challenges. In addition, an estimated 500 additional positions will be required while the facility is under construction. Welcoming the news, Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade & Employment, Leo Varadkar said, "This is fantastic news for Limerick and indeed the entire region. The Mid-West has become a real hub for leading biopharma companies such as Lilly and Im really pleased that the company has chosen Limerick for its new manufacturing centre, investing over 400m and creating 300 new, permanent jobs and a further 500 jobs during construction. Lilly produces crucial healthcare products which are making a huge difference to the lives of patients around the world fighting some of the worlds most serious illnesses. This new manufacturing centre is a significant expansion of that work and I wish the entire team the very best with the project." Senior Vice president and President, Lilly Manufacturing Operations, Edgardo Hernandez said, "Over the past 40 years, we have continued to invest in Ireland in part because of supportive government policies that value life science innovation. This new Lilly campus in Limerick will allow us to expand our capacity to make innovative new medicines that can help treat some of the worlds most serious illnesses. This facility will use the latest technology to support advancements in science, productivity and sustainability, further establishing Lilly as a global manufacturing leader." Source: www.businessworld.ie New research from jobs site Indeed and the OECD has found that demand for jobs that allow employees to work from home in Ireland has surged during the pandemic and this trend looks set to continue even after last Fridays dramatic easing of restrictions. A study based on Indeed job postings in 20 OECD countries showed searches for jobs in Ireland allowing remote work in December 2021 were six times higher than before the pandemic. Employers appear to be looking to cater to this trend with posts for remote roles currently four times higher than pre-pandemic - 12.5% of job adverts in Ireland contained remote terms in the job description, compared to just 2.9% in 2019. Government restrictions during the pandemic were clearly a catalyst for this change, but even as restrictions have eased there has not been a commensurate reduction in the level of job ads for remote roles, suggesting this will be a longer-term trend. Ireland ranked the second highest in terms of its growth in remote postings, and the study found that countries with the stricter restrictions (Italy, Spain, UK) tended to see the biggest growth relative to those with more limited restrictions (Japan, New Zealand). The findings on the attractiveness of working from home are supported by recent CSO research which showed that of those who can work remotely 88% would like to do so when pandemic restrictions are removed: 28% all of the time and 60% favouring a hybrid arrangement. The study found that whilst remote work job opportunities have increased across all categories, it has been particularly notable in areas like IT and software development. This may be one factor that explains why the increase in postings for remote/flexible jobs in Dublin was nearly five times (x 4.8) the pre-pandemic level, but closer to two times (x 2.4) for the rest of the country. Dublin has a high density of large technology companies competing to attract staff and accommodating changing worker preferences is one way companies can appeal to new hires. The study argues that public policy must evolve to try to make the most of the potential positive effects of remote working on productivity and well-being. This may include ensuring that workers have a suitable working environment (e.g., computer equipment, office and childcare facilities), facilitating the spread of managerial best practices (e.g., moving from a culture of presenteeism to a results-based assessment of productivity), or ensuring that everyone has access to a fast, reliable and secure Internet connection (e.g., in rural areas). Commenting on the data, Economist at Indeed, Jack Kennedy said, "Ireland has seen one of the biggest increases in remote work according to this study, and it is a practice likely to persist even as the pandemic threat recedes. It does, however, raise important long-term questions. First, real thought needs to be given to welcoming new employees and spreading corporate culture in a hybrid environment where some staff are in the office and some at home. Secondly, management and leadership style will need to evolve to best transmit knowledge and motivate teams." He concluded, "Finally we must accept that whilst increasing employee flexibility was a trend pre-Covid, the process has been massively accelerated, and on this steep learning curve it is likely that there will be teething problems along the way with company policies needing to adapt and evolve." Source: www.businessworld.ie When teachers try to reach out to these parents, they are unresponsive and hurl abuses. Even during physical classes, parents nit-pick small details and have an issue with buying new books and mid-day meal services, the government teacher adds. Representational image/By arrangement Hyderabad: Only 10 per cent of students in government primary schools have been accessing the Vidya Mitra YouTube channel since January 8. It is an initiative by government school teachers and the Siddipet district education officer. Most of the remaining students were unable to access lessons despite having a smartphone. Many students with access to smartphones are not able to make use of the platform as their parents are daily-wage workers and return home after the children are fast asleep. The parents cannot afford another smartphone or get drunk and abuse their children and refuse to give phones, said Priya Reddy (name changed), a government school teacher from Siddipet district. She added that the government is not addressing the intricacies of the issue and efficient teaching via the TSAT platform is not possible. "Worksheets and follow ups are a must for students, especially in a pandemic situation where education is taken for granted by all stakeholders," she added. When teachers try to reach out to these parents, they are unresponsive and hurl abuses. Even during physical classes, parents nit-pick small details and have an issue with buying new books and mid-day meal services, added Priya. Vidya Mitra is the only other platform after TSAT, set up by teachers who record 15-minute lessons for students from classes 1-5 and also prepare a worksheet for the students, she said. Some teachers, who were selected by the DEO, helped prepare video lessons and worksheets. There are subject-wise teachers and most of the important lessons are covered in Siddipet district, said another government teacher who contributes for Vidya Mitra Channel. She added that there are three levels under this programme. Level one has students of classes 1 and 2, level 2 for students from class 3 and level 3 has students from classes 4 and 5. The channel was established in April 2021. DC also spoke to other teachers from government and private schools who said that because of the pandemic, those who have smartphones and TV are not letting other students access these facilities. Around 36, 440 students in high schools do not have access to smartphones, according to the report released by the school education department. Out of 7,19,385 students of classes 8 to 10, only around three 3 lakh accessed digital lessons through DD, TSAT and other TV channels whereas around one lakh students used smartphones, laptops and computers for digital education. Teachers have questioned the learning outcomes of those left behind due to such pandemic-induced barriers to education." Short-distance rural tourism grew more popular in Chinas capital during this years Labor Day holiday amid curbs on travel to control the pandemic. Bookings for hotels and homestays outside urban areas started earlier than usual for this years five-day national holiday, with volumes climbing since April 10. Despite Covid control measures, most scenic spots in suburban areas remain open, though visitors are required to present negative Covid-19 test results to enter May 04, 2022 03:50 PM The Jagan Mohan Reddy regime stopped NTR Smruti Vanam in Amaravati and also cancelled Anna Canteens, which were started in the name of NTR, the TD leaders pointed out. Facebook Vijayawada: Telugu Desam leaders, at a strategy committee meeting presided over by party national president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said they had no objection in naming Krishna district after NTR. Anybody would welcome the same if they truly respected the TD founder, Naidu added. The TD would stick to its demand for Bharat Ratna for NTR. Though NTRs name was removed from Hyderabad airport, the TD did not politicise and it did not object to giving the YSR name to Kadapa district. Our party would not practise double standards like the ruling YSRC, which was demolishing NTR statues in the state on the one hand and feigning great respect for him on the other," TD leaders asserted. The Jagan Mohan Reddy regime stopped NTR Smruti Vanam in Amaravati and also cancelled Anna Canteens, which were started in the name of NTR, leaders stated. "The reorganisation of districts was a politically motivated diversion game," they said. The TD accused the ruling YSRC leadership of bringing the formation of new districts to force as it was unable to face the rising public resentment on a variety of issues and problems. The leaders asked, Where was the need for issuing overnight notifications on January 25 by hurriedly sending a note and getting it approved by ministers? This was not even discussed at the Cabinet meet held on January 21, they said. In what seems to be a regular occurrence at this point, Mazda has announced a product stoppage anew at their Japanese factories this May. FILE - Participants with the Alliance for GLBTQ Youth march at the annual Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade, Sunday, April 9, 2017, in Miami Beach, Fla. Republican-backed legislation in Florida that could severely limit discussion of gay and lesbian issues in public schools is being widely condemned as dangerous and discriminatory, with one gay Democratic lawmaker saying its an attempt to silence LGBTQ students, families and history. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File) Country partners celebrate in local towns and villages, where communities are making great strides in the fight against NTDs. Above, people celebrate in Yei Village, South Sudan. The home of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. Carter Center CEO Paige Alexander and Maria Thacker Goethe, CEO, Center for Global Health Innovation, in front of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. On World NTD Day Jan. 30, 2022, more than 100 landmarks in over 30 nations lit up to bring awareness to neglected diseases that affect 1.7 billion people. Above, the Carter Center's "Sightless Among Miracles" statue. 100+ sites to join observance of World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day Great Wall, Colosseum, Carter Center to glow orange, purple 20 little-known diseases affect 1.7 billion people ATLANTA The third annual World NTD Day is Jan. 30, 2022, highlighting the global commitment to ending neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which cause immeasurable suffering among the worlds most marginalized communities. On Sunday, more than 100 landmarks in over 30 nations will light up to celebrate progress and ensure NTDs remain a global priority. There should be no such thing as a neglected disease, tropical or otherwise. With the resources, knowledge, and technology available to us today, there is little excuse for millions of people to continue to suffer from these preventable illnesses, said former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who, with former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, founded The Carter Center in 1982. For over 35 years, The Carter Center has been a pioneer in eradicating, eliminating, and improving control of five NTDs: Guinea worm, lymphatic filariasis, river blindness, trachoma, and schistosomiasis, as well as uniquely addressing malaria. The Centers Mental Health Program has begun working with NTD programs to address mental health issues related to these debilitating diseases. About one in five people around the world are affected by NTDs, which can disfigure and sometimes be fatal. From the Colosseum in Rome to the Tokyo Tower to the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, the world will come together to support putting an end to these debilitating and preventable diseases. The Center has joined partners to light up these buildings and monuments on Jan. 30: U.S. Carter Center World NTD Day Lighting Partners Plains, Ga.: -Home of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm, Plains High School and Museum, and Main Street downtown -Georgia Southwestern University in nearby Americus will illuminate a statue of Rosalynn Carter on its campus. Atlanta: -The Carter Center main sign and the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum (including the Kirbo building on Ponce de Leon Avenue and Sightless Among Miracles statue on the grounds) -Emory Rollins School of Public Health (Jumbotron) -Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport -Mercedes-Benz Stadium -Skyview Atlanta Ferris Wheel -Atlanta City Hall Chicago, New Jersey, Atlanta (Sightless Among Miracles Statues): -Three organizations, The Lions Clubs International Foundation, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, and The Carter Center will each light up their Sightless Among Miracles statues in Oakbrook, Illinois (near Chicago), Kenilworth, New Jersey, and Atlanta, respectively. These statues were commissioned by philanthropist John Moores and created by sculptor R.T. Wallen to raise awareness of the suffering caused by river blindness. These three organizations have worked together with endemic countries and other partners for over 20 years to eliminate river blindness and other neglected tropical diseases. Global Carter Center World NTD Day Lighting Partners -UAE: World Expo in Dubai. -Qatar: Baharat Msheireb square in Doha. Supported by World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), an initiative of Qatar Foundation. -Saudi Arabia: Carter Center partner Alwaleed Philanthropies to light up Kingdom Tower in Riyadh. -Nigeria, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda: Country partners will celebrate in local towns and villages, where communities are making great strides in the fight against NTDs. World NTD Day 2022 comes just days after the world learned of historic progress in the global effort to eradicate Guinea worm disease. On Jan. 26, The Carter Center announced that just 14 (provisional) human cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide in 2021. When The Carter Center assumed leadership of the global Guinea Worm Eradication Program in 1986, about 3.5 million human cases occurred annually in 21 countries in Africa and Asia. The WHO has elevated World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day to the level of an official observance under the leadership of Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. World NTD Day 2022 is the catalyst to launch an energizing global movement 100% Committed to end neglected tropical diseases. The World Health Organization designates these 20 conditions as neglected tropical diseases, or NTDs: Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, dengue and chikungunya, dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease), echinococcosis, foodborne trematodiases, human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, leprosy (Hansens disease), lymphatic filariasis, mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses, onchocerciasis (river blindness), rabies, scabies and other ectoparasitoses, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, snakebite envenoming, taeniasis/cysticercosis, trachoma, and yaws and other endemic treponematoses. World NTD Day is made possible through the leadership and support of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi. For more than 30 years beginning with a meeting in 1990 between former President Carter and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, President of the UAE the UAE has shown a commitment to ending preventable diseases that affect the worlds poorest and most vulnerable communities. Key hashtags: #WorldNTDDay #BeatNTDs #100PercentCommitted The main colors for lighting are orange and purple. More information on World NTD Day and a full list of partners are here: https://worldntdday.org/ Carter Center Celebrates 2022 World NTD Day World NTD Day 2021 video The Carter Center: Leader in the Eradication and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases WHO World NTD Day 2022 Campaign Contact: Rennie Sloan, Rennie.Sloan@cartercenter.org ### The Carter Center Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope. A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Photo: The Canadian Press Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel (left to right), son Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel, wife Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, and daughter Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel are shown in a handout photo. Officials in Ottawa say they have confirmed the identities of four Indian nationals whose bodies were found frozen in Manitoba near the Canada-U.S. border last week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Amritbhai Vakil A family of four Indian nationals was only in Canada for a week before their bodies were found frozen in Manitoba near the Canada-U. S. border, RCMP said Thursday as new details emerged about the deaths believed to be linked to a human smuggling operation. The High Commission of India in Ottawa and RCMP released the identities of the four who died. They were Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, a 39-year-old man; Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, a 37-year-old woman; and their children Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel, an 11-year-old girl; and Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel, a three-year-old boy. Investigators believe the family was attempting to cross into the United States by foot around Jan. 19 during severe winter weather and died from exposure. Police provided some details into the family's journey from Gujarat, a state in western India. The family arrived in Toronto on Jan. 12 and that was their first point of entry, said RCMP Chief Supt. Rob Hill. Hill said the family made its way to Manitoba but he couldn't confirm the date of arrival. Police believe the Patels were dropped off near the border near Emerson. "This is an extended period of time for a family who is unfamiliar with Canada to be travelling across the country. A part of the investigation is determining whether this travel was facilitated in some way by an individual or individuals," Hill said. RCMP are asking anyone with information related to the family's time in Canada to come forward. That could include people who may have interacted with the Patels at restaurants, gas stations or hotels. "Think about what they went through and step forward," said Hill. Police originally said one of the victims was a male teen. RCMP, apologizing for the error, said the frozen bodies and the family's clothing made identification difficult. Mounties continue to work with authorities at the national and international level. They said no one was in custody on the Canadian side. The family was from Dingucha, a village in Gujarat, said Amritbhai Vakil, a relative. Vakil, who lives in the U.S., described the village as quiet with almost every home having a family living in the U.S., United Kingdom, Australia or Canada. Vakil said family in India were aware the Patels had travelled to Canada, but lost touch with them days after they landed. The father came from a well-to-do middle-class family, he said. Patel helped his father farm and worked in a school and as a salesman, Vakil said. "I don't know what they wanted to do in the U.S." The High Commission of India said in a release that the family's immediate relatives had been informed. RCMP found the bodies after U.S. border patrol agents advised police that they had picked up a group of Indian nationals on the U.S. side. Two people were found in a van in the U.S. with a man who now faces human smuggling charges. A group of five were picked up by border patrol officers a short distance away. Steve Shand of Deltona, Fla., faces counts of transporting or attempting to transport illegal aliens. He was released from custody on Monday. Court documents state one of the individuals told officers his group had been walking for 11 hours through the bitter cold. The man said he had paid a large amount of money to get a fake student visa in Canada and was expecting a ride to a relative's home in Chicago after he crossed, the documents say. The U.S. Border Patrol said the seven people who did cross have been released while they are being processed for deportation. The High Commission of India said there are ongoing conversations with Canada about issues related to migration and the welfare of citizens residing in either country. "On longer-term issues that this tragedy has brought into focus, (there's) the need to ensure that migration and mobility are made safe and legal and that such tragedies do not recur." Photo: Glacier Media A Vancouver man is heading to court next month on charges related to allegedly secretly recording four women naked and then publishing those images. Victor Edward Austin Jr. is charged with four counts of secretly observing and/or recording nudity in a private place, three counts of making available or possessing voyeuristic recordings and eight counts of publication of an intimate image without consent. All events are alleged to have occurred in Vancouver. Court documents say Austin allegedly observed or recorded H.H. in a place where they could expect to be nude or engaged in sexual activity between Sept. 1, 2018, and March 1, 2019. Documents alleged that, from Jan. 1-12, 2021, the man observed or recorded J.H. in a place where they could expect to be nude or engaged in sexual activity. It is also alleged that between May 1-31, 2020, Austin observed or recorded J.R. in a place where they could expect to be nude or engaged in sexual activity. And in incidents involving a fourth individual, Austin is alleged to have observed or recorded K.B. from May 17, 2020, to Nov. 30, 2020, in similar circumstances. Austin is said to have unlawfully printed, distributed, circulated, sold, advertised or made available the images in eight periods in 2019, 2020 and 2021, all while knowing the persons depicted had not consented, according to allegations laid out in court documents. None of the allegations have been proven in court. Austin is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 17. Photo: The Canadian Press Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole says changes will be made to his team and to the party after an internal review revealed what went wrong in the recent election and took aim at issues from the party's past found to be holding it back. The review by former Alberta MP James Cumming was presented Thursday to Conservative MPs on the final day of the party's two-day caucus retreat, which was held ahead of Parliament's return Monday. Caucus was briefed on the findings that were compiled using the feedback Cumming received from some 400 people, including campaign staff, candidates, MPs and senators. The review landed at a time when O'Toole faces division among his MPs and grassroots members. Some of his critics are pushing for his leadership to be put to an early confidence test by mid-June instead of waiting until a scheduled vote at a national convention in 2023. At least three of the party's riding associations have requested an earlier vote. After two days spent facing his MPs, O'Toole heaped the election campaign's failings onto his own shoulders. "I'm responsible for the loss," O'Toole told reporters at a press conference late Thursday. When it came to his performance on the hustings, O'Toole said the review confirmed he spent too much time in a broadcast studio the party built at a hotel in downtown Ottawa that served as a set for campaigning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Doing so meant he became disconnected from Canadians, he said. As well, O'Toole said he was overly scripted in his public messaging in the final stretch of the campaign and failed to address certain issues Canadians had hoped to hear about. "We didn't showcase some of the great policies we had for Western Canada," O'Toole said. "All of these decisions are my responsibility." Many of the Conservatives' MPs hail from the party's heartland in Saskatchewan and Alberta, where some of them lost votes in last September's election. That set off concerns that O'Toole's failed attempt to gain support in Ontario and Quebec by taking a more moderate stance on a host of issues ended up costing the party some of its traditional support. Three Conservative sources who were briefed on the report shared more of its findings and recommendations. They spokeon the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The Canadian Press has not viewed the report. One of the recommendations, the sources said, is for the party to find ways to recruit a more diverse slate of candidates for the next election. The review also pinpointed how the party needs to improve its outreach to different cultural communities where the Conservative brand has not recovered from damage inflicted during the 2015 campaign. The sources said the review found that in major cities where Conservative support must grow if it hopes to form government the party is still dealing with fallout from former prime minister Stephen Harper's promise to set up a tip line to report "barbaric cultural practices." Sources say the review recommends the party should improve its outreach by improving its communications. One example provided was the need for Conservatives to have a presence on the messaging app WeChat, which is used by some Chinese Canadians. In the last election, the Conservatives lost three ridings in Metro Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area that are home to many residents of Chinese descent. That left some in the party wondering about the domestic impact of O'Toole's tough criticism of Beijing's actions. Among other things, O'Toolehas faced criticism from some fellow Conservatives for shifting his position on issues such as gun control, conscience rights, the carbon tax and defunding the CBC. One source said the election review identified better planning was needed to prepare for attacks on issues that have been used as wedges against Conservatives, such as firearms. In the last race, O'Toole inked a footnote into his platform to clarify he would maintain the Liberal government's ban on so-called assault-style weapons, despite the campaign document promising the opposite. He was also dogged with questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly his position on vaccine mandates and the immunization status of his candidates. According to the sources, the review concluded that Canadians generally lack trust in the party because of its well-reported infighting and the fact that it has gone through two leadership races in the past five years, which has also made it difficult to tackle issues around outreach. In 2017, Andrew Scheer was elected Conservative leader following the 2015 defea. He led the party in the 2019 election and resigned shortly afterwards amid an intense pressure campaign for him to step aside. O'Toole took over the party reins in 2020. Photo: Wikimedia Commons The Australian government has pledged to spend another one billion Australian dollars (US $704 million) over nine years on improving the health of the Great Barrier Reef after stalling a UNESCO decision on downgrading the natural wonders World Heritage status. Critics argue the investment is a bid to improve the ruling conservative coalitions green credentials ahead of looming elections while doing nothing to change the greatest threat to the coral: rising ocean temperatures. In July last year, Australia garnered enough international support to defer an attempt by UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, to downgrade the reefs World Heritage status to in danger because of damage caused by climate change. Photo: Lisa Maria Fox A Vancouver Island woman described Thursday how she rescued a truck driver whose vehicle ended up upside-down in eight feet of water after its brakes failed on a steep hill in Mill Bay. Lisa Maria Fox was at home about 11:45 a.m Wednesday when she heard a loud crash. When she rushed to the deck of her house, which overlooks Saanich Inlet, she saw a brown circle in the water, indicating that something big had gone in. The brakes of a loaded tandem-axle truck had failed, and it barrelled down the road, smashed through a concrete barrier and down a 50-foot embankment, coming to rest about 300 feet from shore. When she scrambled down to the beach to get a better look at what had happened, Fox saw two large wheels sticking out of the water. Then she heard screams from the driver, a woman who looked like she was in her 30s. I first only waded up to my waist, calling out to her and letting her know I was there, I was there to help her and she was OK, said Fox. The woman had scrambled out of the trucks cab, but was only moving one arm and her face was covered in blood. She looked like she was having difficulty breathing and was drifting out with the tide, Fox said. Fox, who grew up around Nanaimo and considers herself a strong swimmer, swam out to the driver who later identified herself as Kelly and started pulling her towards the shore. I kept telling her she was strong, that she was amazing, and she was alive and I was there to help her, said Fox, 51. She only had to swim about 10 to 15 feet before her feet touched the bottom again. I just helped her to the shore and got her settled, rubbing her briskly on her back and arms and comforting her, Fox said. Neighbours sent down blankets, which Fox wrapped the driver in while they waited for the Mill Bay Fire Department to arrive. When we got on scene, they were both sitting on the shore, said Ron Beck, Mill Bay fire chief. The truck driver was taken to the hospital, but was released later in the day. Totem Towing of Victoria assisted Mill Bay Towing in extracting the truck from the water. Fox doesnt consider herself a heroine. Instead, she credited the driver for her resilience, calling her one tough lady for managing to get herself out of the wreck. I feel so blessed, so glad that I was there to be able to help save a life, said Fox. Photo: The Canadian Press Saudi Arabia says it has reached a deal with Cirque du Soleil that could see the struggling circus company perform a slew of shows in the kingdom. In a release, the Saudi Ministry of Culture says a newly inked agreement means Cirque will "have the potential" to debut at least five of its touring performances including the Blue Man Group and Paw Patrol, as well as a possible resident show unique to the country. The government also specifies that the two parties will develop a plan to set up a regional Cirque training academy there. Cirque last pitched its tent in the kingdom in 2018, raising the ire of some of its artists who hoped the company would cancel shows amid international condemnation of the regime following the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and a diplomatic dispute between Canada and Saudi Arabia. Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic struck two years ago, Cirque scrapped its performances and cut nearly 3,500 employees, but began to add shows again last summer. The Montreal-based company was sold to a group of its creditors led by Catalyst Capital Group in late 2020 after the circus troupe was forced to file for creditor protection. Cirque is not the only Canadian franchise to have faced calls to cancel shows in Saudi Arabia. Pop star Justin Bieber heard similar demands ahead of his concert in the Red Sea city of Jidda last month during the kingdom's Formula One race. Photo: The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's concerned about the potential for violence during this weekend's planned protest on Parliament Hill by truckers and others joining the crowd. In an interview with The Canadian Press, Trudeau says the "freedom convoy" is no longer a protest against the federal vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers and has morphed into a forum for a small minority of "very angry" people opposed to all public health measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, some of whom espouse violence. Trudeau says it doesn't worry him that much of the anger is directed at him personally; getting an earful from angry critics goes with the territory of being a politician. But he says threats of violence should not go with the territory for anyone who steps up to serve, including politicians and health-care workers. While supporters of the convoy are rallying around a cry of freedom, Trudeau says they're ignoring the freedom of fellow Canadians to protect themselves against COVID-19, get their kids back in school, their businesses back in operation and life back to normal. A key convoy organizer has urged people to remain peaceful, while Canada Unity, a group behind the protest, falsely believes it can work with the Governor General and Senate of Canada to bypass existing systems of governance and reverse pandemic-related restrictions and penalties. Trudeau stresses that the protesters do not represent the vast majority of truckers or the vast majority of Canadians who've done the right thing by getting fully vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones. The fact that the West has forgotten, or has chosen to forget, what happened in the Ukraine is an obscenity. Various voices on the American right Tucker Carlson, Elbridge Colby, and others have recently argued that risking war with Russia over its bullying of Ukraine is a bad idea. They note that Ukraine is not vital to our security. That the real threat to our nation is China, not Russia. We have a record of involving ourselves in wars that drag on fruitlessly, they argue. We squander our influence by acting unrealistically on the world stage when we're divided and weak. And last year's bungled Afghanistan exit proved our ineptitude and weakness, to anyone paying attention. These views do have some merit. We no longer live in a unipolar world. The kind of global dominance achieved by the United States in the 1990s no longer exists. James Kurth, the distinguished political scholar, explains why in The American Way of Empire. After the U.S. victory in the Cold War, Kurth says, "the globalist economic elites of the United States," working through both the Democratic and Republican parties, violated wise strategic principles in pursuit of a new and ambitious (and self-serving) world order. Their "pride, greed and fantasies indeed hubris" resulted in a "reckless multiplication of enemies" at home and abroad, the decline of real American power, and the dangerous world we have today. All of which may be true. But none of which addresses the moral dimension of Ukraine's history and its current crisis. In a January 22 public statement, the Ukrainian Catholic bishops of the United States noted that: Praying for peace: Women light candles during a prayer service at a church in Kyiv, Ukraine. [CNS/David Mdzinarishvili, Reuters] After eight years of war initiated by Russia, Ukraine has lost a substantial part of its territory. 14,000 people, including children, have been killed, 1.5 million have been internally displaced, several hundred thousand agonize near the frontline, and millions suffer from post-traumatic stress. There are 400,000 traumatized Ukrainian veterans of the Russian war and thousands who have lost their loved-ones. How long will this continue? How many more shattered families, destitute widows and orphans, grieving parents and grandparents? How many more destroyed churches, mosques, and synagogues, schools and hospitals. . . ? The war in Ukraine is real. It kills, maims, and destroys daily. An escalated Russian invasion will generate additional millions of refugees, more dead and injured, more tears and pain. In a January 23 private email (used here with his permission), Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Philadelphia's Ukrainian Catholic archeparch, added that: The recent case for an American disengagement from Ukraine, written by an otherwise clear-headed U.S. columnist, is disappointing because it's both shortsighted and morally empty. For too many people, the historical consequences of appeasing Hitler remain a lesson not learned. This amnesia emerges tellingly in the case of Western attitudes toward Vladimir Putin. There were no Nuremberg Trials for communism; no punishment for the perpetrators of Soviet crimes against humanity; no justice for the tens of millions of Soviet-era victims in Ukraine and elsewhere. The absence in the Western world, especially in its elites, of a moral consensus a philosophical and political condemnation of the brutal depravity of the Soviet legacy has led to our current, fruitless policies toward Russia. For the president of Russia, the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the twentieth century. Mr. Putin insists that it needs to be rebuilt. Yet, such a prospect does not seem to generate real revulsion in the minds of many columnists, or the West in general. There's little moral outrage, hence little incentive for policies that would effectively address the mutations of post-Soviet Russian imperialism. The assumption seems to be that we can be isolationist, and somehow the ugly consequences won't reach us. Today in the West, any hint, in any form, of Nazi-like rhetoric or revival is cut off ruthlessly in the bud and rightly so. The re-emergence of a Russian Soviet-style colonial appetite should be as unspeakable as any notion of a Nazi one. The prospect of a wider war in Ukraine may be feared as something "imminent" and urgently to be avoided here in the West. No one wants such a conflict. But in Ukraine itself, the war is happening right now. As already noted, it's been ongoing in one form or another with families receiving the bodies of husbands, fathers and sons killed in action for eight years. And yet, as the U.S. Ukrainian Catholic bishops stress, "[T]he people of Ukraine courageously endure. As they stand with a gun to their head, they ask for our solidarity." So what can the American Catholic community do to help? Pray, obviously. Then, stay informed. And finally, provide financial support to ease Ukraine's humanitarian crisis. Clean water, medicine, food, and clothing are all lacking among refugees and others near the frontline. (Donations can be made at ukrarcheparchy.us/donate.) A poster of Russian President Vladimir Putin is used as target practice along a trench on the frontline with Russia-backed separatists near Zolote village, in the Lugansk region. [Photo: AFP] We Americans have always seen ourselves as the "good guys"; flawed, yes, but well-meaning and at least trying to do the right thing in our dealings with each other and the world. This hasn't always been true. And even when true, it's led to some disastrously imprudent foreign interventions. How the United States handles the coming weeks and months regarding Ukraine and Russian intimidation is, very wisely, in the hands of others. But before those "others" decide how best to act, they should spend a few moments reflecting on the savage Stalinist persecution of Ukrainian Catholics that took place in the name of Marxist-Leninist "progress." And then they might profitably watch the 2019 feature film Mr. Jones. Millions died in the Holodomor, the deliberate, genocidal Soviet starvation campaign inflicted on Ukraine and its people in the 1930s, and captured brilliantly on screen in the story of Mr. Jones. My point is simply this: The idea that Ukrainians might forget or ignore the memory of Russian criminality in their country, for the sake of a dubious peace, is ludicrous. The fact that the West has forgotten that memory, or chooses to forget it, is an obscenity.< China releases white paper on space program Xinhua) 10:44, January 28, 2022 >>Full Text: China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China issued a white paper on the country's space program on Friday. The white paper was published by the State Council Information Office of China. Titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective," the white paper introduces China's purposes, principles, policies and measures, and cooperative mindset in its space exploration. It summarizes China's achievements in space science, space technology and space application. "The space industry is a critical element of the overall national strategy, and China upholds the principle of exploration and utilization of outer space for peaceful purposes," the paper says. The major achievements in China's space industry since 2016 include a steady improvement in space infrastructure, the completion and operation of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), the completion of the high-resolution Earth observation system, steady improvement of the service ability of satellite communications and broadcasting, the conclusion of the last step of the three-step lunar exploration program, the first stages in building the space station, as well as Tianwen-1's landing and exploration of Mars, according to the paper. It lays out key space areas China plans to focus on in the upcoming five years, concerning the space transport system, space infrastructure, manned spaceflight, deep space exploration, space launch sites and telemetry, tracking and command, experiments on new technologies, and space environment governance. China is ready to explore the moon's polar regions and is mulling over a manned lunar landing. The country also vows to improve space debris monitoring and expand the space environment governance system with a near-Earth object defense system and space-ground space climate monitoring system planned, according to the paper. The country will further boost public services with satellites and expand space application industry. It will continue with the research on space science, including the research and development of the satellite for space gravitational wave detection, the Einstein probe satellite, and the advanced space-based solar observatory. Meanwhile, the white paper notes that China calls on all countries to carry out in-depth exchanges and cooperation in outer space on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, peaceful utilization, and inclusive development. More cooperation in astronaut selection and training, joint flights and other fields will take place between China and foreign countries. China will strengthen cooperation in international lunar research station project, it says. It is the country's fifth white paper on space activities. China issued white paper on space activities in 2000, 2006, 2011, and 2016. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. USG Supramax/Ultramax sees sharp rate drop ICR Newsroom By 28 January 2022 By Maria Vasyutenko, freight associate of Brannvoll ApS, Denmark The USG Supramax/Ultramax spot freight market experienced a sharp rate fall after a short-lived spike. Traditionally, the month started on a positive mode. USG tonnage supply was tight, while there was plenty of cargo due to move prior to the holidays. It allowed shipowners to push rates up before a substantial drop. As the month progressed, given the time of year, owners were making more practical than commercial decisions when accepting sharper rates in an effort to clear the decks before the holidays begin. At the end of the month, the tonnage list was considerably greater than the demand and therefore owners have to discount drastically to secure employment. Freight rates for transportation of a Supramax-lot of petcoke from Houston to ARA ports with spot laycans are at US$26/t (-US$6/t MoM) on average. Deals for delivery of 50,000t of petcoke from Houston to Iskenderun with spot laycans are discussed at around US$30/t on average (-US$7/t MoM). The freight rates on fronthaul directions (trips to southeast Asia and China) showed quite a big drop in rates as the US grain season failed to gain momentum after its delayed start. The pre-holiday spike of activity in the fronthaul segment did not really help the rates to reach expected heights. Shipping costs for delivery of a Supramax-lot of petcoke from USG to EC India are at US$60/t (-US$14/t MoM) on average. The first quarter of the year is traditionally the slowest period for the dry bulk freight market. Therefore, further rate falls are expected on the back of limited demand from the main importers, slow cargo flow and growing tonnage supply in the Atlantic basin. Published under Ceskomoravsky Cement plans CZK300m sustainability investment into Radotin ICR Newsroom By 28 January 2022 Czech cement producer Ceskomoravsky Cement is preparing an investment of CZK300m (US$13.71m) to improve the environmental performance of its Radotin plant. The purchase of a new vertical mill and other environmental measures will enable the works to reduce CO 2 emissions by 12 per cent and electricity consumption by 24 per cent by 2030. The company intends to select the technology for the new mill this year and prepare project documentation for the building permit application in 2023. If construction can start in mid-2023, the upgraded plant is expected to come online in 2025, according to the Ceska Informaci Agentura news agency. Published under Buena Vista, CO (81211) Today Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low around 30F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low around 30F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Danville City leaders get ready to breathe new life into the old mill village; Danville leaders ready to weigh proposal to provide real estate tax help to elderly and disabled; Danville native taking his place in Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. Southern Adventist University invites the community to a special worship experience with Aaron Shust in concert Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m. in the Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists. Review for Aaron Shust: Known for songs such as My Hope is in You, Ever Be, and No One Higher, Shust has earned a reputation as one of Christian musics most compelling and spiritually deep song writers. He was named both New Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year at the 2007 Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and the impact of his song, My Savior, My God was recognized with the Song of the Year honor. All are welcome to the concert, which is free thanks to the generosity of a Southern alum. Please plan on wearing a mask. French President Emmanuel Macron seeks to have a dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin to pursue the de-escalation of tensions on the border of Ukraine amid threats of potential war. Macron is set to call Putin on Friday. According to French government spokesperson Gabriel Attal, the goal of the talks is to pursue diplomacy and "push Russia to clarify its position and the aim of military maneuvering." The meeting of Russian, Ukrainian, French, and German top advisers on Wednesday in Paris seemed to buy time for all parties, as they agreed to meet again in two weeks. However, France's pursuit to resolve the tensions in diplomatic ways challenges the efforts of the US and NATO to form a united front against Russia. Experts are divided on whether it will be sufficient to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine, as per Associated Press. Amid the allegations of an invasion plot, Russia has denied planning an assault on Ukraine. But it has moved around 100,000 troops near the border in recent weeks. Moscow has been conducting military exercises at multiple locations. Such a move alerted the US and NATO, per Euronews. Read Also: Joe Biden Predicts Russia Will Attack Ukraine Anytime But Vladimir Putin Will Face Stiff Price; Volodymyr Zelensky Rebukes Gaffe Macron Pursues Diplomacy Attal believes that Macron "is at the heart of efforts towards de-escalation." The French President is also set to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the coming days. Macron favors the resumption of the dialogue between Washington and Moscow in the previous weeks. However, he commented, the talks have not produced any concrete results. The French leader admitted that "discussion with Russia is always difficult," based on his own experience in pursuing to build a personal relationship with Putin. Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel attempted to persuade EU leaders to hold a summit with Putin in June of last year. The Baltic countries and Poland were against the proposal, citing fears about meeting with the Russian President at a period when Europe's relations with Moscow were at an all-time low. On the other hand, Macron has made a renewed effort over such a high-level summit in recent days. He emphasized that it would not interfere with existing negotiations between the US and NATO. He insisted that the outlets "must be exploited until the end to get Russia back into a process of de-escalation, to get guarantees, and allow us to build a new (European) security and stability order." Talks to De-escalate Russia-Ukraine Tension Needs More Time On Wednesday, Paris hosted a meeting of top advisers from Germany, Russia, and Ukraine with the "Normandy format." The talks try to revive a dialogue that started in 2014, per New York Times. To give up is to acknowledge that the political situation is no longer on the table," Macron said, who is optimistic that the recent talks would result in "positive expectations." However, the four-nation discussions on resolving a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine, which is part of a larger crisis between Moscow and Kyiv, took longer than expected. Related Post: Biden Warns Putin With Personal Sanctions If Russia Invades Ukraine; Russia Says It Would Not Hurt Putin @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two prosecutors in the Hamilton County District Attorneys Office resolved the cold case murder of 25-year-old Jose Avenado in Davidson County Criminal Court in Nashville on Thursday. Executive Assistant District Attorney Cameron Williams said Adam and Ricky Saysongkham both agreed to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter and serve six years in prison. District Attorney General Neal Pinkston said General Williams and Assistant DA AnCharlene Davis were asked to serve as special prosecutors because a witness provided information to a Nashville Assistant DA, who is a potential witness in the case. This case goes back to April 18, 2007. A little past 3 a.m., Nashville police responded to Dominion House Apartments on Lindbar Drive in Davidson County. They located the victim, Jose Avenado, who had been awakened by gunshots and apparently looked out his window and was struck by one round in the neck. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. The Metro Nashville Police Department began an investigation and collected evidence that included shell casings, two shirts and a necklace that belonged to one of the suspects. Eyewitnesses told investigators that they were in the parking lot when they observed a vehicle enter the parking lot. Two suspects exited the vehicle and began to break into a Silver Honda Civic. The eyewitnesses confronted the suspects and a brief altercation ensued. During the altercation, one of the suspects lost two shirts and a necklace. Both suspects, described as young men of Asian descent, fled the area. A short time later, one of the eyewitnesses said he heard several gunshots outside of his apartment complex, which is the same complex Mr. Avenado resided in. It is believed one of the gunshots the eyewitness heard struck Mr. Avenado and killed him. Nashville police later identified a suspect, and an eyewitness identified him in a lineup. However, the case was dismissed in 2007 because the witnesses failed to appear in court. The case went cold. The Metro Nashville Police Departments Cold Case Unit reopened the case in 2017, when Detective Mike Roland received information from a concerned citizen regarding Mr. Avenados murder. The information implicated Adam and Ricky Saysongkham and a third individual as the people responsible for the death of Mr. Avenado. Two of the eyewitnesses were offered and signed Immunity Agreements before providing the crucial information needed to solve the case. Adam Saysongkham was 17 and his brother Ricky was 19 at the time of the murder. General Williams said Nashville police as well as the victims family supported the plea agreement and the resolution of the case. The Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga released the following statement regarding the decision in McMinn County to ban a Holocaust book. "The Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga is disappointed by the McMinn County School Board's decision to remove an important work and resource about the Holocaust, 'Maus', from its curriculum. It is imperative that we teach our children about the Holocaust in age-appropriate ways, as outlined in Tennessee's state standards for Holocaust education. At a time of rising antisemitism, we must be particularly vigilant so that nothing like the Holocaust can ever happen again." "On International Holocaust Memorial Day, in particular, we must redouble our efforts to ensure the crimes of the Nazi regime are never forgotten," said Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga Executive Director Michael Dzik. "We are in the process of reaching out to the McMinn County School Board and look forward to discussing this issue with them in hopes that they will reconsider their decision." Mr. Dzik continued by saying, The Jewish Federation looks forward to sharing many local and regional Holocaust resources with the McMinn County School Board including Whitwell Paperclips Project, One Clip at a Time, Tennessee Holocaust Commission, and Facing History and Ourselves, to name a few. We recognize that the Holocaust topic is challenging and difficult but one that is essential in creating informed, educated, caring and thoughtful communities. The Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga works diligently to educate and fight against antisemitism and all forms of hate. It creates partnerships with civic, business and faith communities to build understanding and respect for all. The Joint Study Committee on Refugee Issues on Thursday approved a report that includes a series of recommendations related to refugee issues in Tennessee that could become the basis for future legislation. The committee was formed by Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) and House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) in May of 2021 to investigate the federal governments immigration program within Tennessee. The committee heard testimony regarding immigration in Tennessee during four meetings held between June and November of that year. Those meetings culminated in this report. Secretary of State Tre Hargett is warning Tennessee business owners about a scam that has recently resurfaced targeting businesses with a deceptive mailer from a company that goes by two names: Tennessee Certificate Service and TN Certificate of Existence Filing Company. Our Division of Business and Charitable Organizations and I personally have heard of multiple complaints from business owners across Tennessee about these misleading mailers. We have seen scams like this before, with similar deceptive language that implies that businesses must have a Certificate of Existence to complete its formation or to fully operate in the state, said Secretary Hargett. This is not the case. Unfortunately, businesses who order a Certificate of Existence through these scammers may be paying an exorbitant amount for something that is totally unnecessary or would only cost $20 through our office. The misleading mailer titled 2022 Certificate of Existence Request has been sent to businesses across the statepurporting that all Tennessee businesses are required to pay a fee of either $83 or $175.50 for this third-party company to step in and complete the Certificate of Existence paperwork on businesses' behalf. However, a Certificate of Existence can be obtained directly from the Secretary of States office for just $20, either by phone, mail or online at tnbear.tn.gov/Ecommerce/ CertOfExistenceInstr.aspx . The mailer makes it appear that the 2022 Certificate of Existence Request is part of the business entitys registration process: A Certificate of Existence certifies that your Tennessee business is in existence, is authorized to transact business in the state and complies with all state requirements. The mailer and organization are not affiliated with or authorized by the Secretary of States Office in any way. Businesses may wish to obtain a Certificate of Existence in certain circumstances, such as a loan closing or other business transaction. However, they are not required to do so as a matter of course during the business formation process. Secretary Hargett encourages business owners to call the Division of Business and Charitable Organizations by phone at 615 741-2286 or email TNSOS.CERT@tn.gov if they receive a questionable mailer or want to know more about obtaining a Certificate of Existence. Mayor Tim Kelly today named four finalists who will advance in the search for Chattanoogas next chief of police. The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and an internal review committee have selected the following finalists: Celeste Murphy: Deputy Chief Celeste Murphy has served in the Atlanta Police Department for over two decades, where she has held the roles of patrol officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. In 2016 she was appointed to the rank of major and selected to lead the Office of Professional Standards (or, Internal Affairs). In the history of the Department, she is the sixth woman to serve as a precinct commander, and the first woman ever to command two different precincts. Paul Noel: Deputy Superintendent Paul Noel has served in the New Orleans Police Department for over two decades, having held a variety of patrol and investigative assignments including chief of Field Operations, and as commanding officer for the Special Victims Section, the Criminal Investigation Division, and the Second District. In his current role as chief of detectives he oversees all centralized investigative functions, the Crime Lab, and various other support functions. Troy Price: Assistant Chief Troy Price began his career in law enforcement in Chicago, and currently helps lead the Vancouver Police Department, where hes served in a variety of roles. As assistant chief of police, he currently oversees the Departments precincts, patrol personnel and a team of over 100 volunteers. Glenn Scruggs: Assistant Chief Glenn Scruggs has nearly three decades of service to the Chattanooga community in public safety. He has worked in the Public Housing Unit, the CPD Neighborhood Policing Bureau, and the CPD Investigations Bureau. In his current role as assistant chief for the Chattanooga Police Departments Neighborhood Policing Bureau, he oversees approximately 260 sworn officers. A document containing full-length biographies on each of the four candidates can be found at cha.city/chiefsearch. Our next chief of police must have a demonstrated commitment to civil rights and community policing, the ability to spur a strong culture of accountability within the department, and a track record of successfully keeping residents safe, said Mayor Kelly. Theres no question that every single one of these four finalists brings these traits to the table, and Im impressed with the caliber of law enforcement professionals who've shown interest in CPD, in Chattanooga, and in our City government. Over the coming weeks, Mayor Kelly as well as an interview panelthat includes local public-safety stakeholders representing a diversity of community voices, ideas, and perspectiveswill go in-depth with each candidate to identify the best fit for Chattanooga residents. Finalists will spend time in Chattanooga with Mayor Kelly and the interview panelists. Community voices participating in the finalist-interview stage of the hiring process include: Charlie Brock Entrepreneur Dr. Ternae Jordan, Sr. Mount Canaan Baptist Church Ann Pierre Chattanooga NAACP Joe Smith Hamilton County School Board District 3 Dr. Ernest L. Reid, Jr. Second Missionary Baptist Church Kristie Wilder, JD, MSW Southern Adventist University, School of Social Work Organizations listed for identification purposes only, as these community leaders are representing their perspectives rather than their organizations, officials said. While wed be fortunate to have any one of these dedicated public servants at the helm of CPD, Im looking forward to selecting the best possible chief for Chattanooga, said Mayor Kelly. To ensure a fair, transparent and ethical process, the Mayors Office and City Council engaged the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), a police research and policy organization with 30 years experience helping local governments recruit qualified police chief candidates. PERF has assisted with more than 75 executive searches in the last ten years and has also coordinated several successful searches during the pandemic. The City previously contracted with PERF for a police chief search in 2014. That search resulted in the hire of Chief Fred Fletcher. In October 2021 Mayor Kellys office announced its timeline for completing the search process for a new Chief of Police, and the City remains on track to nominate a candidate for City Council confirmation by the end of February. The public-engagement portion of the search process included both an online survey and multiple public input sessions to ensure Mayor Kellys administration heard from as many residents as possible. Recordings of the three public input sessions and a detailed summary of community feedback received through all channels can be viewed at cha.city/chiefsearch. The internal interview panel for earlier phases of the selection process included staff from PERF, Mayor Kelly and members of Mayor Kellys senior team. This panel was charged with ensuring that the city identifies candidates with a track-record of innovation and community engagement, and a commitment to civil rights and public safety. By City Charter, Mayor Kelly will select the next chief of police. Captain Lee Rosbach from Below Deck said the feeling is mutual about Cynthia Bailey from The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Bailey recently told Showbiz Cheat Sheet that going on Below Deck was a voyage of a lifetime. And Rosbach said having Bailey and pal Claudia Jordan onboard during Below Deck Season 3 was a blast. He did, however, admit that he was worried before she arrived that hed have high-maintenance Housewives for charter guests. Captain Lee said they had a ball on Below Deck Rosbach said he had fun during Baileys charter. We just had a ball, Rosbach told Hollywood Life. Shes a lot of fun. We actually had her on charter. Cynthia Bailey and Captain Lee Rosbach |Bruce Glikas/WireImage/Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images But he said when he heard Housewives would be on board he was a little concerned. I was just like, Oh, my God. Housewives of Atlanta. Im thinking high maintenance, Rosbach admitted. Really a pain, demanding. And she was on there with Claudia Jordan as well. And [she] couldnt have been more different. Not demanding at all. Rosbach also blogged about having the RHOA cast members on board. When I was told it was the Housewives of Atlanta, my first thought was we might be understaffed, he wrote. I could not have been more wrong. These ladies were just so pleasant and easy to get on with. They were gracious and fun. Give me more guests like these ladies, and Ill break into my happy dance. Adding, The Housewives were just the charter that we needed, and the crew changes were definitely for the better. Captain Lee, thats my boy, Cynthia Bailey said Bailey felt the same way about Rosbach and going on the series, even though her charter ended up at the dock due to bad weather. Captain Lee, thats my boy, she told Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Hes great. Were friends now and hes amazing. We ended up docking because the weather in the Bahamas was not the best, she recalled. But you know what, if Bravo has ever given me a gift, it was being able to take my family on Below Deck. Baileys teenage daughter Noelle also developed a little crush on deckhand Emile Kotze, which scored her some points at home. I got so many mom points from [daughter] Noelle, she added. She had the best time. And my mom, it was like the best vacation of her life. It could have been like a tornado the whole time, she added. And the yacht was so beautiful. The crew was so amazing. Captain Lee was our captain. They basically gave us everything we wanted. So it didnt even matter that the weather was kind of crappy because it just ended up being so much fun. New season means Cynthia Bailey could return With a new season preparing to film, Bailey said shed love to be included on the Below Deck Season 10 charter guestlist. I have my bikini ready to go! she gushed. In 2022, I would love to go on Below Deck with my family. That would be awesome. Especially with my girls and [husband] Mike [Hill]. Hes never been and hed love it. She added, And you know, for someone coming from reality TV, Ive never been on a show where I wasnt part of the drama, she remarked. But the crew was the drama. So I just got to actually be on a cruise and just eat and drink and have fun with my friends and family. Then all the drama was happening in the kitchen with other people and it had nothing to do with me. Sign me up! I would go on Below Deck once a year if they would have me. RELATED: Below Deck: Courtney Skippon Said Shed Never Go Back to the Show Its Embarrassing Chef Gordon Ramsay has met and cooked for a number of celebrities and high-profile people over the years but one meeting with a royal sticks out to him as he got to serve the woman he called his dream dinner date. Ramsay stated that his favorite meal to date is still the one he made for Princess Diana. Read on to find out what Ramsay served the late princess when she dined at one of his restaurants. (L) Gordon Ramsay in the finale episode of 24 Hours to Hell and Back | FOX via Getty Images, (R): Princess Diana wearing a pick outfit in Argentina | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images Ramsay recalled meeting gracious Princess Diana Ramsay talked about meeting and cooking for the Princess of Wales during the British docuseries Gordon, Gino and Fred Go Greek. On the show Ramsay travels around Greece with fellow chef Gino DAcampo and the French maitre dhotel Fred Sireix. In one episode, Ramsay was asked about Diana. I mean, heres renowned as the supermodel of the isletsSantoriniand she, by far, was one of the most gracious members of the royal family Ive ever met, Ramsay said (per the Independent). And when DAcampo wanted to know what the restaurateur and television personalitys favorite meal to date was, he replied: Cooking for Lady Di. Princess Diana sitting cross-legged on cushions at a Bedouin-style picnic lunch | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images RELATED: Why Gordon Ramsay Refuses to Eat This Type of Food Ramsay said the food he cooked for his dream dinner date was the best meal he ever made Ramsay previously spoke to the Daily Mail as well about cooking for Princess Diana in the 90s at his Chelsea, London restaurant Aubergine and called her his dream dinner date. I was very fortunate to cook for her at Aubergine back in the early days. When she came in she was so normal, the chef recalled. No airs and graces, security outside, she had the lunch menu and didnt go a la carte. Ramsay added that he prepared a starter of pressed leek terrine and the main course was sea bass, which he still considers the best meal he ever made. Gordon Ramsay in the Southern Kitchen episode of his show 24 Hours to Hell and Back | FOX via Getty Images Dianas former chef reveals what he used to make for the princess Now that we know what Diana ate at fine restaurants, you may be wondering what she ate when she was at home. Her former chef Darren McGrady, who worked for Queen Elizabeth II for over a decade until he was moved from Buckingham Palace to Kensington Palace in 1993, said that when he started working for Diana she was eating very healthy. He said some of her go-to dishes were stuffed peppers and eggplant. However, she did splurge from time to time and order bread and butter pudding. McGrady told Hello!: She would have a small portion every now and then and only when William and Harry were at home. RELATED: Former Royal Chef Says Princess Diana Was Too Scared to Ask for Seconds at Dinner in Front of Queen Elizabeth The Succession cast is full of fascinating actors and characters but Logan Roy (Brian Cox) is at the top of the hill. Both by nature of his authoritative role and Coxs performance, Logan Roy is an onion viewers keep trying to peel, and he wont really let them. Cox said in a recent interview that he only learned one detail in the penultimate episode of the first season. Brian Cox | Graeme Hunter/HBO Cox was a guest on the Fresh Air podcast on Jan. 18 to discuss his new memoir, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, released last year. When host Terry Gross asked Cox about Succession, he revealed a change creator Jesse Armstrong made that he considered bizarre. Logan Roy was originally American on Succession, against Brian Coxs suggestion Cox was born in Dundee, Scotland. As an actor, he can do accents from anywhere, so American on Succession is no problem. However, Cox initially suggested to Armstrong that they could use his authentic heritage for Logan Roy. Hes sort of partly American, Cox said on Fresh Air. I always had the idea that Logan Roy could be Scotch. I thought Logan Roy, its a Scottish name. So I thought he could be Scotch. I suggested it to Jesse and he said, No, hes got to be American. I said, Okay, fine, so Im American. So I played it for 9 episodes in the first season. A Succession cast member alerted Brian Cox to the totally bizarre change Cox explained that originally, Succession determined that Logan Roy was born in Quebec, Canada. However, he found out from a fellow Succession cast member that Logans origin had changed. Then in the 9th episode, Peter Friedman, who plays Frank, had done an ADR session. He came to me and said, You know, theyve changed your birth place. I said, What do you mean theyve changed my birthplace? He said, Youre no longer born in Quebec and hed done a big speech in the first episode. I said, So where am I born? He said, Oh, I cant remember. He looked at his device and said, Oh, here we are. Somewhere called Dundee, Scotland. I went, Thats where Im from. And he said, Oh, thats a coincidence. I said, Im not sure if it is a coincidence. Brian Cox, Fresh Air, 1/18/22 RELATED: Succession Cast Member Alan Rucks Wife Mireille Enos Burst Into Tears When He Auditioned, and Not for Joy Cox asked Armstrong about the change and was not quite satisfied with the answer. I went to Jesse and said, What the hell was going on? Cox said. He said, We thought youd be a little surprised. I said, Its a hell of a surprise. Ive been acting this character for 9 episodes thinking hes born in Quebec, Canada with a kind of mutt Vermont Canadian accent. Now Im a Scot. He says, Yeah, well, we just thought it was more interesting. That whole thing was totally bizarre. Brian Cox did not change his voice for Logan Roy The 11th hour change did not require Cox to redub his lines. Cox continued to play Logan Roy with the same voice throughout three seasons of Succession, with a fourth on the way. Congratulations to the cast of Succession on their five #SAGawards nominations, including Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. pic.twitter.com/d4pp2KLTof Succession (@succession) January 12, 2022 Because hes lived in America and basically we slip in and out, so it kind of works that I do it, Cox said. When I was a kid, when I was a little boy, playing movies, I was always doing American accents right from the age of about 5. RELATED: Succession: Roman Roys Obscene Photo Upset Logan for Many Reasons, Creator Jesse Armstrong Says The Young and the Restless Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) has been going through a rough patch. Aside from her breakup with Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow), Phyllis also has empty nest syndrome. Her daughter Summer Newmans (Hunter King) move to Italy has put Phyllis in a depressed mood, and fans believe its time she cheers up. Michelle Stafford I Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic The Young and the Restless fans believe Phyllis Summers needs to accept Summer Newmans departure Phyllis and Summer were a famous mother-daughter duo on The Young and the Restless. While the two had their share of arguments, nothing could break their bond. Phyllis is always protective of Summer and stops Sally Spectra (Courtney Hope) and Tara Lockes (Elizabeth Leiner) scheme against her. RELATED: The Young and the Restless Speculation: Phyllis and Sally Are Mother and Daughter Sally and Tara drove Summer out of town by making her accept a handbag designing job in Milan, Italy. After Phyllis exposed their crime, she was hopeful that Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) would bring her daughter home. However, Phyllis was in for a shock when Summer and Kyle announced their plans to move to Italy permanently. Its been five months since Summer and Kyles departure, and Phyllis is still upset over the situation. On Twitter, fans voiced their annoyance with Phyllis whining. Since when did Phyllis follow around her daughter this closely and cry about her? asked one viewer. Why cant she just celebrate the fact her daughter is happy and doing well, another fan chimed in. Contemplated moving to Milan to be closer to Summer Newman Phyllis loneliness over Summer had her contemplating a massive change on The Young and the Restless. On the Jan. 25 episode, Phyllis told Amanda Sinclair (Mishael Morgan) that Summer offered her a job in Milan. Phyllis debated selling The Grand Phoenix and moving to Italy to be closer to Summer. After Amanda failed to get through to Phyllis, she called in reinforcements. Pep talks by Michael Baldwin #YR pic.twitter.com/XNt7TbP32J Young and Restless (@YandR_CBS) January 25, 2022 RELATED: The Young and the Restless: Michelle Stafford Loves Playing Phyllis Dark Side Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc) arrived to give his longtime friend a pep talk. Michael told Phyllis shed be miserable in Italy, and working with Summer would strain their relationship. He then explains Genoa City is her home and she cant leave. Michaels pep talk does the trick when Phyllis agrees moving to Italy is a bad idea. But she does decide to visit her daughter. Jack Abbott the cause of Phyllis Summers behavior The Young and the Restless is pushing for a potential Phyllis and Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) reunion. After her split with Nick, Jack confessed his feelings for Phyllis. While His confession touched Phyllis, she thought it best if she and Jack stayed friends. However, the redhead is still in love with the Jabot CEO. Even Michael and Amanda sense her feelings toward Jack and believe he was the reason for her desire to move to Italy. After a brief absence, Jack returns to Genoa City, and there are surprises in store for him. According to Celeb Dirty Laundry, Phyllis and Jack will work together to solve a mystery. Its unknown what the secret is, but it will be bringing the exes one step closer to a reunion. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell cautioned President Joe Biden not to nominate an "extreme left" nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Breyer's retirement was announced on Wednesday; Biden and Breyer held a joint news conference on Thursday to make it official. Biden said he will reveal his candidate before the end of February and that he would appoint a black woman to the Supreme Court. McConell claims he'll have a "fair look" at Biden's Supreme Court nominee Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and John Cornyn of Texas, both Republicans, reiterated McConnell's advice to pick a nominee who is more moderate in his jurisprudence. By voting 50-50, Democrats could hypothetically approve a Biden candidate without the assistance of the Republicans, with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tiebreaker. On a Supreme Court confirmation vote, there has never been a tie. The majority of recent Supreme Court appointments have been political, with just a few senators switching parties. Despite blocking movement on now-Attorney General Merrick Garland's nomination to the court in 2016, McConnell oversaw the swift confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett in 2020 after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, arguing that confirmation should not occur in an election year with a Senate controlled by the president's party, as per Washington Examiner. Biden has committed to appointing the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, as part of his long-standing commitment to diversify the federal court, which has historically been dominated by white males. So far, Justice Sonia Sotomayor is the first woman of color and the first Hispanic to serve on the Supreme Court. In his first year in office, the president has already appointed the most federal judges in four decades, with a broad variety of ethnic, gender, and professional backgrounds. In four months, Biden nominated twice as many minority women to the federal court as Trump had confirmed in four years. He currently has twice as many minority women on the federal bench as Trump. The Senate has confirmed 42 of Biden's nominations as of January 26. There are 33 women among them and 29 people who identify as Black, Asian, Native American, Hispanic, or mixed. The spotlight on the Black female jurists who may succeed him has been renewed by Breyer's retirement. Only two White men have been appointed as Article III judges, a category that includes Supreme Court justices as well as federal circuit and district judges. According to the US Constitution, these judges must be chosen by the president and approved by the Senate, Justices on the Supreme Court, and judges on the federal circuits and district courts. Read Also: NY Attorney General Letitia James Slams Donald Trump for Filing a Lawsuit To Stop Investigations Into Trump Organization Biden vows to nominate a Black woman Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was appointed to the prestigious US Court of Appeals for the DC last year, is on the list of prospective Supreme Court nominees. The Federal Judicial Center provides information on federal judges. This research took into account Federal Judges under Article III. For each president's total, each judge has only been tallied once. Judges' racial and ethnic identifiers were submitted to the Justice Department's Office of Legal Policy by the judges themselves. Judges who identified as Black, Asian, Native American, Hispanic, or mixed were classified as minority judges in this study, according to The Washinton Post. During his first year in office, Biden worked hard to propose a diverse set of federal judges, not only in terms of race but also in terms of professional experience; he has been looking into potential high court prospects along the way. He has appointed five Black women to the federal appeals courts, which are home to many of the nation's top judges, and the Senate is considering three more candidates. He has overseen six Supreme Court confirmation hearings while serving as a senator, and he has extensive experience with the nomination process as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Ron Klain, Biden's chief of staff and former top counsel to the Judiciary Committee and a former Supreme Court law clerk, will play a key role in the process. At least one of the top nominees, 51-year-old Ketanji Brown Jackson, has already met with the president in person. She has been a federal trial court judge in the District of Columbia since 2013 and is a former Breyer clerk who worked at the US Sentencing Commission. Biden met her when she was being interviewed for her present position as an appeals court judge in the District of Columbia, HuffPost reported. Related Article: Mitch McConnell Is Reportedly Hurt Over Backlash from His Black Voter Comments; Senator Praises Joe Biden About Ukraine Decision @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Cherokee Nation will begin dispersing its limited supply of heirloom seeds on Feb. 7 to tribal citizens who are interested in growing traditional Cherokee crops. Attorney Peter Bowman knows that the law can be intimidating, especially to those who do not spend their time immersed in the intricacies of the legal system. What does one do if evicted? Whats the process of settling a family dispute? How does probate court work? Many may not want to or be able to hire a lawyer to answer such common questions, so Bowman and his team at BBB Attorneys, LLC, decided to help. On Monday, Jan. 17, the law firm, which has offices throughout Connecticut, including in Cheshire, offered free one-hour consultations to state residents on a variety of topics. The consultations were held virtually, and coincided with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This is our first year doing this, said Bowman, a Cheshire native. We were looking at our schedule for our staff and thought this would be a great opportunity. My church (St. James of West Hartford) usually does a day of service around MLK Day, so we thought that offering this kind of access to (legal advice) would be a real benefit. The service was offered throughout the entire day on Jan. 17, and Bowman estimates that approximately 50 hours worth of consultation, or about $25,000 in legal advice, was provided. Those members of the staff who were unable to participate were asked to give blood, as a way to give back to the community. We wanted to provide two ways for everyone to offer something, said Bowman. The topics discussed were varied. Bowmans office stated that the group would be offering advice on issues such as family and divorce assistance, personal injury questions, landlord-tenant issues, real estate questions, reviewing contracts, small business questions, advice for people filing or defending small claims cases, and more. While there are different organizations throughout the state that offer legal advice to those who cannot afford representation, Bowman stated that securing an appointment can at times be difficult. Also, many seek information from clerks offices at municipal courts, and while employees there are often willing to provide advice, they are not equipped to give out such legal assistance to those in need. We have some of the best clerks in the country (in Connecticut), but they arent there to give that kind of (detailed) advice, said Bowman. Some of the issues discussed the most, such as evictions, have been exacerbated by the pandemic, Bowman said, as many more people are confronting issues having to do with property law. But the pandemic also, in a way, made the entire service possible, Bowman said, as advances in technology allowed his legal team to more easily connect with people. It just isnt a big ask anymore for people to go on our website and log in (to a video conference call), because so many people have had to do it over the pandemic, he said. People are much more knowledgeable (with the technology) now. I dont think this (service) would have been nearly as successful without the technological advances during the pandemic. The topics covered were wide-ranging, Bowman said, but it was clear that many who contacted BBB Attorneys on Jan. 17 were frustrated and simply didnt know how to begin when dealing with a particular legal issue. When you Google (such questions), you end up getting 17 different answers, said Bowman. The feedback the team received after clarifying many of those issues was gratifying, he said. That was worth more than anything they could have paid us, he said. The service was also a learning experience for Bowmans team, he insisted, as it provided them with an opportunity to understand and put into practice how to communicate legal issues in a way the general public can understand. As far as future programs are concerned, Bowman said that, while BBB Attorneys will definitely be offering the free legal advice once again next year on MLK Day, hed like to expand it and perhaps encourage other law firms to do the same. In the future, he imagines having more focused events, where legal advice is offered on one particular issue rather than on various topics. It really felt great to give back, and we are looking forward to offering some options (to the public) throughout the year, he said. A conservative commentator on Fox News once dismissed Robert Shine Sr. and the impact of the group of Black Christian clergy he led in Philadelphia with a wave of his hand. Theyre not kingmakers, he said. They probably lose more than they win. But that wasnt how Shine measured the ministers witness. That wasnt how he understood the job. We represent the kingdom of God, he told a Philadelphia newspaper in 2002. We are the voice calling for conscience, appealing to do the right thing. Shine, who spoke out for the least and the last and the lost for more than 40 years, pastored a Black Baptist church in the East Germantown neighborhood for more than 30, and taught pastors and deacons at a Bible institute for more than 20, died at home on January 4. He was 82. He was truly a man of God who loved doing what God called him to do, and that was pastoring, teaching and working for social justice, Michael W. Couch, a fellow pastor, told ThePhiladelphia Inquirer. Shine was born on August 4, 1939. His parents, Benjamin and Estelle Shine, raised him and his 15 siblings in Germantown, the historic Philadelphia neighborhood that gave birth to the American antislavery movement. He knew early on that he wanted to be a preacher. At 8, he climbed up on a milk crate on a street corner and delivered his first sermon. He was baptized at a Baptist church at 11 and ordained a deacon at 20. After high school, Shine took classes at La Salle Universitys business college and worked as an evangelist with a group he helped organization called Christians United Reaching Everyone. Shine earned a degree from Manna Bible Institute in 1971. The unaccredited Bible college describes itself as offering an education built on the full authority of the Bible as the written Word of God and dedicated to Gods glory. It was founded to serve people who couldnt afford a formal seminary education. Many classes were offered at night for working students seeking a Christian worker or standard Bible degree. Shine was ordained after graduation and immediately began pastoring a local Baptist church. The congregation couldnt pay enough for him to provide for his young family, though, so the 31-year-old pastor took a second job as a janitor, first at Prudential Life Insurance and then at Merck Pharmaceuticals. It was at the multinational pharmaceutical companymopping floors, cleaning toilets, and emptying trashthat the bivocational pastor started turning his attention to social justice issues. He and 12 other employees joined together and sued the company for racial discrimination, alleging it gave preferential treatment to white people in hiring and promotion. In 1976, Merk settled the suit, committing $3.2 million to a fund for minority training. A few years later, the AIDS epidemic changed how Shine thought about social problems. When the first few cases were diagnosed in the city in 1981, he thought the disease was Gods punishment for gay men. He looked at how God sent 10 plagues to Egypt and leaned on Amos 3:6: Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? (KJV). Then, looking more closely, he became convinced that one key reason God sends evil to a city is to challenge his people. Shine was convicted that AIDS was sent to test the church, and the church was failing. Evil tends never to recede until the church draws its sword, Shine wrote in The Philadelphia Daily News. If the church could be more compassionate and less judgmental, we the church would be far more helpful in reaching those whose souls are perishing from this evil. As the Apostle James writes, Mercy triumphs over judgement (James 2:13). And surely mercy suits this cause. In 1996, Shine became the chair of social action committee of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity. In that role, he became a leading voice on social justice issues in Philadelphia, speaking out against racism, police violence, state-sponsored gambling, and violence against Asian Americans. Regardless of the issue, Shine maintained that social problems were an opportunity for churches and ministers to stand up and speak with moral authority. The root cause of many problems, he said, was silence from the church. The reason racism has continued so long, he said in 2000, protesting police brutality against a Black suspect, is that certain pulpits have been quiet too long. Shine was elected president of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia in 2001. He also served with the Philadelphia Martin Luther King Jr. Association for Non-Violence and the Pennsylvania Statewide Coalition of Black Clergy. However much time Shine spent on social activism, he continued to focus on strengthening the church. One way was his ministry at Manna Bible Institute, where he taught and served as chair of the board as the school went through a difficult time. Manna was forced out of its five-building campus in the 1990s because of plumbing and heating problems. The school moved three times and then had its building go up in flames when a group of teenagers set it on fire. (Manna officials intervened with a local judge not to send the boys to prison but instead arrange a plan of mentorship and restitution.) The institute moved nine more times before finding a home in North Philadelphia in 2011. Shine said the leadership of the school believed it was important Manna remain in the city to provide that additional opportunity to strengthen our churches and leaders at a cost that is affordable. At the time, at least 100 pastors in Philadelphia had been trained at Manna. Shine also pastored Berachah Baptist Church from its founding in 1985 to the summer of 2021. He preached a final one-hour sermon the day before he died. He told his congregation about his cancer treatment and preached on Christs incarnation and the final judgement. Some of us have the mindset we can do whatever we want to do and call it Christian. But if its not doing the will of God, then it becomes self-will, Shine said. Whatever you have left undone, your record is on high now. You cant reach it. You cant amend it. You cant send any notice to the secretary of heaven. The record is sealed and will be sealed until the day the Lord comes and the book will be open. Shine is survived by his wife, Barbara Ann Wayns, and children Robert P. Shine Jr., Randall Shine, Robin Shine Maddox, Rhonda McKinney. Michigan can't force Catholic charity to place kids with same-sex, unmarried couples: settlement Christian adoption agencies and foster care groups that contract with the Michigan government won't be required to place children with same-sex couples, according to a new legal settlement. In 2019, Michigan reached a settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union, agreeing not to enforce a law passed in 2015 that allowed faith-based adoption and foster care agencies that contract with the government among them St. Vincent Catholic Charities to be exempted from state antidiscrimination law. However, in a settlement filed in federal court on Tuesday, St. Vincent will now be allowed to be exempted from state anti-discrimination law when it comes to only placing children with opposite-sex married couples. David Maluchnik, spokesman for the Michigan Catholic Conference, released a statement on the day of the settlement celebrating the result, seeing it as a victory for religious liberty. We are grateful that a law signed in 2015 with bipartisan support to uphold conscience rights will continue to benefit Michigans most vulnerable children who are served by a network of faith-based child placement agencies, stated Maluchnik. Despite a coordinated and high-profile sue and settle strategy that sought to find the 2015 law unconstitutional, Michigans child placement policy now enjoys federal legal protections that solidifies and strengthens the right of religious agencies to assist a range of children and families in search of permanent homes. Demetrius Starling, executive director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement on Tuesday that while they cannot force St. Vincent to adhere to anti-discrimination law, they will find other ways to make LGBT families feel more included. While this outcome is not what we hoped for, we are committed to providing support to the many members in the LGBTQ+ community who want to open their hearts and their homes, Starling said. We are so appreciative of all families that step up to help these children no matter their orientation or gender identity and expression. In 2015, Michigan passed a law that allowed religious charities who contracted with the government to be exempted from anti-discrimination law in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs. St. Vincent Catholic Charities had testified in defense of the legislation, with a representative explaining that while they would refuse to place a child in an unmarried or same-sex family, they would refer that family to another agency. In 2017, the ACLU filed a complaint against the law on behalf of two same-sex couples who were turned away from state-supported child-placing agencies due to their relationships. In March 2019, in response to the suit, Michigan announced that it would require all groups contracted with the government to comply with state anti-discrimination law. This is a victory for the nearly 12,000 children in foster care in Michigan who need loving families like those offered by our clients, stated Leslie Cooper, deputy director of the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project, at the time. We are thrilled that the state of Michigan has committed to ensuring that all of the agencies it hires to find families for children in state custody comply with its non-discrimination requirements so that children do not lose out on families to care for them. However, in September of that year, Judge Robert Jonker issued a preliminary injunction against the settlement between the ACLU and the state, explaining that the States new position targets St. Vincents religious beliefs. In June of last year, the United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia that Philadelphia officials cannot exclude a Catholic charity from its foster program because the organization will not place children with same-sex couples in accordance with religious beliefs. TD Jakes eldest daughter Cora says shes ending marriage to husband of 10 years, rapper SkiiVentura Just over a decade after wedding her husband, rapper Richard Brandon Coleman, who goes by the stage name SkiiVentura, Cora Jakes Coleman, the eldest daughter of megachurch Pastor T.D. Jakes, has announced that she is ending her marriage. It is with a heavy heart that I announce that my husband and I have decided to divorce, she began in a statement on Instagram this week. This is a very private and personal matter and I kindly ask for your prayers as I prioritize myself, and most importantly, my childrens well-being at this time. God bless. The couple, who got married on June 4, 2011, in a private ceremony at her parents' home, share two adopted children, Amauri, 13, and Jason, 7, as Jakes struggles with infertility. Jakes, who is also a pastor, received her ministerial license from the Potters House School of Ministry, according to her ministrys website. She also directs the childrens ministry at The Potters House of Dallas. On her sixth wedding anniversary in 2017, Jakes revealed that before she met her husband, she struggled with unhealthy relationships. "God help me to stop giving my body to men that only value my body, but not my mind or spirit. Help me to stop falling for my will and not submitting to yours. I just want to be loved, really loved," she wrote in a statement on social media. "I'm tired of being hurt over and over again. God, I want love unconditionally. God I'm tired of people betraying me and taking advantage of me." She said she asked God in 2009 to send her a protector that would help her find peace and she ended up marrying Brandon Coleman in 2011. "Please send me someone to protect me. Help me to submit to you God so that I can be found spirit first by the man who is called by you to love me," she said. "God cause my spirit to feel peace when I meet him, Amen." She further added: "This was my prayer for my husband wherever he was October 2009, and after diligently seeking God and stepping away from my flesh to get connected to my spirit suddenly God brought me the most amazing man I have ever known. He was not perfect, but he was amazing." Richard Coleman told the Dallas Observer in 2019 that he battled kidney failure in 2018 as he tried to bolster his music career. Because I am a believer, there are a lot of things that I experience on a daily basis and in my spirituality that I navigate, and I like to create from the most natural place," Coleman told the publication. "If Im heavily inspired by my spirituality in the moment, then I own that. I take that on and create from that place. ... When you hear my music, you hear me navigating with God. My music is literally my conversations with God. Floral Artists Legal Case is Over But Shes Passing Legacy on to Other Creative Professionals After almost a decade, Washington floral artist Barronelle Stutzman has ended her legal battle on her own terms. I am willing to turn the legal struggle for freedom over to others. At age 77, its time to retire she wrote in an open letter. But why was this seventy-seven-year-old grandmother in court in the first place? Well, because shelike many creative professionals across the countrysimply wanted to create art consistently with her deeply held religious beliefs. Artists know that everything they create contains a piece of themselves. Art is a form of communication that requires the creator to be present as a whole person. Asking an artist to create messages with their art that they dont agree with is asking them to be dishonest. And asking anyone to speak a message that is against their beliefs is a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution. Barronelle fought for Americans constitutional right to believe and speak freely for nearly 10 years. Now, she is leaving the legal battle to another creative professionalweb designer, Lorie Smith. As Barronelle put it: [I] am passing my legal torch on to other artistslike Lorie Smith of 303 Creative in Colorado, whose case may well be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court this termand thanking God for the victories Hes so graciously given me. Do you want to help Alliance Defending Freedom protect your First Amendment Freedoms? Click here. Give Now Barronelles Story You may have already heard of Barronelle. She owned a small flower shop in Richland, Washington called Arlenes Flowers. Its because of something that happened in this shop that Barronelle became a household name. In 2012, Barronelles longtime customer, Rob Ingersoll, asked her to create a custom floral arrangement for his same-sex wedding ceremony. Barronelle knew that Rob was in a same-sex relationship. It never bothered her. She loved working with Rob because he often asked for out-of-the-box ideas that Barronelle loved to use her artistic skills to create. But creating arrangements for a same-sex wedding was something different. As a devout Christian, Barronelle believes that marriage is the sacred union between one man and one woman. She also puts her heart and soul into her custom floral arrangements. She knew that creating arrangements for a same-sex wedding would violate her conscience. She served everyoneshe served Rob for almost a decadebut, as a creative professional, she could not create all messages. So, Barronelle had a heart-to-heart conversation with Rob in a quiet corner of her shop, gently explaining that she could not fulfil his request and referring him to several other florists in the area that would do a great job. The two hugged and Rob left the shop. Thats when the state of Washington and the American Civil Liberties Union got involved. The Washington Attorney General heard about Barronelles decision through news reports generated by a social media post. Without anyone filing a complaint, he decided to file a lawsuit against Barronelle in her personal and professional capacity. Suddenly, because she referred one request, Barronelle was being sued for nearly everything she ownedincluding her retirement moneyby the government. This was clearly a violation of Barronelles constitutional rights. With the help of Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys, Barronelle fought these attacks in court. She asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear her case twice. The first time, the Court sent her case back to the Washington Supreme Court to be redecided in light of its decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. But the Washington Supreme Court came back with virtually the same decision it made in the first place, ignoring Barronelles rights. In 2019, Barronelle asked the Supreme Court once again to take her case. But the Court declined in July 2021. With her husband Darold by her side, Barronelle bravely fought for the constitutional rights of creative professionals since 2013. In November 2021, Barronelle settled her case with her conscience intact. Now its time to pass the torch on to others to continue the legal battle. Help continue Barronelles fight for freedom by giving to Alliance Defending Freedom today. Donate Lorie Will Continue Barronelles Fight Barronelle and Lorie Smith seem like totally different women. One is a floral artist who works with flowers, while the other is a web designer who uses a computer to create her art. One lives in Washington while the other lives hundreds of miles away in Colorado. But both Barronelle and Lorie are passionate about their art and strong in their convictions. When it comes to protecting her freedom to create according to her beliefs, Lorie is willing to take a stand just like Barronelle has done. Lorie designs websites and graphics for everyone. But, like Barronelle, she cannot create all messages. Colorados public-accommodation law threatens to punish Lorie for not creating wedding websites celebrating same-sex ceremonies if she does so for weddings between one man and one woman. (If this sounds familiar to you, its because this law is the same one that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission used to target cake artist Jack Phillips, prosecuting him all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court) Shockingly, in 2021, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Lories First Amendment freedoms. Now, Lorie is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear her case and overturn this ruling and protect the freedom of speech for all creative professionals. The 10th Circuits reasoning turns free-speech protections on their head by saying that the more unique speech is, the more the government can compel it. said ADF General Counsel Kristen Waggoner. That kind of dangerous, unconstitutional reasoning is why we have asked the Supreme Court to take Lories case. Lorie is picking up right where Barronelle left off. In many ways, Barronelles legal battle paved the way for creative professionals like Lorie to seek protections for their God-given rights in court. Her case and her countless hours speaking up for her beliefs in the media set a precedent and sent a message: The First Amendment Freedoms of artists must be protected. Alliance Defending Freedom is proud to have represented Barronelle for the better part of a decade. We are dedicated to honoring her legacy by continuing to stand for First Amendment freedoms. But we need your help. As a nonprofit, ADF does not charge a dime for its legal services. Will you give today to help us represent more creative professionals like Lorie and Barronelle? GIVE NOW Bethany Christian Services will place children in LGBT families as part of Michigan settlement Bethany Christian Services, a global nonprofit adoption agency based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which was sued for refusing to work with same-sex couples, announced that it will start placing children with LGBT families as part of a settlement with the state. The agency insists, however, that its beliefs have not changed. Bethany will continue operations in Michigan, in compliance with our legal contract requirements. The mission and beliefs of Bethany Christian Services have not changed, the agency said in a statement last Thursday cited by WGVU. We are focused on demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ by serving children in need, and we intend to continue doing so in Michigan. The announcement comes weeks after the state of Michigan settled a lawsuit with the American Civil Liberties Union and two gay couples who sued in 2017 because they were rejected for adoptions. We filed a lawsuit challenging the state of Michigans practice of permitting state contracted tax payer funded foster and adoption agencies to refuse to work with same sex couples citing the agencies religious beliefs, Jay Kaplan of the ACLU said. Whereby the state of Michigan agreed to hold these contracting agencies to the contract language of non-discrimination, because children in foster care need every family that is willing and able to provide them with a loving home, Kaplan added. Bethany expressed disappointment, however, with how the settlement agreement had been implemented by the state. In a statement on Twitter Saturday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel praised the Christian adoption agency for welcoming LGBT families. Having more adoption agencies which dont discriminate =s more children adopted into loving, nurturing forever homes. Thank you to Bethany Christian Services! Nessel wrote. An employee of Bethany Christian Services who spoke with WGVU anonymously also claimed that just before the agencys announcement on their new policy, employees had threatened to walk out of their jobs if the policy was not amended. As of February, according to The Detroit News, Bethany Christian Services was responsible for approximately 8 percent of the states foster care and adoption agencies. Prior to the settlement with the ACLU, which sued on behalf of the same-sex couples, the organizations contract with the state was in jeopardy. St. Vincent Catholic Charities, a former foster child, and an adoptive mother recently filed suit against the Michigan Department of Human Services alleging the new rules violated the groups First Amendment rights to free exercise of religion and free speech and its 14th Amendment rights to equal protection. St. Vincents and other faith-based foster care and adoption agencies will have to shutter if forced to comply with the new state rules, lawyer Nick Reaves said. Lori Windham, senior counsel for Becket, the religious liberty group representing St. Vincent's told The Detroit News that while the First Amendment certainly allows groups varying stances on the issue, it does not allow the state to "shut down people you disagree with. "Religious freedom means different people can make different choices," Windham said in a statement. "That's what freedom looks like in America." Families Warn of 'Devastating' Consequences If Adoption Agencies Are Shut Down Over Gay Marriage Beliefs A number of former foster children who are now helping others find homes through faith-based adoption agencies told a Michigan court on Thursday that there will be "devastating" consequences if such agencies are shut down over their views on gay marriage. The American Civil Liberties Union is suing agencies such as St. Vincent Catholic Charities in the state over its conservative stance on marriage, accusing it of turning down gay couples who want to adopt. "St. Vincent rescues children from the most vulnerable, most disadvantaged backgrounds like mine and gives them a chance to be part of a loving family and have a normal, healthy, happy childhood," said Shamber Flore, who once found her adoptive family through St. Vincent. "We can't let the ACLU take that away," Flore added, according to Becket, the nonprofit, public interest law firm that is representing St. Vincent. Melissa Buck, a mother of five children with special needs adopted through the agency, also talked about the vital role St. Vincent plays. "We continue to rely on vital support services St. Vincent provides to this day. If these programs were shut down, it would be devastating for our family," Buck said. The ACLU, which filed a lawsuit in September 2017, is challenging the Michigan's practice of permitting state-funded child placement agencies to use religious criteria to turn away LGBT prospective foster and adoptive parents. "There are currently 13,000 children in the state welfare system," it says on its website. "Our lawsuit states that the State of Michigan is hurting its most vulnerable children and violating the Constitution by allowing taxpayer-funded child placement agencies to deny these children qualified foster and adoptive families based on religious eligibility criteria that have nothing to do with the ability to care for a child." Becket has argued, however, that St. Vincent helps gay couples to adopt from other agencies, even if it itself cannot violate its beliefs on marriage. The law group added that in 2017, St. Vincent successfully recruited more new adoptive families than nearly 90 percent of other agencies in the area. "ACLU is trying to punish St. Vincent because of its beliefs but the only casualties from its needless lawsuit are the kids," stated Stephanie Barclay, counsel at Becket. "Shutting down one of the most effective adoption agencies in the city helps no one and instead hurts thousands of vulnerable children." Flore has in the past said that children in adoption programs are highly vulnerable and need all the help that they can get, with many of them having suffered abuse due to drugs, prostitution, and neglect. "I don't understand why the ACLU is trying to take away hope from children who were once like me," Flore said. Kirk Cameron, Kendrick Brothers team up to make pro-life film about adoption Actor Kirk Cameron and the filmmaker brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick have reunited for a new feature film titled "Lifemark" that celebrates the sanctity of life. Tens of thousands of pro-life activists and politicians gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., last week for the annual March for Life. Cameron was a guest speaker at the event, and during his speech, he spoke about the upcoming film. "I hope that you have a chance later this year to see the movie 'Lifemark' that is based on a true story. It is a story that is so much better than anything we ever could have scripted, Cameron said. The forthcoming film marks the first time the 51-year-old actor and the Kendrick brothers will reunite since collaborating on the 2008 film Fireproof." The makers of Fireproof, Courageous, and War Room and I have teamed up to bring this film that highlights the value and preciousness of life in the womb and the beauty of adoption, explaining how one life can impact so many, Cameron declared. The Growing Pains actor shared with the audience why the topics of adoption and protecting life are so important to him. This issue of life is very personal for me, he shared. My wife is an adopted child. Chelsea was one doctor appointment away from not existing. Our first four children are also adopted, and if my wife, Chelsea, had not been born, our two natural-born children would not exist either," he continued. "So my six children and my wife are here as a result of loving, compassionate and courageous people like you who are marching today at the March for Life. In April 2021, Alex Kendrick shared news of the film on his Instagram page. Its been 14 years since we shot the movie 'Fireproof.' Were excited to be working with Kirk Cameron again on this new feature! he wrote. Cameron serves as executive producer for "Lifemark" and also plays the role of the adoptive father. "Someone sent me a brief documentary of a true story that was so inspiring and meant so much to me personally that I decided to turn it into a feature film," the actor told The Christian Post in a recent interview. "I wanted to illustrate the value of every life and all of its potential and also to show the beauty of adoption and demonstrate how even one person's life can powerfully impact so many others." In a past post that included a photo of both Kendrick and Cameron, the actor is seen in character sporting grey hair. The film crosses two decades, so we get to see him age almost 20 years, Alex Kendrick explained. Its a true story with lots of action, humor and heart! While attending the 28th annual Movieguide Awards in 2020, Kendrick shared more about the forthcoming film. We're very excited about that, and it's a true story, and it's going to grab your heart. We love it. Kendrick told CP at the time, adding that he and his brother love the subject matter and what's going to happen as a result of it. We think it's a very timely movie, he said. Though the brothers typically make original content such as War Room, the pro-life film was brought to them by a friend, he revealed. "We normally do write our own movies, but this one was so powerful when we read it and we saw how it was very timely for today's culture, Kendrick added. As we began researching a way to shoot it, it became very obvious the Lord was opening the door to do it, he added. Michigan bars Christian adoption agencies from refusing LGBT couples after legal settlement Adoption and foster care agencies in Michigan who contract with the state can no longer refuse to place children with qualified same-sex parents over religious reasons thanks to a legal settlement Friday that some fear will put faith-based agencies out of business. Democrat Attorney General Dana Nessel and the two same-sex couples represented by the American Civil Liberties Union came to a legal agreement that a 2015 law allowing religious-based adoption agencies to refuse adoption services to same-sex couples violates federal discrimination laws. The agreement settled a federal complaint filed in 2017 after the couples were refused service by St. Vincent Catholic Charities and Bethany Christian Services. Discrimination in the provision of foster care case management and adoption services is illegal, no matter the rationale, Nessel said in a statement. Limiting the opportunity for a child to be adopted or fostered by a loving home not only goes against the states goal of finding a home for every child, it is a direct violation of the contract every child placing agency enters into with the state. Under its nondiscrimination provision, agencies looking to partner with the state cannot turn away or refuse a same-sex couple or individual who is suitable to foster or adopt a child. Agencies that violate such a provision could have their contracts terminated. A summary of the agreement states that when an adoption or foster agency accepts a referral of a child for foster or adoption care from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, its legal protection ensuring its right to refuse to work with same-sex couples because of deeply-held religious beliefs no longer applies to the agencys provision of these services to the accepted child or individual. In a summary of the agreement, it was claimed that Title IVE-funded programs prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. It should be noted, however, that sexual orientation and gender identity are not protected classes in federal civil rights law and there is a push right now among Democrats in Congress to pass a law that would make those protected classes. The ACLU, a far-left nonprofit advocacy group, celebrated the settlement. We are thrilled that the state of Michigan has committed to ensuring that all of the agencies it hires to find families for children in state custody comply with its non-discrimination requirements so that children do not lose out on families to care for them, Leslie Cooper, deputy director of the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project, said in a statement. Our children need every family that is willing and able to provide them with a loving home. When agencies choose to accept taxpayer dollars to provide public child welfare services, they must put the needs of the children first. Critics fear that the settlement could force faith-based adoption agencies to close. Lori Windham, senior counsel at the nonprofit religious freedom law firm Becket, which is representing St. Vincent Catholic Charities, argues that Nessel and the ACLU are working to stop the state from working with faith-based adoption agencies. The result of that will be tragic. Thousands of children will be kept from finding the loving homes they deserve, Windham explained. This settlement violates the state law protecting religious adoption agencies. This harms children and families waiting for forever homes and limits access for couples who chose to partner with those agencies." The agreement was also criticized by Republican Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey. Dana Nessel has shown us that she cares little for the Constitution and even less for the vulnerable population of children in need of forever homes, Shirkey wrote in a statement. Nessels actions make it clear that she sought the office of attorney general to further her own personal political agenda. The legislature wrote and passed a law regarding adoption practices in Michigan to both protect religious freedom and guard against discrimination. Shirkey stated that faith-based adoption agencies comprise at least 25 percent of the licensed agencies in the state. He fears that the new agreement will put an end to those organizations. As a result, there will be fewer advocates working to place children in loving homes, he contended. Nessels apparent disregard for the laws of our state, the Constitution, and the well-being of thousands of children is an affront to all citizens. In a tweet, the Michigan Catholic Conference argued that the settlement does nothing to protect the thousands of children in foster care looking for loving homes. As such, it is highly unlikely this is the last chapter of the story. The legal settlement was signed after Michigan Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an anti-discrimination directive earlier this year that does not include a religious exemption for faith-based groups who contract with the state. A directive signed by previous Republican Gov. Rick Snyder included a religious exemption for state contractors. The settlement also comes as faith-based foster and adoption agencies in other states have either had to close down or change their policies because of state or local government rules barring refusal based on religious reasons. A Chrisitan adoption agency in New York appeared in court last month for a lawsuit against the state of New York over an ultimatum last year to either change its policy forbidding placement with same-sex couples or no longer be able to provide adoption services. Also in upstate New York, Catholic Charities of Buffalo ended its adoption and fosters services last August over conflicts with the state and local nondiscrimination policies. Bethany Christian Services of Greater Delaware Valley changed its policies last year to allow for children to be placed with same-sex couples after the Philadelphia city government stopped placing foster children with BCS and Catholic Social Services because of their stances against gay adoption. Instead of changing its policy, Catholic Social Services filed a lawsuit. However, it was not victorious in federal court. In years past, faith-based adoption and foster care agencies in states such as Illinois, Massachusetts, California and Washington, D.C., have had to halt their adoption services over policies on gay adoption. The United States and its allies are scrambling to come up with contingency plans in case the crisis in Ukraine stifles supplies of Russian gas, which is essential in powering companies and heating homes across Europe. Without Russian gas, Europe would not be able to last long, and finding alternative supplies would be a logistical nightmare - a reality that is raising fears about the continent's energy security amid winter season. US, Germany step up pipeline warnings This week, senior White House officials told reporters that they are in talks with nations and businesses about increasing production. They are also attempting to figure out how to redirect natural gas to Europe from other sources. It would, however, be difficult to carry out such a large-scale intervention in the energy markets. It takes years to establish new pipelines and gas liquefaction plants. And, at a time when the world market and transportation networks are already overburdened, rerouting substantial quantities of fossil fuel would need the assistance of major gas producers like Qatar, which may not have much leeway, according to CNN. Despite Moscow's chilly words, the US and Germany cautioned Russia on Thursday that if it invaded Ukraine, a vital gas pipeline would be jeopardized. Washington expressed hope for a diplomatic solution. Top officials in Moscow said that their main concerns were not addressed a day after the US and its partners formally responded to Russia's security requests, but they did not rule out fresh discussions. The United States has warned Russia that if it invades Ukraine, it would face swift and devastating consequences despite the fact that Moscow has tens of thousands of troops on the border with its Western-leaning neighbor. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told parliament that her government was "working on a tough package of penalties" with allies that would include Nord Stream 2 after concerns of fractures within Europe. Despite protests from the US and Eastern Europeans, Germany has proudly completed the pipeline, which would treble Russian natural gas supplies to Europe's largest economy. A key official in Washington expressed confidence that an invasion would prevent Germany from launching the multibillion-dollar project, which was finished in September. However, it still has to be tested and approved by regulators, as per NDTV. Read Also: Vladimir Putin has New Weapons To Defend Russia if NATO Decides to Strike From the Ukraine Border What may US-Russia tensions imply about fuel prices Prepare for a greater shock if you believe gas prices are already too high this year. As the omicron variant fades and the spring driving season begins, more drivers are likely to take the road. If a conflict breaks out in Ukraine or if US-led nations impose harsh sanctions on Russia, prices are projected to soar considerably higher. State-by-state, prices vary greatly. In Kentucky, they range from $2.98 per gallon to $4.64 per gallon in California. Refineries will start converting back to their warmer-weather mixes, which are more difficult and expensive to create, in roughly a month. If there is any good news, it is that prices might rise considerably higher in the future, notwithstanding current levels. Because of the increase in COVID-19 instances caused by Omicron, many employees have been forced to stay at home, unable to go into their offices, which has stifled their desire to drive. In the Northeast, a series of cold spells has followed, USA Today reported. Related Article: US Military Support Starts Arriving in Ukraine To Boost Defense Amid Tension With Russia; UK Accuses Kremlin Of Trying To Install Pro-Russian Leader In Kyiv @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. DC archbishop compares Catholics for Choice's Basilica protest to Judas, cites John 13:30 The cardinal of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is condemning the move by a Catholic pro-choice organization to display a pro-abortion message on the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, likening the activity to the infamous Judas Iscariot. On Thursday, the night before the annual March for Life, the group Catholics for Choice held a light show outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the home of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. The group displayed a message on the building that read, pro-abortion Catholics, you are not alone. In a tweet, the group elaborated on the rationale for its actions. FACT: 68% of Catholics want #RoevWade to remain the law of the land, the group asserted. The #MarchforLife & @usccb want folks to think they speak for Catholics, but nothing could be further from the truth. Pro-choice Catholics: you are not alone! #LiberateAbortion #AbortionIsEssential. FACT: 68% of Catholics want #RoeVWade to remain the law of the land. The #MarchForLife & @usccb want folks to think they speak for Catholics, but nothing could be further from the truth. Pro-choice Catholics: you are not alone!#LiberateAbortion#AbortionIsEssentialpic.twitter.com/qr5RFMX69Z Catholics for Choice (@Catholic4Choice) January 20, 2022 A video shared on social media revealed additional messages displayed on the Basilica, which included a proclamation that 1 in 4 abortion patients is Catholic as well as a call to stop stigmatizing and start listening. Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of the archdiocese, reacted to the light show with a statement. The true voice of the Church was only to be found within The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception last evening, he said. There, people prayed and offered the Eucharist asking God to restore a true reverence for all human life. Those whose antics projected words on the outside of the church building demonstrated by those pranks that they really are external to the Church and they did so at night John 13:30. The Bible passage Gregory spoke of recounts the events of the Last Supper, where Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus by turning him over to the Romans. Jesus was crucified shortly after on Good Friday. The passage reads: As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread, he went out. It was night. Catholics for Choice President Jamie Manson responded to Gregorys statement by declaring on Twitter that the idea that support for abortion is external to the church is a tragic denial of reality. We went to the Basilica to draw attention to the fact that women in the church have abortions, Manson wrote. Those are likely the women who serve as his lectors and Eucharistic ministers; who sew his vestments and wash his dishes. To ignore them is to betray them. The pro-life movement calls them murders without ever hearing their stories, Manson continued. They push for a political cause w/out regard for the disproportionate suffering it will inflict on women, poor families & people of color. Describing Catholics for Choice as a part of this church who are asking to be heard, Manson cited the Bible passage Romans 8:38-39 as justification for Catholic support for abortion. Apostle Paul writes, I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which contains all the churchs teachings, affirms the moral evil of every procured abortion and condemns the policy as gravely contrary to moral law. Additionally, the catechism asserts that formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense punishable by the canonical penalty of excommunication. J.D. Long-Garcia, the senior editor at America Magazine, a Jesuit publication, wrote in an op-ed that Catholics for Choices actions could be considered sacrilege. Even if we do not consider the sacrilege, this prank is childish and rude, he wrote. Imagine going to the movies only to discover someone projecting messages on the lead characters forehead. Or imagine someone projecting Trump 2024 on the garage of the Democrat next door. It undercuts their own cause by potentially alienating pro-choice Catholics who see this stunt for what it is, he continued. I imagine such Catholics would feel similar to my conservative family and friends who bemoan the prominence of the QAnon movement in the media. And while I am a Christian, I never want to be associated with the Westboro Baptist Church and their hateful actions against the L.G.B.T. community. Not all Christians are like that. In 2004, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, sent a letter to Gregory and other top church leaders in the U.S. He contended that the grave sin of abortion, when a persons formal cooperation becomes manifest ..., his pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Churchs teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself to Holy Communion until he brings an end to the objective situation of sin. The debate on whether pro-choice Catholic politicians can participate fully in the church has intensified in the past year after President Joe Biden, a Catholic Democrat, took office. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops debated implementing a national policy instructing priests to withhold communion from Catholic politicians who advocate for permissive abortion laws that directly contradict the denominations teachings. Gregory was among the Catholic leaders who indicated that he would not deny Biden communion if he presented himself for the Eucharist at his church. The USCCB approved the drafting of a formal statement on the meaning of the Eucharist in the life of the church at its General Assembly earlier this year. Following criticism and allegations that it was designed to rebuke pro-abortion Catholics, the body of bishops insisted that the document being drafted is not meant to be disciplinary in nature and that the question of whether or not to deny any individual or groups Holy Communion was not on the ballot. South Dakota House committee rejects Gov. Noems bill to 'restore protections for prayer in schools' A Republican-controlled South Dakota House committee rejected Republican Gov. Kristi Noems bill that would require public schools to set aside time for students to pray every morning if they so choose, reportedly due to pressure from education groups. The bill, introduced in December, would require a moment of silence in schools to begin the school day. But it was rejected by the House Education Committee on Friday after education groups argued that voluntary prayer is already allowed in schools and the proposed legislation could imply an unclear mandate, The Associated Press reports. The legislation would mandate that no school employee may dictate the action to be taken by students or teachers during the moment of silence and that no student may interfere with another students engagement in the moment of silence. It also clarified that the language in the bill shouldnt be construed to permit schools to conduct the moment of silence as a religious exercise. But Rep. Will Mortenson, a Republican, contends that the language in the bill is vague. Maybe its me, but I view prayer as something that is personal and not performative, he was quoted as saying. The governors office had reportedly not consulted groups representing schools and the teachers union on the proposal, but Noems office argued that 15 other states had similar measures. Allen Cambon, the governors policy advisor, told the House committee that the bill would serve as a valuable learning opportunity and a chance to establish a sense of calm and decorum before students and teachers begin their busy day. A press statement from Noems office when the bill was introduced in December characterized the bill as an effort to restore protections for prayer in the classroom. The separation of church and state advocacy groups raised concerns with similar bills introduced or passed in other states. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which advocates for a strict separation of church and state, wrote a letter to the Ohio Senate last month criticizing Senate Bill 248 as an unconstitutional promotion of religion. The bill was introduced in October and would also mandate a daily moment of silence in schools. The Wisconsin-based advocacy group expressed particular opposition to the language of the bill calling on each public school district to provide for a moment of silence each school day for prayer, reflection, or meditation upon a moral, philosophical, or patriotic theme. Similar to the Alabama law at issue in [the Supreme Court ruling] Wallace v. Jaffree, Ohios moment of silence law states that the moment of silence is for prayer, reflection, or meditation upon a moral, philosophical or patriotic theme, the letter reads. The only difference is that Ohios law suggests prayer first rather than second, making the endorsement even more clear. This runs squarely into Supreme Court precedent. In the 1985 decision, the nations high court ruled that Alabama could not require teachers to conduct prayer and religious activities during the school day. In a December statement, Noem shared her belief that every student deserves the opportunity to begin their day with a calm, silent moment. I hope students will take this opportunity to say a quick prayer or reflect on their upcoming day, she said. However they choose to take advantage of this time, it will be beneficial to students and teachers alike. Last June, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that would give students a daily opportunity to reflect and be able to pray as they see fit. DeSantis described the moment-of-silence bill as legislation that counters attempts to push God out of every institution. In 2019, Noem signed a law that mandates that all public schools display the national motto In God We Trust. Kirk Cameron says abortion is a 'personal issue' for him and his family at March for Life Actor says wife was 'one doctor appointment away from not existing' Pro-life Christian actor Kirk Cameron said that it was "thrilling" to speak at the March for Life this year, and he hopes the annual march that takes place around the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision would continue even if the contentious Supreme Court ruling is overturned. Tens of thousands of pro-life activists and politicians gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on Friday for the annual March for Life. The "Growing Pains" star gave remarks on the main stage to those gathered not long before they marched from the National Mall to the U.S. Supreme Court building. In an interview with The Christian Post on Friday after the march, Cameron said he was excited to be there, saying he believed the attendees had "cold hands, but very warm hearts." "People were singing, and smiling and there with their kids. My family was there with me, and it was inspiring to hear the speakers," he said, noting that Katie Shaw, a pro-life advocate with Down syndrome, spoke before him. "She gave a speech that just brought the house down. They were chanting her name after her speech. I had big shoes to fill, and I just expressed how personal this issue is for me. This issue of life." During his speech, the actor spoke about how his wife was adopted after being "one doctor appointment away from not existing." Had she been aborted, his two biological children would have never existed, and his four adopted children would not have a home. "My six children and my wife are here as a result of loving, compassionate and courageous people like you who are marching today," he said. Cameron promoted his new movie project titled "Lifemark," based on a true story of an adoption that positively influenced many lives. Cameron will serve as executive producer for the film and play the role of the adoptive father, working along with the Kendrick brothers, who were behind films like "Courageous" and "Facing the Giants." "Someone sent me a brief documentary of a true story that was so inspiring and meant so much to me personally that I decided to turn it into a feature film," Cameron told CP. "I wanted to illustrate the value of every life and all of its potential and also to show the beauty of adoption and demonstrate how even one person's life can powerfully impact so many others." In a video posted to his Facebook page during the march, Cameron said, "the reason why we are here is that the Bible says those who hate love death." "But we're the family of faith and we love God. Therefore, we love life," he said. "We love children and we love moms and dads and families. And our hope is not in Washington, D.C. In fact, it's not in the people who govern us or the laws that we make as a nation. Our hope is in the power of God working in the hearts of His people. That's why we are here." This year's March for Life comes at a time when many believe that the U.S. Supreme Court is close to overturning Roe v. Wade, as it is expected to rule on Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban by June after hearing arguments in December. Cameron speculated that he would not be surprised if the March for Life remained as a community gathering even if Roe is overturned or weakened this year. "People so enjoy being with each other, even out in the cold. You have 100,000 people standing for hours and hours and hours outside and they have smiles on their faces. They're just loving being there together," he said. "This is really just a symbol for the marching orders that we hear in our hearts, which is to value life at all stages, all people. And so, I hope that it does continue. It doesn't always need to be a protest against a law, but if it morphs into a giant celebration, I think that would be a great annual get together." Michigan youth pastor charged with sexually abusing 4 minors, 2 younger than 13 A 28-year-old youth pastor in Michigan has been charged with sexually assaulting four children and faces charges of indecent exposure and distributing explicit content. William Stefan Wahl, who worked at the River Church in Kimball, was charged Friday with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct of a person younger than 13 and two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct of a person ages 13 to 16, according to court records. He was also charged with distributing obscene matter to children, aggravated indecent exposure and using computers to commit a crime. Wahl refused to enter a plea as records indicate that he stood mute" during his arraignment. Wahl is accused of sexually abusing four juvenile victims from the church, St. Clair County Sheriff Mat King was quoted as saying by The Port Huron Times Herald. The sheriffs office began investigating Wahl after it received a complaint of sexual assault of a child in late 2021. According to Fox 2, the investigation revealed that there were four victims involved two of which were younger than 13 and some of allegations dated back to 2014. The Times Herald noted that the victims ranged in age from 10 to 17. There could be more victims, authorities believe. Bond was set at $25,000 and was posted on Monday. Attorney Stephen Rabaut represents Wahl. In November, Bill Wahl, the co-lead pastor of the River Church, said in a statement that within hours after the church leadership learned about possible child abuse of two minors, the church board terminated the employee and reported the allegations to authorities. Additionally, the parents of the children involved were told of the allegations. It is unclear what the pastors relationship is to the defendant. Earlier this month, a former youth pastor in Indiana was sentenced to 20 years in prison for molesting several boys aged 11 to 13 for several years. An Elkhart County judge sentenced 46-year-old Scott Christner, formerly a youth group leader for First Baptist Church in Goshen, to three 9-year sentences for Level 4 felonies. Twenty of those years will be served in prison with seven suspended, WNDU reported at the time. Christner also received two seven-year sentences for two Class C felonies to be served along with the remaining suspended sentence in case he violates his parole after serving the prison time. He was convicted of molesting children dating back as far as 2012, according to court documents. In a written statement, a victim referred to Christners double life, pretending to be a kind, giving man, while also molesting kids. In a separate case early this month, the Reformed Presbyterian Church placed Jared Olivetti, a pastor of Immanuel Reformed Presbyterian Church in West Lafayette, Indiana, on leave pending its investigation into accusations of covering up sexual abuse involving minors in his congregation. The pastor and three elders eventually resigned. The incidents of abuse took place on and off church property between spring 2019 and March 2020, according to IndyStar. The newspaper revealed that eight victims from multiple families reported over- and under-clothes touching, oral-genital contact and penetration by a boy at the church believed to be related to Olivetti. Holocaust Remembrance Day: 'Never again' Yesterday, January 27, marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It was on this date in 1945 that Soviet troops took control of the extensive Auschwitz labor and extermination complex that the Nazi Reich operated from 1940-45, finally liberating the remaining survivors. Of the 1.3 million people who were taken to Auschwitz, 1.1 million were murdered. Of that number, 865,000 Jews were killed by lethal gas upon arrival. Others succumbed to starvation, disease, beatings, execution and medical experimentation. The Red Army soldiers experienced shock and disbelief as they approached and liberated the camp. These were hardened men, having fought the Nazis since June 1941. In December 1941, they had retreated to the outer perimeter of urban Moscow. Yet, they fought their way back after turning the tide of the war in late 1942 and were in the outskirts of Krakow, Poland, approaching the pre-war German-Polish border. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museums Holocaust Encyclopedia has a page devoted to giving a brief descriptive overview of the Nazi camps. The Encyclopedia states that in its 12 years of existence, the Nazi state established more than 44,000 camps and other incarceration sites (including ghettos). And these were used for a a range of purposes, including forced labor, detention of people thought to be enemies of the state, and for mass murder. Imagine the death and destruction Soviet soldiers witnessed walking through the tragic scenes the Nazis left behind in Auschwitz. In addition to the carnage in the camps, there was the endless destruction brought about by the war itself being fought eastward to Moscow and back to near-Germany with millions of men bombing, shelling, and shooting apart so much of the pre-war civilization that existed in these regions. They must have already seen many horrific sites in the past several years, yet Soviet soldiers were appalled by what they saw in Auschwitz. The level of brutality and depravity seen there was beyond comprehension. Of course, it still is. Yet, the Nazis did not operate haphazardly. Hitler held to a racial hierarchy of human life. In it, the most despised were the Jews. The Nazis targeted the Jews and psychologically manipulated the German people to other them. They accused the Jews of being the source of every sort of evil in the world. Thus, their complete extermination would be a paramount goal of the Reichs war aims. The Holocaust is unique for its horror and scale in world history. In the other cases, the perpetrators of genocides targeted a people group because they occupied territory that the perpetrator wanted free and clear: They lived next to each other, one group had to go. The extermination of the Jews by the Reich was a different thing altogether. Hitler sought the killing of the Jews in all places. When the Nazis invaded North Africa, they brought SS killing teams to hunt down Jews in Africa. The Isle of Guernsey, Corfu, Tunisia, Norway, Sicily, the Caucuses all became killing fields for Jews. There was no realpolitik reasoning for it. Hitler sought a metaphysical purge of the Jews from the earth reminiscent of the same demonic drive exhibited in the Book of Esther (Esther 3:5-6). Satan hates God, and he hates the Jews for their relationship with Him. It is a hatred that never rests. There has never been anything like the tragedy of the Holocaust. That is why we observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day. We remember the victims, and we renew our commitment to Never Again allow this to happen. Originally published at the Family Research Council. The human costs of Chinas demographic collapse Last week, China announced that its birth rate hit a record low in 2021 after five years of decline. In 2021, Chinas population growth rate was up a measly 0.034 percent, while the number of births per thousand people fell to 7.52 in 2021 from an already low number of 8.52 in 2022. Years of propaganda and policies discouraging families from having more than one child have had a major impact. Now, Chinese officials are scrambling to come up with ways to reverse the self-inflicted damage. For over three decades, China brutally enforced its one-child policy, even utilizing forced abortions and sterilizations. The damage wrought by the policy is not just psychological or cultural, but also physical. A Wall Street Journal article on Chinas urging of parents to have children notes that multiple abortions impact womens bodies and infertility is a possible consequence, according to anthropologist Ayo Wahlberg. Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders first instituted the one-child policy due to their concern that the growing population would strain the economy. Now, they worry about the economic cost of slowing population growth and the possibility of population decline. Mainstream media outlets cover the possibility of Chinas population decline mainly as a troubling development for the rising powers economy. Rightfully so. China has an aging population and fewer young workers to support the elderly. A decline in the birth rate and certainly a population decline overall would have high economic costs. But it will also have a human cost; thats because families matter. Individuals belonging to a healthy family will have a support system when they age. Children and families can act as a hedge against loneliness (especially in old age) and lend purpose and meaning to life. These benefits cannot be underestimated. With population decline, nations will lose much more than numbers. In China, the ramifications already harm millions. Most Chinese adults born under the one-child policy have no siblings and bear the weight of supporting their elderly parents alone. And only children whose parents are also only children lack the larger support network and community of an extended family. Nothing illustrates the human cost of population decline quite like the bizarre cultural phenomena it is currently causing in Japan. For Japanese brides or grooms with few family members, relatives can be rented to attend weddings. For those who want the affection of a pet without the responsibility of caring for them, robot pets and rental pets are increasingly common. Meanwhile, there are now so few people that one in eight houses sit vacant; so many that there is a term for them akiya. The Institute for Family Studies points out that low fertility rates very directly impact the lives of those who experience missing births, including rising loneliness to aging alone to less happiness. Chinese leaders are scrambling to undo the damage of the one-child policy and encourage births, but some think it may be too late. Theres an air of fear in China regarding having children. Its impossible to believe that decades of propaganda against having additional children (and abusive measures taken against families that do) is not largely to blame for this. Many couples view having multiple children as too much of a burden. Education and extracurricular costs for children are extremely high, and a culture that prioritizes career growth undercuts the importance of family. Repressive government policies against ethnic minorities only exacerbate Chinas demographic challenges. In Xinjiang, Chinese authorities are committing genocide against the Uyghur people by preventing births through forced abortions and sterilizations. The brutality of the atrocities being carried out in this region is difficult to comprehend, and women of reproductive age bear the brunt of these policies. If Chinese leaders truly want to raise the birth rate, a good first step is to stop committing genocide. After decades of tinkering with population control, Chinese leaders have not learned their lesson. The number of children a couple is allowed to have is currently up to three, but any limitation should be removed. Chinese people and Uyghur people ought to be free to have as many children as they desire. Chinese leaders should resist the temptation to use heavy-handed policies to force a rise in the birth rate. Instead of coercive measures to fix its demographic issues, they should focus on affirming the inherent value of every human life and the deep importance of families. The world is beautiful and full of adventure. Instead of worrying about fleeting career advancements or economic gain, couples should open their hearts to invite more children in to enjoy it. Having kids can be scary but they can also make you a better person. Governments dont need coercive policies; they need only to affirm the profound importance of families, a truth people know deep down but need reminded of. In China and all countries experiencing lower birth rates, a change of heart about children and families can make all the difference. Originally published at the Family Research Council. We are meat, we are potential carcasses: Francis Bacons search for the animal spirit in us all Francis Bacon: Man and Beast a new exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London supported by Christies offers a compelling reappraisal of the artists fascination with animals and their connection to our own primal instinct When the British broadcaster David Attenborough was asked in 2018 which animal scared him the most, he replied, a human being, recalling an incident with a man who didnt like the look of him. He had a gun in his hand and he had been drinking. That is a dangerous animal. Such a description would have resonated with the artist Francis Bacon (1909-1992), who sought to reflect in his haunting, unforgettable paintings the animalistic nature of man. We are meat, we are potential carcasses, he once said. If I go into a butchers shop I always think it is surprising that I wasnt there instead of the animal. On 29 January Francis Bacon: Man and Beast opens at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. According to the curator, and the artists biographer, Michael Peppiatt, the central question of the exhibition is: How animal are we, and how much more dangerous do we become when we attempt to hide it beneath a veneer of civilisation? The show reveals that man and beast were inseparable in Bacons vision. He studied animals intently in the firm belief that the more he observed them, the better he would understand humanity. Open a larger version of this image Francis Bacon, Head I, 1948. Oil and tempera on board, 100.3 x 74.9 cm. Lent by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bequest of Richard S. Zeisler, 2007 (2007.247.1). The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved, DACS/Artimage 2021. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd Francis Bacon was born in Ireland to English parents. His father was a horse trainer, and the family house in County Kildare was surrounded by the trappings of country life dogs, horses and hunting. Animals, however, triggered the young boys asthma and much of Bacons childhood was spent in sickly confinement. He described his father as narrow and unpleasant and with a streak of sadism. At the age of 16, Bacon was banished from home for wearing his mothers underwear. His parents sent him to Berlin in the hope that it would straighten him out. It did not. In Weimar Germany, Bacon was introduced to every sexual proclivity known to man. Berlin is the buggers daydream, said the poet W.H. Auden, who was there at the time. There are 170 male brothels under police protection. No sexual desire was taboo. In 1928 Bacon moved to Paris, where he discovered Picasso. He is the reason why I paint, he said to the critic David Sylvester. He is the father figure, who gave me the wish to paint. By the early 1930s he was back in England and making a name for himself as an up-and-coming artist. He found inspiration for his paintings in the permissive darkness of Soho, a place he described as his sexual gymnasium. There, amid the gangsters and rent boys of Londons underworld, he was a predator in search of raw human nature. Open a larger version of this image Francis Bacon, Second Version of Triptych 1944, 1988. Oil paint and acrylic paint on 3 canvases. 198 x 147.5 cm (each). Tate: Presented by the artist 1991. The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved, DACS/Artimage 2021. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd It was not until 1944 that Bacon came to prominence, with the shocking triptych Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion. The painting depicts three howling creatures that seem to have been subjected to some unspeakable act of violence. The figures are barely recognisable as people more a collection of severed limbs and greying flesh, the colour of decomposition against a violent orange background. The philosopher Gilles Deleuze suggested that Bacons obsession with screaming mouths was perhaps the whole bodys response to the immense pity that meat provokes, and certainly the artist often drew parallels between carcasses hanging in a slaughterhouse and Christs Crucifixion. In 1952, the artist was photographed by John Deakin for Vogue, stripped to the waist and holding two carcasses. The subtext was clear humans and non-humans are more alike than different. Bacons name, after all, was synonymous with meat. Open a larger version of this image Francis Bacon, Study for Chimpanzee, 1957. Oil and pastel on canvas. 152.4 x 117 cm. Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York. Photo: David Heald (NYC). The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved. DACS 2021 When not in Soho, Bacon liked to visit London Zoo, observing the chimpanzees and baboons and taking note of their sharp teeth and wide mouths, which would later appear as raging furies in his paintings. He discovered the photographs of animals in motion by Eadweard Muybridge (1830-1904) in the Victoria and Albert Museum, and used them as source material. In the 1950s he travelled to southern Africa to study big game and collected books on wildlife, becoming friends with the photographer Peter Beard. Bacon was attracted to people with a fierce animal confidence, like his sadistic lover Peter Lacy or the artist Isabel Rawsthorne. He painted their portraits with smeary, simian faces, stripping away human respectability to reveal the animal spirit within. Like the work of the Belarussian painter Chaim Soutine, whom he described as one of the very finest artists of our time, Bacons portraits were often indistinguishable from his sinewy depictions of flayed meat and dead animals a bloodied mass of blue and red paint. Open a larger version of this image Francis Bacon, Portrait of George Dyer Crouching, 1966. Oil on canvas. 198 x 147 cm. Private collection. The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved, DACS/Artimage 2021. Photo: Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd Cages were another obsession, often imprisoning his subjects behind lines of thick paint. The Royal Academy exhibition was delayed because of Covid-19, and no doubt Bacon would have enjoyed the irony. All his figures seem to be held in some form of lockdown, tortured by the awareness of their own mortality. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe Scientists fear that a new COVID-19 sub-variant is more contagious than Omicron have been bolstered by maps depicting the distribution of the virus in the United Kingdom. BA.2 is a sub-variant of Omicron that has many of the same traits as Omicron 2 but with a variety of mutations. "Omicron's sister," "Omicron's brother," and "Omicron's son" have all been used to describe it. You get the point: it's closely connected to Omicron, regardless of which family member you like. BA is a term used to describe a group of people. More than 40 nations have now been identified as having two sub-variants, with Europe being the most common. In Denmark, for example, where it has surpassed the original Omicron variety, it now accounts for over half of all COVID-19 cases. Britain under threat of new variants In the United Kingdom, this has not happened yet. However, it can be seen in the graphs that it is rapidly increasing. As part of its research into the spread of COVID-19 variants in the UK, the Wellcome Sanger Institute has generated this map. At the start of the month, 2 was essentially non-existent in the United Kingdom. After a fortnight, there are hotspots throughout the nation. There were 186 occurrences of the sub-variant by January 1, around 1700 the following week and 4400 the following week, according to the institution, as per News. Dr. Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London, is sure that the new sub-variant is not a cross between Delta and Omicron. Since November, the strain, Omicron BA.2, has been discovered more than 420 times in the United Kingdom, with instances spreading to other regions of Europe and India. The UK Health Security Agency categorized BA.2 as a "variant under investigation" last week (UKHSA). With early clues showing it might be even more transmissible than the dominant form of Omicron, known as BA.1, but no more dangerous, we still have a lot to learn about the mutation. Read Also: Anthony Fauci Says Children Aged 4 Below Will Receive 3 Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine But Declines To Predict Vaccinations' Timetable New Omicron variant BA.2 spreads quickly With almost 6,400 confirmed cases, Denmark appears to be the hub of the new variety, according to global statistics. However, doctors have stated that there is no need to be concerned and that new mutations are constantly expected, according to Mirror. Although there are three Omicron lineages (BA.1, BA.2, and BA.3), according to the WHO, only BA.2 seems to be surpassing the original strain. Until now, the UKHSA hasn't been able to pinpoint where it came from. The agency revealed that it has found the strain 426 times, suggesting that the proportion of cases made up by BA.2 was still 'low'. So far, most cases have been reported in London (146) and the South East (97). Because of one of the variant's unique characteristics - a deletion of the spike "S" gene - it was quite straightforward to trace Britain's Omicron boom. A common PCR test, known as genome sequencing, might be utilized to detect a strain without the need for a long laboratory examination. Because the Omicron variant did not have the same PCR "S-gene target failure"impact as the other strains in circulation at the time, including Delta, the deletion allowed them to stand out. With BA.2, however, this does not appear to be the case. If someone with BA.2 has COVID-19, PCR testing will still detect it. BA.2 samples, on the other hand, will need to be sent to a lab for further testing to see if anyone has caught that particular lineage. As part of the UK's pioneering surveillance program, original Omicron samples are still handed on. However, according to scientists, there is no reason to be excessively concerned about the strain, as per Mail Online. Related Article: Pfizer Human Trials for Omicron-Specific COVID-19 Vaccine Begins: Full Details @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A federal judge resentenced Tiger King Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison on Friday, rejecting pleas from the former zookeeper to free him from prison. Joe Exotic whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage was convicted in a murder-for-hire case involving animal welfare activist Carole Baskin. Both were featured in Netflixs Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. Maldonado-Passage was resentenced after a federal appeals court ruled last year that improper sentencing guidelines were used. Prosecutors say Maldonado-Passage tried to hire two people including an undercover FBI agent to kill Baskin, whod criticized his treatment of animals. But Maldonado-Passages attorneys said he wasnt being serious. Baskin attended the sentencing in Oklahoma City. Last month, attorneys said Maldonado-Passage was delaying prostate cancer treatment until after his resentencing. His legal team has argued that the two counts against him should have been combined, which would have lowered his overall sentence by more than four years. Maldonado-Passage was previously sentenced to 22 years. A motion filed in federal court in December said Maldonado-Passage would delay cancer treatments until after his resentencing. He transferred from a federal medical center in Fort Worth, Texas, to a federal medical center in Butner, North Carolina. Federal officials have said Maldonado-Passage will need up to eight weeks of radiation treatments and would be unable to travel during the treatments. The motion said Maldonado-Passage was told by his physicians that his condition can currently be safely monitored. The Associated Press contributed to this article. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Honor Cafe owner Chris Sadler describes it as an all hands on deck situation this weekend. Earlier in the week ahead of Saturdays Save America rally featuring former President Donald Trump, Conroe-area businesses especially those in the hospitality sector were beefing up on their staff anticipating more business than usual as more people are expected to visit the city for the rally. On YourConroeNews.com: Montgomery County approves OT pay for security at Save America rally Visit Conroe Director Shannon Overby said the Visit Conroe staff members have received many calls and emails about the event. They have also fielded many requests asking for lodging information on local hotels and RV sites in the area an indicator that many travelers are headed this way. Sadler, owner of the veteran-themed Honor Cafe in Conroe, will be ready with a full staff this weekend and hell have staff in place to keep the food moving at peak times. On HoustonChronicle.com: Donald Trumps upcoming Houston-area rally is like Coachella for Texas GOP candidates I think a lot of people are going to show up in this area that dont live in this area, he said. Even if its people from Spring, Houston, League City or Tomball, those are visitors we wouldnt normally have in this area on the weekend. He also did not book any events in Honor Cafes meeting space for this weekend to be able to allow for extra diners. As a business owner, he believes that the rally will introduce out of towners to everything the city has to offer. On YourConroeNews.com: Preparation underway for Trump rally in Conroe Anyway we can get good people to come up to our area is a good thing, he said. According to Overby, a hotel-impact report due out next week will show the impact of the event on local hotels. Gates open at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds at 2 p.m. with the former president scheduled to speak around 7 p.m. Texas GOP leaders expected to speak at the event include Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton and Commissioner Sid Miller among others. shernandez@hcnonline.com China seeks Saudi Arabia to improve relations via military and technological assistance as the US is losing ground in the Middle East. A reported source said that a 400% growth in arms-related sales that ignored Washington, Middle Eastern states are leaving the sphere of western influence. This signals a chance for Beijing to outflank Joe Biden's flawed US policy, which has caused havoc in international relations. China, Saudi Arabia military alliance The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has supported China on Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang issues, much to Americans and the West's dismay. On Thursday, a call between China's defense minister, General Wei Fenghe, and Saudi Arabia's representative indicated a broadening military pact in the making, reported the Express. A shift of Saudi support to China is a big headache to president Joe Biden after losing Afghanistan and getting blamed for the worsening standoff between Moscow and Kyiv. Petroleum has been one of the exports bought by the US from the KSA and one of its oldest allies, but things had changed when the new US administration took charge. If it was distant now, it is more pronounced. One of these factors is the alleged killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 that caused a divide between the two nations, cited France 24 Increased production of shale oil in the US has made it more energy independent on Saudi oil compared to before. Prospective Beijing and Riyadh relationship General Wei and Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's deputy defense minister, had a meeting that ended in a push to cooperation and better solidarity between the two militaries with military and technological assistance. Read Also: UAE, Bahrain and Israel Signed Agreement to Re-Establish Ties After a Quarter Century According to South China Morning Post states that Mr. Wei asked the two countries to stop the bullying and hegemony by keeping their mutual interests at the forefront. The Prince agreed and wanted stronger unity to move up military ties. We told the KSA official that China respects Saudi sovereignty and will support its aspirations to improve its technology with other concerns. Beijing is busily outflanking a struggling White House hamper by an allegedly ineffective leader losing the Middle East. Trump authored the Abraham Accord, which could have been a tool, but it was dropped. China uses its advantages to court KSA and kicks out the already waning US from global power. Early January saw Wang Yi of the Chinese Foreign Ministry had a meeting with Gulf states to encourage them to have free trade talks in the future. In the meeting with Wang, Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud had a favorable outlook on the prospective relationship between Beijing and Riyadh. Getting Saudi approval to a higher level is important to China's foreign policy. KSA buying more weapons from other sources. To date, the US sells the most arms to the kingdom, with 24% sold from 2016 to 2020 mentioned by Sipri, an arms research organization. But less has been bought recently. A 400% increase sold in Chinese arms, but CNN said that the Saudis were getting help in its ballistic missile program with Beijing last December. So far, Joe Biden has not attempted to contact the current Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud since February. Saudi Arabia and the military and technical assistance rendered by the Chinese for its weapons program, which the US has not supported. Also, the KSA is an independent state which cannot be dictated upon. Related Article: Trump Earns Nobel Peace Prize Nomination for the Israel-UAE Peace Deal @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate For each of the past few years, students at Texas A&M International University in Laredo have been presented with a rare travel opportunity: a two-week trip to Azerbaijan to study energy, business and policy. The excursions have been facilitated by local U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who has touted the vast opportunity to strengthen South Texas relationship with Azerbaijan. Its one of the many ways that Cuellar has taken particular interest in the oil-rich former Soviet republic. Cuellar has taken his own trips there and even co-chairs the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus. This month, those ties have generated new interest after Cuellars home and office in Laredo were raided by the FBI. Authorities have not said what they were looking for, and its unclear whether Cuellar is a target of any investigation. But ABC News reported the raid was part of a federal grand jury probe. Subpoenas reviewed from the probe by ABC News reportedly sought records from a number of organizations with ties to Azerbaijan, in addition to three Texas-based companies with ties to Cuellars wife, Imelda. Cuellar released a defiant statement on Tuesday, and law enforcement has not charged him with any crimes. There is an ongoing investigation that will show that there is no wrongdoing on my part, he said on a video his campaign released. I pride myself on being your congressman and always doing things honestly, ethically and the right way, he added. But the whole incident set off questions about why he has been so be eager to advocate for Azerbaijan, an ex-Soviet country with a troubled recent history on issues like corruption and human rights. Cuellar didnt return a request for comment Wednesday and hasnt addressed his relationship with Azerbaijan since last weeks raid. Azerbaijan has had a turbulent history since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It borders the Caspian Sea and is otherwise surrounded by Iran, Armenia, Georgia and Russia. Its predominantly Muslim, with an economy based on oil exports. But since gaining independence, it has a reputation for corruption and dynastic leadership. The CIA World Factbook describes it as a place where corruption remains a burden on the economy, and Western observers and members of the countrys political opposition have accused the government of authoritarianism, pointing to elections that are neither free nor fair, state control of the media, and the systematic abuse of human rights targeting individuals and groups who are perceived as threats to the administration. Azerbaijan has a uniquely aggressive official lobbying arm in Washington, according to a dozen interviews with members of Congress and Capitol Hill aides. Some members simply put their name on a list called the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, but there is hardly a more devoted congressional advocate for the country than Cuellar, who has been one of the caucus co-chairs. In 2014, he and the Azerbaijani ambassador visited the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio together and Cuellar spoke of the vast opportunity to strengthen South Texas relationship with Azerbaijan. A year earlier, he and his wife, Imelda, traveled to Azerbaijan, at a cost of nearly $25,000. The trip was paid for by the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians, a Texas-based nonprofit. For the next several years, Cuellar frequently collaborated with Kemal Oksuz, the leader of the nonprofit. A few months later, a Cuellar staffer took an additional trip to Azerbaijan that also included U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, and nine other members. The trip was approved by the Congressional Ethics Office, but The Washington Post later reported the Azerbaijani governments state oil company secretly funded the junket. Jackson Lee and other members who went on that trip publicly stated at the time that they were misled and that the House Ethics Committee signed off on the trip. Oksuz was later charged with covering up the source of the funding. He pleaded guilty to the charges in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The government stated at the time that Oksuz falsely represented and certified on required disclosure forms that the Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasions had not accepted funding for the Congressional trip from any outside source. Oksuz and Cuellar also worked together on the Texas A&M International partnership. But nowhere is Cuellars relationship more formally recognized than in his position as co-chair of the caucus. The caucus is a small, bipartisan group within which Texas has an outsized presence. There is not a publicly available official list of members in the caucus, but third parties have published past tallies of the caucus, and several Texans confirmed they are a part of the group. It is widely perceived that the source of these members interest is tied to the oil industry. In or out of the caucus, Texans have demonstrated support for Azerbaijan in various ways, including authoring op-eds, giving floor speeches and traveling to the country. U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, a Brownsville Democrat, took to the House floor in 2014 when Russia invaded Crimea, a part of Ukraine. He called for bolstering former Soviet satellite states in the face of Russian aggression. With the volatility and strategic importance of this region, the U.S. must continue to work with its allies such as Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to ensure their sovereignty is protected, especially in light of Russias actions in the Crimean Peninsula, he said. Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Weber of Friendswood concurred on the concerns about Russian aggression toward former Soviet satellite states. A sensible energy policy is multi-pronged, and Azerbaijan is part of that equation, especially in relation to the discussion on neutralizing Russia, he wrote in an op-ed in The Washington Times in 2015. The spokesperson to U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth, another Democratic member, released a statement: Rep. Veasey has been a supporter of facilitating peace and harmonized relations in the Caucasus region between Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia and has also supported efforts to lower tensions in the region through his position on a U.S. commission that monitors human rights abuses. Similarly, U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, joined the caucus in the early 2000s, citing Azerbaijans importance as a geostrategic partner, according to her spokesperson. Another Texan who surfaced on the lists is Democratic U.S. Rep. Al Green of Houston, who declined to comment for this story. In total, there are approximately two dozen members of Congress in the caucus. It's a politically and geographically disparate group, with the one commonality that the members are mainstream members of the Republican and Democratic caucuses. But not all Capitol Hill caucuses are equal in relevance. For instance, the Congressional Black Caucus, the most decisive bloc in House Democratic politics, meets regularly and leverages its interests by operating as an organized unit. Very little happens in the Democratic Party without that groups signoff. That is not the case with the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus. Its one of hundreds of causes rooted in issues, hobbies, ethnic background or esoteric interests. Most of these groups never or rarely meet, as is the case with the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus. For instance, there is a Congressional Auto Care Caucus, a Bourbon Caucus and a Congressional Writers Caucus. Some of the more serious, foreign-policy-minded caucuses are comprised of members whose districts include the country in questions expatriates. Or the members themselves might share an ethnic background with the country. Or, as is most often the case, a country like Azerbaijan hires a lobbyist to round up support, and those lobbyists target members on relevant committees. In this case, the obvious members to recruit serve on committees that deal with foreign affairs. Cuellar serves on only one committee, appropriations, which is where members decide where and how to dole out federal money. Within that committee, he specializes in funding homeland security and the Pentagon and could one day be the chair of one of those subcommittees. Still, a congresspersons support for Azerbaijan can generate some backlash. The country and neighboring Armenia have been at war on and off since the early 1990s, and the Armenian lobby brings bipartisan firepower to Capitol Hill, with backing as varied as that of Democratic U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and outgoing Republican U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, both of California. With hot tensions between the two countries, congressional support for one of those communities is perceived as mutually exclusive to the other. Sensitivities are so delicate that Capitol Hill aides looking to join the lobbying profession will consider whether countries like Azerbaijan are among a firms clients rather than defy their former bosses and their constituents. The Armenian Council of America went so far as to release a statement amid the Cuellar raid aftermath calling on members to resign from the Azerbaijan caucus. At this point, none of the Texans in the Azerbaijan caucus have changed their minds. As her primary opponents strive to make housing a prominent campaign issue, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is again seeking the feds for additional rent assistance. On Thursday, the governor filed a second petition to the Treasury Department, requesting an additional $1.6 billion in funding for landlords and renters who have asked for pandemic rental assistance. In recent weeks, Hochul has made a number of similar offers as the state's eviction moratorium has ended and a court ruling has compelled officials to resume the application process for the state's COVID-19 rent assistance program. Gov. Kathy Hochul offers several eviction moratorium Following the exhaustion of its initial $2 billion allocations earlier this month, the state's overburdened Emergency Rental Assistance Program. After receiving just under 300,000 applications, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance awarded roughly $1.4 billion to landlords via 109,000 direct payments. The remaining money are related to applications that have been approved. With insufficient funding to meet the extra claims, reopening the application process earlier this month gave only short-term safeguards against evictions for struggling renters. After Hochul sought $996 million to cover the underfunded program, the Treasury Department only provided $27 million late last year. The governor joined five other states in asking for a reallocation of federal COVID aid left unspent earlier this month, according to New York Daily News. According to Hochul's office, New York State has simplified and expedited the delivery of rent assistance money. According to the authorities, more than 166,000 families were spared eviction and approximately $1.4 billion was handed to landlords via 109,000 direct payments. The state sought $996 million in reallocation financing from the Treasury Department after exhausting all initial monies for this program, which is nearly enough to satisfy about 70,000 unfilled applications. According to Hochul, the Treasury Department only gave New York $27 million more than it needed to cover less than 2,000 applications. Read Also: Conservative GOP Lawmakers Oppose Vaccine Mandates That Are Considered Tyrannical, Say These Should Not be Funded GOP slams Hochul's stance on controversial bail reform A joint letter to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was submitted earlier this month by New York, California, New Jersey, and Illinois, requesting increased government funds and ensuring that high-need states with substantial tenant populations are given priority. These four states have spent a total of $5.4 billion in federal rent relief since November, approximately 12% of the total $45.5 billion in federal rent relief distributed across all states, helping to stabilize over 625,000 families. Meanwhile, the Republican Party of New York on Thursday urged voters to remember Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul's support for the state's controversial bail reform law in November, as the legislation has come under increased scrutiny in the wake of the deaths of two New York City police officers who were shot in the line of duty, as per Silive. After the recent killings of NYPD Officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora in the line of duty, Democrats have been under heightened pressure from law enforcement authorities to put an end to gun violence. In New York City so far this year, five policemen have been shot, two of them fatally. As law enforcement officers lined the streets of Manhattan as Rivera's casket was taken to St. Patrick's Cathedral for his funeral, NYGOP Chairman Nick Langworthy issued a statement. On Monday, Adams unveiled his "Blueprint to End Gun Violence," which calls for reviving a modified version of the plainclothes anti-gun team that was dissolved by Bill de Blasio's predecessor. Adams congratulated Hochul, a fellow Democrat, for establishing the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns in a speech at City Hall, but he acknowledged that bail reform has to be adjusted to keep felons off the streets, Fox News reported. Related Article: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Shatters Records by Raising $21.6 Million For Election Campaign @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Robert Peston, an ITV Host, spoke to a former US security chief about his views on how then tense conflict is going about and how Russian President Vladimir Putin is handling it. He spoke to John Bolton, assistant to then-president Donald Trump as part of the National Security Affairs (NSA), regarding the border conflict. Last Wednesday night, the ex-Trump official said things are going bad, and the US and NATO are in the wrong spot. Putin Shows Control Bolton said that President Vladimir Putin is doing what he does best, making the West bereft of strong US leadership is fraying NATO are the edges. He is controlling the tempo of the Ukraine-Russia spat at the border with 1,000,000 troops causing chaos, reported Express UK. Despite the fear-mongering done by President Joe Biden by saying Russia will attack, Putin coolly says there are no such intentions while the White House has no effective response. He verbalized what the Kremlin is getting at that the Russian president sees how the US and NATO are not making the right moves. Otherwise, he's one step ahead of the rag-tag response of the alliance. The ex-adviser told Peston that the Kremlin leader has plans getting mulled over in a range of options that would be optional to consider, cited Daily Star Post. He added that Putin wants to sow divisiveness in a scrambling NATO, causing distrust among them which has been very successful. Another is to shame Joe Biden as the one who destroys Europe's trust by crushing Kyiv in many ways or planning a big show where the leading players will fail. According to Peston, the former US security chief is what the Kremlin wants. Read Also: Ex-Trump Security Adviser Says Taliban Could Get Nukes if Pakistan Falls to Them that Could Endanger the West The West is focused on Ukraine, and other places like Georgia, Belarus, and others are options. For now, Kyiv has lots of choices on how to squeeze the West. On Wednesday, the White House said that personal sanctions would be applied if the Russians invaded. So, far Putin has ignored Washington or its tirades, noted Reuters. White House issued warnings that Russia will regret rolling over the border on its southwest flank. Many experts have said that Russia has no such plans to attack Kyiv. Besides the US, Brussels has parroted what Biden said to no effect as their ranks are divided in its response. Shortsighted White House and EU Bolton said as denials of an all-out invasion of Ukraine are not the only option to get what he wants. Other options would be replacing the Zelinsky government or taking more and annexing another part of Ukraine's territory and claiming it. Saying Putin has outplayed everyone and is poised with the initiative to make the West shudder more. He added that the allies' response is failing, and they are getting deterred, not Russia. Too many problems in NATO, the EU, and the weak US president have given the Kremlin keys to a victory. Other experts say Putin's hybrid war from the Belarus and Ukraine border, with the gas crisis and some EU members not agreeing with the US response. In the interview by Peston of the former US security chief, the West is not ready for such a conflict, and the Kremlin is ahead. Related Article: Putin Touts New Robotic Tank and More Weapons in the Zapad-2021 Wargames, NATO Countries Concerned @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The U.S. Air Force is looking at possible flight paths to conduct test flights for some of its aircraft, and Upper Michigan and the Thumb are two of its considered options. According to a letter from Nolan Swick, a member of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center located near San Antonio, the Air Force is looking to establish a permanent Foreign Military Sales Pilot Training Center, which would initially provide a spot for up to 36 F-35 aircraft at a single location. Multiple nations have agreements with the DAF to purchase the F-35 aircraft, Swick wrote. This drives the need for a location suitable for initial F-35 training before returning to their home country. Swick notes that Singapore is one of the nations that purchased these F-35s, plans to keep its crafts in the U.S. for an indefinite period of time, and is looking to relocate 16 F-16s from Luke Air Force Base in Arizona to whichever location is chosen to keep these crafts. Other nations listed in Swicks letter as receiving either F-16 or F-35 aircraft in the future are Poland, Finland, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. The proposed routes for Michigan would start out of Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township. From there, the jets would go over the Thumb and over Lake Huron, back over land near Au Gres, Alpena, and Oscoda, and proceeding over Grayling or going further north to the Upper Peninsula. The other option the Air Force is considering is out of Ebbing Air National Guard base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with the training routes flying over Arkansas, Southern Missouri, Eastern Oklahoma, and brief stretches of Kansas and Texas. Whichever option is chosen would result in facility renovations, new construction, and the addition of 384 military and civilian personnel and approximately 800 associated dependents. The Air Force is currently in the scoping process, which identifies and determines the scope of any issues addressed in environmental impact statements, lasting through Feb. 14. It will hold two virtual public meetings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time on Feb. 1 and 3 at http://www.FMSPTCEIS.com to solicit comments about the proposed action. The meetings will start with a welcome message followed by a 15-minute presentation describing the purpose of the project scoping, schedule, opportunities for public involvement, proposed action and alternatives, and a discussion on resources. Another 15-minute presentation about each alternative will follow. There will be a 30-minute Q&A session followed by a 55-minute public comment section where members of the public have 3 minutes each to comment. Public comment outside of these presentations are encouraged. They can be either submitted electronically at http://www.FMSPTCEIS.com, submitted through the U.S. mail at: FMS PTC EIS Project Manager, AFCEC/CZN 2261 Hughes Ave., Suite 155 JBSA Lackland, TX 78236-9853 or through FedEx or UPS at: FMS PTC EIS Project Manager, AFCEC/CZN 3515 S. General McMullen, Suite 155 San Antonio, TX 78226-2018 According to this projects website, further public participation can be done during the environmental impact statement review period in July and August 2022. The final decision on which proposal to go with is expected in March 2023. The Upper Thumb is familiar with military aircraft proposals like this. The Michigan Air National Guard proposed a permanent Steelhead Military Operations Area over Huron County back in 2019, which featured flying jets as low as 500 feet off the ground in some areas, operating as many as 14 sorties a week, and conducting test flights five days a week. That proposal drew backlash from some residents who complained about the noise from the aircraft flying over the area and concerns about the noises negative impact on area tourism. ALTON The artwork of the late Arthur Towata is featured in a Feb . 4 reception at Jacoby Art Center in Alton. Towata: A Celebration of Art runs for five more weeks in the Simmons Hanly Conroy Gallery at Jacoby Arts Center. Because of the large number of his artwork, pieces have been rotated out multiple times during the exhibition. Select pieces also will be on sale through March 5. The Feb. 4 reception is planned 6-8 p.m. at the center, 627 E. Broadway. A closing reception also is scheduled for March 5. Towata, an expert at singular ash-fired ceramics, died in November 2019 after living and working in Alton for more than 65 years. Instrumental in the founding of Jacoby Arts Center, he owned the Towata Gallery at 206 W. 3rd St., Alton, and Towata Studio at 603 Piasa St., where he taught and showcased other artists' work. He drew inspiration from the Mississippi River, local wildlife and dragonflies. Alton is a small community, and Alton has provided many things to those who participate in making this city a wonderful place to live in, he once told The Telegraph. It gave me energy and hope and has helped me make many wonderful friends. Born Nov. 7, 1933, in Los Angeles, he spent time in a Japanese-American internment camp in California with his family, a time in his life that he said inspired some of his artwork. He served in the Air Force before attending Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where he earned a bachelors degree in 1962 and a Master of Fine Arts/Masters in Education degree in 1971. For more information on the exhibit and receptions, visit www.jacobyartscenter.org or call 618-462-5222. OnScene TV A three-day manhunt spanning national borders came to an end Wednesday when Mexican authorities arrested Oscar Rosales, 51, who is accused of shooting and killing Harris County deputy constable Charles Galloway during a traffic stop in the early hours of Sunday morning. Rosales was brought before a Harris County magistrate Wednesday night for a probable cause hearing. Appearing in court in a yellow jumpsuit, Rosales was recorded by OnScene TV speaking out during proceedings and accusing the seven police officers surrounding him of deadly inclinations. To address alleged voter registration card shortages ahead of the March 1 primaries, the Texas Democratic Party announced Thursday plans to print and send out 500,000 of the forms across the state. Only four days remain until the Jan. 31 deadline for signing up to cast a ballot. Last week, the Texas Secretary of State office announced it would be printing out limited quantities of voter registration forms due to alleged supply chain issues driving up the cost of paper. In a series of tweets Thursday, Texas Democrats called slammed the state for "refusing to do their jobs and help Texans register to vote." The party also pointed to applications for mail ballots that have been rejected due to new requirements under Senate Bill 1, which it called a "voter suppression bill." Hundreds of mail-in ballot applications have been rejected in some of the state's largest counties for not complying with new ID requirements state Republicans enacted last year. "Last week, Texas proved to be ground zero for voter suppression yet again, as the State of Texas announced they'll only be printing only a very limited number of voter registration applications," read a statement on Texas Democrats website. "But the Texas Democratic Party is committed to registering hundreds of thousands of voters in 2022, regardless of who or what stands in our way." Texas Democrats is also calling for donations to its "Let the People Register" fund to help with expenses. One dollar covers the cost of creating six voter registration cards, the party said. The group is not the only entity pitching in to help fill gaps. The Houston chapter of the League of Women Voters Texas said they spent nearly $1,300 printing forms before the Secretary of State office gave in to public pressure provided thousands of the documents to the group. The League says it distributed 10,000 voter registration cards over the weekend, and has previously threatened to sue if the state did not provide the needed registration forms to itself and other voter registration organizations ahead of the March 1 primaries. As of Monday, 17,163,774 individuals are registered to vote in Texas, according to the Secretary of State office. It's official: TxDOT still owns a southern portion of Broadway. Though officials with the state agency promise to work with San Antonio to find a solution, it seems more challenges lie ahead for the Broadway revitalization project. The Texas Transportation Commission (TTC) unanimously rescinded 2014 and 2015 orders that effectively ended the process of transferring ownership of a 2.2 mile stretch of State Loop 368, known colloquially as Broadway, to San Antonio. The commission's move effectively halts the city's $42 million plan to revitalize the Broadway corridor, a key component to San Antonio's 2017 bond package passed by 70 percent of voters. It also stops a project that would reduce the number of lanes from six to four. City officials, business owners and community leaders spoke out against the decision. "Broadway belongs to San Antonians," said Kari Kuwamura, executive director of ActivateSA. "Earlier you spoke so passionately about the need for the safety of our loved ones and [lane reductions] is how we attain that." San Antonio officials were stunned by reports earlier this of the TTC's intentions to end the ownership transfer agreement. The commission agreed to transfer approximately 2.2 miles of Broadway, from the Alamo Heights city limit south to I-35, to San Antonio in December 2014. The commission then amended that agreement in February 2015, saying the transfer would be completed only when TxDOT received a project acceptance letter, which it never received. San Antonio Assistant City Manager Jeff Coyle said he was under the impression that project acceptance letters were presented at the end of projects. Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer TxDOT, backed by Gov. Greg Abbott, used this technicality to rescind the agreement because of San Antonio's plans to reduce six lanes of Broadway down to four lanes to make way for bike lanes and sidewalk space, something they said would increase congestion. San Antonio Assistant City Manager Jeff Coyle said at the meeting that he was still stunned by commission's actions, and asked that TxDOT delay their decision. "This has stunned all of us in San Antonio," Coyle said. "We can work together on a resolution that preserves the essence of this project and frankly preserves our contract with the voters." TxDOT staff, including San Antonio district engineer Gina Gallegos, and commissioners said at the meeting that they were not aware of plans to reduce lanes especially since that language wasn't present in bond presentations until after it was approved. Coyle still maintained that the project was about safety. J. Bruce Bugg, a San Antonio banker and chair on the commission, reiterated that ultimately San Antonio can't reduce lanes to keep in line with Abbott's Texas Clear Lanes policy to reduce congestion on Texas highways. As it stands now, that portion of Broadway is still a TxDOT highway. Kyle Madsen, director of right of way for TxDOT, says this action shouldn't hinder the projects along Broadway. It's not clear what San Antonio's next step will be but the commission vowed to work together with the city to find a solution. MySA reached out to the city for comment. A major bridge in Pittsburgh has collapsed, hours before President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit the city Friday to tout his signature bipartisan infrastructure law. The bridge collapsed Friday morning, city authorities said on Twitter. Images broadcast by CNN showed a city bus and several vehicles stopped precariously on sharp angles of broken sections of the bridge, which were lying in a valley under the route. President Joe Biden hasn't seen a letter in eight months that clarifies whether he has the legal authority to cancel student loans in a wide sense. Hundreds of Democratic legislators are fed up with waiting for the findings. Democrats including Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chuck Schumer, along with Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and Katie Porter, demanded on Wednesday that Biden release the memo outlining his legal authority to cancel federal student debt broadly, as well as "immediately" canceling up to $50,000 in debt per borrower. Lawmakers ask Biden to cancel $50K in student loan debts Biden had ordered Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to write a document on the president's legal power to cancel $50,000 in student debt per individual, according to White House chief of staff Ron Klain. Although the memo has been around since April 5, according to redacted papers obtained by the Debt Collective, the nation's first debtors' union, it hasn't been made public by the White House. Democrats were demanding for the memo to be released even before those papers were exposed to provide relief to 43 million federal student loan holders. Rep. Omar of Minnesota gave the Education Department two weeks to provide it in October, but the time passed without a response. Since assuming office in 2021, the Joe Biden administration has been able to cancel a total of $15 billion in student loan debt, as per Complex. More than 675,000 borrowers have benefited from his student debt forgiveness program, according to a news statement from the Department of Education. According to the report, President Biden has decided to extend the deadline for paying off student loan debt until May of this year. With the demand from legislators to wipe off student debts, a total of 80 members of the House and Senate wrote to President appealing for a memo affirming his power to do so. Read Also: Global Financial Crash Fears Drives Investors to China as a Better Option in the Impending UK, US Burst Biden hasn't had the answer yet President Biden, together with Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, wants to forgive each student loan recipient $50,000, a sum that would cost $1 trillion. An extra 36 million students will be able to get their debts forgiven if the measure is implemented. There are still many folks out there who are feeling the wrath of the expense of paying their school despite the announcement of the student loan relief. Even though President Biden has eliminated more student loan debt than any other president, according to the Education Data Initiative, over 43 million Americans still owe a total of $1.75 trillion in student loan debt, or almost $40,000 per student loan recipient, according to Business Insider. During the pandemic, Biden paused student loan repayments, but he has yet to fulfill his campaign vow to erase up to $10,000 in each of student debt. A bill presented by Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-N.C.) and other lawmakers would provide more assistance to borrowers who have defaulted or missed payments on their student loans, making it easier for them to clear their credit history. She is also a proponent of making tuition more accessible by expanding Pell Grants. More than 36 million people in the United States currently hold federal student loans. About a third of borrowers are in default or delinquent, according to the Department of Education, as per WGN9. Related Article: Tax Refund Delay 2022: Don't Expect Payments Within 3 Weeks, Here's How to Track Your Money @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MIDDLETOWN Legal measures for responding to the COVID pandemic are mutating at least as quickly as the virus itself. In the short time, since the calendar turned to 2022, there have been several changes in the law at the federal, state and local levels. Federally, the U.S. Supreme Court recently blocked a vaccination and testing mandate for large employers, but allowed one for health care workers. And just last Friday, a federal court in Texas issued a nationwide injunction blocking a requirement that all federal employees be vaccinated (although the Department of Justice is appealing the ruling). At the state level, Gov. Ned Lamont has already issued four new emergency executive orders related to COVID. And locally, Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim issued a mask mandate in effect until Feb. 1, unless it is extended. With all of these developments, its easy to lose track of what the law can and cant require. Here is the latest on where we stand. What the law can do Require you to wear a mask indoors Require health care workers to get vaccinated if their employers serve patients who are on Medicare or Medicaid Require you to wear a mask at work if you choose not to get vaccinated Require you to test negative prior to returning to work if you have contracted COVID or been in close contact with someone who has Make you use your own time if you are out because you or a family member contracts COVID. (The federal law that required employers to provide paid sick leave expired in December 2020). What the law cant do Mandate that employers with 100 or more employees require their employees to be vaccinated Mandate that those employees be tested and wear a mask if they choose not to get vaccinated Require all federal employees to get vaccinated (although this issue is currently on appeal) Require you to wear a mask at work if you can demonstrate a recognized medical exception As if that werent enough to keep straight, the laws power to regulate varies if we are talking about the federal, state or local level. Many of the rules above apply only to federal powers, and even then, only to some of them. For instance, the Supreme Courts ruling on large employers addresses only federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements. Whether similar state OSHA requirements would also be illegal remains an open question. The Supreme Court blocked the large-employer mandate because OSHA lacked the power to issue one, but upheld the health care worker mandate, because it found that a different federal agency the U.S Department of Health and Human Service had that power. Why? Because, when it comes to COVID, the high court found that Congress gave HHS the authority to regulate health care workers if their patients receive federal benefits through Medicare or Medicaid, but it did not give OSHA the authority to regulate workers generally. If Congress wanted to grant that authority to OSHA, though, it could do so. What about the state level? As separate sovereigns, states possess their own broad and inherent police powers to regulate public health, safety and welfare. The U.S. Constitution reserves to the states and the people the powers it does not delegate to the federal government. State constitutions can provide different protections, prohibitions and punishments. While state constitutions cant go below the floor the U.S. Constitution sets, they can raise the ceiling. For instance, although both federal and state law have medical exemptions for vaccinations, there is no exemption under federal law for religion. Some states, though, do have a religious exemption. Indeed, until April 2021, Connecticut was one of them. Subject to these exemptions, federal and state law can generally mandate vaccinations. As a medical matter, the polio and COVID vaccines may be different. As a legal matter, they are the same. What about the local level? Local governments are creatures of the state and they can only exercise the powers the state gives them. For instance, in Middletowns case, Mayor Ben Florsheim can issue a mask mandate because one of Lamonts executive orders allows municipalities to do so. Where the COVID virus leads us and how federal, state and local law will respond are open questions. At least for legal questions, the answers are keeping up with the virus. And with each answer, the field of open questions narrows. Attorney Brig Smith is general counsel for the city of Middletown. ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images Donald Trump will be raking in some dough for his campaign before making an appearance at his "Save America" rally in Conroe Saturday with Gov. Greg Abbott and a host of other Texas officials. The former president is allegedly charging $100,000 per couple to attend a private luncheon where Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is listed as chairman at an undisclosed location prior to the event, according to Jeremy Wallace of the Houston Chronicle. One of the great myths of Texas politics is that the attorney general is the top law enforcement officer in the state. That bit of malarkey has been promoted for years by people who held the office and people who wanted to hold the office. The AG is a civil lawyer who is allowed to assist local prosecutors, at their request, in some criminal cases. Most of the work involves state tax, environmental and other regulatory fights, child support, open government laws and other civil matters. Crime? Some. Heres the language on the AGs own website: Under Texas law, the county or district attorney has primary jurisdiction to prosecute most criminal offenses. The Office of the Attorney General assists local prosecutors at their request. The law also authorizes this agency to proffer assistance to local prosecutors. Most OAG prosecutions are undertaken on referrals. That doesnt sound as rough and tumble as pretending to be at the top of the law enforcement pyramid, though. Politics begs for exaggeration. The state Constitution, however, does not. That issue was addressed last month by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which ruled 8-1 that the state Constitution leaves prosecution of election law violations to district and county attorneys, who are in the judicial branch of government, and not to the AG, whos in the executive branch. Ken Paxton, the states attorney general, didnt like that answer. As first reported by the Austin American-Statesman, he encouraged his supporters to grab their phones and laptops and get after the eight judges who sided against him, and with the Texas Constitution. Call them out by name, Paxton said on Lindell TV, an online outlet run by My Pillow CEO and prominent Donald Trump supporter Mike Lindell. I mean, you can look them up. Theres eight of them that voted the wrong way. Call them, send mail, send email. The AG is asking the court for a do-over, and has some of the states top elected officials on his side. Gov. Greg Abbott, who was AG before he became governor, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are siding with Paxton and others who want the court to reconsider its opinion. They havent joined Paxton in encouraging a public torches-and-pitchforks protest the latest evidence of his variable regard for the law. Its odd for a top government lawyer to sic the public on one of the states two high courts: the Court of Criminal Appeals for criminal law and the Texas Supreme Court for civil law. Hes ignoring a local prosecutors demand that he release information related to his activities in Washington, D.C., on the day of last years Capitol insurrection. Paxtons office oversees open information laws; he contends hes already done what the law requires. Paxton, while pining for the power to prosecute election law, also busted the deadline for disclosing the names of the donors who contributed $2.8 million to his campaign last year. Some of the (now former) top lawyers in the AGs office accused him of using his state office to benefit a political donor, a bramble of whistleblowing allegations and repercussions still being argued in the courts. And theres that chronic securities fraud indictment alleging that Paxton, as a private lawyer, solicited investments without telling the potential buyers he was being compensated for doing so. That indictment, from July 2015, still hasnt gone to trial, lingering almost as long as Paxtons tenure as the state governments top civil lawyer. All of that figures into Paxtons biggest challenge of the moment, reelection challenges from fellow Republicans: U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, former Texas Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman and Land Commissioner George P. Bush. This is when candidates for attorney general including the incumbents turn on the law enforcement hoopla. Their Twitter feeds are full of images and stories of police and of crime along the Texas-Mexico border. Bush contends Paxton has ignored more human trafficking cases than hes prosecuted. Guzman, whose husband is a retired police officer, peppers her messages with border security and back the blue. Gohmert, like Paxton, wants the office so he can prosecute election law violations. Its not an office for crime stoppers, exactly. But that line sells during election season. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/28/texas-attorney-general-law-enforcement/. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Post-Millennial university students produce first talk show in the Tibetan language People's Daily Online) 11:03, January 28, 2022 A group of university students from southwest Chinas Tibet Autonomous Region performed a talk show in the spoken language of Tibetan at a local restaurant in Lhasa during the evening of Jan. 22. Nyazin Drakpa performs during a talk show. (Photo/Gongkar Lesong) The talk show began at 7 p.m., focusing on personal topics related to the studies, school life, and love stories of the performers, as well as interesting things they heard about that had happened in Tibet. The show was supposed to end at 8:30 p.m., but in fact it didnt end until one hour later after it was scheduled to come to a close. A young woman named Penpa Yangjen explained that the talk show program had gained rapid popularity after its debut show in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, last summer. Previously, there was no talk show in Tibet, while there are many young Tibetans who need such a platform to express themselves, said Penpa Yangjen, who is a freshman from Jinan University in Guangzhou, south Chinas Guangdong Province. Performers perform during a talk show. (Photo/Gongkar Lesong) Another spectator said the talk show marks an innovative approach taken by the performers to promote the Tibetan language. This is the first Tibetan talk show team with members all born after 2000. Nyazin Drakpa, who initiated the talk show, is a student at the Communication University of China based in Beijing. In order to reduce risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the show only included 120 tickets, each priced at 69 yuan (about $10.9), said Nyazin Drakpa, adding that the tickets sold out within a few hours on the first day of their release, indicating young Tibetans strong eagerness to try new things. Nyazin Drakpa said he decided to produce his own talk show when he was watching a talk show in Beijing for the first time as a freshman. Since then, he began paying attention to stage decorations and lighting, among other skills necessary for producing a talk show. A performer performs during a talk show. (Photo/Gongkar Lesong) Nyazin Drakpas father, Dorje Drakpa, is a member of the China Quyi Artists Association and vice chairman of the Quyi Artists Association in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Quyi means folk arts. My father was very supportive when I told him about my ambitions for opening a talk show in the Tibetan language, having often joined us in producing the shows by putting forward suggestions,Nyazin Drakpa said. Tibet is a place filled with humor and optimism, said the young man. Tibetan talk shows have much potential, he added. A performer performs during a talk show. (Photo/Gongkar Lesong) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) During a month of record-breaking launches, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un visited a location that claimed to be producing "a big weapon." It was reported by the official Korean Central News Agency that the ruler was seen "inspecting a weapons plant manufacturing a large military system" at a secret location with an entourage, some of whose faces were obscured in the accompanying photographs, on Thursday (Friday local time). North Korea confirms barrage of missile tests The ruling Korean Workers' Party Central Committee Organizational Affairs Secretary Jo Yong Won, Central Committee Vice Department Directors Kim Jong Sik, Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong-Kim, and some top officials from the Academy of Defense Science were among those who were with him. "The factory holds a very important position and duty in modernizing the country's armed forces and realizing the national defense development strategy," Kim Jong Un was quoted as saying, as well as "indicated the tasks and ways of continuously developing the factory into an iconic one symbolic of the country's defense industry's modernity," according to Newsweek. North Korea's string of six missile tests in 2022, which included the most number of missile launches in a month, has been simmering in the background. The launches have sparked worldwide outrage and a renewed campaign by the U.S. to impose more penalties. On Tuesday, a long-range cruise missile system was updated; and on Thursday, a conventional warhead for a surface-to-surface tactical guided missile was tested, according to KCNA. The tests were not attended by Kim Jong Un, but a second dispatch reported that he commended rapid progress in developing big weapons to implement the governing Workers' Party's resolutions reached at a summit last month when visiting the munitions plant. North Korea announced last week that it will strengthen its defenses against the U.S. and will consider resuming "all temporarily paused activities," implying the country's self-imposed ban on testing nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) would be lifted. Read Also: China's Warplanes Around Taiwan Pose New Threat; US Military Aircraft Circles Island Following Alarm Pyongyang accuses Washington, Seoul of double-standard weapon tests As a sovereign right to self-defense, Pyongyang has justified missile launches, accusing Washington and Seoul of applying double standards to weapons testing. Since 2017, no ICBMs or nuclear weapons have been launched in North Korea; but after a failed summit with the United States in 2019, a series of shorter-range missile tests resumed amid delayed disarmament discussions, as per NBC News. After the Biden administration imposed more restrictions following this month's hypersonic tests, North Korea has framed its weapons tests as a lawful exercise of self-defense and vowed more aggressive action. During a governing party meeting hosted by Kim last week, senior party members voiced a veiled threat to restart testing of nuclear explosives and long-range missiles targeting the American heartland, which Kim postponed in 2018 while establishing diplomatic relations with the U.S. In 2019, Kim's meeting with then-President Donald Trump was wrecked after the Americans rejected North Korea's demands for a partial surrender of its nuclear weapons in exchange for massive sanctions relief. During a briefing, Cha Deok-cheol, a spokesman of South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said that the North's missile tests "turn the Korean Peninsula's clock back to the times of tensions and conflict" and the North should halt the launches and return to dialogue. Some experts say North Korea could dramatically escalate weapons demonstrations after the Winter Olympics, which will begin on February 4 in China, the North's main ally and economic lifeline, Market Watch via MSN reported. Related Article: North Korea Launches Cruise Missiles Days After Announcing Possible Lifting of Nuclear Moratorium @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Florida, US (34429) Today Rain showers early with clear skies overnight. Thunder possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Rain showers early with clear skies overnight. Thunder possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Prince Andrew's claim that he was not good friends with Ghislaine Maxwell was "nonsense," according to a former Buckingham Palace protection officer. According to Paul Page, who worked at the palace for six years and told Insider he saw Prince Andrew and Maxwell at least a dozen times and heard of many more trips from colleagues who also monitored visitors to Prince Andrew's residence, he saw them together at least a dozen times. Prince Andrew denies close friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell Officers were directed to keep Maxwell's name out of official documents, he said; he also claimed she was given special treatment when she arrived. During an extensive 3 million ($4 million) swindle, Page was found guilty of fraud and sentenced to prison in 2009. His assertions regarding his stay there have already been questioned by Buckingham Palace. According to BuzzFeed, Page also emphasized the pair's closeness during his trial, citing internal Metropolitan Police records that describe the claims. On Thursday, Page told Insider via phone that he observed the two having a picnic on the grounds of Buckingham Palace in 2001. The area, he claimed, was unusual for people to assemble because it was near the Queen's chambers within the complex. This happened a day after Prince Andrew's attorneys formally replied to Virginia Giuffre's sexual assault complaint against Jeffrey Epstein. Prince Andrew was sued by Giuffre in August. When she was 17 years old, she stated she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew in Maxwell's London residence by Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew has disputed the claim. Prince Andrew "was a close friend" of Maxwell, according to Giuffre's attorneys in her case. On behalf of Epstein, Maxwell was found guilty of five counts of sex trafficking late last year. Prince Andrew denied being close to Maxwell just as he refuted Giuffre's claims. When he was working at Buckingham Palace's front gate and was in charge of admitting visitors in, Page claimed he first heard of Maxwell's trips in 2001. However, Page claims that, around midday then, an officer phoned him and told him that Prince Andrew had an appointment and that he should not enter the person's name in the book. Other ladies were let into the palace without their identities being registered, according to the court records quoted by BuzzFeed. Because she is the daughter of Robert Maxwell, a controversial British media mogul who died in 1991, Page told Insider it drew his eye when he learned Maxwell's identity. Maxwell walked for Andrew's private stairway after her car was waved through, as per Insider. Read Also: Prince Charles Reportedly Offers Prince Harry, Meghan Markle a Place To Stay in the UK; Future King Fears Son's Memoir Will Harm Camilla Duke of York's trial could damage the Royal Family The charges have been disputed by Prince Andrew, who has requested for a jury trial, but experts worry that a public trial may do irreversible damage. The royal rejects all of the allegations filed against him and now requests a jury trial on all of the claims contained in the lawsuit, according to court records from New York. A trial date has been scheduled for the end of 2022, which will take place this year between September and December. According to media lawyer Mark Stephens, the duke may still withdraw from a trial in order to prevent a legal drama that may jeopardize the monarchy's status in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year. A motion to dismiss filed by his lawyers, claiming she had signed a non-suit agreement in 2009, was denied by Judge Lewis Kaplan. After Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that he must stand trial in the United States, Prince Andrew was previously thought to be seeking an out-of-court settlement with Roberts. The amount he will get from selling his chalet in Verbier, Switzerland, was estimated to be up to 10 million ($13 million), The Sun reported. Related Article: Prince Andrew Demands US Jury Trial in Virginia Giuffre's Sexual Abuse Case; Here Are Bombshell Details From Duke of York's Legal Papers @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Are you moving to Canada as an immigrant, international student, or work permit holder? Watch our webinar recording to learn how to find a job in Canada! WEBINAR: How to find a job as a newcomer to Canada Are you moving to Canada as an immigrant, international student, or work permit holder? Watch our webinar recording to learn how to find a job in Canada! WEBINAR: How to find a job as a newcomer to Canada Are you moving to Canada as an immigrant, international student, or work permit holder? Watch our webinar recording to learn how to find a job in Canada! WEBINAR: How to find a job as a newcomer to Canada Are you moving to Canada as an immigrant, international student, or work permit holder? Watch our webinar recording to learn how to find a job in Canada! Scotiabank CanadaVisa Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A CanadaVisa and Scotiabank were pleased to host a webinar called How to find a job as a newcomer to Canada. To watch the webinar, please sign up to Scotiabanks newsletter by click on the following red button: What will I learn? Perhaps your #1 priority after you move to Canada is finding a good job that aligns with your passions and skills. The good news is Canada offers many great job opportunities. Canada is currently experiencing the highest job vacancy rate on record and needs talented and motivated individuals like you to support its economic growth. Finding a job in Canada may be scary but it does not need to be. There is plenty of information and help available to help you navigate the process of landing your dream job. Remember that Canada wants you to succeed. Scotiabank is also here to help. Webinar overview How and where to conduct research on jobs in Canada Best practices to prepare your application and resume How you can apply for a job The importance of networking and how to do it Preparing for and succeeding in job interviews About CanadaVisa CanadaVisa.com was founded in 1994 as the online platform of the Cohen Immigration Law Firm. Since then, CanadaVisa has grown to be one of the worlds most trusted sources on how to move to Canada, and settle here. CanadaVisas web properties include cicnews.com and its weekly newsletter, the CanadaVisa Forum, and more. All the resources provided by CanadaVisa are meant to help people around the world access trusted, factual, and timely information to support their Canadian immigration journey. About Scotiabank Scotiabank is one of the top Canadian banks and a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose for every future, we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services. Launched in 2008, the Scotiabank StartRight Program is designed to simplify banking for Canadian Permanent residents, International Students and Foreign Workers who have recently landed in Canada. We can help ease your transition to Canada by getting you started with a Scotiabank International Account that allows you to transfer up to $50,000 before you arrive to help you feel more prepared knowing you have proof of funds ready. We can even help fast track your study permit with the Scotiabank Student GIC Program. Our Scotiabank StartRight program can also help you start banking in Canada with 12 months of free banking, access to credit with no credit history, unlimited no-fee international money transfers, and expert help from Financial Advisors. We also launched ScotiaRISE our new, 10-year, $500 million community investment program designed to help promote economic resilience among disadvantaged people and communities. In particular, the program is centred on using funding and partnerships to increase graduation rates and postsecondary enrolment, help newcomers feel at home faster and secure meaningful employment and senior opportunities for underrepresented groups. Its all part of why Scotiabank is the bank for newcomers. Legal Disclaimer: This webinar is provided for information purposes only. It is not to be relied upon as financial, tax or investment advice or guarantees about the future, nor should it be considered a recommendation to buy or sell. Information contained in this webinar, including information relating to interest rates, market conditions, tax rules, and other investment factors are subject to change without notice and The Bank of Nova Scotia is not responsible to update this information. All third party sources are believed to be accurate and reliable as of the date of presentation and The Bank of Nova Scotia does not guarantee its accuracy or reliability. Webinar participants should consult their own professional advisor for specific financial, investment and/or tax advice tailored to their needs to ensure that individual circumstances are considered properly and action is taken based on the latest available information. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Wilkes Barre, PA (18701) Today Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Oklahoma City, OK (73106) Today Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low near 60F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low near 60F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Seven countries will join Russia if it comes under fire from the Ukraine border from NATO; this conflict has made the west jittery. According to the Kremlin, the border conflict has loaded about 100,000 Russian troops as a defensive measure, but NATO and Joe Biden say it's aggressive. In the event of a war, the Kremlin will have the support of former Soviet block countries in the CSTO for backup. Russia-Ukraine tense border The US and NATO want Moscow to de-escalate at the border, but the alliance is guilty of provocations in the region. Leading the Kremlin to doubt the sincerity of the west, but several countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will be there, reported the Express UK. Despite caution advised by experts in declaring claims, Joe Biden is raising concerns that it will be the biggest invasion. Fear-mongering that Vladimir Putin wants to change the world. NATO claims it will stop a rollout of Russian forces, contrary to what the Kremlin declares. Lethal aid given by the US has landed in Ukraine about 90 tons of it, with the British giving the Ukrainians short-range anti-tank missiles for defensive purposes, citing the Independent UK. This means that if Russia does decide to take on Ukraine, it will have to have a firm band of allies behind it. The Collective Security Treaty Organization Like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) is a group of former Soviet countries signatories to a security pact. Russia heads the CSTO with seven countries like Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan should an armed response be needed at the Ukraine border. Read Also: EU Needs to Develop Own Army After AUKUS Deal Casts Division With US Alliance Domestic disputes are not part of the responses of ex-Soviet bloc states, but there will be members who will side with Vladimir Putin. Should according to the claims of the west, Russia does enter Ukraine. During the Kazakh rebellion when Russia assisted the government in stopping what the current head of state calls unrest authored by elements that used corruption and high gas prices to cause chaos in the country, noted the BBC. These actions indicate a member of the CSTO will provide military support, added to the numbers of Russian troops. Moscow and Havana Cuba and Russia have been friends for a long time which shows even in current times. President Putin and President Miguel Diaz-Canel of Cuba have talked about improving the link between the two nations in the face of challenges from the west. Washington, with its trouble, Ukraine's response has been shaking by a possibility of team-up between them, using Cuba as a staging point for US retaliation. Sergei Ryabkov, Moscow's Deputy Foreign Minister, told state media that anything could happen and kept mum. Saying it's an option to deploy Russian arms to their ally should Joe Biden play tough guy. Until 1991, Kyiv was part of the Soviet Union when it became a free state from Russian control. Democracy is part of Ukraine, and Europe is its model, not Russia; both pro-EU and Russian groups left Soviet control. A good number of groups against the Kyiv government might prefer Moscow, like what happened to Crimea during 2014. For sure, seven countries of the CSTO will opt to join Moscow if the Ukraine border starts a shooting war which the Russians say is a defensive war against encroaching NATO and US. Related Article: China Joins Russian Naval Forces in the Arabian Sea Drills Causing Brussels and Washington Jitters Over the Show of Force @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Primeste notificari pe email Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Typical disaster journalism follows a transactional track. Survivors give the press their stories to package and sell. In turn, the media validates the horror and solicits aid. But when Tonga faced a volcanic eruption and tsunami earlier this month, the island nation neither wanted nor needed Western coverage. In fact, our intrusion presented more of a threat than the crisis itself. On this weeks Kicker, Damien Cave, the New York Times bureau chief in Sydney, and Kyle Pope, editor and publisher of CJR, discuss the islands dismissal of the global press and the Western medias boundless assumption that we can help. SHOW NOTES Heard, Felt but Barely Seen: How a Volcano Severed Tonga from the World, Damien Cave, New York Times Sign up for CJR 's daily email Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Amanda Darrach is a contributor to CJR and a visiting scholar at the University of St Andrews School of International Relations. Follow her on Twitter @thedarrach. MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP)Mozambique, Madagascar and Malawi are counting the deaths and damage by tropical storm Ana and more than a week of heavy rains across southern Africa. In central and northern Mozambique at least 11 people have died, including children and elderly, and several bridges and roads have been washed away, according to a statement from Mozambiques disaster management authority. Among the dead is the administrator of the northwestern city of Tete whose vehicle was swept away on Tuesday by the surging waters of the Revuboe River as he was going to inspect a bridge that had been closed by the flooding. Minutes after his vehicle was taken, the middle section of the bridge was swept away, according to reports in local media. In all, five vehicles were carried away by the raging waters. Bridges were also damaged in Mozambiques Zambezia province where many residential areas are cut off by the high waters and there are reports of people on roofs calling for help. Electricity has also been cut off to large parts of Mozambique and Malawi as pylons have been knocked over by flooding waters and hydro turbines have been clogged by large piles of debris carried by the waters. Although Ana has weakened to become a moderate tropical depression, much of the southern African region continues to get torrential rains. Prolonged rains have increased the damage in Madagascar, where the death toll has risen to 39 and more than 101,000 people have been made homeless by the flooding, said officials. Malawis Shire River, which flows from Lake Malawi through Mozambique into the Zambezi River, has also reached the alert level and is causing flooding in low-lying areas. Malawis main highway has been cut off by the flooding and many people are feared trapped by the surging waters, according to Malawi government officials. Mercy Jailosi was traveling in a van that was carried away by the Shire Rivers waters in Malawis Chikwawa area. She said she managed to swim in the dark of night and then cling to a pile of washed-away garbage. I held on to it and slept there till early morning, a tearful Jailosi told The Associated Press. I could feel snakes were there too. Early in the morning, surging water pushed he further down the river, before an emergency crew rescued her. As this was happening, I kept singing for God, said Jailosi. About the photo: In this image made from video, people stand on an overturned vehicle swept by flooding waters in Chikwawa, Malawi, Tuesday Jan. 25, 2022. Mozambique, Madagascar and Malawi are counting the deaths and damage by tropical storm Ana and more than a week of heavy rains across southern Africa. (AP Photo) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Carla Denise Garrisons 8-year-old daughter picked up a used hypodermic needle from the parking lot outside a Target store and asked, Mommy, what is this? Garrison instinctively swatted the syringe away, poking her palm in the process. The puncture led Garrison to a years worth of periodic blood tests with constant worries about contracting hepatitis or AIDs. After Target refused to pay Garrisons medical bills, she sued and won a $4.6 million jury verdict that was upheld by the South Carolina Court of Appeals. The South Carolina Supreme Court may have taken most of that victory away in a ruling on Wednesday. In a 5-0 decision, the high court directed the trial court judge to reconsider his decision to throw out the punitive damages award, but also to take into account South Carolinas statutory cap on punitive damages. That would could limit the jurys award of $4.5 million in punitive damages to $300,000 or $400,000. The exact amount depends on facts that must be determined by the trial court judge. The ruling reverses a Court of Appeals finding that the statute that caps punitive damages does not apply unless the defendant argues that it should in pleadings. That is known as an affirmative defense. The Supreme Court said affirmative defenses are generally reserved for issues that a jury is required to resolve. The plain language of the statute does not impose a burden on the defendant to prove the cap applies, the courts unanimous opinion says. Rather, the legislature only directs trial courts to determine which level of the cap must be applied in a particular case. After she was poked, Garrison immediately rushed into the public restroom at Target to run water over her hand. She reported the incident to the store. A claims investigator asked her if she thought Target was responsible for the injury. She told him that the store was responsible for the parking lot and wanted Target to pay for her medical bills. An infectious disease specialist prescribed medications that she said left her in a zombie-like state and caused night terrors. She underwent blood tests every three months for a year to monitor for any emerging infections. Garrison asked Target to pay her $12,000. After Target refused, she and her husband, Clint, filed a lawsuit in Anderson County. A jury found in the couples favor and awarded $100,000 in compensatory damages plus $4.5 million in punitive damages. The jury also awarded Clint Garrison $8,500 for lost wages and loss of consortium. Circuit Court Judge R. Keith Kelly threw out the punitive damages award in a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. But Kelly allowed the compensatory damage awards to stand, finding that Target had constructive knowledge that the parking lot was hazardous. Both parties appealed. A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals reinstated the punitive damages award, citing testimony from witnesses that Target did not regularly clean the parking lot and there was trash everywhere even though the stores managers said the lot was cleaned every Thursday night. Clint Garrison had even camped out in the Target parking lot on a Thursday night to show that it was not regularly cleaned. The appellate court also found that Target had waived its right to cap the award under the statutory cap laid out in section 15-32-530 because it did not mention the limit in its pleadings. Judge D. Garrison Hill dissented, stating that nothing in the statute states that the cap on punitive damages cannot be applied unless it is mentioned in pleadings. Likewise, the Supreme Court found that the appellate panel had read into the law a requirement that does not exist. But the high court the trial court to take another look at the jurys punitive damage award and to consider not only the harm that had come to Garrison, but also to the potential harm that could have been done to her and other customers because of Targets negligence. Although Denise did not ultimately contract a disease from the syringe, the trial court erred in failing to consider any potential harm in the ratio calculation, including the harm likely to result to other customers due to Targets failure to maintain the parking lot in a reasonably safe condition, the court said. Of course, Section 15-32-530 will limit any punitive damage award to three times the amount of compensatory damages unless one of three statutory exemptions apply: The wrongful conduct was motivated by unreasonable financial gain and the high likelihood of injury was know the defendant. The defendants action could subject the defendant to conviction of a felony. The defendant acted while intoxicated after intentional consuming alcohol or drugs. If the trial court determines one of those factors applies, punitive damages are limited to four times the amount of compensatory damages. Either way, the judgment appears to limit Garrisons potential award to $500,000. There is one consolation: The high court also reversed the Court of Appeals and ruled that Denise Garrison is entitled to 8 percent interest on her entire awardincluding any punitive damagesfrom the date Target rejected her settlement offer to the date of the verdict. Claremore, OK (74018) Today Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. A few storms may be severe. Low 61F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 5 to 8 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. A few storms may be severe. Low 61F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 5 to 8 inches of rain expected. If a visitor to Israel had the time to take a month to really get to know the country, I would recommend the period that has just concluded from Passover through Israeli Independence Day. Its Israel in a nutshell. And it also happens to be a time of year when most of the days are picture- Burkina Faso's new leader lays the blame for the country's recent violence and troubles to the ousted president's failure to contain the issues while he was in control and now promises a return to the normal constitutional order "when the conditions are right." The military leader, Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba was the one who spearheaded the ousting of President Roch Kabore on Monday. The official said the country's president failed to contain violence that was led by Islamist militants. Burkina Faso's New Leader Damiba wore a red beret and army fatigues during his first-ever speech on Thursday after ousting President Kabore. He addressed the country's citizens on national television after taking the power of the nation's government. In his remarks, Damiba said that the country will once again return to normal living when the conditions are right. He added that it was according to the deadline that the people will define all sovereignty. The 41-year-old military leader said that he was planning to meet with representatives of various sectors of society to discuss a roadmap for reform of the country. The country's military also announced that it seized power on state television on Monday. One officer cited the deteriorating security situation as the reason for the takeover, BBC reported. Damiba was promoted in December by Kabore as the commander of Burkina Faso's third military region. The move was something that some analysts viewed as an effort by the beleaguered president to shore up support within the army's ranks. Read Also: Saudi Arabia Gets More Military, Technological Assistance From China Due to Less US Influence in the Region The military leader's promotion to his position followed an attack conducted by fighters on a gendarmerie post in the northern town of Inata that resulted in the death of 49 military officers and four civilians. Reports at the time said that the troops had gone without food rations for two weeks. The situation sparked anti-government protests and calls for Kabore to step down as Burkina Faso's president. After his promotion, Damiba worked on reorganizing the military ranks by appointing new officers to key roles with the declared intent of battling the uprising, Aljazeera reported. Return of Order In his address, Damiba warned that the people who were guided by their selfish interests will receive his uncompromising side. The military leader spoke from the presidential palace and said that Burkina Faso was facing an unprecedented crisis. He noted that the junta's priority was to restore security by renewing the will to fight among its soldiers and listening to the public in forming a path forward. "In its history, our country has rarely been confronted with adversity. But more than six years now our people have been living under the yoke of an enemy that succeeded. The task before us is immense. Fortunately, it is not only mine, it is all of ours. It will require great individual and collective efforts and certainly sacrifices on our part," said Damiba, ABC News reported. The junta has spent the last few days trying to shore up support from religious and community leaders, security forces, and unions since taking over the government. The military met on Thursday with the labor union in the presidential palace and explained its motives for the coup. The secretary-general for the union, Moussa Diallo, said that the junta wanted to correct the previous regime's flaws. Related Article: Joe Biden Pushed To Cancel Erdogan's Request for F-16 Sale Causing Potential Trouble in US-Turkey Relations @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. About Richard Age: 67 Hometown: Pepper Pike Undergraduate school: Miami University Law school: Case Western Reserve University School of Law First paying job: Cleveland Press newspaper route How I relax: Reading, hiking, travel and fly fishing If I werent an attorney: Id be a mayor (or a grandpa) full time Best advice I ever received: As a lawyer, Bain, you didnt make the facts. Work with what you have. As a person, from my mother Be kind, and treat others as you would have them treat you. Next Cleveland sports championship: Guardians to the World Series Favorite Northeast Ohio restaurant: LAlbatross Turkey has successfully sent all ordered Bayraktar combat drones to buyers who opted for a cheaper system. Still, a new Mini-Submarine STM500 is in the works that should become a popular weapon system. An expert predicts that it will be a gamechanger for many buyers who don't want bigger or expensive subs at the mini-submarines cost. Sixteen countries that bought the Bayraktar might opt for the STM500 if it is affordable. Ankara's new defense combat weapon Turkish weapon makers are looking at a mini-submarine that can operate in 'Blue Homeland,' which are seas around the country, remarked an unidentified Turkish defense and maritime researcher who spoke to the Daily Sabah. Kozan Selcuk Erkan told the media that Turkey could build such armament with its process of envisioning the weapon system's final iteration. He added that Turkish defense firms learned how to build subs from programs still active from their beginnings in the 1980s, reported the Eurasian Times. Since then, the process has improved with new skills learned by those engaged in submarine production. Small but terrible vessels Last August, STM, a Turk defense firm, showed its concept for mini-sub, a small assault 540-tonner submersible. When its maker announced it, the mini-sub was the smallest one in Turkey, noted Defense World. In the 10th Naval Systems Seminar, the firm told the media that the sub would be built in 2022. By 2022 all the activities of the STM firm are how to get more support to start building the Mini-Submarine STM500-getting the project jumpstarted as well, just like the Bayraktar combat drones. Read Also: PLA Conducts Practice Assault Drills, Preparing for Possible Taiwan Invasion? Sources say that embargoes have affected the production of defense weapons which is unfortunate. STM said their defense offering would not be affected by sanctions on Ankara's defense industries. The approach will be similar to the uncrewed aerial vehicle 'Bayraktar.' Canada has sanctioned Turkey for such violations as Azerbaijan used the Canada drones in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict of 2020. In April 2021, it was decided to stop permits for military hardware and tech sold to Ankara. Sanctions for going ahead buying the S-400 SAM system of Russia were reported as well. The Bayraktar UAV was given to Ukraine used in Donbas, a key industrial and social infrastructure located in the eastern part of the country. Only a few were available, so they are sortied a lot, said Yan Leshchenko, militia leader of self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). Minsk accords say that flying over combat aircraft and UAVs is not allowed in Donbas, with the independent provinces of LPR and Donetsk People's Republic as part of it. Affordable Mini-submarines The STM500 is designed to work in shallow seas, an attack sub-powered by diesel-electric power that is advantageous for less moneyed nations. Inside the sub are 18-spec ops units with a crew of six that can stay submerged for a month at a depth of 250-meters. Its tubes are four and can fire all at once, arming with torpedoes or guided missiles as well. Best used for shallow seas even operated with underwater drones, which can be used for several types of operations. The development of the mini-submarine STM500 and Bayraktar combat drones are cheaper than those offered by the US and other nations. Emphasis on reasonable and operable is a force multiplier that costs less. Related Article: Are Small Submarines the Solution to the US Navy Problems @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The United States and Russia remain open for further dialogue on addressing the increasing tension on the Ukrainian border, but Britain warned of possible cyber-attacks from Moscow. Russia claimed on Thursday that the United States was unwilling to address its proposals for reshaping its post-Cold War security arrangements in Europe, according to Washington's written response submitted on Wednesday. Russia massed around 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border, prompting Western countries to be concerned about a possible invasion, while the U.S. pledges defense support to Kyiv. According to Russian spokesperson Dmitry Pescov, Moscow will further review the response of the US and NATO and "won't rush" with its conclusions, per CNN. The United States and NATO's statements labeling Russia's key demands as unacceptable did not encourage much optimism. However, the reaction of the Kremlin shows that it keeps the doors to diplomacy open, and it was not rejecting the answers of Washington and its European allies, per Reuters. Meanwhile, Washington hopes Moscow will review the responses and resume their negotiations. US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said in a media briefing that the United States and its Western allies are "unified" in pursuing diplomacy to address the issues, and they are prepared to take necessary measures depending on Russia's actions. "But we are also unified in our resolve that if Moscow rejects our offer of dialogue, the costs must be swift and severe," Nuland said. Read Also: Russia Warns US Is Oblivious to Ukraine Issue as Officials Set To Discuss War Games, Missile Deployments Neither US or Russia Would Give In The easiest approach to de-escalate tensions, according to Russia's foreign ministry, is for NATO to withdraw its forces from eastern Europe, but it also sought to address concerns of an invasion. Officials from the United States said President Vladimir Putin has not yet chosen whether or not to invade. Russia stated its demands in December, which include halting further NATO expansion, rejecting Ukraine's membership, and withdrawing the alliance's military forces and hardware from member countries in eastern Europe. The U.S. and NATO both had already rejected those demands while expressing willingness to engage on issues such as arms control, confidence-building measures, and limits on the size and scope of military exercises. Britain Warns of Massive Cyberattacks Meanwhile, Britain issued a warning on Friday on possible cyberattacks from Russia as Western nations fear that Kremlin will move its forces to occupy a part of Ukraine, heightening tensions in the region. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in Britain warned major organizations in the United Kingdom to strengthen their cyber security capabilities following the malicious attacks in Ukraine, per Reuters. According to Paul Chichester, NCSC director of operations, their organization has noticed "a pattern of malicious Russian behavior on the internet for several years. Earlier this month, Ukraine suffered from a massive cyberattack that downed around 70 of its government websites. The attackers posted a message on the hacked sites that said Ukrainians should "be afraid and expect the worst." Authorities alleged that Moscow was behind the incident, according to a report by NBC News. British intelligence says that Russia remains the biggest immediate threat to the West. However, it also pointed out that the long-term dominance of China in terms of technology poses a much bigger threat. A study made by the Belfer Center at Harvard's Kennedy School in 2020 identified the nations of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China as the world's top cyber offensive powers. Related Article: Vladimir Putin Says Russia Will Do Anything to Protect Itself Against NATO, Ukraine Aggression @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Clinton, IA (52732) Today Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening followed by mostly cloudy skies and a few showers after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Senator Panfilo Lacson promises a massive internal cleansing in the government during his first 100 days if elected president. "Nasa 1.4, 1.3 million ang empleyado ng gobyerno... Ako, I don't mind kung maiwanan lang sa gobyerno sa aking pamumuno 500,000. Basta yung 500,000 na yun, yun ang totoong nagta-trabaho, hindi nagnanakaw, hindi magpapahirap sa mga dumudulog sa tanggapan ng pamahalaan, kuntento na ako doon," Lacson said in an interview with DZRH. [Translation: The government has 1.4, 1.3 million employees. I won't mind if under my leadership I will be left with 500,000. As long as those 500,000 are true to their jobs, do not steal, do not give those seeking help from the government a hard time, then I'm content with that.] Lacson said half of the country's problems will be solved if corruption will be eliminated. Aside from filing charges against corrupt officials, among the specific strategies of the Partido Reporma standard bearer are digitalization and automation of government processes, and reforming the national budget. Lacson said he believes in leadership by example, so his first order of business if elected president will be waiving his rights under the bank secrecy law. He will also encourage members of his cabinet to follow suit. Pork barrel must not be abused Pork barrel - or government appropriation for local projects - is not illegal, according to Lacson. But the senator said the funds have been abused and misused. This is why he is pushing for budget reform, specifically zero budgeting strategy - or not imposing budget ceilings on government agencies. Through this, local government officials and district representatives may propose projects that they need in their respective jurisdictions through their local development councils, he explained. "Yan nga ang gusto nating i-correct sa budget process. Kasali na sila all the way. Hindi lang sa pagdating sa kongreso ng budget," Lacson said. [Translation: That is what we want to correct in the budget process. They are included all the way. Not only when the budget is in Congress.] Columbia, SC (29201) Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Penn State senior Alex Blomstrom channeled her passions into the start of her small business, Alex Blom Creates. Through ABC, Blomstrom (senior-finance) creates and sells clothing, scrunchies, stickers and planners. With kindness and positivity as Blomstroms core values, she looked to create a happy corner on the internet and a community where she could share some light during a rather dark time. I began to love the process of creating and spreading positivity through my art, and I started to work toward building a brand centered around these concepts and values, Blomstrom said. When her business began, it was only made-to-order items, and everything was done by hand with Blomstroms home Cricut cutting machine. Blomstrom said her brand has expanded greatly from her home to working with other businesses for manufacturing. I work with small embroidery and screen-printing companies, which I love because I can support another small business along the way, while also providing top quality products, Blomstrom said. With the transition to in-person classes at Penn State, Blomstrom had to move ABC to her apartment. She currently stocks inventory on shelves in a room attached to her bedroom. The room also serves as an office where she is dedicated day after day to building her page, designing products and creating content for marketing. Running a small business and being a full-time student can be difficult, but Blomstrom said she has devoted time to planning her day and setting aside time for herself. Part of this planning happens with her self-designed planner that she has available for her customers to try. I created a planner I use every day to help me with categorizing my tasks and reduce feelings of anxiety about a daunting to-do list, Blomstrom said. Balance is something I am constantly working toward, and I am still learning. MORE LIFESTYLE CONTENT +2 Calidore String Quartet delivers 'whimsical' performance at Penn States Recital Hall After canceling a Penn State show due to the coronavirus in 2020, Calidore String Quartet pl Blomstrom said shes grateful for all of the support her friends, family and customers have given ABC. For instance, Blomstroms roommates have helped her with packaging and photoshoots to promote her products. One of Blomstroms roommates, Mary Gautreau, said she has enjoyed helping with product launches. Everyone likes helping with folding and making content throughout the semester, especially during the holidays, Gautreau (senior-communication sciences and disorders) said. ABC has also seen support from its many customers and followers. Blomstrom said she has seen State College customers wearing her customized crewnecks and T-shirts around campus. The first time I saw someone at Penn State wearing something from my shop was in the beginning of the fall semester, and I started crying because I was so overwhelmed with joy, Blomstrom said. The most rewarding part about running my small business is seeing someone else excited to receive their order and wear it. One of Blomstroms local customers Aaliyah Liaci said she was satisfied with her State College crewneck she bought from ABCs website. I can tell she puts in a lot of time and effort to make sure her customers feel valued and get a great product, Liaci (freshman-biobehavioral health) said. Blomstrom described running her small business as the best experience of her life. My plan is to run my business full time after college, Blomstrom said. Im looking forward to being able to pour all of my energy into it. MORE LIFESTYLE CONTENT What do Penn State students wear to class in the winter? The past couple of months have had a lot of changes in the scenery around campus: the snow i Centre Volunteers in Medicine announced Thursday its new $10 million capital campaign, Building for a Healthier Future, for a new Centre County facility. Cheryl White, CVIM's executive director, was the keynote speaker for the media event, and Pennsylvania Senator Jake Corman and Rep. Kerry Benninghoff also spoke at the event. So far, the campaign has reached $6,082,000 of its $10 million goal, with Sept. 30, 2022 as the targeted completion date, CVIM said. The $10 million dollars will help meet the space needs of Centre County's uninsured population, according to the release. In addition, the funds will allow the new space to offer more than 11,000 square feet of exam and office space compared to CVIM's current 6,700 square-foot facility. White said CVIM hopes to move into the new space in late fall this year. MORE BOROUGH COVERAGE In this file photo, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, left, and state Sen. Brittany Pettersen, both Colorado Democrats, pose for a selfie at Denver's Martin Luther King Jr. Day Marade a combination march and parade on Jan. 21, 2019. On Jan. 28, 2022, Bennet endorsed Pettersen for the 7th Congressional District seat held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, who announced earlier that he isn't seeking a ninth term. Calls to lift mask mandates on children in schools rise amid the Biden administration's massive free-masks campaign to encourage the public to wear protective masks to manage the COVID-19 outbreak. As the Omicron outbreak begins to peak in some areas, some pediatricians, neuroscientists, teachers, and parents express concern about the possible harm of prolonged masking in children. Even proponents of mask regulations, who point to several studies linking mask mandates to reduced COVID rates in schools, recognize the challenges of masking kids, per NPR report. Data scientist Jeremy Howard thinks that schools should continue the mandate on maks, citing the studies on long COVID. But the problem he sees is the rarity of good quality masks for kids in the market. The standards for N95 masks were formulated for occupational and workplace safety. The Food and Drug Administration mentioned that N95 respirators "are not designed for children" and admitted that masks properly fit for kids "cannot be achieved." Howard also pointed out that despite the availability of high-quality child-size respirators, most have lower quality compared to adult versions. "So, yeah, it's a huge issue. Kids are being left unprotected," he said. He also believes that mandating respirators for children is impractical as some kids find it uncomfortable as they may not fit well on their small faces. Read Also: CDC Urges Americans To Wear Mask With Highest Protection as Biden Administration Set To Give Away Free Masks Restoring Normalcy in Children Early this week, a group of doctors and scientists declared a national initiative to "restore normalcy" in children's lives by prioritizing their removal of restrictions, such as mask mandates, once the Omicron wave had passed. The coalition includes Dr. Jeanne Noble, who directs COVID response for the UCSF Emergency Department at the University of California, San Francisco. She said that the mask mandate for kids is not practical. "Kids don't need to be masked since they have a minuscule risk of serious disease or death from COVID," she argued. Dr. Noble and her colleagues propose that extremely vulnerable kids continue to wear masks while other vaccinated children can go without. Currently, nearly two-thirds of big school districts in the United States require pupils to wear masks. The Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second-largest school district, revised its mask policy on Jan. 21 to prohibit cloth masks that provide less virus protection. Schools in California have received tens of millions of N95 masks and kid-sized KN95 masks. In Boston, Denver, and Round Rock, Texas districts, student activists have demanded respirators ensure health safety. Meanwhile, the newly elected Republican governor of Virginia issued a mandate by executive order that ended the state's school mask requirement, which met a flurry of opposition, per CNN. Since the pandemic's start, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics continue to require universal masking in schools as total cases, and pediatric hospitalizations remain high. Free N95 Masks Distribution Starts Last week, the Biden administration announced to distribute around 400 million high-quality N95 masks to Americans for free to help bring down the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country. Health authorities highly recommend the N95 masks as they can filter 95% of airborne particles, while cloth masks offer far less protection against COVID-19. On Friday, major pharmacy chains started giving away respirators. Each individual can get up to three, per CBS News. By the middle of this week, all 275 Hy-Vee pharmacies in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin were expected to have masks, according to the company's spokesperson. Related Article: Free N95 Masks Coming Soon in Groceries, Heath Centers; Here's How To Get Them . @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. As the Cubs were beating the Braves 6-3 Wednesday night Steve left to see the game with his mom and dad, Reva and Harold, brother Ron and baby niece Elizabeth Henney. He left behind to run the store his wife Kathleen (Knight), Amelia (27), Nathan (24) and his beloved cat Lewis Black. His sis 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 319-283-2144 or email circ@oelweindailyregister.com. 01/28/2022 Photo (c) MF3d - Getty Images COVID-19 tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.) Total U.S. confirmed cases: 73,429,392 (72,912,405) Total U.S. deaths: 878,472 (876,078) Total global cases: 366,974,484 (363,316,221) Total global deaths: 5,639,818 (5,628,898) Booster reduces Omicron death risk by 95% Previous research has shown that there is a lower risk of death from the Omicron variant for most people. But a new study found that getting a vaccine booster reduced the risk even more. The study, which was conducted by scientists in the U.K., specifically looked at how older people fared against the Omicron variant. According to the findings, three shots of an mRNA vaccine in people aged 50 and older reduced the risk of death by 95%. The researchers say their findings are important because the Omicron variant tends to be less vulnerable to the immunity created by vaccines. But they say the booster restores enough of those defenses to cut the risk of serious illness, especially in the older population. Scientists identify new Omicron variant Can a COVID-19 variant have its own variant? Apparently so. Researchers have discovered a sub-variant of Omicron they call BA.2. "You could say they're like brothers in the same family," Duke University infectious diseases expert Cameron Wolfe told NBC News. "There are some subtle differences, but most of the genetics are the same in both." Scientists dont yet know much about BA.2 or how it behaves. So far, they say it has many of Omicrons characteristics, such as high transmission levels and milder symptoms. COVID-19 claims actor Vachik Mangassarian Vachik Mangassarian, a popular character actor in Hollywood, has died of COVID-19 complications, according to his manager. He was 78. Mangassarian, who was vaccinated, made regular appearances on N.C.I.S. Los Angeles, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Mentalist. He was currently working on a new movie with actresses Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. Mangassarian joins a long list of celebrities who have died of COVID-19, including Cloris Leachman, Dawn Wells, Charlie Pride, Tom Seaver, and John Prine. Around the nation Corsicana, TX (75110) Today Isolated thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Isolated thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Japanese car manufacturer Toyota Motor Corp. announced on Friday that it sold over 10 million vehicles in 2021, making it the world's largest automaker for the second year in a row, amid the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Toyota said its vehicle sales increased by 10.1% last year, surpassing the performance of Volkswagen of Germany. In 2021, the automaker sold 10.5 million vehicles, including those produced by affiliates Daihatsu Motors and Hino Motors. While Volkswagen delivered 8.9 million vehicles in the same period, 5% lower than in 2020 and its lowest sales results in 10 years, per Reuters. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions in supply chains and a shortage of semiconductors due to increased demand for the key component among manufacturers of electronic devices. The situation prompted automotive makers to cut production. However, amid the pandemic, the Japanese company has performed better than most other carmakers since its home market, Japan, and portions of Asia, have been less affected in comparison with Europe. Read Also: Car Prices Continue To Soar High With Average Cars At $29,000 Due to Shortage of Chinese Semiconductor Toyota's Future: Space Cars and Robots Per USA Today, Toyota has collaborated with Japan's space agency in developing a vehicle that will explore the moon, with dreams to help humans reside on Earth's natural satellite by 2040. Then dwell on Mars. According to company officials, the vehicle being developed in partnership with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is named Lunar Cruiser, which pays homage to Toyota's sport utility vehicle Land Cruiser. The spaceship is set to launch for the latter part of the decade, per ABC News. According to Takao Sato, head of the Lunar Cruiser project at Toyota Motor Corp, the Lunar Cruiser will have features that will enable humans to eat, work, sleep, and interact with each other safely in space, just like in cars. "We see space as an area for our once-in-a-century transformation. By going to space, we may be able to develop telecommunications and other technology that will prove valuable to human life," Sato said in an interview. Aside from the space exploration vehicle, Toyota has developed a robotic arm for the Lunar Cruiser in partnership with Gitai Japan Inc. The robotic arm is designed to perform inspection and maintenance tasks with its "grapple fixture," which allows its end to transform to work like various tools for sweeping, scooping, and lifting. Gitai Chief Executive Sho Nakanose said that blasting off into space is a challenge but working in space is another challenge that entails huge costs as well as hazards for astronauts. That's where robots could help a lot, he expressed. Toyota's Project to the Moon The lunar project, according to Toyota engineer Shinichiro Noda, is an extension of the automaker's long-standing goal to serve customers. The company believes that sending cars to the moon would be a breakthrough that could bring significant resources for life on Earth. "Toyota has vehicles almost everywhere. But this is about taking our cars to somewhere we have never been," Noda said. In its more than 80 years of operation, Toyota has been concerned about losing a core business due to changing times. It has ventured with real estate, boats, planes, and robots. Later this year, the Japanese car company is set to open the Woven City, its net-connected sustainable living quarters near Mount Fuji. Related Article: Cybersecurity, Space Race as Emerging Global Threats, World Economic Forum Warns @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit Community News Walking into CannaCon was like stepping in a time machine back to the year 2015. With blaring EDM, a smattering of attendees wearing brightly-colored snapbacks, and the soft scent of dab pen exhales filling the air, I felt a strong sense of deja vous. To my senses, and my senses alone, it felt as if I had been transported back to my college days, entering a dormitory bathroom to find my friends sitting on the floor below me, handing me a dab rig and blow torch with outstretched arms. In reality, however, I was in New York City's Javits Center a week after New Year's Day, surrounded by cannabis professionals striving for success in a rapidly budding industry. Self-described as "the nations leading business-to-business cannabis conference, CannaCon seemingly has everything cannabis growers needed to run a truly state-of-the-art operation, including advanced hydroponic systems, seeds for a variety of strains, and hell, special dispensary ATMs, which despite being peddled by a charismatic spokesman in a green, money-printed suit, are just regular old ATMs that just so happen to live in a dispensary. But of all the niche weed accessories and high-tech growing apparatus on display and available for purchase, one item was conspicuously absent from the CannaCon floor actual cannabis. Continue Reading Below Advertisement What appeared to be an edibles counter next to the concession stand? Fancily packaged hemp-infused soaps. Those beautifully rolled blunts sitting in a glass case? Nothing more than empty wraps and a stark reminder that I should probably visit my optometrist. The joints sitting next to the rolling machines? Filled with some seriously dank herbgarden basil, according to the man sitting behind the booth. On some level, the lack of actual cannabis at CannaCon seemed par for the course. With detailed displays on greenhouse lighting and jargon-heavy presentations about the future of indoor cannabis growing techniques, CannaCon isn't for the casual stoner, rather, the seasoned seller looking to up their legal game with the latest scientific innovations. At least ten persons were injured after a bridge in Pittsburgh collapsed on Friday, hours before the scheduled visit of United States President Joe Biden to highlight his push for infrastructure improvement in the country. The two-lane bridge collapsed early morning, requiring rescuers to rappel around 150 feet (46 meters). Bystanders reportedly formed a human chain to assist in rescuing passengers in a dangling bus, per Fox News. President Joe Biden was scheduled to visit the city to push his $1 trillion infrastructure program, including bridge maintenance. Read Also: Republicans Warn Of the Negative Effect of Biden's Proposed Infrastructure Plan Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse Under Investigation According to Sam Wasserman, a spokesperson for Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, city authorities evaluated the scene. A search and rescue team had been deployed to search the area for other potential collapse victims. He said the majority of the ten people treated for injuries were first responders checked for exhaustion or due to the cold and icy conditions. Three persons were brought to the hospital, but none of them were seriously hurt. Three of the reported injuries were brought to a hospital. Though their injuries were not fatal, they remained confined in the medical facility. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said in a tweet that his office is monitoring the situation and is prepared to provide support as needed. At the site of the collapse, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman described the site of the collapse as "an awful, surreal scene." "I hope it's a wake-up call to the nation that we need to make these infrastructure investments," Fetterman noted. The official said that the bridge collapse looks like a scene after an earthquake. There's a huge crack on the end where the bus was situated, with an upside-down car in front of it. Authorities advised motorists to refrain from the site. Biden's Visit Pushes Through The White House told the members of the press that President Biden's planned trip to Pittsburgh would proceed despite the incident. Washington previously announced that Biden would visit Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, per NPR. White House will coordinate with state and local officials on the details of the collapse and for any federal assistance needed to address the incident. "Our team is in touch with state and local officials on the ground as they continue to gather information about the cause of the collapse," the White House statement said. It added: "The President is grateful to the first responders who rushed to assist the drivers who were on the bridge at the time." According to an estimate in 2005, around 14,500 vehicles pass by the steel bridge every day. The most recent inspection, according to Wasserman, took place in September, although the report was readily available. Based on a September 2019 inspection of the US Department of Transportation's National Bridge Inventory, the city-owned bridge's superstructure was already in a poor state. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation website contains a spreadsheet with a piece of information on the bridge's overall status indicating that it was in dire condition due to the "advanced" deterioration of its primary structural elements, per The Associated Press. Related Article: 13 Republicans Support Infrastructure Bill, Receive Widespread Criticism From Other GOP Members, Donald Trump @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Throughout history, many incarcerated folks have published some of the writings they penned while doing time in the clink. St. Paul wrote four of the New Testaments Epistles, Don Quixote was written behind bars, and writers like Oscar Wilde and e.e. cummings spent their imprisoned years doing what they do best (besides offending someone, probably). And so it came to be that a significant contributor of the Oxford English Dictionary did so while incarcerated at the famous Broadmoor Criminal Asylum because of the unhinged murder he committed. Wikimedia Commons No, the victim was not of the middle of his beard. American doctor and army surgeon William Chester Minor had a bad case of paranoid schizophrenia. His mental health issues seemed to have stemmed from post-war PTSD and the traumatic incident in which he was forced to brand an Irish deserter in the American Civil War. Since then, he gradually started losing grip on reality, convincing himself that he was being stalked, poisoned, and sexually abused every single night by a band of Irishmen seeking revenge. Oh, and he struggled with a severe case of sex addiction, too, because some people just cant catch a break. Minor went on vacation to London after his discharge from the army to enjoy a bit of a break but schizophrenia doesnt take breaks, and his made-up band of Irish avengers followed him to the shores of England. Soon, Minor was sleeping with a gun under his pillow. The Center for Lifelong Learning offers a variety of classes, from learning new card games to history lessons, financial management, knitting and ways to get the most out of a smartphone. Some classes even try Maker Spaces high-tech machinery that includes 3D printing, laser cutting and engraving, fabric art and machine embroidery. Margaret Pearl Blaylock, age 85, of Crossville, TN, passed away at her home on May 3, 2022. She was born on November 18, 1936, in Crossville, TN, daughter of the late William Wyatt and Alice (Hale) Wyatt. Margaret was a homemaker and attended Stephen Gap Church of Christ. She is survived by I've already been to some live sporting events. Yes, I plan on attending several events. I may go to one or two. I like sports but I doubt it. I'm not into sports. Vote View Results iPhones might be getting an awesome update later this year. This is a feature that lets users accept payments directly to their smartphones without extra hardware. Note that wireless tap-to-pay systems might be critical for contactless payments. For reference, businesses today who want to accept payment via Apple Pay need to use external and third-party hardware like card readers or scanners. These payment terminals usually communicate to the iPhone via Bluetooth. In comparison, the incoming Apple update teases an iPhone to iPhone trade. This means merchants can skip buying the terminal and invest their money on much more meaningful purchases. Apple NFC Wireless Tap-To-Pay Technology Ideally, the update would only require two iPhones to be in close proximity to start their trade. At times, they might have to tap each other's back to receive the communication signals. 9to5Mac speculates the incoming Apple system would utilize near field communications (NFC) technology, which already exists for Apple Pay. This could also mean that Apple Pay will complement this new update. Bloomberg pointed out that Apple has already been working on this feature since 2020. This project is probably linked to Apple's acquisition of the Canadian startup Mobeewave, which happened in the same year. Before Mobeewave started working for Apple, it advertised its services as a way to "seamlessly accept credit card payments with a tap on your phone." Note that Mobeewave also utilizes NFC features. Read Also: [RUMOR] eSim-Only iPhone 14 Variant to Come? Apple Also Planning a Dual eSim/Physical Variant Apple Pay New Feature: iPhone Contactless Pay Bloomberg noted that this incoming Apple feature might impact its current economic markets. One heavily affected group will probably be payment providers that rely on Apple iPhones to facilitate their sales, like Block Inc's Square. If Apple opens this feature to all apps, Square could continue receiving payments via its system. However, if Apple integrates the incoming feature to Apple Pay, then they would directly compete with Square's services. In the long run, Apple Pay might eventually replace it. Bloomberg said Block representatives did not respond to their request for comment on the topic. The same situation also applies for the Apple representatives. How to Get The Apple New Feature The report from Bloomberg described the details for this incoming Apple project. Unfortunately, it failed to elaborate on the time frame. There is no release date for this Apple tap-to-pay update. However, many remain hopeful the feature might be released in an incoming software update. Some say it would be released in the "coming months," which implies the iOS 15.4 update. Notably, iOS 15.4 is still in its beta testing phase. Its final release might happen during the spring season. Be warned that Apple has yet to acknowledge this update officially. Until they have made their announcement, readers should take in this information with a pinch of salt and some skepticism. Hopefully, more details might be revealed in the coming weeks. Related Article: iOS 15.3 is Out Now, and Releases a Safari Patch! 3 iOS Browsing Tips To Be A Safari Master Fifteen Connecticut companies received 100 percent scores in the Human Rights Campaign Foundations 2022 Corporate Equality Index one of the leading measures of corporate support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees. AQR Capital Management, BlueTriton Brands, Boehringer Ingelheim USA, Bridgewater Associates, Cigna, Diageo North America, FactSet, Gartner, The Hartford, Otis Worldwide, Pitney Bowes, Stanley Black & Decker, Synchrony, Thomson Reuters and Xerox each received a score of 100, according to results released Thursday. This year, a record 842 businesses, employing a total of more than 14 million workers, earned a score of 100 and the designation of being a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality up from 13 in the CEIs first edition 20 years ago. The Connecticut-based companies that received 100 ratings cited the importance of the recognition from the HRC Foundation, which is the educational arm of the HRC, the countrys largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. Now more than ever, its critical that we continue to grow and sustain a culture that welcomes, values and celebrates all experiences and perspectives, Michael Matthews, chief diversity and corporate responsibility officer at Stamford-based Synchrony, the countrys largest provider of private-label and store-brand credit cards, said in a statement. Equity, diversity and inclusion is central to our culture and its how we operate. We are grateful to be recognized for our ongoing commitment as a best place to work for LGBTQ+ equality. Synchrony has earned a 100 score for seven consecutive years. Bloomfield-headquartered health insurance giant Cigna is another perennial honoree. It has garnered a 100 rating for the 10th-consecutive year. Our company is stronger when our employees bring their whole selves to work. This is why we are so intentional about cultivating a culture where we value and support each other for who we are, Susan Stith, Cignas vice president of diversity, equity, inclusion, and corporate and employee giving, said in a statement. This recognition is an important validation of our work so far, and it motivates us to continue pushing forward every day. The CEO and president of Pitney Bowes, which has earned top marks two years in a row, said the Stamford shipping-and-mailing firm believes diversity makes us better. Pitney Bowes strives to create an environment where each person is able to be themselves regardless of gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexuality. We firmly believe that diversity makes us better and inclusion is essential to drive engagement and deliver value to all our stakeholders, Pitney Bowes CEO and President Marc Lautenbach said. Our commitment to including the voices and value of our global workforce in its collective diversity is something we are proud of. It is part of our companys values of doing the right thing, the right way. Among other companies with headquarters or major offices in Connecticut that HRC evaluated, Henkel received a score of 95; Booking Holdings, Charter Communications and Linde each received a 90; XPO Logistics received an 85; and Ethan Allen received a 75. Amphenol, Frontier Communications and United Rentals received unofficial scores of 20 and W.R. Berkley was given an unofficial rating of 10 because the HRC Foundation said they were among the Fortune 500 companies that have not responded to repeated invitations to the CEI survey. These ratings are based on publicly available information as well as information submitted to HRC from unofficial LGBTQ employee groups or individual employees. United Rentals missed the CEI survey deadline, but subsequently reached out to the HRC Foundation to submit the survey so it can receive an accurate score, United Rentals spokesperson Ted Grace said. Frontier officials said the company received an unofficial score because the HRC Foundation had been contacting an employee who no longer works for the company. We are back in touch with HRC to update our score based on the work were doing on diversity, equity and inclusion, including our year-long celebration campaign, Frontier spokesperson Brigid Smith said. DE&I (diversity, equity and inclusion) is a priority for our new leadership team, and were looking forward to learning more about HRCs 2023 criteria when they unveil it in March. Messages left for Amphenol and W.R. Berkley were not immediately returned on Thursday. The CEI criteria focuses on four areas: non-discrimination policies across businesses; equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families; support of an inclusive culture; and corporate social responsibility. Companies rated in the CEI include the 500 publicly traded firms with the highest revenues, as ranked by Fortune magazine; American Lawyer magazines top 200 revenue-grossing law firms; and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses. When the Human Rights Campaign Foundation created the Corporate Equality Index 20 years ago, we dreamed that LGBTQ+ workers from the factory floor to corporate headquarters, in big cities and small towns could have access to the policies and benefits needed to thrive and live life authentically, Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaigns senior vice president of programs, research and training, said in a statement. We are proud that the Corporate Equality Index paved the way to that reality for countless LGBTQ+ workers in America and abroad. The 2022 CEI includes 1,271 participants, compared with 319 in the CEIs first year. A record 1,268 businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity, up from 17 in 2002, the HRC Foundation found. These non-discrimination protections cover nearly 41 million employees in the U.S., and around the world, according to the HRC Foundation. There were 379 Fortune 500 businesses including Cigna, The Hartford, Synchrony, Stanley Black & Decker, Otis and Xerox that received official CEI ratings based on submitted surveys, compared with 366 last year. Actively participating Fortune 500 firms received an average score of 94 percent, up from 92 last year. At the same time, 56 percent of the Fortune 500 and 77 percent of all CEI-rated companies offer comprehensive domestic-partnership benefits, up from 69 percent of companies in 2002. The HRC Foundation also found that 71 percent of the Fortune 500 and 91 percent of all CEI-rated businesses offer transgender-inclusive health insurance, up from 0 in 2002. This recognition from the Human Rights Campaign reaffirms our leaders commitment to policies and actions that reflect our values, Alecia Smith, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Farmington-based Otis, which has earned a 100 score for the second-consecutive year and operates as one of the largest manufacturers and servicers of elevators, escalators and moving walkways, said in a statement. While we still have work to do in the U.S., and around the world, this recognition inspires us to continue our efforts to create a work environment where all voices feel safe, welcomed and heard, because our diversity is our strength. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; Twitter: @paulschott Through the height of the latest COVID-19 wave, more than a quarter-million Connecticut residents received a booster vaccination, but the state still lags behind others nationwide in getting those fully vaccinated another round of shots, data shows. The latest wave, driven by the omicron variant, appears to be waning, but the daily positive rate of COVID-19 tests and hospitalizations remain higher than previous peaks during the pandemic. Officials have responded by continuing to urge residents to get booster shots to address waning immunity from earlier doses of vaccine. In the states weekly COVID report released Thursday, all major metrics dropped. The daily positivity rate fell to 9.73 percent, the first time it was below 10 percent since Dec. 23. Hospitalizations fell by a net of 76 patients for a total of 1,210. The weekly deaths of 225 were 16 fewer than the 241 reported last Thursday. The state reported Thursday that 1.2 million residents have received boosters, just shy of 50 percent of all those who are fully vaccinated. Despite having one the nations highest fully vaccinated populations, Connecticut trails 12 other states, including several from New England, in percent of those individuals who have gotten a booster, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows. The CDC figures, which are updated daily, show the pace of boosters have mostly slowed, despite the persistent threat of COVID-19. The data shows new doses administered weekly have dropped from highs seen ahead of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. In the seven days leading up to Christmas, about 129,000 Connecticut residents received a booster, compared with about 83,000 who got a booster during some of the worst seven days of this recent wave between Jan. 3 and Jan. 10. The Connecticut Department of Public Health continues to recommend that all eligible Connecticut residents receive the COVID-19 booster. The number of doses administered has decreased since the peak of omicron, likely because many people were infected during this most recent wave, DPH spokesperson Christopher Boyle said Thursday in a statement. DPH stressed the CDC guidance, which states people do not need to wait after an infection to get a booster shot. DPH continues to stress that the best strategies to combat this virus are vaccination/boosters, masking and testing, Boyle said. Dr. Peter Hotez, a Connecticut native and director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital, said it was disappointing to see low uptake of boosters not just in Connecticut, but across the country. I think part of that was self-inflicted," he said. "Clearly, part of it is from the anti-vaccine movement and the fake messages that they're putting out there. But part of it was self-inflicted I think there was a lot of confusion from the CDC, FDA and the federal advisory committees that kept on insisting that we call two doses fully vaccinated, Hotez said during a news conference Thursday with doctors from Hartford HealthCare. While there was growing pressure for state officials to take strict measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 during this latest wave, they opted instead to focus their message on encouraging residents to get a booster shot. Along with a spike in infections and positivity rate, hospitalizations jumped significantly during the latest wave, but doctors from the states major health networks said those with booster shots fared well against the delta and omicron variants. What weve learned and what we are learning, boosters do enhance that vaccine effectiveness, especially against omicron. I think what we saw during the surge being boosted really did decrease the risk of ending up in the hospital with COVID, said Dr. Asha Shah, director of infectious diseases of Stamford Health. During the latest wave, there has been an uptick in the number of breakthrough COVID-19 cases, which are those reported in individuals who have been fully vaccinated for more than two weeks. Over the past week, 9,547 new breakthrough cases were reported. Shah said booster coverage, while lagging in Connecticut, likely led to fewer severe cases amid the latest surge. The unvaccinated have reason to be scared. For people who are vaccinated, we are looking at a better future. ... People who have not been boosted are having more symptomatic disease, state DPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani said during the height of this wave. With concern growing over waning immunity from the initial course of vaccine, Gov. Ned Lamont issued an executive order this month requiring those working in nursing homes to get a booster by the middle of February. The state worked with Connecticuts hospitals to ensure their staff, who were among the earliest eligible for vaccines in late 2020, were required to get boosters. Thats how we keep our hospitals safe, Lamont said at the time. Thats how we have the capacity to take care of each and every one of you. The executive order allowing for a statewide school mask mandate and 10 other orders that Gov. Ned Lamont says Connecticut needs to fight the pandemic is likely to be extended for at least 60 days by the General Assembly, top leaders said Wednesday. Both the Democratic and Republican leaders in the House agree the most likely scenario when lawmakers convene next month is that they will codify the 11 orders as a whole, at least temporarily. Under the arrangement, Lamont would not be able to issue any new executive orders, as he has throughout the coronavirus crisis. He could request new orders, but they would have to be approved by the legislature under a plan that he submitted to to lawmakers last Friday. Other orders on the list include measures laying out who can order mask mandates for the general population; requiring vaccinations of staff at long-term care facilities and booster shots by Feb. 11; establishing rules for emergency hospital staffing to ease shortages; easing state purchasing rules for essential items; and requiring insurers to reimburse providers for vaccinations at the Medicare rate. Lamont recommended that vaccine mandates for teachers and state employees, other than at state hospitals, not be extended beyond Feb. 15. We codify the 11 executive orders. The governor says he needs something else; he comes back to the legislature. We weigh the issue and if we so choose, we could pass a special act. Thats how I think were going to operate for the next couple of months, House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said Wednesday, explaining how the process would likely work. The controversial mask rule in schools is not an executive order, directly. The order, one of the 11 Lamont wants extended, gives state education and health officials the authority to require masks in schools but they could also end that mandate under the order, or modify it, or cede the authority to local school boards. Lawmakers will also need to decide how the pandemic will be handled when they are not in session. The General Assembly is expected to adjourn on May 4. A 60-day extension would keep Lamonts orders in effect until April 15. Options include special sessions, returning emergency powers to Lamont which he has not requested or some other shared authority. House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, in a separate interview Wednesday, agreed with Ritters assessment and said theres also consensus that it doesnt make sense to continue the governors emergency powers to issue new orders. It looks like the governors 11 orders are going to be extended, and it looks like House Democrats are agreeing that the powers do not need to be extended, Candelora said. In addition to extending the executive orders, Lamont has requested the states declarations of public health and civil emergencies be continued beyond when his executive power expires on Feb. 15 to ensure the state continues to receive federal funding. That appears to be a technical, legal question. Ritter and Candelora both said that if the legislature declares an emergency then the funding, which covers non-congregate housing and supplemental food benefits for low-income families, would not be disrupted. The issue of extending the orders has taken on political significance, as some critics of the administration believe Lamont has retained too much authority. Many on social media have incorrectly said the extension request would extend Lamonts emergency powers. Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, said after requesting an extension of his powers six times previously, Lamont is now coming to the General Assembly seeking our advice and counsel in an election year. Under a law passed by the General Assembly last year, top legislative leaders can reject any executive order issued by the governor. Kelly welcomed a vote on the orders but called for a public hearing before lawmakers make any final decisions. Any issues the majority wants to put on the calendar, and have a vote, were more than willing to do it, Kelly said to reporters Wednesday after a press conference on Senate Republicans proposals to address mental health needs. But what we need is, when we do a bill, we need to have the peoples voice included in the process. Senate President Pro Temp Martin Looney in a written statement said his caucus would meet Wednesday night to discuss the best way to move forward to preserve the federal funding and protect the safety of the residents of Connecticut. In the House, Ritter said hed prefer to vote on the orders as a group rather than individually, especially given theres limited time for debate with Lamonts powers expiring less than a week after lawmakers convene for the new legislative session on Feb. 9. Lawmakers could modify the orders before voting on them. House Democrats want to add no-excuse absentee voting to the list of orders under consideration, for example. Executive orders expanding absentee voting due to the pandemic expired last November. Ritter said if the legislature decides to codify the other orders, acknowledging were still in the midst of a public health emergency, then voters should also be able to declare risk of getting COVID as a reason to mail-in their ballots. But Candelora said lawmakers should focus on public health issues such as the school mask mandate, which many of his colleagues oppose. Thats where the conversation should be had, not a partisan fight over our own elections, he said. Candelora said he expects a debate on the booster mandate for nursing home workers and requiring nursing home visitors to provide proof of negative test or vaccination. Every visitor, regardless of vaccination status, should be tested given how contagious omicron and other COVID variants have been, he said. Some of the orders could receive Republican support, Candelora said, namely those that address health care worker shortages. julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KILLINGWORTH Calling the Boy Scout-owned Deer Lake Camp a magical place, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., promised to help get federal funds to head off private development of the 255-acre property, which is up for sale. The precious and pristine treasure that is Deer Lake ... must be preserved, Blumenthal told a group of three dozen people who gathered next to the frozen lake at the camp amid frigid temperatures Thursday. It really is a treasure for the whole state, and thats why I will be going to the Water and Conservation Fund of the Great Outdoors Act, seeking whatever resources we can do. He said he would press for funding in the range of $2 million to $3 million dollars, and maybe more. The press conference comes before a February meeting of the Scouts Connecticut Yankee Council, at which the group is to consider bids for the scenic property. One bid is from a developer, Boy Scout officials had confirmed. No date for the meeting has been announced at this time. However, representatives from the Connecticut Yankee Council were at the outdoor conference and said they were looking forward to meeting with the senator. We did have a brief but productive conversation after the conference, Bob Brown, a spokesman for the council, said. When the Boy Scouts announced in September plans to sell the camp, many expressed deep concern that the property might be sold to a private developer and would no longer to be accessible to the public. Area residents, local and state officials, and conservation and environmental groups were among those expressing concern over the propertys future. To allow it to go the way of development would be unconscionable, Blumenthal said. Not only because it has been such a wonderful resource for campers, but for all of us. It connects to the state forest nearby [Cockaponset State Forest] to Chatfield Hollow it is part of the ecological lifeblood of the region, he added. Open space is not something you can lose and recover. Once its lost, its gone, its gone forever, Blumenthal said. As far as raising the funds, The people who are going to make this happen are you, he told the group. Im going to go to the federal government and pound on doors and I going to make the case that this 255 acres is not just about Connecticut but about the ecological systems it supports and the wildlife, he said. Deer Lake Camp has been a beloved summer camp for decades, with generations of families attending the camp from the region, news conference participants said. This is the first time for so many campers, said state Sen. Christine Cohen, who represents the 12th District. This is the first sleepaway, the first time a Boy Scout hikes through the woods and identifies tree types, the first time they learn to build a friction fire. The land is also vital to the regions trail system, state and local officials said. The parcel is critical, said Killingworth First Selectman Nancy Gorski, because it is part of the Greenway trail that stretches from Middletown to the shore, and is part of the Blue Trail. The key here is that Deer Lake Scout Reservation is part of the state Greenway that runs through our town, Gorski said. Thats why we consider this a priority for preservation, she said. Also preserving the site as open space is in keeping with our Killingworth Plan of Conservation and Development. Gorski noted that development of the property would be challenging, as the property does not have enough frontage to connecting roads. Any required infrastructure would come at a significant cost for any developer, she said. It cannot be currently developed without additional property there is not enough frontage for a road to go through there, Gorski said. In a written statement, Board President of the Connecticut Yankee Council Rudy Escalante said, Connecticut Yankee Council is focused on creating the best experience for our Scouts. In 2021, our membership grew 3 percent, a sign our communities want Scouting more than ever. This growth is despite the challenges weve all faced in the past year, he said. Our volunteer board and staff are reviewing all our properties, facilities, and programs to ensure theyre supporting our mission of delivering the best youth development program possible to our kids. To keep this positive momentum going, we are making decisions based on whats best for our Scouting program, Escalante said. For more than 50 years, weve been stewards of Deer Lake Scout Reservation and are committed to finding the best solution possible, he said. The camp boasts a mile-long spring-fed lake, a swimming area in a kettle [a lake created by retreating flood waters or glaciers] named the lagoon, as well as manicured trails in pristine forest. Boy Scouts and day campers, as well as hikers and residents, enjoy the property. One of the most famous features is the unique glacier rock formation called Fat Mans Squeeze that children love to explore. The private Save Deer Lake Facebook group was created when the Connecticut Yankee Council Boy Scouts of America announced plans to sell the camp last fall. The two options for the sale, according to Connecticut Yankee Council CEO Mark Kraus, are selling to a private developer or a sale involving the Hamden-based Trust for Public Land. The public land trust does not buy the property outright, according to Ted Langevin, Scout leader, chairman of Pack 491 in Madison and member of the Quinnipiac committee. Instead, the trust purchases an option to buy the land and raises the money for its purchase. At the closing, the group signs over their option to the acquiring entity, such as a nonprofit organization or a town government, and uses the money raised to fund the purchase, Langevin had told Hearst Connecticut Media. Kraus has said Deer Lake is not being sold in connection with the Boy Scouts of Americas $850 million sex abuse settlement. The group is planning the sale as part of a plan to ensure fiscal responsibility. The unpredictability of this weekends noreaster with forecasters calling for anywhere from a few inches to more than a foot of snow has posed an added challenge for shorthanded state plow crews and Connecticut utility companies trying to predict potential outages. Connecticut can see between 5 and 15 inches of snow, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Services New York office. Southeastern Connecticut is expected to see the higher snow totals, ranging from 10 to 15 inches and possible blizzard-like conditions, the weather service said. In the southwestern part of the state, the weather service is predicting 5 to 10 inches of snow. The weather service has issued a winter storm watch for the entire state with snow expected to start Friday evening and continuing through the day Saturday. Tracking the storm has been challenging for forecasters and Connecticut utility companies, which have not yet been able to predict how many outages they expect. Steve Sullivan, Eversource Energys president of Connecticut electric operations, said the company has a dozen service centers strategically located across the state where repair crews will be based. An Eversource spokesperson said the company plans to have several hundred of its own two-person line repair crews ready and will supplement them with another 200 pairs of linemen brought in through partnerships with other utilities outside of Connecticut. Those workers coming from outside the state will be in place by the time the storm arrives Friday, Sullivan said. Each repair is different, he said. Some can be handled by only a single repair crew. Others require more than one. In addition, the company is hiring several hundred tree contractors to work during the storm, according to company officials. Sullivan said 90 percent of all power outages in winter storms like these are caused by trees or their limbs coming in contact with the companys electric distribution network. More for you Connecticut power outage tracker Equipment that may be needed to make repairs, like wires and utility poles, is being moved to the service center locations, Sullivan said. Theres a lot of logistical work being done in preparation for this, he said. As employers face COVID absences, Eversource said it does not have a staffing shortage heading into the storm. Were well prepared, said Mitch Gross, a spokesperson for Eversource. United Illuminating, which serves more than 342,000 customers in southern Connecticut, including Bridgeport, New Haven and Milford, is preparing for a storm regardless of what the forecast may bring, according to company spokesperson Gage Frank. UI has also activated its incident command team and has crews, some from outside the company, ready to respond. Additional mutual aid crews will arrive Friday, Frank added. We are prepared to adjust our response up or down as more information is made available, Frank said. Kafi Rouse, a spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation, said crews and vehicles are ready, but said the agency remains short-staffed due to a limited number of employees with commercial drivers licenses. As with every DOT across the country, we are suffering from a shortage of CDL drivers in the workforce, Rouse said. Rouse said the agency has 723 drivers, a 33 percent shortage due to 200 vacancies and 140 absences. Some of those absences are a result of COVID-positive test results or those awaiting test results due to close contacts, Rouse said. We have a large hole in our 1,600-person highway operations team. We are asking people to be patient as we work throughout the day, Rouse said. It is safest if people would please stay home and let our crews work. And as always, if you must be out, use extreme caution and do not pass the plow. Staff writer Peter Yankowski contributed to this report. A noreaster with the potential to produce a bomb cyclone and blizzard-like conditions could knock out power to more than 100,000 Connecticut customers this weekend, officials said Friday. As the storm approached on Friday, Gov. Ned Lamont announced a ban on all tractor-trailer trucks from limited access highways starting Saturday morning. Were ready for what could be a really rough storm, Lamont said, speaking at a state Department of Transportation maintenance garage. Dangerous travel, blowing snow and blizzard-like conditions are possible as the storm moves through the state. Eversource, the states largest electrical supplier, said it is preparing for a level 5 storm event, meaning up to 125,000 customers could lose power for one to three days. United Illuminating did not provide outage predictions as of Friday evening for its service area. The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for New London County and a winter storm warning for the rest of the state. The weather service said southeastern Connecticut, as well as eastern Long Island, could see winds gusting up to 60 mph, and 12 to 18 inches of powdery snow. Southwest Connecticut is expected to get 6 to 12 inches of powdery snow as well as near-blizzard conditions, the weather service said. After starting Friday night, the weather service said the snow is expected to continue through Saturday afternoon. The forecast shows the snow tapering off late Saturday afternoon or early evening. Strong winds will roll in with the snow, with gusts up to 60 mph possible in some parts of the southeastern corner of the state. Other areas are expected to see wind gusts in the 40- to 50-mph range. The strongest winds will hit Saturday morning into the evening. The storm is expected to form a bomb cyclone or bombogenesis, according to Gary Lessor, chief meteorologist at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. The powerful event is marked by the storms barometric pressure plummeting 24 millibars in 24 hours, he said. More for you Campbell (opinion): We owe a debt to generation drowning in them Its a rapidly strengthening storm, he said. Mark Wysocki, a senior lecturer at Cornell University and New York state climatologist, said the term originated from satellite imagery. As storms tend to move up along the East Coast during the wintertime, and they start mixing with the colder waters from the Labrador Current, what tends to happen is the storm intensifies, and when it intensifies, the cloud cover ... expands rapidly in all directions, he said. So actually from above on a satellite, it does look like a bomb goes off. During such an event, the storm will deepen meaning the pressure will drop rapidly, and wind speeds will increase rapidly along with precipitation. Thats what meteorologists think will happen with the weekends noreaster. At its height, the storm could produce up to 3 inches of snow per hour as well as thunder and lightning, Lessor said. It is quite possible with this storm being so intense, Lessor said, though he said the phenomenon is not unusual and occurs close to once every year. Wysocki said noreasters tend to follow one of three tracks westward, along the coast, or easterly. He said this storm is following the eastern track. That puts Connecticut in the most intense part of the snowfall, he said. It also could produce coastal flooding. But the good news is once the storm clears, no other major weather events are expected to affect the state in the next week, according to Wysocki. In the next week, were looking for a warm-up, he added. I think the ski resorts in the Northeast will be happy with this because it gives them a good snow base to work off, he added. Once the snow tapers off Saturday night, strong gusty winds will remain and additional Arctic air will flow into the region. The temperature will drop to the single digits and teens with wind chill values between negative-8 to negative-14 degrees across the region. Sunday brings sunny skies and high temperatures in the mid 20s. Wind gusts up to 25 to 30 mph are possible, mostly in the morning and will lessen during the afternoon. Sunday night will be partly cloudy with temperatures ranging from the single digits to the lower teens, with the higher temperatures near the shoreline. Staff writers Julia Bergman and Liz Hardaway contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A noreaster is expected to dump more than a foot of snow on parts of Connecticut this weekend, while strong wind gusts and blizzard-like conditions could bring down trees and knock out power, weather experts say. The storm is expected to start Friday night and continue through the day Saturday, bringing 5 to 15 inches of snow to Connecticut, the National Weather Service said. The states utility companies said they have been preparing this week, bringing in hundreds of line crews if the high winds cause widespread outages. Heres what you need to know to be prepared for the storm: If you lose power or other utilities Eversource customers can report outages online, or by texting OUT to 23129 More for you Campbell (opinion): We owe a debt to generation drowning in them United Illuminating customers should report a power outage online, on the UI mobile app or call 800-722-5584 or 911 in the event of an emergency, such as a downed electrical wire. Eversource and UI have interactive maps on their websites that show the latest outages. For apartments residents, state law requires apartments to be at least 65 degrees at all times during the year, unless a loss of heat is outside the landlords control. The state also has certain protections against utilities being cut off without notice, or for low-income or seriously sick residents. Parking bans, warnings Many cities and towns have seasonal bans on parking vehicles in the street that are already in effect, or may issue them as the storm approaches. Check this section often, as new parking bans will be added as theyre announced by municipal officials. Ansonia: No parking is allowed on city streets beginning at 6 p.m. Friday until 6 p.m. Sunday. Additional parking is available at Nolan Field, Ansonia Middle School on Howard Avenue, the Main Street municipal lot, the West Main Street municipal lot, the East Main Street municipal lot, the former Ansonia Police Department at 2 Elm Street, Ansonia High School on Pulaski Highway, Prendergast School on Finney Street and Mead School on Ford Street. Bridgeport : The city announced a snow emergency in effect as of 4 p.m. Friday and said residents must park on the even-numbered side of the street. Towing will begin at 6 p.m. Friday. Vehicles cannot be parked on snow emergency routes. The city urged residents to stay home for their own safety during the storm. Bristol : A parking ban is in effect all day Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday. Derby : Parking limited to odd-numbered sides of streets only. East Hartford : A parking ban goes into effect at 6 p.m. Friday and remains in effect through 6 p.m. Sunday. East Haven : A parking ban will be in effect throughout the storm, with a $100 fee possible for cars that are left on the street after a snow emergency is declared. Officials said police officers will pass out flyers around town before the storm explaining the town ordinance of parking. Hamden : A parking ban goes into effect at 8 p.m. Friday and will remain in effect until further notice. Vehicles must be parked on the even-numbered side of the street. Hartford : A parking ban goes into effect at 8 p.m. Friday and continues through the storm. Residents can park at Blue Light Lots and city lots, which open at 2 p.m., and Hartford Public Schools lots except for Bulkeley, Burns and Milner. The school lots will open at 6 p.m. Manchester : A parking ban will go into effect at midnight Saturday and remains in effect through noon Sunday. New Haven : A parking ban and a stay home request will be in place throughout the storm citywide except for essential personnel or those traveling for an emergency. New London : The citys winter parking restrictions are in effect starting at midnight Friday night and until snow plows have swept through the area. There will be no parking in the downtown area. Downtown residents and visitors can park in the Water Street Parking Garage for free starting Friday morning. People living in the area of Michael and Anthony roads can park in Bates Woods during the storm. There will be no parking on narrow street. Residents should follow posted regulations for street parking. For streets with parking allowed on both sides, residents can only park on the odd side of the street. Norwalk : A snow emergency goes into effect for the city at 3 p.m. Friday. South Windsor : Police reminded residents that vehicles cannot be parked on a public road in town once a storm has been ni progress for an hour, and for 24 hours after the storm has ended. Vehicles also cannot be parked on a public road overnight, between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., from Nov. 15 through April 15. Wallingford : A parking ban will began at midnight Saturday and continue through midnight Sunday. Cancellations Stamford: The city announced the COVID-19 vaccination site at the community health center and the testing sites at Cove Island Park at 689 Canal St. are canceled for Saturday. Other operators are expected to close as well due to weather, the city said. Amtrak bridges Amtrak announced it will close the following bridges due to extremely cold weather from midnight Saturday to noon Sunday: -Mystic River Bridge -Shaws Cove Railroad Bridge -Niantic River Bridge -Thames River Bridge Amtrak said boaters must give a two-hour notice for emergency openings. Bridge tenders can be contacted by radio for emergency openings. If you need shelter The states severe cold weather protocol is in effect through Feb. 3. Anyone in need of emergency shelter or a place to stay warm should call 211 to be connected with a shelter. Lists of warming centers and homeless shelters can also be found online. How to prep for the storm The Red Cross has offered tips on how to prepare for the storm. The Red Cross says its a good idea to stock up on essentials ahead of major winter weather events, including any medications, canned food, bottled water, flashlights and a battery-powered radio. Before the storm hits, the Red Cross says to make sure your car is fully-fueled, and set aside blankets and warm clothing for each member of your family. Sand or non-clumping cat litter is good to have on hand to help make walkways or steps less slippery, the Red Cross said. Besides keeping yourself warm, its a good idea to make sure your home is insulated, the Red Cross said. With temperatures hovering in the 20s this week and even colder wind chill values sealing any drafty areas of your home should help keep the frigid air out, the Red Cross advised. Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out, the Red Cross said. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep cold air out. Now is also a good time to make sure your home has enough heating oil or fuel on hand, the Red Cross said. UI is also encouraging customers to charge their electronic devices and get their get generators ready before the storm. Driving in the snow Try to avoid driving unless necessary to allow crews to plow and repair any storm damage. If thats not possible, be sure to leave plenty of driving distance between other vehicles, and dont crowd snow plows at work, experts said. Its also a good idea to pack an emergency kit in your vehicle with blankets, flashlight, tools for clearing snow. If you must go out during a winter storm, use public transportation if possible, the Red Cross said. About 70 percent of winter deaths related to ice and snow occur in automobiles. 99 cent introductory offer Includes everything we offer online for 24-7 news. This option allows you to read unlimited stories at ctnewsonline.com, and access our e-Edition (digital replicate of the daily newspaper). $7.99 per month after the introductory offer. This service comes with a complimentary CT Select Card allowing for local discounts. Rates are subject to change. Chinese mainland reports 39 new local COVID-19 cases Xinhua) 13:37, January 28, 2022 A staff member registers information of a resident at a COVID-19 testing site in Xicheng District in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Thursday recorded 39 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said on Friday. Of the new local infections, 16 were reported in Zhejiang, nine in Heilongjiang, eight in Beijing, four in Tianjin, and one each in Guizhou and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, according to the commission. Thursday also saw reports of 25 imported COVID-19 cases across the mainland. Three new suspected cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Shanghai, and no new deaths from COVID-19 were reported on the day, it added. A total of 54 asymptomatic cases were newly reported Thursday, 42 of whom arrived from outside the mainland, according to the commission. As of Thursday, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases, both local and imported, reported on the Chinese mainland had reached 105,875. There were 2,268 patients still under treatment on Thursday, of whom nine were in severe condition. A total of 4,636 patients had died of the virus on the Chinese mainland since the outbreak of the pandemic. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Samsung Life Insurance's headquarters in southern Seoul / Yonhap By Kim Bo-eun Samsung Life Insurance appears to be mulling its next steps after financial authorities slapped 155 million won ($128,655) in fines and an "institutional warning" on the insurer earlier, for violating regulations in refusing to cover costs for cancer policyholders. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) gave notice of a punitive measure to be taken against the insurer, Jan. 26, in the form of an institutional warning which prevents the company and affiliates from launching new businesses over the next year that need approval from authorities. Policyholders of Samsung's cancer insurance earlier called for the insurer to cover costs of being treated at nursing homes, after being treated at hospital, but Samsung had refused, stating these expenses are not covered under the policy. Yet the FSC concluded that 496 out of 519 cases that Samsung refused to pay for, affected policyholders who had been admitted to nursing homes for cancer treatment. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) will forward the final conclusion to Samsung Life by February. The FSS, as the regulator that inspects financial firms, will notify the insurer of the final punitive measures. The agency conducted a comprehensive audit on Samsung Life in 2019. The Samsung affiliate could take steps to object to its penalty or file an administrative suit. Suits against punitive measures should be filed within 90 days of notification of the penalty. The insurer has appealed against a court ruling last year that ordered the company to pay holders of its immediate annuity contract. In the case where the institutional warning is finalized, Samsung Life could refute the penalty, given this would bar the insurer as well as its affiliate, Samsung Card, from launching new businesses. "We have not been notified by the FSC of what was discussed at the last committee meeting," a Samsung Life official said Friday. "We are unable to comment as of now on how we will deal with the situation." Meanwhile, the FSC stated Samsung Life should take corrective measures for not seeking 15 billion won in indemnities from IT service provider Samsung SDS for failing to complete a 156 billion won project on time. CT State Police / Contributed SHELTON Connecticut State Police are investigating the circumstances that led to a double-fatal rollover crash off Route 8 that officials say is connected to a Bridgeport police investigation. There exists the possibility that this incident is connected to a police investigation in Bridgeport, said Brian Foley, aide to the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner James Rovella. Once we determined that, we immediately contacted the States Attorneys office. We also are in contact with the Bridgeport Police Department and they are fully cooperating with the investigation. Kyobo Life Chairman Shin Chang-jae. By Lee Kyung-min Kyobo Life Insurance said Friday that it has filed a petition with a U.S. non-profit audit organization, seeking sanctions against Deloitte Anjin over the accounting firm's suspected irregularities in the calculation of the life insurer's total share value in 2018. This is the latest development in a protracted dispute between Kyobo and a consortium of its financial investors led by Affinity Equity Partners, a Hong Kong-based private equity firm, over a 2 trillion won ($1.6 billion) put option. Among the investors are IMM Private Equity, Baring Private Equity and GIC, the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund. The Life insurer says Deloitte Anjin accountants are under suspicion of accounting law and ethics violations in 2018, in the midst of a put option being exercised by the investors on Kyobo Life Chairman Shin Chang-jae. Shin signed a contract with the consortium in 2012, which included a put option. The contract stated that the consortium of investors could exercise the put option if Kyobo Life failed to go public within three years. Kyobo failed to carry out an IPO within the specified time frame and the investors exercised the put option on Oct. 23, 2018. The consortium presented a value of 409,912 won for Kyobo's stock at the time, but Shin refused to honor the put option, taking issue with the contract. The overvaluation, Kyobo says, was the key point of contention in the drawn-out dispute with the investors, saying a judgment by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) will help clarify the issues. "We plan to put an end to the years-long feud once and for all," a Kyobo official said. "The U.S. organization is known for the highest, the most stringent standards of ethics and morals of accountants. We understand ethics violations are met with severe disciplinary actions in the U.S." Meanwhile, a trial is ongoing at the Seoul Central District Court on the indictment of three Deloitte Anjin officials and two Affinity consortium officials on charges of collusion and violating laws governing certified public accountants. Prosecutors sought between one-year and 18-month prison terms for each of the five, claiming that they orchestrated a plan whereby Deloitte Anjin officials wrote a put option-related stock valuation report in a way that strengthened the case for Affinity at the request of the private equity firm's officials. A ruling is expected in February. GREENWICH What was that jolt early Thursday afternoon? Numerous residents reported what felt like some kind of tremor around 1 p.m. in various neighborhoods around Greenwich. Local authorities were unsure what the cause was, but the U.S. Geological Survey later reported a 1.4 magnitude earthquake had occurred two kilometers north-northwest of Cos Cob at 12:38 p.m. USGS reported the quake was felt in Cos Cob, Greenwich, Old Greenwich and Riverside. Social media detectives were on the case shortly after the rumbling, which some local residents also described as being accompanied by a loud noise. Here in Cos Cob it was so loud the house shook, one local resident reported on Twitter. I ran out assuming a huge old oak tree had fallen over! another responded. A Port Chester, N.Y., resident also described the phenomenon just over the state line from Greenwich. A Glenville resident chimed in that the mystery boom was felt in her neighborhood. One North Mianus resident initially thought something had fallen on his house. Another commenter on Twitter wondered jokingly whether a science project had gone horribly wrong at Greenwich High School, but as of Thursday afternoon, the high school was perfectly intact. Police Capt. Mark Zuccerella said the department had received some calls from residents in the afternoon, but he had no immediate answers to provide. There did not appear to be a public health threat, police said. At fire headquarters, there was no indication of what might have caused rumblings. We did not respond to anything like that, said Deputy Fire Chief Shawn Morris. A small tremor was detected in Greenwich in 2016, as southern New England has been rocked by a few minor quakes in recent decades. Staff writer Ken Borsuk contributed to this report. Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT A person was shot in the leg in the city Thursday night, according to police. Around 9 p.m., officers responded to the area of Bryant Street for a reported gunshot wound victim. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SHELTON The Public Works Department and Shelton police are implementing the citys snow/winter storm emergency parking ban this weekend. The parking ban will begin Friday at 6 p.m. and run through Monday at 6 a.m. The move comes as the state prepares for a major noreaster, which could bring a foot of snow and gusty winds throughout the day Saturday. The storm track remains in question, but forecasters agree that there will be plowable snow. On odd-numbered days, parking shall be permitted during the aforementioned hours, only on the odd-numbered side of the street, DPW Superintendent Brian Roach said. On even-numbered days, parking shall be permitted during the aforementioned hours only on the even-numbered side of the street. Any vehicles towed shall be stored at the police-authorized towing company address, Roach added. The fees for towing are regulated by the State of Connecticut. The city will also be closing the Shelton Transfer Station on Saturday and reopening on Monday. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com STRATFORD How many families can a neighborhood hold? According to Gold Coast Properties, LLC, a Stratford-based developer, its more than what the town says. And now the developer is seeking a repeal of the towns apartment regulations to pave the way toward building multifamily apartment units on Broadbridge Ave. However, the mayor and some residents oppose the push for more multifamily units, saying increased density in the area between Barnum Ave. and Emerald Place would alter the character of the neighborhood and worsen quality of life. Hoydick told the Planning Commission at its Jan. 26 meeting that the majority of residents, when asked about changes to multifamily housing, werent thrilled about the idea. As a community we have spent significant time, money and resources outlining our housing issues and setting a process to improve these issues, she said. When the Housing Partnership surveyed Stratford residents about revising housing for multi-families criteria, the townwide results showed 41 percent were in agreement. This is hardly a sentiment of rousing support. The commission held a public hearing at its Jan. 26 meeting where Hoydick, council member Laura Dancho and a group of residents voiced their opposition to a push by the developer to repeal section 5.3 of the towns zoning code. The section limits the number of units according to its zoning district. In this case, Broadbridge Ave. is zoned as RM-1 single-family sized lots, and RS-3 or RS-4, which allow six units per 40,000 square feet of lot area. But Gold Coast is seeking a zone change to a Planned Residential District that would allow up to 35 units per acre along both sides of the road between Barnum Ave. and Emerald Place. And according to Dancho, such a proposal wont work. Specifically, she cited traffic concerns. Adding multifamily housing into an area, particularly an area that is not TOD (Transit Oriented Development) will bring in additional vehicles, she said. This will only add to the already overloaded traffic and documented speeding on Broadbridge Avenue that will contribute to unsafe conditions. Dancho said speeding isnt the only concern. There isnt much in the way of sidewalks or crosswalks, making the location particularly dangerous to pedestrians. But she also said if these apartments are built, it would hurt homeowners. You on this commission are all homeowners. So you recognize that this is usually a residents largest investment, she said. When a home is purchased in an area, buyers consider the current zoning and trust that the regulations of that zone is one way to protect that investment and retain the parameters of a chosen lifestyle. To make a sweeping change from single family to multifamily is drastic. Another resident, Kathy Lombard said the area where the developer wants to build already suffers from traffic and she feared more residents would overburden the neighborhood. We have accidents constantly on Broadbridge Avenue in front of our home down the block. Its just devastating, she said. I mean, weve helped people out of the car in the middle of the night. Its horrible, so the volume of traffic is my biggest concern of having all of those apartments or housing, near me. However, according to a Planning Commission report from November 2021, the town lacks affordable housing. The same report stated 60 percent of renters in town struggle to make the rent. One solution to the affordable housing shortage is to create more housing to alleviate the burden, specifically a Planned Residential District. The proposed PRD would benefit the town in developing the missing middle housing, identified as currently lacking within the Housing Strategies of Stratford document, the report stated. Barry Knott, the attorney representing the developer, pointed out the planning and zoning commissions had worked with him on the language. He also said the application proposed a maximum number of units with the understanding the maximum might not be built. But he asked the commission to work with him on a mutually agreeable building plan. All Im asking for is enough units to provide us with flexibility in order to be able to design something that works, Knott said. BRIDGEPORT Teachers and students at Columbus School this week had to keep their coats on and hoods up on Monday, even once inside the building, as teachers reported classroom temperatures of about 50 to 60 degrees. The low temperatures are a recurring problem at the school, said the elementary school teachers, who asked not to be named for fear of retribution. They shared photos of thermometers that showed working conditions below room temperature and deep concern for their students learning and well-being. To have them come in and try to learn in coats and hats, its not productive, said one of the teachers. Its not a good day. Columbus School is not unique in its HVAC problems. Nearly a third of Connecticut school districts report not having the funds to upgrade the air quality, according to Connecticut Publics Accountability Project. One in five schools does not have a program to evaluate indoor air. Local educators have long pointed to outdated HVAC systems in older schools, particularly hot temperatures during the summer months. One Columbus teacher added that children in the high-poverty school are already dealing with a stressful school year. Our students are already coming to school without their basic needs met, without having been fed, having issues at home. Were already trying to bring them up to a level playing field, said the teacher. And were expecting them to pay attention (in cold classrooms). Its next to impossible, she said. Teachers alerted their union, including Jeff Morrissey, who oversees facilities grievances for the Bridgeport Education Association. Morrissey said the system went down over the weekend, so by Monday morning, temperatures had significantly decreased. It took a while for the building to heat back up again, Morrissey said. The union leader said they have good communication with the facilities department when problems arise. Sometimes we hear about it, and theyre there already, he said. But there are other times we reach out with a problem in a particular building, especially when something is as important as heat in the cold-air months. Superintendent Michael Testani said he was aware of a similar problem last year and is taking steps to assure temperatures are steady. We have facilities personnel coming in over the next couple weeks as the weather is colder early to address any issues that could potentially arise, Testani said. The school district has plans to address the buildings air conditioners with federal funds, but not its boiler at this time. If this becomes an issue, we will repair it, Testani said. Every district has older buildings, newer buildings, he said. These are not isolated concerns here in Bridgeport. They do occur in suburban towns as well. One teacher called the building notorious for being cold, while a third explained the problem repeats itself every week. Long-term solutions have been hard to come by. Custodians will call in the problem, the three Columbus teachers said, and workers have come to look at the units. Sometimes I teach with my coat on all day, said one of the educators, who keeps a space heater under her desk and a shawl in the classroom for when she needs an extra layer. Those students, the Columbus teachers said, struggle to concentrate, wear gloves that make it hard to hold a pencil or use a Chromebook, or wear hoods against school district policy. That creates an extra responsibility for the teachers who need to enforce the rules. Im lucky Im on the side of the building that gets the sun during the day, a teacher said. That sounds ridiculous that I would even need to do that, and on a cloudy day, were out of luck. gettyimagesbank With gathering restrictions and business curfews in place nationwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the alcoholic beverage industry, among other hospitality-related sectors, has faced setbacks. But on the back of the shifting drinking culture, such as the growing trend of at-home solo drinking and home parties, and changing demand, the industry is learning to navigate through the pandemic by adapting to new consumer needs. Within the industry, the wine market has outshone others during the crisis, with imports reaching an impressive $506.2 million in the January-November period of 2021, up 76 percent from a year earlier, according to the Korea Customs Service. This was the first time for the country's wine imports to surpass the $500 million level. South Korea's imports had been on a steady rise amounting to $244 million in 2018 before rising to $259.3 million in 2019 and $332 million in 2020. Industry watchers attribute the growth to the increase in the number of stay-at-home drinkers, such as parents with young children, drinking by themselves or with family members at home instead of going to bars amid the pandemic. Lee Myung-jin, a working mother of two children living in Mapo, western Seoul, told Yonhap News Agency that she often enjoyed having wine with her husband as a stress reliever recently at home after putting their children to sleep. "I've rarely met with coworkers at restaurants or bars after work due to concerns about infection," Lee said. "Fortunately, I've been enjoying having wine in the comfort of my home, especially as wine has become more common and affordable nowadays," she added. Whiskey was also in high demand, with imports hitting a five-year high of $154.3 million in the 11-month period, up 37.4 percent from a year earlier and marking the first year-on-year rise in three years, amid an increase in demand among young drinkers. "The growth in demand for wine and whiskey is a reflection of home drinkers wanting to have something that is supposedly higher grade than the common soju or beer," an industry insider said. A representative at retail giant Emart agreed, saying, "Sales of whiskey have increased dramatically, as it has grown popular among young consumers." "Whiskey products normally don't display dramatic changes in sales due to higher price tags and strong alcohol levels, but we've seen a growing trend of young people sharing images of their highball drinks on Instagram," he added. To meet demand for more diversity in alcohol strength levels, companies have released new products with weaker alcohol percentages to cater to women and younger consumers who prefer smoothness in their drinks. The South Korean unit of London-based Diagio PLC, which owns the Johnnie Walker and Windsor whisky brands, has released W 19 and W Honey spirit products, both with a lowered alcohol percentage of 32.5 percent. The South Korean subsidiary of France-based Pernod Ricard, which owns the Ballantine and Chivas Regal spirit brands, also reported sales growth of 31.6 percent in 2020 and is also largely expected to see increased earnings for 2021. Local beer and soju makers, which rely heavily on supplies to restaurants and bars, are still struggling from the fallout of business curfews. Hite Jinro Co., maker of the lager beer Terra, for example, suffered a 30.31 percent loss in operating profit in the third quarter of last year. Hence they are trying to offset further risks by now focusing their business more toward the consumer retail market and also tapping the growing craft beer market to deliver more diverse and unique tasting products. Market leader Oriental Brewery Co., for example, launched the Korea Brewers Collective, a sub-brand dedicated to craft beers. Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. also started producing craft beers though an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) contract last year. With the fast spread of the Omicron variant, industry watchers also expect companies this year to adapt to changing market conditions by presenting more choice in terms of packaging sizes and variety in alcohol level strengths of new and existing products. (Yonhap) As a previous public administrator for the Bridgeport City Council, I know the importance of competence on the local level in governance in the best of times and during times of crisis, as we all have experienced in recent years. Thats why Im sending a letter to the chief elected leaders in the 22 towns of Fairfield County requesting they contribute $10,000 each for the establishment of an office that would work to create organic county government not seen in Connecticut since 1959. These funds would pay my salary and the activities that would ensure enactment by the state legislature and establishment of county offices. In 1785, the eight counties of Connecticut were created not by the people but under the guidelines of the colonial governor. We seek to establish the county governance we know possible, as advocates and allies of municipal effectiveness. We will be agents of the people of Fairfield County, not the predators who seek to encumber them further with tolls on their highways, and by keeping our local areas special and unique. At long last, Connecticut workers no longer must choose between buying groceries and caring for a loved one. Thanks to the advocacy of Gov. Lamont and a coalition of over 100 small businesses and 70 organizations, the legislature established the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority, or CTPL, to administer the states first paid leave program. Support was robust 88 percent of Connecticut registered voters, including 78 percent of Republicans, welcomed the concept of paid leave. One of seven states and the District of Columbia leading the way for workers and their families, Connecticuts program is making the state a destination for workers. The need is immediately evident as more than 11,800 people have applied for the benefit. Of those, 5,700 of the applications were for people with individual health conditions; 4,600 people applied for pregnancy, childbirth and bonding leave; and 30 individuals applied for leave for adoption and foster care, or for family violence. Seven leaves were requested for organ donations, one for bone marrow donations and three for military leave. In only one year, Connecticut established and implemented one of the most robust paid leave programs in the country. Thats something to be celebrated. As the CEO of The Womens Business Development Council and the employer of 23 full-time employees, I am familiar with the needs of small businesses. I am very aware that there is a misconception among some members of the business community who believe the program is a burden on small businesses even though the data states otherwise, and the program is completely funded by workers. The program does create a new environment for small businesses and understanding how it works requires some knowledge of the program. Thats why the CT Paid Leave Authority prioritizes responsiveness to the small business communitys needs. CT Paid Leave established a pilot program specifically for business organizations and their constituents throughout the state to help small businesses understand the states paid family and medical leave mandate and simplify its administrative impact. CTPL continues to work extensively with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, Chambers of Commerce, BNI, the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), WBDC, and Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE) to help educate their constituencies, and developed a webpage for small businesses where information can be found quickly and easily. CTPL has held 215 webinars, 16 specifically for the small business community scheduled over the next two months, created a toolkit in plain language to help them understand how it works, and has a team of four staff dedicated to answering questions and helping small businesses navigate the system. The CTPL is committed to make this transition as easy as possible for the states small businesses. Claims have been made as to CTPLs long-term viability being at risk, but the data and actuaries reflect a different picture. From the revenue side, CTPL anticipates receiving between $400 million and $425 million in contributions for the calendar year 2021 reporting period. The agency is on pace to achieve this number having received over $309 million to date, not including the fourth-quarter contributions for 2021. Current revenues are exceeding total spending and the projections show a stable, growing balance by the fifth year. Even under high utilization scenarios, the fund is solvent for at least the next five years. Finally, Connecticuts paid leave program has checks and balances to ensure that workers cannot abuse the system. CTPLs claims partner AFLAC utilizes a combination of proprietary digital and identity verification antifraud tools and has a dedicated team of staff for fraud prevention. The AFLAC process also relies on required employer verification, which includes dates of leave, income during the leave duration and leave schedule as discussed with the employer. CTPL is working with multiple state agencies to conduct and expand its secondary verification to fight fraud. The facts speak for themselves. Data from other states where paid leave exists have shown that morale is boosted, and workers do not overuse the benefits. In New Jersey, a study conducted three years after the implementation of paid leave found that businesses overall experienced no effects on profitability, performance or employee productivity, regardless of employer size. In a study of the New York program, it revealed that costs to businesses were minimal and in fact, they found it easier to manage employees longer absences. Most importantly, these facts demonstrate the real need for paid leave benefits. In addition to my role as CEO and founder of the Womens Business Development Council I also serve as vice chair of the Connecticut Paid Leave Authoritys board, so I know how important this benefit is to the new parent, the spouse of someone in active duty in the military or the child taking care of an ill parent. In a state where 40 percent of households cant afford basic needs such as housing, child care, food, transportation or health care, Connecticut workers can now rest assured they can care for their loved ones without having to worry about making ends meet. Fran Pastore is CEO and founder of the Womens Business Development Council and board vice chair of the Connecticut Paid Leave Authority. Weve all seen the Big Check photos. Credit unions commonly post them to their websites and social media accounts to demonstrate their commitment to the community. While these photos are a nice way to show your members that youre supporting great causes and local nonprofits, are there more engaging and creative ways to highlight your community partnerships? Ashira Quabili, Marketing Communications & PR Coordinator for Freedom FCU (a PixelSpoke client), joins our podcast this month to talk about the credit unions award-winning #FreedomToHelpChallenge. This annual social media campaign lifts up local nonprofits, actively engages current members, and helps bring new members into the fold. Our latest episode of The Remarkable Credit Union tackles this months BIG question: What are the biggest opportunities and challenges for credit unions when it comes to engaging members around their community giving efforts? Local Hanig: Construction to start on long-delayed Mid-Currituck Bridge in 2023 jeure / Photo courtesy Bobby Hanig Hanig jeure / NC DOT This map shows the future location of the $500 million, 7.4-mile Mid-Currituck Bridge. All work on the project is on hold while the bridge continues to be the subject of a legal challenge, the N.C. Department of Transportations website shows. CURRITUCK State transportation officials have restarted work on the long-delayed Mid-Currituck Bridge project and construction will now begin early next year, state Rep. Bobby Hanig, R-Currituck, told Currituck County commissioners Thursday. Talked about for decades, plans for the $500 million toll bridge linking the Currituck mainland to Corolla have been in the works for over a decade. However, the bridge was put on hold after the Southern Environmental Law Center, citing environmental concerns, filed suit nearly three years ago to stop its construction. But in December, U.S. District Judge Louise Wood Flanagan ruled in favor of the N.C. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Commission, clearing the way for the bridges construction. Hanig told Currituck commissioners during their annual retreat Thursday that NCDOT suspended movement on the bridge several weeks before the courts ruling in December. But NCDOT is moving forward again, he said. They have commenced to doing everything again, their (land) acquisitions, they are moving forward, Hanig said. They are building the bridge. It is going to happen. A spokesman for the N.C. Turnpike Authority, which is in charge of the Mid-Currituck Bridge project, did not immediately return an email seeking comment. Kathleen Sullivan, the SELCs senior communications manager for North Carolina, said Thursday the SELC has not appealed the federal courts decision in December. Hanig said the funding is in place for what will be the longest bridge in the state at 7.4 miles. The estimated cost for bridge construction will be around $464 million while purchasing rights-of-way will cost an estimated $14 million. Utilities for the bridge will cost around $11 million. The bridge is funded, Hanig said. The bridge has never not been funded. Commissioner Paul Beaumont said he had heard that Gov. Roy Cooper was trying stop funding for the bridge because (Cooper) hates Currituck. He asked Hanig if funding for the bridge was in jeopardy. (Cooper) would have to go to the federal government to stop it at this point because it is primarily federal money, Hanig said. That funding isnt coming out of there. Asked about Beaumonts comments, Jordan Monaghan, Coopers press secretary, said DOT is following state law on the bridge project. The Governors Department of Transportation supports this project and is following state law under the formula set by statute, he said in an email. The Governor believes projects should follow the process under the law in all communities across our state and I have cced Jamie Kritzer at DOT for more information. Kritzer is deputy secretary for communications, community outreach & public engagement with NCDOT. Commissioners agreed to a suggestion by Commissioner Owen Etheridge that the county look at a small area plan for the expected economic development thats expected to accompany the bridge on the mainland side. The mainland side of the proposed toll bridge will be near Maple Swamp just off U.S. Highway 158. There will be an interchange at U.S. 158 and then a 1.5-mile bridge over the swamp before the main bridge starts in Aydlett. We have the opportunity for economic development on this side, Etheridge said. There is a proposed roundabout where the bridge reaches the Outer Banks. The state acquired the property on the Outer Banks side of the bridge several years ago in anticipation of the project. The travel lanes on the proposed two-lane bridge will be 12 feet in width with 6-foot shoulders on both sides. The speed limit on the bridge will be 60 mph. The toll booth will have six lanes with three on each side. State officials have not yet said how much it will cost to use the bridge. Two national treasures, Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha Triad with Inscription of Gyemi Year, left, and Portable Shrine of Gilt-bronze Buddha Triad, were put up for auction but failed to find new homes, Thursday. Courtesy of K Auction By Park Han-sol Two state-designated national treasures from the collection of the Kansong Art Museum have been put up for auction but failed to find new homes, stirring controversy over the implications of the museum's decision to commercially trade in artifacts of significant cultural and historical value. The sixth-century Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha Triad with Inscription of Gyemi Year and the 11th- or 12th-century Portable Shrine of Gilt-bronze Buddha Triad marked the grand finale of K Auction in southern Seoul, Thursday evening, as the first-ever national treasures to be brought under the gavel in the country. "It is an honor to just call out the name of the national treasure at this podium as an auctioneer," said Kwak Jong-woo as he started the bidding of the standing Buddha triad at the price of 3.1 billion won ($2.57 million). But its fate was quickly sealed, along with the portable shrine of the Buddha triad that started at 2.7 billion won, as no bids were made for either of the articles. Prior to the auction, many predicted the National Museum of Korea (NMK) would be the high-profile prospective buyer of the two Buddhist statues, as it purchased two of Kansong's rare treasures a rank lower than the national treasure status for nearly 3 billion won when they similarly failed to find new owners at an auction in 2020. In Korea, all state-designated cultural artifacts are banned from being shipped or sold overseas, with only domestic transactions authorized provided that the items are reported in advance to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA). Although the national museum expressed its interest in the artifacts in consideration of their evident historical values, the starting price of the two items far exceeded its annual budget of 4 billion won, which likely prevented it from making a bid in the auction. Another factor of consideration for the NMK was the fact that if the state-run institution declares its intent to commercially bid for a relic as rare as a national treasure, such an announcement itself could set the unexpected precedent by affecting the pricing of the artifact, one museum official told the local daily Dong-A Ilbo. The auction of the Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha Triad with Inscription of Gyemi Year begins, with the starting price of 3.1 billion won, at K Auction in southern Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of K Auction Dalton, GA (30720) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Local Starbucks workers held a rally today to support their fight to unionize. Union members, local politicians and people from the Eugene community showed up to support those efforts. Employees at the East 29th and Willamette Starbucks have been discussing unionizing since December 2021, when a store in Buffalo, New York became the first Starbucks to unionize. A crowd of people gathered in front of the East 29th and Willamette store, holding signs with messages including Eugene is a union town and Solidarity workers unite. I just want to say how proud I am in my store, Rez Alexander, a supervisor at that Starbucks, said. Just how much pride I have in my community for showing up and supporting us and how thankful I am to have such a great team at the store. Bex Littleton, an employee at the store, said the unionization effort has brought the locations workers closer together. We feel like were working toward something important, they said. And the whole city has been pretty supportive. Mel Keller, the president of the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation at the University of Oregon, was among those in the crowd. She estimated that 15 GTFF members made it out to the rally. I think it's so important to show labor solidarity across industries, Keller said. Oftentimes we're siloed into where we work. Employees are considered different, whether they're in different workplaces, but we're all workers, and we're all being oppressed by the system. And it's important for us to have that solidarity. GTFF held two rallies of its own last week one to support its COVID-19 demands and one to allow the broader UO community to speak about COVID-19 concerns. The pandemic has really opened a lot of people's eyes to the ways that they are being hurt and harmed by their workspace, Keller said. She said GTFF is pushing for safe working conditions for its members. And we understand that the things that we're facing are not specific to higher education or to education in general, she said. They're things that are impacting workspaces across the country, including Starbucks. Employees will participate in a legal hearing regarding unionization on Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. The four-day work week represents the next great leap for workers to win more equitable hours and just compensation for their labor. As the pandemic sows financial and health dangers among Oregons working class, we should pursue relief for our workers, not elect CEOs. Earlier this month, gubernatorial candidate and tech CEO Jessica Gomez wrote an op-ed in The Oregonian attacking a Portland teachers unions proposal in favor of four-day weeks with asynchronous Fridays. She used this request to decry a potential four-day week for students and workers. This is the most recent attempt to differentiate herself as a pro-business Republican in a state that has had Democrat governors since 1987. While it's unlikely Gomez will win, her rhetoric is still harmful to Oregon workers. In the op-ed, Gomez wrote, Public education, our students, working parents and businesses, will all be casualties in the battle over the four-day work week. Instead, Oregonians should expect results from the CEO of this state, not unworkable experiments. When Gomez tells you shell be the CEO of this state, listen to her. Shell legislate in favor of elite interests and stamp out workers rights. Gomez represents the contemporary pro-business political position that is actually just pro-boss and anti-worker. Who among us would elect our boss as governor? Gomezs comments come at a time when Oregon educators and students are overwhelmed by trying to adapt to COVID-19. According to the teacher unions proposal, 25% of educators have averaged 60-hour weeks, and 50% have considered quitting. Providing a weekday without structured classes would allow teachers more time to develop lesson plans and work with individual students. No matter how you feel about a four-day week for students, know that the status quo is unsustainable. A status quo that Gomez has no response for. All Gomez can do is pander to parents and obfuscate genuine labor concerns as the ideology of the far left. However, you cant obfuscate the benefits of working families receiving close to the full value of their labor and having more time to spend together. Dont let self-proclaimed pro-business types cheat you out of the fruits of your labor; since 1979, productivity has increased by 61.8%, but hourly pay only increased by 17.5%. If this was a just society, we would work less and get paid more. It is clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that Gomezs dismay at the four-day week is on behalf of bosses, not workers. She tries to belittle the four-day week as unworkable in Oregon, ignoring the successes in Spain and Iceland, and how just this month 30 UK companies switched to a shorter week. In any case, understand that the current organization of work is not natural. We've had this same debate when the financial barons condemned the struggle for five-day weeks under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. A four-day week would make Oregon workers happier, less stressed and healthier. Plus, if Gomez even cared to look at the leading data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, she would find that productivity actually increases with fewer hours worked. When asked in a phone interview of the possibility that a four-day week could actually benefit Oregon families, Gomez defaulted to the claim it would be harmful for the economy. This is an argument that is never made in good faith, but as a rhetorical backstop to protect the profit margins of the current holders of capital. If the economy is going to have a disaster, it is not because the working class did not toil enough, but because the financial barons are unrelenting in their quest to extract value. No amount of evidence could convince Gomez, not because shes ignorant, but because her success as a CEO depends on her not understanding. She resists the four-day week, not because she believes it's bad for Oregon families, but because she knows it has the potential to redistribute power away from executives. Which, yknow, she may be right. On one hand, it would be good for everyone physically and emotionally as we would have more time with our families away from work. Yet, on the other hand, it may slightly inconvenience some rich assholes. If that meeting could be an email, why couldnt Friday? Barbara Faye Boyles, 75, of Raceland, Kentucky passed away Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at her residence. Barbara was born August 1, 1946, in Load, Kentucky a daughter of the late Homer and Gladys Johnson Boyles. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one nephew Robert Boyles. Bar North Korea's military test-fires a surface-to-surface tactical guided missile from an unknown location in North Korea, Jan. 27, the North's Korean Central News Agency reported Jan. 28. Yonhap North Korea confirmed Friday this week's two weapons tests involving long-range cruise, and surface-to-surface tactical guided missiles, and vowed to "keep developing powerful warheads." On Thursday, South Korea's military said the North fired what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, marking its sixth such launch this month. This latest saber-rattling came just two days after Pyongyang launched two apparent cruise missiles from an inland area. "The Academy of Defense Science of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea conducted the test-fire for updating long-range cruise missile system and the test-fire for confirming the power of conventional warhead for surface-to-surface tactical guided missile on Tuesday and Thursday respectively," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, referring to the North by its official name. Leader Kim Jong-un did not attend the latest launches. Kim instead was at a munitions factory "producing a major weapons system," accompanied by his influential sister, Kim Yo-jong, and senior party official, Jo Yong-won. "He highly appreciated the factory effecting collective innovation and leaping progress in producing major weapons to implement the Party's decisions," the KCNA said in a separate report. Officials at the factory cherished "the unwavering will" of the North Korean leader "who smashes with his bold pluck the challenges of the U.S. imperialists and their vassal forces that try to violate in every direction our Republic's right to self-defense." Ask a politician about their favourite subject and you'll be lucky to be home before the sparrows start chirping. With Gordon Brown it was economics. Aides could be detained for hours while the former prime minister riffed on the soggier points of fiscal theory. Pity the poor journalist tasked with calling eurosceptic drag Sir William Cash for his views on the latest happenings in Brussels. Pub bores on their fifth pint deliver more succinct arguments. Discussions with Jacob Rees-Mogg (Con, NE Somerset) on the British constitution are similarly best avoided, as MPs yesterday discovered. The Leader of the House was taking business questions when Pete Wishart (SNP, Perth and N Perthshire) decided, not unusually, to goad him over his recent appearance on Newsnight. Discussions with Jacob Rees-Mogg, pictured, (Con, NE Somerset) on the British constitution are similarly best avoided, as MPs yesterday discovered This time, it was over his announcement that any change of prime minister would almost certainly result in a general election, as the UK is now effectively a 'presidential system'. Mr Wishart hailed this as evidence that the magisterial Rees-Mogg had turned republican. 'Perhaps somebody should notify the Queen,' he chuckled. 'Last week, he was flattering the precious Union, this week he is reinventing the republic of the UK!' Naturally, Wishart thought he was being frightfully clever. Again, nothing new there. Each week he treats us to a weekly cabaret, the chamber reverberating with the sound of his own laughter. The mere mention of constitutional matters prompted Jacob's ears to prickle. He unfurled his legs, rose to the dispatch box and purposefully corrected his spectacles. In Mogg-land, these carefully choreographed shimmies are the equivalent of the first shake of the matador's muleta. Turned out Jacob had been fulminating over this issue for some time. Ever since the second reading of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 on September 13, 2010, in fact, when he had spoken on the matter. The date of that debate, by the way, tripped off his tongue like a boyish history pupil recalling the signing of Magna Carta. At Casa Mogg, one would not be surprised if copies of his Parliamentary speeches are framed and hung in the downstairs lav. The Leader of the House was taking questions when Pete Wishart, pictured, (SNP, Perth and N Perthshire) decided, not unusually, to goad him over his recent appearance on Newsnight For the next few minutes, Jacob delivered a miniature masterclass on how our Parliamentary system has evolved down the years, discombobulating members with his meandering, discursive prose. It was like being gently slapped across the cheeks with a copy of Erskine May. Wishart folded his arms exasperatedly as if to say, 'Gawd, wish I'd never even raised the subject.' Rees-Mogg's mouth moved with such a pace, it was a struggle to keep up with what he was saying. Something about the PM's powers being 'de facto if not de jure'. His colleagues too seemed to be struggling. Around the House, eyeballs bobbled. Wishart suddenly let out a long exasperated laugh before eventually, Rees-Mogg resumed his seat. 'More!' came the cry from the Tory backbenches. Hansard's stenographers will record Rees-Mogg's ad-libbed oration went on for several minutes. Not once did he hesitate, deviate or repeat himself. The luvvies on Just a Minute would have swooned. It was a quiet and uneventful day in the Commons otherwise. An afternoon debate to mark Holocaust Memorial Day meant members were expected not to table any urgent questions. Publicity-prone Tobias Ellwood (Con, Bournemouth E) hadn't got the memo. Earlier he'd informed Sky News he had asked for an urgent question on the Afghanistan evacuation. The Speaker wasn't happy. Naughty Tobias. Perhaps he should turn down TV interviews for a week as penance if he could possibly manage it. The only other thing to report was a rare sighting of former attorney general Geoffrey Cox (Con, Torridge and the Cayman Islands) who took time out from billing clients to attend environment questions. Been a while since we've seen Coxy's magnificent form sprawled across the backbenches. Too busy with those tax returns, perhaps. He was not called to speak, however. It's possible Sir Lindsay reserves preference for MPS who bother to turn up on occasion. As for Sue Gray's report into Partygate, there was still no sign of it. At this rate it'll be time to put the tinsel up again before the thing lands. Products featured in this Mail Best article are independently selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, DailyMail.com may earn an affiliate commission. Would you like to improve your living space and create a peaceful living area with a separate productive working environment? It doesnt matter how big your apartment or house is, as design brand FRAMA are proving you can make better use of your rooms with well-chosen mirrors, stools and shelving units rather than spending a fortune on home renovations. To help us bring some Scandi chic into our homes, the brand that originated in Copenhagen, Denmark offer everything from sleek lighting to statement seating to contemporary storage solutions to help us organize the space we have and create a peaceful vibe from the moment we walk in. Danish interiors brand FRAMA offer us chic ways to store our belongings and elevate them from sight so we can use the floor area for pure relaxation The shelf libraries offer a practical way to keep your books, files and laptop up high and out of your living space, with the FRAMA Shelf Library Desk providing a compact home office to contain everything you need for working from home in less than a meter of width. This means all you need to create an office is a corner of well from which to affix the shelf library. The FRAMA shelf library desk measures just 80cm in width and the bottom unit is wide enough for a laptop or PC, plus you can store books and stationery above Google searches for Home Improvement doubled during the pandemic as spending more time in their homes during the pandemic led many Americans to question whether they were optimizing their space. And if you cant afford major works, adopting a Scandinavian design ethos which emphasizes clean lines, utility and and simple furnishings that are functional, beautiful, and cozy can drastically change your living environment and make your living space warmer and your work area more productive. For the living space, one of the brands most popular items is the FRAMA daybed, as the sleek lines make it multi-purpose as a seat, a coffee table or a bed for overnight guests. If you'd like something to sit on and lounge on that doesn' take up lots of space, the FRAMA day bed is comfortable but streamline to help you avoid clutter To make it warmer and more comfortable, your living area can then be accessorized with soft furnishings and intoxicating scents to make the area even more inviting. FRAMA offer an array of home fragrance options alongside traditional candles. To make a scent last for ages, their From Soil to Form bestseller is a natural room diffuser containing nine red spheres made from Korean soil. FRAMA offer scent spheres as an extra way to fragrance your home. These release fragrance slowly, 24 hours a day and are more powerful than candles and reid diffusers Encased in a pinewood box, the spheres softly diffuse the applied oil's fragrance while helping to purify the air and balance the room's humidity. And if the pandemic also forced you to work on your cooking, then FRAMA can help us create the perfect way to host guests for dinner parties in a modern, communal way. The FRAMA farmhouse table is solid and inviting to help you create dinner parties that everyone wants to be at The FRAMA farmhouse table is an investment piece, composed of two trestles used in conjunction and a two-panel plank tabletop. The visible trestles resemble the exposed beams apparent at traditional farmhouses and you can add some benches to make the experience more cozy and intimate than individual chairs. All of FRAMA's pieces are produced in Europe, and using high quality materials, they are designed to endure both in form and function. Julia Haart is the star of the Netflix hit series My Unorthodox Life shes also the CEO of Elite World Group and a modern day boss babe. While filming a reality show that chronicles her journey from a member of an ultra-conservative Jewish community to the toast of New Yorks fashion elite, the fearless pint-size entrepreneur launched a line of shapewear that fuses fashion and technology. 'The +Body by Julia Haart line defies the outdated, oppressive concept of modesty its shapewear thats meant to be seen, for bodies that are meant to be celebrated,' said Julia. Here, get to know her sexy new shapewear line just ahead of Valentine's Day! While filming a reality show that chronicles her journey from a member of an ultra-conservative Jewish community to the toast of New Yorks fashion elite, Julia Haart launched a line of shapewear that fuses fashion and technology Julia Haart is the star of the NETFLIX hit series My Unorthodox Life shes also the CEO of Elite World Group, and a modern day boss babe 'The +Body by Julia Haart line defies the outdated, oppressive concept of modesty its shapewear thats meant to be seen, for bodies that are meant to be celebrated,' said Julia 'Since I left the ultra-Orthodox community, my mission to liberate women has been at the heart of every business move Ive made and every product Ive brought to market,' said Julia. Available in size XS to XXX, Julia's line was designed to celebrate women of all shapes, sizes and colors. It's also the first-ever luxury shapewear brand to fuse fashion and technology in a way that offers women an unprecedented solution, melding comfort and utility to make a woman not only look gorgeous, but feel confident and beautiful as well. 'No woman deserves to suffer for beauty,' declares the New Yorker. 'Through our proprietary PowerBond technology, we bond three layers of performance quality, double-stretch fabric, constructed of color-infused threads that will never distort or fade. 'This technology also eliminates unsightly seam lines that detract from shapewears smoothing effect, while offering our customers an unrivalled range of colors and prints to reflect their individual style.' 'I was inspired by that iconic scene in Bridget Joness Diary' Her fashion muse? Bridget Jones. 'I was inspired by that iconic scene in Bridget Joness Diary: Bridget is about to go out with Hugh Grants character for the first time, so she puts on shapewear to feel more confident, but then she frets about bringing him home because her granny panties are too embarrassing. 'Every woman has experienced this conundrum at some point in her life! You want to wear the shapewear, but you don't want anyone to see that youre wearing shapewear because, frankly, it's ugly.' +Body by Julia Haart looks like lingerie that you want to show off, rather than hide. 'Shapewear is not about achieving an aesthetic ideal that someone else has prescribed, its about embracing your own body, maximizing your confidence, and letting that self-love shine through' 'Since I left the ultra-Orthodox community, my mission to liberate women has been at the heart of every business move Ive made and every product Ive brought to market,' said Julia. Available in size XS to XXX, Julia's line was designed to celebrate women of all shapes, sizes and colors Julia says her daughters Batsheva, 28, and Miriam, 21, played a vital role in showing the world how +Body can seamlessly fit into any wardrobe and individual sense of style +Body by Julia Haart was not designed to hide insecurities or compress a woman's curves into what society deems the "perfect" silhouette. 'I believe that for women to truly be free, they must be empowered to embrace their physicality and celebrate their bodies,' said the star. 'Shapewear is not about achieving an aesthetic ideal that someone else has prescribed, its about embracing your own body, maximizing your confidence, and letting that self-love shine through.' Nothing - not even the strict Orthodox Jewish community - will stop Julia from inspiring women to live their best, boldest and most unapologetic lives. 'No criticism from a religious sect that actively undermines this mission will keep me from working to enable a free, fearless existence for women around the world.' But the +Body by Julia Haart collection features fashion-forward pieces that make it easy to wear under clothes or as clothes. Smoothing bodysuits, shaping shorts and supportive slips aren't usually pretty enough on their own to wear alone. But the +Body by Julia Haart collection features fashion-forward pieces that make it easy to wear under clothes or as clothes. Julia says her daughters Batsheva, 28, and Miriam, 21, played a vital role in showing the world how +Body can seamlessly fit into any wardrobe and individual sense of style. Team the "Powersuit" bodysuit with a pair of blue jeans and you're good to go! Top the "Smooth Operator Dress" with a structured blazer for the perfect date night look. It's underwear as outerwear at its finest! The very glamorous niece of King Felipe of Spain has been dubbed the latest 'It girl' by society bible Tatler after making a name for herself on the European social scene. Victoria de Marichalar y Borbon, 21, has taken Instagram by storm as she documents her stylish lifestyle - including trips to Greece, Italy's Florence, and France's capital for Paris Fashion Week. The jet-setter, who is fifth in line to the Spanish throne, is the younger child and only daughter of King Felipe's older sister, Infanta Elena, 58 and her ex-husband Jaime de Marichalar, 58. She reportedly went to a boarding school in Sussex during her teenage years before enrolling at the College for International Studies (CIS), in Madrid, to study business administration and management. Victoria has been dating DJ Jorge Barcenas since 2019, after meeting at the Starlite festival in Marbella, and the pair live togethe rin an apartment on Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid. The very glamorous niece (pictured) of King Felipe of Spain has been dubbed the latest 'It girl' after making a name for herself on the European social scene Victoria de Marichalar y Borbon (pictured), 21, has taken Instagram by storm as she documents her stylish lifestyle - including trips to Greece, Italy's Florence, and France's capital for Paris Fashion Week The jet-setter (pictured), who is fifth in line to the Spanish throne, is the younger child and only daughter of King Felipe's older sister, Infanta Elena, 58 and her ex-husband Jaime de Marichalar, 58 Victoria went public on Instagram in 2019, aged 18, and has since amassed 113,000 followers thanks to the glimpses she gives of her glamorous life. The royal, who was is known to be a fan of bull-fighting, often spotted attending shows at the Las Ventas bullring in Spain's capital city, made her first red carpet appearance at the ELLE Style Awards in October last year. Since then, fans have been eager to note the similarities between Victoria and her fashionable aunt Queen Letizia. For her first red carpet appearance, she sported a blue floor-length gown with a cut-out back by Spanish designer Lorenzo Caprile, a favourite of Letizias. She teamed the eye-catching ensemble with Manolo Blahnik heels, according to Tatler, while opting to style her hair in a high ponytail. And her glamorous displays havent stopped there. In December, she attended the Moet & Chandon party at the royal theatre in Madrid. Victoria has been dating DJ Jorge Barcenas since 2019, after meeting at the Starlite festival in Marbella, Victoria (pictured in November 2021) reportedly went to a boarding school in Sussex during her teenage years before enrolling at the College for International Studies (CIS), in Madrid, to study business administration and management Victoria (second left) seen during the performance of the bullfighter Gonzalo Caballero (right) during Chinchon Bullfighting Festival on October 20, 2018 in Chinchon, is known to be a fan of the traditional blood sport She sported a silver metallic dress for the occasion, featuring a cape detail and teamed with dazzling drop earrings. At the time of her birth in 2000, Victoria was third in the line of succession, after her mother and Felipe. However, since the birth of her cousins Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, she is now fifth in line to the throne followed by her aunt, Infanta Cristina. Infanta Cristina announced this week that she and her husband Inaki Urdangarin are splitting up, days after he was caught with another woman. The couple shared the news in a statement to Spain's State News Agency, asking the public to respect their privacy and stating they would always be there to support their four children: Juan, 22, Pablo, 21, Miguel, 19 and Irene, 16. The news comes less than a week after businessman Urdangarin, 54, was pictured holding hands with another woman, allegedly an unnamed co-worker at the Imaz & Asociados law firm, in a photo published by the Spanish magazine Lecturas. Royal role: Whie the fifth in line to the throne does not have official duties, she occasionally takes part in engagements, such as acting as patroness of an equestrian exhibition in Sevilla's bullring La Maestranza The royal (pictured), who was is known to be a fan of bull-fighting, often spotted attending shows at the Las Ventas bullring in Spain's capital city, made her first red carpet appearance at the ELLE Style Awards in October last year Urdangarin married Infanta Cristina in 1997. In 2018, he was sentenced to five years in prison for embezzlement and money laundering in excess of 4. million through his non-profit organisation, the Noos Institute. Last year, he was granted permission to move to the Grade 3 Spanish prison regime, which means he only needs to report to prison once a week. In their statement to EFE, the couple asked for 'respect' for a private decision 'to end our marriage relationship by mutual agreement.' They added that their commitment to their four children remains 'intact'. Meanwhile, earlier this month, an expert claimed Victoria's maternal grandfather the former King of Spain Juan Carlos wants to return home and does not care about possibly damaging the Royal Family's reputation by doing so. At the time of her birth in 2000, Victoria (pictured in 2020) was third in the line of succession, after her mother and Felipe Juan Carlos, 83, who abdicated in 2014 in favour of his son Felipe VI, 53, has been living in Abu Dhabi since summer 2020 after becoming the target of several probes in Spain over his financial dealings. However, the elderly royal is reportedly hoping to see out his final years at home, despite a majority of the Spanish public opposing his return. Speaking to The Times, Pablo Simon, a professor of political science at Carlos III University in Madrid, explained Juan Carlos 'does not care' whether his actions damage his son and his family. He added the monarch believes he has 'done his part' for Spain by playing an instrumental role in re-establishing democracy after the death of General Franco in 1975. While you might rely on your friends and loved ones to provide you with a daily dose of laughter, sometimes it's a communication from a co-worker, a neighbor, or even a stranger that can really bring a smile to your face. People from around the world have shared snaps of witty notes that they couldn't help laughing at with the trivia website The Daily Stuff. The eyebrow-raising letters included one man apologizing after his horse urinated on a car, and a husband admitting he put a love note for his wife on the wrong vehicle. Elsewhere, a Costa customer wrote a note to their barista to complain that the coffee is the worst that they've ever tasted and that they would rather drink instant made with sour milk. People from around the world have shared snaps of witty notes that they couldn't help laughing at with the trivia website The Daily Stuff, including one office worker who was mocked by colleagues for being precious about their reindeer mug That's a bit rich! One sorry driver left this note of apology after hitting someone else's car. However, they did not feel sorry enough to leave their number, because they thought the person looked wealthy That's awkward! One husband from Ohio had to admit to the neighborhood that he left a love note for his wife on the wrong car Not doing it by the book! After a woman in a gold sedan from Georgia was shamed for raiding a free library and not bringing the novels back Bad barista: Customers sometimes feel compelled to share their praise with staff they like. But one person from the UK made sure that this Costa employee knew how bad they are Not horsing around: An American man named Stan left $50 and this note of apology after his steed, dubbed Tic Tac, peed on a stranger's car A sorry husband left a letter of apology after his wife hit someone's car while trying to avoid a squirrel - but at least the little critter is OK A resilient neighbor left this funny letter after someone stole a parcel that was meant to be delivered for them Not resigned to it! This restaurant employee was not content with quietly handing in their notice in the usual fashion, and wrote a proud note to declare: 'I'm a quitter' That's one way of avoiding jury duty. One man's very enthusiastic jury duty questionnaire where he promised to dress up for the trial did not land well with the Kansas city circuit court One neighbor left a very passive aggressive note to another, promising repercussion if the person parked in their spot again Someone went through the trouble of writing this note from the point of view of an aging printer to inform coworker there was another they could use A cheeky employee used a condolences card in order to notify his boss of his two-week notice in 2016 Dish wars! After someone they lived with left one too many dish out without cleaning them, one person got creative with their use of post-its One neighbor left this strange letter and had to return a doorknob after stealing it when returning home on Saturday night after indulging a little too much A presenter who was taken into care at the age of two was has revealed his shock at discovering he has four long lost siblings after 20 years of thinking he was an only child. Ashley John-Baptiste, 32, from London, was in his mid-twenties when he learned he had four siblings, after a man claiming to be his brother reached out to him on social media. The former X-Factor star, now a journalist for the BBC, opened up about his experience in his new documentary, Split Up In Care, exploring family separation in the care system. Ashley, who has only met his brother once, discovered that even his social worker Roselyn, who looked after him from the ages of 15 to 18, had no idea that he had a brother. Ashley John-Baptiste, 32, from London, was taken into care at the age of two. He grew up in different South London foster homes, leaving the care system when he was 18. The former X-Factor star, now a journalist for the BBC, opened up about his experience in his new documentary, Split Up In Care, exploring family separation in the care system 'As i'm still coming to terms with my own childhood, I get a message from a man on Facebook. He tells me he's my brother. 'It was completely crazy, because for a long time I thought I was totally isolated in terms of family, that I didn't have anyone. But sh*t I have a brother, that's life changing.' Ashley, who appeared on ITV talent show the X-Factor as part of boyband The Risk in 2011, grew up in different South London foster homes, leaving the care system when he was 18. 'I can't even remember the first foster home I lived in because I was so young', said Ashley. It wasn't until early 2020 Ashley would meet his brother, in a chance meeting outside a South London hospital where Ashley and his partner were taking their newborn baby girl for a check up 'It's really hard to describe what it felt like being shunted between five different homes before the age of 18. It felt like being under a could of rejection no sense of family no sense of belonging.' After leaving the care system, Ashley won a place to study history at Cambridge University - where he graduated with a 2.1 - and forged his career as a successful BBC journalist. It wasn't until early 2020 Ashley would meet his brother, in a chance meeting outside a South London hospital where Ashley and his partner were taking their newborn baby girl for a check up. While filming the documentary Ashley paid his old social worker Roselyn a visit to tell her he had been in contact with his brother, who had got in touch after seeing the presenter on television. 'I few years ago I had a brother get in touch with me', he told Roselyn. 'He just spoke to me on Facebook. I don't know why I feel emotional. 'On my dad's side I have at least four siblings who are all older than me. Was there any information in my file about me having siblings?' Ashley, pictured as a child, revealed his shock at discovering he has four long lost siblings after 20 years of thinking he was an only child After leaving the care system, Ashley won a place to study history at Cambridge University - where he graduated with a 2.1 - and forged his career as a successful BBC journalist 'No, not to my knowledge', the social worker responded. 'Files and information gathering has come a long way. 'Back in the day we had paper files now we have electric files and I think families don't always tell us what we want to know at the time'. As well as information about his siblings, Ashley was never told whether he had been considered for adoption as a young child and decided to see whether Roselyn had any more information. 'I think you were, from what I can remember you were but I think they fell pregnant and they pulled out', she said. A stunned Ashley responded: 'Oh my god. I didn't know that. The thing is you feel like your narrative and life and identity doesn't belong to you. 'The fact you could have been adopted, you could have siblings, but nobody necessarily tells you that they're there. I just feel like everybody wants to know who they are everybody wants to know who they're connected to.' While filming the documentary Ashley paid his old social worker Roselyn a visit to tell her he had been in contact with his brother, who had got in touch after seeing the presenter on television Ashley, who has only met his brother once, discovered that even his social worker Roselyn, who looked after him from the ages of 15 to 18, had no idea that he had a brother According to the BBC's research, around half of sibling groups in care are split up - meaning more than 12,000 kids in care who are not living with at least one of their brothers or sisters. To discover how local authorities are coping with rising demand for accommodation and carers for vulnerable young people, Ashley met up with Suanne Lim, Early Help and Children's Social Care for Derby City Council. When asked whether the council had adequate resources to help children in care, she said: 'No. We don't, we are very stretched as a local authority. There has been year on year cuts to services that we're delivering and yet demand is rising. 'We won't compromise in terms of safeguarding standards, but it will mean other parts of the council and further local authorities will have to make some very tough decisions.' When asked what this could mean for siblings in the care system she went on: 'I think that's what keeps me awake at night. In terms of what happens when the money runs out. Local authorities are close to the bone'. To discover how local authorities are coping with rising demand for accommodation and carers for vulnerable young people, Ashley met up with Suanne Lim, Early Help and Children's Social Care for Derby City Council Reflecting on his discovery, Ashley said that making the documentary had given him a new found perspective and level of sympathy for social workers, who he described as 'so overworked'. 'Even though I grew up not knowing my siblings, I now have a chance to rebuild my family', he said. 'I have chance to move forward with who I am, with the people I want. 'Sometimes it will be blood sometimes it won't, it doesn't actually matter as long as you have people you love and who love you back. I think that's enough.' A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'The law is clear that whenever it is in the best interests of each individual child, siblings should be placed together, Where this is not possible, contact between siblings should be prioritised when it is right for each child. 'Every child deserves to grow up in a stable, loving family, which is why we commissioned an independent and broad review of the whole care system to improve outcomes. 'We are also recruiting more adopters for children in care with a specific priority on sibling groups so they can stay together'. Split Up In Care: Life Without Siblings is available on BBCiPlayer now A group of defectors fly balloons containing anti-North Korean regime leaflets into the North from the border village of Paju, Gyeonggi Province, in this April 2016 file photo. Yonhap Prosecutors have indicted a vocal North Korean defector and activist known for anti-Pyongyang leafleting on charges of attempting to send propaganda leaflets and other items by balloon into the North last year, sources said Friday. Park Sang-hak, the head of Fighters for a Free North Korea, a North Korean defectors' group, is accused of having sent 10 balloons carrying propaganda leaflets and booklets as well as US$1 bills toward the North from the border provinces of Gyeonggi and Gangwon on two occasions in April. Prosecutors are said to have indicted Park on charges of an attempted violation of the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act as they could not confirm whether the balloons actually arrived in North Korea. Under the revised law, which took effect in March, the act of sending propaganda leaflets across the border is banned and violators can face up to three years in prison or a maximum fine of 30 million won ($25,000). Park has also been investigated on allegations that he the leaflets back in 2020, but was not indicted on the case as it was before the revised law went into effect. He currently faces a separate indictment on charges of receiving illicit donations from 2015 to 2019. (Yonhap) A plus-size model has slammed Australia for being 'fatphobic' after struggling to find clothing that fits her. Imogen Ivy, from Sydney but now resides in London, wears a size 14 to 16 in the UK and US, but in Australia she's a size 18. The 24-year-old vented her frustrations in a video posted online after realising Aussie size guides differ from those overseas - and many brands are non-inclusive of sizes 14 and above. 'If you are size 14 in Australia there is a slim chance you can walk into any store and buy clothes, let alone clothes you want. Size 16+ even smaller chance. Size 18+ don't even bother,' she wrote on Instagram. This harsh reality excludes thousands of women from purchasing clothes from desired brands, making shopping frustrating and potentially damaging to someone's mindset and confidence. Scroll down for video Model Imogen Ivy (pictured) has slammed Australia for being non-inclusive of plus sizes In the video shared on Instagram, Imogen attempts to shop for clothes online from well-known designer brands like SIR and Zimmermann but they don't stock her size or measurements in some outfits. While Zimmermann and Bec + Bridge do go up to a size 16, they don't stock clothing for her size 18 frame. 'Why can the UK, US and EU accommodate for larger sizing and correct sizing in store but Australia cannot? A size 10 in Australia is a size 6 in the US,' Imogen told FEMAIL. The 24-year-old vented her frustrations online after realising Aussie size guides differ from those overseas - and many brands are non-inclusive of sizes 14 and above Continuing to point out the differences, she goes on to question why the 'biggest' size in Australia is usually considered to be a size 12 when the average size among women is 10. Not only are certain brands non-inclusive, sizes vary among different brands - making it difficult to shop online with confidence. In another Instagram video, Imogen explained brands being not size-inclusive sparks a string of social and cultural issues - from 'fatphobic' dating culture to bikini culture and notions around being 'fat' Continuing to point out the differences, she goes on to question why the 'biggest' size in Australia is usually considered to be a size 12 when the average size among women is 10 'The immediate jerk when you hear the word "fat" as well is something I believe the bikini culture of Australian needs to dismantle. Fat is not a negative word. You were taught it was. Fat is just a describing word,' Imogen told FEMAIL. After speaking broadly of the topic on Instagram, Imogen was supported by hundreds of others . 'The largest sizes are usually 12, maybe 14 but the fit and sizing mainly comes up small too. And of course lack of any other representation!' one person commented. 'So true! These labels cut their profits to a quarter of what they could by not catering to the majority of the market here,' another wrote. She showed sizing guides that showed a size 10 in the US is actually a size 14 in Australia and there is no 18 on offer at all 'I'm currently trying to choose bridesmaid dresses and can't find anything I like because nothings inclusive!!' a third added. Imogen said she grew up on Sydney's northern beaches not being able to find clothes that fit, making her feel 'isolated'. 'I am an Australian curve model in London and almost daily I am asked by bookers, agents and brands, "What's the plus/curve/fat representation like in Australia?" I am always quickly reminded there is minimal representation or exposure in comparison to the UK, US and Europe,' Imogen told Mamamia. But when she moved to the UK two years ago she was 'baffled' to find clothing that fit. 'I felt so included and it was so simple. You go through magazines here (in London) and I see people that look like me,' she said. A popular foodie has shared his experience at a barbecue restaurant that's taken the nation by storm with tasty skewers and automatic grills. Melbourne foodie 'Eat With Hendri' describes 'Grill King' as a next level barbecue restaurant and says you can grill as many skewers as you want. The Melbourne CBD-based restaurant has diners coming from near and far just to try out the $2.50 freshly grilled menu items. Scroll down for video A popular foodie has shared his experience at a barbecue restaurant that's taken the nation by storm with tasty skewers and automatic grills The restaurant features authentic Asian flavours throughout its skewers, soups, noodle dishes and more. Grill King also features tall drink towers for tables to fill up as they dine and the conveyor belt-styled grill allows numerous skewers to be cooked at once. Skewers start from as little as $2.50 each and come in a variety of flavours including meat, seafood, tofu and mushroom. Popular foodie, Hendri, says his top menu suggestions from his visit are the yabby tail chilli oil noodle, the Enoki rice noodle and the plum juice Grill King is suitable for all, especially families as the automatic grill system allows for interaction and provides a theatrical element to a night out. Popular foodie, Hendri, says his top menu suggestions from his visit are the yabby tail chilli oil noodle, the Enoki rice noodle and the plum juice. Hendri shared his Grill King experience on TikTok and his video has since been viewed more than 280,000 times and received hundreds of comments. 'Yum! This place looks so good, will definitely be giving it a try when in Melbourne,' a foodie commented 'Yum! This place looks so good, will definitely be giving it a try when in Melbourne,' a foodie commented. 'Omg I am drooling over those grilled skewers they look so tasty,' a woman wrote. 'Wow my mouth is watering from this food... YUM,' another wrote. Two young Australian mates have taken their passion for colour and turned it into a $5million-per-year business - shaking up the 'out-of-touch' paint industry. Melbourne's DJ Dikic, 33, and Rocky Liang, 35, believe colour should be fun and loathe the idea of people wasting hours staring at tiny, uninspiring paint swatches for weeks and putting renovation plans on hold. Speaking to FEMAIL, the pair explained how their business, Tint, helps you figure out the colour you need in seconds, see what your room will look like using augmented reality and get it delivered within the hour. DJ Dikic, 33, and Rocky Liang, 35, believe colour should be fun They launched a paint company in 2020 which is turning over $5million-per-year and offering people the confidence they need to embrace colour 'We wanted to make picking a colour easy, to take away people's concerns and frustrations,' DJ said. They developed a tool to help people turn any colour in their environment into a paint colour, and it takes a matter of seconds. 'We have found it has given people confidence to play with colour more - the combinations some people have come up with is incredible.' 'There are some colours, mostly deep blues we can't quite make yet - because of the way colour is mixed but we are working on it,' he said. Their augmented reality tool lets you see what your home will look like in your chosen shade - taking the pressure out of creativity. 'It is about making the experience easy.' People are developing a taste for colour, the businessmen said, with Instagram playing a huge role in the way people decorate. People can match paint to anything in their environment - like this woman and her favourite dress - which means their home can really represent them Rocky Liang spoke to Femail about the business which he started with his friend after coming up with a colour-matching tool for a project at university 'People have a good eye for colours and everyone can play interior designer because they have been shown how to create beautiful spaces online.' Tint has a limited range of 72 core colours - with 20cm by 20cm paint swatches so people can really visualise their space. 'I think people go to these paint shops and they are overwhelmed by the options, there are too many colours, the swatches are tiny and that's before you even start looking at the type of paint you should use. 'We make it easy, the one called wall is for your wall, ceiling is for the ceiling.' The business has grown significantly faster than DJ and Rocky had expected, but they had created every concept with the ability to upscale - so it hasn't meant too many logistical problems. The friends say they are inundated with photos from happy customers who are happy with the colour match from the online paint service And while white and 'like-whites' aren't as popular as they once were they haven't been abandoned altogether They plan to have a physical presence in Sydney and Brisbane soon so people can visit the team in store or get their deliveries within the hour like in Melbourne. The friends first came up with part one of their business at university, a way to perfectly match colours, they won a few awards but went their separate ways after graduating with electrical engineering degrees. But after coming up with their own, great idea, they found working for someone else unfulfilling - so came together again. This woman chose her wall colour using one of the giant paint swatches which are stick-on and available in 72 colours The started by working for Dulux, helping them improve their paint matching and colour tinting processes. They were frustrated by the industry which they believed was too firmly stuck in old ways, they wanted to change the way the industry worked - make it more sophisticated. 'People in the industry were very skeptical, especially when we explained we wanted to sell paint online,' he said. 'They were stuck in the thinking people want to shop for paint in person, not online. so our success is kind of vindicating to some degree,' he said, adding that some laughed at the concept. Customers can get everything they need delivered to their door in under an hour after ordering online with Tint using Uber to deliver across Melbourne The friends did a soft launch in 2019 - they launched in 2020 just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Most people who colour match do it from paint they see when they are out and about or match to accessories like curtains or pendants. Tint now have the equivalent of 15 full-time employees and is looking forward to growing steadily in 2022 as they offer faster turn arounds across the country. A Italian security firm has been slammed on social media after posting a job advert for a receptionist, saying that applicants should be women aged 30 or under, good looking, and should send a photo of themselves wearing a bathing suit 'or similar'. Medial Service S.r.l., based in Naples business district, also said candidates for the part-time, 24-hour per week, 500-a-month job should speak English, own a car, and have a 'sunny character'. According to reports, labour minister Andrea Orlando has now asked inspectors to investigate the company as a result of the ad, which has been branded 'scandalous' by Labour councillor for Naples, Chiara Marciani. 'They want a photo in a bathing suit? What an absurd advert,' the Guardian reported her saying. Naples-based security firm Medial Services S.r.l. prompted a fierce backlash after posting a job advertisement looking for a receptionist who is under 30 and attractive Twitter users were unimpressed with the posting, branding it 'unethical' for asking women to send in photos of themselves in a bathing suit 'It is scandalous, and for several reasons beginning with the search for a woman under the age of 30 and a salary that is absurdly inadequate for the commitment and tasks the job requires. 'The problem of sexism persists there needs to be much more work done on gender equality. 'There are so many issues that need to be addressed, especially in a city like Naples, which has a very low rate of women in employment.' The job posting, which was shared across social media before the company removed it, also received criticism from Twitter users. One said: 'The photo request is unethical but alas not yet illegal. I hope that no one is applying in light of the request.' Another worried about what the bathing suit photo request might indicate about the company's intentions, writing: 'The request for photos in costume is not a small one. 'Which will be followed during the interview: do you have children? Are you planning to have children?' The original advert (which has now been deleted) says candidates should be aged 30 and under, have a car, a sunny character, and send a photo in a swimming costume 'or similar' Some posters seemed shocked by the adverts requests - with one reasonably asking what the company meant when it said applicants should send bathing suit 'or similar' photos And another pointed out: 'It is also not legal to advertise for women only.' One suggested that despite the unreasonable requests, the company may find staff, writing: 'The problem is that they will find someone so desperate to accept or at least evaluate an offer like that. We have come to the point of having to sell our dignity (not just as workers) and having to say thank you too.' A further poster revealed that they too had experienced similar requests when applying for a job, writing: 'Once they asked me for photos in a bathing suit to work in a furniture shop, plus if I was free from family commitments and willing to go long trips alone with my boss.' In response to the furore, Medial Service S.r.l told Italian media the posting was 'a mistake by an inexperienced employee who did not know the company policies on gender equality'. It has now published a new advert with all references to appearance, age, and disposition removed. Confectionery heiress Jemima Cadbury and Lady Tatiana Mountbatten lead the well-heeled partygoers attending a swanky event at Annabel's last night which celebrated its committee of under 35-year-olds. Jemima, the great-great-great-granddaughter of confectioner John Cadbury, commanded attention in a sleeveless black ensemble with a plunging neckline, teamed with eye-catching diamond earrings when at the private member's club in Mayfair. Looking as equally stunning, Lady Tatiana, 31, the daughter of the Marquess of Milford Haven, a first cousin of the Queen, appeared radiant in a shimmering sliver frock, cinched at the waist with a black belt and paired with a matching blazer. Joining the dazzling duo at the glitzy inaugural Under 35s Committee Dinner and After Party in The Jungle Bar was Jacobi Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, who went to prep school with Prince William and spent a lot of his twenties going to nightclubs with Prince Harry. TikTok star Francis Bourgeois, who won a legion of fans thanks to his trainspotting videos and was unveiled as the face of the new Gucci and North Face campaign earlier this month, was also in attendance. Confectionery heiress Jemima Cadbury and Lady Tatiana Mountbatten (pictured together) have lead the well-heeled partygoers attending a swanky event at Annabel's last night Joining the dazzling duo at the glitzy inaugural Under 35s Committee Dinner and After Party in The Jungle Bar was Jacobi Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe (pictured centre), who went to prep school with Prince William and spent a lot of his twenties going to nightclubs with Prince Harry TikTok star Francis Bourgeois (pictured left), who won a legion of fans thanks to his trainspotting videos and was unveiled as the face of the new Gucci and North Face campaign earlier this month, was also in attendance Elsewhere, party planner Victoria Dashwood (pictured left), whose ancestor, Sir Francis Dashwood, founded the 18th Century Hellfire Club scandalous soirees for politicians and persons of quality, stunned in a cream outfit when arriving at the event Elsewhere, party planner Victoria Dashwood, whose ancestor, Sir Francis Dashwood, founded the 18th Century Hellfire Club scandalous soirees for politicians and persons of quality, stunned in a cream outfit when arriving at the event. Other guests included boutique owner Annie Doble - who counts Kate Moss as a client, US property developer Taylor McWilliams amd Natalie Salmon, the digital editor of Vogue Scandinavia. Appearing picture perfect, Jemima's jumpsuit accentuated her svelte figure, while the heiress opted to keep her locks down and opt for a smattering of glamorous makeup. In her spare time, Jemima, who works for the highly selective Annabel's, liked to write about the chicest events around the capital on her blog Bee's Bazaar. The socialite and chocolate dynasty scion was dubbed one of the new 'movers and shakers' among London socialites by Tatler Magazine. In March 2021, Jemima announced her engagement to boyfriend David Tollemache, the nephew of Lord Tollemache. Looking as equally stunning, Lady Tatiana (pictured), 31, the daughter of the Marquess of Milford Haven, a first cousin of the Queen, appeared radiant in a shimmering sliver frock, cinched at the waist with a black belt and paired with a matching blazer Jemima (pictured with Annie Doble), the great-great-great-granddaughter of confectioner John Cadbury, commanded attention in a sleeveless black ensemble with a plunging neckline, teamed with eye-catching diamond earrings when at the private member's club in Mayfair Other guests included boutique owner Annie Doble (pictured left) - who counts Kate Moss as a client Timothy Tollemache, who is 81, has had a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order since 2015, and the Tollemache family are also patrons and presidents of several organisations. Meanwhile, Equestrian Lady Tatiana added a touch of glitz to her ensemble last night by opting for a dazzling set of earrings and a dainty necklace. She is the eldest child of George Mountbatten - whose brother Lord Ivar Mountbatten is the first openly gay member of the Royal Family - and his first wife Sarah Georgina Walker. He is now married to Clare. Her younger brother Henry, 30, is Earl of Medina. Tatiana, who trained under Olympian Charlotte Dujardin, was educated at the elite 12,000-a year Millfield private school in Street, Somerset. Horse-mad Lady Tatiana once wanted to be a ski instructor, but now works training dressage horses. US property developer Taylor McWilliams amd Natalie Salmon (pictured right with Victoria Dashwood and Jemima Cadbury), the digital editor of Vogue Scandinavia, also attended the event Artist Joseph Klibanksy, David Tollemache, Oliver Renwick and Louis Klibanksy attend Annabel's In March 2021, Jemima announced her engagement to boyfriend David Tollemache (pictured right), the nephew of Lord Tollemache Her polo-playing father George swelled his fortune by founding and selling price-comparison company uSwitch, and is thought to live in Switzerland. After stints in Denmark and Germany, 'Tatty' has settled in Windsor, where she runs a very smart horse yard. Tatiana is also training to be a psychotherapist. Earlier this month, she announced her engagement to startup founder boyfriend Alexander 'Alick' Dru. Also in attendance at yesterday's event was Jacobi, who came close to being related to the royals by marriage. One of his sisters, actress Cressida Bonas (they share the same mother, former 60s IT Girl Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon), is well-known for having dated Harry for two years. She tied the knot in July 2020 with her old university sweetheart Harry Wentworth-Stanley, the son of the Marchioness of Milford Haven, in a small ceremony at Cowdray Park in West Sussex. Jacobi posted an image on Instagram of them riding into the sunset on horseback. Another of his sisters, Isabella, is married to Sam Branson, Richard's son. Artist Faye Wei Wei attends Annabel's inaugural Under 35s Committee Dinner and After Party in The Jungle Bar Nina Darzi and guest partying at Annabel's inaugural Under 35s Committee Dinner and After Party in The Jungle Bar The former city worker has previously spoken openly about how tough being in the public eye is for his beloved sister, and how she coped with the attention while dating Prince Harry. He told Evening Standard: 'She's not a tough cookie at all. She's a very sensitive, sweet girl, all my family are they're incredible. 'It's challenging, you can't deny it. It's not something that is easy for anyone dating a royal or marrying into the family or anyone in the royal family themselves. I think on some level it is different to any other type of fame.' Jacobi, who is the only male among Cresida's siblings, previously worked as a DJ and club organiser following a career as a financier, before moving into the world of sound technology - having founded an 'audio advance' called IRIS in 2018. Meanwhile fellow Annabel's guest Francis Bourgeois, a Mechanical Engineering student at Nottingham University, went viral last year with his trainspotting clips, with 11.3million likes and his most popular effort notching up 6.8million views. Advertisement A playground being built in Prince Charles' 'designer village' of Poundbury has been welcomed with open arms by residents - as they hope the 'much-needed' feature will inject a little life into the 'soulless and sanitised' area. Poundbury, in Dorset, which mixes private and affordable housing side-by-side, is owned by Charles' Duchy of Cornwall estate, which covers more than 130,000 acres across 23 counties. The royal used Duchy farmland to start building the project in 1993 to demonstrate his own vision of Britain, where he aimed to give everyone a job and have a walkable community - giving priority to people rather than to cars. And now a playground 'fit for a future king' is now being built in the village across the Great Field - and pictures of the building work shows 15ft high towers, suspended bridges and walkways, and an enormous medieval-styled playhouse. A playground (pictured) being built in Prince Charles' 'designer village' of Poundbury has been welcomed with open arms by residents - as they hope the 'much-needed' feature will inject a little life into the 'soulless and sanitised' area As well as tubular slides, swings, a climbing wall, horizontal bars and balancing beams, the grand park will also feature parkour facilities for people wanting to practise stunts. The park, which opens in the spring, covers 2,050 square metres and has been designed to blend in with the pristine regal architecture which surrounds it. Poundbury, in Dorset, which mixes private and affordable housing side-by-side, is owned by Charles' (pictured) Duchy of Cornwall estate, which covers more than 130,000 acres across 23 counties Timber structures inspired by iconic local buildings include the Whistling Witch and Brownsword Hall have already been erected. Hundreds of local residents have expressed their support for the playground. Around 300 people wrote to the local planning authority to back the construction of the facility with only 20 objecting. Gary Spracklen, head teacher of the nearby Prince of Wales primary and pre-school, added: 'It looks absolutely awesome and our children are so excited. It really is (fit for a prince). I can't think of a better investment for our young people. 'The parkour facilities will also be attractive to older children. Poundbury points the way for other future housing developments and this is just another example of that. 'It is very well-timed considering the isolation children have experienced throughout the pandemic. Opportunities for them to socialise have never been more important than they are now.' One local parent commented: 'I fully support this application for the children of Poundbury and surrounding areas to have somewhere safe and fun to play. My own children will love this when it opens. 'As a resident of Poundbury, I can honestly say that it comes across as a rather soulless and sanitised place with no children playing. The ageing population really shows and this play area would inject some much needed life into the area. The royal used Duchy farmland to start building the project in 1993 to demonstrate his own vision of Britain, where he aimed to give everyone a job and have a walkable community - giving priority to people rather than to cars. Pictured, the park being built And now a playground (pictured) 'fit for a future king' is now being built in the village across the Great Field - and pictures of the building work shows 15ft high towers, suspended bridges and walkways, and an enormous medieval-styled playhouse As well as tubular slides, swings, a climbing wall, horizontal bars and balancing beams, the grand park (pictured) will also feature parkour facilities for people wanting to practise stunts 'What could be more aesthetically pleasing than children playing, enjoying themselves and the sound of childhood laughter?' James Lytton-Trevers said he 'fully supported the amazing park.' He said: 'There are so many children who love to have an amazing park right near their school. 'With the hard times everyone has been through over the past few years, having such an amazing location for children now and in the future would be an absolute blessing.' Others were less flattering, however. One resident on Duke's Parade, which overlooks the park, said: 'The equipment and its position will be a magnet for those who become disruptive, leading to abuse of the equipment.' The Duchy of Cornwall, the royal estate which owns the town of Poundbury, first applied for planning permission for the playground in October 2020. The park (pictured), which opens in the spring, covers 2,050 square metres and has been designed to blend in with the pristine regal architecture which surrounds it The Duchy of Cornwall, the royal estate which owns the town of Poundbury, first applied for planning permission for the playground in October 2020 Hundreds of local residents have expressed their support for the playground. Around 300 people wrote to the local planning authority to back the construction of the facility with only 20 objecting. Pictured: An aerial view of Poundbury in Dorset. A spokesman for the Duchy said: 'A well attended public consultation exercise with the local community was undertaken in November 2017. The Duchy of Cornwall received nearly 400 responses from residents, businesses, community groups and local schools. 'Respondents welcomed the establishment of significant play equipment in keeping with the surrounding area which included natural elements such as boulders for climbing and parkour equipment. 'The design has been led by the principles of the Poundbury development - natural materials and bespoke architectural designs inspired by the local vernacular, brought together to produce an inclusive local amenity of the highest quality. 'Significant care has been taken to identify suitable equipment for a wide range of users to encourage participation by varying ages. 'The plan includes a 1.2 metre hedge surrounding the play area, together with the planting of some 54 trees, 5,000 shrubs and 5,980 grasses.' A police officer and the man who shot him revealed on This Morning how they ended up striking an unlikely friendship. Leroy Smith, a former drug dealer, shot two constables when they asked to search him near The Atlantic pub in Brixton, south London, in March 1994. Firing three shots, he shot James Seymour in the back and his colleague, Simon Carroll, in the leg. Leroy was sentenced to 25 years behind bars for the crime, and encouraged by his partner at the time, he decided to pen a book relating the lead up to the incident. Seymour decided to read the book, and told hosts Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond it led him to contact Leroy and the two men to become friends. He added he never hated Leroy for shooting him and did not want to spend his life in anger and resentment. Viewers were touched by the moving story uniting the two men and praised Leroy for turning away from crime and starting a new life. Former drug dealer Leroy Smith, left and police officer James Seymour revealed how they became friends after Leroy was sentenced to 25 in jail for shooting the cop and his partner in 1994 Viewers were moved by the amazing story of redemption of forgiveness united Leroy and James 'James contacted my IT person,' Leroy said. 'At first I was nervous and anxious, but we agreed to meet at a train station. I apologised. 'And from there we built up a friendship and it's led on to do talk on LBC radio, working with some gang kids in LA, California, TV, BBC interviews and all of this is building up momentum and helping us push the word out. 'It's a story of redemption that's second to none,' he added. James said he forgave Leroy for both their sakes. Leroy said he was nervous about meeting James after being released from prison and wiritng a book about his life of crimes 'I looked at it first and Leroy served 87 per cent of his sentence, which is a lot,' he said. Reflecting on the time he was shot, he said: 'Leroy could have easily killed us both. He had more than enough time and the means to do it. He shot us to stop us and that's what he's achieved, 'I just thought that after 20 odd years, bitterness and anger, it's not doing you any good. 'I never hated Leroy because it wasn't personal, but I took the positive out of it rather than the negatives.' Leroy also opened up about how his prison sentence and friendship with James changed his perception of the police. 'When I was younger, I used to hate police, I was conditioned in my environment to think that way around and now I have no issue with police whatsoever, I don't get stopped or harassed or anything,' he said. James said he did not want the rest of his life to be filled with anger and bitterness and could tell Leroy was genuine 'If you concern yourself with your own life, the chance of having negative a experience with the police is going to go down to nearly zero if you lead you life in a positive manner.' Viewers were touched by the pair's unlikely friendship. 'What a story! This shows the strength of human forgiveness. We need more stories like this on the show. Real stories of violence and forgiveness,' one said. 'That was so wholesome, Leroy is a great example to all young people that its never too late to make a positive change in your life,' said another. 'Cant say I was impressed with Leroys previous way of life. But always admire anyone that can turn it around & use it help others. Well done to the police man for his mindset & contribution too,' another wrote. Viewers were impressed with Leroy and James' story and priased the former drug dealer for turning his life around Leroy and James now work together to influence younger generations of Londoners at risk of being involved in the violence which had such a devastating impact on both of their lives. Leroy said of his 25-year sentence for the crime: 'High-security prison is very violent, everybody's still on 'gangster mode'. 'When I came out the second time, my ex-partner really got my mind opened and thinking, it's because of her that I made it. 'She was challenging me about some things and making me look at [others] differently.' The book was what led to the unlikely friendship between the two men starting up. James said: 'I decided, what have I got to lose? And I just read it. 'I found out about his life, his mum getting murdered, where he was brought up [and] the temptation of dealing drugs. 'And I don't care what anyone says, a lot of black people have been discriminated against because of their colour and it still goes on. 'I thought, for people to go and get educated, get a real decent job and earn the same sort of money it takes years and you're facing prejudice as well. 'I can see why young kids get involved in crime and I understood that with Leroy. 'That was the challenge for me understanding what happened.' With that James decided to take the next step and actually meet him. Leroy chose a train station for the pair to meet, as he feared the whole thing might be a ruse to get revenge. He said: 'I was very scared. I picked the train station because it's quite public and busy, so it's hard for anyone to do anything to me there.' The feelings of trepidation were shared by Mr Seymour, although he was not concerned for his safety. James said: 'I was nervous. [I thought] was I doing the right thing? Did he genuinely want to redeem himself? And was he genuine?' But from the moment they met both were assured of the other's intentions, James said he could tell straight away that Leroy regretted what he did. Princess Charlene of Monaco's treatment and recovery 'will still take several weeks' but it is 'continuing in a satisfying and very encouraging way', the principality's palace has announced. The mother-of-two, who turned 44 on Tuesday, missed out on St Devote Day events this week with her husband Prince Albert, 63, and their seven-year-old twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques - who were instead supported by Albert's sister Princess Caroline. The former Olympic swimmer was admitted to an undisclosed treatment facility outside of Monaco in November, within days of her return to the principality following a 10-month absence in her native South Africa. Albert has remained vague as to the exact cause of Charlene's illness, although he has said she is suffering from 'emotional and physical exhaustion'. The palace's recent statement mentioned Charlene is receiving 'follow-up dental care'. In her hometown, she was treated for an ear and throat infection she contracted in May, following a sinus lift and bone graft procedure she'd undergone prior to her arrival in preparation for dental implants. Princess Charlene of Monaco's (pictured) treatment and recovery 'will still take several weeks' but it is 'continuing in a satisfying and very encouraging way', the principality's palace has announced The mother-of-two, who turned 44 on Tuesday, missed out on St Devote Day events this week with her husband Prince Albert, 63, and their seven-year-old twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques - who were instead supported by Albert's sister Princess Caroline (pictured together) Charlene's recuperation was 'currently progressing satisfactorily and very encouragingly', the palace said in a statement on Thursday. But 'her recovery and follow-up dental care are expected to take several more weeks', it added. She is being cared for at a confidential location outside Monaco. Charlene was unable to take part in two days of festivities in honour of the patron saint of Monaco, Saint Devota, that kicked off on Wednesday. Last month, the palace said the princess's full recovery could still take months. Yesterday, Prince Albert of Monaco attended the St Devote Day cathedral service without his wife - and instead appeared alongside his twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques and his sister Princess Caroline. The royal's former mistress and mother of his love child, Nicole Coste, 50, was also spotted at the principality's traditional ceremony - which marks the national holiday in remembrance of Monaco's patron saint, a Christian martyr who was killed and tortured for her faith in the 4th century. Nicole's attendance at the event comes after she joined Prince Albert, 63, and their love child Alexandre Grimladi-Coste, 18, at Monaco's the Red Cross Ball in July 2021, during Princess Charlene's 10-month absence. It's unclear if Nicole has attended the annual St Devote Day occasion before. Prince Albert's (right) former mistress and mother of his love child, Nicole Coste (left), 50, was also spotted at the principality's traditional ceremony - which marks the national holiday in remembrance of Monaco's patron saint, a Christian martyr who was killed and tortured for her faith in the 4th century Princess Charlene returned to Monaco in November, following a 10-month absence in her native South Africa. This photo was released to mark the reunion Nicole previously said that after Albert married Charlene, the royal distanced himself from their son. She told the Mail On Sunday in 2014: The truth is that, Im sorry to say, Albert hasnt seen Alexandre since a brief visit last September. It has become impossible since he married that girl. I suppose as a new wife, how would one feel? But she should think about my innocent child. 'I dont want to attack her but I think it is just jealousy and I dont know why. I have been through hell in my fight for my sons name and future. Shortly before Christmas it was revealed Princess Charlene is still several months away from making a full recovery. In November, Charlene was admitted to a treatment facility in an undisclosed location within days of her return to Monaco following a 10-month absence in her native South Africa. Princess Charlene pictured with her husband in South Africa. Last month, the palace said the princess's full recovery could still take months Her husband spoke out to say she is suffering from 'exhaustion, both emotional and physical', while friends told Page Six that the mother-of-two 'almost died' while she was in her hometown of Cape Town. A palace statement released on December 23 revealed Albert and the couple's children were planning to visit Charlene during the Christmas holidays, as well as asking for the family's privacy to be respected. Timeline: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene's 12 months apart January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. March 18 - Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa April 2 - Charlene posts an Instagram picture of herself, Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Easter. It is unknown where the image was taken. May 8 - Albert, Jacques and Gabriella attend a Grand Prix event in Monaco without Charlene May 10 - Albert attends Monaco Gala Awards in Monaco without Charlene May 18 - Charlene shares her first picture from her conservation trip in South Africa June 1 - Prince Albert II, Jacques and Gabriella attend event at Oceanic Museum in Monaco June 3 - New photos emerge of Charlene on her conservation trip June 5- Charlene puts on a united front as she shares a photo with her family to mark her niece's fifth birthday with her brother's family and Albert and the twins in South Africa June 7 - Albert and the twins attend the World Rugby Sevens without Charlene June 17 - Prince Albert attends Red Cross Summer concert in Monte Carlo with his sister Princess Caroline of Hanover June 18 - Prince Albert appears alone Monte Carlo TV Festival June 24 - Charlene's foundation releases a statement saying the royal is unable to travel and is undergoing procedures for an ear, nose and throat infection July 2 - Charlene and Albert mark their 10th anniversary separately. 'This year will be the first time that I'm not with my husband on our anniversary in July, which is difficult, and it saddens me,' Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene said in a statement. July 3 - Albert appears with glamorous niece Charlotte Casiraghi at the 15th international Monte-Carlo Jumping event, which is part of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco, July 27 - Prince Albert attends Olympics alone in Tokyo August 13 - Charlene undergoes a four-hour operation. The reason is not announced August 25 - Charlene shares photos of Prince Albert, Gabriella and Jacques visiting her in South Africa September 1 - Charlene is admitted under an alias to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital after suddenly 'collapsing' September 2 - She is discharged, with a statement from the Palais Princier reading: 'Her Highness is closely monitored by Her medical team who said that Her condition was not worrying' September 23 - Prince Albert attends the 2021 Monte Carlo Gala for Planetary Health September 29 - Prince Albert is joined on the red carpet by actress Sharon Stone for a first look at the eagerly anticipated James Bond release September 30 - Charlene releases a stylish video promoting her anti-poaching campaign from her South African bolthole October 3 - Princess Charlene shares a photograph of herself smiling in front of a bible in her first snap since being discharged from hospital following her health scare October 5 - Prince Albert attends Sportel Awards Ceremony in Monte Carlo with nephew Louis Ducruet October 6 - Albert tells RMC radio Charlene is 'ready to come home' October 8 - Princess undergoes surgery in South Africa November 8 - Charlene arrives back in Monaco. Prince Albert said within hours it became clear she was 'unwell' November 13 - Prince Albert attends Expo 2020 in Dubai without Princess Charlene Following his return from the trip, Prince Albert holds an intervention with Charlene's brothers and a sister-in-law in which Charlene 'confirmed' she would seek 'real medically framed treatment' outside of Monaco November 16 - Royal household confirms Princess Charlene will not attend National Day celebrations on November 19 - Prince Albert attends a Monaco Red Cross event without Princess Charlene November 17 - Prince Albert reveals Princess Charlene has left Monaco and is recovering in a secret location November 19 - Prince Albert reveals Charlene is in a treatment facility 'elsewhere in Europe' after a family intervention January 25 - Charlene celebrates her birthday alone outside of Monaco January 26 - Prince Albert is joined by his children and sister without Charlene at St Devote's Day Advertisement It added that the princess 'is recuperating in a satisfactory and reassuring manner, although it may take a few more months before her health has reached a full recovery.' Princess Charlene met Prince Albert in 2000 during a swimming competition in Monaco and the pair married in 2011, before welcoming twins Gabriella and Jacques in 2014. Charlene returned to her husband and twins Jacques and Gabriella in November following almost a year in South Africa. While on a solo charity trip to the country, she contracted a severe sinus infection which prevented her from travelling. She subsequently needed surgery to treat the medical condition, which again delayed her return to Monaco. In the weeks after her arrival, Charlene remained absent from public duties. Albert later revealed the family reunion had gone 'pretty well' in the first few hours, but it then became 'pretty evident' that Charlene was 'unwell.' He said the former Olympian 'realised she needed help', adding: 'She was overwhelmed and couldn't face official duties, life in general or even family life.' Albert explained: 'I'm probably going to say this several times, but this has nothing to do with our relationship. I want to make that very clear. These are not problems within our relationship; not with the relationship between a husband and wife. It's of a different nature.' He went on to tell a magazine her current state was a result of 'several factors which are private'. Albert continued: 'She hadn't slept well in a number of days and she wasn't eating at all well. She has lost a lot of weight, which made her vulnerable to other potential ailments. A cold or the flu or God help us, COVID.' He said it is 'not cancer-related or personal relationship issue' and later said she is suffering from 'exhaustion, both emotional and physical'. He later confirmed Charlene has been admitted to a treatment facility for undisclosed medical issues, as she works through a period of ill health. The location of the facility was not confirmed, though several sources claim it is in Switzerland. However friends of the princess spoke out to suggest the issues were more physical than Albert appeared to suggest. Speaking to Page Six, a source described as the royal's friend said: 'It is unfair that she is being portrayed as having some kind of mental or emotional issue. 'We don't know why the palace is downplaying that she almost died in South Africa.' The source explained the royal had a severe ear, nose and throat infection, which resulted in 'severe sinus and swallowing issues stemming from an earlier surgery'. Elsewhere friends of Princess Charlene gave Tatler a rare insight into what the royal is really like, insisting that the former swimmer is a force to be reckoned with. One source rubbished any public perception that Charlene is 'naive' and trapped in an unhappy marriage with Albert, saying: 'I don't for one second think she did not know what she was doing when she married him.' But one warned the mother of Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, seven, is not the type to be blindly controlled by the Monaco royal household. 'Charlene is no Princess Di.' one said. 'She may come across as being extremely naive, but nothing could be further from the truth. She is very good at keeping her smarts under wraps.' Doubts about the central relationship of Monaco's royal family are not new. Several residents living in the narrow medieval alleys of Monaco Ville confirmed to MailOnline that before she left for South Africa Charlene was spending most of her time outside the Palace, living in a modest two-bedroom apartment above an old chocolate factory about 300m away, rather than in the 12th Century Palace itself. 'We often saw her outside the Palace and she would usually be alone or with a bodyguard,' said one source, 'but she was never with Albert - it was obvious she chose to spend most of her time in the apartment rather than the palace.' Princess Charlene met Prince Albert in 2000 during a swimming competition in Monaco and the pair married in 2011, before welcoming twins Gabriella and Jacques in 2014. Born in Rhodesia- a previously unrecongised state in Southern Africa colonised by the British, she relocated to South Africa aged 11. She had a successful swimming career and went on to win three gold medals and a silver medal at the 1999 All Africa Games in Johannesburg, as well as representing South Africa at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games and winning a silver medal in the 4 100 m medley relay in the latter competition. However the pair's marriage has made numerous headlines over the years, with a third paternity suit emerging in December 2020. Soon afterwards Charlene infamously shaved half her head in the style of a punk rocker. Months later she left for South Africa. The allegations in December 2020 claimed that Albert had fathered a love-child (which would be his third, if proven) with an unnamed Brazilian woman during the time when he and Charlene were already in a relationship. He has also fathered two other children outside of wedlock. Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who is now 29 and the result of Albert's affair with an American estate agent, and Alexandre Coste, 18, whose mother is a former Togolese air hostess. Both children were struck off Monaco's line of succession in return for vast financial settlements. Idinia Menzel is known for many roles she's played over the years, including Frozen's Elsa, Wicked's Elphaba... and John Travolta's Adele Dazeem. The 50-year-old Tony winner famously had her name flubbed by Travolta, 67, at the 2014 Oscars, when he introduced her performance with a name unrecognizable from her own. In a funny new TikTok video which has earned over a million likes in less than a day Menzel pokes fun at the Grease star for his mangled pronunciation of her name. Idinia Menzel is known for many roles she's played over the years, including Frozen's Elsa, Wicked's Elphaba... and John Travolta's Adele Dazeem In a funny new TikTok video, she shows all the names she's known by, showing clips from her biggest roles like Wicked and Rent The actress hopped on a popular TikTok trend using the song 'That's Not My Name' by The Ting Tings, which is being embraced by Hollywood. In the trend, stars play the song's chorus: 'They call me hell / They call me Stace / They call me He / They call me Jane / That's not my name / That's not my name / That's not my name / That's not my name.' Meanwhile, they flash clips of some of their most beloved roles with their characters' names written on the screen. Menzel had plenty to choose from, showing Elphaba from Wicked, Maureen from Rent, Rachel's Mom from Glee, Nancy from Enchanted, Elsa from Frozen, Vivian from the new Cinderella, and Dinah from Uncut Gems. But she ends on a role that she never intended to play, showing a clip of Travolta calling her Adele Dazeem and captioning it with a string of question marks. The actress hopped on a popular TikTok trend using the song 'That's Not My Name' by The Ting Tings, which is being embraced by Hollywood The screen flashes clips of some of her most beloved roles with her characters' names written on the screen She included Rachel's Mom from Glee, Nancy from Enchanted, Elsa from Frozen, Vivian from the new Cinderella, and Dinah from Uncut Gems Years on from the must-see-TV incident, Menzel clearly has a sense of humor about the mistake. In 2014, Travolta was introducing her performance at the Oscars and said: 'Please welcome the wickedly talented, one and only Adele Dazeem.' The bit was immediately buzzed about on social media, with viewers rewatching it on repeat in the days after, wondering just how he got her name so terribly wrong. Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel in 2015, Travolta blamed being 'starstruck' and a last-minute teleprompter change for the embarrassing mistake. He said he was rushed backstage to do the segment at the last minute due to a miscommunication, and things went wrong from there. 'As I get backstage, I ran into Goldie Hawn. Now Goldie Hawn is sexy, charismatic, beautiful. And I got starstruck! I'm starstruck hugging and loving her up and forgetting that I have to go and to this bit,' he said. But she ends on a clip of Travolta calling her Adele Dazeem at the 2014 Oscars (pictured) and captioning it with a string of question marks Then, he said, just as they grabbed him and pushed him on stage, someone told him that they'd 'changed Idina's name to phonetic spelling' on the teleprompter. 'But I didn't rehearse it that way,' he said. It's unclear how her name would have been spelled phonetically . Menzel, though, doesn't hold a grudge, though she has said that immediately after it happened, she was unhappy. 'Right when it was happening, I was like, "What the f***k did he just say?"' she said at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2016. But then, she thought, '"Get over yourself. Youre so vain and conceited. Just go. Sing. Like, Meryl Streep is there." Thats the whole thing that went on, about eight seconds to get myself back in the zone. Travolta later apologized and the pair reunited at the 2015 Oscars. Menzel said she was upset at first but now considers it 'the greatest thing that ever happened' On The Late Late Show with James Corden last year, she also admitted that at first, 'I felt really sorry for myself. 'Like Meryl Streeps out there, this is my big break and he just f**ked up my name,' she said. 'I was so nervous, I had meditated on this moment, I was going to sing to my son to really bring perspective to everything and then that happened,' she said. But ultimately, it turned out not to be so bad, and people were buzzing about her for weeks. 'It was the greatest thing that ever happened,' she said. 'Hes written so many nice, apologetic emails. Hes so kind,' she added. They even made fun of the moment at the Oscars the following year, with Menzel joining Travolta on stage. A 'pregnant' pro-choice activist left a pro-life campaigner 'in tears' after taking an abortion pill to 'end a pregnancy' during a shocking live TV interview. Jex Blackmore appeared on Fox 2 News Detroit's 'Let It Rip' segment on Sunday to discuss the Food and Drug Administration's decision last month to allow abortion pills to be prescribed via telehealth and mailed to patients. Host Charlie Langton, 61, moderated the debate between Blackmore and Rebecca Kiessling, 52, a pro-life campaigner and lawyer. 'They're incredibly safe,' Blackmore said of the pills, while explaining how the mail-order system works. 'It is extremely easy and private and allows you to really self-manage your abortion.' The activist then held up a white pill, claiming it was mifepristone, a progesterone blocker that stops the growth of a pregnancy that is less than 10 weeks along. Pro-choice activist Jex Blackmore (left) took an abortion pill during a live television debate with pro-life campaigner Rebecca Kiessling (right) Blackmore appeared on Fox 2 News Detroit on Sunday to discuss the Food and Drug Administration's decision to allow abortion pills to be mailed to patients Blackmore explained mifepristone was the first of two pills that a person would take to terminate a pregnancy. The second, misoprostol, causes cramping and bleeding to empty the uterus. 'I want to show you how easy it is, and safe it is, by taking it myself,' she said before putting it in her mouth, washing it down with a sip of water, and smiling at the camera. A stunned Langton could barely get his words out when he asked: 'You're not pregnant, are you?' 'I would say that this is going to end a pregnancy,' Blackmore replied. 'This would be my third abortion.' Kiessling closed her eyes and shook her head in response before arguing against the pill, saying there is 'no dignitary in it.' She also said the abortion pill is reversible using certain hormones a claim the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says is 'not based on science' and one that does 'not meet clinical standards.' Blackmore said she 'wanted to show how easy and safe it is by taking it.' She put a white pill into her mouth and swallowed it, leaving host Charlies Langton (left) open-mouthed in shock Blackmore claimed the pill was mifepristone, a progesterone blocker that stops the growth of a pregnancy. It is the first of two pills a person would take to terminate a pregnancy The second abortion pill, misoprostol, causes cramping and bleeding to empty the uterus Kiessling later wrote a lengthy Facebook slamming Blackmore for 'callously' [beginning] the process of killing her baby on TV.' 'After the segment ended, I just broke down in tears,' she said. 'It's like someone pushing a button for a drone strike on innocent victims like it's nothing because they don't see them, while the rest of us are fully aware of the carnage to ensue, the shocking loss of life.' Pro-life commenters responded to Kiessling's posts about the television interview with shock and outrage, with some accusing Blackburn of faking a pregnancy. 'Just watched this and am shaking. So insane,' one person wrote, while another added: 'I'm so sorry you had to witness that. Prayers for you.' 'She probably isn't pregnant, and it was probably an aspirin,' someone else claimed. 'Pure evil.' Others called out Kiessling for spreading misinformation about the abortion pill, which the FDA has determined is safe and effective. 'The pill effects are not reversible in any way shape or form, the fact you don't know this is just wild,' one critic wrote. 'It's totally safe and should be widely available to all women who do not want religious nutcases ruining their lives,' someone else argued. Kiessling closed her eyes and shook her head in response before arguing against the pill, saying there is 'no dignitary in it' Blackmore tweeted about taking an abortion pill on live TV after the segment. In an email to The Washington Post, she said it was 'no charade' After the show, Kiessling slammed Blackmore's actions, accusing her of 'killing her child on TV,' adding that she 'broke down in tears' when the broadcast ended Blackmore tweeted about taking the abortion pill life on air and was met with support from other pro-choice activists. 'Ive never needed to use this, but I absolutely would have if I had needed it,' one woman wrote. 'Well done to you for trying to end the stigma of termination. #prochoice #MyBodyMyChoice its nobody elses business what you do with your body.' 'Good! WE need to be the ones in control of our own uterus,' someone else shared, while another added: 'Thank you for doing that. We need to end the stigma and lies associated with abortion.' Like Kiessling, Blackmore also faced backlash from opponents. 'I'm pro choice, but to be so flippant about it and to seek attention for it is disturbing,' one critic tweeted. 'Why would you want the ending of life to be so trivial and unimportant?!?!' another asked. 'If you dont want a baby then take birth control!! Murder is murder.' In an email to The Washington Post, Blackmore said her claim that she took mifepristone on live TV was 'no charade.' 'Abortion is a common and safe medical procedure surrounded by stigma,' she wrote. 'Stigma keeps people silent about their personal experiences and creates space for harmful, inaccurate narratives. My action was intended to dispel some of those myths, misinformation, and stigma.' During her appearance on the show, Kiessling touted misinformation about the abortion pill being reversible using certain hormones The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says the claim is 'not based on science' and one that does 'not meet clinical standards' Blackmore, who is known for courting controversy, was the founder of the Detroit chapter of The Satanic Temple (TST), a nontheistic human rights organization that promotes egalitarianism, social justice, and the separation of religion and state. She was later expelled from the group for espousing views that were not in line with the larger TST ethos. In December, the FDA permanently lifted a restriction on an abortion pill that prevented prescribers from sending it through the mail. Under prior U.S. regulations, the pill had to be dispensed in clinics or hospitals by specially-certified providers who had to sign an agreement and obtain the patient's signature to acknowledge the provider informed them about the drug. The new ruling allows patients to have a telemedicine appointment with a provider who can prescribe abortion pills and send them by mail. However, it did not override the regulations in 19 states mainly in the south and the Midwest where telemedicine visits for the pills are banned. Women who live in states that do not allow telemedicine for abortion pills must travel to a state that does, but they may be in any location within the state for the telehealth visit and can receive the pills at any address in the state. Blackmore founded the Detroit chapter of The Satanic Temple (TST), a nontheistic human rights organization that promotes egalitarianism, social justice, and the separation of religion and state However, she was later expelled from the group for espousing views that were not in line with the larger TST ethos Blackmore and Kiessling's appearance on 'Let It Rip' aired during the weekend of the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that guarantees a woman's constitutional right to an abortion. Laws severely restricting abortion have been passed in multiple Republican-led states, but have been struck down by the courts for violating Roe v. Wade. In December, the conservative-led Supreme Court heard arguments on a Mississippi law that prohibits abortions after 15 weeks about two months earlier than Roe v. Wade allows. The decision, which could overturn or uphold Roe v. Wade, won't come until late spring or early summer 2022. Another law in Texas bans abortion after six weeks, when some say a heartbeat in the womb can be detected but before many women even know they are pregnant. It is the most restrictive abortion law passed in the U.S. since the procedure was guaranteed as a constitutional right nearly five decades ago. Texas Senate Bill 8, which went into force in September, differs from other efforts in that it attempts to insulate the state from claims of rights violations by giving members of the public the ability to sue doctors who perform abortions or anyone who helps facilitate them once a heartbeat in the womb is detected. They can be rewarded with $10,000 for initiating civil suits that land in court, prompting criticism that the state is encouraging people to take the law into their own hands. Earlier this month, U.S. Supreme Court dealt another blow to opponents of a Texas law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. In a 6-3 decision, the court rejected a request by abortion providers to have the case sent to a district judge who had previously moved to block the law Abortion supporters and protestors gathered outside the U.S. Supreme Court in November as the high court heard arguments in two challenges to the Texas law Earlier this month, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, rejected a request by abortion providers to have the case sent to a district judge who had previously moved to block the Texas law. Instead, the case will remain with the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. The majority did not provide any comment on their decision, but the three liberal justices on the nation's highest court penned a scathing dissent. 'Today, for the fourth time, this Court declines to protect pregnant Texans from egregious violations of their constitutional rights,' Justice Sonia Sotomayor said. 'This case is a disaster for the rule of law and a grave disservice to women in Texas, who have a right to control their own bodies,' Sotomayor said. 'I will not stand by silently as a State continues to nullify this constitutional guarantee.' Public opinion polls have found most Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. But a segment of the population, particularly on the religious right, has never accepted the Roe v. Wade ruling and has campaigned to have it overturned. While weighing in on the Supreme Court's response to the Texas law and the possible upholding of the Mississippi law, Blackmore told The Post that the 'anti-abortion movement has been celebrating what looks like a victory to them, but this victory is largely symbolic.' 'With medical mail-order abortion, weve actually expanded access more than ever before,' she added. President Moon Jae-in attends a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Jan. 26. Some members of Moon's entourage on a visit to the Middle East tested positive for COVID-19 after returning home, an official at the presidential office revealed Friday, following media speculation. Yonhap Some members of President Moon Jae-in's entourage on a visit to the Middle East have tested positive for COVID-19 after returning home, an official at the presidential office said Friday. Moon, who returned home last Saturday from an eight-day trip to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, worked from home for three days until Tuesday in line with the government's containment guidelines. "After returning home and taking PCR tests, a small number of accompanying personnel tested positive," the official said on the condition of anonymity. Moon didn't come into close contact with those infected during the Middle East visit, the official said, without specifying the exact number of cases. After the members tested positive, the presidential office took relevant measures in accordance with containment guidelines and no additional cases of infection have been reported since then, the official said. The official said he was unable to reveal details of the confirmed patients. Some have raised speculation that the infections could have affected Moon's decision not to hold a New Year's press conference, but his office said the two have nothing to do with each other and the President decided to skip the conference to focus on his response to the Omicron variant. (Yonhap) Daisy Edgar Jones has revealed she carries a moustache trimmer in her handbag because in her line of work its 'handy to have around'. The London-born Normal People star, 23, revealed the contents of her handbag for Vogue's In The Bag YouTube series where she shared that she also carries coffee and an Aeropress coffee maker with her at all times. 'This is not what you think it is,' she explains while taking out the small metal device out of her bag. 'It's a moustache shaver, which is very handy to have round especially because in my line of work sometimes the camera is very close to your face.' she explains. Daisy Edgar Jones has revealed she carried a moustache trimmer in her handbag because in her line of work its 'handy to have around'. The London-born Normal People star, 23, revealed the contents of her handbag for Vogue's In The Bag YouTube series where she shared that she also carries coffee and an Aeropress with her at all times. 'And look we all have a moustache and sometimes we have to remove it for certain occasions. 'And that comes in very handy if that's needed'. The actress, who has gone from strength-to-strength since starring in Normal People in 2020, also shared how she keeps Elizabeth Arden 8-hour cream and Chanel perfume in her bag - also by Chanel. She also revealed in the video how ha been using Elizabeth Arden 8-hour cream while is filming in Canada because it's 'very dry' while she also has handwarmers because its 'very cold'. The star also said that she is currently reading Please Yourself: How to Stop People-Pleasing and Transform the Way You Live by Emma Reed Turrell - and that she has discovered she is a 'passive people pleaser'. 'This means that my people pleasing can sometimes be more about fear of getting it wrong than a desire to get it right, which I definitely relate to,' she explained. Daisy is set to star in upcoming big screen titles: Where the Crawdads Sing and Fresh. Pictured in a recent video for Vogue Despite the quilted Chanel - which sell for up to 7,000 - being seemingly small, it appeared to have Mary Poppins effect with Daisy pulling out a diary, a notebook a bag of coffee and even an Aeropress coffeemaker among the good. What does Daisy keep in her bag? Her phone Hey keys (with a bottle opener and Cath Kidston keyring) Ibuprofen Bottle opener Hygiene key Glasses (and case) Avocado hand warmer Moustache shaver Wallet Yaschica T4 camera Tiny speaker Book - Please Yourself: How to Stop People-Pleasing and Transform the Way You Live One line a day diary Chance by Chanel perfume Planner Pair of headphones Spot patches Mascara Memory stick with house music on it Aeropress W Martyn coffee Advertisement She said that if her bag were a character it would be Q from James Bond because it is 'quite organised and a wee bit chaotic' but also has lots of gadgets. Recently, the actress described how finding fame during the first lockdown in April 2020 was an 'isolating experience'. The 23-year-old actress disclosed how the 'out of body' situation left her feeling a 'wee bit lonely' to Wonderland, as she pulled off a series of stunning looks for a new shoot. Admitting she is still trying to 'unpick' the unprecedented time when Normal People soared to its acclaim, she said: 'It was quite out of body. When you're experiencing that level of a show's popularity, but you're only able to leave your house for a 20-minute walk every day, it's a very hard thing to connect to.' Daisy added that it was a far cry from the 'shared experience' between her, Paul Mescal (her love interest Connell Waldron in the BBC3 series) and the filmmakers when shooting scenes. 'I feel like in some ways the pandemic helped our show to reach even further than it may have, but it was also surreal and at times a wee bit lonely.' Her upcoming project, Where The Crawdads sing, which is based on Delia Owens' New York Times Bestseller, Daisy plays Kya, a woman who was abandoned by her parents at a young age in the coastal marshlands of North Carolina. The hailed novel was selected for Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine Book Club in September 2018 and the actress, 45, proceeded to produce the film via her Hello Sunshine production company. 'I've been a big fan of Reese since I was very wee. It was wonderful to meet her and she's such an intelligent collaborator - it was great when she came to visit,' Daisy regaled of the entrepreneur's visit to the set. Filming scenes in Vancouver for upcoming thriller Fresh was the first time Daisy worked properly from home which, along with other filming commitments in the US and Canada, made her come to a realisation. Life-changing: It is fast-approaching two years since her role as Marianne Sheridan in BAFTA winning series Normal People launched her to mainstream fame (pictured with Paul Mescal - her love interest Connell Waldron in the BBC3 series, 2020) 'When I was away I was getting very homesick, so I watched the entire two seasons of Ted Lasso and I actually shed a tear when he ate a Hula Hoop. 'I realised, whenever I go away for work and come home to London, that I just know I could never really live anywhere else - especially because I love theatre. 'I don't know, there's something about all theatre here and all our pubs - and the love of a Sunday roast that just makes me feel like I can never not be in London,' she admitted. Watch the series, Normal People only on Stan in Australia. Late 16 & Pregnant star Jordan Cashmyer's family has shared her cause of death, revealing that she passed away at the age of 26 after losing her battle with 'addiction' - just four months after her fiance and the father of her six-month-old daughter died. Cashmyer, who struggled with addiction and had previously attempted suicide, died on January 15, leaving behind an orphaned baby daughter, Lyla, and her first child, Genevieve, whose birth she documented on the MTV reality series in 2014. Now, her family has spoken out about the mother-of-two's death, describing her struggles with addiction as a 'plague', while pleading for donations to help fund her funeral expenses and to help with the care of her now-orphaned baby daughter. Cashmyer, from Baltimore, Maryland, welcomed Lyla, her second daughter and her first child with late fiance Michael Schaffer, in June 2021. On a GoFundMe page set up by Cashmyer's grieving father Dennis, the family paid tribute to the late reality star, writing: 'Jordan was always so full of life and full of personality. She had a way of always making those around her laugh and smile, and her smile was truly contagious.' Speaking about her cause of death, the family wrote: 'Addiction plagues many families, and our family was not immune to it... Lyla lost her father to addiction at two months [and] now her mother at six months.' Late 16 & Pregnant star Jordan Cashmyer's family has shared her cause of death, revealing that she passed away on January 15 at the age of 26 after losing her battle with 'addiction' Cashmyer's death came six months after the birth of her daughter, Lyla, and just four months after her fiance, Lyla's father, Michael Schaffer, who also battled addiction The mother-of-two was engaged to be married to Schaffer, with whom she shared daughter Lyla (pictured together), when he died at the age of 30 On a GoFundMe page set up by Cashmyer's family, they asked for donations to help fund her funeral and to provide for Lyla's future; the baby is currently in the care of her grandparents The family then spoke out about their grief over the 'grim outcome' that Lyla will 'never get to make memories with her mother or father', adding that the infant is now in the care of Cashmyer's parents - who are asking for donations to help provide for the little girl's future. 'Our family has to now not only put our daughter to rest but navigate through starting over with an infant who has lost both her parents in her six months of life,' the family continued. 'Please help our family cover the costs of Jordan's memorial and start a fund for Lyla's future. We did not foresee starting back over, and all that comes along with that.' In a Facebook post shared on January 24, Dennis revealed that his daughter's body had been lying at the State Medical Examiners for nine days in the wake of her death because they had not been able to organize the funeral, writing: 'I am asking for the community that has surrounded myself, Jordan and my family to help us through this horrific chapter in our lives. 'Please if you are able to help, we would forever be grateful. If you are unable to donate, I would ask of you just to share this and how Jordan, Lyla, or myself have touched your individual lives, I would greatly appreciate it. 'We are navigating uncharted territory, and each step has been extremely challenging and painful. Our daughter is still being held at the State Medical Examiners. It's been nine days now, so we have not been able to finalize her final resting, and let her go In peace. Cashmyer rose to prominence in 2014 when she appeared on the MTV reality series alongside her then-boyfriend Derek Taylor, with whom she shared her first-born child The couple split up shortly after Genevieve's birth on March 7, 2014. It is thought that their daughter is currently in the care of her father Following the birth of her first daughter, Cashmyer struggled with postpartum depression and she later revealed that she had attempted suicide 'We pray that we soon will be able to do so and finally properly mourn the loss of our daughter. Rest In Peace my baby girl. On the GoFundMe, the Cashmyers also paid tribute to Lyla, describing her as their 'greatest joy and addition' and their 'saving grace during this difficult time'. It is thought that Cashmyer's older daughter, Evie, is in the care of her ex-boyfriend Derek. Cashmyer's family first shared the news of her death on January 16, with dad Dennis confirming on Facebook that his daughter had died on the previous day. 'Last night I received a call no parent ever wants,' he wrote. 'Our hearts are truly broken. No parent should ever have to go through losing a child, EVER.' Cashmyer's death came almost eight years after she rose to prominence while featuring on the MTV reality series 16 & Pregnant alongside her then-boyfriend Derek Taylor and their daughter Genevieve 'Evie' Shae Taylor. The reality star's life was troubled; she admitted herself to a rehab facility in June 2016 at age 21 after she injured herself in a drunken stupor, TMZ reported at the time. An insider for the gossip site claimed that the incident - which left her with a concussion and black eye -made the reality star realize it was time to 'get her life together.' During her time on the hit show, crews documented the Baltimore, Maryland native's struggles after she became pregnant while dating Taylor. The couple became homeless during the pregnancy after Cashmyer's parents kicked her out of the family home and Taylor refused to get a job. The couple split following their baby's March 7, 2014 birth, and Cashmyer later revealed that she suffered from postpartum depression and attempted suicide. Cashymer's father Dennis shared the news of her death on Facebook in an emotional January 16 post, one day after she passed away Dennis revealed that his granddaughter Lyla is now being cared for by himself and his wife (pictured) She shared in a post to her official Facebook page in November of that year that 'there wasn't much of a reason to live anymore,' Radar.com reported. 'I have been struggling with a lot of different things emotionally since I had Genevieve,' she wrote. 'I was diagnosed with post partum depression and was on medication for a little while for it, but I never followed up with my appointment My mood wouldn't stay stable for very long, I was extremely impulsive, couldn't focus, the smallest things would set me off, and my anxiety got worse, as did my depression and OCD.' She added that she was given new medication that helped turn her mood around. 'I feel like my normal self; happy, smiling, talkative and thinking clearly Things really are looking up and I am set on having the best possible future for my daughter and I.' Years later, she walked back the ordeal and claimed she was actually hospitalized for an accidental overdose. 'I was depressed due to the issues that were going on in my life at the time and was using drugs and drinking,' she tweeted. 'A family member decided to tell the hospital that I attempted an overdose because they believed that would get the proper treatment I needed.' A person who answered her father's business phone Sunday said he was not ready to openly speak about his daughter. Cashmyer celebrated one-year of sobriety last January, and welcomed her second daughter Lyla with Schaffer last June. But her attempts at getting her life back on track hit a bump last September 9, when Shaffer died. Disney sparked outrage this week when it announced that it is 'taking a new approach' to Snow White's seven dwarves - the latest in a long line of controversial woke moves made by the studio in an attempt to put forward an ultra-progressive new image. The company found itself at the center of furious uproar over its alternative take on the dwarves in its upcoming live-action remake of the classic Snow White cartoon, which came after Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage blasted Disney for remaking the 1937 film, branding the story line 'backward'. In an apparent effort to quiet the uproar Disney quickly stated that it will not be portraying Snow White's seven sidekicks as seven dwarves, insisting that it has been 'working with members of the dwarfism community' to come up with an alternative 'approach'. The controversy that erupted as a result is just the latest blowback that Disney has had to face over its haphazard attempts to present a more politically-correct image - and yet the studio is showing no signs of halting its ultra-woke policies, prompting the question: Which other beloved characters could be next up on the progressive chopping block? As Disney announced a 'new approach' to Snow White's seven dwarves for their live-action remake, Femail uncovered the other characters that could be cut as part of their 'woke' revamp Following criticism from actor Peter Dinklage, the company announced that the new movie will not feature the classic depiction of the central character's seven companions as dwarves In the wake of the company's Snow White announcement, Femail is revealing the other Disney characters that have been considered problematic and offensive to some viewers In the past two years, Disney has implemented several progressive changes across its entire company, from adding racism warnings to several of its classic movies - including Peter Pan and The Jungle Book - to encouraging white staff members to 'decolonize their bookshelves' as part of anti-racism training. One of the moves that prompted the most fury was Disney's announcement in October 2020 that it would be slapping racism warnings on a number of decades-old movies as they were released on its streaming service Disney+. Movies that now come complete with an anti-racism warning include 1970 musical comedy The Aristocats, 1955 canine love story Lady and the Tramp, and 1960 adventure Swiss Family Robinson. The disclaimer added to these movies and others like Peter Pan and The Jungle Book, appears at the start of the movie and reads: 'This program includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures. 'These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now. Rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together.' So are the characters from these much-loved movies set to be revamped in the future? Or cut from their movies altogether? Here, FEMAIL reveals the other roles that have faced 'racism' backlash over the years. Peter Pan's 'Indian Tribe' Many people were offended by the portrayal of the indigenous people on the island of Neverland in Peter Pan The characters referred to them as 'redskins' throughout the movie. They are also seen speaking in an 'unintelligible language' Back in October 2020, Disney announced that it would be slapping racism warnings on a number of decades-old movies on its streaming service Disney+ - including Peter Pan During one scene of the 1953 flick, Peter wore a headdress, which the company described as a 'form of mockery and appropriation of Native peoples' culture and imagery' on its website Peter Pan was about a boy who lives in the magical far-off island of Neverland, where and he and his friends - called the Lost Boys - never grew up. But many people were offended when the indigenous people of the island were referred to as 'redskins.' Throughout the movie, they are also seen speaking in an 'unintelligible language.' During one particular scene of the 1953 flick, Peter and the Lost Boys are seen playing a game called Pirates verse Indians - and they are pictured wearing headdresses and other exaggerated tropes, which the company described as a 'form of mockery and appropriation of Native peoples' culture and imagery' on its website. Many people slammed the movie on Twitter, with one calling it 'racist as hell' 'The film portrays Native people in a stereotypical manner that reflects neither the diversity of Native peoples nor their authentic cultural traditions,' it wrote. 'Im watching the original Disney animated Peter Pan... Im actually cringing at how inappropriate, sexist and racist it is,' one person wrote on Twitter. 'OK the actual Peter Pan movie is so racist. Indians with red skin? Really?' another added. Someone else said: 'I'm usually all about keeping originals the way they are, but I would really appreciate an edition of Peter Pan [without] the word "redskin."' The Aristocats' Shun Gon The Aristocats had a character named Shun Gon (voiced by Paul Winchell) - who is seen with 'exaggerated East Asian stereotypical traits such as slanted eyes and buck teeth' He sings in 'poorly accented English voiced by a white actor' and plays the piano with chopsticks - which 'reinforces the "perpetual foreigner" stereotype,' according to Disney The Aristocats followed a stuck-up cat and her kittens, who are forced to say goodbye to their rich city life in Paris in exchange for an adventure in the countryside - after they are dropped far from home in a ploy to steal their fortunes. While finding their way back, the cats came across another feline named Shun Gon (voiced by Paul Winchell) - who is seen with 'exaggerated East Asian stereotypical traits such as slanted eyes and buck teeth,' Disney states. 'He sings in poorly accented English voiced by a white actor and plays the piano with chopsticks. 'This portrayal reinforces the "perpetual foreigner" stereotype, while the film also features lyrics that mock the Chinese language and culture such as "Shanghai, Hong Kong, Egg Foo Young. Fortune cookie always wrong."' It was announced earlier this year that Disney was making a live-action version of the 1970 film, and many people stated online that they wanted Shun Gon removed from the story It was announced earlier this year that Disney was making a live-action version of the 1970 film, and many people stated online that they would not support it if Shun Gon was not removed from the story. 'The very idea of seeing racist siamese cat in live action Aristocats is too much to bear,' one user tweeted. 'I am crying so bad and the thought of them keeping this scene in the new Aristocats movie,' another wrote, alongside a clip from the original scene. 'Aristocats was some of racist Disney's most unhinged work,' a third person agreed. Lady and the Tramp's Siamese cats In Lady and the Tramp, there's a scene with two Siamese cats, named Si and Am - who were depicted with many anti-Asian stereotypes Lady and the Tramp was a love story about a pampered cocker spaniel named Lady who fell for a a stray mutt named Tramp. Together, they embarked on a series of adventures. Along the way, the animals met two Siamese cats, named Si and Am, who trashed Lady's home and framed her for the entire thing. The cats, both played by Peggy Lee, sang a song called The Siamese Cat Song, and were depicted with many anti-Asian stereotypes. There was also a scene during the 1955 cartoon, which took place at a dog pound and was considered racist by viewers. In it, heavily-accented dogs portrayed the different countries that their breeds were from - such as Pedro the Mexican Chihuahua, and Boris the Russian Borzoi. One person claimed that the scene made them 'so uncomfortable.' The characters were removed when the movie was remade into a live-action flick in 2019 Both Si and Am, as well as the dogs with the exaggerated accents, were removed when the movie was remade into a live-action flick in 2019. 'The part with the siamese cats in Lady and the Tramp makes me so uncomfortable,' one viewer said on Twitter. Another asked: 'Why did Lady and the Tramp use every excuse to be racist? Like every dog is a different racial stereotype.' 'Lady and the Tramp has racist and classist s**t all over it,' a third person said. The Jungle Book's King Louie Many people claimed that the jazz singing ape King Louie (voiced by Black actor Louis Prima) in The Jungle Book, depicted negative qualities of African Americans He speaks more poorly than the other animals and appeared to be lazy, foolish, and even criminal The animated movie was turned into a live-action film in 2016, and King Louie was played by Caucasian actor Christopher Walken, but not many changes were made to the character The 1967 movie The Jungle Book was about a boy named Mowgli who was raised by wolves. The little boy set out on an adventure after he was forced to leave home, and he became friends with an array of animals as he found his way back. However, many people accused the jazz singing ape King Louie (voiced by Black star Louis Prima), of depicting negative qualities of African Americans. He spoke more poorly than the other animals and appeared to be lazy, foolish, and even criminal. The animated movie was turned into a live-action film in 2016, and King Louie was played by Caucasian actor Christopher Walken, but not many changes were made to the character. Viewers have continuously called the character 'racist' 'The Jungle Book is on TV tonight and Im watching the King Louie scene for the first time as an adult and realizing how racist this s**t is,' someone wrote on Twitter. 'Come to think of it King Louie in The Jungle Book was so d**n racist,' another added. 'I shouldve known the animated Jungle Book was made in the '60s - the scene with King Louie was racist as Hell,' a different user agreed. Dumbo's Jim Crow Dumbo has come under fire for a musical number sung by a group of crows, whose leader was named Jim Crow - a reference to the segregation laws in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries Jim Crow was voiced by white actor Cliff Edwards, but he appeared to purposely try to speak in an African-American-sounding voice Disney later admitted that the animals were inspired by minstrel shows, which was a popular form of theater in the 19th and 20th centuries and showed re-enactments of racial stereotypes Dumbo, which came out in 1941, showed the story of a baby elephant who had abnormally big ears - which gave him the ability to fly but resulted in him being taunted by his peers. It came under fire for a musical number sung by a group of crows, whose leader was named Jim Crow - a reference to the segregation laws in late 19th and early 20th Century America. Jim Crow was voiced by white actor Cliff Edwards, but he appeared to purposely try to speak in an African-American-sounding voice. Disney later admitted that the animals were inspired by minstrel shows, which was a popular form of theater in the 19th and 20th centuries and showed re-enactments of racial stereotypes. Many people were offended by the crows, and one person even said the ride inspired by the movie should be removed from Disney theme parks 'The crows and musical number pay homage to racist minstrel shows, where white performers with blackened faces and tattered clothing imitated and ridiculed enslaved Africans on Southern plantations,' Disney wrote in an explanation posted to its website. 'The leader of the group in Dumbo is Jim Crow, which shares the name of laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States. 'In The Song of the Roustabouts, faceless Black workers toil away to offensive lyrics like "When we get our pay, we throw our money all away."' 'The crows in dumbo didnt need to be racist but for some reason they decided the movie needed some racism,' someone said on Twitter about the movie. 'Have you seen the crows in the Dumbo movie? Racist AF,' another wrote. 'Am I the only one that thought the li'l crows in Dumbo was racist?' a different tweet read. 'Was one of they named Jim? I saw it like twice and didnt want to watch it again so I dont remember.' Swiss Family Robinson's pirates When a group of pirates attacked during one scene of Swiss Family Robinson, the portrayal of the robbers - who all appeared to be of Asian descent - was considered racist 'The pirates who antagonize the Robinson family are portrayed as a stereotypical foreign menace,' Disney said on its website People were not here for the scene and took to Twitter to bash it Swiss Family Robinson was a 1960 movie about a family who got stranded on a deserted island. When a group of pirates attacked the family during one scene, the portrayal of the robbers - who all appeared to be of Asian descent - was considered racist. 'The pirates who antagonize the Robinson family are portrayed as a stereotypical foreign menace,' Disney said. 'Many appear in "yellow face" or "brown face" and are costumed in an exaggerated and inaccurate manner with top knot hairstyles, queues, robes, and overdone facial make-up and jewelry, reinforcing their barbarism and "otherness." 'They speak in an indecipherable language, presenting a singular and racist representation of Asian and Middle Eastern peoples.' 'Watched Swiss Family Robinson last night to relive my childhood,' a person wrote on Twitter. 'Had no idea how massively sexist and racist it is! Way to go, Disney.' Another added: 'Wow. Swiss Family Robinson is waaaay more racist than I remember...' Aladdin's Jafar and Arabian Night Aline from the opening song of the 1992 movie Aladdin, called Arabian Night, was considered to be racist against Arabs by many people Some people were also unhappy that Jafar (left) - who is the villain - was portrayed with dark skin, while Aladdin (right) - who is the good guy - had much lighter-skin and no accent Aladdin told the story of a local street urchin who was determined to marry a Princess. Unfortunately, she was only allowed to wed a prince - but Aladdin made his dream come true after he found a magic lamp with a Genie inside and was granted three wishes. It took place in an Arabian desert kingdom called Agrabah. However, a line from the opening song of the 1992 movie, called Arabian Night, was considered to be racist against Arabs by many people. 'Oh, I come from a land / From a faraway place / Where the caravan camels roam,' the lyrics read. 'Where they cut off your ear / If they dont like your face / Its barbaric, but hey, its home.' When the released a new, live-action version of the movie in 2019, they changed the line to: 'Oh, I come from a land / From a faraway place / Where the caravan camels roam. Someone called the flick 'the most racist Disney movie of all time' on Twitter 'Where its flat and immense / And the heat is intense / Its barbaric, but hey, its home.' Some people were also unhappy that Jafar (who is the villain in the flick) was portrayed with dark skin and a thick accent in the original cartoon, while Aladdin (who is the good guy) had much lighter-skin and no accent. 'Disney's Aladdin is racist as s**t and it's also one of my favorite Disney movies,' one Twitter user claimed. A second wrote: 'Aladdin is one of the most racist Disney movies of all time, how did Disney get away with it?' The Lion King's hyenas Some people felt that Lion King had racist undertones due to its overwhelmingly white voice cast. However, the hyenas - portrayed as low-life gangsters - were voiced by people of color The Lion King was about a lion named Simba who was forced to run away after his dad, Mufasa - who is also the king - got killed by his brother Scar. Some people felt that the 1994 movie had racist undertones due to its overwhelmingly white voice cast. However, the hyenas - portrayed as low-life gangsters who are outcast from the rest of the community - were voiced by people of color. Whoopi Goldberg and Cheech Marin famously played the animals. Some people even pointed out that the characters were 'segregated from everyone else' 'The whole Lion King was racist. The two evil hyenas had a Black voice and a Latino voice. Everyone else...' a tweet about the movie read. 'Lion King = secretly racist. Why the hyenas gotta be segregated from everyone else' another person asked. 'Woke up with the sudden realization of how racist the Lion King was... Why the hyenas had to be Black? And poor?' someone else said. A live-action version of the movie came out in 2019 and featured a much-more prominently-Black cast. The Little Mermaid's Sebastian Viewers have slammed Ariel's famous side-kick Sebastian in the Little Mermaid for years - a crab with a thick Jamaican accent Some claim that the character is a bad depiction of people from Jamaica, since he sang about wanting to say underwater so he didn't have to work in the song Under the Sea Others have problems with the drawings of two other fish which are seemingly supposed to be African American - particularly, one who is called 'The Duke of Soul' and has huge lips (right) 1989's The Little Mermaid followed a young mermaid who wanted more than anything to go on shore. She traded her voice with an evil sea witch in exchange for a pair of legs, and once on land, she fell in love with a Prince named Eric. Viewers have slammed Ariel's side-kick Sebastian for years - a crab with a thick Jamaican accent. Some claimed that the character is a bad depiction of people from Jamaica, since he sang about wanting to say underwater so he didn't have to work in the song Under the Sea. Others have problems with the drawings of two other fish which are seemingly supposed to be of African American descent - particularly, one who is called 'The Duke of Soul' and has huge lips. The company is currently working on revamping the movie into a live-action flick, but it's still unclear whether or not they are going to remove the offensive characters The company is currently working on revamping the movie into a live-action flick, but it's still unclear whether or not they are going to remove the offensive characters. They made headlines back in 2019, when it was announced that African American actress Halle Bailey would be playing the mermaid. One person pointed out, 'The little mermaid is racist. Sebastian is the king's servant and just so happens to be the only Black character. I never noticed it before.' 'Little Mermaid is racist... The blackfish in the beginning and the Duke of Soul - SMH,' another said. The Princess and the Frog's Prince Naveen Despite breaking boundaries with the movie The Princess and the Frog, some people were unhappy that Prince Naveen was not Black Princess and the Frog came out in 2009 and made history for having the first Black Disney princess - Tiana. The movie followed Tiana and Prince Naveen - who got turned into frogs by an evil scientist - as they sought out a powerful voodoo priestess who knew how to change them back. Despite breaking boundaries with the movie, some people were unhappy that Prince Naveen was not Black. His ethnicity is unclear, since he is from a made-up country, but journalist Angela Bronner Helm previously called Disney out for not making him African American. Others were unhappy that the movie turned the characters - who are transformed into frogs - into animals for most of the story 'Disney obviously doesn't think a Black man is worthy of the title of prince,' she wrote. 'His hair and features are decidedly non-Black.' Others were unhappy that the movie turned the characters into animals for most of the story. 'It's so f**king unfair that Prince Naveen and Princess Tiana are frogs for the majority of the movie like?' one person wrote. 'They're both so attractive and they're making me see them as frogs the majority of the time? That's racist bye.' Another agreed: 'It was so f**king racist that they made Tiana and Naveen frogs for 90 per cent of the movie.' Vitamin D supplements won't be dished out to millions of vulnerable Britons for free this year. Last winter nearly 3million clinically extremely vulnerable people including cancer and severe kidney disease patients were offered a four-month course of the 'sunshine vitamin'. Health officials were concerned the group had low levels of the nutrient because of how long they'd been stuck inside under the shielding guidance. They also hoped vitamin D could protect them against Covid after a series of studies suggested people with a deficiency were more likely to catch the virus and become seriously unwell. But the same scheme has been scrapped this winter because shielding guidance was ditched earlier in 2021 meaning those vulnerable did not have to be stuck inside. And studies haven't provided strong enough evidence that the nutrient can protect against Covid. However, experts told MailOnline the vitamin which capsules of can cost less than 3p should be dished out again, arguing the Government's decision not to offer it this winter was 'short-sighted' because it is cheap and safe. One scientist said vitamin D could have health benefits beyond Covid. During the winter months, Britons cannot get their required intake 10 micrograms per day for everyone aged one and older from being outdoors, so are advised to take a supplement The graph from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), No10's advisors, shows the amount of vitamin D Britons get from sunlight drops during the winter months From early April to the end of September, most people in the UK get all the vitamin D needed from sunlight. During the autumn and winter, however, Britons can't get their required intake 10 micrograms per day from being outdoors, so are advised to take a supplement. The vitamin, also abundant in oily fish, red meat, liver and egg yolks, boosts general health and fortifies bones and muscles. Department of Health bosses announced in November 2020 that 2.7million people in England could opt-in to get vitamin D supplements. The scheme ran until last April. Clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV) people were likely to have been indoors more than usual this spring and summer, the agency said. WHAT DOES VITAMIN D DO? Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults. Government advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement during the autumn and winter. People at high risk of not getting enough vitamin D, all children aged 1 to 4, and all babies (unless they're having more than 500ml of infant formula a day) should take a daily supplement throughout the year. There have been some reports about vitamin D reducing the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19). But there is currently not enough evidence to support taking vitamin D solely to prevent or treat COVID-19. Source: NHS Advertisement This meant they 'may not have been able to obtain enough vitamin D from sunlight'. And it was reviewing evidence on the link between the supplement and Covid 'to ensure we explore every potential opportunity to beat this virus'. But shielding guidance was paused this April and officially ended in September due to the success of the vaccine rollout. As a result, health bosses scrapped the scheme for the coming winter. But data from the Office for National Statistics shows a fifth of people in the group were still shielding at the end of last year. Experts told MailOnline that rolling out the vitamin despite a lack of strong evidence that it works could boost protection against the virus over the winter. Professor David Armstrong, an expert in medicine and sociology from King's College London, admitted studies on Covid and vitamin D have been 'mixed', so there is 'no clear mandate for wide adoption of supplementation'. But he added: 'Is there an argument for supplementary vitamin D, just in case? Yes, this position can be argued as it is a relatively safe (and cheap) intervention.' Professor Armstrong also said that too much vitamin D can harm health, so it is not 'completely safe' to rollout across the country. And if people perceived they were at less risk from Covid because they were taking vitamin D, it could make them less cautious with other measures, he said. 'When you reduce one risk people tend to increase other, such as faster driving when wearing a seat belt,' Professor Armstrong said. Professor Adrian Martineau, an expert in respiratory infection and immunity based at Queen Mary University London, told MailOnline that 'the jury is still out' on whether vitamin D protects against the virus. It 'has a small protective effect against other acute respiratory infections', which has been acknowledged by Government scientists, he said. But last year's offer of free vitamin D was hampered by low uptake, added Professor Martineau, who led the CORONAVIT study examining the effects of the nutrient on Covid. This was especially noted among those living in the most deprived areas and older people, which are the groups that stand to benefit most from the offer. Professor Martin Hewison, an expert in molecular endocrinology at the University of Birmingham, told MailOnline the Government decision to cease the free vitamin D programme is disregarding a precaution that could boost Covid protection. 'Perhaps there is a fear vitamin D supplementation is a distraction from vaccination,' he said. But there is still a 'strong case' for rolling out the tablets because it is 'not expensive and what have we got to lose?'. Professor Hewison added: 'Every winter people in the UK are at risk of vitamin D deficiency. 'Over the last year there have been many published studies showing that vitamin D deficiency is common in people with Covid infection or more severe Covid disease. 'Does this mean that vitamin D deficiency leads to worse Covid outcomes? The simple answer is that we do not know.' Supplementation of those with higher risk of vitamin D deficiency 'is cheap, safe and may have general health effects beyond Covid', Professor Hewison said. He added: 'We have a successful vaccination programme in the UK but there is still concern over infection and hospitalisation. 'We are encouraged to take every precaution to help promote our best health and protect family, friends, and our health service masks and testing are good examples. 'It therefore seems very short-sighted that DHSC are prepared to ignore something as simple, cheap, and safe as supplementation with vitamin D at least during the winter when we will all be a risk of vitamin D deficiency.' But Professor Vimal, an expert in nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics at the University of Reading, told MailOnline respiratory tract infections are just one Covid symptom 'and there is no convincing evidence to support' whether vitamin D will prevent or treat the infection. He said vitamin D 'cannot be considered as a silver bullet against Covid', but given the ongoing risk of infection and long-term effects of Covid, vulnerable people should continue to have access to the free NHS service supplying the vitamin. Professor Naveed Sattar, an expert in metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, told MailOnline he is 'not surprised' by the Government's decision, because there is a lack of evidence that the vitamin works against Covid. He said: 'Their provision could even be harmful by providing people with false reassurance. 'Rather, it would be far better if people are encouraged to walk a little more and eat better (or drink less alcohol) over the winter months to help prevent weight gain or lose weight since the link between excess weight and more severe Covid is solid.' One study of 550 people in Barcelona found a vitamin D treatment reduces Covid deaths by 60 per cent. And a study of 4,600 Americans found people with higher vitamin D levels were seven per cent less likely to catch the virus. The findings from the study in Spain led former Brexit Secretary David Davis to call for the treatment to be rolled out to every hospitalised Covid patient. But experts poked holes in the research and subsequent a study by researchers in Canada of 1.2million people found the nutrient does not affect the risk of catching or being hospitalised from Covid. Covid vaccines have been available for children as young as five in the U.S. since late-October, though some experts are still unsure whether the shots are needed, and some countries abroad have bucked the growing trend of recommending the shots to all young children. This week, Swedish health officials declined to open vaccine eligibility for all children five or older, deciding to instead only allow the shots to children under 11 who have a serious medical condition. The UK has a similar policy to their Nordic peer, allowing for all children 12 and older to get the shot, but only allowing children five to 11 to get the jab if they have a pre-existing health issue that puts them at serious risk. In the wake of the Omicron variant's rise through out the world, many European countries opted to expand vaccine eligibility in an effort to control the variant. Many health officials disagree with the decision, though, and debate has opened as to whether the shots are necessary. Still, though, in places like New York City, children must be jabbed to take part in some activities at school and to do things like go to restaurants or movie theatres. Covid vaccines are being rolled out to children as young as five years old throughout the world, though many experts doubt that the shots are necessary for people that young. Pictured: A young child in New York City, New York, receives a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine on November 3 'With the knowledge we have today, with a low risk for serious disease for kids, we don't see any clear benefit with vaccinating them,' Britta Bjorkholm, a Swedish Health Agency official, said at a news conference Friday. Covid has shown little ability to cause much harm to healthy, young, children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that deaths among children younger than 12 make up a fraction of a percentage of those that have died from the virus in the U.S. A study performed by researchers at the University of Utah last year found that 50 percent of cases among children are asymptomatic - and the study was performed during the Delta surge, before the more mild Omicron wave took over. There figures have spurred some to questions why children have to receive the Covid vaccines. Dr Michael Kurilla (pictured), of the NIH's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, was the only member to abstain in the FDA's advisory committee vote of 17-0-1 to recommend approval of COVID-19 vaccines in children ages five to 11 Dr Michael Kurilla, the director of the Division of Clinical Innovation, at the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences and member of the Food and Drug Administration's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), was the lone member to abstain from approving the shot for kids aged five to 11 in October. At the time, he told DailyMail.com that while he thinks children with certain conditions that put them at a high risk should receive the shot, he is not sure if healthy children need it as well. He also worried that the protection provided to children by the jab would quickly wane, and noted that previously infected children should already be protected enough - even without the shot. Kurilla had some concerns about the study Pfizer performed as well. He said the follow up period of only two to three months, potentially missing some longer term side-effects. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), and independent advisory committee in the UK, believes the shots are only necessary to certain young children. 'When formulating advice in relation to childhood immunizations, JCVI has consistently held that the main focus of its considerations should be the potential benefits and harms of vaccination to children and young people themselves,' the JCVI wrote last month. 'The benefits and risks from Covid-19 vaccination in children and young people are finely balanced largely because the risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection are very low. 'Of all age groups, children aged five to 11 years are those at lowest risks of serious COVID-19.' There is also the risk of myocarditis, as the CDC warns that young men in particular are at risk of developing the condition after receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Covid booster shots are starting to have their eligibility expanded among minors as well. In the U.S., and some European countries, children as young as 12 can receive a Covid booster shot five months after receiving the second shot of the initial vaccine regimen. Some health experts disagree with the prospect of giving the additional shot to their children, though. Dr Monica Gandhi, an infectious-disease specialist at the University of California told Common Sense that she does not plan to get her two sons, aged 12 and 14, the booster shot as the potential risks do not outweigh the benefits. Dr Paul Offit is the director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, a member of the FDA's vaccine advisory committee also said that he advised his son - who is in his 20s - not to get the third shot. He also said he would recommend against a healthy 17 year old getting it. Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious-disease specialist at the University of California, and Dr. Paul Offit, a member of the FDA's vaccine advisory committee, said the benefits of a booster shot for teen boys was outweighed by its possible side effects The World Health Organization's Chief Scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan, warned against boosting children as well. 'There is no evidence that healthy children or healthy adolescents need boosters. No evidence at all,' she said. Despite this, children in the U.S. could eventually need to be vaccinated to take part in some activities. In New York City, for example, a child as young as 12 must be fully vaccinated to take part in school activities, and children as young as five need to show proof of vaccination to enter dining and fitness facilities that do not have a mask mandate. Health officials have hinted that the definition of 'fully vaccinated' could soon change to include booster shots as well, and it is undetermined how this would effect these types of mandates. Dr Pavitra Roychoudhury (pictured), a bioinformatics expert at the University of Washington, told DailyMail.com that while the 'stealth' moniker given the BA.2 sounds scary, lineages of Covid variants emerging is not anything new The Omicron BA.2 lineage, or the 'stealth' variant as it has been dubbed, has captured headlines in recent days and is feared to be the next major threat of the pandemic. It has earned the 'stealth' moniker due to its ability to evade some types of detection. In order to confirm a case of the BA.2 lineage, cases must be genetically sequenced, a more arduous process that some other methods experts use to determine the circulation of variants. Dr Pavitra Roychoudhury is a bioinformatics expert at the University of Washington in Seattle. She told DailyMail.com sub-lineages of variants emerging has been common during the pandemic. While this lineage being more difficult to detect can be worrying, it is nothing to be alarmed about. She also said that this spring could be similar to last spring, where cases trended downwards and remained low for months before the Delta surge erupted over summer. The 'stealth' Omicron variant, or BA.2, does not have the same indicators that the original BA.1 Omicron strain has, which allows it to evade sequencing methods. Pictured: A man receives a Covid test at Los Angeles International Airport in California on December 22 Roychoudhury and her team specialize in spike gene target failure (SGTF) sequencing. The practice gathers a large amount of positive Covid samples, and tests en masse to look for certain indicators that tell what variant infected the person. Using this method, her team detected that around 20 percent of Covid cases in Seattle in mid-December were of the Omicron variant - catching the growth of the variant's prevalence before official figures were released days later. BA.2 lacks the indicator SGTF uses to make a determination, Roychoudhury explained. 'Unfortunately, [the lack of detection] has been leading to some people referring to this as a stealth variant, which sounds kind of a little bit scary, but really all it is is that it doesn't have that particular deletion that we were using as a signature or a marker for Omicron,' she explained. 'When we interpret SGTF data, we just have to remember that if we see ... failure rates drop it could indicate that this it might be BA.2 or it might be delta or it might be something else.' She said that the solution to this issue is to just keep sequencing, and build as large a picture as possible to determine what variants and lineages of the virus are spreading. At the moment, she says that five percent of positive tests are sequenced, which she describes as an 'adequate' total. A lineage having mutations that makes it harder to detect is not a 'unique' trait, Roychoudhury says, it can open a blind spot in sequencing. 'A lack of genomic surveillance is always going to be a problem,' she said, adding that there are already many blind spots outside of western nations like the U.S. and much of Europe, since many other do not have the resources to partake in robust sequencing efforts. 'In general, there are parts of the globe that we're not sampling, then we're essentially blind to variants that can arise in those populations... there are still parts of the world where we don't know as much about what is circulating ... that's a danger anywhere and regardless of any mutation.' It is hard to predict what the stealth variant means for the pandemic going forward. Early data from Denmark and Sweden shows that the lineage is more infectious than BA.1, but not more deadly. Covid cases in the U.S. are declining, down 20 percent over the past week to 589,222 cases per day. Nearly two weeks ago, Covid cases in America seem to have peaked at around 800,000 cases per day before sharply declining. These declines are being attributed to the Omicron variant burning out. After surging in December, Omicron infected so many people so quickly that it ran out of steam. BA.2 could pose a new threat, though. Every time the virus mutates, there is a chance it picks up traits that allow it to evade immunity - like what happened with Omicron. Not much is know about BA.2 and its interaction with BA.1 survivors, and whether it can re-infect people - and potentially cause the surge to start over again. 'I think it's just still early to tell,' Roychoudhury said. She also said it may be some time until that determination can be made. 'Like previous variants, you gather the data, you go and look back at the metadata for the people who are getting infected, you can look at their vaccination status, whether they got sick, whether they died and so on, and then correlate the lineage that they were infected with against what that outcome was. And that will tell us over time, what is happening in the real world with regards to this variant.' Despite this new threat, she is still hopeful that the Omicron surge will continue to recede, and this spring season could be the same as last year - where it looked like the pandemic was going to end all together. There have been a lot of false dawns in our long and deadly battle with Covid-19, but I am confident that we are, finally, coming out on top. At least for the we who live in the UK, there are several reasons to be cheerful: the rates of infection are starting to fall; restrictions are being eased; we have new anti-Covid drugs such as Paxlovid; which has been shown in recent trials to cut death rates by 89 per cent; and, thanks to the vaccines, hospital beds are no longer crammed with Covid patients. This is a cause for both celebration and sighs of relief because this new variant could have been so much worse. We are lucky that Omicron, although incredibly infectious, is far less deadly than previous variants or at least it is if you are fully immunised, with a booster. A new study by Imperial College London suggests the vaccine effectiveness against Omicron symptoms is between 55 and 80 per cent. And though it is still possible to get infected if you are fully vaccinated, it will be less severe. A man is pictured being vaccinated in Stockton on Tees The picture is different if you havent been vaccinated. According to recent studies in the U.S. and Switzerland, if youre unvaccinated and catch Covid, youre at least 60 times more likely to get sick and die than if youre triple jabbed. The vaccinated are also far less likely to get symptoms of long Covid, such as loss of taste and smell, or prolonged periods of tiredness, research shows. Another reason to be cheerful if youve already had Covid, your chances of re-infection drop dramatically if youve had the booster. A new study by Imperial College London suggests the vaccine effectiveness against Omicron symptoms is between 55 and 80 per cent. And though it is still possible to get infected if you are fully vaccinated, it will be less severe. Quite a few of my friends whove had Omicron, despite being triple jabbed, say that this time round it really was no worse than a cold. Richard, a teacher, told me that last time he got Covid he was laid out for ten days with taste and smell messed up, lethargy and terrible headaches, but this time hes had a runny nose, sneezing and a slightly sore throat. He is almost embarrassed to be stuck at home. In the UK, we are fortunate that most people are happy to be vaccinated and our vaccine programme has been rolled out so efficiently. In the U.S., where rates of vaccination are much lower, and where so many people are overweight, with high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels, there has not only been a tsunami of infections caused by Omicron, but record levels of hospitalisations. Death rates in the U.S. are currently averaging around 2,300 people a day and in 2020, before we had the vaccine, so many Americans died that there was a record drop in life expectancy, down by more than two years. There have been a lot of false dawns in our long and deadly battle with Covid-19, but I am confident that we are, finally, coming out on top In the UK, the drop in life expectancy was half that, one year (down to 78 years for men, and 82 years for women), but it still marks the biggest drop since World War II. Thats why, despite all the good news, there is a cloud on the horizon some people, such as those being treated for cancer or who have immunity problems, are still vulnerable to Covid. And yet despite all the evidence that vaccines are safe and effective, there are still lots of people who have chosen not to have them, including tens of thousands of frontline NHS staff who have until next Wednesday to get their first jab or face losing their jobs. I strongly believe that frontline NHS staff should get vaccinated, to protect their patients if not themselves. A close friend of mines father recently died after getting Covid while in hospital being treated for heart failure and though I cant prove it, odds are high he got it from an unvaccinated patient or member of staff. You would feel pretty angry if you, or someone you love, got an infectious disease, such as hepatitis, from an unvaccinated doctor. But that used to happen in the days before frontline medical staff were obliged to have a hepatitis B jab. I can remember, back in the 1990s, a London surgeon being jailed for lying about his hepatitis status. The judge told the surgeon that he had done a terrible thing by putting his own interests before those of his patients. B ut the few people who I know are anti-vaccine seem reluctant to change their minds, even when they get ill (which most of them have) and I fear that things could turn really ugly. On a more cheerful note, although the emergence of new variants is not only possible, but highly likely, there are plenty of labs around the world busy working on so-called universal vaccines, designed to protect us against future threats. Researchers from the University of Cambridge began safety trials last month of a vaccine booster that targets not only the spike protein, but other bits of the virus that are vitally important for its life cycle, which means it is unlikely to be able to evade our immune defences by changing that bit of its anatomy. Trypanophobes (people who are afraid of needles) will also be delighted to hear that this particular vaccine is delivered by a blast of air, into the skin, and there is not a needle in sight. All in all, I am feeling quietly confident about the future but in the meantime, while Covid rates remain high, I will continue to wear a mask in crowded, public places and avoid handshakes. The best time to exercise is... I often get asked what is the best time of day to do exercise. The glib answer is: Whenever you can fit it in. A less glib answer is: It depends what you want to achieve. Are you mainly looking to burn through fat, or are you looking to improve your metabolic health (in other words, things such as your blood sugar levels)? One study published in the International Journal of Obesity in 2019 found that a group of volunteers who mainly exercised in the morning (between 7am and 11.59am) lost more weight than those who did their workouts later in the day (between 3pm and 7pm), despite minimal differences in the amount of effort they put in. The researchers suggested that one reason for the extra weight loss is because the people exercising in the mornings burnt more calories across the day than those exercising in the afternoon. But before you abandon your afternoon workout, there are advantages to getting active later on. In another study, published in 2020, researchers from Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands discovered that middle-aged men with raised blood sugar levels who exercised in the afternoon (3pm to 6pm) got the most benefit, in terms of their blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity, compared with those who exercised in the morning (8am to 10am). So why do you get these different effects at different times of day? No one really knows, but it is almost certainly tied in with your body clock rhythms. Whatever the explanation, if you have the time, do try to do a bit of both. Poison that could ease pain Chronic pain affects between a third and a half of all British adults, and strong pain-killing medication such as opioids can have downsides. But, even so, would you be happy to be injected with a drug derived from a bacterial toxin so deadly its been used as a bioweapon? Yet this could be on the cards, following recent studies showing that a toxin produced by bacteria that cause anthrax a nasty disease can target pain-sensing fibres, holding out hope for a new form of painkiller. There is, of course, nothing new about developing drugs from poisonous bugs. Botulinum toxin (or Botox) is the most poisonous substance known to man, yet people pay a lot to have it injected. Then there is captopril, used for high blood pressure, which is derived from snake venom; and exenatide, a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, based on chemicals in the saliva of the Gila monster, a large lizard. Researchers from Harvard Medical School have shown that injecting the anthrax-causing toxin into mice blocks pain signals and because it specifically targets nerves that cause pain, they should result in fewer side-effects than common painkillers. London has left its European rivals trailing behind by being crowned the worlds leading financial district for the second year in a row. The UK capital scored higher than any other city including New York and Singapore, which followed second and third in terms of its attractiveness to the lucrative industry. The figures, published by the City of London Corporation, were another snub to those who claimed Brexit would decimate Britains financial services sector. Open for business: London scored higher than any other city including New York and Singapore, which followed second and third in terms of its attractiveness to the industry And they came just a day after US banking giant Citigroup announced it was planning a 100million three-year revamp of its head office in Londons Canary Wharf. The plans to overhaul the skyscraper were seen as a vote of confidence in London, where Citi employs around 9,000 staff. Douglas McWilliams, founder of the Centre for Economics and Business Research, said: Some of the Brexit doom-mongers were fairly extreme, predicting job losses in the City of up to 40 per cent. It looks now like there havent been any those which have been transferred to the continent have been replaced by new jobs created in London. With a score of 61 in the City of London Corporations rankings, London was far ahead of European rivals Frankfurt and Paris which scored 45 and 41 respectively. The cities were judged on metrics such as how easy it was for businesses to access technology, how active they were in green and sustainable finance, how many firms had attracted investment, and how easy it was for employers to access skilled workers. But the corporation pushed the Government to keep taxes competitive. It said the UKs tax burden on financial services firms was relatively high and corporation tax is set to rise again next year from 19 per cent to 25 per cent. British sports car company Lotus has struck a deal with a pioneering British battery manufacturer to build its first electric car in the UK. Britishvolt, which is setting up a gigafactory in Northumberland, will design and tailor-make the batteries used in the Norfolk brand's debut electric performance model, which is due to launch in 2026. The two-seat sports car, currently dubbed the Type 135, has been teased in a new sketch that hints a design that will hark back to the legendary seventies Esprit famed for its appearance in The Spy Who Loved Me. The two-seat sports car, currently dubbed the Type 135, has been teased in a new sketch that hints a design that will hark back to the legendary seventies Esprit The sketch shows the EV's silhouette closely mimicking that of the Esprit, which famously appearance in Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me where it turned into a submarine The drawing hints at an electric car design that's low-slung with prominent front wings and a flat rear panel and tipped wing - very much in the ilk of its iconic sports car that's fondly remembered for turning into a submarine in the hands of Bond. The new collaboration with Britishvolt means direct and localised development of batteries for the Norfolk car maker's upcoming family of electric sports cars. The partnership is the latest in a series of recent EV-related announcements that have boosted Britains car industry. This week Bentley pledged to plough 2.5billion into its plant in Crewe to turn it into a 'dream factory' for building electric luxury models. And it comes days after Britishvolt clinched 100million in Government funding and another 1.7billion from major companies Abrdn and Tritax to set up its Northumberland plant. Nissan has also made a major commitment to its factory in Sunderland with its own battery-producing gigafactory linked to the car production site. Battery deal: Britishvolt, which is setting up a gigafactory in Northumberland, will design and tailor-make the batteries used in Lotus' first electric vehicle Lotus, which previously had its own Formula One team, is owned by Chinas Geely and Malaysian conglomerate Etika Automotive. But it is based in Hethel in Norfolk, where it has a 2.2-mile test track. Car makers are racing to build electric replacements to their petrol and diesel vehicles, which will be outlawed in the UK in 2030. Britishvolt is building a 3.8billion gigafactory that will make enough cells every year for more than 300,000 electric vehicle battery packs. It is due to open in 2024 and will be the fourth-biggest building in the UK. Oliver Jones, chief commercial officer at Britishvolt, said the agreement demonstrates that the legacy one-size-fits-all cell strategy is no longer valid in the rapidly scaling electric car market. Legal showdown: Private equity baron Guy Hands The Ministry of Defence is gearing up for a legal battle with private equity baron Guy Hands over a property deal which has cost the taxpayer up to 4.2billion. John Majors government sold 55,000 homes designed for military personnel and their families to Hands Annington Property in 1996. Under the agreement, the MoD then leased the homes back for 200 years. But the National Audit Office has estimated the taxpayer is between 2.2billion and 4.2billion worse off because of the deal. In a written statement tabled in the House of Commons, Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin outlined plans to ditch the agreement and take back the properties. He said: Given our obligations to secure value for money, we have reviewed MoDs current arrangements with Annington and now set out the steps that MoD is taking to deliver greater value for money for the taxpayer in relation to service family accommodation. These steps included exploring its rights to buy back the properties, which the MoD thinks could be cheaper than continuing to rent them from Annington. The MoD said it would start with one home, in the Lincolnshire village of Cranwell, as a test and make claims for further houses if that goes well. But the spat is likely to end up with the MoD going head-to-head with Hands in court. Annington which Hands owns through his private equity group Terra Firma said the MoD has no legal right to take control of the Cranwell house or any others. It added: Annington will be taking all legal steps available to it to resist the MoDs claim on this single house and any other enfranchisement rights claims brought by the MoD, should they be forthcoming. The battle could hit Hands plans to sell Annington. He began scouting for buyers earlier this year, after Annington and the MoD settled how much the Government should be paying in rent in late 2021. Hands became notorious in the music industry after Terra Firma bought record label EMI. Several major artists left. Citigroup, the companys largest lender, ended up taking control of EMI. Terra Firma lost 1.5billion and Hands personally lost 200million. Heavy traffic clogs the southbound lanes of the Gyeongbu Expressway, which links Seoul to Busan, Jan. 28, as many people traveled home on the eve of a five-day break for Lunar New Year's Day, which falls Feb. 1 this year. Yonhap Despite a record surge of COVID-19 infections, the annual exodus for the Lunar New Year holiday began Friday, as South Koreans headed to their hometowns for family reunions or off on trips during the extended holiday. This year's three-day holiday runs from Monday to Wednesday and is extended by an extra two days due to the preceding weekend. Traditionally, Koreans head to their hometowns to be with their family members and visit their relatives. As the nation posted five-digit daily tallies of COVID-19 this week, the government is urging the public to refrain from traveling during the holiday, fearing gatherings of people will further heighten the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. Some people have given up on visiting their hometowns in accordance with the government's recommendations, while others are determined to push ahead with their plans to see their parents and relatives. The nationwide exodus is expected to create traffic congestion on major roads and expressways, and at railroad stations and airports throughout the extended holiday. Older customers are cautious over returning to bingo halls, Meccas owner said. The boss of Mecca Bingos parent company Rank has said it must be patient over the recovery of its venues amid continued caution among its older people, despite the easing of Covid restrictions. John OReilly said sales are taking longer to rebound across the bingo arm than its Grosvenor Casinos business due to the higher age of its customer base. Rank boss John O'Reilly said sales are 'taking longer' to rebound across the bingo arm than its Grosvenor Casinos business due to the higher age of its customer base He said: Bingo is a core part of these peoples weekly routines, but, for many, they have been understandably concerned about Covid and protecting themselves so we realise it will take longer for them to have that confidence coming back. Rank said net gaming revenue jumped by 88 per cent to 333.7million for the six months to the end of December, compared with the same period last year. Sales across Grosvenor Casinos steadily grew during the half-year but stalled in December due to Omicron. OReilly said he is optimistic now that Plan B restrictions have been eased in England, and there has been some easing of measures across Scotland and Wales. Financial abuse survivors are left with average 'coerced' debt of 4,600 and need help relearning basic money skills like using a bank card, according to a charity. Some 83 per cent of those affected have low financial knowledge and confidence, because a common tactic of abusers is to 'de-skill' a victim so they are unable to make independent financial decisions, its research shows. The organisation Surviving Economic Abuse says victims and survivors are left with long-lasting harm. It called on the Government to prioritise economic safety and place it at the heart of a new domestic abuse strategy due to be published soon. Long-lasting harm: Forcing or coercing someone into debt is a common and destructive form of economic abuse, according to a specialist charity The charity says one of its banking partners found that in cases of domestic abuse, by far the largest area of need is dealing with financial matters independently, such as help using an ATM card for the first time in years. The firm involved supported 1,836 people via its specialist domestic abuse team over a 10-month period in 2021. During the same period last year, a separate national service run by SEA and the charity Money Advice Plus found that 83 per cent of victims and survivors with a bank debt showed low levels of money knowledge. When first accessing the service, 51 per cent with problems linked to banking products gave themselves a money confidence score of 5 or less on a scale of 1 to 10. What is economic abuse? Domestic abusers use coercive tactics of many kinds, and one is to use money to control their partner. Both women and men might suffer from this form of controlling behaviour, although women are more likely to be affected. Read more here on how to spot it happening, ways to break away from an abusive partner, and what resources are available to get your finances sorted again. Surviving Economic Abuse has further advice here, and information on how to support and help someone else here. SEA says forcing or coercing someone into debt is a common and destructive form of economic abuse, and in its casework seven in ten of those it supported had a bank debt. A total of 193 bank debts it identified had a combined value of 889,000, making the average debt 4,607. The research above was carried out with support from the Aviva Foundation, a charitable arm of the insurance firm. Meanwhile, SEA says a previous study revealed: - Three quarters of abuse victims and survivors report that their partner kept important financial information from them - Six in ten report that their partner told them how they must spend money, rather than letting them make their own decisions - Three in ten report being stopped from having or accessing a personal or joint bank account. Ahead of the Government's publication of a new domestic abuse strategy, SEA called for it to recognise how economic abuse makes it hard for victims to escape and rebuild their lives afterwards. It says 95 per cent of those accessing specialist domestic abuse services have experienced economic abuse, and it was officially included within the definition of domestic abuse in legislation last year. He controlled what I wore, what I ate and drank, who I saw, who I spoke to, my social media, my telephone, our bank accounts, my credit card. He controlled how much sleep I had... Survivor of economic abuse, speaking to the charity SEA Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs, founder and boss of SEA, says: 'Economic abuse is an insidious and often invisible form of control, one which can trap a victim in a relationship with an abuser and leave them feeling like there is no escape. 'Even when someone manages to leave, the harm caused by the abuser the debt, the bad credit, the financial insecurity, lack of financial independence, knowledge and confidence - follows them around for the rest of their lives, preventing them from moving on safely. 'We need the Government to follow up on their recognition of economic abuse within the Domestic Abuse Act passed last year by taking urgent action to tackle this important problem and put economic safety front and centre of the new Domestic Abuse Strategy.' A Government spokesperson said: 'Economic abuse can have a devastating impact on victims' lives, that can limit their options to escape and access safety. Help! I'm divorcing my abusive husband 'He's left my daughter and I with little to live on and I fear fighting him in court...' Nicola Sharp-Jeffs of Surviving Economic Abuse and divorce lawyer Fiona Wood, partner at McAlister Family Law, answer a reader question here. 'That is why under the landmark Domestic Abuse Act, for the first time in history, economic abuse is now recognised in law as part of the statutory definition of domestic abuse. 'We will go even further in our forthcoming Domestic Abuse Strategy, which will seek to strengthen the systems in place to transform the whole of society's response to these abhorrent crimes.' The strategy is intended to prevent offending, support victims, pursue perpetrators, and strengthen systems to deliver these goals. In the Domestic Abuse Act last year, the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities introduced a new legal duty on local authorities to provide support for victims of domestic abuse and their children within safe accommodation, plus 125 million of Government funding. In 2020-21 the Government provided more than 28million to support domestic abuse organisations to deal with the effects of the pandemic, including up to 1,890 bedspaces for those seeking refuge. Ministers paid a consultancy firm 10million for advice on dealing with dangerous cladding even though it was being sued for approving the use of combustible materials on a London estate, MailOnline can reveal. Faithful & Gould received 80 per cent of the overall fees paid to consultants for help reviewing remediation work, with the remaining 20 per cent split between five other companies - according to data released through Freedom of Information requests. Just five months before their appointment in March 2020, the company was sued for 130million by Camden Council in London for its role overseeing the installation of dangerous cladding at the Chalcots estate. After this dangerous material was identified, thousands of residents had to be evacuated from five blocks while it was replaced with a safer alternative. Ritu Saha, co-founder of the UK Cladding Action Group, slammed the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for its decision to employ Faithful & Gould. 'It's not like Faithful & Gould is the only consultant in the country who can do this role,' she told MailOnline. Faithful & Gould is being sued by Camden Council in London for its role overseeing the installation of dangerous cladding at the Chalcots estate (pictured) Faithful & Gould disclosed details of the live case - which it is contesting - while bidding for the contract, which involves reviewing all grant applications for government funding to remove and replace dangerous cladding in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire. Miss Saha questioned why the government still decided to hand Faithful & Gould the major contract despite other firms also bidding for it. And she suggested the decision to give them the vast majority of the work rather than splitting it with several other companies could have fuelled delays that have left thousands of leaseholders stuck in fire-trap homes. 'There are plenty of firms who could have worked together on this and helped leaseholders receive their grants quicker,' she said. 'So I don't understand why the government would delay that and force people to live in unsellable death traps for longer than necessary.' The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said it was satisfied that the government's choice of consultant was 'sound'. Ministers have been criticised for the slow pace at which applications are being reviewed, with leaseholders forced to wait an average of 12 to 16 months for their grants to be approved. These delays have added thousands to insurance bills, as well as caused additional service costs including waking watches. Michael Gove, Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Moreover, the prolonged threat of financial ruin has hit residents' mental health, with a study by Sheffield University finding that many reported feeling depressed, anxious and suicidal, with some even making suicide attempts. Earlier this month, Housing Secretary Michael Gove said 'innocent leaseholders should not have to shoulder the burden' of cladding costs. Instead, developers and manufacturers will have to contribute to a 4billion fund, or face 'commercial consequences'. On January 10, Mr Gove told MPs: 'Those who knowingly put lives at risk should be held to account for their crimes, and those who are seeking to profit from the crisis by making it worse should be stopped from doing so. 'Today is a notice... we are coming for you.' However, there was widespread anger when it emerged that residents who have already spent money on service costs or on remediation, which is underway or completed, will not be reimbursed. This is the case for leaseholders at a Skyline tower block in Manchester. 'I'm glad people are getting help but it's painful to see we are being ignored again,' said 45-year-old Nathan Prescott. He added: 'When you hear that the government is willing to splash out millions on a company who is being sued in an active cladding case, but won't spare a penny for victims like us... I can't even explain the anger and hopelessness I feel.' In late 2019, Nathan's freeholder insisted they start work on the remediation. Residents at Skyline Central 1 were coerced to take out life-changing loans to cover the cost, ranging from 16,000 for a tiny studio flat to 30,000 for a larger property. By the time the 1billion Building Safety Fund rolled around in March 2020, it was too late. Faithful & Gould received 80 per cent of the overall fees paid to consultants for help reviewing remediation work, with the remaining 20 per cent split between five other companies The leaseholders were not eligible for funding, because despite fitting the requirement of 18 metres, work was already underway on their building. Mr Prescott has since moved into his partner's flat where he is still experiencing sleepless nights. He said his already poor mental health has been worsened by Gove's latest blow. 'There are people in my block who have come close to killing themselves over this and I dread to think what will happen if the government does not change their criteria,' he said. 'We didn't build this property. We never asked for our free holder to act so quickly. 'It's not our fault the government was slow to introduce funding and slow to wake up to how many leaseholders needed it. So why should we have to spend years in debt for something we never caused?' The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities refused to answer whether Mr Gove will review the eligibility criteria. However, they said the fees given to Faithful & Gould was money well spent. 'Contracting specialist services where needed to speed up remediation is a key part of our work to fix the cladding crisis- and we regularly review performance to ensure good value for money,' a spokesperson said. They added that 'building owners are responsible for the safety of their buildings and it is unacceptable that some are yet to start work on fixing these dangerous defects'. Faithful & Gould declined to comment. Advertisement Prepare for war: That is the message Joe Biden is thought to have delivered to Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky when the two spoke this week, after the US rejected Russia's security demands in eastern Europe. US intelligence believes the invasion will likely come in February, when colder temperature will have frozen the ground solid - allowing Putin's tanks and artillery to roll in without getting bogged down in mud. If they're right, that gives Zelensky and his generals just a few weeks to prepare their defences. No doubt the question being asked in Kiev right now is: Where will Putin attack, and what are his aims? Pulling together expert analysis and open source information, MailOnline examines the Russian strongman's likely options and targets, from cyberattacks and sabotage, to seizing ports and nuclear plants, up to a siege of Kiev and all-out Blitzkrieg across the country. A map showing where Putin's forces have assembled on Ukraine's borders, the military options Putin might be considering, and key targets he would likely go after in the event he chooses to invade - something the US continues to war could be just weeks away from happening Any Russian attack, whether a limited incursion or all-out assault, is likely to be preceded by cyberattacks and sabotage attacks targeting Ukraine's febrile border regions and key infrastructure. The aim would be two-fold. Firstly, to provide a pretext for Vladimir Putin to attack - possibly by staging false flag attacks against Russian civilians or rebel forces located in the east of the country, which the Pentagon has warned about in recent weeks. Putin and his inner-circle have repeatedly denied plans to 'invade', but in 2014 when Russia seized Crimea, the strongman played it off as a defensive mission to protect Russian speakers in the region who he claimed were under threat from violent Ukrainian nationalists. There are fears he will do the same again now. The second purpose of the attacks would be to sow chaos by bringing down power grids, communications networks, public transport networks, banks, and other public utilities. The aim would be to spark panic among the population which could trigger people to stockpile and create food shortages, withdraw money en masse and tank the economy, or flee vulnerable regions - snarling up roads and train networks, causing widespread disruption. Zelensky and his top advisers are clearly worried about this, because they have been keen to talk down the threat in recent days while urging everyone to remain calm. Depending on the success of the first phase of the operation, Putin could then consider military options - ranging from minor incursions in the country's east, all the way up to a full-scale invasion. Perhaps the biggest concern to Zelensky will be the possibility of an assault from Belarus, where Russia is currently moving forces on the pretense of staging training exercises next week. Ukrainian think-tank Center for Defense Strategies warned in a recent paper that such an attack would pose a huge risk to the country's ability to fight any kind of engagement elsewhere, since the capital contains important military infrastructure, command posts, and the seat of government. Russian forces are seen in a camp in Yelnya, around 80 miles from the Ukraine border, amid fears they could be about to roll across in an attack aimed at toppling the government David Shlapak, an analyst at the RAND Corporation, told the Economist that a siege of Kiev could be initiated to topple Zelensky's government and install a Russian puppet regime, without Putin having to seize or occupy more territory. Spies, special forces, and disinformation campaigns could be used to hasten the government's fall. A British intelligence source told The Times that an attack on Kiev could be coupled with an amphibious assault from Crimea on Odessa and Mykolaiv, where Ukraine's only two naval bases are located. This would give Russia control over two of Ukraine's largest ports, cutting off an economic resource, and hand Putin full control over the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. That would pave the way for attacks all along Ukraine's southern coast, possibly linked to an assault from rebel-held areas in the east. Likely targets would include Mariupol and Berdyansk, both major port cities, along with Kherson which contains a large military base and a key bridge across the Dnieper River. Ground forces may then try to seize a strip of land to connect rebel-held areas around Donetsk to occupied Crimea, creating a 'land bridge' that would allow Russia to freely reinforce its military bases on the peninsula. Russian forces would also be likely to seize a canal that supplies Crimea and which was shut by Ukraine after the 2014 invasion, causing shortages. Slightly further afield, a high-value target would be the city of Zaporizhzhia, which contains one of the country's largest coal power plants and Europe's largest nuclear plant. The final option available to Putin would be an all-out assault across eastern Ukraine to the Dnieper, seizing all targets of opportunity along the way. These include dozens of coal power plants located in the east, Mirgorod air base, military headquarters at Chenihiv and Dnipro and bridges cross the Dnieper at Kiev, Cherkasy, Kremenchuk and Nova Kakhovka. While Ukraine's government has been keen to play down this option, and other experts caution that Putin does not yet have enough forces in place to pull it off, Mr Shlapak believes it is possible. 'I don't see a lot between them and Kyiv that could stop them,' he said. Here is a look at each option in more detail... Option 1 - Cyberattacks and sabotage The softest option available to Putin includes cyberattacks and sabotage operations of the kind he has used in the past. This would likely be used as a precursor to a ground invasion The lightest-touch option available to Putin, this route would see him intensify the tactics he is already accused of using against Ukraine in a so-called 'hybrid war' that mixes both conventional attacks and novel forms of warfare. Rebel groups already operating in Ukraine's east could be given additional funding, weapons, and covert support by the regular Russian army to step up their attacks on government forces. While this would not dramatically shift the balance of power in the region, it has the benefit of giving Russia a low-cost way of putting pressure on President Zelenskyy's government via a war of attrition that has already seen more than 10,000 people killed and 24,000 wounded since fighting began in 2014. This would be coupled with psychological warfare aimed at destabilising the rest of the country, fomenting unrest, and making the government unpopular - perhaps with the hope of unseating Zelenskyy so he can be replaced with a leader more friendly to Moscow. Cyberattacks of the kind seen in recent years and weeks would be used to disrupt everyday life, for example by bringing down power networks, shutting down banks and ATMs, messing with traffic signals or public transport, or forcing businesses to pay ransoms which hurt the economy. Ukraine suffered an attack on Thursday when a member of the national guard opened fire and killed five inside a military factory. His motivation is unknown, but it is likely Russia would try to emulate these attacks if it invades As outlined in a recent paper by Ukrainian think-tank Center for Defense Strategies, this would likely be coupled with hoax bomb threats aimed at schools or other public institutions, along with the spread of disinformation to create mistrust in public bodies and the government. Other options include funding criminal networks within Ukraine to increase social unrest, or co-opting them into performing sabotage attacks in vulnerable or volatile areas - either to destabilise them or provide Putin with a pre-text for invasion, based on the claim that Russian citizens in those areas are at risk. Russia could also look to fund and arm domestic terror groups with the aim of attacking critical infrastructure, As outlined by the Center for Defense Strategies, the aim of such attacks is the 'destabilization and demoralization of the population' including to 'psychologically exhaust members of law enforcement, military, and the population as a whole due to the constant high threat level and periodic exacerbations. 'This can be both a basic form of hybrid warfare and a preparation for even more active hostilities.' Option 2 - Reinforce and expand If Putin opts for a limited military intervention, then he could deploy his forces openly in the Donbass, launch missile, rocket and jet attacks on the frontlines, and attempt to inch them forward - capturing nearby cities and power stations Moving up the ladder of escalation, Putin could seek to expand gains he already made in 2014 when he seized Crimea and the cities of Luhansk and Donetsk which sit close to the Russian border. This option, outlined by four-star US General Philip Breedlove to NBC News, would involve rolling Russian troops and armor into areas already occupied by Moscow-backed rebel groups in a visible way. Most analysts believe Putin's forces are already operating in these regions, but this is not acknowledged by the Kremlin. Openly declaring Russia's presence in the region, and possibly declaring Luhansk and Donetsk to be independent republics, would provide Putin with a way to step up pressure on Ukraine without a dramatic escalation in fighting. If Putin does choose to escalate the conflict, this could involve shelling towns and cities around the rebel-held regions, along with bombing runs targeting the Ukrainian front line with the aim of breaching it, as outlined by the Center for Defense Strategies which called the scenario 'very real'. Ukrainian service members operate 2A65 Msta-B howitzers during artillery and anti-aircraft drills near the border with Russian-annexed Crimea A Ukrainian Military Forces serviceman shots with a Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) Swedish-British anti-aircraft missile launcher during a drill Should the frontline breach, Russian troops could then manoeuvre through the gaps with the aim of expanding the rebel-held zone and seizing tactical assets such as power stations and communication networks that would make the regions more-viable as independent states. Several of Ukraine's largest coal-fired power stations are located in this region, at Such an approach would be similar to Russia's 2008 war in Georgia, when the Kremlin moved forces into Abkhazia and South Ossetia, declared both to be independent of Georgia, then went to to occupy territory beyond both regions before later pulling back. Alternatively, artillery and rocket bombardments could be used without the intention of seizing territory, and simply as a way to cause further disruption and create panic. Option 3 - Outflank and isolate A larger-scale Russian operation could include opening up a land bridge between eastern areas and occupied Crimea, as well as attack in the Black Sea to cut off key ports such as Odessa Given the number of Russian troops present at the border - much larger than the force that seized Crimea in 2014 - Putin has a number of options that would dramatically shift the balance of power in the region. One, outlined by defense analysts Scott Boston of the RAND Corporation, would be to attack west of the current frontline between Ukraine and rebel groups, using fast-moving armour units to outflank government troops. If such an assault could be completed quickly enough, it would leave government units surrounded, Boston told NBC. It could force them to surrender to the Russians, which would be both a powerful propaganda moment for the Kremlin, whilst also knocking out a significant portion of Ukraine's defensive forces. Another option would be to launch naval attacks in the Sea of Azov and Black Sea, where the Ukrainian navy is badly outgunned by Russia's huge Black Sea Fleet. 'The sea is Ukraine's weakest spot,' as Taras Chmut, a Ukrainian military expert in Kyiv, recently pointed out. Russian T-72B3 main battle tanks drive during drills held by the armed forces of the Southern Military District at the Kadamovsky range in the Rostov region A view shows Russian BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles during drills held by the armed forces of the Southern Military District Goals would likely include seizing strategically-important Zmiinyi or 'Snake Island' - located near Ukraine's border with Romania - which allows the country to claim territorial waters stretching 12 nautical miles out to sea, covering important shipping channels to the port cities of Odessa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson. If the island is claimed by Russia, those shipping channels could be cut off - isolating Ukraine from international markets and depriving its economy of vital trade revenues. Russia's navy could also blockade the Kerch Strait which leads from the nearby Sea of Azov into the Black Sea, cutting off the port cities of Berdyansk and Mariupol. Such scenarios are 'likely', according to the Center for Defense Studies. Given Moscow's naval dominance in the Azov Sea, it could also look to seize Mariupol and Berdyansk outright - opening up the possibility of ground troops moving through both to create a 'land bridge' extending from rebel-held areas in the east all the way to Crimea. Taking this territory would not only allow Russia to more-easily move forces to its bases in Crimea and supply its Black Sea Fleet, but would also give it control over a canal that supplies water to the peninsula. Ukraine shut down the canal following the 2014 invasion, and it has caused shortages in the region ever since. 'The idea of building that land bridge and seizing that water supply area, I think that's very much on the table,' Breedlove said. Option 4 - Blitzkrieg If Putin decides to attack all-out, likely targets include the capital Kiev which could be surrounded by forces stationed in Belarus, as well as assaults along the Black and Azov seas, in combination with a mass assault from the east Many analysts, including the Center for Defense Studies and the Ukrainian government, believe this scenario is unlikely given the number of troops Russia currently has at the border, the size of Ukraine, and the fact that it has a sizable army and population that is likely to resist occupation. But some believe a lighting-fast assault aimed at seizing huge swathes of Ukrainian territory is both possible and would provide the greatest benefit to Putin, depending on how it is carried out. As Russia moves more troops to border regions, including into Belarus, such a scenario appears increasingly likely. While there are many ways this could take place, the overarching theme would be a shock assault with large numbers of troops spread over multiple fronts - perhaps from Russia, Crimea, rebel-held areas of Ukraine, and Belarus simultaneously. There is even an option for Russia to attack from occupied Moldova, to the west. The aim would be to inflict maximum damage on Ukraine in the shortest space of time, throwing the government and its allies on to the back foot and significantly shifting the balance of regional power - likely as a precursor to reopening negotiations with increased demands from the Kremlin. David Shlapak, another analyst at the RAND Corporation, told the Economist that a so-called 'thunder run' deep into Ukrainian territory is not as far-fetched as it might sound. 'I don't see a lot between them and Kyiv that could stop them,' he said. This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows battle group deployments at the Pogonovo training area in Voronezh, Russia A Russian navy ship preparing to take part in exercises in the Black Sea, in Sevastopol, Crimea An attack from Belarus could be particularly devastating because it provides the shortest route for Russian troops to reach the capital Kiev - just over 100 miles. If Putin's troops can get there, the aim would be to encircle the capital and place it under siege. 'Kiev is critical as a center of governance, a concentration point of a large number of critical infrastructures, as well as Ukraines financial, economic and political center,' the Center for Defense Strategies notes. 'The advantages of a blockade of Kiev can significantly outweigh the cost of losses in personnel in the eyes of Russia. This means we have to give the highest priority to the defense of the capital.' A blockade of Kiev would not only do huge psychological damage to Ukraine's armed forces and population, it could also collapse the government and result in enforced regime change. 'Once theyre within rocket range of downtown Kyiv,' Mr Shlapak added, 'is that a situation the Ukrainians want to live with?' Michael Kofman, the research program director in the Russia Studies Program at think-tank CNA, added that Russia need not try to occupy territory seized from Ukraine in such an assault - a goal that most agree would be hugely costly, bloody, and unlikely to succeed. Having inflicted maximum damage, it could simply retreat before reengaging in diplomacy with a strengthened hand. This might appeal to Putin since limited attacks in the past have failed to achieve his goals. 'If [Russia] wasn't able to compel Ukraine towards a desirable outcome by taking half of the Donbass, what would another limited incursion achieve exactly?' Kofman added. Since the end of last year, an astonishing 37 million people in the UK have had their Covid booster to protect them against the Omicron variant that has been sweeping the country. But some people have yet to come forward because they either have concerns about the jab or are convinced they don't need it. So we asked experts, including GPs, pharmacists and immunologists, to address their concerns and explain why it's vital to be vaccinated for a third time. It's easy to get the free jab - book a time slot online and the jab itself takes just a moment Here's what they said about some of the common myths surrounding the booster: 'I've already had two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine am I not protected enough already?' GP Dr Farzana Hussain says booster jabs are a good idea because immunity from earlier vaaccines starts to wane from month four Sadly not. The new Omicron variant is highly infectious and spreading fast and two jabs are not enough. Having the booster brings your protection against falling ill with Covid back up to above 88 per cent. Dr Farzana Hussain, a GP in east London, explains: 'We know that, with vaccines, their ability to fight infections goes down over time, and the booster vaccine gives us a really good top-up. 'After the first two Covid injections, your immunity starts going down from about month four, by month six it does go down quite a lot more. That's why the gap [between the second and third jabs] is only three months.' She advises that anyone who has already had Omicron to still get the booster jab: 'It would be wrong to say having Covid doesn't give you any immunity, but the booster will definitely top it up for you.' 'I had my second dose of the vaccine not that long ago. When can I get the booster shot?' You can get a booster vaccine three months after your second dose. If you fall ill with Covid around the time of your booster, wait until 28 days after the positive test before having the jab. It's also not too late to get the first or second dose. 'Getting the vaccine has never been easier,' says Professor Mahendra G Patel of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. 'If you have not yet had a Covid-19 vaccine, it's not too late. Appointments for first doses are still available for anyone who is unvaccinated.' Professor Mahendra G Patel says if you haven't had your first or second jabs, you can get them 'I have a condition that leaves me immunosuppressed and vulnerable to infection. Should I still be having the jab?' If you are immunosuppressed, it's more important to make sure you're protected against Covid, and you may be eligible to receive a booster jab sooner than normal. If you haven't had yours, go to the NHS website to book an appointment or to find your nearest walk-in centre. 'I'm worried about the side effects of the vaccine. Is the booster safe?' Absolutely. It's been approved for use by the MHRA, an independent UK body which decides whether or not new treatments are safe for us to use. Millions of people have now been protected from serious illness by three doses, and most of those who have experienced side effects say they are mild and last less than a day unlike Covid, which can keep you off work for weeks. 'The common side effects are a slightly sore arm, maybe a little bit of a fever for which you can take paracetamol and you might feel a little bit achy and fluey,' says Dr Hussain. 'These are side effects we'd expect with most vaccines you might not even get them.' 'Why should I get the booster vaccine? I'm not clinically vulnerable' Covid doesn't work like that: many people in their nineties survive the infection, while younger people can end up in hospital, fighting for their lives. Then there is long Covid to consider. Around one in 20 people with the infection end up developing this serious and debilitating condition which can prevent them socialising, working and exercising for months, not to mention the strain it can put on relationships. GP Dr Sophie Newton says even young, healthy people should get the booster jab GP Dr Sophie Newton explains: 'Even healthy, fit people can suffer a multitude of short- and long-term effects from catching Covid-19, and they can pass it on to people who are clinically vulnerable. So it's definitely worth getting the booster.' Not only should it stop you getting seriously ill or even dying from the infection, it could also stop you passing it on to others who are clinically vulnerable. In fact, the unvaccinated are eight times more likely to be hospitalised than those who have had two doses of the vaccine and a booster. Prof Patel explains: 'Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic. They are the best way to protect people from coronavirus and have saved countless lives in the UK. 'Boosters give you the best possible protection against the virus and should significantly reduce your risk of serious illness and hospitalisation.' 'I wash my hands regularly and wear a face covering in public I'm already doing enough to protect myself' While they are both important tools in the fight against Covid, nothing beats being fully vaccinated. 'Those precautions are great,' says Dr Hussain, 'but if I was being attacked by someone outside my door, I would want to lock my door and also call the police I wouldn't sit there waiting for them to bang my door down. This is another tool.' 'I'm pregnant and concerned about the efficacy of the vaccine. Why should I get a booster?' Unfortunately, being pregnant can put you at greater risk of getting seriously ill with Covid and this brings extra risks to your child and increases the chances of your baby being stillborn or premature. The vaccine can help. Almost all pregnant women (96.3 per cent) admitted to hospital between May and October last year with Covid symptoms were unvaccinated. Dr Jen Jardine, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, is pregnant and has had her covid booster jab Of these, a third needed respiratory support and one in five of their babies needed to be delivered preterm to help them recover. Many newborns needed neonatal care. Dr Jen Jardine, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, is seven months pregnant, and has had her booster jab to keep both her and her baby safe. She says: 'Both as a doctor and pregnant woman myself, we can now be very confident that the Covid-19 vaccinations provide the best possible protection for you and your unborn child against this virus. 'I would strongly urge pregnant women like me, if you have not had the vaccine yet, to either speak to your GP or midwife if you still have questions and then book right away, today.' Research has proved the jab is perfectly safe for mums-to-be. 'Safety studies looking at more than 100,000 people who received doses one and two during pregnancy have shown that there's no increased risk of pregnancy complications with the vaccines,' says Dr Viki Male, a reproductive immunologist at Imperial College London. 'Is the booster jab actually effective against the Omicron variant?' Very much so in fact having the booster makes the vaccine much more effective against this new variant than having just two jabs. 'Two doses of the vaccine are very good at protecting against the Delta variant, but, as we know, the dominant variant now is Omicron,' says Dr Male. 'With Omicron, two doses of the vaccine are only 50 per cent protective against hospitalisation, and a third dose boosts that protection up to almost 90 per cent.' 'I'm too busy to get my booster' GP Dr Amir Khan says the NHS is trying to make it as easy as possible to get jabbed It's never been easier or quicker to get the free jab. Book a specific date and time online, and it will take just a few minutes to receive the jab itself. f you're never sure where you'll be on a certain date, wait until you're free and visit a walk-in clinic they're even open at weekends. Dr Amir Khan, a GP in Bradford, says: 'We know many people are juggling busy lives, which is exactly why the NHS is making it as easy as possible for you to get your booster. 'New vaccination sites have been set up across the country, and existing sites have extended their opening hours so that as many people as possible can get jabbed, as soon as possible.' FACT BOX TITLE Get your booster now by visiting nhs.uk/covidvaccination. If you live in Scotland visit nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine. For Wales, visit gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination. For Northern Ireland, visit covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated This article is part of a paid-for partnership with the UK Government A Georgia sheriff who last year reopened an investigation into the 2013 death of a teenager found inside a rolled-up gym mat at school concluded there was no evidence of foul play after reviewing voluminous evidence collected by federal investigators. Classmates at Lowndes High School in Valdosta found 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson's body on Jan. 11, 2013. Sheriff's investigators decided soon after that Johnson died in a freak accident, stuck upside down and unable to breathe while trying to retrieve a shoe that fell inside the upright mat. Johnson's parents have long insisted that someone killed him, and that school officials and law enforcement covered up the crime. Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk, who wasn't in office when Johnson's death was first investigated, agreed to take a new look last March after the teenager's parents helped him obtain the Department of Justice's case file on the death. Evidence in the file filled 17 boxes. In a written report released Wednesday, Paulk said all of the physical evidence, interviews and grand jury testimony 'does not produce anything to prove any criminal act by anyone that would have resulted in the death of Kendrick Johnson.' Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk said that the sheriff's office found no foul play after a second investigation into the death of Kendrick Johnson (pictured) Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson stand next to a banner on their SUV showing their late son, Kendrick Johnson, on Dec. 13, 2013, in Valdosta, Ga. A Georgia sheriff who last year reopened an investigation into the 2013 death of Kendrick Johnson, a teenager found inside a rolled up gym mat at school, concluded, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, there was no evidence of foul play after reviewing voluminous evidence collected by federal investigators Kendrick's body was discovered in a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School, where he was a sophomore, on January 11, 2013 In a written report released Wednesday, Paulk (pictured) said all of the physical evidence, interviews and grand jury testimony 'does not produce anything to prove any criminal act by anyone that would have resulted in the death of Kendrick Johnson.' The Johnson family and their friends sit outside of the Valdosta, Ga county court house in protest for justice after Kendrick Johnson's death The sheriff also bluntly dismissed allegations of a cover-up, saying: 'Any person who looks at this case objectively would know that it would be impossible to conceal any evidence due to the involvement of so many agencies and investigators.' Federal authorities revealed little information on their findings in 2016 when they closed their investigation into Johnson's death. The Justice Department released a statement at the time saying investigators 'found insufficient evidence to support federal criminal charges.' Johnson's mother, Jaqueline Johnson, said she doesnt trust the sheriffs findings. 'You didnt find nothing in 17 boxes? Thats the craziest lie you could have told,' she told WSB-TV. 'We already knew what team you were on. You are not on the team of righteousness.' In 2016, the Justice Department stated that there was 'insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone or some group of people willfully violated Kendrick Johnson's civil rights or committed any other prosecutable federal crime.' Johnson was last spotted in Lowndes County High School just prior to his death Kendrick pictured with his mother. The family was cautiously optimistic about the reopening of the case Jacquelyn Johnson holds up a poster board in order to bring light to her family's desire for justice in the case of Kendrick Johnson's death The family has filed multiple lawsuits alleging that the school district's superintendent, an FBI agent and a former sheriff conspired to cover-up Kendrick's death. Jackie and Kenneth also accused two students at Lowndes High School, brothers Brian and Brandon Bell, of murdering Kendrick. Video evidence showed the boys were not near the gymnasium when Kendrick was last seen and a judge in the case accused Jackie and Kenneth of fabricating evidence to support their claims. The Johnsons were ordered to pay $300,000 in attorney fees to those they accused of killing their son and the parties they alleged covered up the crime. The high school is located in Valdosta, just 15 miles from the border of Florida. Oxford High School shooter Ethan Crumbley is set to pursue an insanity defense after he plead not guilty killing four students and injuring dozens of other during the massacre. Crumbley, 15, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, terrorism and gun charges earlier this month. His attorney filed a notice on Thursday which will be used to perform a psychiatric evaluation on Crumbley where experts will consider whether the teen understood the wrongfulness of his conduct on the day of the shooting. 'Please take notice that... Ethan Crumbley intends to assert the defense of insanity at the time of the alleged offense,' the teen's lawyers Paulette Loftin and Amy Hopp wrote in a filing to the Oakland County Circuit Court. Under Michigan law, if someone is found not guilty by reason of insanity, they don't walk free. They must be referred to a state psychiatric center for custody and further evaluation. Someone who is found guilty but mentally ill still would be sentenced to prison but with recommendations that they get treatment. Prosecutors have previously noted 'red flags' in Crumbley's mental health based on previous behaviors which included allegedly torturing animals, bringing bullets to class and drawing depictions of guns on his schoolwork. Crumbley is charged as an adult in the November 30 shooting at Oxford High School. The teen is accused of killing four people Hana St. Juliana, 14; Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; and Justin Shilling, 17 and injuring seven others, including a teacher. A lawsuit has since been filed over the massacre which claimed that school officials James and Jennifer Crumbley were negligent in addressing the teen's 'disturbing' behavior.' Ethan Crumbley, 15, will use 'insanity' as a defense after he previously plead not guilty for his alleged involvement in a school shooting massacre Crumbley allegedly opened fire at Oxford High School in Michigan on November 30 where four people were killed and several others were injured Justin Shilling, 17, (left) died in the hospital after the shooting and Tate Myre (right) died in the school on November 30 Madisyn Baldwin, 17, (left) and Hana St Juliana, 14, (right) died in the shooting rampage at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit A prominent Detroit defense attorney Mike Rataj, who is not connected with the case, said that the move for Crumbley was expected from his lawyers based on his past experiences with insanity defense cases. 'I dont have all the facts. I dont have contact with the client. But from a distance, it seems to me that this is the most prudent form of action,' Rataj said, according to the Detroit Free Press. 'Sometimes it flies, sometimes it doesn't.' 'It's going to come down to a battle of the experts and whether the jury is going to believe that the kid cannot formulate the necessary intent because hes insane.' However, Rataj noted that 'people who are schizophrenic that doesn't necessarily mean that they're not guilty by reason of insanity.' Cornell University psychiatrist Dr Ziv Cohen noted that in order for the insanity plea to work, Crumbley would have to be considered to be completely out of touch with reality in order for it to possibly be effective. However, Cohen noted that Crumbley's young age may provide him an advantage for him which could even result in a lowered sentence. School officials became concerned about Ethan Crumbley a day before the shooting, when a teacher saw him searching for ammunition on his phone. Jennifer Crumbley was contacted and subsequently told her son in a text message: 'Lol. Im not mad at you. You have to learn not to get caught,' according to Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. If Crumbley is found not guilty of the charges, he will be referred to a state psychiatric facility for further evaluation Crumbley's parents have Jennifer (left) and James Crumbley (right) have also been charged for involuntary manslaughter after they allegedly gave their son the gun he used in the shooting as a Christmas present The day of the shooting, a teacher found a note on Ethans desk and took a photo. It was a drawing of a gun pointing at the words, 'The thoughts wont stop. Help me,' McDonald said in December. The drawing also featured a person who appeared to have been shot twice and is bleeding with the words 'My life is useless' and 'The world is dead' written. The gun used in the shooting was bought days before by James Crumbley and their son had full access to it, according to authorities. McDonald has said that James and Jennifer Crumbley committed 'egregious' acts by buying a gun on Black Friday and making it available to Ethan Crumbley to resisting his removal from school when they were summoned a few hours before the shooting. James and Jennifer Crumbley, later were charged with involuntary manslaughter. The lawsuit, meanwhile, was announced on behalf of the parents of Tate Myre, who was slain November 30, and other students who witnessed the shootings. It alleges negligence by school officials and Crumbley's parents over the attack. 'We're sad and heartbroken - our lives forever changed,' William Myre said at a news conference. 'Our family will never be the same. We're not doing good. All we do is walk around the house and think about Tate. We think about him every day. We sit in his room. We listen to his playlist off Spotify. Were not doing good, but were going to find a way to get through it together.' Victim Tate Myre's father Willam (left) and mother Sheri (right) appear for a conference in Southfield on Thursday after they filed a new lawsuit alleging that school officials and Crumbley's parents were negligent prior to the Oxford High School shooting Student Keegan Gregory's parents Meghan (left) and Chad (right) appear at the conference after their son witnessed the shooting of Justin Shilling in the school bathroom Attorney Ven Johnson shows a social media post that he says is from Jennifer Crumbley, mother of Ethan Crumbley, showing a gun during a news conference Attorney Ven Johnson shows a blowup of Ethan Crumbley's test review paper with notes and drawings The lawsuit, which seeks at least $25,000, names Oxford High School's dean of students, two counselors and three teachers as defendants. Crumbley and his parents also are named as defendants. The suspect's parents are accused of intentional, reckless and negligent conduct that led to the mass shooting. The Oxford High School staff and teachers are accused of gross negligence that led to the shooting by not removing the shooter from the school building earlier. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Oakland County Circuit Court on behalf of Tate Myre's parents, William and Sheri. Also named as plaintiffs are Chad and Meghan Gregory, whose son, Keegan, was hiding in a school bathroom with Justin Shilling when Shilling was fatally shot. The lawsuit also was filed on behalf of Lauren Aliano, whose daughters, Sophia Kempen and Grace Kempen, were hiding in classrooms during the shooting. A memorial was set up outside of Oxford High School in remembrance of the victims Flowers, candles and stuffed animals lined around the memorial in front of the school Detroit-area attorney Ven Johnson, who is representing parents in the lawsuit filed Thursday, said Ethan Crumbley knew what he was doing and 'clearly he was disturbed,' but his parents did nothing. Chad Gregory recounted during Thursday's news conference what his son witnessed during the shooting. Keegan Gregory was texting his family from a bathroom stall where he and Shilling were hiding. 'He was in that bathroom for five minutes,' Chad Gregory said. 'He was in there with a shooter who had just killed, wounded, injured. Justin gave him a plan that "if we get a chance, we will run."' 'He called them out one-by-one and Justin happened to be the first,' said Chad Gregory, adding that after Shilling was shot, Keegan was able to flee the bathroom. Two months later, Keegan remains traumatized, Meghan Gregory said. 'He's nowhere near going back to class, let alone functioning like a normal 15-year-old child,' she said. 'We have to check doors. We have to check under beds.' In December, Jeffrey and Brandi Franz filed a pair of lawsuits in federal court and county circuit court seeking $100 million each against the district. Their 17-year-old daughter Riley was shot in the neck and her 14-year-old sister Bella was next to her at the time she was shot. Their lawsuit says school officials and high school staff didn't do enough to prevent the shooting and protect students. A convicted murderer has been told by a federal judge that he can sue Amazon and its Whole Foods unit for refusing to hire him because he claimed to be rehabilitated after nearly 23 years in prison - despite lying about his criminal record on his job application. In a Wednesday night decision, U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan said Henry Franklin, who was convicted of second-degree murder in June 1995, could pursue a proposed class action lawsuit after being turned down for a grocery delivery job at Cornucopia Logistics, which serves Amazon and Whole Foods. Franklin, of Staten Island, who was paroled in June 2018, sued the companies on behalf of himself and other ex-cons who were denied jobs with Amazon. Amazon had determined through a background check that Franklin had lied on his April 2019 job application by answering 'no' when asked if he had a criminal record. Henry Franklin, who was convicted of second-degree murder in June 1995, was turned down for a grocery delivery job at Cornucopia Logistics, pictured, which serves Amazon and Whole Foods. The companies said Franklin had lied on his job application about his criminal past U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni, pictured in June, said Franklin could pursue a class action lawsuit against the companies after he argued that he was rehabilitated and no longer posed a threat to the general public Franklin's lawyers alleged he was rejected based on his criminal history, which would violate New York City law. New York law bars employers from rejecting job applicants based on their criminal histories unless the crimes relate directly to the jobs sought, or hirings would pose an unreasonable risk to the public. Without ruling on the merits, Caproni said the defendants failed to show that either exception applied, adding that Franklin 'has adequately alleged that he is rehabilitated and no longer poses a threat to the public.' She added that Franklin's crime had no bearing on whether he could deliver groceries since 'He was never convicted of a vehicular offense.' However, Caproni said she was 'sympathetic to defendants' likely position that they do not want a convicted murderer delivering groceries to their customers' homes.' The defendants and their lawyers did not immediately respond on Thursday to requests for comment. Franklin's lawyers did not immediately respond to similar requests. Amazon and Whole Foods had argued that Franklin's lie was reason enough turn him down, and he lacked standing to sue them because neither was his 'prospective' employer. Caproni called Franklin's pleading on the latter issue 'barely' sufficient, and said his rejection for lying could be justified, but said it was too early in litigation for Amazon to raise that issue. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of Amazon and Whole Foods job applicants in New York state and New York City with criminal records. The case is Franklin v Whole Foods Market Group Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. A US appeals court threw out the conviction of Matthew Connolly, a former Deutsche Bank AG trader, for allegedly rigging the Libor rate, once among the world's most important financial benchmarks, and ordered acquittals for both him and a London counterpart. The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan on Thursday found a lack of evidence that Matthew Connolly and Gavin Black caused Deutsche Bank to make false Libor submissions. Connolly, from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, had led Deutsche Bank's pool trading desk in New York. Connolly and Black, who worked on the bank's money market and derivatives desk in London, were convicted of wire fraud and conspiracy in October 2018. The pair were found guilty two years later of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. Last night, Connolly said he was 'speechless' to have won in court for the first time, having angrily said he was convicted and had his reputation ruined because of four emails. 'My family and I are very thankful this ordeal is finally ending, and that the courts have finally recognized once and for all my innocence,' Connolly told the BBC. Matt Connolly, pictured left, said he was wrongly convicted on the basis of four emails that showed he had done nothing wrong Connolly, a former Deutsche Bank director, exits the Manhattan federal courthouse in New York City on September 28, 2016 Pictured: Connolly, from Basking Ridge, New Jersey, had led Deutsche Bank's pool trading desk in New York British trader Gavin Black, pictured, former director at Deutsche Bank, at court when he was convicted of fixing Libor in 2018 'I am hoping the rest of the story emerges so others that have been denied justice get their peace as well.' Connolly was sentenced to six months of home confinement and ordered to pay a $100,000 fine, while Black received nine months of home confinement and a $300,000 fine. They had appealed on the basis the prosecution had not demonstrated they had violated the law. Connolly, former trader at Deutsche Bank AG, exits Federal Court in New York on October 17, 2018 The Thurgood Marshall federal courthouse in New York, where Connolly's convictions were thrown out on Thursday What are Libor interest rates and how were they fixed? The London Interbank Offered Rate (Libor) is used as the basis for hundreds of trillions of dollars of loans and transactions around the world, from complex derivatives to household mortgages. It is a benchmark that indicates the interest rate that banks charge when lending to each other and is seen as fundamental to the operation of UK and world markets. Interbank rates were first thrust into the spotlight during the 2007 and 2008 credit crunch when rates shot up as nervous lenders stopped lending to each other. The rigging is said to have involved the submission of false figures in order either to make more money for traders or to paint a false picture of a bank's health. The scandal, which allegedly meant consumers faced higher interest charges, saw eight banks and brokerages fined billions by regulators in the US and the UK. Advertisement The appeals court agreed in its opinion published on Thursday, stating the 'evidence was insufficient to prove that defendants caused (Deutsche Bank) to make Libor submissions that were false or deceptive.' 'The nine trials on both sides of the Atlantic have been a whole series of miscarriages of justice where innocent people were jailed who had done nothing wrong. 'The only Libor 'rigging' that was really bad was the lowballing. That was ordered from the top - from central banks and governments. And neither the Department of Justice nor the Serious Fraud Office has ever brought that to trial.' Federal prosecutors had sought 'substantial' prison time for both. The US Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 'We are elated that Matt Connolly has been fully exonerated in this contrived case,' said Kenneth Breen, a partner at Paul Hastings. Black's lawyer Seth Levine, a partner at Levine Lee, was 'deeply appreciative' of the outcome. 'Mr. Black did his job, as he has lived his life, with honor and honesty,' Levine said. Before being phased out this month, Libor, or the London interbank offered rate, had underpinned hundreds of trillions of dollars of financial products including credit cards, mortgages and other loans. Libor had once been calculated based on submissions from 18 large banks, including Deutsche Bank. Prosecutors said Connolly directed subordinates to arrange false submissions consistent with his traders' interests, while Black encouraged false submissions to benefit his own derivative trading. The alleged conspiracy ran from 2004 to 2011. Libor-rigging investigations resulted in about $9 billion of fines worldwide for banks, including $2.5 billion for Deutsche Bank in 2015. Connolly and Black's trial was the second in the United States of traders accused of rigging Libor for their own benefit. The convictions in 2015 of two former London-based Rabobank traders were also thrown out on appeal. Bassam Hamzy, the alleged kingpin of one of the notorious crime family, has clashed with a young member of a bitter enemy clan after the two came into proximity inside prison. Hamzy, 43, was being escorted by guards inside Sydney's Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre on Tuesday when he came across Bilal Mahfoud, a 20-year-old associate of the Alameddine clan, who was using a phone at the time. It is understood Mahfoud, known as 'a mouthy' inmate, 'spouted off' at Hamzy as the older man was being moved by the four specially-trained prison guards who are with him every time he's outside his cell, a source told Daily Mail Australia. The much-feared alleged kingpin of one of Australia's most notorious crime families, Bassam Hamzy, has targeted a member of a rival clan while on temporary release from the country's highest security prison. Hamzy immediately lunged at the younger man and spat at him before being restrained. The incident shows the bloody and high profile feud between the Alameddines and the Hamzys - which has led to eight shootings and several murders on Sydney streets in recent years - is being carried on behind bars too. While there was no physical contact between the men, Mahfoud 'insisted' assault charges be laid against Hamzy. Bassam Hamzy faces charges in May of running a large-scale meth operation from his jail cell As Hamzy, 43, was being escorted by prison guards at Sydney's Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre, he spat at Alameddine associate Bilal Mahfoud, who was using a phone (pictured, inmates at Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater) The source said the 'threshold' for assault is whether the spit landed on Mahfoud, suggesting Hamzy's aim was on target. 'About 8.15am on Tuesday, January 25, a 43-year-old inmate allegedly spat at a 20-year-old inmate at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater, a NSW Corrective Services spokeswoman told Daily Mail in a statement. After Mahfoud said he wanted to press charges, NSW Police were notified and officers from the Auburn area command are investigating. Mahfoud is believed to have been the target of an attempted assassination last November when a drive-by shooting sprayed bullets at his home in Guildford in western Sydney. He was forced to duck for cover to save his life from the late-night attack. Police later charged Mahfoud with acquiring a gun and ammunition while subject to a firearms prohibition order. He was refused bail and sent to MRRC - at the same time Hamzy was moved there. Mahfoud was jailed for breaching a firearms prohibition order in December and was sent to MRRC - at the same time Hamzy was moved there A young Bassam Hamzy (right) sits on a couch with one of his uncles, years before he wound up in Goulburn Supermax Who is Bassam Hamzy? Bassam Hamzy, 43, is the son of Lebanese immigrants Khaled and Lola Hamzy, who moved their family to Australian during the Lebanese civil war in the 1970s. In 1999 Bassam shot dead a teenager during a night out in Sydney and was jailed for 21 years. Hamzy was just 18. But while life behind bars is intended to be a deterrent for reoffending, it was where Hamzy thrived. He set up the gang Brothers 4 Life, and with a bevvy of mobile phones hidden in his cell, allegedly an a sophisticated drug and crime ring. He is understood to be a compelling talker, with an interest in legal matters who is also a devout Muslim and bonds with other inmates over Islam. Court documents in the trial over the murder of Brayden Dillon, 15, in 2017 stated Hamzy typically recruited vulnerable 'young Aboriginal men with substance addictions'. But his network is allegedly much wider, notably including active gang members in Sydney and some unlikely figures too. In December 2020 Wagga Wagga grandmother Bronwyn Anne Brown was jailed for a maximum three years and four months for supplying prohibited drugs for Hamzy. Hamzy allegedly communicated with his former solicitor Martin Churchill using client privilege rules. He is due to face court in May over charges of supplying a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs. At one point during the case Hamzy represented himself. Advertisement Hamzy, who was jailed for life in 1999, was moved from Goulburn Supermax jail to the MRRC recently. The move is not believed to be connected to Hamzy's upcoming NSW District Court trial on drugs charges, but is instead related to an internal grievance he has raised about his treatment in the prison system. Hamzy is set to face charges in May of running a large-scale methamphetamine operation from his jail cell. Hamzy has been behind bars since early 1999 for a string of serious crimes including drug supply, murder and conspiracy to murder. He will not be eligible for parole until at least 2035. This week it was reported that NSW police believe the Hamzy family has been 'crushed' with at least ten members in jail or dead. Since the family's bloody feud with the Alameddines kicked off 18 months ago several Hamzy clan members have been gunned down, including Mejid, Bilal Hamzy, Salem and Toufik Hamze and Ghassan Amoun. It is understood NSW police, via its 115-strong Raptor Squad which targets bikie gangs, intend to make inroads into the Alameddine clan. A police source also vowed there was 'trouble ahead' for the Alameddine family, believed to be connected to several fatal shootings of Hamzy family members. Bassam Hamzy is the former founder of the notorious Brothers 4 Life Lebanese gang and was jailed in 1999. He was charged in 2019 over the alleged supply of a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine between October 2017 and February 2018 across the Riverina and Illawarra. He allegedly operated the drug operation from his Goulburn supermax cell and communicated with his former solicitor Martin Churchill under the veil of client privilege. In 2009 Bassam Hamzy offered to surrender five rocket launchers, guns, grenades and ecstasy pills to police in a desperate letter as part of a failed plea deal on behalf of his father, Khaled. The Hamzy family name first came onto the radar of police in the mid-1990s, when Khaled was jailed for his role in a drug ring. Health worker organizes boxes containing COVID-19 self-test kits at a public health center in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap By Bahk Eun-ji Demand for at-home test kits has been soaring following the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in Korea, spawning fears that the country may face an acute shortage of the diagnostic kits. Fears are mounting as the government has shifted to a new medical response focusing on the early diagnosis and treatment of high-risk groups, with the country reporting an all-time high of 16,096 new COVID-19 infections for Thursday, including 15,894 local cases. Health authorities expect the daily infection tally to rise up to 100,000 in the weeks to come. In order to deal with a spike in the number of daily infections, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said that from Feb. 3, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests will be administered only on those in high-risk groups such as the elderly aged 60 or older, and those who have had close contact with confirmed patients. Low-risk groups showing suspected symptoms will undergo PCR tests only after rapid antigen tests or self-test kits show positive results. In accordance with the government's transition to the new COVID-19 testing system, pharmacists, as well as citizens, have begun to voice concerns that the shortage of self-testing kits could trigger another crisis as seen in the facemask crisis at the onset of the pandemic. Baek Hye-seon, a pharmacist in northern Seoul's Nowon District, said her drugstore saw an increase in the number of customers who purchased at-home test kits after the government announced that PCR tests will only be available for high-risk groups. "Customers usually buy 30 to 40 kits at once," she said. Some pharmacists complained about a shortage of supplies. Korea's daily COVID-19 cases reach yet another record high Korea's daily COVID-19 cases hit new high Lunar New Year exodus begins amid jitters over Omicron variant Choi, who runs a pharmacy in Mapo District, Seoul, said that people are stocking up on at-home test kits just like the stockpiling of face masks in the early stage of the pandemic. Panic buying occurs as a consequence of the surge of the Omicron variant which has brought new all-time highs in additional cases of COVID-19 infections day after day. Lee Sun-sook, 55, who lives in Seongbuk District, Seoul, said, "I bought them in a hurry this morning when I saw a newspaper article that said it may become difficult to buy self-testing kits as the Omicron variant cases surge with new record highs with every passing every day." "I know such at-home testing kits are not 100 percent accurate, but I bought them anyway because they will be much needed," Lee said. Kim Jung-hwa, a mother of two elementary school children in southern Seoul's Seocho District, said, "I bought a dozen of the kits in advance because I am afraid to go to a public health center to get tested where there will be crowds of people." "I feel more comfortable checking them at home in advance," Kim said. Some citizens said they joined the buying spree because they were anxious about the spread of the Omicron variant. Rho Hyun-mi, 28, an office worker in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, said, "I bought it because I was nervous about going down to my hometown in Daegu during the Lunar New Year holiday." "My parents are older so I thought I should check myself before I meet them for their safety," Rho said. Experts said that it is possible to detect cluster infections by using such at-home test kits, but the accuracy will be low if they are not used correctly. Kim Shin-woo, a professor at the infectious diseases department of Kyungpook National University Hospital, advised the proper use of the at-home test kits. "In the case of medical institutions, samples are collected by poking at the nasopharynx, but if you do it alone, you often cannot reach the point," Kim said. There are a total of 74 COVID-19 diagnostic reagents officially approved in Korea. Among them, the self-diagnostic test kits that can be purchased by individuals at pharmacies are three products manufactured by Humasis, SD BioSensor, and Rapigen. The rest are for professionals. NYC's Conflict of Interest Board ruled that Mayor Eric Adams can hire his brother for the role of senior security adviser but only for $1 a year as compensation. The ruling by the ethics committee was made on Thursday in a public announcement after Adams, 61, had initially sought to hire his younger brother Bernard as a deputy police commissioner for an annual salary of $240,000. This decision drew backlash and accused Adams of nepotism for putting his brother in a highly-regarded role within his own administration. The mayor first responded by reassigning Bernard Adams, 51, to be security adviser, earning $210,000 yearly and said he would seek guidance from the ethics board. The panel said that while a city charter prohibits public servants from seeking advantages for members of their family, it would grant Adams a waiver to hire his brother because the job of 'senior security adviser' would be essentially unpaid and carry no authority within the New York City Police Department. Eric Adams' younger brother Bernard, 51, can now be appointed as the city's senior security adviser on the basis of an annual $1 salary Eric Adams, 61, previously received backlash for nepotism after he initially wanted to appoint his brother in the position of deputy police commissioner on a salary of $240,000. He was later demoted to senior security adviser with an initial planned yearly salary of $210,000 In light of the inexpensive salary, Adams has stated that he will continue receiving his city pension of $64,000 after he worked as an NYC police officer for two decades before retiring in 2006. 'Bernard Adams is uniquely qualified for this job, and in order to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest, he offered to serve for the nominal salary of $1,' spokesman Maxwell Young said, according to the New York Times. 'We made this proposal to the Conflicts of Interest Board and they've agreed, and we're grateful to Bernard for being willing to serve the city for no salary.' According to a determination letter, no city personnel will be allowed to report to Bernard Adams and he will have no command of authority with the NYPD. 'It's face saving,' former Conflicts of Interest Board chair Richard Briffault told the Times. 'He's allowed to make the appointment, but he's uncompensated and he has no role in supervising anybody else.' Adams previously defended his decision for his brother's appointment in wake of the accusations made against him of nepotism. 'My brother is qualified for the position,' Adams said in an interview with CNN host Jake Tapper. 'Number one, he will be in charge of my security, which is extremely important to me at a time when we see an increase in white supremacy and hate crimes.' NYC's Conflict of Interest Board later granted Eric Adams (in white) to hire his brother Bernard (seen at the podium) on the condition of little compensation and no real authority in the position Adams argued that his brother understands that as mayor of New York City, he must strike the right balance between being protected from possible threats and being approachable to his constituents. 'He understands law enforcement,' Adams said. 'He's a 20-year retired veteran from the police department, and I need someone that I trust around me during these times for my security, and I trust my brother deeply.' Bernard Adams started his career in the 7th Precinct on the Lower East Side which was a rough, heroin-infested neighborhood at the time, before moving on to Brooklyn's 88th Precinct. Eventually, he was assigned to the NYPD's Queens headquarters. Bernard Adams retired with the rank of sergeant after 20 years of service in 2006. The mayor retired from the NYPD as a captain. He is one of the few members who appeared with Eric on the campaign trail last year. Adams also worked phone banks and handed out flyers for his brother's campaign. Bernard described his older brother as his role model when he introduced him during an election night party last November. This is also not the first time a city official to meet with board to put a relative in a government role. Michael Bloomberg brought his daughter Emma, left, and sister, Marjorie Tiven, right, into his administration, although they did not take a salary or were bestowed any prestigious titles Bill de Blasio's wife Chirlane McCray was the city's First Lady and headed a failed $1.3 billion mental health initiative ThriveNYC. City nepotism rules meant she was unable to draw a salary Former Mayor Bill de Blasio used his position to appoint his wife Chirlane McCray as the chair for a nonprofit organization called the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and also heading the failed $1.3 billion mental health initiative ThriveNYC. In addition, Michael Bloomberg also granted a waiver for his daughter Emma to serve as a research and administrative assistant in the mayor's office. Bloomberg also got permission for his sister Marjorie Tivens to be the commissioner of the United Nations Consular Corps and Protocols. Adams, a Democrat, was elected in November after pledging to tackle violent crime. New York City has faced an increase in crime recently, as have most cities across America. Through January 23, overall crimes are up 38 percent across the city. While murders are down, felony assaults, shootings, rapes and robberies have all seen double digit percentage increases. President Joe Biden will visit New York City next week to discuss combating gun crime with Mayor Eric Adams, a meeting that will follow the recent fatal shooting of two city police officers. The White House said Biden planned during the Feb. 3 meeting to discuss his administration's 'comprehensive strategy' to combat gun crime, including increased funding for cities and states to hire more police officers and pay for community violence prevention and intervention programs. The strategy also includes beefing up federal law enforcement efforts against gun traffickers, the White House said. Biden spoke with Adams by telephone on Monday night to offer his condolences over last Friday's shooting of two New York Police Department officers, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said this week. Officer Jason Rivera, 22, died the night of the shooting. His partner, Wilbert Mora, 27, was removed from life support on Tuesday, four days after the officers were fatally wounded after they were called to a Harlem apartment by a woman who said she needed help with her adult son. Authorities said the man, Lashawn J. McNeil, 47, opened a bedroom door and shot the officers as they walked down a narrow hall. A third officer shot McNeil as he tried to flee. McNeil died Monday. President Joe Biden will travel to New York City next week to discuss gun crime with the city's new mayor, Eric Adams, in the aftermath of a fatal shooting of two NYPD officers Authorities say Lashawn McNeil opened a bedroom door and shot NYPD officers Jason Rivera (left) and Wilbert Mora (right). Rivera died the night of the shooting, while Mora was removed from life support Tuesday Gun crime isn't the only problem, as subway attacks and some of the thefts that cities on the west coast have faced have also plagued New York. NYPD arrested a homeless man accused of shoving an Asian woman to her death in front an oncoming subway train in Times Square on January 15. Simon Martial, 61, is charged with second-degree murder after the incident in Manhattan when a woman was killed at the southbound N, Q, R and W platform at West 42nd Street and Broadway. Police have identified the woman as Michelle Alyssa Go, 40, who lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Meanwhile, brazen thieves have been hitting the same Upper East Side Rite Aid for months, forcing it to close - and now, numerous small businesses in the upscale Manhattan neighborhood, where residents say they are on high alert because of rising crime, are worried they will soon suffer the same fate after a string of thefts. Shelves are already bare in the Rite Aid store, located at the corner of 80th Street and 2nd Avenue because it will shut its doors for good on February 15, the manager told DailyMail.com, a day after a thief was caught on video boldly sauntering out with shopping bags full of stolen goods Robbery in New York City has spiked by about 33 percent in the week ending on January 23, according to the NYPD's most recent data, with 944 incidents compared to 709 incidents reported during the same timeframe last year. Overall crime has gone up by nearly 39 percent, with 7,230 incidents this year as compared to last year's 5,211 Empty shelves are seen at Rite Aid on the Upper East Side just three weeks before they're set to close. The store's closure is just one of many in the city. On February 8, a Hell's Kitchen store which has been rife with robberies in recent months will close, and on the Upper West Side, another store which experienced daily thefts shut down in November Shelves are already bare in the Rite Aid store, located at the corner of 80th Street and 2nd Avenue because it will shut its doors for good on February 15, the manager told DailyMail.com, a day after a thief was caught on video boldly sauntering out with shopping bags full of stolen goods. The brazen incident in one of New York City's wealthiest neighborhoods was only captured on camera because actor and comedian Michael Rapaport had stopped by to pick up his prescription mood stabilizers. He said it was 'pathetic' that brazen crime continues to spiral in the Big Apple because of soft-on-crime policies. 'These criminals know there are no ramifications. We have to put more of these mfers in jail,' he fumed to DailyMail.com. The Rite Aid's closure is just one of many in the city. On February 8, a Hell's Kitchen store which has been rife with robberies in recent months will close, and on the Upper West Side, another store which experienced daily thefts shut down in November. Just this week, there was news that a Rite Aid located at Clinton Joralemon Streets in the Brooklyn Heights is also set to close next month. The chain announced last year that it was shutting down about 63 stores across the US in the next few years, citing cost-cutting measures to save $25 million a year - but workers say that the thefts are part of the reason for the closures as inventory dwindles. Broadcaster Ray Hadley has slammed troubled television host Andrew O'Keefe as a 'low-life grub' while recalling how O'Keefe had criticised him over his own restraining order. Ahead of his morning show on 2GB on Friday, Hadley told the station's breakfast host Ben Fordham that O'Keefe had 'taken a big stick' to him when the radio veteran was the subject of an apprehended violence order (AVO) after his marriage break-up eight years ago. 'That low-life grub attacked me on social media because an AVO was taken against me, not for physical abuse, allegedly verbal abuse... and was then withdrawn within 12 hours because it could not be substantiated,' Hadley said. The former Deal or No Deal star was charged on Thursday over allegations he choked, punched and kicked a woman at his Sydney CBD bachelor pad. During his spray, Hadley added he doesn't delight in anyone's misfortune, but noted the charges against O'Keefe, which he has not entered any pleas to and are before the courts. Former Deal or No Deal star Andrew O'Keefe was charged on Thursday over allegations he choked, punched and kicked a woman at his Sydney CBD bachelor pad - and has since come under attack by 2GB radio host Ray Hadley 'That low-life grub attacked me on social media because an AVO was taken against me...' 2GB Mornings host Ray Hadley said of O'Keefe on Friday, in reference to a restraining order that was briefly taken out against him in 2014 by police on behalf of then-wife Suzanne (together, above) NSW Police allege O'Keefe assaulted a 38-year-old woman - apparently a potential 'business partner' of the one-time TV personality - after meeting her to discuss working together at his unit on Kent Street in the Sydney CBD on Tuesday. O'Keefe was charged with offences including assault occasioning bodily harm and intentionally choking a person without consent on Thursday. He was refused bail and taken away to a police cell that evening, with Daily Mail Australia capturing confronting footage of the handcuffed star shouting obscenities and kicking the walls of a police van, telling officers to 'get rid of the journalists'. 'F*** you, I'm a victim of crime. I'm a victim of crime you f***wits. F*** off,' he screamed as he repeatedly kicked the windows of the vehicle's cell. 'Get rid of these journalists you stupid c***s. F*** you.' Police have applied for a provisional apprehended violence order on the woman's behalf. The order would see him barred from approaching, assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing or intimidating the woman in any way. O'Keefe is expected to front Sydney's Central Local Court on Friday after he is inspected by a court clinician. The identity of the woman he is accused of assaulting has been suppressed. O'Keefe was refused bail on Thursday afternoon and taken away to a police cell, with Daily Mail Australia capturing confronting footage of the handcuffed star shouting obscenities and kicking the walls of a police van (pictured) O'Keefe was held at Day St Police station (pictured) awaiting interview after his arrest on Thursday Hadley was referring to NSW police briefly applying for an AVO against Hadley in 2014, after the radio star's former wife Suzanne had visited Hornsby police station. Hadley did not report to work that day. Soon after she asked for the application to be withdrawn. A police statement said at the time: 'Late this afternoon, police had further contact with the woman and as a result NSW Police will no longer be pursuing the application for an AVO'. Just what O'Keefe said that irritated Hadley at the time is unclear, with several of his social media profiles taken down in the following years. Hadley has recently caused controversy recently for his hardline 'Covid-Zero' views and constant criticism of NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet's attempts to re-open Australia's biggest state. Hadley claimed Mr Perrottet had referred to he and others as 'bedwetters' over their criticism of the NSW government for rolling back Covid restrictions as the Omicron variant reached Australia in mid-December. In an interview with Mr Perrottet on January 17, he also claimed former premier Gladys Berejiklian and other government members had leaked information to him about NSW cabinet decisions because they were unhappy with Mr Perrottet. O'Keefe's AVO hearing will will be heard at Downing Centre Local Court on February 2. Video footage captured the terrifying moment a man's high-end watch was snatched by a gun-toting duo during a terrifying broad daylight robbery in Los Angeles that started when the bad guys rear-ended the victim's vehicle. A nurse identifying himself only as Pavlo said the trouble began when he was driving through the Sherman Oaks neighborhood Monday with his arm hanging out the window. His exposed limb gave others a view of the Rolex on his left wrist, and he believes that made him a marked target for a trio of thieves who crossed his path. While stopped at a traffic light, he said a white Mercedes sedan bumped into his car, prompting him to shift his car into park and get out to inspect the damage. At that moment, his cellphone caught on camera two men ambushing him and demanding the watch. After snatching it away, they made off. 'It's become very dangerous to live right now in Los Angeles,' Pavlo told KTLA. A nurse, who identified himself only as Pavlo, said he was held up at gunpoint in Los Angeles after his car was rear-ended in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood He emerged from his car following the fender bender to inspect the damage, but was instead ambushed by the man above, who were caught on his cellphone video camera Both gunmen concealed their faces with masks as they repeatedly demanded their victim to voluntarily remove his Rolex Both of the robbers were wearing face masks and hoodies during the hold-up, during which they repeatedly ordered their victim to hand over his Rolex, a luxury brand that sells new for about $5,000 and up. 'Take it off,' one gunman said, repeating frantically: 'Take it off. Take it off. Take it off.' Pavlo said he was held up at gunpoint by one man as the other thief held up his arm and removed the watch. Pavlo said though he considered fighting back, he thought better of the idea. 'When you're held at gunpoint, you feel terrible,' he said. 'You understand that if you stand up or move, you're gonna get a bullet and your life probably will be done.' Los Angeles Police Department Officer Mike Lopez confirmed the incident to DailyMail.com, and said it happened about 1:30 pm at the intersection of Van Nuys Boulevard and Huston Street. He said the culprits remained on the loose as of Thursday afternoon. Pictured: the Mercedes that rear-ended the victim in broad daylight Monday afternoon. Police did not say whether the car was stolen Violent crime in Los Angeles has been increasing in Los Angeles, where a gang of thieves was caught on camera raiding an Ulta Beauty store last week. Homicides in the City of Angels rose 52 percent last year from 2019, while shootings increased 59 percent, according to LAPD data. The city has also suffered a shocking wave of follow-home robberies and organized smash-and-grab attacks on retailers, as the statistic went up 41.6 percent in 2021. Last month, Beverly Hills residents were stunned by the home invasion murder of Jacqueline Avant, who was gunned down in front of her husband, famed music producer Clarence Avant. They are on opposite sides of one of the most harrowing chapters in human history. Former GP Noemie Lopian is the daughter of two Holocaust survivors. Writer and teacher Derek Niemann is the grandson of a Nazi war criminal and SS officer. Yet the two have forged an unlikely friendship and now travel the country (and abroad) together to tell their stories and remind people of the horrors of Nazi genocide and the dangers of racial hatred. Remarkably, given her painful family background, it was Noemie, 55, who initiated the first meeting which would lead to their partnership, feeling compelled to meet the man whose grandfather had played a role in the suffering and murder of millions of Jewish people during the Holocaust. 'Sometimes I can't believe I did it,' says Noemie, a mother-of-four, who lives in Manchester with her husband, Dani, a businessman. Noemie Lopian is the daughter of two Holocaust survivors. Writer and teacher Derek Niemann (both pictured) is the grandson of a Nazi war criminal. The pair have formed a friendship 'Why would I want to? But it came down to something deep within me. A need to be proactive about my past and find a way to use it for the good. 'And when we met, Derek so readily agreed that we had to do something together.' Noemie's mother, Renee Bornstein was just 10 when she was imprisoned by the Gestapo after trying to flee her native France. Noemie's late father, Ernst, endured incalculable suffering in labour and concentration camps during the war including the notorious Dachau concentration camp near Munich. His own parents and two of his siblings perished in Auschwitz. During the same period Derek's grandfather, Karl Niemann, who had voluntarily joined the Nazi party, had been recruited by the SS as an accountant and administrator. Rising to the equivalent rank of an SS captain, he organised slave labour in concentration camps such as Auschwitz, Dachau, Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen. Karl died before his grandson was born. Derek, now 60, only learned the chilling family secret a decade ago, since his own father, Rudi, had never disclosed the truth of his background. Instead Rudi had described Karl as a lowly bank clerk leading an ordinary life in Berlin. Noemie's mother, Renee Bornstein was 10 when she was imprisoned by the Gestapo. Noemie's late father, Ernst, suffered in concentration camps. Pictured: Noemie, left, with her parents, brother Alain and sister Muriel) During the same period Derek's grandfather, Karl Niemann (pictured), who had voluntarily joined the Nazi party, had been recruited by the SS as an accountant and administrator And so, on a trip to Berlin 10 years ago, Derek decided look up to the house where his father had grown up. Cross referencing the name and address online, horrifying words filled the screen. 'Home of SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Karl Niemann crimes against humanity use of slave labour.' Derek said: 'I was completely shocked. There hadn't been a single clue. My father always said his father was a pen pusher. It was unbelievable.' Pledging to find out more, Derek began to probe his father and her sister, going on to write a book, A Nazi in the Family, about his family it was published three years ago. His father died in 2017. Meanwhile Noemie had given up her work as a GP to raise her children and work in Holocaust education. When she heard about Derek's book via a Facebook contact she felt compelled to meet him, introducing herself after discovering he was giving a talk in London. The two immediately connected, pledging to tell their stories to fight Holocaust denial and rising antisemitism. Not least on Holocaust Memorial Day, which takes place every year on January 27th. Yet however many times Noemie hears Derek`s words she always endures his story with stirring unease. Not least when he talks of one of his father`s particular memories: how the family had stayed in the SS barracks at Dachau. Rudi, then a child, remembered his parents standing at the window looking out at a low building with smoke rising from a chimney. Rudi's mother said to her husband - 'You know what they're doing there? They're burning the Jews. They're killing them, and then burning the bodies.' Noemie's own father, Ernst, spent part of his harrowing internment in Dachau. Ernst remained in Germany after the war, qualifying as both a dentist and a doctor. He died of a heart attack when he was just 55 and Noemie was 12 after which the family moved to the UK. But her mother, Renee is profoundly supportive of her daughter's friendship with Derek and his family and gave it her blessing. Seeing it as a need to show the world what, in Karl Niemann, ordinary people are capable of. Derek (pictured with Noemie), now 60, only learned the chilling family secret a decade ago, since his own father, Rudi, had never disclosed the truth of his background It was Noemie, 55, who initiated the first meeting with Derek and now they travel to tell their stories and remind people of the horrors of Nazi genocide and the dangers of racial hatred Noemie said: 'My father was such a humane man. As a doctor after the war, he treated everyone including Germans. He wouldn't allow himself to hate. He said hatred eats up the person who hates.' Ernst did write a book, The Long Night, chronicling his terrible experiences. Published only in German in 1967, Noemie could only bring herself to read it nearly 30 years later after which she had it translated into English. She is now working on an animated version of The Long Night as well as a narrative computer game to help educate young people about the Holocaust. Karl Niemann was interned in prison camps for about three years after the end of the war, and was sent to the denazification commission and charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. However, clearly this failed to have a sobering effect on his son, Rudi who remained openly antisemitic. 'My father had Jewish friends yet made disparaging remarks about 'those Jews'. I remember my mum once wanted to buy a menorah, and he said: 'I'm not having that Jewish thing in the house.' Little wonder Noemie and Derek continue their quest to spread their message to anyone who will listen 'Derek and I want to inspire people to have the courage to speak out. And to realise that people can be united even from different backgrounds in a common cause of humanity.' Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced 18 Covid-related deaths in the state, including an unvaccinated person aged in their 30s. New Covid cases in Queensland fell to 9,974 and hospitalisations were down to 818 people, with 54 people now in ICU. Ms Palaszczuk said the state appeared to have avoided the worst of the health department's earlier modelling, including more than 500 people in ICU units 'We were planning for the worst case scenario,' she said. 'It's absolutely heartening to date that the modelling is below our worst case scenario. 'The [Omicron] peak is on us now in the south-east [of Queensland].' Ms Palaszczuk said modelling from earlier this month had suggested the state would need 5,000 beds and around 500 ICU places for Covid patients. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state had planned for a worst-case scenario that had not yet eventuated Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said the deaths included one person in their 30s, four in their 60s, four in their 70s, seven in their 80s and two in their 90s. Six people were unvaccinated, two had received two doses of a vaccine and three had also received a booster. Dr Gerrard said evidence suggested the Omicron peak had passed on the Gold Coast as the hospitalisation rate continued to fall. Ms Palaszczuk said 1.3million Queenslanders had now been jabbed with a booster. Health workers attend a Covid-19 testing site in Brisbane as Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said the peak of the current Omicron was approaching in south-east Queensland The state's vaccination rate was now at 91.9 per cent for a first dose of vaccine and 89.33 per cent double dosed. Dr Gerrard warned Queenslanders against going out and celebrating the end of the pandemic too soon. 'This is not over.. The news is good so far but dont go out and celebrate just yet,' he cautioned. 'We are doing way better than expected but we dont want complacency.' The premier said the state's back-to-schools plan was being finalised as education minister Grace Grace continued to battle her own Covid infection. 'Parents will have a full week before February 7 to see our plan,' she said. She said 30 per cent of 5-11-year-olds had now received a first dose of a Covid vaccine. After almost two years fighting Covid, the NHS is under pressure as never before. There are almost six million on its waiting list for routine treatments 300,000 of whom have been waiting for more than a year, compared with just 1,600 before the pandemic. Worse, thanks to a shortfall of 93,000 staff, it has rarely been less well equipped to deal with a huge backlog. The Government's response has been to promise the Health Service an extra 12 billion a year funded by a 1.25 per cent increase in National Insurance. Given that households are already suffering from a sharp rise in the cost of living, this tax rise couldn't be coming at a worse time. So is there really no other way that we can help the NHS? The truth is, like many large organisations, it could free up billions if it curbed inefficiency and made savings. Here are a few suggestions of how to raise that 12 billion without hiking taxes . . . DON'T KEEP PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL SO LONG Saving: 2bn Out of 142 NHS trusts, one in six hospitals recorded length of stays 20 per cent above average. (Stock image) British patients spend significantly longer in hospital for the same operations and procedures compared with other countries, according to a study by the healthcare think-tank the King's Fund in 2015. It found that patients in Sweden spent 15 per cent less time in hospital, while in Australia it was 18 per cent, in France 20 per cent and in Norway 36 per cent. Out of 142 NHS trusts, one in six hospitals recorded length of stays 20 per cent above average. Cut these, calculated the King's Fund, and the NHS could treat 18 per cent more acute patients or alternatively save taxpayers some money. With a stay in an NHS acute bed costed at 400 a day, reducing the length of time that patients have to spend in hospital by just 10 per cent would save 2 billion a year. END THE DISEASE OF BED-BLOCKING Saving: 546m Prior to the pandemic, the NHS itself calculated that 2,500 beds were occupied because of delays in discharging people to care homes. (Stock image) As well as some patients spending more time in hospital than they really need to for routine operations, many beds are occupied by people who don't need to be in hospital at all. Prior to the pandemic, the NHS itself calculated that 2,500 beds were occupied because of delays in discharging people to care homes, and a further 2,500 beds were blocked because of delays in arranging community health services where people are looked after at home with the aid of carers. If these delays were eradicated, it could free up 5,000 beds about one in 28 beds in NHS hospitals in England. Obviously, discharging people into the care sector requires money to be spent there, but it costs a lot less to look after people in a care home than it does in an NHS acute bed. While the Health Service claims that each blocked bed costs it 400 a day, the average care home costs, according to Care UK, are 704 per week or just over 100 a day. Discharging all 5,000 patients into care homes could save 10.5 million per week or 546 million a year. STOP RELYING ON SO MANY AGENCY STAFF Saving: 360m If the NHS could trim just 15 per cent from the remaining spend on agency staff it would save 360 million a year. (Stock image) Prior to the pandemic, the NHS recognised that it was employing too many agency staff at inflated prices, and had reduced the annual bill from 3.7 billion in 2015/16 to 2.4 billion in 2019/20. In one case, in 2017, just five agency staff were found to have billed 2 million between them an average of 400,000 each. If the NHS could trim just 15 per cent from the remaining spend on agency staff it would save 360 million a year. PUT TEST AND TRACE OUT OF ITS MISERY Saving: 7bn Launched towards the end of the first lockdown in 2020, Test And Trace was supposed to help us return us to normal life by swiftly detecting people infected with coronavirus either by app or by a separate, telephone-based tracing system and alerting them to self-isolate. In 2020/21, 13.5 billion ended up being spent on the service but, on some days, as few as 11 per cent of staff were actually being utilised. (Stock image) Such were the claims made for the system that the Government allocated it a massive budget of 37 billion. Yet by September 2020 Sage scientists were saying that it was only making a 'marginal' difference and we ended up going into two more lockdowns. In 2020/21, 13.5 billion ended up being spent on the service but, on some days, as few as 11 per cent of staff were actually being utilised. A study found that as few as 18 per cent of people experiencing symptoms got a test and only 43 per cent fully complied with the requirement to self-isolate, though the figure was higher for those who had received a positive test. Those testing positive were supposed to give details of all their contacts but how could they possibly know the identity of people, say, whom they had sat next to on a train or bus? Test And Trace has now been subsumed into the new UK Health Security Agency, but it is still consuming public money which could be better used on NHS treatment. Of the 13.5 billion spent on Test And Trace last year, 1.8 billion was spent on tracing contacts. A further 10.4 billion was spent on testing including handing out 691 million free lateral flow tests. There is no data on how many of these are actually used other than that only 96 million test results were reported to the NHS. For all we know, some of these tests may be being collected for free from the NHS and fraudulently sold abroad. How about eliminating the tracing element of Test And Trace and cutting in half the money spent on tests? That would save an astonishing 7 billion a year. STOP WASTING MONEY ON HEAD-HUNTERS Saving: 2.5m In his report on NHS efficiency in 2016, Lord Carter of Coles found that NHS trusts spent 50,000 on recruitment agencies every time they recruited a chief executive yet most of the successful candidates were already working for the NHS at other trusts. Worse, chief executives were only staying in their posts for an average of two and a half years, with one in five spending less than a year in the job. It was creating a merry-go-round of executives hugely profitable for corporate recruitment companies, but costing the taxpayer 2.5 million a year. INCREASE STAFF PRODUCTIVITY Saving: 280m In 2019/20, the NHS spent 56.1 billion on staffing costs and only last week figures published by the Office for National Statistics showed that healthcare productivity decreased by 1.9 per cent in the financial year ending April 2020, following a drop of 0.4 per cent in the previous year. If the NHS could reverse this dismal trend, and productivity was to rise by just an extra 0.5 per cent, it would save 280 million a year. SPEND MORE WISELY ON MEDICAL SUPPLIES Saving: 400m The NHS necessarily spends a great deal of money on supplies, from medicines to bed sheets. Yet in many cases it is needlessly overpaying for them. The costs of drugs is by far the biggest bill incurred by the trusts, accounting for 16 billion of the 24billion they spend on supplies. The costs of drugs is by far the biggest bill incurred by the trusts, accounting for 16 billion of the 24billion they spend on supplies. (Stock image) But Lord Carter's 2016 report found that some trusts were spending 2.5 times as much on the same drugs as other trusts. It was the same story when it came to devices such as hip replacements. A study of 15 trusts found that the most profligate was spending more than twice as much for artificial hip joints as the most economical. It wasn't that the bigger spenders were getting a better class of device and nor was it a matter of economies of scale (some larger trusts were paying more than smaller ones). Lord Carter put the value of potential savings from procurement at 800 million a year. Some of these savings may have been made since he wrote his report, but if we assume, for the sake of argument, that half the them have yet to be made, there would still be scope to make economies of 400 million a year. STOP OVERPAYING FOR ESSENTIALS Saving: 350m NHS profligacy is not limited to medical equipment. NHS trusts have been found to be overpaying for the most basic supplies. An investigation into the issue found that one hospital trust, in Sunderland, was paying 66p for each toilet roll while another trust was procuring them for 34p each. But even that is more than anyone need pay. This week Aldi is selling packs of 16 working out at just 23p a roll. Lord Carter estimated the savings to be made from general procurement at 700 million. Again, let's be charitable and assume that half these costs have been made. That would still leave 350 million to be saved. CUT ADMIN COSTS Saving: 150m Lord Carter's NHS efficiency report also found an inexplicable variation in administration costs between NHS trusts with some spending 11 per cent of their budgets on it and others 6 per cent. If the worst offenders could cut their costs in line with the most efficient trusts, he estimated that it would save 300 million a year. Even if half of these costs have since been saved, the NHS could still save 150 million a year. MAKER BETTER USE OF BUILDINGS Saving: 1bn We are still paying through the nose for Tony Blair's hospital-building programme funded by the Private Finance Initiative (PFI), under which the design, build and operation of hospitals was farmed out to private companies. A report by the think-tank IPPR in 2019 found that by the time the last contract expires in 2050, taxpayers will have paid 80 billion for 13 billion worth of new hospitals. There isn't much the current Government can do about that, yet some hospitals still seem to have a lot of under-used space. A report by the think-tank IPPR in 2019 found that by the time the last contract expires in 2050, taxpayers will have paid 80 billion for 13 billion worth of new hospitals. (Stock image) Lord Carter's report found that while some hospitals had 'non-clinical space' amounting to 12 per cent of their total floor area, in one trust 69 per cent was not being used for clinical purposes. There was also a huge variation in the amount hospitals are spending on cleaning with some trusts spending 2.3 times as much per square metre as others. According to Lord Carter, better management of the NHS estate could save 1 billion a year. STOP PRESCRIBING ART AND DANCE CLASSES Saving: 90m 'Social prescribing', a policy based on prevention rather than cure, is a big part of the NHS's current plans. People with existing health conditions, mental health issues and other problems are all eligible to be referred to a 'link worker', whose job it is to find ways of keeping them healthy, by encouraging them to join a walking group or painting class, for example. By 2023/24 the NHS plans to have 900,000 patients receiving such help. Clearly, if people can be helped by enlivening their private lives, that is a good thing. But should the taxpayer really be paying for art classes when many people could surely pay their own way? Moreover, does social prescribing actually work? A report by the Universities of Manchester, Leeds and York reviewed academic work in the area and found 'little convincing evidence for either effectiveness or value for money'. Assuming the 900,000 people the NHS seeks to help with social prescribing by 2023/24 were each asked to pay 100 towards a term's worth of dance classes, it would save 90 million. Total savings: 12.2bn It is bad news for those who enjoy a swift pint or the occasional gin and tonic. But even fewer than the NHS recommended 14 units of alcohol a week could increase the risk of heart problems, if your tipple of choice is beer, cider or spirits. A study of more than 300,000 people found drinking wine appears to slightly reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death from a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack. Drinking less than the NHS recommended 14 units of alcohol a week could increase the risk of heart problems, if your tipple of choice is beer, cider or spirits The authors of the study say each additional pint-and-a-half of beer, at 4 per cent strength, is linked to a 23 per cent increased risk of suffering a cardiovascular event in drinkers who stay below the guideline limit But beer, cider and spirits increase the risk, especially of a stroke. Even moderate drinkers consuming these drinks, who keep below the recommended 14 units a week or six pints of average-strength beer do not appear to get away with it. The authors of the study say each additional pint-and-a-half of beer, at 4 per cent strength, is linked to a 23 per cent increased risk of suffering a cardiovascular event in drinkers who stay below the guideline limit. Dr Rudolph Schutte, who led the research from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, said: The idea of a health benefit from low to moderate alcohol consumption is the biggest myth since we were told smoking was good for us. Many studies have suggested alcohol drinkers have a lower risk of heart problems than those who do not consume it at all. But critics say this is because people often give up booze because of health issues, making them more likely to suffer such complications. The new research, looking at 333,259 drinkers from the UK Biobank study, got around this by analysing the participants without comparing them to non-drinkers. Every additional pint-and-a-half of beer in a week, or the equivalent increase in alcohol for cider, or one-and-a-half measures of spirits, was linked to a 24 per cent increased risk of a cardiovascular event. The risk was higher, at 23 per cent, even for people who stayed below 14 units a week of these drinks. But an extra 175ml glass of red, white or sparkling wine, at 13 per cent strength, was linked to an 8 per cent reduction in the risk of suffering a cardiovascular event leading to hospitalisation or an early death. Alcohol is known to increase the risk of heart problems, but the polyphenols in the grapes used to make wine may have some protective effects. The study, published in the Clinical Nutrition journal and looking only at those aged 40 to 69, found an increase in the wine people drank was not linked to a higher risk of having a stroke. But each rise in the amount of beer, cider and spirits someone had was linked to a 30 per cent greater risk of stroke. Tracy Parker, of the British Heart Foundation, said 14 units a week should not be seen as a target to aim for. She added: Drinking too much can also contribute to weight gain, which is a risk factor for high blood pressure and other circulatory diseases. This month the World Heart Federation said any level of drinking can lead to loss of healthy life in a bid to dispel the idea that a daily glass of wine may be good for you. A 17-year-old Philadelphia teenager was shot and killed on Wednesday afternoon as he was walking out of his high school. Student Christopher Braxton, 17, was near Bartram High School at the 2300 block of South 66th Street at around 3pm when an unidentified gunman opened fire and shot him twice. Braxton was taken to a local hospital after being struck in the chest where he was later pronounced dead. He had been a senior in high school and only lived a few blocks away from the scene of the shooting. Police have yet to identify the suspects involved and the motive for the incident. Bartram High School went into lockdown after shots had been fired in the area. 17-year-old high school senior Christopher Braxton was shot and killed on Wednesday after an unidentified gunman opened fire and shot him twice Braxton had been walking on the 2300 block of South 66th Street in Philadelphia at around 3pm on Wednesday at the time of the shooting Braxton had been a student at Bartram High School where he was walking from before the shooting The incident has since left the community shaken as students and residents now fear to walk outside their homes. 'People can't even go to school or go home without being shot at and it's very scary,' student Malika Hill told Fox 29 Philadelphia. Hill said she is 'upset' over Braxton's death as he had been one of her classmates. 'I know he was a good student...he was a very nice boy,' Hill continued. 'I had classes with him so once I heard about it I was very upset.' Bartram High School principal Brian Johnson has since announced that the institution will offer mental health counseling for both students and staff. Other residents have also spoke out as this killing marks the city's 39th homicide so far this year. 'Its crazy. Its crazy, something has to be done,' resident Raymond Howard also told the network. 'Its dangerous. Im scared to come home from work at night. I gotta look both ways, around.' Police have not identified any suspects or a motive for the incident as of yet Braxton was brought to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead after being shot in the chest Efforts have continued to stop gun violence on Philadelphia streets after 2021 saw a particularly violent year which saw 562 residents killed. A $1 billion federal proposal called the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act was organized by a bipartisan group of four Congress members and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw to help reduce gun violence in the city, according to NBC. The new proposal would help police raise their clearance rates for both fatal and non-fatal shootings over the course of the next decade as well as provide resources for victims and their families. In addition, the city also allocated $155 million in anti-violence spending in the last budget. However, State Senator Vincent Hughes believes that the city is not doing enough to stop the violence on Philadelphia streets. 'The city of Philadelphia is paying the cost for state gun laws that are not relevant to the reality that exists in Philadelphia.' Mayor Jim Kenney has twice denied to issue an emergency declaration for gun violence despite the city's rising homicide rate. Hughes teamed up with Governor Tom Wolf to increase state funding by $15 million for gun violence prevention programs but still claims more need to be done. 'That money deserves to be in communities and neighborhoods to invest in these neighborhood-based organizations, to give the commissioner what she needs to give the D.A. what he needs to give the public defenders,' he added. District Attorney Larry Krasner also said there needs to be investments for neighborhoods that have experienced a traumatic level of crime. 'This city was pretty good at taking resources out of those places, destabilizing them and getting them to the point where we have so much harm, 'Krasner said. 'We should all be pretty good at putting resources back.' As of Sunday, there has been a reported 4.3 percent decrease in overall crime with a 24.3 percent decline in homicides. More than 200,000 people have signed a petition to demand that two brothers are freed after they were charged with murder and had their bond set at $1million for reportedly killing their stepfather when they found out he was raping their nine-year-old half-sister. In just two days, 204,000 signatures were collected to call for the release of Christian and Alejandro Trevino, 17 and 18, and their friend and alleged accomplice Juan Eduardo Melendez, 18, from the Hidalgo County Jail. Christian, Alejandro and Juan were arrested by the Pharr Police Department in Pharr on Saturday for the brutal killing of Gabriel Quintanilla, 42, last Thursday. The Trevino brothers are said to be half-brothers from the same father. 'We ask that the state of Texas to release these teenagers, who could possibly spend the rest of their life in prison for protecting their sister,' Carlos Eduardo Espina, who started the petition, wrote on Change.org. 'The three teenagers are currently in custody and have their bonds set at over 1 million dollars each. If convicted of capital murder, they face a minimum sentence of life imprisonment without parole.' More than 200,000 have signed a petition calling for Alejandro and Christian Trevino and Juan Eduardo Melendez to be released from the Hidalgo County Jail. Christian Trevino (left) and Alejandro Trevino, 17 and 18, (right) were taking into custody on Saturday for the deadly beating of their stepfather, who had been accused of sexually assaulting their nine-year-old half-sister last Thursday. Christian Trevino faces capital murder, aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity. His brother was charged with aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity Juan Melendez aided the Trevino brothers in the savage beating of the boys' stepfather, Gabriel Quintanilla, who was accused of sexually assaulting their nine-year-old half-sister. Melendez was charged charged with capital murder, aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity The Pharr Police Department said Quintanilla was beaten with brass knuckles and thrown into the flatbed of a pickup truck before the defendants abandoned his body in a McAllen field. Quintanilla suffered head trauma and police say he may have been alive when the brothers and their pal dumped his body. The incident unfolded when the Trevino brothers went looking for Quintanilla at a RV park residence after they had learned that he had allegedly inappropriately touched their sibling. The Pharr police said a fight ensued between the three men before Quintanilla took off running. Authorities say Christian Trevino ran after Quintanilla and cornered him in an apartment complex. Alejandro Trevino was joined by Melendez in the second beating of Quintanilla. The three teenagers left the scene of the assault to changed their vehicles and later went back to look for Quintanilla, who was spotted walking down a road. The Trevino brothers and Melendez then attacked Quintanilla for a third time and placed his body in the pickup truck. Both Christian Trevino and Melendez have been charged with capital murder, aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity. Christian Trevino (left) Juan Eduardo Melendez (center) and Alejandro Trevino (right) were arrested Saturday. They remain in prison on $1million bonds Christian Trevino (left) and Juan Eduardo Melendez (standing at the door entrance) were both charged with capital murder, aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity Christian Trevino (second from left to right in bottom left), Juan Eduardo Melendez (center) and Alejandro Trevino (third from the right) were arrested Saturday Alejandro Trevino was charged with aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity. Pharr deputy police chief Juan Gonzalez said capital murder charges were not filed against Alejandro Trevino because Christian Trevino and Melendez were the ones who delivered the blows that eventually killed Quintanilla. Pharr police chief Andy Harvey revealed during a press conference Tuesday that Quintanilla had a 2019 arrest warrant for allegedly sexually abusing another minor. Quintanilla had sexually assaulted the girl between 2014 and 2016. 'He was being elusive, obviously hiding from us,' Harvey said. DailyMail.com contacted Carlos Eduardo Espina for comment. A resident has recalled the distressing moment she heard Kallista Mutten screaming and crying in the corridor of a western Sydney unit block after discovering the shocking details of how her nine-year-old daughter died. The woman, who asked not to be named, was at home on Tuesday when she heard a neighbour crying out in distress. 'I heard her yelling and crying...she was saying "I just found out my daughter was killed by a gun shot",' the neighbour said. The neighbour said she looked out her front door and saw a 'larger woman with pink hair', who matched the pictures she had seen in the media of schoolgirl Charlise Mutten's mother. Charlise's body was found stuffed in a barrel and dumped near the Colo River, in the Hawkesbury region, on January 18, five days after she was reported missing. Ms Mutten's fiance Justin Stein has been charged with murder. Mutten was consoled by another resident in the flat - which is owned and operated by a charity - as she tearfully revealed she was expecting a child with Stein But it was on Tuesday that police announced the findings of a post-mortem and that the little girl died from a gunshot wound. 'She was saying police never told her how her daughter actually died...until it was on the news,' the neighbour said. Ms Mutten only moved into the building this week following a lengthy stint in hospital under medical supervision after she suffered an 'episode' in the hours after reporting Charlise missing. The charity-run building houses single parents, pregnant women and vulnerable people needing urgent temporary accommodation. The neighbour said she then heard another woman in the building comfort Ms Mutten, who then tearfully revealed she was pregnant. 'I heard her say she's pregnant,' the neighbour said. Nine-year-old Charlise was allegedly shot once before her body was stuffed into a barrel and dumped in scrub near the Colo River Charlise was visiting her mother for the summer holidays when she was allegedly murdered by her mother's fiance Mutten's fiance Justin Stein remains in Silverwater Correctional Facility accused of her murder Mutten only moved into the building this week following a lengthy stint in hospital under medical supervision after she suffered an 'episode' in the hours after reporting Charlise missing Kallista Mutten (above) seen at Wildenstein after having a 'medical episode' which resulted in her being taken to Katoomba Hopsital for a week Daily Mail Australia can reveal Mutten started 'yelling and crying' in the corridors of the western Sydney unit where she's staying after police said in a press conference that Charlise died by bullet wound Ms Mutten was then spoken to by caretakers in the building, before going back inside her unit. Residents said they had not seen Ms Mutten in the days afterwards, but that it wasn't uncommon not to see people coming and going with so many entrances and exits. Detectives confirmed Ms Mutten is being treated as a witness in her daughter's tragic death, and had provided a lengthy statement. Charlise was allegedly murdered while holidaying with her mother in the NSW Blue Mountains. The mother and daughter had been staying with Stein at his family's estate Wildenstein in Mount Wilson, and partly at a caravan 50 minutes away. Mutten was unavailable to be interviewed in the early stages of the murder investigation because she was too traumatised and 'difficult to reach'. Her fiance, Stein (pictured together) was charged with murder Charlise usually resided with her doting grandmother (pictured together) in Coolangatta but was visiting her mother for the summer holidays Police said Charlise was alone in the care of Stein on the night of January 11 when she was allegedly murdered, and her body dumped in a blue barrel. Stein was arrested in the hours after the young girl's body was discovered, where he was staying with a mate in a block of 20 flats in Sydney's Surry Hills. The complex is strewn with furniture - and a series of bizarre handwritten notes are displayed on residents' front doors. Jason Tucker said Stein had not seemed stressed when he arrived at his home after Charlise's death, but told him he wanted to stay for a few days. 'Justin's never got a bad thing to say, he hasn't got a bad bone in his body,' Mr Tucker said. Justin Stein's friend Jason Tucker (pictured) who housed the alleged murderer for days said the accused killer was 'relaxed' and 'unconcerned' in the days leading to his arrest He said Stein's stay at the housing block, w was uneventful until police arrived to arrest him last Tuesday night. When officers stormed through Mr Tucker's front door to arrest Stein, it was 'scary' and 'alarming', he said. But the drama was quickly over. Stein was placed in handcuffs without commotion before asking his friend to call his mother to tell her to arrange a lawyer. Jason Tucker said Justin Stein just 'basically ate and slept' in the days after he left Mount Wilson. Above is the complex Mr Tucker lives in - and where Stein stayed in the days before Charlise's body was found The housing block in Surry Hills where Justin Stein stayed in the days before his arrest has forbidding signs and rubbish littering the halls of the 20 unit block When police arrived and stormed through the front door to come up to his flat (pictured) to arrest Stein, it had been 'scary' and 'alarming', Mr Tucker said South Korea on Friday expressed "deep regret" over Japan's push to nominate a former gold mine associated with wartime forced labor as a candidate for a UNESCO World Heritage site and called for its retraction. The foreign ministry lodged a protest after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced plans to nominate the controversial mine on Sado Island for the 2023 UNESCO heritage list. The decision is expected to be confirmed in a Cabinet meeting slated for Feb. 1, the application deadline. "Our government expresses deep regret over the Japanese government's decision to push for the Sado mine, where Koreans were forced to labor during World War II, despite our repeated warnings, and urged it to stop such attempts," ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam said in a statement. (Yonhap) A woman convicted three times for homicide is back behind bars after being arrested for an alleged sexual crime. Regina Kaye Arthurell, 75, was arrested on Friday by police in Campbelltown, Sydney after a man, 55, reported several incidents of sexual touching last week. The pair know each other. Arthurell has been taken to Campbelltown Police Station and is expected to be charged. The woman is subject to a two-year extended supervision order after her prison term for the 1995 murder of former partner Venet Mulhall expired in May 2021. The convicted killer was released from Sydney's Long Bay jail in November last year, where she came out as transgender and changed her name from Reginald to Regina The ESO has more than 40 conditions, including requiring her to be subject to electronic monitoring despite her lawyers contending it was unnecessary and oppressive. Arthurell first killed in 1974, having committed the manslaughter of her stepfather Thomas Thornton who was said to have been very abusive. In 1981, she committed the manslaughter of naval officer Ross Browning in a Northern Territory robbery. Arthurell (above) was taken to Campbelltown police station in Sydney's south-west and is expected to be charged A few years after being released, she murdered Ms Mulhall by bludgeoning her to death with a piece of wood at her Coonabarabran home in central NSW. Alcohol was implicated in all of the killings, which were committed under her birth name Reginald Kenneth Arthurell before she came out as transgender in custody. Ms Mulhall's brother has long-held fears she will kill again. Arthurell is now blind in one eye and her other health problems include significant hand tremors. The mayor of New York, Eric Adams, is encouraging anyone who has crossed paths with Sarah Palin in the last couple of days to get tested for covid after the former Governor of Alaska tested positive for the virus, yet refused to quarantine. Palin, 57, was seen dining at two restaurants in Manhattan restaurants as well as walking along busy city streets. It forced the city's new mayor to urge New Yorkers who came into contact with her to get tested for the coronavirus. 'We encourage any New Yorker who came into contact with Sarah Palin to get tested, just as we encourage all New Yorkers to get tested regularly, especially those who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19,' Adams said through spokesman Jonah Allon said. Palin was seen on Wednesday night with a group of friends, eating at around 10pm on the patio 'By repeatedly flouting CDC guidelines, Ms. Palin has shown a complete disregard for the health and safety of small business workers and her fellow patrons,' a spokesman for New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, said Palin ate at two Upper East Side restaurants on subsequent days despite being Covid positive 'By repeatedly flouting CDC guidelines, Ms. Palin has shown a complete disregard for the health and safety of small business workers and her fellow patrons,' Allon said. 'The city offers multiple resources to support isolation for those who test positive for COVID-19, and we encourage Ms. Palin to join the 98 percent of New Yorkers who report they have followed guidance on isolation and have helped New York City stop the spread.' Palin, who is a well-known anti-vaxxer, was seen on Wednesday night on the Upper East Side at Elio's Italian. She was joined by Ron Duguay, former New York Rangers player, 64, who shielded her from reporters on the sidewalk. She was eating her meal outside in an outdoor dining shelter however on her first visit to the same restaurant, on Saturday, she was seated inside. During her visit she is said to have failed to show any proof of vaccination despite such a document being mandated by the city in order to sit indoors. It was the second time in four days Palin ate at the Italian restaurant The former Alaska governor told a reporter that she was feeling fine on Wednesday night Sarah Palin is seen as she walks to the Upper East Side eatery, Elio's Palin is seen leaving the restaurant after her Wednesday night meal Had city inspectors visited the the venue at the time of Palin's visit, the restaurant could have been slapped with a $1,000 fine. Elio's, which opened in 1981 on Second Avenue at East 84th Street, is known for its famous clientele, which has included Tom Hanks, Joan Didion and Mick Jagger. New York City law bans anyone over the age of 12 from eating or drinking indoors at a restaurant if they are unvaccinated. The manager of Elio's, Luca Guaitolini, says staff 'made a mistake' by letting her dine inside on Saturday and that he is now looking in to what happened. Manager of the restaurant, Luca Guaitolini, said workers are attempting to move past the visit. 'It's unfortunate but we've moved on,' Guaitolini said to the Daily News. 'We've been answering all the questions since Wednesday.' Palin sat outside on Wednesday night, at Elio's semi-enclosed dining shed on the sidewalk 'We are taking this isolated incident - an unfortunate oversight - very seriously,' he said. 'Elio's adheres to and believes in the vaccine mandate, and all it is doing to protect our staff, regulars, and the dining public. 'Our focus right now is on the safety of our staff who worked the floor that night, and on our guests.' Palin also dined at nearby Campignola just blocks away from Elio's on Tuesday night. On that occasion, Palin also ate outside but she was spotted without any face covering on both occasions. She was also seen seen getting into a crowded SUV with other passengers without a face mask. It's not the first time Palin has contracted the disease. In the past she has vowed that any vaccine she would receive would be 'over my dead body.' On this occasion, Palin tested positive for COVID on Monday after being required to take a test in advance of her giving evidence at a trial for a defamation lawsuit she has against The New York Times. The trial has now been delayed until February 3. Sarah Palin is pictured at a December 2021 conference, where she said she would be vaccinated 'over my dead body' Last March, Palin told PEOPLE magazine that she and some of her family members tested positive for COVID-19, including her 12-year-old son Trig, who has Down's syndrome. Palin and her son 'buckled down in isolated quarantine' but then 'symptoms started overnight with a slight fever and sore muscles,' she said. 'As confident as I'd like to be about my own health, and despite my joking that I'm blessed to constantly breathe in the most sterile air, my case is perhaps one of those that proves anyone can catch this,' she said. The virus worked its way through her household, with her daughter first exhibiting symptoms, Palin said. The former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee tested positive for COVID-19 in March, as did members of her family. After her diagnosis, she encouraged the public to wear masks and take the pandemic seriously, but remained adamantly anti-vaccine 'One of my daughters awoke to having lost her sense of taste and smell [and] immediately had a positive COVID test, then was quarantined in isolation,' she said. After initially testing negative, Palin said she developed coronavirus symptoms 'overnight' and suffered a fever, muscle soreness and loss of taste and smell. It was unmistakable that 'COVID caught me,' she said. 'That day I finally tested positive like millions of other Americans,' she said. Palin then observed symptoms in son Trig. American diplomats have expressed fears that any sanctions imposed on Russia over potential conflict in Ukraine would ultimately be ineffective due to the amount of Russian wealth in London. The US, UK and a host of other NATO countries have promised to impose harsh sanctions on Russia should President Vladimir Putin proceed with an invasion of neighbouring Ukraine, and have delivered arms shipments to bolster Ukrainian forces. But US authorities are now concerned that Britain's threats to levy tough economic penalties against Putin are empty after years of allowing Russian kleptocrats to funnel what sources described as 'a hell of a lot of money' into 'Londongrad'. 'The fear is that Russian money is so entrenched in London now that the opportunity to use it as leverage against Putin could be lost,' a source in Washington told The Times. 'Biden is talking about sanctioning Putin himself but that can only be symbolic', the source asserted, claiming that billions in Russian cash is 'sitting in houses in Knightsbridge and Belgravia right under your government's noses.' It comes after a report by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) in 2020 made damning claims that the capital was being used as a 'laundromat' for oligarchs' money which had bought a 'new normal' of Russian influence in the UK. A source in Washington told The Times that US diplomatic fear sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured) over a potential invasion of Ukraine would be ineffective because so much money from Russian elites has been allowed into the UK But US authorities are now concerned that Britain's threats to levy tough economic penalties against Putin are empty after years of allowing Russian kleptocrats to funnel what sources described as 'a hell of a lot of money' into 'Londongrad' (pictured: US President Joe Biden and Boris Johnson, Oct 2021) It comes after a report by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) in 2020 made damning claims that the capital was being used as a 'laundromat' for oligarchs' money which had bought a 'new normal' of Russian influence in the UK Establishing an accurate estimate for the amount of Russian money in London is extremely difficult, as the overwhelming majority of Russian funds invested in Britain enter the country via offshore accounts in various other countries. But the ISC report found that Russian money has been flowing into the UK since the 90s, with investor schemes and relaxed regulations providing ideal conditions for kleptocrats to funnel tens if not hundreds of billions of pounds into the economy in return for a great deal of influence. The committee said 'few questions if any were asked about the provenance of this considerable wealth', and that 'several members of the Russian elite are identified as being involved with charitable and/or political organisations in the UK, having donated to political parties, which positions them to assist Russian influence operations.' There are now fears that the Government has left it too late to act, and are now unable - or perhaps even unwilling - to separate legitimate Russian investments from financial ploys for influence, despite Boris Johnson's claims his government will 'go after illicit finance and criminals who abuse our corporate structures' 'Biden is talking about sanctioning Putin himself but that can only be symbolic', the source asserted, claiming that billions in Russian cash is 'sitting in houses in Knightsbridge and Belgravia right under your government's noses,' a Washington source told the Times (President Biden pictured) There are now fears that the Government has left it too late to act, and are now unable - or perhaps even unwilling - to separate legitimate Russian investments from financial ploys for influence. Boris Johnson declared as recently as last month that his government would go after 'illicit finance that undermines democracy everywhere' and 'criminals who abuse our corporate structures'. But the unsettling statement from the Washington diplomatic source comes after Tory party anti-corruption head John Penrose on Tuesday said the Government had delayed an economic crime bill which would have prevented Russian elites from buying up property and making investments in London via offshore accounts. Penrose's accusations followed a day after junior minister Lord Agnew resigned due to the Government's 'foolish' decision to push the bill back until the next parliamentary year. Chair of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs committee Tom Tugendhat also expressed concern, declaring that 'protecting Britain means protecting us from foreign corruptions. 'We shouldn't need the US to call it out.' Though the US is concerned about the efficacy of any sanctions brought against Russia by the UK, the Government has appeared willing to offer military support to Ukraine. UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is understood to have requested a range of options from military chiefs in a bid to match the build-up of Moscows forces along the Ukrainian border. Following NATO talks yesterday, thousands of US troops are set to be deployed to Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. Washington has asked its allies, including Britain, to help provide additional manpower. The UK has already sent several shipments of arms to Ukraine, including a batch of NLAW anti-tank rockets, and has dispatched British military personnel to help train Ukrainian forces. Millions of students face more misery next month after 50,000 lecturers vowed to walk out again across 68 universities. Lectures will be cancelled and access to libraries potentially limited in the latest round of strikes, which will start on February 14 and end on March 2. The strikes which are being organised in a row over pensions, pay and working conditions come just a month after staff last launched industrial action. The University and College Union (UCU), which represents lecturers, said the strikes will be stopped if universities agree to a sector pay rise and to reverse pension scheme cuts. Millions of students face more misery next month after 50,000 lecturers vowed to walk out again across 68 universities UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'It is a damning indictment of the way our universities are managed that staff are being left with no option but to walk out again' UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'It is a damning indictment of the way our universities are managed that staff are being left with no option but to walk out again.' But Universities UK, which represents university employers, said the strikes were not having 'the desired effect'. The UCU said further strikes are 'on the cards', including a UK-wide strike on pay and working conditions as well as plans for a nationwide boycott of marking and assessment. 'The NUS is calling for higher and further education to be free at the point of use for students and for staff to get better working conditions, pay and pensions,' the UCU said. On Wednesday, the UCU announced if its proposals on pensions were heard, this offered a 'way out' of imminent strike action. It called for new pension proposals to be formally tabled and voted on and for the financial health of the USS pension scheme to be evaluated, as well as for employers to pay more towards the scheme from April 2023. Raj Jethwa, chief executive of UCEA, which represents employers in the pay dispute, said: 'It is disappointing for UCU to try to ask a minority of its members to take action again over the pay uplift from last August. 'It is important to remember that only a quarter of branches reached the legal threshold for industrial action in UCU's most recent ballot. In terms of staff participation and teaching lost, the impact of industrial action so far has been fairly low in most higher education institutions, and even below the levels seen in the 2019 dispute. 'Rather than continuing this disruption, UCU should engage constructively in this year's (2022-23) multi-employer negotiating round which is planned to begin at the end of March.' Citizens Advice have warned that it will leave vulnerable people without access to vital services like paying their utility bills by mail Two post offices a week have been closed during the past two years Post offices are at breaking point after two a week were closed in the past two years, according to Citizens Advice. The consumer watchdog said one woman who relied on post offices to pay bills and top up her energy meter was reported to have moved house following the closure of her local office. Citizens Advice was also contacted by a man whose 90-minute journey to a post office left him facing fines by his utility companies for overdue bills, because he could travel only once a week. More than 200 Post Offices have closed in the last two years, the equivalent of two a week, according to new research Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty said: Were losing two post offices a week, and outreach services often arent an adequate replacement. The Post Office said it did not accept that the Citizens Advice comments accurately reflect our network of 11,500 post offices. The study found that 1,291 Post Offices are temporarily closed despite more than half of these being shut for more than two years. And one in three rural Post Offices is now offered as a part-time outreach service and open on average for just five-and-a-half hours a week. People have reported spending more time and money accessing Post Office services but also felt more isolated since their local office was shut, according to Citizens Advice. Dame Clare added: Post Offices sit at the centre of our communities. They help many small businesses thrive, stop already isolated communities being cut off entirely, and enable people to carry out essential tasks, like paying bills, but theyre at breaking point. Millions of parents dread helping their children with maths homework because they struggle with the subject themselves, a survey found. Some 47 per cent of parents find maths the toughest subject when assisting children under 16. Just one in four can answer questions about algebra confidently, while equations leave 35 per cent stumped. Even times tables flummox 14 per cent. Just one in four can answer questions about algebra confidently, while equations leave 35 per cent stumped The poll found maths the subject which made parents most anxious followed by science, languages, English and history. The average parent spends 37 minutes a week helping their child with homework with 61 per cent relying on the internet for answers. However, the survey showed youngsters lose interest after just 23 minutes of home study. Education expert Dr Laura Outhwaite, of University College London, said research showed that parental anxiety can hinder childrens progress in maths and may make them feel anxious about maths too. The survey by OnePoll for Akribian, creators of a new maths app called Count on me!, also found that four in five parents think it is equally important to make sure their children are good at both reading and maths. Just over a third (34 per cent) of parents said their English literacy skills at school were excellent, but out of all the subjects, 42 per cent find maths the most difficult. Some 68 per cent of parents are worried helping their child with their homework might leave them more confused. Half of those polled admitted to having maths anxiety, with 40 per cent feeling the same about reading. They survey also found that 52 per cent of parents believe children are expected to learn too much these days. Dr Laura Outhwaite, from University College London, said: There are many challenges for successfully supporting childrens mathematical learning and development, and parents anxieties around their own maths abilities is one of them. This may lead to parents feeling worried or nervous when helping children with their homework. Research shows this can hinder childrens progress in maths and may make them feel anxious about maths too. A powerful nor'easter that could to turn into a bomb cyclone threatens to put parts of New England under two to three feet of snow, while burying New York City with up to a foot this weekend. Officials along the East Coast begged drivers to stay off the roads in hopes of avoiding the traffic nightmare that befell motorists in Virginia after extreme weather hit earlier this month. The latest major winter storm, which will develop off the Carolina coast late this week, could potentially strengthen as it moves along the East Coast into a bomb cyclone, which occurs when the central pressure of a storm crashes by 0.71 of an inch or more within 24 hours, Accuweather.com reported. The storm has yet to form and won't until Friday, but still 'confidence is increasing that a significant winter storm will create considerable impacts Friday through the weekend from the Mid-Atlantic through the Northeast,' the Weather Prediction Center said on Tuesday. Regardless, the heaviest snowfall is expected farther up north in Boston and New England, which will be 'clobbered' with as much as two feet of snow, according to Accuweather. There is a chance the storm could be the biggest January snowfall ever in Boston and a top five all-time storm for the area. The heaviest snowfall is expected farther up north in Boston and New England, which could come close to 18 inches and as much as two feet of snow Wind gusts are likely to reach 30-50 mph, with peak winds nearing 50-70 mph in the Boston-area People from Providence, Rhode Island, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Portland, Maine could be faced with up to three feet of the white stuff. 'Boston is within the bull's-eye of some of the worst conditions expected, and into Maine,' meteorologist Mary Gilbert told the New York Post. 'They're going to have very strong winds as well, so travel is going to be very difficult.' The first winter storm watches were issued for parts of eastern Massachusetts on Wednesday at 3 p.m. -- some 57 hours before they were set to go into effect at 12 a.m. on Saturday. New York City could get anywhere between 8 and 12 inches of snow, and parts of eastern Long Island may see up to 18 inches before the 'quick-hitting' storm leaves the region. But forecasters remain cautious and said any small shift in the storm's track to the east or west could mean the difference between manageable snowfall or a blizzard in the Big Apple, Accuweather reported. Snowfall is expected to reach the New York area between midnight Friday and 2 a.m. Saturday, with wind gusts up to 45 mph, according to AccuWeather. New York City's Office of Emergency Management told residents to start planning for the storm Thursday. 'Make sure your household disaster plan is ready and all members of your household are familiar with how to contact one another in an emergency,' the department wrote on Twitter. 'Winterize your Go Bag by adding a blanket, warm socks and gloves.' Winter storm watches have been issued from the mid-Atlantic to southeastern New England in advance of a nor'easter that is set to charge up the East Coast Friday night into Sunday. As it chugs along, the storm will strengthen into a bomb cyclone and a full-blown blizzard will ensue in eastern New England As of Wednesday forecasters are confident that southern New England will face the most significant impacts As of Thursday, forecasters were confident that southern New England will face the most significant impacts. 'This is going to be an intensifying storm that will produce a lot of wind, which raises concerns for blowing and drifting snow, power outages and blizzard conditions in some areas,' AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. 'There is also a serious coastal flooding and beach erosion threat, especially in eastern Massachusetts. The heavy snow will potentially hit the Interstate-95 corridor from Virginia to NYC, possibly affecting travel with the risk of accidents and traffic along the highway. Friday night through the early part of Saturday should see the heaviest travel delays. Boston, JFK, Newark, LaGuardia and Philadelphia airports stand the highest risk for delays and cancelations, according to the Weather Channel All airports should be in the clear by early Sunday morning. New Yorkers are no stranger to snowfall, as Times Square in January of 2014 shows New Yorkers remember not so fondly the 'bomb cyclone' that walloped the east coast in January of 2018 'It is becoming more likely that it will bring significant snow, sleet and freezing rain to the region, including the I-95 metropolitan areas,' the Weather Prediction Center added. Accuweather forecasters recommend avoiding travel across New England during the storm on Saturday and Sunday night as the storm is likely to maintain its intensity for about eight to 12 hours. The last notable nor'easter to hit the Northeast came in October, and hammered the area with powerful winds and heavy rains that left more than 600,000 homes and businesses without power at one point, USA Today reported. Earlier, this month hundreds of motorists were stranded 27 hours on I-95 without food or water after a 50-mile stretch of the highway south of DC was blanketed in nearly a foot of snow and ice as temperatures dipped to the teens. A man wrongly convicted of murder has been released from jail after 20 years, after his twin brother confessed to the crime. Kevin Dugar, 44, was finally released from Cook County Jail, in Chicago, on Wednesday - nine years after his twin brother Karl Smith, also 44, confessed to the gang-related 2003 slaying in a letter to Dugar in 2013. 'I have to get it off my chest before it kills me,' Smith wrote in 2013. 'So I'll just come clean and pray you can forgive me.' Despite the confession, a judge denied Dugar a retrial in 2018 as Smith admitted to the murder while serving a 99-year sentence for a 2008 home invasion that left a six-year-old child with a gunshot wound to the head. Scroll down for video Kevin Dugar, 44, (left) spent 20 years in jail for a 2003 gang-related murder he didn't commit. His twin brother Karl Smith, also 44, (right) admitted to the murder in a letter to his brother in 2013 Dugar, 44, was released from Cook County Jail, in Chicago, on Wednesday Smith even signed a sworn statement and contacted Dugar's lawyers, per his brother's request, but Dugar was still denied a retrial or release. He testified that he left a party and went to buy weed when the shooting happened and he and his friend drove off to a liquor store before returning home. He would later change and then go out clubbing with his brother. He later confessed he didn't come forward during his brother's trial because he didn't think he'd be convicted. Dugar's lawyer Rob Safer (right) said they hope they don't retrial his clients case He was released from Cook County Jail on Wednesday evening After being convicted for the home invasion, he claimed he found God in prison and had to make things right. Nevertheless, the judge found Smith's confessional 'completely unreliable,' as the two reportedly used to pretend to be each other and said there was 'a pattern of misdirection and deceit.' Up until eighth grade, the twins dress alike and shared socks, shoes and even sandwiches, their mother said in 2016, and were often viewed as 'one person.' Smith even had trouble identifying himself in photos presented at the testimony in 2016. Their mother Judy Dugar, whose maiden name is Smith, was at the Smith's testimony that year and was reportedly hurt by the prosecution not believing her son's confession. 'He wouldn't lie about that,' she said. However, the ruling was later overturned by the Court of Appeals after the Center on Wrongful Convictions appealed the case. A new judge said a jury would more than likely change the verdict upon hearing new evidence, the Chicago Tribune reported. Smith testified in 2016 to the murder, stating: 'I'm here to confess to a crime I committed that he was wrongly accused of.' Dugar lawyer Ron Safer has since said they do not want Dugar's case retried, according to ABC 7. 'This case is in a very different situation than it was 20 years ago,' Safer said at a press conference. 'Everybody knows much more about it.' Dugar will be staying at a residential transitional facility for 90 days, per the conditions of his release and was met with family outside of the jail. A 15-year-old teenager known as 'the boy in the skirt' will not have to register as a sex offender after he was convicted of two sexual assaults at separate high schools in Loudoun County, Virginia. The unidentified male student previously pled 'no contest' after he was found guilty on two counts of sodomy for an assault in May at Stone Bridge High School and another in October at Broad Run High School. He was placed on probation by Judge Pamela Brooks on January 12 and has since remained in custody at the juvenile rehabilitation center. The boy was initially meant to be placed on the adult sex offender registry before his attorney intervened claiming that prosecution did not submit a motion requesting it. Following the hearing, Brooks agreed to drop the registration request on the grounds that her ruling could change depending on if any major developments happen prior to the boy's release. Judge Pamela Brooks ruled that the 'boy in the skirt' will not be placed on the sex offender registry after he was previously found guilty of sexually assaulting two girls in separate incidents at high schools in Loudoun County, Virginia The two sexual incidents caused outrage in the community and controversy over transgender bathroom policies The boy had sexually assaulted the first victim in a bathroom at Stone Bridge High School (left) on May 28 before being transferred to Broad High School (right) following the incident where he inappropriately touched another girl in a classroom on October 6 Over the course of the ruling, Loudoun County Commonwealth Attorney Buta Biberaj had argued that putting the boy on the sex offender registry list 'would keep him safe hed know where he can go and cannot go, and also keep the community safe.' She also argued that despite the boy's age she could now rest the decision based on mental 'immaturity.' In response, the defense argued that the prosecution did not file a motion for the boy to be placed on the registry list prior to the former ruling. Brooks agreed but offered the prosecution to file their own written motion to continue arguing for the sex offender registration. The boy's lawyers and probation officer opposed the registration as they believed he was still considered to be too young. Jason Bickmore, the probation officer, said that registering the boy would only provide a higher risk of him committing similar offenses down the line as evidence with past cases. However, Biberaj said she understood that putting the boy's name on the registration list could affect his future and would only require him to be placed on it until he turned 30. Loudoun County Commonwealth Attorney Buta Biraj argued that putting the boy on the sex offender registry would keep himself and the community safe The boy previously plead 'no contest' after he was found guilty on two counts of sodomy for the sexual assaults One of the boy's lawyers Caleb Kershner said that his client had already received significant media attention. He also questioned the county's method of handling the case as the boy had been transferred from Stone Bridge to Broad Run after information about the first incident got out. It was later revealed the decision to transfer the boy was based on a decision by the school system's Title IX officer following an investigation. Prosecution argued that he was transferred due to the evidence still being processed for the first assault. Kershner ended his argument saying that his client was remorseful over the situation and shaken over the media attention the case received over the course of the past few months. 'We are setting him up for failure,' he said. 'Weve never concentrated on (the boy) were not even giving this young man a chance.' Brooks then made her decision and said that the court had made a previous error with the ruling therefore declining the motion to have the boy register on the sex offender list. The decision was later met with scrutiny from the father of the Stone Bridge victim Scott Smith as he reportedly swore at the boy's parents and the attorneys. The father of the Stone Bridge victim Scott Smith was detained by police after he was involved in a fight over transgender bathroom policies at a Loudoun County Board Meeting The first victim's parents Scott and Jeff Smith (pictured together) Smith had previously criticized the district for their handling of his daughter's sexual assault case and have even threatened to file a lawsuit. On behalf of the family, Smith released a statement to DailyMail.com in response to the ruling. 'My wife and I are not just heartbroken about today's ruling, we are quite frankly mad at how the justice system and the Loudoun Commonwealth's attorney have let down both our daughter, as well as the other victims of his predatory actions,' Smith stated. 'The person who committed these horrible crimes against these young women will now, due to the errors of the county prosecutor, not have to bear the permanent shame at being known as a lifetime registered sex offender, as he had been originally sentenced. 'We are now concerned, more than ever, that this change in his legal status may put other parents daughters at risk of physical harm in the future. 'Despite todays ruling, we continue to be committed to making sure that justice prevails in our daughters case, both now and in the future.' The case had sparked national attention after he publicly lashed out following the rape of his daughter. Smith was even dragged out of a school board meeting after he lashed out at the board for their 'woke' transgender bathroom policies. After attacking Smith's daughter, the boy was transferred to another school where, in October, he dragged another girl into an empty classroom and touched her breasts. On October 25, the teen was found guilty for the May 28 sexual assault at Stone Bridge High School. The judge 'substantiated' charges of forcible sodomy and forcible fellatio, the juvenile equivalent of a conviction. He was sent back to juvenile detention, pending a hearing November 15 on the second case which occurred at Broad Run High School. In October, the mother of the convicted boy revealed her son doesn't identify as a female, and that his skirt was a disguise to slip into the girl's bathroom. Speaking exclusively with DailyMail.com, the mom, who asked not to be identified for the sake of her underage son, defended his actions as that of a heterosexual, hormonal teen who, in the case of the rape, had consensual sex with the girl twice before. 'He's a 15-year-old boy that wanted to have sex in the bathroom, with somebody that was willing,' she declared, sitting in an empty kitchen in her townhouse in Loudoun County, Virginia. 'And they're twisting this just enough to make it a political hot button issue.' The case became the searing tip of a raging debate in Loudoun County over transgender students' rights and parents' freedom of speech Outraged parents are pictured at the meeting where the victim's father was dragged out and arrested. His mother said his actions were that of a heterosexual, hormonal teen, who had consensual sex with the girl twice before The school board has been routinely accused of pushing an ultra-liberal agenda on kids and parents and silencing those who disagree with them. The scandal even entered Virginia's race for governor, giving life to the campaign of Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin who accused the Loudon school board of a coverup while warning, 'What tragedy next awaits our children?' Despite his androgynous style and declaration that he's 'pansexual,' the boy's mother insisted he isn't the gender fluid boogeyman in a culture war about transgender policies. 'He would wear a skirt one day and then the next day, he would wear jeans and a t-shirt, a Polo or hoodie,' she explained. 'He was trying to find himself and that involved all kinds of styles. I believe he was doing it because it gave him attention he desperately needed and sought.' At the same time, she concedes her son is deeply troubled, acknowledging his extensive history of misbehavior that included sending nude photos of himself to a girl in fifth grade. She reached her own breaking point with the him in early October when he phoned her from the juvenile detention center following his second arrest. 'He asked me how I was doing, and I said, ''I'm broken, I'm shattered, you shattered me,'' the mom recalled. ''Do you have any idea what you've done to me, what you've done to your family? 'And his response was, ''No, what did I do?'' she said. A walkout was staged at the Loudoun County High School to protest sexual assault She had been his primary point of contact, with his dad living in New Jersey. 'At that point, I was like, 'You know what? I love you, I always will, I will do everything I can to always be there for you in any capacity possible,' she said. 'But I told him - 'You need to call your father for now on. Do not call me. I need to heal, and I need you to figure this out for yourself.' She said the politics surrounding the case has gotten out of hand. 'What are they trying to do?' she asked. 'Did they hire an investigator to dig up everything and ruin him for the rest of his life?' The mother made no secret of the fact her son had been repeatedly suspended for misbehavior, including fist fights with classmates. 'He's been a challenging child his whole life, which I've dealt with myself,' the mother said. 'My son's gone through multiple forms of counseling and therapy, resources here, at school, friends, family. It's been 15 years of hell trying to get him to do better and be better.' Boris Johnson was nicknamed the 'greased piglet' by David Cameron for his ability to slip out of the trickiest corners. Now mired in the Partygate controversy a calamitous mess of his own making and facing a police investigation, would many bet against him pulling off another incredible act of political escapology? The Daily Mail certainly hopes he succeeds. Of course, the lockdown-busting soirees at No10 shouldn't have happened and he bears ultimate responsibility. But the Prime Minister has shown sincere regret. And surely his stellar achievements vanquishing Jeremy Corbyn, getting Brexit done, delivering the vaccine and ensuring the UK is the first major country to regain our freedoms have more than earned him a second chance. Would many bet against Boris Johnson pulling off another incredible act of political escapology? To survive, he must refocus and redirect all his efforts to rebuilding public trust. Top of the list should be the symbolic spiking of the ill-conceived national insurance hike. That would generate huge goodwill while easing the punishing financial toll on families and business. The 13billion saved from lower borrowing could fund social care and cutting the NHS backlog. Mr Johnson should also heed ally Lord Frost, the former-Brexit minister, and clear out the neo-socialists, green fanatics and pro-woke advisers from Downing Street. Tougher policies to tackle Channel migrants, the flawed Northern Ireland protocol and energy self-sufficiency will reconnect him with millions of voters. With London crowned the world's leading financial centre, the economy booming and Plan B curbs finally axed, the country is on a glorious trajectory out of the pandemic. But only if Boris lets his inner Tory flourish can Britain truly prosper and his ailing leadership and popularity recover. Mrs Peloton's perks The Civil Service prides itself on being a bureaucratic Rolls-Royce. The truth is, all too often it performs like an obstinate old banger for its elected Tory drivers stalling radical reform. But it's still eye-wateringly expensive to maintain. Today, we reveal how a staggering 600 Whitehall mandarins and quango fat cats earn more than 150,000, with gold-plated pensions to match. Whatever happened to the time when Sir Humphrey lived modestly and conscientiously in the selfless service of Her Majesty's Government? Sarah Healey, permanent secretary at the Department for Culture, epitomises their enviable lifestyles. Reluctant to give up working from home full-time (boasting of hopping on her Peloton exercise bike in spare moments), she still enthusiastically accepts freebies: VIP tickets to the Brits and Euro 2020. She would doubtless argue that these were important opportunities for making and maintaining contacts. At a time when many in the private sector (which creates the wealth to pay lavish public sector salaries) are seeing shrinking living standards, it is outrageous that mandarins are living so high on the hog. Charter for crime Crime, we are told, doesn't pay. But damning figures explain why countless offenders treat the warning with contempt. Despite a frightening rise in crime in 'Wild West Britain', only a pathetic one in 16 ever ends in a charge or summons. Is it any wonder criminals are emboldened? Like a cracked record, the police blame cuts for feeble detection rates. Yet they have shown a dangerously questionable attitude to their job of protecting the public. While teenagers are murdered in the streets and record numbers of women raped, can Scotland Yard really justify wasting time and money investigating whether officials enjoyed a slice of birthday cake in Downing Street during lockdown? China to explore more in space science next five years: white paper Xinhua) 13:51, January 28, 2022 BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China will carry out more space science exploration in the next five years, according to a white paper on the country's space activities released Friday. The white paper, titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective," was released by the State Council Information Office. It says that China will continue with the research and development of programs such as the satellite for space gravitational wave detection, the Einstein probe satellite, and the advanced space-based solar observatory, among others, focusing on the subjects of the extreme universe, ripples in time and space, the panoramic view of the sun and the earth, and the search for habitable planets. It also says that China will continue to explore frontier areas and research into space astronomy, heliospheric physics, lunar and planetary science, space-Earth sciences, and space physics, to generate more original scientific findings. China will also make use of space experiment platforms such as the Tiangong space station, the Chang'e lunar probe series, and the Tianwen-1 Mars probe to conduct experiments and research on biology, life, medicine, and materials, to expand humanity's understanding of basic science, according to the white paper. Focusing on scientific questions such as the origin and evolution of the universe, and the relationship between the solar system and humanity, China has launched multiple programs to explore space and conduct experiments, advanced research on basic theories, and incubated major research findings. The Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) Satellite obtained the precise measurements of the energy spectrums of cosmic ray electrons, protons and the GCR helium. The Huiyan (Insight) Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope was successfully launched. Led by its lunar exploration program, China has achieved significant advances in the comprehensive surveying of the moon's geology and subsurface structure. In planetary exploration, China has built a deeper understanding of the geological evolution of Mars by conducting analysis of its surface structure and soil and the composition of its rocks, said the white paper. With the help of the Shenzhou spacecraft series, the Tiangong-2 space laboratory, and the Shijian-10 satellite, China has achieved mammalian embryonic development in space and in-orbit verification of the world's first space cold atom clock, expanded the understanding of the mechanisms behind particle segregation in microgravity, pulverized coal combustion, and material preparation, and achieved research findings in space science of international standing. China also made achievements in space physics with the help of Mozi, the world's first quantum communication satellite, according to the white paper. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The People Power Party's presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, left, and his wife Kim Kun-hee at Cheong Wa Dae in July 2019. Joint Press Corps. Fortune-tellers swirl around presidential candidates By Ko Dong-hwan On Jan. 19, prosecutors launched an investigation of the main opposition People Power Party's (PPP) presidential candidate, Yoon Suk-yeol, for violating the country's election laws, leaking confidential government information, and abusing his authority to undermine law enforcement. The allegations, brought by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) election camp, relate to how Yoon, then-prosecutor general, in February 2020 ordered police not to search the headquarters of Shincheonji, a fringe church blamed for a major cluster infection resulting in over 5,200 COVID-19 cases in Daegu early that year, by breaking national pandemic prevention regulations. The DPK camp, basing the charges on a report from local daily Segye Ilbo, said Yoon had deliberately not made the order because an alleged fortune-teller named Geonjin advised him not to "get your hands dirty with unnecessary blood." The PPP denied the accusation, saying that Yoon hadn't authorized the warrant after listening to the country's central pandemic control tower, which strongly objected to the order because it would cause the church members to go into hiding, complicating efforts to track them to help locate potential infection routes. Mounting reports suggested that Geonjin's relationship with Yoon and his wife Kim Kun-hee went deeper than the couple reluctantly admitted. A newly discovered business card issued by Kim's exhibition planning firm, Covana Contents, in 2014 showed Geonjin's name on it as the firm's "adviser." He has also been confirmed to have attended an event hosted by Kim as a VIP in 2015. The controversial seven-hour phone conversation records between Kim and an online news reporter, leaked by the latter early this month, revealed that Kim and Yoon have been close to the fortune-teller for a long time. But Yoon kept distancing himself from these allegations, saying, "I've never heard of him being the adviser," and, "I don't know how he attended that event." DPK lawmakers condemned Yoon for repeatedly providing false explanations despite undeniable proof to the contrary and demanded that he clarify who his "secret advisers" are (the DPK argued there is more than one shaman working behind-the-scenes in Yoon's election camp). "Yoon and his election camp must think people are so gullible," Rep. Woo Sang-ho of the DPK said on a TBS radio show on Jan. 24. "It's clear that Geonjin has a close friendship with both Yoon and Kim. If Yoon gets elected, the shaman will start intervening in government affairs. That's how a secret influencer manipulates politics from behind a curtain." A shamanism scandal also affected DPK presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's election camp, when the conservative daily, Chosun Ilbo, reported that the camp on Jan. 4 had launched a new committee comprising 17 religious leaders to appeal to the public better. The report said that one of the leaders was a well-known "prophet" who heads the country's official association of prophets and correctly prophesied all the presidents of Korea from the 13th (late Roh Tae-woo, elected in 1988) to the 18th (Park Geun-hye, elected in 2013). The DPK camp admitted to inviting the leader in question to the camp, saying, "The teacher has been publicly active among the past presidents and political inner circles for decades. The shamans in Yoon's camp, on the other hand, just came out of nowhere." According to a 2019 tally from Statistics Korea, there are 10,745 registered prophets and shamans in the country. But it is believed that there are substantially more because many in the profession operate without business licenses. A prophet cited by daily newspaper The JoongAng said, "In past presidential elections, prophets and shamans quietly supported candidates. This year is different in that some shamans buzzing around certain candidates, flaunting themselves and their presence, have been made known to the public." He added that 90 percent of the prophets and shamans who appear during presidential elections are frauds. Shamanism in Korean politics dates back to the country's first president, Rhee Syngman (1952-1960), who changed his name following a shaman's advice to "become a president at a late age," and became president at age 73. A prophet foretold former President Park Chung-hee's death 20 years before he was shot and killed by one of his closest aides in 1979, and Chun Doo-hwan's mother had three of her teeth pulled out after a monk told her, "Your three front teeth will block your son's future career." Russia's ambassador to Australia has warned his host country against backing Ukraine in its military stand-off with its larger neighbour, saying such western support risked sparking a war. In a rare media conference on Friday, Alexey Pavlovsky said it was western nations and not Russia that was pushing for a conflict and that Moscow's decision to mass 100,000 troops on the border was not aggressive. 'When the western countries now, including Australia, are expressing their support, either verbally or in material terms, or by sending arms to Ukraine, they embolden Kyiv to continue their line of sabotage,' Mr Pavolvsky said. 'We think that such expressions of support are very dangerous because they lead to provocations, they lead to war.' The ambassador challenged claims by Australian reporters that Russia's gathering of troops and military hardware on its border with Ukraine meant war was imminent. 'Our troops are not a threat, they are a warning to Ukraine not to try any reckless military adventures, not to interpret the support they have from the West as carte blanche to do such crazy things,' Mr Pavlovsky said. The roots of the current standoff go back to 2014 when a U.S.-backed protest movement within Ukraine escalated to the point that the Russia-friendly elected president was ousted from power and a new government installed. Russia then reacted by annexing the Crimea region of Ukraine - home to Russia's Black Sea naval fleet - and also the Donbass region in the southeast of the country which was mainly inhabited by Russian speakers loyal to Moscow. An uneasy ceasefire has existed over recent years, but tensions heightened in 2021 when the NATO western military alliance held war games in Ukraine, preparing for conflict with Russia. Russia responded by moving troops and military ordnance to the border, clearly indicating what would await Ukraine if NATO went ahead with plans to admit the country as a member. Mr Pavlovsky said putting Russian troops along the border was the country's sovereign right. 'There's no aggression because our troops are on our territory. OK? Is that OK?,' he said. 'Every state has every right to place troops on its territory wherever and whenever it wishes. It's a sovereign right.' Mr Pavolvsky said he was holding the press conference to correct a 'Batman versus Joker' version of events he believed Australians were receiving. Russia's ambassador to Australia Alexey Pavlovsky told local reporters that his country's build up of troops along the border with Ukraine was a 'warning', not an 'act of aggression' In a wide-ranging address, in which he quoted John Lennon and mentioned how Australia had been lured into supporting the invasion of Iraq on a 'fake pretext' of the non-existent weapons of mass destruction, Mr Pavolvsky said it was the U.S. that was precipitating this security crisis. Mr Pavlovsky recounted how senior US state department official Victoria Nuland was caught on phone recordings organising the ousting of Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych in 2013 and installing a pro-western government. 'Who was it - who was that US official?' Mr Pavlovsky asked the assembled reporters. 'Nuland. Yes, it was Victoria Nuland.' 'Nuland was giving (protesters) biscuits, the US was pressurising Yanukovych not to use force against the protesters.' Victoria Nuland is now Under-Secretary of State in the Biden administration. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has claimed Russia does not plan to invade Ukraine - ambassador Pavlovsky said Russia was concerned about ethnic cleansing in the Donbass region in the south-east of the country Mr Pavlovsky said his country was concerned about ethnic cleansing of the Russian-speaking population from the Donbass region. 'We as a responsible people could not afford having Donbass suppressed militarily by the Ukrainian government,' he claimed. 'We cannot afford ethnic cleansing just across our border.' Diplomatic talks have taken place without a breakthrough but both the US-led NATO military alliance and Russia have kept the door open to further dialogue. The US has asked the United Nations Security Council to meet next Monday to discuss Russia's 'threatening behavior' against Ukraine and its troop build-up. A 16-year-old aspiring rapper and alleged gang member charged with shooting a New York City cop in the Bronx is walking free on bond Thursday, infuriating the union representing NYPD officers. Camrin Williams - aka C Blu - was locked up in a Brooklyn juvenile detention center on gun and assault charges for shooting Officer Kaseem Pennant, 27, on January 18. Just nine days later, he posted the $250,000 bail using money from his record deal advance on his contract with Interscope Records and has walked free. Williams clashed with police officers last week when they responded to reports of unrest and he refused to comply with their orders to remove his hands from his pockets. He began fighting with one of the officers and during the tussle, he accidentally shot Pennant - a single bullet struck and wounded Pennant and hit Williams in the groin. Pennant was released from the hospital just hours later on January 19. Williams, identified as a member of a subset of the Crips, who is already on probation for a 2020 gun possession arrest, was also taken to hospital before being taken to juvenile detention. NYPD Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch said cases like this are why New York City's crime rate has skyrocketed, up 34 percent since the start of 2022. Camrin Williams - aka C Blu - was locked up in Brooklyn on gun and assault charges Williams, seen here in the hospital, is free on bail after his gun went off and hit both himself and an NYPD officer in a scuffle Officer Kaseem Pennant left the hospital to the cheers of his fellow officers a day after the shooting The weapon recovered that allegedly went off, firing one bullet, during the fracas Police on the scene on East 187th Street in the Bronx 'If anybody wants to know why we have a crisis of violence in this city, or why we're about to bury two hero police officers, look no further than this disgraceful bail release,' Lynch said, referencing both the shooting of Pennant and the fatal shooting of two other NYPD officers last week. 'This individual chose to carry illegal guns twice,' Lynch added. 'He chose to fight with and shoot a New York City police officer. There's no reason to believe he won't do the exact same thing when he's out on the street tonight. Lynch blamed Judge Denis Boyle, an Acting Bronx Supreme Court Justice who previously was soft on a 16-year-old who went on to murder a 34-year-old father of two in May of 2021. NYC PBA President Pat Lynch blamed the rise in city crime on things like Williams' ability to walk free on bond New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former cop, has promised to be tougher on crime 'Shame on Judge Denis Boyle for allowing this to happen,' Lynch said. 'The people of the Bronx won't be safe as long as he's on the bench.' Boyle has a reputation for being overly lenient on young offenders and set bail at $250,000 despite prosecutors call for Williams to be held without bail. Williams accepted the services of 'bail bondsman to the stars' Ira Judelson, who has in the past worked with the likes of DMX, Ja Rule, Harvey Weinstein and Dominique Strauss-Kahn. The state office of court administration responded in a statement Thursday. 'The ire that the PBA president is projecting on the judge, who is following the law, should be directed at the individuals who promulgate those laws,' said spokesman Lucian Chalfen. Williams' lawyer described his promising career: 'Not only does he sing, rap, he writes his own music. One of his songs on YouTube has 8 million views' Ira Judelson is one of New York's most prominent licensed bail bondsmen Williams was eligible for bail in this case and walked out just before 7 p.m. Thursday evening. 'Camrin has been released and will be back to his regular productive life of focusing on schoolwork and his music career,' Williams' attorney Dawn Florio said. Florio, much like Judelson, has a history with famous clients, including fellow troubled rapper 6ix9ine, formerly Tekashi69. During the case, Florio touted Williams' potential. 'He has a very promising career,' Florio told Judge Boyle. 'Not only does he sing, rap, he writes his own music. One of his songs on YouTube has 8 million views.' During the hearing, the teenage suspect told Florio: 'please tell the judge I'll come back to court every time.' Shopping centres, service stations and busy roads have been flooded after Melbourne was battered by a mega-storm - with some parts hit by marble-sized hail and torrential rain. More than five million Greater Melbourne residents were warned to 'stay indoors' as the storm cell swept across the city on Friday afternoon. Terrified residents across the city shared their experiences on social media with one video showing a BP service station in Mulgrave, south-east of the city, completely underwater up to waste level. Chadstone Shopping Centre was also inundated with floodwater on Friday, while others captured the danger on the roads. Strong wind gusts on Thursday night had already knocked out power to thousands in Victoria - with the state's SES receiving 1,600 calls for help in the 48 hours to 5pm. More than five million Greater Melbourne residents have been advised to stay indoors, with lightning (pictured) in some areas Huge pieces of hail have been thundering down across the state, including ones as big as a 50c piece (pictured) One motorist who filmed himself after getting caught in floodwaters on a busy road said, 'Oh s**t, this is the stupidest thing I have ever had to f***ing do' as the raging torrents surrounded his vehicle. A severe thunderstorm warning is in place for central and southwest parts of Victoria, including Geelong and Lara. 'The atmosphere remains absolutely primed for further storm activity today as it feels once again very tropical and very humid over the southeast,' Sky News Weather meteorologist Alison Osborne said on Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology warned central Victoria, including Melbourne, and the state's southwest would be inundated with heavy rain, damaging winds and large hail stones. As much as 35mm of rain was forecast to fall across Melbourne, with the BOM saying 'heavy falls' are a real possibility. 'Prepare to take shelter and be aware of potential hazards caused by the severe weather,' an Watch and Act alert advised. 'Hazards include include floodwater, damaged buildings, debris, trees down and fallen powerlines.' Flash flooding has already hit areas such as Werribee, in Melbourne's west, and Ballarat. In other parts of Victoria, persistent rain of up to 35mm was predicted in some parts (pictured) A number of ominous clouds left some Melbourne residents on edge on Friday morning A severe thunderstorm warning is already in place for central and southwest parts of Victoria, including Geelong, Lara and Melbourne Chadstone shopping centre looking a little moist #melbweather pic.twitter.com/pKkujZyY2T Tas (@Mr_CunnyFunt) January 28, 2022 There were 5695 AusNet customers, 3917 Powercor customers and 243 Jemena customers suffering blackouts at 9:30am on Friday morning. Geelong, Cape Otway and the Surf Coast were battered by heavy rain on Thursday evening, with a renewed warning issued on Friday morning. 'Strong storms have formed on the northern edge of a rain area in western Victoria in a very humid environment and are expected to produce heavy rainfall while moving in an easterly direction,' the alert said. 'Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Colac, Lake Bolac, Ballarat and Bacchus Marsh.' Some pieces of hail collected by concerned residents were the size of huge marbles (pictured) The state's south-west has been hammered by heavy rain, ferocious winds and hail (pictured) Flash flooding has resulted in chaotic scenes across some parts of Melbourne (pictured) This petrol station won't be open for business anytime soon, as rain engulfs most parts of Melbourne Melbourne is currently being battered by a mega storm, with marble sized hail and torrential rain in some parts A rain band seen on the Bureau of Meteorology's radar on Friday morning. Central Victoria is set to be battered from about midday, the forecast says Lightning is seen in Melbourne's night sky late on Thursday as the city endured a 'once in a century' weather event State Emergency Service volunteers received more that 450 calls for help in the six hours to 10.30pm on Thursday, as severe storms caused flash flooding in metropolitan Geelong. The busiest SES units included South Barwon, Geelong and Sorrento, as homes, buildings and roads were flooded. The storms come as disaster assistance was announced for Ballarat, East Gippsland, Moorabool and southwest Victorian residents after floods and storms on January 5. The communities will receive financial support via the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding. 'This financial support will provide for the immediate recovery needs for people whose homes or belongings have been impacted by the damaging winds, large hailstones and flash flooding in the central west,' Federal Emergency Management Minister McKenzie said. The chief of police of a small Alabama town has been forced to resign after allegations that his force was pulling over people who criticized them on Facebook, and stopping people for spurious traffic violations to fill their coffers. Mike Jones, chief of Brookside police, 10 miles northwest of Birmingham, resigned on Wednesday. The lieutenant governor of Alabama, Will Ainsworth, has requested an audit of the police force and town - home to 1,300 people. Brookside has only one retail store and a volunteer fire department, but at least one police officer for every 144 people. By 2020, the police force made half its revenue from fines and forfeitures, according to local media. The issues with the police have been going on for several years, and ensnared multiple local residents. Mike Jones, chief of police of Brookside, Alabama, resigned on Wednesday Michelle Jones has been campaigning against Brookfield police for the past three years Michelle Jones told AL.com that she complained to the Alabama attorney general's office three years ago. She had been pulled over in May 2019, and was fined $160 for running a stop sign - which she insisted she did not do. Jones began criticizing the police in a series of interviews, and online. She said she told them, in 2020: 'The person threatened me with an arrest if I did not take down my Facebook pictures and posts of their police officers, stop sending emails to the local politicians, as well as others, and show them (Brookside police) that I understand law enforcement practices.' Her Facebook page is full of images of the police pulling people over. In September 2019, she posted a photo captioned: 'ABC33/40 - Brookside Police Department of Brookside, AL - On Interstate 22 Writing Illegal Tickets.' A commentator asked if she was pulled over again, and Jones replied: 'No. Working on something.' Rev. Vincent Witt, a Baptist preacher and chaplain of the city of Lipscomb, said that he was pulled over in June 2019 in his brand new Cadillac, which had a paper license plate as the official one was yet to be delivered. Witt said the officer called him a 'f****** n*****', and when he complained he and his sister - who was not even with him at the time - were charged with impersonating a police officer, with their faces plastered across CrimeStoppers websites. Rev. Vincent Witt filed a complaint against Brookside police after they pulled him over and racially abused him Lisa Ward, a candidate for Alabama senate, said she was threatened by the Brookfield police chief when she posted criticism of the force on Facebook Will Ainsworth, the lieutenant governor of Alabama, has ordered an audit into Brookfield's town and police force Another woman, Lisa Ward, a candidate for Alabama's senate, shared a story by AL.com about the rogue police force on Facebook, and said the police chief then tried to intimidate her. A local man, who did not want to give his name, told AL.com that he was pulled over by police for no reason, and was reprimanded. The man told AL.com that the officer said: 'The chief's pretty upset about that post you put on Facebook,' adding that: 'any more backlash like that towards his police department and it'll be far worse than a ticket.' 'I just stared at him,' the man said. 'I was just looking at him like, so this is what this stop is about? I was in pure shock.' Britain could be hit by soaring food costs and supply issues if Ukraine descends into war, analysts fear. Experts are concerned the world is focusing on the impact conflict will have on gas but worry grain production could also be hit. It come as the National Cyber Security Centre urged UK organisations to bolster their digital defences over fears a 'malicious' cyber attack may be coming. NCSC guidance to firms and groups said it is investigating the recent reports of 'cyber incidents in Ukraine' and said it bore Russian hallmarks. Ben Wallace yesterday said Russia invading the country could threaten food supplies across the world. The Defence Secretary pointed out places such as Libya, Serbia and Yemen have grown hugely dependent on grain imports from there. Mr Wallace, who will visit Moscow next month, said: 'We are all focused on gas, but think about the cost of food being stopped.' It raised fears Britain could be impacted due to it bringing in huge shipments of grain from the EU, which also buys from Ukraine. And the anticipated hit to gas distribution may have a knock-on effect on food, with fertiliser prices last year more than doubling due to disruption. The Defence Secretary (pictured with top military brass in West Sussex yesterday) said the world is focused on the impact on gas costs but added grain production could also be hit A report from the European Commission's Agriculture and Rural Development unit showed in 2020 Ukraine was the fourth largest origin of agri-food Defra said in 2020 the UK imported 46 per cent of the food it consumed, with no one country supplying more than 11 per cent. The report said 48billion of food, feed, and drink was brought in while 21.4billion was shipped out. But it went on: 'EU countries continue to be the main source for FFD imports and are therefore essential to the UK's food security. '39 per cent of FFD imports by value were despatched from four EU countries (the Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, Germany, and France) in 2020.' Specifically the UK brings in 15 per cent of the wheat used by flour millers alone - around 750,000 tonnes. Meanwhile the EU is bringing in grain itself, with some coming from Ukraine which has shot up the world rankings for supply in the last few years. It was aiming this year to be number three in the world for wheat exports and number four in corn. Ukraine exports to the EU amounted to 19.1billion in 2019, the EU Commission says on its website. The main products were raw materials - which includes grain as well as iron, steel and mining items - as well as chemical and machinery. A report from the European Commission's Agriculture and Rural Development unit showed in 2020 Ukraine was the fourth largest origin of agri-food. Meanwhile Britain was the largest recipient of agri-food from the EU, meaning a hit to Ukraine's supply would likely have a knock on effect on the UK. Any disruption to gas supplies coming out of the country may also hit food prices, as was seen last year. Natural gas is used to help produce fertilisers, meaning if the price for one shoots up, so will the other. In some countries last year costs doubled due to shortages across Europe, meaning farmers could not plant their crops effectively. Meanwhile the National Cyber Security Centre said it had not identified any current threats to the UK but noted its updated guidance would allow organisations 'to build resilience and stay ahead of potential cyber threats'. The Ukraine attack had targeted a total of 70 government websites. The centre's director of operations, Paul Chichester, said: 'The NCSC is committed to raising awareness of evolving cyber threats and presenting actionable steps to mitigate them. 'While we are unaware of any specific cyber threats to UK organisations in relation to events in Ukraine, we are monitoring the situation closely and it is vital that organisations follow the guidance to ensure they are resilient. 'Over several years, we have observed a pattern of malicious Russian behaviour in cyberspace. 'Last week's incidents in Ukraine bear the hallmarks of similar Russian activity we have observed before.' NCSC director of operations, Paul Chichester warned a cyber attack could be coming soon NCSC guidance to UK firms and groups said it is is investigating the attack in Ukraine Satellite images reveal new units of Russian tanks parked near the Pogonovo training area, around 100 miles from the Ukraine border, as the world waits to find out how Putin will respond to letters dismissing his security demands The updated guidance encourages organisations to reduce the risk of falling victim to a cyber attack by taking 'actionable' steps. These include patching systems, improving access controls and enabling multi-factor authentication, implementing an effective incident response plan, checking that backups and restore mechanisms are working, ensuring that online defences are working as expected, and keeping up to date with the latest threat and mitigation information. Those organisations who do fall victim to a cyber attack are asked to report the incident to the NCSC's incident management team. Ukraine has said all evidence points to Russia being behind a massive cyberattack that knocked out key government websites and defaced them with menacing messages, as Microsoft warned the hack could be far worse than first thought. Kyiv accused Moscow of continuing to 'wage a hybrid war' and said the attack was part of a plot to 'destablise the situation in Ukraine'. Russian artillery crews conduct live-fire drills at the Kuzminsky range in Rostov-on-Don, amid tensions with nearby Ukraine British organisations have been warned to bolster their digital defences due to `malicious cyber incidents in Ukraine (Peter Byrne/PA) The messages left on the Ukrainian websites during the attack warned of information leak A laptop screen displays the warning message that appeared on the official website of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry after a cyberattack The US also accused Russia of sending saboteurs trained in explosives to stage an incident that could be the pretext to invade its pro-Western neighbour. Ukraine's SBU security service said the cyberattacks, conducted in the early hours, had targeted a total of 70 government websites. The website of the foreign ministry for a time displayed a message in Ukrainian, Russian and Polish that read: 'All information about you has become public. Be afraid and expect the worst.' The Ukrainian digital transformation ministry said: 'All evidence points to Russia being behind the cyberattack. Moscow is continuing to wage a hybrid war.' The ministry said the purpose of the attack 'is not only to intimidate society. But to also destabilise the situation in Ukraine, halting the work of the public sector and crushing Ukrainians' trust in the authorities'. The Kremlin has insisted there was no evidence Russia was behind the attack. 'We have nothing to do with it,' President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told CNN. 'Ukrainians are blaming everything on Russia, even their bad weather in their country,' he said. A transgender woman, now 26, has been ordered to serve just two years in a juvenile detention center for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl, after LA DA George Gascon refused to prosecute her as an adult. Hannah Tubbs, formerly known as James, now 26, pleaded guilty in 2020 to sexually assaulting the young girl in a Denny's bathroom in 2014, when she was 17. Prosecutors had pushed for her to stay in a Los Angeles County Jail and be tried as an adult but Gascon declined to file a motion to move the case out of juvenile court, where it was filed because of Tubbs' age at the time of offense. Gascon said previously that he was concerned Tubbs could be victimized due to her gender identity in an adult facility, and had even recommended she simply be sentenced to home confinement. Before handing down the light sentence of just two years in a juvenile facility and no requirement to register as a sex offender, Judge Mario Barrera said his hands were tied by Gascon. 'I want to be clear,' Barrera said at the Lancaster, California, court sentencing Thursday. 'The filing of a transfer motion is entirely within the discretion of the district attorney.' Hannah Tubbs, formerly known as James, 26, (pictured in 2014) was sentenced to two years in a juvenile facility for assaulting a 10-year-old girl in a Denny's bathroom in 2014 Gascon's decision has sparked fury among prosecutors in LA. Deputy District Attorney Shea Sanna slammed the move after the hearing, telling the New York Post: 'You have a violent sexual predator sentenced to two years in a juvenile facility. 'It doesn't change the fact that the public is safer, but we just preferred Tubbs to be with other adults and not prey on others.' L.A. Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami, assigned to the Complex Child Abuse Unit,, told Fox News: 'Tubbs is 26 years old. Unlike George Gascon's false narrative, she is not a 'kid.' 'There was evidence presented at the juvenile proceedings which showed that Tubbs sexually assaulted two young girls in different incidents in the past. The child victims will suffer lifelong trauma. Tubbs also has prior violent convictions and conduct as an adult.' Tubbs, who identified as male at the time of the crime had followed the girl into the bathroom, held her by the throat and forced his hand down the girl's pants. She only stopped when someone came into the restroom, and then ran away before she could be stopped. Los Angeles DA George Gascon is facing criticism for his decision to try her in juvenile court, despite only being weeks off of her 18th birthday in 2014. He said he worried she would be a target in an adult facility for her identity It took years before Tubbs was identified as the attacker after being arrested in Idaho in 2019 on suspicion of battery. She has since transitioned. DNA entered into a database that matched Tubbs with the sexual assault at Denny's, and the accused was brought back to California - by which point there were arrests, according to Fox, for battery, drug possession and probation violations in Idaho and Washington. Despite the prior convictions, Tubbs will serve her time in isolation, away from the other juveniles and will be housed with female inmates. Two years is the maximum sentence a juvenile can receive up until the age of 25. The DA recently change the rule and said he would 'immediately' stop prosecuting children as adults. Gascon cited multiple studies that say brain development doesn't stop until the age of 25 and that juvenile facilities can help rehabilitate young offenders. Although, cases involving those over 18 will be reviewed case-by-case to see if it goes to adult court. The DA could have moved Tubbs into adult court, as it is within his discretion, but he choose not too. Hannah, who went by James at the time of the assault, followed the girl into the bathroom, held her by the throat and forced his hand down the girl's pants. She only stopped when someone came into the restroom, and then ran away before she could be stopped 'The victims will get no justice. The public will get no safety,' Hatami said. 'It's an injustice against all of us, especially the young victims.' 'Because of George Gascon's blanket policy against transferring any juvenile to adult court, even if the 17-year-old rapes or murders an innocent child, James [now Hannah] Tubbs will not have to register as a sex offender, will not spend any time in county jail or state prison, will be 26 and housed with juveniles for a very short period of time, and will be released with no probation or parole monitoring,' Hatami said. LA County offered to house Tubbs in county jail, but Judge Mario Barrera did not have the authority to change facilities, Deputy District Attorney Shea Sanna said. Kathryn Barger, on the board of supervisors for Los Angeles County's Fifth District, said the family of the young girl attacked by Tubbs deserved justice. 'It's useless to catch criminals like Hannah Tubbs if we don't follow through and seek justice for victims such as the 10-year-old girl she sexually assaulted,' said Barger. 'She bears the burden of a lifetime of trauma. '[Tubbs] will be offered therapeutic interventions under the auspices of 'restorative justice' ... and possibly granted only probation or parole. 'Where is the justice for her young victim and her family?' There may be a sixth victim linked to the infamous 1970s San Francisco serial killer known as 'The Doodler,' as authorities doubled reward money to $200,000 to try and solve the long-term cold case. The unidentified man, who struck terror in the Bay Area's gay community four decades ago between January 1974 and June 1975, earned his moniker because a surviving victim remembered him drawing caricatures at an all-night San Francisco diner. Police announced Thursday that a potential sixth victim was tied to The Doodler after an investigative series in the San Francisco Chronicle in 2020. The series followed cold case detectives Dan Cunningham and Dan Dedet as they investigated the death of a man named Warren Andrews. The San Francisco police confirmed Thursday that they now believe Andrews is connected to The Doodler killings. This pair of sketches provided by the San Francisco Police Department, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, shows what a serial killer might look like now in a cold case involving at least five stabbing deaths of gay men in the mid-1970s The original, over-40-year-old police sketches of the killer San Francisco police have increased their reward from $100,000 to $200,000 Prior to this discovery, five gay white men were believed slain by the 'Doodler' between January 1974 and June 1975, all of the victims sustaining stab wounds to the upper chest and back from a similar weapon, police say. Two gay white men, who were attacked in July 1975 but survived, were also thought to be victims of the same assailant. 'On April 27, 1975, Andrews was a victim of an assault at Land's End,' the department said in a statement. 'Andrews was found unconscious and never regained consciousness dying several weeks later.' While the other victims were stabbed to death, Andrews was struck with a rock and a tree branch. Cunningham said that the location, which was near Golden Gate Park where some of the other murders had taken place, and the time period made him reconsider the case. Cold case detectives Dan Cunningham and Dan Dedet been attempting to solve The Doodler killings in recent years The Doodler's first victim was Gerald Cavanagh, a 50-year-old mattress factory worker The Doodler's second victim was 27-year-old drag queen named Joseph Stevens The Doodler's third alleged victim was 31-year-old Klaus Christmann 'I'd be a fool not to consider him as a Doodler victim,' he said. The Doodlers first victim was then-50-year-old Gerald Cavanagh, who was found stabbed 17 times on Jan. 27, 1974. His second victim was Joseph Stevens, a 27-year-old drag queen; his third was Klaus Christmann, 31. It was believed that The Doodler frequented gay bars in the Castro and in the Polk Gulch districts of San Francisco. 'He'd pick a guy somewhere at the bar, he'd sit at the table, he'd sketch them, he was a good artist, so then he would walk up to the guy and say like my doodle?' said San Francisco Chronicle reporter Kevin Fagan Police released a sketch of what they think the killer looks like, in addition to what they believe 40 years of aging would make him look like, a couple of years ago. The grave of Gerald Cavanagh at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in California It was believed that The Doodler frequented gay bars in the Castro and in the Polk Gulch districts of San Francisco The sketches are based on the descriptions given by two men who survived the assaults in July 1975, both stabbed with knives. They suffered similar injuries to the other victims. No suspect has ever been charged in the case. One person was detained in connection with the murders in 1976. Detectives in the 1970s believed they'd found a lead in the case after a Bay Area psychologist responded to wanted ads by saying he believed he'd interviewed the killer but couldn't solidify their case. Cunningham said he'd interviewed that man and calls him a 'person of interest.' Police doubled their reward to go along with the announcement Thursday. 'The SFPD has increased the reward from $100,000 to $200,000 for information leading to the identification, apprehension, and conviction of the serial homicide suspect,' police added in their statement Thursday. Advertisement Stunning scenes unfolded outside St Patrick's Cathedral on a snowy Friday as a sea of police officers in their finest dress blues surged towards the iconic Manhattan church to honor their murdered brother Jason Rivera, whose young widow delivered a powerful message condemning the new Manhattan DA's woke policies and a system that 'continues to fail us'. Mourners filling the pews of the historic cathedral heard emotional eulogies from Rivera's family members, including his young wife, Dominique Rivera, who revealed, while choking back tears, that on the day of her husband's killing, the couple had an argument and she refused to let him drive her, even after Jason told her, prophetically, that this might be the last ride he gives her. The inconsolable widow, wearing a silver pendant in the shape of her husband's police shield, called her decision 'the biggest mistake of my life.' Dominique also used the solemn occasion to vent some of her anger at the city and state's leaders, many of whom were seated in the audience before her, accusing them of failing to protect her husband and his partner, Officer Wilbert Mora. In her pointed remarks, the widow singled out Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat who has been accused of being soft of crime by instructing prosecutors not to pursue certain case. 'This system continues to fail us,' she proclaimed. 'We are not safe anymore, not even the members of the service. I know you were tired of these laws, especially the ones from the new DA. I hope hes watching you speak through me right now. 'Im sure all of our blue family is tired too. But I promise, we promise, that your death wont be in vain.' Bragg responded in a statement that he was grieving and praying for the slain officers and will 'vigorously prosecute cases of violence against police.' A week ago, Rivera and Mora were fatally wounded on January 21 by a career criminal who ambushed them in a hallway as they responded to a family dispute in Harlem. Mora's funeral is being held next week, also at St. Patrick's. Rivera, who had joined the NYPD less than a year ago, was posthumously promoted to detective first grade - the highest rank for a detective. Scroll down to read powerful eulogy by slain NYPD officer's widow New York Police pall bearers carry the casket of Officer Jason Rivera out of St. Patrick's Cathedral after his funeral service in St Patrick's Cathedral. Rivera was shot dead in Harlem on Friday January 21 when he and fellow officer Wilbert Mora, who also died from his injuries, responded to a domestic violence call and were shot by man trying to escape A sea of police officers in their finest dress blues stood in tribute outside Manhattan's iconic St Patrick's Cathedral to honor their murdered brother Jason Rivera. Rivera, who had joined the NYPD less than a year ago, was posthumously promoted to detective first grade - the highest rank for a detective. Jason Rivera's widow Dominique holds the flag from his casket while watching the funeral procession leave St. Patrick's Cathedral. In her heartbreaking eulogy, the young widow delivered a powerful message condemning the new Manhattan DA's woke policies and a system that 'continues to fail us' Slain cop Jason Rivera's mother clutches a crucifix and blows a kiss to his casket as it's removed from St Patrick's Cathedral An overhead view of Police Officers saluting the hearse of carrying the casket of NYPD Officer Jason Rivera out of St. Patrick's Cathedral after his funeral service in New York, New York, USA, 28 January 2022. Rivera was fatally injured on Friday 21 January when he and fellow officer Wilbert Mora, who also died from his injuries, responded to a domestic violence call and were shot by man trying to escape. Officer Mora's funeral will take place next week. EPA/JASON SZENES Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, a progressive Democrat, responded to Dominique Rivera's criticism in a tweet, vowing to 'vigorously prosecute cases of violence against the police' Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan presided over Rivera's service, held in Spanish and English in recognition of his Dominican heritage. Many of the citys top leaders were attending, including Mayor Eric Adams, Senator Chuck Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul. Adams, himself a retired police captain, told those gathered that he saw an echo of himself in the slain officer who had joined a department he had seen as flawed in hopes of improving it. Officer Jason Rivera, 22, was a rookie cop who had been on the force in New York City for less than a year 'He did it for the right reasons he wanted to make a difference,' said Adams. He went on: 'there were days when I felt the public did not understand and appreciate the job we were [doing], and I want to tell you officers: They do. They do. These two fine men watered the tree of safety that allows us to sit under the shade from the hot sun of violence.' Hochul, a Democrat, said flags at state buildings would fly at half-staff from sunrise the day of Rivera's funeral until sunset the day of Mora's funeral on Wednesday. The officers came from near and far to honor Rivera, who, at age 22, was recently married and barely into his second year of service on the force. His wife Dominique, often struggling to speak, recounted her final conversation with her husband the day he died. She said with regret that the two had an argument about Jason's use of his work cellphone while off duty, and as a result she refused to let him drive her, and instead summoned an Uber - because she did not want to continue arguing. 'You said it might be the last ride I give you,' Dominique quoted Jason. 'I said no and that was probably the biggest mistake I ever made.' Hours later, she saw to her horror a Citizen app alert on her phone about two officers being shot in Harlem and then worriedly texting and calling her husband. Her messages went unanswered, until she got a call summoning her to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. 'Im still in this nightmare that I wish I never had, full of rage and anger, hurt and sad, torn,' she said. In the final portion of her speech, Dominique turned her attention to the new Manhattan DA's progressive policies, accusing him of leaving the city's law enforcement officers feeling unsafe. Bragg, who had no involvement with the officers' killer, responded to the widow's withering criticism in a tweet. 'I am grieving and praying for Detective Rivera and Officer Mora today and every day, and my thoughts are with their families and the NYPD,' Bragg wrote. 'Violence against police officers will never be tolerated, and my office will vigorously prosecute cases of violence against the police.' 'WE'LL TAKE THE WATCH FROM HERE': FULL TEXT OF DOMINIQUE RIVERA'S POWERFUL EULOGY Dominique Rivera delivers a eulogy for her husband, New York City Police Department officer Jason Rivera, during the funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan I would say good morning to you all, but, in fact, thats the worst morning ever. I cant believe Im standing in front of thousands of people in the cathedral we planned to visit later this year. All of this seems so unreal, like Im having one of those nightmares that you never thought youd have. Friday morning, we were together eating breakfast and drinking some Starbucks. Eating was probably our favorite hobby. Maybe thats why we gained those extra pounds. Friday morning began just like every other morning before work. You were always my big spoon, watching Netflix, YouTube law enforcement shorts, read me your emails, and wait for your mom to come home. You packed your bookbag because we had to leave before 2. And really, before 2, sharp, because of your ICO [Integrity Control Officer] sergeant. You would drive me home and say goodbye with three kisses, all the time, and text me when you were 84. That was our routine. At around 1500, 1515, I received the BRB roll call text. And throughout our day, you told me about your jobs, till it was EOT (End of Tour]. This Friday was different. We had an argument. You know, its hard being a cop wife sometimes. Its hard being patient when plans are canceled, or we would go days without seeing each other, or when you had to write a report that would take forever because you had to vouch on so many things, so you did OT [Overtime]. Or when you had a bad day at work because an EDP drove you nuts. But you always reminded me that it was going to be alright. We were going to get through it. This Friday, we were arguing because I didnt want you to use your job phone while we were together. You were so mad that you took the Lebron jersey down, gave me your chain, and put the lotions I gave you for your ashy hands in the bag, and said, Here, take them. We left your apartment, and because I didnt want to continue to argue, I ordered an Uber. You asked me if you are sure that you dont me to take you home? It might be the last ride I give you. I said no, and it was probably the biggest mistake I ever made. Later that day, I received the call I wish none of you that are sitting here with me will ever receive. I had gotten a notification from the Citizen app, which was my Central, and I saw that police officers were shot in Harlem. My heart dropped. I immediately texted you and asked you: are you OK? Please tell me youre OK. I know that youre mad right now, but just text me youre OK, at least tell me youre busy. I get no response. We used to share locations on Find My iPhone, and when I checked yours, I see youre at Harlem Hospital. I thought maybe youre sitting on a perp, but still, nothing. I called and then called again, and then called one more time, and this time I felt that something wasnt right. I messaged PO Cadavid and Joe because I knew they were your friends from the 32. And I get no response. Then I get a call asking if Im Jasons wife, and then I had to rush to the hospital. Walking all those steps, seeing everybody staring at me, was the scariest moment Ive experienced. Nobody was telling me everything. Dozens of people were surrounding me, yet I felt alone. I couldnt believe you left me. Seeing you in a hospital bed wrapped up in sheets, not hearing you when I was talking to you broke me. I asked why. I said to you: wake up, baby. Im here. The little bit of hope I had that you would come back to life just to say goodbye or to say I love you one more time had left. I was lost. Im still lost. Today, Im still in this nightmare that I wish I never had, full of rage and anger, hurt and sad, torn. Although I gained thousands of blue brothers and sisters, Im the loneliest without you. I know youre looking at me and beside me, telling me I could do this, and Im trying. Trust me, I am. But I didnt prepare for this. None of us did. Jason I and met in elementary school. Amistad. All the way up to eighth grade. We had the time of our lives. He was part of the cool kids crew. There was never a dull moment with him around. He was the class clown, got me in trouble couple of times, had our teacher sit us away from each other because we couldnt focus. And we never thought that our innocent childhood love would lead us to marriage. Even when we said I do, we couldnt believe we said it. October 9th was the happiest day of our lives. I know I drove you crazy saying I love you so many times that you would stop replying I love you more. But you made me feel alive. You make me feel alive. And Jason is so happy right now that all of you are here. Through pain and sorrow, this is exactly how he would have wanted to be remembered: like a true hero. Or like I used to call him: big PO Rivera. You have the whole nation on lock. And although you wont be here anymore, I want you to live through me. This system continues to fail us. We are not safe anymore, not even the members of the service. I know you were tired of these laws, especially the ones from the new DA. I hope hes watching you speak through me right now. Im sure all of our blue family is tired too. But I promise, we promise, that your death wont be in vain. I love you to the end of time. Well take the watch from here. Advertisement Dominique shared a photo of her late husband's new detective badge, which he received posthumously An enormous crowd of police officers are gathered outside St Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue at the conclusion of the funeral Mass for fallen Officer Jason Rivera on Friday A sea of officers are standing shoulder to shoulder outside St Patrick's Cathedral on a snowy Friday morning in Manhattan to honor their slain brother Fallen NYPD officer Jason Rivera's flag-draped casket is carried from St Patrick's Cathedral after his funeral A procession of bagpipers march ahead of the hearse carrying NYPD rookie Jason Rivera as hundreds of NYPD officers in their dress blues salute in honor of their fallen brother Bagpipers accompany the hearse down Manhattan's Fifth Avenue after the funeral service for NYPD officer Jason Rivera, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call The family of Officer Rivera, including his widow, seen clutching an American flag, and his mother, seen doubled over, stand outside St Patrick's Cathedral after the funeral, surrounded by a sea of blue Dominique Rivera breaks down in tears while clutching the crucifix that rested on the shroud covering her husband Jason's casket during the service Dominique Rivera is comforted by family members and is saluted by an officer at the end of the service at St Patrick's Cathedral Jason Rivera's mother breaks down in sobs as she watched her son's casket being removed from the cathedral after the funeral service on Friday Riveras casket, draped in a green, white and blue NYPD flag, is carried out on the shoulders of police officers outside St Patrick's Cathedral Police officers waited patiently outside during the two-and-a-half-hour funeral Mass to see Officer Rivera off on his final journey to his resting place Inspector Amir Yakatally, the commanding officer of Riveras and Moras precinct, said that Rivera began a police career at a difficult time amid the coronavirus pandemic and protests over policing and other issues and was so excited to get to work that he double-parked in front of the stationhouse his first day and showed up early every workday after. 'Jason saw the need and had the desire to foster a positive relationship between police and his community,' he said. 'He was what we all want in a cop.' Jeffrey Rivera recalled that as a youngster, his brother 'Tata' to his family listened to police radio transmissions, watched police dramas on TV and became 'obsessed' with a law enforcement career. 'My brother's first love was policing. That was his first love,' Jeffrey said. After the funeral, Riveras casket, draped in a green, white and blue NYPD flag, was taken via funeral procession, including family, colleagues and a massive police motorcycle entourage, to Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York, where the officer will be cremated and laid to rest. Over the years, more than 500 New York police officers have died in gunfire, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. 'It's an emotional time,' said retired NYPD Officer Sean Flanagan, who played the bagpipes outside the cathedral. 'We honor our own, we take care of our own.' On Thursday, ordinary citizens joined thousands of uniformed officers at the cathedral for Rivera's wake. Patty Marsibilio, 61, traveled an hour by subway from the Bronx to pay her respects and pray for the safety of other New York City police officers. This is something that was so terrible,' she said. 'He was 22 years old, married not even four months.' An overhead view of a line of motorcycle police officers before the casket of NYPD Officer Jason Rivera leaves St. Patrick's Cathedral en route to a cemetery Thousands of NYPD officers gathered in sub-zero temperatures to honor their fallen brother Bagpipers in their full regalia march down Fifth Avenue behind Rivera's casket Rivera's widow, Dominique Rivera, walks behind her newlywed husband's coffin as it is being carried out of the cathedral at the conclusion of the Mass Dominique Rivera walks past her husband's casket after eulogizing him during his funeral mass at St. Patricks Cathedral New York City Mayor Eric Adams, (center facing camera), hugs family members of Officer Rivera, with his widow Dominique standing to the side New York City Police Officer Jason Rivera's brother Jeffrey touches his casket after eulogizing him Members of the NYPD were out in full force to salute one of their own. Rivera and Wilbert Mora became the first officers to be killed in the line of duty by a gunman since 2017 Thousands of NYPD officers in their dress blues arrive at St Patrick's Cathedral to honor the 22-year-old rookie who was killed in the line of duty last week Members of New York Police Department arrive to attend the funeral service, a week after Rivera and his partner, Wilbert Mora, were fatally shot in the line of duty A pries hugs Dominique Rivera, the widow of Jason Rivera. In a touching tribute on Thursday, the 22-year-old woman called her husband of just three months her 'sweet angel' Cardinal Timothy Dolan is seen comforting family members of the slain officer during his funeral Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral Officer Rivera's open casket is seen at the foot of the altar at St Patrick's Cathedral New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, walks back to her seat during the funeral. She said flags at state buildings would fly at half-staff from sunrise the day of Rivera's funeral until sunset the day of Mora's funeral on Wednesday New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former police detective who was voted into office after promising to crack down on gun violence, addresses mourners during Rivera's funeral A female officer breaks down in tears while standing in line during Rivera's funeral in Manhattan on Friday Mourner Tracy Kelly cries as she arrives for Rivera's funeral service at St. Patrick's Cathedral Taps is performed by a trio of NYPD officers outside St. Patrick's Cathedral in honor of Rivera Heavily armed police officers in tactical gear stand guard outside the church during Rivera's funeral service on Fifth Avenue Dominique Rivera spoke about her last interaction with Jason just hours before his death. She said they had an argument and she called an Uber instead of letting him drive her. He told her: 'it might be the last ride I give you' Jeffrey Rivera said that his younger brother, known in the family as 'Tata' was 'obsessed' with his career in law enforcement, and that his first love was policing Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell delivers a eulogy at Rivera's funeral. She announced that he has been posthumously promoted to detective first grade Rivera's partner, Wilbert Mora, 27, died of his injuries on Tuesday. His wake and funeral will take place at St Patrick's Cathedral next week Throughout the week, friends and fellow police officers remembered Rivera and Mora as caring and dedicated. Both grew up in the city's ethnic enclaves and, by many accounts, had hoped to help the department build bridges with the community. The gunman, 47-year-old career criminal Lashawn McNeil, who was shot by a third officer, died earlier in the week. Authorities are still investigating why he fired at the officers as they responded to a domestic violence call in Harlem. Rivera had been an NYPD police officer for less than a year. He leaves behind his newlywed wife, Dominique. The couple met in kindergarten at age 5 and began dating each other when they were 15 years old. They got married on October 9, 2021. 'That was her first love, her only love,' Carmen Suarez, a fellow NYPD widow, told PIX11. Mora was in his fourth year on the job. His wake and funeral Mass were planned for next week, also at the iconic Roman Catholic cathedral. An overhead view of members of the New York City Police Department arriving to St. Patrick's Cathedral for Rivera's funeral service on Friday Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) arrives for the funeral of Officer Rivera at St. Patrick's Cathedral, a day after he attended the hero cop's wake Mayor Eric Adams (left) and Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell (right) were on hand on Friday to pay their final respects to Rivera New York State Attorney General Latisha James arrives for the funeral of Officer Jason Rivera at St. Patrick's Cathedral Officer Rivera's emotional family members arrive at his funeral at St Patrick's Cathedral on Friday A bagpipe player is seen arriving at the cathedral on Fifth Avenue for Rivera's funeral Mass Mourners in dress blues and white gloves embrace ahead of the funeral service Friday Lashawn McNeil, 47, who was shot by a third officer, died on Monday Before Friday, the last NYPD officer killed in the line of duty was Anastasios Tsakos, who was struck by a suspected drunken driver in May 2021 while assisting officers at the scene of an earlier crash on a Queens highway. The last NYPD officer fatally shot in the line of duty, Brian Mulkeen, was hit by friendly fire while struggling with an armed man after chasing and shooting at him in the Bronx in September 2019. In 2015, Officer Randolph Holder was shot and killed by a man riding a stolen bicycle in Manhattan and Officer Brian Moore died after he was shot by a man in Queens. The year before, Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were fatally shot by a man who ambushed them as they sat in their patrol car in Brooklyn. President Joe Biden will visit New York City next week to discuss combating gun crime with Mayor Adams. There have been 73 shooting incidents so far this year in the city - an increase of 23.7 per cent compared to last year. A total of 82 people have been shot as of January 23, up from 67 in the first three weeks of 2021. Mark McGowan has sketched out new plans for what life will look like in Western Australia once Covid cases in the state spin out of control. Rules around close contacts and isolation times will be changed once the Covid situation worsens, the WA Premier who has locked his state away from the rest of the country said on Friday afternoon. 'At some point in the future we will inevitably be in a higher caseload environment,' Mr McGowan said. Once that higher caseload environment arrives, casual contacts will be scrapped and new definitions will be made for close contacts. Mark McGowan has sketched out new plans for what life will look like in Western Australia once Covid cases spin out of control Close contacts will be determined as someone who has spent 15 minutes of face-to-face contact with a person infected with Covid without wearing masks, and someone who spent time with an infected person for at least two hours in a small room with masks on. Intimate partners and household contacts of positive cases will also be classed as close contacts. Those who test positive will also only have to isolate for seven days, instead of 14, with no test needed on the seventh day if symptoms are gone. Close contacts will need to isolate for seven days with a rapid antigen test on day one and on the final day of isolation. They can leave isolation if their day seven test is negative. Mr McGowan said he didn't have a specific number for what constitutes a high caseload environment. He said it would be based on average daily case numbers, links between cases and how long they have been infectious in the community. Positive cases will only have to isolate for one week once the new changes come into effect (pictured in Perth) 'Hopefully, it is weeks away,' Mr McGowan said. 'Under Omicron, spread of the virus is unavoidable.' The premier added critical workers who were deemed close contacts but do not have symptoms could continue working if they provide negative rapid tests daily, and wear a mask and isolate. These workers include those in health industries, food and beverage manufacturing, retail, public transport, agriculture, emergency services and teachers. 'Under these settings one case in a bar would not shut a bar. One case would likely not shut an office or a warehouse,' Mr McGowan said. 'We rebalance the risk for the situation we are in, providing certainty as much as we can in a very uncertain environment.' Western Australia on Friday recorded nine new cases, two of which have not yet been linked to existing infections The premier took the opportunity to make a subtle dig at the eastern states who are experiencing significantly higher daily case numbers. 'In NSW more than 20,000 daily cases were recorded before new definitions and protocols were put in place - we won't be waiting for these caseloads to occur in WA before implementing the new settings,' he said. He also said there was discussions at National Cabinet on Thursday of a 'fourth wave' hitting eastern Australia come winter. 'There'll be what they're terming a long tail and they're strongly expecting a fourth wave especially over the winter months,' he said. Western Australia on Friday recorded nine new cases, two of which have not yet been linked to existing infections. A school in Georgia has been forced to revise its class projects after complaints about an assignment that asked fourth graders to defend the forced relocation of Native Americans in the 1830s. Students at Georgia Cyber Academy - a tuition-free, online, accredited public charter school - were given the task as part of their study of Andrew Jackson, president from 1829-37. Jackson in 1830 signed the Indian Removal Act, which ordered Native Americans living around Tennessee to relocate to Oklahoma. An estimated 100,000 were forced to move, with 15,000 dying en route. The students were set the task of writing two letters. 'Write a letter to President Andrew Jackson from the perspective of an American settler,' one assignment instructed. Andrew Jackson, president from 1829-37, ordered that Native Americans be forcibly removed from their ancestral lands 'Explain why you think removing the Cherokee will help the United States grow and prosper.' The second letter should be written from the opposite perspective. 'Write a letter to President Andrew Jackson from the perspective of a Cherokee Indian. Describe conditions on the Trail of Tears and their effects on your tribe.' Jennifer Martin, a parent in Virginia, told Insider that she was angered by what she saw as 'prioritizing the feelings of settlers and colonizers as more important than actual, real history.' She added: 'If this sort of content could happen at a state-funded Georgia charter school, it could easily happen in any public school, and I think people should be aware of how quickly we're devolving into this kind of atmosphere in American schools. 'The truth of American history, and what happened to indigenous peoples and enslaved Africans and other people of color, shouldn't be whitewashed.' This picture, The Trail of Tears, was painted by Robert Lindneux in 1942. It commemorates the suffering of the Cherokee people under forced removal The school said that they had reviewed the material, and decided to change the lesson structure. They said school leaders 'concluded this is not an appropriate question to be used in our classrooms.' The school added: 'While there is often a benefit in asking students to consider all perspectives in a social studies class - and it should be noted that the next question in the series asked students to also argue from the opposite perspective (screenshot attached) - we believe there are more appropriate ways to teach this subject.' Huh Kyung-young, a presidential candidate of the National Revolutionary Party, raises his hands during a visit to a traditional market in Guri, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo Huh Kyung-young, a self-proclaimed prophet and a wacky politician who leads the National Revolutionary Party, appears to have succeeded in grabbing the public's attention with his unique presence in the presidential race. But he was not invited to a TV debate among presidential contenders despite his two decades in politics as a candidate who ran unsuccessfully in the presidential as well as Seoul mayoral elections. His name has never been mentioned in the ongoing inter-party negotiations on the TV debate among four candidates, although a poll showed he was ahead of the minor Justice Party candidate Sim Sang-jung. Huh revealed on his social media account on Thursday just how he feels about the snub. "God's wrath will be handed down," he wrote on his Facebook account. Tagging a recent poll that showed he came in fourth and was ahead of the Justice Party candidate, he wrote, "What the hell are you guys doing?" He was referring to the TV debates that were proposed by three major TV broadcasters KBS, SBS and MBC featuring Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), and possibly Ahn Cheol-soo from the People's Party and Sim from the Justice Party. A two-way debate between the DPK and PPP rivals are expected to take place on Jan. 31 and the four-way battle is anticipated to be held on Feb. 3. Earlier, Huh requested the Seoul Southern District Court to ban a TV debate only featuring Lee and Yoon, but saw the petition being dismissed. Huh then asked the Seoul Western District Court to prohibit a four-way debate between Lee, Yoon, Ahn and Sim, but this was also dismissed on Friday, despite Huh's claim that "everyone is wondering why Huh Kyung-young was not invited to the TV debate." Korea's election law requires candidates to have at least three TV debates hosted by the National Election Commission (NEC). Candidates who are eligible for TV debates are those from a party having more than five seats in the National Assembly, those from a party which secured more than 3 percent of support in previous elections or those who secured more than an average 5 percent support rate in surveys conducted one month before the official election campaign. Due to this, petitions by Ahn and Sim, who also opposed the two-way TV debate between Lee and Yoon, were accepted, but that of Huh was dismissed, because he does not meet any of the three conditions and the court applied the same rule for NEC-hosted debates on the two-way debate, even though it would be hosted by the broadcasters. While dismissing Huh's petition for a two-way debate, the Seoul Southern District Court cited that his party has no seat in the Assembly, and his average support rate does not seem to "surpass the 5 percent mark." This is the part Huh is complaining about. He claims that his average support rate surpasses the 5 percent mark, citing a Jan. 23 survey. In the poll, conducted by Korea Information Research for online news outlet NewsPim, Huh secured a 5.6 percent support rate, outpacing Sim with 3.1 percent to stand as the No. 4 candidate. The survey questioned 1,005 adults on Jan. 23 and further information is available at the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission website. Citing this, Huh said Friday that, "We have more than 3 million supporters, with a 5.6 percent support rate," adding "we will remember the judges and court officials who were involved in case our petition for an injunction is not accepted." Despite his threats, the court did not take the 5.6 percent rate into account because it is not a survey acknowledged by the NEC. The NEC only acknowledges surveys requested by newspapers with national circulation, terrestrial broadcasters and cable channels dedicated to news. Most of those surveys did not include Huh in questionnaires to respondents. "Broadcasters are selecting TV debate participants based on strict rules," a legal representative of the three broadcasters said. "Huh is not eligible as a participant of an NEC-hosted TV debate because his party has no seat in the Assembly and his average support rate did not reach 5 percent." Huh Kyung-young, a presidential candidate of the National Revolutionary Party, center, poses with supporters wearing costumes from the Netflix series, "Squid Game," after applying to be a presidential preliminary candidate at the National Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, in this Oct. 18 file photo. Yonhap South Australia is scrapping QR code check-ins at retail venues - becoming the first state to partially ditch the technology which has become a staple of life during the Covid pandemic. Premier Steven Marshall said the check-ins are no longer needed for general retail but will remain in place at high-risk settings such as hospitality venues as well as aged care and health facilities. NSW politicians meanwhile freely admit they are only still imposing QR code rules to make people feel confident as authorities have given up on contact tracing. Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello on Friday said QR codes helped residents with a low 'risk appetite' because the Service NSW app gives them case alerts and tells them to check for symptoms. South Australia is scrapping QR code check-ins at retail venues, becoming the first state to partially ditch the technology which has become a staple of life during the Covid pandemic (file image of an Australian Covid check-in sign) Premier Steven Marshall said QR check-ins are no longer needed for general retail but will remain in place at high-risk settings like hospitality venues as well as aged care and health facilities Premier Marshall said the end of QR code check-ins will be a welcome relief for many retail outlets. 'I want to thank South Australians for their check-in efforts and I am heartened we are now in a position to safely phase out its use at retail outlets.' The announcement also came with the return of elective surgery in SA and an increased 50 per cent capacity level in hospitality venues despite the state recording 1846 new Covid cases on Friday. Meanwhile, the nation's hardest-hit Covid state which added a further 13,333 infections in the past 24 hours, is sticking to its guns when it comes to QR code check-ins despite calls to do away with the technology. Under NSW's new contact rules announced at the end of last year, only household contacts of positive Covid cases are required to isolate. That means being at the same place at the same time as someone who has the virus is no longer cause to self-isolate as it was in the early stages of the pandemic before the vaccine roll out. The move has raised awkward questions for New South Wales politicians who freely admit it's only there to 'make people feel confident' as they've given up on contact tracing. Pictured: Shoppers in Sydney Premier Dominic Perrottet admitted: 'We are not tracking and tracing that is very clear. But this is about confidence'. 'The reality is people feel confident checking in,' he explained. The premier this week extended QR code check-ins, as well as density limits in hospitality venues and public indoor mask mandates, until February 28. Mr Dominello was grilled on Friday by 2GB radio host Ben Fordham, who asked 'what is the point' of having QR requirements if the data is no longer being used? The minister did his best to defend the policy which can see anyone who refuses to check in fined $1,000. 'I understand where you are coming from and it was a line-ball decision, but there are people out there that are a bit scared and lacking confidence with Omicron around,' he said. The NSW Customer Service Minister (pictured) defended the state's the policy which can see anyone who refuses to check in fined $1000 Under the NSW's new contact rules announced at the end of last year, only household contacts of positive Covid cases are required to isolate. Pictured: Sydney's Opera House Bar 'It does give you alerts and people that don't have the same risk appetite as you or I can see I went to a place and it reminds them to check for symptoms. 'Kids going back to school we're expecting a surge in numbers there. That's another reason to be more cautious.' NSW Health also has the power to declare a venue a 'superspreader' site and order those in attendance to isolate which the QR technology could potentially be used for. Advertisement The Queen was today seen being taken for a drive around her Sandringham estate after it was claimed Prince Charles, Prince William and other senior royals are 'deeply shocked' by Prince Andrew's demand for a trial by jury. Members of the Royal Family will urge the Duke of York to settle with Virginia Giuffre, which could cost him 10million, but he wants to tackle accusations of rape and sexual assault made by the Jeffrey Epstein 'sex slave'. Senior royals are said to be exerting pressure on him to pay off Ms Giuffre to avoid corroding his mother's Platinum Jubilee, fearing a trial could be 'many times worse' than his car crash BBC Newsnight interview. So far Andrew appears to be ignoring them, after the Queen 'swiftly and ruthlessly' forced him to hand back his remaining royal patronages and demanded he fight the case as a 'private citizen'. But experts have suggested his hard line could be a 'bluff' and a desperate bid to 'buy time' to reach an out-of-court settlement with his accuser. Meanwhile the Queen, 95, was photographed this morning near Wood Farm on her Sandringham estate where she is staying for the next few weeks, just over one month after her Christmas visit to Norfolk was cancelled. She normally hosts her family at Sandringham over the holidays, and on Christmas Day the royals attend church nearby. But the Queen chose in December to remain at Windsor Castle following rising Covid-19 cases at the time. On February 6, her reign will pass the milestone of 70 years and herald the start of Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Her winter break normally ends after her Accession Day, February 6 - the day her father George VI died in 1952. A royal source said: 'After the car crash of Newsnight no-one thinks a seven-hour deposition is a good idea. If he were to appear in court it could be many times worse and senior royals were deeply shocked when they heard that he was demanding a jury trial'. The Queen is photographed this morning leaving Wood Farm on her Sandringham estate in Norfolk The Queen is driven in a Range Rover this morning as she leaves Wood Farm on her Sandringham estate in Norfolk The Queen looks out of the window from her Range Rover this morning as she leaves Wood Farm at Sandringham in Norfolk Prince Charles, Prince WIlliam and other senior royals are said to be 'deeply shocked' by Prince Andrew's demand for a 'trial by jury' (pictured together at Prince Philip's funeral) The Duke of York was photographed with his arm around the bare waist of then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts. In the background, Ghislaine Maxwell. Ms Roberts claims she was forced to have sex with the royal, he denies ever meeting her Andrew's decision to speak to the BBC's Emily Maitlis caused major reputational problems for him and the Royal Family The insider told The Sun: 'The best outcome for everyone is that this is settled as soon as possible. There are deep, deep worries that this will get worse and worse for the family and will overshadow Platinum Jubilee celebrations.' In his official response to claims made against him by Virginia Roberts five months ago, the Queen's son issued 41 denials, rejecting all allegations of wrongdoing but said a further 40 times that he 'lacks sufficient information to admit or deny' other claims. What are Prince Andrew's defences? The papers, filed today by Prince Andrew's legal counsel Andrew Brettler (pictured), contained a detail rebuttal of all of Roberts' claims and also requested that the Royal be granted a trial by jury The latest court document reiterated the position on the 2009 agreement which was that Ms Giuffre 'waived the claims now asserted in the complaint'. Another factor the duke's legal team asked the court to consider was the issue of consent. The document reads: 'Assuming, without admitting, that Giuffre has suffered any injury or damage alleged in the complaint, Giuffre's claims are barred by the doctrine of consent.' The duke also claimed the case should be 'barred in whole or in part by her own wrongful conduct'. Andrew's lawyers also asserted that Ms Giuffre should not be able to proceed because her claim for damages is 'too speculative to be recovered at law'. This appears to show the duke claiming Ms Giuffre's claims cannot be proved with reasonable certainty, which would leave jurors speculating as to the actual damages suffered. Andrew's lawyers also stated that Ms Giuffre's claims 'fail to state facts sufficient to constitute viable causes of action against Prince Andrew'. The document also argues that the claims should be dismissed because Ms Giuffre is a permanent resident of Australia. Advertisement He also submitted 11 defences calling for the case to be dismissed, including that Miss Roberts' claims should be barred by 'her own wrongful conduct' and 'unclean hands'. His decision to go ahead with the case puts him in contravention with the Royal Family who, sources say, are 'desperate' for him to settle and avoid the spectacle of a trial in New York later this year during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. A source said: 'Andrew is on collision course with the Palace over this.' Andrew had not officially responded to the 73-point civil claim as his lawyers almost immediately applied to a New York judge for it to be thrown out. That was dismissed earlier this month, meaning he now needs to formally answer the accusations against him, including claims that Miss Roberts, suing under her married made of Giuffre, was trafficked to him by his friend, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and forced to have sex with the duke on three occasions when she was 17. She says this amounts to rape, sexual assault and battery as she seeks unspecified damages, thought to be in the millions of pounds. Andrew's eight admissions were limited to information already public, such as that he is a UK citizen and resides at Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate. He admits his walk with Epstein in Central Park in 2010 and staying at the paedophile's Manhattan mansion on the same trip, both caught on camera. But in his rebuttal of Miss Roberts' complaint, Andrew denies he ever sexually abused her and refuses to 'admit or deny' her assertions that she was a victim of Epstein. He even quite remarkably given photographic evidence of their relationship over the years denies being a 'close friend' of Epstein's girlfriend and now convicted sex trafficker, Ghislaine Maxwell. Andrew's legal team also reject Miss Roberts' accusation that he has refused to co-operate with US authorities in their investigation of Epstein and his co-conspirators, despite officials claiming he has done just that. Andrew makes clear he continues to dispute Miss Roberts is resident in the state of Colorado, which allows her to bring the case in the US. Now a 38-year-old mother-of-three, she lives in Perth, Australia, and it is understood Andrew's legal team still intend to pursue this in a bid to get the case thrown out. Regarding associations with Epstein, the royal admits he met him 'in or around 1999' but rejects that Maxwell was a 'close friend' and claims he lacks sufficient information to deny or confirm they were photographed 'at numerous social events together'. He says he cannot admit or deny flight logs put him on Epstein's private jet or that he visited his private island. He confirms Epstein and Maxwell attended his 40th birthday party in 2000 but denies throwing Maxwell a birthday party at the Sandringham estate that year. Prince Andrew has responded to sex assault claims by Virginia Giuffre-Roberts in a new court document. Virginia alleges she was forced to have sex with the royal three times when she was aged 17 by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The first page of the document shows Andrew's official denial of Giuffre's claim. Andrew says he 'lacks sufficient evidence to confirm or deny' if photographic evidence of his alleged meeting with Giuffre even 'exists'. Friends of his had suggested the infamous picture could have been doctored. He also claims he has insufficient information to know if he sent emails to Maxwell saying he had 'some specific questions to ask you about Virginia Roberts' in 2015. His submission concludes with additional defence claims saying the case should be dismissed for reasons including: Miss Roberts signed away a right to sue in a legal agreement with Epstein, and accusations she also helped to procure victims of Epstein amounted to 'wrongful conduct and the doctrine of unclean hands'. It adds: 'Prince Andrew hereby demands a trial by jury on all causes of action asserted in the Complaint'. But David Boies, Miss Roberts' attorney, said: 'Prince Andrew's answer continues his approach of denying any knowledge or information concerning the claims against him, and purporting to blame the victim of the abuse for somehow bringing it on herself.' Does this help jog your memory, sir? In court papers revealed this week, Prince Andrew said he didn't have 'enough information to admit or deny' the most basic facts about him, Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein. Allow us to assist! Prince Andrew's formal legal response to allegations made by Virginia Roberts in her civil case against him has been described as 'defiant.' A more jaundiced assessment might characterise it as vague and sometimes baffling. In his answers and 'affirmative defences', there are 41 straight denials and a further 40 assertions that the prince 'lacks sufficient information' to admit or deny other claims she makes. Amid incredulity at some of the responses, legal experts questioned the wisdom of his insistence of a trial by jury which they suggested may be a bluff 'to buy time'. A court-set deadline required the prince to answer Roberts' original complaint by Wednesday. A more detailed response may presumably follow. But given the wealth of evidence already in the public domain concerning Andrew's relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell, a number of his statements will still cause puzzlement. On two occasions the wording in his legal defence is ambiguous enough to suggest that he denies Maxwell was ever a 'close friend' or that she introduced him to Epstein. Yet during his disastrous Newsnight interview in November 2019 he told Emily Maitlis: 'I met (him) through his girlfriend in 1999 ...and I've known her since she was at university in the UK.' This was undoubtedly a reference to Maxwell. In the same interview he admitted flying on Epstein's planes and staying on his island. His legal responses to the Roberts suit, in which she claims she was forced to have sex with the prince on three occasions, are rather more circumspect. A photograph of Prince Andrew with his arm around a 17-year-old Virginia Roberts which was allegedly taken at Maxwell's house While Buckingham Palace is declining to comment on the prince's tactics as Andrew is fighting to clear his name as a 'private citizen' after being stripped of his royal privileges, aides are fearful of more damaging headlines just a week before the start of the Queen's historic Platinum Jubilee. In the US, lawyers said Andrew who strenuously denies the claims of wrongdoing was gambling on 'an incredibly risky strategy', but sources close to the prince insisted he was entitled to defend himself when accused of 'such heinous crimes'. So let's examine some of the claims. EXHIBIT A Prince Andrew 'lacks sufficient information to admit or deny' that the widely published photograph of himself, Miss Roberts and Maxwell 'exists'. One of the most famous or notorious snapshots in the world shows Andrew with his arm around the bare midriff of a 17-year-old Roberts. It was allegedly taken in March 2001, on the first floor landing of Maxwell's mews home in Belgravia. Roberts maintains it happened after a night out in central London. This included dinner and dancing with a 'sweaty' Andrew at Tramp nightclub. She alleges he then had sex with her in Maxwell's home. He denies that such an evening and assault took place. He has also said he had no recollection of meeting Roberts. In the past Andrew has contested the authenticity of the picture. Where, then, is the original negative? Roberts has said variously that it was with the FBI, stored in a family home in Australia and 'in a safe place'. According to a Panorama documentary, legal papers reveal an ex-partner of Roberts told US officials he remembers being shown a copy of the picture one of the most frequently viewed in the world just weeks after it was taken. Roberts also told the 2019 programme that a date on the back of the picture shows it was printed on March 13, 2001 just two days after it was taken. She said: 'It's an authentic photo, I have given it to the FBI. There's a date on the back of it from when it was printed.' EXHIBIT B Andrew 'lacks sufficient information to admit or deny' he and Maxwell have been photographed at numerous social events together. This is the most puzzling claim. There are numerous photographs in the public domain of the prince and Maxwell attending social events together. Where does one start? The year 2000 is a good place. The evidence is that they spent much of it in each other's company and in the public eye. The party at Trump's resort. Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell pictured together at a wedding On February 12, 2000, Andrew was photographed at an event at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. In one of the pictures the prince is laughing with Melania,Trump's now wife, Jeffrey Epstein and financier Gwendolyn Beck, with whom he was said to have been smitten during a stay on Epstein's private Little St James island the following year. In another picture Maxwell is in conversation with a woman standing next to Andrew, as Epstein, Trump and Melania look on. The tete a tete New York lunch. On April 20, 2000, Andrew and Maxwell lunched together at Nello's restaurant on 62nd Street and Madison in New York. Witnesses reported that they ate lobster salad and held hands. Andrew paid the $130 bill. They left the restaurant separately but both were pictured in the street outside. The society wedding. On September 2, 2000, the prince attended the Wiltshire wedding of his ex-girlfriend Aurelia Cecil. He arrived at and left the church with a female companion and the pair drove away together. The woman's name? Ghislaine Maxwell. The Duke of York and Ghislaine Maxwell at a Halloween party in New York The Halloween party cuddle. On November 6, 2000 Andrew attended supermodel Heidi Klum's Halloween-themed party at the Hudson Bar in New York. The prince dressed down he took off his tie but his female companion got into the spirit, wearing a shocking blonde wig and a midriff baring top. She was pictured with her arm round Andrew's shoulder as they watched the crowd. Her name? Ghislaine Maxwell, again. The Sandringham shoot. On December 7, 2000, Epstein and Maxwell flew into the UK on his private jet landing at RAF Marham, the pilot log for Flight 1429 suggests. Witnesses told the Mail that the couple spent a weekend as his guests on the Queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk. Epstein and Maxwell were taken on a pheasant shoot and were photographed walking in the grounds. EXHIBIT C Andrew 'lacks sufficient information to admit or deny' he is named in flight logs flying with Epstein on his private plane from 1999 onwards. It has been widely reported that a number of pilot flight logs are said to prove the Prince flew as a passenger on Epstein's planes. One such entry, for May 12, 2000, is said to show that Epstein's Gulfstream II business jet flew from TEB (Teterboro Airport, New Jersey, 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan) to PBI (Palm Beach International Airport, the closest to Epstein's Florida home). Billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein pictured with his private jet Epstein and his jet, which was dubbed the Lolita Express, were named in flying logs According to the log, aboard the plane for Flight 1338 were JE (Epstein), GM (Maxwell), ET (Maxwell's assistant), AP (thought to be Epstein's personal chef) 'Prince Andrew and Bodyguard'. The latter was presumably the Prince's Scotland Yard personal protection officer. EXHIBIT D Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson ad Princess Eugenie pictured with Princess Beatrice at her 18th birthday party Andrew 'lacks sufficient information to admit or deny' if he invited Epstein to his daughter Beatrice's 18th birthday party in 2006, despite Epstein being charged with paedophile offences. The prince and his family and their guests posed for photographs at their daughter's fancy dress event that July even though Epstein's house had already been raided by police (he was charged shortly after the party). One of these portraits is the stuff of reputational nightmares. It shows Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein (jailed in 2018 for sexual offences), Epstein (died in jail the following year as he awaited trial on sexual offences) and a masked woman. Her name? Once again, Ghislaine Maxwell. EXHIBIT E Andrew 'lacks sufficient information to admit or deny' that he didn't know Epstein was a registered sex offender during his visit to him in New York in 2010. Again this is a puzzling contention, given what the Prince told Emily Maitlis in his car crash interview on BBC Newsnight in November 2019. The Duke of York walks through New York's Central Park with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein She asked him then: 'Why were you staying with a convicted sex offender.' He said: 'I went there with the sole purpose of saying to him that because he had been convicted, it was inappropriate for us to be seen together I felt that doing it on the telephone was the chicken's way.' So he did know that Epstein was a convicted sex offender when he stayed at the tycoon's home in Manhattan in 2010. Perhaps it's the word 'registered' that his legal team is picking on. EXHIBIT F Prince Andrew is seen at paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's home in New York Andrew denies that he 'became a frequent guest in Epstein's various homes around the world including New York City.' Yet in his Newsnight interview he told Emily Maitlis he had stayed at the Manhattan mansion of the then convicted sex offender in 2010 because 'it was a convenient place to stay.' EXHIBIT G A leaked email exchange between Ghislaine Maxwell and the Duke of York Andrew 'lacks sufficient information to admit or deny' if he emailed Maxwell stating, 'Let me know when we can talk. Got some specific questions to ask you about Virginia Roberts',' after Roberts publicly accused him of sexually abusing her in 2015. According to a BBC Panorama programme one month after his Newsnight debacle, the prince sent a 5.50am email to Maxwell saying 'Let me know when we can talk. Got some specific questions to ask you about Virginia Roberts.' Maxwell reportedly replied: 'Have some info. Call me when you have a moment.' The source of this leaked email is unclear. An Alabama man was executed Thursday for brutally murdering a taxi driver who gave him a ride more than 25 years ago. Death Row inmate Matthew Reeves, 44, had claimed his 'intellectual disability' meant he did not understand forms asking him to choose either death by lethal injection or an alternative method using nitrogen hypoxia. Defense lawyers had claimed Reeves had a reading capacity of a first-grader and the language skills of a four-year-old. But the Supreme Court rejected this plea on Thursday, voting 5 to 4 that Reeves was intellectually sound enough to comprehend the forms. He declined his last meal and was executed hours later at Holman Correctional Facility at 9.24pm local time according to Steve Marshall, Alabama's Attorney General. Reeves was sentenced to death for robbing and then fatally shooting taxi driver Willie Johnson after he had collected the then 18-year-old Reeves on a rural highway in Dallas County, Alabama. It was reported the teenager went to a party after murdering Mr Johnson with a shotgun, where he danced and re-enacted the killing while still covered in the taxi driver's blood in 1996. Death Row inmate Matthew Reeves, 44, had claimed his 'intellectual disability' meant he did not understand he had accepted death by lethal injection as opposed to an alternative method using nitrogen hypoxia recently legalized in the state Reeves gave no final words before his execution and only requested a bottle of Sprite. Questions persisted over the defendant's intellectual capacity after his planned execution was delayed by an Alabama federal judge and then the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Suing under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Reeves' lawyers tried to claim he was intellectually disabled and lacked the comprehension skills of an adult. Instead of choosing a 'torturous' lethal injection, Reeves would have chosen to die by newly legalized nitrogen hypoxia, but was never given assistance in filling out the relevant forms, his lawyers claimed. The Supreme Court rejected defense lawyers' claims that Reeves had the reading capacity of a first-grader n Thursday, narrowly voting 5 to 4 that he was intellectually sound enough to comprehend the forms The case was heard at the Supreme Court after an appeal by the Alabama Attorney General's Office. America's highest court tossed out the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals' decision on Thursday evening and ruled the execution could go ahead as Reeves did in fact have effective counsel at trial. But Justice Amy Coney Barrett noted she would deny the states petition, while Justice Elena Kagan, Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Stephen Breyer, who has announced his retirement, also dissented. Justice Kagan wrote: 'This Court should have left the matter there, rather than enable Reevess execution by lethal injection to go forward.' Mr Johnson had picked up Reeves and a group of others as they were at the roadside in Selma, before he was robbed of $360 and shot in the neck. Reeves declined his last meal and was executed hours later at Holman Correctional Facility (pictured) at 9.24pm local time Reeves later went to a party and bragged about getting a 'teardrop tattoo' to signify he had killed another person, a court heard. Meanwhile, Johnson's body was discovered in his truck on Thanksgiving. Commissioner John Hamm, speaking on behalf of Mr Johnson's family, said in a statement: 'After 26 years, justice has finally been served.' Execution by nitrogen hypoxia has been legal in Alabama since 2018, but has not yet been used by the state. Advertisement An Indian father who froze to death alongside his wife and two children worked as a teacher and farmed his own land before they made the desperate and dangerous journey to cross in the United States from Canada, where they trudged through waist-deep snow in a blizzard for 11 hours. Jagdish Patel, 39 and Vaishailben Patel, 37 were found dead with their children Vihangi, 11 and Dharkmik, three, in a field north of the US border on January 19 as temperatures plummeted to as low as -40F near Manitoba, Canada with blowing snow and poor visibility advisories issued on the night of the four's ill-fated trek last week. The family have been pictured for the first time, smiling in an image taken before their tragic journey which has been linked to a human smuggling operation. Steve Shand, 57, from Deltona, Florida has been charged with human smuggling and an investigation into the family's deaths continues. The family, originally from Gujarat, is believed to have made their way into Manitoba from Toronto, where they initially entered Canada on January 12, last Tuesday. Pictured: The Patel family, including Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, 39, Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, 37, Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel, 11, and Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel, three As there was no abandoned vehicle on the Canadian side of the border, it's understood someone drove the family to the border and left the scene. Relatives said the the father of the family worked as a teacher and farmed land they owned, the National Post reported. Ramandeep Grewal, president of the India Association of Manitoba, told the BBC that there is 'a common sense of feeling guilty' in the region's Indian community following news of the incident. He said the Patels were rumoured to have walked for 11 hours, adding: 'You don't expose yourself to that degree of cold for minutes, let alone hours.' The High Commission of India released a notice with the family's identities and said their immediate relatives have been informed. Police in the western state of Gujarat in India have begun delving deeper into the deaths. Ashish Bhatia, director general of police in Gujarat, said investigators are trying to determine whether there was a travel agent in India who helped the group. A special team, led by a senior consular officer from the Consulate General of India, is in Manitoba to help with investigations on the Canadian side and to offer services for the victims. RCMP officers searching the area where the Patel family froze to death after crossing the border from the US near Emerson, Manitoba, Canada last week Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) found the four bodies near Emerson, Manitoba, after US border patrol agents advised them they had picked up a group of Indian nationals on the US side. One of the individuals was found with a backpack full of items for an infant. Steve Shand (pictured) 57, from Deltona, Florida has been charged with human smuggling He told investigators he was carrying the backpack for a group that got separated from his. Investigators have said they believe the deaths are linked to a human smuggling scheme. Shand faces counts of transporting or attempting to transport illegal aliens. He was released on bail Monday. Authorities believe the family of four were separated from another group of five Indians who were traveling on foot in the snow as they tried to cross the border. That group of five was also apprehended last week and had new-looking winter gear that matched Shand's, the documents said, and their boots matched prints from people who walked across the border last month, according to US Department of Homeland Security special agent John Stanley. One woman walking had to be hospitalized for frostbite and may have part of her hand amputated, authorities said. The charge document read: '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.' Shauna Labman, a human rights professor who studies migration at the University of Winnipeg, said going south from Canada into the US is less common than the opposite direction. The US is usually easier to get to, by land or air, and Canada is generally seen as having fairer refugee policies, she said. Hemat Shah, who is part of the Gujarati community in Winnipeg, Manitoba organised a virtual prayer for the family this week. It is believed the family of four tried to cross into the US on foot as temperatures plummeted to -35C (-31F) near Manitoba, Canada last week He told CBC: 'My heart is crying. What they may have gone through crossing this border, you know, we can't visualize. We can't imagine this.' A statement from RCMP superintendent Rob Hill yesterday said the Patel family first arrived in Canada on January 12 through Toronto and made their way to 'Manitoba and eventually to Emerson on, or about, January 18'. It added: 'There was no abandoned vehicle located on the Canadian side of the border this clearly indicates that someone drove the family to the border and then left the scene. 'With what we know so far of their activities in Canada, along with the arrest that occurred in the United States, we believe this to be a case of human smuggling. Shand was arrested in North Dakota at a border patrol stop, just feet away from where the bodies of four Indian nationals were found RCMP officers with the Integrated Border Enforcement Team (pictured) found the bodies after receiving concerning information from their counterparts in the US 'Our officers with Major Crime Services and Federal Policing are looking at every aspect of their journey. 'This includes their travel from Toronto on January 12 to Emerson around January 18. 'This is an extended period of time for a family who is unfamiliar with Canada to be travelling across the country. 'A part of the investigation is determining whether this travel was facilitated in some way by an individual or individuals. 'It is our belief that people had interactions with the Patel family during their stay in Canada. This can include hotel, gas station or restaurant employees.' According to the BBC, the RCMP would not comment on whether the case was linked to seven other Indian nationals found by border agents on the same day. Shand was charged with human smuggling last Thursday, which led to the discovery of the bodies which were found in Canada near the US border in what authorities call a failed crossing attempt during the freezing blizzard. After a difficult search in nearly impassible terrain, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy said officers found three bodies together - a man, a woman and a baby - 33 feet from the border near Emerson, Manitoba. The search continued and a teenager first believed to have been a boy, was found a short distance away. It is believed they died from exposure. RCMP officers in Canada with the Integrated Border Enforcement Team found the bodies after receiving concerning information from their counterparts in the US regarding possible human remains near the border town of Emerson, Manitoba. The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota said Shand had been charged with human smuggling after seven Indian nationals were found in the US, leading to the discovery of the bodies. Court documents filed Wednesday in support of Shand's arrest alleged one of the people spent a significant amount of money to come to Canada with a fraudulent student visa. According to documents, a US Border Patrol in North Dakota stopped a 15-passenger van just south of the Canadian border last Wednesday. Shand was driving and court documents alleged he was with two undocumented Indian nationals. Around the same time, court documents said five other people were spotted by law enforcement in the snow nearby. The group, who were also Indian nationals, told officers they'd been walking for more than 11 hours outside in frigid conditions. A woman stopped breathing several times as she was transported to the hospital. Court documents said she will require partial amputation of her hand. A man was also hospitalized for frostbite but was later released. One of the men in the group was carrying a backpack that had baby supplies in it. Court documents said he told officers it belonged to a family who had become separated from the group overnight. A border marker between the US and Canada outside of Manitoba last Thursday, where a Florida man was arrested for human smuggling after the bodies of four people were found nearby Road signage is posted just outside of Emerson, Manitoba, last Thursday, where the bodies were found on last week in the province of Manitoba just 33 feet from the US border MacLatchy told a news conference in Winnipeg on Thursday that once Mounties were notified the family may still be in Manitoba officers immediately began to search the area, however, the likelihood of several that night was low. 'It is an absolute and heartbreaking tragedy,' MacLatchy said. They were wearing winter clothing, she said, but it would not have been enough to save them with the freezing conditions. 'These victims faced not only the cold weather but also endless fields, large snowdrifts and complete darkness,' MacLatchy added. Manitoba RCMP Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy holds a news conference in Winnipeg last week after Mounties found the bodies of four people near the US border Dave Carlson, pictured, the reeve of Emerson-Franklin, speaks to media in his office in Emerson, Manitoba, last week Officials in both countries said it is more common to see crossings north from the US into Canada. Border crossings into Canada on foot increased in 2016 following the election of former US President Donald Trump. That December, two men lost their fingers to severe frostbite after getting caught in a blizzard while walking from the US into Manitoba. A few months later, a woman died of hypothermia near the border on the American side. In 2019, a pregnant woman who walked across the border was rescued after she became trapped in a snowbank and went into labor. Emerson-Franklin Reeve Dave Carlson said illegal crossings there have dropped significantly in recent years. He was surprised to learn of the four deaths. 'If you look at the political climate on both sides of the border, it's just mind-boggling to me that anyone had that sense of desperation to try and cross in extreme conditions.' Deputy Patrick Klegstad with the Kittson County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota said his department is supporting the American side of the investigation. Its officers patrol the 'desolate' open fields near the border every day, he said, and the area where people crossed is treacherous, especially in the cold. 'Why they picked that spot to travel would be the million-dollar question.' Klegstad, echoing Canadian officials, said it's uncommon to have people make the harrowing journey from Canada into the US. 'It's not very often we do have south-bounders.' Scott Morrison has promised Australia's hard-hit travel sector international tourists will be welcomed back 'well before Easter'. The prime minister slammed the nation's borders shut in March 2020 as the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic swept across the globe. He said it's now finally time for holidaymakers to come back as tourism operators struggle to stay afloat. Prime Minister Morrison says it's finally time for holidaymakers to come back as tourism operators struggle to stay afloat. Pictured: Australia's Far North Mr Morrison pictured on Tuesday. He has promised Australia's hard-hit travel sector that international tourists will be welcomed back 'well before Easter' In the 202021 financial year, 99 per cent of all visitor spend came from domestic tourism, according to official Austrade data. Pictured is a tourist in Australia 'I can't give you a specific date yet and that's because we're just watching how Omicron is sort of washing over the eastern states,' Mr Morrison told 4CA radio in Cairns on Friday. 'We just got to get some medical advice further on that, a bit more work to do with the states to make sure we're comfortable about it. 'I'd like to see us get there soon, certainly before Easter, well before Easter.' The mid-April deadline comes as Australia battles to contain the highly-infectious Omicron variant with a further 40,000 cases recorded on Friday, adding even more pressure on the tourism industry as domestic visitors stay home. In the 202021 financial year, 99 per cent of all visitor spend came from domestic tourism, according to official Austrade data. The $81billion influx of cash was down 41 per cent on 2019 figures - before the virus struck. The prime minister slammed the nation's borders shut in March, 2020, as the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic swept across the globe. Pictured: Tourists in Sydney Australia did ease some international travel requirements on December 15 allowing returning residents, working holiday visa holders and international students to skip the mandatory quarantine period as long as they are fully vaccinated. Double-jabbed visitors from New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea were also offered the same freedoms last year in travel bubble arrangements. The massive drop in visitors has also caused a severe shortage of workers in the tourism and hospitality sectors as operators struggle to fill the gap left by young working holidaymakers from abroad. The massive drop in visitors has also caused a severe shortage of workers in the tourism and hospitality sectors as operators struggle to fill the gap left by young working holidaymakers from abroad Australian Chamber-Tourism chief executive John Hart told said Wednesday, the reopening should be expedited for fully-vaccinated travellers to save jobs. 'The tourism sector was one of the first to feel the huge costs of Covid-19,' he told the Australian Financial Review. 'The international border has been closed to tourist markets for 675 days and counting. 'As a matter of priority, the federal government must expedite the reopening of our international borders to all fully vaccinated travellers, a move that will provide the tourism industry with confidence to resume their operations.' Russia has released details of the case against an American teacher who faces up to 20 years in jail, six months after he was arrested and accused of being a 'large-scale' drug smuggler. Marc Fogel, an English teacher at the Anglo-American School in Moscow, was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in August after he was found with 17 grams of medicinal marijuana hidden in his suitcase, according to officials. Surveillance footage shows the moment Russian border officials inspected Fogel's suitcase - with sniffer dogs identifying particular items of interest among his luggage, including trainers. 'The drugs were carefully disguised: marijuana was packaged in contact lens case, and cannabis oil was contained in e-cigarette cartridges, a statement from the Russian Interior Ministry read. 'All of it was wrapped in plastic and hidden in his sneakers.' Another video shows investigators rummaging through Fogel's belongings in his office at the elite $34,000-a-year school premises in Moscow, which traditionally shares close links to the British and US embassies. Fogel, who has taught in international schools around the world, was charged with smuggling and possession of a 'large scale' of narcotics after arriving into the country from New York. He faces a maximum prison term of 20 years if convicted. Fogel was accused of using his diplomatic status as a former member of the US Embassy in Moscow to potentially run a 'drug smuggling route' into Russia's capital, the Russian Interior Ministry added. Government investigators urged the immediate arrest of the American over fears he may flee the country, and accused him of potentially selling drugs to students. It is unclear why Moscow waited six months to release further details on Fogel's arrest, but the developments come amid rapidly rising tensions between the US and Russia as President Joe Biden warned a Ukraine invasion could be seen within weeks. Russia is thought to have between 100,000 and 120,000 troops currently massed at the border, which have been recently reinforced with medical teams and logistical support of the kind that is needed to sustain an invading force. Marc Fogel, an English teacher at the Anglo-American School in Moscow, was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in August (pictured above) after he was found with 17 grams of medicinal marijuana hidden in his suitcase, according to officials Russian border officials and a sniffer dog conduct an inspection of Fogel's luggage at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in August 2021 Footage released by the Russian Interior Ministry shows a border official rummaging through Fogel's suitcase. They reportedly found 17g of medicinal marijuna wrapped in plastic and hidden inside his sneakers (top right) Fogel, who has taught in international schools around the world, was charged with smuggling and possession of a 'large scale' of narcotics. He faces a maximum prison term of 20 years if convicted A law enforcement source said Fogel had 11 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of hash oil in his possession. Fogel pleaded innocence and told human rights lawyers in December that he used medicinal marijuana after spinal surgery, reports Russia's Interfax agency. He told lawyers he had transported around 17 grams (more than half an ounce) of medicinal marijuana with him into Russia in August. Alexander Khurudzhi, a member of a Moscow human rights committee, said: 'Fogel insists that it was medical marijuana and claims that a doctor prescribed it to him in the United States, which is allegedly confirmed by an entry in the medical record'. 'He claims he was unaware of Russia's ban on medical marijuana,' Khurudhzi added. Documents and personal items, including a baseball hat, were later recovered from English teacher Fogel's office at The Anglo-American School in Moscow. The Russians also claim that Fogel's wife, Jane, sought to remove evidence from their home before it was reached by police. Footage allegedly shows her disposing of evidence, say reports. 'She took a bundle out of the house and threw it in the trash, and later took it outside the residential complex,' said a RIA Novosti report citing local law enforcement. Fogel and his wife, Jane, were protected under diplomatic status until May 2021, the Russian Interior Ministry added. The couple have two sons, Sam, 22, and Ethan, 24, who had both attended the Anglo-American School in Moscow. A second video shows investigators raiding the $34,000-a-year Anglo-American School in Moscow, which traditionally has had close links to the British and US embassies Fogel and his wife, Jane, (pictured above in 2017) were protected under diplomatic status until May 2021, the Russian Interior Ministry added. The US Embassy said it was aware of the case but provided no further comment The couple have two sons, Sam, 22, and Ethan, 24, (far right) who had both attended the Anglo-American School in Moscow The school, established in 1949, traditionally serves the children of expats, including diplomats, in Moscow as well as enrolling those from wealthy Russian families. It has more than 800 registered pupils at present, and charges annual fees of up to $34,900 for its upperclassmen. The US Embassy is aware of Fogel's case, and released a statement saying they were 'monitoring the situation'. Embassy spokesman Jason Rebholz said on Thursday: 'We take seriously our responsibility to assist U.S. citizens abroad and are monitoring the situation. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment at this time.' Fogel joins around a dozen fellow Americans who are currently being detained in Russia. The most prominent of them is former security officer and Marine Paul Whelan, 51, who was arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service in Moscow in 2018 on charges of espionage. Another ex-Marine, Trevor Reed, was held in 2019 for a brawl in which he is accused of attacking Russian police officers. It is understood that Russia mooted a potential prisoner swap for natives held in American prisons, including pilot Konstantin Yaroshenko, an alleged arms dealer known as the 'Merchant of Death', who was arrested on drugs charges in 2011. Russia could attack Ukraine within weeks, intelligence sources have said, after Biden shared a phone call with President Zelensky last night during which he warned an attack is likely to come in February Russian armoured troop carriers are pictured taking part in military drills near Rostov-on-Don, located in southern Russia and just a few dozen miles from the Ukraine border US analysts believe that Putin is waiting for the weather to turn cold enough to freeze the ground solid, paving the way for an invasion because it would allow his tanks to manoeuvre easily (pictured, Russian tanks in drills near Ukraine on Thursday) The news comes after President Biden shared a phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky Thursday night, during which he warned the Ukrainian leader of the 'distinct possibility' that Vladimir Putin will attack his country in February. This would mean the invasion is timed to coincide with the coldest weeks in eastern Europe, when the ground will be frozen solid allowing tanks and artillery to manoeuvre easily. US officials have previously said that an unseasonably mild winter appears to have delayed Putin's attack plans by turning the region into a quagmire. The warnings were issued a day after two letters were sent to Vladimir Putin, rejecting his demands that Ukraine be banned from joining NATO and that the alliance withdraw all its forces from ex-Soviet states. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent one letter, while the other was sent by NATO chief Jens Stoltenburg. Neither missive has been made public, but both men have said no ground was given on Putin's key demands. Instead, Blinken said 'serious' counter-offers were made that he hopes will tempt the Kremlin into continuing talks and potential de-escalation. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said yesterday that there is 'little ground for optimism' after reading the letters - but left the door to more talks open and said Russia will not rush to give a response. Tensions have soared in recent weeks, as the United States and its NATO allies expressed concern that a buildup of about 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine signaled that Moscow planned to invade its ex-Soviet neighbor. Russia denies having any such designs - and has laid out a series of demands it says will improve security in Europe. But as expected, the U.S. and the Western alliance firmly rejected any concessions on Moscow's main points Wednesday, refusing to permanently ban Ukraine from joining NATO and saying allied deployments of troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe are nonnegotiable. A British property developer has effectively been condemned to die behind bars in Dubai, says his distraught wife, so that senior figures in the Emirati state can seize control of his assets, including a lavish city-centre polo resort. Heather Cornelius says her husband Ryan has already spent 13 years in a cell the size of a shipping container with five other inmates following a minor banking fraud. But her husband, now in ill-health, must spend a further 18 years in jail because he cannot repay millions of pounds demanded by the Dubai authorities. The Foreign Office, she says, has abandoned them. Cornelius's Kafkaesque ordeal has been condemned by supporters demanding his release, including senior peer Lord Clement-Jones and Bill Browder, the London-based financier and campaigner. Heather Cornelius says her husband Ryan (pictured together) has already spent 13 years in a cell the size of a shipping container in Dubai Heather and her three children a daughter, 32, and two sons, aged 30 and 19 became homeless when the couple's three London properties were handed over Browder, who helped bring about the Magnitsky laws imposing international sanctions, including travel bans, on corrupt government officials, described the 31-year sentence as 'an unbelievable miscarriage of justice'. Speaking in a parliamentary debate last year, liberal Democrat peer Lord Clement-Jones, described the case as corruption of the highest order. 'Ryan has no assets left,' he told The Mail on Sunday last week. Half a billion pounds has been taken away by using the Dubai courts and his freedom. 'Effectively a British citizen has been allowed to rot in jail. This is absolutely unacceptable.' Cornelius's wife, Heather has been reluctant to speak out but is now doing so out of desperation. She says the British government is doing next to nothing to help despite his treatment by the Dubai regime, which kept him hooded in solitary confinement for ten days following his arrest and, she says, would later extend his sentence by 20 years behind closed doors with no trial and no lawyers present. Cornelius, 67, is now due to be set free when he is 85 years old, but Heather believes he could die in the Dubai's Central Prison particularly if the authorities produce a further unexpected charge against him. 'I believe they are determined to keep my husband in jail until he dies,' Heather told The Mail on Sunday. Heather says the British government is doing next to nothing to help despite his treatment by the Dubai regime 'Perhaps they are afraid that Ryan will tell the truth about the theft of his assets. There is no other explanation. 'I am terrified that he will pass away behind bars and that I will never get to see my husband again.' Supporters of Cornelius believe he is the victim of a plot orchestrated at the highest level in Dubai by Mohammed al-Shaibani, a figure close to the Sheikh. Al-Shaibani, who has been accused of being the perpetrator, in the House of Lords, has already been implicated in the brutal abductions of the Sheikh's daughters, Princesses Shamsa and Latifa when they attempted to flee Dubai in 2000 and 2018. Lawyers acting for Cornelius plan to petition the British and American government to impose asset freezes and travel bans on senior figures in the Dubai regime in protest at Mr Cornelius's case in the coming weeks. Dubai is already under fire for the treatment of foreign nationals caught up in its labyrinthine legal system while the Sheikh is also scrutiny for the mistreatment of his former wife, Princess Haya. Officially, Cornelius stands convicted of fraud over a 372million loan he received from Dubai Islamic Bank to fund an upmarket 20million square foot polo development . In the eyes of most Western observers, the property developer was guilty of no more than a minor financial infraction. He had kept up with every repayment until his arrest. Heather says the nightmare began in 2008 when Ryan was arrested by three plain-clothes policemen at Dubai airport during a stopover. The officers seized his phone, bound his hands with zip-ties and took him to police headquarters where they put a hood over his head and held him in solitary confinement with no access to his family, the embassy or a lawyer. Heather says the nightmare began in 2008 when Ryan was arrested by three plain-clothes policemen at Dubai airport during a stopover It was ten days before she heard from her husband, recalls Heather. Dubai police interrogated Mr Cornelius for hours in a padded, windowless room. They thrust invoices at him and demanded to know about the loan he had received from the Dubai Islamic Bank, which he had improperly funnelled into developing the Plantation. The spectacular resort was to be a 200-room hotel in the heart of Dubai with 110 luxury villas attached. It would boast world class equestrian facilities including hundreds of stables staffed by professional polo players and show jumpers, two polo fields, an indoor arena, a health club and a private member's club with bars and restaurants. Cornelius was baffled, said his wife. Yes, the polo venture carried more risk than had been technically agreed and was not an authorised use of the loan. But he was able to point out that, with his business partners, he had subsequently disclosed this to the bank, entered into a repayment agreement signed off by a team of lawyers, and that not a single payment had been missed. Even so, he was held without trial for almost two years. In March 2010 he appeared before a judge charged with fraud and money-laundering. He was not provided with a translator and could not follow the court proceedings. In a surprising twist, the judge recused himself from the trial, apparently unwilling to continue on the evidence presented. But Mr Cornelius was not released. Instead a new judge was appointed and fresh charges of defrauding and stealing from a state body were brought against him. This time the charges stuck and the businessman was sentenced to a decade behind bars an outcome that convinced Heather that senior figures in the administration simply wanted to get his hands on her husband's lucrative polo resort. Worse followed in May 2016, when Mr Cornelius had served eight years and, with the usual 25 per cent reduction for good behaviour, expected to be released. Instead he was hauled into an office where a judge handed him another 20-year sentence using a law that allows creditors to keep a debtor imprisoned for failing to repay money owed. He says he was refused a lawyer. In the eyes of most Western observers, the property developer was guilty of no more than a minor financial infraction Mrs Cornelius believes that her husband is trapped in a Kafkaesque nightmare, in which he is locked up for failing to repay a loan that it is impossible to repay because he is locked up. 'Their intention is for him to never get out,' she said. 'Ryan and his partners had not defaulted on the loan, they had paid their debt right up until they were put into jail. 'Of course you can't run businesses from jail so I think effectively the Dubai authorities wanted to silence everybody and keep them out of the way.' Meanwhile Cornelius's lucrative property portfolio has been confiscated by the authorities, which is to say they now hold assets that could be worth up to three times the amount of the original loan though this valuation is heavily disputed. The Plantation alone was valued at 755million when Cornelius entered into the repayment agreement in 2007. Heather and her supporters believe that al-Shaibani, who had become chairman of the bank just a few months before Cornelius was arrested, is deeply implicated. The financier is the sheikh's right-hand man and, according to The Economist, is arguably the second most powerful person in Dubai outside the royal family. 'They had decided to take Ryan's assets,' said Heather. ' Then keep everyone in jail so no one could come forward and say what really happened. To my mind that was the intention. Lord Clement-Jones named al-Shaibani as the powerful man keeping Ryan prisoner in the speech he gave to the House of Lords last year. It is not the first time that al-Shaibani, has been accused of mistreatment. He has been named as a key conspirator in the kidnaps of the sheikh's daughters Princesses Shamsa and Latifa. Shamsa, then 19, vanished on a street in Cambridge in August 2000 and was spirited away to Dubai via private jet. She has not been seen in public since. An English court determined that Mr Shaibani was closely involved in the plot to kidnap al-Maktoum's daughter and was even present when the teenager disappeared. And then three years ago, the sheikh's daughter Latifa, then 32, was also kidnapped while attempting to flee Dubai on board a yacht. She accused al-Shaibani of being involved and said that he forced her to make false statements to British courts and the UN denying that she was being held against her will. The treatment of Cornelius has been disastrous for his family. Mr Cornelius is due to be released from Central Prison in 18 years, when he will be 85 years old Heather and her three children a daughter, 32, and two sons, aged 30 and 19 became homeless when the couple's three London properties were handed over following a successful debt claim by Dubai Islamic Bank in the British courts. The family has survived by taking turns staying with Heather's sisters. 'We had everything taken from us,' she says. 'I have family in the UK that have strived to help me and their homes are my homes but it's not really what you envision at 60 years old. 'Our main focus is supporting our children. 'You can't imagine how hard it is to keep up hope with so many twists and turns and things that seem terribly wrong in the whole process.' 'Dubai Islamic Bank is already in possession of assets previously valued at over a billion dollars. 'Ryan has lost a decade of his life, and lost everything he built over the past 30 years. 'His family is homeless and he is bankrupt; yet Dubai Islamic Bank seem to want him to remain in jail indefinitely, and in Dubai, they have the power to make that happen.' Mr Cornelius is due to be released from Central Prison in 18 years, when he will be 85 years old. But Heather fears that her husband, who caught tuberculosis in custody, will pass away in jail. 'Ryan is in there for life. 'He contracted TB in jail and for two years they didn't treat him. 'His health has deteriorated, he has high blood pressure and high cholesterol. 'He tries to keep himself fit but 13 years in jail would put anybody's health in jeopardy.' She cannot remember the last time she saw her husband in person. Even before the pandemic made travel to Dubai almost impossible, she could no longer afford the flights. Her youngest son was the last family member to see him face-to-face, four years ago. But the couple speak on the telephone two or three times a day although their conversations often only last five minutes as other inmates line up to contact their own loved ones. 'I really do panic if I haven't heard from him. 'I get in a dreadful state because some days the phones aren't working well and there's a queue to use the phone.' Mr Cornelius is just one of thousands of Westerners in jails across the UAE on trumped-up charges according to Radha Stirling, the CEO of Detained in Dubai, an organisation that provides legal advice to people jailed often falsely in the Middle East. 'This is a case of corruption,' she says. 'The more successful you are and the bigger your assets, the more at risk of facing false criminal charges you become. 'We have been trying to warn people about it for years.' Lord Clement-Jones, who has campaigned for Mr Cornelius's release since 2014, said that the case highlighted the dangers of conducted business in the UAE. 'It's really appalling for Dubai's reputation,' he said. 'Our government appear so cosy with Dubai that they won't say boo to a goose. 'The Americans and Australians have been much tougher, got much better results and managed to get their subjects home.' Mrs Cornelius, 62, was scathing about the Foreign Office. 'Our appeals to them go unanswered. 'Only one senior official has ever visited Ryan and that was a couple of years ago. 'He promised to rectify the situation but we never heard from him again.' Against the odds, she remains hopeful that somehow her husband will be released from the clutches of Dubai officials and reunited with his family in London again. 'I don't think I'd survive if I didn't still hope. We all cling on to that hope. 'I think if the Foreign Office would just step in and put pressure on and support us, we could get Ryan released. In a statement, the embassy of Dubai said it looks after the medical welfare of its prisoners: 'Ryan Cornelius illegally obtained loan of 372 million, by bribing staff members at Dubai Islamic Bank. 'Following a fair trial in which all due processes were followed, Mr Cornelius was sentenced to ten years in prison, which was later lawfully extended as he had failed to repay the creditor (Dubai Islamic Bank) during this time - which is in line with UAE law. The whereabouts of the funds Mr Cornelius obtained are unknown. 'The UAE judicial system is independent and equitable, and guarantees the mandatory presence of a translator at all stages, the right to seek a lawyer at all stages, the provision of a lawyer at the state's expense if the defendant cannot appoint legal counsel, and the right to appeal.' Brits visiting Spain's Balearic Islands are being warned they'll be limited to six drinks a day on all-inclusive breaks due to new laws clamping down on public drunkenness. EasyJet is informing passengers of the rule change when they try to book package holidays for certain resorts on the islands. The rules split the day into a 'lunch timetable' and an 'evening timetable', with only three drinks being allowed during each. Other rules ban the sale of alcohol in shops between 9.30pm and 8am, as well as pub crawls, two-for-one drinks offers and happy hours. Advertising party boats and balcony jumping could attract a 50,000 fine. Only certain areas of the Balearics are affected, including Magaluf, on Majorca, and parts of Ibiza and Palma, the regional capital, so customers should check before booking. The regional governments is attempting to put the brake on the 'excesses of drunken tourism'. (A stock photo of revellers in Magaluf) Thousands of British tourists flock to the islands every year, including large groups of revellers who have earned them an infamous reputation. Most of the new restrictions came into place in 2020 but Covid means many Brits are only now becoming aware of them. Anyone attempting to book an all-inclusive stay via EasyJet is now given the following message, the Liverpool Echo reported: 'Due to a change in Spanish law which affects certain resorts in the Balearic islands, alcoholic drinks are now limited to three per person at lunch and dinner as part of the all-inclusive basis.' The laws were touted as the first in Europe to restrict the promotion and sale of alcohol in tourist areas. They also aim to halt the 'cheapening' of the Balearic Islands and attract new investors that were being put off by its rowdy image. Announcing the new laws in 2020, a regional government spokesman said: 'Efforts to promote the destination, to provide it with better quality through both public and private sector investments, and position it in an increasingly competitive and global market, have been affected recently by certain uncivic behaviour. 'Most of this type of behaviour is directly related to alcohol abuse in certain tourist areas of Majorca and Ibiza.' The crackdown will affect Magaluf, Majorca, the West End area of Ibiza and a long stretch of the regional capital Palma. (Stock image) Council leaders have been mounting a fightback to try to clean up the image of resorts like Magaluf since it was rocked by scandal in 2014 when a British holidaymaker was filmed performing sex acts on 24 men. The incident led Majorca's top politician at the time - Jose Ramon Bauza - to dub Magaluf's notorious party strip Punta Ballena as '500 metres of shame'. In 2018 council chiefs upped the ante against badly-behaving tourists in Magaluf by putting up street signs warning them of heavy fines for street drinking, nakedness and fighting. The brightly-coloured signs, which carried the banner line 'Have fun with respect' were mounted on lamp-posts and other visible spots in the party resort. One said: 'Drink on the street. Penalty 500 euros.' Another said: 'Wear no clothes on the street. Penalty 400 euros.' and a third 'Shout, fight, or bother people. Penalty 400 euros.' A British man who survived being hacked with a sickle in Thailand attended a memorial service yesterday for his friend who was killed in the attack. Shaun Dagnan was severely injured and Marcus Evans, 49, died when a neighbour went for them during a row over playing music while drinking. The 55-year-old, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, was found alongside his dead friend and rushed to a hospital in Kanchanaburi in the early hours of Saturday. He survived but Mr Evans, who hails from Weston Super Mere, Somerset, passed away. It comes as Mr Dagan's friends started a crowdfunding campaign to pay for his medical costs. Shaun Dagnan (right, yesterday), 55, was severely injured and Marcus Evans, 49, died when a neighbour went for them during a row over playing music while drinking The 55-year-old, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, was found alongside his dead friend and rushed to a hospital in Kanchanaburi in the early hours of Saturday He survived but Mr Evans, who hails from Weston Super Mere, Somerset, passed away. Pictured: The ceremony yesterday Wassana Muanchit, 33, who refers to herself as the wife of Marcus Evans, 49, (pictured together) has spoken of the moment she found his body lying face-down in a pool of blood covered in slashes Pictured: the alleged weapon used in the attack was a sickle found at the scene Local man Prasut Thipthep (pictured right wearing a blue face mask), 23, has been arrested over the killing and Ms Muanchit revealed that police let her speak to him Yesterday he was pictured with his head heavily bandaged and wearing a neck brace as he attended a religious services for Mr Evans Marcus close to their house. He said he was 'feeling better' at the Buddhist ceremony with blessings from monks outside the home. There was also a shrine for Mr Evans with flowers and his favourite meal - burger, fries and a bottle of beer. His girlfriend Wassana Muanchit, 33, also attended and sobbed while she was comforted by friends. Mr Dagan said he was 'still recovering' and 'wanted to get out of hospital' but did not want to talk about what happened. His girlfriend Nong said he was badly injured in the attack and lying on the ground alongside his close friend. Yesterday he was pictured with his head heavily bandaged and wearing a neck brace as he attended a religious services for Mr Evans Marcus close to their house He said he was 'feeling better' at the Buddhist ceremony with blessings from monks outside the home Mr Dagan said he was 'still recovering' and 'wanted to get out of hospital' but did not want to talk about what happened. Pictured: The ceremony yesterday There was also a shrine for Mr Evans with flowers and his favourite meal - burger, fries and a bottle of beer Nong added: 'Shaun was on the ground. Both of them were on the ground and hurt. He couldn't escape. But then while they were on the ground, the attacker ran away.' Mr Dagan, who was still in pain and discomfort, said: 'I'm fine now but I don't want to talk about what happened. I'm stressed by everything that has happened.' A friend added: 'The music was not loud. The music was playing, but it wasn't too loud. They were talking but not being noisy or keeping people awake. 'They were just drinking and smoking cigarettes, talking like normal. There was no reason for the Thai man to react like that.' Neighbours said the pair started drinking and eating with friends on Friday afternoon before they continued into the early hours of the morning. They were playing songs from a Bluetooth speaker and drinking bottles of beet outside the single-storey rented home. But neighbour Prasut Thipthep, 23, was allegedly angry about the noise and hurled himself at them with a sickle. Mr Dagan, who was still in pain and discomfort, said: 'I'm fine now but I don't want to talk about what happened. I'm stressed by everything that has happened' Neighbours said the pair started drinking and eating with friends on Friday afternoon before they continued into the early hours of the morning They were playing songs from a Bluetooth speaker and drinking bottles of beet outside the single-storey rented home Mr Evans was found dead while Mr Dagan scrambled to safety. He was taken to hospital at around 4am local time. His partner Muanchit told how she went to the police station and looked the alleged killer in the eyes and screamed 'why did you kill him?'. She said: 'On the night it happened, my neighbour said my husband was lying down on the floor. 'When I went out I found out he was dead. I was out of my mind because I loved him so much. He was the love of my life. 'He was the main provider, he supported me and my daughter. He gave me a monthly allowance and my expenses are high, but my husband took amazing care of me. Now I don't know what to do because I will have nobody to support me. 'The police let me talk to the man who killed my husband. I looked in his eyes. I was still so angry at him. I asked him 'why did you kill my husband?'. 'I said I was very angry at him. I said 'why couldn't you talk or ask nicely? You could have told me or told the police, but you shouldn't have killed him'.' Police said they had arrested a 23-year-old local man (pictured) with a history of mental health issues in connection with attack and had sustained injuries consistent with a knife fight A crowdfunding page was set up on Justgiving to help with Mr Dagan's recovery yesterday Thipthep was charged with intentional manslaughter over Mr Evans and attempting to kill Mr Dagan. Police Lieutenant General Thanayut Vuthijarathamrong said: 'From the investigation, the accused confessed that the cause of the death came from a disagreement with the deceased. 'The injured victim and the deceased were drinking alcohol and playing loud music during the night until it caused dissatisfaction with the perpetrators and leading them to attack the men. 'As for the matter that the perpetrator is said to be a psychiatric patient. The perpetrator had a history of receiving treatment but must be examined thoroughly whether he is considered a patient with real psychiatric symptoms or not because if it is concluded that the perpetrator has a psychiatric illness, the prosecution will be different from a suspect with no mental disorders.' A crowdfunding page was set up on Justgiving to help with Mr Dagan's recovery yesterday. A friend wrote: 'We're very lucky to still have Shaun with us after sustaining his very serious injuries. His travel insurance had lapsed due to an unexpected extended stay. 'While he is receiving some support from immigration and the British consulate this isn't going to be a short process. 'We are trying to raise funds to help support with costs of medical expenses and recovery. Any donations and help will be greatly appreciated.' Furious activists have accused the Polish government of murder following the death of a woman who was forced to carry a dead foetus in her womb for over a week due to draconian new abortion laws. The 37-year-old mother-of-three, Agnieszka Torbus, was pregnant with twins, but doctors at the Blessed Virgin Mary hospital in Czestochowa, southern Poland, refused an abortion when she lost one of them within the first trimester, her family said in a statement. She presented at the hospital on December 21 with abdominal pain and vomiting, according to the family, and the first foetus died in the womb on December 23. Doctors refused to remove it, operating under new legislation which does not penalise the patient but could see the medical personnel ordering and carrying out an abortion sent to prison. Agnieszka carried the dead foetus along side the living one for seven days until the heartbeat of the second one stopped on December 29, and doctors waited a further two days before ending the pregnancy, by which time the patient's health had started to deteriorate. She died on January 25 from what the family believe to be sepsis, although the hospital has not given an official cause of death. Agnieksza Torbus presented in hospital on December 21 last year. She was pregnant with twins and one of the foetuses died on December 23. An abortion was not carried out until December 31, a full nine days later. Agnieska poses with her brother in 2014. She died on January 25, four-and-a-half weeks after having a delayed abortion that her family say cost her her life A woman holds a banner that says 'I fear to live in such a country' during a protest in front of the Law and Justice party office on January 26, 2022 in Krakow, Poland. The family claim that doctors insinuated that she died of BSE, also known as 'mad cow disease', which she had caught from eating raw meat. 'This is proof of the fact that the current government has blood on their hands,' the woman's family said on Facebook. 'Through all these nine days, the decaying bodies of her unborn children were left inside her.' 'Who is responsible for this crime? The hospital? The Constitutional Court? MPs voting for the anti-abortion act in Poland?' 'Her husband begged the doctors to save his wife, even at the cost of the pregnancy,' Agnieszka's twin sister, Wioletta Paciepnik, said. A woman wears a protective face mask and lights a candle next to the photograph of the deceased woman during a protest in front of the Law and Justice party office. Campaign groups protest outside of the Law and Justice party office in Krakow after the death of Agnieszka Torbus The hospital has denied the abortion law influenced the decisions of medical staff, saying in a statement: The doctors actions had not been influenced by anything else apart from medical reasons and the care for the patient and her children. All abortions except in extreme circumstances such as incest, rape and when the health of the woman is in danger are now illegal in Poland, causing doctors to take what campaign groups call a 'wait-and-see' approach with dangerous pregnancies, for fear of being prosecuted. Protests have been under way across Poland since the death of Agnieszka T, with people laying wreaths and lanterns at her memorial in Warsaw and further protests are planned in her home town of Czestochowa. 'We took to the streets to protest against people being condemned to death. It can happen to any of us. This time it was Agnieszka who died,' said Marta Lempart, the leader of the Polish Women's Strike Movement, the organisation behind the protests. 'I blame the ruling party for her death. They are the ones who condemned her to death in agony and pain. They are the ones who murdered her.' Prosecutors have launched an investigation into the death, with police seizing medical records. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong on Friday stressed the "top priority" of protecting overseas citizens during a virtual meeting with chiefs of South Korea's diplomatic missions in Russia, Ukraine and other nations, his office said, amid concerns about military tensions between Moscow and Kiev. Chung led the session with Seoul's top envoys in the region to discuss safety measures that can be rolled out in case tensions escalate between the two countries. "Minister Chung stressed the imperative to focus all diplomatic efforts for the top priority task of securing the safety of overseas citizens and our enterprises," the foreign ministry said in a press release. (Yonhap) The gun violence surge continues to rise with six police officers shot at in less than 48 hours across cities in the US as an arrest was last night made for an armed 31-year-old who shot three officers in Houston, Texas. At least three officers were also killed in incidents last week. N. Gadson, D. Hayden and A. Alvarez are all hospitalised and in stable condition as the Houston suspect was last night expected to have surgery for a gunshot wound to the neck. Police investigated the scene where three officers, who are stable, were shot near the intersection of McGowen and Hutchins in Houston yesterday The suspect started shooting after officers responded to a call near the 2100 block of McGowen Street in the afternoon and pursued his vehicle. After it crashed the gunman shot at the officers, wounding one in the foot, another in the leg and the third one in an arm, Fox News reported. He carjacked a white Mercedes-Benz at Gunpoint and drove it to a house around five miles away, according to CNN. Police surrounded the man, who barricaded himself in the house for several hours. He shot multiple times, and officers returned fire. Houston Police officers at a scene near the intersection of Lockwood Drive and Hershe Street in Houston yesterday, where the suspect barricaded himself in a house for several hours He surrendered at around 7.45pm last night. It is unknown if the suspect's neck wound was self-inflicted or not, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said. In a press conference yesterday evening Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he had a chance to talk to all of the officers, recovering at Memorial Hermann Hospital who he described as 'talkative' and 'in good spirits'. He added that none of their injuries are life-threatening but added that the incident 'indicates again is that being a police officer in this case or in law enforcement is an inherently dangerous job'. He also said: 'We are living in inherently dangerous times. There are a lot of guns on the streets.' Officers near Lockwood Drive in Houston. In a press conference yesterday evening Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he had a chance to talk to all of the officers, recovering at Memorial Hermann Hospital who he described as 'talkative' and 'in good spirits' On Wednesday two St Louis police officers were shot in Milwaukee after looking into a vehicle they believed to be linked to a homicide, with one currently in 'critical' and 'unstable' condition, according to Fox News. In a separate incident also in Milwaukee, a sheriff had to be hospitalized after being shot in the arms and torso while pursuing a passenger running away from a traffic stop. His injuries did not appear to be life threatening, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell R. Lucas said on Wednesday. Charles Galloway, 47, was killed last Sunday after pulling over a car in Houston, Texas Last week Corporal Charles Galloway, 47, was killed by a gunman during an early Sunday traffic stop in Houston. The officer was ambushed after pulling over a man driving a white, newer-model Toyota Avalon about 12.45 am, Chief Finner told reporters. He said: 'Witnesses...said he got out of his vehicle and immediately fired upon the deputy - multiple times, striking him. NYPD Officer Jason Rivera, 22, was shot to death while out on a call in Harlem last week. On his NYPD application form, he wrote: 'Coming from an immigrant family, I will be the first to say that I am a member of the NYPD - the greatest police force in the world' Wilbert Mora, 27, who was critically injured in the ambush, has undergone two surgeries to remove a bullet that had become stuck in his brain. He was was transferred on Sunday night from Harlem Hospital to NYU Langone Medical Center, where he continues to fight for his life 'This is senseless. It makes no sense whatever.' Oscar Rosales, 51, was on Wednesday arrested and charged with capital murder. The suspect was captured in Ciudad Acuna, across the border from Del Rio in Texas, Click2Houston reported. Last Friday two New York City police officers, Jason Rivera, 22, and Wilbert Mora, 27, were shot while responding to a domestic violence call. Rivera died on the same night and Mora died on Tuesday. Marks & Spencer are partnering with a family-run confectionary company which makes chocolate matches for Valentine's Day - after they were accused of copying the small firm by selling a nearly identical product. Flo Broughton founded 'Choc on Choc' 20 years ago with her father Kerr Dunlop straight after she graduated from University of the West of England, Bristol, with a degree in Graphic Design at the age of 24. The company, based in Bath, Somerset, began with just 12 designs, eventually growing to offer more than 200 - including the 8 Perfect Match Chocolate Gift Box featuring the chocolate matchstick, which launched in 2015. So Ms Broughton was taken aback when M&S started selling their own 'strikingly similar' 3 matches for February 14th this year. But after she wrote about the resemblance on social media on Friday and Saturday, M&S met with Choc on Choc on Sunday and the retail giant has now committed to sell the Bath-based family-run company's chocolate matchsticks. Flo Broughton's company Choc on Choc began with just 12 designs, eventually growing to offer more than 200 - including the 8 Perfect Match Chocolate Gift Box featuring the chocolate matches, which launched in 2015 Left: The Marks & Spencer 'Perfect Match' chocolate set launched this year. Right: Choc on Choc's version, which launched in 2015 Ms Broughton said: 'My initial reaction was just frustration because we're so small. It was much more galling. M&S is such an iconic British business - it just felt like I should say something. To be honest I really didn't expect to be heard. Pictured: The M&S chocolate matchstick 'It really hit the pit of my stomach this time. And I just felt it wasn't right.' Ms Broughton said it was a customer who spotted the striking similarity between M&S's box of 3 chocolate matchsticks and the company's 8 Perfect Match Chocolate Gift Box, and alerted them to the product. The Choc on Choc product is comprised of white chocolate matches with red ends and 'perfect match' written on them. Ms Broughton said she received thousands of supportive messages from customers and other small companies after calling out the retailer on social media. Ms Broughton said: 'After posting about the copying on social media on Friday and Saturday, M&S contacted me and said they wanted to resolve this. 'On Sunday lunchtime we had a video conferencing call and came to an agreement. 'They were keen to do the right thing and resolve the issue.' Flo Broughton's chocolate matchstick. An M&S spokesman said: 'We take IP (intellectual property) very seriously and when we saw Choc on Choc's social media posts we immediately got in touch' Flo Broughton founded 'Choc on Choc' 20 years ago with her father Kerr Dunlop (both pictured) straight after she graduated from University of the West of England, Bristol, with a degree in Graphic Design at the age of 24 An M&S spokesman said: 'We take IP (intellectual property) very seriously and when we saw Choc on Choc's social media posts we immediately got in touch. 'Choc on Choc is a fantastic company producing quality chocolates and we're delighted to be working with them through our small supplier programme going forwards.' M&S has said it will sell the Choc on Choc matchsticks for Valentine's Day and will also sell its products for Mother's Day and Easter. A couple found in the burnt-out remains of a suburban home were not killed by fire, with post-mortem results showing 'evidence of violence'. Police say they have 'ruled nothing out' as they investigate the deaths of Christine Stephan, 68, and Joe Stephan, 73, who were discovered in a home's charred remains in Collingwood Park, south-west of Brisbane on Sunday morning. Acting Inspector Heath McQueen on Friday described the investigation into the suspicious deaths as 'complex' and expected it to continue into next week after establishing an incident centre at an Ipswich police station. 'Post-mortems have been conducted... I am unable to go into details other than confirming their deaths are suspicious, and not contributable to the fire, with evidence of violence,' Acting Insp McQueen said. Police say they have 'ruled nothing out' as they investigate the deaths of Christine Stephan, 68, and Joe Stephan, 73, who were discovered in a home's charred remains in Collingwood Park, south of Brisbane on Sunday morning 'This is a complex investigation, in which all possible options as to the cause of their deaths is being fully explored. 'We have ruled nothing out at this stage.' He said 'extensive' forensic tests were continuing at the Hannant Street home, which has been declared a crime scene. The couple were found in the lower level of the home, which quickly caught alight early on Sunday. 'They were both so genuine, helpful and caring [people] who always offered their help even when not asked,' a Facebook post from Mr Stephan's work colleagues Rudy and Alma said. Emergency crews were first called to the home about 1am but by then it was well alight with smoke billowing from the roof. Pictured is the burnt-out garage of the home. Emergency crews arrived at 1am on Sunday The couple who have been identified by colleagues on social media were found in the lower level of the home which quickly caught alight early on Sunday Ipswich detectives are leading the investigation - code-named Operation Verdite - with assistance from homicide, forensic and scientific officers. 'Complex and detailed forensic examinations, as well as investigations and interviews by detectives, will continue for some time,' Acting Insp McQueen said. 'I understand the interest from the media and the community, and rightly so, however, to maintain the integrity of the investigation, I am unable to provide any further details or updates at this time.' He said anyone with information should contact police. North Korea test-fired two different weapons systems this week, state media said on Friday, while highlighting Kim Jong Un's inspection of an 'important' munitions factory. Pyongyang has conducted six weapons tests in January, including firing hypersonic missiles, doubling down on Kim's call to build 'military muscle' with one of the most intense single-month barrages on record while ignoring US offers of talks. The official Korean Central News Agency said the Tuesday test involved long-range cruise missiles that hit a 'target island 1,800 km away' in the Sea of Japan. Thursday's launch of 'tactical guided missiles', meanwhile, was to test 'the explosive power of the conventional warhead,' KCNA said. North Korea leader Kim Jong Un visits a munitions factory producing what state media KCNA says is a "major weapon system" at an undisclosed location in North Korea. Pyongyang has test-fired two different weapons systems this week, according to state media Pyongyang has conducted multiple weapons tests in January, including firing hypersonic missiles, after Kim Jong-Un vowed to modernise the country's military. Some faces have been pixellated, it is thought so that the individuals can avoid US sanctions Washington has imposed further sanctions on North Korea for what are sanction-busting missile tests. This picture taken by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows what North Korea says is a surface-to-surface tactical guided missile test-fire conducted by the Academy of Defence Science of the DPRK This picture taken on January 25, 2022 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on January 28 shows what North Korea says is a long-range cruise missile test-fire conducted by the Academy of Defence Science of the DPRK The flurry of tests follows Kim re-avowing his commitment to military modernisation at a key party speech in December. Washington imposed new sanctions in response, prompting anger in Pyongyang, which last week hinted it could abandon a years-long, self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range tests. On Friday, KCNA ran photographs showing Kim, wearing his usual long black leather jacket, surrounded by uniformed officials - their faces pixellated - inspecting a munitions factory that produces 'a major weapon system'. Kim said 'the factory holds a very important position and duty in modernising the country's armed forces,' KCNA added. 'Pyongyang seems to have the evasion of sanctions in mind - blurring their faces to keep them from the sanctions list down the road,' said Cheong Seong-chang, a senior researcher at the private Sejong Institute. The reports did not mention if Kim attended this week's weapons tests, but a separate news item noted his inspection of a vegetable farm close to the site of the Thursday missile launch. The January launches are all part of North Korea's five-year plan to 'upgrade its strategic arsenal,' Hong Min, of the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, told AFP. It is not clear if Kim attended the test launch of these cruise missiles, but he was photographed inspecting a vegetable farm close to the missile site The missile tests come at a delicate time for the region, with North Korea's only ally, China, due to host the Winter Olympics next month North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) claim that this photograph shows a hypersonic missile test 'The cruise missiles fired Tuesday are an extension of the same type of missiles fired [in tests] last September, with improvements in distance and speed.' The string of tests is also a response to South Korea's efforts to upgrade its own weapons systems, with successful launches in 2021 of supersonic and new submarine-launched ballistic missiles, he added. 'The North is showing it's also developing missiles to counter what the South has on hand,' Hong said. The sanctions-busting tests come at a delicate time in the region, with Kim's sole major ally, China, set to host the Winter Olympics next month and South Korea gearing up for a presidential election in March. Domestically, North Korea is preparing to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the birth of late leader Kim Jong Il in February, and the 110th birthday of founder Kim Il Sung in April. The need to celebrate such 'prominent anniversaries' helps explain the recent string of tests, said US-based security analyst Ankit Panda. 'We should expect a bumpy first half of the year,' he told AFP. Panda said it was also possible that coronavirus concerns had forced North Korea to modify its usual winter training schedule, prompting a shift to missile tests to ensure 'positive propaganda' domestically. 'This could be all the more important at a time when the national economy is doing poorly and agricultural output may threaten famine-like conditions,' he added. The impoverished North, reeling economically from a self-imposed coronavirus blockade, recently restarted cross-border trade with China. The fact that state media covered Kim's visit to a vegetable farm on page one, and the munitions factory inspection on page two, is significant, Rachel Minyoung Lee of the Stimson Center told AFP. 'The message here is that the focus remains on the economy, despite the increased rhetoric on the US and weapons tests,' she said. Advertisement Interrupting a campaign speech certainly doesn't seem like a way to get an invite into the White House, but that's exactly what a two-year-old short-haired tabby has managed to do. A green-eyed, gray and white farm cat made quite the impression on Jill Biden after jumping up on stage and interrupting her remarks during a 2020 campaign stop in her home state Pennsylvania. Now, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden have finally welcomed Willow, after speaking of a long-promised cat, to their pet family. Willow, the two-year-old, green-eyed, gray and white farm cat from Pennsylvania, is Joe and Jill Biden's new pet The first lady named Willow, pictured roaming in the White House, after her hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania Jill Biden had been hinting that the White House would get a feline resident after Joe Biden was elected in November 2020 but her arrival had been delayed. Last month, the White House said the cat would come in January. The first lady named their new pet after her hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Michael LaRosa, the first lady's spokesperson, said: 'Willow is settling into the White House with her favorite toys, treats, and plenty of room to smell and explore. 'Seeing their immediate bond, the owner of the farm knew that Willow belonged with Dr Biden.' Joe and Jill Biden in June last year. The pair has finally added the long-promised cat to their pet family Willow takes a nap on the White House couch. Michael LaRosa, the first lady's spokesperson said she 'is settling into the White House with her favorite toys, treats, and plenty of room to smell and explore' Willow curiously walks around the halls of her new home. The White House hasn't had a feline resident since India, President George W. Bush's cat In a September interview with the New York Times last year, Jill Biden said that that a long-expected cat was 'still being fostered' with someone who 'loves' it. She had added: 'I dont even know whether I can get the cat back at this point.' The White House hasn't had a feline resident since India, President George W. Bush's cat. Willow joins Commander, a German shepherd puppy Joe Biden introduced in December - a pet which had come as a birthday gift from the president's brother James Biden and his wife, Sara. The Bidens had two other German shepherds, Champ and Major, at the White House before Commander. Jill Biden had said after Joe Biden was elected in November 2020 that they would bring a kitty to the White House, but her arrival had been delayed Jill Biden with family dog Major, a German shepherd, pictured last year in February The Bidens had two other German shepherds, Champ and Major, at the White House before Commander. Champ (pictured) died in June at age 13. Willow joins Commander (pictured), a German shepherd puppy Joe Biden introduced in December as a birthday gift from the president's brother James Biden and his wife, Sara But Major, a three-year-old rescue dog, started behaving aggressively after he arrived in January 2021, including a pair of biting incidents. The White House had said Major was still adjusting to his new home, and he was sent back to the Bidens' Delaware home for training. The Bidens, after consulting with dog trainers, animal behaviorists and veterinarians, decided to follow the experts collective recommendation and send Major to live in a quieter environment with family friends, LaRosa said last month. Champ died in June at age 13. A federal judge resentenced 'Tiger King' Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison today, rejecting pleas from the former zookeeper to free him from prison as he told a federal judge 'please don't make me die in prison waiting for a chance to be free'. The Netflix documentary star, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was convicted in a murder-for-hire case involving animal welfare activist Carole Baskin and has had only one year knocked off his sentence. Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, his hair styled in a graying bleach-blonde trademark mullet, Maldonado-Passage was resentenced after an appeals court ruled last year that the prison term he's serving on a murder-for-hire conviction should be shortened. An appeals court judge vacated the Tiger King Joseph Maldonado-Passage, AKA Joe Exotic's, 22-year sentence on a murder for hire conviction Wednesday, and he will need to be resentenced at a later date Prosecutors say Maldonado-Passage tried to hire two people - including an undercover FBI agent - to kill Baskin, who'd criticized his treatment of animals. But Maldonado-Passage's attorneys said he wasn't being serious. Baskin and her husband also attended the proceedings, and she said she was fearful that Maldonado-Passage could threaten her. 'He continues to harbor intense feelings of ill will toward me,' she said. Supporters packed the courtroom, some wearing animal-print masks and shirts that read 'Free Joe Exotic'. His attorneys said they would appeal both the resentencing and petition for a new trial. Although Maldonado-Passage's supporters sought his release from prison, it was believed to be unlikely because federal guidelines suggest a sentence of 17 1/2 years to 22 years in prison. Maldonado-Passage attended today's sentencing in Oklahoma City after a judge approved his transfer from a federal medical center in Butner, North Carolina. Last month, attorneys for the former Oklahoma zookeeper said he was delaying prostate cancer treatment until after his resentencing. The former zookeeper was sentenced in January 2020 to 22 years in prison after he was convicted of trying to hire two different men to kill animal welfare activist Carole Baskin, who is also a key figure in Netflix's hit 'Tiger King' documentary. A three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Maldonado-Passage that the court should have treated them as one conviction at sentencing because they both involved the same goal of killing Baskin. Baskin runs a rescue sanctuary for big cats in Florida and had criticized Maldonado-Passage's treatment of animals. Both were featured in Netflix's 'Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.' The show was a breakout hit as people were forced to stay home in the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic. Prosecutors said Maldonado-Passage offered $10,000 to an undercover FBI agent to kill Baskin during a recorded December 2017 meeting. In the recording, he told the agent, 'Just like follow her into a mall parking lot and just cap her and drive off.' Maldonado-Passage's attorneys have said their client - who once operated a zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, about 65 miles south of Oklahoma City - wasn't being serious. Maldonado-Passage, who maintains his innocence, also was convicted of killing five tigers, selling tiger cubs and falsifying wildlife records. His attorneys are asking for a lesser sentence than what the guidelines call for, alleging 'imperfect entrapment, sentencing manipulation, and outrageous government conduct.' Return: Tiger King 2 debuted on Netflix November 17 - with the hotly anticipated sequel chronicling Joe Exotic's fight for freedom after being convicted in the murder-for-hire plot of rival Carole Baskin. Although supporters of Joe Exotic are seeking his release from prison, it's unlikely because federal guidelines suggest a sentence of 17 1/2 years to 22 years in prison 'From decisions made in the initial stages of the investigation to charging decisions to overzealous sentencing recommendations, one thing remains clear: this case was about doing whatever it took to put Mr. Maldonado-Passage behind bars for as long as possible,' his attorneys wrote in a sentencing memorandum. Federal prosecutors said in court records that they would defer recommending a new sentence for Maldonado-Passage because of the allegations he raised. 'In the unlikely event that any of these claims withstand scrutiny and ultimately are determined to be credible, those developments could impact the United States' ultimate sentencing recommendation' because the prosecutors are obligated to investigate them, U.S. Attorney Robert Troester wrote. In December, Joe Exotic said he is desperate to prove that he is innocent of animal cruelty, in an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV. It was first time fans have heard from Exotic since the release of season two of Netflix's Tiger King, one of the streaming platform's biggest shows. In a recorded prison phone call shared with DailyMailTV, Exotic claimed he was misrepresented as needlessly killing tigers in his Oklahoma zoo, which he feels was a key part of his conviction last year. Exotic defended his decision to shoot five of his G.W. Zoo big cats point blank in the skull as they were 'old and in pain.' But he claimed millions of fans worldwide branded him an animal abuser following the Netflix show broadcast and that prosecutors went into detail about the tiger killing process to make the jury 'hate' him. The former zookeeper was sentenced in January 2020 to 22 years in prison after he was convicted of trying to hire two different men to kill animal welfare activist Carole Baskin, who is also a key figure in 'Tiger King' The 58-year-old, pictured in 2013, told DailyMailTV he was misrepresented as needlessly killing tigers at his Oklahoma zoo, which he feels was a key part of his 2019 conviction Tiger King 2 debuted on Netflix in November - with the hotly anticipated sequel chronicling Joe Exotic's fight for freedom after being convicted in the murder-for-hire plot of rival Baskin. 2020 Netflix smash hit Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, told the story of zoo owner Joe as he spiraled out of control amid a cast of eccentric characters in the true murder-for-hire story from the underworld of big cat breeding. In 2019, Joe, 58, was convicted on 17 federal charges of animal abuse and two counts of attempted murder for hire in his plot to kill nemesis and Big Cat Rescue owner, Carole Baskin, 60 - and sentenced to 22 years in prison. The explosive five-part second season sees the former G.W. Zoo owner fighting for release via a presidential pardon and would-be hitman Allen Glover claiming that his target was not in-fact Carole, but Joe himself. Co-director Rebecca Chaiklin, who returns alongside Eric Goode for the new series, even voices her belief that there has 'potentially been a miscarriage of justice' in Joe's murder-for-hire conviction. The series also explores the much-debated fate of Big Cat Rescue owner Carole's previous husband Don Lewis, who mysteriously vanished without a trace in 1997 and was declared dead in 2002 - with claims arising he could still be alive in Costa Rica. Baskin (pictured in the Tiger King documentary) runs a rescue sanctuary for big cats in Florida and had criticized Maldonado-Passage's treatment of animals In Tiger King, Carole was blamed for Don's disappearance and accused of 'feeding him to the tigers' by her rival Joe -claims she has fiercely denied. Joe was sent to prison after paying hitman Allen Glover $25,000 to decapitate Carole - but Glover double crossed him and went to the police. Now, Glover says the plot was to decapitate Joe using barbed wire, admitting 'I was going to kill Joe' - and that he was working with Joe's rival and the man who bought G.W. Zoo, Jeff Lowe. Joe said: 'They were going to kill me because Jeff was on my life insurance. They actually even set a trap to decapitate me. 'They strung a piece of barbed wire across from tree to tree. They were hoping I'd be riding a four-wheeler fast enough that I'd hit that wire.' Tough times: Exotic is serving a 22 year prison sentence in Fort Worth, Texas a Glover reveals the plot in a sworn affidavit on camera, saying: 'We came up with a plan to decapitate Joe's head to kill him to clear him away from the property so Jeff could take it over, animals and everything. This don't make me look good at all.' Tiger King 2 also claims that Glover and Lowe were co-conspirators in getting Exotic convicted on the murder-for-hire plot. The documentary states that Jeff declined to comment on the allegations. Lowe took over the park after Exotic was sent to prison, but it closed permanently to the public last August after its federal animal exhibition license was suspended. Baskin then won control of the zoo in 2020 when a judge ruled she would be allowed to take over the property. This summer she sold it. Joe said: 'Everybody from the zoo is out there making money from Joe Exotic. 'I'm paying the price for every one of them people.' An official EU watchdog has slammed Ursula von der Leyen for keeping secret text messages with Pfizer's CEO about purchasing Covid vaccine doses, saying it 'constituted maladministration'. The EU ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, issued a formal recommendation telling von der Leyen's office to search for and hand over the texts under a freedom of information request lodged by a journalist. In April last year, the New York Times revealed that EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla had exchanged text messages and calls about vaccine procurements for EU countries. The European Commission chief used 'personal diplomacy' to secure the deal for 1.8billion Pfizer vaccines via texts with the CEO, the paper revealed. Journalist Alexander Fanta of news site netzpolitik.org then asked the Commission for access to the text messages and other documents, but the executive branch did not provide them. An official EU watchdog has slammed Ursula von der Leyen for keeping secret text messages with Pfizer's CEO The commission rebuffed the freedom-of-information request, refusing to say whether the texts existed - even though von der Leyen had referred to them herself in a media interview. According to the ombudsman's inquiry, the Commission did not clearly ask von der Leyen's cabinet to look for the text messages. Instead, the Commission said the only information they had was an email, a letter and a press release. 'This falls short of reasonable expectations of transparency and administrative standards in the Commission,' O'Reilly said. 'When it comes to the right of public access to EU documents, it is the content of the document that matters and not the device or form. If text messages concern EU policies and decisions, they should be treated as EU documents. The ombudsman said the commission should ask von der Leyen's office to again look for the texts, and if it found them, 'the Commission should assess whether public access can be granted to them' in line with EU rules. 'The EU administration needs to update its document recording practices to reflect this reality.' Von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla (pictured) had exchanged text messages and calls about vaccine procurements for EU countries The Commission argued a 'text message or another type of instant messaging is by its nature a short-lived document which does not contain in principle important information concerning matters relating to policies, activities and decisions of the Commission' and that 'the Commission record-keeping policy would in principle exclude instant messaging.' They also told the ombudsman that 'to date, it has not recorded any text messages in its document management system'. But O'Reilly rejected this argument, saying that texts fall within the Commission's definition of a document. Von der Leyen's Commission spearheaded the pre-purchase of Covid vaccines for the 27 EU countries. More than half the doses the commission has bought or optioned are sourced from BioNTech-Pfizer, making it by far the biggest supplier to the bloc's inoculation efforts. The commission refuses to divulge key aspects of its contracts with Covid vaccine suppliers, notably on pricing, citing commercial confidentiality. Last year, there was a mad scramble to secure vaccines, with the EU and the UK coming to blows over contracts with the major pharmaceutical companies. While Britain was able to get on top of their world-beating vaccine rollout and administer 20 million jabs within a few weeks of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines being approved, EU leaders lagged behind in implementing a vaccine plan. Brussels chiefs were furious at AstraZeneca for promising the UK first deliveries of its vaccine supplies, claiming it has reneged on its deal with the bloc. Countries such as France and Germany then went back-and-forth about whether to rollout the AstraZeneca jab, which sowed doubts among the public and led to a low uptake of the vaccines. Michel Barnier, 70, later said that ideology, red tape and an aversion to risk-taking led Europe to bungle its early vaccination drive. Colombian anti-drug police have seized a huge consignment of 20,000 coconuts filled with liquid cocaine moments before it was destined to ship out to Europe. The bust was made in the port city of Cartagena, on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where the coconuts were readying for departure to Genoa in Italy. An anti-drug unit within the Colombia's national prosecutor's office working with a special police team inspected the coconuts, which were being transported in 504 canvas bags, and found that the natural milk had been emptied out and another liquid injected inside. 'Upon inspection, it was established that the water in the tropical fruit had been exchanged for liquid cocaine,' the Colombian national prosecutor's office said in a statement. The bust was made when the almost 20,000 coconuts were inspected, and found to have had the liquid inside extracted and liquid cocaine injected inside. They were subsequently sent to a laboratory for further inspection The shipment was being readied for transport in the Colombian city of Cartagena, an old colonial port on the Caribbean coast to the north of the country. The destination was Genoa, Italy It has not yet been determined who is behind the massive shipment of cocaine, nor who is working for the smuggling network on the European side. The national prosecutor's office have said they are investigating. Pictures: The 504 canvas bags in which the coconuts were being shipped An anti-drug officers of the Colombian national prosecutor's office stand proudly over their find, with an unknown quantity of cocaine destined for the European market The fruit have been sent to a laboratory for further inspection to establish the precise quantity of cocaine each coconut contains. No arrests have so far been made in connection with the finding, but the national prosecutor's office have said they are investigating to determine the origins of the coconut shipment and identify who is responsible. Colombian authorities are already working with Italian authorities in Genoa to try to identify who is behind the criminal network smuggling the drugs into Europe. Cocaine production in Colombia is higher than ever, reaching record levels in a 2017 report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and this despite the termination of the infamous Colombian drug cartels of the 1980s and 1990s. Most cocaine going to Europe is thought to enter via Spain and Italy to the south and the huge ports of Holland and Belgium to the north, while some is thought to enter via a detour through west Africa. The Nobel Prize awarded to a physicist who was saved by Britain from the Nazis when he was just a teenager has been sold by his family for 340,000. Walter Kohn, who came from a Jewish family, was 15 years old when his native Austria was annexed by Adolf Hitler in 1938. He and his sister Minna escaped the country through the Kindertransport programme, which provided almost 10,000 children with safe passage to the UK, but their parents were killed during the Holocaust. Kohn was subsequently transported to Canada where he studied before enrolling at Harvard University and embarking on an academic career. He became US citizen and taught at the University of California. He then achieved a major breakthrough in 'density functional theory' which saw him awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1998. It is a quantum-mechanical method used in chemistry and physics to calculate the electronic structure of atoms, molecules and solids. Walter Kohn (pictured at his home in California in 1998) was saved by Britain from the Nazis when he was just a teenager The 18 carat gold medal has Alfred Nobel's portrait on the front, with the goddess Isis on the reverse. Kohn's name and the year 1998 in Roman numerals are engraved on a plaque below Walter (left) and his sister Minna (pictured in Vienna with their parents) escaped Austria through the Kindertransport programme - which provided almost 10,000 children with safe passage to the UK - but their parents were killed during the Holocaust Kohn is seen above hugging his wife Mara at his home in Santa Barbara after he had been told he had won the Nobel Prize The 18 carat gold medal has Alfred Nobel's portrait on the front, with the goddess Isis on the reverse. Kohn's name and the year 1998 in Roman numerals are engraved on a plaque below. Kohn died aged 93 in 2016 and his Nobel Prize went under the hammer with US-based auctioneers Nate D Sanders, of California. The sale also included three science books he bought in a temporary internment camp in Canada which fuelled his interest in the subject. The archive sparked a bidding war, selling for almost double its 200,000 estimate. A Nate D Sanders spokesperson said: 'This Nobel Prize in Chemistry won by Walter Kohn in 1998 is unique not only for the scientific impact of Kohn's work, but also for his life experience as one of the children rescued from Nazi-occupied territories in World War Two through the Kindertransport program. 'Kindertransport was established by the United Kingdom in 1938 immediately after the 'Night of Broken Glass' pogrom in Germany, authorising the safe passage of almost 10,000 children into the UK. 'The children were placed in homes throughout the British empire, with Kohn ultimately finding a home in Canada after both his parents were killed in the Holocaust.' Walter Kohn (pictured above in Vienna aged 14), came from a Jewish family and was just a teenager when his native Austria was annexed by Adolf Hitler in 1938 Kohn in the Canadian Army in 1944. Kohn died aged 93 in 2016 and his Nobel Prize is now going under the hammer with US-based auctioneers Nate D Sanders, of California Kohn as a child with his family at their summer house on the Baltic in Herringsdorf, Germany The sale also included three science books he bought in a temporary internment camp in Canada which fuelled his interest in the subject Auctioneer Nate Sanders added: 'To think what would have been lost to the world had Walter Kohn not made it to the UK during World War Two is incomprehensible. 'This Nobel Prize is not only a testament to the knowledge that mankind is capable of, but also to its humanity.' A delegation of British, Jewish and Quaker leaders visited Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain on November 15, 1938, to urge him to allow the temporary admission of unaccompanied Jewish children without their parents. The bill was passed in Parliament and Jewish children were taken in by British foster homes, hostels, schools and farms. Advertisement Britain's Covid hotspots were today laid bare by an interactive map which shows how almost one in 12 people are infected in the worst-hit areas. Rates were highest in Bradford, Wolverhampton, and London Borough of Waltham Forest where Office of National Statistics (ONS) analysts estimated 7.9 and 8 per cent of people are carrying the virus. The Government agency's surveillance report based on random testing of tens of thousands of people showed the UK's outbreak has shrunk, with prevalence falling by roughly a tenth in a week. But roughly one in 20 people were still infected in England as a whole in the week ending January 22, with slightly lower rates in Scotland and Wales. Positivity rates were similar in Northern Ireland. Despite the overall downward trajectory, infections continued to rise among children and have now hit pandemic highs. This uptick is thought to be behind the plateau in the daily official figures, with cases currently floating at around the 90,000 per day mark. There are signs that daily infections are starting to come down again, however, with today's 89,176 new cases down 7 per cent on last week. Yesterday's number marked a weekly fall of 9 per cent. The ONS estimates, regarded as the most reliable indicator of the UK's outbreak because it uses random sampling rather than relying on people coming forward to be tested, show nearly one in eight children aged between 2 and 11 were infected. Experts have warned that the back-to-school effect will eventually spill over into adults', and could cause infection rates to jump again. There also fears of the spread of an even more transmissible strain of Omicron could affect the outbreak. But leading scientists are adamant the worst is over, with vaccines, the build-up of natural immunity and the milder nature of Omicron having changed the course of the pandemic completely It is for this reason No10 has had enough confidence to ditch Plan B restrictions in England. Work from home guidance was revoked last week, while Covid passes and requirements to wear face masks in public spaces came to an end yesterday. Boris Johnson has also said he wants the self-isolation rules to be ditched by the end of March as part of the UK's plan to 'live with the virus' like flu. Meanwhile, latest hospital data shows 1,732 Britons were admitted with Covid on January 24, which was 12 per cent lower than the previous week and the 13th day in a row admissions have fallen week-on-week. Health officials said there were 277 more coronavirus deaths registered in the UK today down by around 4 per cent in a week. Covid cases continued to rise in children with nearly one in eight of those aged two to pupils in year six having the virus as of the week ending January 22. Children in year seven to 11 also saw increases, while all other age groups saw continued declines Inside one of the NHS's Nightingale hubs: Ward created in a CAR PARK as last resort but Covid pressures on hospitals have already receded Officials conceded one of the NHS' new Nightingale surge hubs might never be used as the Omicron wave continues to recede. The temporary site on the grounds of Royal Preston Hospital is one of eight commissioned across England last month, when the fourth wave looked as if it could threaten the health service. It has been assembled in the car park at the city's biggest hospital in less than four weeks and can house roughly 100 Covid patients but it is currently empty. Local NHS bosses have indicated that the new hub might never be used and medical unions have warned they could swallow up staff and pull resources away from other parts of the health service. Other make-shift structures are being built in London, Leeds, Solihull, Leicester, Stevenage, Ashford and Bristol for an undisclosed amount of money. England's original Nightingale hospitals, built in 2020, cost 500million, which included running costs, stand-by costs and decommissioning costs. But they saw only light use before being mothballed. The new, much smaller, sites will remain on standby to look after Covid sufferers who are not well enough to go home but need minimal supervision during their recovery. Kevin McGee, chief executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust which looks after the Royal Preston, previously said said: 'My hope is that we never have to use it. 'We're planning for it, and that's quite right because we need to make sure that we put the appropriate capacity in place should we need it, but I'm hopeful we can manage within our core bed base.' However, Dr Brian McGregor, of the British Medical Association, said staffing more beds would mean 'falling further behind' on routine work. It comes as figures show the majority of Covid patients in English hospitals are not primarily being treated for the virus for the first time in the pandemic - thanks to the super-mild Omicron variant. As few as a third of inpatients are mainly sick with the virus in parts of the country, with the rest primarily receiving care for a range of other conditions, such as a broken leg or heart disease. Advertisement ONS data for the week ending January 22 showed Covid infection rates were declining in England, Scotland, and Wales. But the exact trajectory wasn't clear in Northern Ireland, the team said. Nationally, 4.8 per cent of people in England were said to have Covid on any given day. Rates were in the same ballpark in Northern Ireland (5.3 per cent). But test positivity rates were lower in both Scotland (3.1 per cent) and Wales (3.3 per cent). In England, the outbreak appeared biggest in the North East, where almost one in 12 people were estimated to have the virus. The South West continued to have the lowest rates of Covid in the country, with only 3.4 per cent of people tested there having the virus. But infection rates fell in all of the 9 of the regions compared to the week prior, ONS data showed. When broken down by age, older children saw a smaller but still significant increase in Covid cases, with 6.5 per cent testing positive. Rates were highest in the youngest age, of children aged two to pupils in year six, at around 12 per cent. Other age-groups saw either a stable number of cases or minor declines. People over the age of 70 were the least likely to test positive for Covid in the latest round of data, with only just over one in 50 having caught the virus. Elderly Britons have been heavily prioritised in the UK's initial vaccine rollout and the follow-up booster campaign. In comparison, Covid jabs have only been available to children aged 12-15-years-of-age since late September last year. Professor James Naismith, a structural biologist at the University of Oxford, welcomed the ONS data showing an overall decline in Covid in the UK, but added that the prevalence of the virus among children was 'staggering'. 'The virus is sweeping through school children,' he said. 'Covid is much less severe in this age group than in the elderly but if this this level of prevalence is sustained, then even a small portion of infections leading to long Covid or serious illness will be consequential.' He added that data showing a rise in cases in children between the ages of 12-and-16 highlighted the ongoing Covid vaccination drive in this group remained critical, not only for their own sake but that of their classmates or family members with health conditions. 'Children in the 12 to 16 are seeing a rising prevalence, ensuring vaccine take up in this age group is important. 'There are clinically vulnerable children and clinically vulnerable families of children, this degree of prevalence will pose a threat.' Professor Naismith said the fact that all other age groups were seeing a decline in Covid cases was a testament to the effectiveness of the UK's vaccine booster campaign and urged anyone still eligible for a jab to come forward. The ONS's latest data comes as experts say Covid cases could once again take-off due to the emergence of a new strain of the Omicron variant, called BA.2 which is even more infectious than its already highly transmissible ancestor. In England, Covid cases continued to be highest in the North East and the Yorkshire ad the Humber where an estimated 6.9 and 6.2 per cent of people had the virus in the week ending January 22 according to ONS data. The South West continued to enjoy the lowest Covid rates in England with only 3.4 per cent of people having the virus in this region The national Covid rate for England declined in the week ending January 22 with 4.8 per cent of people having the virus, roughly about one in 20 Scotland enjoyed the lowest virus rate in the UK with only 3.1 per cent of people having the virus, equating to about one in 30 people Things were similar in Wales with a Covid rate of 3.2 per cent, also roughly equating to one in 30 people in the country having the virus Northern Ireland was the outlier in the UK nations in this latest round of ONS data, and the only country where the ONS said the current trajectory of the pandemic was uncertain rather than in decline. The country recording a Covid prevalence rate of 5.3 per cent, the highest of any UK nation The fall incases comes amid reports that a new off-shoot of the Omicron strain, dubbed BA.2, is taking off in the UK. Scientists say the new strain shows signs of being even more infectious than its ancestor but harder to track as a specific Covid variant as it is missing a genetic quirk that made the original Omicron strain easier to spot in PCR tests. But promising data from Government scientists suggests the strain, which makes up at least one in 125 new cases in England, is not more vaccine-resistant than Omicron. A booster dose gives 70 per cent protection against symptomatic infection caused by BA.2, compared to 63 per cent protection against its ancestor. The UK Health and Security Agency's weekly estimate of the R rate today was between 0.7 and 0.9, meaning it has fallen slightly. Last week health chiefs estimated that it was between 0.8 and 1.1. If the figure is below one, it means infections are shrinking. The R number reflects the average amount of people every infected patient passes the virus on to. The R rate is, however, a lagging indicator and does not reflect the situation currently. Instead, it paints a clearer picture on how quickly the virus was spreading three weeks ago. Ministers once put the R rate at the heart of their Covid battle plan. But it is now less crucial because experts care more about hospitalisation and death rates, given the country's massively successful vaccination roll-out. Sim should strenuously pursue values for minorities It is fortunate that Justice Party presidential candidate Sim Sang-jung has restarted her campaign following a lull. As the icon of the nation's progressive forces, Sim has been the face of her party over the past two decades. Sim returned five days after disappearing from the public's view on Jan. 12 as her approval rating declined below 3 percent. In an interview with The Korea Times Friday, Sim vowed to continue to represent the minor, peripheral social groups to bring their voices to the center of the political debate even though doing so could cost her popularity and votes. "For me, the presidential election is not a competition among individual candidates. Rather, for me, it a race against the two gigantic parties," she said. "In silence, I deeply pondered what went wrong and about the reason why I and the party have failed to earn the people's hearts. I will deeply reflect and squarely stand up again. I will more stubbornly push for the values of the progressive party," Sim said during a press conference Jan. 17 fresh from the five-day leave. It is inappropriate for a presidential candidate to stop the campaign without prior consultation with the party and she should take responsibility for such an act at any rate. Sim is supposed to show her changed side to party members and supporters through tangible results and performance to prove that the time she spent on self-reflection was not in vain. Sim admitted that the values and principles of progressive politics have been shaken greatly and acknowledged her mistakes in making grave decisions in the past. She also pledged to seek judgment on herself and the party through the upcoming presidential election. This can be taken as an expression of her desperation that the election may determine the fate of the party that has represented the nation's progressive camp over the last 20 years. Sim is not merely a "third party candidate" who sits between the two major parties. As the very presidential contender of the progressive party, she should speak on behalf of the social minorities. We urge Sim to raise the flag again against the widening disparity between the haves and the have nots, discrimination against minorities in diverse sectors of society and protect the grassroots from increasing privileges for upper-class people. Sim should not be discouraged by the currently low support rate. Rather, she should strenuously pursue the values of the progressive camp focusing on the environment, human rights, women, the handicapped and workers. The progressive party's responsibility lies in creating a society where everyone can live with dignity. Against this backdrop, it is regretful that the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) maintains a negative reaction to the four-way debate among major presidential candidates including Sim, sticking to a two-way discussion between the PPP's Yoon Suk-yeol and Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. The PPP should accept the quadrilateral debate as recommended by the court to respect the rule of democracy and fairness. Even with his own low approval numbers, President Joe Biden is leading both former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in a pair of direct match-ups long ahead of the 2024 election. Biden leads Trump by 10 percentage points 43 to 33 in a new Marquette Law School poll released Thursday. That poll has 16 percent backing 'someone else.' It comes even as Trump has been hammering Biden throughout his presidency, and stepping up his own activity with a rally last week in Arizona and another planned for Texas this coming Saturday. Biden's lead over DeSantis, who has been in the news as he challenges the administration on vaccine mandates and school policy, is slightly narrower. Biden leads DeSantis 41 percent to 33 percent. In that matchup, 18 percent back 'someone else.' President Joe Biden leads former President Donald Trump 43 to 33 in a Marquette Law School poll His lead, even in a poll taking even before he makes it through the mid-term elections, underscores that despite his own severe struggles to maintain a healthy approval rating, his ultimate fate would depend on how he fares against an opposing candidate. The poll shows a lopsided 71-29 per cent majority do not want to see Trump serve another term. Biden's own approval rating is under water in the poll, with 45 per cent approval to 51 per cent disapproval. That runs slightly higher than his approval in poll averages, where he has been in the low 40s. DeSantis' own approval rating is 22 per cent, with 34 per cent disapproval and 44 percent who say they haven't heard enough about the governor. Former US President Donald Trump has resumed campaign rallies and has regularly gone after Biden during his term Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis runs slightly closer to Biden in a new poll, but still trails the president Nevertheless, the public could hear a lot more about DeSantis. Trump denies a feud with him after chastising politicians who would not reveal whether they got a booster shot. And White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has singled out DeSantis' state of Florida for being slow to push out federal money for reopening schools. The two also clashed over a monoclonal antibodies treatment for COVID-19. Gauging any election so far out is a challenge, with the daily gyrations on the economy, the coronavirus, and the situation involving Russia and Ukraine. Just this week, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement giving Biden the chance to fire up his own base with a court fight. The top civil servant in the Foreign Office has apologised to MPs for 'inadvertently' misleading them over the row about the evacuation of animals from Afghanistan. Sir Philip Barton told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee that Nigel Casey, the PM's special representative for Afghanistan, had not received any correspondence referring to Boris Johnson allegedly intervening in the Nowzad case. But emails revealed by the BBC's Newsnight programme showed Mr Casey asked an official 'to seek clear guidance for us from No 10 asap on what they would like us to do' in the case. Sir Philip, the Foreign Office's permanent under-secretary, has now written to the committee's chairman, Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, to apologise for having given 'inadvertently inaccurate answers'. However, he said that 'on the day the email was sent, Nigel was almost entirely focused, in his role as Gold in our crisis response, on the terrorist threat to the evacuation'. Mr Johnson has denied claims he personally authorised the evacuation of animals being looked after by the Nowzad charity, labelling the allegation 'total rhubarb', as the row over who gave the airlift the green light continues to rumble on. Sir Philip Barton (pictured) told the Foreign Affairs Select Committee that Nigel Casey, the PM's special representative for Afghanistan, had not received any correspondence referring to Boris Johnson allegedly intervening in the Nowzad case But emails revealed by the BBC's Newsnight programme showed Mr Casey (pictured meeting a Taliban representative in Oslo, Norway, on January 24) asked an official 'to seek clear guidance for us from No 10 asap on what they would like us to do' in the case Mr Johnson has denied claims he personally authorised the evacuation of animals being looked after by the Nowzad charity, labelling the allegation 'total rhubarb', as the row over who gave the airlift the green light continues to rumble on Sir Philip, who previously came under fire for remaining on holiday after Kabul fell in August last year, wrote to Mr Tugendhat on January 17 to answer a series of questions relating to the UK's exit from Afghanistan. On the Nowzad evacuation, he was asked: 'Do you, Sir Philip, have any reason to believe that there was support for this decision in No. 10, or from the Prime Minister? Do you have any reason to believe that FCDO staff attributed this decision to the Prime Minister?' He replied: 'I am not aware of that, beyond speculation in the public domain.' He was then asked 'did Nigel Casey receive any correspondence referring to the Prime Ministers intervention in the Nowzad case' and he replied 'no'. However, in a letter sent to Mr Tugendhat on January 27 and published by the committee today, Sir Philip said: 'With reference to my answers to questions 33-35 and having now seen the published version of the email the Committee asked Nigel Casey about at the end of the evidence session on 25 January, I am writing to apologise for the inadvertently inaccurate answers given to these questions. 'On the day the email was sent, Nigel was almost entirely focused, in his role as Gold in our crisis response, on the terrorist threat to the evacuation, which led to our changing our Travel Advice that evening to warn British nationals to move away from the airport. 'As Nigel said to the Committee on 25 January, he has no recollection of having seen emails in which staff attributed this decision to the Prime Minister. Nor do I. 'I would be grateful if you would pass on my and Nigel's apologies to your colleagues on the Committee for this mistake.' The admission is the latest controversy in the saga surrounding the evacuation of animals looked after by the Nowzad charity set up by former marine Paul 'Pen' Farthing from Kabul last year. Mr Johnson has denied intervening to get the animals out of the country but he has been accused of lying after leaked correspondence suggested the involvement of Number 10. Downing Street has repeatedly denied intervening in any individual cases in the final days of the mission as thousands of people who sought to flee the Taliban were left behind. But an email shared with a Commons inquiry showed a Foreign Office official saying in August that the Prime Minister had just 'authorised' the animals' rescue. And the BBC reported another email from the same day saying then-foreign secretary Dominic Raab was 'seeking a steer from No 10 on whether' to call Nowzad staff forward. BBC Newsnight's Sima Kotecha obtained an email from an official to Mr Raab at the time discussing Nowzad staff being called forward for evacuation. The Prime Minister has denied intervening to allow Paul 'Pen' Farthing and members of his Nowzad charity to flee Kabul at the expense of locals as the extremists closed in last summer 'The FS is seeking a steer from No 10 on whether to call them forward now,' it read. Another email from Mr Casey showed him asking a security official 'to seek clear guidance for us from No 10 asap on what they would like us to do'. Allies of Mr Johnson have tried to downplay the row, with Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg dismissing calls for a debate as 'fussing about a few animals'. Downing Street has argued that officials were mistaken in suggesting the PM had 'authorised' the evacuation. The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: 'It's not uncommon in Whitehall for a decision to be interpreted or portrayed as coming directly from the Prime Minister even when that's not the case, and it's our understanding that's what happened in this instance. 'We appreciate it was a frenetic time for those officials dealing with this situation.' Two men have appeared before a judge accused of the murder of teenage law student Aya Hachem - who was killed by a stray bullet during a botched drive-by assassination of a car wash owner. Aya Hachem, 19, was shot near the Quick Shine Car Wash in King Street, Blackburn, on May 17, 2020, while on her way to buy food for her family as they prepared to mark the start of Ramadan. Tragically, she had fled to Britain to escape the violence in her native Lebanon, and dreamed of qualifying as a solicitor after leaving university. The fatal bullet, fired from a passing Toyota Avensis, struck her in the shoulder and passed through her body before embedding itself in a telegraph pole. She died in hospital. Last year eight people were jailed for a total of more than 200 years following a trial over their involvement in the students murder. Today Suhayl Suleman, 37, and Lewis Otway, 41, appeared separately via videolink before Judge Robert Altham, who was sitting at Preston Crown Court. Two men are accused of the murder of law student Aya Hachem (pictured) who was mistakenly gunned down in a botched drive-by shooting Suhayl Suleman, 37, of Blackburn, (pictured) is the brother of tyre firm boss Feroz Suleman, 40, who arranged the execution of a rival businessman in broad daylight - but the gunman he allegedly hired instead shot dead innocent passer-by Aya Following a review of the evidence, Suleman (pictured left and right) and Lewis Otway, 41, of Manchester, were charged with the student's murder and the attempted murder of Pacha Khan Each of the defendants is charged with both the murder of Aya and the attempted murder of Pacha Khan. Suleman, of Shear Brow, Blackburn, was arrested in the town on Wednesday evening. Otway, of Longsight, Manchester, was arrested in the Dudley area of the West Midlands the same night. Suleman made a seven-minute appearance before Judge Altham, the honorary Recorder of Preston. He listened via a videolink from HMP Preston as a date for his trial was provisionally set for October 4. His barrister, Kevin Toomey, told the court there was no indication of his clients pleas. He made no application for bail. Sulemans brother, Feroz, 40, was among those convicted of the teenagers murder, and the attempted murder of Mr Khan, following a trial last year. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 34 years before he can be considered for parole. Otway made a four-minute appearance via a videolink from Wolverhampton Crown Court. His barrister, Thomas Worsfold, similarly gave no indication of pleas. His provisional trial date was also set as October 4. Last year Feroz Suleman, of Blackburn, was ordered to serve a minimum of 34 years before he can be considered for parole. The gunman, Zamir Raja, 33, of Stretford, was jailed for a minimum of 34 years and his driver, Anthony Ennis, 31, of Partington, must serve at least 33 years. Fellow accomplices Ayaz Hussain, 36, Abubakr Satia, 32, both of Blackburn; his brother, Uthman Satia, 29, of Great Harwood, and Kashif Manzoor, 26, of Blackburn were handed minimum terms of 32 years, 28 years, 28 years, and 27 years, respectively. Judy Chapman, the girlfriend of Satia, was cleared of murdering Aya but found guilty of manslaughter after a 12-week trial. The fatal bullet, fired from a passing Toyota Avensis, struck Aya (pictured) in the shoulder and passed through her body before embedding itself in a telegraph pole. She died in hospital Feroz Suleman, 40, Kashif Manzoor, 26, Ayaz Hussain, 35, Abubakr Satia, 32, Zamir Raja (right), 33, Anthony Ennis (left), 31, Uthman Satia, 29, were found guilty of murder at Preston Crown Court All seven men were also convicted of the attempted murder of Pachah Khan while Chapman was acquitted of the attempted murder of Mr Khan. Left: Kashif Manzoor. Right: Feroz Suleman Left: Ayaz Hussain. Right: Uthman Satia. Lancashire Police today released the footage showing the moments leading up to Aya's death Preston Crown Court heard the drive-by shooting was organised by Feroz Suleman, who had been embroiled in a bitter feud with his neighbour and business rival Mr Khan .Judy Chapman, the girlfriend of Satia, was cleared of murdering Aya but found guilty of manslaughter after a 12-week trial Left: Abubakr Satia. Right: Judy Chapman Following the conclusion of the group's trial last year, Lancashire Police shared multiple clips and images breaking down the expansive investigation into the shooting. What were each of the defendants convicted for? Feroz Suleman , 40, of Blackburn instigated and organised the hit. , 40, of Blackburn instigated and organised the hit. Abubakr Satia , 32, of Blackburn sourced the Avensis used in the shooting and was also involved in buying petrol afterwards to burn out the car, however, this did not go ahead. , 32, of Blackburn sourced the Avensis used in the shooting and was also involved in buying petrol afterwards to burn out the car, however, this did not go ahead. Kashif Manzoor , 26, of Blackburn was responsible for ensuring the Avensis used to transport the shooter was running on the day of the incident. , 26, of Blackburn was responsible for ensuring the Avensis used to transport the shooter was running on the day of the incident. Judy Chapman , 26, of Great Harwood, drove the gunman and driver from Bolton to the Avensis on Wellington Road, Blackburn and collected them afterwards in the afternoon of the shooting. , 26, of Great Harwood, drove the gunman and driver from Bolton to the Avensis on Wellington Road, Blackburn and collected them afterwards in the afternoon of the shooting. Uthman Satia , 29, of Great Harwood Judy Chapman's partner - was also responsible for transporting the gunman and driver to and from the Avensis on Wellington Road as Chapman's front seat passenger. , 29, of Great Harwood Judy Chapman's partner - was also responsible for transporting the gunman and driver to and from the Avensis on Wellington Road as Chapman's front seat passenger. Ayaz Hussain , 35, of Blackburn was the link between the Lancashire offenders and Zamir Raja and Anthony Ennis, based in Manchester. He played a key role in organising and orchestrating the shooting and was in company of Abubakr Satia when the petrol to burn out the Avensis was bought. , 35, of Blackburn was the link between the Lancashire offenders and Zamir Raja and Anthony Ennis, based in Manchester. He played a key role in organising and orchestrating the shooting and was in company of Abubakr Satia when the petrol to burn out the Avensis was bought. Zamir Raja , 33, of Stretford, Manchester was responsible for sourcing and transporting the firearm used in the shooting, as well as firing the shots. , 33, of Stretford, Manchester was responsible for sourcing and transporting the firearm used in the shooting, as well as firing the shots. Anthony Ennis , 31, Partington drove the Avensis carrying the gunman during the shooting. Advertisement Another video shows Chapman and boyfriend Satia collecting hitman Raja and driver Ennis from Bolton on the day of the shooting. Back at the R1 Tyres forecourt, boss Feroz Suleman is caught on CCTV looking over his shoulder towards Pacha's Quick Shine car wash, in anticipation of what was about to happen. Manzoor is then seen returning with jump leads, which investigators believe were used to start the Avensis. The men were jailed last year in front of Aya's heartbroken father Ismail, mother Samar and brother Ibrahim, who watched on from the public gallery. In a statement, Aya's father Ismail told the court: 'They didn't just kill Aya, they killed our family. The light in our lives has gone out.' Following the sentencing, horrific footage showed the moment Aya's drive-by killers opened fire on a rival tyre firm but hit her at point-blank range as she walked to the shop. CCTV captured the 19-year-old law student walking past the garage on the way to Lidl before she was hit in the chest by a stray bullet shot from a Toyota Avensis. Lancashire Police also released the footage showing the moments leading up to Aya's death. The clip shows the Toyota slowly approach the garage as one of the early rounds burst a bucket near one of the workers - causing him to spin around in horror. The video ends by showing innocent bystander Aya standing on the path between the shooter and the target - just feet away from the gun that killed her. Preston Crown Court heard the drive-by shooting was organised by Feroz Suleman, who had been embroiled in a bitter feud with his neighbour and business rival Mr Khan. Feroz hired Raja, a hitman from Manchester, to carry out the shooting for the price of 1,500. Raja, of no fixed address, refused to fully participate in cross-examination and later pleaded guilty to manslaughter. On his behalf, his legal team argued it was never his intention to kill and he had set out on a mission to 'scare or intimidate' Mr Khan and his workers at Quickshine Tyres. The Toyota Avensis driven by Ennis with hitman Raja on board drove past Quickshine Tyres on three occasions shortly before the fatal fourth journey. Footage from CCTV cameras captured Feroz stood outside his premises next door at RI Tyres with a 'ringside seat' to the shooting. The first shot hit the front window of Quickshine and the second was let off as Lebanese-born Ms Hachem walked by - hitting her rather than the intended target. Nicholas Johnson QC previously told the jury Raja, the man who he says fired the shot that killed Aya, fled to Portugal via Dublin nine days after the incident. Lancashire Police released new photographs of Aya Hachem (left and right) after her killers were convicted Ammunition (pictured) in the car was found by officers who were conducting a search A search of the Nissan Juke which Raja drove to Liverpool with Anthony Ennis on May 16 (above) revealed a similar bullet to the one that killed Aya The Avensis is pictured in situ where it was found on Wellington Road following the shooting Three days later Anthony Ennis, the man accused of being Raja's driver at the time of the hit, flew to the continent on his brother's passport, it was heard. Prosecutors say a meet up between the pair in which they initially pretended not to know each other but later embraced in a 'brotherly hug' was caught on CCTV. Nicholas Johnson QC told the jury at Preston Crown Court: 'They thought they had got away with murder. Home free.' By this stage, other suspects Feroz Suleman, Judy Chapman, Kashif Manzoor, Abubkar Satia, Uthman Satia and Hussain Ayaz had all been arrested. Ten days after he had travelled to Portugal, Raja returned to the UK in a car he had hired with Ennis in Portugal, Mr Johnson told the court. Mr Johnson said the feud between Suleman and Mr Khan started in 2019 when Quickshine began selling tyres next door to RI after previously only washing cars. This resulted in 'bad blood', it was heard, and a plan was hatched to kill Mr Khan and/or someone else at Quickshine. Aya (left and right), a second-year student at the University of Salford, died in hospital from a single gunshot wound a short time later of an 'irreversible' cardiac arrest Kashif Manzoor's text messages were also revealed by Lancashire Police today as they shared evidence used in the case The court heard Aya, an aspiring solicitor, was walking along King Street in Blackburn at 3pm on May 17, 2020, when she was hit. Aya, a second-year student at the University of Salford, died in hospital from a single gunshot wound a short time later of an 'irreversible' cardiac arrest. Her distraught parents said she was the 'most loyal, devoted daughter' who enjoyed spending time with her family. Aya and her family were also known to be heavily involved with Blackburn's asylum seeker and refugee community. She herself had fled war-torn Lebanon for a new life in the UK and had passed her second year exams shortly before her tragic death. She was a trustee with the Children's Society and won Student of the Year at Blackburn Central High School in 2016. Jo Saxton, Ofqual's chief regulator, said that the release of advance information on the kinds of topics pupils will see in their exams would not give higher-ability pupils an advantage Changes to this year's GCSE and A-level exams will not make them easier for more able pupils - despite being told months in advance which topics will come up, the head of the Government exam regulator has said. Because of the disruption caused to learning by the pandemic, pupils in England will be offered a choice of topics in some GCSE exams, such as English literature, history, ancient history and geography, as well as exam aids next summer. For subjects where a choice of topics is not provided, advance notice on the focus of exam content will be given in February to help with revision. In a speech to the Sixth Form Colleges Association conference earlier in January, Jo Saxton, Ofqual's chief regulator, said that the release of advance information on the kinds of topics pupils will see in their exams would not give higher-ability pupils an advantage. Pupils will be given information on February 7 to help focus their revision to answer questions carrying more marks - higher-tariff questions - whereas advance information will not be provided for simpler one or two-mark questions. 'Of course, much of the advance information gives a steer on how to revise for higher tariff questions, although not all of it,' Ms Saxton said. 'Bluntly, to focus advance information on low tariff questions would be nonsensical. 'It would be silly to publish a document that says something like; you will be asked to identify the year in which the Versailles Treaty was signed, or the year in which Magna Carta was signed. Clearly, at that point, the exam would stop being an exam.' Pupils will be given information on February 7 to help focus their revision to answer questions carrying more marks - higher-tariff questions - whereas advance information will not be provided for simpler one or two-mark questions (stock image) But she added that questions carrying more marks did not necessarily mean 'harder content', as pupils of any ability gained marks across an exam paper. 'We hope that the benefit of advance information will mean that students who suffered the most disruption, or those who are less able, may gain confidence to tackle elements of a paper that they might previously not have felt confident to try,' she announced. Ms Saxton said that giving pupils advance information about the topics covered in their exams would have been 'unthinkable' in 'normal times', but that the changes had been designed before a 'difficult winter' last year, to make exams 'less daunting' to pupils. Exam boards had 'done their absolute level best' to create focused revision aids, and this was 'definitely an art rather than a science'. 'If they'd gone too close to revealing the questions it would have undermined exams and turned them into short-term memory tests,' she said. Ms Saxton announced that GCSE and A-level grading would not be set by any 'single statistical midpoint' between 2019 and 2021 grading. Grading standards in 2022 will be set between the standards of 2019, when full public exams were last sat, and 2021, when teacher-assessed grades were awarded. But 'there will be no standardisation model to determine students' grades', she said. In 2020, the Government initially planned to use an algorithm to determine pupils' exam grades but were forced to U-turn over the issue and award grades assessed by pupils' teachers instead, after thousands of pupils received grades well below what they had expected on A-level results' day. Ms Saxton added that the Government had heard that universities could set their own tests for candidates to sit or raise their entry grade requirements if grades in 2022 were as generous as those in 2021, when 44.3% of grades in England were awarded the top A or A* grades. But she added: 'Our grading requirements will provide a safety net for this cohort and it is likely to mean that results overall are higher than in normal years.' A North Carolina mother and child missing for more than five years have been found safe on a property owned by the child's paternal grandfather, but federal officials and the women's father say they still do not know what happened to them since 2016. Amber Renaye Weber, 26, and her now-5-year-old daughter, Miracle Smith, were discovered this week living in Harnett County, just 25 miles from the location of their disappearance, along with the woman's younger child, whom she welcomed sometime in the last five years. The mother and children were described as being in good condition. They were located on a property belonging to the family of the father of Weber's children. The children's dad, who wasn't identified by police, has not been arrested, officials said. Joe Smith, 59, Miracle's grandfather, was arrested on a federal weapons charge, but so far he has not been accused of any offense in connection with Weber's disappearance. Amber Weber (left), her daughter Miracle Smith, 5 (right), and a younger child were found on Tuesday living in a trailer in North Carolina, more than five years after their disappearance Weber and her children were found on Tuesday living in a trailer on a property on Lemon Lane in Bunnlevel, North Carolina, belonging to the family of Miracle's father Fayetteville police said Miracle Smith was 1 year old when she and her mother, then aged 21, disappeared on December 4, 2016, a news release said. Weber had been living with her sister at a home in the 1200 block of Martindale Drive in Fayetteville at the time. Weber's father, Monty Weber, told CBS 17 that he received a call from his other daughter, telling him that Amber got up in the middle of the night, grabbed her baby daughter and took off with just the clothes on her back. The family said they suspected that Weber and Miracle were living in Harnett County, but they were unable to find or contact her. Weber and Miracle were reported missing in January 2017, and law enforcement searched for clues about the disappearance, but the case eventually went cold. On February 26, 2021, Fayetteville police asked the US Marshals Service to help them find the missing child and mother who they said were victims of previous physical abuse, according to a news release. In the course of the investigation, they determined that Weber and her daughter were living on Lemon Lane in Bunnlevel, about 25 miles northeast of Fayetteville. On Tuesday, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and deputies from the Harnett County Sheriffs Office had gone to the property to arrest Joe Smith on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Federal officials seized four guns from Smith's home, reported ABC11. Weber was 21 years old and Miracle (pictured as an infant) was 1 when the young mom left her sister's home in Fayetteville on the night of December 4, 2016 Weber and her children were found on a property on Lemon Lane in Bunnlevel, just 25 minutes northeast of Martindale Drive in Fayetteville, where she was last seen on December 4, 2016 In the process of the arrest, officers discovered Weber and her children living in a trailer on the property. Weber's father, Monty Weber, said he has not spoken to his daughter yet but is looking forward to seeing her and his grandchildren While there are still many unanswered questions surrounding the woman and child's mysterious disappearance, Michael East, US Marshal for the Eastern District of North Carolina, celebrated the outcome of this missing persons case. 'A lot of times these cases end in tragedy, or you don't find them, or they end up being deceased, and yesterday to be able to say that she's alive, and she's well, and we got her and now she's being taken care of, that's a win for us every day,' East said. Miracle and her younger sibling have been turned over to the Harnett County Department of Social Services for assistance. Monty Weber, Amber's father, told CBS 17 that he has not spoken to his daughter yet, but he was looking forward to seeing her and his grandchildren. 'Were happy,' he said. 'We'd like to see our grandbabies... wed like to see her.' Two children under the age of six and their father have been discovered dead in a home on Friday evening in a suspected murder-suicide. Police officers rushed to the home on Essington Street in Huntingdale in Perth's southeast after a family member called triple zero about 6.35pm. A four-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy are understood to have been found dead in their beds, The West Australian reported. Their mother is believed to have rushed to the scene. Fairfax reported that in mid-December, the father posted a video on Facebook in which he spoke of his own mental health problems and warned others suicide is 'not the solution'. A family member had phoned triple zero at about 6.35pm, with police arriving shortly after at the home on Essington Street (pictured), in Huntingdale in Perth's southeast 'It's been a while since I posted anything on Facebook ... I've had my personal reasons for it,' he said in the video. 'To those who felt a difference and reached out, I thank them. A lot of those calls and messages have gone unanswered and I do apologise but the care and concern shown is appreciated. 'People who have known me well enough for long enough, I would feel quite certain they may not think of me as someone going through depression. 'But I have recently been diagnosed with depression.' The father said he was on medication and warned: 'The unpleasant signs of mental health issues or even depression is not only does it affect you, it affects the people around you. 'Suiciding is possibly not the solution... reach out to people, try and talk to people, seek help, see what you can do before you make that drastic decision where if you are successful there is no coming back.' Two police officers were seen being comforted at the home on Friday night while detectives scoured the scene. The street is just a few roads away from a local primary school. Two police officers were seen being comforted while detectives scoured the scene (file image) Parts of the road have been blocked off. A neighbour said the street was usually quiet and there had never been any signs of trouble. 'I've never really heard of any issues (on this street),' the neighbour said. 'We know our neighbours, we say hello to them.' A Western Australia Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the force was investigating the deaths of three people and more information would be released on Saturday morning. Lifeline: 13 11 14 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Underground drivers will this evening walk out for a fourth Night Tube weekend strike in a row as a dispute over rotas remains deadlocked. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on the Central and Victoria lines will walk out for eight hours on Friday and Saturday evenings. Similar action has taken place every weekend this year since January 7, and staff are pledging to continue doing so all the way through to June. The union has accused London Underground (LU) bosses of a 'deafening silence' over the row, but Transport for London (TfL) says it remains open to talks. Underground drivers will this evening walk out for a fourth Night Tube weekend strike in a row as a dispute over rotas remains deadlocked RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: 'We are calling on Tube bosses to end their deafening silence and take up the opportunity of resuming negotiations with the aim of resolving the Night Tube dispute. 'The action continues tonight despite the fact that we believe there are simple and cost-free options that would enable us to consider suspending the action. We cannot make any progress if LU continue to give us the cold shoulder. 'With London heading back towards some normality at last, the settlement of this dispute should be a priority for the mayor and his officials and that means showing a willingness to recommence the talks process. 'The issue at the heart of the dispute, protecting the work/life balance of drivers, cannot be swept under the carpet and needs to be addressed rather than dismissed. 'RMT stands ready to get talks back on. ' A TfL spokesperson said: 'We remain open to talks with the RMT, in the hope this long-running strike action can be called off. 'During the six months of regular (conciliation service) Acas talks on this matter, it's become clear that there are no new or workable proposals. However we remain in touch with both the RMT and Acas in the hope that a resolution can be found. 'Our position remains that since changes to our rosters, which have been agreed with our other union, were implemented, they've been a positive change for the organisation and our staff, helping us to keep London moving, become a fairer place to work and bringing back Night Tube. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on the Central and Victoria lines will walk out for eight hours on Friday and Saturday evenings 'Despite the strike action, we're running a good Night Tube service on the Victoria Line and a regular service on the Central Line, with at least two trains per hour through central London. 'We've made changes to driver rosters to preserve a near-normal Tube service while also giving drivers the opportunity for full-time work, new flexible part-time work and long-term job certainty. 'There are no job losses, and those few who want to remain on the previous rosters have been able to do so as a result of the changes made, and we have assured Tube drivers that night shifts usually can be swapped with colleagues for duties at other times of day.' A British man has died in a Thai massage parlour while he was being rubbed with oil by a masseuse. The traveller, 70, started gasping for air while lying on the massage table during a session with masseuse Miss Oraya, 39, in Pattaya today. She suddenly noticed that the pensioner, who arrived at the shop on a rented Honda motorcycle, was struggling halfway through the mid-afternoon massage. A British man has died in a Thai massage parlour while he was being rubbed with oil by a masseuse Oraya called for help and staff began performing CPR but the Briton had stopped breathing. They were unable to revive him and covered his body with a towel. Police arrived at the Lovely Massage shop in the Bang Lamung district at 4pm and cordoned off the scene. The massage customer was pronounced dead before his body was moved to the hospital. The traveller, 70, started gasping for air while lying on the massage table during a session with masseuse Miss Oraya (pictured), 39, in Pattaya today Police arrived at the Lovely Massage shop in the Bang Lamung district at 4pm and cordoned off the scene Oraya called for help and staff began performing CPR but the Briton had stopped breathing Oraya said: 'This was the first time the man had visited us for a massage. Everything was going normally then I noticed he was sleeping. 'Suddenly he started struggling to breathe. He was gasping and choking. 'I called the other girls for help and we started pumping his heart.' Police said that they arrived and began looking through the building for signs of foul play or a struggle. The elderly man also had no identity documents on him. Police said that they arrived and began looking through the building for signs of foul play or a struggle The massage customer was pronounced dead before his body was moved to the hospital Lieutenant colonel Teetat Trunjan, the investigating inspector from Nong Prue Police Station, said: 'Officers arrived and kept the unrelated people away from the scene of the incident. They checked that there were no signs of any abuse. There was no identity document found inside. 'The cause of the death is still unclear. The body must be sent for an autopsy, to summarise the true cause of death further. 'In the mean time, we are contacting the relatives of the deceased.' Pattaya, on the east coast of Thailand, is best known for its round-the-clock adult nightlife and has been dubbed a 'Sin City'. Six people who were found dead in a Milwaukee home on Sunday were shot dead in an 'execution style' mass killing and three of the victims were due to testify at an upcoming murder trial, police have revealed. The bodies were found in a home on North 21st Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Sunday afternoon. Police were called to perform a welfare check and inside, they discovered Caleb Jordan, 23, Javoni Liddell, 31, Charles Hardy, 42, Donald Smith, 43, Donta Williams, 44, and Michelle Williams, 49. Michelle and Donta were married, and Donald and Donta were brothers. It's unclear how Caleb, Javoni and Charles are related to them. Donta and Michelle Williams, a married couple, were among those killed on Sunday. Police have four people in custody but no one has been charged Javoni Liddell, 31, (left) and Charles Hardy, 42, (right) were also killed. It's unclear which of the six victims were due to testify at the murder trial Donald Smith, 43, (left) lived in the home where the bodies were found. His relatives say he 'took people in' who didn't have anywhere else to go. Caleb Jordan (shown right in a childhood photo), was also killed The Milwaukee home where the bodies were found on Sunday is shown. One of the victims' relatives asked police to perform a welfare check Police will not say who, but three of the victims were due to testify as witnesses at a murder trial in Milwaukee County, according to local outlet WISN. The details of that case is not known. Police have four persons of interest in custody but they will not name them and they have not yet been charged. The victims' families have revealed that they were killed 'execution style' inside the home and that police told them multiple shooters were involved. 'We were told that it was execution-style,' Tiffany Cole-Whittington, the cousin of Michelle Williams, told WISN. The families say they are at a loss over how who could have carried out the killing. Police say they are investigating whether or not it was a revenge execution to stop them from testifying at the trial. 'I would never think this would happen to my family,' Ronald Smith, the brother of two of the victims - Donald Smith and Donta Williams - told FOX earlier this week. He said his brother Donald lived in the home and 'took in' people. 'He took people in when they dont have a place to go. I dont know why somebody would do this to them. I dont.' U.S. federal agents arrested a Nevada man for threatening a state election worker last year and telling her that she was 'going to f------ die', officials said Thursday The man was accusing the woman of stealing the 2020 presidential election from Donald Trump, the Justice Department said, with their intervention marking the second arrest in a week by its election threats task force. Gjergi Luke Juncaj, 50, of Las Vegas was taken into custody on Wednesday and appeared in federal court in Nevada on Thursday. He is charged with four counts of making threatening phone calls, the Justice Department said in a statement. In the press release, the Justice Department said the man told the worker: 'I want to thank you for such a great job you all did on stealing the election. 'I hope you all go to jail for treason. I hope your children get molested. You are all going to (expletive) die.' If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison on each count. Pictured: County election staff tabulate ballots at the Clark County Election Center in North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. November 4, 2020 Juncaj's threats against Staci McElyea, a worker in the Nevada Secretary of State's Office, were first revealed in a Reuters investigation published on Sept. 8. The story detailed how Juncaj repeatedly told McElyea that she and her colleagues would be killed, according to her documentation of the calls, which were made on Jan. 7, 2021. After the threats, McElyea, a former U.S. Marine, called the Nevada Capitol Patrol and sent the state police agency a transcript of the calls, Reuters previously reported. An officer contacted the man, whom police would later identify as Juncaj. Despite Juncaj's multiple threatening calls, state police decided not to charge Juncaj, Reuters found. State detectives concluded that Juncaj's threats were 'protected' political speech and not criminal, because the suspect merely said he 'wished' election workers would die, according to a summary of the case. The Reuters report, however, contradicted the detective's assessment. McElyea's transcripts of the calls show that the man repeatedly told her she and her colleagues would be killed. Frank Dobbs, a supporter of Donald Trump, holds a sign during a 'Stop The Steal' protest at the Clark County Election Center in North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. November 6, 2020 'This is what you're going to f------ get from now on,' her transcript quotes the caller as saying. You're all going to f------ die, and it is what you deserve.' Juncaj could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday by Reuters. He said in an interview for the September report that he 'didn't threaten anybody.' Following the Reuters story, the Federal Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation into Juncaj, according to a Nevada state government source. The indictment is the task force's second case, and the third known federal charge overall for threatening election workers since the 2020 vote. In December 2020, federal prosecutors charged a New Hampshire woman with threatening a Michigan official. The Justice Department's election threats task force was announced last June, shortly after Reuters published reports documenting more than 850 threats and menacing messages to U.S. election workers. These included about 100 that legal experts say could be prosecuted under federal law. Almost all of the threats have been inspired by Trump's relentless false claims that the 2020 vote was 'rigged' against him, Reuters found. Justice Department officials say they are now investigating dozens of similar cases. Maricopa County Sheriff's Deputies stand at the door of the Maricopa County Recorder's Office as President Donald Trump supporters rally outside, November 4, 2020, in Pheonix The task force revealed its first arrest on Jan. 21, when it charged a Texas man with making violent threats against Georgia election and government officials. Prosecutors accused Chad Christopher Stark of posting a Craigslist message on Jan. 5, 2021 entitled, 'Georgia Patriots it's time to kill.' Reuters couldn't reach Stark, who will appear in court on Feb. 4. Federal authorities are also investigating an anonymous man who threatened Vermont officials, local law enforcement sources familiar with the probe told Reuters. That man's threats were featured in a November Reuters investigation. In response to that report, Vermont lawmakers are considering new legislation to make it easier to prosecute people who threaten election officials. Election officials all over the country are being threatened and harassed, and those engaging in this domestic terrorism must be held accountable, said David Becker, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research. People line up to vote at Desert Breeze Community Center on November 3, 2020 in Las Vegas Juncaj's threats followed tense scenes in Nevada while the 2020 Presidential Election count was taking place, with the results coming down to the wire. Crowds of Trump supporters gathered outside election centres, calling for workers to 'stop the steal'. The states was also one of the slowest to announce its results. President Biden beat his rival Trump with 50.06 percent of the state's vote, versus Trump's 47.67 percent of the vote, giving Biden six Electoral College votes. Republicans falsely alleged instanced of vote fraud in the state, with representatives of the Trump campaign on January 17 asking a judge to nulify Biden's victory and simply declare Trump the winner. However, on November 24, Nevada's Supreme Court certified Biden as the winner of the state, and no evidence has been brought proving the fraud claims. By Donald Kirk One odd question hangs over U.S. relations with Korea, both South and North, in this pivotal election year in which South Koreans decide a few weeks from now on their next president. That is, who is directing American policy and how is Washington navigating between conflicting views in the South and rising threats from the North?What's strange is that the U.S. for more than a year has had no ambassador to South Korea. Now it's reported that Philip Goldberg, a Latin American expert who's been ambassador to Colombia and Bolivia and worked on U.N. sanctions on North Korea more than 10 years ago, is the ambassador-designate.What's taken so long to advance his name and when is he coming to Seoul? Are President Joe Biden and his team so consumed by Ukraine that they have not had time to ask, 'What are we going to do about conveying our confused thoughts to outgoing President Moon Jae-in, barred as he is by Korea's Democracy Constitution from running for a second five-year term?' And how worried should we be about whoever's next in the Blue House, the left-leaning Lee Jae-myung or the hawkish conservative Yoon Suk-yeol?Even with Goldberg designated as ambassador, getting him to Korea won't be easy. Ted Cruz, the obstructionist right-wing senator from Texas, has been blocking the approval of dozens of ambassadorial appointments while calling on Biden to act decisively against Russia's dream of shipping natural gas through a new pipeline to Germany. As long as Cruz stands fast, the appointments don't get out of the Senate foreign relations committee and onto the floor of the Senate, where far more often than not, they're approved by overwhelming bipartisan vote.Just because Cruz is gumming up the process, however, is no excuse for Biden not to have someone ready to take off for Seoul. OK, you don't really need an ambassador to fulfill most embassy functions. The charge d'affaires, an experienced diplomat with years of experience, can pretty well take charge day by day. The problem, however, is that real diplomacy, day to day, isn't always routine when you consider the difficulties between the U.S. and South Korea.Right now, Washington and Seoul disagree on how to deal with North Korea. No, the Americans are too diplomatic to denounce this end-of-war declaration that Moon is demanding as nonsense. Instead, they say how close their historic relationship is, the unshakeable, unbreakable bond between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea. At every opportunity they echo Moon's calls for dialog with the North. And then they say what neither President Moon nor candidate Lee wants to hear, that North Korea has to get rid of its nukes before any deal is possible.Nor is anyone saying the rift between the U.S. and Republic of Korea on how much to concede by way of appeasing North Korea is one reason for Biden to have been slow to name an ambassador. You won't hear anyone officially making that point, on or off the record, but the unspoken word lurking in Seoul is that Biden would have moved faster if Washington and Seoul were on the same page.Yet another suspicion is that the Americans were waiting to see the outcome of the presidential election. It would be easy to conclude that Washington supports Yoon since he's calling for rebuilding great ties with the U.S. and, unlike Moon and Lee, demanding North Korea give up its nukes as a prerequisite to anything. Lee has shown how simpatico he is with North Korea by calling on Yoon to retract that statement, and North Korea is saying Yoon should retract his whole candidacy that is, not run at all. Wouldn't it be great, some Americans and Koreans are saying, if Yoon were to restore the U.S.-ROK alliance to the good old days?This view has a few flaws. One is that Yoon's election might precipitate a North-South Korean showdown, replete with mounting threats and unpredictable incidents. Another is that Yoon, if elected, might backtrack and adopt a softer stance just to head off a potential crisis. For that matter, Lee, if elected, might not want to undermine or ruin the alliance with the U.S. by making concessions to the North without guarantees of anything substantive in return.No one can be sure what's really going to happen between North and South Korea until, well, until it happens. That uncertainty is another reason for Washington to pursue a policy of watchful waiting, awaiting the outcome of the election. Goldberg, assuming he's finally approved as ambassador, should be arriving in time to see which way the winds are blowing from both Seoul and Pyongyang with a new man in the Blue House.Donald Kirk ( www.donaldkirk.com ) writes from Seoul as well as Washington. John Avers, who was repeatedly run over A father and son have been found guilty of running over and killing a family friend in a supermarket car park during a row 'over 40,000 of stolen drugs money'. Bobby Ternent, 32, drove the BMW X6 which crushed John Avers as he was held down by Gary Ternent, 59, before the pair left him for dead in an Iceland car park in Dagenham, east London, on the night of September 13, 2020. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones QC told the Old Bailey that after Mr Avers was run over twice, Gary went to join his son in the car, which then ploughed into the victim 'a third time, and a fourth time' before driving away. Police and medics found Mr Avers, 47, in a large pool of blood, and he was pronounced dead at 12.22am the next day having suffered 'catastrophic' injuries, the Old Bailey heard. A post-mortem examination found he had suffered fractures to the skull, sternum, pelvis, left thigh and 22 ribs. Mr Avers' family wept in court as the Ternets, of Barking, east London, were found guilty of his murder today after denying the charge. Following their convictions, Judge Anne Molyneux remanded them in custody and adjourned sentencing until February 10. Following his arrest, Bobby Ternent told detectives that he and John were very good friends and that he had worked for him for years. About three weeks before the murder, Bobby claimed John called him and asked him to look after 40,000 of stolen drug money for him. Bobby said he agreed and kept the cash in his car. Bobby said that on the day of the murder John called and said he needed the money immediately, so they met and drove to the supermarket car park. Bobby then said that John started to scream that the money was 'short' and they got into a fight. He told detectives that John was threatening him and said if he did not give him the missing money he would kill his wife and children. Bobby Ternent, left, drove the BMW X6 which crushed John Avers as he was held down by Gary Ternent, right, before the pair left him for dead in an Iceland car park in Dagenham, east London, on the night of September 13, 2020 After the incident, Bobby Ternent had changed his clothes at home and burnt the BMW, which had false plates, jurors were told Mr Emlyn Jones suggested Mr Avers was not a 'big time villain' but had been a 'very successful businessman'. Previously, he ran a sash windows carpentry company and lived in a million-pound house, jurors heard. When his business went downhill, he sold his home, his marriage fell apart and he turned to drink and drugs, the court was told. Mr Emlyn Jones said that on the night of his death, Mr Avers texted his ex-wife: 'I'm going to get your house back.' The prosecutor suggested that whatever the truth, having a row over money and being threatened was not a defence to murder. Mr Emlyn Jones had told the court that the defendants killed Mr Avers by 'deliberately driving that BMW X6 straight at him, running him over'. He said: 'With Bobby Ternent at the wheel, and Gary Ternent holding John Avers down on the ground in front of the car, John Avers was run over once, then Bobby Ternent spun the car around and ran over him again. 'Gary Ternent then ran to join his son in the car before they then ran their victim over a third time - and a fourth time. 'Only then, no doubt satisfied that they had done enough damage, they drove away, leaving John Avers dying, or more likely already dead from the catastrophic injuries they caused him.' After the incident, Bobby Ternent had changed his clothes at home and burnt the BMW, which had false plates, jurors were told. Later, the father and son were later picked up on CCTV talking about what had happened in Dagenham on the evening of September 13 2020. It was claimed Bobby Ternent said 'he might be crippled', to which his father replied: 'Right, we gone over him three times.' Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the global media in Kiev Friday and pushed back on world leaders who have publicly stressed the prospect of Russian invasion following a call with President Biden where the president raised the 'distinct possibility' Russian troops would soon overrun his country. 'There are signals even from respected leaders of states, they just say that tomorrow there will be war. This is panic - how much does it cost for our state?' said Zelensky. He indirectly criticized the decision by the U.S. to pull family members of diplomats out of the country as yet another measure that could feed 'panic' that could be counterproductive. 'We dont have a Titanic here,' he said. 'I don't consider the situation now more tense than before. There is a feeling abroad that there is war here. That's not the case,' said Zelensky. 'I am not saying an escalation is not possible...(but) we don't need this panic,' he said. 'If war were to break out on the scale and scope that is possible, the civilian population would suffer immensely,' Milley said at the Pentagon. Austin said the 100,000-plus Troops Russia has positioned 'far and away exceeds what we typically see them do for exercises. 'Its very concerning,' he said. President Biden's only comments about the situation Friday were brief. 'Ill be moving troops to Eastern Europe and the NATO countries in the near term. Not too many,' he said when asked how soon he decided to move troops to shore up allies. 'We dont have a Titanic here,' he said Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine. Amid public talk of a Russian invasion, he said: 'We don't need this panic' He even made a 'Don't Look Up' reference after the Leonardo DiCaprio film on Netflix about an imminent asteroid heading for the planet, after he was compared to hapless leaders online, the Guardian reported. With Britain withdrawing diplomats even as the Greeks maintained their presence, Zelensky said: 'The captains should not leave the ship. I dont think we have a Titanic here.' His reassurances came on a day when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley warned of the stakes and spoke to U.S. military preparations to assist NATO allies. Asked whether Putin has enough troops for a full-scale invasion of its neighbor, Austin replied: 'I mean, you've heard the chairman say earlier that he's got north of 100,000 troops in the border region. That gives him a number of options. What he's done as he's continued to move troops and resources into the region is increased his options. And so, we won't predict where his decisions will take him, but we remain concerned about the range of options that that he could pursue and will stay focused on this problem set.' Milley said the pair do not believe Putin has made a decision. But he added: 'Sure, with 1000 troops. You've got combined arms formations, ground maneuver, artillery, rockets, you got air and all the other piece parts that go with it. There's a potential that they could launch on very, very little warning. That's possible. And there's a wide scale of options that are available to Russian leadership. The best option they should pick, in my view, is a diplomatic solution to resolve whatever differences they have,' he said. 'This is larger in scale and scope, and the massing of forces than anything we've seen in recent memory,' said Milley. Given the forces Putin has at his disposal, 'if that was unleashed on Ukraine, it would be significant, very significant, and it would result in a significant amount of casualties,' he said. 'There's a potential that they could launch on very, very little warning,' assessed General Mark Milley, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the 100,000-plus Troops Russia has positioned 'far and away exceeds what we typically see them do for exercises. 'Its very concerning,' he said 'You can imagine what that might look like in dense urban areas, along roads, and so on and so forth. It would be horrific. It would be terrible. And it's not necessary. And we think a diplomatic outcome is the way to go here.' Zelensky sought to downplay reports of a split with President Joe Biden following reports it did not go well. State officials 'dont have any misunderstandings' with Biden, he said, Politico reported. 'I just deeply understand what is going on in my country, just as [Biden] understands perfectly well what is going on in the United States.' Zelensky's cautioning came even as U.S. officials sought to digest yet another metric: with Russia's military buildup now including supplies of blood along and medical equipment, in yet another sign Russian President Vladimir Putin could be preparing for an invasion. Zelensky Thursday urged President Joe Biden in a call on Thursday to tone down his rhetoric about the brewing situation between Ukraine and Russia, amid fears it could cause panic or a run on supplies, according to a report. Zelensky made the plea in a call that 'did not go well,' CNN reported, citing a Ukrainian source. It included a plea by Zelensky for Biden to 'calm down the messaging' amid complex maneuverings over the potential invasion. The urging came in a call where Biden told Zelensky Russia could invade within weeks. It followed pushback earlier this week from Ukraine as the U.S. told family members of American diplomats to leave. Ukrainian officials maintained the move was unnecessary with a situation that is still uncertain, even as Russia continues to move troops and equipment to positions around Ukraine. The White House disputed the read on the call, with National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne pushing back on a report that a Ukrainian official said Biden warned Kiev could be 'sacked' and to 'prepare for impact.' 'This is not true,' she tweeted. 'President Biden said that there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February. He has previously said this publicly & we have been warning about this for months. Reports of anything more or different than that are completely false.' She also tweeted out a statement by Ukraine's U.S. embassy stating 'that some reports regarding todays conversation of President Zelenskyy and President Biden are completely false. He also encouraged to carefully treat all information in this troubled time especially from the unconfirmed sources.' Russia could attack Ukraine within weeks, intelligence sources have said, after Biden shared a phone call with President Zelensky last night during which he warned an attack is likely to come in February Horne was even more blunt in a statement to CNN. 'Also, no one said "sacked." The only person who should be "sacked" is the anonymous source who is circulating an inaccurate portrayal of this conversation,' she said. The statement the White put out after the call said the U.S. and allies were ready to 'respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine.' The administration's series of public statements about a potential invasion puts international pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and could press allies to stiffen their response although the Ukrainians are seeking to avoid statements that contribute to panic even as they seek additional aid and arms support. Amid the fear of an all-out invasion that could seek to cleave Ukrainian positions, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the U.S. response in writing to Russia's security demands had 'some grains of reason.' Zelensky on January 19th urged the Ukrainian public not to panic, telling his countrymen: 'Take a deep breath, calm down' amid the talk of an imminent invasion. If Russia did invade in February, it would time the invasion to coincide with the coldest weeks in eastern Europe, when the ground will be frozen solid allowing tanks and artillery to maneuver easily. US officials have previously said that an unseasonably mild winter appears to have delayed Putin's attack plans by turning the region into a quagmire. Separately, a senior British intelligence official warned that Putin is likely to launch an attack on Kiev from Belarus in the north using war games set to take place there next month as cover. The official, speaking to The Times of London , said this could coincide with an amphibious assault from Crimea on the southern port city of Odessa using transport ships seen sailing around Europe last week in an effort to split the Ukrainian military across two fronts, hundreds of miles apart. Tens of thousands of troops could then move in from the east, potentially with the aim of capturing the entire country. While Russia's current troop numbers at the border are insufficient for this operation, the official said, Putin could mass a force large enough to get the job done in 'two to three weeks'. Russia is thought to have between 100,000 and 120,000 troops currently massed at the border, which have been recently reinforced with medical teams and logistical support of the kind that is needed to sustain an invading force. Tens of thousands more troops could arrive in the coming weeks, the official said. 'Some estimates are another 60,000 will come, if not greater than that. It's certainly not just a negotiating tactic or an idle threat when you deploy this many troops with this capability,' they said. But, amid the increasingly alarming rhetoric from the West, Zelensky and his senior staff have been calling for calm - insisting that while the risk of an attack is high, it is far from certain and unlikely to come soon. Zelensky used his call with Biden to ask him to 'calm down the messaging', CNN reported, after using a public address last week to tell Ukrainians to 'stay calm' and avoid pulling money from banks or stockpiling supplies. Several high-ranking Ukrainian officials have also spoken out this week in an attempt to tone down the rhetoric. Russian armoured troop carriers are pictured taking part in military drills near Rostov-on-Don, located in southern Russia and just a few dozen miles from the Ukraine border Russian T-72 tanks take part in 'combat readiness' drills held Thursday near Rostov-on-Don, near the Ukraine border US analysts believe that Putin is waiting for the weather to turn cold enough to freeze the ground solid, paving the way for an invasion because it would allow his tanks to manoeuvre easily (pictured, Russian tanks in drills near Ukraine on Thursday) Russian BMP-3 armoured troop carriers are pictured on manoeuvres in the Rostov region of southern Russia on Thursday Russian artillery units stationed in the Rostov region, near the border with Ukraine, take part in live fire exercises today Artillery units based in Russia's Rostov region take part in live-fire exercises on Friday, just one of several simultaneous drills taking place as Putin continues his sabre-rattling Russian artillery crews fire their gun during live-fire drills in Rostov region, just a few dozen miles from the Ukraine border Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, is pictured on a phone call with President Biden - during which the US leader is thought to have warned him that a Russian invasion is just weeks away The National Security Council's spokesperson Emily Horne publicly disputed CNN's reporting in a tweet Thursday night, saying in a statement to the network that 'no one said "sacked"' An NSC official also retweeted a statement by Ukraine's embassy in Washington The defence minister has insisted there has been no change in the threat Russia poses since an initial build-up of forces took place last spring; the head of the national security council accused the West of ramping up the danger for geopolitical purposes; and the foreign ministry criticised the UK and US for withdrawing diplomats. Following Zelensky's call with Biden, there was a briefing war between an unnamed Ukrainian source who claimed the call 'did not go well' because the US President had insisted an attack was imminent while Zelensky was keen to downplay the threat. CNN initially reported that Biden had told Zelesnky that an attack was 'certain' once the ground freezes over and that Kiev is directly threatened, though US and Ukrainian officials later denied that conversation had taken place. Never-the-less, signs that Ukraine and America are signing from two different hymn sheets will create fears about the strength of their alliance if Putin decides to march his forces across the border. It could also undermine Biden's hardline stance against Russia if it emerges that Us intelligence has over-stated the threat, especially with allies such as Germany that have urged him to take a softer line. The call came just a day after two letters were sent to Vladimir Putin, rejecting his demands that Ukraine be banned from joining NATO and that the alliance withdraw all its forces from ex-Soviet states. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent one letter, while the other was sent by NATO chief Jens Stoltenburg. Neither missive has been made public, but both men have said no ground was given on Putin's key demands. Instead, Blinken said 'serious' counter-offers were made that he hopes will tempt the Kremlin into continuing talks. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said yesterday that there is 'little ground for optimism' after reading the letters - but left the door to more talks open and said Russia will not rush to give a response. Tensions have soared in recent weeks, as the United States and its NATO allies expressed concern that a buildup of about 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine signaled that Moscow planned to invade its ex-Soviet neighbor. Russia denies having any such designs - and has laid out a series of demands it says will improve security in Europe. But as expected, the U.S. and the Western alliance firmly rejected any concessions on Moscow's main points Wednesday, refusing to permanently ban Ukraine from joining NATO and saying allied deployments of troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe are nonnegotiable. The U.S. did outline areas in which some of Russia's concerns might be addressed, possibly offering a path to de-escalation. But, as it has done repeatedly for the past several weeks, Washington also warned Moscow of devastating sanctions if it invades Ukraine. Biden used the call with Zelensky to repeat his support for the country in the form of sanctions and military aid, though stopping short of putting boots on the ground Russian rocket artillery take part in live-fire drills on a military base near Moscow on Friday, as fears of war in Ukraine grow A Russian rocket artillery battery lets off a volley during live-fire exercises at the Golovenki training ground, near Moscow Rocket artillery of the Russian armed forces take part in live-fire exercises on a training ground near Moscow today A Russian-backed rebel fighter is seen moving through a trench in eastern Ukraine, where fighting with government forces has been ongoing since 2014 A Moscow-backed rebel soldier aims a machinegun through a peep-hole in his trench, just yards from the frontline with Ukrainian forces in the country's east Mosco-backed rebel troops armed with Kalashnikov rifles stand guard in a trench near the frontlines with Ukraine In addition to penalties targeting Russian people and key economic sectors, several senior U.S. officials said Thursday with certainty that Germany would not allow a newly constructed gas pipeline to begin operations in the event of an incursion. All eyes are now on Putin, who will decide how Russia will respond amid fears that Europe could again be plunged into war. In the meantime, Biden spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy on Thursday to reiterate American and allied support, including recent deliveries of U.S. military aid. Biden warned Zelenskyy that the U.S. believed there was a high degree of likelihood that Russia could invade when the ground freezes and Russian forces could attack Ukrainian territory from north of Kyiv, according to two people familiar with the conversation who were not authorized to comment publicly. Military experts have said Russia may be waiting for optimal ground conditions to move heavy equipment into Kyiv as part of any invasion. Eight years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in late February. Zelenskyy tweeted that he and Biden also discussed the possibility of additional financial support for Ukraine. The White House said Biden told Zelenskyy he was 'exploring additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraine's economy' as it comes under pressure as a result of Russia's military buildup. Meanwhile, the United States announced that the U.N. Security Council will hold an open meeting Monday on what U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called Russia's 'threatening behavior.' She said the deployment of more than 100,000 troops along Ukraine's border and other destabilizing acts pose 'a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. Charter.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier that the response from the U.S. - and a similar one from NATO - left 'little ground for optimism.' But he added that 'there always are prospects for continuing a dialogue, it's in the interests of both us and the Americans.' White House press secretary Jen Psaki was circumspect when asked whether the Biden administration saw a sliver of hope in that the Russians said they would keep communications open even as they said that they lacked optimism.. 'We don't know if the Russians are playing games on diplomacy. We hope not,' Psaki said. A man crosses himself while kneeling in front of a memorial commemorating those who died fighting in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region, outside military headquarters in Kiev Ukrainian soldiers are seen saluting through a mock bullet-hole in a memorial to those who died fighting in the Donbass region against Moscow-backed rebel groups Honour guards fire a salute during a ceremony in tribute to fallen defenders of Ukraine during a ceremony in Kiev today Ukrainian servicemen of the 24th Brigade are seen outside of Zolote, close to the frontlines with Moscow-backed rebels A Ukrainian soldier walks through a trench close to the town of Zolote, in the country's unstable eastern regions A Ukrainian soldier uses a periscope to examine enemy positions on the frontlines with Russian-backed rebel forces An Ukrainian serviceman heads to an advanced position on the front line in the Luhansk area, eastern Ukraine Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the U.S. response contained some elements that could lead to 'the start of a serious talk on secondary issues,' but emphasized that 'the document contains no positive response on the main issue.' Those are Moscow's demands that NATO not expand and that the alliance refrain from deploying weapons that might threaten Russia. Lavrov said top officials will submit proposals to Putin. Peskov said the Russian reaction would come soon. The evasive official comments reflect the fact that it is Putin who will single-handedly determine Russia's next moves. He has warned of unspecified 'military-technical measures' if the West refuses to heed the demands. Peskov added that Putin and Biden will decide whether they need to have another conversation following two calls last month. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kyiv had seen the U.S. response before it was delivered to Russia and had no objections. He tweeted it was 'important that the U.S. remains in close contact with Ukraine before and after all contacts with Russia.' On a visit to Denmark, Kuleba emphasized his country's need to strengthen its defenses. 'This crisis is a moment of truth, and this is why we speak about weapons,' he said. 'This is why we speak about economic sanctions. This is why we speak about the consolidated position of all of us, so that President Putin sees that there are no weak links in our defensive chain.' Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during a parliamentary debate on Ukraine that her government is closely coordinating its policy with allies, considering a range of options that could include the new Nord Stream 2 Russian gas pipeline to Germany. While the diplomacy sputters on, so too do maneuvers that have escalated tensions. Russia has launched a series of military drills involving motorized infantry and artillery units in southwestern Russia, warplanes in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, dozens of warships in the Black Sea and the Arctic, and Russian fighter jets and paratroopers in Belarus. NATO said it was bolstering its deterrence in the Baltic Sea region, and the U.S. ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert for potential deployment to Europe. As war fears mounted, thousands of Ukrainians expressed their resolve to stand up to the Russian pressure under the hashtag (hash)UkrainiansWillResist on Twitter and Facebook. An American fighter jet takes part in pre-deployment training drills including coming under NATO command off the US coast US naval forces prepare for deployment after President Biden put 8,500 troops on alert to deploy to eastern Europe 'No one will force Ukrainians to accept the Kremlin ultimatum,' wrote Andrii Levus, who initiated the campaign. Ukraine's Interior Ministry has organized training on acting in emergency situations, with an emphasis on dealing with explosives. Beyond concerns about a possible Russian offensive in Ukraine, there also has been speculation that Moscow's response could include military deployments to the Western Hemisphere. While a senior Russian diplomat recently refused to rule out such deployments to Cuba and Venezuela, a top Putin associate expressed skepticism Thursday at that prospect. 'Cuba and Venezuela are aiming to come out of isolation and restore normal relations with the U.S. to a certain extent, so there can't be any talk about setting up a base there as happened during the Soviet times,' Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of Russia's Security Council, told Russian media. While he charged that the West is using Ukraine as a way to contain Russia, he somberly acknowledged that a Russia-NATO conflict 'would be the most dramatic and simply catastrophic scenario, and I hope it will never happen.' While concerns about a possible Russian attack linger, a separatist conflict simmers in Ukraine. Following the 2014 ouster of a Kremlin-friendly president in Kyiv, Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and backed an insurgency in the country's eastern industrial heartland. Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels has killed over 14,000 people, and efforts to reach a settlement have stalled. Since the conflict began, Russia has been accused of sending troops and weapons to the separatists, something it has denied. On Thursday, Peskov wouldn't comment on a proposal from the Kremlin's main political party, United Russia, which suggested that Moscow respond to the delivery of Western weapons to Ukraine by sending arms to the rebels. He added that Putin is aware of the proposal but had no immediate reaction. Partygate confusion deepened today after Boris Johnson told allies there was no cake at his birthday bash in No10 - despite ministers previously admitting there had been. Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns was previously ridiculed for claiming that the PM had been 'ambushed with a cake' at surprise birthday celebration in the Cabinet room on June 19 2020. At the time all social events indoors were banned. Other Cabinet members also acknowledged cake was present at the event, while Downing Street did not dispute the allegations. But Mr Burns has now told a Telegraph podcast: 'I'm told under some authority, indeed from him, that there actually wasn't a cake.' The waters have been further muddied by the emergence of a news report from the day after the gathering, describing how Mr Johnson and colleagues tucked into cake. No 10 said they could not comment on whether or not there was cake until Sue Gray's long-awaited report is published. There are fears that could now be months away, as the police have insisted that it is stripped of detail about incidents that are under criminal investigation. Boris Johnson pictured on a visit to a school on his 56th birthday in June 2020. The celebration in the Cabinet room is said to have taken place later that day Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns was previously ridiculed for claiming that the PM had been 'ambushed with a cake' at surprise birthday celebration in the Cabinet room on June 19 2020 A spokesman for Boris Johnson said: 'So you will know what we said earlier this week on the matter, that small number of staff briefly came into the Cabinet room on the PM's birthday. 'Beyond that I can't comment further ahead of any conclusion of the investigation.' He said: 'As you're aware there's an independent investigation ongoing by Sue Gray in the Cabinet Office. I can only point you back to what we said earlier this week.' An article from The Times from June 20, 2020, has resurfaced where it was reported the group 'tucked into a Union Jack cake' at the gathering. At the time, the newspaper said: 'Boris Johnson celebrated his 56th birthday yesterday with a small gathering in the Cabinet room. Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, and a group of aides sang him Happy Birthday before they tucked into a Union Jack cake.' Thousands of British motorists who got their car insurance from Tesco Bank are being offered refunds after the UKs competition watchdog ruled that customers had been shown the wrong price in renewal letters. Nearly 125,000 Tesco Bank customers were misled into thinking that their no claims bonus (NCB) protection was cheaper than it was. NCB protection is additional cover drivers can buy which protects their no claims discount in the event of an accident. In its ruling, the Competition and Marketing Authority (CMA) said that Tesco Bank had provided misleading information in renewal letters sent to 124,451 customers between April 2020 and September last year. The watchdog concluded the cost of the protection was understated on average by around 10 for each customer. It has now ordered the bank to explain to customers that they can either choose to keep the policy or get their money back. Thousands of British motorists who got their car insurance from Tesco Bank are being offered refunds after the UKs competition watchdog ruled that customers had been shown the wrong price in renewal letters This error meant that motorists were unable to make a fully informed decision as to whether they wanted no claims bonus protection, the CMA said. Had they been told the right price, they may have decided to cancel their no claims bonus protection or switch to another, cheaper provider. Thanks to our action, Tesco customers will now have the chance to decide whether they want to keep their current protection or get their money back. It said that Tesco Bank had failed to clearly, prominently and accurately displace the additional cost of a no claims bonus protection. This meant that customers did not understand the value in removing the protection from their deal. Tesco Bank reported the problems to the CMA itself. The bank said: We apologise for this error, which we have now fixed. All existing customers who were impacted have been contacted with the option of a refund and the removal of their no claims bonus protection. In its ruling, the Competition and Marketing Authority (CMA) said that Tesco Bank had provided misleading information in renewal letters sent to 124,451 customers between April 2020 and September last year However, the overwhelming majority of customers are choosing to retain their protection. In all cases there was no impact on the cover provided to our customers. Around 0.5 per cent of customers who have been contacted have so far chosen to get a refund. In 2015, the CMA concluded an investigation into private motor insurance. At the time it found that the price of no claims bonus protections was often unclear to customers. As a result, the watchdog created a legal order which forced providers to clearly state the cost of the protection. The CMA added: Given the action being taken by Tesco Bank, the CMA does not consider it appropriate to take formal enforcement action in relation to this breach at present. The CMA will monitor the resolution of this breach and Tesco Banks future compliance closely. A Florida police officer has been fired after tasering an elderly man in a wheelchair four times at point-blank range who was not 'physically resisting' arrest - instead of following the department's de-escalation protocols. Police body-camera video showed St. Petersburg Police Officer Matthew Cavinder as the recently hired cop deployed his stun gun on 64-year-old Timothy Grant, who was sitting in a wheelchair outside a gas station on June 20. 'I think I looked at that video over 20 times,' St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said during Thursday press conference announcing the firing of the cop, who joined the force in 2020. 'Today, I still cannot explain why that officer went to his Taser. We train officers every year. Everyone at this police department is trained on de-escalation.' Grant was panhandling outside the Chevron when the cops were called and found that he had five open warrants for failure to appear. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Police body-camera video showed St. Petersburg Police Officer Matthew Cavinder as he deployed his Taser gun on Timothy Grant, pictured who was sitting in a wheelchair Grant, pictured, was sitting outside a gas station on June 20 when Cavinder and another officer arrested him for five open warrants Grant could be seen with his back to the ground as he asked the officers why he was being arrested Pictured: Grant, 64, being tased four times at point-blank range by Officer Cavinder Cavinder later wrote a report that claimed Grant was resisting arrest with violence, however, officials revealed that was not the case. 'Mr. Grant was not resisting with violence,' Holloway said. 'We will not tolerate this type of behavior when we're arresting someone,' Holloway said during a Thursday morning news conference at the St. Petersburg Police Department. 'This will not and cannot be tolerated here at St. Petersburg Police Department, and as long as I'm the chief here, it will not be tolerated,' Holloway went on to say. Bodycam video shows Cavinder, who had been with the department since March 23, 2020, and another officer pull Grant out of his wheelchair after Grant told the officers he couldn't walk. Officer Cavinder, pictured, during the arrest of Timothy Grant, pictured bottom left St. Petersburg Florida officer Matthew Cavinder is sworn in by Chief Anthony Holloway on April 3, 2020 Grant could be seen with his back to the ground as he asked the officers why he was being arrested. Meanwhile, Cavinder repeatedly ordered Grant to put his hands behind his back, while warning him 'you're gonna get tased.' Cavinder then placed the Taser against Grant's back and stunned him four times, Holloway added. 'Instead of using both of his hands, he went right to his Taser,' Holloway said. The police chief went on to praise his commanding staff, who reviewed the bodycam video before taking it to the Office of Professional Standards for internal investigation. Advertisement The subvariant of Omicron feared to be even more infectious than its ancestor strain is already behind one in 30 Covid cases in England, according to official estimates. A report by the UK Health Security Agency found the mutant BA.2 sub-strain accounted for 3.4 per cent of the country's new infections by January 16 and it is doubling every week. The growth advantage of the new variant is 'substantial', the health agency claimed. Scientists believe it may have evolved to be slightly more transmissible than the ancestral strain of Omicron and could slowly become the UK's dominant Covid virus. It is already outcompeting its parent variant in Denmark but the country's Government deemed the strain such a non-threat it this week announced it was ending all Covid restrictions. And Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline there was no reason to panic about BA.2. He said it was not causing a 'substantial difference to our current threat estimates'. There had been fears it might have been slipping past vaccine immunity more easily than Omicron, which would explain its evolutionary edge. But UKHSA analysis found two and three vaccine doses work just as well against both strains - providing about 70 per cent protection against symptomatic disease and even better immunity against severe outcomes. Scientists have not yet been able to tell whether the sub-strain differs in severity from Omicron, which itself was a much milder variant that past strains. However, there is nothing to indicate the strain would be any more lethal. It came as daily Covid cases, deaths and hospital admissions were down across the UK today as the country's Omicron wave receded. Government dashboard data shows there were another 89,176 positive tests across the country in the past 24 hours, marking a 7 per cent decrease on last Friday. There were 277 more coronavirus deaths registered in the UK today down by around 4 per cent in a week. Meanwhile, latest hospital data shows 1,732 Britons were admitted with Covid on January 24, which was 12 per cent lower than the previous week and the 13th day in a row admissions have fallen week-on-week. The highly infectious BA.2 variant (orange) already makes up 3.4 per cent of all new Covid infections in England, official data showed today. Graph shows: The proportion of all Covid cases made up by different variants over time Graph shows: The rate at which BA.2 (yellow dashed line) has grown compared to Omicron (green line) since the fifth case of either variant was found BA.2 had an increased growth rate compared to BA.1 in all regions of England, the UKHSA said. The growth advantage of the new variant is 'substantial', the health agency claimed. Graph shows: BA.2 growth in different regions in England up to January 17 The above shows the number of BA.2 lineages detected by the Sanger Institute one of the UK's largest Covid surveillance centres over the week to January 8 (left) and January 15 (right) broken down by local authority What do we know about BA.2? Should we be concerned? What is BA.2? This is an off-shoot of the Omicron lineage. It carries all the mutations of its parent, but also has a change that makes it harder to detect using PCR tests. It has been spotted in 40 countries , including Denmark, the Philippines, India, Sweden and Singapore. And the share of new cases caused by the variant has risen to one in 20. Is it really harder to track? Britain's explosion of Omicron was fairly easy to track because of one of the variant's specific quirks a deletion of its spike 'S' gene. It meant the strain could be detected on widely-used PCR tests without the need for lengthy laboratory analysis, known as genome sequencing. The deletion allowed Omicron samples to stand out from other strains circulating at the time, including Delta, simply because they did not cause the same PCR 'S-gene target failure' effect. But this does not appear to be the case with BA.2. PCR tests will still spot if someone with BA.2 has Covid. Is it more dangerous? Early analysis suggests this sub-variant is slightly more transmissible than Omicron. It is already the dominant strain in parts of India and the Philippines, scientists say, with cases now rising in the UK, Germany and Denmark. But there is no evidence to suggest it is more likely to cause serious disease. There were fears it may be able to slip past vaccine immunity more easily than Omicron, which would explain its evolutionary edge. But an analysis by the UK Health Security Agency found two and three doses of vaccines work just as well against both strains. A booster was found to give 70 per cent protection against symptomatic infection from BA.2, compared to 63 per cent with the original Omicron. Should I be concerned? Dr Tom Peacock, one of the first scientists to warn the world about Omicron, says there is no reason to be overly concerned. The Imperial College London expert said he thinks the variant will not have a 'substantial impact' on the current wave. Professor Francois Balloux, a geneticist at Imperial College London, says people not obsessed with Covid should treat it as the same disease as Omicron. The strain has been designated as a variant under investigation by the UK Health Security Agency. How many cases are there? A total of 426 BA.2 cases were identified by the UKHSA by January 21, the earliest of which was dated to December 6. Most of the cases have been spotted in London (146), followed by the South East (97). But the true toll of BA.2 cases will be much higher, with just a small fraction of positive tests sequenced. Advertisement The UKHSA sequencing data shows that 96.1 per cent of cases up to January 16 in England were the original BA.1 variant of Omicron. Some 3.4 per cent were BA.2 and 0.5 per cent were other lineages, such as Delta. BA.2 had an increased growth rate compared to BA.1 in all regions of England, the UKHSA said. They also found 13.4 per cent of household contacts of people infected with BA.2 go on to catch the virus themselves. This compares to a slightly less rate with the BA.1 strain (10.3 per cent). The UKHSA said: 'In early UK data there is evidence of increased growth of BA.2 compared to BA.1 in community cases in all regions of England where there are sufficient cases to assess. 'This growth advantage is visible in some other countries but is not clearly the same across all countries with genomic surveillance at present. 'This may be related to differences in timing and level of exposure to BA.1 but requires further exploration.' But other experts have warned people not to become panicked by the strain's apparent higher transmissibility, arguing it should have little impact on Britain's trajectory out of the pandemic. Professor Hunter told MailOnline BA.2 could make up as much as eight to 10 per cent of cases as of today, although that prediction comes with 'big uncertainty'. However, he said: 'As far as I can discover there is currently no evidence that BA.2 causes any more severe disease than the other Omicron variants, though it is early days. 'As far as I can judge the consensus is that BA.2 will become the dominant variant sometime in the next month or two though the clinical significance is not going to be that different from other omicron variants. 'So I dont think it changes anything too much, though it will provide a bit of a bump in the round back to normality. 'I dont think this will lead to a substantial difference to our current threat estimates but as I say still early days.' Professor Jonathan Ball, a molecular virologist at the University of Nottingham, said: 'Early indicators suggest that the vaccines will provide similar levels of protection as we have seen for Omicron, so this is good news. Whether or not it causes more severe disease will become apparent as more data is collected. 'Of course, it is important to keep monitoring the situation and try to gain a better understanding of how this variant behaves, but so far there is nothing in these early analyses to worry us unduly.' Dr Tom Peacock, one of the first scientists to warn the world about Omicron, previously said there is no reason to be overly concerned about the variant. The Imperial College London expert said he thinks the strain will not have a 'substantial impact' on the current wave. Professor Francois Balloux , a geneticist at Imperial College London, said people not obsessed with Covid should treat it as the same disease as Omicron. Unlike the original Omicron, BA.2 infections can only be confirmed through lab analysis rather than a PCR, which has made tracking its spread more difficult and seen it nicknamed a 'stealth' variant. But its rapid spread means it still stands out from other lineages that don't carry an 'S gene deletion', which acted as a proxy for spotting the original version of Omicron. Scientists believe BA.2 may have evolved to be slightly more transmissible than Omicron and could slowly become the UK's dominant Covid virus. The variant has already become dominant in Denmark and the country's top infectious disease authority, Statens Serum Institut (SSI), said preliminary calculations suggest BA.2 could be 1.5 times more infectious than BA.1. The original Omicron strain has a specific alteration known as an 'S' gene dropout which meant it could be detected through PCR tests without the need for lab analysis. But this does not appear to be the case with BA.2. It doesn't mean that BA.2 is undetectable by PCR, but samples will need to be sent for further analysis to confirm it is the sub-variant. It is likely that anyone who has already caught Omicron has strong protection against this variant. But scientists in Denmark are investigating a handful of cases where someone who previously had Omicron later caught BA.2. Advertisement This is the first look inside one of the NHS' new Nightingale surge hubs which officials concede might never be used as the Omicron wave continues to recede. The temporary site on the grounds of Royal Preston Hospital is one of eight commissioned across England last month, when the fourth wave looked as if it could threaten the health service. It has been assembled in the car park at the city's biggest hospital in less than four weeks and can house roughly 100 Covid patients but it is currently empty. Local NHS bosses have indicated that the new hub might never be used and medical unions have warned it could swallow up staff and pull resources away from other parts of the health service. Other make-shift structures are being built in London, Leeds, Solihull, Leicester, Stevenage, Ashford and Bristol for an undisclosed amount of money. England's original Nightingale hospitals, built in 2020, cost a total of 500million, which included running costs, stand-by costs and decommissioning costs. But they saw only light use before being mothballed. The new, smaller sites will remain on standby to look after Covid sufferers who are not well enough to go home but need minimal supervision during their recovery. Kevin McGee, chief executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust which looks after the Royal Preston, previously said : 'My hope is that we never have to use it. 'We're planning for it, and that's quite right because we need to make sure that we put the appropriate capacity in place should we need it, but I'm hopeful we can manage within our core bed base.' However, Dr Brian McGregor, of the British Medical Association (BMA), said staffing more beds would mean 'falling further behind' on routine work. It comes as figures show the majority of Covid patients in English hospitals are not primarily being treated for the virus for the first time in the pandemic - thanks to the super-mild Omicron variant. As few as a third of inpatients are mainly sick with the virus in parts of the country, with the rest primarily receiving care for a range of other conditions, such as a broken leg or heart disease. The Nightingale Surge Hub at Royal Preston Hospital, one of eight makeshift wards at hospitals across England, has 100 beds for patients from across the North West The Nightingale facilities - manned by a mix of hospital consultants, nurses, and other clinical and non-clinical staff - are designed to take patients who, although not fit for discharge, need minimal support and monitoring while they recover. Pictured: The Nightingale Surge Hub at Royal Preston Hospital Local NHS bosses have indicated that the new hub at Royal Preston Hospital (pictured) might never be used and medical unions have warned they could swallow up staff and pull resources away from other parts of the health service Other structures are being built in Leeds, Solihull, Leicester, Stevenage, London, Ashford and Bristol for an undisclosed amount of money. Pictured: the Nightingale Surge Hub at Royal Preston Hospital England's seven original Nightingale hospitals built in 2020 cost the taxpayer more than 500million, which included running costs, stand-by costs and decommissioning costs. But they only treated a handful of patients. Pictured: the Nightingale Surge Hub at Royal Preston Hospital The new, much smaller, sites can only house 100 or so patients each and will remain on standby to look after Covid sufferers who are not well enough to go home but need minimal supervision during their recovery. Pictured: the Nightingale Surge Hub at Royal Preston Hospital A glimpse of the site from the outside. The makeshift facility is built in one of the hospital's car parks Criticising the new surge hubs earlier this month, Dr McGregor, from the BMA's Yorkshire Regional Council, told the BBC: 'Each bed takes two to three staff to run it 24/7. 'The workforce that can work is working and how we cover staffing of these units is going to be the most important part, because you're going to be taking staff away from other pathways and other workload. 'So we're going to find ourselves falling further behind on our routine work.' The comments come amid growing acceptance that Covid will not put the NHS under significant pressure this winter. Latest figures show there were 1,651 new Covid patients admitted to English hospitals on January 23, which was down 13 per cent on the previous week. UK-wide admissions have fallen for nearly two weeks straight. That's compared to nearly 4,000 at the peak of the second wave this time last year. Latest figures show there were 1,651 new Covid patients admitted to English hospitals on January 23, which was down 13 per cent on the previous week. UK-wide admissions have fallen for nearly two weeks straight. Pictured: the Nightingale Surge Hub at Royal Preston Hospital Criticising the new surge hubs earlier this month, Dr McGregor, from the BMA's Yorkshire Regional Council, told the BBC: 'Each bed takes two to three staff to run it 24/7. 'The workforce that can work is working and how we cover staffing of these units is going to be the most important part, because you're going to be taking staff away from other pathways and other workload. 'So we're going to find ourselves falling further behind on our routine work.' Pictured: staff at the Nightingale Surge Hub at Royal Preston Hospital Pictured: staff at the Nightingale Surge Hub at Royal Preston Hospital Pictured: staff at the Nightingale Surge Hub at Royal Preston Hospital NHS England data shows the percentage of Covid patients in hospitals in England's seven regions who are not primarily being treated for the virus (left), while the graphs (right) show how this rate has changed over time. The North East had the highest proportion of patients (57.4 per cent) who are mainly being treated for other ailments NHS England data shows the majority of Covid patients in English hospitals are not primarily being treated for the virus for the first time in the pandemic. The share of primary Covid patients has plummeted since the emergence of the super-mild Omicron variant in late November, when three-quarters of inpatients were mainly ill with the disease NHS England data shows there were 13,023 Covid patients in hospital on Tuesday (January 25), of which only 6,256 were primarily there for the virus, or 48 per cent Meanwhile, the mild - but highly infectious - Omicron variant is causing more 'incidental' hospital cases. There were 13,023 Covid patients in hospital on January 25, according to the latest NHS England figures, of which only 6,256 were primarily there for the virus (48 per cent). This share has plummeted since the emergence of the super-mild Omicron variant in late November, when three-quarters of inpatients were mainly ill with the disease. Just three of England's seven NHS regions have more primary Covid patients than incidentals the North West (57 per cent), South East (55 per cent) and the North East and Yorkshire (54 per cent). Little over a third of inpatients are primary Covid in London (36 per cent) and the East of England (38 per cent), while in the Midlands and the South West the proportion is 46 and 49 per cent, respectively. Hospital patients who test positive for Covid need to be isolated from those who do not have the virus, regardless of whether they are in hospital primarily for Covid or not. Non-primary Covid patients include those who catch Covid while in hospital for a different illness and those who are admitted for another reason and happen to be incubating the virus as they arrive. Billionaire philanthropist George Soros is giving $125 million to a super PAC this election cycle to back Democrat candidates and causes in the midterms and beyond. The 91-year-old, who made his fortune in hedge funds, has used the Democracy PAC since 2019 to support political campaigns, channeling some $80 million through it during the 2020 cycle. In a statement, he announced that his son would take on the role of president of the group. Billionaire philanthropist George Soros is giving $125 million to a super PAC this election cycle to back Democrat candidates and causes in the midterms and beyond On Friday, Soros announced that his son Alex would become president of Democracy PAC George Soros's son Alexander, seen here with designer Maxwell Osborne in 2017 at the Gordon Parks Foundation Awards dinner at Cipriani 42nd, New York 'I established Democracy PAC to support causes and candidates, regardless of political party, who share a mission of protecting and strengthening the infrastructure of American democracy: voting rights and civic participation, civil rights and liberties, and the rule of law,' he said. 'I have endowed Democracy PAC with a long-term investment so that it can continue this important work into he future.' This year's midterms, which will determine who controls the House and Senate for the second half of President Joe Biden's term, are expected to break spending records. Much of the rise is fuelled by super PACs. They can raise unlimited amounts of money from businesses, unions and individuals which they can spend on campaigning for or against candidates. Unlike traditional PACs, super PACs are not allowed to donate directly to political candidates and cannot coordinate with their campaigns. George Soros's son Alex will serve as the PAC's president. Alex Soros compared the the Capitol attack on Jan. 6 last year with 'With this gift, he is making the same kind of long-term commitment to American democracy,' he said. 'Events of the last two years, particularly the January 6th insurrection and ongoing efforts to discredit and undermine our electoral process, reveal the magnitude of the threat to our democracy. 'It is a generational threat that cannot be addressed in just one or two election cycles.' The money positions Soros as one of the biggest donors in this political cycle and is bound to attract the anger of conservatives. They have long used the Hungarian-born financier as a symbol of elite liberalism. And conspiracy theories, placing him at the center of a Jewish web of influence, have traveled from the darkest reaches of the internet to right wing news networks. Soros will be one of the biggest midterm donors and the attacks have already begun Alex Soros: The heir to a family fortune and a philanthropic empire Alex Soros, 36, is the deputy chairman of the Open Society Foundations - the vehicle for George Soros's donations - and is his fathers heir apparent. Born in New York, he is one of five children from the first two of his father's three marriages. In a 2012 New York Times profile he described what it was like growing up in such a privileged bubble, dividing his time between a 14-room house in upstate New York and a Fifth Avenue duplex. 'As a kid, all you want to be is normal,' he said. 'When all youre being fed is vichyssoise, you want to eat Big Macs like everyone else.' Alex Soros has followed his billionaire father into philanthropy But he admitted there were perks, such as sitting in on his father's conversations with Hillary Clinton or listening as Nelson Mandela described his time in a South African prison cell. After graduating from New York University he tried to dispel the image of another wealthy kid partying away his family's money, and so he set out to study for a history PhD at Berkeley and follow in his father's philanthropic footsteps. While at Berkeley he set up the Alexander Soros Foundation to back groups that promote social justice and human rights. Soros (r) with designer Virgil Abloh, model Leanna Jacobs and designer Maxwell Osborne at a 2017 benefit and auction for The Water Mill Center Alex Soros is pictured with model Najah Wakil at an event in the Hamptons in 2012 In particular, he said he was passionate about the wellbeing of domestic workers because of memories of his childhood nanny. Beneficiaries included anti-logging groups in the Congo and in Peru, as well as the National Domestic Workers Alliance. But he has also turned up in the gossip pages of tabloids. Most recently it was when he left a $700 tip after a night drinking shots of tequila into the early hours of the morning at a Brooklyn bar, according to the New York Post. In 2016, it was reported he had spent the summer partying with models and NBA players at a $72 million Hamptons summer retreat called 'Villa Maria,' belonging to late shoe designer Vince Camuto. In 2016, it was reported he had spent the summer partying with models and NBA players at a $72 million Hamptons summer retreat called 'Villa Maria' Alex is seen enjoying lobster with friend in a photo from his Instagram account Lavish gatherings at the sprawling 20,000-sq-ft compound included lobster bakes, games of drunken hide-and-seek, bottles of rose, according to the New York Post. Fashion designers Timo Weiland and Maxwell Osborne, New York Knicks Star Joakim Noah and model Caroline Vreeland were among the many notable guests. Advertisement In 2020, for example, President Donald Trump claimed Soros was funding Antifa - the sometimes violent left-wing, anti-fascist political movement. 'You have Democrats funding them. They say Soros and they say other people,' he told Fox News. Tucker Carlson is currently promoting a documentary entitled 'Hungary vs Soros: The fight for Civilization.' This time around, Democracy PAC has already made major donations to two Democratic groups aligned with the party's congressional leadership, according to Politico. They include $2.5 million to Senate Majority PAC and $1 million to House Majority PAC. And $1 million went to the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State - a position which has taken on huge significance in this election as Republicans target officials that administer elections. A dashing burglar who is on the run after breaking his bail conditions has been stealing people's hearts following a photo appeal to track him down. West Yorkshire Police issued an image of convicted burglar Jonathan Cahill, 37, and got a huge response from the public - although his good looks might come back to haunt him, as they caused his mugshot to be shared far and wide on social media. Women and men alike were moved to make tongue-in-cheek comments about how attractive they found Cahill, who is six foot tall and wanted on recall to prison. The case is reminiscent of 'Hot Felon' Jeremy Meeks, a US convict who shot to stardom when his mugshot went viral in 2014, landing him a modelling career while still a serving 27-month sentence. He has since dated a string of celebrities and members of the elite, including Philip Green's daughter Chloe - with whom he recalled enjoying lavish holidays on her father's $150million superyacht. Cahill is far from enjoying a life of luxury, however, with authorities believing him to be hiding out in Wakefield, Leeds. Replying to the mugshot of Cahill, one woman said: 'What did he steal? People's hearts?' Criminally handsome: Police issued an image of convicted burglar Jonathan Cahill (pictured), 37, and got a huge response from the public - although his good looks might come back to haunt him, as they caused his mugshot to be shared far and wide on social media More than one person said they'd happily volunteer their time to help find Cahill, with one asking: 'If I find him can I keep him?' Another joked: 'What's his crime, breaking hearts or houses?' One person added: 'Should be easy to find, half the women in West Yorkshire will be chasing him after reading these comments.' Another person struck by his looks wrote: 'Ooft talk about a fit felon!', while another wrote: 'Bet his ego is massive after reading lots of these comments.' Others were less impressed with Cahill's looks and the response his mugshot had received, however, with one commenting: 'Seriously. A guy keeps his hair past 30 and becomes some kind of god.' Another wrote: 'Calm down girls he's not all that seen better looking men in local social club 50+' One person commented: 'I must need to go to Specsavers because I can't see what everyone else seems to be seeing.' However, a few people were unimpressed by the banter both on the West Yorkshire Police and Leeds Live Facebook page. One said: 'If this was an attractive woman burglar and wanted by the police and comments were from men saying what's been said now, I'm sure the police would look into every single Facebook account of those men.' Serving face: Jeremy Meeks first shot to stardom when his mugshot went viral in 2014 landing him a modelling career and earning him the nickname 'Hot Felon' In their appeal, a spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: 'Police are appealing for information about Jonathan Cahill, who is wanted on recall to prison. 'Cahill, 37, was released from prison last September after serving part of a sentence for burglary. 'He is believed to have breached the terms of his release and has now been recalled to prison. 'Officers are continuing enquiries to locate Cahill, who is described as being of medium build and approximately six feet tall. 'He is believed to be currently residing in Wakefield. 'Anyone who can assist in locating him is asked to contact police in Wakefield on 101 or by using the contact options on the West Yorkshire Police website. 'Information can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.' The prevalence of the coronavirus in Englands wastewater has barely changed over the last six months, despite the explosion of Omicron. Sewage samples analysed by the UK Health Security Agency show small fluctuations in virus levels since June, reflecting changes in the nation's Covid rates. But the unprecedented surge in Covid cases, driven by the extremely-transmissible variant, isn't visible in the UKHSA's charts. Experts told MailOnline the failure of the samples to pick up the surge in Omicron may be because the virus does not survive as well as previous variants in water or as it passes through the gut. However, Government analysts spotted patterns from the samples that played out in daily case data, including that Omicron first took off in London and the South East. Levels also peaked at the end of the year before falling in early January, mirroring the same trend in infections. Infected people shed the coronavirus in day-to-day life, including when blowing their nose and going to the toilet. This enables the virus, called SARS-CoV-2, to enter the sewage system through sinks, drains and toilets, allowing for fragments to be detected in wastewater. The UKHSA and Defra test untreated sewage from 275 sites across England, covering 40million people, three times a week. Samples are analysed to identify exactly where the virus is circulating in the country. It can also help officials keep tabs on the spread of variants. Unlike Covid tests, monitoring wastewater doesnt rely on people coming forward for a swab to pick up trends in cases. The graphs show the seven-day rolling average of SARS-CoV-2 concentration detected in wastewater for the East Midlands (purple) compared to the national average (blue) and individual data gathered from each site of the countrys 275 sewage sites (black dots). There was limited testing over the festive period, so the trend is not shown from December 21 to 28 The graphs show the seven-day rolling average of SARS-CoV-2 concentration detected in wastewater for the East of England (purple) compared to the national average (blue) and individual data gathered from each site of the countrys 275 sewage sites (black dots). There was limited testing over the festive period, so the trend is not shown from December 21 to 28 The graphs show the seven-day rolling average of SARS-CoV-2 concentration detected in wastewater for London (purple) compared to the national average (blue) and individual data gathered from each site of the countrys 275 sewage sites (black dots). There was limited testing over the festive period, so the trend is not shown from December 21 to 28 The graphs show the seven-day rolling average of SARS-CoV-2 concentration detected in wastewater for the North East (purple) compared to the national average (blue) and individual data gathered from each site of the countrys 275 sewage sites (black dots). There was limited testing over the festive period, so the trend is not shown from December 21 to 28 The graphs show the seven-day rolling average of SARS-CoV-2 concentration detected in wastewater for the North West (purple) compared to the national average (blue) and individual data gathered from each site of the countrys 275 sewage sites (black dots). There was limited testing over the festive period, so the trend is not shown from December 21 to 28 The graphs show the seven-day rolling average of SARS-CoV-2 concentration detected in wastewater for the South East (purple) compared to the national average (blue) and individual data gathered from each site of the countrys 275 sewage sites (black dots). There was limited testing over the festive period, so the trend is not shown from December 21 to 28 The graphs show the seven-day rolling average of SARS-CoV-2 concentration detected in wastewater for the South West (purple) compared to the national average (blue) and individual data gathered from each site of the countrys 275 sewage sites (black dots). There was limited testing over the festive period, so the trend is not shown from December 21 to 28 The graphs show the seven-day rolling average of SARS-CoV-2 concentration detected in wastewater for the West Midlands (purple) compared to the national average (blue) and individual data gathered from each site of the countrys 275 sewage sites (black dots). There was limited testing over the festive period, so the trend is not shown from December 21 to 28 The graphs show the seven-day rolling average of SARS-CoV-2 concentration detected in wastewater for Yorkshire and the Humber (purple) compared to the national average (blue) and individual data gathered from each site of the countrys 275 sewage sites (black dots). There was limited testing over the festive period, so the trend is not shown from December 21 to 28 In the week starting November 30, three days after Omicron was first detected in the UK, SARS-CoV-2 levels fell week-on-week at 44 per cent of sewage sites. But seven days later, concentrations rose at 79 per cent of the sites. For comparison, cases fell 6.5 per cent nationally over roughly the same period, according to official daily statistics. The UKHSA analysis then revealed a blip in the week before Christmas, with levels of the virus falling at 63 per cent of the locations. Britain will dish out Pfizer's 'ground-breaking' antiviral Covid pill within a fortnight, officials say Britain's Covid anti-viral arsenal will get another weapon within a fortnight, officials revealed today. Pfizer's drug Paxlovid, shown to cut the risk of being hospitalised or dying from the virus by nearly 90 per cent, will be dished out from February 10. Around 1.3million vulnerable Britons including immunocompromised people, HIV and cancer patients and transplant recipients will be eligible to get the pill if they test positive. The most vulnerable have already been invited for a fourth Covid jab, but the vaccine is less effective at stopping them from becoming severely unwell. Ministers have bought 2.75million courses of the 'ground-breaking' pill, which works best when taken within five days of symptoms starting. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: 'Our pharmaceutical defences are crucial as we learn to live with Covid and the UK is leading the way, especially when it comes to the use of cutting-edge antivirals.' Dishing out the drug is an 'important milestone' and may mean 'thousands of lives could be saved', he added. Advertisement This is despite official numbers soaring over the same time-frame, which prompted fears that another lockdown would be needed. After a monitoring break over Christmas, researchers found the concentration levels increased during the week starting December 28, before falling again during the first full week of January. Over December, Covid concentrations in Londons wastewater were higher than the national average, mirroring how Omicron cases first took off in the capital. The amount of the virus detected in the East Midlands was also high, the researchers found. And following the trend in cases, SARS-CoV-2 levels in Englands sewers fell in most regions during the first week of January. Omicron was first detected in a wastewater sample taken on November 22, five days before it was confirmed through a sequenced PCR test in the UK. Cases were mostly concentrated in London and the South East and its prevalence in sewage samples increased six-fold in the following fortnight. Sequencing shows it became the dominant strain detected in Englands wastewater by December 13, in line with official statistics. However, fewer wastewater samples were gathered over the festive period, so seven days of valuable data are missing. And the UKHSA warned the data is experimental as it has been processed by a non-accredited research laboratory. Covid is either confirmed or possible in the sample and cannot be compared to testing data, it said. Rainfall levels can also impact the data because more water entering the system naturally reduces concentration of SARS-CoV-2 particles. Professor Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline experts are not sure why the Omicron surge isnt reflected in sewage samples. But it seems entirely plausible to me that possible explanations include things like Omicron might not survive as well as previous variants as it passes through the human gut, so wont show up in sewage farms, he said. Or perhaps it breaks down more quickly in water, Professor Clarke said. Increased rainfall may also dilute the amount of virus in wastewater, depleting the amount of virus which is detectable, he added. The map shows confirmed (red) and possible (yellow) detections of Omicron in wastewater samples collected across the country, as well as where it was not spotted (grey). Pictured: map left shows Omicron cases in the week to November 28, while map right shows where the variant was detected in the week to December 5 The map shows confirmed (red) and possible (yellow) detections of Omicron in wastewater samples collected across the country, as well as where it was not spotted (grey). Pictured: map left shows Omicron cases in the week to December 12, while map right shows where the variant was detected in the week to December 19 The map shows confirmed (red) and possible (yellow) detections of Omicron in wastewater samples collected across the country, as well as where it was not spotted (grey). Pictured: no map was available for the week to December 26 due to a lack of data, while map right shows where the variant was detected in the week to January 2 The map shows the concentration of Covid in sewage samples taken from 275 sites across England, with purple dots making where samples picked up just small amounts of the virus (measured in gene copies per litre) and yellow dots equating to higher levels of the virus. Pictured: map left shows virus levels in the week to December 6, while map right shows the concentration in the week to December 13 The map shows the concentration of Covid in sewage samples taken from 275 sites across England, with purple dots making where samples picked up just small amounts of the virus (measured in gene copies per litre) and yellow dots equating to higher levels of the virus. Pictured: map left shows virus levels in the week to December 20, while insufficient information in the week to December 27 means no map could be produced By Kim Hyun-bin LG Group has been moving up the business ladder to take over second place in market capitalization. With its successful listing of LG Energy Solutions (LGES), the group's accumulated market cap expanded to 233 trillion won, surpassing 200 trillion won for the first time. LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo Advertisement President Joe Biden got fired up Friday in Pittsburgh as he tried to again make a push to get his Build Back Better bill over the line. Biden was talking about the high price of insulin. The bill caps the cost of insulin at no more than $35 a month. 'Imagine being the parent making the minimum wage, or twice the minimum wage and having a child with type 1 diabetes ... and have no insurance - knowing you cannot get that money for insulin your chlid might die,' Biden said. 'It strips you of your dignity damnit,' the president shouted. 'Can you imagine looking at your child when you know what they need and not be able to do it?' He told those in the crowd, 'many of you have lost children,' and added that it was 'outrageous.' The renewed BBB push came amid a speech that mainly touted the already-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill, which Biden signed into law in mid-November. The White House announced earlier this week that Biden would travel to Pittsburgh - where he kicked off his 2020 campaign - to talk infrastructure, but his timing was eerie - as a bridge collapsed in the city's East End hours before he arrived. President Joe Biden got emotional when he spoke about families not being able to afford medication for their children Upon arrival in Pittsburgh, the president immediately went to the site of the Forbes Avenue bridge that had collapsed earlier that morning. Biden had planned to be in Pittsburgh to talk infrastructure - touting the $1.2 trillion bill passed in November that was supposed to finance repairs for the nation's bridges, among other things. 'I've been coming to Pittsburgh a long time, and as a former Pennsylvanian, but I didn't realize they're literally more bridges in Pittsburgh than any other city in the world. Did you know? More than in Venice,' Biden remarked. 'And we're going to fix them all,' the president added. 'Not a joke. This is going to be a gigantic change. And theres 43,000 nationwide. And were sending the money,' Biden said. Putting his hand on the shoulder of a police officer the president said, 'these guys deserve an incredible amount of credit.' 'And, by the way, were going to give you guys more money too - cops,' the president said. The scene smelled of gas. Law enforcement told the president they weren't sure if the collapse was caused by a gas leak, or the leak was caused by the collapse. Biden was greeted by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, on the tarmac, as well as Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey. Earlier, Biden called Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. At the bridge site, Biden was also with Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who's running for the U.S. Senate. Despite the 29-degree weather, Fetterman was wearing shorts. Biden then toured Mill 19, a redeveloped steel mill that is being used as the headquarters for Carnegie Mellon University's Manufacturing Futures Institute. The development is in the city's Hazelwood neighborhood, adjacent to the Monongahela River. President Joe Biden speaks at Mill 19 in Pittsburgh Friday afternoon President Joe Biden's first stop in Pittsburgh was to the collapsed bridge site. On the scene he was joined by Sen. Bob Casey (left), as well as Rep. Conor Lamb (second from right) and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (right) President Joe Biden visits the site where the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed over Frick Park Friday morning in Pittsburgh President Joe Biden (left) stands alongside Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey (right) at the site of the Forbes Avenue bridge collapse Friday Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey (left) and President Joe Biden (right) take in the collapsed bridge over Frick Park in Pittsburgh Friday President Joe Biden (right) greets Pennsylvania's Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf (left) as he arrives at the Allegheny County Airport Friday. He had called Wolf earlier to talk to him about the Pittsburgh bridge collapse President Joe Biden (right) shakes the hand of Sen. Bob Casey (left) as he arrives in Pittsburgh Friday President Joe Biden told reporters, 'You're going to see in a minute,' when asked if he planned to visit the site of the bridge collapse, which is just two miles away from there he's slated to speak Biden's trip comes just hours after a bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh's East End, crumbling a portion of Forbes Avenue A Port Authority bus was crossing the bridge at the time of the collapse. Rescuers rappeled nearly 150 feet while others forme a human chain to rescue multiple people from the dangling bus President Joe Biden traveled to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Friday with plans to talk infrastructure just hours after the city suffered a bridge collapse President Joe Biden departed the White House Friday morning for a quick trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Biden, boarding Air Force One, will talk tout his bipartisan infrastructure bill and talk about American manufacturing On a tour of the facility, Biden observed welding-based 3D printing machinery and a functioning robotic arm. The president asked a number of questions about what he was taking in - including asking the young man escorting him 'What do you plan on doing for a living?' The man replied he wanted to be an astronaut. Two high-profile Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania planned to skip Biden's visit, in the latest sign that his dire poll numbers could be disastrous in November's midterm elections. Fetterman, a leading Senate candidate, and state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who is likely to win the party nomination for governor, had planned to be absent due to scheduling conflicts. However, because of the bridge collapse, Fetterman, the former mayor of nearby Braddock, Pennsylvania, was photographed with Biden. Fetterman was in the audience for Biden's speech as well. Rep. Conor Lamb, who is running against Fetterman in the Senate Democratic primary, was also on hand - and had planned to attend Biden's Pittsburgh speech. Biden's visit was announced at the start of the week. It represents a new strategy to get the president out of Washington, to trumpet victories - such as the bipartisan infrastructure bill - after seeing other legislation killed off by Republican opposition and Democratic infighting. 'He'll be talking about how far we've come in getting our economy moving again, making more right here in America, and ensuring all workers benefit,' White House Press Secretary said on Thursday. 'He'll highlight the 367,000 manufacturing jobs that our economy has created since he took office, and he'll underscore the vital role the federal government can play in bringing workers and businesses together,' Psaki added. Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor and U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman (left) and Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro (right) said they planned to skip Biden's event, but now Fetterman will be in Pittsburgh due to the bridge collapse The president is visiting Mill 19, a converted steel mill that houses Carnegie Mellon University's Manufacturing Futures Institute Mill 19 was built circa 1943 by Jones & Laughlin to house munitions production during World War II The first building of the new Hazelwood Green development, Mill 19, once served as the location of the Pittsburgh region's most productive steel mills BREAK DOWN OF THE $1.2T BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure package into law in mid-November and is now traveling around the country touting its benefits. Biden had hoped to also get his 'Build Back Better' bill through Congress, which complimented the infrastructure bill, but with spending for social programs and climate change initiatives. $110 billion for roads and bridges $39 billion for public transit $66 billion for railways $65 billion for expanding broadband internet $25 billion to repair major airports $7.5 billion for the first-ever network of charging stations for electric vehicles $21 billion to respond to environmental concerns like pollution $73 billion to modernize America's energy grid FUNDING $650 billion in funding for the bill comes from existing, planned investments in the countrys roads, highways and bridges The remaining $550 billion over the next five years requires new spending Democrats wanted to fund the rest through tax revenues like a new gas tax Republicans wanted to raise money through fees issues on those who use the new infrastructure The bipartisan compromise, sure to raise heated debate, proposed using $205 billion in untapped COVID-19 relief aid and unemployment assistance that was turned away by some states Advertisement Overall, Pennsylvania is receiving a $16 billion infusion for roads, bridges and other infrastructure as part of the new law, with $11 million going toward the Pittsburgh International Airport. Biden is flying into the smaller Allegheny County Airport for this Friday trip. That airport is receiving $763,000 from the law. Shapiro and Fetterman's initial snubs is another hint that Biden is seen as a liability by candidates who would otherwise soak up the exposure and fundraising opportunities that accompany a presidential visit. And it comes in territory Biden once thought of as his own. He played up his 'Scranton Joe' roots to win over blue collar voters. But this week, two major polls showed how far the president's support has cratered. Both Monmouth University and Harvard CAPS/Harris found that only 39 percent of voters approved of Biden's performance in office, crashing from figures of 54 and 61 percent respectively after he was sworn in. The numbers have Republicans licking their lips in anticipation of sweeping gains in Novembers midterm elections - and Democrats apparently avoiding their party's biggest name. Earlier this month, Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams, a leading candidate for governor in another swing state, also claimed a scheduling conflict when Biden came to town to deliver a voting rights speech. Her office has yet to explain the nature of the conflict. 'Josh Shapiro is running to be the governor of Pennsylvania and he's focused on the issues that matter to Pennsylvania families,' said his spokesman Will Simons. Shapiro appeared with Biden three times last summer - when Biden's numbers were above water. But Simons offered no further details on the scheduling conflict. 'Like every American should, Josh wants our president to be successful and we'll continue welcoming President Biden to his home state of Pennsylvania,' he said. Biden made much of his early life in Scranton, Pennsylvania, during the 2020 campaign. But analysts say his tone deaf approach to rising prices during the past year has undermined his appeal to blue-collar voters. 'Biden's go-to image during the campaign was 'Joe from Scranton,'' said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute when it unveiled its latest poll this week. 'The public view now is he's lost the connection to those working-class roots.' Last week, Beto O'Rourke, who carries party hopes of turning Texas blue with his campaign for governor, put distance between himself and the White House. 'I'm not interested in any national politician - anyone outside of Texas coming into this state to help decide the outcome of this,' he said, according to The Dallas Morning News. 'I think we all want to make sure that we're working with, listening to and voting with one another here in Texas.' The party's congressional leadership is getting the message. In an interview with Politico, Steny Hoyer, the third most senior Democrat in the House, would not be drawn on whether candidates should run as 'Biden Democrats. 'I want every Democrat to run as 'Democrats who deliver,'' he said. 'Point to the record. Point to what was done.' Republicans are preparing to strike in down-ballot races. A poll commissioned by the Republican State Leadership Committee gave GOP candidates a six-point advantage because of Biden's unpopularity, among other factors. 'If state Republicans continue to run on being the last line of defense against President Biden's failed leadership and promote policies that stimulate the economy and ease the cost of living, make their communities safer, and empower parents to have more control of their children's educations, they will have a major advantage on the issues in 2022 in battleground states,' an accompanying memo said. Video and a photo taken aboard the USS Carl Vinson captured the moment a $100 million US Navy F-35 stealth fighter jet crashed into the South China Sea on Monday after a 'landing mishap.' The leaked video, which circulated on social media and was confirmed to be taken aboard the Navy carrier during the crash, shows the jet approaching the ship when the screen fills with smoke and the violent sound of the engine can be heard just before the video cuts out. A subsequent picture shows the jet floating in the sea after it plunged overboard, surrounded by murky waters and debris with its cockpit open and ejection seat missing. The pilot had ejected from the aircraft during the crash and was reported injured, as were six sailors aboard the Vinson. The warplane then sunk into the sea, making it the second time in three months that an F-35 has been lost at sea. Lt. Nicholas Lingo, a spokesperson for the US Navy's 7th Fleet, told DailyMail.com that the video and image of the crash were real and that the incident is still under investigation. 'The ship has assessed that the video covered by media today was taken onboard USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) during the crash. There is an ongoing investigation of the incident.' The U.S. faces a race to beat China in recovering the high-tech military plane as Beijing could try to capitalize on its territorial claims in the South China Sea and say it's salvaging the craft for environmental purposes. The leaked video, which was confirmed to be taken aboard the Navy carrier during the crash, shows the jet approaching the ship (left) when the screen fills with smoke (right) and the violent sound of the engine can be heard just before the video cuts out A US Navy spokesperson confirmed that the photo of the jet crash published by CNN was real. It shows the jet floating in the sea after it plunged overboard, surrounded by murky waters and debris with its cockpit open and ejection seat missing The US faces a race to recover the $100 million war plane with China, who could claim salvaging rights to remove the 'environmental hazard' Carl Schuster, former director of operations at the US Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center in Hawaii, told CNN: 'Salvaging the plane with commercial and coast guard assets will enable Beijing to claim it is recovering a potential environmental hazard or foreign military equipment from its territorial waters.' The timeline for search and recovery could stretch across months, the retired military commander said. Salvage ships could take between 10 to 15 days to arrive at their destination, he explained, after which point recovery could take as long as 120 days. The Navy has not revealed where the crash occurred, and a vast majority of the waters have been claimed by Beijing. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that they were aware of the US Navy crash but 'had no interest in their plane.' "We advise [the US] to contribute more to regional peace and stability, rather than flexing force at every turn in [the South China Sea]," said Zhoa Lijian, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry. The pilot of the F-35C deployed his landing hook to catch the deck and stop his jet, but something went wrong and he ejected and skidded over the side Sailors taxi an F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the 'Argonauts' of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson on January 22 At least one geopolitics expert believes China will be more cautious, despite the potential boon of classified technology the wreckage could present. 'To overtly go about doing this may risk worsening tensions with the US. I don't believe Beijing has stomach for that,' Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told CNN. He added: 'However, we can expect the Chinese to shadow, hang around and keep tabs on any such American salvage and recovery operation.' It leaves the Navy with a complex salvage operation if it is avoid its most sophisticated warplane, crammed with futuristic technology, falling into the hands of the People's Republic of China. The F-35C is the only long-range stealth strike fighter designed to operate from aircraft carriers. US Navy South China Sea crash was NINTH time $100m jets have malfunctioned in past eight years June 23, 2014: A USAF F-35A had a catastrophic engine fire caused by a fractured rotor which saw it turn into a blaze as it took off in Florida. October 27, 2016: A US Marine Corp F-35B set alight mid-flight due to a fire in its weapons bay before the pilot landed safely in Beaufort, South Carolina. September 28, 2018: All operational F-35s were grounded while a probe was launched into why a fuel tube failed in flight after a horror crash at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina. April 9, 2019: Parts of the tail of a Japanese F-35 were found in the sea around 85 miles east of Misawa during a training mission. May 19. 2020: This F-35 crash on landing was caused by a tired, distracted pilot and unresponsive tail glitch. September 20, 2020: A F-35 stealth fighter jet fell out of the sky and exploded on the ground after hitting a KC-130J tanker in a mid-air collision near the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California. September 20, 2020: A F-35 stealth fighter jet fell out of the sky and exploded on the ground after hitting a KC-130J tanker in a mid-air collision near the Salton Sea in Imperial County, California November 17, 2021: An RAF F-35B toppled into the Mediterranean Sea after the pilot tried to abort take-off from HMS Queen Elizabeth. Early reports suggested its engine sucked in an are inlet cover. January 4, 2022: South Korea grounded its F-35s after an F-35A suffered an in-air malfunction. Its pilot made an emergency belly landing when its landing gear failed to extend. Advertisement It carries an arrestor hook - to help it land on aircraft carriers - and the expanded wingspan needed to be launched by catapult. As well as its radar-avoiding design, it is crammed with sensors that beam updates directly to the pilot's helmet. The Navy has yet to offer an explanation of what went wrong. 'An F-35C Lightning II assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, embarked aboard USS (CVN 70) had a landing mishap and impacted the flight deck and subsequently fell to the water during routine flight operations,' it said in a statement to US Naval Institute News. 'Impact to the flight deck was superficial and all equipment for flight operations is operational.' It added that the aircraft carrier had been able to resume normal flight operations shortly after. Last year, Britain appealed to the US for help in finding an F-35B Lightning II that toppled from HMS Queen Elizabeth into the Mediterranean during a failed takeoff. London asked for help amid fears that Russia would try to salvage the jet and copy the technology. It was retrieved last month during a secret operation. The US Navy jet was part of a deployment designed to bolster American presence near Taiwan after China had buzzed the island's airspace. A Navy statement said the incident happened during 'routine flight operations' in the South China Sea. 'The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft and was recovered via U.S. military helicopter,' it said. 'The pilot is in stable condition. There were seven total sailors injured.' The statement said three of personnel required evacuation to a medical facility in Manila and four were treated by on-board the carrier and released. It said all the personnel evacuated were assessed as being in stable condition. The Navy said the cause of the 'inflight mishap' on the nuclear-powered carrier was under investigation. 'The status of the aircraft is currently under investigation as are the factors involved in the mishap,' Brenda Way, a spokesperson for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, told The War Zone. The F-35 jet is made by Lockheed Martin, and the USS Carl Vinson in August deployed from its San Diego base for the first time with F-35C Lightning II fighter jets and Navy CMV-22B Osprey aboard. The F-35C is the carrier version of the Joint Strike Fighter being built in three versions for the Air Force, Marines and Navy. The Navy version can fly 1.6 times the speed of sound and has a combat radius of 1200 nautical miles. 'Vinson is the first carrier to accommodate a mix of 4th- and 5th- generation strike fighters, providing unprecedented lethality and survivability and ensuring the Navy team can operate and win in contested battlespace now and well into the future,' said Capt. Tommy Locke, commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, in August. The Pentagon said two U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Groups, led by the Carl Vinson and USS Abraham Lincoln, began operations in the South China Sea on Sunday. The carriers entered the disputed sea for training as Taiwan reported a new Chinese air force incursion at the top of the waterway. The Carl Vinson is supported by more than 5,000 crew members and carries 65 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. This is only the second major mishap involving an F-35 of any kind operating from an aircraft carrier, following the loss of the British F-35B Joint Strike Fighter in the Mediterranean last year. Earlier this month, a South Korean pilot was forced to make an emergency 'belly landing' in an F-35A after suffering a malfunction in the air. The USS Carl Vinson is seen with the USS Essex behind in a January 2022 picture An F-35C Lightning II test aircraft approaches for a landing aboard the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower of the coast of Norfolk, Virginia, in 2015 The aircraft carriers were in the Philippine Sea, which lays east (to the right) of Taiwan and west of the US territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands Captain P. Scott Miller, commander of the USS Carl Vinson Landing gear on the jet failed to extend but instead of ejecting, the pilot decided to land the US-made craft at an airbase on its belly. The equipment failed due to electronic issues, a South Korean Air Force spokesman said, forcing the pilot to take the unprecedented action. A military official refused to confirm if the jet suffered any damage in the incident but the pilot walked away uninjured. The 'fifth generation' fighter aircraft is the world's most expensive weapons system. Costs finally stabilized at an eye-watering $406billion, but only after the intervention of President Donald Trump. Manufacturer Lockheed-Martin agreed to cap costs after rump criticized the project and even tweeted support for a rival aircraft. America enticed its NATO and other allies into sharing the cost of the aircraft by offering input into manufacture and 15 per cent of each one is comprised of parts from British companies while some of the jets will be made in Italy. But developing and testing were bedevilled by technical issues. In a mock air battle in 2015, the cutting edge plane was defeated by an older generation F-16, a plane designed in the 1970s. In 2020 Pentagon tests found 276 different faults in jet's combat system. They included the 25mm cannon vibrating excessively and problems with the the aircraft's 'virtual reality' helmet Overheating, premature wear of components in the vertical tails and vulnerability to fire were also found to be issues. The US Air Force temporarily grounded dozens its F-35 stealth fighters while it investigated an oxygen supply issue. The Marine Corps, which operates the vertical take off and landing F-35B model, was forced to ground its planes after flaws were found in the computer system. A well-known criminal was given a 50,000 government-backed coronavirus bounce back loan - and blew it all on drugs. Serial crook Louis Maxwell, 35, has 16 previous convictions for 49 offences - including 12 for dishonest behaviour, nine for driving while disqualified and six for burglary. He claimed through Rishi Sunak's Bounce Back Loan scheme to help his tow-truck business, based in Newport, Gwent, survive after lockdown, spending less than half the money - 22,000 - on a new truck. Maxwell blew away the rest on Class A drugs. He later sold the truck, using cash from the sale to buy more drugs. Serial crook Louis Maxwell, 35, has 16 previous convictions for 49 offences - including 12 for dishonest behaviour, nine for driving while disqualified and six for burglary He was jailed last May for driving a stolen car and filed for bankruptcy three months later - triggering an Insolvency Service investigation. Maxwell owned the Mr Tow Recovery Logistics business using a Jeep Cherokee and trailer - despite being banned from driving himself. Sue Tovery of the Insolvency Service said: 'Taxpayers' money was made available to help genuine businesses get through the lockdown period and where there have been abuses, we will not hesitate to take action.' Maxwell, of Newport, is now banned from borrowing more than 500 without disclosing his bankrupt status, and he cannot act as a company director without the court's permission. Maxwell had previously been mocked for looking like Beaker from the muppets after police posted his mugshot while he was wanted over a driving offence. Under Mr Sunak's scheme, firms could borrow up to 50,000 interest-free for 12 months, with the loan guaranteed by the Government Police published Maxwell's mugshot onto their Facebook page after he led them on a high speed chase in 2017. But the site was quickly taken over by wannabe comedians having a laugh at his unkempt curly haircut and bleary-eyed appearance. Police eventually traced Maxwell and arrested him, but not before he was ruthlessly compared to Bert from Sesame Street and Beaker from the Muppets online. Last December furious MPs had claimed fraudsters were able to steal nearly 5billion from Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Covid Bounce Back Loan scheme because the Government's anti-fraud measures were 'too little too late'. A damning report by the spending watchdog has found that controls to ensure companies were not applying for more than one bounce back loan were 'inadequate' and put in place 'too slowly'. The National Audit Office said that by the time the Government implemented any anti-fraud measures in June 2020 a month after the scheme was launched more than 28billion had already been paid out. Other measures did not begin until September 2020 as Ministers focussed on getting the loans out to support businesses that were struggling during the pandemic, the watchdog said. In its report, the NAO also said that around 17billion may never be repaid due to fraudulent activity as well as legitimate borrowers defaulting, citing official estimates. The watchdog added that the Government knew the risks as it launched the scheme, but had to weigh them against the consequences of not getting money to businesses quickly. Under Mr Sunak's scheme, firms could borrow up to 50,000 interest-free for 12 months, with the loan guaranteed by the Government. It was a lifeline for small firms, but has also provided rich pickings for fraudsters who disappear, leaving the taxpayer to reimburse banks. Afghanistan in 2021 and Ukraine in 2022 stand out for their profound shock and the strategic importance of President Biden's failure in those two settings. Both are flashpoints in understanding what is fast coming together to be President Biden's 'America Last' foreign policy. In national security, perhaps more than any other area, the impact of a single decision by an American president can be immediately felt and alter the very nature of a policy challenge, if not the broader geopolitical dynamics, as the aftermath of the Afghanistan and Ukraine crises might bring. In such settings, a president's own judgment and instinct are brought to bear, and the quality of his advisors matters most. Biden and his advisors failed us in Afghanistan and appear to be heading in the same direction in Ukraine, as Putin's Russia continues to mass military forces for a possible invasion. Unfortunately, the current administration's view could not be more different from the one we had when President Trump was in the White House. Our America First plan did not mean 'America Alone,' but it did mean we would embrace a world view of what was good for America, first, and then how our actions affected the rest of the world. President Trump had the perfect background to marshal our actions, having had none of the baggage of a Washington politico and the needed experience of dealing with risk, profit and loss that his business background offers. Biden and his advisors failed us in Afghanistan and appear to be heading in the same direction in Ukraine. (Above) Biden at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. The President is escorted by Col. William McDonald, 89th Airlift Wing Vice Commander. When it comes to Ukraine, there is no clear pathway for success, and certainly not through the direct use of American power. He saw that other nations took advantage of America's decline and that American families were the ones footing the bill. President Trump, and we who helped him carry out his foreign policy agenda, determined there should be no commitment of American lives or tax dollars without a clearly articulated benefit to the American people. This stemmed from a deep appreciation of how exceptional America is and Americans are and, therefore, how important it is to protect and invest in what we hold dear. That is the precise opposite of what we are witnessing and experiencing today. Alongside a persistent awareness of the dangers of strategic overreach, the foreign policy of America First pursued by the Trump Administration elevated the nation state as the key actor in geopolitics and focused all foreign policy decisions around the top priority of protecting our Nation's citizens. Where necessary and overwhelming force were deemed necessary, disciplined power was used. There had to be a clear pathway to winning when conflict was needed. When it comes to Ukraine, there is no clear pathway for success, and certainly not through the direct use of American power. Ukraine is primarily a European issue to solve. But the Europeans are failing. Economically, they've come to rely on Russia for 35% of their natural gas. Perhaps the data point most emblematic of Europe's failure is the fact that Germany did not allow the United Kingdom to use its airspace to fly lethal military aid to Ukraine. On the other hand, the US has shipped over $2.5 billion in arms and aid to Ukraine since 2014, which really started in earnest under President Trump. President Trump, and we who helped him carry out his foreign policy agenda, determined there should be no commitment of American lives or tax dollars without a clearly articulated benefit to the American people. (Above) Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg speaks during a press briefing in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Sept. 22, 2020. Over the past 8 years, there has not been a resolution over the Donbas issue in Ukraine. Putin is now determining whether the Russian military will solve the issue. To Russia, the issue of Ukraine is deeper and more personal. To Russia, it is about their security. Lacking the buffer of the former Warsaw Pact states, Russia believes any further expansion of NATO to the east poses a threat to its security. Putin intends to stop that expansion, which becomes his red line with Ukraine, NATO, and, ultimately, the United States. We are watching Putin's clear understanding of what Ukraine means to him politically and strategically and his unwavering commitment to seize an opening to pursue his agenda. Unlike President Biden, Putin is thinking strategically and has two immediate goals. Resolve the Ukraine impasse to his advantage and fracture the NATO/European alliance with the United States. He can achieve the first goal unilaterally through invasion of the country, and the second through dragging out engagement with the United States over Ukraine and having those negotiations fail. We are already witnessing gaps between how some European nations see a resolution to Ukraine and how we view it. The current impasse was preventable with some 'diplomatic finesse.' Russia should have been told that Ukraine is a sovereign nation, but there is no intention for it to become part of NATO due to governmental corruption. We could have persuaded other NATO members to do the same to reinforce. Ukraine remains in the top third of corrupt governments in the world. In Europe, only Russia is more corrupt. Instead of being bogged down in a non-NATO European issue, we should have continued the intellectual and strategic move recognizing China as the preeminent emergent threat to America. (Above) Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen during a show ahead of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing on Monday, June 28, 2021 In its current state, Ukraine does not qualify for admission. Each country in NATO must agree to add a new member to the defensive alliance, and it takes two-thirds of the U.S. Senate for the United States to agree as well. The issue could have been taken off the table in the short term. Instead of being bogged down in a non-NATO European issue, we should have continued the intellectual and strategic move recognizing China as the preeminent emergent threat to America. Perhaps the most troubling aspect of Putin's efforts is how effectively he drags Biden deeper into Russia's priorities and away from the top national security issue that matters most to Americans and should be top of Biden's mind: The rising and increasingly emboldened threat of China. In early February, China will host the 2022 Winter Olympicslikely when Russia's plans with Ukraine will materialize. China will undoubtedly use this international forum to tout its ambitions, and American institutions, whether corporate boardrooms, Hollywood, universities, or professional sports, will be the ones doing Beijing's bidding. There is perhaps no more vivid image of China's threat to America and no more stark contrast than when it happens, as the focus of Biden and his team is entirely on the European issue of Ukraine. Lieutenant General (Ret.) Keith Kellogg is the Co-Chairman of the Center for American Security at the America First Policy Institute. He served as acting national security advisor to President Trump and national security advisor to Vice President Pence. He is the author of War By Other Means: A General in the Trump White House (Regnery Publishing, 2021). Bette Midler has hit back at West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice after he concluded his state of the state address Thursday by lifting up his English Bulldog Babydog and showing off her butt to take a swipe at the actress. 'They never believed in West Virginia. That we could do it. They told every bad joke in the world about us,' the Republican governor said. 'And so from that standpoint, Babydog tells Bette Midler and all those out there, "kiss her hiney." Midler had made disparaging comments about West Virginia following Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin's refusal to support President Joe Biden's Build Back Better bill. On Friday, Midler responded by sharing a graphic of West Virginia's rankings compared to other states in categories including health care, infrastructure and crime and corrections. It showed West Virginia ranking 50th in infrastructure, 45th in education, and 48th in economy, while fairing better in areas including opportunity, crime and natural environment. She wrote alongside it: 'BTW, here are the state rankings of all the areas and agencies for which the so-called Governor of WVA, #JimJustice, is responsible. Judging from these rankings, Id say his dogs a** would make a better Governor than him!' West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice concluded his state of the state address Thursday by lifting up his English Bulldog Babydog and showing off her butt - sending a message to actress Bette Midler It came after Midler made disparaging comments about West Virginia It followed Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin's refusal to support President Joe Biden 's Build Back Better bill After Justice's display, Midler hit back pointing out West Virginia ranked 50th infrastructure and 47th in health care. Id say his dogs a** would make a better Governor than him!' Midler wrote The row began when Midler tweeted in December: 'What #JoeManchin, who represents a population smaller than Brooklyn, has done to the rest of America, who wants to move forward, not backward, like his state, is horrible. He sold us out.' 'He wants us all to be just like his state, West Virginia. Poor, illiterate and strung out,' the actress added. Midler immediately received backlash for her stereotypical take. She apologized later that day. 'I apologize to the good people of WVA for my last outburst,' Midler said. Justice's dog Babydog has become the de facto mascot of the state. Over the summer, the governor used the one-year-old English Bulldog in advertisements to entice West Virginians to get vaccinated against COVID-19. 'Do it for Babydog,' the ads said. 'Save a Life. Change Your Life.' Justice told constituents at the time, 'f you wont do it for me, if you wont do it for your family, youve got to get vaccinated for Babydog.' 'She wants you vaccinated so badly,' the Republican governor said. Babydog was also a regular at West Virginia University football tailgates. Before showing off the dog's behind, Justice marveled, 'But this has been the year of Babydog hadn't it?' West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice holds up his dog Babydog as he comes to the end of his State of the State speech West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice ends his State of the State speech by standing up, thanking state workers and saying how much he loves the state 'And so she's gotta come on out here,' he said. 'Come on out here, Baby.' Babydog was then paraded through the legislative assembly on a leash and handed over to the governor, who hoisted her up on the podium. 'Absolutely too many people doubted us,' Justice said. On Friday, a Twitter account purporting to belong to West Virginia's first dog said, 'Big night last night with Dad.' 'Always remember to turn the other cheek.' Liz Truss (pictured in Westminster this week) is set to visit Russia as the UK demands Vladimir Putin 'gets to the table' to end the increasingly volatile standoff over Ukraine Liz Truss is set to visit Russia as the UK demands Vladimir Putin 'gets to the table' to end the increasingly volatile standoff over Ukraine. The Foreign Secretary has 'agreed a date' to go for talks in the next fortnight, according to her Moscow counterpart. The trip will be the first by a Foreign Secretary to the country since 2017, when Boris Johnson met with foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Ms Truss has been forthright in speaking out against Russia's threatened invasion of Ukraine, and took the unusual step of declassifying intelligence which suggested Mr Putin was plotting to install a pro-Moscow leader as head of the government in Kyiv. The UK has also been supplying weaponry including anti-tank missiles to Kiev's forces as they brace for an incursion. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed yesterday that he is due to meet his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, in Moscow soon to discuss the stand-off. Britain has been urging Mr Putin 'de-escalate' the military build-up on the border of Ukraine as the international community steps up retaliation threats in the event of an invasion. Government minister Chris Philp said Moscow should 'get to the table' to resolve the tension peacefully as he warned of 'very serious' sanctions should Russian troops make an incursion into neighbouring territory. It came after US President Joe Biden told Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy there is a 'distinct possibility' that Russia could take military action against Ukraine in February. One of the threats Washington has put on the table is to halt the opening of a key gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2, between Russia and western Europe if the Kremlin's forces advance. Russian news agency Tass quoted Mr Lavrov saying Ms Truss will visit in the next fortnight. 'We have already agreed on the date. It'll happen in the next two weeks,' he said. The UK has also been supplying weaponry including anti-tank missiles to Kiev's forces as they brace for an incursion. Pictured, a Ukrainian soldier takes part in a drill with an NLAW missile Vladimir Putin chairing a meeting from his residence outside Moscow today Mr Philp, a minister in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said there is 'deep concern' about the 'unprecedented' build-up of Russian troops on the border, particularly after units from the east of Russia redeployed to the region. 'I think it is a very serious situation,' he told Sky News. 'I think President Biden and our Prime Minister are right to warn President Putin that the consequences if they do invade Ukraine will be very, very serious indeed for Russia in terms of sanctions. 'The Americans made clear yesterday that the Nord Stream 2 pipe would not happen if they invade.' The technology minister said the UK has provided military equipment and training to support the Ukrainians, but pressed for Russia to engage diplomatically and avoid the need for combat. 'We are urging Russia to get to the table, to discuss issues that are relevant and to de-escalate the situation,' Mr Philp added. 'De-escalation is clearly in the interests of all concerned it is not too late to de-escalate, and that is what now needs to happen.' Mr Wallace has admitted he is 'not optimistic' that a Russian mobilisation into Ukraine can be stopped. Mr Johnson has used public statements this week to issue a stark warning that a military clash would be a 'painful, violent and bloody business' as he called a possible invasion a 'disastrous step'. Ukraine's defence minister said on Friday Moscow may have ambitions to revive the East-West divide of the Soviet Era in Germany. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov also said Berlin's reluctance to supply Kiev with weapons encourages Russian aggression, amid fears of a Russian invasion. Unlike some of its NATO allies, Germany is not providing Kiev with arms during its standoff with Russia, which has massed troops near Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal also reported last week that Berlin had refused to issue permits for German-origin weapons to be exported from Estonia to Ukraine. Reznikov suggested Russia may want to raise the question of restoring the German Democratic Republic (GDR), also known as East Germany. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov (pictured Friday) said today Moscow may have ambitions to revive the German Democratic Republic in eastern Germany The GDR was founded in the eastern part of Germany in 1949, ruled by communists and dominated by Moscow until the Berlin Wall fell in a seismic event it 1989. German reunification followed in 1990, as did the collapse of the Soviet Union. 'The restoration of the GDR is a logical continuation of the Russian demands that have already been made,' Reznikov said. Russia's president Vlaidmir Putin has spoken before on the collapse of the USSR, once describing it as 'the greatest geopolitical disaster of the 20th century'. Reznikov told parliament that Kiev appreciated Germany's help in treating wounded soldiers - Berlin has said it will send Ukraine a field hospital and 5,000 helmets. 'But we do not accept the official position (of Germany) regarding the supply of weapons and other decisions that undermine the security of Europe and de facto encourage the aggressor,' he said. 'We warned our Western partners that the Kremlin's goal is not so much Ukraine as to undermine NATO and the EU.' Russia has been pressing demands for a redrawing of post-Cold War security arrangements in Europe. Its security demands, presented in December, include an end to further NATO enlargement, barring Ukraine from ever joining and pulling back the alliance's forces and weaponry from eastern European countries that joined after the Cold War. Russia has said it does not plan to attack Ukraine and that it does not want war. It has made no reference to a desire to redraw Germany's borders. Russian armoured troop carriers are pictured taking part in military drills near Rostov-on-Don, located in southern Russia and just a few dozen miles from the Ukraine border A Ukrainian service member fires a next generation light anti-tank weapon (NLAW) supplied by Britain during drills at Ukraine's International Peacekeeping Security Centre near Yavoriv in the Lviv region, Ukraine, January 28, 2022 Meanwhile on Friday, Germany expressed regret that Russia has suspended mutual military inspections at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and NATO. The inspections are intended as confidence-building measures among members of the Organizations for Security and Cooperation in Europe. A spokesman for Germany's Foreign Ministry said Russia recently announced it would suspend the inspections until the end of February, citing the spread of the omicron variant. 'Because of this an inspection on Russian territory in the border region of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, which Russia had previously agreed to, won't currently be possible,' said the spokesman, Christofer Burger. 'We expressly regret this step because particularly in the current situation anything which creates greater transparency would help reduce tensions,' he said. 'That's why we are calling on Russia to voluntarily and extensively inform OSCE member states about its activities.' Burger said Russia had also unilaterally cancelled inspections it was due to conduct in Germany. Yesterday, Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during a parliamentary debate on Ukraine that her government is closely coordinating its policy with allies, considering a range of options that could include the new Nord Stream 2 Russian gas pipeline to Germany. Russia could attack Ukraine within weeks, intelligence sources have said, after Biden shared a phone call with President Zelensky last night during which he warned an attack is likely to come in February The GDR was founded in the eastern part of Germany in 1949, ruled by communists and dominated by Moscow until the Berlin Wall fell in a seismic event it 1989 (pictured) A Nord Steam 2 'info point' with a painted map on the outside at the natural gas receiving station in the Lubmin industrial estate in Lubmin, Germany, November 16, 2021 Chancellor Olaf Scholz said this month that Germany had 'not supported the export of lethal weapons in recent years' and his defence minister has said Berlin does not send lethal weapons to crisis areas because it might 'fuel the situation'. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has signalled that Germany would be ready to discuss suspending the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project - intended to bring gas under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany - if Moscow attacked Ukraine. The pipeline has been built but has not yet secured regulatory approval. It has faced opposition from the United States and caused concern among some European politicians that it will increase Europe's dependence on Russia for energy supplies. Russia has said that both Europe and Russia will gain from Nord Stream 2 and that Germany should not 'politicise' the project. Some have accused Germany of failing to stand up to Putin as tension on Russia's border with Europe mounts. British Conservative MP Bob Seely, who is a member of the government's Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said last Saturday of the growing crisis: 'The real bad guys here, so to speak, sorry to say this, are the Germans'. Speaking to Times Radio, he put this down to Germany's 'energy policy, their complete dependence on Russian oil and gas, their willingness to have the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is not even needed, built, purely so that the Russians can cut off supplies to Ukraine, is incredibly self-centred and selfish.' Speaking about President Vladimir Putin, Mr Seely said: 'It is his long-term goal to undermine and shatter the confidence in the ability of Nato. An Iceland delivery driver on 11-an-hour is facing life in jail after he acted as a 100,000 hitman in a bid to murder a blogger told he was on an FBI 'kill list' for criticising Pakistan's government. Muhammad Gohir Khan, 31, was hired and directed by unknown people within the South Asian country to kill blogger Ahmad Waqas Goraya in the Netherlands in June last year. The driver travelled to Rotterdam and bought a 19in paring knife, but the target was not at his home and Khan was held under anti-terrorism laws on his return to London on the Eurostar. Mr Goraya, who lives with his wife and two children, was abducted and tortured by Pakistan's ISI intelligence agency on his return to the country in 2017 after his secret blog was discovered, Kingston Crown Court heard. He was told he was on a 'kill list' by the FBI in December 2018 and believes he and his family received threats 'led and orchestrated' by the ISI after he was publicly accused of insulting God and the Prophet. Prosecutors said Khan, who earned 11-an-hour as a driver, was 'enthusiastic' about carrying out the killing - and further attacks - to earn money as he was heavily in debt, owing creditors more than 200,000. Muhammad Gohir Khan, 31, was hired and directed by unknown people within the South Asian country to kill blogger Ahmad Waqas Goraya (pictured) in the Netherlands in June last year As well as working for Iceland, he was also running a 'pound shop' selling household goods in Upton Lane, East London and working for Uber Eats and Deliveroo as a driver in the evenings. His travel and export business had collapsed but he had still taken out a government-backed Covid 'bounce back' loan for 45,000 and turned to importing mangoes, he told the court. Last February, a court made a bankruptcy order against Khan, finding that he owed over 153,000 to a business loan company called Funding Circle. Along with other debts, by August 2021, he owed ten creditors a total of 204,436.06 with no obvious means of paying his creditors. Khan, who lived with his parents, wife and six children in Forest Gate, east London, claimed he had no intention of murdering Mr Goraya but played along to 'extract money'. But today, he was found guilty of conspiracy to murder between February and June last year following a trial. The court heard Mr Goraya has frequently called Pakistan a 'terrorist state', made fun of the military and highlighted human rights abuses in online posts. He is not a practising Muslim and identifies as 'secular, strongly democratic and a left-leaning progressive-liberal.' He said he was attacked in February 2020, received a picture of the inside of his home in reply to a tweet and was told 'that whatever the price, Pakistan was going to kill him'. Prosecutor Alison Morgan QC told the jury: 'Someone wanted him to be killed and it may well be that the motive for killing him was linked to his political activism. 'Those who wanted Mr Goraya dead were prepared to pay money to ensure that happened.' The plotters referred to targets as 'fish' in messages as they finalised the 100,000 deal, with Mr Goraya referred to as 'a little fish' and 'not a shark'. The driver travelled to Rotterdam and bought a 19in paring knife, but the target was not at his home and Khan was held under anti-terrorism laws on his return to London on the Eurostar In one message to a contact in Pakistan, known as 'Mudz' or 'Zed', Khan said: 'I need to arrange fishing rods and accessories,' in what the jury heard was a reference to sourcing a weapon. When Khan was sent a picture of the intended victim, along with his name and address, on May 19 last year, he asked Zed to confirm it was not a 'debt-related job'. He was told: '100% brother. This is going to make you rich in Dunya (the world) and JANNAH (paradise).' Khan travelled to Rotterdam in the Netherlands and sought to locate the victim, purchasing a knife which he intended to use to kill Goraya. However, unknown to him, Goraya was not at home and after three days of fruitless attempts to locate him, Khan gave up and travelled back to the UK. His behaviour on return sparked suspicions in a Border Force officer at the Eurostar terminal, who notified police and he was questioned and later arrested under anti-terrorism laws. He told police the trip was part of his plan to extract money from 'Muzmil' - a man he had first met while a schoolboy in Lahore - who had stolen from his cargo shipping business and ripped him off over the sale of a car. He claimed he had bought the knife to cut steak, bread and fruit, telling jurors: 'Never did I intend, or through my messages, was I conspiring to murder Mr Waqas. 'I was only there, I was only chatting (to) him to extract the money he stole from me, to cover my losses.' Mr Justice Hilliard adjourned sentencing to March 11. President Joe Biden and his European Union counterpart Ursula von der Leyen on Friday promised to work together to protect Europe's energy supplies - as well as Ukraine's - while the world waits to see whether Russia moves against its neighbor. 'The United States and the EU are working jointly towards continued, sufficient, and timely supply of natural gas to the EU from diverse sources across the globe to avoid supply shocks, including those that could result from a further Russian invasion of Ukraine,' they said in a joint statement. Russia supplies more than 40 percent of European natural gas, putting the region's leaders on edge as fears of an invasion grow. Russia has massed about 100,000 troops close to Ukraine's border. Moscow denies that it is planning an invasion and officials have in turn accused the West and Ukraine of aggression. The Biden administration has been working on finding alternative supplies of liquified natural gas in case Russia shuts down supplies - or if the West imposes sanctions. The Biden administration held calls with CEOs of liquefied natural gas (LNG) companies to work on a plan to get gas to Europe if Russia cuts off its supply. Russia has linked easing Europe's gas crisis with approving the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which when built with make land in Germany, which is heavily reliant on Russia for its energy needs President Joe Biden and his European Union counterpart Ursula von der Leyen on Friday pledged to cooperate on guaranteeing Europe's energy security as well as Ukraine's amid the standoff triggered by Russia amassing troops at Ukraine's border. Russian armoured troop carriers are pictured taking part in military drills near Rostov-on-Don, located in southern Russia and just a few dozen miles from the Ukraine border It wants governments to push domestic companies to divert their already-contracted deliveries to Europe instead of their originally intended destination, an executive familiar with the calls told Politico. The plan, according to the source, appears to focus on diverting cargoes meant for Asia. The subject will likely be central to talks at the White House when Biden will host German Chancellor Olaf Sholz on February 7. Biden has already warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that he will face sanctions in the event of military action against Ukraine, steps that could include halting the opening of the $11 billion Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia into Germany. 'I want to be very clear: if Russia invades Ukraine one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward,' State Department Press Secretary Ned Price told NPR on Wednesday. But the steps are complicated by the fact that Europe is already in the grip of an energy crisis, and natural gas producers are pumping out as much as they can. Meanwhile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Biden in a call on Thursday to tone down his rhetoric about the brewing situation between Ukraine and Russia, amid fears it could cause panic or a run on supplies, according to a report. Zelensky made the plea in a call that 'did not go well,' CNN reported, citing a Ukrainian source. It included a plea by Zelensky for Biden to 'calm down the messaging' amid complex maneuverings over the potential invasion. The urging came in a call where Biden told Zelensky Russia could invade within weeks. It followed pushback earlier this week from Ukraine as the U.S. told family members of American diplomats to leave. Ukrainian officials maintained the move was unnecessary with a situation that is still uncertain, even as Russia continues to move troops and equipment to positions around Ukraine. The White House disputed the read on the call, with National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne pushing back on a report that a Ukrainian official said Biden warned Kiev could be 'sacked' and to 'prepare for impact.' 'This is not true,' she tweeted. 'President Biden said that there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February. He has previously said this publicly & we have been warning about this for months. Reports of anything more or different than that are completely false.' She also tweeted out a statement by Ukraine's U.S. embassy stating 'that some reports regarding todays conversation of President Zelenskyy and President Biden are completely false. He also encouraged to carefully treat all information in this troubled time especially from the unconfirmed sources.' Horne was even more blunt in a statement to CNN. ''Also, no one said "sacked." The only person who should be "sacked" is the anonymous source who is circulating an inaccurate portrayal of this conversation,' she said. Russia could attack Ukraine within weeks, intelligence sources have said, after Biden shared a phone call with President Zelensky last night during which he warned an attack is likely to come in February Russian T-72 tanks take part in 'combat readiness' drills held Thursday near Rostov-on-Don, near the Ukraine border US analysts believe that Putin is waiting for the weather to turn cold enough to freeze the ground solid, paving the way for an invasion because it would allow his tanks to manoeuvre easily (pictured, Russian tanks in drills near Ukraine on Thursday) Russian BMP-3 armoured troop carriers are pictured on manoeuvres in the Rostov region of southern Russia on Thursday Russian artillery units stationed in the Rostov region, near the border with Ukraine, take part in live fire exercises today Artillery units based in Russia's Rostov region take part in live-fire exercises on Friday, just one of several simultaneous drills taking place as Putin continues his sabre-rattling Russian artillery crews fire their gun during live-fire drills in Rostov region, just a few dozen miles from the Ukraine border Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, is pictured on a phone call with President Biden - during which the US leader is thought to have warned him that a Russian invasion is just weeks away The statement the White put out after the call said the U.S. and allies were ready to 'respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine.' The administration's series of public statements about a potential invasion puts international pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and could press allies to stiffen their response although the Ukrainians are seeking to avoid statements that contribute to panic even as they seek additional aid and arms support. Amid the fear of an all-out invasion that could seek to cleave Ukrainian positions, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the U.S. response in writing to Russia's security demands had 'some grains of reason.' Zelensky on January 19th urged the Ukrainian public not to panic, telling his countrymen: 'Take a deep breath, calm down' amid the talk of an imminent invasion. If Russia did invade in February, it would time the invasion to coincide with the coldest weeks in eastern Europe, when the ground will be frozen solid allowing tanks and artillery to maneuver easily. US officials have previously said that an unseasonably mild winter appears to have delayed Putin's attack plans by turning the region into a quagmire. Separately, a senior British intelligence official warned that Putin is likely to launch an attack on Kiev from Belarus in the north using war games set to take place there next month as cover. The official, speaking to The Times of London , said this could coincide with an amphibious assault from Crimea on the southern port city of Odessa using transport ships seen sailing around Europe last week in an effort to split the Ukrainian military across two fronts, hundreds of miles apart. Tens of thousands of troops could then move in from the east, potentially with the aim of capturing the entire country. While Russia's current troop numbers at the border are insufficient for this operation, the official said, Putin could mass a force large enough to get the job done in 'two to three weeks'. Russia is thought to have between 100,000 and 120,000 troops currently massed at the border, which have been recently reinforced with medical teams and logistical support of the kind that is needed to sustain an invading force. Tens of thousands more troops could arrive in the coming weeks, the official said. 'Some estimates are another 60,000 will come, if not greater than that. It's certainly not just a negotiating tactic or an idle threat when you deploy this many troops with this capability,' they said. But, amid the increasingly alarming rhetoric from the West, Zelensky and his senior staff have been calling for calm - insisting that while the risk of an attack is high, it is far from certain and unlikely to come soon. Zelensky used his call with Biden to ask him to 'calm down the messaging', CNN reported, after using a public address last week to tell Ukrainians to 'stay calm' and avoid pulling money from banks or stockpiling supplies. Several high-ranking Ukrainian officials have also spoken out this week in an attempt to tone down the rhetoric. The National Security Council's spokesperson Emily Horne publicly disputed CNN's reporting in a tweet Thursday night, saying in a statement to the network that 'no one said "sacked"' An NSC official also retweeted a statement by Ukraine's embassy in Washington The defence minister has insisted there has been no change in the threat Russia poses since an initial build-up of forces took place last spring; the head of the national security council accused the West of ramping up the danger for geopolitical purposes; and the foreign ministry criticised the UK and US for withdrawing diplomats. Following Zelensky's call with Biden, there was a briefing war between an unnamed Ukrainian source who claimed the call 'did not go well' because the US President had insisted an attack was imminent while Zelensky was keen to downplay the threat. CNN initially reported that Biden had told Zelesnky that an attack was 'certain' once the ground freezes over and that Kiev is directly threatened, though US and Ukrainian officials later denied that conversation had taken place. Never-the-less, signs that Ukraine and America are signing from two different hymn sheets will create fears about the strength of their alliance if Putin decides to march his forces across the border. It could also undermine Biden's hardline stance against Russia if it emerges that Us intelligence has over-stated the threat, especially with allies such as Germany that have urged him to take a softer line. The call came just a day after two letters were sent to Vladimir Putin, rejecting his demands that Ukraine be banned from joining NATO and that the alliance withdraw all its forces from ex-Soviet states. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent one letter, while the other was sent by NATO chief Jens Stoltenburg. Neither missive has been made public, but both men have said no ground was given on Putin's key demands. Instead, Blinken said 'serious' counter-offers were made that he hopes will tempt the Kremlin into continuing talks. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said yesterday that there is 'little ground for optimism' after reading the letters - but left the door to more talks open and said Russia will not rush to give a response. Tensions have soared in recent weeks, as the United States and its NATO allies expressed concern that a buildup of about 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine signaled that Moscow planned to invade its ex-Soviet neighbor. Russia denies having any such designs - and has laid out a series of demands it says will improve security in Europe. But as expected, the U.S. and the Western alliance firmly rejected any concessions on Moscow's main points Wednesday, refusing to permanently ban Ukraine from joining NATO and saying allied deployments of troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe are nonnegotiable. The U.S. did outline areas in which some of Russia's concerns might be addressed, possibly offering a path to de-escalation. But, as it has done repeatedly for the past several weeks, Washington also warned Moscow of devastating sanctions if it invades Ukraine. Russian rocket artillery take part in live-fire drills on a military base near Moscow on Friday, as fears of war in Ukraine grow A Russian rocket artillery battery lets off a volley during live-fire exercises at the Golovenki training ground, near Moscow Rocket artillery of the Russian armed forces take part in live-fire exercises on a training ground near Moscow today A Russian-backed rebel fighter is seen moving through a trench in eastern Ukraine, where fighting with government forces has been ongoing since 2014 A Moscow-backed rebel soldier aims a machinegun through a peep-hole in his trench, just yards from the frontline with Ukrainian forces in the country's east Mosco-backed rebel troops armed with Kalashnikov rifles stand guard in a trench near the frontlines with Ukraine In addition to penalties targeting Russian people and key economic sectors, several senior U.S. officials said Thursday with certainty that Germany would not allow a newly constructed gas pipeline to begin operations in the event of an incursion. All eyes are now on Putin, who will decide how Russia will respond amid fears that Europe could again be plunged into war. In the meantime, Biden spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy on Thursday to reiterate American and allied support, including recent deliveries of U.S. military aid. Biden warned Zelenskyy that the U.S. believed there was a high degree of likelihood that Russia could invade when the ground freezes and Russian forces could attack Ukrainian territory from north of Kyiv, according to two people familiar with the conversation who were not authorized to comment publicly. Military experts have said Russia may be waiting for optimal ground conditions to move heavy equipment into Kyiv as part of any invasion. Eight years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in late February. Zelenskyy tweeted that he and Biden also discussed the possibility of additional financial support for Ukraine. The White House said Biden told Zelenskyy he was 'exploring additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraine's economy' as it comes under pressure as a result of Russia's military buildup. Meanwhile, the United States announced that the U.N. Security Council will hold an open meeting Monday on what U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called Russia's 'threatening behavior.' She said the deployment of more than 100,000 troops along Ukraine's border and other destabilizing acts pose 'a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. Charter.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier that the response from the U.S. - and a similar one from NATO - left 'little ground for optimism.' But he added that 'there always are prospects for continuing a dialogue, it's in the interests of both us and the Americans.' White House press secretary Jen Psaki was circumspect when asked whether the Biden administration saw a sliver of hope in that the Russians said they would keep communications open even as they said that they lacked optimism.. 'We don't know if the Russians are playing games on diplomacy. We hope not,' Psaki said. A man crosses himself while kneeling in front of a memorial commemorating those who died fighting in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region, outside military headquarters in Kiev Ukrainian soldiers are seen saluting through a mock bullet-hole in a memorial to those who died fighting in the Donbass region against Moscow-backed rebel groups Honour guards fire a salute during a ceremony in tribute to fallen defenders of Ukraine during a ceremony in Kiev today Ukrainian servicemen of the 24th Brigade are seen outside of Zolote, close to the frontlines with Moscow-backed rebels A Ukrainian soldier walks through a trench close to the town of Zolote, in the country's unstable eastern regions A Ukrainian soldier uses a periscope to examine enemy positions on the frontlines with Russian-backed rebel forces An Ukrainian serviceman heads to an advanced position on the front line in the Luhansk area, eastern Ukraine Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the U.S. response contained some elements that could lead to 'the start of a serious talk on secondary issues,' but emphasized that 'the document contains no positive response on the main issue.' Those are Moscow's demands that NATO not expand and that the alliance refrain from deploying weapons that might threaten Russia. Lavrov said top officials will submit proposals to Putin. Peskov said the Russian reaction would come soon. The evasive official comments reflect the fact that it is Putin who will single-handedly determine Russia's next moves. He has warned of unspecified 'military-technical measures' if the West refuses to heed the demands. Peskov added that Putin and Biden will decide whether they need to have another conversation following two calls last month. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kyiv had seen the U.S. response before it was delivered to Russia and had no objections. He tweeted it was 'important that the U.S. remains in close contact with Ukraine before and after all contacts with Russia.' On a visit to Denmark, Kuleba emphasized his country's need to strengthen its defenses. 'This crisis is a moment of truth, and this is why we speak about weapons,' he said. 'This is why we speak about economic sanctions. This is why we speak about the consolidated position of all of us, so that President Putin sees that there are no weak links in our defensive chain.' Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during a parliamentary debate on Ukraine that her government is closely coordinating its policy with allies, considering a range of options that could include the new Nord Stream 2 Russian gas pipeline to Germany. While the diplomacy sputters on, so too do maneuvers that have escalated tensions. Russia has launched a series of military drills involving motorized infantry and artillery units in southwestern Russia, warplanes in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, dozens of warships in the Black Sea and the Arctic, and Russian fighter jets and paratroopers in Belarus. NATO said it was bolstering its deterrence in the Baltic Sea region, and the U.S. ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert for potential deployment to Europe. As war fears mounted, thousands of Ukrainians expressed their resolve to stand up to the Russian pressure under the hashtag (hash)UkrainiansWillResist on Twitter and Facebook. An American fighter jet takes part in pre-deployment training drills including coming under NATO command off the US coast US naval forces prepare for deployment after President Biden put 8,500 troops on alert to deploy to eastern Europe 'No one will force Ukrainians to accept the Kremlin ultimatum,' wrote Andrii Levus, who initiated the campaign. Ukraine's Interior Ministry has organized training on acting in emergency situations, with an emphasis on dealing with explosives. Beyond concerns about a possible Russian offensive in Ukraine, there also has been speculation that Moscow's response could include military deployments to the Western Hemisphere. While a senior Russian diplomat recently refused to rule out such deployments to Cuba and Venezuela, a top Putin associate expressed skepticism Thursday at that prospect. 'Cuba and Venezuela are aiming to come out of isolation and restore normal relations with the U.S. to a certain extent, so there can't be any talk about setting up a base there as happened during the Soviet times,' Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of Russia's Security Council, told Russian media. While he charged that the West is using Ukraine as a way to contain Russia, he somberly acknowledged that a Russia-NATO conflict 'would be the most dramatic and simply catastrophic scenario, and I hope it will never happen.' While concerns about a possible Russian attack linger, a separatist conflict simmers in Ukraine. Following the 2014 ouster of a Kremlin-friendly president in Kyiv, Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and backed an insurgency in the country's eastern industrial heartland. Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels has killed over 14,000 people, and efforts to reach a settlement have stalled. Since the conflict began, Russia has been accused of sending troops and weapons to the separatists, something it has denied. On Thursday, Peskov wouldn't comment on a proposal from the Kremlin's main political party, United Russia, which suggested that Moscow respond to the delivery of Western weapons to Ukraine by sending arms to the rebels. He added that Putin is aware of the proposal but had no immediate reaction. Belarus's authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko called on exiled activists to return to their homeland to 'repent and kneel' after surviving an unprecedented wave of protests in recent years. The strongman, who has ruled the nation with an iron fist for almost 30 years, also promised to step down if his compatriots 'make the decision' for him at his annual state-of-the-nation address in Minsk on Friday. Mr Lukashenko claimed that no more than 10% of the population opposes his rule, and urged opposition activists in exile to come 'home, on your knees, grovelling'. 'My advice to you: come home, repent and kneel,' he said. 'It will get worse further on.' The dictator's comments come after facing the strongest demonstrations against his rule in recent years. Up to 200,000 protestors took to the streets after he claimed to win a sixth consecutive term in office during August 2020 elections, which were said to be 'rigged' by Western observers. Protesters demanded a new ballot and Mr Lukashenko's removal but faced a brutal crackdown by the authorities, with more than 35,000 arrested and thousands brutally beaten. The situation famously came to a head when Lukashenko personally ordered the Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jet containing dissident YouTuber Roman Protasevich to make a dramatic U-turn during its course to Lithuania. Belarus's authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko called on exiled activists to return to their homeland to 'repent and kneel' after surviving an unprecedented wave of protests in recent years Up to 200,000 protestors took to the streets after he claimed to win a sixth consecutive term in office during 'rigged' August 2020 elections Key opposition figures, including Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Mr Lukashenko's main contender in the election, have left the country amid the clampdown, along with thousands of ordinary Belarusians. Pictured: Protestors gathering in Minsk on October 18, 2020 Key opposition figures, including Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Mr Lukashenko's main contender in the election, have left the country amid the clampdown, along with thousands of ordinary Belarusians. Lukashenko ordered blackouts of mainstream social media sites, meaning the populace turned to alternative channels for information about protests. Roman Protasevich, 26, was placed under house arrest and forced into a tearful on-air apology with Belarusian state media after pleading guilty to organising 'unsanctioned protests'. Little has been heard about him since. The Ryanair flight carrying him and 170 other passengers was forced into a dramatic diversion in May 2021 after a fake bomb threat was issued by the Belarusian government, at the request of Lukashenko according to Western analysts. Syarhei Tsikhanouski, the husband of prominent and exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was sent to a 'maximum security colony' in what is widely seen as a retaliatory move by Lukashenko - who is often dubbed 'Europe's last dictator' due to his authoritarian style of government. Mr Tsikhanouski, who was arrested and jailed in May last year when his popularity with the voting public began to swell, was sentenced at the Gomel regional court following a 173-day trial. He had denied the charges. His wife, speaking from exile in Lithuania, where she resides with their two children, branded the verdict 'revenge' as she vowed to continue trying to remove Lukashenko, 67, who is the continent's longest-serving president, having taken power in 1994. An elderly woman shouts slogans and carries a placard reading 'Freedom to political prisoners!' as she takes part in a rally against Lukashenko in October 2020 Syarhei Tsikhanouski, the husband of prominent and exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (pictured holding his photo), was sent to a 'maximum security colony' in what is widely seen as a retaliatory move by Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko - who is often dubbed 'Europe's last dictator' due to his authoritarian style of government Maria Kolesnikova - who was handcuffed inside a defendant's cage - made a heart-shaped symbol with her hands, which she often did at protest rallies as she was jailed for 11 years And one of the country's most prominent opposition figures, Maria Kolesnikova, was sentenced to 11 years in prison last September. After suppressing the protests, Mr Lukashenko repeatedly aired vague and non-committal promises to step down. On Friday, he stressed it was up to the people: 'You will decide, and this president will retire. If you consider necessary that I do more for this country, you will say so.' Roman Protasevich, 26, (pictured) was placed under house arrest and forced into a tearful on-air apology with Belarusian state media after pleading guilty to organising 'unsanctioned protests'. Little has been heard about him since Ryanair flight FR4978 had been flying from Athens in Greece to Vilnius in Lithuania when it was escorted by a Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jet to Belarus amid fake reports of an IED on board. It was forced to make an emergency landing at Minsk Airport, where authorities arrested dissident journalist Roman Protasevich Last week, Mr Lukashenko called a referendum for February 27, on constitutional amendments that could allow him to further cement his grip on power and remain in office until 2035. The amendments bring back limits on presidential terms that had been abolished during Mr Lukashenko's tenure, allowing a president only two five-year terms in office. However, the restriction will only take effect once a 'newly elected president' assumes office, which gives Mr Lukashenko an opportunity to run for two more terms after his current one expires in 2025. The amendments also confer substantial new powers on the All-Belarus People's Assembly, a body that nominally represents a wide array of Belarusian society but that in the past has consisted largely of government officials and supporters. The president automatically becomes a member of the assembly and can be elected by the other delegates as its chairman. POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo gives an address at the 22nd general meeting of shareholders at the POSCO Center in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of POSCO Group Shareholders approve steelmaker's plan to create holding firm By Kim Hyun-bin POSCO Group expects to see enhanced corporate value and balanced growth following its transition into a holding company system, Chairman Choi Jeong-woo said Friday. "The transition to a holding company system is essential for balanced growth of the group and enhancement of corporate value in a rapidly changing business environment such as a great transition to a low-carbon and eco-friendly era, accelerating technological innovation, and strengthening ESG management," POSCO Group Chairman Choi said at a general meeting of shareholders, where the group confirmed the conversion to a holding company. The holding company POSCO Holdings will be launched March 2, and POSCO, the operating company, will be in charge of the existing steel business as a subsidiary Among the total shareholders, 75.6 percent took part in the vote and passed the conversion measure with an approval rate of 89.2 percent at the meeting held at the POSCO Center in Seoul. Choi emphasized that the future business environment will undergo "revolutionary change" unseen in the past. "The POSCO board of directors has discussed in depth mid- to long-term business strategies to actively respond to revolutionary environmental changes and ways to sustain the company's growth," the chairman added. "We agreed that innovation in the management system is urgently needed to develop into a global business leader." After the holding company transition was approved, Choi added, "I am grateful for the support and confidence of domestic and foreign shareholders for the future vision of the POSCO Group. We will do our best to achieve sustainable growth and enhance shareholder value." Through the conversion to a holding company, POSCO plans to be reimagine itself as a "manufacturer specializing in eco-friendly materials" through new growth businesses such as secondary batteries and hydrogen, alongside its traditional steel business. It is also expected the company will re-evaluate the group's new growth engines following the transition to a holding company structure. In particular, the goal is to more than triple its current value by 2030 by accelerating growth based on the holding company system. Meanwhile, POSCO Holdings will be launched as a listed company and will play a role in developing the group's future portfolio, reorganizing the group's businesses and creating synergy as well as leading the overall ESG management of the group. The steel business will be delisted and become a wholly owned subsidiary of the holding company, and will be in charge of operating all businesses related to steel production and sales. Upon the news, POSCO shares rose 2.91 percent, closing at 265,000 won ($219), Friday. A new study has highlighted how American dependence on Taiwan for semiconductors could fuel a crisis conflict with China amid a global chip shortage. The war game results from the Center for a New American Security were released on Thursday, comparing US reliance on Taiwanese chips to America's former dependence on the Middle East for oil. The new war game envisions a scenario in which production at three Taiwanese semiconductor foundries suddenly fails, raising questions about whether a Chinese cyberattack is to blame. In the scenario, the incident touches off a crisis between China in the US, devastating the world economy and potentially leading to a military confrontation. Home to the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest chip foundry, Taiwan produces more than half of the world's semiconductors, and nearly all of the highly advanced ones. Home to the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest chip foundry, Taiwan produces more than half of the world's semiconductors A visitor to United Manufacturing Corporation in Taiwan observes semiconductor manufacturing on wall of monitors. The US is reliant on Taiwan's chip foundries The island has been self-governed since 1949, but China continues to view Taiwan as its territory and seeks an eventual 'unification'. Though many experts warn that China could launch a military invasion in the next five to 10 years, the new war game warns that Beijing may be more likely to use 'grey zone' coercive tactics to gain control of Taiwan's semis. Taiwan views its dominance in semiconductors as its 'Silicon Shield', believing that the US and other allies would defend it from military invasion in order to prevent its high-tech industry from falling into Chinese hands. 'In this case, semiconductors are the new oil, and Taiwan is trading access to semiconductors in return for security, thus using its semiconductor advantage to obtain its critical objective of safeguarding its sovereignty,' the study authors write. 'For decades, this meant solid economic growth, prosperity, and security,' the authors of the new study wrote. 'Increasingly, this success runs the risk of becoming a double-edged sword.' 'Taiwan's silicon shield hazards becoming a millstone around its neck,' they added. Though many experts warn that China could launch a military invasion in the next five to 10 years, the new war game warns that Beijing may be more likely to use 'grey zone' tactics Chinese soldiers ride atop tanks as they drive in a parade to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, at Tiananmen Square in 2019 Taiwan accounts for half of the overall production of microchips that are critical to the functioning of mobile phones, consumer electronics, cars, military equipment and more. South Korea, the nearest competitor, has about 17 percent of the overall market. But Taiwanese chips are the smallest and fastest, and its foundries account for 92 percent of the most advanced designs. While the United States claims nearly half of global semiconductor industry revenue, it has only 12 percent of global manufacturing capacity -- a shortfall that President Joe Biden has called a national security risk. US dependence on foreign chip supply has only been highlighted by the current global chip shortage, driven by pandemic disruptions and supply chain issues. On Tuesday, the US Commerce Department warned that the U.S. supply of computer chips has fallen to alarmingly low levels, raising the prospect of factory shutdowns. Companies that use semiconductors are down to less than five days of inventory - a sharp drop from 40 days in 2019, according to a department survey of 150 companies. The Biden administration called on Congress to pass stalled legislation that would provide $52 billion for domestic semiconductor production The chips used in the production of automobiles and medical devices are especially scarce. Citing the issue, the Biden administration called on Congress to pass stalled legislation that would provide $52 billion for domestic semiconductor production. 'The semiconductor supply chain remains fragile, and it is essential that Congress pass chips funding as soon as possible,' Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. 'With sky-rocketing demand and full utilization of existing manufacturing facilities, it's clear the only solution to solve this crisis in the long-term is to rebuild our domestic manufacturing capabilities.' As the US seeks to onshore more of its chip supply, China has also declared the goal of eliminating its reliance on imported semiconductors. It puts Taiwan at the center of an economic tug of war between the two powers, the new think-tank study warns, potentially creating a flashpoint for conflict. Employees work inside a Siliconware Precision Industries Co. (SPIL) facility in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Monday, April 18, 2016 Components sit on circuit boards on display at the Semicon Taiwan exhibition show in 2018 'The struggle for semiconductorsparticularly access to leading-edge chips and proprietary knowledge about chip productionhas become ground zero of U.S.-China technology competition,' the authors wrote. 'The geopolitical significance of Taiwan cannot be understated; it is a distillation of the technological, political, and military 'strategic competition' between the United States and China,' they added. 'Unifying Taiwan with the mainland remains one of China's top priorities and a plausible future scenario, which leaves the United States with a choice to make with regards to semiconductors,' the report said. The study makes the case that China is just as likely to use non-conventional economic and information warfare means to exert control over Taiwan as it is to deploy military force. 'Chinese efforts to gain control over Taiwan's economy, political system, and territory are likely to be multifaceted and involve both gray zone tactics and conventional military activity,' the authors wrote. A pharmaceutical company has admitted supplying contaminated feed for premature babies that allegedly caused the death of a nine-day-old boy. An investigation was launched after three babies, including Yousef Al-Kharboush, died and another 20 needed treatment when they developed Bacillus Cereus bacteraemia linked to ITH Pharma's supply of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) to 14 hospitals in 2014. The infants were given the fluid as nutrition because they were unable to feed on their own between May 27 and June 2, 2014. Adrian Darbishire QC, on behalf of ITH Pharma, entered guilty pleas to three offences at Southwark Crown Court today. An investigation was launched after three babies, including Yousef Al-Kharboush, (pic) died and another 20 needed treatment when they developed Bacillus Cereus bacteraemia They include failing to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment between August 1, 2009 and June 1, 2014 over the supply of TPN to patients, under the 1999 Health and Safety at Work Regulations, and two charges of supplying a medicinal product which was not of the nature or quality specified in the prescription, under the Medicines Act on May 27, 2014. One of the Medicines Act charges relates to Yousef, while the second covers the other 22 babies, whose names are contained in a confidential index. Yousef and his twin brother, Abdulilah, were born by emergency Caesarean section at St Thomas' Hospital in central London at 32 weeks gestation in May 2014. While in intensive care they were both fed intravenously, but while Abdulilah was not affected, Yousef died. Prosecutors allege his death resulted from him being fed the contaminated TPN, although ITH Pharma denies his death was caused by the administration of the feed. Judge Deborah Taylor will decide the issue over a two-day sentencing hearing on April 28. Mark Heywood QC said ITH Pharma's pleas were 'acceptable' to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and 'meet the justice in the case'. However, Vicki Golden, the mother of Tameria Aldrich, who died nine days after Yousef on June 10 after being transferred to St Thomas' from Broomfield hospital in Chelmsford, and whose twin sister Tia survived, left the court in tears. Ms Golden's godmother Joanne Bartlett, who is known as Dolly, had already stormed out of court as Mr Darbishire said: 'These offences occurred eight years ago and the company has been and continues to be a trusted supplier of TPN for the NHS.' ITH Pharma CEO Karen Hamling and her husband Adam Bloom made a statement following the children's deaths at their Park Royal production plant in west London Speaking to reporters, she branded the case 'absolutely disgraceful', adding: 'I'm disgusted with ITH Pharma and the CPS. 'They ought to be ashamed of themselves. They threw the police under the bus.' Yousef's parents, who now live in Saudi Arabia, had hoped to follow the hearing by video-link but were not able to join. His father, Raaid Sakkijha, said in a statement: 'We had to change every aspect of our life in London that would remind us of Yousef's loss - our previous apartment, the area that we used to live in, the places that we used to go to when we were pregnant with the twins. 'Even today, Yousef's mother Ghada has a panic and crying attack whenever she sees a mother with a twin stroller as she feels the loss of her son over and over again. 'We really hope that justice would finally prevail after seven years of endless suffering to our family.' Arti Shah, a medical negligence solicitor at Fieldfisher, the firm representing the families of Yousef, Tameria and Oscar Barker, who died at Rosie Maternity Hospital in Cambridge, said: 'We believe justice will prevail in the civil court and we will continue to pursue ITH Pharma on behalf of the families who suffered the most terrible loss. 'We are confident the company will be found negligent in civil proceedings for providing contaminated feed. 'We will also be working closely with the coroner to provide much needed clarity on what happened to cause death and injury to so many babies.' Police launched an investigation in 2014 after two babies died at St Thomas' Hospital, pictured ITH Pharma said in a statement: 'We at ITH Pharma wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the patients affected by the events of eight years ago. 'ITH has been a leading manufacturer of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and other medicinal products for many years. 'The events of May 27 2014 were wholly exceptional and, on June 5 2014, the MHRA Inspection Action Group confirmed that having considered all the information available, including the company's changes to manufacturing practice for parenteral nutrition products, it did not recommend regulatory action against the company. 'Since 2008, parenteral nutrition produced by ITH has helped many tens of thousands of the most vulnerable babies survive premature and complex births. 'We are proud to support the NHS and, importantly, patients in this vital work. We know how much our colleagues in hospitals across the UK value the service we provide and the rigour we deliver in our processes, and we are grateful for the work they all do. 'On January 28, 2022, ITH Pharma pleaded guilty to a single regulatory offence of failing to have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, and to two regulatory offences under the Medicines Act 1968 of supplying a medicinal product on May 27 2014 not of the nature or quality specified in the prescription. These pleas have been accepted by the prosecution.'* French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has revealed her 'brutal, violent' hurt after her own niece suggested she would back rival candidate Eric Zemmour in the presidential elections this year. Marion Marechal, who is more than 20 years the junior of the National Front leader and who was once tipped as her successor, has given strong indications she will support Eric Zemmour. Relations within the Le Pen clan, which has dominated far-right politics in France for five decades, are notoriously stormy, with Marine clashing repeatedly with her father Jean-Marie after taking over his National Front party in 2011. Marine Le Pen (right) has revealed her 'brutal, violent' hurt after the comments by her niece Marion Marechal (left) who was once considered a likely successor Relations within the Le Pen clan, which has dominated far-right politics in France for five decades, are notoriously stormy Marion said Zemmour (pictured) had adopted a better election strategy, even though he is currently fourth in the polls Marion told the Parisien newspaper that she was still thinking about who she would support in this April's election. 'No decision has been taken,' said Marion, who dropped the Le Pen family name in 2018 and is known as Marion Marechal. But 'if I support Eric, it won't just to be to stick my head and say hello', she added. She also accused her aunt of making 'incessant ideological and policy U-turns'. Reacting on Friday, Marine Le Pen told CNews: 'I have a very unique story with Marion because I brought her up along with my sister for the first years of her life. 'It's brutal, it's violent, it's tough for me,' a visibly moved Le Pen said, adding it was 'painful' on a person level and 'incomprehensible' politically. Le Pen ranks second or third in opinion polls that show a tussle among right and far-right candidates to win a second-round runoff spot against President Emmanuel Macron in the April elections. Macron himself is leading polls and seen as likely to secure the other spot. Marion said Zemmour had adopted a better election strategy, even though he is currently fourth in the polls. She said that because he was new to politics and was seeking to bridge gaps between parties, Zemmour was better placed to get wide-ranging support than Le Pen's party, which other parties, including on the mainstream right, often shun. If her niece backs Zemmour, it would be more than a personal setback. Although Marion stepped back from frontline politics in 2017, the 32-year-old hardliner remains popular among grassroots far-right groups and could add momentum to Zemmour's campaign, which has been stagnating since November. When she was first elected at the tender age of 22, Marion made history as France's youngest-ever MP. A mother-of-one, she sat politically to the right of her aunt, who tried to soften the National Front's appeal in recent years to make it more acceptable to centrist voters. There has been a Le Pen at the head of the FN since its foundation in 1972 by the convicted racist and anti-Semite, Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marion's grandfather. Marion told the Parisien newspaper that she was still thinking about who she would support in this April's election (pictured together in 2015) Marion, who also said she was eyeing a return to public life, has long argued for a new alliance between far-right and traditional right-wing politicians in France - as has Zemmour. In 2013 she attended anti-gay marriage rallies while her aunt stayed away, throwing her weight behind what she termed the 'traditional family'. She also insisted that everybody especially the five million Muslims living in France should accept the true French identity rooted in Christianity. During one speech in Toulon, a Mediterranean city with a large number of citizens of Arab descent, she said Muslims could only be French 'if they follow customs and a lifestyle that has been shaped by Greek and Roman influence and 16 centuries of Christianity.' 'We are not a land of Islam,' she said. 'In our country, we don't wear djellaba clothing, we don't wear a veil and we don't impose cathedral-sized mosques.' A graduate of Sorbonne University, she was seen as an alternative to the political establishment of men in suits. She was also a huge PR asset to the party, though she had no formal media training and once failed to name a single area of policy she wanted to focus on when quizzed by a journalist in a local election. Polls currently indicate that Marine Le Pen is the more likely of the two far-right candidates to make it into the second round of the election on April 24, but analysts say the race is highly unpredictable. In 2015 Marine Le Pen threw her father Jean-Marie out of the party he co-founded in the 1970s for repeating his view that the Holocaust was a mere 'detail' of World War II. Jean-Marie refused to go quietly, hauling the party before the courts in a series of failed bids to be readmitted. He has since criticised his daughter's decision to rebrand his party as the National Rally, as well as her publicly stated aim of 'de-toxifying' the movement because of its association with racism and anti-Semitism. Zemmour has had a turbulent campaign after he was revealed to be having a love child with his 28-year-old assistant in November and waved an assault rifle at reporters while telling them to 'back off' in October. He was also found guilty of provoking racial hatred by calling child immigrants thieves, rapists and murderers this month. Zemmour was first convicted of provoking racial hatred in February 2011, and then he was found guilty of provoking religious hatred in June 2017. He frequently rages against Muslims, black people and anybody else from an immigrant background. Zemmour has also been accused of virulent anti-Semitism after denying against all the historical evidence that the French collaborated with the Nazis during the wartime Holocaust. An ex-prisoner has been jailed for life after murdering his Virgin Atlantic stewardess lover by stabbing her in the eye during a blazing row over dinner. Alcoholic and drug addict Lee Kendall, 43, killed mother-of-two Michaela Hall, 49, at her home in Mount Hawke near Truro on May 31 last year after an argument over sweet and sour dinner. The former Virgin Airways senior air stewardess had met Kendall when she worked for a charity which helps prisoners when they are freed from custody. But Truro Crown Court heard she broke professional boundaries as his support worker and began an intimate sexual relationship before he moved into her home. During the course of the relationship Kendall routinely beat her but only two of the assaults resulted in convictions. She remained devoted to him and determined to help him get his life on track. The trial were given details of the violent relationship, with Michaela suffering black eyes. On May 14, 2021 he was given a three-year community order by a judge and was released from custody and returned to live with Michaela. But just 17 days later he stabbed her to death, as the knife penetrated up to 9cm into her brain through her right eye, the jury was told. Kendall was jailed for life today and told he must service a minimum of 21 years before he can be considered for parole. Lee Kendall (left) was found guilty of killing 48-year-old Michaela Hall (right) at their home in Truro A post mortem also revealed she had other facial and neck wounds which were consistent with manual strangulation - and Kendall's DNA was found on her neck. Kendall told the court during the trial, he and Michaela had been arguing over the sweet and sour food that she had prepared for both of them and she got upset with him when he told her he didn't want to eat it. He told the jury: 'I wasn't ready to eat it yet and I said I'd put it in the microwave. 'She wanted me to eat with her. I put it on the floor.' Kendal had alleged that they argued and he he overheard her 'slagging me off' on the phone to someone. He admitted grabbing her around the throat, but claimed she had picked up a knife he had been using as a screwdriver for DIY which he alleged he pushed towards his chest. Kendall then claimed that he took the knife as they were struggling his hand was 'jerked away from her at the same time she is coming towards me and it ended up going in her eye.' He also claimed he did not call emergency services because he put her to bed and thought 'she'd be fine'. After the verdict was read out Michaela's family told the court the devastating impact her death has had on their lives. They included her two school age sons, who both had statements read out in court on their behalf, as well as her mother and sister. Judge Garnham told Kendall today: 'You heard your partner talking on the phone. You heard what Michaela was saying and you formed and opinion, to use your expression, that she was 'slagging you off'. You could not tolerate that. 'Despite the fact Michaela had shown you every kindness over the previous two years, and had put up with your idleness, your sponging off her, you ill temper and your violence, you were not prepared to let her say a word against you. 'So you picked up a kitchen knife with a sharp blade and went through to the bedroom. I find it a fact that there was no struggle. She did not arm herself with a cutlery knife. 'Instead you grabbed her round the throat with one hand and with the other thrust the knife into her right eye.' The former Virgin Airways senior air stewardess had met Kendall when she worked for a charity which helps prisoners when they are freed from custody During the trial, prosecutor Miss Martin chronologically went through a number of incidents where Kendall was violent towards Ms Hall. She said: 'On May 20, 2019, Michaela Hall called 999. She said Lee Kendall had thrown a heavy purse at her face and damaged her car. She explained that Lee Kendall was having drug and alcohol induced psychosis. Police arrived and she was apologetic towards him for calling the police, saying it was for his own good. He was arrested and denied assaulting Michaela Hall and Michaela Hall declined to make a statement. 'Police and the prosecution decided not to charge Lee Kendall but Michaela Hall was brought into contact with various organisations. Social services became involved to ensure her children were safe and Lee Kendall was recalled to prison because of a breach of the terms of his licence. 'He was in prison for over a year until July 11, 2020, when Michaela Hall collected him and they returned to Charlotte Close. It didn't take long for the violence to start up again.' Miss Martin told of how on August 24 and September 16, 2020, referrals were made when Ms Hall was spotted with black eyes. She said in response that one injury was when she hit her eye on a bedpost and the other when she attacked him and he had no option but to retaliate. Miss Martin said: 'Six days later there was an anonymous call about a disturbance. Police found broken crockery and Michaela again had a swollen eye. Lee Kendall said he didn't know how she got the black eye and that he wouldn't hurt Michaela. 'Three weeks later she was seen with more bruising and redness. It was at this point Michaela Hall recognised she was in danger. Lee Kendall was arrested but again denied doing anything. Michaela Hall declined to engage with the police. 'A domestic violence protection notice was issued preventing Lee Kendall from going to the address but it didn't make any difference. Michaela Hall would allow him back and the cycle would continue.' Miss Martin added that in November and December 2020 police were called over claims Kendall had assaulted Ms Hall, but he denied everything and she refused to engage so there was little friends and family could do. On February 12, 2021, Ms Hall turned up at a friend's house bleeding and swollen. She told police Kendall had barricaded himself in a bedroom but when she went to get him he kicked her in the head and strangled her. Miss Martin said: 'She returned home and became angry with the police saying they were only making matter worse and she was the only one who could handle Lee Kendall.' Kendall was bailed to an address in Plymouth and in March 2021 Ms Hall went to visit him. Kendall's landlord contacted the police the following day and reported an assault. Ms Hall gave a statement saying he'd pulled her hair and punched her six or seven times. Despite Ms Hall trying to withdraw her statement, the case proceeded and Kendall was given a community order. However, he again went to live with Ms Hall in Mount Hawke. Ms Hall's body was found by her father on June 1, 2021, it likely she was killed 24 hours earlier. On May 31 at just before 6:30pm Ms Hall had spoken on the phone to Kendall's mother, during the call Kendall's mother heard screaming. A neighbour had gone out to get some shopping and when he returned at 9:30pm, he could hear shouting and banging and Ms Hall say 'no, Lee' before everything went silent. At just gone 10pm Ms Hall tried to call a friend but didn't get an answer. The friend sent a message back asking if Ms Hall was okay but never got a response and the message remained unread. Ms Hall had also called another friend who had moved to Gran Canaria. She said Kendall 'was on one'. The friend, Clare Basnett, heard a scream and Ms Hall warning Kendall to get off her and not come near her. The call then terminated and the friend tried to call 999. She only managed to get through to a Spanish operative but eventually managed to reach Crimestoppers to report that something had happened in Mount Hawke. At 11:23pm police received the message and went to Mount Hawke but found the property in darkness and seemingly nobody at home. They knocked and peeped through an open window but left when there was no answer. Kendall was in the property at this time. Miss Martin said: 'Lee Kendall didn't call an ambulance or the police. He was clearly awake at 4am as he tried to call his mother six times. Just before 7am he walked to the village store and bought a bottle of vodka. He got changed and caught at bus to St Agnes to pick up his methadone script. 'He called his mother again and said Michaela Hall was dead and that he didn't do it, that she came at him with a knife. She told her son to call the police but he wouldn't as he said they wouldn't believe him.' At this point Kendall got a bus to Truro and at the same time police officers went back to the property but again decided they didn't have authority to forcibly enter as there was no sign of a disturbance or seemingly nobody at home. Police also made a third visit but again didn't enter. Ms Hall's body was only found when her worried father got a spare key off a landlord and went into the property and found his daughter. A cause of death was recorded as a stab wound to the eye socket and brain, with other injuries also present. The knife wound had penetrated 5cm to 9cm into the eye socket, clipping an artery causing a bleed to the brain. Kendall cleaned up the scene before leaving, but his finger print was still found in the blood. Kendall was back in Truro the next morning and stole alcohol before getting into arguments with homeless men and St Petrocs homeless shelter staff. He was arrested on Boscawen Street and found to be in possession of two phones (one of which was used by Ms Hall) and an iPad. Giving evidence Kendall at first denied ever punching or controlling Ms Hall and said on the night of her death Ms Hall had lunged at him with a knife and she accidentally sustained a stab wound to the eye during the ensuing struggle after a row about him not eating his dinner. He says he lied to the police at first as they wouldn't believe him. As part of today's sentencing hearing, the family of 49-year-old Michaela spoke of their 'horror' at what has followed her violent death. Her eldest son said he suffered frequent nightmares and sleep paralysis as a result of what happened, and would be seeking therapy in the future. He added: 'I will never be able to give her a hug. When I do my GCSEs she won't be able to help me. 'I don't have any parents now and I'm scared of losing any more of my loved ones.' And her youngest son said: 'Dear judge, I want to tell you some things about my mum. My mum was a good person and I love her very much. She doesn't deserve this. 'I will never get a phone call from her or a present. She will never pick me up from school. 'This week I had to collect by belongings from my old house, which was very sad to see.' Michaela's mother said the family should have been celebrating Michaela's birthday on October 20, 2021 and she had already bought a card early, which she would now never give her daughter. 'Instead we went with her children to her graveside,' she added. 'They took plants and balloons, and sang happy birthday.' Her mother said sometimes she dreams about her daughter dying, and that she and her husband arrive in time to save her - only to wake up and be hit with the reality again. In comments directed to Kendall, she said: 'I hope he remembers every day, for the rest of his life, the person he murdered. 'How can I live without her? I find it hard to accept my daughter is dead, so I will have to live with that for the rest of my life. 'Michaela was stabbed in her eye at home, where she should have been safe. How can anyone do something so horrific? How can anyone be so cruel? 'I have no understanding about this level of evil. He murdered our precious daughter and left her to die in her house all alone.' And Michaela's sister said the family would now 'drift through the rest of our lives,' due to the void that had been left by Michaela's murder. Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Stephanie Blundell, senior investigating officer in the case, said: 'Michaela suffered repeated assaults by Kendall whose campaign of violence and intimidation prevented her from accessing help and breaking the cycle of abuse. 'Michaela wanted to help Kendall, she gave him a home and he took advantage of her nature and support by repeatedly beating her during the course of their relationship and ultimately killing her. 'Despite Kendall's continuous lies and attempts to avail himself of any responsibility, a thorough and detailed investigation by determined officers from the Major Crime Investigation Team yielded the evidence to disprove his deceit. 'I would like to commend the investigation and prosecution team as well as members of the public who came forward to assist the police and ensure justice was done. We send our deepest condolences to Michaela's family, who have demonstrated extreme dignity throughout the investigation and proceedings.. I hope today's outcome will bring some small comfort to them.' Parents who faced manslaughter charges after two of their children and their niece drowned when they took them on a 'joyride' through a flooded Arizona creek have been spared jail and given probation after their children pleaded with a judge not to send them to prison. Daniel and Lacey Rawlings, 38 and 34, respectively, were sentenced to probation and community service in a Gila County courtroom on Thursday. Daniel received 60 months of probation, while Lacey received 48 months. 'I want to start by just saying how much I regret the decision we made that day to cross the creek,' Lacey said through tears in court on Thursday. 'It is a mistake I agonize over every single day. 'I am so incredibly sorry to everyone involved that day for the loss I can never fix.' Daniel also spoke in court, saying: 'I wish every day that I could go back and relive and redo the events of that horrific day. Knowing I was the single cause of the reason why [unintelligible] is what I live with every day.' Nelly, 12, and her 13-year-old brother Dallan Rawlings begged Judge Timothy Wright to let their parents stay home with them. Five-year-old Colby and six-year-old Willa, along with their cousin Austin, five, died after the Rawlings disregarded signs and barricades warning drivers not to cross Tonto Creek in 2019. Nelly, Dallan and two of their cousins survived. They were on their way back from a family member's home and their son wanted to enter the water because he was having fun, Lacey Rawlings said in an interview played in court yesterday. Daniel Rawlings was driving the military-style vehicle when he crossed the Tonto Creek for the third time that day - crossing twice before when he had gone back to get a canopy for their jacuzzi and to get candy and board games for the children. But on the third trip, the vehicle began to sink; the Rawlings and four of the children got out and were rescued but the remaining three were swept away and died. All the bodies were recovered except Willa's, which was found two weeks later on the north side of Roosevelt Lake. Scroll down for video Daniel and Lacey with victims Willa Rawlings (second right lower) and Colby (right). They, along with their cousin Austin, five (not pictured), died after the Rawlings disregarded signs and barricades warning drivers not to cross Tonto Creek. Nelly Rawlings, 12 (second left lower), and her 13-year-old brother Dallan (left) survived Willa and Colby (pictured) died during the flooding. The family had been together for the Thanksgiving holiday when their oversized truck became stuck in the creek Austin (pictured) was the daughter of Daniel's brother, Jay Rawlings 'We're going home, and this is when the kids start asking: "Dad please, dad please, just do it one more time,"' Lacey said in an interview with detectives. They transferred through the Bar X crossing near Punkin Center, where they were traveling from when the tragedy happened and the family vehicle got stuck in the floodwaters. The area has had problems with severe flooding throughout the year and construction on a bridge is expected to begin in October in the area. Judge Wright said he took the Rawlings' surviving children's testimony and community support into account for his decision not to send the parents to prison, but slammed the parents for 'failing their children.' 'These defendants failed their children. They failed to protect them, they failed to be adults who said no. Conversely, again, any such leniency the court may exercise today again [are] on behalf of the four surviving victims, these four children have zero fault in this case.' More than 100 supporters stood outside the courtroom in Gila County as Nelly described her father Daniel as a hard-working man and her mother Lacey as her favorite person, telling the court: 'I love everything about my parents.' She added: 'My dad is a big part of my life and I'd really love it if he could stay with me.' Dallan also said his life 'wouldn't be the same without them.' Wright said his decision to sentence Daniel to five years of probation and Lacey four years of probation was heavily influenced by the children's pleas. He had considered whether prison time for the couple would end in a good outcome for Dallan, Nelly and their two cousins, who also survived the flooding. He said: 'These four children have zero fault in this case, yet they carry the burdens.' Daniel and Lacey Rawlings pictured together. The pair were scheduled to face trial in March, at Gila County Superior Court and would have faced mandatory prison sentences if convicted Dozens of the couple's supporters stood outside the courthouse with balloons, wearing sweatshirts that said 'Rawlings Strong' Wright considered the Rawlings' lack of criminal history, as well as the fact that they were remorseful for their actions. But he said children didn't need parents to be their playmates, but protectors. The Rawlings, who live in the Pinetop-Lakeside community, will also have to do extensive community service. Daniel Rawlings pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter and seven counts of child abuse, receiving five years of probation on each charge to run concurrently. Lacey Rawlings received four years of probation on seven counts of child abuse, to run concurrently. The pair were scheduled to face trial in March at Gila County Superior Court and would have faced mandatory prison sentences if convicted. In 2020, it was reported that Daniel Rawlings allegedly drove around a barrier in order to cross a creek, before his truck got swept away in it. In the car were the couple, along with their four kids and three nieces. Both Daniel and Lacey escaped from the truck with four children but the couples own five-year-old son, Colby, and six-year-old daughter Willa were killed along with their five-year-old niece Austin. Austin was the daughter of Daniel's brother, Jay Rawlings. The survivors in the group were rescued and were airlifted to shore by a Maricopa County Sheriff's Office helicopter. Officials had said one adult managed to swim to shore, while four children and one adult who were stranded on an island in the creek were airlifted out of the area by rescue crews. The family had been together for the Thanksgiving holiday when their oversized truck became stuck in the creek. Map showing location of Tonto Basin, which is in Tonto National Forest in Arizona First responders were pictured in December pulling the family vehicle out of the flooded creek after three children got stuck in the truck that was swept away in flooding on Tonto Creek in 2019 Five-year-old Colby and six-year-old Willa (pictured), along with their cousin Austin, five, died after the Rawlings disregarded signs and barricades warning drivers not to cross Tonto Creek Both Daniel and Lacey escaped from the truck with four children but the couples own five-year-old son, Colby (pictured) and six-year-old daughter Willa were killed along with their five-year-old niece Austin The crossing had been closed and barricaded because of the high water, but the parents allegedly attempted to pass it anyway. During an interview given in December 2019, the parents said very little about what happened at the creek as it was too painful to recount. 'I will say one thing. People go around the barricades all the time,' Daniel said. 'I'm not justifying my actions one bit, but there could be more done.' Media coverage of the incident led many to express criticism of Lacey and Daniel for their decision to ignore the barricades - but the parents said they were trying to block those critics out. 'We don't have anything to say to them,' Daniel said. 'Everybody's a critic, and they're keyboard warriors. Those people may not have ever gone through something tragic in their life.' 'I hope they don't have to go through something like this and learn what it really feels like,' Lacey added. Meteorologist Sean Benedict in Phoenix estimated in the days before the tragedy, up to two inches of rain fell in the area, with some of the runoff coming from snow that fell on nearby peaks. The region got up to four inches of rain about a week before, Benedict said. The search for Willa in 2019, when the incident took place as the Rawlings were returning from a family visit Law enforcement and volunteers searched for Willa after the accident. During an interview given in December 2019, the parents said very little about what happened at the creek as it was too painful to recount Punkin Center and Tonto Creek, Arizona, seen during heavy flooding in late November, 2019 'So the grounds were already pretty wet and that probably helped with the runoff,' Benedict added. The Rawlings' attorneys said the couple didn't perceive the danger of the flooded creek, which prosecutor Bradley Soos pushed back on. He said the children's deaths were caused by a series of bad decisions, and that the Rawlings were familiar with the area from prior visits to family in the area. He also pointed out they placed the children into a vehicle that didn't have enough seatbelts and asked Wright to send Daniel to prison for at least four years. He said: 'Sometimes justice doesn't feel good. Judge, you can't engage in this series of bad decisions, reflect on your decision to place these children into this situation and end up killing three people and walk out of the courtroom a free man. 'That is not justice.' During an interview given in December, parents Daniel and Lacey said very little about what happened at the creek as it was too painful to recount Lacey Rawlings said: 'Please, just sentence both Daniel and I to probation without any jail time so we can continue to help our children recover and have our family together.' Austin's mother Lauren Johnston said that she forgave the Rawlings' actions and asked Wright to show them mercy and grace, despite the agony she felt in hearing about her daughter. She said: 'I hope that if nothing else comes from this avoidable tragedy, that Daniel and Lacey will never stop seeking guidance.' 'Austin, Colby, and Willa are not the ones suffering,' said Lauren Johnston, Austins mother. 'The hard part is seeing your surviving children struggle, struggling with every aspect of life for the foreseeable future, hearing their accounts of this traumatic event day after day and desperately searching for the right words to say mom, why did this happen? Mommy, is this someones fault? Mommy, my body was so cold, I couldnt even swim because the water was so freezing.' Dozens of the couple's supporters stood outside the courthouse with balloons, wearing sweatshirts that said 'Rawlings Strong.' The couple's verdict was cheered and applauded. Police have released dramatic footage of raids on a huge sex ring operation at five brothels - as two men and a woman were jailed for more than seven years. Officers smashed down the doors to the properties across the country after identifying houses where vulnerable women were being forced into sex work. Surrey Police, working with Polish authorities, pieced together the gang members before arresting them. Mariusz Moniuszko, 39, of Corby, Northamptonshire, and Dariusz Sieredzinski, 34, of Kent, were found to be involved in running the brothels. They posted adverts on adult websites, fraudulently rented properties and moved money to disguise their activities. Justyna Sieredzinska, 30, of Kettering, and Magdalena Drozdzal, 29, of Purley, acted as the brothel receptionists, taking client bookings for the women. They would often promise sexual activities the victims did not want to offer and in one case, a victim said she was forced to have sex up to 14 times a day. Justyna Sieredzinska, 30, of Kettering, and Magdalena Drozdzal (pictured), 29, of Purley, acted as the brothel receptionists, taking client bookings for the women Moniuszko (left) was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment and found guilty of one count of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. Right: Sieredzinska `The investigation began after intel suggested a brothel was operating on Staines Road West in Sunbury-On-Thames. Police raided the house on September 20, 2019, and the first victim was saved and helped them piece together the gang's sick activities. The victim had been trafficked into the country by lorry, before working as a cleaner to pay back thousands of pounds she was told she had to pay to get in. Her passport was taken from her and although she handed over her limited earnings, it was not enough to cover the debt and she was forced into sex work. She was later introduced to the organised criminal group, who made her work long hours and perform sexual acts she did not want to Police raided the house on September 20, 2019, and the first victim was saved and helped them piece together the gang's sick activities The group spanned across the UK and Poland and a Joint Investigation Team was set up to hunt them down. Detective Sergeant Martyn Linton said: 'This was high-end organised criminality perpetrated by a dangerous group of individuals who preyed on females for profit. 'In dismantling the criminal group, we've identified over 100 women connected with the case and three were courageous enough to come forward and help speak out in court against their oppressors. 'This was one of the most extensive modern slavery human trafficking investigations we've ever pursued at Surrey Police and today's result shows that exploiters will be held accountable for their actions. 'Sadly though, we know there are still others out there who perpetrate this horrific crime type and we are continuing our work to target these criminals. 'We take all reports of modern slavery seriously, so if you suspect someone is being sexually exploited, please contact us.' The thugs were jailed at Guildford Crown Court last week for seven years and three months for controlling prostitution, modern slavery and criminal proceeds offences. Pictured: One of the raids The thugs were jailed at Guildford Crown Court last week for seven years and three months for controlling prostitution, modern slavery and criminal proceeds offences. Moniuszko, Sieredzinska and Sieredzinski were found guilty on Thursday, 16 December following a four-week trial. Moniuszko was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment and found guilty of one count of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. She was guilty of one count of facilitating the travel of another with a view to her being sexually exploited. And she was jailed on a count of possessing criminal property to the value of 17,815, and fraud relating to the possession and use of the Polish identity documents. Sieredzinska was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. He was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain, one count of possessing criminal property in the form of bank credits to the value of 20,440.80. Sentencing the organised crime group, the judge spoke about some of the women that suffered at their hands. Pictured: One of the raids Sieredzinski was also sentenced to 32 months imprisonment after he was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain, one count of possession of criminal property in the form of bank credits to the value of 13,019.56, two counts of possessing articles for use in fraud. Two further counts of fraud which relate to two fraudulent Covid business bounce back loan applications totalling 90,000 were also made. Drozdzal appeared at Guildford Crown Court on January 10 and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to control prostitution for gain. She was also sentenced to two counts of possession of criminal property to the value of 6,105. She was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment for the offences. Sentencing the organised crime group, the judge spoke about some of the women that suffered at their hands. On describing what happened to one of their victims, he said: 'She was young, vulnerable and needed help. Instead, you treated her without a shred of compassion.' Police are today appealing for witnesses as they investigate the deaths of two teenagers found hanged in a suspected suicide pact at a nature reserve. The bodies of a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man were found at Bothenhampton Reservoir, near Bridport, on the morning of January 25. Police were called to the scene after a dog walker raised the alarm but nothing could be done to save the teenagers. The identity of the individuals is not being released until an inquest is formally opened by a coroner on the request of the families, Dorset Police said. Dorset Police said their deaths are being treated as non-suspicious but investigators are now trying to establish the circumstances on behalf of the coroner. Officers are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the teenagers in the Bridport or West Bay area between Saturday January 22 and Tuesday January 25. The bodies of a 17-year-old girl and an 18-year-old man were found at Bothenhampton Reservoir, near Bridport, on the morning of January 25. Pictured: Bothenhampton Nature Reserve The man is described as white, around 5ft7in, slim and with short, dark hair, a short beard and brown eyes. He was wearing brown lace-up boots, light grey tracksuit bottoms, a dark T-shirt and a navy hooded Parka-style jacket with a brown patch on the left arm. The girl is described as white, around 5ft5in, of slim build and with dark brown, shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. She was wearing black and white trainers, light grey tracksuit bottoms, a navy Puffer-style jacket and a pink scarf. The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Complaints (IOPC) over the deaths due to prior contact with those involved. The IOPC said yesterday: 'We are currently assessing the available information to determine what further action may be required from us.' A spokeswoman for the force said: 'Dorset Police has made a mandatory referral to the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) in line with procedures related to the death or serious injury of an individual. We await further guidance from the IOPC on the matter.' Certain incidents must be automatically referred to the IOPC by law, including when someone had direct or indirect contact with the police 'when or shortly before they were seriously injured and died.' Forces are required to make a referral 'where the contact may have caused or contributed to the death or injury.' Other complaints, such as allegations of serious corruption, serious assault, or misconduct must also be automatically referred. The tragic incident happened in a secluded wooded area in the village of Bothenhampton, which is about one mile from West Bay - the setting for the hit ITV crime drama Broadchurch. Ian Bark, the mayor of Bridport, said the community would be shocked by the double tragedy. 'My sympathies go out to the friends and families of these young people. It's very sad to hear that two people who are both so young have died.' Pictured: A police cordon tape at Bothenhampton Nature Reserve Residents in the quiet neighbourhood of Wych Hill are shocked after the deaths of the teenagers. A man, who wished not to be named, said: 'I heard it was a suicide pact between two young people. It's dreadful. Certainly not something you expect to happen on your doorstep. 'Police and an ambulance were here from 10am until 5pm. The fire engine had difficulty getting access (to the reserve).' Another resident described the location where it happened as 'beautiful and quiet'. He said: 'It's quite worrying that something like that could happen here.' And residentJoe Hackett said: 'It's an awful thing to happen and we have never had anything like this happen around here. 'It's very upsetting and the community can't believe what has happened. It's the last thing you expect to happen in such a quiet community. 'It will likely leave the area in shock for some time because there has only been rumours about what happened. Our community has not had confirmation.' Officers are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the teenagers in the Bridport or West Bay area between Saturday January 22 and Tuesday January 25. Pictured: Bothenhampton Nature Reserve Detective Sergeant Simon Lee, of Dorset Police, said: 'Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the two young people who tragically died. 'As is normal in these cases, we are now making inquiries on behalf of the coroner's office to establish the circumstances of the deaths. 'Therefore, we are appealing for information from the public to help us piece together the two young people's movements prior to their tragic deaths.' He said they may have been carrying a pale green Nike bag. DS Lee added: 'Anyone who thinks they might be able to assist with our inquiries is asked to contact Dorset Police.' A five-year-old girl begged her mother not to kill her as she strangled her to death at home. Martina Madarova had put on cartoons for her daughter Alijah Thomas before carrying out the act as the child said: 'Mummy, don't kill me.' Madarova proceeded to strangle Aljah, before 'tucking her in with a blanket' at their home in Ealing, west London. The 41-year-old had been suffering with her mental health and turned to alcohol during the Covid lockdown, and had been in a 'dark place' the night before her daughter's tragic death. She was given a five-year jail sentence after a judge ruled that she had 'low responsibility' over Alijah's death. Martina Madarova had put on cartoons for her daughter Alijah Thomas (pictured) before carrying out the act as the child said: 'Mummy, don't kill me' Madarova (pictured) proceeded to strangle Aljah, before 'tucking her in with a blanket' at their home in Ealing, west London A court heard that in the months leading up to the incident, family members and friends became concerned for Madarova's wellbeing as she appeared 'increasingly stressed'. She was concerned for her income, after her hours as a carer had been reduced, and had become anxious after missing the deadline to enrol Alijah at school. Along with concerns about her mother contracting Covid, and being stuck in the flat all day, she had eventually begun to turn to alcohol as a 'coping mechanism'. In a statement read by prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC, Alijah's father David Thomas, who still maintained a close relationship with Madarova, said: 'The week before Alijah's death I took four days off to help sort out the school place and to calm Martina down as she was not herself. 'It was clear she was not herself. I was asking her to get herself checked into the GP as she seemed depressed. 'She was putting a lot of pressure on herself. During our discussions about things she would start crying and just walk off into another room.' On the morning of September 14, Alijah's father had left early for work and was notified a few hours later from a phone call from Madarova that their daughter was dead. Due to his distance from the family home, he called his brother and a family friend who rushed to the scene. There, they found Alijah 'tucked into a blanket as if to go to sleep' but she had no pulse and was 'cold to the touch'. Emergency services were called at 12.56pm but Alijah was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Atkinson told the court that Madarova, a Slovakian national, had drunk two bottles of wine and told the family friends present: 'She's not there anymore, I've done it, I've failed my daughter.' Whilst in the ambulance she also said: 'My daughter, what have I done? My daughter, her life, I took her life. She was the most beautiful thing.' Alijah's last moments were then revealed after Madarova told paramedics that her daughter had said, 'Mummy, don't kill me'. She had responded: 'I don't want to kill you, I just want to help you, no baby you're safe', to which Alijah had replied: 'No mummy, you're killing me.' On the morning of September 14, Alijah's father had left early for work and was notified a few hours later from a phone call from Madarova that their daughter was dead (pic - the road where Madarova lived) Her plan had been to kill her daughter and then commit suicide herself. Whilst in police custody, she was described as 'distressed' and when questioned if she heard voices in her head, she replied: 'What I have done is not normal, I'm going to be all over the news, the voices in my head told me to do it now - I deserve the death sentence. 'It's rare when a mother suffocates her own child, I'm a murderer at the end of the day.' When asked by a psychiatrist for her version of events, she said: 'I know I took Ali from the bedroom to the living room. I put cartoons on for her. She was finding me crying. I was with her for a while. 'It was very embarrassing, my daughter trying to help me. That's when I felt like a failure. Emotional, physical and spiritual mess. Nothing was right.' She was charged with her daughter's murder and in a hearing on December 7, she pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. A moving impact statement from Aliyah's father, David Thomas, was read aloud to the court, in which he described the 'devastating ' impact her death had had on his family. He said: 'I don't think I'll ever get over losing her in this way, she was a bright child. We would take the Tube together and I'll miss those little adventures together, she would ask questions and we would talk about the world. 'I was so proud of her - she would have been an athlete, she had speed. I will miss everything about her, watching her sleep, her giving me a hug before bed, patting her hair, brushing her hair.' Speaking of Madarova, he said his family held 'no malice' towards her, and said that she was the 'best mum' who would never have intentionally hurt their daughter unless for her mental health. He said: 'She is the most innocent person you could meet. She sees the good in everyone and everything. I am very shocked by what has happened as this is just not her. 'Martina would do anything for me or Alijah. She did not like violence and would not allow Alijah to watch cartoons which had an element of violence in them.' Due to his distance from the family home, he called his brother and a family friend who rushed to the scene. Pictured: Police near the house Describing his own mother as his 'rock', he said: 'She's not only upset at losing Aliyah but by the fact that Martina is sitting in prison. 'She does not have a bad word to say against her, she finds it hard to sleep for thinking about Martina.' Judge Richard Marks QC noted that prior to the incident, Madarova had been an 'exemplary mother' and that there was no evidence of her mistreating Alijah at any point before the incident. However, he did tell the defendant that she had ignored multiple warnings from friends and family to seek medical advice and had failed to do so, turning to alcohol instead. Labelling it a case of 'low responsibility', he told the court: 'There are understandable reasons why someone in your condition might not seek the help that you so badly needed.' He acknowledged her 'genuine remorse', and told her: 'You have to live with what you did for the rest of your life.' Madarova was visibly emotional in the dock and cried throughout her sentencing. Alijah's father, who sat throughout the hearing, was praised for his approach to the tragic case, with the judge telling him: 'How very impressed I have been by the way you have approached these matters - no one could behave with higher dignity.' The daughter of a missing Dublin woman has made an appeal for help to find her mother. Bernadette Connolly has been missing from the Swords area since Friday, January 7. Gardai investigating the disappearance of the 45-year-old released CCTV footage in a fresh appeal for information. She was last seen when she was dropped off by a taxi at the car park of the Shoreline Hotel, Donabate, and walked towards the entrance to the beach. Speaking at Donabate Strand, Ms Connolly's daughter Jade Connolly said: 'We are here today to appeal to the public and any local people that were on the beach on the day my mam went missing. Jade Connolly (above), the daughter of a missing Dublin woman, has made an appeal for help to find her mother. Bernadette Connolly has been missing from the Swords area since Friday, January 7 Ms Connolly is pictured above in clothes similar to those she was wearing when last seen Gardai investigating the disappearance of the 45-year-old released CCTV footage in a fresh appeal for information. Bernadette Connolly (above, in the background) was last seen when she was dropped off by a taxi at the car park of the Shoreline Hotel, Donabate, and walked towards the entrance to the beach 'Nollaig na mBan was the 6th of January, also known as Women's Christmas, and my mam went missing that next day. 'I want to get people to think of that significant day. This beach was active that day. People walked by my mam with dogs, people walked before my mam. 'I would appeal to anyone who maybe has photographs of the beach that day or any dashcam footage or maybe even CCTV, if they were in a house nearby.' Ms Connolly also said she wanted to appeal to people who were at the opposite end of the beach, next to Malahide carpark, to contact gardai if they have any information. The missing woman is described as being 5ft 6in, of slim build, with hazel eyes and long black hair. Pictured, Bernadette Connolly. Her daughter, Jade, said: 'Nollaig na mBan was the 6th of January, also known as Women's Christmas, and my mam went missing that next day' Her daughter added: 'I want to get people to think of that significant day. This beach was active that day. People walked by my mam with dogs, people walked before my mam' Gardai said Ms Connolly was wearing a black Nike training top, black Nike leggings, black trainers with a white sole and a black woolly hat with black bobble when she went missing. Garda Inspector Noleen McKenna said: 'The gardai in Swords are renewing their appeal for information about Bernadette Connolly who went missing on January 7 2022. 'If anyone out there has any information that can help, please contact the gardai in Swords. Any information that people may have will be greatly appreciated.' Anyone with information on Ms Connolly's whereabouts is urged to speak to gardai or contact Swords garda station 01 666 4700. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has been mocked mercilessly for posting a bizarre photo of herself with cash on the floor that read, 'Get Vax'd' on Twitter on Thursday night as a way to promote the city's new vaccine campaign. The strange photo, posted on Twitter, shows Lightfoot standing next to the cash totaling $826 with the caption: 'The message is clear. Get vaccinated from the comfort of your home and this stack could be yours.' The 'Get Vax'd' message was comprised of 41 $20 bills, a $5 bill, and a $1 bill for the apostrophe. The odd post from the mayor is meant to encourage Chicago residents to call the city's Department of Health to make an at-home appointment for a vaccine shot and be entered into a raffle to win the cash. However, the post drew immediate criticism online as people mocked the cash incentive for the vaccine and likened Lightfoot's appearance in the photo to that of a comic book villain. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot posted a bizarre promotion for the city's new vaccine program, which enters those who get vaccinated with the Department of Health into a raffle for $826 One Twitter user with the name Evan V was among the many who shared a photo of Lightfoot photoshopped into the Batman villain, The Riddler, with the cash prize instead spelling out' Get The Bat.' Many online were also quick to point out the bizarre amount for the cash prize, mocking the single dollar bill used as an apostrophe in Lightfoot's photo. A Twitter user with the handle MoralityCode wrote, 'Lori, I have to ask why the one random dollar bill?' Another Twitter user with the name Mister Haledaddy expressed his bewilderment at how the odd cash-prize campaign came to be, writing:' Somebody thought this was a good idea. Then, other people thought it was too. Then they actually did it. Then they looked at their product and again thought this was a great idea. Then they published it. This right here is an obvious case of group think right?' Another user with the name Edonk also mocked the Lightfoot's post, tweeting, 'This is the most bizarre way to attempt to get ppl vaccinated. ''This stack.'' Many were quick to mock Lightfoot's post and questioned why the city chose to do a cash prize raffle for the vaccine Lightfoot's post comes as the city tries to combat the Omicron spread, with the city reporting 1,543 cases in the past day, according to the Chicago Department of Health. The city also saw 137 hospitalizations and 18 deaths on Thursday. There were 30,196 tests conducted that day with a positivity rating of 6.8 per cent. About 66 per cent of those eligible for the vaccine are fully vaccinated in Chicago, and nearly 75 per cent have gotten at least one jab. The Chicago Department of Health has not publicly elaborated on the new vaccine program and did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. The cash incentive mirrors the programs run in New York City where those eligible for the vaccine wo received the jab were rewarded with $100. New York state also ran an incentive program in November called Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate, where it selected 50 vaccinated children to receive full-ride scholarships to any two- or four-year New York State public college or university. Members of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces train in a city park in Kyiv, Ukraine, Jan. 22. AP-Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk Escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine have prompted the Korean government and companies doing businesses in those countries to keep a close watch on how the situation will unfold. Samsung Electronics, one of 13 Korean firms in Ukraine, said Friday that it will take proper countermeasures in accordance with its internal contingency plan. "We will take necessary measures to protect the safety of our employees and their families," a Samsung Electronics spokesman said. "We are paying attention to the situation at this moment, as there has yet to be any physical conflict after the tensions." POSCO International also said it is keeping a close eye on this issue at this moment, as its Ukrainian operation is located far from the eastern border area. "Other multinational firms from the U.S. and China are also staying in Ukraine," a POSCO International spokesman said. Former Vice President Mike Pence revealed that he has not spoken to former President Trump since last summer. He suggested that Jan. 6, 2021 marked a souring in their relationship. That day, ahead of the Capitol riot, Trump said that Pence 'didn't have the courage' to object to the election results during Congress' certification. Fox News' Jesse Waters asked Pence when the last time he spoke to Trump was on his show Thursday evening. 'You know, we talked last summer,' Pence said. 'And, you know, I've said many times, it was difficult. Jan. 6 was difficult. It was a tragic day in the life of the nation.' 'I know I did my duty under the Constitution of the United States,' Pence added. 'But the president and I sat down in the days that followed that. We spoke about it, talked through it. We parted amicably.' 'You know, we talked last summer,' Pence said of his relationship with Trump. 'And, you know, I've said many times, it was difficult. Jan. 6 was difficult. It was a tragic day in the life of the nation' While Trump wanted Pence to object to the election certification for President Biden's win, the former vice president saw his role in the certification as largely ceremonial Pence, once the most faithful sidekick of the former president, only ever disagreed publicly with Trump in the aftermath of the 2020 election. While Trump wanted Pence to object to the election certification for President Biden's win, the former vice president saw his role in the certification as largely ceremonial. Trump, wanting Pence take action to stop or slow certification, tweeting Jan. 6th: 'States want to correct their votes, which they now know were based on irregularities and fraud, plus corrupt process never received legislative approval. All Mike Pence has to do is send them back to the States, AND WE WIN. Do it Mike, this is a time for extreme courage!' Pence took a softer tone with his former boss in October, saying the two had 'parted amicably' but that the media tries to use 'that one day,' Jan. 6, to 'demean' Trump supporters. 'I know the media wants to distract from the Biden administration's failed agenda by focusing on one day in January. They want to use that one day to try and demean the the character and intentions of 74 million Americans who believe we could be strong again and prosperous again and supported our administration in 2016 and 2020,' Pence said on Fox News' Hannity. 'But I believe that our entire focus today should be on the future,' Pence said, diverting attention from his relationship with Trump. Trump, meanwhile, painted Pence as out of step with Republicans over his decision to certify the election. When was the last time Former Vice President Mike Pence spoke to Former President Trump? WATCH #FoxNews pic.twitter.com/4LWKvK3B0c Jesse Watters Primetime (@jesseprimetime) January 28, 2022 'I think Mike has been very badly hurt by what took place in respect to Jan. 6,' Trump said at an event in Florida in December of last year. 'I think he's been mortally wounded, frankly, because I see the reaction he's getting from people.' 'Mike should have sent those crooked votes back to the legislatures, and you would have had a different result in the election, in my opinion.' Still, Trump has held back in his criticisms of his former second-in-command, saying that Pence was a 'good man' who made a 'big mistake' in not recognizing the 'massive voter fraud and irregularities' Trump has claimed were inherent in the 2020 election results. Advertisement The powerful Nor'easter hitting the East Coast this weekend is already causing chaos for air travelers as more than 2,000 flights were grounded Friday, including most scheduled to take off or land at Boston's Logan Airport. The East Coast is expecting winds 'as powerful as the strongest hurricane' and Bostonians could witness record snowfall as the extreme weather arriving Friday night will impact 75 million people from the Southeast up the coast to New England. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has warned New Yorkers not to travel and canceled outdoor dining and vaccine appointments on Saturday ahead of the powerful Nor'easter. Boston's Logan Airport has canceled most of its flights as the city braces for the worst snowstorm in its history to hit, as all the East Coast prepares for blizzard-like conditions, including up to two feet of snow and flooding in some areas. Across the country, 2,252 flights were cancelled on Friday with 3,472 flights already cancelled for Saturday, according to FlightAware. A Nor'easter is scheduled to arrive on the East Coast Friday night as much of the coast prepares for snow, high winds and coastal flooding The worst of the storm is set to hit on Saturday with wintry weather persisting through the day [12:45 PM Friday] Believe it or not, the snow showers across southern New England this afternoon are NOT associated with tomorrow's Nor'easter. That low pressure is still in its infancy off the coast of Florida#mawx #riwx #ctwx #noreaster pic.twitter.com/47cnXuvBgx NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) January 28, 2022 Boston's Logan Airport is filled with stranded travelers as hundreds of flights have been cancelled ahead of this weekend's winter storm Residents in Lynn, Massachusetts stocked up on groceries ahead of this weekend's storm A sand brim wall is put up to protect beach homes from storm waves in Winthrop, Massachusetts on Friday in preparation for the potential coastal flooding The Boston airport has cancelled 19 out and 117 flights in for Friday and 301 flights out and 285 into the airport on Saturday, according to the flight tracking website. American Airlines, United and Southwest have cancelled all of their Boston flights for Saturday with JetBlue cancelling 96%, Spirit cancelling 87% and Delta cancelling 65%, according to FlightAware. New York airports, including John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia, have cancelled more than 400 flights in and out for Friday and over 1,200 flights arriving and departing on Saturday. All airports should be in the clear by early Sunday morning. 'This storm is likely to strengthen at a rate, and to an intensity, equivalent to only the most powerful hurricanes, so the high-end potential of this storm cannot be overstated,' CNN meteorologist Brandon Miller said. Top 10 Boston snowstorms recorded in a 2-day period Feb. 18, 2003: 27.6 inches Feb. 7, 1978: 27.1 inches April 1, 1997: 25.4 inches Feb. 9, 2013: 24.9 inches Jan. 27, 2015: 24.4 inches Feb. 17, 2003: 23.6 inches Jan. 23, 2005: 22.5 inches Jan. 28, 2015: 22.3 inches Feb. 9, 2015: 22.2 inches Jan. 21, 1978: 21.4 inches Advertisement 'But with nor'easters, like in real estate, it will all come down to location, location, location.' The forecasts show that Boston may record its worst snowstorm in history. The major city is expected to receive about 18-24 inches of snow and wind gusts of 70 miles per hour were forecast starting on Saturday. Southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and the island of Martha's Vineyard, were expected to get the highest snow totals. If Boston gets hit with more than the 23.6 inches of snow in 24 hours, it will replace the 2003 Blizzard as the snowiest day in the city's history. The 2003 President's Day Storm blizzard was a historic and record-breaking snowstorm all along the East coast with some cities receiving 30 inches of snow. The snowfall will move into the top 10 snowiest days on record, if Boston sees more than 14.8 inches of snow in 24 hours. If the city sees more than 24.6 inches of snow this weekend's storm will become the snowiest since the record was set from the blizzard that hit from January 26 to January 28, 2015. But Boston would need to report more than 27.6 inches within two days break that record. Along with snow and heavy winds, forecasts are all expecting to see flooding in areas along the ocean. 'Coastal flooding is a concern thanks to astronomically high tides on Saturday,' the weather service office in Boston said. 'The combination of strong northeast winds and high seas will bring storm surges that, if coinciding with high tide, would lead to minor or moderate coastal flooding.' The National Weather Service (NWS) on Friday issued a blizzard warning for the Boston metropolitan area, which has a population of nearly 4.9 million residents. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has issued a 'snow emergency' which will being Friday at 9pm. 'Residents are encouraged to stay home,' she tweeted. The first winter storm watches were issued for parts of eastern Massachusetts on Wednesday at 3pm -- some 57 hours before they were set to go into effect at 12am on Saturday. The city's Transportation and Sanitation department has more than 38,000 tons of road salt and the ability to put more than 800 pieces of snow equipment on the road, said Chief of Streets Jascha Franklin-Hodge confirmed. Local meteorologists have said that the forecasts show that a blizzard is very likely to hit Boston on Saturday. To become a blizzard a storm must have sustained wind or frequent gusts of 35mph or greater and considerable falling and/or blowing snow reducing visibility to under a quarter mile for at least three consecutive hours. This weekend's storm would mark the first time Boston has been under a blizzard warning since March of 2018. 'Boston is within the bull's-eye of some of the worst conditions expected, and into Maine,' meteorologist Mary Gilbert told the New York Post. 'They're going to have very strong winds as well, so travel is going to be very difficult.' But Boston isn't the only city awaiting a potential blizzard. Nearly 10 million people across 10 states in coastal counties from New England to Virginia have been issued blizzard warnings. Accuweather forecasters recommend avoiding travel across New England during the storm on Saturday and Sunday night as the storm is likely to maintain its intensity for about eight to 12 hours. Some parts of coastal Atlantic were also facing the possibility of flooding in low-lying areas and vulnerable roadways, the NWS said. Boston will need to see more than 23.6 inches of snow within 24 hours to beat the record set by the snowstorm that hit the city in 2003 (Pictured: Workers at Expressway Motors Inc. in Dorchester had to clean and move automobiles at the auto dealership lot to clear them from snow left by the blizzard of February 2003) The Blizzard of 2003, also known as the Presidents' Day Storm II, blasted all of the East Coast with record-breaking snow and wintry weather (Pictured: Chris Shaughnessy, 12, in Hanover, Massachusetts in February 2003 with his new Christmas present: an Arctic Cat with a plow) The storm system will push temperatures down. Highs will range from 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit below average across the eastern third of the US on Saturday. New York City could record 1-inch of snow an hour and pack winds of up to 50mph throughout the city on Saturday. The Big Apple's storm situation remains uncertain. The city is forecasted to get between 8 and 12 inches of snow but has been given a 10% chance of more than 17 inches and a 10% of no snow. The Snow Alert will begin at 4pm on Friday but outdoor dining will remain open until Saturday. Adams issued a Code Blue which aims to shelter the homeless when the temperature drops to 32 degrees or below, including wind-chill. 'We are going to be prepared for it,' Adams told reporters Friday afternoon. 'We can expect up to one foot of snow but you know, Mother Nature has a tendency to do what she wants, and we're just going to be prepared.' The last notable Nor'easter to hit the Northeast came in October, and hammered the area with powerful winds and heavy rains that left more than 600,000 homes and businesses without power at one point, USA Today reported. Disabled Falklands veterans are furious after a hotel cancelled their bookings for this summer's anniversary events to make room for migrants. Scores of former Parachute Regiment soldiers chose the venue in Aldershot, Hampshire, for its proximity to ceremonies taking place on Saturday, June 18 to mark the conflict's 40th anniversary. The now-elderly war heroes fought to recapture the South Atlantic islands in 1982, a mission which cost 255 British troops' lives. Some of the veterans cannot walk and require carers to accompany them. But their bookings were cancelled after owners of the Potters Hotel agreed to accommodate asylum seekers. More than 28,000 people have crossed the English Channel to reach Britain in the last year. The number who made the crossing in 2021 was treble that of 2020, while in the last fortnight 773 have reached the UK by boat. With the Home Office's residential centres overflowing, it has resorted to placing migrants in hotels. Furious: Veteran David Brown (pictured) David 'Charlie' Brown, 60, told the Daily Mail he booked a disabled twin room for him and his carer on the ground floor. He has to take liquid morphine every day and can barely walk across the road or stand up for more than five minutes. Forty years ago he fought with the Parachute Regiment's second battalion (2 Para) at Goose Green, one of the major battles of the South Atlantic campaign. Eighteen British troops were killed and more than 60 wounded on the night of May 28, 1982 when the heavily outnumbered Paras defied the odds to capture key Argentine strongholds. The battle is also famous for the posthumous Victoria Cross won by 2 Para commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Herbert 'H' Jones, who was killed leading an attack up a steep hillside. Retired Mr Brown, from Thornton, West Yorkshire, said he was furious when he was told his room had been taken by migrants and his booking cancelled, and worried he would not find another hotel close enough to the ceremonies. Serving: Private Brown in 1982 He added: 'I'm disgusted. I booked the room last year as soon as it became available because of my specific requirements. 'There are more than 1,000 ex-Paras due to attend the events in Aldershot in June, so all the other hotels are booked up. 'I'm furious because the needs of elderly and infirm former soldiers have just been cast aside, in spite of the significance of the events. 'Aldershot is the regiment's spiritual home. I don't know how I will be able to go because I can barely walk and standing up is agony.' Hotel company chief executive Bob Potter confirmed that the Paras' bookings had been cancelled. He added he had been forced to reach an agreement with Whitehall to accommodate asylum seekers or the hotel would have closed because of a lack of guests. He said: 'We were not taking enough bookings to make it a viable option to keep it open. 'We were approached to lease the hotel for the Home Office as we had to look at alternative revenue streams. 'We are deeply sorry for any inconvenience caused to those who had booked with us.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The Government has not booked this hotel as support accommodation during the summer months and any cancellations made for bookings during that period have been made by the hotel without consultation with the Government. 'The Nationality and Borders Bill will deliver the most comprehensive reform in decades to fix the broken asylum system. It will make the system fairer and more effective so that we can better protect and support those in genuine need of asylum.' Potters have offered the Falklands veterans rooms in another hotel owned by the same company in Camberley, Surrey, around seven miles away from Aldershot. A Texas college student who was mauled by two dogs while dog-sitting for a Dallas doctor and his wife has been left 'permanently and catastrophically disfigured' after losing 'most of her face below her eyes,' according to a lawsuit. Jacqueline Durand, a 22-year-old student at the University of Texas at Dallas, went to the home of Dr. Justin and Ashley Bishop on December 23 having been hired to dog sit while they were away. She was assured that when she went to the home, the dogs would already be in their crates and kennels, but on the day Durand visited, the animals were allegedly left to roam around the house freely. Durand's lawyers say that as soon as she opened the door to their home, the dogs pounced and she was viciously mauled by Lucy, a German Shepherd mixed-breed and Bender, a pit bull mix. After she went inside, the dogs then proceeded to maul her 'catastrophically,' tearing off and eating both of her ears, her nose, her lips, and most of her face below her eyes, the lawsuit states. The attack happened one day before her 22nd birthday and just few days after she had already been to meet both dogs at their home with their owner, specifically to get to know them and their routines. The suit argues that the situation Durand was entering was made even more dangerous by virtue of the fact the dogs were not in their kennels, as had been promised. Durand is seeking a jury trial and compensation of more than $1 million. Jacqueline Durand, (pictured) a 22 year-old student University of Texas at Dallas, went to the home of Dr. Justin Bishop and his wife Ashley after being hired to dog sit A sign on the door warns: 'Crazy Dogs. Please don't knock or ring the bell. call or text instead.' The attack is said to have happened at the Bishop family home, pictured, in the northwest suburbs of Dallas, Texas 'The owner assured Jacqueline that the dogs would be crated,' Durand's attorney Chip Brooker said in a statement. 'But, shortly before her first visit, the owner texted Jacqueline to tell her that she failed to crate the dogs before leaving town. A sign on the front door even warns visitors about the violent pets that live at the home. 'Crazy Dogs. Please Don't Knock or Ring the Bell. Call or Text Instead,' reads the sign. After the dogs pushed the door open, Durand claims they knocked her off balance, causing her to fall and drop her cell phone. The dogs were allegedly so violent and bloodthirsty that they pulled all of Jacqueline's clothes off, including her blue jeans. The attack only ended after a neighbor heard the commotion coming from next door. The emergency services were immediately called and Durand was taken straight to a Level 1 trauma center, equipped to handle the most serious of conditions. During the brutal incident, the dogs attacked her entire body leaving her with hundreds of puncture wounds. She currently remains hospitalized having undergone multiple reconstructive surgeries, with more to come. In a January 18 Facebook post, Durand thanked people for their well-wishes from her hospital bed. Durand (pictured) was left with hundreds of puncture wounds and remains hospitalized after undergoing multiple reconstructive surgeries, with more to go The attack happened days after the 22-year-old met both dogs in their home with their owner to get to know them and their routine (Durand pictured before mauling) 'I am so blessed to be surrounded by so much love and support as I go through this hard time in my life. Thank you everyone who is supporting and loving me every step of the way since the beginning! I am making good progress every single day that I'm here. Prayers are being answered! Thank you,' she wrote The dogs were captured and placed in the care of the City of Coppell before a municipal judge decided that both dogs should be euthanized, the suit said. Durand is accusing Dr. Bishop and his wife of negligence for allegedly failing to control, secure and train the animals, as well as 'failing to provide a safe environment for their invitees,' according to the suit. The lawsuit lays the blame directly at the Bishops who allowed the animals to remain on their property while 'knowing they had dangerous propensities.' It alleges the Bishops knew of the dog's tendencies towards violence because of the 'crazy dogs' warning sign that was visible to anyone walking up to the front door. 'Jacqueline will forever measure her life in terms of before and after opening that door,' Brooker said. 'She will be permanently disfigured for the rest of her life, and we filed this lawsuit to make sure all the responsible parties are held accountable.' Between 2005 and 2017, there were a total of 433 deaths caused by dogs in the U.S. Pit bulls continue to top the list of America's most dangerous dog breeds, having been responsible for 284 fatal attacks on humans from 2005 to 2017. The second breed on the list, Rottweilers, came a distant second with 45. A short bicycle ride from the River Cam, where tourists go punting and generations of bleary-eyed students have leapt from bridges to celebrate the end of exams, is the ancient chapel of Jesus College. Dating back to 1157, and famed for candlelit evensongs and an internationally respected choir, its well-worn pews have, over the years, cradled the backsides of such notable alumni as Samuel Taylor Coleridge, the Romantic poet, and a young Prince Edward. The chapel, purportedly the oldest Cambridge University building still in use, is quite a landmark. It boasts stained glass windows by Victorian designer William Morris, several priceless sculptures and oil paintings and no fewer than three vast organs, the most famous of which is adorned with golden panels decorated by Pugin. Times change, however, and next week this tribute to Jesus Colleges benefactor will be front and centre of the latest great scuffle in our never-ending culture wars. Jesus College is pictured above Lost amid such splendour is a white marble plaque affixed to the wall of the west nave. Upon close inspection, it bears a portrait of Tobias Rustat, a bewigged 17th-century philanthropist and courtier to Charles II, who gave generously to Jesus College and was duly buried beneath the chapel following his death in 1694. Until recently, this large but understated monument the work of master sculptor Grinling Gibbons which celebrates its subjects faithfulness and workes of charity has tended to pass most visitors by. Times change, however, and next week this tribute to Jesus Colleges benefactor will be front and centre of the latest great scuffle in our never-ending culture wars. On Wednesday, the Diocese of Ely will commandeer Tobias Rustats last resting place to stage a high-profile and bitterly contested court hearing to determine whether the College patron who, in 1671, gave it 2,000 (some 500,000 today) to fund scholarships for the orphan children of Anglican clergyman should, as the modern saying goes, be cancelled. Scheduled to last at least three days, it will be heard in the chapel by His Honour Judge David Hodge QC, and revolves around an application by Jesus for the Rustat Memorial to be removed from its lofty perch on the walls of the Grade I-listed building and placed instead in a nearby basement that had been used as a wine cellar. Behind this proposal lies an awkward fact: historical records suggest that, towards the end of his life, Rustat profited from the Transatlantic slave trade. Although the sums concerned were comparatively small it seems that perhaps 1.7 per cent of his fortune was connected to slavery and despite the fact no tainted money actually found its way into the College coffers (his bequests pre-dated any of the now-controversial investments), Jesus chose to pursue the ecclesiastical court action in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, calling it part of a process of critical self-reflection on the long-term legacies of enslavement and colonial violence. Master of Jesus, Sonita Alleyne, declared last year: The chapel should offer a welcoming space accessible to every member of our community . . . This is the right solution for our college. Not everyone agrees, however. Indeed, the removal of the monument is being vigorously opposed by a group of 65 former students calling themselves the Rustat Memorial Group. They have lodged a formal objection to the proposed relocation and will be represented at the hearing by a leading ecclesiastical barrister named Justin Gau. Lost amid such splendour is a white marble plaque affixed to the wall of the west nave. Upon close inspection, it bears a portrait of Tobias Rustat, a bewigged 17th-century philanthropist and courtier to Charles II, who gave generously to Jesus College and was duly buried beneath the chapel following his death in 1694 This is a vindictive and misguided gesture by an institution that has completely lost its way, says one of them. The money Rustat gave away is worth millions today, and generations of students have benefited from it. He did endless good things, but they now want to drag him through the mud because of hysteria about something that was barely controversial until a century after he had died. Its Orwellian and is quite wrong. At the centre of legal arguments in which both sides will deploy an array of expert witnesses, including several eminent historians will be a number of thorny and highly topical questions. Among them: is it fair to hold long-dead historical figures to todays ethical standards? Do places of worship have an enduring duty to respect the wishes of the deceased regarding their final resting place? And is our heritage compromised when cultural institutions decide to jettison architecturally significant memorials to once-eminent people whom it is now fashionable to hate? The whole thing also represents a test case for the Church of England, which last May instructed the nations 12,500 parishes and 42 cathedrals to consider the removal, relocation or alteration of plaques or monuments connected to the slave trade. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby supports such gestures, saying that some [monuments] will have to come down, some names will have to change. The fate of Rustats memorial, whose relocation is opposed by English Heritage on conservation grounds, may therefore establish an important precedent. Coverage furthermore presents a danger to the reputation of Jesus College and by extension Cambridge University. Why? Well, despite its holier-than-thou approach to slavery carried out more than three centuries ago, Jesus appears to have a remarkably relaxed approach to equally reprehensible forms of slavery that continue to this day. In recent years, the College has pursued an alarmingly close commercial relationship with the autocratic Chinese Communist Party, which stands accused of presiding over the enslavement and genocide of hundreds of thousands of Uighur Muslims, not to mention the ongoing repression of millions of its own citizens. Nicknamed Xi-sus College after Chinese President Xi Jinping, the institution was revealed in 2020 to have accepted 200,000 from the Chinese state and 155,000 from Chinese telecoms firm Huawei. One of its senior professors, Peter Nolan, runs a non-profit that has been paid tens of thousands of pounds to host training courses for executives from Chinese state-owned companies. Nolans professorship is itself funded by a 3.7 million donation, made in 2009, by a trust said to be controlled by the daughter of a former Chinese prime minister. Another don, professor of nuclear engineering Geoff Parks, has co-authored research funded by the Peoples Liberation Army, according to an investigation by the Henry Jackson Society think-tank. This material included several highly sensitive papers co-authored by a senior Chinese military official. Speaking in Parliament last summer, Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, accused the College of assisting Chinas distortion of academic ideas and academic freedoms in the UK, amid reports that its academics had shut down critical discussion of the Uighur genocide. Jesus chose to pursue the ecclesiastical court action in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests, calling it part of a process of critical self-reflection on the long-term legacies of enslavement and colonial violence. Master of Jesus, Sonita Alleyne, pictured, declared last year: The chapel should offer a welcoming space accessible to every member of our community . . . This is the right solution for our college' We have a centre in Jesus College Cambridge which is refusing to talk about abuses of Uighur Muslims for fear of causing offence, said Mr Tugendhat. Is this the first time Jesus himself has taken 30 pieces of silver? This is a deeply disappointing moment for all of us who believe in academic freedom in the UK. In a statement Jesus said: This is about a memorial in our Chapel and not about China. It is, all told, a terrible mess. And to understand how things reached this point, we must wind the clock back to May 2019, when Alleyne, a former media executive and ex-member of the BBC Trust, was appointed Master of Jesus, becoming the first black leader of an Oxbridge college in the process. Shortly after she arrived, it was decided to create a Legacy of Slavery working party to explore the Colleges potential links to that ugly trade and address wider dynamics of institutional racism. Its 11 members comprised two historians, including Labour activist Nicholas Guyatt. When the Colston Four, who tore down the statue of Bristol benefactor Edward Colston in 2020 and threw it in the citys harbour, were acquitted recently, Guyatt tweeted that he was delighted that the Crown Prosecution Service has failed in its attempt to criminalise an iconic moment of protest and a long-overdue historical reckoning. Another member of Jesuss slavery working party is historian Elly Robson, who has opined: The UK is racist. Its wealth was built on an exploitative system of race. The UKs institutions have been shown to be overwhelmingly racist. The UKs borders are racist. Jesus describes the working party as fair and balanced. However perhaps unsurprisingly, given the world view exhibited above members made no effort to probe the Colleges modern paymasters in Communist China, and instead focused on two areas of historic controversy. One involved a bronze cockerel that had been looted from the West African country of Benin during a British military expedition in the late 1800s and given to Jesus College. It was, largely uncontroversially, handed back to the country in a televised ceremony last October. The other involved publicly renouncing Rustat, the son of a vicar and an ardent royalist during the English Civil War, who had helped Charles II escape from the Battle of Worcester, looked after him during subsequent exile, and became his Yeoman of the Robes after the Restoration in 1660. Thanks to his masters patronage, the lifelong bachelor became a wealthy man in middle age, and with no heir, gave away much of his fortune to Jesus (where his father had been educated). On the business front, in 1663 he bought a 1 per cent stake in a company called the Royal Adventurers, which seems to have traded slaves and minerals out of West Africa. The venture failed in 1672, and Rustat lost 90 per cent of the money hed invested, but it subsequently reformed as the Royal African Company in 1676. Over the next 50 years, the firm transported about 150,000 enslaved Africans, mostly to the Caribbean. Rustat, who was alive for about 15 years of the firms existence, appears to have sold his stake three years before his death in 1694, profiting to the tune of 200 or so (about 40,000 today). He also seems to have taken a stake in a firm called the Gambian Adventurers, though the exact nature of its business is unclear. In light of these ventures, the Legacy of Slavery working party decided his name ought to be erased from a number of College events. The Rustat feast, a yearly dinner financed by one of his bequests, was renamed the Summer Feast. The Rustat Conferences, a series of annual talks he also funded, were changed to the Jesus College Conferences. And a portrait of him was removed from the Colleges senior common room. The working party also called for the Rustat Memorial to be removed from the chapel, and in November 2020, the College Council decided to support the move. But there was a snag. Because the chapel is an ecclesiastical building, such a change to its fabric could be made only by first securing authorisation from an ecclesiastical court. The following month, the College made a formal application to the Diocese of Ely. By this point, the hackles of some Jesus alumni, many of whom are also benefactors of the College, had been firmly raised. Many regarded the public shaming of Rustat as unfair, on the grounds that slavery was at the time almost entirely uncontroversial. Indeed, the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade wasnt founded until 1787, almost a century after Rustats death. Furthermore, they reasoned, what is the point of anyone giving money to a College that might in future decide simply to cancel a historic donor? No one today disputes the fact that slavery was abhorrent. But he was a man of his time, says one alumnus. The way Jesus is treating him, youd have thought he spent his life flogging plantation workers. In reality, he was a wealthy courtier in London who made business investments, probably because the King told him to. But because a tiny proportion of these involved slavery, his entire legacy is being shredded. If this stands, where does it lead? Will people in 100 years be combing through donors to cancel people whose pensions were invested in oil or tobacco firms? Many alumni are understood to have cancelled monthly donations to the College in protest. Meanwhile, the Rustat Memorial Group has lodged a formal objection to the Colleges proposals. In court next week, they are expected to argue, among other things, that Rustats investment in the slave trade was marginal in the context of his life, and that the College, which claimed on its website that he derived great wealth from the Royal African Company, has misinterpreted the evidence. The groups expert witnesses include Nigel Biggar, a distinguished Oxford professor who once upset the forces of political correctness by describing the British Empire as morally mixed. Also keeping a watchful eye on proceedings will be descendants of Rustat. One, former Chief Scientist at English Heritage Sebastian Payne who is descended from Rustats brother, Robert regards the removal of the monument as a sort of desecration of his ancestors grave, since it was his dying wish to be buried nearby. High-profile figures within Cambridge have also criticised the case. Prof David Abulafia, an emeritus professor of history at Cambridge, has described the shaming of Rustat as virtue-signalling. Dr Colin Kolbert, emeritus professor of law at Magdalene College, accuses Jesus of entirely empty gestures, telling me: If the College really cared about having a clean conscience, theyd be giving back the money he gave them. In response, Jesus says that returning cash would breach charity law, and argues: The College is not seeking to cancel Rustat. It is applying to have his memorial moved from a place of worship to a more suitable but still prominent place in the College. The fate of that ambition will soon rest in the hands of His Honour Judge David Hodge QC. While the outcome is hard to predict, the whole thing will be expensive. Bringing the case will cost Jesus around 55,000, while relocating the memorial in a listed building could cost 30,000. Even if Jesus wins, opponents are likely to appeal, pushing costs (which, since the college is a Charity, come from charitable funds) still higher. Luckily, the College has deep pockets: its worth around 350 million, thanks to benefactors such as the late Tobias Rustat not to mention some deep-pocketed Chinese Communists, too. Advertisement Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has been spotted taking a break from his $6.8billion empire to catch some waves in Costa Rica. DailyMail.com spotted the tech entrepreneur and philanthropist enjoying the surf Thursday and remaining hyper focused on the waves. At one point he was seen laughing as he chatted up a fellow surfer on the beach. He looked toned as a ever as he went shirtless and wore black shorts, with a gold watch on his wrist. He made sure to protect himself from the UV rays with sunscreen visible on his nose. Dorsey appears to have some extra time for relaxation after stepping down as Twitter CEO in November, saying in a post that he was 'choosing the company over my ego'. Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was spotted taking a break from his $6.8billion dollar empire to catch some waves in Costa Rica DailyMail.com spotted the tech entrepreneur and philanthropist enjoying the surf Thursday and remaining hyper focused on the waves At one point Dorsey was seen smiling and laughing as he chatted up a fellow surfer on the beach The 45-year-old tech mogul made sure to protect himself from the UV rays with sunscreen visible on his nose Dorsey looked toned as a ever as he went shirtless to show off his abs and wore black shorts. He also wore what one would hope is a waterproof watch on his wrist The 45-year-old posted his resignation letter on Twitter in which he explained he had 'worked hard to ensure this company can break away from its founding and founders' before patting himself on the back by noting 'there aren't many founders that choose their company over ego. 'I know we'll prove this was the right move.' Parag Agrawal, 45, was named the new CEO of the social media giant after serving as the company's chief technology officer since 2017. Dorsey was the CEO of Twitter when it was first founded in 2006, and oversaw its startup. He returned to the top job in 2015. He has since faced criticism from top Republican lawmakers for stifling free speech on Twitter and banning former President Donald Trump from the social media site. There have also been calls for tighter legislation on what can be posted on social media sites, with some claiming the site spreads misinformation. Many Republicans celebrated his exit at the time, with Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert tweeting: 'Jack Dorsey is rumored to be stepping down as Twitter CEO. Great. He's been a disaster.' 'Hopefully someone who believes in free speech and our Constitution will take the reins and reinstate the tons of Americans unfairly banned.' Dorsey made sure to check his balance as he rode the waves in to shore. He executed the waves flawlessly, but was seen falling a few times Costa Rica is known for its sublime surf, and Dorsey made sure to take full advantage while on vacation Dorsey appears to have time for relaxation after stepping down as Twitter CEO in November, saying in a post that he was 'choosing the company over my ego' In November, The 45-year-old posted his resignation letter on Twitter in which he explained he had 'worked hard to ensure this company can break away from its founding and founders' There had been concerns about Dorsey's time being divided between Twitter and payment company Square Inc., both multimillion dollar companies. He remains CEO of that company. During his tenure at Twitter, revenue for the social media giant grew sluggishly, with the New York Times reporting that a stock in the company is now worth roughly the same as it was a year ago. As the new CEO, Agrawal announced in December that he would be making some major changes to Twitter's team to streamline company operations and accelerate growth. As a result of his changes, the head of engineering Michael Montano and chief design officer Dantley Davis stepped down from their lead roles and left the company on December 31, 2021. Agrawal's company-wide email explained how he wanted to bring together employees who are divided by their job functions and corresponding teams, according to The Washington Post, which exclusively obtained the email. Agrawal told his staff in his email that he will focus on 'clear decision-making, increased accountability and faster execution,' starting with 'making a number of organizational and leadership changes to best position us to achieve our goals,' as reported by The Post. A FIFO worker charged with drugging and raping two women he met on a sugar-daddy website allegedly raped 20 more women while they were unconscious. Father-of-two Adam Charles Lusk, 43, fronted Perth Magistrates Court on Friday where it was heard he allegedly raped a 23-year-old woman and 28-year-old woman. Police prosecutors allege he had met the women on a sugar-daddy website before slipping ketamine into their drinks and sexually assaulting them. The court heard police had also seized his mobile phone and uncovered footage of 20 more unconscious women allegedly being raped. A FIFO worker charged with drugging and raping two women he met on a sugar daddy website allegedly raped 20 more women while they were unconscious Father-of-two Adam Charles Lusk, 43, fronted Perth Magistrates Court on Friday where it was heard he allegedly raped a 23 and 28-year-old woman Lusk was arrested in January and charged over the alleged sexual assault of the 23 and 28-year-old women. He was charged with three counts of sexual penetration without consent and two counts of stupefying in relation. The court heard Lusk met the first woman on a sugar-daddy website in April before the pair engaged in consensual sex, The West Australian reported. Police allege the pair had visited Joe's Juice Bar when the woman went to the bathroom and Lusk slipped ketamine into her drink on May 21. The woman began to lose consciousness before blacking out and then waking up to Lusk raping her at a Burswood home, the court heard. 'Stop hurting me,' the woman allegedly told Lusk. The court heard Lusk agreed to pay the second woman $350 and met her at a restaurant on December 19. Police allege the pair went back to his Ascot home where Lusk snorted a white powder before he prepared the woman a drink in the kitchen. Police prosecutors allege he had met the women on a sugar-daddy website before slipping ketamine into their drinks and sexually assaulting them The court heard police had also seized his mobile phone and uncovered footage of 20 more unconscious women allegedly being raped The woman then began to lose her memory and remembered waking up in bed with Lusk where he joked about what he had done, the court heard. Lusk has pleaded not guilty to the five charges brought against him and made his application for bail. His lawyer lawyer Stephen Gabriel said his client's parents were willing to put up a surety and house their son at their Dawesville home. Magistrate Joe Randazzo labelled the seriousness of the offences as 'the highest order' and said it would be 'wholly inappropriate' to grant him bail. Lusk will appear in court in April. Accession Day. In 1952, it was a time for mourning a beloved father. We can only guess the weight of the emotional burden that unexpectedly befell the young Princess Elizabeth when the King died on February 6 that year. While it was a day to celebrate the start of a new reign, we should never forget that, for the Queen, it is also a day of pain and bereavement. Seventy years later, it marks the start of the Queens Platinum Jubilee and is a time for looking back with gratitude for a reign thats still going strong, and for 70 years of memories our own and those we have inherited. We shouldnt hold back: monarchy either lives in the hearts and experiences of ordinary British people, or it doesnt really live at all. We can only guess the weight of the emotional burden that unexpectedly befell the young Princess Elizabeth when the King died My first glimpse of the Queen was through a rainy limousine window in a wintry Scottish town, where our school was gamely trying to line a street with loyal, smiling faces. It was two thrills in one: we got to see the Queen and we skipped double maths. Later I overheard the headmaster excitedly re-living the experience for the benefit of the staff-room: ...and when she looked at me it was as if she was saying, How lovely to see you here! Even at the tender age of nine, it occurred to me that if the Queen really had been glad to see him, she must indeed be a person of extraordinary grace and stamina. I had already learned an important lesson about Her Majesty: just a fleeting sense of her presence could do wonders for morale. Our notoriously savage headmaster was a ray of sunshine for several hours following his close encounter with the sovereign proving that you should never discount the soft power of royalty. Like the headmaster, my parents served in the Armed Forces of the Queens father during World War II. Fighting for King and country was not the abstract idea it might seem today. It was a real thing. Years later, I absorbed this history as part of my growing up. To my impressionable mind, it somehow made the Queen an honorary member of our family. After all, she was about the same age as my mum and they had both been in the Army. And, conclusively, they even had the same hairstyle. Had she lived to see it, my mother would have been especially proud when, 23 years later, I was appointed equerry to the Queens glamorous daughter-in-law and future Queen-consort, Princess Diana. Just a fleeting sense of Her Majesty's presence can do wonders for morale The monarchy had moved on a bit by then, and not entirely for the better: we were on the brink of the traumatic years of family upheaval that culminated in the notorious annus horribilis of 1992. The Windsors were now just more celebrity gossip and diary fodder in mass circulation newspapers. It marked a dangerous fall in public respect. Even as I arrived at the palace, I knew from rumours that Charles and Dianas marriage might not be the real-life fairytale we had all been sold. It wasnt long before I had a chance to update my childhood impressions of the Queen and get a valuable insight into my new boss. There was a diary planning meeting, a set-piece event during which the prince and princess and their staffs went through the tortuous process of deciding the Waleses official engagements for the next half-year. There could be some tense moments, like when the prince was asked to take on a non-negotiable invitation he would much rather decline. Cue much respectful persuasion from his private secretary, to no avail. I knew from rumours that Charles and Dianas marriage might not be the real-life fairytale we had all been sold It was Diana, now growing restless with the delay, who broke the stalemate. Why dont you ask your mother to do it? she asked. There was a collective gasp at this unprecedented break with convention. Then she shocked the assembled bureaucrat courtiers even more. You could phone her, continued Diana. Use the phone on your desk. This was revolutionary. Communication of this kind should be through established channels with lots of leisurely paperwork. Yet, after only a slight pause, the prince rose from his seat, crossed to his desk and lifted the phone. In minutes, he was speaking to the Queen, and in a minute more she had agreed to do the engagement in his place. As the prince returned to his seat, his wife flashed everybody a Diana look that said: See! It takes a woman to get things done around here! No, I thought to myself. Make that two women. That small incident was typical of many stories in palace folklore. Take, for example, the moment when the Queen turned what could have been a diplomatic fiasco into a breakthrough for the birth of the new South Africa. It was 1991, and the heads of government meeting of the Queens beloved Commonwealth was being held in Harare, Zimbabwe. Guests arrived in a succession of limousines and joined the Queen for a pre-dinner reception. But then the unthinkable happened: an uninvited guest rolled up to the door of State House. Out of the black Mercedes stepped the leader of the African National Congress, the recently released prisoner of Robben Island, Nelson Mandela himself. With the worlds Press watching, any suggestion of surprise or hesitation might have been mistaken for a snub. It could have been a disaster. The Queen invited the recently-released Nelson Mandela to a Commonwealth leaders' summit in 1991 But the Queen didnt miss a beat, welcoming her extra guest as her officials swiftly reorganised the dinner seating plan. Pragmatism matched with courtesy and more than a touch of cool. As I learned, these are among the Queens defining qualities. I saw more of her practical approach when I accompanied Prince Charles to the Remembrance Day service in Hong Kong, when it was still a British Crown Colony. Since I would be handing the prince his wreath to lay on the Cenotaph, I took a close interest in an animated discussion between protocol officials. The Hong Kong team expected the Governor, as the Queens representative, to lay the first wreath; but we visitors maintained that, since the Queens heir was present, he should take precedence. Protocol disagreements can be tense. The debate swung back and forth for what seemed a very long time. Finally, somebody had the bright idea of contacting the Queen personally to get her ruling on the matter. The decision came straight back: the Governor goes first. The point to note is that the Queens unstuffy approach to problems and life in general is the opposite of how monarchs are assumed to think. In some palace offices there is a temptation to over-complicate simple issues. By contrast, the Queens priorities are refreshingly clear: recognise what is required and then get on with it, without the need for coaxing, histrionics or fuss. Add to this philosophy an eye that famously misses no detail and a legendary palace intelligence network, and you have the keys to an extraordinarily effective monarchy. Its an effectiveness carried so lightly that it might be missed altogether amid todays taste for overwrought communications. But underestimate it at your peril. Now imagine the monarchy without her. The more you think about it, the more disturbing it feels. Like a betrayal. Yet its an inevitability that only grows closer. She is irreplaceable but her successors are already lined up, three generations ahead. Although Elizabeth will one day leave us, the Windsors will not. They are our continuing inheritance. How does that feel? Although Elizabeth will one day leave us, the Windsors will not. They are our continuing inheritance. How does that feel? Reassuring, I suppose, but with certain distinct misgivings. The Queens reign continues to be a masterclass in feminine power sometimes subtle, sometimes displayed for effect. Having ascended the throne as a brave and vulnerable young princess, its likely she will be followed by a succession of elderly men. Nothing wrong with that, of course. Age and wisdom go together (usually) so maybe its time for some old, wise kings. Like it or not, though, we live in an image-conscious age. The Windsors themselves obviously recognise this just look at the way the royal PR budget has soared over recent years. They may claim not to care about popularity, but they do need broad support from all generations. Especially from the young, who will be subsidising the monarchy for the rest of their lives. To that generation, a monarch near their own age, preferably with a photogenic family and dependable private life, would be someone to invest in for the long haul. Luckily for Buckingham Palace, the Cambridges have proved they have the charisma of Williams mother, the public service ethos of his grandmother and the common sense that is just the kind of wisdom the Windsors need. Which only reminds us that Prince Andrew has been banished and Prince Harry has self-exiled. But this still leaves us with a future king whose charity, The Princes Foundation, is under investigation and a future queen-consort indelibly implicated in the tragedy of Princess Diana. The failings and frailties of the Queens family only make her example shine brighter. The Platinum Jubilee lets us celebrate that example. It also lets us ask why we have a queen in the first place. Why not a president? The Cambridges have the common sense that is just the kind of wisdom the Windsors need. Which only reminds us that Prince Andrew has been banished and Prince Harry has self-exiled The answer doesnt need a long lecture on the theory and practice of constitutional monarchy. We only need to point to a picture of the Queen. This is the British state in human form, the living, breathing focus and pathway for official patriotic sentiment. Hence God Save the Queen, not God Bless Britain. Churchill described the British system as a crowned republic: In our island, by trial and error, and by perseverance across the centuries, we have found a very good plan. Here it is. The Queen can do no wrong but advisers can be changed as often as the people like to use their right for that purpose. The Queen can do no wrong. Thats a reassuring default position but, of course, our Queen has improved on it immeasurably over a lifetime of service. Her achievements outstrip the efforts of the most industrious historians. Consistently they perceive in the Queen a set of qualities which reassuringly confirm a humanity to which we can feel connected, and a willingness to sacrifice which earns our loyalty. Adjectives such as humorous, pragmatic, modest, straightforward and unstuffy arent awarded lightly; they are earned through years of dedicated service, the bedrock of a reputation few elected leaders could match. Churchill described the British system as a crowned republic: In our island, by trial and error, and by perseverance across the centuries, we have found a very good plan The pattern for her successors could not be clearer. Whatever storms may blow, whatever passions may rage, whatever shocks rock the foundations of Britain a confident, hard-working monarchy sends a reassuring message of calm and continuity. By acting only on the advice of elected ministers and resisting the temptation to pursue the mirage of fashionable relevance it preserves its unifying legitimacy. And by honouring excellence, service and duty, it encourages the rest of us to do more and better with what we have. By all these measures, the Queen has set an example that may never be equalled, only followed by future generations as best they can. As we have seen, from the tragically early death of her father, to the annus horribilis and beyond, she has metaphorically and literally squared her shoulders, set her jaw and uncomplainingly met every test fate has sent her. Perhaps that steadfastness can be traced to an unworldly strength the Queen has never made a secret. She made it especially plain when, aged just 21, she famously committed her life to the service of her people. God help me to make good my vow. Who could doubt that her prayer has been answered in full measure? Now is a time for prayers of thanks for her lifetime of service. Lets pray, too, that if there must be another Accession Day, it keeps us waiting many years yet. Patrick Jephson was equerry and private secretary to HRH The Princess of Wales from 1988 to 1996. A rare portrait of Princess Diana sold for a whopping $201,600 - more than 10 times the expected price, Sotheby's announced Friday. The oil painting, which is a head study, by the late American artist Nelson Shanks was done in 1994, three years before her death. 'Diana, Princess of Wales' was expected to fetch up to $20,000, according to the auction house. Diana is shown in a green halter dress by designer Catherine Walker. She has earrings on and her eyes are glancing downward. The head study was created during the beginning of a larger full-length portrait, with artists occasionally using such head studies to gather details and perspectives on the subject's face. Diana sat for more than 35 hours for a commissioned full-length portrait, which originally hung in Kensington Palace and now resides in her ancestral home in Althorp in Northamptonshire, the auction house stated. Shanks painted a second full-length version of the portrait of Diana from memory in 2010. 'Diana, Princess of Wales,' pictured, was expected to fetch up to $20,000 but it sold for $201,600, according to Sotheby's A full-sized portrait of Princess Diana by American artist Nelson Shanks Pictured: Artist Nelson Shanks painting Princess Diana in 1994, three years before her tragic death Pennsylvania artist Nelson Shanks stands next to his portrait of Pope John Paul II (died April 2005) at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia on January 6, 2003 Diana developed a friendship with Shanks and his wife Leona during her more than 30 sittings with the artist, and in a letter, later lamented that she no longer saw them regularly in London. 'I do miss you and Leona in London, as coming to the Studio was a safe haven, so full of support and love,' she wrote, according to Sotheby's. The portrait shows Princess Diana's face bearing a 'thoughtful expression' and 'downcast eyes,' which were similarly included in her full length-portrait. The dress was later changed to a white blouse for the final, larger project, according to Sotheby's. The auction house describes the final portrait as reflecting 'the emotional toll of Diana's public life in the mid-1990s, but also her inner-resilience.' Pictured: The Princess Of Wales visits Washington Gala Charity Dinner in 1996 Diana, the Princess Of Wales visits Washington Gala Dinner, left, and visiting the Royal Brompton Hospital to meet Cystic Fibrosis sufferers, right, both in 1997 Diana's marriage to Prince Charles had already fallen apart by 1994. The next year, she famously revealed the breaking point of the once-dream marriage during an interview with the BBC. 'There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded,' she said at the time, referring to Charles' relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles, the current Duchess of Cornwall. Diana added that she had been with 'with a husband who loved someone else.' Her divorce to Charles was finalized in 1996 following four years of separation and endless tabloid coverage. However, the paparazzi's nonstop pursuit of the beloved princess led to her death the following year when the car she was riding in crashed in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris. Shanks went on to famously paint the official presidential portraits of Bill Clinton, pictured, for the National Portrait Gallery Shanks also painted the official presidential portrait of Ronald Reagan, pictured Shanks was a painter, teacher and art historian influential in the revival of Classical Realism in the United States. His portraits of royalty, politicians and celebrities added to his international profile as one of the foremost contemporary figurative painters. He painted the official presidential portraits of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton for the National Portrait Gallery before dying of cancer at the age of 77 in 2015. In the Clinton portrait, he even added a salacious Easter egg by including a not-so-subtle reference to the Monica Lewinsky scandal, which led to Clinton getting impeached. 'If you look at the left-hand side of it there's a mantle in the Oval Office and I put a shadow coming into the painting and it does two things,' he told NPR. 'It actually literally represents a shadow from a blue dress that I had on a mannequin, that I had there while I was painting it, but not when he was there. It is also a bit of a metaphor in that it represents a shadow on the office he held, or on him.' NSW has recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic while Victoria continues to mark some of the highest daily deaths since 2020. NSW reported 49 deaths on Saturday - beating the record 46 reported last week. Victoria recorded 31 more deaths - down from 39 reported on Friday - marking some of the highest daily death rates since the state's second outbreak two years ago. In a positive twist, the state has experienced a dip in Covid-19 cases with 12,250 new infections - down from the previous 12,755. NSW has recorded a slight bump with 13,354 new cases - up from 13,333. NSW has recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic while hospitalisations and Covid-19 case numbers remain steady NSW reported 49 deaths on Saturday - beating the record 46 reported last week (pictured, customer outside a Chemist Warehouse) Hospitalisations have dropped slightly in both states with NSW recording 2,693 patients - down from 2,737 - and Victoria reporting 953 patients - down from 988. NSW recorded a slight dip in ICU rates with 186 patients now being treated - down from 189 - while Victoria has remained steady at 114. More than eight million rapid antigen tests have been distributed to over 3,000 NSW schools ahead of the return of term one of the year. Education secretary Georgina Harrisson says the test distribution has been 'one of the most challenging logistical undertakings in recent memory'. Parents should already have been informed about how they can pick up RATs before the first day of term for public school students begins on Tuesday. Those attending private schools returned to school on Thursday. The government released its back-to-school plan on Sunday, with advice that all students take a rapid test before the first day of term one. As criticism grew over the distribution of tests around the state, Premier Dominic Perrottet said on Thursday there was 'never a requirement' for students to be rapid tested on day one of term. NSW recorded a slight dip in ICU rates with 186 patients now being treated - down from 189 - while Victoria has remained steady at 114 Department staff have been volunteering their time, some of them delivering test kits to schools using their own cars, while one school used a ferry to get kits to families. The back-to-school plan says testing will continue twice a week for the first four weeks of the term. The premier said on Friday as school returned and people went back to the office there was 'no doubt' case numbers would increase. He added our 'health care system, hospitalisations and ICU' were in a 'strong position' to handle a possible rise in cases. 'Living alongside the virus means there will be cases of the virus in the community each and every day. Education secretary Georgina Harrisson says the test distribution has been 'one of the most challenging logistical undertakings in recent memory' 'When mobility increases, case numbers increase. That is the model we've moved to in NSW, Australia and around the world.' Some 2737 were hospitalised with COVID-19 on Friday, easing only slightly from the highest-ever number of 2943, reported in the state on Wednesday. NSW recorded 70 COVID-19 deaths on Friday, including 35 fatalities from aged care facilities who lagged on reporting to local health authorities in the past month. An employee checks equipment at the Dashava underground gas storage facility near Striy, outside Lviv, Ukraine, in this May 28, 2015, file photo. AFP-Yonhap Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have heightened concerns about Russian gas flows, prompting the United States to assure European allies it will help them find alternative supplies. The U.S. administration has approached Qatar and other major energy producers to see if they can help should Russia attack Ukraine and the United States impose sanctions on Russia. Russian gas flows to Europe have been lower than usual for several months already. European politicians say Russia is using high gas prices as leverage in a dispute over the Gazprom-backed Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. Gazprom says it is meeting commitments to European customers. Europe relies on Russia for around 35 percent of its natural gas. Most comes through pipelines including Yamal-Europe, which crosses Belarus and Poland to Germany, Nord Stream 1, which goes directly to Germany, and via Ukraine. Europe's gas markets are linked by a network of pipelines. Most countries have cut reliance on Russian gas over the years and there are also more supply routes that bypass Ukraine. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said Ukrainian transit of Russian gas has been reduced by 70 percent, from over 140 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 1998 to less than 42 bcm in 2021. By last year Ukraine was a transit corridor largely for gas going into Slovakia, from where it continued to Austria and Italy, the CSIS added. But sanctions on Russia could impact flows through other pipelines such as Yamal-Europe, Nord Stream 1 and TurkStream. Nord Stream 2 is awaiting certification before Russian gas can flow through to Germany. U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Wednesday that Nord Stream 2 will not move forward if Russia invades Ukraine. "It would be difficult for Europe to stomach sanctions which effectively cut off Russian gas supply, or at least a large portion of these flows," said analysts at ING. Some countries have other options. For example, Germany, the biggest consumer of Russian gas, can also import from Norway, the Netherlands, Britain and Denmark via pipelines. But Norway, Europe's second largest supplier, is delivering natural gas at maximum capacity and can't replace any missing supplies from Russia, its prime minister said. Southern Europe can receive Azeri gas via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline to Italy and the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) through Turkey. Neighboring countries can transfer gas via interconnectors but nations may be unwilling to part with gas they might need and importers would have to pay a high price. On top of all this, European gas storage levels are very low for winter, when demand is traditionally highest. "Cushion gas" held in underground storage to maintain pressure levels could theoretically be used in emergencies, analysts say. Longer term, the European Commission has proposed a system for EU countries to jointly buy strategic stocks of gas. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports to north-west Europe, particularly from the United States, have climbed this month as the price of Dutch gas, the European benchmark, is higher than its Asian LNG counterpart. But there is a limit to how much LNG suppliers can produce and transport. Global liquefaction capacity is almost fully utilized and so are LNG vessels, think tank Bruegel said on Thursday. Qatar, one of the world's top LNG producers, could send some additional gas to Europe but spare supply is scant as most volumes are under contract, a source told Reuters this week. "Assuming average temperatures, high LNG imports would prevent the most severe physical shortages before the end of this winter localized shortages are possible, due to infrastructure limitations," Bruegel said. Snow covered transfer lines are seen at the Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Lusby, Maryland, March 18, 2014. Reuters-Yonhap Several nations have options to fill the gap, including power imports via interconnectors from neighbors, or increased power generation from nuclear, renewables, hydropower or coal. But nuclear availability is declining in Germany, Britain, Belgium and France due to ageing plants, decommissioning, phase-outs and frequent outages. Under pressure to meet climate targets, several EU countries have shut down old coal-fired power plants or are not building new ones. Some countries retain coal plants for use for back-up supply but many have already been fired up due to high gas prices. In past crises, countries have introduced measures to reduce industrial production at certain times, pay back-up generators to switch on supply, order households to curtail energy use, or enforce temporary power cuts. The past 15 years have seen several disputes between Russia and Ukraine over gas, mostly to do with prices paid. In 2006, Gazprom cut off supplies to Ukraine for one day. In the winter of 2008-9, disruptions to Russian supply rippled across Europe. In 2014, Russia cut off supplies to Kyiv after annexing Crimea. Ukraine stopped buying Russian gas in November 2015. Ukraine has reduced reliance on direct gas imports from Russia via a reverse flow mechanism, allowing Ukraine to import from EU countries. (Reuters) The House January 6th Committee on Friday subpoenaed 14 people involved in the effort to send fake certifications of the electoral vote for president in 2020 saying they had information on 'who was behind that scheme.' The panel said the people falsely tried to declare Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 election in seven swing states where Trump claimed fraud occurred as part of his election overturn effort. The 'purported' electors met in December, then sent official certifications to the National Archives and Congress before Congress was set to meet to count the electoral votes as set in statute. 'The existence of these purported alternate-elector votes was used as a justification to delay or block the certification of the election during the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021,' wrote panel Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.). The move came before the committee also subpoenaed former White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere, CNN reported. It sought documents and testimony about his role in 'formulating White House's response to the January 6 attack as it occurred,' as well as a Jan. 5, 2000 staff meeting in the Oval Office with Trump. The House Jan. 6th committee subpoenaed 14 people who submitted 'alternative' electors to the federal government before Congress met to count the electoral votes. Chair Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi said they were 'used as a justification to delay or block the certification of the election during the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021' The committee is demanding information and testimony from 14 people who the panel says allegedly met and submitted false Electoral College certificates declaring Trump the winner of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, according to a letter from Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the Democratic chairman of the panel. President Joe Biden won all seven states. 'We believe the individuals we have subpoenaed today have information about how these so-called alternate electors met and who was behind that scheme,' Thompson said in the letter. 'We encourage them to cooperate with the Select Committee's investigation to get answers about January 6th for the American people and help ensure nothing like that day ever happens again.' The efforts by 'alternate electors' came as Trump allies were demanding Vice President Mike Pence refuse to count votes certified by states. He did not Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) (R) and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) (C), joined by fellow committee members, speak to the media following a hearing of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol on July 27, 2021 at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, speaks during a joint session of Congress to count the electoral votes for US President at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, January 6. Under the U.S. system, people vote to choose electors who then meet as the electoral college. Congress then meets to count the votes as certified The House Jan. 6 committee announced the subpoenas Friday People subpoenaed by Jan. 6th Committee in probe of 'alternate electors' sent to Congress Nancy Cottle, Chairperson, Arizona Loraine B. Pellegrino, Secretary, Arizona David Shafer, Chairperson, Georgia Shawn Still, Secretary, Georgia Kathy Berden, Chairperson, Michigan Mayra Rodriguez, Secretary, Michigan Jewll Powdrell, Chairperson, New Mexico Deborah W. Maestas, Secretary, New Mexico Michael J. McDonald, Chairperson, Nevada James DeGraffenreid, Secretary, Nevada Bill Bachenberg, Chairperson, Pennsylvania Lisa Patton, Secretary, Pennsylvania Andrew Hitt, Chairperson, Wisconsin Kelly Ruh, Secretary, Wisconsin Advertisement The nine-member panel said it has obtained information that groups of individuals met on Dec. 14, 2020 - more than a month after Election Day - in the seven states. The individuals, according to the congressional investigation, then submitted fake slates of Electoral College votes for Trump. Then 'alternate electors' from those seven states sent those certificates to Congress, where several of Trump's advisers used them to justify delaying or blocking the certification of the election during the joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021. In the end, Congress ended up accepting the votes certified by governors and top state election officials, meeting even after rioters broke through police lines and entered the Capitol. The baseless claims of election fraud from the former president and his allies fueled the deadly insurrection on the Capitol building that day as a violent mob interrupted the certification of the Electoral College results. The committee action came after a top Justice Department official confirmed that prosecutors are reviewing fake slates of electors. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said federal prosecutors were 'looking at' the matter using careful language to avoid providing details of any investigation. 'We've received those referrals. Our prosecutors are looking at those and I can't say anything more on ongoing investigations,' she told CNN in an interview. Federal prosecutors have charged hundreds of people with violent offenses and wrongfully entering the Capitol or destroying property during the Capitol riot. But it was only when prosecutors filed charges against members of the Oath Keepers alleging seditious conspiracy in recent days that the government signaled any kind of a probe that might go after planners of the events of Jan. 6th or other election related offenses. 'We've received those referrals. Our prosecutors are looking at those,' said Deputy AG Lisa Monaco when asked about submissions of fake electors Trump and his allies publicly discussed efforts to submit 'alternate' electors from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, Nevada and New Mexico, the same states where Trump allies claimed fraud occurred, but where courts tossed out their claims. The group American Oversight published the documents after obtaining them from the government. The idea was to present Congress with conflicting slates, which could set off a clash over rightful electors which would ultimately go to the House where Republicans could try to prevail by controlling a majority of the state delegations. Last week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said she thought there was sufficient evidence to charge 16 Republicans who submitted false certificates stating Trump won Michigan's electoral votes. Joe Biden won the state by more than 100,000 votes. AG Merrick Garland said on the anniversary of Jan. 6th: 'The Justice Department remains committed to holding all January 6th perpetrators, at any level, accountable under law, whether they were present that day or were otherwise criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy.' Sources told CNN last week that Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani coordinated the effort by Trump backers in states where Trump and his allies were claiming fraud Last week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said she thought there was sufficient evidence to charge 16 Republicans who submitted false certificates stating Trump won Michigan's electoral votes Monaco referenced 'referrals' regarding the fake electors She said her office had been looking at the issue for a year before referring it to DOJ. 'Under state law, I think clearly you have forgery of a public record, which is a 14-year offense, and election law forgery, which is a five-year offense,' the Democrat told MSNBC. She said DOJ was best suited to prosecute. Monaco also echoed Attorney General Merrick Garland and used boilerplate language to describe the investigation, saying prosecutors are 'going to follow the facts and the law, wherever they lead, to address conduct of any kind and at any level that is part of an assault on our democracy.' The documents that various state 'alternate' electors submitted to the National Archives in December 2020 before Congress met to count the votes bear similarities in language. Officials swore the were 'duly elected and qualified Electors for President and Vice President of the United States' and signed the documents. But their efforts weren't signed by governors or the top state elected officials whose approval was needed. Those officials ended up backing the electors who went along with the votes certified by states, even in instances where top election officials were Republicans, such as Georgia and Arizona. Sources told CNN last week that Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani coordinated the effort. The documents didn't change the outcome. In the end, Congress ended up accepting the electors certified by states, with enough sufficient to make Biden the winner. Attorney General Merrick Garland said on the anniversary of Jan. 6th: 'The Justice Department remains committed to holding all January 6th perpetrators, at any level, accountable under law, whether they were present that day or were otherwise criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy.' But the DOJ has faced criticism for appearing to focus on lower-level defendants who breached the Capitol and battled law enforcement. The House January 6th Committee in a series of subpoenas has sought information on people who helped develop a theory and strategy where Congress might fail to accept votes certified for Biden. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) wrote DOJ to provide the names of 10 fake pro-Trump electors. 'I've had people in my district ask me what's being done with these folks, he told the New York Times. 'Enough people kept bringing it up. If people think they can get away with some scam, they'll try another and another.' The House Jan. 6th committee is also probing the matter. 'We want to look at the fraudulent activity that was contained in the preparation of these fake Electoral College certificates, and then we want to look to see to what extent this was part of a comprehensive plan to overthrow the 2020 election,' said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a member of the select committee. A mother has been jailed after 'paying a stranger $200 to take her baby son' and then refusing to reveal to police where the child currently is. Lyn Kim Do, 21, was sentenced to six months behind bars after she was found guilty of contempt in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia this week. It followed a deliberate breach of an order where she was expected to disclose the current whereabouts of her 19-month-old son, Hoang Vinh Le. Ms Do initially told the court she gave her baby to a woman named 'Kathy Nguyen' on May 19 in 2021. She said they met at a coffee shop in Cabramatta in Sydney's west and that she handed Hoang Ving Le to the woman along with $200 to care for him overnight. The whereabouts of Hoang Vinh Le (pictured) is unknown - he was last seen in April last year in Canberra The child's mother Lyn Kim Do (pictured left) was jailed this week for six months for refusing to tell police the baby's current whereabouts Ms Do and the baby's father Hoang Thanh Le, 28, were arrested the next day - but the child has not been seen since. Ms Do and Mr Le have also failed to help police identify the person only known as 'Kathy Nguyen.' The little boy's disappearance followed court made orders on April 19 last year that the youngster was to live with his maternal grandmother. In a sworn affidavit, Ms Do said she left baby Vinh with his godmother because she 'could not give him the care he needed' and she 'did not want him to live with her mother.' In a sentencing judgment released this week, Justice Shane Gill said Ms Do's withholding of information about her son's whereabouts is a 'matter of grave seriousness'. 'The path that you have chosen does not do Vinh any good. If you want to challenge who he is to live with then this is the place to make that challenge, not by hiding him away out of reach of the court,' Justice Gill said. 'Make it right and make it right soon, Ms Do. While Vinh remains missing this matter is not ended. It does not end at you having served six months imprisonment. 'This is a matter that will continue while he remains missing.' Justice Gill also called out the police for their role in the ongoing matter, labelling the investigation 'sloppy.' It is the second time Ms Do has been jailed for contempt relating to her son Vinh, after she received an early sentence of one week due to her noncompliance with orders regarding the child, according to the Daily Telegraph. The AFP first launched an investigation into the child's whereabouts last May after he disappeared from outside a medical practice in Canberra. A sudden burst of machine-gun fire echoed over the fields, followed by a strange buzzing over our heads as we trudged along a path through a cluster of destroyed summer houses clinging to a hillside. 'That's a drone,' said Sergiy, shifting the Kalashnikov automatic rifle on his shoulder as flakes of thick snow fell from the foggy skies. 'They are used before artillery attacks,' he added, before urging: 'Let's move faster out of here.' We did not need much encouragement. We had just passed the grim memorial to two soldiers killed here on the eastern Ukraine frontline of what had been Europe's forgotten war until the world's attention was gripped by the looming prospect of Vladimir Putin invading this country of 44million people. Sergiy had also been telling me about a fallen comrade who died in a shelling last September. 'Only fools are not afraid,' said the 25-year-old officer, whose daughter is about to celebrate her first birthday. 'I'm afraid of being killed or badly injured, not just for myself but for my family. And every soldier on the frontline has a family.' As we moved swiftly over the frozen ground, the scenes around us looked like a film set with blown-out buildings, abandoned toys and clothes, smoke billowing from chimneys and armed soldiers clad in winter camouflage uniforms. Nearby, where the car I had used to get here was parked, was the mangled wreckage of a restaurant struck by artillery fire four months ago. Also, a crude sign warning of sniper fire. Several stray dogs barked at us before coming to say hello, their tails wagging. This is the reality of Russia's assault on Ukraine, which, for all the talk of troops now massing around the country's borders and of Putin launching an invasion, began here in the Donbas region eight years ago after nationwide pro-democracy protests ousted the Kremlin's stooge president of the country in 2014. Nearby, where the car I had used to get here was parked, was the mangled wreckage of a restaurant struck by artillery fire four months ago. Also, a crude sign warning of sniper fire. Several stray dogs barked at us before coming to say hello, their tails wagging. This is the reality of Russia's assault on Ukraine, which, for all the talk of troops now massing around the country's borders and of Putin launching an invasion, began here in the Donbas region eight years ago after nationwide pro-democracy protests ousted the Kremlin's stooge president of the country in 2014. Putin's response, as I witnessed back then, was brutal. The Kremlin illegally seized Crimea, sparked separatist insurgencies in eastern Ukraine and started a war that drags on today over the breakaway pro-Moscow 'republics' of Donetsk and Luhansk. Fighting for freedom: Lieutenant Tatiana Zaritska (pictured) took Ian Birrell to talk to Ukrainian troops on the frontline The frontline runs like a livid scar for 175 miles along Ukrainian soil and in places such as Avdiivka, a town near Donetsk, the rival forces are dug into positions with trenches snaking over the land like a ghastly re-enactment of the First World War. The two sides are locked in wary stalemate, a legacy of the ceasefire deal in July 2020 after a conflict that has left at least 14,000 dead and two million more displaced. But the armistice is regularly broken as proved by that machine- gun fire. 'Russia is like a shark once it smells blood, it keeps on biting,' one soldier told me, reeling off a list of incidents from history before warning that if Putin tries to grab more of Ukraine, it would lead to another giant conflagration engulfing Europe. Sergiy, head of a unit from the 25th Airborne Brigade, led me along the icy trenches where his troops face across to the forces of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), who are aided, armed and almost certainly reinforced by the Russian military. This is a place where danger lurks around every corner, heads must be kept down, holes are dug into the dirt for hiding and soldiers die or are wounded with hideous regularity. Nine Ukrainians were killed last month and three wounded this week. Over the two days before my visit, there were more than 900 ceasefire breaches such as grenade attacks, mortar shelling and shootings in the Donetsk region alone, according to data collected by international observers. Sergiy said the trenches and lookout posts dotting the hillside had been dug before his unit's arrival last September by troops who were forced by constant attacks to leave the safety of nearby houses. Roots and wires poke through gaps in the corrugated steel lining. This friendly officer pointed out Kruta Balka, a group of houses on a hillside 500 yards away. 'DPR soldiers are stationed in the middle of the village. They've dug trenches between the houses so that we cannot see them as they move around.' Sergiy has no doubt that his forces are facing Moscow's military. He says the Donetsk People's Republic had exhausted its supply of local volunteers such as miners from Donbas in 2015. 'These are professional soldiers from Russia,' he added. 'They know how to use their weapons. There is no random shooting in the daytime.' Later, we visited a lookout post where one of his men was on three-hour guard duty, watching through binoculars in his bunker over enemy lines that lay beside a line of tall trees about half a mile in the distance. 'It's quieter during the day but there might be more shootings at night,' said the lookout, Dmytro. 'They shoot nearly every day. We are just making sure they don't move forward.' So what would he do if he suddenly saw Russian tanks rolling in? 'I'll pass the information to my seniors,' he said sternly. There was laughter when I asked if this situation felt like a rerun of the First World War and Dmytro responded that he was too young to recall that conflict. Over the two days before my visit, there were more than 900 ceasefire breaches such as grenade attacks, mortar shelling and shootings in the Donetsk region alone, according to data collected by international observers. Pictured: A member of Ukrainian troops on the frontline These soldiers spend up to nine months on duty in this dystopian landscape, where temperatures can fall to -13F (-25C). They sleep in the ruined houses, taking turns to cook for a week. In one kitchen, a pot of borscht bubbled on the stove. In another room, where plates of sausage and cheese sandwiches sat on a table, I noticed an Orthodox religious icon hanging above a roaring log fire. Were many of the soldiers devout? I asked Sergiy. 'Everyone has God in their hearts,' he replied. Many of the buildings are daubed with crude graffiti with phrases such as 'Glory to Ukraine' and 'Let's kill Muscovites', while the rival forces are close enough to taunt each other with obscenities and patriotic slogans shouted over the no man's land. My escort to the frontline was Lieutenant Tatiana Zaritska, 39, a fiercely patriotic former kindergarten teacher who joined the military with her husband after the Russian-backed separatists seized Donetsk and Luhansk. As we approached her unit's frontline base, she warned that she was going to accelerate fast due to the risk of snipers in a stretch of uncovered road. Later, she said she often drove home after dark without using headlights to avoid drawing fire. She began her military involvement by helping organise food and clothing for the fighters when Putin began inflaming tensions in 2014. 'I felt I had to do something when the first Ukrainian soldiers began to die,' she said. 'I took it all very personally. 'I did not want my children to live under Russia or go through times of war like those in Donetsk and Luhansk. Russia is a totalitarian country, there's no development. I want my children to live in a democratic and European Ukrainian society.' Now she is an officer of the airborne brigade, a veteran of 18 parachute jumps and a fully trained fighter. Her younger daughter, aged 13, plans to enrol in a military academy next year to follow her mother into the armed forces. Lieutenant Zaritska is scathing about the Kremlin's treatment of her nation in recent history from the time in 1933 when four million Ukrainians were starved in man-made famine under Joseph Stalin, through to stifling of their language under the Soviet Union. Yet we must hope these skirmishes around these trenches are not simply a dress rehearsal for a much bigger horror show in this eastern corner of Europe. Pictured: Journalist Ian Birrell in Ukraine Unlike some comrades, she fears Putin with his imperial ambitions may be about to attack Ukraine. 'I hope this situation will be resolved peacefully and Russia will not make a full-scale invasion, but they are stupid enough to do anything,' she said. Despite such scary times, she insists she is not afraid. 'I know why I am here and I know what we are fighting for,' she said, adding with emphasis: 'Many Russians will be killed.' Other Ukrainian soldiers, serving on the frontline of a war that has often been forgotten but might soon explode into something far worse, talk with similar bravado about the prospect of confronting the menacing Russian forces that currently encircle Ukraine from Belarus in the north west to Crimea in the south. 'We will be ready if there is war,' said Evhen, 22, with a typical display of fearlessness. 'The Russians are the ones who should be afraid since they will be returning in their coffins.' Yet we must hope these skirmishes around these trenches are not simply a dress rehearsal for a much bigger horror show in this eastern corner of Europe. Additional reporting by Kate Baklitskaya Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd is publishing a sick memoir on Amazon from his prison cell. He is cashing in on the tragedy of Charlotte Brown, who died on their first date when he drunkenly sped up the Thames and flipped his fast craft. Shepherd is serving six years for her manslaughter. But far from accepting his punishment, he has been secretly writing his warped version of events with the help of his best friend during jail visits. The pair now hope to get rich by selling their ghoulish 3.99 book about his life and crimes using Amazons online Kindle store. Last night her father, Graham Brown, said: Jack Shepherd has shown no empathy or remorse for the terrible events which led to Charlottes death. He is a proven liar and this is another example of Shepherd trying to convince himself he is innocent. Speedboat killer Jack Shepherd is publishing a sick memoir on Amazon from his prison cell Charlotte Brown, pictured, died on her first date with Shepherd when he crashed his speedboat on the River Thames in 2015 It should be remembered that a jury at the Old Bailey found him guilty and absolutely responsible for the death of Charlotte. Charlotte isnt here because of this mans actions. This is another insult to the family, and Ive no doubt that Shepherds version in the book is a complete fabrication and full of lies. Amazon and the Ministry of Justice face questions about how a convicted prisoner is able to sell his story. The biography charts womanising Shepherds squalid life before giving a twisted account of the night Miss Brown, 24, was killed in 2015. Following her death, Shepherd, 35, went on the run to the former Soviet state of Georgia rather than explain his actions to a jury and Miss Browns devastated family. His trial went ahead without him in July 2018 at the Old Bailey, where he was found guilty. But he caused national outrage when he successfully claimed public money in legal aid from his bolthole to pursue an appeal. Following her death, Shepherd, 35, went on the run to the former Soviet state of Georgia rather than explain his actions to a jury and Miss Browns devastated family, pictured, the speed boat owned by the 150,000-a-year web designer The Mail found him in January 2019. He was returned to the UK and he has been in jail ever since. But instead of serving his time quietly, the Mail has discovered he has been helping his best friend write a biography. The law prevents criminals profiting from memoirs, but the pair present the book as a work of fiction, simply changing place names and those of everyone involved, but leaving the story unchanged. The working title of the 207-page memoir was My Mate The Speedboat Killer. The Mail is not publishing its new title. Shepherds best friend whose identity is not being revealed by the Mail tried to hawk the book to newspapers, but it was rejected. So they wrote it as a fictionalised account, changing Jacks name to Keith and his friends to Clive. In the first chapter, they describe how they plotted the biography of Britains most wanted man. Shepherd, a former 150,000-a-year web designer, was sent to Frankland jail in Durham, and instructed his friend to pay regular visits to record his story. He said his lawyers had told him it could cause problems with the Parole Board if they wrote the book, adding: It has to be done right. Certain omissions are needed. Names changed. Places too. Youll have to say this is a fictitious account. It has to be about it but not really about it. If you know what I mean. The pair even recorded how they haggled over any proceeds. After discussing the rules preventing inmates profiting from a crime, they agreed to send some money to Shepherds estranged wife and child. Keith wanted a half share of the profits, Clive suggested a quarter, and they settled on a third. The book is a fictionalised account of Jack Shepherd's 'womanising and use of cocaine' The memoir describes Shepherds womanising and use of cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine and marijuana. Keith even boasts about dating three women at once. The Mail is choosing not to detail the part of the book describing the speedboat accident. The book has been self-published on Amazon for Kindle e-readers. Authors who use the firms Kindle Direct Publishing arm set the sale price. Amazon keeps some of the money and pays the author a royalty usually around 70 per cent of the price, minus an admin fee. In the case of Shepherds book, the author is likely to be due around 2.70 per copy sold. A Prison Service spokesman said: Prisoners are never allowed to profit from their crimes and we take whatever steps are necessary to prevent it including legal action if needed. Amazon did not respond to a request for comment last night. Scotland Yard threatened this evening to take anyone breaching Covid rules at Downing Street to court if they contest their fines. Head of the 'celebrity squad', Commander Catherine Roper, announced officers had received the full folder of material gathered during the Cabinet Office probe and said officers would be writing to those who attended events asking them to explain themselves. Anyone without a 'reasonable excuse' for flouting the rules faces the prospect of 'enforcement action', she warned. Commander Roper said: 'If the decision is to take enforcement action then a report will be sent to the ACRO Criminal Records Office which will issue the fixed penalty notice. Scotland Yard threatened this evening to take anyone breaching Covid rules at Downing Street to court if they contest their fines. Pictured: Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick 'Recipients can pay the fixed penalty and the matter will be considered closed.' But she added: 'Should a recipient dispute the fixed penalty notice then the case will be referred back to the Met, where officers will consider whether to pursue the matter in a magistrates' court.' The letters to partygoers could save Boris Johnson from the embarrassing prospect of being interviewed under caution. In an extraordinary late statement, the force hit back at criticism over its intervention in the publication of the Sue Gray report. Earlier, the Met suggested the report be redacted to make 'minimal reference' to No10 events to 'avoid any prejudice to our investigation'. But the reference to 'prejudice' implying it could go before a jury was scorned by lawyers, and later dropped. Commander Roper said: 'We intend to complete our investigations promptly, fairly and proportionately. 'We have not delayed this report and the timing of its release is a matter for the Cabinet Office inquiry team.' When news first broke that Boris Johnson and his staff apparently held boozy parties at Downing Street while millions endured strict lockdown rules, Scotland Yard quickly dismissed calls to mount an investigation This week was meant to finally draw a line under the scandal that has dogged the PM for months. Here, the Mail exposes the recent shambolic process of the inquiry: Dame Cressida's bombshell Commissioner Cressida Dick announced to stunned London Assembly members on Tuesday that officers were mounting a full-scale criminal inquiry, effectively lobbying a hand grenade into the process. It was a complete reversal of what the Met had said up until then. When news first broke that Boris Johnson and his staff apparently held boozy parties at Downing Street while millions endured strict lockdown rules, Scotland Yard quickly dismissed calls to mount an investigation. The force insisted detectives would wait for the conclusion of Miss Gray's inquiry and only act if there was evidence of criminality. In an extraordinary late statement, the force hit back at criticism over its intervention in the publication of the Sue Gray (pictured) report Her explanation Justifying the spectacular volte face, Britain's most senior police officer revealed her officers had already carried out an assessment on a dossier of evidence handed over by Miss Gray on Sunday. Dame Cressida announced the threshold for a criminal investigation had been met. She said: 'The guidelines suggested we should potentially investigate further.' How chaos unfolded The last-minute intervention by Scotland Yard threw Miss Gray's inquiry into disarray. It appeared at first that her report would still be published after Scotland Yard briefed on Tuesday that it was not seeking to cover up her findings. But then yesterday, to widespread scorn, the force announced it had instructed the Cabinet Office team to limit publication of any potentially criminal events and behaviour, casting uncertainty on when the report will surface and how extensive it will be. Rivals' wild claims of report 'stitch-up' Opposition leaders yesterday lined up to make a string of incendiary claims about a so-called 'stitch-up' between No 10 and the Metropolitan Police over Partygate. They tried to stoke claims Commissioner Cressida Dick had intervened to suppress the full publication of the Sue Gray report to let Boris Johnson off the hook. Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, tweeted: 'A stitch-up between the Met leadership and No 10 will damage our politics for generations and it looks like it is happening right in front of our eyes.' This prompted Tory MP Michael Fabricant to reply: 'The Lib Dems called for a police investigation and now they're accusing the police of corruption.' Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon said the situation was getting 'murkier by the minute', and the rapid conclusion and full publication of inquiries was 'now essential for public trust'. Sir Keir Starmer said that 'any issues of prejudice have got to be worked through'. The Labour leader added the 'whole of government' had become 'paralysed because the police are looking at what the Prime Minister was getting up to in Downing Street'. Advertisement Fiasco over 'prejudice' Scotland Yard at first argued that redactions with only 'minimal reference' to No10 events were necessary to 'avoid any prejudice to our investigation'. But the reference to 'prejudice', implying the matter could go before a jury, astonished lawyers who pointed out this is a non-indictable offence punishable only by a fixed penalty notice. The Yard later dropped the reference to prejudice, with the aim instead being to avoid forewarning suspects. Nazir Afzal, a former chief crown prosecutor for the North West, said: 'This is absolute nonsense from the Met. A purely factual report by Sue Gray cannot possibly prejudice a police investigation.' The legal quagmire Any statements provided to the Cabinet Office probe and interviews undertaken of those who attended or organised events cannot be used as definitive proof in a criminal investigation. Former Met chief superintendent Dal Babu pointed out that the civil inquiry is 'no different' to a human resources report and has no legal standing. Another ex-chief superintendent Dai Davies suggested staff who have been interviewed could retract their testimony. He added: 'Now it's a legal quagmire. Anyone who has spoken to her inquiry could retract their evidence, arguing they did not know it could be used against them in a criminal inquiry.' Dilemma facing Gray Sue Gray could publish a watered down version of her inquiry that complies with the Met's demands, but is shorn of key conclusions promised at the outset. It could open up the respected civil servant to allegations of participating in a whitewash if she cannot go into all the details that she has unearthed. Alternatively, the Whitehall inquisitor could hold off on publishing anything until after the Met returns its verdict on the saga. But this could see the wait turn from days to months with potentially disastrous consequences for trust in both the Prime Minster and policing. What happens now? The seismic Cabinet Office report also has the potential to topple the Prime Minister, with some Tory MPs holding off calling for a vote of no confidence in him until after its release. The delay risks leaving Boris Johnson's Government in paralysis for months. He will be unable to make the changes he wants to his top team, and leaves many people inside the building worrying about the police investigation and their own futures. The fiasco could not come at a worse time as it threatens to impact more widely on Britain's international standing, as Russia inches ever closer to invading Ukraine. Senior Tories last night claimed they can convince the Prime Minister to delay the rise in national insurance. It comes despite Chancellor Rishi Sunak allegedly piling pressure on Boris Johnson to not U-turn on the planned hike. The Tory MPs have urged Mr Sunak to consider a compromise plan, in which the NI increase on employers would go ahead as planned but the rise affecting workers would be paused. The plan is part of a wider package to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said yesterday the move would raise 5billion of the 12billion pencilled in by the Treasury, while easing the pressure on millions of workers on low and middle incomes, who otherwise face a 1.25 percentage-point rise in national insurance in April. The Tory MPs have urged Mr Sunak to consider a compromise plan, in which the NI increase on employers would go ahead as planned but the rise affecting workers would be paused Helen Miller, deputy director of the IFS think-tank, said that if ministers want to do as much as they can to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis, and opt to rethink the NI rise, then at least with the employee part of it [being paused], it will directly be felt by people because it will directly reduce their tax bills. Whereas if you cut employer tax, some of it will indirectly help employees because their wages will be higher than they otherwise would have been, she told the Daily Mail. But part of it will just help employers who will have higher profits. So in that sense, in the short run, the employee cuts will more directly help individuals. No 10 and the Treasury declined to comment yesterday on suggestions that Mr Sunak had put his foot down over the issue during talks on the cost-of-living crisis. Conservative MPs stepped up calls last night for the Government to back the Mails Spike The Tax Hike campaign. Tory grandee Sir John Redwood said recent figures on the public finances showed the Treasury had the money to scrap the tax rise. They dont need the money the Treasury are just terrible. At the time of the Budget, they solemnly said they needed 12billion extra but now theyre 60billion better off. We need to ease the squeeze. Theyre going to slow the economy too much alongside the treble hit of council tax, national insurance and energy bills, theres going to be a bigger deficit. Former Cabinet minister David Jones said: There is headroom to deal with the 12billion funding gap. It is just another tax and its the last thing a Conservative government should be doing. I feel like I am expressing a view that most Conservative MPs have. Mel Stride, chairman of the Commons Treasury committee, said it would be a mistake to press ahead with the rise and said Mr Sunak had the money to delay it for a year. He added: Theres more wiggle room to play with. And my view would be that for one year only, given the cost-of-living pressures, it would be prudent to set that extra firepower, that extra headroom, towards not going ahead with those national insurance rises. But Downing Street tried to play down the chances of a national insurance U-turn yesterday. After days of speculation in which the Prime Minister repeatedly refused to rule out halting the change, No 10 insisted that the tax rise would go ahead in April as planned. A spokesman for the PM denied reports he was wobbling over the hike, which will worsen the cost-of-living crisis for millions. The Prime Minister and Chancellor are fully committed to introducing the health and social care levy in April, he said. Tory grandee Sir John Redwood said recent figures on the public finances showed the Treasury had the money to scrap the tax rise Asked if it would go ahead as planned no ifs, no buts, the spokesman replied: Yes. No 10 said the increase was essential to fund measures to clear the NHS waiting list and, in time, tackle the social care crisis. But senior Tories predicted it could still be scrapped as Mr Johnson tries to secure support from MPs at a time when he is facing a potential leadership challenge over the Partygate scandal. One former minister said: The Chancellor is obviously trying to assert his authority over the issue. But Boris is in a hole and if he feels he needs to do it to save his skin, then hell do it whatever Rishi says. Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation think-tank, said yesterday the Treasury was looking increasingly unlikely to get its tax rise. Mr Bell said some form of tax rise was needed to pay for increased health and social care spending in the coming years. But he added: Does it have to happen now? No. Given wider pressures on family income and consumption, the economics point to doing it next year but the politics may mean its now or never. The Federation of Small Businesses warned last night that the tax rise would deal a significant blow to the economy if the Treasury forces it through. The organisation said that future wage rises were likely to be lower by a total of 5billion as employers are forced to pass on costs. It said the move would also push up unemployment as firms are forced to let staff go. At just 13 years old, Emily Waldron is a poster girl for transgender childrens rights. Tiny, blonde and chatty, last year she appeared on the BBCs The One Show with Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie, who called her an extraordinary young person. I am transgender, the Liverpudlian told viewers. Four years ago, when I was just beginning to transition, I thought I was the only one like me. But now Emily, who campaigns for school libraries to stock LGBT-themed childrens books with titles such as Boy Erased knows she is anything but alone. Instead, thanks to a crowdfunding campaign she has launched, financial and emotional support for her transgender journey has poured in. Public plea: Emily Waldrons fundraising page, which helped her get the money she needs to transition Since she was 12, Emily has been taking puberty blockers: hormone suppressants to stop her biologically male body slipping into puberty. As Emilys mother, Emma, has pointed out in a series of Twitter and Instagram messages about her daughters transition, the drugs stop Emily developing facial hair, a protruding Adams apple and a deeper voice. But Emilys powerful medicines which the NHS has warned can harm young peoples bone and brain development have not been prescribed by an NHS doctor. They were bought from a private clinic thanks to Emilys internet crowdfunding campaign. Help Emily get the puberty-blocking medication she urgently needs, said the appeal on the website GoFundMe. The donations soon topped 14,000. This cash, said Emilys family in an online thank-you message, will pay for her trans healthcare for the next five years, allowing her to grow into the wonderful, strong woman she knows herself to be. Emilys fundraising technique to support her transition is being replicated by hundreds of other youngsters in Britain. They are side-stepping the NHS, says Stephanie Davies-Arai, the founder of TransgenderTrend Crowdfunders are paying for puberty-blockers taken by children, as well as for operations by private surgeons who remove teenagers breasts or construct them, remodel their genitalia to simulate a penis or vagina, and remove internal female or male anatomy including the womb to match their preferred sex. They are side-stepping the NHS, says Stephanie Davies-Arai, the founder of TransgenderTrend, which calls for better, safer healthcare for children and teenagers struggling with gender issues. She adds: The internet is full of videos and photos of them after surgery, which portray these operations as cool and the new normal. What is happening is dangerous for a whole generation because no one knows the consequences. Crowdfunding has meant that vulnerable young people can go to private doctors in the UK and abroad, who take their money for drugs and surgery with fewer questions asked. The trend for young people to crowdfund their transitions to the opposite sex has been accompanied by an increase in the number of social media videos, photos and posts with one clear message: that living as the opposite gender is an answer to many problems. Hundreds of youngsters have said online that they have financed the same procedures via crowdfunding, or hope to do so soon Yet campaigners such as Ms Davies-Arai believe that millions of impressionable children are watching these videos and being brainwashed. The material, she warns, is fuelling the growth in gender dysphoria: feeling uncomfortable in your sexual identity. Referrals to the Gender Identity Development Service at Londons Tavistock clinic rose from about 700 per year in 2014-15 to more than 2,600 in 2019-20, though the number fell slightly during the pandemic. And nowhere is this trend more obvious than on the internet. Last year, a 19-year-old from Cumbria raised 20,000 within weeks to fund her gender-reassignment surgery at a private clinic, by-passing NHS waiting lists for the operation which currently stand at three years. Bella Fitzpatrick, who has 700,000 followers on the social media app TikTok, said on a local news website: My socks have been blown completely off by this, adding that the money donated would be used to fund her transition from male to female, including hormone treatment and surgery. Hundreds of youngsters have said online that they have financed the same procedures via crowdfunding, or hope to do so soon. One TikTok video shows a young trans man, Ash, going for a private consultation in Londons Harley Street to start the process he hopes will lead to top surgery to remove his breasts. Ashs film, shot less than a month ago, names the cosmetic surgeon and shows filmed footage inside the clinics reception area. It is accompanied by the rock anthem All I Have Ever Wanted by Rag n Bone Man. It ends with young Ashs words written on the screen, saying: I am so excited!! And I am so proud of myself for going all the way to London on my own. He adds: I am suitable for a double incision with surgeon Mr B. I should be getting the surgery in April or May [this year]. On his GoFundMe page, Ash explains: I came out [as trans] in June 2020 . . . and it just made so much sense. I am here to raise money so that I can get a bilateral mastectomy. My chest dysphoria gets harder to deal with every day. Its unbearable, and I cant leave the house without . . . a baggy jumper. I cant even glance down topless without getting distressed. Although I am lucky enough to live in a country with free healthcare, it is a painfully long wait to transition on the NHS. Some people are waiting years. So I am going private! Meanwhile, Jo, a 19-year-old who was born a girl, launched an online crowdfunder last year. He says he has considered himself male since at least the age of 13, when he told his parents how he felt, according to an interview he gave to a local news website in his native Somerset. When he turned 18, he put his name down on the NHS list for both testosterone treatment (a male hormone that, when taken by females, helps to masculinise their bodies) and breast removal. The wait time for testosterone was at least a year just to be seen . . . the top surgery at least three years, says Jo. He plans to go private because, he says: I dont want to spend my 20s playing a waiting game. The Mail has discovered that many young people are turning to myriad private medical clinics, including one called GenderGP Student Phoenix Howard, 18, from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, is aiming to raise up to 8,000 to have his breasts removed by the same London private surgeon as Ash. In an appeal on a social media crowdfunding site, he says: I am a trans guy who has come out to all my friends . . . and family who are not yet supportive of my transition. For years I have planned and saved to undergo top surgery. My chest is responsible for a large amount of my distress on a 24-hour basis, due to my outward appearance not matching who I am on the inside. I bind my chest [with cloth to flatten the breasts] at every opportunity, to the point of discomfort and causing actual pain. It puts a strain on my lungs, ribs and back. I am determined to have Mr B as my surgeon due to his great results on patients, brilliant care before, during and after the surgery, and incredible recovery which is essential to me as a university student. Type the phrase crowdfund trans-surgery into the internet and hundreds of messages, videos and posts from British teenagers and twenty-somethings appear, all asking for money to fund treatment. The Mail has discovered that many young people are turning to myriad private medical clinics, including one called GenderGP. Its founder, Helen Webberley, is currently in the middle of a hearing by the watchdog, Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service, accused of failing to provide good care to three children, aged 11, 12 and 17, who were transitioning from female to male. She has denied that her clinical judgment was clouded when prescribing puberty-blockers to them or other young patients. Barred from practising in the UK, and therefore not officially a doctor, she was fined 12,000 after a 2018 court case when a judge ruled that she had risked patient safety by giving hormones to 12-year-olds from her Welsh clinic. Ms Webberley now runs GenderGP from Spain, treating British patients thanks to a legal loophole that allows drugs prescribed in the EU to be dispensed in the UK, skipping of course NHS safeguards. GenderGP gives advice on how children suffering from gender dysphoria (who, to put it simplistically, believe themselves to have been born in the wrong body) can call for public donations online to pay for puberty-blockers and sex-change treatment, including life-changing surgery. GenderGP states that the UKs most popular crowdfunding site, GoFundMe, is happy to act as a platform on which children can seek such donations. In a top tips section, it advises how to create an appealing crowdfunder by using bright, colourful images and an eye-catching video. It goes on to recommend private British surgeons, including the aforementioned Mr B (whose clinic offers payment on credit if the crowdfunder doesnt stretch far enough) as well as two doctors in Poland. GenderGP explains that the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (which sets international standards) insists that referrals to a private surgeon are accompanied by documentation from a qualified mental health professional showing that a young person has persistent gender dysphoria. Yet it also says that, in the UK, these medical gatekeepers can include social workers, community nurses, counsellors, support workers, occupational therapists, and mental health pharmacists. In addition, it sells a referral letter for 150, which, after an online consultation, youngsters can download to side-step the NHS. Then, after the document has been signed, they can go private, using their crowdfunded money. This week, the Equality and Human Rights Commission watchdog said that proposed government rules to ban transgender conversion therapy might criminalise parents, teachers, doctors or therapists who question young peoples desire to transition This week, the Equality and Human Rights Commission watchdog said that proposed government rules to ban transgender conversion therapy might criminalise parents, teachers, doctors or therapists who question young peoples desire to transition. The commission said that they should be allowed to reconcile the young to the sex they were born, if that was best for them. Regardless, crowdfunding for the treatment is set to continue. As for 13-year-old Emily from Liverpool, she has accrued enough money to fund her treatments for the next five years. When she reaches 18, she will be old enough to have the surgery that will physically change her body into a more feminine form. Whether she will, of course, will be her choice. But if she does decide to undergo such private surgery which can cost 28,000 for male-to-female gender reassignment will she again choose to turn to crowdfunding to pay for it? Additional reporting by Liz Hull President Biden said Friday evening that he will move US troops to Eastern Europe sometime 'in the near term'. However, he said they would not necessarily be deployed as part of a NATO force. 'I'll be moving troops to Eastern Europe and the NATO countries in the near term. Not too many,' Biden said as he got off Air Force One after a trip to Pittsburgh. NATO has failed to come up with a common position on deploying troops to the region with many of its 30-strong members against military action. Member countries located closer to Russia fear antagonizing Putin while countries such as Germany rely on Russia for 50 per cent of their gas. Just one country can veto any action by the entire alliance. Earlier this week, the Pentagon told 8,500 troops in the U.S. to be on high alert for a potential deployment to Eastern Europe, as Russia has already amassed over 100,000 troops at the Ukraine border. Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley had warned of mass casualties in Ukraine and Eastern Europe should Russia attack with such a large force. 'This is larger in scale and scope, and the massing of forces than anything we've seen in recent memory,' Milley said. Given the forces Putin has at his disposal, 'if that was unleashed on Ukraine, it would be significant, very significant, and it would result in a significant amount of casualties,' he added. 'You can imagine what that might look like in dense urban areas, along roads, and so on and so forth. It would be horrific. It would be terrible. And it's not necessary. And we think a diplomatic outcome is the way to go here.' President Biden said Friday evening that he will move US troops to Eastern Europe sometime 'in the near term' 'There's a potential that they could launch on very, very little warning,' assessed General Mark Milley, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff 'We dont have a Titanic here,' he said Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine. Amid public talk of a Russian invasion, he said: 'We don't need this panic' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the global media in Kiev Friday and pushed back on world leaders who have publicly stressed the prospect of Russian invasion following a call with President Biden where the president raised the 'distinct possibility' Russian troops would soon overrun his country. 'There are signals even from respected leaders of states, they just say that tomorrow there will be war. This is panic - how much does it cost for our state?' said Zelensky. He indirectly criticized the decision by the U.S. to pull family members of diplomats out of the country as yet another measure that could feed 'panic' that could be counterproductive. 'We dont have a Titanic here,' he said. 'I don't consider the situation now more tense than before. There is a feeling abroad that there is war here. That's not the case,' said Zelensky. 'I am not saying an escalation is not possible...(but) we don't need this panic,' he said. 'If war were to break out on the scale and scope that is possible, the civilian population would suffer immensely,' Milley said at the Pentagon. Austin said the 100,000-plus Troops Russia has positioned 'far and away exceeds what we typically see them do for exercises. 'Its very concerning,' he said. He even made a 'Don't Look Up' reference after the Leonardo DiCaprio film on Netflix about an imminent asteroid heading for the planet, after he was compared to hapless leaders online, the Guardian reported. With Britain withdrawing diplomats even as the Greeks maintained their presence, Zelensky said: 'The captains should not leave the ship. I dont think we have a Titanic here.' His reassurances came on a day when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley warned of the stakes and spoke to U.S. military preparations to assist NATO allies. Asked whether Putin has enough troops for a full-scale invasion of its neighbor, Austin replied: 'I mean, you've heard the chairman say earlier that he's got north of 100,000 troops in the border region. That gives him a number of options. What he's done as he's continued to move troops and resources into the region is increased his options. And so, we won't predict where his decisions will take him, but we remain concerned about the range of options that that he could pursue and will stay focused on this problem set.' Milley said the pair do not believe Putin has made a decision. But he added: 'Sure, with 1000 troops. You've got combined arms formations, ground maneuver, artillery, rockets, you got air and all the other piece parts that go with it. There's a potential that they could launch on very, very little warning. That's possible. And there's a wide scale of options that are available to Russian leadership. The best option they should pick, in my view, is a diplomatic solution to resolve whatever differences they have,' he said. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the 100,000-plus Troops Russia has positioned 'far and away exceeds what we typically see them do for exercises. 'Its very concerning,' he said Zelensky sought to downplay reports of a split with President Joe Biden following reports it did not go well. State officials 'dont have any misunderstandings' with Biden, he said, Politico reported. 'I just deeply understand what is going on in my country, just as [Biden] understands perfectly well what is going on in the United States.' Zelensky's cautioning came even as U.S. officials sought to digest yet another metric: with Russia's military buildup now including supplies of blood along and medical equipment, in yet another sign Russian President Vladimir Putin could be preparing for an invasion. Zelensky Thursday urged President Joe Biden in a call on Thursday to tone down his rhetoric about the brewing situation between Ukraine and Russia, amid fears it could cause panic or a run on supplies, according to a report. Zelensky made the plea in a call that 'did not go well,' CNN reported, citing a Ukrainian source. It included a plea by Zelensky for Biden to 'calm down the messaging' amid complex maneuverings over the potential invasion. The urging came in a call where Biden told Zelensky Russia could invade within weeks. It followed pushback earlier this week from Ukraine as the U.S. told family members of American diplomats to leave. Ukrainian officials maintained the move was unnecessary with a situation that is still uncertain, even as Russia continues to move troops and equipment to positions around Ukraine. The White House disputed the read on the call, with National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne pushing back on a report that a Ukrainian official said Biden warned Kiev could be 'sacked' and to 'prepare for impact.' 'This is not true,' she tweeted. 'President Biden said that there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February. He has previously said this publicly & we have been warning about this for months. Reports of anything more or different than that are completely false.' She also tweeted out a statement by Ukraine's U.S. embassy stating 'that some reports regarding todays conversation of President Zelenskyy and President Biden are completely false. He also encouraged to carefully treat all information in this troubled time especially from the unconfirmed sources.' Russia could attack Ukraine within weeks, intelligence sources have said, after Biden shared a phone call with President Zelensky last night during which he warned an attack is likely to come in February Horne was even more blunt in a statement to CNN. 'Also, no one said "sacked." The only person who should be "sacked" is the anonymous source who is circulating an inaccurate portrayal of this conversation,' she said. The statement the White put out after the call said the U.S. and allies were ready to 'respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine.' The administration's series of public statements about a potential invasion puts international pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and could press allies to stiffen their response although the Ukrainians are seeking to avoid statements that contribute to panic even as they seek additional aid and arms support. Amid the fear of an all-out invasion that could seek to cleave Ukrainian positions, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said the U.S. response in writing to Russia's security demands had 'some grains of reason.' Zelensky on January 19th urged the Ukrainian public not to panic, telling his countrymen: 'Take a deep breath, calm down' amid the talk of an imminent invasion. If Russia did invade in February, it would time the invasion to coincide with the coldest weeks in eastern Europe, when the ground will be frozen solid allowing tanks and artillery to maneuver easily. US officials have previously said that an unseasonably mild winter appears to have delayed Putin's attack plans by turning the region into a quagmire. Separately, a senior British intelligence official warned that Putin is likely to launch an attack on Kiev from Belarus in the north using war games set to take place there next month as cover. The official, speaking to The Times of London , said this could coincide with an amphibious assault from Crimea on the southern port city of Odessa using transport ships seen sailing around Europe last week in an effort to split the Ukrainian military across two fronts, hundreds of miles apart. Tens of thousands of troops could then move in from the east, potentially with the aim of capturing the entire country. While Russia's current troop numbers at the border are insufficient for this operation, the official said, Putin could mass a force large enough to get the job done in 'two to three weeks'. Russia is thought to have between 100,000 and 120,000 troops currently massed at the border, which have been recently reinforced with medical teams and logistical support of the kind that is needed to sustain an invading force. Tens of thousands more troops could arrive in the coming weeks, the official said. 'Some estimates are another 60,000 will come, if not greater than that. It's certainly not just a negotiating tactic or an idle threat when you deploy this many troops with this capability,' they said. But, amid the increasingly alarming rhetoric from the West, Zelensky and his senior staff have been calling for calm - insisting that while the risk of an attack is high, it is far from certain and unlikely to come soon. Zelensky used his call with Biden to ask him to 'calm down the messaging', CNN reported, after using a public address last week to tell Ukrainians to 'stay calm' and avoid pulling money from banks or stockpiling supplies. Several high-ranking Ukrainian officials have also spoken out this week in an attempt to tone down the rhetoric. Russian armoured troop carriers are pictured taking part in military drills near Rostov-on-Don, located in southern Russia and just a few dozen miles from the Ukraine border Russian T-72 tanks take part in 'combat readiness' drills held Thursday near Rostov-on-Don, near the Ukraine border US analysts believe that Putin is waiting for the weather to turn cold enough to freeze the ground solid, paving the way for an invasion because it would allow his tanks to manoeuvre easily (pictured, Russian tanks in drills near Ukraine on Thursday) Russian BMP-3 armoured troop carriers are pictured on manoeuvres in the Rostov region of southern Russia on Thursday Russian artillery units stationed in the Rostov region, near the border with Ukraine, take part in live fire exercises today Artillery units based in Russia's Rostov region take part in live-fire exercises on Friday, just one of several simultaneous drills taking place as Putin continues his sabre-rattling Russian artillery crews fire their gun during live-fire drills in Rostov region, just a few dozen miles from the Ukraine border Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, is pictured on a phone call with President Biden - during which the US leader is thought to have warned him that a Russian invasion is just weeks away The National Security Council's spokesperson Emily Horne publicly disputed CNN's reporting in a tweet Thursday night, saying in a statement to the network that 'no one said "sacked"' An NSC official also retweeted a statement by Ukraine's embassy in Washington The defence minister has insisted there has been no change in the threat Russia poses since an initial build-up of forces took place last spring; the head of the national security council accused the West of ramping up the danger for geopolitical purposes; and the foreign ministry criticised the UK and US for withdrawing diplomats. Following Zelensky's call with Biden, there was a briefing war between an unnamed Ukrainian source who claimed the call 'did not go well' because the US President had insisted an attack was imminent while Zelensky was keen to downplay the threat. CNN initially reported that Biden had told Zelesnky that an attack was 'certain' once the ground freezes over and that Kiev is directly threatened, though US and Ukrainian officials later denied that conversation had taken place. Never-the-less, signs that Ukraine and America are signing from two different hymn sheets will create fears about the strength of their alliance if Putin decides to march his forces across the border. It could also undermine Biden's hardline stance against Russia if it emerges that Us intelligence has over-stated the threat, especially with allies such as Germany that have urged him to take a softer line. The call came just a day after two letters were sent to Vladimir Putin, rejecting his demands that Ukraine be banned from joining NATO and that the alliance withdraw all its forces from ex-Soviet states. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent one letter, while the other was sent by NATO chief Jens Stoltenburg. Neither missive has been made public, but both men have said no ground was given on Putin's key demands. Instead, Blinken said 'serious' counter-offers were made that he hopes will tempt the Kremlin into continuing talks. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said yesterday that there is 'little ground for optimism' after reading the letters - but left the door to more talks open and said Russia will not rush to give a response. Tensions have soared in recent weeks, as the United States and its NATO allies expressed concern that a buildup of about 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine signaled that Moscow planned to invade its ex-Soviet neighbor. Russia denies having any such designs - and has laid out a series of demands it says will improve security in Europe. But as expected, the U.S. and the Western alliance firmly rejected any concessions on Moscow's main points Wednesday, refusing to permanently ban Ukraine from joining NATO and saying allied deployments of troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe are nonnegotiable. The U.S. did outline areas in which some of Russia's concerns might be addressed, possibly offering a path to de-escalation. But, as it has done repeatedly for the past several weeks, Washington also warned Moscow of devastating sanctions if it invades Ukraine. Russian rocket artillery take part in live-fire drills on a military base near Moscow on Friday, as fears of war in Ukraine grow A Russian rocket artillery battery lets off a volley during live-fire exercises at the Golovenki training ground, near Moscow Rocket artillery of the Russian armed forces take part in live-fire exercises on a training ground near Moscow today A Russian-backed rebel fighter is seen moving through a trench in eastern Ukraine, where fighting with government forces has been ongoing since 2014 A Moscow-backed rebel soldier aims a machinegun through a peep-hole in his trench, just yards from the frontline with Ukrainian forces in the country's east Mosco-backed rebel troops armed with Kalashnikov rifles stand guard in a trench near the frontlines with Ukraine In addition to penalties targeting Russian people and key economic sectors, several senior U.S. officials said Thursday with certainty that Germany would not allow a newly constructed gas pipeline to begin operations in the event of an incursion. All eyes are now on Putin, who will decide how Russia will respond amid fears that Europe could again be plunged into war. In the meantime, Biden spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Zelenskyy on Thursday to reiterate American and allied support, including recent deliveries of U.S. military aid. Biden warned Zelenskyy that the U.S. believed there was a high degree of likelihood that Russia could invade when the ground freezes and Russian forces could attack Ukrainian territory from north of Kyiv, according to two people familiar with the conversation who were not authorized to comment publicly. Military experts have said Russia may be waiting for optimal ground conditions to move heavy equipment into Kyiv as part of any invasion. Eight years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in late February. Zelenskyy tweeted that he and Biden also discussed the possibility of additional financial support for Ukraine. The White House said Biden told Zelenskyy he was 'exploring additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraine's economy' as it comes under pressure as a result of Russia's military buildup. Meanwhile, the United States announced that the U.N. Security Council will hold an open meeting Monday on what U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called Russia's 'threatening behavior.' She said the deployment of more than 100,000 troops along Ukraine's border and other destabilizing acts pose 'a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. Charter.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier that the response from the U.S. - and a similar one from NATO - left 'little ground for optimism.' But he added that 'there always are prospects for continuing a dialogue, it's in the interests of both us and the Americans.' White House press secretary Jen Psaki was circumspect when asked whether the Biden administration saw a sliver of hope in that the Russians said they would keep communications open even as they said that they lacked optimism.. 'We don't know if the Russians are playing games on diplomacy. We hope not,' Psaki said. A man crosses himself while kneeling in front of a memorial commemorating those who died fighting in Ukraine's eastern Donbass region, outside military headquarters in Kiev Ukrainian soldiers are seen saluting through a mock bullet-hole in a memorial to those who died fighting in the Donbass region against Moscow-backed rebel groups Honour guards fire a salute during a ceremony in tribute to fallen defenders of Ukraine during a ceremony in Kiev today Ukrainian servicemen of the 24th Brigade are seen outside of Zolote, close to the frontlines with Moscow-backed rebels A Ukrainian soldier walks through a trench close to the town of Zolote, in the country's unstable eastern regions A Ukrainian soldier uses a periscope to examine enemy positions on the frontlines with Russian-backed rebel forces An Ukrainian serviceman heads to an advanced position on the front line in the Luhansk area, eastern Ukraine Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the U.S. response contained some elements that could lead to 'the start of a serious talk on secondary issues,' but emphasized that 'the document contains no positive response on the main issue.' Those are Moscow's demands that NATO not expand and that the alliance refrain from deploying weapons that might threaten Russia. Lavrov said top officials will submit proposals to Putin. Peskov said the Russian reaction would come soon. The evasive official comments reflect the fact that it is Putin who will single-handedly determine Russia's next moves. He has warned of unspecified 'military-technical measures' if the West refuses to heed the demands. Peskov added that Putin and Biden will decide whether they need to have another conversation following two calls last month. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kyiv had seen the U.S. response before it was delivered to Russia and had no objections. He tweeted it was 'important that the U.S. remains in close contact with Ukraine before and after all contacts with Russia.' On a visit to Denmark, Kuleba emphasized his country's need to strengthen its defenses. 'This crisis is a moment of truth, and this is why we speak about weapons,' he said. 'This is why we speak about economic sanctions. This is why we speak about the consolidated position of all of us, so that President Putin sees that there are no weak links in our defensive chain.' Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during a parliamentary debate on Ukraine that her government is closely coordinating its policy with allies, considering a range of options that could include the new Nord Stream 2 Russian gas pipeline to Germany. While the diplomacy sputters on, so too do maneuvers that have escalated tensions. Russia has launched a series of military drills involving motorized infantry and artillery units in southwestern Russia, warplanes in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, dozens of warships in the Black Sea and the Arctic, and Russian fighter jets and paratroopers in Belarus. NATO said it was bolstering its deterrence in the Baltic Sea region, and the U.S. ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert for potential deployment to Europe. As war fears mounted, thousands of Ukrainians expressed their resolve to stand up to the Russian pressure under the hashtag (hash)UkrainiansWillResist on Twitter and Facebook. An American fighter jet takes part in pre-deployment training drills including coming under NATO command off the US coast US naval forces prepare for deployment after President Biden put 8,500 troops on alert to deploy to eastern Europe 'No one will force Ukrainians to accept the Kremlin ultimatum,' wrote Andrii Levus, who initiated the campaign. Ukraine's Interior Ministry has organized training on acting in emergency situations, with an emphasis on dealing with explosives. Beyond concerns about a possible Russian offensive in Ukraine, there also has been speculation that Moscow's response could include military deployments to the Western Hemisphere. While a senior Russian diplomat recently refused to rule out such deployments to Cuba and Venezuela, a top Putin associate expressed skepticism Thursday at that prospect. 'Cuba and Venezuela are aiming to come out of isolation and restore normal relations with the U.S. to a certain extent, so there can't be any talk about setting up a base there as happened during the Soviet times,' Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of Russia's Security Council, told Russian media. While he charged that the West is using Ukraine as a way to contain Russia, he somberly acknowledged that a Russia-NATO conflict 'would be the most dramatic and simply catastrophic scenario, and I hope it will never happen.' While concerns about a possible Russian attack linger, a separatist conflict simmers in Ukraine. Following the 2014 ouster of a Kremlin-friendly president in Kyiv, Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and backed an insurgency in the country's eastern industrial heartland. Fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels has killed over 14,000 people, and efforts to reach a settlement have stalled. Since the conflict began, Russia has been accused of sending troops and weapons to the separatists, something it has denied. On Thursday, Peskov wouldn't comment on a proposal from the Kremlin's main political party, United Russia, which suggested that Moscow respond to the delivery of Western weapons to Ukraine by sending arms to the rebels. He added that Putin is aware of the proposal but had no immediate reaction. A serial sex offender who was warned by police not to have sex with a child will spend a minimum of just nine months behind bars for raping a teenager. Harry Smith, 20, of Yarram - in Victoria's east - pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually penetrating a child under 16, assaulting an emergency worker and resisting an emergency worker. He was sentenced last year to serve 18 months in jail, which with time already served will see the child sex fiend back on the streets within months. Harry Smith was repeatedly warned to leave his young victim alone, but he didn't listen. A judge sentenced him to a minimum of just nine months behind bars His case was brought before the Supreme Court of Victoria last week after prosecutors appealed the sentence on the grounds it was manifestly inadequate. The Crown also argued County Court of Victoria Judge John Smallwood made a serious error when he described Smith's victim as being a 'willing participant'. The court had heard Smith, who was 5 years older than his victim, had known the teenager. She had agreed to meet him in Sale, also in Victoria's east, before the predator took her to a nearby oval and repeatedly violated her. Upon justifying his sentence in August, Judge Smallwood shocked prosecutors. 'In these circumstances, as I am about to describe, the offending itself would appear to have been, on what is before me at least, a willing participant, but I am very aware that consent does not assist in mitigation,' the judge said. Smith had already been told by the teenager's worried mother to keep away from her. The Sale reserve where Smith had his way with his vulnerable teenage victim Police had also paid Smith a visit and again warned him to keep away from the vulnerable teen. Finally, the Victorian Government itself contacted Smith in writing - warning him it was an offence to counsel, induce or assist a child to be absent from their residence. Judge Smallwood was told Smith had a prior conviction for rape, which saw him rape a 10-year old girl at a playground when he was aged 16. Smith, who punched on with police when they came to arrest him, remained unrepentant over his oval antics with the teenager. 'You know what I'm pissed off about is how little girls can go out, f**k older guys and they get off scot-free and us f**kers have to f**ken deal with it,' he moaned. The court heard Judge Smallwood was determined to send Smith back to youth detention, but they would not have him. Smith had endured a rotten childhood, which saw him put into foster care and later suffer from depressive anxiety disorder, ADHD, an attachment disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and a generalised anxiety disorder. Judge John Smallwood's sentence was vindicated by the Supreme Court of Victoria Court of Appeal on Friday Judge Smallwood begrudgingly sent him to an adult jail, albeit for a paltry 18 months at its highest. On Friday, the Supreme Court of Victoria Court of Appeal agreed that Judge Smallwood's decision had been the right one. 'In my view, the sentencing judge took into account everything that he was obliged to take into account and it was open to him to impose a sentence that he did, even though it is a remarkably low sentence,' the panel of three justices found. In handing down its decision, the appeal court heard in addition to Smith's history of serious sexual offending, he has pronounced developmental and psychosexual deficiencies. 'The factors that make him unsuitable for incarceration in an adult prison are also factors that give rise to the need for community protection,' the court stated. 'The respondent presents as a risk to other people, especially young women and girls. However, it is highly questionable whether that risk is best managed by a long term of imprisonment.' The genetic mutation that makes dogs like Chihuahuas and Pomeranians so tiny first originated in wolves some 53,000 years ago, a study has revealed. Researchers led from the US National Institutes of Health identified a mutation in a canine growth hormone-regulating gene that is associated with small body sizes. The findings rebut the idea small dogs are the sole product of us breeding for small, cute companions in the wake of domestication 20,000 years ago. The genetic mutation that makes dogs like Chihuahuas and Pomeranians so tiny first originated in big old wolves some 53,000 years ago, a study has revealed. Pictured: 'Bruiser' the Chihuahua in the 2001 comedy film 'Legally Blonde', with Reese Witherspoon's Elle Woods Researchers led from the US National Institutes of Health identified a mutation in a canine growth hormone-regulating gene that is associated with small body sizes. The team found that the mutation it was already present in the genetic code of a steppe wolf that lived in Siberia around 53,000 years ago. Pictured: a modern-day steppe wolf (Canis lupus campestris) CANIDS EXPLAINED The Canidae are a family of mammals which include dogs, coyotes, foxes and wolves, among others groups. They are found on all continents except Antarctica, having traversed the globe either independently or by accompanying humans. Typically social animals, canids range in size from the 6.6 feet (2 metre) -long grey wolf all the way down to the 9.4" (24 centimetre) -long fennec fox. Advertisement The study undertaken by geneticist Elaine Ostrander of the National Human Genome Research Institute and her colleagues concludes a decade-long search for the genetic mutation underlying small body sizes in dogs. Success came when the team searched for genetic sequences that were positioned backwards and were also present in other canids like wolves and also ancient DNA. This approach yielded a reverse form of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene, which was found to have variants that correlated with overall body size. 'We looked at 200 breeds, and it held up beautifully,' Dr Ostrander explained. 'This is tying together so much about canine domestication and body size, and the things that we think are very modern are actually very ancient.' In fact, when the researchers analysed samples of ancient wolf DNA to determine when the IGF-1 mutation first arose, the team found it was already present in the genetic code of a steppe wolf that lived in Siberia around 53,000 years ago. 'It's as though Nature had kept it tucked in her back pocket for tens of thousands of years until it was needed,' said Dr Ostrander. The researchers said that they also found the IGF-1 mutation in other members of the canid family including African hunting dogs, coyotes and jackals. With their initial study complete, the researchers are continuing their investigation into the genes that regulate body sizes in canines. The researchers said that they found the IGF-1 mutation in other members of the canid family including African hunting dogs, coyotes and jackals. Pictured: the distribution of the small body size mutation across different species of canids The findings rebut the notion that small dogs are the sole product of human-driven breeding for small, cute companions (as pictured) in the wake of domestication 20,000 years ago 'One of the things that is pretty cool about dogs is that because they have evolved so recently there aren't actually a lot of body size genes,' said Dr Ostrander. In fact, canids only have 25, compared to the hundreds at play in us humans. 'I really want to understand the whole continuum from Chihuahuas to Great Danes,' Dr Ostrander added. The full findings of the study were published in the journal Current Biology. Chinese President Xi Jinping is displayed on a screen as Type 99A2 Chinese battle tanks take part in a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II, held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Sept. 3, 2015. AP-Yonhap From the deadly crushing of Beijing's 1989 pro-democracy protests to the suppression of Hong Kong's opposition four decades later, China's Communist Party has demonstrated a determination and ability to stay in power that is seemingly impervious to Western criticism and sanctions. As Beijing prepares to hold the Winter Olympics opening next week, party leader and China's President Xi Jinping appears firmly in control. The party has made political stability paramount and says that has been the foundation for the economic growth that has bettered lives and put the nation on a path to becoming a regional if not global power. While many have benefitted economically, the price has been paid by those who wanted more freedom, from ethnic groups in the far western regions of Tibet and Xinjiang to the largely student-led protesters in Hong Kong in 2019. The party leadership was divided when an earlier generation of student protesters took control for weeks of the symbolically important grounds of Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989. The hardline leaders won and the protesters were crushed rather than accommodated, a fateful decision that has guided the party's approach to this day. ''The world came up with the assumption that with economic engagement with China, China would thrive, which would give birth to a powerful middle class, which would give birth then to a civil society which would give birth then to a democracy that would make China a responsible stakeholder in the world arena,'' said Wu'er Kaixi, who as a university student helped lead the 1989 protests and now lives in exile in Taiwan. That assumption, he added, proved naive and wrong. Beijing's hosting of the 2008 Summer Olympics manifested hope that reforms might be on the way, bringing greater space for free speech, independent labor unions and protection of the cultural and religious identities of ethnic groups. Tibetan groups staged protests in China and abroad, disrupting the torch relay. University students clean the "Pillar of Shame" statue, a memorial for those killed in the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, at the University of Hong Kong, June 4, 2019. AP-Yonhap Nearly 15 years later, on the eve of the Winter Games, the reality is far different. Tibet remains firmly under Communist Party control, and the government launched a fierce crackdown against the Turkic Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang in 2017 and enacted new laws and loyalty requirements to drive out opposition in Hong Kong in response to massive protests that turned violent in 2019. Under Xi, who came to power in 2012, the party has clamped down on dissident voices and anyone who challenges its version of events, from a (hash)MeToo movement that flourished briefly to citizen journalists who exposed the crisis and chaos in Wuhan in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Xi is now expected to be appointed to a third five-year term as the ruling party's general secretary this fall, cementing his position as China's strongest leader since Mao Zedong. With no term limits on the position, Xi could remain leader indefinitely, with no clearly defined rules on succession. Xi approaches the party meeting bolstered by a strong economy, the ending of separatist violence in Xinjiang and the passage of a sweeping national security law and electoral changes in Hong Kong that have eviscerated the political opposition in the territory. Chinese President Xi Jinping is displayed on a screen during the evening gala evening held on Tiananmen Square for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Beijing on Oct. 1, 2019. AP-Yonhap ''Xi Jinping wants to become a leader like Mao,'' said Joseph Cheng, a political scientist and veteran Hong Kong pro-democracy activist who now lives in Australia. Mao Zedong founded China's communist state in 1949 and led the country for more than two decades. Having maintained relative prosperity and rock-hard political control, Xi and the party face little pressure and see no need to make concessions, Cheng said. ''There are no checks and balances domestically and internationally. As a result, there is an increasingly authoritarian regime,'' he said. The suppression of the Tiananmen protests marked the end of a period of limited political liberalization in the 1980s. The chaos and violence of the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution and the decline of the Soviet Union had already impressed on the ruling party that political stability should be maintained at whatever cost. The crackdown carried out with tanks and assault troops was seen as the only way to ensure continued Communist Party rule and what Xi has since termed the realization of the ''Chinese dream'' of restoring the country's position in the world. The events of 1989 remain a taboo topic in China to this day. Future years saw advocates for free expression and civil rights continue to push the boundaries. Beijing responded to some appeals by releasing pro-democracy activists into foreign exile. At the same time, the party opened new avenues for education and employment, loosened restrictions on the private sector and welcomed foreign investment. A new generation of young Chinese grew up with heightened expectations and little knowledge of the political turmoil of past years. Despite their misgivings about the crackdown, China's booming economy was too much of a draw to ignore, and Western democracies swiftly re-engaged with the regime in the 1990s and 2000s. Uighur children play near a cage protecting heavily armed Chinese paramilitary policemen on duty in Urumqi in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on May 1, 2014. AP-Yonhap More recently, the U.S. has turned against China, viewing what is now the world's second largest economy as a growing competitor as well as an opportunity. China's policies in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, and on human rights in general, have brought travel and financial sanctions from the U.S. and others on the officials and companies involved. Beijing has responded with dismissals and disdain. A diplomatic boycott of the Olympics announced by Washington, the U.K. and others was greeted with contempt by Beijing for what it called a meaningless gesture that would change nothing. China has sought to redefine human rights as improvements in the quality of life, and cites economic growth and poverty reduction as the real determinants. It has written off campaigns by foreign politicians, trade groups and companies to boycott cotton goods and other products from Xinjiang over allegations of forced labor. China calls such claims ''the lie of the century,'' although some experts say the bad publicity may have prompted it to shut down its prison-like system of internment camps. But activists' calls to move the Olympics out of China have gone unheeded. A diplomatic boycott won't stop the athletes from competing. Sophie Richardson, the China director for Human Rights Watch, said the International Olympic Committee lost all credibility on promoting human rights after choosing Beijing for the Winter Games. Kaixi, the former Tiananmen protester and an ethnic Uyghur, said China could not have succeeded in its defiance without the acquiescence of the international community. ''China can only get away with all this because the world is giving in,'' he said. (AP) Web cookies were originally designed to protect users privacy, according to the man behind the technology, not act as a tool to help large tech firms snoop on people. California-based engineer and entrepreneur, Lou Montulli, created the technology behind tracking cookies while working for browser-firm Netscape in 1994, which went on to become an open standard, and it was unlikely to have made him money. These small text files, that act as a memory for websites, stored in the browser, was developed at a time Netscape was in a war with Microsoft for dominance of the web browser market, and so weren't a priority for the struggling company. Montulli said the original 'cookie' was intended to make life online easier by letting websites remember visitors preferences, including whether they were already logged in, the most recent pages they visited and to store shopping cart items. However, the technology quickly became a 'lightning rod' used by large tech companies to collect data on consumers' habits and allow targeted adverts. Montulli, currently CTO of JetInsight, which provides tracking software for the private airline industry, said his invention was never intended for advertising. 'It is simply a core technology to enable the web to function,' he said, adding that 'you really couldn't use the web without cookies,' He says the only real way to limit abuse of user data is through legislation, forcing firms to allow people to opt-out of being tracked or storing cookies on devices. California-based engineer and entrepreneur Lou Montulli said the original 'cookie' he created decades ago was intended to make life online easier by letting websites remember visitors In the past 30 years cookies have become synonymous with the World Wide Web, and despite their origins, are at the heart of concerns over privacy and security. There have been campaigns to block the use of these cookies, which now come in a number of different forms, including those that are used by the website you are on, and third-party cookies used to track online activities for advertising purposes. Earlier this week, Google joined a growing list of tech companies announcing a new plan to block certain types of cookies from working with its browser, Chrome. The Alphabet-owned firm said it would trial a new system of 'Topics' that is designed to protect user privacy while also allowing for targeted advertising. In the past 30 years cookies have become synonymous with the World Wide Web, and despite their origins, are at the heart of concerns over privacy and security WHAT ARE HTTP COOKIES? A 'cookie' is more formally known as an HTTP cookie, a web cookie, an Internet cookie or a browser cookie. It is the shorter version of 'magic cookie,' according to Norton antivirus. This is a term for a packet of data a computer receives and sends back without changing or altering it. When you visit a website it sends the cookie to your computer, where it is stored as a file within the browser. The website can then reference this cookie to keep track of what pages you look at and other activities. It can use it to save your shopping cart for next time, store your username to make it easier to login and give you a list of recently viewed pages. According to Norton: 'Under normal circumstances, cookies cannot transfer viruses or malware to your computer. 'Because the data in a cookie doesn't change when it travels back and forth, it has no way to affect how your computer runs.' Advertisement This doesn't mean Chrome users won't be tracked, but instead of blanket third-party cookies and data sharing, websites they visit, and advertising companies, will be given three topics that have been linked to that individual based on their activity. These 'broad themes' are supposed to be linked to their interest, based on browsing history collected by Google - with the data stored on the device, not Google servers - meaning Google itself won't have access to the dataset producing the topics. Google says it will also only allow advertisers to hold on to the topic information for three weeks, and Chrome users can opt out completely. This hasn't been a popular move among advertisers, who fear it could cut into their ability to generate revenue from properly targeted advertising. Others say the move doesn't go far enough, with campaigners saying that companies like Google and Facebook make it easier to opt-in to cookie tracking, than they do to opt-out of being tracked. Not all cookies are bad though, explained Montulli, adding that some are needed to help websites interact with visitors. Without what are called 'first-party' cookies, every time a person went online, they would be treated as though it were their first time. His problem is with third-party cookies, that are generated by a website and stored in the browser, that ad networks can use to see what users have been viewing. 'It is only through collusion between many websites and an ad network that ad tracking is allowed to happen,' Montulli argued. Websites share activity data with ad networks, which then use it to target ads for all their members, which in turn make more money as they are more likely to be clicked. There have been campaigns to block the use of these cookies, which now come in a number of different forms, including those that are used by the website you are on, and third-party cookies used to track online activities for advertising purposes GOOGLE HIT WITH $169 MILLION FINE BY FRENCH REGULATOR France's data privacy watchdog CNIL fined Alphabet's Google a record $169 million for making it difficult for internet users to refuse online trackers known as cookies. Meta Platforms' Facebook was also fined $67 million for the same reason, the CNIL said. 'When you accept cookies, it's done in just one click,' said Karin Kiefer, CNIL's head for data protection and sanctions. 'Rejecting cookies should be as easy as accepting them'. In its statement, the watchdog said it had found that the facebook.com, google.fr and youtube.com websites didn't allow the refusal of cookies easily, citing Google's video-streaming platform. In its statement, the watchdog said it had found that the facebook.com, google.fr and youtube.com websites didn't allow the refusal of cookies easily. The CNIL said the two companies had three months to comply with its orders or face an extra penalty payment of $111,000 per day of delay. These include the obligation for Google and Facebook to provide French internet users simpler tools for refusing cookies, in order to guarantee their consent. Advertisement 'If you search on some strange niche product and then you get bombarded with ads for that product at a number of websites, that is a weird experience,' Montulli said. 'It is normal human pattern recognition to think if they know I was looking for blue suede shoes, they must know everything about me; then think I want to get out of this.' The increasing use of personal detail cookies has drawn the attention of governments, with the French authorities recently fining Google and Facebook a combined $237 million just this month, for the way they track visitors. The fine was on the grounds that they required too many 'clicks' for a user to completely reject cookies, resulting in many accepting them by default. As well as the fine, the regulator gave Meta and Alphabet three months to find a way to make it easier for users to reject cookies and still use services. Part of the problem with cookies is the 'leaking' of personal information, where data collected by one website, however anonymous, could allow for a browser to be identified as belonging to a specific individual. 'It's a network effect of all these different websites colluding together with the ad trackers,' Montulli said. 'Cookies were originally designed to provide privacy.' He said one possible response would be to stop targeting ads and start charging subscriptions for online services, which run on online advertising revenue. Montulli also supports phasing out third-party cookies, but warned getting rid of the software snippets altogether would drive advertisers to more stealthy tactics. 'Advertising will find a way,' he said. 'It will become a technological arms race; considering the billions of dollars at risk, the ad industry will do what they need to keep the lights on.' Turning off third-party cookies could also unintentionally punish small websites by shutting them out of targeted ads that make money. This could in turn result in giving even more power to tech giants such as Apple, Google and Facebook-parent Meta - the largest players in the online ad market. Regulation that keeps cookies in use, mandating controls such as letting users opt in or out of sharing data, may be the only viable long-term solution, Montulli said. Cookies, as we know them today, owe their origin to a battle between giving all users of Netscape's Navigator Browser a personal ID, and finding a private way to handle preferences being saved for each individual website. The privacy approach won out, thanks in a large part to Montulli who said in a 2021 interview with Quartz, the goal was a mechanism where you could be remembered by websites you want to remember you, but also remain anonymous elsewhere. By the time the advertising industry realised it could make use of these text files, now an open standard, Netscape was too buried in a battle with Microsoft to tackle the problem. Eventually this technology, which was just one of dozens of new innovations made by Montulli during his time at Netscape, came to dominate the WWW. 'You really couldn't use the web without cookies,' he said. 'But, we are going to need to be more nuanced about how they are used in advertising.' Elon Musk-owned SpaceX is on target to launch a rocket a week throughout 2022, including delivering hundreds of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This would be a remarkable achievement for the space firm, building on 31 launches last year - carrying a combination of private and government payloads. 'That's an incredible pace,' said Sandra Magnus, astronaut and former executive director of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Speaking during a virtual meeting of NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), Magnus said SpaceX would need to ensure appropriate attention is paid to NASA missions, with the right resources made available. Elon Musk-owned SpaceX is on target to launch a rocket a week throughout 2022, including delivering hundreds of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit This would be a remarkable achievement for the space firm, building on 31 launches last year - carrying a combination of private and government payloads SpaceX has launched three Falcon 9 rockets so far this year, with the first on January 6, with an Italian Earth observation satellite scheduled to launch tonight. There is another SpaceX launch set for Sunday, January 30, putting another batch of Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit, bringing the number above 2,000. SpaceX isn't new to making bold claims, with Musk announcing in 2000 that he would launch 48 rockets in 2021, but only made 31. That was still a record number of launched for the firm, and put them on a similar pace as the Chinese space agency . Next-generation Starlink constellations could have a whopping 42,000 Starlink satellites in low-Earth orbit, hopes Elon Musk (pictured) SpaceX has launched three Falcon 9 rockets so far this year, with the first on January 6, with an Italian Earth observation satellite scheduled to launch tonight RECENT STARLINK LAUNCHES January 18, 2022: 49 satellites January 6, 2022: 49 satellites December 18, 2021: 52 satellites December 2, 2021: 48 satellites November 13, 2021: 53 satellites September 14, 2021: 51 satellites Advertisement It isn't clear whether the 52 scheduled launches are all using the Falcon 9, or whether there would be Falcon Heavy and even Starship prototype launches. The firm is expected to launch the first orbital prototype of its Starship rocket into orbit by the spring. Being able to re-use parts of rockets has been listed as a key reason why SpaceX has been able to launch so often, landing boosters, recovering nosecones and re-using them in future launches. This reduces the cost of each mission from a typical $60 to $90 million down to about $30 million per trip. The Transporter-3 mission earlier this month, that saw a Falcon 9 carry satellites for a number of smaller operators, reused a booster for the 10th time in 20 months. SpaceX's rideshare program allows corporations and governments to send a 200-kilogram payload into orbit for the relatively cheap price of $1 million compared to a solo mission for a $50 million. In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, arcs across the night sky in this view Viera, Florida, January 18, 2022 Of the 52 missions scheduled for 2022, there will be multiple crewed spaceflights for NASA, and the Axiom Space AX-1 mission, that will take the first fully civilian crew to the International Space Station in February. Both NASA and SpaceX will have to ensure the appropriate attention and priority are focused on NASA missions, and the right resources are brought to bear to maintain that pace at a safe measure, Magnus said during the meeting. Other NASA launches include cargo shipments to the ISS, but the firm has a number of non-NASA customers, including launches for its own Starlink internet satellites. This massive internet satellite constellation could one day be made up of tens of thousands of spaceships, orbiting a few hundred miiles above the Earth and working in concert to provide high-speed internet to the most rural parts of the planet. There is no guarantee SpaceX will hit its 'one per week' target, as launches are subject to weather, faults and sudden change, but it is on target right now. China has confirmed it's joining forces with Russia to build a research station on the moon by 2035, which will rival NASA's Lunar Gateway. Confirmation of plans to build the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) came on Friday from officials at China National Space Administration (CNSA), the country's national space agency. Russia and China aim to complete basic infrastructure construction for ILRS by 2035, Wu Yanhua, CNSA deputy director, told a briefing in Beijing. ILRS will rival NASA's Lunar Gateway, which is set to play a 'vital' role in the US space agency's upcoming Artemis program. However, NASA's Lunar Gateway will only orbit the moon, while ILRS will have both an orbiter and a base on the lunar surface, as well as multiple exploration rovers. China and Russia will sign an agreement to build a research station on the moon, officials at the Chinese space agency said WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE CHINA-RUSSIA MOON BASE The moon base, called International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), is a joint operation between Russia and China. ILRS will be 'designed to conduct multidisciplinary and multipurpose research work'. NASA's Lunar Gateway will orbit the moon, but ILRS will have both an orbiter and a base on the lunar surface. China and Russia will sign an agreement to build the research station, officials at China National Space Administration said. Advertisement The next step for Russia and China is infrastructure construction, which includes systems for energy, communication and life support on the moon base, Bloomberg Quint reports. The ILRS project will be open to other countries to join. 'We welcome the extensive participation of international colleagues,' Wu said on Friday. It follows authorities from Moscow and Beijing signing a memorandum of understanding in March 2021 to launch the project. The base, the memorandum said, would be 'designed to conduct multidisciplinary and multipurpose research work'. Russia previously expressed interest in collaborating on NASA's Lunar Gateway program, and an informal joint statement was signed by both Roscosmos (Russia's space agency) and NASA on September 27, 2017. However, Roscosmos formally announced in January 2021 that it would ultimately not be participating in the program. Described as a 'vital component of NASAs Artemis program, the Lunar Gateway will be a small space station orbiting the moon, acting as a 'multi-purpose outpost'. Wu Yanhua, deputy head of China's National Space Administration (CNSA), attends the State Council Information Office (SCIO) press conference to issue the white paper titled 'China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective' on January 28, 2022 in Beijing, China CHINA'S UPCOMING CHANG'E MISSIONS Chang'e-6 will be the first mission to explore the moon's south pole. It's expected to launch in 2023 or 2024. Chang'e-7 will study the land surface, composition, space environment in an overall mission, according to the Chinese space authority, while Chang'e-8 will focus on technical surface analysis. China is also reportedly working on building a lunar base using 3D printing technology and sending a future crewed mission to the surface. Chang'e-8 will likely lay the groundwork for this as it strives to verify technology for the project. The CNSA is also building an Earth-orbiting space station where Chinese astronauts conduct scientific experiments, similar to ISS crew. The agency also launched a mission to Mars in summer 2020 and landed a rover on the red planet in May 2021. Advertisement China wants to land its first astronauts on the moon as early as 2030, according to Chinese Academy of Engineering expert Long Lehao someone thought to be close to CNSA's space program last autumn. The country had always planned to send humans to the lunar surface, but it was assumed it would be later in the 2030s, after multiple rover and probe missions. China has also just approved three more missions to the moon Chang'e 6, 7 and 8 launching from 2024 onwards. Friday's announcement is a sign of closer cooperation between Russia and China, which has been conducting its spare-faring projects alone. China was notably barred from participating in the project to build the International Space Station (ISS) by the US. In its 20-year history, no Chinese nationals have ever been aboard the ageing ISS, which is operated by five space agencies NASA (US), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada). As a result, China last year started building its own space station, called Tiangong, meaning 'heavenly palace', to rival it. ISS, currently in orbit, took 10 years and more than 30 missions to assemble from the launch of the first module back in 1998. The Tianhe module of the China's new space station which was the first module to be launched, in April last year forms the main living quarters for crew members in Tiangong, which will have a life span of at least 10 years. China's ambitious Tiangong space station, currently under construction, is seen here in an artistic rendering 3D rendering of the Chinese Space Station, or Tiangong Space Station, as it'll look when fully constructed. Tianhe will form the main living quarters for three crew members. Shenzhou is an existing spacecraft that would dock at the station with crew. Tianzhou is an existing cargo transport spacecraft CHINESE SPACE STATION MODULES - Tianhe: Core module. Launched on April 29, 2021 - Wentian: Experiment module I. Launch planned for 2022 - Mengtian: Experiment module II. Launch planned for 2022 - Xuntian: Space telescope module. Planned launch in 2024 to co-orbit with Chinese Space Station Advertisement Tianhe will be connected next year to two more 'experiment module' sections, named Wentian and Mengtian, set to be launched by June and September 2022, respectively. Once completed, Tiangong Space Station will weigh some 66 tons, far smaller than the ISS, which launched its first module in 1998 and weighs around 450 tons. Tiangong's first crew returned to Earth in September following a 90-day mission. The second crew of two men and one woman Zhai Zhigang and Ye Guangfu and Wang Yaping arrived in mid October for a six-month mission and are still aboard today. In early November, Yaping became China's first female spacewalker after completing a six-hour task outside the station, along with Zhigang. The spacewalk took a total of six hours 25 minutes, during which time the duo installed equipment and carried out tests alongside the station's robotic service arm. China launched Chang'e-5 in November 2020, which less than a month successfully returned lunar rock samples to Earth the first such samples returned to Earth in more than 40 years. Meanwhile, China's Tianwen-1 mission, consisting of multiple spacecraft including an orbiter and lander, is currently investigating the Martian surface and its atmosphere. War reporter and Unicef ambassador Martin Bell, pictured, checks in to our travel Q&A This week, war reporter and Unicef ambassador Martin Bell checks in to our travel Q&A. He talks about the experience that sparked his travel curiosity, his most treasured souvenirs, his favourite bar of all time - and more... FIRST TRAVEL MEMORY? Boarding an aircraft at Southend Airport and flying to Cyprus in 1957. I was 18 and a humble infantryman. It was my first time abroad, first time on a plane and first time away from home. DID THIS SPARK YOUR TRAVEL CURIOSITY? It did. Id see journalists at the Ledra Palace Hotel in Nicosia, immaculately dressed in safari suits, and think, Thats not a bad way to earn a living. EVER BEEN SCARED? Fear keeps you alive, what kills you is panic. It was a huge advantage to be a soldier. IS THERE SHRAPNEL IN YOUR STOMACH? Yes. I was wounded by the Serbs in a bomb blast and robbed by the French on the same day in 1992. I was taken to the French field hospital, and when I came round, my passport and cash were gone. I had another operation in London, and the surgeon said it was safer to leave in the shrapnel. ANY TRAVEL ADVICE? Take twice the money and half the clothes you want to. Martin reveals that Belfast's The Crown, pictured, is his favourite bar - and a Bushmills whiskey is his drink of choice there BEST SOUVENIRS? A shotgun shell casing from Zimbabwe and tear gas canister from the 1968 Chicago riots, following the death of Martin Luther King. I also have a bullet case from Vietnam I was there in 1967 and 1972. I nearly got John Pilger and myself killed one day. HAVE YOU STILL GOT YOUR WHITE SUITS? Not as many as I used to. I had six at one point. HOW MANY COUNTRIES HAVE YOU VISITED? To be precise, 121. Though I saw Germany when it was two nations and Yugoslavia when it was one (its now six). Martin's next trip will be to visit Paris, where his daughter Melissa works as a CNN correspondent FAVOURITE BAR? The Crown, Belfast. It has wonderful stained-glass windows and pews. Id have a Bushmills whiskey. WHERE NEXT? Paris. My daughter Melissa is the CNN correspondent there. Id love to revisit St Helena. Ive been twice and loved it. She has been a fixture of Australian film and television for more than 20 years and is often praised for her age-defying appearance. And Susie Porter shared the secret to her youthful visage and incredible figure during an interview with Daily Mail Australia this week. 'I run, I walk a lot and still do functional training at F45 six times per week,' the 51-year-old said. From healthy eating to F45 sessions six times per week: Australian actress Susie Porter, 51, has shared the secret behind her youthful looks and incredible figure Susie said that while she likes to indulge on special occasions, for the most part she is careful about the food she eats. 'Look, I try and be healthy, but like everyone I love food, but I also really enjoy my exercise,' she added. Susie explained that regular exercise helped her stay motivated and positive during Melbourne's Covid lockdown last year. Motivated: 'I run, I walk a lot and still do functional training at F45 six times per week,' the 51-year-old actress told Daily Mail Australia earlier this week My, how you've changed! Susie debuted a much slimmer frame and a taut visage when she attended the AACTA Awards in Sydney in December (right). Pictured left in 2010 'Exercise really helped me when I was filming Wentworth and we were in lockdown. I find it a really great, kind of release,' she said. It comes a month after the actress turned heads when she arrived at the AACTA Awards looking much slimmer than usual. Susie showed off her dramatic weight loss as she posed on the red carpet in a form-fitting hot pink gown by Daniel Learmont. Enjoying workouts: 'Look, I try and be healthy, but like everyone I love food, but I also really enjoy my exercise,' she said. Susie is pictured in 2019 Twirling around for photos, Susie looked thrilled with her new physique. She also debuted noticeably different facial features, including a tauter-looking complexion, shinier forehead and more prominent cheekbones than usual. The Puberty Blues star, who began her acting career in her twenties, is now starring in Stan Original film Gold alongside Zac Efron. The Stan Original film Gold is available to stream now on Stan. Turning heads: It comes just weeks after the actress turned heads when she arrived at the AACTA Awards looking much slimmer than usual She bid farewell to Summer Bay just a few weeks ago, after playing Jasmine Delaney on Home and Away since 2017. And Sam Frost is making the most of her freed-up schedule since quitting the soap, spending a relaxing day at the beach on Thursday. The former Bachelorette, 32, showed off her toned figure in a tiny red bikini as she soaked up the sun at Culburra Beach on the NSW South Coast. Red hot! Sam Frost showed off her toned figure in a red bikini on Thursday she she soaked up the sun at Culburra Beach, on the NSW South Coast, just weeks after quitting Home and Away Sam showcased her flat stomach and cleavage in a sizzling selfie on Instagram. 'South Coast beach crawl,' Sam captioned the post. Sam looked like the quintessential Aussie beach babe, showing off a soft golden tan as her long blonde hair blew in the breeze. Moving on: Just last month, Channel Seven confirmed that Sam had left Home and Away Just last month, Channel Seven confirmed that Sam had left Home and Away. A spokesperson said of her departure: 'We support and respect Sam's decision to leave Home and Away. Sam leaves with our sincere thanks and very best wishes for the future.' Sam quit the long-running soap two months after copping backlash in October when she revealed she hadn't had the Covid-19 vaccine. Her exit came just weeks ahead of Seven Productions' January 10 deadline for all actors, crew and presenters to be double-vaccinated. Controversy: Sam quit the long-running soap two months after copping backlash in October when she revealed she hadn't had the Covid-19 vaccine However, a source told Daily Mail Australia Sam's decision to leave was 'not related' to the network's vaccine policy. The role of Jasmine Delaney will not be recast. Sam filmed her final scenes for Home and Away last month at Sydney's Eveleigh Studios. She will reportedly move to Melbourne to be closer to her friends and family. She's the self-proclaimed black sheep of the family who signed up to Married At First Sight in hopes of finding her dream partner. But it appears as though half-Cambodian and half-Chinese Selina Chhaur will have a hard time convincing her traditional parents to approve of her quest for love. Channel Nine released a dramatic new trailer which sees the Adelaide-based hairdresser, 32, sit her parents down to tell them she's planning to marry a stranger. Married At First Sight bride Selina Chhaur, 32, (pictured) is left devastated in new trailer after her traditional parents REFUSE to approve her quest for love on TV Selina explained that if her parents had their way she would already be married to an older, wealthy Asian. 'If my mum could pick me the perfect husband, he would look like Kim Jong Il and have like a multimillion dollar company in China and I would be his fourth wife or something,' she tells producers. 'When I told them I not only wanted to be a hairdresser, but I wanted to leave school they were definitely not happy or supportive. I felt like such a disappointment.' Nerves: Channel Nine released a dramatic new trailer which sees the Adelaide-based hairdresser sit her parents down to tell them she's planning to marry a stranger 'There are three experts that have found me my soulmate, but I haven't met him yet,' she tells her parents over a cup of tea. 'We're going to get married' Out to prove them wrong by not only succeeding in her career, Selina is hoping the experiment's experts can also help in her quest for love. 'There are three experts that have found me my soulmate, but I haven't met him yet,' she tells her parents over a cup of tea. 'We're going to get married.' Her father, originally from Cambodia, replies telling Selina that he doesn't give his 100 per cent approval before the scene ends. Oh no! Her father, originally from Cambodia, (left) replies telling Selina that he doesn't give his 100 per cent approval before the scene ends Speechless: A devastated Selina appears speechless as she just nods after hearing her parent's response As revealed by Daily Mail Australia, Married At First Sight won't be her first time on reality TV. Selina previously starred on Channel Seven's short-lived dating series The Proposal. Selina was 'proposed' to by Love Island star Aaron Shaw after the pair hit it off; however, things fizzled out shortly after filming the series. Married At First Sight premieres Monday, January 31 on Channel Nine Not her first rodeo! It won't be Selina's first time on a reality TV dating show. Selina previously starred on Channel Seven's short-lived dating series The Proposal Mishel Karen has emerged as one of Australia's biggest OnlyFans stars in recent months. And now the former Married At First Sight bride has stripped down for a sizzling lingerie shoot to promote her X-rated content. The 51-year-old left little to the imagination in a lacy pink lingerie set that consisted of a low-cut bra and a pair of matching panties. EXCLUSIVE: Married At First Sight's Mishel Karen bared all in a lingerie shoot for OnlyFans In one image, she suggestively cupped her cleavage and pushed it up to give viewers an eyeful of her assets. Her hair and makeup was flawless, with the mum of two opting for a crimson lip, dark eyeshadow, and tousled waves. One image even featured Mishel with another OnlyFans model, and was taken from the grandmother's first ever 'girl-on-girl' scene. The entire shoot, from the lingerie photos to the porn scene, was shot on location in a Gold Coast warehouse as part of a mass content shoot in December. Bombshell: Her hair and makeup was flawless, with the mum of two opting for a crimson lip, dark eyeshadow, and tousled waves Mishel and a number of other Australian OnlyFans models, including former V8 Supercars driver Renee Gracie, spent the day collaborating and creating content for their accounts. Unfortunately, Mishel was struck down with Covid several weeks later and became so sick she could barely respond to messages from her subscribers. Despite some struggles, the former reality star is raking in big bucks from her new hardcore porn career. Double trouble! One image even featured Mishel with another OnlyFans model, and was taken from the grandmother's first ever 'girl-on-girl' scene She was initially making just $5,000 a month on OnlyFans, but is now raking in about $20,000 - and the figure is climbing. 'I have earned a really nice amount of money to help us through this difficult time. Well, at least I can pay my new mortgage for a few months,' she recently told Daily Mail Australia. The struggling single mum was forced to turn to OnlyFans to provide for herself and her family after being suspended without pay from her job for refusing to comply with Covid vaccine mandates. Crowded: The entire shoot, from the lingerie photos to the porn scene, was shot on location in a Gold Coast warehouse as part of a mass content shoot in December (pictured) She has also been caring for an immediate family member who she claims has been suffering from heart problems caused by the vaccine. Mishel, a mother of two and grandmother of one, is older than most of her contemporaries at 51, and is also known for performing hardcore acts other OnlyFans models aren't prepared to do. Mishel also sells her used socks and panties on the website, and performs bizarre custom requests for fans. Booked and busy! The mum of two is now raking in $20,000 a month on OnlyFans, and that figure is continuing to climb Unfortunately, her popularity on the site has its downsides, as a deranged fan recently started leaking her X-rated material online. Mishel, who used to work as a policy trainer in the police force, recently became a grandmother after her son Sam welcomed a baby boy with his girlfriend. She's also a doting mum to daughter Eva, who featured on a few episodes of Married At First Sight and now works as a curve model in Brisbane. The Macedonian stunner shot to fame on Married At First Sight in 2020. Attorneys representing the family of slain rapper Drakeo the Ruler have announced plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against organizers of the disastrous Once Upon a Time in LA music festival. In a press conference with family held on Thursday, their attorney said they would be suing the organizers including Live Nation, which organized Travis Scott's tragic Astroworld festival for 'at least' $20 million. Drakeo the Ruler (born Darrell Wayne Caldwell) was only 28 when was stabbed to death by a group of masked individuals backstage at the Banc of California Stadium on December 18, 2021. Legal action: Attorneys for the family of slain rapper Drakeo the Ruler announced plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit next week against the promoters of the Once Upon a Time in LA festival, where he was killed; pictured on Thursday Attorneys for Drakeo's family said at the press conference that they plan to file the wrongful death lawsuit in the upcoming week. At the start of the conference, lawyers shared video from the night of the stabbing to claim that the rapper wasn't properly protected by security from the organizers. 'His life was taken way too soon, and it should never have happened,' one attorney said. He claimed the video showed Drakeo the Ruler being 'lynched' by 'over 40 to 60 people.' Shocking attack: Attorneys showed a video that reportedly showed the final moments of Drakeo the Ruler backstage at the festival. They claimed he was 'lynched' by 'over 40 to 60 people' Unprotected? 'You didn't see one security officer there,' the attorney added, before noting that the video allegedly showed a fence being opened to let more attackers in; pictured Thursday He also said the video ran 'for a full minute' without showing the rapper with any security personnel to defend him. 'You didn't see one security officer there,' he added, before noting that the video allegedly showed a fence being opened to let more attackers in. The attorney also claimed that there were members of the 'Bloods and Crips' gangs present at the festival. 'Live Nation, C3 Presents, Bobby Dee Presents and a whole host of others failed Mr. Caldwell and his family,' they said. They also expressed confidence that the people responsible for Drakeo's killing would be 'held accountable' by the district attorney. 'This should have never happened if those promoters had the proper security protocol,' the attorney concluded, adding that the killing was a 'preventable death.' Lawsuit targets: 'Live Nation, C3 Presents, Bobby Dee Presents and a whole host of others failed Mr. Caldwell and his family,' they said; Drakeo seen December 12 in San Bernardino, Calif. Drakeo's family later said that he had been stabbed in the neck during the attack by at least 40 people backstage. After the attack, which occurred around 8:30 p.m., he was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, where he was declared dead later that night. Snoop Dogg and other headliners canceled their sets after learning of the attack, and police later shut down the festival prior to its scheduled 11 p.m. end time. In March of 2018, Drakeo was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, along with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, which left him facing a life sentence. The charges were in relation to a shooting in Carson, California in December 2016 in which one person was killed and two were injured, but he was acquitted of the charges in July 2019. Legal history: Drakeo was previously acquitted on charges including first-degree murder after a 2016 shooting, but the district attorney refiled minor charges afterward. He accepted a plea deal after three years in jail; seen December 12 in San Bernardino However, the district attorney refiled charges of criminal gang conspiracy and shooting from a motor vehicle a month after the jury was initially deadlocked on those counts. After being held in jail for three years, Drakeo accepted a plea deal allowing him to be released if he pleaded guilty to fire a gun from a vehicle, according to NPR. During his time in Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles, the rapper recorded his critically acclaimed album Thank You for Using GTL. Britain's Got Talent audition audience members were left shocked this week when hopeful JD Anderson was left bloodied when a stunt went wrong. The performer, who has previously appeared on America's Got Talent, was seen to by medics following the accident at the London Palladium which happened in front of show judges Simon Cowell, 62, Amanda Holden, 50, David Walliams, 50, and Alesha Dixon, 43. An onlooker told The Sun: 'You expect weird acts but this guy was smashing ice on his head. Mishap: Britain's Got Talent audition audience members were left shocked this week when hopeful JD Anderson was left bloodied when a stunt went wrong 'Amanda was visibly wincing each time the blocks of ice got bigger but Simon appeared to be loving it. 'It ended with JD running into a giant block of ice and smashing it up, causing the audience to gasp. 'It soon became clear he was in pain and blood could be seen coming out of his head.' Shock: The accident at the London Palladium happened in front of show judges Simon Cowell, 62, Amanda Holden, 50, David Walliams, 50, and Alesha Dixon, 43 Medics intervened and checked he had not sustained a concussion but he was given the all clear. MailOnline has contacted a representative for Britain's Got Talent for comment. JD Anderson competed in series nine of America's Got Talent as a strongman in 2014. Fame game: JD Anderson competed in series nine of America's Got Talent as a strongman in 2014 (pictured on the show) He caught the attention of the judges but failed to make it past the quarterfinals of the show. Meanwhile, Amanda was left in hysterics after Simon made a cheeky quip about her bedroom during the BGT auditions on Tuesday. The stunning judge watched a chained escapologist attempt to break free from a water tank, when Simon quipped: 'That looks like Amandas bedroom.' Born to perform: He caught the attention of the judges but failed to make it past the quarterfinals of the show David retorted: 'How do you know?' Simon made things worse by joking he previously 'wanted to buy her house', which failed to amuse Amanda, who was wearing a latex dress. Amanda was then said to have giggled when the escapologist made a racy 50 Shades of Grey inspired-joke on stage about her locking his handcuffs on stage. 'You promised you wouldn't tell anyone': Amanda was 'left in hysterics' after Simon made a racy quip about her bedroom during escapologist's performance at BGT auditions on Monday Duo: Simon watched a chained escapologist attempt to break free from a water tank, and quipped 'That looks like Amandas bedroom' (pictured last week) She responded: 'Well, I am dressed for the part. This comes as judge David shocked the Britain's Got Talent auditions as he pole-danced on stage before flashing his nipple at Simon on Friday. The Little Britain star, who 'has been given a talking to' by show bosses after making crude jokes and behaving mischievously, took to the stage for an impromptu pole-dancing performance as crowds cheered. Banter: Amanda giggled when the escapologist made a racy 50 Shades of Grey inspired-joke on stage about her locking his handcuffs on stage Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly pretended to vomit as they watched on, with David joking and chuckling as he swung himself around at the London Palladium. After spinning around, the star made his way off stage and back to the judging panel where head judge Simon asked him something. David responded: 'What'?' before pulling his shirt open to reveal his nipple as the audience cheered. Oh wow: David shocked the Britain's Got Talent auditions as he pole-danced on stage before flashing his nipple at Simon on Friday This comes amid claims David undid his shirt before playing with his nipples and sticking his finger through the fly of his trousers to make out he was exposing himself next to judge Simon during auditions this week. It is claimed David got a 'ticking off' after acting 'like a schoolboy' within the same week that music mogul Simon berated the comic for a cheeky comment in reference to a contestant. A TV insider told The Sun: 'Because BGT has been off our screens for some time, David is like a schoolboy in his first week back in class after the summer holidays. 'He cant resist showing off in front of the crowd, which people expect from the funnyman. But sometimes he can take things too far, and thats just whats happened this week. 'Simon obviously loves his outrageous behaviour and the fact they take the mickey out of one another, but even he seemed unimpressed with his latest joke.' They added that David was spoken to about his humour after the first day of auditions but he appears to have taken it as a 'challenge' to be even naughtier. China to explore lunar polar regions, mulling human landing: white paper Xinhua) 13:52, January 28, 2022 BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) - China will continue to explore the moon's polar regions and is mulling over a manned lunar landing in the coming five years, according to a white paper released on Friday. The white paper, titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective," said China will continue its studies and research "on the plan for a human lunar landing." A new-generation manned spacecraft will be developed to support its exploration of the cislunar space, according to the paper. It is part of the country's ambitious lunar exploration plan after its lunar probes landed on the far side of the moon in 2019 and brought back lunar samples last year, respectively. In the next five years, China is planning to bring two more probes onto the moon to explore its polar regions, a place believed to contain water ice, especially in the deep, permanent shadows of some mountains and craters. China will launch the Chang'e-6 lunar probe to collect and bring back samples from the moon's polar regions and launch the Chang'e-7 to perform a precise landing there and "a hopping detection" in lunar shadowed area, the paper said. Also, the country will complete R&D on the key technology of Chang'e-8 and push forward the building of an international research station on the moon with global collaboration, according to the paper. The program is a counterpart to NASA's Artemis lunar exploration plans that try to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024, and establishes a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by 2028. In the next five years, China will launch asteroid probes to sample near-Earth asteroids and probe main-belt comets. The paper also revealed the country's technological preparations for Mars sampling and return, exploration of Jupiter system and boundary exploration of the solar system. Back to near-Earth orbits, China plans to launch, in the next five years, two experimental modules and a space telescope, complete its space station, build a space lab onboard, and carry out large-scale scientific experiments with astronauts on long-term assignments. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Nicolas Cage believes he 'got it right' with current wife Riko Shibata, 27, after enduring four failed marriages in less than three decades. Cage (born Nicolas Kim Coppola), 58, made the admission in a candid interview with the Los Angeles Times, where he was asked to reveal the people/things he cares about most in life. Without hesitation he listed off Riko, who he married in February 2021 after a year of knowing one another. Fifth time's the charm! Nicolas Cage believes he 'got it right' with current wife Riko Shibata, 27, after enduring four failed marriages; Nicolas and Riko pictured in November 'I'm really happily married. I know five is a lot,' he said, in a reference to the number of times he has tied-the-knot, before adding, 'But I think I got it right this time.' The couple first met in Japan in 2020 when Cage was filming Sion Sono's Prisoners Of Ghostland. She landed a role in the movie playing one of the four Mannequin Women. The couple are currently expecting their first baby together. Candid: Cage (born Nicolas Kim Coppola), 58, made the admission in a candid interview with the Los Angeles Times , where he was asked to reveal the people/things he cares about most in life; Cage pictured in 2020 Cage first married actress Patricia Arquette in April 1995, but their union ended in divorce in 2001. From there, he wed Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of the King Of Rock And Roll, Elvis Presley, one of Cage's idol's, in August 2002, which ended just three months later. The actor found love again with Alice Kim in 2004, which resulted in the birth of his second son, Kal-El, now 16, but their union ended in divorce in 2016. He also shares a son Weston, 31, with former partner Christina Fulton, whom he dated beginning in 1988. Cage exchanged nuptials with his fourth wife Erika Koike in March 2019, but again split just three months later. After welcoming his first child with ex-partner Christina Fulton in 1990, Cage would go on to marry actress Patricia Arquette in 1995, only to divorce in 2001; they are pictured in 1996 Along with his film role in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Cage will also star this year in The Retirement Plan, The Old Way and Butcher's Crossing. Plus, next month, he's scheduled to begin shooting the horror-comedy film Renfield, in which he plays Dracula in the Universal Pictures production. Cage, who's the nephew of legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, kicked off his film career with a small part in the coming-of-age comedy-drama film, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, in 1982. Over the course of the next decade, Cage starred in such heralded movies as Raising Arizona (1987), Moonstruck (1987), Wild at Heart (1990), Honeymoon In Vegas (1992), which led to Leaving Las Vegas (1995), a role that resulted in an Academy Award for Best Actor. Honey Kinny Ross, 24, was clearly enjoying the winter sunshine in a pair of Instagram snaps on Thursday. The daughter of television personality Jonathan Ross looked radiant as she posed in the sunlight clad in a cropped taupe jumper. She put on a casual display in a chunky jumper and a matching nude vest, teamed with a pair of light wash jeans. Glowing! Jonathan Ross' daugther Honey, 24, was clearly enjoying the winter sunshine in a pair of Instagram snaps on Thursday The presenter of the Body Protest podcast wore her orange locks styled in loose beachy waves as she added a feline flick of black eyeliner to complete her look. Honey smiled for the camera as she shielded her eyes from the sun and displayed her brightly coloured teal acrylic nails. Earlier in the day, Honey took to her Stories as she joined The Joy of Being Selfish author Michelle Elman to speak at Blackwell's Bookshop in Oxford. Honey has long championed body positivity and uses her Instagram as a platform to to promote self-love and confidence. Radiant: The daughter of TV presenter Jonathan Ross wore her orange locks styled in loose beachy waves as she added a feline flick of black eyeliner to complete her look It comes after Honey shared a gushing tribute to her boyfriend Zane Saz on Instagram earlier this month. She shared a slew of sweet snaps alongside a romantic caption dedicated to her 'immensely talented partner'. The writer and activist was bursting with pride as she announced that Zane, 24, has released a 'beautiful album.' Sweet: It comes after Honey shared a gushing tribute to her boyfriend Zane Saz on Instagram earlier this month In the first snap Honey packed on the PDA and kissed her musician partner on the cheek. In another, the pair appeared to be in a jovial mood as they laughing together in a candid picture. The loved up captioned read: 'My immensely talented partner has released a beautiful album today. 'I'm so lucky to love and be loved by you, Zaney. Your mind astounds me, how you can pluck fully realised, magnetic songs seemingly from thin air, like magic. 'My kind, gentle, wise, beautiful man. Stream Dread Full II if you know what's good for you!!! Could not be prouder.' Margot Robbie channelled her inner Parisian chic as she attended the Chanel Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2022 show in Paris on Tuesday. The 31-year-old Aussie actress, who is an ambassador for the French fashion house, looked incredible as she hit the front row in a gold embellished mini dress and white coat. But all eyes were on one rather small accessory, which comes with an enormous price tag. Tres chic! Margot Robbie channelled her inner Parisian chic as she attended the Chanel Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2022 show in Paris on Tuesday in a mini dress and coat The Wolf of Wall Street star carried what appeared to be a tiny white Chanel quilted mini bag, but was actually a $5,900 Airpods case with a chain. The small case is made of quilted lambskin and features the brand's iconic logo on the clasp. The former Neighbours star has been an ambassador for the French luxury fashion house since 2018. Eye-catching! But all eyes were on one rather small accessory, which comes with an enormous price tag. But all eyes were on one rather small accessory, which comes with an enormous price tag Ambassador: The former Neighbours star has been an ambassador for the French luxury fashion house since 2018 'Everything's always been easy; the relationship has grown in an organic way and I've loved our time together, it feels like a family,' Margot previously told The Sydney Morning Herald about working with Chanel. 'Chanel feels timeless and elegant, but now that I have a personal and direct relationship with the House I have a deeper understanding and appreciation of the art that goes into their products,' she added. Talking about her sense of style, Margot said nothing looks better than confidence and she looks for that feeling in whatever outfit she wears. 'I don't really pay attention to specific trends, I'm more interested in what I feel best in,' she added. Margot, who hails from Queensland's Dalby, has gone on to become one of Hollywood's biggest stars. After thrilling fans in 2013's The Wolf of Wall Street, Margot has gone on to appear in films including Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey and even has her own production company. Kim Kardashian's shapewear brand SKIMS has doubled in value to a whopping $3.2billion after a new round of fundraising. The underwear label, which was launched in 2019 and has been modelled by the likes of Kate Moss and Megan Fox, powered through the pandemic, with the business being worth twice as much today than it was last April. On Wednesday it emerged another $234million had been poured into the company after Kim, 41, and her business managers sourced new investors. Success story: Kim Kardashian's shapewear brand SKIMS has doubled in value to a whopping $3.2billion after a new round of fundraising SKIMS brings in annual sales of $274m and is the latest venture to be launched by the star, who also started cosmetics company KKW Beauty in 2017. Items from the SKIMS range even featured at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics last year as they were worn by Team USA athletes, with the clothing also being donned at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. MailOnline has contacted a representative for Kim for comment. Resilient: The underwear label, which was launched in 2019, powered through the pandemic, with the business being worth twice as much today than it was last April Moving on up: On Wednesday it emerged another $234million had been poured into the company after Kim, 41, and her business managers sourced new investors Kim rose to fame on television show Keeping Up With the Kardashians alongside her family and she is now said to be worth $1 billion. The TV juggernaut recently left its home on channel E! to move to streaming service Hulu as The Kardashians. And it is hoped the new episodes will raise further awareness of the SKIMS brand. Star power: Items from the range have been modelled by the likes of British supermodel Kate Moss Looking good: Kim's sister Kourtney Kardashian has modelled underwear by the brand alongside Megan Fox Chief executive Jens Grede said: 'We see an opportunity with SKIMS to create our own category in retail, just like how we believe Lululemon and Starbucks created their own categories in their respective areas. 'Thats really why were doing this to make sure were best prepared for the future.' The news comes after Kim flaunted her hourglass curves in a pair of skimpy black bikini bottoms from her SKIMS range as she reminisced on a tropical vacation in shots shared with her 282million followers on Tuesday evening. In the detail: SKIMS brings in annual sales of 205m and is the latest venture to be launched by the star, who also started cosmetics company KKW Beauty in 2017 Versatile: Items from the SKIMS range even featured at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics last year as they were worn by Team USA athletes She kept somewhat protected from the harsh sunrays with a black, long-sleeved rash guard as she splashed around in the water. The star topped up her tan wearing a pair of cheeky bottoms while wading in the ocean and let her long, dark brown hair cascade down her back in natural curls. Kim rocked a pair of rectangular sunglasses and wore a pale pink shade of lipstick to complement her already flawless complexion. Signature pose: Kim proved to be completely at ease despite a rather turbulent time at home with her estranged husband Kanye West in Instagram snaps this week Blessed: The star flaunted her hourglass curves in a pair of skimpy black SKIMS bikini bottoms as she reminisced on a tropical vacation in shots shared on Tuesday evening Caught a vibe: The SKIMS founder kept somewhat protected from the harsh sunrays with a black, long-sleeved rash guard as she splashed around in the water. Pete Davidson's girlfriend simply captioned the series: 'long time no sea.' Earlier in the day, Kim was forced to deny the existence of a second sex tape with her ex Ray J after Kanye revealed during an explosive interview for Hollywood Unlocked that he retrieved the footage and returned it to his estranged wife last year. Kim, who shares four children with Kanye, dismissed the notion that any further sexually explicit content even existed in a statement to Page Six. Kim filmed the sex tape in 2002 with her then-boyfriend Ray J, which was released into the public domain in 2007, just as Kim and her family were getting ready to launch the first series of their E! reality show. 'The computer and hard drive collected were supposed to contain the original video and any unseen footage. After review, there was nothing sexual unseen, only footage on the plane on the way to Mexico and footage at a club and restaurant on the same trip,' read the statement. Kerry Katona has candidly revealed she's 'unhappy with her body' in a new workout video shared to her YouTube. The former popstar, 41, even went so far as to say she 'doesn't feel comfortable' going to gym classes as 'everyone is staring at me because of who I am.' Kerry was joined by her daughter DJ, seven, in the motivational clip and performed a workout that's easy for her subscribers to follow. Candid: Kerry Katona has candidly revealed she's 'unhappy with her body' in a new workout video shared to her YouTube Opening up: The former popstar, 41, even went so far as to say she 'doesn't feel comfortable' going to gym classes as 'everyone is staring at me because of who I am' The doting mother explained: 'If you're anything like me when a new year comes you want a new you, fresh start and new beginnings. 'And I most certainly want to get myself fit and in shape.' She went on: 'You know me, I'm always complaining, look at the size of my legs, they're like tree trunks.' It follows reports that Kerry refused to hand her phone to the team of 'hunters' on Channel 4's Celebrity Hunted due to her racy photo reel. Sweet: Kerry was joined by her daughter DJ, seven, in the motivational clip and performed a workout that's easy for her subscribers to follow She went on: 'You know me, I'm always complaining, look at the size of my legs, they're like tree trunks' The show follows a slew of stars attempting to evade a team of 'hunters' and act out life as a fugitive - trying to stay off the radar in a series of challenges. She was not on the run but was used by the hunters to track down The Vivienne and Chloe Veitch - although when faced with handing her phone to see if the contestants contacted her, Kerry refused - unless they paid her $18.74 OnlyFans fee. Insiders told The Sun: 'They want her phone so they can see if she's been in contact with them but gives them the run around... Never one to miss an opportunity, Kerry says she will hand over the phone if the Hunters pay her subscription fee.' Cheeky! It follows reports that Kerry refused to hand her phone to the team of 'hunters' on Channel 4's Celebrity Hunted due to her racy photo reel The premise of the 'thriller' show is described as: 'Contestants are given a chance to do their best at evading some of the most skilled intelligence agencies in the world to see how difficult it is to stay off the radar as a fugitive.' As the experts were sent to hunt for drag queen The Vivienne, 29, and Too Hot To Handle's Chloe Veitch, 22, they cornered Kerry and demanded she show her phone. Kerry put up a fight due to her sizzling content, yet reportedly agreed to let them see her phone if they coughed up $18.74 to pay for her OnlyFans. Sources said: 'Kerry wasn't on the run but she easily steals the limelight. At one point the Hunters pay her a visit but she flat out refuses to play ball... 'They want her phone so they can see if she's been in contact with the The Vivienne or Chloe but in typical Kerry form she gives them the run around... 'Kerry uses the fact she uses the phone to take racy pictures for her OnlyFans account as a 'get out of jail free' card. Never one to miss a business opportunity, Kerry says she will hand over the phone if the Hunters pay her subscription fee.' A representative for Kerry declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. She recently returned from a whirlwind seven-week-long honeymoon with her new husband. And Paris Hilton was intent on resuming some semblance of normalcy post wedded bliss as she bundled up for a walk in New York City on Thursday evening. The 40-year-old socialite looked chic-as-can-be despite the brisk winter weather as she scooped up her pet pooch for a stroll in Manhattan. City slicker: Paris Hilton was intent on resuming some semblance of normalcy post wedded bliss as she bundled up for a walk in New York on Thursday evening Paris stepped out wearing a black lace blouse underneath a striking blue coat which was cinched at the waist with a matching belt. She wore a pair of thick black nylons to match her studded Valentino heels, and balanced her dog in her arm and an iPhone in the other hand. Hilton's platinum blonde hair was tied back into a bun with dramatic tendrils framing her face, and she opted for a pair of oversized frames in addition to diamond stud earrings. Classic: The 40-year-old socialite looked chic-as-can-be despite the brisk winter weather as she scooped up her pet pooch for a stroll in Manhattan. Beaming beauty: Paris stepped out wearing a black lace blouse underneath a striking blue coat which was cinched at the waist with a matching belt Sister Nicky, 38, confirmed she's expecting baby No. 3 with husband James Rothschild earlier in the day, and the couple has Lily Grace Victoria, five, and Theodora 'Teddy' Marilyn, four. Hilton and Rothschild were married at Kensington Palace in the summer of 2015, nearly one year after he proposed in Lake Como, Italy. Paris finally became a married woman after saying 'I do' to Carter Reum on Nov. 11 at her grandfather's Bel Air estate during a three-day wild wedding weekend which also included a Paris-themed carnival at the Santa Monica pier. So chic: Hilton's platinum blonde hair was tied back into a bun with dramatic tendrils framing her face, and she opted for a pair of oversized frames in addition to diamond stud earrings Ahead of their wedding, Paris had proudly showed off her gigantic engagement ring, an emerald-cut diamond bauble from Jean Dousset that was rumored to have set Carter back an eye-watering $2million when he proposed in February. The happy couple have been romantically involved since December of 2019, although they had known each other for over a decade. Paris admitted that being married is a 'magical feeling' and knows Carter will be the 'best dad' to their future children. 'I can't wait to grow our family,' the Simple Life star told PEOPLE magazine. 'I feel like Carter and I are puzzle pieces getting connected.' Days after their wedding, PageSix revealed Carter had a secret nine-year-old child from a previous relationship who he has allegedly seen 'only once.' The 40-year-old entrepreneur fathered a child with reality star Laura Bellizzi, known for appearing on the short-lived VH-1 show Secrets of Aspen. Bellizii - a Chicago native who now lives in California with the child - also briefly dated actor Mel Gibson. The Apprentice UK viewers have questioned whether the show is 'staged' as candidate Francesca Kennedy Wallbank was spotted catching a fish by its tail. The latest challenge on Thursday saw the contestants head to Cornwall were they were tasked with sourcing a catch of the day and creating a fish dish to sell to punters. But as Francesca and her team went line fishing for pollock, fans spotted something fishy as she appeared to hook a fish by its tail using her rod, with one left asking: 'Is this set up for camera?' Something fishy going on? The Apprentice UK viewers have questioned whether the show is 'staged' as candidate Francesca Kennedy Wallbank was spotted catching a fish by its tail Ahead of heading out to sea, Francesca boasted that she used to go fishing all the time with her family when she was younger, and so naturally she took the lead while out on the boat with Aaron and Nick. As they get to fishing, Francesca enthusiastically egged on the boys, telling them: 'Come on boys! Catch up!' as she reeled in fish after fish. She then yelled: 'There's lots of fish down there so if you're not catching it, you're not working hard enough. See... it's easy - just bring it in!' Is this for REEL? As Francesca and her team went line fishing for pollock, fans spotted something fishy as she appeared to hook a fish by its tail using her rod, with one left asking: 'Is this set up for camera?' However, as she reeled up her latest catch, the fish appeared to be attached to the hook via its tail as opposed to being caught in the mouth as is usually the case. Though it's not entirely impossible, with fish able to be caught by foul hooking or snagging (a method that catches fish without them taking the bait in its moth), viewers watching didn't seem convinced by Francesca's fishing skills and suggested the scenes were 'set-up' and 'staged' for the camera. Taking to Twitter, one person remarked: 'I'm no fisherman. But I'm pretty sure they don't come out the water tail first.' Task: The latest challenge on Thursday saw the contestants head to Cornwall were they were tasked with sourcing a catch of the day and creating a fish dish to sell to punters Putting her heart and sole into it: As they get to fishing, Francesca enthusiastically egged on the boys, telling them: 'Come on boys! Catch up!' as she reeled in fish after fish While another shared: 'Watching the Apprentice and was surprised to see pollock being line caught by the tail!!! #Theapprentice #deadfish #setup.' A third baffled fan asked: 'How on earth did Francesca manage to catch a Pollack by its tail??' 'How cringey has this program become? Toe curling and unwatchable. Staged and scripted beyond belief. Fish on the line, caught by the tail is a completely new one on me!' ranted a fourth. Eager: She then yelled: 'There's lots of fish down there so if you're not catching it, you're not working hard enough. See... it's easy - just bring it in!' Shoal-y not! However, as she reeled up her latest catch, the fish appeared to be attached to the hook via its tail as opposed to being caught in the mouth as is usually the case. 'Catching fish by the tail? Is this set up for camera?' questioned another suspicious watcher. With an additional person commenting: 'I am not a fisherman but I have never seen a fish been reeled in tail first on a rod, is this right or is someone attaching the fish to the rods.' Suspicions: Though it's not entirely impossible, viewers watching didn't seem convinced by Francesca's fishing skills and suggested the scenes were 'set-up' and 'staged' for the camera Meanwhile, Alex Short became the fourth candidate to be fired from The Apprentice UK following this week's disastrous fish challenge. The TV personality found himself incurring Lord Sugar's wrath following a multitude of errors from himself and his team, in a task that the business magnate described as 'the worse failure I've ever experiences in the boardroom.' And it wasn't just Lord Sugar he incensed as Karren Brady savagely called Alex out for lying to the boss in the boardroom as he attempted to cover up the fact that he forgot to sell their catch of the day crab to the hotel. After his team agreed to catch crab for their catch of the day, it was up to Alex, Kathryn and Akshay to sell their product to a top hotel. Out! Alex Short became the fourth candidate to be fired from The Apprentice UK following this week's disastrous fish challenge Caught out: Karren Brady savagely called Alex out for lying to the boss in the boardroom as he attempted to cover up the fact that he forgot to sell their catch of the day crab to the hotel However, the team made a huge error when the team walked out of the meeting with fish sales in place, but they mistakenly forgot to mention their money-churning catch of the day. Back in the boardroom, following his team's loss, Alex desperately tried to cover his tracks by telling Lord Sugar that he didn't know they could sell the crab as well as the other fish produce. However, Karen wasn't having any of it and promptly called him out for attempting to hide what really happened as she brutally snapped: 'I think you should tell Lord Sugar the truth!' As as he fumbled over his answer, she then added: 'You forgot! C'mon Alex, you forgot.' Not done there, the Baroness alerted Lord Sugar to the fact that he failed to arrange a time to deliver the fish to the produce, clearly not letting him get away with fibbing once again. Disaster: The TV personality found himself incurring Lord Sugar's wrath following a multitude of errors from himself and his team, in a task that the business magnate described as 'the worse failure I've ever experiences in the boardroom' Excuses: Back in the boardroom, following his team's loss, Alex desperately tried to cover his tracks by telling Lord Sugar that he didn't know they could sell the crab as well as the other fish produce When it came to deliberation over who to fire, Karren remarked to Alan that it was 'one of the worse I've ever seen - Alex has to take responsibility.' And taking Karren's words on board, Lord Sugar then declared: 'After your catch of the day, here is my dispatch of the day: Alex youre fired!' The Apprentice continues Thursday at 9pm on BBC One. I don't think so! However, Karen wasn't having any of it and promptly called him out for attempting to hide what really happened as she brutally snapped: 'I think you should tell Lord Sugar the truth!' Bond baddie Javier Bardem has revealed that for years, he half-feared he might be banned from the UK because he killed Judi Dench's M in the 007 film Skyfall. 'For a long time, when I was landing at Heathrow, people on the immigration desk were very unhappy that I killed M. They would tell me: 'Oh, man, I don't know if I can forgive you for that!' the award-winning star told me. Over Zoom, from the family home in Madrid, he added: 'With Judi, I felt so bad that if I saw her on set, I couldn't look into her eyes. She's a legend in the whole world! And in the UK, she's an iconic national symbol.' Did the great Dame ever forgive him? 'She did, eventually,' he sighed. Bardem joked that he felt almost as bad for bumping off Woody Harrelson in 2007's No Country For Old Men (he won an Oscar and a BAFTA for that movie). Bond baddie Javier Bardem has revealed that for years, he half-feared he might be banned from the UK because he killed Judi Dench's M in the 007 film Skyfall Pictured: Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz and Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos When he's not playing a cold-blooded killer, the actor said his main aim on set is to put his co-stars at ease. He cited his relationship with Nicole Kidman, when they worked together on Aaron Sorkin's Being The Ricardos, in which he plays Desi Arnaz and she plays his wife, Lucille Ball. 'We have a couple of love scenes. I guess when you're 20, it's fun to do, it's exciting, or whatever. Now, at the age of 52, it's kind of like you don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable.' He and Kidman met on a Thursday and were in front of the cameras by Monday. 'We faced each other as Lucy and Desi all the hair and make-up and we jumped in and created a chemistry together. We were able to get into the scenes of touching, kissing and hugging and feel comfortable.' Bardem is a revelation as Desi, the song-and-dance man. He told me he rehearsed for the part while playing King Triton in the live-action Disney picture The Little Mermaid in London. He sings one song in the Disney film. But in Sorkin's movie, he performs four and plays bongos and maracas, and does a mean conga to boot. When he's not playing a cold-blooded killer, the actor said his main aim on set is to put his co-stars at ease Bardem (pictured in Being the Ricardos) is a revelation as Desi, the song-and-dance man He spent hours practising in the weeks leading up to shooting. 'You expose yourself when you're singing. That's why we're shy doing it or drunk, in a karaoke! unless you're a professional.' Which, he added, he most definitely is not. 'I made a film called Golden Balls when I was 35 and I was singing a Julio Iglesias song in a karaoke bar, funnily enough. But to sing seriously? I've never done that. Until now.' In fact, Bardem has now sung in three consecutive films: Little Mermaid, Being The Ricardos and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. The animated picture, about a pet croc living in a townhouse on New York's Upper East Side, finished shooting last month. Bardem has now sung in three consecutive films: Little Mermaid, Being The Ricardos and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Pictured: Bardem on the movie set of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile What's going on, I wondered; is this some sort of therapy to cope with mid-life crisis? (Momentarily forgetting that I'm talking to the man who dispatched Judi Dench.) 'I'm sure it is,' he agreed, pleasantly. But he said the main reason he wanted to be in the Disney and crocodile films was so the two children he has with wife Penelope Cruz could watch them. 'You can share with them. That's why Daddy's away for two weeks, or whatever. And why Mummy's in a make-up chair for 45 minutes.' Both stars could land Oscar nominations this year Cruz for her part in Pedro Almodovar's powerful new film Parallel Mothers (which opens here today); and he for his portrayal of Desi. No time to spy as list of Bond hopefuls gets shorter... Deep-cover informants have confided so I can share with all of you, of course that the runners and riders you often hear about being 'up for Bond' are more likely to be up and out of it. Everyone rates and adores Idris Elba, but he won't be named as the man to take over from Daniel Craig. Mainly because Elba's too old, at 49, to play the role from scratch. Craig was 38 when he first played 007 in Casino Royale, and he bowed out at 53. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Pictured: Idris Elba (left), Tom Hardy (centre) and Rege-Jean Page from Bridgerton (right) Wilson, who keep the Bond conflagrations burning, have spoken of how much they enjoyed partnering with Craig on five films in 15 years, culminating with No Time To Die, which has been making a big play for award season honours. They want their new Bond to be young enough to make a series of films a quintet, like Craig with a storyline that carries through. By that reckoning, is Tom Hardy, another favourite, too old to take Bond on at 44? Then there's that sex-god bloke, Rege-Jean Page from Bridgerton. Mmm. My sense is no, no, but you never know. One problem with taking someone from the TV world is that they're often caught up in long-term contracts. No, I reckon they'll go for someone who's under the radar. He (it won't be a she) will be someone with solid theatre acting chops, like Craig, because Broccoli, in particular, is a champion of the stage. I did hear a rumour. No, it can't be him. Can it?! Pink and husband Carey Hart often showcase their two kids on their social media platforms while out enjoying the great outdoors together. And on Thursday, Hart was back at it again, only this time he gave his 1.1 million Instagram followers a look at his son Jameson behind-the-wheel of their tractor. It turns out the five-year-old looked pretty confident driving the small vehicle on the family's ranch and winery near Santa Barbara, California, as his dad supervised him in the driver's seat. Family time: Carey Hart, 46, was the picture of a proud father in a photo giving his son Jameson, five, a lesson on how to drive their small tractor on their farm near Santa Barbara Hart, 46, posted a couple of photos and a video while out working the massive farm land with his son. 'Jamo helped me out in the tractor today. Had to do some track prep. The track is pretty in the winter, but a s**t ton of maintenance! Glad I had my helper today, he gushed in the caption, along with the hashtags: '#raisethemright #BeADadNotAFad' The first picture showed the motocross legend sitting behind his son, as the two flashed funny faces toward the camera. Track preps: Hart also shared an image of the track on their property in Northern California that will likely be used to help Hart hone his motorcycle skills In the driver's seat: The proud father also shared a video of Jameson driving along the path laid out on the field There's also an image of the track on their property in Northern California that will likely be used to help Hart practice his motorcycle skills. In the short clip, the proud father filmed Jameson driving along the path laid out on the field. 'Hey, are you driving,' Hart asks his boy, who quickly responds, 'Yeah.' 'Good job dude,' Hart shoots back as a form of encouragement and praise. Motoring: 'Hey, are you driving,' Hart asks his boy, who quickly responds, 'Yeah' Just five days earlier, Hart spend more quality time with Jameson while out camping together, which included doing some fishing on a lake. 'Epic couple days camping w/ my lil dude, Jamo. Nothing better than unplugging,' Hart revealed in the caption of the post. He added, 'We rode the quad, went on a couple side by side adventures, and fished. Never new a kid so content w/ a leaf blower. Thanks @smudgepotdirect for the bad a** set up. This thing is a game changer. While camping. Have a great weekend, everyone!!!!' Great outdoors: Just five days earlier, Hart spend more quality time with Jameson while out camping together, which included doing some fishing on a lake Glowing: Jameson also worked a leaf blower during his time camping with his father Hart and Pink (born Alecia Beth Moore), 42, just celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary on January 7. The couple separated back in February 2008, but reconnected several months later, following the death of Hart's brother Tony, who passed away from injuries sustained in a motocross competition in August 2008. The pair eventually went public and announced they had begun dating again in March 2009, and have been together ever since. They are also the proud parent of 10-year-old daughter, Willow. Dr Ranj Singh clarified why he opted to get a spray tan when his Instagram followers quizzed him on why 'a person of colour would fake tan' on Thursday. The television medic, 42, took to Instagram to share some shots of himself as he was pampered at Away Spa W Hotel London. He could be seen standing in his Diesel underwear as he underwent his glow up in one snap, captioning the image on his Stories: 'And now it's @fakebakeofficial tanning time with the brilliant @jamessharknett_tan!' Pamper day: Dr Ranj Singh, 42, clarified why he opted to get a spray tan when his Instagram followers quizzed him on why 'a person of colour would fake tan' on Thursday After posting the picture online, he was messaged by a number of people who asked why he chose to get a fake tan as an Asian man. He wrote: 'Lots of people are asking why a person of colour would fake tan... Fair point. For me... '1) I only do it for occasions. 2) People of all complexions go on holiday, tan & feel great. 3) It's far safer than other forms of tanning. Glow up: The television medic took to Instagram to share some shots of himself as he was pampered at Away Spa W Hotel London Answers: After posting the picture online, he was messaged by a number of people who asked by he chose to get a fake tan as an Asian man '4) I don't do it because I don't like the look/colour of my skin. Just like make-up I use it to enhance what I have. '5) It makes me feel good & frankly that's all that counts.' Sharing a picture of himself after his spray tan was complete, he wrote: 'And now for it to develop overnight... Yep. Going to bed like this!' Looking good: After getting a facial at department store Harrods in Knightsbridge and a haircut in the style of television presenter Joel Dommett at Salon64 in Soho Party ready: He shared a clip of himself before he headed off to a friend's birthday party for the evening He added: 'Remember: Fake tanning is the safest way to tan and everyone feels good with a bit of colour.' After getting a facial at department store Harrods in Knightsbridge and a haircut in the style of television presenter Joel Dommett at Salon64 in Soho, he shared a clip of himself as he headed off to a friend's birthday party for the evening. Wearing a face covering in the picture despite the government dropping the requirement to wear masks amid the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday, Dr Ranj wrote: 'Yes, I'm still wearing a mask at work & until I feel safer.' Peter van Onselen's future as a panellist on The Project has been called into question after three of his colleagues publicly condemned him for his newspaper column criticising Australian of the Year Grace Tame. Former TV executive-turned-commentator Rob McKnight said the criticism levelled at Channel 10's political editor has been so extreme since the explosive clash on Tuesday's show that he questioned whether he'll ever return to the left-leaning panel show. 'I can't see how he can continue on the program,' Mr McKnight, the editor-in-chief of TV Blackbox, told Daily Mail Australia. 'Will he want to work with them? Will they want to work with him?' The rift between van Onselen and his colleagues was exposed when he called Tame 'ungracious, rude and childish' in a column for The Australian on Tuesday. He was responding to viral footage of the left-wing activist scowling at Prime Minister Scott Morrison and refusing to look him in the eye at a morning tea for this year's AOTY finalists at The Lodge in Canberra earlier that day. His column, while praising Tame's advocacy for sexual abuse survivors as 'worthy', also questioned why she felt the need to be so rude to the PM at his own home. It was those lines that saw him slammed on air that night by co-host Carrie Bickmore and guest journalist Amy Remeikis. Peter van Onselen's (left) future as a panelist on The Project has been called into question after three of his colleagues, including Carrie Bickmore (right) publicly condemned him for his newspaper column criticising former Australian of the Year Grace Tame Fellow presenter Lisa Wilkinson, who was not part of the heated segment but is rumoured to dislike van Onselen, later made her allegiance clear by sharing a post on Instagram applauding Tame for 'making noise' during her tenure as Australian of the Year in 2021. And another Project host, comedian Tommy Little, joined the chorus of criticism on Thursday by calling van Onselen's op-ed 'stupid' during a live radio segment. In light of the barrage of criticism from his colleagues, Mr McKnight said he wouldn't be surprised to see van Onselen, 46, sign off on the program for good. 'I can't see how he can continue on the show when Lisa and Carrie have turned on him publicly. Will he want to work with them? Will they want to work with him? I can't imagine it's a comfortable place for him to be when he's sitting at that desk,' he said. The rift between van Onselen (pictured) and his colleagues was exposed last Tuesday when he called Tame 'ungracious, rude and childish' in a column for The Australian. Hours later, he was excoriated by Bickmore and guest Amy Remeikis live on air Mr McKnight, a former executive producer of Studio 10, also suggested the behind-the-scenes team at The Project had thrown van Onselen 'under the bus'. 'You have to wonder why the show seemed so willing to throw [the commentator widely known as] "PvO" under the bus. They [the social media team] even tweeted the video promoting it as "THAT video". 'To be honest it was one of the most engaging segments The Project has had in years, but was the takedown of PvO planned? I have my suspicions. 'Hosts disagreeing with each other can make for good TV, but this seemed personal and targeted from a production point of view. Carrie's reaction did seem genuine though.' Daily Mail Australia approached Channel 10 for comment on van Onselen's future at The Project, and also sought a response to claims the on-air takedown was 'planned' by producers. The network declined to comment. Former TV executive-turned-commentator Rob McKnight (pictured) feels the criticism levelled against Channel 10's political editor has been so extreme over the last week that it begs the question whether he'll ever feel welcome on the current affairs show again The saga began on Tuesday when Tame, who was appointed Australian of the Year in 2021 for spearheading the 'Let Her Speak' campaign allowing survivors of sexual abuse to speak publicly about their experiences, attended a morning tea for this year's AOTY finalists at the Prime Minister's residence. A stony-faced Tame, who was joined by her fiance Max Heerey, avoided eye contact with Mr Morrison and refused to smile for photos with him at the event. Her conduct has divided opinion, with her supporters defending her right to act as she pleases around a PM she does not respect, while her detractors say it was a juvenile display that distracted from her important activism. Van Onselen, reflecting the view held by many commentators and mainstream Australia, called her 'ungracious, rude and childish', then asked: 'If your disdain for the man is so great (understandable perhaps) that you cant even muster basic and common courtesy, then just don't go.' The saga began on Tuesday when outgoing Australian of the Year Grace Tame (second from right, next to her fiance Max Heerey), attended a morning tea for this year's AOTY finalists in Canberra hosted by Prime Minister Scott Morrison (second from left) and his wife Jenny (left) A stony-faced Tame, who was joined by her fiance Max Heerey, avoided eye contact with Mr Morrison and refused to smile for photos with him at the event His column for The Australian went down like a lead balloon with his Project co-host Bickmore and Guardian journalist Remeikis, who is a sexual assault survivor, and they called him out on air hours later. 'Your column today [was] devastating to so many people,' Ms Remeikis said. 'Woman constantly have to come out talk about their trauma... talk about not being taken seriously, scream the roof down get to the point where I'm almost crying on national television to talk about this. 'We're constantly being told how we should act, who we should think about and who perhaps should be seen in our place.' PVO's column went down like a lead balloon with his Project co-host Carrie Bickmore (pictured in December), who resented van Onselen calling Tame 'childish' after her own childhood was taken away by a predator Bickmore then asked van Onselen why he felt he needed to tell Tame, who is known for her opposition to the Morrison government, to act in a certain way and to smile during a 'catastrophe'. 'I didn't think she should smile and pretend it's okay; I just thought she shouldn't go. If you can't be polite in some form, I think just don't go,' he responded, adding that he applauded everything Tame had done for survivors of sexual assault. Bickmore pressed for an answer to why Tame should not have attended the morning tea, to which van Onselen said: 'If you can't show basic courtesy, I think it's immature.' 'You spoke about how she acted as a child. You know when she should have been able to act as a child? When she was a child. But she was preyed upon by a man and lost part of herself in that,' Bickmore fired back. 'I'm unsure how that article today helps when I'm assuming, like the entire nation, you want violence against women and children to end?' The commentator responded by saying he'd been the victim of an attempted sexual assault and understood the importance of the conversation around sexual abuse. 'But I just think if you can't be polite to the Prime Minister of the country - I get it, I said in the article, I get it - if she can't be polite to him, then just don't go,' van Onselen said. After the tense segment aired, fellow Project presenter Lisa Wilkinson (pictured), who is rumoured to dislike van Onselen, publicly sided with Tame in a gushing Instagram post 'Thank you Grace. Thank you for always speaking your truth. Thank you for never wavering from your passionate fight for justice for survivors of sexual assault,' Wilkinson wrote Tame was groomed and molested by her maths teacher when she was just 15. After the tense segment aired, fellow Project presenter Lisa Wilkinson publicly sided with Tame in a gushing Instagram post. 'Thank you Grace. Thank you for always speaking your truth. Thank you for never wavering from your passionate fight for justice for survivors of sexual assault,' she wrote. Poll Do you agree with Grace Tame's response to Scott Morrison? Yes No Do you agree with Grace Tame's response to Scott Morrison? Yes 1400 votes No 3598 votes Now share your opinion 'Thank you for doing everything within your power to make sure over the last 12 months that those in charge were listening, and acting on much-needed change.' She continued to thank both Tame and fellow advocate for survivors of sexual abuse Brittany Higgins for their tireless campaigning. 'Grace, the imprint you leave as Australian Of The Year will be felt for generations to come,' Wilkinson said. 'Finally, and most importantly Grace, thank you for making noise just like you promised you would.' Wilkinson's post came amid 'swirling industry rumours of historical tension' between her and van Onselen, according to News.com.au. A third Project presenter, Tommy Little, weighed in the dispute on Thursday on the Hit Network radio show he co-hosts with Bickmore. During a debrief with Remeikis two days after her on-air clash with van Onselen, Little asked: 'Is this exactly what the bigger problem is all the time in that there are real issues at play here, and then you've got guys chiming in and diverting attention away to stupid things by saying somethings immature?' Parallel Mothers (15, 123 mins) Verdict: Cruz control Rating: Flag Day (15, 108 mins) Verdict: A full set of Penns Rating: The titles of foreign-language films often sound better in the original, so don't be put off by Parallel Mothers, which is not a feeble new Channel 5 game show hosted by Matt Lucas and Liza Tarbuck at least, not yet. Madres Paralelas was the classier Spanish title conferred on the film by its writer-director, the great Pedro Almodovar, and it stars Penelope Cruz, who is often described as Almodovar's muse even by people who aren't entirely sure what an artist's muse is. 'Someone who can be the subject of the romantic ideals of what made him an artist in the first place,' is one dictionary's waffly definition. The titles of foreign-language films often sound better in the original, so don't be put off by Parallel Mothers Madres Paralelas was the classier Spanish title conferred on the film by its writer-director, the great Pedro Almodovar, and it stars Penelope Cruz Whatever, this is Cruz's eighth collaboration with Almodovar and a long way from their best, though when I saw it a few months ago at the Venice Film Festival, where it was granted the status of opening film, it received a rapturous five-minute standing ovation. That's Venice, and indeed Almodovar, for you. The ovation could just as easily have come at the start, not the end. Cruz plays Janis, a glamorous photographer who tumbles into an affair with the subject of her latest shoot, an urbane 'forensic anthropologist' whose job is to exhume and identify the remains of those murdered and buried in mass graves during the Spanish Civil War. She wants him to help her find her great-grandfather, who was one of those rounded up and killed. For Janis it is a passion project, but there is a mighty distraction: an unexpected pregnancy. Her anthropologist lover is married and she resolves to bring up the child, her first, on her own. In the maternity ward she befriends another single mother, a teenager called Ana (Milena Smit). Cruz plays Janis, a glamorous photographer who tumbles into an affair with the subject of her latest shoot, an urbane 'forensic anthropologist' But there is a mighty distraction: an unexpected pregnancy. Her anthropologist lover is married and she resolves to bring up the child, her first, on her own Soon, their two lives are running less in parallel than headlong into a hopelessly inextricable tangle. To service this narrative, Almodovar plots a series of frankly unbelievable contrivances, including a lesbian relationship that feels about as authentic as boil-in-the-bag paella. But inevitably, with him at the helm and Cruz giving her all, there is plenty to admire. I am also aware, through Spanish friends, that the country's civil war more than 80 years ago has cast a long, dark shadow well into the 21st century, and hats off to Almodovar for tackling it. However, weaving it into a contemporary story of motherhood, love and loss feels heavy-handed. The celebrated auteur's usual adroit touch is missing here. Flag Day, too, could do with a lighter touch, though at least it can't be called implausible or manufactured, because it's true. The director is Sean Penn, and the story is that of John Vogel, a charismatic conman, bank robber and counterfeiter who single-handedly forged dollar bills on an industrial scale, for which, after managing to elude the FBI for years, he was eventually caught and sent to prison. Penn casts himself as Vogel, with his daughter Dylan as Vogel's daughter Jennifer (and his son Hopper as her brother Nick). Jennifer wrote the 2004 memoir on which this film is based, Flim-Flam Man, which might have been a better title, but there was already a 1967 picture of that name starring George C. Scott. Flag Day, too, could do with a lighter touch, though at least it can't be called implausible or manufactured, because it's true The director is Sean Penn, and the story is of John Vogel, a charismatic conman who forged dollar bills on an industrial scale, for which he was eventually caught and sent to prison Penn casts himself as Vogel, with his daughter Dylan as Vogel's daughter Jennifer (and his son Hopper as her brother Nick) So Flag Day it is, after a day in the U.S. calendar, June 14, chosen to honour the Stars and Stripes. It also happened to be Vogel's birthday, and growing up he always thought the hoopla was for him. That self-absorption does not recede in adulthood and Penn, in a swaggering, rather show-offy performance, makes the utmost of his own craggily dissolute features to play Vogel as a feckless fantasist, irredeemably dishonest, yet also an irresistible charmer. The story's core character is actually Jennifer, who gets wincingly over-lyrical in narrating the account of her blighted childhood: 'My father's misplaced sense of pride seemed so endlessly wed to his shame and embarrassment.' In fact, she shares some of his personality flaws but, while he is serving a 15-year sentence, she becomes a journalist seemingly destined for greatness for breaking a story about a corporate giant poisoning the water supply. It is a flimsily constructed sub-plot, but at least offers an opportunity for Eddie Marsan to look shifty, which he takes. The screenplay is by the British Butterworth brothers, Jez and John-Henry, who are normally so reliable. Flag Day doesn't represent their best day at the office but it's not a bad film, with faint echoes of Peter Bogdanovich's 1973 classic Paper Moon and a soundtrack of plaintive road songs that will either get your feet tapping or set your teeth on edge. ALSO SHOWING: CRAZY CRITTERS AND LAUGHS APLENTY IN STAR-STUDDED SING SEQUEL Sing 2 (U, 110 mins) Rating: Amulet (15, 99 mins) Rating: There may be only so many computer-animated singing animals you can take, but you won't find a more appealing collection of them than in Sing 2, Garth Jennings's exuberant, and at times genuinely funny, sequel to the 2016 hit Sing. He could have shaved 20 minutes from the running time, especially bearing in mind junior attention spans, but it's an appealingly colourful story again featuring theatre owner (and koala) Buster Moon (voiced by Matthew McConaughey), who this time covets the support of ruthlessly powerful producer (and arctic wolf) Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale). There may be only so many computer-animated singing animals you can take, but you won't find a more appealing collection of them than in Sing 2 Garth Jennings's exuberan sequel to the 2016 hit Sing is an appealingly colourful story again featuring theatre owner (and koala) Buster Moon (voiced by Matthew McConaughey) It's all delightfully done, and I laughed out loud at a series of auditions over which Crystal (Hasley) sits in judgment rejecting act after act, like a lupine Simon Cowell There is plenty of talent in Buster's company, which includes a porcupine guitarist (Scarlett Johansson), a singing pig (Reese Witherspoon) and a dancing English gorilla (Taron Egerton), although Crystal offers to back them only when Buster promises to tempt the tycoon's favourite rock star, a reclusive lion called Clay Calloway (Bono), out of gloomy retirement. But Buster is lying. He doesn't even know Clay. Can his iguana assistant (Jennings himself) find Clay and persuade him back into showbiz? It's all delightfully done, and I laughed out loud at a series of auditions over which Crystal sits in judgment rejecting act after act, even the roller-skating flamingos, like a lupine Simon Cowell. Amulet is a very different kettle of fish, an arty horror film and a directorial debut for actress Romola Garai. It starts in the woods in a war zone somewhere in Europe (my wife and I thought we recognised Mortimer Forest on the Shropshire border, but I'm sure we weren't meant to) where a soldier, Tomaz (Alec Secareanu) almost shoots a scared female refugee and later gives her an old amulet he has dug up, as a form of protection. Amulet is a very different kettle of fish, an arty horror film and a directorial debut for actress Romola Garai Inevitably, it's in a creaky, spooky old house with strange inhabitants, cue plenty of horror tropes, but Garai cleverly uses flashbacks to connect his past with his present The story then shifts to London, where Tomaz is working as a builder until a seemingly sweet, old nun (Imelda Staunton) finds him a job as a caretaker. Inevitably, it's in a creaky, spooky old house with strange inhabitants, cue plenty of horror tropes, but Garai cleverly uses flashbacks to connect his past with his present. As so often happens in horror films, it all begins to get more than a bit silly. But for Garai's future ambitions as a filmmaker, this is still a bold statement of intent. CLASSIC FILM ON TV: IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967) The late Sidney Poitier's annus mirabilis, 1967, also yielded Guess Who's Coming To Dinner and To Sir, With Love. He is brilliant in all three but unforgettable alongside Rod Steiger in this superb, racially charged thriller. Sunday, BBC2, 10pm Ron Perlman spoke about working on a potential third Hellboy feature with Guillermo Del Toro during an interview with The Independent, which was published on Thursday. During the conversation, the 71-year-old actor spoke about working on a concluding feature to a formerly planned trilogy of films with his longtime friend and collaborator. The actor played the Dark Horse Comics character in two features that were released in 2004 and 2008, and his portrayal of the superhero was well received by both fans and critics. Keeping it going: Ron Perlman spoke about working on a potential third Hellboy feature with Guillermo Del Toro during an interview with The Independent, which was published on Thursday; he is seen in 2019 Perlman began the interview by expressing that, although he still entertained the idea of making another feature centered on the character, his age would likely prevent him from performing any physically demanding actions on set. 'Am I eager to do Hellboy 3? No, I'm 71 f***ing years old,' he bluntly stated. However, the Sons of Anarchy actor pointed out that, as a large following had developed around the previous two features, he wanted to give its fans an ending to the potential trilogy. 'We owe this to the fans, and we should give it to them because it would be an epic conclusion,' he said. Finishing it off: The Sons of Anarchy actor pointed out that, as a large following had developed around the previous two features, he wanted to give its fans an ending to the potential trilogy He then noted that he had requested that Del Toro focus his efforts on a third movie in the past and that he would keep making his thoughts known in the future. 'So Guillermo, if you're reading, I'm not done pounding you to get this f***ing thing done,' he said. Perlman went on to speak about how the 57-year-old director began their longstanding friendship by sending him a warm letter to ask him to appear in his debut feature. 'It was a letter you don't get very often in life. The type of letter you save and when you have the money, you frame it,' he recalled. Good friends: Perlman went on to speak about how the 57-year-old director began their longstanding friendship by sending him a warm letter to ask him to appear in his debut feature The actor added: 'Reading the letter, it was like I'd won a lifetime achievement award. I was an obscure character actor behind these masks. Nobody recognized me, let alone knew my name, but he did.' Perlman then fondly stated that 'I knew it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.' The two have collaborated on several films, including Blade II, Pacific Rim, and most recently, Nightmare Alley. The original Hellboy feature was centered on the Mike Mignola-created character of the same name and it was released in 2004. Starting off strong: The original Hellboy feature was centered on the Mike Mignola-created character of the same name and it was released in 2004 Also starring in the film were performers such as Selma Blair, Doug Jones and John Hurt, among others. The film received much critical acclaim upon its release, and Perlman was the recipient of praise for his portrayal of the titular character. A sequel to the original feature, entitled Hellboy II: The Golden Army, was subsequently released in 2008. Like the first movie, Hellboy II and the lead actor's performance were both well-received by critics and fans alike. Another one: A sequel to the original feature, entitled Hellboy II: The Golden Army, was subsequently released in 2008 Perlman, Del Toro and Mignola all teased the idea of a third feature centered around the character over the next few years, although the project entered development hell and the director has commented that its release would be unlikely. A separate Hellboy film, which was directed by Neil Marshall and starred David Harbour, was later developed and released in 2019. The feature was met with a generally negative critical reception upon its release. Hotel Portofino Rating: Martin Clunes: Islands Of The Pacific Rating: Like a perfect gin cocktail, the recipe for a blissful romantic costume drama, as laid down by Ismail Merchant and James Ivory in the 1980s, is quite simple. Pluck several English roses and place them in an Italian hotel Florence, Venice, Rome, anywhere with gorgeous buildings and sun-drenched vistas. Since roses must have thorns, ensure there are assorted vinegary aunts and bibulous papas, as well as eccentric Americans, local aristocrats and this last ingredient is most important servants with British regional accents. The recipe for a blissful romantic costume drama is to pluck several English roses and place them in an Italian hotel. Hotel Portofino (Britbox) follows this recipe faithfully Now add as many artistic young men with floppy fringes as required. For a racy splash of homoeroticism, send them skinny-dipping. Hotel Portofino (Britbox) follows this recipe faithfully. The only element missing is opera there should be Puccini. And owing to budget constraints, we'll have to use our imaginations to conjure the Merchant-Ivory cast of cinema dames and national treasures. Natascha McElhone takes the role Emma Thompson might have, as Bella Ainsworth who has opened a hotel for English gentlefolk in one of Italy's prettiest coastal towns, in the mid-1920s. Gin cocktails are a speciality of the house. The obvious Maggie Smith part is played by Anna Chancellor, who is Lady Latchmere the ferocious aunt... alternately scolding the staff and bullying her niece. And Claude Scott-Mitchell is the girl so innocent and English she is actually called Rose a role traditionally given to Helena Bonham Carter. The obvious Maggie Smith part is played by Anna Chancellor, who is Lady Latchmere the ferocious aunt... alternately scolding the staff and bullying her niece Rose has been brought to the hotel to be married off to lovable Lucian (Oliver Dench), a painter traumatised by his experiences in the World War I trenches. But there's a couple of complications his best pal Dr Anish Sengupta (Assad Zaman) is hopelessly in love with him. So is his sister's new nanny, Constance (Louisa Binder), though she's only just laid eyes on him. Lucian prefers romping with the kitchen maid, who waits for him at night wearing nothing but a bedsheet. The tone is light and comic, with hints of cosy mystery. There's blackmail afoot and art fraud, and if somebody gets murdered it won't come completely as a surprise. Britbox bosses must be hoping Hotel Portofino will fill the gap left by The Durrells. It has the same Mediterranean charm, with goats in the marketplace and gap-toothed grannies selling fruit from baskets. It is frustrating that it's available only on a subscription service. But another Britbox original, last year's documentary Secrets Of The Krays, arrived on terrestrial telly this week so the best solution might simply be to wait. Martin Clunes was uncovering the tragic history of the Hotel Paradiso, not in Italy but on Floreana in the Galapagos, on the final part of his Islands of The Pacific (ITV). Martin Clunes was uncovering the tragic history of the Hotel Paradiso, not in Italy but on Floreana in the Galapagos, on the final part of his Islands of The Pacific The hotel was the dream of an Austrian adventuress in 1929, who called herself 'The Baroness' and arrived on the island with her two lovers. Floreana was already home to two groups of European settlers, who didn't take well to the proposal for tourism. One day, the Baroness and her boyfriends disappeared. One man's mummified remains turned up on another island, but the other two were never seen again. Martin was entranced by the sealions and iguanas that flopped around the dockside, waiting for scraps of fish. He went snorkelling and joined a conservation project that weighed and measured the islands' giant tortoises. With their amiable, wrinkled faces and scrawny necks, the tortoises seemed to like Martin. Perhaps they thought he was one of them. Sean Penn's estranged wife Leila George has been spotted with Australian actor Kick Gurry again. Leila, 29, and the Edge of Tomorrow actor walked and talked like old pals as they strolled around Sydney's Bondi. The blonde beauty was dressed casually in a polka dot skirt, white sneakers and a matching midriff top. Stepping out: Sean Penn's estranged wife Leila George has been spotted with Australian actor Kick Gurry again Animal Kingdom star Leila puffed on a vape as they pair made their way around the streets of the popular eastern suburb. Kick also kept things low-key in flip-flops, green shorts, a T-shirt and a maroon trucker cap. The duo were previously pictured together at Bondi Beach with a group of friends earlier this week which included actor Lincoln Younes. Leila met Sean Penn on the set of the movie The Last Face in 2015 and they dated for five years before marrying in a private ceremony at their family home in July 2020. However, she filed for divorce just 15 months later, in October last year. Friendly: Leila puffed on a vape as they pair made their way around the streets of the upscale eastern suburb No details of what led to the split have been provided at this time, but their relationship was said to have had ups and downs before he proposed. Sean confirmed he had married Leila during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers when he flashed a gold wedding band. He told the host: 'We did a Covid wedding. By that, I mean it was a county commissioner on Zoom and we were at the house with my two children and her brother, and we did it that way.' At 29, Leila is only a few months younger than Sean's now 30-year-old daughter Dylan, and less than two years older than his son Hopper, 28. Casual: The blonde beauty was dressed casually in a polka dot skirt, white sneakers and a matching midriff top It marks the end of Sean's third marriage after previously divorcing House of Cards actress Robin Wright in 2010 after 14 years together, and Madonna in 1989 after four years together. Leila and Sean sparked reconciliation rumours this month after they celebrated New Year's Eve together in her home city of Sydney, also with Kick. While their relationship status is unknown, the Hollywood couple put on a united front as they watched Sydney's world-famous fireworks display from a mansion in Point Piper. Thrice-married Sean was understood to have quietly flown into Australia last month. He did not announce his arrival and has kept a low profile on social media. Following his blockbuster turn as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland takes on another iconic character, Nathan Drake, in the final trailer for Uncharted. The highly-anticipated Sony Pictures adventure is based on the iconic Uncharted video game series, which has spanned over nine games. Holland stars alongside Mark Wahlberg as Victor 'Sully' Sullivan, as they go on a quest to find the legendary treasure of Magellan's lost gold. Tom as Nathan: Following his blockbuster turn as Peter Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Tom Holland takes on another iconic character, Nathan Drake, in the final trailer for Uncharted Sully: Holland stars alongside Mark Wahlberg as Victor 'Sully' Sullivan, as they go on a quest to find the legendary treasure of Magellan's lost gold The trailer begins with Drake looking at a map, stating he's been, 'dreaming of this my whole life, Magellan's gold, the biggest treasure that's never been found.' Sully tells him the treasure could be worth, '$5 billion, easy,' as they get ready for their epic adventure. Sully tells Nathan that, 'your brother believed there was a final piece,' as Nathan is surprised Sully knew his brother Sam. Map: The trailer begins with Drake looking at a map, stating he's been, 'dreaming of this my whole life, Magellan's gold, the biggest treasure that's never been found' Brother: Sully tells Nathan that, 'your brother believed there was a final piece,' as Nathan is surprised Sully knew his brother Sam Nathan wants to know what else Sully isn't telling him as they get trapped by Chloe Frazier (Sophia Ali) and Braddock (Tati Gabrielle). 'You have no idea who you partnered with, do you?' Chloe asks Nathan, as Sully tells him this will take 'a little longer than I thought.' Nathan asks Sully if they're '50-50' partners, but Sully says that Nathan gets just 10%, 'and that's just me being generous.' Trapped: Nathan wants to know what else Sully isn't telling him as they get trapped by Chloe Frazier (Sophia Ali) and Braddock (Tati Gabrielle) Longer: 'You have no idea who you partnered with, do you?' Chloe asks Nathan, as Sully tells him this will take 'a little longer than I thought' Generous: Nathan asks Sully if they're '50-50' partners, but Sully says that Nathan gets just 10%, 'and that's just me being generous' The trailer then features the thrilling action sequence that has been teased in clips and trailers before, where Nathan fights atop a string of cargo containers hanging out of a cargo plane. The trailer also features a shot of Antonio Banderas, who says that his family found, 'the vulture' but they were betrayed and there was 'so much blood.' The trailer features a unique shot of two ancient ships being lifted out of the forest by helicopters, as Drake gets into a fight on these ships. Plane: The trailer then features the thrilling action sequence that has been teased in clips and trailers before, where Nathan fights atop a string of cargo containers hanging out of a cargo plane Fight: The trailer features a unique shot of two ancient ships being lifted out of the forest by helicopters, as Drake gets into a fight on these ships As Sully asks if Drake if he's still with him, he manages to pull himself back onto the boat and weakly answer, 'Barely' as the title card is shown. The trailer ends with Sully asking what's with the cat and Nathan said he got it for him because his life seemed, 'super sad.' Uncharted hits theaters nationwide on February 18. Barely: As Sully asks if Drake if he's still with him, he manages to pull himself back onto the boat and weakly answer, 'Barely' as the title card is shown Tristan Thompson was spotted keeping a low profile during an outing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday. The 30-year-old Sacramento Kings player was seen out and about in the city ahead of his teams game against the 76ers on Saturday. Earlier on Thursday, his ex Khloe Kardashian shared a cryptic Instagram post referencing 'betrayal' while showing off her stunning figure in a nude catsuit. Taking it easy: Tristan Thompson, 30, was spotted out in Philadelphia on Thursday, after his ex Khloe Kardashian, 37, posted thirst traps that may have referenced his recent sighting with a mystery woman Tristan looked comfortable and relaxed in a camouflage jacket, and he bundled up in layers with a black zip-up hoodie underneath it. He also had on black sweatpants that didn't even reach to his ankles, along with tall white socks and brown-and-black Nike trainers. The power forward had on a black beanie and had a large gray quilted backpack on as he carried a smaller black Nike duffel bag. A newly surfaced Tik Tok video showed the love rat in a bar in Milwaukee with the unidentified woman apparently perched on his lap, which may have instigated his ex's latest sizzling photos. Low key: Tristan looked comfortable and relaxed in a camouflage jacket, and he bundled up in layers with a black zip-up hoodie, matching sweatpants and brown-and-black Nikes Khloe brought back the vibes of her old show Revenge Body on her Instagram page on Thursday as she showcased her sensationally svelte figure in a skintight nude catsuit. Balancing expertly on a pair of high-heeled over-the-knee Gucci boots, she posed up a storm around a car for the photoshoot. Accentuating her unmistakable features with makeup, Khloe wore her dirty blonde curls down and accessorized with a medallion necklace. She aimed her best smoldering supermodel stare at the cameras and wrote in her caption: 'Betrayal rarely comes from your enemies.' The cryptic message came after her ex Tristan Thompson, who was serially unfaithful to her, was spotted with a mystery woman during a night out. Looking fab: Khloe brought back the vibes of her old show Revenge Body on her Instagram page earlier on Thursday When you got it: The KUWTK star was a blonde bombshell as she showcased her sensationally svelte figure in a clinging sheer ensemble Hello, gorgeous: Balancing expertly on a pair of high-heeled Gucci boots, she posed up a storm around a car for a sizzling photo-shoot Tristan's latest sighting comes after he apologized to Khloe for fathering a child with another woman while he was still with her. The former couple, who share a three-year-old daughter called True, have had an on-off relationship for half a decade, repeatedly scarred by his infidelity to her. Less than 48 hours before True was born DailyMail.com exclusively broke news of Tristan's alleged fling with New York City strip club bartender Lani Blair. They remained together then but broke up in February 2019 after Tristan shared a kiss at a party with Kylie Jenner's then best friend Jordyn Woods. Bringing it together: Accentuating her unmistakable features with makeup, Khloe wore her platinum curls down and accessorized with a medallion necklace Statement: She aimed her best smoldering supermodel stare at the cameras and wrote in her caption: 'Betrayal rarely comes from your enemies' When the coronavirus lockdowns struck Tristan and Khloe moved in together so they could both be with True and they wound up rekindling their romance as well. Their latest split went public this past June as he denied a swirl of cheating rumors, and last month he allegedly welcomed a child with another woman. DailyMail.com exclusively obtained court documents in late 2021 claiming Tristan was having a baby by a woman named Maralee Nichols. Maralee gave birth on December 1 and released a statement a couple of weeks later along with the first public pictures of her son. Backdrop: The cryptic message came after her ex Tristan Thompson, who was serially unfaithful to her, was spotted out with a mystery woman during a night out Spot them: A newly surfaced Tik Tok video showed Tristan in a bar in Milwaukee with the unidentified woman apparently perched on his lap Tristan fired up his Instagram early in January and confessed for the first time that he is the father of Maralee's new child. 'Today paternity test results reveal that I fathered a child with Maralee Nichols,' he wrote on Insta Stories, apologizing to Khloe and telling her that 'you don't deserve this. You don't deserve the heartache and humiliation I have caused you.' 'There was never any doubt that Tristan Thompson was the father of Maralee Nichols' baby,' her attorney Harvey Englander later told DailyMail.com. 'Tristan made numerous false and defamatory statements and declarations about Maralee over the past few months, and she is taking his contrite statement today in the context of all of those statements,' he added. Baby on board: Tristan and Khloe have had a whirlwind on-off relationship that resulted in the birth of their three-year-old daughter True; seen together in 2018 in LA Maralee has said her 'goal' is only to 'raise our son in a loving and private environment' and she has denied 'leaking' any pregnancy stories to the press. Further she has disputed the idea that she and Tristan were having 'casual sex,' insisting she believed he was single when they first became involved. Tristan expressed his love for Khloe on social media last March just hours before flying to Houston, where he apparently fathered his new baby with Maralee. There she is: Weeks ago Tristan apologized to Khloe after fathering a child with Maralee Nichols (pictured) while still with the reality star He has claimed in court documents: 'I am certain that if the child is deemed to be my child that the only date of conception was March 13, 2021, because it was my birthday.' Further, he alleged that he and Maralee 'had sexual relations in March of 2021 and at no other time in 2021.' On that day, March 13, Khloe posted a gushing birthday tribute that seemed to indicate they were together, as she wrote: 'The ones that are meant to be are the ones who go through everything that is designed to tear them apart and they come out even stronger than they were before.' 'I love you soo much KoKo. Let's keep building amazing memories!' wrote Tristan in the comments of Khloe's birthday post. Co-parents: Tristan and Khloe are pictured with True, whom they co-parent in the wakeup of their breakup several months ago Hours later he and his then team the Boston Celtics flew to Houston to play against the Rockets in a game that occurred March 14. Incidentally Khloe first became involved with Tristan when his ex-girlfriend Jordan Craig was still pregnant with his firstborn son Prince, five. Although Jordan claims she was still with Tristan when he took up with Khloe, the reality star has insisted she thought he was single at the time. Dr Semmelweis (Bristol Old Vic) Verdict: A man on a mission Rating: Theatre rock star Mark Rylance has rolled up at Bristol's Old Vic at the start of what's looking like a busy year for him. His next major engagement is a sold-out reprise of his legendary performance as Wiltshire reprobate Johnny 'Rooster' Byron in Jez Butterworth's hit 2009 play Jerusalem, at the West End's Apollo Theatre in April. But before that, the people of Bristol are being served a tantalising treat of their own, in the form of Stephen Brown's fascinating study (written with Rylance) of the 19th-century doctor Ignaz Semmelweis a Hungarian physician in Vienna who pioneered the use of hand hygiene to save the lives of countless women at the maternity ward. The people of Bristol are being served a tantalising treat in the form of Stephen Brown's fascinating study of 19th-century doctor Ignaz Semmelweis Semmelweis's ideas were roundly rejected and mocked at the time even when he demonstrated that doctors were carrying deadly infections from the morgue simply because they refused to wash their hands. He noticed that midwives deemed too fragile to be allowed into the morgue had mortality rates three times lower. There could be only one explanation: doctors were inadvertently causing lethal infections. Rylance presents Semmelweis as a kind of medical martyr. He venerates the man's life and work with a typically charismatic performance, brimming with blinking meekness. Even at the age of 62, there is a loveable boyishness about the man that renders an audience putty in his paws. Best seat in the house Constellations Last summer's productions of Nick Payne's play can be watched online until the end of the month. Take your pick from the stellar pairings of Peter Capaldi and Zoe Wanamaker, Sheila Atim and Ivanno Jeremiah, Omari Douglas and Russell Tovey, or Chris O'Dowd and Anna Maxwell Martin. 7.50 each (for 24 hours) or all four for 20. donmarwarehouse.com Advertisement It's not long before he has us sighing and rooting for him as he battles implacable forces armed with nothing more than the evidence of his senses, and a guileless determination to save lives. His tragedy is that he was eventually undone by his own zeal. Shut out by the establishment, he lost his mind and was locked up in an asylum where, by horrible irony, he died of sepsis. More than just a biography, Tom Morris's production seeks to get inside Semmelweis's troubled mind. Ti Green's stage design presents an anatomy theatre, overlooked by a wrought-iron balcony. A dark, moody interior is then haunted by a chorus of dancers, representing the ghosts of the women who passed through the hospital's care although Antonia Franceschi's choreography involves a fair bit of interpretive writhing on the part of the women, which isn't always as meaningful as she may have hoped. What is indisputably spellbinding, however, is Adrian Sutton's music, reminiscent of Viennese composer Franz Schubert's Death And The Maiden, played on stage with urgency and passion by a string quartet. The second half of the two-hour 40-minute show drags a bit. We have long since got the message about Semmelweis's mission and the injustice done to him. Indeed, the establishment that ran Semmelweis out of town are presented as a bunch of knuckle-brained stick-in-the-muds. That may have been the reality but it's also a little predictable. Nonetheless, for the most part, the performance sweeps along with elegance and grace: switching between the grim reality of the morgue and Semmelweis's anxious dreams. Far from a one-man show, it's an impressive ensemble performance with a fine cast including Felix Hayes, Sandy Grierson and Enyi Okoronkwo as loyal colleagues; and Alan Williams as Semmelweis's belligerent boss. Jackie Clune makes a gutsy, seen-it-all nurse who supports Semmelweis in his battles; while Thalissa Teixeira, as his devoted wife Maria, mirrors our feelings for a man whose integrity made him as loveable as he was elusive and frustrating. When the love rat met the bunny boiler... Fatal Attraction (touring) Verdict: A glorious squirm Rating: Do I deserve to lose everything?' whined adulterous Dan. 'Yes!' hissed a woman in the row behind me at Brighton's Theatre Royal. What fun, to be at a show that divides an audience so thoroughly! This deliciously icky revival of James Dearden's play, based on his script for the Glenn Close and Michael Douglas movie and now starring Kym Marsh and Oliver Farnworth, still sets the proverbial cat among the pigeons. The poster, bearing a shot of the leads in a clinch, reminded me of another clandestine couple Matt 'wild swimmer' Hancock and Gina 'the aide' Coladangelo. Like that saga, this is a very suburban bit of 'ooh-er vicar'; even if the 2014 play has a different ending from the film, and makes 'bunny boiler' Alex (Marsh) a lot more sympathetic. Manhattan lawyer Dan is off the leash for the weekend when his wife and daughter go to view a dream home upstate leaving him to run into sexy Alex in a downtown bar. We see it all coming a mile off and when Dan mentions buying his daughter a rabbit, there is a squeal of dread from the crowd. This deliciously icky revival of Fatal Attraction still sets the proverbial cat among the pigeons Farnworth's slick, handsome Dan makes a very satisfying sexual stooge, but it's Marsh who cracks the whip on this headlong ride to hell. She is hot, cultured, powerful, damaged, manipulative and implacable. But she also comes over as a tough cookie, struggling to survive in Manhattan's dog-eat-dog world. Long, grey panels line the stage, becoming screens for projections of Central Park and office suites. And there's roll-on, roll-off furniture for Dan's loft apartment, the fantasy place in the country and, of course, the fatal love nest where the wheels come off, along with the couple's clothing. Loveday Ingram's taut production has some awkwardly staged scenes with handheld phones and could make more of that infamous bunny business. But even if you think you know the plot like you know your partner's passwords, it still exerts a vice-like grip. n Fatal Attraction is at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, until tomorrow. For tour details, visit fatalattractionplay.com. Paper thin tribute to a Hollywood legend Ava: The Secret Conversations (Riverside Studios, London) Verdict: Glimpses of a bigger picture Rating: Elizabeth McGovern's whisky-glugging, chain-smoking, straight-talking, thrice-marrying Ava Gardner inhabits a dramatically different world from Lady Cora, American chatelaine of Downton, who held things together through thick and thin, upstairs and downstairs. Though both had roles thrust upon them. When we meet Ava in McGovern's whip through her life, she is heartily sick of playing the 'world's sexiest woman'. Holed up in her Knightsbridge flat, one arm paralysed by a stroke, she is a shadow of the voluptuous screen-legend glimpsed all too rarely in the course of 90 long minutes. As she says: 'When you get blown up so big, you end up paper-thin.' It's one of few insights in this paper-thin, fleetingly poignant piece. So where to begin, Ava wonders? At the beginning, in North Carolina, where her 'broke, not dirt-poor' tobacco-farming parents had no time for their seventh child? Spirited, sparky Ava, her Dust-bowl drawl undimmed, suggests starting with 'diapers': the ones she's been wearing recently to retrain her bladder, post-stroke. Elizabeth McGovern is a whisky-glugging, chain-smoking, straight-talking, thrice-marrying Ava Gardner The disembodied voice of Peter Evans, a wannabe-novelist, sometime-journalist who is ghost-writing Ava's autobiography to pay the school fees, wants the vital statistics of Frank Sinatra's wedding-tackle. Sinatra was Ava's third husband and 'the love of her life'. Husband number one, the dedicated womaniser Mickey Rooney, introduced her to sex and she liked it. 'Secrets' well-documented by the likes of Wikipedia. All we are told about her brief marriage to Artie Shaw, the jazz clarinettist, is that he made her feel like a 'dumb stick'. She turned to drink. Anatol Yusef has the unenviable task of playing all the men who, variously, 'took away my voice'. The talented McGovern's momentary mimickry of Marlon Brando is by far the richest impersonation on display here. Alas, Ava is revealed only through the tight focus of a handful of egomaniacal men whose interest was skin-deep. The bigger picture is yet to be seen. GEORGINA BROWN Jamie Dornan appeared on Friday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show to promote the coming of age comedy-drama Belfast, which hit theaters late last year. At the top of the show, Dornan briefly chatted with Ellen about life at home with his wife Amelia Warner and their three girls: Dulcie, eight, Elva, five, and Alberta, two. While discussing the idea of expanding their family until they have a boy, the 39-year-old actor joked that he's been in a 'perpetual state of drag' all of his life thanks to growing up with two sisters and only having daughters. Promo mode: Jamie Dornan appeared on Friday's episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show to promote the coming of age comedy-drama Belfast, which hit theaters late last year Dornan appeared to be a bit stunned and taken aback by all the applause he received when he made his entrance in front of the live studio audience. The host assured him that all the adoration was due to his performance in Belfast. Belfast, which is getting rave reviews and Oscar buzz, is now in select theaters in the US and UK, as well as on-demand. The film , which also stars Outlander actress Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench, Ciaran Hinds, Colin Morgan and Jude Hill, among others, is a semi-biographical story of writer and director Kenneth Branagh's upbringing amid The Troubles in Belfast in the 1960s. Life at home: At the top of the show, Dornan briefly chatted with Ellen about life at home with his wife Amelia Warner and their three girls: Dulcie, eight, Elva, five, and Alberta, two Good sport: While discussing the idea of expanding their family until they have a boy, the 39-year-old actor joked that he's been in a 'perpetual state of drag' all of his life thanks to growing up with two sisters and only having daughters Dornan shared how his later father, who recently passed away from COVID-19, actually met Branagh many years ago when he helped open a wing of a hospital that he worked in during his career as a doctor. 'It's so well done,' DeGeneres repeats several times over, in reference to the black-and-white film that has already won a People's Choice Award at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival; and received seven Golden Globe nominations, winning for Best Screenplay, among other accolades. 'The movie is getting Oscar buzz; you're getting Oscar buzz, so it's really great. It's really beautifully done,' DeGeneres says in support of the film, which got a nod of appreciation from Dornan. Supportive: DeGeneres gave her support of Belfast, calling it 'really great' and 'beautifully done' during the interview Father's approval: The Irish actor shared that he 'takes some sort of comfort' that his late father knew he was making Belfast before his recent passing from COVID-19 He went on to share that he 'takes some sort of comfort' that his father knew he was making Belfast before his passing. 'I think in some way he's having some control of the love we're getting for it,' the former Fifty Shades of Grey star said, adding, that his dad 'was so happy that I was working with Judi Dench, the legend, Dame Judi Dench, who plays my mother in this.' Again, this episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, with Jamie Dornan, airs on Friday, January 28. Legendary actress: Dornan also talked about how his father was happy to find out that he was working with Dame Judi Dench in Belfast Australian actor Rahel Romahn has been announced as the 11th recipient of the Heath Ledger Scholarship. He joins the ranks of other local actors who have since gone to establish their professional careers overseas off the back of the highly coveted acting prize, which has been created in honour of the late Heath Ledger. Romahn most recently starred in the upcoming TV series Shantaram and has made appearances in Abe Forsythe's zombie film Little Monsters, the crime series Mr Inbetween and mini-series Australian Gangster. Honour: Actor Rahel Romahn (pictured) has been announced as the recipient of the prestigious Heath Ledger Scholarship 'Throughout my life, I have learnt a lot from the leaders of the craft of acting,' Romahn said upon the announcement. 'From Heath I learned the power of vulnerability, the importance of bravery and the necessity of supporting the ones around you. These are extremely vital aspects to being a performer in our industry.' The Down Under star spoke about the 'importance of inclusivity' and commended the film industry for taking progressive steps towards embracing diversity. 'Throughout my life, I have learnt a lot from the leaders of the craft of acting': Rahel spoke about his experiences as a performer, his education and the importance of inclusivity upon the news of the announcement 'I am so proud of our industry for putting diversity at the top of our priority list,' Leading by example and creating a safe haven for people of colour, the LGBTQI+ and gender diverse community.' 'Discrimination has gone on long enough and I believe we are getting closer and closer to becoming one big family who finally accept and learn to understand and love one another,' he added. Romahn was born in Kurdistan, North Iraq during the height of Saddam Husseins genocide of Kurdish people. His family fled the country and lived as asylum seekers for years before settling in Australia. Proud: The Down Under commended the film industry for taking progressive steps towards embracing diversity, saying, 'Discrimination has gone on long enough and I believe we are getting closer and closer to becoming one big family who finally accept and learn to understand and love one another' Rahel has since gone on to fulfil his love for acting and the arts. He was nominated for an AACTA and Logie award for his role in the 2015 mini series The Principal. His other notable roles include Here Out West, Ali's Wedding and God's Favourite Idiot. Roles: Rahel most recently starred in the upcoming TV series Shantaram and has made appearances in Abe Forsythe's zombie film Little Monsters, the crime series Mr Inbetween and mini-series Australian Gangster Rahel was selected by a jury that featured Australian actors Chris Hemsworth and Jacki Weaver, UK casting director Nina Gold, director Rachel Perkins and US actor Alia Shawkat. He will receive a $10,000 cash prize along with educational training and career preparation training in the US. Previous recipients of the Heath Ledger Scholarship include Bella Heathcote, Cody Fern, Ashleigh Cummings, Mojean Aria and Charmaine Bingwa. Future star! Rahel was selected by a jury that featured Chris Hemsworth, Jacki Weaver, UK casting director Nina Gold, director Rachel Perkins and US actor Alia Shawkat. He will receive a $10,000 cash prize along with educational training and career preparation training in the US Heath was tragically found dead at a New York City apartment on January 22, 2008, after accidentally overdosing following months of physical and mental exhaustion. Reportedly a drug user on and off for years, things came to a head when he was juggling too many films - including his last role The Dark Knight - on very little sleep and he started relying on various cocktails of prescriptions to shut his mind off. He was ultimately found dead from a lethal combination of six drugs in his system: two types of narcotics, two types of anti-anxiety medicine and two types of sleep medicine. Some of the best years of my life I miss those people. Good times and memories, but I have moved on. Not my best days, but I have made peace with them. Glad to be away from those people I dont miss the high school experience. Vote View Results Fans have accused Kourtney Kardashian of photoshopping her derriere in a new Instagram photo. The eldest Kardashian sister, 42, shared a now-deleted image of herself to Instagram Stories as she posed with her back to the camera while dressed in a leopard print dress. Fans were quick to point out that Kourtney appeared to have made her derriere larger in the photo. 'Is this a joke?' Fans have accused Kourtney Kardashian of Photoshopping her derriere to look bigger in a new Instagram photo The image showed Kourtney sitting with a glass of wine in hand while surrounding by pretty flowers. Turning her head to look at the camera, the star pouted and posed. Fans on Reddit accused the reality star of altering the image, suggesting her derriere looked larger than normal in the photo. Edited? Fans on Reddit accused the reality star of altering the image, suggesting her derriere looked larger than normal 'What in the what, whyyyy? This has to be a joke,' posted one. 'This is embarrassing,' agreed another. 'She really thought she would get away with this and everyone would be like, Yeah that's real Kourtney!' was another response in the thread. 'At this point the bad photoshop must be intentional,' shared one other. Kourtney has since hit back at the backlash and claimed the photo was in fact a 'fan edit'. Taking to her Instagram stories on Friday, she wrote over the offending image: 'OMG RU SERIOUS, THIS IS A FAN EDIT. Hitting back: Kourtney has since hit back at the backlash and claimed the photo was in fact a 'fan edit' 'FOR BETTER WAYS TONUSE YOUR TIME, INSTEAD OF ANALYZING EDITS OF ME, follow @poosh.' Kourtney meanwhile sent temperatures soaring in a sexy lingerie shoot on Tuesday. The reality star, 42, worked an array of racy apparel which left little to the imagination as she posed up a storm in the Hollywood Hills. Unfiltered! Kourtney worked an array of super sexy apparel which left little to the imagination as she posed up a storm for a shoot in the Hollywood Hills on Tuesday Kourtney was obviously keen to show off her curves as she squeezed into an array of tight-fitting ensembles, which included a cheeky red bodysuit and a daring nipple ring accessory attached to a black undergarment. Kourtney's Insytagram post comes two days after her sister Kim quickly deleted one of her sizzling Instagram snaps after being accused of Photoshopping her famous figure. The reality star, 41, delighted fans when she shared a gallery of swimsuit-clad images from her recent Bahamas getaway with Pete Davidson. Don't mesh with her! The mother of three shot a fierce look for the camera as she posed in the sunshine Sizzling display! Heads turned as Kourtney made her way through the set with her fantastic physique on full display However, eagle-eyed followers were quick to notice that her back leg looked distorted in one image, with a curve appearing behind her knee. As fans flocked to comment on the mishap, Kim was quick to delete the post and reuploaded the gallery without the picture in question. Yet after a fan page shared the image, followers remarked: 'The leg lmfao'; 'she deleted it on her post that s**t is a diaper'; 'she really did and all the comments associated with the tweaked leg'; 'oh damn!!!! Lol'. Caught out? Kourtney's post comes two days after her sister Kim quickly deleted one of her sizzling Instagram snaps after being accused of Photoshopping her famous figure They are expecting their first child together. And, Olivia Bowen, 28, and husband Alex, 30, cradled her blossoming bump in their first photoshoot since announcing the happy baby news earlier this month. The pregnant Love Island star - who has teamed up with British Jewellery brand Abbott Lyon, to release her own Valentine's collection - was glowing as she posed in a cream knit midi dress. EXCLUSIVE: Olivia Bowen, 28, and husband Alex, 30, cradled her blossoming bump in their first photoshoot since announcing that they are expecting their first child together The mum-to-be rested her hand on top of her growing bump, while her doting husband placed his beneath as the pair smiled for the camera. Olivia told MailOnline: 'I'm so excited to become a Mum. It feels very surreal still to even say it, but we both can't wait for the next part of our lives. Alex is going to be the best dad - he's so caring, kind and a big kid at heart.' 'My pregnancy is going really fast; We still both can't quite believe it's happening. We're having to stop ourselves buying all the baby clothes at the moment, we just get too excited.' 'Our family and friends were so shocked when we told them, but I just knew very early on, you know your body. We're not going to find out what we're having, I think the surprise will make it extra special.' Loved-up: 'Alex is going to be the best dad - he's so caring, kind and a big kid at heart' gushed Olivia to MailOnline Valentine's jewellery: The pregnant Love Island star has teamed up with British Jewellery brand Abbott Lyon, to release her own Valentine's collection 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. Love yourself: Olivia Bowen's Valentine's Day jewellery edit with Abbott Lyon can be purchased at www.abbottlyon.com 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. Olivia Bowen's Valentine's Day jewellery edit with Abbott Lyon can be purchased at www.abbottlyon.com A former employee at Los Angeles International Airport has revealed some of the big name celebrities she has encountered on the job including Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth. Cindy, who was a customer service representative for airlines, recalled the encounters on TikTok and rated the stars she had crossed paths with on a scale from one to 10. After going carefully through the list, Cindy soon arrived at the Thor star and instantly awarded him a 10/10 for his friendly nature and openness. 10 out of 10: An LAX airport worker has revealed what Chris Hemsworth (pictured) is really like in person 'He was always really polite to everybody,' she said in the clip. 'He was even on a first-name basis with some of the staff,' Cindy added before mentioning that he was 'literally so handsome in person'. Cindy also had encounters with Chris Evans, Kendall Jenner, Nicki Minaj, Dakota Johnson, Robert Pattinson and Jeffree Star, among others. 'He was always really polite to everybody': TikTok star Cindy (right) instantly awarded him a 10/10 for his friendly nature and openness. 'He was even on a first-name basis with some of the staff,' Cindy added before mentioning that he was 'literally so handsome in person' She admitted that Kendall Jenner came off as 'arrogant' and Nicki Minaj acted like a diva on a flight. She also gave Robert Pattinson a 10/10, saying he was 'nice' and asked her how her day was. Cindy also had pleasant experiences with YouTuber Jeffree Star. 'I know a lot of people don't like him, but Jeffree Star was a 10/10,' she said of the 34-year-old makeup mogul. She had a funny story about Dakota Johnson, who also received a high rating because of how nice she was. Encounters: Cindy also had encounters with Chris Evans, Kendall Jenner (pictured), Nicki Minaj , Dakota Johnson, Robert Pattinson and Jeffree Star. She admitted that Kendall Jenner came off as 'arrogant' and Nicki Minaj acted like a diva on a flight Friendly: She had a funny story about Dakota Johnson (pictured), who also received a high rating because of how nice she was 'She forgot her passport all the way in LA in the middle of traffic hours, so we had to delay the flight, and she still didn't make it back,' she explained. 'But I made fun of her the last time she flew out. She laughed and was super polite.' Chris has been travelling around Europe for the past several weeks with his family as he films Extraction 2. On Thursday, the Avengers star enjoyed a cheat day as he did some sightseeing in London with his stunning wife Elsa Pataky. The couple tucked into a calorie-laden bubble gum ice-cream cone, complete with fairy floss and toppings, as the pair visited the world-famous desert emporium Hans and Gretel in Camden Town, London. No regrets! Clean eating Chris enjoyed a calorie-laden ice-cream with fairy floss alongside his wife Elsa Pataky (left) as they headed out in London on Thursday Chris posted a picture of the pair eating the fairy tale-inspired sweet treat on his Instagram page. He said that the ice-cream cone equated to 'four weeks worth of cheat meals in one'. The Hemsworth family recently celebrated Christmas in Austria as they make the most of their time in Europe. Chris and Elsa, who married in 2010, are parents to India, nine, and twins Tristan and Sasha, seven. She loves to show off her voluptuous curves on social media. And Carol Vorderman was back at i ton Friday as the big-haired beauty wore a tight top and leather leggings. The TV presenter, 61, poked fun at her wild 'do, writing: 'Morning lovelies.....going for a "what the hell just happened there" look for the hair today...I think I've succeeded!!! Lols' Leggy display: Carol Vorderman, 61, showed off her curves on Instagram on Friday as she donned a pair of leather pants that clung to her chiselled legs and a tight top. She added: 'Holy hell it's Friday so soon already. Have a good one. Off for a top up with my mates today xx'. Wearing a full face of makeup, the star teased her brunette locks into bouncy waves to give them extra volume. She shared a couple of different angles of her look, showing off sexy thigh-high boots in the process. Funny: The TV presenter, 61, poked fun at her wild 'do, writing: 'Morning lovelies.....going for a "what the hell just happened there" look for the hair today...I think I've succeeded!!! Lols' Big hair! Joking about her big hairdo, Carol captioned the snaps: 'Morning lovelies.....going for a "what the hell just happened there" look for the hair today...I think I've succeeded!!! Lols' It comes after Carol shared her pride for her daughter Katie King, 31, on Thursday as she passed her PHD in nanotechnology from Cambridge University. Taking to Instagram, she shared a snap of her lookalike daughter alongside a lengthy caption outlining her daughters incredible achievement. Saying 'single parenting ain't that bad after all', Carol revealed her first born can 'now call herself DOCTOR KATIE KING.' Exciting news: Taking to Instagram the TV presenter shared a snap of Katie (pictured) alongside a lengthily caption outlining her incredible achievement The former Countdown host also took to her Instagram stories to tease the good news saying: 'Have rarely been as happy as right now. It's like driving for miles and all the lights are on green.' The star, who herself read engineering at Cambridge, shared a carousel of snaps with her 206K followers, including a side profile snap of Katie smiling and a picture of a coffee cup, which read Dr. Katie King, from the Cambridge University grounds. Written on the scenic snap was: 'My girl katie.science. Grafter. Brilliant. Scientist. Funny. Stunning. She passed her PHD in nanotechnology @cambridgeuniversity, I couldn't be prouder of more hungover.' Written on the scenic snap was: 'My girl katie.science. Grafter. Brilliant. Scientist. Funny. Stunning. She passed her PHD in nanotechnology @cambridgeuniversity, I couldn't be prouder of more hungover' Captioning the emotional post Carol wrote: 'Yesterday my girl Katie passed her 'viva'....an interrogation of her PhD thesis by a panel of examiners. 'She can now call herself DOCTOR KATIE KING. It's all she has ever wanted to be since being a little girl. 'A Cambridge research scientist and then to become an astronaut....like you do. She added: 'Her thesis was about the delivery of a new cancer drug. The drug is hydrophobic (doesn't mix with water) and so can be used instead of a chemotherapy technique as it does not mix with blood. Doctor: The star shared a carousel of snaps with her 206K followers, including a side profile snap of Katie smiling The star continued: 'Hopefully at some point this will help cancer sufferers not have to endure the all encompassing effects of chemotherapy. She is part of a big research team working at @cambridgeuniversity and with Astra Zeneca 'Katie's research is about how to then deliver it specifically to the tumour. She's using nanotechnology and in particular gold nano particles. The star continued: 'Hopefully at some point this will help cancer sufferers not have to endure the all encompassing effects of chemotherapy. She is part of a big research team working at @cambridgeuniversity and with Astra Zeneca. 'So here's me as her Mum. So proud. I know all the struggles she's overcome, and the hard graft she's put in to become this fine young woman. Celebrations! Carol declared she was embarking on 'a two day bender'- presumably in celebration of her off springs incredible news Sharing a hungover snap in an oversized camouflage jacket with cream fur hood she wrote: 'Hungover face definitely needs sunnies' 'I don't want this feeling to stop. She's on top of the world...and quite honestly I am too and so is her little brother Cameron. What a lucky mother I am. Single parenting ain't that bad after all.' Sharing a hungover snap in an oversized camouflage jacket embellished with a cream fur hood she wrote: 'Hungover face definitely needs sunnies.' Yesterday Carol took to Instagram to tease she had received the 'best news ever'. She looked amazing as she showed off her tiny waist in a figure-hugging denim button-up jumpsuit as she declared she was embarking on 'a two day bender'- presumably in celebration of her off springs incredible news. Wow! Last year, Carol announced Katie was applied for a job as an astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA) Last year, Carol announced Katie was applying for a job as an astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA). She took to Twitter to share her delight at the prospect, as she said her daughter was 'beyond excited' about the opportunity to apply for the coveted position. She shared a post from the ESA which was advertising job vacancies for astronauts for 'the first time in 11 years'. The ESA post read: 'For the first time in 11 years, we're looking for new #astronauts. Media representatives are invited to a virtual press event on Tuesday, 16 February, to learn more about these exciting #YourWayToSpace #ESArecruits (sic)' And Carol quoted the tweet, and added: 'My girl is to infinity and beyond excited about this..... she's applying .... xx go Katie ... (sic)'. Carol shares Katie and 25-year-old son Cameron with her ex-husband Patrick King. Strictly's Tilly Ramsay and Nikita Kuzmin shared a slew of cosy backstage snaps on Friday after they were reunited on the live tour. The presenter, 20, and the dancer, 24, looked like they were getting on better than ever in the pictures as they hugged and Nikita playfully touched her nose. Nikita was forced to pull out of the tour last week after testing positive for Covid-19 and had been isolating in his hotel room for five days, until he was released on Tuesday. Close: Strictly's Tilly Ramsay and Nikita Kuzmin shared a slew of cosy backstage snaps on Friday after they were reunited on the live tour Tilly looked gorgeous in the snaps where she wore a ruffled cream top and long blue skirt which was cinched in at the waist with a brown belt. Meanwhile Nikita looked as dapper as ever in a tight white shirt, black trousers and braces as he beamed behind her. The blonde beauty captioned the snaps: 'Backstage boops! Can't wait to perform again in Newcastle tonight!! ' Happy: The presenter, 20, and the dancer, 24, looked like they were getting on better than ever in the pictured as they hugged and Nikita playfully touched her nose It comes after on Tuesday Nikita took to his Instagram to share his delight as being back on the tour after his isolation period. The Strictly star filmed himself and Tilly, who had her arms wrapped firmly around his neck, as he expressed how excited he was to be back. He said: 'We're back together in Leeds! We're ready for you, we're ready to dance, I'm finally back, I promise I will not leave anymore', with Tilly adding: 'I'm not letting go!' Oh no: Nikita was forced to pull out of the tour last week after testing positive for Covid-19 and had been isolating in his hotel room for five days, until he was released on Tuesday It came after Tilly FaceTimed pro partner Nikita the Friday before after he was forced to pull out of the live arena tour at the last minute after testing positive for Covid. The presenter took to Instagram to share a snap of the dancer clutching a packet of Strepsils throat lozenges as he recovered at home from the virus, with Tilly remarking: 'I miss him!' Nikita, who partnered with Tilly in the latest series of Strictly and was set to dance with her on the nationwide tour, shared the news on Instagram that Thursday, after withdrawing before the first live date in Birmingham that night. Get well soon: It comes after Tilly FaceTimed pro partner Nikita last Friday after he was forced to pull out of the live arena tour at the last minute after testing positive for Covid Tilly continued in the show without him and performed with Neil Jones, with the beauty excitedly documenting her experience on her social media. The psychology student also impressively balanced her studies as she revealed she'd taken a university exam ahead of the latest live show. As he revealed his Covid news, Nikita reassured fans that he hopes to be back on tour 'as soon' as possible. 'So sad to be missing a portion of the Strictly Live Tour, but unfortunately I tested positive for COVID-19,' he wrote under a photo of himself and Tilly and some grumpy selfies. 'Lots of luck to all the amazing Strictly cast... Will be back as soon as I can'. Nikita's Strictly co-stars offered their supports in the comments, with his partner Tilly writing: 'Missing you' alongside a heart emoji. Nikita was not at the tour's photocall on Thursday afternoon, with Tilly forced to pose for solo pics while her fellow celebs partnered up. Emma Roberts has admitted she's the most content she's ever been, in a new interview published as news of her split from Garrett Hedlund broke. The actress, 30 is the cover star of the new issue of Tatler Magazine, wowing in a stunning shoot for the Biritish publication and talking in the accompanying interview about motherhood and her blossoming career. Emma refused to confirm the status of her romance in the interview, but admitted that her life has changed beyond recognition in the past two years. Looking fab: Emma Roberts has admitted she's the most content she's ever been, in a new interview published as news of her split from Garrett Hedlund broke The actress, 30, channeled vintage Hollywood vibes in the shoot, rocking a plunging Carolina Herrera red dress and Cartier jewels as she posed by a pool. The accompanying interview sees the American Horror Story star gush about life with her son Rhodes, who turned one in December. 'I definitely think about how I can help him be the utmost gentleman,' she explained of her hopes for parenthood. 'I want him to be respectful and intelligent at school but also in life.' 'What it means to be a man is being rewritten right now and I hope my contribution to the world can be raising an amazing boy who turns into an amazing man. I want him to feel that there's nothing he couldn't ask or tell me.' Cover star: The actress, 30 is the cover star of the new issue of Tatler Magazine, wowing in a stunning shoot for the Biritish publication and talking in the interview about motherhood Emma refused to discuss the other man in her life, Garrett, in the interview but did tell the magazine: 'I'm at a place where I can say, "I may not have got everything right but I like who I am more than I ever have". 'My life has changed more in the past two years than it did in the 28 years beforehand and I love where I'm standing now at the age of 30.' Emma's ex has had a troubling start to the year. The actor, 37, was arrested in Franklin County, Tennessee for public intoxication earlier this month and later released from custody on a $2,100 bond. 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. Mother: Emma said of her hope for Rhodes, who turned one in December: 'I definitely think about how I can help him be the utmost gentleman' The arrest comes just days after it was revealed that he has now split with Emma. 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. The family is suing Garrett for damages. Split: Emma refused to discuss the other man in her life, Garrett, in the interview but did tell the magazine: 'I'm at a place where I can say, "I may not have got everything right but I like who I am more than I ever have"' (pictured in 2020) The arrest came as the actor was expecting his first child with Emma. She went on to give birth to their son Rhodes at the end of 2020. '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. 'Their relationship has been rocky for a long time,' a source told ET Online, 'and the situation is really sad right now.' According to the insider, the couple 'grew apart when Garrett was away working' however they 'are still coparenting, and still doing things as a family.' Last month, Emma and Garrett celebrated their baby son's first birthday by hosting rodeo-themed party. Ex: Emma's ex has had a troubling start to the year. The actor, 37, was arrested in Franklin County, Tennessee for public intoxication earlier this month; pictured 2019 '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. The March issue of Tatler is available on newsstands and via digital download on Thursday 3rd February. It is only halfway through winter but Addison Rae already seems to be in a mood for spring. On Thursday the He's All That actress and top TikTok star shared three new photos to Instagram where she looked radiant in a light colored outfit. The 21-year-old star who was born in Louisiana wore a flirty pink top and skirt that showed off her toned tummy and sculpted legs as she stood in a studio. Spring it on: It is only halfway through winter but Addison Rae already seems to be in a mood for spring 2022 'Dear diary,' was all the star - whose full name is Addison Rae Easterling - said in her brief caption for her over 40m Instagram followers. The top was cropped with capped sleeves in a pink plaid print that looked perfect for the warmer months. The skirt was very short and had pleats that made it look like part of a private school uniform. And her heels were silver and platform with a strap over the ankle. The pal of Kourtney Kardashian wore her highlighted hair partially up as she added pink makeup and a choker necklace. She glows: On Thursday the He's All That actress and top TikTok star shared three new photos to Instagram When taking a selfie Rae held a child's beaded necklace. Paris Hilton liked the post. Rae has recently been focused on her perfume line, Addison Rae Fragrance. The influencer announced that she would be making the brand's first three offerings available to the public this past November. The scents that have been sold are both vegan and water-based, as well as being alcohol-free. The look works: The budding star looked radiant in a light colored outfit Easy pose: The top was cropped with capped sleeves in a pink plaid print that looked perfect for the warmer months. The skirt was very short and had pleats that made it look like part of a private school uniform The social media powerhouse previously spoke about moving into the fragrance world during an interview with WWD, where she expressed that perfumes were 'that next thing' that she wanted to add to her portfolio. Rae also expressed that she had developed an interest in working with scents over the past few years. 'Progressively, as I've gotten older, I've been super interested in fragrance. It's such a different area to put yourself into and get to know and see the behind-the-scenes,' she said. Hampton Beauty's Lori Mariano told the media outlet that the influencer was attempting to show her followers a different side of herself with the scents. The details: The pal of Kourtney Kardashian wore her highlighted hair partially up as she added pink makeup and a choker necklace She noted that Rae 'wanted to bring something different to the market. She wanted not only for her audience and fans to smell good, she wanted them to feel good.' Mariano went on to remark that the influencer's followers were looking for an unusual take on scents, which the social media personality was happy to promote. 'The Gen Z audience wants you to do something a little different than the norm...We gave Addison a platform to approach fragrance from a different angle,' she said. New endeavor: Rae also expressed that she had developed an interest in working with scents over the past few years A new trailer for the series Super Pumped: The Battle For Uber was released on Friday morning. And in the clip Uma Thurman is almost unrecognizable as she has dyed her blonde hair red to play Uber board member Arianna Huffington, a Greek-American author, syndicated columnist and businesswoman who is best known for her website The Huffington Post. The series focuses on 'the Bad Boy of Tech' - Uber founder and CEO Travis Kalanick - who is played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Fresh look: A new trailer for the series Super Pumped: The Battle For Uber was released on Friday morning In character: And in the clip Uma Thurman is almost unrecognizable as she plays Arianna Huffington In the trailer Uma's Arianna is seen with reddish hair and smart business attire as she advised Joseph's ego maniac Kalanick. The accent is spot on too. Uma does an impressive job at mastering Arianna's Greek accent that almost sounds mixed with Russian. Arianna is 71-years-old and Uma is 51-years-old but the casting seems to work thanks to heavy makeup. Biz babe: Arianna is a Greek-American author, syndicated columnist and businesswoman who is best known for The Huffington Post. On the right Uma is seen in 2004 during her blonde bombshell days The real deal: Arianna Huffington attends Beautycon Los Angeles 2019 Pink Carpet in LA Most of the trailer focuses on Kalanick. It is the first season of the anthology series, with each subsequent season anthology series exploring, 'a story that rocked the business world to its core and changed culture.' Billions creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien created this new series, which follows the roller coaster ride of Kalanick from being dubbed the Bad Boy of Tech to being ousted from his own company in a boardroom takeover. She nailed it: In the trailer Uma's Arianna is seen with reddish hair and smart business attire as she advised Joseph's ego maniac Kalanick. The accent is spot on too Bad boy: Joseph Gordon-Levitt channels the Bad Boy of Tech - Uber founder and CEO Travis Kalanick Bad boy: Billions creators Brian Koppelman and David Levien created this new series, which follows the roller coaster ride of Kalanick from being dubbed the Bad Boy of Tech to being ousted from his own company in a boardroom takeover The trailer begins with a smug Travis introducing himself as the founder and CEO of Uber, adding, 'and contrary to what you might have read, I am not a monster.' Another shot features Thurman as Huffington who calls Travis, 'the notorious bad boy of tech,' as they're later seen meditating outside. Bill Gurley (Kyle Chandler), one of Uber's board members, is seen asking Travis if he will, 'listen to wise counsel,' as Travis responds, 'I will always listen, but I will never take orders.' Not a monster: The trailer begins with a smug Travis introducing himself as the founder and CEO of Uber, adding, 'and contrary to what you might have read, I am not a monster' Wise: Bill Gurley (Kyle Chandler), one of Uber's board members, is seen asking Travis if he will, 'listen to wise counsel,' as Travis responds, 'I will always listen, but I will never take orders' One employee asks in a darkened room if 'this is legal' and the whole room laughs, while Bill talks about Travis. 'The best thing about Travis is he's willing to run through walls to win,' as Travis is seen slamming his hands on a table which frightens Austin Geidt (Kerry Bishe). 'The worst thing about him is he thinks everything is a wall,' Gurley continues. Best thing: One employee asks in a darkened room if 'this is legal' and the whole room laughs, while Bill talks about Travis Travis is seen telling someone that, 'if there is something that's going to kill Uber than I have to remove it as Feds are sen moving in. Geidt tells Travis, 'You're not the one who has to pay the price,' before Travis tells his closest advisors, 'My life is on the line here, and all of you, you'll all bleed for it!' One of the final shots shows Travis at a conference in a white suit as he tells the crowd, 'Are we super pumped?' as they erupt into applause as the trailer ends. Price: Geidt tells Travis, 'You're not the one who has to pay the price,' before Travis tells his closest advisors, 'My life is on the line here, and all of you, you'll all bleed for it!' Life: Geidt tells Travis, 'You're not the one who has to pay the price,' before Travis tells his closest advisors, 'My life is on the line here, and all of you, you'll all bleed for it!' Super pumped: One of the final shots shows Travis at a conference in a white suit as he tells the crowd, 'Are we super pumped?' as they erupt into applause as the trailer ends Kalanick founded Uber in 2009 with Garrett Camp and it quickly became one of the biggest 'unicorns' in the world - a privately held startup company valued over $1 billion. After numerous reports about the corporate culture - including sexual harassment and discrimination - within Uber, Kalanick stepped down as CEO after a boardroom coup in 2017. The show is based on the 2019 book Super Pumped: The Battle For Uber by New York Times journalist Mike Isaac. Minnie Driver showed off her youthful figure on Thursday as she sipped a cocktail while on holiday in Barbados. The actress, 51, beamed as she posed up a storm in a black bandeau bikini which she teamed with matching bottoms. The Oscar-nominated star took to Twitter to share the photo which she captioned: 'I would rather be working.' All smiles: Minnie Driver, 51, showed off her youthful figure on Thursday as she sipped a cocktail while on holiday in Barbados Hard worker: The Oscar-nominated star took to Twitter to share the photo which she captioned: 'I would rather be working' Minnie donned a pair of retro shades in the radiant snap, clearly making the most of her sunny break. She also posted pictures on her Instagram Stories watching the sunset with her fiance Addison O'Dea, 42. It comes as Minnie looked casually chic in a white linen dress as she stepped out with her beau after a trip to the Lime Grove Mall in St. James Parish. Sunset: The actress beamed as she posed up a storm in a black bandeau bikini which she teamed with swimming bottoms The pair are engaged and have been linked since early 2019, with Minnie keeping her relationship pretty private. She showed off a glimpse of her toned and tanned legs in the pretty number which had a loose-fitting style and skimmed her thighs. Minnie completed the relaxed outfit with comfy black flip flops and wore dark sunglasses as she strolled around. Couple goals: She also posted pictures on her Instagram stories watching the sunset with her fiance Addison O'Dea, 42 Meanwhile Addison cut a casual figure in a blue T-shirt, light grey jeans and brown shoes as well as sporting a face mask. Minnie is engaged to Addison and has an 11-year-old son Henry Story from a brief fling with her former The Riches writer, Timothy J. Lea. Last January, Minnie revealed how she found out as a child how her father was married to someone other than her mother. Joy Corrigan looked breathtaking as she rode a white horse in Cabo San Lucas on Monday. The Victoria's Secret model wore a white cowboy hat, with a yellow bikini top and white shorts as she rode along the white sand beaches on her recent trip. The Alo ambassador, 27, paired her minimal look with white Alo sneakers as she looked thrilled to be horseback riding in Mexico. The blonde beauty: Joy Corrigan looked breathtaking as she rode a white horse in Cabo San Lucas on Monday These pictures are from her recent trip down south to celebrate her 27th birthday. Joy updated all of her nearly one million Instagram followers throughout her stay. She left little to the imagination when she paired her cut-out green birthday dress with small white Bottega Veneta heels and a mini purple handbag. The blonde beauty styled her hair in beach waves as she was seen walking hand-in-hand with her sister, Gina Corrigan. Horseback riding in Mexico: The Victoria's Secret model wore a white cowboy hat, with a yellow bikini top and white shorts as she rode along the white sand beaches on her recent trip Representing Alo: The Alo ambassador, 27, paired her minimal look with white Alo sneakers as she looked thrilled to be horseback riding in Mexico The supermodel even displayed her bottom in her see-through dress as she walked with her sister. Joy did not seem to be wearing underwear and left little to the imagination in her birthday dress. Joy has been modeling since she was 14-years-old and has worked for brands like Guess, Victoria's Secret, and Jimmy Choo. With friends: These pictures are from her recent trip down south to celebrate her 27th birthday. Joy updated all of her nearly one million Instagram followers throughout her stay In a January interview with Maxim, the model discussed her laid back attitude towards showing her body in front of the camera. 'I love to be sexy and I love to show skin cause I work out really hard to get the body that I have. Ive always been very free-spirited about it,' she explained. In addition, she is also the co-founder and CEO of a clothing brand named Naked Species. Birthday behavior: She left little to the imagination when she paired her cut-out green birthday dress with small white Bottega Veneta heels and a mini purple handbag Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Gerber is turning up the heat in a new campaign for Calvin Klein. On Friday, the 20-year-old model, who has followed her mother's footsteps into the fashion business, posted a slew of new images from the racy commercial. 'At home in #mycalvins,' she captioned the images, alongside white heart emoji. Wow factor: Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Gerber shows off taut tummy as she turns up the heat for new Calvin Klein underwear campaign Her mother Cindy, 55, also famously modelled for Calvin Klein in her '90s heyday. The star has recently begun a new relation with boyfriend Austin Butler, 30. Austin has acted on such shows as Switched At Birth and also famously used to date High School Musical starlet Vanessa Hudgens. Meanwhile in 2019 Kaia had a relationship with Saturday Night Live funnyman Pete Davidson who is seven years her senior. New looks: On Friday, the 20-year-old model, who has followed her mother's footsteps into the fashion business, posted a slew of new images from the racy commercial Reports of their split circulated at the start of last year with an E! News insider saying that Pete was 'taking a break to work on his mental health.' Her parents Cindy and Rande had been filmed by Page Six in December 2019 talking emphatically outside their daughter's apartment. DailyMail.com learned from a bystander that Rande had a conversation with someone upstairs - likely Pete - who was 'freaking out' and had 'scratched eyes.' Footsteps: Her mother Cindy, 55, also famously modelled for Calvin Klein in her '90s heyday New romance: The star has recently begun a new relation with boyfriend Austin Butler, 30 Chilling: 'At home in #mycalvins,' she captioned the images, alongside white heart emoji Shortly thereafter he quipped during the Weekend Update section of Saturday Night Live that he was about to take 'the kind of vacation where, like, insurance pays for some of it, and they take your phone and shoelaces.' Last year Kaia was involved with The Kissing Booth actor Jacob Elordi but last month it emerged that they have broken up. Shortly before Christmas an insider spilled to People that Kaia 'seems really happy' with Austin and that 'All of her friends think he's really cute.' Fit physique: The model is known for her love of Pilates Trim: Kaia is often spotted out exercising with her pal Kendall Jenner Said the source: 'All of her friends think they are so adorable and it's a total step up from her last relationship and she knows it too.' She previously dated Jacob for over a year before their eventual split, which Page Six reported was 'amicable.' Jacob remarked in a recent Men's Health profile that Kaia had taught him how to cope with fame through her own example. Just like mom: Cindy Crawford is seen modelling for Calvin Klein in 1992 'She handles herself wonderfully publicly and I've learned so much from her about how to handle it, how to deal with it and just kind of be whatever about it, you know?' said Jacob, who was once linked to Zendaya. Meanwhile over the summer, while dating Jacob, Kaia gushed: 'Being able to be with someone I trust, where we don't want anything from each other, having a safe, steady relationship like that, has really opened my eyes to the possibilities of love and what it feels like to love without conditions.' She explained her reasoning to Vogue: 'Lust is touching other people or wanting them, but love is really seeing someone.' Filming for Marvel's Secret Invasion has been underway this week in Yorkshire. And two stunt doubles stepped in for an absent Samuel L Jackson, dressed as his character Nick Fury, at The Piece Hall in Halifax, on Friday. The daring duo were seen on set as they donned matching outfits, identical to the ensemble that Samuel, 73, was spotted in earlier this week. Exciting: Two stunt doubles stepped in for an absent Samuel L Jackson on the set of the new Marvel series Secret Invasion on Friday The pair sported bushy beards with brown wool coats and khaki knitted beanies as they put on a very serious display on location. They added a burgundy jumper and olive trousers which were teamed with a pair of black leather gloves. Samuel is set to reprise his role as the head of the organization S.H.I.E.L.D and stars in the Disney Plus series alongside Emilia Clarke, Ben Mendelsohn, Kingsley Ben-Adir and Cobie Smulders. Earlier this week, Samuel L Jackson was seen in Leeds as he was joined by his co-stars Emilia and Kingsley, whose characters names have yet to be revealed. Filming: The pair sported bushy salt and pepper beards with brown wool coats and khaki knitted beanies as they put on a very serious display on location Cobie will play S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill and Ben who will star as the leader of a Skrull sect and an ally of Nick, Talos, were also seen for the first time on set this week. The show which will act as a direct sequel to the 2019 film Captain Marvel, which also starred Samuel as a younger version of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. The show follows shapeshifting aliens known as the Skrulls who have infiltrated all aspects of life on earth. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show will use Captain Marvel as a launch pad and focus on the agent Fury and a Skrull played by Ben Mendelsohn. Kyle Bradstreet, who helmed the acclaimed Mr Robot, will act as writer and executive producer. As a Formula One ace, he had a track record for being a fast mover. And now David Coulthard has proved that he also doesnt like to wait around in matters of the heart. The retired Scottish driver has split from his wife Karen Minier, 48, a source told the Daily Mail last night after he was pictured without his wedding ring as he kissed and cuddled a Swedish model. Coulthard, 50, and Sigrid Silversand put on an affectionate display as they went for a stroll in London this week. They walked hand in hand and kissed several times. Miss Silversand was dressed casually in black trousers, trainers and a long coat. Coulthard, who won 13 Grand Prix and is now a television commentator, has not been pictured wearing his wedding ring since January last year. F1 star David Coulthard, 50, has crashed out of a nine-year marriage with a Belgian TV presenter and raced off with a Swedish lover, 27, who he is seen kissing and cuddling on a London stroll (pictured) The pair were later shown sharing a kiss, pictured, in central London. Witnesses said Coulthard was no wearing his wedding ring He married Belgian TV presenter Miss Minier in Monaco in 2013. They met in 2005 when she was covering the Grand Prix for the French TV channel, TF1. Their son, Dayton, was born in 2008. At the time, Coulthard described the birth as the start of a fantastic period in his life and said winning 13 races seems completely insignificant in comparison. He once hailed his wife a fantastic kisser, adding: I did research to confirm shes the best. But he was less animated when talking about their wedding day. He told The Guardian in 2015 that it wasnt the best day of his life and that they decided to tie the knot for their son. He said: Karen and I got married because we had a child together and I had no intention of marrying anyone else. Weve been together ten years and were married in a register office in Monaco. Ex Formula One driver David, right, split with his wife of nine years Karen Minier, 48, left, last year (pictured in 2014) He married Belgian TV presenter Miss Minier in Monaco in 2013. They met in 2005 when she was covering the Grand Prix for the French TV channel, TF1. Their son, Dayton, was born in 2008 I dont want to de-romanticise it but I dont subscribe to it being the best day of my life. On the other hand, when I got a call from the school nurse recently saying my son had hurt himself, the fear of a negative conversation immersed my body. Their last public appearance together was at Wimbledon in 2019 but they were pictured having lunch with Amanda Holden and her husband Chris Hughes on the French Riviera in July 2020. Coulthard was best man at Hughes wedding in 2008 to the Britains Got Talent judge, who follows Miss Silversand on Instagram. Pictures on her page show her posing topless and modelling underwear. This isnt the first time Coulthard has dated a model. He was previously engaged to American Heidi Wichlinski and was in a four-year relationship with Brazilian Simone Abdelnour. A source told MailOnline: 'David split with his wife over a year ago and Sigrid has been introduced to the whole family, including his son, and all is harmonious.' Free Event Woodland Cemetery, members of the Dunbar Alumni Association and Dayton Dunbareans will celebrate another annual graveside tribute to Daytons own Paul Laurence Dunbar on the day of his death Paul Laurence Dunbar became the first African-American poet to earn national distinction and acceptance. He was born and raised in Dayton. His short thirty-three years of life were filled with literary achievement and contributions that catapulted him to national and international fame and appreciation. The President of Wilberforce University and the Wilberforce University Choir rendered the first graveside tribute to Paul Laurence Dunbar in the year of 1906. In 1988, five Dunbar devotees found themselves standing in front of Mr. Dunbars grave on the day of his death to pay their respects. The five decided to collectively commemorate Dunbars date of death in the future and thus established an annual graveside tribute. Through the years, the Dayton Dunbar Alumni Association, the National Park Service, Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum and community volunteers have continued to support the annual tribute. It is through the efforts of LaVerne Sci, a Dunbar scholar who once served as the Dunbar House site manager, that the annual tribute is still celebrated. Dunbar wrote with Dayton as his solid foundation and as his reference, stated Mrs. Sci. It was in Dayton that he found his richest and greatest experiences and all the elements of beauty and joy that he enjoyed. The Annual Paul Laurence Dunbar Graveside Tribute will begin with a gathering at the grave site of Mr. Dunbar at 10:00 a.m. where a laying of a wreath will take place. A short program of readings and stories will then follow inside the Woodland Mausoleum given by devoted friends of Paul Laurence Dunbar. The event is free and open to the public. All are invited to both the graveside and Mausoleum services. Woodland Cemetery is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street in Dayton. Participants may gather at the front entrance of the Mausoleum at 9:45 a.m. for a processional to the Dunbar grave. remaining of SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM! 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. 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. 50 years ago, on Sunday 30 January 1972, the British Army opened fire on a peaceful civil rights march in Derry in the North of Ireland. 14 innocent people were killed in an atrocity. For decades, the British ruling class attempted to cover up the atrocity. When British troops were sent into Ireland in 1969, some mistakenly believed they were there to bring peace. The Marxists warned they would bring no such thing as the massacre in Derry and other atrocities showed. The following article was first published in 2019 in the In Defence of Marxism magazine, on the 50th anniversary of British troops being sent into Ireland. Fifty years ago, on 14 August 1969, British troops were sent into the North of Ireland. At first, they were generally welcomed by Catholics as a buffer against the threat of a pogrom. Very quickly the mood changed as the real nature of the British armys presence made itself felt. It was marked by harassment, housebreaking raids, internment without trial, shoot-to-kill, massacres, and general brutality and discrimination towards Irish Catholics. The initial, naive response of working-class Catholics in welcoming their presence was wholly understandable. A clear-sighted leadership worthy of the name might have risen above the temporary mood and forewarned of the real significance of events. The British troops were not there to defend Catholics. But not only did the Civil Rights leaders welcome the presence of the British troops, so too did many self-described Marxists in Ireland and Britain. In no time at all, many of these groups like the SWP in Britain would make an about-turn and become the most uncritical cheerleaders of the armed struggle of the Provisional IRA (PIRA or Provos). The Marxist tendency, Militant, led by Ted Grant kept a clean banner and warned about the real role of the British army. Unfortunately, the lack of a clear-sighted, Marxist leadership in the course of the Civil Rights movement ultimately meant a revolutionary opportunity was let slip in the years 1968 and 1969. It is necessary, if the forces of Marxism in Ireland are to regroup, that the lessons of these events are studied. This is the only way that the movement can be theoretically rearmed in preparation for the new revolutionary wave which impends in Ireland. An incomplete revolution In 1968, a social explosion erupted in the North of Ireland around the question of civil rights for Catholics. For centuries the Catholics of Ireland had been subjected to discrimination and persecution. It was in Ireland that the British Empire first perfected its tactic of divide and rule. But when revolution swept Ireland from 1919 to 1922, and the British could no longer hold onto the country, they resolved to carve the living body of Ireland in two. Under the terms of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which concluded the revolutionary Irish War of Independence, the South became nominally independent. The same Treaty, however, left the North in the hands of British imperialism. When revolution swept Ireland from 1919 to 1922, and the British could no longer hold onto the country, they resolved to carve the living body of Ireland in two / Image: Walter Paget There were a number of reasons that the British ruling class went down the road of partitioning Ireland, from the purely economic (the region represented 80% of the industrial output of the island); to the military-strategic (Ireland represented an important defensive position on Britains West flank). But surpassing all of these considerations was the fear of Bolshevism. Whilst the Irish Labour leaders had abdicated leadership of the Irish Revolution to the petty-bourgeois nationalists of Sinn Fein, the revolution was nevertheless accompanied by the formation of soviets, factory occupations and attempts by small farmers to redivide the land. But in 1922, the servile bourgeois nationalists in Ireland proved their completely reactionary character. In the Treaty with England, they agreed to partition Ireland. They would get what they wanted: free rein to exploit the Irish workers in two thirds of Ireland. Meanwhile, the British would retain six counties in the North East. As Connolly had predicted, partition would mean a carnival of reaction both North and South, would set back the wheels of progress, would destroy the oncoming unity of the Irish Labour movement and paralyse all advanced movements whilst it endured. This was exactly what the British ruling class had aimed at. A regime of reaction Centuries of carefully cultivated animosities between Protestants and Catholics were whipped up into an orgy of violence. Catholics, socialists and trade unionists were driven out of workplaces. In cities like Belfast, Catholics were terrorised into ghettos. The sectarian state in the North was engineered as a Protestant parliament for a Protestant people. In other words, it was to be a permanent bulwark against revolution and class struggle. The Catholics were to be kept permanently under the boot, and the loyalty of the Protestants was to be maintained by marginally better living conditions, and fear of what would happen if they, the Catholics, got the upper hand. Sectarianism was coded into the DNA of the statelet from its inception. The maintenance of such a regime required the creation of a huge apparatus of repression on the one side and of patronage on the other. Through organisations like the Orange Order, the permanent domination of the Ulster Unionist Party was to be guaranteed. Electoral boundaries were rigged against Catholics; businesses were given extra votes through property; and all positions of importance in the civil service were given to Protestants. Active discrimination in housing and jobs was used to sow the illusion of common interests between Protestant workers and bosses. And the armed Ulster Volunteers, which Lenin had likened to the Black Hundreds in Russia, were integrated into the state as the B Specials. The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and the B Specials were a permanent, menacing cudgel over the heads of Catholics. Counter-revolution was not limited to the North. In the South too, partition meant a carnival of reaction. The Treaty plunged the South into civil war. The Irish bourgeoisie now established themselves firmly in the saddle. The regime in Dublin, no less than the regime at Stormont, rested on repression and social reaction. The Catholic Church exercised a spiritual and temporal dictatorship, and was given complete control over education, healthcare and all spheres of social life. Even today new revelations about the horrors it inflicted on women and children, in particular, continue to come to light. The ugly features of such a regime could only repulse Protestant workers of the North. As long as in the minds of Protestant workers a United Ireland only meant the absorption of the North into the capitalist South, they were never going to accept such an outcome. It meant joining an economically stagnant, theocratic regime in which Protestants were to become the persecuted minority. And Protestants knew what it meant to be a persecuted minority; they could feel it in the seething discontent of their Catholic neighbours. Uniting Ireland on a capitalist basis only promised to switch the pluses and minuses. As is often the case, the reactionary regimes North and South, which were apparently at loggerheads, in reality, rested on each other across the border. Such were the bitter fruits of the betrayal of the struggle for independence by the bourgeois nationalists, and the failure of the Labour leadership to place itself at the head of this struggle. Towards reform The British had installed at Stormont a regime that was meant to guarantee permanent reaction, permanent sectarian animosity and permanent British domination. But the laws of dialectics dictate that nothing is permanent and everything must change. No one at the 1922 Anglo-Irish negotiations had asked, What if this settlement no longer suits our interests? The needs and interests of British imperialism didnt stand still. Silent, unassuming changes were undermining the material basis of the Northern statelet. But it is precisely because institutions, ideas and the web of social relations develop according to their own laws, without reference to the needs of society or of this or that class in society, that such change necessitates clashes, crises, catastrophes and revolutions. By the post-War period, a process of decline for the North economy began British imperialism thus looked therefore toward reform, as reflected in the reformist politics of Terence ONeill / Image: Woodrow Wilson PLA, Wikimedia Commons By the post-War period, a process of decline began to accelerate. Jobs in shipbuilding, linen and other important industries were being shed across the North. No longer did it hold the same economic importance that it once had. Furthermore, with the invention of nuclear weapons, the island could hardly be said to hold the same strategic value it once had. Relations with the South had begun to warm by the 1950s, and Britain and Ireland were doing good business. In fact, the South was completely economically dependent on Britain. The sectarian set up in the North only added friction to this relationship. And far from being a bulwark against revolution, the injustices it engendered threatened to become combustible material for a new social explosion. British imperialism looked therefore toward reform. If possible the ruling class would undoubtedly have opted for immediate reunification but that was ruled out. It is a fact that for 75 years, British imperialism has had no interest in maintaining its grip on Northern Ireland. If it has been unable to release that grip, it is because it has become enmeshed in a web of contradictions of its own making. This turn in the interests of British imperialism was reflected in the reformist politics of Terence ONeill, who succeeded Brookeborough as Prime Minister of Northern Ireland in 1963. ONeill made a string of promises about reforms, and under his premiership, relations with the South began to thaw. In 1965, ONeill even played host to the Souths Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Sean Lemass. This was an unprecedented step. But ONeills reforms remained entirely verbal. They did little to satisfy Catholic workers and youth. Meanwhile, they only served to irritate the hardliners in his own Unionist camp. In the early stages of many revolutions, the storm ahead is heralded not by an explosion from below but by splits at the top. Within the Unionist Party, splits began emerging. A right wing around one of ONeills ministers, William Craig, argued vociferously for an end to the carrot policy and a return to the stick. More ominously, outside and completely out of control of the Unionist establishment was the party of Ian Paisley. In his insane sermons, this fundamentalist, rabble-rousing preacher accused ONeill of bowing the knee to popery and playing into an (entirely imagined) Catholic Church plot to unite Ireland. The ruling class were learning a lesson. It was impossible to drip-feed sectarian prejudice, to maintain a permanent armed sectarian mob (the RUC and B Specials), and to sow anti-Catholic feeling for decades and then expect to be able to turn the tap off once it was no longer called for. The reactionary Paisleyite mobs were the product of centuries of sectarian incitement. With the first hint of a change of course these mad reactionaries, of course, cried, Betrayal! ONeills own rhetoric went nowhere as it was on the Unionist establishment that his regime rested. However much he might have liked to have blunted its edges, ONeill was part and parcel of a sectarian order he could never succeed in disassembling. In his own words, ONeill explained: The basic fear of Protestants in Northern Ireland is that they will be outbred by Roman Catholics. It is as simple as that. It is frightfully hard to explain to a Protestant that if you give Roman Catholics a good house they will live like Protestants, because they will see their neighbours with cars and television sets. They will refuse to have eighteen children, but if the Roman Catholic is jobless and lives in a most ghastly hovel, he will rear eighteen children on national assistance. It is impossible to explain this to a militant Protestant, because he is so keen to deny civil rights to his Roman Catholic neighbours. He cannot understand, in fact, that if you treat Roman Catholics with due consideration and kindness they will live like Protestants, in spite of the authoritative nature of their church. Civil Rights In the late 1960s a revolutionary mood was sweeping the world. A wave of successful revolutions had challenged capitalism and landlordism in a number of former colonial countries. Italy, Pakistan, Mexico, Czechoslovakia and of course France were all swept by revolutionary developments in 1968-69. Even in the belly of the beast, discontent was spreading. Rising opposition to the Vietnam war and a mass movement of Civil Rights agitation by the black population swept the United States. These events reached their peak with the revolutionary events of May 1968 in France, when 10 million workers brought the de Gaulle regime to its knees. These events had a profound impact on the most advanced workers and youth in Ireland too. This was especially the case among the Catholic youth in the North who were burning with indignation at their lack of basic rights. The revolutionary mood that swept the world in the late 1960s had a profound impact on the most advanced workers and youth in Ireland too / Image: Joseph Mischyshyn, geograph.org Left-wing youth in Derry, around the Labour Party Young Socialists, joined left-wing Republicans in organising the Derry Housing Action Committee in 1968 and began organising mass protests. Hundreds of angry workers and youth shut down the meetings of the Derry Corporation. At Queens University in Belfast, a layer of left-wing students were also organising. And in 1967, to bring together the struggles against the gross inequalities between Catholics and Protestants, the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) was formed. Their demands were quite moderate. They were in favour of one man, one vote (i.e. ending the business vote); an end to gerrymandering; disbanding the B Specials; an end to discrimination in government jobs; and an end to discrimination in housing. The allocation of housing and jobs were particularly burning issues. In Northern Ireland unemployment in the 1950s and 1960s stood at about 8%, while in Britain it was an average of 1.5%. But in Derry, unemployment among Catholic men was as high as 30%. The legacy of the divisions that sectarianism had introduced into the working class was that wages remained at just 80% of the level of workers in Britain. When it came to housing, the Unionist regime, concerned first and foremost with maintaining a Protestant majority, werent about to build more houses and upset the demographic balance. Catholic workers could squeeze into more and more densely populated and deplorable slums, or else take the one option always left open to them by British imperialism: emigration. A hundred thousand youths took this option in the 1950s. None of this is to say that poverty, unemployment and deplorable housing were not features of working-class, Protestant neighbourhoods too. Time and again, the conditions of Protestant workers had forced them to take the road of struggle. The revolutionary traditions of the working class in the North of Ireland are as much the property of Protestant as of Catholic workers: from the 1907 Belfast dock strike, when even the police mutinied; to the 1919 engineering strike, when the workers of Belfast had power within their grasp; to the 1932 Outdoor Relief riots, when Protestant and Catholic workers jointly fought the sectarian state. But as bare averages, conditions on almost all indices were worse across the board for Catholics. Some of the events which lead up to the first Civil Rights marches typified the discrimination that Catholics suffered. In the first half of 1968 working-class, Catholic families in Co Tyrone, fed up with being constantly refused housing through official discrimination, began squatting newly built homes. One couple with children, who were living with the mothers parents and six brothers in deplorable conditions, took things into their own hands and occupied one such empty house. But shortly after the family were brutally evicted. The door was broken down with a sledgehammer, and they were physically dragged from the premises. And yet the house just next door was allocated to a 19-year-old, single, Protestant girl without dependents who happened to be the secretary of a local, Unionist politician. This particular eviction, before the eyes of the media, became a cause celebre for the Civil Rights movement. On 24 August 1968, the first major Civil Rights march set off from Coalisland to Dungannon in Co Tyrone. Two thousand marchers set off, but when they arrived at the outskirts of Dungannon, they received a foretaste of what was to come. At the edge of the town, the marchers were turned away by the RUC. A small Paisleyite counter-demonstration had taken up occupancy of the centre of the town. A hardcore of loyalist followers of the Rev. Ian Paisley were determined to stop the Civil Rights movement in its tracks. Stalinism It should be noted that on this and other Civil Rights marches, the official leadership of the Civil Rights movement represented by the NICRA led from behind. Only with great reluctance did they place themselves at the head of the marches. This was principally to prevent the movement from slipping out of their control to the left! In Derry, which was at the heart of the Civil Rights movement in its early days, it was the left-wing Derry Labour Party and the Young Socialists, which took the initiative and played a leading role in the movement. A leading role was played by self-avowed Marxists like Eamonn McCann. In Belfast, it was Peoples Democracy, an amorphous left-wing group that was formed by radical students in late 1968, which took the lead. The NICRA leadership contained various stripes of opinion from liberals to nationalists, communists and others. However, its main influence came from the so-called Communist Party, which advocated a Stalinist two-stage theory. According to this theory, it was necessary to deal first with the democratic question of equality for Catholics. This, it was alleged, was necessary to give the movement the broadest possible appeal. Only then, once real democratic equality had been won, could the question of socialism be posed. But however feasible such a moderate programme appeared, the fact that it did not challenge capitalism would become an enormous obstacle in the unity between Catholic and Protestant workers. After all, if you say, more jobs for Catholics, more houses for Catholics, unless you also talk about increasing the absolute number of jobs and houses, such slogans can sound a lot like, less jobs for Protestants, less houses for Protestants. As Eamonn McCann explained in his recollections of this period: There was one sense in which the civil rights movement was anti-Protestant. The movement was demanding an end to discrimination. Its leading moderate spokesmen such as John Hume and Gerry Fitt, insisted endlessly that this was all they were demanding. In a situation in which Protestant workers had more than their fair share of jobs, houses and voting power the demand for an end to discrimination was a demand that Catholics should get more jobs, houses and voting power than they had at present and Protestants less. This simple calculation seemed to occur to very few leading civil rights moderates, but five minutes talking with a Paisleyite counter-demonstrator in 1968 or 1969 would have left one in no doubt that it was not missed by the Protestant working class. (War and an Irish Town, p297) It is in the very nature of capitalism to create artificial scarcity. To allay the potential fears of Protestant workers it would have been necessary for the Civil Rights leaders to offer something more: to offer a socialist programme that could eliminate joblessness altogether and build decent houses for all. This would have been the only way to isolate Paisley and his gangsters. Gregory Campbell, a sectarian who became a prominent member of the DUP in the Derry area (and who today sits as one of the DUPs ten MPs), in his recollections, expressed feelings that were undoubtedly reflective of more backward layers of Protestant workers that came under the influence of Paisley: The thing that pushed me into politics was the whole civil rights scenario [] I saw the nationalists were campaigning for better living conditions, jobs, voting rights, and yet everything they were campaigning for, I couldnt get either. I hadnt got running water, I had to go outside to the toilet. I had all the disadvantages that the urban Catholic had, and yet they were campaigning as if it were an exclusive prerogative of Catholics to be discriminated against. I felt the exact same way [...] but there continued to be an attitude on their part that they were the only ones discriminated against and I was part of the group that was discriminating against them. (Quoted in Hadden, Common History Common Struggle, p210) In a certain sense, the narrow, Stalinist conception of the Civil Rights movement confirmed the idea of Paisley, Gregory Campbell and co. that civil rights were about Catholics versus Protestants. According to the Stalinists, the movement had to unite behind itself all progressive forces. This meant a policy of class collaboration, of uniting Catholic workers with the progressive, Catholic bosses. Whatever the intentions of the Civil Rights leaders this meant converting the movement effectively into a Catholic rather than a working-class front. In the words of McCann, anti-unionist unity was, to this mind, the single most pernicious idea current in the North. RUC violence After a period of agitation around housing, the first Civil Rights march in Derry took place on 5 October 1968. Using the pretext that the sectarian Apprentice Boys intended to march on the same day, the Stormont Home Secretary, William Craig, decided two days in advance to ban the march. The NICRA were in favour of calling off the march. It was only because the left-wing Housing Action Committee decided to defy the ban, that the NICRA reluctantly decided to put itself at its head. The banned march was not large. Only a few hundred turned out. But the RUC reacted with ferocious violence. While speeches were being given before the march began, the RUC moved in from the front and the rear. Heavy reinforcements and water cannon had been brought into Derry. Before the marchers could set off, baton charges and water cannon were unleashed against the peaceful assembly. Heads and arms were smashed by the police, who chased marchers into the majority-Catholic Bogside. The Bogside exploded with outrage. Suddenly jolted into seeing the significance of these events, the local middle classes businessmen, clergymen and nationalist politicians who had played no role in the movement, organised themselves into the Derry Citizens Action Committee (DCAC). In the name of peace and unity, huge pressure was exerted on the original organisers to accept them as the movements leadership. Only a few resisted. A few days later, following a march by thousands of students from Queens University in Belfast, which was again blocked by Paisleyite thugs, the students organised themselves into Peoples Democracy. As its name implies, the organisations principles were diffuse and not clearly worked out, but it leaned firmly to the left. They drew inspiration directly from the actions of the revolutionary students of the Sorbonne in Paris. But wherever they went, Civil Rights marches were being met by the Frankensteins monster of loyalist sectarianism. This violent monster, a product of British imperialism, had now grown out of the control of its master. Their violence in turn was now a whip, accelerating the development of revolutionary consciousness. Faced with a social explosion, ONeill finally began to roll out more than merely verbal reforms. Craig was fired, the Derry Corporation was abolished, and the repressive Special Powers Act was repealed. As usual, it was the threat of revolution that finally prompted reform from above. However, the reforms fell far short of what the NICRA was demanding. At this stage, far from satisfying the militant workers and youth at the forefront of the movement, reforms only emboldened them further. Indeed on 16 November, a new march through Derry overwhelmed the police as 20,000 marched from the Bogside to the city centre. Nevertheless, in the face of these paltry reforms, the NICRA and DCAC called for a complete cessation of marches. To these middle-class and Stalinist leaders, the methods of the angry, unemployed youths of Derry were hooliganism. Even in the face of the most brutal reactionary violence, in their view the masses should remain impassive. In the words of John Hume from the DCAC, We must be non-violent to the point of being crushed into the ground. Violence gets publicity and if we create it [it] is bad publicity. If it is created against us it is good publicity. (Irish News, 22 February 1969) Leadership Going into 1969, the atmosphere was tense. The Paisleyites were increasing their agitation about betrayal by ONeill, while the official leaders acted to restrain the Civil Rights movement. The Stalinist NICRA lefts offered no alternative. What was missing in Ireland in 1968-69 was a genuine revolutionary organisation. Such an organisation, refusing to bow to the pressure to mix banners with the middle-class leaders (whose moderation and nationalism repelled the Protestant workers) could have held aloft a clear socialist banner. On the basis of such a programme that linked the question of civil rights to the conditions of all workers including Protestant workers in the North and workers in the South a revolutionary opportunity could have opened up across Ireland. In April, when new clashes with the police broke out, the residents of the Bogside were no longer prepared to accept the RUC batons without reply. This time it was the police who took a battering as the whole community organised to drive them back: 209 police officers suffering injuries as against 79 civilians / Image: Keith Ruffles, Wikimedia Commons But whilst a more radical left existed around Peoples Democracy and Derry Labour Party, which was moving in a revolutionary direction, these organisations were diffuse and did not have a clear alternative programme or perspective. Instead, their radicalism was expressed in a greater willingness to mobilise on the streets, and greater bravery in confronting the sectarian regime. It was under these circumstances on 1 January 1969, that radical students from Peoples Democracy took the initiative to hold a new march from Belfast to Derry, defying the calls of the middle-class leaders for restraint. The march was gruelling. Hundreds of Paisleyite thugs constantly harassed the marchers, pelting them with bricks, bottles and stones. At Burntollet Bridge the march was set upon by loyalist thugs, who were joined by dozens of off-duty RUC men. They were brutally beaten with sticks, nailed clubs and bicycle chains. Many marchers were hospitalised. Only a few bloodied and battered marchers arrived in Derry. They were met by thousands of outraged workers and youth. The RUC once more attacked the assembly, and pushed through into the Catholic Bogside, kicking in doors and smashing windows. Now the Bogside fought back. Vigilante committees were formed and barricades were thrown up to prevent the RUC from entering. On a gable at the edge of the Bogside the words, You are now entering Free Derry, were painted, and Free Derry Radio was established by residents. In April, when new clashes with the police broke out, the residents of the Bogside were no longer prepared to accept the RUC batons without reply. This time it was the police who took a battering as the whole community organised to drive them back: 209 police officers suffering injuries as against 79 civilians. At the summer of 1969, the North of Ireland stood on the brink of a social explosion. Provocations by loyalist sectarians, backed up by the RUC, had created a revolutionary mood in working-class, Catholic communities. The revolutionary youth who were at the forefront of the fighting were open to socialist ideas. The whole Orange state was the enemy and the ideas of Republicanism were also gaining ground. Meanwhile, in the eyes of the Unionist establishment, ONeills reforms had completely failed to quell the discontent. Rather the wave of unrest continued its ascending curve. ONeill was forced out in April but his replacement, Chichester ChiChi Clark, had no alternative policy. Derry explodes The spark which lit the powder keg came during the marching season of 1969. Every summer, groups like the Orange Order and the Apprentice Boys in Derry marched in commemoration of the victories scored by the armies of William of Orange in his fight against James II for the succession of the British throne in the 17th Century. According to the myth, the victory of the Williamites over the Jacobites was a victory of Protestant free-thinking over the authoritarianism of the Catholic Church. In reality, however, William of Orange had the full support of the Catholic Church. In the Vatican, a Te Deum was even held in celebration of Williams victory at the Battle of the Boyne. The Irish poor Catholics and Protestants alike had no interest in the victory of either party. But despite being pure mythology the victories of King Billy were and still are celebrated every year. These marches in reality were designed to impress on the Catholics their inferior position. On 12 August 1969, the Apprentice Boys of Derry were marched along their route, taking them along the city walls and directly past the Bogside. Trouble started with the throwing of coins by Protestant youths at Catholics below. A riot quickly ensued and the RUC were thrown into action, attempting to penetrate the Bogside. Derry exploded. The entire community threw themselves into organising self-defence. Already on the night of 11 August, a Defence Committee was established with the participation of Marxists from the Derry Labour Party, and here and there barricades had been thrown up in anticipation. Now the entire working-class population threw themselves into repelling the RUC. Some assisted in helping the wounded, others helped supply petrol bombs, others prepared sandwiches to feed the fighters and ordinary people opened up their homes for use in the struggle. The whole area was closed off behind barricades. From the top of the High Flats on Rossville Street youths took up a prime position for bombarding the RUC from on high. And in order to take the pressure off the residents of the Bogside, the call was made for other areas to rise up in sympathy in order to stretch the RUC to the limit. Have we guns? In Belfast and elsewhere rioting began in working class Catholic communities in direct response to the call from Derry. Until this point, working-class, Catholic residents in Belfast had been hesitant to join the struggle. The Catholic population was a much smaller proportion of the population and the fear was that unrest would be used by the Paisleyites to whip up a pogrom. But now RUC stations in Belfast were attacked. In the disorder, shots were fired. In response the RUC sent armoured cars with heavy machine-guns into Catholic areas. As they encroached, the residents were clearly not matched to meet the threat. Bravely, youths responded with stones and petrol bombs. When machine-gun fire was unleashed a nine-year-old boy was killed as he slept in his bed. As the RUC encroached on the Catholic areas, they were followed by loyalist mobs who burnt out Catholic homes. As Catholics were burnt out of their homes and fled in their thousands, Ian Paisley claimed that they only burned because Catholic homes and churches were filled with petrol bombs and IRA ammunition. The press and Westminster politicians echoed the claims that behind the unrest was an IRA conspiracy. The aim was to stampede the Protestants into the arms of reaction. The real possibility was forming of a devastating pogrom and a slide into all-out civil war. Events were starting to take a similarly ominous turn in Derry. For three days the working-class residents of Derrys Bogside successfully fought the RUC and kept them out of their community. With the RUC exhausted and beaten, the government at Stormont were preparing to unleash the B Specials. Eamonn McCann, the left-wing leader of Derry Labour Party, described the moment the Derry residents were gripped by the realisation that they were facing, unarmed, the prospect of a pogrom: looking through the haze of gas, past the police lines, we saw the Specials moving into Waterloo Place. They were about to be thrown into the battle. Undoubtedly they would use guns. The possibility that there was going to be a massacre struck hundreds of people simultaneously. Have we guns? people shouted to one another, hoping that someone would know But there were no guns. Contrary to the official government and press line, which detected the shadowy influence of the IRA at all moments of unrest in 1968-69, the IRA were an irrelevance until the early 1970s. Indeed they were seen as an anachronism by most. In the 1950s the IRA had launched its Border Campaign a guerrilla campaign aimed at uniting Ireland. The methods of guerrilla struggle suitable for a peasant country were doomed in advance to failure. The IRAs forces in the North were so small that the failed campaign was launched almost entirely from the South. The failure of their ineffectual campaign forced the majority of the IRA leadership to reassess their methods. Under Cathal Goulding in the 1960s, they made a sharp left turn. Whilst a new emphasis on class struggle was a positive step, the organisation failed to turn towards the traditions of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Connolly. Instead, they came under the influence of the Stalinist Communist Party of Great Britain. Correctly, the new leadership rejected the traditional abstentionist policy of Republicanism. But instead of seeing the use of parliamentarism as a revolutionary tactic as a tribune from which to agitate for socialist revolution it was conceived in a reformist and pacifist way. The Irish revolution was divided into two stages. Instead of a revolutionary struggle of the working class whose final aim would be the overthrow of Stormont in the North and the bourgeois state in the South, and the establishment of a 32-county Socialist Republic, the IRA sought democratic reform and an end to discrimination. Parliamentary reform would come first, clearing the decks for united class action of the Catholic and Protestant workers. Only then would the basis for a struggle for socialist revolution be laid. This two-stage reformist perspective, which precluded revolution or civil war, left the IRA leadership completely unprepared for the explosive events which unfolded in August 1969. Whilst rank and file IRA members participated in the fighting and were active on the Defence Committees, the organisation was woefully underprepared for a serious struggle. According to one IRA officer, they had only 60 men in Belfast in 1969, only half of whom were active. Their arsenal consisted of a few outdated WWII handguns and rifles left over from the Border Campaign. The leadership did little to acquire new arms in advance of the events of 1969. Apparently, IRA = I Ran Away appeared on walls in Belfast. Whether true or merely apocryphal, it certainly corresponded to the feeling of many working-class, Catholic youths at the time. The failure of the leaders of the Official Republican movement to prepare adequately for self-defence led to disillusionment among rank and file IRA members with the leadership. It was an important element in aiding the rapid growth of the right-wing Provisionals following a split in the movement in late 1969 and early 1970. British troops sent in On the third day of rioting, the Wilson government sent in the troops. Eamonn McCann captures the mood in Derry as troops positioned themselves at the edge of the Bogside: The Specials disappeared, the police pulled out quite suddenly and the troops, armed with submachine-guns, stood in a line across the mouth of William Street. Their appearance was clear proof that we had won the battle, that the RUC was beaten. That was welcomed. But there was confusion as to what the proper attitude to the soldiers might be. The troops had arrived and Operation Banner had begun. The sudden arrival of the troops was greeted with enthusiasm by the majority of Catholic workers and youth. They had beaten back the RUC. As for the troops, it was believed they had arrived to keep the peace. As McCann attests, this mood affected even the most class-conscious militants. The troops had arrived, apparently to protect Catholics. Was this not to be welcomed? But how did this square with the opposition of socialists and Republicans to British imperialism? In the absence of a trained, revolutionary organisation, even many of the best, radicalised workers and youth succumbed to this mood and welcomed the British troops. It wasnt just McCann who supported the arrival of the troops. The Civil Rights leaders also welcomed them. In Britain, many of the so-called Marxist sects like the SWP and most Labour lefts welcomed the sending of troops into the North. Ironically they would turn 180 degrees in a few years, and cheer on the insane campaign of the IRA. Only Militant stood apart. Despite howls of protest from the rest of the left, Militant warned that the call made for the entry of British troops will turn to vinegar in the mouths of some of the Civil Rights leaders. In fact, the troops had not been sent in to protect the Catholics, but had been sent first and foremost to protect the interests of British imperialism. The British ruling class had their own reasons to be alarmed at the rapid descent of Northern Ireland towards civil war. The real possibility of civil war and ethnic cleansing loomed large. Such a scenario would destabilise the regime in the South. Fighting would quickly spread to the British mainland, beginning in cities with large Irish populations like Liverpool and Glasgow. The economic impact would be devastating. But perhaps more than anything, the British and the Irish capitalist classes looked on with dismay at the situation developing behind the barricades. The state had lost control. Citizens Defence Committees had taken over the running of communities in which 150,000 of Northern Irelands residents had barricaded themselves. Besides coordinating the fighting, the committees were taking on more and more functions including controlling traffic and policing crime. In working-class Catholic neighbourhoods, a revolutionary situation had developed and dual power had become an established fact. Worst of all, these committees contained a definite left-wing trend, with Marxist ideas having a real influence. With the help of workers drawn into the struggle, Derry Young Socialists succeeded in establishing a regular newspaper with a mass circulation on the Bogside, the Barricades Bulletin, and mass meetings of thousands were held. This was an intolerable situation for the British and Irish bourgeoisie. The South A wave of sympathy with the embattled Catholic neighbourhoods swept the working class in the South. They demanded that the Fianna Fail government do something. In outbursts of verbal Republicanism, Taoiseach Jack Lynch threatened to send troops to the border. In fact, he went no further than establishing a field hospital in Donegal. The government in the South were obviously not about to physically confront the regime in the North. Just a few years earlier, Lynch had been cordially sitting down to business with ONeill. His outbursts, which included a demand for UN peacekeepers to be sent in, were really meant to satisfy the mood at home. But they were also a coded message to the British: get the troops in and sort it out! The government in the South were obviously not about to physically confront the regime in the North. Lynch outbursts were really meant to satisfy the mood at home / Image: Joost Evers, Wikimedia Commons Alarmed at the uncontrolled situation, with left-wingers dominant in many Defence Committees, one section of the Southern bourgeoisie opted to try and tip the balance of forces against the left by channelling cash and guns to the right-wing elements. Using a fund established to help victims of the violence, two Fianna Fail ministers, Haughey and Blaney, helped to covertly smuggle weapons and guns to the North. This money was handed directly to the right-wing, rabidly anti-Communist Republican wing who had long despised the Reds who led the Official movement. It was these elements, representing the bourgeois wing of Republicanism, that split away to form the Provisional IRA. The Official leadership used this fact to absolve themselves of their share of responsibility for the rise of the Provos. Nevertheless, it remains a fact that the Southern bourgeoisie provided an important push in the direction of sectarian civil war, which they feared less than socialism. In late 1969 and early 1970, a split between the two wings of the IRA became complete. In this split, the Provisional IRA was formed. At first this went on largely unnoticed by the majority of people. The first outward sign of the split was the appearance of pin-on Easter lilies at the 1970 Easter Uprising commemorations. They were preferred by the Provo traditionalists to the stick-on ones used by the Official IRA (who came thereafter to be known as the Stickies). Despite occasional lip-service to the socialist republic, the Provos were the old traditional physical force Republicans, who had never been at ease with the left shift of the Official leadership. They represented a bourgeois, right-wing, rabidly anti-Communist trend in Republicanism. As a trickle of youths joined the IRA, which wing of the Republican movement they joined was more often than not accidental. Certainly, the connections that the Provos had with a section of Irish-American and Southern businessmen meant they were favoured because of their material support. Still, the IRA remained small. But events were impressing on thousands of the most advanced workers and youth the need for armed self-defence. Workers self-defence There was a strong, anti-sectarian mood throughout the working class at this time, and a desire to prevent a descent into the kind of bloodshed and violence that the North had witnessed in the 1920s. On 21 July 1920, Protestants at the Harland and Wolff shipyard, which employed thousands of workers, were incited to expel disloyal workers. In response, a large mob drove out Catholics from the shipyard under a hail of iron rivets. It should be noted socialists and trade unionists were driven out too. In reward for these displays of loyalty, the bosses responded with a general assault which drove down the living standards of all workers in the North. In 1969 it was a different matter. The mostly Protestant workforce was determined to stand against the Paisleyite bigots who wanted to see a rerun of the 1920s. In a mass meeting of all 8,000 workers, a motion was overwhelmingly passed calling for an end to the violence: This mass meeting of shipyard workers calls on the people of Northern Ireland for the immediate restoration of peace throughout the community. We recognise that the continuation of the present civil disorder can end only in economic disaster. We appeal to all responsible people to join with us in giving a lead to break the cycle of mutual recrimination arising from day-to-day incidents. (Bleakley, Peace in Ulster, 1972) Across the North, the defence committees had a largely non-sectarian character. In many mixed areas, Catholic and Protestant workers formed joint defence patrols to block the efforts of troublemakers from either side of the sectarian divide. In Derrys Bogside, the socialists on the Defence Committee continued to maintain contacts with advanced workers in the majority-Protestant Fountain neighbourhood. Under these conditions, had the unions put forward the slogan for the formation of non-sectarian, workers self-defence committees modelled on the Irish Citizens Army that had been established by the Transport Union under Connollys leadership in 1913 it could well have received a very positive reception and put a stop to the descent into tit-for-tat sectarian violence. But the leaders of the labour movement of the trade unions (the NIC-ICTU) and the Northern Ireland Labour Party (NILP) completely, and quite literally, sold out. In response to the unrest, in September 1969 representatives of the trade union movement met with representatives of the Unionist government of Chichester Clark. The result was a joint statement in which the government and the trade union leaders called for the barricades to be taken down: the most valuable contribution that people can make at this time is to try to secure the removal of the barricades by peaceful and voluntary means in conjunction with the security forces. The trade union leaders had no other perspective than restoring law and order. For this act of utter treachery, they received their fifty pieces of silver in the form of an annual government grant of 10,000 (Hadden p273). The role of the NILP was no less ignominious. Although at a rank and file level there was a shift to the left in places, such as in Derry where the Labour Party moved in the direction of Marxism, the leadership clung tightly to the methods of reformism. In the context of a sectarian state, reformist adaptation meant adaptation to Unionism. As a sectarian wedge was driven between workers in the North, this refusal to break with reformism meant certain death for the NILP. With the threat of a pogrom looming large in August 1969, many of the left-wingers who had mobilised through the Derry Labour Party began to drift towards the Official IRA and began training in the use of arms over the border in Donegal. They were not about to meet the threat of a pogrom unarmed in the future. Repression The failure of the workers leaders to link armed, self-defence to the labour movement left a tremendous vacuum. For a short period, this was not obvious, because the army seemed to be a buffer. In September, a joint effort by bishops and middle-class, moderate nationalist leaders succeeded in talking the masses into bringing the barricades down. In October, the RUC were disarmed and the B Specials were abolished. It seemed as though the British had intervened on the side of the Catholics after all. But in reality, the B Specials had just been replaced by the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR). Many former B Specials joined en masse. At times, 10-20% of UDR members would also be part of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), the biggest paramilitary group that operated during the Troubles. The UDR became a ready source of weapons for loyalist paramilitaries. The real character of the British occupation soon made itself felt. On 26 June 1970, an unrepentant Bernadette Devlin lost her appeal against a conviction for her part in the defence of the Bogside in August 1969. The outraged residents of the Bogside once more erupted in anger, this time clashing with the army. The following day, an attempt was made by the Orange Order to march on the Catholic enclave of the Short Strand in East Belfast. The sectarian provocation escalated from stone throwing to the throwing of petrol bombs at St Michaels Church. The Provisional IRA responded with gunfire and in the gun battle that ensued (dubbed the Battle of St Matthews) successfully kept the loyalists from encroaching. For the first time, the Provos came forward as defenders of Catholic workers. The Unionists were up in arms that the British army had failed to intervene. The British troops now showed the meaning of their presence. Far from being stationed to protect the Catholics, they had really been deployed to establish stability in the interests of British imperialism. This meant first and foremost restoring order and restoring the authority of the state. Whilst the barricades had come down, there remained no-go areas for the state, unrest continued, civil rights agitation had not ended, and armed members of both wings of the IRA were continuing to operate. With brute force, the British hoped to break the back of the unrest, disarm the IRA and placate the Unionists. On such a basis they imagined they might draw an end to Operation Banner. The policy was an unmitigated disaster. A few days after the Battle of St Matthews, the British army declared a curfew in the Catholic, working-class, Falls Road area in Belfast. Going from house to house, they were determined to smoke out the IRA. With the utmost brutality, they ransacked hundreds of Catholic homes. When indignant, local women began fighting back, the army responded by filling the neighbourhood with choking CS gas. In searches conducted by the British army, houses were completely torn up, 337 people were arrested, 78 were wounded and 4 were killed. The Provos Far from cowing the Catholic population or immobilising the Provos as they had hoped, the repression turned the mood of the Catholic working class of Belfast to rage. The youth looked en masse to anyone who would give them guns. The Official Republican leaders, the Civil Rights leaders and the labour movement leaders had all been caught off guard by the development of events, and when the question of arms posed itself, none had any answers. The Provos however had a simple answer. In the words of Billy McKee, an IRA commander in Belfast, This is our opportunity with the Brits on the streets. It's what we want, an open confrontation with the Brits. Get the Brits out through armed resistance. The Provos completely detached the national question from social and class questions. By purely military means, they believed that a brave, armed minority could defeat the might of British imperialism / Image: Cahrlaw, Wikimedia Commons They believed that the British were the principal enemy and the national division of Ireland was the main cause of all the problems suffered by the Catholic workers. The physical presence of the British posed this point blank and they seriously believed that through direct armed conflict they could drive the British out, thus uniting Ireland by brute force. The British army presence was a gift. The Provos had no compunctions about handing out weapons to any young person looking to defend themselves and their community. A direct military confrontation was just what they wanted. And after events such as the Falls Curfew, a deluge of young people joined the Provos in Belfast. In the absence of armed self-defence, the Provos were turned into a serious force with mass support in working-class, Catholic neighbourhoods almost overnight. McCann described them as the inrush which filled the vacuum left by the absence of a socialist option. The Provos completely detached the national question from social and class questions. By purely military means, they believed that a brave, armed minority could defeat the might of British imperialism. Against one of the most powerful military machines in the world, the Provo campaign was a disastrous adventure. They immediately came up against the fact that one million Protestants were opposed to the unification of Ireland. So long as that meant unification on a capitalist basis with the backward and Catholic Church-dominated South, that mood would never soften. Instead of combining self-defence with a class appeal to the Protestant workers, explaining the meaning of a Socialist Republic, the Provos set out to achieve their ends militarily, against the will of Protestant workers! The working-class Catholic youth who joined the IRA were not, in their overwhelming majority, against Protestants. And for the most part, the campaign of the IRA was not consciously sectarian. But bombings targeting the army or infrastructure inevitably killed civilians. Accidents occurred and warning calls were mistimed. Reprisals for sectarian killings by the likes of the Shankill Butchers, themselves took on a sectarian, tit-for-tat character. The PIRAs armed struggle (in reality individual terror) drove a deep wedge into the working class. A wedge into the working class Once the Provo campaign began in earnest, joint Catholic-Protestant vigilance groups ceased. In his book, McCann recalled how all contact between socialists in Derrys Bogside and advanced workers in the Fountain ceased. Layers of Protestant workers were pushed into the hands of the British state. And it was not just Protestants in Northern Ireland. As the IRA campaign hit the British mainland with bombings in Birmingham and elsewhere, they provided a gift to the Tory press, who used it to whip up an anti-Irish mood. Any illusion that it was possible to achieve change through peaceful street protest was finally smashed once and for all on Bloody Sunday / Image: public domain The British for their part could not leave. They had no choice but to remain and try to either defeat the IRA as long as there was little chance of negotiation. The alternative would have been to pull out and watch the region spiral into civil war. But defeating the IRA was impossible. Each act of repression drove thousands of new recruits into their arms. On 8 July 1971, the British army shot two young men in Derry, Seamus Cusack and Desmond Beattie. In his book, McCann relates how the next day, the Provos held their first mass rally in the town. When internment without trial was introduced in 1971 i.e. the mass arrest of Catholics without evidence by the British state it only led to new unrest. A rent strike was called. Riots erupted. There were new mass arrests and a new flood of angry, young recruits into the Provisionals. And on 30 Jan 1972, the final break took place. The paratroop regiment met a peaceful and unarmed march in Derry with live ammunition. 14 people were killed. The aim had been to smash the movement off the streets, and to re-establish order. Certainly what remained of any illusion that it was possible to achieve change through peaceful street protest was finally smashed once and for all on Bloody Sunday. Stalemate The armed struggle took on an infernal logic of its own. Its effects were entirely reactionary. The IRA campaign was used by the ruling class to beef up its apparatus of repression. Each act of repression by the British state drew an inexhaustible reserve of young, Catholic recruits into the IRA. The inevitable outcome was a stalemate. And yet it took two and a half decades of bloodshed; of 3,000 lives lost, including hundreds of brave, young Catholics who really felt they were fighting for a 32-county socialist Republic; before this fact was squarely recognised. But the Provisionals didnt turn away from these bankrupt methods towards the revolutionary, socialist Republicanism, represented by the likes of James Connolly. Instead, they turned towards the bankrupt methods of reformism. In 1994 the IRA issued a ceasefire and in 1998 they signed the Good Friday Agreement (GFA). Although they dare not admit it, the GFA (which was a rehash of the 1973 Sunningdale Agreement) represented an admission of defeat and a betrayal of the struggle for a united Ireland. What had two and a half decades of armed struggle achieved? The sectarian divide in the working class was widened into a gaping chasm. The wider this divide has grown, the further the prospect of a united Ireland has receded. However radical the guerrilla methods of the Provisionals seemed, in content their politics were those of a bourgeois, right-wing trend in Republicanism. Since the signing of the GFA, this has become abundantly clear as the former guerrillas have converted themselves into bourgeois politicians, governing for ten years with Ian Paisleys DUP. Together they were in complete agreement on the need for anti-working class policies in the North. But as in the period since partition, history has not stood still. The methods of individual terror and guerrillaism have exhausted themselves. The paramilitary groups that remain active in Northern Ireland today loyalist or republican are despised by, and isolated from the working class. Without mass support, disconnected from the working class, groups like the so-called New IRA have degenerated into lumpenism, criminality and drug dealing. For two decades reformist ideas have also been tested at Stormont, and have failed in the context of a deepening crisis of capitalism. This is what lies at the root of the collapse of Stormont in 2017. But most importantly of all, the only force capable of uniting Ireland, on a socialist basis the working class has been immeasurably strengthened in Ireland, North and South. Meanwhile the sectarian organisations the Orange Order and the Catholic Church have seen a collapse in their authority. The bankruptcy of capitalism in the North of Ireland has seen an increasing bankruptcy of Unionism, which has lost its historic majority for the first time in history. Today far fewer young people identify as nationalist or unionist. A new generation has grown up, which is looking for an alternative, which is really looking for a path to socialist revolution. The task is to return to the revolutionary, Marxist traditions of James Connolly and to build a mass working-class revolutionary party in Ireland, without illusions in reformism, pacifism or guerrillaism. Such a party, encompassing the most advanced layers of the Irish working class, could lead the workers of Ireland in sweeping away capitalism and establishing a Workers Republic. In doing so, it would reach out to the workers of Britain and elsewhere, laying the basis for a Socialist Europe and a World Federation of Socialist States. Only then, would the problems of Ireland be resolved. The study had said that an annual wealth tax in India would raise $78.3 billion a year with a 2 per cent tax on those having wealth over $5 million, 3 per cent on wealth over $50 million and 5 per cent on wealth over $1 billion. DC file photo Chennai: More than 80 per cent of Indians support a tax on the rich and corporations who earned record profits during the pandemic, a nationwide survey conducted ahead of the Budget by Fight Inequality Alliance India (FIA India) said. As per the survey based on inputs from 3,231 respondents from 24 states, 84 per cent want the government to place a 2 per cent Covid surcharge on individuals earning more than Rs 2 crore per annum. Further, 89.3 per cent want imposition of a temporary tax on companies making massive profits during the pandemic. As high as 89 per cent of the respondents also want the government to impose fines on private companies that do not fulfil environmental norms. A global study by the UK-based Fight Inequality Alliance had earlier shown that the wealth of Indian billionaires has more than doubled during the pandemic while 46 million people are estimated to have fallen into extreme poverty in 2020 and nearly half of the newly added poor are in India. As per this, the richest 98 billionaires own the same wealth as the bottom 40 per cent of Indian society. The study had said that an annual wealth tax in India would raise $78.3 billion a year with a 2 per cent tax on those having wealth over $5 million, 3 per cent on wealth over $50 million and 5 per cent on wealth over $1 billion. A more progressive wealth tax would raise $122 billion with rates at 2 per cent on wealth over $5 million, 5 per cent on wealth over $50 million and 10 per cent on wealth over $1 billion. Globally, an annual wealth tax could raise $2.52 trillion and a progressive wealth tax $3.62 trillion a year. Further, the pre-budget survey found that more than 90 per cent of participants demanded budget measures to combat inequality such as universal social security, right to health, and expansion of budget to prevent gender-based violence. Of the respondents, 94.3 per cent wants the government to provide universal minimum social security, including health and maternity benefits, accident insurance, life insurance, and pension to all unorganised workers. Close to 90 per cent of respondents asked the government to ensure that all schools provide additional academic support to students who experienced learning loss and roll provisions like breakfast in schools. They also wanted the government to universalise PDS and continue providing free food grains to the poor beyond March 2022. Around half of the trade agreements concluded between different countries in the last decade (2011-2020) contained labour provisions. However, only 22 per cent of the agreements signed in the previous decade (2001-2010) had those provisions. Representational image/By arrangement Chennai: None of Indias trade agreements have labour provisions within them, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO). India has entered into 17 trade agreements, which have come into force between 1976 and 2021. Of these, four are plurilateral agreements, including Global System of Trade Preferences among Deve-loping Countries (GSTP), Asia Pacific Trade Agreement (Apta) and South Asian Preferential Trade Arrangement (Sapta). Other trade agreements are bilateral. Of the agreements, 16 were signed in 2011 or before. Only the trade agreement with Mauritius was signed in 2021. India is currently in the process of signing trade agreements with different countries, including the UK, the UAE and Australia. In the case of the UK, an agreement is likely this year. A growing list of countries and regional blocs negotiating trade deals with India now includes Russia, Oman, Canada, the Gulf Cooperation Countries, and the Southern African Customs Union. According to the ILO, none of the 17 agreements had labour provisions. Labour provisions are obligations in trade agreements to protect and advance workers rights, including through different forms of cooperation and dialogue between trade unions, business organisations and the general public. The ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work (2019) calls for countries to place decent work as a central objective of trade policy and for trade to support sustainable development and social justice, in line with the goal of creating a human-centred recovery from the pandemic. Around half of the trade agreements concluded between different countries in the last decade (2011-2020) contained labour provisions. However, only 22 per cent of the agreements signed in the previous decade (2001-2010) had those provisions. Among the key economies, the United States has labour provisions in all the 14 agreements signed between 2001 and 2020. Of the 16 agreements signed by Canada between 1997 and 2021, only one did not have the provisions. Among the 37 deals signed by the United Kingdom in 2021, 12 have labour provisions. Chinas five agreements between 2006 and 2021 have those provisions while 11 did not have them. The ILO has come up with a database, the Labour Provisions in Trade Agreements Hub (LP Hub) for policymakers, technical experts and representatives of workers, employers and civil society. It offers a comprehensive, structured compilation of the text of labour provisions in more than 100 trade agreements in about 140 economies. The LP Hub will help to promote more inclusive trade through an understanding of emerging areas of labour provisions such as forced labour, racial and ethnic equality, and gender in the context of trade, as well as labour-related provisions connected to the broad field of the future of trade, covering environment and technology, said Martha Newton, the ILOs deputy director-general for policy. After winning acclaim for her performance in Bhairava Geetha and D Company, Irra Mor is ecstatic about portraying Konda Surekha in the upcoming film, Konda. The Ram Gopal Varma directorial is a biopic of Congress leader Konda Murali and his wife Konda Surekha (also, a former minister). When RGV Sir first sent me the one liner I was intrigued. What I like about my character (Surekha) is that it undergoes a lot of transformation, says the actress. Irra was inspired by the journey of Surekha a sportswoman (a little-known fact) who fell in love with and married Konda Murali against her parents wishes, became an extremist along with her husband, and eventually a representative of the people. I felt the role has a lot of drama and the character arch is brilliant. The ups and downs she has gone through, I thought, makes for an interesting watch, says Irra. Konda Surekha and Irra Mor The fact that like Surekha, she too is bold and courageous in real life made it even more fascinating for her. I could see myself in this role, as my family taught me to stand up and speak for myself if it matters, she says. But it wasnt easy for the actress, who has played glamorous roles in her earlier films, to get into the role of a firebrand woman. I felt the more I talked to Surekhaji the better I could get into the skin of the character. Constant interactions with her helped me, she reveals. I spoke to Surekhaji over the phone several times. I met her on the sets too, and she shared stories of how she was tomboy, etc. My chats with her helped me understand her and portray her better, Irra says, Surekhaji told me that she was a tomboy in college and used to ride a vespa scooter, shares the actress, adding that she could instantly connect with Surekhas attitude. As a part of her preparation Irra watched all the videos of Surekha and tried to absorb her body language, how she conducted herself during meetings, the way she talked, etc. The physical transformation for the part too was given importance. Irra made sure that she got things right. But there are deviations too. Apparently Surekha was particular about three things putting her hair in a bun, wearing vibrant saris and sporting a nose ring. Unfortunately, I couldnt wear my hair in a bun because it was not going well with my onscreen look, says Irra. She couldnt wear saris either, because it wasnt in sync with the on-screen character. The actress also opted out of wearing a nose ring because the idea was not to copy Surekha but to portray her by bringing out the right emotions. I tried to give my own spin to the character, explains Irra. Its been hardly two years since Irra entered films. It was difficult for the Computer Science Engineer from Agra to convince her parents to allow her to opt for a career in acting. She eventually moved to Mumbai, and later did theatre. The theatre experience is helping me a lot in terms of employing a clinical approach to acting. In fact, before doing theatre, I couldnt perform a scene in front of people. But theatre gave me the confidence to do anything in front of a crowd, she reveals, adding that she shot several scenes in Konda in front of a huge crowd. Although Irra feels she is still taking baby steps in the industry, she is happy about getting the opportunity to work with different directors. I am hungry for more work and hopefully, I will have more releases this year, says the actress, who has wrapped up shooting her part. During the first wave, many hospitals were not accepting Covid patients. The government made it mandatory for us to be listed under Covid hospitals. So, we gave a letter stating that in case of an emergency, we are ready to accept Covid patients, a paediatrician said. Representational image/PTI Hyderabad: The state health departments claim that over 56,000 beds are kept ready in hospitals in the state for Covid patients rings hollow. Many of these beds are in hospitals that are not listed for treating Covid patients. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the health department has released a list of hospitals that can treat Covid patients and cited the number of beds available at each hospital. However, doctors at these listed private hospitals say the facility does not accept Covid patients. For instance, as per data from the department itself, a few of the listed hospitals are infertility clinics. Thus, the count of 56,000 beds is misleading, and the actual number of beds available for Covid patients is far lesser. A doctor at a hospital in Hanumakonda district said, We arent admitting or treating any Covid patient though the health department has given permission for all nursing homes to do so. We keep getting messages from the department, asking us to update the number of Covid patients we have treated, and we keep entering zeros. The hospital has 15 regular beds and five oxygen beds, as per the health departments data. Effectively, these 20 beds are a part of the governments count of beds, but wont be utilised by Covid patients. A paediatrician at a childrens hospital in Jogulamba Gadwal district said the hospital hadnt treated any Covid patient. The hospital in a remote place did not have the facilities needed to treat such cases, he said. During the first wave, many hospitals were not accepting Covid patients. The government made it mandatory for us to be listed under Covid hospitals. So, we gave a letter stating that in case of an emergency, we are ready to accept Covid patients, the paediatrician said. Another doctor at a hospital in Khammam district said it did not intend to admit any Covid patient. The hospital mainly catered to patients with kidney ailments. As per the health departments data, the hospital has 19 oxygen beds and six ICU beds. Director of Public Health Dr Srinivasa Rao was not available to comment on this matter. Visakhapatnam: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy seems to have cleared the decks for designating Visakhapatnam as the states capital. Such a plan was evident in the present reconstitution of districts, particularly Visakhapatnam. He has reduced its jurisdiction and separated from it the industrial cluster and the tribal belt. Like the Greater Hyderabad in Hyderabad district, the Greater Visakhapatnam will now be a part of the Visakhapatnam district. Visakhapatnam will be eligible to become the states capital in all aspects; with less space and higher human density besides its cosmopolitan culture. This will be the only big city in the state if everything happens as per the plans of the Jagan-led state government. Almost all the industries including pharmaceutical units and others under the Visakhapatnam Special Economic Zone will in future be a part of Anakapalli district. This apart, some portions of the Eastern Naval Command will also go to Anakapalli district. The entire agency cover including Paderu and Araku of 11 agency mandals will also be separated and shifted to another new district Alluri Seetaramaraju. New Visakhapatnam will be left with no industries except a few PSUs like HPCL, the Visakh Refinery and the Vizag Steel Plant. However, the IT SEZ will be completely under Vizag. Tourism and IT will be the two thrust areas for its growth, said a public administration professional. Nearly 80 per cent of the IT companies and 50 per cent of the tourism units come under Visakhapatnam city. The area for the new Visakhapatnam district will be spread over 928 sq-km. At present, the GVMCs area is 682 sq-km. Nearly 10 wards out of a total 98 in GVMC come under the new Anakapalli district. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, GVMC mayor Hari Venkatakumari said, Except for Padmanabham, some villages under Bheemili are presently not a part of the GVMC. Otherwise, the proposed Visakhapatnam district covers almost all of the GVMCs jurisdiction. At present, we do not have any objection to raise from our side. We may reconstitute the wards in GVMC like that of the Secunderabad-Hyderabad twin city. Visakhapatnam will now be the smallest district in the state with the highest human density -- like Greater Hyderabad that falls under Hyderabad district, said a GVMC official. New Delhi: A day after he reached out to western Uttar Pradeshs Jat community and made overtures to Akhilesh Yadav-led SPs ally, RLD, for a post-poll alliance, Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday visited Mathura to drum up support for the BJP. RLD chief Jayant Chaudhury has rejected the offer, labeling it as a political stunt and claimed that the SP-RLD alliance will be voted to power by not just the jats but the entire state. Meanwhile, in the poll-bound state of Uttarakhand, which Mr Shah will be visiting on Friday, former PCC chief Kishore Upadhyaya joined the saffron fold after he was expelled from the Congress for six years for anti-party activities. Mr Upadhyaya, who joined the BJP early on Thursday in Dehradun, is likely to be fielded from the Tehri Assembly seat whose sitting MLA from the BJP, Dhan Singh Negi, joined the Congress later in the day. In Mathura, where some Hindu outfits have been trying to revive the demand of Krishna Janambhoomi temple on the lines of the campaign for a temple on Ram janambhoomi, Mr Shah attacked the previous SP regime for goonda raj and said that UP poll results will decide Indias destiny. For the last 7.5 years we have had our government but not even Rahul Baba can accuse us of corruption. Currency notes are coming out from the house of Akhilesh Yadavs associates... Akhilesh Yadav should not talk about law and order as there was goonda raj during their regime... India cannot progress unless UP is progressing... It is UP that will decide Indias destiny, said Mr Shah, who participated in a door-to-door campaign in Mathura. He also participated in another door-to-door campaign in Gautam Buddh Nagar later in the day. In Uttarakhand on Friday Mr Shah will participate in a door-to-door campaign in Rudraprayag and will also meet ex-servicemen and women's groups. BJP president JP Nadda will also visit the state on January 30. During his visit to the state, Mr Shah will also address BJP workers of six Assembly constituencies virtually. Though the BJP is confident of retaining power in the hill state, it is facing rebellion by some of its leaders, including some sitting MLAs who have been denied tickets. Mr Shah is likely to meet some of these leaders to pacify them. Students stand in a queue as they wait to enter a classroom after schools re-opened for 1st to 12th standard students, in Thane. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: With the COVID-19 vaccination drive for children aged 15 gathering pace, the Centre is likely to issue an advisory soon to reopen schools across the country. Sources have told ANI that, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has asked the National Expert Group to suggest ways and work on modalities to open schools nationwide. "COVID-19 has affected children of all age groups. However, the mortality rate and severity of disease in children are negligible. Health experts believe that it is high time children return to schools," sources said. Ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have remained by and large shut. Some states did open schools partially on an on and off basis but widespread apprehensions and reservations continue to remain. "However, it will be up to states to decide whether they are ready to open schools or not," a source told ANI. Top sources have also told ANI that the Centre wants to reopen schools in a staggered manner and under strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16, 2021 and vaccination of all eligible population above 18 years of age started from May 1, 2021. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from January 3 for adolescents in the age group of 15-18 years. On Thursday, the Union Health Ministry said that in a landmark achievement, 95 per cent of the eligible population has been administered with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in the country. India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 164.35 crore (1,64,35,41,869) mark on Thursday evening. Moreover, more than one crore (1,03,04,847) Precaution Doses for the identified categories of beneficiaries for COVID vaccination have been administered so far, the ministry said yesterday evening. A man sits near closed shops at Ajmeri Gate market during the weekend curfew imposed by the Delhi government to curb the spread of COVID-19, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: With the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic showing signs of waning in the national capital, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Thursday decided to lift the weekend curfew and the odd-even system of opening non-essential shops in markets and malls in the city, besides permitting restaurants and bars to reopen with 50 per cent seating capacity from Friday. Cinema halls too can reopen with 50 per cent seating capacity. Delhi, meanwhile, reported 4,291 new Covid-19 cases, 9,397 recoveries and 34 deaths in the last 24 hours. These decisions were taken at a DDMA meeting on Thursday chaired by lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal. He, however, postponed any decision on the reopening of schools till the next meeting. Government offices have also been allowed to reopen with 50 per cent staff. Private offices had been allowed to reopen earlier with 50 per cent capacity. The DDMA has, however, advised the private offices to stagger office timings, presence and the quantum of staff. It also said that all those who could should be advised to work from home. Another decision taken at the meeting was to allow marriage ceremonies with a maximum 200 guests in open areas and up to 50 per cent capacity at indoor venues. So far, only 20 people were allowed to attend these events at home. The night curfew imposed from 10 pm to 5 am will also continue. The owners of restaurants and bars have hailed the decision and said it was a much-needed step to keep the hospitality industry alive. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) complimented the L-G for lifting the weekend curfew and the withdrawal of odd-even system for shops and markets. CAIT secretary-general Praveen Khandelwal said the decision will ease the business environment in Delhi to a great extent and help to revive businesses which have been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the lockdowns and other restrictions. Traders in Delhi had suffered huge losses in the last 25 days, to the tune of almost 70 per cent, and the lifting of restrictions will be a huge boon. He said that by raising the limit of persons from 20 to 200 for weddings at outdoor locations, and allowing restaurants to open at 50 per cent seating capacity, the DDMA has given an opportunity for people to carry out their family and other social obligations, particularly in the wedding season. He said traders will continue to observe all Covid-appropriate social protocols and other regulations with all sincerity. Chamber of Trade and Industry chairman Brijesh Goyal said the lifting of these curbs will bring all businesses back on track in the city. New Delhi: At the first ever India-Central Asia Summit held virtually on Thursday to take ties to new heights, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Presidents of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan decided to strengthen trade links and connectivity through the Iranian port of Chabahar that is being developed by India and provides sea-land access to land-locked Central Asia and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). With PM Modi saying that cooperation between India and Central Asia is essential for regional security, it was also decided to ramp up defence ties, institutionalise Indo-Central Asian ties through regular meetings, including a Summit every two years, and prepare a roadmap on trade and industrial cooperation that will include a Round-Table on Energy and Connectivity. It was also agreed that Joint Working Groups (JWGs) will be formed on Chabahar for free movement of goods and services between India and Central Asian countries as well as one on regional security, including the situation in Afghanistan, at the senior officials level. This was adopted in the Delhi Declaration that was finalised at the summit after one-and-a-half hours of deliberations on Thursday evening between PM Modi, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The leaders also condemned terrorism, including cross-border terror. Discussing the impact of the situation in Afghanistan on the security and stability of the region which had all of them concerned, India and the five Central Asian nations noted a broad consensus on Afghanistan which including formation of a truly representative and inclusive government, combating terrorism and drug trafficking, central role of the UN, providing immediate humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan and preserving the rights of women, children and other national ethnic groups and minorities. They also agreed that Afghan territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing terrorist acts. In a specific mention in his opening remarks, PM Modi said India was further strengthening its close security ties with Tajikistan that observers point out is the nation with whom India has the closest understanding on the situation in Afghanistan. It was also agreed at the Summit to consider holding joint counter-terrorism exercises between India and interested Central Asian countries. At a time when China is also stepping up its economic engagement with these five nations, India is already providing a $1 billion Line of Credit (LoC) announced in 2020 for infrastructure development projects in the five Central Asian nations besides a $448 million LoC exclusively for Uzbekistan that was announced in 2018. Describing Russia and Iran as key stakeholders in the connectivity projects between India and Central Asia, ministry of external affairs secretary (West) Reenat Sandhu on Thursday evening said that India was ready to build and plan connectivity projects with the region. The INSTC is an important initiative taken by India, Russia and Iran to enhance connectivity with Central Asian countries and is the shortest multimodal transportation route linking the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf via Iran to Russia and North Europe. After PM Modi pushed for an effective structure for Indo-Central Asian cooperation and establishment of a framework of regular interactions at different levels and among various stakeholders, it was decided to hold the Summit every two years. Apart from the India-Central Asia Dialogue mechanism at foreign ministers level, the leaders further agreed that the ministers of trade and culture would also meet at regular intervals to take forward cooperation. It was also agreed that the regular meetings of secretaries of the security council to discuss security developments in the region would continue. India will also establish an India-Central Asia Centre in New Delhi that will act as the secretariat for the India-Central Asia Summit, a move welcomed by the five Central Asian nations. In his opening remarks, PM Modi said, We all have the same concerns and objectives for regional security. We are all concerned about the developments in Afghanistan. In this context also, our mutual cooperation has become even more important for regional security and stability. Today's summit has three main objectives. First, to make it clear that cooperation between India and Central Asia is essential for regional security and prosperity. From the Indian point of view, I would like to emphasise that Central Asia is central to Indias vision of an integrated and stable extended neighbourhood. The second objective is to give an effective structure to our cooperation. This will establish a framework of regular interactions at different levels and among various stakeholders. And the third objective is to create an ambitious roadmap for our cooperation. People looking to fuel up on Shorti hoagies, quesadillas and other made-to-order eats while filling up their vehicles gas tanks will soon have another spot to frequent in the Lehigh Valley. Wawa, the Delaware County-based convenience store and gas station chain with more than 860 stores in six states and Washington D.C., is set to open its newest area location next Thursday, Feb. 3, at 6680 Route 309 in Upper Saucon Township, according to a news release. Advertisement Wawa, the popular convenience store and gas station chain with more than 860 stores in six states and Washington D.C., is set to open its newest Lehigh Valley location next Thursday, Feb. 3, at 6680 Route 309 in Upper Saucon Township. (Ryan Kneller/The Morning Call) Doors will open at 8 a.m., followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Wawas mascot, Wally Goose, at 9 a.m. Local dignitaries, charity partners and store associates will be in attendance, and Wawa will distribute limited-edition Wawa Goose Vibes Only T-shirts to the first 100 customers beginning at 8 a.m. Advertisement The new location, just north of Coopersburg, was constructed at the southwest corner of Route 309 and Passer Road. A few homes, the former Truly Fine furniture and home furnishings store and the former Peppercorn Pub-turned apartment building were razed to make way for the project. The site also will feature a newly constructed McDonalds restaurant, which is set to open within the next few months. The Upper Saucon Wawa, joining more than a dozen outposts in the area, will house a built-to-order fresh food kitchen featuring its signature hoagies and new food innovations such as a customizable burger. Other offerings will include coffee, Sizzli breakfast sandwiches; Wawa baked goods; specialty beverages (hot, cold, iced and frozen); Wawas beverage line of dairy products, juices and teas; packaged goods; and fuel services. In addition to the store-level experience, customers will be able to access their Wawa favorites through mobile ordering, curbside pickup, delivery options and catering, the release states. Megan Boehm will serve as general manager of the new Upper Saucon Wawa store, leading a team of approximately 40 full- and part-time associates. The Upper Saucon Wawas grand opening celebration, the first of 54 new Wawa store openings planned for 2022, will introduce the community to the new store team and celebrate the role they play in making their communities a better place. Advertisement Throughout the year, each grand opening celebration will be part of Wawas 2022 Day Brighteners Tour, an initiative designed to celebrate the customers, associates, local heroes and community organizations that brighten our days. The tour will also mark Wawas ongoing commitment to growth, with plans to create more than 2,500 new jobs at new locations throughout the year. Business Buzz Daily The daily update for the Lehigh Valley business person. > During each grand opening, Wawa will have a special Day Brightener ceremony which will include: Associate Day Brighteners: Wawa will recognize associates who go above and beyond in creating positive moments for customers Community Day Brighteners: Wawa will celebrate a local individual or organization making a bright impact in the community Local Hero Day Brighteners: Wawa will acknowledge local everyday heroes who brighten the community through protecting and serving and host a signature Hoagies for Heroes acknowledgement and check presentation to each departments charity. Advertisement At Wawa, our core purpose is fulfilling lives every day and since our first store opened, weve believed that we all have a role in making this world a better place, said Chris Gheysens, Wawas president and CEO. Our store teams and associates deliver experiences and emotional connections with customers that go beyond what traditionally happens in a retail environment. Simply put, they help make their communities happier and more connected. This year, were excited to toast all the incredible Day Brighteners and kick off this one-of-a-kind tour with a stop at each new store to show our Goose Gratitude to associates and customers whose little acts of kindness make a big difference in our communities. Wawa, which started out as a New Jersey iron foundry in 1803, has been expanding its Lehigh Valley footprint over the past year with plans to open more area locations in the coming months. Other area outposts have been proposed or are under construction at 364 Susquehanna St. in Allentown (set to open this winter); 774-784 Hellertown Road (Route 412) in Bethlehem; 40890 Jandy Blvd., Lower Nazareth Township; 90 Highland Ave., Hanover Township, Northampton County; and Route 309 and Chapmans Road, South Whitehall Township. India has already deployed a sizable number of the Brahmos missiles and other key assets in several strategic locations along the Line of Actual Control with China in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. (ANI) New Delhi: India got its first ever export order for BrahMos missiles on Friday when the Philippines' Defence Ministry signed USD 374 million contract with the BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL) to supply undisclosed number of missiles, military officials stated. The BAPL, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile BrahMos that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms. The USD 374 million contract is to supply shore-based anti-ship BrahMos missiles to the Philippines' Navy, the military officials noted. In a statement, the Defence Ministry said: "The BAPL signed a contract with the Department of National Defence of the Republic of Philippines on January 28, 2022, for supply of shore-based anti-ship missile system to Philippines." "The BAPL is a joint venture company of the Defence Research and Development Organisation. The contract is an important step forward for Government of India's policy of promoting responsible defence exports," it added. India has already deployed a sizable number of the Brahmos missiles and other key assets in several strategic locations along the Line of Actual Control with China in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. A worker packs medicines to be distributed to households with Covid-19 coronavirus symptoms in the Telangana state, at a workshop in Hyderabad. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will chair a high-level virtual meeting with the health ministers of Southern states', Union territories today at 2.30 pm to review the COVID-19 situation and public health preparedness as well as response measures being taken in the context of Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. The health ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands will attend the meeting, official sources told ANI. The meeting will also be attended by Senior health officials also. Earlier he conducted a high-level meeting with nine Northern States,UTs and advised to send COVID testing and vaccination data timely. He also said that testing should be ramped up in the States where it has gone down. He also advised States and UTs to ensure that those in home isolation are efficiently monitored in line with the National Guidelines. He said, "This will ensure that the vulnerable categories of active cases in home isolation get the required medical help in a timely manner." The Union Health Minister re-emphasised the need for ramping up testing in the States and UTs. Those States/UTs that are showing a lower share of RTPCR testing were requested to ramp up tests through RTPCR. States and UTs were also reminded to keep a close watch on the emerging clusters and hotspots and monitor the trend of hospitalised cases along with the deaths in the state. Dr Mandaviya said that with our past experience, 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and Adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour' along with monitoring of cases remains crucial for COVID management. The Union Health Minister also urged the States and UTs to adopt the model for teleconsultation so as to enable beneficiaries to access expert advice from experts. According to the Union Health Ministry, " Dr Mansukh Mandaviya urged the States and UTs to adopt the hub and spoke model and ensure that more and more centres of teleconsultations are opened. This will enable beneficiaries to access expert advice from experts stationed at the district hubs." He also said that eSanjeevani has been able to provide services to more than 2.6 crore beneficiaries where people can seek medical advice from the confines of their homes. "This will prove to be a game-changer and will be of immense value and importance for the hard-to-reach and far-flung areas, and especially in the northern regions in the current winter season." Dr Mansukh Mandaviya also urged the 9 States and UTs to review and expedite the implementation of activities under the ECRP-II package for strengthening the health infrastructure. He said, "Health Ministers and the State authorities to plug the existing gaps by efficiently utilizing the amount sanctioned for various infra projects. With strengthened health infrastructure, we can meet any health emergency and public health crisis with better preparedness." People wearing masks wait to get vaccinated for COVID-19 outside a school in Kochi, Kerala. (Photo: AP/File) Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Thursday said that most of the positive COVID-19 samples, sent for the genome sequencing, are being tested positive for the Omicron variant of the virus while there are fewer Delta variant samples. Speaking to the reporters here, George said, "Continuous sequencing of Covid positive samples is being done. Almost 94 per cent of samples test positive for Omicron and 6 per cent for delta." George said: "It is now clear that the third wave in Kerala is the Omicron wave." The Health Minister further informed that less than 4 per cent of the patients of COVID-19 in the state have needed hospitalisation out of which less than 1 per cent of them needed oxygen beds. "Out of total positive cases in Kerala, only 3.6 per cent is hospitalised, out of which 0.7 per cent require oxygen beds and 0.6 per cent require ICU," she said. As on 27th Jan, there are 22,02,472 active cases in India. The case positivity rate is at 17.75 per cent(in last one week). 11 States have more than 50,000 active cases. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala have more than 3 lakh active cases," said the Union Ministry of Health. "Overall case positivity rate across the country was nearly 17.75 per cent during the last week. There are over 50,000 COVID active cases in 11 states, 10,000-50,000 active cases in 14 states &less than 10,000 active cases in 11 states," Luv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry said. Vijayawada: The deadlock over the implementation of new pay scales for government employees and teachers continued on Friday, with both sides sticking to their respective stands. The government is refusing to budge to pressure for the withdrawal of the GO it issued for implementation of the 11th Pay Revision Commission. It insists that the employees take the new wages from the January salary. The employees, who have rejected the 11th PRC, are demanding that the old wage system be continued until fresh changes are effected based on mutual discussions between them and the government. Though the state government set up a Ministers Committee comprising Perni Venkateswara, Botsa Satyanayrana, Buggana Rajendranath, government adviser Sajjala Ramakrishna and chief secretary Sameer Sharma to hold talks with the representatives of employees, these leaders under the banner of the PRC Struggle Committee did not turn up for a meeting. They insist on the withdrawal of the GO as a precondition for more talks. Minister for municipal administration said issues can be solved only through talks. Maintaining that representative of some unions met the ministers panel for talks on Friday, he said that if the leaders shunned talks, law might take its own course. The minister said the YSRC government has offered higher wages to the employees, as compared to previous PRCs, and advised them to check whether their wages were enhanced or not. First, take the pay slips as per the revised scales of pay and see whether the PRC has benefited you. I promise that there will not be any decrease in salary even by a single rupee, unlike what the employee leaders are saying, he said. He said, We are ready to hold talks with any employee union or any employee. If the employees are having a problem, it means the state government is also having the problem. The employees unions are displaying a new culture of confrontation with the government. We are no more going to wait for employees leaders at the Secretariat, as we had been doing in the last few days. We will come for talks only when we are called by the employees unions, the minister affirmed. Government adviser (Public Affairs) Ramakrishna Reddy said the employees would get wages for the month of January as per the revised scales of pay under the 11th PRC. Maintaining that the state government appointed the ministers committee to avoid a conflict of interests, he said if the employees unions had come forward for talks, the state government would have considered their demands. He alleged that the employees were not allowing the drawing and disbursing officers to prepare wage bills for January. Afghans wait to receive food rations organized by the World Food Program (WFP) in Pul-e-Alam, the capital of Logar province. eastern of Afghanistan. (Photo: AP) Kabul: The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed deep concern over the reports of human rights violations in the country. During a meeting with Taliban officials at the Ministry of Interior Affairs- Afghanistan, the UNAMA Human Rights said that there is a need for investigations, transparency and accountability of such cases in Afghanistan. "UNAMA Human Rights met with Taliban officials at @moiafghanistan today. Discussed alleged cases of human rights violations and concerns re ex-ANSF/Govt members, civsoc, media, judiciary, religious clerics and women activists. Need for investigations, transparency & accountability," the "UNAMA said in a Tweet on Thursday. Several media persons, government members, religious clerics and women activists have been killed in Afghanistan. At least 30 journalists and media workers have been killed, manhandled, and injured in Afghanistan from the start of 2021 till July 2021, while many of them were also threatened by government officials, according to a report by an Afghanistan non profit Nai. Last year in December, a religious scholar was killed in Afghanistan's western Farah province. In November, four women activists in the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif in the northern Balkh province were killed. Various violent incidents against women have emerged since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan after the fall of the government in August. Despite repeated calls from all around the world, the Taliban have failed to deliver its promises on women's safety and their assurance of an inclusive government. In a first, Google Inc is all set to become the first foreign company to invest in India's top two biggest mobile network providers in terms of subscriber base Jio and Airtel. Airtel will partner with Alphabet-owned Google Inc, wherein the latter will buy a 1.28% stake in the telecom network for Rs 5224.38 crore, it said on Friday in a regulatory filing. Google will also invest more than Rs 2,000 crore in other offerings aimed at accelerating digital inclusion across India. This comes just seven months after Google acquired a 7.73% stake in Jio for Rs 33,737 crore. The Google - Airtel deal will focus on enabling affordable access to smartphones across price ranges, which was also one of the objectives behind the Google-Jio tie-up. Analysts have reservations about the move. "Traditionally, networks haven't done well at producing phones, and Google's track record isn't stellar either. So one shouldn't be too optimistic about the devices that will come out of this; but certainly, with their distribution might, they are well-positioned to make any handset popular. There is still a large untapped feature phone market in India that is ripe for going smart," said Utkarsh Sinha, managing director of boutique advisory firm Bexley Advisors. As part of this collaboration, the companies will also partner with various device manufacturers to explore opportunities to bring down the barriers of owning a smartphone across a range of price points, the filing added. Among other things, Google and Airtel will explore India-specific use cases for 5G. They will also focus on accelerating the cloud ecosystem in India by building on Airtels network of one million small and medium businesses to speed up digital adoption. Sinha also pointed out the concerns that arise from this collaboration, "Whenever an ISP gets too close to an internet giant, one's antennae need to tickle sensing the long term implications, particularly around net neutrality. That is sacrosanct for continued innovation and must be preserved at all costs." Watch the latest DH Videos here: Italian automaker Lamborghini has announced that it is set to release its first NFT (non-fungible token) next month. Lamborghini is joining Nike, Samsung and other tech companies in embracing NFTs. "This is Lamborghini`s historical first NFT project. In collaboration with the artist Fabian Oefner, Lamborghini developed five art pieces, that will go on auction on February 1," the company said in a statement. The art pieces are made of a physical element and an NFT component: The Space Key, the physical element is a piece of carbon fibre sent to Outer Space by Lamborghini. The digital component is an NFT of a photograph, that depicts a Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae, lifting off toward the stars. Oefner created a total of five separate images that depict individual moments within seconds from each other as the car rises above the earth. Its parts, the engine, the transmission, the suspension and hundreds of nuts and bolts are shooting away from the chassis like the exhaust flame of a rocket. Check out the latest videos from DH: Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar on Friday said that the BJP was trading legislators like "sheep and goats" in Goa, while also accusing the ruling party of spending as much as Rs 30 crore each to lure opposition MLAs into the ruling fold. Shivakumar, who is in Goa to campaign for the Congress in the poll-bound state, also said that the Congress as a policy had refused to allow the re-entry of 13 defecting MLAs back into the party for the February 14 elections. "You see the BJP is using money power, spending Rs 30-40 crore. Even on the floor of the house, some MLAs admitted that they were offered Rs 30 crore and some advance has been given to them. MLAs have been bought like sheep and goats. Where is democracy? Democracy has completely failed," Shivakumar told a press conference. Also read: TMC's Luizinho Faleiro withdraws nomination in Goa Several Congress defectors out of the 13, who switched to the BJP from 2017 to 2019, were in touch with him over possibilities of joining the opposition party once again, Shivakumar said. "BJP did 'Operation Lotus' (in Goa). We decided that not a single defector will be taken back. Out of the 13, nearly 10 members wanted to come back to us. They met me personally. A few of them met me in Delhi also. We didn't agree," Shivakumar said. The Karnataka state Congress president also said that the party had chosen to field fresh, new faces instead, which he said would yield good electoral dividends. "Now, we have selected youngsters, new faces. All of them have pledged that they will not shift their loyalty," Shivakumar said. According to state Congress president Girish Chodankar, the party was fielding 36-37 candidates for the upcoming polls and the average of Congress candidates was around 48 years. Check out latest videos from DH: Seeking to defeat the BJP-led government in Manipur, Congress on Thursday joined hands with five other political parties to form a pre-poll alliance, the name and common minimum programme of which will be announced soon. Congress will work together and share responsibility with CPI, CPI(M), RSP, JD(S) and Forward Block in the forthcoming assembly elections, MPCC president N Loken told reporters. He said that the parties have joined hands with a common goal to defeat the BJP. Also Read | Manipur polls: NPP to contest alone, releases list of 20 candidates Congress Legislative Party leader O Ibobi, addressing the press conference at Congress Bhavan, said that barring Kakching, where the grand old party is likely to have a friendly contest with CPI, the alliance has decided to put up common candidates in the remaining 59 assembly seats. He said that the Congress has decided not to field any candidate in Khurai, and instead support CPI in the constituency. CPI state secretary L Sotinkumar said that the name of the alliance and its common minimum programme will soon be announced. Check out latest DH videos here Weeks before the Assembly elections, Punjab congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu, a top contender to be declared the party CM face, finds himself courting controversies over his estranged family ties. His US-based elder sister Suman Toor (70) on Friday alleged that Sidhu is a cruel person who had driven his mother and sister out of the house after the death of their father in 1986. Suman travelled from the US and addressed the media here in Chandigarh while seeking justice and honour for her deceased mother. Suman said that her suffering mother died in 1989 at the Delhi railway station with no one by her side as a destitute. She accused Sidhu of harassment while accusing him of doing all this to grab property. Also Read | Clash of 'bitter' enemies: Sidhu vs Majithia in Amritsar (East) Sidhus sister said that her brother even claimed that their parents were separated when he was two years old, which was a lie. She revealed a family photograph to justify her claim. Does he look two years old here?" Toor asked. She said when her mother asked her son Navjot about his claim on her legal separation with her husband, Sidhu then had denied making any such statement. Toor said her mother approached a Delhi court against the publication which had quoted Sidhus statement on her mother and fathers separation. Toor said despite Sidhu assuring her mother to stand by her side in the court, Sidhu never appeared. Toor said she went to Sidhu's residence on January 20, but Sidhu refused to meet her, which is why she was forced to seek justice by broadcasting the facts. While Sidhu is yet to respond to the allegations, his namesake wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu rubbished the allegations. Navjot Kaur said, Who is Suman Toor? I don't know this woman. She said this woman is a child from Navjot Sidhu's father's first marriage. His father had two marriages. From his first marriage, he had two daughters. Maybe she is one of them. The timing of the disclosures with assembly elections on the anvil is also being questioned. Watch the latest DH Videos here: A recent vote by the Kutztown School Board allows a controversial book to appear in the high school library, despite community outcry. On Jan. 18, the school boards 5-to-4 vote affirmed the Review Committees recommendations, which included the book Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe be approved for circulation at the high school library. Advertisement The committee to review the objection to the library resource followed the process outlined in the administrative regulation for objections to resource materials, said Superintendent Christian T. Temchatin in an email. The committees determination was that the book met the objective standards of the materials selection process. The vote of the Board affirmed the committees recommendation. In November, concerned parents called LGBTQ-themed books thought to be available to students in the high school library inappropriate graphic adult content and demanded the books be removed. Advertisement Heated discussions between parents and school board members led to the formation of the committee to evaluate the books. Other recommendations included updating the book-selection process, and having the new book order announcements posted on the school buildings website and potentially shared in the newsletter. Earlier that night, several motions failed to pass, including one to require a parental signature to check out the book and another to censor specific pages of the book containing graphic illustrations. A motion to remove the book failed to pass with six voting against its removal. Erin Engle, Jeremiah Light and Jason Koch voted in favor of its removal. At times, discussions became heated and the meeting had to be called to order due to outcries from the audience. Board comments Michelle R. Batz, in favor of a parental signature, believes there is a place and time for this book if a family so chooses. But at the same time, theres also ways that we may be able to make sure were providing appropriate access to these materials, said Batz, not wanting the book to be available for general access on the high school library shelf. Caecilia M. Holt, in favor of the committees recommendations, questioned how they can single out one book for parental permission. Advertisement It is a parenting issue to address with your children, she said. Holt noted that the Review Committee consisting of the superintendent, building principal, librarians, teachers and community members read the book, read the policy and determined that it met policy requirements. These are trained, professional librarians who are on the committee, said Holt. Al Darion, in favor of the adding the book to circulation, was reluctant to put restrictions on the book given that the Review Committee and American Library Association have all suggested the book is suitable for young adults. He said they need to balance harm against benefit. I see the harm of this book given the fact that its accessible in lots of places, including the public library where it is not an adult book. It is in fact listed under young adult, said Darion. He believes the major benefit is for the kids struggling with sexual identity. Advertisement The child who is most likely to be struggling and perhaps do harm to themselves because of that struggle might be precisely the one who is not going to go, Mom, can I read this book, and for that reason I think it needs to be accessible, said Darion. If a parent forbids a child to read it, then that opens up a really good discussion at home. Jeremiah F. Light, in favor of censoring pages and banning the book, said the problem is not the book but the graphic images depicting sex acts. This is borderline pornographic, he said. Are we in the porn business or are we in the education business? He agrees that there need to be books for the LGBTQ community. There are other books out there that are much more tasteful than this book. Michael Hess was not in favor of censorship and voted in favor of adding the book to circulation. I dont know that we want to get into the habit of analyzing every book that we have and then as a board voting what we do and dont want to censor from those books, said Hess. That defeats the purpose of having books at all if were going to start censoring individual pieces out of books. Advertisement Hess said any image or any word in isolation can mean almost anything, but those images or those words in context have a greater value. Context matters so in this discussion I think context of the entire book matters here, so not censoring out images in that book is important and its important to have the book in its entirety available as per the committees recommendation, he said. Dennis Ritter, who voted in favor of adding the book to circulation, said his decision rests on the ultimate purpose of the graphic novel, a memoir in which a young person is writing about their experience struggling with not fitting into a binary world. Out of thousands of images, there are about four that he believes are problematic. I think the book has value for folks, said Ritter. I am very hesitant to be banning books. Student speaks Kutztown School Board student representative Cooper Dunn told the board that students must sign an acceptable use policy for school laptops and that the district blocks or filters online activities of minors on computers. Quoting the policy, he said the district defines inappropriate matter as visual, graphic or even text and any other form of obscene, sexually explicit or child pornographic or other material that is harmful to minors. Advertisement Those are things that the district already restricts and prohibits on our laptops, Dunn said. Citing section 2256 of title 18 United States code, he read the definition of child pornography as any visual depiction, illustrated or photographic, of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor which is someone under age 18. I definitely acknowledge the benefit that this book would have for lots of people but I wanted to bring up what the district already does in terms of restricting some of these things especially on technology. I think if it applies to the technology that we use, if you view a library as a technology as a tool, that should also apply there as well, Dunn said. Public comment Prior to the vote, community members argued that Gender Queer is an inappropriate book for a school library, citing obscenities, graphic images and sexually explicit text. Steve Wilson of Maxatawny Township, who deemed it an inappropriate book for a school library, shared concerns about significant obscenities represented in the book, which he believes are criminal. One parent, in a letter read by Kutztown resident Jeri Sievert, disputed that the book was not in circulation as it is listed in the school online library catalogue, argued that pictures of sexual acts do not belong on a school library shelf, challenged the district to find a book without explicit sexual content that better helps students struggling with their sexual identity and called for more transparency about new books. Advertisement She called the book a push for sexual material on children under the guise of education. Parent Lisa Diffenbaugh believes attention was brought to this particular book not because a student brought it home and a parent became upset, but as part of a bigger movement to ban books in schools about gender, race, diversity and factual history. Her daughter, a 14-year-old Kutztown eighth grader, is an avid reader but has not read Gender Queer and has no interest in reading it considering the images. Conversations locally and nationally about book bans inspired her to create the Teen Banned Book Club, held bi-weekly Wednesday nights at Firefly Bookstore in Kutztown. The rebellious teenager in her decided that she wanted to start a banned book club where teens could access, read and freely discuss books that have been historically banned or part of the new book banning movement, said Diffenbaugh. Stories about the club have gone viral on social media and gained national media attention. Diffenbaugh said that the most common online comment regarding the club is nothing will get a teen to read a book faster than telling them they cant. Advertisement My point is when you ban a book, you draw appeal to it. If this book was on a library shelf with none of this attention around it, Im confident that it would barely be seen, Diffenbaugh said. The mere fact that the school would take this book out of the library is the ultimate plan for teenage curiosity. While parent Dan Wismer of Greenwich Township applauded the banned book club, he also shared many concerns about Gender Queer being available in a school library rather than a public library. He suggested parental permission. Jennifer Kaufinger of Kutztown argued that Gender Queer is a pornographic book, questioning how many board members actually read the book. Later, many board members confirmed they did read the entire book. It is explicit, Kaufinger said. The pictures in that book make me want to vomit. It crawls under my skin. Its not about banning a book, she added. It should be an adult decision, not somebody under 18, not somebody in our school. Breaking News Alerts As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Parent Jackie Bridges said their mission is not to ban books but she agreed that the illustrations are pornographic and inappropriate for under age 18. Advertisement Our challenging of the book resulted in a spark of reading and a Teen Banned Book Club in town, which is amazing, said Bridges, citing what she called great banned books such as The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird and even the Harry Potter series. But were not talking about books like that. If you want to be inclusive and you want to ensure students who are transgender or in the LGBTQ community, then at least provide them with quality literature, added Bridges. Parent Robyn Underwood clarified that the age of consent is 16, not 18. Some parents are not allowed to tell my child what to read; they can only tell their own child, she said. Underwood also argued that the definition of child porn is taking a photo of an actual child and distributing it, not making a drawing. No one is forcing any kid to read this book, so it would not be abuse to leave it in the library, she said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday attacked SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, saying "goonda raj" will return to Uttar Pradesh if his party comes to power in the Assembly polls. Addressing "influential voters" during a door-to-door campaign, he also accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the BSP of promoting dynastic politics and casteism. Shah paid obeisance at the Banke Bihari temple before starting his door-to-door campaign for the state Assembly polls. Attacking the previous SP government, he asked, "Wasnt there a goonda raj? Didnt the bahubalis (strongmen) trouble people? Werent the sisters and daughters humiliated?" Also Read | Uttar Pradesh polls to decide future of the state and country: Amit Shah "Azam Khan was arrested and CrPC sections fell short under which cases were lodged against him," he said referring to a Samajwadi Party leader. He mocked Akhilesh Yadav of his criticism of law and order, says he has no right to complain about it. "Chullu bhar pani mein doob maro," he mocked in Hindi. If Akhilesh Yadav comes to power, the "goonda raj" (rule of goons) will prevail, he claimed attacking the opposition party. But if the BJP returns to power, it will bolster development, he said. Also Read | Rajnath Singh calls Chaudhary Charan Singh his 'idol', says Jats can't remain annoyed with BJP The union minister stressed that his party has run the government in a transparent manner and even political adversaries cannot accuse them of corruption. "Before the BJP, the state has seen SP and BSP governments, which worked for specific castes. None of them drew the plan of all-round development of the state. It was done by the governments led by (PM) Narendra Modi and (CM) Yogi Adityanath," he said. "The BJP is not the party of a particular caste but the entire society," he claimed, adding that in the 2017 Assembly polls, people had rejected casteism and dynastic politics. The previous SP and BSP government promoted casteism and dynastic politics while corruption was rampant, Shah said. "But in the past seven years of the Modi government and Yogi Adityanath rule, even Rahul Baba cannot level the charge of corruption," he said referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "Akhilesh Babu stacks of notes are coming out from the houses of your supporters but there is no charge of corruption against the BJP," he said, apparently referring to the seizure of cash and jewellery from two perfume traders in Kanpur and Kannauj. He claimed that the BJP government in the state freed the land worth Rs 2,000 crore from criminals as he urged people to vote for his party. He also alleged that the states economy was in a shambles under the SP regime while in the Adityanath government, it stands second in the country. Even during the coronavirus period, mills were not shut and farmers received their full payment, he said. He also took a swipe at the SPs promise of free power, saying why wasnt it done earlier. He claimed his party worked for places of worship without caring for vote bank, citing the construction of the Ayodhyas Ram temple and the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi. Earlier accompanied by party leaders, the minister distributed pamphlets in Satua village near Govardhan Road and got his photographs clicked with local workers. Amidst showering of petals by women, he was seen garlanding a beaming child in a womans lap. Check out latest DH videos here With several senior leaders, many of who were members of her core team, deserting the party ahead of the forthcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is also the in-charge of the state, finds herself ploughing a lonely furrow in the electoral battlefield in the state. Priyanka has been striving hard to revive the fortunes of her party in India's biggest and politically most crucial state ever since her appointment as the general secretary of the party and in-charge of the party a little over two years ago. Whether it was the killing of ten Gond tribals in Soenbhadra district in July 2019, the gangrape and murder of a Dalit teen at Hathras or the alleged mowing down of four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri last year, Priyanka managed to reach the spot and meet the families of the victims after battling an unfriendly administration. The Congress leader had also taken the lead in cornering the UP government over alleged police excesses on the people, who had taken part in the protests against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Also read: With Yogi in fray from Gorakhpur, Hindu Yuva Vahini gets active again to campaign for its founder Priyanka had hit the streets on the issues of women's security and farmers and had taken on the saffron party government on social media forcing the latter to take note of the same and respond. Even Priyanka's detractors have admitted that she had been the most visible opposition face on the streets against the BJP government in UP. The Congress leader also tried to revamp the party organisation at the grass-root level and brought in new faces even though several old-timers opposed her move and either resigned from the party or distanced themselves from the party activities. Her efforts to strengthen the party in the state, however, suffered regular jolts as many leaders, some of whom were her close aides, left the party at regular intervals. Congress MLA from Raebareli, which was party president Sonia Gandhi's Lok Sabha seat, Aditi Singh even ridiculed Priyanka's efforts to revive the party and switched loyalty to the BJP. Others, who left her, included senior leader Jitin Prasada and RPN Singh, who joined the BJP and Imran Masood, who joined the Samajwadi Party (SP). Even Lalitesh Pati Tripathi, a member of Kamlapati Tripathi family, left the grand old party and joined the Trinamool Congress. Priyanka was also targeted by the BJP leaders, many of whom made objectionable remarks on her. UP deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya termed her "Twitter Politician" while some others called her a "political tourist". Also read: With Yogi in fray from Gorakhpur, Hindu Yuva Vahini gets active again to campaign for its founder UP Congress leaders say that Priyanka's working style is much different from her predecessors. "She makes it a point to meet every worker... she listens to the issues and encourages participation of the ordinary workers in the decision-making process," says UP Congress president Ajai Kumar Lallu. He said that Priyanka had galvanised the Congress workers in the state and had given them new hope. "It doesn't matter if some leaders leave us... what matters more is that the ordinary workers are with us... they are with Priyankaji," Lallu added. Incidentally, it was the first time since 2002, that Congress was fighting the UP polls on its own. In 2002 polls, it had fielded 402 candidates. While the Congress leaders expressed the hope that the party would do well in the polls, the opposition parties, as well as the political analysts here, remained sceptical. "Priyanka has worked hard but Congress does not have the organisational strength required to win the polls in a huge state like UP... it even struggles to find good candidates," says veteran political analyst JP Shukla. It remains to be seen whether Priyanka is able to help her party become at least relevant in the state politics if not attain its past glory. Check out latest DH videos on UP elections here McDonald's Malaysia has been forced to ration fries due to supply chain problems, adding the country to a list of places in Asia where the fast-food chain is facing shortages. Large portions of French fries, as well as one type of large meal set, have been taken off menus at outlets in the Southeast Asian country until further notice. "We are facing a fry-tening supply crunch," McDonald's Malaysia said in a social media post this week. McDonald's confirmed in a statement to AFP its Malaysian branches are "currently experiencing supply challenges", with large servings of fries unavailable since Monday. The chain, which has hundreds of outlets in Malaysia, said it would "closely monitor" supplies, and that large portions would be offered as soon as possible. Global supply chains have faced major disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic, causing shortages of goods ranging from food to electronics. Earlier this month, McDonald's Taiwan said "unstable" shipping supplies had caused some of its stores to run out of hash browns imported from the United States. McDonald's Japan has limited French fry orders to small sizes on two occasions since December, blaming the pandemic and Canadian floods that squeezed potato imports. Check out DH's latest videos Kazakhstan's president was voted chairman of the ruling party Friday, replacing his mentor and former head of state Nursultan Nazarbayev, after a bloody crisis exposed a struggle at the top of the leadership. "By the decision of the extraordinary XXI Party Congress, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart (Tokayev), was unanimously elected Chairman of the Nur Otan Party," his office said on Twitter. The move came after unprecedented unrest that left 225 people dead earlier in January. Tokayev this month questioned 81-year-old Nazarbayev's legacy, in particular widening inequality between the elite and the poor in Central Asia's richest country. Nazarbayev ruled ex-Soviet Kazakhstan for close to three decades, brooking no opposition, before hand-picking Tokayev, 68, a career diplomat and then-loyalist, to replace him as president in 2019. The octogenarian last year announced his decision to hand the party leadership over to Tokayev -- a move that seemed to confirm Tokayev would stand for another presidential term even if many thought his predecessor still pulled Kazakhstan's political strings. Tokayev said during the congress that his chairmanship of the party could be a temporary affair, citing the need for an "equidistant status of the head of state". Accepting his new appointment, Tokayev softened his prior criticism of Nazarbayev, by praising his predecessor's state-building achievements. "I know that various negative rumours are circulating around the country," he said. "In this regard, as head of state, I repeat: the first president did a lot to turn our country into a strong state." Among the achievements Tokayev credited Nazarbayev with was the decision during the 1990s to transfer Kazakhstan's capital from its largest city Almaty -- the epicentre of violent unrest -- to a steppe city 1,000 kilometres north that was renamed "Nur-Sultan" in Nazarbayev's honour in 2019. "This decision is recognized as strategic everywhere: both abroad and in our country," Tokayev told Nur Otan party members at the congress. "Let us also pay tribute to the historical merits of the first president, highlight his undoubted successes and merits, and leave possible miscalculations as a warning to the future leaders of our country," Tokayev added. Tokayev took over Nazarbayev's most powerful position -- chairmanship of the national security council -- on January 5, a day when protests that began over a fuel price hike morphed into deadly clashes and looting. During a speech to lawmakers and officials on January 11, Tokayev criticised his mentor for failing to share the country's vast wealth with ordinary people. He said Nazarbayev's rule had created "a layer of wealthy people, even by international standards". In the days that followed, Nazarbayev's once-powerful relatives and in-laws were jettisoned from top corporate and political posts. Appearing for the first time since the crisis began on January 18, Nazarbayev denied any conflict with his successor, referring to himself as "a pensioner". Check out latest videos from DH: Myanmar's military seized power on February 1 last year, ousting the civilian government and arresting its de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Nearly 1,500 people have since been killed and thousands of others arrested as the junta wages a bloody crackdown on dissent. Looking back at the year since the military's latest power grab, which ended a decade-long experiment with democracy after half a century of military rule, it has been one of turmoil. Soldiers detained Suu Kyi and her top allies during pre-dawn raids on February 1 ahead of the opening of the new parliament. The generals claimed fraud in the November 2020 election, which Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won by a landslide. Their actions sparked global condemnation, from Pope Francis to US President Joe Biden. Resistance to the coup began with people banging pots and pans -- a practice traditionally associated with driving out evil spirits. Also Read The Myanmar nun who faced down a junta The junta blocked social media platforms including Facebook, which is hugely popular in Myanmar. Nightly internet blackouts were later imposed. Popular dissent surged over the weekend of February 6 and 7, with huge crowds gathering on the streets, calling for the release of Suu Kyi. In the following weeks, these protests swelled to hundreds of thousands of people in cities and villages around the country. Workers began a nationwide strike on February 8. A 19-year-old woman is shot in the head when police fire on crowds in the capital Naypyidaw the next day. Washington soon announced sanctions against several military officials, including junta chief Min Aung Hlaing. More sanctions followed from Britain and the European Union. Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, the woman shot 10 days earlier, died on February 19 after becoming a national symbol of opposition to the junta. Violent crackdowns on street protests escalated and by March 11, Amnesty International said it documented atrocities by the junta, including the use of battlefield weapons on unarmed protesters. A day later, a UN rights expert on Myanmar accused the military of crimes against humanity. More than 100 civilians were killed in protest crackdowns on March 27, which is Armed Forces Day, the military's annual show of strength. It was the deadliest day since the coup. Over the next month, ousted civilian lawmakers who were forced into hiding announced the formation of a shadow "National Unity Government". Also Read US warns firms over doing business in Myanmar Danny Fenster, an American editor at a local outlet Frontier Myanmar, was detained at Yangon's airport as he attempted to leave the country on May 24. Following a trial inside a prison in Yangon, he was jailed for 11 years in November for unlawful association, incitement against the military and breaching visa rules. Three days later, he was pardoned and freed, and flew home to be reunited with his family at New York's JFK airport. In June, more than four months after she was detained, Suu Kyi went on trial in a junta court. She faced an eclectic mix of charges, including illegally importing walkie-talkies and flouting Covid-19 restrictions during the 2020 elections. Coronavirus infections surged across Myanmar from late June, with many pro-democracy medical staff on strike and the public avoiding military-run hospitals. People defied curfews to queue for oxygen cylinders for their loved ones and volunteers took up the grim task of bringing out the dead for cremation. Also Read Myanmar sentences lawmaker from Suu Kyi's party to death In July, the World Bank forecasted that Myanmar's economy would contract by 18 per cent in 2021 as a result of the coup and the coronavirus outbreak, with the poverty rate to double from 2019 levels. In late July, the junta cancelled the results of the 2020 polls, claiming more than 11 million instances of voter fraud. Six months to the day since the military seized power, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing said that new elections will be held by August 2023. On December 6, Suu Kyi was jailed for four years for incitement against the military and breaching Covid regulations. The sentence was later cut to two years. On January 10, she was sentenced to another four years in prison after being convicted of two charges related to illegally importing and owning walkie-talkies and one of breaking Covid rules. She will be held under house arrest in Naypyidaw while she faces a host of other charges in court, which could see her jailed for decades. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Queen Elizabeth II's second son Prince Andrew has deactivated his social media accounts, users said Wednesday, as he faces a US civil case for sexual assault. Andrew's official Twitter account @TheDukeOfYork now opens with a message saying "This account doesn't exist". His YouTube account also comes up with an error message and a picture of a monkey. The prince's Instagram and Facebook pages appeared still to be open, though the Instagram was set to private. The Daily Mail cited a source close to the 61-year-old prince as saying these accounts have also been removed and are no longer live. This comes after announcements last week that the prince has ceased using his HRH, or His Royal Highness, title, and has also given up honorary military titles bestowed by the Queen. The move effectively removes him from official royal life. His accuser Virginia Giuffre has said that she had sex with the prince while aged 17 after meeting him through the late US financer and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The prince denies the allegations but lost a bid to dismiss the civil suit. Andrew withdrew from public life as a royal in 2019 after a widely ridiculed BBC interview where he sought to vindicate himself of the accusation that he sexually assaulted a minor. Since then he has been occasionally photographed driving or riding around the Queen's private estate in eastern England, Sandringham. He did not appear in the official wedding photographs when his daughter Beatrice got married in 2020. In other signs of social ostracism, the York Racecourse in northern England has announced it is renaming an event called The Duke of York Stakes -- even though this refers to an earlier bearer of the title. And a police station in Devon in southern England has removed a plaque saying it was opened by the Duke of York, citing a complaint from a member of the public, the BBC reported this week. Armed forces minister James Heappey on Wednesday said Andrew had kept "horrifically ill-advised" company, and the US case would overshadow celebrations later this year for his mother's 70 years on the throne. The decision to strip former Royal Navy helicopter pilot Andrew of his honorary military titles was reportedly made by the Queen and senior members of the royal family. His nephew, second-in-line to the throne Prince William was asked by a reporter on Wednesday if he supported his uncle, during a visit to a London museum. But William made no response. William's father, Prince Charles, ignored a similar question last week. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Separatist insurgents claimed responsibility for an attack on a Pakistani army post, killing 10 soldiers, near a southwestern port in which China is investing. The attack, launched late Tuesday in Kech district, north of Gwadar port, was the heaviest in years in a low-key insurgency that ethnic Baloch insurgents have been waging against the Pakistani government. "We are resolute in our commitment to rid Pakistan of all forms of terrorism," Prime Minister Imran Khan said in a statement on Friday in which he paid tribute to the 10 "martyred" soldiers. The army said it killed one of the attackers and arrested three in a clearance operation that was still going on. The Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) insurgent group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement sent to a Reuters reporter that 17 soldiers and one of its members were killed. Also Read Pak journalist killed in bomb attack in Balochistan Ethnic Baloch guerrillas have been fighting the government for decades for a separate state, saying Pakistan's central government unfairly exploits the rich gas and mineral resources of Balochistan province, which shares borders with Afghanistan and Iran. China is involved in the development of the Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea and other projects in the province as part of a $60-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is part of Beijing's Belt and Road initiative. The insurgents often target gas projects as well as infrastructure and security posts in the province but have begun launching attacks in other parts of Pakistan. They also attack Chinese projects, and occasionally kill Chinese workers despite Pakistani assurances that it is doing everything it can to protect the Chinese projects. Pakistan has also accused India of covertly supporting the insurgents. India denies the claims. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Almost a year after she knelt in the dust to beg Myanmar police not to shoot anti-coup demonstrators, Sister Ann Rose Nu Tawng still shakes at the memory of the day she says God saved her. A photo of the Catholic nun in a simple white habit, her hands spread, pleading with junta forces in the early weeks of mass protests against the putsch, went viral in the majority-Buddhist country and made headlines around the world. Two people at the demonstration in early March in northern Kachin state were shot dead, with Sister Ann Rose later rushing an injured child to hospital. In the confusion and chaos she had no idea the photo had been taken, or the impact it would have, she told AFP. "Only when I arrived back home, I got to know that my friends and family were so worried about me," she said, adding her mother had scolded her in tears for taking such a risk. "When I look at that photo, I can't even believe myself that I was there to save people's lives amid the chaotic shooting and running," she said. "I believe God gave me the courage... I myself wouldn't be courageous enough to do that." Running from the military is something Sister Ann Rose knows from her childhood in conflict-wracked Shan state in eastern Myanmar under a previous junta. The daughter of a pastor father and a teacher mother, she was forced to flee her home when she was nine, with a fear of soldiers now imprinted in her brain that she worries is being repeated in children today. "I used to run as a little kid when they entered the village... whenever I see soldiers and police in uniforms, I get scared, even now," she said. But on that March day in Myitkyina "I couldn't think to be scared", she added. "I just thought I needed to help and save the protesters." In the following days the junta's crackdown spiralled, with Amnesty International later saying it had documented atrocities including the use of battlefield weapons on unarmed protesters. More than 1,400 civilians have been killed and over 10,000 arrested, according to a local monitoring group. Sister Ann Rose has discovered there is a price to pay for publicly standing up to the junta. She said she has been detained several times by security forces, who asked to check her phone and took photos of her. She is not involved with politics but is now too scared to go out alone, she added. "I no longer have freedom," the devotee said. The nun -- who previously trained as a nurse -- now works at camps housing displaced people in Kachin state, the site of a years-long conflict between ethnic armed groups and the military. Fighting in Kachin and elsewhere in the north of the country bordering China has lulled recently -- analysts say at Beijing's insistence -- but elsewhere horrific violence continues. Junta troops were recently accused of a massacre on Christmas Eve after the charred remains of dozens of bodies were discovered on a highway in the east of the country. Seeing the bloody cycle of clashes and reprisals "it feels like my heart is going to burst", Sister Ann Rose said. But her faith gives her hope, and a sense of purpose. "Thanks to God, I am alive... Maybe he wants to use me for good." As Washington rallies the international community against Russian aggression in Ukraine, conflict has broken out back in the USA between traditional Republicans determined to defend democracy overseas and an isolationist base asking why America should take sides at all. Tensions between the United States and Russia have escalated as Moscow has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops near its border with Ukraine, leading to fears that it is preparing a new military assault after its invasion of Crimea in 2014. The usual conservative voices advocating a tough US response have come as expected, but a pro-Russian stance taken by a large section of former president Donald Trump's support base has unsettled many observers. Republicans in the House of Representatives and on the campaign trail have been breaking with conservative orthodoxy to complain loudly that the United States should have no role in the crisis. "Ukraine is over 5,000 miles away. Dangerous drugs and violent crime are crossing my constituents' backyards," Arizona's far-right lawmaker Paul Gosar tweeted this week. The post was among more than a dozen public statements identified by news website Axios from House Republicans challenging the notion that America has any business getting involved in the standoff. Also Read US asks UN Security Council to meet on Russia, Ukraine High-profile Washington Republicans -- including the party's Senate leadership -- have backed the country's longstanding support for Kyiv's sovereignty. But it is a different story among the grassroots, where hopefuls in the upcoming midterm elections are rejecting the internationalist rhetoric that once defined Reagan-Bush Republicanism. Analysts believe the party's internal conflict has been fueled in part by the unpopular war in Iraq and botched withdrawal from Afghanistan. But it also reflects a pro-Russia sentiment that took root under Trump, who lionised Vladimir Putin as a "highly respected" leader and publicly sided with the former KGB spy over the US government. "The Swamp will send troops to fight an invasion of Ukraine. They won't send troops to stop the invasion of the US because they're the ones facilitating it," Trump's spokeswoman Liz Harrington said on Thursday. The talking point has been tried out in Ohio's Senate race, where Republican primary candidate J D Vance and his opponent Bernie Moreno have accused the Biden administration of being more concerned about Ukraine's borders than America's southern frontier. "You hate America unless you want to send our best to die in a war that has nothing to do with this country? Give me a break," Vance, a venture capitalist and bestselling author, tweeted Wednesday. Also Read Biden vows support for Ukraine in Zelensky call: White House The right also appears to have been moved by the steady stream of rhetoric echoing Kremlin talking points that have been served up by top-rated Fox News host Tucker Carlson. One of the most influential voices in right-wing media, Carlson's provocative screeds have been broadcast approvingly by Russian state TV. The anchor has suggested that the United States should be supporting energy-rich Russia over its pro-Western neighbour, ignoring the security assurances that Washington gave Kyiv when the former Soviet republic gave up its nuclear arsenal. "Why is it disloyal to side with Russia but loyal to side with Ukraine?" Carlson asked his viewers on Monday. "They're both foreign countries that don't care anything about the United States. Kind of strange." Tom Malinowski, a Democratic congressman from New Jersey, tweeted that he had seen an uptick in calls to his office from Carlson viewers "upset that we're not siding with Russia." "People get their opinions by watching the news, that's nothing new," Malinowski told The Hill. "What is new is we have at least one talk show host with a huge captive audience that is not exposed to any counter-programming elsewhere." Congressman Adam Kinzinger told The Washington Post he saw evidence of the shift in a text message chain with fellow House Republicans who were asking why Biden was being allowed to "provoke Russia." That is not to say that Republicans, on the whole, are unsupportive of a tough stance against Moscow's expansionism. A survey by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs last July showed 51 per cent backing among the party faithful for military intervention in the event of an invasion. But other polls show a trend in the opposite direction, including a Yahoo News/YouGov survey released this week in which 40 per cent of Republicans said the United States has no duty to protect Ukraine, against 36 per cent who said it does. Also Read US, Germany step up pipeline warnings if Russia invades Ukraine Carly Cooperman, a Democratic pollster who has written a book on divisions in US politics, said a significant section of Republican voters now sees Putin's Russia as an ally in right-wing nationalism. "As strong nationalists, these Republicans are anti-NATO and not supportive of Ukraine joining NATO. Russia doesn't want Ukraine to join NATO either, as doing so would make it much more difficult for Russia to act aggressively towards Ukraine," Cooperman told AFP. "Trump has had a large influence on generating these sentiments as he had been generally warmer toward Russia, and so has Tucker Carlson, who has gone to great lengths to advocate the pro-Russia position on his show." Cooperman said. Fox News did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that US President Joe Biden "is treating the American public like fools" after Biden met with executives from rival car companies General Motors and Ford Motor earlier this week, Fox Business reported. Biden invited GM CEO Mary Barra and Ford CEO Jim Farley to the White House along with other business leaders to discuss his administration's $1.75 trillion Build Back Better legislation, which was stalled in the evenly split Senate after US Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., refused to support the legislation. The massive spending bill would bump up the $7,500 tax credit to $12,500 for union-made electric vehicles and would also make GM and Tesla eligible for the existing tax credit again after they hit the 200,000-vehicle limit for the credit. Also Read | Tesla in stalemate with government over tax cut demands, amid lack of local production pledge Biden touted GM's recent $7 billion investment in Michigan to ramp up electric vehicle production, the report said on Thursday. "Companies like GM and Ford are building more electric vehicles here at home than ever before," the president tweeted after the meeting, prompting the response from Musk that Biden was treating the American public "like fools". Musk also tweeted that "Biden is a damp [sock] puppet in human form" and "Starts with a T, Ends with an A, ESL in the middle." It is not the first time that Musk has taken shots at Biden. The electric vehicle pioneer said in September that the administration was "maybe a little biased" and "seems to be controlled by unions." Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court declined Thursday to hear an appeal from Lehigh County Judge candidate Zachary Cohen in a legal case over undated mail-in ballots that could change the outcome of the close county judge race. The denial means that the court upheld a Commonwealth Court ruling that 257 undated mail-in ballots should be discarded. The Commonwealth Court decision overturned a prior ruling by Lehigh County Judge Edward Reibman, who ruled that undated ballots should be counted because discarding them would be at odds with a 2020 Supreme Court decision on uncounted ballots. Advertisement Adam Bonin, Cohens lawyer, argued that the Supreme Court should hear the case to resolve unanswered questions from that 2020 decision, where judges ruled 4-3 to count undated mail-in ballots, but did not close the book on whether undated ballots should be counted in the future. [ Lehigh County judge candidate appeals to Pa. Supreme Court in fight over counting undated mail-in ballots ] Cohen is 74 votes behind Republican David Ritter in the race for one of the three seats on Lehigh Countys Common Pleas Court. The 257 undated ballots in question could tip the races outcome in Cohens favor. Advertisement Were obviously disappointed in the courts ruling, not only because of its impact on Zac, but especially for all those voters who deserve to be heard in this election, Bonin said. He added that he and Cohen are still considering other legal options in the case. Because of the dispute, Lehigh County has not yet certified its 2021 election results. Ritters lawyer, Robert Daday, said he hopes the denial means the Commonwealth Courts decision will become the law of the land, and praised the professionalism of Cohen and his legal team. Were very happy with the decision by the Supreme Court, we believe it to be the correct decision, Daday said. Morning Call reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at 610-820-6681 and liweber@mcall.com. US President Joe Biden pledged support for Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia during a phone call Thursday with his counterpart in Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky, the White House said. Biden has been leading attempts to build a united Western front against Russian military pressure on Ukraine, which has angered Moscow by seeking to integrate with the West. More than 100,000 Russian troops are massed on Ukraine's borders. In the call with Zelensky, Biden "reaffirmed the readiness of the United States along with its allies and partners to respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine," a readout from the White House said. Also Read | US asks UN Security Council to meet on Russia, Ukraine Biden "underscored the commitment of the United States to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity." In the call, Biden said Washington is "exploring additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraine's economy amidst pressure resulting from Russia's military build-up," the statement said, without going into detail. Addressing Ukrainian criticism over the decision to call on US citizens to leave Ukraine, Biden told Zelensky that the embassy "remains open and fully operational." Also Read | US, Germany step up pipeline warnings if Russia invades Ukraine While expressing support for talks this week where Ukraine and Russia recommitted to a tense ceasefire in the disputed east of the country, Biden promised that diplomatic deals would not be cut behind Ukraine's back, saying "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine." In a tweet, Zelensky said he and the US president had "a long phone conversation" and that they "discussed recent diplomatic efforts on de-escalation and agreed on joint actions for the future." Zelensky said he thanked Biden for US weapons deliveries and that "possibilities for financial support to Ukraine were also discussed." Check out latest DH videos here This January has been one of the busiest months ever for North Korea's missile testing, with launches displaying a dizzying array of weapon types, launch locations, and increasing sophistication. From hypersonic missiles and long-range cruise missiles to missiles launched from railcars and airports, the tests highlight the nuclear-armed state's rapidly expanding and advancing arsenal amid stalled denuclearisation talks. North Korea hasn't tested its longest-range intercontinental ballistic missiles or nuclear weapons since 2017, but leader Kim Jong Un has pushed for more "military muscle" to counter what he sees as threats from the United States and its allies in Asia. Kim visited an unidentified "important" munitions factory, state media said this week, underscoring his vow not only to improve capabilities, but mass produce and deploy more weapons. Here are the different types of weapons tested so far this month: Also read: N Korea confirms missile tests as Kim visits munitions site 'Hypersonic missiles' North Korea said it tested a new type of "hypersonic missile" on Jan. 5 and again on Jan. 11, with Kim Jong Un reported to have attended the second launch. Hypersonic weapons usually fly towards targets at lower altitudes than ballistic missiles and can achieve more than five times the speed of sound - or about 6,200 kms per hour (3,850 mph). Despite their name, analysts say the main feature of hypersonic weapons is not speed but their manoeuvrability, which can help them evade missile defence systems. South Korean officials questioned the capabilities of the missile after the first test, saying it did not appear to demonstrate the range and manoeuvrability claimed in a state media report and featured a Manoeuvrable Reentry Vehicle (MaRV) rather than the type of next-generation hypersonic glide vehicle developed by countries like China and Russia. Those officials later said the second test appeared to demonstrate greater performance. Analysts said if Pyongyang can perfect such weapons, it would represent a potential major upgrade in its striking power against its nearby adversaries, complicating efforts by the United States and its Asian allies to counter that. KN-23 SRBM On Jan. 14 North Korea launched a pair of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from a train near the northern border with China, in what state media said was a short-notice drill aimed at boosting the proficiency of the troops operating the missiles. North Korea first tested the rail-based system in September, saying it was designed as a potential counter-strike to any threatening forces. Despite the country's limited and sometimes unreliable rail network, rail mobile missiles are a relatively cheap and efficient option to improve the survivability of their nuclear forces, making it difficult for enemies to detect and destroy them before being fired, according to analysts. The missiles appeared to be KN-23 SRBMs, which were first tested in May 2019, and are designed to evade missile defences by flying on a lower, "depressed" trajectory, experts said. North Korea fired another pair of KN-23 missiles on Thursday, this time from a wheeled launching vehicle. The tests confirmed the "explosive power" of its conventional warhead, state media said, while analysts noted it travelled on its lowest trajectory yet. KN-24 SRBM North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) in a rare test from an airport in its capital, Pyongyang, on Jan. 17. The pair of missiles "precisely hit an island target" off the east coast, according to state media. Analysts said the missiles appeared to be KN-24 SRBMs which were last tested in March 2020 and appear to have entered mass production and deployment with military units. The KN-24 resembles the US MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and, like the KN-23, is designed to evade missile defences and carry out precision strikes on a flatter trajectory than traditional ballistic missiles. Long-range cruise missile State media reported two long-range cruise missiles were fired on Tuesday, travelling 1,800 km before hitting a target island in the sea off North Korea's east coast. The cruise missile would play a role in "boosting the war deterrence of the country," state news agency KCNA said. In September, North Korea tested a new "strategic" cruise missile for the first time, seen as possibly the country's first such weapon with a nuclear capability. Analysts said the latest cruise missile appeared to be similar, but also showed signs of being a possible variant. North Korea's cruise missiles usually generate less interest than ballistic missiles because they are not explicitly banned under UN Security Council Resolutions, but analysts say land-attack cruise missiles can be no less a threat than ballistic missiles. When President Joe Biden held a video call with European leaders about Ukraine this week, it had all the urgency of a Cold War-era crisis, replete with the specter of Russian tanks and troops menacing Eastern Europe. But Biden expanded the seats on his war council, adding Poland, Italy and the European Union to the familiar lineup of Britain, France and Germany. The effort to be inclusive was no accident: After complaints from Europeans that they were blindsided by the swift US withdrawal from Afghanistan last summer, and that France was frozen out of a new defense alliance with Australia, Biden has gone out of his way to involve allies in every step of this crisis. For the Biden administration, it amounts to a much-needed diplomatic reset. The United States, European officials say, has acted with energy and some dexterity in orchestrating the response to Russias threatening moves. Since mid-November, it has conducted at least 180 senior-level meetings or other contacts with European officials. Some marvel at having their American counterparts on speed dial. Also Read US asks UN Security Council to meet on Russia, Ukraine Despite being dragged down at home by domestic problems and viewed as a transitional figure in some skeptical European capitals, Biden has emerged as the leader of the Wests effort to confront the threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The administrations emphasis on unity, American officials say, is largely intended to frustrate Putins desire to use the crisis to fracture NATO. Before delivering a written response to Putins security demands on Ukraine on Wednesday, the administration traded multiple drafts of the document with the Europeans, insisting that every paragraph that affected individual countries be reviewed, word for word, by their leaders, according to American officials. The concern here was No surprises, said an official who was involved. The Russians, who want the West to pledge that Ukraine will never join NATO, gave a cool reception to the US responses Thursday, saying there was not much cause for optimism, and leaving unclear what their next step might be. In a phone call Thursday, Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the United States and its allies would respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine, according to a White House statement, and that the United States was considering ways to help Ukraines economy. The United States also called for the United Nations Security Council to hold an open meeting on Monday to discuss Russias threatening behavior against Ukraine. This is not a moment to wait and see, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement Thursday. The United States is not relying on diplomacy alone. It has put 8,500 troops on alert to be deployed to Eastern Europe, sent defensive weapons to Ukraine and is negotiating to divert natural gas from other suppliers if Russia cuts off pipelines that supply Germany and other countries. Also Read Biden vows support for Ukraine in Zelensky call: White House We had a low point in terms of trust and mutual respect last summer because of the Afghanistan breakdown, said Wolfgang Ischinger, a former German ambassador to Washington. Now, he said, no one can complain that there isnt a renewed sense of American leadership. Bidens handling of the crisis has not been without missteps: His recent statement that a minor incursion by Russia would provoke a different response from the West than an invasion angered Ukraine and alarmed European governments, especially those bordering Russia. It necessitated a hurried cleanup operation by the White House. Europeans worry about Bidens staying power, the potential return of former President Donald Trump and the resolve of the United States, for which Ukraine is not an on-the-doorstep crisis as it is for Europe. Some believe Putin is exploiting the same perceived vulnerabilities on both sides of the ocean. He senses weakness in Biden and a certain amount of political churn in Europe, said Ian Bond, a former British diplomat who is now head of foreign policy at the Center for European Reform, a London research group. Germany has a new government finding its feet, French elections, U.K. not in great shape, Europe emerging from pandemic. I think he does see Biden as a quite weak transitional figure. Indeed, Putin is driving events more than Biden. His aggressive tactics are forcing Europe and the United States together. And he has shown little interest in striking a deal on Ukraine with anyone other than the president of the other superpower. That testifies to the central role of the United States in guaranteeing the security of Europe. It also means that whatever the doubts about Biden in Moscow or European capitals, he will be the fulcrum of the Wests response. Europeans say he has embraced that role with more enthusiasm than either Trump or his former boss, President Barack Obama. Trump withheld military aid to Ukraine and pressured its president to investigate Biden, then looming as his political rival. Obama did not view Ukraine as a core strategic interest of the United States even after the annexation of Crimea, prompting France and Germany to create a group that has met periodically with Russia and Ukraine since 2014 to discuss how to curb hostilities. Also Read US, Germany step up pipeline warnings if Russia invades Ukraine When the Ukrainian crisis erupted in 2014, the American policy was Try not to get involved, said Gerard Araud, a former French ambassador to Washington. They outsourced the handling of it to France and Germany. The White Houses efforts in part reflect the bitter lesson of the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, when Europeans criticized the United States for failing to consult them, a charge the White House disputes. Ischinger, who now chairs the Munich Security Conference, recalled an American official telling him at that time that the era had passed in which the United States viewed itself as a European power, one whose active involvement was critical to the continents strategic balance. What we have witnessed over the last couple of weeks demonstrates this was an incorrect assessment, he said. This time, American officials have consulted with a galaxy of groups encompassing the political and security bureaucracy of the European continent: the EU, the European Commission, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the Bucharest Nine, a group of eastern NATO members. They learned a real lesson from Afghanistan, said Ivo Daalder, a former American ambassador to NATO. They have been extraordinarily effective, in a way we havent seen for a long time, in engaging with allies. One challenge for Biden, experts say, is the lack of a European leader to help pull the rest of the continent into line. That was the role former German Chancellor Angela Merkel played for Obama and President George W. Bush. It was the role former British Prime Minister Tony Blair played for Bush, with little success on Iraq, and for President Bill Clinton, with more success on Kosovo. Britains current prime minister, Boris Johnson, is preoccupied by a scandal over parties at Downing Street during the pandemic. In any event, Britains departure from the EU has deprived it of its traditional role as a bridge between Washington and Brussels, although it remains a central player in NATO. Britain has tried to stake out a forceful role, shipping anti-tank weapons to Ukraine and drafting legislation that will allow it to impose sanctions on Russia if it launches an invasion. But it is driven more by a post-Brexit desire to act independently than to serve as a wingman for Washington. France has also hardened its position, with President Emmanuel Macron offering to send troops to Romania to reinforce NATOs eastern flank. But Macron faces an election in April, and he, too, has asserted a more independent role for Europe in engaging with Russia. On Friday, he and Putin will speak by phone. French diplomats said Macrons efforts should not be viewed as an obstacle to the United States because he has pledged to take any common European position to NATO, where it would be thrashed out with the Americans. Macrons problem is Germany, Araud said. The new coalition government in Germany is being pulled in different directions, with the Greens and the Free Democrats more inclined to take a hard line against Moscow, while the Social Democrats are traditionally eager to preserve trade and diplomatic ties. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a Social Democrat, has been a diffident figure so far. You dont have reassuring Merkel, who can calm things down and keep everything pulling in the same direction, said Jonathan Powell, who served as chief of staff to Blair. Despite all the potential for disunity, diplomats point out that Europe, NATO and the United States agree on two fundamental issues. No one plans to send combat troops into Ukraine. All agree on the importance of imposing sanctions on Russia, though the Europeans, particularly the Germans, may balk at the most draconian measures because of the collateral damage to their economies. European officials insist that Germany is willing to pay a significant price and that nothing is off the table, including the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would send gas from Russia to Western Europe and give Putin valuable leverage. Putins string of provocations moving large numbers of troops into Belarus, and holding large military exercises on Ukraines borders, naval exercises in the Baltic Sea and even a planned exercise off the coast of Ireland have drawn Europeans and Americans together in a way that no European or American leader could. Putin is so extreme in his demands and threats that its impossible not to close ranks with other countries, Araud said. You dont have an alliance without a threat, and Putin is a threat. Check out DH's latest videos Hours before Myanmar's new parliament was due to convene last February, troops rounded up lawmakers in dawn raids, ending a brief democratic interlude and setting the stage for months of bloodshed. A year later the country's latest junta is struggling to contain the backlash unleashed by its power grab, with daily clashes and swathes of the country outside of its control. Almost 1,500 civilians have been killed and over 11,000 arrested in its ongoing crackdown, according to a local monitor, with rights groups accusing junta troops of torture and extrajudicial killings. But for a pro-democracy movement angered by the military's power-grab, ending its decades-long entanglement in Myanmar politics once and for all is the only option. Also Read | The Myanmar nun who faced down a junta That means, analysts say, there is no end in sight to the crisis that has devastated the economy, emptied schools and hospitals across the country and sent thousands fleeing to neighbouring Thailand and India. "We are still living in a dark era," said Htoo Aung -- using a pseudonym for fear of reprisal -- at a market in commercial hub Yangon. "We have to think how we can struggle on through our daily lives under this military dictatorship rather than about our goals, our dreams in the future." In Yangon and other cities, the junta is projecting a return to normality as traffic jams return and shopping malls slowly fill up again. But, days before the February 1 anniversary, it is taking no chances. Authorities recently announced that those honking car horns or banging pots and pans -- popular protests in cities following the coup -- could be charged with treason or under an anti-terror law. But daily clashes between the dozens of "people's defence forces" (PDFs) that have sprung up across the country to fight back against the putsch show no sign of abating. The ex-protesters and villagers that fill their ranks have dealt some painful blows to junta troops with guerilla ambushes and mine attacks, even as they struggle to secure heavy weapons. A shadow group of lawmakers claims almost 3,000 junta troops died in fighting with PDFs between June and November -- the junta says 168 soldiers and police were killed between February and late October. Also Read | Suu Kyi gets 4 years for waving to cars and having walkie-talkies The year of conflict has taken a toll on the military, which is facing morale and recruitment problems, said International Crisis Group's Myanmar senior advisor Richard Horsey. "But these challenges are very unlikely to force the military to capitulate or lose its grip on state power," Horsey said. Junta troops were blamed for a Christmas Eve massacre that left the charred remains of more than 30 people on a highway in the east of the country, including two staff members of the Save the Children charity. Earlier in January it ordered air and artillery strikes on a state capital in the east to prevent anti-coup fights from seizing ground in the town. Myanmar's myriad ethnic armed groups have largely held back from throwing their lot in with the democracy movement thanks to a longstanding mistrust of the majority Bamar elite -- epitomised by Aung San Suu Kyi and her ousted National League for Democracy. It is a trust deficit that a shadow "National Unity Government" dominated by lawmakers from her party, and which has widespread support, is trying to overcome. Suu Kyi's closed-door trial in the military-built capital continues, and in the coming months she will likely be sentenced on a clutch of corruption charges -- each of which carries a maximum 15-year jail term. With the generals shielded at the United Nations by China and Russia -- and the crisis jostling for attention with wars in Ethiopia, Yemen and Ukraine -- many in Myanmar have given up on help arriving from the international community. The military is killing protesters almost daily "without the world noticing," said Htoo Aung. The generals have promised a return to multiparty democracy and fresh elections by 2023. But "it is impossible to see how they could do so given their tenuous control of much of the country," said the Crisis Group's Horsey. It seems "very unlikely that either side will be able to deliver a knockout blow", he said. "The stage is set for months, possibly years of violent confrontation." Check out DH's latest videos: The threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine has reignited debate in Finland and Sweden over whether they should join NATO to fend off any possible eastern aggression. Fighter jets could be heard carrying out drills above the Finnish capital this week, while Sweden recently deployed troops to a Baltic outpost in response to rising tensions. President Vladimir Putin's demands that NATO not expand eastwards have also led Finnish and Swedish leaders to loudly reassert their right to apply for membership should they wish. "It's for Finland and 30 NATO allies to decide, finally, on the issue of membership, and that's exactly the same for Sweden," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday after meeting the countries' foreign ministers. Also Read | US asks UN Security Council to meet on Russia, Ukraine Neither Finland nor Sweden has expressed an official desire to become full members, preferring instead information sharing and some joint training. But Charly Salonius-Pasternak, from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, said Finland and Sweden had made "a conscious effort... to get explicit statements that NATO's open-door policy is still open". Elina Valtonen, the vice-chair of Finland's opposition National Coalition Party, said joining was "a natural step". "We have been forming ever-closer cooperation agreements not only with NATO but also the United Kingdom and the United States," Valtonen said. She added that Finland had long abandoned its Cold War stance of seeking to appease the Kremlin by remaining neutral. Without membership, Finland is ineligible for protections under NATO's Article 5, which commits other members to come to its aid should Russia send troops across the 1,340-kilometre-long (830- mile-long) border. Also Read | Biden vows support for Ukraine in Zelensky call: White House But support for NATO membership has traditionally been low among Finns and Swedes, though a January survey in Finland suggested opposition to joining had fallen to a two-decade low of 42 per cent. Robert Dalsjo, from the Swedish Defence Research Agency, said that for many in Sweden's largest political party, the Social Democrats, NATO membership was "akin to blasphemy". A re-evaluation could only be triggered by either "a Finnish opening for membership, or a threat so credible that the political calculus changes," he said. Few Russia-watchers suspect Putin has plans to send tanks into Finland. But, said Finnish analyst Salonius-Pasternak, "we have seen and continue to see... sub-threshold actions," such as Russia suddenly releasing 1,700 migrants across the Finnish border in 2016, or repeated airspace incursions. With memories lingering of the Soviets' bloody invasion attempt during World War II, Finland has for years upheld high levels of military readiness. Finland's former foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja, one of the country's most prominent opponents of NATO membership, said the country was well-prepared if needed. "We are not blue-eyed, so we have heavily invested in our national defence," he said. Finland has spent 8.4 billion euros ($9.5 billion) on new fighter jets, and "can mobilise a reserve of 280,000 trained soldiers, which no other country in Europe can do," Tuomioja added. Sweden, in contrast, slashed military spending after the Cold War. In 2013 commander-in-chief Sverker Goranson shocked Swedes by saying the country could only hold off a Russian invasion for "about a week" without outside help. But after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, Sweden began bolstering its defences. "We were caught dressed for beautiful weather as the barometer indicated a storm coming," said Dalsjo, the Swedish analyst. "We've solved this by borrowing umbrellas, boots and warm sweaters from the Americans," but Sweden is still far from having the resources to defend itself. The country, which has not been to war in two centuries, reintroduced mandatory military service in 2017. This month Sweden deployed armed patrols to the island of Gotland after three Russian landing ships entered the Baltic sea. Finland announced it had increased "preparedness" with military exercises across the country. Salonius-Pasternak said Helsinki was quietly preparing behind the scenes. "Right now stuff is being done, but one might not see it," he said. Check out the latest videos from DH: Six rockets were fired Friday at the Iraqi capital's airport, causing damage but no casualties, security sources said, the latest in a string of attacks the US blames on Iran-linked militias. The rockets hit Baghdad International Airport's runways or parking areas, one of the sources said. "One civilian plane has been hit and damaged," this source, based at the interior ministry, said. A second security source confirmed the attack consisted of six rockets that fell around civil installations at the airport, damaging a stationary plane. A third source identified the plane as a Boeing 767 belonging to the state-owned Iraqi Airways, noting that it was not in service and was undergoing repairs. The attack was not immediately claimed. Recent months have seen rocket and drone attacks target the US embassy in Baghdad's high-security Green Zone, a US diplomatic facility at the airport and troops belonging to a US-led coalition stationed at Iraqi bases. The attacks are rarely claimed but are routinely pinned on pro-Iran factions, who demand that US troops who were deployed to help Iraqi forces fight the Islamic State group leave the country. The US-led coalition ended its combat mission in Iraq in December, four years after the Baghdad government declared victory over the jihadists. But roughly 2,500 American soldiers and 1,000 coalition soldiers will remain deployed in Iraq to offer training, advice and assistance to national forces. On January 3, US forces downed two armed drones that targeted the coalition at Baghdad airport, according to a coalition source. On January 13, three people, including two children, were wounded by a rocket that hit a school in the Green Zone, while two other rockets fell inside the US embassy complex, without causing casualties. In September, an "armed drone" attack targeted Arbil international airport in northern Iraq's Kurdistan region, where a base hosts coalition troops. The more recent rocket and drone fire come amid a tense domestic political situation. An election in October saw Fatah (Conquest) Alliance, the political wing of pro-Iran ex-paramilitary coalition Hashed al-Shaabi, lose most of its seats. It claimed that the polls were rigged against them. A bloc led by Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, who once led an anti-US militia and who opposes all foreign interference, took the largest share of seats and is trying to form a coalition government that would include Sunni and Kurdish factions. Check out the latest videos from DH: Russia on Friday sent its strongest signal so far that it is willing to engage with US security proposals and reiterated that it does not want war over Ukraine. "If it depends on Russia, then there will be no war. We don't want wars. But we also won't allow our interests to be rudely trampled, to be ignored," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian radio stations in an interview. Russia has massed tens of thousands of troops near the Ukrainian border as it presses demands for a redrawing of post-Cold War security arrangements in Europe. The United States and its allies have warned President Vladimir Putin that Russia will face swift and tough economic sanctions if he attacks Ukraine. Also Read | US asks UN Security Council to meet on Russia, Ukraine Lavrov said the West was ignoring Russia's interests but there was at least "something" in written responses submitted by the United States and NATO on Wednesday to Russia's proposals. While the responses have not been made public, both have stated they are willing to engage with Moscow on arms control and confidence-building measures. They have ruled out acceding to other demands, including that Ukraine must never be allowed to join NATO. Lavrov said he expected to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken again in the next couple of weeks. He said, without giving details, that the US counter-proposals were better than NATO's. Russia was studying them and Putin would decide how to respond. Also Read | US, Germany step up pipeline warnings if Russia invades Ukraine The comments were among the most conciliatory that Moscow has made on the Ukraine crisis, which has escalated into one of the tensest East-West standoffs since the Cold War ended three decades ago. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia said on Friday his country had absolutely no interest in a war and that conflict would break out only if Belarus or Russia were directly attacked. French President Emmanuel Macron was due to speak by phone with Putin on Friday. "It is up to Vladimir Putin to say if he wants consultations or confrontation," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told RTL radio, asking whether the Russian leader wanted to be a "destabilising power" or would seek de-escalation. The Kremlin said it did not rule out that Putin would provide some Russian assessments of the Western response to its proposals during the conversation. Check out the latest videos from DH: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Twitter complaining that his follower count has not increased since his account was temporarily suspended in August 2021 for a tweet about meeting the family members of a Dalit rape victim. In the letter that he wrote to Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal on December 27, Gandhi said that he found the matter perplexing and he believed that the unwitting complicity of Twitter was curbing free and fair speech in India. Gandhi said that since he raised the issue of the Dalit girl who died after she was raped, his average monthly follower count has fallen to nearly zero. Read More The Bihar Bandh called by the students in protest against "irregularities" in the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) exams affected normal life on Friday as a large number of students and political party workers blocked rail and road traffic at several places. The bandh is being supported by several ruling and opposition political parties, including VIP, HAM which are in power in the state. Besides, RJD, LJP (R), JAP, AIMIM and Congress parties are extending complete support to the agitating students. A large number of students and RJD supporters headed by Mukesh Raushan blocked the busy Mahatma Gandhi Setu at Hajipur on Friday morning leading to a huge traffic snarl on the bridge connecting Patna to Hajipur on the Ganga river. Tyres were also burnt on the road. In Jahanabad, students blocked busy NH 83 in the morning hours. They burnt tyres on the road thus disrupting the traffic movement. Several student groups blocked Ashok Rajpath and Bhikhana Pahadi road in Patna as well. These localities are known for a large number of coaching institutes, Patna university campus, several hostels and lodges where students reside and prepare for competitive examinations. Last Sunday, a clash took place between Patna police and students in Bhikhana Pahari over RRB-NTPC irregularities. As Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw considered two demands of the students, the teachers of coaching centres are appealing to students to stay calm during the bandh. Khan Sir, who is booked under relevant IPC sections for provoking the students, said: "The railway ministry has met the demand of students. Hence, students should not take laws in their hands and protest violently. The teachers of the coaching centres are not with the bandh. Stay focused on study." The student protests are by and large hijacked by different political parties of the state. "I condemn the police lathi charge on students in Bihar. The demand of students is genuine and logical. Hence LJP (R) is in the support of students. Peaceful protest is the birth right of students in democracy," said Chirag Paswan, president of LJP (R). In view of the protests, Bihar police have been deployed at all sensitive zones, including Rajendra Nagar terminal, Patna junction, Danapur, Arrah, Buxar, Sasaram, Bhabhua road, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur to prevent untoward incidents. The railways has cancelled several trains bound to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and some passenger trains and intercity express trains amid the ongoing protests. The student protest started last Saturday after RRB issued fresh notification for another examination and also said that the students have to give two examinations in the form of preliminary and mains in future. The fresh notification has provoked students for undeclared protests. They claimed that a notification of 35,000 jobs of various posts in Indian railway and NTPC was given in 2019 and exams were also conducted. Many students have passed the examinations and were waiting for the posting when fresh notifications came in. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Seven Indian nationals, who entered the US illegally and were arrested near the US-Canada border last week, have been released from Border Patrols custody and processed for removal from the country. All seven migrants who illegally entered the United States last week were administratively processed for removal and/or placed into removal proceedings as per the Immigration and Nationality Act, a statement read. It stated that six of the seven Indian nationals were placed under an Order of Supervision and one was released on an Order of Recognisance for humanitarian purposes. All the migrants have been released from Border Patrols custody and ordered to report to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a later date, it said. The seven Indian nationals were apprehended last week by US authorities near the US-Canada border, with one Steve Shand, 47, charged with human smuggling. Also Read Gujarati family found dead on US-Canada border identified Shand was arrested on January 19 less than a mile south of the border in a rural area between the official ports of entry located at Lancaster, Minnesota and Pembina, North Dakota. He was driving a 15-passenger van and was transporting two Indian nationals, who were in the US illegally. While Shand and the two passengers were being transported to the Pembina Border Patrol Station in North Dakota, law enforcement encountered five additional Indian nationals approximately a quarter mile south of the Canadian border walking in the direction of where Shand was arrested. All seven Indians were then arrested by border authorities. The five Indian nationals told authorities that they had walked across the border from Canada expecting to be picked up by a contact. The group said it had been walking around for over 11 hours. One of the group members was carrying a backpack that did not belong to him. He told authorities that he was carrying the backpack for a family of four Indian nationals that had earlier walked with his group but had separated during the night. The backpack contained childrens clothes, a diaper, toys, and some childrens medication. Later during the day, on January 19, Canadian authorities found the bodies of the four Indian nationals near Emerson, Manitoba, approximately 12 metres from the Canada-US border. The deceased were identified as Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, 39, Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, 37, Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel, 11 and Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel, 3. Identities of the victims were confirmed by Canadian authorities and autopsies were completed on January 26. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Manitoba confirmed that the cause of death was due to exposure, a statement from Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said Thursday. Also Read India probes illegal immigration after family of four from Gujarat dies near Canada border The criminal complaint against Shand stated that two of the seven Indian nationals arrested sustained serious injuries. A male adult and female adult were taken to the hospital for suspected frostbite. The male was later released from the hospital, but the female was life-flighted to a larger hospital and will likely require partial amputation of one hand from exposure to extreme cold weather conditions. The female also stopped breathing several times while being transported by Border Patrol, the complaint said. Authorities have said the weather in the area 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. Shand is charged with one count of knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien had come to, entered, or remained in the United States in violation of law, having transported, and moved or having attempted to transport and move such aliens. The complaint said that all the seven nationals arrested spoke Gujarati, a language spoken in Gujarat in western India. Most had limited or no English language speaking ability. Watch the latest DH Videos here: PHILADELPHIA Enrollment in cybercharter schools grew faster in Pennsylvania last year than in any other state and how they are funded results in big costs for local school districts, according to a new report. Pennsylvania is the cyber charter capital of the nation, the report released Thursday by the PA Charter Performance Center said. It describes Pennsylvania as standing apart not just for its large number of students attending its 14 cybercharters 61,000 in 2020-21, up from 38,000 the year before but also for insufficient oversight and funding provisions that havent been updated since the virtual schools were first permitted in 2002. Advertisement Other states, meanwhile, have made changes to how they regulate cybercharters which, like their brick-and-mortar counterparts, are publicly funded but independently operated. In Pennsylvania, the virtual schools have long been in tension with traditional public schools, which pay cybercharters based on enrollment. Cybers also have come under scrutiny for poor academic performance and management scandals. That funding mechanism isnt the same in every state and neither are the steps other legislatures have taken to reform their systems, according to the report by the Charter Performance Center, which is affiliated with Children First, a group that advocates for more funding for traditional public schools. The report compares Pennsylvania with 26 states with cybercharter schools, and proposes changes based on some of those states efforts. Advertisement How does Pennsylvanias cybercharter funding differ from other states? Most states with cybercharter schools fund them directly, according to the report. Pennsylvania, however, is one of four states where school districts fund the charters, though the virtual schools are authorized by the state and the district has no role in regulating them or deciding whether they open. In Pennsylvania, the funding works like this: For each student from a district that enrolls in a cybercharter, the district pays the cyber a rate based on what the district spends per pupil. Payment rates can vary greatly, because Pennsylvania school districts spend widely different amounts due to disparities among low- and high-wealth districts. Those payments came to an estimated $980 million last year, up from $684 million in 2019-20 almost a $300 million increase as enrollment grew to encompass 3.5% of the public school population. In comparison, the increase in the main form of state aid to school districts this year was $272 million. Cybercharters in Pennsylvania are paid at the same rate as brick-and-mortar charter schools similar to most states. But 11 states dont instead funding cybercharters at lower levels, according to the report. It points to analyses describing cybercharter cost structures as 25%-30% lower than brick-and-mortar schools, and calls by national charter school organizations for states to align cybercharter funding with actual costs. The report proposes that Pennsylvania set a statewide tuition rate for cybercharters that reflects lower costs of virtual education. Gov. Tom Wolf has made a similar proposal that, while garnering some bipartisan support, has been opposed by cybercharter leaders and hasnt gotten a hearing in the Republican-controlled legislature. It also calls for the state to stop paying twice for virtual education so that if a school district offers an online learning program whose educational track record is as good or better than a particular cybercharter, the district wouldnt be required to fund the charter. That, too, has come up in the Legislature before: A bill by House Education Committee Chair Curt Sonney, R-Erie, would have required parents who send their child to a cybercharter to pay tuition if a home district offered one. Singling out public charter schools when we have experienced shortcomings within public education for decades especially when concerning the families that disproportionally flock to charter schools is myopic, said Lenny McAllister, CEO of the Pennsylvania Coalition for Public Charter Schools. He said the new reports recommendations follow the typical narrative: We must fix (i.e., decrease) funding for charter schools. Advertisement What are ways other states fund their cybercharters? The report describes efforts to fund cybercharter schools based on student mastery of a subject or course completion rather than Pennsylvanias method, which funds the schools based on enrollment. Florida, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Texas and Utah have some form of performance-based funding for cybercharters, while Ohio and Arizona fund the online schools based on documented learning opportunities, according to the report. Parents or students log work completed each day providing a measure of engagement that goes beyond whether a student has logged in. Across the board, cybers are not performing well, said ML Wernecke, the Charter Performance Centers executive director, who added that Pennsylvanias 14 cybercharter schools have all scored below average on English and math standardized assessments and been flagged by the state as needing support. We know theres a problem here that needs to be addressed. To better track how cybercharter students are being counted and how much funding the schools should receive the charters should be audited each year by the state, the report said. It notes an enrollment scandal in Ohio, where the state sought to recover $80 million from a virtual school after an audit found it had inflated attendance by 9,000 students. Pennsylvania charter schools are required to provide audits to the Department of Education annually. Its a lot different to do your own audit ... than to open your books for the state auditor general, Wernecke said. She said traditional public schools face routine state audits. Advertisement McAllister, of the charter school coalition, said many of the reports accountability proposals are also ones that anti-school choice proponents do not want to apply to school district schools that have failed communities for generations. Last Call Daily Get top headlines from The Morning Call delivered weekday afternoons. > What else does the report suggest as solutions? The report suggests Pennsylvania create a statewide virtual school a model in place in 21 states that could serve as a centralized source of curriculum and resources for both school district virtual programs and cybercharters, wringing costs out of the system in the process. The school would differ from a charter in that it would be created by legislation or a state agency, though a variety of entities including a charter school operator could administer it. It could also compete with for-profit education management service companies that contract with cybercharters to provide curriculum, according to the report. And Pennsylvania could also move to a requests-for-proposal process when opening a new virtual school, the report said allowing it to weigh proposals against each other. Under the current process, applicants submit proposals to open new cybercharter schools to the state Department of Education, which is tasked with evaluating each on an individual basis. (c)2022 The Philadelphia Inquirer Advertisement Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Sudhi Ranjan Sen, India is carrying out more warship patrols than ever before as concerns grow about the countrys ability to remain dominant in the Indian Ocean as Chinas naval power quickly increases. The waters off India havent seen this many naval vessels together since World War II as both China and Western allies deploy more warships in the area, according to senior Indian naval officials familiar with the matter. They estimated about 125 foreign naval vessels were in the Indian Ocean at any given time, roughly three times the number deployed in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks when the US invaded Afghanistan. While Indian officials are confident they can manage the threat for now, a lack of funding threatens the countrys ability to keep pace with China and other nations. Most Indian submarines critical to controlling the oceans are about two decades old, and plans to increase the warship fleet to 200 -- including a third aircraft carrier -- keep getting delayed. Also Read | Paschim Lehar: Indian Navy's joint maritime exercise concludes off west-coast India now has about 130 warships, roughly a third of Chinas naval fleet comprising 350 ships and submarines -- the largest in the world. Despite that, last year the navy saw the biggest gap among Indias three military services between requested and actual funds, prompting a parliamentary panel to ask the government to stop making further reductions. The navys budget will be in focus on Feb. 1, when Prime Minister Narendra Modis government presents its annual spending plan in parliament. In the last five years, the shortfall between what the Indian Navy requested and what it got ranged from 5 per cent to 41 per cent, the panel of lawmakers said in a 2020 report to the government. In the latest report submitted last month, they said the navys allocation was less than half the amount it wanted. Defense Ministry spokesman Bharat Bhushan Babu and Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. Over time as the region gets more militarized, tension in the area is bound to increase, said Anit Mukherjee, associate professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies who wrote a book on Indias military. The solution for India is to develop the navy if it wants to address its growing diplomatic and strategic needs. Chinese warships have been present in the Indian Ocean since 2008, and India is constantly watching three to eight of them that are continuously on patrol, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar told reporters in December. I want to assure you the Indian Navy is confident of defending Indias maritime interests, he said. India has permanently deployed warships at five choke points in the Indian Ocean, stretching from the Gulf of Aden in the west to the Malacca Strait in the east. The waters carry some of 40 per cent of the worlds oil from fossil-fuel producers in the Middle East to some of Asias biggest economies. Last year the Indian Navy carried out an all-time high of 50 joint exercises with friendly navies, including one with Japanese warships around the Malacca Strait, said a senior naval official. Still, India has been cautious to avoid antagonizing Beijing as the two countries battle along their contested Himalayan borders. Modis government has turned down requests from friendly navies to jointly patrol the South China Sea, another naval official said. Indias navy has sought to demonstrate its reach with humanitarian missions. In 2015, more than 26 countries, including the US, turned to India to help evacuate their citizens when civil war in Yemen intensified. Half a dozen Indian warships were able to rescue 4,000 Indian citizens as well as 1,200 foreigners before Port Aden was bombarded. In the last two years, the naval ships have sailed 40,000 nautical miles -- or twice around the earth -- carrying food, medicines and weapons to Indian Ocean countries. On Dec. 26, an Indian warship sailed into Mozambique for the first time carrying weapons and humanitarian aid. Overall leaders in Indias capital have become more aligned with the Indian Navys view of the countrys interest in the maritime domain, said Nilanthi Samaranayake, a director of the Strategic and Policy Analysis Program at CNA, a US-based research organization. Especially if it relates to the safety of Indian citizens working overseas and remittances to the national economy. Check out DH's latest videos: Indian police have detained six people in a crackdown on illegal immigration after four Indians were found frozen to death near the border between the United States and Canada last week, officials said on Thursday. On the same day, India's High Commission in the Canadian capital of Ottawa confirmed the identities of the deceased as 39-year-old Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, 37-year-old Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, 11-year-old Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel and 3-year-old Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel. Their family has been informed, the High Commission said in a statement, highlighting the need "to ensure that migration and mobility are made safe and legal and that such tragedies do not recur." The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said they believe the family came to Canada on Jan. 12, arriving in Toronto, and travelled to Emerson, Manitoba, around Jan. 18. No vehicle was abandoned near the border, suggesting someone dropped them off and left, said Criminal Operations Officer Rob Hill. The six people detained by Indian police were running a travel and tourism company in the western state of Gujarat, said police official A.K. Jhala in the state capital of Gandhinagar. "We are now trying to nab the human traffickers who managed to send this family and others abroad via illegal channels," he added. US authorities have charged a Florida man, Steve Shand, with human trafficking after the four were found dead in Manitoba, a few yards north of the frontier with Minnesota. A US court granted Shand conditional release on Monday. The four were among four families from the same village who had travelled to the border this month. Officials said they got separated from the group of 18 people and were probably caught in a blizzard, resulting in a tragedy Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described as "mind-blowing." The situation came to light only when US authorities intercepted the group and found one of them carrying a backpack with baby supplies, although there was no infant among them. "The nexus of human trafficking runs deep, often involving local politicians too," said police official Jhala, adding that people even sell their land and homes to fund efforts to get to the United States or Canada. Canada is a sought-after destination by Indians facing massive unemployment at home. A foreign ministry official in India's capital New Delhi said authorities were coordinating with US and Canadian border officials to investigate the illegal immigration case. Crossings like this, into the United States from Canada, are relatively rare: US Customs and Border Patrol apprehensions of migrants trying to cross between ports of entry along the US-Canada border dropped from 6,806 in 2009 to 916 in 2021. US Customs and Border Patrol apprehended 339 Indians trying to cross into the United States at the northern border in 2019, 129 in 2020 and 41 last year. By contrast, the RCMP apprehended 16,503 asylum-seekers crossing north between border crossings in 2019. The seven Indian migrants US authorities apprehended last week may be eligible for visas if they cooperate in Shand's prosecution, said Veena Iyer, executive director of the Immigration Law Center of Minnesota. Check out latest DH videos here The Centre on Friday said it has decided to convert as many as 150 villages into 'Villages of Excellence' in 12 states with technical assistance from the Israeli government. Already, the Israeli government has established 29 Centre of Excellence (CoEs) in 12 states, which are producing more than 25 million vegetable plants, over 3,87,000 quality fruit plants and can train more than 1.2 lakh farmers per year. The 150 villages that are located around CoEs will be converted into 'Villages of Excellence.' "Out of which, 75 villages are being taken up in the first year to commemorate the 75th year of India's independence, where India and Israel will work together," Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar conveyed in a meeting with the new Israeli Ambassador to India Naor Gilon on January 27 here. The minister expressed joy over the completion of 30 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel and said that the government is satisfied with the functioning of 29 CoEs, according to an official statement. The Ambassador of Israel, Gilon, said these CoEs are a great example of cooperation between the two countries and proposed the certification of CoEs to further enhance the standards and quality of services being provided to the farmers. He also evinced interest in further collaboration with agri-research body ICAR and making available the latest technologies available with Israel. Gilon also invited Tomar to visit Israel. Check out the latest videos from DH: Several Indian-origin scientists are among hundreds of worldwide experts to urge the UK to back a temporary waiver of intellectual property rules for Covid-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to achieve greater vaccine parity worldwide. India and South Africa had introduced a proposal at the WTO for such a patent waiver for fairer vaccine access for the developing world, but the issue remains deadlocked in the multilateral arena. Epidemiologists Professor K. Srinath Reddy of the Public Health Foundation of India and Dr Deepti Gurdasani of Londons Queen Mary University, Bioengineer Manu Prakash, Associate Professor at Stanford University, Professor Amitava Banerjee of University College London, and Professor Harish Nair of the University of Edinburgh are among 320 scientists calling on technology sharing for global vaccination coverage to boost the fight against variants of concern. Also Read | Pfizer Covid pill gets final approval from European Commission Allowing huge numbers of people in low- and middle-income countries to remain unvaccinated is a reckless approach to public health that creates conditions where new SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) variants of concern are more likely to develop, reads a letter addressed to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street this week. The experts point out how the Omicron variant was first identified in Botswana and South Africa, countries on a continent in which fewer than one in 10 are fully vaccinated. Thanks to remarkable scientific innovations, we have a number of vaccines that remain highly effective against all known Covid-19 variants. Yet, unless we share this technology with the world and increase global vaccination coverage, vaccines will not be effective at stopping new variants of concern, the experts say. Also Read | Merck's Covid-19 pill active against Omicron in lab studies They add: We must use and expand domestic vaccine manufacturing and distribution capacity within low and middle-income countries. However, intellectual property rules and trade secrets remain a major barrier to this task. We call on the UK government to support the temporary waiver of intellectual property rules under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement for Covid-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to scale up and diversify production of the tools needed to end this pandemic. The UK and European Union (EU) are among the countries not in favour of such a waiver, while the US expressed support last year. Also Read | Bharat Biotech gets DCGI nod for trials of nasal Covid-19 booster dose We also call on the British government to use all means at its disposal to pressure pharmaceutical companies to share their technology and know-how with the World Health Organisations (WHO) Covid-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) and its mRNA technology transfer hub in South Africa. This way, we can accelerate production and supply in low and middle-income countries and prevent further variants of concern from emerging, the scientists urge. The UK has maintained that it is doing its bit and making "significant" contributions through the WHO's COVAX initiative for vaccine supplies by donating excess doses. "We recognise and share concerns regarding the level of vaccination in some parts of the world, and we are working on tackling the underlying issues including manufacturing and supply constraints, pressure on health systems, and vaccine confidence," a UK government spokesperson said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Maharashtra Directorate of National Cadet Corps (NCC) has won the Prime Ministers banner at the Republic Day Camp. The prestigious PM banner has been won by the State Directorate after seven years. The last time the state won the banner was in 2014. Cadets from 17 NCC Directorates from various States participated in the month-long RDC Camp this year. Maharashtra State Directorate had also fielded a Contingent of 57 Cadets, both Boys and Girls, drawn from various districts. The RDC 2022 for the NCC during the year commemorating Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav and Swarnim Vijay Varsh culminated with the PMs Rally at Cariappa Parade Ground, Delhi Cantonment on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, presented the prestigious PM Banner to Maj Gen Y P Khanduri, Additional Director General, NCC Directorate Maharashtra. Also read: No one can stop nation whose youth works with spirit of nation first: PM Modi at NCC rally Senior Under Officer Siddhesh Jadhav was the Banner Bearer and Cadet Capt Nikita Khot was the Trophy bearer. In the month-long Camp, the Cadets did their best in various competitions like Drill, Rajpath Marching, Guard of Honour to PM, PMs Rally Line Layout, Flag Area briefing and Cultural Event. The consistent excellent performance of the contingent throughout the Camp in all events saw the NCC Directorate Maharashtra being adjudged the best directorate. Brig R K Gaikwad, Commander NCC Group Pune complimented the contingent that was led by Lt Col Anirudh Sinh, assisted by Maj Arusha Shete and S/O Manoj Phirange and the Cadets for their outstanding performance. Noting the young profile of the cadets, who are mostly born in this century, the Prime Minister underlined their role in taking the country towards 2047. Your efforts and resolve and the fulfilment of those resolutions will be the achievement and success of India, he said. The Prime Minister said no power of the world can stop the country whose youth starts moving ahead with the thinking of nation first. India's success in the playfield and the startup ecosphere exemplify this very clearly, the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister talked about the steps being taken to strengthen the NCC in the country in a period when the country is moving forward with new resolutions. For this, a high-level review committee has been set up in the country. In the last two years, 1 lakh new cadets have been created in the border areas of the country, he said. The Prime Minister elaborated on the steps being taken to open the doors of the defence establishments for girls and women. He noted the presence of a large number of the girl cadets and termed it to be a symbol of changing attitude of the nation. Country needs your contribution and there are ample opportunities for that, he told the girl cadets. He said now the daughters of the country are taking admission in Sainik Schools and women are getting major responsibilities in the army. The daughters of the country are flying fighter planes in the Air Force. In such a situation, it should be our endeavour that more and more daughters should be included in NCC, he added. The Prime Minister also underlined the major role that todays youngsters can play in the vocal for local campaign. If todays youth resolves to use only those goods that have been created with the labour and sweat of an Indian, Indias destiny can be transformed, he emphasised. Check out latest videos from DH: The Congress leadership has been caught unawares and is in a dilemma by a surprising decision of the Modi government. The move to confer Padma Bhushan award on senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has resulted in the BJP shooting many birds with one stone. One may not be wrong if one thinks that the BJP has risen above narrow party identities and bestowed the award on Azad, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and former Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. But many, declining to be quoted, say this is a ploy to embarrass the Congress, a party which is in a serious disarray ever since it lost power in 2014. This gesture may have also made Azad to be sympathetic to the BJP (dont forget the praise heaped on him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajya Sabha during the farewell speech for the Kashmiri leader). Many aver that Azad would be a good bet for the BJP in the troubled state of J&K where Assembly elections may be held this or next year. Also Read | Padma award to Azad stirs pot of troubles for Congress The BJP, by this move, has put its main rival Congress in a hopelessly embarrassing position. The party has, three days after the announcement, failed to come out with its reaction, either praising it or asking Azad to reject it. If the intention of the BJP was to put the Congress in an awkward position, one can say it has succeeded in this bid. Not just that, with the schism created, the party is badly divided on this front. As regards party seniors, Jairam Ramesh is critical of the move while Kapil Sibal, Anand Sharma, Manish Tewari etc, while congratulating Azad, have taken on the party leadership for not welcoming it. The party leaderships discomfort in this needs to be seen from a different perspective too. Azad is the leader of the G23 grouping which has rebelled against the high command; in other words, against the leadership of the mother-son duo of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. Also Read | 'No comments': Cong on Padma Bhushan for Ghulam Nabi Azad; division within party on honour Sibal, Sharma, Tewari are part of the G23 pack. The Padma award came a day after the party nominated Azad as one of the 'star campaigners for the elections to the five state assemblies. Azad himself, unlike Marxist veteran and former West Bengal chief minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, has not rejected the award, which means, in all probability, he will accept the same. Of course, he has not made any statement specifically regarding this. This has given rise to speculation that Azad may leave the Congress, form a party of his own and, after the elections in J&K, have an alliance with the BJP if the need arises. The Congress, on its part, had been generous towards Azad all through his career. Since 1980s, he was almost always a member of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha till 2021, except for nearly three years when he was made chief minister of J&K. He helmed various portfolios during his many years as minister at the Centre; his last position was Leader of the Opposition in the RS. In sum, with the move, the BJP has trapped the Congress, its leadership, its senior leaders and Azad on a sticky wicket. Check out latest DH videos here A girl is not a property that can be given in donation, the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court observed, while taking strong objection to a case wherein a man had given his 17-year-old daughter in "daan" to a self-styled godman. A single bench of Justice Vibha Kankanwadi made the observation earlier this month while hearing a bail application filed by the godman Shankeshwar Dhakne and his disciple Sopan Dhanke, arrested for allegedly raping the minor girl. The two accused lived in a temple at Badnapur in Jalna district along with the girl and her father. The girl on August 2021 filed FIR against the duo for allegedly raping her, following which they were arrested. Justice Kankanwadi in her order took note of the prosecution's case that in 2018, a document styled as "danpatra" on a stamp paper of Rs 100 was executed between the girl's father and the Dhakne. It is stated that the father of the girl has given his daughter on donation (daan) to the baba and it is stated that the said 'kanyadan' has been made in the presence of God. When the girl as per her own statement is minor, then why the father, who is in all respect guardian, to the girl, give the girl as Daan? the court said in its order. A girl is not a property, which can be given in donation, Justice Kankanwadi said, adding that this was a disturbing fact. The court noted that it was concerned about the future of the minor girl and cannot shut its eyes. This was a fit case where directions needed to be given to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Jalna district to hold an inquiry on an expeditious basis and find out if the girl was fit to be declared as a child in need of care and protection. This is in view of the future of the girl and she should not be driven to do any illegal activities, the court said, directing the CWC to hold its inquiry and submit its report to the court. The court granted bail to the duo on a bond of Rs 25,000 each and posted the matter for further hearing on February 4. Watch the latest DH Videos here: A notice that left hundreds of employees of Kolkata Municipal Corporation shocked, as it allegedly declared halting of pension for the recent retirees of the government body due to a fund crunch, is being probed. The corporation has declared that no notice with the consent of the municipal commissioner or of the civic body was put up. Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim on Friday clarified that those who have put up the notice have done injustice and the municipal commissioner has been asked to investigate how such notice was put up. We are looking into it. Whoever did it, did an injustice. The commissioner has been asked to investigate we will search, and disciplinary action will be taken, the mayor said. The Kolkata mayor added that those who have been receiving pensions so far will continue to get. Those, who are in process of availing pension, will have a slight delay. A notice put up on Thursday for the civic employees had stated, Payments of pension and pensionary benefits (to the retired employees who have been superannuated from September 2021) are not currently released due to (the) crisis of fund. The unsigned notice created panic, and soon rumours of the Kolkata civic body having gone bankrupt were in circulation. The mayor, however, accepted the fact (as already stated by him) that the corporation has Rs 1,000 crore liability in its accounts. Attempts are on to instil financial discipline. The Bengal BJP, meanwhile, took a dig at the Trinamool government, saying that the way expenditures are incurred doesnt reflect an economic crisis, and if there is a crisis in the civic body, then who created it in the first place. A BJP councillor also protested with a banner, No pension, no KMC, at the venue of the corporations routine meeting, that took place at the Town Hall in the city. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Jaganmohan Reddy government's move to carve 13 new districts is met with protests in several parts of Andhra Pradesh. While people in some areas are agitated over their long-standing demands being ignored, some are opposed to their region attached with far off district headquarters. Emotions are running high especially in Reddy's home turf Rajampeta. A rally was taken out in the town on Thursday, with sizable participation of students, opposing their inclusion in the newly proposed Annamayya district with Rayachoti as headquarters. According to a gazette notification issued on Wednesday, Rajampeta revenue division from existing Kadapa and Madanapalle from existing Chittoor districts would form part of Annamayya district. Rajampeta people are also agitated as the name Tallapaka Annamayya, a 15th-century saint and composer of hymns in praise of Lord Venkateshwara has closer association with them. Tallapaka village is just a few kms away from Rajampet. Also read: Jaganmohan government notifies creation of 13 new districts in Andhra Pradesh People in Madanapalle are also protesting, demanding that their town be made the district HQ. While there is a demand to make Markapuram a separate district, the revenue division was retained in the Prakasam district. Penamaluru, Gannavaram people, who are closer to Vijayawada, are furious that they are clubbed with far off Machilipatnam. Such objections are being raised in north coastal Andhra too. Actor turned politician and Hindupur MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna stated that Hindupur should be made the centre of Sri Satyasai district. Vijay Kumar, secretary, AP planning department said that the districts were reshaped keeping aspects like population, area, distance from headquarters and future development potential in view. Objections can be brought to the government notice within 30 days from Wednesday. Meanwhile, the opposition Telugu Desam Party described the district reorganisation as ruling YSRCP's political game, to divert attention from public resentment over various issues and problems in the state. TDP leaders said that notifications were issued overnight with total disregard for the sentiments of the people concerned. Check out latest videos from DH: Sika and Siddique will finally be able to spend a few days together almost seven-and-a-half decades after the 1947 partition of India and birth of the new nation of Pakistan separated the two brothers. The High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi has issued a visa to Sika Khan so that the 76-year-old can travel from Punjab in India to the neighbouring country, where his 84-year-old brother Muhammad Siddique has been living since 1947. I am delighted that I have got the visa. I will now travel to Pakistan to meet my brother and other family members, Sika said in a video tweeted by the High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi, after a brief meeting with the neighbouring countrys acting envoy to India, Aftab Hasan Khan. He also smilingly posed for photograph showing on his passport the visa that would allow him to spend a few days with his brother Siddique. The siblings were separated just days before India attained independence and Pakistan was born as a new nation in August 1947. The children were at their maternal village Phulewala in Punjab just days before India attained independence on August 15, 1947. So were their parents. But just before the partition of the country, their father took Siddique to his ancestral village Bogran, which soon became the part of Punjab in Pakistan. Sika, then just two-year-old, remained with her mother in India. As the partition triggered a mass migration and communal riots, the familys plan for an early reunion did not turn into a reality. The father of Sika and Siddique died in Pakistan, while their mother committed suicide a few days after hearing about her husbands death across the newly drawn border. The two brothers grew up and greyed separately on two sides of the border. They, however, came to know about each other in 2019 when Pakistani YouTuber Nasir Dhillon visited the village where Siddique was living and posted online a video of him talking about his long lost sibling Sika. A rural medical practitioner Jagsir Singh from Phulewala in India contacted Dhillon and they arranged a video-call between the two separated brothers. Sika and Siddique met each other personally in Kartarpur Corridor a few days back. The Kartarpur Corridor was formally opened in November 2019 to facilitate the pilgrims from India to cross over to Pakistan and visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur without any hassle. The meeting between Sika and Siddique in Kartarpur Corridor was brief. But with Sika now set to travel from India to Pakistan and meet Siddique, the two siblings can at least partially make up for the years they lost while growing up on the two sides of the border. Check out latest DH videos here Biden, Zelensky discuss Ukraine tensions over phone Xinhua) 14:09, January 28, 2022 WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, held a telephone conversation Thursday to discuss the ongoing tensions on the Ukrainian border. According to a statement released by the White House, Biden reaffirmed U.S. support to Ukraine, including "additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraine's economy amidst pressure." The U.S. president also noted that despite the departure of American family members of embassy personnel, the U.S. embassy in Kiev remains open and fully operational. Biden, the statement said, also expressed Washington's support for resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine through the Normandy Format, a mechanism established in 2014 that involves French, German, Russian and Ukrainian diplomats. The president said he hoped that a recommitment by the quadrilateral dialogue members to the July 2020 ceasefire agreement will help decrease tensions and advance the Minsk agreements. The agreements call for an immediate ceasefire between government troops in Kiev and armed groups in the Donbass region while seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Zelensky said in a tweet that during the call the two leaders discussed "recent diplomatic efforts on de-escalation and agreed on joint actions for the future." He also confirmed that "possibilities for financial support to Ukraine were also discussed." Also on Thursday, Deputy Chairman of Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United States are using Ukraine to gain geopolitical leverage. "Ukraine, unfortunately, has turned, to some extent, into a toy in the hands of NATO and the United States, as Ukraine is used as a geopolitical instrument to exert pressure on Russia," the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Medvedev as saying during his interview with Russian media outlets. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Continuing its pledge to improve safety in the wake of shootings near campus, Temple University announced Thursday morning it was forming a task force and tapping former Philly police commissioner Charles H. Ramsey to conduct an audit of campus safety services. The move comes after student Samuel Collington was shot to death last semester in a near-campus robbery and carjacking, putting the North Philadelphia university on edge and leaving students and staff fearful. Advertisement We are committed to enhancing safety around campus and Commissioner Ramseys expertise will be key to ensuring that we are on the right path. university President Jason Wingard said in a message to the campus. Ramsey served as Philadelphias police commissioner from 2008 to 2016 during which the citys homicide rate plummeted. He also had co-chaired former President Obamas task force on policing and led police forces in both Chicago and Washington D.C. Advertisement The citys gun violence epidemic hit painfully close to the campus last November. On Nov. 16, Ahmir Jones, 18, who was not a Temple student, was shot and killed three blocks from campus. Then on Nov. 28, Collington was killed just after returning to his off campus residence after Thanksgiving break. Last Call Daily Get top headlines from The Morning Call delivered weekday afternoons. > Wingard at that time promised over the next days and weeks to increase security, including working with the city Police Department to establish more patrols in nearby student residential areas and aiming to boost the 115-officer campus police force by 50%. The university, he said at that time, also intended to upgrade lighting, cameras, and emergency phones and increase the availability of shuttle service and its walking escort program. Thursdays announcement, he said, continues those efforts. Four new police officers were added to patrol, six have been hired as officers or trainees, and a dozen more are in the interview process, the university said. With an additional 70 applicants, Temple hopes to have a sizable number for its next police academy, the university said. Temple also will form a task force on violence-reduction strategies, which will be used to keep key constituents, including parents and North Philadelphia residents, engaged in enhancing safety, the university said. The answers to solving this crisis can be found only by harnessing the collective expertise of the entire Temple community, Wingard said. This is all hands on deck... The university also said it was launching a new personal safety mobile app, called RAVE Temple Guardian, which students can use to connect directly with the campus police department to request virtual and physical escorts and report problems. Temples medical school also plans to develop a center within the school for violence prevention intervention. Dr. Amy Goldberg, dean of the medical school and a trauma surgeon, after a series of shootings including two deaths in the early hours of New Years Day, tweeted: Last night was an abomination in our city. Our community is dying. Where is the outrage ... from everyone? Amid a falling Covid-19 count, the Union Health Ministry on Thursday said there are early indications of the third Covid wave plateauing in certain geographies and maintained that more than 90 per cent of active cases are in home isolation indicating mild or moderate disease. The ministry also observed that 75 per cent of the samples sequenced in January were of the Omicron variant that drove away the more virulent Delta from all states barring Odisha, Maharashtra and West Bengal, but cautioned the unvaccinated or people with comorbidities to watch out as majority of Covid-19 deaths and serious diseases during the third wave occurred in such populations. There are early indications of a plateau (in the Covid-19 curve) limited to certain geographies. There are areas where the case positivity is going down, Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the Union Health Ministry said, without disclosing the sites. Read more: While Omicron loosens hold, the pandemic has not ended The maximum number of daily new cases during the third wave was registered on January 20 (3,47,254) following which there has been a steady decline. Asked whether India crossed its peak, Agarwal said, The overall bigger picture on the peak is yet to come as there are some areas where the disease is still spreading. More than 400 districts have a weekly positivity of over 10 per cent while 141 districts have a positivity between 5 and 10 per cent. Four southern states are among the areas with an expanding epidemic as they recorded an increase in Covid-19 case as well as positivity on the week ending on January 27 as against the previous three weeks. The weekly cases in Karnataka stands at 3,25,214 with a positivity rate of 22.67 per cent -- both substantially higher than corresponding figures recorded in the week ending on January 20. A similar rise has been seen in Kerala (3,10,382 weekly cases with nearly 50 per cent positivity), Tamil Nadu (2,10,001 and 22 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (95,132 and 28.3 per cent). Ten states contribute more than 77 per cent of the active cases, Agarwal said. Karnataka tops the list of states with the maximum number of active cases. Besides its southern neighbours, others in the list are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh though the Health Ministry data indicates a decline in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal in the last one week. On the community spread of Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, Sujit Singh, director, National Centre for Disease Control said 75 per cent of the samples genetically sequenced in January turned out to be Omicron. There are 9,672 Omicron samples as against 4,779 Delta and AY samples (1,578 Delta). In comparison, there were 1,292 Omicron cases in December as against 17,272 Delta and AY cases. Delta is still not out fully as the variant is still being seen in three states, he said. Watch the latest DH videos: Four persons found frozen to death on the Canada-US border last week were from Gujarat's Dingucha village in Kalol taluka of state capital Gandhinagar district. They are from the same family who had left for Canada on visitor visas and were exposed to extreme cold while trying to cross the border to the United States in what is believed to be a case of human smuggling. "Further to the report of the tragic death of four people, including an infant, whose bodies were recovered near the Canada-US border in Manitoba on January 19, 2022, Canadian authorities have confirmed the identifies of the four deceased as; (i) Jagdish Baldeshbhai Patel, male, 39, (ii) Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, female, 37, (iii)Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel, female, 11, and (iv) Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel, male, 3. All were Indians and next of kin of the deceased have been informed," High Commission of India, Ottawa (Canada), said in a statement posted on its Twitter handle. The statement also said, "...this tragedy has brought into focus the need to ensure that migration and mobility are made safe and legal and that such tragedies do not recur." Also read: India probes illegal immigration after family of four from Gujarat dies near Canada border Meanwhile, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Manitoba province also released a statement on its official website where it said that the deceased are from the same family. The website also released a photo of the Patel family. "They are from the same family and are all Indian nationals. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Manitoba has confirmed that the cause of death was due to exposure." According to several reports, the family was trying to cross into the US on foot in -35c temperature. "We can confirm that on January 12, the Patel family arrived in Toronto, Canada. From Toronto, the family made their way to Emerson (the border town) on, or about January 18, 2022. There was no abandoned vehicle located on the Canadian side of the border. This indicates that someone drove the family to the border and then left the scene," the Canadian police said in the statement. It added, "With what we know so far of their activities in Canada, along with the arrest that occurred in the United States, we believe this to be a case of human smuggling. We know the Patel moved around Canada for a period of time and we are looking for anyone that may have had encounters with them." In Dingucha, Jaswant Patel, cousin of Jagdish Patel, confirmed that the family was informed by the government officials late on Thursday night. The sleepy village with urban facilities has nearly 3,300 population as per 2011 census, out of which a majority of them are from the Patidar community. Nearly 50 per cent of Patidar households have migrated to the United States and Australia. Check out DH's latest videos What women wear. This is something that has been the target of rules, diktats, sly comments and harsh punishments for much of recorded human history. And this continues right up to the present day. Of late, there has been conflict in Karnatakas Udupi over the wish of some young women students to wear a headscarf in class. They have faced resistance to this from authorities and their own college mates. Also Read | The Udupi girls and other dangerous Muslim women This is not the first time that this has happened in the state. Back in August 2009, I travelled to the Dakshina Kannada district to meet a young woman, Ayesha, who was facing the same pressure for the same reason. Ayesha was then a first-year student at SVS College in Bantwal, near Mangaluru. She was not allowed to enter her class wearing a headscarf. She kept returning each day hoping that she would be allowed to attend classes in her chosen attire. But that didnt happen, and in an increasingly difficult atmosphere, Ayesha left the college. In 2022, over 12 years on, the Udupi students who want to wear the headscarves in class are facing a similar situation to the one faced by Ayesha in 2009. The authorities in Ayeshas college indicated that they personally had no issue with a student wearing the headscarf in class but that rules were rules. The SVS College Principal at that time, Sitaram Mayya, said, It is one rule for all students. She is the only one not following the rule. Ganesh Prabhu, who was then Correspondent of SVS College, said, We admire Ayeshas rebellious spirit; we just wish it had been used for nation-building instead. Maybe even harder to deal with for these students is the opposition from their peers. For Ayesha, too, over a decade ago, many of her college mates were against the headscarf she wanted to wear. She said that they had told her If you wear the scarf, we will wear saffron shawls. This saffron shawl angle has surfaced in 2022 also. Back in 2009, a non-Muslim student at the college told me why they were against wearing of the headscarf in the classroom. They look different from the others when they wear burkhas. You should not display religion. I spoke to other Muslim girl students from the college on that visit -- many of whom came to college in burkhas which they took off after entering the college. Some of them said they also wanted to wear their headscarf to class and had not told their families that they needed to remove them once on the college campus. The coastal region of Karnataka does have an unfortunate history of communal tensions. But adding to the complicated situation, these incidents are also mixed inextricably with gender. Dress codes for women students are not that unusual. Colleges in big cities like Bengaluru and other towns like Mysuru even colleges that admit only girls have at various stages told their day scholars and hostelites what they can and cannot wear. In some colleges, jeans were banned as well as sleeveless and short tops. Tops were not supposed to be tucked into trousers. The objective here was to make sure the young women students were covered up enough for modesty, to make sure their clothes were not too revealing. But girl students who want to cover themselves even further with the hijab are also facing criticism. Opposition to the headscarf in countries like France which has lately seen objections to the wearing of headscarves by sportswomen too is ostensibly because the coverings are seen as oppressive to women and part of too conspicuous a display of religious symbols in public. Others demand the right to wear these headscarves while playing sport or indeed anywhere they choose. They see the opposition to headscarves as part of religious intolerance, particularly against Muslims. The same debate had surfaced when some places in France banned the burqini -- swimwear that covered far more of the wearers body than other swimsuits of the day. The common thread connecting those who tell women to cover up or not to cover up quite so much is the belief that they have the right to tell a girl or a woman what she can or cannot wear. Bring religion into the mix against a backdrop of growing intolerance, and a simple headscarf stands for so much more. A hope that another 12 years down the line, this story is still not being played out in our colleges. And that women can peacefully wear whatever they feel comfortable wearing. (The writer is a senior journalist with NDTV) The joint session of the Karnataka state legislature would be held from February 14-25 and the Budget session would be held in the first week of March, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said. Speaking to the media persons after the cabinet meeting, Bommai said many vital issues were discussed after the cabinet meeting. "Covid situation and management, problems being faced by schools and colleges... the petitions from schools, colleges and organisations have been placed before the expert committee. Suitable decision would be taken based on the report from the experts," Bommai said. The Chief Minister said that BBMP elections too came up for discussion. Also Read | Bommai completes bitter-sweet 6 months as Karnataka CM, more challenges await A handbook on the six months' achievements of the government would be released at a function on Friday as it completes 6 months in office. Instructions have been issued to ministers to present the achievements of their respective ministries through print and electronic media by holding media conferences so that the performance could get wide publicity to reach the people, Bommai said. The BJP state president would soon convene a meeting to brainstorm on the issues related to party organisation and foster better coordination in the days ahead between the party and the government, Bommai said. Reacting to objections raised by Congress leaders about huge gatherings at the Derby races violating Covid guidelines, Bommai said: "There is no permission for large gatherings Covid guidelines should be strictly followed. Suitable action will be taken if the guidelines have been violated." Replying to a question about Congress' allegations of discrimination in allocation of funds and the BBMP meetings being held with a motive to help BJP in BBMP polls, Bommai said: "The very purpose of Congress is to make allegations. Let them recall what they did when they were in power." Check out latest DH videos here Released: January 28, 2022 Melissa C. Lyon, CPH, Director of Delaware Countys historic first Health Department toured the Keystone First Wellness and Opportunity Center in Chester on Jan. 26 to examine the Countys efforts administering the COVID-19 vaccine to local residents. During the visit, Lyon was given a tour of the facility which offers testing and vaccinations for the County. Since opening, more than 13,000 vaccines have been given to area residents at the Keystone First Wellness Center by members of the Delaware County Reserve Medical Corps assisted by Keystone staff. Residents are so excited to finally have a County Health Department and I share in their enthusiasm, said Delaware County Health Department Director, Melissa Lyon. There is a great deal of work to get done and there are fundamental priorities that we have to put into place. My team and I are excited to get started! Lyon will tour other medical facilities across the county in the coming weeks. The Bishop of Derry has said that had the truth been spoken that day on Bloody Sunday, so many lives and so much pain could have been spared. Bishop Donal McKeown addressed the congregation at a special Mass at St Mary's Church in Creggan for the victims of Bloody Sunday. The Bishop was also joined by Bishop Andrew Forster, who is the Anglican Bishop of Derry and Raphoe as well a number of the Bloody Sunday families. In his homily, Bishop McKeown stated that blatant lies were told as the truth was killed to protect the system. He also spoke about other tragedies and unsavoury chapters of history that have gone fully untold and that society deserved an agreed system that creates space for the truth to be told. Bishop McKeown said in his homily: Those of us gathered here this evening have known for a long time that this anniversary was approaching. What happened 50 years ago on the streets of this city was such a shocking event that has reverberated down through the years and around the world. Unarmed civilians were gunned down by the state when all they were doing was protesting against decades of injustice. There is no doubt now as to what we remember. The Saville tribunal overturned the Widgery whitewash, though it took 38 years for an acknowledgement of what the families always knew to be true. But though there are no doubts as to what happened, we can reflect on how we chose to remember what we recall with love. What might Jesus have to say to us to help us remember the loss of life and the loss of innocence that happened that Sunday afternoon? Firstly, Jesus said that the truth will set you free. Had truth been spoken that day and over the next weeks, so many lives and so much pain could have been spared. But when truth is killed to protect the system, the initial pain is multiplied. As with many other tragedies in our history, the system frustrated the desire of families to get at the truth. Blatant lies were told. Campaigners were sometimes seen as obsessive. That put huge pressure on mental health and on relationships. Institutions whether in state, church or non-state actors tell stories of their own heroism. And that makes it very hard for them to admit the presence of sin in their ranks. People are crushed when institutions or organisations lie to preserve their reputation. We still have much truth to discover about many other deaths. Many people still know truths that they are reluctant to share. We deserve an agreed system that creates space for the truth to be told about the thousands of unsolved murders. Drawing a line under the past always suits those who have much to hide. Today we remember those whose lives were lost by brutal violence and all those who suffered terribly because of the lies that were told. Bishop Donal McKeown, the Bishop of Derry Bishop McKeown went on to speak on how the difficulty on finding peace with the past can be overcome with compassion and forgiveness as using the past as a heap of angry stones to throw at other people hinders the rebuilding process. He added: We all know that finding peace with the past is very difficult. Many of our societies struggle to know how they remember unsavoury chapters in their history. How do we deal with slavery and colonialism, the treatment of those who offended against societys morals and the banishment of the poor to Australia for stealing food or a handkerchief? There are various attitudes that can be employed. There are those prefer to stoke the flames of rage, believing that the fire of anger will cleanse the wound promote a modern agenda. There are others who want to let sleeping dogs lie and prefer not to grapple with uncomfortable truths that might disturb our comfort in the present. But there is another way. It seeks to acknowledge the past but to have compassion and forgiveness for those who were caught up in systems and situations that they can now look at with other eyes. There is a grace-filled art in forgiving and remembering. It takes a wise heart to look at the rubble of what has been shattered in the past and to make it into a foundation for the future. If all we do with the past is to use it as a heap of angry stones to throw at other people, then we cannot build. Either we process the rubbish of the past and make it into life-giving compost or it lies in the corner and benefits no-one. I hope that our celebrations this weekend will help us all to build a future full of hope for our young people and not nourish them on bitter anger that can only kills and destroy. A new society on the island needs big hearts. It will not be created by small minds. Despite being from another denomination, Bishop Forster's attendance was warmly welcomed by Bishop McKeown. He continued: I was delighted when Bishop Andrew Forster said that he would join us this evening. His presence builds on the courageous work begun by Bishops Daly and Mehaffey some 40 years ago. Bishop Andrew Forster, the Anglican Bishop of Derry and Raphoe They showed a way forward long before warring politicians would sit in the same room. That good work was built on when, at the publication of the Saville Report, Bishop Ken Good, Rev Norman Hamilton and Rev Paul Kingston received a warm welcome when they came to meet victims families at the monument. The people of this city have shown great dignity and courage, often leading the way for the rest of Northern Ireland to follow. The suffering endured has borne the seed of solidarity and not merely of anger. The dignity of the people means that we do not look like a post-conflict society. Music and community have enabled the population to be known for its welcome and great stories. This is a city that can look back with compassion on the past. For it is a town that we all love so well. Phil Coulters song doesnt forget the barbed wire and guns and the gas that hung on every breeze. But he knew the burning local pride and remembered his first pay and what he learned about life. Love changes everything and gives us eyes to see little beauties that brighten the dark. Bishop Andrew, your presence here invites us to pray together and work for a bright brand-new day. Tonight, we remember those who died and those who were scarred by their deaths. But we also remember those who risked everything as they went to help the injured. Some are here tonight, and others died on that January afternoon. We remember heroism and strength of character in those who sought and fought for the truth. And, as people of faith, we remember that there is more grace and goodness in the world than sin and evil. And we pray that those whom we have loved can be at peace and that we can find peace at their leaving us. Together we can acknowledge the patronage of St Columba and use his words in prayer, 'Be a bright light before me, O God, a guiding star above me. A smooth path below me a kindly shepherd behind me today, tonight and for ever'. Read more: Bishop of Derry's poignant message of hope at annual Mass to remember Bloody Sunday A cross in front of the altar at St Mary's Church in the Creggan took Bishop Donal McKeown, the Bishop of Derry, back to 1972 and three days after Bloody Sunday. Back then, 50 years ago, with the city still raw with grief after the atrocity of the British army killing and wounding Derry people who had been marching for civil rights only to be mown down by State bullets, a crowd had gathered at St Mary's. Bishop McKeown described to the congregation attending this year's annual Friday Mass at the same church, how he was one of many in that crowd on that misty Wednesday looking at the photographs of the dead that had been put up. Fifty years later, the atmosphere more calmer but the memories still strong, the Bishop drew attention to the photographs that were on display in front of the altar now before reading the names of the fallen from that horrific day in 1972. Silence is usually just that but the silence inside St Mary's Church was loud and clear Derry would not forget and would never do so. As the Bishop himself would state in his homily later on in the service, There are others who want to let sleeping dogs lie and prefer not to grapple with uncomfortable truths that might disturb our comfort in the present. While those dogs continue to sleep, Derry as it has every year, more so this weekend given the landmark anniversary will continue to awaken those canines from their slumber and accept the truth of what really happened on Bloody Sunday. With the names of the dead read out, the Bishop turned to reading out those who had been wounded. It became apparent that not many who survived the British army's attempts to kill them were still with us as the Bishop read out deceased after the majority of names listed. The respectful silence became more poignant as those family members who had died in the past 12 months had their names read out a reminder that they, like the dead and wounded before them, would not live to see justice for Bloody Sunday. As the reading from the Prophet Amos that followed said: Hate evil, love good... Let justice flow like water. The Bishop of Derry delivered his homily, not in the form of a firebrand preacher from the pulpit, but with a calm assurance. Yet while the delivery was solemn, the words were firmly pointed towards those who had failed the Bloody Sunday families by denying them the truth. However, there was also a voice for forgiveness and compassion as the Bishop reminded us of the obstacles that society and progress faces if consumed with hate when saying, Either we process the rubbish of the past and make it into life-giving compost or it lies in the corner and benefits no-one. One example was the invitation extended to and accepted by Bishop Andrew Forster, the Anglican Bishop of Derry and Raphoe and his attendance had received warm applause from the congregation when Mass had begun earlier in the evening. With the Lord's Prayer recited and Holy Communion taken, Bishop McKeown ended Mass with one final passage of hope and compassion. I hope it's been a time of prayer and a time of grace for you, he said. I hope this is a blessed weekend when we can celebrate with tenderness those we have lost. Read more: Bishop of Derry: Had the truth not been denied, "so many lives and so much pain could have been spared" Business groups have said they are hopeful that a deal between the UK and the EU can be reached on the Northern Ireland Protocol, following a meeting with Liz Truss. The Foreign Secretary, who visited Northern Ireland on Thursday, expressed determination to secure a deal on the protocol that can command universal support in Northern Ireland. Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said he was encouraged following the meeting with Ms Truss. He said he was hopeful that a deal to resolve the challenges around the Northern Ireland Protocol is achievable. The visit came amid continued warnings from the main unionist party, the DUP, that it will walk away from the devolved institutions at Stormont if major changes to the Irish Sea border trading arrangements are not secured rapidly. Ms Truss said: What I want is a deal that works for everyone. We are making progress. Were having constructive talks. I want to make significant progress by February. Thats important but its important that we secure the support of all of the communities in Northern Ireland, including the unionist community. Mr Roberts said his group presented Ms Truss with a number of case studies illustrating the problems local independent retailers are experiencing trading with GB-based suppliers as a result of the NI Protocol. He added: It is vital this issue needs to be resolved to ensure that consumers are given the full product range in Northern Ireland. We need a long-term sustainable deal which ensures stability, certainty and affordability for the broader business community in Northern Ireland. Continuing to ensure full access to the EU single market is essential as part of any deal. Derry City & Strabane District Council held a minute's silence during their monthly meeting in remembrance of those who died in the Holocaust. January 27 is Holocaust Memorial Day where the six million people, murdered because they were Jewish by the Nazis during World War Two, are remembered. As this month's meeting fell on that day, Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) put forward a proposal that a minute's silence be taken. That proposal was unanimously passed with Mayor Graham Warke adding that the Council Offices would be lit up in purple as a tribute to those murdered in the Holocaust. Cllr Harkin said: People Before Profit will be calling on Derry and Strabane Council to hold a minute's silence at 6pm during this week's full Council meeting to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and to recommit the Council to the 'Never Again!' campaign aimed at stopping the rise of fascist, anti-Semitic and authoritarian movements. The Holocaust was one of the darkest periods of human history. Six million Jews and millions of others were murdered by Nazi and fascist regimes. The genocide of the Jewish people and other minorities was the sickening outworking of capitalist economic crisis, big power conflict and the racist scapegoating by ruling elites. The message 'Never Again' is crucial to hear and act upon. Fascism was defeated and should have been binned forever. However, there are today reactionary and authoritarian political forces seeking to exploit frustrations with capitalist inequality, with demographic change and with the pandemic to target Jews, minorities and social justice campaigners. The far-right has been hard at work describing the pandemic as a hoax instigated by a Jewish elite to re-engineer society. Last year Derry City and Strabane Councillors unanimously supported a People Before Profit motion committing the Council to actively opposing anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination. We all need to be alert to attempts by the far-right to utilise anti-Semitic scapegoating and the targeting of minorities and we need to be prepared to take whatever action is necessary to stop it. Ald Derek Hussey (UUP) added his support saying that people needed to be more aware of situations that could see a repeat of the horrors of the Holocaust. He said: There was the thought that this could 'never happen again' but it has happened. It happened before Second World War genocide. I'm thinking of the likes of Armenia (during World War One). I commend the motion but also the whole ethos of what we're talking about. For goodness sake, lets be aware of situations that can develop into the sort of scenario that evolved in Germany and other parts of Europe at that time and has developed in other countries since. Meanwhile, Cllr Gary Donnelly (Independent) criticised those in the anti-Covid vaccination movement for hijacking the yellow star symbol that Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe were forced to wear. He said: There are some people who have used the pandemic to change their (social media) profile pictures to the yellow star. They are comparing Covid restrictions with what happened during the Holocaust. I believe this is absolutely disgusting and it demeans and devalues the horrors of what happened. Cllr Donnelly also called for a gesture of a letter to be sent out to the family of Eden Heaslip. The Cavan teenager committed suicide after being bullied because his father is a Protestant. He added: Persecution should not be happening on any scale and in that regard, I want to talk about what happened to a young man named Eden Heaslip in Cavan who took his own life because of being persecuted due to the (Protestant) religion of his father. I want to say that anyone who heard about what happened there can't be unaffected and I want to propose that this Council could send a letter to the Heaslip family expressing our condolences. Council voted unanimously to write a letter to the Heaslip family expressing their condolences for the loss of their son Eden. Sinn Fein Councillors were given credit by UUP Councillor, Ryan McCready, for showing tolerance and respect during last night's debate on a motion to mark Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee in June. A motion put forward by Ald Hilary McClintock (DUP) asking Council to help those wishing to mark the jubilee with funding and other mechanisms was passed. Those voting for the motion totaled 18, four voted against but the 12 abstentions largely from Sinn Fein ensured that it would be passed by Council. Cllr Paul Fleming (Sinn Fein) explained his party's decision to abstain by saying: As a party, we recognise that many members of this community hold the British Royal family in high esteem and wish to celebrate the jubilee. However, there are many others who feel very differently not least to the British Royal family's longstanding links to the British military. As a Council, we do have a duty to ensure that one's rights are respected. As we have unfortunately seen in the past, there is a thin line between genuine celebration and vitriol. We believe we need to ensure that doesn't happen. Sinn Fein will abstain on this motion and, hopefully, when it comes to the time, there will be a genuine celebration from people within our district who subscribe to the British Royal family. In response, Ald McCready (UUP) replied: Give credit where it's due and I won't hold back on this occasion to Sinn Fein. It would be very easy for them to oppose this on lots and lots of grounds. In particular, given how close it is to the Bloody Sunday event of this weekend. For them not to support it, which I wouldn't expect them to do so, but to abstain and not deny someone else access to something which they wouldn't subscribe to, I note that. Sometimes tolerance is about acknowledging that people do things slightly differently and maybe allowing them to have access to that. I'm a lot more comfortable as we are as a Council having these type of talks and long may it continue. Earlier, Ald McClintock (DUP) when presenting her motion said: The Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen, is for a sizeable amount of people in this district, a momentous occasion. One that we will definitely never again see in our lifetime. It's a historic occasion and never known before for a monarch in this country to be on the throne for such a period of time. Worldwide, the only time a monarch has been longer on the throne was Louis XIV of France who reigned for 72 years. Events (in the United Kingdom) will be taking place over the extended bank holiday weekend (June 2022). I am not in any way suggesting that Council organises events to mark the occasion, but rather they accommodate where possible and appropriate any kind requests for assistants from local organisers. I'd also request that Council seeks to identify if there are any possible pots of funding and mechanisms that local community groups might be able to apply for and utilise for their own local celebrations. We appreciate that not all members of this Council will wish to celebrate. But in the interests of good community relations and celebrating the cultural diversity of our residents, that every effort be made to enable those who wish to celebrate to do so. However, there was opposition within Council most notably from Cllr Gary Donnelly (Independent). He said: Many more people in this city will see this as divisive and toxic. No self-respecting socialist or republican can have any truck with this. Council should not in any way have anything to do with this. This week, it is the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the murder of unarmed civil rights marchers. The killers and murderers were decorated by this same person (the Queen). In later years, this person would give others (involved) gongs like MBEs. It's an absolute disgrace. A massive winter storm is bearing down on the Mid-Atlantic region and the Northeast, but uncertainty remains over impacts in the Lehigh Valley, where the difference between expected snowfall and a high-end overachiever is at least 8 inches. The National Weather Service said heavy snow, strong winds, tidal flooding, and low wind chills are all anticipated. The worst impacts will be along the coast, where blizzard warnings have been issued. Advertisement We're working on an update to the briefing and will be sending it out soon, but in the mean time, here is the definition of a blizzard. A blizzard warning has been issued for Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May Counties in NJ and coastal Sussex County DE. #NJWX #DEWX pic.twitter.com/wwMjdtNo0E NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) January 28, 2022 Snowfall totals of more than 12 inches are expected along the Jersey Shore, with a band of 6 to 8 inches along the Interstate 95 corridor. The Lehigh Valley remains the wild card, with models continuing to trend westward as they slowly converge on the overall evolution of the storm. Advertisement Heres what to know as it moves in: Light snow ahead of the main event Snow is already underway this morning as light precipitation drifted out of the Ohio River Valley and overspread the area before 7 a.m. Its separate from the storm that will impact the region later tonight into Saturday, with a light dusting of snow possible during the daylight hours. Our snowfall totals are trending up Meteorologists say trends are becoming more favorable for higher snowfall totals in the Lehigh Valley, but theyre not sure by how much. The forecasting challenges have been associated with the margins, the weather service said in its Friday morning briefing. The Lehigh Valley remains on the northwest periphery of the precipitation shield, where guidance continues to suggest the cutoff will be quite sharp. Forecasters say a strong push of cold, dry air on the northwest side of the system doesnt help our snow chances, and there will likely be a vary narrow corridor (around or less than 30 miles) where totals fall off significantly. Confidence remains considerably lower on where this corridor will set up, the weather service said. Boom or bust? Did we mention that much uncertainty remains around the storms track, and a difference of a few miles could drastically change our snowfall totals? Advertisement As the storm continues to trend west, the weather service puts our expected snowfall at just 1.7 inches, but high-end possibilities near 10 inches. This is the difference between the expected and high end snowfall possible in the Lehigh Valley Friday into Saturday. (National Weather Service/Mount Holly) Empire Weather, which provides localized forecasts for The Morning Call, has the Lehigh Valley at 2 to 4 inches, with a boom scenario of 6 to 9 inches. This map from Empire Weather shows the expected storm total snowfall for a coastal storm Friday into Saturday. The Lehigh Valley forecast calls for 2 to 4 inches, with a "boom" scenario of 6 to 9 inches. (Empire Weather) The lack of consistency in the forecast comes because two disturbances are phasing, or merging, and models are having a hard time handling it. A slightly faster, cleaner phase will lead to the track continuing to bump westward. A slightly later, sloppier phase will allow for more adjustments eastward, Empires morning briefing said. Last Call Daily Get top headlines from The Morning Call delivered weekday afternoons. > The briefing flagged one major caveat whether a band of subsidence, or dry and sinking air, develops near the Lehigh Valley with a strong band of heavy snow just to our east. Advertisement The rising air from that band sinks in the areas around it, and recent guidance suggests that this band should be west of the area, the briefing said, explaining our rising snowfall amounts. However, if the band does end up nearby, amounts will be lower. The duration of the storm will also depend on the track, with a western track leading to snow continuing into Saturday evening, while a weaker track would lead to snow ending a bit earlier Saturday afternoon. What else to know Wind speeds exceeding 15 to 20 mph are likely for much of the day on Saturday in the Lehigh Valley, with gusts as high as 30 mph. The weather service expects a slow drop-off Saturday night, with gusts of 40+ mph possible in the Poconos and near the coast. QPF, or the Quantitative Precipitation Forecast, is trending a little higher across the region thanks to that westward shift in the models. Snow ratios will be very high, forecasters warn, with an expected ratio much greater than 10:1 (10 inches of snow for every inch of precipitation). However, the NWS believes guidance looks a little too bullish in general with these values. The bottom line The weather service said confidence in the overall evolution of the storm is increasing, but there are still very challenging aspects that will have significant implications on the overall impacts of the system location to location. Area residents should continue to monitor the latest forecasts, as substantial changes may still occur. Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan has described the intensity of fame as akin to being a dog on the Tube. The period drama became Netflixs most popular original series when it aired on Christmas Day 2020. The streaming giant said the show was viewed by a record 82 million households in 28 days. Coughlan received rave reviews for her role as Penelope Featherington, a character who is later revealed to be mysterious gossip writer Lady Whistledown. The reveal scene, narrated by Dame Julie Andrews in the series, was nominated for the Must-See Moment at this years Bafta TV awards. Speaking to Elle UK for their March issue of the magazine, Galway-born Coughlan, 35, said: Being famous is like being a dog on the Tube. Its exactly the same energy. When you get on, everyone looks at you. Some people are so smiley, while some are afraid of you and dont want to go near. Some people touch you without asking. I can still do the things I want to do, obviously, but it is different. The Irish actress recalled visiting the pub with a friend and feeling like she was an animal at the zoo. She added: And I remember one time I was taking my Invisalign out, and this person was staring me right in the eyes, which was quite weird. Coughlan has said she would never sell the idea that the acting industry was wonderful and fun because it is hard work. She added: Whenever people say they want to get into this industry, Im like, youve got to want it so badly. Because if you dont, youd be mad to do it, absolutely mad. I barely saw my family last year because of filming. Theres a lot of sacrifices to be made. In my twenties, I never went on holiday. I was so broke. But its amazing. I wouldnt do anything else, the actress added. The second series of Bridgerton, which will air on March 25, will move towards the romantic interests of Daphnes brother Anthony Bridgerton, who is portrayed by Jonathan Bailey. Series three and four have already been commissioned by Netflix, as well as a prequel series telling the origin story of Queen Charlotte, played by Golda Rosheuvel. Coughlan was previously best known for her role in the series Derry Girls where she plays Clare Devlin. Speaking about filming the final season of the Channel 4 sitcom, she added: I always find it hard to explain to people about playing characters, that they feel like your friends. Ive been playing Clare now for five years. So its like saying goodbye to a friend I know Ill never see again. Joe McKinney, his brother William, known as Willie to his friends and family, and their eight siblings crew up in Westway, Creggan. Willie was born in Saint Columbs Way and Joe was born later In Orchard Lane in Derry. There were nine, nearly ten years between the two brothers as Willie was the eldest child in the family. When their father moved to work for his company in Luxembourg for four years, Willie stepped up and became a parental figure for his younger siblings, including Joe. Willie, 27 and Joe, then 18 at the time of the civil rights march on Bloody Sunday, attended together but went their separate ways on the day. Willie, a printer for the Derry Journal, was an avid photographer and had his new camera, gifted as a Christmas present, with him to take some photos and videos of the march. Sadly, Willie was one of the 13 civilians shot and killed by Britains 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment. Willie was engaged and due to wed his partner, Elizabeth, at the time of his death. Elizabeth married another gentleman years later but, throughout her life until her death only a couple of years ago, she never celebrated her own birthday after Willie died. Elizabeth had bought Willie a long lens camera as she knew he would always film riots and marches up close and put himself at risk. The last time Joe saw his brother was up a tree with his camera, filming the march. Joe said Willie had no fear when it came to getting a good picture or video. People would run away at other marches or riots and Willie would be right there getting the perfect footage. She had asked him to stay back and use the long lens to take close up pictures. Willie was shot on Bloody Sunday in the back and arm in Glenfada Park as he ran for cover. Willie was pictured helping to carry the body of 17-year-old Michael Kelly right before shots were fired and the group were forced to scatter and Willie was fatally shot. Joe remembers William as a generous, talented, musical and intelligent young man, If he was here today, he would be obsessed with all this new technology, Joe said of his brother. He was so fascinated with the latest technology back then; I can only imagine what hed be like in the world we live in today. I think he would be a bit of a computer whizz. He was going to go to college to learn how to use the new printing machines they had just bought for the Journal. He was so into his photography too that many people thought he was a photographer for the Journal, but he was the printer. Larry Doherty was the photographer for the Journal at the time and they were good friends. He bought his camera from Larry. He was always taking pictures of my Ma and Elizabeth and theyd be trying to hide from the camera. There are so many photos and footage available in the archives and at the museum that are his work. The riot footage as you walk into the Free Derry Museum, thats Willies footage." Willie was also a great lover of music, He really loved music. He especially loved Country Western music," Joe said. "Not long before he died, he bought a new ITT stereo. It was his pride and joy. His girlfriend worked at the record shop so we would get our records at cost price and all us siblings would use the stereo and buy our own music records. When he died, it wouldnt get played when my Ma and Da were in the house. The stereo was only new, it couldnt have been more than six months to a year old. We didnt play it in case it annoyed them but when they were both out of the house, which was seldom, I would play my music. Eventually, it got used. I said to my Ma one day, Willie wouldnt want that sitting there gathering dust and it was then she said, well go on, Joe. Willie also played the accordion, really well actually, he could read music, you see. He also bought a Mandolin which he planned on learning how to play. He was teaching me how to play a smaller version of his piano accordion. Every Sunday night in the house, he would be teaching me. He was always so paternal. He wouldnt let any of us give cheek to our mother, he would have got on to you then. He would verbally chastise you, telling us we cant speak to our mother like that. He would also buy Mickey Mouse films and use his projector, an old school projector, to project them onto a white sheet for the kids in the street to watch. We were all about seven or eight and he was working away at that time. He would stand there and turn the manual crank so we could all watch the film. He was a generous man. I always remember he gave me one pound when I was going with the school to Armagh one day and that was a lot back then, a big lot of money. We didnt get pocket money when we were children because my father said when we did earn money, we would appreciate it more, but Willie treated us when he could. Willie worked late on Monday and Thursday nights to get the Derry Journal ready for the Tuesday and Friday release. He always brought home six papers each release day so that the kids could run round to all the aunties houses and give them their papers for free. Joe says his family grew up very close and he has many fond memories of Willie from his childhood. Joe and his family at his sister's wedding in the years after Willie's death, his mother sits front left Joe continued: I really only have one memory of Orchard Lane. In the house we lived in, it was a really long hallway. They had a dartboard on the front door, at the back of the door. The older ones would be practising darts at the front door; any poor visitor was getting a mini dart to the head if they walked in. Willie had a great sense of humour. I was only four at Orchard Lane, that is the only memory I have of there. Then we moved to Creggan, we all remained really close. Were not as close now that were older but we had a great childhood. Politics wasnt brought up in our house. There was never any talk of the Troubles either, even after Willie was killed. My Ma and Da never spoke about it. My Ma was only a wee woman but her inner strength was colossal. She never showed us she was hurting after Willie died and she never spoke any hate. If we saw on the news that a soldier was killed, she would say, thats somebody's poor soon, she was a very strong woman. Joe said, until the fight for justice began, Bloody Sunday, and what he witnessed, was never discussed in his house either. Joe never spoke to his children about politics or the tragic events that happened that day. I didnt want to pass my hatred on to them, Joe continued. My parents never did that with me and I didnt want that for them. I even feel, if it is possible to forgive, I would have tried to forgive all those years ago when it happened, if they had just admitted the truth and taken responsibility and liability for their actions. They never did and I will never be able to forgive now. Now I will just try to get justice for Willie and the other innocent people that were killed, we all will, to get the truth. SDLP Councillor, Rory Farell, launched a blistering attack on Invest NI saying the development agency works for Belfast and fails miserably for Derry. The outburst came during a debate on a motion put forward by Cllr John McGowan (Sinn Fein) which called for an immediate review of Invest NI to be undertaken in light of its investment into the North West compared to that of the greater Belfast area. Cllr Farell also took a swipe at the DUP, and in particular, that party's Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons as being allergic towards the city of Derry. He said: I have said this time and time again about how ineffective Invest NI have been in terms of promoting jobs in the North West. It is abundantly clear and abundantly apparent that Invest NI works for Belfast and fails miserably for Derry. It attracts jobs, opportunity and investment for Belfast and very little of anything to our city. We have said, that for two years, that Invest NI must have regional targets and a key focus on investment and jobs in the North West. We have invited the Economy Minister (Gordon Lyons of the DUP) repeatedly to discuss these proposals and it must be remembered that the Economy Minister has complete control over Invest NI policy. Regional targets have not been introduced. Nothing has changed and the Economy Minister despite numerous invitations has not shown up. The latest response suggests that the DUP Minister does not have diary availability at present. No DUP Economy Minister over the last two years has had diary availability. Either they're very busy or they don't care. I suspect the latter. I firmly believe the DUP is allergic to this city. I firmly believe the DUP has little concern for this city, this district and its prospects. Everyone, regardless of what you call this city, benefits from more jobs and at the minute, everybody is being failed. The SDLP welcomes this review into the operation of Invest NI and we support this motion. Ald Maurice Devenney (DUP) would not be drawn into Cllr Farell's comments on his party but did concede that he felt more should be done to bring investment to the North West. He said: We understand the under-investment in the North West. It's something that needs to be addressed. When you look at the investment that goes into the East compared to the West, there is a serious disparity here. Last week, Invest NI invested nearly 2million in the Ebrington Square venture. Those small mercies have to be welcomed but is it enough? I don't believe it is. We should be doing all we can to have more investment in particular businesses and jobs here in the North West. Earlier, Cllr John McGowan, when submitting his motion, said his proposal was designed to try and level-up the North's economy. He said: This Council believes that as Invest NI enters its twentieth year in 2022 it has largely failed Derry and has become an 'Invest anywhere but Derry' based organisation. The figures show that the vast majority of support goes to companies in and around the Greater Belfast area. This Council notes that the world of business and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has moved on significantly in the last twenty years however Invest NI has not changed its business model in that time. We also note the most successful models of business support seem to separate Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Small and Medium Enterprise support (SME) and Trade Development. In the 26 counties for example (in the Republic) the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) look after all FDI and Enterprise Ireland (EI) take care of SME support and Trade Development. This Council motion calls for an immediate review of Invest NI to be undertaken. We believe it's record clearly demonstrates an inability to deliver sub regional FDI. This review should consider creating an agency to solely promote FDI. Secondly, post-review, Derry should be the preferred location of this new FDI agency headquarters. We believe this motion is essential to 'level up' the economy in the North. For too long people have criticized Invest NI. It is our belief that Invest NI is not fit for purpose and has failed completely to operate on a sub-regional level. It's current model doesn't deliver for Derry and is out of step with best practice. An amendment was added and approved to Cllr McGowan's motion that the Council would invite Sir Michael Lyons, Chair of the Independent Review Panel of Invest NI, to make an argument for fundamental reform of Invest NI to deliver regional balance and a renewed focus on the North West. The motion itself was also passed unanimously. The Derry News contact Invest NI regarding this motion being passed by Derry City & Strabane District Council. A spokesperson for Invest NI said: Invest NI has repeatedly denied the unfounded accusations of preferential treatment or bias in Northern Ireland. We would refer you to Invest NIs online article from November 2021: Helping the North West play to its strengths | Invest Northern Ireland (investni.com) In terms of the request for Sir Michael Lyons to attend a meeting with Derry City & Strabane District Council, this needs to be referred to The Department for the Economy, who has appointed him to conduct the Independent Review. Foyle MLA, Sinead McLaughlin, has received an outpour of support following the bomb threat at her constituency office on Derry's Spencer Road yesterday afternoon (January 27). Ms McLaughlin and her staff were forced to evacuate their office on Thursday afternoon after being informed by police of reports that a bomb was left at the premises. The PSNI carried out a thorough search and found nothing untoward. Speaking on Radio Foyle, the SDLP MLA said: "No public representative or their staff should have to work under those conditions where they feel like they are under threat so it is really disheartening. "But it only tightens my resolve to keep on doing what I am doing. Last night at about 9:20pm, the PSNI rang me to say the alert has been lifted. "They didn't find anything untoward and they told me to just to keep vigilant over the coming days. "So, we will be back doing what we do, helping support the community and trying to reach out to our constituents and do everything we can to help make their lives better." Taking to twitter, Ms McLaughlin added: "Serving the people of Derry is an absolute privilege." Ms McLaughlin and her team received an outpour of support from the community, fellow SDLP colleagues as well as many politicians from other parties. Foyle MP Colum Eastwood, leader of the SDLP, said: "This threat against SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin is a despicable attempt to intimidate and stop a tireless public representative from doing their job. I know Sinead will not be deterred and my thoughts are with her and her constituency team after what must have been a frightening experience. The entire SDLP stands fully behind them in solidarity. Elected representatives should be able to go about their duties without having to worry about threats being issued against them. Weve seen recently in England how the targeting of politicians can end up with tragic consequences. Sinead McLaughlin serves the people of Derry and neither she nor her staff should have been subjected to this ordeal. Strangford SDLP Representative, Conor Houston, tweeted: "Solidarity with my friend and colleague, Sinead McLaughlin. I know it won't deter Sinead from continuing to represent the people of Derry as passionately and brilliantly as she does." Alliance MLA for South Belfast, Paula Bradshaw, tweeted: "Appalled by the threat to Sinead McLaughlin and her staff. "Sinead and her team have brought dedication and expertise to the Assembly, and are a privilege to work with. They are all very much in my and our thoughts this evening." UUP South Antrim MLA Steve Aiken added: "I join in the condemnation of threats against Sinead McLaughlin and her staff - intimidation of elected representatives and their support staff undermines democracy & damages the community MLAs represent." DUPs Gary Middleton wrote: Disgusted to hear of the bomb threat at Sinead McLaughlin's constituency office today. My thoughts are with Sinead and her office staff who have been subjected to this disgraceful threat. Theres no place for this behaviour in our society. Shame on whoever is behind it." Derry author Claire Allen took to Twitter and said: "Sinead McLaughlin is one of Derry's finest- never afraid to fight for the rights of ordinary people. "Her office provided support with compassion and care to a family member of mine during a personal tragedy last year. This attack is unacceptable." A PSNI spokesperson said: "The security alert at the Spencer Road area of Derry is now over. Officers attended and nothing untoward was found. "We would advise anybody who sees anything suspicious to contact police on 101." Drawing on her own struggles with mental health, County Derry mother Amanda Brennan launched Happy Minds Grateful Hearts to give children the tools to help maintain their emotional wellbeing. She tells Liam Tunney about her journey. Amanda Brennan pauses after informing me she is a mother-of-ten, clearly used to the awe-inspired gasp the revelation invokes. With her children ranging from a 22-year-old to a one-year-old, the Gulladuff woman has brought plenty of her own experience into her business, Happy Minds Grateful Hearts. Providing programmes and classes designed to improve children's mental health, wellbeing and mindfulness, Amanda has traced her desire to help back to own struggles with mental illness. From my teen years, I would have struggled with my mental health, she told the County Derry Post. I struggled with body dysmorphic disorder. I became bulimic and became almost anorexic then, I wasn't eating at all. That would have been when I was around 14, 15 years old, so I always struggled with my mental health on and off; I had anxiety and depression over the years. I hit rock bottom after my first boy was born, and I was having suicidal thoughts and everything, and I did try taking tablets, but thankfully it didn't work; it just made me sick. Those feelings returned again about four or five years ago after I'd had the twins, but I'd seen an advertisement for mindfulness and I thought I would give it a try. I've never looked back. Amanda says there is no spiritual aspect to her classes, just children understanding how to manage their emotions. Initially turning to the techniques as a way of improving her own mental health, Amanda soon found they had a profound impact on her wellbeing. I started looking into mindfulness, having a morning routine like journalling and positive affirmation, trying to be more mindful and present during the day, even in how I parented, she said. I loved meditation and loved how it made me feel relaxed and calm with the breathwork, so I trained to be an adult meditation and breathwork teacher. From living in my head all the time with the anxiety, and I'm not saying I was a bad mummy, but not being present with the kids and missing so much because of the anxiety, it changed my life completely. I'd probably go as far as to say meditation and mindfulness saved my life. It made me realise that I was missing out on so much. Life can be amazing, if only you take notice. I noticed the positive impact what I was doing was having on my own children, and that's when I thought 'I need to teach this to kids, She undertook training, first with Tyrone-based Pretzel Play, before training with Creative Mindfulness for Kids, an Irish-based company who have produced a curriculum for mindfulness. Amanda says she has included a number of extra components in her training, such as the parenting and teenager add-ons, and has enrolled in a trauma-informed mindfulness course. Trauma for everybody is so different. Abuse would be at the top end of the scale, but it can be something like being bitten by a dog and being scared of dogs then. It is a spectrum, like autism. It's something I'm really interested in, and it goes into yoga therapy training as well. I've also completed a course for mindfulness for those with additional needs, so it covers autism, ADHD, Downs Syndrome and even anxiety. Activities such as arts and crafts are important for children's wellbeing. I'm just finishing yoga for additional needs as well, because I don't want any child to be excluded. My classes are for everybody. I have classes that run that include children with additional needs, but sometimes parents are scared their children are going to disrupt the class and they'd prefer a class for additional needs. Put on the spot, the Lavey woman defines mindfulness as 'being present in the moment'. Sometimes our minds can be so busy; we're worrying about something that happened yesterday, or that's going to happen next week, she said. Our subconscious mind has been programmed by society and how we're parented, and our thoughts and beliefs are stored in our subconscious mind. When a similar experience happens, these emotions and anxieties make us behave in the same way, so it's a vicious cycle. What mindfulness does is strengthen the reasoning part of the brain, at the front, and helps us to rationalise and decide whether something is real and true. Mindfulness gives you those tools to become aware and accept all your emotions do belong; every single one. Children at the sessions are taken through a variety of exercises to help improve their mindfulness and wellbeing. Happy belongs as much as sad, scared as much as excited. People try to push things away and then it becomes worse. I try and explain it to the kids like this. If a fly is annoying you and you keep batting it away, it keeps coming back. If you leave the fly alone, you notice it, it's there, then it doesn't annoy you as much. It's about becoming aware and accepting every part of you. The Covid-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the mental health of some children, and the importance of mindfulness has only been increased by its effect. Amanda says children as young as five are presenting with symptoms of anxiety. I've a lot of concerned parents from kids in Foundation Stage in school which is very scary, she said. I really want to get into primary schools and secondary schools. It's so important all the time, but more so now, because there are so many children experiencing anxiety, even from a very young age. We need to be careful what we're saying and listening to, because they're like wee sponges. Kid's mental, emotional, physical health and wellbeing is so important. A common misconception of yoga, meditation and mindfulness is that there needs to be a spiritual or religious element involved, but Amanda says this is not the case. Busy children at the Happy Minds Grateful Hearts sessions. Her sessions involve some stretching, team work games, breath work and some general discussion, as well as some arts and crafts and other creative activities. There is no spiritual or religious context to my work with children at all. It's just totally about them understanding, she said. Then it's about giving them tips, tools and techniques to be able to deal with that and teaching them through the various things that we do. Yoga is just a movement of energy through the body. Meditation is all about relaxation and using our imaginations to imagine we're somewhere magical. It can scare some people whenever they don't know what it is. People can be spiritual in their pactice, but not when it comes to the children we work with. Amanda says the most rewarding thing about what she does is the feedback she gets from parents and the effect her work has on the children. There was one child who didn't really speak, and was having play therapy and different things, she said. The school rang their mummy the week after we had our first class. They said he had told them about this great wee class he was going to and it made such an impact on him that he spoke. Things like that make me realise how important it is and it fills my heart with so much love and gratitude. I feel like I've found my purpose. That's why I called the business Happy Minds Grateful Hearts, because I would love every child to have a happy mind and a grateful heart; from toddlers right up to teens. You can find out more about Happy Minds Grateful Hearts, including details of upcoming classes, on their Facebook Page. A County Derry minister has been named as a potential nominee for the post of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Rev Dr Trevor McCormick, minister of First Kilrea Presbyterian Church and Boveedy, is one of four ministers who will go before the Churchs 19 regional presbyteries on February 1, when they meet to select the all-Ireland denominations next Moderator. The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is the denominations most senior office bearer and its principal public representative. The new Moderator will succeed Dr David Bruce who became the first Moderator since 1894 to serve a second consecutive term, his having been the only name forwarded by presbyteries for formal consideration. Rev Trevor McCormick was installed as minister of First Kilrea Presbyterian Church in 1986 and with Boveedy Presbyterian in 2009. Rev Dr Trevor McCormick. Born in 1958, he was ordained assistant minister of First Carrickfergus Presbyterian Church in 1984. Trevor was convener of the Presbyterian Residential Trust Committee (1996-2003) and PCIs Council for Social Witness (2015-2020). He has been Clerk of the Presbytery of Coleraine and Limavady since 2016. The other three ministers considered for nomination are Rev John Kirkpatrick, Rev Dr Colin McClure and Rev Alastair McNeely. The process to find PCIs Moderator begins in the late autumn, when members of presbyteries begin to suggest the names of ministers who they would like to see considered. The Clerk of the General Assembly then approaches those on this long list to see if they would be willing to have their names go forward to the next stage in February. Rev Trevor Gribben, Clerk of the General Assembly and General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, said: I genuinely give thanks to God, that the rhythm of our church life is gradually returning, and once more ministers and elders from our 500-plus congregations the length and breadth of this island can come together to prayerfully select a colleague to be nominated as our next Moderator. The name of the Moderator-Designate will be announced on the evening of February 1. They will then be formally proposed to the General Assembly as Moderator for the year 2022-2023 when it meets on Wednesday, June 22. A retired County Derry accountant who has been volunteering for Alzheimers Society for more than 20 years has received special recognition for his long service. Ed McAuley has first-hand experience of dementia as he supported his beloved wife, Myrtle McAuley, who lived with Alzheimers disease. He began his role in Alzheimers Society as part of the Causeway Branch committee and was able to bring several valuable skills from the finance sector to his volunteer work. Aoife McMaster, Alzheimers Society Dementia Support Worker for Causeway, explained why Ed who used to live in Coleraine but now lives in Portstewart is such an amazing volunteer. Ed has been a passionate supporter and volunteer for Alzheimers Society for over 20 years and throughout that time his compassion and dedication for making a difference to people affected by dementia has been unwavering, she said. Over the last twenty years, Ed has adapted to and overcome many challenges, including the recent Covid 19 pandemic. His support for people affected by dementia as well as the local staff and other volunteers has been unwavering. Ed is a trusted expert in the Causeway area as he has been heavily involved with the Society longer than most of the staff and volunteers. Adrian Friel, Alzheimers Society Dementia Connect Local Services Manager, who was interviewed by Ed for the job 15 years ago, said: Ed is a true asset to Alzheimers Society and a pure joy to work with. He has brought lots of passion and determination to ensure that everyone affected by dementia has the support they need. He is one of our longest standing volunteers and he has done so much for people living with dementia. Volunteers have been at the heart of Alzheimers Society since it was established here in Northern Ireland. We greatly value the time, skills and knowledge that our volunteers share with us and the difference that volunteering makes to our Alzheimers Society activities. Adrian continued: The past two years has been tough for all of us. However, for people affected by dementia it has been a nightmare and people have told us of the isolation and the deterioration social exclusion has brought upon them. "People living with Dementia have deteriorated quickly because of the pandemic. Theres been frustration and loss brought about by lack of visiting in care environments by family members. "And requirements like face masks and maintaining social distancing are difficult to understand when you are living with dementia. This is the reality for the estimated 22,000 people living with dementia in Northern Ireland. Since the pandemic began, Alzheimers Society support services have been used six million times across the UK, showing that people affected by dementia need us now more than ever. Ed has also received recognition from Alzheimers Society CEO Kate Lee, who said: There has been enormous change over the time Ed has been with us, and Alzheimers Society would not be the organisation it is today without the contribution made by brilliant volunteers like Ed, giving their time to support people with dementia and their carers. A County Derry family, who have experienced a challenging year, have been treated to a special surprise, thanks to a local business. The McCallion family from Bellaghy were recently gifted a 1,000 hotel voucher and 500 spending money by the Magherafelt branch of Specsavers. The local family are one of several from across the UK who are being treated by the high street opticians and audiologists. Christina OKane, Operations Manager at Specsavers Magherafelt, nominated the McCallion family having seen the adversity they have experienced. Christina explained: In February, Deaglan McCallion attended our store after a negative experience with another opticians. Deaglan has Tourettes, so our manager and optometrist stayed late to ensure a nice quiet experience for him. Since then, the family now all attend our store. We see the work and passion Brian and Louise, Deaglans parents, put in to ensuring he is understood and can thrive in his environment. "We have also come to learn that the family works tirelessly for a Tourettes charity that helps Deaglan and have been so impressed by their efforts to raise awareness. Louise McCallion said the family were 'completely overwhelmed' by the firm's generous gesture. When we got the call I was lost for words; I just broke into tears and was completely overwhelmed! It was completely unexpected, and we could not be more thankful to Aiden and Christina for making our experience at Specsavers so special for Deaglan," she said. "It was the first time he felt comfortable and calm during his appointment, which never happens. We are so looking forward to our hotel break and cannot thank Specsavers in Magherafelt enough for their kindness and everything they have done for Deaglan. Brian OKane, Store Director, added: The past year has been another difficult one for many people and we felt it was important to try and give something back to our customers. "Many have had a really challenging 12 months and we have seen others devote their time and energy so selflessly to help others in the community and we wanted to recognise that and say thank you. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Call for illustrations for embassy's St. Patrick's Day greeting card 2022 News 2021 greeting card illustration by Sarah Kilcoyne Call for illustrations for St. Patrick's Day in Germany official greeting card St. Patricks Day, Irelands National Day, is celebrated annually in Germany and across the globe by all Irish, friends of Ireland and those of Irish descent. St. Patricks Day 2022 in Germany will once again, as in 2020 and 2021, be different. The large gatherings, receptions and parties, which normally mark the period, will not be possible. The Embassy is exploring alternative ways of marking St. Patricks Day 2022 and as part of this effort would like once again to commission a special St. Patricks Day in Germany greeting card. We will use this card to reach out to our many German contacts, whom we would have invited to our reception in Berlin in typical years but now cannot. Against this background we announce a competition for illustrators based in Germany to help us to create the artwork for the card. We are seeking artworks that reflect on St. Patricks Day, St. Patricks Day in Germany and broader Irish-German relations. Competition Guidelines: Applicants must be based in Germany. There is no lower or upper age limit on those who may submit artworks or illustrations but this is not conceived as a childrens art competition. Each illustrator/artist is allowed to submit a maximum of three illustrations. Applications should be submitted in digital format to the email address Berlin(at)dfa(dot)ie and marked St Patricks Day illustration applicants name The illustrations should be saved in JPEG or PNG format with a minimum resolution of 300dpi Illustrations should ideally be submitted in landscape format / widescreen ratio (16:9) Submissions must be received by close of business on Tuesday 15 February 2022 All submissions must be accompanied by full contact details, address and telephone numbers to ensure that all applicants may be contacted promptly should their illustration be used. Illustrations must be the original work of those submitting and not previously utilised in any similar campaign by the embassy or any other organisation or entity. The artist whose artwork is selected as the 2022 Embassy of Ireland, St. Patricks Day greeting card image, will be paid 400 for usage rights. Upon payment of 400, the Embassy of Ireland in Germany will retain usage rights to the selected image, for a maximum period of three years, for the stated purpose and related uses and platforms, without additional permissions or fees The artist will be credited on the back cover of the card/image whenever utilised. GDPR The Embassy of Ireland in Germany is committed to ensuring the security and protection of the personal information that we process, and to provide a compliant and consistent approach to data protection and will only store contact information for the duration of the competition. Previous Item | Next Item Announcing: St Brigid's Day in the United States 2022 News In Ireland, the first of February marks the beginning of Spring and the celebration of La Fheile Bride, St Brigids Day. Brigid, one of Ireland's three patron saints, can be translated as the exalted one. And, over recent years, her festival has come to be an exaltation of Irish women. From Washington to Warsaw, San Francisco to Sydney, Irelands diplomatic network, in partnership with local communities, host a series of festivals each February celebrating the contribution Irish women have made across the world. This year, the Embassy and Consulates of Ireland in the US present a host of events, a festival of Brigid across America. Along with our community and business partners, we have an incredible line up of events to celebrate the contributions of Irish and Irish-American women. See the full line up of St. Brigid's Day programming here. Previous Item | Subscriber content preview SEATTLE A small apartment building at 201 30th Ave. S. sold for $4.2 million, according to King County records. The seller was Leschi Eleven LLC, which acquired the property in 2019 for over $2.6 million. . . . Duncan, OK (73533) Today Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 61F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.. Tonight Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 61F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall possibly over one inch. In light of the recent easing of COVID-19 restrictions and plans around the phased return to work, Pure Telecom has announced survey findings which reveal that 97% of those aged 18 to 23 will be working from the office on a full or part-time basis. The survey also shows that office workers in Louth are among those less likely to be office based, with 73% saying they will return to the office in some capacity. On Friday last, the Government announced an easing of COVID-19 restrictions, which allows for a phased return to the office. Pure Telecoms survey of 500 office workers in Ireland, carried out by Censuswide, asked office workers about their plans when COVID restrictions were eased. The research found that the vast majority of Gen Z office workers plan to work from the office that includes the 4% who never worked remotely during the pandemic and 93% who did work remotely, but who plan to return in some capacity. Overall, 86% of office workers plan to spend at least some time in the office following the easing of restrictions. That figure is the same (86%) for Millennials, 84% for Gen X and 88% for Baby Boomers. Of the office workers who worked remotely during the pandemic, Gen Z is also the most likely generation to return to the office full-time, without any remote working. 23% of remote office workers will return to the office full-time following the easing of restrictions, rising to 35% for Gen Z. Just 18% of Baby Boomers who worked from home will return full-time, along with 20% of Millennials and 30% of Gen X. The survey also looked at the counties most likely to be based in the office following the easing of restrictions. The majority (94%) of office workers who live in Wicklow say that they will work from the office in some capacity, followed by 93% in Donegal and 92% in Cork. Office workers living in Tipperary (70%), Louth (73%) and Limerick (75%) are the least likely to be office based. Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: It has been a long two years and younger workers may be feeling that they are missing out on the social aspects of being in the office. But it is clear from our research that the future is in hybrid working and what works for one generation may not work for another. People have become used to a work-life balance that allows them to enjoy time with their families and friends, or take on extracurricular activities. These things are important for employees and many would find it very difficult to replace these with long, unnecessary commutes twice a day. But the learning, collaboration and social life that the office brings is important too and it is particularly valuable to younger generations who are just starting out in their careers, and who are looking to expand their social circles. As businesses continue to struggle to hire, they must make sure they are doing everything they can to attract and retain the best talent; many will not even consider a job that doesnt offer flexibility anymore. Its vital for companies to work with their employees on their individual needs and ensure that they have the policies and systems in place to make it work. More and more premises across the country are getting connected to high-speed broadband and the desire for hybrid working makes this even more of a necessity. Work needs to be accessible to all employees; whether they are working remotely from a rural village, or in an office building in a city, he concluded. Lisa Smith, a former Defence Forces member who denies membership of Islamic State, travelled to Turkey to become a student of a famous Islamic convert who wrote Isis propaganda, the Special Criminal Court has heard. Michael O'Higgins SC, for Ms Smith's defence, read out a message exchange in 2013 between Ms Smith and an American Islamic scholar named John Georgelas who was living in Egypt at the time. Mr O'Higgins said Mr Georgelas asked Ms Smith to travel to Egypt to study under him and said he would pay her to help his wife, Tania Joya, take care of their children. Ms Smith replied: "I wouldn't dream of accepting any money for looking after your children. If I can get the benefit of your knowledge as your student that would be more than enough payment for me." Georgelas left Egypt with his wife Tania Joya and arranged to meet Ms Smith in Turkey. Ms Joya, giving evidence for a second day, told Mr O'Higgins that her husband was clever and manipulative and in 2013 was communicating with Ms Smith every day over the internet. She said he was a respected scholar who could "overwhelm" people with his knowledge of scripture. She told Sean Gillane SC, for the prosecution, that Georgelas wrote for magazines Dabiq and Rumiyah that publish Isis propaganda. Ms Smith (39) from Dundalk, Co Louth has pleaded not (NOT) guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019. She has also pleaded not (NOT) guilty to financing terrorism by sending 800 in assistance, via a Western Union money transfer, to a named man on May 6th, 2015. Her trial is continuing in front of Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Cormac Dunne at the three-judge, non-jury court. Lisa Smith, a former Irish soldier who denies membership of Islamic State, "threw her life away to go and join a violent extremist ideology", a witness has told the Special Criminal Court. Tania Joya, who knew Ms Smith when the accused first travelled to Turkey and Syria in 2013, told the three-judge, non-jury court about her own path to radicalisation and how she changed her opinions. She said Ms Smith had grown up in a society where she had "all the liberties I didn't have" and "threw all that away" because she had been rejected by her own people and was "embraced" by the Muslim community. She said that Islam, which she described as a "religion of hate", can be attractive for people with "low self-esteem and hate". She added that there was a "big difference" between Ms Smith's situation and her own, coming from a Muslim community where she was never exposed to criticism of Islam. Ms Smith, she said, "threw her life away to go and join a violent, extremist ideology." Ms Joya also said that when in the Middle East Ms Smith enjoyed the attention she got from Arab men, who the witness said have "this lust and craze for white people". She added: "Lisa didn't get that from her own people, so she liked it." Ms Smith (39) from Dundalk, Co Louth has pleaded not (NOT) guilty to membership of an unlawful terrorist group, Islamic State, between October 28th, 2015 and December 1st, 2019. She has also pleaded not (NOT) guilty to financing terrorism by sending 800 in assistance, via a Western Union money transfer, to a named man on May 6th, 2015. Ms Joya has told the court that she was married to an American convert to Islam known as John Georgelas. Georgelas, she said, became an Islamic scholar who wrote academic papers and for magazines including Rumiyah and Dabiq, which she said published Isis propaganda. She told defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC that in 2013 Ms Smith was communicating with Georgelas every day on the internet. She was, the witness said, obedient to Islam, listened to what Georgelas told her and discussed scripture with him at length. In 2013, when Ms Smith travelled to Turkey, she was Georgelas's student, Ms Joya said. When Ms Smith arrived in Turkey, Ms Joya said the accused wanted to travel to Syria to fight for Islamic rebels against the Assad regime. She said Ms Smith "felt an obligation to use her training to help the Syrians." She agreed that Georgelas told Ms Smith that there was no role for women but the witness said that what Georgelas told Ms Smith was not true. She said women did play a role including in helping to strap bombs to people. Georgelas' opinion, she said, was "just one opinion" and Ms Smith didn't just listen to Georgelas. She added: "There were other scholars and we know there were other women involved in the jihad." Ms Joya was asked by Mr O'Higgins, for the defence, if she remembered that when Ms Smith asked what she could do in Syria, she was laughed at and told that the only place for a woman was in the kitchen. The witness replied that she didn't remember hearing those things being said. Ms Smith married a Tunisian man shortly after arriving in Syria in 2013 and, Mr O'Higgins said, she got pregnant twice within six months. Ms Joya said Ms Smith may have felt pressure from her husband to have a child. She agreed with Mr O'Higgins that in Islam wives are expected to obey their husbands and their husbands can "chastise" their wives by beating them. She said that Islam teaches that to disobey your husband is to disobey god. Ms Joya spoke at length about Islam and Muslim communities, saying that even moderate Muslims don't understand secularism. There was, she said, a lot of support among Muslims for Islamic State when it was "doing well", but many had a change of heart when the caliphate began to retreat. She said Muslims don't like to live among non-Muslims and are obligated by their religion to move to Muslim areas, or make "hijrah", if they can. She described Islam as a "religion of intolerance" and a "religion of hate" and quoted Mohammad as warning Muslims that if they live among non-believers they will "smell like them". For many Muslims, she said, the obligation to make hijrah is too much of a hardship, so they don't comply. She agreed with Mr O'Higgins that when she was young and angry, Islam "provided a voice" for her pain. But she added: "If I hadn't been born a Muslim I wouldn't have felt that way." She said her community told her not to read anything non-Islamic and not to explore other religions or ideas. She had never been exposed to criticism of Islam, she said. She agreed that her own journey out of radicalisation took a long time. Georgelas, she said, held her back, telling her not to read certain books and preventing her from hearing alternative ideas. All her life, she said she had tried to be obedient to god and took her parents word for it that the Koran was the word of god. She didn't see the contradictions it contained, she said, and had been "indoctrinated" by Islamic teaching. As a young person she was told she was stupid and a "bimbo" and believed she needed god to tell her what to do. As she got older, she said, she got smarter. She had raised her two eldest children to be "warriors" or jihadists and leaders of the caliphate who would "kill and be killed". But as her children grew up her thinking changed. She recalled being "very angry" with her husband when her eldest boy was taken out for shooting practice without any safety training and recalled another incident when one of her children arrived at their house with a live grenade. It took many incidents like that for the "bubble to burst", she said. The court has also been watching two interviews Ms Smith conducted with journalist Norma Costello while Ms Smith was being held in a camp in Syria following the fall of Isis' last Syrian stronghold. The trial continues on Monday in front of Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Cormac Dunne. BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China has been engaged with the international space community over the past five years, yielding fruitful results in space science, technology and application, a Chinese official said Friday. China launched a lunar research station project with Russia, and carried out extensive international cooperation in manned spaceflights, lunar exploration projects, Mars explorations and other missions, said Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the China National Space Administration. Wu made the remarks at a press conference on the release of a white paper, titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective." The official also highlighted the signing of the BRICS Remote-Sensing Satellite Constellation agreement, the launches of the China-France Oceanography Satellite and the China-Italy Electromagnetic Monitoring Experiment Satellite. China also pressed ahead the BeiDou system in the standard systems of many international organizations in fields such as civil aviation and maritime affairs. To improve the international community's capacity for disaster prevention and mitigation, data of the Chinese Gaofen-1 and Gaofen-6 remote sensing satellites have been offered free of charge 550,000 times in 158 countries and regions. The country has also provided data of Fengyun meteorological satellites to 121 countries and regions. Moreover, five Chinese satellites and three constellations have participated in the mechanism of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, Wu said. EBRD commits an additional 50 million in equity to its joint venture with Dimand JV focuses on brownfield redevelopment, deep refurbishment and regeneration projects in Greece EBRD-Dimand partnership promoting the decarbonisation of the countrys building sector The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investing an additional 50 million in its joint partnership with Dimand SA in Greece, increasing its overall commitment to 71.5 million. The joint venture is 35 per cent owned by the EBRD and 65 per cent owned by Arcela Investments Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dimand, a leading Greek real-estate developer and construction services provider with a track record of delivering major brownfield regeneration projects. The EBRD's additional equity commitment to the joint venture aims to fund a new pipeline of green buildings, with a focus on offices, mixed-use projects and city hotels. Alongside the increase in investment limit, the Bank is promoting a higher level of sustainability reporting and risk management by introducing GRESB reporting the global environmental, social and governance (ESG) benchmark for real-estate assets, at the level of Dimand. Since the joint ventures inception in 2017, the EBRD has invested in five green-certified projects in Greece, including the Piraeus Tower, the Piraeus Port Plaza 2 and 3 office buildings, the Importex office building and the Omonoia Moxy hotel. The built environment accounts for close to 40 per cent of all global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and half of global resource extraction. Consequently, the need for sustainable building developments and the deep retrofit of existing buildings has never been more relevant. Notwithstanding a rise in local demand for sustainable buildings in Greece, there is still limited supply of quality new product and chronic underinvestment in the refurbishment of existing buildings. The Banks partnership with Dimand, which centres on brownfield redevelopment projects and deep refurbishments, can thus play a major role in fostering the markets low-carbon, climate-resilient transition. Vlaho Kojakovic, EBRD Head of Property and Tourism, said: We are very excited to continue our excellent partnership with Dimand and support the joint venture in financing a new stage of mature pipeline projects in Greece. The joint venture integrates sustainability and resource efficiency as a systematic and core element of its business strategy, while addressing a number of strategic priorities set by the EBRD, ultimately supporting the decarbonisation of the Greek building sector. Dimitris Andriopoulos, CEO and majority shareholder of Dimand, added: We are honoured by the EBRDs continued trust in and support for our company and business. Since 2017, the EBRD has helped us to grow and evolve and we look forward to further strengthening our strategic relationship and investing in a new pipeline of sustainable projects. To date, the EBRD has invested approximately 5.4 billion in more than 85 projects in the corporate, financial, energy and infrastructure sectors of the Greek economy. CORK primary schools are being invited to participate in a new Imagine the Future competition run by National Broadband Ireland. National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company rolling out the new high-speed fibre broadband network under the Governments National Broadband Plan (NBP), has launched a new competition for nearly 700 primary schools across the Intervention Area of the NBP. Students participating in NBIs new Imagine the Future art, design, and imagination competition will have a chance to win a state-of-the-art interactive flat panel display for their school, as well as a number of other individual student prizes for county and national competition winners. Peter Hendrick, Chief Executive Officer of National Broadband Ireland, said: This competition affords young people across the country the opportunity to imagine the endless possibilities afforded to them through access to high-speed broadband. I wish all of the students the best of luck in their projects. Tara Collins, Chief Marketing Officer of National Broadband Ireland, said: Young people and schools will see some of the greatest benefits from the introduction of high-speed broadband across the country through the National Broadband Plan. "We hope that this competition will engage them to think about the variety of advantages and potential uses of high-speed broadband, as well as engaging their imagination through the creation of the projects," she added. National Broadband Ireland left to right: Tara Collins NBI Chief Marketing Officer, Peter Hendrick NBI Chief Executive Officer and Samantha Ecock Promethean Territory Manager, Ireland. Students will be asked to create a piece of art responding to the simple statement, Imagine the Future. Entries can take a variety of forms, including a sculpture, a photo, a painting, a song, a short movie, or even a dance. Entries can focus on the following themes: Transportation of the future, School of the future, Home of the future, Workplace of the future, Hospital of the future and Community of the future. The competition will go through three phases: a school, county, and national phase. Winners from each school will progress to the county phase, where a panel of judges selected by NBI will decide who will represent their county at the final national phase and be in with a chance to win an ActivPanel. To register and find out more about the Imagine the Future competition, please visit here The winner will be announced in May of this year. CANBERRA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government on Friday announced an additional investment of 1 billion Australian dollars (703 million U.S. dollars) in saving the iconic Great Barrier Reef. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the funding over the next nine years is aimed at improving water quality, reef management and research. The government said the package, which increases the funding committed to the Reef 2050 Plan to more than 3 billion AUD (2.1 billion U.S. dollars), will support 64,000 jobs and the economic future of tourism operators. The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef and one of Australia's biggest tourism attractions. It is facing threats from climate change, with mass coral bleaching events in recent years. More than half the new funding announced on Friday -- 579.9 million AUD (408 million U.S. dollars) -- will be planned to be spent on improving water quality in the area through remediating erosion. The announcement came weeks after Anthony Albanese, leader of the opposition Labor Party, said they would invest 163 million AUD (114 million U.S. dollars) to conserve the Great Barrier Reef and support the tens of thousands of jobs that depend on it if victorious at the 2022 election. IRISH fishermen have been given a guarantee by Russias ambassador to Ireland that their fishing grounds will not be affected by navy exercises. Representatives of the Irish fishing industry met with the Russian ambassador amid an ongoing row over planned military exercises off the Irish coast. It comes as the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee has issued an invitation to the Russian Embassy for the ambassador to appear before it to face questions on the navy exercises. Speaking after talks with Yury Filatov at the embassy in Dublin, Brendan Byrne, chief executive of the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association, said it was a very beneficial meeting. The Russian artillery drills at the start of February will take place in international waters but within Irish-controlled airspace and the countrys exclusive economic zone. The Department of Transport has also issued a marine notice that the Russian navy is set to carry out manoeuvres off the south-west coast of Ireland from next Thursday. Mr Byrne said he was very surprised by the wealth of knowledge of the ambassador about Irish fishing matters. He said an agreement was reached that there will be a buffer zone between Russian vessels and fishing trawlers when military exercises are under way. We have now come to an accommodation where there is a pathway for coexistence for the naval exercises and for our fishing fleet, Mr Byrne added. The operation has to go back to Moscow. There was a great undertaking of the pressures the Irish fishing industry is under. There is an appreciation of the value of this fishing ground to the overall fishing industry. There was in-depth discussion in relation to the scale of the military exercises, and we have given an undertaking that we wouldnt discuss those further. It has been a very good day for the Irish fishing industry. We explored our options there was a map at the meeting. The options are clear and they are going back to Moscow. There is an acknowledgement that there is a valuable fishing ground there. Its open on February 1 and there is a tradition that Irish fishing industry would fish those grounds. I was very impressed by the wealth of knowledge of the ambassador and the complexity of the situation. When you compare that to the lack of engagement of our own Government, a lot of questions needed to be asked. (Mr Filatov) was very frank as the regard of the scale of activity. Patrick Murphy, chief executive of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, said fishing trawlers will make the decision on whether they fish in the area next week. We will carry back the information today and the positivity we negotiated, Mr Murphy added. UNDERSTANDING We gave an understanding that the information is sensitive and we are not going to escalate or undermine the good work that was done. Well be communicating with our vessels and Im very happy we had this meeting and grateful the ambassador has given us details that allays our fears. He has given us a very guaranteed assurance that he will take this back to Moscow and explain in clear detail the importance of this area to our fishermen. He has given us assurances that common sense will prevail and that some of the rhetoric is not correct. We are not here to challenge the Russian nation, all we are here to do is ensure our boats get to fish in their traditional fishing ground and do so in a safe and fair manner. Mr Byrne added: Therell be a clear understanding of whos going to be where, so that both parties know theres going to be a buffer zone. This is the significant part. Theres an absolute guarantee that our traditional fishing grounds will not will not be impacted by the Russian naval exercises. Digital Desk Staff More than 800 jobs will be created by Eli Lilly as part of a new 400m investment into Ireland as part of its global expansion. As the Irish Examiner reports, the pharmaceutical giant has announced that the funding will be put into building a new facility in Co Limerick. If it secures planning approval, the facility will need 500 people in the construction phase, and will employ 300 pharma workers when finished. Planning for the site, at Raheen Business Park near Shannon Airport and just under 5km from Limerick City centre, is due to be submitted in the coming weeks. The new facility will expand the companys manufacturing network for biologic active ingredients, support increased demand for its existing products, and play a key role in bringing Lillys clinical pipeline including its Alzheimers portfolio to patients around the world. The proposed project is expected to create new jobs for skilled engineers, scientists, and operations personnel who, the company says, will use the latest biologics manufacturing technology to produce lifechanging treatments that patients need to address health challenges. Eli Lilly has been operating in Ireland since 1978 and currently has more than 2,500 employees at a manufacturing campus at Kinsale, a global business services centre at Little Island in Co Cork, and a commercial team dispersed across the country. Biopharma hub Tanaiste and Enterprise Minister Leo Varadkar said: This is fantastic news for Limerick, and indeed the entire region. The Mid-West has become a real hub for leading biopharma companies such as Lilly, and Im really pleased the company has chosen Limerick for its new manufacturing centre. Senior vice president and president of manufacturing operations Edgardo Hernandez said: Over the past 40 years, we have continued to invest in Ireland in part because of supportive government policies that value life science innovation. "This new Lilly campus in Limerick will allow us to expand our capacity to make innovative new medicines that can help treat some of the worlds most serious illnesses. This facility will use the latest technology to support advancements in science, productivity, and sustainability, further establishing Lilly as a global manufacturing leader. IDA Ireland chief executive Martin Shanahan said the investment is very welcome news for the Mid-West region. The decision to significantly expand its footprint into the region demonstrates the confidence Lilly has in Ireland and the regions strong talent pool," he said. Floridas manatees are in trouble, so much trouble that wildlife officials are considering an unprecedented intervention feeding them. It is currently illegal to feed manatees, which are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978. However, so many manatees have died of starvation this year that state and federal officials are ready to take drastic measures. We are considering a pilot program to do some supplemental feeding, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) chairman Rodney Barreto told the Miami Herald. We continue to rescue manatees, and we want to be able to rescue even more during this emergency. As of November 12, 1,003 manatees have died in the state of Florida this year, according to FWC figures reported by CNN. This means deaths have more than doubled since the same time last year, when 498 manatees had died. The 2021 death toll also represents more than 10 percent of Floridas entire manatee population, the Miami Herald reported. The deaths have been classed as an Unusual Mortality Event and are largely due to starvation. The most hard hit population are the manatees that live in Brevard Countys Indian River Lagoon, where around 58 percent of the seagrass that manatees feed on has died in the last 11 years. This loss in an important food is partly due to algal blooms caused by nutrient pollution, which block sunlight from reaching the seagrass. Nutrient pollution can come from wastewater, microplastics and factory farming, and scientists say the manatees distress indicates broader problems. A lot of our environments are under pressure, and if we do not relieve that pressure, those systems will break, Michael Walsh, a clinical associate professor of aquatic animal health at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, told CNN. This is a continual warning sign that this is a gigantic ecosystem problem, not just a manatee problem. However, to help the manatees right now, state and federal officials are working together on a response. The feeding proposal awaits permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Miami Herald reported. Then, officials need to figure out what foods are best for the manatees. One option is to add more algae to their ecosystem. The other is to feed them common land-grown vegetables. But we need to test all that, we dont know what foods they will accept. When you put lettuce in an estuarine environment, its going to wilt faster. So that may not work at all, we may need to use cabbage, Save the Manatee Club Executive Director Patrick Rose told the Miami Herald. In the longer term, Rose and other activists hope that manatees will once again be listed as endangered, after they were downgraded to threatened in 2017. Were hoping this will be a wake-up call for all of Florida and for the federal agencies, Rose said. Gas stoves emit methane even when they are not in use, a new study has found, and this makes them a bigger contributor to the climate crisis than previously believed. The research, published in Environmental Science & Technology Thursday, concluded that the annual methane emissions from gas stoves in the U.S. are equivalent to about half-a-million cars worth of carbon dioxide. Theyre constantly bleeding a little bit of methane into the atmosphere all the time, study co-author and Stanford University climate scientist Rob Jackson told AP News. The research team measured the methane and nitrogen oxide releases from 53 gas stoves in California homes, a Stanford University press release explained. They looked at 18 different brands ranging between three and 30 years old. Unlike most previous studies, the researchers measured the emissions when the stoves were turned off as well as when they were lit, in use and extinguished. Stanford graduate student Eric Lebel tests a gas stove. Image credit: Rob Jackson Surprisingly, there are very few measurements of how much natural gas escapes into the air from inside homes and buildings through leaks and incomplete combustion from appliances, study lead author Eric Lebel, who conducted the research as a graduate student in Stanfords School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences, said in the press release. Its probably the part of natural gas emissions we understand the least about, and it can have a big impact on both climate and indoor air quality. Specifically, the researchers found that more than three-fourths of the methane emissions that they measured occurred when the stoves were switched off. Since more than 40 million U.S. homes cook with gas, this is likely a major addition to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculates for residential appliances. The researchers calculated that the actual emissions were likely 15 percent higher than the EPA estimate from 2019, CNN reported. All told, the researchers calculated that gas stoves pump 2.6 million tons of methane into the atmosphere each year, or the equivalent of 500,000 cars, AP News reported. The findings come the same week that another report found that just 30 Permian Basin oil and gas facilities also leak half-a-million cars worth of methane emissions each year. The Stanford findings are another example of how methane leaks are a major climate concern. This new study confirms what environmental advocates have been saying for over a decade now, that there is no [such thing as] clean gas not for our homes, not for our communities and not for the climate, Sane Energy community engagement coordinator Lee Ziesche, who was not involved with the research, told CNN. From the drilling well to the stoves in our kitchens, fracked gas is harming our health and warming the planet. The study also has public health implications. The researchers found that using a gas stove without a hood or proper ventilation could expose you to levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution deemed unhealthy by the EPA in outdoor settings for one hour of exposure, the press release explained. Unlike methane, the nitrogen oxide (NOx) exposure depends more on the stoves use. So if you turn another burner on, use a bigger burner, or turn it higher, all these things will create more NOx, Lebel told CNN. The concentration of those gases is dependent on how big your kitchen is, what your ventilation is in your kitchen, all those things matter. The study adds weight behind electric stoves in the debate over which are better. A number of cities in states including California, New York and Massachusetts have begun to phase out natural gas hookups in new homes. But what if the decision isnt taken out of your hands by changing policy? From an emissions standpoint, cooking directly with gas is better than using a fossil fuel powered electric stove but worse than using a solar powered electric stove, Illinois Applied Research Institutes Indoor Climate Research & Training group research engineer Zachary Merrin, who was not involved with the study, told AP News. However, renewable energy advocates say that switching to electric no matter what will make the transition to clean energy sources easier, according to CNN. Further, Jackson said that electric stoves didnt pose the same health risks. I dont want to breathe any extra nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide or formaldehyde, Jackson said in the press release. Why not reduce the risk entirely? Switching to electric stoves will cut greenhouse gas emissions and indoor air pollution. 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 Celtro uses semiconductor technology to turn implants into self-sufficient systems. Semiconductors are the basis of modern medical devices such as pacemakers, biosensors, and hearing aids. Today, technology advancements have reduced power consumption of chips to the extent that the energy supply of such systems can be powered by bodys own cell energy. Battery depletion, device replacement, replacement operations and charging stations will become obsolete in the future. Celtro GmbH was founded in Dresden, Germany in 2019 with the aim of supplying autonomous medical products from such cell power plants. Building on its portfolio of intellectual property rights in the field of nanowatt electronics, Celtro GmbH has started developing such medical products. Electrical energy harvesting replaces the battery as an energy storage, in view to supply medical applications such as patient monitoring and pacemakers. The basic idea is that living cells in an organism resemble biological batteries that constantly generate electrical energy. If it becomes possible to use a small part of this energy, implantable medical devices would become energy-self-sufficient. Even patients with previously incurable diseases, such as paraplegia, could be helped permanently in the future. Moore's Law is our friend, says Dr.-Ing. Gerd Teepe, Founder and CEO of Celtro GmbH. Today's semiconductor technologies are astonishingly powerful. 1000 billion computing operations per second can be performed with less than 1 watt of energy consumption. However, biological processes are much slower. This allows us to reduce the energy consumption down to several nanowatts. This is sufficient for biological functions and low enough to be generated by the tissue itself. Self-sufficient implantable systems become possible. Co-Founder, Dr.-med. Judith Piorkowski, cardiologist and electrophysiologist, explains this in more detail: A cell absorbs sugar as an energy source and converts it into electrical and mechanical energy. There are billions of cells in a heart. Only a small fraction of the energy converted there is needed for the operation of self-sufficient implants, such as pacemakers. Celtro GmbH successfully completed its first financing round in December 2021. Private investors come from Germany and the USA. The state of Saxony is also supporting the development project financially in the context of its technology support program and facilitated an early operational start. The current focus is on semiconductor development in cooperation with partners in Saxony. For 2022, an expansion of the staff in Dresden with experts from the fields of semiconductor development, system development and cell biology is planned. With the conclusion of the Seed financing round, the first phase of the NanoPower-BioChip development program is secured. It will lay the foundation for cellular energy harvesting and demonstrate its feasibility. We are very pleased that both private investors and the state of Saxony support our breakthrough vision of energy-self-sufficient medical devices. The possibility of combining advanced semiconductor, cell biology and medicine research is a unique advantage of the location in Dresden and perfectly supports the mission of our company, says Jarek Budny, Co-Founder of Celtro GmbH. In a current situation, in which Catalan political power has been intimidated by the wide scale of state repression, it must be acknowledged that the Spanish judiciary has, in the end, entered completely into the very bowels of the Catalan autonomous community's micropower, which, today, is absolutely emptied of real competencies. Four cases from this week, before it has even finished, serve to illustrate this: the courts give a five-day ultimatum for the application of the 25% Castilian language quota in classrooms; the Central Electoral Commission does the same, giving another five days to the speaker of parliament, Laura Borras, to withdraw the seat of the CUP deputy for Lleida, Pau Juvilla, and warns her that she will incur legal consequences, a phrase whose meaning we are all aware of; the National Audience refuses to investigate whether the imam of Ripoll is alive and did not die in the Alcanar accident prior to the terror attacks on the Rambla and Cambrils in August 2017; and, to put the icing on the cake and show that they are the ones who decide what can and cannot be done, the High Court of Catalonia has returned to the Francoist minister Rodolfo Martin Villa the gold medal of Barcelona that the Catalan capital's city council had decided to withdraw from him with the support of all municipal groups except Cs and the PP. And a final flourish: the Supreme Court will, on March 1st and 2nd, put on trial the CUP deputy Eulalia Reguant for refusing to respond to Vox in the Supreme Court trial of pro-independence leaders, when, surely, in no other European country would the far-right party have been accepted by the court as a private prosecution. Each of these cases in itself contains enough for a series of articles, as it is really difficult to make a positive reflection on the situation and the response that the institutions have managed to give to what is nothing other than an authentic storm that was seen approaching, and to which the pro-independence parties have been unable to offer a coordinated response. On the contrary: they are busy in their internal guerrilla war, trying to achieve hegemony in Catalonia when the real risk is that whoever ends up winning will not have a country to govern, since the Spanish state will have done its job: disarming the independence movement for quite a few years and, in practice, making its parliamentary majorities worthless as nothing important ends up in their hands. And when it does, they are cut off. Last Tuesday, Catalan vice president Jordi Puignero made public in Parliament some facts that are appalling and unacceptable. As he explained in the chamber, of the 334 million budgeted for 2021 by the Pedro Sanchez government for the Mediterranean transport corridor, only 12 million were actually spent. Meanwhile, of the 226 million budgeted for the Andalusian corridor, twice as much was spent, 537 million euros. In case it is not clear: 12 million were invested in the Mediterranean corridor and 537 in Andalusia. It is really impossible to fight against this dynamic in Spain, which takes away competencies and suffocates not only those supporting independence but the whole of the Catalan population making it impossible for the country to move forward to towards a prosperous country able to fulfill the real potential that its GDP shows. Of all the cases set out above, probably the most flagrant due to its political significance and the one that best exemplifies that the judges have decided everything is the one that affects the withdrawal of the Barcelona city gold medal from Martin Villa. Isn't it popular sovereignty and in this case its political representatives who should decide whether or not to withdraw a gold medal awarded by the city? It is not, in its deeper substance, a matter over which a decision has to be made by justice. An average citizen, someone who doesn't know about laws, finds it difficult to understand that one council can grant such a special recognition and another, years later, cannot withdraw it. When, in addition, we are talking about a minister of a Franco-era government. But in Spain, all this ends up acquiring an air of normality. And, in Catalonia, a tragic fatalism that cannot be combated. Thus, every day there is less capacity to respond while more and more fronts are open. Of course, we'll always send off a good tweet. No need to mention that. No sooner said than done. Spain's Central Electoral Commission (JEC) has not only refused to suspend the withdrawal of the seat of Catalan MP Pau Juvilla (CUP), but also, as indicated in the resolution it published yesterday, has already issued the MP credentials for the candidate appearing after Juvilla on the CUP candidature list for the Lleida constituency in last year's elections. All this reached the Catalan Parliament this morning, sent as an official burofax communication to the speaker of the Chamber, Laura Borras, who has a period of five working days to indicate "the measures she has taken" to withdraw the MP's seat. "Failure to comply with these resolutions may lead to the legal consequences provided for in current legislation," Borras was warned. On January 20th, when the electoral body announced that it was withdrawing the seat of the deputy Juvilla, it also announced that it had agreed to "issue the credentials for the next candidate on the list" of the pro-independence CUP party. However, it went any further than that announcement. Yesterday's resolution, on the other hand, announced the issuing of the credentials and stated that the procedure had to be carried out the same day. Accordingly, the credential of the new deputy reached Parliament this morning in the burofax. Juvilla ran in the 14th February elections last year as head of the CUP list for Lleida, and the number two candidate is Nogay Ndiaye. Seat removed These expeditious movements of the JEC are completely different to how the body behaved in the 2020 case of the withdrawal of the seat of Quim Torra, when the then-Catalan president was also banned from office for a very similar offence of disobedience to the JEC itself: the refusal to remove symbolic yellow ribbons and banners from a public building. Two years ago, the JEC sent a letter asking speaker Roger Torrent to proceed with the removal of Torra's seat and requesting that he also send the body all the documentation certifying that that had been done. In the case of Juvilla, the electoral commission itself withdrew the credentials of the deputy and has now moved to materialize his substitute, issuing the new credentials of the person who, it asserts, must now occupy the seat. Unlike Torrent, then, the JEC has not allowed Borras to decide whether or not to withdraw his seat, because he has already been removed. What the speaker of parliament will have to decide is whether to assume being disobedient of the JEC decision, which could lead to the imposition of other charges against her such as collaboration in the usurpation of functions and misuse of public funds, as it could also involve using the public purse to pay the salary of an MP whose seat has been withdrawn. All this complicates the situation for speaker Laura Borras, who came to the chamber with a court case of her pending, with regard to contractual irregularities in the Institute of Catalan Letters which she formerly headed, and in these 11 months in the job, has added eight more cases, following the appeal of the PSC to the Constitutional Court, for the acceptance of the delegation of exiled MP Lluis Puig's vote, in addition to various complaints from Ciudadanos (Cs) and Vox. Juvilla "contaminates democratic functioning" In fact, the burofax that the JEC sent to the parliamentary speaker's office also includes the submission presented by Cs to the electoral body, and gives five days to Borras to give explanations on the facts in relation to the alleged non-compliance with the electoral board's resolution, and "in particular to indicate the measures taken by this institution to implement the agreement" to withdraw Juvilla's seat. Cs' letter names Borras directly and refers to the "multiple public demonstrations in which she agrees to continue to prevent the execution of the agreement and the effectivity of the law, collaborating in the usurpation of functions initiated by the convicted Juvilla" . The Cs appeal also names the secretary general of parliament, Esther Andreu, along with the members of the Bureau who refused to comply with the decision of the JEC, as responsible for not initiating the procedure to replace the CUP deputy. It also warns that in the event that Juvilla continues to participate in the deliberations of the house, given that his credentials as a deputy have been formally withdrawn, he will "contaminate the democratic functioning" of Parliament. The Cs letter to the JEC is accompanied by documentation, including photographs of Borras with Juvilla and transcripts of plenary sessions. The speaker of parliament has five working days to respond, counting from Thursday 27th. Beyond the matter of how and when the Catalan chamber decides to respond, as the Ciudadanos text warns, from now, on the simple fact of Juvilla's participation in a meeting of the Bureau or any parliamentary activity, or the payment of his MP's salary, once the JEC has cancelled his accreditation as a deputy and issued a new one, will launch a new legal front and new accusations. And not just for disobedience. Five charities awarded funding for international development projects Five charities registered in the Isle of Man will receive a total of 473,000 though the Small Grants Scheme to support international development work. The Small Grants Scheme aims to support Isle of Man registered charities to deliver international development projects, with funding given over a two-year period. Applications for the 2021-23 funding period closed in July 2021, with 10 applications received and evaluated against the objectives of the grant. The applications addressed a wide range of issues aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including reducing inequality, promoting good health and wellbeing, and providing clean water and sanitation. The five charities selected for funding are: CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) will receive 96,986 to improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services and facilities for vulnerable host communities and out of camp South Sudanese Refugees in Al Jabalian locality, White Nile State, Sudan. Christian Aid will receive 100,000 for their project entitled Improved Cookstoves in Burundi - A Cleaner Climate Initiative (Dukingire Igiti). The project will improve access to sustainable cooking methods by stimulating the production, purchase and use of improved cleaner energy cook stoves in Burundi. Excellent Development will receive 82,868 to build sand dams in a project designed to restore degraded lands to reduce rural poverty in Ethiopia. Sand dams offer a sustainable rainwater harvesting technique, providing long-term water security. Pahar Trust Nepal will receive 95,112 to build new earthquake-resilient education facilities in rural Nepal. RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) will receive 97,746 towards their project in Bangladesh that aims to reduce drowning mortality and improve early childhood development of children in rural communities of Barishal Division. Charity receives 1.4m to help protect Syrian refugee children UNICEF UK has been awarded 1.4 million from the Isle of Man's International Development Fund to help create a safe environment for Syrian refugee children. The charity will receive 1,411,431 which will be used to provide care services to 12,500 children, education to 1,200 parents and caregivers and efforts to raise awareness of child protection issues of Syrian refugees in Iraq. This is the second of two charities selected to receive International Development Partnerships (IDP) funding in 2021 - Send a Cow was also awarded funding to help people affected by climate change issues in rural Africa. UNICEF UK and Send a Cow were selected from more than 30 charities and organisations which applied for support in 2021. The IDPs aim to create longer-term partnerships between the Isle of Man Government and a small number of respected international charities, to facilitate lasting and sustainable change. Netflix is learning that careless dialogue in its fictional shows can have serious implications. Its bid to get a recent defamation suit dismissed has been rejected, meaning it will have to face the plaintiff Georgian chess legend Nona Gaprindashvili in court. In September, Gaprindashvili filed a suit against the streaming giant, accusing the company of defamation and "false light invasion of privacy." As the world's first female grandmaster, Gaprindashvili was mentioned in Netflix's series The Queen's Gambit a period drama about a chess prodigy. In one scene during a chess match, a radio commentator says in passing "The only unusual thing about her, really, is her sex. And even that's not unique in Russia. There's Nona Gaprindashvili, but she's the female world champion and has never faced men." According to the suit, not only is the allegation that Gaprindashvili hadn't faced men at that time "manifestly false," it's also "grossly sexist and belittling." It states that "By 1968, the year in which this episode is set, she had competed against at least 59 male chess players (28 of them simultaneously in one game), including at least ten Grandmasters of that time." Stanley Sherman via Getty Images The show is based on a 1983 novel by Walter Tevis that also mentions Gaprindashvili. However, the part which Netflix appears to have based this particular bit of its script on says, "The only unusual thing about her was her sex; and even that wasn't unique in Russia. There was Nona Gaprindashvili, not up to the level of this tournament, but a player who had met all these Russian Grandmasters many times before." Netflix's version is clearly different. The streaming provider had moved to strike the case in November, saying in its filing that "the Series is a fictional work that a reasonable viewer would not construe as conveying fact." It also said that "a reasonable viewer would not draw the negative implication that Plaintiff alleges." However, US District Judge Virginia Philips denied that motion today, writing that "the fact that the Series was a fictional work does not insulate Netflix from liability for defamation if all the elements of defamation are otherwise present." The ruling also states that "at the very least, the line is dismissive of the accomplishments central to Plaintiffs reputation." It also points out that, when filing its motion to dismiss, "Netflixs own evidence demonstrates knowledge of the truth in its choice to deviate from the text of the Novel, which states that Plaintiff had faced the male Russian Grandmasters 'many times before.'" Gaprindashvili is seeking damages of at least $5 million, as well as for Netflix to remove the statement that she never played men from the show. Waymo has sued the California Department of Motor Vehicles. In a case first reported by The Los Angeles Times , the Alphabet subsidiary filed a complaint with the Sacramento County Superior Court on January 21st to prevent the agency from disclosing what it believes to be trade secrets. At the center of the lawsuit is a public records request an unidentified party made to obtain Waymos driverless deployment application. Before sharing the requested documents, the DMV allowed the company to redact any sections it believed would reveal its trade secrets, including questions that were asked by the agency. When the DMV eventually forwarded the package to the requester, that individual or group challenged the redactions. The agency then contacted Waymo and invited the company to sue it to resolve the matter. Some of the information Waymo wants to prevent from entering the public domain include details on how it plans to handle emergencies involving its autonomous vehicles. Another redacted section details the abilities of its Driver software to handle San Franciscos tricky one-way streets and hills . The company began offering taxi service to a limited number of customers in San Francisco in August . Those vehicles operate with a backup human driver. The company contends it has publicly shared almost all of the information contained in its application with the DMV. According to Waymo, the redactions involve technical details that touch on how it achieves the safety performance it has detailed in other public venues. Waymo claims that information could give a competitor an edge on it. The suit's purpose here is to either forestall or completely prevent the disclosure of the requested information. As The Los Angeles Times notes, resolution for these types of cases can take years. Every autonomous vehicle company has an obligation to demonstrate the safety of its technology, which is why weve transparently and consistently shared data on our safety readiness with the public, a spokesperson for Waymo told Engadget. We will continue to work with the DMV to determine what is appropriate for us to share publicly and hope to find a resolution soon. The DMV declined to comment on the case, but said it's currently reviewing the complaint. Click for the latest, full-access Enid News & Eagle headlines | Text Alerts | app downloads Malan is communications specialist at the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County and provides content for the Enid News & Eagle. The News & Eagle has traditionally published personal opinions of writers and readers through editorials, columns and letters to the editor on its Opinion and other pages. 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/. Have a question about this opinion piece? Do you see something we missed? Do you have a story idea for the News & Eagle? Send an email to enidnews@enidnews.com. Enid, OK (73701) Today Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 53F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely. A few storms may be severe. Low 53F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. The Scrubs cast is gearing up for a reunion, and we can't wait! The cast of the well-beloved comedy series Scrubs has announced that they will be reuniting at the ATX Television Festival in the summer of 2022. The reunion was announced through an EW exclusive. At the event, there will be a Scrubs panel alongside the already announced panels for Parenthood and Justified. Scrubs has officially been off the air for twelve years. This panel was originally set to happen at the ATX Television Festival back in the summer of 2020 in order to celebrate the show's ten year anniversary since the final episode premiered. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event was rescheduled for this coming summer. Several cast members that have already confirmed their appearance at the highly anticipated panel. Those that have confirmed include some of our iconic Scrubs favorites such as Zach Braff, Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke, John C. McGinley, Judy Reyes, Neil Flynn, and Christa Miller. We can't wait to see the hilarious hospital gang back together again! The show Scrubs chronicled the hilarious stories of nineteen employees at Sacred Heart, a teaching hospital. People fell in love with the characters, the chaos, and the comedy for the entire nine seasons. The show originally streamed on NBC, but, for their final two seasons, they switched over to ABC. We are sure that this panel reunion will be an absolutely unmissable event. The ATX Television Festival will be held from June 2nd to June 5th in Austin Texas. Get your tickets now! Nicholas Cage is getting bullied by his pet crow. Nicholas Cage is gearing up to play Dracula in the film Renfield. He will be playing the character opposite The Great's Nicholas Hoult. It is a character known for its gothic aura. Capturing this essence will not be difficult for the actor. He is a self proclaimed goth in his own life. He has a pet crow named Hoobah. Hoobah, however, has taken up a very interesting habit: he has started calling Cage various names. The actor told Variety, "He has taken to calling me names...it's comical, at least, it is to me. When I leave the room, he'll say, 'Bye,' and then go, 'Ass.' Crows are intelligent. And I like their apperance, the Edgar Allan Poe aspect. I like the goth element. I am a goth." This is why he is attracted to this mysterious and dark role. He takes great care when it comes to playing these parts. He said, "The key, I think, is movement...I saw a movie called Malignant and the director James Wan and the actress...created this choreography that was terrifying. So I'm hoping to do something like that where Dracula can either glide or move like Sadako in Ringu." We are sure that the award winner is up to the challenge. He is determined to make his rendition of Dracula unique. "I want to see it pop uniquely from how we've seen it played," he said to Variety. We can't wait to see Renfield when it hits the big screen. After his success with the Spider-Man franchise, with No Way Home being in the top ten highest grossing films of all time, Tom Holland is going big in his next big budget blockbuster, Uncharted. And we have the final trailer to prove it. Based on the popular video game series, the plot synopsis goes as such, "Street-smart thief Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor "Sully" Sullivan (Mark Wahlberg) to recover a fortune lost by Ferdinand Magellan 500 years ago. What starts as a heist job for the duo becomes a globe-trotting, white-knuckle race to reach the prize before the ruthless Moncada (Antonio Banderas), who believes he and his family are the rightful heirs. If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world's oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate's long-lost brother...but only if they can learn to work together." In this new trailer we get a few yet to be seen action sequences, fights, and a ton of witty-banter between Holland and Wahlberg, who seem to be having a blast making the film. One of the most innovative and impressive set pieces has to be where two old wrecked ships are suspended from helicopters with thieves swinging from one to the other while in mid-air flight! Haven't seen that one before. This will be the final trailer for Uncharted before it's UK release on February 11th, with the US release not far behind on February 18th. So, if you're jonesing for your Tom Holland fix, strap in and check out the trailer. Hope you like heights! This paper is an empirical study of the consequences of the prolonged closure of schools and other educational institutions for adolescent tribal girls, migrating to the construction sector of Surat in search of work. It attempts to argue that, unlike financial hardship, disruption in education induced by the pandemic brought them to the informal labour market where the entry-level age group is now much younger, exacerbating their existing vulnerabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic raging for over two years now has disrupted the entire teachinglearning process across the country (Talesra 2020; Jena 2020). The lockdown-induced closure of schools had prompted the administration to conduct all sorts of teachinglearning activities and evaluation processes like exams in through the virtual medium, ignoring multiple problems, such as access to the internet, availability of appropriate gadgets, and the structural inequalities in access to education, which is already deep-rooted in the country. Most importantly, there exists the digital divide between rural and urban areas. According to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) 201718 report, 23.8% households in the urban areas had internet access whereas in the rural areas only 14.9% had internet connectivity (Sahani 2020). Furthermore, across the rural communities in India, the worst affected are the tribals, fraught with the lowest literacy rate and lesser numbers of enrolments in schools, with highest dropout rates after the primary level of education (Brahamanandam and Bosu Babu 2016). Amongst the tribal communities, ownership of computing devices is as low as 2.47% (Ahmed and Siddiqui 2020). The paper looks at the phenomenon of forced resignations in the garment industry in Karnataka during the pandemic. It demonstrates how workers responses to forced resignations were determined by whether they were located in the city (Bengaluru) or a small town (Srirangapatna) and calls for an engagement with the local geographies to understand the experiences of women garment workers. The economic distress faced by garment workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns has sparked much global activism. Meticulous documentation has shown the extent to which workers were underpaid during the pandemic (Clean Clothes Campaign 2020), the ways in which brands abdicated on their commitments to workers (Khambay and Narayanaswamy 2020) and the impact of these actions on workers access to income and nutrition (Workers Rights Consortium 2020). Such work has rightly foregrounded the distressed woman worker and has sought amelioration from rich and powerful transnational apparel corporations. In doing so, such activism in the garment sector has continued its northward orientation, addressing apparel corporations and their consumers in the global Northan orientation that has borne fruit in some instances.1 Friday, January 28, 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) Criticism of President Joe Biden's recent comments about Russia's anticipated invasion of the Ukraine underscored an important reality for business leaders about responding to any crisis: all words matter. The BBC reported that President Biden said at his Wednesday press conference that Vladimir Putin would pay a "serious and dear price for invading Ukraine, but also indicated that it might depend on how Russia went about it." "What you're going to see is that Russia will be held accountable if it invades and it depends on what it does," he said. "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." According to the BBC, "His comments prompted questions over how the U.S. might respond to Russian aggression and officials have been rushing to clarify Washington's position. Ukraine's President Responds Ukraine's president pushed back on President Joe Biden's suggestion "that a 'minor incursion' by Russia into Ukraine might not merit a strong international response," USA Today reported. "We want to remind the great powers that there are no minor incursions and small nations," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote in a tweet Thursday morning. "Just as there are no minor casualties and little grief from the loss of loved ones. I say this as the President of a great power." Biden Backtracks Biden had to backtrack, saying that any Russian forces that crossed into Ukraine would constitute an invasion. "If any assembled Russian units move across the Ukrainian border, that is an invasion. Let there be no doubt if Putin makes this choice, Russia will pay a heavy price," Biden told reporters before a meeting with his infrastructure task force. "The Ukrainian foreign minister said this morning he's confident of our support and resolve, and he has a right to be," the president added. Damage Control Reuters reported that, "Biden's remarks on Wednesday sent his administration and allies quickly into damage control mode, with a stress on unity. "No matter which path Russia chooses, it will find the United States, Germany, and our allies, united," said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking at a press conference with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during a visit to Berlin to meet ministers from Britain, France and Germany. "We urgently demand that Russia takes steps towards de-escalation. Any further aggressive behavior or aggression would result in serious consequences," Baerbock told the news conference. Advice For Business Leaders Philadelphia's Violence Crisis Immediately apologize for anything you said that causes a crisis to get worse or is criticized by those who are impacted by the crisis. Last month, Philadelphia's District Attorney Larry Krasner apologized for comments he made that the city does not have a violence crisis, surrounded by community supporters who accepted his admission of wrongdoing. According to WHYY-TV, " Krasner made a new statement during his weekly violence update, this time from the Love Zion Baptist Church in North Philadelphia not far from the scene of several carjackings in recent weeks, including one that resulted in the murder of the car owner." "My words unintentionally hurt people," Krasner said. "It was never what I wanted to do I know that those words were the wrong ones. I chose them. They came out of my mouth I failed in not acknowledging the pain and suffering that disproportionately affects people of color and poor people, so for that, I am truly sorry." The TV station reported that, "...in an exchange with reporters, Krasner acknowledged that the city does have a gun violence crisis, while insisting on pointing out that police statistics show overall violent crime is down in Philadelphia. "We don't have a crisis of lawlessness. We don't have a crisis of crime. We don't have a crisis of violence," he said. "The comments drew criticism from some community leaders, as well as former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, as [being] insensitive to the dangers and heartbreak faced especially by many Black and Latino residents as more than 500 people were murdered so far this year. The vast majority of homicide victims have been young Black men." Gulf Oil Spill In 2010, Tony Hayward, who was then the CEO of BP, had to apologize after making remarks about the company's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. "I'm sorry. We're sorry for the massive disruption it's caused their lives. There's no one who wants this over more than I do. I'd like my life back." In a post on Facebook, Hayward said that, "I made a hurtful and thoughtless comment on Sunday when I said that 'I wanted my life back.' When I read that recently, I was appalled. I apologize, especially to the families of the 11 men who lost their lives in this tragic accident. "Those words don't represent how I feel about this tragedy, and certainly don't represent the hearts of the people of BPmany of whom live and work in the Gulfwho are doing everything they can to make things right. My first priority is doing all we can to restore the lives of the people of the Gulf region and their familiesto restore their lives, not mine." ### Friday, January 28, 2022 Community Champion Volunteers are Stitch members who volunteer their time to host events that help other members connect and engage with others in the community, especially in areas where the community isnt active yet. Bill from Scotland is one of our superstar Community Champion Volunteers, dedicating hours of his time every week to connecting, entertaining, and educating Stitch members from all around the world (including the US, UK, and Australia). If you havent already, be sure to attend one of his many activities they range from nighttime chats to quizzes! Bill shares his Stitch journey with us below. Hi, my name is Bill, and I live in a small village outside Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. I joined Stitch about nine months ago as the COVID-19 lockdown was taking its toll, after losing my wife 11 months previously to this. After joining Stitch, it took a few weeks before I attended my first event. At my first event (which was virtual), I was made to feel very welcome. This was followed by many welcoming messages, inviting me to more virtual activities on Stitch. I then started participating more and more. After getting to know Stitch member Pam from Wales, we decided to start running supportive events for widows and widowers, which went on for quite a few months. I noticed that although men attended, they said very little, so we decided to split these events Pam would host the events for our widows, while I hosted events for our widowers. It was good to see that the men opened up more in these male-only events. I then started to run a quiz night every two to three weeks and have always got a good uptake on these activities. I now also help run activities for our Chatterbox UK group, and host virtual nighttime chats for members that find it hard to sleep. These nighttime events have really taken off. I also have a few discussion groups running as well. I was very lucky to recently be able to host an in-person weekend at my house. This was held in conjunction with a virtual event with members who could not attend. I have had a great nine months so far and have met a load of very nice and friendly people who I am proud to call friends. Long may this great institution last that a great man Andrew started with his wonderful staff. Want to become one of our superstar Community Champion Volunteers? Learn more or RSVP to an information session here. Or, if youd like to come along to one of the many activities held every week, sign up to Stitch today. Our activities are held all over the world! Not even a Donald Trump-supporting billionaire could stop the Texas Transportation Commission on Thursday from trashing a 2014 agreement to transfer control of a 2.2-mile stretch of Broadway from the state to the city of San Antonio. In a letter dated Jan. 26, Christopher Kit Goldsbury the original money behind Silver Ventures, developer of the Pearl and 36 other local business and political leaders called on Gov. Greg Abbott and commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg, a San Antonio banker, to allow Broadway to prosper. Goldsbury and companys underlying message: Please back off and allow the city to proceed with plans to remake the Broadway corridor as a complete street. That means reducing the number of traffic lanes, adding bike paths and widening sidewalks. New landscaping, too. The idea is to accommodate pedestrians, bus riders and bicyclists not just motorists. Were talking about the portion of Broadway between Burr Road and I-35. On ExpressNews.com: Broadway corridor vote: State stops San Antonio's redevelopment plan The effort is largely underwritten by $42 million in bond financing San Antonio voters approved in 2017. The project was embedded in a $445-million street improvements package that won 78 percent of the vote. Traffic studies predict just a few minutes of extra drive time over this ... stretch of road, the letter writers noted. This is a small price to pay for the increased safety, job and business creation, the expected billions of dollars of new development, and the resulting increases in much-needed sales and property tax revenues. Other signatories included Rackspace Technology co-founder Graham Weston, NuStar Energy Chairman Bill Greehey and former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus. But Goldsbury literally topped the list. He contributed at least $33,000 to Trump between 2016 and 2020, and much more to other Republican candidates and officeholders, including Abbott, according to Open Secrets, a nonpartisan campaign-finance watchdog. That puts him in the mainstream of Texas GOP politics in spirit, anyway. His wealth sets him apart from most other conservatives. The Pearl is his brainchild and Broadway is its home. Its redevelopment is in keeping with the tony mixed-use developments pedestrian-friendly layout. None of it mattered Thursday. Not the arguments of Goldsbury and other Broadway developers and business owners, nor those of bicycle-safety and public-transportation advocates. City officials pleas to at least postpone its vote to rescind its order a move the commission predicated on the fact that a project acceptance letter hasnt been issued also went nowhere. Roadblock Bugg, an Abbott appointee, set the tone in his opening remarks. He heads up the holding company that owns the Bank of San Antonio and is chairman and trustee of the Tobin Endowment. The Transportation Commission he leads governs the Texas Department of Transportation. He noted San Antonios fast-growing population and Texans heavy dependence on their cars and truck to get from Point A to Point B. With that, the commissions responsibility is to plan for the transportation needs today and in the future, he said. A critical part of delivering for the people of the state of Texas is congestion relief. In a wide-ranging interview with Bugg in July 2020, he talked about his role at the commission and Abbotts dealings with it. On ExpressNews.com: Preacher of relationships San Antonio banker J. Bruce Bugg Jr. is an adviser to the governor, a force in the financial world, a patron of the arts Actually, the only thing that I can think of that Gov. Abbott publicly called on the commission to do was in September of 2015 he called on the commission to come up with a statewide strategic plan to address congestion, predominantly in the urban areas in Texas, Bugg said. I was appointed to lead that, and that turned into Texas Clear Lanes. That's a very robust plan focusing on congestion, predominantly in the five major urban areas of the state being Fort Worth, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. About 67 percent of the population of Texas live in those five major metropolitan areas. He made the same point Thursday, adding that the Texas Clear Lanes program has completed a dozen projects that cost a combined $1 billion. Relieving congestion was the bottom line as mandated by Gov. Abbott. These two things werent in dispute Thursday: First, TxDOT hadnt relinquished control of the corridor. Its still a part of the Texas highway system, as bizarre as that seems to anyone who drives on Broadway. It sure looks and feels like a city street, with city speed limits to boot. But proof of ownership is in the spending. TxDOT has paid $1.3 million for maintenance of the roadway since 2014, according to Gina Gallego, the departments San Antonio district engineer. Second, TxDOT had played along with San Antonio officials for seven-plus years, not signaling until recently that a rescission was in the cards. No one contradicted Assistant City Manager Jeff Coyle when he stepped up to the podium Thursday in Austin and said the citys plans for Broadway warrant more than an abrupt, unilateral halt to this project. On ExpressNews.com: Transforming the Broadway Corridor After commissioners voted 3-1 to undo its 2014 order which was amended in 2015 City Manager Erik Walsh called the decision a complete about-face. The controversy didnt break into the open until Tuesday afternoon when Mayor Ron Nirenberg tweeted, inaccurately: Huh? State is preparing to claim Broadway is part of the TX highway system, 6 years after transferring control to the city. Abbotts fingerprints We cant say yet whether Abbott was or wasnt directly pulling the commissions strings. He clearly staked out his anti-congestion policy directive seven years ago. But the abruptness of the Transportation Commissions Broadway turnaround is fishy. Its also of a piece with Abbotts unrelenting attempts to wrest local control from Texas big cities, the only real Democratic strongholds in the state. Local tree ordinances? Too anti-development. A local fracking ban? Not gonna happen, hippie. As a fairly frequent driver on Broadway, I wasnt looking forward to longer drive times after the corridors rebirth as a complete street. But the future of urban transportation cant be all about cars, SUVs and pickups, which in combination with Texas farflung highway system have brought us a lot of sprawl and pollution. Also, Goldsbury and friends were right in saying, Since the redesign was conceived, developments costing several hundred million dollars have occurred along Broadway and much more is currently under design or construction. Ask Credit Human, which moved its headquarters to lower Broadway, or Jefferson Bank, which is building its new HQ nearby. No one knows yet whether the commissions decision will be the death of the citys Broadway project. For his part, Bugg said TxDOT and the city should continue talking, to find a way forward. The only stipulation is we cannot reduce capacity on Broadway, he added. The words were Buggs. But the naked exercise of power that they conveyed that was Abbott. greg.jefferson@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COVID-19 is now so widespread that nearly 1 in 5 Bexar County residents contracted the virus at some point from the start of the pandemic through December. In an epidemiology report released this week, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District noted that at least 18 percent of all county residents were known to have caught the virus at some point during the nearly two-year pandemic through the end of last month before the highly contagious omicron variant pushed the number of new cases and the positivity rate to staggering heights. Were going to have to consider that this may become endemic, meaning its just a part of our community, said Dr. Rita Espinoza, Metro Healths chief epidemiologist. And we will have to learn what does that mean moving forward. The total number of cases spiked dramatically in January, with more than 124,000 reports compared with 359,692 cases from the start of the pandemic through December. As COVID-19 has mutated, creating variants such as delta and omicron, the avalanche of COVID statistics released each day can be difficult to process. In recent weeks, the daily number of new cases drastically increased with omicron, yet hospitalizations arent as high as with the delta surge. Also, daily numbers of newly diagnosed cases include people who have only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, while the number of hospitalized patients include those who were admitted for other medical reasons and incidentally tested positive for the virus. To gauge the virus true effect on the community, Espinoza suggests looking at three indicators: the case rate per 100,000 residents, the weekly positivity rate and the hospital stress score. Currently, theres a weekly average of 290.2 cases per 100,000 Bexar County residents. Thats a record high and marks an increase for an eighth consecutive week. The countys weekly positivity rate the share of people turning up positive for the virus among all those tested also stands at a record high of 39.4 percent. Thats the fifth consecutive week its gone up. That positivity rate surfaced during a week when more than 100,000 COVID tests were given. The communitys risk level and the hospitals stress score both are severe as hospitals continue to be bombarded by admissions of patients testing positive for COVID-19 and as hospital employees become infected or exposed to the virus and have to take off from work. Those indicators can help people gauge their own level of risk when they decide whether to go out or stay home, Espinoza said. /Jessica Phelps Its really to help individuals know whats happening out in the community, to make a better-informed decision about their own safety, she said. Its a way to figure out how much risk am I willing to take for my own well-being, for those that I care for? So the higher the level, hopefully, individuals are more in tune to take additional safety measures. Dr. Barbara Taylor, a UT Health San Antonio associate professor of infectious diseases who treats patients sick with COVID, said she looks at the seven-day moving average of daily cases, the percentage of people testing positive for the virus and the case rate per 100,000 residents. Bexar Countys seven-day moving average of newly diagnosed COVID cases reached a record high of 6,186 on Jan. 21 and had dropped to 5,063 as of Saturday. Still, that number remains much higher than those recorded during previous surges. I tend to look at the seven-day moving average of overall cases pretty closely. And I am still looking at that with this surge, said Taylor, who is also assistant dean of UT Health San Antonios Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health program. The seven-day moving average is a little bit smoother for us. ... I feel like it does reflect more of a where are we in our community at the moment? I think that overall case rates are still important because I see it as if everybody in our community had (the) flu at the same time. And that doesnt usually happen, she said. /Jessica Phelps Taylor noted that while some patients may have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, the number of people testing positive for the virus has now increased by more than threefold from levels recorded during previous surges. So I think the toll that omicron is taking in our community is still very present. ... It is still not insignificant in terms of how ill many people feel, she said. Taylor also noted that the numbers of people testing positive for the virus at home using self-administered rapid tests arent included in the data released by Metro Health. She also keeps track of the number of patients in intensive care units who have tested positive for the virus. The vast majority of those people are in the ICU because of COVID or complications from COVID, Taylor said. /Jessica Phelps The record number of COVID patients in ICUs 452 was set last January. As of Saturday, that number stood at 284. The daily numbers of COVID patients hospitalized are tricky to interpret because they include those admitted for other medical reasons and who happened to test positive for the virus upon admission. Some San Antonio hospital systems have hundreds of patients each day, so its difficult and time-consuming to review each patients records to determine if they were admitted for severe illness from COVID or something else particularly while a health care crisis is going on. During the omicron surge, local hospitals have seen higher percentages of patients admitted for other medical reasons turn up positive for COVID than they did during previous variants of the virus, said Eric Epley, executive director of the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council, which coordinates resources among medical centers in the region. On any given day, the share of patients admitted for other emergencies and found to be infected with the virus ranges from 30 percent to 65 percent of a hospitals total inpatient population, he said. There is still a significant percentage of patients admitted for COVID symptoms that are impacting our hospitals daily that normally wouldnt be there, and that is largely avoidable, Epley said. The high transmissibility of the omicron variant has infected more clinical staff from our hospitals than previous variants, so (staff absences) are up more than at any time in the pandemic, which has a huge impact on our health care systems. In the end, whether they are admitted for COVID symptoms or their COVID status is discovered during an admissions screening process, they are patients that need the appropriate level of care for their illness, and the COVID patients require additional measures for their hospital stay. Some states, such as New York and Massachusetts, have begun differentiating between patients admitted to hospitals for severe COVID illness and those hospitalized for other reasons who happen to test positive for the virus, Taylor said. Those two states are looking at which patients received steroids, which is one method of treating COVID pneumonia. This isnt a perfect means of calculating how many patients are truly sick with COVID because some patients may be given steroids for other medical reasons, while others may be suffering from COVID complications that arent treated with steroids, Taylor said. But do I wish that we had access to that information in our community? she said of the more specific hospital patient counts. Yes, I definitely do. pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: Peggy_OHare Texas is home to some oddly named cities and towns. The origins of some of these names are just as intriguing. For example, there is a crazy town in the Texas Panhandle. On ExpressNews.com: Here are the best places to cry in San Antonio, according to locals Loco, situated in Childress County, is named after the Spanish word for crazy or insane. The unincorporated community got its name after the locoweed, a common North American poisonous plant synonymous for causing livestock to grow weak and lose muscular control. With the help of Edward and Jean Callarys Texas Place Names, the Express-News compiled a list of some of the colorful city and town names in the state along with their origins and meanings: Bigfoot: The city is not named after the ape-like creature said to inhabit the forests of North America. However, William Bigfoot Wallace was a big man. The Texas Ranger is said to have been 6 feet, 2 inches and 240 pounds. Wallace got his nickname from his efforts to bring justice to a Native American from the Waco tribe, according to Texas Place Names. Wallace spent his later years in Frio County in the vicinity of a small village that later adapted his name. On ExpressNews.com: The most mispronounced Texas city names and your guide to pronouncing them correctly Blowout: This community in unincorporated Blanco County is named after a nearby spring and cave that shares the same name. Living in Blowout Cave were thousands of bats. According to Texas Place Names, it was given the name Blowout after a bolt of lightning struck the cave mouth and caused an explosion of gasses that had built up from years of accumulating bat guano. Bug Tussle: The community in Fannin County got its name from an incident in the 1890s, when a swarm of insects spoiled an ice cream social. Another local story says it was named after lazy Sunday School picnics where there was nothing to do but watch the bugs tussle among themselves, according to Texas Place Names. Cut and Shoot: About 40 miles east of Houston in Montgomery County, the town of less than 1,113 has several origin stories and they all involve violence in a church. Heres what Texas Place Names to say: The name arose from a dispute over church services in the summer of 1912. Some religious groups were welcome to conduct services in the community chapel and others were not. "Things came to a head one July morning when one group, determined to enter the building, was met by another, equally determined to keep them out. Tensions rose and when weapons were drawn, a young boy darted off exclaiming Im going to cut around the corner and shoot through the bushes. "Legal proceedings followed and one witness, when asked where the scuffle had occurred, is said to have replied where they had the cuttin and shootin scrape." By another account, a local preacher was accused of becoming too friendly with women of the congregation and men ran from the church "to their wagons and buggies to get knives and rifles to cut and shoot." Ding Dong: Aptly named for a city in Bell County, local legend says Ding Dong got its name in the 1920s. Two locals Isaac Bertram Bell and his cousin Zoilus Ozzias Bell, who was a music teacher asked a local painter to create a sign for their new general store. He painted two bells and underneath them wrote ding and dong. Dinero: This city has a rich history and its origins may involve buried treasure. The community was renamed in the 1870s from Barlows Ferry to Dinero the Spanish word for money. According to local legend, there is buried treasure or lost mines in the area. One local story says that Spanish silver miners were murdered by Native Americans for their dinero. Another rumor involves Mexican soldiers retreating after their loss at San Jacinto, the final battle of the Texas Revolution. Its said they buried their treasure somewhere in the area. Frognot: One origin story involves boys bringing frogs to school to scare the girls. When they were discovered, the teacher reprimanded the boys because Frogs are not to be brought to school. Another account says there was a plague of frogs of biblical proportions and the people went on a frog hunting campaign that reduced the frog population to zero. Thus, the name frognot, according to Texas Place Names. Girlstown: This city in Cochran County originated as a refuge for homeless girls in Buffalo Gap. The community moved to its present site in 1939. In 1987, Girlstown merged with Cal Farleys Boys Ranch, a city founded by a local wrestler who established a ranch for homeless boys. Gun Barrel City: The citys official slogan is We Shoot Straight With You. The citys name is fairly straightforward. The city took the name from Texas 198, known as Gun Barrel Lane, which ran in a straight line between Mabank and Payne Spring. Happy: The citys official slogan is The town without a frown. It takes its name from Happy Draw, which was named by thirsty cowboys who were happy to find fresh water after long cattle drives. Harmony: There are four cities called Harmony in Texas and they all have different origins stories. In Kent County, the city of Harmony got its name after founding families peacefully resolved a disagreement. In Hopkins County, the city of Harmony got its name because locals lived in harmony with their neighbors. Jot 'Em Down: Here is what Texas Place Names has to say about the towns origins: In 1936, Dion McDonald opened a general store that was familiarly known as the Jot Em Down Store, named after the fictional establishment co-owned by Lum Edwards and Abner Peabody on the immensely popular hillbilly comedy show Lum and Abner in the 1930s and 1940s. The name took root and Jot Em Down became the name of the local ginning corporation and then of the community. Rambo: This city is not named after the fictional Vietnam veteran John Rambo or Sylvester Stallone, who played the action hero in the films by the same name. The town gets its name from Gale Rambo, a white U.S. military officer, and his African American wife, Lydia, who established a community for free African Americans in the 1850s. Seclusion: This city in Lavaca County was aptly named in 1879 for its isolation. Stranger: The local story relayed in Texas Place Names is that a representative of the Post Office Department, while passing through, asked the village blacksmith the name of the town and the blacksmith, in poor English, replied that he was a stranger. The representative, sure of only one word, wrote Stranger on the application. Tarzan: This city in Martin County was named in 1927 to commemorate the work of a famous California writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. At the time, the "Tarzan" series was approaching dozens of volumes and was at the height of its popularity. Tarzana, Burroughs Southern California estate, may have inspired the choice of the Texas name, according to Texas Place Names. Uncertain: There are several stories that have attempted to explain the origin of Uncertain. But its origins are just as unclear as the name implies. According to Texas Place Names, one local story says settlers who arrived at the boundary between the US and the Republic of Texas at caddo lake had not been firmly established and residents were uncertain of where they lived. Another story says the town was incorporated to allow liquor sales, but it was uncertain if the ordinance would be approved. Weeping Mary: Weeping Mary was founded at the close of the Civil War as a community for emancipated African Americans. According to Texas Place Names, a local story relates the name to a freed woman named Mary who lost her land to a cheating plantation owner. A more likely source is that it is named after "Stabat Mater," a hymn that portrays a weeping Virgin Mary. White Settlement: Per Texas Place Names, White Settlement was so named to distinguish a community for Anglos from a nearby town of largely Native Americans. By others, the town was named for the many settlers with the family name White (more than 100) who moved to the county in the 1870s. A 2005 referendum to change the name to West Settlement failed by a ten-to-one margin. Yard: The local story is that when merchant Bruce Gray applied for a post office, his list of possible names inadvertently included a customers request for a yard of cloth. The Post Office Department dutifully approved the office as Yard in 1903. Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Moments after police officers responded to a domestic disturbance in Fifth Ward Thursday afternoon, the routine call spiraled into chaos: a chase, a crash, a shootout that ended with three police officers wounded, a carjacking and then a barricaded suspect in a home on Lockwood Avenue. As police waited for hours before finally taking the man later identified as Roland Caballero into custody, Mayor Sylvester Turner said the wounded officers were in good spirits and expected to recover. But the shooting was a reminder of the dangers of police work, Turner said. We are living in inherently dangerous times, he said, and its going to take all of us working together to have a very safe city. On HoustonChronicle.com: K-9 stabbing suspect confessed to killing his father with dumbbell, Houston police say The fracas began about 2:42 p.m., officials said, when police responded to a disturbance at 1513 Tralle St., in Fifth Ward. Caballero spotted the officers and fled in a gray Dodge Charger. He eventually crashed on the 2100 block of McGowen Street and then unleashed a barrage of gunfire at the police pursuing him, striking three and sending a plume of smoke out of their vehicle. Video of the encounter showed three officers rushing toward the shooter, with two taking cover behind their cruiser, while another hid along a fence line and then firing at the suspect. Audio from the video captured the sounds of numerous gunshots, including what sounded like automatic fire. From there, Caballero carjacked a person in a white Mercedes-Benz and then drove to a house on Lockwood and barricaded himself inside the home, authorities said. Firefighters transported one of the officers to Memorial Hermann Hospital, while police officers drove the others there. The three were all relatively new police officers stationed to Northeast Patrol, Chief Troy Finner said. One officer was shot in the elbow, another in the leg, and the third in the foot. The three were identified as Officers Nate Gadson, 35, Daniel Hayden and Anthony Alvarez. Gadson has spent four years with the department; Hayden, three years, and Alvarez, two. All were on the mend Thursday afternoon, Finner and Turner said. We expressed our support of them, how appreciative we are of their service, and how grateful and thankful we are that their injuries were not worse, Turner said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Man accused of killing Houston deputy interrupts hearing, says law enforcement wants to kill him Doug Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers Union, said he talked to two of the wounded officers at the scene. Their car is shot to st, Griffth said. How they made it out of there without being more severely injured is amazing. The immediate area was blocked off by police cruisers and yellow tape. Shivpal Vansadia, who lives in the nearby area and works as an analyst for NASA, was on a work Zoom call when he heard a succession of pops. His co-workers asked what it was, and he told them he thought it was gunfire. He ducked, then left the call and went to the roof of his townhome to see what was happening. From there, he saw a police car and a suspects vehicle. He said he saw police with their guns out, running toward a Dodge Charger. Most of the situation had already unfolded. As officers converged on the hospital to check on their wounded comrades, SWAT operators spent hours outside of a home on Lockwood near Interstate 10 where Caballero had barricaded himself. The 31-year-old man shot at police several times but did not hit anyone, Finner said. Thank God he didnt strike any officers, he said. The man who had a gunshot wound to his neck surrendered to authorities around 7:45 p.m., walking out of the home with his hands up, Finner said. He was sent to the hospital, Finner said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Oscar Rosales, man accused of killing Harris County deputy, had a prior identity in 1995 arrest Court records show a lengthy rap sheet dating back to 2008, with charges for deadly conduct, aggravated assault and unlawful possession of weapons. Thursdays shooting is the latest in a challenging week for Harris County law enforcement, who have seen two of their colleagues killed in the last several days and a police dog stabbed and nearly killed. It began on Saturday when Houston police had to rush one of their K-9s, Nate, to an animal hospital after he was stabbed by a man they were trying to arrest. The man accused of stabbing the K-9 on Wednesday was charged with murder in the death of a man police believe to be his father. On Sunday, a Precinct 5 deputy constable was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop in west Houston. Cpl. Charles Galloway, 47, died at the scene. Oscar Rosales was charged with capital murder of a police officer and was captured in the border town of Ciudad Acuna after a manhunt that involved police agencies across the state. Early Monday, an off-duty Harris County sheriffs deputy, Sgt. Ramon Gutierrez, 48, died after being struck by a driver while escorting heavy machinery along Sam Houston Parkway in the northeast part of the county. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo stated she was saddened and absolutely outraged over this latest attack on our police. Gun violence is out of control and weapons of war have NO place on our streets. Im in touch with Mayor Turner and he has our full support for anything he or HPD needs. At a news conference at the Texas Medical Center, Turner also decried the toll gun violence has taken on the region and acknowledged the strain recent events have placed on the areas law enforcement community. There are a lot of guns on the street, he said. Quite frankly, there are just too many on the street and in hands of people who will use these guns at a second notice. Now we have 3 police officers in hospital with gunshot wounds. st.john.smith@chron.com leah.brennan@chron.com State Sen. Kel Seliger, an Amarillo Republican, swore in federal court that he believes his GOP colleagues violated federal voting laws when redrawing a state Senate seat in North Texas. Seligers sworn statement was submitted as part of a lawsuit seeking to throw out the new boundaries for Senate District 10, the Fort Worth seat represented by Democratic state Sen. Beverly Powell. Democrats and civil rights groups argue that the changes were calculated to discriminate against voters of color, shifting Black and Latino Texans across several districts to dilute their political impact. The blue-leaning district is currently confined within the borders of Tarrant County, but the new map redraws boundaries to make the seat whiter, more rural and more Republican. Having participated in the 2011 and 2013 Senate Select Redistricting Committee proceedings, and having read the prior federal court decision regarding SD10, it was obvious to me that the renewed effort to dismantle SD10 violated the Voting Rights Act and U.S. Constitution, Seligers statement reads. The longtime GOP lawmakers comments amplify months of complaints from Democrats and their allies, who noted repeatedly during the redistricting process that people of color comprised 95 percent of Texas 4 million-person population growth over the past decade. Still, the maps created no new majority-Black or majority-Latino districts anywhere across Texas. They have filed a raft of lawsuits challenging the new maps, but the litigation process could take months or years. Plus, this is the first redistricting cycle in which Texas does not need pre-approval from the Department of Justice to ensure its maps dont disenfranchise voters of color. IN-DEPTH: GOP lawmakers swear new Texas redistricting maps are race blind, as they did a decade ago State Sen. Joan Huffman, a Houston Republican who led the redistricting process, has said repeatedly that she drew the new maps race blind and did not discriminate against voters of color. Instead, Huffman said she focused on other criteria, including protecting incumbents, equalizing population, promoting geographic compactness and preserving communities of interest. Seligers statement, which surfaced in an El Paso court this week, calls that explanation pretext. It was first reported by the Texas Tribune. He notes that Texas Senate District 10 was already compact, and its population was the necessary size before the Senate proposed the changes last year. Every decade, population shifts dictate how many voters should be placed in each district to keep them roughly the same size. This year, the ideal population for state Senate seats was about 940,000; District 10s old boundaries would have included 945,000 voters. READ MORE: New Texas political maps face the least scrutiny of any since 1965, despite history of racial discrimination Currently, white voters comprise roughly 54 percent of the districts citizen voting age population, and President Joe Biden won the district in 2020 with a nearly 8-point margin over former President Donald Trump. The new map swells the white population to about 62 percent of eligible voters, while also flipping the political lean to give Trump a 16-point margin over Biden. Geographically, the new map pushes District 10 into seven new counties while moving some Black and Latino constituents into neighboring majority-white seats. When the map was first released last fall, Powell called the changes a direct assault on the voting rights of minority citizens in Senate District 10. In the declaration, Seliger said the entire redistricting process saw untrue, pretextual explanations given to rationalize the new district lines. He cited the reconfiguration of his own seat, which Huffman said was redrawn to create distinctive agricultural versus oil and gas districts between his 31st district and an adjacent one. But Seliger said the changes do not accomplish that goal, arguing instead that the lines shifted to benefit a potential Republican primary challenger from Midland preferred by the lieutenant governor. Seliger has been at odds with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for years, and the senator previously told Hearst Newspapers that he believed the new map was drawn with some malice. Patrick endorsed conservative businessman Kevin Sparks for the 31st district, and Seliger decided to retire. cayla.harris@express-news.net A portion of Westrock Drive near Highway 90 West has received approval from the San Antonio City Council to be designated as the Jennifer Sue Delgado Memorial Way. Jennifer was 8 years old when was fatally stabbed on June 7, 1988, while she was with her mother at a laundromat on Westrock Drive. The San Antonio City Council on Thursday approved a variance to allow the removal of significant and heritage trees from the Stonegate Hill neighborhood for the development of a Microsoft data center. The variance allows developers to cut down more than 80 percent of the trees in the area, exceeding the limit of the citys tree ordinance. In return, Microsoft will plant more than 800 trees and pay $1.4 million to the citys tree mitigation fund to plant trees throughout the city. The approval, by an 8 to 3 vote, came after months of discussions between Stonegate Hill residents; Microsoft Corp., which was represented by the San Antonio law firm the Kaufman Group; and Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, who represents District 6, in which the project lies. All three parties supported the tree variance. This decision was not entered into lightly. Stonegate Hill has historically fought hard for the trees and land around their neighborhood, [but] a compromise has been reached, Havrda said. In the end, this is not a trees-versus-business interest story. This is about listening to the community and neighbors at Stonegate Hill. In November, the citys director of development services, Michael Shannon, denied the request for a tree variance because of the number of trees to be removed. Microsoft appealed the decision, which was passed to the Planning Commission in December. After the Planning Commission recommended approval, Shannon recommended denial again because the removal would be significant and does not meet the intent and spirit of the tree ordinance. Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News On ExpressNews.com: Everything was there and then it wasnt: Developers allowed to skirt tree ordinance The citys tree ordinance, adopted in 1997, is meant to protect all heritage trees and 35 percent of significant trees on a property. Heritage trees are old, large trees 24 inches in diameter or greater, while significant trees are 1 to 5 inches for small trees and 6 to 23 inches for large trees. In 2010, the city updated the plan so developers could only remove 10 to 20 percent of trees on a property. For developers to remove more than that, they must mitigate the impact by planting or paying to plant at least 25 percent canopy, or the percentage of shade provided, on the same property, in accordance with the citys unified development code. But in the past two years, the citys development office has consistently issued variances to developers without the City Councils knowledge, an investigation by the San Antonio Express-News found. That changed recently, when Shannon promised to share all proposed development variances. Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News The plan for Microsofts project calls for removing 2,087 large significant trees, which would leave 68; 18 of 19 heritage trees; and 485 nonprotected trees. Microsoft will pay to plant enough trees to shade 32.42 percent of the property; the minimum requirement for the propertys tree canopy is 25 percent. This decision benefits our community in several ways, said James Eckburg, a Stonegate Hill community member and vice president of the Stonegate Hill board of directors. Although the proposed single-story footprint of the building necessitates this requested variance, the planting of over 800 new trees, both shade and ornamental, will increase our canopy and replace older unhealthy trees, while regrading and replanting of additional vegetation to help limit soil erosion. For residents at Stonegate Hill, approving the tree variance is better than having Microsoft build a structure aimed at limiting tree removal. Microsoft had otherwise proposed a 60-foot, two-story building, which residents said would be highly visible from the neighborhood and threaten the value of the 19 closest homes. Also, under that scenario, Eckburg said, no additional canopy would be added since it would comply with the tree ordinance and the unified development code. On ExpressNews.com: Finding a balance: River authority removes trees for native grassland to prevent flooding Nevertheless, Council Members Jalen McKee-Rodriguez of District 2, Teri Castillo of District 5 and Ana Sandoval of District 7 expressed concern about approving another variance for development. McKee-Rodriguez highlighted the number of variances that have been approved in the past 206 as of a year ago with hopes to restart a conversation to reverse the loss of tree canopy in San Antonio. Im concerned that this sets a big precedent for the tree ordinance, Castillo said. Its very concerning, as folks have brought up: Why this property? Im concerned that it sets the precedent that if you throw enough money into the tree mitigation plan, you can bypass the city ordinance. Bill Kaufman, from the Kaufman Group, said the location near Stonegate Hill was the best option for Microsoft to build because its close to another Microsoft data center. He also noted that the site is rocky with hardly any topsoil or severe changes in elevation. Sandoval expressed concern that the plan would also remove a large carbon sink for the community at a time when reducing the citys concentration of carbon dioxide is urgent. She said the carbon-reduction capacity of the trees cannot be replaced in a short time. Elena Bruess writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. elena.bruess@express-news.net. Photo taken with a mobile phone shows disaster relief materials loaded onto two Chinese air force transport aircrafts to head for Tonga at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Zengyi) GUANGZHOU, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China plans to send a second batch of disaster-relief supplies from its southern metropolis of Guangzhou to the tsunami-hit Tonga by sea on Jan. 31, according to the foreign affairs office of Guangdong Province. The supplies are being assembled at the Nansha port in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, and include donations from the Red Cross Society of China and the China-Pacific Island Countries Reserve of Emergency Supplies (Guangdong). The relief supplies weigh more than 60 tonnes and include 15 tonnes of drinking water, approximately 10 tonnes of food, and 3,000 packages of household necessities. The new batch of supplies is expected to reach Tonga in early February under the guidance of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The first batch of aid flew to Tonga on Friday and included drinking water, canned meat, masks, gloves, tents and walkie-talkies. Guangdong Province and Tonga have maintained close contact over the years, with frequent cultural exchanges and economic and trade cooperation, according to Li Hongzhi, an official of the provincial foreign affairs office, which works closely with the Chinese foreign ministry concerning the needs of the Tongan people following volcanic eruptions. Photo taken with a mobile phone shows staff members unloading disaster relief materials from Chinese air force transport aircrafts at an airport in Nuku'alofa, capital of Tonga, Jan. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Zengyi) Photo taken with a mobile phone shows disaster relief materials loaded onto two Chinese air force transport aircrafts to head for Tonga at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Ding Zengyi) A group of activists gathered in Brackenridge Park Friday afternoon to protest against a city plan that involves removing more than 180 heritage oak trees as part of a 2017 bond project. About 25 people assembled behind the Brackenridge Park Conservancy office near Joske Pavillion, where officials with the city of San Antonios Parks and Recreation and Public Works departments were expected at 1 p.m. to present a preview for news media of the Brackenridge Park 2017 Bond Project. But the event was abruptly postponed to an unspecified date about 30 minutes before it was set to start. The 2017 GO Parks Improvement Bond has allocated $7.75 million for park improvements and rehabilitation, which may include the historic river wall, restroom, trails and historic structures, according to the citys website. Fridays protesters object to an element of the plan that calls for cutting down more than 180 trees to repair a retaining wall along the San Antonio River. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios historic Brackenridge Park struggling with decline: Paddleboats, kayaking possible Parks and Recreation officials did not respond to a request for comment as to why the event was canceled as of Friday afternoon. Materials that appeared as though they were to be used during the presentation could be seen through a window of the Conservancy building, which was closed. The protest was organized by Molly Wright, a local activist who has held hunger strikes to draw attention to problems affecting homeless people. Activists held signs that read Trees = clean air for children and Save the trees. Protesters shouted Stop the chop. Wright walked around with a silver chain on her shoulders, ready to chain herself to a tree in protest. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 William Luther /San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 2 of 2 William Luther / Show More Show Less Environmental advocate Alesia Garlock said she visits Brackenridge Park for bird watching daily as a way to cope with pain from a stomach condition. In her five years observing wildlife at the park, she has seen many types of migratory birds, including water fowl from Canada, egrets and herons. She said she has also seen barn owls nesting in the area. On ExpressNews.com: Microsoft given OK to remove massive number of trees for data center Garlock said she was at a city Planning Commission meeting Wednesday to offer comment about the biodiversity of trees and their ecological benefits when she learned that the Brackenridge Park plan involved removing so many trees. They kept the agenda from the public, Garlock said. It wasnt available to anybody until that day. According to the agenda, a variance was submitted to mitigate removing significant trees in excess of the limits set in the citys tree ordinance intented for preserving heritage trees within floodplains and environmentally sensitive areas. Garlock said protecting every tree in the city is important, as air quality is a growing concern for the community. jbeltran@express-news.net Edwin Remsberg / Getty Images A West Texas A&M University biology professor was indicted Thursday for alleged wildlife trafficking, the Department of Justice said. Richard Kazmaier, 54, was charged with smuggling goods into the United States and two violations of the Endangered Species Act. San Antonio did TxDOT a favor. Thats the first thing to remember about a 2014 agreement to have the state turn over control of the Broadway Corridor to the city of San Antonio, a deal which the Texas Transportation Commission, the governing body for the states Department of Transportation, rescinded Thursday. The Transportation Commission upended the agreement with little notice, after San Antonio invested seven years worth of time and money into an ambitious plan to revitalize Broadway by widening sidewalks, creating protected bike paths, reducing traffic lanes and adding landscaping. Along the way, J. Bruce Bugg, the San Antonio banker who chairs the Transportation Commission, made two points, one concerned with policy and one with legal loopholes. Bugg argued that the citys plan to go from six to four lanes on the 2.2-mile stretch of Broadway running from Burr Road down to Interstate 35 would produce congestion problems for local drivers. He also contended that a Broadway transfer spelled out in a December 2014 Transportation Commission Minute Order had never been officially completed. San Antonio reps are not arguing that point. In order to understand the issue, however, its important to remember the genesis of the scuttled transfer. In the summer of 2013, TxDOT was in crisis mode. The agency was staring down the barrel of a $5 billion deficit. TxDOT officials hoped to trim $165 million a year from the departments budget by ceding control of 1,897 miles of roadways, which primarily served local traffic, over to municipalities. The turnback proposal met with hostility from city leaders across the state, who saw it as a transparent attempt by TxDOT to dump some of its financial burdens on local governments. Its not our fault they (TxDOT) are short of money, then-Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck said. For them to turn to cities and say, OK, its yours, is absolutely not right. In the face of such criticism, TxDOT made the turnback program voluntary. Where other cities saw burdens, San Antonio saw opportunities. San Antonio officials agreed to relieve the state of the responsibility for the Broadway Corridor, mindful of the fact that the agreement could allow San Antonio to enhance the roadway and spur economic development. Transportation commissioners couldnt have been happier. The 2014 Minute Order pointed out that Broadway, which had once served as part of the best route from this city to Austin, is no longer needed for state highway purposes. In an Aug. 27, 2013, op-ed for the Express-News, Phil Wilson, then the executive director of TxDOT, tried to sell the turnback program by defining the transportation roles taken by state, county and city entities. Wilson said TxDOT was responsible for connecting communities. Cities, he added, were tasked with providing local access and circulation within their communities. Decisions about the proper number of lanes on Broadway fall completely into the category of local access and circulation. It should be the business of the city, not the state. Thats why the Broadway transfer always made so much sense: it offered financial relief to the state and local control to the city. During Thursdays meeting, members of the San Antonio community made the case for protected bike lanes on Broadway, a major part of the city project. I agree that bike lanes would be a great addition to Broadway. But even if I didnt, I would resent the idea that state officials, who once asked the city to take over this roadway, now are finding an excuse to take it back. They allowed the city to proceed with a 2017 bond program, approved by more than 70 percent of San Antonio voters, that included $42 million for the Broadway project. They allowed businesses along the corridor to invest millions of dollars in new development, in anticipation of the projects impact. During Thursdays meeting, Bugg read a statement from Gov. Greg Abbott, which suggested that the real impetus behind this TxDOT power play is our Republican governors ongoing war against local control in this states (largely Democratic) urban areas. Abbotts statement emphasized his determination to maintain capacity on Texas roadways. Bugg dutifully used the same phrase over and over during Thursdays meeting. Bugg didnt seem fazed by the seven years of work and investment in his hometown that he was pouring down the drain. He also gave no indication that he was swayed by a letter from 37 San Antonio civic leaders including Pearl developer Christopher Kit Goldsbury Jr., Republican state Rep. Steve Allison and Republican former County Commissioner Trish DeBerry urging transportation commissioners not to block the citys Broadway redevelopment project. The lesson should be clear to the cities of Texas: TxDOT cant be trusted to follow through on agreements; even ones they beg you to take. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 If we have learned anything about indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton over the course of his tenure, its that he is in a constant state of free fall because he has no moral ground upon which to stand. There is no bottom with Paxton, only greater depths to plunge. The tragedy is compounding. Not only has he brought ignominy to his office, but voters have supported him and may do so again. I was reminded of this after watching a recent talk show exchange between Paxton, the indicted, and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, the pardoned, in which Paxton espoused a conspiracy theory in response to an adverse ruling in the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. In December, the Republican-controlled court ruled 8-1 that the attorney general cannot unilaterally prosecute election cases. This is due to the separation of powers in Texas government. The attorney general is part of the executive branch, and such prosecutions fall to county and district attorneys, which are in the judicial branch. The upshot is the attorney general cannot run point on voter fraud prosecutions. Such decisions fall to district attorneys, who could, of course, always ask the attorney general for help. Or as the court states in its opinion in Texas v. Zena Collins Stephens, the Attorney General lacks constitutional authority to independently prosecute a crime in a district or inferior court without the consent of the appropriate local county or district attorney by a deputization order. Did the judges get this right? Yes, I think they got it right, Gerald S. Reamey, a professor with St. Marys School of Law, said. The opinion from the Court of Criminal Appeals shouldnt have come as a surprise to anybody who is familiar with the Constitution of Texas or the statutes that govern the attorney generals office. But Paxton said he was surprised. It came as a complete surprise to me, he said to Bannon. And then came the conspiracy theory that progressive Democratic district attorneys, including Joe Gonzales in Bexar County, have somehow influenced Republican judges on the Court of Criminal Appeals to block Paxton from prosecuting voter fraud. This would, in turn, lead to a flood of illegal votes in the midterms, which would then turn Texas to the Democrats. I think this was planned, Paxton said. I think they have been working on this for probably a decade to get the DAs in the right place, and then to get the right people on the criminal court of appeals. Gonzales struggled to find words in response. Think about the conspiracy they are claiming, he said. Yes, think about it. While the conspiracy theory has the potential to sow doubt on any Democratic win statewide in November were Paxton to lose this year, would he accept defeat, and is this an outrageous question to wonder? it also has the more immediate effect of applying pressure on the Court of Criminal Appeals. As Paxton said: Theres one guy named Scott Walker who is up for re-election. Hopefully, defeat him. Hes the only one who got an opponent. Defeat him, and then every three years, you know, target the Court of Criminal Appeals to take those people out that voted the wrong way. There is also this chilling exchange at the end of the Bannon-Paxton segment: Bannon says of the judges: We are gonna make em all famous, and they have to understand they are going to be made famous, very famous on a global scale. Paxton responds: That is awesome. Thats exactly what they need. And so the phone lines for the Court of Criminal Appeals were flooded, and in at least one chat room/message board, a picture of the judges was posted along with several threatening comments. It'd be nice to see them all swinging lifeless from a thick branch as we see the life leave their eyes for their crimes against our country, says one of those comments. This should raise major ethical questions. Its one thing to disagree with a decision, quite another to encourage hostility via MAGA muscle. Not awesome. Hollow men whisper words that are quiet and meaningless, and Ken Paxton drones on and on about widespread voter fraud. His office spent $2.2 million in 2021 on an election integrity unit that closed three cases. A partial election audit of four counties by the state Harris, Dallas, Tarrant and Collin didnt turn up much of anything. Gonzales, who signed on to an amicus brief in support of this outcome, called the Stephens decision a very simple ruling that says the original jurisdiction of election fraud rests with the local district attorneys. Its a decision that shows judicial independence, honors the Texas Constitution and limits government. Paxtons agitation about the decision underscores its importance. Just imagine if, hypothetically, a person used the power of the attorney generals office to pursue politically motivated elections prosecutions across the state. It could never happen here, right? jbrodesky@express-news.net In his latest culture war campaign stunt, Gov. Greg Abbott has concocted or stolen a Parental Bill of Rights, a divisive absurdity straight out of other GOP-led states that is all wrong for parents, teachers and students. He unveiled his plan to amend the Texas Constitution at the Founders Academy of Lewisville, a charter school. In a Jan. 21 tweet, he shared event photos and proclaimed: Many parents in Texas have watched their roles in the classroom diminish. That must end. Under my Parental Bill of Rights, parents will be restored to their rightful place as the primary decision makers for their children. I cant think of another time when politicians and parents have so deeply disrupted education. Their fights against critical race theory that isnt even taught, the rights of LGBTQ+ students and access to books they deem inappropriate or obscene disrupt school board meetings, make headlines and creep into classrooms. Abbott, who didnt release details about his plan on his website, explained during the event he would expand parents access to course materials and curriculum, and ways to complain about them; ban the selling of student data, which parents can easily opt-out of; and let parents decide whether their child must repeat a course or grade after failing. Parents are already at the table for all of these decisions, and, of course, Abbott knows this. School districts will also be required to provide parents with information and options for charter schools, magnet schools and other public schools as alternatives for their children. The hostile tone and content paint teachers as the enemy, seeking to terminate and blacklist any teacher convicted of giving minors access to obscene content. Teachers and schools do all they can to work with parents. I speak from experience as a parent of a 21-year-old son and as a former teacher. Its clear Abbott got the blueprint for his plan from Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, who is pushing a federal version. Teachers and teacher organizations were understandably angry with Abbotts Parental Bill of Rights. Not only did they see it for what it was the governor once again using educators as pawns in an election they called him out, stating parents rights are already in the Texas Education Code. Title 2, Subtitle E, Chapter 26 covers parents quite generously. Section 26.008, added in 1995 by the 74th Texas Legislature: Right to full information concerning student. (a) A parent is entitled to full information regarding the school activities of a parents child except as provided by Section 38.004. (b) An attempt by any school district employee to encourage or coerce a child to withhold information from the childs parent is grounds for discipline under Section 21.104, 21.156, or 21.211, as applicable. Teachers deserve respect and trust. They are educated professionals in a profession that is extremely regulated. To become a certified Texas teacher, an applicant must earn a four-year-degree, complete an education preparation program, submit a state application, undergo a background check and obtain certificates for each area of teaching. They must teach to state curriculum standards and the Texas Administrative Code. They are evaluated each year by their supervisors using the Texas Teacher Evaluation & Support System, and they are required to get continuing professional education training. Abbotts actions could cause Texas to lose more teachers. Teachers are burned out and calling it quits. Why stick around for this? Surely, Abbott has heard our state already doesnt have enough teachers or substitute teachers. On ExpressNews.com: As omicron spreads in San Antonio, student and teacher absences surge On ExpressNews.com: Texas teachers leaving after the first year, study says The nonprofit Pastors for Texas Children tweeted Jan. 23 that public school teachers are heroes, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and asked: Why isnt (Abbott) pushing a Teachers Bill of Rights? Because that doesnt help him politically. Nancy.Preyor-Johnson@express-news.net On Aug. 27, 2020, the Rwanda government kidnapped San Antonio resident Paul Rusesabagina and has imprisoned him there ever since. This would be outrage enough but Rusesabagina is also a recipient of the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor, bestowed by fellow Texan George W. Bush. Rusesabagina is a global humanitarian hero whose actions to save 1,268 people during the Rwandan genocide are portrayed in the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda. Youd think a foreign government abducting a fellow Texan, torturing him, trying him before a kangaroo court that obliterated his every legal right while his captors withhold medicines vital to his health, sent by his family, would have our elected representatives demanding his release. In fact, many have. In the U.S. House, Texas Democratic Reps. Joaquin Castro, Lloyd Doggett and Al Green have joined with Texas Republican Reps. Michael McCaul, Tony Gonzales, Roger Williams and Ronny Jackson at the vanguard. In the Senate, Republican John Cornyn organized a pointed, bipartisan, bicameral letter of protest holding Secretary of State Antony Blinken accountable for Rusesabaginas life. Cornyns letter drew signatures from two platoons of senators and House members. But not Sen. Ted Cruz. Constituent service is a primary job of a U.S. senator. Texans might wonder: What would happen if a foreign country kidnapped you and threw you in solitary confinement? Would Cruz lift a finger to help? Rusesabagina is guilty only of speaking out against repressive governments. Hes put his life on the line for those beliefs. Why does Cruz, the nominal champion of liberty and freedom who routinely holds up State Department nominees, fail to pressure Bidens State Department for the safe return to Texas of a winner of the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom? One of us, Zoellner, had a brief phone call with a Cruz staffer, then a series of nonreplies to every follow-up email. In contrast with his Texas colleagues, Cruz has neither reached out to the family nor signed Cornyns letter. The other of us, Israel, presided in a St. Marys classroom April 6 when two men who work with the Rwandan Embassy in Washington electronically deceived their way in to harass Paul Rusesabaginas wife, son and daughter. Recently at the Tobin Center downtown, the Rwandan ambassador to the United States called on Professor Israel by name, though theyd never met then tried to laugh off the direct question: Who authorized her embassys spying on the class? The ambassador circled the question for minutes without answering until her moderator cut it off. The Rwandans bugged the phone of another of Pauls daughters and sent agents to intimidate her. The St. Marys incident galvanized Cornyn. Texans dont agree about much these days except liberty and freedom, but about that were nearly indivisible. If were kidnapped or thrown into a foreign prison, wed expect a U.S. senator to defend our freedom. If Cruz wont defend Rusesabagina, what does that say about his commitment to liberty and freedom, his ability to stand up to foreign dictatorships, and his concern for Texas constituents who are lesser known? Bill Israel is former chair of the Department of Communications Studies and former associate dean at St. Marys University in San Antonio. Tom Zoellner is co-author of Paul Rusesabaginas 2006 book, An Ordinary Man. Could President Joe Biden and the Democrats be getting ready to launch their own version of Stop the Steal? Who had The Two Parties Merge Into One on their 2022 Bingo card? Last week, all Senate Republicans and two Democrats defeated a pair of Democratic-sponsored voting rights bills, and Biden raised the possibility that the upcoming midterm elections might not be on the level. At a White House press conference, Biden was asked if the November contests could still be considered legitimate if the Senate failed to pass the bills, which were intended to reform the voting process. In his response, Biden zeroed in on the stricter voting rules enacted last year by many Republican-controlled state legislatures. It all depends on whether or not were able to make the case to the American people that some of this is being set up to try to alter the outcome of the election, Biden said. Then the president was asked about the possibility of electoral fraud and voter intimidation in the midterm elections. Im not saying its going to be legit, Biden responded. The increase in the prospect of being illegitimate is in direct proportion to us not being able to get these reforms passed. These questions didnt do Biden any favors. Instead, they set him up for a gaffe a minute. To fully understand why the pair of voting rights bills the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act met their demise, we first have to understand why they were necessary. The story begins with Bidens trouncing of former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election, and media reports noting high turnout of African American and Latino voters. Its no surprise that voters of color were extra motivated to vote against a president they considered a racist. But for Republicans, higher turnouts for African Americans and Latinos meant something sinister was afoot. To tilt the scales back in their partys favor, and avoid future losses, Republican-led statehouses and legislatures quickly passed a flurry of new voting laws. Meanwhile, GOP governors signed one executive order after another including decrees that seemed designed to discourage nonwhite voters, especially the economically disadvantaged, from venturing out to the polls. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, 19 states passed 34 laws in 2021 restricting access to voting. Republicans at the state level were working overtime to try to get a political advantage. Politics never sleeps. It is no coincidence that three of the loudest Republican voices calling for changes to the U.S. electoral system belonged to a trio of GOP governors, each of whom is rumored to be interested in vying for the White House in 2024 and doubly interested if Trump doesnt run again. Greg Abbott of Texas, Ron DeSantis of Florida and Doug Ducey of Arizona were each trying to make the path to the Republican nomination a bit smoother. Conjuring up that much mischief while the whole country was watching was bound to have a seismic effect on the U.S. political system. And it sure did. In Washington, Senate Democrats tried to mitigate the damage by proposing the two voting rights bills. Listening to conservative radio hosts and podcasters talk about the bills, youd think the Democrats were proposing a major renovation of the U.S. political system from top to bottom. But all you had to do was actually read the bills to see that the Republicans doth protest too much. For instance, all the Freedom to Vote Act sought to do was expand voter participation with things like same-day registration and vote-by-mail. It would have also limited the power of local officials to remove voters from the rolls, established Election Day as a federal holiday, and restored voting privileges to individuals convicted of a crime who had paid their debt to society. Oh, yeah. Radical stuff. None of that explains why Republicans were so hellbent on scuttling the Freedom to Vote Act. But this does: The bill also would have made it a crime for someone to corruptly hinder, interfere with, or prevent another person from registering to vote or helping someone register to vote. There it is. Republicans were not about to own up to their evildoings and accept what they always demand from the rest of us: accountability. Democrats are no better at taking responsibility for their actions. The problem with our politics isnt a corrupt voting system. Its the fact that the parties are irreparably corrupted by their own self-interest. Soldiers disguised as civilians, they marched to the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, trying to crush what they claimed, perhaps even believed, they were saving democracy. In this bitterly divided era, it is easy to be jaded about attacks on our system, to view them as symptomatic of our age, just another tear in the national fabric. This was a stain not easily washed, however, and some government officials are not trying to wash it. They are trying to forget it or, worse, dismiss it, which exacerbates the original transgression. Whether they do so may determine the nature of our democracy for years, even decades, to come. This is why upcoming hearings on the Jan. 6 select committee are so crucial. They offer the hope of truth and accountability. We are going to do everything we can to subpoena all the information we need and to enforce our subpoenas, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who sits on the committee, told an audience of approximately 40,000 people who watched his remarks on Facebook. The panel plans televised hearings, which would shine a spotlight on the corruption and venality that led our democracy to the brink. I hope everybody will watch and I hope everybody will discuss it and then it will lead to a report that, I hope again, will be a game changer in terms of American history, Raskin said. One key question to answer is whether former President Donald Trump dismissed pleas from his his daughter, Ivanka, to intervene. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., has suggested this. He could have told (rioters) to stand down, she told ABC News. He could have told them to go home and he failed to do so. Its hard to imagine a more significant and more serious dereliction of duty than that. Ivanka Trump has been asked to speak to the panel. The select committee has been investigating the Jan. 6 assault for about eight months, but the intransigence of some Republican officials has undermined its effort. The officials, most of them members of the previous administration, have obviated loyalty to country in favor of loyalty to Trump. Some former Trump officials, including chief of staff Mark Meadows, are defying subpoenas to appear before the committee. They condemn the subpoenas as a witch hunt, an attempt to damage Republicans under the guise of truth-seeking. If the Founding Fathers could weep, their tears would flood the nation. To know the truth of Jan. 6 is a nonpartisan endeavor. Despite the stonewalling, the committee seems to be edging closer to the heart of darkness that sparked the siege. The Big Lie that Trump lost the election due to fraud triggered the assault, but once the attack began, duplicity fed the fire. It would last several hours. More than 40 full-time investigators, drawn from both parties, are probing the assault behind closed doors. Investigators have interviewed more than 350 witnesses, leading to at least 52 subpoenas for documents such as bank records and email correspondence. The committee has received 40,000 pages of records. So far, it seems like the committees being extremely robust and efficient in their time, David Rapallo, a former congressional investigator, told ABC News. It is the kind of energy and vigor required for the task rescuing the democracy the rioters sought to destroy. One of the prevailing criticisms of state officials is how they are quick to push back against the federal government as overreach, only to then trample on local control. Such hypocrisy hit home when the Texas Transportation Commission led by San Antonio banker J. Bruce Bugg voted 3-1 Thursday to crush a city plan to redevelop the Broadway corridor north of downtown. Even worse, this plan had the overwhelming approval of San Antonio voters. To sink the overhaul is to undercut significant private investment in our city core. The Broadway corridor is rapidly developing, and many private investors have included the planned changes to Broadway in their calculations. Thats shameful, especially in Texas, which prides itself on being good for business. Even worse is the disregard for voters. Redevelopment of Broadway was the signature piece of the 2017 city bond. Voters here agreed to dedicate $42 million to this project with a plan to turn what is technically a state highway into a complete street. This would mean fewer traffic lanes, protected bike paths and wider sidewalks. Its the kind of street setting that helps urban areas grow and thrive while also prioritizing bicycle and pedestrian safety. We were all in on this project, writing in December 2016: The Broadway corridor, north of downtown, will be enhanced to better serve bicycle riders and pedestrians. Its the right kind of streetscape for residents of that booming area. Anyone who has been to the Pearl can feel the infectious creative energy there. And we want more creative spirit in San Antonio not less. Until this vote, the state had been supportive of the plan. As Express-News journalist Brian Chasnoff outlined, the Texas Department of Transportation has been with the city on this for years. In 2014, TxDOT began the process of transferring the roadway to the city, although this was never completed, a haunting technicality. In 2016, a TxDOT engineer signed a letter supporting the citys plan and pledging $5 million. In 2017, the city brought this project to voters, thanks to support from the state, and voters approved it. But the state has since developed concerns about congestion. Bugg, citing a 2015 directive from Gov. Greg Abbott, said the state had to stop the redevelopment because the plan reduces traffic lanes. What were trying to do is stay consistent with our congestion relief initiative and not go backwards by reducing capacity, he said. A few points to consider: First, the reduction in traffic lanes is hardly a surprise. Its been that way all along. The idea was to create space for pedestrians and bike riders. Second, as Assistant City Manager Jeff Coyle said at the meeting, studies have shown congestion would decrease along the corridor and safety would increase. For the state to support the project, make a sudden reversal, run over voters and undercut private development is untenable. The city has spent millions on design work for this project for nothing. Mayor Ron Nirenberg tweeted: Deeply disappointed in the vote, but we hope the State is serious about working together to finish the project. Funny, until this week we thought thats what was happening. Our recent recommendation of Jessica Cisneros over longtime U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar generated a fair amount of buzz in the Twitterverse and beyond. This Democratic primary in the 28th Congressional District, which stretches from Laredo to San Antonio, is compelling. Cisneros is a promising, young, progressive candidate who pushed Cuellar to the limit two years ago. They offer markedly different views on border security, abortion and immigration, among other issues. The rematch was already receiving national attention, and then news broke about the FBI searching Cuellars home and campaign headquarters. Cuellar has vowed no wrongdoing. As we noted in our editorial, we had decided to recommend Cisneros before news of the FBI probe broke. In Cisneros, we see the promise of new leadership. She earned the recommendation. We weighed Cuellars congressional tenure and place on the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Cuellar lost us with his measured support of Remain in Mexico. On ExpressNews.com: Editorial: Cisneros and Vasquez Ng best in CD 28 As we have said in a past editorial, The only way to improve Remain in Mexico is to dismantle it. Less noticed, though, was our recommendation of Willie Vasquez Ng in the Republican primary. We recommended him two years ago in the Republican primary for Bexar County sheriff, and he remains one of the most impressive candidates in either party we have met with in recent years. You will be seeing many more candidate recommendations from us from governor to Bexar County races as we build to the start of early voting, Feb. 14. The Editorial Board has been meeting with candidates from both major parties this month including on Saturdays quizzing them about their views on key issues, policy ideas, professional backgrounds and aspirations. Beyond these meetings, we vet their backgrounds, review their social media feeds, fact-check their statements and sometimes speak with sources for additional information. The Editorial Board is comprised of Josh Brodesky, Nancy M. Preyor-Johnson, Cary Clack and Brandon Lingle. We are independent opinion journalists who are separate from the Express-News newsroom. We are also nonpartisan. While news reporters offer objectivity, its our job to arrive at conclusions and offer opinions. On ExpressNews.com: Editorial: New Remain in Mexico is no less cruel We do this as a public service. We hope our recommendations spark conversations and serve as a starting point for voters to do their own research. They also are an opportunity for our Editorial Board to demonstrate our civic values and policy priorities. The recommendation interview process is a form of accountability as we question the candidates and probe their records. Weve learned that Lee Merritt, a Democrat civil rights attorney running for attorney general, is not licensed with the state bar in Texas. We were surprised when Zach Vance, a Republican running for lieutenant governor, told us he wants to legalize all drugs. It matters when candidates tell us the presidential election was stolen and quite a few have. Finally, the recommendations can serve as a launchpad for deeper work. Our award-winning Unequal Justice project from several years ago arose from concerns judicial candidates raised with the Editorial Board during candidate meetings. What is it like to hold these recommendation meetings? Its a grind. In any given week this month, we are holding 12 to 15 candidate meetings. This is above and beyond our normal workflow. Its also special. We will meet with about 100 candidates from both major parties this spring. Nearly all will lose. Some are big names: Think Beto ORourke or Eva Guzman. Some are fringe. But with a few exceptions, we offer candidates a chance to articulate their views and share their desire to serve in office. Listening to such a range of candidates is a remarkable experience. These are some of the reasons we offer recommendations. Whether or not you agree with our takes, we hope you vote. Combo photo shows Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talking with Chinese peacekeepers posted overseas via video link during an inspection to the Central Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Jan. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Gang) BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping urged Chinese peacekeepers to play a bigger role in defending world peace during an inspection to the Central Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Friday. When talking with Chinese peacekeepers posted overseas via video link, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, also told them to strengthen safety precautions and step up COVID-19 prevention and control amid complicated circumstances. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to service personnel of the PLA and the People's Armed Police Force, civilian personnel posted in the military, and members of militia and reserve forces. Acknowledging the achievements made by the Central Theater Command, Xi stressed that all missions should be completed with excellence and progress must be made in the command's development and combat readiness. Noting that both the Spring Festival and the Beijing Winter Olympics are around the corner, Xi called on all the armed forces to stay ready and safeguard China's security and social stability. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, poses for a group photo with representatives of officers and soldiers during an inspection to the Central Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Jan. 28, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Gang) The Texas Ethics Commission has launched a preliminary review into a complaint by Gov. Greg Abbotts campaign that likely Democratic opponent Beto ORourke misreported about $1.7 million in campaign funds. Abbotts campaign director, Gardner Pate, submitted the ethics complaint last week. It says the cash flow didnt add up, so ORourkes team must have either over-reported expenditures by about $1.7 million or under-reported campaign donations by the same amount. ORourkes campaign said it was a clerical error that was quickly corrected, and that the top-line fundraising numbers are unchanged after the correction. Earlier this month, ORourke announced his campaign had raised $7.2 million in less than two months. ORourke, a former El Paso-area congressman, is the leading Democratic candidate for governor. Abbott faces several Republican challengers in a March primary, but he has held a large and durable lead in all public polling over them. In a Thursday letter, the commission asked ORourkes campaign for an explanation within 10 business days. Abbotts campaign jumped on the news, categorizing the commissions letter as an investigation and sending a news release in all capital letters about it. The Texas Ethics Commission announced it is actively investigating Beto ORourke because he is either overstating his contributions or his expenditures by more than $1.7 million. Credibility-challenged Beto ORourkes unwillingness to release accurate campaign finance reports is shameful and yet another example of Beto deceiving the public, Mark Miner, the Abbott campaigns communications director, said in a statement. In fact, the commissions letter is considered a preliminary review under state law, and its a relatively minor alleged violation. Reviews or investigations from the commission can stretch on for years and often result in wrist-slap fines. And under state law, the commission is required to launch such an inquiry upon receiving any properly filed complaint. While Abbott continues to focus on playing political games, were continuing to focus on the things that people across Texas care about creating good jobs, expanding health care, fully funding our schools, and keeping the lights on, said Abhi Rahman, campaign spokesman for ORourke. Abbott, a former attorney general, also submitted an ethics complaint against ORourke in November for not including a required disclaimer on his website. ORourkes team then described the omission as a technical mistake made by a vendor. ORourke established himself as a prolific fundraiser during his unsuccessful 2018 bid to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz; ORourke lost by under 3 percentage points but broke fundraising records. During that campaign, ORourkes campaign also was flagged by the Federal Elections Commission at least three times for technical issues, although he never was disciplined or fined. edward.mckinley@chron.com Sterling, VA (20165) Today Some clouds. Low 56F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 56F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. China's cooperation with int'l space community fruitful Xinhua) 15:45, January 28, 2022 BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China has been engaged with the international space community over the past five years, yielding fruitful results in space science, technology and application, a Chinese official said Friday. China launched a lunar research station project with Russia, and carried out extensive international cooperation in manned spaceflights, lunar exploration projects, Mars explorations and other missions, said Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the China National Space Administration. Wu made the remarks at a press conference on the release of a white paper, titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective." The official also highlighted the signing of the BRICS Remote-Sensing Satellite Constellation agreement, the launches of the China-France Oceanography Satellite and the China-Italy Electromagnetic Monitoring Experiment Satellite. China also pressed ahead the BeiDou system in the standard systems of many international organizations in fields such as civil aviation and maritime affairs. To improve the international community's capacity for disaster prevention and mitigation, data of the Chinese Gaofen-1 and Gaofen-6 remote sensing satellites have been offered free of charge 550,000 times in 158 countries and regions. The country has also provided data of Fengyun meteorological satellites to 121 countries and regions. Moreover, five Chinese satellites and three constellations have participated in the mechanism of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, Wu said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) ISLAMABAD, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ten soldiers were killed when terrorists attacked a security check post in Kech district of Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, an army statement said. The incident happened "on night of Jan. 25/26. During intense exchange of fire, a terrorist was killed and several injured," the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations said in the statement on Thursday. Casualties on the security forces side happened while repulsing the terrorists' raid, the statement said, adding that three terrorists were apprehended in a follow-up clearance operation. A search operation is still underway in the area to hunt down perpetrators of the attack, said the statement. Though the statement did not reveal the identities of the attackers or the arrested terrorists, Balochistan Liberation Front, a banned organization, claimed the attack on social media earlier on Wednesday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Several inches of snow accumulated Saturday as a powerful noreaster hit Connecticut, bringing heavy snowfall and possible blizzard-like conditions to parts of the state. The entire state received anywhere from two inches to two feet of snow, as well as wind speeds up to 48 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for New London County and a winter storm warning for the rest of the state. Both were in effect until 7 p.m. The weather service confirmed a blizzard in New London County. Additionally, experts estimated more than 100,000 customers could lose power during the storm, though few outages have occurred. For updated outage information, visit our map. Heres what you need to know: More for you Campbell (opinion): We owe a debt to generation drowning in them Live updates 10 a.m. Outages resolved Both major electricity providers, Eversource and United Illuminating, were reporting no outages through the morning on Sunday after a powerful noreaster swept through Connecticut. 9:45 p.m. Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect for parts of state The National Weather Service extended its Wind Chill Advisory for Litchfield County until 10 a.m. Sunday. Residents in Litchfield County and the surrounding areas can expect wind chills as low as 15 to 25 below zero. The cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes, the weather service said. 8:30 p.m. Preparations pay off for Valley Shore region Greg Prevost, a Captain with the Westbrook Fire Department and Chief of the Westbrook Ambulance Association, serves as the supervisor for Valley Shore Emergency Communications, which services the towns of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme and Westbrook. He said throughout the Valley Shore area today there were a handful of power outages and a few motor vehicle accidents due to the storm, but nothing too serious. Its been busy today, but nothing too crazy, Prevost said. He said the region received between 12 and 18 inches of snow, which wasnt a problem because crews were preparing for two feet. Emergency crews were able to respond to incidents swiftly, and no serious injuries occurred in any incident, Prevost said. As of 8:30 p.m., he said all of the roads in the Valley Shore region are passable, but some of the backroads are still a bit icy. Only go out if you have to, Prevost said. Just to be safe. He also reminded resident to be cognizant of downed power lines, and to report them when spotted. 7:45 p.m. Update from NWS The National Weather Service issued weather statements for parts of Connecticut, detailing what to expect for the rest of the night. For Middlesex and New London counties, the weather service said to expect minor additional accumulations of snow, and that wind blowing the existing snow will cause hazardous conditions. At times, areas of blowing and drifting snow will limit visibility and further cover portions of roadways, weather service officials said. Wind chills will be around -5 to -10 tonight into early Sunday morning. Fairfield and New Haven counties can expect the same wind patterns. Anyone outside is advised to wear appropriate clothing, including a hat and gloves in order to minimize exposure to the wind. 7:15 p.m. Danbury to lift parking ban Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito announced that the city would be lifting its parking ban at 8 p.m. All vehicles parked in city garages during the ban must be removed by 10 a.m., Sunday, or fees will apply. The city is not expected to receive much more snow after 9 p.m., according to the weather service. 6:45 p.m. Tractor-trailer travel ban to end at midnight Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Twitter that the travel ban for tractor-trailers would be lifted at the end of the day on Saturday. In coordination with our neighboring states, we will be lifting the previously implemented tractor trailer travel ban at 11:59 p.m. tonight, Lamont tweeted. The roads are still slick, and we encourage everyone who can to stay home tonight while state and local plow crews clear them, he said. 6:15 p.m. Crews restoring power as others lose it Eversource and United Illuminating crews worked throughout the storm to restore power to customers that lost it due to the storm. More than 300 Stamford residents all had their power restored by 6:15 p.m. Meanwhile, 88 customers in Bridgeport, 84 in Easton, 52 in New Haven and 42 in Danbury are currently without power. 5:45 p.m. Vehicle stuck in snow? The states Department of Transportation shared a tip for anyone whos car ends up stuck in the snow. The following items/materials can be utilized to help your tires gain traction; Sand, kitty litter, floor mats and cardboard. This advice could be useful as DOT and town public works crews continue to work to remove snow from the states roads. 5 p.m. Metro-North Railroad announces regular schedule for Sunday Metro-North Railroad officials announced that transportation services would be operating on a regular schedule Sunday. If you are traveling tomorrow, please use extra caution on platforms and hold on to handrails when using stairs as surfaces may be slippery, officials said Saturday. Service was suspended Saturday for the Wassaic, Danbury, New Canaan and Waterbury branches. Trains are still running once an hour on the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven lines. 4:40 p.m. Naugatuck, Union, Eastford hit with more power outages Dozens of residents in Union and Eastford, and hundreds in Naugatuck lost power on Saturday, according to Eversource. As of 4:30 p.m., 67 households were without power in Eastford and 36 were without power in Union. Naugatuck so far had the most outages of any municipality with 258, followed by Stamford with 65. 4:05 p.m. Winter storm warning extended The Winter Storm Warning in place for parts of the state has been extended until midnight Saturday for Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties, the National Weather Service announced. Additional snow accumulations of up to three inches is expected, with wind gusts up to 40 mph. 3:40 p.m. NWS issues update for southeastern CT The National Weather Service issued an update for New London County and its surrounding area, saying blizzard conditions are expected to continue through the afternoon. Just before 3 p.m., radar showed one last heavy snow band extending from near Voluntown southward to Mystic across Long Island Sound. This snow band could produce a snowfall of up to two inches per hour, the weather service said. Residents in and around New London County can expect a combination of moderate, blowing and drifting snow and up to 50 mph winds that will reduce visibility to below one quarter mile at times. 3:15 p.m. So far, so good in Trumbull Trumbull First Selectman Vicki Tesoro issued an update Saturday afternoon, saying that everything, thank goodness, has been pretty smooth so far. She said her emergency management team has been meeting all week about this and had gathered twice earlier Saturday, with another meeting scheduled for later in the afternoon. Obviously the storm, the way it was forecast, nobody really knew what (it) was going to do, Tesoro said. Though impactful, Tesoro said Trumbull has been through worse, noting there were so far no power outages. Weve had pretty bad storms with a lot of outages, she said. Thank goodness that has not materialized. And hopefully it wont - its so cold outside. Leigh Goodman, chief of Trumbulls emergency medical services, agreed that she and her staff have not had to deal with any major crises. I dont want to jinx it but, so far, everythings going well, Goodman said. Weve gone through some big and challenging storms in the past and this one doesnt seem to be impacting our access in and out of calls at the moment. 3 p.m. Road plowing may take longer than expected The state Department of Transportation reported some issues trying to clear the snow Saturday due to its smaller workforce, weather conditions and other drivers behaviors. We are still short-staffed and the plowing and clearing of the highways and roads may take longer than expected, said DOT spokesperson Kafi Rouse. The state Department of Transportation prepared for a long-lasting, changing storm. Its crews got ready days before the storm and have been closely monitoring the weather forecast. We came in prepared and if conditions change, we will adjust accordingly and well be ready, Rouse said. State DOT crews have been working to clear the roadways since last night, and will continue throughout Saturday evening. Crews have also had issues with visibility as well as motorists who pass and crowd the plows. Our fleets are large and we need the room to work, Rouse said, adding that its helpful when there is less traffic on the roads. If a car does need to be on the road, Rouse said it should never pass the plows and give it space. 2:30 p.m. Fewer than 60 residents without power Eversource reported 56 outages as of 2:15 p.m. Of those, there are 15 in New Milford, 14 in Ashford, 11 in Branford, seven in Stamford, and five or fewer each in Bristol, Glastonbury, Ledyard, Madison, Manchester, Stonington, United Illuminating, which serves 342,000 customers in Connecticut, reported no outages as of 2:20 p.m. Were thankful the storm has had minimal impacts on our electrical grid, but were prepared for any impacts, said UIs Vice President of Electrical Operations Chuck Eves. The combination of snow and strong, sustained winds make being outdoors dangerous for anyone, but our crews have the right equipment and gear to stay warm and be prepared if they need to be outside. 2:15 p.m. Four-car crash in New Haven A four-car collision on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in New Haven left one person seriously injured, according to Rick Fontana, the citys director of emergency operations. The crash was called in shortly before 10 a.m. and occurred amid poor road conditions, he said. There was one serious injury and then there were three other individuals that had minor injuries and refused transport to the hospital, Fontana said. There was a firefighter on scene from Bridgeport who provided some care before responders arrived. The crash occurred on the northbound side of the parkway near exit 59 and the Woodbridge town line, according to Fontana. 2 p.m. Fairfield crews got early start clearing the roads Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said despite the tough storm conditions, Were good. Listen, everybody had a full heads up on this thing. You knew it was gonna snow. If you werent prepared, shame on you, she said. Public works crews arrived at the municipal garage between 1 and 2 a.m. and slept on cots to be ready for early shifts. Kupchick also noted that, for the first time ever, Fairfield issued a parking ban that was recently approved by the police commission with required alternate side parking to ensure the plows have room to work. People are listening and staying home, Kupchick said, noting there have been just a couple of minor accidents. That makes the job easier for the Department of Public Works guys. They can just get it done. Kupchick was also thankful that the power is, so far, holding out. UI (United Illuminating) had a lot of crews here, ready, because of the winds, she said. 1:45 p.m. Norwalk warns of icy roads Snow plows remained busy as the snow continued to fall on Saturday, with snowfall totals ranging from five to eight inches due to blowing snow. Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling and the Norwalk Police Department are cautioning residents to stay home as road conditions are icy and slick. The police asked residents to allow the citys public works and the states Department of Transportation plows to clear the roads before venturing out. The storm is predicted to continue throughout the day. If you must go out, please remember to drive with your headlights on, clear all snow from your windows and roof, and leave additional space between you and other vehicles. Stay safe and warm! Rilling said in statement. The city reported no coastal or tidal flooding. No accidents were reported nor any power outages. No specific problem areas reported or observed, but drivers are encouraged to avoid travel, especially hills, curves and pavement surfaces that tend to be colder north of the Merritt Parkway, city spokesperson Laoise King said. 1:30 p.m. Wind presents challenges in Ridgefield cleanup Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi said the snowstorm has been uneventful in town, with a light snowfall and about eight inches on the ground as of 11:30 a.m. We have been fortunate, Marconi said. We have no power outages, no power lines are down and no emergencies. With potential outages expected we were especially concerned with cold weather tomorrow (Sunday) and were preparing shelters in case they were needed. The wind has been more of a factor for us. Talking to our director of Public Works he said when a road is plowed the wind blows the snow back into the road causing snow drifts. Fortunately, few people are out and that helps. I dont want to jinx it but so far it has been a safe New England snowstorm for us. 1:15 p.m. Bridgeport following parking ban Rowena White, Bridgeports communications director, said just after 12:30 p.m. that the majority of residents were following the storm parking rules in order to keep streets passable for the plow crews. For the most party everybodys off the streets, which is good. Its allowing the guys to do the work they need to do. So a big thank you to both the residents (and) the guys, she said. White said officials were also thankful that, so far, there are no power outages. Were very fortunate to see there have not been any issues related to power or any other utility, she said. 1 p.m. Blizzard confirmed in New London County The National Weather Services New York office confirmed a blizzard in New London County Saturday. The National Weather Service in New York, NY can preliminarily confirm that blizzard criteria was met this morning across SuffolkCounty, New York and New London County, Connecticut, the agency said. Further analysis will be conducted in the days ahead to determine which additional zones, if any, reached blizzard criteria during this evening. Further analysis will also be conducted to determine the exact start and end times of blizzard conditions in the areas where such conditions have already been confirmed. Starting at 9 a.m., New London County had three hours of visibility at a quarter mile or less, as well as sustained winds of 35 mph, according to Gary Lessor, the chief meteorologist at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. As of 1 p.m., Lessor said the blizzard conditions are still occurring in the area. 12:45 p.m. Crashes reported on Wilbur Cross Parkway By late morning, officials in New Haven and neighboring towns reported that around six inches of snow had fallen, though wind gusts made it difficult to measure accumulation. Fifty trucks were working to clear the roads in New Haven, said Rick Fontana, the citys director of emergency operations. The crews were working in 12-hour shifts, he said, with the first lasting from about midnight to noon. People are listening, people are staying off the roads, which is a key element to get the roads plowed, Fontana said. As of 11 a.m., no power outages or downed trees had been reported. The good thing is, no power outages, Fontana said. We havent had any downed power lines. We havent even had any downed tree branches. But there were five motor vehicle collisions that morning, according to Fontana, who said a three-car crash on the Wilbur Cross Parkway at the Hamden line resulted in one severe injury. The city was expected to receive another five to six inches, Fontana said. 12:30 p.m. A wicked New England storm In a news conference Saturday, Gov. Ned Lamont reiterated his plea for drivers to stay off the roads. Were urging everybody to stay safe at home, he said. As snow heavily coats the state at three inches an hour in some locations - Lamont said, Snow plows cant come around fast enough to get that cleared. Snow plows have been out on the roads for more than 12 hours. Lamont said he has been extremely impressed with the emergency operations crew. This is not our first rodeo, he said. Weve been through these storms before. The snow accumulations seem to be lighter than previously predicted, but Lamont said the wind will pick up later which could pose issues and cause more outages. Its a wicked New England storm, Lamont added. The storm should lighten up in western Connecticut by the early afternoon and in eastern Connecticut by mid-evening, Lamont said. Lamont issued a tractor trailer ban on highways starting at 3 a.m. There have been some incidents, but state police have been enforcing the ban. James Rovella, the Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, said there are exceptions to the ban, including trucks delivering medical and COVID-19 supplies. Since 6 a.m., state police have received more than 500 calls for service. 12:15 p.m. Despite few outages, 'There's still a lot of storm to come' Though Eversource had only about 40 outages as of 11:45 a.m., spokesperson Mitch Gross said Theres still a lot of storm to come. The power company has prepared with about 1,000 line and tree crews around the state. So far, Gross said the biggest issue has been travel conditions. Heavy snow and near whiteout conditions can hamper a crews response time, as they want to get to the site quickly but also safely. Once at a job location, unsafe weather conditions could also delay or interrupt a job, Gross said. Customers can report outages or other issues either online or by texting OUT to 23129. Customers should call 911 if its an emergency, like downed power lines or poles, damaged electrical equipment or the smell of gasoline. 12 p.m. Gov. Lamont giving storm update Gov. Ned Lamont is providing an update on the winter storm and the state's response. To watch the stream, click here. 11:45 a.m. Performance canceled The 2 p.m. performance of What the Constitution Means to Me at the Bushnell in Hartford is canceled due to the weather. The theater said the 8 p.m. performance will go on as scheduled. Ticket holders will receive an email with refund and exchange information. The theater encouraged ticket holders to exchange their 2 p.m. ticket for tonight or one of Sundays performances. Anyone with questions can go to Bushnell.org/Contact. 11:30 a.m. Danbury officials report no major issues or outages Roughly five inches accumulated in Danbury as of 11 a.m., with more snow expected before the end of the day for an expected total of six to 12 inches, according to weather predictions. I feel that were not going to get that heavy number in snowfall, said Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito. So, really positive for us in addressing the storm. The city had submitted a Level 3 snow emergency alert last night in preparation for a worse storm, and specifically for high wind speeds and low visibility, Esposito said. The declaration puts a parking ban in effect and requires vehicles without four-wheel drive to remain off the road. By mid-morning, the mayor had not heard reports of major outages or issues in the city. Emergency Services Director Matthew Cassavecchia has stayed in constant contact with Esposito and his team throughout the storm. 11:15 a.m. Outages reported Power companies are reporting fewer than 30 outages throughout the state. Eversource has 27 total outages as of 11 a.m. There were fewer than three outages in Stamford and fewer than two outages in Greenwich, Hartford, Killingworth, Meriden, Middletown, Prospect, Washington, Weston, Windsor. United Illuminating has one outage in New Haven as of 10:45 a.m. 11 a.m. Wind makes it hard to measure accumulation in Hamden, North Haven Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett said the town is not expecting as much snow as originally predicted, but advised residents to still stay off the roads as snow continued to fall. Winds made it difficult to determine precisely how much snow had aready accumulated in the area. Its definitely coming down. Theres a lot of blowing and drifting, said Garrett, who lives in northern Hamden. My road is completely covered and an interior road but there are spots where you can see the pavementand then there are other places where it looks like its snowed a foot. Those conditions also made it tough to say just how much snow had fallen in North Haven, but officials estimated the town had received six inches by 10 a.m., according to First Selectman Michael Freda. This storms a little bit difficult to measure, he said. We might see two inches on one street, eight inches on another because of the swirling winds. The town could receive up to a foot of snow, he said, and plows would work throughout the day to clear roads. The plows are still out there, Freda said. People seem to be staying home, which is good. People are complying with the parking ban. 10:45 a.m. Governor hosting briefing at noon Gov. Ned Lamont is holding a news briefing at noon to discuss updates on the winter storm. Around 9 a.m., Lamont tweeted that there is still heavy snow and dangerous wind ahead. Please stay off the road, he added. 10:30 a.m. Stamford and Greenwich report no issues despite several inches Officials were reporting four to five inches of snow in Stamford and Greenwich Saturday morning with more on the way. Stamford officials reported approximately five inches of snow just after 7:30 a.m., just short of the totals estimated by meteorologists Friday. However, Director of Public Safety Ted Jankowski added that the city still expects eight to 12 inches by mid-afternoon, with the snow beginning to taper off by 2:00 p.m. Greenwich Police Capt. Mark Zuccerella told Hearst Connecticut Media Group that officers were seeing four to give inches throughout the town. But despite the accumulations, neither place logged serious emergencies or threats to residents. As of the early Saturday, Eversource logged no power outages in Greenwich and fewer than three in Stamford. Jankowski said there had been two minor motor vehicle accidents in Stamford which did not result in any injuries; Zuccerella reported no collisions. 10:15 a.m. Closures and parking bans in Norwalk Norwalk Public Libraries, the transfer station and yard waste site are closed Saturday and Sunday due to the storm, as are Saturdays COVID vaccination and testing at Veterans Park and Shady Beach. There is no off-street parking on Saturday. The city is providing free parking in the Maritime and Yankee Doodle garages. 10 a.m. Hospital providing rides to employees who need help getting home St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport has been providing rides to staff who need assistance getting home in the storm. As of 9:40 a.m., 14 people have needed help getting home, according to a hospital spokesperson. 9:50 a.m. Wind speeds are picking up Wind speeds are staying consistent as heavy snow continues to fall. Connecticut saw anywhere from 17 to 38 mph wind gusts at 9 a.m. Meanwhile, around 5 a.m., the state saw gusts ranging from 18 to 43 mph, according to data from the National Weather Service office in New York. Eversource says winds are expected to pick up as the strongest part of the storm moves in. The power company anticipates more tree damage to come. Heres the complete list of wind speeds at 9 a.m. from the National Weather Service office in New York: Bridgeport: 18 mph winds with 30 mph gusts Chester: 18 mph winds with 28 mph gusts Danbury: 8 mph winds with 17 mph gusts Groton: 25 mph winds with 38 mph gusts Hartford: 15 mph winds with 28 mph gusts Meriden: 14 mph winds with 29 mph gusts New Haven: 23 mph winds with 31 mph gusts Norwalk: 20 mph winds with 35 mph gusts Waterbury: 25 mph wind with 32 mph gusts Williamantic: 17 mph winds with 28 mph gusts 9:30 a.m. Some outages restored, more than 80 without power United Illuminating has restored power to the 23 power outages in Bridgeport. As of 9:10 a.m., UI is reporting one outage each in Derby and Shelton. As of 9:15 a.m., Eversource is reporting 64 outages. Most of those, 41, are in Bethany. There are also 17 outages in Montville, and fewer than three outages each in Ledyard, New London, Stamford, Stonington and Windsor. 9:15 a.m. Snowfall predictions dropping in western CT Predictions for the big snowstorm expected to hit throughout Connecticut have now dropped, specifically in the western part of the state, from peaks of 17 inches of snow to a maximum of 12 as of Saturday morning. Roughly four inches accumulated in Danbury as of 9 a.m., with about four to six more inches expected by the end of the day for a total between six to 12 inches, according to weather predictions. The heaviest should be over by 2 p.m., and the storm should be over completely by 4 p.m., according to Gary Lessor, a meteorologist with the Weather Center at Western Connecticut State University. As of 7 a.m., Bethel was reporting three inches of snow, Lessor said. New Milford Mayor Pete Bass reported that on average, the town was getting about 3.5 inches. No other towns had posted measurements as of 8:30 a.m. Wind gusts are expected to hit 40 mph and possibly 45 for the peak. Our concern is also the winds that will be winding up to 45 mph wind gusts through tonight, said Basss notice to residents sent out Saturday morning. This may cause trees to fall and bring down power lines which may cause power outages. We have been in contact with our Eversource liaison and continue to monitor the storm. Bass said that fire department has responded to a few calls so far, but no major power outages have been reported. 9 a.m. Snowfall totals The National Weather Service has released snowfall reports for Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. Here are Connecticuts numbers: Fairfield County: Bridgeport: 6.9 inches as of 7 a.m. Norwalk: 3.7 inches as of 7 a.m. Bethel: 3 inches as of 7:10 a.m. New Haven County: Madison: 5 inches as of 7:20 a.m. Waterbury: 2.3 inches as of 6:45 a.m. New London County: Niantic: 5.7 inches as of 6:45 a.m. Norwich: 5 inches as of 7:30 a.m. Ledyard: 3 inches as of 6 a.m. 8:45 a.m. Bradley International Airport cancels all flights All arriving and departing flights today at Bradley International Airport have been canceled, according to the airports website. The airport is open and snow removal operations are ongoing, according to airport spokesperson Ryan Terry. Terry anticipates flights to resume tomorrow, but passengers scheduled to travel this weekend are strongly advised to contact their airline to confirm the status of their flight before heading to the airport, Terry said. 8:30 a.m. Less than 100 without power As of 8:13 a.m., United Illuminating reported 23 customers out of power in Bridgeport. The company serves 61,541 customers in the city. UI was also reporting one outage each in Derby and Shelton at that time. Eversource is reporting 72 outages 41 in Bethany, 17 in Montville, 10 in Meriden and fewer than two outages in Cromwell, New London, Stamford and Waterbury. 8:20 a.m. Five inches reported in Stamford Stamford officials reported approximately five inches of snow just after 7:30 a.m., just short of the totals estimated by meteorologists Friday. However, Director of Public Safety Ted Jankowski added that the city still expects up to eight to 12 inches by mid-afternoon, with the snow beginning to taper off by 2 p.m. As of the early morning, energy provider Eversource logged no power outages in Stamford. 8:05 a.m. Highways mostly empty Highways this morning are mostly barren of cars and covered in snow, according to state Department of Transportation traffic cameras. There are handfuls of cars driving on Interstate 84 near Waterbury, Hartford and Manchester, as well as Interstate 91 near New Haven, Wethersfield and Hartford, Interstate 95 near Stamford, Norwalk, Westport, Branford and Darien and Interstate 691 near Meriden. There is slight congestion reported on Interstate 84 near Southbury and Waterbury, on Interstate 691 near Meriden, on Route 20 near Windsor Locks and on Interstate 395 from Montville to Norwich. 8 a.m. Snow picks up in New Haven area Morning NWS forecasts for New Haven predicted six to 11 inches for the city, with most falling before 8 p.m. In southern Hamden, snowfall was light during the early morning hours, though noisy winds battered trees and kicked up snow. It began to pick up as the sun rose. The occasional plow drove along Whitney Avenue, which at 7 a.m. was clear enough to accommodate the occasional car. Fog and light snowfall were recorded at Tweed at 6:53 a.m., according to the a NWS forecast. The temperature was 24 degrees and expected to drop to 16 degrees by late afternoon. 7:50 a.m. Danbury snow emergency Danbury issued a level 3 snow emergency beginning Friday night ahead of the expected snowstorm. The declaration prohibits parking on city streets. Residents were required to move their vehicles to off-street parking by 10 p.m. Friday. Free parking is available at the Patriot Parking Garage at 1 Patriot Drive. Because of the expected snowfall totals, wind and rate of the falling snow, travel is also being limited throughout the city. Only emergency vehicles, public works vehicles, those with four-wheel drive and emergency personnel were allowed to be on the roads Saturday. 7:45 a.m. Overnight tractor trailer wrecks After a statewide tractor trailer ban on all limited access highways, state police have reported three incidents that partially or completely shut down highways overnight. Gov. Ned Lamont issued the ban, which went into effect at 3 a.m. Saturday. Interstate 84 westbound near Exit 40 in West Hartford is partially closed. Only the right lane is open. Crews have been working to remove a jackknifed tractor trailer since 3 a.m., according to state police. The westbound part of the highway has been shut down between exits 67 and 68 in Tolland since 2 a.m. for a separate tractor trailer incident, according to state police and the Department of Transportation. Around 2:30 a.m., a tractor trailer rolled over on Interstate 95 northbound before Exit 74 in East Lyme. The area reopened around 3:30 a.m., state police said. 7:30 a.m. Outages reported Eversource is reporting 42 outages in Bethany as of 7:15 a.m. United Illuminating is reporting zero outages as of 7:20 a.m. To check the latest outage map, click here. 7 a.m. Plows out, but few cars Few cars were on the streets in Norwalk Saturday morning while plows were out clearing the roads. So no major accidents or road closures were reported in the city. 5:45 a.m. Updated weather forecast The region is now expected to get a little less snow than previously anticipated. The Danbury area should see 5 to 10 inches, while Bridgeport will see 6 to 12 inches. The New Haven and Hartford areas will get about 10 to 20 inches, according to Gary Lessor, the chief meteorologist at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. Windham and New London counties are expected to get the most snow in the state at 16 to 26 inches, Lessor said. There arent many snow observations out yet. However, Staffordville has seen 2.4 inches and Westbrook has seen 3 inches as of 3:30 a.m., according to Lessor. The National Weather Service also said it observed 3 inches in Upton, N.Y. as of 1 a.m. Saturday. The bands of the storm are packing their punch east of the Connecticut River, bringing especially heavy snow in Norwich up to Storrs, Lessor added. Snowfall throughout the day is going to come sporadically as bands of the storm move through the region. The worst of the snow will be over by 2 p.m. in western Connecticut near Danbury, and will completely stop by 4 p.m. in that area. By 8 p.m., the snow should completely stop in New London county, Lessor said. 9:30 p.m. Snow starting to fall The National Weather Service said light snow is starting to fall down on the region. The intensity of both the snow and wind will increase closer to midnight. 8:30 p.m. Flight cancellations to New Haven Avelo Airlines has canceled 15 arriving and departing flights at Tweed-New Haven Airport for Saturday and Sunday. The airline said it has contacted customers with flight reservations and rebooked them on the next available flight. Customers with reservations to travel to or from the Tweed-New Haven Airport with Avelo on Friday, Saturday or Sunday can change their flights for no difference in air fare. To change a flight, contact the Avelo Customer Care Center at 346-616-9500. Customers can also check the status of their flights at AveloAir.com/Flight-Status. 7 p.m. Gov. Ned Lamont issues tractor trailer ban Gov. Ned Lamont is implementing a travel ban on tractor trailers for all limited access highways statewide starting at 3 a.m. Saturday. The ban will remain in effect until further notice. The governor also said the states Emergency Operations Center will be active starting at 6 a.m. Saturday. 6:30 p.m. Fairfield parking ban Fairfield has ordered a parking ban, effective at midnight. Street parking will only be allowed on even-numbered sides of any street. 5:53 p.m. Connecticut Transit buses canceled All Connecticut Transit bus service will be canceled Saturday ahead of the storm. The service is the state Department of Transportation-owned bus system. Bus service is scheduled to end at 2 a.m. Saturday and resume at 3 a.m. Sunday. 5:30 p.m. Bradley International Airport Bradley International Airport will remain open, though most of the airlines there have canceled the majority of the flights for Saturday, according to airport spokesperson Ryan Tenny. Tenny anticipates further cancellations as the storm approaches. Passengers scheduled to travel this weekend are strongly advised to contact their airline to confirm the status of their specific flight before heading to the airport, Tenny said. 5 p.m. State parks and forests will be closed Saturday The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is closing all state parks and forests Saturday. The areas will remain closed Sunday until snow removal is completed. 3 p.m. Parking bans A Bridgeport parking ban is in effect starting at 4 p.m. Residents must park on the even-numbred side of the street. Vehicles cannot park on snow emergency routes. Violations and towing will start shortly after 4 p.m. A parking ban went into effect in Norwalk at 3 p.m. Parking bans in Ansonia and East Hartford go into effect at 6 p.m. Parking bans in Hamden and Hartford start at 8 p.m., in Winchester at 9 p.m. and in New Haven at 10 p.m. By midnight, Manchester, New London, Wallingford and Torrington will have parking bans in place. Bristol will have a parking ban starting at 6 a.m. Saturday. The parking ban in East Haven will go into effect once the snowfall starts. There are also parking bans in effect in Derby, South Windsor and Fairfield, though no specific times were stated. Weather warnings The National Weather Services New York office has issued a blizzard warning for New London County, as well as the eastern two-thirds of Long Island, all of Rhode Island, parts of eastern Massachusetts and eastern New Hampshire. The warning is in effect until Saturday. Those areas could see wind gusts of up to 60 mph, as well as 11 to 15 inches of snow. The weather service has issued a winter storm warning for the rest of Connecticut. The storm is expected to last about 20 hours, bringing heavy snowfall through Saturday afternoon and evening. Check here for more detailed weather updates and information. Power outages Up to 125,0000 customers could lose power during the storm, according to the Eversource Energy Center at the University of Connecticut. Eversource customers can report outages online or by texting OUT to 23129. United Illuminating customers can report power outages online, on the UI mobile app or call 800-722-5584. Heres an interactive map that shows the latest outages in Connecticut. If you need shelter The states severe cold weather protocol is in effect through Feb. 3. Anyone in need of emergency shelter or a place to stay warm should call 211 to be connected with a shelter. Lists of warming centers and homeless shelters can also be found online. Parking bans and closures Check here to see if your town or city has issued a parking ban or other announcements. Emily Morgan contributed to this report. SPRINGFIELD, Ohio Inside one of Woodruff Enterprises cold storage warehouses, boxes of food are stacked on shrink-wrapped pallets and the pallets are stacked three stories high. Outside, semi-trailers are lined up, waiting to deliver the food to restaurants and grocery stores. The company provides storage and shipping for several big-name food companies, including Dole, Bob Evans and Gordon Food Service, but company head, Todd Woodruff, also sees an opportunity for farmers like himself. Id love to see this full of our food and us shipping it, he said. Woodruff is most often seen wearing a cowboy hat, but, figuratively speaking, he wears a variety of hats. Hes been working as an auctioneer for 34 years. He also helped his family build a livestock shipping business, sold that business, and started the refrigerated freight business, which now operates 47 trucks and 100-some trailers. Meanwhile, he has continued to work on his family farm, near Urbana, Ohio, raising Angus breeding stock and milking Jersey cows. At heart, hes a farmer, he said, Farmings my first love. Family business Todd, his wife, Teri, and their adult sons, Levi and Trevor, all work in the family businesses. In all, their various enterprises employ about 100 people. Nevertheless, Todd said, the family remains rooted in the small family farm. Inside a barn built by Todds great-grandfather, the family keeps a milking herd of 30 to 35 Jersey cows. Up until four years ago, the family sold milk through a co-op, but decided to process and market the milk to capture more income. Ive wanted to do that since high school, Todd Woodruff said. I dont like middlemen. The Woodruffs set up a processing facility to bottle the milk and began selling it under the Woodruff Jersey Farm brand. I have to admit, it has been a really slow process, Woodruff said. Currently, they are selling about 1,000 gallons of milk a week. Nearly all goes to daycare centers and coffee shops within a radius of about 100 miles. To meet the preferences of their customers, the Woodruffs are processing the milk using low-temp, long-time pasteurization. Some is homogenized and the rest is bottled as creamline milk. Local venture The milk processing venture was the start of a bigger effort to provide better marketing opportunities for locally produced food, Woodruff said. Originally, he had a long-term plan to expand into processing and sales of other local foods, but he moved up his timetable when a nearby food processing facility and restaurant came up for sale three years ago. The facilities were previously the headquarters of the Rothschild Berry Farm, but, after a series of corporate transitions, that business was liquidated. The facilities were in the right place even though it was the wrong time. It doesnt make sense to expand before youve ever sold anything, but we did, Woodruff said. The former Rothschild facilities are along busy State Route 36, just east of Urbana, so theyre visible and accessible to customers. The buildings also include space for processing, as well as room for a retail store and restaurant. It offered the full vision, Woodruff said. Expanding sales In 2020, the Woodruffs opened a retail store, the Farm Connection Market, at the former Rothschild farm. Besides their own milk products, theyre selling beef and pork produced on nearby farms, under the Woodruff Farms label. Theyre also selling other locally produced products, ranging from beef jerky and pasta to lavender-infused honey and candied jalapeno relish. The goal in here is to sell what we raise and also buy from other small farms that are producing something, Woodruff said. Theyre in the process of expanding their selection of local foods. I wanted to get it big enough that we could help the other little guys, he said. Milk uses The Woodruff milk processing venture is expanding as well. Theyve just perfected a recipe for ice cream and theyre gearing up to make Grana cheese. Thats a hard cheese similar to Parmesan, Woodruff explained. Its a good processing partner with ice cream because it can be made with the low-fat milk left after cream is skimmed off to make ice cream. Woodruff is applying the same waste-not philosophy to meat sales. In addition to selling meat through the retail store, he sells meat to area restaurants. Demand is higher for tenderloins, ribeyes and strip steaks than for ground meat, he explained. So, he recently bought a commercial oven and food packaging equipment to process the ground meat into foods such as meatballs and chili for pre-cooked packaged meals. Theyll be like high-end TV dinners, he explained. Scaling up When COVID-19 disrupted meat supply chains, small restaurants were especially hard hit, Woodruff said. Many distributors dropped their smallest customers first. As a result, he saw a quick increase in demand for his locally sourced meat. Woodruff has not experienced the problems some producers have seen in scheduling processing for livestock. He has a contract for processing with the Meat Processing Career Center at the Pickaway Correctional Institution in Orient. To fill the growing demand for local beef, Woodruff is hoping to work with more nearby beef producers. On his own farm, he raises Angus cattle, but they are breeding stock rather than market animals. Hes working on a plan to sell bulls to area farms and, then, buy their cattle for processing. Sustaining the demand for local meat will require a consistent, high-quality, local supply, he said. Woodruff is also renovating the former Rothschild restaurant facility to open his own restaurant with a menu-driven by Woodruff Farms products. That will provide another market outlet for their local foods and increase visibility for their brand. We hope the restaurant ties it all together, he said. Fire crews continue to battle a blaze on a Lincolnshire farm after more than 30,000 hay bales were set alight on Thursday. Crews from across the county are dealing with the substantial fire at an agriculture site on Learoyd Road, Hemswell Cliff. The blaze started on Thursday afternoon, at around 13:00 GMT. The site is a former RAF base which was converted into agricultural use, BBC News reported. In an update at 5.30am on Friday morning, Lincs Fire & Rescue (LFRS) said: "We still have 3 crews in attendance and our High Volume Pump continuing to dampen down and prevent fire spread. **Update Hemswell Cliff** We still have 3 crews in attendance and our High Volume Pump continuing to dampen down and prevent fire spread. Residents are advised to close doors and windows due to smoke drift. Lincs Fire & Rescue (@LincsFireRescue) January 28, 2022 "Residents are advised to close doors and windows due to smoke drift." It comes after NFU Mutual recently urged farmers to put in place new prevention and control plans as the cost of fires shot up a staggering 40% to over 69 million in 2020. Electrical faults were a major cause of farm fires in 2020, according to the rural insurer, which insures three quarters of UK farms. Extreme weather and dry conditions also contributed to the cost of farm blazes that year. The government has launched a new forum consisting of experts who will identify issues facing the farming industry, such as reducing emissions and supporting the growth of agri-tech. It is hoped the new UK Agriculture Partnership (UKAP) will improve collaborative working on shared issues facing the agricultural sector. Discussions will touch on farm water usage optimisation, the role of science and agri-tech in supporting food production, and solutions to reduce pollution. The UKAP will provide a platform for academics, experts and farming stakeholders to share knowledge and best practice to learn from each other to identify solutions to these problems. Findings will be shared across the UK. The first meeting of the UKAP took place on Thursday at the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, with a focus on water quality. Attendees heard from experts who set out the challenges the UK is facing, and discussed solutions for improving water quality across the agriculture sector. The meeting included researchers, water body representatives, farming organisations, NGOs, as well as the NI's agriculture minister Edwin Poots. Defra Secretary George Eustice welcomed the launch of UKAP, saying it would bring the sector together to tackle practical challenges. I am launching the UK Agriculture Partnership to share UK-wide best practice, ideas and innovation and to tackle some of the common challenges we face. We are bringing together farmers, farming unions, environmental groups, agricultural colleges and associations so that we can tackle practical challenges together. A petition which has so far gained over 1,500 signatures is demanding the government to regulate the loss of productive farmland to solar developments. Launched this month by the Solar Campaign Alliance, it warns that the growing number of solar farms will impact the availability of productive agricultural land. This, in turn, could eventually impact domestic food production and the UK's food security, the campaign group says. The government should produce a regulatory framework in the form of a National Policy Statement on Farmland Protection to "avoid losing a critical mass of productive land to solar". It comes as developers Windel Energy and Canadian Solar are aiming to create the UK's biggest solar farm within the next five years, covering more than 2,000 acres. The project is located on the Rutland and Lincolnshire border, and if approved, it could power over 90,000 homes. But opponents have warned that the solar farm could impact on productive agricultural land, as well as nearby habitats. Solar Campaign Alliance's petition, available to sign on the parliament.uk website, explains that agricultural land is a finite resource. "We believe there is currently a policy conflict where government seeks to protect and enhance our domestic production to maintain food security whilst also encouraging the growth of solar energy production. "New ground-mounted solar developments must be subject to increased regulation to ensure that they do not undermine UK food security, which could result in increasing food costs." BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) - China will continue to explore the moon's polar regions and is mulling over a manned lunar landing in the coming five years, according to a white paper released on Friday. The white paper, titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective," said China will continue its studies and research "on the plan for a human lunar landing." A new-generation manned spacecraft will be developed to support its exploration of the cislunar space, according to the paper. It is part of the country's ambitious lunar exploration plan after its lunar probes landed on the far side of the moon in 2019 and brought back lunar samples last year, respectively. In the next five years, China is planning to bring two more probes onto the moon to explore its polar regions, a place believed to contain water ice, especially in the deep, permanent shadows of some mountains and craters. China will launch the Chang'e-6 lunar probe to collect and bring back samples from the moon's polar regions and launch the Chang'e-7 to perform a precise landing there and "a hopping detection" in lunar shadowed area, the paper said. Also, the country will complete R&D on the key technology of Chang'e-8 and push forward the building of an international research station on the moon with global collaboration, according to the paper. The program is a counterpart to NASA's Artemis lunar exploration plans that try to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024, and establishes a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by 2028. In the next five years, China will launch asteroid probes to sample near-Earth asteroids and probe main-belt comets. The paper also revealed the country's technological preparations for Mars sampling and return, exploration of Jupiter system and boundary exploration of the solar system. Back to near-Earth orbits, China plans to launch, in the next five years, two experimental modules and a space telescope, complete its space station, build a space lab onboard, and carry out large-scale scientific experiments with astronauts on long-term assignments. Minister for Exports Mike Freer has met with the NFU to discuss ways to help boost British dairy exports around the world. The visit took place at specialist Stilton makers, Long Clawson Dairy in Leicestershire, where they met managing director Bill Mathieson on a tour of the factory. Mr Freer, along with NFU President Minette Batters, saw the site's multi-million-pound expansion, which went ahead in 2018 to drive global sales. Long Clawson Dairy now exports its award-winning cheeses to Europe, the US and Australia. Mrs Batters told the government minister the sector had "ambitious plans to export more nutritious and great tasting British dairy products around the world". It follows the release of the NFU Dairy Export Strategy, with key asks including a new taskforce to improve and increase UK dairy exports. Government investment, in partnership with the industry, must drive dairy exports through trade deals, agriculture counsellors, and market development, it says. The strategy also calls for more investment in domestic dairy processing capacity to take advantage of new markets. Todays meeting with the minister gave us the opportunity to showcase the fantastic work that farmers and producers are already doing to export high quality dairy products around the globe," Mrs Batters said. Long Clawson Dairy is a prime example of how the British dairy industry is ambitious; producing a range of top-quality nutritious and sustainable products to world-leading standards like its award-winning Stilton thats sold across Europe, the US and Australia." Although the industry already exports over 1.6bn worth of dairy to more than 135 countries, the sector is looking to double that value within the next decade. The government has recently invested to boost on-going market development work and it has increased the number of agriculture counsellors around the world. "We can massively boost our dairy exports and help set the global standard when it comes to sustainable climate-friendly food," Mrs Batters said. Mr Freer added: The work that farmers do across the UK and here in the East Midlands is hugely important for the economy and a sector we should be proud to shout about overseas. Our newly-created Export Strategy and Export Support Service will help businesses across the region to kickstart and expand their exporting ambitions at a time when global interest in British produce is increasing. Campaigners are calling on the UK government to act on its promises to improve farm antibiotic laws amid new EU legislation banning all forms of routine antibiotic use for livestock. From today, farmers on the continent will no longer be allowed to give preventative group antibiotic treatments or use antibiotics to mask standards for farm animals. This will remain legal in the UK, with campaigners from the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics (ASOA) warning this threatens to undermine recent improvements and increases the risk of antibiotic resistance. Figures show that British farmers and veterinary officials have voluntarily reduced their antibiotic use by 52 percent in recent years. In Australia, a country the UK has sealed a trade deal with, antibiotic use in poultry is 16 times higher than in UK and use in pigs is nearly three times higher. But the new EU legislation goes a step further, banning imports of meat, dairy, fish and eggs that have been produced using antibiotics to stimulate rapid growth in the animals. This remains legal in the UK. Antibiotic resistance is increasing at a faster rate than previously reported. According to The Lancet, in 2019 it was directly responsible for the deaths of more than one and a quarter million people worldwide. The overuse of antibiotics in humans and farm animals is to blame for this crisis, scientists say. Worldwide, about two thirds of antibiotics are used in livestock. The EU legislation was agreed in 2018, and since then the UK government has repeatedly said that it largely supported the new rules and would introduce similar laws. However, over three years later the government has still not published its own legislative proposals for ending excessive farm antibiotic use. It remains legal in the UK to give antibiotics to farm animals routinely, rather than when they are sick or have an infection, and to import animal foods produced with antibiotic growth promoters. The ASOA has written to Defra Secretary George Eustice urging the government to act swiftly to improve the UKs farm antibiotic laws in line with the EU. Coilin Nunan, ASOA's scientific advisor, said that 'much larger' cuts in farm antibiotic use could still be achieved in the UK if the government introduced new laws. "If government pursues a trade policy which cuts tariffs on the importation of meat and dairy produced with high antibiotic use, including the use of antibiotic growth promoters, then in order to compete British farmers could be compelled to reduce their own standards and increase their use of antibiotics. The government said that this year, it would be consulting on making changes to the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, including changes to the rules governing farm antibiotic use. Only subscribers with PAID Print or E-Edition subscriptions please enter here to gain access. If you are not already a Paid subscriber do not go through this portal. Please return to the subscription page to purchase one of our offers. Thank you! The future of Fauquier Times now depends on community support. Your donation will help us continue to improve our journalism through in-depth local news coverage and expanded reader engagement. Support Boddess Green Leaf Nabhi Sutra WhiteHat Jr In the 21st century world of high-end technology and convenience, brands are engaged in a neck-to-neck battle to make an impact with their message and the services provided so that women serving as homemakers, corporate workers or donning any role in the world establish a connection with them.Brands are a part of our lives in many unrivaled ways. From the toothbrush we use in the morning to our comfortable beds we tuck ourselves into at night, they have literally become an integral part of our current lifestyle. Especially for today's urban and modern women, who deserve and demand nothing more than a world in which they are treated equally.Gone are the days when people had to look for the best option to buy any product or service. Today, one can find hundreds of substitutes for a single product and brands are racking their minds to set themselves apart from its competition.An initiative by Worldwide Media, Femina Power Brands 2022 aims to understand and analyse the choice of a modern Indian woman and uplift such brands which deserve to see the light of the day. The final 30 Power Brands have been picked as a combination of the outcome of a national survey and editorial discretion.World Wide Media conducted a study to determine the most popular brands among customers across numerous product categories, and the results thus observed were quite interesting. A total of 400 women from across the country participated in the poll, which rated products in 49 different categories.These women belonged to diverse groups, including students, housewives, part-time or full-time self-employed women, and entrepreneurs. SEC A includes those who are between the ages of 18 and 45.Karvy Insights created a structured questionnaire for the responders to fill out. Computer assisted web interviews (CAWI) or online surveys were used to collect data. After that, the data was analyzed, and the top brands were identified.The first 24 categories were examined by 200 people, while the following 25 categories were evaluated by another 200 people. Karvy Insights listed the top three brands named by respondents in each category after collecting the results."The event kicked off to an energetic start at 4pm with the registration process saw a healthy number of participants attending. After the welcome address, Shraddha Kamdar, Deputy Editor, Femina got in conversation with brand leader Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Education Trust. The philanthropist, educationist and mental health activist and chairman shared her journey from fame to famous and how she backed the choices she made. She talked of how she dedicatedly followed a few mantras in life to strive to bring about lasting progress in the lives of all sections of society.Next, Bollywood actor and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador and United Nations Secretary Generals Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals, Dia Mirza engaged in a one-on-one with Kamdar. She graced the platform by talking about how to take a brand to greater heights and give it a celebrity status. In todays day and age, where social media can either make or break the reputation of a brand, companies have to take extra measures to make themselves appealing to their target audience by maintaining a clean online and offline presence in the market. The Sanju actress also shed some light on the amount of efforts taken to create a robust foundation for its brand to stand upon and carve its name in gold for the whole world to see.Later, the duologue took the form of a panel discussion with leading experts in the field of corporate branding and marketing who talked about building a leadership brand for sustainable business. In the current era, business sustainability is the most important requirement for any CEO. Setting strategy, grooming personnel, evaluating circumstances, measuring progress, investing in product based effective leadership, and satisfying customer and investor expectations are all critical elements for all firms to follow in order to build a successful leadership brand. They also discussed how to build a strong leadership brand by embracing its core principles and implementing powerful and long-term plans.After a prospective panel discussion, the platform turned into a Firebrand Chat with the celeb entrepreneur Genelia Deshmukh, Co-founder of Imagine Meats, which provides plant-based alternatives for meat products. Genelia, along with her husband Riteish Deshmukh recently came up with Happy Bugs a vegan alternative to chicken nuggets which won the Best Vegan meat at the 2021 PETA India Vegan Food Awards. Kashika Saxena, Digital Editor, Femina led the session during which they discussed how sending an unconventional, yet powerful message creates a ripple effect among the masses, which gives the brand a unique image in the market and how it works well to set itself apart from its competitors. Deshmukh stressed on the importance of standing firm on ones own beliefs and going the extra mile to turn it into a potential vision of the organization to be carried forward by its brand.The event took yet another interesting turn with the unveiling of Femina Power Brands 2022 Coffee Table Book, an insightful, yet motivating stories of this years power-packed brands filled with ups and downs, milestones and challenges, failure and victories that embraced these brands and made them the shining faces in their respective categories.The unveiling was soon followed by the power brands being felicitated through their winning videos. It served as the highlight of the event since it became a source of inspiration for the budding brands to learn from them and follow their footsteps to create their own path to success in the future.The event eventually came to an ended with the felicitations of the chosen Power Brands. Femina proudly presents the top 30 power labels that made the cut this year: Aegte Artistry by Amway Bella Vita Organic Bio Oil Bryan and Candy Charles and Keith Dermatouch First Cry Inveda Keya Foods Layers Madhur pure & hygienic sugar Medimix Palmolive Physiogel Pilgrim Rey Naturals Senziwash Sephora, India Simple Sofy SUGAR Cosmetics Supradyn Urban Company Zivame Zomato Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Mouni Roy tied the knot with Suraj Nambiar on Thursday in Goa. As Suraj is a Malayali and Mouni is Bengali, the couple had a Malayali wedding in the morning and a Bengali wedding in the night. Mouni posted her Malayali wedding video on Instagram. In the video, Mouni can be seen dressed in a red and white silk saree and donned temple jewelry as she arrived in Mandap to marry Suraj. Sharing the video, Mouni wrote, So blessedso so happy. Several actors like Arjun Bijlani, Mandira Bedi, Jia Mustafa attended the wedding among others. In the video, Mandira, who shares a beautiful close bond with Mouni, can be seen making a gesture to ward off the evil eye as Mouni arrives with her bridesmaids. In the video, Mandira can also be heard hooting for the couple as they exchanged the wedding vows. The video ended with the couple posing for family pictures on the staircase and the groom lifting his beautiful bride for a picture-perfect. Mandira also shared pictures from Mouni Roy and Suraj Nambiars wedding. Sharing the pictures, she wrote, Ecstatic to be with and thrilled for my fav people Mr and Mrs Nambiar!! Beautiful ceremony! I love you @imouniroy @nambiar13. Mouni Roy married a Dubai-based businessman Suraj Nambiar in an intimate ceremony on Thursday. The couple married as per both Malayali and Bengali rituals. During the Bengali wedding, Mouni arrived in a red lehenga and bridal jewellery, on a stool that was carried by her brothers. The Royal Mint has unveiled an 8kg gold proof coin to celebrate the Year of the Tiger as part of its 'Masterworks' range and popular Sh e ngxi a o Collection. The 8kg gold proof coin is the largest coin ever produced as part of The Royal Mint's Sh e ngxi a o Collection. A team of master craftspeople produced the solid gold coin, which included 100 hours of hand polishing. The coins weight of 8kg coincides with the number 8 being considered one of the luckiest numbers in Chinese culture and one associated with wealth and prosperous. LLANTRISANT, Wales , Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Royal Mint, has today unveiled an exclusive 8kg gold proof coin to celebrate the Year of the Tiger as part of its Masterworks coin range and popular Shengxiao collection. The 8kg gold proof coin featuring a design to celebrate Chinese New Year is a one-of-a-kind collector's item made using a combination of traditional skills and innovative technology and is the largest coin ever produced as part of The Royal Mint's Shengxiao collection. The impressive 8kg gold proof coin was created by a team of master craftspeople at The Royal Mint, using traditional minting skills alongside the latest innovative technology. Modern techniques are called upon in the beginning with engraving machines being used to carefully cut the design onto the 8kg coin over a period of 200 hours. A uniquely titled 'Master Toolmaker' then hand works the coin, carefully papering and burnishing the surface of the metal to remove any marks made by the cutting process to elevate the finish of the design, before undergoing 100 hours of hand polishing. Finally, the 185mm coin is laser frosted for 50 hours using the latest picosecond laser technology, to selectively texture the surface giving it a matt finish showcasing the detail of the coin design. The Lunar Year of the Tiger 8kg coin blends elements of traditional British design and craftsmanship with ancient Chinese culture. The coin design depicts the tiger face on, and its Chinese character positioned to the right. When inspecting the design closely, an additional Chinese character can be seen on the tiger's forehead. It represents the Chinese character for king - '?' - which is said to originate from the pattern on the tiger's head. The weight of the coin, 8kg, was selected due to the number 8 being considered the luckiest number in Chinese culture and one associated with wealth and prosperous. Clare Maclennan, Divisional Director of Commemorative Coin at The Royal Mint said: "The Royal Mint began our Shengxiao Collection in 2014, combining centuries of British craftsmanship and artistic skills with Chinese tradition - creating the first official UK Lunar coins. Ahead of Chinese New Year, we are thrilled to introduce the first ever 8kg coin as part of the collection celebrating the Year of the Tiger and the latest in our 'Masterworks' series which offer unique works of art for collectors, exclusively from The Royal Mint. The coin design is a beautiful fusion of British craftsmanship and Chinese tradition featuring the tiger prominently in the centre of the design." The Royal Mint's Shengxiao Collection is a celebration of the UK's diverse multi-cultural society, lending a unique British angle to this ancient custom. In addition to the 8kg gold proof coin, The Lunar Year of the Tiger collectable coins are also available in a range of precious metals and base metal finishes from 13. Visit www.royalmint.com/lunar to view the full collection. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1735684/Royal_Mint_Chinese_New_Year.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1492158/Royal_Mint_Logo.jpg The two companies have agreed to cooperate in innovation, development, and commercialization of pervasive multi-gigabit wireless connectivity for digital cities PETACH TIKVA, Israel and EINDHOVEN, Netherlands, Jan. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Siklu, a global leader in millimeter wave (mmWave) solutions for Digital City, Gigabit Wireless Access (GWA), and Mobile x-Haul, and Signify (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, today announced a strategic partnership agreement to add Siklu's MultiHaul TG multi-gigabit wireless connectivity technology to Signify's BrightSites portfolio. This combination will result in an addition to the BrightSites portfolio, which will be known as Broadband luminaires. Signify's new innovative BrightSites solution is converting streetlights into a wireless connectivity grid which can facilitate a wide range of digital city services, such as: IoT, security and traffic monitoring, 4G/5G small cells, as well as "digital inclusion" initiatives including municipal Wi-Fi and residential broadband access. BrightSites helps cities to meet the needs of citizens, businesses, and visitors by delivering faster and more accessible broadband connectivity that helps ensure constant access to their digital world. The new broadband luminaires, integrate Siklu's Terragraph-compliant MultiHaul TG multi-gigabit wireless connectivity technology to significantly reduce the dependency on fiber deployment and enable municipalities to create a wireless mesh network by replacing their luminaires with Broadband luminaires. This will significantly accelerate city-wide scalability for secure and reliable multi-gigabit wireless connectivity, at a fraction of the cost and time compared to an all-fiber network deployment. Siklu's MultiHaul TG is Siklu's third generation 60 GHz point-to-multipoint product line and fifth generation overall of V-Band products. Overall, Siklu has hundreds of thousands of products installed in hundreds of cities around the world and offers advanced software tools to design and operate a network. Siklu's MultiHaul TG continues this tradition of excellence by creating secure and reliable fiber-like multi-gigabit wireless mesh networks to support any type of network topology from a small campus up to city and regional deployments. Both companies have collaborated over the past year in the development of the Broadband luminaire portfolio, based on Siklu's MultiHaul N366 TG node. Following successful market validation, the two companies have agreed to expand the collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize solutions for street lighting infrastructure. "We aim to radically accelerate the transition to smart cities by enabling the lighting infrastructure as a primary platform for cost-effective and scalable broadband connectivity. With our combined solution we overcome significant hurdles for the creation of dense networks by ensuring every light point acts as a data hub. This reduces time and cost, and most importantly, it improves the environmental impact as compared to legacy means. By integrating Siklu's Terragraph-compliant MultiHaul TG multi-gigabit wireless connectivity technology into our BrightSites portfolio, over the future of Smart Cities is a reality now," said Khalid Aziz, Head of Connectivity Solutions at Signify. "Siklu products are already enabling a wide range of urban and industrial services that require gigabit broadband access. With the increasing demand for high-speed internet connections everywhere, especially in the COVID era, we share Signify's vision of utilizing the lighting infrastructure as the connectivity grid of the future," said Ronen Ben-Hamou, CEO of Siklu. "Signify is the global leader in lighting infrastructure, and we are excited to collaborate in the digitalization of cities and transforming our vision into reality." About Signify Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals and consumers and lighting for the Internet of Things. Our Philips products, Interact connected lighting systems and data-enabled services, deliver business value and transform life in homes, buildings and public spaces. With 2020 sales of EUR 6.5 billion, we have approximately 37,000 employees and are present in over 70 countries. We unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. We achieved carbon neutrality in 2020, have been in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index since our IPO for five consecutive years and were named Industry Leader in 2017, 2018 and 2019. News from Signify is located at the Newsroom, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Information for investors can be found on the Investor Relations page. About Siklu Siklu delivers multi-gigabit wireless fiber connectivity in urban, suburban and rural areas. Operating in the millimeter wave bands, Siklu's wireless solutions are used by leading service providers and system integrators to provide 5G Gigabit Wireless Access services. In addition, Siklu solutions are ideal for Smart City projects requiring extra capacity such as video security, WiFi backhaul and municipal network connectivity all over one network. Thousands of carrier-grade systems are delivering interference-free performance worldwide. Easily installed on street-fixtures or rooftops, these radios have been proven to be the ideal solution for networks requiring fast and simple deployment of secure, wireless fiber. www.siklu.com. Press Contact Tal Sacharov Head of Marketing, Siklu Tal.s@siklu.com BEER SHEVA, Israel, Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SIGA announces its European HQ in Luxembourg to rapidly scale SIGA's services for the cyber defence of national infrastructure and manufacturing facilities across Europe. SIGA will leverage its new Luxembourg office to expand its customer base and distribution networks with industrial automation and OT cybersecurity partners. SIGA joined the House of DeepTech Roundtable with the Ministry of Economy of Luxembourg and Chief Information Security leaders in Europe last week to trade notes on best practices and lessons learned internationally. "Moving beyond the network security layer to level zero is critical to the effective cyber risk governance of our manufacturing hubs and critical infrastructure. We welcome SIGA into Luxembourg and to accelerate the company's impact across the European Union." - Francois Thill, Ministry of Economy, Director of Cybersecurity and Digital The global cybersecurity market, valued at USD 183.34 billion in 2020, has a CAGR of 11.6% from 2021-to 2030. Analysts predict it to reach USD 539.78 billion by 2030 (Research and Markets, Oct 6, 2021). Luxembourg was a natural choice for SIGA's European headquarters, as it was recently voted second most inclusive economy globally and second in the world for market access and infrastructure. The accelerating pace of cyber attacks on infrastructure poses greater public safety and economic risks to industry and the public and forces CISOs to anticipate a third-party risk. Accidents can be as catastrophic as attacks, as Chernobyl demonstrated so well. The high effectiveness of level zero detection of incipient attacks and accidents adds unique value to the cyber risk governance stack. As for every system connected to the Internet, CISOs must adequately secure their industrial control systems. Yet industrial physical processes are often overlooked in this mission because they are tied to legacy mission-critical systems and depend heavily on low-level sensor/actuator infrastructure. SIGA's mission in Europe is to expand its footprint to secure the integrity of critical OT processes by delivering AI-enhanced monitoring and in-depth operational situational awareness. SIGA's unique machine-learning-based solution is designed to monitor the most reliable level of process data within any operational environment, the physical layer, and detect anomalies that indicate cyberattacks or operational faults. Through SIGA's Incipient Failure Detection solution, SigaGuard, the company mission is to secure the integrity of critical OT physical processes by delivering AI-enhanced monitoring and uncovering in-depth operational perception for secure, safe, productive & continuous operation. SIGA's technology incorporates a comprehensive process anomaly detection system that monitors critical assets using LEVEL 0 ICS electrical signals-based predictive analysis and artificial intelligence. It is an autonomous and intelligent "out-of-band" solution and cannot be hacked or manipulated. "SIGA selected Luxembourg as our strategic gateway to the European Union. With the support of our partners at the House of DeepTech and the Ministry, we can accelerate our R&D development, investments, and commercial scale." - Amir Samilioff, CEO of SIGA OT Solutions. SIGA's investors include PureTerra Ventures, a Dutch fund that specialises in water and infrastructure investments, AWZ Ventures, SIBF, Moore Strategic Ventures, and a German electrical and control systems manufacturer, Phoenix Contact. In collaboration with its global industrial automation partners, SIGA will build on its global footprint of energy, oil and gas, water utilities, data centres, and heavy industrial and manufacturing clients. About SIGA OT Solutions SIGA OT Solutions is an Israeli OT Cybersecurity company providing critical infrastructure and industrial assets cybersecurity protection services. SIGA's technology incorporates a comprehensive process anomaly detection system that monitors critical assets using LEVEL 0 ICS electrical signals-based AI. https://www.sigasec.com Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d80215KSnlE Quarterly Exploration Report For the three months ended 31 December 2021 Red Chris and Havieron drilling continues to expand mineralisation At Red Chris, drilling continues to expand the footprint and continuity of the higher grade mineralisation at East Ridge. Drilling has expanded mineralisation to the east, hole RC740 returned 156m @ 0.73g/t Au & 0.71% Cu from 1,452m, including 86m @ 1.2g/t Au & 0.97% Cu from 1,522m and hole RC745^^ returned 366m @ 0.45g/t Au & 0.57% Cu from 728m, including 36m @ 1.4g/t Au & 1.2% Cu from 960m. RC740, located 100m east of RC745 is one of the most eastern holes drilled to date. Mineralisation remains open to the east. Holes RC739 and RC748 demonstrated continuity of higher grade. RC739^^ returned 390m @ 0.63g/t Au & 0.48% Cu from 1,088m, including 44m @ 2.0g/t Au & 1.3% Cu from 1,402m. This hole is located 100m east of RC727 (previously reported, returned 346m @ 1.1g/t Au & 0.79% Cu from 1,046m, including 56m @ 3.5g/t Au & 1.8% Cu from 1,336m) and extended the higher grade a further 100m to the east. RC748 returned 452m @ 0.60g/t Au & 0.54% Cu from 1,192m including 106m @ 1.2g/t Au & 1.0% Cu from 1,384m. The hole is located 100m below RC727 (previously reported) and extended the higher grade mineralisation a further 100m down dip. Drilling to define the extent of the East Ridge mineralised corridor is ongoing. At Havieron, growth drilling continues to identify high grade extensions to the South East Crescent Zone at depth as well as high grade crescent style mineralisation within extensions of the Eastern Breccia. Highlights include: South East Crescent extensions more than 250m below the current Mineral Resource estimate continued to return high grade results including HAD086W3^^ 44.7m @ 7.1g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,412m including 20.2m @ 15g/t Au & 0.29% Cu from 1,421m. High grade extensions to the Eastern Breccia 200m to the SW of previous drilling include HAD104: 62.5m @ 5.9g/t Au & 0.30% Cu from 1,546.5m including 49.4m @ 7.1g/t Au & 0.38% Cu from 1,554.6m. This result is the most significant seen outside of the South East Crescent Zone to date, and confirms the potential for this separate NW trending Eastern Breccia corridor to host Crescent style high grade mineralisation. Drilling is now focussed on defining the extents of this higher-grade mineralisation which remains open in all directions. At the South East Crescent Zone the infill drilling completed validates both geological and grade continuity. Drill testing of new geophysical targets 2km outside of the Havieron system has commenced. Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2022) - Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) (TSX: NCM) (PNGX: NCM) Newcrest Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sandeep Biswas, said, "Our drilling results across the quarter continue to demonstrate the quality of our Red Chris and Havieron assets. At Red Chris, results at East Ridge have expanded the footprint of the mineralised corridor, with the latest drilling intersecting higher grade mineralisation within the eastern extents of the prospect. The high grade mineralisation remains open to the east and at depth which provides exciting potential for the resource base at Red Chris to grow over time." "At Havieron, our exploration continues to demonstrate growth upside, with HAD104 in the Eastern Breccia intersecting the highest grade mineralisation observed to date outside the South East Crescent Zone. This Eastern Breccia corridor sits outside of the Inferred Mineral Resource estimate and confirms the prospectivity of the Havieron region to host additional high grade zones and the significant potential for further resource growth," said Mr Biswas. Red Chris - Significant results since the September 2021 Quarterly Exploration Report(1): RC735^^ 240m @ 0.49g/t Au & 0.53% Cu from 888m including 102m @ 0.82g/t Au & 0.59% Cu from 1,012m including 24m @ 1.4g/t Au & 0.68% Cu from 1,068m RC739^^ 390m @ 0.63g/t Au & 0.48% Cu from 1,088m including 70m @ 0.68g/t Au & 0.49% Cu from 1,302m including 44m @ 2.0g/t Au & 1.3% Cu from 1,402m RC740 156m @ 0.73g/t Au & 0.71% Cu from 1,452m including 86m @ 1.2g/t Au & 0.97% Cu from 1,522m including 46m @ 1.6g/t Au & 1.1% Cu from 1,556m RC745^^ 366m @ 0.45g/t Au & 0.57% Cu from 728m including 58m @ 1.1g/t Au & 1.0% Cu from 958m including 36m @ 1.4g/t Au & 1.2% Cu from 960m RC747^^ 306m @ 0.28g/t Au & 0.39% Cu from 706m including 46m @ 0.77g/t Au & 0.86% Cu from 880m including 20m @ 1.1g/t Au & 1.2% Cu from 896m RC748 452m @ 0.60g/t Au & 0.54% Cu from 1,192m including 106m @ 1.2g/t Au & 1.0% Cu from 1,384m including 98m @ 1.3g/t Au & 1.0% Cu from 1,386m Havieron - Significant results since the September 2021 Quarterly Exploration Report(1): HAD053W5^^ 119.7m @ 1.2g/t Au & 0.49% Cu from 1,041.4m HAD053W6^^ 164.3m @ 1.8g/t Au & 0.53% Cu from 1,065m including 14.3m @ 9.7g/t Au & 0.78% Cu from 1,065.7m HAD061W1^^ 144.7m @ 1.6g/t Au & 0.14% Cu from 856.3m HAD085W4 46.4m @ 11g/t Au & 0.26% Cu from 1,400.6m including 3.9m @ 98g/t Au and 0.04% Cu from 1,402.1m HAD086W3^^ 44.7m @ 7.1g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,412m including 20.2m @ 15g/t Au & 0.29% Cu from 1,421m 48m @ 2.2g/t Au & 0.15% Cu from 1,525m including 26.9m @ 3.7g/t Au & 0.26% Cu from 1,538.1m HAD086W4^^ 102.3m @ 1.5g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,404.3m HAD104 62.5m @ 5.9g/t Au & 0.30% Cu from 1546.5m including 49.4m @ 7.1g/t Au & 0.38% Cu from 1,554.6m HAD133W4^^ 69.8m @ 2.0g/t Au & 0.32% Cu from 1,329.2m HAD133W5^^ 110.4m @ 2.2g/t Au & 0.21% Cu from 1,418.6m including 62.8m @ 3.0g/t Au & 0.16% Cu from 1,460.5m HAD133W6** 168.1m @ 1.9g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,424.6m including 43.1m @ 3.7g/t Au & 0.34% Cu from 1,425.9m HAD148W1^^ 89.3m @ 1.3g/t Au & 0.05% Cu from 807.8m HAD148W2^^ 35.4m @ 4.4g/t Au & 0.25% Cu from 938.1m HAD149W2^^ 45.1m @ 6.7g/t Au & 0.06% Cu from 919.5m HAD150W1^^ 140m @ 2.9g/t Au & 0.07% Cu from 909m HAD150W2^^ 113.8m @ 3.4g/t Au & 0.10% Cu from 996.2m including 14.2m @ 20g/t Au & 0.14% Cu from 1,035.8m Red Chris, British Columbia, Canada(2) Red Chris is a joint venture between Newcrest (70%) and Imperial Metals Corporation (30%) which is operated by Newcrest. The Brownfields Exploration program is focused on the discovery of additional zones of higher grade mineralisation within the Red Chris porphyry corridor, including targets outside of Newcrest's initial Mineral Resource estimate. During the period, there were up to eight diamond drill rigs in operation. A further 21,275m of drilling has been completed from 27 drill holes, with all drill holes intersecting mineralisation (except 15 drill holes which were dedicated geotechnical holes). This contributed to a total of 217,349m of drilling from 199 drill holes since Newcrest acquired its interest in the joint venture in August 2019. At East Ridge, located adjacent to the East Zone, drilling is ongoing with 18 holes completed and 4 in progress. The follow up drilling is being completed on a nominal 100m x 100m grid to determine the footprint of the mineralisation and demonstrate the continuity of the higher grade mineralisation. Drilling to date has tested a corridor 800m long and to a vertical extent of 1,000m. Results for the reporting period include: RC735^^ 240m @ 0.49g/t Au & 0.53% Cu from 888m including 102m @ 0.82g/t Au & 0.59% Cu from 1,012m including 24m @ 1.4g/t Au & 0.68% Cu from 1,068m RC739^^ 390m @ 0.63g/t Au & 0.48% Cu from 1,088m including 38m @ 1.8g/t Au & 0.71% Cu from 1,244m including 22m @ 2.6g/t Au & 1.0% Cu from 1,246m including 70m @ 0.68g/t Au & 0.49% Cu from 1,302m including 44m @ 2.0g/t Au & 1.3% Cu from 1,402m RC740 156m @ 0.73g/t Au & 0.71% Cu from 1,452m including 86m @ 1.2g/t Au & 0.97% Cu from 1,522m including 46m @ 1.6g/t Au & 1.1% Cu from 1,556m RC745^^ 366m @ 0.45g/t Au & 0.57% Cu from 728m including 58m @ 1.1g/t Au & 1.0% Cu from 958m including 36m @ 1.4g/t Au & 1.2% Cu from 960m RC747^^ 306m @ 0.28g/t Au & 0.39% Cu from 706m including 46m @ 0.77g/t Au & 0.86% Cu from 880m including 20m @ 1.1g/t Au & 1.2% Cu from 896m RC748 452m @ 0.60g/t Au & 0.54% Cu from 1,192m including 106m @ 1.2g/t Au & 1.0% Cu from 1,384m including 98m @ 1.3g/t Au & 1.0% Cu from 1,386m Drilling continues to expand the footprint and continuity of the higher grade. Holes RC740, RC745 and RC735 have extended the corridor to the east, with hole RC740 being the deepest hole drilled to date. Mineralisation remains open to the east and at depth. Holes RC739 and RC748 have demonstrated continuity of the higher grade, by extending higher grade mineralisation 100m to the east and 100m below RC727 (previously reported, returned 346m @ 1.1g/t Au & 0.79% Cu from 1,046m, including 56m @ 3.5g/t Au & 1.8% Cu from 1,336m). The East Ridge mineralised corridor (>0.4g/t Au and >0.4% Cu) now extends over 800m long, up to 1,000m high and 125m wide, with higher grade (>0.8g/t Au and >0.8% Cu) in several smaller pods over an area 500m high, 400m long and 100m wide. East Ridge is located east of East Zone and is outside of Newcrest's initial Mineral Resource estimate, supporting the potential for resource growth over time. Follow-up drilling is in progress to further define the extent and continuity of this high grade mineralisation. Approximately 50,000m of growth-related drilling is planned for calendar year 2022 from eight drill rigs. Refer to Appendix 1 for additional information, and the Drillhole data table for all results reported during the period. Figure 1. Schematic plan view map of the Red Chris porphyry corridor spanning East Ridge, East Zone, Main Zone and Gully Zone showing drill hole locations (Newcrest & Imperial) and significant Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 1 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.3g/t Au, 1g/t Au, 0.3% Cu and 1% Cu shell projections generated from a LeapfrogTM model. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_003full.jpg Figure 2. Long section view (looking North West) of the Red Chris porphyry corridor showing drill hole locations and gold distribution. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_004full.jpg Figure 3. Oblique schematic section view of the Red Chris porphyry corridor showing gold distribution. 0.3 g/t Au,1 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu and 1% Cu shell projections generated from the LeapfrogTM model. To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_005full.jpg Havieron Project, Western Australia, Australia(3) The Havieron Project is operated by Newcrest under a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Greatland Gold. Following the delivery of the Pre-Feasibility Study on 12 October 2021, Newcrest is now entitled to an additional 10% interest in the Havieron Project, which would bring Newcrest's cumulative interest to 70%. Newcrest has an option to acquire an additional 5% Joint Venture interest for fair market value, exercisable during the 12 months from 12 December 2021. In December 2021, Newcrest provided notice to Greatland Gold to begin the process under the JVA to seek to agree the option price for the additional 5% Havieron Joint Venture interest. The JVA includes tolling principles reflecting the intention of the parties that, subject to a successful exploration program, Feasibility Study and a positive decision to mine, the resulting joint venture mineralised material will be processed at Telfer. The Havieron Project is centred on a deep magnetic anomaly located 45km east of Telfer in the Paterson Province. The deposit is overlain by more than 420m of post mineral Permian cover. A total of 14,481m of new drilling has been completed from 18 drill holes during the period. This report is covering results from 33 holes (including 5 holes completed this period, and 28 holes from the September quarter). Of the reported holes, 22 holes returned significant assay intercepts in excess of 50 gram metres Au (Au ppm x length m). A total of 226,492m of drilling from 272 drill holes has been completed since Newcrest commenced exploration activity (excluding holes in progress, abandoned holes, or drill holes which have not been sampled). Drilling in the reporting period was focused on potential resource growth at the South East Crescent Zone, Northern Breccia and Eastern Breccia, and infill drilling the South East Crescent Zone to support the potential conversion of the Inferred Resource to Indicated Resource. Drilling included: South East Crescent Deeps - assay results reported for six drill holes, two holes awaiting assays. Northern Breccia & North West Pod - assay results reported for one drill hole, two holes awaiting assays. Eastern Breccia - assay results reported for four drill holes, one hole awaiting assays. First pass testing of geophysical targets outboard of the Havieron system (at Havieron North and Zipa) -assay results reported for one drill hole, two holes awaiting assays. South East Crescent Zone Infill - assay results reported for twenty-one drill holes. At the South East Crescent Deeps, growth drilling targeting higher grade mineralisation at depth on 75m by 75m spacing has extended the mineralisation 250m below the initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate. New results from six drill holes have been received, with results from five drill holes returning greater than 50 gram metre intercepts. Refer to Appendix 2 for all results reported. Results include: HAD086W3^^ 44.7m @ 7.1g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,412m including 20.2m @ 15g/t Au & 0.29% Cu from 1,421m 48m @ 2.2g/t Au & 0.15% Cu from 1,525m including 26.9m @ 3.7g/t Au & 0.26% Cu from 1,538.1m HAD086W4^^ 102.3m @ 1.5g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,404.3m HAD133W4^^ 69.8m @ 2.0g/t Au & 0.32% Cu from 1,329.2m HAD133W5^^ 110.4m @ 2.2g/t Au & 0.21% Cu from 1,418.6m including 62.8m @ 3.0g/t Au & 0.16% Cu from 1,460.5m HAD133W6** 168.1m @ 1.9g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,424.6m including 43.1m @ 3.7g/t Au & 0.34% Cu from 1425.9m Further to results reported in the last period, HAD086W3 returned assays for the lower portion of the drill hole and reported a second high grade zone 200m below the existing resource of 48m^^ @ 2.2g/t Au & 0.15% Cu from 1,525m, including 26.9m^^ @ 3.7g/t Au & 0.26% Cu from 1,538.1m. A mineralised zone 100m below HAD086W3 was returned in HAD086W4, which confirmed extension of crescent mineralisation over 250m from the current Inferred Mineral Resource extents. These results are approximately 100m to the north-west of prior high grade hole HAD133W1 and continue to support extensions of the South East Crescent Zone at depth. Drilling continues to assess the depth extents of the South East Crescent Zone which now has a vertical extent of over 900m. At the Eastern Breccia, assays for an additional four holes targeting strike extensions from previously reported drill holes HAD083 and HAD084 have been received. Interpretation of the results indicate the potential for a separate north west trending corridor, with an alteration footprint of approximately 600m, with crescent like higher grade zones developed internal to this Eastern Breccia. The most significant intercept to date was returned during the reporting period in HAD104 returning 62.5m @ 5.9g/t Au & 0.30% Cu from 1546.5m, including 49.4m @ 7.1g/t Au & 0.38% Cu from 1,554.6m. The intercept is related to massive sulphide and quartz infill, which is characteristic of the Crescent zone, and is the first intercept on the eastern side of the dolerite. The intercept is ~200m SW of the previously reported initial eastern breccia drillholes HAD083 and HAD084. HAD104 has highlighted the potential for this separate NW trending eastern breccia corridor to host crescent style high grade mineralisation. Drilling is now focussed on defining the extents of this higher grade mineralisation seen in HAD104 which remains open in all directions. Drilling to test geophysical targets outside of the known Havieron system have commenced at Havieron North, and Zipa. The Havieron North target is located 2 km north of Havieron and is sited on a magnetic high anomaly. Zipa, is located approximately 1 km to the west of Havieron North and is centred on a prominent gravity high anomaly. The initial Havieron North drillhole did not return any significant results but did intercept alteration consistent with that seen at Havieron. Assay results are awaiting for the two completed Zipa drillholes. Drilling continues to test these and other targets outside of the main Havieron deposit. South East Crescent Zone Inferred Mineral Resource infill drilling was finalised during the period, with 3 further drill holes completed, and assays reported for all twenty-one drill holes (including 17 drill holes from the prior period). This drilling is designed to infill the South East Crescent Zone Inferred Mineral Resource volume to 50m x 50m spacing to support the potential upgrade of a significant portion of the Inferred Mineral Resource to an Indicated Mineral Resource. Results received from infill drilling support the modelled grade and thickness within the South East Crescent Zone Mineral Resource extents. Results include: HAD053W5^^ 119.7m @ 1.2g/t Au & 0.49% Cu from 1,041.4m HAD053W6^^ 164.3m @ 1.8g/t Au & 0.53% Cu from 1,065m including 14.3m @ 9.7g/t Au & 0.78% Cu from 1,065.7m HAD061W1^^ 144.7m @ 1.6g/t Au & 0.14% Cu from 856.3m HAD085W4 46.4m @ 11g/t Au & 0.26% Cu from 1400.6m including 3.9m @ 98g/t Au and 0.04% Cu from 1,402.1m HAD148W1^^ 89.3m @ 1.3g/t Au & 0.05% Cu from 807.8m HAD148W2^^ 35.4m @ 4.4g/t Au & 0.25% Cu from 938.1m HAD149W2^^ 45.1m @ 6.7g/t Au & 0.06% Cu from 919.5m HAD150W1^^ 140m @ 2.9g/t Au & 0.07% Cu from 909m HAD150W2^^ 113.8m @ 3.4g/t Au & 0.10% Cu from 996.2m including 14.2m @ 20g/t Au & 0.14% Cu from 1,035.8m All drill programs have now returned to growth targets with up to eight drill rigs operational. Growth drilling continues to show potential for resource additions outside of the existing Inferred Mineral Resource limits, including: Extension of the South East Crescent Zone at depth below the current Mineral Resource, where increasing grade and thickness of mineralisation has been observed from recent drilling; Expansion of multiple higher-grade targets including Northern Breccia and North West Pod; and Potential for additional North West trending structural corridors including the Eastern Breccia. Additionally, drilling is continuing to target geophysical targets outside of the main Havieron system. Refer to Appendix 2 for additional information and Drillhole data table for all results reported during the period. Figure 4. 3D Plan view schematic showing the spatial association of the South East Crescent, Northern Breccia, North West Pod and Eastern Breccia targets in relation to the Inferred Resource extents. Also highlighted are previously reported intercepts >100 gram metres (Au ppm x length) that have been intersected outside of the Inferred Mineral Resource. To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_006full.jpg Figure 5. 3D section view schematic across section line A-A' on Figure 4, highlighting selected South East Crescent growth intercepts below the current Inferred Resource. To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_007full.jpg Figure 6. Plan view schematic of a horizontal slice at 4700mRL through the Crescent Sulphide Zone and Breccia-hosted Zones, showing the extents of the 0.5 and 1.0 g/t Au LeapfrogTM grade shells with highlighted newly reported intercepts for this period. This diagram highlights >100gram metres intersections drilled during the period which are >1g/t Au, refer to inset diagram for relationship to all Havieron drilling. To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_008full.jpg Wilki Project, Western Australia, Australia The Wilki Project is an exploration farm-in and joint venture with Antipa Minerals Limited (Antipa). The project area covers a strategic landholding of ~2,200km2 surrounding the Telfer operation and is adjacent to the Havieron Project. Newcrest entered into this exploration farm-in and joint venture agreement with Antipa on 11 March 2020. Newcrest currently has a 9.9% shareholding in Antipa. Newcrest has elected to proceed to the next stage (Stage 1) of the farm-in agreement following completion of the initial exploration expenditure commitment (A$6 million). Newcrest has the potential to earn a 51% joint venture interest in the Wilki Project through expenditure of a further A$10 million by March 2025 during Stage 14. Scout diamond drilling of the Tyama Prospect was completed during the period. Results returned low level Zn anomalism. In addition, ground electromagnetic surveys were completed over priority target areas during the period. Processing and interpretation has commenced. Juri Joint Venture, Western Australia, Australia The Juri Joint Venture is a farm-in and joint venture agreement with Greatland Gold with respect to the Black Hills and Paterson Range East projects, located within the Paterson Province approximately 50km from the Telfer operation and in proximity to the Havieron Project. The joint venture covers an area of approximately 248km2. Newcrest has met the Stage 1 exploration expenditure (A$3 million) and now holds a 51% interest in the Juri Joint Venture. Under the terms of the agreement, Newcrest has the potential to earn an additional 24% joint venture interest (for a cumulative 75% joint venture interest) through expenditure of a further A$17 million over three years during Stage 24. Follow up ground electromagnetic surveys over additional targets at both Paterson Range East and Black Hills were completed during the period. Tennant East, Northern Territory, Australia Work programs focussing on undercover targets at the Tennant East project (located 200km east of Tennant Creek) have been completed over the initial six target areas. Induced polarisation (IP) data processing is currently progressing. Scout drilling is planned to be completed on defined coincident gravity, magnetic and IP targets in calendar year 2022. Nevada, USA Drill activities were completed at the Jarbidge project in north-eastern Nevada during the period with testing focused on low sulfidation epithermal vein targets. Assay results are pending, but visually the targets are downgraded. As a result, Newcrest has provided notice of termination with respect to several of the option agreements underlying the Jarbidge project with the decision to retain any remaining option agreements pending the receipt of outstanding assay results and conducting required reclamation activities. Drilling has commenced at the Fortuity89 project in south-western Nevada. Central Andes, Northern Chile Drilling was conducted across Newcrest's Chilean exploration project portfolio with 2,654m drilled during the quarter at Atlas and El Dorado (Gorbea Option and Farm-in Agreement with Mirasol Resources Ltd.), Mioceno (Option and Farm-in Agreement with Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc.) and Esparta (Option Agreement with private individuals). Interpretation of the data is ongoing, with assay results pending. Northern Andes, Ecuador Scout drilling commenced in November at the Gamora Project, located within southeast Ecuador. This work is being conducted by Newcrest as the operator under an earn-in agreement with Lundin Gold. pursuant to which Newcrest can earn up to a 50% interest in eight exploration concessions. The concession area covers strategic landholdings to the north and south of Lundin Gold's Fruta del Norte mining operation. The program at Gamora is focused on testing priority copper-gold porphyry targets with two core holes completed with assays pending. Drilling is ongoing. Appendix 1 Red Chris (70% Newcrest): JORC Table 1 Section 1: Sampling Techniques and Data Criteria Commentary Sampling techniques Core samples are obtained from core drilling. HQ and NQ diameter diamond core was drilled on a 3, 4.5m or 6m run. Core was cut using an automatic core-cutter and half core sampled at 2m intervals. Cover sequences were not sampled. Drilling techniques Core drilling was advanced with HQ3, HQ, NQ3 and NQ diameter coring configuration. Core from inclined drill holes are oriented on 3, 4.5m or 6m runs using an electronic core orientation tool (Reflex ACTIII). At the end of each run, the bottom of hole position is marked by the driller, which is later transferred to the whole drill core run length with a bottom of hole reference line. Drill sample recovery Core recovery is systematically recorded from the commencement of coring to end of hole, by reconciling against driller's depth blocks in each core tray with data recorded in the database. Drillers depth blocks provided the depth, interval of core recovered, and interval of core drilled. Core recoveries were typically 100%, with isolated zones of lower recovery. Logging Geological logging recorded qualitative descriptions of lithology, alteration, mineralisation, veining, and structure (for all core drilled - 21,275m in 27 holes - all holes intersected mineralisation except for 15 dedicated geotechnical holes, including orientation of key geological features). Geotechnical measurements were recorded including Rock Quality Designation (RQD) fracture frequency, solid core recovery and qualitative rock strength measurements. Magnetic susceptibility measurements were recorded every metre. All geological and geotechnical logging was conducted at the Red Chris Mine. Digital data logging was captured, validated and stored in an acQuire database. All drill cores were photographed, prior to cutting and/or sampling the core. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation Sampling, sample preparation and quality control protocols are considered appropriate for the material being sampled. Core was cut and sampled at the Red Chris Mine core processing facility. Half core samples were collected in plastic bags together with pre-numbered sample tags and grouped in wood crates for dispatch to the laboratory. Sample weights typically varied from 5 to 10kg. Sample sizes are considered appropriate for the style of mineralisation. Drill core samples were freighted by road to the laboratory. Sample preparation was conducted at the independent ISO 9001 certified and ISO 17025 accredited Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd Laboratory, Vancouver (Bureau Veritas). Samples were dried at 650C, and crushed to 95% passing 4.75 mm, and the split to obtain up to 1kg sub-sample, which was pulverised (using LM2) to produce a pulped product with the minimum standard of 95% passing 106m. Duplicate samples were collected from crush and pulp samples at a rate of 1:20. Duplicate results show an acceptable level of variability for the material sampled and style of mineralisation. Periodic size checks (1:20) for crush and pulp samples and sample weights are provided by the laboratory and recorded in the acQuire database. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests Assaying of drill core samples was conducted at Bureau Veritas. All samples were assayed for 59 elements using a 4-acid digestion followed by ICP-AES/ICP-MS determination (method MA250). Gold analyses were determined by 50g fire assay with ICP-ES finish (method FA350). Carbon and Sulphur were determined by Leco (method TC000) and mercury using aqua regia digestion followed by ICP-ES/MS determination (method AQ200). Sampling and assaying quality control procedures consisted of inclusion of certified reference material (CRMs), coarse residue and pulp duplicates with each batch (at least 1:20). Assays of quality control samples were compared with reference samples in the acQuire database and verified as acceptable prior to use of data from analysed batches. Laboratory quality control data, including laboratory standards, blanks, duplicates, repeats and grind size results are captured in the acQuire database and assessed for accuracy and precision for recent data. Due to the limited extent of the drilling program to date, extended quality control programs are yet to be undertaken, whereby pulped samples will be submitted to an umpire laboratory and combined with more extensive re-submission programs. Analysis of the available quality control sample assay results indicates that an acceptable level of accuracy and precision has been achieved and the database contains no analytical data that has been numerically manipulated. The assaying techniques and quality control protocols used are considered appropriate for the data to be used for reporting exploration drilling results. Verification of sampling and assaying Sampling intervals defined by the geologist are electronically assigned sample identification numbers prior to core cutting. Corresponding sample numbers matching pre-labelled sample tags are assigned to each interval. All sampling and assay information were stored in a secure acQuire database with restricted access. Electronically generated sample submission forms providing the sample identification number accompany each submission to the laboratory. Assay results from the laboratory with corresponding sample identification are loaded directly into the acQuire database. Assessment of reported significant assay intervals was verified by re-logging of drill core intervals and assessment of high resolution core photography. The verification of significant intersections has been completed by company personnel and the Competent Person/Qualified Person. No adjustments are made to assay data, and no twinned holes have been completed. Drilling intersects mineralisation at various angles. There are no currently known drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. Location of data points Drill collar locations were surveyed using a RTK GPS with GNSS with a stated accuracy of +/- 0.025m. Drill rig alignment was attained using an electronic azimuth aligner (Reflex TN14 GYROCOMPASS). Downhole survey was collected at 9 to 30m intervals of the drill hole using single shot survey (Reflex EZ-SHOT). At the end of hole, all holes have been surveyed using a continuous gyro survey to surface (Reflex EZ-GYRO). Topographic control is established from PhotoSat topographic data and derived digital elevation model. The topography is generally low relief to flat, with an average elevation of 1500 m, with several deep creek gullies. All collar coordinates are provided in the North American Datum (NAD83 Zone 9). Data spacing and distribution The drill hole spacing ranges from 100 - 200m in lateral extent within an area of 1.5km2 at the East Ridge, 1.5km2 at the East Zone, 1.5km2 at the Main Zone and 1.5km2 at the Gully Zone. No sample compositing is applied to samples. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Drilling of reported drill holes RC735, R739, RC740, RC745, RC746, RC747, RC748, RC752 and RC754 are oriented perpendicular to the intrusive complex. The intrusive complex has an east-northeast orientation, with drilling established on a north-northwest orientation. Drill holes exploring the extents of the East Ridge, East Zone, Main Zone and Gully Zone mineral system intersected moderately dipping volcanic and sedimentary units cut by sub-vertical intrusive lithologies. Steeply dipping mineralised zones with an east-northeast orientation have been interpreted from historic and Newcrest drill holes. Sample security The security of samples is controlled by tracking samples from drill rig to database. Drill core was delivered from the drill rig to the Red Chris Mine core yard every shift. Geological and geotechnical logging, high resolution core photography and cutting of drill core was undertaken at the Red Chris core processing facility. Samples were freighted in sealed bags with security tags by road to the laboratory, and in the custody of Newcrest representatives. Sample numbers are generated from pre-labelled sample tags. All samples are collected in pre-numbered plastic bags. Sample tags are inserted into prenumbered plastic bags together with the sample. Verification of sample numbers and identification is conducted by the laboratory on receipt of samples, and sample receipt advice issued to Newcrest. Details of all sample movement are recorded in a database table. Dates, Hole ID sample ranges, and the analytical suite requested are recorded with the dispatch of samples to the laboratory analytical services. Any discrepancies logged at the receipt of samples into the laboratory analytical services are validated. Audits or reviews Due to the limited duration of the program, no external audits or reviews have been undertaken. Internal verification and audit of Newcrest exploration procedures and databases are periodically undertaken. Section 2: Reporting of Exploration Results Criteria Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Red Chris comprises 77 mineral tenures including five mining leases and is a joint venture between subsidiaries of Newcrest Mining Limited (70%) and Imperial Metals Corporation (30%). Newcrest Red Chris Mining Limited is the operator of Red Chris. Newcrest Red Chris Mining Limited and the Tahltan Nation (as represented by the Tahltan Central Government, the Tahltan Band and Iskut First Nation) signed an amended and restated updated Impact, Benefit and Co-Management Agreement (IBCA) covering Red Chris on 15 August 2019. All obligations with respect to legislative requirements including minimum expenditure are maintained in good standing. Exploration done by other parties Conwest Exploration Limited, Great Plains Development Co. of Canada, Silver Standard Mines Ltd, Texasgulf Canada Ltd. (formerly Ecstall Mining Limited), American Bullion Minerals Ltd and bcMetals Corporation conducted exploration in the areas between 1956 and 2006. Imperial Metals Corporation acquired the project in 2007 and completed deeper drilling at the East and Main Zones between 2007 and 2012. Geology The Red Chris Project is located in the Stikine terrane of north-western British Columbia, 80 km south of the town of Dease Lake. Late Triassic sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Stuhini Group host a series of Late Triassic to Early Jurassic (204-198 Ma) diorite to quartz monzonite stocks and dykes. Gold and copper mineralisation at Red Chris consists of vein, disseminated and breccia sulphide typical of porphyry-style mineralisation. Mineralisation is hosted by diorite to quartz monzonite stocks and dykes. The main mineral assemblage contains well developed pyrite-chalcopyrite-bornite sulphide mineral assemblages as vein and breccia infill, and disseminations. The main mineralisation event is associated with biotite and potassium feldspar-magnetite wall rock alteration. Drill hole information As provided. Data aggregation methods Significant assay intercepts are reported as (A) length-weighted averages exceeding 0.1g/t Au greater than or equal to 20m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution; and (B) length-weighted averages exceeding 0.5g/t Au for greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution; and (C) length-weighted averages exceeding 1g/t Au for greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution; (D) length-weighted averages exceeding 5g/t Au greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution; and (E) length-weighted averages exceeding 10g/t Au for greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution. No top cuts are applied to intercept calculations. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Insufficient geological information is available to confirm the geological model and true width of significant assay intervals. Diagrams As provided. Balanced reporting This is the seventeenth release of Exploration Results for this project made by Newcrest. Previous release dates are 30 January 2020, 11 March 2020, 30 April 2020, 11 June 2020, 23 July 2020, 10 September 2020, 29 October 2020, 10 December 2020, 28 January 2021, 11 March 2021, 29 April 2021, 10 June 2021, 22 July 2021 9 September 2021, 28 October 2021, and 9 December 2021. Earlier reporting of exploration programs conducted by Newcrest and Imperial Metals Corporation have previously been reported. Exploration drilling programs are ongoing and further material results will be reported in subsequent Newcrest releases. Other substantive exploration data Nil. Further work Further drilling is planned to define the extents of the East Ridge, East Zone and Main Zone. Drillhole data(1) Red Chris Project, British Columbia, Canada Reporting Criteria: Intercepts reported are downhole drill width (not true width) Au >0.1ppm (0.1g/t Au) and minimum 20m downhole width with maximum consecutive internal dilution of 10m. Also highlighted are high grade intervals of Au >0.5ppm (0.5g/t Au), Au >1ppm (1g/t Au), Au > 5ppm (5g/t Au), Au >10ppm (10g/t Au) and minimum 10m downhole width with maximum consecutive internal dilution of 10m. Gold and copper grades are reported to two significant figures. Samples are from core drilling which is HQ or NQ in diameter. Core is photographed and logged by the geology team before being cut. Half core HQ and NQ samples are prepared for assay and the remaining material is retained in the core farm for future reference. Each assay batch is submitted with duplicates and standards to monitor laboratory quality. Total depth (end of hole) is rounded to one decimal place for reporting purposes. Hole ID Hole Type Easting (m) Northing (m) RL (m) Total Depth (m) Azimuth Dip From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (ppm) Cu (pct) Cut off RC735^^ DD 453568 6396656 1392 1501.8 147 -58 888 1128 240 0.49 0.53 0.1 incl. 972 986 14 0.52 0.77 0.5 incl. 1012 1114 102 0.82 0.59 0.5 incl. 1068 1092 24 1.4 0.68 1 1148 1170 22 0.33 0.45 0.1 1216 1296 80 0.25 0.35 0.1 RC739^^ DD 453383 6396811 1451 1681.5 146 -57 1088 1478 390 0.63 0.48 0.1 incl. 1244 1282 38 1.8 0.71 0.5 incl. 1246 1268 22 2.6 1.0 1 incl. 1302 1372 70 0.68 0.49 0.5 incl. 1402 1446 44 2.0 1.3 0.5 incl. 1402 1446 44 2.0 1.3 1 RC740 DD 453407 6397178 1465 2142.2 146 -45 1452 1608 156 0.73 0.71 0.1 incl. 1522 1608 86 1.2 0.97 0.5 incl. 1556 1602 46 1.6 1.1 1 1738 1994 256 0.32 0.43 0.1 incl. 1764 1864 100 0.51 0.62 0.5 RC745^^ DD 453624 6396544 1403 1364.3 145 -60 728 1094 366 0.45 0.57 0.1 incl. 880 944 64 0.64 0.53 0.5 incl. 958 1016 58 1.1 1.0 0.5 incl. 960 996 36 1.4 1.2 1 RC746^^ DD 453207 6396497 1432 1043.1 150 48 110 130 20 0.11 0.01 0.1 552 652 100 0.22 0.22 0.1 664 716 52 0.11 0.17 0.1 734 766 32 0.11 0.19 0.1 956 990 34 0.15 0.02 0.1 RC747^^ DD 453548 6396527 1403 1268.2 149 -59 706 1012 306 0.28 0.39 0.1 incl. 880 926 46 0.77 0.86 0.5 incl. 896 916 20 1.1 1.2 1 1094 1120 26 0.13 0.19 0.1 RC748 DD 453240 6396830 1461 1790.2 145 -60 1192 1644 452 0.60 0.54 0.1 incl. 1224 1250 26 0.51 0.48 0.5 incl. 1270 1330 60 0.53 0.61 0.5 incl. 1384 1490 106 1.2 1.0 0.5 incl. 1386 1484 98 1.3 1.0 1 incl. 1520 1564 44 1.3 1.0 0.5 incl. 1522 1536 14 2.6 2.0 1 RC750 DD 453340 6396870 1456 994.1 146 -58 No Significant Intercepts RC750W DD 453340 6396870 1456 1843.2 146 -58 Assays Pending RC751 DD 452126 6396252 1520 1200.6 123 -63 Geotechnical Hole - Not Sampled RC752 DD 451579 6395399 1532 764.7 157 -61 130 158 28 0.16 0.11 0.1 232 266 34 0.11 0.13 0.1 300 322 22 0.17 0.24 0.1 354 754 400 0.33 0.37 0.1 incl. 456 476 20 0.81 0.64 0.5 incl. 548 606 58 0.58 0.72 0.5 incl. 678 690 12 0.58 0.55 0.5 RC753 DD 452055 6395146 1531 674.6 323 -62 Assays Pending RC754 DD 453584 6396467 1409 1034.1 150 -57 666 870 204 0.16 0.28 0.1 incl. 826 842 16 0.55 0.67 0.5 884 914 30 0.13 0.14 0.1 RC755 DD 452579 6396361 1491 1218 134 -76 Geotechnical Hole - Not Sampled RC765 DD 451551 6395471 1522 1059.1 156 -65 Assays Pending RC769 DD 451939 6395148 1539 638.5 323 -56 Assays Pending RC770 DD 452705 6395448 1482 1128.7 357 -64 Assays Pending RC771 DD 452697 6396522 1463 1226.5 142 -66 Geotechnical Hole - Not Sampled RC772 DD 453128 6396855 1462 100 360 -90 Geotechnical Hole - Not Sampled RC773 DD 453651 6396726 1379 1634.5 148 -58 Assays Pending RC774 DD 453109 6396596 1443 1556.1 143 -62 Assays Pending RC775 DD 451965 6395069 1537 1052.3 328 -68 Assays Pending RC776 DD 451495 6395271 1530 649.9 148 -59 Assays Pending RC777 DD 453542 6396786 1377 1640.7 149 -58 Assays Pending RC778 DD 451495 6395271 1530 809.1 149 -70 Assays Pending RC779# DD 453419 6396887 1442 1631 144 -56 Assays Pending RC780 DD 453145 6396835 1460 530.4 252 -90 Geotechnical Hole - Not Sampled RC781 DD 452126 6396252 1519 1136.6 173 -77 Geotechnical Hole - Not Sampled RC782 DD 451506 6395556 1516 1103.3 159 -66 Assays Pending RC783 DD 451557 6395465 1529 1529.1 77 -54 Geotechnical Hole - Not Sampled RC784 DD 452698 6395444 1482 1056.5 339 -71 Geotechnical Hole - Not Sampled RC785# DD 453666 6396947 1370 1118.1 149 -58 Assays Pending RC786# DD 453717 6396634 1396 800 148 -59 Assays Pending RC787# DD 453125 6396510 1444 793.8 152 -50 Assays Pending #drilling in progress. **partial intercept, assays pending. ^updated intercept ^^previously reported intercept Figure 7. Schematic plan view map of the East Ridge showing drill hole locations (Newcrest & Imperial) and significant Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 1 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases). 0.3 g/t Au, 1 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu and 1% Cu shell projections generated from a LeapfrogTM model. To view an enhanced version of Figure 7, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_009full.jpg Figure 8. Schematic cross section of RC746 and RC774 (Section Line 33N - as shown on Figure 7) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 1 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections. To view an enhanced version of Figure 8, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_010full.jpg Figure 9. Schematic cross section of RC748 (Section Line 35N - as shown on Figure 7) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 1 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1g/t, 0.5g/t Au and 1g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections. To view an enhanced version of Figure 9, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_011full.jpg Figure 10. Schematic cross section of RC739, RC747 and RC754 (Section Line 36N - as shown on Figure 7) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 1 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1g/t, 0.5g/t Au and 1g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections. To view an enhanced version of Figure 10, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_012full.jpg Figure 11. Schematic cross section of RC735 and RC745 (Section Line 37N - as shown on Figure 7) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 1 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1g/t, 0.5g/t Au and 1g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections. To view an enhanced version of Figure 11, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_013full.jpg Figure 12. Schematic cross section of RC740 (Section Line 38N - as shown on Figure 7) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 1 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1g/t, 0.5g/t Au and 1g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections. To view an enhanced version of Figure 12, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_014full.jpg Figure 13. Schematic plan view map of the Main Zone showing drill hole locations (Newcrest & Imperial) and significant Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 1 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases). 0.3 g/t Au, 1 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu and 1% Cu shell projections generated from a LeapfrogTM model. To view an enhanced version of Figure 13, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_015full.jpg Figure 14. Schematic cross section of RC740 (Section Line 13N - as shown on Figure 13) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 1 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1g/t, 0.5g/t Au and 1g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections. To view an enhanced version of Figure 14, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_016full.jpg Appendix 2 Havieron Project (Greatland Gold Plc - Joint Venture Agreement): JORC Table 1 Section 1: Sampling Techniques and Data Criteria Commentary Sampling techniques Core samples are obtained from core drilling in Proterozoic basement lithologies. PQ-HQ and NQ diameter core was drilled on a 6m run. Core was cut using an automated core-cutter and half core sampled at 1m intervals with breaks for major geological changes. Sampling intervals range from 0.2 - 1.0m. Cover sequences were not sampled. Drilling techniques Permian Paterson Formation cover sequence was drilled using mud rotary drilling. Depths of cover typically observed to approximately 420m vertically below surface. Steel casing was emplaced to secure the pre-collar. Core drilling was advanced from the base of the cover sequence with PQ3, HQ3 and NQ2 diameter coring configuration. Core from inclined drill holes is oriented on 3m and 6m runs using an electronic core orientation tool (Reflex ACTIII). At the end of each run, the bottom of hole position is marked by the driller, which is later transferred to the whole drill core run length with a bottom of hole reference line. Drill sample recovery Core recovery is systematically recorded from the commencement of coring to end of hole, by reconciling against driller's depth blocks in each core tray with data recorded in the database. Drillers depth blocks provided the depth, interval of core recovered, and interval of core drilled. Core recoveries were typically 100%, with isolated zones of lower recovery. Cover sequence drilling by the mud-rotary drilling did not yield recoverable samples. Logging Geological logging recorded qualitative descriptions of lithology, alteration, mineralisation, veining, and structure (for all core drilled - 13,183 m for 21 drill holes, all intersecting mineralisation), including orientation of key geological features. Geotechnical measurements were recorded including Rock Quality Designation (RQD) fracture frequency, solid core recovery and qualitative rock strength measurements. Magnetic susceptibility measurements were recorded every metre. The bulk density of selected drill core intervals was determined at site on whole core samples. All geological and geotechnical logging was conducted at the Havieron site. Digital data logging was captured on diamond drill core intervals only, and all data validated and stored in an acQuire database. All drill cores were photographed, prior to cutting and/or sampling the core. The logging is of sufficient quality to support Mineral Resource estimates. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation Sampling, sample preparation and quality control protocols are considered appropriate for the material being sampled. Core was cut and sampled at the Havieron core processing facility. Half core samples of between 0.2 and 2.0 m were collected in pre-numbered calico bags and grouped in plastic bags for dispatch to the laboratory. Sample weights typically varied from 0.5 to 8kg. Sample sizes are considered appropriate for the style of mineralisation. Drill core samples were freighted by air and road to the laboratory. Sample preparation was conducted at the independent ISO17025 accredited Intertek Laboratory, Perth (Intertek). Samples were dried at 105oC, and crushed to 95% passing 4.75mm, and the split to obtain up to 3kg sub-sample, which was pulverised (using LM5) to produce a pulped product with the minimum standard of 95% passing 106m. Routine grind size analysis is conducted. Duplicate samples were collected from crush and pulp samples at a rate of 1:20. Duplicate results show an acceptable level of variability for the material sampled and style of mineralisation. Periodic size checks (1:20) for crush and pulp samples and sample weights are provided by the laboratory and recorded in the acQuire database. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests Assaying of drill core samples was conducted at Intertek. All samples were assayed for 48 elements using a 4-acid digestion followed by ICP-AES/ICP-MS determination (method 4A/MS907), which is considered to provide a total assay for copper. Gold analyses were determined by 50g fire assay with AAS finish (method FA50N/AA), which is considered to provide a total assay for gold. Sampling and assaying quality control procedures consisted of inclusion of certified reference material (CRMs), coarse residue and pulp duplicates with each batch (at least 1:20). Assays of quality control samples were compared with reference samples in acQuire database and verified as acceptable prior to use of data from analysed batches. Laboratory quality control data, including laboratory standards, blanks, duplicates, repeats and grind size results are captured in the acQuire database and assessed for accuracy and precision for recent data. Extended quality control programs including pulp samples submitted to an umpire laboratory and combined with more extensive re-submission programs have been completed. Analysis of the available quality control sample assay results indicates that an acceptable level of accuracy and precision has been achieved and the database contains no analytical data that has been numerically manipulated. The assaying techniques and quality control protocols used are considered appropriate for the data to be used for reporting exploration drilling results. Verification of sampling and assaying Sampling intervals defined by the geologist are electronically assigned sample identification numbers prior to core cutting. Corresponding sample numbers matching pre-labelled calico bags are assigned to each interval. All sampling and assay information were stored in a secure acQuire database with restricted access. Electronically generated sample submission forms providing the sample identification number accompany each submission to the laboratory. Assay results from the laboratory with corresponding sample identification are loaded directly into the acQuire database. Assessment of reported significant assay intervals was verified by re-logging of diamond drill core intervals and assessment of high resolution core photography. The verification of significant intersections has been completed by company personnel and the Competent Person/Qualified Person. No adjustments are made to assay data, and no twinned holes have been completed. There are no currently known drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. Location of data points Drill collar locations were surveyed using a differential GPS with GNSS with a stated accuracy of +/- 0.5m for all drill holes reported. Drill rig alignment was attained using an electronic azimuth aligner. Downhole survey was collected at 6-12m intervals in the cover sequence, and every 6 to 30m in diamond drill core segments of the drill hole using single shot (Axis Mining Champ Gyro). The single shot surveys have been validated using continuous survey to surface (Axis Mining Champ) along with a selection of drill holes re-surveyed by an external survey contactor using a DeviGyro tool - confirming sufficient accuracy for downhole spatial recording. A LIDAR survey was completed over the project area in Nov 2019 which was used to prepare a DEM / topographic model for the project with a spatial accuracy of +/- 0.1m vertical and +/- 0.3m horizontal. The topography is generally low relief to flat, elevation within the dune corridors in ranges between 250-265m Australian Height Datum (AHD) steepening to the southeast. All collar coordinates are provided in the Geocentric Datum of Australian (GDA20 Zone 51). All relative depth information is reported in AHD +5000m. Data spacing and distribution Within the South-East Crescent and Breccia zone drill hole spacing ranges from 50 to 100m, to 50 by 50m within the resource extents. Outside the initial resource boundary drill hole spacing ranges from 50 to 200m in lateral extent within the breccia zone over an area of ~2km2. The data spacing is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity. Significant assay intercepts remain open. Further drilling is required to determine the extent of currently defined mineralisation. No sample compositing is applied to samples. Drilling intersects mineralisation at various angles. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Drill holes exploring the extents of the Havieron mineral system intersect moderately dipping carbonate and siliclastic sedimentary facies, mineralised breccia and sub-vertical intrusive lithologies. Geological modelling has been interpreted from historic and Newcrest drill holes. Variable brecciation, alteration and sulphide mineralisation is observed with a footprint with dimensions of 650m x 350m trending in a north west orientation and over 1000m in vertical extent below cover. The subvertical southeast high grade arcuate crescent sulphide zone has an average thickness of 20m and has been defined over a strike length of up to 550m, and extended to over 700m in vertical extent below cover. Drilling direction is oriented to intersect the steeply dipping high-grade sulphide mineralisation zones at an intersection angle of greater than 40 degrees. The drilled length of reported intersections is typically greater than true width of mineralisation. Sample security The security of samples is controlled by tracking samples from drill rig to database. Drill core was delivered from the drill rig to the Havieron core yard every shift. On completion of geological and geotechnical logging, core processing was completed by Newcrest personnel at the Havieron facility. High resolution core photography and cutting of drill core was undertaken at the Havieron core processing facilities. Samples were freighted in sealed bags by air and road to the Laboratory, and in the custody of Newcrest representatives. Sample numbers are generated directly from the database. All samples are collected in pre-numbered calico bags. Verification of sample numbers and identification is conducted by the laboratory on receipt of samples, and sample receipt advise issued to Newcrest. Details of all sample movement are recorded in a database table. Dates, Hole ID sample ranges, and the analytical suite requested are recorded with the dispatch of samples to analytical services. Any discrepancies logged at the receipt of samples into the analytical services are validated. Audits or reviews Internal reviews of core handling, sample preparation and assays laboratories were conducted on a regular basis by both project personnel and owner representatives. In the Competent Person's opinion, the sample preparation, security and analytical procedures are consistent with current industry standards and are entirely appropriate and acceptable for the styles of mineralisation identified and will be appropriate for use in the reporting of exploration results and Mineral Resource estimates. There are no identified drilling, sampling or recovery factors that materially impact the adequacy and reliability of the results of the drilling programme in place at the Havieron Project. Section 2: Reporting of Exploration Results Criteria Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status The Havieron Project is entirely contained within mining tenement M45/1287, which is jointly owned by Greatland Pty Ltd and Newcrest Operations Limited. Newcrest has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (effective 30 November 2020) and Farm-In Agreement (effective 12 March 2019) with Greatland Pty Ltd and Greatland Gold plc. Newcrest is the Manager of the Havieron Project. Following the delivery of the PFS on 12 October 2021, Newcrest is entitled to earn an additional 10% joint venture interest, resulting in an overall joint venture interest of 70% (Greatland Gold 30%). Newcrest also has an option to acquire a further 5% at fair market value and in December 2021, Newcrest provided notice to Greatland Gold to start the process under the joint venture process to seek to agree the option exercise price for the 5% interest. Newcrest and WDLAC are parties to an ILUA which relates to the use of native title land for Newcrest's current operations at Telfer and its activities within a 60-km radius around Telfer and includes its exploration activities at Havieron. The parties have agreed that the ILUA will apply to any future development activities by the Joint Venture Participants (Newcrest and Greatland Gold) at Havieron. The mining tenement M45/1287 wholly replaces the 12 sub-blocks of exploration tenement E45/4701 (former exploration tenement on which the Havieron Project is based) and was granted on 10 September 2020. All obligations with respect to legislative requirements including minimum expenditure are maintained in good standing for prior exploration tenement E45/4701. Exploration done by other parties Newcrest completed six core holes in the vicinity of the Havieron Project from 1991 to 2003. Greatland Gold completed drill targeting and drilling of nine Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes with core tails for a total of approximately 6,800m in 2018. Results of drilling programs conducted by Greatland Gold have previously been reported on the Greatland Gold website. Drilling has defined an intrusion-related mineral system with evidence of breccia and massive sulphide-hosted higher-grade gold-copper mineralisation. Geology The Havieron Project is located within the north-western exposure of the Palaeo-Proterozoic to Neoproterozoic Paterson Orogen (formerly Paterson Province), 45 km east of Telfer. The Yeneena Supergroup hosts the Havieron prospect and consists of a 9km thick sequence of marine sedimentary rocks and is entirely overlain by approximately 420m of Phanerozoic sediments of the Paterson Formation and Quaternary aeolian sediments. Gold and copper mineralisation at Havieron consist of breccia, vein and massive sulphide replacement gold and copper mineralisation typical of intrusion-related and skarn styles of mineralisation. Mineralisation is hosted by metasedimentary rocks (meta-sandstones, meta-siltstones and meta-carbonate) and intrusive rocks of an undetermined age. The main mineral assemblage contains well developed pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite and pyrite sulphide mineral assemblages as breccia and vein infill, and massive sulphide lenses. The main mineralisation event is associated with amphibole-carbonate-biotite-sericite-chlorite wall rock alteration. Drilling has partially defined the extents of mineralisation which are observed over 650m by 350m within an arcuate shaped mineralised zone, and to depths of up to 1400m below surface. Drill hole Information As provided. Data aggregation methods Significant assay intercepts are reported as (A) length-weighted averages exceeding 1.0g/t Au greater than or equal to 10m, with a maximum of 5m consecutive internal dilution; and (B) length-weighted averages exceeding 0.2g/t Au for greater than or equal to 20m, with a maximum of 10m consecutive internal dilution, and (C) intervals of >30g/t which are greater or equal to 30 gram metres (Au_ppm x length). No top cuts are applied to intercept calculations. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Drilling is not always perpendicular to the dip of mineralisation and true widths are less than downhole widths. Estimates of true widths will only be possible when all results are received, and final geological interpretations have been completed. Diagrams As provided. Balanced reporting This is the twenty-first release of Exploration Results for this project made by Newcrest. Previous release dates are 25 July 2019, 10 September 2019, 24 October 2019, 2 December 2019, 30 January 2020, 11 March 2020, 30 April 2020, 11 June 2020, 23 July 2020, 10 September 2020, 29 October 2020, 10 December 2020, 28 January 2021, 11 March 2021, 29 April 2021, 10 June 2021, 22 July 2021, 9 September 2021, 28 October 2021 and 9 December 2021. Earlier reporting of exploration programs conducted by Newcrest and Greatland Gold have previously been reported. Exploration drilling programs are ongoing and further material results will be reported in subsequent Newcrest releases. Other substantive exploration data Nil Further work Growth drilling is planned to extend the December 2020 Inferred Mineral Resource estimate and define the limits of the Havieron mineralised system. Drillhole data(1) Havieron Project, Paterson Province, Western Australia Reporting Criteria: Intercepts reported are downhole drill width (not true width) Au >0.20ppm (0.2g/t Au) and minimum 20m downhole width with maximum consecutive internal dilution of 10m. Average grades are based on length-weighting of samples grades. Also highlighted are high grade intervals of Au >1.0ppm (1g/t Au) and minimum 10m downhole width with maximum consecutive internal dilution of 5m, and intervals of >30g/t which are greater or equal to 30 gram metres (Au_ppm x length) are tabled. Gold and copper grades are reported to two significant figures, the downhole lengths are rounded to 0.1m which may cause some apparent discrepancies in interval widths. Samples are from core drilling which is PQ, HQ or NQ in diameter. Core is photographed and logged by the geology team before being cut. Half core PQ, HQ and NQ samples are prepared for assay and the remaining material is retained in the core farm for future reference. Each assay batch is submitted with duplicates and standards to monitor laboratory quality. Total depth (end of hole) is rounded to one decimal place for reporting purposes. Collars denoted with a * show partial results, with further significant assays to be reported in subsequent exploration updates. Hole ID Hole Type Easting (m) Northing (m) RL (m) Total Depth (m) Azimuth Dip From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (ppm) Cu (pct) Cut off HAD053W5^^ MR-DD 463846 7598077 256 1207 132 -61 568.8 589.8 21 0.21 0.08 0.2 g/t Au 636.2 718.2 82 0.55 0.21 0.2 g/t Au 777.3 802.6 25.3 0.21 0.09 0.2 g/t Au 886.2 927.6 41.4 1.6 0.11 0.2 g/t Au 957.7 958.5 0.8 94 4.2 30 g.m. Au 1041.4 1161.1 119.7 1.2 0.49 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1041.4 1052 10.6 5.3 0.26 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1119 1132.5 13.5 4.1 0.61 1.0 g/t Au HAD053W6^^ MR-DD 463845 7598075 256 1302.4 132 -61 609.3 722 112.7 0.21 0.12 0.2 g/t Au 958.4 981.2 22.8 1.6 0.19 0.2 g/t Au 1008.4 1054.8 46.4 0.75 0.18 0.2 g/t Au 1065 1229.3 164.3 1.8 0.53 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1065.7 1080 14.3 9.7 0.78 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1072 1074 2 26 0.73 30 g.m. Au Incl. 1086 1098.8 12.8 2.7 0.64 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1165.1 1177.7 12.6 2.9 0.78 1.0 g/t Au HAD058W1 MR-DD 463718 7597439 260 1325.6 43 -50 823 883 60 0.26 0.19 0.2 g/t Au 968 990.7 22.7 0.58 0.21 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 968 979.7 11.7 1.1 0.39 1.0 g/t Au HAD061W1^^ MR-DD 464367 7598038 257 1010.1 206 -61 557.6 589.5 31.9 0.49 0.04 0.2 g/t Au 774.6 842.9 68.3 0.63 0.11 0.2 g/t Au 856.3 1001 144.7 1.6 0.14 0.2 g/t Au HAD061W2^^ MR-DD 464367 7598038 257 997.3 206 -61 535.1 593.3 58.2 1.7 0.42 0.2 g/t Au 622.4 676.6 54.2 0.14 0.02 0.2 g/t Au 686.8 729.2 42.4 0.84 0.03 0.2 g/t Au 824.8 847.4 22.6 0.48 0.18 0.2 g/t Au 868.4 936.4 68 0.67 0.27 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 886.6 899.6 13 1.6 0.44 1.0 g/t Au HAD061W3^^ MR-DD 464367 7598038 257 540 206 -61 Hole Abandoned HAD061W4^^ MR-DD 464368 7598039 257 1082.4 206 -61 615.8 644 28.2 0.63 0.01 0.2 g/t Au 708.4 741 32.6 0.91 0.07 0.2 g/t Au 884.1 912 27.9 0.44 0.29 0.2 g/t Au 925.4 1053.5 128.1 0.66 0.09 0.2 g/t Au HAD068W4^^ MR-DD 464547 7597081 261 1170.1 323 -55 1082 1129 47 0.77 0.35 0.2 g/t Au 1140.7 1168.8 28.1 0.31 0.11 0.2 g/t Au HAD076W1^^ MR-DD 464373 7598130 257 1122.3 227 -55 613 633.8 20.8 0.16 0.20 0.2 g/t Au 689.2 730.3 41.1 1.0 0.06 0.2 g/t Au 742 792.4 50.4 0.18 0.03 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 900.2 900.5 0.3 121 0.01 30 g.m. Au 964.4 1025.1 60.7 0.17 0.05 0.2 g/t Au HAD084W3 MR-DD 463271 7597843 256 1311 83 -65 926 947.1 21.1 0.61 0.37 0.2 g/t Au 1076 1108.2 32.2 0.46 0.07 0.2 g/t Au HAD085W1^^ MR-DD 463488 7598056 255 1580.4 111 -63 1434.9 1438 3.1 73 0.29 30 g.m. Au 1466 1496 30 1.1 0.19 0.2 g/t Au 1507 1568 61 1.1 0.17 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1527.8 1539 11.2 5.3 0.39 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1531.9 1532.7 0.8 43 0.01 30 g.m. Au HAD085W2^^ MR-DD 463488 7598056 255 1397.1 112 -63 607.6 636.5 28.9 0.85 0.09 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 614.5 628.3 13.8 1.3 0.14 1.0 g/t Au 648 771.5 123.5 0.41 0.07 0.2 g/t Au 813.6 814.8 1.2 25 0.31 30 g.m. Au 940.4 967.9 27.5 0.26 0.05 0.2 g/t Au 1066.8 1120.2 53.4 0.33 0.02 0.2 g/t Au 1134 1163.2 29.2 0.39 0.14 0.2 g/t Au 1256.2 1333.4 77.2 0.36 0.16 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1256.2 1269.2 13 1.3 0.12 1.0 g/t Au HAD085W3^^ MR-DD 463489 7598058 255 1267.8 111 -63 Hole Abandoned HAD085W4 MR-DD 463489 7598058 255 1534.2 111 -63 1130.8 1245 114.2 1.6 0.05 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1203.7 1204.6 0.9 128 0.37 30 g.m. Au 1272.8 1345.3 72.5 0.61 0.20 0.2 g/t Au 1400.6 1447 46.4 11 0.26 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1402.1 1406 3.9 98 0.04 30 g.m. Au 1433.2 1434.7 1.5 70 0.68 30 g.m. Au HAD085W5 MR-DD 463489 7598058 255 1435.1 111 -63 Assays Pending HAD086W2 MR-DD 464623 7598148 258 1629.6 225 -65 1298 1331 33 0.30 0.01 0.2 g/t Au 1605.4 1627.3 21.9 0.20 0.01 0.2 g/t Au HAD086W3^^ MR-DD 464623 7598148 258 1624 225 -65 1373 1398.7 25.7 2.0 0.11 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1373.8 1375 1.2 29 0.76 30 g.m. Au 1412 1456.7 44.7 7.1 0.17 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1421 1441.2 20.2 15 0.29 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1421 1424.9 3.9 47 0.33 30 g.m. Au Incl. 1431.7 1433.5 1.8 50 0.45 30 g.m. Au 1525 1573 48 2.2 0.15 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1538.1 1565 26.9 3.7 0.26 1.0 g/t Au HAD086W4^^ MR-DD 464623 7598148 258 2115.3 225 -65 1404.3 1506.6 102.3 1.5 0.17 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1437.3 1438.8 1.5 72 0.20 30 g.m. Au 1602 1638 36 0.41 0.17 0.2 g/t Au HAD089W4 MR-DD 464300 7597747 258 1489.9 290 -61 Assays Pending HAD104** MR-DD 463522 7597782 257 1913.6 87 -63 642.9 677.6 34.7 1.1 0.06 0.2 g/t Au 792.1 819.9 27.8 0.29 0.06 0.2 g/t Au 835 855.1 20.1 3.4 0.43 0.2 g/t Au 866.9 895.3 28.4 0.63 0.15 0.2 g/t Au 956.2 1092.6 136.4 0.72 0.09 0.2 g/t Au 1267 1459.8 Assays Pending 1546.5 1609 62.5 5.9 0.30 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1554.6 1604 49.4 7.1 0.38 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1566.6 1567.6 1.0 82 0.52 30 g.m. Au 1717 1795 78 1.2 0.37 0.2 g/t Au 1795 1913.6 Assays Pending HAD133W4^^ MR-DD 464071 7598315 257 1468.5 171 -65 1153.2 1181.4 28.2 0.08 0.05 0.2 g/t Au 1329.2 1399 69.8 2.0 0.32 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1334 1344.1 10.1 5.8 0.18 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1339.8 1341 1.2 27 0.01 30 g.m. Au Incl. 1368.4 1392.9 24.5 3.0 0.62 1.0 g/t Au HAD133W5^^ MR-DD 464071 7598315 257 1543.9 171 -65 1339.3 1381 41.7 0.31 0.03 0.2 g/t Au 1418.6 1529 110.4 2.2 0.21 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1460.5 1523.3 62.8 3.0 0.16 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1478.2 1478.5 0.3 100 0.02 30 g.m. Au HAD133W6** MR-DD 464072 7598317 257 1639.5 171 -65 1367 1413 46 0.92 0.01 0.2 g/t Au 1424.6 1592.7 168.1 1.9 0.17 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1425.9 1469 43.1 3.7 0.34 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1441 1442 1.0 64 0.20 30 g.m. Au Incl. 1531.8 1550 18.2 2.6 0.31 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1555.5 1567 11.5 5.4 0.04 1.0 g/t Au 1595.4 1639.5 Assays Pending HAD133W7 MR-DD 464072 7598317 257 1692.5 171 -65 Assays Pending HAD141W1 MR-DD 463362 7597504 264 1985.9 27 -65 1195.6 1248 52.4 0.57 0.05 0.2 g/t Au HAD145 MR-DD 463201 7597816 256 1824.5 75 -65 Assays Pending HAD146 MR-DD 463451 7597873 253 1121.7 68 -62 771.7 826 54.3 0.29 0.04 0.2 g/t Au 877.7 918 40.3 0.39 0.06 0.2 g/t Au HAD146W1 MR-DD 463451 7597873 253 1189.4 69 -60 Assays Pending HAD148^^ MR-DD 464317 7598100 257 990.7 222 -55 574.1 617.8 43.7 0.24 0.04 0.2 g/t Au 733.4 760.1 26.7 0.13 0.01 0.2 g/t Au 781.2 813.2 32 0.48 0.02 0.2 g/t Au 829.3 914.6 85.3 0.41 0.08 0.2 g/t Au HAD148W1^^ MR-DD 464317 7598100 257 1008.5 222 -55 729 784.4 55.4 0.29 0.03 0.2 g/t Au 807.8 897.1 89.3 1.3 0.05 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 839.3 840.1 0.8 39 1.0 30 g.m. Au Incl. 867.2 883.1 15.9 3.9 0.14 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 872.5 874.5 2.0 18 0.23 30 g.m. Au 915.4 952 36.6 2 0.11 0.2 g/t Au 967.3 996 28.7 0.59 0.11 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 967.3 978.9 11.6 1.3 0.23 1.0 g/t Au HAD148W2^^ MR-DD 464317 7598100 257 1049.3 222 -55 576 623.8 47.8 0.92 0.05 0.2 g/t Au 680 681.1 1.1 29 3.6 30 g.m. Au 800.2 853.3 53.1 0.36 0.09 0.2 g/t Au 867 900 33 1.9 0.05 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 874.4 875 0.6 52 0.08 30 g.m. Au 938.1 973.5 35.4 4.4 0.25 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 955.9 957.8 2 70 2.6 30 g.m. Au 984.5 1005.9 21.4 0.14 0.02 0.2 g/t Au HAD149^^ MR-DD 464243 7598106 256 1282.7 209 -60 807.6 863.9 56.3 0.61 0.11 0.2 g/t Au 881.3 913.8 32.5 0.25 0.03 0.2 g/t Au 952.6 992.9 40.3 0.28 0.02 0.2 g/t Au HAD149W1^^ MR-DD 464243 7598106 256 1002.3 209 -60 572 653 81 0.42 0.04 0.2 g/t Au 750.4 773 22.6 0.18 0.02 0.2 g/t Au 819 861.2 42.2 0.27 0.04 0.2 g/t Au 875.5 932 56.5 0.33 0.02 0.2 g/t Au 950.5 952 1.5 36 0.11 30 g.m. Au HAD149W2^^ MR-DD 464245 7598108 256 1283.3 209 -60 510.5 545 34.5 0.18 0.23 0.2 g/t Au 663.9 720 56.1 0.18 0.05 0.2 g/t Au 841.3 908 66.7 0.42 0.07 0.2 g/t Au 919.5 964.6 45.1 6.7 0.06 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 961.7 962.7 1.0 244 0.85 30 g.m. Au HAD150^^ MR-DD 464078 7598228 256 1128.7 172 -58 590.8 647.8 57 0.20 0.03 0.2 g/t Au 663 756.7 93.7 0.25 0.10 0.2 g/t Au 784.2 832.1 47.9 0.14 0.02 0.2 g/t Au 885.1 972 86.9 0.41 0.05 0.2 g/t Au 985.8 1015.6 29.8 1.9 0.22 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 988.8 989.1 0.3 175 0.07 30 g.m. Au HAD150W1^^ MR-DD 464078 7598228 256 1155 172 -58 658.8 699.4 40.6 0.19 0.14 0.2 g/t Au 710 737.9 27.9 0.24 0.37 0.2 g/t Au 805.7 856.5 50.8 0.62 0.06 0.2 g/t Au 909 1049 140 2.9 0.07 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 952.4 955.1 2.7 50 0.07 30 g.m. Au Incl. 966 979 13 5.1 0.09 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 974.7 975.1 0.4 74 0.22 30 g.m. Au Incl. 986 998.9 12.9 2.9 0.17 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1023.6 1034.3 10.7 5.6 0.16 1.0 g/t Au 1061 1093.1 32.1 1.1 0.26 0.2 g/t Au HAD150W2^^ MR-DD 464080 7598231 256 1230.1 172 -58 767.6 813.2 45.6 1.9 0.20 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 802 802.8 0.8 40 0.71 30 g.m. Au 940.9 983 42.1 1.4 0.07 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 975.7 976.8 1.1 33 0.49 30 g.m. Au 996.2 1110 113.8 3.4 0.10 0.2 g/t Au Incl. 1011.4 1023.3 11.9 5.7 0.11 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1021 1022 1 37 0.14 30 g.m. Au incl. 1035.8 1050 14.2 20 0.14 1.0 g/t Au Incl. 1035.8 1043 7.2 36 0.14 30 g.m. Au HAD151^^ MR-DD 463591 7597377 263 794.3 48 -55 708.6 794.3 85.7 0.31 0.07 0.2 g/t Au HAD151W1^^ MR-DD 463591 7597377 263 808 48 -55 692.2 772 79.8 0.68 0.08 0.2 g/t Au 705 719 14 2.3 0.08 1.0 g/t Au NOR001 MR-DD 464122 7599991 264 1248.4 90 -70 No Significant Assays ZIP001 MR-DD 463055 7599813 258 900.8 45 -70 Assays Pending ZIP002 MR-DD 463606 7599618 264 883 45 -75 Assays Pending #drilling in progress. **partial intercept, assays pending. ^updated intercept. ^^previously reported intercept. Figure 15. Schematic plan view map showing drill hole locations and significant intercepts reported in this release superimposed on the interpreted geology. Previously reported holes are not shown for the sake of clarity. Note some holes and results appear on multiple sections due to the sections orientation and sections overlap. To view an enhanced version of Figure 15, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_017full.jpg Figure 16. Schematic cross section of geology and significant new drillhole intercepts (looking northwest, Section Line S1, +/-50m section width, as shown in Figure 15). Due to section window size and orientation holes may appear on multiple sections. This diagram highlights >100gram metres intersections drilled during the period which are >1g/t Au. To view an enhanced version of Figure 16, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_018full.jpg Figure 17. Schematic cross section of geology and significant new drillhole intercepts (looking northwest, Section Line S2, +/-50m section width, as shown in Figure 15). Due to section window size and orientation holes may appear on multiple sections. This diagram highlights >100gram metres intersections drilled during the period which are >1g/t Au. To view an enhanced version of Figure 17, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_019full.jpg Figure 18. Schematic cross section of geology and significant new drillhole intercepts (looking northeast, Section Line S3, +/-50m section width, as shown in Figure 15). Due to section window size and orientation holes may appear on multiple sections. This diagram highlights >100gram metres intersections drilled during the period which are >1g/t Au. To view an enhanced version of Figure 18, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_020full.jpg Figure 19. Schematic cross section of geology and significant new drillhole intercepts (looking northeast, Section Line S4, +/-50m section width, as shown in Figure 15). Due to section window size and orientation holes may appear on multiple sections. This diagram highlights >100gram metres intersections drilled during the quarter which are >1g/t Au. To view an enhanced version of Figure 19, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_021full.jpg Figure 20. Schematic cross section of geology and significant new drillhole intercepts (looking northeast, Section Line S5, +/-50m section width, as shown in Figure 15). Due to section window size and orientation holes may appear on multiple sections. This diagram highlights >100gram metres intersections drilled during the quarter which are >1g/t Au. To view an enhanced version of Figure 20, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/111915_5aa19461c4ce684c_022full.jpg Forward Looking Statements This document includes forward looking statements and forward looking information within the meaning of securities laws of applicable jurisdictions. Forward looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "objectives", "targets", "outlook" and "guidance", or other similar words and may include, without limitation, statements regarding estimated reserves and resources, certain plans, strategies, aspirations and objectives of management, anticipated production, study or construction dates, expected costs, cash flow or production outputs and anticipated productive lives of projects and mines. Newcrest continues to distinguish between outlook and guidance. Guidance statements relate to the current financial year. Outlook statements relate to years subsequent to the current financial year. These forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Newcrest's actual results, performance and achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements, or industry results, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Relevant factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which Newcrest operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation. For further information as to the risks which may impact on Newcrest's results and performance, please see the risk factors included in the Operating and Financial Review included in the Appendix 4E and Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2021 and the Annual Information Form dated 6 December 2021 which are available to view at www.asx.com.au under the code "NCM" and on Newcrest's SEDAR profile. Forward looking statements are based on Newcrest's good faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other relevant environments that will exist and affect Newcrest's business and operations in the future. Newcrest does not give any assurance that the assumptions will prove to be correct. There may be other factors that could cause actual results or events not to be as anticipated, and many events are beyond the reasonable control of Newcrest. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements, particularly in the current economic climate with the significant volatility, uncertainty and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward looking statements in this document speak only at the date of issue. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, Newcrest does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward looking statements or to advise of any change in assumptions on which any such statement is based. Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources Reporting Requirements As an Australian Company with securities listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Newcrest is subject to Australian disclosure requirements and standards, including the requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 and the ASX. Investors should note that it is a requirement of the ASX listing rules that the reporting of Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources in Australia is in accordance with the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the JORC Code) and that Newcrest's Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates comply with the JORC Code. Newcrest is also subject to certain Canadian disclosure requirements and standards, as a result of its secondary listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), including the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). Investors should note that it is a requirement of Canadian securities law that the reporting of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources in Canada and the disclosure of scientific and technical information concerning a mineral project on a property material to Newcrest comply with NI 43-101. Newcrest's material properties are currently Cadia, Lihir, Red Chris and Wafi-Golpu. Copies of the NI 43-101 Reports for Cadia, Lihir and Wafi-Golpu, which were released on 14 October 2020 and the NI43-101 Report for Red Chris which was released on 29 November 2021, are available at www.newcrest.com.au and on Newcrest's SEDAR profile. Competent Person's Statement The information in this document that relates to Exploration Targets, Exploration Results, and related scientific and technical information, is based on and fairly represents information compiled by Mr F. MacCorquodale. Mr MacCorquodale is the General Manager - Greenfields Exploration and a full-time employee of Newcrest Mining Limited. He is a shareholder in Newcrest Mining Limited and is entitled to participate in Newcrest's executive equity long term incentive plan, details of which are included in Newcrest's 2020 Remuneration Report. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr MacCorquodale has sufficient experience which is relevant to the styles of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code and as a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr MacCorquodale approves the disclosure of scientific and technical information contained in this document and consents to the inclusion of material of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. Authorised by the Newcrest Disclosure Committee For further information please contact Investor Enquiries Tom Dixon +61 3 9522 5570 +61 450 541 389 Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au North American Investor Enquiries Ryan Skaleskog +1 866 396 0242 +61 403 435 222 Ryan.Skaleskog@newcrest.com.au Media Enquiries Tim Salathiel +61 3 9522 4263 +61 407 885 272 Tim.Salathiel@newcrest.com.au This information is available on our website at www.newcrest.com ____________________________ 1 # drilling in progress ** partial intercept, assays pending ^ updated intercept or ^^ previously reported. 2 # drilling in progress ** partial intercept, assays pending ^ updated intercept or ^^ previously reported. 3 # drilling in progress ** partial intercept, assays pending ^ updated intercept or ^^ previously reported. 4 Newcrest can elect to extend this period by up to 2 years. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/111915 BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- With one week to go, athletes from around the world will gather at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics under the motto "Together for a Shared Future." As the Beijing 2022 organizers explained, "Together" depicts how mankind stays strong when facing adversity and points out the solution to overcome those difficulties and create a better future, while "for a Shared Future" embodies a vision for a better life and conveys hope and confidence. The motto echoes the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind. "Instead of riding separately in some 190 small boats, countries around the world should stay together in one giant ship and sail toward a brighter future, and this is why we came up with 'Together for a Shared Future' as the official motto for Beijing 2022," Chinese President Xi Jinping said when meeting International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach in Beijing on Tuesday. China will make new and greater contributions to the Olympic Movement and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said. As athletes with various cultural backgrounds come to Beijing for competition and exchanges in ice and snow sports, they also participate in the event to show solidarity. Mankind is in an era of major development as well as profound transformation and change, and is also in an era of numerous challenges and increasing risks. Unity, cooperation, and dialogue clamor in the face of global challenges, particularly COVID-19 claiming millions of lives across the globe. Official figures show China has provided more than 2 billion doses of COVID vaccines to over 120 countries and international organizations as of Dec. 26, 2021, becoming the biggest provider of outbound vaccines among all nations. In April 2020, when the COVID-19 situation in Uzbekistan worsened, the Chinese government immediately sent a medical team to assist in the local fight against the virus. Upon hearing the news, Kenjebaev Murodjon immediately traveled over 100 km to Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, and volunteered as an interpreter for the Chinese medical team. The Uzbek studied in China's Guangdong Province in 2014 and later married a Chinese woman. "I'm deeply moved and impressed by the professionalism of Chinese medics, who unselfishly shared their anti-virus experiences," said Murodjon, adding that the fight against COVID-19 has brought the two countries even closer. With an ardent passion for traditional Chinese culture, Murodjon and his wife started a class in February 2020 to teach locals Chinese for free, the first of its kind in Gulistan, his home city. "Now studying Chinese has become a new trend among local Uzbek youngsters boosted by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)," he said. The BRI, proposed by Xi in 2013, aims to achieve policy, infrastructure, trade, financial and people-to-people connectivity along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes. So far, 147 countries and 32 international organizations have signed more than 200 cooperation documents with China under this framework. It has become a paradigm of civilization diversity and collective prosperity under the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. "Diversity spurs interaction among civilizations, which in turn promotes mutual learning and their further development," said Xi in May 2019 at the opening ceremony of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in Beijing. "We need to promote exchanges and mutual learning among countries, nations and cultures around the world, and strengthen popular support for jointly building a community with a shared future for both Asia and humanity as a whole," Xi added. At the beginning of 2022, NIHPLOD, a high-end niche skincare brand, was redefined by its new Chief Executive, John Morrell. The company will rename its membership business as N7 Plus, aiming to provide more customized services for its high-net-worth individuals. Morrell will now take over the business center based in France with his team of directors, including Thomas Bernstein, Melissa Schnauz, Moira Porter, Peter Katt and so on. They have rich experience in skincare products and private member management since they previously worked at L'Oreal, Coutts, TWK and other companies. Morrell said at an earlier press conference: "Discussions about N7 Plus have been going on for quite some time. The ongoing pandemic has gradually set new trends for the lifestyles of high-net-worth individuals we served before. In this connection, we should not only embrace this situation, but also adjust as soon as possible, which mark a new chapter for our employees, partners and customers. "We firmly believe that beauty and skincare are only part of the lifestyles, so more diverse visions and experiences should be added to make our lives exquisite and interesting. Hence, NIHPLOD has always been committed to offering better skincare services for customers. "N7 Plus not only provides members with customized services such as skin care, beauty and image consulting, but also tailors a better lifestyle for members from seven areas including fitness, food, fashion, art, travel and socializing. If necessary, we can arrange for Ms. Mavis in London to take a private jet to Paris Fashion Week at noon the next day, or invite Alberto Dura, the top chef in Barcelona, to design an exquisite dinner for her birthday party." NIHPLOD was founded in Monaco United Skincare Laboratory in 2008. Based on advanced biotechnologies, it aims to provide customers with efficient, healthy, safe and exquisite skincare experiences. Under the guidance of co-founder Dr. Stefan, NIHPLOD combines liposome and nanoemulsion technology with carefully selected natural active ingredients to guarantee better daily skincare after undergoing extensive clinical trials and research. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220127005638/en/ Contacts: Company Name: Union Skincare Labs Official Website: www.nihplod.net Contact Person: John Morrell E-mail: contact@nihplod.net STOCKHOLM, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT AB (publ) is pleased to announce that Bear Logi, a value-add logistics investment manager headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and Seoul, Korea, will join EQT Exeter to further strengthen its footprint in Asia. Bear Logi, founded in Tokyo, Japan in 2009, is a value-add logistics investment manager with around 25 employees focused on acquisitions, development, construction and leasing, with extensive knowledge of the Japanese and Korean logistics markets. To date, Bear Logi has invested capital based on single asset funding, and will as part of EQT Exeter create a fund-setup within logistics properties similar to EQT Exeter's existing structure in the US and Europe. The Bear Logi team, including its co-CEOs Matthew Zann and James Muir will, together with EQT Exeter's China Logistics team, create an EQT Exeter APAC Logistics platform. The ambition is to build on existing strategies of acquiring and developing logistics properties in Tier 1 cities and logistic hubs across Japan, Korea and China. Strategic rationale Bear Logi's skilled team, with deep local market knowledge and relationships, will provide EQT Exeter with direct access to the attractive logistics markets in Japan and Korea, with strong scalability potential in the broader APAC region, for example, Australia and Korea, with strong scalability potential in the broader APAC region, for example, Australia Bear Logi will leverage EQT Exeter's global track record and 1,200+ strong tenant relationships, as well as EQT's 2,000+ corporate relationships and broader platform, including fundraising support, sustainability and digitalization expertise, and operating platform benefits The combination with EQT Exeter's existing operations in China will provide larger investment opportunities, with an integrated development and investor operating platform, in APAC logistics for EQT's fund investors will provide larger investment opportunities, with an integrated development and investor operating platform, in APAC logistics for EQT's fund investors EQT Exeter and Bear Logi have a strong cultural fit and similar investment philosophies, focused on vertically integrated real estate investments and a commitment to sustainability and ESG principles Ward Fitzgerald, Partner and Head of EQT Exeter, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Matthew, James and the rest of the Bear Logi team to the EQT Exeter family, as we continue to expand our logistics real estate platform in the APAC region. With their complementary local market knowledge and expansive industry relationships, our combination with Bear Logi is the next step in EQT Exeter's journey, strengthening our position as a multi-strategy, global real estate leader." Matthew Zann, co-CEO of Bear Logi, said, "We are excited to join forces with Ward, EQT Exeter, and the broader EQT platform to further build out the APAC logistics platform. The partnership will create new growth opportunities in the region as we leverage our local insights and relationships and combine it with EQT Exeter's global expertise within logistics real estate." James Muir, co-CEO of Bear Logi, added, "The partnership with EQT Exeter not only accelerates our opportunities, but also strengthens our operating platform and ability to offer a broader set of clients access to the growing APAC logistics market." Bear Logi is estimated to generate approximately USD 1 million in revenues during 2021. The transaction is not deemed to have a material impact on EQT AB's financial numbers and will not add any assets under management to EQT AB at closing. Closing took place on 27 January 2022. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward- looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," or "potential" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and that do not relate solely to historical matters. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and contingencies, many of which are beyond EQT's control, which may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward- looking statement. All forward-looking statements reflect EQT's good faith beliefs, assumptions and expectations, but they are not guarantees of future performance. Furthermore, EQT disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes. Contact EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com, +46 8 506 55 33 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-exeter-strengthens-footprint-in-asia---adds-logistics-real-estate-specialists-in-japan-and-korea,c3493836 The following files are available for download: Photovoltaic installation, Zhongshan, China ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, Jan 28, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi Energy today announced that it has achieved the first-step target set out in its Sustainability 2030(1) plan - the use of 100% fossil-free electricity in its own operations(2). The company is driving towards being carbon-neutral in its own operations by 2030(3), in line with its Purpose, 'Advancing a sustainable energy future for all'."By achieving 100% fossil-free electricity in our own operations, we have reduced our CO2 equivalent emissions by over 50% compared to 2019," says Claudio Facchin, CEO of Hitachi Energy. He continued, "The Net Zero challenge is global and it's about acting now, innovating and collaborating across countries, industries and societies. Together with customers, partners, and all stakeholders, we are advancing the world's energy system to be more sustainable, flexible and secure."The targeted 50% reduction achieved ahead of plan will amount to approximately 175 kilo tonnes of CO2e per year, equivalent to removing over 35,000 passenger cars off the road.To achieve 100% fossil-free electricity in its own operations - and in support of the Hitachi Group's carbon-neutrality goal(4) - the company has pursued a number of pathways including supporting projects to generate its own fossil-free electricity, such as installing solar roof panels combined with e-mesh digital solutions for distributed energy resources maximizing energy efficiency and minimizing CO2 emissions. In its Zhongshan factory in China(5), the company is generating nearly 20% of its total energy consumption from solar panels. In its first year of operation, the power generated at the factory is expected to reach 1,510 megawatt hours (MWh), contributing to the reduction in annual carbon emissions by more than 1,000 tonnes.To achieve 100% fossil-free electricity, Hitachi Energy has also switched to green tariffs, bought Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs), and signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) across its operations and facilities in 90 countries.Looking ahead, Hitachi Energy is continuing to invest in its journey towards carbon-neutrality by further increasing energy efficiency, as well as electrifying its own operations. In Ludvika, Sweden, the company is now using 100% renewable electricity generated from hydropower and from solar panels to support its operations. Ludvika, which is one of Hitachi Energy's largest production facilities, has gone beyond tackling its electricity supply and is now close to removing the use of all fossil fuels from the whole of its operations.The company has a track record of implementing its own technologies in its operations to enable the integration of renewable energy. For example, in 2015 its South Africa operations installed a 750 kW rooftop photovoltaic plant and a 1 MVA/380 kWh battery-based PowerStoreTM for enhancing the use of renewables and providing a continuous supply of power.Through its Sustainability 2030 plan and targets, the company reinforces its commitment to accelerating actions driving business in a sustainable way. Based around four pillars - Planet, People, Peace, and Partnerships - the strategy draws from the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with specific focus on the following eight: 3 (Good health and well-being), 4 (Quality education), 5 (Gender equality), 6 (Clean water and sanitation), 7 (Affordable and clean energy), 12 (Responsible consumption and production), 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions); and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). In line with these SDGs, each pillar has corresponding targets that drive the business to contribute social, environmental, and economic value.(1) Hitachi ABB Power Grids announces Sustainability 2030(2) The contract for its South Korea operations (equivalent to 0.4% total electricity usage) is expected to be signed in February 2022 retrospectively through green tariffs.(3) Discover more about Hitachi Energy's approach to Sustainability 2030(4) Hitachi Sustainability Report 2021(5) Hitachi Energy builds green factory with smart energy solutionsAbout Hitachi Energy Ltd.Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world's energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 38,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of approximately $10 billion USD. https://www.hitachienergy.comAbout Hitachi, Ltd.Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, contributes to a sustainable society with a higher quality of life by driving innovation through data and technology as the Social Innovation Business. Hitachi is focused on strengthening its contribution to the Environment, the Resilience of business and social infrastructure as well as comprehensive programs to enhance Security & Safety. Hitachi resolves the issues faced by customers and society across six domains: IT, Energy, Mobility, Industry, Smart Life and Automotive Systems through its proprietary Lumada solutions. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2020 (ended March 31, 2021) totaled 8,729.1 billion yen ($78.6 billion), with 871 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 350,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.Source: Hitachi, Ltd.Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States of America. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 27, 2022 / Sparta Group (TSX.V:SAY) (the "Corporation" the "Company", "Sparta Group", "Sparta Capital", "SAY.V" or "Sparta") is announcing that further to its January 26, 2022 news release (the "Default Announcement") it has completed the filing of an application seeking a Management Cease Trade Order (the "MCTO") under National Policy 12-203, from the Alberta Securities Commission ("ASC"). In the Default Announcement, Sparta reported that it was preparing an application seeking an order for an MCTO from the ASC because the Company was unable to file its annual financial statements for the year ending September 30, 2021 ("Annual Filings"), in time to meet the January 28, 2022 filing deadline. The delay in filing is related to senior management involved in audit preparation work contracting COVID-19 during the holiday season. The Company has agreed to file the Annual Filings on or before March 1, 2022. While the MCTO restricts all trading in securities of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company until the MCTO is no longer in effect, regular trading by current and future investors outside the Company, continues as normal. The MCTO will be in effect until the Annual Filings are filed. Until the Annual Filings are filed, the Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines set out in National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders. The Company confirms that, other than what was disclosed in prior press releases, there have been no material business developments since the filing of the Company's latest interim financial report and while the delay in filing is largely due to COVID-19, the Company continues to operate as usual and generate revenue. About Sparta Sparta Group (a.k.a. Sparta Capital Ltd.) is a technology-based company that owns or holds a controlling interest in a network of independent businesses that supply energy saving technologies designed to reduce energy inefficiencies, achieve reduced emissions, and increase operating efficiencies in various industries. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Sparta has also expanded its scope to help facilitate supply of necessary materials while assisting talented inventors who are looking to introduce innovative technical solutions that will bring greater normalcy to the post COVID-19 world. Sparta's network of independent businesses provides a wide range of specialized energy capturing, converting, optimizing, and related services to the commercial sector. Sparta provides capital, technical and engineering expertise, legal support, financial and accounting knowledge, strategic planning, and other shared services to its independent businesses. Sparta is a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. under the symbol "SAY" (TSX.V:SAY). Additional information is available at www.spartagroup.ca or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. For more information contact: John O'Bireck, President & CTO Email: jobireck@spartagroup.ca Telephone: (905) 751-8004 This above may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. When used in this address, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Although the Corporation believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date of publication of this information and the Corporation undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Furthermore, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Corporation. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release). SOURCE: Sparta Group View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/685995/Sparta-Provides-Status-Report-on-Delay-in-Filing-Annual-Financial-Statements Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Hamilton Global Opportunities plc completes its second capital raising following continued support from qualified European investors by way of private placement Proceeds of the issue primarily intended to strengthen Hamilton Global Opportunities' investment capabilities, following the listing on Euronext Growth Paris in April 2021 to provide investors with access to the return on investment of growth equity Favourable timing to support continued active investment in high growth, Tech, Fintech, and Medtech companies in the US and Israel Not for publication, distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia. Regulatory News: Hamilton Global Opportunities plc (ALHGO.PA) announces that on the 27 January it successfully raised 4.5 million from European investors at a price of 49 per share which is in line with the closing price on 26 January 2022. These new resources strengthen the investment capacity of the listed vehicle Hamilton Global Opportunities plc to accelerate the deployment of its strategic investments in late growth stage companies in the US and Israel. This capital raising comes after several successful strategic investments in 2021. In July 2021, Hamilton Global Opportunities plc invested $3 million in Exos Financial, which is developing a data-driven platform offering a full range of innovative services to meet the needs of the investment banking industry. In October 2021, Hamilton Global Opportunities plc announced a $3 million investment in Miami International Holdings, Inc, a leading US multi-platform exchange operator. Gustavo Perrotta, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hamilton Global Opportunities plc, declared:"We are very pleased with the success of this capital raising which will allow us to accelerate the deployment of our investment strategy, at an ideal time when many transaction opportunities should arise. This transaction reflects the success of our listing strategy to increase access to regular sources of funding in order to progressively expand our portfolio while strictly adhering to a clearly defined and proven business process. We therefore reiterate our confidence for the year 2022, which should benefit from a favourable transaction dynamic allowing us to capture sustainable value creation alongside innovative growth companies. Main terms of the operation A total number of 91,835 new ordinary shares, with a nominal value of 0.0001 euro per share, were issued to qualified investors in accordance with resolution of the Company's Shareholders' Meeting held on 19th April 2021. The new shares were issued by decision of the Board of Directors on 25 January 2022 to implement the delegation of authority granted to it by the Company's General Meeting dated 19 April 2021. The new shares are fungible with the existing shares and will be admitted to trading on the Euronext growth market under the same ISIN code GB00BMDXQ672 ALHGO. The settlement and delivery of the new shares and their admission to trading on Euronext Growth is expected to take place on the 01 February 2022. Pursuant to the provisions of Article 1.4 of Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council meeting of June 14, 2017, the offering did not and will not require a prospectus to be submitted for approval to the French financial markets' authority. The Company's share capital will consist of 410,399 shares once settlement-delivery is complete. Post-operation capital structure Pre-operation Post operation Number of shares Number of voting rights % of capital Number of shares Number of voting rights % of capital Gustavo PERROTTA 88,571 88,571 27.8% 88,571 88,571 21.6% Sir Peter MIDDLETON 2,500 2,500 0.8% 2,500 2,500 0.6% Bianca COSTANZA GRANARA 2,500 2,500 0.8% 2,500 2,500 0.6% Institutional investors Free-float 224,993 224,993 70.6% 316,828 316,828 77.2% TOTAL 318,564 318,564 100.0% 410,399 410,399 100.0% Risk factors The reader's attention is drawn on the risk factors relating to the Company and its business, presented in Section 3 "Risk Factors" of Part 1 of the Company's information document. The occurrence of some or all of those risks could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations, development or prospects. About Hamilton Global Opportunities Hamilton Global Opportunities PLC ("HGO") is an investment company listed on the Euronext Growth Market focusing on investments in Tech, Fintech and MedTech principally in the United States and Israel. The HGO management team has significant relevant experience in structuring direct investments in the areas above mentioned. For more information, please visit: hamiltongo.eu IMPORTANT INFORMATION This press release and the information it contains are not an offer to sell or subscribe to, or a solicitation of an order to buy or subscribe to the shares of Hamilton Global Opportunities Plc in any country. This press release constitutes promotional material and is not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council meeting of June 14, 2017 (the "Prospectus Regulation"). In the Member States of the European Economic Area and in the United Kingdom, this communication and any offering made hereunder are directed only at persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale nor the solicitation of an offer to purchase securities in the United States. The shares or any other securities of Hamilton Global Opportunities Plc may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to a registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirement, it being specified that the shares of Hamilton Global Opportunities Plc have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act. Hamilton Global Opportunities Plc does not intend to register the offering in whole or in part in the United States or to make a public offer in the United States. In the United Kingdom, this press release has not been distributed by and has not been approved by an "authorized person" within the meaning of section 21(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Accordingly, this press release is directed only at persons who (i) are investment professionals within the meaning of section 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as currently in force, the "Financial Promotion Order"), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2) (a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") or (iii) are persons falling within Article 49(2) (a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are outside the United Kingdom (all such persons being together referred to as the "Authorized Persons"). This press release is addressed only to Authorized Persons and may not be used by any person other than an Authorized Person. This press release contains guidance on Hamilton Global Opportunities Plc's objectives and forward-looking statements. This information is not historical data and should not be construed as a guarantee that the stated facts and data will occur. The information is based on data, assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by Hamilton Global Opportunities Plc. The Company operates in a competitive and rapidly changing environment. It is therefore unable to anticipate all of the risks, uncertainties or other factors that may affect its business, their potential impact on its business or the extent to which the materialization of a risk or combination of risks could cause results to differ materially from those mentioned in any forward-looking information. The information is given only as of the date of this press release. Hamilton Global Opportunities Plc makes no commitment to publish updates to this information or to the assumptions on which it is based, except for any legal or regulatory obligation applicable to it. The distribution of this press release may, in certain countries, be subject to specific regulations. Consequently, persons physically present in these countries and in which the press release is disseminated, published or distributed must inform themselves and comply with these laws and regulations. This press release must not be published, transmitted or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220127006084/en/ Contacts: Hamilton Global Opportunities Gustavo Perrotta Founder CEO gp@hamiltongo.eu Gavin Alexander Partner ga@hamiltongo.eu Andrew Wynn Partner aw@hamiltongo.eu NewCap Louis-Victor Delouvrier Investor Relations hamilton@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 98 53 NewCap Nicolas Merigeau Media Relations hamilton@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 Oslo, January 28, 2022: Today, Yara announces the signing of a contract with Linde Engineering for the construction and delivery of a green hydrogen demonstration plant at Yara's ammonia production facility at Herya Industripark in Porsgrunn, Norway. The project, which is supported by a NOK 283 million grant from Enova (announced in December 2021), will demonstrate that ammonia produced using renewable energy can reduce the impact of carbon dioxide in fertilizer production. The project will be realized by water electrolysis which will produce green hydrogen to partially replace the hydrocarbon-based hydrogen production in Yara's plant, using proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology. This will be the second 24 MW PEM electrolysis plant designed and constructed by Linde Engineering; the first is now being built at the Leuna Chemical Complex in Germany. "The project aims to supply the first green ammonia products to the market as early as mid-2023, both as fossil-free fertilizers, as well as emissions-free shipping fuel. Green ammonia is the key to reducing emissions from world food production and long-distance shipping. With this project, we move from intention to actions together with Linde Engineering and local contractors", says Magnus Ankarstrand, President Yara Clean Ammonia. The plant will have an annual capacity of around 10,000 kg/day of hydrogen. It will replace ethane as raw material in production, thereby reducing 41,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, the same amount as emitted by roughly 16,000 passenger vehicles. The electricity will be delivered from renewable energy sources and will provide enough hydrogen to produce 20,500 tonnes of ammonia per year which can be converted to between 60,000 and 80,000 tonnes of green fertilizer, roughly five times the annual production of food grade wheat in Norway.The project will be Yara's first step towards decarbonization of the ammonia industry. "This project showcases Linde Engineering's market leadership in electrolysis projects. Given the growing demand from the fertilizer industry for green hydrogen, this plant is a step towards further upscaling and increasing the size of these projects worldwide," said John van der Velden, Senior Vice President Global Sales & Technology, Linde Engineering. Yara will in addition to Linde work with a significant number of local suppliers in the Grenland region on this project. This will contribute to creating new jobs and build valuable competence and experience for the green transition locally. Media Contacts Yara: Kristin Nordal Vice President Corporate Communications Mobile: +47 900 15 550 E-mail: kristin.nordal@yara.com Linde Engineering: Elitsa Kateva Marketing & Communications Mobile: +49 173 420 4003 E-mail: elitsa.kateva@linde.com About Yara Yara grows knowledge to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet. Supporting our vision of a world without hunger and a planet respected, we pursue a strategy of sustainable value growth, promoting climate-friendly crop nutrition and zero-emission energy solutions. Yara's ambition is focused on growing a climate positive food future that creates value for our customers, shareholders and society at large and delivers a more sustainable food value chain. To achieve our ambition, we have taken the lead in developing digital farming tools for precision farming and work closely with partners throughout the food value chain to improve the efficiency and sustainability of food production. Through our focus on clean ammonia production, we aim to enable the hydrogen economy, driving a green transition of shipping, fertilizer production and other energy intensive industries. Founded in 1905 to solve the emerging famine in Europe, Yara has established a unique position as the industry's only global crop nutrition company. We operate an integrated business model with around 17,000 employees and operations in over 60 countries, with a proven track record of strong returns. In 2020, Yara reported revenues of USD 11.6 billion. For more information about the company, please visit www.yara.com About Linde Linde is a leading global industrial gases and engineering company with 2020 sales of $27 billion (24 billion). We live our mission of making our world more productive every day by providing high-quality solutions, technologies and services which are making our customers more successful and helping to sustain and protect our planet. The company serves a variety of end markets including chemicals & energy, food & beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and mining. Linde's industrial gases are used in countless applications, from life-saving oxygen for hospitals to high-purity & specialty gases for electronics manufacturing, hydrogen for clean fuels and much more. Linde also delivers state-of-the-art gas processing solutions to support customer expansion, efficiency improvements and emissions reductions. For more information about the company and its products and services, please visit www.linde.com Attachments Venissieux, January 28, 2022 At its meeting of Wednesday, 26 January 2022, BOOSTHEAT's Board of Directors noted a bond issue of 3 million subscribed entirely by the company HOLDIGAZ to support BOOSTHEAT's action plan implementation. The financing of 3 million will be in the form of a bond issue with the option of redemption in cash or in shares at the company's discretion. The bond subscribed will bear interest at a rate of 1% and mature on 31 December 2024. In addition, the Board of Directors has decided to align at the same date the maturity date of the bonds issued in July 2021, which were subscribed by the main shareholders[1]. The Company will have the option of early redemption of the principal amount of the bonds and interest either in cash or, subject to the necessary authorizations, in the Company shares by means of offsetting receivables. The price of the shares has been set at 1.1507, corresponding to the weighted average share price during the 20 trading sessions preceding the date of the Board of Director 's decision concerning the bond issue. As of 31 December 2021, the company had 3.5 million of cash available, the same level as of June 30, 2021. At the same date, the company also had 8 million available on its equity financing line[2]. With this new financing, BOOSTHEAT estimates that it has resources needed to cover all of its needs in 2022. "After 6 months of a structuring and ambitious roadmap implementation and after having demonstrated very good results of reliability and performance in laboratory and on the field, this financing is a mark of confidence and an incentive encouragement from our historical shareholder ", says Eric Lambert, CEO of BOOSTHEAT. ABOUT BOOSTHEAT Founded in 2011, BOOSTHEAT operates in the energy efficiency sector. The company's mission is to accelerate energy transition by integrating its technology into energy-intensive applications. BOOSTHEAT has designed and developed a thermal compressor protected by 7 patent families that significantly improves energy consumption in order to promote the reasonable and appropriate use of resources. BOOSTHEAT has its head office, research center and manufacturing plant in Venissieux, near Lyon (historically an HVAC* industrial zone). The company holds the Entreprise Innovante (Bpifrance) and French Fab labels. The BOOSTHEAT share is listed on Euronext Growth Paris (ISIN: FR0011814938). * Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning ABOUT HOLDIGAZ HOLDIGAZ is a Swiss holding company that is majority owned by private investors and specializes in energy and building technology in Switzerland. The group comprises nineteen companies operating in the fields of natural gas and related technologies, renewables (production of biogas, thermal and photovoltaic solar, district heating), and building technologies (heating, ventilation and air conditioning, sanitary installation and heat-power coupling). In addition, the Vevey-based company has many direct and indirect shareholdings in the fields of high-pressure gas transportation, deep natural gas exploration and FLUXSWISS through the company SWISS GAS INVEST, in which it holds a majority stake. HOLDIGAZ is a leading partner in natural gas supply, the production of biogas, natural gas mobility, renewable heat production, the realization of building infrastructures, and regional and national distribution and sale (NOVOGAZ SA). As such, its partnership with BOOSTHEAT make perfect sense. I CONTACTS ACTUS finance & communication - Anne-Pauline Petureaux Investor Relations Tel: +33 (0)1 53 67 36 72 / boostheat@actus.fr ACTUS finance & communication - Serena Boni Press Relations Tel: +33 (0)4 72 18 04 92 / sboni@actus.fr BOOSTHEAT - Sabrina Ferre Tel: 09 82 99 16 13 / sabrina.ferre@boostheat.com * * * For more information on BOOSTHEAT, visit www.boostheat-group.com [1] See press release of July 19, 2021. This deferral will be subject to approval by the General Assembly of Bondholders. [2] See press release of May 21, 2021 ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: mpqalcptlGjFx56aYstlbWeUamdpk5ObbpPKmmNtZprJaXCUlZpnacrLZnBjnmxo - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-72972-pr_financing_holdigaz_en.pdf TOKYO, Jan 28, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited today announced the decision to establish a new organization to strengthen its governance of AI ethics.Building and maintaining trust remains central to all of Fujitsu's business activities, forming the basis of its Purpose--"to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation." To realize the vision of a sustainable world through its global business brand "FUJITSU Uvance" which focuses on the solution of social issues, both services and technologies as well as trust in the Fujitsu Group will play an essential role.In March 2019, Fujitsu formulated the "Fujitsu Group AI Commitment" to create greater value for customers and society while honoring its promise to deliver safe, secure, and transparent AI technology. With this commitment as a point of departure, in September 2019 Fujitsu further established the "Fujitsu Group External Advisory Committee on AI Ethics" to ensure an objective evaluation of Fujitsu's AI ethics framework by an impartial third party. Since then, Fujitsu has continuously and proactively worked to enhance its corporate governance to enforce the principles of ethical AI.On February 1, Fujitsu will newly establish the "AI Ethics and Governance Office" (Head: Junichi Arahori) to accelerate the safe and secure deployment of leading-edge technologies including artificial intelligence (AI) and other machine learning applications in society.This marks the next step in Fujitsu's ongoing efforts to strengthen and enforce comprehensive, company-wide measures to achieve robust AI ethics governance based on international best-practices, policies, and legal frameworks. The new office will focus on implementing measures to actively promote ethics related to the research, development, and implementation of advanced technologies.About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. HELSINKI, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The range of tenants at Lippulaiva, which will open at the end of March, is increasing with several new additions. Terveystalo, Lindex, Clas Ohlson, Normal and Dosva Decor, a completely new interior design company on the Finnish market, will add to a strong tenant mix in the new urban centre at Espoonlahti. The supply of health services in the Espoonlahti area will be strengthened when Terveystalo, one of the largest private health care companies in Finland, opens a 750 square metre clinic in Lippulaiva. Terveystalo will be located on the second floor of the centre. Lippulaiva will also house the clothing chain Lindex, electronics and home hardware store Clas Ohlson, and the grocery chain Normal. Clas Ohlson's 700 square metre store will be located on the first floor of the centre, as will Normal and Lindex. Dosva Decor, a brand-new interior design company in the Finnish market, is a family-owned company founded in 1995. The company sells exclusive home decor products with unique designs and materials. Dosva Decor will be located on the first floor of Lippulaiva. A wide range of well-known operators and new brands The first Finnish juice and smoothie bar chain, Jungle Juice Bar will be one of more than 20 Finnish and International restaurant operators. Another new addition is Chatime, an international tea chain from Taiwan, currently operating in 38 countries. "The newly announced tenants will complement and diversify Lippulaiva's strong offering. We are pleased that we can offer Lippulaiva's community a wide range of well-known brands and new brands. Lippulaiva is a prime example of our strategy to offer a full service urban centre with great transportation connections" says Mari Laaksonen, Commercial Director of Citycon. Lippulaiva will be one of the biggest grocery store clusters in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The anchor tenants will include K-Supermarket, Prisma, Lidl and Tokmanni. In addition to retail, the centre will offer a wide range of services, such as the Espoonlahti regional library, the English kindergarten Pilke Playschool and the fitness centre Elixia. The new Espoonlahti metro station and bus terminal as well as eight residential towers will also be located at Lippulaiva. For more information, please contact: Mari Laaksonen Commercial Director Tel. +358 20 766 4434 mari.laaksonen@citycon.com Citycon is the leading owner, developer and manager of multipurpose urban centres. Our centres in key urban areas combine retail, office premises and housing with well-functioning traffic connections. We are committed to sustainable property maintenance, and the total value of the property portfolio in the Nordic countries managed by Citycon is approximately EUR 4.5 billion. Our centres offer daily consumer goods, health care services as well as other services to meet the daily needs of our customers. www.citycon.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/citycon-oyj/r/lippulaiva-s-full-service-offer-will-expand-to-include-a-private-medical-centre-and-more-necessity-b,c3493939 The following files are available for download: THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Micreos announced that it has appointed Joost Goderie to the management board as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Joost will be working closely together with the other members of the management team to help drive Micreos's growth and deliver its targeted antibacterial technology to the world. He will be responsible for Finance, Tax and Legal, and will coordinate the company's legal restructuring, which will result in the separation of its pharma and OTC businesses. Joost brings over 30 years of finance and leadership experience in various CFO and general management roles and has extensive experience in building and growing businesses. He was formerly CFO and CEO of Eurofiber, a European fiber optic communication provider, that he co-founded in 2000 and was one of the initiators and Managing Director of Rabo's Bouwfonds Communication Infrastructure Fund. Micreos CEO Mark Offerhaus said: "We are very pleased to welcome Joost on board. He has a strategic and practical mind, and his M&A and private equity background will be invaluable as we bring our game-changing anti-bacterial technology out to the world, in the face of the 'hidden pandemic' of antibiotic resistance." "I am privileged to join an innovative leadership team focused on inventing health solutions that contribute to the future of humanity. Thanks to its outstanding technology, Micreos is already the leader in the field of targeted biological therapies and I am excited to work with the team to realize the company's growth strategy and financial goals," said Joost Goderie. About Micreos Micreos develops targeted antibacterial technology set to replace antibiotics. Looking for safer, healthier and more sustainable solutions, the company's researchers, in close collaboration with the Swiss Federal Technology Institute ETH Zurich, turned to nature's own precision anti-bacterials, called endolysins. These highly-specific enzymes target only unwanted bacteria while preserving the microbiome, comprising of billions of 'good' bacteria essential to our health. With headquarters in The Hague, The Netherlands, Micreos runs its Endolysin Technology Centre Zurich in Wadenswil (CH) and operates three business units in The Netherlands and Switzerland: Pharma, OTC and Food. Micreos Pharma focuses on anti S. aureus endolysins for atopic dermatitis, diabetic wound infections, bloodstream infections and CTCL, a type of skin cancer associated with the colonisation of S. aureus. Gladskin is Micreos's game-changing OTC brand for people with inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, eczema and rosacea. Phageguard represents Micreos Food Safety's contribution to safer food, based on targeted prevention of dangerous food pathogens such as Salmonella and Listeria. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1735806/Joost_Goderie.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1278645/Micreos_Logo.jpg Press release Sainte-Marie, January 28, 2022, 11:00 Change of control in HENDIGO, CBoTerritoria's reference shareholder TOLEFI S.A. increased its share in CBo Territoria up to 27.2% TOLEFI S.A. took over the HENDIGO shares hold by Mr Diricq and Heynderickx, both CBo Territoria's members of the board. As at 31/12/2021 HENDIGO's shares in CBo Territoria amount to 9 090 360 shares. The purchase price subject to the transaction is set at 4.10 per share. Upon completion of the transaction, TOLEFI S.A.'s stake in CBo will be up to 24.87% of the shares and 25.39% of voting rights. Together with its other subsidiary named Financiere des Mascareignes S.A, owning 2.33% of CBo Territoria shares , TOLEFI S.A. becomes the controlling shareholder of CBo Territoria totaling circa 28 % of voting rights. CBo Territoria thanks Mr Diricq and Heynderickx for having supported the growth of the company since 2007 and especially since 2013 when they set up HENDIGO with Serge Goblet to become the CBo's reference shareholder. CBo Territoria looks forward to TOLEFI SA takeover. Indeed TOLEFI has been subscribing the vision and the strategy of the company for many years. TOELAFI sa holds many companies in the real estate industry such as TOLEFI Promotions, TOLEFI France, TOLEFI Armor, TOLEFI Espana. Jerome Goblet, board member of TOLEFI S.A and of CBo T since 2013, will keep on chairing the board of CBo T . " I first would like to thank Mr Diricq and Heynderickx for having supported HENDIGO and CBo Territoria all these years. TOLEFI SA signs up for a long term partnership, in line with the strategy of the company and its management. We want to be part of the local economic development, through a strong and responsible growth. We are confident in the high potential and value creation of CBo Territoria." Next financial agenda release 2021 revenues: Wednesday, February 16, 2022, after market close About CBo Territoria Leading property developer and planner in Reunion Island and Mayotte, CBo Territoria is a real estate operator listed on Euronext C (FR0010193979, CBOT), and eligible for the PEA PME (Leveraged Share Savings Plan for the SME). The Group has been in the Top 10 (compartment C) of the Gaia Index for 5 years for its ESG approach and relies on best practices for its governance. Owner of 2950 hectares, the Group aims mostly to become a multi-regional Tertiary Property company, whose development is co-funded by its promotional activity. www.cboterritoria.com Contacts INVESTOR RELATIONS TEAM Caroline Clapier Administrative and Financial Manager direction@cboterritoria.com PARIS MEDIA RELATIONS TEAM dmorin@capvalue.fr REUNION MEDIA RELATIONS TEAM Catherine Galatoire 06 92 65 65 79 cgalatoire@cboterritoria.com ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: lGdrlZdnapqVxpxulp1pbWSUl29jm2aUZmnHxJNxY5zFZ5timmdlZ8WWZnBjnm1n - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-72981-220128-cp_cbot_actionnariat-vang.pdf LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Abrdn Plc, a British investment company, on Friday said it will sell around 40 million shares, from its shareholding in Phoenix Group Holdings Plc (PHNX.L), an insurance service provider, to institutional investors. The price per placing share will be fixed by an accelerated book-building process to institutional investors facilitated by Goldman Sachs. The book-building may be closed at any time and the results of the placing will be announced as soon as practicable thereafter, the company said in a statement. With the move, Abrdn intends to return the net proceeds of the transaction to its shareholders. The investment firm currently owns 144.1 million shares in Phoenix, which represents around 14.4 percent of Phoenix's issued share capital. Following completion of the sale, Abrdn's holding will represent approximately 10.4 percent of Phoenix's issued share capital. Despite the move, the Edinburgh-headquartered investment company will continue to appoint a director to Phoenix's Board. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. HIROSHIMA, Japan, Jan 28, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation's production and sales results for December 2021 and for January through December 2021 are summarized below.I. Production1. Domestic Production(1) December 2021Mazda's domestic production volume in December 2021 decreased 0.5% year on year due to decreased production of passenger vehicles.[Domestic production of key models in December 2021]CX-5: 39,548 units (up 23.6% year on year)MAZDA3: 9,689 units (down 34.4%)CX-9: 6,829 units (up 35.4%)(2) January through December 2021Mazda's total domestic production volume in the period from January through December 2021 decreased 1.5% year on year due to decreased production of passenger and commercial vehicles.[Domestic production of key models in the period from January through December 2021]CX-5: 322,982 units (up 3.4% year on year)MAZDA3: 101,393 units (down 9.5%)CX-30: 70,744 units (down 1.8%)2. Overseas Production(1) December 2021Mazda's overseas production volume in December 2021 decreased 37.7% year on year, reflecting decreased production of passenger and commercial vehicles.[Overseas production of key models in December 2021]MAZDA3: 6,591 units (down 26.1% year on year)CX-30: 6,266 units (down 39.0%)MAZDA2: 3,116 units (down 38.6%)(2) January through December 2021Mazda's total overseas production volume in the period from January through December 2021 decreased 20.7% year on year due to decreased production of passenger and commercial vehicles.[Overseas production of key models in the period from January through December 2021]CX-30: 116,748 units (down 6.9% year on year)MAZDA3: 109,482 units (down 0.9%)MAZDA2: 43,604 units (down 22.0%)II. Domestic Sales(1) December 2021Mazda's domestic sales volume in December 2021 increased 9.7% year on year due to increased sales of passenger vehicles.Mazda's registered vehicle market share was 5.6% (up 1.3 points year on year), with a 1.6% share of the micro-mini segment (down 0.2 points) and a 4.2% total market share (up 0.8 points).[Domestic sales of key models in December 2021]CX-5: 3,251 units (up 45.7% year on year)MAZDA2: 2,329 units (up 31.6%)CX-30: 1,971 units (up 66.9%)(2) January through December 2021Mazda's domestic sales volume in the period from January through December 2021 decreased 11.2% year on year due to decreased sales of passenger and commercial vehicles.Mazda's registered vehicle market share was 4.5% (down 0.4 points), with a 1.9% share of the micro-mini segment (down 0.2 points) and a 3.5% total market share (down 0.4 points year on year).[Domestic sales of key models in the period from January through December 2021]MAZDA2: 24,659 units (down 13.4% year on year)CX-5: 22,414 units (down 7.4%)CX-30: 19,338 units (down 28.3%)III. Exports(1) December 2021Mazda's export volume in December 2021 increased 14.4% year on year due to increased shipments to North America and Europe.[Exports of key models in December 2021]CX-5: 37,794 units (up 22.5% year on year)MAZDA3: 13,115 units (up 63.2%)CX-9: 9,278 units (up 85.8%)(2) January through December 2021Mazda's export volume in the period from January through December 2021 increased 1.9% year on year due to increased shipments to Oceania and other regions.[Exports of key models in the period from January through December 2021]CX-5: 298,981 units (up 3.8% year on year)MAZDA3: 89,768 units (up 1.2%)CX-9: 55,377 units (up 15.7%)IV. Global Sales(1) December 2021Mazda's global sales volume in December 2021 decreased 28.8% year on year due to decreased sales in the U.S., China, Europe and other regions.[Global sales of key models in December 2021]CX-5: 28,184 units (down 29.2% year on year)MAZDA3: 17,964 units (down 19.8%)CX-30: 17,922 units (down 0.8%)(2) January through December 2021Mazda's global sales volume in the period from January through December 2021 increased 3.6% year on year due to increased sales in the U.S, Europe and other regions.[Global sales of key models in the period from January through December 2021]CX-5: 381,800 units (up 5.7% year on year)MAZDA3: 234,485 units (down 2.1%)CX-30: 222,617 units (up 24.4%)For more information, visit https://newsroom.mazda.com/en/publicity/release/2022/202201/220128a.html.Source: MazdaCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Most of the deployed capacity comes from utility scale solar plants selected in the country's tender scheme for renewables.Russia registered a newly installed PV capacity of 233 MW last year, which means the country reached a cumulative installed solar power capacity of over 2 GW at the end of December. "This capacity matches with Russia's first incentive program started in 2014 and that is set to end in 2024," Anton Usachev, president of the Russian Solar Energy Association, told pv magazine. "Apart from grid-connected PV, off-grid solar installations totaling 17 MW were also deployed last ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. (NYSE: FSM) (TSX: FVI) regrets to report that a fatality involving a worker employed by the Company occurred yesterday at the Lindero Mine located in Salta, Argentina. The unfortunate accident occurred at the conveyor stacking system and there were no other injuries associated with the incident. The Company has notified the appropriate government and local authorities and an investigation to determine the cause of the accident is currently underway. Stacking activities at the heap leach pad have been temporarily suspended for approximately 48 hours and the operation is also taking a safety stop for a day. The Company will provide support, assistance and counseling to the worker's family as they go through this difficult time. Jorge A. Ganoza, President, CEO and Director of Fortuna, commented, "On behalf of Fortuna, we would like to extend our utmost sincere thoughts and sympathies to the worker's family, friends and colleagues during this time." Mr. Ganoza added, "The health and safety for everyone at our mine sites is our highest priority and we are committed to maintaining our objective of zero harm." About Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. is a Canadian precious metals mining company with four operating mines in Argentina, Burkina Faso, Mexico and Peru, and a fifth mine under construction in Cote d'Ivoire. Sustainability is integral to all our operations and relationships. We produce gold and silver and generate shared value over the long-term for our stakeholders through efficient production, environmental protection, and social responsibility. For more information, please visit our website (https://fortunasilver.com/). ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Jorge A. Ganoza President, CEO and Director Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. Investor Relations: Carlos Baca | info@fortunasilver.com (mailto:info@fortunasilver.com) GLASGOW, Scotland, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- XRdoge has announced a brand new utility project. It is going from meme coin to green coin. Since it burst onto the scene last year, XRdoge has already added utility to its memetics - a web payment portal and DEX interface. Now XRdoge is tapping into one of the fastest growing crypto markets - the green revolution. XRdoge: Come for the memes; stay for the utility. XRdoge is transforming into the green meme coin. The new green utility project will automate householders' carbon offset requirements. Using an innovative, patent-pending hardware device, with XRdoge as the intermediary utility token, the customer will be able to transfer real world value and offset their carbon footprint. Raymond Thomson, Co-Founder of XRdoge: "The goal is for the XRdoge cryptocurrency to serve as a bridge of utility and value between a patented hardware device in the home, and real world carbon offsetting programmes. "The automated system will make being green hassle-free. And the memes will make the process fun and engaging. Being green doesn't have to be boring!" Whilst some coins remain forever meme coins. And some utility coins forget the importance of memes in capturing the consumer's imagination, XRdoge has been leading the way in a new synthesis of memes and utility. Raymond Thomson, Co-Founder of XRdoge: "XRdoge used memes to create a strong base in global crypto world, now we will use our memetic base to show how XRdoge's utility can help transform the world." With the hardware patent pending, and new green carbon offsetting partnerships to be announced shortly, XRdoge seems to be carving out a unique space in the cryptosphere - using memes and utility to make the world a greener and better place. When asked why XRdoge decided to build their cryptocurrency on the XRP Ledger network, Raymond Thomson said: "The XRP Ledger network is already one of the fastest and greenest crypto networks. Compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum tokens, the carbon footprint for transactions is tiny. This made it the perfect network for XRdoge to help bring about the green revolution." XRdoge is a token built on the decentralised, public, XRP Ledger. For further details on the new XRdoge green utility project see the whitepaper. For further details on the full XRdoge project see the website. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1735752/XRdoge.jpg Contact: Victoria Pallot +44 (0)7797 777051 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices rose on Friday and headed for a sixth weekly gain amid concerns of tight supplies. Brent crude futures for April delivery rose 17 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $88.34 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for March settlement were up 32 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $86.93, after having reached a seven-year high earlier in the session. Brent oil prices moved above long-term resistance level after Russia said it was clear the United States was not willing to address its main security concerns in their standoff over Ukraine. Both sides kept the door open to further dialogue, but big gaps remain. Russia is not rejecting the U.S. and NATO responses out of hand. Washington says it and its allies hope Russia will study their responses and come back to the negotiating table. 'We are unified, unified in our preference for diplomacy. But we are also unified in our resolve that if Moscow rejects our offer of dialogue, the costs must be swift and severe,' U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland told reporters. Supply is expected to remain tight as major producers continue their policy of limited output increases amid rising fuel demand. The OPEC+ is expected to stick to its current agreement to raise monthly production by 400,000 barrels at the Feb. 2 meeting. Meanwhile, analysts say that crude oil imports in China, the world's biggest importer of the commodity, could rebound by 6-7 percent this year, reversing 2021's rare decline. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. DGAP Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the Change in Share Capital of H-Share 28.01.2022 / 11:43 Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG Announcement on the Change in Share Capital of H-Share Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hongkong, 28 January 2022 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-share 690D.DE, A-share 600690.SH, H-share 06690.HK) published an announcement on the Shanghai Stock Exchange with regard to the Change in Share Capital of H-Share. The details are set out as follows: Conversion status of H-share related convertible bonds: From 1 January to 28 January 2022, a cumulative amount of HKD 60,000,000 H-share related convertible bonds were converted into H-shares of the Company, and the cumulative number of H-shares formed as a result of the conversion was 3,229,278 shares, accounting for 0.03% of the total share capital of the Company before the conversion of H-share related convertible bonds in this month. As of 28 January 2022, a cumulative amount of HKD 7,654,000,000 H-share related convertible bonds were converted into H-shares of the Company, and the cumulative number of H-shares formed as a result of the conversion was 406,440,167 shares, accounting for 4.31% of the total share capital of the Company before the conversion of H-share related convertible bonds in this month. Status of outstanding convertible bonds: As of 28 January 2022, the amount of H-share related convertible bonds not yet converted was HKD 339,000,000, accounting for 4.24% of the total number of H-share related convertible bonds issued. I. Background of the issuance and listing of convertible bonds On 27 October 2020, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) issued the Approval of Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. to Issue Overseas Listed Foreign Shares and Convertible Corporate Bonds (CSRC License [2020] No. 2768), approving: (1) Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the "Company") to issue not more than 2,856,526,138 overseas listed foreign shares (including additional shares issued upon exercise of conversion rights by holders of convertible bonds of not more than HKD 8 billion or equivalent in foreign currencies), with a par value of RMB 1 per share, all of which are ordinary shares. Upon completion of this issuance, the Company may list on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (hereinafter referred to as "HKSE"); (2) The Company's wholly-owned overseas subsidiaries, guaranteed by the Company, will issue overseas corporate bonds not exceeding HKD 8 billion or its equivalent in foreign currency convertible into overseas listed foreign shares of the Company (hereinafter referred to as "H-share convertible bonds"). On 23 December 2020, 2,448,279,814 H-shares of the Company were listed and traded on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the relevant exchangeable bonds to convertible bonds program became effective and operational after the listing, the total amount of effective H-share convertible bonds was HKD 7,993,000,000. II. Changes in Share Capital From 21 January 2022 (being the date of the latest shareholding structure change, details of which have been disclosed in the announcement dated 21 January 2022 in relation to the completion of new H-shares under general mandate) to 28 January 2022, the changes in the Company's share capital were as follows: Class of shares Before the changes 21 January 2022 Number of the current changes (shares) After the changes 28 January 2022 Number of shares (shares) Proportion Number of convertible bonds to shares Number of shares (shares) Proportion Listed domestic shares (A-shares) 6,308,552,654 66.83% - 6,308,552,654 66.80% Overseas-listed shares (D-shares) 271,013,973 2.87% - 271,013,973 2.87% Overseas-listed shares (H-shares) 2,860,551,503 30.30% +3,229,278 2,863,780,781 30.33% Total number of shares 9,440,118,130 100.00% +3,229,278 9,443,347,408 100.00% Note: This Announcement has been prepared in both Chinese and English. Should there be any discrepancies or misunderstandings between the two versions, the Chinese version shall prevail. IR Contact: Haier Smart Home Hong Kong T: +852 2169 0000 Email: ir@haier.hk Press Contact: CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH Sven Pauly Sara Pinto sp@crossalliance.de T: +49 (0) 89 1250903 35 About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.: Haier is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions and customized mass production. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as smaller household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading household brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience. 28.01.2022 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - United Airlines has opened its flight training school, United Aviate Academy, to bring out new pilots with a view to mainly empower women and people of color. The institute's first class of students is 80 percent women or people of color. This outpaces the airline's earlier goal to train about 5,000 new pilots at the school by 2030 with at least half being women or people of color. In a statement, the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school said the Academy expects to train at least 500 students annually. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 5.6 percent of pilots are women and 6 percent are people of color. Earning a commercial pilot's license in the U.S. can cost about $100,000, while an Airline Transport Pilot requires 1,500 hours of flight time. United has teamed with its credit card partner, JPMorgan Chase & Co., to renew last year's commitment to fund nearly $2.4 million in scholarships to support those who are accepted to the Academy. Many organizations, including the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Sisters of the Skies, the Latino Pilots Association and the Professional Asian Pilots Association, help the company select the applicants to receive the scholarships and grants funded by United and JPMorgan Chase. United Aviate Academy's first class is taking a year-long training program. Following this, they can work within the Aviate pilot development ecosystem at partner universities, professional flight training organizations and United Express carriers on their way to becoming United pilots. The 340,000 square-foot United Aviate Academy facility at Phoenix Goodyear Airport has leased a fleet of late-model Cirrus SR-20 series single-engine aircraft, which feature advanced safety characteristics. The academy has nearly 50,000 square feet of office space, and multiple aircraft hangars. United currently has about 12,000 pilots. Captains of United's Boeing 787s and 777s can earn more than $350,000 per year. Last summer, the company had launched its United Next strategy to introduce more than 500 new, narrow-body aircraft into its fleet to match the anticipated resurgence in air travel. United plans to hire at least 10,000 new pilots by 2030 to meet this need with about 5,000 of those coming from United Aviate Academy. According to aviation consulting firm Oliver Wyman, a worldwide pilot shortage of 34,000 aviators is expected by 2025. United has recently announced a goal to create 25,000 unionized jobs by 2026 that includes careers as pilots, flight attendants, agents, technicians, and dispatchers. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX UNITED AIRLINES-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de CHENGDU, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition of antiques from six Asian countries opened to the public free of charge Friday in Sichuan Museum in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province. Titled The Splendor of Asia: An Exhibition of Ancient Asian Civilizations, the exhibition demonstrates the stupendous Asian civilizations with 270 pieces or sets of cultural relics from China, Pakistan, Syria, Japan, Cambodia, and Lebanon. This exhibition is divided into three units themed respectively on the civilization of Mesopotamia, the civilization of the Indus and Ganges Rivers, and the civilization of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. The Department of Archaeology and Museums of Pakistan provided a number of precious cultural relics such as painted pottery pots, bronze oil lamps, and Gandhara Buddha statues for the exhibition, allowing Chinese visitors to understand the long and splendid ancient civilization of Pakistan. "This exhibition connects three major civilizations that originated in river basins in Asia, reflecting the Asian culture that features geographical proximity, cultural affinity, harmony, and difference," said Xie Dan, deputy director of Sichuan Museum. The exhibition will last until the end of March. - The positive opinion is based on the landmark EMPEROR-Preserved Phase III trial, which showed significant outcomes in patients with heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction over 40%1 If approved, Jardiance would be the first and only clinically proven treatment approved for all adults with symptomatic chronic heart failure including those with preserved ejection fraction Heart failure is a leading cause of hospitalization in Europe.2 Its prevalence is increasing, and it is estimated to affect over 60 million people worldwide.3 The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has granted a positive opinion recommending Jardiance (empagliflozin) for the treatment of adults with symptomatic chronic heart failure, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company announced today.1 Empagliflozin was previously approved for the treatment of adults with symptomatic chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).4 If approved, the positive opinion would expand this indication to be applicable for adults across the full spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), including preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220127005861/en/ "For the very first time, we now have a treatment that will improve clinical results across the full spectrum of heart failure patients regardless of ejection fraction," said Professor Stefan Anker, Heart Failure Cardiologist at Charite Berlin, Germany, and EMPEROR-Preserved Principal Investigator. "Half of all heart failure patients are those with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. They suffer symptomatically and have poor outcomes due to the absence of any approved beneficial therapies. Today's positive opinion of EMA is a significant step forward in redefining clinical practice and will provide an additional lifeline to the millions of patients in Europe diagnosed with HFpEF." The positive opinion is based on results from the landmark EMPEROR-Preserved Phase III trial, which investigated the effect of empagliflozin 10 mg compared with placebo once-daily, both added to standard of care, in 5,988 adults with heart failure with LVEF over 40%.5 In the trial, empagliflozin demonstrated an impressive 21% relative risk reduction (3.3% absolute risk reduction, 0.79 HR, 0.69-0.90 95% CI) for the composite primary endpoint of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure. The benefit was regardless of ejection fraction or diabetes status.5 "We are delighted with the CHMP's decision to recommend empagliflozin as a treatment for adults with chronic heart failure," said Waheed Jamal, M.D., Corporate Vice President and Head of CardioMetabolic Medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim. "Understanding of the interconnected cardio, renal and metabolic systems enabled us to broaden from diabetes to heart failure, following the science to provide solutions to medicine's greatest challenge. We are proud to provide renewed hope to underserved patients, underscored by the unprecedented clinical benefit seen in the EMPEROR-Preserved clinical trial." "Today's positive opinion addresses the single largest unmet need in cardiovascular medicine, confirming the potential of empagliflozin across the full spectrum of ejection fraction. We are committed to ongoing research in these underserved areas, and look forward to the results from the EMPA-KIDNEY trial, exploring the potential of empagliflozin in chronic kidney disease," continued Jeff Emmick, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President, Product Development, Lilly. The EMPEROR-Preserved trial is part of the EMPOWER clinical program, the broadest and most comprehensive of any SGLT2 inhibitor, exploring the impact of empagliflozin on the lives of people across the spectrum of cardio-renal-metabolic conditions. ENDS About the EMPEROR heart failure clinical trials6,7 The EMPEROR (EMPagliflozin outcomE tRial in patients with chrOnic heaRt failure) chronic heart failure trials were two Phase III, randomized, double-blind trials that investigated once-daily empagliflozin compared to placebo in adults with chronic HFrEF or HFpEF, with or without diabetes: EMPEROR-Reduced [NCT03057977] investigated the safety and efficacy of empagliflozin in patients with chronic HFrEF. Primary endpoint: time to first event of adjudicated cardiovascular death or adjudicated hospitalization for heart failure Number of patients: 3,730 Completion: 2020 [NCT03057977] investigated the safety and efficacy of empagliflozin in patients with chronic HFrEF. EMPEROR-Preserved [NCT03057951] investigated the safety and efficacy of empagliflozin in patients with chronic HFpEF. Primary endpoint: time to first event of adjudicated cardiovascular death or adjudicated hospitalization for heart failure Number of patients: 5,988 Completion: 2021 [NCT03057951] investigated the safety and efficacy of empagliflozin in patients with chronic HFpEF. About the EMPOWER program The Alliance has developed the EMPOWER program to explore the impact of empagliflozin on major clinical cardiovascular and renal outcomes in a spectrum of cardio-renal-metabolic conditions. Cardio-renal-metabolic conditions are the leading cause of mortality worldwide and account for up to 20 million deaths annually.8 Through the EMPOWER program, Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly are working to advance knowledge of these interconnected systems and create care which offers integrated, multi-organ benefits. Comprised of nine clinical trials and two real-world evidence studies, EMPOWER reinforces the long-term commitment of the Alliance to improve outcomes for people living with cardio-renal-metabolic conditions. With more than 400,000 adults enrolled worldwide in clinical trials, it is one of the broadest and most comprehensive clinical programs for an SGLT2 inhibitor to date. About Heart Failure Heart failure is a progressive, debilitating and potentially fatal condition that occurs when the heart cannot supply adequate circulation to meet the body's demands for oxygenated blood, or to do so, requires increased blood volume leading to fluid accumulation (congestion) in the lungs and peripheral tissues.9,10 It is a widespread condition affecting over 60 million people worldwide and expected to increase as the population ages. 3,11 Heart failure is highly prevalent in people with diabetes; however, approximately half of all people with heart failure do not have diabetes.12,13 About cardio-renal-metabolic conditions Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly are driven to transform care for people with cardio-renal-metabolic conditions, a group of interconnected disorders that affect more than one billion people worldwide and are a leading cause of death.11,14 The cardiovascular, renal and metabolic systems are interconnected, and share many of the same risk factors and pathological pathways along the disease continuum. Dysfunction in one system may accelerate the onset of others, resulting in progression of interconnected diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, and kidney disease, which in turn leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular death. Conversely, improvements in one system can lead to positive effects throughout the others. 14,15,16 Through our research and treatments, our goal is to support people's health, restoring the balance between the interconnected cardio-renal-metabolic systems and reducing their risk of serious complications. As part of our commitment to those whose health is jeopardized by cardio-renal-metabolic conditions, we will continue embracing a multidisciplinary approach towards care and focusing our resources on filling treatment gaps. About empagliflozin Empagliflozin (marketed as Jardiance) is an oral, once-daily, highly selective sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor and the first type 2 diabetes medicine to include cardiovascular death risk reduction data in its label in several countries.17,18 Please click on the following link for 'Notes to Editors' and 'References' https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/human-health/heart-diseases/heart-failure/emperor-preserved-chmp-positive-opinion View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220127005861/en/ Contacts: Stefanie Molkenthin Boehringer Ingelheim Email: press@boehringer-ingelheim.com Phone: +49 (6132) 77 172 209 Stephan Thalen Eli Lilly and Company Email: stephan.thalen@lilly.com Phone: (317) 903-5640 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2022) - Graph Blockchain Inc. (CSE: GBLC) (OTC Pink: REGRF) (FSE: RT5A) (the "Company" or "Graph ") is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated January 24, 2022, the Company has completed its acquisition Niftable Inc. ("Nifable"), a charity focused non-fungible token ("NFT") company. Niftable now is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Graph. Niftable connects charities and artists to the NFT world providing a platform and expertise for the sale and post-sale NFTs on behalf of charities. Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement (the "Exchange Agreement") between the Company, Niftable, and the shareholders of Niftable, the purchase price of $2,600,000 was satisfied through the issuance of an aggregate of 52,000,000 Consideration Shares (the "Shares") in the capital of the Company, at a deemed price of $0.05 per Share. Issuance of the Shares was subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals including, without limitation, the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") and other conditions, and will be subject to any statutory hold periods under applicable securities legislation. Michael Yeung, Founder and President of Niftable, commented, "While NFTs were created to give artists management over their work, this has generated a flurry for art collectors looking to participate. As NFT art speculation increases, a growing number of charities have begun to explore fundraising efforts tied to NFTs. Niftables marries the charities with artists as a way to both reach a broader audience. We are excited to be joining the Graph family of companies adding another element of NFTs to their business." "Graph's acquisition of Niftable provides us exposure to the charity NFT market, with hundreds of thousands registered charities globally, and will benefit artists to digitally showcase their talents and give them a segue into the world of charities," said Paul Haber, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. About Niftable Inc. Niftable's core business is to connect charities and their artists to the NFT (non-fungible token) world. Niftable provides the expertise and execution of NFTs from the creation of the NFT to the sale and post-sale of NFTs on behalf of their charity clients. Most charities rely on volunteers and lack expertise in the emerging NFT world and that is where Niftable fills that void. Additional information on Niftable is available at www.niftable.org About Graph Blockchain Inc. Graph Blockchain provides shareholders with exposure to various areas of Decentralized Finance (DeFI). Focusing on altcoins through its wholly-owned subsidiaries Babbage Mining Corp., a Proof of Stake ("POS") miner, and Beyond the Moon Inc. an IDO focused company, Graph gives investors exposure to the vast emerging market of cryptocurrencies with the significant technological disruption and potential gains altcoins represent. In addition, through its investment in New World, Graph is providing its shareholders with exposure to the rapidly growing and emerging NFT market. Additional information on the Company is available at www.graphblockchain.com www.newworldinc.io and www.niftable.org For further information, please contact: Investor Relations Jamie Hyland Phone: 604.442.2425 Email: jamie@graphblockchain.com Media Relations Joshua Greenwald / Kristin Cwalinski Phone: 646.379.7971 / 603.475.3550 Email: gblc@kcsa.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the continued growth of the blockchain market. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on certain assumptions and expected future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the potential inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the potential inability of Niftable to continue as a going concern; the risks associated with the blockchain industry in general; increased competition in the blockchain market; the potential future unviability of the blockchain in general. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results, or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. ### To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/111908 Last year, Yili embarked upon a new journey and achieved the best operating performance ever Yili has achieved high-quality development and rewarded its employees, the industry chain and society HUHHOT, China, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 25, 2022, Yili held its 2021 annual meeting online. More than 100,000 participants gathered at this XR-based futuristic online meeting, including Yili employees, their families, and partners from around the world. Pan Gang, Chairman and President of Yili Group, said, "With love for a healthy life, we will keep bringing more products of nutrition and health to customers worldwide by continuous innovation, and bringing warmth and love to people in need by doing good. With love for our career, we will let our staff feel more of a sense of fulfillment and happiness by helping them grow, we will join hands with our partners in the industry chain to open an era of greater prosperity by keeping moving forward." Yili's rapid growth benefits its employees With continued efforts to support the professional development of its employees, Yili has established a system covering talent cultivation and employee care. This provides an effective platform for individual employees' development, extensive training resources, and a well-developed reward mechanism. Over 100 awards were granted at this meeting to outstanding employees and teams, recognizing their achievements in talent cultivation, process building, safe production, quality management, and innovations. On top of base pay and merit pay, Yili provided more than RMB 1.2 billion in employee incentives throughout 2021. Yili is also dedicated to offering diversified career paths for its employees. It provided growth and development opportunities for over 2,000 employees last year alone. Yili boosts common prosperity throughout the industrial chain As one of the top five players in the global dairy industry, Yili has been advancing its technological upgrading and fostering value chains in the industry to facilitate the continued development of its upstream and downstream partners, both technologically and financially. Yili has also helped over five million dairy farmers to raise their incomes and improve their livelihoods. As of December 31, 2021, Yili had invested RMB 90 billion in financing 8,590 of its upstream and downstream partners in the industrial chain, with RMB 7.596 billion extended in 2021. With the aim of jointly building the Global Health Ecosystem and serving consumers worldwide, Yili invested approximately RMB 100 million in rewarding its outstanding dealers at the Top Partners Conference 2022. Currently, Yili has teamed up with partners in 33 countries across five continents. Yili supports public welfare to help improve people's lives Over the years, Yili has always fulfilled its social responsibilities. By the end of 2021, the "Yili Nutrition 2030" project had covered 12,000 Chinese schools, with a total investment of more than RMB 92 million, benefiting nearly 700,000 children. In addition, with the aim of ensuring children's safety, the "Yili Ark" project had covered 25 provinces and cities across the country, benefiting 300,000 children, teachers and parents. Yili is also committed to promoting the development of a green industrial chain. Yili recently received a carbon neutral verification statement from Bureau Veritas, marking the first such verification in the local dairy industry. Its industry-leading practices around realizing peak emissions and carbon neutrality were also featured as the only case study from the food and agriculture sector in the United Nations Global Compact's Corporate Net Zero Pathway. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1736072/Pan_Gang_addresses_the_2021_annual_meeting_online.jpg DUBLIN (dpa-AFX) - Ireland's retail sales declined at a faster pace in December, figures from the Central Statistics Office showed on Friday. The volume of retail sales decreased a seasonally adjusted 3.2 percent month-on-month in December, after a 0.3 percent fall in November. Sales of electrical goods decreased 22.5 percent monthly in December and those of clothing and footwear fell by 11.3 percent. Retail sales fell 2.2 percent year-on-year in December, after a 14.4 percent rise in the previous month. Excluding automobile trade, the volume of retail sales declined by 3.1 percent monthly and rose 0.3 percent yearly in December. The retail sales value rose 3.7 percent annually in December and declined 2.9 percent from the previous month. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Eczacibasi-Monrol Nuclear Products Co. (Monrol) has today announced it has signed an agreement with Curium Netherlands B.V (Curium) to license its GMP grade medical radioisotope, no-carrier-added 177Lu (n.c.a. 177Lu) cutting-edge production technology LuMagic. This agreement will enable transfer of relevant equipment and supply from Monrol to Curium. Monrol is one of the few producers of Lutetium-177 n.c.a worldwide, having uninterrupted worldwide supply capabilities. Monrol Lu-177 n.c.a production process is an exclusive processing technology having cleaner and safer production method with stable isotope enrichment capability. Curium planning to manufacture the product Lu-177 n.c.a in its Petten production facility, Netherlands. This licence is offering significant opportunities both for Curium; one of the world's largest nuclear medicine companies and Monrol; a company which develops, manufactures, and distributes world-class radiopharmaceutical products, radioisotopes to improve quality of life of cancer patients globally. Lutetium-177 n.c.a is a radioisotope of choice for targeted radionuclide therapy. Lu-177 n.c.a production process enables treatment options that have the potential to improve treatment outcomes for certain cancer patients today and more potential treatment options in future under clinical development. Unique properties of Lutetium-177 n.c.a makes it a theranostically desirable radioisotope for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) to treat certain cancers like Neuro Endocrine Tumors (NET) and Prostate cancer. In line with our mission to improve the quality of life of cancer patients globally, Monrol is establishing strategic partnerships with multinational pharmaceutical companies and constructing a new production facility compliant with FDA 21 CFR Part 211 quality standards which will have an annual production capacity of 60 thousand doses. With its location close to Istanbul's transportation hub, the new facility will benefit from a worldwide logistics network and agreements with cargo services to 320 destinations worldwide. "Lu-177 n.c.a contributes to our mission to improve quality of life of cancer patients globally. Our new GMP certified facility exclusively designed for theranostic R&D and production with cutting edge technology will enable us to maximize supply of high-quality Lutetium. We are committed to working closely with Curium to potentially bring new therapeutic radiopharmaceutical agents into market soon to improve patients' lives having life threatening diseases" said Monrol General Manager Aydin Kucuk". John Sylvester CEO of Curium's SPECT and International businesses commented "We are delighted with Monrol as a technology partner, after extensive benchmarking this technology gave both the highest quality product with the most efficient process, as it is already proven and 'plug and play' in nature the time to market will be very short". About Monrol Monrol is one of the world's largest nuclear medicine companies leading innovation for the development and manufacturing of GMP grade radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals having headquarters in Istanbul. Monrol is distributing its world-class radiopharmaceutical products portfolio with excellence in global markets. Monrol is a CDMO, providing early development support to its customers as well as offering fully integrated services for today's nimble, lean, virtual companies effectively taking new product concepts into clinical trials and demonstrating proof of concept and going into first-in-human studies. Monrol is committed to transform and improve patient journey in cancer treatment with its radiopharmaceutical products portfolio distributing to more than 50 countries around the globe. To learn more, visit www.monrol.com About Curium Curium is the world's largest nuclear medicine company. We develop, manufacture and distribute world-class radiopharmaceutical products to help patients around the globe. Our proven heritage combined with a pioneering approach are the hallmarks to deliver innovation, excellence and unparalleled service. With manufacturing facilities across Europe and the United States, Curium delivers SPECT, PET and therapeutic radiopharmaceutical solutions for life-threatening diseases to over 14 million patients annually. The name 'Curium' honors the legacy of pioneering radioactive materials researchers Marie and Pierre Curie, after whom the radioactive element curium was named and emphasizes our focus on nuclear medicine. To learn more, visit www.curiumpharma.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220128005174/en/ Contacts: Eczacibasi Monrol Mr. Aydin Kucuk General Manager Email: aydin.kucuk@monrol.com PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN), and French drug maker Sanofi, said Friday that they voluntarily withdrew the supplemental Biologics License Application or sBLA, filed for Libtayo or Cemiplimab-rwlc, as a second-line treatment for advanced cervical cancer. The move follows after the both parties and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were not able to align on certain post-marketing studies. However, the discussions on the drug are continuing with regulatory authorities outside of the U.S. 'Libtayo is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the immune checkpoint receptor PD-1 on T-cells. By binding to PD-1, Libtayo has been shown to block cancer cells from using the PD-1 pathway to suppress T-cell activation,' the companies said in a joint statement. Libtayo is currently prescribed for certain patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC), advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), and advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The drug is also currently being investigated in trials as a monotherapy, as well as in combination with either conventional or novel therapeutic approaches for other solid tumors and blood cancers. However, the companies added that these potential uses are investigational, and their safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority. Libtayo was invented using Regeneron's proprietary VelocImmune technology, is being jointly developed by Regeneron and Sanofi under a global collaboration. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2022 / CardieX Limited (ASX:CDX)(OTC PINK:CDEXF) ("CardieX" or the "Company",) a global health-technology company and world leader in medical devices and digital solutions that target vascular and arterial health, today announce that it has retained Integrous Communications ("Integrous") as its investor relations advisor. Integrous will lead the Company's financial communications and strategic investor relations initiatives for North America. "We are excited to be partnering with Integrous to expand our investor audience in North America," stated Craig Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of CardieX. "As we focus on our large North American client orders, associated revenue growth, and new product launches, we look forward to sharing our milestones with an expanding institutional investor audience. Integrous' experience, relationships and expertise provides us with the partner we need to communicate growth initiatives to the world's largest capital markets audience." "We are pleased to be serving CardieX's communications and investor relations needs," stated Benjamin Jacobson, III, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Integrous Communications. "CardieX's product line of patented, FDA-approved devices for consumers and healthcare providers that monitor hypertension, arterial stiffness, and other vascular health disorders like stroke, Alzheimer's, and kidney disease, are the kind of disruptive and innovative medical technologies that the North American investor audience is seeking. We look forward to assisting management with all aspects of their communications and investor relations strategies." About CardieX CardieX is a global health technology company. Its ACTOR subsidiary is a world leader in medical devices and digital solutions for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and other vascular health disorders. Its CONNEQT subsidiary develops and markets consumer home health devices and wearables. CardieX is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX:CDX). Additional information is available at https://cardiex.com/ About Integrous Communications Integrous Communications is an independent communications and investor relations consulting firm providing a single source solution for financial, corporate governance, applied technology, and integrated corporate communications services. Headquartered in North America with offices in Austin, Texas, New York area, California, Vancouver and Alberta, Canada, the firm's diverse team of professionals has more than 100 years of combined experience. Integrous serves both domestic and international clients, including companies listed on the U.S., Canadian, Australian and European exchanges. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "should," "intend," "estimate," "projects," variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are risks that are detailed in the Company's filings. Contact Mathew Selinger Managing Director Integrous Communications Tel: 415-572-8152 mselinger@integcom.us SOURCE: CardieX Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/685991/CardieX-Engages-Integrous-Communications-as-North-American-Investor-Relations-Advisor HIGHLIGHTS Drilling underway at Eastmain testing both brownfield and greenfield targets 25,000m of drilling planned for first 6 months (Q1 and Q2) of 2022 Follow up infill and extensional drilling of NW Zone from areas which previously returned: 7.8m at 8.7g/t gold including 1.0m at 32.6g/t gold (EM21-146) 5.5m at 6.1g/t gold including 1.5m at 19.2g/t gold (83CH029) 6.0m at 3.6g/t gold including 1.0m at 10.2g/t gold (EM21-145) 6.0 at 3.3g/t gold including 2.0m at 9.3g/t gold (EM17-126) 3.0m at 5.2g/t gold including 1.0m at 15.0g/t gold (EM21-159) Placer Lake electromagnetic conductors, spread out over 2km of strike modelled from 2021 winter survey, to be drilled in early February. Historical rock chips sample from the Placer Lake area returned: 8.3 g/t gold, 2.7 % copper and 7.3 g/t silver Drilling of DHEM conductors at Michel, modelled from the 2021 winter survey, to be undertaken this winter to follow up historical drill intercepts of: 0.8m at 13.9g/t gold, 0.5m at 11.8g/t gold and 0.91m at 4.1g/t gold (EM10-13) 1.0m at 8.2g/t gold, 2.2m at 1.4 g/t gold (EM10-12) Drilling in the Julien area is underway on targets defined using IP chargeability and following up on historical results of: 10.5m at 42.4 g/t gold and 1.5m at 6.0g/t gold (EM16-76) 1.1m at 80.6 g/t gold (EM17-107) 10.75m at 5.5 g/t gold (EM16-93) 0.5m at 46.8 g/t gold (EM17-101) Ground electromagnetics (TDEM - Crone Deep) over strong VTEM anomalies located south of the Eastmain Mine (Southern Anomalies) are underway. Assays for lithium spodumene pegmatite samples taken last September from Ruby Hill West still pending, following up on historical samples of: 4.72%Li 2 O , 1720 ppm Rb (>100ppm Ta, >500ppm Cs) 2.15% Li 2 O , 990 ppm Rb (>100ppm Ta, >500ppm Cs) 1.97% Li 2 O , 3660 ppm Rb (>100ppm Ta, >500ppm Cs) 1.10% Li 2 O , 710 ppm Rb (>100ppm Ta, >500ppm Cs) Assays for 62 drillholes from 2021 drilling still pending including 16 with logged visible gold Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2022) - Benz Mining Corp. (TSXV: BZ) (ASX: BNZ) (the Company or Benz) is pleased to announce that, following on from successfully proving the Company's electromagnetic (EM) strategy in 2021 (targeting high grade gold mineralisation via electro magnetic conductors) , Benz's Eastmain belt exploration program for 2022 has commenced, aiming to build upon the multiple discoveries made to date. Personnel and equipment have returned to the Eastmain camp and drilling has restarted. Drillholes for D and E Zones commenced before the festive season have now been completed with one more visible gold interval from E Zone intercepted in the first days of drilling. Benz Mining CEO, Xavier Braud, commented: "It is fantastic to kick off 2022 with more visible gold from E Zone. 2022 should be filled with exciting news - both from our recently commenced 2022 exploration program and the remaining results from the substantial work program we conducted last year. We are eagerly anticipating gold assay results from 62 of the holes drilled last year, including 16 where our geologists have seen visible gold. We are also awaiting results from lithium pegmatite rock chips sampling and surface sampling. For 2022, we expect our exclusivity deal with MSA Laboratories for the use of their Val d'Or PhotonAssay laboratory to speed up assay turnaround. The laboratory will be commissioned later this quarter and we will be able to submit our core samples then. During the winter months, when drill rig access is easier, we are stepping out to Michel and Placer Lake, two new targets where we have identified electromagnetic conductors. Notably, these are the same type of conductors which helped us discover NW, D and E Zones, as well as 2 new mineralised horizons and substantial extensions to A, B and C Zones. We will also be testing some of the IP chargeability anomalies coincident with excellent gold intersections and surface occurrences in the Julien, Suzanna and MEG areas. In parallel, we are also drilling the high-grade part of NW Zone which we discovered early last year, infilling on 50m x 50m last year's wide spaced intercepts (100m x 100m) and drilling potential extensions indicated by strong off-hole DHEM conductors. Importantly, all of the drilling we have planned for 2022 is away from the current resource; we have not yet started infill drilling all the new zones we discovered over the past 18 months. We are continuing our successful strategy of stepping out wide on new targets, potentially bringing additional mineralisation to the growing inventory. We are still waiting for results from our rock chips sampling campaign at the Ruby Hill West lithium pegmatite. The presence of visible spodumene throughout is sufficient to indicate lithium mineralisation and Benz is preparing for helicopter supported drilling of the pegmatite toward the end of March (weather depending). We have a very busy year ahead with strong gold and lithium targets. The results from last year's field campaigns should also help us identify new targets this year, progressively unlocking the immense potential of 250km2 of completely underexplored greenstone belt." 2022 Exploration Campaign Drilling is underway at Eastmain testing both brownfield and greenfield targets, with 25,000m of drilling planned for first 6 months of 2022. The focus of the Company's 2022 exploration campaign is to progressively unlock the immense potential of 250km2 of underexplored greenstone belt, building upon the multiple discoveries and the substantial increase in the mineralised footprint achieved by Benz to date (since commencing work at the Project in mid-2020). As results are received for assays still pending from the substantial 2021 exploration work, further targets will be identified - focusing on both gold and lithium. Initial high-priority exploration targets for 2022 are illustrated in Figure 1 and listed below: Follow up infill and extensional drilling of NW Zone from areas which returned: 7.8m at 8.7g/t gold including 1.0m at 32.6g/t gold (EM21-146) 5.5m at 6.1g/t gold including 1.5m at 19.2g/t gold (83CH029) 6.0m at 3.6g/t gold including 1.0m at 10.2g/t gold (EM21-145) 6.0 at 3.3g/t gold including 2.0m at 9.3g/t gold (EM17-126) 3.0m at 5.2g/t gold including 1.0m at 15.0g/t gold (EM21-159) Drilling in Julien area is already underway, with targets identified using IP chargeability, following up on historical results of: 10.5m at 42.4 g/t gold and 1.5m at 6 g/t gold (EM16-76) 1.1m at 80.61 g/t gold (EM17-107) 10.75m at 5.5 g/t gold (EM16-93) 0.5m at 46.8 g/t gold (EM17-101) Ground electromagnetics over the strong southern VTEM anomalies are underway. Magnetics at the Southern Anomalies show patterns of magnetite destruction very similar to the ones observed at the Eastmain deposit. Michel area drilling of DHEM conductors modelled from the 2021 winter survey to be conducted this winter, following up on historical drill intercept of: 0.8m at 13.9g/t gold Drilling of Placer Lake electromagnetic conductors spread out over 2km of strike modelled from 2021 winter survey. Historical rock chips sample from the Placer Lake area returned: 8.3 g/t gold, 2.7 % copper and 7.3 g/t silver Drilling of Ruby Hill West lithium pegmatite outcrop planned for the end of March (weather permitting). Assays for samples taken last September from Ruby Hill West are still pending. Benz's work was following up on historical samples of: 4.72%Li 2 O, 1720 ppm Rb (>100ppm Ta, >500ppm Cs) 2.15% Li 2 O, 990 ppm Rb (>100ppm Ta, >500ppm Cs) 1.97% Li 2 O, 3660 ppm Rb (>100ppm Ta, >500ppm Cs) 1.10% Li 2 O, 710 ppm Rb (>100ppm Ta, >500ppm Cs) Figure 1: simplified geology of the Eastmain project area with electromagnetic conductors, significant drill collars, simplified geology and 2022 winter exploration areas To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/111928_77353e5f246a4a1f_001full.jpg Figure 2: Benz tenure over Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt simplified geology. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1818/111928_77353e5f246a4a1f_002full.jpg Following the Omicron variant outbreak and the Quebec CNSST's recommendations, camp capacity has been slightly reduced to allow for further distancing. The Company does not anticipate this will impact operations. This press release was prepared under supervision and approved by Dr. Danielle Giovenazzo, P.Geo, acting as Benz's qualified person under National Instrument 43-101. About Benz Mining Corp. Benz Mining Corp. (TSXV: BZ) (ASX: BNZ) brings together an experienced team of geoscientists and finance professionals with a focused strategy to unlock the immense mineral potential of the Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt in Northern Quebec, which is prospective for gold, lithium, nickel, copper and other high-value minerals. Benz is earning a 100% interest in the former producing high grade Eastmain gold mine, Ruby Hill West and Ruby Hill East projects in Quebec and owns 100% of the Windy Mountain project. The Eastmain Gold Project is situated within the Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Canada and currently hosts a NI 43-101 and JORC (2012) compliant resource of 376,000oz at 7.9g/t gold (Indicated: 236,500oz at 8.2g/t Au - Inferred: 139,300oz at 7.5g/t Au). The existing gold mineralization is associated with 15-20% semi-massive to massive pyrrhotite, pyrite and chalcopyrite making it amenable to detection by electromagnetics. Multiple gold occurrences have been identified by previous explorers over a 10km long zone along strike from the Eastmain Mine with very limited but highly encouraging testing outside the existing resource area. Benz has subsequently identified over 180 DHEM conductors over a strike length of 6km which is open in all directions. In 2021, Benz identified presence of visible spodumene in a pegmatite at the Ruby Hill West project, indicating lithium mineralisation which Benz intends to further explore in 2022. This announcement has been approved for release by the Board of Directors of Benz Mining Corp. For more information please contact: Paul Fowler Head of Corporate Development (Canada) Benz Mining Corp. Telephone: +1 416 356 8165 Email: info@benzmining.com Xavier Braud CEO, Head of Corporate Development (Aus) Benz Mining Corp. Telephone +61 8 6143 6702 email: info@benzmining.com Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains regulatory approval. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, that occurrences such as those referred to above are realized and result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's financial condition and development plans change, and delays in regulatory approval, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE. Competent Person's Statements: The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results is based on and fairly represents information and supporting information compiled by Mr Xavier Braud, who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG membership ID:6963). Mr Braud is a consultant to the Company and has sufficient experience in the style of mineralization and type of deposits under consideration and qualifies as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Braud holds securities in Benz Mining Corp and consents to the inclusion of all technical statements based on his information in the form and context in which they appear. The Company confirms there are no material changes from when the results were first reported. The information in this announcement that relates to the Inferred Mineral Resource was first reported under the JORC Code by the Company in its prospectus released to the ASX on 21 December 2020. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcement and confirms that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimate continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/111928 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2022) - World Copper Ltd. (TSXV: WCU) (OTCQB: WCUFF) ("World Copper" or the "Company"), announces that the previously announced plan of arrangement whereby World Copper and Cardero Resource Corp. ("Cardero") agreed to combine their respective businesses (the "Arrangement") has now closed. Pursuant to the Arrangement, a total of 29,389,236 common shares of World Copper have been issued to Cardero shareholders based on an exchange ratio of 0.200795, and Cardero has amalgamated with 1302172 B.C. Ltd. to become "Zonia Holdings Corp.", a wholly-owned subsidiary of World Copper. "The team at World Copper has been eagerly awaiting the addition of the Zonia property to our portfolio and we welcome the completion of this merger," stated Nolan Peterson, CEO of World Copper. "Zonia will be an integral part of our development plans as we pursue our strategy of advancing and de-risking our portfolio of assets in premier copper jurisdictions." ABOUT ZONIA Zonia is located in the Walnut Grove Mining District, Yavapai County, Arizona, and consists of 261 patented (96) and unpatented (185) mineral claims, and 566.85 acres of surface rights acquired from the State of Arizona, all totaling 4,279.55 acres. Zonia is a near-surface, copper-oxide resource and a brownfields site having already been mined in the late 1960s and '70s. The project has been significantly de-risked with over 50,000 metres of drilling completed to date and with substantial amounts of detailed engineering completed. Zonia contains Measured resources of 15.6 million short tons grading 0.43% copper (129.3 million pounds of copper), Indicated resources of 61.4 million short tons grading 0.31% copper (380.6 million pounds of copper) and Inferred resources of 27.2 million short tons grading 0.28% copper (154.6 million pounds of copper) at a 0.2% total copper cut-off grade. A preliminary economic assessment dated April 17, 2018, effective date March 22, 2018 (the "PEA") was prepared by Global Resource Engineering Ltd., which suggests that the project can be advanced utilizing low-cost open pit mining and heap leach with SX-EW processing to produce pure copper cathode (a copy of the PEA technical report is available on Cardero's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com). Zonia was pre-stripped during mining in the late 1960s and 1970s so that, as described in the PEA, the strip ratio is a low 1:1. Furthermore, GRE outlines a mine plan and development strategy entirely on private land, which significantly reduces the timeline for permitting. At a copper price of $3.00/lb, Zonia shows an after-tax NPV@6% of $225 million, and an internal rate of return ("IRR") of 29.0%. The PEA is preliminary in nature, it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and, as such, there is no certainty that the PEA results will be realized. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability as there is no certainty that all or any part of the resources will be converted into reserves. In addition to the established resource, the Zonia land position contains a copper-molybdenum geochemical anomaly (associated with depressed manganese values) that is similar in intensity and scale (1000 by 1500 metres) to the main resource, and within the same prospective geology. This anomaly is located two kilometers northeast of the resource and represents a high-priority copper-oxide porphyry exploration drill target. BOARD UPDATE Concurrent with the closing of the Arrangement, Mr. Robert Kopple and Mr. Keith Henderson have been appointed as directors of World Copper. Nolan Peterson commented, "The addition of Mr. Kopple and Mr. Henderson to the Board of Directors of World Copper strengthens and enhances our already impressive Board. Mr. Kopple brings a wealth of legal, business and transaction experience to the Board, and is a committed long-term value investor. Mr. Henderson's considerable experience in mining will be a strong asset to the Company, and will benefit the Board as we commit to advancing our assets, and especially our flagship asset, Escalones, in as sustainable a manner as possible. I look forward to working with Mr. Kopple and Mr. Henderson more closely as we grow the Company". Mr. Robert Kopple Robert C. Kopple is an experienced investor, businessman and lawyer. He is involved in a broad range of corporate financing activities with public companies. Mr. Kopple is a senior partner in a law firm based in Los Angeles specializing in estate planning, tax law and business transactions. His investments include diverse interests in real estate and in several operating companies in mining, healthcare and technology. Mr. Kopple is a significant investor in World Copper. Mr. Keith Henderson Mr. Henderson is a mining industry executive with 25 years' experience throughout Africa, Europe, and North and South America. He was educated in Europe, graduating with B.Sc. (Hons) and M.Sc. in geology and has extensive experience in multiple mineral deposit types and commodities. The Company also makes the following announcement in accordance with National Instrument 62-103 The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues and National Instrument 62-104 Take-Over Bids and Issuer Bids. Pursuant to the Arrangement, the Company acquired one (1) common share of Zonia Holdings Corp. (the "Amalco Share") for each common share of 1302172 B.C. Ltd. ("Subco") held by it prior to the closing of the Arrangement. Immediately prior to the closing of the Arrangement, the Company did not beneficially own or have control and direction over any Amalco Shares. Immediately after the closing of the Arrangement, the Company beneficially owns and has control and direction over one (1) share of Amalco, representing 100% of the issued and outstanding Amalco Shares. The Company acquired the Amalco Share pursuant to the Arrangement. However, the Company will review its holdings from time to time and may, in the future, increase or decrease its ownership or control over securities of Amalco as circumstances dictate. An early warning report will be filed under Amalco's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com . A copy of the early warning report can also be obtained by contacting Marla Ritchie, Corporate Secretary, World Copper Ltd., at 604-638-3287 (#2710 - 200 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 1S4). QUALIFIED PERSON John Drobe, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Drobe is not independent of World Copper as he is a consultant of World Copper. ABOUT WORLD COPPER LTD. World Copper Ltd., headquartered in Vancouver, BC, is a Canadian resource company focused on the exploration and development of its copper porphyry projects: Escalones and Cristal in Chile, and Zonia in Arizona. Two of these projects have estimated resources with significant soluble copper mineralization, and there are at least two other copper porphyry targets with exciting potential to expand the resource base. The Zonia project was acquired as part of the previously announced merger transaction with Cardero Resource Corp. Please refer to news releases dated April 20, 2021; June 9, 2021; September 20, 2021; November 9, 2021 and December 13, 2021 for more details. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of WORLD COPPER LTD. "Nolan Peterson" Nolan Peterson Chief Executive Officer For further information, or to schedule a Zoom meeting with Management, please contact: Nolan Peterson or Michael Pound Phone: 604-638-3665 E-mail: info@worldcopperltd.com For all Investor Relations inquiries, please contact: John Liviakis Liviakis Financial Communications Inc. Phone: 415-389-4670 For all Public Relations inquiries, please contact: Nancy Thompson Vorticom, Inc. Office: 212-532-2208 | Mobile: 917-371-4053 Follow Us: Twitter: https://twitter.com/WorldCopperLtd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldCopperLtd LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/worldcopperltd Neither TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements. Although World Copper believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of World Copper to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, statements as to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of World Copper, the ability of World Copper to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the TSXV), permits or financing, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on World Copper's business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of World Copper to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in World Copper's continuous disclosure documents. All of World Copper's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. World Copper does not undertake any obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/111930 DGAP-News: 4finance S.A. / Key word(s): Bond 4finance S.A.: 4finance EUR 2025 bond put option notification 28.01.2022 / 14:43 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 4finance EUR 2025 bond put option notification 28 January 2022. 4finance S.A. ("4finance" or the "Company") notifies investors that it has published a put option notice in respect of its 11.25% EUR 2025 bonds, as per the Terms and Conditions amended in August 2021. Upon request from investors the Company may repurchase up to a total of EUR 15 million of the EUR 2025 bonds at par. Given the EUR 2025 bonds are currently trading above par, the Company does not expect significant investor participation. The put option notice and relevant forms to submit a repurchase request are available at https://www.4finance.com/investors-and-media/bonds For more information, please contact: investorrelations@4finance.com or Aalto Capital (manfred.steinbeisser@aaltocapital.com / +49 89 8986777-0) Certain statements in this document are "forward-looking statements". These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from those included in these statements. About 4finance Established in 2008, 4finance is one of Europe's largest digital consumer lending groups with operations in 9 countries. Leveraging automation and data-driven insights across the business, 4finance has grown rapidly, issuing over 9 billion since inception in instalment loans, lines of credit and single payment loans. 4finance operates a portfolio of market-leading brands offering simple, useful and transparent products to millions of customers. The Group provides convenient products in a responsible way to the many consumers who are often underserved by conventional providers. The Group also offers deposits, in addition to consumer and SME loans through its TBI Bank subsidiary, an EU licensed institution with operations in Bulgaria and Romania. www.4finance.com 28.01.2022 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China published a white paper titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective" on Friday. Following is the full text of the white paper: China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China January 2022 Preamble "To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry and build China into a space power is our eternal dream," stated President Xi Jinping. The space industry is a critical element of the overall national strategy, and China upholds the principle of exploration and utilization of outer space for peaceful purposes. Since 2016, China's space industry has made rapid and innovative progress, manifested by a steady improvement in space infrastructure, the completion and operation of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, the completion of the high-resolution earth observation system, steady improvement of the service ability of satellite communications and broadcasting, the conclusion of the last step of the three-step lunar exploration program ("orbit, land, and return"), the first stages in building the space station, and a smooth interplanetary voyage and landing beyond the earth-moon system by Tianwen-1, followed by the exploration of Mars. These achievements have attracted worldwide attention. In the next five years, China will integrate space science, technology and applications while pursuing the new development philosophy, building a new development model and meeting the requirements for high-quality development. It will start a new journey towards a space power. The space industry will contribute more to China's growth as a whole, to global consensus and common effort with regard to outer space exploration and utilization, and to human progress. We are publishing this white paper to offer a brief introduction to China's major achievements in this field since 2016 and its main tasks in the next five years, in order to help the international community better understand China's space industry. I. A New Journey Towards a Strong Space Presence 1. Mission The mission of China's space program is: to explore outer space to expand humanity's understanding of the earth and the cosmos; to facilitate global consensus on our shared responsibility in utilizing outer space for peaceful purposes and safeguarding its security for the benefit of all humanity; to meet the demands of economic, scientific and technological development, national security and social progress; and to raise the scientific and cultural levels of the Chinese people, protect China's national rights and interests, and build up its overall strength. 2. Vision China aims to strengthen its space presence in an all-round manner: to enhance its capacity to better understand, freely access, efficiently use, and effectively manage space; to defend national security, lead self-reliance and self-improvement efforts in science and technology, and promote high-quality economic and social development; to advocate sound and efficient governance of outer space, and pioneer human progress; and to make a positive contribution to China's socialist modernization and to peace and progress for all humanity. 3. Principles China's space industry is subject to and serves the overall national strategy. China adheres to the principles of innovation-driven, coordinated, efficient, and peaceful progress based on cooperation and sharing to ensure a high-quality space industry. - Innovation-driven development China puts innovation at the core of its space industry. It boosts state strategic scientific and technological strength in the space industry, implements major space programs, strengthens original innovation, optimizes the environment for innovation, achieves industrial production as early as possible, and grows China's independent capacity to build a safe space industry. - Coordination and efficiency China adopts a holistic approach in building its space industry. It mobilizes and guides different sectors to take part in and contribute to this key industry, and coordinates all relevant activities under an overall plan. It ensures that technology plays a greater role in promoting and guiding space science and applications, and it facilitates the growth of new forms and models of business for the industry. These measures aim to raise the quality and overall performance of China's space industry. - For peaceful purposes China has always advocated the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, and opposes any attempt to turn outer space into a weapon or battlefield or launch an arms race in outer space. China develops and utilizes space resources in a prudent manner, takes effective measures to protect the space environment, ensures that space remains peaceful and clean, and guarantees that its space activities benefit humanity. - Cooperation and sharing China always combines independence and self-reliance with opening to the outside world. It actively engages in high-level international exchanges and cooperation, and expands global public services for space technology and products. It takes an active part in solving major challenges facing humanity, helps to realize the goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and facilitates global consensus and common effort with regard to outer space exploration and utilization. II. Development of Space Technology and Systems China's space industry serves its major strategic needs, and targets cutting-edge technology that leads the world. Spearheaded by the major space projects, the country has accelerated research into core technologies, stepped up their application, and redoubled its efforts to develop space technology and systems. As a result, China's capacity to enter and return from space, and its ability to engage in space exploration, utilization and governance have grown markedly along a sustainable path. 1. Space Transport System From 2016 to December 2021, 207 launch missions were completed, including 183 by the Long March carrier rocket series. The total launch attempts exceeded 400. The Long March carrier rockets are being upgraded towards non-toxic and pollution-free launch, and they are becoming smarter boosted by modular technology. The Long March-5 and Long March-5B carrier rockets have been employed for regular launches; Long March-8 and Long March-7A have made their maiden flights, with increased payload capacity. China now provides a variety of launch vehicle services. The Long March-11 carrier rocket has achieved commercial launch from the sea; the Smart Dragon-1, Kuaizhou-1A, Hyperbola-1, CERES-1 and other commercial vehicles have been successfully launched; successful demonstration flight tests on reusable launch vehicles have been carried out. In the next five years, China will continue to improve the capacity and performance of its space transport system, and move faster to upgrade launch vehicles. It will further expand the launch vehicle family, send into space new-generation manned carrier rockets and high-thrust solid-fuel carrier rockets, and speed up the R&D of heavy-lift launch vehicles. It will continue to strengthen research into key technologies for reusable space transport systems, and conduct test flights accordingly. In response to the growing need for regular launches, China will develop new rocket engines, combined cycle propulsion, and upper stage technologies to improve its capacity to enter and return from space, and make space entry and exit more efficient. 2. Space Infrastructure (1) Satellite remote-sensing system The space-based section of the China High-resolution Earth Observation System has been largely completed, enabling high-spatial-resolution, high-temporal-resolution and high-spectrum-resolution earth observation. China now provides improved land observation services, having launched the Ziyuan-3 03 earth resources satellite, the Huanjing Jianzai-2A/2B satellites for environmental disaster management, a high-resolution multi-mode imaging satellite, a hyper-spectral observation satellite, and a number of commercial remote-sensing satellites. In ocean observation, China is now able to view multiple indexes of contiguous waters around the globe on all scales, with high-resolution images from the Haiyang-1C/1D satellites and the Haiyang-2B/2C/2D satellites. China's ability to observe the global atmosphere has achieved a significant increase. Its new-generation Fengyun-4A/4B meteorological satellites in the geostationary orbit are able to perform all-weather, precise and uninterrupted atmospheric monitoring and disaster monitoring to boost response capability. The successful launches of Fengyun-3D/3E satellites enable coordinated morning, afternoon and twilight monitoring, and the Fengyun-2H satellite provides monitoring services for countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. With further improvements to the ground system of its remote-sensing satellites, China is now able to provide remote-sensing satellite data receiving and quick processing services across the world. (2) Satellite communications and broadcasting system China has made steady progress in developing fixed communications and broadcasting satellite network, which now covers more areas with greater capacity. The Zhongxing-6C and Zhongxing-9B satellites ensure the uninterrupted, stable operation of broadcasting and television services. The Zhongxing-16 and APSTAR-6D satellites, each with a 50Gbps capacity, signify that satellite communications in China have reached the stage of high-capacity service. The mobile communications and broadcasting satellite network has expanded with the launch of the Tiantong-1 02/03 satellites, operating in tandem with the Tiantong-1 01 satellite, to provide voice, short message and data services for hand-held terminal users in China, its neighboring areas, and certain parts of the Asia-Pacific. The relay satellite system is being upgraded with the launch of the Tianlian-1 05 and Tianlian-2 01 satellites, giving a powerful boost to capacity. The satellite communications and broadcasting ground system has been improved, to form a space-ground integrated network that provides satellite communications and broadcasting, internet, Internet of Things, and information services around the globe. (3) Satellite navigation system The completion and operation of the 30-satellite BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) represents the successful conclusion of the system's three-step strategy and its capacity to serve the world. BeiDou's world-leading services include positioning, navigation, timing, regional and global short-message communication, global search and rescue, ground-based and satellite-based augmentation, and precise point positioning. In the next five years, China will continue to improve its space infrastructure, and integrate remote-sensing, communications, navigation, and positioning satellite technologies. It will: Upgrade its spatial information services featuring extensive connection, precise timing and positioning, and all dimension sensoring; Develop satellites for geostationary microwave monitoring, new-type ocean color observation, carbon monitoring of the territorial ecosystem, and atmospheric environmental monitoring; Develop dual-antenna X-band interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), land water resources and other satellite technology, for efficient, comprehensive earth observation and data acquisition across the globe; Build a satellite communications network with high and low orbit coordination, test new communications satellites for commercial application, and build a second-generation data relay satellite system; Study and research navigation-communications integration, low-orbit augmentation and other key technologies for the next-generation BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and develop a more extensive, more integrated and smarter national positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) system; Continue to improve the ground systems for remote-sensing, communications and navigation satellites. 3. Manned Spaceflight The Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft has docked with the earth-orbiting Tiangong-2 space laboratory. With breakthroughs in key technologies for cargo transport and in-orbit propellant replenishment, China has successfully completed the second phase of its manned spaceflight project. The launch of the Tianhe core module marks a solid step in building China's space station. The Tianzhou-2 and Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou-12 and Shenzhou-13 manned spacecraft, together with the Tianhe core module to which they have docked, form an assembly in steady operation. Six astronauts have worked in China's space station, performing extravehicular activities, in-orbit maintenance, and scientific experiments. In the next five years, China will continue to implement its manned spaceflight project. It plans to: Launch the Wentian and Mengtian experimental modules, the Xuntian space telescope, the Shenzhou manned spacecraft, and the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft; Complete China's space station and continue operations, build a space laboratory on board, and have astronauts on long-term assignments performing large-scale scientific experiments and maintenance; Continue studies and research on the plan for a human lunar landing, develop new-generation manned spacecraft, and research key technologies to lay a foundation for exploring and developing cislunar space. 4. Deep Space Exploration (1) Lunar exploration Achieving relay communications through the Queqiao satellite, the Chang'e-4 lunar probe performed humanity's first soft landing on the far side of the moon, and conducted roving exploration. The Chang'e-5 lunar probe brought back 1,731 g of samples from the moon, marking China's first successful extraterrestrial sampling and return, and the completion of its three-step lunar exploration program of orbiting, landing and return. (2) Planetary exploration The Tianwen-1 Mars probe orbited and landed on Mars; the Zhurong Mars rover explored the planet and left China's first mark there. China has achieved a leap from cislunar to interplanetary exploration. In the next five years, China will continue with lunar and planetary exploration. It will: Launch the Chang'e-6 lunar probe to collect and bring back samples from the polar regions of the moon; Launch the Chang'e-7 lunar probe to perform a precise landing in the moon's polar regions and a hopping detection in lunar shadowed area; Complete R&D on the key technology of Chang'e-8, and work with other countries, international organizations and partners to build an international research station on the moon; Launch asteroid probes to sample near-earth asteroids and probe main-belt comets; Complete key technological research on Mars sampling and return, exploration of the Jupiter system, and so forth; Study plans for boundary exploration of the solar system. 5. Space Launch Sites and Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) (1) Space launch sites Adaptive improvements have been completed at the Jiuquan, Taiyuan and Xichang launch sites, with new launch pads installed at Jiuquan for the commercial launch of liquid fuel rockets, and the Wenchang Launch Site entering service. China has formed a launch site network covering both coastal and inland areas, high and low altitudes, and various trajectories to satisfy the launch needs of manned spaceships, space station modules, deep space probes and all kinds of satellites. In addition, its first sea launch site has begun operation. (2) Space TT&C China's leap from cislunar to interplanetary TT&C communications, with growing space-based TT&C capacity, represents a significant progress. Its space TT&C network has improved to form an integrated space-ground TT&C network providing security, reliability, quick response, flexible access, efficient operation and diverse services. TT&C missions of the Shenzhou and Tianzhou spacecraft series, Tianhe core module, Chang'e lunar probe series, and Tianwen-1 Mars probe have been completed successfully. TT&C station networks for commercial satellites are growing quickly. In the next five years, China will strengthen unified technical standard-setting for its space products, and on this basis will: Further adapt the existing launch site system to better serve most launch missions, and make launch sites smarter, more reliable and more cost-effective to support high-intensity and diversified launch missions; Build commercial launch pads and launch sites to meet different commercial launch needs; Improve the space TT&C network in terms of organization, technology and methodology, grow the capacity to utilize and integrate space- and ground-based TT&C resources, and build a space TT&C network providing ubiquitous coverage and connections; Coordinate the operation and management of the national space system for greater efficiency; Strengthen the deep-space TT&C communications network to support missions probing the moon and Mars. 6. Experiments on New Technologies China has launched a number of new technological test satellites, and tested new technologies such as the common platforms of new-generation communications satellites, very high throughput satellites' telecommunication payload, Ka-band communications, satellite-ground high-speed laser communications, and new electric propulsion. In the next five years, China will focus on new technology engineering and application, conduct in-orbit tests of new space materials, devices and techniques, and test new technologies in these areas: Smart self-management of spacecraft; Space mission extension vehicle; Innovative space propulsion; In-orbit service and maintenance of spacecraft; Space debris cleaning. 7. Space Environment Governance With a growing database, China's space debris monitoring system is becoming more capable of collision warning and space event perception and response, effectively ensuring the safety of in-orbit spacecraft. In compliance with the Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities, China has applied upper stage passivation to all its carrier rockets, and completed end of life active deorbit of the Tiangong-2 and other spacecraft, making a positive contribution to mitigating space debris. Progress has been made in the search and tracking of near-earth objects and in data analysis. A basic space climate service system is now in place, capable of providing services in space climate monitoring, early warning, and forecasting, and is providing broader applications. In the next five years, China will continue to expand its space environment governance system. It will: Strengthen space traffic control; Improve its space debris monitoring system, cataloguing database, and early warning services; Conduct in-orbit maintenance of spacecraft, collision avoidance and control, and space debris mitigation, to ensure the safe, stable and orderly operation of the space system; Strengthen the protection of its space activities, assets and other interests by boosting capacity in disaster backup and information protection, and increasing invulnerability and survivability; Study plans for building a near-earth object defense system, and increase the capacity of near-earth object monitoring, cataloguing, early warning, and response; Build an integrated space-ground space climate monitoring system, and continue to improve relevant services to effectively respond to catastrophic space climate events. III. Developing and Expanding Space Application Industry To serve the economy and society, China has promoted public and commercial application of its satellites and space technology, growing the industry towards greater efficiency. 1. Boosting Public Services with Satellites The service capacity of satellite applications has markedly improved. The significant role of satellites is seen in the protection of resources and the eco-environment, disaster prevention and mitigation, management of emergencies, weather forecasting and climate change response, and also felt in social management and public services, urbanization, coordinated regional development, and poverty eradication. The space industry helps to improve people's lives. The satellite remote-sensing system has been used by almost all departments at national and provincial levels to conduct emergency monitoring of over 100 major and catastrophic natural disasters around the country. It provides services to tens of thousands of domestic users and over 100 countries, having distributed over 100 million scenes of data. The communications and broadcasting satellite network has made direct services available to over 140 million households in China's rural and remote areas, provided returned data for over 500 mobile phone base stations, and ensured efficient emergency communications during the responses to the forest fire in Liangshan, Sichuan province, to the heavy rainstorm in Zhengzhou, Henan province and to other major disaster relief work. The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System has guaranteed the safety of over seven million operating vehicles, provided positioning and short message communication services to over 40,000 seagoing fishing vessels, and offered precise positioning services for the freighting of supplies and tracking of individual movement for Covid-19 control, and for hospital construction. In the next five years, under the overarching goal of building a safe, healthy, beautiful and digital China, we will intensify the integration of satellite application with the development of industries and regions, and space information with new-generation information technology such as big data and Internet of Things. We will also extend the integrated application of remote-sensing satellite data on land, ocean and meteorology, advance the construction of infrastructure for integrated application of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, satellite communications, and the ground communications network, and improve our capacity to tailor and refine professional services. All these efforts will help to achieve the goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality, to revitalize rural areas, and to realize new-type urbanization, coordinated development between regions and eco-environmental progress. 2. Space Application Industry The commercial use of satellite technology is thriving, which expands the applications market for governments, enterprises and individuals. A group of competitive commercial space enterprises are emerging and realizing industrialized large-scale operation. A variety of products and services such as high-accuracy maps using remote-sensing data, full dimensional images, data processing, and application software are improving the service to users in transport, e-commerce, trading of agricultural products, assessment of disaster losses and insurance claims, and the registration of real estate. The ability to commercialize satellite communications and broadcasting services has further improved. Four 4K Ultra HD television channels in China were launched and TV viewers now have access to over 100 HD channels. Internet access is also available on board ocean vessels and passenger aircraft. Tiantong-1, a satellite mobile communication system, is in commercial operation. The satellite navigation industry has witnessed rapid growth as evidenced by sales of over 100 million chips compatible with the BeiDou system. Its industrial applications have been widely introduced into mass consumption, the sharing economy, and daily life. Achievements in space technology have helped traditional industries transform and upgrade, supported emerging industries such as new energy, new materials and environmental protection, enabled new business models such as smart cities, smart agriculture and unmanned driving to grow, making a great contribution to building China's strengths in science and technology, manufacturing, cyberspace and transport. In the next five years, China's space industry will seize the opportunities presented by the expanding digital industry and the digital transformation of traditional industries, to promote the application and transfer of space technology. Through innovative business models and the deep integration of space application with digital economy, more efforts will be made to expand and extend the scope for applying satellite remote-sensing and satellite communications technologies, and realizing the industrialized operation of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. This will provide more advanced, economical, high-quality products and convenient services for all industries and sectors and for mass consumption. New business models for upscaling the space economy such as travel, biomedicine, debris removal and experiment services will be developed to expand the industry. (More) Strong interest in PARA OPS from U.S. distributors, international representatives, Homeland Security and law enforcement agencies Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2022) - KWESST Micro Systems Inc. (TSXV: KWE) (OTCQB: KWEMF) ("KWESST" or the "Company") is pleased to report on the results of the 2022 SHOT Show, held January 18-21 in Las Vegas, at which KWESST displayed and demonstrated its single-shot and multiple-shot PARA OPS non-lethal products for personal defense. Also on display were samples of the ARWEN product line, recently acquired by KWESST. "As expected, the SHOT Show confirmed strong interest in our non-lethal PARA OPS technology and products," said Jeff MacLeod, Founder, President, and CEO of KWESST. This year's SHOT Show was held as recent reports have indicated that the violent crime rate rose significantly across the United States in 2021, including increases in incidents of property crime, violent assaults and even homicides. As crime rates have ticked up in numerous communities over the past year, there remains a distinct need for an effective, non-lethal system to better help law enforcement officers perform their everyday duties. The Company anticipates the new PARA OPS system will transform both the non-lethal personal defense category and the broader law enforcement industry. "Distributors from across the U.S., as well as overseas, expressed strong interest in carrying PARA OPS products and are anxiously awaiting classification from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, commonly known as the ATF," said MacLeod. "ATF classification remains pending but is expected in the coming weeks. Orders for product may only be solicited and accepted once ATF classification is received." Interest in the Company's presence at the SHOT Show was heightened by the inclusion of PARA OPS products in the New Product Showcase and by the previously announced appearance of Brandon Tatum, famous for his popular Officer Tatum show, who drew attention from his following in the law enforcement community with signings of his new book, Beaten Black and Blue, at the Company's booth. Invited guests, including Tatum, also attended an invitation-only firing demonstration of the PARA OPS products, which highlighted the system's deterrent capability utilizing inert powder rounds. As one guest remarked on the accuracy: "the round certainly goes where the laser points." There was also pronounced interest at the show from the law enforcement community, with many commenting on the advantages of the PARA OPS low energy cartridge approach when compared with current alternatives. Interested agencies included some of the largest metro police agencies in the U.S., Homeland Security agencies and a key military agency with responsibility for less-lethal systems. Commercial representatives from Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia, with an established base of foreign customers, also expressed interest in the Company's unique PARA OPS solutions. "We have a great deal of follow-up in front of us now from the extensive interest at the show," added MacLeod, "including from agencies that have requested further information and product trials." The SHOT Show was also an opportunity to meet with strategic suppliers and partners in the industry as part of the Company's finalizing of plans for outsourced full production in the U.S. as order quantities eventually build. Prospective pricing is US $99 for the single shot unit and US $325 for the five-shot flashlight model. Image: First product introduction To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7366/111926_90dd5c4f340d29a8_002full.jpg In conjunction with the SHOT Show, the Company also released its web site for PARA OPS at www.para-ops.com . The Company also reported that in accordance with its Long-Term Incentive Plan, on January 4, 2022, KWESST granted 72,580 Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") to an officer, vesting 25% each quarter from the grant date. About PARA OPS The patent-pending PARA OPS technology is a breakthrough in non-lethal systems. It combines the reliability of a cartridge with a polymer projectile in a low-energy self-stabilizing configuration for accuracy. There is no gunpowder, compressed air or CO2. Projectiles come in a choice of payloads appropriate to the mission, whether personal defense, public order or realistic tactical simulation. Cartridges fire from a low-cost dedicated launcher that can look like a firearm, a TV remote control, a flashlight, or any hybrid or custom design. Launchers fire only PARA OPS cartridges and will not accept live ammunition. Projectile payloads include incapacitating pepper powder, inert colored powder for training, and solid slugs for practice or pain compliance. About KWESST KWESST develops and commercializes breakthrough next-generation tactical systems that meet the requirements of security forces and personal defense for overmatch capability against adversaries. The company's current portfolio of unique proprietary offerings include its unique non-lethal Low Energy Cartridge (LEC) system with application across all segments of the non-lethal market, including law enforcement and personal defence. KWESST is also engaged in the digitization of tactical forces for shared situational awareness and targeting with its signature TASCSTM (Tactical Awareness and Situational Control System) for real-time awareness and targeting information from any source (including drones) streamed directly to users' smart devices and weapons. Other KWESST products include counter-measures against threats such as drones, lasers and electronic detection. These include the autonomous GreyGhostTM soldier-portable micro drone missile system that defends against small hostile drones including swarms using high-speed kinetic impact; a Ground Laser Defence system to counter the emerging threat of weaponized lasers against personnel and the PhantomTM electronic battlefield decoy system to mask the electromagnetic signature of friendly forces with decoy signatures at false locations to deceive and confuse adversaries. These systems can operate stand-alone or integrate seamlessly with OEM products and battlefield management systems. The Company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with operations in Stafford, VA and representative offices in London, UK and Abu Dhabi, UAE. KWESST trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol KWE and on the U.S. OTCQB under the symbol KWEMF. Contact: Jason Frame, Investor Relations: frame@kwesst.com For more information, please visit https://kwesst.com/ Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. KWESST disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/111926 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2022) - Red Light Holland Corp. (CSE: TRIP) (FSE: 4YX) (OTC Pink: TRUFF) ("Red Light Holland" or the "Company"), an Ontario-based corporation engaged in the production, growth, and sale of a premium brand of magic truffles, is pleased to congratulate its partner CCrest Lab for being approved by Health Canada to supply Psilocybin to the new Special Access Program that would allow patients with conditions that are not treatable by other medication to get access to Psilocybin. Red Light Holland has successfully imported their psilocybin truffles from the Netherlands to CCrest Laboratories twice where they were tested. Red Light Holland and CCrest Laboratories have continuously demonstrated their strong commitment to the highest regulatory compliance standards. Red Light Holland hopes to continue to provide CCrest Laboratories with a source of their naturally occurring Psilocybin truffles, that would then be made available free of charge for patients who are eligible under the Special Access Program based on compassionate need. "The new special access program is a great first step to increase access to psilocybin responsibly in Canada and our partners, CCrest Laboratories, have done amazing work to be approved by Health Canada as a supplier," said Todd Shapiro, Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Company. "As a company we want to make a positive difference in this world, which is why we'd like to offer our lab tested Truffles via CCrest Labs, free of charge, to patients who are granted Special Access in Canada." "CCrest Labs and Red Light Holland are aiming to continue to work with the Canadian Government to ensure the success of this program, showcasing the groundbreaking naturally occurring psilocybin research we have been doing which has provided us extra knowledge on Red Light Holland's products in the Netherlands. CCrest Labs and Red Light Holland have formed a great allegiance and we are completely aligned in the 'compassionate need and free supply' approach," said Alex Grenier, CEO of Shaman Pharma and President of CCrest Laboratories. "We'd like to thank Health Canada as well for their progressive views and continued support for allowing us to get two Psilocybin import licences to ship Red Light Holland products over international borders and for approving us to supply Psilocybin to the new Special Access Program." About Red Light Holland Red Light Holland is an Ontario-based corporation engaged in the production, growth and sale (through existing Smart Shops operators and an advanced e-commerce platform) of a premium brand of magic truffles. For additional information on the Company: Todd Shapiro Chief Executive Officer & Director Tel: 647-643-TRIP (8747) Email: todd@redlighttruffles.com Website: https://redlighttruffles.com/ About Shaman Pharma Corp. Shaman Pharma is an R&D incubator, strategic partner, and full-service laboratory to the global Psychedelics industry. Through its CDSA Narcotics Licence and regulatory/distribution expertise, the Company's platform is helping emerging biotech entreprises to accelerate their innovations to market. A federally registered private corporation headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Shaman Pharma Corp. operates a growing portfolio of assets including Ccrest Laboratories and CBD Export Global. Visit www.shamanpharma.com for more information. Forward-Looking Statements Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Red Light Holland. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: statements with respect to the evaluation and testing of the Company's naturally occurring psilocybe truffles by CCrest Laboratories for scientific and medical purposes; the potential of the Company's products being used for scientific and medical purposes; the potential to supply the Company's naturally occurring truffles for the Special Access Program; the potential for the Company to supply naturally occurring truffles via CCrest Labs for the Special Access Program through compassionate grounds; statements with respect to the Company's expansion into the mental wellness pharmaceutical sector; the future sharing of the test results with the Company's customers and shareholders; the Company and CCrest labs to get more of the Company's product into Canada via a Health Canada approve Psilocybin import License, and the Company's ability to establish itself as the leader in the recreational psychedelics sector. Forward-looking information is based on a number of key expectations and assumptions made by Red Light Holland, including without limitation: the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the Canadian economy and Red Light Holland's business, and the extent and duration of such impact; no change to laws or regulations that negatively affect Red Light Holland's business; there will be a demand for Red Light Holland's products in the future; no unanticipated expenses or costs arise; the Company will be able to continue to develop products that are allowed to be imported and sold under Health Canada's import permit; and the partnership with Shaman Pharma Corp. will help Red Light Holland to achieve its business goals. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based upon what the Company believes to be reasonable assumptions, it cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the inability of the Company to obtain all necessary governmental and/or other regulatory approvals, licenses, and permits necessary to operate and expand the Company's facilities; the effect of regulatory and/or political change and its effect on the legislation and regulations surrounding the psychedelics industry; negative perception of the medical-use and adult-use psilocybin industry; the inability of CCrest to complete the planned testing of the Company's products; the potential unviability of psilocybin for medical and/or scientific purposes; the inability of the Company to continue its growth; the Company's limited operating history; reliance on management; the Company's requirements for additional financing; and competition for mental health and wellness investments. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/111947 LONDON, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial brokers saw an overall surge in client registrations in 2020, primarily due to pandemic restrictions, resulting in individuals having to source other ways to supplement their income. Furthermore, the digital asset markets saw a rapid expansion with the launch of new coins and digital networks. This presented an excellent advantage for digital asset brokers like Winiford , a leader in the field, to increase its clientele by updating their financial blog for 2022 and offering present market insights along with revised digital asset offerings. "This is how financial brokerages should offer educational assistance in 2022," stated Rudy Garmand, spokesperson for Winiford, "We know how exhausting it can get for newbies to understand this dynamic market and its associated risks, and to keep up to date with the constant changes in this industry. On the other hand, diving in right away without any basic knowledge about this world is very risky. That's why we're updating our financial blog for 2022 to help our clients make better decisions, considering the present market scenario." Knowledge is key Winiford is an online digital assets broker that offers a safe environment for customers to explore these markets. The brand facilitates easy-to-use tools via its friendly and responsible web-based platform. With round-the-clock customer support and secure access to various digital coins, the brand also offers educational materials like its well-curated glossary and blogs on some trending topics for 2022. "All of our core values revolve around our client-centric vision. We believe that a company without satisfied customers cannot grow and endure the competition in this expanding sector. We are always upgrading our offers and features, and I assure you that we intend to stick to this approach in the future as well," stated Garmand. About Winiford Established with a goal of providing the optimal exposure to digital assets by implementing the highest security standards, Winiford offers dedicated account assistance, faster transaction executions, reliable knowledge gateways, an exhaustive digital asset list, and much more to all its clients. Users can quickly contact the brand's representatives via email and live chat for clear communications regarding accounts, platform, and personal details. Newbies can also go through the broker's FAQ section and obtain answers for some basic queries without any difficulty. Furthermore, Winiford offers access to the market 24/7, which gives clients the flexibility to perform transactions on weekends. JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kerry, the world's leading taste and nutrition company, has officially opened a new 21,500-square-foot state of the art facility at its Jeddah operation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company has invested over 80m in the region over the past four years and this new facility, which is Kerry's largest in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) region, is one of the most modern and efficient in the world and will produce great tasting, nutritious and sustainable food ingredients which will be distributed across the Middle East. Through the new facility, which currently employs 130 people, Kerry will utilise its global innovation technologies that are adapted to local tastes to help food and beverage companies meet the growing consumer demand in the region for healthier, tastier and more sustainable food and beverages, particularly in snack, meat and bakery sectors. Commenting on the announcement, Edmond Scanlon, Chief Executive of Kerry Group, said: "Today's consumer-led food revolution and the world's environmental challenges are driving accelerated change and reshaping the entire food industry. The opening of our new facility at our Jeddah site is part of our commitment to continuing to grow our presence across the Middle East where we have invested over 80m since 2018. Our continued growth and investment reflect the growing number of consumers in the region who are adopting a more proactive approach to their health and wellbeing and want to be able to consume food and beverage products that support their goals while also being respectful of our environment. This new facility is the first of its kind in the Middle East and is one of the most modern and efficient in the world offering top-in-class sustainable nutrition technology platforms, laboratories equipped with unique testing capabilities while also being sustainable." Peter Dillane, Vice President and General Manager, Kerry Middle East, India, Sub-Saharan Africa (MISA) added: "Our customers are our priority, and our commitment is to bring local solutions to the Saudi market. We believe in global capability, executed locally, as seen in our local insight and team backed by Kerry's global technical and operational expertise. Our deep understanding of retail and foodservice channels enhances our ability to partner customers with greater success and make it easier and more valuable for them to do business with us." As part of Kerry's Beyond the Horizon sustainability commitment, the new facility is also making an important environmental difference. Since 2018, the factory carbon footprint has been reduced by 35% and there has been a 40% reduction in water usage. Food safety is paramount and the new facility was built on state-of-the-art Ready To Eat (RTE) standard of design and construction to uphold the strictest customer requirements for hygiene and food safety. Its stringent humidity and temperature-controlled environment ensures all materials are always fresh and ready to use anytime. The facility is FSSC 22000, HACCP, ISO 22000 and AIBI certified. About Kerry Group Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition partner for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical markets. We innovate with our customers to create great tasting products, with improved nutrition and functionality, while ensuring better impact for the planet. Our leading consumer insights, global RD&A team of 1,100+ food scientists and extensive global footprint enable us to solve our customers complex challenges with differentiated solutions. At Kerry, we are driven to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition, and will reach over 2 billion consumers with sustainable nutrition solutions by 2030. Kerry currently employs 133 people from 16 nationalities in Jeddah. Kerry is committed to increase the number of local employees and on building the Saudi talent pipeline in technical fields like engineering and production through establishing partnerships with the Kingdom's top universities. For more information, visit www.kerrygroup.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1736126/Kerry_Group.jpg The Korean company is equipped with cutting-edge technology to prevent cyberattacks. SEOUL, KOREA / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2022 / Modern warfare is better expressed by the term 'cyberwarfare'. That means that the level of information technology is the key in dictating who wins the next war. As cyberattack and eavesdropping are often seen in the information war, each country is intensely seeking better technology to gain competitiveness over potential intrusion. It is becoming extremely difficult to detect intrusions when the spy chip is being brought in to the data center through a supplier. This renders the traditional security systems useless and will leave data centers vulnerable to wireless hacking attacks. If an insider is involved, one can meddle with the detection device in advance knowing when and how the screening process will be conducted. It seems the screening process is not quite similar in South Korea. GITSN is Korea's leading Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM) company with 22 years of experience. They have been providing counter-surveillance solutions to a number of government entities including the police and the military as well as major Korean corporations. GITSN's R&D focuses on creating detection system against eavesdropping, wireless hacking and spy cameras. Its '24/7 Intelligent Eavesdropping Detection System (SMART-D)' can be installed in office areas and conference rooms to provide the work environment entirely free of eavesdropping threat. Also, its user-friendly interface offers easy and efficient management of its systems. GITSN's recent development detects potential threat of wireless hacking attacks via spy chips. This new 'Wireless Hacking Detection System (ALPHA-H)' will finds spy chips that can infiltrate your private network. It not only scans the perimeter in real time for abnormal radio frequency signals, but it can also trace and locate the source by cross-measuring the signal strength between multiple detectors. The Korean company, led by Dr. Han, Dong Jin, is equipped with cutting-edge counter-surveillance technology and continues to provide solutions to its customers. Their patented ultra-wideband (UWB) signal detection technology is a proof of their technological prowess, only matched by similar technologies from six other countries worldwide. GITSN seeks to create a safer society where your information is well-protected. War on spy cameras: TSCM company to go public in the Korean stock market Last year, the counter-surveillance company came up with an idea that their technology, with a little modification, can be applied to detect and prevent the usage of illegal spy cameras from public places. Their newly launched '24/7 Hidden Camera Detection System (ALPHA-C)' scans the area in real time for any source of heat being emitted from the spy camera and analyzes its heat signature. Whether it is an ordinary spy camera, switchable camera, micro-size camera or wirelessly-controlled camera, this brand-new technology will be able to detect the illegal device. Dr. Han, the head of the company, said "GITSN's motto is 'to be virtuous rather than being just good', meaning we can and will make the world a better and safer place with our technology. GITSN's growth will bring upon a healthier society." The company is looking to list on the Korean stock market this year. "Last year, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we reached our all-time high revenue figures, and this year the numbers are expected to double," the CEO said. "With the rapid growth of the TSCM industry, we expect to see a lot of new customers and investors both domestically and internationally" he added. Due to their 20+ years of innovation, GITSN has received many honorable awards from the Korean government, including the Presidential Award for Future Unicorn Company in 2020. For more information, visit www.gitsn.com Contact: Company: GITSN, INC. Contact: Sales Contact Email: sales@gitsn.com Telephone: +82 2 852 3560 Website: https://www.gitsn.com/ SOURCE: GITSN, INC. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/686036/One-Smart-Way-to-Cybersecurity-GITSN-Releases-the-Detection-System-against-Cyberattacks-Eavesdropping-and-Spy-Cameras causaLens, the London deep tech company delivering the future of AI, has raised a $45m Series A round. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220126005888/en/ The causaLens co-founders, Dr. Maksim Sipos, CTO, on the left, and Dr. Darko Matovski, CEO, on the right. (Photo: Business Wire) causaLens is the pioneer of Causal AI the only AI technology quantifying cause-and-effect relationships to reason alongside humans in a manner that is trustworthy, explainable, and fair. Causal AI represents a giant leap ahead of current correlation-based AI technologies, which blindly extrapolate historical data and are unable to ask counterfactual questions the 'what ifs' at the core of human imagination and creativity. causaLens's no-code platform delivers far more accurate and reliable results, and allows humans and machines to work together for the first time. It is trusted by decision makers across finance, industry, technology, and government. The round was led by Dorilton Ventures and Molten Ventures, with sizable participation from existing investors Generation Ventures and IQ Capital. GP Bullhound and others also joined the round, which was oversubscribed. Daniel Freeman of Dorilton Ventures has joined causaLens's board of directors. Since emerging from stealth mode in January 2021, causaLens has seen annual revenue grow by more than 500%, winning marquee clients including Tier1 banks, hedge funds, governments and Fortune 500 companies. After considering more than 50,000 CVs, causaLens has the strongest group of AI scientists and engineers ever assembled to implement Causal AI. The new funding will allow causaLens to double its team in 2022 while investing aggressively to maintain its competitive technology lead. causaLens CEO and co-founder, Darko Matovski, said: "Our vision is to create a world in which humans can trust machines with the greatest challenges in the economy, society, and healthcare. Our customers are seeing transformative results with our no-code platform and we now have the resources to bring our platform to everyone." causaLens is delivering transformational outcomes across a range of sectors. In financial services, the insurer and asset manager Aviva uses the company's platform to improve portfolio returns. Pension funds, including TIAA, with $1T under management, also trust causaLens with some of its most important decisions. Beyond financial services, causaLens' platform has helped mitigate supply chain disruptions, navigate public health crises and discover novel biomarkers for cancer. Supported by $45M in the first close of this Series A round, causaLens is now able to help organizations across more sectors and geographies to create human-centered AI systems they can fully trust. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220126005888/en/ Contacts: Alejandro Ortega Ancel alejo@causaLens.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - DBS Bank Ltd said that it has agreed to buy the consumer banking business of Citigroup Inc in Taiwan. It will pay Citi cash for the net assets of Citi Consumer Taiwan plus a premium of S$956 million. DBS plans to make offers to take all about 3,500 employees from Citi Consumer Taiwan. Citigroup said in April 2021 that it would exit its consumer-banking operations in 13 countries across Asia and parts of Europe to focus more on wealth management outside the U.S. Citi Consumer Taiwan has been operating in Taiwan since 1985, and currently has 2.7 million credit cards and unsecured accounts, 0.5 million deposit and wealth customers and 45 branches. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. SINGAPORE, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BingX is proud to announce its partnership with Sumsub, an all-in-one suite for identity verification, compliance, and automated fraud protection. As a social crypto exchange, BingX operates in a regulatorily sensitive space where safety, compliance, and KYC are paramount. To rise to this challenge, BingX will be integrating Sumsub's KYC system, which uses advanced AI technology to detect and prevent potential cybercrime. BingX users will now go through a two-step verification process by 1) providing a photo of their ID and 2) passing a biometric liveness check. For users, this process is fast, transparent, and easy. For BingX, it promises to build trust and accelerate global expansion. "One of BingX's overarching objectives this year is to make its services more easily accessible. At times, the KYC and compliance requirements can be tiring and could dissuade new users from completing registration. We want our users to have the best experience from start to finish. What better way to start the year, than making our KYC steps for our users easier to complete. This partnership between Sumsub and BingX will serve as a strategic move that will simplify the KYC process; attracting more users to our platform while giving us a competitive edge in the crypto market space." - Communication & Partnership Manager at BingX, Elvisco Carrington "We are happy to support BingX's mission to create a leading social crypto exchange network by providing verification procedures compliant with local and international AML regulations. We are here so that BingX can entirely focus on enhancing their products and services for their growing customer base." - Co-founder of Sumsub, Jacob Sever About BingX Founded in 2018, BingX ( www.bingx.com ) is a global digital asset, spot, and derivatives trading platform that provides a user-centric and open ecosystem with intuitive social trading features. Created to enrich the entire cryptocurrency industry, BingX is a safe, reliable, and user-friendly venue for users to trade their favourite assets, such as Cosmos , AXS , Chiliz & DAO . About Sumsub Founded in 2015, Sumsub is a leading identity verification platform providing an all-in-one technical and legal toolkit to cover KYC/AML needs. Sumsub helps businesses convert more customers, speed up verification, reduce costs, and fight digital fraud. Relying on machine learning and artificial intelligence, its solution works globally, with support for 6,500 document types from over 220 countries and territories. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1735986/Bing_X___Sumsub___Partnership_1_Twitter.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1690963/BingX_Logo.jpg ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- How can we celebrate sustainably? Artist Daan Roosegaarde became inspired by the magical light of fireflies, and a desire to update the culturally ingrained ritual of fireworks. The result is SPARK Bilbao, a poetic performance of thousands of biodegradable light sparks which organically float through the air, designed by Studio Roosegaarde. The Wellbeing Summit for Social Change in Bilbao-Biscay, Spain, is the first in the world to showcase this innovative solution for sustainable community celebrations. SPARK is now launched just before the Chinese New Year. SPARK Bilbao transforms traditional and polluting methods of celebration such as fireworks, balloons, drones and confetti into a new sustainable celebration. You can view the premiere of SPARK Bilbao today at https://studioroosegaarde.net/project/spark. Through a combination of design and technology, thousands of light sparks made of biodegradable bubbles are moved silently by the ever-changing wind. In Bilbao's central park, this dynamic 50 x 30 x 50 metres cloud of SPARK inspires visitors to wonder and reflect on their connection to each other, themselves and nature. SPARK will be exhibited June 1-3, 2022 in Bilbao-Biscay. Artist Daan Roosegaarde is inherently motivated to transform our fear of the future into curiosity by designing realistic alternatives. During the growing collaboration between Studio Roosegaarde, Draiflessen Collection and The Wellbeing Summit, the artist developed this groundbreaking and enchanting landscape artwork. SPARK Bilbao invites everyone to become part of the journey to an environmentally-friendly future. With SPARK the interconnectedness between humans and nature is celebrated, and traditions can be maintained in a new way. Moreover, it is a sustainable alternative for community events that want to promote reflection and celebration, such as the Olympics, the Fourth of July, New Year's Eve or other communal celebrations. Pressroom high-res images and movie: https://pressroom.studioroosegaarde.net. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1734641/SPARK_Bilbao.jpg Laboratoires Thea SAS ("Thea"), Europe's leading independent pharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development, and commercialization of eye-care products, today announced an agreement to purchase seven branded ophthalmic products from Akorn Operating Company LLC. The transaction will make Thea a best-in-class provider of products designed to fill the needs of eye-care professionals across the United States. The purchase will add seven established brands, including Akorn's leading glaucoma therapy, Zioptan, to Thea's portfolio. Thea will also welcome Akorn's nearly 50-person sales force, which Thea expects to expand in support of anticipated growth and launches of additional products in the U.S. "The significance of this milestone purchase can be felt across our entire organization, which has been operating for 28 years and is a driving force for treatment in eye care with products available in 75 countries," said Thea's President, Jean-Frederic Chibret. "As a fifth-generation member of a family that has spent more than 150 years dedicated to eye care, I'm always excited to extend Thea's unique expertise and passion into new markets, where our goal is to improve patient quality of life by providing innovative offerings across a full range of therapeutic areas, including glaucoma, dry eye, allergy and inflammation." Thea will add the following Akorn branded products to its portfolio: Zioptan (tafluprost ophthalmic solution), a prostaglandin analog indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. (tafluprost ophthalmic solution), a prostaglandin analog indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. AcellFX (acellular amniotic membrane), which provides a protective environment or covering for repair to the ocular surface. (acellular amniotic membrane), which provides a protective environment or covering for repair to the ocular surface. Betimol (timolol ophthalmic solution), indicated in the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or open angle glaucoma. (timolol ophthalmic solution), indicated in the treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or open angle glaucoma. Cosopt (dorzolamide HCl and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution), indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension that is insufficiently responsive to beta blockers. (dorzolamide HCl and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution), indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension that is insufficiently responsive to beta blockers. Cosopt PF (dorzolamide HCl and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution), indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension that is insufficiently responsive to beta blockers. (dorzolamide HCl and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution), indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension that is insufficiently responsive to beta blockers. AzaSite (azithromycin ophthalmic solution), a macrolide antibiotic indicated for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis caused by susceptible isolates of certain microorganisms; and (azithromycin ophthalmic solution), a macrolide antibiotic indicated for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis caused by susceptible isolates of certain microorganisms; and Akten (lidocaine HCl ophthalmic gel), a local anesthetic indicated for ocular surface anesthesia during ophthalmologic procedures. Thea is committed to developing innovative products for the U.S. market in areas of unmet need, and expects to file its first New Drug Application (NDA) with the FDA in the first quarter of 2022 for a version of the glaucoma treatment latanoprost. At the end of the first quarter of 2022, Thea also plans to launch a new line of branded OTC evidenced-based dry-eye drops and eyelid hygiene products through its partnership with Similasan Corporation. Similasan is the No. 1 global maker of eye drops with natural active ingredients and offers around 40 homeopathic remedies in the U.S. "We are thrilled to expand our presence in the U.S. eye care community with a portfolio of products that are widely recognized and frequently used because they make a difference in patients' lives," said Susan Benton, Thea's General Manager, Head of U.S. "As we introduce additional product lines and bring new innovations to market through our dedicated research and development programs, we are looking forward to engaging with stakeholders to expand our leadership presence on a global scale." The transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and other customary closing conditions. [Thea expects the transaction to close in Q1, 2022.] Perella Weinberg Partners are acting as financial advisers to Thea and Weil, Gotshal Manges LLP is acting as legal adviser to Thea. About Thea Thea is the leading independent European pharmaceutical group in ophthalmology. Based in Clermont-Ferrand, France, it has thirty-five affiliates offices in Europe, North and South America, North Africa, and the Middle East. Today, its network includes nearly 1,500 employees, and its products are available in 75 countries around the world. In 2021, Thea had global revenues of approximately $773 million. The independent and family-owned and run group, founded from a Research and Development start-up by Henri Chibret, has been chaired since 2008 by Jean-Frederic Chibret, his nephew. To learn more about Thea, visit https://www.laboratoires-thea.com/en About Thea Pharma, Inc. Established in Lexington, Massachusetts in 2019, Thea Pharma, Inc., is the United States subsidiary of Thea. Once the transaction with Akorn is completed, its products will comprise a portfolio of seven leading eye-care brands including Zioptan, AcellFx, Cosopt, Cosopt PF, Azasite, Akten, and Betimol. In addition, Thea Pharma is developing a version of the glaucoma drug latanoprost, for which it will submit an NDA to the FDA in the first quarter of 2022. Also, in Q1, the company will launch a new line of branded preservative-free evidenced-based OTC dry-eye drops and eyelid hygiene products through its partnership with Similasan Corporation. By focusing its parent company's passion and expertise on the U.S. market, Thea Pharma's goal is to deliver uncompromising care that allows all stakeholders to envision the future of ophthalmic treatment with eyes wide open. To learn more, visit https://theapharmainc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220128005021/en/ Contacts: Thea US Media Inquiries Please Contact: PRECISION effect Jamie Hall Jamie.hall@precisionvh.com +1 724.417.0167 Thea Global Media Inquiries Please Contact: Susan Benton General Manager, Thea Pharma Inc. susan.benton@theapharma.inc +1 617.725.2601 FORMER Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) commissioner Goodson Nguni has filed a joinder at the High Court in a case where President Emmerson Mnangagwas legitimacy is being challenged by a Zanu PF member, Sybeth Musengezi. Nguni, who leads the Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations Trust, filed the joinder supporting Mnangagwas ascendancy as legal, before accusing Musengezi of being bogus. In his founding affidavit filed before the High Court, Nguni accused Musengezi of deliberately misrepresenting facts to support his claim to Mnangagwas alleged illegitimacy. The fact that Musengezis founding affidavit is riddled with perjured averments, I urge this honourable court to grant an order of joinder of the applicants such that those critical areas I wish to lay bare to this honourable court will demonstrate the legality of Mnangagwas assumption of Zanu PF presidency and first secretary of the same, Nguni submitted. Many other reasons as can publicly be observed from the parliamentary records of 2017, and court orders then, three contemporaneous processes, ensued namely, that the Zimbabwe Defence Forces obtained a court order in their favour validating Operation Restore Legacy, whereas the dismissal of Mnangagwa from government was invalidated too by order of the High Court whereas, Zanu PF as a party from whom the former President was elected into government commenced processes to correct what clearly was amounting to a constitutional crisis arising from apparent illegalities that had been caused in Zanu PF and government by people aforesaid, generally identified as G40. He said the court could take judicial notice of the fact that the late former President Robert Mugabe later resigned from office after Parliament commenced impeachment proceedings against him. Nguni accused Musengezi of having a hidden agenda aimed at soiling Mnangagwas image. He said Musengezi had membership in different districts around Harare, and used addresses of people who had also filed affidavits confirming he did not stay at their places of residence. Musengezi filed papers at the High Court in October seeking a ruling declaring null and void a November 19, 2017 Zanu PF central committee meeting that elevated Mnangagwa to acting party president. Zanu PF, Mnangagwa, Zanu PF secretary for administration Obert Mpofu, Zanu PF finance secretary Patrick Chinamasa, former Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko and ex-Zanu PF administration secretary Ignatius Chombo were cited as respondents in the case. Newsday Regulatory News: Under the liquidity agreement between Legrand (Paris:LR) and Exane BNP Paribas, the following assets were held in the liquidity account at December 31st, 2021: 32,946 shares - 25,338,450 In the second half of 2021, it has been negotiated a total of: Number of executions on buy side on semester: 9,587 - Number of executions on sell side on semester: 9,950 - Traded volume on buy side on semester: 1,339,907 shares for 108,437,185 - Traded volume on sell side on semester: 1,171,762 shares for 111,640,972 Recap: At the previous statement date (June 30th, 2021), the following assets were held in the liquidity account: 64,801 shares - 22,134,633 In the first half of 2021, it has been negotiated a total of: Number of executions on buy side on semester: 10,731 - Number of executions on sell side on semester: 12,641 - Traded volume on buy side on semester: 1,262,866 shares for 101,660,496 - Traded volume on sell side on semester: 1,295,792 shares for 104,417,380 When the agreement was first put in place, the following assets were held in the liquidity account: 90,346 shares - 19,880,644 The liquidity agreement complies with AMF Decision no. 2018-01 dated July 2nd, 2018, introducing liquidity agreements on equity securities as permitted market practice. The reader is invited to verify authenticity of press releases by Legrand with the CertiDox app. More information on www.certidox.com Date Buy Sell Quantity Number of executions Traded volume Quantity Number of executions Traded volume 01/07/2021 11 500 100 1 033 071 10 500 85 944 964 02/07/2021 11 000 142 993 272 11 000 131 994 050 05/07/2021 10 050 96 914 687 12 500 84 1 138 823 06/07/2021 7 500 65 683 350 5 222 63 476 046 07/07/2021 14 000 112 1 281 786 16 000 130 1 466 782 08/07/2021 6 649 45 605 741 2 649 18 241 589 09/07/2021 6 250 35 569 750 12/07/2021 2 500 40 230 050 13/07/2021 6 732 41 624 124 14/07/2021 7 500 66 695 250 15/07/2021 14 500 125 1 337 836 12 200 150 1 127 205 16/07/2021 12 500 119 1 150 599 7 750 81 714 148 19/07/2021 10 000 64 905 000 20/07/2021 10 000 55 906 500 21/07/2021 8 129 110 745 392 15 000 101 1 379 400 22/07/2021 10 000 94 931 350 12 500 141 1 165 650 23/07/2021 2 500 13 234 900 2 500 25 235 000 26/07/2021 10 000 97 932 600 10 000 60 933 446 27/07/2021 10 000 110 930 057 7 500 105 698 011 28/07/2021 10 000 72 925 050 12 500 83 1 157 300 29/07/2021 10 000 76 929 188 12 500 92 1 162 752 30/07/2021 16 000 88 1 487 125 18 500 151 1 725 150 02/08/2021 10 000 80 952 650 5 315 52 508 119 03/08/2021 5 000 32 473 000 7 500 95 711 150 04/08/2021 5 430 47 517 542 9 382 68 896 645 05/08/2021 18 000 158 1 727 396 18 000 144 1 728 716 06/08/2021 10 897 110 1 043 322 10 896 116 1 044 295 09/08/2021 16 500 158 1 574 472 13 774 192 1 316 026 10/08/2021 5 000 79 476 276 7 500 91 715 500 11/08/2021 3 865 42 371 827 7 500 44 723 600 12/08/2021 6 495 79 629 502 8 995 90 872 906 13/08/2021 2 503 40 243 941 2 503 21 244 041 16/08/2021 2 500 15 243 500 2 500 18 244 000 17/08/2021 5 000 31 485 500 5 000 15 486 500 18/08/2021 7 500 48 731 200 7 500 35 732 350 19/08/2021 10 000 71 961 750 10 000 43 964 345 20/08/2021 7 500 45 722 750 7 500 41 724 200 23/08/2021 4 280 30 415 478 4 280 19 416 334 24/08/2021 4 528 40 439 270 4 528 35 439 723 25/08/2021 10 000 102 967 650 2 500 18 242 800 26/08/2021 2 500 18 239 750 7 500 68 722 650 27/08/2021 7 500 53 726 150 7 500 53 727 400 30/08/2021 5 000 31 485 600 7 500 49 730 550 31/08/2021 7 500 59 731 500 7 500 37 734 650 01/09/2021 2 500 15 242 950 2 500 17 243 200 02/09/2021 7 500 9 731 989 7 500 59 732 700 03/09/2021 10 000 56 974 550 10 000 63 975 950 06/09/2021 7 856 68 764 774 7 500 98 730 807 07/09/2021 5 202 39 508 355 7 690 58 752 576 08/09/2021 14 000 95 1 366 284 9 500 108 927 463 09/09/2021 11 250 107 1 085 175 13 750 135 1 329 625 10/09/2021 10 000 57 971 090 10 000 137 972 810 13/09/2021 10 677 157 1 042 596 5 677 56 554 879 14/09/2021 10 000 104 974 157 12 500 148 1 219 000 15/09/2021 14 250 127 1 386 720 14 250 203 1 387 548 16/09/2021 848 10 82 934 10 000 70 980 450 17/09/2021 14 152 106 1 390 303 2 500 25 248 600 20/09/2021 15 000 101 1 427 750 2 500 37 237 350 21/09/2021 16 000 98 1 517 395 14 138 62 1 342 970 22/09/2021 4 188 39 401 016 7 069 32 678 221 23/09/2021 5 000 25 483 000 5 000 51 484 100 24/09/2021 12 500 74 1 196 850 27/09/2021 10 500 153 989 534 5 600 65 530 160 28/09/2021 10 000 92 927 626 10 000 143 928 349 29/09/2021 9 500 57 891 230 12 000 71 1 128 160 30/09/2021 16 452 147 1 536 160 16 452 111 1 538 421 01/10/2021 20 000 148 1 825 290 19 835 228 1 81 1 134 04/10/2021 17 500 111 1 583 200 19 500 224 1 768 750 05/10/2021 7 528 67 678 574 12 500 111 1 131 729 06/10/2021 16 507 132 1 488 685 13 500 69 1 218 080 07/10/2021 5 050 58 458 114 7 050 53 641 301 08/10/2021 7 500 49 682 750 11/10/2021 6 200 49 554 146 6 200 45 555 036 12/10/2021 10 000 88 886 050 12 500 92 1 110 400 13/10/2021 12 500 105 1 119 150 15 000 147 1 345 350 14/10/2021 13 750 154 1 259 612 13 750 99 1 260 259 15/10/2021 10 100 98 929 494 11 500 145 1 060 334 18/10/2021 14 650 110 1 354 673 17 500 132 1 620 504 19/10/2021 2 500 9 233 000 5 000 41 467 000 20/10/2021 12 500 121 1 176 950 15 000 77 1 414 700 21/10/2021 15 000 76 1 400 800 22/10/2021 5 000 43 463 300 25/10/2021 7 500 51 696 400 7 500 75 696 750 26/10/2021 8 750 64 820 200 8 750 64 820 625 27/10/2021 5 000 20 471 000 5 000 27 471 500 28/10/2021 5 000 34 472 550 7 500 46 709 600 29/10/2021 15 000 86 1 412 800 7 500 55 707 250 01/11/2021 10 000 94 949 250 02/11/2021 18 750 243 1 808 087 19 500 147 1 882 770 03/11/2021 6 100 60 594 259 7 527 58 734 384 04/11/2021 19 500 80 1 885 703 14 735 130 1 426 805 05/11/2021 20 300 113 1 924 957 9 300 92 882 300 08/11/2021 6 500 42 616 804 17 500 160 1 662 457 09/11/2021 15 000 122 1 420 750 17 500 130 1 660 600 10/11/2021 17 500 102 1 648 549 18 500 233 1 745 351 11/11/2021 6 335 48 599 264 5 241 38 496 623 12/11/2021 5 000 41 473 266 5 000 24 474 400 15/11/2021 11 500 81 1 086 696 11 500 61 1 087 762 16/11/2021 12 500 89 1 185 800 10 000 82 949 200 17/11/2021 5 724 69 544 442 7 500 61 714 787 18/11/2021 7 500 67 726 750 7 500 53 727 562 19/11/2021 2 500 13 243 995 7 500 54 732 850 22/11/2021 5 950 44 582 496 8 005 53 790 843 23/11/2021 14 055 85 1 382 379 11 555 89 1 138 201 24/11/2021 15 000 95 1 456 613 15 000 120 1 458 300 25/11/2021 7 500 74 730 350 7 500 78 731 000 26/11/2021 7 500 89 713 046 7 500 46 714 000 29/11/2021 2 484 39 237 746 9 484 87 910 974 30/11/2021 7 000 85 672 350 10 700 71 1 028 167 01/12/2021 6 250 102 612 759 8 750 68 858 875 02/12/2021 21 500 136 2 092 033 21 000 195 2 047 012 03/12/2021 13 750 140 1 349 563 14 607 176 1 435 969 06/12/2021 4 200 35 410 207 12 500 77 1 221 360 07/12/2021 5 000 31 496 000 08/12/2021 8 500 103 851 118 9 000 57 904 147 09/12/2021 7 500 58 757 250 10/12/2021 6 500 71 653 655 1 500 20 151 500 13/12/2021 5 000 81 508 250 5 000 58 508 875 14/12/2021 15 500 165 1 565 299 6 496 53 659 300 15/12/2021 2 500 15 250 000 16/12/2021 6 300 94 634 081 6 300 94 636 658 17/12/2021 15 000 119 1 504 050 16 348 151 1 641 608 20/12/2021 7 500 52 735 550 7 500 66 737 152 21/12/2021 8 000 56 792 600 8 000 49 794 519 22/12/2021 6 250 58 620 875 8 750 50 872 600 23/12/2021 7 500 64 754 000 24/12/2021 5 000 40 507 000 2 800 15 284 765 27/12/2021 5 792 111 587 645 7 546 46 767 680 28/12/2021 5 431 93 559 715 5 431 38 560 001 29/12/2021 6 000 26 615 700 6 000 25 616 685 30/12/2021 7 500 67 774 125 2 500 17 258 625 31/12/2021 2 500 29 256 500 5 000 29 513 625 Key financial dates: 2021 annual results: February 10, 2022 "Quiet period 1 " starts January 11, 2022 "Quiet period " starts January 11, 2022 ESG Capital Markets day: March 29, 2022 2022 first-quarter results: May 5, 2022 "Quiet period 1 " starts April 5, 2022 "Quiet period " starts April 5, 2022 General Meeting of Shareholders: May 25, 2022 About Legrand Legrand is the global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for commercial, industrial and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. The Group harnesses technological and societal trends with lasting impacts on buildings with the purpose of improving life by transforming the spaces where people live, work and meet with electrical, digital infrastructures and connected solutions that are simple, innovative and sustainable. Drawing on an approach that involves all teams and stakeholders, Legrand is pursuing its strategy of profitable and sustainable growth driven by acquisitions and innovation, with a steady flow of new offerings-including Eliot* connected products with enhanced value in use. Legrand reported sales of 6.1 billion in 2020. The company is listed on Euronext Paris and is notably a component stock of the CAC 40 and CAC 40 ESG indexes. (code ISIN FR0010307819). https://www.legrandgroup.com *Eliot is a program launched in 2015 by Legrand to speed up deployment of the Internet of Things in its offering. A result of the group's innovation strategy, Eliot aims to develop connected and interoperable solutions that deliver lasting benefits to private individual users and professionals. https://www.legrandgroup.com/en/group/eliot-legrands-connected-objects-program 1 Period of time when all communication is suspended in the run-up to publication of results. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220128005026/en/ Contacts: Investor relations Legrand Ronan Marc Tel: +33 (0)1 49 72 53 53 ronan.marc@legrand.fr Press relations Publicis Consultants Charles-Etienne Lebatard Mob: +33 (0)7 86 65 03 94 charlesetienne.lebatard@publicisconsultants.com Lea Jacquin Mob: +33 (0)6 33 63 18 29 lea.jacquin@publicisconsultants.com Regulatory News: NOXXON Pharma N.V. (Euronext Growth Paris: ALNOX) (Paris:ALNOX), a biotechnology company focused on improving cancer treatments by targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME), announced today that it has drawn down additional financing tranches from its financing agreement with Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC (ASO), for a total consideration of 2,375,000, and issued 2,419 convertible bonds (including 44 convertible bonds issued in relation to the transaction fee) with a nominal value of EUR 1,000 each. The remaining availability under the ASO facility extends the company's cash runway into December 2022. The characteristics, terms and conditions of the ASO financing may be found in the April 23, 2020 and October 14, 2020 press releases. The expansion of the financing capacity and the dilutive potential have been published in the press release on January 3, 2022. NOXXON maintains an updated summary table of issued convertible bonds in the Investors' section of its website. About NOXXON NOXXON's oncology-focused pipeline acts on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the cancer immunity cycle by breaking the tumor protection barrier and blocking tumor repair. By neutralizing chemokines in the TME, NOXXON's approach works in combination with other forms of treatment to weaken tumor defenses against the immune system and enable greater therapeutic impact. NOXXON's lead program NOX-A12 has delivered final top-line data from a Keytruda combination trial in metastatic colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients published at the ESMO conference in September 2020 and in July 2021 the company announced its Phase 2 study, OPTIMUS, to further evaluate safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 in combination with Merck's Keytruda and two different chemotherapy regimens as second-line therapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. NOXXON is also studying NOX-A12 in brain cancer in combination with radiotherapy which has been granted orphan drug status in the US and EU for the treatment of certain brain cancers. GLORIA, a trial of NOX-A12 in combination with radiotherapy in newly diagnosed brain cancer patients who will not benefit clinically from standard chemotherapy has delivered interim data from the first two cohorts showing consistent tumor reductions and objective tumor responses. Additionally, GLORIA has been expanded to assess the benefit of NOX-A12 with other treatment combinations, radiotherapy bevacizumab and radiotherapy pembrolizumab. The company's second clinical-stage asset NOX-E36 is a Phase 2 TME asset targeting the innate immune system. NOXXON plans to test NOX-E36 in patients with solid tumors. Further information can be found at: www.noxxon.com. Keytruda is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp Dohme Corp. Visit NOXXON on LinkedIn and Twitter. About the GLORIA Study GLORIA (NCT04121455) is NOXXON's dose-escalation, phase 1/2 study of NOX-A12 in combination with irradiation in first-line partially resected or unresected glioblastoma (brain cancer) patients with unmethylated MGMT promoter (resistant to standard chemotherapy). GLORIA further evaluates safety and efficacy of NOX-A12 three additional arms combining NOX-A12 with: A. radiotherapy in patients with complete tumor resection; B. radiotherapy and bevacizumab in patients with incomplete tumor resection; and C. radiotherapy and pembrolizumab in patients with incomplete tumor resection. About the OPTIMUS Study OPTIMUS (NCT04901741) is NOXXON's open-label two-arm phase 2 study of NOX-A12 combined with pembrolizumab and nanoliposomal irinotecan/5-FU/leucovorin or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel in microsatellite-stable metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. Disclaimer Certain statements in this communication contain formulations or terms referring to the future or future developments, as well as negations of such formulations or terms, or similar terminology. These are described as forward-looking statements. In addition, all information in this communication regarding planned or future results of business segments, financial indicators, developments of the financial situation or other financial or statistical data contains such forward-looking statements. The company cautions prospective investors not to rely on such forward-looking statements as certain prognoses of actual future events and developments. The company is neither responsible nor liable for updating such information, which only represents the state of affairs on the day of publication. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220128005381/en/ Contacts: For more information, please contact: NOXXON Pharma N.V. Aram Mangasarian, Ph.D. Chief Executive Officer Tel. +49 (0) 30 726247 0 amangasarian@noxxon.com Investor and Media Relations: LifeSci Advisors Guillaume van Renterghem Tel. +41 (0) 76 735 01 31 gvanrenterghem@lifesciadvisors.com NewCap Arthur Rouille Tel. +33 (0) 1 44 71 00 15 arouille@newcap.fr $125 million refinancing substantially improves Innocoll's liquidity, enabling further investment in pharmaceutical technology portfolio and growth plan Innocoll Biotherapeutics plc, a specialty pharmaceutical company and portfolio business of Gurnet Point Capital, announced today the successful refinancing of its existing term loan facility with a new $125 million term loan provided by funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. ("Oaktree"). The new term loan meaningfully strengthens Innocoll's financial flexibility and enables the Company to further invest in its R&D program and commercial organization for its innovative products. "The refinancing of our debt significantly improves our liquidity position, which enables us to invest even further into the crucial research and clinical studies required to expand the use of our innovative products in soft tissue surgeries," said Louis Pascarella, Chief Executive Officer of Innocoll. "By continuing to invest in our R&D and building our commercial organization, we are confident that we will position our innovative post-surgical, non-opioid pain products XARACOLL (bupivacaine hydrochloride implant) and POSIMIR (bupivacaine solution) for long-term success. I'm thrilled for our company's future and look forward to the positive impact we will have on hospitals, surgeons and patients by reinvesting this increased liquidity directly into our portfolio." Aman Kumar, Co-Portfolio Manager of Life Sciences Lending at Oaktree, said, "We are pleased to partner with Innocoll at this exciting stage in the company's development. We see tremendous opportunity in the business, its portfolio and the leadership team, and believe in its mission to help solve unmet needs in the acute care setting." About Innocoll Holdings Limited Innocoll Biotherapeutics plc is a global specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Athlone, Ireland. Innocoll Biotherapeutics plc and its subsidiaries Innocoll Holdings Limited and Innocoll Pharmaceuticals Limited, are focused on the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical technologies to meet some of today's most important healthcare challenges. Innocoll Biotherapeutics plc is a portfolio business of Gurnet Point Capital. www.innocoll.com About Gurnet Point Capital Gurnet Point Capital is a unique healthcare investment platform within the B-Flexion Group and led by a team with deep expertise in an industry for which they share a passion, both as investors and senior executives. GPC invests long-term capital and supports entrepreneurs in building a new generation of companies that deliver outsized returns through active ownership. Based in Cambridge, MA, its remit encompasses life sciences and health care focused businesses, with a particular emphasis on businesses that have high growth potential in the product development and commercialization stages of their evolution. With its strategy of driving best in class operational transformation for these businesses, to create social impact while generating significant economic value, Gurnet is able to deliver differentiated results for its investors and partners. www.gurnetpointcapital.com About Oaktree Oaktree is a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, with $166 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2021. The firm emphasizes an opportunistic, value-oriented and risk-controlled approach to investments in credit, private equity, real assets and listed equities. The firm has over 1,000 employees and offices in 19 cities worldwide. For additional information, please visit Oaktree's website at http://www.oaktreecapital.com/. About XARACOLL Xaracoll (bupivacaine HCl) implant is a bioresorbable collagen implant providing postsurgical pain relief through the delivery of bupivacaine, a local anesthetic, at the surgical site. XARACOLL implant releases bupivacaine after placement at the surgical site through diffusion from the porous collagen implant, which dissolves over time. XARACOLL was approved in August 2020 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). XARACOLL is a registered trademark of Innocoll Pharmaceuticals Limited. Further Information About XARACOLL INDICATIONS AND USAGE XARACOLL contains an amide local anesthetic and is indicated in adults for placement into the surgical site to produce postsurgical analgesia for up to 24 hours following open inguinal hernia repair. Limitations of Use Safety and effectiveness have not been established in other surgical procedures, including orthopedic and boney procedures. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION CONTRAINDICATIONS Known hypersensitivity to bupivacaine or to any local anesthetic agent of the amide-typeor to other components of XARACOLL Obstetrical paracervical block anesthesia. The use of bupivacaine in this technique has resulted in fetal bradycardia and death WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Dose-Related Toxicity: Monitor cardiovascular and respiratory vital signs and patient's state of consciousness after placement of XARACOLL Methemoglobinemia: Cases of methemoglobinemia have been reported in association with local anesthetic use. See full Prescribing Information for more detail on managing these risks ADVERSE REACTIONS Most common adverse reactions in clinical trials (incidence =2% and higher than placebo) included incision site swelling, dysgeusia, headache, tremor, blurred vision, seroma, scrotal swelling, pyrexia, oral hypoesthesia, and post procedural discharge. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Innocoll at 1-833-606-1421 or the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. DRUG INTERACTIONS Local Anesthetics: The toxic effects of local anesthetics are additive. Avoid additional local anesthetic administration within 96 hours following XARACOLL implantation. If additional local anesthetic administration with XARACOLL cannot be avoided, monitor patients for neurologic and cardiovascular effects related to local anesthetic systemic toxicity. USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Pregnancy: Based on animal data, may cause fetal harm Moderate to Severe Hepatic Impairment: Consider increased monitoring for bupivacaine systemic toxicity Please see full Prescribing Information. www.xaracoll.com/xaracoll_pi.pdf About POSIMIR POSIMIR (bupivacaine solution) for infiltration use is a novel and proprietary product that combines the strength of 660 mg of bupivacaine base with the innovative SABER platform technology, enabling continuous sustained delivery of a non-opioid local analgesic over 3 days in adults. POSIMIR contains more bupivacaine than any other approved single-dose sustained-release bupivacaine product. At the end of surgery, POSIMIR is administered into the subacromial space under direct arthroscopic visualization, where it continuously releases bupivacaine for 72 hours or more. Indications and Usage POSIMIR (bupivacaine solution) for infiltration use is indicated in adults for administration into the subacromial space under direct arthroscopic visualization to produce post-surgical analgesia for up to 72 hours following arthroscopic subacromial decompression. Limitations of Use Safety and effectiveness have not been established in other surgical procedures, including soft tissue surgical procedures, other orthopedic procedures, including for intra-articular administration, and boney procedures, or when used for neuraxial or peripheral nerve blockade. Full Prescribing Information, including the Boxed Warning, is available at www.POSIMIR.com. Important Safety Information BOXED WARNING: Risk of Potential Adverse Embolic Effects Resulting From Inadvertent Intravascaular Injection. Inadvertent intravascular injection could cause POSIMIR droplets to be deposited in the pulmonary and other capillary beds. Administer POSIMIR into the subacromial space at the end of arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Direct arthroscopic visualization must be used to confirm proper placement of the needle tip before injecting POSIMIR. In POSIMIR clinical studies, no inadvertent intravascular injections were observed. Do not inject POSIMIR intravascularly. POSIMIR is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to any amide local anesthetic, or other components of POSIMIR, as well as in patients undergoing obstetrical paracervical block anesthesia. There is a risk of joint cartilage necrosis with unapproved intra-articular use of POSIMIR. Unintended intravascular injection of POSIMIR may be associated with systemic toxicities, including CNS or cardiorespiratory depression and coma, progressing ultimately to respiratory arrest. As with other local anesthetics, patients should be monitored for central nervous system, cardiovascular, and allergic reactions. Avoid additional use of local anesthetics within 168 hours following administration of POSIMIR. Cases of methemoglobinemia have been reported in association with use of local anesthetics. There have been reports of chondrolysis (mostly in the shoulder joint) following intra-articular infusion of local anesthetics, which is an unapproved use. POSIMIR should be used cautiously in patients with impaired hepatic and cardiovascular function. Adverse events reported with an incidence greater than or equal to 10% and greater than control following POSIMIR administration in shoulder surgery were dizziness, dysgeusia, dysuria, headache, hypoesthesia, paresthesia, tinnitus, and vomiting. Adverse events reported with an incidence greater than or equal to 10% and greater than control following POSIMIR administration in soft tissue surgical procedures were anemia, bradycardia, constipation, C-reactive protein increased, diarrhea, dizziness, dysgeusia, headache, nausea, oropharyngeal pain, post-procedural contusion (bruising), procedural pain, pruritus, pyrexia, somnolence, surgical site bleeding, visible bruising and vomiting. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact DURECT Corporation at 1-844-767-4647 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220128005490/en/ Contacts: Media Blair Hennessy (212) 371-5999 bth@abmac.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2022) - Psyched Wellness Ltd. (CSE: PSYC) (OTCQB: PSYCF) (FSE: 5U9) (the "Company" or "Psyched") a life sciences company focused on the production and distribution of artisanal functional and psychedelic mushrooms, announced today that it has implemented a restricted share unit award plan (the "RSU Plan"). The following is a summary of the material provisions of the RSU Plan. It is not a comprehensive discussion of all of the terms and conditions of the RSU Plan and it is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the RSU Plan, a copy of which can be accessed on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are advised to review the full text of the RSU Plan to fully understand all terms and conditions of the RSU Plan. Adoption of RSU Plan In order to further align the interests of the Company's officers, directors, employees, and consultants with those of the shareholders of the Company, the board of directors the Company (the "Board") have approved the implementation of the RSU Plan effective January 24, 2022 (the "Effective Date"). Under the RSU Plan, Eligible Persons (as such term is defined in the RSU Plan) may at the discretion of the Compensation Committee (as such term is defined in the RSU Plan), if so constituted, be allocated a number of restricted share units ("RSU") as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate, with such vesting provisions to be determined by the Compensation Committee, subject to a maximum vesting term of three years from the end of the calendar year in which RSUs were granted. Upon vesting, Eligible Persons shall be entitled to receive common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") from treasury to satisfy all or any portion of a vested RSU award. The maximum number of RSUs issuable under the RSU Plan is fixed at 13,058,969 (being 10% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares as of the Effective Date calculated on a non-diluted basis). RSU Grants In connection with implementing the RSU Plan, the Company announces that it has granted 9,300,000 RSUs to the certain Eligible Persons in accordance with the terms of the RSU Plan. Half of the RSUs granted vest immediately, with the other half vesting upon launch of the Company's products. The Common Shares underlying the RSUs are subject to a four month hold period in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). For further information, please contact: Jeffrey Stevens Chief Executive Officer Psyched Wellness Ltd. Tel: 647-400-8494 Email: jstevens@psyched-wellness.com Website: http://www.psyched-wellness.com For media relations, please contact: Anne Graf KCSA Strategic Communications agraf@kcsa.com 786-390-2644 Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About Psyched Wellness Ltd.: Psyched Wellness Ltd. is a Canadian-based health supplements company dedicated to the distribution of mushroom-derived products and associated consumer packaged goods. The Company's objective is to create premium mushroom-derived products that have the potential to become a leading North American brand in the emerging functional food category. The Company is in the process of developing a line of Amanita muscaria-derived water-based extracts, teas and capsules designed to help with three health objectives: promote stress relief, relaxation and assist with restful sleeping. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the ability of the Company to develop Amanita Muscaria-derived products; the safety of Amanita Muscaria consumption and the safety and purity of any extracts thereof; the uses and potential benefits of Amanita Muscaria; the Company becoming a leading North American brand in the emerging functional food category; and the future RSU grants made pursuant to the terms and conditions of the RSU Plan. Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; the Company's ability to continue to develop its mushroom-derived products and associated consumer packaged goods; continued approval of the Company's activities by the relevant governmental and/or regulatory authorities; the continued growth of the Company; the Company becoming a leading North American brand in the emerging functional food category; and the Company granting future RSU awards to Eligible Persons pursuant to the terms and conditions of the RSU Plan. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the potential inability of the Company to continue as a going concern; risks associated with potential governmental and/or regulatory action with respect to the Company's operations; competition within the psychedelics market; risks with respect to the safety of Amanita Muscaria consumption and the safety and purity of any extracts thereof; the risk that there is no potential benefit of Amanita Muscaria consumption; risks that the Company will not become a leading North American brand in the emerging functional food category; and risks of the dilution to Common Shares and any other adverse risks resulting from the adoption of the RSU Plan and issuance of awards thereunder. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/111961 Specifica, a privately held antibody engineering company focused on innovative in vitro antibody library and discovery tools, announced the publication of two peer-reviewed articles describing its Generation 3 Antibody Discovery Platform1,2 Antibodies are the fastest growing class of therapeutics, representing nine of the top twenty best-selling drugs3. The global antibody therapy market is projected to grow from $178.50 billion in 2021 to $451.89 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 14.1%4. Traditionally, therapeutic antibodies have been generated by harvesting immune responses, either from in-bred or transgenic mice, or from immune human subjects. Although there has been a long-standing interest in using in vitro antibody library approaches that avoid the use of animals, there have been two main concerns with antibodies from in vitro libraries: binding affinities tend to be lower, and poor developability characteristics are common, complicating their development as successful drugs. As described in these articles, Specifica has overcome both of these concerns. In the Mabs article1, Specifica explains the scientific rationale behind the new Gen 3 platform. Specifica's Gen 3 antibody libraries combine the use of well-behaved antibodies already validated in the clinic as frameworks, with scaffold-compatible binding loop sequences (CDRs) from natural antibodies, devoid of most sequence liabilities to improve developability. In selection campaigns with the Gen 3 platform, both phage and yeast display are employed. The results described in this article demonstrate the power of the platform to directly generate a broad diversity of specific antibodies (100-1000 different clusters) with high affinity (20% subnanomolar) and few developability issues. The Nature Communications article2, published this week, compares antibodies generated against SARS-CoV-2 using the Gen 3 platform with hundreds of other antibodies described in the literature, from over 50 different laboratories. Specifica's Gen 3 antibodies out-performed all other antibodies sourced from naive libraries, showed better performance than the majority of immune-sourced antibodies, and were comparable to the very best immune SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in terms of affinity and viral neutralization, with developability properties as good as the best already approved antibodies. "These two papers validate the Gen 3 platform's best-in-class status, fulfilling the original promise of naive antibody libraries made over 30 years ago, namely, to eliminate the use of animals or immune sources to generate powerful antibodies," said Andrew Bradbury, co-founder and CSO of Specifica. About Specifica Specifica is a rapidly growing antibody engineering company providing best-in-class in vitro antibody discovery libraries, selection and informatics tools, and discovery and optimization services to the pharmaceutical industry. Specifica's patented5 Generation 3 Antibody Library Discovery Platform yields drug-like antibodies, with broad diversity, high affinities, and few biophysical liabilities directly from selections, minimizing the need for downstream affinity and biophysical engineering. In addition to in-house antibody library designs, Specifica also collaborates closely with partners to create custom libraries in which essential elements are optimized according to partner needs. The power of the Gen 3 platform may be accessed by engaging Specifica to execute antibody discovery campaigns, or by full transfer of the platform technology in-house. In 2021, Specifica executed agreements with 10 new companies, and initiated 16 new discovery and optimization programs, expanding on 5 of its existing partnerships. Additionally, in cooperation with its software partner OpenEye, Specifica lauched AbXtract, a new suite of antibody informatics tools. Specifica is headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico. For more information, please visit www.specifica.bio and follow Specifica on Twitter and LinkedIn. 1 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19420862.2021.1980942 (2021) 2 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-27799-z (2022). 3 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41573-021-00079-7 (2021). 4 https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/monoclonal-antibody-therapy-market-102734 (2021). 5 US patent 10,954,508 (2020). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220128005496/en/ Contacts: Andrew Bradbury, CSO Specifica, Inc. 505-216-2445 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2022) - Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc. (CSE: MJEM), a North American social media and technology company, announces that it has launched its Bitcoin SV (BSV) crypto loyalty program on Mijem's community buy & sell platform. For each US$1 transacted through Mijem's platform, the loyalty program rewards users with 1 point, which can be converted to BSV for purchase of goods or services outside the app. Users selecting BSV can save their rewards via an in-app crypto wallet. There is no cap on the number of points users can accumulate. "Gen Z university and college students are Mijem's target market, and over 50% of Gen Z believe cryptocurrencies will become widely used in the future, and about 17% of the entire cryptocurrency market is occupied by Gen Z," said Mijem CEO Phuong Dinh. "This is why Mijem is offering BSV on our community buy & sell platform. Bitcoin SV transacts quickly and inexpensively, scales easily, and is far more environmentally friendly than many other cryptos - all features that are important to Gen Z." BSV is a growing platform with a market cap of over $2,850,000,000 as of September 2021 [1], making it among the largest cryptocurrencies on the market. BSV charges much lower transaction fees when compared to Bitcoin (BTC). The average fee per transaction is only $0.00045 versus the much higher rate of Bitcoin at $0.477 per transaction [2]. https://coinmarketcap.com/ https://micky.com.au/bitcoin_sv_overtakes_btcs-24hr-transactions-makes-125-in-fees/ Mijem also announces that it has issued an aggregate of 931,939 shares (consisting of 93,196 Common Shares, 279,581 Class A Shares, 279,581 Class B Shares and 279,581 Class C Shares) to correct a calculation error that was made when determining the number of shares of Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc. issuable on the closing of its reverse take-over transaction to holders of the $750,000 convertible promissory notes issued by Mijem Inc. in March 2021. For further information, please contact: Corporate Gord Tomkin, Chief Financial Officer Mijem Newcomm Tech Inc. gtomkin@mijem.com 416 915-4747 Media Laurie Freudenberg media@mijem.com Investor Relations Sean Peasgood sean@sophiccapital.com (437) 253-9222 About Mijem Inc. Mijem is a Canadian-based social media and technology company that provides innovative solutions to create a vibrant social marketplace for Generation Z to connect and to efficiently buy, sell and trade goods and services. Mijem's patent-pending flagship technology currently permits thousands of university and college students across the United States and Canada to both connect on-line and engage in consumer-to-consumer commerce. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking statements. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". Forward-looking information in this news release is based on certain assumptions and expected future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/112033 Ethical hacking is an unauthorized practice used for detecting potential data breaches and threats in a system, application, or organizations infrastructure. Companies use these practices on their own system to identify the weak points that can work in favor of malicious hackers or cybercriminals. The activities performed by the Cyber Security engineers are entirely legal, approved, and planned. Ethical or white-hat hackers aim to investigate the network for weak points that malicious hackers can destroy or exploit. They analyze and collect the information to find out ways to strengthen security. How does Ethical Hacking work? Ethical hacker aims to investigate the system using the same hacking skills that cyber attackers use to hack. Following are the five phases involved in this process: Reconnaissance : The first step involves gathering information about the target system. It could be about the organization or its people associated with the target. This step intends to engineer a hack according to the security measures implemented on the target. : The first step involves gathering information about the target system. It could be about the organization or its people associated with the target. This step intends to engineer a hack according to the security measures implemented on the target. Scanning : Mostly, hacking is done via network access. Most devices are connected through a common Wi-Fi or WLAN network. Hackers take advantage of this and focus on gaining unauthorized access to the targeted network host. This process reveals the network topology and vulnerability. : Mostly, hacking is done via network access. Most devices are connected through a common Wi-Fi or WLAN network. Hackers take advantage of this and focus on gaining unauthorized access to the targeted network host. This process reveals the network topology and vulnerability. Gaining Access : After the above step gathering stages, hacking starts. It involves bypassing the security measures or breaking into the target system by cracking the password. : After the above step gathering stages, hacking starts. It involves bypassing the security measures or breaking into the target system by cracking the password. Maintaining Access : After gaining access, cybercriminals make sure that they keep access to the target system. They create a backdoor for this that they use for exploiting or hacking the system in the future. : After gaining access, cybercriminals make sure that they keep access to the target system. They create a backdoor for this that they use for exploiting or hacking the system in the future. Clearing Tracks: It is necessary to remove the traces of your incursion after hacking. It involves removing any logs, executables or backdoors that may lead to tracking the hacker. What Can a Person/Company Do To Stay Safe From Hacking? Following are some ways that can help the companies safeguard their devices or network from hacking: Flagler College Education Program Ranks First in the State Flagler College is preparing the next generation of teachers for success with its top-tier education program, which tied for first in the state of Florida. Flagler College graduate showcases her love for teaching by decorating her graduation cap Flagler College's Elementary/Exceptional Student Education/ESOL/Reading program was ranked #1 in Florida with four other colleges and universities based on the 2021 "Florida Teacher Preparation Programs" annual performance report by the FL Dept. of Education. In addition, Flagler College and FAU received the highest score for student learning and growth. The rankings were based on placement rate, retention rate, student performance on statewide assessments, and teacher evaluations. The education program, which is offered at both the St. Augustine campus and the Tallahassee campus, prepares the future teachers of Florida to successfully transition into a full-time teaching position and lead a classroom of young students to bright futures. The Flagler College Elementary Education program provides a state-of-the-art curriculum paired with hands-on experiences that link content, theory, and practice from day one. "This highest ranking for Flagler College is evidence that our students go on to teach, stay as teachers in their field, and have high annual evaluations by their principals. The Flagler College Education Department faculty is proud of our students' success and their impact on K-12 students, communities, and families in the Tallahassee and St. Augustine areas as teachers. We hope to build more partnership schools and expand our teacher preparation program throughout the state. Beginning in fall 2022, Flagler students now have the opportunity to have a full semester student teaching internship anywhere in the state of Florida if they meet the criteria for out-of-area student teaching," said Education Professor and Department Chair at the Tallahassee campus, Shelly Haser. Flagler College offers majors in elementary education with ESOL and reading endorsements, elementary and exceptional student education with ESOL and reading endorsements, secondary English with ESOL and reading endorsements, education of the deaf and hard of hearing, and secondary mathematics. The Florida Department of Education report can be viewed here. Tagged As SCHOOLS will open for the first term on Monday February 7 following a decline in Covid-19 cases and deaths recorded countrywide over the past two weeks, Acting President Dr Constantino Chiwenga said yesterday. Dr Chiwenga also announced that curfew hours had been reviewed to start from midnight to 5.30AM and encouraged businesses to allow all their employees to resume working from their offices. Restaurants and hotels offering catering services can now operate from 8AM to 10PM. Bars and nightclubs can also open for vaccinated persons only during the same operating hours as hotels and restaurants. Quarantine for returning locals has been lifted as long as they are fully vaccinated. By Wednesday, the average daily Covid-19 infection rate had fallen to 235, still well above the rate seen between waves of infection, but just 15 percent of the 1 500 a day plateau that was prevailing when President Mnangagwa ordered schools not to open. This is also just 35 percent of the rates that were prevailing when the closure was extended for another two weeks a fortnight ago by Acting President Chiwenga. At the time, it was made clear that a weeks notice would be given to ensure that all measures required for the safest possible learning environment were fully implemented. In a statement yesterday, Acting Health and Child Care Minister Professor Amon Murwira said the national Covid-19 epidemic curve is indicating that the fourth wave is at its tail end and appears to have been brought under control. The general school calendar starts on 7 February 2022 following one week of finalising all reopening preparations by both school administrators and parents. The business community to go back to working from their offices whilst continuing to observe Covid-19 prevention measures such as social distancing and also continuing to encourage their employees and patrons to get vaccinated, said Prof Murwira. Curfew shall now begin at midnight and end at 5.30AM. Restaurants and hotels offering catering services to operate from 8AM and close at 10PM and allow sit-ins only for fully vaccinated persons. He said all persons entering Zimbabwe must undergo a valid Covid-19 PCR test not more than 48 hours from the time of their departure for Zimbabwe. Those without a valid negative PCR test and a certificate to that effect shall be denied entry into Zimbabwe, said Prof Murwira. He also said quarantine for locals, returning residents and visitors is lifted for those fully vaccinated. The wearing of face masks in public places, especially public transport and closed space gatherings, remain mandatory and must be enforced. Eligible members of the public are encouraged to get vaccinated while the provincial Covid-19 taskforce teams are urged to increase their efforts in mobilising eligible members of the public to get vaccinated. The practice of WHO recommended Covid-19 preventive public health and social measures that include washing of hands, sanitising, social distancing, avoiding crowds and gatherings to continue. All of the measures are subject to periodic review depending on the prevailing Covid-19 situation, Prof Murwira said. Herald Tampa, FL (33646) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 68F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 68F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. On January 11, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. Zayani first conveyed the cordial greetings from King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to Chinese leaders and wished China prosperity. Zayani said, Bahrain and China enjoy time-honored relations and solid friendship. Bahrain attaches great importance to strengthening and deepening relations with China and stands ready to comprehensively expand bilateral cooperation in various fields. Wang Yi conveyed President Xi Jinping's best wishes to King Hamad, saying that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Bahrain relations have developed steadily and soundly and pragmatic cooperation has achieved positive results. The two sides have always understood and supported each other and treated each other as equals, setting a good example of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation among countries of different sizes and social systems. China appreciates Bahrain's firm adherence to its friendly policy towards China and thanks Bahrain for its firm support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns. In the face of the retrogressive trend of unilateralism and protectionism, China firmly opposes the practice of the big oppressing the small, the strong bullying the weak and the law of the jungle. China firmly advocates and practices the concept of multilateralism and firmly upholds the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China will always stand with developing countries and small and medium-sized countries to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice. China is willing to be Bahrain's long-term and reliable strategic partner, further deepen bilateral mutual trust and friendship, and keep adding new dimensions to bilateral relations. Wang Yi said, China will continue to provide vaccines for Bahrain in accordance with its needs, jointly uphold the right direction of international anti-pandemic cooperation, and hold the ground that global origin-tracing research must be conducted in a science-based and fair manner. China supports Bahrain in advancing its "Economic Vision 2030", and is ready to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas such as 5G telecommunications, e-commerce, digital economy and big data, actively participate in Bahrain's major development projects, steadily advance infrastructure, photovoltaic and other projects, and explore cooperation in areas such as new energy and aerospace. China encourages more competent Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Bahrain, and hopes that Bahrain will continue to provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises. Zayani said, Bahrain highly recognizes the basic norms governing international relations such as non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, good-neighborliness and peaceful settlement of disputes, opposes politicizing human rights issues, and supports China's efforts to maintain unity and stability. The Chinese government has a high approval rating of over 90 percent of the people, which fully testifies to the success of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the positive results of China's efforts to improve people's livelihood, develop democracy and protect human rights. Bahrain and China have successfully carried out the phase III clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine. The Bahraini side thanks China for boosting Bahrain's efforts to realize two-dose vaccinations, and stands ready to continue to strengthen cooperation with China to jointly address challenges. The two sides agreed to further enrich people-to-people and cultural exchanges, support Chinese language teaching in Bahrain, and facilitate personnel exchanges. Zayani said Bahrain supports China in hosting the Beijing Olympic Winter Games and opposes politicizing sports. The two sides exchanged views on cooperation between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Wang Yi said, China appreciates Bahrain's positive role in the development of China-GCC relations and is ready to work with Bahrain to upgrade China-GCC cooperation. Both sides also exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue and the situation in the Middle East. Zayani spoke highly of China's commitment to promoting regional peace and stability and highly appreciated the China-proposed five-point initiative on achieving security and stability in the Middle East, saying that it demonstrates China's key and positive role and its sense of responsibility as a major country. Airtel today announced that it signed a long-term, multi-year agreement with Google to accelerate the growth of Indias digital ecosystem. As a part of the deal, Google as a part of Google for India Digitization Fund will make an investment in Airtel, which will include a $700M equity investment (1.28% ownership in Airtel) and a corpus of up to $300M that will go towards implementing mutually agreed commercial initiatives over the course of the next five years. As a part of the first commercial agreement under this deal, Google will work to scale Airtels extensive offerings that cover a range of devices to consumers via innovative affordability programs. Under the larger strategic goals of the collaboration, both companies will also plan to co-create India-specific network domain use cases for 5G and other standards, and also focus on shaping and growing the cloud ecosystem in India by helping accelerate the digital transformation journeys of small and medium businesses across the country. This deal will be subject to necessary regulatory approvals. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel, said: Airtel and Google share the vision to grow Indias digital dividend through innovative products. With our future ready network, digital platforms, last mile distribution and payments ecosystem, we look forward to working closely with Google to increase the depth and breadth of Indias digital ecosystem. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, said: Airtel is a leading pioneer shaping Indias digital future, and we are proud to partner on a shared vision for expanding connectivity and ensuring equitable access to the Internet for more Indians. Our commercial and equity investment in Airtel is a continuation of our Google for India Digitization Funds efforts to increase access to smartphones, enhance connectivity to support new business models, and help companies on their digital transformation journey. Michael Avenatti threw the kitchen sink at his former client Stormy Daniels on Friday, questioning her about sex with former President Donald Trump, poltergeists, Game of Thrones, and Michael Cohens podcast as the disgraced lawyers fraud trial took a bizarre turn. Avenatti is accused of stealing $300,000 of book advance payments from Daniels, 42, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, when he represented her in litigation against then-President Trump in 2018. Advertisement Acting as his own lawyer, the bulldog barrister took a leaf out of Trumps playbook and sought to portray her as an untrustworthy, delusional woman with a grudge. In this courtroom sketch, Michael Avenatti, left, representing himself, holds a copy of the book that Stormy Daniels authored as he questions her, seated right, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams/AP) During one forceful line of questioning, Avenatti asked Daniels about denying having sex with Trump in a January 2018 statement before she retained him as an attorney. Advertisement And in the letter, you stated that you had become aware that certain news outlets were alleging that you had had a romantic affair with Mr. Trump, Donald Trump, and that that was absolutely false; right, thats what you said? asked Avenatti. Because it was not romantic, replied Daniels. I dont consider getting cornered coming out of a bathroom to be an affair. Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels. The adult film actress says she slept with Trump in 2006 after she met him at a charity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe. Trump denies the encounter. Avenatti rose to prominence while representing Daniels in her legal effort to void a contract that bought her silence about the alleged liaison 11 days before the 2016 presidential election. Avenatti asked Daniels about discussing the case against him on Cohens podcast, Mea Culpa. Cohen, Trumps former personal attorney, who notoriously arranged the $130,000 hush money payment, sat in the courtrooms back row, chuckling. Adult film actress Stormy Daniels with Michael Avenatti outside Manhattan Federal Court in New York, on April 16, 2018. (Mary Altaffer/AP) Judge Jesse Furman didnt allow Avenatti to probe Daniels unlikely friendship with Cohen, who served three years in prison for the back door deal and has since apologized to her. Cohen called Avenattis mention of him, A weak attempt to impeach Stormys credibility and challenge her mental faculties. What Avenatti fails to understand and accept is that he is the one on trial for his illegalities specifically, forgery and theft of funds. In this courtroom sketch, Michael Cohen, seated left in the back row of the courtroom, turns and looks at Stormy Daniels as she enters court to testify, in New York, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (Elizabeth Williams/AP) During a rapid-fire line of questioning, Avenatti grilled Daniels about her belief in the supernatural and mocking him online as he stewed behind bars. Avenatti asked Daniels about saying that her eponymous lubricant line, Tempest by Stormy, might come in handy while he awaited trial in federal lockup. Advertisement Because you could just bring me a gift basket in prison? asked Avenatti. You said that, right? I believe it was on Twitter, Daniels quipped in response. The porn star said she made the scathing jibes after she learned that Avenatti had stolen her money and lied about it for months. Adult film actress Stormy Daniels (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Inquiring about her online show Spooky Babes, which showcases Daniels work as a paranormal investigator, Avenatti asked his ex-client how she communicated with the dead. I dont know. It just happens sometimes, said Daniels. The nonliving. Prosecutors say Avenatti forged Daniels signature and directed advance payments for her book, Full Disclosure, to accounts he controlled. If convicted, he faces up to 22 years in prison. He is also yet to serve a 2 1/2-year sentence for trying to extort Nike of $25 million. Advertisement During another back and forth, the actress turned author told the court she referred to her security guards as her dragons in a nod to Queen Daenerys Targaryens character in the HBO show Game of Thrones. Former attorney Michael Avenatti arrives at a federal court in Manhattan for his criminal trial on January 27, 2022 in New York. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) During one tense exchange when Avenatti was pressing his old client on their retainer agreement, which addressed his assistance with potential book and documentary opportunities, Daniels let her true feelings about the loudmouth lawyer be known. Attorney and client agree that attorney shall be entitled you understood that that meant that I would be entitled if those things occurred, right? Avenatti asked. Youre very entitled, yes, Daniels said. Abortion should be legal in all circumstances Abortion should be legal in most circumstances Abortion should be legal in a few circumstances Abortion should never be legal in any circumstances Vote View Results 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. China beefs up COVID-19 alert at community level during Chinese New Year holiday Xinhua) 15:50, January 28, 2022 BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China has asked its community medical institutions to improve their ability of early identification of COVID-19 cases as the country is seeing more cross-regional trips during the coming Spring Festival holiday. Warning against the grave and complex situation in the fight against COVID-19 at present, the National Health Commission said in a circular that the country is facing heightened pressure in epidemic response that comes with the festival travel rush. Local authorities are urged to guide primary health centers in both urban and rural areas to strengthen the management of fever clinics, report suspicious cases as soon as possible, and take measures to prevent transmission within hospitals. Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, falls on Feb. 1 this year. This year's Spring Festival travel season began on Jan. 17 and will continue until Feb. 25, with the number of passenger trips expected to reach 1.18 billion, up 35.6 percent year on year, official data shows. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Hundreds of thousands of Police Officers from all over the country attend the funeral services for NYPD detective Wilbert Mora, posthumously promoted at his funeral on Wednesday at St. Patricks Cathedral. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News) A slain young NYPD officer was remembered for his ever-present smile and love of the job Friday at a packed St. Patricks Cathedral funeral where his sobbing widow shared the sad details of their last day together. On a snowy Manhattan day of mourning and heartache, NYPD Officer Jason Rivera was fondly recalled in eulogies as a man who followed his dreams into the department before his weeping spouse of three months recounted how the couple argued only hours before his fatal shooting inside a Harlem apartment. Advertisement When the 22-year-old Rivera offered to drive her home after the Jan. 21 spat, Dominique Luzuriaga instead opted for an Uber probably the biggest mistake I ever made, she said as her sobs washed over the silent mourners. Dominique Luzuriaga, left, eulogizes her husband New York City Police Officer Jason Rivera during his funeral service at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. (MARY ALTAFFER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Hours later, his iPhone locator showed her husband was in Harlem Hospital and she began making frantic calls as Riveras cell phone rang unanswered. Advertisement I called and called again, said the slain cops childhood sweetheart. I called one more time. And this time I felt something wasnt right. All of this seems so unreal. Like Im having one of those nightmares that you never think youre going to have. NYPD Officer Jason Rivera (AP) A somber crowd of family members, fellow officers and elected officials filled the venerable Manhattan house of worship to remember a man of great promise whose career ended after just 14 months. Cardinal Timothy Dolan opened the Mass with the reading of prayers in Spanish as he stood alongside Riveras casket, followed by a playing of the song Amazing Grace. A floral wreath of Riveras shield number 25738 stood at the front of the church, along with a large NYPD photo of the beaming young cop. Rivera was hailed for his 1,000-watt smile and dedication to the job that was his childhood goal before its nightmarish ending. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell posthumously promoted Rivera to detective first grade after a rousing remembrance of the slain officer. This has always been a city of light, and Officer Jason Rivera was one of its brightest, said Sewell. This is a job he always wanted to do. Officer Jason Rivera's brother touches his casket after a eulogy. (MARY ALTAFFER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) His older brother Jeffrey Rivera offered a heartfelt sendoff to a sibling obsessed with the TV show Cops as a kid and equally intent on joining the NYPD as an adult. He knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life and he knew who he wanted to spend it with, said Rivera, referring to his brother by the family nickname of Tata. My brother was the definition of integrity, he continued before placing his hand on the officers casket while leaving the altar. He was joy. He could light up this whole church ... I cant put into words how broken, how empty, we feel. Advertisement Officer Jason Rivera's widow, Dominique Luzuriaga, clutches a crucifix after the funeral for her slain husband, Officer Jason Rivera. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) The massive Fifth Ave. cathedral was packed as the city paid its final respects to the heroic officer murdered with his partner while answering a domestic dispute call. This is exactly as he would have wanted to be remembered, as a true hero, said Luzuriaga. Or as I used to call him, Big P.O. Rivera. A wake and funeral honoring Riveras partner Wilbert Mora, 27, was set for next week. NYPD officer Jason Rivera's family grieves his casket is transferred to a hearse following his funeral Friday at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Jan. 28, 2022, in Manhattan. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) Luzuriaga brought the crowd of police officers, including colleagues from her husbands 32nd Precinct, to their feet in applause with her criticism of the recent policies announced by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg that critics have slammed as too soft on crime. The system continues to fail us, the widow said, addressing her slain spouse. Were not safe anymore. I know you were tired of these laws, especially the ones from the new DA. I hope hes watching you speak through me right now.' From left, Gov. Hochul, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, and Mayor Adams leave the funeral of NYPD Officer Jason Rivera Friday at St. Patrick's Cathedral. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) Luzuriaga, clutching a large crucifix, was later presented with the American flag from her husbands casket as snow flakes fell on Fifth Ave. Advertisement Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > He lived his dream, although for too short a time, said the family friend and Yonkers pastor Rev. Robert Abbatiello. And he made a difference ... He was a police officer, a public servant, a loving son who wanted to make his parents proud. NYPD Officer Jason Rivera's casket is loaded into a hearse. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) The mourners stood and applauded as Sewell, less than a month into the job, said the loss of Rivera and would only reinforce the NYPDs commitment to keeping New York safe. The NYPD will never give up this city, she said to cheers. We will always prevail. An emotional Mayor Adams recalled the slain officers love of his childhood sweetheart and his devotion to the job. Today we salute Officer Jason Rivera for the last time, said the one-time NYPD captain. His journey by our side has ended. He can still hear us from a distance ... He wanted to make a difference. He wanted to become a police officer. Officer Jason Rivera's funeral procession makes its way south on Fifth Ave. in Manhattan following his funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Friday. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) The slain officer joined the force in November 2020, quickly earning the respect of his colleagues during his too-short career. Advertisement We will keep his memory alive, and assure that his sacrifice and that of his partner will never be forgotten, promised Inspector Amir Yakatally, head of the 32nd Precinct. Rest in eternal peace, Jason. Your watch has ended. Keep the conversation about local news & events going by joining us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Recent updates from The News-Post and also from News-Post staff members are compiled below. Gainesville, TX (76240) Today Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low near 65F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low near 65F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. The killer wanted for fatally blasting a man near his Bronx home during a wild shootout has been arrested, police said Friday. Luis Padro-Rosario, 35, was busted Thursday and charged with the murder of Ryan Chambers, 40, during a Dec. 22 firefight down the block from the victims Allerton home. Advertisement The pair, who had previously fought with each other, fired more than a dozen shots in the fatal confrontation on Holland Ave. near Waring Ave. Chambers, struck in the chest, was found unconscious on the ground, a .22 caliber handgun by his side, police said. Advertisement Padro-Rosario has 12 prior arrests, including an attempted murder charge on Dec. 10, 2019 when he was picked up for stabbing a 27-year-old man in the same neighborhood where Chambers was killed, police said. Prosecutors arraigned Padro-Rosario on assault charges for the stabbing and he was released without bail. Hes pleaded not guilty in that case, which is still pending. Two years earlier, in December 2017, Padro-Rosario was paroled after serving prison time for attempted robbery in Brooklyn, records show. Chambers had eight prior arrests, including for assault, weapon possession, driving without a license and acting in a manner injurious to a child, police said. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. An off-duty cop shot and wounded a man armed with a knife on the Upper West Side Friday morning as thousands of mourners prepared to pay their final respects to an NYPD officer fatally shot in Harlem last week. The officer was working a paid security detail at a Duane Reade on Broadway at W. 94th St. about 7 a.m. when two men, ages 42 and 66, began arguing with each other at the entranceway, police said. Advertisement Duane Reade had hired the off-duty cop to deter shoplifting, a source with knowledge of the incident said. A knife is pictured on the ground at the scene of the shooting Friday morning. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) The cop had just asked the two men to exit the store when the younger man pulled a silver kitchen knife and jammed it into the older mans arm, cops said. Advertisement The off-duty cop ran after the armed suspect to Amsterdam Ave. and W. 94th St. When the man turned with the knife in hand, the officer opened fire, striking him in the left arm and leg, police said. At least five shots were fired. I was in my house laying down when I heard some gunshots. Pop! Pop! Pop! neighbor Michael Jacobs, 58, said. I saw a man in the street, squirming the [officer] standing there with him. There were no cop cars around. All of a sudden, the rest of the cops started coming. The knife allegedly brandished by a man in a fight at an Upper West Side Duane Reade. (NYPD) EMS rushed the suspect to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital where he is expected to survive. The officer was also taken to an area hospital. Charges against the stabber were pending Friday. The shooting was being probed by the NYPDs Force Investigation Division. The man stabbed at the Duane Reade was also taken to Mount Sinai Morningside and is expected to survive. Investigators were still trying to determine what sparked the fight. Cops had roped off Amsterdam Ave. by W. 94th St. as they continued their investigation. The knife still lay on the ground at the scene of the shooting. The officer was working a paid security detail at a Duane Reade at W. 94th St. and Broadway about 7 a.m. when two men, ages 42 and 66, began fighting with each other at the entranceway, police said. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) An area doorman who only gave his name as Daniel said hed noticed in the last month a uniformed cop posted at the Duane Reade. Advertisement With the shoplifting that goes on here, that (was) a new thing, the doorman said. The shooting took place as mourners filed into St. Patricks Cathedral in Midtown to attend the funeral for Police Officer Jason Rivera, who was shot and killed responding to a domestic disturbance call in Harlem last Friday. Rivera was fatally wounded alongside Officer Wilbert Mora, 27, in the deadly confrontation with an unhinged ex-con. Moras wake and funeral will be held next week. Police officers dressed in ceremonial garb were working the scene of the shooting, having been unexpectedly pulled away from the funeral. The scene at Duane Reade on Friday. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Cops enrolled in the paid detail program are allowed to work armed and in uniform while off duty for extra cash. The program was started under then-Police Commissioner Howard Safir in 1998. Previously, the NYPD barred officers from working in uniform while off-duty. Fridays clash comes as the city grapples with an uptick in shoplifting in chain pharmacies like Duane Reade a rash of thefts that employees and customers say contributed to at least one Manhattan Rite Aid being forced to close. Advertisement Last week Rite Aid officials confirmed that a location at Eighth Ave. and W. 50th St. is shutting down for good next month. Customers and one employee said the move was in response to rampant shoplifting, though the corporation only said the reason had to do with business conditions and viability specific to that store. Police said there were 74 complaints at that single Rite Aid store since Jan. 1, 2020, including 45 reports of petty larceny, or shoplifting, according to NYPD data. The other complaints included nine grand larcenies and eight robberies. Earlier this week, actor Michael Rappaport witnessed the pillaging first hand at a different Rite Aid on the Upper East Side. Rapaport posted on Instagram that he saw a man shoplifting items from the pharmacy and walking out past a security guard with no repercussions. This f---ing guy just filled his two bags up with everything in Rite Aid, right here on 80th and First Avenue [and] is walking down the street like s--t is Gucci, Rappaport wrote. I was watching him the whole time. HOUSTON, Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC) proudly revealed its new name, EnerGeo Alliance (EnerGeo) today. Uniting the energy and geoscience industries, the name change conveys a recharged and ongoing commitment to providing solutions for the energy evolution as its members continue to discover, develop, and deliver the mainstay, low-carbon and alternative energy the world demands. EnerGeo and its members help countries meet their energy needs and progress to the next step of their energy evolution. EnerGeo Alliance will continue representing its members across 50 countries, bringing unmatched global expertise and knowledge to the industry by guiding informed policy decisions on the process of energy exploration, operations, and production. As a trusted leader in science-based regulatory information and advocacy for energy companies and energy explorers, as well as the governments that regulate them, EnerGeo is positioned as the voice of the energy geoscience industry through its regional and global structures. This pivotal time period in the global energy evolution marks a need for change and an opportunity for us to become the EnerGeo Alliance, Nikki Martin, President of the EnerGeo Alliance said. This new name reflects our commitment to delivering solutions at a critical time in history with higher energy demands from growing economies and evolving energy standards from developed nations pushing this transformation forward. Alongside the EnerGeo Alliance name, the organization now boasts a new member category of Regional Industry Partners, in addition to Professional Services; Entrepreneur; and Individual Consultant that were announced late last year to further promote the broader energy geoscience industry. The expansion of EnerGeos offering sets goals for accelerating value within the industry by generating new investment opportunities including low-carbon solutions and additional scientific, technical, and legal analysis to support member operations. We are excited to expand upon our organizations deep history of providing reliable global advocacy and resources for our dedicated members, Martin added. As the world continues to evolve, the EnerGeo Alliance will maintain its mission of raising the energy geoscience industrys visibility as an irreplaceable partner in the energy evolution and leading the way for the safe exploration and development of a wide range of environmentally responsible energies ranging from low-carbon to hydrocarbons. About the EnerGeo Alliance Founded in 1971, the EnerGeo Alliance is a global trade association for the energy geoscience industry, the intersection where earth science and energy meet. Providing solutions to revolutionize the energy evolution, the EnerGeo Alliance and its member companies span more than 50 countries, representing onshore and offshore survey operators and acquisition companies, energy data and processing providers, energy companies, equipment and software manufacturers, industry suppliers, service providers, and consultancies. Together, our member companies unify to open the gateway to the safe discovery, development and delivery of mainstay sources of energy, alternative energy and low-carbon energy solutions that meet our growing worlds needs. Media Contact Gail Adams EnerGeo Alliance, VP of Communications & External Affairs gadams@energeoalliance.org O: 713-957-8080 M: 281-702-4201 New York, US, Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Market Overview: According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR), Industrial Sensors Market information by Sensor Type, by Type, by End User and Region forecast to 2030 market size to reach USD 53.2 billion, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 9.06% by 2030. Market Scope: Various technological advances like the development of the internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) enabled sensors will offer robust opportunities for the market over the forecast period. Such sensors come with signal processing capabilities, real-time decision making, and on-chip processing that assists to improve different industrial processes. Besides, the rapid use of smart sensors in the energy industry to obtain real-time power consumption data & remote monitoring of equipment like power lines and transformers that helps to enhance efficiency in power generation is also fuelling market growth. Dominant Key Players on Industrial Sensors Market Covered are: Rockwell Automation (US) Honeywell International (US) Texas Instruments (US) Panasonic Corporation (Japan) STMicroelectronics (Switzerland) TE Connectivity (Switzerland) Siemens (Germany) Amphenol Corporation (US) Dwyer Instruments (US) Bosch Sensortec (Germany) OMEGA ENGINEERING (US) SENSIRION AG (Switzerland) AMS AG (Austria) MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC. (US) ABB LTD. (Switzerland) Get Free Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/10776 Market USP Exclusively Encompassed: Market Drivers Movement towards Industry 4.0 in Manufacturing Sector to Boost Market Growth The movement towards industry 4.0 and also factory automation has indeed made sensors a vital tool in the manufacturing industry for their ability of maximizing operational equipment effectiveness and efficiency and boost machine uptime. With the rise in industrial automation, sensing technology is likely to stay as the foundation for data collection for transforming manufacturing floors into reliable, connected, and cost-effective facilities. High Cost of Ownership to act as Market Restraint The high cost of ownership and technical issues may act as market restraints over the forecast period. Reluctance to Adopt Sensor Technology in Old Industries to act as Market Challenge The reluctance to adopt sensor technology in old industries may act as a market challenge over the forecast period. Browse In-depth Market Research Report (141 Pages) on Industrial Sensors Market: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/industrial-sensors-market-10776 Segmentation of Market Covered in the Research: The global industrial sensors market is bifurcated based on sensor type, type, and end user industry. By sensor type, pressure sensors will lead the market over the forecast period for the increasing need of such sensors in the food and beverage processing unit. By type, the contact segment will dominate the market over the forecast period. Contact level sensors include physical contact amid the device and media. The technologies utilized in contact type level sensors are weight and chain, resistive chain, rotating paddle, pneumatic, magnetic and mechanical float, hydrostatic, vibratory probe, and magneto-resistive. The common forms of contact type sensors are flow sensors, force sensors, pressure sensors, temperature sensors, amid others. By end user industry, the manufacturing industry will spearhead the market over the forecast period for the growing adoption of IoT sensors in processing plants and manufacturing plants. Regional Analysis APAC to Spearhead Industrial Sensors Market The APAC region will spearhead the industrial sensors market over the forecast period. Growing industrial sector, increasing presence of SMEs in developed countries- India, China, and Japan, the growing need for sensors in pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and automobiles industry, rapid industrialization, growing electronics industry, burgeoning population, growing automobile industry, rapid technological advances, the emergence of industry 4.0, and the increasing foreign investments are adding to the global industrial sensors market growth in the region. Besides, the increase in manufacturing units, the presence of the largest number of semiconductor manufacturing units, rapidly growing industrial sector, increasing adoption in China, favorable government initiatives, growing need for automobiles, strong manufacturing sector, rising government initiatives for enhancing the manufacturing sector, the automation of traditional manufacturing and industrial activities through modern smart technologies, Japan, India, and China being leading manufacturers that are integrating AI in the manufacturing facilities, and growth in the electronics and automobile industry are also adding market growth. Talk to Expert: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/ask_for_schedule_call/10776 North America to Have Admirable Growth in Industrial Sensors Market North America will have admirable growth in the industrial sensors market over the forecast period. Increasing use of IoT devices & communication networks in the manufacturing and energy industries, growing demand for such sensors in different end use industries such as healthcare, textile, oil and gas, packaging, and automotive industries, the presence of strong automotive and electronic industries, high investments in technology, early adoption of advanced technologies, increasing investments by key players like Rockwell Automation, Honeywell International Inc., Texas Instruments, Amphenol Corporation, Bosch Sensortec, and Omega Engineering to improve the accuracy and performance of industrial sensors, and technologically enhanced manufacturing facilities are adding to the global industrial sensors market growth in the region. COVID-19 Impact on the Global Industrial Sensors Market The COVID-19 pandemic possessed a huge impact on the economy and the consumer alike. Manufacturing hubs have been working temporarily at low efficiency for containing the COVID-19 spread. This has affected the supply chain majorly by creating shortages of materials, finished goods, and components. Lack of business continuity has ensured a negative effect on shareholder returns and revenue that are likely to create financial disruptions in the industrial sensors industry. The effect of COVID-19 on the manufacturing industry has significantly impacted the global economy. The electronic components like ICs, LED chips and wafers, PCBs, sensors, and other semiconductor devices, are mostly imported from China. Owing to the temporary halt in manufacturing plants, the costs of semiconductor components have gone up by 2-3% for the shortage of supplies. The shortages of materials and critical components have significantly affected the global supply chains. Besides, the reductions in different capital budgets and delay in different planned projects in different end use industries have affected the global economy. Competitive Landscape The global industrial sensors market is both competitive along with being fragmented on account of the presence of several international and also domestic industry players. Such industry players have utilized an assorted innovative strategies for being at the top along with sufficing to the burgeoning requirement of the esteemed clients including geographic expansions, collaborations, joint ventures, new product launches, partnerships, contracts, and much more. Besides, the players are also investing in different research & development activities. Related Reports: 3D Sensor Market Research Report: By Technology (Projected Light/Structured Light, Stereo Vision, Time-of-Flight and Ultrasound), Type (Acoustic Sensor, Accelerometer, Image Sensor and others), End User (Industrial, Automotive, Logistics, Aerospace & Defense, Consumer Electronics and Healthcare and Medical Devices) and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World) - Forecast till 2027 Europe Advance CO2 Sensor Market, By Manufacturers, By Type (NDIR Sensor, Chemical Sensor), By Application (Medical, Petrochemical, Automotive, Environmental), Forecast 2027 About Market Research Future: Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis regarding diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions. Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter MIAMI, FL, Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Progressive Care Inc. (OTCQB:RXMD) (Progressive Care or the Company), a personalized healthcare services and technology company, is pleased to announce that the Company has partnered with Aimpoint Digital (www.aimpointdigital.com), a premier Alteryx consulting partner, to accelerate value realization from their analytic investments. Alteryx (www.alteryx.com) is an Analytics Automation company that delivers breakthrough business outcomes via its user-friendly, code free platform. Thanks to our partnership with Aimpoint Digital, we were able to not only get the most of our Alteryx investment, but also get a wide knowledge base related to best practices, infrastructure, and processes. Our data team at Progressive Care has become more agile in working with any company equipped with API data transfer capabilities, stated Carlos Rangel, Head of Digital Transformation at Progressive Care. Without question, having access to the large community of developers at Alteryx added to Aimpoint Digitals support simplifies how we handle large datasets as it allows us to quickly and seamlessly identify errors and troubleshoot key systems. Management notes that Alteryx enables the Progressive Care team to handle large data sets to identify insights related to prescription delivery, including how often the Company services each patient, which medications patients receive, and the key dates of fulfillment for each prescription customer. Alteryx also provides for a 35% improvement in database run-time for pharmacy data reporting. Alteryx has also allowed the Companys data management team to identify 340B claims on its SQL server and to automate reports showing a comprehensive record of dispensed prescriptions for each 340B client, reducing time, energy, and capital expenditures for all involved parties. Alteryx allows us to transfer data from independent servers into a centralized data warehouse, commented Alan Jay Weisberg, CEO of Progressive Care. That creates access to immediate reports from all locations, providing for decisions based on insights driven by accurate real-time information across our entire organization. Our partnership with Alteryx enables us to automate our internal processes, making our data management and data analytical teams much more efficient. Joe Lipski, Alteryx ACE & Analytics Leader at Aimpoint Digital commented; At Aimpoint Digital, we were delighted to be selected as Progressive Cares analytics partner to help accelerate their Alteryx adoption through enablement, innovation workshops and solution design. We have a passionate team of the highest skilled Alteryx users taking advantage of the Alteryx platform every day to deliver innovative and high value analytics process automation solutions across the globe. For more information about Progressive Care, please visit the companys website. Connect and stay in touch with us on social media: Progressive Care Inc. https://www.progressivecareus.com/ https://twitter.com/ProgressCareUS PharmCoRx https://www.pharmcorx.com/ https://twitter.com/PharmCoRx ClearMetrX https://www.clearmetrx.com/ https://www.facebook.com/clearmetrx/ About Progressive Care Inc. Progressive Care Inc. (OTCQB: RXMD), through its subsidiaries, is a Florida health services organization and provider of prescription pharmaceuticals, compounded medications, provider of tele-pharmacy services, the sale of anti-retroviral medications, medication therapy management (MTM), the supply of prescription medications to long-term care facilities, and health practice risk management. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. Statements contained herein that are not based upon current or historical fact are forward-looking in nature and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Companys expectations about its future operating results, performance, and opportunities that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. When used herein, the words anticipate, believe, estimate, upcoming, plan, target, intend and expect and similar expressions, as they relate to Progressive Care Inc., its subsidiaries, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Companys actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Public Relations Contact: Carlos Rangel carlosr@pharmcorx.com About Aimpoint Digital Aimpoint Digital focuses on being the trusted advisor for companies looking to extract tangible value from data and develop into analytics-driven organizations. Our deep industry, technical, and analytic expertise has enabled us to construct an extensive client roster across multiple industries; From early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies, our solutions are tailored based upon our clients specific data and analytic needs and their transformational aspirations. We pride ourselves in executing an approach that combines expert advice with actionable results and integrity. For more information about Aimpoint Digital, please visit our website: https://aimpointdigital.com/ or contact: joe.lipski@aimpointdigital.com Delhi, Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Asia-Pacific generator sales market is growing at a high CAGR because of the increasing demand for continuous power supply in commercial and industrial sectors of the region. Furthermore, the flourishing manufacturing and construction sectors in Asian countries are also propelling the market forward A recent study conducted by the strategic consulting and market research firm BlueWeave Consulting, revealed that the Asia-Pacific generator sales market was worth USD 7.1 billion in 2021. According to the study, the market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.4%, earning revenue of around USD 10.9 billion by the end of 2028. A growing demand for continuous power supply in commercial and industrial sectors, such as IT & telecom, healthcare, utilities & power generation, etc., can be attributed to the growth of the Asia-Pacific generator sales market. Furthermore, the development of the manufacturing and construction sectors in Asian countries, such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, etc., is another major factor driving the generator sales market. However, the growing trend toward greener energy sources has emerged as a major hindrance to market growth. Asia-Pacific Generator Sales Market is Driven by Growing Construction Activities The Asia-Pacific region has some of the fastest-growing economies in the world including India, China, Australia, Japan, South Korea, etc. These nations are significantly investing in construction activities to boost their infrastructural development. For instance, by September 2020, China had resumed construction on approximately 90% of its all ongoing key projects, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Southeast-Asia, a cluster of several fast-emerging economies has also registered increased construction activities in the recent years. In the last days of 2021, Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee approved the construction of the eco-smart city projectby Lotte Group in Thu Thiem New Urban Area of Thu Duc city. Lotte Group is expected to invest USD 1.0 billion in the project. Various other countries like South Korea, Australia, Japan, India, and others have approved various construction projects recently to support the development of infrastructure in the country. Generators are employed at construction sites to provide reliable and portable power which is used to provide motive power to various construction machinery such as hand drill, chain saw, air compressors, etc. These also act as an important source of electricity at construction sites. As countries look to develop infrastructure for smart cities and other services, the construction activities are expected to increase even more in the coming years. Therefore, owing to all these factors, the generator sales market is gaining significant traction in the Asia Pacific region. Asia-Pacific Generator Sales Market - By End User Based on end-users, the Asia-Pacific generator sales market is grouped into industrial, commercial, and residential segments. Among these, the industrial segment accounted for the largest market share in 2021. The Asia-Pacific region is emerging as a manufacturing hub worldwide. In addition, the ongoing construction activities for infrastructural development are also increasing the demand for a continuous power supply, which is driving the growth of generator sales. On the other hand, the commercial segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period since countries such as India and South Korea are significantly investing in their service sector. Request for Sample Report @ https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/report/asia-pacific-generator-sales-market/report-sample Asia-Pacific Generator Sales Market - By Application Based on applications, the Asia-Pacific generator sales market is grouped into standby, prime & continuous, and peak shaving segments. The standby power generators segment holds the largest market share. Generators of this type provide backup power in the event of a power outage. Additionally, there is a high demand for standby power generators in India due to the frequent power outages in different parts of the country caused by overloading. Furthermore, due to its widespread use on construction and mining sites, the prime and continuous segment also holds a substantial share of the market. Impact of COVID-19 on Asia-Pacific Generator Sales Market The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the growth of the Asia-Pacific generator sales market. As the countries had to impose a lockdown to mitigate the virus spread, the operations of the major end-users of generators, including manufacturing, construction, mining, marine, etc., were halted. This resulted in a sharp decline in the sales of generators across the Asia-Pacific, incurring huge losses to the manufacturers. The sales declined as manufacturing and construction activities went down in 2020 owing to non-availability of labor, lockdown restriction, difficulties in raw material procurement, and severe second wave of the COVID-19. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), energy consumption accounted for 27% of the entire energy consumption in ASEAN, China and India in 2018. As countries announced lockdown, the demand for energy went down drastically as companies shifted to work from home and offices closed, leading to reduced demand for generators in the region. The sales of generators picked up in 2021 as countries like China and India faced energy crunch. China issued orders to manufacturers in various regions to reduce their operating capacity amid worsening energy crisis in during October-November 2021. Indonesia, worlds fourth largest coal producer, has announced temporary ban on coal exports to ease the worsening energy crisis the country. With growing demand for energy, the demand for generators is expected to go up and support the recovery of the Asia-Pacific generator sales market. Asia-Pacific Generator Sales Market - Regional Insights Geographically, the Asia-Pacific generator sales market is segmented into China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and the rest of Asia-Pacific. China dominates the Asia-Pacific generator sales market. However, India is also emerging as a potential market for generator sales. India is among the fastest-growing economies in the world and is significantly investing in infrastructural development, which in turn is driving the growth of the countrys generator sales market. Moreover, due to frequent power cuts, the demand for generator sales is surging in the commercial and industrial facilities of the country to ensure the smooth flow of the operations. Please visit press release of Asia-Pacific generator sales market: https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/press-release/asia-pacific-generator-sales-market-growth-forecast-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-6-4-during-2022-2028 Asia-Pacific Generator Sales Market: Competitive Landscape Some of the leading players in the Asia-Pacific generator sales market are Cummins Inc., Doosan Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Siemens AG, Honda Siel Power Products Ltd, Caterpillar Inc, Kohler Co., ABB Ltd., Generac Power Systems, Weichai Group, and other prominent players. The market is highly fragmented and consolidated due to the presence of multinational conglomerates as well as regional industry players. The market participants offer and launch a wide range of generators with different power ratings to match the needs of various end-users. They also significantly invest in research and development activities to improve their offerings in the competitive market. Furthermore, the adoption of competitive strategies, such as partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, etc., is also prominent in this market. Recent Development In January 2022, Honda announced its plans to begin sales of an all-new EU32i portable generator. The new generator is equipped with a newly designed dedicated engine with a maximum output of 3.2kVA. The generator features Hondas original sine wave inverter technology and can provide a stable supply of high-quality electrical output with smooth waveform, which makes it compatible with precision instruments that require high-quality electricity. In January 2022, General Motors announced its plans to manufacture mobile power generators using its Hydrotec-branded hydrogen fuel cells. The company is aiming to replace polluting gas- and diesel-powered generators with zero-emission hydrogen-powered ones. The company is aiming to provide these generators in several sizes and capacities with power output ranging from 60kW to 600kW. Dont miss the business opportunity of the Asia-Pacific generator sales market. Consult our analysts to gain crucial insights and facilitate your business growth. The in-depth analysis of the report provides information about growth potential, upcoming trends, and statistics of the Asia-Pacific generator sales market. It also highlights the factors driving forecasts of total market size. The report promises to provide recent technology trends of the Asia-Pacific generator sales market and industry insights to help decision-makers make sound strategic decisions. Furthermore, the report also analyses the growth drivers, challenges, and competitive dynamics of the market. Scope of the Report Attributes Details Years Considered Historical data 2018-2021 Base Year 2021 Forecast 2022 2028 Facts Covered Revenue in USD Billion Market Coverage China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and the rest of Asia-Pacific Product Service/Segmentation By Fuel Type, By Power Rating, By Application, By End-User, By Region Key Players Cummins Inc., Doosan Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Siemens AG, Honda Siel Power Products Ltd., Caterpillar Inc, Kohler Co., ABB Ltd., Generac Power Systems, Weichai Group, and other prominent players. Please find below some related report: Global Fuel Cells Market, Opportunity and Forecast, 2017-2027 Global Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Market, Opportunity and Forecast, 2017-2027 Global Flow Battery Market, Opportunity and Forecast, 2017-2027 Global Portable Solar Charger Market, Opportunity and Forecast, 2017-2027 Global Concentrating Solar Power Market, Opportunity and Forecast, 2017-2027 About Us BlueWeave Consulting provides comprehensive Market Intelligence (MI) Solutions to businesses regarding various products and services online and offline. We offer all-inclusive market research reports by analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data to boost up the performance of your business solutions. BWC has built its reputation from the scratch by delivering quality inputs and nourishing long-lasting relationships with its clients. We are one of the promising digital MI solutions companies providing agile assistance to make your business endeavors successful. Contact Us: BlueWeave Consulting & Research Pvt. Ltd +1 866 658 6826 | +1 425 320 4776 | +44 1865 60 0662 info@blueweaveconsulting.com https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/ TORONTO, Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Topicus.com Inc. (the Company) (TSXV: TOI) announced today the resignation of Steve Scotchmer from, and the appointment of Jeff Bender to, the Companys Board of Directors. Mr. Bender has been a director of Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU) since 2013 and the Chief Executive Officer for Constellations Harris Operating Group since 2002. About Topicus.com Inc. Topicus.com Inc. is a leading pan-European provider of vertical market software and vertical market platforms to clients in public and private sector markets. Operating and investing in countries and markets across Europe with long-term growth potential, Topicus.com Inc. acquires, builds and manages leading software companies providing specialized, mission-critical and high-impact software solutions that address the particular needs of customers. For further information, contact: Topicus.com Inc. Jamal Baksh, Chief Financial Officer Tel: (416) 861-9677 jbaksh@csisoftware.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Search Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SMY | OTCQB: SHCMF) (Search or the Company), is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated December 23, 2021, it has closed the second and final tranche (the Second Tranche) of its non-brokered private placement (the Private Placement). The Private Placement raised a total aggregate gross proceeds of $6,322,239. Under the Second Tranche, the Company issued 120,000 flow-through common shares of the Company (the FT Shares) at a price of $0.25 per FT Share (the FT Offering), and 5,495,777 units of the Company (the Units) at a price of $0.18 per Unit (the Unit Offering) for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,019,239.86. Each Unit consists of one common share (each, a Share) and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant") in the capital of the Company. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share (a "Warrant Share") of the Company for a period of 24 months from the date of issue at an exercise price of $0.25 per Warrant Share, subject to adjustment pursuant to the terms of the Warrant. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the FT Offering to incur eligible Canadian Exploration Expenses and flow-through mining expenditures, as defined under the Income Tax Act (Canada), that will be renounced in favour of the purchasers with an effective date of no later than December 31, 2022. The Company intents to use the proceeds from the Unit Offering for general working capital purposes. All securities issued pursuant to the Second Tranche are subject to a statutory four-month hold period expiring on May 28, 2022. The Private Placement is subject to receipt of final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Search Minerals Inc. Led by a proven management team and board of directors, Search is focused on finding and developing Critical Rare Earths Elements (CREE), Zirconium (Zr) and Hafnium (Hf) resources within the emerging Port Hope Simpson St. Lewis CREE District of South East Labrador. The Company controls a belt 63 km long and 2 km wide and is road accessible, on tidewater, and located within 3 local communities. Search has completed a preliminary economic assessment report for FOXTROT, and a resource estimate for DEEP FOX. Search is also working on three exploration prospects along the belt which include: FOX MEADOW, SILVER FOX and AWESOME FOX. Search has continued to optimize our patented Direct Extraction Process technology with the generous support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and from the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency. We have completed two pilot plant operations and produced highly purified mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate and mixed REO concentrate for separation and refining. For further information, please contact: Greg Andrews President and CEO Tel: 604-998-3432 E-mail: info@searchminerals.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Except for the statements of historical fact, this news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. "Forward-looking information" in this news release includes information about the Companys closing of the Private Placement, and the timing thereof, the anticipated use of proceeds, and other forward-looking information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the inability to obtain the necessary Exchange approvals to complete the Private Placement or to apply the proceeds of the Private Placement as anticipated by management. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made assumptions about the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events, and that the Company will receive all required regulatory approvals, including Exchange approval, for the Private Placement. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, unless and until required by applicable securities laws. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman notifies Gatos Silver, Inc. (NYSE: GATO) investors that the Firm is investigating possible securities law violations by Gatos, senior management, and others. The firm urges investors with significant losses to submit your losses now. Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/GATO Contact An Attorney Now: GATO@hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895 Gatos Silver, Inc. (GATO) Investigation: The investigation focuses on statements concerning Gatos Cerro Los Gatos (CLG) mine located in Chihuahua, Mexico. Specifically, as recently as July 15, 2021, Gatos affirmed the Companys estimates in its July 1, 2020 Technical Report (2020 Technical Report) that the CLG deposit contains approximately 9.6 million diluted tonnes of proven and probable mineral reserves. This and other statements allowed Company insiders to sell 11.4 million shares to the investing public at $14 per share for total proceeds of about $159 million. But on Jan. 25, 2022, Gatos disclosed that during a resource and reserve update process, which included a detailed reconciliation of recent production performance, the Company concluded that there were errors in the 2020 Technical Report, as well as indications that there is an overestimation in the existing resource model. As a result, the Company estimated a potential reduction of the metal content of CLG mineral reserve ranging from 30% to 50% of the metal content and warned that the mineral resource and reserve estimates in the 2020 Technical Report should not be relied upon. This revelation drove the price of Gatos shares as much as 70% lower on Jan. 26, 2022. Were focused on investors losses and when Gatos knew of the 2020 Technical Report flaws, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. If you invested in Gatos and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman. Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Gatos should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email GATO@hbsslaw.com. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a national law firm with eight offices in eight cities around the country and over eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw . Vancouver, BC, Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- International Iconic Gold Exploration Corporation (Iconic Gold or the Company) (TSXV:ICON) (OTC:MFMLF) announces that Richard Dick Walters has retired from his position as Executive Vice President to the Company. Mr. Walters has served the Company as an officer and director for 21 years from 2000 to June 2021, when he stepped down as a director and up until December 31, 2021, when he retired from his officer position. After an illustrious career spanning some 55 years, Mr. Walters has decided to retire but will remain as an Advisor to Iconic Gold. The Company thanks Mr. Walters for his services and is delighted to retain his expertise on ongoing projects. It has been an honor and a privilege working with Dick over the past five years, commented President and CEO, Robert Abenante. The Company has been incredibly fortunate to enjoy the fruits of his expertise and experience and we hope to continue to work with him for years to come in a less intensive capacity so he can enjoy well-deserved retirement. We wish him the very best, concluded Mr. Abenante. ON BEHALF OF INTERNATIONAL ICONIC GOLD EXPLORATION CORP. "Rob Abenante" Robert Abenante, President & CEO Contact Information: Email:info@iconicgold.com Website: www.iconicgold.com For further information regarding International Iconic Gold Exploration Corp., please refer to the Companys filings available on SEDAR (http://www.sedar.com) or at ICONs Website (http://www.iconicgold.com) Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Former NYPD top cop Dermot Shea has been hired by the real estate goliath that runs the Hudson Yards, company officials announced Friday. Related Companies named Shea, 52, their new president of commercial property management a position created for the ex-police commissioner. Advertisement Shea stepped down as police commissioner on Dec. 31 after two years on the job. He put in his retirement papers when incoming Mayor Adams named Keechant Sewell as Sheas successor. Former NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) He led the NYPD during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a spike in shootings and homicides and city-wide protests following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Advertisement Shea spent 30 years at the NYPD and was widely credited for innovative, data-driven management strategies, Related Companies said in a statement. Dermot Shea is an accomplished and experienced leader who will bring unparalleled integrity to our commercial property management operation, said Jeff Blau, CEO of Related Companies. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team and look forward to leveraging his management skills and expertise. Hudson Yards (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News) Shea wont be providing security, but will oversee all of Related Companies commercial office and mixed-use properties in the city. That includes the Hudson Yards and the Vessel, a 150-foot-tall spiraling modern ziggurat of interlocking staircases near W. 33rd St. and 10th Ave. where four suicides have occurred since opening two years ago. Joining Related represents an exciting new chapter in my career and Im looking forward to working with this already incredibly strong team, Shea said. Property management is a new challenge, and one that Im looking forward to leveraging my management skills and data-driven strategies to deliver the best experience for tenants, customers, and visitors to our properties. Singapore, Jan. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spurwing Communications, an award-winning leader in strategic healthcare communications, has strengthened its team with the appointment of Emma Jenkins-Lee to its newly created role of Managing Director. In her new role, Jenkins-Lee will spearhead Spurwings next phase of growth, drive client relationships and lead the team to consistently deliver communication campaigns that drive positive change and have tangible business impact. She will work closely with Spurwings founder and CEO, Emma Thompson, to shape the business. Commenting on the appointment, Thompson said, I am thrilled to welcome someone of Emmas calibre to the team. She brings solid communications counsel and experience evident through her impressive client tenure track record and the agency growth she has delivered in the region over the past decade. The breadth and depth of the work Emma has done in the technology sector, and many others, will be invaluable to strengthening our offering, leading our team of integrated experts and taking the business to the next level. Were hugely excited to benefit from her expertise and fresh perspective as we prioritise growth in 2022 and beyond. Spurwing delivers strategic communications programmes for clients in the healthcare, nutrition and food sectors and has grown rapidly since it was founded in 2015. From its headquarters in Singapore, and through its Global Health PR network, the team of 15 applies its specialist industry expertise to strategic corporate communications, medical communications and creative briefs. I wanted my next role to be something different, and the chance to lead an agency like Spurwing, which was seeking fresh thinking and operational expertise, is a brilliant, new opportunity for me. The agencys journey so far is impressive and its mission is clear to help clients motivate the people that matter. Spurwing has a great client roster that includes some of the most innovative healthcare and agribusinesses in Asia Pacific and the team is delivering fantastic campaigns that are truly inspiring change. Im eager to bring my experience to current clients, and lead the team and agency through the next stage of growth. Jenkins-Lee was previously Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific at LEWIS, where she was responsible for the strategic development and growth of the region. During her tenure she diversified the companys offerings to include a full spectrum of integrated marketing services and grew its geographical presence, leading the launch of two new offices. She has extensive communications experience in the Asia Pacific region, advising senior level clients on briefs spanning Greater China, Southeast Asia and Australia. In the last 18 years she has led strategic communications programmes for numerous high-profile clients in the technology, FMCG, automotive and travel and tourism sectors. For more information, please contact: Spurwing Communications Samuel Tan +65 9649 4971 samuel@spurwingcomms.com Follow us: LinkedIn Attachment January 28, 2022 Major German University Hospital secures long-term access to the latest health technology through renewal of diagnostic and image-guided therapy solutions Philips to deliver new and upgraded hybrid operating room and interventional suites Agreement includes training and education for hospitals clinicians and medical technologists Amsterdam, the Netherlands Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, and the University Hospital Brandenburg an der Havel (Brandenburg, Germany) have signed a 10-year strategic partnership to renew and expand the hospitals diagnostic and therapy options through the delivery of advanced technology solutions. The approximately EUR 18 million agreement includes the supply of diagnostic imaging solutions including ultrasound, MR and mobile X-ray, as well as image-guided therapy suites and patient monitoring solutions. The long-term cooperation will provide University Hospital Brandenburg an der Havel with optimum flexibility and a needs-based approach to technology selection and financing. "We have decided to partner with Philips in order to ensure high-quality, economical medical care for the population of our region into the future," said Gabriele Wolter, Managing Director of University Hospital Brandenburg an der Havel. Our joint activities will go well beyond device procurement and financing. There will be a uniform operating philosophy across devices and departments for renewal of our equipment inventory. In this way, we can speed up processes, minimize operating errors, and make its use easier throughout the clinic. With around 500 beds, University Hospital Brandenburg an der Havel provides specialist care both locally and nationally for around 26,000 inpatients and 48,000 ambulatory patients in 15 specialized clinics. With medical excellence, innovative therapies and interdisciplinary teams, more than 2,000 employees work toward a common goal: ensuring first-class treatment quality by linking teaching, research and patient care. Advanced diagnostic and therapy options, together with a modern standardized equipment inventory, are an important part of the hospitals development for the future. A significant strategic element of the agreement with Philips is enhancement of the hospitals vascular and cardiology specialist services. This includes the upgrading of two existing interventional suites for cardiac and vascular procedures and installation of a new hybrid operating room equipped with Philips Image-Guided Therapy System - Azurion - for minimally-invasive interventions. Minimally invasive techniques offer significant benefits for healthcare systems and patients, including reduced patient trauma (less patient risk), shorter recovery times and hospital stays (faster patient throughput), and lower health care costs. "The aim of our cooperation is to take a holistic approach to the design and organization of healthcare along the full treatment pathways in the hospital, with our top priorities being improving outcomes, enhancing the patient and staff experience, and reducing the cost of care," said Heiko Borwieck, Health Systems Sales Leader, Philips Germany. Well-trained medical and nursing staff are an important part of comprehensive patient care. Philips ICARUS learning academy for medical and technical staff will be integrated into the hospitals existing training and education program as part of the cooperation. Combining digital and face-to-face teaching methods, the platform will allow the hospitals radiology team to be trained individually or in groups, independent of their location. The aim is to meet the daily challenges of the radiology workplace through the training of all employees so that the hospital can deliver a high-quality standard of care. For further information, please contact: Mark Groves Philips Global Press Office Tel: +31 631 639 916 Email: mark.groves@philips.com Annette Halstrick PR Manager Health Systems Philips GmbH DACH Phone: +49 152 2280 0529 Email: annette.halstrick@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter . Attachment MONTREAL, Jan. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Combining over 30 years of experience pricing, grading, and validating product's authenticity, Two Authenticators Inc. (2a) supports luxury vintage retail operations through innovative methods and impeccable customer experience. Packaged to optimize retailers' gross margins, companies' top-selling brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, are shipped within five business days. In collaboration with Montreal-based Skoop Agency, and household name Melissa Soldera, Two Authenticators Inc. (2a) will host a one-time, by-invitation-only, limited edition pop-up. This event will showcase the team's ability to provide the best product with the best service in the industry. The event is to take place in Montreal's Chabanel district before Valentine's Day. Vintage industry expert and the corporation's CEO, Fred Mannella, declared "We have the most in-demand product in stock, at a fair price, all the time. Authenticity guaranteed. We developed a sustained supply chain. The system works, saves our customers time, and streamlines the buying." Disclaimer: Two Authenticators Inc. (2a) is not related to any of the brands it sells. Brands are not responsible and do not guarantee the authenticity of goods sold. Authenticity is certified by Two Authenticators inc. (2a) For further information, reach out to Fred Mannella here: fred@2a.co / (866)351-4221 website: 2a.co Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Dania Beach, FL, Jan. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Drone Nerds, one of the largest North American drone solutions providers, has partnered with Hextronics to showcase its latest enterprise release at the Natural Disasters Expo on Feb. 7-8, in Miami, FL. Hextronics flagship product, the Hextronics Global Advanced, is a compact and affordable drone docking station that has gained popularity among various industries like security and public safety. Its robotic battery-swapping mechanism and 24/7 operation capability have contributed to the implementation of successful drone programs in numerous enterprises throughout the world. Hextronics drone-charging solutions come pre-integrated with FlytNow Auto software that allows drones to fly autonomously, capture live video, respond to alarms, and communicate with the dock. By combining the expertise of our drone specialists, who craft the ideal solution based on the needs of each organization, with the autonomy and scalability enabled by Hextronics Global, natural disaster teams have a huge opportunity to take their operations to the next level, says Jeremy Schneiderman, CEO at Drone Nerds. The Hextronics Global Advanced also comes in a mobile form factor, called the HexTruck. Tightly integrable with a pickup truck, the HexTruck has been designed to charge drones on the move and facilitates fully automated operations such as take-off, landing, battery swapping and remote flight management. This is invaluable during emergencies, adds Curt Lary, CEO at Hextronics. Drone Nerds and Hextronics will exhibit at Natural Disasters Expo with the display of various drone solutions for disaster response, in addition to showcasing the HexTruck and Hextronics Global Advanced. Disaster preparation specialists and emergency response professionals will have the chance to learn more about implementing successful drone programs using this cutting-edge technology. ### About Drone Nerds: Drone Nerds provides comprehensive drone solutions for enterprise, private, and recreational needs. The company focuses on providing the right UAV solution for each of its customers unique needs. With its proprietary Always Flying program, Drone Nerds provides reliability and assurance for enterprise implementations across industry verticals, including public safety, government, agriculture, construction, energy, inspection, and more. For more information, visit www.dronenerds.com. About Hextronics: Hextronics is an engineering company that builds products that facilitate autonomous functionality for the growing drone industry. Its drone docking station, the Hextronics Global Advanced, incorporates a robotic battery-swapping mechanism capable of 24/7 operation. It promotes battery longevity ensuring that your drone is always ready to fly. For more information, visit www.hextronics.tech. MIAMI, Jan. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Industry-leading Bitcoin & cryptocurrency payroll company Bitwage has formally announced the launch of its new user platform. Since 2014, the company has worked to become a leader in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency payroll, invoicing, and benefits services. The launch of their new system hopes to further establish themselves as an innovative market leader. Bitwages team of engineers worked for over a year to launch an entirely new platform for all users with a host of new features. They expect that these features will make the Bitwage experience more convenient for those who believe in leveraging their salaries into Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Bitwage's bread-and-butter service, Bitcoin and cryptocurrency payroll, will look and feel different for both companies and individuals. For individuals, a host of new changes have been brought forth: setting crypto payroll distributions is now much easier, legal invoices can now be generated and emailed to clients, redesigned dashboard with simplicity and ease of use in mind, and more transparent receipt details. Company accounts will see a number of new changes as well: company accounts will be able to use invoicing features, employers will now be able to easily invite their employees, employee onboarding status can be checked, a unique reminder system to streamline onboarding, beautifully-designed reports and analytics, and the ability to combine multiple invoices from contractors into a single transaction. These changes mark the beginning of a new era for Bitwage. They're excited to continually serve their customers with the best Bitcoin payroll product on the market. Jonathan Chester, CEO stated "Our goal is to enable people to get paid the way they need to, whether this means faster and cheaper direct deposit globally or in currencies that help them hedge against local volatility. Our new system launch is part of a 2-year effort to create a simple, yet seamless experience to delight companies and workers alike. In addition to crafting a beautiful interface, we've created new features needed for international freelancers, such as the ability to generate invoices and email directly to clients. Freelancers can now create business accounts. Companies can now easily manage invoices, aggregating multiple into a single transaction." About Bitwage Bitwage is the global leader in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency and stablecoin payroll with services across invoicing and benefits services. The company also offers resources to employers, employees, and freelancers with their robust, online platform. Bitwage is headquartered in San Francisco, California with operations in the US, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. After a simple sign-up process, employees and freelancers are able to receive any percentage of their wage in Bitcoin with unique bank accounts offered in US, EU, and UK. International users can also receive their wages faster and cheaper than traditional banking channels through blockchain technology, receiving Bitcoin or fiat on the other end. Bitwage has processed $150MM in transactions with over 50,000 users and 2,000 companies. Since their inception in 2014, Bitwage has received $4MM in funding from Draper Associates, BnkToTheFuture, Overton VC, Candela Reach Capital, Plug and Play, BPI France and many others. Media Contact: Kwasi Asare kwasi@thefeedia.com Related Images Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Image 6 Image 7 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Montreal, Jan. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montreal, Quebec - Frank And Oak is one of the most recognized sustainable fashion brands in North America. Known for its eco-friendly manufacturing practices, the company prioritizes the well-being of the planet and produces products that reflect these values. The recent launch of their Capital parka for women gives conscientious consumers access to a sophisticated coat that is as warm and stylish as it is functional and environmentally responsible. More information is available at: https://ca.frankandoak.com/pages/womens-sustainable-winter-outerwear The team at Frank And Oak is determined to do its part for the planet. With the recent launch of their womens Capital parka, the company offers an expression of style made to the highest ethical and sustainability standards without sacrificing contemporary utility or durability. The womens Capital is considered one of Frank And Oaks most technically impressive products. Knee-length and roomy, the coat is seam-sealed and completely waterproof. The shell and lining of the coat are made from 100% recycled polyester and the insulation is made from featherless Primaloft PowerPlume, an innovative lightweight product manufactured to offer softer, ultra-fine fibres that trap warmth, regulate body temperature, and repel water. The coats 20K/20K rating means it is designed to withstand 20,000 mm of water pressure while offering maximum breathability. An inside media pocket is styled to accommodate earphones and a front closure with zipper and magnets as well as a jersey extension with thumbholes inside the sleeves - all of these work to prevent raindrops or snow from seeping in. As previously announced, the coat comes in black, rosin and white pepper, in sizes ranging from XS to XL, and is washable and suitable for tumble dry. A customer who bought her coat online says, Im really happy with my purchase. The coat is very comfortable and warm. I can comfortably wear a bulky sweater under it, and I really appreciate all the pocket details and the magnetic buttons. Five stars. With the launch of their ethically designed, fully waterproof, and technically superior Capital parka, the team at Frank And Oak is giving outdoor enthusiasts the style and functionality they need from their apparel while helping them remain true to their eco-friendly values. https://youtu.be/Cj7fYol5L_s Visit https://ca.frankandoak.com to find out more. ### For more information about Frank And Oak, contact the company here: Frank And Oak Anne Gael Plante +1-514-889-8701 anne-gael.plante@frankandoak.com 702 St-Viateur E, Suite 702, Montreal, QC H2T 1A8, Canada English French PRESS RELEASE Arcueil, 28 January 2022 Half-yearly statement of the company's liquidity contract Under the liquidity contract entrusted by Aramis Group to Rothschild Martin Maurel, the following resources were included in the liquidity account at 31 December 2021: 22.500 shares 1,140,644.00 For reference, the following resources were recorded in the liquidity account on 22 July 2021, date of its implementation: No shares 1,500,000.00 Between 1 July and 31 December 2021 total transactions were: Number of transactions Number of shares Amount in euros Purchases 2,298 190,475 3,303,884.65 Sales 1,988 167,975 2,945,934.09 *** About Aramis Group Aramis Group is a leading European B2C platform to acquire a used car online and brings together four brands: Aramisauto, Cardoen, Clicars and CarSupermarket, in France, Belgium, Spain and the UK respectively. The Group is transforming the used car market and is putting digital technology at the service of customer satisfaction with a fully vertically integrated business model. For the full 2021 fiscal year, Aramis Group generated revenues of 1.36 billion, sold more than 80,000 B2C vehicles, and recorded more than 73 million visits to its websites. At the end of September 2021, the Group had more than 1,800 employees, a network of 60 agencies and three industrial refurbishing sites. Aramis Group is listed on compartment A of the Euronext Paris stock exchange (Ticker: ARAMI ISIN: FR0014003U94). For more information, visit www.aramis.group. Investors contact Alexandre Leroy Head of investor relations alexandre.leroy@aramis.group +33 (0)6 58 80 50 24 Attachment Washington, Jan. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and the voice for Americas 32.5 million small businesses in President Bidens Cabinet signed the Agency's Tribal Consultation Policy of 2022. The Agreement, which directs the SBAs coordination with Tribal governments, also recognizes the Federal Governments unique relationship with Native American governments and its responsibility to ensure small businesses from Tribal communities are fully considered and can equitably benefit from all of the resources offered by the American government, a priority under the Biden-Harris Administration and Administrator Guzman. Through its Office of Native American Affairs , the SBA has taken proactive steps to honor our Nations responsibilities and update policies affecting the Agencys ability to operate within a government-to-government relationship with federally recognized indigenous Tribes and Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) and to consult with tribal governments and ANCs before finalizing SBA policies that have implications for these stakeholders. As President Biden said during his first week in office: History demonstrates that we best serve Native American people when Tribal governments are empowered to lead their communities, and when Federal officials speak with and listen to Tribal leaders in formulating Federal policy that affects Tribal Nations. The SBA is committed to establishing strong nation-to-nation relationships with every Tribe that seeks to engage with the federal government, said Administrator Guzman. Were focused on making Tribal consultation an important component of our broader Tribal outreach and engagement while creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue. We know this will advance our efforts to build bridges to entrepreneurs across Indian Country so that we can better connect them to the funding, market opportunities, and networks they need to start and grow. The SBA understands that supporting Native-owned small businesses is vital to our shared economic interests. We look forward to the dialogues that help inform our policy and programs to begin addressing the systemic inequities that continue to plague Indigenous peoples. Since taking office, Administrator Guzman has directed the SBA to explore ways to deepen and expand the Agencys connections to entrepreneurs and continue raising awareness of the wide range of government resources available to help small businesses - a critical element of the American Rescue Plans Community Navigator Pilot Program . While work continues to level the playing field for underserved communities and counter the struggles many faced in accessing relief in the early days of the pandemic, under the Biden-Harris Administration Native American entrepreneurs received nearly $700 million in SBA funding . Additionally, there are approximately 4,000 Native American entrepreneurs engaged in federal procurement a number the SBA is aiming to increase by strengthening its business development programs, such as 8a and HubZone, and helping small business owners navigate new contracting opportunities through recently announced procurement reforms . All Indian Country is HubZone certified. Jackson S. Brossy, Assistant Administrator, Office of Native American Affairs said, Supporting Native-owned small businesses is vital to our shared economic future. And that begins with addressing the systemic inequities that continue to plague Indigenous peoples. Along with Administrator Guzman, I am committed to ensuring that all our programs and services help ALL our small businesses gain access to the capital, markets, and networks they need to start and grow. The Assistant Administrator/Office of Native American Affairs (AA/ONAA) will be the designated official with principal responsibility for SBAs implementation of Executive Order 13175 and will lead and coordinate tribal consultations for the Agency. This will be accomplished through the following: Developing an Information Package for Prospective Tribal Consultation Participants Designing the Consultation Process Selecting Appropriate Meeting Sites Providing Notice to Tribal Governments Identifying the Participants in the Consultation Process For small businesses, connection to and awareness of resources is critical. This is a priority to develop new ways to effectively raise awareness about the wide range of SBA resources available to help small businesses. This effort will counter the struggles so many underserved small businesses faced accessing critical relief early in the pandemic. Right now, there are 4,000 Native entrepreneurs engaged in federal procurement the SBA aim to bring that number up by strengthening business development programs such as 8a and HubZone all of Indian Country is HubZone certified. Following the consultation, if practicable and appropriate, the written record will remain open for a specified time to allow tribal officials the opportunity to submit additional comments. All follow-up comments should be submitted via e-mail to tribalconsultation@sba.gov or mailed to: Attn: AA/ONAA 409 3rd Street, SW Washington DC, 20416 The complete, signed U.S. Small Business Administration Tribal Consultation Policy can be view here: https://www.sba.gov/document/support--us-sba-tribal-consultation-policy ### About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov . Attachment BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Jan. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stephen Shaya, M.D., Managing Director of Akkad Holdings and Executive Servant Leader at J & B Medical, is speaking at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai. For 170 years, World Expos have provided a platform to showcase some of the most significant innovations that have truly shaped the world we live in, and this will be the first-ever expo hosted in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. This year's World Expo focuses on inspiring and meaningful actions to address the world's most crucial challenges and opportunities. Commenting on his participation, Dr. Stephen Shaya quoted Harriet Tubman. "Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." Jan. 30, 2022, in the USA pavilion at the World Expo Dubai, Stephen Shaya, M.D., and other world leaders involved in the global supply chain industry, will discuss and offer a solution to one of the biggest challenges the world is currently facing, the medical supply shortage. The COVID-19 Pandemic has caused chaos, panic, and widespread loss, but it also brought to light the overwhelming and dangerous inadequacies of the global supply chain for medical equipment, supplies, and personal protective equipment. This event will highlight the outdated and inefficient state of the current global supply chain and offer a refreshing new take on how to reimagine and remodel the global supply chain to face 21st-century challenges by leveraging strategic partnerships in the UAE. Malek El Husseini, Healthcare consultant and Asset Manager for SEE CAPITAL, added, "We are gathering key opinion leaders in the supply chain management to identify the lessons learned from COVID19 Pandemic. We are keen not to repeat the same mistakes when we have another disruption. Supply Chain management issues are global, and most countries are seeking to localize manufacturing so they can have better surveillance on the full supply chain from production until distribution, which is being characterized recently by resilience, transparency, use of new technologies such as A.I., and collaboration with different stakeholders." Karim Attiyah, Group CEO and Managing Director of Emirates Specialized Group (ESG), added, "ESG is excited to be a part of this new strategic partnership with Akkad Holdings. Our goal is to help bring much-needed technology and innovation to the antiquated global medical supply chain. This joint venture will create value by leveraging the strengths of our individual entities from expertise and experience to resources and support. Our unique value proposition will disrupt the status quo. Akkad Holdings is the family office of Stephen Shaya, M.D., whose family owns J & B Medical. J & B is a world-class family of businesses that span across all aspects of medical-related care, including the following: insurance covered products, national managed care contracts, medical-surgical products, retail home-care products, technology solutions, and serves as one of the largest third-party billers of consumable medical products in the United States. J&B owns HNC Virtual Care Solutions, which manages a telehealth company serving customers worldwide. stephen@akkadholdings.com This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Gloucester, MA (01930) Today Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Two cops were fatally shot next door to the Laundry Works laundromat on W. 135th St., and as one of them was given a proper funeral at St. Patricks Cathedral on Friday, the washing, drying and folding went on as usual. Not to say the deaths of officers Jason Rivera, 22, and Wilbert Mora, 27, werent on everyones minds. Advertisement I was just watching the funeral upstairs, said Kamitra Murphy, a 38-year-old mom of two, as she waited for her dryer cycle to finish. The casket of NYPD officer Jason Rivera is transferred to a waiting hearse Friday at St. Patrick's Cathedral. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) Murphy said she was home when the gunfire erupted and cops from the nearby 32nd Precinct flooded the block. Advertisement It was heart-breaking, she said. I have an 11-year-old son and I dont let him come out by himself. I tell him, Dont talk to nobody. Dont look at people, cause you might feed into whatever craziness they have going on. At the end of the day, Im a parent, Murphy said. Its sad for everyone at the end of the day. The cops and media trucks were a memory, and the halls of the building where Rivera and Mora were fatally shot were church silent as tenants like Odelle Ellensburg watched the funeral unfold on television. Ellensburg, 71, was home in bed in her second-floor apartment when the shooting started one floor below. An NYPD officer investigates at the scene of shooting Jan. 22 on W. 135th St. in Harlem. (Yuki Iwamura/AP) The whole house shook from all those bullets! she said. I heard shouting and two shots, and I got under the comforter. Oh God. For Ellensburg, a retired home health aide, it was about whether the deaths could have been avoided. Im so angry with that woman, she said, speaking of McNeils mother, who initially called 911. She should have told the police he had guns and he was on parole. Dont you think she would have known? Police sources previously said the mom did not say McNeil was armed when she called for help. Advertisement The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > All they did was come for a domestic, said Ellensburg, who has lived in the building for 30 years. Can you imagine my 13-year-old granddaughter going to school and that gun had gone off? Calvin Hunt holds a photo of NYPD officer Jason Rivera outside the officer's funeral Friday at St. Patrick's Cathedral. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) Theres so much crime in the neighborhood lately that a 49-year-old man who gave his name as David L said he only leaves his apartment to buy cigarettes. Over here, all you see is, its popping off. 136th. 137th. Somebody killed, somebody robbed. Gunpoint. Knifepoint. He related to the death of Rivera, whose funeral at St. Patricks was Friday. Hes Dominican, Im Dominican. Hes Catholic, Im Catholic. So I know that loss, David said. Some in the neighborhood worried cops will be quicker to their guns after the tragedy. Whats going through my mind is that the cops are going to be like, if they get a call in Harlem, maybe theyll be more aggressive, said a laundry customer who gave her name as Chi-Chi. Advertisement I wouldnt want that. Were law-abiding citizens. I feel bad about the cops, but you worry about the response. Kyle and Rachel Zwieg were named the 2022 Wisconsin Outstanding Young Farmers during the 68th annual awards weekend. Four people have been arrested in connection with what authorities believe was a targeted attack on a home in Wisconsin, which left six dead. Police discovered the bodies of five men and a woman inside the residence in Milwaukee during a welfare check on Sunday. All six of them suffered gunshot wounds, according to authorities. Advertisement The Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office identified the victims on Monday as Caleb Jordan, 23, Javoni Liddell, 31, Charles Hardy, 42, Donald Smith, 43, Donta Williams, 44, and Michelle Williams, 49. A final autopsy has not been completed, but family members told WISN they were shot execution-style. Police investigate the scene where five people were found dead in a Milwaukee, Wisc., home, Sunday. (Mike De Sisti/AP) Police previously said they believed there were multiple suspects and on Thursday announced they have detained four people of interest in connection with the sextuple homicide. Advertisement We are still trying to determine what their involvement was, if any, in this homicide, Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said during a press briefing. He added that no one has yet been charged in the case. While a motive in the deadly incident remained unclear, Norman told reporters evidence recovered from the scene indicated that its was a targeted attack. It does not appear to have been a murder-suicide, he added. Police investigate the scene where five people were found dead in a Milwaukee, Wisc., home, Sunday, Jan. 23. (Mike De Sisti/AP) According to court documents obtained by WISN, three of the six victims names appear on a witness list for a pending homicide case in Milwaukee County Court. We are still looking into all angles. Obviously, you never want to use one explanation for a particular incident and stick to that; understanding that there might be some other angles we have to explore, Norman said when asked whether their status as witnesses played at role. At this time, were pretty sure that that is not relative to this particular incident, but we never want to take away any particular explanation for what were finding in this investigation. Formula One teams are busy preparing for the new season. However, due to the new regulations, there is still plenty of work to be done, leaving them with interesting considerations, as stated by Auto, Motor und Sport. Since it takes a lot of work for the teams to send a good car to the track, every day to work on the car seems to be an advantage. Therefore, several teams are reportedly considering sending a base car onto the track during the winter tests in Barcelona to give them extra time to work on the car. However, the teams opting for the base car know that they will lose more money. Therefore, the decision is almost impossible for teams such as Mercedes, Red Bull Racing and Ferrari, but McLaren could well opt for this variant. Therefore, the British racing stable is said to be considering the option. Top teams keep their nerve For the top teams, it doesn't have to be a big problem right away. By testing the new car in Spain, they have the opportunity to already work on the details. Therefore, the teams would not fear another decision from McLaren. The first race is scheduled in just under two months, when the Formula One teams travel to Bahrain. Authorities in Florida used popular gay dating apps to conduct a six-month-long undercover investigation that led to the arrest of 60 people on drug charges. According to Polk County Sheriffs Office, the investigation, dubbed Swipe Left for Meth, focused on the sale and/or possession of illegal narcotics on three dating mobile apps that are popular among gay and bisexual men. Advertisement The investigation began in July 2021 when detectives received a tip indicating that people were openly selling drugs on the well-known app Grindr. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd briefs the media. (Facebook) Further investigation led police to target two other apps that also cater to men who have sex with men: Scruff and Taimi. Advertisement PCSO detectives created fake profiles within the apps, seeking to establish contact with people who might be selling any illegal substances. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > They found that it was relatively easy to strike up conversations with those who were selling methamphetamine, cocaine, Ecstasy, LSD, Fentanyl, and marijuana in Polk County, authorities said in a news release. It was clear during the conversations and ensuing undercover drug buys that the suspects primary purposes for being on the dating app were to sell drugs not to find a date. Suspects that were arrested by the Polk County Sheriff's Office in a drug sting. (Polk County Sherriff ) During a press conference Thursday, Sheriff Grady Judd said that detectives filed 159 felony and 72 misdemeanor charges. We discovered exactly what we were told: that they were selling dope, he said. A lot of dope. A lot of street dope on these dating apps. This is something we are seeing more and more of in Polk County suspects who are using dating apps to sell illegal narcotics, Judd said. Suspects are getting more creative, but so are our detectives. Were working with these mobile app companies to raise awareness, and asking for their cooperation during our investigations, he added. During the investigation, detectives seized 14 firearms, around 280 grams of methamphetamine, 3 grams of cocaine, 130 pills of Ecstasy (MDMA), approximately 1.5 grams of Fentanyl/heroin, 1 gram of LSD, around 28 grams of psychedelic mushrooms, as well as 645 grams of marijuana. Besides the 60 arrests, authorities also obtained warrants for eight people who are currently at large. Theyre gonna need a bigger umbrella. While the New York City area, New England and Mid-Atlantic states braced for a powerful noreaster slated to pound the region with snow this weekend, Floridians were being warned to watch out for something entirely different falling from above: iguanas. Advertisement The same Canadian cold front thats helping fuel the blockbuster storm forming in the Atlantic is going to bring frigid temps to the Sunshine State cold enough to knock iguanas from the trees. A strong cold front, with an air mass originating from northern Canada, will push through South Florida Friday night, and move off the southeast Florida coast during the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, the National Weather Service in Miami said in an advisory. Advertisement A man bikes at Matheson Hammock Park with PortMiami and Miami Beach seen in the background, as South Florida experiences its coldest weather so far this winter. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP) Were going to hear about temperatures down in Florida in the low 30s even in parts of central and south Florida, with frost and freeze possibility, Accuweather senior meteorologist Paul Walker told the Daily News on Thursday. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Very cold weather is expected this weekend, with low temperatures dropping below freezing across the interior on Saturday night, the National Weather Service said. Wind chills could dip into the upper 20s across a large portion of the interior. Frost will also be a concern, especially Sunday night. Saturday night into Sunday morning will be the coldest temperatures, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported. The Everglades and western Palm Beach County could see freezing or below. Frigid weekend ahead starting with a Freeze Watch for Fri night, the National Weather Service in Jacksonville tweeted with a warning for southeastern Georgia and much of northeastern Florida. Frigid weekend ahead starting with a Freeze Watch for Fri Night across SE GA and much of NE FL. Lows: Upper 20s - low 30s Lowest wind chills: Upper Teens to mid 20s Remember 5 Ps: Protect People, Pets, Pipes, Plants & Practice Fire Safety#flwx #gawx #jaxwx pic.twitter.com/A76LbwUTJw NWS Jacksonville (@NWSJacksonville) January 27, 2022 The possibly record-setting temperatures generated all kinds of safety warnings, ranging from safeguarding outdoor water pipes and sprinkler systems to checking on elders and protecting pets and plants. One animal particularly vulnerable to the chill is the iguana, since the reptiles are cold-blooded and thus rely on their environment to keep them warm. Most of the time, that works. It only takes temperatures falling into the 40s to stun the lizards until they seize up, lose their grip and plummet to the ground until things warm up, wildlife experts told the Tallahassee Democrat. Unlike the ex-parrot in the Monty Python sketch, these creatures actually are just resting. They will reanimate once they are kissed by the sun. They slow down or become immobile when temps drop & could fall from trees, but they are not dead, tweeted WSVN-TV weather anchor Vivian Gonzalez earlier in the week. Dont approach. Once the sun is out, they will move. The gun used by Kyle Rittenhouse to kill two people and wound a third at a 2020 racial justice protest can be destroyed, a Wisconsin court said Friday. Kenosha County judge Bruce Schroeder, who presided over the murder trial in which the teenage gunman was found not guilty, also ruled that Rittenhouses $2 million bail should be split between his lawyer, a foundation that raised money for the defense and Silver Spoons actor Ricky Schroder, who also supported the defendant financially. Advertisement Schroder will receive $150,000. The appropriation of funds was in dispute. [ SEE IT: Actor Ricky Schroder films himself harassing Costco worker over mask in California ] FILE - Kyle Rittenhouse walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wis., in this Aug. 25, 2020 file photo. (Adam Rogan/AP) Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger, who unsuccessfully prosecuted the Rittenhouse case in November, said Rittenhouses Smith & Wesson M&P 15 semiautomatic rifle will probably be destroyed in April by a Wisconsin crime lab. Advertisement A spokesman for Rittenhouse said his client wanted the weapon destroyed so that it wouldnt be used by political opportunists to celebrate the killings. Rittenhouse has been lionized by right-wing politicians and media figures since opening fire on demonstrators during an Aug. 25, 2020 protest in Kenosha, Wis., that followed the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. Some protests around that shooting led to serious property damage. A jury ruled that Rittenhouse, who said he attended the demonstration to protect area businesses, acted in self-defense. Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old charged with gunning down two people during Jacob Blake protests in Kenosha, Wis., poses for a photo with his attorney, left, and actor Ricky Schroder, right. (Twitter) Dominick Black pleaded no contest to purchasing the AR-15 style rifle for Rittenhouse, who was 17 years old and legally prohibited from buying the firearm in 2020. The friends had agreed the weapon would become Rittenhouses property in January 2021, after his 18th birthday. Rittenhouses attorney Mark Richards claimed lots of people had inquired about purchasing the weapon. We didnt think anyone should profit from it, he said. Ricky Schroder supported Kyle Rittenhouse. (Willy Sanjuan/Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP) [ Tucker Carlson books Kyle Rittenhouse immediately after teen gunmans acquittal ] After Florida man George Zimmerman was acquitted after fatally shooting unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012, the gun he used was reportedly auctioned for $250,000. With News Wire Services The writer is the host of S.E. Cupp Unfiltered on CNN. Copyright 2022 S.E. Cupp. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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. Former president Donald Trump and Mike Pence have seen better days in their relationship. The former vice president told Fox News host Jesse Waters Thursday that he and his former boss most recently spoke last summer and have since gone their separate ways. Advertisement FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, file photo, President-elect Donald Trump, left, and Vice President-elect Mike Pence acknowledge the crowd during the first stop of his post-election tour, in Cincinnati. (John Minchillo/AP) January 6 was difficult, it was a tragic day in the life of the nation, Pence said of that dates attack on the Capitol last year. I know I did my duty under the constitution of the United States. Pence was referring to the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, when Trump supporters hoping to stop the certification of the 2020 election clashed with law enforcement officers. Gallows were erected on Capitol Hill by Trump loyalists who chanted Hang Mike Pence after Trump complained his second-in-command would not help him overturn President Bidens electoral win. Advertisement When was the last time Former Vice President Mike Pence spoke to Former President Trump? WATCH #FoxNews pic.twitter.com/4LWKvK3B0c Jesse Watters Primetime (@jesseprimetime) January 28, 2022 Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our county and our constitution, Trump tweeted shortly before being banned from Twitter, which he used to falsely claim that the election wasnt legitimate. The vice president was taken to a safe location until law enforcement officials, with help from the National Guard, were able to regain control of Capitol Hill. Pence then returned to the Senate floor and famously said Lets get back to work, and certified Bidens victory. The president and I sat down on the days that followed that, we spoke about it, talked through it, we parted amicably, Pence said Thursday. Theres been speculation that Trump and Pence will both seek the Republican partys nomination in the 2024 election. A YouGov poll conducted in November showed that 44% of voters would support Trump in a GOP primary while only 4% would cast a ballot for Pence. GREENWICH New cases of COVID-19 are declining in schools across Connecticut, and Greenwich is following that trend, with just 40 new cases reported on Friday, according to the latest statistics on the districts online tracker. That brings the total number of COVID-19 cases among students, staff and service providers for January to 1,422 in the Greenwich schools and 1,966 cases since classes began Sept. 1, 2020. That compares with 700 cases of COVID-19 in the entire 2020-21 school year. Also, the number of active cases is down to just 37 across the district, compared with 36 active cases reported Tuesday, 83 active cases on Jan. 22 and 89 active cases on Jan. 19, according to the tracker. Active cases of COVID were reported in 13 school buildings, with all reports in single digits. The most active cases were reported at North Mianus, the districts largest elementary school, with seven cases, and at Greenwich High, the districts largest school, with six cases, according to the tracker. Among the other schools, North Street reported five active cases; Riverside reported four active cases; Eastern and Glenville reported three active cases each; International School at Dundee and New Lebanon reported two active cases each; and Central, Western, Cos Cob, Hamilton Avenue and Julian Curtiss reported one active case each, according to the tracker. No active cases were reported at Old Greenwich and Parkway. Declines statewide The drop in new cases of COVID-19 reflects the latest state data on schools across Connecticut. Preliminary data released Thursday showed that the number of new student cases was almost cut in half this week. New infections reported by teachers and staff also declined. I dont want to overstate, said Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association, the states largest teachers union. But I think we are in a much better place. Early state data on Thursday showed 6,024 students and 1,138 school staff reported COVID-19 infections over the past week decreases of 46 percent and 35 percent, respectively, from the week prior. The state Department of Public Health also routinely updates data that, as the surge subsides, could suggest cases peaked in Connecticut schools the first two weeks after the winter break. Of the 37 currently active cases of COVID-19 in the Greenwich Public Schools, there were 31 cases among students, five among teachers and one case in a service provider, according to the tracker. No cases were reported in administrators and nonteaching staff members. A number of families in the Greenwich school district are heavily impacted by COVID-19, with 313 families reporting 685 cases during the school year, according to the information on the tracker. Monthly numbers January 2022 has seen the most active cases of COVID-19 in the Greenwich schools since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. In fact, the 1,422 cases reported this month are more than twice the number of cases reported in all of the 2020-21 school year in Greenwich, according to the districts statistics. When students returned to the classrooms after the holiday recess, reports of new cases of COVID-19 spiked in the district as well as across the town and the state, according to Jonathan Supranowitz, director of communications for Greenwich Public Schools. Classrooms were closed for 11 days for the holidays, during a time when COVID-19 surged in the community. When classes restarted on Jan. 3, there was a increase in reports of cases from the holidays. In the twice-a-week updates, Greenwich schools reported 392 new cases on Jan. 4 the largest single report during the entire pandemic. That was followed by 349 new cases reported on Jan. 7; 227 new cases reported on Jan. 11; 168 new cases reported on Jan. 14; 71 new cases reported on Jan. 19; and 61 new cases reported on Jan. 25. The district updates the online tracker every Tuesday and Friday to keep the community informed on the pandemic. The totals were smaller in the first four months of the year in the Greenwich schools, with 392 cases of COVID-19 reported in December, 65 cases reported in November, 29 cases reported in October and 58 reported cases in September. From Jan. 9 to Jan. 22, the test positivity rate in Greenwich was 18.7 percent, down from 23.5 percent from Jan. 2 to Jan. 15. Since students returned to classes in January, the district had not updated some of the data points on the tracker, with the section empty for statistics related to transmission of active cases. This week, the Greenwich Public Schools made a change in the online tracker, eliminating the detailing sections on how the virus was transmitted. The tracker now lists only current active cases at the top left, with the number of resolved reported cases below that. It then lists the total number of reported cases in the 2021-22 school year, which now totals 1,966. Staff Writer Cayla Bamberger contributed to this story. Smartphone shipments increased on a yearly basis during 2021, revealed Omdia in its latest market analysis. Over 1.3 billion units were pushed by makers, which is 3.4% more than 2020, despite a 6.7% dip in sales during the Q4 period. Samsung remained on top, ahead of Apple and Xiaomi. Huawei, which used to be third in sales back in 2020, slipped to 9th position overall, falling behind its former subsidiary Honor after a major 81% decline. The biggest winner in this pandemic year was Realme, increasing its sales 48.6%, more than any other major manufacturer. LGs decision to pull out of the smartphone market helped Motorola, Omdia revealed. The Lenovo-owned brand grew shipments as it expanded its market in North America and Latin America regions. Tecno is another brand that did well over the past 12 months. It managed to sell devices at competitive prices in developing regions so well, it increased its overall result by 31.7%. The year might have been positive overall, but the last three months weren't as great as the 2020 Holiday season. Omdias report shows that Xiaomi, vivo, and Oppo declined, while Samsung, Apple, and Realme increased their volumes. Zaker Li, Principal Analyst at Omdia said the reason is lack of components supply because it impacted the production of low-end smartphones. Expectations for the new year are for the uncertainties to continue, and the supply chain issues to continue causing disruptions. We've come across multiple reports about the Samsung Galaxy S22 lineup's charging speeds since last year, with some saying the S22 phones will stick to 25W charging, while others claimed the S22 series will mark the return of 45W speed to the Galaxy S flagships. China's 3C even certified the S22 (SM-S9010), S22+ (SM-S9060), and S22 Ultra (SM-S9080) with 25W charging, but Denmark's DEMKO has certified the Plus and Ultra models with 45W charging. That suggests the Galaxy S22+ (SM/S906E/DS, SM-906E, SM-S9060) and S22 Ultra (SM-S908E/DS, SM-908E, SM-S9080, SC-52C, SCG14) will have different charging speeds in different regions, but the vanilla model (SM-S901E/DS, SM-901E, SM-S9010, SC-51C, SCG13) will go only up to 25W no matter where you buy it from. Samsung Galaxy S22 Samsung Galaxy S22+ Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra The Danish certifying authority doesn't tell us about the batteries of these smartphones. However, a recent leak revealed the S22 will pack a 3,700 mAh battery while the S22+ and S22 Ultra will ship with 4,500 mAh and 5,000 mAh cells, respectively. The leak also revealed the rest of the specs of the S22 trio along with pricing and availability. You can head this way for more details. Samsung is yet to divulge anything about the Galaxy S22 series, but the company is hosting a Galaxy Unpacked event on February 9 where it's expected to unveil the Galaxy S22 smartphones and the Galaxy Tab S8 series. Via Guam has a surplus of dogs and cats that need furever homes, and various organizations have stepped up to help match pets to loving homes. To assist in these efforts, the Lifestyle section will begin featuring another set of Pets of the Week from Guahan Paws for Pets. Formed as a Facebook group four years ago by Tina Guzman, the volunteer group works to rescue, rehabilitate and restore animals in need. The group adopted the Dededo Dog Park last year, and now maintains the park and holds adoption events there. This week we are featuring four adorable pets theyve rescued, but there are many more that need homes. To view the ones currently available for adoption, go to the groups Facebook page @guahanpawsforpets. Adopting a pet To inquire about adopting a pet, email guahanpaws4pets@gmail.com. The group requires a home check to ensure the home is safe, Guzman said. Potential owners are required to sign an adoption contract and pay a fee of $75 for puppies or kittens, and $125 for adult animals. The fees are used to provide medical attention, food and the animals other needs. January promotion Guahan Paws for Pets is encouraging adoptions of adult rescues this month with some special promotions. Adopt an adult dog and receive a puplid, or cap. Those who adopt an adult cat will receive a free scooper and litter pan. Find out where and how you can get vaccines and testing for COVID-19 and mAb therapy updates this week, based on information provided by Joint Information Center. United Airlines introduced United Premium Plus to Guam-Honolulu flights, as well as the return of complimentary Economy Class in-flight meal service effective Jan. 4, 2022. A 32-year-old man wanted in connection with two family violence cases from 2021 was charged in the Superior Court of Guam Friday. Daniel Davis was charged with aggravated assault as a second-degree felony, family violence as a third-degree felony, strangulation as a third-degree felony, two counts of misdemeanor family violence and misdemeanor child abuse. On Sept. 24, 2021, Guam Police Department officers received a report from a woman who said she was assaulted by Davis. The woman told police that after an argument, Davis walked behind her, grabbed her hair and slapped her face. Then he dragged her by the hair into their bedroom, according to a magistrates complaint filed in Superior Court. A child told Davis to leave the woman alone, and Davis struck the child in the face, causing a bloody nose, the complaint stated. Davis left the home, and officers noted the child had dried blood in his nose and a blood spot on his right eye. On Nov. 16, 2021, officers received another report from the home. When police arrived, they saw a man running from the residence, and a woman ran out and yelled that the man had beaten a female relative. Officers questioned the victim, who said she and Davis had argued earlier in the day. Davis woke up and yelled at the children for being too loud, then followed the woman in the bedroom where he punched her in the face, according to the complaint. The complaint stated Davis continued to punch the woman until she blacked out, and he began to stomp on the back of her head causing her head to bounce off the ground. The woman yelled for someone to call police, and Davis grabbed a pillow and placed it over the womans face to restrict her from breathing. He stopped when someone was on the phone with the police, the complaint stated. Officers noted the woman had redness and swelling around her face. They were unable to locate Davis at the time. According to documents, officers found Davis at 11:23 a.m. Thursday. The Guam National Guard marked the one-year anniversary of conducting its Operation Liberate Guam mission this week. A year ago, COVID-19 vaccinations were just rolling out, and the Guam National Guard was brought in to help give shots. According to the Joint Information Center, a total of 132,643 of Guams eligible population are fully vaccinated, and 50,108 booster shots have been administered to eligible residents since Sept. 29, 2021. Not all the shots were given by the Guam National Guard as personnel worked alongside the Department of Public Health and Social Services, along with other groups and volunteers at the University of Guam. Administering over 170,000 doses to our people has made a lasting impact to our community, both in saving lives and in getting our island one step closer to recovery, acting Gov. Joshua Tenorio said in a news release sent by the Guard. Although our job is not finished, I know you will keep up the good work and the reputation of professionalism, efficiency, and respect that you have earned, he added. During these difficult times, you have showcased the very best our island has to offer, and on behalf of Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and our administration, we are all so very proud. Maj. Gen. Esther Aguigui, adjutant general of the Guam National Guard, praised the troops for helping save lives in the face of imminent danger, uncertainty, recurring surges and ever-changing missions. She also thanked and recognized the Guards partners at Public Health, UOG, AmeriCorps, and volunteer nurses and staff. One year ago today, in the midst of the rush to get our most vulnerable vaccinated against COVID-19, the Guam National Guard opened the UOG Field House for vaccinations under the mission name Operation Liberate Guam. Since then, weve given over 170,000 total doses at various locations, including 54 Strike Team missions, said Capt. Denise Chargualaf. Clad in reflective vests and protective gear against COVID-19, organizers and volunteers from the Guam Homeless Coalition are going to each village to survey and offer services to Guams street homeless. Thursday was the first day of the annual point-in-time count, which is conducted across the U.S. and mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. The coalition is the Continuum of Care provider for Guam the regional planning body for HUD that coordinates housing and service funds for homeless people. Teams were assigned to cover routes in one or multiple villages where homeless people were known to spend time or live in makeshift housing. The coalition defines street homeless as people who dont have a permanent place to stay. The information gathered will help the coalition develop its strategic plan, said Samantha Taitano, coalition chairperson. The information also will help determine how much money to request from the federal housing agency to assist Guams homeless and to prevent homelessness. The count this year is being done over a two-day period to protect against the spread of COVID-19. The count was canceled last year because of the pandemic. One day focuses on the street homeless and the next day on those in shelters, or more settled locations. Volunteers Volunteer Hide Ichimori, with a map in hand that highlighted spots in Yona and Talofofo, led fellow members of Manelu through neighborhoods. While conducting the survey, they also distributed bags with toiletries, COVID-19 protective equipment and canned food. Throughout the stops, abandoned plywood-and-tin structures were seen tucked away in between houses. Team members stopped at these places, even if they were not listed on the map, just in case there were people who needed to be counted. The experience has been really good, Ichimori said. We had some good turnout this morning, about three households responded to the survey, and we still have a bunch more to go. For Jacqueline Thinom-pong, a member of Manelu, this is the second time participating in the count. When she helped in the 2020 count, it was in a supportive role. This year, it was hands on. When it comes to the homeless, its one of the times when you dont want your case load to increase because that means there are more homeless individuals. So it is sad to see a lot of people that are struggling, Thinom-pong said. Im just glad we are able to do the survey to better assist in the future. Mafnas Carrie Mafnas, 47, from Talofofo, was interviewed for the survey in front of the house that she said was inherited from her husbands grandmother. The house, which she shares with her family of six, is under construction. While Mafnas does not consider herself or her family homeless, she participated in the count because the house is considered substandard by the housing and urban development agency, because it was a mix of plywood with some concrete and a tin roof. Weve been working on it, and we havent been here long. Were just starting off, but were doing good, Mafnas said proudly, adding that they have water and electricity installed. They plan to expand the house once they are able to get more building materials to include a bathroom and shower room. Next The second and final day of the point-in-time count will be from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. Senators Friday evening passed 10 bills that would, among other things, provide $10 million for a war claims program, update local election laws and allow commercial trucks to carry heavier loads on certain roads. Bill 230 would use authorize the use of $10 million in excess General Fund money from fiscal 2021 to pay for a local war claims program. It will be reimbursed with Section 30 money paid to Guam from fiscal 2023, if possible. The bill also authorizes a 12-month filing window and addresses privacy concerns for claimants. The measure was introduced by the Office of the Governor. Sen. Joanne Brown, who has opposed the use of local money for war claims, was the lone senator to vote against the bill. Two measures to adjust election laws, introduced by Sen. James Moylan, passed with no opposition. Both go into effect next year. Bill 174 would push the primary election up from the last Saturday of August to the first Saturday and change filing deadlines for candidates to bring Guam in line with federal laws for overseas voters. Bill 173 would cancel any unneeded primary for the Legislature, governor, delegate, mayor, vice mayor, public auditor or attorney general. Primaries would only be held when there are more candidates than seats available to advance to the General Election. It would also call for a special election if the office of the congressional delegate becomes vacant. Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes Bill 83 would designate Routes 1, 8, 11, and 16 as haul-road highways, with higher load carrying standards for commercial trucks. Proponents have said increasing the amount of cargo that can be hauled will help control the price of goods on island, but several senators were concerned about increased damage to roadways. The measure passed, with Sens. Sabina Perez and Brown voting against. The following measures also passed with no opposition: Kyrgyz president congratulates Chinese business community on Spring Festival Xinhua) 16:16, January 28, 2022 BISHKEK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov on Thursday sent a letter to the Chinese embassy, congratulating the Chinese business community in Kyrgyzstan on the upcoming Lunar New Year. "In the light of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kyrgyzstan and China, we especially note that we highly appreciate the activities of the Chinese business community in the market of Kyrgyzstan, which today continues to make a significant contribution to the development of the economy of our country," said Zhaparov in the letter. The president stressed that he would continue to support the Chinese business community in doing business in the country. "The government of Kyrgyzstan will continue to support your activity for the benefit of the people of the two countries, and I also call on you to participate in new projects in Kyrgyzstan and close economic cooperation in 2022," read the letter. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Three people were indicted on arson charges Thursday in connection with the burning of a Wendys in Atlanta where police killed Rayshard Brooks in June 2020. Natalie White, 31; John Wade, 35; and Chisom Kingston, 24, are accused of starting a fire that resulted in the fast food restaurant being reduced to a pile of rubble. All three were charged with arson within weeks of the blaze and released on bond. Advertisement Attorneys for White and Kingston both said video of the incident would prove their clients innocence. White was the highest profile defendant because Brooks was heard saying her name shortly before he was killed. Wade organized many protests in and around Atlanta following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. The remains the Wendy's are seen on June 14, 2020. (ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images) Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man, fell asleep in his car at the Wendys drive-thru on June 12, 2020, and police were called. Officer Garrett Rolfe attempted to arrest Brooks for DUI. Advertisement Brooks grabbed Rolfes Taser and ran away, firing a haphazard electroshock charge as he ran. Rolfe responded by fatally shooting Brooks in the back. He then walked up to the dying man and kicked him, delaying any medical aid for at least two minutes. Rolfe was charged with felony murder. The killing sparked weeks of charged protests near the Wendys, including an impromptu rally set up by Wade on June 13, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The fast food establishment burned down that same day. White, Wade and Kingston were each charged with two counts of first-degree arson and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree arson. Kingstons attorney confirmed his client was at the protest but said he had nothing to do with the fire. Brooks was heard describing White as his girlfriend in body-camera video. Her attorneys have said the two were close but declined to confirm any relationship. With News Wire Services Jeffrey Quinata, Kenny Quinata and Shane Aguon were charged in connection with a riot on Sunday night at a Humatak residence. Another person has died from COVID-19. A 45-year-old vaccinated man who had unknown underlying health conditions was pronounced dead on arrival at Guam Regional Medical City Wednesday, according to a news release from the Joint Information Center. He tested positive the same day. The man was Guams 285th virus-related fatality. Passings such as (this) remind us just how deep we remain in the clenches of this pandemic and how important it is to not let our guard down, acting Gov. Josh Tenorio stated in the release. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 climbed to 40. However, according to the Joint Information Center, only one patient required intensive care unit care. Guam Memorial Hospital had 24 patients. There were 14 patients at Guam Regional Medical City, including the ICU patient. Naval Hospital Guam had two COVID patients. Of the 40 patients hospitalized with the virus, 29 were vaccinated. New cases The high positive case rates from the January surge continue. On Friday night, the Department of Public Health and Social Services reported 817 new cases of COVID-19 from 2,173 specimens analyzed Thursday. Of that total, 94 were reported Friday from the Department of Defense. Since the start of the pandemic, Guam has recorded 31,038 cases of COVID-19, with 7,384 people in active isolation. Guam has recorded 285 people who died due to the virus. The Mangilao Solar Project, currently under construction by Samsung E&C America Inc., near Marbo Cave Jan. 29, 2021. Haiti - Tourism : Return of the first cruise ship in Haiti Thursday, January 27, the Municipal Commission of Cap-Haitien welcomed the arrival of the cruise ship "Harmony of the Seas" which inaugurates the resumption of cruises in Haiti after 2 years of interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30268-haiti-tourism-royal-caribbean-suspends-all-its-cruises-around-the-world.html . The "Harmony of the Seas" made a stopover in Haiti and docked in Labadie at 9:00 a.m. and left the same day at 6:00 p.m.. The cruise ship had 4,975 people on board 2,896 tourists and 1,979 crew members. Excellent news not only for the entire community of Labadie, but also for the North Department and the State coffers https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29873-haiti-tourism-721-000-cruise-passengers-in-labadee-in-2019.html Recall that the seaside resort of Labadee is located on the northern coast of Haiti, 5 km northwest of the city of Cap-Haitien and northeast of the bay of Acul. The arrival of other cruise ships is expected in the coming days, assures the Municipal Commission. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30268-haiti-tourism-royal-caribbean-suspends-all-its-cruises-around-the-world.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29873-haiti-tourism-721-000-cruise-passengers-in-labadee-in-2019.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... EDH is looking for solutions The engineer Rosemond Pradel, Minister of Public Works, accompanied by his Chief of Staff, the engineer Revel Mompremier, met on January 26, 2022, the engineer Jean Errol Morose Director General of Electricity of Haiti (EDH) and the engineer Evenson Calixte, Director General of the National Authority for the Regulation of the Energy Sector (ANARSE), to discuss the measures and means to be put in place to increase EDH's production capacity. Arnel Belizaire creates the "Delivrans" Party On Wednesday January 26, on the sidelines of his meeting with armed political activists from Raboteau's "Nou se revolisyone" structure, former deputy Arnel Belizaire announced the creation of a new political structure called "Delivrans". 8 ex-Senators still own State cars Two years after leaving the Senate, 8 former senators (Carl Murat Cantave, Herve Foucand, Dieudonne Luma Etienne, Ronald Lareche, Onondieu Louis, Willot Joseph, Nenel Cassy and Ricard Pierre) are still illegally in possession of State vehicles. The Senate Office reminds these former Senators that they have until February 15 to return them. Mexico : Passport Renewal The Embassy of Haiti in Mexico following the publication of the list of documents required by the Haitian immigration for the renewal of a passport, informed that it is not mandatory for a compatriot to have a copy of the Tax Identification Number (NIF) or that of the National Identification Card (CIN) to start the renewal process. However, we would like to remind our nationals that they can always go to the Embassy to apply for a CIN. For other cities like Tapachula and Tijuana, the Embassy is studying the possibility of implementing a CIN application system in the near future. senators that they have until February 15 to return the vehicles concerned. USA : PM after February 7, no objection The American Charge d'Affaires in Haiti Kenneth Merten once again pleaded yesterday in favor of an agreement between the Haitian actors to resolve the crisis. He recalled that the United States is in favor of a Haitian solution. On the question of February 7, he cited as an example prime ministers who remained in office after the departure of the Presidents. DR : Arrest of a Haitian in possession of 26 passports On Thursday, soldiers from the Specialized Land Border Security Corps (CESFRONT) arrested a Haitian national who was carrying 26 Haitian passports without the required visas and 1,490 US dollars in cash. HL/ HaitiLibre Romney, WV (26757) Today Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday the buildup of Russian forces along Ukraines border has reached the point where President Vladimir Putin now has a complete range of military options, including actions short of a full-scale invasion. While we dont believe that President Putin has made a final decision to use these forces against Ukraine, he clearly now has the capability, Austin told a Pentagon news conference. Advertisement In Moscow, the Kremlin said Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron that the West has failed to take Russian security concerns into account, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a radio interviewer that Russia doesnt want war but sees no room for compromise on its demands. Austin said Putin could use any portion of his force of an estimated 100,000 troops to seize Ukrainian cities and significant territories or to carry out coercive acts or provocative political acts like the recognition of breakaway territories inside Ukraine. He urged Putin to de-escalate tensions, and appeared to warn Moscow against what the White House recently said was Russias intent to paint Ukraine as the aggressor using a false-flag operation to justify an attack. Advertisement We remain focused on Russian disinformation, including the potential creation of pretext for further invasion or strikes on Donbas, said Austin. This is straight out of the Russian playbook. Theyre not fooling us. Austin spoke alongside Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in what were their first extensive public comments about the crisis, marking a subtle shift in the administrations approach to public communications about the escalating situation. While both have consulted regularly with their NATO and Ukrainian counterparts, the public discourse has focused on the diplomatic efforts. In this photo taken from video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, Russian troops fire howitzers during drills in the Rostov region during a military exercise. (AP) The U.S. has put 8,500 troops on higher alert for potential deployment to support and reassure NATO allies, and Austin and Milley said Friday that no U.S. forces have yet been deployed or moved around Europe. President Biden, however, signaled a possible move soon. Returning to Washington after a trip Friday to Pennsylvania, Biden was asked if he had decided when he would move U.S. troops to eastern Europe. Ill be moving U.S. troops to eastern Europe and the NATO countries in the near term. Not a lot, Biden said. Earlier this week Biden said he might move them in the nearer term, just because it takes time. Austin and Milley said the U.S. has taken into account the risk that any troop movements could inflame the situation, but stressed the need for America to reassure its allies. Moving large units with heavy equipment and weapons often requires more time due to travel and logistical challenges. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin turns to Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley as he speaks during a media briefing at the Pentagon on Friday. (Alex Brandon/AP) Milley painted a grim picture of Russian military capabilities around Ukraine, saying there are not only ground troops and naval and air forces but also cyber and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as special operations forces. He said the buildup is the largest hes seen in recent memory, and he urged Putin to choose a diplomatic path over conflict. If Russia chooses to invade Ukraine, it will not be cost-free, in terms of casualties and other significant effects, Milley said. He was referring to Russian costs, while also noting that Ukraines armed forces are more capable today than in 2014, when Russia seized Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and intervened in support of pro-Russian separatists in the eastern industrial heartland. Earlier Friday, the Kremlin said Putin told Macron that the West has failed to consider Russias key conditions of halting further NATO expansion, stopping the deployment of alliance weapons near Russian borders, and rolling back its forces from Eastern Europe. Advertisement Ukrainian soldiers take part in an exercise for the use of NLAW anti-tank missiles at the Yavoriv military training ground, close to Lviv, on Friday. (Pavlo Palamarchuk/AP) 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 U.S. and NATO formally rejected those demands this week, although Washington outlined areas where discussions are possible, offering hope that there could be a way to avoid war. Despite that, Biden on Thursday warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that there is a distinct possibility that Russia could take military action against the former Soviet state in February. Russia has repeatedly denied having any such plans. Zelenskyy sought to play down the war fears, saying Western alarm over an imminent invasion has prompted many investors in the countrys financial markets to cash out. A Ukrainian serviceman pats a dog sitting in a shelter on the front line in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, on Friday. (Vadim Ghirda/AP) We dont need this panic, he said at a news conference. It cost Ukrainians dearly. Putin told Macron that Moscow will study the U.S. and NATO response before deciding its next move, according to a Kremlin account of their call. The Russian president has made no public remarks about the Western response, but Lavrov said it leaves little chance for reaching agreement. While they say they wont change their positions, we wont change ours, Lavrov told Russian radio stations in a live interview. I dont see any room for compromise here. Advertisement There wont be a war as far as it depends on the Russian Federation, we dont want a war, he added. But we wont let our interests be rudely trampled on and ignored. Published on 2022/01/27 | Source A French luxury brand unveiled a new collection pictorial with actress Go Min-si through a fashion magazine. Advertisement Actress Go Min-si in the pictorial wore various products such as rings, bracelets, earrings, and neckless in her own way to complete the seductive style. The elegance of Go Min-si shines. The spectacular visuals of Go Min-si draw praise from viewers. Photoshoots with actress Go Min-si, who stands out in various styles, can be found in the February issue of Vogue and Vogue's website. Quincy, IL (62301) Today 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.. 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. Hastings, NE (68901) Today Cloudy with occasional showers. Low near 45F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers. Low near 45F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. This page contains all of Today's News-Herald's coverage of the novel coronavirus outbreak, and the illness it causes, called COVID-19. Because this outbreak impacts public health, our coverage of the coronavirus is available to all readers. Our journalists are working hard to bring you the verified information below. Please consider supporting important local journalism with a subscription. (Click Here) Are you a Lake Havasu City resident whos been affected by the illness? Send us an email: news@havasunews.com. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit U.S. gross domestic product shrank 1.4% in the first quarter at the same time infl Press release Attention quilters: We just want to give you a heads up that we are again going to have a Quilt Show. This will be at the 72nd Annual Montana Seed Show, which will be held March 10,11 and12. It is the 29th year for the Nimble Thimble Quilt Show. The dates for our show are Friday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, March 12, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The show will be held in the band room at the Harlem High School. Entry forms are available at Blaine County Library in Chinook; Harlem Public Library, Havre/Hill County Library; Ben Franklin Crafts in Havre; Bearly Square Quilting in Havre; Gone to Pieces in Malta; Crazy Quilts in Glasgow, and the Richman Insurance office in Harlem. Quilts and entry forms must be returned to the Richman Insurance Office in Harlem by 5 p.m. Friday, March 4. No late entries will be accepted. Great cash prizes will be awarded. Winners are chosen by popular vote. Peoples Choice is voted by members of the Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild. Entries are not judged. You can enter quilts, quilted wall hangings, decorator items, clothing, etc. There will also be a silent auction with many items for sale that are made by members of the guild. For more information, people can call Sharon Goodrich at 406-379-2663 or Carla Becker at 406-353-2256 or 406-353-2213. The Kremlin said Thursday that there was little ground for optimism in resolving the crisis over Ukraine after the U.S. rejected Russias main demands, but that dialogue was still possible. Tensions have soared in recent weeks, as the United States and its NATO allies expressed concern that a buildup of about 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine signaled that Moscow planned to invade its neighbor. Russia denies having any such designs and has laid out a series of demands it says will improve security in Europe. Advertisement A Ukrainian serviceman walks through a trench on the front line in the Luhansk area of eastern Ukraine on Thursday. (VADIM GHIRDA/AP) But as expected, the U.S. and the Western alliance firmly rejected any concessions on Moscows main points Wednesday, refusing to permanently ban Ukraine from joining NATO and saying allied deployments of troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe are nonnegotiable. The U.S. did outline areas in which some of Russias concerns might be addressed, possibly offering a path to de-escalation. But, as it has done repeatedly for the past several weeks, Washington also warned Moscow of devastating sanctions if it invades Ukraine. In addition to penalties targeting Russian people and key economic sectors, several senior U.S. officials said Thursday with certainty that Germany would not allow a newly constructed gas pipeline to begin operations in the event of an incursion. Advertisement Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath laying commemoration ceremony at the Piskaryovskoye Cemetery where most of the Leningrad Siege victims were buried during World War II, in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Thursday. (Alexei Nikolsky/AP) All eyes are now on President Vladimir Putin, who will decide how Russia will respond amid fears that Europe could again be plunged into war. In the meantime, President Biden spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodmyr Zelenskyy on Thursday to reiterate American and allied support, including recent deliveries of U.S. military aid. Had a long phone conversation with POTUS, Zelenskyy tweeted. Discussed recent diplomatic efforts on de-escalation and agreed on joint actions for the future. Thanked President Joe Biden for the ongoing military assistance. Possibilities for financial support to Ukraine were also discussed. The White House said in a statement that Biden told Zelenskyy he was exploring additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraines economy as it comes under pressure as a result of Russias military buildup. Meanwhile, the United States announced that the UN Security Council will hold an open meeting Monday on what U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield called Russias threatening behavior. She said the deployment of more than 100,000 troops along Ukraines border and other destabilizing acts pose a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. Charter. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier that the response from the U.S. and a similar one from NATO left little ground for optimism. But he added that there always are prospects for continuing a dialogue, its in the interests of both us and the Americans. White House press secretary Jen Psaki was circumspect when asked whether the Biden administration saw a sliver of hope in that the Russians said they would keep communications open even as they said that they lacked optimism.. We dont know if the Russians are playing games on diplomacy. We hope not, Psaki said. Advertisement In this photo taken from video and released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, Russian S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems attend a military drills in Sverdlovsk region, Ural, in Russia. (AP) Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the U.S. response contained some elements that could lead to the start of a serious talk on secondary issues, but emphasized that the document contains no positive response on the main issue. Those are Moscows demands that NATO not expand and that the alliance refrain from deploying weapons that might threaten Russia. Lavrov said top officials will submit proposals to Putin. Peskov said the Russian reaction would come soon. The evasive official comments reflect the fact that it is Putin who will singlehandedly determine Russias next moves. He has warned of unspecified military-technical measures if the West refuses to heed the demands. Peskov added that Putin and Biden will decide whether they need to have another conversation following two calls last month. Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kyiv had seen the U.S. response before it was delivered to Russia and had no objections. He tweeted it was important that the U.S. remains in close contact with Ukraine before and after all contacts with Russia. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > On a visit to Denmark, Kuleba emphasized his countrys need to strengthen its defenses. Advertisement This crisis is a moment of truth, and this is why we speak about weapons, he said. This is why we speak about economic sanctions. This is why we speak about the consolidated position of all of us, so that President Putin sees that there are no weak links in our defensive chain. An armed serviceman walks along a trench on the territory controlled by pro-Russian militants on the frontline with Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine on Thursday. (Alexei Alexandrov/AP) Germanys Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during a parliamentary debate on Ukraine that her government is closely coordinating its policy with allies, considering a range of options that could include the new Nord Stream 2 Russian gas pipeline to Germany. While the diplomacy sputters on, so too do maneuvers that have escalated tensions. Russia has launched a series of military drills involving motorized infantry and artillery units in southwestern Russia, warplanes in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, dozens of warships in the Black Sea and the Arctic, and Russian fighter jets and paratroopers in Belarus. NATO said it was bolstering its deterrence in the Baltic Sea region, and the U.S. ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert for potential deployment to Europe. Amid the tensions, thousands of Ukrainians expressed their resolve to stand up to the Russian pressure under the hashtag #UkrainiansWillResist on Twitter and Facebook. No one will force Ukrainians to accept the Kremlin ultimatum, wrote Andrii Levus, who initiated the campaign. FRIDAY, Jan. 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- When delivering a liver cancer diagnosis, Dr. Thomas Marron pulls no punches: "Liver cancer is one of the deadliest cancers," he tells patients. Jeffrey Foster heard a similar message loud and clear when he was first diagnosed by another doctor with hepatocellular carcinoma the most common type of liver cancer back in 2020. At the time, the 68-year-old retired vet was told by his surgeon that "cutting out the mass then found on my liver doesn't mean the cancer wouldn't come back." But at the same time, "the surgeon also told me about Dr. Marron and his immunotherapy trial," Foster recalled. Marron, an associate professor of medicine, hematology and medical oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, had begun to research whether immunotherapy could boost survival in those with less advanced liver cancer. "Immunotherapy is a bit of an umbrella term for many different types of medicine that help the immune system do its job and attack cancer," Marron noted. "For liver cancer and many other types of cancer immunotherapies are now the mainstay of treatment for people with advanced disease, meaning for patients in whom surgery is not a potential cure." Marron's idea was to start offering immunotherapy infusions to patients like Foster who have less advanced disease before they go under the knife. The goal was "to help kill the tumor that we see," explained Marron, "as well as teach the immune system to recognize and kill any residual tumor cells that remain hidden after surgery that will [otherwise] eventually grow into new tumors." Foster was told he would be "a good candidate" for the study's eight-session immunotherapy program, involving a medication called "neoadjuvant cemiplimab." Immunotherapy before surgery a powerful strategy "Dr. Marron explained they would do two infusion therapies before my surgery, three weeks apart," Foster said. "And then after the surgery there would be six more, also three weeks apart. So, a total of eight." But the Long Island native hesitated at first, worried about the two-hour home-to-hospital commute each way and the long treatment slog. "Each infusion takes about a couple of hours of time actually in the hospital at the infusion center," Foster added. "Because they have to do blood work, taking probably eight vials of my blood every time. And I have to wait for the drug to be mixed on the spot. And then the therapy itself was about a half hour of the infusion. And then I had to wait an hour afterwards to make sure I was OK." In the end, a friend of Foster's a neonatal nurse familiar with medical lingo and hospital protocols asked him a simple question: "If the hospital was around the corner from your home, would you do it?" The answer was yes. So, Foster began immunotherapy treatment, followed by surgery. By May 2021, all eight infusions were under his belt. "They really monitored me very closely, and I only had two side effects," he noted. "A rash on my back and arms, which was very itchy, but which they told me about prior to doing it. And I lost some appetite a little bit. I probably lost about 20 pounds, and I'm a thin person." Since then, Foster has regained all the weight, and the rashes have disappeared. And the results, he said, speak for themselves. "The doctors are all pretty much through the roof," he said. "They're very encouraged. I just made an appointment for another MRI, but I had one about six months ago and it came back perfect. As far as the last MRI, I'm cancer-free. And they're pretty sure I don't know if it's 100% sure but they're pretty sure that it won't come back." Marron, who serves as assistant director of Mount Sinai's Immunotherapy and Phase 1 Trials, explained that "if liver cancer is going to come back, it typically does so within two years." So, Foster will continue to be monitored for any potential cancer recurrence. New approaches needed to tackle liver cancer But the trial results so far suggest that the first two sessions of immunotherapy administered before surgery effectively kill off liver cancer tumors in about one-third of patients. And Marron predicts that "nearly all the patients whose cancer was [already] dead when we cut it out will remain cancer-free." In addition, the team also identified some degree of immunotherapy-triggered benefit among the remaining patients. But Marron stressed that firm answers as to precisely which liver cancer patients might be ideal immunotherapy candidates and what might predict long-term remission awaits completion of his team's ongoing post-surgical analysis. The study findings were published online recently in The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr. Julie Gralow, executive vice president and chief medical officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, said the impetus behind studies like this is that when it comes to liver cancer treatment, "we need to do better." "If diagnosed with liver cancer at an early stage, the five-year survival rate is 34%," she noted. "If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues, the five-year survival rate is 12%. If the cancer has spread to a distant part of the body, the five-year survival rate is 3%." As an effort to improve on these numbers, Gralow said the latest findings are "promising." But she said more and bigger studies will be needed to determine how best to design immunotherapy treatment, which patients will truly benefit, and whether the treatment really reduces the risk for recurrence and death. Foster, however, thinks he already has all the information he needs. "This was absolutely a no-brainer," he said. "It was worth it. It was worth getting up at 5 o-clock every morning, and driving into the city for two hours. And I would do it again in a heartbeat, if I had to." More information There's more about liver cancer and immunotherapy at the American Cancer Society. SOURCES: Thomas Marron, MD, PhD, associate professor, medicine, hematology, and medical oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, and assistant director, Immunotherapy and Phase 1 Trials, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City; Julie Gralow, MD, executive vice president and chief medical officer, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Alexandria, Va.; Jeffrey Foster, liver cancer patient; The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jan. 19, 2022, online ShareBar Comments must be on-topic and civil in tone (with no name calling or personal attacks). Any promotional language or urls will be removed immediately. Your comment may be edited for clarity and length. Free access for current print subscribers As a home delivery subscriber, you get free unlimited digital access to premium content on HenryHerald.com, including local news, local sports, obituaries, legal notices, local features, and the e-edition. All you need is your print subscription account number and your last name. Don't know your subscription number? Email access@henryherald.com with your delivery address. Activate your account now. ALBANY Gov. Hochul is again asking the feds for more rent money as her primary opponents seek to make housing a central campaign issue. The governor made yet another appeal Thursday to the Treasury Department, calling for an additional $1.6 billion in funds for struggling tenants and landlords who have applied for pandemic rental assistance. Advertisement New York Governor Kathy Hochul (Kevin P. Coughlin/Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of the Governor) Hochul has made several similar overtures in recent weeks as New Yorks eviction moratorium expired and a court order forced officials to reopen the application portal for the states COVID rent relief program. New York State continues to demonstrate a large need for this federal funding, the governor said in a statement. We need to ensure that all eligible tenants and landlords are able to tap into this critical assistance. Advertisement The states overburdened Emergency Rental Assistance Program exhausted its initial allotment of $2 billion earlier this month, distributed nearly $1.4 billion to landlords via 109,000 direct payments after receiving just under 300,000 applications, according to the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. The remaining funds are tied to approved applications. [ Gov. Hochul, NYC Mayor Adams ask for more federal COVID funds ] Reopening the application portal earlier this month offered only short-term protections against evictions for struggling tenants but little else with no funds to cover the additional claims. The Treasury Department ponied up only $27 million late last year after Hochul requested $996 million to cover the underfunded program. Earlier this month, the governor joined several other states in requesting a reallocation of federal COVID relief left unspent. New York City Public Advocate and Democratic candidate for Governor of New York, Jumaane Williams (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News) Hochuls continued push received plaudits from across the political spectrum as both the Legal Aid Society and the Rent Stabilization Association, the citys largest landlord organization, voiced support. Her challengers, meanwhile, hammered the incumbent governor over her housing platform. Earlier Thursday, New York Communities for Change, a progressive advocacy group, staged an endorsement event outside of Brooklyn housing court as members rallied behind city Public Advocate Jumaane Williams gubernatorial bid. Hochul will face Williams, who joined advocates in calling for greater eviction protections, as well as Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) in Junes Democratic primary. Housing activists march across town towards New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's office, calling for an extension of pandemic era eviction protections in Manhattan, New York. (Mary Altaffer/AP) Suozzi, meanwhile, attacked Hochul over a proposal put forth earlier this month that would legalize accessory dwelling units in single-family zoned areas. Advertisement The governors plan would require local governments to allow basement apartments, backyard cottages, garages, attics and other so-called accessory dwelling units in neighborhoods zoned for only single-family homes. Governor Hochuls radical proposal would take away zoning control from municipal governments, erode local government authority, and end single family housing across New York, Suozzi said. Greenville, TX (75401) Today Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we've all known individuals who have done more than their share to help their neighbors and communities with food, comfort, care, companionship and dozens of other needs. If you know of such a person, you can nominate them to be featured in our upcoming H The mourning widow of slain NYPD cop Jason Rivera called out Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Friday over what critics have cast as his lax approach to prosecuting crime. Dominique Luzuriaga shared touching memories of her hero husband, in a heart-wrenching eulogy describing the devastating moment she found out he had been killed. Advertisement The she took aim at Bragg. The system continues to fail us. We are not safe anymore, not even the members of the service, Luzuriaga told a crowd of thousands gathered at St. Patricks Cathedral in Midtown for Riveras funeral service. I know you were tired of these laws, especially the ones from the new DA. Advertisement Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg (left) and NYPD Officer Jason Rivera's widow, Dominique Luzuriaga (right) I hope hes watching you speak through me right now, she continued, clearly speaking to Bragg as he sat in a pew just a few yards away. The crowded Cathedral, steeped in respectful silence a moment earlier, echoed with applause as Luzuriaga wiped tears from her eyes. Im sure all of our blue family is tired too, she concluded. But I promise, we promise, that your death wont be in vain. NYPD Officer Jason Rivera was killed in the line of duty on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, in Manhattan, New York. (NYPD) Rivera was shot and killed while responding to a domestic incident last Friday in Harlem. During his funeral service, the 22-year-old rookie was posthumously promoted to detective first grade during his funeral service. A second officer, Wilbert Mora, 27, died earlier this week. Front page for Jan. 5, 2022: New DA's policy angers some cop unions. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg (left) says he won't seek jail for crimes like fare-beating and resisting arrest, but will target sex trafficking and other felonies. (New York Daily News) Bragg has faced intensifying criticism after issuing a Day 1 policy memo outlining prosecutorial policies, such as charging robbery in a commercial setting as petty larceny in certain circumstances and not seeking pretrial detention except for the most violent cases. [ New Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg wont pursue fare beating, resisting arrest, other non-violent, non-felony charges, angering cop union ] His policies have been met with condemnation from NYPD brass and police unions as well as Republican politicians who have called on Gov. Hochul to remove the newly elected prosecutor from office. In a statement released following Riveras funeral, Bragg said he is grieving and praying for Detective Rivera and Officer Mora today and every day, and my thoughts are with their families and the NYPD. Advertisement Violence against police officers will never be tolerated, he added. My office will vigorously prosecute cases of violence against police and work to prevent senseless acts like this from ever happening again. Bragg, who took office on Jan. 1, was scheduled to sit down with Hochul Friday afternoon to discuss his approach to prosecuting amid the citys recent spate of violent crime. During an afternoon storm briefing on Long Island, the governor said she was brought to tears earlier as Luzuriaga recounted her lifetime of love with Rivera, whom she met in elementary school. Her pain was real, it was searing to hear, and its going to be enduring for a long time, Hochul said. The governor added that she would speak to Bragg about balancing public safety with progressive policies. We need alignment with our men and women in uniform and yes, we have to protect peoples rights and ensure theres fairness and justice in the criminal justice system ... and we need to address them, but these are not mutually exclusive objectives, she said. Advertisement Following their sit down, Hochul said the two had a productive conversation. In a separate statement, Bragg said topics covered during the meeting included the importance of accountability, preventing shoplifting by breaking up burglary rings, keeping the trains safe, deterring brazen conduct and reducing gun violence. NYPD officer Jason Rivera's widow, Dominique Luzuriaga, clutches a crucifix after Rivera's funeral Friday at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) Earlier this month, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell criticized Braggs policies in a message to cops. She wrote that she feared specific Bragg policies will invite violence against police officers and will have deleterious effects on our relationship with the communities we protect. Bragg has vowed to stay the course despite the criticism. On Sunday, I went with a couple of my family members to a baseball game in Milwaukee between the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers. Everything was going well. I used my phone to get driving directions to the stadium from St. Joseph, and the Apple Maps app got us to the exact location on Offer a personal message of sympathy... By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. If you have an existing account with this site, please log in to leave your message. Otherwise, you can create an account by clicking on the Log In button at the top of the page and then register to create your account. The same day the widow of fallen NYPD Officer Jason Rivera called out the Manhattan District Attorney for his lenient approach to crime, Mayor Adams voiced outrage over news that a teen suspected of shooting another cop was released on bond Friday. The suspect, Camrin Williams, was let go from a Brooklyn juvenile lock-up after posting $250,000 bond. Williams, 16, is an up-and-coming rapper known as C Blu and is accused of shooting Officer Kaseem Penman in the Bronx last week. Advertisement The suspect, Camrin Williams (pictured), was let go from a Brooklyn juvenile lock-up after posting $250,000 bond. Williams, 16, is an up-and-coming rapper known as C Blu and is accused of shooting Officer Kaseem Penman in the Bronx last week. New Yorkers should all be outraged that a repeat offender, accused of shooting at a police officer, is today walking free on bond because judges are precluded from even considering danger to the community, like every other state and our federal courts, Adams said in a written statement. It is further proof that our current system is failing us. His broadside at the court system came just hours after he attended a St. Patricks Cathedral funeral service for Rivera, who was killed late last Friday night responding to a domestic disturbance call. Riveras partner, Officer Wilbert Mora, was also shot and died days later. Advertisement The man who killed them, Lashawn McNeil, died days later from gun shot wounds he suffered that night. New York City Mayor Eric Adams addresses mourners during a funeral service for NYPD Officer Jason Rivera Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan, New York. (Mary Altaffer/AP) Since the tragic shoot-out in Harlem, the mayor has argued that when setting bail, judges need to be given the ability to consider the level of danger a suspect could pose upon release. On Friday, he pointed to the release of Williams as another example of why. Williams attorney Dawn Florio pushed back, saying she doesnt think the mayor even knows what happened. My client didnt shoot a police officer. He never pointed a gun. He never had a gun in his hand, she said. Police officers jumped on top of him and thats how the gun went off and the bullet hit my client in the groin and went out through his thigh and grazed the leg of the police officer. My client is a victim as well as the police officer, she said. Florio noted that she has received body camera footage of the incident from Bronx prosecutors, but cannot share it as it is under a protective order. NYPD are pictured at the scene on Lorillard Place in the Bronx, New York where a police officer was shot on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (Sam Costanza/for New York Daily News) Adams has not just focused on how judges set bail for suspects. He has called for the citys district attorneys to step up in the effort to stem gun violence. And though he has not criticized Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg directly, he has said that DAs need to do their part, too just weeks after Bragg released a statement saying he would refrain from prosecuting certain offenses in an effort to make the criminal justice system more fair. Those policies have come under fire from critics who believe they are too lenient. And one of those critics is Dominique Luzuriaga, the widow of Rivera, who called out Bragg at her slain husbands funeral Friday. Advertisement Front page for Jan. 25, 2022: Eric vows more cops on street, quick return of active anti-gun units. Cop shooter dies of his wounds. Mayor Adams, confronting surge of violence capped by killing of a cop - by Lashawn McNeil (above, who died Monday) - promises "boots on the ground" and a quick revival of plainclothes anti-gun units. (New York Daily News) Luzuriaga said she hoped Bragg was watching Rivera speak through me right now as the DA sat silent just steps away from her as she eulogized her husband in the cathedral. The system continues to fail us. We are not safe anymore, not even the members of the service, she said through tears. I know you were tired of these laws, especially the ones from the new DA. Adams made no mention of Bragg at Riveras funeral. Instead, he reserved his criticism for the courts. Today of all days, with the city in mourning over the deaths of Detective First-Grade Jason Rivera and Police Officer Wilbert Mora, we all must come together and agree that changes are needed, he said. We cannot allow those who carry guns to walk free. We can pursue safety and justice at the same time, and we must, for the safety of all of us. Its not a picture of success. Photos and video have surfaced of an F-35C stealth fighter that crash-landed in the South China Sea on Monday. Advertisement The F-35 was approaching the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, but it came in too fast, hit the deck of the ship and skittered into the ocean, CNN reported. Meet the poor Lockheed F-35C Lightning II of #USNavy that crashed near the northwest coast of Philippines 3 days ago. This happened due to pilot's mistake during landing on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) aircraft carrier on January 24, 2022. VFA-147 Argonauts now has eight F-35Cs left. pic.twitter.com/sJf54FMhXu Babak Taghvaee - - (@BabakTaghvaee) January 27, 2022 Seven people, including the pilot, were injured. The pilot was able to eject in time, and all sailors were in stable condition by Friday, according to CNN. The Navy confirmed that the leaked images are legitimate. Advertisement A video, also confirmed as real, showed the plane approaching the ship before disappearing from view behind a cloud of smoke, with a crash heard shortly after. Someone has now leaked video of the accident for F-35C Lightning II of #USNavy's VFA-147 Argonauts a few days ago. Due to pilot's mistake, the aircraft landed early on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Aircraft Carrier and slipped into sea with severed landing gears! https://t.co/UXPObZR8P3 pic.twitter.com/bZhf88Wq50 Babak Taghvaee - - (@BabakTaghvaee) January 28, 2022 The F-35C is the militarys newest stealth fighter and each one reportedly costs $100 million. While the photos have surfaced, the plane has not, and the Navy is hoping to recover it from the South China Sea floor. Officials said they dont want it to fall into Chinas hands. China claimed to be indifferent. We have no interest in their aircraft, China foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Thursday. We urge the country concerned to do things that are conducive to regional peace and stability, rather than flex muscles in the region. The parents of an 8-week-old baby who was found dead nearly three years ago in London have been jailed, U.K. police said Friday. Naomi Johnson, 24, was sentenced to seven years and two months, while Benjamin OShea, 26, was sentenced to eight years and eight months behind bars. Advertisement They had previously been found guilty of causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm in relation to their baby girl Amina-Faye Johnson, who died in April 2019, and was later found to have 65 broken bones. They were also found guilty of cruelty to a person under the age of 16 in relation to another child, who remained anonymous. Advertisement Amina-Faye (Metropolitan Police) The two were sentenced Friday at Inner London Crown Court. No jail term will ever be worth the life of baby Amina-Faye, Detective Inspector Melanie Pressley, who led the investigation, said in a statement. However, I hope that todays sentence is a clear message that the children in this case mattered and those who think they can get away with inflicting such abuse will be punished. I know I speak for everyone involved in this investigation when I say it has been truly heart-breaking to investigate and Amina Faye and the other child in this case will stay with us all, she added. The baby died on April 26, 2019. According to police, her parents called U.K.s national emergency number, 999, but paramedics werent able to save her. At the time, the baby showed no observable injuries, and medics originally thought that she had died from a condition known as Sudden Unexpected Infant Death. However, X-rays later showed injuries the child had suffered in her short life. She was found to have more than 60 fractured bones in her body, including 41 identified fractures to her ribs, as well as 24 limb bone fractures. Experts say that the fractures indicate that the baby suffered continued physical abuse, according to police. Advertisement Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Some of the fractures were relatively recent while others had begun to heal suggesting that over the course of her eight-week life Amina-Faye had been subject to multiple episodes of abuse, officials added. In interviews with the police, the couple denied injuring their daughter. Naomi Johnson (left) and Benjamin O'Shea (Metropolitan Police) Detectives said that they also found text messages between the couple in which they both admitted to mistreating the other child. Johnson and OShea have rightly been jailed for the monstrous abuse they subjected these children to, Pressley said. Throughout our investigation, Johnson and OShea have been steadfast in their refusal to answer our questions. Thanks to the expertise of doctors who assisted us in this case, we know the trauma Amina-Faye suffered in her all too short life. Johnson and OShea betrayed everything that children deserve from adults, the detective added. There is no doubt that this is a case of the highest seriousness in terms of cruelty to children in terms of the injuries, judge Nigel Peters said Friday during sentencing, according to the BBC. Advertisement He described the case as harrowing. Ajman Hotel by Blazon Hotels has a new executive chef. Nicolai Schleifer steps into the emirate with 20 years of experience, having worked across the globe. Schleifer has worked at the property before when it was managed by Kempinski Hotels. The chef got his start in hospitality through Kempinski, working with Kempinski Hotel Airport Munich as a sous chef before moving to Kempinski Hotel in Soma Bay as executive sous chef. Next he worked at Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski as executive sous chef, taking up his first executive chef role a year later at Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz. After working at The Stafford London, he went on to hold positons in both Ajman and Al Ain before moving to Bucharest Romania as executive chef of the Radisson Blu and Park Inn hotels in the city. Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs announces the appointment of Brick Loomis as Director of Restaurants, Bars & Events for the celebrated culinary and bar concepts within the 153-room downtown Palm Springs hotel: 4 Saints, Juniper Table, High Bar and Window Bar. In his new role, Loomis is responsible for leading the operational strategy, development and management of the award-winning hotel's culinary, beverage and events programming including the signature 4 Saints rooftop restaurant, recently relaunched by Executive Chef Ysaac Ramirez; the lobby-adjacent Juniper Table, an all-day dining concept debuting new menus this winter; High Bar, located poolside on the rooftop; Window Bar, an intimate, laid-back lounge; and hotel banquets and catering. Loomis brings more than 20 years of food & beverage leadership experience to the team at Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs. He most recently served as Director of Outlets at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, Calif. Prior to that, he was Assistant Director of Food & Beverage at Silicon Valley's Rosewood Sand Hill where he helped Madera restaurant regain its Michelin star and earn a Wine Spectator Grand Award of Excellence. Loomis' resume also includes a six-year tenure at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, during which he opened new restaurant concepts at properties in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles as Sommelier and Wine Director, in addition to director-level positions at acclaimed San Francisco landmark restaurants, the three-Michelin-starred COI and former Jardiniere. Key Takeaways For the seventh year, Airbnb Earns a Perfect '100' From the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Annual Assessment on LGBTQ+ Workplace Equality Airbnb has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) as a top place to work for LGBTQ+ equality, scoring 100 percent on the organizations annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI). We are proud to receive this designation for the seventh year in a row, joining the ranks of over 840 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year. The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars: Non-discrimination policies across business entities Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families Supporting an inclusive culture Corporate social responsibility "When the Human Rights Campaign Foundation created the Corporate Equality Index 20 years ago, we dreamed that LGBTQ+ workers from the factory floor to corporate headquarters, in big cities and small towns could have access to the policies and benefits needed to thrive and live life authentically. We are proud that the Corporate Equality Index paved the way to that reality for countless LGBTQ+ workers in America and abroad. But there is still more to do, which is why we are raising the bar yet again to create more equitable workplaces and a better tomorrow for LGBTQ+ workers everywhere." - Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaign Senior Vice President of Programs, Research and Training. Airbnb is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable company for everyone. We continue working hard to find ways to support our LGBTQ+ employees. Last year, Airbnb employee resource groups [email protected] and AirPride, shared a Guide for LTGBTQ+ Allyship with our employees to deepen our collective understanding of gender diversity, and the ways we can act in stronger allyship towards the LGBTQ+ community. This included common terms and guidance for being an ally everyday, spotlighted the importance of pronoun allyship, and encouraged self-education to advance inclusion through intentional, positive and conscious efforts. We are so proud and thankful for the hard work of the AirPride and [email protected] employee resource groups and for their dedication to making Airbnb a great place to work for LGBTQ+ employees. AirPrides mission is to celebrate the diversity of gender identity and sexual orientation and empower Airbnb to be a positive force for both its own LGBTQ+ employees and the world. The mission of [email protected] is to support trans and gender non-conforming employees and advocate for improvements to Airbnb that will benefit the trans community. Along with supporting our employee community, Airbnb is committed to partnering with companies owned by minorities, women, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities through our dedicated Supplier Diversity program. In 2020, we exceeded our goal of 10 percent US spend with diverse suppliers, and in 2021, we added the goal that 20 percent of businesses in our US supply chain will be diverse as of 2025. As of August 2021, 13.5 percent of businesses in our US supply chain are owned by minorities, women, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities. Were also proud to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture. To help guests mark a year of Pride celebrations unlike any other, Airbnb curated a special wishlist, featuring stays and experiences in top trending US destinations. The Celebrate Pride from around the world wishlist is a collection of natural retreats and outdoor experiences (including those led by local LGBTQ+ communities) where guests can disconnect as they reconnect with friends and loved ones and it even received a special seal of approval from Americas fiercest sweetheart, Jonathan Van Ness. About Airbnb Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals across over 220 countries and regions. Travel on Airbnb keeps more of the financial benefits of tourism with the people and places that make it happen. Airbnb has generated billions of dollars in earnings for Hosts, most of whom are individuals listing the homes in which they live. Among Hosts who report their gender, more than half are women, and one in five employed Hosts are either teachers or healthcare workers. Travel on Airbnb also has generated more than $4 billion in tax revenue around the world. Airbnb has helped advance more than 1,000 regulatory frameworks for short-term rentals, including in 80% of our top 200 geographies. In late 2020, to support our continued expansion and diversification, we launched the City Portal to provide governments with a one-stop shop that supports data sharing and compliance with local registration rules. We continue to invest in innovations and tools to support our ongoing work with governments around the world to advance travel that best serves communities. About Airbnb.org Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc."s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org"s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows Hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform. Airbnb Press Airbnb Press Office Airbnb LAS VEGAS - BirchStreet Systems (BirchStreet or the Company), a leading provider of procure-to-pay software to the hospitality sector, today announced an investment from Parthenon Capital (Parthenon), a leading growth-oriented private equity firm with deep technology and payments investing experience. Parthenons investment, in conjunction with existing investor Serent Capital, will further accelerate BirchStreets growth as the Company continues to deliver innovative solutions to its customers within the procure-to-pay software suite. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2002, BirchStreets software platform powers procurement and supplier payments programs for some of the largest and most well-recognized brands in hospitality. Approximately 100,000 users at more than 13,000 customer locations leverage the Companys platform and broad ERP and accounting system integrations to manage billions of dollars of spend across a wide variety of categories, including food and beverage, operating supplies, maintenance services and capital projects. Brendan Reidy, a seasoned technology executive with extensive experience in hospitality and foodservice and BirchStreets executive chairman, will assume the additional role of CEO. Prior to joining BirchStreet, Brendan served in a variety of senior executive positions with both publicly traded and privately held technology companies. Most recently, Brendan served as the CEO of Compeat prior to its sale to Restaurant365 in June 2021. BirchStreet has grown rapidly in recent years because of its specialized product offering, end market knowledge and customer service, Reidy said. I have tremendous respect for what the team at BirchStreet has accomplished to date and look forward to building upon that success in this next chapter. It has been a pleasure partnering with Serent Capital over the last four years to expand BirchStreets leadership position in the hospitality market. We are excited to extend our growth trajectory in partnership with Parthenon and Serent, with a focus on continued organic growth as well as M&A, said Sushil Garg, BirchStreets founder and board member. Both Parthenon and Serent have a great track record of scaling technology companies, and we remain committed to developing innovative solutions that solve our customers problems across sourcing, procurement and supplier payments. Zach Sadek, a partner with Parthenon, commented, We are impressed with BirchStreets clear market leadership position, compelling customer value proposition, and exciting opportunities for future growth. The growing demand for industry expertise, spend visibility and end-to-end functionality in hospitality procurement has created a unique opportunity for specialized platforms like BirchStreet. Brian Golson, managing partner and co-CEO of Parthenon Capital, continued, We are looking forward to partnering with BirchStreet and Serent to build upon the Companys success and support its continued growth. Lance Fenton, a partner with Serent, added, Were thrilled to welcome Parthenon as an investor in BirchStreet. We look forward to working with both Parthenon and the BirchStreet team to expand on the Companys leadership position in the procure-to-pay software suite. BirchStreet was advised by William Blair & Company and Choate Hall & Stewart LLP. Kirkland & Ellis LLP provided legal advice to Parthenon Capital in connection with the transaction. About Parthenon Capital Parthenon Capital is a leading mid-market private equity firm with offices in Boston, San Francisco and Austin. Parthenon utilizes niche industry expertise and a deep execution team to invest in growth companies in service and technology industries. Parthenon seeks to be an active and aligned partner to management, either through recapitalization transactions or by backing new executives. Parthenon has particular expertise in financial and insurance services, healthcare and business services, but seeks any service, technology or delivery business with a strong value proposition and proprietary know-how. About Serent Capital Serent Capital is a growth-focused firm that invests in technology companies with offices in San Francisco and Austin. Serent invests in growing businesses that have developed compelling solutions that address their customers needs. As those businesses grow and evolve, the opportunities and challenges that they face change with them. Principals at Serent Capital have firsthand experience at capturing those opportunities and navigating these difficulties through their experiences as CEOs, strategic advisors, and board members to successful growing businesses. By bringing its expertise and capital to bear, Serent seeks to help growing businesses thrive. About BirchStreet Systems BirchStreet Systems powers hospitality and food and beverage enterprises with a comprehensive procure-to-pay business solution. As the global leading provider of spend management solutions in the hospitality industry, 15,500 enterprises in over 130 countries subscribe to BirchStreet to connect with a network of more than 450,000 suppliers. Established in 2002, BirchStreet is privately held and is headquartered in Las Vegas, NV with offices in California, China, Singapore, India, and the UK. For more information, please visit www.birchstreetsystems.com. Request Demonstration Led by Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC, Dutch pension fund manager APG Asset Management and citizenM founder Rattan Chadhas KRC Capital, CitizenM hotels, Amsterdam, in November raised US$1 billion in new capital for further growth. The lifestyle brand launched in 2008 finished 2021 with 24 hotels open and reportedly wants to add 40 or more by the end of 2024. It is also focused on introducing initiatives that include fully contactless operations and creative subscription products. citizenM, known for its dedication to design, art, technology and comfort, also demonstrated its continuing commitment to ESG transparency and improved performance by participating in the 2021 Real Estate Assessment. In fact, it achieved the highest rating available, attained by only 20% of entrants, 5 stars. More than half of the money raised in November is being set aside for hotel development and the balance will be used to complete existing development projects and make up for revenue lost during the pandemic, according to Chief Executive Officer Klaas van Lookeren Campagne. Despite the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry, citizenM is continuing with its ambitious global expansion with the support of its investors. GIC acquired a 25% stake in citizenM in March 2019 at a 2 billion (US$2.3 billion) valuation. As it increases its growth trajectory in the United States, citizenM was most recently opening properties in Miami, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and San Francisco, doubling U.S. presence to 10 hotels. HOTELS recently spoke to citizen Chief Growth Officer Ernest Lee about the state of the brand and plans for the way forward. Read the full article at HOTELS Magazine Building on the pillars of Panamanian pride and sustainable tourism, Panama is offering stimulating, regenerative experiences for purpose-driven travelers. To inspire travelers to experience the Central American countrys unique history, geography, and culture, its destination marketing organization (DMO), Visit Panama, has been busy rebranding the nations image and vision. They partnered with us at Expedia Group Media Solutions to help communicate their vision: to put Panamanians at the heart of their offering, while encouraging travelers to connect in a meaningful way. In this post, well describe this vision plus the ways our marketing campaign highlighted the diversity of this dynamic and exciting destination. Targeting the Conscious Traveler For much of the last two years, many of us have dreamed of venturing to a tropical shoreline or a distant, exotic city. Well, Panama has both. Travelers of all types will find what theyre looking for in this diverse place, while at the same time avoiding the crowds that can be found in other Central American destinations. Although recent findings have suggested that some travelers are looking forward to taking their GOAT trip (AKA the Greatest of All Trips), not all are interested in checking off that over-visited destination on most peoples bucket lists. Instead, some travel shoppers are interested in taking a new kind of trip, where they can experience an often-overlooked locale, a place that is rich in experiences but not overrun with tourists. Visit Panama knows this, and is eager to reach this significant market segment known as El Viajero Consciente, or the Conscious Traveler. As we share in our recent Traveler Value Index: 2022 Outlook, sustainability continues to be front of mind with a lot of travel shoppers, so travel marketers would be wise to promote the place less traveled, a place like Panama. Showcasing Panamas Diverse Experiences To communicate this to prospective visitors, Visit Panama collaborated with our award-winning Creative Partnerships team. Visit Panama wanted to best illustrate all that the destination has to offer and used a Travel Spotlight to combine informative content with stunning visuals. The result is a co-branded listicle showcasing key experiences10 once-in-a-lifetime momentsincluding the worlds first biodiversity museum, a tropical rainforest minutes from Panama City, whale watching and scuba diving, and, of course, the Panama Canal. Source: Expedia Group Media Solutions A separate promotional landing page was built that includes select flight and hotel offers, activities, COVID-19 travel guidelines, as well as the DMOs latest promotional video inviting visitors to live for more. In addition, the campaign was supported by display ads, email marketing, and social media takeovers to drive traffic to the landing page, while integrated booking capabilities help potential visitors plan and book their Panamanian vacation. Future Promotions to Help Inspire Travelers This campaign is just the beginning of our relationship with Visit Panama. The Creative Partnerships team is currently working on a three-episode video series called The Next Turn, which will feature social media influencers experiencing the nations rich diversity, from beach to mountain to culture. Even though the campaign was only launched in November, weve already seen impressive results. So far, the campaign has generated 5.1 million impressions and delivered an overall return on ad spend (ROAS) of nearly 10 to 1. Learn more about how you can inspire and convert travel shoppers with a Creative Partnership. You can also gain insights into the latest traveler sentimentincluding their views on sustainable travelby downloading and reading the Traveler Value Index: 2022 Outlook report. Download Report. About Expedia Group Media Solutions Expedia Group Media Solutions, the advertising organization of Expedia Group, offers industry expertise and digital marketing solutions that allow brands to reach, engage and influence its qualified audience of travelers around the world. Through its vast network of leading travel brands and global points of sale, Expedia Group Media Solutions provides marketing partners with proprietary data-driven insights about traveler behaviors during every stage of the purchase journey, along with dynamic advertising solutions, to deliver strategic campaigns and measurable results. For more information, visit www.advertising.expedia.com. 2022 Expedia, Inc., an Expedia Group company. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. CST: 2029030-50 View source Long stays have become one of the biggest trends in hospitality during the last two years. In their Report on Travel & Living, Airbnb mentions the share of long stays (reservations longer than 28 nights) increased from 14% in 2019 to 24% in 2021. Companies like Sonder built their entire post-covid business strategy around extended stays. The Student Hotel has closed a massive 300M funding round to expand its concept, blurring lines between hotel and student accommodation around Europe. And of course, we at Mews have been betting on long stays with our development. Early in 2021, we described our vision for a hybrid model of hospitality, offering various services in various time frames, all of them supported by a single system. What have we learned about the long stay vertical since then? Let us share it with you. The value and the resilience of long stay business Reading about these trends and company strategies, one might be wondering: Is it really a good idea to start offering long-term accommodation? To this, we say yes! Its a great idea. Weve even got the data to back it up. Cancellation rate data First, we looked at the resilience of long stay business and compared cancellation rates for stays of 1-7 days with those longer than 27 days in countries recently impacted by strict covid measures. Specially, this data covers Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany in 2021 between July 1 and the end of the year. Measures such as closed non-essential shops, restaurants and bars were introduced in the second half of November 2021 in these countries. The cancellation rate shown below is calculated as reservations cancelled/reservations created in each week. The first graph shows long stay reservations, the second shows short stays. Source: Mews Systems Ltd Source: Mews Systems Ltd What does the chart tell us? Guests booking stays longer than 27 days are much less likely to let Covid measures change their decision to travel. These people are very often relocating for business or studies and once they book their stay, its likely that they will actually arrive. For short term stays, the cancellation rate in these countries is currently three times higher. Put plainly, people will cancel their weekend trip to Amsterdam because of Covid measures, but they wont cancel their job or university studies. Financial data Now that we understand the resilience of the long stay business, we should look at the financial metrics. Firstly, the average daily rate (ADR). Again, were looking at data from Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany and comparing stays of 1-7 days with stays longer than 27 days. Source: Mews Systems Ltd Source: Mews Systems Ltd The difference is clear: the ADR for short stays (around 100) is approximately double the ADR of long stays (40-50). Yes, that looks a lot better in the Manager Report. In the next metric, however, the long stays win. Heres the average value of reservation (additional products and services are not considered). Source: Mews Systems Ltd Source: Mews Systems Ltd The average value of reservation for long stays is 15 to 20 times higher. If you manage to attract guests for this type of stay, they are golden eggs, bringing in an average of 4000. Operations data and more There are other metrics suggesting that long stay business can be very beneficial. If we consider occupancy and operations costs, long stay business is more efficient. The average length of long stays in our data is around 100 days. For these 100 days, your room is 100% occupied as there are no gaps between reservations. This can probably never be achieved with short stays. Therefore, the real metric you should focus on should be the revenue from an available space for a period of three or four months. Housekeeping is another good example for operational costs. Short stay guests expect the room to be cleaned, if not on daily basis, then at least once in three to four days. When they check out, the entire room needs to be deep cleaned. The long stay guest, on the other hand, does not expect this frequency of housekeeping. You can extend the interval to one or two weeks, and they can always request on-demand cleaning for an additional cost. Finally, the long stay guests also have some special needs. They might want to book a meeting room in your hotel or hire transport from/to the airport as they have more luggage than a regular guest. Well cover these upsell opportunities in the next section of this article. To sum up our findings, long stay business is much more resilient in uncertain times. The total value of the long reservation tends to be very high. The ADR is lower than for short stays, but it can be compensated by higher long-term occupancy, more efficient operations, and new opportunities for upselling and cross-selling the guests. Who are long stay guests and what do they need? Weve spent a lot of time learning about the guests booking long stays. What is their motivation to book and what are their needs and expectations? If you saw any of the recent presentations by Airbnb, Sonder, or Selina, youll have noticed that they focus on communities of remote workers and digital nomads. They roam the world, lightweight and independent, working remotely and enjoying life in exciting locations. Our own research focused on two other types of guests: students and relocating professionals. These professionals also have special requirements and are sometimes are willing to pay a premium to have them addressed. We interviewed dozens of guests from these two groups and gathered many interesting insights. Reasons for travel Students are coming to cities like Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Vienna from all around the world. They typically spend one to four years there, but the housing situation in these cities often doesnt allow them to rent an entire place for themselves. And in many cases, theyre not even interested in that. They enjoy the community spirit in properties like The Student Hotel, Casa or The Fizz. Relocating professionals are slightly older (typically around 30) and are brought to a new city by their company usually to start a new job or move to a different office and their hotel is often paid for. Theyre looking for a cozy place to stay that allows them to fully focus on their new role while they search for permanent accommodation. Looking for a perfect example of a brand focused on this market? Check out Zoku. Upselling opportunities These two groups may differ in terms of age, expectations, and budget, but they also have many things in common and they bring some exciting opportunities to upsell new services and products. It starts with the arrival. Imagine youre moving to a city you barely know, most likely for several years. Youll want to bring more than just a backpack and carry-on luggage. Many of the students and professionals travel with up to eight suitcases and the trip from the airport to the hotel is an unpleasant process for them. But this is a perfect opportunity for the hotel: offer your long stay guests a transport from the airport with all their possessions for a fair price and they will love you forever. Your guests will have a smooth arrival, and youll generate extra revenue while delivering a great first experience to your guests. Its a win-win. Space to study or work will be appreciated by both students and professionals. Adjust the rooms and provide a desk where they can work comfortably, and youll increase the time they spend in your property. Do you have a lobby that could be transformed into a collaborative space, offices, or meeting rooms? Consider offering them as an upsell or in packages with the accommodation. Zoku Lofts are 100% optimized for both living and working. Photo by Mews Systems Ltd Laundry and kitchen needs are also similar for both groups. Make sure that the laundry machine is easily bookable at a fair price and guests will happily use it. Provide all the basic stuff in the kitchen (knives, plates, detergents etc.) and consider upsells such as coffee machines or smoothie makers. Additional housekeeping can be also offered as an on-demand service. Guests staying for a longer period will also appreciate options for free-time activities. Dont forget, theyre in a new city with a very limited social network. Offer them yoga classes or running groups, organize tech talks or music evenings. They will use the opportunity to spend their time in a meaningful way and build new friendships. Finally, think about the long-term value you can offer to these guests. Theyll spend a long time and a significant amount of money in your hotel. Theyll have built new friendships and professional contacts there. How will you bring them back in the future? You can achieve this through a loyalty program or through services such as co-working space or office/meeting room. Those meetups and music evenings are also a good option. Based on our findings, long stay guests tend to build a very strong connection with the place where they spent the first weeks and months in the new city. Think about it while they are checking out, make them feel special. Give them reasons to come back in the future and they will! Give your guests a space to socialize and they will come back in the future (The Student Hotel, The Hague). Photo by Mews Systems Ltd How Mews helps with your long stay services Now that we explained the business potential of long stays and some of the specifics of long stay guests, its time to look at Mews roadmap. How are we going to make the management of long stays in our system effortless and smooth? There are multiple ongoing initiatives around this topic. We already have many customers using the Mews platform to manage long stays, and so we reached out to these users to see how we could improve. The timeline, rates management, and billing were the most common pain points, and weve already pushed the first improvements live. In early December, monthly grouping on bills was released. The functionality allows the user to select and process all items (nights, products, taxes etc.) in each month. Moving all December nights is now a matter of two or three clicks. Previously, each item had to be selected separately; 31 nights meant 31 clicks. With this functionality, the billing process is speeded up significantly. Source: Mews Systems Ltd Another improvement and optimization for long stay management is coming to the timeline: were adding a new, monthly view. This will be particularly useful for properties with large number of reservations longer than one month. Previously, the maximum view on the timeline was seven to ten days; with this improvement, the user will be able to see 12-15 months in a single view. Our ultimate goal for 2022 will be the introduction of monthly time units. Hotels will be able to price and report on monthly basis. Guests will book months instead of nights or days. The entire system will be optimized for monthly services. In our October survey, we asked customers to what extent do they agree or disagree with the following statement: "Mews makes it easy for me to handle reservations longer than 30 days." Only 7 percent of our customers agreed that we make the management of long stays effortless. 93 percent didnt. There's huge room for improvement in this area and were fully committed to get there. We already have the necessary understanding of the market and the guests needs and preferences. Now its time to build the solutions. If you already see the potential of long stays, make sure to read our guide on how to set up a new bookable service in Mews and then go ahead and do it. You can welcome your new guests immediately! About Mews Founded by ex-hoteliers, Mews is a next-generation hospitality cloud for hotels, hostels, apartments and more. Mews gives hoteliers the power to provide a remarkable guest experience while improving the operations and performance of their property, thanks to smart automation and an innovative, user-friendly set of products and features. Mews serves over 2,500 properties across more than 70 countries in all five continents and works with a huge number of hospitality tech companies to provide hoteliers with an unbeatable platform no other PMS offers as many integrations. At the 2020 HotelTechAwards, Mews was voted Best PMS by industry peers, was a Finalist in 2021 and 2022, and won Best Place to Work in Hotel Tech in 2021 and 2022. Customers include Accor Group, Nordic Choice Hotels, The Student Hotel and Generator-Freehand. For more information, please visit mews.com George Barker Director of Communications Mews Systems Ltd View source Former zoo owner and reality TV superstar Joe Exotic has been resentenced to 21 years in prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot. Fridays resentencing a shortening of just one year came despite pleas from his lawyers after an appeals court ordered a new sentence. Supporters were hoping the zookeeper would be freed from prison. Advertisement The star of the hit Netflix show Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was sentenced to 22 years in January 2020 after he was convicted of hiring two men to kill animal rights activist Carole Baskin. He was also convicted on 17 wildlife charges. Baskin, the CEO of Big Cat Rescue and a former Dancing with the Stars contestant, was also featured in the show, as Maldonado-Passages archrival. Advertisement "Tiger King" star Joe Exotic had his sentence shortened by just one year. (NETFLIX) In July a federal appeals court ruled that the trial court shouldve treated his two murder-for-hire convictions as one when calculating his prison sentence, since both involved the same goal. Maldonado-Passage, 58, whos currently housed in a federal medical center in Butner, N.C., announced late last year that he had prostate cancer. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Please dont make me die in prison waiting for a chance to be free, Maldonado-Passage, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, said during the sentencing hearing in Oklahoma City. Last month, his attorneys said Maldonado-Passage was delaying treatment for prostate cancer until after the resentencing. Baskin was also at the proceeding and says she still is afraid of Maldonado-Passage. He continues to harbor intense feelings of ill will toward me, she said. Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness became a national obsession during the first weeks of the pandemic in 2020. It told the story of the flamboyant zookeeper, described as a gay, gun-toting cowboy with a mullet, who married two husbands at the same time, owned nearly 90 big cats, and was accused of hiring someone to murder Baskin. Advertisement With News Wire Services This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The highest inflation in decades is undermining purchasing power, so would-be buyers at the Houston Boat and Auto shows adopted a wait-and-see attitude as they browsed the hall at NRG Center. Local dealerships inventories are so depleted that it made more sense to combine the boat and auto shows this year rather than pay to have cars shipped in from across the nation to fill the hall, said Roshelle Salinas, executive vice president of the Houston Automobile Dealers Association With the pandemic still shutting factories around the world and labor shortages delaying shipping, automobile and boat manufactures have been unable to get components from computer chips to boat motors, forcing them to cut production and leaving dealers with fewer cars and boats to sell. The lack of inventory has depressed sales despite strong demand. Houston area auto sales fell 4 percent in November from the previous year, according to data firm InfoNation. WeWork acquires competitor The commercial real estate company WeWork will acquire Common Desk, a Dallas-based flexible workspace provider with 23 locations in Texas and North Carolina, the companies said. WeWork, a leader in the shared-workplace sector, said the deal will give it six locations in Houston, including space at two recent redevelopment projects: the Ion, a Midtown tech hub developed by Rice University, and Post Houston, a mixed-use development at the site of former Barbara Jordan Post Office downtown. Following the acquisition, which is slated to close in March, the company will be known as Common Desk, a WeWork Company. Pain at the gas pump increases Gasoline prices in Houston and across the country rose as crude oil prices neared seven-year highs. In Houston, the average price of a gallon of gasoline was up six cents to $2.86 a gallon, according to GasBuddy. The area prices are nearly 10 cents higher than a month ago and 80 cents higher than a year ago. At the start of last week , the cheapest price at the pump was $2.63 in Houston, while the most expensive station charged $3.69, GasBuddy reported. Nationally, gasoline prices averaged $3.32 a gallon, up a penny over the week. Walmart building Baytown center Walmart is investing in a new $22 million distribution center in Baytown as e-commerce continues to light up the citys industrial real estate market. Walmart is developing 1 million square feet of warehouse space in Baytown at 4633 Borusan Road at Cedar Port Trade Center, an distribution facility developed by Dallas-based Hunt Southwest, according to data from the commercial real estate information firm CoStar and two commercial real estate professionals familiar with the transaction. Contractors are expected to start building out the interior of the existing warehouse space in February with construction expected to wrap up in early 2023, according state permitting documents. The build out is estimated to cost $22 million, according to estimates in the permitting documents. Wound care clinic comes to region R3 Wound Care and Hyperbarics, a provider of advanced wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy services, entered the Houston market with clinics at 215 Kingwood Executive Drive in Kingwood and 8540 Broadway in Pearland. Each location has three single-patient clear acrylic hyperbaric chambers. The therapy delivers pressurized oxygen to injured areas of the body to aid in the healing process. Combatting vaccine hesitancy The Houston Health Department partnered with marketing firm 9thWonder Agency for a campaign to address vaccine hesitancy in areas with low vaccination rates. The mission is to build trust and awareness among the vaccine-skeptical population and slow the spread of COVID-19. From staff reports. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Oil prices could skyrocket to $200 a barrel and launch gasoline prices to $8 a gallon if Russia invades Ukraine and the United States and European Union impose a full suite of diplomatic and economic sanctions. The mere prospect of a new war in Europe has raised gasoline prices as geopolitics have trumped supply and demand fundamentals. Putin is forcing democratically-elected leaders to choose between the prices their voters pay for energy and the human rights of 41 million Ukrainians. Russia is the worlds third-largest supplier of crude. A third of Europes oil comes from Russia, much of it passing through pipelines in Ukraine. Losing those barrels would send prices higher and crater the global economy. TOMLINSONS TAKE: Lawsuit accuses Exxon of reneging on environmental promises in Guyana This potential nightmare undergirds Russian President Vladimir Putins demand that the United States and European Union capitulate to his treacherous desire to reassemble the Soviet Unions empire. Putins plan is a clear and present danger to U.S. national security and another reason why we must end our reliance on fossil fuels, a lesson we should have learned in 1956. Traders of all stripes are gyrating markets over the potential fallout from Russia invading a significant energy transit point. Germans are particularly worried since they inadvisably shut down their nuclear plants and rely on Russian natural gas to keep warm. The White House on Tuesday promised to find Europe alternative energy supplies to offset Putins power to demand acquiescence. But Texas and Qatar cannot replace all of Russias natural gas exports, whose loss to global markets would also send gas prices through the roof. OPEC, which cooperates with Russia to limit oil production, is slow-rolling additional supply. Saudi Arabia and other members are enjoying the higher prices, and until North American producers restart drilling, OPEC is in no danger of losing market share. U.S. oil companies might complain about President Joe Bidens climate policies, but the only thing keeping them from drilling is market sentiment. After a decade of losing money on oil companies, investors will not finance new wells until they see guaranteed profits over the next five years. We have the perfect recipe for a politically-induced energy crisis, which could spin out of control. If Putin orders troops into Ukraine, he will trigger U.S. and European sanctions against Russian businesses and him personally. If that occurs, he has threatened to retaliate and rupture relations, presumably by ending oil and natural gas flows to global markets. While this would hurt Russia in the short term, Putins authoritarian regime doesnt have to worry about elections. Hes betting the West, where politicians worry about their popularity, will give up first. No dictator has attempted such a stunt in a generation, but there are plenty of precedents. The foolishness of relying on a hostile regime for our economic health is a lesson we should have learned by now. Former President Dwight Eisenhower first called on the U.S. to reduce reliance on foreign oil in 1956, when Arab nations embargoed oil to protest the invasion of Egypt by Israel, Britain and France. Arab countries used oil as a weapon again in 1967, 1973 and 1979. The United States, though, has never managed to become self-sufficient in oil. First, crude is an international commodity, and our refineries and production are intertwined in the global market. Second, we dont have enough crude reserves to meet our current needs. New technology, though, could allow America to become energy independent through electrification. About two-thirds of the oil consumed in the United States powers cars, trucks and trains, according to the Energy Information Administration. Russia exports 4 million barrels a day. If we cut the 12 million barrels of petroleum a day we burn for transportation by a third, Putin would be powerless. TOMLINSONS TAKE: Texas needs to move faster to become clean, green hydrogen hub Today, the world cannot quickly cut demand by 4 million barrels, but we can finally learn our lesson. We can switch to electric vehicles with some investment and rely on locally-sourced natural gas, wind and solar energy instead. The process is already underway, and a bonus: it helps with climate change. Tesla is expanding electric vehicle production to 1.5 million units this year. Ford expects to sell 600,000 EVs in 2023, and General Motors is investing $35 billion to produce 1 million EVs a year in North America by 2025. If you think giving Putin what he wants is the solution, consider the precedent it would set. How would the United States fare if China invades Taiwan and imposes a computer chip embargo? The world is filled with dangerous dictators; we rely on them at our peril. We need to concentrate on greater resiliency now. Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and politics. twitter.com/cltomlinson chris.tomlinson@chron.com WASHINGTON While the Biden administration says it is not considering a ban on natural gas exports, the Department of Energy continues to look into the connection between the increase in liquefied natural gas exports and a recent rise in domestic natural gas prices. The Energy Information Administration, an agency within the Energy Department that monitors the U.S. energy system, is conducting a multi-year study of natural gas prices, including the impact of the U.S. LNG industry, an EIA spokesman said. The impact of LNG on gas prices has long been a contentious issue, dividing domestic gas buyers and exporters located primarily along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. On HoustonChronicle.com: Natural gas prices are soaring. How long will it last? In a briefing with reporters this week, Paul Cicio, president of the trade group Industrial Energy Consumers of America, which represents the manufacturing and industrial sectors, said the U.S. government has too long ignored the effects of shipping increasing amounts of natural gas abroad. Administrations have put in place policies all about exporting without any consideration to the public interest, he said. Were going to see how (the Department of Energy) responds to this. Theyre doing a fresh review of this internally right now. Last week, U.S. natural gas averaged $4.50 per million British thermal units 60 percent higher than 12 months ago. And with prices in Europe and Asia at all-time records, there is a fear that more U.S. gas will be shipped overseas, further driving up bills for homes and businesses. Oil and gas companies have long downplayed the impact of LNG exports on U.S. gas prices, arguing that factors such as weather and the amount of natural gas in storage are far more important in determining prices. This has been a pretty well studied issue. Were now in year six of LNG exports and what weve seen so far is pretty consistent, a rise in exports has a fairly small impact on prices, said Dustin Meyer, a vice president at the American Petroleum Institute. I dont see a huge need for another study, but we would never discourage it. I understand. Theres a lot of interest in this subject. For U.S. manufacturers competing with log-wage operations abroad, any increase in energy prices can ripple through the entire domestic supply chain, Cicio said. In November, he wrote a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm asking the administration to create a safety valve that would limit LNG shipments when domestic gas prices rise, arguing, exports must be limited to surplus supply of natural gas. Environmentalists have long pushed back against the development of LNG terminals. When Freeport LNG applied to expand its export license in December, the Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council protested, arguing LNG exports were driving up prices and harming Americans now. At a minimum, recent trends call into question the continuing validity of the analyses (the Energy Department) has relied upon in approving prior export applications, they wrote. At a Senate hearing on natural gas prices in November, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, asked energy experts whether LNG was putting an extra burden on the American consumer. Among the experts was Acting EIA Administrator Stephen Nalley, who said, Prices are higher now than they have been in a long time. Clearly, its putting pressure on residents and industry. The Biden administration has also come under pressure from some Democrats to ban LNG exports, in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Earlier this month, Deputy Energy Secretary David Turk told members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee the Biden administration was not considering such a ban but added, were looking at the full range of what you all are giving us to look at. james.osborne@chron.com Texas Sen. John Cornyn met with port officials and industry leaders Thursday to outline his vision for three bills he has introduced that would pay to help grow the hydrogen industry in Houston and the nation. The Hydrogen Infrastructure Initiative, sponsored by Cornyn and Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy along with three Democrats, would create grant programs to encourage building hydrogen infrastructure at ports and heavy industrial facilities. It also would launch a financing program to provide grants and loans to support hydrogen transport infrastructure, such as storage and vehicle refueling stations. Cornyn, who spoke at the Manchester cargo terminal along the Houston Ship Channel, said hydrogen has taken on a new significance as a potential fuel source. He cited Toyota, which has held up hydrogen fuel cell technology as an example of how it could be used in day-to-day transportation. It indicates there may be greater opportunities to use hydrogen in places like port facilities, like this, and industrial applications that will require a build-out of infrastructure, Cornyn said. If you can provide that option in places like the Port of Houston, its a huge game-changer. CHRIS TOMLINSON: Texas needs to move faster to become clean, green hydrogen hub Cornyns plan would help build momentum toward increasing the use of hydrogen as a fuel for industries such as petrochemical production, oil refining and transportation. Civic leaders have said Houston is an ideal testing ground for hydrogen thanks to the regions existing oil and gas infrastructure that includes hundreds of miles of pipelines, chemical refineries and engineering talent. Already, Houston is the largest producer of hydrogen in the country, churning out about one third of the annual U.S. total. There are 48 hydrogen production plants here, along with more than 900 miles of pipelines specifically designed for hydrogen about one-third of all hydrogen pipelines globally. Jim Teague, co-CEO of midstream giant Enterprise Products Partners, said his company is well-versed in repurposing pipelines for various chemicals and gases. Already, he said, some of Enterprises facilities produce hydrogen as a byproduct when making other petrochemicals, but they have usually sold off the gas. Now the company is looking at how to keep and use the gas. Enterprises newest plant will recycle the hydrogen byproduct and use it instead of natural gas as a fuel source, preventing about 450,000 tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, Teague said. OPINION: Houston can lead Earthshot to cheap, clean hydrogen If youre going to do something it has to make money too. Were not going to do something for the fun of it were going to need the type of legislation youre using to get to where we need to go, he said, referring to Cornyn. Monty Heines, Dow Chemicals director of Houston operations, said companies like his have made pledges to become carbon neutral in the coming decades and that hydrogen could be a key tool to achieve those goals. But the use of hydrogen would have to be financially feasible to encourage companies to make the switch from natural gas, he said. How can we make hydrogen more competitive with other fuels like natural gas? If you can get the infrastructure in place, that really gives us a leg up to get there, Heines said. Teague said he was loath to call adopting more hydrogen technologies part of an energy transition, and Cornyn said adding hydrogen would become part of Texas all-of-the-above approach to energy. Hydrocarbons would remain an important part of the states energy ecosystem for decades to come, Cornyn said, but that federal financial incentives would be needed to diversify the energy produced in Texas and that nation. Cornyn said he would pull his support for the measure if it were lumped in with the Biden Administrations proposed Build Back Better Act. The comprehensive legislation is slated to cost $1.75 trillion and would include subsidies for energy technology but also measures to combat climate change, would hurt Texas energy economy, he said. Instead, Cornyn said, he hoped to incorporate it in the tax code through the Senates finance committee. He likened it to the grants and tax credits that have been given to wind and solar projects. shelby.webb@chron.com The sale of offshore oil and gas leases on more than 80 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico was canceled by a U.S. judge who ordered regulators to take a harder look at the impact on climate change. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras in Washington vacated the lease sale in a 67-page decision, issued Thursday. The judge found that the Interior Department underestimated the climate impacts of the leases and doing a further analysis wouldnt overly harm the companies seeking the leases. The leases have not become effective and no activity on them is taking place, the judge wrote. If the leases were to take effect, it would be much harder to cancel them, Contreras said. The judge also criticized the Interior Department -- writing that it acted arbitrarily -- for failing to factor into its assessment the climate effect of the burning of oil and gas from the leases in countries outside the U.S. The courts decision throws into doubt the November sale of some 308 tracts spanning 1.7 million acres (688,000 hectares) of the Gulf of Mexico. Thirty-three oil companies spent about $192 million buying the drilling rights in the auction, the second-to-last scheduled under a five-year program drawn up by the Obama administration. And it raises questions about a possible Gulf auction in spring. In one of his first acts as president, Joe Biden put a temporary halt on all new oil and gas leasing. But last year, a federal judge in Louisiana ordered the Biden administration to move ahead with the leases. Environmental groups then sued to halt the sale. The Interior Department said in a statement that it was compelled to proceed with the state by the Louisiana court and is reviewing the latest ruling. Our public lands and waters must be protected for generations to come, the department said. Thats why the president called for a pause on leasing in his Executive Order, and why we are appealing the decision enjoining implementation of the pause. By vacating Interiors decision to hold the lease sale, the court has ensured that no harm will result from it, the environmental groups, including Earthjustice and Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement after the ruling. Whatever Interior decides to do, it must start with a blank slate on the lease program and consider the full environmental costs associated with auctioning off public waters to the fossil-fuel industry, the groups said. This is a huge victory for our climate, Rices whales and Gulf communities, said Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Im thrilled the court saw through the Biden administrations horribly reckless decision to hold the largest oil lease sale in U.S. history without carefully studying the risks. The National Ocean Industries Association, which represents offshore oil and gas drillers, called on the Biden administration to pursue the development of more offshore production. American investment, jobs, and infrastructure development continue to suffer because of the continued expansion of the bounds of the National Environmental Policy Act by the judiciary, NOIA President Erik Milito said in a statement. Uncertainty around the future of the U.S. federal offshore leasing program may only strengthen the geopolitical influence of higher emitting -- and adversarial -- nations, such as Russia. Scott Lauermann, a spokesman for the American Petroleum Institute, called the ruling disappointing and said the group is considering its options. Offshore energy development plays a critical role in strengthening our nations economy and energy security, Lauermann said in a statement. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Permian oil producers are facing hundreds of millions of dollars in additional costs to address the growing problem of earthquakes in the nations most productive oil field. Shale companies operating in earthquake-prone areas of West Texas could pay at least $207 million more to transport large volumes of saltwater produced from oil wells to distant disposal sites as state regulators crack down on deep water injection. If all the disposal wells in earthquake-prone areas are curtailed or shut down by regulators, the increase in disposal costs could climb to $763 million, according to an analysis by Sourcenergy, a Houston-based energy data firm. Youre going to see much bigger cost impacts, especially for Delaware basin operators, Sourcenergy CEO Josh Adler said. Theres a lot more water and theres a lot less infrastructure. The Delaware Basin is the western lobe of the Permian Basin in West Texas. The cost of producing oil in Texas is rising as shale companies face the expense of transporting large volumes of saltwater by truck or building new water pipelines to disposal wells beyond earthquake-prone areas. At best, these rising costs and logistical challenges of finding new disposal sites are a minor inconvenience. At worst, companies unable to dispose of their saltwater could curtail tens of thousands of barrels of daily crude production, hitting bottom lines. The cost of inaction, however, is even higher. Oil companies already face mounting criticism from the public over greenhouse gas emissions, oil spills and abandoned wells. Earthquakes - which have immediate impact on public safety - only adds to the pressure on one of the largest industries in Texas. On HoustonChronicle.com: Permian Basin was hit by a record number of earthquakes last year. What does that mean for oil and gas? Seismologists attribute the increasing frequency and intensity of West Texas earthquakes to the oil industrys routine practice of injecting saltwater a byproduct of oil production into deep disposal wells. For each of the roughly 4 million barrels of crude pumped daily from the ground in West Texas, at least four barrels of extremely salty water are produced. A decade of saltwater injections into disposal wells 10,000 feet deep has intensified pressure and caused movement along ancient fault lines. The number of earthquakes stronger than a 3 on the Richter scale - enough to crack walls and foundations - increased 88-fold over the past three years to 176 last year, up from two in 2018, according to data from the University of Texas at Austins TexNet Seismic Monitoring and analyzed by Sourcenergy. The Texas Railroad Commission, the states oil and gas regulator, has taken action to limit the amount of saltwater that can be injected into disposal wells to curb what it called an unprecedented increase in earthquakes. In September and October, the commission mandated that oil producers in two seismic response areas in the Permian Basin cut by half the amount of saltwater they put into disposal wells, and imposed a one-year moratorium on new permits that would allow producers to inject saltwater into disposal wells in these areas. Last month, the commission ordered the suspension of deep saltwater injections in a particularly seismic area of the Midland basin, pulling permits for 33 disposal wells indefinitely. This action stripped 14 companies, including Houston-based ConocoPhillips and Midland-based Rattler Midstream, owned by Diamondback Energy, of the ability to dispose of nearly 1 million barrels of saltwater. After 4.2- and 4.6-magnitude earthquakes rocked the Midland area last month, the Railroad Commission said it would impose more restrictions on oil companies injecting saltwater into deep disposal wells in the area. Sourcenergy estimates some 250,000 barrels per day of Texas oil production worth about $7 billion could be at risk of disruption from saltwater disposal restrictions. Until more water pipelines are built, oil companies affected by saltwater restrictions will have to rely on water trucks to transport saltwater away from earthquake-prone areas, a prospect complicated by a national shortage of truck drivers and oil company pledges to reduce their carbon footprint. The cost to dispose of saltwater by trucks can be as high as 10 times that of pipelines. Theres going to be a lot of trucking (of saltwater), and its going to be really expensive, Adler said. paul.takahashi@chron.com twitter.com/paultakahashi Walmart is investing in a new distribution center in the southeast Houston area as e-commerce continues to light up the citys industrial real estate market. Walmart is developing 1 million square feet of warehouse space in Baytown at 4633 Borusan Road at Cedar Port Trade Center, a distribution facility developed by Dallas-based Hunt Southwest, according to data from the commercial real estate information firm CoStar and three commercial real estate professionals familiar with the transaction. Contractors in February are expected to start building out the interior of the existing warehouse space, with construction expected to wrap up in early 2023, according state permitting documents. The build-out is estimated to cost $22 million, according to initial estimates in the permitting documents; however, Chambers County economic development officials have said they expect tenant improvements to tally about $50 million. Walmart and the buildings developer, Hunt Southwest, declined to comment. The retailer has rapidly expanded its warehousing nationally as it vies with e-commerce rival Amazon to gain market share in growing population centers. Surging e-commerce demand during the pandemic has fueled a boom in industrial real estate as companies invest millions of dollars into warehouses to fulfill online orders in the age of same-day and next-day shipping. In December, Walmart announced plans for a fulfillment center with more than 1 million square feet in Salt Lake City and a 925,000-square-foot high-tech facility in Lebanon, Tenn. The Salt Lake City warehouse similar in size to the planned Houston warehouse is expected to support 450 jobs, while the Tennessee warehouse is expected to create 300 jobs. On HoustonChronicle.com: Industrial projects emerge on growing U.S. 290 corridor In Houston, the retailer is planning the 1 million-square-foot warehouse in a business park where it already has a 4.2 million-square-foot distribution hub in buildings that it owns. The distribution centers are in Cedar Port Industrial Park, a sprawling complex described as the worlds fifth-biggest industrial park. Home Depot and Ikea also have a major presence in the 15,000-acre industrial park located about 33 miles east of downtown. Retailer Floor & Decor moved into a 1.5 million-square-foot regional distribution center in the park, according to research by the international commercial real estate firm CBRE. The park gives tenants access to the Port of Houstons Bayport and Barbours Cut container terminals as well as Texas 99 (also known as the Grand Parkway), Interstate 10, Texas 225 and 146, and FM 1045. Hunt Southwest made a bet on the park when it built the 1.02 million-square-foot building on a speculative basis, meaning it started construction without a tenant. Construction on the building, designed by Powers Brown Architecture, was completed last year. Chamber County commissioners have approved a Chapter 312 agreement with Hunt Southwest for the project that would abate a portion of property taxes on the site for the next several years, offering tax savings over time. The dollar value of those incentives was not immediately clear, and county economic development officials were not available to comment Friday. In exchange for tax incentives, the project would support at least 150 permanent jobs and the tenant would maintain about $50 million in inventory on the property, B.J. Simon, CEO of the Baytown West Chambers County Economic Development Foundation, said in a Dec. 14 Commissioners Court meeting. marissa.luck@chron.com, @marissaluck7 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A prolific Houston commercial real estate developer best known for industrial projects is getting into the fast-growing build to rent business with plans to bring 1,000 single-family and duplex rental homes to Texas. Clay Residential, a newly formed affiliate of Houston-based Clay Development & Construction, has started construction on Willow at Sierra Vista, a neighborhood of 97 single-family rental homes in Iowa Colony. The first homes in the Brazoria County development will be available in April. At the southwest corner of Crystal View and Ponderosa Pines Drive, the development is the first of four projects planned so far in 2022. The lots were acquired from Land Tejas, the Houston-based developer of Sierra Vista, an 850-acre master-planned community along the Texas 288 corridor. Clay Development President Robert Clay has teamed with Clay Residential cofounders Josh Anderson, president, and Ryan Smidt, chief investment officer, on the new venture. Clay and Smidt met more than 15 years ago when Smidt, a former managing director of global investment manager BlackRock, was investing in Houston industrial properties. They had independently been thinking about entering the build to rent market and decided to join forces, bringing in Josh Anderson, who was head of investments for Value Builders, a developer of multifamily and duplex rentals based in the Dallas area. We want to build a very Texas-heavy portfolio, said Smidt. Our initial focus is on the major Texas markets, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. The first few Houston projects will be in Land Tejas communities with amenities such as Crystal Lagoons, playgrounds, dedicated sport courts and walking trails. Willow at Sierra Vista will offer houses ranging from 1,548 to 1,980 square feet with three or four bedrooms, two baths and attached garages. Rents will start at $2,220. The homes will have 10-foot ceilings, smart home technology, brick or stone exteriors and fenced backyards. The community will have full-service, on-site management and maintenance. Next, the developers will build in two sections of Marvida, a community in Cypress. One section is planned for 133 single-family detached rental home and another will have 234 units in duplexes. Clay Residential is negotiating with Land Tejas to acquire lots for 266 duplex units in Sunterra, a new community in Katy. Another project in the planning stages in San Marcos is expected to bring 220 rental units in late 2022, Smidt said. The focus will turn to Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth in 2023. Buying a home has become increasingly challenging for many families. With Texass steady population growth, the housing market has experienced double-digit home-price appreciation and bidding wars for many homes on the market, Anderson said in an announcement. Single-family rentals offer an alternative with the benefits of a free-standing home, suburban amenities and nearby schools without the drawbacks of maintenance and down payments for ownership. Clay Residential is targeting a hold period of five to seven years and could sell the communities most likely as a portfolio, said Smidt, who has closed more than $4.5 billion in private equity real estate transactions over the last 23 years. Since 1998, Clay Development has developed more than 290 industrial and office buildings, totaling 17 million square feet. The company builds about 2 million square feet of industrial space a year, and that wont change, Clay said. Robert Clay has a history of picking the right spots for large scale industrial developments, with past successes in pioneering projects in the Deer Park, La Porte and Baytown areas. Its kind of a new real estate play for me, for sure, Clay said. Im just excited about it. Bob Sagets daughter Lara is paying tribute to the beloved comic following his sudden death earlier this month. Lara Saget, the late Full House stars middle daughter, shared a black and white photo of herself and her father on Instagram Thursday, along with what shell remember him for. Advertisement To anyone afraid to love, Lara, 32, captioned the tender photo, Unconditional love is the greatest of gifts. My dad loved with everything he had, she continued. He had so many reasons to be scared to love. So many loved ones kept dropping the body. Instead of being scared, he loved more. I am beyond grateful to receive and to give that love. Love completely and be kind. Of all the lessons he taught me, these feel the biggest. Advertisement The late Bob Saget and his daughter Lara in 2012. (Shawn Ehlers) Her stepmom Kelly Rizzo responded in the comments section to say: I love you forever, Lara. Melissa Coulier, wife of Sagets fellow Full House alum Dave Coulier, wrote: I love you so much! " Bob Saget was found dead in his Orlando hotel room on Jan. 9. He was 65. Food and travel blogger Rizzo, 42, opened up last week about her last conversation with Saget, which she said was just all love. Stars across the board have paid tribute in recent weeks to Saget, who reprised his role as Full House patriarch Danny Tanner in Netflixs Fuller House. Survived by Rizzo, Lara, as well as daughters Aubrey, 34, and Jennifer, 29, Sagets devastated family released a statement confirming his death. He was everything to us and we want you to know how much he loved his fans, performing live and bringing people from all walks of life together with laughter, read the statement. Kim Christensen, Freelance / Special to the Chronicle A Texas City man was arrested and charged Thursday in connection to a fatal shooting the day before of a Bayou Vista business owner, according to police. Messiah Pickens-McCoy, 23, is charged with murder in the shooting of 67-year-old Gregory Sharretts, evading arrest with a motor vehicle and unlawful possession of a firearm, court documents show. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate As Harris County lawmen escorted the body of Pct. 5 Cpl. Charles Galloway to a funeral home, a state judge ordered the man accused of killing him be held behind bars until further notice. Oscar Rosales, 51, is charged with capital murder after police said he shot Galloway to death just after midnight Sunday morning after Galloway pulled him over in west Houston. During the brief court hearing, Rosales sat, hunched, at a table as several bailiffs loomed nearby. 'GUN VIOLENCE IS OUT OF CONTROL': 6 Harris County police officers wounded, killed in one deadly week In arguing for no bail, Assistant District Attorney Sean Teare told Judge Maritza Antu that dashcam and bodycam captured Rosales stepping out of his white Avalon and shooting Galloway repeatedly. Galloway who was calling the stop in to dispatch when Rosales shot at him died after a bullet struck the left side of his face, Teare said. This has all the hallmarks of a death penalty case, he said. Rosales arrest comes after a days-long manhunt that ended in Mexico. Since then, authorities have charged four other people with crimes related to the case: Rosales wife and brother-in-law, and two men who either assisted him or did not provide information to police as they were trying to track the man down. In the aftermath of the shooting, police interviewed Rosales wife, Reina Marquez, who told them that Rosales took two long guns out of a safe in their house and told her that he and some friends were going hunting. Prosecutors have since charged Marquez and Henri Mauricio Pereira-Marquez, Rosales brother-in-law, with tampering with evidence after they allegedly wiped down the white Avalon Rosales was driving at the time of the traffic stop. And two men a father and son are accused of assisting the accused killer pawn his jewelry after he asked for help to flee the country. Jose Santos Gutierrez Cruz, 68, and son Jose Romel Hernandez Cruz, 43, have been charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution in the capital murder case against Rosales. MORE ON ROSALES: Siblings cleaned car used in slaying of Precinct 5 deputy amid manhunt, investigators say But numerous questions remain about his motivation, his past, and even his identity. Teare said that Rosales is suspected of stabbing another person back in 1995, then fleeing the country. He is also a suspect in a 2008 murder in El Salvador, Teare said. When you put it all together, you paint a picture of an individual who, over decades, has proven to be both a huge danger and violent to the entire community and the definition of a flight risk, Teare said. Rosales next court appearance is set for Feb. 23. The killing was one of several in the last several days. st.john.smith@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EL PASOGoogle is partnering with the University of Texas at El Paso, the University of Texas at San Antonio and other Hispanic-serving institutions to help Latino students increase their digital skills and job options. The UT campuses and Grow with Google are partnering for the HSI Career Readiness Program to prepare Latinos to pursue digital-skills-based jobs through career workshops and counseling, programs about design thinking, project management and professional brand building. Hispanic-serving institution career centers will get grant money and an in-person and online digital skills program for one semester. The program aims to train up to 200,000 Latino students at 20 Hispanic-serving institutions by 2025, via a $2 million investment to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. The association will begin distributing the funding for the program this year. HIGHER ED: Latino alum donates $3M for new diversity center at law school The University Career Center in San Antonio will partner with the UTSA Honors College to pilot the new workforce readiness program this semester, the university said in a release. Honors students in the semester-long digital skills program will complete five flexible learning paths that focus on building digital skills, exploring career paths, succeeding in the workplace and starting businesses. Every student in our community deserves equal access to job-readiness training and digital skills to help build strong foundations for the future, said Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, said in a UTSA release. In partnership with HACU, the expansion of the Google Career Readiness program to Hispanic-Serving Institutions like the University of Texas at San Antonio will connect Latino students to these tools and more. Further ensuring they have the training and support they need to thrive in todays digital economy. More than two-thirds of Latino college students in the U.S. attend institutions that are members of Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, according to a Grow with Google news release Monday. Its more important than ever that students have access to the training and job-readiness skills that will set them up for success in the 21st century economy, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, said in the release. LATINO CULTURE: Plan for Latino cultural complex in Houston gets $1M+ in seed money That is why I am glad to see the Google Career Readiness program include UTEP my alma mater as part of the Hispanic-serving institutions to receive funding that will help ensure students in the El Paso region have the strong foundations they need to thrive well into the future, Escobar said. Googles philanthropy arm also will grant $5 million to UnidosUS, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the Hispanic Federation toward Latino-serving workforce development efforts to help workers prepare for high-demand jobs. The three organizations will work to provide additional training opportunities to more than 5,000 Latino jobseekers. MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Meet 10 of Houstons extraordinary Latino leaders Google is proud to work with leading Latino-serving organizations to advance access to digital skills and workforce training in the Latino community, Ana Corrales, chief operating officer for Googles Devices and Services, said in the release. We aim to help bridge wealth and opportunity gaps in the Latino community, so that everyone has an opportunity to succeed in todays digital economy. By the numbers According to a report from the independent nonprofit research group the Brookings Institute last year, more than 70% of jobs in the U.S. now require middle to high-level digital skills. A National Skills Coalition report found more than half of Latino workers between 16 and 64 years old had no or limited digital skills compared to a third of all American workers regardless of ethnicity or race. The 2020 survey Latino Parent Voice: What Our Families Need Now also found 33% of Latino families did not have regular access to internet and many had access only through their mobile phones. Grow with Google was established in 2017 to help Americans update their skills and improve their careers and businesses. ccarreon@elpasotimes.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Hy Penn gave his tour group a minute to take in the Memorial Room at Holocaust Museum Houston. On one side stood a panel of 600 tiles, each with a teardrop painted on its surface. On the other, the Cemetery Wall, where plaques are inscribed with the names of Holocaust survivors who settled in Houston. Then Penn posed a question to his group of 15, ranging from a 10-year-old boy to people in their 80s. Think what you might have done if you were alive then. Would you stand up in protest, or would you sit back and watch? Because this relates very much to the situation going on today, he said. Penn asked the question again as guests walked through a German train car that likely transported thousands of Jewish people to concentration camps, and once more as the group looked upon a Danish boat used by fishermen to smuggle Jews to safety in Sweden. Would you have been an upstander, or a bystander? This question appeared to resonate as much today as it would have in the early 1930s when Adolf Hitler began his rise to power. If such an atrocity is to be prevented from ever happening again, the thinking goes, it must first be understood. The museum hosted multiple survivors and Andrei Muraru, the Romanian ambassador to the United States, Thursday morning for a ceremony honoring those who lost their lives in the Holocaust. During the ceremony, Muraru announced that the Romanian government was instituting a mandate requiring schools to teach all students about the Holocaust. Approximately 220,000 Romanian Jews died during the Holocaust, according to United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston Holocaust Survivor Joins Frances Legion of Honor One of the central tenets of the Holocaust Museum Houston is that the genocide did not start with the invasion of Poland or the death of the first Jew. The Holocaust started with words, and were hearing a lot of words in our country and in the world today and we need to learn how to speak to each other in a civil way, because theres so much hate speech around and its hard to exist and to see a future for all of us, Penn explained away from the tour group. Recent debates in the United States about book banning and critical race theory and comparisons between COVID-19 restrictions and the Nuremberg Laws have particularly incensed educators who have worked to teach young people about this terrible era of human history. Its disturbing because its part of history and soon, the eyewitnesses are not going to be with us anymore, said Penn, a longtime docent at the museum whose parents both survived the Holocaust. Its important for people to understand because theres so many similarities between what happened then and whats going on today, Penn said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Teachers told to include opposing views with Holocaust books in Southlake, Dallas suburb That, in part, is why Paul Davis of Katy brought his youngest children, Elizabeth, 15, and Daniel, 10, to the museum on Thursday. I think this can instill in my kids a greater desire to be more proactive rather than be a bystander, Davis, 53, said. Ultimately, thats my greatest hope for my kids is to not be bystanders in life, whether its a bully at school or someone being demeaned because of their beliefs, Davis said. The message resonated with both children, who agreed the knowledge was valuable, according to Daniel, so that it doesnt happen again. sam.kelly@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 SUZANNE MAPES/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 2 PRN Show More Show Less Fans of Blue's Clues will soon have the opportunity to learn what Steve has been up to since his final episode aired. Steve Burns, the former host of the popular animated children's show, is slated to speak at the Texas A&M University Kingsville's Jones Auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. Burns will be speaking about his life since leaving the show in 2002, according to TAMUK Director of Marketing and Communications Adriana Garza-Flores. The historic 6666 Ranch -- a more than 142,000-acre west Texas property featured on Paramount drama "Yellowstone" -- has a new owner. The massive Guthrie-area ranch was purchased by a group led by Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan, according to Fort Worth Report. The historic Texas property, often dubbed the Four Sixes Ranch, first appeared in season four of "Yellowstone." It could be the central location for new "Yellowstone" spinoff "6666." Texans used to be so audacious. Consider the fast and furious response in the wake of the Sharpstown stock fraud and bribery scandal in the early 1970s that toppled the upper echelons of the ruling political establishment, from Democratic Party leadership to the governors mansion to the House of Representatives. Voters threw the bums out, even some who had nothing to do with the shameful imbroglio, and elected honest leaders who helped pass the most significant ethics and open government legislation in Texas history, including our first open records law. How far weve fallen. Texans have twice elected, and may do so again this year, an attorney general who despite his own long-hovering indictment and other scandals, has repeatedly made a mockery of the Texas Public Information Act. Plenty of Ken Paxtons predecessors took pride in enforcing it. Fellow Republican John Cornyn focused much of his first U.S. Senate campaign on his record championing Texas sunshine law and at least early on during his tenure as attorney general, Gov. Greg Abbott did the job admirably, too. Both Cornyn and Abbott were awarded the prestigious Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas James Madison Award. Paxtons lack of passion, and perhaps even disdain, for the publics right to know has been so obvious that local governments and law enforcement agencies looking to hide documents or slow-walk records requests have found an ally in the attorney general. Even in cases where hes defended the Texas Public Information Act against those looking to weaken it, including Boeing and the Greater Houston Partnership, he lost the cases. And now, Paxton, the states top enforcer of Texas open records law, has been found to have violated it himself. Last spring, five Texas newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, asked Paxtons office for all work-related texts and emails sent and received while he was in Washington on Jan. 6. Paxton, who remains one of the former presidents most ardent sycophants, was on the bill that ignominious morning, rousing the crowd as a Trump warm-up act during the White House rally a few hours before the Capitol invasion. His wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, stood beside him as he urged the crowd never to quit fighting. The newspapers wanted to know whether Paxton was in communication with any of the rallys organizers or whether he had been in touch with former President Donald Trumps inner circle. Not surprisingly, the AG resisted the request. Last week, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza ruled that Paxton was in violation of the law and gave him four days to comply with the newspapers request. The DA is still waiting. While state law says the newspapers, on behalf of the public, have a right to the information, Paxton says, in effect, that his reputation, however tattered, trumps the publics right to know. The Texas Public Information Act, once considered a model among state sunshine laws although it has been considerably eroded by the Legislature and unfavorable court rulings, is designed to make information available to the public, even if its information that officials keep on their phones or their online accounts. The attorney generals duty to enforce the open records law a classic fox-in-the-hen house scenario under this AG has an exception when it comes to complaints that involve state agencies. They can either be handled by the attorney general or the Travis County district attorney. The newspapers filed their complaint with the Travis County DA, since their complaint was against the AG himself. The Travis County district attorney took an important step today by holding Attorney General Ken Paxton accountable for failing to release public records involving his office records that we believe are important for the public to know, Maria Reeve, the Chronicles executive editor, said last week. The free flow of public information and records helps keep our democracy functioning, helps ensure transparency and keeps government leaders such as Mr. Paxton accountable to taxpayers. Although politicians and public officials invariably nose around for loopholes, the Texas Public Information Act and the Texas Open Meetings Act are relatively stringent. Theyve been on the books for more than 40 years. A Chronicle editorial last month underscored how open-government requirements are supposed to work. The focus of the editorial was Chapter 313, a state program that allows wealthy corporations to keep a portion of their property values off school district tax rolls for a decade, when property values are often at their peak. The program, while benefiting some districts, has been a $10 billion boondoggle for the state overall. Abbott and state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, were among state officials who were aware the program was rife with abuse, and, to their credit, had so acknowledged it before the Legislature killed it last session. Chronicle reporters John Tedesco and Mike Morris also were aware. How? Because a paper trail of public records existed to prove it. It was a trail paved with disclosure forms that companies were required by law to submit to the Texas Comptrollers Office. But, as the Chronicle reported, after the Legislature passed a bill to phase out the wasteful Chapter 313 program, Comptroller Glenn Hegar proposed reducing information his office collects and makes publicly available on it. The news was troubling because companies were still flooding the office with applications. Reducing scrutiny by cutting off information in the programs final days could be a prelude to reviving the program in a future session. Without robust, recent data, it would be hard for journalists and concerned lawmakers to push back. Hegar, a former Republican state legislator from Katy, has been a largely estimable elected official especially by Paxtons standards but on this issue he was wrong. Hes also a politician open to reason and the law. We were delighted to learn Friday when we checked in with him that hes changed his mind about the rule curtailing access to Chapter 313 data. Im not going to adopt it as proposed, he told the editorial board. We are working through trying to find a way of trying to make this process transparent but more efficient. He said moving data collection online may help ease the burden on his staff but, bottom line: The data that people are concerned about or want is still going to be available. Good move, Mr. Comptroller. Can you talk some sense into your fellow Republican in the AGs office? We wont hold our breath. Even as Paxton resists the Travis County DAs request, hes dragging his feet on disclosing campaign donations from the past six months. Its been more than a week since he was required to report them to the Texas Ethics Commission. Paxtons penchant for secrecy, and for disregarding the law, is a reminder that democracy is a participatory enterprise. We, the people, choose our representatives and have a right to know how they govern. Maybe its a bother to public officials, but public information is an integral part of their jobs. We, the people, must be able to find out what theyre doing as they conduct business on our behalf. Paxton may not know it, but thats how democracy works. South Africa: Didiza pleased with SA summer crop planting Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, is pleased with South Africa's summer crop plantings estimates despite the heavy rains. Didiza said that the 2021/22 agricultural season started with rising concerns that floods would damage crops in provinces, including North West, Free State, and parts of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Also, farmers in various regions worried they wouldn't complete the usual area for their produce, [and] negatively affect the agricultural economy. Through their resilience and dedication, South African farmers pushed through the heavy rains and continued to plant even beyond the usual optimal planting windows, which ends in November for the eastern regions of South Africa and in December for the western areas, Didiza said. The estimates released by the departments Crop Estimates Committee, shows that the 2021/22 summer crop plantings are 4,21 million hectares, which is 0,4% more than the 2020/21 production season. It also shows that there is a relatively decent area across summer crops and well above the average area for some. This data is comforting and the first bit of information that suggests that while the recent rains have been destructive in many regions, South Africa's food security is still protected. The weather conditions for the next two months remain critical for the ultimate crop yields for the 2021/22 season. We remain optimistic that there will be reasonably good yields and, after that, sufficient crop harvest for our needs and neighbouring countries. I thank all the farmers that planted in these challenging past few weeks [and] our thoughts are also with the farmers that lost crops due to floods, the Minister said. She added that the department is collecting information on the areas that have experienced damage, and will work tirelessly to assist within the limits of available resources. Summer crops comprise maize, sunflower seed, soybeans, groundnut, sorghum, and dry beans. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. NFTs featuring Chinese culture heat up as Chinese Lunar New Year nears People's Daily Online) 16:32, January 28, 2022 Many Chinese technology and Internet companies are launching non-fungible tokens (NFTs) associated with traditional Chinese culture these days as the Chinese Lunar New Year draws near, igniting Chinese buyers enthusiasm. Photo shows NFTs featuring the warriors on the Xian City Wall. (Photo/Xian City Wall scenic spot) A total of 24 museums have launched 3D digital collectibles or will join the bandwagon before the Chinese Lunar New Year on the Jingtan app developed by Alibaba's fintech affiliate Ant Group. Besides, a total of 36 NFTs of museum collection items and one item themed on Chinas aerospace industry have been and will be launched on the platform between Jan. 19 and Jan. 31, which falls on Chinese New Year's eve. Chinas tech giant Baidu has launched and will continue launching special edition collector NFTs. Digital collectibles from Henan Museum in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, the Nanjing Museum Administration in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, and the Hunan Museum in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province will feature different cultural relics related to the tiger, in this way welcoming the Year of the Tiger. These collectibles are available for purchase on the Jingtan platform. Buyers can also obtain these collectibles by collecting five different virtual cards of the Chinese character Fu on Alibabas Alipay app. The burgeoning market for NFTs has triggered a shopping spree. A total of 10,000 copies of a NFT featuring a green jade vase from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) with a bird pattern on it were sold out immediately after being made available on Ant Groups Jingtan platform on Jan. 25. Baidu, which initiated plans to launch one item from a NFT series every day from Jan. 22 to Jan. 31, has also attracted many participants. There are some key factors driving the recent digital collectibles craze. According to Su Xiaorui, a senior analyst with Beijing-based market research consultancy Analysys, the NFTs are the brainchild of their creator, and are therefore worth collecting. In addition, NFTs are unique cryptographic tokens that exist on a blockchain and cannot be replicated. The shift towards the Metaverse has also somehow fueled the craze, too. The NFT industry continued to expand rapidly in 2021, with both Internet and traditional companies venturing into this newfangled area. Some large companies, such as Chinese tech giants Ant Group and Tencent, have launched their own platforms, while other players in the field such as Baidu, tech company Xiaomi, e-commerce giant JD.com, and ByteDance, the parent company of the popular video platform TikTok, have also launched their own digital collectibles. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) No one is quite sure when (and if) Wendy Williams will return to her eponymous chatfest. But in the meantime, the show will go on with a new line up of guest hosts throughout the month of February, following the extended absence of the daytime diva due to ongoing health issues. Advertisement Wendy Williams is out through February at least. (Dominik Bindl/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows) Producers of the nationally syndicated talk show announced that Williams hiatus will continue through February and into early March, as the slate of the month-long slate of guest hosts kick off with comedian Michael Rapaport Jan. 31 through Feb. 4. The 51-year-old Atypical actor had to abruptly cancel a near-week long guest host stint earlier this month after contracting COVID. Advertisement Hip hop stars Fat Joe and Remy Ma will also return as guest hosts from Feb. 7-11, followed by the vivacious multi-hyphenate Bevy Smith and former TV personality Terrence J from February 14-18. Emmy Award-winning funnywoman Sherri Shepherd, who previously scored high ratings as a guest host and has been talked of as a possible permanent replacement, will return from Feb. 21 through Feb. 25. From left to right: Bevy Smith, Sherri Shepherd and Remy Ma (Getty Images) Rapaport is scheduled to return as a guest host from Feb. 28 through March 4. Williams has been absent from the Debmar-Mercury-produced show since the start of its 13th season; she was originally expected to return on for the Sept. 20 premiere, which ended up postponed three times due to her alleged COVID-19 diagnosis, as well as ongoing medical issues. The 57-year-old Asbury Park, N.J., native has openly discussed her cocaine habit and battle with Graves disease, an autoimmune disease that causes an overactive thyroid. The former Black radio shock jock was last seen publicly during a December paparazzi opportunity as she exited a Miami wellness facility and making her way to an SUV. It can be easy to criticize cops these days. Too easy. Yes, of course, what happened at Harding Street and other cases of police corruption and brutality deserve condemnation. But for every such case, there are many thousands of sworn officers strapping on their guns every morning, or every night, in cities and rural areas across America, risking their own lives so the rest of us can lead ours in peace. The men and women who wear the badge get too little thanks for that a failing painfully brought home this week in Harris County, where Precinct 5 constables deputy Cpl. Charles Galloway was shot to death on Sunday during a traffic stop. The bitter tide continued through Thursday, when three Houston Police Department officers were shot near Third Ward as they sought to arrest a man said to have shot up his girlfriends house. Mayor Sylvester Turner said late Thursday afternoon all three officers were in stable condition following the shootings, and said all are expected to survive. For that we must all be deeply grateful. Those who swear the oath know that violence is part of the job, especially in a state where its easier to buy a gun than to vote. But increasingly in Houston and across the country, the risk of death or injury in the line of duty seems greater than any officer should have to face. The day before Galloways murder, a man who later confessed to killing his father stabbed one of HPDs police dogs, Nate, during an arrest. Also on Saturday, Texas DPS Special Agent Anthony Salas died in what authorities called a tragic accident while working an operation along the border. The day before, in New York City, two NYPD officers in their 20s were shot as they responded to a domestic call. Officer Jason Rivera died at the scene and his partner, Wilbert Mora died Thursday of his injuries. Thirty-eight years of law enforcement, I've never seen the challenges that we are facing now, Harris County Precinct 5 Constable Ted Heap said this week on Fox & Friends. It may be too easy to say things are fundamentally different for police officers now. Certainly, its too early in the new year to draw any conclusions about 2022. And officers have always performed under enormous risks. Just five years ago last summer, five police officers in Dallas were murdered by a lone gunman, to cite just one dreadful example. But things do feel different. Data show that violence against officers was much higher last year than in previous years. The FBI database of attacks on law enforcement says that 73 officers were feloniously killed in 2021. That compares to 46 the year before. Only twice in the eight years before had the number reached into the 50s. We live in dangerous times, Mayor Turner said in a statement Thursday just before he headed to the hospital, and it will take all of us working together to make our city safe." Thats the truth. And all of us means both citizens who have been protesting for better policing at least since the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville, and those who have condemned the Black Lives Matter protests. Both sides and all of us must recognize that any violent attack against one another or against officers is unacceptable in a peaceful society. Its a breach of the covenant that allows us all to lead lives of meaning and safety. Another thing thats unacceptable is a hobbled criminal justice system like weve got in Harris County where weve seemed to go from an abusive, lock em all up culture that discriminated against the poor and petty offenders to a culture of too many chances, where massive court backlogs and some overly lenient judges are allowing dangerous people to roam our streets and offend again. Theres a middle ground called justice and weve got to find it. Otherwise, we will all continue to live in danger, but especially the police officers on the front lines. Chief Troy Finner of the HPD called on everyone to take an active role. Get intentional in doing whatever you can do to fight gun violence in our city, he said at a Thursday evening press conference. No more excuses. This week, our sympathies and concerns are with the officers who risk so much. They need our support as they struggle against a rising tide of violent crime. Those of us who care about improving policing can and must do two things at the same time: demand fairness and accountability in the ranks and also demand that officers have the resources they need to protect our communities, and themselves. Regarding Latino leaders plan lawsuit to change 'gross' underrepresentation in Houston City Council, (Jan. 24): All I can say about the suit against Houston by LULAC is great idea and about time! It's true that Latinos are badly underrepresented, but so is everyone else except real estate developers. Chicago is only 15 percent larger than Houston, but instead of having 11 neighborhood representatives there are 50. Say what you want about Chicago corruption, the alderman's office was walking distance from everyone in the district. My representative Abbie Kamin has a district that stretches from south of Bellaire to north of Brookhollow and bears an uncanny resemblance to an amphibian. Doubling the size of City Council and eliminating at-large positions would be a good start to having better representation for all Houstonians. Susan Miller Jackson, Houston Police shootings Regarding Editorial: Harris County shouldn't toss misdemeanor bail reform, (Jan. 26) and 3 Houston police officers wounded in shootout near Third Ward, (Jan. 27): I am sitting here watching the live reports about the three HPD officers who were shot. While watching this, I went back and reread your editorial, where you praised voters who tossed out every Republican judge on the district bench, civil and criminal, and elected a Democratic majority on the Commissioners Court. These new officials had campaigned in support of bail reform, and once elected made haste in reaching a settlement, saying that they did the right thing in addressing Harris Countys overreliance on cash bail. I agree that misdemeanor bail reform was necessary. However, I dont agree with these social justice warrior judges and commissioners who seem to be blurring the distinction between misdemeanor and felony crimes. Homicides and other felonious crimes are on the rise, and the police cant finish their arrest paperwork before these judges are releasing them. Sam Kamas, Houston Supreme Court Regarding Biden's high court pledge shows growing power of Black women, (Jan. 27): Another Biden blunder - declaring that he would only nominate a black woman as a candidate for Supreme Court. Talk about discrimination! It is ironic that in his effort to promote equality, he shunned it. He could have, after interviewing many candidates, put up his recommendation, who happened to be a Black woman justice. I guess he never heard of the Bakke decision from the Supreme Court. It has been ruled that racial quotas are unconstitutional. (This applies to all races.) Tommye Torian, Houston Russia Regarding Opinion: No to war with Russia. We just got out of Afghanistan. (Jan. 27): For anyone paying attention, Putin, who stays in power by killing and locking up those who oppose him, is a master at causing and funding chaos in democracies while appeasing dictatorships. So far, his actions have come at little cost. By not having to pay for his interference in our 2016 presidential election and by Trump bowing to him in Helsinki, his ego and power have been elevated. He continues to play his games by threatening Ukraine. It may be just another stunt to cause chaos and division, if so the hell with him. But, if not, we we should come together as a nation with our allies and finally make him pay. Robert Lange, Houston Immigration Regarding Editorial: Abbott's play wall made the border worse. Real reform starts in D.C. (Jan. 25): I will preface my statements by stating I am opposed to illegal immigration. Politicians are once again basing their platform on controlling or eradicating illegal immigration. What they are not addressing are sources, such as hotel chains, construction and landscaping companies, produce farmers, and restaurants that create the demand for these individuals. The basic tenet of Economics 101 is supply and demand. Aforementioned businesses create the demand and illegal immigration creates the supply. As long as lawmakers refuse to acknowledge businesses' ongoing contribution to demand, there will be no cessation of illegal supply of workers. Businesses must be held accountable through heavy fines and/or jail sentences. Laws must be enacted to enforce this issue. Left unregulated, this demand will continue to exacerbate the problem at our border. Rogelio Saucedo, Montgomery Sundays essay about the International Space Station gave an incorrect date for Axiom Spaces Ax-1 orbital flight. The launch date is March 31. While Justice Stephen G. Breyer has not given his reasons for leaving the court, he may have learned some lessons from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs fateful decision to remain on the bench into President Donald Trumps term. Despite his desire that the court not be viewed as a political body, Breyer appears to have bowed, in the end, to political reality. Ginsburg reportedly said in her last days in 2020 that it was her most fervent wish that Trumps successor, not Trump, select her replacement. Among other reasons, Ginsburg may have had in mind Trumps promise to appoint justices who would overrule Roe v. Wade. While Ginsburg had nuanced thoughts about Roe, in a dissent in a 2007 case she wrote that womens ability to realize their full potential . . . is intimately connected to their ability to control their reproductive lives. But Ginsburg chose not to retire while President Barack Obama was in office despite frequent calls for her to do so. So, when Ginsburg died in September 2020, Trump got to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to replace her, and Republican senators quickly confirmed Barrett (even as absentee ballots were being cast in the presidential race). Sure enough, with Barrett on the court, the court allowed Texas to effectively nullify the right to an abortion. The court left in place and continues to leave in place a law that makes it impossible for women in the nationals second most populous state to obtain abortions more than six weeks after their last period. Breyer had a front-row seat at that tragedy. He saw firsthand the vigor with which a Republican-chosen successor (and her fellow conservative justices) quickly undid so much jurisprudence that Ginsburg held dear in ways that went well beyond womens reproductive autonomy. Consider voting rights. In 2013, when the Supreme Court invalidated a key piece of the Voting Rights Act, the so-called preclearance requirement (which required certain states with histories of racial discrimination to obtain permission before changing their voting laws), Ginsburg warned about a resurgence of second-generation barriers to minority voting, such as voter identification requirements or discriminatory legislative districting. Sure enough, after the dismantling of the preclearance requirement, states enacted a host of voting restrictions. Then, with Barrett in the majority, the Supreme Court made it easier for states to keep those restrictions in place by watering down the remaining protections in the Voting Rights Act. Breyers judicial philosophy overlaps considerably with Ginsburgs, and he has watched as his conservative colleagues have set about tearing down legal structures he helped to build. He, too, has written opinions protecting womens ability to procure an abortion. But he also has his own areas of special interest. Before he arrived on the bench, he was a scholar of the administrative state and federal agencies. Breyer believes that the political branches that is, Congress and the president should be the ones to decide how policies are made, including through federal agencies, and that courts should largely get out of their way. As a justice, he has defended agencies authority to enact rules and regulations regarding health, safety and the environment, arguing that Congresss choice to give agencies decision-making authority reflects the reality that agencies, not Congress, often have the relevant expertise. They are also often the institutions best placed to act quickly and deftly in response to changing circumstances. Yet the newly appointed Republican justices appear interested in dismantling the modern administrative state. Earlier this month, the Republican-appointed justices invalidated a Occupational Safety and Health Administrations policy designed to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the workplace (a mandate that employees be vaccinated or tested regularly). At the beginning of this term, the Republican-appointed justices invalidated another federal policy created in response to the pandemic: the Center for Disease Controls moratorium on evictions. And the court is slated to hear a major case that will determine whether the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate greenhouse gases to address the looming threat of climate change. Breyer has also written impassioned dissents arguing that the government has the constitutional authority to consider race when it seeks to address the persistent effects of racial discrimination in this country. He believes that universities may consider an applicants race in admissions decisions and that school districts may consider race in assigning children to schools, describing these issues as touching on the nature of a democracy that must work for all Americans. Yet last week, the court ominously said it would hear two cases addressing the question of whether universities may consider an applicants race as part of an holistic admissions decision. The court may be preparing to rule that public and private universities are forbidden to consider race even when trying to rectify past racial discrimination. As Ginsburg did, Breyer has resisted calls for him to retire. But hes surely seen the writing on the wall: Any Republican-selected successor would enthusiastically reverse decisions Breyer believes in, and undermine aspects of our government that he thinks helps it to function. Granted, Breyers retirement will not stop the Supreme Court from destroying the administrative state, as Breyer understands it, or curtailing reproductive rights or outlawing race-conscious remedies for racial discrimination. But the timing of his decision ensures that he wont be replaced by someone who rejects ideals and legal values that he stands for. It ensures that he wont repeat the error of his friend Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Leah Litman is an assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan and host of the Supreme Court podcast Strict Scrutiny. This piece was published by the Washington Post. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate More than 200,000 people have petitioned for the release of three Rio Grande Valley teenagers accused of beating to death a man they believed had sexually assaulted an underage family member. An online petition on Change.org which obtained 230,000 signatures as of 9 a.m. Friday asks Gov. Greg Abbott and the state to release Alejandro Trevino, Christian Trevino and Juan Eduardo Melendez. The three 18-year-olds were arrested Sunday in Pharr in connection with the death of 42-year-old Gabriel Quintanilla. Police found Quintanillas body in a McAllen field on Jan. 20. Pharr Police Chief Juan Gonzalez, speaking at a press conference posted on YouTube, said an underage girl related to Alejandro and Christian Trevino made an outcry earlier on Jan. 20 that Quintanilla had touched her inappropriately at an RV park. Read more: Brothers accused of fatally beating stepfather for allegedly sexually abusing girl Quintanilla was Christian and Alejandro Trevinos stepfather, the chief said. Gonzalez said the brothers became enraged when they heard about the accusations and confronted their stepfather at their home. Several assaults occurred, resulting in Quintanilla suffering severe head trauma. Gonzalez said the teenagers left him possibly alive and badly beaten in the field, where he was found dead. Christian Trevino and Melendez, who are accused of delivering the fatal blows, were charged with capital murder, aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity. Alejandro Trevino was charged with aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity. Bail for each of the suspects is set at over $1 million. People commenting on the online petition were united in saying that the three should not be punished for killing Quintanilla. When everyday citizens act to protect innocent people from these monsters they should not be punished. Let these boys go now, one person said. Petitions on Change.org carry no legal obligation for authorities to act. According to the site, its purpose is to engage decision-makers to compel them to respond to the public demand generated by each campaign. taylor.pettaway@express-news.net Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. ACPI / x86: Drop PWM2 device on Lenovo Yoga Book from always present table The only single release checklist youll ever need Learn some tips and tricks on how to release your next single from an experienced professional. A guest post by Brian Hazard frpom Passive Promotion. Ive been releasing a new track every 4-6 weeks for some time now, and I daresay Ive got it down to a science. I upload the track to DistroKid a month or so before release, then work my way through the checklist below. Many of the items wont apply to you, but theyre sure to give you some ideas! Solicit Spotify Canvas A canvas is a 3-8 second video that loops during the song on the Spotify mobile app. You can see how many users viewed your canvas in Spotify for Artists: 28-day new album stats (click to enlarge) Youll notice that views dont always scale with streams or listeners, maybe because playlist streams tend to be background listening? I dont know what to make of the data, and I dont know that having a canvas helps in any meaningful way. My doubts notwithstanding, I routinely hire Walker Dunn to create a canvas for new songs, which he repurposes for YouTube. Heres a recent example:https://www.youtube.com/embed/uOceLf8cuNw?feature=oembedrepurposed canvas by Walker Dunn Visuals Ill often test out the canvas in ad campaigns too, though videos with less motion tend to perform better. Pitch to Spotify and Amazon Music Ive never once been added to an editorial playlist, but I still pitch every track as soon as I can. You probably know by now that you can pitch to Spotify editors through Spotify for Artists, but did you know you can pitch to Amazon Music too? Amazon for Artists Spotify URI to Rise Ive been promising a review of Rise for some time now, but theyre in the process of a nearly complete overhaul. In the meantime, Ive paid $225 per month for eight months, and here are my results: That one screenshot ambiguously captures the entirety of their current reporting. Some of the numbers refer to a single track while others reflect my entire eight months on the platform. Rise executes pre-saves for each of my new tracks if I provide the Spotify URI ahead of the release date. The last single before my album release went through that pre-save cycle twice, for 9.2K pre-saves in total! I cant tell if it helps or hurts. They forgot to execute pre-saves for one of my singles, yet it performed about the same as the rest. Upload to SoundCloud, YouTube, Bandcamp I generally use the same track description across platforms, so its convenient to just upload to all three of them in one fell swoop. For SoundCloud and YouTube, I use a Mac text expansion app called aText to quickly append my social media links after the lyrics. I set YouTube to unlisted and SoundCloud and Bandcamp to private, then copy the SoundCloud share URL for pitching. Test Facebook Ads with Captions I like to have a fully-optimized ad campaign ready to launch on release day. To make that happen, I test out my ad copy and creative with a traffic campaign directing to my DistroKid Hyperfollow page. To keep costs low, I only target India, Indonesia, and The Philippines. Sometimes I get a few pre-saves, but mostly Im just trying to piece together a winning ad from multiple headlines, descriptions, and video assets using different parts of the song. In my limited testing, lyrics captions performed slightly better than without, so I use Rev to create them for a couple of bucks. They provide an SRT file that needs to be renamed to a Facebook-friendly format, like so: thelimitverse1.en_US.srt Once my testing is complete, I create a new campaign with a single ad, ready to turn on when the release goes live. For more on the subject, check out my Facebook Ads for Spotify Best Practices. Announce Pre-Save Most artists spend a lot of time and effort on this step, but these days, I rarely bother. I already get thousands of pre-saves through Rise, and I cant tell if it makes any difference. Even before Rise, I felt uncomfortable asking fans to grant control of their Spotify accounts to a company theyd never heard of. Recently I read a deep dive on the topic by RootNote that finally convinced me its not worth it. Pitch to SubmitHub Ive written twice about SubmitHub, most recently here. So many emotions! Discomfort, embarrassment, anger, humiliation, and every once in a while, jubilation. Still, it has to be done. My best performing song got a 22% acceptance rate: Id argue that this is the single most important step on the checklist. If your track gets universally shot down, at least you know not to waste your money on ads. One important piece of advice: upload your song as a high-quality mp3. The audio quality through SoundCloud is poor and YouTube is even worse. To my admittedly picky ears, its so bad that when Im curating Ill often just look up the song on Spotify. Early Spreadsheet Pitches I maintain a song pitching spreadsheet with the following columns: Outlet Name, Type, Followers, Listeners, Contact Name, Contact Email or Link, Date of Last Contact, Approvals, Notes Not every column applies to every outlet, depending on what type it is (blog, radio/podcast, YouTube, Spotify) The spreadsheet is separated into three main sections: Early Pitches, Release Day Pitches, Retired My approval percentage through direct pitches is roughly on par with SubmitHub. My only consistent acceptances come from a handful of genre-specific radio shows. Share YouTube with Mailing List As a perk for my mailing list subscribers, I like to share the song on YouTube a day early. Ill usually say something like, Ill be hanging out in the comments all day, so let me know what you think! With any luck, the video will have a solid chunk of likes and comments before I turn it loose on the public. Compose Email Blast I craft a short and sweet email with the same description I used for SoundCloud, YouTube, and Bandcamp, plus a too-big-to-miss LISTEN NOW button, followed by a special thanks to my producer-tier patrons. The button directs to a ToneDen Smart Link that I havent created yet because I dont have the Spotify URL. But thats okay because Ive got a custom domain set up! I can create the Smart Link later and point it to go.colortheory.com/songname. You may wonder why I dont just use my DistroKid Hyperfollow link. I prefer to use ToneDen for my ads and I want to send everyone to the same place. I schedule the email blast to fire at 6 a.m. PST on release day so that I can double-check that everything works the minute I wake up. Set SoundCloud, YouTube, and Bandcamp Public I usually do this before dinner, a few hours before the track goes live on Spotify at midnight EST. After setting the YouTube video public, I add it to any of my relevant playlists. I cant do it ahead of time because when I add unlisted videos to public playlists, people find them! I also add a pinned comment with a link to my ToneDen Smart Link. Bandcamp automatically sends out an email announcement shortly after setting the release to public, which usually generates a few sales. Update Show.co Once the track is live on SoundCloud, I update my Show.co campaign to swap in the new track. At one point the widget registered a stream upon each page load. I was getting thousands of plays every month via the blog embed, which was great social proof! Sadly, it looks like they fixed it. Now that the stream count is accurate, I could just as easily swap in a SoundCloud player and ditch Show.co entirely. Add Spotify Link to SubmitHub Weve reached the point where I need a Spotify URL to continue. I can usually snag it early via the profile tab of Spotify for Artists. I add the Spotify URL to SubmitHub by going to Submissions Submissions Ive Sent Edit This Song Additional Sources In a pinch, curators can always look up the URL themselves when they add your track to a playlist. But why risk it? Im an active SubmitHub curator myself, for my Vocal Synthwave Retrowave playlist. Apropos of nothing, here are my 2021 stats: You listened to 4,494 minutes of music You wrote 83,282 words of feedback You approved 475 songs and declined 1,399 Your most-approved genre was Synthwave (294) Update Spotify Playlists & Bio While Im at the Spotify for Artists profile tab, I can usually click through to my upcoming release and add it to my playlists. I add the song to the top of my Vocal Synthwave Retrowave playlist and my Color Theory Official Playlist. Then Ill copy the song description to my Spotify bio which links back to my aforementioned official playlist. Create ToneDen Smart Link Now that Ive got my Spotify URL, I can finally create a Smart Link for my scheduled email blast and Facebook ads. Check out an example here. Update Feature.fm Bio Link I prefer a Feature.fm bio link over Linktree for social media. Heres about half of mine: One of the features I like the most is the ability to embed a YouTube video at the bottom, which is where Ill usually swap in my latest release. Launch Facebook and Google Ads Okay, now its 9 p.m. my time = Midnight EST. The track is officially live on Spotify! The ads for my Facebook campaign should all be approved by now, so I flip the switch and let er rip. I also maintain a YouTube (Google Ads) campaign at $10 per day. When I release a new song, I duplicate the ad for my last one and swap in the new URL. Google Ads is messy and confusing, which is why Ive never written about it. As luck would have it, Ive got a review of YouTube Growth Engine lined up for next week. Stay tuned! Announce on Social Media Fast forward to 6 a.m. on release day. I check my phone in bed to make sure my email blast fired and that the link works. Next up, its time to tell the world about my new song! I share my ToneDen Smart Link on: Twitter Ill pin the tweet unless Ive got something more important going on Instagram post + story shared directly from Spotify, then added to my highlights YouTube under my community tab Facebook on my page, shared by my profile to my news feed + groups Bandcamp even though they already got a new release announcement yesterday Reddit just the r/newretrowave subreddit Discord a fan reliably shares my new releases, but if he didnt, I would Release Day Spreadsheet Pitches Some outlets cant be pitched to until the track is already released. The biggest category is Spotify curators that arent on SubmitHub like Indiemono, but theres also one particular blogger that prefers release-day pitches. If I were to attempt another influencer campaign, now would be the time. Ive previously reviewed Breakr and SpaceLoud, but Id likely do it on the cheap with SubmitHub. Add Song to Songtrust I wait to register each new song with Songtrust until its live on Spotify so that I can link to the recording. Songtrust will then register the song with ASCAP and 200+ other societies around the world. At some point, I also need to register the song with SoundExchange, but tend to do that in batches. Sync Lyrics in Musixmatch If you want lyrics to appear in Spotify, the easiest way to make that happen is the Musixmatch artist portal. You can also add them through DistroKid or through the regular Musixmatch site, but its more work. If youre looking for even more work, you can perform a word-by-word sync with the iPhone app. Personally, I think thats overkill, but maybe thats just my perfectionism talking. Its really hard to move your finger in time with the lyrics, and as a listener, I find it distracting to see individual words light up mostly in time. Email Follow-Up The following Tuesday I might send out another email blast asking if fans heard the song. More often itll end up as a p.s. at the bottom of a message on another topic. At this point, you could re-announce on social media or even to Bandcamp with some other angle. You could tell a story about how you created the song, what inspired it, what the lyrics mean, how its performing on Spotify so far, what playlists it got added to, etc. That would absolutely be my advice, but I rarely follow it. Ive already mentally moved on to the next piece in my content calendar. Check on Ads After four days, I usually have a pretty good idea of how my ads are performing. If theyre not doing well, I may turn them off. If theyre really not doing well, I may swap in the previous track at the top of my playlists. To put it in concrete terms, lets say Im paying $0.30 per conversion to send people to my official playlist with my new song at the top. If Ive got another song that only costs $0.10 per conversion, Id be better off swapping in that one and moving the new song further down the playlist. Tweet Download Codes Two weeks after release, Bandcamp sales have ground to a halt, so I like to share download codes on Twitter.https://twitter.com/colortheory/status/1459262959826264067 These tweets always generate ample profile views and link clicks. Even if they didnt, having a few more faces on my Bandcamp release page is always a good thing! Rinse & Repeat We made it! Now we get to do it all again and again, and again, every 4-6 weeks until we die. By that time, well have automated the entire process so that it can continue indefinitely, with our own personalized AI creating the songs. As ridiculously long as this checklist is, Im sure Ive skipped over plenty of opportunities. Maybe not in the early stages, but certainly post-release. Brian Hazard is a recording artist with over twenty years of experience promoting his eleven Color Theory albums, and head mastering engineer and owner of Resonance Mastering in Huntington Beach, California. His Passive Promotion blog emphasizes set it and forget it methods of music promotion. Catch more of his promotional escapades in his How Im Promoting My Music This Month email newsletter. Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning Brian get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Share on: Letter: Religious Liberty and Christian Nationalism To the Editor: For those of you who were able to stand with us on Jan. 6, in witness against the rising tide of Christian Nationalism (Christianity as the one state religion) and in favor of freedom of religion and voting rights for all, we extend a huge thank you for doing so. The threats are real. The danger to religious freedom is growing. At a Texas rally, Michael Flynn, a Trump ally, vigorously advocated: "If we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion, one nation under God, and one religion under God." Speakers like Byron Fox, an evangelist touring with an organization called Faith Wins, sees the church as a battleship, that Christians are the persecuted ones, instilling fear of the Bible being outlawed, urging all Christians to be soldiers for Christ. Other speakers at national conferences and rallies are adherents of the Seven Mountains Dominionism, an ideology that calls explicitly for the domination of government and education by Christians. Signed: First Congregational Church Williamstown, Committee for Religious Liberty Betsy Burris Adrian Dunn Sherwood Guernsey David Langston Bridget Spann Molly the poodle appears at Wednesday's comfort dog presentation to the School Committee, which was broadcast on Pittsfield Community Television. Pittsfield School Committee OKs Comfort Dog Pilot Program PITTSFIELD, Mass. The School Committee has approved a comfort dog pilot program to support the well-being of students. Through a partnership between Berkshire Poodles, Berkshire Dogs Unleashed, and the school district, one to three dogs will be deployed to select schools by springtime. If that goes well, there is a possibility to have a four-legged friend in every school. The district's Health and Safety Coordinator Eric Lamoureaux and owner of both businesses Lee Kohlenberger presented a program overview to the committee on Wednesday. Molly the poodle joined them to vouch for the importance of pups in schools. She didn't have to do much persuading, as the proposal was approved unanimously. "I happen to believe that dogs have magical healing powers, so I really do support this," Mayor Linda Tyer said. "Especially at a time when we know that kids are struggling to readjust being back in school, for their social-emotional well being this is a way for them to find some comfort and friendship, and I just think it's really powerful." Similar to the Pittsfield Police Department's Officer Winston who was also donated by Berkshire Poodles the comfort dogs will be owned by the city and will live with a handler. Kohlenberger and his wife have also donated poodles to the Lenox Public School District and the Dalton Police Department. Comfort dogs are trained to be very calm, to lie quiet, and to sit to assist a person in emotional distress who is not a physical threat. Kohlenberger shared that a selectively mute child spoke for the first time in three years while holding Teddy, Lenox's comfort dog. "That's worth every donation, just helping one kid," he said. Poodles are ideal candidates because they are hypoallergenic and thrive on mental stimulation rather than physical exercise, he added. "Berkshire Poodles has been around breeding since 2010 and specifically looking at, as they raise the puppies, picking the right puppies for the program like this that go through that series of tests and then go through the training to specifically say, 'that's why we're picking these puppies, they're going to be what we're looking for,' and if they don't meet that, then they won't be part of the program," Lamoureaux said. Berkshire Dogs Unleashed will provide medical care expenses, boarding, and grooming and the district will be responsible for about $500 to $600 a year for food. There is a possibility that a non-profit will be able to cover that expense. Robotic Assistance Devices staff pose with ROAMEO, a security and concierge robot, at the 2021 IAAPA Expo. This unit is branded and destined for two Six Flags locations, where it will patrol the parking lot during the day and the park after hours (photo courtesy of RAD) Soon, guests strolling through Orlandos theme parks might find themselves walking alongside an unusual companion: a robotic security guard. If the machine is from Robotic Assistance Devices, as CEO Steve Reinharz hopes, it wont be easily mistaken for a person. Shaped more like the Mars Rover than the humanoid T-800 from Terminator, ROAMEO 2.0 short for the Rugged Observation Assistance Mobile Electronic Officer stands 6-and-a-half feet tall and gracefully cruises on four wheels despite its 750-pound mass. Advertisement But as these machines begin patrolling at amusement parks, they raise questions about employment, security and ethics. Though experts say robocops wont be taking human jobs anytime soon, they acknowledge their use has to be closely monitored. ROAMEO is fully autonomous and designed to work as a security and concierge service all in one. It includes cameras, a touch screen, speakers, a communication system and a call button. Advertisement Its artificial intelligence can sense when people are in restricted areas and even detect when they arent wearing face masks. Outside of security, ROAMEO can also act as a tour guide, giving directions and displaying information on ride wait times, Reinharz said. In the theme park environment, theyre going to look great, he said. Were going to put smiles on peoples faces. A ROAMEO unit is making the products theme park debut in Arlington, Texas, at Six Flags Over Texas this week as part of a pilot project, said Jason Freeman, Six Flags vice president of security and safety. Another robot is headed to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, next week. Reinharz plans to deploy 100 of them this year, and his sights are set on Orlando. He said RAD is in talks with Orlando theme park companies but did not disclose specifics. I expect to be in at least one theme park in Orlando by the end of the calendar year, he said. Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler said Disney is not in contact with RAD. Representatives for Central Floridas other major theme parks, including Universal, SeaWorld and Legoland, did not respond when asked about the possibility of autonomous security robots coming to their parks. Robotic Assistance Devices staff pose with ROAMEO, a security and concierge robot, at the 2021 IAAPA Expo. This unit is branded and destined for two Six Flags locations, where it will patrol the parking lot during the day and the park after hours (photo courtesy of RAD) Robot coworkers, not replacements ROAMEO and the rest of RADs security robotics line are designed to supplement human security personnel but can also perform the same duties as regular security staff, Reinharz said. We dont have some kind of mission of replacing security guards, he said. ... [I hope] the existing security guards who then have to use technology, their jobs and their careers get uplifted by that. Advertisement RADs security dealers have told Reinharz they are having trouble filling security positions, so he sees this technology as a way to close those gaps and fill security guard jobs that cant be filled by anybody else, he said. ROAMEO has an expected five-year lifespan, according to the company. The US. Bureau of Labor Statistics latest occupational outlook shows security guard jobs are projected to grow 15% from 2020 to 2030, adding 155,600 positions to the 1,067,700 tracked in 2020. These jobs pay around $15 per hour on average, BLS data show. RAD has not disclosed how much each ROAMEO costs. Recent public security job postings at Central Floridas theme parks show starting wages for security jobs range in compensation, from $13.50 per hour at Legoland to $16.50 at SeaWorld. At Six Flags, seasonal security worker wages range between $16 and $20 regionally, Freeman said. We are not looking to cut personnel, he said in an interview. Were looking to become efficient with what technology is out there. Advertisement Ronald Arkin, a leading roboticist and robo-ethics researcher, said it is unlikely security robots will completely replace human staff in the next few years, but they could lead to employee cuts. You still need efficient security people, just as you have right now, in a booth somewhere to do analysis of the data, he said. During its pilot program with RAD, Six Flags will deploy ROAMEO units to patrol parking lots during operational hours and let them roam the theme parks after close, Freeman said. The company has dubbed their units Parker and has given them nametags. Potential for abuse While autonomous security robots are a relatively new invention, some question their effectiveness and impact on privacy when used in public spaces. A June 2021 NBC News report on security robotics company Knightscope found little evidence its robots directly reduced crime when used by municipal police departments. Advertisement Robotic security is generally mundane and has been used since the 1980s, said Arkin, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology. These machines increasing complexities also increase the opportunities for privacy issues. Unlike a human security guard, it does [generally] generate [and] store data, and the potential for abuse of any surveillance data is there, he said. But he said what robots gather is likely similar to data collected by security cameras, which are already widely used in public spaces. Freeman called ROAMEO a more intelligent security camera. Arkin said issues could arise if robots analyze their collected data and automatically react based on their own conclusions. Freeman said Six Flags robots are programmed to recognize when people are in a restricted area, but they will not be responding or collecting information on specific individuals. Its not looking at the person themselves, its looking at the activity that the persons doing and then notifying that theres a potential issue with that. And then our security folks will respond, he said. Advertisement With security robots starting their theme park shifts this week, Arkin said he would be interested to see how people respond. Theme parks attract global visitors of all ages, so they make a unique testing environment. Different cultures react differently to robots [and] different people react differently even within the same culture. Some might be afraid, some might be curious, some might be aggressive, some might be standoffish all kinds of potential reactions, he said. Itd be interesting to do a study in that particular space. krice@orlandosentinel.com and @katievrice on Twitter Molly the poodle attends Wednesday's presentation on a pilot comfort dog program for the Pittsfield Public Schools shown on Pittsfield Community Television. Pittsfield School Committee OKs Comfort Dog Pilot Program PITTSFIELD, Mass. The School Committee has approved a comfort dog pilot program to support the well-being of students. Through a partnership between Berkshire Poodles, Berkshire Dogs Unleashed, and the district, one to three dogs will be deployed to select schools by springtime. If that goes well, there is a possibility to have a four-legged friend in every school. The district's Health and Safety Coordinator Eric Lamoureaux and owner of both businesses Lee Kohlenberger presented a program overview to the committee on Wednesday. Molly the poodle joined them to vouch for the importance of pups in schools. She didn't have to do much persuading, as the proposal was approved unanimously. "I happen to believe that dogs have magical healing powers, so I really do support this," Mayor Linda Tyer said. "Especially at a time when we know that kids are struggling to readjust being back in school, for their social-emotional well being this is a way for them to find some comfort and friendship, and I just think it's really powerful." Similar to the Pittsfield Police Department's Officer Winston -- who was also donated by Berkshire Poodles -- the comfort dogs will be owned by the city and will live with a handler. Kohlenberger and his wife have also donated poodles to the Lenox Public School District and the Dalton Police Department. Comfort dogs are specifically trained to be very calm, to lie quietly, and to assist a person in emotional distress who is not a physical threat. Kohlenberger shared that a selectively mute child spoke for the first time in three years while holding Teddy, Lenox's comfort dog. "That's worth every donation, just helping one kid," he said. Poodles are ideal candidates because they are hypoallergenic and thrive on mental stimulation rather than physical exercise, he added. "Berkshire Poodles has been around breeding since 2010 and specifically looking at, as they raise the puppies, picking the right puppies for the program like this that go through that series of tests and then go through the training to specifically say, 'that's why we're picking these puppies, they're going to be what we're looking for,' and if they don't meet that, then they won't be part of the program," Lamoureaux said. Berkshire Dogs Unleashed will provide medical care expenses, boarding, and grooming and the district will be responsible for about $500 to $600 a year for food. There is a possibility that a non-profit will be able to cover that expense. Lamoureaux explained that two handlers would be ideal: a primary handler who assumes most of the responsibility and a secondary handler for backup. The primary handler -- and ideally the secondary handler -- will go through 24 weeks of training from the American Kennel Club to ensure the pup is a good canine citizen and to obtain a therapy dog title. District staff who are interested in becoming a handler will go through an interview process to determine the best fit. Lamoureaux cautioned that the title is much more than just having a dog. "It really has to be somebody committed that is going to not only do all these hours, you're taking this dog into your home, you have to do the homework that comes with training each week," he explained. "There is homework that's given, you're expected to do that so when you go back the next week, the dog is ready to go there." Superintendent Joseph Curtis said that as the district works through the pilot program, it will develop policies and regulations to bring back to the committee for consideration. Student representative William Garrity said that when Winston visited Taconic High School, students were excited and responded well. "I believe adding this program to our schools will be extremely beneficial for our students," he said. Vice Chair Daniel Elias did research on comfort dog programs after they became popular in the county and has found that it has a profound impact on students and adults. "I've just seen so much positive data just coming from other areas, not just only for the students, but for the staff, the anxiety, the stress, making them feel more welcome," he explained. "I think Winston has done an unbelievable job so far and I could only imagine what the possibilities for Pittsfield would be with it." Jeffrey J. Kellogg Joins SVMC Pownal Campus BENNINGTON, Vt. Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) welcomes Jeffrey J. Kellogg, PA-C, to the SVMC Pownal Campus and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians. Kellogg holds a master's in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska, an associate's in Physician Assistant Studies from Albany Medical College and Hudson Valley Community College, a master's in business administration from the University of Massachusetts, and a bachelor's in business administration from Saint Michael's College in Vermont. He proudly served in the United States Air Force 1994 1998 as an F-15 Fighter Crew Chief. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and certified by the National Committee on Certification of Physician Assistants. Since 2002, Kellogg has worked as a PA in a variety of internal medicine settings. He has worked in the primary and urgent care settings at Pittsfield Medical Associates since 2019. For 5 years previously, he was the lead provider at the Berkshire County Jail and House of Corrections. SVMC's Pownal Campus offers comprehensive medical care for the whole family. Its services include care for children and adults, obstetrics, health promotion and wellness programs, and on-site blood draw services. The office is located at 7237 Route 7 in Pownal. Appointments are available 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Monday Friday. Call 802-681-2780 for an appointment. MassDOT Launching New Speed Management Tools for Local Partners BOSTON MassDOT announced the launch of a new Safe Speed Website and municipal toolkit to help local partners address saftey issues. Additionally, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) launched a new round of Shared Streets and Spaces grant funding for implementation of speed management, and free technical assistance is available too. Preliminary information for 2021 indicates more than 400 people died due to traffic-related crashes in Massachusetts the most roadway fatalities in one year in over a decade, and thousands of more people seriously injured. Evaluating the safety of streets and crash prevention are important regardless of roadway ownership, and MassDOT has worked in various communities across the Commonwealth to serve as a resource for municipalities looking to address local safety issues. "Working together with local partners, Massachusetts can reduce crashes, their severity, and design safer modern roadways that prevent serious injuries and save lives. MassDOT is proud to serve as a resource for municipalities to address any safety concerns," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler, "Whether it's the technical and engineering expertise, or municipal grant funding to advance design and construction, MassDOT is continually developing more tools for communities like the new Safe Speed website to better address speed as the root cause of many crashes and their severity." Speed management is an approach to address safety issues as the speed people drive correlates to the likelihood of severe injuries or fatalities. Additionally, effective speed management is critical for creating streets that work for everyone, making streets comfortable for people to be able to travel by car, and wheelchair, bicycle, stroller, foot, bus, or other mobility device. A few miles per hour difference can make a big impact on a person's chance of survival in a crash. Higher speed crashes are more forceful than lower speed crashes, resulting in more damage to the driver, passengers, the vehicle, and people and property outside of the vehicle. As speed increases, people driving lose the ability to properly observe their immediate surroundings as their field of vision narrows, and drivers require longer distances to come to a stop. The leading threat to the safety of pedestrians is the speed of vehicles and every person is a pedestrian at some point in their travels even if they are just walking from their parked car to their destination. "MassDOT is excited to be launching this speed management website as the site will offer new ideas for communities seeking to make their roads safer," said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. "The new resources will help identify risks and support more rapid implementation of meaningful solutions." The website includes detailed information about speed management and steps on collecting information, establishing target speeds, implementing roadway treatments, educational information about the relationship between speed and safety, and funding resources. The website has recommended steps for municipalities to implement speed management in communities: Collect information and analyze data. Collect information on current speeds, roadway uses, adjacent land use, and safety. It is important to review existing speed limits to identify places where speed limits no longer match the land use context, roadway design, and safety for all existing and potential roadway users. Establish a target speed. Determine a target speed, the highest operating speed at which drivers should operate on a roadway in a specific context. Design for speed control and separation through roadway treatments. Select roadway treatments based on target speed, existing speeds, and use of the roadway to effectively self-enforce driving speeds, bringing all vehicle speeds closer to the target speed. Where land use and context support higher operating speeds, more separation is needed to reduce the risk of high-speed collision by keeping vulnerable road users those not protected by an enclosed vehicle apart from cars and trucks. Raise awareness. Promote a community-wide safe-speed culture by crafting educational messages that raise awareness about the relationship between speed and safety, implementing roadway treatment changes and safety zones. Conveying the risks of speed and the benefits of speed management design is especially important with new drivers. Set speed limits. Set speed limits through speed zoning. Learn how MassDOT works with municipalities to set enforceable speed limits. If the enforceable speed limit is higher than the target speed plan for speed management implementation and an iterative approach to achieve the best results. Funding to help with projects leading to speed management: Shared Streets and Spaces Program: A growing competitive grant program for municipalities and transit authorities in support of public health, safe mobility, and renewed commerce in municipalities. The program funds a broad range of projects, allowing municipalities to easily rethink their transportation networks and implement unique improvements that suit their needs. Project types include bicycle and pedestrian facilities, outdoor dining, and programing infrastructure, to transit improvements. Launched a new funding round Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, with applications due March 1, 2022. Includes project type focused on speed management for implementation of new municipal tool kit. Program funded with $20 million and continues the partnership with the Barr Foundation to provide municipalities with free Technical Assistance throughout the application process. The Complete Streets Funding Program: Encourages, educates, and provides funding to communities to incorporate Complete Streets principles into regular local planning and design practices, ensuring safe and accessible travel for all local roadway users regardless of age or ability. The program offers technical assistance and construction project grants to incentivize permanent change. Since 2016, the program has awarded a total of $77.4 million through 418 grant awards. Funded $50 million Municipal Small Bridge Program: Provides financial support for the replacement, preservation, and rehabilitation of small bridges across the Commonwealth. Program offers grants for both design and construction funding. Will relaunch and begin accepting new applications from February 1, 2022, through April 1, 2022. Program relaunch, funded at $95 million, will offer communities more support than ever before by connecting design awardees directly with MassDOT design consultants. This is just another example of MassDOT providing support to municipalities beyond just funding. Municipal Pavement Program: A new funding program that targets improvements to the condition of municipally owned state numbered routes. Project types include resurfacing, mill and overlay, preservation, and other pavement improvement work on local roadways. Based on pavement condition data, MassDOT annually selects the roadway segments to be improved, in coordination with the municipality, by MassDOT contractors to make the process as easy as possible for communities. This new program, funded at $125 million, will fund and perform the work. Starting this year, with a $15 million investment, will improve over 100 miles of pavement this year alone. The Local Bottleneck Reduction Program: A new program that funds innovative solutions to local congestion bottlenecks at signalized intersections to improve traffic flow and safety. Typical projects could include signal retiming, Transit Signal Priority equipment, vehicle detection, and wireless coordination. Through this competitive grant program, MassDOT will work with municipalities and provide resources to complete and implement awarded projects. New program funded with $50 million. Candidates from the first round of applications are being evaluated via site visits in 20 communities. The Enzian theater is the only place to see the National Theatre Live series in Central Florida. If youre a British theater fan, youll definitely want to check out the 2022 Spring Season of the National Theatre Live series, which kicks off next weekend at Enzian and includes professionally shot versions of some of the most popular National Theatre stage productions of recent years. The lineup this year includes high definition encore screenings of 2012s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time on Feb. 9 and 2015s A View From the Bridge starring Mark Strong on March 5. New for 2022 is The Book of Dust which takes place inside Phillip Pullmans fantastical His Dark Materials universe it will be broadcast on April 30. Advertisement In an email, Enzian Programming Director Matthew Curtis said, We are thrilled to present this new season of National Theatre Live at Enzian over the next 3 months. He added that the theater is especially proud to present the first new National Theatre Live production in several years with The Book of Dust. Everyones looking forward to this dark fantasy from the creator of the legendary His Dark Materials trilogy! Enzian is the only theater in Central Florida showing the National Theater Live series, so if you are interested in any of these titles, youll want to make sure you reserve your seats early. Each one-day-only showing begins at 11 a.m. Tickets are now on sale and are $20 (plus fees) per performance when purchased online. Advertisement Season passes to attend all National Theatre Live performances are now available as well, and offer not only discounted admission ($49.50 for the three-performance series) but also include a complimentary glass of house wine at each show. All screenings take place at Enzian Theater, 1300 S. Orlando Ave. in Maitland. For more information and to purchase tickets, you can visit enzian.org/films/special-programs/national-theatre-live. Want to reach out? Email me at akondolojy@orlandosentinel.com. For more fun things, follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter State Attorney Monique H. Worrell holds a press conference to announce the results of the investigation into the Salaythis Melvin shooting, on Friday, January 28, 2022. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) The Orange County deputy sheriff who shot 22-year-old Salaythis Melvin in the back as he fled through the Florida Malls parking lot in August 2020 sparking weeks of protests will not be prosecuted for the killing, Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell said Friday. During an afternoon press conference, Worrell said there was no evidence to disprove that Deputy James Montiel was in fear for his safety when he fired at Melvin. She said video evidence in the case also backed up the deputys claim that Melvin had a gun in his hand. Advertisement We have concluded that we cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Cpl. Montiel committed a crime in this case, Worrell said. My deepest sympathies go out to Salaythis Melvins family. I know this is not the result that theyve been looking for and that they feel that they have been denied justice. Worrell said she believes Montiel and all the parties involved could have taken different actions that could have resulted in Salaythis Melvin being alive today. Advertisement She said her decision was a legal decision and not a moral one, adding that she knew it would disappoint some but she was elected to conduct a fair and unbiased review of cases involving police accountability, which may not always result in prosecution. As a Black woman who is the mother of Black sons, I understand that anger and I understand that frustration, she said. ... I stand before you with a heavy heart more committed than ever to bringing positive and meaningful change to our community. Carius Haynes, attorney for Salaythis Melvin's family, talks to the media following a press conference by State Attorney Monique H. Worrell on Friday, January 28, 2022. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) The frustration she anticipated was apparent among activists and supporters of Melvins family who gathered at the courthouse complex to denounce Worrells decision with some calling for her removal from office. You cant shoot me in the back when Im running from you and I cant shoot you in the back, so why does the officer get a pass? said Carlus Haynes, an attorney for Melvins family. Because our prosecutor doesnt have the cojones to say, Im filing these charges. Haynes said members of the State Attorneys Office informed the family of Worrells decision about an hour before the press conference but the state attorney wasnt on the call. Salaythis Melvin, 22 You couldnt look this mother in the eye and say, Maam, Im sorry, Haynes said. You sent somebody to do it, but now youre gonna stand in front of the press and make it look like you did such a thorough job. They made it much more complicated than it had to be. In a statement, Sheriff John Mina said he agreed with Worrells decision. Ultimately, while this brings the criminal portion to a close, a young man in our community lost his life, and we continue to extend our condolences to his family and all who have been affected by his death, Mina said. Advertisement Montiel and several other deputies, who were in plainclothes and driving unmarked vehicles, converged on Melvin and three of his friends as they exited the mall about noon Aug. 7, 2020. Three of the four fled, but two were soon caught, while Melvin kept running. As Montiel exited his vehicle, Melvin ran from him. Body-worn camera footage appeared to show the deputy halted his pursuit and took a shooting stance before firing at Melvin from about 30 feet away. Melvin collapsed to the pavement and later died at an area hospital. A Sheriffs Office report based on Montiels account said that Melvin turned his head toward the deputy as he fled while his hand was on a pistol in his waistband, which prompted Montiel to fire. Deputies said the gun Melvin was carrying was loaded and had been reported stolen. Worrell said Friday no witnesses aside from Montiel saw the full interaction and no footage exists to confirm or refute it. The state attorney presented a blurry still from a body-worn camera she said showed an object falling from Melvins hand when he was shot, which deputies later discovered was a tan firearm. Mr. Melvin not only had a gun but had removed the gun from his waistband and was holding it in his hand, she said. The Sheriffs Office released a photo of the gun on social media the day of Melvins killing but initially withheld the body-worn camera footage of the incident, before relenting after 11 days of protests outside the mall and mounting pressure from activists. Advertisement The videos that were eventually released did not clearly show what occurred prior to the shooting, and Montiel was not equipped with a camera. It was not immediately clear which footage prompted Worrells conclusions. Experts who reviewed the footage of Melvins shooting for the Orlando Sentinel questioned the law enforcement tactics it revealed, including Montiels decision to shoot at someone who was running toward an empty parking lot, rather than regroup with his colleagues. Body camera footage appeared to show Deputy James Montiel, left, stop his foot pursuit of Salaythis Melvin and shift into a shooting stance, as Melvin continued to flee. The experts said the involvement of deputies in marked cars could have helped prevent Melvins killing his family has questioned whether he knew the men chasing him were law enforcement and he could have been tracked by helicopter as he fled. However, they also noted courts have ruled officers can use deadly force if they perceive they are in danger. The Florida Supreme Court bolstered that position when it ruled in 2018 that police can be immune from prosecution under the states stand your ground law. We understand that there is heightened scrutiny in cases like these, Mina said in his statement Friday. But our deputies dont have the luxury to pore over or analyze a video hundreds of times ... to make a life or death decision. They must act in the moment to protect themselves and others, and thats what our deputy did in this case. Melvins killing came amid a summer of nationwide demonstrations against police violence following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Activists in Orlando, who had already been demanding reforms for months, rallied around seeking justice for Melvin. Advertisement Worrell, who at the time was running for office on a progressive platform, was present at many of the marches in downtown Orlando, speaking before crowds of thousands and promising police accountability. Protesters yell at police after gathering and blocking traffic at several intersections near the Florida Mall in Orlando on Friday, August 21, 2020. The protest was for the shooting death of Salaythis Melvin by an Orange County Sheriffs deputy. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) She had a George Floyd case right in her backyard, and she did nothing, Haynes said Friday. He argued that Worrell could have been brought the case before a grand jury, rather than refuse to pursue charges. As Haynes spoke, activists Aston Mack and Lawanna Gelzer held signs demanding a recall election to replace Worrell. Activists have felt slighted by Worrell during her investigation of Melvins case and that of Taylor Bracey, the Liberty High School student slammed to the ground by Osceola County Deputy Ethan Fournier. Despite viral video of the encounter, Worrell decided against filing charges against Fournier. We knew before today what was going to happen because weve been here watching with the family, and weve noticed theres a pattern, Gelzer said. She needs to go. On Friday, Worrell acknowledged that as a candidate in fall 2020 she believed, based on media reports, that Montiel would be prosecuted. Advertisement This incident shocked me, she said. Attorneys for Melvins family and experts who reviewed the case also questioned whether the confrontation that ended in gunfire at Florida Mall was necessary at all. Though he was the one who was killed, Melvin was not the person deputies went to the mall that day to arrest. They had a warrant for his friend Vanshawn Sands, who was wanted for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, a charge that stemmed from a July 7, 2020 shooting in Pine Hills home that left another man dead part of what authorities said was then a heated gang dispute. According to court records, Sands, described as a leader in the 438 gang, fired in self-defense, killing a member of the rival All Family No Friends gang who had ambushed him. In an interview with detectives, he admitted to having a gun but was not arrested at the time. Detectives instead got a warrant to arrest him Aug. 4 and began following him about 8:30 a.m. the morning of Melvins killing, tracking him as he and his girlfriend left a hotel, went to breakfast and picked up Melvin and another friend, before driving to the Florida Mall. Worrell said although Melvin wasnt the target of the operation, Montiels pursuit of him was legal. Advertisement Florida law clearly permits officers to detain any companion of a person who is subject to unlawful police investigation and arrest, she said. Mina on Friday cited the gang violence occurring at the time of Melvins killing as context from a law enforcement perspective. In the summer of 2020, after a spike in gang-related homicides and drive-by shootings one in which a 3-year-old was killed our deputies were out there, risking their lives to stop the violence, he said. Through their efforts, unlike many places across the country, Orange County experienced a significant decline in gang violence and homicide. He said the Sheriffs Office will now begin an internal investigation to determine if any deputies violated policy during the incident. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > The state attorney said her office has recommended changes to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, OCSO and the Orlando Police Department on their investigative practices in police shootings. We hope these changes increase the communitys trust that we take these cases seriously, she said. Advertisement While Worrells decision means Montiel will not face criminal culpability, it also clears the way for a federal lawsuit filed by Melvins family to move forward. Melvins mother, Michelin McKee, filed a civil rights lawsuit on the behalf of her sons estate against Montiel, Mina and several other deputies in June 2021, but the proceedings have repeatedly been put on hold while Worrells review was still pending. Court filings show the most-recent stay on the suit, granted in November, is slated to expire Tuesday. Our civil rights suit can now go forward, Haynes said. mcordeiro@orlandosentinel.com; creyes-rios@orlandosentinel.com; jeweiner@orlandosentinel.com Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community! Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region. Should the Supreme Court overturn Roe vs. Wade and allow states to make their own abortion laws? Let us know in this week's poll question below. You voted: Bank statements, phone records and a credit report belonging to a former state lawmaker accused of bribing a friend to run as an independent candidate in a South Florida state senate race will be released as public records, a judge ruled Friday. Attorneys representing former state Sen. Frank Artiles tried to prevent the release of those documents, which the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office collected as evidence, arguing they contained irrelevant personal information and could hamper Artiles ability to get a fair trial. Advertisement But several media organizations, including the Orlando Sentinel, argued the documents should be available to the public, as state law typically requires when prosecutors provide evidence to a defendants attorneys during a criminal case. Circuit Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan determined during Fridays hearing the records should be partially redacted, including scrubbing all but the last four digits from phone numbers appearing in Artiles call records. Advertisement Artiles has been accused of paying a friend nearly $45,000 to file as an independent candidate in a South Florida Senate race in 2020 to siphon votes from his Democratic opponent. Though Alex Rodriguez did no campaigning, he received more than 6,000 votes, while Republican Ileana Garcia defeated Jose Javier Rodriguez by 32 votes. The South Florida election was one of three key state Senate races that year including one in Central Florida won by Republican Sen. Jason Brodeur of Sanford in which so-called ghost candidates filed to run as independents but did no campaigning. Two political committees that received all of their funding from a dark money nonprofit organization called Grow United, sent ads promoting the independent candidates, portraying them as progressives in an apparent attempt to undermine the Democrats in those races. Artiles attorneys also objected to the public release of files stored on his laptops, saying they contained information about Artiles clients unrelated to the states case. Fajardo Orshan said Artiles and his attorneys have until Feb. 15 to review the computer files and notify people that information about them might be publicly released. Those clients will then have until March 1 to object to the release of information about them stored on Artiles computers. Attorneys representing a nonprofit organization connected to the case called Lets Preserve the American Dream also filed a motion seeking to block the public disclosure of the organizations bank statements after the Orlando Sentinel submitted a public records request for the documents. Prosecutors in the Artiles case recently informed Lets Preserve the American Dream that it is being investigated for potential violations of elections and campaign finance laws. Releasing the entitys bank records would publicly reveal its donors. Fajardo Orshan did not determine Friday whether to release the bank records for Lets Preserve the American Dream, which in 2020 contributed nearly $1.1 million to Grow United, the dark money entity that paid for the ads promoting the independent candidates. Advertisement Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > Lets Preserve the American Dream, which is closely linked to the big-business lobbying organization Associated Industries of Florida, also was paying Artiles for consulting services at the same time he was paying his Alex Rodriguez to run for the Senate seat. Tim VanderGiesen, a public-corruption prosecutor in the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office, acknowledged last week during a hearing that the bank records arent relevant to the case against Artiles. Rather, he said, theyre part of a parallel investigation into Lets Preserve the American Dream and several people who have a business relationship with Artiles. The Sentinel has requested several other documents that are part of that related investigation, which have not yet been made public. Those records include transcripts of statements from Abbie MacIver, who helped coordinate contributions to Grow United; and the chief financial officer for Data Targeting, a top Republican political consulting firm that paid $15,000 per month plus expenses to Artiles to work on South Florida state Senate races in 2020 and oversaw the GOPs state Senate campaigns. In addition to Lets Preserve the American Dream, three people have received prior to letters alerting them they are the targets of a criminal investigation. Those people are Alex Alvarado, who ran the political committees that sent ads championing the apparent spoiler candidates; Richard Alexander, the chairman of Grow United; and former Democratic fundraiser Dan Newman, who raised nearly $1 million into Grow United in 2020. Advertisement anmartin@orlandosentinel.com India and Central Asia held their first summit on January 27 and agreed to hold the next one in 2024. Changing realities in Afghanistan, Chinas outsized presence, and the need for more export markets provide India with renewed impetus to seriously engage with the five Central Asian countries. By holding these summits every two years, India wants to strengthen connectivity links to the land-locked Central Asian region and boost regional trade and commerce. Moreover, investment prospects exist in Central Asias tourism, healthcare, and education sectors, besides sustainable development goals. On January 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a virtual summit with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The inaugural India-Central Asia summit establishes ground for future institutionalized cooperation and will be followed by a summit-level meeting every two years. The five Central Asian leaders Kazakhstans Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstans Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistans Emomali Rahmon, Turkmenistans Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and Uzbekistans Shavkat Mirziyoyevwere had initially been invited as guests of honor at Indias 73rd Republic Day celebrations on January 26, but this was cancelled after a fresh wave of coronavirus cases hit the country. Geopolitical developments necessitate summit mechanism The joint summit marked 30 years of India establishing diplomatic ties with the Central Asian region. Several regional developments in recent years have shifted New Delhis priorities when assessing its ties to the region. On one hand, China has continued to build upon its already expansive trade and economic relations with Central Asian countries, including through infrastructure investments along the Belt & Road Initiative and Eurasian engagement. During a virtual meeting of the China plus Central Asia grouping, on January 25, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that he was prepared to open the vast China market to Central Asian exporters and that China would import more quality goods and agricultural products from countries in the region besides continuing to hold the China-Central Asia economic and trade cooperation forum and working to increase bilateral trade to reach US$70 billion by 2030. Xi also proposed the setting up of a dialogue mechanism on e-commerce cooperation between China and the Central Asian region. On the other hand, closer home, a Taliban-led government has taken force in Afghanistan creating new potential for security disturbances and posing vulnerabilities for regional trade and connectivity. Central Asian countries have also established closer ties with Pakistan and do not share New Delhis priorities on Afghanistan. Together, these developments have dramatically changed stakes for Indias engagement with Central Asia. And, irrespective of their differences, all stakeholders would agree on the need for a peaceful, secure, and stable neighborhood. Consequently, holding biennial summit-level talks should increase Indias relevance to Central Asian countries as a reliable economic partner whose security concerns need to be considered during future regional security and diplomatic talks. Outcomes of inaugural India Central Asia Summit In speaking directly with the Central Asian presidents, Modi offered to boost Indias connectivity links and trade with the region and foster people-to-people contacts. He also remarked on Indias existing partnerships with Central Asian countries partnership with Kazakhstan on energy security, with Kyrgyzstan in the field of education and high-altitude research, with Tajikistan on security, and with Turkmenistan in the field of regional connectivity via the Asghgabat Agreement. During the summit, India and Central Asian leaders agreed to regular meetings of Foreign Ministers, Trade Ministers, Culture Ministers, and Secretaries of the Security Council to prepare the groundwork for future summits. An India-Central Asia Secretariat in New Delhi will be set up to facilitate the new summit mechanism. India also decided to set up Joint Working Groups at the senior official level on Afghanistan and regarding the use of Chabahar Port. As per the Delhi Declaration following the Summit: India and the Central Asian member countries of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as well as the Ashgabat Agreement on International Transport and Transit Corridor called upon the other Central Asian countries to consider joining these connectivity initiatives. The sides supported Indias proposal to include the Chabahar Port and noted Turkmenistans proposal to include the Turkmenbashi Port within the framework of INSTC. India also welcomed the interest of Central Asian countries to utilize the services of Shahid Beheshti Terminal at Chabahar Port for facilitating their trade with India and other external markets. Modi suggested that stakeholders prepare a roadmap for the next 30 years, as per comments from Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Reenat Sandhu. Joint counter-terrorism exercises can be held between India and Central Asian countries should they indicate interest. In the background India-EAEU FTA talks New Delhi is engaged in free trade agreement (FTA) talks with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). So far, Russia has backed Indias initiatives to improve its presence in Central Asia and Eurasia. India-Uzbekistan relations Preparing ground to explore a preferential trade agreement India and Uzbekistan fast-tracked talks for a bilateral trade pact ahead of the India Central Asia summit. If concluded, this would be Indias first trade agreement with a Central Asian country, though much ground has to be covered to reach that point. In September 2019, India and Uzbekistan agreed to conduct a joint feasibility study that would set the base for negotiations for a preferential trade agreement (PTA). An India-Uzbekistan PTA would speed up linkage to the landlocked Central Asian region as well as create access to markets in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Trade in 2021 In 2021, in the period between April to November, Indian exports to Uzbekistan reportedly amounted to US$176.22 million and imports from Uzbekistan were worth US$14.58 million. Key export items were pharmaceuticals, mechanical equipment, auto parts, services, and optical instruments and equipment. India mostly imported fruits and vegetable products, juice products and extracts, lubricants, fertilizers, and services from Uzbekistan. Bilateral agreements for sector-wise cooperation In December 2020, the two countries inked nine agreements for cooperation in a range of areas, including new and renewable energy, digital technologies, cyber security, community development projects, and in sharing of information on movement of goods. India and Uzbekistan are also working on a fresh bilateral investment treaty (BIT) as their previous BIT (2000-2017) was terminated. Indian firms invested in Uzbekistan Indian investments in Uzbekistan cover pharmaceuticals, auto components, and the hospitality industries. Indian firms like GMR are interested in developing airports, air corridor, and cargo infrastructure in Uzbekistan. In the education sector, Indias Amity University has set up a campus in Tashkent and Sharda University has opened a campus in Andijan. India has also made moves to develop the start-up ecosystem in Uzbekistan, such as through cooperation with Indian institutions like iCreate. Another player involved in the field of research, technology, start-up, and innovation is DevIT, which has entered into agreements with partners in Uzbekistan. In the energy domain, Indias NTPC (National Thermal Power Corporation Limited) has participated in tenders in Uzbekistan for solar PV power plants and consultancy assignments for gas projects. 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. 84% of Indian Consumers Feel Like Service Is An Afterthought: Zendesk Study Annual Zendesk Customer Experience (CX) Trends Report highlights CX as an imperative for growth 88% of indian Companies See A Direct Link Between Customer Service and Business Performance Consistent Truths - Customer Service Can Drive Growth 94% of Indian consumers say a positive customer service experience makes them more likely to make another purchase 99% of consumers are willing to spend more money on businesses that offer personalized and streamlined experiences 73% of Indian companies report having a three-year strategic plan for customer service 98% of Indian consumers say they are willing to spend more to buy from companies that offer them the chance to find the answers they need themselves Nearly half of Indian companies (46%) view CX as a revenue-generating engine for growth, while only 28% view CX as a cost centre. The Agent X Factor Nearly half of consumers say that helpful and empathetic agents are what matters most when they want to resolve a customer service issue. 73% of APAC consumers are open to product recommendations from service agents. On the other hand, only 59.7% of agents in India are extremely satisfied with their workloads. 48% of Indian company leaders expect an increase in the amount of training offered to agents by a great extent 69% of Indian businesses expect to focus training their agents in providing service across multiple channels 68% of Indian companies plan to develop flexible work team to resolve specialized problems Closing Gaps and Mapping Paths To Growth The future hinges on AI and Conversational Experiences Customers want on-demand service that's available when they need it. 100% of Indian customers surveyed say they are willing to spend money on businesses that offer them the freedom to communicate over whatever channel they choose and dont want to waste valuable time getting agents up to speed on their order or issue. Customers want on-demand service that's available when they need it. 100% of Indian customers surveyed say they are willing to spend money on businesses that offer them the freedom to communicate over whatever channel they choose and dont want to waste valuable time getting agents up to speed on their order or issue. Key insights: 90% of Indian customers expect AI to save time when contacting a company 88% of Indian customers expect AI to keep them from having to repeat themselves after contacting a company for support 87% of Indian customers expect a majority of customer service interactions to be automated at the same time increase the quality of service This means that businesses looking to drive and sustain growthboth now and in the futureneed to focus on two emerging customer service capabilities: artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, and conversational customer service. More than half (56%) of Indian business plan to speed up adoption of AI in customer service, while 43% have already implemented conversational customer service and 38% plan to implement it in the future. This means that businesses looking to drive and sustain growthboth now and in the futureneed to focus on two emerging customer service capabilities: artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, and conversational customer service. More than half (56%) of Indian business plan to speed up adoption of AI in customer service, while 43% have already implemented conversational customer service and 38% plan to implement it in the future. Zendesks customers in India include ITC Foods, Ola, 1MG, DevFactory, Dream11, Slice, Magicbricks.com, etc. For more information, download the report, CX Trends 2022 Access the interactive report Methodology Zendesks 2022 CX Trends Report surveyed more than 3,511 consumers and 4,670 customer service leaders, agents and technology buyers from 21 countries and organizations ranging from small business to enterprise during July and August 2021. Results from each survey were weighted to remove bias from the survey samples. Zendesk Benchmark product usage data came from over 97,500 Zendesk customers worldwide who participate in the Zendesk Benchmark. Zendesk Benchmark data is based on product usage from July 2020 to July 2021. About Zendesk Zendesk started the customer experience revolution in 2007 by enabling any business around the world to take their customer service online. Today, Zendesk is the champion of great service everywhere for everyone, and powers billions of conversations, connecting more than 100,000 brands with hundreds of millions of customers over telephony, chat, email, messaging, social channels, communities, review sites and help centers. Zendesk products are built with love to be loved. The company was conceived in Copenhagen, Denmark, built and grown in California, taken public in New York City, and today employs more than 5,000 people across the world. Learn more at "The business case for customer service is clearer than ever and getting buy-in from the top is a critical first step. Getting this engagement relies on evolving the key metrics - look beyond CSAT and identify the broader business impact that can tell a compelling story, McDermott adds. This years findings bring into sharp focus the need for there to be a more concerted effort across the organization - including better integration of systems and a regular review of metrics. In short, let the insights lead you.Zendesks customers in India include ITC Foods, Ola, 1MG, DevFactory, Dream11, Slice, Magicbricks.com, etc. For more information, download the report, CX Trends 2022 here Access the interactive report here Zendesks 2022 CX Trends Report surveyed more than 3,511 consumers and 4,670 customer service leaders, agents and technology buyers from 21 countries and organizations ranging from small business to enterprise during July and August 2021. Results from each survey were weighted to remove bias from the survey samples.Zendesk Benchmark product usage data came from over 97,500 Zendesk customers worldwide who participate in the Zendesk Benchmark. Zendesk Benchmark data is based on product usage from July 2020 to July 2021.Zendesk started the customer experience revolution in 2007 by enabling any business around the world to take their customer service online. Today, Zendesk is the champion of great service everywhere for everyone, and powers billions of conversations, connecting more than 100,000 brands with hundreds of millions of customers over telephony, chat, email, messaging, social channels, communities, review sites and help centers. Zendesk products are built with love to be loved. The company was conceived in Copenhagen, Denmark, built and grown in California, taken public in New York City, and today employs more than 5,000 people across the world. Learn more at www.zendesk.com While the insights clearly indicate a business case for investments in customer experience, this isnt necessarily being followed through with executive sponsorship or the right tools or programs, such as training for agents. Alongside this is the need for customer service metrics to be mission critical and reviewed with the appropriate frequency and gravitas. 60% of leaders say ROI has been positive over the past 12 months. However, only 23% strongly agree that customer service spending has kept pace with company growth. Eight in ten Indian businesses view customer service as a critical business priority and only 29.5% report that its not owned by the C-suite. Indian businesses fared better in identifying customer service as a board-level priority compared to companies in Australia (44.9%), Japan (55.3%), Singapore (40.3%) and Korea (54.9%), where it is not owned by the C-suite. [All Graphical and Chart Images taken from report here Advertisements Zendesks landmark annual research has highlighted the potential for businesses to drive business success with a focus on customer experiences as 94% of Indian consumers report making purchase decisions based on the quality of customer service they receive. The global Zendesk (NYSE: ZEN) Customer Experience (CX) Trends Report 2022 shows that a majority of Indian businesses surveyed (88%) agree that there is a direct link between customer service and business performance. Despite this, many Indian consumers (84%) feel like customer service is an afterthought for businesses, indicating a gap between consumer expectation and company actions.Customer expectations grew over the past year as 88% of Indian consumers say their customer service standards have increased over the last 12 months. CX is a determining factor for retention and loyalty as 85% of Indian customers are willing to switch brands after one bad experience. Indian businesses recognize the need for having a standout customer service team, with 61% saying that it has an impact on retention. It is perhaps why 65% of Indian companies expect funding for their customer service teams to rise by 25% in the next 12 months.Businesses cannot afford to take a transactional approach to their relationships with their customers. Customer service is now a key differentiator, but this years report reveals some gaps exist between expectation and delivery, said Adrian McDermott, Chief Technology Officer, Zendesk. Customers are noticing this gap and voting with their business - and thats perhaps the clearest signal to businesses that change needs to happen, and fast.Businesses need an institution-wide shift where investments into tools and processes that enhance CX become a priority. The insights are clear on the competitive advantage and scalability that Indian businesses can achieve through these investments. All thats required now is for businesses to take action on these insights to unlock the returns that positive customer experiences can deliver, said Vasudeva Rao Munnaluri, Regional Vice President India & SAARC, Zendesk.The report draws on input from customers, agents, customer service leaders, and business leaders from across 21 countries. Data was also gathered from more than 97,500 Zendesk customers who participated in the companys Benchmark program. As customers call out increased expectations and the readiness to switch after just one bad experience, the need to close the gap between these expectations and the customer experience delivered has never been more urgent. The opportunity cost for many is nothing short of revenue loss and missed opportunities for growth.A majority of Indian businesses surveyed (88%) see a direct link between customer service and business performance compared to their counterparts in Korea (57.7%), Japan (59%), Singapore (66%) and Australia (76%). Most businesses in India (85%) estimate that customer service has a positive impact on business growth. The opportunity is not simply to deliver a single solution-based interaction with the consumer, but to use that point of engagement as an opportunity to deepen the relationship. Customer engagement is up 14% globally from the previous year, with 69% of Indian companies saying that it presented more opportunities for cross-selling.This cuts both ways though, and the insights reveal that customer expectations can drive or stifle growth plans. As consumers spend more online, a majority say that their customer service expectations have increased in the past year. Channels play a big part in meeting these increased expectations and particularly, being where the customer is. However almost half the companies surveyed did not have a strategic plan for customer service over the immediate to medium term.Increased expectations leads to increased pressure on agents, who act as the front line. In fact the research found that 90% of Indian organizations agree that customer service agents are essential to retaining customers.When it comes to resolving issues, almost half the consumers surveyed worldwide are looking for agents who are helpful and empathetic. And customers will parlay this goodwill in a positive experience to being open to recommendations from service agents. Many businesses, though, have yet to recalibrate their view of customer service as a cost center. This has meant that investments in optimizing the function have not kept pace with growth, let alone with increasing customer expectations. So while a majority of businesses acknowledge customer service agents as being pivotal to driving sales, a very small number of those same agents are extremely satisfied with their workloads.Agent empowerment is a clear focus area for 2022, as agent burnout continues to be a challenge. Nearly half (49%) of agents in India are extremely satisfied with the quality of training they receive compared to agents in Australia (10%), Japan (2.5%), Singapore (12%) and Korea (12.2%). Pair this with the fact that 89% of customers in India, 50% in Australia, 46% in Japan, 69% in Singapore and 37% in Korea feel that businesses need to improve agent training, and you have the first case for investing in what agents need. These also include better performance metrics, clear advancement opportunities and, fundamentally, more respect. Researchers from the Washington School of Medicine in Seattle have found minute structural changes in the spike protein of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus. Unsplash Also Read: Epidemiologist Lists 5 Reasons Why India Should Take Omicron Threat Seriously This could act as a blueprint for researchers to design new countermeasures to take down the new variant effectively. The Omicron variant was first identified last year in November, South Africa and today its the main culprit behind the re-emergence of COVID-19 cases. Not only has the variant been termed highly infectious, it is also able to bypass those who are vaccinated or previously infected by the novel coronavirus. The virus, luckily, isn't as infectious partly due to the large number of mutations that were found in the amino acid sequences of the viruss spike protein. The protein grabs on to and breaches the cell it infects. The new variant has 37 mutations from the first SARS CoV-2 variant from 2020. To better understand how Omicron was able to accumulate so many mutations while maintaining effective interactions with ACE2, they decided to look deeper. Researchers used cryo-electron microscopic and X-ray crystallographic studies to look at the 3D structure of Omicrons spike protein. The end result allowed them to reach a resolution of 3 angstroms that made it possible to understand the shape of individual amino acids that formed the spike protein. Researchers also learned how the structural changes in the spike protein altered the effectiveness of the antibodies against earlier variants to fuse to Omicron. iStock Also Read: Omicron Variant Might Have Come From Covid-19 Mutation In Mice, Claim Scientists Based on these techniques, scientists were able to show how the mutations altered the way the protein reacts with the antibodies so that the ability of almost all monoclonal antibodies against it is reduced, while simultaneously enhancing the ability of the spike receptor-binding domain to fuse ACE2. The end result is that it makes it possible for the receptor-binding domain to go past antibodies targeting it and fuse to ACE2 even more strongly than before. David Veesler, an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and associate professor of biochemistry, explained, "This virus has incredible plasticity: It can change a lot and still maintain all the functions it needs to infect and replicate. And it's almost guaranteed Omicron is not the last variant we're going to see. He added, The findings provide a blueprint that researchers can use to design new countermeasures, whether they be vaccines or therapeutics, against omicron and other coronavirus variants that may emerge. For more science and technology stories, keep reading Indiatimes.com. A long-running Mars mission has suggested that liquid water may have flowed on the planet around two billion years ago, which is much later than scientists believed, according to a report by LiveScience. NASA Also Read: NASA Curiosity Rover Has Found Unknown Organic Molecules On Mars Scientists discovered the existence of chloride salt deposits left behind by flowing water based on years of data being collected from NASAs Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter that has been taking rounds of the planet since 2006. This was possible by studying several images of salt deposits taken from the orbiters Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM). They interpreted a younger age for the salt deposits using a method dubbed crater counting -- basically, if a region is younger, it has fewer craters in -- along with adjustments for other parameters like the atmosphere of the planet, to help scientists better gauge its age. The new results push the existence of water on Mars from earlier believed three billion years to as little as two billion years ago. This could offer more insight on life on Mars as well as its geological history. Leslie Tamppari, MRO's deputy project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explains, "Part of the value of MRO is that our view of the planet keeps getting more detailed over time. The more of the planet we map with our instruments, the better we can understand its history." Representative Image: NASA Also Read: NASA's Perseverance Rover Finds Organic Chemicals On Mars: Proof Of Life? Scientists also generated elevation maps using the orbiters wide-angle context camera and the imagery provided by the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) that can spot craters as tiny as the Perseverance rover. Salt minerals were first discovered by Mars Odyssey around 14 years ago, but MRO, with its higher resolution hardware, offers a more in-depth look. For more science and technology stories, keep reading Indiatimes.com. A thief who is known as a "snake burglar" for crawling on the floor to avoid any alarm systems detecting him is in action in California, USA. The burglar was seen stealing $50,000 in silver but only on camera, the motion detectors couldn't catch him. The store owner Cesar Meyer told KTLA that the surveillance footage shows the burglar wriggling on the carpeted floor of Crown Gold Exchange in Riverside, California. He went through items in a back room for five minutes. The burglar's approach is virtually the same as the one used in at least six robberies in Riverside in recent months, police say. Last week this burglar apparently used a hammer to break into the drywall of a vacant storefront next door and got into the gold exchange business from there. A video of that was out which showed a man in a dark hoodie, dark pants and sneakers opening drawers while on the floor and taking items, then sliding out. Google Maps Cesar Meyer said, This guy slithered in, crawled on the ground, kind of like Lt Dan-style, hand over hand, didnt move his legs, and was able to rummage through my entire back room for a full five minutes, Meyer said. He blamed his ADT alarm system for not detecting the burglary in progress. "Theres definitely something faulty, something going on with the ADT motion detectors, because if theyre designed to detect motion, this guy is moving around a lot in all of these businesses, and ADTs motion detectors are not picking it up," Meyer told the TV station. KTLA Well, this burglar sure knows how things are done. For the latest from trending, click here If you are even minutely interested in finance or go through the financial news occasionally, one name that you must have come across often is Masayoshi Son. He is the Chairman and CEO of Softbank Group, a Japanese multinational conglomerate holding company that also includes the Softbank Vision Fund that focuses on investing globally across various sectors and industries like technology, energy, financial etc. Also Read: Swiggy Turns Into A Decacorn With $10.7 Billion Valuation After Latest Funding shutterstock Also Read: This Company Is Allowing All Its Employees To Work From Abroad For 6 Weeks Every Year Although Masayoshi Son is certainly renowned globally for the wide range of investments and deals that he has cracked, not many are aware of a unique feat that he achieved a few years back in 2016. Also Read: 10 Bollywood Celebrities And Their Startup Investments The $45 Billion Funding In 2016, Masayoshi Son, who is a 3rd generation 'Zainichi Korean', met the then Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. And by the end of that meeting, Son managed to convince Mohammed bin Salman, MBS, as he is known, to commit $45bn from Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund (PIF) to Sons Vision Fund. And a year later, Son opened up about that meeting in an interview with Bloombergs David Rubenstein. When asked if he got the money from MBS in one hour, Son replied No, thats not true. I got $45bn in 45 minutes, thats $1bn per minute. On being asked how he had pulled off this remarkable feat, Son said that he had told MBS I am going to give you a gift, a Masa gift, a $1 trillion gift. OK, now its interesting. You invest $100bn, I give you $1 trillion. Mohammed bin Salman went ahead to settle on the amount of $45bn as an initial investment in Masayoshi Sons fund. The Saudi crown prince had previously grabbed the headlines after he reportedly spent $500m on a yacht, $300m on a chateau in France and a mammoth $450m on a painting. Also Read: Saudi Prince Planning A Staggering 3 Billion Bid To Takeover Manchester United Son Believes The IQ Of AI Will Surpass Human IQ shutterstock Also Read: 10 Hollywood Stars Who Have Invested In Their Tequila Brands At the Future Investment Initiative held in Riyadh in October of 2017, Softbank Group's CEO Masayoshi Son stated that AI will be the greatest tool in humanitys history, one that will disrupt and redefine every industry. And thats not all. After reminding the audience that Einstein had an IQ of 200, Son spoke about a future where AI measured by IQ will expand to 10,000. He talked about a world where humans would live with 10 billion robots with superintelligence, also stating that they maybe will laugh at us. Son further went on to tell his audience that the chip manufacturer ARM which he purchased for $32bn in 2016 and which is part of his SoftBank Holdings empire will come to control up to 99% of the global market. When speaking about MBS at that event, Son lauded the crown prince as a visionary who already had the understanding, the vision which happened to meet the mind in 45 minutes. Thats how we create friendship, partnership, and the bonding of minds. Also Read: Why Reliance Paid Over Rs 900 Crore For Robotics Startup Addverb For more of such interesting financial content and the latest news, click here. Click here to download CRED. 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. Wekiva High School graduates celebrate as streamers fall at the end of their graduation ceremony at UCF Arena on May 30, 2013. (Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel) (Jacob Langston / Orlando Sentinel) Floridas high school class of 2022 is the first facing the higher hurdle to graduation state leaders erected four years ago. Given the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, many educators fear it will be an unfair obstacle. In Central Florida alone, more than 10,000 teenagers are struggling to meet test score requirements needed for a diploma just months before graduation. Advertisement The State Board of Education may decide to help by delaying a rule adopted in 2018. At its Feb. 9 meeting, the board will consider whether to put off implementation of a tougher test score rule that kicks in for this years seniors, said Cassie Palelis, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education, in an email. In my opinion, that would be fair, said Harold Border, chief of high schools for Orange County Public Schools. Advertisement OCPS, the regions largest school system, has more than 8,200 seniors who havent yet met the math or reading test score requirements needed to earn a diploma. The Lake County school district has about 1,270 and the Seminole County school district about 930. Across the state, educators say many of these teenagers would meet the test-score requirements in place previously. They think that because the pandemic led to lost class time and missed testing opportunities these seniors should earn diplomas under the older rules. But unsure if the state will act, local high schools have been offering extra help after school and in class and extra testing sessions to high school seniors still missing a required score. Were giving our kids every opportunity, said Jordan Rodriguez, principal of Seminole High School in Sanford. At least 74 of the 214 Seminole High seniors missing a needed test score would have passed under the old rules, school officials said, and others likely would have if the state hadnt eliminated an alternative test previously used to earn math scores, they added. Every high school principal in the district is worried about seniors still missing scores, said Mike Rice, assistant superintendent over high schools for Seminole County Public Schools. We are very focused on our 12th graders and trying to ensure they make it across the stage, he added. After the graduation ceremony, seniors at Hagerty High School in Seminole County leave the UCF Bounce House in Orlando, Fla., Friday, May 14, 2021. (Orlando Sentinel Photo/Willie J. Allen Jr.) (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel) Florida waived all the consequences of state testing last year, meaning the class of 2021 seniors could graduate even if they had not passed the required tests. Last spring, 8.5% of the class of 2021, or more than 15,780 students, graduated though they had not passed at least one of the needed tests, the Florida Department of Education said. In 2020, state testing was canceled, and the state also allowed seniors to graduate without required test scores. Advertisement Some school leaders want to see another such waiver this year, with the state scrapping all consequences tied to testing, from graduation to A-to-F school grades. Both the Hillsborough and Miami-Dade school districts sent letters requesting such action to Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, according to the Tampa Bay Times and the Miami Herald. The Seminole County School Board expects to discuss at a Feb. 8 meeting whether to send a similar appeal. Palelis, the education department spokesperson, did not immediately respond to follow-up questions about whether Corcoran might issue a broad waiver again this year. The State Board, according to her email, will take up only the narrower issue of whether to delay its 2018 rule, meaning this years seniors would need test scores to graduate but not the higher ones required by the boards vote four years ago. Educators say even that change would help. Florida high school students must pass the states Algebra 1 and 10th-grade language arts exam to earn a high school diploma and get multiple chances to take those tests. If they do not pass those Florida Standards Assessments, or FSA, exams, they can use concordant scores from the ACT or SAT, the national college admissions exams, in their place. In May 2018, the state board voted to require higher ACT and SAT scores higher, an effort to match the challenge of achieving those scores to that of passing the FSA tests. It also eliminated using math scores from the Post Secondary Education Readiness Test, or PERT, as a substitute for the state algebra exam. That new rule was to start with students in the class of 2022. Advertisement At the time, some educators, including an administrator from Seminole, pleaded with the state board not to raise that bar, saying those alternatives provided a needed option for students who struggled on FSA. Hiking the scores then would prevent students from graduating who would otherwise earn diplomas and find success after high school. In 2017, more than 35,000 of the more than 168,000 students who earned diplomas that year used used scores from the ACT, SAT or PERT to graduate, state figures showed. Now educators see those worries playing out and view the change as particularly unfair given the pandemic. Current 12th graders missed their first testing opportunity when Florida shut down schools and then canceled FSA testing in the spring of 2020 when they were in 10th grade. Last school year, many attended school at least partly online and some, again, missed testing chances. This year schools are wrestling with both student and teacher absences because of COVID. All of it has impacted academics. Its been the perfect storm, said Tina Calderone, a member of the Seminole County School Board, who last week suggested the board consider asking the state for a waiver. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > I dont mind having tougher standards, she said, but implementing them for students who have had most of their high school years disrupted by the pandemic seems unwise. Guidance counselor Meg Durshimer agrees. She works at a high school in Manatee County on the gulf coast and has had heartbreaking conversations with seniors who have the needed credits and grade-point average to graduate but are still missing the test scores. Advertisement One girl broke down in her office at Palmetto High School. She couldnt even speak. The tears were just streaming down her face, Durshimer said. The guidance counselor wrote state leaders in December asking them to put off the tougher test requirements. Students are trying to come back from a year and half of COVID education, she wrote, and are anxious, depressed, and terrified they will not get their diploma. Under the rules that kick in for the class of 2022, students who did not pass the FSA algebra exam need 16 out of 36 on ACT math, 420 out of 800 on SAT math or 430 out of 760 on the PSAT math section. Those who didnt pass the FSA language arts exam need a 480 on the SAT or an average score of 18 on ACT reading and English. lpostal@orlandosentinel.com At their March Board Meeting, downtown development district Rio Nuevo announced plans to fund and advance multiple real estate projects. The announcements come as Rio Nuevo reports it is back to pre-pandemic sales tax revenue and is seeing strong requests for new construction downtown. With omicron swarming the world, officials have identified BA.2. as an offshoot of that highly transmissible variant. A Democrat-led House committee voted mostly along party lines Wednesday to release a bill legalizing recreational marijuana use by adults in Delaware. A lone Republican joined Democrats on the Health and Human Development committee in voting to release the bill, which will now likely head to an appropriations committee for consideration. The bill creates a state-controlled and licensed pot industry that supporters say will eliminate the black market while creating jobs and boosting the states tax coffers. The measure is the third iteration of legislation that was first introduced in 2019 but which has never received a floor vote. The bill legalizes possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by adults 21 and older, but it prohibits people from growing their own pot. The state would instead oversee a manufacturing and distribution industry and levy a 15% tax on retail sales. Chief sponsor Rep. Ed Osienski, a Newark Democrat, said the bill will create good-paying jobs for Delawareans while striking a blow against the criminal element which profits from the thriving illegal market in our state. Opponents argue that legalization will lead to increased marijuana use among teens and young adults, expose business owners to liability, and result in more traffic deaths and injuries. They also say it will do little to eliminate illegal sales. The Associated Press reported earlier this month that the legalization of marijuana in California has done little to discourage black market sales in that state, and that some California licensees are simultaneously participating in the black market _ whose estimated value of $8 billion is roughly double the amount of legal sales _ in order to make a profit. Rep. Charles Postles, a Milford Republican, suggested that the best approach to marijuana lies somewhere between legalization and excessive punitiveness. He argued, however, that use of marijuana with high THC content has been proven to have permanent detrimental effects on brain development among teens and young adults. Why would we want to saddle our kids and our grandkids and limit their potential, their lifelong earnings even, by exposing them to this harmful drug that would impair their brain development? Postles asked. To me, that eclipses all the other discussions. 19 States Currently, 18 states, along with the District of Columbia, have legalized marijuana. But supporters of legalization have faced an uphill battle in Delaware, given opposition by Democratic Gov. John Carney and officials in the law enforcement and medical communities. Carney administration officials expressed several concerns about the legislation Wednesday, despite changes made to last years version. Public health officials are concerned, for example, that lower licensing fees for recreational pot facilities compared to fees for existing medical marijuana facilities will lead to a shift to recreational production, to the detriment of medical marijuana patients. Agriculture and public health officials also argue that outdoor production of recreational marijuana poses security and product safety risks, and that any production should be indoors only. Agricultural officials also say the bill raises questions about agency jurisdiction over crop production, processing and sales. The bill states that the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement would be responsible for marijuana enforcement and calls for the creation of a new Office of Marijuana Control Commissioner within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security. State finance officials, meanwhile, say the bill still does not address important issues including tax enforcement, banking and indemnification of state employees who would be regulating the sale of a product that is still illegal under federal law. In an effort to broaden support for his bill, Osienski made several changes to last years version. They include adding the requirement of a comprehensive business plan to the scoring criteria for licenses and directing 7% of marijuana tax revenue to a Justice Reinvestment Fund. The fund would be focused on criminal justice reform and services for economically disadvantaged persons in areas disproportionately affected by enforcement of drug laws. The revised legislation also eliminates a proposed Social Equity Loan fund to provide grants and low-interest loans to social equity license applicants. That provision meant the previous bill needed a three-fourths supermajority votes in the House and Senate, making passage extremely unlikely. The revised bill requires smaller three-fifths majority votes while still providing special considerations, including reduced fees, for social equity and microbusiness applicants. The social equity applicant pool would be limited to those who live in a disproportionately affected area, have been convicted of a marijuana-related offense, or are the child of a person convicted of a marijuana-related offense. The new version of the bill proposed by Osienski, a retired business agent for a sprinkler fitters union, also eliminates a requirement that applicants for cultivation and manufacturing licenses use union labor to build or renovate facilities. The current version instead requires a license applicant to enter into a labor peace agreement that would prevent a union from engaging in picketing, boycotts or other economic interference with a licensees business, while prohibiting the business from disrupting any union efforts to organize workers. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Cannabis Delaware New York Attorney General Letitia James said the state will receive the maximum amount of $230 million available under the $26 billion settlement agreement.with the nations three major pharmaceutical distributors Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen and Johnson & Johnson over the companies role in the nationwide opioid crisis. Since the agreement in July, which included 52 states and territories, thousands of local governments across the country have joined during the subdivision sign-on period, according to James. New York has secured full subdivision participation, ensuring that it will receive the maximum amount of $230 million available to it. Every region across New York has been impacted by the opioid crisis and every community has been devastated in its wake, said James. We went after these manufacturers and distributors because they must pay for their roles in this crisis and for the lives they have forever harmed. While no amount of money will ever bring back the New Yorkers weve tragically lost to opioids, with full participation from all of New Yorks political subdivisions, we are doing all we can to get the most money possible for our state to put into treatment and prevention efforts. Drug Distributors Signal $26B Opioid Settlement with States to Proceed Last September, the thee large U.S. drug distributors and drugmaker Johnson & Johnson said they would proceed with a proposed $26 billion settlement resolving claims that they fueled the opioid epidemic after enough states joined. Cities and counties within participating states havdthrough Jan. 2 to join as well. The companies deny wrongdoing. Along with James, the attorneys general of North Carolina, Tennessee, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas led the negotiations for the multistate agreement. Under a new law, all funds collected by the state from opioid settlements or litigation victories will be allocated specifically for abatement efforts in communities devastated by the opioid epidemic and will not go towards the states general fund. Cases against Mallinckrodt and Rochester Drug Cooperative are now moving separately through U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Topics New York Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) Director Anita Fox announced that a Michigan resident who pled guilty to auto insurance fraud has been sentenced to pay restitution and fines of more than $15,000. Over the course of several months in 2016, Amelia Zea-Behnke, of Delta Township, submitted fraudulent automobile insurance claims seeking reimbursement for providing attendant care services to her son, who had previously been injured in an auto accident. A subsequent joint investigation by the DIFS Fraud Investigation Unit (FIU) and the Michigan Department of Attorney General proved that Ms. Zea-Behnke did not provide those attendant care services during the claimed time period and was therefore not entitled to the payments she had received. As a result of the investigation, Ms. Zea-Behnke was charged with the following: four counts of insurance fraud; and four counts of false pretenses $1,000 $20,000. Ms. Zea-Behnke pled guilty to one count of false pretenses on October 27, 2021. Her plea bargain included the payment of $15,498.75 in restitution to the defrauded insurance company and the dismissal of the other pending charges. On January 12, 2022, Zea-Behnke was officially sentenced to pay that restitution as well as fines and costs, by Judge Rosemarie Aquilina in 30th Circuit Court, bringing the case to a close. Source: Michigan DIFS Topics Auto Fraud Michigan A new lawsuit alleging negligence by school officials and a Michigan school shooting suspects parents was filed Thursday over the attack at Oxford High School that killed four students and wounded six other students and a teacher. The lawsuit was announced by Detroit-area attorney Ven Johnson on behalf of the parents of Tate Myer, who was slain Nov. 30, and other students who witnessed the shootings. Were sad and heartbroken _ our lives forever changed, William Myre said at a news conference. Our family will never be the same. Were not doing good. All we do is walk around the house and think about Tate. The lawsuit, which seeks at least $25,000, names Oxford High Schools dean of students, two counselors and three teachers as defendants. The shooting suspect and his parents also are named as defendants. The Associated Press sent an email seeking comment from the school district. The suspects parents are accused of intentional, reckless and negligent conduct that led to the mass shooting. The Oxford High School staff and teachers are accused of gross negligence that led to the shooting by not removing the shooter from the school building earlier. The lawsuit was filed Jan. 27 in Oakland County Circuit Court on behalf of Tate Myers parents, William and Sheri. Also named as plaintiffs are Chad and Meghan Gregory, whose son, Keegan, was hiding in a school bathroom with Justin Shilling when Shilling was fatally shot. The lawsuit also was filed on behalf of Lauren Aliano, whose daughters, Sophia Kempen and Grace Kempen, were hiding in classrooms during the shooting. A fellow student, Ethan Crumbley, 15, is charged as an adult with murder and other crimes. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, later were charged with involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors have said the gun used in the shooting was bought days before by James Crumbley and their son had full access to it. The lawsuit filed Thursday says Keegan Gregory was texting his family from the bathroom stall and describing these horrific events as Shilling was shot. Ethan Crumbley then ordered Keegan out of the stall and onto the floor, whereupon Keegan instead dashed out the bathroom door to safety, the lawsuit read. The school, in Oakland County, is about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Detroit. It reopened Monday with its interior renovated since the shooting. In December, Jeffrey and Brandi Franz filed a pair of lawsuits in federal court and county circuit court seeking $100 million each against the district. Their 17-year-old daughter, Riley, was shot in the neck. Her 14-year-old sister, Bella, a ninth grader, was next to her at the time she was shot. Their lawsuit says school officials and high school staff didnt do enough to prevent the shooting and protect students. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Legislation Michigan K-12 Sixty years after he found out he was adopted, Richard Berglund has multiplied his family ties by three-fold through the help of the DNA website 23andMe. He stands outside of his boat club business in Fort Lauderdale on the New River. (Scott Luxor/Contributor) The founder of a Fort Lauderdale-based boat club recently met his biological family after he didnt know who they were for 75 years. But his story isnt only about the amount of time it has taken. The meeting of Richard Berglund and his sister, older brother and niece involves an adoption, a close encounter during a vacation and a search on the DNA database website 23andMe. Advertisement Berglund was born in 1946 and was fostered by a couple. In 1948, after spending about a year and a half with them, the couple decided to adopt him. Berglunds mother preferred not to tell him about his adoption until he was 15. But even after that, she asked him to avoid looking into the history of his birth parents, and he agreed not to. Now, 60 years after he found out he was adopted, Berglund has multiplied his family ties three-fold. Advertisement Three years ago, I decided to submit a 23andMe DNA kit to see if it might uncover some valuable information, he said. Initially, I didnt discover much that was helpful until September of 2021, when I received a message through the site from a woman saying that we are probably family. Within 24 hours, I realized that suddenly I had found my missing sister, her daughter and an older brother. This photo is of Richard Berglund at 11 when he was with his adopted family. (Richard Berglund/Courtesy ) Berglund originally started searching for any signs of his family through 23andMe about six months before the September revelation that missing family might be out there. During those months, he basically had given up hope of finding his biological relatives. Then a woman named Melissa Hurd contacted him because she discovered a high DNA compatibility between them. Melissa also told me that if the high percentage match that 23andMe indicated was true, then her mother would be my sister, he said. I was just floored! I couldnt believe it. I mean, I just never dreamed that all of a sudden this was going to pop up out of nowhere. Hurd asked Berglund if he would make a phone call to her mother. Berglund agreed and made the phone call to Danielle Blattner to see if it could be true. Danielle is just the most wonderful, sweetest person youd ever want to talk to, he said. We talked for almost an hour and a half. Then she started telling me stories about our parents and what happened and that they had a child back in 1946 in Denver, Colorado, which is where Im from. She told me that her mother sent a child out to a foster home. I said to her, Oh, my God, this is starting to sound way, way, way too close to my story. Blattner had mentioned a name that rang a bell for Berglund. Her fathers last name was Ledkins. Berglund said to his wife that he was sure he had seen that name before. So he and his wife went to check out documents in their home. His wife pulled out the adoption papers. Beside his own name on the papers, there was another one Robert Harron Ledkins, which turned out to be his original birth name. I told her that I thought that was the name of the guy that did the original paperwork, he said. But my wife said, No, thats you! I couldnt believe it. Once it finally sunk in that the whole experience was real, Berglund ordered a new birth certificate from the state of Colorado because he now knew not only his fathers name but his birth mother Margarets name as well. Ironically, Margaret was also the name of his adoptive mother. Advertisement The one who started it all Hurd, Berglunds niece, now lives in El Paso. Hurds mother is Blattner, Berglunds sister. I was really just involved at the start of it, Hurd said. I did the 23andMe DNA test for health reasons, because I wanted to find out if I had certain genes. But as you do the test, theres an application you can put on your phone and your computer and it gives you just a ton of other information. Melissa Hurd is Richard Berglund's long-lost niece. (Melissa Hurd/Courtesy ) While the web-based service wont tell you who your relatives are, there is a threshold of a matching percentage that is a strong indicator about who might be someone to check out. There was one person who had a 12.9% DNA match, which was quite a bit, she said. She found out that his name was Richard Berglund. It showed his birthday, and that he lives in Florida. I read his bio, and theres just a short paragraph that says that hes been searching for his real family his entire life, and that he was hoping that by doing this, hell find some information, Hurd said. Advertisement But she didnt contact him at first. She said she sat on it for a while and thought about who he could be. Out of the blue, two or three days later, I had the thought that I remember mom talking about our family history, she said. Grandma had told her that she had given up two baby boys for adoption. I did the math in my head and I realized that this must be my uncle. It had got to be one of the long-lost brothers. This is a photo of the family's late mother. (Danielle Blattner/Courtesy ) Hurd decided to send Berglund a message and let him know that she thought they might be related and asked if he would be willing to talk to her mom to exchange information to see if they might be siblings. A sister finds her long-lost brother Blattner lives in Anderson, South Carolina. She is also the sister of Bill Ledkins. Danielle Blattner is Richard Berglund's long-lost sister. (Danielle Blattner/Courtesy ) Melissa did all of this communicating with Richard the day before I found out, she said. My husband and I were with friends that day. I had this recurring thought that I should ask God for a hallelujah year. I couldnt get that thought out of my mind. So I looked up what hallelujah means. It meant something that is over the top, undeniable, something impossible made real. It was also her birthday. Advertisement I prayed that prayer, and then went home and didnt think much of it, Blattner said. The next day, my daughter Melissa contacted me and asked me if I had a brother who was adopted out. I told her yes, that there actually were two boys. She texted me back and she said she thought she found one of them. This photo is of Danielle Blattner when she was 17. (Danielle Blattner/Courtesy ) Blattner ended up connecting with her potential brother by phone. After about 15 or 20 minutes of basic talking, I felt that this was going to be a turning point, she said. There was a question that only he would know from the past. When he confirmed the memory, I knew we had to explore more. Richard and I started conversing by email, Blattner said. He said to me that hes so stunned and so flabbergasted that he found his sister. He asked me if he could just call me his sister instead of my name for a while. I told him Yes, you can, brother! Big brother finds little brother Bill Ledkins lives in Kansas City and he is Berglunds older brother. When Melissa and Danielle finally realized the truth about Richard and everything matched, I can tell you that my reaction was a mixture of amazement, surprise and a deep-seated joy, Ledkins said. He said he had an inkling that a sibling might show up at some point. Advertisement Just before my mother passed away, she came to Kansas City and shared Thanksgiving dinner with us. At that time, she told me that there were two brothers out there and she thought I ought to know about it. But she didnt give me any other information, he said. BIll Ledkins is Richard Berglund's older brother. (Bill Ledkins/Courtesy ) He never pursued information about his brothers, partly because he didnt know about online tools like 23andMe. But Melissa found the way. So although it definitely came as a surprise when it finally did happen, I wasnt completely surprised since I knew a sibling was out there, he said. Reunion of sister and brother Since Berglund and Blattner had already developed chemistry as brother and sister, they didnt want to see each other via Zoom. Instead, they agreed to meet up in Savannah in mid-December to make it a big reunion. For Berglund it was a seven-hour drive, but he said he was more than willing to do it for a first meeting with his new sister. Everybody in the hotel knew what was going on already when he arrived, he said. Advertisement So I walked in the door and there she was, Berglund said, grinning. I gave her a huge hug. We took a picture that tells everything. It was our first embrace ever. Danielle Blattner, left, and Richard Berglund, right, met for the first time last December at a hotel in Savannah. (Danielle Blattner/Courtesy ) Berglund said that for two days at the hotel, all they did was hug, tell stories and cry. We just cried over and over and over. Ive never had so much emotion inside of me in my life. To have this relative, who youve never known, to be the sweetest person on Earth is indescribable, he said. While looking through old photos, they figured out that in 1991 both of them were vacationing with their respective families in Barbados during the same month and the same hotel. My wife noticed the dates and locations on some of the photos, Berglund said. We were both there on vacation at the same time, but we never would have recognized each other. It does seem like we were bound to cross paths at some point. Its just the most bizarre coincidence. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > Blattner also reflected on her reunion experience. Advertisement We talked about family members, she said. We talked about the events that led us to that moment. We just kept looking at each other in shock and amazement. Blattner said every moment was meaningful and precious. I cant explain this experience, she said. It is as if our DNA met and our souls recognized each other. Richardss voice was so familiar, even his gestures recognizable to me. It was as if the past became present right before my very eyes. Its so special to me and so heartwarming to know that its never too late for family. The reunited siblings are aware of a younger brother who they have also never located. Hes going to be their next effort to locate a missing family member. Berglund has contacted the state of Colorado, where he obtained his birth certificate, to see about getting his birth certificate. The fact that we found Richard has given everyone hope that maybe well find the other brother as well, Blattner said. Relatives of passengers who died in crashes of Boeing 737 Max jets are pressing Attorney General Merrick Garland to help them re-open a settlement that shielded Boeing from criminal prosecution for misleading federal safety regulators about the plane. Several family members and their lawyers held a video meeting Wednesday with Garland. They told the attorney general that the Justice Department violated a federal law by not informing them before finalizing the settlement in January 2021, two weeks before the Trump administration left office. Garland expressed sympathy to relatives who spoke during the meeting but made no promises or substantive comments on the case, according to participants. Last month, the families of more than a dozen passengers filed a motion in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, alleging that the Justice Department violated a 2004 victims rights law by not consulting with them before reaching the settlement, which shielded Boeing from criminal prosecution. They are also seeking documents that the department gathered during its investigation. Michael Stumo, whose 24-year-old daughter Samya was killed in the 2019 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max, said passengers relatives were blindsided and erupted in anger, shock and renewed grief when the settlement was announced. We dont think they could have gotten this deal through if they had allowed us to have any input and knowledge, he said. Stumo and two relatives of other passengers spoke during the meeting. Their lawyer, Paul Cassell, a former federal judge, argued that failing to inform families ahead of time made the settlement illegal. They asked Garland to support their legal argument that the Trump administrations Justice Department violated a crime-victims law. Cassell believes that if a court accepts that argument, it could invalidate the agreement. The family members, however, stopped short of asking Garland for a specific outcome, such as whether negotiations with Boeing should start over. Several high-ranking Justice Department officials in Washington and Texas also attended the meeting. The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Boeing also declined to comment. In all, 346 people were killed in two Max crashes, the first in Indonesia in 2018, and another five months later in Ethiopia. All Max jets were grounded worldwide for nearly two years. They were cleared to fly again after Boeing overhauled an automated flight-control system that activated erroneously in both crashes. In the January 2021 settlement, Boeing blamed two former test pilots for misleading the Federal Aviation Administration about the flight-control system before regulators approved the plane in 2017. The Justice Department agreed to drop a criminal charge of conspiracy to defraud the government if Boeing follows terms of the deal for three years. Nearly $1.8 billion of the settlement money was set aside for airlines that lost money because their planes were grounded. Another $500 million went into a fund for victims relatives, and Boeing agreed to pay a $243.6 million fine. Naoise Connolly Ryan, whose husband Mick died in the second crash, called the deal a slap on the wrist that wrongly holds no executive accountable. She also spoke to Garland during Wednesdays meeting. Since the settlement, one of the former Boeing test pilots, Mark Forkner, has been charged with fraud. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Aviation Aerospace InsurTech Accelerant raised more than $190 million at a $2 billion pre-money valuation in its latest funding round. Atlanta-based Accelerant serves a network of managing general underwriters (MGU) and program administrators (PA) that it refers to as its members. The firm supplies underwriters with risk exchange and data analytics coupled with long-term capacity commitments. Its InSightFull data platform helps members handle operational and regulatory complexity. Its focus is on small and medium-sized businesses and their insurance needs. We believe that data informs our shared assessment of risk and its why we share things such as neighborhood crime data, geo mapping of claims data and even the proximity of fire stations with our members, the Accelerant spokesperson said. This kind of granular data can help inform how or whether MGUs take advantage of an opportunity. The company said it will be expanding its geographical footprint and reinvesting in its InSightFull platform. While Accelerant is targeting small business customers, in the future, the company said it wants to build upon its success in additional markets as well. The round was led by Eldridge, with participation from Deer Park, Marshall Wace, MS&AD Ventures and others. Existing majority investor Altamont Capital Partners also participated. Financial Technology Partners served as exclusive advisor to Accelerant and its board of directors, and Sidley Austin LLP acted as legal counsel for the latest funding round. Topics InsurTech Tech Funding NFP Welcomes Cyber Risk Experts Mauge and Cavaliere Insurance broker NFP announced the addition of Courtney Mauge, senior vice president, cyber practice leader, and Rick Cavaliere, senior vice president, senior cyber broker. Mauge joins the company from Marsh FINPRO, where she managed a cyber/errors and omissions (E&O) liability portfolio and provided national thought leadership. Mauge is a frequent speaker on cyber/E&O topics, most notably privacy risks and the human element of cyber risk. Prior to that, she held cyber, broker and professional liability risk positions with Willis Towers Watson and Aon Risk Solutions. Cavaliere comes to NFP from Willis Towers Watson, where he managed its cyber and professional liability practice. Cavaliere oversaw client strategy, negotiated placements with carriers, handled complex claims, and cultivated and grew relationships with clients and prospects. He also acted as COO for the Willis Cyber/E&O team, helping drive client strategies and partner with carriers for best-in-class terms and service. Cavaliere earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois School of Law and his bachelors degree in finance from Loyola University Chicago. Both will report to Matthew Schott, managing director and head of NFPs Management & Professional liability practice. Chubb Appoints Dillman to Digital Transformation Post Chubb Limited announced that Julie Dillman has been appointed executive vice president, Chubb Group and Digital Transformation Officer. Currently, senior vice president, Chubb Group and global head of Operations and Technology, Dillman in her new role will partner with Chubbs Chief Digital Business Officer Sean Ringsted and the companys senior business executives to lead the companys transformation, including how work gets done and the skills and technology employed to serve customers and distribution partners. Dillman will continue to have executive oversight for the companys global operations and technology. Dillman joined Chubb in 2016 from Travelers Insurance, where, as executive vice president, Operations, eBusiness and Analytics, and a member of the companys management committee, she led operations and corporate-wide digital and analytics delivery. Dillman began her career as a personal insurance underwriter and held positions of increasing responsibility including product development leadership and integration leadership roles through multiple platforms. She was appointed senior vice president, Chubb Group in 2016. Thomas Kropp, who currently serves as deputy global Operations and Technology officer, has been named senior vice president, Chubb Group and global head of Operations and Technology, and will report to Dillman. In this capacity, Kropp will have global responsibility for technology, service operations, business resiliency, procurement, real estate and general business efficiencies. Dillman will retain direct responsibility for certain operational areas including workplace experience and flight operations. The appointments were effective January 1, 2022. Dillman will continue to report to Evan Greenberg, chairman and chief executive officer, and John Keogh, president and chief operating officer. Topics Cyber Willis Towers Watson Chubb Seeing no action on bills that would address Floridas spiraling property insurance problems head-on, one state senator took a different route Thursday and proposed reducing insurers payments to the states hurricane catastrophe fund, a move he said could save policyholders as much as $1 billion a year. The amendment by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, to Senate Bill 468 surprised some but sparked considerable discussion at the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting. Weve only known about this for the last 24 hours, said Gina Wilson, chief operating officer for the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. She urged Senators to wait on the amendment. This is a substantial reset to the cat fund, Wilson said. Because of the substantial impact on the cat fund, I think a deliberate and collaborative process would be important to really understand the impact of what this could do to the fund. Brandes, who is serving in his last session, has been outspoken about the need to remedy some of the issues that are causing Florida property insurers to raise premiums, slash coverage and, in some cases, become insolvent. But a Senate bill that would address what insurers have said are some of the main culprits behind the crisis, including solicitation by roofers, out-of-control litigation costs, and the requirement that most homeowner policies must pay for full replacements on roofs, has not received a committee hearing in the 2022 session. That has prompted Brandes to seek other approaches to try and reduce the escalating cost of property insurance. We have yet to see a bill that addresses or would make a real impact on Florida policyholders, Brandes said in the meeting. We have to do something. I think he saw this as a good opportunity to get the discussion going, said Paul Handerhan, president of the Federal Association for Insurance Reform, which supported the senators amendment. The catastrophe fund provides a backstop or state-managed reinsurance for Florida insurers who face huge losses after hurricanes. Premiums are paid annually by insurers, and part of those premiums go into a rapid cash buildup factor. The factor allows quick access to cash that isnt tied up in bonds, officials said. Brandes amendment would have allowed insurers to buy into the cat fund at a lower level of losses to pay lower premiums and access the cat fund reserves at a lower threshold than is now required. The amendment also would have required the fee for the rapid buildup factor only when the cat funds cash balance dips below $10 billion. The cat fund now has about $11 billion in reserves and another $3.5 billion in pre-event bonds, Wilson explained. The fund by law is limited to about $17 billion in total reserves, but one recent report noted it now has a claims-paying capacity of more than $20 billion. Brandes and others have argued that the excess capacity is not needed at this time, and that reducing the premiums from insurers would mean the savings could be passed on to consumers. The relief would amount to roughly $150 per year per residential policyholder, he said. The cat fund is in its best position ever and consumers are in their worst position ever, Handerhan said. Wilson, the cat fund COO, said that reducing premiums, lowering the loss threshold and putting an end to the rapid buildup funding could weaken the cat fund, forcing it to rely on reinsurance and capital investments from private sources. That happened the last time the loss threshold, also known as the retention level, was lowered in 2004, she noted. Carolyn Johnson, director of business economic development at the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber is opposed to Brandes plan. The current structure keeps the cat fund viable and stable; without it, if the state were hit with major losses in a storm, all insurers, including commercial and auto insurers, could be stuck with higher assessment payments. The Chamber is looking at other measures that would address the Florida insurance crisis, Johnson said. Sen. Ben Albritton, R-Bartow, urged colleagues to consider forming a study commission or think tank that could analyze the issue, perhaps this summer. In the end, Brandes withdrew his amendment, but said he may offer it again next week to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, where he is also a member. The bill that Brandes was attempting to amend, Sen. Keith Perrys SB 468, was approved Thursday by the Appropriations Committee by a vote of 18-0. The bill, which has already passed the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, would make a number of technical and relatively minor changes to workers compensation and insurance regulations, including the cat fund. Among other matters, it would direct the cat fund to reimburse for losses covered by lender-placed policies on homes, when the coverage amount differs from the amount under a lapsed policy; would exempt smaller businesses from workers compensation premium audits; and would allow Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to offer wind-only policies for condominiums. The Appropriations Committee also approved SB 838, requested by the states fire marshal and chief financial officer. It would make fire investigators in the state eligible for a presumption that provides limited benefits for firefighters who are stricken with any of 21 types of cancers. The program is considered an alternative to workers compensation benefits. The actions came one day after the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee approved another measure sponsored by Brandes. SB 186 could help stem the growth of the state-backed Citizens, an organization that was created to be an insurer of last resort but has ballooned in size in recent years. The bill would make it harder for seasonal Florida residents, or those with second homes in the state, to qualify for continued Citizens coverage if another insurer will write the property at slightly higher or moderately higher premiums. The bill also would allow more surplus lines insurers to participate in the Citizens take-out programs and would increase the maximum surcharge on policies if Citizens runs a deficit. The more policyholders Citizens has, the higher the surcharge, the bill stipulates. The measure also would limit commissions that Citizens pays to producing agents. Topics Florida Property Carla Denise Garrisons 8-year-old daughter picked up a used hypodermic needle from the parking lot outside a Target store and asked, Mommy, what is this? Garrison instinctively swatted the syringe away, poking her daughters palm in the process. The puncture led Garrison to a years worth of periodic blood tests with constant worries about contracting hepatitis or AIDS. After Target refused to pay Garrisons medical bills, she sued and won a $4.6 million jury verdict that was upheld by the South Carolina Court of Appeals. The verdict is the latest of several judgments or lawsuit settlements in recent months that have held property owners liable for not maintaining safe parking lots. In the Target case, the South Carolina Supreme Court may have taken most of the $4.5 million victory in a ruling on Wednesday. In a 5-0 decision, the high court directed the trial court judge to reconsider his decision to throw out the punitive damages award, but also to take into account South Carolinas statutory cap on punitive damages applies to Garrisons claim. That would could limit the jurys award of $4.5 million in punitive damages to $300,000 or $400,000. The exact amount depends on facts that must be determined by the trial court judge. The ruling reverses a Court of Appeals finding that the statute that caps punitive damages does not apply unless the defendant argues that it should in pleadings. That is known as an affirmative defense. The Supreme Court said affirmative defenses are generally reserved for issues that a jury is required to resolve. The plain language of the statute does not impose a burden on the defendant to prove the cap applies, the courts unanimous opinion says. Rather, the legislature only directs trial courts to determine which level of the cap must be applied in a particular case. After she was poked, Garrison immediately rushed into the public restroom at Target to run water over her hand. She reported the incident to the store. A claims investigator asked her if she thought Target was responsible for the injury. She told him that the store was responsible for the parking lot and wanted Target to pay for her medical bills. An infectious disease specialist prescribed medications that she said left her in a zombie-like state and caused night terrors. She underwent blood tests every three months for a year to monitor for any emerging infections. Garrison asked Target to pay her $12,000. After Target refused, she and her husband, Clint, filed a lawsuit in Anderson County. A jury found in the couples favor and awarded $100,000 in compensatory damages plus $4.5 million in punitive damages. The jury also awarded Clint Garrison $8,500 for lost wages and loss of consortium. Circuit Court Judge R. Keith Kelly threw out the punitive damages award in a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. But Kelly allowed the compensatory damage awards to stand, finding that Target had constructive knowledge that the parking lot was hazardous. Both parties appealed. A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals reinstated the punitive damages award, citing testimony from witnesses that Target did not regularly clean the parking lot and there was trash everywhere even though the stores managers said the lot was cleaned every Thursday night. Clint Garrison had even camped out in the Target parking lot on a Thursday night to show that it was not regularly cleaned. The appellate court also found that Target had waived its right to cap the award under the statutory cap laid out in section 15-32-530 because it did not mention the limit in its pleadings. Judge D. Garrison Hill dissented, stating that nothing in the statute states that the cap on punitive damages cannot be applied unless it is mentioned in pleadings. Likewise, the Supreme Court found that the appellate panel had read into the law a requirement that does not exist. But the high court the trial court to take another look at the jurys punitive damage award and to consider not only the harm that had come to Garrison, but also to the potential harm that could have been done to her and other customers because of Targets negligence. Although Denise did not ultimately contract a disease from the syringe, the trial court erred in failing to consider any potential harm in the ratio calculation, including the harm likely to result to other customers due to Targets failure to maintain the parking lot in a reasonably safe condition, the court said. Of course, Section 15-32-530 will limit any punitive damage award to three times the amount of compensatory damages unless one of three statutory exemptions apply: The wrongful conduct was motivated by unreasonable financial gain and the high likelihood of injury was know the defendant. The defendants action could subject the defendant to conviction of a felony. The defendant acted while intoxicated after intentional consuming alcohol or drugs. If the trial court determines one of those factors applies, punitive damages are limited to four times the amount of compensatory damages. Either way, the judgment appears to limit Garrisons potential award to $500,000. There is one consolation for the family: The high court also reversed the Court of Appeals and ruled that Denise Garrison is entitled to 8 percent interest on her award from the date Target rejected her settlement offer to the date of the verdict, including on the amount of punitive damages, if any. The appeals court verdict is one of several judgments or settlements in the Southeast in recent months that have held retailers liable for millions of dollars for not patrolling or maintaining safe parking lots. In November, a Georgia appeals court upheld a $43 million premises liability verdict against the CVS Pharmacy chain, ruling that the company failed to take security measures to prevent the shooting of a patron in 2012. This month, a Florida Keys marina agreed to pay $6 million after a man working on a boat was robbed and killed. And a Coral Gables, Florida, billiard hall settled a suit for $2.8 million after a man was involved in a fight then was killed in the parking lot, which plaintiffs said did not have security guards. A federal jury on Thursday awarded $110 million to two U.S. Army veterans who said combat earplugs sold by 3M Co to the military caused them to suffer hearing damage, the largest verdict yet to result from hundreds of thousands of lawsuits over the product. Jurors in Pensacola, Florida, sided with U.S. Army veterans Ronald Sloan and William Wayman, who alleged that 3Ms Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2s design was defective, according to a spokesperson for the plaintiffs lawyers. Also Thursday, the judge in the case, Casey Rodgers, denied 3Ms request that she set aside the jury verdict. Rodgers said a judgment-as-a-matter-of-law set-aside order was only appropriate when there was no sufficient evidence for the jurys verdict. The companys lawyers had argued that the plaintiffs claims were fraudulent, had been misrepresented, did not provide sufficient evidence about the earplugs defectiveness, and were barred by a Kentucky statute of limitations. Topics Lawsuits Florida A Mississippi pharmacist was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for a multimillion dollar scheme to defraud private insurance companies and a healthcare program for military members, retirees and their families. David Rutland, 42, of Bolton, pleaded guilty to getting paid kickbacks to distributors for the referral of medically unnecessary compounded creams and other prescriptions, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. The scheme resulted in more than $180 million in fraudulent billings, including more than $50 million by federal health care programs. According to court documents, the pharmacist and co-owner of compounding pharmacies schemed to defraud TRICARE, the military health care program, and other health care benefit programs by distributing medically unnecessary compounded medications. Rutland adjusted prescription formulas to ensure the highest reimbursement, investigators said. Co-conspirators Mitchell Chad Barrett, of Florida, and Tommy Shoemaker, of Louisiana, also have admitted their culpability in the fraud, according to news reports. The indictment details the extent of the scheme. In addition to the prison term, Rutland was ordered to pay restitution and forfeit all assets traced to his illegal activity. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Mississippi Wei Wen Wu, 54, and Feng Wen Lam, 49, both of Arcadia, California, were charged with 43 felony counts of insurance fraud, grand theft, and conspiracy after allegedly underreporting nearly $4.5 million in employee payroll. The scheme reportedly fraudulently reduced their companys workers comp insurance premium resulting in a loss of $1.7 million in unpaid insurance premiums. A parallel investigation by the California Department of Industrial Relations reportedly uncovered wage theft from employees at the couples chicken processing business in El Monte. Lam is the owner of Golden Food Inc., a chicken processing business employing butchers and meatpackers located in El Monte, which receives chicken carcasses and breaks them down into boxes of chicken parts for sale. Lams husband, Wu, operated the business. The California Department of Insurance launched an investigation after receiving a referral from State Compensation Insurance Fund, which suspected the business of fraud after comparing the payroll reported during annual audits with the payroll reported to the Employment Development Department. After obtaining search warrants for GFI, the CDI was reportedly able to obtain the true payroll records from the companys computer and found fake tax reporting forms. The investigation reportedly showed that between 2015 and 2021, GFI underreported its payroll to its workers comp carriers by $4.4 million, resulting in a loss of $1.6 million in premiums to four insurers, including State Fund. In addition to the CDI investigation, the DIR investigation reportedly found employees were forced to clock out for breaks and continue to work, they were not paid overtime for work in excess of 40 weekly hours, and their pay stubs were falsified. Also, it reportedly revealed Wu routinely deducted work hours from employees and falsely counted that pay as bonus. An audit by DIR found that Lam and Wu failed to pay at minimum $437,542 in labor to their 34 employees based on the minimum legal market value. Wu and Lam are scheduled to appear in court on March 29. The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Offices Healthcare Fraud Division is prosecuting the case. Topics California Fraud Workers' Compensation A Florida nurse will spend six months in prison and six months in home detention after tampering with a patients medicine. A judge sentenced Jerome Clampitt on Friday morning after Clampitt pleaded guilty in October, the Department of Justice reported. Advertisement Court documents said Clampitt was a registered nurse at a Jacksonville hospital working a night shift in the ICU in January 2020. Two witnesses saw Clampitt inject something that was supposed to dispense fentanyl into the patient. However, there was no medical reason for the patient to receive the dosage, according to the DOJ. Advertisement A lab test confirmed the patients fentanyl dose was diluted with saline. Clampitt admitted diverting drugs from patients for personal use during an interview with authorities. But, he denied diluting the patients dosage with saline. Records showed another hospital fired Clampitt in 2019 after finding discrepancies in his records that suggest he was using his patients drugs for personal use, the DOJ reported. In his guilty plea, he admitted he knew diverting the drugs caused harm to one or more of his patients. DETROIT, Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Gage Growth Corp. ("Gage" or the "Company") (CSE: GAGE) (OTCQX: GAEGF), a leading high-quality premium cannabis brand and operator in Michigan, today announced plans to open a flagship Cookies dispensary in the heart of Toronto, Canada ("Cookies Toronto") on Saturday, January 29th, 2022 at 9am ET. Cookies, one of the best-known cannabis brands in the world, will be located at 278A Queen Street West. Cookies Toronto will offer Cookies and Gage branded products cultivated by their exclusive collective production partner, NOYA Cannabis Inc. Cookies Toronto will become the 12th dispensary in North America operated by Gage and the first Cookies store in Canada. The flagship dispensary, operated by Gage through an exclusive partnership with Cookies, will carry the entire collection of Cookies products featuring hand-selected strains from rapper, entrepreneur and Co-Founder and CEO of Cookies, Berner, and his renowned breeder and cultivation partner, Jai. These hand-selected strains will include GP20, Georgia Pie, Medellin, Lions Mane, Soap and more. In addition to these iconic Cookies strains, the partnership will introduce additional Cookies brands such as Lemonnade, Minntz, Runtz, Grandiflora, Powerzzzup, RTJ and Collins Ave. to Canadian adult-use consumers. "Some of my favorite strains growing up originated from Canada - the { Nade } and { champagne Aka Pelli } were staples," said Berner, Co-Founder and CEO of Cookies. "It feels good to be in position to diversify the current flavor profile on the Canadian market, with a flagship store in Toronto. I think the Canadian connoisseur will be proud to have Cookies, and Noya already has our standards dialed in as far as cultivation goes, and made a powerful introduction for the Cookies brand in Canada. Introducing our customer journey to the Canadian markets is something I've been wanting to do for a long time now, and we hope Canada appreciates the attention our customers get and deserve while shopping at Cookies." "We are super excited for the iconic launch of the first Cookies store in Canada," said Fabian Monaco, CEO of Gage. "Working with Berner and his team to finally introduce Cookies to the Canadian market validates the painstaking processes we've developed at Gage, and we're eager to provide Canadian audiences with our unique and engaging retail platform. Launching the first Cookies store in Canada will bring an unparalleled experience to our growing consumer community while offering direct access to one of the leading brands in the cannabis industry." About Gage Growth Corp. Gage Growth Corp. is innovating and curating the highest quality cannabis experiences possible for cannabis consumers in the state of Michigan and Canada, and bringing internationally renowned brands to market. Through years of progressive industry experience, the firm's founding partners have successfully built and grown operations with federal and state licenses, including cultivation, processing and retail locations. Gage's portfolio includes three city and state cultivation and processing assets, and 19 provisioning centers (dispensaries). For more information about Gage Growth Corp., visit www.gagecannabis.com or www.gageinvestors.com. Instagram: @gagemichigan, @gagecannabisca, @cookies.canada, @cookies.toronto Facebook: @gageusa Twitter: @gagecannabisco About Cookies Cookies, founded in 2010 by Billboard-charting rapper and entrepreneur Berner and Bay Area breeder and cultivator Jai, is the most globally recognized cannabis company in the world. Cookies values the power of the plant and focuses on creating game-changing genetics. The company offers a collection of over 70 proprietary cannabis strains and more than 2,000 products. Cookies also actively works to enrich communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs through advocacy and social equity initiatives. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company opened its first retail store in 2018 in Los Angeles, and has since expanded to over 40 retail locations in 17 markets across 4 countries. Cookies was named one of America's Hottest Brands of 2021 by AdAge; the first cannabis brand to ever receive this accolade. Learn more at cookies.co. Instagram: @cookiesenterprises Facebook: @cookies_global Twitter: @cookiesglobal About NOYA Founded in Hamilton, Ontario in 2014, NOYA Cannabis Inc. is a licensed producer under the Cannabis Act. The company received its cultivation license in 2017, and its sales license in 2018. The company has positioned itself as a premium white label producer and is working with the biggest and best cannabis brands in the world. The company's mission is to distribute and cultivate premium craft cannabis to match the needs of the market. For more information on NOYA Cannabis Inc. visit www.noyagrow.ca. Instagram: @NoyaGrow Twitter: @NoyaGrow Caution Regarding Cannabis Operations in the United States Investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. While legal in certain states, cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable U.S. federal money laundering legislation. Explanatory Note Regarding the Company's Operations References in this news release to the Company and its operations and portfolio are inclusive of the operations and assets of certain licensed cannabis operators that operate under the Gage brand pursuant to contractual arrangements with the Company. For additional information, please refer to the Company's long form prospectus dated March 26, 2021 and other disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as, "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe, "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook" and other similar expressions, and include statements with respect to the opening of the Cookies Toronto store. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors relevant in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions, the current and future regulatory environment; and the availability of licenses, approvals and permits. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information including, but not limited to, those risks disclosed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion and analysis and other disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gage-cannabis--cookies-to-launch-flagship-cannabis-dispensary-in-toronto-canada-301470170.html SOURCE Gage Cannabis Co. Burma Myanmar Junta Arrests and Threatens Shop Owners Over Planned Silent Strike A normally traffic-choked road in downtown Yangon is deserted during the silent strike on December 10 last year. / Clean Yangon Myanmar junta forces have arrested over a dozen shop owners who notified customers that their businesses will be closed on February 1, when a nationwide silent strike is planned for the first anniversary of the juntas coup. Regime troops also sealed off the detainees houses and shops. The arrests and seizure of properties come as the military regime escalates its efforts to prevent the silent strike from going ahead. On Tuesday, the junta threatened people not to participate in the strike, saying that anyone taking part in the protest will face prosecution under a wide range of laws which carry harsh jail sentences including life imprisonment. Immediately after the juntas announcement, its supporters gave information about people who posted online that their businesses will shut on February 1, or who shared news about the silent strike, to the regime. That prompted the arrest of at least 13 shop owners, eight from Yangon and five from Mandalay, in less than 48 hours. However, the number of people detained and whose businesses have been forcibly closed is likely to be higher, as further information about arrests becomes clear. Also, a number of family members of those arrested are thought to have been detained by junta forces. Among the confirmed arrests are the owners of a spring roll shop, a hot pot shop, a seafood distribution and delivery business, a cellphone shop, a cafe, a shoe shop and a Rakhine restaurant, as well as a makeup artist and a fortune teller. After sealing off their houses and shops, junta forces placed a large notice at the entrance of each closed building saying, This land/building is sealed off for supporting terrorist CRPH [Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw], NUG [National Unity Government] and PDF [Peoples Defense Force]. As well as arrests, junta forces including police, administrators and municipal staff are pressuring shops to remain open as usual on the anniversary of the coup in several cities across the country. Reports have emerged of shop owners in several places being forced to sign agreements stating that that they will open on February 1. Anti-regime groups nationwide have invited the general public to join the February 1 strike by remaining indoors from 10am to 4pm. At 4pm, the strike will end with communal clapping. Amid the juntas oppression, anti-regime forces have urged people to be cautious about sharing their plans to join the silent strike and to respond in a smart and discreet manner. If they force shops to open, the shops can. The main point is for people to stay home on that day, an anti-regime protester said. The upcoming silent strike will be the third such protest. The first was held on March 24 last year and the second on December 10. Both the previous silent strikes saw the whole nation of over 54 million people staying out of sight for the day, with even roadside vendors who need to earn money daily refusing to open their businesses. That was a major embarrassment for the junta, which insists that normalcy is returning to the country. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Locks Down Indian Border Town After COVID-19 Outbreak Over 1,000 Junta Soldiers Killed in Western Myanmar Last Year: Chin Resistance Forces Displaced Kayah Civilians Going Hungry as Myanmar Junta Blocks Supplies Burma Myanmar Junta Locks Down Indian Border Town After COVID-19 Outbreak Disinfectant was sprayed across Tamu in Sagaing Region on Tuesday following more than 50 infections at a school. / U Kyaw Theins Facebook More than 150 COVID-19 cases were reported over the past week in Tamu on the Indian border in Sagaing Region, according to Tamu District medical superintendent Dr. Thura. Myanmars military regime on Wednesday imposed a lockdown on Tamu. Swabs from 48 patients were sent to Yangon on Wednesday to diagnose the variant. Most the infected people are teachers and pupils and the most common symptoms are sore throat and cough. They dont have severe symptoms, said Dr. Thura. Coronavirus tests were carried out at No. 2 Basic Education High School in Tamu on Monday. More than 50 positive tests were taken and the town was locked down. Some of those infected were unvaccinated and those with more serious symptoms are being treated at Tamu District Hospital. Those with minor symptoms are being quarantined at the school, said Dr. Thura. Tamu Township Health Department carried out COVID-19 tests on its contacts and central market traders. More than 150 cases had been reported by Wednesday. The health department urged residents to stay at home and anyone who had contact with those infected to take a test at the township hospital, said Dr. Thura. Many of the towns medical staff are on strike as part of the civil disobedience movement against the regime, with only three doctors and three nurses left at the district-level 100-bed Tamu hospital. Meanwhile, many civil society organization staff in Tamu have fled junta arrests, meaning the township is ill-prepared to help COVID-19 patients. We have adequate medicines and few staff and have requested help from other townships, said the medical superintendent. A male Tamu resident told The Irrawaddy: We have never had so many positive cases in Tamu. Last year the regime was giving Chinese jabs but many refused to have one. Residents fear being trapped in the town because of the lockdown if fighting breaks out. A woman resident said: Food prices have not increased as the lockdown was imposed only a few days ago. We are worried what might happen if there is fighting while the town is under a COVID-19 lockdown. Junta troops and Sagaing resistance fighters clashed at a military checkpoint outside the town on Thursday. You may also like these stories: Over 1,000 Junta Soldiers Killed in Western Myanmar Last Year: Chin Resistance Forces Displaced Kayah Civilians Going Hungry as Myanmar Junta Blocks Supplies Major Australian Energy Firm Woodside Announces Myanmar Pullout Burma Over 1,000 Junta Soldiers Killed in Western Myanmar Last Year: Chin Resistance Forces Military vehicles damaged in an ambush in May by Chin resistance forces in Mindat, Chin State. / CJ Almost 1,030 Myanmar military soldiers were killed in firefights with resistance forces in Chin State last year, according to the Chinland Joint Defense Committee. The committee is comprised of around 16 ethnic Chin Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) representing each of the nine townships in the western Myanmar state. 184 clashes between military regime troops and Chin PDFs took place across Chin State, as well as in townships of neighboring Magwe and Sagaing regions, between April 24 and December 31. Other smaller shootouts also occurred. 1,029 regime soldiers and 58 Chin resistance fighters were killed during the battles, while 27 civilians were slain by junta troops, said the committee. The first clash in Chin State following the coup took place on April 24 when locals armed with traditional and homemade weapons attacked the police station in the mountain-top town of Mindat, after the junta repeatedly refused to release six detained anti-regime protesters. Since then, Mindat has seen the highest number of clashes a total of 60 of anywhere in Chin State, with junta forces suffering heavy losses. The Myanmar military suffered around 40 deaths alone in one clash in Mindat in early June with the Chin Defense Force-Mindat. The regime had to call on jet fighters and artillery from Kyaukhtu in Magwe Region to help its defeated ground troops in the fighting. Former army captain Kaung Thu Win, who defected from the militarys northwest command in December, said recently in a discussion that many army officers were investigated and a senior officer was interned by the junta after their detachment suffered heavy losses during a battle in Mindat in May. The Chin State capital Hakha was the second most restive area in Chin State, reporting a total of 25 clashes in the last nine months, followed by Falam Township with 19 incidents. Most of the state, with the exception of a few towns, is under the control of Chin resistance forces, according to an official of the Chinland Joint Defense Committee. He said regime administration officers have to hold meetings in secret, even in Hakha, to avoid being attacked. The official added that Chin PDFs are also deployed outside Chin State in townships in Magwe and Sagaing regions where ethnic Chin people live. In an effort to take control of the state, the military regime is now deploying large numbers of troops and weapons in three columns into Chin State via routes from Paletwa, near the border with Bangladesh, and Magwe and Sagaing regions. Between January 12 and 22, fierce clashes between regime soldiers and a combined force of nine resistance groups broke out near Hiangzing Village in Chin States Tedim Township. At least 80 junta soldiers and three resistance fighters were killed in the fighting, which saw the regime employing air and artillery strikes, and another nine resistance fighters were wounded, the Zomi Federal Union said on Monday. The military regime is now facing daily attacks from PDFs and ethnic armed groups nationwide, with the exception of Rakhine State, which is largely under the control of the Arakan Army. You may also like these stories: Displaced Kayah Civilians Going Hungry as Myanmar Junta Blocks Supplies Major Australian Energy Firm Woodside Announces Myanmar Pullout Myanmars KBZ Group Dissolves Subsidiary That Operated Jade Mine With Military Burma Resistance Groups Claim Rising Numbers of Yangon Attacks on Myanmar Regime An explosion near regime forces in Yankin Township, Yangon, on May 1 last year. / CJ Despite the threat of arrest and death sentences, several resistance forces in Yangon are continuing to attack Myanmars regime forces across the city. Last week the regime sentenced to death former National League for Democracy lawmaker Ko Phyo Zeyar Thaw and a veteran democracy activist Ko Kyaw Min Yu, also known as Ko Jimmy, for violating the Counterterrorism Act. They were accused of masterminding guerrilla warfare in Yangon. However, resistance groups reportedly continue to target regime forces, government offices, junta informants and military-linked businesses. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify any of the reports. Anti-regime activities have increased since late December. From Zero to Hero, a Yangon resistance group, claims to have bombed regime forces at the gate of the military interrogation center on the Bayint Naung Road in Hlaing Township on Friday morning. Some troops were injured in the blast and a second bomb was discovered by soldiers, the group said. The attackers escaped, despite regime forces searching for them, the group said. Two other groups claimed to have bombed Thaketa police station on Thursday night. The casualties are unknown, said the Dictator Revolt Front that coordinated the attack. Dark Shadow, another group, said it abandoned an attack on regime sentries under the Hledan flyover in Kamayut Township on Friday to prevent hurting civilians. The group requested Yangon residents to avoid regime troops and junta-controlled areas due to the danger of other attacks. On Thursday night, the electricity office in Thanlyin Township was reportedly attacked with a remotely controlled bomb by the Urban Guerrilla Force of Thanlyin, according to media reports. The corporation cuts power supplies to households that refuse to pay their bills. Since the Feb. 1 coup, citizens have been refusing to pay tax or bills to junta-controlled departments while over 400,000 civil servants, including thousands of police officers and soldiers, have refused to work for the regime. More than 12 regime soldiers were injured and two killed in the last week during attacks in Insein, Mingaladon, Taikkyi, South Dagon, South Okkalapa, Tamwe and Hlaingthaya townships, according to resistance groups. The regime is also being attacked in Mandalay. On Thursday, two groups bombed a telecommunication office where troops were deployed in the city. A soldier was injured in the blast, claimed Eagle Brothers, one of the groups involved. A member of bank staff was injured by a bomb at a Kanbawza Bank branch in Mandalay on Friday morning, according to media reports. No group has claimed responsibility. The regime faces attacks from peoples defense forces and many ethnic armed groups across the country, except for Rakhine State, which is largely under the control of the Arakan Army. You may also like these stories: Two Aged NLD Prisoners Freed by Myanmar Junta Washington Urged to Maintain Support for Myanmars Shadow Government Myanmar Junta Arrests and Threatens Shop Owners Over Planned Silent Strike If you were beaten and bullied as a child, if you lived for nine years in constant fear of being tortured or killed, if you and your family fled your home, losing everything, and were forced to live in a tent, would you call yourself lucky? Abraham Pizam does. For eight decades, Pizam founding dean of UCFs Rosen College of Hospitality Management did not speak publicly of the terror of his youth. In the big picture of things, he said, he didnt think it mattered. Advertisement After all, he survived. Six million Jews did not. Advertisement For many years, I also thought that my experience belongs in the past, he said Thursday, telling his story to an audience of strangers for the first time. I thought the future will be totally different, that people will have learned from our terrible experience. But I was wrong. It was Jan. 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and the Lake Eola fountain and Dr. Phillips Center and one of the bridges across the East-West Expressway were bathed in purple lights for the occasion. At Maitlands Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida, 140 people crowded into a small hall to hear Pizam speak; still more watched online. As the 84-year-old climbed atop a makeshift stage, officers stood guard outside the most visible evidence of the heightened security measures the center has been forced to embrace. A series of sophisticated bomb threats started in 2017, one of them prompting the evacuation of 300 preschoolers from the campus. Across the country, the threats, violence and vitriol have only increased since. Just two weeks ago, a British man took four hostages in a day-long siege at a Texas synagogue. He released one hostage after six hours; three others escaped 11 hours into the ordeal, moments before the FBI rushed the building, killing the gunman. According to the FBIs annual data on hate crimes, those targeting the Jewish community consistently account for over half of all religion-based offenses. In 2020, it was 831 a number widely believed to underestimate the true extent of the problem. I decided it is time for me to share my story, Pizam said. In this country, we have a constitution. We have this document that declares freedom of religion and equality. And yet now you have people banning books on the Holocaust from schools, people not allowing the education of children. We have people marching in the streets and saying, Jews will not replace us. A growing movement, he said, is trying to rewrite history a history he lived. Advertisement Born in a time of terror By the time Pizam was born in Romania, in the spring of 1937, Adolf Hitler had been appointed chancellor of Germany, a Nazi concentration camp had opened in Dachau, Jewish businesses were boycotted, and books by Jewish authors were publicly burned. In Romania, Fascist political forces were rising in popularity and power, urging an alliance with Nazi Germany. By the time Pizam was 4, Ion Antonescu, a deeply antisemitic career Army officer, had gained power, leading to the torture and beating of Jews and looting of their shops. The policies of Antonescu and his enforcers were independently responsible for the deaths of as many as 400,000 people. Young Abes parents changed his name and registered him for public school, sacrificing a proper Hebrew education, hoping to keep his Jewish heritage secret. It did not work, he said. I was beaten. I was bullied. I had to wear a yellow star on my clothing a badge in the shape of the Star of David. If you took that off in public, they wouldnt arrest you. They would just shoot you on the spot. Abe Pizam, founding Dean of the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, speaks at the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida in Maitland. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) While residents of his small Romanian town knew who was Jewish and who wasnt, Jewish adults pooled their money to bribe local politicians to lie to the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police, who made periodic visits hunting for Jews. Every time a stranger knocked on their door, Pizam said, he was terrified. Advertisement My sister and I, we lived in that terror every day for years, he said. My immediate family my mother, father, sister, me we survived. We did not go to a concentration camp. But you lived in constant fear, thinking, When will it happen? It is just a matter of time. His paternal aunt, who had married and moved to Poland, was imprisoned at Auschwitz, where she, her husband and children were executed. When Pizam was 8, his father took him to a local cemetery and had him open a coffin. Inside were brick-like bars engraved with initials that his father said meant Pure Jewish Fat. They were, the boy was told, soap that the Germans had made from the bodies of murdered Jews. In accordance with Jewish law on human remains, the soap had been given a burial. Imagine the shock I had as an 8-year-old, he said. For decades, the soap story was embraced by Holocaust survivors throughout the world. And though Pizam would later learn it was a myth propaganda, perhaps, to further terrorize the Jews that day has stayed with him. Advertisement The Promised Land The end of World War II and the Holocaust in 1945, though, did not end the misery for Pizam and his family. Romania became a communist country, its new leaders nationalizing everything, including the store owned by Pizams parents. Overnight, they lost everything they had saved. They left for Israel, but their ship was intercepted in the Mediterranean. They wound up in an internment camp on Cyprus. We survived the Holocaust and avoided the concentration camps only to spend a whole year, living like that, [surrounded by] barbed wire [and] submachine guns ... just for wanting to start a new life in our Promised Land. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > Five years later, having finally reached Israel, Pizams father died, leaving his mother without the means to send her son to school. She hoped a distant cousin, living in New York, could help her son find a job there while he was getting an education at night. A newborn activist Abe Pizam is now Professor Abraham Pizam, the Linda Chapin Eminent Scholar Chair in Tourism Management at the University of Central Florida. He has a masters degree from New York University and a doctoral degree from Cornell. He has researched, lectured and consulted in more than 30 countries and held academic posts in Austria, Australia, France, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, in addition to the U.S. He has published 10 books. More importantly, he said, he is a husband, father and grandfather. And now, in the twilight of his life, he is an activist. Advertisement Finally, I am relieved I can share my story, he said. Silence is an enemy. Where once he was optimistic, though, now his outlook is tempered by doubt. This can happen here, believe it or not, he said. Looking at the news, look at whats happening right now as we speak, looking at our country, with both the right and the left becoming more and more antisemitic, I start questioning my hope. And I hope that Im wrong. And I wish that Im wrong. ksantich@orlandosentinel.com Burma Two Aged NLD Prisoners Freed by Myanmar Junta Ousted planning and finance minister U Soe Win (left) and U Han Tha Myint, an NLD central executive committee member. Myanmars junta released two ailing National League for Democracy (NLD) figures from prison on Thursday. U Han Tha Myint, an NLD central executive committee (CEC) member, was sentenced to two years in prison on Dec. 30 for incitement over the partys statement condemning last Februarys military coup. According to sources, he was released due to poor health. The 74-year-old, who had surgery for prostate cancer and suffers from hypertension, was being held in Yangons notorious Insein Prison after being arrested during the February 1 coup. He contracted coronavirus while in custody and was treated in hospital. Former planning and finance minister U Soe Win was also seized during the coup and charged under the Official Secrets Act. He has been granted bail, a court source told The Irrawaddy. The 83-year-old CEC member was the oldest NLD cabinet member and has been at the 1,000-bed hospital in Naypyitaw since December due to colon cancer. He worked in the financial and banking sectors for half a century. U Soe Win, his predecessor U Kyaw Win and deputy planning and finance minister U Sett Aung were charged alongside Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for violating the Official Secrets Act for hiring Australian academic Sean Turnell as an economic adviser to the NLD government. Turnell has also been detained since the coup and charged under the Official Secrets Act. If convicted, they face up to 14 years in prison. The regime has set up a special court in Naypyitaw to hear their cases. A hearing was canceled on Thursday after prosecution witnesses failed to attend. Turnell is also being charged under the Immigration Law. Many aged and sickly NLD figures remain in prison. NLD CEC member U Nyan Win, 79, Daw Aung San Suu Kyis long-time personal lawyer, died of COVID-19 in July. He contracted the virus in Insein and died a few days later at Yangon Hospital. You may also like these stories: Washington Urged to Maintain Support for Myanmars Shadow Government Myanmar Junta Arrests and Threatens Shop Owners Over Planned Silent Strike Myanmar Junta Locks Down Indian Border Town After COVID-19 Outbreak Burma Washington Urged to Maintain Support for Myanmars Shadow Government Protesters in Taunggyi, Shan State hold posters in support of the NUG during a demonstration against the coup on "Global Myanmar Spring Revolution Day" on May 2, 2021. / AFP Myanmars shadow National Unity Government (NUG) urged the United States (US) to continue its support during a meeting with the US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet, who voiced deep appreciation for the NUGs leadership in response to the crisis created by the Myanmar militarys coup one year ago. The NUG called on the US Government to continue its strong and effective support in resolving the Myanmar crisis, wrote NUG foreign affairs minister Daw Zin Mar Aung, following Thursdays virtual meeting between the NUG and the US. The US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that Counselor Derek Chollet reaffirmed the United States strong commitment to the people of Burma [Myanmar] and the swift restoration of the countrys path to democracy. The Counselor voiced deep appreciation for the NUGs leadership in response to the crisis created by the military coup detat one year ago, said Ned Price. The NUG was formed in April by elected lawmakers of the National League for Democracy, their ethnic allies and anti-regime protesters. It has been lobbying for international recognition as Myanmars legitimate government and to de-legitimize the military regime. The NUG has earned popular support at home and abroad, and also provides support to striking civil servants and people displaced by fighting. The peoples government, as the NUG is dubbed, formed Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) to resist the regime. It declared war on the junta in September, taking the ongoing armed struggle against the Myanmar military to another level. Although foreign governments do not yet officially recognize the NUG, many, including the US, have engaged with the NUG both formally and informally. Since last Februarys coup, the junta has failed to consolidate its power as most of the Myanmar people are rejecting military rule. The pro-democracy movement has maintained its momentum, while anti-regime protesters continue to take to the streets. In addition, people are refusing to pay taxes, civil servants are joining the Civil Disobedience Movement, and young people especially are joining the armed resistance and conducting guerrilla attacks against junta troops in urban areas. Meanwhile, the fighting rages on between the regime and the combined forces of ethnic armed groups and PDFs in rural ethnic areas and Bamar-majority areas such as Sagaing and Magwe regions. Due to ongoing junta air and artillery strikes, in mid-January more than 385,000 people were internally displaced in Sagaing, Magwe, Bago and Tanintharyi regions and in Chin, Karen, Kayah, Shan and Mon states, according to the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price added that the US representative discussed efforts to achieve a more inclusive democratic future for Myanmar. The US-NUG meeting was joined by the NUGs Acting President Duwa Lashi La, the Union Prime Minister Mahn Win Khaing Than, Daw Zin Mar Aung, US Counselor Derek Chollet and Kin W. Moy, the principal deputy assistant secretary for the USs Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Daw Zin Mar Aung added that the Counselor reiterated that the US has been working with its allies to help Myanmars situation more effectively. The NUG also highlighted its view on the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the UN Special Envoys attempts to overcome the political crisis in Myanmar. The NUGs foreign minister said that they discussed the challenges they face on the ground amid the juntas continuous crackdown against civilians, the NUG and its supporters, as well as issues related to humanitarian assistance and coordination with ethnic political forces. The Myanmar regime has killed at least 1,498 civilians and arrested 11,787 people, including the countrys civilian leaders State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint, according to monitoring group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Both US officials held talks with Daw Zin Mar Aung in September, when they discussed the issues of humanitarian assistance, the political and human rights situation in Myanmar, and COVID-19 vaccination programs. The meeting followed the US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Shermans talk with Daw Zin Mar Aung in early August. In October, the NUGs acting president and foreign minister also met with Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser to US President Joe Biden. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Arrests and Threatens Shop Owners Over Planned Silent Strike Myanmar Junta Locks Down Indian Border Town After COVID-19 Outbreak Over 1,000 Junta Soldiers Killed in Western Myanmar Last Year: Chin Resistance Forces Myanmar Diary Myanmar Diary: Eleven Months of Sleeping Under Strange Roofs Regime forces raid a neighborhood in Yangon in early March 2021. / The Irrawaddy Editors note: To give readers a fuller sense of life under Myanmars military regime, in this series we present the firsthand experiences of someone enduring these harsh Burmese days. The new year has brought me a new hideout. Initially at least, my only new years wish was that it might keep me as safe as its predecessors did. It is my fourth hideout in nearly 11 months. I doubt this life will change as long as the military regime led by Min Aung Hlaing maintains its grip on power. These two thingsmy personal safety and the existence of Min Aung Hlaing as leaderare directly related. If he and his regime were to vanish for whatever reason, I would be free to walk out of my den. But thats true not only for me, of course. The connection exists for every citizen of Myanmar. If MAH were gonedead or alivethe country would return to normal. If the killings he has been committing over the past 11 months, since shortly after his coup detat on Feb. 1, 2021, were brought to an end, citizens could feel safe again, and those who have gone into hiding or left for exile would be safe to return home. (Note: I will use MAH for Min Aung Hlaing; most Myanmar people refer to him using his Burmese initials, pronounced Ma-Ah-La. Unfortunately for the coup leader, these initials also stand for motherf in Burmese. No wonder people have so heartily embraced this shorthand!) I soon thought of another new years wish, however. It would be to see MAH vanish from this land. No, he should disappear from this Earth, as he is an evil presence who brings nothing good, not only for this country, but also for the world. Thats a perfect new years wish that goes beyond the desires of one individual and is made on behalf of everyone. Its a wish I certainly share with all of my fellow countrymen, from northern Kachin to southern Tanintharyi, and from eastern Kayah to western Chin. At the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, I should have sent this wish to all my friends: May 2022 be the year that MAH vanishes for all of us, and for our motherland Myanmar! I will never forget the day I left my home out of fear for my safety. It was March 8, 2021, 36 days after MAH staged his coup. Cruel killings, arbitrary arrests, brutal crackdowns and manhunts for anti-coup protesters and regime critics by his troops across the country were already forcing many to go into hiding or to make plans to flee the country. I no longer felt safe either, given my activitiesthings not looked on kindly by the regime. Friends and family members urged me not to stay at home. While I was having lunch at home on that day, a message from one of my friends popped up on my phone: Do you need a safe house? Yes, I replied. We chose an inconspicuous meeting point. He advised me not to go straight there, to make sure no one was following me. He was worried my house was already being watched. At around 4 p.m., we met at the designated place. I slipped into his car with my backpack, which contained only a notebook and some clothing. He asked me to lie down on the back seat. It took about 15 minutes to reach our destination. My friend even cautioned me to sneak into the house from the garage so as not to be spotted from neighboring houses. For our safety, he listed a number of dos and donts, then helped me cover the windows of the bedroom I would be sleeping in with blankets so that no light could be seen from outside. Unsurprisingly, I couldnt fall asleep on my first night in the hideout. I tried not to think about how many more sleepless nights I would endure in the coming days, months or years. Whenever I needed to go out, my friend checked the neighboring houses first so that I could slip into the car unnoticed. Under the roof of that hideout, every conversation was political; we spoke of nothing but the political situation and how it might develop, whether negatively or positively. Each day brought nothing but bad newsmore killings and arrests by MAHs troops. Our anger and emotions boiled under that roof. On March 24 I moved to my second hideout. Life grew even more unstable and unpredictable. It was unwise to stay in any one place for long. The atmosphere was one of constant uncertainty The owner of my second hideout showed me where I should conceal myself in his compound, should the authorities ever come to check. He suggested climbing into an attic or clambering up onto the roof from an attic window. A big pile of leaves behind the house presented another possibility; he said I could throw myself deep into it and cover myself with the dry foliage. I wasnt sure if I could really manage either of his ideas, if push came to shove. Luckily, I never had to put that plan into action. It wasnt until I moved to a third hideout just over one month later that I experienced a close call. One afternoon in early June, there was a big explosion nearby. I immediately knew it must have been a bomb blast. I ran to the verandah to observe the scene outside. I heard another explosion and saw smoke billowing from a location down the road. I ran back into my room and got down, my head almost on the floor. As I did I noticed shards of glass on the carpet; soon I found a small hole in my apartments window. Caused by a piece of shrapnel, the hole was head-high and right where I had been standing while looking down earlier. If I had not moved, I could have been killed. I was lucky. I again checked out the scene down on the street. Soldiers and police had blocked the road and were shouting at drivers to turn their cars around. They continued to scour the area where the explosions occurred for hours. Now, almost a year after the coup, Ive grown accustomed to hearing bomb blasts from my hideouts, or in my bed at night. Sleepless nights are nothing strange anymorethough, having said that, I have developed the ability to fall asleep in strange beds to the sound of bomb blasts and gunfire in the distance. I suppose that means Ive become used to such things. But these are things no one should ever grow accustomed to. Nights now are never the same as they were before the February coup. To date, Ive spent more than 300 nights in temporary beds in various hideouts, away from my home. For the time being, it seems, I must call these makeshift quarters home. What I have no way of knowing is how many more nights I will have to try to sleep on these beds With that, I wish you good night! You may also like these stories: After Residents Flee Fighting, Myanmar Soldiers Loot Town NUG Accuses Myanmar Junta of Committing Crimes Against Humanity Suspended International Infrastructure Projects Resumed in Myanmar Trinity, TX (77320) Today Mainly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mainly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Were working to cover how COVID-19 is affecting our region. Tell us your story. Have you or someone close to you been monitored, quarantined or tested and can you share about the process? Are you a medical professional dealing with this who wants to share your experience and needs at this time? Are you a student or worker affected by closures? Are there questions you have about the coronavirus and COVID-19 response that havent been answered? We want to hear about your experience. We understand this is a sensitive and private issue and we are willing to protect your identity if you request it. Ithaca, NY (14850) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 43F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 43F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. It's World Data Privacy Day, during Privacy Awareness Week, with some top tech leaders making their thoughts public on how to stay private. World Data Privacy Day is today, January 28, although the Office of The Australian Information Commission and Stay Safe Online are celebrating a data privacy week, and this year, individuals are encouraged to Own Your Privacy by learning more about how to help protect the valuable data that is online, and businesses to Respect Privacy. So, what are some top tech leaders stating? David Maunsell, CEO of Haventec states: Our lives have become increasingly dependent on online and digital interactions that generate massive amounts of data containing private information. We often see the responsibility of data privacy fall into the hands of consumers, expecting them to understand the intricacies of cyber security to protect themselves. Meanwhile, regulatory bodies have called on businesses to know and respect their customers rights while also protecting every bit of data they hold for their customers. Enterprises are resorting to increasingly complex and expensive mechanisms to protect sensitive information resulting in a poor customer experience. "At Haventec, we believe its time we rethink the complexity of data privacy though the lens of human behaviour to create simple, secure, and safe digital experiences. An integral part of this is elegant authentication which builds trust between consumers and businesses, and promotes use of digital channels. At Haventec, we have developed and validated technology which eliminates the weakest link in digital security, the password, and in turn removed the burden on both businesses and consumers of credential breaches and data loss. Meanwhile, Paul Davis, Area Vice President of ANZ at Confluent says: One of the biggest challenges businesses are facing today is keeping up with data privacy. With the never-ending software upgrades, patching systems, new government legislation and the evolving security threats they face, companies are always in a constant race to keep up. This year, I believe that investing in cloud technology is highly advantageous when it comes to data security and privacy. As faster connections give rise to cloud computing, businesses can resolve security issues and stay on top of mechanisms quickly in complex and disconnected IT environments. Additionally, investing in talent within the industry is often overlooked, similarly determining clear roles and responsibilities to hold people accountable and deliver the best services possible. Hiring a Data Protection Officer that provides strategic insight and oversees IT operations could set an organisation apart and ensure that the business stays ahead of the curve. Next is Gregg Ostrowzski, Executive CTO at Cisco AppDynamics, who shares: "The AppDynamics App Attention Index 2021, showed that for consumers, security is the number one component of a high performing 'total application experience'. And 90% say that their expectation of brands to keep their data secure has increased since 2020. "It goes to show that brands must go above and beyond to meet their users' expectations towards security. In this post-pandemic era, a strong security posture means organisations have the necessary processes in place to protect their applications and their business from vulnerabilities and threats. In a world where sensitive data is constantly at risk of being compromised by malicious actors, they must be prepared and strengthen their security posture, enabling them to predict, prevent and respond to threats. "The DevSecOps methodology, a modern approach to software development, takes things a step further and incorporates security enhancements at the beginning of the application development lifecycle for a more proactive approach to reduce risks of threats to sensitive customer data. But in order for a DevSecOps approach to be fully effective, teams need to implement a full-stack observability solution. "This approach will give them in-depth visibility into the entire IT stack, including traditional legacy systems through to new, native cloud environments as well as hybrid deployments. It is a vital step in the right direction." Now comes Paul Lancaster, Director Pre Sales Engineering at Commvault, who explains: This Data Privacy Day is an opportunity for executives to evolve their understanding of data security, taking a renewed approach to how their organisations secure and recover assets. With data sprawl across on and off-site network environments growing, organisations must be proactive in how they approach the security of their systems. Conducting periodic 'fire drills' is one example, testing the strength, resilience, and speed of cyber defences and disaster recovery solutions. Business leaders may believe they have a robust strategy to fend off and recover from attacks; however, data integrity drills can confirm if these strategies are effective, ensuring critical information is always recovery ready. Additionally, addressing network visibility challenges must be top of mind for IT teams and executives. As companies shift from owned data management solutions to hybrid models, systems that provide insight into assets across networks are becoming critical to help drive efficiencies and provide early warnings of any issues. It's time business leaders adapt their understanding of security and recovery systems, shifting from infrastructure management to where solutions are deployed to drive outcomes for the business. Now we turn to Guillaume Noe, Regional Cybersecurity Lead, Avanade Australia. "Data Privacy Day is celebrated each year on January 28. It commemorates the first international binding treaty to protect individuals data signed in 1981 by members of the Council of Europe. The treaty called for the right to personal data protection as a necessity to secure the human dignity, the protection of human rights, the fundamental freedoms of every individual, and the personal autonomy based on a persons right to control their personal data and how it is processed. "Today, Data Privacy Day has evolved in its scale, reach and recognition into 'an international effort to create awareness about the importance of respecting privacy, safeguarding data and enabling trust'. Such awareness is critical for individuals, governments and businesses in both physical and digital contexts. "I believe digital privacy is equally important as physical privacy because the same human dignity and fundamental rights are at stake in a society where human interactions and communications are overwhelmingly processed with digital data. "Personal data can also draw financial and reputational costs when mishandled. "First, personal data can bear a direct monetary cost when stolen by cyber criminals seeking financial gains. In Australia alone and in 2021, the ACCC recorded 124,491 reports of personal information theft which accounted for a loss of over $33.9 million - an increase of 132% over the previous year (ACCC). The majority of the Australian workforce, aged 25-64, remains susceptible to phishing, identity theft, and hacks. "Secondly, it can bear a financial cost for businesses when fined for breaching privacy regulations. The European Union (EU) has set clear examples of holding business accountable for their privacy obligations. Similarly, Australian businesses are not immune to the local and international application of privacy regulations. For example, they can be held liable for damages to their offshore counterparts under laws such as the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Singapores Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). "Finally, it has a reputational cost for individuals, government entities and businesses when mishandling the personal data that they either own or are entrusted to protect. Trust in businesses and government is fragile when it involves the protection of customers and citizens personal data. "There is a need to reflect and raise awareness on personal data protection because data privacy will always be at risk, and the risk evolves with our society. This is why, on Data Privacy Day, I take the opportunity to reflect on respecting privacy, safeguarding data and enabling trust with better personal data handling - and I extend an invitation to all individuals, government entities and businesses to do the same." We finish with Lana Xaochay, Data Privacy Officer at Ivanti: When the World Wide Web launched in the public domain on April 30, 1993, no one realised the sheer amount of personal information that would be stored and shared online. According to the World Economic Forum, its estimated that by 2025 there will be 463 exabytes of data created every day! This poses a challenge for organisations as managing data has become increasingly complex and governments around the world have tried to rein in what and how we share and store data. "Data privacy concerns have been exacerbated by the pandemic as we have seen an uptick of ransomware and cybercrimes with bad actors taking advantage of the rapid shift to remote work, the increase in online deliveries and the proliferation of QR codes. The sheer amount of data we share about ourselves online is a privacy concern and more alarming is that many workers are using the same devices for personal and business activities. "For this reason, it is critical for businesses to be able to manage all devices that access their network, along with effectively prioritising and remediating vulnerabilities that pose the most danger to their organisation. "The Ransomware Spotlight Year End report released earlier this week underscores the need for organizations to address the rapidly evolving threat landscape, with a 29% increase in the number of vulnerabilities tied to ransomware and a 25% increase in ransomware families the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks that will only escalate. "At Ivanti we continue to innovate and lock arms with our customers to help enable and secure the Everywhere Workplace. For instance, with Ivanti Neurons for Patch Management, which came out of beta a few days ago, we automate patch management for our customers and help them identify and patch their most critical vulnerabilities proactively. "This is critical as a recent study that we conducted revealed that 71% of IT and security professionals found patching to be overly complex and time consuming. It is critical for businesses to have real-time intelligence on known exploits along with threat context for vulnerabilities so they can respond with more agility to the vulnerabilities that place their organisation at the greatest risk. Villager commits himself to popularizing ethnic folk songs sung in rice fields of SW Chinas Yunnan People's Daily Online) 16:54, January 28, 2022 Singing traditional folk songs while working in the fields, people of the Hani ethnic group have turned terraced rice fields into a massive stage to showcase their strong bonds with nature, as well as the spirit of labor. The tradition of singing while working in the rice fields has been passed down by the Hani people during the course of about 1,000 years in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, southwest Chinas Yunnan Province. Chen Xiniang (first from right) performs Hani polyphonic folk songs with his fellow villagers in terraced rice fields. (Peoples Daily Online/Lei Yang) Chen Xiniang, an inheritor of Hani polyphonic folk music, expressed his hope that the Hani songs can be kept alive among future generations and become world-famous one day. As a national-level intangible cultural heritage, Hani polyphonic folk music does not have any written lyrics and people must pass down the songs by teaching them to each other. Chen started to learn Hani songs as a child after accompanying his parents to transplant rice seedlings in the fields. When he was 17 years old, Chen became a student under a folk artist who is a local inheritor of the Hani polyphonic folk music tradition. It took Chen eight years to develop all the various singing skills, and as of today he has mastered techniques at a high level, including singing and playing various musical instruments. The rice fields are a source of inspiration for us when creating songs, said Chen, introducing that when there is a small group of people working in the fields together, they will sing their tunes louder; and when there are many people working together in the fields, they will sing relatively more softly and engage in polyphonic singing. Chen and his fellow villagers first staged a show in Kunming, the provincial capital, in the 1980s, where their fabulous performances wowed members of the audience. Nowadays, with the concerted efforts of inheritors like Chen, Hani polyphonic folk songs have reached a wider audience from across the country and even around the world. In 2005, Chen and nine other folk artists performed Hani polyphonic folk songs during a show held in the Netherlands. It was a valuable opportunity to be able to make their folk music heard by overseas audiences, expressed Chen. Nowadays, you cannot find many young people singing songs at home. They have opted to leave the village to search for jobs. If there is no one to carry forward Hani music, it will perish sooner or later, Chen said, who added that he is always ready to teach the songs to more people as long as they are interested in the music. Under the influence of their father, Chens son and daughter also joined in the effort to pass on the tradition of Hani polyphonic folk music, both now being engaged in the protection of the intangible cultural heritage. In addition, two of Chens students have become provincial-level inheritors and four have become prefecture-level inheritors of Hani polyphonic folk music. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) Teachers and support staff in the Volusia County School District will earn a minimum annual salary of $47,500 after the school board unanimously approved a bargaining agreement with the teachers union Tuesday night. The agreement also reserves teacher planning time and limits the number of meetings teachers and support staff are required to attend, according to Volusia United Educators President Elizabeth Albert. Advertisement All of this is for the purpose of making sure that they have the time that they need to plan and prepare to teach the kids, Albert said. We know that our students have learning gaps because ... its the third year with a worldwide pandemic were trying to deal with. We believe that theres nothing more important than teacher planning time. Superintendent Scott Fritz recommended the board approve the agreement. Advertisement I just want everyone to know how appreciative and happy I am to have gotten to this point, Fritz said. Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis set aside $500 million to increase teacher pay. Volusia received $10.4 million and used 80% for teachers making less than $47,500; the remaining 20% went to veteran teachers. Previous union agreements In December 2020, the school board and teachers union agreed that the districts lowest-paid teachers would receive a $4,700 salary bump, bringing their salary up to $44,335. All teachers would receive at least a 2.5% increase, and anyone making less than $44,335 would be brought up to that level. The district could not provide the full increase in 2020 because too many teachers made less than $47,500. Previously, Volusia Countys starting salary was $39,609 and the median salary in 2019 was $43,333, suggesting that more than half of teachers in the district made less than $47,500. But even after increasing the base pay to $47,500 Tuesday, theres still more work to be done, according to Albert. While the agreement raises the starting pay for teachers and support staff, it doesnt do much for veteran teachers. What were trying to do with salaries is were trying to reduce the compression that is occurring between our brand new folks or early career educators and ... our veteran teachers, Albert said. Which Albert said is problematic for the district, since in most other professions the more time you put in, the higher your salary. The more time you spend in that profession and the more masterful you become in your trade or craft, you generally are compensated at a greater rate, Albert said. Well, not in Florida, and not with public school teachers. Advertisement Shane Story, an ESE support facilitation teacher at David C. Hinson Sr. Middle School in Ormond Beach, said while the agreement is a step in the right direction, its still not enough. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > The little we have done to respect veteran teachers has pushed them out of the field, Story said. Were increasing the workload for teachers. Why stay if the workload is going up but your pay isnt going up? At the moment, new teachers are getting the additional $3,000 salary increase through their salaries, but veteran teachers are getting some in salary and the rest in bonuses, according to Albert. Which is problematic, because bonus money doesnt count toward a pension, Albert said. And thats one of the big things that our veteran teachers are really looking at is their pension. School Board Member Linda Cuthbert implored the public in attendance Tuesday night to write to their legislators to help raise the salary for veteran teachers. Our salaries we pay comes from our general fund, 80% goes toward salaries. We run on 20% of our general fund, Cuthbert said. We need the general public to advocate with us. Its not just Volusia, its all counties in the state; were all in this together. Advertisement Nikki Ross covers K-12 education, health and COVID-19 for the Daytona Beach News-Journal. She can be reached at nikki.ross@news-jrnl.com or follow her on Twitter @nikkiinreallife. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Nokia announced it is working with Alstom to deliver a private wireless network for the National Capital Regional Transport Corporations (NCRTC) Delhi to Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). It will support European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 Signaling to maintain safety for commuters on the high-speed rail route, currently under construction, Nokia said. The Delhi to Meerut RRTS is the first in a phased development of a high-speed rail network that aims to enable sustainable economic and social development through enhanced connectivity in Delhi and the surrounding districts. Expected to be fully operational in 2025, the low-emission RRTS will transport more people at average speeds of 100 kmph to reduce travel time and road congestion. Nokia says the fully redundant private network, based on the Nokia Modular Private Wireless solution (MPW) including its latest AirScale radios, Air Frame-based evolved packet core capabilities, the 7250 IXR IP/MPLS backhaul routers, Group Communication platform for mission-critical push to talk/video (MCx/GC) and Network Services Platform (NSP) management, will span the 82 km rail route which incorporates 25 stations. The private network is being deployed to support ETCS Level 2 & 3 signaling as well as automated operation (ATO), which enables trains to use radio signals to continuously receive their movement authorities and to report their exact direction and position to ensure the safety of all on board. The introduction of LTE/4.9G technology for ETCS is an important asset for railway operators and will pave the way for a smooth transition to FRMCS (Future Railway Communication System), Nokia said. Alstom Transport India managing director digital mobility Thameem Kamaldeen said, We are pleased to work with Nokia, leveraging its extensive private wireless capabilities for the advanced signaling system that we are providing for NCRTC. The new high-speed rail network will help to transform the region. Nokia head of enterprise solutions CHIMEA (China, India, Middle East and Africa) Kamal Ballout said, Nokia has supported the digital transformation of more than 380 enterprises across diverse industries through our private wireless solutions. Nokia advanced railway solutions are designed to deliver a new level of connectivity for rail operators. Teams need to be aware of train positions in real-time to ensure the safety of passengers, and private wireless offers the security, reliability and high-speeds required to enable this. SAP SE and Icertis expand their partnership to develop contract management to help companies increase their efficiency, minimise risk, and realise the full intent of their agreements. Financially backed by SAP SE, Icertis will lead a joint product road map and deeper technological integration to deliver enterprise-wide value, including faster negotiations, greater compliance and AI-powered business insights and automation. The expanded cooperation with Icertis will help our customers take advantage of market-leading innovations for contract management from Icertis while managing core business processes with SAP solutions, says SAP SE CEO and executive board member Christian Klein. This partnership is a great complement to our portfolio, with multiple touchpoints to SAP systems across ERP, finance, procurement, sales, and HR. In 2020, SAP SE collaborated with Icertis to transform the source-to-pay and lead-to-cash processes by integrating Icertis Contract Intelligence (ICI) with SAP Ariba and Customer Experience solutions. The enhanced partnership will build on this existing relationship and will mutually leverage each others technology to deliver value to customers. Customers will have the opportunity to benefit from ICI capabilities for smart contract creation, online negotiation, AI-assisted risk identification, obligation management, and contract-driven insights for decision support while operating their core source-to-pay and lead-to-cash processes within SAP solutions. With this partnership, SAP and Icertis customers will be able to derive end-to-end value across the enterprise, so the intent of every contract is correctly memorialised and fully realised, says Icertis CEO Samir Bodas. Partnering with SAP to bring our AI-powered, best-of-breed contract intelligence to the market is another affirmation of Icertis strategy to become the contract intelligence platform of the world. It is also a testament to SAPs forward-looking vision for the intelligent and networked enterprise. As part of the expanded partnership, Icertis Contract Intelligence (ICI) for SAP Ariba solutions and ICI for SAP Customer Experience solutions are now SAP Endorsed Apps, premium certified by SAP with added security, in-depth testing and measurements against cloud operations best practices. "SAP's focus on the intelligent enterprise has enabled many organisations to move into the digital-first world, and the contracting process in SAP Ariba solutions has done much for the buying community, comments IDC vice president enterprise applications and digital commerce Mickey North Rizza. Contracts are the foundation of commerce, governing the rights and obligations between parties. Traditional contract management is often manual and siloed, creating inefficiency and risk while leaving value unrealised. ICI helps structure and connect data within contracts across an enterprise, enabling businesses to increase efficiencies, identify and mitigate potential risk, and drive bottom-line value throughout the contract lifecycle. Icertis solutions including ICI for SAP Ariba solutions and ICI for SAP Customer Experience solutions are available in SAP Store, which provides customers with real-time access to more than 1,800 solutions from SAP as well as partner solutions that complement and extend their SAP applications. Cybersecurity firm Sophos unveils its zero trust network access offering that fully integrates with Sophos Intercept X to provide advanced endpoint protection with a single agent. Sophos ZTNA (zero trust network access) introduces a security model for connecting users and devices to applications and data to simplify protection against ransomware and other cybersecurity threats. Sophos new research, Windows Services Lay the Groundwork for a Midas Ransomware Attack, shines light on the importance of ZTNA, detailing how attackers are able to spend nearly two months in undetected in a targets environment, taking advantage of limited access controls and network and application segregation. The research noted how the attackers further leveraged no-longer-used ghost remote access tools to move laterally, target and compromise other machines, create new accounts, install back doors, and exfiltrate data, before releasing the Midas ransomware. Through its integration, Sophos ZTNA eliminates the complexities of managing multiple vendor products and agents, and provides end-to-end protection for endpoints, users, their identities, and the applications and networks that they connect to. As part of the Sophos Adaptive Cybersecurity Ecosystem, Sophos ZTNA shares real-time threat intelligence with other solutions and automatically responds to threats. The solutions can better identify threats and assess device health so compromised and non-compliant devices can be quickly isolated. Many traditional remote access solutions, like remote desktops and IPsec and SSL-VPN, provide strong encryption, but very little else in defence against modern threats. We see attackers increasingly exploiting these limitations, stuffing credentials into RDP and VPNs to gain access to victim networks, and then moving freely once inside, all too often culminating in costly data theft and ransomware incidents, says Sophos chief technology and product officer Joe Levy. People, applications, devices, and data arent constrained to offices anymore theyre everywhere, and we need more modern ways to secure them. Zero trust is a very effective cybersecurity principle, and ZTNA embodies it in a practical, easy to use way, ensuring that users have secure access to only the resources that they need. Sophos ZTNA micro-segments networks to protect against intrusions, lateral movement, and data theft. It authenticates user identities with multiple factors to tighten access controls for users. It eliminates implied trust and only authorises user access to specific applications and systems on the network. The future of work will be hybrid, making it imperative that organisations are able to protect remote workers, remote data and remote applications, says IDC research director network security products Christopher Rodriguez. By integrating ZTNA with endpoint protection, Sophos ZTNA enables risk-appropriate access to resources from any device, at any time and from any location. Trust is a key factor in business today one that requires critical security controls to protect against business-impacting events, such as ransomware and data compromise. 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. Compiling reviews from IMDb and Metacritic, Stacker composed a list of the 50 best space movies of all time, from classic hits to new releases. Click for more. Floridas prisons are overcrowded, a result of overly harsh sentencing laws that cost the public millions of dollars and undermine the value of rehabilitation. There are multiple proposals in the current legislative session that would ease early release rules and update probation guidelines, among other reforms. The Legislature should pass some of the commonsense ideas, a needed step toward mending the states justice system. In Florida, inmates serving time for felonies can have their sentences shortened by earning gain time an incentive awarded for working, completing training programs or earning educational credentials while in prison. But theres a ceiling: No matter how much gain time inmates earn, they still must serve no less than 85 percent of their sentence. A bill filed in the House would reduce that minimum to 65 percent, while one in the Senate calls for 75 percent. A reduction to 75 percent is reasonable maintaining respect for crime victims and upholding consequences for serious and violent criminal acts. Advertisement Sen. Jeff Brandes, R- St. Petersburg, is a longtime advocate for prison reform and vice chair of the Senates Criminal Justice Committee. His SB 746 would roll back provisions that prohibit repeat offenders from eligibility for any form of early release and that require reoffenders to serve 100 percent of their original sentence. Inmates listen to a presentation on the Short Sentence mentor program in the Chapel of the East Unit of the Central Florida Reception Center in Orlando, on Friday, May 14, 2021. In 6 state prisons, incarcerated men and women have established a new mentorship program aimed at helping rehabilitate and prepare people with short-sentences to reenter society, through an intensive program that helps keep everyone inside focused on success. People with long-time sentences, often 'lifers,' are leading the new Short Sentence mentor program, helping guide and support people in prison for the first time, who will be released in the next year. The group is focused on therapy, support, substance abuse and other root causes, but have found they need support from outside organizations to help with reentry, once they can no longer support mentees on the outside. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel) (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) Florida treats what it calls prison releasee reoffenders with unusual severity, directing prosecutors to seek the maximum sentence often life for anyone who commits a new crime within three years of leaving prison. Florida has 13,600 inmates serving life in prison without parole far more than any other state. Cost to taxpayers: more than $300 million a year. Advertisement Brandes prudent proposals have been rebuffed year after year, even with his own party in power. But this year could result in real progress, buoyed by greater awareness of harsh prison conditions nationwide and attitudes evolving back toward rehabilitation, not just pure punishment. Other bills under consideration would take the logical next step of helping to shore up Floridas probation system. Rep. Traci Koster, R- Tampa, filed a bill that would allow time off a probation period for good behavior and completion of life-skills programs. Another proposal by Rep. Dianne Hart, D- Tampa, would establish a program to prepare parole-eligible inmates for reintegration into society. It stands to reason that Florida might see a reduction in former inmates committing new crimes if it provided better support and guidance for people when they get out of prison. Its tough to get meaningful prison reform through the conservative Florida Legislature, which is too often focused on the cultural lightning rod of the moment, to the detriment of actual matters of public interest. Of all the proposals to improve the states prison system, reducing the minimum time inmates must serve from 85 percent to 75 percent of their original sentence shouldnt be a hard sell. It would ease overcrowding, give inmates more incentive to work on their lives and perhaps the easiest sell of all save money. Re-entry of Foreign Nationals Who Possess the Status of Residence Based on New Border Measures (27) from March 1, 2022, foreign nationals who apply for new entry into Japan to fulfill either of the following category (1) and (2) below, are regarded as those with special exceptional circumstances and are allowed for new entry into Japan in principle, if the receiving organizations located in Japan completes prescribed application in the Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System (ERFS). Currently, foreign nationals/people who are willing to enter Japan need a visa newly issued by Embassies or Consulates or Consular Office of Japan (for Taiwan, Taipei Kaohsiung offices of Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association) (hereinafter referred to as Japans overseas establishments) in the country/region depending on the purpose of their entry. Donate Now As a public service during this pandemic, the Jewish News is providing free, unlimited access to all articles. Jewish News is a nonprofit publication that is owned by the community and relies on community support. Ballad Health will allow employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 but are asymptomatic or showing improvement in symptoms to continue working to help the hospital system weather a critical staffing shortage. The system set another record on Thursday for the number of people hospitalized with the virus. CEO Alan Levine said Thursday the hospital system was without 834 employees, many of whom work on the clinical side, who have tested positive for the virus or are awaiting test results. Thats about 7% of the systems total work force. Of those employees currently out, 79% are vaccinated. Levine said the system was declaring crisis staffing, and would follow guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to allow employees who are positive for the virus or were exposed to continue working. If an employee is at home, if theyve tested positive with COVID but they are asymptomatic, our expectation is that they will come back, Levine said, adding that those who are symptomatic but whose symptoms have improved, we would invite them to come back under the same set of circumstances. Those who are symptomatic must be fever-free without the help of medication for at least 24 hours before they return. Levine said those who do return will not be allowed to work in certain departments such as oncology, the neonatal intensive care unit, birth and delivery, Niswonger Childrens Hospital and Hospitots Child Care Center. As a hospital system that has to care for patients that are very sick, theres a point beyond which it becomes more risky to keep these people at home and not take care of the people that need help, and thats the point were at, Levine said. We believe weve hit that threshold, both in terms of volumes of patients here at the hospital, as well as those at home with COVID that are employed by Ballad. CDC Crisis Capacity Strategies to Mitigate Staffing Shortages According to the CDC's guidance, health care workers who have tested positive but return to work should have their contact with patients who are moderately to severely immunocompromised restricted, and facilities should consider having their duties prioritized in the following order: If not already done, allow infected health care providers to perform job duties where they do not interact with others, such as in telemedicine services. Allow them to provide direct patient care only for patients with a confirmed COVID-19 infection, preferably in a cohort setting. Allow them to provide direct patient care only for those with a suspected COVID-19 infection. As a last resort, allow them to provide direct patient care without a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. "If this is being considered, this should be used only as a bridge to longer term strategies that do not involve care of uninfected patients by potentially infectious (health care provider). Strict adherence to all other recommended infection prevention and control measures (e.g., use of respirator or well-fitting face mask for source control) is essential." Those requested to return to work should: Self-monitor for symptoms and seek re-evaluation if they worsen. Wear a respirator or well-fitting face mask at all times, even when in non-patient care areas, and distance from others if they must remove their mask to eat or drink. Physically distance from other to the extent possible. Patients (if tolerated) should wear a respirator or well-fitting face mask when interacting with those health care providers. Lisa Smithgall, Ballads chief nursing executive, said nurses are working more shifts and caring for more patients at once than they normally do, and said there simply arent enough bedside caregivers available to handle this crisis in our and other hospitals across the nation. Smithgall also asked the public to avoid using emergency rooms unless there is a life- or limb-threatening emergency or if theyre experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain, stroke symptoms or other serious health emergencies. There isnt enough staffing capacity to admit additional patients onto our inpatient floors, which is causing those overcrowding and longer wait times in our emergency departments, Smithgall said. In the past, Ballad had received additional staffing by way of the Tennessee National Guard, but Gov. Bill Lees executive order allowing National Guard members to work in hospitals was allowed to expire in November. Ballad officials have not had specific conversations with the governors office about re-issuing the executive order, but the system has requested additional support from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Sign up to Johnson City Press Today! Top stories, delivered straight to your inbox. A fourth suspension of elective surgeries to free up additional staff is also unlikely. This time, weve made a decision that were not going to defer elective surgeries if we can avoid it, Levine said. The staffing crisis could worsen in the coming weeks, however, as employees face a Feb. 11 deadline from the hospital system to receive their first dose of the vaccine or receive an exemption something hundreds of employees have yet to do. While roughly 60% of Ballads work force has been vaccinated, about 1,000 employees have not been vaccinated or sought a medical or religious exemption, Levine said. If those employees remain unvaccinated and do not receive an exemption, the hospital system would be forced to terminate their employment in order to remain in compliance with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicares conditions for participation. Health care providers not in compliance could face fines or be barred from participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs something Levine previously said would be devastating for our region. Ballads deadline is two weeks later than the deadline set by CMS for health care workers in 25 states Tennessee among them as the hospital system waited to re-implement their mandate while a legal challenge made its way through the judicial system. Ballad announced it was re-instituting its mandate on Jan. 13, and has cleared its later deadline with CMS. We are going to do whatever we need to do to protect the safety of our patients, and to make sure we are adequately staffed to care for the needs of the people in this region, Levine said. We will do everything we can to work with CMS as we try to comply with the vaccine mandate. Were not going to put our patients at risk. That is our position. On Thursday Ballad reported a record number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 at their hospitals with 436, breaking the previous record of 427 set on Wednesday. Of those hospitalized, 78 were in the intensive care unit and 55 were on ventilators. Eight children are also hospitalized with the virus. Ballads Chief Infection Prevention Officer Jamie Swift said the vast majority of those patients are hospitalized because of the disease, not because they tested positive after being admitted for other reasons. Data from Ballad shows the vaccine has remained effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalization. Those who are not fully vaccinated account for 86% of hospitalizations, 92% of ICU patients and 96% of patients on a ventilator. According to data from the Tennessee Department of Health, cases in the region had yet to start declining as of Jan. 22, but Ballad Chief Operating Officer Eric Deaton said they have seen fewer patients testing positive at their testing sites in recent days giving them hope the surge may have peaked or will peak soon, though hospitalizations could remain above 400 for another week. As of right now we still feel relatively confident that our data is good, and we historically have had good information to base it on, Deaton said. FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND UPDATES, DOWNLOAD THE JOHNSON CITY PRESS APP The Florida Legislature has had a tough time maneuvering through the politics of clean water to effectively curb pollution and protect public health. The Legislature enacted the Clean Waterways Act of 2020 with great fanfare, but though penalties were increased, the law was light on enforceable regulations to curb pollution. Instead, it continues to rely on largely voluntary and presumed compliance with state regulations. It also ignored many key recommendations of the Governors Blue-Green Algae Task Force. Advertisement But as it convenes for its 2022 session, the Legislature will have another opportunity thanks to Sen. Lori Berman of Delray Beach and Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson of Gainesville. The two Democratic legislators have introduced the Safe Waterways Act (Senate Bill 604 and House Bill 393). Howard L. Simon is the retired Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. He is now Director of the Clean Okeechobee Waters Foundation. (Courtesy / Courtesy) The proposals most important feature would require (rather than simply authorize) the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) to issue health advisories and through its network of county health departments post and maintain warning notices at public bathing places where the water has been found to contain fecal bacteria, either fecal coliform, Escherichia coli or enterococci bacteria. Advertisement It also would require FDOH to notify a municipality or county if such a health advisory is issued within its jurisdiction. The department would be required to maintain such signage until state water quality standards are met. Currently, the state health department monitors and posts advisories at some coastal beaches and public swimming areas under the Healthy Beaches Program, but as the law currently stands, there is no requirement that any state, county or municipal agency warn people before they swim or launch their kayak. It is inconceivable that unsuspecting Floridians and tourists could be recreating in water contaminated with fecal bacteria. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > The Legislature must act on this urgently needed proposal. It is alarming that fecal contamination of Floridas rivers and streams is so widespread. Based on years of monitoring, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection says nearly 9,000 miles of streams and rivers designated for recreation are impaired by fecal bacteria. Invading Seas (Invading Seas / Courtesy) High bacteria counts are dangerous. Swimming or wading in contaminated water can cause a host of illnesses and infections, including gastrointestinal distress, rashes and eye irritation. The sources of the contamination are numerous. They include untreated stormwater, leaks from aging or poorly functioning sewage treatment plants, leaching septic tanks, and runoff from fields that contain animal waste. Gov. DeSantis Blue-Green Algae Task Force also urged health advisories to inform the public about the potential health impacts associated with exposure to algae and/or algae toxins. Requiring government to warn the public of a health threat should not be a heavy lift. Tornado watches and storm warnings are routinely issued by the National Weather Service. Since 1966, the U.S. Surgeon General has required tobacco companies to warn consumers that cigarette smoking can cause cancer, heart disease, emphysema and more. Advertisement Curbing pollution at its source, rather than dealing with its consequences, clearly is more effective and cost efficient. But absent enforceable pollution-control measures, the least the state can do is provide warnings to the public so people can make an informed decision about whether to wade into the water and risk their health. Howard L. Simon served as executive director of the ACLU of Florida from 19972018. He is now president of Clean Okeechobee Waters Foundation, Inc. and a board member of Calusa Waterkeeper. For more information on the campaign for a Right To Know, go to right2knowfl.org Joplin, MO (64801) Today Thunderstorms this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 54F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening, then cloudy with rain likely overnight. Low 54F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Fewer than 1% of Florida homeowners generate their own solar energy. But Florida legislators have hatched a plan, backed by the state's largest utilities, that would make solar even less affordable and appealing. (Tom Benitez, Orlando Sentinel) My wife and I dont have solar panels on our home. But I respect those who do people who decided to invest their own money and generate their own clean energy. Thats why Im concerned about a power-company-backed bill rolling through the Florida Legislature designed to pop solar customers right in their panels. Advertisement The fight over solar energy is already woefully lopsided. Fewer than 1% of Florida households use solar. So this isnt like David vs. Goliath. Its more like David vs. 50 Goliaths. Advertisement Still, Tallahassee lawmakers are almost always on Team Goliath. And the power companies are worried that residential solar is gaining in popularity. So GOP lawmakers in both the House and Senate have filed bills that would allow power companies to reimburse customers who generate their own solar power at lower rates, making the systems tougher to afford. This bill aims to stop roof-top solar, said Susan Glickman, director of the Florida Clinicians for Climate Action, to choke it off before it takes hold. Its not just your traditional earthy-crunchy greenies opposed to this bill. George Riley, a former director of the Republican Party of Florida who now works with Conservatives for Clean Energy, said: Pulling the plug on this industry would be a massive step backwards. The power companies claim to be shocked and offended by accusations that they oppose residential solar programs. They claim to love solar energy but argue theyre currently paying inflated prices to customers who generate their own solar energy and sell it back to the grid. In fact, Florida Power & Light claims its overpaying greedy solar-panel owners by so much that the other 99% of their customers have to pay an extra $30 million. That sounds like a lot of money. But clean-energy advocates say FPLs numbers and arguments are a lot of bunk. They say FPL pays solar customers a fraction of what the company claims and note that solar-panel owners merely want the same fair value for the power they generate that power companies get. They say the power companies are really just trying to make solar less affordable to prevent more people from becoming self-reliant. At this point, you might need to ask yourself which side you believe. The clean energy folks from both the left and the right? Or the power companies? I think most people are gonna go with the bipartisan clean-energy guys. Advertisement But just for arguments sake, lets say you believe everything FPL says that its only interest in wanting to pay solar customers less is because they really, truly want to pass on savings to the rest of its customers. Then heres my question: Why doesnt the bill theyre pushing guarantee consumers will see those savings? I read the bill three times. I saw where it says that power companies want permission to pay solar customers less. But I didnt see anything requiring those savings be passed along to the other customers. Theres nothing in the legislation that guarantees lower bills, Glickman said. Huh. Well, that seems like a problem. You know what else seems like a problem? The Legislatures own staff analysis concluded this bill could lead to existing solar customers getting a lower return on their investment than initially expected, fewer people buying solar in the future and the utilities making more money. Advertisement My goodness. Its almost like the power companies wrote the legislation themselves. They did. Thats according to the Miami Herald, which found evidence that FPL not only wrote the bill for Jennifer Bradley, the senator sponsoring the legislation, but steered money her way to boot. Records from the Florida Senate show that FPL drafted the bill, and lobbyist John Holley delivered it to Bradley, R-Fleming Island, the Herald reported, and FPLs parent company followed up with a $10,000 contribution to her political committee. FPL responded to that story by setting up a website attacking one of the reporters who wrote it without refuting the facts about the company drafting the legislation or the political money involved. The Orlando Sentinel also discovered an interesting back story behind the similar House bill meant to undercut solar customers. That bill was sponsored by Tampa Bay Republican Lawrence McClure who based his call for reform, in part, on a report produced by a think tank one the Sentinel discovered received extensive funding from entities controlled by FPL consultants. That story made McClure look either ignorant or complicit. He wouldnt answer questions about which one he might be. Advertisement FPL says the industry and its legislative buddies are getting a bad rap; that they just want common-sense reform to the current solar-payment plan known as net metering. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > I would just emphasize that FPL does not oppose net metering, wrote FPL spokesman Christopher McGrath. We oppose the multi-million dollar annual subsidy thats paid for the 99.5% of customers who choose not to or cant buy a private rooftop solar system. So again, the argument here is that solar customers should get less credit for the energy they generate, so that FPL and other power companies can pass along more savings to other customers even though none of those savings are actually guaranteed in the legislation. Thats the part I keep coming back to: If the real point of the bill is to pass along savings, why wouldnt the bill explicitly demand that? And if the goal isnt really to stiff current solar customers and discourage future ones, why would the Legislatures own staff suggest that might be the result? Advertisement Unless maybe this proposal isnt really as sunny as its being billed. smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com Living Reporter and Theatre Critic Tim covers leisure and arts, and he is also a theater critic. He interned for the JI in 2015, and was hired in 2016. Tim graduated from UConn, Central College of McPherson, Kansas, and American Musical & Dramatic Academy. His favorite movie is "Jaws." Myanmars military seized power on February 1 last year, ousting the civilian government and arresting its de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Nearly 1,500 people have since been killed and thousands of others arrested as the junta wages a bloody crackdown on dissent. Here is a look back at the year since the militarys latest power grab, which ended a decade-long experiment with democracy after half a century of military rule. Pre-dawn raids Soldiers detain Suu Kyi and her top allies during pre-dawn raids on February 1 ahead of the opening of the new parliament. The generals claim fraud in the November 2020 election, which Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD) party won by a landslide. Their actions spark global condemnation, from Pope Francis to US President Joe Biden. Internet blocked Resistance to the coup begins with people banging pots and pans a practice traditionally associated with driving out evil spirits. The junta tries to block social media platforms including Facebook, which is hugely popular in Myanmar. Nightly internet blackouts are later imposed. Bold defiance Popular dissent surges over the weekend of February 6 and 7, with huge crowds gathering on the streets calling for the release of Suu Kyi. In the following weeks, these protests swell to hundreds of thousands of people in cities and villages around the country. Workers begin a nationwide strike on February 8. A 19-year-old woman is shot in the head when police fire on crowds in the capital Naypyidaw the next day. International sanctions Washington soon announces sanctions against several military officials, including junta chief Min Aung Hlaing. More sanctions follow from Britain and the European Union. Growing crackdown Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, the woman shot 10 days earlier, dies on February 19 after becoming a national symbol of opposition to the junta. Violent crackdowns on street protests escalate and by March 11, Amnesty International says it has documented atrocities by the junta including the use of battlefield weapons on unarmed protesters. A day later, a UN rights expert on Myanmar accuses the military of crimes against humanity. Deadliest day More than 100 civilians are killed in protest crackdowns on March 27 Armed Forces Day, the militarys annual show of strength. It is the deadliest day since the coup. The next month, ousted civilian lawmakers forced into hiding announce the formation of a shadow National Unity Government. American journalist detained Danny Fenster, an American editor at local outlet Frontier Myanmar, is detained at Yangons airport as he attempts to leave the country on May 24. Following a trial inside a prison in Yangon he is jailed for 11 years in November for unlawful association, incitement against the military and breaching visa rules. Three days later he is pardoned and freed, and flies home to be reunited with his family at New Yorks JFK airport. Suu Kyis trial begins In June, more than four months after she was detained, Suu Kyi goes on trial in a junta court. She faces an eclectic mix of charges, including illegally importing walkie-talkies and flouting Covid-19 restrictions during the 2020 elections. Covid wave Coronavirus infections surge across Myanmar from late June, with many pro-democracy medical staff on strike and the public avoiding military-run hospitals. People defy curfews to queue for oxygen cylinders for their loved ones and volunteers take up the grim task of bringing out the dead for cremation. Economic catastrophe In July the World Bank forecasts Myanmars economy will contract by 18 percent in 2021 as a result of the coup and the coronavirus outbreak, with the poverty rate to double from 2019 levels. 2020 election results cancelled In late July, the junta cancels the results of the 2020 polls, claiming more than 11 million instances of voter fraud. Six months to the day since the military seized power, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing says new elections will be held by August 2023. Suu Kyi jailed On December 6, Suu Kyi is jailed for four years for incitement against the military and breaching Covid regulations. The sentence is then cut to two years. On January 10, she is sentenced to another four years in prison after being convicted of two charges related to illegally importing and owning walkie-talkies and one of breaking Covid rules. She will be held under house arrest in Naypyidaw while she faces a host of other charges in court, which could see her jailed for decades. bur-rma/pdw/mtp/dva Meta Three months after the October 25 coup, the junta in power in Khartoum is faced with revolt from a new sector of Sudanese society: the judiciary. While it is not all the judiciary, it is enough to worry the coup generals, if only because it shows that a significant number of state officials are resisting and rebelling. A statement issued on January 20 by 55 judges, including four from the Supreme Court, accused the military brass of being responsible for extra-judicial killings and heinous violations against unarmed demonstrators. They added that they would take the necessary measures to protect citizens, but did not specify. They are supported by more than 220 prosecutors, who have announced that they will stop work from January 20. Their reason is again the security forces exactions against demonstrators, and they are calling for an end to the state of emergency in force since the coup. Public statements by judges are very rare in Sudan, and are also risky for the signatories. Since the putsch, the military has dismissed civil servants appointed by the civilian government during the transition and has given key posts to men from the regime of deposed President Omar al-Bashir. This is being done quietly in the ministries considered strategic: finance and justice. All levels of the judiciary are involved, in the federal states as well as in the central administration. A month after the coup, the Sovereign Council, the body that was supposed to oversee the democratic transition and which is now entirely controlled by the coup leaders, announced two important appointments: the chief of justice, who heads the judiciary, and the public prosecutor. Abdelaziz Fathal al-Rahman and Khalifa Ahmed Khalifa are well-known Islamists and al-Bashirs men. Both positions had previously remained vacant. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, as head of the Sovereign Council, had blocked these appointments, refusing to endorse the names proposed by his civilian partners, the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) coalition. They are clamping down on everything, remarks bitterly a lawyer from Darfur who prefers to remain anonymous. We find ourselves facing the same magistrates as under the regime of al-Bashir. Sudanese demonstrators against military rule, December 6, 2021 in Bahri, near Khartoum. Gwenaelle Lenoir Judicial reforms suspended Justice, in the broad sense, has always been an obsession of the generals, who fear being one day dragged before national or international courts. They all served under al-Bashir, participating in abuses against the people and the repression of opponents. First among them is General Al-Burhan, former army chief of staff, who served in Darfur at the height of the war, notably as head of the border guards, which later evolved into the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) linked to the Janjaweed militia. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemetti, who is the current head of the RSF and number two in the Sovereign Council, has similar fears. As long as the top position in the Sovereign Council, the body overseeing the democratic transition, was held by a military officer in this case, General Al-Burhan the top brass could play for time. But according to the Constitutional Declaration of August 2019 at the beginning of the transition, this position was to revert to a civilian in November 2021. The transfer of power did not take place. Delaying the transfer of the Sovereign Council leadership to civilians is one of the major reasons for the coup, confirms legal expert Suliman Baldo, an advisor to the NGO Enough Project. If it had taken place, legal issues would certainly have advanced: on the control of the economy; on the International Criminal Court; and on their alleged responsibility in the Khartoum massacre of June 3, 2019. At dawn on June 3, 2019, security forces violently broke up a large sit-in that had been staged for two months by pro-democracy protesters in front of the army headquarters. Various security forces took part in the attack, including members of the RSF, Khartoums auxiliaries during the war in Darfur. At least 127 people died, dozens disappeared, hundreds were injured, bodies were thrown into the Nile, and people were gang raped. The trauma is lasting and people are calling for justice. Tightening a grip on the judiciary has not been difficult: after two years of democratic transition, reform of the judiciary was still in its infancy. The States influence goes deep and many in all sectors of the judiciary owe their positions to their Islamist sympathies or their proximity to the NCP, Omar al-Bashirs party, explains Baldo. Al-Burhan will therefore have no difficulty finding security and civilian cadres to manage the security of his regime and the state. This is especially the case since, in the wake of last Octobers coup, General Al-Burhan changed the composition of the Sovereign Council, expelling the five members of the FFC coalition and replacing them with civilians under his thumb. The government was dissolved and the one he formed on January 20, with great difficulty, is composed of bureaucrats with no political stature or with ties to the former regime. Investigation committees dissolved Among the first decisions taken by the coup leaders was the dissolution of the committees investigating the actions of thAmong the first decisions taken by the putschists was the dissolution of certain committees, such as the one on the dismantling of the old regime. As for the committee on the events of June 3, chaired by lawyer Nabil Adib, it still exists but, according to one of its members, its action is hampered by the lack of logistical support provided by the Prime Minister. The generals were very worried about the conclusions of his report, which was due to come out soon, says Kholood Khair, executive director of the think tank Insight Partners in Khartoum. The investigation was dragging on. Survivors and families of the victims, as well as some political parties, were accusing the government of obstruction. In fact, it was the military component of the government that was organizing a general policy of obstruction. All those who worked in the committees set up to investigate the former regime faced obstacles of all kinds, says Mamoun Farouk, a lawyer and head of an anti-corruption committee. For example, operating funds were never released. The Ministry of Finance gave the order, but the order was never signed at the demand, always verbal, of the military in the Sovereign Council. Weary of fighting, we paid for everything out of our own pockets, but that slowed down the procedures. Finding premises was also a challenge, continues this former candidate for Attorney General. We would find a house, a building, and the next day the owner would change his mind, or the Sovereign Council would pre-empt it for its own needs. This happened in particular to the June 3 investigation committee. They moved into the Sudan Airways training centre. Everyone knows that Sudan Airways does not have a single plane. And suddenly, after three months, the company needed its centre to train its stewards and pilots! Today, the buildings are still unoccupied We have completed some investigations, said Farouk. But the prosecutors offices in Nyala [capital of South Darfur state] and those in Zalinjei [capital of Central Darfur] were burned. We dont know who set fire to them in these criminal incidents, we just know that it was armed men. As a result, no one has been brought to justice either for the crimes in Darfur or in the Nuba Mountains. This gives the perpetrators a sense of impunity, and the population the impression that the civilians in power did nothing. In fact, it is the military that has prevented the judicial process. The people are the strongest and there is no turning back, says the sign of a protester against military rule in December 2021 in Sudan. Gwenaelle Lenoir Putting a brake on the ICC The recent coup by the generals was thus just the culmination of two years of constant obstruction and pretence in all areas of justice, including international justice. In mid-December, a month and a half after the putsch, a delegation from the International Criminal Court (ICC) visited Khartoum. The objective was, once again, to discuss the transfer to The Hague of the three defendants claimed by the ICC and imprisoned in the Kober prison in Khartoum: former president al-Bashir, his former minister of defence Abdelrahim Hussein, and former minister of state for humanitarian affairs Ahmed Haroun. In a statement to journalists in North Darfur, Al-Hadi Idriss, a member of the Sovereign Council, nonetheless asserted unabashedly on December 14 that the Sudanese authorities remained committed to handing over to the ICC those who have perpetuated crimes in Darfur, in accordance with what is enshrined in the Juba Peace Agreement, signed in October 2020 between the Khartoum government and a coalition of rebel movements, the Sudan Revolutionary Front. The delegation led by prosecutor Karim Khan returned to the ICC empty-handed, and it is a safe bet that they will have to wait. Real cooperation between the Sudanese authorities and the International Criminal Court had begun, even if it was incomplete because held back by the military component of the transition, says lawyer Salih Mahmoud Osman, winner of the 2019 Sakharov Prize. In 2020, then-prosecutor Fatou Bensouda was allowed to visit Darfur twice and meet with victims. In August 2021, the Council of Ministers led by Abdallah Hamdok unanimously adopted a draft bill to ratify the ICCs founding treaty, the Rome Statute, which was provided for in the Juba agreement. On his Facebook page, the Prime Minister welcomed the decision: Justice and accountability are the solid foundations for the new Sudan, committed to the rule of law that we all want to build. The authorities then pledged to cooperate with the ICC and allow the opening of an office in Khartoum. There are 18 of them here, they have visas and can investigate in Darfur, said Osman. But transferring al-Bashir to The Hague is another story! The military has always blocked that. I wonder if Al-Burhan ever intended to transfer to The Hague those who should be transferred. Omar al-Bashir was once a military man and head of the army. To hand him over to a justice system that is considered foreign would be considered treason by the military establishment, said Baldo. During the two-year transition, al-Burhans tactic was to publicly affirm his cooperation, but to effectively delay that same cooperation. In fact, General Al-Burhan never put the Rome Statute ratification project on the agenda. The military deliberately delayed the process by procedural means, Baldo concluded. ICC Prosecutor Khan stresses this in his report to the UN Security Council: according to the memorandum signed [in 2020] with the ICC and the Juba peace agreement, ICC investigators must have full access to the territory of Sudan, including documents, archives, crime scenes, witnesses and other evidence relating to Darfur. But they have never received a response to official requests for assistance. Since the coup, his teams have simply had no one to talk to. They face, he says, additional difficulties in their investigative and cooperative activities due to the appointment of new government officials. The military is right to be afraid In fact, everything has stopped. No one talks about the ratification of the Rome Statute anymore, not even international organizations, because it is considered a political issue, said Mohamed Ibrahim Nkrumah, a human rights lawyer in Al-Fashir, capital of Sudans Darfur province. People are losing hope that the three defendants who are imprisoned in Sudan will be transferred and tried by the ICC. They need to see the men who ordered the crimes committed here in Darfur brought to international justice. The inhabitants of Abu Shouk displaced peoples camp, adjacent to the city, agree. For the moment, only Ali Kushayb is going to be tried before the ICC, said a 24-year-old student and activist. With the coordination of displaced people in Kalma camp, we have drawn up a list of 51 criminals that we want to see brought before international justice. Now we have to add others, like Hemetti, because the RSF is killing as we speak. And the Sudanese justice system will do nothing, it is even more politicized than before the coup. For the violence has resumed, as American NGO Human Rights Watch warned in a December 15 press release. A new wave of attacks on civilians in Darfur since mid-November 2021 highlights the urgent need for the United Nations to enhance its scrutiny of the restive region of Sudan, it said. A year after the withdrawal of the United Nations/African Union Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), violence between armed groups, in some cases implicating state security forces, has been on the rise, with a devastating impact on civilians. In a bare room, sitting under a slogan peace first painted on one of the yellowish walls, the student talks about transitional justice with some of his friends. The concept is also raised during weekly discussions between young people, organized more or less discreetly depending on the security context. Transitional justice is promised in the Juba peace agreement, and it is fundamental because it is the promise that crimes will be recognized and investigated. For us, the displaced, it means the end of fear, he says. But nothing has been put in place. Yet this is not for lack of popular interest, says lawyer Nkrumah. We are thinking about it a lot. Young people have set up discussion groups, either on social networks or on the ground, to explain that we must go beyond revenge. The elders have the crimes too much on their minds to accept without explanation that not all cases can be brought to justice, only the leaders can be brought before the courts, and that mediation and reconciliation will be necessary. It is curious to note that civil society is continuing its discussions on this while the military coup leaders are eating into the judiciary. The issue of justice and responsibility cannot be forgotten. It is only temporarily suspended because of the circumstances, promises Osman, a calm and stubborn lawyer. The military is right to be afraid of being accused of crimes in court one day. capitalization go through Elena Erskine 11:29pm On Thursday night, a divided Supreme Court allowed Alabama to execute a man who argued the state failed to provide him with proper accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act so he could choose the method of execution. In doing so, the judge overturned two lower court rulings that barred Alabama from carrying out the death penalty by lethal injection. The vote was 5-4, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett and the courts three liberal justices dissenting. Court brief, unexplainable Order Cleared the way for Alabamas execution of 43-year-old Matthew Reeves.Hours after the courts order, the state Lethal Injection. Reeves had attempted to execute by nitrogen hypoxia, a relatively new state method of execution that was considered far less painful than lethal injection. Instead of taking the drug intravenously, the person received nitrogen, which caused them to slowly lose consciousness and then die as blood oxygen levels dropped. A federal district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit stopped Reeves execution and barred the state from executing him by any means other than nitrogen. A majority of the five justices reversed the injunctions that took effect as a result of those rulings. Justice Elena Kagan wrote a three-page dissent, joined by Justices Stephen Breyer and Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Barrett noted that she would keep the ban, but she did not sign Kagans dissent. Kagan wrote that most ignored the district courts findings and in doing so denied the respect required by the law. She highlighted the extensive written record and hours of testimony and oral arguments the district court considered in preventing Reeves from being executed by lethal injection. There is no reason for the court to re-weight the evidence presented below, Kagan wrote. And it has no other basis to overturn the detailed findings of the district court in support of the injunction. The district court issued the injunction Jan. 7 and the 11th Circuit upheld the injunction on Wednesday, prompting Alabama to file an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court. The Alabama legislature approved nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution in 2018. Death row has a 30-day window to choose an alternative. Reeves did not opt ??for nitrogen hypoxia during the requested period. He then argued that he did not understand the election forms that prison officials handed out to death row. Reeves has significant cognitive limitations, including elementary school reading. He argued that the Alabama Department of Corrections violated the ADA by failing to facilitate his understanding of the forms. Reeves was sentenced to death for the 1996 murder of Willie Johnson when Reeves was 18. Alabama told the Supreme Court that the district court made a serious error in focusing on evidence that Reeves was unable to participate in the electoral-form plan, saying his needs were not overt and obvious to them. The state also said the district court had wrongly weighed the dangers of lethal injection to nitrogen hypoxia. The state argues that Reeves dyslexia a grade 2.2, according to an expert witness was not made clear to prison staff. In her dissent, Kagan pointed to irrefutable evidence that a person needs at least an 11th-grade reading level to understand the tables. The state has argued that Reeves claims were delayed in any way necessary to execute his nearly disguised attempts. Kagan noted that a lower court had found that the state was ready to execute Reeves through hypoxia within a few weeks. Federal regulators said Thursday that the governments key health agencies have failed in their responsibilities to lead the nations response to public health emergencies, including the coronavirus pandemic, extreme weather disasters and even a potential bioterrorist attack. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office said it designated the Department of Health and Human Services leadership and coordination of public health emergencies as a high-risk area of ??government. While the designation wont be penalized immediately, it sends a signal to Congress that lawmakers need to pay special attention to the agencys operations. In its report, the GAO said HHS longstanding persistent deficiencies hampered the nations response to the current COVID-19 pandemic and past threats. If not addressed, these deficiencies will continue to hinder the nations ability to prepare for and respond effectively to future threats. The GAO said deficiencies included managing the healthcare supply chain, coordinating with federal and state agencies, and providing clear and consistent communication to the public and the healthcare community. The report is part of GAOs assessment of the governments response to the pandemic. It was released as bipartisan senators introduced draft legislation this week calling for a close study of the pandemic and a comprehensive review of HHS capacity. Among the priorities of lawmakers are closer congressional oversight of the HHS agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, building supply chains and improving coordination at the top of HHS. Some of these address issues raised by the GAO report. The report did not place blame on individual officials in the current or previous administration. Were in a much stronger position than we were a year ago, department spokeswoman Sarah Lowenheim said in a statement. She added: We look forward to reading GAOs feedback on these important issues, and as we look forward to it. Share the progress of this whole-of-government effort as we continue to work to ensure the American people are protected from future health-related emergencies. Not a Modern Healthcare subscriber? Register today. GAO said that of the 115 recommendations to HHS on public health emergencies over the past 15 years, 72 have not yet been fully implemented. Last year, the White House released a plan to update the pandemic response, but did not propose addressing serious flaws. Instead, it calls for increased public health capacity to be on par with the nations military defense response. Under the Biden and Trump administrations, HHS has relegated to the White House in the management of the coronavirus pandemic, even as scientists, doctors, disease detectives and service providers do most of the day-to-day work. The GAO said it found persistent deficiencies in five main areas. They include establishing clear roles and responsibilities for federal, state and local agencies, collecting and analyzing data to inform policymakers, and providing clear and consistent communications to the public. For example, the GAO said the department has yet to make recommendations to address supply chain issues, including the availability of diagnostic tests, from 2020. Increasing production of at-home COVID-19 testing has become a White House priority in recent weeks. The GAO concluded that data collection and analysis has been a key weakness of the government since the beginning of the pandemic. As a result, policymakers have only a partial or late view of certain developments. Back in 2010, Congress required HHS to create a nationwide public health situational awareness surveillance system. But more than 10 years later, thats still not done, which the GAO said has forced policymakers to rely on data collected by thousands of state health departments and labs, as well as multiple federal agencies, which have different capabilities and protocols for processing the information. The regulator also found that HHS and its agencies had an ambiguous and inconsistent communication pattern during public health emergencies, not only with ordinary citizens, but also with their state and federal counterparts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans are confused by the CDCs shift guidance on what they can do to protect themselves and those they interact with. The American people have stopped listening to the CDC because of their guidance, Sen. Richard Burr, RN.C., said this week as he released bipartisan legislation to overhaul the governments pandemic response. People are confused and contradictory it makes sense. The pain of this pandemic is unforgettable, and we have a responsibility to make sure its lessons are unforgettable, said Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat who wrote the measure with Burr. Subscribe to our podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you get podcasts. Justin Bright longboards on the South Lake Trail in Clermont on Wednesday. The Florida native is traveling more than 1,100 miles from the Alabama border near Pensacola to Key West, raising awareness of the need for land conservation along the way. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) While traveling by car is a popular way to see the Sunshine State, Justin Bright is experiencing Florida on a different type of four-wheeled setup: a longboard. The St. Petersburg native is skating more than 1,100 miles from the Alabama border near Pensacola to Key West. Along the way, he hopes to raise awareness of the need for conservation and land preservation in Florida. Advertisement Ive experienced both extremes of hope and hopelessness at the same time, Bright said. Ive seen firsthand how beautiful Florida can be but also what the encroachment looks like and what that means. Pinellas County, where Bright grew up, is the densest in the state with just over 3,500 people per square mile. Advertisement Justin Bright travels on the South Lake Trail near the Lake Hiawatha Preserve in Clermont. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) The recent UF graduate, who earned his masters degree in mass communication, majored in journalism and wildlife ecology as an undergrad, which sparked his interest in Floridas wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystems. The route I chose wasnt necessarily the fastest to get to Key West. I wanted to pick something where I could see the cool and significant parts of Florida, he said. Theres no more intimate of a way to see a landscape than going nine miles per hour, seeing everything, hearing everything and talking to random folks. On this trip, Bright is combining his love for skating and the states wild lands while raising money for Conservation Florida more than $2,500 so far. The nonprofit land conservancy seeks to protect natural and agricultural lands, especially the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Justin is amazing. We admire his courage and originality as he draws attention to the need for land conservation and wildlife crossings and corridors in a unique way, said Traci Deen, CEO of Conservation Florida, in a statement. Justin Bright is traveling more than 1,100 miles from the Alabama border near Pensacola to Key West, raising awareness of the need for land conservation along the way. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) Part of Brights goal is to show the challenges for wildlife, specifically black bears and Florida panthers, in navigating a growing network of roadways with speeding cars and urban sprawl. As he skates along the shoulder of busy roadways, it becomes clear how animals feel as they avoid traffic. Travel Unraveled Weekly Get away from it all with vacation ideas, trip planning help and money-saving tips. > I realized early on that its not as much of a physical challenge, but Im exerting just as much effort trying not to die, trying not to get run over, he said. Animals are just doing their thing. Theyre trying to mate and look for water and food I feel unsafe as a six-foot human being, imagine not even being this big. Now more than three weeks into a six or seven-week journey, Bright has found his routine. With a lightweight tent, sleeping bag and a few extra clothes, the skateboarder has made his way through the Panhandle and into Central Florida, camping along the way. One of the challenges, other than braving gusty nights in the tent and cold temperatures, has been finding fresh food. I didnt eat a vegetable for nine days, I dont think. Maybe a few gas station bananas. You either get a Sunoco or a Circle K or like, Mamas Burgers or Uncle Joes BBQ, Bright said, then remembering the time he showed up at a Hunt Brothers Pizza with the hopes of finding a veggie pizza: I read the sign and their slogan is like, Hunt Bros Pizza. One rule: no vegetables. Im like, What the heck? Advertisement Justin Bright longboards on the South Lake Trail in Clermont on Wednesday. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) The real reward of this adventure has been seeing wild Florida in all of its glory. You go through a lot of stuff in 1,100 miles. Florida is this magnificent, diverse land, Bright said. Its this little tiny peninsula that juts out of an unreal continent with all this biodiversity Theres lots of different people and environments. Im excited to continue south. To follow along with Brights journey, follow him on Instagram @justindoeslife. Find me @PConnPie on Twitter and Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. For more fun things, follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. KU Student Body Vice President Ethan Roark speaks to Student Senate at Wednesday's meeting. Student Senate criticized the University's communication with students, in light of a recent act of plagiarism by former vice provost for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, D.A. Graham. With only one week left, JTBC's Saturday and Sunday romance drama "Snowdrop" teases fans and viewers with observation points to look out for in the final three episodes! "Snowdrop" depicts the forbidden romance story between a South Korean woman and a North Korean spy who fatefully met in the most unconventional way and went into hiding. Here are some important points to watch for in the drama! The Fate of the Hostages: The Victims of the South and North War As the presidential election draws nearer, the focus is given to the hostage crisis inside the Hosoo Women's University dormitory. In "Snowdrop" episode 13, the ruling party secretary general Nam Tae Il (Park Sung Woong) counterattacked rashly by sending a firing squad and enveloping the place with explosives. Attention is given to what kind of measures he will do next to save the hostage victims. Meanwhile, Eun Chang Soo (Heo Jun Ho), who was shot at the command of Nam Tae Il, suddenly wakes up and learns about the betrayal, hinting at a new strain between their relationship. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Jung Hae In and BLACKPINK Jisoo's 'Snowdrop' Enjoys Solid Viewership Ratings as it Nears Finale In addition to that, the focus is also given to Im Su Ho (Jung Hae In), Kang Cheong Ya (Yoo In Na), and Lee Kang Mu (Jang Seung Jo), who work together in order to escape the bomb-threatened place safely. Im Su Ho and Eun Young Ro's Forbidden Romance, Can Their Love Still Grow Despite All Thorns? In the previous episode, Su Ho and Young Ro (BLACKPINK Jisoo), despite their struggles as hostage-taker and hostage victim, see the beauty beyond the tragedy. The final three episodes will show whether the two will be able to overcome their reality to let their love flourish. Su Ho and Young Ro first met in a group date where they both grew a liking for each other. As the situation becomes more complicated, the two discover each other's identities and gradually resolve the misunderstandings. With a sweet shared kiss, the two confirm their feelings for one another. However, even after they escape, Su Ho has to go back home to protect his family and uphold his name as a North Korean. Meanwhile, Young Ro is the daughter of the South Korean security chief. The two are trapped in a heart-shaking situation. Will love be able to blossom? Who is the Culprit Hiding Inside the Dormitory? The most important thing to watch for until the final episode is the identity of the culprit who had been hiding inside the Hosoo Women's University dormitory, who leaked the information to sabotage the presidential campaign. Inside the dormitory, Su Ho and Kang Moo figured that the culprit had been hiding in the dormitory even before Su Ho arrived. Attention is focused on how the culprit hid their identity, which can be one of the biggest threats in South Korean agents and managenent. Moreover, "Snowdrop" airs every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 p.m. KST on JTBC. It is also available for online streaming on Disney+. Follow KDramaStars for more KMovie, KDrama, and celebrity updates! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Just a day after Spotify agreed to remove Neil Young's music from its service, pictured here, on February 6, 2015 in Los Angeles, California, Apple Music trolled its streaming rival by giving the musician some rock star treatment. Cyclists, elected officials and community members gather to celebrate the opening of a new segment of Volusia CountyOs Spring-to-Spring Trail on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) Say, Trail! On the count of 3, 2, 1, public officials and dozens of cyclists cut the ribbon to open a new 2.9-mile segment of Volusia Countys Spring-to-Spring Trail on Jan. 21. Though the mileage seems minuscule, this stretch of paved path means that nearly 24 continuous miles of the planned 27.2-mile trail are finished. Advertisement Trail users can now travel from Green Spring to Lake Beresford Park, just north of Blue Spring State Park, and the route will ultimately stretch north to De Leon Springs State Park. Cyclists travel on a new segment of Volusia County's Spring-to-Spring Trail on Jan. 21, 2022. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, cyclists traveling from Gemini Springs to Blue Spring spotted endemic Florida scrub jays and gopher tortoises while traveling through sand pine scrub habitat, plus manatees in the spring run. Advertisement The countys construction is helping in the larger picture of allowing cyclists and pedestrians to explore Florida away from busy roadways. Were celebrating the final connection between Lake Beresford Park, Titusville and Edgewater, said Maggie Ardito, president of the St. Johns River-to-Sea-Loop Alliance. The River-to-Sea Loop is 260 miles and one of the two Florida SUN Trails. A map shows Volusia County's Spring-to-Spring Trail in relation to the larger St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop. The county recently connected a segment just northwest of Gemini Springs Park. (St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop Alliance) As the Spring-to-Spring Trail inches closer to completion, the route leads into 75 miles of paved path when combined with the East Coast Central Regional Rail Trail. Now about 55 percent complete, the larger St. Johns River to Sea-to-Sea Loop aims to connect DeBary, Palatka, St. Augustine, Daytona Beach and Titusville using these trails. The latest trail segment was built with $282,613 in Volusia ECHO funds, which are used for environmental, cultural, historical and outdoor purposes, and $2.84 million provided by the Florida Department of Transportation and SUN Trail grants. The St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop is one of two priority trails to receive state funding through the Shared-Use Nonmotorized (SUN) Trail program; the other is the 250-mile Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail, which utilizes part of the Spring-to-Spring Trail and is more than 80 percent complete. The latter links St. Petersburg and Titusville with paved trails extending the width of the state. Cyclists are among the first to check out the new leg of the Spring-to-Spring Trail before the dedication ceremony in DeBary on Jan.21, 2022. The recreation trail connects DeLeon Springs State Park to Green Springs Park and is part of the 260-mile St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop in Volusia, Flagler, Brevard, St. Johns and Putnam counties. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Travel Unraveled Weekly Get away from it all with vacation ideas, trip planning help and money-saving tips. > When we have these trails, we connect all of our communities together. We all benefit, said Tim Baylie, director of Volusia County Parks, Recreation and Culture. Once you have more miles connected it becomes more of a regional impact, which also brings in economic development, shopping, business for restaurants, stays in hotels. On an even broader level, these Sunshine State paths are helping a national vision come to fruition. Cyclists travel on Volusia County's Spring-to-Spring Trail, heading toward Blue Spring State Park, on Jan. 21, 2022. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) The River-to-Sea Loop is a segment of the larger East Coast Greenway, which is a continuous planned 3,000-mile trail from Maine all the way down to Key West. As we like to say from moose to manatee, said Robert Barto, Florida coordinator for the East Coast Greenway Alliance. Florida has about 600 miles of trailway. Its not all complete, but thats why were out here. Its so important to advocate for this. Advertisement In order to see Floridas trails increasingly connected and contributing to the nations network of paved paths, it takes collaboration at every level. Cyclists and community members gather to celebrate the opening of a new segment of Volusia County's Spring-to-Spring Trail on Jan. 21, 2022. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) People were using this trail the first day asphalt was poured. Clearly, theres a desire and a need, Barto said. Its really a balancing act of all these balls in the air: nonprofits, volunteers, government agencies and everyone coming together. For more information, visit volusia.org, river2sealoop.org, floridadep.gov, floridasuntrail.com or greenway.org. Find me @PConnPie on Twitter and Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. For more fun things, follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Kelowna-area school trustees are shown voting in favour of a vaccine mandate for teachers and other school staff at a meeting on Jan. 27. But trustees have now decided to pause implementation of the mandate, which was to have taken effect this Friday. Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. Champagne says the pending takeover of a Canadian lithium mining company by a Chinese state-owned company was subjected to a thorough national security review contrary to what some experts and Conservative politicans have asserted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle Sayed Rahman owner of Phone Cards Plus at the Jane and Finch Mall, is given a COVID-19 vaccine by Nurse Sandra Bernal during a mobile clinic, operated by Black Creek Community Health Centre, in Toronto, on Thursday, January 13, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin. Ketchikan, AK (99901) Today Overcast with rain showers at times. High near 50F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Light rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 39F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Washington, DC US (PANA) - The US says reports of renewed fighting in Ethiopias Afar region are very concerning", and repeated calls to all actors to "cease all offensive operations" DUNES CITY, Ore. -- Dunes City Councilor Rory Hammond is explaining what motivated him to hold up a pair of pants in front of everyone during a city council meeting last Wednesday night. "No, he did not take his pants off," said city administrator Jamie Mills, who was at the meeting. "He was trying to make a point that you can't necessarily catch everything just by watching the video." Hammond brought a box to the meeting containing an identical pair of pants to the ones he was wearing, a pair of boxers and briefs. Because the cameraman only films from the chest up, it appears that Hammond takes off his pants but he said he just bent down to grab an identical pair out of a box. Hammond said he started devising this plan because a local newspaper called The Siuslaw News allegedly reported false information about one of their meetings. "In August, the governor had just reinstated the mask mandate," said Hammond. "About a half hour to 15 minutes before the meeting, all of us showed up except one councilor and we all wondered if we should be wearing a mask." He said several councilors had disagreements about mask wearing and the councilor who came in later criticized those who were against wearing them. "At the end of the meeting, Councilor Orr chastised us for not wearing masks and said we should do it and we should be good examples," said Hammond. "The irony of it was that we did talk about it, but Councilor Orr wasn't there, and the newspaper reported it and the letters to the editor started to come like, 'How could we be so cavalier?'" Mills said the newspaper has also misspelled names and got building codes incorrect in the past. "They have not been sending a reporter to watch the meeting live and they've been getting the meeting from the video on our website," said Mills. "But they've been getting some of the stuff wrong." But reporters at The Siuslaw News said there are a number of reasons they don't come to the meetings in person, including some councilors refusing to wear masks. "There are a lot of meetings and we try to go to as many as possible," said editor Chantelle Meyer. "We have a small staff, just three people. Two reporters and me as an editor. It's a lot to do and the fact is that the majority of the people on the Dunes City Council do not wear a mask while they are indoors at these public hearings." Meyer said they've also never been contacted about false information. "We haven't received a written complaint or something to address," said Meyer. "Just like any news organization, we used pulled quotes from meetings or statements from board packets." But Hammond said this act was to show how looks could be deceiving. "I asked Councilman Snow if I'm wearing briefs or I didn't say am I wearing briefs, I asked, 'Do I have briefs?' and she said yes and looked kind of suspicious because she didn't know what I was planning," said Hammond. "So if you listen both of [the councilors] are saying yes. The news isn't accurate but both are correct." Hammond hopes more community members come to the meetings to provide their input and get the full story. "Do you always believe everything you hear? Do you always believe everything you see on TV? Do you always believe everything you see in person?" said Hammond. "You think you saw something you didn't. That's why you have to have an open mind and try to listen to what other people are saying." Also, the cameraman shown in the city council meeting was not bribed $20, as shown in the video. Council members said the cameraman immediately returned the $20 to Hammond once the meeting was over. EUGENE, Ore. Dozens of people showed up at a rally on Thursday to show their support for Starbucks workers in Eugene who are trying to unionize. Up to 80 people attended the rally, which was held by the Eugene Springfield Solidarity Network. The Starbucks location at 29th Avenue and Willamette Street is the first in the state to file a union petition, joining dozens of stores trying to do the same thing nationwide. Organizers in Eugene said that 23 out of 25 workers signed petition cards citing pay, staffing and COVID protections as their concerns. Pull Quote "Were pretty close. I think its a surefire thing, said barista Keira Wilson. Starbucks officials said they have worked to address these concerns. The Eugene Springfield Solidarity Network will be showing a hearing with the National Labor Relations Board on their Facebook page on Friday. The hearing starts tomorrow, and its going until Wednesday. Were pretty close. I think its a surefire thing, said barista Keira Wilson. 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 Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 71F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A conference on "Strengthening the role of diplomacy through international cooperation channels to achieve sustainable development goals" in Libya was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Organisations on Thursday in Tripoli Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. To subscribe, click here. Already a subscriber? Click here. Kilkenny Chamber has announced a new date to celebrate the Kilkenny Business Awards 2021. The event was postponed last November due to safety concerns and rising covid case numbers. Today, Kilkenny Chamber, and main sponsors, TransferMate have announced that the event will go ahead in the Lyrath Estate Hotel on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Tickets are now available from www.kilkennychamber.ie. The event will take place almost two years, to the day, since the Government asked the people of Ireland to restrict movements and work from home as Covid 19 took hold. No one could have anticipated that it would take two years to begin to emerge from the Pandemic. Nor could they anticipate the challenges people would face, not least the Irish business community. The gala awards ceremony will celebrate the resilience and determination of the local economy with 18 awards. A new category for 2021 will honour the Best Business Pivot in the Pandemic. A special recognition for local businesses with an exceptional Covid-19 story to tell. Local businesses that, in the face of an unprecedented global pandemic, lockdown, restrictions, closures and much uncertainty, have not only survived but thrived, adapted and grown. The coveted Lifetime Achievement Award, Presidents Award plus the overall business of the year will also be announced on March 12th. After a challenging two years, the flagship event provides a long-awaited opportunity to meet and network, in person, with colleagues, clients and friends from Kilkennys business community. The date is set to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of local business. Kilkenny Chamber is thrilled to announce the return of its flagship gala event on March 12," said Colin Ahern, President of Kilkenny Chamber. "The event will be a special reunion and chance for people to meet face to face in a safe environment. I am looking forward to meeting friends and colleagues to celebrate everything that we have achieved across the county under unprecedented circumstances. The evening of celebration will start with a champagne reception from 6pm in the Conference Centre at Lyrath Estate Hotel followed by a delicious four-course dinner. Host Helen Carrol will announce the winners throughout the evening. Music by the Party Girls will round off the evening. Tickets are limited. Those interested in attending can contact admin@kilkennychamber.ie or see www.kilkennychamber.ie for more information. The event will be held with all necessary safety precautions and in strict adherence to the Government guidelines. Increasing the number of nurse specialists in neurology will reduce waiting lists, free up hospital resources and deliver real improvements for neurology patients here. Thats according to the Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI), which has launched a new campaign seeking investment to tackle the serious shortage of nurse specialists in neurology at Waterford University Hospital. Based on local and international recommendations, University Hospital Waterford needs six nurse specialists in neurology. The hospital has just one; a shortfall of five nurse specialists caring for people in Waterford and surrounding counties including Kilkenny. Neurological conditions affect the brain and spinal cord. They are the leading cause of disability throughout the world and include many common conditions such as stroke, dementia, migraine, epilepsy and acquired brain injury as well as rare and genetic conditions. Magdalen Rogers NAI Executive Director said: There are 800,000 people living in Ireland with a neurological condition and they have been historically underserved by the health system. We know that 24,000 people are waiting for a neurology outpatient appointment, with 8,601 waiting more than 18 months resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. Neurology patients deserve better. Investing in more nurse specialists in neurology is a cost-efficient way of freeing up capacity of neurology consultants, reducing waiting times and ensuring that patients in Waterford and across the country have access to the specialist support they need to manage their conditions. Nurse specialists in neurology provide a range of services to people with neurological conditions including nurse-led clinics, rapid access clinics, telephone advisory services and outreach services. They can significantly improve the quality of care at lower cost, mainly by preventing unnecessary admissions, through advice, information, support, counselling and with appropriate safeguards adjustments in medication. The Patients Deserve Better campaign is supported by Roche and brings together over 30 non-profit organisations working with people with neurological conditions. The ISPCA is asking people to sign a petition urging the European Commission to uphold and strengthen an EU ban on animal testing. The call comes following a 2020 decision by the European Chemicals Agency's (ECHA) Board of Appeal requiring a German firm to conduct animal testing on some cosmetic ingredients - namely homosalate and 2-ethylhexyl salicylate - to ensure safety. The move is prompting animal lovers and activists to fear a return to the past. Currently, EU-wide legislation enacted in 2013 bans cosmetic product testing on animals, with one exception. The EU's flagship chemicals regulator REACH requires chemical companies to use animal testing for the safety certification of certain cosmetic ingredients if no other option is available. The petition is demanding legislative change to achieve protection for all cosmetic ingredients without testing on animals "for any purpose at any time", as well as a commitment to creating a roadmap to phase out all animal testing in the EU before the current legislative term ends. Help us to do something amazing for animals suffering in EU laboratories. Were urging EU citizens to demand that Europes ban on animal testing for cosmetics be upheld. Sign here https://t.co/8ogfamzJoO#EndAnimalTesting #SaveCrueltyFreeCosmetics https://t.co/7gJ5ZLMlvR pic.twitter.com/4npGG6NNhx ISPCA (@ISPCA1) January 24, 2022 In a statement, the ISPCA said, "Across Europe, millions of animals are used in education and science each year in experiments that frequently inflict suffering, which can be severe, but seldom deliver on their main promise, which is better health for humans. They include mice, fish, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs, and monkeys. We need your help to end this suffering for the animals and for better medicine, better product safety, and better environmental protection. "We want to see humane, human-relevant, animal-free science properly funded and fully utilised." The petition has amassed 350,000 signatures out of a goal of one million, and is being supported by animal rights groups as well as cosmetics industry giants. To be successful, a European citizens' initiative such as the petition has to reach one million signatures of support as well as minimum thresholds in at least 7 countries. Thresholds have currently been met in four countries; Czechia, Finland, Slovakia and the Netherlands. A threshold of just 32% has been reached in Ireland so far. The local community of Castlecomer were out in force this afternoon for the official opening of the pedestrian footbridge in the outskirts of the town linking it to the Discovery Park. The plaque was unveiled by Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Fidelis Doherty and Cllr. Pat Fitzpatrick, Chairman of the Municipal District of Castlecomer. The opening of this bridge is very much welcomed by the people of Castlecomer area, connecting and making it safer for residents and visitors alike to access the very popular Castlecomer Discovery Park. I want to acknowledge the commitment to and funding provided by Transport Infrastructure Ireland for this Project. said Cllr. Fidelis Doherty, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council. Cllr. Pat Fitzpatrick on behalf of the Municipal District of Castlecomer also commented I congratulate all stakeholders involved in getting this project to the stage of opening today. This will be a huge addition to the tourism offering in Castlecomer and is another example of Kilkenny County Councils commitment to the promoting the development of Castlecomer as a tourist destination providing the visitor with an experience to remember. A key objective in the Castlecomer Local Area Plan 2018-2024 has now been realised with the construction of the pedestrian bridge over the river Dinin between the town centre and the Castlecomer Discovery Park. The new Castlecomer Footbridge is located next to the existing protected road bridge, with tie-ins beyond the eastern and western ends of the current bridge. The bridge structure is a two-span steel box girder footbridge with a timber deck supported on piled concrete foundations. The supporting walls for the structure are clad in stone to sensitively complement the existing stonework on both sides of the bridge. The footbridge will be illuminated by lighting contained within the handrails and also provides for strategic lighting of the niches of the protected roadbridge. Getting the project from inception to now, the footbridge opening has involved a collaborative effort by Kilkenny County Council, the Bridge Management Office in Kildare County Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the appointed consultants RPS Consulting and the Contractor, Kennys Plant & Civils Ltd and their bridge fabrication specialist Thompsons of Carlow. The input of Inland Fisheries Ireland, NPWS and other stakeholders at various stages of the project lifecycle is also acknowledged. In addition, the progression of the scheme to construction would not have been possible without the consent and co-operation of the landowners on both sides of the river and the support of the Castlecomer Discovery Park. Modernization of agriculture, rural areas should be prioritized, he says For 10 years in a row since he became general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in 2012, Xi Jinping has made it a tradition to visit people at the grassroots level nationwide, especially disadvantaged groups, ahead of Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival. With the most important Chinese festival starting on Tuesday, Xi, who is also China's president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, started his annual festive tour to meet the people on Wednesday. This time, he chose North China's Shanxi province as his destination. The inspection tour, which concluded on Thursday, took him to visit villagers, workers engaged in cultural relics protection and energy supply, and officials working at the grassroots level in southern and central parts of the province. On Wednesday afternoon, Xi went to two villages, where he visited villagers' homes and inspected post-disaster reconstruction in areas affected by last year's floods, as well as local work in restoring farming, ensuring the public's access to heating in winter, consolidating and expanding anti-poverty achievements, and advancing rural vitalization. In Fengnanyuan, a village in the city of Huozhou, which was hit hard by severe flooding last year, Xi told the villagers he came to see how much the disaster had affected their lives, and he was gratified that the villagers have weathered the storm and made achievements in the reconstruction of their homes through local governments' help and their own efforts. He wished them a happy Spring Festival. Speaking to residents of Duancun village of Fenxi county, who came to welcome him, Xi said that in governing the country, the CPC has no other option but to do something good for the people, wholeheartedly serve the people, and make every effort to ensure the people can pursue a happy life. As the new journey has begun toward the second centenary goal of comprehensively building China into a modern socialist country, Xi said agricultural and rural areas' modernization should not be left behind. Farmers' lives will be better and better, he added. Putting people first has been at the center of Xi's governance philosophy. Every time he has conducted inspection tours nationwide in recent years, he has chatted with locals to learn details about their lives, including their incomes, housing situation, healthcare, children's education and old-age services, and has seen how the Party's and government's policies have been carried out to benefit the people. In his New Year address to ring in 2022, Xi said, "The concerns of the people are what I always care about, and the aspirations of the people are what I always strive for. "Our country, big as it is, also has its list of priorities. The myriad of things we attend to all boil down to matters concerning every household. ... Every time I visit people in their homes, I would ask if they have any more difficulties, and I would remember everything my folks have to share with me." Cai Wenming, 62, a farmer from Duancun village, was excited to see Xi, the country's top leader, visiting his home on Wednesday afternoon. "General Secretary Xi was very affectionate. He asked me in great detail about how we had prepared the food and other goods for Spring Festival. He asked me how much income I can earn from raising sheep," Cai said. Cai said that although the general secretary is busy taking care of 1.4 billion people in the country, he nonetheless spends time visiting a mountainous village to see in person what local farmers' lives are like, and whether the villagers who were lifted out of poverty one year ago live a better life now. Cai added that he was very thankful for Xi. Li Jiali, the village's Party secretary, said Xi's visit inspired her a lot. "As a grassroots-level official, I will be more down-to-earth to work for my villagers, always putting the people's interests in my heart," she said. In addition to people's lives, Xi also paid much attention to the province's high-quality development. During his visit on Thursday to Pingyao county, which is famed for its importance in Chinese economic history and for its well-preserved urban planning and architecture in Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911), Xi emphasized the importance of preserving cultural relics and upholding cultural confidence. Inspecting a coal-fired power plant in the city of Jinzhong, Xi underlined the need to promote low-carbon development of the coal sector while ensuring the energy supply to contribute to the country's carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. He also urged Shanxi to fully follow the decisions and policies made by the CPC Central Committee, comprehensively and faithfully implement the new development philosophy and make coordinated efforts in COVID-19 pandemic response and socioeconomic development. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangouch and High State Council President Khaled al-Mechri on Thursday stressed the importance of activating the constitutional process to het a draft constitution for the people to hold free and fair elections 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 Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 49F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 49F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks during a visit with first lady Jill Biden to Bergen Community College in Paramus, N.J., Jan. 20, 2022. Cardona on Thursday, Jan. 27, called on the nations schools to act more urgently to help millions of students who have fallen behind during the pandemic. We must make up for lost time, he said. A new collection of peaceful stories aims to awaken self-awareness and empathy. GENEVA, Switzerland, -- The Cuco Azul Association is a group of professionals dedicated to the study of thought, philosophies, cultures, and comparative religions, focused on helping children to enrich their lives through meditation of body and mind. Their new picture book collection, Cuco Azul Meditates, is inspired by different spiritual and philosophical traditions from India, China, Tibet, and beyond to enhance self-knowledge in kids through meditation. The goal of the Cuco Azul Meditates books (cuco azul means blue cuckoo in Spanish) is to foster development of emotional skills, encourage inner reflection and intentional living, and embrace traditions of other cultures. Through their teachings of the practice of meditation, the beautifully illustrated stories invite children to discover their inner world. In The Buddhist Journey of Mani, young Mani embarks on a journey surrounded by nature, animals, and auspicious symbols of the Buddhist tradition. On her path to self-knowledge, Mani discovers how to overcome fear and ignorance through simple Buddhist teachings. Mani no longer felt fear, but a great curiosity mixed with the desire to know everything she found in her path. She was like an explorer ready to make great discoveries...She suddenly understood that everything was connected. She felt part of everything in the landscape: of the plants, the clouds, the wind and the animals. In The Rainbow Boy: A Story about Meditation and Inner Light, a young boy from the mountains named Tapi tries in vain to catch an elusive rainbow. When he learns from a blue cuckoo how to achieve his goal, Tapi understands that wisdom, self-confidence and meditation are the path to attaining greater self-knowledge. In The Teachings of the River: A Zen Tale that Invites Us to Flow with Life, a farmer with three daughters wants to bequeath to his girls unencumbered lives. To his first daughter he gives freedom by not leaving her a house and farm with responsibilities. To his second daughter, he provides the ability to listen to the language of nature from the trees, instead of giving his forests with timber that requires much work and oversight. When his last daughter is bequeathed the water of the river, she comes to learn that the water and nature around it belong to everyone and that all must live in communion with it. The Cuco Azul Association is a non-profit organization based out of Geneva, Switzerland. The groups publishing arm promotes books and educational materials for children and adolescents to develop their mental and emotional skills. It also seeks to foster their creativity and cognitive abilities, promoting stories, philosophies and traditions that help children to develop self-awareness and empathy. Contributing author, Mara A. Zanden specializes in the study of Bon and Buddhism in the West. Maya Alvisa is a professor and researcher at different universities in Buenos Aires with an expertise in the study of Asian history, religions and philosophies, especially in China and India. Matias Gen Sui is a Buddhist monk of the Soto Zen-Deshimaru tradition, committed to social and educational projects. A Mindfulness Teacher MBSR, he was trained in childhood ecology at the European Institute of Perinatal Mental Health. Cuco Azul distributes a portion of their books profits to solidarity projects aimed at providing access to comprehensive education to economically marginalized children. Currently, this focus is on a school in Siliguri, located in northern India at the foot of the Himalayas and which promotes meditation and the preservation of traditional Himalaya cultures. ### If you would like more information about the Cuco Azul Association and the Cuco Azul book series, please contact info cucoazul.org or visit https://cucoazul.org/ . According to the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office, Chukwuemeka U. Emmanuel was convicted in November 2021 of first-degree rape or attempted rape after a bench trial. The 38-year-old was sentenced to spend 20 years in a Missouri prison. North Korea fires two suspected ballistic missiles By Kang Seung-woo U.S. President Joe Biden nominated a former sanctions enforcer to be his first ambassador to South Korea, but it is too early to predict if the United States will return to a hardline stance against North Korea, according to diplomatic observers. Philip Goldberg / Courtesy of U.S. Department of State According to diplomatic sources, U.S. Ambassador to Colombia Philip Goldberg has been tapped to head the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and the South Korean government is now said to be in the process of granting an agrement, which refers to a state approval of accepting a member of a diplomatic mission from a foreign country. Since the last U.S. ambassador to South Korea, Harry Harris, resigned and left the country on Jan. 20, 2021, the post has remained unfilled, with U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Korea Christopher Del Corso currently serving as acting ambassador. News of Goldberg's nomination have fueled speculation in South Korea that the U.S. government will adopt a hardline policy toward Pyongyang, which has refused to return to the negotiating table and continued instead to test-fire ballistic missiles in a show of force. Such speculation is based on his past career as the coordinator for the implementation of United Nations (U.N.) sanctions on North Korea under the Barack Obama administration. "I think the Biden administration has nominated a big shot among Career Ambassadors, the State Department's highest diplomatic rank, given his past overseas assignments, but given that his one-year tenure from 2009 to 2010 as coordinator for implementation of U.N. sanctions on North Korea, I think it is hasty to jump to conclusions that the U.S. will increase sanctions pressure on the North," said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Important to take each and every election seriously Posted by Liam on at 09:16 AM CST Well wishes,fans! This week on site were taking a look at the Battle of Scarif, the climactic ground battle between Rebel and Imperial forces that determines the possession of the Death Star plans in the 2016 film. Make sure to read our Expand Your Mind article first to learn about how the firstproject came to be and why the Battle of Scarif is so integral to the franchises history. Stay tuned throughout the week for more articles, insights, videos, and information about all the coolest merchandise that youll want to have.introduced six new heroes who make up the heist team to steal the Death Star plans from the Imperial facility on Scarif. Many of the antagonists are ones that viewers have been following since 1977, including James Earl Joness return to voice Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin, whose deceased actor Peter Cushing was recreated using (controversial) CGI. However, the film created tension by introducing a new villain whose fate wasnt already known. Acclaimed British actor Ben Mendelsohn stepped into the role of Director Orson Krennic, who leads weapons research for the Empire and develops the technology behind the Death Star.Like manyvillains, Krennics fearesome nature is evident from the very beginning thanks to the opening scene. Krennic storms the home of Galen Erso in order to convince him to develop the weapons technology, killing his wife and leaving Jyn abandoned. It was clear that Krennic was more ruthless than some of the incompetent Imperial officers of the classic trilogy like Admiral Ozzle or Captain Needa. It gives Jyn a personal vendetta to face Krennic again.While he often buckles under the pressure of dealing with Tarkin and Vader, it makes him even more of a complex character. Krennic is just as terrified of facing Vaders wrath as any of the Rebels are, and the pressure to avoid his wrath puts him under even more stress to rise to complete his mission. However, Krennic is clearly more than just a guy doing his job. He shows an admiration for the power of the Death Star and its destructive capabilities, praising the destruction of the ancient city Jedha as beautiful.Krennics further history is explored in the novelwhich explores the period betweenopening sequence and the rest of the film. It goes into detail about his relationship with Galen Erso, and how exactly Galen grew to secretly betray his employer and install a secret weakness within the battle station. James Lucenos brilliant writing helps to flesh out the lengths that Krennic goes to in order to convince the Imperial high command that the Death Star should be tested as soon as possible, as hes anxious to see it wreck havoc. It also helps bridge the gap between the brief reference to Seperatist development of the weapon inWhat do you think,fans? What do you make of Krennic and how does he rank amongvillains for you? Who are some of your other favorite Imperial officers? Let us know in the forums , and as always, may the Force be with you!Check out Rebelscum.com merch!Be sure to follow us on all of our social media platforms: RED LODGE, Mont. - Red Lodge Fire Rescue is building a new training center for first responders. "We're actually going to have a space to train firefighters, EMTs, search and rescue members, even law enforcement, from our station and the surrounding area," Volunteer Coordinator and Firefighter/EMT Amy Hyfield said. The training center will have two burn rooms, so firefighters can practice fighting real flames. There will also be a smoke generator, a rappelling wall (so crews can practice high angle rescues) and concrete pads (for vehicle fires and car extrication practice). It has two main floors, along with an attic space. "We have so many miles that we are covering," Hyfield said. "And we want to make sure everyone is going home at the end of the day. And one of the ways that we do that is by training." Red Lodge Fire Chief Tom Kuntz said the training center has been a dream for several years. "We're super excited about our new training center," he said. "I think it's been a dream of ours for the last 20 years to build a training center like this. And when it's completed, I think it will be one of the best, if not the best, training center in the state of Montana." "The building has multiple windows, multiple roof pitches, different heights, different angles, Kuntz added. "So, we can create all kinds of scenarios for ladders, coming in through windows, going out through windows." Kuntz said the training center cost about $1.2 million to build... and it has been completely paid for with donations. No taxpayer money has been used. "I think, you know, we are beginning to enter a new era for our organization, which is really exciting," Kuntz said. "Having this training center will allow us to better train our volunteer personnel. What we do is risky. We know what we do is risky. And we find that training folks well really is the core of keeping folks safe." Kuntz said they hope the training center will benefit the entire region. "Our vision of this training center is it's going to be a regional training center," he said. "And we will open it up to any fire organization in our area or throughout the state that wishes to use it." Kuntz said the training tower should be finished around the first part of March. Then, the concrete pads will be poured later in the spring. UPDATE: JAN. 28 AT 10:44 A.M. A man was arrested Friday morning following a pursuit with law enforcement across the Montana-Idaho border Thursday night. A release from the Mineral County Sheriff's Office said the suspect, identified as Jesse Robert Spitzer, 30, lead law enforcement across the Montana-Idaho border around 10:30 p.m. Thursday. The Montana Highway Patrol managed to disable Spritzer's vehicle near the Haugen exit. MSCO said Spitzer threatened officers with a gun and then escaped on foot. Law enforcement located and arrested Spitzer a little after 9 a.m. Friday. According to a Facebook post from the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), Spritzer was wanted in Snohomish County, Wash. for first-degree burglary, first-degree assault and possession of a stolen vehicle. He was also wanted in Chelan County, Wash. and Post Falls, Idaho for crime sprees, according to SCSO. MCSO said there is no threat to the public at this time. BORAX, Mont. - An active law enforcement incident is happening on I-90 eastbound near the Montana-Idaho border Friday. The message from the Montana Department of Transportation said, "Do not pick up hitchhikers. Call 9-1-1 if suspicious activity is observed." The incident is located from mile-markers 0 to 18 near Lookout Pass. We're working to find out more. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Have a news tip or would like to report a typo? Email Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@kvoa.com. A teenager tries MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly. A retiree buys painkillers off the street to deal with his arthritis. A 30-year-old picks up an 8-ball of cocaine during a friends birthday party, the first time shes used coke since college. While illicit drug use isnt advised, in rare instances it could be deadly. The lives of that teenager, that birthday partier, that retiree could be at risk because those drugs are becoming more likely to have been cut with incredibly deadly, and cheap, fentanyl. And the users of those drugs may have no idea what they are putting into their bodies. During a phone interview Thursday, Alison Heller said that a friend of a friends 15-year-old son recently died by overdosing because the MDMA he tried had been cut with fentanyl. His death was preventable. If you were a cocaine user or addicted to painkillers, and found out that your drugs had been mixed with fentanyl which is considered to be at least 50 times, and possibly as much as 100 times, more potent than morphine would you still use it? Theres a chance you wouldnt, especially if you were a recreational user and not a full-blown addict. That reluctance could save your life. In Wisconsin and many other states, its a crime to even possess the strips that can test drugs for the presence of fentanyl. Basically, the fentanyl test strips are classified as drug paraphernalia, state Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said in a phone interview Wednesday. That could soon change. A bill that would make fentanyl test strips legal to possess in Wisconsin has passed both houses of the Legislature. It was sent to Gov. Tony Evers desk to sign or veto earlier this week. Wanggaard authored the Senate version of the bill, with the Assembly version of the bill authored by Rep. Jesse James, R-Altoona. Wanggaard said that if someone wants to make the bad decision to buy black market oxycodone, it should not be illegal for them to find out if a much more dangerous drug is mixed in with what they bought. A drug habit isnt worth dying over. Heller, who cofounded California-based FentCheck with a hospitals chief technology officer, Dean Shold, said that she wants access to fentanyl test strips to be normalized. The inspiration for Heller and Shold came from the condom distribution programs that arose amid the breakout of the AIDS epidemic, during which packaged condoms were placed in public bathrooms. That allowed picking up condoms to be destigmatized and likely prevented many premature deaths. Heller and Shold know that people are going to continue using drugs. But they want it to be easier for someone to protect themselves. Libraries are equipping themselves with overdose antidotes. Racine hasn't, not yet at least. Although some libraries nationwide equip their staffs with the opioid overdose antidote naloxone (often referred to by the brand name Narcan), the Racine Public Library does not. Heller and Wanggaard compared the potential legalization of fentanyl test strips to how Narcan, an opioid-overdose antidote, is already widely available to anyone. Narcan stops someone from dying but doesnt stop someone from overdosing. Fentanyl testing strips actually help prevent fentanyl overdose, Heller said. Looking to reduce harm It is becoming an epidemic. People are dying because they dont know theres fentanyl in it (what theyre using), Wanggaard said. The way most fentanyl test strips work is you dip the strip into some water and then dip the strip into some of the drug. Within a minute, one or two lines will appear on the strip similar to a pregnancy test. If one line appears, fentanyl was not detected. If two lines appear, that would act as a warning that there is fentanyl present. Other versions of the strips change color when they come in contact with fentanyl. Still others have only one line that may or may not appear. It is common for fentanyl to appear unexpectedly in recreational drugs, as in the case of the 15-year-old Heller knew who passed away. This stuff is so potent, said Wanggaard, a retired Racine Police officer. Among the reasons is that fentanyl a synthetic, easy-to-produce opioid that can generate a high in much lower quantities compared to most other street drugs, making it cheaper for dealers to sell to unwitting users or middlemen. As Wisconsin Public Radio reported in October: Fentanyl, a drug originally designed for use in hospitals, has been found in fake pain pills to such a degree the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency issued a rare public safety alert last month, warning that these counterfeit pills had been seized in every state in unprecedented quantities. In 2017, 10% of counterfeit pills seized by the DEA contained a lethal dose of fentanyl, which can be as little as 2 milligrams, comparable to several granules of sugar. Wanggaard said possession of fentanyl test strips was originally made criminal because dealers so often use them to test their product, and so making them illegal gives police officers more reasons to be able to arrest suspected dealers. A team of volunteers that works with FentCheck in the San Francisco Bay Area regularly restocks bowls of test strips at places such as music venues, tattoo parlors and bars. That way, its easy and free for people to test their drugs, potentially saving lives. Its all about harm reduction, Shold said. Even though possessing the strips is still technically illegal, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services still encourages the use of them in some of its overdose-prevention pamphlets. DHS has been advocating for the lift of the ban. Why illegal? Would you call 911 to help a friend overdosing, if it meant youd be arrested? RACINE The opioid epidemic is continuing to make its lethal presence felt in Racine. Overdose deaths are on the rise, although some of them might have been prevented if there was more awareness of certain laws protecting witnesses who call 911. Jon Woodruff, an attorney with the nonprofit Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association, told a Colorado NPR affiliate that many states just copied their drug paraphernalia laws from what the DEA had in the 1970s, and at the time the DEA had down that tests for illegal drugs should be considered drug paraphernalia. But now lawmakers in several states are working to make some of these tests legal, due to their life-saving potential. Other groups supporting the bill include the Wisconsin Medical Society, Wisconsin Nurses Association Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association and Wisconsin Professional Police Association.(tncms-asset)69d31d74-7837-11e9-822c-00163ec2aa77[6](/tncms-asset)(tncms-asset)01e059ab-0943-5905-926e-6bba3198aad9[7](/tncms-asset) Osage Beach, MO (65065) Today Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.. Tonight Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. Hannah Balthaser had a fabulous day on the tanbark with Groovy, her 4-year-old Brown Swiss, as they competed for the title of supreme champion cow at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. In Connecticut, Beardsleys Cider Mill and Orchard in Shelton has been family run since 1849, the Staehly Farm in East Haddam is run by the second and third generations of the family, and the 122-year old Clydes Cider Mill in Mystic is under the direction of the fourth and fifth generation of the Miner family. The IDFA reports that dairy supports over 3 million jobs nationwide and generates over $41 billion in direct wages. Dairys overall impact on the U.S. economy is about $753 billion annually. Where do dairy exports fit into all of this? New Delhi [India], January 28 (ANI/NewsVoir): Turing, an AI-powered, international platform that connects software developers with high-quality, long-term, remote U.S. jobs, announced today the launch of Turing Community: a global career-centric community exclusively for developers. With a mission to unleash the world's untapped human potential, Turing is building a diverse community, free and open to all developers worldwide. The community helps developers with job preparation, upskilling and reskilling, English communication and personal development, and mentoring, among other perks. Through this initiative, the company aims to build a safe space for developers to grow, seek guidance from experts, and progress in their careers. Also Read | Rajasthan Shocker: 5-Year-Old Girl Raped By Speech-Impaired Neighbour In Alwar District; Accused Arrested. With over 1 million developers signed up on Turing, the launch of a career-centric developer community will further strengthen the company's mission to help solve the challenges faced by software developers globally. The community plans to host a range of events including the Women's Mentoring Circle, Rethinking the Developer Career Path, and AMA Sessions with Senior Developers, amongst others. These events will equip developers with the necessary knowledge and tools to advance through their careers. Commenting on the launch, Uma Subramanian, Sr. Director and Head of Developer Success and Community at Turing said, "Thousands of developers from more than a hundred countries have already joined our community and are making their way to the top with the tools and opportunities provided by the community. At Turing, our intention is not only to offer jobs but also to offer a community that inspires learning and development. Moreover, the community is equipped with tools that steer developers to their calling while understanding their passion and enhancing their skills. Aiding developers to walk the path to success resulting in breakthroughs in fields like science and tech-that is what the Turing community is all about-tapping into the world's unexplored human potential and bringing disruption to the industry while forming a legacy!" Also Read | Flipkart Electronics Sale: Apple iPhone 12 Mini, Vivo X70 Pro, Pixel 4a Get Massive Discount. Furthermore, the Turing Community aims to help developers form deep relationships with fellow developers, seek advice from industry veterans, and create positive experiences. Founded in March 2018, Turing's Intelligent Talent Cloud uses AI to connect the world's best developers to high-quality U.S. jobs. Turing is the brainchild of Stanford alumni and serial AI entrepreneurs Jonathan Siddharth and Vijay Krishnan. The duo's previous company Rover, a machine learning-based content discovery engine, was successfully acquired. With Turing, companies can hire pre-vetted, Silicon Valley-caliber remote software talent across 100+ skills at the "push of a button". 200+ firms, including Johnson & Johnson, Dell, Disney, Coinbase, Rivian, Plume, and VillageMD, have hired remote engineering talent from Turing. The company recently entered unicorn territory (now valued at over $1.1 B) with a Series D round of financing and is backed by prominent investors such as WestBridge Capital, Foundation Capital, Founders Fund (investors in Facebook, Tesla, Asana), Altair Capital, Mindset Ventures, Frontier Ventures, Gaingels, Facebook's first CTO (Adam D'Angelo), and illustrious executives from Google, Amazon, and Twitter. To learn more about the Turing Community, please visit: community.turing.com. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) (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 28 (ANI): Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said that if the party comes to power in Uttar Pradesh, it will set up a special recruitment commission to streamline the selection process for all vacant government posts. In a virtual interaction with the youth in the poll-bound state, Priyanka Gandhi took a dig at opposition parties in the state and said they were not talking of issues concerning people. Also Read | Union Budget 2022-23: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha Likely To Begin Debate on Motion of Thanks to President Ram Nath Kovind's Address on February 2. "If Congress comes to power in Uttar Pradesh, it will set up a special recruitment commission to streamline the selection process for all vacant government posts," she said. The Congress leader said they will also make a timetable to ensure that exams are conducted and results are declared by a defined date. Also Read | India Never Been Linked to a Group of People or Any Religion, Says Report. "If our government comes, we will make a timetable for every job-related exam to ensure that these are conducted and results are declared on a defined date. The recruitment process will be done within a six-month period. If it is not done, action will be taken against concerned officials," she said. She alleged that opposition parties were practising casteist politics in the state. She also alleged that they make promises but do not fulfil them. "The promise which we have made of 20 lakh jobs, we have mentioned in detail how we are going to execute this. During elections, opposition parties divert people from the main issues. Why BJP doesn't speak about employment and other real issues? The government doesn't want you to be Atmanirbhar, they don't think that it's their responsibility to make you Atmanirbhar," she added. The assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in seven phases starting on February 10. (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, Jan 28 (PTI) The Maharashtra government and the BMC on Friday assured the Bombay High Court the situation related to the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was under control and that authorities were fully geared to meet any eventuality. Also Read | China 'Concerned' Over India's Business Environment Amid Tax Probes on Chinese Firms Like Oppo, Xiaomi and OnePlus. A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and M S Karnik was hearing a public interest litigation seeking judicious distribution of the state's resources to tackle the pandemic. Also Read | Gionee 13 Pro With Dual Rear Cameras Launched, Check Price & Other Details Here. Advocate Purnima Kantharia, appearing for the government, and senior counsel Anil Sakhare, appearing for the BMC, on Friday told the court the situation was under control and authorities were prepared to handle the effects of the Omicron variant of the virus if required in future. The court, while accepting the statements, in its order said, "The state government as well as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation submit that the situation is 100 per cent under control and that the government is fully geared to meet any eventuality in future with regard to the spread of the omicron variant". Chief Justice Datta noted that, as per experts, the Omicron variant was not as lethal as the Delta variant of the virus but was spreading quicker. Sakhare told the court there was a hike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the first week of this month in Mumbai but the numbers were now decreasing. As on date, there is no pressure on the hospitals and there is sufficient machinery in place. There is enough oxygen stock available and also medicines, he said. The court posted the matter for further hearing on February 4. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Panaji (Goa) [India], January 28 (ANI): Trinamool Congress Vice-President Luizinho Faleiro on Friday announced his withdrawal as a TMC candidate from Goa's Fatorda constituency for the upcoming Assembly polls. "I announce my withdrawal as Goa TMC candidate from Fatorda and hand over the baton to a young woman advocate. That has been the policy of the party - to empower the women," said Luizinho Faleiro. Also Read | Lenovo Legion Y90 Specifications Revealed via TENAA Listing: Report. The TMC's new candidate for the Fatorda constituency is Seoula Avilia Vas. According to Faleiro, he has taken the decision after 'could not do justice' in the last election. "My earlier experience says that when I fought the election last time, we could not do justice to them. To replace me, we have a very able Flora, who will represent the Fatorda constituency," he added. Also Read | Kerala: Train Services Disrupted as Goods Train Derails Near Aluva. He said that he had consulted the party leaders before stepping down as Fatorda's candidate. "I've taken this decision after consulting our party's national chairman because I would like to fight and campaign all over Goa for all the TMC candidates so that they can perform well," said the TMC's National vice-president. Speaking at the press conference Mahua Moitra said, "We are here in Fatorda to put up a fight and defeat the BJP. We are here not as the last moment option but a true and honest option to people of Fatorda who do not want BJP." "We have chosen a woman who is a fighter, an activist and most important she is not connected to a political family. That is what Mamata Banerjee wants to do", said Moitra. (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, Jan 28 (PTI) India and China agreed at the previous round of Corps Commander-level talks to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue via military and diplomatic channels to work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues related to the LAC in the western sector at the earliest, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. Asked about the border standoff with China, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "As you are aware, the 14th round of India-China Corps Commander level meeting was held on January 12 this year. The two sides agreed that resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest would help in the restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the western sector and enable progress in bilateral relations." Also Read | Union Budget 2022: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Reviews Preparations at Parliament Ahead of Budget Session. "The two sides agreed to stay in close contact and maintain dialogue via military and diplomatic channels and work out a mutually acceptable resolution of the remaining issues at the earliest," he said. In this context it was also agreed that the next round of the commanders level talks should be held at the earliest, Bagchi added. Also Read | President's Bodyguard To Retain Retiring Horses Vikrant, Viraat As Mark of Respect. The eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area. Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry. As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year in the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector. (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, January 28: India reported 2,51,209 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry reported on Friday. With this, the daily positivity rate in the country dropped to 15.88 per cent. As per the ministry, the country's active caseload mounted to 21,05,611, which is 5.18 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases reported so far. Also Read | Reddit Reportedly Testing NFT User Profile Picture Feature. As many as 627 covid-19 deaths and 3,47,443 recoveries from the virus have also been reported in the last 24 hours. India Reports 2,51,209 New COVID-19 Cases, 627 Deaths In Past 24 Hours; Active Cases Drop Below 22 Lakh. The weekly positivity rate too witnessed a drop today; was recorded to be 17.47 per cent. Also Read | Maharashtra Fire: Blaze Erupts at Furniture Godown in Thanes Bhiwandi, No Casualty Reported. 164.44 crORE vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive. The Ministry, in its release, informed that 15,82,307 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. Over 72.37 crore tests have been conducted so far in the country, said the ministry. Meanwhile, under the ongoing nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive, 1,64,44,73,216 vaccine doses have been administered so far. (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 28 (ANI): A 38-year-old man was allegedly shot dead by unidentified persons in north Delhi's Alipur on Thursday night, said police. The deceased has been identified as Pramod, a resident of Hiranki village. Also Read | Lenovo Legion Y90 Specifications Revealed via TENAA Listing: Report. Police on Friday said the Alipur police station received the information at around 10:44 pm last night that some unknown persons had opened fire at a man and fled. Police further said that it rushed to the spot and found out some motorcycle-borne assailants had fired at Pramod, who was then shifted to the Max Hospital in Haidarpur where he was declared brought dead. Also Read | Weather Update: Cold Wave Conditions To Persist In North-West India Over Next Few Days; Dense Fog In Parts Of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar. The spot was inspected by a crime team where nine empty cartridges were found, police said. A case has been registered under relevant sections and further investigation is underway. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Shalini Bhardwaj New Delhi [India], January 28 (ANI): Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will be holding a high-level meeting on COVID-19 on Friday through video conferencing. Also Read | Union Budget 2022-23: Direct and Indirect Taxes Explained; Heres All You Need To Know. The meeting will be held to review the COVID-19 situation and public health preparedness and response measures being taken in the context of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 with Health Ministers of Southern States/UT's Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andaman and Nicobar Island, official sources told ANI. The meeting will also be attended by Senior health officials also. Also Read | Samsung Galaxy S22 Series, Galaxy Tab S8 Series Prices Leaked Online: Report. Earlier he held a high-level meeting with nine northern states/UTs and advised them to send Covid testing and vaccination data timely. He also suggested that testing should be ramped up in the states where it has gone down. He also advised states and UTs to ensure that those in home isolation should be efficiently monitored in line with the National Guidelines. He had said, "This will ensure that the vulnerable categories of active cases in home isolation get the required medical help in a timely manner." The Union Health Minister re-emphasized the need for ramping up testing in the states and UTs. Those states/UTs that are showing a lower share of RTPCR testing were requested to ramp up tests through RTPCR. States and UTs were also reminded to keep a close watch on the emerging clusters and hotspots and monitor the trend of hospitalized cases along with the deaths in the state. Mandaviya said that with our past experience, 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate & Adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour' along with monitoring of cases remains crucial for COVID management. The Union Health Minister also urged the States and UTs to adopt the hub and spoke model for teleconsultation. According to the Union Health Ministry, Mandaviya urged the States and UTs to adopt the hub and spoke model and ensure that more and more centers of teleconsultation are opened. This will enable beneficiaries to access expert advice from experts stationed at the district hubs. He also said that e-Sanjeevani has been able to provide services to more than 2.6 crore beneficiaries where people can seek medical advice from the confines of their homes. "This will prove to be a game-changer and will be of immense value and importance for the hard-to-reach and far-flung areas, and especially in the northern regions in the current winter season," said Mandaviya. Mansukh Mandaviya also urged the 9 States and UTs to review and expedite the implementation of activities under the ECRP-II package for strengthening the health infrastructure. He said, "Health Ministers and the State authorities to plug the existing gaps by efficiently utilizing the amount sanctioned for various infra projects. With strengthened health infrastructure, we can meet any health emergency and public health crisis with better preparedness." (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Suman Toor, who claims to be Sidhu's sister from the United States. (ANI/photo) Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], January 28 (ANI): Days ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, a woman, Suman Toor, who says she is Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu's sister described her brother, Sidhu as a 'cruel person' and alleged that he had deserted their old mother after their father's death. Toor, who is based in the United States alleged, "Sidhu abandoned our old mother after the death of our father in 1986 and she later died as a destitute woman at Delhi railway station in 1989." Also Read | Rahul Gandhi Asks PM Narendra Modi: When Will We Get Our Land China Has Occupied?. According to her, Navjot Singh Sidhu ended "everything for the sake of money". She also said that in a news article earlier Sidhu had lied about their parents having been separated, when he was two years old. Meanwhile, a response from Navjot Singh Sidhu on the allegations is still awaited. Also Read | Apple Reportedly Testing New Feature To Let Users Use Face ID With Mask On. Punjab will go to the polls on February 14 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. (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, Jan 28 (PTI) The NIA has filed a chargesheet against eight alleged ISIS terrorists for their involvement in radicalising, recruiting, organising terror funds and grooming gullible Muslim youth through different secured social media platforms to join the global terrorist organisation, an official said on Friday. Deepthi Marla, Mohammad Waqar Lone, Mizha Siddeeque, Shifa Haris, Obaid Hamid Matta, Madesh Shankar, Ammar Abdul Rahiman and Muzamil Hassan Bhat have been named in the chargesheet, the official of the premier investigation agency said. Also Read | Beating Retreat Ceremony 2022: 'Around 1,000 Indigenously Built Drones To Form Part of Light Show', Says Union Minister Jitendra Singh. The NIA registered the case in March last year over terrorist activities of an accused, Mohammed Ameen of Kerala, and his associates, who were running various ISIS propaganda channels on different social media platforms such as Telegram, Hoop and Instagram for propagating the violent jihadist ideology of the ISIS and radicalising and recruiting new members for the ISIS module, the official said. Earlier, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against three accused in the case in September last year. Also Read | Union Budget 2022: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Reviews Preparations at Parliament Ahead of Budget Session. All the eight accused chargesheeted on Friday are affiliated with the banned terrorist organisation ISIS and were involved in radicalising, recruiting, organising terror funds and grooming like-minded gullible Muslim youth through different secured social media platforms to perform Hijrat' (migration) to ISIS-controlled territory for joining ISIS, the official said, adding further investigation in the case continues. (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 28 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the one-year suspension of 12 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs from Maharashtra from the state Legislative Assembly terming it "unconstitutional and arbitrary". A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar held that suspension of MLAs could not have been suspended beyond that ongoing Monsoon session in July 2021. Also Read | Rajasthan Shocker: 5-Year-Old Girl Raped By Speech-Impaired Neighbour In Alwar District; Accused Arrested. Twelve MLAs were suspended for one year for allegedly misbehaving with the presiding officer. These resolutions passed, apart from being illegal and unconstitutional, were also "beyond the powers of the assembly" in question, the Bench said. Also Read | Flipkart Electronics Sale: Apple iPhone 12 Mini, Vivo X70 Pro, Pixel 4a Get Massive Discount. Earlier, the apex court had said that the suspension from Legislative Assembly for one year should be linked with some purpose and there has to be an "overpowering" reason that the member should not be allowed to even attend the next session. The Bench had also observed that the resolution passed by the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly suspending 12 BJP MLAs, is prima facie "unconstitutional" as such a suspension cannot operate beyond six months owing to a constitutional bar. It had said that the explicit outer limit as per the Constitution for an MLA to be absent from his seat is 60 days, after which the seat is deemed to be vacated. "How long can seat remain vacant? At the most six months, the outer limit can be there. Here we are talking about a constituency being represented in a parliamentary form of democracy? Is this not hitting the basic structure of the constitution when the 12 constituencies are unrepresented?" the Bench had asked. "We can say that the decision to suspension can only operate till 6 months and later than that it will be hit by the constitutional bar," it had added. The Bench had also taken exception to the arguments of senior advocate Aryama Sundaram appearing for Maharashtra Assembly that the House has absolute powers to frame its own rules including on period of suspension of its members. To this the Bench then said that even if the Assembly rules are read in consonance with the Constitution, the maximum bar could be for six months only. It had further opined that the decision of suspension is even worse than expelling them since no one can then represent the constituents of the suspended representatives in the Assembly. Twelve BJP MLAs were suspended on July 5, 2021, from the Assembly for one year after the State government had accused them of "misbehaving" with presiding officer Bhaskar Jadhav in the Speaker's chamber. The motion to suspend these MLAs was moved by state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anil Parab and passed by a voice vote. On July 22 last year they had filed a plea in the top court challenging the resolution passed by the Assembly to suspend them for one year. The 12 suspended members are - Sanjay Kute, Ashish Shelar, Abhimanyu Pawar, Girish Mahajan, Atul Bhatkhalkar, Parag Alavani, Harish Pimpale, Yogesh Sagar, Jay Kumar Rawat, Narayan Kuche, Ram Satpute and Bunty Bhangdia. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hathras (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 28 (ANI): A woman was killed and her husband sustained critical bullet injuries after they were allegedly shot at in Hathras. According to Hathras DSP Ruchi Gupta, the husband and wife were returning home from a temple when they were attacked. While the woman died on the spot the husband sustained serious injuries. Also Read | Lenovo Legion Y90 Specifications Revealed via TENAA Listing: Report. The incident took place near the Ganga Dham Colony located at Khonda Hazari of the Sadar Kotwali area in the city and triggered chaos. The couple's relatives alleged that the woman and her husband were shot at for asking some people to return the money they had given in exchange for land. Also Read | Weather Update: Cold Wave Conditions To Persist In North-West India Over Next Few Days; Dense Fog In Parts Of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar. The husband and wife were rushed to the district hospital where doctors declared the wife dead on arrival. The man with injuries was referred to Aligarh Medical Hospital. "Police reached the district hospital soon after. A special probe team has initiated an investigation and launched a search operation for the assailants", informed the DSP. (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, Jan 28 (PTI) Vedant Fashions Ltd, which owns ethnic wear brand Manyavar, on Friday fixed a price band of Rs 824-866 a share for its Rs 3,149-crore initial public offering (IPO). The initial share-sale will open on February 4 and conclude on February 8. The bidding for anchor investors will open on February 3, according to the company. Also Read | Lenovo Legion Y90 Specifications Revealed via TENAA Listing: Report. The public issue is purely an offer for sale of 36,364,838 equity shares by promoter and existing shareholders. The OFS comprises sale of up to 1.74 crore shares by Rhine Holdings Ltd; up to 7.23 lakh shares by Kedaara Capital Alternative Investment Fund-Kedaara Capital AIF I; and up to 1.81 crore shares by Ravi Modi Family Trust. The promoters of the company are Ravi Modi, Shilpi Modi and Ravi Modi Family Trust. Also Read | Google Maps Now Lets Users in India Save, Share Home Address With Plus Codes. Since, the IPO is entirely an offer for sale, the company will not receive any proceeds from the public issue. At the upper end of the price band, the public issue is expected to fetch Rs 3,149 crore. Half of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional buyers, 35 per cent for retail investors and the remaining 15 per cent for non-institutional investors. Investors can bid for a minimum of 17 equity shares and in multiples thereof. Vedant Fashions' Manyavar brand is a category leader in the branded Indian wedding and celebration wear market with a pan India presence. The company's other brands include Twamev, Manthan, Mohey and Mebaz. As of September 2021, the company has an extensive retail network with 546 exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) including 58 shop-in-shops globally, including 11 overseas EBOs across the United States, Canada and the UAE, which are countries with a large Indian diaspora. In India, the company's EBO network spans across 212 cities and towns, as of September 2021. "We seek to grow our retail network and product reach by entering new geographies, including in Tier II and III towns and cities in India, as we believe that these markets offer significant growth opportunities for us," the company said in the red herring prospectus. Axis Capital, Edelweiss Financial Services, ICICI Securities, IIFL Securities and Kotak Mahindra Capital are the book-running lead managers to the issue. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Espanola, NM (87532) Today Partly cloudy skies. Low 36F. NNW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 36F. NNW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. New Delhi, Jan 28 (PTI) State-owned SJVN Ltd on Friday said it has got a letter of intent (LoI) for supply of 200 MW solar power to Bihar. "Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (BREDA) has issued LoI for procurement of 200 MW of power at a discovered tariff of Rs 3.11 per kWh from...SJVN from the company's grid connected solar power project being implemented in the state of Bihar," a company statement said. Also Read | Gionee 13 Pro With Dual Rear Cameras Launched, Check Price & Other Details Here. The LoI has been issued after approval of tariff by Bihar Electricity Regulatory Commission (BERC). SJVN will sign a power purchase agreement soon in this regard. Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director of SJVN said the company had bagged a grid connect solar power project in Bihar through an open competitive tariff bidding process for capacity of 200 MW during an e-reverse auction in August 2021. Also Read | Ignitron Motocorp Unveils GT 120 Electric Bike in India. Sharma further said the tentative cost of construction and development of this project will be Rs 1,000 crore. The project is expected to generate 420.48 MU (million units) in the first year and its cumulative energy generation over a period of 25 years would be about 10512 MU. SJVN has 2550 MW of solar projects under execution in various locations. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Toronto, Jan 28 (PTI) Canadian authorities have confirmed the identities of a family of four Indians, including a baby, whose bodies were found frozen in Manitoba near the Canada-US border on January 19, the High Commission of India here has said. In a statement issued on Thursday, the High Commission of India said that Canadian officials have identified the four bodies as that of Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel (male), 39, Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel (female), 37, Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel (female) 11, and Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel (male), 3. Also Read | China Has Increased Investment in Zimbabwe but Locals Are Losing Jobs, Says Report. Further to the report of the tragic death of four people, including an infant, whose bodies were recovered near the Canada-US border in Manitoba on 19 January 2022, Canadian authorities have confirmed the identities of the four deceased. All the four were Indian nationals. The next of kin of the deceased have been informed, the High Commission said in a statement. Officials from the High Commission of India are also in touch with the next of kin of the deceased and is providing all the consular support. Also Read | Ukraine Shooting: Gunman Kills 5, Injures 5 at Military Plant in Dnipro. On January 19, the Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said that the bodies of four people two adults, a teen and an infant were found on the Canadian side of the US/Canada border near the Emerson locality in south central Manitoba. The family, who hail from Gujarat, died from the exposure to extreme cold weather. The Gujarat Criminal Investigation Department is probing whether the four members of a family from the state had taken the help of local agents, according to media reports. The High Commission of India, in its statement, further said that Canadian authorities have also, after medical examination, informed that based on the circumstances, the death of all the persons have been determined to be consistent with exposure to the outdoor elements. The High Commission of India in Ottawa and our Consulate in Toronto continue to work closely with Canadian authorities on all aspects of the investigation into this incident. A special team, led by a senior consular officer from the Consulate General of India in Toronto, is camping in Manitoba to assist ongoing investigations by Canadian agencies and to render any consular services for the victims, the statement said. The High Commission said that the tragedy of the four member family has brought into focus the need to ensure migration and mobility are made safe and legal and that such tragedies do not recur. A number of ideas remain under discussion between India and Canada. For instance, to prevent and suppress irregular migration, smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human being and to facilitate sustainable and circular mobility, India has proposed a comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) to Canada, which remains under the consideration of the Canadian government, the statement said. (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 28 (ANI): German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet US President Joe Biden on February 7 at the White House to discuss their shared commitment and joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said on Thursday (local time). "US President Joe Biden is looking forward to welcome German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to the White House on February 7. Chancellor Scholz' visit provides an opportunity to affirm the deep and enduring ties between the United States and Germany," Psaki said in a statement. Also Read | China Has Increased Investment in Zimbabwe but Locals Are Losing Jobs, Says Report. According to the statement, the leaders will discuss their shared commitment to both ongoing diplomacy and joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine. They will also discuss the importance of continued close cooperation on a range of common challenges, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing the threat of climate change, and promoting economic prosperity and international security based on our shared democratic values, the statement added. Also Read | Ukraine Shooting: Gunman Kills 5, Injures 5 at Military Plant in Dnipro. Olaf Scholz was appointed as Germany's new Chancellor last year in December, bringing an end to Angela Merkel's 16 years of leadership. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mendon(US), Jan 28 (AP) A Boston hospital is defending itself after a man's family claimed he was denied a new heart for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, saying most transplant programs around the country set similar requirements to improve patients' chances of survival. The family of DJ Ferguson said in a crowdfunding appeal this week that officials at Brigham and Women's Hospital told the 31-year-old father of two that he was ineligible for the procedure because he hasn't been vaccinated against the coronavirus. Also Read | China Has Increased Investment in Zimbabwe but Locals Are Losing Jobs, Says Report. We are literally in a corner right now. This is extremely time sensitive, the family said in its fundraising appeal, which has raised tens of thousands of dollars. This is not just a political issue. People need to have a choice! Also Read | Ukraine Shooting: Gunman Kills 5, Injures 5 at Military Plant in Dnipro. DJ's mother, Tracey Ferguson, insists that her son isn't against vaccinations, noting he's had other immunisations in the past. But the trained nurse said Wednesday that he's been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm and that he has concerns about the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. DJ is an informed patient, Tracey Ferguson said in a brief interview at her home in Mendon, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Boston. He wants to be assured by his doctors that his condition would not be worse or fatal with this COVID vaccine. Brigham and Women's Hospital declined to comment on DJ Ferguson's case, citing patient privacy laws. But it pointed to a response that it posted on its website in which it said the COVID-19 vaccine is one of several immunizations required by most US transplant programs, including a flu shot and hepatitis B vaccines. The hospital said research has shown that transplant recipients are at higher risk than non-transplant patients of dying from COVID-19, and that its policies are in line with the recommendations of the American Society of Transplantation and other health organizations. Patients also must meet other health and lifestyle criteria to receive donated organs, and it's unknown if DJ Ferguson did or would have met them. Brigham & Womens Hospital also stressed that no patient is placed on an organ waitlist without meeting those criteria, and rejected the notion that a transplant candidate could be considered first on the list for an organ a claim Ferguson's family made in its fundraising post. There are currently more than 100,000 candidates on waitlists for organ transplantation and a shortage of available organs around half of people on waiting lists will not receive an organ within five years, the hospital said. Hospitals in other states have faced similar criticism for denying transplants to patients who weren't vaccinated against COVID-19. In Colorado last year, a woman suffering from late-stage kidney disease said she was denied a transplant by her hospital because she was unvaccinated. Leilani Lutali, a born-again Christian, said she opposed immunisation because of the role that fetal cell lines play in some vaccines' development. There is a scarcity of donor organs, so transplant centers only place patients on the waiting list whom they deem the most likely to survive with a new organ. A donor heart is a precious and scarce gift which must be cared for well, said Dr. Howard Eisen, medical director for the advanced heart failure program at Penn State University in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Our goal is to preserve patient survival and good outcomes post-transplant. The United Network for Organ Sharing, the nonprofit that manages the country's organ transplant system, doesn't track how many patients refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccine have been denied transplants, said Anne Paschke, an organisation spokesperson. She said patients who are denied organ transplants still have the right to go elsewhere, though individual hospitals ultimately decide which patients to add to the national waitlist. According to the online fundraiser, DJ Ferguson was hospitalised in late November for a heart ailment that caused his lungs to fill with blood and fluid. He was then transferred to Brigham and Women's, where doctors inserted an emergency heart pump that the family says is only meant to be a temporary stopgap. It's devastating, Tracey Ferguson said. No one ever wants to see their child go through something like this. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Jan 28 (PTI) Indian-American non-profit body Sewa International has jumped to the 10th spot in a latest list of charitable organisations for the year 2021, mainly because of the commendable work carried by it during last year's COVID-19 crisis in both India and the United States. Notably in 2020 Sewa International was ranked 375 in the list of Benevity Inc, the leading provider of global corporate purpose software, and was placed at 690 in 2019. In 2021, the list is led by Doctors Without Borders. Also Read | China Has Increased Investment in Zimbabwe but Locals Are Losing Jobs, Says Report. Non-profits supporting India's COVID-19 crisis received a groundswell of support, including Sewa International. Our earnest thanks to Benevity Inc. for keeping track of these trends and identifying Sewa's increasing support from corporations and their people, said Sandeep Khadkekar, Sewa's vice president for Marketing and Fund Development. In 2021, nearly 1.6 million people from over 700 companies donated USD2.3 billion on the Benevity platform to more than 200,000 nonprofit organisations around the world, a media release said. Also Read | Ukraine Shooting: Gunman Kills 5, Injures 5 at Military Plant in Dnipro. Nonprofits supporting India's COVID-19 crisis received a groundswell of support, including Sewa International (ranked 10 vs. 375 in 2020), Give2Asia (23 vs. 63), Pratham USA (26 vs. 75) and Goonj (30 vs. 384), Benevity said. The crisis in India also drove additional giving to UNICEF and was part of the reason the organisation's support through Benevity almost doubled year over year (USD13.5 million vs. USD7.3 million in 2020), it said. When the Delta variant hit India last year, we saw companies and their employees mobilise to help, said Birger Stamperdahl, Give2Asia's president and CEO. Their generosity made possible life saving projects that delivered oxygen concentrators, protective gear for health workers and emergency food rations to those hit hardest by the pandemic, he said. (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 28 (ANI): Taliban's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Thursday termed the international community's call for the formation of an inclusive government as just an "excuse" and said they do not have any definition for an "inclusive government." The statement comes after Muttaqi completed its three-day visit to Oslo. Also Read | China Has Increased Investment in Zimbabwe but Locals Are Losing Jobs, Says Report. "(The international community) doesn't have a definition for an inclusive government, nor is there an example ... these are just excuses," Tolo News quoted Muttaqi as saying. Muttaqi insisted that the current government represents all Afghan ethnic groups, and he said that the government's cabinet has yet to be completed. Also Read | Ukraine Shooting: Gunman Kills 5, Injures 5 at Military Plant in Dnipro. "As we do not have the officials of the former government in our cabinet, this is the (rule) of the world. After (US President Joe) Biden won the election, did he appoint any officials from the Trump administration?" Muttaqi asked. "It is not an inclusive government and neither is the cabinet technically prepared," Tolo News quoted Sayed Zakir Shah Sadat, a political analyst as saying. To recognize the current Afghan government, the international community has called for the formation of an inclusive government and for the respect of the rights of women and minorities, as well as human rights generally. The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated drastically since the Taliban took control of Kabul in mid-August last year. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban, have plunged the country, already suffering from high poverty levels, into a full-blown economic crisis. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Houston, Jan 28 (AP) A Houston man accused of stabbing a police dog has now been charged with murder in the death of his father, whose body was found hidden in his home's garage after authorities said his son evaded capture for several hours. Ryan Mitchell Smith, 26, remained jailed Thursday after prosecutors accused him of killing his father, Cameron Smith, by using a 15-pound dumbbell to hit him three times in the head on Monday, according to court records. Also Read | China Has Increased Investment in Zimbabwe but Locals Are Losing Jobs, Says Report. The death of Cameron Smith came less than a day after Ryan Smith was released from jail on bond following his arrest Saturday on charges related to trying to steal a car and attacking the police dog. Ralph Manginello, Smith's attorney, has said his client has a history of mental illness and what he's accused of doing was likely the result of a psychotic episode. Also Read | Ukraine Shooting: Gunman Kills 5, Injures 5 at Military Plant in Dnipro. Ryan Smith is accused of attempting a carjacking Saturday morning and then stabbing a Houston police dog named Nate who tried to chase him down. Smith was arrested on charges of robbery, interference with a police service animal and evading arrest. He was released Sunday from the Harris County Jail after family members posted his bonds and was staying at his father's house. Cameron Smith's family called police on Monday when they couldn't get a hold of him. As police officers searched the home late Monday evening, they noticed the father's truck parked nearby. Officers approached the truck and saw Ryan Smith behind the wheel. Smith fled the scene and led officers on a chase that ended early Tuesday after he crashed the truck near a park, authorities said. Officers lost track of Smith after he ran into a wooded area. A loaded hunting rifle and the family pet, a black Labrador Retriever, were found in the truck, according to court records. The dog was safe. Homicide detectives continued searching Cameron Smith's home and found his body in the garage, hidden under several items, including a small Christmas tree, a table and a chair. The dumbbell that authorities allege was used to kill him was found in the truck. Ryan Smith was found later Tuesday about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Houston, walking along a highway in Waller County. Smith provided a statement (to police) indicating that he had killed (his father) ... by distracting him and then striking him in the head 3 times with a 15-pound dumbbell before tying a plastic bag around (his) head, according to court documents. Smith is also facing a charge of evading arrest related to the police chase. Authorities said Nate, the police dog, underwent surgery and was recovering from his injuries. Officer Paul Foster, Nate's handler, told KRIV-TV that the police dog was recovering really well at home and was expected to be back at work in about two months. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) In a major boost to maritime security, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) Lieutenant General Ajai Singh on Friday formally inducted indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III aircraft at at INS Utkrosh at Port Blair. The ALH MK III aircraft is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The aircraft represents a tremendous leap towards self-reliance in the field of military aircraft, in line with the governments push towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Till date, over 300 of these aircraft have been delivered by HAL and are being flown by the Armed Forces. Tweets By ANI: In a boost to maritime security, the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III aircraft was formally inducted at INS Utkrosh by Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN) Lieutenant General Ajai Singh at Port Blair today. pic.twitter.com/IANJXo0n8Z ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 Till date, over 300 of these aircraft have been delivered by HAL and are being flown by the Armed Forces. Amongst its variants, the MK III variant is a maritime role variant encompassing state-of-the-art sensors and weapons that add punch to Indias prowess at sea. ANI (@ANI) January 28, 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.) Elevator maintenance men returning to work after a month-long break for Chinese New Year made a horrific discovery last week when they opened the cab of a broken lift and found the body of a woman who had been trapped inside since late January and starved to death. The gruesome incident in the western city of Xian, renowned as the home of Chinas Terra Cotta Warriors, has sparked outrage over the apparent negligence of the elevator repair company and the buildings management office. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> The property managers told the Beijing Youth Daily that the elevator cab was returned to the first floor and taken out of service after workers had confirmed that no one was inside. But police investigators said workers simply shouted to check whether anyone was inside and did not open the cab to perform a visual inspection, the news magazine Caixin reported. Authorities said the case involved gross negligence on the part of the elevator maintenance company and at least one responsible person has been detained in connection with the investigation, according to the magazine. The case has been classified as a negligent homicide. Advertisement The victim, believed to be in her late thirties or early forties, was identified only by her surname, Wu. Investigators said that when her corpse was found, her hands were mangled apparently due to her attempts to pry open the cab doors. Although a month-long wait to repair an elevator seems unusual even by Chinese standards, many businesses and services grind to a halt during the new year holiday. Although the official break lasts only about a week, many workers take time off before and after the holiday, causing serious disruption to many commercial services. The Xian case revived memories of a tragic escalator death last summer also related to maintenance issues. In that case, a 30-year-old woman in the central Chinese city of Jingzhou, 130 miles west of Wuhan in Hubei province, was eaten alive when she stepped onto a loose metal plate at the top of an escalator in a shopping mall. The plate collapsed and the woman was pulled into the gears; she managed to shove her small child to safety at the last minute. But questions remained over how the woman in the elevator could have remained trapped for so long with neither her neighbors or her family realizing it. Local media reports portrayed the victim as mentally ill and said that her family believed she had just gotten lost somewhere. They had reported her missing but did not take further steps to determine her whereabouts. A resident of the apartment complex, surnamed Ding, told Sohu News that the building management service was poor and routinely ignored residents complaints about the frequently broken elevators and other matters. Theres now a shadow across my heart. Its scary, and it gives me shivers to pass by that part of the building, the resident said. To think of this happening in ones own building. After the womans body was discovered, residents staged a protest against the building management. Caixin said that local officials were taking steps to replace the building management. Yingzhi Yang in the Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report. Follow @JulieMakLAT for news from China ALSO Knife discovery stirs up speculation in O.J. Simpson case UC Davis chancellor apologizes for controversial moonlighting activities UFC 196 results: Diaz upsets McGregor; Tate takes title from Holm Authorities said three Houston police officers were shot, with the whole force dealing with a barricaded suspect on a Thursday afternoon. The 31-year-old suspect fired at police from a vehicle as officers moved on him, according to a Fox News report. The Houston police said the suspect had fled driving a white Mercedes-Benz vehicle. Houston Police Department also said that the officers were shot in the 2100 block of McGowen Street around 2:30 p.m., as reported by KHOU 11 News. The suspect was named Roland Caballero, with law enforcement noting that he was involved in a standoff on a Lockwood Drive resident. Caballero was also reportedly suffering a gunshot wound to his neck. The car the police were chasing crashed on the edge of downtown, with surveillance video showing officers jumping from a patrol car and exchanging what seemed to sound like gunfire. Stephen Hinson, who witnessed the incident, said that he was in his townhome when he heard "some type of a crash." He said he then heard popping noises, which he did not think were gunshots at first. However, it suddenly started getting closer and sounded like about 50 rounds went off. Hinson then looked at his window and saw officers running. He then realized that there was an officer down right in front of his home. The witness then went to the rooftop with some neighbors to see what was happening, wherein he said the area was swarmed by police officers quickly. Houston police tweeted that the officers who were shot are all in stable condition and that they are being treated at Memorial Hermann Hospital. READ NEXT: Texas Stepfather Beaten to Death by Teens After He Sexually Abused Their 9-Year-Old Sister Shooting Involving Houston Police Officers Caballero's shooting incident is the second incident this week, wherein a law enforcement officer was shot in Houston, according to an ABC News Go report. Cpl. Charles Galloway of Harris County Constable Precinct 5 was shot and killed on Sunday when the deputy pulled over a car in southwest Houston. The suspect was 51-year-old Oscar Rosales. He was arrested on Wednesday after fleeing to Mexico. Rosales has been charged with capital murder in that shooting. Underfunding of Police Departments White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Monday noted that the U.S. has seen a rise in crime over the last two years, pinning the blame on underfunding police departments, The National Review News reported. Psaki claimed that U.S. President Joe Biden is working to focus federal law enforcement resources on fighting violent crime and has put "unprecedented" levels of funding on rescue plans to fund more police officers in cities. Psaki said that the administration should be focusing on offering support to community policing programs when asked if there are any other strategies to fight the surge in murder rates. Experts noted that staffing shortages from police retirements and resignations have triggered a wave of anti-police sentiment, bail reform, and declining arrests. In 2021, at least 13 cities broke their homicide records, such as Portland, Oregon; Rochester, New York; Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas, among others. READ MORE: Texas Teen Adalia Rose Dies at 15 After Her Battle With Real-Life Benjamin Button Disease This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Team coverage: Suspect in shooting of 3 Houston police officers identified; SWAT standoff continues - from KHOU 11 China's top political adviser Wang Yang extended Spring Festival greetings on Thursday to religious figures and believers nationwide and called for efforts to encourage religions in China to better adapt to socialist society. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, extended the greetings at a symposium with leaders of national religious organizations in Beijing ahead of Spring Festival. Wang said that religious groups serve as a bridge for the Party and the government to unite religious figures and believers. He stressed the need to fully implement the Party's theories and policies on religious work in the new era, and to gather positive energy for the new journey and the realization of the Chinese dream. Speaking highly of the religious groups' work last year, Wang urged them to strengthen self-education. Efforts should also be made to continue enhancing the identity of the motherland, the Chinese nation and culture, the CPC, and socialism with Chinese characteristics among religious figures and believers, he said. Wang said that religious groups in China should better adapt to socialist society and the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Stressing the importance of running religious schools well, Wang said it's necessary to train both grassroots teaching staff and high-level religious talent who are well versed in classical doctrines and traditional Chinese culture. Regarding religious events during Spring Festival, Wang called for strict implementation of COVID-19 control measures and advised a reasonable reduction in the number of gatherings. Stressing that the Party and the government attach great importance to religious work, he called for related departments to support religious groups in their work and help solve their practical difficulties. Migrants from southern border states are being secretly flown to New York by federal contractors, according to leaked video footage. One federal contractor told a Westchester County police officer in a conversation recorded on the officer's body camera that the government is "betraying the American people," according to a Fox News report. Former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino obtained the footage after requesting it through a Freedom of Information Act. Astorino said on Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight" that the government is "completely out of control right now," adding that the administration has lied to the public. Astorino is running as Republican for the governor of New York. He noted that he personally saw the migrants being placed on a bus to Costco, where they were then "released into cars into the community." Westchester Police Sgt. Michael Hamborsky was shown in the footage asking federal contractors questions about the after-hours flights and why the local police were not briefed. Hamborsky said that it was all "anti" to their "security stuff." READ NEXT: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki Insists It Was an "Early Flight" When Asked Why the Administration Is Flying Illegal Immigrants in the Middle of the Night Federal Contractors Secretly Flying Migrants Employees of MVM Inc. were also on board as chaperones, according to a New York Post report. MVM Inc. has been a controversial private security firm that was a major contractor for the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council in Iraq. The security firm signed last year a $136 million contract with the federal government to transport illegal migrants and unaccompanied children around the country. Hamborsky asked one of the MVM contractors to see their ID. The man replied that he can give Hamborsky his state ID, but that his work IDs were not allowed. The contractors start giving Hamborsky the lanyards from around their necks, with one saying that they are not allowed to have their picture taken when they get on base. Hamborsky then replied and asked whose order was that, asking if it was the Department of Homeland Security's. One of the contractors replied yes, "and the United States Army." The contractors added that "DHS wants everything on the down-low." Meanwhile, it was not only New York that was seeing clandestine transport of migrants. Another footage also showed federally contracted buses dropping off dozens of primarily male migrants at a parking garage in Brownsville, Texas. Several of those migrants told the media outlet that they had crossed illegally that morning, paying around $2,000 per person to cartel smugglers. The migrants said that they were flying to destinations including Miami, Houston, and Atlanta. The city of Brownsville said that its Office of Emergency Management works to facilitate the "transfer of these migrants to their final destination." A spokesperson confirmed the parking garage serving as a staging area for migrants to be given travel information. In addition, migrants can also be given a health screening there. Customs and Border Protection noted that the agency was not involved in the release in Texas, while an Immigration and Customs Enforcement source who reviewed the footage said they believe it was an ICE release. READ MORE: Biden Administration Suspends Use of Horses by Border Patrol Agents Amid Outrage This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Bombshell footage reveals Biden admin's undercover migrant flights - from Fox News Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced on Thursday that he is joining Texas Governor Greg Abbott's lawsuit against the Biden administration over the federal vaccine mandate concerning the National Guard. The lawsuit was specifically filed against the U.S. Department of Defense as the agency mandated the vaccine for the National Guard of every state, The Hill reported. Fox News noted that the complaint from the Alaska governor was filed in a Texas federal court, claiming that the vaccine mandate on the National Guard undercuts their role as governors of their respective state. "This is not a case demanding a position of a pro- or anti-vaccine, nor is it a case that challenges any aspect of the federal government's authority over National Guardsmen once that federal authority has been properly established," the complaint noted. In a statement, Alaska Governor Dunleavy said that the responsibilities of protecting the freedom of the National Guardsmen rest on the shoulders of their respective governors. "The federal government has no authority to make health decisions for National Guard members who are at work under state authority," Dunleavy underscored. READ NEXT: New COVID Variant: WHO Warns of the Omicron Sub Variant 'BA.2' Texas Governor on Biden's National Guard Vaccine Mandate Alaska's complaint came after Texas Governor Greg Abbott filed the lawsuit against the Biden administration over the same issue earlier in January. The lawsuit was one of the litigations the Texas governor filed against the current administration over vaccine mandates, Texas Tribune reported. The said litigations filed by Texas include vaccine mandates for health care workers, large businesses, and federal contractors. "As long as I am your commander-in-chief, I will not tolerate efforts to compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine," Abbott wrote in a letter addressed to Major General Tracy Norris, the adjutant general of Texas National Guard. Abbott furthered that the vaccine mandate from the Defense Department "conflicts" with the order he gave his constituents. Aside from the governors of Alaska and Texas, Governor Kevin Stitt from Oklahoma also filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over similar concerns. However, a federal judge rejected Stitt's lawsuit in December. Several governors also resorted to other ways to set their national guards free from the vaccine mandate issued by the Department of Defense. It can be recalled that governors of Alaska and Texas, as well as the governors from Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, and Wyoming, were among the officials who issued a letter to the Pentagon in December asking the agency to rescind their vaccine mandates on the national guards. Biden Admin's Vaccine Mandate on National Guard Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for the entire military in late August last year. Reports mentioned that Air National Guard members had until December 31 to be inoculated, while Army National Guard Members were given until June 30 to be vaccinated. In Texas, more than 220 Air National Guard members and at least 40 percent of the Texas Army National Guard do not want to be vaccinated. Meanwhile, 90 percent of Alaska's Air and Army National Guards are seeking vaccine exemptions and an undisclosed number of its members are refusing to be inoculated against COVID-19. READ NEXT: Aaron Rodgers Hits Back at Pres. Joe Biden Who Said He Wanted the Green Bay Packers Star to Get COVID Vaccine This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Dept. Of Defense To Require Covid Vaccination Among All U.S. Service Members - From NBC News Tesla CEO Elon Musk attempted to pay a teen thousands of dollars to shut down his Twitter account @ElonJet that monitors the movements of his private jet around the world. Last fall, the billionaire reached out to the 19-year-old college student Jack Sweeney via Twitter DMs and offered him $5,000 to deactivate the account, Protocol reports. "Can you take this down? It is a security risk," he wrote to Sweeney, expressing his dislike with the prospect of being shot by a "nutcase." The teen nearly seven hours later responded: "but it'll cost you a Model 3 only joking unless?" Musk asked the teen how much money he made from the Twitter accounts, to which he stated it was no more than $20 per month. Elon then made his own offer: $5,000 to shut down the account and stop "crazy people" from tracking his whereabouts. After exchanging a few messages, Sweeney eventually gave a counteroffer of $50,000 as he told Musk the money would be a "great support in college" and that it could help him get a car, "maybe even a Model 3." Musk said he would consider the offer. Either way, Sweeney is fine with being ghosted, saying he gained a lot of social media followers, learned how to code, and even landed a part-time job as an application developer with UberJets. Now, the self-described Elon Musk "fan" even got to have a conversation with a man he's looked up to for years. ALSO READ: Elon Musk Says Joe Biden 'Still Sleeping' After President Ignores SpaceX's Historic All-Civilian Orbital Mission How Does It Work? @ElonJet is one of the 15 flight-tracking accounts Sweeney has created, all of which are run by bots he's programmed to read the data and tweet every time a chosen plane takes off or lands. Each one follows a high-profile person, almost all in the tech industry, including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos. With roughly 83,000 followers, Musk's tracker is the most popular. The 15 bots use available Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) information, where it keeps track of when and where planes depart and land, as well as their intended path. However, Musk's plane, which removes identifying information from the data, is on the LADD block list. In Sweeney's case, blocked planes are not truly private, as he uses data from the ADS-B transponders present on most aircraft, charted on the ADS-B Exchange, the world's largest public source of unfiltered flight data. The teen will then parse the information like a logic puzzle, cross-referencing the data with other websites to determine each plane's intended destination. The information is all entirely public and can be used to track most private aircraft. One needs a lot of industry-specific knowledge as it's a loophole in high-profile security, but Sweeney had that context: His father works in the airline industry, and Sweeney has been tracking planes since he was a child. He recalls, like many young boys, he would try to identify types of planes as they flew across the sky, often checking his guesses to what he could find on internet flight tracker apps. Musk was shocked by how easily accessible the data was when Sweeney revealed where he was getting it. "It's so primitive," Musk said, referring to air traffic control. Although the Twitter account hasn't resulted in any dangerous situations so far, fans, stalkers, and other types of people have been known to ambush celebrities at airports. The most recent Musk and Sweeney exchange was last Wednesday when Sweeney said he'd prefer an internship overpayment in return for deleting the account. Musk hasn't opened the message, Sweeney said, and he thinks he knows why: "I guess he's on vacation in Hawaii if you check ElonJet." READ MORE: Elon Musk Calls California's Solar Metering Rules 'Bizarre Anti-Environment Move;' Tesla CEO Points Out Consumers Stuck With Higher Energy Bills This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Jess Smith WATCH: Elon Musk offered teen $5K to shut down Twitter account tracking his private flights report - Breaking News World After Chicago drug lords - the Flores twins - were arrested for their involvement with Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, their wives allegedly used drug money for lavish trips in 2018 and 2019, including flying to Las Vegas for a Jennifer Lopez concert. The Flores twin brothers, Pedro Flores and Margarito Flores, were arrested in 2008 and became key informants in the case against El Chapo, according to Chicago Sun-Times. According to an affidavit for a search warrant in 2019 that has now been made public, their wives, Vivianna Lopez and Valerie Gaytan, allegedly received suspected drug cash in the mail and used it for lavish trips to the Caribbean and Europe. A federal postal inspector revealed in the affidavit that the wives of the Flores brothers used the drug money for their 2018 and 2019 trips to the Turks and Caicos islands, Dubai, Greece, Italy, and flying to Las Vegas for a Jennifer Lopez concert. The two women were identified in the affidavit only as "Spouse 1" and "Spouse 2." The warrant was for a priority mail package with a return address for the mother of one of the wives. In June, Lopez, the wife of Pedro, and Gaytan, the wife of Margarito, were charged in a federal court in Chicago with helping to stash hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug money over a dozen years, which started in 2008. The indictment noted that the money paid for schools for the Flores twins' children and Lopez's student loans. It also paid for an exercise bike. The October 2019 affidavit said one of the Flores twins' wives spent $20,000 to $30,000 in cash per trip, including airfare and hotel accommodations for groups of people. A man driving a pickup truck allegedly delivered the cash to an unnamed travel agency that booked the trips. A witness said in the affidavit that the money was rolled up and "smelled funny," which was probably from being near drugs. The affidavit provided more information on how the Flores brothers' wives spent the money their husbands allegedly stashing away after they surrendered to authorities and agreed to become informants against El Chapo. In exchange for their cooperation, the Flores brothers got lighter sentences of 14 years in prison. READ NEXT: El Chapo Trial: Sinaloa Cartel Boss' Life Sentence Upheld by U.S. Appeals Court Flores Twins' Wives on El Chapo's Case The Flores brothers' wives are both the daughters of Chicago police officers and grew up in the city. Valerie Gaytan was previously married to Latin Kings gang leader Rudy "Kato" Rangel, who was murdered at a West Side barbershop around two decades ago. Chicago Tribune reported that the wives wrote a tell-all book entitled "Cartel Wives" after their husbands were sentenced. They detailed the highs and lows of being married to drug kingpins, who later became informants. Both wives are now living under assumed names due to threats they received after their husbands' cooperation against El Chapo has been made public. The Flores brothers, known to the cartel as "the Twins," admitted smuggling at least 1,500 kilograms of Sinaloa Cartel cocaine into the U.S. every month between 2005 and 2008. Their plea agreements noted that they sent more than $930 million in "bulk cash" back to the Mexican drug cartel, according to Meaww. Flores Brothers Became Informants in the Case Against Sinaloa Cartel Boss El Chapo A federal judge told the Flores twins during their 2015 sentencing that they would always have to worry about being hunted down by Sinaloa Cartel hitmen after their decisions to cooperate with prosecutors to apprehend El Chapo. At the time, the judge said the brothers and their families would always have to look over their shoulders. The judge added that they will always wonder anytime they start their cars if they would start or explode. But the Flores twins still agreed to cooperate, and the prosecutors, in return, asked for an even lighter sentence for them. The Sinaloa cartel is considered to be one of the most powerful drug-trafficking syndicates in the world. The Mexican drug cartel has been known to carry out assassinations, murders, and torture to protect its turf. The group was founded in the late 1980s and headed by El Chapo. Under El Chapo's leadership, the Sinaloa cartel earned its reputation through violence and outfought several rival groups. El Chapo was sentenced to spend the rest of his days in the ADX Florence "supermax" prison after being sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019. READ MORE: El Chapo Allegedly Ordered Sinaloa Cartel Hitmen to Torture, Kill 2 Men Who Forced Him to Pay $500K for Son's Underwear This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Wives of El Chapo Smugglers Reveal Secrets of the Mexican Drug Cartel - From NBC New York An Arizona hiker fell hundreds of feet to his death after he slipped while trying to take a selfie on a mountain peak on Monday. According to Daily Mail, the body of Richard Jacobson, 21, of Mesa, Arizona, was recovered after his unidentified companion called 911 at around 12:45 a.m. Monday. Jacobson was reportedly camping with his friend on top of the Superstition Mountains Flatiron in Lost Dutchman State Park, some 40 miles east of Phoenix, this week. READ NEXT: Florida Man Says TikTok Saved His Life After Viewers Spotted Cancerous Moles on His Back Arizona Hiker Falling to Death In a statement, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said the Arizona hiker had gone to the mountain's edge to take a selfie when he slipped. Sergeant Doug Peoble of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue told AZFamily that Jacobson lost his footing, slipped, and fell while trying to take a selfie with the city skyline in the background. The police officer noted that they did not find any signs of foul play or drug use during their investigation. He said it was "just a very tragic accident." The sheriff's office noted that the young Arizona hiker was immediately pronounced dead at the scene after he fell about 700 feet off the mountain's edge. An Arizona Department of Public Safety Ranger helicopter aided to recover Jacobson's body. His friend was also flown from the campsite. No other details about the incident have been released. AllTrails, a hiking review website, noted that one of the most popular ways to visit the Flatiron Peak is through a 5.5-mile hike on the Siphon Draw Trail. However, it was unclear whether Jacobson took this route, but a description on the website said there had been several rock slides in the area, according to People. The hiking review website noted that the hike takes about four hours to complete and is open year-round, with one reviewer saying that it was "not for the faint of heart." Other Hikers' Deaths In September 2020, three hikers, with two who were rock climbing at the time, died in six days in the White Mountains in New Hampshire, The New York Times reported. After being rescued in November 2020, a woman in California, who was missing for two days on Mount Whitney in California, died from her injuries. A California family of three was found dead on a hike after they were killed by extreme heat last August. The Guardian reported that the California family was hiking in Sierra national forest and was killed by extreme heat and possible dehydration. The family was found dead in August, but it was only in October that authorities found the details surrounding their death. Jeremy Briese, the Mariposa County sheriff, said that heat-related deaths are extremely difficult to investigate. No signs of cause of death were immediately clear when officials found the bodies. The sheriff's department described the case of the California family as unusual and unique. READ MORE: Disturbing TikTok Challenge 'Slap a Teacher' Prompts Warning From California Teachers Association This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Hiker Falls off Flatiron Summit, Dies After Trying to Take a Photo at the Trail's Edge - From FOX 10 Phoenix As Mexican drug cartels continue to fight over territory, the number of violent crimes in cartel-plagued Guanajuato state in Mexico continues to rise. On Thursday morning, Periodico AM reported that four bags with human remains were found outside a grocery store in Opalo Street at Tinaja de Bernales community in Irapuato City. A green cardboard was placed on one of the bags, with a message from an alleged drug gang. Residents, who saw the bags on the store's access ramp, said the human remains were cut in pieces. They further noted that there were no traces of any clothes, making it hard to identify the victim or victims. Law enforcement officers arrived in the area after residents reported the packages to 911. Municipal police and National Guard members immediately cordoned off the area and reported the incident to the Public Ministry Agency. After forensic personnel worked and collected evidence on the site, the bags were taken to the Forensic Medical Service for the autopsy. In Celaya City, a dead man with a plastic bag covering his head down to his waist was found under a bridge in the community of La Cruz around midnight of Wednesday. Authorities have yet to identify the victim, who was wearing black denim jeans. Local reports said his hands were also tied behind his back. The body, lying face down, reportedly had gunshot wounds. A cardboard with a message was also left on top of the body. In Resurreccion town, also in Celaya, two men, who were in their 60s, were shot in front of the church on Thursday afternoon. After providing first aid, responding police officers and paramedics rushed the victims to a hospital. However, one of the two men died in the hospital due to gunshot wounds to the abdomen and chest. The second man was reportedly in stable condition after he was shot in the left arm. Meanwhile, two men in Celaya's Arboleda de San Rafael neighborhood died instantly on Wednesday afternoon after armed men broke into their house and repeatedly shot them. After releasing 10 bullets to kill the victims, reports said the hitmen immediately boarded a vehicle and fled the scene. READ NEXT: Rival of Sinaloa Cartel Sent Severed Head, Death Threat to Tijuana's New Police Chief on First Day Other Recent Killings Reported in Mexico's Guanajuato State Last week, at least 21 people were reported dead in Guanajuato state in just 24 hours. The victims, consisting of men, women, and children, were found dead in several municipalities on January 17, with their bodies riddled with bullets. A week before this, at least seven people were killed in two attacks in the state. Two men and two women were reportedly killed on the morning of January 9 after armed men entered a property near Acambaro. In the evening, two men and a woman were murdered inside a house in the center of Irapuato. Mexican Drug Cartels Are Fighting Over Territory The Jalisco cartel has been fighting to take over territory in Guanajuato from local drug gangs. According to Border Report, the state is the scene of a bloody turf war between the Jalisco cartel and the home-grown Santa Rosa de Lima gang. The bloodbath in the state reportedly started in 2018 when the Jalisco New Generation Cartel or Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) moved into Guanajuato. The Jalisco cartel is infamous for its public displays of violence and military power. According to the U.S. State Department, the Jalisco cartel is considered "to be the most violent drug trafficking organization currently operating in Mexico, with the highest cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine trafficking capacity." Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera is currently leading the cartel. As he continued to evade capture, the U.S. government offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Pending data for December 2021, Guanajuato is reportedly destined to be named the state with the most homicides for the fourth consecutive year. From January through November last year, the state recorded 3,239 homicides. Baja California followed with 2,800 homicides. Guanajuato's population is only five percent of Mexico's population. However, it reportedly accounted for about 13 percent of the country's murders in 2020. READ MORE: Mexico: 2 Bodies Found Hanging From Bridge, 3 Police Officers Killed as Mexican Drug Cartels Battle for Territory This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Bodies of Young People Found in Mass Grave in Mexico's Guanajuato - From Al Jazeera English Federal prosecutors in Wyoming have officially dropped the bank fraud charges filed against Brian Laundrie for using Gabby Petito's debit card. According to Fox News, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Scott Skavdahlon granted the motion of the prosecutors to dismiss the fraud charges against Laundrie on Wednesday. New York Post reported that the Wyoming judge signed the order "with prejudice," which means the prosecutors will not be able to refile the same charges in his court. According to the court document, Skavdahlon granted the motion "for the reason that the Defendant is deceased." READ NEXT: Brian Laundrie Admits Killing Gabby Petito in His Notebook: FBI Says Wyoming Prosecutors Seek to Drop Brian Laundrie's Charges On Tuesday, federal prosecutors in Wyoming has filed a motion asking the court to drop the bank fraud charges against Brian Laundrie, who died by suicide. The court document was signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Sprecher and was filed in the U.S. District Court in Wyoming. Prosecutors were asking the court's permission to dismiss the case because Laundrie was already dead. The motion filed by the prosecutors noted that they "secured Brian Laundrie's certified death certificate" on December 6. The U.S. District Court of Wyoming has issued a federal arrest warrant for Laundrie over debit card fraud last September 23. The FBI Denver earlier said the issued warrant was pursuant to the use of unauthorized access devices related to Laundrie's activities following Gabby Petito's death. Laundrie reportedly used a debit card and PIN for accounts that did not belong to him for charges of more than $1,000 sometime between August 30 and September 1. Court documents showed that Laundrie "knowingly with intent to defraud" used a debit card that belonged to Petito. Laundrie has been the subject of a manhunt as investigators searched for clues in Petito's disappearance and death. But the month-long chase for Gabby Petito's fiance came to an end after the FBI said the skeletal remains discovered at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on October 20 belonged to him. Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie's Death Gabby Petito disappeared on a cross-country road trip with Brian Laundrie. The couple was traveling to Oregon when the YouTuber stopped communicating with her family in Wyoming in late August. Laundrie was named a person of interest by the North Port police after returning home on September 1 or 10 days before Petito was reported missing by her family. On September 19, Petito's body was found at the Spread Creek Dispersed Campground near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. A Teton County, Wyoming coroner said she was strangled to death by a "human being," and the manner of death was homicide. On the other hand, Laundrie's autopsy report showed that he died of a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death was suicide. Last week, the FBI revealed that Laundrie confessed to killing Petito in a message left in his notebook. In its final report on the case, the FBI said a review of the notebook revealed written statements by Laundrie claiming responsibility for Petito's death. The FBI noted that its investigation has concluded that Laundrie was the only person responsible for Gabby Petito's "tragic death." Apart from the notebook, the FBI confirmed that they also found a "backpack" and a "revolver" upon further search of the area, where Brian Laundrie's remains were found. READ MORE: Brian Laundrie, Gabby Petito Families Finally Agreed to Split the Couple's Belongings - Including the Notebook This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Gabby Petito Case: Brian Laundrie Search Continues After Arrest Warrant for Using Her Bank Card - From Global News Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's granddaughter was found dead at her residential apartment here on Friday The victim, Soundarya, is the daughter of Padmavathi, Yediyurappa's second daughter. The incident came to light at around 10.30 a.m. when the domestic helper came to wake her up for breakfast. When she didn't open the door of her room, the helper informed others. The apartment staff arrived and the victim hanging from the ceiling of the balcony and informed the police. Soundarya and her husband Neeraj had lived in the apartment since two and a half years. The body has been shifted to the Bowring hospital for the post-mortem. An investigation into the matter is currently underway. A powerful Dail committee chaired by a Laois Offaly TD wants the Department of Justice to review the policy used by the Irish Prison Service to allow staff highlight failings or wrongdoings at jails in Portlaoise and other parts of the country. The operation of Protected Disclosures was referred to in the Comptroller and & Auditor Generals 2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services which was considered by Brian Stanley and other members of the Dail Public Accounts Committee. A follow up report published on January 27 on the Examination of the 2019 Appropriation Account for Vote 24 Justice and Equality, the Committee makes recommendations on issues which were discussed with the Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service in December 2020. The report from Dep Stanley and his colleagues makes the following recommendation. "On the issue of Protected Disclosures within the Irish Prison Service, the Committee recommends that the Department of Justice reviews the Protected Disclosure Policy currently applied in the IPS with a view to ensuring that the policy is working as intended and that staff members can have confidence in the system. "The Committee recommends that this review is carried out within six months and that it is furnished with a copy of the findings," it said. The recomendation was made following concerns highlighted in the new report. It said the Committee raised concerns regarding the process of reporting protected disclosures. In 2019 the IPS received eight disclosures that were deemed to be protected disclosures under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. Of these, one was transferred to the Department of Justice and the remaining seven were sent for external investigation. At the time of the meeting, three of these investigations had concluded and one disclosure had been terminated by the investigator. The new report says the IPS informed the Committee that when a disclosure is submitted, it is sent to an external examiner to determine whether it meets the criteria to be classified as a protected disclosure. If a complaint is determined to be a protected disclosure, it is then sent for external investigation. "However, the Committee is concerned that the Terms of Reference for investigating protected disclosures appear to be quite narrow and that cases cannot be sent to An Garda Siochana if criminality is suspected. "While the Committee is aware that the Terms of Reference and the legal status of protected disclosure investigations are not determined by the Department of Justice or the IPS, it remains a matter of concern. "Furthermore, the Committee noted that a negative perception of the protected disclosures process could potentially deter individuals from making disclosures for fear of professional reprisal. The Department and the IPS stated that no staff member has been disciplined as a result of making a protected disclosure and that the IPS Protected Disclosure Policy allows for individuals to make a complaint if they feel they have been disciplined for this reason. "Nevertheless, the Committee is concerned that the Protected Disclosure Policy is not fully working in the way it was intended to and that disclosers are not fully protected by the process," said the Dail Public Accounts committee. The processing of complaints by prison officers has been the subject of ongoing controversy with some staff saying they have been forced to leave due to the consequences. Judge William Early made damning findings against the Irish Prison Service over the treatment of a prison officer who blew the whistle on an incident in which two of his colleagues were viciously assaulted in March 2015. The prison officer subsequently left the service. A man was sentenced to six months in the Midlands Prison for breach of a barring order at Portlaoise District Court last week. The court heard that the man had breached the order, taking his wifes car, which he also faced a charge for. The car was subsequently crashed. When gardai attended there was no one in the vicinity. Later gardai received a 999 call that the man was back in the house. He was found on the landing of the home. The court heard he had 66 previous convictions, with two for breach of safety orders. Defence solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said he had difficulties with his wife. He was in breach of the Order that day and was where he should not have been. He took the car without the consent of the owner. He had difficulties with alcohol in recent times. He had got treatment, but had relapsed. Mr Fitzgerald noted there was no threat of violence. He accepted his guilt. He apologised to the court and his wife. Judge Catherine Staines noted it was his third breach of a domestic order. The victim impact report was before the court. She noted that it had been very frightening for his wife. The woman wanted a better life for herself and her children. This behaviour was not acceptable. She sentenced him to six months in the Midlands Prison, with six months concurrent for taking the car. Recognisances were fixed in the event of an appeal. An industrial anaerobic digester planned near Portlaoise has been deleted from the climate action list in the new Laois County Development Plan. The factory by Bord na Mona will take in animal waste and brown bin waste and convert it to biogas to use instead of the fossil fuel natural gas that is serving the Irish network. The plan had received multiple objections, from local people, from politicians and An Taisce who described the energy produced as "greenwash" and not sustainable. It was approved by Laois County Council in January 2021 but appeals were then lodged to An Bord Pleanala who have not yet made their decision. Laois County Council has listed it by name as one of the renewable energy industries existing or planned in Laois that when added together help the county meet its green energy target. The list includes windfarms and solar farms, details below. They described in detail how the AD would work. "An Anaerobic Digestor planned for Portlaoise has the potential to use up to 80,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste as feedstock per year, which has a potential Green House Gas emissions saving of 270,160 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. "This project has the potential to produce approximately 7,000,000m3 of biomethane and used as an alternative fuel to fossil fuels for regional energy and heat production. "The biomethane from the proposed development will be injected into the gas network and it will then form a portion of gas used in the network for residential, commercial and industrial purposes." However Portlaoise Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald has requested that the named reference be removed, in the meeting to approve the Laois County Development Plan 2021-2027. "I don't feel comfortable that it's clearly named. Are we rubberstamping it if we agree today?" she said. The council's senior planner Angela McEvoy said that permission is not granted for the plant. Cllr Willie Aird said "it might never go ahead". The CEO John Mulholland said approval of the naming of the plant in the development plan was "not rubberstamping it". "We will remove the name and not identify it. Nonoe of us know if these will go to construction or not," he said. Also listed are Laois' two existing windfarms at Gortahile and Baunagra, and three more with permission, at Rathdowney, Ironmills, and near Ballyroan/Timahoe. That total of 43 turbines is expected to supply 120 megawatts, or 1.5% of Ireland's requirement of 70% renewable energy by 2030. Five planned and approved solar energy farms in Laois are also listed. They are in Rathdowney, Mountmellick, Portlaoise, Stradbally and Mountrath. They are expected to supply another 138megawatts when in production. Months of work will be needed to install 3 kms of new water mains in The Swan village in Laois as part of ongoing efforts to tackle water leaks, according to Irish Water. Securing the water supply in Laois remains a vital focus said Irish Water as it announced works starting in the Swan Village area on Monday, January 31 to drive down leakage and improve the water supply for customers. Working in partnership with Laois County Council, Irish Water says it is replacing 2.9km of old problematic water mains along the R430 through Swan Village with new modern pipes. It says this will reduce the number of bursts and water outages impacting the community. The works will also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers property boundaries and connecting it to the customers water supply. The utility said these essential works will provide a more reliable water supply, reduce high levels of leakage and reduce the frequency of bursts improving water quality to homes and local businesses. To minimise the impact on customers, Irish Water says areas of work will be limited to short sections. To facilitate the safe delivery of these works some traffic management may be necessary, however, it added that local and emergency access will be maintained. Irish Water said the works may involve some short-term supply disruptions which we understand may cause inconvenience. It said the project team would ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours notice prior to any planned water interruptions. Irish Water and Laois County Council regret any inconvenience these improvement works may cause. Speaking about the project Joe Carroll, Leakage Reduction Programme Regional Lead with Irish Water said: These works are vital to ensure a more secure water supply to homes and businesses in Swan Village and are part of a significant investment by Irish Water to safeguard the water supply. We understand this type of work can be inconvenient and we will ensure our work crews make every effort to minimise any disruption these necessary works may cause. We would like to thank the community for their patience and cooperation while we continue to deliver these vital water network improvement works and safeguard the water supply now and into the future. The works will be carried out on behalf of Irish Water by Ward & Burke Construction and are expected to be completed in late May. Irish Water said that in 2018 the rate of leakage nationally was 46%, by the end of 2021 it was reduced to 38%. For more information, please visit www.water.ie/reducingleaks. The Irish Water customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit the Water Supply Updates section of the Irish Water website. Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of all public water and wastewater services in Ireland. We are committed to continuously upgrading and developing critical infrastructure to support the growth needed in housing and across our economy, while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies. A controversy over the finances in the operation of canteens for staff as well as shops at prisons in Portlaoise and elsewhere is back on the spotlight in a report by the Dail Public Accounts Committee that is chaired by Laois Offaly TD Brian Stanley. The operation of so-called Voluntary Mess Committees (VMCs) is referred to in the Comptroller and & Auditor Generals 2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services. It examined the management of catering and ancillary services in the prison system. Overall, the C&AG found that the systems for managing the control and operation of the provision of food within the prison system were weak and needed to be significantly strengthened. In its report published on January 27 on the Examination of the 2019 Appropriation Account for Vote 24 Justice and Equality the Committee makes recommendations on issues which were discussed with the Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service in December 2020. Deputy Stanley commented on latest developments. Voluntary Mess Committees (VMCs) operate in most prisons and act as canteen facilities for prison staff. Kitchen facilities are provided to VMCs free of charge and prisoners prepare food that is then sold to prison staff. VMCs purchase food from approved suppliers at prices agreed by the Irish Prison Service. The C&AG informed the Committee that the relationship between the Irish Prison Service and the VMCs is not underpinned by a written agreement and the report found that adequate processes were not in place to ensure there was no subsidisation of food costs for the staff committees," he said. In 2019 gross profit of 1 million was recorded from shop sales of 7 million across the prison system. "The C&AG found a number of issues in respect of the operation of the prison shops, including weaknesses in controls over stock and cash purchases and delays in the submission of accounts and bank reconciliations, said Dep Stanley. A statement said the Committee wrote to the Minister for Justice requesting an external investigation of the matters raised. In July 2021 the Minister informed the Committee that a review had been approved. The review was due to be completed by the end of 2021 and published in the first quarter of 2022. Deputy Stanley said: The Committee recommends that the independent review of the operation of Voluntary Mess Committees in prisons is published by the end of quarter one 2022 as stated by the Department of Justice, and that the Committee is furnished with a copy of the report upon its completion. The PAC is a standing committee of Dail Eireann which focuses on ensuring public services are run efficiently and achieve value for money. Further information on the role and remit of the Committee can be found here. The PAC Report Examination of the 2019 Appropriation Account for Vote 24 Justice and Equality; and Vote 21 - Prisons is available on the Oireachtas website. A light aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) made an emergency landing in Bihar's Bodh Gaya due to a technical glitch on Friday, an official said, adding that the two pilots, including a trainee, were safe. The two-seater aircraft M-102 was being used by the Air Force Station of Gaya for training purposes. The official said that there were two pilots, one of whom was undergoing training in the aircraft when a technical glitch arose. The two pilots managed to land the aircraft in the agricultural field in the Bagdaha Beli Ahar village under Bodh Gaya police station. The training had started in the OTA ground on Friday morning from where it took off. Gaya City Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar confirmed the incident. He said that both pilots were safe and the aircraft did not suffer much damage. The IAF officials have taken the aircraft to their base. Following the incident, the IAF officials rushed to the accident site and removed the aircraft. A large number of villagers also assembled at the place, who demanded compensation for the crop loss due to emergency landing. Green Party Ireland South MEP and Spokesperson for the Marine, Grace OSullivan, says Irish fishers and environmentalists have found common cause in opposing Russian naval drills and missile tests off the Irish coast, recalling her own direct experiences with the Russian military. As someone who has come face-to-face with the Russian military over my time as a Greenpeace activist, I know they would be less than welcoming if our fishers were to square up to them off our shores. I would certainly have concerns for fishers safety under those circumstances. The MEP and ecologist, who hails from Tramore in Co. Waterford has spoken of her experiences with Greenpeace in the past, describing one particular action when she climbed the anchor chain of a Russian nuclear warship in the 1980s: I was barefoot and carrying an anti-nuclear flag in an action aimed at highlighting the presence of Russian military nuclear warships in the Mediterranean Sea, close to densely populated areas. I was greeted with a water cannon and the crew proceeded to drop the anchor chain, attempting to submerge me. In my view, fishers will not be welcomed by the Russian naval personnel, but I am an activist at heart and understand fishers desperation in trying to protect marine life in the area and fight to save their livelihoods and way of life. Russian plans to undertake naval drills and missile tests in our waters are alarming on every front. Some reassurance has been given to fishers today, that their fishing grounds will not be affected by next weeks Russian naval exercises, however, I remain gravely concerned at the potential negative impacts on the general marine environment in the area. With naval drills and missile tests due to take place about 240km off the Irish southwest coast, OSullivan has joined fishers in expressing deep concerns on environmental grounds. Important species such as whales, dolphins, and tuna as well as fragile marine ecosystems are affected by military drills, while the livelihoods and safety of our fishers are also at risk. We know for a fact that beautiful creatures such as the great blue whale, sperm whales, fin whales, and beaked whales are present in those waters, species which are already facing the pressures of climate change and ocean acidification. The outcry from fishers is, OSullivan says, justified. It reflects general opposition amongst the Irish public to the militarisation of our waters, where the navies of Russia and other countries can operate without accountability. As a member of the Fisheries Committee in the European Parliament, I will continue to oppose the militarisation of our seas as I have done for over thirty years and fight to hold militaries accountable for their detrimental impact on the marine environment and the safety of seafarers everywhere. Ireland South takes in Laois and Offaly. Irish Fake Tan sister brands Bellamianta and Iconic Bronze have released an official statement regarding the new regulations over the use of Dihydroxyacetone that will come into effect across the EU throughout 2022. Both brands have researched and reformulated their product ranges over the last 18 months to include new, safe and skin-loving ingredients to continue providing their famous bronzed hue. The changes come after the EU stated that all brand owners of products containing DHA (Dihydroxyacetone) must amend their formulations to ensure they do not exceed the maximum amount of 10%. The roll out of these new regulations state that brand owners will no longer be permitted to sell to Retailers (B2B) from January 2022, and all online sales must cease from April 2022. Currently, the old formulas for both brands will still be available until April 2022, while stocks last, with the newly reformulated products arriving online and on shelves after this date. A number of other tanning brands are facing the same situation with DHA an important ingredient in most tan products, particularly dark and ultra-dark variations. DHA - dihydroxyacetone is a safe, sunless tanning ingredient, currently the most popular way of gaining a tan-like appearance without sun exposure, as it carries fewer health risks than any of the other available methods. It is a colourless 3-carbon sugar that when applied to the skin causes a chemical reaction with amino acids in the surface cells of the skin producing a darkening effect DHA does not damage skin as it only affects the outermost cells of the epidermis (stratum corneum). All effective sunless tanners contain DHA. Bellamianta & Iconic Bronze said: At Bellamianta & Iconic Bronze, we have taken this change in regulations as a stepping stone for both brands to move further onto our next passion project and something we have been working on in the background for years Skincare. At Bellamianta, skincare has and will continue to be at the forefront of our products. All of our products are vegan, cruelty-free, PETA approved, alcohol-free, and free of all other GMOs, sulphates and toxins," said brand Owner & Founder Linda Stinson. "This update from the EU has required us to reformulate our products to make them even better than they currently are. We have used this reformulation as an opportunity to give our products even more benefits, combining our two core passions: Tanning and Skincare. Whilst we have been working for a long time to bring a new and improved formula, we have taken this as an opportunity to enhance all our formulations with skin-loving ingredients." Suzanne Jackson from the SoSueMe brand has said her ultra dark product will be "nowhere near what it was" before the EU changes. She described the regulation changes as a "sad day for tanning." Extremely distressing scenes in Prosperous, Kildare unfolded last weekend as a child and dog were viciously attacked by another dog. One witness at the scene, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Leinster Leader that the incident occurred at around 3:30pm on Sunday, January 23. They said that "what had started out as a leisurely Sunday afternoon walk turned into a scene straight out of a Stephen King horror movie." During the attack, one girl was mauled by the attacking dog but sustained only minor injuries. However, one dog was not so lucky. The witness explained: "Three friends had planned an afternoon walk around the village with their family pets: an eight-year-old miniature Schnauzer and a two-year-old Maltese, along with their four girls aged between 12 and 14; they planned to meet on Main Street as they were travelling in opposite directions from home. "One of the mothers and her 12-year-old daughter were walking their dog on a leash down Main Street opposite side to Larrys pub when they noticed a dog that resembled a pit bull sitting outside a house without a leash and decided to cross over the road. "As they crossed the road they noticed a stray dog racing towards them coming from the direction of a nearby housing estate. The Maltese dog that accompanied the miniature Schnauzer The witness continued: "Immediately, they felt this dog was a danger, he had no leash and looked extremely fierce; they lifted their Maltese dog and the 12-year-old girl held him straight up above her head." From there, it is understood that the mother tried to stand between the Maltese and her child, but the dog jumped up and started attacking the 12-year-old to try to get to the Maltese. "Several cars had stopped to try to help and intervene: one car pulled the 12 year old girl and Maltese to safety. "At this point the pit bull managed to pull the Schnauzer down through his harness and out of the owners arms: she was left with his harness in her hands and had to watch her defenseless dog being mauled in a vicious frenzied attack." The witness then explained that while the larger dog attacked the Schnauzer, three men tried to help and two of the women kept kicking the dog but it relented: "At some point one of the ladies saw a concrete block and asked one the men to throw at the pit bulls head, he had the schnauzer pinned down at that time. "That stone made him release the dog for a few moments but he tried to go again, except one the men kicked him and the other threw another rock, and he bared his teeth at the men. "While he was distracted one of the men managed to pull the injured dog into his arms." The miniature Schnauzer that was attacked It is understood that the Schnauzer was rushed to the emergency out of hours vet in Grey Abbey in Kildare Town, and is now stable, although it still remains in a great deal of pain. "This is the most horrific scene any of us has ever seen" the witness explained: "The children were crying and shouting, traumatised, he had attacked a young child, small dog and they were unsure who was next. "They phoned for cars to collect us because the dog headed back into the area where they lived and they were too frightenedthe dog was still at large, with blood dripping from his mouth." Kildare County Council (KCC) has confirmed that statements detailing the attack have since been given to the gardai, and the dog warden informed the owners of the Schnauzer dog that the offending dog is not in the area anymore. The witness then said that the victims of the attack want to know what KCC are going to do following the incident, and asked "will it take a child to be killed for this to be taken seriously?" They also pointed to the fact that Dublin City Council have banned certain "dangerous" breeds of dogs, and said that similar measures should be looked into by KCC. "A danger to the community:" In a letter sent to KCC, the victims of the attack said: "We believe this dog presents a danger to the community: this dog has clearly demonstrated that it poses serious danger to life to anybody in the vicinity. "We are seriously worried about our safety; of our community at large. "A young child was attacked and other children, adults or an elderly person are at risk if this dog continues to be managed in such a way; our children are traumatised from this incident as are us adults." "We cannot allow our village to be in any fear, we should be able to take our dogs for a walk without the fear in our minds and we need to know we are safe from further possible attacks," it concluded. Commenting on the incident, gardai have since confirmed that they are "investigating dog offences" in Prosperous during this time. Men armed with hatchets damaged a house and a car in Naas, it was alleged at a sitting of the local District Court on January 26. Brothers David McDonagh, 35, whose address was given as 6 Clonmullen Lane, Edenderry and Christopher McDonagh, 26, whose address was given as 16A Stonebridge Park, Rochfortbridge, County Westmeath. Each was charged with alleged criminal damage at 94 Hazelmere, Naas on January 14 last. Gardai gave evidence of arresting the pair on January 25. Read more Kildare news Detective Garda Christine Brady objected to bail and said she feared that other offences would be committed. The cost of the damage was estimated at 1,500 Det Gda Brady said the incident happened in broad daylight between 2pm and 2.15pm. A car entered the Hazelmere estate and three males got out of the vehicle. She said they went either side of the car and attacked it with hatchets. Windows in the house were also broken. It was quite violent in a residential area, said Gda Brady, adding that they left in the car they came in. The court heard that one of the defendants is the brother in law of the injured party. The court was also told that the injured party, a woman, knows the defendants for 14 years. There was an incident at the location previously, which is not related to this incident. Barrister Aisling Murphy said that the defendants had only come home from the UK that day and they were not in County Kildare at the time of the incident. Ms Murphy said the defendants had nothing to do with the incident and were in Skerries at the time. Ms Murphy added that David McDonagh has a pacemaker and has epilepsy. Judge Desmond Zaidan remanded the pair in custody to February 2 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. The weather for Ireland is set to turn unsettled on blustery over the weekend according to the latest weather forecast for Ireland from Met Eireann. According to Met Eireann, there will also be outbreaks of rain over the weekend. Weather forecast for Saturday According to Met Eireann, Saturday will be cloudy with patchy outbreaks of rain or drizzle early Saturday morning. Westerly winds will increase strong ahead of a band of more persistent rain moving south over the country in the morning. The winds will increase to gale force for areas in the far north for a time Saturday morning before changing northwesterly and weakening as cooler but drier air moves over the country. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees will occur early in the day. Saturday night will be mainly dry and clear but it will also be cold. It will become cloudier from the west overnight with some patchy drizzle developing. Lowest temperatures of -1 to 4 degrees with patchy frost possible and generally light winds. Weather forecast for Sunday According to Met Eireann, Sunday will start mostly dry start but cloud will quickly build from the west ahead of strengthening southerly winds. A front will move in from the west of the country bringing outbreaks of rain for many areas, heaviest and most persistent in the west and northwest. Highs of 9 to 11 degrees with moderate to fresh southwesterlies. On Sunday night, a ridge builds from the southwest which helps clear away any of the wet weather from the southern half of the country early in the night. Rain will persist in the northwest and staying cloudy for many areas with overnight lows of 2 to 5 degrees and moderate to fresh westerlies. Weather forecast for Monday A fresh northwesterly flow over the country will bring plenty of cloud and outbreaks of rain in the west and north of the country on Monday. It will be a little drier and brighter in the southeast with highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees. The rollout of the National Broadband Plan has fallen behind schedule and will not meet its targets, the Dail has been told. The delay has been criticised by politicians after it emerged the company charged with rolling out rural broadband networks will miss its January target. National Broadband Ireland (NBI) Infrastructure has said it will be March before it hits the target of connecting 60,000 homes and premises to highspeed broadband. NBI is responsible for building and operating Irelands high-speed broadband network. But the project is running more than six months behind schedule because of the pandemic and other delays. NBI chief executive Peter Hendrick cut its January target to 60,000 premises, down from an original target of 115,000. Mr Hendrick told the Oireachtas committee on transport that the revised target will be missed by some two months. Minister of State Ossian Smyth said the delay is frustrating for everyone. Part of the delay comes from the natural things that happen within a large rollout contract, where there is a period of time where you are developing momentum and becoming more skilled, Mr Smyth told the Dail. I expect some of the delays are the fault of the NBI and they may believe its the fault of their sub-contractors, and may attribute some of the blame but that doesnt excuse them. They have to take responsibility even where they have delegated responsibility. He said the targets for this year are under negotiation. The specific milestones and deliveries are set in the contract at the start, he added. Fianna Fails Dara Calleary said he is rapidly losing confidence in the rollout of the broadband plan. In east Mayo, there are three companies who export internationally and we have been working to try and get a sense of when these companies and communities can be connected, Mr Calleary added. National Broadband Ireland came back and said between January 2025 and December 2026. That is not a window, that is a conservatory. That shows a lack of ambition and I am concerned we are coming to the last week of January and we do not what is going to happen in terms of connection for 2022. They keep telling us they are working on the ground but the reality for this community is that jobs could potentially be lost. Mr Smyth said: It is a seven-year contract to connect 540,000 homes. We are two years in, so a proportion of those homes are due to be connected in years six and seven. I am taking a very hands-on approach. I am examining everything we can do to accelerate the project. My focus on this is getting connections up to a point where the project is back on track. It is not okay that we were six months behind because of the pandemic and then more months because of other delays. We will overcome and rejoin and get every home connected to fibre optic broadband. Sinn Fains Ruairi O' Murchu said: It looks like at this point in time that the person who was awarded the contract was awarded on the basis of here, the emperor has no clothes. Mr Smyth added: The fact that the early stages of network build has faced challenges is frustrating for everyone. I am disappointed that the programme is behind schedule and I can assure my colleagues that I and everyone working on this in the department is determined to continue to drive an acceleration of the network build programme, with the aim of getting it back on track. A LIMERICK farmer has failed in his efforts to have his conviction for rape overturned at the Court of Appeal after arguing that the trial judge did not properly charge the jury regarding his attack on his ex-girlfriend. The trial heard that farmer Eamon Roche had texted the victim hours after he raped her in a car he was driving, saying: Sorry for being a bollocks." The 31-year-old, who has an address at Ballymorrough, Templegantine had pleaded not guilty to committing a single count of rape against the mother-of-one on March 21, 2015. However, he was convicted by a jury in April 2019 at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to six years imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. That court was told the victim, aged 22 at the time of the attack, wished for Roche's name to be published. Roche appealed the conviction, claiming Mr Justice McDermott failed to advise the jury properly of the possibility that the defendant had been "reckless" in his conduct. It was further claimed that the judge failed to explain the importance the defence were placing on a driving episode which took place prior to the rape and the text messages between the defendant and complainant hours afterwards. The defence submitted that Roche had been apologising for speeding away from a garda checkpoint because the car he had been driving at the time did not have any tax, insurance, or up-to-date NCT, and not for anything else. In a judgement, delivered this Friday, Ms Justice Patrick McCarthy outlined the background to the rape. "On a number of occasions, the appellant [Roche] would offer or accept requests to drive from his home to collect the complainant from her home and take her to meet a friend. He would also collect her afterwards and take her home; the round trip was a considerable distance. This journey was made on four occasions and the first was in February 2015. They had consensual sex on two occasions the first and third of those four in all. The latter occurred at the same place as that where the rape occurred," he said. On the fourth occasion, on March 20, 2015, the complainant had asked for a lift to visit her friend and was collected by Roche at around 7.45pm. Upon arrival, he went to kiss her but she pulled away and he sent a text afterwards saying, "sorry for kissing you, I feel bad now". Later in the night, she texted Roche asking him to collect her. He arrived around midnight and waited for her to leave a bar. After collecting her and on the way home, Roche saw a garda car. Gardai tried to stop Roche but he drove on to avoid them, explaining to the woman that he was driving without insurance and that he had road traffic offence convictions. Gardai gave chase but abandoned it due to the dangerous driving of Roche. "The complainant was not sure how long the appellants 'crazy' driving to evade the gardai lasted but she said that it 'felt like a lifetime and she was going to die,'" said Mr Justice McCarthy. After evading the gardai, Roche changed cars and proceeded to drive the woman to her home but went past it (her home) and onto a location where they previously had consensual sex. There, he raped her in the car after she tried to get out, pushed him away and repeatedly told him she wanted to go home. Roche's defence was that the sexual intercourse was consensual. The complainant, however attend the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit where two injuries were recorded - one to her right hip and the second to her left leg. At trial, Roche maintained that subsequent apologetic texts referred to wider events of the night, regarding the attempt to kiss the complainant and the car chase. The prosecution maintained that they amounted to the admission of the rape. Michael Bowman SC, for Roche, told the Court of Appeal that although Mr Justice McDermotts charge to the jury had been immaculate, as far as it went, it should have gone further and that there were other matters to consider, such as recklessness. Counsel also said that the defence and prosecutions case had been polar opposites in terms of consent. Mr Bowman argued that there was room for a middle-ground, within which the concept of an honest mistake existed and this had not been addressed by the trial judge. In response, Anne Rowland SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said not only had Mr Justice McDermott charged the jury properly he went further than he needed to in the circumstances of this case. She submitted there was "no error" by the trial judge. Today, Mr Justice McCarthy agreed, saying that the jury were properly charged by the trial judge, who had "no need to go further". He added: "Extensive reference was made by the judge to what was said by the appellant to the gardai in interview. Frequently, judges refer only briefly to the substance of interviews since the jurors have them in writing. Here, however, the judge went through the substance of what was said in some detail in a number of respects referring to the responses of the appellant when asked about the texts. "The appellants stance about the meaning and intent of the texts was abundantly clear to the jury," he said. Mr Justice McCarthy said that "repeated and extensive references" were made by the trial judge in his charge to the jury regarding the texts and Roches explanation. "There was no need for the judge to go further. We therefore reject this ground of appeal," said Mr Justice McCarthy. Regarding the possibility of whether or not Roche had "recklessly" formed the opinion that his victim had given consent to sexual intercourse not being explained to the jury, Mr Justice McCarthy said the court also rejected that argument. "We think that the judge was right to reject the requisition and that the absence of such a reference is not open to criticism," said Mr Justice McCarthy. "The issues here could not have been more obvious to the jury on the plain terms of the charge, especially on the issue of mens rea [guilty mind] and subjective belief whether reasonably held or not; each sides case was plain to be seen from what the judge said. The topic was dealt with comprehensively in every possible respect. Whether to say anything or not will fall to the discretion of the judge," he said. TWO Limerick city students were recognised for their outstanding Leaving Certificate results last year and in turn, were awarded special scholarships to a top University. Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh pair Emily Calton O Keefe and Elaine Treacy pushed past the uncertainty of the pandemic, landing 625 points apiece. Recalling the moment she logged onto the system to check her results, Emily told the Limerick Leader that she was in utter shock and could not believe her luck. I genuinely thought it was a glitch in the State Exam's system, she thought, as a row of seven H1s lined her computer screen. Academically, the pair have been through thick and thin together. Both originally from Nenagh in Tipperary, they were side by side, as they graduated preschool, Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan and Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh in tandem. Crediting an incredible staff at the all-Irish speaking secondary school in Limerick city, Elaine exclaimed that the focus was always on development inside and outside of the classroom. During her time there, she participated in the BT Young Scientist Exhibition, Scifest, travelled to the European Parliament in Strasbourg and also had a leading role in the Transition Year school play. The schools motto is "Ag forbairt le cheile" which means, developing together. Looking back on my time and experience in GCLuimnigh, I can safely say that this statement is definitely apt and fitting for what the school stands for, Elaine admitted. Emily, who lives in Annacotty with her family, said that the uncertainty of whether the State Examinations would take place in 2021, was the most difficult part. However, notes compiled over several years and a culture of note sharing, helped her put maximum points on the board during the June examination period. Emily and Elaine were formally awarded their Quercus Entrance Scholarships from UCC for 2021/2022, with their families expressing incredible joy at their achievements. Congratulations to former @GCLuimnigh students Elaine Ni Threasaigh and Emily Calton O Keeffe on accepting their Quercus Entrance Scholarship in @UCC last night. #brod @LCETBSchools pic.twitter.com/b0RfLJ8gLb GCLuimnigh (@GCLuimnigh) January 26, 2022 Emily is now studying a degree in Arts International, and is fascinated in international relations, particularly Asian Studies and European Studies. Following in the footsteps of her mother who studied at UCC, Elaine is now taking on the challenge of a Law and Business (BCLB) degree and is excited at the prospect of choosing between a career in the legal or commercial fields. As a final word of advice, they are encouraging final year students in Limerick to believe in themselves as they head into the final push of their second level education. Do the best that you can but remember that even if you dont get the results youre looking for, there are so many ways to get where you want to, Emily concluded. A REMARKABLE Limerick landlady is entering her 66th year pulling pints behind the bar. Ninety-two-years young Margaret Carmody, known to one and all as Peg, can be found behind the counter every day in the family run pub in Hospital. Peg is surely the oldest publican in County Limerick, if not Ireland and perhaps Europe. Last January, The Manchester Evening News ran an article on a Donegal-born publican thought to be Britains oldest and longest-serving landlady. Nancy Swanick, aged 89, celebrated half a century in the pub trade in Manchester but Peg has been behind the bar for 16 years more than that. She has been helped in Carmodys by daughters Catherine and Geraldine, son Joe and many grandchildren over the years. I taught them all how to pull a decent pint, smiled Peg. They say Guinness is good for you but it hasnt helped Peg achieve her remarkably fresh face. I never drank myself. I never touched it, said Peg, who is a mum of seven - Pat, Tommy, Joe, Margaret, Geraldine, Helen and Catherine. She combined raising her children with running Carmodys. Her late husband Joe, who passed away in 1995, was also very busy as he worked for Limerick County Council, had a farm and bought, did up and sold houses. The public house was passed down from Joes parents - John and Catherine. I took over the running of it in November 1956. I had worked in a hotel in Kilfinane before I got married so I was well used to meeting people and dealing with the public, said Peg. The thought of not reopening after pubs were closed due to Covid never entered her head. I found it very hard when the pub had to close. I missed the company, the chats and the laughs with my regulars. I didn't know what to do with myself as being in the pub filled my day. I couldn't wait to reopen. I looked forward to meeting everyone again. I was delighted to open back up on September 25, said Peg, who has customers of all ages. They call in for a drink and a chat. I have lovely quiet customers, no cursing or bad language allowed. We look after each other. I love seeing the young people calling. They are really friendly and pleasant, said Peg, who agreed with the 8pm curfew being lifted on Saturday. She spoke of the importance of pubs to the social fabric of society and combating loneliness, particularly in rural areas. The last question has to be what is her secret to looking and feeling so young? Hard work and a listening ear, replies Peg, who will turn 93 in May but shows no signs of slowing down. She says she wants to continue on the business, the same as her mother-in-law before her. I want to leave it as I found it, said Peg, who is doing just that. Devendra Fadnavis Calling the Maharashtra Assembly presiding officer Bhaskar Jadhav's decision to suspend 12 BJP MLAs a conspiracy in July last year, leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government should stop acting in an unconstitutional manner, in wake of the Supreme Court's decision on Friday striking down the suspension. Addressing a press conference in Goa, Fadnavis also said the Supreme Court's decision was historic and would prevent abuse of legislative power in state assemblies purely based on the basis of numerical majority. "The Court itself said that we do not want to encroach in your space, therefore correct the unconstitutional action and take them back. But, this arrogant government refused the opportunity and today, the SC has given a historic decision... Because of this decision, abuse of power will not be able to be meted out on the basis of a majority. This is a precedent laid down by the Supreme Court," Fadnavis told reporters in Panaji. The BJP leader is the party's election in-charge for the February 14 Goa polls. The former Chief Minister also said that the responsibility should now be fixed to ascertain as to who masterminded the expulsion of the MLAs, adding that such a decision could not be taken without sanction from the top leadership of the MVA government, including the Chief Minister. "In reality, the decision is such that responsibility should be fixed on this government to find out who masterminded the conspiracy, who were those who told the house wrong stories, who were those who victimised these MLAs, needs to be found out. And those who did this, should unconditionally apologise to the residents of these 12 constituencies," Fadnavis said. "Even if it (resolution to expel) was taken by the Assembly, the decision is taken by the government. The resolution was brought forth by the treasury benches and it was passed with a majority. That is why I said the Chief Minister, deputy Chief Minister, Parliamentary Affairs Ministers, senior ministers and some persons outside the Assembly are also involved," Fadnavis said. Earlier on Friday, the apex Court struck down the suspension of 12 MLAs by the presiding officer Bhaskar Jadhav, over protests related to Other Backward Class reservation-related issues. "In one way, in order to create an artificial majority, 12 members were suspended for one year. The apex court has ruled that the action was unconstitutional, illegal, irrational. The court has used strong words. In a way it is a slap in the face of the Maharashtra government and its unconstitutional act," Fadnavis said. LIMERICK City and County Council is on the brink of purchasing the former tourist office at Arthurs Quay, which has been plagued by vandalism in recent weeks. The local authority has experienced delays in acquiring the premises from its current owners Shannon Properties, and in that time, its windows have been smashed, while it has also been targetted by graffiti. However, Mayor Daniel Butler says he will be taking a personal interest in ensuring the first priority is for it to be cleaned up once council gains the deeds. Its in a totally unacceptable condition in a very prominent area of Limerick. An entry point into the city, and it doesnt create a very good impression at all. Unfortunately there were delays in the ownership. But my understanding is its now been addressed and well see a closure of the sale very quickly, said the first citizen. Mayor Butler went on to criticise Shannon Properties for allowing the building to reach the condition it is currently in (pictured above). Its totally unacceptable, its incredibly disappointing, and Im hopeful under the ownership of Limerick Council, that we will see a very rapid improvement, and most importantly, we see an activation of the building into meaningful use which will be positive for the city as opposed to its current contribution, which is a total eyesore, Cllr Butler said. Shannon Properties did not return requests for comment. One group which has its eye on the premises is Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention, which is on the hunt for a new base, with its lease up in Johns Street. Chairman Matt Collins said that Arthurs Quay is already a place where its volunteers find people are struggling mentally so it would be ideally located. THE boss of the University of Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG) says it could be eight years before the new maternity hospital is ready. Colette Cowan, the chief executive of ULHG confirmed a feasibility study on the long-awaited project is under way, and will be presented to the board of the HSE this year. It will see the University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) move from its current location at the Ennis Road into the Dooradoyle campus. Ms Cowan said: Work is already progressing on it. We have sign money to start designing. We will be tabling a feasibility study and gap analysis to the HSE board in 2022. But no matter what way we do it, it will take a number of years because we will have to do enabling works, and knock the nursing home. We will have to rebuild the accommodation around that, so you're talking anything up to eight years. UMHL is the only facility of its kind in the region, but the hospital boss acknowledged the current building is not fit for purpose. We have designed a new building to be built on the UHL campus at a cost of 250m. So It's significant, she added, It is in the Ireland 2040 plan and was listed as a core project which must be delivered for the region for the safety of women and indeed support to people who live in the area. So we are working on that behind the scenes all the time. During the pandemic, restrictions meant many loved ones could not be with their partners when they were giving birth to their children. We were desperately upset ourselves about having to impose restrictions on women and partners who were having the most important event of their life experience. It was very tough, Ms Cowan said. Chief clinical director at ULHG Prof Brian Lenehan said he would be hopeful the new maternity unit will reduce the need for similar restrictions to be in place in the event of another pandemic. "I'd be hopeful we will see a new maternity unit here in the hospital which is state of the art and has adequate accommodation, he explained. THE progression of the new 96-bed unit at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) will take a big step forward next month, with tenders for the project due. Chief executive of the University of Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG) Colette Cowan said the new unit, which has permission to be built on the hospital campus in Dooradoyle, will take the pressure off the existing bed stock. The project is out to tender at the moment. The tenders are due in in Feburary. We had said January, but Covid took over everybody in all offices. So it will be early February now, the hospital chief added. The 96-bed block, why we've pitched for it, is we have 199 beds in our Nightingale wards across the hospital group, and it's very evident to us over the years and even more so since the pandemic, it's a risk for outbreaks. Our plan is to eliminate these Nightingale wards and provide the isolation facilities, Ms Cowan said. The news came in a week where UHL was forced to open up surge capacity for its facilities, after one of the highest attendances in the emergency department in recent years. Another 60 beds are available for patient care, but Ms Cowan said these have not been able to be used generally at the moment, since it is in effect a unit caring for people with Covid-19. When it's freed up after this pandemic, we will be able to flow more patients from the emergency department, she said. Ms Cowan said the hospitals group will be enhancing community care, with a significant project under way. We have had huge investment into the area to set up community assessment hubs and alternative pathways for patients so they do not have to come into the emergency department, especially those with chronic diseases, she said. Despite the pressure on the emergency department, Ms Cowan says the hospital has never had to send a patient out of the region for critical care treatment. Weve looked after every single one of them. In fact, we've taken patients in from other hospitals in other regions to support their beds, she said. The chief clinical director at ULHG Prof Brian Lenehan added: At all times, the executive would have contingency plans and surge plans in place for our intensive care unit. If our 12 intensive care beds are full and 16 high-dependency beds are full, we'd have moved the high-dependency units to the third floor and converted the remaining beds into intensive care beds and redeployed staff into support them. We'd not have found ourselves in the situation where there is no room at the inn. We had contingency plans to flex-up had the circumstances arose which thankfully did not. The deadline for tenders was last September, with the hospital now sorting through these ahead of a decision on the appointment of a contractor. This is widely expected to happen early next month. Last week, 97 patients were without a bed at the Dooradoyle hospital, sparking concern from nursing unions. A SENIOR executive in Lilly, which has announced 300 permanent new jobs for Limerick today, has talked up the possibility of further expansion locally. Darin Moody, the senior vice-president of manufacturing global services at the company, said: "Certainly when we commit to an investment of this magnitude, we have to think about the future. As we start the construction of this facility, we have obviously considered in its design, the potential to expand, as we do all with all our manufacturing sites." He said while Lilly's current focus is on the initial investment - which will also deliver 500 construction jobs - the site on the edge of the Raheen Industrial Estate has the "potential for expansion". Lillys European footprint is growing! We are very proud to announce a 400 million investment in a second manufacturing site in Ireland . Our new plant in Limerick will become our 5th in the . Read more here https://t.co/lC5hB1rrFu pic.twitter.com/SHNV9vBRaB LillyPad EU (@LillyPadEU) January 28, 2022 Fellow biopharmaceutical company Regeneron, which will neighbour Lilly, also started with 300 positions in 2013, but it has scaled up to 1,400 now. Speaking to the Limerick Leader from Lilly's global headquarters in Indianapolis, Mr Moody revealed staff in Raheen could be looking at developing new products which can treat Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, cancer and immunology conditions. "It will be a biologics manufacturing site. Specifically it will manufacture monoclonal antibodies. Lilly has a large portfolio of monoclonal antibodies in our existing product portfolio which continues to grow. So we are adding capacity to support that growth," he added. Asked why the firm picked Limerick to open its second facility in Ireland, he said: "We looked at hundreds of criteria." "The key for an operation like this is we have to have access to a significant number of talented people across the spectrum of types of roles and capabilities with a strong emphasis on engineers, scientists and technicians and operations personnel. The availability of a strong talented workforce, access to universities and the effectiveness of partnerships between industry academia and local communities, the overall economic climate, the quality of infrastructure and transportation hubs. All these things were significant factors which helped inform our decision," he said. Welcome @LillyPadEU to @IDA_MidWest and congrats on plans to invest 400m in new Limerick biopharma manufacturing plant #whyireland https://t.co/VSudRbUDzS William Corcoran (@Will_Corcoran) January 28, 2022 In terms of the delivery of the jobs, Mr Moody revealed that, if the firm secures planning permission - an application is going to council in the coming weeks - there will be a three-year construction phase. Permanent staff will be recruited as the facility reaches an operational stage. In terms of graduates, Lilly will seek those with engineering backgrounds, particularly in the fields of chemical, mechanical and electrical. Analytical science, chemistry, software engineering, process automation and instrumentation scolars will also be sought. Operators will be hired for the plant itself, while support workers in finance and human resources will also be offered jobs. LIMERICK City and County Council has hailed the announcement by Lilly that it is to invest 400 million in a new manufacturing facility in Raheen as a major endorsement of Limerick as a location as a biopharma hub. The local authority has welcomed the investment which will result in the creation of more than 300 new jobs for highly skilled workers such as engineers, scientists and operations personnel at a new facility. In addition, an estimated 500 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the manufacturing centre, which, when operational, will be at the leading edge of the innovation of new medicines. Welcoming this morning's announcement, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Daniel Butler said: I would like to welcome Eli Lilly to Limerick and thank the company for choosing Limerick and the IDA Ireland for their work in securing this investment for Limerick and Ireland. "The decision by Eli Lilly to choose Limerick shows that the partnership approach that exists here between the local authority, IDA Ireland, the various other state agencies and the third level sector is working and Limerick is one of the most attractive locations for foreign direct investment in Ireland. This is a huge day day for #Limerick Delighted as mayor to be able to welcome this announcement. This reinforces the fact #Limerick is the leading location for the most innovative companies in the world. We are global leaders not just national. https://t.co/d3bGpaLS64 Cllr Daniel Butler, Mayor of Limerick (@DanielButlerFG) January 28, 2022 Dr Pat Daly, Chief Executive of Limerick City and County Council added: There has been a coordinated strategy to make Limerick a hub for the biopharma industry and todays multi-million euro investment by Lilly, is a further endorsement of this strategy." Dr Daly said the council has worked closely with IDA Ireland to ensure that Limerick has the infrastructure and resources in place to ensure that the investments that are coming in are successful and that they continue to invest here in Limerick once they arrive. The company will be able to leverage the expertise in Smart and Advanced Manufacturing established in the region," he said. An application by the State to jail a man for assaulting his baby daughter has been rejected by the Court of Appeal. The man was given a six-month prison sentence for assaulting his partner in a separate incident. In passing sentence, Judge Martin Nolan had said he was taking into consideration the attack on the child when jailing the man at a hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last March. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) later appealed this decision on the grounds it was unduly lenient. In the first attack, the mans partner was holding their four-month-old daughter when he repeatedly punched her before pushing her against a wall at the woman's home on September 18, 2019. The babys head hit the wall during the assault and she began vomiting shortly afterwards. The child was still vomiting when gardai arrived at the scene in Skerries, north Dublin. The second attack took place on June 12, 2020, when the man and woman were in his home in Rush, north Dublin and began arguing over who would go to the shop to get milk for the baby. The man later pleaded guilty to a Section 2 assault contrary to the Non-Fatal Offence Against the Person Act in relation to the second incident, and guilty to a Section 3 assault contrary to the same Act in relation to the first incident. At the Court of Appeal today, Ger Small BL, for the DPP, said there was no prosecutorial complaint regarding the Section 2 assault. She asked the court to focus on the first matter, adding the sentencing was unduly lenient and out of kilter. This was a four-month-old infant in the arms of her mother, Ms Small said. Judge Nolan, counsel continued, had erred by confining the defendants culpability to a six-month summary matter. The Section 3 offence was a far more egregious offence, she explained, James Dwyer SC, for the respondent, said judges must be allowed to use their discretion when sentencing. Mr Dwyer also argued that an order by the judge to take a matter into consideration was not a conviction. Dismissing the appeal, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, sitting with Mr Justice George Birmingham, presiding, and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, said the court was satisfied that the defendant had been convicted of the Section 3 assault as a result of his plea of guilty. Although Ms Justice Donnelly acknowledged the assault against the child had been the more serious offence, she said the court could find no practical consequence in resentencing and was refusing the DPPs application. Previous evidence: Mr Dwyer said his client's mother died in tragic circumstances when he was young and that he started taking drugs in his late teens. He said his client's family have a pub in the midlands and that there is an offer of work there for his client. Judge Martin Nolan said he was satisfied that the man never intended to harm the child but that he behaved with recklessness in relation to her. He said that his actions were nonetheless pretty inexcusable. Car fuel prices took another jump as a result of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, with an average increase of 2 cent overnight. The latest increase is another blow to beleaguered motorists who have been facing high fuel costs for a number of months. AA Ireland warned drivers it was inevitable that the dispute with Russia would bring Irelands highest ever fuel prices, as crude oil has soared to above $90 a barrel for the first time in eight years. At the start of 2022, fuel prices remain close to the highest levels ever recorded. That is according to figures recentlhy compiled by AA Ireland, which showed earlier this week that the average national price of petrol was 170.3 cents per litre, while diesel stands at 160.5 cents per litre on average. One forecourt was selling petrol at 177.7 cents per litre today, as prices soar across the country. Looking at the figures for January 2021, the average price of fuel stood at 129.9 cents for petrol and 120.8 cents for diesel. This means the price of petrol has increased by 31% in the past year, and there has been a 33% increase in the price of diesel, says Anna Cullen from AA Ireland. The prices this month are on par with December 2021, with a negligible decrease of about 1%. They are down by 1.5% on November figures, when AA Ireland reported record high fuel prices, Cullen adds. Currently, Ireland is the 17th most expensive country in the world for fuel and we rank 12th in Europe. The most expensive countries include Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Israel, Norway, Finland, Denmark, the UK, Greece, Iceland and Sweden. 60% (two-thirds) of the price paid at the pumps is tax and this includes VAT and carbon tax. And, keep in mind it can take two weeks for any reductions to reach the pumps. Then, there is the cost of oil as well as production. In early 2020, members of OPEC Plus (a large group of oil exporting nations), agreed to cut output by about 10 million barrels a day (bpd) due to the lack of demand. However, demand for oil has risen significantly and will continue to rise this year. The difficulty is that oil producers arent keeping up with this demand, causing prices to stay high. Nearly two years since schools across Ireland were closed as part of the first lockdown, the Ombudsman for Childrens Office (OCO) is publishing a Child Rights Impact Assessment detailing the impact that closures in 2020 and 2021 had on childrens rights. A Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) examines the potential impacts that laws, policies, budget decisions, programmes and services may have on children, as they are being developed and before a decision is made. Therefore, CRIA can identify ways to avoid or mitigate negative impacts on children of a proposed action before it is implemented. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has identified CRIA as a key measure that States should implement to progress the realisation of childrens rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Although Ireland ratified the CRC in 1992, the State has not yet introduced CRIA to support the implementation of childrens rights in Ireland. The OCOs CRIA focused on the rights of five groups of children in particular; those experiencing mental health difficulties, children who are homeless, children living in Direct Provision, children with disabilities, and Traveller and Roma children. The CRIA found that these groups of children are among those whose rights were disproportionately impacted by the school closures. As well as highlighting how much we rely on schools and the school community to support childrens enjoyment of their rights, this CRIA also indicates that the closures had a predominantly negative effect on a childs right to education, disproportionately impacting those children already experiencing educational disadvantage; had a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing and/ or social and emotional development of some children; led to the disruption of vital health services provided in schools, such as the school immunisation programme, hearing, vision and dental checks, as well as the School Meals Programme; contributed to an increased risk of children experiencing harm and abuse, including domestic violence, in the home and reduced opportunities for school-based professionals to recognise and report child protection and welfare concerns. Commenting on the findings, Head of Policy at the OCO, Dr Karen McAuley, said: This CRIA is a snapshot in time that aims to capture how childrens rights were impacted by the decision to close schools in 2020 and in early 2021. While all children were impacted, our CRIA found that the closures had a disproportionate negative impact on the five groups of children focused on, and that not enough consideration was given to their specific needs when the initial blanket decision was made to close schools in March 2020. As such, our CRIA not only highlights the need for the State to give due regard to childrens rights when making decisions, including in emergency situations, but also to consider what special measures are needed to mitigate the disproportionate impact that decisions can have on particular groups of children. It is also clear that school is about so much more than education, with the importance of teachers and other school professionals for the realisation of childrens rights evident. For many children school is also a place for them to develop emotionally and socially and to avail of important health checks. For some children, it is a place where they are provided with a hot meal. For other children, school provides a safe place away from potentially harmful or abusive situations at home and is a place where professionals can identify and report child protection and welfare concerns. Child Rights Impact Assessment has not been introduced in Ireland yet. Just like an Environmental Impact Assessment is carried out to examine the effects of a proposed project on the environment before it is given the green light, we believe the Government should seriously consider introducing CRIA in Ireland to child-rights proof proposals affecting children, Dr McAuley concluded. The OCO was one of 13 organisations that took part in a joint project between the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) and UNICEF to conduct a pilot CRIA on the impact of Covid-19 measures on childrens rights. The OCOs CRIA was carried out between April and October 2021, and consisted of a desk-based review of relevant national and international documentation, as well as interviews with several key stakeholder organisations. AMERICAN movie star John Travolta touched down in Shannon Airport earlier this week, having flown his own plane from Florida for business purposes. The Grease and Pulp Fiction star took to Instagram to let his 3.7 million followers know that he was making his way across the Atlantic. So our flight time tonight from Florida to Shannon, is 7 hours and four minutes, he announced, from the cockpit of his Falcon 900, a French built corporate aircraft, 20 metres in length. View this post on Instagram A post shared by John Travolta (@johntravolta) In a further update, the Saturday Night Fever star, informed followers that it was time for him to descend to Shannon, Ireland, following a good flight. The 67-year-old also revealed a quick shot of him arriving at Dromoland Castle, where it is presumed, he is staying while on his business trip to Ireland. In the video, the actor confirmed he had arrived safely in Ireland and thanked his followers for all their support for his daughter Ellas song Dizzy, saying it was a big success. We are very proud, and its all because of you, he said as he looked into the camera. Closing out his Instagram video, the Hollywood actor tried on his best Irish accent, saying: As the Irish say, life is what you make it. MUMBAI : The retreat from risky assets intensified on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve said it is on track to raise interest rates in March and reaffirmed plans to end bond purchases, signalling the end of an era of abundant liquidity. Investors are worried other global central banks will follow the hawkish shift by the Fed, resulting in capital outflows from emerging markets such as India. The US central bank had reduced borrowing costs to near-zero in 2020 to counter the economic jolt of the pandemic. Indian stocks joined a global selloff on Thursday. The BSE Sensex slipped 581.21 points, or 1%, to 57,276.94. The National Stock Exchanges Nifty index shed 167.80 points, or 0.97%, to 17,110.15. View Full Image Losing currency Shares fell in other Asia-Pacific markets, too, with Japans Nikkei 225 shedding 3.11%, South Koreas Kospi 3.5%, Hong Kongs Hang Seng 1.99% and Chinas Shanghai Composite 1.78%. On Wednesday, US central bank chief Jerome Powell pledged a sustained battle to tame inflation. Subsequent interest rate increases and an eventual reduction in the Feds asset holdings would follow as needed, Powell said, while officials monitor how quickly inflation falls from current multi-decade highs back to the central banks 2% target. Much was left undecided, he told reporters after the end of the Feds latest two-day policy meeting, including the pace of subsequent rate hikes or how quickly officials will let its massive balance sheet decline. Indian bond yields spiked while the rupee struck a one-month low on Thursday. US two-year bond yields rocketed to 23-month highs, and the dollar busted out of its recent range after the Federal Reserve stuck to plans for an interest rate rise in March and Powell warned about inflation. The markets feared that the central bank could be more aggressive in its monetary policy to curb inflation. Hawkish US Fed commentary, rising crude oil prices, and foreign institutional investors selling were the major reasons for the negativity in the market," said Siddhartha Khemka, head-retail research, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. Investors fear that following the Fed meeting, the FII sell-off in equities may become aggressive as a rate hike in the US typically makes emerging markets assets less attractive. In January alone, FIIs were net sellers of Indian shares worth $2.2 billion, while continuously draining out funds in the last four months. FIIs have sold Indian equities worth $6.97 billion since October 2021. However, markets still have support of domestic institutional investors money amounting to 12,039.76 crore in January.. Market participants fear that monetary policy tightening to tame high inflation may prompt foreign investors to pump out liquidity from emerging markets," said analysts at ICICI Direct. The brokerage said the dollar index may continue its positive bias as the US Fed signalled aggressive monetary tightening. It feels that Indian currency may depreciate further to 76.30 against the dollar amid persistent FII outflows, a strong dollar and elevated crude oil prices. Oil rose on Wednesday, touching $90 a barrel for the first time in seven years, as tight supply and rising political tensions between Russia and Ukraine added to concerns. According to Madan Sabnavis, chief economist, Bank of Baroda, the Reserve Bank of India has to take a call on the rewinding of liquidity, and the Feds long-term guidance could be taken as a template by the monetary policy committee for consideration. We have high inflation and uncertain growth just like the US. The market is demanding higher yields, and the question is how long can the RBI hold on to the present stance," he said. Analysts at BofA Securities feel that the Fed is likely to hike rates more than the market is currently pricing. We still think the market will likely price 6-7 hikes this year and encourage clients to position as such. We also expect the market will continue challenging the Fed towards a 50 basis points (bps) hike in March. If the market prices a 50 bps hike in March, we expect the Fed will follow it given their current humble" and nimble" approach to setting policy," BofA Securities said in a note on 26 January. Reuters contributed to the story. The Prime Minister's Office has convened a meeting with officials from the Railways on Friday to evaluate the examination process in the wake of a growing number of protests against the Railway Recruitment Board's recent test for Non Technical Popular Categories Exam (RRB NTPC). A 10-minute drone show involving around 1,000 drones fabricated through indigenous technology will, for the first time, be a part of the Beating Retreat ceremony scheduled to be held on 29 Jan, said the ministry of defence on Friday. A novel drone show will be one of the major attractions of this years Beating the Retreat ceremony. For the first time, the show has been made a part of the ceremony to commemorate 75 years of Independence, being celebrated as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav," the ministry said in a statement. The drone show has been organised by a startup Botlab Dynamics and supported by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and the Department of Science and Technology. In addition to this, the ministry said that another attraction of the ceremony would be a projection mapping show to commemorate 75 years of independence. The show, of around three to four minutes duration, will be showcased on the walls of North and South Block before the end of the ceremony. It also informed that a total of 26 musical performances will enthral the spectators with foot-tapping music played by the bands of the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). The entry band will be Massed Band playing the Veer Sainik tune. This will be followed by Pipes & Drums Band, CAPF Band, Air Force Band, Naval Band, Army Military Band and Massed Bands," it said. A number of new tunes have been added to the ceremony to celebrate Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. These include Kerala, Hind ki Sena and Ae Mere WatanKe Logon. The event will come to a close with the ever-popular tune of Sare Jahan se Acha. The ceremony will be presided by President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces Ram Nath Kovind at the historic Vijay Chowk. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence minister Rajnath Singh will also be a part of the show. Beating the Retreat is a centuries-old military tradition dating from the days when troops disengaged from battle at sunset. As soon as the buglers sounded the retreat, the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield. It is for this reason that the custom of standing still during the sounding of retreat has been retained to this day. Colours and standards are cased and flags lowered at retreats. Drumbeats recall the days when troops, billeted in towns and cities, were recalled to their quarters at an appointed time in the evening. Based on these military traditions, Beating the Retreat ceremony creates a mood of nostalgia of the times gone by. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The City of Laredo announced on Thursday that it is celebrating a local landmark downtown. The city announced that the Plaza Theatre is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2022. And Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz joined District VIII Councilmember Alyssa Cigarroa in a virtual proclamation ceremony to mark the special occasion on the Plazas Diamond Jubilee Anniversary on Thursday. Last November, the City of Laredo unanimously approved a $12 million allocation of funds to renovate the Plaza Theatre. This was in hopes to not only improve the facility but also as part of the plan to revitalize the downtown area. Joining Thursdays ceremony were community partners in the Laredo Film Society and Able City, who further explained how the Plaza Theatre will be restored to serve as a multi-purpose facility as well as a movie theater. The Plaza is a historic symbol of downtown that will create economic development opportunities for those with low income, Saenz said. Located in the heart of downtown, the theaters renovation is expected to generate activity that will further spur economic development in the central business district. The renovation process includes preservation, restoring and transforming the Plaza Theatre into a multi-use facility. The plans for the Plaza Theatre renovations will not only bring back a nostalgic cultural landmark, it will also transform into an affordable and unique multi-functional event venue which can serve for lectures, recitals, meeting places, performances and receptions. On the cinematic part of the theater, the Plaza will feature English and Spanish movies. Tourism does not go to a city that has lost its soul, said Executive Director of Webb County Heritage Foundation Margarita Araiza, quoting famed travel writer Arthur Frommer. Araiza stated that cities lose their soul or theme by the destruction and decline of central inner cities. Frank Rotnofsky from Able City shared the building is in great condition for a 75-year-old work, as a lot of the original work that went into the building is still intact to this day. Other parts damaged or missing are able to be restored. Rotnofsky echoed the importance of having these types of venues for not only downtown areas but also for the surrounding communities too. Able City will be working with the Secretary of Interiors Standards to bring back to the building its historical significance, as it has been a fixture of the Gateway City since it was built in 1947. Aside from doing the architecture preservation portion of the work, we do have our team working on a never-done-before analysis on how this fits on the renaissance of downtown Laredo, Rotnofsky said. Were conducting some economic development studies as well. Laredo Film Society Board Director Gabriela Trevino invited the community to be part of a project that LFS is working on. It plans to tell Laredoans memories with the Plaza Theatre in a documentary, which will be under the direction of local director Danny Davila. The plaza has played a crucial role in the memory of Laredoans, she said. Trevino invites anyone who has experiences with the Plaza Theater to email gabriela@laredofilm.org. If they wish to, community members can also contribute to the documentary in other possible ways by contacting the The Plazas Third Act Facebook page. The Laredo Film Society plans to develop a series of films to celebrate and premiere in the reopening of the Plaza Theatre to promote and share cultural inspiration in the community. cecilia.trevino@lmtonline.com Amazon Theres never a convenient time or place for your cars battery to give out except maybe in front of a trusted auto garage during business hours in the middle of their Annual Car Battery Bonanza Blowout Giveaway Sale; thats fine. But you dont want to find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere without a way to get home. Especially in bad weather. This 12-volt lithium-ion NEXPOW Battery Jump Starter breathes life back into dead cars, lawn mowers, motorcycles, snowmobiles, SUVs, and even yachts with a 22,000-megahertz boost that delivers a full charge for approximately six hours. Delhi Police have arrested nine people, including eight women, in the sexual assault case of a 20-year-old woman in the city's Shahdara area. Two male minors were also apprehended in the case. The incident occurred on Wednesday when the woman was allegedly attacked by a group of people, including women, who tonsured and stripped the victim before blackening her face and parading her on the streets of the Shahdara area. It was also alleged that the woman was gang-raped in a house in the same area. "We have so far arrested nine people and apprehended two minors," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara district) R Sathiyasundaram told IANS. According to the DCP, the two minors, who have been apprehended, were involved in sexually assaulting the victim. The police have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for gang-rape, kidnaping, illegal confinement, and physical assault of the woman. "All possible help and counselling was provided to the victim. We took the matter very seriously," said the DCP. Source privy to the investigation told IANS that the victim woman used to live in the same locality till she got married a few years ago and then moved to some other area. "She is a mother of a two-year-old child," said sources. A man who used to live in her neighbourhood and was in one-sided love with her. She had spurned his advances many a times. Last year, the same man had allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a train. His family blamed the victim woman for their son's death and wanted revenge. The DCP also confirmed that the crime prima facie seems due to some personal enmity, however, the cops are in the process of verifying the facts and allegations. IANS was able to access the names of 7 people, all women, who were involved in the brutal crime. The accused women were identified as Shalu alias Mungeri, 36, Rajji, 40, Prerna, 18, Komal, 25, Varsha, 38, Priti, 36, all residents of Kasturba Nagar, Delhi and Baby, 40. Soon after the incident, a video in which the victim women was being paraded on the streets with a blackened face and the mob cheering in the background went viral on social media forcing the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) to take suo-motu cognisance of the said incident. In the video, which was also shared by DCW chief Swati Maliwal, the victim woman was also made to wear a garland of slippers. Maliwal issued a notice to the Delhi Police in connection with the matter and said that it was the most unfortunate incident that was reported from the national capital. "A woman was gang-raped by the accused, who deals in illicit liquor business. She was made to wear a garland of shoes. Her face was blackened and she was paraded in the area. Most unfortunate incident. I am writing to Delhi Police to provide security to the woman and her family and take strong action against the accused," said Maliwal. Maliwal, along with her team, met the victim at the hospital and recorded her statement. She has assured all help to her. Delhi Chief Minister also reacted to the horrific incident and asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to instruct Delhi Police to take strict action against all the accused. "This is very shameful. How did the criminals get so courageous? I urge the Union Home Minister and the Lieutenant Governor to instruct the police to take strict action and pay attention to the law and order situation. Delhiites will not tolerate such heinous crime and criminals at any cost," said Kejriwal in a tweet. Bharatiya Janata Party MP from east Delhi Gautam Gambhir said that he spoke to DCP Shahdara over the "barbaric assault on the 20 year old woman". "Some arrests have been made & more will follow. I assure that these animals (men & women) will not be spared. Every kind of support will be provided to the survivor," the parliamentarian said. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. Check out our latest E-Edition Accessible anytime and anywhere on your desktop, tablet and smart phone devices. The Lodi News e-Edition is enhanced with the latest digital tools, including RSS feeds, social networking and much more. Check out our latest E-edition! Four members of a midlands based traveller family who became embroiled in a violent row outside a petrol station in Longford over the shooting dead of a relative in Northern Ireland almost seven years ago have been given suspended sentences. Sammy McGinley (33), Denis McGinley (37), both of 6 Blackberry Lane, Athlone, Co Westmeath, Mick McGinley (20) 5 Blackberry Lane, Athlone, Co Westmeath and Bernard McGinley (22) 10 Blackberry Lane, Athlone, Co Westmeath were all charged with violent disorder following an incident at Hanlons Gala, Dublin Road, Longford on June 3, 2019. The quartet appeared before a sitting of Longford Circuit Criminal Court today for the purposes of sentencing. Mick and Bernard McGinley were also charged with criminal damage and theft respectively with Sammy and Denis being charged with possession of an article on the day in question. Sammy, Denis and Mick McGinley were all given 18 month sentences, suspended for a period of five years on the condition each of the men enter into a 500 peace bond and pay 2,000 in compensation to Longford Tidy Towns. Bernard McGinley, meanwhile, was given a one year sentence, suspended for five years after the court found his participation in the incident was at the "lower end" of the scale. He was also ordered to pay a sum of 1,000 to Longford Tidy Towns Garda Rachel Dillon told the court how she and colleague Garda Leo Shiel were passing by a petrol station on Longford's Dublin Road at around 8:30pm when a large group of people were observed in a fight in full view of startled members of the public. Garda Dillon said the violence on display was so grave, customers had to lock themselves in their cars while staff had to close the main door of the shop "to keep customers safe". The court heard a family member of the McGinleys pulled up to purchase diesel when four other men approached the van Mr McGinley arrived in. She said Garda Shiel noticed Denis McGinley holding a five foot long stick before seizing it and arresting him under Section 24 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. She said during his attempts to restrain Mr McGinley, another man picked up the stick as the melee escalated. Sammy McGinley, it was revealed was seen "shouting and inciting others" while Mick McGinley could be observed breaking the passenger side window of a vehicle. CCTV footage taken from the scene also showed Bernard McGinley taking the keys of the vehicle before putting them into a bin. All four were arrested and charged with violent disorder on December 8, 2020. Sammy and Denis McGinley were also charged with possession of a weapon with Bernard McGinley being charged with theft. Mick McGinley was further charged with damage to property. In a voluntary caution statement given to gardai in October 2019, Denis McGinley said he had been in Longford that day to settle a dispute between two other locally based traveller families. He told of receiving a phone call that evening of a disturbance involving his son and arrived on the scene moments later. CCTV footage of the episode lasting around 30 minutes was played before presiding Judge Keenan Johnson this afternoon. Gerard Groarke BL, for Sammy McGinley said the incident was not one of an ongoing feud but rather "differences" which had arisen between the "Longford McGinleys and McGinleys from Athlone" over the murder of Bernard 'Barney' McGinley in Northern Ireland in 2015. A father and son were jailed for a total of seven and a half years in 2018 over a shooting outside St Mary's Catholic Church in Newtownbutler on February 11, 2015. Judge Keenan Johnson described the incident as "totally reprehensible", saying the people of Longford should not be subjected to such acts of brazen violence and in full view of shocked members of the public. Pupils from St Teresa's National School, Killoe are celebrating after they were chosen as the Junior and Senior County Winners of the prestigious national art competition, Someone Like Me. Senior Infants pupil Conor Nolan and 6th Class pupil Matthew Yacob will now go up against pupils from over 40 other schools to compete for the much sought-after national title at an online national awards ceremony to be held on Thursday, February 3. Conors teacher is Ms Sophie Dalton and his poster shows a drawing of a 'friend-ship' with the caption 'This is my friendship, I am the captain! Everyone is welcome on my ship'. Matthews teacher is Grainne Fox and his amazing poster shows that you can do anything in life that you put your mind to. Matthew wants to portray the message that everyone should be treated the same, 'the only disability in life is a bad attitude'. Someone Like Me, which is organised by the National Disability Authority, attracted more than 1,800 entries from national schools across the length and breadth of the country. The competition has been designed to be a national celebration of the things that unite children of all abilities and, over its six-year history, more than 8,000 children have taken part, creating a tangible contribution to developing more positive attitudes towards persons with disabilities. Congratulating St Teresa's NS on their success, Minister of State with special responsibility for disability, Anne Rabbitte TD, said that she was hugely encouraged by the growing interest in the competition which is helping to develop a shared understanding of how we should treat others in a caring, sensitive and inclusive way, and promoting a sense of belonging and connectedness. We are exceptionally pleased with the response to this years competition which took place during challenging times not just in our schools, but right across our communities, due to the ongoing global pandemic, she said. The competition, which offers a range of prizes up to the value of 750, was open to all primary school pupils from junior infants to sixth class and more than 1,800 entries were received from individual pupils, class groups and whole schools right across Ireland. Longford Arts Office in partnership with Longford Live & Local and Mide Arts Group are currently developing the Iora Nua (New Squirrel) project that is set to reinvigorate three town centres with an injection of artistic flair this spring. This project is part of Longford County Councils Public Art Programme, funded by Longford Arts Office, the Creative Ireland programme and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Iora is the Irish word for squirrel and many people may not be aware that it was at the grounds of Castle Forbes in County Longford where the North American grey squirrel was first released into Ireland in the summer of 1911. A number of grey squirrels were presented as a wedding gift on the lawns of the beautiful castle, but the invasive breed ultimately went on to cause a 20% decline in the numbers of its smaller cousin, the native Irish red squirrel. This Iora Nua project involves the placement of giant fibreglass squirrel sculptures in each of the three municipal districts of the county. The Mide Arts Group is looking for Longford-based artists to submit proposals for the design and rendering of the sculptures surfaces. Selected artists will be given a financial grant to cover their time, materials and venue rental in order to render their design on the sculpture. Finished works will be placed at designated sites in Longford Town, Ballymahon and Granard. This is a fantastic project, said Arts Officer Fergus Kennedy, It taps into Longfords association with the squirrel and adds some more colour and fun to towns of the county as we emerge from this pandemic. Details of the Iora Nua open call including submission forms can be found on www.republicofculture.ie or by contacting republicofculture21@gmail.com. Deadline for submissions is 5pm on Monday, January 31, 2022. India joins the elite club of missile exporters on Friday with the Philippines signing a $374.96 (Rs 2,770 crore) million deal for procuring Brahmos shore based anti-ship variant supersonic cruise missiles. Philippines signed a pact with Brahmos Aerospace Pvt ltd for the supply of three batteries of 290 kilometers range BrahMos missile system for its naval force. The Philippines Navy is ramping up its naval prowess to counter China's belligerent behaviour in the South China Sea. The country has territorial disputes with Beijing in the region as China claims sovereignty over the sea that has a huge source of hydrocarbons. The first ever contract to export Brahmos missiles, which India has developed jointly with Russia, will pave the way for more such deals. Brahmos Aerospace is the Joint Venture between India's DRDO and Russia's NPOM. The shore based anti-ship system of the Brahmos is a deadly conventional weapon that flies almost three times the speed of sound. Earlier this month, the Brahmos had sent the proposal to the Philippines government, which after deliberations was accepted by them. The Philippines Department of National Defence had informed the BrahMos Aerospace about the decision through a Notice of Award. Besides, other Southeast Asian countries, which have evinced interest in BrahMos supersonic missile system, include Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Sources in the government stated that the deliberations with Thailand are in preliminary stage, with Vietnam at an advanced stage while with Indonesia, its naval team had visited India to discuss if missiles could be fitted on the Indonesian warships. The Women of Honour (WoH) group has slammed Simon Coveney's approach to investigating allegations of sexual assault, sexism and bullying in the Defence Forces. The serious allegations were unveiled in an RTE documentary last year, with the Minister for Defence on Tuesday January 25 confirming a judge-led independent review will be established. However, WoH is adamant a legal process is needed rather than a review, and walked out of yesterday's meeting with Minister Coveney. In a statement on Wednesday January 26, a WoH spokesperson said, "A one-year-long administrative review does not have the statutory protections required for such sensitive investigations to be effective and is just kicking the can down the road of pointlessness. "The group appointed do not have the tools to compel attendance by witnesses or documents. Disgracefully, Minister Coveney arrived to the meeting yesterday with terms of reference that had the words final stamped all over them. He then tried to stamp all over us." Diane Byrne, a member of the Women of Honour group, said the decision by Simon Coveney not to commit to a statutory inquiry into issues of sexual assault in the Defence Forces will cause a lot of damage to victims. pic.twitter.com/wfcRkrT2Uy Cate McCurry (@CateMcCurry) January 25, 2022 The group has welcomed the decision of Taoiseach Micheal Martin to meet with them about the issue following what they've called Minister Coveney's "mishandling" of the situation. The spokesperson continued: "The circumstances of Women of Honour and countless other serving and former members of the Defence Forces involve issues surrounding dignity in the workplace, bullying, harassment, discrimination, assault, sexual harassment and sexual assault. These issues remain in the Defence Forces and are still unfortunately real and live. That is why we are so devastated by Ministers Coveneys attempt at white-washing." The minister met with the group in September 2021, where he pledged to address the issues raised. At the time, he stated, "I would like to say sorry to anyone who has suffered during their time in the Defence Forces and assure them The State will now urgently carry out an Independent Review." Yesterday, he released a statement calling the review "absolutely critical" to ensure the workplace is safe for serving members. He stated, "In this endeavour, I believe I have the wholehearted support of serving personnel." The interim report is expected to be submitted within six months, with a final report available within nine months. In the statement, Minister Coveney did not rule out a future "further body of work" to examine historical allegations brought forward by Women of Honour and other stakeholders. He said, "I am very grateful for the courage Women of Honour, other Groups and serving personnel have shown in sharing their experiences. These historical cases are complex, particularly in relation to cases of alleged sexual misconduct. I have additionally liaised with the Attorney General and taken advice from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre on these matters. "I wish to state categorically that these cases are not being ignored but careful consideration on how best to address these allegations is required. The Terms of Reference of this Review provide that both former and serving members may share their experiences with the Independent Review Group who may then determine if a further body of work is required in relation to specific allegations." Netflix has announced the latest batch of additions to their streaming catalogue for the month ahead with a whole host of content to keep you entertained. Check out the full list of titles coming to Netflix this February below: NETFLIX TV SERIES Raising Dion: Season 2 01/02/22 Raising Dion follows the story of Nicole (Alisha Wainwright) and her son Dion (Ja'Siah Young) after Dion starts to manifest several mysterious, superhero-like abilities. Two years after defeating the Crooked Man (Jason Ritter), Season Two follows Dion as he continues honing his powers with the support of his mom and Tevin (Rome Flynn), his Biona trainer who catches Nicoles eye. After befriending new student Brayden (Griffin Robert Faulkner) - a fellow powered kid - a series of alarming events unfold, and Dion learns that danger is still looming. Navigating twists, turns, and surprise visitors, Dion and Nicole must prevail again -- not just to save themselves, but the entire city of Atlanta Dark Desire: Season 2 02/02/22 As Alma tries to rebuild her life, a reunion with Dario rekindles their doomed affair and brings his more sinister side to the surface. Murderville 03/02/22 Meet Senior Detective Terry Seattle (Will Arnett), Homicide Division. For Terry, every day means a new murder case and a new celebrity guest star as his partner. But heres the catch: each episode's guest star isnt being given the script. They have no idea whats about to happen to them. Together, the guest star and Terry Seattle will have to improvise their way through the case... but it will be up to each celebrity guest alone to name the killer. Join them as they punch a one-way ticket to Murderville. The six-episode procedural crime comedy premieres globally on Netflix on February 3. Young Wallander: Killer's Shadow 17/02/22 Set in contemporary Sweden, Kurt Wallander is found adrift and uncertain of the future following his exit from the police force. An opportunity to re-join the Major Crimes Unit arises when a new Superintendent, Samuel Osei, takes on the leadership. Wallander accepts the offer and is tasked with what seems to be a straightforward case: a hit-and-run outside a nightclub. However, when the victim is found to be connected to an infamous murder case handled by Frida Rask eight years ago, Wallander quickly suspects that there is more to this incident than meets the eye. Determined to uncover the truth, he refuses to back off - even when the investigation leads him to the door of those who could end his career in a heartbeat. Sweet Magnolias: Season 2 04/02/22 Sweet Magnolias centers around three best friends (Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue) born and raised in Serenity, SC, a small southern town where everybody knows everybody and everybody knows everybodys business. As Season 2 opens, Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue learn who is in the car. But that's just the first of many surprises that come out of Prom Night -- surprises that reshape relationships all over town. Friendships flounder. Old loves end and new loves begin. Long-hidden secrets disrupt jobs, change lives, and shift the balance of power in Serenity. Everyone is affected. But in laughter and in loss, the Sweet Magnolias continue to fight for what is right for themselves and the people they love -- even when those efforts come with a high price tag. Will they find there are some problems not even Margarita Night can solve? Come pour it out and find out. Disenchantment: Part 4 09/02/22 The misadventures of hard-hitting, hard-drinking Queen Bean, her feisty elf companion Elfo and her personal demon Luci return and deepen in Part IV of Matt Groenings comedy fantasy series Disenchantment. The mystery of Dreamlands origins - and the stakes for its future - become ever clearer as our trio - and King Zg - find themselves on personal journeys that will ultimately tie in to the kingdoms fate. Separated at the end of Part III, our heroes race to reunite in this sweeping series of ten episodes. Theyll find themselves everywhere from the depths of Hell to the clouds of Heaven and everywhere in between, including Ogreland, Steamland, underwater, monasteries, insane asylums, the Enchanted Forest, the Dreamscape and more. All the while, puzzle pieces both canonical and personal will reveal themselves to eager fans. Until Life Do Us Part 10/02/22 Three generations of a family living together in an idyllic villa juggle the demands of their wedding planning business and their own personal crises. Inventing Anna 11/02/22 In Inventing Anna, a journalist with a lot to prove investigates the case of Anna Delvey, the Instagram-legendary German heiress who stole the hearts of New Yorks social scene and stole their money as well. But is Anna New Yorks biggest con woman or is she simply the new portrait of the American dream? Anna and the reporter form a dark, funny love-hate bond as Anna awaits trial and our reporter fights the clock to answer the biggest question in NYC: who is Anna Delvey? The series is inspired by the New York Magazine article How Anna Delvey Tricked New Yorks Party People by Jessica Pressler. Love Is Blind: Season 2 A new journey begins for singles seeking transformative love sight unseen. Who will find romance and who will come face to face with heartbreak? Forecasting Love and Weather 12/02/22 Inside a national weather service, love proves just as difficult to predict as rain or shine for a diligent forecaster and her free-spirited co-worker. Twenty Five Twenty One 12/02/22 In a time when dreams seem out of reach, a teen fencer pursues big ambitions and meets a hardworking young man who seeks to rebuild his life. Business Proposal (Coming Soon) A blind date leads to misunderstandings and mishaps in this workplace rom-com. Love, Life & Everything in Between (Coming Soon) An ode to Valentine's Day in various Arab cities, this anthology series tinged with dark humour explores love at large and relationships up close. Devotion, a Story of Love and Desire 14/02/22 A seemingly happy marriage begins to dissolve when the husband's faithfulness is called into question, and both spouses become tempted by other people. Fishbowl Wives 14/02/22 In a luxury apartment tower, six different women in unhappy marriages end up crossing the line into infidelity. Based on the manga series by Kurosawa R. Thirty-Nine 16/02/22 Leaning on each other through thick and thin, a trio of best friends stand together as they experience life, love and loss on the brink of turning 40. Swap Shop: Season 2 16/02/22 One person's junk is another person's profit. Seasoned collectors venture out across Tennessee in search of bargains they can sell for big money. One of Us Is Lying 18/02/22 Detention brings together five disparate high schoolers, but a killing and secrets keep them together as a cat-and-mouse murder mystery unfolds. Toy Boy: Season 2 11/02/22 As Hugo investigates the bombing, he and his friends deal with a new pair of adversaries and a fresh set of challenges at work. Space Force: Season 2 18/02/22 Season 2 of Space Force picks up with General Naird and his underdog team having to prove their worth to a new administration while dealing with interpersonal challenges. Will the group come together or fall apart under the pressure...? Space Force is only human after all. Cat Burglar 22/02/22 Classic cartoon craziness meets an interactive quiz in a new series from the creators of "Black Mirror." Juvenile Justice A tough judge balances her aversion to minor offenders with firm beliefs on justice and punishment as she tackles complex cases inside a juvenile court. Back to 15 25/02/22 Thirty-year-old Anita travels back to age 15 and starts meddling with everybody's lives until she realizes the only life that needs fixing is her own. Vikings: Valhalla 25/02/22 Set over a thousand years ago in the early 11th century, VIKINGS: VALHALLA chronicles the heroic adventures of some of the most famous Vikings who ever lived the legendary explorer Leif Eriksson (Sam Corlett), his fiery and headstrong sister Freydis Eriksdotter (Frida Gustavsson), and the ambitious Nordic prince Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter). As tensions between the Vikings and the English royals reach a bloody breaking point and as the Vikings themselves clash over their conflicting Christian and pagan beliefs, these three Vikings begin an epic journey that will take them across oceans and through battlefields, from Kattegat to England and beyond, as they fight for survival and glory. NETFLIX FILM Erax 17/02/22 During a sleepover, Auntie Opal and her niece Nina accidentally release the mythical and dangerous Erax creatures that must be returned to the storybook from which they escaped. Heart Shot 17/02/22 High school seniors Nikki and Samantha are in love and planning their future until Nikki's violent past comes back to threaten everything she holds dear. My Best Friend Anne Frank (Mijn beste vriendin Anne Frank) 01/02/22 Based on the real-life friendship between Anne Frank and Hannah Goslar, from Nazi-occupied Amsterdam to their harrowing reunion in a concentration camp. Through My Window 04/02/22 Raquel's longtime crush on her next-door neighbour turns into something more when he starts developing feelings for her, despite his family's objections. Looop Lapeta 04/02/22 When her boyfriend loses a mobster's cash, Savi races against the clock to save the day if only she can break out of a curious cycle of dead ends. The Privilege 09/02/22 A wealthy teen and his friends attending an elite private school uncover a dark conspiracy while looking into a series of strange supernatural events. Into the Wind 10/02/22 While vacationing at a seaside resort, a hopeful medical student experiences first love with a local kitesurfer, but their friends and family disapprove. Love Tactics (Ask Taktikleri) 11/02/22 An ad executive and a fashion designer-blogger don't believe in love, so they place a bet to make the other fall head over heels with unusual tactics. Love and Leashes 11/02/22 An ad executive and a fashion designer-blogger don't believe in love, so they place a bet to make the other fall head over heels with unusual tactics. Anne+: The Film 11/02/22 Under pressure to finish her novel and move to Montreal for her relationship, a queer 20-something in Amsterdam searches for what she wants in life. Tall Girl 2 11/02/22 After her inspiring speech at the homecoming dance, Jodi (Ava Michelle) is no longer just the "tall girl" - she's popular, confident, has a boyfriend, and just booked the lead role in this year's school musical. But as the pressure of her newfound popularity intensifies, so do her insecurities, and new relationships are formed while old ones are tested. As the world she built starts to crumble around her, Jodi realizes that standing tall was only just the beginning. Bigbug 11/02/22 Android chefs. Drone security. Robot overlords. The future looks bright until the cracks show and the AI uprising begins in this sci-fi comedy. Fistful of Vengeance 17/02/22 A revenge mission becomes a fight to save the world from an ancient threat when superpowered assassin Kai tracks a killer to Bangkok. Forgive Us Our Trespasses 17/02/22 In 1939 Germany, a disabled farm boy is pursued by Nazi soldiers after Hitler enacts Aktion T4; a program to euthanize people with disabilities. Rabbids Invasion Special: Mission to Mars 18/02/22 An unlikely team of Rabbids are on the mission of a lifetime to Mars. It's up to them to come together and stop the galaxy's newest threat. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 18/02/22 After nearly 50 years of hiding, Leatherface returns to terrorize a group of idealistic young friends who accidentally disrupt his carefully shielded world in a remote Texas town. Melody (Sarah Yarkin), her teenage sister Lila (Elsie Fisher), and their friends Dante (Jacob Latimore) and Ruth (Nell Hudson), head to the remote town of Harlow, Texas to start an idealistic new business venture. But their dream soon turns into a waking nightmare when they accidentally disrupt the home of Leatherface, the deranged serial killer whose blood-soaked legacy continues to haunt the areas residents including Sally Hardesty (Olwen Fouere), the sole survivor of his infamous 1973 massacre whos hell-bent on seeking revenge. Also stars Moe Dunford Don't Kill Me 20/02/22 After Mirta dies of a drug overdose with her lover, she resuscitates alone and discovers she's part of a violent world she never knew existed. UFO 23/02/22 When aspiring musician and student Deniz falls for a rough-hewn motorbike racer, tragedy and family opposition obstruct their path to love. Tyler Perry's A Madea Homecoming 25/02/22 Madea's back hallelujer! Tyler Perry returns with everyone's favorite character in Tyler Perry's A Madea Homecoming, the newest film in the Madea franchise set to debut on Netflix. Writer-director-producer Perry stars in the film that centers around Madea's great-grandson's college graduation, though the celebratory moment hits a halt as hidden secrets and family drama threaten to destroy the happy homecoming. Restless 25/02/22 After going to extremes to cover up an accident, a corrupt cop's life spirals out of control when he starts receiving threats from a mysterious witness. My Wonderful Life 28/02/22 A blackmail note threatening to reveal a womans affair sparks a chain of events that serves as large-scale group therapy for her entire family. NETFLIX COMEDY Only Jokes Allowed 09/02/22 Six of South Africa's top comedians take center stage and showcase their talent in this collection of short stand-up sets. Ms. Pat: Y'all Wanna Hear Something Crazy? 08/02/22 Y'all wanna hear something crazy? Then tune into Comedian Ms. Pat's first hour-long Netflix special, directed by the legendary Robert Townsend. Ms. Pat recalls growing up poor in Atlanta during the Reagan era, what she learned spending five days in juvenile detention, how her mom made her get baptized at local churches to get money, and much much more. Ms Pat: Y'All Wanna Hear Something Crazy? Mo Gilligan: There's Mo to Life 17/02/22 Mo Gilligan breaks down his days as a broke teenager, working in retail, relationship dynamics, annoying talk show producers and more in this special. NETFLIX DOCUMENTARIES The Tinder Swindler 02/02/22 The Tinder Swindler tells the jaw-dropping story of a prolific conman who posed as a billionaire playboy on Tinder, and the women who set out to bring him down. Swipe, swipe, swipe Its not easy to find love online, so when Cecilie matches with a handsome billionaire playboy, she cant quite believe it when he turns out to be the man of her dreams. But dreams aren't reality and by the time she discovers this international businessman isnt who he says he is, its too late. Hes taken her for everything. Where this fairytale ends, a revenge thriller begins. Cecilie discovers his other targets and once they band together, they're victims no more: The Tinder Swindler meets his match. From the producers of The Imposter and Dont F**k with Cats, this riveting feature documentary follows as they uncover his true identity and fight to bring him to justice. MeatEater Season 10 Part 2 02/02/22 Steven's travels take him to New Mexico for big game and an exotic import, as well as Hawaii, where he hunts feral goats and takes up spearfishing. Catching Killers: Season 2 09/02/22 The detectives who captured the BTK Killer and other notoriously brutal murderers recount the brave actions and burdens behind their investigations. Downfall: The Case Against Boeing 18/02/22 Investigators reveal how Boeings alleged priority of profit over safety could have contributed to two catastrophic crashes within months of each other. jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy 16/02/22 A landmark documentary event presented in three acts from Clarence Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy is an intimate and revealing portrait of Kanye Wests experience, showcasing both his formative days trying to break through and his life today as a global brand and artist. Race: Bubba Wallace 22/02/22 Both the personal and professional tracks of race car driver Bubba Wallace's life are chronicled in this new docuseries. With exclusive access to Wallace during the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, his first with Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlins 23XI Racing, the six-episode series traces his rise to the elite ranks of NASCAR as the only full-time Black driver and the turbulent aftermath that followed his decision to speak out about racial injustice. NETFLIX KIDS & FAMILY Gabby's Dollhouse: Season 4 01/02/22 New lessons, new surprises, same adorable kitties including Floyd! Gabby leads the way with Pandy, CatRat, Cakey, Baby Box and other beloved pals. Ridley Jones: Season 3 15/02/22 Outer space adventures, treasure hunting and new friends keep Ridley and crew busy as they protect the museum from magical mishaps and Mr. Peabody. Secrets of Summer 16/02/22 A remote Argentine resort revives its wakeboarding competition, drawing in Mexican athlete Steffi, who is determined to uncover a family secret. Kid Cosmic: Season 3 03/02/22 Kid's superhero dreams come true as the Local Heroes become Earth's greatest champions. But is something amiss with this ridiculously awesome adventure? The Cuphead Show! 18/02/22 Follow the misadventures of the impulsive Cuphead and his easily swayed brother Mugman in this animated series based on the hit video game. Karma's World Music Videos 24/02/22 Step into Karma's musical world as she rocks the mic and her curls for this fun and funky playlist packed with rhymes and the power of positivity! Crime, Community, Charity & Cause By Chris Boyle Published: January 28 2022 These new Deputy Sheriff Recruits will begin a rigorous six-month training program. The Suffolk County Sheriffs Office recently held a swearing in ceremony for ten new Deputy Sheriff Recruits at the Maxine S. Postal Auditorium in the Riverhead County Center. These new Deputy Sheriff Recruits will begin a rigorous six-month training program that includes instruction in firearms, emergency vehicle operations (EVOC), EMT training, and individualized field training. The recruits will graduate in the fall, joining a force consisting of 254 Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs. Sheriff Toulon welcomed these new deputies to the Sheriffs Office, reminding them that they now hold a position of authority in Suffolk County, and with that authority comes great responsibility. Ensure you get a print copy of the Loudoun Times-Mirror delivered weekly to your home or business! Complete online access is included with all print subscriptions purchased online. Plus, up to four other members of your household can share online access through this subscription with their own, individual linked accounts at no additional charge. (Are you a current advertiser? Ask your sales rep for our special advertiser rate code!) (Clarifying the issue of shares) (Alliance News) - Oxford BioMedica PLC said on Friday that it has agreed to acquire a majority ownership in a newly formed business in the US focused on adeno-associated viruses which are known infect humans and other primates. The Oxford-based gene and cell therapy company said it has agreed with Massachusetts-based genetic medicines company Homology Medicines Inc to acquire an 80% ownership interest in the newly formed Oxford Biomedica Solutions LLC for USD175 million. Homology will hold the remaining 20% ownership. Oxford Biomedica will acquire the ownership interest through a USD130 million cash payment to Homology and a USD50 million capital injection into Oxford Biomedica Solutions to fund its growth. Oxford Biomedica said the acquisition will broaden its viral vector offerings, expand its geographic presence and will be immediately accretive to revenue growth. Oxford Biomedica Solutions will offer a scalable manufacturing platform to customers, including Homology through a multi-year supply agreement as a preferred customer. The agreement will have minimum contracted revenue of approximately USD25 million for the first twelve months. The business will focus on adeno-associated viruses which are not currently known to cause disease but have several features that make them attractive candidates for creating viral vectors for gene therapy and human disease models. Oxford Biomedica added that it will raise total gross proceeds of GBP80 million through an initial issue of 4.9 million shares at 50 pence per share, plus the issue of additional shares at a later date to make up the rest. The net proceeds will fund the company's existing capital requirements, cover the expenses of the transaction and provide additional working capital for the group. The company said has also entered into a commitment letter for a secured short term loan facility of USD85 million which, if drawn down, is repayable in twelve months after completion of the transaction. Shares in Oxford BioMedica were down 9.8% at 812.00 pence on Friday morning in London. By Heather Rydings; heatherrydings@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Friday and not separately reported by Alliance News: ---------- Henderson Opportunities Trust PLC - aims to achieve capital growth in excess of the FTSE All-Share index from a portfolio of UK investments - For the year ended October 31, net asset value total return stands at 58.4%, compared to its benchmark, the FTSE All-Share Index, which returns 35.4%. As at October 31, net asset value per share rises 55% year-on-year to 1,626.9 pence from 1,046.3p. Declares dividend of 27.5 pence per share for the year, but from 27.0p the year prior. ---------- Jupiter Emerging & Frontier Income Trust PLC - investment trust focused on companies in emerging and frontier markets worldwide - For the year ended September 30, NAV total return was 28.6%, outperforming its benchmark, the MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return index, which returned 13.3%. Net asset value per share as at September 30 increases 24% to 108.88 pence from 87.91p the same date the year before, driven by an increased exposure to frontier markets and smaller companies, as well as an underweight position in China. ---------- Stranger Holdings PLC - London-based investment company - For the six months ended September 30, pretax loss remains flat at GBP222,000 year-on-year, as higher administrative costs offset a drop in finance expenses. In September, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Mayflower Capital Investments Pty Ltd to acquire certain mineral rights in Africa, which includes commodities such as tin and uranium. This developed into a deal to acquire a near-term production uranium project in South Africa. ---------- Treatt PLC - Bury St Edmunds-based ingredients supplier - Reports good start to its new financial year, with order book rising year-on-year. As a result, pretax profit for the current year ending September 30 to refer back to being weighted towards the second half. Move to new UK headquarters is progressing as planned. ---------- Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd - Bangladesh-based pharmaceutical company - For the six months ended December 31, pretax profit rises 37% to BDT4.09 billion, around GBP35.5 million, from BDT2.99 billion a year prior, on revenue which grows 18% year-on-year to BDT16.97 billion from BDT14.40 billion, driven by a rise in domestic sales, through the launch of new products and being the exclusive supplier of the AstraZeneca PLC Covid-19 vaccine in Bangladesh. ---------- Blencowe Resources PLC - miner focused on developing the Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda - For the year ended September 30, pretax loss narrows to GBP649,726 from GBP1.1 million, due to lower administrative expenses from a drop in professional and broker fees. Looking ahead, the company is continuing to work on the financing and development of Orom-Cross graphite project. ---------- LPA Group PLC - Essex-based LED lighting and electro-mechanical system manufacturer - For the year ended September 30, swings to pretax loss of GBP387,000 from a profit of GBP551,000 the year before, as a result of revenue dropping 12% year-on-year to GBP18.3 million from GBP20.7 million, due to a slower than expected rebound to major projects. However, order book increases 22% to GBP27.3 million from GBP22.5 million. ---------- GreenX Metals Ltd - Arctic Rift copper project in Greenland - During the three months ended December 31, signs an earn-in agreement with Greenfields Exploration Ltd to acquire up to 80% in the Arctic Rift project. In addition, following the quarter, new copper targets have been identified from ongoing geological analysis. ---------- Chill Brands Group PLC - Grand Junction, Colorado-based cannabidiol products - For the six months ended September 30, pretax loss widens to GBP2.6 million from GBP1.1 million a year prior on higher costs, on revenue which rose sharply year-on-year to GBP1.1 million from GBP54,554. ---------- Aura Energy Ltd - Tiris uranium project in Mauritania - During the three months ended December 31, notes completion and successful results from the water drilling program at Tiris, with strong flows encountered, in line with results from the 2019 water drilling program. Post-period, appointed Will Goodall as acting chief executive officer in January. ---------- Dukemount Capital PLC - investor in the sustainable and flexible energy markets - For the six months ended October 31, pretax loss widens to GBP227,218 from GBP156,947 the same period a year before, due to the generation of no revenue for the period, compared to GBP1.4 million. ---------- By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Indivior PLC said on Friday that research into its buprenorphine product has shown that it reduces respiratory depression and apnoea associated with increasing doses of fentanyl. The Virginia, US-based pharmaceutical company said the clinical study was designed to assess the interaction of synthetic opioid fentanyl and buprenorphine on respiratory depression, a type of breathing disorder characterised by slow and ineffective breathing. It evaluated the ability of treatment-relevant concentrations of buprenorphine to prevent respiratory depression and the resultant cessation of breath - apnoea - caused by increasing doses of fentanyl. The effects were measured by minute ventilation. Minute ventilation is the volume of gas inhaled or exhaled from a person's lungs per minute and is an important factor in respiratory medicine due to its relationship with blood carbon dioxide levels. The maximum decrease in minute ventilation was nearly 60% less with a steady plasma buprenorphine concentration compared with a placebo, Indivior explained. The risk of experiencing apnoea was also significantly lower with buprenorphine than with a placebo. In June, the US Food & Drug Administration approved a label update for Sublocade, a buprenorphine extended release injection, to include data from this clinical pharmacology study. Chief Scientific Officer Christian Heidbreder said: "Future research is warranted to assess the competitive interaction of buprenorphine and fentanyl, as well as other illicitly manufactured fentanyl analogs, as we continue to deepen our understanding of buprenorphine as an evidence-based treatment for patients struggling with opioid use disorder." Shares in Indivior were down 2.2% at 226.80 pence on Friday afternoon in London. By Heather Rydings; heatherrydings@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Weather Alert ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Louisiana... Mississippi River At Red River Landing affecting West Feliciana, East Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee Parishes. For the Lower Mississippi River...including Red River Landing, Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville, Reserve, New Orleans...Minor flooding is forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/lix. Click on the Rivers and Lakes menu for forecasts and observations. The next statement will be issued when updates are needed. && ...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL EARLY SATURDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Mississippi River At Red River Landing. * WHEN...Until early Saturday morning. * IMPACTS...At 51.0 feet, All river islands along the reach from Red River Landing to Baton Rouge will be inundated. Recreational camps and river bottom farm land will be under water. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 11:00 AM CDT Wednesday the stage was 49.6 feet. - Recent Activity...The maximum river stage in the 24 hours ending at 11:00 AM CDT Wednesday was 49.7 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage Friday evening and continue falling to 41.5 feet Wednesday, June 01. - Flood stage is 48.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 48.8 feet on 04/22/2014. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has positively evaluated the talks of the Normandy format advisors that were held on Wednesday in Paris, the presidential press service has said in a statement. "Zelensky positively assesses the fact of the meeting, its constructive nature, as well as the intention to continue meaningful talks in two weeks in Berlin," said the statement on the Ukrainian presidential website. According to the statement, Zelensky emphasized that the sustainable and unconditional ceasefire in Donbas could be a basis for the next steps in the peace process, Xinhua news agency reported. Advisors to the heads of state and government of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France met in Paris under the Normandy format and called for an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine's conflict-hit Donbas region. During the talks that lasted for about eight hours, the parties agreed on a joint statement, the first since December 2019, and decided to hold the next meeting in Berlin in two weeks. The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has claimed the lives of some 14,000 people and left as many as 40,000 wounded, began in April 2014. It's also been confirmed that Future will executive produce the project. Kanye previously had a replica of his home built in the middle of Soldier Field in Chicago for one of his 'Donda' album listening concerts. 'Donda' was released in August 2021 and featured guest appearances from a host of big-name artists, including Playboi Carti, Lil Baby and the Weeknd. However, Kanye - who legally changed his name to Ye in 2021 - has a long history of album delays and has previously announced projects that never came to fruition, so it remains to be seen whether he sticks to his February 22 release date. Meanwhile, Kanye - who is one of the world's best-selling artists - previously claimed that he doesn't think there's any limit to what he can achieve. The outspoken star - who has also enjoyed significant success as a fashion designer - explained: I always felt like I could do anything. Thats the main thing people are controlled by, thoughts, their perception of themselves. Theyre slowed down by their perception of themselves. If youre taught you cant do anything you wont do anything. I was taught I could do everything, and Im Kanye West. Bang Showbiz You have to hand it to Juan Jose Hidalgo. Eighty years old and he isnt giving up. It had looked as if he was content to spend most of his days at a company hotel in the Dominican Republic, but the president of Mallorca-based Globalia and Air Europa, who was prominent at last weeks Fitur tourism fair in Madrid, seems to be firmly holding the reigns. Seems to be, but he has hinted that there might be negotiations going on without his consent, these negotiations concerning the sale to Iberia (IAG) or indeed a Spanish government stake in Air Europa. In a statement to the media, he has said that the only thing that counts is what Pepe Hidalgo says, and Pepe is neither minded to sell to Iberia nor to let the Spanish government take a stake. While Nadia Calvino, the first deputy prime minister (and minister of economic affairs), is the principal target for his rebuttal, the minister for industry, trade and tourism, Reyes Maroto, has been saying that the government will guarantee the viability of Air Europa, as it is strategic. Negotiations with Iberia about the sale of Air Europa broke down a week or so before Christmas. Negotiations to rescind the deal were at an advanced stage, Air Europa anticipating a 75 million euro compensation package from Iberia for failure to consummate the deal. But this 75 million also appeared to be an advance payment for a future purchase at some point in an unspecified future. More recently, Pepe has been insisting that, by law, Iberia cannot buy Air Europa. This is because of foreign capital, IAGs, and the UK is no longer part of the EU. He argues that there is a growth plan in place for Air Europa. There will be no sackings at the airline. Repayment of the governments loan (which bailed Air Europa out because of the pandemic) doesnt take effect until 2026, and the Iberia 75 million will see the airline through until June. The June date is significant in that a government moratorium on bankruptcies due to Covid is set to expire. Third parties could force the issue. But even then, Pepe believes there will be a further government bailout, while all the time - and still in the background - is the possibility that Iberia could yet buy the airline, despite his opposition. This purchase might even be in the form of a joint venture with the government. An option spoken about is that the two both take a 40% stake, leaving 20% with the Hidalgo family. Throughout all the talk of an Iberia purchase, the founder of Air Europa has seemed to be the member of the Hidalgo family least impressed by the possibility. The European Commissions raising of objections and demands on the offloading of routes in order to permit a sale (merger) made a breakdown in negotiations almost inevitable, but Pepe, for one, doesnt seem to be saddened by this. The situation as it now stands is that the government does indeed continue to view Air Europa as a strategic asset, as it has all along looked upon a tie-up with Iberia as strategically beneficial. The government, therefore, has no desire to see Air Europa go to the wall, despite its debts. Although the European Commission has made the amalgamation difficult, it would seem as though negotiations are taking place, the assumption being that Pepes son, Javier, even though he has been sidelined to some extent, has been maintaining contacts with Iberia from his Los Angeles home. Senior management at Air Europa are understood to agree with Javier that a sale is necessary because of the airlines financial situation. Pepe clearly doesnt agree. In this regard, he could either be seen as being foolhardy or celebrated for his determination to keep Air Europa independent. For the latter reason, one does have to admire him, and one hopes that he succeeds. Whether, realistically, he can is another matter. Meanwhile, and wouldnt you just know it, Michael OLeary has been offering his views. In the end, and after all the money pumped into Air Europa by the government, he believes it will become inevitable that Iberia ends up buying the airline - and for a small price. The Ryanair CEO gets to the crux of the matter in terms of competition, and that is that slots at both Madrid and Barcelona would have to be given up. Relinquishing these would reduce the strategic sense for amalgamation and also any sale price. Everyone seems to appreciate this, including Pepe Hidalgo. As the longest-serving Chinese ambassador to the United States, a role he filled from April 2013 to June 2021, Cui Tiankai, 70, has definitely been a policy influencer in China-US relations. Speaking of Cuis tenure in Washington DC, former US president Jimmy Carter said in a letter to him that he provided calm, steadiness and sensibility during uncertain times. Andrew Mertha, director of China Studies at Johns Hopkins Universitys School of Advanced International Studies, said that Cui absolutely represents Chinas interests, but he deeply understands US views as well.(He) understands the political realities in both countries and is able to navigate them extremely well. In an exclusive interview with China Daily ahead of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the China-US joint communiquean important diplomatic document issued by China and the US on Feb 28, 1972, to work toward the normalization of their relationsCui urged both countries to have better communication to avoid misunderstanding, misperception, miscalculation, and certainly to avoid conflicts and confrontation. Cui underscored the importance of the Taiwan question in bilateral ties, saying it is a matter of life and death for China because the Taiwan question concerns its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Theres no room for compromise and concession for China, he added. The country will be reunified someday, of course, sooner better than later, Cui said. So I think American policymakers should have a better understanding of the importance and sensitivity of this Taiwan question. In the China-US joint communique, also known as the Shanghai Communique, the United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Straits maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The Shanghai Communique, together with the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations and the joint communique on arms sales to Taiwan, constitutes the foundation of the development of China-US relations. Cui expressed his concerns about the US administration saying one thing while doing another, commenting they are removing the real substance from the one-China principle. Washington has been constantly playing the Taiwan card in recent years to contain Chinas development by developing official exchanges with Taiwan and selling more and more advanced, sophisticated arms to the island. What they are doing is a clear violation of the one-China principle and the three joint communiques, Cui said. If things go on like this, its going to be very serious and dangerous, Cui said. We will have to defend our territorial integrity, and well do whatsoever is needed to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity. The senior diplomat engaged with three US administrations in his time as ambassador and has watched as China-US relations have plunged to historical lows, marred by a trade war, escalating tensions, and a highly politicized pandemic. Cui said he saw a clear attempt to upgrade relations between US and Taiwan authorities, which is a clear violation of the US commitment to the one-China principle and the agreement between the two governments. In 2018, former US president Donald Trump signed the Taiwan Travel Act into law, encouraging visits between the US and Taiwan at all levels. Another provocative move against China was a visit by a delegation of US Congress members to Taiwan by a military plane in November. Theyre still telling us this is an unofficial relationship. I dont know how people could be so hypocritical, Cui said. Sovereign equality He stressed that one of the basic principles set out in the United Nations Charter is sovereign equality. If Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity is violated, it could set a very bad precedent for other countries, he said. On the South China Sea issue, Cui warned that the US sending more and more warships and military planes into the region is a very dangerous move with a view to escalating the tensions. None of the countries in the region have any intention to become involved in direct conflict, he said. We want to solve the issue through negotiations. But now the problem is that the United States, (and) maybe also a couple of other countries, is trying to intervene, although they have no territorial claims in the region, he added. Cui urged the US to refrain from intervening in the South China Sea issue, saying if theres no outside interference, countries in the region will be able to solve the difficulties by themselves. Well work out a way to manage the situation and eventually solve the disputes all by ourselves. I have full confidence in this. Analyzing the underlying reason for the difficulties in the China-US relations, Cui said some politicians, think tanks and the US media are not ready to face a rapidly growing China due to a totally different world outlook from the Chinese people. Many US people have a mentality that the US should always be the global leader of the world, they believe that the winner takes all and everything is a zero-sum game, the diplomat said. But for us in China, its quite different. We believe in a win-win outcome. So sometimes you should not have winners versus losers. You should try to make everybody a winner. He urged US political leaders to focus on responding to domestic challenges such as the disparity between the rich and the poor and gun violence, which, he said, are the things to keep them awake at night, instead of being obsessed with an imaginary threat from China. China and the US, despite different systems and cultures, can work together to solve the problems the world is facing, Cui said. We cannot develop all by ourselves. We cannot solve our problems all by ourselves. We have to work together. We need multilateral and global cooperation for shared prosperity, financial stability, economic growth, and addressing the issue of poverty, climate change and terrorism, Cui said. Source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/ Commentaires via Facebook : Mankato, MN (56001) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 46F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 46F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Dr. Chengcai Shen from the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and colleagues have analyzed images of the so-called supra-arcade downflows captured by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory. In January 1999, solar astronomers observed mysterious motions within a solar flare. Unlike typical flares that showed bright energy erupting outwards from the Sun, this solar flare also displayed a downward flow of motion, as if material was falling back towards the Sun. Described as downward-moving dark voids, scientists wondered what exactly they were seeing. We wanted to know how these dark finger-like structures occur, Dr. Shen said. Whats driving them and are they truly tied to magnetic reconnection? Scientists have assumed that supra-arcade downflows are tied to magnetic reconnection since their discovery in the 90s. The process occurs when magnetic fields break, releasing fast moving and extremely energetic radiation, and then reform. On the Sun, what happens is you have a lot of magnetic fields that are pointing in all different directions, said Dr. Kathy Reeves, an astronomer with the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Eventually the magnetic fields are pushed together to the point where they reconfigure and release a lot of energy in the form of a solar flare. Its like stretching out a rubber band and snipping it in the middle. Its stressed and stretched thin, so its going to snap back. The scientists assumed the dark downflows were signs of the broken magnetic fields snapping back to the Sun after a solar flare eruption. But there was a catch. Most of the downflows observed by scientists are puzzlingly slow, said Dr. Bin Chen, an astronomer at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. This is not predicted by classic reconnection models, which show the downflows should be much quicker. Its a conflict that requires some other explanation, Dr. Shen said. To find out what was happening, the team analyzed downflow images captured by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory. They then made 3D simulations of solar flares and compared them to the observations. The results show that most supra-arcade downflows are not generated by magnetic reconnection after all. Instead, they form on their own in the turbulent environment and are the result of two fluids with different densities interacting. Those dark, finger-like voids are actually an absence of plasma. The density is much lower there than the surrounding plasma, Dr. Reeves said. A paper on the findings was published in the journal Nature Astronomy. _____ C. Shen et al. The origin of underdense plasma downflows associated with magnetic reconnection in solar flares. Nat Astron, published online January 27, 2022; doi: 10.1038/s41550-021-01570-2 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...Main-stem river flooding is expected in several locations. Extensive low land flooding will be likely in some areas, especially where the heavier rain has already occurred. Many low-water crossings will likely become flooded. Area creeks and streams are already running high and will likely flood with more heavy rain. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Additional rounds of thunderstorms with very heavy rain are expected this evening through the overnight hours. 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 the latest forecast and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action quickly should flooding develop. Be especially cautious while driving at night. Do not drive through water of unknown depth. && by Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne in Montreal All bad behavior is really a request for love, attention, or validation. Kimberly Giles, Choosing Clarity: The Path to Fearlessness The term unruly passengers refers to passengers who fail to respect the rules of conduct on board aircraft or to follow the instructions of crew members and thereby disturb the good order and discipline on board aircraft. There has been a spike in the incidence of unruly passengers during the pandemic. Earlier this month CNBC reported that there were more than 5,700 reports of air rage on U.S. airlines in 2021 compared with the average recorded in a typical year of about 100 to 150 cases. The Guardian reported that the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) had more than 4,600 incident reports between January and early October 2021, of which 72 per cent related to a refusal to comply with the federal mandate to wear a mask. Some 849 of these reports have been investigated versus a yearly average of 142 over the last decade. An earlier report published in September 2021 of CNBC says: Airlines have banned hundreds of passengers for unruly behavior since the start of the pandemic. Delta Airlines wants carriers to share those lists. The Atlanta-based carrier has asked other airlines to share their no fly list to further protect airline employees across the industry. Kristen Manion Taylor, Deltas senior vice president of in-flight service, who wrote to flight attendants is reported to have said: A list of banned customers doesnt work as well if that customer can fly with another airline. The report continued: Delta said it has 1,600 passengers on its list. It declined to comment further on a shared no-fly list of banned travelers. Flight attendant and pilot labor unions have raised alarms about unruly passenger behavior thats surged during the coronavirus pandemic. Reports have included incidents of shouting, verbal abuse of crews and, in rare cases, physical assault. In late January 2022 a United Airlines flight carrying 123 passengers from Newark, New Jersey to Tel Aviv, Israel turned back after two riders self-upgraded to business class. The Israeli nationals had caused a 'riot' after flight crew requested to see their tickets. Officials had been waiting for the disruptive duo when the plane returned to Newark. The flight was cancelled and affected passengers were given meal vouchers and hotel accommodations. It was the second time in a week that poor passenger behavior caused an international flight to return to the US. Roughly 75% of the unruly-passenger reports since Jan. 1 2021 in the United States had started with people who didnt want to wear their masks and escalated from there into profanity, shouting matches, even physical violence. The increase of incidents of unruly behavior during the pandemic is a global issue. The Guardian reported: Airlines have complained about rising cases of unruly passengers and non-compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols; therefore, they are demanding stiffer sanctions from the authorities. The airlines observed that the global phenomenon has doubled in 2021 with more travelling public uncomfortable with basic safety rules. Recently, Arik Air deplaned an Asaba-bound passenger in Lagos, who allegedly refused entreaties on face mask and hand sanitizer use onboard. To many, air travel proves to be an apprehensive business where trepidation and anxiety mixed with the fear of travel in an aircraft is an unhinging experience. Add a pandemic to this profound discomfort and the fear of flying could be aggravated by what Author Naomi Klein calls the shock doctrine in her book The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism (Knopf: Canada, 2007). This doctrine is based on the premise that people who are devastated by a disaster and are profoundly disoriented desperately seek to get back to the status quo ante. One can imagine the terror in a person who already has a fear of flying, which is increasingly becoming a unique human factors issue, and has many facets, not all of which apply directly to flying itself. Some of these are: heights; enclosed spaces; crowded conditions; sitting in hot, stale air; being required to wait passively; not understanding the reasons for all the strange actions sounds and sensations occurring around; worrying about the dangers of turbulence; being dependent on an unknown pilots or mechanics judgment; not feeling in control. In addition to all this misery, put a mask on the passengers face and constrain his breathing and the free flow of oxygen while cramped in a steel tube for hours and the result could be disastrous. Thierry Steimer, PhD, writing in Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience says: [A]nxiety is a psychological, physiological, and behavioral state induced in animals and humans by a threat to well-being or survival, either actual or potential. It is characterized by increased arousal, expectancy, autonomic and neuroendocrine activation, and specific behavior patterns. The function of these changes is to facilitate coping with an adverse or unexpected situation. Passenger hostility is a symptom of a blend of emotions and fear of flying is one of them. Other common symptoms are the threat of losing control, fatigue, and personal and environmental stress. This could lead to self-protectionin demanding alcohol, a particular seat or the right to smoke in the cabin. In the early days of flying, the role of the cabin crew was to alleviate passenger concerns by explaining the rules of aerodynamics, cloud formations and meteorology. They also acted as tour guides, particularly when the aircraft flew at low altitudes since large windows offered spectacular views that could alleviate fear. Fear of flying does not always result in air rage or criminal conduct on the part of the person concerned. However, the fact that fear of flying has the potential to make a normally calm and law-abiding person turn into an offender is real. The biology of fear- and anxiety-related behaviors In an article published in the Journal of Transportation Security I wrote: Situations that would evoke fear are flight preparation (getting ready to leave, packing bags), pre-flight procedures (getting the boarding pass, clearing security). The air traveler could also be intimidated by the aviation environment, be it airport design, signage and announcements over the public address system. Take for instance the use of the words terminal building; final call for boarding; and final destination. These could be ominous to the person who is apprehensive about crossing the boundaries of his evolution. Separation from loved ones and friends at the terminal building and entry into the sterile area could also facilitate anxiety and the feeling of being alone in a foreign environment. It could even be worse inside the aircraft. Each time the aircraft door closes the fuselage becomes a veritable prison. Cabin crew, who are not immune from the fear of flying themselves, would then be facing a group of 50 to 60% of people who share a fear of flying. Some of them could be under medication and some could have a history of violence. All of them would have experienced stress in the checking in and boarding process. The passengers could well be an eclectic mix of perverts, pickpockets, priests, doctors, people harboring strong discriminatory views against women, gays and people from minority groups, people who are addicted to drinking and smoking, people with poor personal hygiene, and the list continues. These are people who are travelling on business, leisure, to attend a wedding or funeral, to immigrate to an unknown country, or even just to escape. Explaining the security procedures (including how to use an inflatable life jacket) to such a group of people would in itself be sufficient to cause a crew member some anxiety All this goes to show that this is yet another area for a well thought-through study by the regulators and the aviation industry. Dr. Abeyratne, a published author of 36 books and over 450 law journal articles on aviation, is a former senior official of the International Civil Aviation Organization. He teaches aviation law and policy at McGill University and is a Senior Associate at Aviation Strategies International. UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations on Wednesday calls for more humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan. "China calls for a stronger sense of urgency from the international community and more humanitarian and economic assistance to Afghanistan, so as to bring warmth and hope to the Afghan people," Zhang Jun told a Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. "After the hasty withdrawal of foreign troops last August, the Afghan economy has been in free fall and the Afghan population is experiencing a humanitarian crisis of the worst kind," said the ambassador. Noting 95 percent of the Afghan families are without enough food, more than 1 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition, and 23 million people are suffering from a severe famine, Zhang said: "At this rate, by the middle of the year, 97 percent of the Afghan population will be impoverished and will not be able to afford to live on 2 U.S. dollars a day." The council adopted Resolution 2615 last month, which affirmed that humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan does not violate the council's sanction measures, and cleared any legal obstacles that may exist, he said, adding, "Unfortunately, there has been no fundamental change in the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan." "Clearly, the key issue is not a legal obstacle, but a political one. It's the politicization of the humanitarian issue," he pointed out. "This is playing games with the lives and well-being of 38 million Afghans, who are in dire need of relief." China welcomes the efforts of the World Bank and other international institutions to explore financing support for Afghanistan, according to Zhang. "But without a full injection of liquidity, the restoration and development of the domestic market and foreign trade, the efforts of international institutions will only be a drop in the bucket in the current situation." "Unilateral sanctions are no less lethal than military intervention," he said, urging "the immediate lifting of the asset freeze and unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan." "Adhering to the principle of Afghan-led and Afghan-owned certainly means respecting Afghan ownership and leadership of economic resources," he added. 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Talking about hiring an intimacy director, Shakun had said, We were treating intimacy like a story and we want to see it like a character. So, the prep and the detailing was required. It was important we have an intimacy director. And Dar Gai has contributed a lot to the film. It is important to give her the same respect as we give to all HODs. Now, another filmmaker is following suit. According to Bollywood Hungama, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has hired an intimacy director for his maiden web series Heeramandi that will stream on Netflix. Instagram/Netlfix A source told the website, There are quite a few intimate scenes in Heeramandi. Bhansali and Netflix have decided to bring in a special female director to oversee the love-making scenes. The source further added that post the pandemic, no two co-stars are comfortable in getting physical with each other on-screen. Considering the risk involved, getting intimate on-screen will be a task for the actors and thats where an intimacy director comes into the picture. Heeramandi was officially announced last year. In a statement, Bhansali said, Heeramandi is an important milestone in my journey as a filmmaker. This is an epic, first of its kind series based on the courtesans of Lahore. It is an ambitious, grand and all-encompassing series; therefore I am nervous yet excited about making it. I am looking forward to my partnership with Netflix and bringing Heeramandi to audiences all over the world. He also told Variety, It is a huge saga about the courtesans of Lahore, it is something I was living with for 14 years. Its very vast and ambitious. While the star cast of the show hasnt been officially confirmed yet, it has been reported that Bhansali will reunite with Manisha Koirala who starred in his debut directorial Khamoshi: The Musical back in 1996. Instagram/Manisha Koirala Besides Manisha Koirala, the show will also reportedly star Sonakshi Sinha and Aditi Rao Hydari. Pirate station in 3.5 and 7 MHz bands Germany's DARC reports on a pirate station that was broadcasting in the 3.5 and 7 MHz amateur radio bands A translation of the DARC post reads: In December 2021 and January 2022, an underground political station appeared on 3500 and 7000 kHz. The transmissions took place unusually in USB and could be heard throughout Europe. The radio program in Italian and English was directed against government corona measures. The direction finding service of the Intruder Monitoring department was able to determine the approximate location, whereupon we cooperated with the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) to have these transmissions ended. The BNetzA was then able to take measures with the Italian colleagues that ultimately led to the broadcasts being discontinued. If similar transmissions are observed again, we ask for notification at https://meldung.bandwacht.de/ Report by Daniel Moller DL3RTL of Intruder Monitoring Source DARC https://darc.de/ The idea of calling panellists 'sharks on the popular show Shark Tank India is simple: Sharks are some of the most intelligent and powerful creatures often called apex predators who are quick to spot the right prey and go in for the kill. Which is exactly what the concept of this reality show is as well, where these sharks are lurking to invest in the right profit-making business. And while all sharks are proactive and just as intelligent, perhaps one of them has managed to harness one other quality than all the others, and that is compassion. We are talking about one of the most cherished and loved shark on Shark Tank India, Peyush Bansal. @peyushbansal You are THE SHARK with a very very BIGG Heart .. salute to you !!!!! @sharktankindia Roy (@RoyCric) January 28, 2022 @peyushbansal to every business for the benifit of society or person in need. Respect. #SharkTankIndia pic.twitter.com/GU6PdjxAJ6 Riya Bansal (@sarvagun_sampan) January 20, 2022 CEO and co-founder of Lenskart, Peyush Bansal is currently trending on the micro-blogging site Twitter, simply because the man has proven that making a profit and supporting a good cause need not be mutually exclusive of one another. The Shark that has invested in quite a few projects and start-ups up till now is also the only one who has tried to support businesses that went above and beyond minting money. With a vision to support and uplift people with a high burning passion and a dream for a better world, Peyush Bansals investments have left people on Twitter hailing him for his big heart. Here are some of the most incredible and cheered on investments he made on the show till now: 1. Jugaadu Kamlesh Stepping up when no one else did, Peyush invested in the idea of a Pesticides Spray solution by Kamlesh Nanasaheb with which farmers could spray pesticides, sow seeds and transport goods all with one versatile bicycle. Thank you #SharkTankIndia for giving me this opportunity to partner with kamlesh... Peyush Bansal (@peyushbansal) January 20, 2022 Sir, you made a really good decision. You proved business is not just about numbers .You became my favourite shark from the show after this episode. You are not only a successful businessman but also a really good human being. Vidhi Arora (@Vidhi_Arora_) January 28, 2022 Just saw Shark Tank India where @peyushbansal funded jugaadu kamlesh from malegaon. #respect to @peyushbansal for funding and helping where others didn't. You have just won a lifetime loyal customer to @lenskart Harish Iyer (@HarishI89537361) January 20, 2022 Twitter Is Cheering Loud For 'Jugaadu Kamlesh', The Newest Star Of Shark Tank India https: it was wonderful show, when almost all the doors shut, Mr Peyush gave a life for him, I am always happy if anything good happen to farmers. Your always my favorite Mr Peyush, pic.twitter.com/tgNdo1kvwQ Lakshmi (@Lakshmi15072185) January 22, 2022 Peyush made a deal for Rs 10 lakhs for 40% equity and 20 lakhs in debt for his business venture. And with that, impressed the internet with his choice to invest. 2. SID07 Designs With a pursuit of improving the quality of life at the most fundamental level, SID07 came up with an idea to create innovative and inventive products to make everyday life easy. Really @peyushbansal Won My Heart Twice In This Season. First When The Guy Sid07 Was Getting bashed By Everyone. He Encourage Him and Give Him An Offer. Second In Todays episode He Made A Deal to That Farmer Guy. Peyush Bansal Winning hearts.#SharkTank #SharkTankIndia Sohil Jain (@SohilJainJain2) January 20, 2022 #Sid07 designs thanks shark Peyush for investing in the company @TheTechOutlook https://t.co/oMJWzQhw9p The Tech Outlook (@TheTechOutlook) January 22, 2022 Siddharth, who had a vision of giving people a life of comfort and innovation, was believed in by just one judge on the panel and that was Peyush Bansal who stood up to all others and chose to invest Rs 25 lakhs for 75% equity and Rs. 22 lakhs in debt. 3. Gold Life Anti-Suicide Fan Rod Sharad Ashani and his son came on Shark Tank India with a noble idea to try and prevent suicides by hanging as they came up with an idea of introducing a rod spring in fans, that detaches itself in case of a suicide. Sharad Ashani Ji & his son, founder of Gold Life Anti Suicide Fan Rod are angels in guise of businessmen, working to stop suicides by hanging in India. This rod has spring that detaches in case of suicide Kudos @sharktankindia for bringing such inspirational stories. In tears pic.twitter.com/YIQjSrNz2q Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) January 27, 2022 When It Comes To Purpose Driven Business To Serve Humanity , @peyushbansal Peyush Bansal Sir Always Comes First To Support The Cause. Few Days Ago - Jugaadu Kamlesh & Today - Gold Life Anti Suicide Fan Rod. Can Say Unhesitatingly He Is The Best Shark In @sharktankindia (@shreyjais02) January 26, 2022 GOLD Life brand Anti Suicide Fan Rod , manufactured at a factory in Bhandup, Mumbai. Over 50,000 such fan rods are sold / supplied, mainly to Hostels of Educational institutes, including IITs, IIMs, AIMS, etc. Very great innovation to save human life. pic.twitter.com/7miZu2d71c Jajabor (@jajabor_sanjeev) September 24, 2021 The cause that this father-son duo was looking to support was one that needed immediate attention, considering several people have been committing suicides, especially after the onset of covid. And understanding the gravity of it was Peyush Bansal, who chose to invest in it. No wonder people are lauding the businessman for having a vision not just to make money but also to change lives. Gloria Brown Bruister, 81, passed away on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., with her loving daughters by her side. Born on July 21, 1940, to Jay Lavell and Mattie Noblin Brown, Gloria graduated from Meridian High School in 1958. Married soon after to Hubert L. Bruist DEERFIELD BEACH A woman died after she was hit by a pickup truck on South Federal Highway in Deerfield Beach, the Broward Sheriffs Office said. Janet Thornbloom, 69, was crossing from the west side of the highway in the 500 block shortly after 6:30 p.m. when she walked into the path of a 2021 GMC Sierra driving north in the right lane of the road. Advertisement Thornbloom, who lived in Deerfield, was not in a designated crosswalk, the Sheriffs Office said. The driver of the Sierra, Raymond Uppstrom, 70, of Deerfield Beach, stopped after the crash. Deputies determined that neither speed nor impairment contributed to the crash. Advertisement Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue crews pronounced the woman dead at the scene. The Sheriffs Office is investigating the crash. An Owensboro man is facing a series of charges, including first-degree wanton endangerment for allegedly striking a police officer with a vehicle Thursday morning. Jeffrey Wayne Jennings, 32, of the 2600 block of Lancaster Avenue, was also charged in connection with a Monday shooting, where an occupied vehicle was struck by gunfire on J.R. Miller Boulevard. Jennings is accused of striking Owensboro Police Department Officer Bryan Velotta with a vehicle on McConnell Avenue. We believe he intentionally did it, said Officer Andrew Boggess, OPDs public information officer. Thursdays incident began at 5:58 a.m., when officers were called to a Burger King restaurant at 2401 Patriot Run, to a report of a man with a gun. Boggess said employees told police a man, later identified as Jennings, got into a dispute with employees and pointed a handgun at an employee during the incident. There was a confrontation of a sort, it escalated, and he brandished a weapon, Boggess said. Boggess said officers located Jennings some time later on McConnell Avenue. Jennings, who was in a vehicle, accelerated as officers approached, striking Velotta. Jennings then struck an OPD cruiser and a pole before he was taken into custody. Boggess said Velotta suffered minor injuries in the incident. Detectives were already seeking Jennings as s suspect in a Monday shooting on J.R. Miller near East Byers Avenue. No one was injured in Mondays incident. (Jennings) had a fairly significant amount of methamphetamine when he was arrested, Boggess said. Jennings was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment (police office), first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (meth), possession of a handgun by a convicted felon and driving under the influence. This was a guy that needed to be off the street very badly, Boggess said. Jennings was being held Thursday in the Daviess County Detention Center. Also on Thursday, OPD charged an Owensboro man and a juvenile in connection with a Jan. 20 shooting at an occupied vehicle on East 26th Street. In that incident, a vehicle was struck multiple times by gunfire, but no one was injured. Kobe L. Smith, 19, of the 700 Elm Street, was initially charged with unlawful transaction with a minor, and two juveniles with him were charged with possession of a handgun by a minor. On Thursday, OPD charged Smith with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, tampering with physical evidence and first-degree criminal mischief in connection with the East 26th Street shooting. A female juvenile who was with Smith was also charged Thursday with first-degree wanton endangerment and first-degree criminal mischief in connection with the shooting. Smith was being held Thursday in the Daviess County Detention Center. James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse On Thursday afternoon, Shannon Meyer placed her hand on a family bible in front of a full courtroom at the Holbrook Judicial Center and took the oath of office to become Daviess Countys newest district judge. Meyer was sworn in by her great-aunt, state Court of Appeals Judge Sara Walter Combs. When Meyer was considering going to law school, Combs gave Meyer some advice. I said, Oh, I think youll love it. Do it, Combs said after Thursdays swearing-in ceremony. The role of a judge, Combs said, is to follow the law, and do whats good for people. Meyer, who spent 21 years as a prosecutor with the Daviess County Attorneys office, along with having a private practice, will take the bench for the first time Friday, Jan. 28. District Court handles misdemeanor criminal offenses, traffic violations, small claims, probate and juvenile cases. Felony criminal cases are first heard in District Court. Meyer said she is nervous about taking the bench for the first time. Of course Im nervous, she said. My great uncle (Bert Combs) was governor of Kentucky and was on the Court of Appeals. He said, Of course I (get nervous in court). The day I dont is the day I stop (practicing law). I feel the same way. Meyer said being nervous about the cases before the court means youre giving the matter the respect it deserves. You get nervous about the things that are important to you. Meyer was appointed to the bench by Gov. Andy Beshear. She will preside over Daviess District Court, Division III. Meyer is replacing Daniel Nick Burlew II, who retired on Dec. 1. Meyer, in her address to the full courtroom, thanked former County Attorney Bob Kirtley who hired her as a prosecutor and current County Attorney Claud Porter. Thank you for your continued belief in me, Meyer said. She said the work environment in Porters office led me here today. Meyer will run for the office in the November election. Meyer said after the ceremony that she wants to use her position as judge to help the people who come before the court. I want them to make good choices, she said. The fact that they are in front of me means they have not. I want them to feel the opportunity (to make changes) and take advantage of it. If they dont, I can be the strong disciplinarian they need. In her remarks to the crowd, Meyer said she would treat people in her court with dignity. I am here to serve you, and I will do that with the utmost respect that everyone deserves, she said. Combs said Meyer has a lot to give as a judge. James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse Owensboro Police Department Officer Sal Castro began working with students before he ever put on a police uniform or moved to Owensboro. Castro, OPDs school resource office at Owensboro Middle School, got his first experience with education in Yuma, Arizona, where he worked with new students to test their English skills. At the school, he met his future wife, Kendra. We shared a space at the school, Castro said last week. Kendra, a speech therapist, is an Owensboro native. After Castro finished his degree in criminal justice, the couple started talking about moving to Kentucky. Initially, they landed in Louisville, where Castro worked as a security officer at a school before being hired by the Louisville Metro Police Department. But, then, his career path changed. One weekend, we were at (Kendras) moms in Owensboro. I looked at the paper and saw they were hiring at OPD, Castro said. I said, Honey, do you want to move back to Owensboro? OPD extended an offer, and Castro joined the force in 2011. Castros family is still in Arizona, so Castro, his wife and two children go visit twice a year. I still miss it, especially when its cold in Owensboro, Castro said. Owensboro is my community now. My kids live here, and I work here. Castros wife works for Owensboro Public Schools. Like all new officers, Castro started his OPD career in patrol. My first call, I was a nervous wreck, he said. People you meet while on patrol know if youre new. It was a little daunting in the beginning, but slowly but surely you start building that officer presence, Castro said. Youre more sure of yourself. Castro believes everyone wants to be treated with respect and dignity, and he has met with people who said he has made a difference in their lives. (One man said), Do you remember me? You saved my life. You were praying for me when we were going to jail, and that showed me you were treating me like a human being. That made me realize police officers are good people, Castro recalled. You get the bad talk about police officers, but Im just trying to help people out, Castro said. That makes it just worthwhile. Castro later became one of the departments D.A.R.E. officers, teaching students about the dangers of substance abuse. As a school resource officer, Castro said his job is to provide security to the school, while working with students. That work can vary from presenting to a classroom to chatting with the students or taking to them about their problems. My normal day is, I come in and Im in the gym with the kids, he said. During class change, Im walking the hallways, and during lunch, Im in the gym and cafeteria. Theres a strict line about what an SRO will do at a school. Any time theres an issue that is just a school issue, they dont get me involved, he said. When a situation does call for his attention, Castro said a goal is help the student learn from his or her mistakes, while letting them know you are going to make mistakes in life. Were understanding. Reaching some students can take effort. In the schools, its a bit easier, but there are some students who have had a bad, bad experience with law enforcement, Castro said. When they see me, Im just a police officer, Im not Sal Castro, a husband and father. Castro said he tries to show students hes not just a person in a uniform. I try to be silly, he said. I tell students, If being silly and embarrassing myself makes you laugh, Im for it. I let them see the human side of me. Even during lunch, theyll come talk to me. I always tell them I have an open door policy. I love my work, and Im passionate about it, but first and foremost Im a husband and a dad. The large round table in Castros office, decorated with a blue police strip, is a place where students can come chat or talk about their problems. I have kids come up and say, I have this going on, or My mom doesnt understand what Im going through, he said. I tell kids, Middle school is tough, because youre going from elementary school to another world. I understand, because I was there. Im 40 now, but I was a middle schooler once as well. James Mayse, 270-691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com, Twitter: @JamesMayse Class Action Suit Against Canada Post Lee Valley Tools Ltd. has initiated a class action suit against Canada Post over shipping charges. Before 7 years ago, Canada Post charged ... A Conversation About CPP Close Friend: My wife and I are just a year away from being able to start our CPP benefits when we turn 60. 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Money: Master the Game Tony Robbins is well-known as a motivator and it shows in his personal finance book Money: Master the Game . Readers who just want financia... The Value of Your Life This essay is decidedly less concrete than my usual output. It was sparked by an interesting discussion with some friends including the Big... FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 27, 2022 Contact: Kathleen Achtenberg, achtenbergk@michigan.org Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Announces West Contract Manufacturing Expansion Creating 110 Jobs in West Michigan Global manufacturer of injectable containment and delivery solutions and services investing $6 million, adding 110 jobs in West Michigan Project supports company's presence in state, further strengthens Michigan's healthcare industry LANSING, Mich. - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) today to announce that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., through its subsidiary West Contract Manufacturing (West), plans to expand in the city of Walker, where it will create up to 110 jobs for Michigan workers. "The decision by West Contract Manufacturing to expand in Michigan underscores the strength of Michigan's business climate, our leadership in manufacturing across industry sectors and creates good jobs for our residents," said Governor Whitmer. "This is great news for workers, their families, and our economy as we continue putting Michiganders first." The project is expected to be an investment of $6 million by West, supported by a $500,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund. Michigan was chosen for the project over competing sites in other states. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (WPS), is a global manufacturer in the design and production of technologically advanced containment and delivery services and solutions for injectable medicines. Its customers include leading biologic, generic, pharmaceutical and medical device companies. West currently has 266 employees at its Contract Manufacturing facility in the city of Walker. The company plans to expand its operations at its existing facility in Walker, where it will add machinery and equipment as well as make improvements to the building. "We are pleased to continue our growth in Walker, Michigan, which will help support our mission of improving patient lives around the globe. I'm proud of our team members and the work they do to support our mission," said Brian Meines, site director at West's Michigan facility. "We look forward to being able to support our local communities with more job opportunities as a result of this expansion and are excited to contribute to a continued bright future for our Walker and Grand Rapids communities." The project will bring immediate job growth to area residents in the industries of healthcare and advanced manufacturing, and further supports the company's presence and future growth in the state. West provides job skill training, tuition reimbursement and pathways for advancement within the company. "West's continued growth in West Michigan underscores our state's leadership in life sciences and medical device manufacturing, as well as the strength of our business climate and talented workforce," said?Quentin Messer, Jr.,?CEO of the MEDC and President and Chair of the Michigan Strategic Fund. "This project is a win for West Michigan and for the entire state. We appreciate the efforts of The Right Place and other local partners in supporting this project and will work with West as it continues to grow and add jobs for Michigan residents.?Work remains; however, we celebrate West's vote of confidence in Michigan." The Right Place has offered to support the project with staff time and resources. For information on careers with West, visit https://careers.westpharma.com/. "The decision to expand in our region reaffirms the strength of Greater Grand Rapids' rapidly advancing health science industry," said Randy Thelen, President and CEO, The Right Place, Inc. "West Contract Manufacturing has played an integral role in our local medical device manufacturing industry, and we look forward to seeing their continued growth in our community as they create high-tech, quality jobs." About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state's marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan's economy.?For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit?www.MichiganBusiness.org.?For Pure Michigan tourism information, your trip begins at?www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on:?Facebook,?Instagram,?LinkedIn, and?Twitter. ### Submitted by Monica Mignoni/Courtesy Photo Ashley Buehler and Peter Mignoni were united in marriage at the Colony Club in downtown Detroit Dec. 5, 2021. The maid of honor was the bride's older sister Heidi Dummermuth from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Pete's best man was his brother Sam Mignoni of Berlin, Germany. Officiating was Rachel Kulish of Royal Oak. DEERFIELD BEACH Four burglary suspects who led deputies on a foot chase in Deerfield Beach were arrested Thursday, the Broward Sheriffs Office said. Burglary Apprehension Team detectives were surveilling the four people who were riding in a blue Range Rover shortly before 4 p.m. Advertisement Detectives attempted to pull them over near East Hillsboro Boulevard and North Federal Highway in Deerfield Beach when the people in the car got out and ran, the Sheriffs Office said. Deputies chased them on foot. Three of the four were taken into custody immediately, and detectives set up a search perimeter and called on K9 units and SWAT crews to help search for the fourth who fled, deputies said. Advertisement Deputies arrested the fourth person shortly afterward. Additional details were not immediately available Thursday night. This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox. A jail reform council for Michigan is looking for feedback from the public after a package of bills was passed into law in 2020 centering on court reforms for the state. In 2020, some criminal justice reform measures aimed to increase alternatives to incarceration while reserving jail or prison for people who bring more of a risk to public safety. Some of the reforms also try to increase the ability of connecting people with addictions with the resources and support systems they need. The Michigan Jail Reform Advisory Council is seeking public comments ahead of the 9 a.m., Feb. 10 meeting. The meeting is scheduled to be held remotely via Zoom. The Michigan Jail Reform Advisory Council is an advisory body within the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget that is comprised of an interdisciplinary group of stakeholders representing state and local governments, law enforcement and community mental health. It is involved in jail reform legislation throughout the state of Michigan. This feedback is expected to assist the council in implementing policy and practice changes, developing educational materials, supporting justice system practitioners and monitoring performance measures. The public can either submit comments in writing through a form on council's website or present the comments during the livestream. The Jails Task Force is a group of criminal justice experts and key stakeholders. In 2019, the task force conducted a year-long study of Michigans jails and engaged input from the public in a series of statewide meetings. A package of 20 recommendations from the task force was passed and signed into law in 2020, supported by a group of bipartisan state senators and representatives. The reforms expand officers discretion to issue a citation for low-level offenses, increase the use of alternatives to jail for low-level crimes and incentivize compliance with probation conditions. Chief Justice Bridget McCormack serves as chair of the council and previously co-chaired the Joint Task Force on Jail and Pretrial Incarceration alongside Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II. Michigan has been a national leader in collecting and analyzing data and building bipartisan grassroots support for landmark, innovative improvements of our criminal justice system, McCormack said in a news release. The success of the task force depended on public input. Now, we need broad stakeholder input to help implement their recommendations. STAKEHOLDERS Some of those stakeholders include law enforcement and attorneys who have had to learn new rules and change some of the ways they respond to certain cases. Josh Glass, Manistee City Police chief, previously told the News Advocate the impact of the reforms to officers is that they have to learn the new rules, particularly with arrests. Glass had summarized that one of the criminal justice reforms means changes for when a person is taken to jail and when they receive a ticket. Basically (one of the laws) says if someone commits a crime and the offense is a misdemeanor, the penalty for that is less than a year in jail, you should write them an appearance ticket unless its one of the exceptions, he had explained. Glass previously added that the changes add some challenges for the department since they have educate the officers on the laws, procedural changes and exceptions. The bigger task is making sure that our officers have a working understanding of the exceptions, Glass had said. Something in law enforcement is that laws are constantly changing. This profession is constantly changing so we find ourselves in a position (where) we constantly need to keep up with the changing laws, policies, procedures. Jason Haag, Manistee County prosecuting attorney, previously told the News Advocate that one change stemming from the reforms that his office was expecting to see was more summonses as opposed to warrants in general. Generally, if its not an assaultive crime, a domestic violence crime, were going to be sending up a summons up to (85th) District Court rather than a warrant, he had previously said, adding that it means more of a notice to appear, rather than a warrant for the persons arrest. Haag had said there are exceptions to that new change and allowances for discretion as well, but that in some cases where there used to be mandatory minimum jail sentences that no longer require jail time. Those may be more likely to seek alternatives such as fines, community service, probation, electronic monitoring and other routes instead. More about the council, previous meetings that are video recorded and the Feb. 10 event can be found online at courts.michigan.gov/administration/special-initiatives/jail-advisory-council. THOMPSONVILLE There is an urgent need for blood donations in Michigan, according to Versiti Blood Center, which is reporting its lowest supply in decades. Crystal Mountain is partnering with Versiti to host a community blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 2 inside the Crystal Center. Anyone who attempts to donate will receive a free pair of socks from Versiti, while supplies last, and will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift card to Crystal Mountain. The pandemic has had a tremendous impact on U.S. blood supply, Heidi Robinson, Versiti account representative said. Thousands of community blood drives were canceled due to schools and businesses having to close their doors. But now, blood donation centers, schools and businesses are back open, and we are so grateful for those who step up and do their part to help save lives in their community. Blood donations made in northern Michigan stay in northern Michigan. It takes about 10 minutes to collect one unit of blood, but the overall process from registration to refreshments takes about an hour. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment by calling 1-866-643-5663 or visiting versiti.org/mi. Here are some tips from Versiti for a positive donation experience: Sleep, eat and hydrate before your donation; Listen to music, read, or browse the internet while you donate; and Relax for 15 minutes, have a complimentary snack and take your time after you donate. Just 15 pints of blood could help save up to 45 lives in northern Michigan, Brittney Buti, public relations manager for Crystal Mountain said. We can all make a positive impact on the community were in. For more information about donating blood, check out the frequently asked questions section on the Versiti website. About a year ago, Beth Cole began to have a little trouble breathing. The 47-year-old Caseville woman thought chronic bronchitis was aggravating her asthma, which made it tough to help care for her 76-year-old mother, a responsibility she had moved back to the Thumb from up north to fulfill. Now, her mother is helping to care for her while she undergoes treatment for stage 4 breast cancer. The source of that breathing problem wasn't asthma. A five-inch malignant mass in her breast spread to her lymph nodes, then to her lungs and bones. Her prognosis is not a good one. Beth, a Laker High School graduate, said her doctors told her she had no chance of remission and recommended a course of chemotherapy, which she is currently undergoing in Bad Axe. She has no interest in estimates from doctors of how much time she has left, vowing not to give up. "I will fight to the bitter end," Beth said. "I'm going to need a miracle to get through this." She wants to pass in her mother's home, she said, and her mother is doing everything she can to care for her, but it's no easy task for a woman in her mid-70s. Beth needs the use of a wheelchair and oxygen tank, which can be quite a chore to lug around to doctor's appointments and scheduled treatments. The mother and daughter are leaning on each other in this difficult time, and neither would have it any other way. "My mom and I are attached at the hip," Beth said. The two are facing formidable challenges above and beyond the effects of the chemo. Their home has no wheelchair ramp and needs other repairs, and their only vehicle is an old pickup truck Beth's mother is unable to drive, as is a full-size sedan lent to them by a relative. Fortunately, Beth's medical care is covered by insurance, but there are other needs that aren't easy to meet. Beth posted a message on social media about needing a lift chair she is unable to sleep lying down and created an online fundraising page asking for a modest amount of money. She's hoping maybe someone with a used compact car might be willing to make a trade for her pickup, and a member of the community responded to her plea by providing a used chair. That act of kindness was something that helps Beth maintain her faith in the face of such dire adversity. She hopes by sharing her story it might inspire someone to get a mammogram or other cancer screening and save their life. Her faith also keeps her steady when she finds herself asking God why she has been given a burden like the one she is currently shouldering. "I've got to trust him," she said. "I cry every day, and the answer is, 'Why not?'" You can make a donation to help Beth and her mother here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1029902654224260/10157308987617185. The state of Florida on Friday awarded millions of dollars for improvements as part of a larger South Florida effort to deal with flooding and other water-control efforts. Among those celebrating was the city of North Lauderdale, which faced knee-water deep water, in some parts 2 feet high, during Hurricane Eta in 2020. Im overwhelmed. For the first time, were getting our infrastructure taken care of, rejoiced North Lauderdale Mayor Ana Ziade. The stars are aligning. Advertisement During horrific rain storms over a three-year period from 2018-2020, it led to Silver Lakes Middle School being shut various days because kids couldnt cross the street and teachers couldnt access campus, said incoming City Manager Mike Sargis. Parts of South Florida have long faced the risk of flooded streets from flash rainfall, but some improvements should ease some of these problems: About $80 million should help Broward and Miami-Dade counties as part of the water management efforts, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday. Advertisement Drainage systems either drain directly to the ocean, or to the regions canal system, said Jennifer Jurado, the deputy director and chief resilience officer for Browards Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department. The grant money comes from the federal governments U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and flows through the states Rebuild Florida Mitigation General Infrastructure Program, the governors office confirmed Friday. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis showed up at Port Everglades in Hollywood on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, to announce that more than $80 million that has been allocated for various infrastructure projects in South Florida. (Mike Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel) On the list of projects, announced on Friday: $16,676,000 will be given to Broward County, earmarked to improve a stormwater drainage system by replacing the existing, non-functional and insufficient stormwater infrastructure, according to officials. That includes new pipes, two stormwater pump stations and four drainage deep wells to drain low-lying areas during rain, high-tide events, and projected future sea-level-rise scenarios. Hallandale Beach has been awarded $14,879,219 for sewer system modernization. A new system will be installed to allow city staff to monitor the system remotely to allow for early detection and mitigation of storm risks or system failures. This improvement is not floodwater-related, rather its only for wastewater, which is the water that comes from toilets and anything that goes down the drain, city officials said. North Lauderdale will get $3,285,000 for a new stormwater pump station facility near the C-14 canal, north of Southgate Boulevard that will help mitigate heavy rainfall. The canals can only release so much water, Sargis said. In almost all of the city there is flooding during a tremendous rain, he said. He said the city is competing with pumps in Tamarac and Coral Springs for a spot in the canal to dump water. Our pump will now allow us to pump water out of the city faster, which will reduce flooding. This is awesome. Almost $40 million will go to the city of Miami for two separate projects in East Little Havana and a southwest section of Wynwood to help area flooding. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said the money will protect more than a billion dollars worth of property: Its a good investment, he said. $7 million will go to Opa-locka to help with flood protection and improve the depths of the canals. Jeff Odoms, Hallandale Beachs director of public works, said the system in place needs a refresher. Theyre old, theyre outdated, theyre overworked. They are built to last 25 to 30 years, many of ours are 40 years are older. There are problems and outages, he said of the system that handles sewage. Odoms said the improvements will prevent sewage from seeping onto the streets, which has notoriously happened repeatedly in Fort Lauderdale. Were trying to aggressively get out in front of those problems, Odoms said. Broward County Mayor Michael Udine said the funds will make a difference. Anytime we can bring these dollars back for infrastructure projects, and help with flooding, its dollars well spent, he said. [ RELATED: Theyre going to fail: Heres why canal systems need fixes to prevent floods in South Florida ] While the improvements were welcome, local experts say it doesnt address the larger flooding concern in the two South Florida counties, where some estimates call for as much as $2 billion needed to add new pumps as well as widening and deepening canals. Advertisement But a $3 million study is needed first, and theres a $500,000 line item in President Joe Bidens federal budget that becomes available in February to kick start that. A bipartisan effort is also underway in the Florida Legislature to set aside $2 million in state money for the efforts. [ RELATED: Theyre going to fail: Heres why canal systems need fixes to prevent floods in South Florida ] And Broward County already set aside $3 million in 2020 to do its own study of its own canals. A contract with a firm to get started could be signed by March. This will help small, localized areas, said Broward Commissioner Steve Geller. We are grateful to him doing this, he said of the governor earmarking the money for South Florida. But this doesnt solve the $2 billion issue. Were still going to be flooded in 10 years if we dont get a massive [amount of] state and federal money. Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com or 954-572-2008 or Twitter @LisaHuriash This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Midland-area legislators weighed in after Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced on Wednesday he will retire from the Supreme Court and President Joe Biden then reaffirmed his commitment to nominate the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. Breyer, 83, has served on the Supreme Court since 1994. U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Midland, said Breyer never voted to sustain an abortion restriction, citing a previously published article by the Associated Press. Justice Breyer consistently ruled against the dignity of human life and opposed pro-life policies. Science has found that babies in the womb have a heartbeat after six weeks, arms and legs after 10 weeks, and major organs after 15 weeks. These unborn children have the right to life and future generations of Americans will look back in sadness on Justice Breyers support for unlimited abortion, said Moolenaar in a statement on Wednesday. The news of Breyer's retirement announcement sparked speculation about potential nominations to succeed him. I've made no decision, except the one person I will nominate will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity," Biden stated. "And that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States Supreme Court. It's long overdue." Moolenaar countered that Biden should nominate the best candidate regardless of race and gender. A seat on the Supreme Court is one of the most important decisions a president can make. President Bidens campaign promise to only consider candidates of a certain race and gender runs against the ideals of America, and he should nominate the best person for the job, without using race or gender in that decision, Moolenaar said in his Wednesday statement. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, offered his congratulations to Breyer on his upcoming retirement and said he is confident that Biden will select a worthy nominee for the court vacancy. "I am grateful to Justice Breyer for his decades of service on our nations highest court. I know that President Biden will conduct a thorough review of candidates and choose someone who is qualified, has integrity and a deep commitment to the rule of law, Kildee stated. Every Supreme Court nominee must be confirmed by a majority of the 100-member U.S. Senate, which is currently split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats. In the case of a tie, Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, would cast the tie-breaking vote. Michigan Democratic U.S. Senator Gary Peters released a statement about the upcoming nomination and confirmation process. The Senate must swiftly fulfill its constitutional role of advice and consent and then vote on President Bidens nominee. I take this role very seriously, and I look forward to reviewing the credentials, experiences and qualifications of any nominee President Biden puts forward to fill this vacancy, Peters said. Michigan Democratic U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow released a statement observing that the Supreme Court vacancy comes at a critical moment in history. As new and important questions come before the Court, its critical we move forward, not backward, on workers rights, womens rights, health care, voting rights, combating the climate crisis and more. I know President Biden will choose a nominee who stands up for equal justice, democracy and the rule of law. I look forward to their consideration in the U.S. Senate, Stabenow said. A one-year-old Port Austin girl is doing well following successful surgery to correct a problem involving the bones in her skull. Ophelia, the daughter of Lachen Cook and Mirsad Cunmulaj, was born with a condition known as craniosynostosis, in which the bones in a baby's skull fuse too early. If left untreated, the condition can cause brain damage, blindness, seizures and other neurological issues. The toddler had to wait until she was about a year old before she could have the surgery, her mother said. Ophelia underwent surgery on Wednesday at C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Cook said Ophelia was doing well following her procedure and praised the team of doctors treating her at C.S. Motts Childrens Hospital. The surgery itself was super successful, Cook said. Her team is amazing. They did a wonderful job. Ophelia has had a few bumps since entering the (intensive care unit, but) they worked quickly to make sure she was content. The familys journey began early last year, when Ophelia was born in Bad Axe and was then sent to Covenant Medical Center in Saginaw, where a CT scan confirmed her diagnosis. The family followed up at U of M after Ophelia was released from the neonatal intensive care unit. Cook, a Harbor Beach native, said she and the rest of Ophelias family is looking forward to putting the surgery behind them. She describes her daughter as resilient and expects her to have a normal life. During the eight-hour surgery, which has a success rate of 98%, surgeons reshaped Ophelias bones, forehead and upper eye sockets. She will spend another few days in the hospital before she is ready to come home. The only reminder she will likely have when she is older is a large scar, which will be covered up by her hair. An online fundraiser for the family can be found here: https://gofund.me/d3ad1233. MIDDLETOWN Middletown and surrounding towns are preparing for a winter storm expected to bring over a foot of snow to the area beginning late Friday, and lasting through most of Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The agency issued a winter storm warning for northern Middlesex County beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, and lasting through to 7 p.m. Saturday. Area residents can expect between nine and 14 inches of heavy snow, wind gusts up to 50 mph and near blizzard conditions for part of Saturday, the NWS said. Temperatures are predicted to dip into the teens during the day on Saturday, and into the single digits at night. Middletown and other nearby municipalities are hard at work preparing for hazardous storm conditions. Mayor Ben Florsheim declared a parking ban for the city which begins Friday at 10 p.m. Alternative, off-street parking will be available for free during the length of the ban at the Melilli Plaza lot, Broad Street/Kidcity lot, Broad Street/Russell Library lot, Kings Avenue lot and the Dingwall Drive lot. Any vehicles parked on city streets must be removed by 10 p.m. or run the risk of receiving a $205 ticket or being towed. City officials also reminded residents and business owners of their responsibility to remove snow and ice from sidewalks or risk a similar fine. Those who live on Main and Court streets are being asked to push snow into the street instead of leaving it piled up on the edge of the sidewalk. This way, when businesses are closed, the Public Works Department will be able to remove all snow at the curbs, Acting Director Chris Holden said. Leaving snow at the edge of the sidewalk can make it difficult and hazardous for pedestrians to reach the sidewalks from their cars, place money in the parking meters and so forth, Holden said in a statement. Florsheim said the city is prepared even if the snowstorm is worse than expected. We have extra shifts coming in for all our public safety personnel and are ready to turn on a dime if it comes in worse than expected, he said. The Northern Middlesex YMCA will be closed Saturday due to the impending weather. The town of Cromwell has already announced closures of town buildings on Saturday. The transfer station and the Belden Public Library will both be closed, and all in-person recreation activities have been canceled. Portland town officials also announced closures due to Saturdays snowstorm. The transfer station and library will be closed for the day. A parking ban will go into effect in Portland Friday evening. Vehicles must remain off the roadways for at least four hours after the storm has ended, or until crews have completed their final plowing. Cars not moved may be towed at the owners expense. Free sand and salt are available to Portland residents at the firehouse at 169 Great Hill Road or in the parking lot at the end of Middlesex Avenue. Northern Middlesex County is not alone in these preparations. Municipalities around the state are preparing for blizzard and noreaster conditions. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MIDDLETOWN Three of the Middletown Public Schools central office executives have been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into employee claims of workplace misconduct. In late November, The Middletown Union Coalition, a group comprised of local school unions, demanded changes to ensure our members feel comfortable coming forward, according to a statement issued by AFT Connecticut Communications Director Matt OConnor. The coalition cited more than a dozen anonymous complaints by union workers, alleging workplace misconduct by Superintendent of Schools Michael T. Conner, Chief of Administration Christine Bourne and Chief of School Operations Marco Gaylord, who have been placed on leave. Bourne declined to comment when reached on Friday. Conner and Gaylord could not be reached for comment. Heres a look at what we know and dont know about the investigation: What we know: Superintendent on leave Conner, who was hired by the district in September 2017, was initially granted paid leave by the school board under the Family Medical Leave Act in October 2021. Alberto Vazquez-Matos, who was hired in July, was then appointed acting superintendent to lead the district in Conners absence. Board members voted unanimously Jan. 11 to place Conner on paid administrative leave. Conner earned $230,204 in 2020, according to employee earnings provided by the district last year. Anonymous letters The investigation was prompted after the union coalition alerted city council members during their Oct. 14 meeting about the anonymous letters, alleging inappropriate workplace treatment and conduct of harassment, bullying, and intimidation. The letters, obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media Group through a Freedom of Information Act request, describe a toxic work environment. At a meeting Nov. 8 between the school board and coalition, union leaders expressed concern about the leave status of senior management, saying they were told information was provided to the extent legally permissible, Board of Education Chairwoman Deborah Cain said at the time. The 46 pages of complaints include accusations against Conner, Bourne and Gaylord. Some said they left the district as a result of the situation, the letters show. Law firm conducts investigation In October, the Board of Education began soliciting proposals for a law firm to conduct an independent investigation into the workplace misconduct allegations. The board selected Thompson Hine to conduct the probe in early November. Cain signed the contract on Dec. 1 for Thompson Hine to conduct the investigation. Thompson Hine created a public landing page for people to come forward with complaints relevant to the investigation. The online survey has since closed. Hearst Connecticut Media has reviewed the contract between the district and Thompson Hine, but few other details on the probe have been released. Letters sent to other administrators Vazquez-Matos notified Bourne on Jan. 11 that her leave was being extended, according to documents. In 2020, Bourne earned a salary of $152,188 in 2020, the districts data shows. In the letter to Bourne, Vazquez-Matos referenced a Jan. 5 meeting they had with Natalia Sieira Millan, who is a member of the school boards law firm, Shipman & Goodwin, to modify the earlier terms of her leave. It also indicated that Bourne was initially placed on leave Oct. 21. It is imperative that you abide by the terms of your leave, Vazquez-Matos wrote in the letter. Vazquez-Matos notified Gaylord Jan. 14 that he was also being placed on leave with pay and without prejudice, the documents show. Gaylord earned $196,910 in 2020, according to the districts data. The acting superintendent told Gaylord in the letter that significant concerns had been brought to his attention concerning his workplace conduct. Vazquez-Matos told Gaylord and Bourne that the measures are not disciplinary in nature. Both were directed not to report to work, attend school functions or take action on behalf of the district, unless told to do so by the acting superintendent, the letters said. Vazquez-Matos additionally told Gaylord not to enter school property or access the districts computer system, including email. He told Bourne to refrain from talking to any district or city employee unless he approves it. No complaints have been filed directly against Bourne, Gaylord, Conner or Vazquez-Matos in their official capacities, Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities FOI Officer Charles Perry said Friday. The Connecticut Board of Education does not usually get involved in a local districts employment issues until a person is terminated, a state Department of Child and Family Services investigation has been completed, or an arrest and criminal charges have been filed, Director Eric Scoville said Friday. What we dont know: Why Conner took family medical leave It remains unknown why Conner was granted family medical leave in mid-October. The BOE met in executive session 12 weeks later, and voted immediately afterward to approve his administrative leave, but has not provided details and has not responded to questions about the matter. Where the investigation stands It remains unclear why the administrators have been placed on leave and where the investigation stands. Jessie Lavorgna, the districts director of communications, said Thursday the investigation is continuing. We will wait to hear from the investigators about their timeline and conclusion. There is no retainer, no agreed-upon final total, nor any estimate of costs, she said in an email. Will more administrators be placed on leave? There are approximately 15 senior central office staff members, according to the BOE website. There is no indication others have been placed on leave, but officials have not responded to these questions or requests for comment. Viktoria Sundqvist / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT A city man will spend more than three years behind bars in federal prison for selling heroin and fentanyl, according to federal prosecutors. Anthony Gilchrist, 32, was sentenced Wednesday by Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford court to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Fort Lauderdale The tug of war between Fort Lauderdale and Broward County over whether to build a bridge or tunnel for commuter rail might kill plans for a joint government center with a $600 million price tag. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis made that clear Thursday, saying theres no way he would ever agree to build a new City/County Hall in a spot thats going to have an ugly train bridge built right nearby. Advertisement If they refuse to find a new spot and they refuse to assist us in constructing a tunnel for the train, then the city would have to back away from the joint government center, Trantalis told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. They would leave us no choice. In that case, perhaps Fort Lauderdale would build a new City Hall on its own instead of partnering with the county, Trantalis said. Advertisement The topic of the joint government complex came up during the citys annual goal-setting meeting on Thursday. At war over a tunnel Were not fully committed until we know what the cost is going to be, Trantalis said. He went on to gripe about the county trying to force a bridge down our throats that would ruin downtown Fort Lauderdale, the long-awaited joint government complex included. A joint government complex would replace Fort Lauderdale City Hall, an aging building at 100 North Andrews Ave. that dates back to the 1960s. (Susannah Bryan) The government campus would rise on the grounds of the countys central bus terminal at 101 NW First Ave. right next to the proposed bridge. Fort Lauderdale has agreed to pay 43 percent of the cost of the government campus, with the county picking up the rest. If all goes as planned, county officials say the joint complex would break ground in mid-2024 and open in 2026. Lure you into bed Trantalis accused the county of keeping Fort Lauderdale in the dark about whats happening with the project. They lure you into bed with them and you have all these great expectations, he said Thursday. And in the end, you find out all they want to do is steal the covers. Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Steve Glassman asked: Whats Plan B then? Advertisement A quip from Commissioner Robert McKinzie drew laughs: Bunk beds. Broward County Mayor Michael Udine was not amused. These issues are critically important to the residents of Broward County and Fort Lauderdale, Udine said. I dont think its a laughing matter so Im not going to joke about it. But if we dont have a willing partner, its hard to move forward. [ RELATED: Giant sky-high train bridge through downtown will ruin Fort Lauderdale, mayor says ] The concept of a new government campus has been talked about since at least May 2017. The new complex would replace Fort Lauderdale City Hall, an aging building at 100 North Andrews Ave. that dates back to the 1960s. The halls of the Broward County Governmental Center at 115 South Andrews Ave. are even more ancient, harkening back to 1947 when the building opened as a Burdines department store, escalators and all. Advertisement Kept in the dark Trantalis says the entire city commission has been frustrated by the lack of communication from the county. We want to be able to work together but we want meetings to happen every six to eight weeks not every six to eight months, he said. And we need to be kept informed. This is a partnership. We cant be left in the dark. Trantalis says hes heard there might be a problem with the site. Im told theres site remediation that may be costly and time consuming, he said. We need to know whats going on here. Trantalis defended his remark about the county stealing the covers. It was a joke but it was meant to reflect the way we feel, he said. Advertisement Trantalis accused the county of being tone-deaf when it comes to the needs of the regions municipalities. I can tell you that many cities in Broward County feel the same way, he said. And not just about the joint government center but in regard to a lot of other issues the county has a hand in that affects the cities. As for commuter rail, Trantalis fears the county will refuse to build a tunnel under the New River because of the higher cost. A tunnel would cost close to $2 billion. An 80-foot-high fixed would cost $452 million. Trantalis argues that building a bridge through downtown will destroy all the progress Fort Lauderdale has made over the past decade. I will not be browbeaten by another government agency, he said. We control our destiny. We control what happens in our city. Advertisement [ RELATED: Its sexy. Its eye-popping. Is this really a government building in Fort Lauderdale? ] Udine noted the county will need federal funding, whether it builds a tunnel under the New River or a bridge over it. If Fort Lauderdale wants to put the money in to pay for the tunnel, fine, Udine said. But everyone knows we need federal funding for this. The whole idea of a joint government campus came up years ago as a way to save tax dollars, Udine said. Fort Lauderdale needs a new City Hall, Udine said. Broward County needs a new County Hall. Both of these buildings are over 50 years old. This would save tax dollars and put all the government employees in the same building. It would be good for the downtown area. But if we dont have a willing partner on the other side, life goes on. Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@SunSentinel.com or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan Contributed /New Fairfield Resident Troopers office NEW FAIRFIELD Police and the resident state troopers office are investigating a vehicle break-in Wednesday afternoon at a business off Cottontail Road. The resident troopers office said cash and credit cards were taken from the car, and later used at several locations in Danbury. Major train heists aren't as common now as they were in the Wild West, but railways still carry some highly sensitive cargo that demands heavy-duty, specialized protection. That's why the U.S. Navy, better known for aircraft carriers, submarines and fighter jets, is adding a sleek new armored train caboose to its arsenal, designed to protect shipments of radioactive waste and house mission-relevant security personnel. The slate-blue Rail Escort Vehicle, or REV, a collaboration between the Navy and the U.S. Department of Energy, departed its assembly site at Vigor Industrial in Portland, Oregon this month for a testing location at the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. in Pueblo, Colorado, where it will undergo a final slate of tests. When it enters service as soon as 2024, REV will get hooked up to DoE's new Atlas railcar, built to hold hundreds of tons of spent nuclear fuel. For the Navy, the trains will carry spent fuel rods from shipyards and propulsion facilities on the East and West Coasts to the Naval Reactors Facility in Idaho Falls, Idaho, for inspection and temporary storage before final disposal in dry casks underground. Atlas Railcar (Dept. of Energy graphic) Many details about the new caboose are classified, but DoE says it will provide "enhanced security, communication and surveillance capabilities," compared with the smaller yellow escort cabooses currently used for the mission. A spokesman for the Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP), Lee Smith, said the final two-year phase of testing will involve multiple train cars and demonstrate compliance with the Association of American Railroads' S-2043 regulation governing the transport of radioactive material. "As part of multiple-car testing, these railcars will be coupled together in a prototypic train setup and tested together. The majority of multiple-car testing will occur on closed test track loops at the Transportation Technology Center near Pueblo, CO but will also include testing on commercial rail track, culminating in a DOE demonstration run," Smith said in an email. "The specific sequence and timing of multiple-car testing is currently being finalized." Atlas SNF railcar with test weights on test track. (Dept. of Energy photo) Tests that have already been completed, he said, include demonstrations for each railcar design, including a "cask" car to carry the nuclear waste and a "buffer" car to accompany it. Once the REV hits the rails after testing, it will hold a complement of specially trained security personnel, providing them "a comfortable living and working environment," according to a fact sheet, for rail trips that can span thousands of miles from the Portsmouth, Maine, Naval Shipyard to Idaho, for example. The solid REV, windowless except for small apertures The Drive describes as firing ports, stretches nearly 69 feet long and weighs 185,000 pounds fully loaded. While the total cost of the caboose isn't clear, DoE contributed $10 million to its development. Ultimately, the Navy plans to procure five of the railcars, Smith confirmed. The Department of Energy will buy its own similarly designed escort vehicle for commercial shipments. Smith confirmed that Navy waste shipments would be accompanied by "Navy personnel that are specially trained, armed, and have access to extensive and redundant communications capabilities." He did not specify, however, what job rating these sailors would come from, or what weapons they and the REV would carry. He did note that security regulations limited what he could say about some aspects of the caboose's operation. "The REV is the last piece of the puzzle in completing a railcar system to safely transport the nation's spent nuclear fuel," Patrick Schwab, Atlas project manager for DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy, said in a January release. "This project is a prime example of the great collaboration between DOE and the Navy and will further serve the nation's naval nuclear propulsion program, as well as our civilian reactors which currently supply more than half of our nation's clean energy." The Navy has more than 100 nuclear reactors, most of which power its fleet of carriers and submarines. Nuclear reactor cores are a long-lasting, zero-emission fuel source, and the Navy prides itself on its perfect record of safety to date in its employment of nuclear propulsion. But when nuclear fuel is spent, the disposal process is both delicate and laborious. The fuel in a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier lasts about 25 years, about half the carrier's service life. The nuclear core in an attack submarine can last between 20 and 30 years. "The first nuclear-powered submarine, USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571), was refueled after her first two years of operation having steamed about 62,000 miles," a NNPP brief from 2017 stated. "Today's nuclear-powered attack submarine will not require refueling during its 33-year life and will steam over one million miles." Rail transport has been the Navy's go-to option for spent nuclear fuel for over six decades, according to NNPP. The safety requirements for shipping radioactive waste cross-country are so demanding, and the waste containers themselves so massive, that trains are the practical option. The Navy's M-290 Spent Fuel Shipping Container, which looks like a gigantic horizontal Shake Weight, encases its load with 10 to 11 inches of solid stainless steel. Another model, the dome-like M-140, features 14 inches of stainless steel and weighs up to 350,000 pounds when loaded. These containers have to withstand a brutal beating, according to federal regulations. According to NNPP briefing slides, the containers must be able to withstand any combination of the following events: 30-foot drop onto an unyielding surface; 40-inch drop onto a 6-inch diameter vertical metal rod; Fully-engulfing 1475 degree Fahrenheit fire for at least 30 minutes; Immersion in 50 feet of water. Radioactive material is a massive public health hazard, as anyone who watched the HBO miniseries Chernobyl knows. The Navy spends substantial time and resources on shipment accident exercises, conducting mishap drills in 11 locations across the U.S. between 1996 and 2017, according to briefing slides. These exercises simulate various disasters that could threaten the shipment or train, and involve extensive communication with local authorities and civilian emergency personnel. In one 2015 exercise, Navy officials simulated a spent nuclear fuel transport train getting hit by a dump truck in Granger, Wyoming, causing the train to derail and injure the driver. The exercise involved regional radiological surveys that confirmed radiation levels were normal, and the train ultimately was cleared to continue on to its destination. The existence of an escort caboose packed with armed security personnel indicates preparation for a decidedly more nefarious scenario, however. Security experts have speculated about the possibility that terrorists could steal spent fuel rods for use in a radioactive "dirty bomb" or similar weapon. This was a topic of particular concern following the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Is it a realistic concern? Perhaps not. In March 2002, The Brookings Institution's Gwyneth Cravens considered the risks: "Could terrorists steal spent nuclear fuel? First they would have to get past multiple impediments: guards, high double fences with concertina wire, floodlights, motion detectors, and cameras. Fuel rods are so radioactive that anyone coming within a few feet of them would become extremely ill and die within hours if not minutes. The more radioactive something is, the harder it is for someone to stealand survive. Special equipment and thick lead shields are required for handling, and spent fuel for transport must be placed in casks weighing about 90 tons that have been stringently tested (burned with jet fuel, dropped from great heights onto steel spikes, and otherwise assaulted) and have remained impervious." Nonetheless, federal regulations require these aggressive and redundant security measures, an acknowledgment that any unchecked mishap or unanticipated scenario would be a true disaster. So, how much spent nuclear fuel is the Navy shipping around the country, anyway? Not as much as you might think. As of 2017, 850 containers of nuclear waste had been sent via rail from shipyards to the Idaho holding facility since shipping began in March 1957. "The Navy ships on average about 10 containers per year of spent naval nuclear fuel, depending on the ship inactivation and refueling schedule," Smith said. "Containers are typically shipped together and each train could include between 1 and 6 containers." Read the original article on Sandboxx Nearly eight years after the Defense Department held a groundbreaking ceremony in Germany for a new hospital to replace Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, construction on the building is set to begin, Defense Health Agency officials announced Jan. 19. Despite the event in October 2014 that heralded construction of the Rhine Ordnance Barracks Medical Center Replacement, no walls have actually been built. And the original goal to complete the facility in 2022 has been pushed to 2027. According to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman, the groundbreaking represented "the beginning of the overall campus project," and since then, more than $200 million in infrastructure has been built, including an access control point, bridge, utilities, roads and environmental impact mitigation. Read Next: Troops at These Bases Are on Alert for Deployment over Ukraine Crisis The 1950s-era Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is renowned for being the first stop for service members wounded in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere. Patients across the years have included the wounded from the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon; those injured on the guided missile destroyer Cole in 2000; and the wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan. Civilians also have been sent to Landstuhl: Its surgeons famously treated ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt when the vehicle they were filming in struck a roadside bomb near Baghdad in 2006. The new facility, roughly seven miles from Landstuhl, will employ roughly 2,500 people and also house the 86th Medical Group clinic, now at Ramstein Air Base. Design of the center also has been underway for several years, a "complex process that required multiple design submittal iterations to resolve code conflicts prior to construction award to ensure a modern, world-class facility," said Catherine Bingham, medical program manager at the Corps of Engineers' Europe District. "We are very proud of the hard work and collaboration between the U.S. and German partners," Bingham said in an email. "The whole team is focused on delivering this world class healthcare facility for our service members and their families." The Defense Health Agency announced Jan. 19 that a $969 million contract has been signed with the companies Zublin and Gilbane under a joint venture. The 985,000-square-foot facility is expected to serve roughly 200,000 service members, families and American civilians in Germany and throughout the region, with nine operating rooms, 120 exam rooms and 68 beds with a surge capacity for 25 more. When work began on the replacement in 2014, its expected completion date was 2022. The timeline was revised in 2018 to December 2023, with a goal to be operational by 2024. Now, according to the Defense Health Agency, the expected completion is in late 2027. There had been concerns that the construction funds for the Landstuhl replacement project would be diverted for President Donald Trump's project to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, part of $21 billion in unobligated military construction funds that were marked for projects but not spent. The DoD ultimately shifted $3.6 billion to help pay for the wall and later was to contribute an additional $6.4 billion, but the Landstuhl funds were not included. President Joe Biden canceled funding for the border wall project on Jan. 20, 2021, allowing the DoD to reinvest $2.2 billion back into its planned projects. Zublin is a construction company in Stuttgart that has built other U.S. military facilities in Germany; Gilbane was responsible for building Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia. Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: Service Chiefs to SecDef: Stop the Handover of Military Hospitals to Defense Health Agency The military force Russia has amassed along Ukraine's border could cause devastation in the event of an invasion, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff warned Friday. Russian forces now include more than 100,000 troops consisting of air, naval, special forces, cyber and electronic warfare, command and control, logistics and engineering units, Gen. Mark Milley told reporters during a briefing at the Pentagon. "If that was unleashed on Ukraine, it would be significant, very significant, and it would result in a significant amount of casualties," Milley said. "You can imagine what that might look like in dense urban areas, along roads and so on, so forth. It would be horrific; it would be terrible." Read Next: Military Ordered to Overhaul Effort to Prevent Civilian Casualties After Botched Airstrikes Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a press briefing Friday saying the U.S. stands ready to support NATO and respond to any attack on member nations, though Ukraine is not part of the alliance. Austin ordered 8,500 troops to be on heightened alert, but President Joe Biden has ruled out direct military action in Ukraine if Russian President Vladimir Putin orders an invasion. There is not going to be any American forces moving into Ukraine, Biden told reporters on Tuesday. Divisions also are forming among NATO allies over whether to call up the NATO Response Force, an elite coalition of 40,000 troops from member states that could include the 8,500 U.S. service members, according to the NATO secretary general. "Although we don't believe that President Putin has made a final decision to use these forces against Ukraine, he clearly now has that capability," Austin said. "And there are multiple options available to him, including the seizure of cities and significant territories." Austin said Putin may also attempt provocative political acts, such as recognizing breakaway territories within Ukraine as part of Russia, similar to what happened in Crimea in 2014. "This is straight out of the Russian playbook. And they're not fooling us," he said. Putin has demanded assurances that Ukraine will never join NATO and that the alliance will pull back from its eastern European flank. The U.S. has refused, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent a written response to Russia this week saying there could still be diplomatic dialogue if Putin stops the aggression. For now, the military defense of Ukraine appears to be riding on its own forces, which may not be enough to repel a Russian invasion. Milley said the country has 150,000 active-duty troops, with many more in its reserves. Most are concentrated in the east along the Donbass region, where Kiev has been fighting a separatist war with Moscow-backed rebels. "Their combat capabilities have improved since 2014 when Russia illegally annexed Crimea, but they need additional help to defend themselves, especially from an invasion force the size that Russia is currently massing," Milley said. The U.S. has also given $2.7 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014, including $650 million over the past year. That aid includes the Javelin, a portable missile capable of taking out Russian tanks, as well as other anti-armor weapons, artillery, grenade launchers and small arms, according to Austin. The 8,500 U.S. troops put on heightened alert to deploy as part of a NATO Response Force to bolster eastern Europe are on hold stateside while the allies debate whether to greenlight their activation. "That's a political decision," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday in a livestream event sponsored by the Atlantic Council. "There are some differences among the allies" on reaching a consensus to call up the 40,000 troops in the Response Force, including the 8,500 troops from the U.S. The U.S. ready force includes members of the 82nd Airborne Division and 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and troops with the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The alert order also included units at bases in Arizona, Texas, Washington state, Louisiana, Georgia and Ohio. Stoltenberg stressed that sending NATO forces into Ukraine itself in the event of a Russian invasion has been ruled out. "It is correct that there is not a plan to deploy NATO troops to Ukraine," he said. He also confirmed that the Russian military buildup around Ukraine now includes the advanced S-400 air and missile defense system that Moscow has billed as an "F-35 killer." Although activation of the NATO Response Force is being delayed, U.S. officials in recent days have spoken of unilateral workarounds by the U.S. to reinforce NATO members to deter Russia. At a State Department briefing Thursday, Victoria Nuland, the assistant secretary of state for political affairs, suggested that U.S. forces already in Europe under U.S. European Command could shift to NATO's eastern flank to serve as a catalyst for activation of the NATO Response Force. Nuland said that "sometimes it's the case that the U.S. can move more quickly and allies want that support and then NATO comes in, in support. So we're looking at all of those options and talking to all of the countries, particularly those on the eastern edge of NATO, a number of whom would like to see more support both from NATO and from the U.S." At a Pentagon briefing Thursday, Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said that NATO Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Tod Wolters, wearing his second hat as head of European Command, is prepared to shift forces to the east. "We're not taking off the table the possibility of using forces that are already in Europe," Kirby said. "It's entirely likely that some of that will be achieved through using organic capabilities that Gen. Wolters already has on the European continent." -- Travis Tritten can be reached at travis.tritten@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @Travis_Tritten. Related: Troops at These Bases Are on Alert for Deployment over Ukraine Crisis A Space Force captain traveling with their spouse stood stunned at the Spirit Airlines ticket counter this past October hoping to take advantage of the company's waived baggage fees for active-duty service members. But there was a problem: The Spirit employee didn't believe the Space Force exists. The officer showed a military-issued ID card, pulled up the official website on their phone and explained the recent history of the Space Force. The desk attendant believed the service member was no longer active in the Air Force, couldn't comprehend the existence of the new branch and didn't want to issue the discount. Read Next: 'Horrific': Joints Chiefs Chairman Says Russian Invasion Could Devastate Ukraine "In the moment, I was flabbergasted," said the officer, who spoke to Military.com on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal by Space Force superiors. "We tried to take it on methodically and convince him that the Space Force was real." It wasn't until a Spirit supervisor got involved that the Guardian finally received the discount and the couple went on their way without paying the baggage fees. A few days later, the Space Force officer received an emailed apology from the airline, which was reviewed by Military.com. The incident illustrated what many Guardians have found all too familiar: a public that doesn't understand America's newest military branch or believes it's just a tepidly reviewed Netflix series. It's been two years since former President Donald Trump signed a defense policy bill and created the United States Space Force, a separate service branch that is under the Department of the Air Force. But Guardians have taken to social media and told Military.com about how civilians seem befuddled by the concept of the new branch. And while the Space Force's mission -- to protect and defend the massive U.S. satellite fleet -- is crucial in everything from the country's reliance on GPS to detecting abnormalities in the Earth's orbit, many in the general public haven't grasped it. Conor William Deans, a Space Force ROTC cadet at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, is the first student from the historic military college to accept a commission for the branch. One day, he was sitting at a burger restaurant with his fellow cadets when a patron stopped by the table and asked them which branch of the military they planned on joining. Deans proudly told the man he was joining the Space Force. "'Space Force? Is that real?'" Deans recalled the man asking. "I tried to explain to him what it was, but he seemed even more confused." Deans said he was encouraged to join the Space Force in 2019 when Gen. John Raymond, then with the Air Force, came to campus to talk about his military career. When Raymond became the first chief of space operations, The Citadel cadet said he wanted to be a part of history. But he said the public has been slow to catch on to the role of the new branch. "In a lot of ways, it's still lumped in with the Air Force," Deans said. "It's still new and hasn't expanded its own culture yet, but I think that'll grow and change." Some recent comments from senior military leaders have muddled the relationship between the Air Force and the Space Force. Earlier this month, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall spoke about the relationship between the branches at a Center for a New American Security virtual event Jan. 19. "We want the Space Force to be an independent, separate service," Kendall said. "But we also want it to stay as tightly coupled to the Air Force and the Department of the Air Force as it's necessary for it to be a success." Some Guardians complained about Kendall's comment on social media and said they want the Space Force's top leadership to help shape a distinct identity for the service to the general public. Raymond, speaking at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event also on Jan.19, said the Space Force can't become just a carbon copy of the Air Force. "If we go into this and just iterate our way down the path and become nothing more than an Air Force, changes a little bit here and there, we've missed a huge opportunity," Raymond said. Todd Harrison, director of the Aerospace Security Project at the nonprofit Center for Strategic and International Studies, said many Americans don't know what the military does, let alone the semantics of the service branches. But he added that there needs to be a concerted effort from Space Force leadership to make their mission explicitly clear to the public. "Space Force needs to make an internal culture that is distinctive from the Air Force," Harrison said. "They need to separate themselves from NASA and from the Netflix parody and communicate, 'This is what we do.'" Space Force Col. Matthew Morand, an officer who runs the branch's ROTC program at The Citadel, said many of his friends and family were confused, too, when he transferred from the Air Force. "I've had people ask me while I'm standing there in my military uniform, 'Is Space Force a real thing?'" Morand said. "A lot of folks don't understand what we do, and there aren't many of us. We're tiny." The Space Force currently has around 6,800 Guardians and 6,700 civilian employees. By comparison, the Air Force has around 650,000 personnel. The service began transferring members from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, after focusing the first year on transfers from the Air Force. "We're going to be tied to the hip with the Air Force for some time," Morand said. "But culture takes time, and we're working on that culture." Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman, the Space Force's highest noncommissioned officer, told Military.com in an interview that, while many in the public sphere may not know what the branch does, he believes the mission is important and hopes that, with time, it will change. "I would say the awareness is growing all the time, and that makes me really happy," Towberman said. "What I see in the Space Force, specifically, is this slow evolution of this really special thing that we're trying to do." -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: 'Happy Birthday, Guardians': Space Force Celebrates Its Second Birthday Two Army veterans won a combined $110 million in the latest decision from a series of lawsuits alleging 3M sold the military faulty earplugs that caused hearing loss. On Thursday, a federal jury in Pensacola, Florida, awarded William Wayman and Ronald Sloan each $15 million in compensatory damages and $40 million in punitive damages. The verdict represents the largest single payout since the series of trials began last year. "Juries continue to find that 3M's earplugs were defective and that they are responsible for causing irreparable hearing damage to those who served our country," Wayman and Sloan's legal team said in an emailed joint statement. "There is now a sustained track record of juries rejecting 3M's defenses and returning awards of millions of dollars per plaintiff -- underscoring the severity of these injuries and the deplorable nature of 3M's misconduct." Read Next: 'Horrific': Joint Chiefs Chairman Says Russian Invasion Could Devastate Ukraine Sloan, who was in the Army for 21 years, and Wayman, who served for 20 years, both say they wore the earplugs in Iraq and Afghanistan and have since been diagnosed with tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss. Wayman's hearing issues also exacerbate his post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as causing memory, focus and sleep issues, his attorneys say. The two veterans were represented by Bryan Aylstock of Aylstock Witkin Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC; Shelley Hutson of Clark, Love & Hutson GP; and Christopher Seeger of Seeger Weiss LLP. In its own press release, 3M said it plans to appeal the decision and argued that having two plaintiffs in one trial "can cause confusion and ultimately affect the outcome." "3M's defense is rooted in the fact that the CAEv2 was effective and safe to use, and our conduct was consistent with the company's values and our longtime commitment to keeping our U.S. military safe," the company said. The multinational noted that it had won the previous two verdicts in lawsuits related to the earplugs. "We will continue to vigorously defend ourselves throughout this litigation," 3M added. Lawsuits involving nearly 300,000 service members and others have been filed against 3M over its combat arms version 2 dual-sided earplug, which were used by the U.S. military from 2003 to 2015. The lawsuits allege 3M concealed design flaws and cooked test results, while the company maintains the earplugs met expectations in repeated tests by the military and that hearing loss can happen in combat even with "robust" protection. The lawsuits have been connected through what's known as multidistrict litigation, in which multiple federal lawsuits that have facts in common are handled by one court. It's become the largest federal mass tort litigation in U.S. history. Juries have heard 11 so-called bellwether trials out of the thousands of lawsuits against 3M. A bellwether trial is when a small number of cases are chosen to be heard from a larger pool to get a sense of how they will play out, often for the purposes of determining settlements. So far, 3M has won five of the bellwether cases, while plaintiffs have won six for a combined total of $160 million in damages. -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: One Vet Wins Big, Another Loses in 3M Military Earplugs Lawsuits As a current print subscriber, you receive 24/7 access to our website and online e-edition at no additional charge. All you have to do is activate your access. To activate digital access, you will need your account number. You can find your account number on any recent subscription notice or bill. HOLLYWOOD A man died Thursday night after he attempted to cross railroad tracks in Hollywood and was struck by a Brightline train, police said. Shortly before 7:30 p.m., police responded to the tracks in the area of Harrison Street and South 21st Avenue. The man attempted to cross the tracks as the train was coming, Hollywood Police Department Officer Christian Lata said. Advertisement Lata said police are diverting traffic from Dixie Highway to Washington Street for drivers to head east to cross the tracks. Drivers who are heading north will be diverted to 24th Avenue to take Johnson Street east over the tracks. [ RELATED: Brother was driving sister to work when they were killed by a Brightline train ] Thursday nights fatality is the latest in a series of deaths involving Brightline trains. Earlier this month, a 68-year-old man and his sister were killed when the brother drove his SUV around a lowered crossing gate into the trains path. The siblings were believed to be the 51st and 52nd deaths involving the high-speed train since January 2018. Advertisement In December, a 70-year-old pedestrian in Fort Lauderdale, a man who intentionally stepped in front of a train in Hollywood and a man walking on the tracks in North Miami Beach were killed. The Associated Press reported in 2019 that Brightline had the highest death rate out of the countrys over 800 railroads. Sun Sentinel staff writer Eileen Kelley contributed to this report. [ RELATED: Brightline high-speed train has highest U.S. death rate ] Bishop Dr John Yaw Adu 28.01.2022 LISTEN In his quest to ensure that the bad omen does not befall on the country anymore, the founder and leader of the New Jerusalem Chapel Church located at Kumasi Sokoban Ampayoo in the Ashanti Region, Bishop Dr John Yaw Adu has passionately appealed to the religious bodies to come together to fast and pray for God's intervention. His comment follows the recent tragic explosion Appiatse in Bogoso in the Western Region that killed 14 people and injured many people. Speaking to the Correspondent in an exclusive interview over the weekend, Bishop Dr John Yaw Adu mentioned the Nima-Mamobi bloody clash, Kumasi Asokwa tanker explosion among others as happenings in the country that need God's intervention. He noted that God revealed to him that road accidents, gas explosions and fratricidal violence cases would greet the country this year. According to him, Ghanaians must seek the face of God to avert what the devil has planned to destroy the state in the year 2022. Bishop Adu said it was against this background that he find it appropriate to call on the religious bodies to come together in intercessory fast and prayers to avert any calamity in the country. He cited the scriptures in 1st Thessalonians chapter 6 verse 18-20 that it is important the society test all souls and believe the righteous ones and follow them towards salvation. "See, parts of my prophecies are working," the popular man of God told the correspondent adding that when people refuse to recognize the true prophecies and reject the word of God, the nation suffers. The Bishop intimated that the recent happenings in the country give clear indications that his prophecies are showing some signs of manifestation. Bishop Adu reiterated that in order to reverse any calamity he is passionately imploring the religious bodies and all Ghanaians to come together fix dates for national fasting and prayers. The Zugraan of Kusaug Traditional Area, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II has called for peace in troubling Bawku in the Upper East Region. He said this when he visited President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at Jubilee House in Accra Tuesday. Addressing hundreds of his kinsmen at the Palace, the Bawku Naba said he would not sit and watch innocent people continue to die in the conflict. Naba Azoka II indicated that he will explore all avenues to ensure peace return to the area. According to Zug-Raan, he has never been selective in his dealings with issues in Bawku. Hundreds of his kinsmen poured onto the streets of Bawku to welcome him from Accra. Many people were clad in white attire as a sign of victory after President Akufo-Addo reaffirmed the current Bawku Naba as the legitimate chief of the area. The President said his major concern since he took the Oath of Office, had been to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the country, which included decisions of the Supreme Court, adding: I know fully well the nature of the decision the Supreme Court took in the Bawku chieftaincy conflict. And ever since I became President, I have not made secret the fact that, for me, Naba Abugrago Azoka II is the Bawku Naba. If I do not uphold the laws of Ghana, who will? So with this background, I am hoping that the Bawku Naba will also find a way to cooperate with the government to bring peace to the area, the President said. He expressed appreciation to the Bawku Naba and his elders for honouring his invitation to deliberate on recent happenings in the area, saying: I asked him here so that all of us can find a way to work towards bringing peace, calm and understanding to Bawku. Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Wednesday, 26th January 2022 met the U.S Secretary of State, Antony Blinken and Assistant Secretary of State, Molly Phee at the U.S State Department in Washington DC. Discussions were centered on the security situation in West Africa, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr Bawumia, Mr Blinken and Molly Phee agreed on the need to place much premium on COVID-19 vaccine supply, vaccine manufacturing capabilities, how to adapt and prepare for the next wave or pandemic. Earlier, Dr Bawumia had met the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the 8953rd Security Council Meeting in New York. Their deliberations covered vaccine manufacturing capabilities for Africa, violent conflicts, Ghanas role in ensuring regional stability, as well as, how Ghanas digitalization agenda fits into the UNs global digital compact. Dr Bawumia is out of the country for the UN Security Council meeting in New York. ---Classfmonline.com Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin is courting the support of Ghanaians for the passage of the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy popularly known as E-levy. To him, the E-levy was designed to allow for an improved standard of living. He said the citizenry must be optimistic about the proper utilization of the tax policy because the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration has proved its worth with taxpayers money. Afenyo-Markin, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Effutu constituency in the Central Region, was speaking at Koforidua at the government's consultative and sensitization town hall meeting on the policy. Even the onset of the pandemic and its challenges did not lead to the scrapping of our social intervention programmes. There are past governments that did not utilize revenue raised from taxes, but the NPP administration is not one of them. So this is a tax that must be passed to fix roads and create jobs. There will be enormous benefits. It has happened before, so all Ghanaians should support us. He, therefore, asked the public to rally behind Parliament to have the E-levy passed and not fall to criticisms from opposition parties. The MP also added that government will be fair and accountable to Ghanaians in its dealings with monies accrued from the tax measure. The government will be very transparent in its accountability on the E-levy. If the tax policy is passed and the unemployed youth are given jobs, then we will realize that we have been truthful and Government has the track record of introducing taxes for useful purposes. ---citinewsroom The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has said claims the implementation of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) will have a negative impact on consumer behaviour are false. Following the announcement of plans by the government to introduce the levy, Minority in Parliament has mounted a spirited opposition. Among the concerns raised, many have said the levy is retrogressive and will undo the gains of the government in its digitalisation agenda. There has also been the argument that people will be discouraged from making financial transactions electronically particularly through Mobile Money. Speaking at the Government Townhall meeting on the E-levy proposal in Koforidua on Thursday, January 27, 2022, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful stressed that those claims have no bases. She said, The notion that consumers will stop using electronic transactions because of this levy is not true. I dare say that based on our experience from the communications service tax and lessons from other countries, we are confident that the E-Levy will not bring about any negative changes in consumer behavior as electronic transactions borders on convenience, safety, security that we can enjoy. According to the Minister in charge of Communication, the NDC despite their opposition to the E-Levy will never abolish it should the party come to power in the future. She alleges that the umbrella party has always been against every good initiative of the NPP hence it comes as no surprise that the party is fighting government on the newly introduced levy. Despite the NDCs opposition to the communication service tax, they never repealed it when they were in power, they didnt even reduce the rate of the levy. They also complained and rejected the national health insurance when it was introduced in Parliament and actually walked out, they complained about the capitation grant, they have issues with free SHS, ridiculed the discovery of oil as well, they always oppose every initiative that will ultimately benefit the Ghanaian people but our collective experience shows that they themselves admit that despite initial opposition to many of these intervention, it is proven to be worth their wait, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful shared. Member of Parliament for Yapei-Kusawgu in the Savanna Region, Hon. John Abu Jinapor, says Ghanas economy is being run by "mere boys" who cannot do anything meaningful which as a result, the ordinary Ghanaian is suffering. He noted that the NPP in the heat of the 2016 general elections campaign claimed they have the men to properly govern the country. Speaking at the NDCs recent Town Hall Meeting at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region on the controversial e-levy, Mr. John Jinapor, expressed worry over the worsening economic crises in the country. Look, the ordinary Ghanaian is suffering. Am telling you the truth. This is not what the NPP promised us, this is not what the NPP told us. They told us they have the men, today weve come to realized that they are nothing but mere boys who cannot do anything meaningful for this country. According to him, the introduction of e-levy by the Akufo-Addo led government is not in the interest of Ghanaians, hence must be discarded. The Akufo Addo government is seeking to introduce a 1.75 e-levy tax on electronic transactions including Mobile Money Transactions. The Minority in Parliament has opposed the levy, saying it will further worsen the already suffering Ghanaians and diminish the gains made in the cashless system. Genser Energy Ghana Limited (Genser Energy), an Independent Power Producing company with operations in the Western and Western North Regions, has donated one thousand bags of cement to the Appiatse Traditional council to support in reconstruction of relief homes for the affected individuals. Onesimos Barimah Osei, Legal and Compliance Manager of Genser Energy, who led the donation, expressed the Companys sympathies to the entire traditional council and the community. He mentioned that As one of the leading private entities in the region, it was incumbent on us, at a time like this, to show support to the affected community. He further assured the Traditional Council of the companys willingness to support future projects. In accepting the donation, Hon Dr. Isaac Dasmani, the Municipal Chief Executive for the Preseta Huni-Valley Municipal Assembly expressed appreciation for the gesture. He indicated that The donation came at the right time as the Assembly is undertaking the construction of relief homes and camps to help accommodate the displaced community members. He appealed to other corporate entities to support the community with medical supplies, food, building materials, and other relief items. Nana Attah Kwadwo Brembi II, the chief of Appiatse, welcomed the gesture from Genser Energy and thanked them for remembering the entire community in their time of need. He said, Genser Energy has shown concern for the community where its operations affect and we are grateful. He assured the company that the donation will be used for the reconstruction exercise among other things. He called on all private companies to extend a helping hand to the community Genser Energy also launched a relief fund, in partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Ghana, with a target amount of US$50,000 from individuals and corporations to help assist in the reconstruction of the Appiatse Community. Genser Energy will be matching all additional contributions up to US$50,000 of the money accrued from the GoFundMe campaign. Donations are still being contributed here: GoFundMe campaign (https://gofund.me/047f99cc) The United States voiced alarm Thursday after Ethiopia's Tigray rebels announced a military operation in the neighboring Afar region, but hailed moves by the government to ease a state of emergency. The Tigray People's Liberation Front said Tuesday it was taking "robust actions" in Afar in response to pro-government forces, a month after the rebels' withdrawal had raised hopes of ending more than a year of war. "Reports of renewed fighting in the region are very concerning and we repeat our calls to all actors to cease all offensive operations, which also hinder that humanitarian access that we all know is so crucial," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. He welcomed a push by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government to shorten a state of emergency imposed in November as the rebels seemed poised to threaten the capital. Price voiced hope that the decision "will be approved soon" and urged the government to free all who were detained under the state of emergency. The United States has heavily criticized Ethiopia, a longtime ally, over human rights concerns in the war against the Tigrayan rebels, including restrictions on aid delivery. The United States on January 1 removed Africa's second most populous country from a major trade pact. But President Joe Biden held an upbeat call with Abiy on January 10 with senior State Department officials visiting the Ethiopian leader earlier this week. David Satterfield, the special envoy for the Horn of Africa, and Molly Phee, the assistant secretary of state for African affairs, encouraged Abiy's government to "seize what we believe is a current opening for peace" including by reaching a ceasefire, Price said. Ministry of Information says the Nana Akufo-Addo government is not bothered about the town hall meetings organised by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to criticise its proposed electronic transaction levy. A Deputy Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar in an interview on Eyewitness News, said the government will stay focused on its public engagements on the 1.75% levy and work to get the support of the public. We are not distracted by whatever engagement the NDC is doing in opposition to this e-levy because, at the end of the day, we have the core responsibility to explain the policy to Ghanaians and also educate the public. Whatever they are doing on the other side is up to them. We are committed to ensuring that Ghanaians understand the introduction of the e-levy and what they are going to get if government is able to raise the revenue targets that we have, she said. The government on Thursday, January 27, 2022, held a town hall meeting in the Eastern Regional capital Koforidua to explain why the E-levy is necessary for the countrys development and take feedback from the public on the e-levy. But prior to the engagement, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) which has already declared its stance against the E-levy, also held a town hall meeting in the Ashanti Region to urge Ghanaians to resist it. But according to Fatimatu Abubakar, the government will continue with its engagements in various forms to make Ghanaians accept the E-levy. She noted that the government has not planned another town hall meeting immediately after Thursdays event, but it will use other forms of engagements, especially at the local level, to discuss the levy. Given the opportunity, more of these engagements will come up. Everybody deserves the opportunity to understand the issue. Continuously, we are doing different levels of engagements. We are not using only one means. The town hall is one, but other engagements will go on, she added. There is nothing wrong with we engaging people now. We still want to come and explain issues to people so that when they understand it, its implementation will be easy for all. We will take all the criticisms, but well make sure that Ghanaians understand this. citinewsroom France's multiple left-wing presidential candidates are to be judged in a "people's primary" a contest that has been rejected by almost all of the candidates themselves ahead of elections in April. A total of 467,000 people have signed up to take part in the online vote, which will see five professional politicians and two civil society candidates ranked on a scale from "very good" to "inadequate". The winner is set to be announced on Sunday, but the whole exercise looks doomed to fail given that hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, Greens candidate Yannick Jadot and Socialist contender Anne Hidalgo plan to ignore the result. "There are better things to do 70 days from the first round of voting than an obscure primary," Melenchon told supporters during a political meeting in Bordeaux this week. Opinion canvass The vote will give a snapshot of opinion on the left, however, and may boost the chances of former Socialist justice minister Christine Taubira, who is seen as the most likely candidate to be endorsed. Melenchon, who heads the France Unbowed party, is polling the strongest in the flagging left-wing field at around 10 percent ahead of the first round of voting on 10 April. Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, is on around 3 percent and Jadot on 5, meaning all three would be eliminated and fail to make the second-round run-off vote. Divided and behind in the polls, the left has five main candidates for April's vote, including the Communist Fabien Roussel. The large number of registered voters for the online consultation, which will run until Sunday, will make the vote "difficult to sweep aside", says political scientist Mathieu Gallard. Organisers of the primary say the process aims to designate "the candidate most capable of bringing people together". "This is the biggest tie-breaking process for candidates in France, it cannot be ignored," Mathilde Imer told French news agency AFP. Samuel Grzybowski, another organiser, said most left-wing voters wanted to see a proper contest in these elections. "It's the first time that a citizen's movement of this magnitude has burst into the electoral game," he said. TAMARAC A man was shot and killed in a Tamarac neighborhood with several apartment complexes. A shooting in the 6100 block of Woodlands Boulevard was reported shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday, the Broward Sheriffs Office said. Advertisement Sheriffs deputies and Tamarac Fire Rescue found an adult male who had been shot, deputies said. Rescue crews took the man to unspecified hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The mans name was not been released by Thursday night. Advertisement The Sheriffs Offices crime scene and homicide detectives are investigating what led to the shooting. 28.01.2022 LISTEN Three people have been slapped with various fines for spilling concrete on a public road at Abavana Junction along the Pigfarm-Circle stretch in Accra. The three including a driver and two supervisors were arrested on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, when the incident happened. On Thursday, January 27, 2022, they were all processed and arraigned before court. After the proceedings in the court, all the three accused were convicted to pay fines of various amounts. "The first accused, Tahiru Faisal who is the driver of a Ford Concrete Pump Truck with registration number GN 8042- 20 has been convicted to pay a fine of Two Thousand Four Hundred Cedis (GH2400.00). "The second accused, Emmanuel Sogah-Burns who is the Engineer/Supervisor of Sobtech Engineering Consultancy has also been convicted to pay a fine of Six Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH600.00). "The third accused, Stephen Donkor who is the operator is also convicted to pay a fine of Six Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH600.00)," a statement issued by the Ghana Police Service has dislosed. The Police in its statement issued on the matter stresses that it continues to advise motorists to abide by the road safety regulations at all times. The Police warns that anybody found culpable will be prosecuted. The Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-GHANA) has described governments persistent push to have the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) passed as insensitive and hypocritical. In a press release from the foundation, it has stressed that the continuous attempt to impose the new levy on Ghanaians is a big betrayal on the citizenry after it had campaigned to move away from taxation to production. Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-GHANA) is deeply worried about the Government of Ghana's entrenched posture to forcefully pass the unpopular E-levy against the will of the suffering Ghanaians. We consider the continuous attempt by the regime to forcefully impose a tax described by many as ''nuisance and retrogressive tax'' on poor citizens as insensitive, hypocritical, betrayal and demonstration of bad faith towards the Ghanaian people who gave them the mandate to govern, a release from CFF-Ghana issued on Friday, January 28, 2022, has said. Although the foundation says it has no problem with government taxing relevant services reasonably in putting Ghana on the path of sustained progress, it disagrees completely with government on the now infamous E-levy and call on all Ghanaians to reject same without any hesitation. In a recommendation to the government, CFF-Ghana wants the current administration to fight corruption and strengthen the capacity of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to effectively collect taxes and rake in needed revenue for development. Read the CFF-Ghana statement below: For Immediate Release: Reject the E-levy or suffer for its acceptance. Community Focus Foundation Ghana (CFF-GHANA) is deeply worried about the Government of Ghana's entrenched posture to forcefully pass the unpopular E-levy against the will of the suffering Ghanaians. Fast forward, it is on record that the Vice-President then in opposition, had argued strongly that there's no need to tax poor citizens using mobile money services. On taxation, Ghanaians were promised that an NPP administration will move from taxation to production. In demanding political accountability from government on behalf of the Ghanaian people, we would be grateful to know what necessitated those mouth-watering promises on whose back the party came to government? It is trite knowledge that the Auditor General's Report clearly indicated that Ghana loses Ghc12 billion every year through corruption. If government claims the E-levy will give us Ghc7 billion a year, why wont government put in measures to recover those stolen monies instead of overburden Ghanaians with an E-levy? While we support government in taxing relevant services reasonably in putting Ghana on the path of sustained progress, we, however disagree completely with government on the now infamous E-levy and call on all Ghanaians to reject same without any hesitation. We consider the continuous attempt by the regime to forcefully impose a tax described by many as ''nuisance and retrogressive tax'' on poor citizens as insensitive, hypocrical, betrayal and demonstration of bad faith towards the Ghanaian people who gave them the mandate to govern. Under the circumstance, we highly recommend the following to government; 1. That government strengthen the capacity of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to effectively collect taxes on behalf of the state; 2. That government take urgent measures in stopping tax leakages in the system. 3. That government work closely with Civil Society especially the Tax Justice Coalition and other relevant agencies to roll out a National Tax Payment Campaign to inform the citizens on the importance of tax payment, what their taxes are being used for and other related issues. 4. That government commits itself politically in the fight against corruption to justify the confidence reposed in them by citizens. End. CFF-GHANA Communications. 0248640364 Issued this 28th Day of January, 2022. West African heads of state were set to gather on Friday to decide a response to this week's coup in Burkina Faso, as the military junta there called for international support. Burkina President Roch Marc Christian Kabore was overthrown on Monday by mutineering soldiers on the back of public anger at his failure to stem jihadist violence ravaging the impoverished nation. Heads of the regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are to hold a virtual summit on Friday starting at 1000 GMT over how to respond to the coup. The 15-member bloc has already "firmly condemned" the overthrow and in the past year and a half, it has suspended two other nations where coups have occurred. On the eve of the summit, the leader of the new military junta called for international support. "Burkina Faso more than ever needs its international partners," Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba said in televised comments, his first since the coup. "I call on the international community to support our country so it can exit this crisis as soon as possible." Damiba, 41, is a rising star in the military who commands an eastern region that has been badly hit by jihadists. On Wednesday, he met ministers of Kabore's government, which like the parliament has been dissolved. The junta has also suspended the constitution, vowing to re-establish "constitutional order" within a "reasonable time". Damiba asked ministers not to leave the country without authorisation, and also said he hoped to include all the country in the management of the transitional period, political sources told AFP. - Chronic instability - The coup is the latest bout of turmoil to strike Burkina Faso, a landlocked and poor state that has suffered chronic instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. On Tuesday, ECOWAS issued a statement to say the bloc "firmly condemns" the coup, accusing the military of forcing Kabore to resign "under threat, intimidation and pressure". Burkina Faso. By AFP Burkina Faso joins two other ECOWAS countries -- Mali and Guinea -- where there have been coups in the past 18 months. Those two countries have been suspended by the 15-nation bloc, which has also imposed an array of sanctions on them, including measures against individuals. Kabore, 64, was elected in 2015 following a popular revolt that forced out strongman Blaise Compaore. He was re-elected in 2020, but the following year faced a wave of anger over the mounting toll from a jihadist insurgency that swept in from neighbouring Mali. His well-being and whereabouts have been a key issue since the coup, with the United Nations leading calls for his release. On Wednesday, a source in his political party, the People's Movement for Progress (MPP) told AFP that the army was holding Kabore in a villa under house arrest. "President Kabore is physically well, but I cannot say anything about his state of mind," the source said. "He has a doctor available (and) access to his mobile phone, but under surveillance, obviously." The Minister in charge of Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has said at a time where businesses are moving from physical locations to online, the introduction of the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) is reasonable. Speaking during the governments town-hall meeting in Koforidua on Thursday, she disclosed that last year alone, over Ghc44million was spent by the fashion and beauty industry through electronic platforms. She said unfortunately, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) without an E-Levy could not receive the equivalent tax because it had no means. Businesses have moved from physical locations to online outside the reach of the GRA, depriving the government of much the needed revenue. We need to revert that and the E-Levy would do that. It would enable the government to build proper digital infrastructure, create digital market place which would connect buyers and sellers, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful. While calling for support for the E-Levy to be passed, the Communications Minister emphasised that it would go a long way to push government to achieve the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda. If the funds are not generated internally, we will either go and beg for aid, borrow and so we cannot continue to go borrow and beg to finance our development. The government is seeking to meet its agenda of Ghana Beyond Aid and this requires all of us to support the E-levy and contribute our quota to national development, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful added. The proposed E-Levy when approved by Parliament in its current state would see transactions conducted electronically that exceed GHS100 being charged a 1.75% tax. The Minority in Parliament amid consultations with the Majority are still against the levy and are unrelenting in their efforts to have the new tax scrapped. The Minister in charge of Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta has indicated that if the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) is not implemented, Ghana will potentially experience an economic disaster. The Minister announced plans by the government to implement E-Levy late last year when he was in Parliament to present the 2022 budget and economic statement proposal of the ruling government. Unfortunately, it was not well received by Ghanaians with the Minority in Parliament continually stressing that it will ensure its rejection. Speaking at the governments town-hall meeting to discuss the E-Levy on Thursday, January 27, in Koforidua, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta shared that there will be doom for the country if the levy is not implemented. If we dont do this E-Levy, were just pushing ourselves in a way that would potentially end up in such a disaster, the Finance Minister noted. According to him, one of the down sides if the levy is not passed is that the government will be forced to return to IMF. When we were in the IMF programme, we couldnt pay for nurses and teachers. We couldnt hire anymore because there were restrictions on that. I mean, its just really thinking you can go back to Egypt. In a way, we have forgotten how difficult and tenacious that master from Washington was. So, we can deal with them for them to give us advice but we need not ever get into an IMF programme [again], Mr. Ofori-Atta said. Despite the negative feedback for the E-Levy, the government remains positive and hopes to have it passed by Parliament as soon as possible. It is understood that the debate on the levy will resume in Parliament next week. Kelvins teacher reached out to the Special Mothers Project, an organization that engages in advocacy for children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. He had a concern, the school is not ready to register Kelvin for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), Kelvin, has been in the school since infancy and has always been promoted to the next class with his peers Kelvin, though very intelligent and able to answer questions orally is unable to write, this has to do with his disability. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects the part of the brain that coordinates movement. Most persons living with cerebral palsy have challenges with movement. Signs and symptoms vary among people and over time, but include poor coordination, stiff muscles, weak muscles, and tremors. There may be problems with sensation, vision, hearing, and speaking. Often, babies with cerebral palsy do not roll over, sit, crawl or walk as early as other children of their age. Other symptoms may include seizures Kelvin is affected mostly with the hands and he is unable to write even though he demonstrates remarkable intelligence. Kelvins case is not unique, many parents with children who have special educational needs will attest to the fact that it is very difficult getting their children into the regular educational stream. Most schools do not know how to handle such children and most teachers are fixated on just academics to the detriments of other talents and inborn skills that a child with special educational needs may have. Adwoa Okorewaa, a mother of a nine-year-old girl with cerebral palsy sharing her experience said, I wanted my daughter to go to school not necessarily to achieve academic laurels but her time away in school could offer me some respite, away from caregiving. Being in school was also an opportunity to build her social interaction skills, get her to know people, especially her peers and learn a few things that are not taught in books; however, some teachers are antagonistic to the idea of a child with special educational needs getting into mainstream education. The Ghana Educational Service in the year 2015 launched the Inclusive Education Policy to redefine and recast the delivery and management of educational services to respond to the diverse needs of all learners within the framework of universal design for learning and child friendly school concept. The policy includes all children with special needs including those with disabilities, however, most schools even the public schools supposed to be implementing these policies seem unfriendly to children with special educational needs Ms Okorewaa says, I have seen children with disabilities gifted with so much skills and talent but are left untapped and not harnessed because of our educational system that really excludes children with disabilities. The Ghana Educational Service (GES) in conjunction with the Ghana National Association of Teachers has in recent times developed a new standard-based curriculum. The GES new curriculum is drawn on best practices all over the globe and is to be utilized by educators in basic schools all over Ghana. The curriculum, according to the GES, intends to provide students with skills, both soft and hard, to allow them to navigate the modern world and the inherent challenges. Teachers will be tasked to go more in-depth, considering the reduced learning areas. Lower and upper primary subjects are going to be as before. However, the curriculum proposes fewer concepts that have more depth for every idea. The new system places more focus on proper literacy and numeracy as they are the pillars of all advanced studies. The GES new curriculum is standard-based, meaning that every student or learner ought to demonstrate competency and mastery of knowledge. All students (P2, P4 and P6) will undergo a mandatory assessment to check and track their performance. Ms Okorewaa however, said I dont know how they are going to assess my child; my child does not speak clearly and does not use the hands to write efficiently, how does my child fit into this whole educational system? She proposed an alternative where children with special educational needs can move along with their peers in school but are assessed in the most suitable ways and are supported to fit into the job market. Some teachers that the writer spoke to with regards to the new curriculum admitted that the new curriculum seems to be more friendly towards a child with special educational needs, however, some also admits that not all teachers are willing to embrace the changes that involves making children with special educational needs the centre of our educational goals to the benefit of all. Ms Okorewaa said, it also seems that there is no efficient monitoring system to check teachers who refuse to comply with the new educational changes. The Paramount Chief of Wa and overlord of the Waala Traditional Council, Naa Fuseini Pelpuo lV has implored his Excellency the President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo to take steps to address the security issues of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Bagbin. This call was contained in a statement signed by the Naa Fuseini Pelpuo lV and released to the media dated 21st January 2022. This latest action by the revered Paramount Chief follows the furore generated in the wake of the decision by the Ghana Armed Forces to withdraw some four military officers attached to the security detail of the Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament citing procedural breaches as the reason. In the statement by the Overlord of Wa, he stressed the need for the security and safety of the Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament to be prioritised and called for adequate measures to be put in place in that direction. According to him, the Rt Hon Alban Bagbins ascension to the high office of Speaker of Parliament means so much to the good of the Upper West Region and as such, the region has been worried and concerned about the unfortunate development in the matter of the withdrawal of his military attachment. It is the considered view of Naa Fusieni Pelpuo IV that the powers that be especially the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces will rise to the occasion and offer the needed direction in resolving this impasse as a matter of urgency to give the Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament the peace of mind and focus to concentrate on his mandate of presiding over the legislative arm of government. This latest call by the revered Overlord is one of several such calls that have been made by other statesmen, organisations and institutions since this decision was taken by the Ghana Armed Forces. West African heads of state on Friday began talks on how to respond to a new coup in Burkina Faso, hours after the military junta there appealed for international support. Burkina President Roch Marc Christian Kabore was overthrown on Monday by mutineering soldiers on the back of public anger at his failure to stem jihadist violence ravaging the impoverished nation. Heads of the Economic Community of West African States began a virtual summit at 1000 GMT on their response to the coup, an ECOWAS source said. The 15-nation bloc has already verbally lashed the overthrow and in the past year and a half has suspended two members where coups have occurred. On the eve of the summit, the leader of the new junta called for international support. "Burkina Faso more than ever needs its international partners," Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba said in televised comments, his first since the coup. "I call on the international community to support our country so it can exit this crisis as soon as possible." Damiba, 41, is a rising star in the military who commands an eastern region that has been badly hit by jihadists. On Wednesday, he met ministers of Kabore's government, which like the parliament has been dissolved. The junta has also suspended the constitution, vowing to re-establish "constitutional order" within a "reasonable time". Damiba asked ministers not to leave the country without authorisation, and also said he hoped to include all the country in the management of the transitional period, political sources told AFP. - Chronic instability - The coup is the latest bout of turmoil to strike Burkina Faso, a landlocked and poor state that has suffered chronic instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. On Tuesday, ECOWAS issued a statement to say the bloc "firmly condemns" the coup, accusing the military of forcing Kabore to resign "under threat, intimidation and pressure". Burkina Faso. By AFP Burkina Faso joins two other ECOWAS countries -- Mali and Guinea -- where there have been coups in the past 18 months. Those two countries have been suspended by the 15-nation bloc, which has also imposed an array of sanctions on them, including measures against individuals. Kabore, 64, was elected in 2015 following a popular revolt that forced out strongman Blaise Compaore. He was re-elected in 2020, but the following year faced a wave of anger over the mounting toll from a jihadist insurgency that swept in from neighbouring Mali. Bloodshed Since 2015, some 2,000 people have been killed, according to an AFP tally. Troops, police and a volunteer civil militia have paid a huge price, raising questions about their leadership, training and equipment in the face of a ruthless, mobile foe. Some 1.5 million people are internally displaced in a country of 21 million, according to the national disaster management agency CONASUR. Kabore's well-being and whereabouts have been a key issue since the coup, with the United Nations leading calls for his release. On Wednesday, a source in his political party, the People's Movement for Progress (MPP) told AFP that the army was holding Kabore in a villa under house arrest. "President Kabore is physically well, but I cannot say anything about his state of mind," the source said. "He has a doctor available (and) access to his mobile phone, but under surveillance, obviously." 28.01.2022 LISTEN I cannot get my head around certain demonstrated behaviours by some Ghanaians living in the white mans land. The more I spend time cogitating about why some Ghanaians living abroad have resorted to threatening their fellows they find to be disrespecting some elders back home (Ghana) with capture, deportation, harm, etc., the more I cant get it. One will naturally expect a Ghanaian living abroad to be wiser to understand how the laws of the civilized western countries they live in work. In the western world, their laws are enforced to the spirit and the letter. Anyone caught committing acts contrary to the stipulations of the acceptable laws is consequently dealt with as it is required by the law. This is unlike in Ghana, my country of birth, where the rich, the most powerful and those with political connections are able to breach the laws by committing acts or crimes that are in contravention of the laws and get away with them. In the western world, the truthfulness or forcefulness of, the law is no respecter of persons, can be witnessed or felt. When we do wrong, the law punishes. When we do right, it rewards. Everything is according to law and order No wonder that their countries have prospered to become magnetic fields to pull the citizens of the third world countries into them. Should the above expression be true, why should some Ghanaians living in the developed white mans countries for decades still aspire to break the laws and hope to get away with it? Are such Ghanaians seeking to import their African bestial mentality into their foreign countries of abode any rational beings? In order not to beat about the bush but to hit the nail right in the head, let me inform my fellow Ghanaians the world over of my motive behind this write-up. Of recent times as established on the various social media platforms, many Ghanaians, some deemed unintelligent, have the infatuation with heaping insults on the leadership of Ghana. These youngsters for various reasons, either correctly or wrongly, have been taking the traditional and political leaders of Ghana to the cleaners. They have been insulting them from their foreign countries hideouts for not all good but mixed reasons. They may be trying to put across some important points and views but how they carry them across has become a bit problematic. The level of insults applied is damaging to most of the views they will like the leadership to note and implement. Nevertheless, the desire and determination by other sycophantic Ghanaians living abroad or in Ghana, to attack, harm or cause the arrest and deportation of the denigrators (insulters) is what is raising an eyebrow. The people who should have known better that you cannot threaten or plot to harm someone in the civilized world, especially, when leaving verifiable traits of evidence to your evil intent, and go scot free, are rather those fooling about insisting on arresting, harming, deporting, etc., the Ghanaian leadership bashers. On a number of occasions, Ghanaians claiming to have been living in the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK) and Belgium for decades, have come out to threaten the lives of people like Twene Jonas (USA) and Ohene David (Germany), the avid bashers of some traditional overlords and political leaders in Ghana. Much as I find some of the bashings of some traditional and political leaders by these youngsters senselessly baseless and uncalled for, I equally see those trying hardly to intimidate and threaten to deal drastically with the bashers were they found, equally without merit, if not criminals. This is because in the white mans country, you cannot proceed to harm someone because he has been insulting your master, let alone, insulting someone in faraway Africa. If those being insulted feel that their reputation has been tarnished by the content and extent of the insults, they can take court action against the culprits. However, mere insult without alleging or accusing one of committing a crime, does not constitute a prosecutable offence, unless the person being insulted can prove that he or she has suffered irreparable damage of some sort as a result of the insults heaped on him or her. The sufferer can only sue for damages through civil lawsuit. Therefore, those idiots who out of ignorance, stupidity, sycophancy and what not, are although residing abroad, pursuing illegal means to deal with the bashers are advised to watch their steps, pronouncements and actions before they get themselves landed in the breaches of the laws. In the white mans land, if you are caught in the tentacles of the law, you cannot extricate yourself easily without facing the full rigours of the law, unlike in Ghana where a big person can arrange by a phone call to set you free. The more people threaten and try all means possible to intimidate the questionable guys bitterly and devastatingly insulting the Ghanaian traditional and political leadership from their overseas comfort zones of their apartment and public places, the more they facilitate the chances of the insulters being granted permanent residence abroad, if they were currently illegal immigrants. Once they can prove that their lives will be in danger when deported to Ghana for any reason, using proofs from the social media and phone messages as are readily available to them and in the public domain, they will be granted asylum in the countries they live in. I am not sure President Nana Akufo-Addo or Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has ordered any Ghanaian residing abroad or in Ghana, to seek to arrest or harm any of their notorious bashers residing abroad. Therefore, should anyone go their own way, out of sycophancy, political expediency or inexpediency or whatever, to harm any of those guys insulting them, such people must have themselves to blame. Should they be caught criminally at variance with the laws of the countries from where they try to harm the bashers, neither the Ghana president nor Asantehene will step in to assist them in anyway. Let me recount my own bitter but unforgettable experience to warn those residing abroad but are eager to harm some bashers in and on behalf of President Nana Akufo-Addo and Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, without the victims soliciting their assistance. In 1973, while a student at then Kumawu Tweneboa Kodua Secondary School (TKSS), now Tweneboa Kodua Senior High School, and to be precise in form 3, I stood in to defend one of my form/classmates, Roland Akorsah, against bullying visited upon him by one Joseph Amoah, also a form mate. Akorsah is now a successful consultant in a field I am yet to find out, in Ghana. He went to Harvard University in the US where he obtained his Masters degree and many years later, relocated to Ghana. Amoah did his university courses in the US up to obtaining his PhD. He has for several decades now been teaching in a US university as an Engineering Professor. On that fateful day, I found Amoah to be out of order. I stood in to defend Akorsah, a calm and composed person when Amoah started to intimidate him and was ready to beat him up. We were all living in the same House four dormitory. The long and short of the story is, I ended up with Amoah being punished by then Assistant Headmaster of the School, Mr Atakora. We were removed from classes for two weeks. When lessons were in session, Amoah and I would be weeding a vast glass land to the left of the Administration block and behind the Classrooms and staff residential blocks. When it was time to go to dining hall for breakfast, we would stop weeding and join in. When classes were over at 14:00 (2 pm), then we ended the days punishment. We did this for two consecutive weeks and during the weekdays. I was later to learn that Mr Atakora had decided to expel us from the school only to be saved by the intervention of some masters on our behalf. The painful message about this story of mine that I want all readers to note is that Akorsah never ever expressed sympathy with me. He never asked to know how I was coping with the punishment. He behaved as though nothing had happened. He minded his studies and cared not a hoot about me. How stupid I had been! I could not accuse him of ungratefulness for after all, he had not sought my help to intervene on his behalf. I went my own way and had myself foolishly landed in trouble. Many of our classmates were shocked at Akorsahs behaviour towards me. He was not only my class, but also, a dormitory mate. I have narrated this story to warn those who are stupidly going their own way to seek to deal with people like Twene Jonas and Ohene David without having been tasked by President Nana Akufo-Addo or Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Should you be caught in the grips of the law, neither the president nor the Asante overlord will do anything to help you. They will dissociate themselves from you, for after all, they dont know you in the first place and secondly, they have not asked you to do any silly thing on or in their behalf. If you are living abroad for so many years, please learn to be wise. Leave your jungle stupidity and bestiality in the jungle, if you thought you were living in the jungle. This goes for both the bashers and those seeking to deal with them. Rockson Adofo Friday, 28 January 2022 28.01.2022 LISTEN Government of Ghana has, through the Trade and Industry Ministry, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rwanda to deepen bilateral trade relations between the two countries. Speaking at the signing ceremony of MoU on trade and economic cooperation at the Africa Trade House on Thursday, January 27, the Minister of Trade, Alan Kyerematen expressed optimism that the agreement signed will develop into a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries. He noted in his speech the significant role Rwanda has played in some of Africa's business-oriented policies, including the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). You would recall that the formal decision to establish the African Continental Free Trade Area was taken at the AU Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Accra in July 2012. In the same vein, you will recall that it was at the 10th Extraordinary Summit of the AU Assembly of Heads of State held in Kigali in March 2018 that the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement was signed, he observed. The Minister, while acknowledging the seemingly low level of trade between Ghana and Rwanda despite their good relations over the years, indicated that he hoped the signing of the MoU will change that narrative. Despite the long-standing fraternal relations between our two countries, the level of trade between our two countries is very low. The same phenomenon applies in the area of investments. It is against this background that this Memorandum of Understanding is being signed, to develop new strategies and implement measures that will significantly enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation between our two countries. Ghana already has a Bilateral Air Service Agreement with Rwanda signed in 2018, which permits airlines from our two countries to operate commercial flights between Ghana and Rwanda to boost transport connectivity. We envisage that through this MoU, Ghana can become an entry point for Rwandan investments within the West Africa sub-region whilst Rwanda on the other hand, can become a strategic entry point for Ghana into the Central and Eastern African Markets, he added. Other prominent dignitaries present at the signing ceremony included Hon. Beata Habyarimana, Minister for Trade and Industry of Rwanda, and Dr. Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, High Commissioner of Rwanda to Ghana. --Citi Newsroom WESTON Four months after authorities found a malnourished, unresponsive child in a Weston home, detectives have arrested a woman in connection with the boys death. Lashawn Hampton, 42, was arrested at her home Thursday and is facing a first-degree murder charge, the Broward Sheriffs Office said. Advertisement Deputies were called to Hamptons home in the 1100 block of Alexander Bend about the child on the afternoon of Sept. 15. The boy was pronounced dead at the home. His name and age are being withheld under Marsys Law, an amendment approved by Florida voters in 2018 that allows crime victims to withhold their name and personal information from the public. Advertisement Broward Sheriff's Office detectives arrested Lashawn Hampton, 42, Thursday at her home in Weston. Hampton is facing a first-degree murder charge after deputies responded to a call at her home in September about an unresponsive child, according to the Sheriff's Office. The boy's death was ruled a homicide. (Broward Sheriff's Office) Investigators at the scene that day said the boy had a medical condition that left him bedridden. He was covered in rashes and bedsores all over his arms, legs, torso and back, the Sheriffs Office said. A warrant was issued to search the home for possible criminal neglect, a statement from the Sheriffs Office said. The Broward Medical Examiners Office said the child died from a lethal combination of the drugs acetaminophen and diphenhydramine ingredients found in common brands such as Tylenol and Advil. The Medical Examiners Office ruled his death a homicide, deputies said, and a grand jury indicted Hampton on Wednesday. It is not known whether Hampton was related to the boy; that information is also withheld under Marsys Law. Hampton is being held in the Broward Main Jail without bond. 28.01.2022 LISTEN Thousands of Sudanese massed round the United Nations premises in Khartoum on January 26 to demonstrate rejection of what they perceive as attempts by the U.N Transition Assistance Mission Sudan (UNITAMS) to conduct direct interventions in Sudanese affairs. This follows UNITAMS recent unilateral launch of talks with various Sudanese factions prior to consent of the ruling Sovereign Council. Apparently, the U.N was responding to a rejection by some Sudanese against the Sovereign Councils transition program towards a democratically elected civilian government. To this, the protestors have adopted a 3-No hard stance of No Dialogue, No Partnership and No Retreat. The implication is a political deadlock. However, with now a new dimension of other Sudanese coming in similar measures to protest U.N interventions how are the international community to respond then? Besides, all protestor sides are now rejecting the idea of dialogue because if its externally generated it would end in working together. This speaks to the evidence that the current crisis in Sudan is an easy one to resolve, even domestically but only if actors cast off egoistic tendencies. By all means, the crisis cannot be resolved without round table negotiations. In the prevailing circumstances it is not enough to demand that the Sovereign Council hands over to a civilian government while there is none that has been constituted through a popular electoral process. The former cabinet of ministers, constituted through unconstitutional partisan quotas, was rejected by street protests on that basis. The necessity of addressing the divergent contestations is paramount and the earlier Sudanese realized this to generate a national consensus between them than inviting external influences to possibly complicate matters the better for them. It is, therefore, important that all players stay within the parameters of their mandates. The military should interest itself more in ensuring the territorial safety of Sudan and its citizens and their properties. The foreign legion of ambassadors must stay away from roles outside their diplomatic norms, such as agitating and facilitating mass protests. And political activists should collectively speak against emerging foreign induced behaviors of encouraging drug use by the youth before are urged to dare the military into physical confrontations. It is these same youth that any ultimate new political formation will govern over. As expected, the international community and regional bodies such as the UN and the African Union can play active observer roles in the locally generated dialogue processes with the ultimate intention of providing the necessary logistical and financial support. Meanwhile, the Al-Burhan-led Sovereign Council ought to soon confirm the acting technocrats in the various ministries as substantive acting ministers in order to have a fully functional transitional government. Also urgently required is to constitute an electoral body to draw an electoral roadmap to the general elections that will bring about a properly elected civilian government everyone is craving for Swaib K Nsereko Department of Mass Communication, Islamic University in Uganda Workers at the Centre for National Culture in Accra are against moves by government to relocate the Arts Centre to Ghana House, as part of measures to make way for the Marine Drive Project. The Divisional Chairman of the Centre for National Culture, Isaac Mensah, at a press conference organised by the Public Services Workers Union in Accra, said the decision to move staff of the Arts Centre is wrong. He, therefore, pleaded with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to have a stakeholder meeting with their Union to take a decision on the way forward. This relocation, please kindly halt it because it is even in the interest of the government. There is so much confusion in the system. The information is distorted and disjointed. For me as a union chairman, representing the very people who work for this institution, I learnt of this relocation on very a short notice, he said. You are giving us less than even two weeks [to relocate]. How do we go about this? How do we remove our fittings and all that? This is not fair. There is so much to say but out of good faith, we are respectfully calling on the government to halt the relocation of the arts centre and make way for a broad stakeholder engagement, he asked. Also speaking at the press conference, the Member of Parliament for Klottey-Korle Constituency, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings said the decision is not helpful to Ghana's arts and culture. The move is a bad idea. This place must be preserved and must be developed. If you are having problems with understanding the levels of productivity, do a proper audit. Do an environmental impact assessment and human impact assessment of the move and share it with us. Make it a public forum so that people can bring their suggestions because one person, one small group cannot be the repository of knowledge. Reiterating calls she made in the past with regard to the relocation, Zanetor said demolishing such an edifice of historical and cultural importance instead of preserving it as part of the Marine Drive Project, is something that needs to be reconsidered. Member of Parliament for Klottey-Korle Constituency, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings If in the concept of creating a Marine Drive which gives you cash to develop such a concept, one cannot understand the value of recreating this concept here so that you have a living art and cultural centre. So that when we have people who come into the country, as they perhaps go to the Castle, and they see the old houses in Osu, and they come down the high street, the Nkrumah Mausoleum is here. It stands to reason that the next thing is to have this place present, she noted. Deputy Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey in an earlier interview with Citi TV on 5th November 2021, he said a new place was being built for the arts marketers at Kawukudi. He added that, a 2,500-performance theatre will also be included in the Marine Drive Project. The Arts Centre is situated on the 241-acres of land at the beachfront which has been marked for the Marine Drive Project, a redevelopment scheme to build Accra's waterfront. ---citinewsroom The 2020 Presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has told UKs Commonwealth Parliamentarians that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has abandoned projects his administration started but could not complete. The former President made this report to the UK Parliamentarians on Friday, January 28, 2022, when he hosted them in Accra. Lamenting the neglect of projects, Mr. Mahama said it is shameful on the part of the current Ghana government led by H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as president. We didnt see it as brazenly in other governments. It is something that is with this particular [Akufo-Addo/Bawumia] government, the ex-president reported. The Members of the CPA UK are in Accra for a Trade and Security Workshop for the UK and African parliamentarians to explore how both parliaments can address trade and security issues in the context of unexpected external events like COVID-19. The delegation is led by the Cardiff South and Penarth Member of Parliament, Stephen Doughty. Mr. Doughty who represents the Labour Party with the delegation discussed with former President John Dramani Mahama issues of sub-regional security, effects of COVID-19 on the economy, as well as affirmative action and the role of women in the growth of the economy. There were also discussions on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the worrying issue of abandoning projects started by previous governments in the country. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Tertiary Education Institutions Network at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) has taken a swipe at the government over its posture in the impasse between the University Teachers Association (UTAG) of Ghana and the National Labour Commission (NLC). In a press release from the group issued on Thursday, January 27, 2022, the group likens President Akufo-Addo to Zacchaeus. They said government is behaving like the Pharisees in the bible. It must be on record that this is a never before seen laxity on display by the Akufo-Addo-led government. Let the books have it that this government channels more energy into fighting to tax the electronic transactions of its citizens than giving lecturers their needed and well-deserved remuneration. This government has displayed what seems like the return of the Biblical Pharisees led by Zacchaeus the tax collector, the press release signed by NDC TEIN UMaT President Mathew Abaara Ndebilla said. UTAG has been on strike since the beginning of January demanding improved conditions of service. The NLC has dragged UTAG to court, insisting that the strike is illegal. Not backing down, UTAG has stressed that its lawyers will meet the NLC in Court on February 3 when the case is called. For NDC TEIN UMaT, government must immediately eat a humble pie and go to the negotiation table with UTAG to build consensus and ensure their needs are addressed. Below is the release from NDC TEIN UMaT: Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, has said the revenue accrued from road tolls was not enough to fix the roads in the country. The government abolished the road toll in November last year after the presentation of the 2022 budget. Asked at a town hall meeting on the controversial e-levy in Koforidua on Thursday, January 27, 2022, if the road tolls would be reintroduced in future to raise revenue for the government, Mr Amoako-Attah said When we get to the bridge we will cross it. He explained that Road toll was giving this country a maximum of about 78 million cedis a year because we were an average of 5 to 6 million a month so even the 78milion is the average and in some years it drops to even as low as 55 million. Depending upon the conditions on the ground I can tell you 78 million cannot even construct 10 km of road. He noted that Ghana had a total road network of about 78,000km and you see how people are crying for roads, so it tells you the importance of roads, roads constitute 97 per cent of all forms of transportation because water, air and rail transportation will form about 3 to 4 per cent. So if you want to open up a country for economic development, you have to work on your roads because it is like a pivot around which economic development revolves. To this end, the Roads and Highways Minister said the introduction of the e-levy would generate enough funds which can help the road sector. With the introduction of the E-levy, this will help to put in totally something about six to seven billion into the road sector to build the road infrastructure of this country, and that amount can be securitized and used to raise a road sector bond of about $10 billion and that will be the way to go and revamp the sector, then all outstanding payment due to contractors will be completely paid off and contractors will be paid on time when contracts are awarded, he stated. ---Classfmonline.com The Sogakope Circuit court has sentenced a 20-year-old man, Eyram Botwe, who attempted to rob a motorbike rider at Agorve in the Volta region of Ghana to 15 years imprisonment. The man who was charged for attempting to commit robbery pleaded guilty to the offence and was convicted on his own plea. The accused was also convicted based on the consideration that he was a first-time offender. The accused first sprayed pepper into the eyes of his victim before attempting to snatch his motorbike away. Meanwhile, two other suspects arrested in connection with the robbery of a motorbike at Kpevi near Akatsi also in the Volta Region, have been remanded into Police custody by the Sogakope Circuit court. They appeared before the court on Thursday, 27 January 2022. The case has since been adjourned to Thursday, 10 February 2022. ---classfmonline ECOWAS leaders have expressed deep worry over what they call deteriorating democracy within the sub-region. The leaders say the recent coup in Burkina Faso is a clear example of how democracy is failing in West Africa. Opening a virtual ECOWAS summit, President Nana Akufo-Addo, the ECOWAS chair, urged his colleagues to do all they can to uphold the tenant of democracy in the sub-region. The deteriorating political situation should be a matter of great concern to all of us. No country is insulated from its occurrence in the community, and we have to take action to nip it in the bud. Added to this is the complex security environment occasioned by terrorist attacks and pandemics, presenting for us a toxic situation, President Akufo-Addo said. The virtual ECOWAS emergency summit was convened to deliberate on the happenings in Burkina Faso. The army in the West African country on Monday said it had ousted the government of President Roch Kabore. Mr. Kabore came to power after former president Blaise Compaore was overthrown by a popular uprising in 2014, following which he then fled to Ivory Coast. Mr. Compaore is being tried in absentia for the assassination of former revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara. The soldiers cited the government's lack of commitment to fighting Islamist Militants and general economic hardship. Since 2015, Burkina Faso has battled with a jihadist insurgency, which spread from neighbouring Mali. --- Citi Newsroom Award-winning Ugandan novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija is recovering from injuries sustained over nearly a month in detention. Earlier this week he was bailed by the courts for insulting Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's family, but his story did not end with Tuesday's bail hearing. Before he could leave detention he was "kidnapped" and questioned again by unknown plain clothes men in Entebbe, says his lawyer, Eron Kiiza. He [believes he] was detained near Entebbe International Airport, because he could hear planes landing and taking off. That's where the headquarters of SFC (Special Forces Command) is [that is] the military unit for presidential security, Kiiza tells RFI. Rukirabashaija was dumped at his home in the country at 3:30am on Thursday, Kiiza adds. They were not hiding their SFC classification. Everything was [a] military operation and there was no civil institution in charge, he adds. A satirical writer, Rukirabashaija published comments on Twitter late last year calling Lieutenant General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, President Museveni's son, pigheaded and plump. Kainerugaba is also the head of Uganda's Land forces. Verbally abusing the president is not a military affair; it is not a criminal thing...he was [addressing] issues of someone being a drunkard, someone being obese, someone speaking recklessly, says Kiiza. It's really a civil matter." 'Writer of Courage' The case has dominated the headlines in Uganda. Rukirabashaija was held and tortured last year after writing The Greedy Barbarian, a novel about high-level corruption, which earned him the PEN Pinter Prize for an International Writer of Courage award. He has been arrested a couple of times before - in April and September 2020 - for the book, which is a satirical look at a country under a dictatorship strangely similar to that of the 26-year reign of Museveni. Sarah Bireete, lawyer and executive director at the Center for Constitutional Governance, says the events around his detention are another example of the absence of rule of law in Uganda. It is a demonstration of high levels of impunity in our country, says Bireete. Scars of recent torture The 33-year-old's body shows visible scars of recent torture, as documented by the prison doctor. He shared his experiences while he was in detention with Ugandan parliament opposition leader Mathias Mpuuga, representing firebrand politician Bobbi Wine's National Unity Platform party. Mpuuga visited Rukirabashaija at Kitalya Mini-Max Prison. During the visit, Rukirabashaija outlined his ordeal to Mpuuga in the presence of prison guards. He told me about the weeks of torture in Entebbe, commanded by Mr. Museveni's son, the commander of our land forces, General Muhoozi, and how he was blindfolded, beaten, [and] made to carry heavy objects, says Mpuuga. He said they plucked at his skin using pliers, hit his nails, which caused the [bleeding] there. [He explained] how he was made to stand and dance throughout the night and day, and how they would inject him with substances...and was made to swallow drugs, apparently to treat his wounds. Despicable." Mpuuga observed the blood under his fingernails during the visit, as well as his swollen ankles and his limp. Rukirabashaija reportedly has 63 torture scars. The Uganda Human Rights Commission (HRC) also visited him in prison, confirming that he had fresh wounds in a tweet, which was later deleted, but published by Uganda's Monitor and Daily Observer papers, says human rights activist Bireete. What [made] the HRC to delete that tweet? It's part of the impunity I'm talking about. We have total disregard for human values, she says. National and international appeals Others, such as Ugandan public policy analyst Andrew Karamagi, appealed to the United States in a seven-page letter calling on government officials to freeze the assets of Lieutenant General Muhoozi Kainerugaba - Museveni's son - under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. He tells RFI that the head of Uganda's land forces stands out above most, if not all, the lieutenants of the regime, as the person who now wields the power over life and death in the figurative and real sense of those words. The letter, addressed to the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs committee outlines the spate of abductions, (mass) detentions without trial, maiming, torture, and killings of Ugandans under the command, direction, control, and encouragement of Lieutenant General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, commander of the Land Forces. All point a smoking gun in the direction of Muhoozi, he says. "[Muhoozi] is responsible, and if he is not responsible, who is in charge of the lives and property of Ugandans? pointing out that US tax dollars are going to the Museveni administration. Meanwhile, if Karamagi has launched an international appeal to address the situation, opposition leader Mpuuga is using his power in the parliament to raise this at the highest level. My team has already put parliament on notice of a motion to investigate torture and the disappearance of citizens, he says, referring not only to Rukirabashaija's torture and disappearance, but also to others who have met a similar fate over the past two years in Uganda. People haven't seen justice. This is going to become a big matter in parliament as we demand that something is done. This could be the [turning point] for Museveni and his people, he adds. Rukirabashaija is due to appear in court on 1 February to answer the charges against him. His lawyer, Kiiza, says that there is no guarantee he will be present because of the severity of his wounds. His health is our primary consideration, he says. President Nana Akufo-Addo, Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), says the resurgence of coup d'etats in the community is a threat to the peace, security and stability of the region. The deteriorating political situation in the region should be a matter of great concern to allno country is insulated from the occurrence in the community and we have to nip it in the bud. This situation hinders the much needed economic and social development of the region, he lamented when he opened the virtual extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of States and Governments to deliberate on the political crisis in Burkina Faso. The regional bloc, which is grappling with terrorist attacks, insurgency and the COVID-19 pandemic, has experienced three military take-overs in the past 19 months, the latest being the January 24, 2022, coup in Burkina Faso where army officers demanding the sacking of military chiefs and more resources to fight Jihadist, deposed 64-year-old President Roch Marc Christian Kabore. The coup makers, now known as the Patriotic Movement for Preservation and Restoration (MPSR), led by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, suspended the country's constitution, dissolved the government and Parliament, and said it would return the country to constitutional order within a reasonable time frame. ECOWAS sternly condemned the coup and asked the coup makers to return the country to constitutional rule. President Akufo-Addo told the meeting that the happenings in the region was a wake-up call that not all persons preferred democracy as a mode of governance, and we have to work to convince those people that we are all safer under democracies. I convened this meeting in the hope to address the urgent situation in Burkina Faso and find solutions to restore constitutional order to Burkina Faso and stabilize the region at large. We should not renege on our collective duties and obligations to ensure a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous communityI urge you to examine critically this rising phenomenon in our region and take the necessary decisions to meet the aspirations and expectations of our people. The world is looking up to us to be firm in the matter and the outcome of our meeting, he said. The regional bloc is expected to suspend Burkina Faso from its governing bodies and impose sanctions as it did to Mali and Guinea after military takeovers. GNA Lusaka, January 28, 2022 Authorities in Somalias south-central Hirshabelle state must stop intimidating and censoring the press through arbitrary arrests and station closures because they disagree with reported content, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Friday afternoon, January 21, 2022, heavily armed Hirshabelle police in the regional capital of Beledweyne raided local independent radio station Hiiraan Weyn while it was on air, according to the stations editor-in-chief Yasiin Ali Ahmed, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, a joint statement by the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and Somali Media Association (SOMA), and a statement by the Federation of Somali Journalists (FESOJ). During the raid, officers forced the station off the air and detained seven journalists for six hours, according to those sources. The raid followed the broadcasting of an interview with the Hiiraan Peoples Liberation Front in Beledweyne, a group opposed to the current leadership in Hirshabelle, less than two hours earlier, according to the statement and Yasiin, who added that police used their weapons to break down a door to get into the station. The outrageous detention of the seven Hiiraan Weyn journalists and the temporary shutdown of the radio station shows a complete disregard for the right of journalists to work freely and without fear in Somalia, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. Threatening journalists with death in a country that has a culture of impunity for the murder of journalists sends a chilling message. Those responsible, no matter how senior, must be held accountable and their behavior must not be condoned. With 25 murders in the past decade still unsolved, Somalia tops CPJs annual Global Impunity Index as the country with the worlds worst record for bringing killers of journalists to justice. The seven detained journalists Yasiin, Abdullahi Ali Abukar, Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed, Mohamed Osman Mohamud, Abdisamad Elmi Abdi, Abdimajid Dahir, and Mustaf Ali Addow were taken to the Beledweyne Police Station, where they were held for six hours and told by police that they were terrorists who would be shot and killed for reporting on the Hiiraan Peoples Liberation Front, according to the joint statement and Yasiin. The seven Hiiraan Weyn journalists sit on a police vehicle after a raid on their radio station on January 21, 2022. (Credit: Somali Journalists Syndicate) We were detained without access to a lawyer or anyone, Yasiin told CPJ. We were told that if we were arrested again, we would be killed, but we will continue to do our work until we get justice or die. The journalists were eventually freed without charge after widespread calls for their release by citizens and journalists groups. None of the journalists were hurt and no equipment was seized during the raid, Yasiin told CPJ. Later the same day, the journalists were taken to a house where Hirshabelle Deputy President Yusuf Ahmed Hagar, Hirshabelle Police Chief Colonel Hassan Dhiisow, and Somali National Army Commander Colonel Mohamud Hassan Ibrahim were present, according to Yasiin and the SJS and SOMA statement. They threatened us with consequences if we continued to report anything critical of the Hirshabelle authorities, Yasiin said. We were told we would be killed next time if we were arrested again. The following day, on Saturday, January 22, 2022, Hiiraan Weyn returned on air. FESOJ secretary-general Farah Omar Nur expressed concern in a news report about the continued clampdown on press freedom in Beledweyne, despite the training of police officers by media groups designed to support freedom of expression, according to the SJS and SOMA statement. SJS and SOMA are also concerned that police officers who committed these blatant violations and their commanders were trained and equipped with contribution funds provided by the British and German governments through a Joint Police Program with little or no accountability mechanism, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, SJSs secretary general is quoted as saying in the joint statement, adding that protecting human rights includes protecting freedom of expression. The British embassy in Mogadishu confirmed UK support for the Joint Police Program (JPP) in an emailed response to CPJs request for comment, saying that freedom of speech and a free press are crucial pieces of an inclusive political process. We have asked the JPP Secretariat to investigate these allegations, Claire Blythe-Tinker, the second political secretary at the British Embassy told CPJ by email. We await the outcome of this process and will also be in contact with the relevant authorities in Hirshabelle. However, as we have done in the past, we stand ready to suspend our support depending on the outcome of the investigation. The German Embassy said it is aware of the alleged incident at Hiiraan Weyn and is taking it very seriously, Judith Gosmann, the policy officer of the Somalia Unit told CPJ in an email, adding that, Germany firmly reiterates its commitment to international human rights standards, particularly freedom of press and expression, and will deliver the (JPP) program in a manner that enhances these objectives and does not undermine them. Beledweyne Police Commissioner Mohamed Mohamud did not respond to several phone calls and messages sent by CPJ via WhatsApp. There was also no response to CPJs emails and phone messages to the offices of Yusuf and Mohamud. Steven Abrams, the executive director of the Tri-Rail commuter rail system, declared his intent to resign on Friday after clashing with the board of directors over troubles related to construction defects that delayed the lines ability to use Brightlines station in Miami. It was a great run for me as the director, Abrams told the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a telephone interview after he made his announcement at a board meeting. Advertisement I erased a $16 million deficit, improved on-time performance and we had the second biggest comeback of any commuter railroad in the country emerging from the pandemic, he said. But he had his share of issues over construction defects at the MiamiCentral station, which is the main South Florida terminal for Brightline, the high-speed passenger railroad. Advertisement The problems, which reportedly arose in April, werent disclosed until December. [ RELATED: Delayed for years, Tri-Rails Miami station has a new problem: The trains wont fit ] A key glitch included new station platforms that didnt allow the trains exit and entry steps to deploy correctly. Board member and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado was among his most vocal critics. She assailed Abrams for belated disclosures of the problems. On Friday, Abrams offered the board of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, the agency that oversees Tri-Rail, a schedule for resolving the defects issue. Seeks peaceful transition Abrams, a former mayor of Boca Raton, has been in office for three-and-a-half years. He said he hopes to help with a leadership transition. Im sure there will be a transition period, I hope there is, he told the Sun Sentinel. Abrams announced his intent to leave on the day of his annual performance evaluation by the board. The boards direction was to discuss it with the chairman, he said, referring to Hal Valeche. We spoke briefly after the meeting. Well have a more involved conversation at some point next week. Advertisement A Tri-Rail train stops at the line's Pompano Beach station. On Friday, Steven Abrams, the publicly funded agency's executive director, announced he will resign after a dispute over construction defects at Brightline's station in downtown Miami, which Tri-Rail has sought to serve for several years. Susan Stocker, Sun Sentinel (Susan Stocker / Sun Sentinel) Abrams said he is under an open-ended contract at a base salary of $225,000 that has risen to $235,000 after pay raises. I have no intention of leaving them in the lurch, he said. Let them get a selection process going. This not any kind of a storming out. I have my heart and soul in Tri-Rail. I started on the board in 2010 and have been the chairman and executive director. This is something near and dear to me and I am sure I will still be involved as a rider, for one, he said. Im entering my 12th year as regular commuter. Delays, defects in Miami Tri-Rail has long pursued entry into downtown Miami so it could offer the stop as an option to passengers who board its trains along the CSX line, which runs mostly west of I-95 from Palm Beach County to Broward and into Miami-Dade. But the effort has been a star-crossed endeavor. The first hurdle involved the installation of a safety system known as positive train control, which is designed to avoid collisions. Then came a row last year over construction defects involving the station platform and the structural strength of a bridge leading into the facility. Advertisement The timeline should have been that Tri-Rail would be in the station if Brightline had completed their positive train control and delivered a functioning platform or a defect free platform, Abrams said in the interview. But some people put the blame on us and thats unfortunate, he said. Abrams took umbrage after Regalado asserted she felt like she was dealing with my adolescent children. The Miami-Dade County commissioner cast a lot of disparaging comments, including characterizing me as a cartoon character after having a 30-year career in public service that was pretty stellar, Abrams said. Senior Lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has described the Deputy National Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Eric Edem Agbana as brave and an exceptional leader. In a Facebook post dated, Thursday January 27 and geared towards celebrating the birthday anniversary of Edem Agbana in advance, Professor Gyampo, referred to the former as tough, resilient and erudite. You are among the leading former students of mine who makes me proud. I never taught any student of mine to be timid and docile. So, I am not surprised you are bold, confident and politically astute. You are tough, resilient and erudite. You have the mental fortitude, and agility to prosecute every agenda you set for yourself, the post read. Prof. Gyampo further applauded Edem Agbana for his ability to stay humble and listening to counsel and guidance despite his sterling accomplishments. I admire and applaud the fact that you are always willing to listen when your attention is called to something. That is a show of respect that does not come cheap, particularly our current social media regime, where your young people tend to easily compromise their future and destinies, by hiding under the facelessness of Facebook and insult people they ideally they should be learning from. As Edem Agbanas birthday is approaching, Prof. Gyampo prayed for him the very best of life. As you get ready to celebrate your birthday, may God bless you with long life, good health and prosperity. May your political career blossom to the point that you would command respect within your party and across the political divide in Ghana. Happy birthday to you in advance, hard guy. May it be well with you, Edem. Member of Parliament (MP) for Banda Constituency, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim has said President Akufo-Addos government cannot be trusted to well-manage funds that will be accrued from the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) should it be approved. According to him, the current government after taking over from the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama administration failed to manage the road fund, GetFund, Ghana Infrastructure Fund, as well as other government funds. Using that as a yardstick, the Banda MP who is also the Deputy Minority Whip argues that the Minority in Parliament is right in insisting that it will not approve the controversial E-Levy in the house. Speaking to Citi News in an interview on Friday, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim said instead of the government pushing to have the levy passed, it should rather focus on cutting down its expenditure to put the countrys economy in a good state. Its like the government cannot be trusted with managing funds and therefore if you are asking me of my alternative, the alternative is that we need to sit down, cut down our expenditure, the Banda MP said when asked to make a recommendation to the government. Mr. Ibrahim continued, Which of our expenditures can we cut down? How can we make judicious use of our resources to make sure that the country is able to move forward? Today, the Minority in Parliament had a meeting with the Majority together with Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta to continue consultations on the E-Levy. Although the Minister confirmed a reduction in the rate of the levy from 1.75% to 1.50%, the Minority rejected the proposal and made it clear that it wants the levy to be totally scrapped. Nonetheless, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim notes that the Minority remains open to further discussions and will engage the Majority in Parliament when the levy is put on the agenda of the house. Hon Musah Superior has charged all NPP delegates to join the People's Campaign bandwagon; a political strategy aimed at repositioning the party for 2024 electoral victory. Schooling members of the team on the number of delegates making up each constituency and voting eligibilities ahead of the NPP primaries, he said his topmost priority if given the nod as the General Secretary is NPP winning the 2024 elections. Hon Musah Superior, former Mayor for Tamale and currently the Deputy CEO for Ghana Forestry Commission disclosed that he has plans "to revive the collapsed structures of our party and prepare it adequately for 2024". He reiterated, "NPP structures are collapsed. I have plans to revive it." Hon Musah Superior indicated in an official statement copied to the media that per the status-quo of the party, NPP needs a solid team and a confident General Secretary at the headquarters "to deliver the crucial task." He therefore admonished all delegates to exercise courage and join the People's Campaign team. The Food Safety Authority is back in the middle of a controversy related to its primary jobof ensuring safe and wholesome foods (for all citizens). In the name of draft regulations related to GM foods , it is apparently proposing to create such a lax regulatory regime that any genetically modified (GM) food approved in other countries is likely to be approved in India. This has predictably led to intensified campaigns by aware citizens who have managed to get an extension of the public feedback deadline to 5th February from the earlier 15 January 2022 deadline. Ironically, this is happening when none other than the prime minister of India has emphasised taking agriculture out of the chemistry lab. One would presume that he is talking about taking it out of the biochemistry and molecular biology labs too, where the unnatural is being evolved in irresponsible and irreversible experimentation. Genetically modified or GM foods have been documented in scientific studies to cause various adverse health effects potentially. They can affect immunity, reproductive health, vital organs and their functioning, growth and development of an organism and so on. Individual toxic genes as well as the GM process itself, along with deadly chemicals used with GM crops, seem to be responsible for such impacts. In Europe and elsewhere, aware consumers have ensured that such GM foods have no demand and, thereby, markets. The irony of the situation here in India, where the food safety regulator proposes easy ways of foisting unsafe foods like GM foods on unaware and unwilling citizens, goes back to creating the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 itself. Here, the debate in May and July of 2006 in the Parliamentary proceedings on the Bill that was tabled in August 2005 by the ministry of food processing industries is revealing. In February 2006, the standing committee on agriculture, to whom the Bill was referred to, tabled its report in the Parliament. This Committee recommended that a proposed food authority be called 'Food Safety Authority' and that the ministry of health administer the statute. Parliamentarians, who participated in the debate in both Houses, were clearly concerned about GM foods and corporatisation of our food systems, with names of companies like Pepsi, Nestle and Monsanto explicitly taken. The discussions expressed concerns about food that the poor in the country consumes. There was also preference expressed for organic foods and the fact that the government should step forward to provide benefits to those producing organic foods. However, the Bill that was passed and enacted into law, under Section 22 clubbed such things as GM foods and organic foods into one provision! In the implementation of the law, the Food Authority, despite being in existence for many years now, was over-enthusiastic about regulating organic foods, which essentially is in line with the very mandate of the Authority (safe food), but did not bother about regulating (illegal) GM foods in the country, despite complaints by civil society organisations. Years after committing in the Supreme Court about putting into place its regulations soon, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) finally came up with draft regulations in November 2021 and sought public feedback. In the draft regulations, FSSAI is proposing to regulate two kinds of GM foods, but for neither category does it spell out how safety assessment will be done. In the forms annexed to the proposed regulations, one can realise that FSSAI will make approvals in other countries as the basis for approvals here. While the draft speaks about the 'Authority' processing applications, the Authority by law does not have any safety experts! It has ministerial representatives along with industry, retail, farmer and consumer representatives. While there is a passing mention of how approvals or rejections will be based on biosafety assessment, there is nothing to outline how such biosafety assessment will take place, what are the long term and multi-generational, comprehensive testing regime that will be adopted. There is no mention of public participation or independent functioning devoid of conflict of interest. In fact, it was civil society groups that called out the wrongdoing of FSSAI in its constitution of a scientific panel on GMOs (genetically modified organisms). To this day, this panel does not reflect the safety expertise needed in such a panel, nor is it fully devoid of conflict of interest. Moreover, nothing is stated about transparent functioning and biosafety dossiers in the public domain. There is no squeak about proactive surveillance to watch out for illegal GM food sales or for effects after approvals. Even though labs can detect GM adventitious presence at 0.01% limit of detection (LOD), FSSAI is proposing labelling with a threshold of 1% for individual GM ingredients, denying consumers their right to know and right to informed choices. In fact, these draft 'regulations' are not worth the name at all, even as these regulations also seek to weaken the meagre and lackadaisical law further that genetic engineering appraisal committee (GEAC) does, under the Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986. Importantly, there is nothing in these draft regulations about state governments and their policies concerning GM foods, even though public health is a state subject as per the Constitution of India. Nearly all states in India are opposed to GM food crops. How will FSSAI keep out GM foods in particular states that do not want such foods? These draft regulations reveal the real gameplan of the agri-business and food industry. When citizen resistance and state government opposition ensured that GM food crops could not be approved for cultivation in the country, the GM foods route is now being explored to gain acceptance, after which GM seeds will also be sought to be brought in. FSSAI is aiding the industry by proposing the current kind of regulations. It is time that state governments and citizens woke up to the danger being posed by FSSAI, and ensure that the food safety regulator upholds their wish to remain GM-free. Online petitions have been initiated for this purpose and one such petition is here . More detailed feedback sent to the regulator by many organisations and experts is available here FSSAI has to notify regulations that will essentially catch out unpermitted GM foods and take penal action on them, and not regulations that will ensure easier entry of GM foods. The provision related to infant foods reveals that FSSAI can have a prohibitory approach if it chooses to. This was adopted in a precautionary manner and rightly so. FSSAI has to ensure that a precautionary approach is followed for all GM foods and all food consumers and not just infants. (Kavitha Kuruganti is with the Coalition for a GM-Free India and works on issues related to farmers rights, sustainable farm livelihoods and food safety) There are so many ways to play it, pianist Simone Dinnerstein says of Variations. I felt a need to find my own way without turning to the great voices of the past. You make our work happen. The article youre about to read is from our reporters doing their important work investigating, researching, and writing their stories. We want to provide informative and inspirational stories that connect you to the people, issues and opportunities within our community. Journalism takes a lot of resources. Today, our business model has been interrupted by the pandemic; the vast majority of our advertisers businesses have been impacted. Thats why the Weekly is now turning to you for financial support. Learn more about our new Insiders program here. Thank you. JOIN NOW UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said on Wednesday that the international community needs to have an integrated approach for the major issues that endanger Syria's sovereignty, security and development. "To truly make progress on the political track, the international community needs to have an integrated approach for the major issues that endanger Syria's sovereignty, security and development in order to create enabling conditions for the political process in the country," Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council meeting on Syria. Zhang added that China supports advancing the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process in accordance with resolution 2254. "We commend the efforts by special envoy (Geir) Pedersen in promoting mutual trust among parties to work in the same direction. We hope that the next round of Constitutional Committee will be launched soon, and it should be pointed out that relevant work should remain independent and free from external interference." "We also welcome the new round of meetings of the Astana process last month, and hope that the process will continue to contribute to a comprehensive solution to the Syrian issue," said Zhang, adding that China has always emphasized that constitution-making and elections alone are not enough to solve the Syrian issue. On Syria's sovereignty, Zhang underscored that no foreign troops are allowed to be deployed in Syria, including Golan ones, without the consent of the Syrian government. "Whether it is the military operation across the Syrian border, the construction of settlements in the Golan area, or the theft of oil from northeastern Syria, they have all undermined the sovereignty of the country, violated the interests of the Syrian people and spoiled the efforts by the international community for political settlement," said Zhang. Turning to the terrorism issue, the ambassador said that "we must respect the Syrian government's leadership in fighting terrorism. And we must not engage in a double standard. China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Syria to help it improve its capability in fighting terrorism." Talking about cooperation among regional countries, Zhang said that "China welcomes the efforts by relevant regional countries to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and trade interactions with Syria and welcomes the fact that Arab countries are actively considering Syria's return to the League of Arab States." Also at the meeting, the ambassador reiterated that "the consideration of the Syrian issue by the council three times a month does not facilitate an integrated and comprehensive perspective, and serious consideration should be given to combining them into one meeting or making other more reasonable arrangements. This will not only help us seek a package solution to relevant issues, but also reduce the use of council resources." Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyers retirement gives President Joe Biden a chance to make his first nomination to the high court. Its also a chance for Biden to fulfill a campaign promise to nominate the first Black woman to be a justice. Possible picks for the Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. (AP Graphic) (Kevin S. Vineys/AP) Some things to know about the women seen as leading candidates: Advertisement Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominated to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on pending judicial nominations, April 28, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Tom Williams/AP) KETANJI BROWN JACKSON Ketanji Brown Jackson has known Breyer for decades. A graduate of Harvard and Harvard Law school, she was a law clerk to Breyer from 1999 to 2000. She is comfortable enough with her former boss to have a little fun at his expense. In 2017, after Breyer accidentally brought his cellphone to court and it rang, Jackson introduced him at an event and pretended to get a call mid-introduction from Breyers colleague, Justice Neil Gorsuch. After clerking for Breyer, Jackson was as a lawyer in private practice, worked as a public defender and served on the U.S. Sentencing Commission. President Barack Obama nominated her to be a federal trial court judge in the District of Columbia in 2013. Biden elevated her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where she has served since June 2021. Advertisement Recently, Jackson was part of a three-judge panel that ruled against former President Donald Trumps effort to shield documents from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. Jackson, 51, also has the advantage of a connection to Republicans. She is related by marriage to former House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. Jacksons husband, Dr. Patrick Jackson, a surgeon, is the twin brother of Ryans brother-in-law. The judge and her husband have two daughters. Deputy assistant U.S. attorney general Leondra Kruger, stands during her confirmation hearing to the California Supreme Court in San Francisco on Dec. 22, 2014. (S. Todd Rogers/AP) LEONDRA KRUGER Leondra Kruger would be the first person in more than 40 years to move from a state court to the Supreme Court if she were to be chosen and confirmed as Bidens nominee. The last was Sandra Day OConnor, a barrier-breaker who was the courts first female justice. OConnor was an Arizona Court of Appeals judge when nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, fulling his campaign promise to put a woman to Supreme Court. Kruger, 45, has been on the California Supreme Court since 2015. She was just 38 when chosen for the job by then-Gov. Jerry Brown. Shes seen as a moderate on the seven-member court. Kruger grew up in Los Angeles. She is the daughter of a Jamaican mother and Jewish father; both are pediatricians. She attended Harvard before getting her law degree from Yale. Like Jackson, she was a law clerk to a Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens. Before moving back to California, Kruger worked for the Department of Justice. She argued a dozen cases before the Supreme Court on behalf of the federal government, including one involving religious schools ability to fire teachers. Kruger is the first California Supreme Court justice to have a baby while serving on the court. She and her husband have two children. Judge J. Michelle Childs, who was nominated by President Barack Obama to the U.S. District Court, listens during her nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, April 16, 2010. (Charles Dharapak/AP) J. MICHELLE CHILDS J. Michelle Childs resume doesnt include a law degree from Harvard or Yale or service on a federal appeals court, common characteristics of the current justices. But she has a powerful backer who has Bidens ear: Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C. Advertisement Clyburn and Biden are longtime friends. Clyburns pivotal endorsement of Biden before South Carolinas Democratic presidential primary in February 2020 is seen as critical in Bidens path to the nomination. Childs, 55, is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law. She has a masters degree from the school as well as a different legal degree from Duke. She was previously a state court judge and has served as a federal trial court judge since 2010. In 2014, before the Supreme Court ruled that gay couples had a right to marry nationwide, she ruled in favor of a gay couple seeking to have their District of Columbia marriage recognized in South Carolina. Biden nominated her in December to be a federal appeals court judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, but senators have yet to act. Among the current justices, only Justice Elena Kagan wasnt a federal appeals court judge before joining. Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, speaks at the President's Task Force on 21 Century Policing, Jan. 13, 2015, at the Newseum in Washington. (Cliff Owen/AP) SHERRILYN IFILL If Biden decided to go outside the judiciary, the choice could be NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund head Sherrilyn Ifill, 59. She is a deeply respected civil rights lawyer who has held the post since 2013. Ifill, who has announced she will step down in the spring, is the second woman to lead the organization. Ifill started her career at the American Civil Liberties Union, then worked on voting rights legislation at the legal defense fund before she joined the faculty at University of Maryland School of Law, where she taught for more than 20 years. Ifill graduated from Vassar College and earned her law degree from New York University School of Law in 1987. She was among the group of lawyers named to study the Supreme Court by Biden in 2021. Advertisement Shes a prolific author and writer, and in February of last year wrote an opinion column in The New York Times on how the legal profession must reckon with the fact that lawyers helped President Donald Trump by enabling him to effort the most dangerous assault on American democracy in more than a century, through his meritless lawsuits challenging the election, efforts to install a sympathetic attorney general who would help him, and by the growing movement in Congress to adopt Trumps election lies. This undated photo provided by the U.S. Courts for the Ninth Circuit shows Circuit Judge Holly A. Thomas. (AP) HOLLY THOMAS Holly Thomas, 43, was just confirmed to the largest federal appeals court last week, the San Francisco-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. She is the second Black woman ever to sit on the court. Thomas is a graduate of Stanford University and Yale Law School. She had been in the Family Law Division of the Los Angeles Superior Court since 2018, and before that she was the deputy director of executive programs at the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. She has also worked at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, and was as an appellate attorney in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. She overcame a party-line vote deadlock in the Senate Judiciary Committee, requiring an additional floor vote to move her forward after Republicans questioned her ability to separate her prior advocacy for progressive issues from her work as a judge. During her time in the New York Solicitor Generals office, she filed briefs advocating for policies that allowed transgender people to use the bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity. At her confirmation hearings, she said she was more than able to set aside her work in order to fairly serve as a judge. EUNICE LEE Eunice Lee, 51, was named to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit in August, the first former federal defender to serve on the court. Her appointment was lauded as a recognition of the need to broaden the judiciarys legal expertise, particularly because defense lawyers are not a common choice for such posts. Advertisement Lee graduated from Ohio State University and Yale Law School. She then clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott, and later for Judge Eric Clay on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. She spent time from 1998 to 2019 at the office of the appellate defender in New York City and also taught clinical law at New York University Law School. Republicans who control most of state government arent prepared to let Browards newly elected Democratic state representative, Daryl Campbell, take office during the current legislative session. Campbells Jan. 11 election was certified on Tuesday by the state Elections Canvassing Commission. But Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee wont send a letter to the Florida House of Representatives declaring Campbell as the winner until at least March 8. Advertisement The annual 60-day legislative session, which began Jan. 11 coincidentally the same day as the special primary ends on March 11. If the letter from Lee goes to the Florida House immediately, Campbell would at best be able to cast votes only during the last few days of 2022 lawmaking. [ RELATED: After election certified, Daryl Campbell was preparing to take office ] I remain hopeful. Am I surprised? I am not, Campbell said Thursday. Its just unfortunate that our constituents now are being faced with a situation where their voice does not get heard. He was in Tallahassee to get acclimated, hoping that hed be sworn in next week when the full House of Representatives is set to meet. Advertisement Lee, whose office made the latest decision, is an appointee of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Campbell was elected in a primary to represent District 94 in the Florida House. Because only Democrats came forward to run for the position, the primary was open to all voters, called a universal primary. If there had been the need for a general election it would have been held on March 8. But the Secretary of States Office is sticking to March 8 for the letter, even though there wont be a general election for District 94 on March 8. Lees communications director, Mallory Morgan, laid out the timing Thursday. As a courtesy, we will send a letter to the House and the Senate listing the winners of the elections, but not until after the general election, she said via email. Ultimately, it is up to the Legislature to decide who has been elected and when to seat those members, Morgan said, referring questions to the Legislature for further information. The Florida Constitution makes the House of Representatives the sole judge of the qualifications, elections, and returns of its members, which effectively puts the decision about when Campbell takes office in the hands of House Speaker Chris Sprowls. Jenna Box Sarkissian, communications director for Sprowls, didnt immediately have a comment Thursday about the Secretary of States Offices position. Advertisement The Republican leaderships position has been that it would seat Campbell when he was certified as a winner, but also that representatives dont get sworn in until there is a certification letter. That was the position a previous Republican House speaker took in 2019, when Democratic state Rep. Dan Daley was picked to represent northwest Broward in a special election. He wasnt sworn in until after the date that would have been the special general election even though there wasnt a general election because hed already been represented. Daryl Campbell is the state representative-elect from Browards 94th state House district. A decision by the Florida secretary of state will apparently prevent him from participating in most or all of the 2022 annual legislative session. Democrats, who are the minority party in the House, have been stymied at getting information out of DeSantis Department of State. The secretary of state has one job in this instance, and thats certifying the election. If anything, theyve stopped all the parts from moving. Theyve completely put us on some sort of list of do not respond, said House Democratic Leader Evan Jenne, who also represents part of Broward County. I cant get any answers, he said. Jenne said he walked to the Secretary of States Office early Thursday afternoon and asked to speak to four different people. Advertisement At 1:20 p.m., he said, he was told that a staffer would come to see him in 20 minutes. After 5 p.m., no one had come to explain what the agency is doing. [ RELATED: Daryl Campbell wins convincing victory in Florida House special election ] No one has called or showed up, Jenne said. Theyre not responding to anyone. Neither myself as minority [party] leader or, more importantly, no one is responding to Representative-elect Campbell and his ability to represent 170,000 people in Broward County has been nullified. The 94th state House District includes northwest Fort Lauderdale and parts of Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes and Plantation. Campbell received 40% of the vote in a four-way special election 11 percentage points ahead of the second-place candidate. The uncertainty about when hed take office stemmed from the nature of the special election. It was a primary to fill the vacancy created when former state Rep. Bobby DuBose resigned for what turned out to be an unsuccessful campaign for Congress. DuBose submitted his resignation in July, but DeSantis waited for months before setting a special election acting only after a lawsuit was filed asking a judge to order him to set election dates. Advertisement If the special election had been set earlier, as Democrats wanted, the seat could have been filled by the start of the legislative session. Two other seats, in the state Senate of Broward and the state House from Palm Beach County, are vacant because the previous occupants also resigned to run for Congress. Democrats nominated candidates for those jobs, but because Republicans came forward to run, there are general elections for those positions on March 8, the date picked by DeSantis. Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @browardpolitics Muskogee, OK (74401) Today Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 62F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected. Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lees office officially told the Florida House of Representatives on Friday that Daryl Campbell has been certified as the duly elected newest state lawmaker. With the letter from Lees office, Campbell will be sworn in next week, allowing him to participate in the bulk of the annual legislative session. The move is a reversal of what Lees office said Thursday that no certification letter would be issued until at least March 8, three days before the scheduled end of the legislative session. Advertisement After days of uncertainty, Campbell said Friday hes looking forward to starting as a state representative. Im just thankful that I can come in and serve my district. Thats all I want to do. Im not here to burn down the Capitol. Im not here to do all that extra stuff. I want to make sure Im the voice that the people in my district wanted to be for them, he said. Im anxious to get started. Im excited. I cant say enough how excited I am. Advertisement Campbells Jan. 11 election has never been in doubt but the question of when hed be sworn into office has bounced around Tallahassee like a ping pong ball for days. [ RELATED: DeSantis secretary of state's move prevents new Democratic state lawmaker from taking office for almost two months ] And its attracted notice because Campbell is a Democrat, while Lee is an appointee of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Republicans control the Florida House. Campbell won 40% of the vote in a four-candidate election in the Broward County 94th state House District. On Tuesday, the state Elections Canvassing Commission certified him as the winner. But late Thursday afternoon, Lees press secretary said the office wouldnt send a letter to the House transmitting the notice of that certification until at least March 8. The rationale for the March 8 date stems from the nature of the special election. Campbell was elected in a primary to represent District 94. The primary was open to all voters, called a universal primary, because only Democrats came forward to run for the position. If there had been the need for a general election it would have been held on March 8. Fridays action sending the certification letter was different from the position outlined Thursday in an email from Lees press secretary, Mallory Morgan, in which she wrote that the letter wasnt immediately forthcoming. Mark Ard, director of external affairs for the Secretary of States Office, said Friday the agency has not reversed course. Because there was confusion and because there were questions, we decided to break from tradition and provide this letter to the House. On Thursday, Morgan also referred questions to the House for further information. The Florida Constitution makes the House of Representatives the sole judge of the qualifications, elections, and returns of its members. Advertisement Daryl Campbell won a special election for Florida House of Representatives. The question of when he'd be sworn into office has bounced around Tallahassee like a ping pong ball ever since. But the House doesnt swear in members without a formal notification of the certified results from the secretary of state. It is well-established law that the Secretary of State certifies election results for the primary and the general election. It is why when we swear members in, we note that we have received a formal communication on the desk from the Secretary of State certifying the election results, House Speaker Chris Sprowls said in a written statement on Friday. I have said from the very beginning we look forward to seating Daryl Campbell as soon at the Secretary of State sends over his certification as winner of the general election, Sprowls said. Jenna Box Sarkissian, Sprowls communications director, said Friday that the speaker looks forward to welcoming Rep. Campbell to begin his legislative duties in the Florida House on Monday and anticipates a ceremonial swearing-in during Tuesdays floor session of the full House of Representatives. We are very excited to have Representative Campbell join us here in Tallahassee to do the peoples business, House Minority Leader Evan Jenne, a Broward Democrat, said in a written statement. The 179,000+ Broward County residents in the district deserve to have a voice in their state government, and now they will. Campbell was in Tallahassee part of this week and was able to play in the annual Democrats vs. Republicans softball game. (The Democrats won the annual King of the Hill softball game 14-2, breaking a long losing streak.) Campbell, who played third base, said it was a great way to get to know some of his soon-to-become colleagues in both parties. Advertisement Republicans hold almost a 2:1 advantage in the House, which has 78 Republicans and 40 Democrats. Campbell will be the 41st Democrat. One vacancy wont be filled until a March 8 special election in Palm Beach County. On Thursday, Lees office said it was sticking to March 8 for a certification letter. Ard said its been longstanding practice not to issue such letters before the general election date. In 2019, that practice prevented the swearing in of Democratic state Rep. Dan Daley. He wasnt sworn in to his northwest Broward district until after completion of that years legislative session. A ripple of delays The primary filled the vacancy created when former state Rep. Bobby DuBose resigned for what turned out to be an unsuccessful campaign for Congress. DuBose submitted his resignation in July, but DeSantis waited for months before setting a special election acting only after a lawsuit was filed asking a judge to order him to set election dates. Today, I am pleased to share this letter and certificate with #FLHouse signifying Daryl Campbell's victory in HD 94. Congratulations, Representative Campbell! @DuBoseforFL pic.twitter.com/9y2CgE6aUs Laurel M. Lee (@FLSecofState) January 28, 2022 If the special election had been set earlier, as Democrats wanted, the seat could have been filled by the start of the legislative session. Advertisement Two other seats, in the state Senate of Broward and the state House from Palm Beach County, are vacant because the previous occupants also resigned to run for Congress. Democrats nominated candidates for those jobs, but because Republicans came forward to run, there are general elections for those positions on March 8, the date picked by DeSantis. [ RELATED: Special January election will decide Browards newest state representative. Here are the four candidates. ] The 94th state House District includes northwest Fort Lauderdale and parts of Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes and Plantation. Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @browardpolitics Horry County officials want to use federal COVID relief dollars to upgrade a rail line in Carolina Forest. County officials plan to pledge $450,000 toward improving the portion of the railroad along U.S. 501 between Postal Way and River Oaks Drive, according to public records. That funding would be contingent upon the railroad company RJ Corman matching that contribution. This gets that section of the railroad actually operational, said assistant county administrator Barry Spivey. And there are customers who are currently locating on that line who would benefit from this increase in service. Last year, RJ Corman requested more than $1 million for rail line improvements, primarily to provide service to businesses in the Carolina Forest area. The county owns 14 miles of railway between the Waccamaw River and Myrtle Beach. The railroad company wants to upgrade a five-mile section of those tracks, which RJ Corman leases from the county but hasnt been able to use because of maintenance problems. The price tag for the upgrades is $886,041. That would include tie replacements and ballasts, among other enhancements. The goal of the project is to make the tracks safe so trains can access industrial sites near the lines end at the Intracoastal Waterway. RJ Corman officials have said a business moved to that area and needs rail service, while other parcels could be marketed to potential rail customers if this line is activated. The railroad in Horry County has seen major upgrades since RJ Corman bought the line in 2015. Before that purchase, most of the tracks were owned by the Carolina Southern Railroad. When federal officials implemented new standards for bridges in 2011, the Carolina Southern's owners said they didnt have the money to bring some of their bridges up to code and voluntarily shut down most their rail service. At the time, about 800 Horry County workers were employed by companies that used the railroad and 3,600 jobs were connected to those businesses, according to a Coastal Carolina University study. The annual state and local tax revenue from jobs related to rail access then was $12.32 million. Illinois College student Ethan Leitschuh recently received the Outstanding Presentation Award at the sixth annual East Central Illinois American Chemical Society Undergraduate Research Conference. Illinois College was among 12 participating institutions that presented at the one-day conference hosted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Along with Leitschuh, seniors Alexis Paskach and Maggie Cockerill and sophomore Emma Green also presented their student-faculty research at the conference. Each IC student worked with Jocelyn Lanorio, assistant professor of chemistry, during a 10-week summer research program. The students gained a hands-on learning experience which allowed them to practice the many skills they acquired in their lab courses. For Leitschuh, the opportunity to work on bioconjugation and green organic synthetic reactions alongside a faculty member was a chance to discover whether they wanted to continue doing research in their future career. My experience with Dr. Lanorio revealed to me how much I appreciated the different aspects of research, such as literature searches, scheme development and conclusive analysis of the collected data, he said. TALLAHASSEE Churches and other religious institutions wouldnt have to turn away congregants because of government orders during future emergencies as long as businesses are allowed to stay open, under a bill approved Thursday by the Florida Senate. The Senate voted 31-3 to approve the measure (SB 254), which would prohibit emergency orders from directly or indirectly preventing religious institutions from conducting services or activities if businesses are still operating. Advertisement It is born out of the pandemic, but not, sponsor Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, said when asked if the measure applies only to the COVID-19 pandemic. It applies to all emergency orders that would come in. It would basically say if Publix is open, so is your place of worship. What it doesnt seek to do is what weve seen in some of the other states, where churches, synagogues and mosques were singled out for congregated activities. In voting for the measure, Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, said leaders of religious institutions would not be blocked from holding services online or requiring congregants to wear masks and abide by other safety precautions. Advertisement Sen. Bobby Powell, a West Palm Beach Democrat who voted against the bill, argued earlier this month that the state has a responsibility to protect people. Powell was joined in voting against the bill by Sen. Lori Berman, D-Delray Beach, and Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton. There were a number of times that religious institutions decided to gather, and the result of that caused many people their lives, Powell said during a Jan. 13 committee meeting. That being said, were stewards of the state. We do have a responsibility to always kind of move the state forward. In essence, a religious institution being within the state of Florida, thus authorizing them to buck the system by ignoring emergency orders, is not what I think were here to do. Lawmakers pushed for the measure because of high-profile situations about churches in various parts of the country being forced to close or scale back early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Ron DeSantis included a provision within one of the more than 50 supplemental coronavirus-related executive orders he issued after March 9, 2020, that allowed certain essential businesses and establishments to operate at reduced capacities, including churches, synagogues and other houses of worship. DeSantis action followed the arrest of a Tampa megachurch pastor for holding two in-person church services in violation of a Hillsborough County ordinance prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people. The charges were eventually dropped. The House version (HB 215) of the bill moved forward Wednesday to the full House. Those who work with anhydrous ammonia, including farmers who previously were exempt, will have to receive training certification prior to handling the chemical once a new law takes effect April 1. Anhydrous ammonia is used prominently in agriculture, though that use always has come with strong safety regulations and guidelines. Previously, the training was required of those who sell the chemical, but not all farmers had to be certified to be allowed to buy it and apply it to their fields, said Keith Fricke, a safety manager with Prairieland F.S. Now, anyone involved in the purchase, transportation or application of anhydrous ammonia and those responsible for maintaining the equipment used in those processes have to have the training. "It goes into effect in April and will be good for three years," Fricke said. "The Department of Agriculture put together a presentation for the training." While many farmers apply (anhydrous ammonia to their fields) in the fall, any of those who apply it after April 1 will have to have the certification, Fricke said, adding that everyone applying anhydrous ammonia in the fall will have to be certified. "We had such a mild fall that most got their applications on in the fall, though we'll have a few this spring," Fricke said. "We'll likely see more later in the year." The training covers the properties of anhydrous ammonia, safety concerns, proper handling and all necessary regulations, Fricke said. Most information in the training involves things that those who handle the chemical already should know, though it is important for anyone who handles the chemical to know the proper procedures, he said. "This is a gas that we store as a liquid under high pressure," Fricke said. "When it is released, it is very unpredictable. It can impact whatever is down wind of it." Lindsay McQueen, manager of Cass-Morgan Farm Bureau, said the bureau is working with various organizations to offer training sessions for those who want to receive the training in person. One session will be at 9 a.m. Thursday at Prairieland F.S. and one will be at 9 a.m. Feb 23 at Beard Implement, 2298 Illinois Route 123 in Ashland. "We want to provide the resources for farmers to receive the training they need," McQueen said. The training also can be completed online through the state Department of Agriculture's website. More training sessions will be offered in the fall, Fricke said. The prosecution continued making its case Thursday, on Day 2 of the jury trial for Dustin A. Finlaw. Finlaw is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Robert L. Utter, who repeatedly was stabbed in the neck and had his throat slit while in his car early May 24, 2018. Finlaw, 22, has pleaded not guilty and is representing himself during the trial. State's Attorney Gray Noll and Assistant State's Attorney Chad Turner showed jurors two more videos of interrogations with Finlaw. As a follow-up to a May 29, 2018, interrogation video jurors saw Wednesday one that featured a seemingly emotional Finlaw Noll asked Illinois State Police Sgt. Brad Sterling, one of two police officers who conducted the interrogation, how he felt Finlaw was acting during the interview. "I thought it was in-genuine and there were no tears," Sterling said. According to court statements, Utter and Finlaw had been texting the morning of Utter's death to meet and go back to Finlaw's house to be together. But Finlaw said that, when he met Utter, there was a third person in the back seat of the car. An interrogation video shown Thursday, also from May 29, 2018, showed Sterling asking Finlaw about the timeline of events surrounding Utter's death. In the video, Finlaw again said there was a third person in the car. The interrogation also included questions confirming whether items found in Utter's car, including a Fitbit, belonged to Finlaw. In the interrogation video, Finlaw denied it was his Fitbit, telling Sterling he sold his Fitbit to his uncle. During Finlaw's cross examination of Sterling, he asked if Sterling noticed how nervous Finlaw appeared during the interrogation; Sterling confirmed that he had. The second interrogation video shown to jurors on Thursday involved Jacksonville Police Department Sgt. Sean Heafeli interrogating Finlaw. It ran 2.5 hours. During that interrogation, Finlaw appeared anxious, mumbled and rocked back and forth, and Heafeli tried to calm him with breathing exercises. At various times during the interrogation, Finlaw said he heard voices, called "grays," in his head. He said a voice named Serafin "was the one that told me to do it," though, when Heafeli asked for clarification, Finlaw said Serafin told him to run when the third person in the car was stabbing Utter. At one point during the interrogation, Finlaw was left alone in the interrogation room. He could be seen on the video talking to himself, saying, "OK, OK, OK, I will do what you say" and "Why would they drug me, Serafin?" and using his hands to "pick" nonexistent items out of the air. Illinois State Police Mst. Sgt Tim LeMasters, a crime scene investigator who conducted the secondary inspection of Utter's vehicle, explained the process of obtaining fingerprints and submitting them to evidence. Katherine Mayland, an Illinois State Police forensic scientist, then confirmed a fingerprint lifted from the driver's side rear door belonged to Finlaw. Mayland also confirmed that they were unable to get a fingerprint from the knife believe used in the slaying, both because of the texture of the handle and because the knife had been outside in the elements for a month before it was retrieved. The prosecution's final witness of the day was a construction worker who testified that he saw Finlaw running down the street around the time Utter was stabbed. John Decroix testified that he was heading to his vehicle on his way to a construction site when he saw a man wearing black clothes "shuffling down the street." "He had slippers on; it just seemed strange," Decroix said. Before showing the two interrogation videos to jurors, Noll said the prosecution plans to rest its case first thing today, allowing Finlaw to present his defense to jurors. Judge Jack Davis then asked Finlaw to confirm that all of his witnesses would be at the courthouse by 9 a.m. Finlaw said he had not been able to contact his witnesses directly because he had been housed in the Morgan County jail, but he confirmed that he had sent subpoenas to all of them. Davis moved to have a side hearing during the lunch recess after Noll said he tried to work with Finlaw several times during scheduled hearings to ensure witnesses were contacted leading up to the trial. Day 3 of the trial is set to begin 9 a.m. today. Bank statements, phone records and a credit report belonging to a former state lawmaker accused of bribing a friend to run as an independent candidate in a South Florida state senate race will be released as public records, a judge ruled Friday. Attorneys representing former state Sen. Frank Artiles tried to prevent the release of those documents, which the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office collected as evidence, arguing they contained irrelevant personal information and could hamper Artiles ability to get a fair trial. Advertisement But several media organizations, including the Orlando Sentinel, argued the documents should be available to the public, as state law typically requires when prosecutors provide evidence to a defendants attorneys during a criminal case. Circuit Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan determined during Fridays hearing the records should be partially redacted, including scrubbing all but the last four digits from phone numbers appearing in Artiles call records. Advertisement Artiles has been accused of paying a friend nearly $45,000 to file as an independent candidate in a South Florida Senate race in 2020 to siphon votes from his Democratic opponent. Though Alex Rodriguez did no campaigning, he received more than 6,000 votes, while Republican Ileana Garcia defeated Jose Javier Rodriguez by 32 votes. The South Florida election was one of three key state Senate races that year including one in Central Florida won by Republican Sen. Jason Brodeur of Sanford in which so-called ghost candidates filed to run as independents but did no campaigning. Two political committees that received all of their funding from a dark money nonprofit organization called Grow United, sent ads promoting the independent candidates, portraying them as progressives in an apparent attempt to undermine the Democrats in those races. Artiles attorneys also objected to the public release of files stored on his laptops, saying they contained information about Artiles clients unrelated to the states case. Fajardo Orshan said Artiles and his attorneys have until Feb. 15 to review the computer files and notify people that information about them might be publicly released. Those clients will then have until March 1 to object to the release of information about them stored on Artiles computers. Attorneys representing a nonprofit organization connected to the case called Lets Preserve the American Dream also filed a motion seeking to block the public disclosure of the organizations bank statements after the Orlando Sentinel submitted a public records request for the documents. Prosecutors in the Artiles case recently informed Lets Preserve the American Dream that it is being investigated for potential violations of elections and campaign finance laws. Releasing the entitys bank records would publicly reveal its donors. Fajardo Orshan did not determine Friday whether to release the bank records for Lets Preserve the American Dream, which in 2020 contributed nearly $1.1 million to Grow United, the dark money entity that paid for the ads promoting the independent candidates. Advertisement Lets Preserve the American Dream, which is closely linked to the big-business lobbying organization Associated Industries of Florida, also was paying Artiles for consulting services at the same time he was paying his Alex Rodriguez to run for the Senate seat. Tim VanderGiesen, a public-corruption prosecutor in the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office, acknowledged last week during a hearing that the bank records arent relevant to the case against Artiles. Rather, he said, theyre part of a parallel investigation into Lets Preserve the American Dream and several people who have a business relationship with Artiles. The Sentinel has requested several other documents that are part of that related investigation, which have not yet been made public. Those records include transcripts of statements from Abbie MacIver, who helped coordinate contributions to Grow United; and the chief financial officer for Data Targeting, a top Republican political consulting firm that paid $15,000 per month plus expenses to Artiles to work on South Florida state Senate races in 2020 and oversaw the GOPs state Senate campaigns. In addition to Lets Preserve the American Dream, three people have received prior to letters alerting them they are the targets of a criminal investigation. Those people are Alex Alvarado, who ran the political committees that sent ads championing the apparent spoiler candidates; Richard Alexander, the chairman of Grow United; and former Democratic fundraiser Dan Newman, who raised nearly $1 million into Grow United in 2020. Advertisement anmartin@orlandosentinel.com Tuolumne County Public Health reports the death of a man in his 90s. There are 130 new Covid-19 positive community cases identified since Wednesday and nine new inmate cases. The newly reported community cases include 24 cases age 17 or younger and 35 cases age 60 or older. Tuolumne Countys active community cases decreased 12 to 878 including nine people who are hospitalized. There have been 159 deaths since January 2020. The state reports the 14-day average for Covid-19 hospitalized patients remains at 20. The state reports no ICU beds available in Tuolumne County out of six. Vaccination details per case are no longer reported, the state vaccination trends are here. The new Covid cases by gender and age: 6 girls and 9 boys age 11 or younger, 3 girls and 6 boys age 12 to 17, 8 women and 10 men age 18 to 29, 9 women and 11 men in their 30s, 11 women and 6 men in their 40s, 7 women and 9 man in their 50s, 9 women and 10 men in their 60s, 5 women and 4 men in their 70s, and 2 women and 3 men in their 80s and 1 woman and 1 man age 90 or older. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reports 362 currently active inmate cases. There have been 1,993 inmate cases at the Sierra Conservation Center, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) reports the SCC manages 3,120 inmates with 82% vaccinated including all the southern fire conservation camps. They have tested 59% of the prison population in the past 14 days. There are 83 active staff cases reporting they have Covid out of 1,160. A total of 675 staff members report they are or have been Covid positive with a 56% vaccination rate reported among the staff. The total current case rate, a 14-day average for Tuolumne County decreased to 166.3 from 167.4 per 100,000 population. The case rate reached a low of 15.1 on December 17th. A total of 140 were released from isolation in all 8,381 have been released from isolation and 61% of the population eligible to get vaccinated has been vaccinated. If you receive a positive test result, you will likely receive a text from a Virtual Agent to make contact and provide some information on what to do next. You can help slow the spread of COVID-19 by responding to texts, calls, or emails, and self-isolating when you have symptoms or a positive test result. Also notify any close contacts youve had from 2 days before you became ill or got tested. Any close contacts should follow current quarantine guidance and get tested 3-5 days after exposure. If you are at high risk of severe disease or hospitalization, you can contact your doctor to discuss potential treatment options. If you are not symptomatic, have not tested positive for COVID-19 recently, and are not in quarantine, get vaccinated or boosted. Calaveras County Public Health reports 103 new cases since Tuesday, January 25. There are 48 more active cases for a total of 161 active cases including nine Covid hospitalizations. Calaveras reports positive cases age 17 and under number 1,200 or more, a specific number is no longer provided. There are 21 new cases age 65 and older, in total 972 over 65 have been identified with Covid. There are 53 more counted as recovered for a total of 5,827 and 56.31% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated in the county. According to the state, Calaveras 14-day average for Covid hospitalizations increased from five to nine and there are three ICU beds available. COVID-19 Testing Free tests can be ordered at covidtests.gov or at usps.com/covidtest. The first tests will ship by the end of January. Tests will typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering through the U.S. Postal Service. USPS reports shipping times of 1-3 days for its first-class package service in the continental United States. The White House emphasized that the website is in beta testing when it made tests available for ordering for the first time today. Public health recommends scheduling an appointment to get tested 5 days after possible exposure and if you are having any symptoms, to get tested right away. The Tuolumne County State testing site schedule is 7 days a week from 7 AM to 7 PM at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds and will be open on the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, Monday, January 17th. Appointments can be made at www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123. Testing is also available at pharmacies, at Rapid Care, and the hospital emergency department if you are experiencing any symptoms, or contact your healthcare provider. More details are here. COVID-19 Vaccine the CDC recommends people receive a booster shot if they completed a Pfizer series at least five months ago, or the Moderna series at least six months ago, or a J&J vaccine at least two months ago. Vaccine appointments for children ages 5 to 11 can also be made through myturn.ca.gov, or by calling 833-422-4255, or through local pharmacies, more details are here. For ways to manage a fear of needles or a phobia and help others with it, view the CDCs information guide here. Learn more about self-care strategies by visiting namica.org County Date New Active (Hospital) Total 2022 All Cases (All Deaths) Amador 1/24 257 560 (12) 876 5,042 (64) Calaveras 1/27 101 161 (9) 1,450 6,085 (97) Mariposa 1/27 34 99 (16) 773 2,575 (19) Mono 1/26 196 N/A 851 2,826 (7) Stanislaus 1/27 1,314 11,602 (275) 23,960 108,933 (1,527) Tuolumne 1/27 139 878 (9) 3,410 11,411 (159) Reported cases at end of 2021 and 2020 Vegetation fire in Lake Don Pedro area View Photo Update at 1:40 p.m.: Firefighters have contained an escaped debris burn fire near Lake Don Pedro off Jacksonville Road in Tuolumne County. CAL Fire reports that when crews arrived at the property in the 13900 block of Lake Drive near Tarantula Mine Road they were able to quickly extinguish the flames at a small spot fire. Original post at 12:15 p.m.: Tuolumne County, CA Firefighters are battling a vegetation fire on Lake Drive off Jacksonville Road in the Jamestown area of Tuolumne County. The fire is in the 13900 block of Lake Drive near Tarantula Mine Road. CAL Fire reports the flames spread to nearby vegetation from a burn pile. There is no word on the fires size, rate of spread, or whether any structures are threatened. An update will be provided as soon as new information comes into the newsroom. In the second season of The Intercept's investigative true-crime podcast "Murderville," the show highlights a Houston murder from the 1990s. In "Murderville, Texas," journalists Liliana Segura and Jordan Smith investigate the 1992 murder of a grandmother named Edna Franklin. Today, the man sentenced to death for the crime maintains his innocence, The Intercept stated in a recent press release. Days after the murder, "Houston officers arrested 22-year-old Charles Raby, who confessed to killing Franklin following a sketchy and poorly documented interrogation," The Intercept stated in the release. "Raby was convicted and sentenced to death on June 30, 1994 at the age of 24 even though no physical evidence linked him to the crime." In the podcast, the journalists reveal new evidence that points to someone else as the perpetrator, which raises the question of whether there is time to save Raby's life, according to The Intercept. The weekly "Murderville, TX" season is set to be released on Feb. 1 across several standard podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Amazon Music. You can listen to the trailer below. The first season of "Murderville" launched in late 2018 helped lead to the exoneration and release of a Georgia man last year, 23 years after he was wrongfully imprisoned, per The Intercept. Devonia Inman was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the 1998 murder of Donna Brown. For more than two decades Devonia maintained his innocence, denying any involvement in the murder, according to a press release issued by the Georgia Innocence Project. Inman was exonerated at the end of 2020 due to new DNA evidence and knowledge that three of the four criminal witnesses who "originally implicated Devonia in the crime" would recant their "testimony at or after trial, saying they had been pressured or coerced by police," Georgia Innocence Project stated. "I spent 23 years behind bars for something I didn't do," Inman told the Georgia Innocence Project. "It took a really long time to fix, even though it was so clear I wasn't guilty. I'm glad I finally get to go home, and I'm grateful to everyone who helped make that possible." The Earl Abel's diner of today is a living memorial to its mythic namesake, who founded it in 1933. One of the oldest eateries in the city, its undeniably a San Antonio institution. Its the type of place to sip iced tea with your grandfather on a Sunday afternoon while The Supremes and Franki Valli play in succession. Its where you split a fluffy slice of banana cream pie (topped with a communion-sized Nilla Wafer) for dessert. There are always hot cups of coffee to be had, and even hotter bowls of creamy chicken soup (served in disposable bowls with white plastic cutlery church basement style). At Earl Abel's, you can even cozy up with a cocktail. What it is most known for, however, is it's crispy and savory fried chicken, served on a silver tray with two no-frills sides (when I tried it, I opted for the coleslaw and mashed potatoes in gravy). I asked current owner, Danny Badiola, what they do to give their chicken that elusive crunch. You cant ask me that thats like asking Colonel Sanders for his recipe, he tells me with a smile while were chatting at a small booth. I conceded. Earl Abels' fried chicken isn't artisanal, it's history frozen in time, remaining steadfast in an Instagram-ready chicken sandwich pop-up world. Its endurance suggests that sometimes people just want something classic. Abigail Im It makes sense that such a lasting restaurant would keep all its classic recipes tucked away in a vault. Every now and then, the cooks will pull out an old one thats no longer on the menu and revitalize it for modern patrons. The restaurants current iteration finds itself back on the rapidly changing Broadway corridor this time in the Pearl district after an 11-year stint on Austin Highway. With a full bar and coffee menu in an area with a high millennial concentration, it has managed to entertain younger generations as well as maintain its legacy clientele. "Most of our regulars as you can probably imagine, they're like 60 and older," says Badiola. However, while dining morning and evening, I noticed healthy mix of older and younger patrons . The interior is as classic as the fried chicken. Our clock will never be stolen, our employees are always watching it, reads a sign on the wall of the dining space. The phrase is said to be one of Abels many wisecracks. Abelisms, is what they call them, says Badiola. These sorts of signs, which still decorate the dining space today, are vestiges from the original kitschy interior. The same goes for a life-size waxy butler figure you can always find creeping in the corner with an uncanny look in his eyes. These quirks are perhaps why people began going to the diner in the first place. Camille Sauers/MySA Theres a great deal of lore that surrounds Earl Abel's. Most famous is a story about former congressman Henry B. Gonzalez getting into a brawl outside of the diner like it was a local saloon. The legend goes that after a fellow diner called him a communist, things escalated and Gonzalez finally served him a punch. The year was 1986, Gonzalez was 70. In 1961, John F. Kennedy was spotted in the Lincoln Continental Presidential limousine, cruising down Broadway. There's a photograph of the historic moment that the diner still proudly displays in a slideshow of vintage photos on a mounted TV screen. In the hands of the Abel family for decades, the original Earl Abel's closed doors for good when Jerry Abel, Earl's son, decided to retire in 2006. It was sold to Roger Arias that same year, who reopened the popular joint on Austin Highway. In 2019, Badiola took over, after Arias stayed only two years at the current location on Broadway. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Abigail Im Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Courtesy of Earl Abels Show More Show Less 3 of 3 A partial owner of Mad Dogs Group and a veteran of the San Antonio River Walk restaurant scene, Badiola initially was looking to explore other concepts for the space. However, once he realized how beloved the diner was, he decided to carry the torch. It's an honor. When we looked at the property when they closed in 2019, we were thinking of putting in or introducing a different concept, but looking into the history and the influence of the restaurant in San Antonio, it was a no-brainer." You can find Earl Abel's at 1639 Broadway. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. South Floridians dont face freezing conditions often, and when the temperature drops into the 30s as is forecast to happen this weekend were as puzzled as a northerner looking at a cafecito. But dont worry. Advertisement Here are some tips to help you deal with the mass of cold air that started in Canada and is expected to deliver South Florida the coldest temperatures weve seen in more than a decade. Shelters Broward County has declared a two-day weather emergency from 6 p.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Monday. Homeless residents are advised to report to shelters no later than 6 p.m. Saturday or Sunday. Advertisement Palm Beach County had made no announcements about shelters opening by 5 p.m. Friday. A decision whether to open the shelter is usually made by 11 a.m. the day the shelter would open, according to spokesman John Jamason. Palm Beach County would use the Westgate Recreation Center as its shelter for the eastern portion of the county. It will have 15 pickup points for rides to the shelters. If necessary, the county will open a shelter for the western portion of the county. In Broward County, shelter locations are: Fort Lauderdale: The Salvation Army, 1445 W. Broward Blvd. The Salvation Army, 1445 W. Broward Blvd. Hollywood: The South Homeless Assistance Center, 2056 Scott St. The South Homeless Assistance Center, 2056 Scott St. Pompano Beach: 1700 Blount Road. A bus will leave The Salvation Army in Fort Lauderdale at 5:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday nights to take people to other locations. People must be at The Salvation Army no later than 5:30 p.m. to board the bus and space is limited. [ RELATED: Freeze watches issued for South Florida ] If the forecast changes and shelter hours are adjusted an announcement will be made no later than 1 p.m. that day. Additional information can be obtained at the Homeless Hotline at 954-563-4357. The Broward Sheriffs Office has been distributing blankets to homeless residents. Officers from neighboring municipalities have taken blankets from the Broward Sheriffs Office headquarters and given them to homeless residents in their cities. South Florida could see temperatures that approach freezing level Sunday morning as forecasters say the low temperatures could be their coldest in more than a decade. (National Weather Service) Pets Theres an easy-to-remember rule regarding pets, according to Cherie Wachter, vice president of marketing for the Broward Human Society. Advertisement If its too cold for you out there, its too cold for them, she said. Dogs and cats should be brought indoors, Wachter said. And be sure they dont lay too closely to a space heater. [ IN OTHER NEWS: Six killed in high-speed crash near Delray Beach ] Also, when outside, be aware an animal could be under your car or under your cars hood for warmth. Its real important the day after the cold snap to toot the horn or bang on the hood of your car, she said. Wachter said if your dog cant be brought inside, be sure to give it extra bedding, even in a dog house, and make sure the bedding is raised off the ground. South Florida's wind chills on Sunday morning could be below the freezing level. (National Weather Service) Plants Saturated soil is what keeps a plants roots warm, according to Emily Marois, urban horticulture extension agent at the UF/IFAS Palm Beach County Extension Office. Advertisement Some things they can do that would help is making sure that their plants are adequately watered right before it gets really cold, Marois said. Covering plants with a frost cloth or bed sheet works well, too. The covers really need to reach the ground and be tucked in with bricks or soil or rocks and draped over plants if theres no way to keep the sheet off of the plants, she said. [ IN OTHER NEWS: South Florida gets financial help for flood relief ] Marois said they also recommend turning off any in-ground irrigation systems before a freeze. Tropical plants such as orchids should be brought inside, if possible. Subtropical-type plants can acclimate to weather and temperatures, Marois said. Advertisement Airports Expect airline disruptions because of inclement weather in many locations in the United States, and especially along the eastern seaboard. [ RELATED: Winter storm in Northeast leading to canceled, delayed flights at Florida airports ] Saturday is expected to be the big day for flight cancellations. Carriers such as American, United, Southwest and Jet Blue have already canceled about 800 flights nationwide Saturday. Check with your airline before heading to the airport. People If youre going to be outside for an extended length of time, dress in layers of clothing as opposed one big sweater and one big coat. The whole point of dress preparation is to prevent hypothermia, said Dr. Aldo Calvo, director of ambulatory division at Broward Health. Starting at the top of your body, wear a hat that covers your ears, Calvo said. Advertisement Wearing two long-sleeve shirts under your coat, or a short-sleeve shirt and a long-sleeve shirt under your coat, is preferable. Gloves or mittens would be wonderful, anything to cover the digits or the fingers because areas that are far away from the heart typically have less blood flow and those areas will be more exposed to frostbite, Calvo said. Calvo said wearing a scarf to cover the neck is good, and possibly even thermal underwear. Calvo said high-risk groups such as the elderly or infants or those with multiple chronic conditions should be watched carefully. As for joggers, hydration and dressing in layers is key. If youre not hydrated and youre already dry, your metabolism is going to start to go quickly and increase, he said, and you want to conserve as much heat as possible for your vital organs. Advertisement Calvo doesnt recommend running in frigid temperatures because the body needs to sweat and youre not going to have the ability with layer upon layer, so limit your exercise during these types of conditions and try to do the exercise indoors if you can. And finally, Calvo said gathering in front of a fire pit and having a cup of hot chocolate could be a good activity. I think as Floridians we should enjoy this cold that were going to experience because its not often we have this opportunity to gather in front of the fire pit with our family, our friends, our significant others, and have that smores or that cocoa, he said. Heaters and space heaters Youll likely smell something burning when you turn on your heater for the first time in a while. A lot of that is just due to lint and stuff being on the heating coils of A/C units, said Chief Stephen Gollan of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue. We want people to know give it a few minutes, let the lint burn off If youre not seeing smoke coming out of the vents, then more than likely the units not on fire and theres no reason to call 911. Advertisement Gollan suggests turning on your heater for a few minutes before you really need it to burn off the lint. Do not turn on the oven and leave the oven door to heat your home. And dont bring propane-burning patio heaters indoors, which Gollan said could result in absolutely horrible results. Gollan said make sure your space heater has at least three feet of clear space around it and turn off your space heater when you go to bed or leave the house or the room. Only use a space heater while youre awake (not while napping). Use a newer model space heater because they have better safety features. Gollan also said dont use an extension cord with a space heater because it draws more power than, say, a light fixture, and could present a fire hazard. Anytime youre using a space heater, it should be plugged directly into the wall, Gollan said, and the cord should always be exposed so you can see if theres any failure to the connection between the heater and the wall. Agriculture and livestock Palm Beach County reminds horse and livestock owners to ensure they have access to a barn or three-sided structure as protection from cold and wind. Advertisement Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said numerous programs for federal disaster assistance are available for those who lose agriculture or livestock to the cold. I encourage all producers to prepare as best you can ahead of the anticipated cold front, including being aware of potential disaster assistance programs and their requirements, Fried said in a statement. Our Lady of the Lake University is stepping into the schools history books with its first Latino president. Dr. Abel A. Chavez has been named the 10th president of OLLU. He will assume office in July when current President Diana Melby retires, the university announced Thursday. In a video message posted on the universitys website, Chavez shared his gratitude about leading the Catholic institution. I am absolutely humbled and honored to be able to join Our Lady of the Lake University community, said Chavez. He is currently serving as Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success at Western Colorado University. Under his leadership, he has mentored Mexican students and helped them connect with a scholarship program funded by the Mexican government. Dr. Chavez brings a record of outstanding leadership in higher education to Our Lady of the Lake University, said Paul Olivier, Chair of the Board of Trustees. He also brings strong business skills and global experience. He is the right person to move OLLU forward. OLLU began searching for its next president in August 2021 when Melby announced she would retire July 15, 2022. She has held the position since 2015. Chavez wasted no time laying out his plan to advance the success of the private university and the teamwork it will take to reach its goals. We will put in the necessary work to ensure that throughout the journey, their journey, absolutely every student at OLLU is able to successfully navigate all the way from access to attainment. I promise you that. Three Houston cops were shot Thursday afternoon in Third Ward, police said in a tweet. Police were pursuing the driver of a white Mercedes before gunfire erupted near McGowen and Hutchins streets just east of Texas Highway 288, according to archived police radio traffic. Paramedics were called to the scene around 3:15 p.m. All three officers were transported to the hospital, although it is unclear if paramedics transported them or other police officers. Details remain scarce as of this writing. Authorities with the Houston Police Department are expected to provide an update on the officers' conditions at a press conference outside Memorial Hermann Hospital later Thursday afternoon. Police did not immediately say what preceded the gunfire. They are currently looking for the driver of the white Mercedes. At least one patrol car was riddled with bullet holes, according to footage of the scene taken by OnScene.TV. A nearby gray Dodge Charger also had several bullet holes. Doug Griffith, president of the Houston cops union, said the man police were pursuing allegedly opened fire into his girlfriends house, according to reporters with the Houston Chronicle. Chron and the Houston Chronicle are both owned by Hearst but operate independently of one another. OnScene.TV Several Houston leaders expressed sympathy for the officers on social media. This is the third act of violence against Houston-area cops in recent weeks. Around 12:45 a.m. Sunday, a driver gunned down Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office Corporal Charles Galloway in the 9100 block of Beechnut as the lawman attempted a traffic stop. Galloway had yet to get out of his patrol SUV before shots rang out. The shooter, who police identified as 51-year-old Oscar Rosales, escaped to Mexico but was later captured. Around the same time Monday morning, a driver hit and killed Harris County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ramon Gutierrez as he was escorting an oversized load along the East Sam Houston Parkway near Tidwell Road. Gutierrez had positioned his police motorcycle to block an exit ramp as he, while on foot, directed traffic. Investigators allege 40-year-old driver Lavillia Spry was intoxicated when she drove around the motorcycle and hit Gutierrez before fleeing. This story will be updated. If Texas is short on loose leaf, the south is here to help. Forty Democratic legislators from the states of Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee banded together to send a letter to Texas Secretary of State John Scott Thursday offering his office paper following reports that it would be providing less voter registration cards ahead of the March 1 primaries. Last week, the Secretary of State office announced it would be rationing the number of forms going out to voter registration groups, citing alleged supply chain issues driving up the cost of paper. The last day to register to cast a ballot in the state primaries is Monday. The southern legislators wrote they were concerned about Texas' inability to access paper, especially since the state is one of eight states that still does not allow online voter registration. "Fortunately, we have paper in our states," the letter read. "We would like to extend an offer to the people of Texas to assist with the procurement of paper for the purpose of printing applications to register to vote. While we cannot, at this time, commit direct appropriations from our state coffers, we each have access to state and private resources that we can leverage to help Texas solve its problem." The letter continues, stating the freedom to vote is the "'wellspring of democracy' that guarantees all other American freedoms. "Texas election officials cannot cast aside this freedom because of an alleged paper shortage. Voters in Texas, and across the South, deserve better." Among the note's signees was Florida Rep. Dotie Joseph. "Given that our governor has previously offered resources to Texas, I would imagine helping with paper to protect U.S. citizen's freedom to vote should be no problem," Dotie wrote on Twitter. The letter follows an announcement Thursday from Texas Democrats regarding plans to print and send out 500,000 voter registration cards across the state to assist with the shortage. "Last week, Texas proved to be ground zero for voter suppression yet again, as the State of Texas announced they'll only be printing only a very limited number of voter registration applications," read a statement from the Texas Democrats. "But the Texas Democratic Party is committed to registering hundreds of thousands of voters in 2022, regardless of who or what stands in our way." Readers have been doing a very good job of navigating the very heavy propaganda surrounding Russias supposedly belligerent intentions towards Ukraine. We are featuring some key finds and commentary below, including from members of our Brexit brain trust. To stress an overarching issue, which most of the Western press refuses to acknowledge: Russias position now very closely parallels that of the US during the Cuban missile crisis. We did not want Soviet missiles in Cuba. Russia does not want Ukraine turned into a staging ground to attack Russia, whether via NATO membership or less formal means. Russia is already unhappy about the NATO putting supposedly defensive missiles in uncomfortably close proximity of its borders.1 Russian aggression in Europe is a fraud. The aggressor is the US which has ringed Russia with missiles and bases. That is the inverted reality of the relentless US/UK propaganda news. Read this and know your true enemy.https://t.co/UNFQ5ZxaoG John Pilger (@johnpilger) January 27, 2022 In addition, Russia does not want to occupy Ukraine. It is an economic basket case and would be a huge money sink, even apart from the high cost of holding the terrain. Russia wants Ukraine to be a buffer zone. Well address three issues: the claim that Russia has escalated in recent months and is on the verge of attacking Ukraine; the backstory of what Russia was and thinks it was promised by the West; and the lack of good next moves for the West. Is Russia Threatening Ukraine? The notion that Russia is massing troops with an intent of attack doesnt hold up to scrutiny. First, Russia not unreasonably has servicemembers near its borders. Those who want to depict Russia as a a belligerent are throwing in units not stationed close enough to be part of a strike force. Moreover, while its hard to get good numbers, any increase has not been huge (on the order of 100,000 soldiers) and took place early in 2021, contrary to claims of aggressive increases in October and November. On top of that, Russia has not put in place the logistical support needed for combat, such as medical teams. By contrast, the first sign the US was serious about invading Iraq was that it started pre-positioning hospital ships nine months before the attack. Cat Burglar provided a good overview yesterday in comments: The poor reporting on Russian troop levels in regions adjacent to the Ukrainian border make it hard to figure out what is happening. Getting so many soldiers into the CIA evidence room might mean finding a new place to store Saddams Weapons Of Mass Destruction and the torpedoes from the Gulf Of Tonkin incident, to say nothing of the bomb used to blow up the USS Maine. Some counting and basic geography have been absent from most reporting, so I took an excursion on google and Wikipedia to find out more. But according to the Polish Institute For International Affairs in a 2016 report, the Western and Southern Military Districts in Russia had 372,000 troops stationed there as a matter of course. With the addition of 90,000 or 127,000 more, you could get up to a half million (about twice as many as we have in the states bordering The Mexico). Not all those troops the Russians, I mean are close to the border according to the standards of western reporting. Yelnya, an alleged base of a big chunk of the 100,000 troops,has been declared nearby, and is 150 miles from the border, but the headquarters of the 20th Guards Army (2 divisions and 7 brigades) is 175 miles from Kharkiv is that still nearby? The Southern Military District Headquarters are a couple hours away from the Ukraine border, in Rostov-on-Don, and the 8th army (about the same size as the 20th) is headquartered 175 miles from the border. There is also the Black Sea Fleet, and the 22nd Army Corps (smaller than the Armies) in the Crimea. Just looking at this, and at the map, the extra 100,000 troops dont appear to make that big of a difference from normal. If Russia wanted to, say, invade Ukraine as far west as the Dnepr, it looks like it could have done so any time it wanted to. There is also the unclearly reported fact that the extra troops appear to have been in place since April, after big military training exercises in the region the advent of the 100,000 troops was no November surprise. So my guess at this point is that the timing of the crisis at hand has been manufactured for political convenience. dk linked to an article in Intellinews dated January 27 which described how some key Ukrainian officials are trying to dial down the war talk: The chief of Ukraines Security Council, Oleksiy Danilov, can hardly be accused of being an appeaser of the Kremlin. It was he who signed off the sanctions against Putins man in Ukraine, Viktor Medvedchuk, the head of the Political Council of the Opposition Platform, For Life Party, at the beginning of 2021. That was one element in what appeared to be a co-ordinated attempt by Ukraine and the US to change the delicate equilibrium established after the hot phase of war in Ukraines breakaway Donbas region in 2014-15. It was this abrupt change of tack in Ukraines behaviour in the first two months of Bidens presidency that has likely prompted the amassing of Russia troops at the Ukrainian border at the end of the same month. Their menacing presence continues up to the moment. Observers with better knowledge of regional politics and Putins patterns see it as a show of force that backs up Russias negotiating position but is unlikely to result in war. The White House has chosen to interpret it, at least publicly, as a threat of imminent invasion. A year after it all started, Ukraine and the US are hardly speaking with one voice. Interviewed by the BBC on January 24, Danilov accused Western allies of spreading panic by hyping up the possibility of Russian invasion. He claimed that the scaremongering, primarily fuelled by the US and the UK, was harming Ukraine and benefiting Putin Danilov mentioned that he even attempted to argue with the Washington Post after it ran an article on October 30, which was the first in a massive wave of alarmist publications.But he said the newspaper wouldnt listen to him. The WaPo piece was based on comments by anonymous US officials claiming there was a serious uptick in October in the number of Russian troops deployed near the Ukrainian border. These comments were backed up by military analyst Michael Kofman, who in the next few weeks emerged as a vocal proponent of the looming invasion narrative. But it also contained a quote by Danilov who contradicted the premises of the story by putting the number of Russian troops massed at the border at 80,000 to 90,000, the same or even lower than what was estimated back in the spring. John Pilger describes what the Chinese would call a provocation: The Wests Broken Promises to Russia about Its Security Russia is correct to deem the US not agreement capable, particularly in light of this history. From vlade by e-mail: One of the Czech internet dailies has a long-form take on the NATO/Russia, specifically the no inch eastwards. https://www.idnes.cz/zpravy/nato/rusko-nato-gorbacov-baker-genscher-nemecko-sovet-bush.A220127_064026_zpr_nato_inc But since you probably dont want to google-translate it, heres a summary: They say that: There was no formal promise of NATO non-expansion from NATO, ever. There were informal pronouncements by Baker and Genscher (the then West Germany foreign minister), mostly by the latter who had no mandate to make any such promises, while he had a clear interest in getting USSR to agree to German unification both Baker and Genscher presented USSR with options that were at least somewhat misleading (not only in terms of NATO). US/Germany formally committed to limit the size of German military not deploy any WMD to former East Germany not deploy any non-German troops to former East Germany/West Berlin not expand any NATO-specific infrastructure in East Germany/West Berlin i.e. basically exclude East Germany territory from NATO. Gorbachev accepted in 1990s that NATO expansion is likely, as a number of Eastern European countries expressed with to leave Warsaw Pact and enter NATO. although he didnt like it, and considered it against what Genscher/Baker said, cf above In 1990/91 most Western leaders were against expansion of NATO, and the US was against NATO expansion until at least 1993 the change was driven primarily by Havel and Walesa, who spent much time persuading Clinton and his team about the expansion while there were attempts to include USSR, including talks about how NATO would one day include USSR. cf 1994s Partnership for Peace (see https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/4390825/Document-11-The-President-s-Meeting-with-Czech.pdf). Interestingly enough, it also talks about Ukraine, and the need not to alienate Russia.. personal note. When I keep commenting that I have this from the person who was in the room, this doc has the name of the person I mean. Go, have a guess ;) They point out that Putin in 2002, when Baltics entered Nato, said about Ukraine: Ukraine is an independent sovereign state, and it will choose its own path to peace and security, of course, the situation then was quite different, but it shows the distance pols managed to create. They point out that regardless of what was/wasnt said in 89, in 99 Russia signed up to Founding Act, which restricted NATO from permanent deployment of any significant forces or WMD on the new members territory, but at the same time explicitly acknowledged the right of countries not in NATO (including former Soviet Republics) to join NATO.> This is consistent with the major point weve made, that when the USSR was about to disband, James Baker promised Russia that NATO would not expand eastward. This was a verbal commitment only. Russia, based on its belief about how top-level negotiations worked, took this as binding when it wasnt. Another critical point that goes virtually unmentioned is the Ukraine problem was supposedly solved in 2015 in the Minsk II agreement, except the US effectively retraded that deal by not implementing it. An indirect mention of Minsk II came when Macron pushed last week for Europe to have a seat at the table in any negotiations with Russia, invoking the Normandy format (having the West represented by the US, France, Germany, and the UK) as it was in the seemingly-successful Minsk II talks. John Pilger elaborated: The Normandy format has been a vehicle for implementing the 2015 Minsk agreements designed to end the separatist war in Ukraines Donbas region. This solution has already been proposed and accepted in principle, according to Anatol Lieven, who wrote in The Nationthat the Minsk II agreement was already adopted by France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine in 2015, and endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council. Key elements of the Minsk II deal are full autonomy for Ukraines eastern regions in the context of decentralization of power in Ukraine, demilitarization, and restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty. Despite agreement by all parties, political analyst Anatol Lieven says because of the refusal of Ukrainian governments to implement the solution and refusal of the United States to put pressure on them to do so, the settlement is a kind of zombie policy. As David in Santa Cruz remarked in comments: Macrons remarks to the MEPs and Bidens off-the-cuff remarks about proportionality are evidence that Blinken and Nuland are nothing but a pair of Cold War-nostalgic chicken-hawks who confuse Russian-Roulette with diplomacy.. This should be a purely European issue. The United States has no business deploying missiles in Poland and Romania Yves is precisely correct to compare these missile launchers to the Soviet launchers deployed in Cuba in 1962. As I read the English language Russian outlets, there is a very likely chance that the Russian government will launch surgical strikes against these launch sites, as well as missile sites in Ukraine. Based on the doctrine set forth by JFK, Rusk, and McNamara during the Cuban Missile Crisis, such strikes would be justified. Since the EU was foolish enough to admit the economically weak quasi-democracies Poland and Romania (the reason some of my British friends supported Brexit), this makes U.S. threats over Ukraine an issue that should be resolved by the European Union. Western Paper Tigers Growl The US does not appear to have any good plays despite its shows of aggression (and no, resorting to nukes is not a good play). At best, it appears to be trying to provoke Russia into being so stupid as to throw the first punch. A second concern is a false flag attack in Ukraine.and not even organized by the US. All it would take would be some local hotheads workings towards the Furher. Our Clive offered a brutal take via e-mail: From a UK perspective, this in one of those where it is a case of everyone, and that doesnt exclude anyone, is all-aboard the failboat. In some sort of order of causality (but not attempting to say who is most to blame): The Anglosphere. The UK and the US want to intervene, but dont want direct military involvement in the Ukraine. And everyone knows that. So they have limited tools in their toolbox, which means that theyd be better off doing nothing. But since when did the Anglosphere be content with doing nothing? Never, thats when. It became, then, a matter which could only be influenced by economic sanctions on Russia. Which Isnt going to happen because Germany. Mercantilism is going to be pulled from Germanys cold, dead hand. So it will continue to make obtaining raw materials, Russian gas, here, the top priority, outcompeting everything else. Including any obligations to Ukraine, which it foolishly started incurring when it pushed Ukraine to become more aligned with the EU and NATO. Germany is then an unreliable security partner for countries which need, or think they need, solidarity against Russia, such as Poland and Romania. Those countries are left looking to something which might give them some support. Like France. France cant convince Germany to do anything that might interfere with its economic aims, so its notions of a European security or defence positioning is in tatters. It might get somewhere through the EU. But The EU has no competency in either foreign policy or defence. But still it tries with its High Representative. Who, between the Commission undermining them and the Member States either ignoring him or expecting him to stich up their pet policy aims with the other Member States, a task he has neither the authority nor leverage to achieve, almost defines the adage responsibility for everything, power over nothing. And its never going to fly anyway. Once one country claims it is the EU, theres no EU. The only country which has any hope of making good on any promises of a joint EU security framework is France, but few if any of the other Member States will hand that much power to France and, if France cant convince Germany (or any of the other big-hitter Member States) to let it have it, and it cant, it is bye-bye European Defence Force. I really do have to hand it to Putin. Just by having a hundred thousand troops faff around on the Ukranian border (or even, maybe more likely, a few tens of thousands of troops, but moving around a lot so it confuses everyone trying to find out how many troops are really there), hes a) exposed a whole six-pack of cans which the US, the UK and the EU have kicked down the road for decades, b) shown how utterly conflicted and divided the whole lot of them are and c) got record prices for selling the same old natural gas into a market which paid nosebleed prices, all winter long. And, just for kicks, he can keep pulling this same stunt for a whole lot longer, if he likes, before theres any chance for demand destruction to get going. Oh, and he can pull it again at any time in future he wants. Masterful. In fairness, you cant blame Russia on the prices Russian gas buyers are paying. Gazprom actually encouraged customers to enter into long-term, fixed price contracts, but they opted into market price deals. Oopsie. From CNBC: Russia has repeatedly dismissed charges it has played politics over gas and says it is meeting all the amounts it is contracted to supply. Companies with supply deals have also said their contracts have been met. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Europe was missing out on additional Russian supplies because of delays to Nord Stream 2, which still needs German approval to start up He also said European leaders had made mistakes in reducing the use of long-term supply deals in favor of the spot market, where prices are more volatile. The countries, which receive gas via the long-term deals, they receive it much cheaper, Novak said. David (the former UK civil servant) added: The thing in politics, especially the international flavour, is that the long term tends to be a succession of short terms, often decisions taken under pressure for reasons that seemed good at the time, but which nobody can now explain. As a result, a very common reaction when a real crisis breaks out is to say ****! how the **** did we get here?, where here is a place that you would never wanted to have been at the beginning, given a free choice. Its no comfort to those of us who predicted this kind of outcome a generation ago (lets face it, it wasnt difficult), that the outcome was indeed predictable, but part of that is that very few decisions in this game are ever taken with the genuine long term in mind. Say you are the Defence Minister of a medium-sized country, confronted with the latest proposal for NATO enlargement. You may have all sorts of doubts (where will this lead, What about country X?) but even if you can get your government as a whole behind you, youll be attacked by the opposition and in the media for appeasing Putin, your major allies will be cross, the Foreign Minister will be upset as a result, and, in the end, you wont be able to sustain the pressure from advocates of enlargement, so you cant win. In which case, why bother? After all, by the time the consequences arrive, youll be doing another job: you may well be out of politics altogether. Notice that none of these judgements have anything to do with the underlying merits of the case. Thats pretty much whats happened here. The long-term is finally the short-term, and I think that NATO nations are actually rather bewildered and dont know what to do. Apart from anything else, the intra-NATO and intra-EU politics are now so massive and complicated that they by themselves are creating enough problems to keep Foreign Ministries busy all day. So its obvious, as it has been for a while, that the US should de-escalate and find a face-saving way to back off without looking like it has. Recall the US offered the USSR a concession regarding missiles in Turkey in 1962 which really wasnt a new deal but was bruited about as if it were. Instead, the US acts as if it can bring Russia to heel with yet more sanctions.when having been leveling sanctions since at least 2014, that cupboard is bare. It would be nice to think that saner heads will prevail. But Blinken has been anything but, and Biden does not seem willing or able to knock heads on his team together. The best hope now is the Europeans injecting some sanity into these discussions (or alternatively, gridlocking them, which would also put some brakes on the US). Keep your fingers crossed. _____ 1 For instance, from Radio Free Europe in 2019: NATOs land-based missile defense system in southern Romania has been a bone of contention between the alliance and Russia since it began operations at the start of 2016. Russia claims the facility, along with a similar NATO base in Poland, are meant to undermine Moscows nuclear deterrent. Fitzpatrick said the 24 SM-3 ballistic missile interceptors at the facility are mounted on a Mark 41 Vertical Launch System. The same launchers can be used to fire a range of surface-to-air missiles as well as Tomahawk cruise missiles and other offensive weapons. My understanding is these launch systems can have their missiles swapped out in a matter of hours, and can launch nuclear missiles. (Natural News) The human rights group Amnesty International is taking issue with Italys tough anti-COVID-19 measures, which they say discriminate against people who are not vaccinated. At the heart of the controversy is a recent decree by the Italian government requiring everyone aged 50 and older to be vaccinated. Getting the jab is also a requirement for using public transportation and accessing a range of other services. Although many countries have been putting similar measures in place, Italys are considered among the most dramatic. Amnesty International is asking the country to accept alternative measures in lieu of vaccination, such as wearing masks and undergoing testing for the virus so that unvaccinated people can continue to use public transport and go to work without being discriminated against. The current rules stipulate that having a negative COVID-19 test and wearing a mask is not acceptable for accessing public transportation, nor is it enough for people aged 50 and older to access their workplace. These rules are currently in place until June 15, although it is possible that they could be extended. Under the decree, unvaccinated workers aged 50 and older could be fined between 600 and 1500 euros. They will lose their salary after five days but will not be fired, which means they will be able to receive their pay again if they comply and get the jab. Even the unvaccinated over 50 who do not work cannot escape the mandate; those in this age group who are retired or unemployed will still face a fine of 100 euros. So far, 74 percent of Italians have received at least two doses of COVID vaccines, while 6 percent have had one and 35 percent have received a booster shot. The Italian chapter of Amnesty International said: The government must continue to ensure that the entire population can enjoy its fundamental rights, such as the right to education, work, and [medical] treatment, with particular regard to non-COVID patients who need urgent surgery. In Italy, proof of vaccination is considered valid for nine months since the date of the last dose, as long as it is the second or third shot. However, starting in February, the period of validity will be reduced to just six months following the last vaccination dose. Other European countries that are taking a hard stance on this issue include Austria, which is making vaccination mandatory for everyone over 14 years of age, while Greece is requiring everyone over the age of 60 to get the vaccine starting January 16. Italy preparing for significant number of vaccine injury claims Meanwhile, Italy is setting aside 150 million euros, which is nearly $170 million, to compensate people who are suffering side effects from COVID-19 vaccines. According to a draft decree that was seen by Reuters, the government plans to set aside 50 million euros in 2022 and 100 million euros more in 2023 for those who have been permanently disabled by the Italian health authoritys coronavirus vaccine mandates. Of the 101,110 side effects complaints lodged with Italys drug agency, AIFA, so far, 14.4%, or just over 14,000, are considered serious as they resulted in emergency room treatment, immediate danger to life, disability or hospitalization. Those with permanent damage are eligible for the compensation, and there are two channels for receiving it. The first is a state compensation fund that offers quick and relatively modest compensation known as collective solidarity, while the second, reparation of damages, uses a civil or criminal judicial procedure for larger claims. Given the amount of money that they are setting aside for compensation, it appears that Italy is expecting to receive a significant number of vaccine injury complaints. Despite this clear acknowledgement that people will be suffering from the jabs, Italy inexplicably continues to press forward with insisting that its population get vaccinated. Sources for this article include: NTD.com Edition.CNN.com Finance.Yahoo.com (Natural News) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reached out to pharmacies nationwide asking them not to turn away patients who are eligible for a fourth dose of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. According to the CDCs guidance, it recommends one additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine following the first booster for around seven million American adults. These people are immune-compromised, including people with diseases like advanced HIV, people taking immune-suppressing drugs and people with cancer. The CDC claims this is necessary because of their status as people who are significantly more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection and death. The agencys studies show that patients with compromised immune systems did not have a full antibody response against COVID-19 even with two or three doses of the vaccine. For the rest of the country, the CDCs recommendations remain the same for now. The CDC first made this recommendation in Oct. 2021. Since then, CDC spokesperson Kristen Nordlund said the agency has been working with pharmacists and health providers to educate them of the supposed need to give immunocompromised people the additional booster. On Wednesday, the CDC held a conference call with pharmacists from all over the country to berate them for turning away patients and refusing to give them the experimental and deadly COVID-19 vaccines. Mitchel Rothholz, chief of governance and state affiliates for the American Pharmacists Association, said CDC officials reiterated the recommendations, running through case examples. Rothholz was asked to prepare a document that clearly laid out the recommendations so that the CDC can clearly and consistently communicate the agencys message to pharmacists who refuse to accommodate immunocompromised patients looking to get a fourth vaccine dose. The CDC was supported by the administration of President Joe Biden. Immune-compromised people should get the shots they need, wrote White House Chief of Staff Ronald Klain. [The CDC] is going to send stronger messages to pharmacies to make sure this happens. (Related: Youre never fully vaccinated: CDC announced changes on how they call those vaccinated against COVID-19.) Pharmacy executives hunting down pharmacists refusing to give fourth vaccine dose Matt Blanchette, a spokesperson for pharmacy chain CVS Health, said in a statement that the company is continuing its process of educating its pharmacists and reinforcing the need to obey the CDCs guidance on fourth doses to address any confusion about eligibility. A spokesperson for Walgreens, Americas second-largest pharmacy chain, wrote that it has already administered thousands of fourth doses to immunocompromised Americans. As vaccination guidelines continue to evolve, we make every effort to continuously update our pharmacy teams, wrote the spokesperson. Dana Ward, a spokeswoman for Acme Markets, a supermarket chain with stores in six states, said in a statement that the company is looking into every single incident of pharmacists turning away potential fourth vaccine recipients. We can confirm that our pharmacies have followed CDC guidance and are administering fourth doses to immunocompromised patients who received their third COVID vaccine more than five months ago, she wrote. Others are trying to tone down the incidence of people being turned away for a fourth shot. Rothholz said he does not know of any provider who wants to turn away people looking for a fourth dose of the vaccine. He believes people who mistakenly turn people away are simply confused. The CDC continues to make updates, and its becoming very difficult for providers at the grassroots level to keep up, he said. I can understand why a pharmacist would say, Corporate hasnt given us the green light.' He added that there is definitely confusion about who is eligible for a fourth dose of the vaccine, which explains why some pharmacists are hesitant to give patients a fourth dose. More related stories: Fauci claims fourth COVID dose is entirely conceivable. NY Times admits covid booster shots damage immunity, leave body defenseless against virus. Pfizer CEO pushes for more boosters just as studies show vaccines actually make people MORE likely to catch Omicron after 90 days. Pfizer CEO aggressively pimping FOURTH booster shot, proving it was always going to be a SERIES of shots that didnt stop covid. Watch this video to learn about a study coming out of Israel that shows that a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is not good enough against the virus. This video can be found on the channel What Is Happening on Brighteon.com. Learn more about the resistance to COVID-19 vaccines at VaccineWars.com. Sources include: KHN.org 1 KCRA.com KHN.org 2 Brighteon.com The Republican Party descended into hell and followed a Satanic-like leader who separated them from a moral code based on honesty and integrity and concern for humanity, leading them to one based on greed, lust for power, and concern for oneself. They attacked everything while lying and shouting that they were fighting for America. Gov. Ron DeSantis a prime example of those who have lost their souls. He is a hypocritical race-baiter. Critical race theory is the latest in a long line of racist dog whistles he uses to push for a dictatorship in America, which will be a disaster for 98% of Americans but will enrich those in power. Every move by DeSantis as governor has been designed with one purpose in mind: to expand his political power. Advertisement He apparently knows Italian history because hes evolving much like Italys Mussolini in the 1920s when he and his followers transformed Italy into a dictatorship by restructuring its laws, much as DeSantis is doing. The governor pushed for voting restrictions and wants to create a new personal election intimidation police force, under the guise of voter protection. James Stuart Emery, Valrico Advertisement Those antisemitic flyers The antisemitic flyers recently dropped in South Florida and in other states is another example of how evil forces try to pit Americans against each other. Its not clear if the latest round of hateful garbage, as Miami Beachs mayor characterized it, was sponsored or endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan, but its similar to its outreach playbook. In 2014, residents of Orange, Calif. awoke to find flyers in various neighborhoods. Last year, it happened in Newport Beach, Calif. Im old enough to know these incidents are not going to stop. However, I wish those who feel compelled to create and distribute these flyers would do so in the light of day and stop hiding in the dark. If youre proud of what youve done, then man up (if that is OK to say in todays gender-appropriate world), and let all people of goodwill see your wretched faces. Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach, Calif. SSNs too widely used When Medicare offered health insurance coverage in 1965, our Social Security numbers were used for identification. The Medicare numbers were listed in medical files for billing purposes, and this continued until a few years ago, when beneficiaries were issued new identification numbers to avoid fraud by thieves and hackers. The federal government should instruct businesses and governments that Social Security numbers should not be used for I.D. purposes. Many non-governmental applications ask for Social Security numbers (how often are you been asked, Whats your Social?) These private entities dont offer federal pensions, so they have no need for anyones Social Security number. Ann Sommer, Tamarac Do the anti-vaxx math My neighbor said COVID vaccines dont work because people still get sick. I asked him to solve a fifth-grade math problem: If 100 people get a vaccination, and the vaccine is 93% effective, how many people can get COVID? If youre struggling, the answer is seven. If 100 people do not get vaccinated, how many of them can get COVID? Yes all 100 of them. Advertisement M. F. Sully Sullivan, Lighthouse Point (Natural News) Americas armed forces have been in the throes of a mass die-off event ever since Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines were forced on all servicemen. At the recent COVID-19: A Second Opinion panel that was hosted in Washington, D.C., Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) dropped numerous bombshells showing that Fauci Flu shots are neither safe nor effective as claimed. Doctors and other expert panelists presented damning data showing that not only are the injections a serious medical problem, but the governments handling of it amounts to a coordinated coverup of Big Pharmas evil deeds. Attorney Thomas Renz reportedly told conservative commentator Daniel Horowitz from The Blaze the details about the cancer epidemic sweeping through the military. Here is what Horowitz tweeted in a follow-up to the gathering: I can share with you from attorney Thomas Renz that the number of cancer diagnoses in the militarys DMED system went from a 5-year average (2016-2020) of 38,700 per year to 114,645 in the first 11 months of 2021. This is a predominantly young population. Unlike VAERS where the naysayers can suggest that anyone can submit, this is only by military doctors and quantifies every single ICD code in the military for tri care billing of Humana. This is the ultimate defined and finite population with excellent surveillance. Horowitz also shared a video of Renz speaking at the panel about other mind-blowing data he accumulated from several whistleblowers whose credentials, he said, are impeccable. One of them is one of the only Green Beret doctors in the military. (Related: Renz is the same guy who warned that everything about the plandemic is centered on fear and manipulation rather than facts.) Attorney Thomas Renz reveals what multiple DoD whistleblowers have provided on the safety signals they are seeing These numbers are mind blowing! @SenRonJohnson pic.twitter.com/gs4fhwF1Po Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) January 24, 2022 One of the biggest takeaways here is that the data is beyond reproach and widely accessible by the DoD, CDC, FDA, and across the Biden-Harris regime. In other words, they are all very well aware that the jabs are almost certainly causing an untenable increase in cancer in otherwise young and healthy military-age Americans and theyre keeping that information away from the people. Americas military is being killed off by covid injections In a perfect world, what Renz alone said at the panel would have been more than enough to convince the government to immediately halt the jab push while reevaluating the data and coming up with a new plan. That reevaluated data would then have been publicly released for independent scrutiny. The world is far from perfect, though. Instead of honesty and transparency, the government has instead chosen deception and secrecy when it comes to the science behind the injections. We have substantial data showing that we saw, for example, miscarriages increasing by 300 percent over the five-year average, almost, Renz further explained at the panel. We saw an almost 300 percent increase in cancer over the five-year average. Since the corporate-backed media will never report on any of this, it is up to you and others like you to share it with anyone who might be willing to listen. We saw this ones amazing neurological, Renz added in his presentation. So, neurological issues which would affect our pilots, over 1,000 percent increase. 1,000. Ten times, Sen. Johnson then interjected. Thats 10 times the rate. 82,000 per year to 863,000 in one year, Renz continued. Our soldiers are being experimented on, injured, and sometimes possibly killed. The latest news about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine injuries and deaths can be found at Genocide.news. Sources for this article include: TheLibertyDaily.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was criticized for revising the emergency use authorization for the Wuhan coronavirus antibody treatments from Regeneron and Eli Lilly. The drugs, bamlanivimab and etesevimab (which are administered together) and REGEN-COV (casirivimab and imdevimab) were limited in their use, allegedly because they are unlikely to work against the omicron variant. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who opened treatment centers to distribute the drugs, slammed the FDAs decision, saying that they had acted without a shred of clinical data to support their decision. There are real-world implications to Bidens medical authoritarianism Americans access to treatments is now subject to the whims of a failing president, the governor said. Meanwhile, the FDA is standing by its decision. With the omicron variant accounting for more than 99 percent of U.S. infections, the agency believes it is highly unlikely that the antibodies would help those who are now seeking treatment. Further, the agency said that restricting their use would eliminate unnecessary drug side effects from ineffective treatments, such as allergic reactions. While the treatments are effective against delta, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that the strain now accounts for only 0.5 percent of the new cases in the United States. However, some critics accused the FDA of trying to restrict treatment options to force people into getting vaccinated. The Department of Health and Human Services will also no longer distribute the monoclonal antibody treatments. While the FDA noted that the drugs are currently not cleared for use in any of the U.S. states or territories, they may be authorized in other regions if proven to work against new variants. Doctors also have alternate therapies to battle COVID-19 cases, including new antiviral pills from Merck and Pfizer. However, they are currently still in short supply. Another antibody drug from GlaxoSmithKline that is effective against COVID is also in short supply. Government paused distribution of treatments indefinitely The U.S. government paused the distribution of Regeneron and Lillys treatments and said that they will not be distributed until new data emerge regarding their efficacy against omicron. The drugs, which are laboratory-made versions of virus-blocking antibodies, were intended to protect individuals from severe disease and death by supplying concentrated doses of one or two antibodies early in an infection. Former President Donald Trump received the Regerenon antibody combination when he tested positive for COVID in 2020. GSK and Vir Biotech are also boosting the production for their alternative antibody drug, sotrovimab, to help with the demand in the U.S. (Related: Act of civil war? Biden regime cuts supply of life-saving monoclonal antibody in half, targeting red states.) Meanwhile, the FDA expanded its approval for the use of Gilead Sciences antiviral COVID-19 drug, remdesivir, to treat non-hospitalized patients over 12 years. The FDA is committed to continuing to review emerging data on all COVID-19 therapies related to the potential impact of variants and revise the authorizations further as appropriate to ensure healthcare providers have an effective arsenal of treatments for patients, the agency said in a statement. However, the press release, which was issued with no warning, drew criticism from Florida officials as abrupt and poorly supported. Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez said that what the FDA was doing was just issuing their royal decree, and is taking away the very thing that is proven to reduce hospitalizations, as monoclonal antibody treatments like Regeneron were seen to have a positive impact for thousands of Floridians. As part of his administrations COVID response, DeSantis heavily promoted the antibody drugs, setting up infusion sites and lauding them at conferences while opposing vaccine mandates and other public health measures. However, the drugs are not a substitute for vaccination and are generally reserved for use for the vulnerable sector such as seniors, transplant recipients, and other chronic diseases. (Related: Eli Lilly monoclonal antibody drug trial paused over safety concerns.) An influential panel of federal experts already recommended the use of the drug to try to keep people from hospitalizations, but the same guidelines from the National Institutes of Health panel recommended against its use due to its reduced effectiveness against the omicron strain. Other related stories: Now Utah is discriminating against White people, denying them monoclonal antibodies as covid treatment American Journal host Harrison Smith slams racist monoclonal antibodies treatment for COVID-19 Now New York is refusing monoclonal antibodies for white people Biden cuts off Americas supply of monoclonal antibodies only vaccines allowed Texas health systems discriminating against white people, denying them access to monoclonal antibodies Watch the video below for more information about the monoclonal antibody treatments. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. Follow Pandemic.news for more updates. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk NPR.org (Natural News) Another left-wing big tech platform is doing the bidding of the globalist deep state as it continues to utilize the never-ending COVID-19 pandemic to justify tyrannical edicts. Canadian truckers who have formed a convoy headed to Ottawa in protest of the countrys ridiculous vaccine mandate were denied access to more than $4.7 million in funding by GoFundMe over transparency demands. We require that fundraisers be transparent about the flow of funds and have a clear plan for how those funds will be spent. In this case, we are in touch with the organizer to verify that information, Rachel Hollis, a spokeswoman for the crowdfunding platform, said in an email, according to The Record. Funds will be safely held until the organizer is able to provide the documentation to our team about how funds will be properly distributed, the email continued. As of this week, more than 61,100 people had donated to the GoFundMe page of the Freedom Convoy after Tamara Lich, secretary of the newly formed separatist Maverick Party, launched the funding campaign on Jan. 14. The page states that the money is to go toward fuel as well as food and lodging for all the truckers taking part in the convoy all of which seems transparent enough. Our current government is implementing rules and mandates that are destroying the foundation of our businesses, industries and livelihoods, the convoys GoFundMe page says. We are a peaceful country that has helped protect nations across the globe from tyrannical governments who oppressed their people, and now it seems it is happening here, the page continues. Beginning Jan. 15, the Canadian government required truck drivers to be fully vaccinated or be forced to quarantine for 14 days after crossing over from the United States. In addition, taking their queue from the Biden regime, Labour Minister Seamus ORegan has said that COVID-19 vaccines will soon be mandatory for all workers in industries regulated by the federal government, though he did not mention a timeline. The Record adds: The Canadian Trucking Alliance, which has denounced the convoy protest, says more than 85 per cent of the 120,000 Canadian truck drivers who regularly traverse the border are vaccinated, but that up to 16,000 may be sidelined due to the new restriction, exacerbating supply chain problems. The big-riggers are bound for a protest set for Saturday in Ottawa, where drivers from across the country are planning to converge. In a joint press release on Tuesday, the federal government and alliance president Stephen Laskowski agreed there are unprecedented challenges to an industry responsible for transporting, by far, the majority of food and consumer products throughout the country, while claiming that getting vaccines is the best option for economic health. Vaccines, medications, personal protective equipment, food, and supplies continue to arrive where they need to be thanks to the efforts of our dedicated commercial truck drivers, said Laskowski, ORegan, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough, according to the outlet. The government of Canada and the Canadian Trucking Alliance both agree that vaccination, used in combination with preventive public health measures, is the most effective tool to reduce the risk of COVID-19 for Canadians, and to protect public health, the statement continued. This, as both the U.S. and Canada are currently in the throes of a supply chain crisis that was begun by pandemic-related business and industry shutdowns and is now being perpetuated by COVID-19 edicts such as mandating a vaccine that doesnt prevent the spread of the virus or protect people from getting it. In a Twitter thread Monday showing pictures of depleted grocery store shelves, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said he was on the phone with U.S. governors that morning who share his concerns about the crisis, The Record reported, noting further: He said he is was working on a joint letter to U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to end the dual vaccine mandates. But they will be appealing to deaf ears, as, the COVID pandemic is obviously being used as a tool for implementing tyrannical government. And left-wing big tech platforms are aiding the process. Sources include: TheRecord.com Vaccines.news (Natural News) Remember back in 2016, during the election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, when all the globalist mouthpieces could babble on about was a Russian propaganda network here in America that was used to spread fake news about Hillary? (Article by Stefan Stanford republished from AllNewsPipeline.com) Labeling all of the independent media as being part of that network, with even the Washington Post falsely labeling us truly here at ANP as being part of that network despite the fact that my own family has been in America for hundreds of years and weve never been to Russia, we expect that same false demonization to happen now that war with Russia is near. With the Washington Post using a shadowy group of termites who called themselves Prop or Not to weed out all of the independent news websites all across America who were allegedly spewing Russian dis-info about Hillary, that Prop or Not list is still up for the world to see, with All News Pipeline still on the list despite the fact that the Washington Post was forced to issue a correction to that 2016 story. And that Washington Post story was picked up all across the country and the world, leading Democrats who still get their news from the REAL propaganda outlets, the mainstream media, completely oblivious to reality, such as this Time story from 2019 titled Heres What We Know So Far About Russias Election Meddling. Yet as we pointed out several times of the Prop or Not list, it contains the names of many of our favorite independent news websites, including Natural News, Zero Hedge, SHTFPlan, the Economic Collapse Blog and many more, as if they were setting out then to destroy the independent media. So while some might ask, why are we bringing up that 2016 story now, the answer is quite clear when we see the direction were now headed, towards a fiery, end times war, we expect the globalists demonization of the independent media to be kicked into overdrive as war arrives and the independent media continues to speak out strongly against a war, but not because were all Russians but because we stand strongly against insanity. So before we get into what they did to American citizens who just happened to be Japanese back in World War 2, lets take a look at that 2016 Washington Post story that so many on the left still believe to be factual though it itself peddles nothing but leftist propaganda. The flood of fake news this election season got support from a sophisticated Russian propaganda campaign that created and spread misleading articles online with the goal of punishing Democrat Hillary Clinton, helping Republican Donald Trump and undermining faith in American democracy, say independent researchers who tracked the operation. Russias increasingly sophisticated propaganda machinery including thousands of botnets, teams of paid human trolls, and networks of websites and social-media accounts echoed and amplified right-wing sites across the Internet as they portrayed Clinton as a criminal hiding potentially fatal health problems and preparing to hand control of the nation to a shadowy cabal of global financiers. The effort also sought to heighten the appearance of international tensions and promote fear of looming hostilities with nuclear-armed Russia. Two teams of independent researchers found that the Russians exploited American-made technology platforms to attack U.S. democracy at a particularly vulnerable moment, as an insurgent candidate harnessed a wide range of grievances to claim the White House. The sophistication of the Russian tactics may complicate efforts by Facebook and Google to crack down on fake news, as they have vowed to do after widespread complaints about the problem. There is no way to know whether the Russian campaign proved decisive in electing Trump, but researchers portray it as part of a broadly effective strategy of sowing distrust in U.S. democracy and its leaders. The tactics included penetrating the computers of election officials in several states and releasing troves of hacked emails that embarrassed Clinton in the final months of her campaign. Yet those troves of hacked emails that embarrassed Hillary Clinton were her real emails, not something fake as theyd love us to believe, and remember what Hillary said of law-abiding Americans who happen to think much differently than her while she was US Secretary of State? From this CBS New York story.: We really need camps for adults, Clinton said at the American Camp Association, New York and New Jerseys Tri State CAMP Conference. Maybe mix it up a little bit. Playing on the colors of U.S. politics, she imagined a red cabin and a blue cabin where people have to come together and actually listen to each other. Wouldnt that be a novel idea? Not just the first time that Hillary has mentioned re-educating Americans who dont agree with her satanic brand of politics, we can never forget that during both World War I and World War II, American citizens of German ancestry were thrown into internment camps here in the US, despite the fact that they were Americans, as were Americans of Japanese descent during World War II. Giving all of us another sign of what may be on the horizon here in America should the globalists succeed at getting us into World War III, we should continue to pay attention to the drumbeat of the mainstream media demonizing those who dont want war with Russia as being supporters of Russia, despite the fact that nothing could be further from the truth in our case here at ANP. We simply prefer to see America free from mushroom clouds and nuclear radiation spreading across the land, our electrical grid in tatters and our nation well on our way towards 90% depopulation or more. Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com (Natural News) A group of students and their parents in Los Angeles are suing a charter school for its discriminatory policies towards students who are not vaccinated against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). The COVID-19 vaccine mandate for eligible students in New West Charter School in Lost Angeles Westside went into effect last Monday. Many students refused to comply with the mandate, including six who are now suing the school over their right to be educated. (Related: California school board votes not to support, enforce or comply with pending COVID-19 vaccine mandate.) The six female students who are part of the lawsuit showed up for school despite being unvaccinated. They believed they would be able to go to class regardless. However, as soon as they arrived school officials denied them entry. They shot videos of the incident on their smartphones while they waited outside the school. The video the students took was then shared by the pro-vaccine-choice organization Let Them Breathe. It showed the unvaccinated students being cordoned off behind roped barriers while school officials refused to let them enter their classrooms. Were being threatened to be suspended because we dont have the COVID-19 vaccine and were being refused of the right to attend school, said one of the students in the video. We feel segregated and discriminated against, added another student. Since the videos release, the unvaccinated students featured in it say they have received even more harassment. One of the students said she has received a constant barrage of messages asking her why she isnt vaccinated. They literally come to message me to fight me about it, she said. One, why is it their business? And two, I dont know why they should care and its my personal information. According to New West, it informed students and parents of the COVID-19 vaccine in Oct. 2021, telling them students would need to provide proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 PCR test to be allowed on campus just like every indoor establishment in Los Angeles is doing. Officials stated students who chose to remain unvaccinated would be provided with independent study options, and that their parents were well informed of these options. The school bragged about achieving a compliance rate of 96 percent, but six students who did not follow the new policy still attempted to participate in classes. School officials asked the students to leave, but they refused and insisted on going to class. The students proceeded to stage a sit-in directly behind designated areas for student PCR screenings on campus, which was cordoned off with tape, said the school in its statement. New West Charter School administration notified local authorities who came to campus and helped alleviate the disruption. School vaccine mandate in violation of state law Female students were segregated, harassed and threatened with suspension just for trying to participate in their classes, and we will prove in court that this is unjust and unlawful, said Sharon McKeeman, founder of Let Them Breathe, which is representing the students and their parents in the lawsuit against New West. Let Them Breathe previously won a lawsuit against San Diego Unified School Districts vaccine mandate late last year. McKeeman said her organizations lawsuit against New West is very similar and very likely to be successful. New West Charter Schools student vaccine mandate is even more egregious than San Diego Unifieds, said McKeeman. We have filed a lawsuit against New West arguing that they are violating state law by mandating this new vaccine, not allowing personal belief exemptions and segregating and denying unvaccinated students their education, she added. Let Them Breathes lawsuit claims New Wests vaccine mandate violates the Equal Protection Clause in Californias constitution. The charter schools mandate grants conditional admission without vaccination for students who are foster youth, homeless, migrants, in a military family or who are participating in an individualized education program. The lawsuit says treating these unvaccinated children more favorably than other unvaccinated children amounts to discrimination. Additionally, the lawsuit claims New West broke California law by not providing a personal beliefs exemption in its vaccine mandate, by violating the students right to privacy and by denying California children their fundamental right to a free public education. More related stories: Editorial: UChicago must end its booster mandate we are not lab rats. Covid fascism: Yale threatens students, says they cant eat at off-campus restaurants. UC Irvine fires medical ethics director for challenging vax mandate. UCI Professor sues school over covid vaccine mandate. Canadian university forcing online students to report their vaccination status or be PUNISHED. Watch this video of one of the New West Charter School students being effectively segregated from the rest of the school due to their vaccination status. This video can be found on the channel ZGoldenReport on Brighteon.com. Read more stories about schools forcing students to get vaccinated at EducationSystem.news. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk KTLA.com FoxNews.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The reason why tens of millions of Americans continue to resist efforts to convince or force them to take a COVID-19 vaccine is that we have all been lied to about this pandemic from the outset, and for nothing more than the pursuit of pure political power. And these lies are being exposed anew in a lawsuit filed by the state of Minnesota against a pair of Illinois-based COVID testing companies for allegedly deceiving consumers. The Western Journal notes: The suit claims the companies, the Center for COVID Control and Doctors Clinical Laboratory, Inc., either failed to deliver test results, or delivered test results that were falsified or inaccurate, according to a news release issued by Ellisons office Wednesday. Center for Covid Control is one of the biggest players in the COVID testing space, operating over 300 sites nationwide, according to an NBC News report from Jan. 14, which noted that the company is under federal investigation as well as being probed by attorneys general in several states. My job is to fight for Minnesotans security and help them live with dignity, safety, and respect. Making sure that Minnesotans have accurate tools to keep them safe from the COVID-19 pandemic is a key part of that job, Ellison said, according to the statement. When Minnesotans and people from around the country tested with these companies to keep themselves and their families safe, they trusted they would get correct results on time. Im holding these companies accountable that sent back false or inaccurate results, when they sent them back at all, for deceiving Minnesotans and undermining the publics trust in testing. I want every Minnesotan to know that I will use every tool at my disposal to keep them safe and hold accountable companies that undermine their safety, he added. Ellis said his office received numerous complaints from Minnesota residents who took COVID tests at pop-up sites around the state that were operated by Center for COVID Control, which went on to report that they never got their test results back from Doctors Clinical Laboratory, which is associated with the company, even after waiting weeks on end. Other residents reported receiving test results much later than the companies advertised, while still others said they got test results from the companies even though they never submitted a test sample. Finally, other Minnesotans said they received false or inaccurate results and information from their tests. The news release also said that former CCC employers noted that while the company at first could handle the load of local tests, the processing center did not expand as the company opened new testing sites around the country, to include Minnesota. As such, the end result was chaos, as one former employee said, with received samples being stuffed into trash bags strewn across the office floor, the release said. Former employees recounted finding samples in bags that were well over 48 hours old, being instructed by management to falsify dates of receipt, and being instructed to lie to consumers about their tests being inconclusive or negative when, in fact, the sample had not been tested, the release added. According to NBC News, the company eventually expanded to around 300 testing sites at its peak. But also, the companys founder did not have any prior medical experience. The company was founded in Dec. 2020 by Aleya Siyaj, 29, whose previous experience includes starting an axe-throwing lounge and a donut shop, according to state business records and her LinkedIn page, NBC News reported. Besides Minnesota, authorities in Oregon and Illinois have also opened inquiries into the company, while attorneys general in Massachusetts and Rhode Island have issued cease and desist orders. Also, California and Washington have shuttered a number of testing sites for operating without a license. Sources include: WesternJournal.com NBCNews.com (Natural News) In the January 25 episode of The New American, international lawyer Reiner Fuellmich talks about how the pandemic is largely the result of PCR testing fraud, with the so-called victims harming others, while totalitarian policies have led to global catastrophe. Since the beginning of the so-called vaccinations, we have had excess mortality up to 40%, maybe more. This is a lot. This is extreme. So the most important thing is to stop these measures, to stop people from having to die in isolation alone, away from their loved ones, Fuellmich said. Host Alex Newman started the episode off by talking about the investigation of the Corona Investigative Committee, which looked at the spread of COVID and the role of PCR tests in maybe amplifying case numbers. Fuellmich said that he and his friends set up the Corona Investigative Committee in July 2020 because they did not expect answers from the government or the mainstream media. The three most important questions they had, according to him, include the level of danger of the virus, the reliability of the PCR test, and the damage that the coronavirus measures are doing. He also said that they focused on the PCR test because when he was riding the Berlin Subway with his friend and fellow Corona Investigative Committee member, Wolfgang Voda, the latter told him that the PCR test cant actually tell scientists anything about infections. (Related: The CDC admits: PCR tests cannot differentiate between CORONAVIRUSES.) Following this, Fuellmich said that he got in touch with former Pfizer vice president Dr. Michael Yeadon, who said that if not for the PCR tests, there would be no pandemic. They needed the PCR test in order to create the cases that didnt exist. Because from the outset, very quickly, we realized that there is something out there, Fuellmich said. Yes, there is a virus out there. It may be part manmade, or maybe even completely manmade, we dont know that. But it is no more dangerous than the common flu. He also pointed out that the human immune system can deal with almost anything, including the virus. So the infection fatality rate of this virus is no more than 0.14 to 0.15 percent. He pointed out that this is what the WHO and Stanford University epidemiologist John Ioannidis agreed on. Government created the pandemic So why do we have a pandemic? Fuellmich pointed out that the government created the pandemic through the PCR test, which has a major flaw: while it is a great tool to make things visible that the human eye otherwise cannot see, its original inventor, Kerry Martin, who won a Nobel Prize for the test, said that it is not approved for diagnostic purposes. He explained: The basic problem is it cannot distinguish between live and dead matter, it cannot tell the difference between the fragments of the bodys immune systems, fight against the common cold or the flu, or corona. It cannot tell the difference. In 2020, researchers also noted that the PCR tests could also be leading to an overestimate of the scale of the pandemic: most people are only infectious for about a week, but the tests could show positive results for weeks after. This shows that there are actually low levels of infection overall. Fuellmich also said that for a virus to be infectious, it has to enter the cell and start replicating there. You need a whole virus. The PCR test, on the other hand. only gets fragments of a virus. And the most important thing is that it can be used in such a way, abuse it in such a way as to create cases that otherwise wouldnt exist. (Related: Coronavirus RT-PCR tests are being used to mislead people amid the pandemic, says health expert.) When it comes to vaccination, Fuellmich also said that there had been no excess mortality anywhere, and the few spikes that were visible were paraded in front of the whole world. He noted that the number of cases that supposedly died from COVID actually died of completely different causes. We also have to take into consideration the people who died of or with COVID. Thats another tragedy here because they dont even distinguish between whether someone died of COVID or just with COVID, he said. More related stories: PCR tests and the rise of disease panic Portuguese court rules PCR tests are unreliable, unlawful Pandemic fraud exposed: CDC admits PCR tests dont work High-cycle PCR tests do not properly diagnose covid-19, were weaponized to terrorize nations and deprive personal liberties BREAKING: CDC, FDA faked covid testing protocol by using human cells mixed with common cold virus fragments PCR tests are merely detecting the common cold Watch the full January 25 episode of The New American below: You can catch The New American on Brighteon.com. Follow Pandemic.news for more updates. Sources include: Brighteon.com BBC.com (Natural News) The leader of Canadas Saskatchewan Province claimed Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns cause psychological and economic damage. He cited these negative repercussions as the reasons for his refusal to impose new restrictions amid the B11529 omicron variants spread. During a Jan. 23, 2022 press briefing, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe pointed to the growing body of evidence showing how lockdowns are detrimental and ineffective at stopping transmission. The Jan. 23 press conference was the second instance where he denounced the measure. Moe once imposed lockdowns on the Saskatchewanian population but, seeing the error of his ways, assured citizens that no more new restrictions would be imposed. Were avoiding the economic and psychological harm and the infringement on personal freedoms that are often caused by lockdowns, Moe said. The premier added that while COVID-19 is not going away, many other diseases exist but they are dealt with without locking down, taking away peoples freedoms and disrupting everyones life. To hammer his point further, Moe mentioned the province as a good example of how not imposing lockdowns actually led to a better outcome. Saskatchewan has the least restrictive measures among Canadas provinces and territories. Despite this its hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and COVID-19 death rates are among the lowest in the entire country. Saskatchewans current rate of hospitalizations and ICU admission is below the national rate, and is well below a number of provinces that have imposed much more stringent public health measures, and much more stringent lockdowns than we have here, the premier said. Moe compared Saskatchewan to the eastern province of Quebec, which he described as having likely the largest or most extreme lockdown policies in Canada. He said the French-speaking province has just under 40 hospitalizations per 100,000 people nearly double than that of Saskatchewan. The landlocked Saskatchewan also has a COVID-19 fatality rate almost seven times lower than that of Quebec, the premier added. Because of these numbers, Moe said Saskatchewan would not impose significant restrictions that cause significant harm, for no significant benefit. The only action the province took was an extension of its mask mandate set to end on Jan. 31, 2022 to Feb. 28. (Related: Canadas COVID-19 lockdowns have not provided any benefits to Canadians.) Saskatchewans response mirrors that of Florida Interestingly, Saskatchewans no-lockdown response to COVID-19 mirrored that of the state of Florida. Even the American states leader, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, has repeatedly denounced lockdowns and other restrictive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Back in March 2021, DeSantis said in a press conference that his decision to eschew lockdowns worked in Floridas favor. Its clear: Florida got it right. These lockdowns have not worked. Theyve done great damage to our country, he explained. Florida took a different path. Weve had more success as a result. Everyone told me I was wrong: I faced continued pressure from radical Democrats and the liberal media, but I refused to back down. The GOP governor doubled down on his no-lockdown approach as the omicron variant hit the United States. He later vowed in December 2021 that Floridians will expect no mandates or restrictions. In Florida, we wont let them lock [you] down, we wont let them restrict you, were not [going to] let them impose mandates, were not [going to] let them close the schools. We are [going to] protect your freedom to make your decisions, said DeSantis. He noted that anybody who wishes to lockdown can do so as that is absolutely their decision in a free society. DeSantis also took aim at governors and other health authorities in certain states imposing COVID-19 restrictions on their residents. He also denounced what he calls Fauci-ism or medical martial law. Its a free country, so when people are in bad environments when you have states that dont know how to fight crime, that are locking people down, mandating them [and] doing a lot of stupid things people look for greener pastures. The Florida governor added: You dont impose Fauci-ism on the whole country or on a whole state. Its wrong. More related stories: DeSantis urges America to reject Faucism, return to old normal. DeSantis terminates all local Covid-19 restrictions, including mask mandates, in Florida. DeSantis pardons all Floridians convicted of violating social distancing rules, mask mandates. Watch the video below of Tucker Carlson comparing U.S. states with lockdowns and those without. This video is from the WONG channel on Brighteon.com. HealthFreedom.news has more about leaders such as Moe and DeSantis eschewing COVID-19 lockdowns. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com DailyMail.co.uk FoxNews.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Attorney Tom Renz and conservative journalist Emerald Robinson touched on corruption in the mainstream media. The two discussed the subject in the Jan. 25 episode of Lawfare with Tom Renz on Brighteon.TV. Formerly a member of the White House Press Corps, Robinson has now branched out into independent journalism. Before taking the independent route, she had stints with One America News and Newsmax. The latter news outlet did not renew its contract with Robinson for 2022 due to her refusal to go easy on the Biden administration and White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, RedState reported. Robinson said that her removal from the press corps was a blessing in disguise, adding that mainstream journalists covering the White House indeed follow a propaganda narrative. The corporate media has to get anyone who dissents from this propaganda narrative out of the room, because it exposes them when you ask a question that lots of Americans want to know, she told Renz. Even these members of the press corps want to get people out. They want to all stay on board with the narrative, because theyre exposed if someone doesnt. Anyone who dissented against that narrative stopped getting jobs. Those opportunities got fewer and fewer because if you were not on board with their narrative, they saw how dangerous it was. According to Robinson, the push to silence dissenting opinions became stronger during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Corporate media outlets were encouraging lockdowns and other restrictions and drowning out skeptics of these measures. With the pandemic, it got more important [for] them to shut down dissenting opinions. You could ask about these mandates and these clearly ineffective measures; it was clear that [these were] just idiotic or planned for worse reasons. [If] you started asking about it, they had to shut you down so quickly. (Related: Is the media TRYING to spread the coronavirus?) Robinson lamented how media outlets have become the public relations arm of the establishment. Renz agreed, saying that these outlets are spewing propaganda instead of holding institutions accountable. Robinson defines the types of journalists in the media The conservative journalist told the Brighteon.TV host: I often get asked: Are these journalists not that smart? Are they dumb? Are they getting paid? I say its a little bit of all the above. She elaborated on the four kinds of journalists she encountered during her time in the press corps. Robinson said the first kind of journalist was dumb and lazy, who would simply accept data presented to them without scrutinizing. About thirty percent of journalists she encountered fell under this category. They just dont question, they take whatever theyre fed and regurgitate it. Dumb and lazy, she commented. The second kind of journalist was the activist kind, which Robinson described as hardcore on this communist, socialist agenda. According to her, these activist journalists are more ardent in promoting left-wing policies than Democratic politicians, and even get mad at Democratic lawmakers for failing to push these hard enough. The baseline they were working what that [the lockdown was] absolutely what needs to be done, and thats the correct route to go. There was not a question as to if it should be done. The press corps had decided thats what needs to be done. Robinson said the third kind of journalist the overly-ambitious was willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of her career. She shared the story of a colleague who, despite being at risk for side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine, still chose to get injected. This ambitious journalist took her chances just to be able to cover President Joe Biden overseas, a status thing among press corps members. She knew that she was at a risk to have a side effect, [but] she told me that she didnt care. Her career was more important than her own health. She said: I dont care if it causes me not to have children. It is more important to me to excel in my career,' Robinson shared. The last ten percent of journalists fall under the plain coward category, Robinson said. She added, however, that the actual percentage may probably be higher as some overlap with the other categories. More related stories: Fact checks? More like opinion pieces from far-left ideologues. The fall of the mainstream media and the biggest lies they told in 2021. This is your brain on CNN: Sotomayor shocks nation by spewing COVID misinformation in Supreme Court. Watch the full Jan. 25 episode of Lawfare with Tom Renz below. Lawfare with Tom Renz airs every Tuesday, 11:30-12 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. Journalism.news has more about the corruption surrounding mainstream media outlets. Sources include: Brighteon.com RedState.com (Natural News) For at least the past couple of years, independent and alternative media outlets have been describing the Biden familys financial ties to Communist China, well in advance of the 2020 stolen election that put Joe Biden the Mindless in power to serve as the deep states pro-China puppet. But a new book by investigative journalist and author Peter Schweizer provides stunning new details that prove, beyond a doubt, that not only are the Biden familys China ties real, but they are also far more extensive than previously reported so much so that Schweizer called it the scariest investigation hes ever conducted for a book. Schweizer, author of the new book Red Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win, noted in an interview that aired last week on Fox News Life, Liberty & Levin, that Hunter Biden was paid large sums of money, in large part because of his then-vice-president father, Joe Biden, who, of course, was installed as president last year. Citing his research, Schweizer, who is head of the Government Accountability Institute and a former Hoover Institute fellow, said the Biden family has benefitted from Chinese largess to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. At one point during the interview, Levin asked the author how apparent was it that the Chinese government made it part of their mission to exploit Hunter Biden in an effort to gain access to his father. I think theres no question. We spent more than a year investigating Red Handed, and one of the most startling things we uncovered is the simple fact that the Biden family, while he was vice president of the United States and continuing when he became president, received some $31 million from Chinese individuals who are linked to the highest levels of Chinese intelligence, Schweizer said. One figure is investor Che Fung, chairman of Chinese firm Ever Union Capital. Hunter Biden, in the Hunter Biden emails, refers to him as the Superchairman. Thats kind of his nickname for him, Schweizer told Levin. And [Hunter] says in one email, I dont believe in the lottery anymore, but I believe in the Superchairman,' the author noted further, going on to describe Che as a sketchy Chinese businessman [whose] business partner at the time was the vice minister [for] state security in Beijing. [The partner] was the head of something called the #8 Bureau. It doesnt get any higher than that. These are the sorts of individuals that were striking deals with Hunter Biden, Schweizer said. So theres no question in my mind that [the Bidens] were targeted by the Chinese and for the life of me, this is unprecedented. I dont know of a time in American history where the American first family has had this kind of a financial bond with a foreign intelligence service, particularly a foreign intelligence service that wants to defeat the United States in global competition, he added. Many of the revelations contained in Schweizers new book were gleaned from the laptop computer Hunter abandoned at a computer repair shop in Delaware in 2019, the contents of which were first reported by the New York Post in the weeks before the stolen 2020 election. Social media giants like Twitter censored the information. For his part, Levin noted that a number of Democrats including Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut pursued investigations into then-President Donald Trump for allegedly violating the Constitutions Emoluments clause receiving compensation from foreign sources, via income from his hotels and other properties. Nothing ever came of the probes, however, because Trump did nothing wrong. And yet, the same scrutiny is not being applied to Biden by those same Democrats, the host noted. Ironically, the Emoluments Clause that they used to talk about what Trump has as its purpose to prevent this sort of thing where somebody who becomes president or other people in the family are basically paid off or invested in by a foreign government. [The Founders] had great fear about this sort of thing, Levin said. $31 million pours into the Biden family and Joe Biden doesnt know anything about it. He is the head of the Biden clan, the host added, mockingly. Schweizer says that, in a quarter-century as an investigative journalist, this is the scariest investigation he has ever conducted, publisher Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins, notes. Sources include: WashingtonTimes.com FoxNews.com (Natural News) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is planning to cancel its emergency order allegedly authorizing the agency to impose Joe Bidens COVID-19 vaccine mandate on businesses with 100 or more workers after the mandate was struck down earlier this month by the U.S. Supreme Court. However, according to a report, the agency is still looking for a way to impose the mandate anyway, proving again that the Democrat Party, not the GOP, is the party of tyranny. According to a memo from OSHA scheduled to be published in the Federal Register, the mandate was officially withdrawn on Jan. 26, but again, the agency under the direction of Bidens leftist handlers is already looking for a way to reimpose the vaccine and testing mandate. OSHA is withdrawing the November 5, 2021, emergency temporary standard (ETS) which was issued to protect unvaccinated employees of large employers (100 or more employees) from the risk of contracting COVID19 by strongly encouraging vaccination, the memo said, as OSHA nevertheless continued to press companies to put their own vaccine mandate and testing regimes in place. Although OSHA is withdrawing the Vaccination and Testing ETS as an enforceable emergency temporary standard, OSHA is not withdrawing the ETS to the extent that it serves as a proposed rule under section 6(c)(3) of the Act, and this action does not affect the ETSs status as a proposal under section 6(b) of the Act or otherwise affect the status of the notice-and-comment rulemaking commenced by the Vaccination and Testing ETS. See 29 U.S.C. 655(c)(3), the memo continued, which plainly indicates the agency intends to find a way around the SCOTUS ruling. The Daily Wire adds: The Supreme Court ruled on January 13 to stay President Joe Bidens order at least until the Sixth Circuit, which was picked to consolidate numerous legal challenges to the rule from across the country, can reach a decision on the case. At question here isnt whether or not the government has the right to enforce rules on its own employees. Its whether or not unelected bureaucrats at OSHA have the right to coerce businesses into forcing PRIVATE employees to follow rules the government never had the right to impose in the first place, Daily Wire CEO Jeremy Boreing said earlier in the month after his company won their case. At the end of the day, the government has the POWER to make us all comply, but they do not have the RIGHT to make us all comply. Thats why we must keep fighting. Sixth Circuit Chief Judge Jeffrey Sutton wrote in a December dissent that the scope of Bidens vaccine mandate is without parallel in the history of our country. It is one thing to tell a worker to don a mask at the start of a hazard-filled shift and doff it at the end. It is quite another to tell a worker to vaccinate on the basis of a risk that exists whether he is on the clock or off and that amounts to a medical procedure that cannot be removed at the end of the shift, he wrote. Confirming the point, the Secretary of Labor has never imposed a vaccine mandate or for that matter a vaccinate-or-test mandate on American workers. The [Occupational Safety and Health Act] does not clearly give the Secretary power to regulate all health risks and all new health hazards, largely through off-site medical procedures, so long as the individual goes to work and may face the hazard in the course of the workday, he added. The Biden regime is picking up where Joe left off as vice president for King Barack Obama, who also used unconstitutional imperial edicts to rule. Thankfully, Donald Trump managed to appoint and get a lot of constitutionalists seated on federal courts. Sources include: DailyWire.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines made by Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna do not prevent the SARS-CoV-2 virus from spreading. This was proven by vaccine clinical trials and supported by whats happening in the real world. The reality is, nothing has changed since the jabs were introduced. The vaccine makers have also designed a series of clinical trials that were bound to be a complete flop. In a New York Times opinion article published September 22, 2020, Dr. Peter Doshi of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and Scripps Research Translational Institute Director Eric Topol discussed the flaws in the clinical trials conducted by Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna. (Related: Everywhere you look, COVID vaccines are failing.) The most glaring flaw was that the trials didnt answer the question of whether the vaccines are able to protect people and prevent serious complications. If you were to approve a coronavirus vaccine, would you approve one that you knew protected people only from the most mild form of COVID-19, or one that would prevent its serious complications? The answer is obvious. You would want [the vaccine] to protect against the worst cases, the article said. But thats not how the companies testing three of the leading coronavirus vaccine candidates, Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, whose U.S. trial is on hold, are approaching the problem. COVID vaccines only effective at preventing mild cases of COVID The article noted that, according to the protocols for the studies released in September 2020, a vaccine could meet the companies benchmark for success if it lowered the risk of mild COVID-19, but was never shown to reduce moderate or severe forms of the disease, or the risk of hospitalization, admissions to the intensive care unit or death. To say a vaccine works should mean that most people no longer run the risk of getting seriously sick. Thats not what these trials will determine, the article stated. This could only mean that the clinical trials were designed to display effectiveness in preventing mild cases of COVID but not the moderate or severe cases of the disease. It further showed that the vaccine clinical trials were completely useless and irrelevant and were done in a misleading and deceptive way. The Moderna and AstraZeneca studies involved about 30,000 participants each while Pfizer had 44,000. Half the participants got two doses of vaccines separated by three or four weeks while the other half received saltwater placebo shots. The final determination of efficacy for the vaccines took place after 150 to 160 participants developed COVID-19. However, the Moderna and Pfizer trials considered a cough plus a positive lab test to be a mild case of COVID-19. This qualification eventually muddied the test results. AstraZeneca, on the other hand, was stricter; but it still counted mild symptoms like a cough plus fever as a COVID-19 case. Studies have shown that up to 90 percent of COVID-19 cases are false positives because the PCR test is too sensitive and registers positive for COVID when it shouldnt. This means that the vaccine clinical trials process of determining the efficacy of the vaccines after 150 to 160 people developed COVID-19 was utterly deceptive, useless and ridiculous. A positive PCR test is too unreliable and meaningless. Pfizer, Moderna to begin omicron clinical trials Meanwhile, both Pfizer and Moderna recently announced that they have begun clinical trials testing omicron-specific formulations of their mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Data from the trials are expected to emerge in the first half of 2022, but some experts hint that end of the year may be too late for omicron vaccines as the world could be dealing with new variants by then. Pfizer was the first to announce the start of large clinical trials testing an omicron-specific mRNA vaccine. The plan is to enlist 1,420 participants dispersed across three groups. The largest group, which has 615 subjects, will examine the safety and immunogenicity of the omicron-specific vaccine in those who got two doses of the standard Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. A second group of 600 subjects with three doses of the standard mRNA vaccine will either receive a fourth dose of the omicron-specific formulation or the original formulation. The trials will also check for safety and immune responses in the groups. Meanwhile, a third smaller group of around 200 unvaccinated subjects will be enrolled to test a complete three-dose protocol of the omicron-specific vaccine. More related stories: Pfizer has effectively dominated the COVID-19 vaccine market in Europe, raking in billions of dollars in the process. Report: Federal agencies are making a list of Americans who claim religious exemptions on COVID vaccines. Belgium drops Moderna vaccine for young people due to heart inflammation risks. COVID vaccine rollout linked to rise in deaths, according to published data. Watch the video below to know the truth about COVID-19 vaccines. This video is from the Anti-Disinformation channel on Brighteon.com. Follow Vaccines.news for more news related to the coronavirus vaccines. Sources include: GlobalResearch.ca NewAtlas.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci does not actually believe that face masks are effective at protecting people from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). This is according to leaked emails from Feb. 2020 between Fauci and Sylvia Burwell, president of the American University and former secretary of Health and Human Services between 2014 and 2017 under former President Barack Obama. In one of the emails, Burwell asked Fauci if she should bring a mask with her while traveling. Fauci responded: Masks are really for infected people to prevent them from spreading infection to people who are not infected, rather than protecting uninfected people from acquiring infection. He continued: The typical mask you buy in the drug store is not really effective in keeping out the virus, which is small enough to pass through the material. It might, however, provide some slight benefit in [keeping] out gross droplets if someone coughs or sneezes on you. I do not recommend that you wear a mask, particularly since you are going to a very low-risk location. Fauci has long been criticized for changing his positions regarding several key factors in the pandemic, among them his stance on whether people should wear face coverings. On March 8, 2020, just days before the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, Fauci reiterated his stance. Theres no reason to be walking around with a mask, he said. His position on the matter only changed in April 2020, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance on masks to recommend masking in public settings when around people outside their household, especially when social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Fauci emails reveal truth about why masks dont work Faucis emails with Burwell highlight the deficiencies of face masks and show why people should be skeptical of their use, as well as its proponents. Firstly, Fauci pointed out that masks are only for people who are infected and showing symptoms to prevent them from spreading the infection to other people. This contradicts his and the CDCs later recommendations to wear masks to prevent asymptomatic spread. Later studies have already noted that asymptomatic spread is either nonexistent or incredibly rare, which makes it pointless for people without symptoms to wear face masks. (Related: Asymptomatic COVID-19 spread isnt real, so why are people still wearing a mask?) If symptomatic individuals, or those in the very early stages of showing symptoms, are responsible for the overwhelming majority of spread, as multiple studies suggest, masks were never going to be effective at preventing asymptomatic cases from spreading to others, noted journalist Ian Miller for the nonprofit Brownstone Institute. The new recommendations were doomed to fail as soon as they were implemented. Secondly, Fauci admitted in the emails that he understands the coronavirus is too small and can pass right through the masks. Fauci later claimed that his hesitation to recommend masks early in the pandemic was due to the low supply. This claim is contradicted by his leaked emails, where he noted that masking does not protect people against viruses. All this evidence conclusively proves that Fauci knows fully well that masks do not prevent COVID-19. His continued support for masking, especially forced masking, is based either on an inaccurate understanding of the science surrounding the spread of the virus, or outright lies and deception. More related stories: Kennedy Hall: Fauci complains about COVID disinformation while spouting lies himself. New poll shows most voters want Dr. Fauci to resign. How Anthony Fauci controls science globally. Investigation and leaked military documents prove Fauci lied about coronavirus gain-of-function research in Wuhan. Anthony Fauci SUPPRESSED effective treatments against COVID-19 to benefit Big Pharma Brighteon.TV. Watch this video and learn about how Fauci has been caught paying off doctors to cover up the lab leak in Wuhan. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. Learn the truth about Fauci and his role in prolonging the COVID-19 pandemic at FauciTruth.com. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com Newsweek.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Its now apparent that the U.S. Justice Department has granted Dr. Anthony Fauci total immunity from any and all prosecution. Fauci appeared at a White House press briefing on January 26 to bark out new orders for all children under the age of four. Fauci declared that all children will eventually be inoculated with a three dose regime of covid-19 vaccines. Every toddler and every baby, six months and older, will be subject to unlawful, dangerous vaccine mandates that continue to destroy the lives of children and adults across the Nation. Faucis reckless and authoritarian conduct displays an obvious lack of concern for human life Fauci strongly suggested that the FDA issue an emergency use authorization to get the three-shot protocol in the kids arms. These shots have already proven to cause myocarditis and other severe allergic reactions in children. However, a week prior, Fauci said the FDA must authorize covid vaccination for toddlers and babies in less than thirty days. My hope is that its going to be within the next month or so and not much later than that, but I cant guarantee that, Fauci said during a CNBC interview. Later, Fauci was forced to clarify if he is involved in the FDAs decision-making process. He wrote back, I did not at all mean to imply that the authorization would come within a month, Fauci said, adding I meant that we do not know I am not involved in that decision. How far is Fauci willing to go to pump up the profits of Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna, at the expense of childrens health? In the latest press conference, Fauci said, We need to be patient. The FDA is very scrupulous in their ability and in their effort to make sure that, before something gets approved for any age, and especially with children that they will be safe, and that they will be effective, Fauci said. Even if a safe and effective vaccine were available, its completely unnecessary to vaccinate children for this advertised infection Even if a safe and effective vaccine were available, it would be completely unnecessary for children for this advertised infection. Over the course of two years, children have not been seriously affected by this virus of advertised concern. Their immune systems have been strong, and countless children have gone on to acquire broad spectrum natural immunity. Most of the cases are mild. In two years, there have been a total of 259 deceased children, who tested positive for covid-19 during a hospital stay. Almost all of the children who died with a positive PCR test were struggling with leukemia or other serious underlying conditions. Perhaps these children would not have passed away had the governments oppressive covid protocols and faulty regimes not been forced. Perhaps even these children could have been spared had they been treated properly. The only real thing about covid that has affected children over the past two years is the oppressive government and school policies. Children are still being abused on a daily basis over this issue, to make mentally ill adults feel safe and virtuous. Children have been forced to cover their face and their airways indefinitely, as they struggle to breathe and interact normally. This sweeping child abuse is being used to hold the children down to force perpetual compliance with the harmful vaccines. Children are being taught that they are filthy vectors of disease who will die if they dont submit to their vaccine savior, and Mr. science himself, Dr. Anthony Fauci. Children are being medically raped and forced to believe lies about their bodies, about science, statistics, ethics and law. Sweden halts covid vaccine for children ages 5-11 Even Faucis colleagues at the World Health Organization are starting to recommend against covid vaccines for children. WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan bucked the narrative and said that healthy children should not take covid-19 boosters. Sweden is taking the revolutionary act of dropping vaccine mandates for children ages 5-11. Sweden Health Agency official Britta Bjorkholm announced on January 27, With the knowledge we have today, with a low risk for serious disease for kids, we dont see any clear benefit with vaccinating them. Meanwhile, Dr. Fauci continues to assault the bodily integrity, the psychology, and the physiology of children, while ignoring all data on the failure of the vaccines and the dangers these injections pose to children. Sources include: HumansareFree.com NaturalNews.com CoreyMitchell.substack.com WSJ.com (Natural News) In its January 25 episode, The Sheriff Mack Show talks to Sam Bushman and Erin Olszewski, the nurse who made her claim to fame by standing up for her patients against murders in hospitals. According to Nurse Erin, patients are being neglected in hospitals as people just give up on them, and this usually happens because family members are no longer allowed in their rooms. Family members are especially necessary as they are the ones who advocate for patients, and these patients no longer have that. It made me question if spending the money to go to school and the time and studying for a degree [was worth it], she said, noting that those who dont agree with the rules set by the government and the hospitals are being blacklisted, targeted and kicked out of their profession. Nurse Erin believes this is the reason why the U.S. is still in the same exact situation it was in two years ago. Nothing is changing, because they are just completely discrediting the truth. Specifically, she said that hospitals are now bringing people in like cattle. There was a price tag for all of my patients. So it was $13,000 to admit a patient if they had COVID or were suspected to have COVID. And so everybody was a COVID [case] or a suspected COVID [case], she shared. And if they were [suspected cases], they would just put them on the floors [and] mix them in with [the] COVID positive. It was a complete cesspool. In an interview with Fox News, she elaborated that there was no reason for hospitals to stop properly isolating patients. There were resources that were not being utilized. For instance, the Comfort ship, the Javits Center and they had Samaritans Purse. So, we had options that werent utilized, she shared. The government banned effective COVID treatments Nurse Erin further stated that the government has banned effective COVID treatment protocols such as hydroxychloroquine and zinc, which they were using at a hospital she was working with while in Florida. Doctors were banned from using it and the patients rights to choose have been completely removed. (Related: Hospitals are DELIBERATELY killing patients with COVID-19 by refusing to give them life-saving medication Brighteon.TV.) She also shared that when she got to Elmhurst Hospital, which was the epicenter of the pandemic in New York, the doctors and nurses there have killed the patients that they have treated. They also had to sign gag orders and had their licenses threatened. She also said that the ventilators have been killing patients. Leaving the hospital after five weeks, Nurse Erin said that all the patients have died by the time she left. The treatment protocol for these patients was paralytics, sedativesparalyze them, keep them asleep and whatever else they needed to just add on to their blood pressure medications, but there really was no treatment at all, Nurse Erin explained. They pretty much just waited until the patient went into multi-system organ failure and then died. It was a turnkey-style operation. (Related: Recordings prove that hospital covid protocols are KILLING patients.) While she still believes in good doctors and nurses, Nurse Erin said that its the order-followers in hospitals who are looking the other way that are killing the patients. Thats the reason that were still here and to this day, it continues to happen regardless of the proof of murder that I had on the actual video. It was completely disregarded and not looked at. And we continue to just go down this path and were losing a lot of people right now, unnecessarily. More related stories: They hope you DIE: Democrats kill Virginia bill that would have allowed ivermectin to be prescribed for covid Dr. Robert Malone: COVID vaccines are permanently damaging children A simple amino acid treatment protocol helps covid-19 patients recover faster Australian leader admits two doses of COVID vaccine only provides 4% protection against omicron variant Sudden cardiac deaths among FIFA players increased 500% in 2021 after covid vaccines were unleashed Watch the full January 25 episode of The Sheriff Mack Show with Sheriff Mack and Sam Bushman, with Nurse Erin Olszewski below: You can catch the The Sheriff Mack Show from 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, on Brighteon.TV. Follow Pandemic.news for more updates. Sources include: Brighteon.com FoxNews.com (Natural News) Judge Andrew Napolitano told World View Report host Brannon Howse that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is spying on Americans and that the clandestine action is protected inside the capitols of every state in the country. Napolitano added that Deep State agencies like the National Security Agency (NSA) are also working to capture every keystroke on every electronic device that Americans own. The popular former judge also shared with Howse the story behind his January 13 article entitled A Republic of Spies at JudgeNap.com. Napolitano, senior judicial analyst at Fox News from 1997 to 2021, said the article is about the CIA spying on Americans. If you go back and look at the legislation that [former President] Harry Truman signed in 1947, when we transferred from a free country to a surveillance state, the legislation establishing the intelligence community, it expressly says the CIA shall have no authority in the United States, and shall gather no intelligence from anywhere in the United States, Napolitano said during the January 18 episode of World View Report on Brighteon.TV. Napolitano also cited an incident where former CIA Director David Petraeus gave a secret speech that was recorded by one of the CIA agents and the word eventually got out. In that speech, Petraeus said: Guess what, we can attach our microwaves to every computer chip in your house. So we know when youre using your microwave and your dishwasher. Why the heck would the CIA need to know that? Thats not the point. The point is, why are they making experiments on what they can do in our homes? Theyre not allowed to do anything in the United States. The CIA is physically present in every one of the 50 statehouses in the state capitals in the United States, even though their charter expressly forbids that. What are they doing? They are spying, Napolitano said. Napolitanos article also revealed that the CIA has rivals in the government for the acquisition of intelligence data. And they include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which admitted to funding and empowering 16 domestic intelligence agencies or spies next door. According to Napolitano, the most notorious of these intelligence gathering agencies is the NSA, which employs over 60,000 individuals mostly civilians with military leadership. The author of nine books about the U.S. Constitution said that he learned about it from governors who told him that they are aware of the presence of the CIA. He added that these CIA operatives will continue to operate even if they are kicked out from the states since there will always be a covert successor. CIA people in Congress, Senate, state legislatures Howse asked Napolitano how many of the members of Congress, Senate and state legislatures have been developed, groomed and put where they are by the CIA. I think theyve been developed and groomed and put where they are by the Deep State because its not just the CIA. The NSA is five times the size of the CIA. The NSA has 60,000 domestic spies working for it. This is the group that Edward Snowden [an American former computer intelligence consultant] worked for, Napolitano clarified. We wouldnt know any of this, that they capture every keystroke on every mobile device and every desktop, even if you think youve deleted something, they have the record of it. The only reason we know this is because Snowden blew the whistle. They chased him to Hong Kong, they chased him to Moscow. The poor kid, hes got to spend the rest of his life in Moscow of all places, because the Feds have indicted him. But what he did was to perform a great service for us because though the spies are still there, we now know they are there. And it doesnt change. Napolitano added that this is the group of people the intelligence community which tormented former President Donald Trump. (Related: Judge Napolitano urges Republicans to release explosive, classified FISA memo on House floor: Public is entitled to know.) They tried to get him thrown out of office. He triumphed over their efforts all the time. They intimidate members of Congress to vote the way they want them to vote because they know everything about them, said Napolitano, the youngest life-tenured Superior Court judge in the history of the state of New Jersey. Napolitano also described a government behavior known as chilling in which the intelligence community uses intimidation to get Americans to self-censor. The Supreme Court has a doctrine called chilling. Chilling occurs when the government engages in behavior that makes you think twice before you exercise your fundamental liberties. So if youre at a political rally, and the guy next to you is an FBI agent and the people on the other side of viewers are NSA agents, youre probably going to think twice before you say what you want to say, the former judge said. Thats not America. The Supreme Court has condemned showing that is as destructive of freedom as if they made it unlawful for you to assemble of that political rally. The DOJ [Department of Justice] announced its going to create a new division in there to look at domestic terrorism. What does that mean? That means that every conservative and every Republican and every libertarian rally in the country will be infiltrated by FBI agents. More related stories: Treason in America: An overview of the FBI, CIA and matters of national security. RFK Jr.: CIA-led military response to pandemic was meant to drive democracy from the world and usher in global totalitarianism. DOJ documents confirm Pfizer and FBI are communicating about Project Veritas. Gain of function researcher Peter Daszak accused of being CIA asset; EcoHealth Alliance described as front for agency. Watch the full January 18 episode of World View Report with Brannon House below. The World View Report with Brannon House airs Monday to Friday at 9:00-9:30 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. Follow BigGovernment.news to read more stories about government lies and illegal acts committed by the CIA and FBI. Sources include: Brighteon.com JudgeNap.com (Natural News) Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide the safety data on Pfizers experimental covid-19 vaccine. Its now clearer than ever that the vaccine has serious safety issues and does not stop covid-19 diagnoses, hospitalizations or mortality. However, the FDA claimed the safety data could not be released for another twenty years! U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman disagreed and ordered the release of the documents at the rate of 55,000 pages per month, an endeavor that would take approximately eight months. The FDA appealed on behalf of Pfizer, claiming that the request would take seventy-five years to process! Pfizer and the FDA lost the high-profile case and judge Pittman ordered the release of the information, demanding transparency. Pfizer trying to collude with FDA, redact their vaccine safety data Now Pfizer is sweeping in with droves of lawyers to control how the FDA releases their vaccine safety data. Just two weeks after the directive, Pfizer asked the federal court to allow the company to intervene in the FDAs disclosure of their documents. Pfizer lawyers want to ensure that certain information is not disclosed inappropriately under the FOIA request. Pfizer wants to hire its own team of internal regulators to help the FDA sift through the documents and withhold certain information and make additional redactions. According to the court filings, Pfizer seeks leave to intervene in this action for the limited purpose of ensuring that information exempt from disclosure under FOIA is adequately protected as FDA complies with this Courts order. The FDA is also asking the court to allow Pfizer to police the release of its own safety data, due to the unprecedented speed with which the Court has ordered FDA to process the records at issue. In fact, the FDA said they anticipate that Pfizer will coordinate with the agency to satisfy the companys views, and ensure that certain records are not made public. Department of Justice lawyers wrote, FDA anticipates that coordination with Pfizer to obtain the companys views as to which portions of the records are subject to Exemption 4, the Trade Secrets Act, 18 U.S.C. 1905, or other statutory protections will be a necessary component of the agencys endeavors to meet the extraordinary exigencies of this case. Pfizer plans to fight against the court-ordered transparency of their second-degree murder operation The Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency immediately saw right through the FDAs ploy to conceal critical pharmacovigilance data. Even though the FDA has more than sufficient resources to expeditiously produce the requested documents, and the agency has repeatedly stated its commitment to protecting Pfizers interests, Pfizer could still [be allowed to] assist the FDA with expediting release of the requested documents, the plaintiffs warned. Pfizer, however, provides no reason why it needs to intervene in this matter to render that purported assistance. Nor can Plaintiff discern why Pfizer needs to intervene in this matter to assist the FDA with expediting release of the requested documentsit can render this assistance without intervening. The first release of the Pfizer documents prove that the FDA and Pfizer knew that the vaccine was killing thousands of people and injuring countless others approximately one year ago. While it is unproven that the FDA and Pfizer premeditated these crimes against humanity, the act of pushing the vaccine further onto an unsuspecting public could still be lawfully considered multiple counts of second-degree murder. Second degree murder is codified in law as being caused by the offenders reckless conduct that displays an obvious lack of concern for human life. Pfizer said they intend to comply with the January 6 court order and do not presently intend to move the Court to reconsider. Bound by the court order, Pfizer said they are not in a position at this time to waive their responsibilities. However, they did leave the possibility open that they would reject the court order at a later time if circumstances change. On January 28, Judge Pittman will hear Pfizers arguments as they try to work with the FDA to redact and conceal the vaccine injury data on their experimental covid-19 vaccines. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com Aaronsiri.substack.com NaturalNews.com Law.Cornell.edu (Natural News) Attorney and Brighteon.TV host Tom Renz revealed the names of three whistleblowers from the Department of Defense (DoD) who attested to the damage caused by the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines. He publicized their names during a COVID-19 roundtable organized by Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson. The five-hour roundtable was held last Jan. 25, 2022, with several experts in attendance. Among those present were cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough, Dr. Pierre Kory of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance and mRNA vaccine technology inventor Dr. Robert Malone. Renz stepped forward with the names of the three whistleblowers in response to a challenge by Johnson. The attorney also presented accompanying data that showed a massive increase in serious side effects caused by the COVID-19 vaccines. Weve got three whistleblowers who have given me permission at this point to share their names. Lt. Col. Dr. Theresa Long, DO, MPH; Dr. Samuel Sigoloff; and flight surgeon Lt. Col. Dr. Peter Chambers, DO. All three have given me this data; I have declarations from all three [that] this data is under penalty of perjury. We intend to submit this to the courts, Renz told the senator. Citing his data, Renz revealed that post-vaccination miscarriages and cancer cases increased by 300 percent more than the five-year-average in just a span of one year. Neurological issues also increased from 82,000 to 863,000 which Johnson described as a ten-fold jump in just a years time. Renz pointed out that the neurological issues caused by the COVID-19 vaccine would affect pilots. Long, who was also present during the roundtable, told the Wisconsin senator that she had grounded pilots injected with the COVID-19 vaccine. She added that she monitored these grounded pilots for any symptoms of myocarditis or heart muscle inflammation, which include chronic fatigue, that could kill them while piloting aircraft. I made numerous efforts to get senior medical leaders to, at the very least, inform soldiers of this risk. My concerns were ignored, Long revealed. (Related: Army surgeon warned that pilots could die in midair from COVID vaccine injuries but was ignored.) Renz: Corruption at the highest level needs investigation Renz continued: Our soldiers are being experimented on and injured and, sometimes, possibly killed. He turned to Kory, thanking him for pointing out the corruption that is underway. When these doctors are attacked they call me. Im the one dealing with the medical boards [and] watching the witch hunts, the attorney said. Renz mentioned the DoDs Project Salus initiative, which involves an artificial intelligence developed by the Pentagons Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. The Project Salus AI examined data on 5.6 million Medicare beneficiaries 65 years old and up. Of this number, 2.7 million were vaccinated with the Pfizer shot, while 2.9 million got the Moderna vaccine. He pointed to the initiatives Sept. 28, 2021 report, which was made public a week later on Oct. 5, 2021. The report said 71 percent of new COVID-19 cases for that week and 60 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations were among fully vaccinated Americans. According to Renz, officials in the Biden administration were claiming a pandemic of the unvaccinated, but the documents say otherwise. The host of Lawfare with Tom Renz concluded by calling for investigations on the corruption at the highest level. He zeroed in on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Renz thanked the Wisconsin senator for having the courage to stand against these special interests. A statement on Johnsons website said several U.S. agencies and companies were invited to the roundtable but refused to participate. These included CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, White House Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci, Food and Drug Administration Acting Commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel. More related stories: Air Force rejects requests from soldiers seeking medical exemption from covid vaccine mandates (are they trying to kill off the military?) The Big Logic: Dr. Peter McCullough talks about how COVID-19 vaccines can cause organ failure Brighteon.com. Former HHS advisor, virologist says that fully vaccinated are a major source of covid virus transmission. Watch the video below of Tom Renz revealing the whistleblowers names. This video is from the In Search of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. For more stories about corruption in the government, check out Corruption.news. Sources include: Brighteon.com WashingtonTimes.com TheOhioStar.com RonJohnson.Senate.gov (Natural News) Various United Nations-funded immigrant services in southern Mexico are reportedly paying for psychological therapy programs that aim to implant fake memories into the minds of illegal migrants in order to improve their chances of receiving asylum into the United States. Many of these migrants were rejected for asylum based on the truths they told during their first attempt, and the U.N. wants to help them conjure up repressed memories, meaning fake memories, that will help them to qualify in their second attempt. Made-up stories about government persecution or other hardships improve a migrants changes of being granted entry into the U.S., it turns out. And many of them do not know about this when first applying, which is where the U.N.-funded psychological brainwashing techniques come into play. Thousands apparently have gone the recovered memory route after they were rejected for asylum because they told Mexican immigration authorities they just wanted to go to the United States to make money an ineligible claim, unlike official government persecution, writes Todd Bensman for the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS). With their newfound memories of more eligible claims, the immigrants get asylum (a term many use interchangeably with refugee status) and Mexican residency cards, which many then promptly use to pass through Mexico and make illegal entry over the American border. How many illegal migrants are entering the United States under false pretenses? According to Enrique Vidal, coordinator for the Fray Matias de Cordoba human rights center, the U.N. is paying psychologists to manipulate migrants into conjuring up repressed memories of torture, persecution and human rights violations to reverse denials on appeal. (Related: Some of these migrants bring disease with them as they enter the U.S.) The most common mistake migrants make during interviews is that they are saying that they are suffering economic hardship, Vidal is quoted as saying. Its not one of the criteria for refugee status. That may cover up one of the true reasons why they are coming. They need psychological help so they can remember the situation they experienced. When asked if recovering asylum-qualifying memories for better interview outcomes is the main goal of the U.N.-backed program, Vidal responded with a simple yes, adding that this is accomplished through the psychological help we give them. This controversial program has technically been taking place for many years under the name recovered memory therapy. Critics in academia have rightfully pointed out that it amounts to pseudoscience because too often false memories are implanted into peoples minds. According to Vidal, employing it results in a 90 percent approval rate, which is why it remains the most important part of the process, he says. Thats when the Mexican authorities listen to the motives of why they left their country. And those motives have to be according to international conventions. What makes the technique even more questionable is the fact that trained lawyers actually hold classes beforehand to make sure the immigrants fully understand the asylum-winning requirements before they interview. These migrants are being groomed, in other words, to say what they need to say in order to gain relatively easy entry into the country. For example, if they have an economic need, thats not necessarily one of the requirements, Vidal admits. However, once we do our interview with them, we find out they did suffer some type of violence or persecution or anything that qualifies as refugees, we tell them to emphasize those. In 2019, Vidals groups lawyers and psychologists successfully got 3,000 migrants approved as refugees. Some 19,000 that same year also received classroom training in how to successfully apply. More of the latest news about illegal immigration can be found at InvasionUSA.news. Sources for this article include: CIS.org NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Sherry Walker, a United Airlines pilot who refuse to get vaccinated against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) for religious reasons, said that she is now on forced unpaid leave with no way to seek another job due to the companys strict non-compete clause. Walker noted that she refused to be complicit in the use of fetal tissue, which was used in the research and development of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and in the deployment of Johnson & Johnson. Speaking during a protest against vaccine mandates in Washington D.C., Walker said, I am out on unpaid leave. I am prohibited from getting another job. Im prohibited from accessing my 401(k). I have no medical benefits, and Im leading the charge in this fight, so my days are consumed. United Airlines was among the first U.S. companies that required COVID-19 vaccinations for all its employees. They have rolled out their policies since early August 2021 for its 67,000 U.S.-based employees. According to the airline, around 2,000 employees were granted medical or religious accommodations during the vaccine rollout, and those with exemptions had the option of continuing to work in a non-customer-facing role. (Related: United Airlines to fire nearly 600 workers for refusing to get COVID-19 jabs.) However, this does not fare well for Walker, who is an international wide-body captain. They wanted to offer me a job throwing bags for $12 an hour, she said, adding that the pilots who applied for internal reassignment had also been rejected due to their vaccination status. The company noted that only workers who refused their reassignment were placed on unpaid leave. In a statement, United Airlines said that they believe the best way to keep everyone as safe as possible is to have employees vaccinated, and nearly all United employees have chosen to do so. We have identified non-customer-facing roles where accommodated employees can apply and continue working until it is safe for them to return to their current positions. Walker said, however, that she has been prohibited from finding outside work due to the non-compete contracts, and they have been told that they cant be employed outside. Employees must go through ethics and compliance and employees cant go to companies that they could have a non-compete with. Walker also said that she is still considered an active employee after being put on unpaid leave, which means that she can get called back with two weeks notice at any given time. But her active status means that she isnt qualified for a lifestyle change, and she cant access her 401(k) account, either. United employees on unpaid leave cant make early withdrawals from their retirement accounts and cant take loans against their savings either, because they have no verifiable income. (Related: United Airlines CEO wants to force his employees to get the coronavirus vaccine.) Its so retaliatory in all directions, Walker said. Every step of the way, its been coercive to try to force us to get that shot in the arm. Schwab Retirement Plan Services, which handles Walkers retirement, said that the company was unaware of any plan participants who are unable to access their benefits. The company administers workplace retirement plans at the direction and discretion of the employers who select us, and according to the rules of each retirement plan, a spokesman for the company said. Texas judge already upheld United Airlines vaccination mandate in a decision Employees of United Airlines already previously alleged that the companys COVID-19 vaccination policy failed to accommodate exempt employees and retaliated, seeking exemptions. According to the suit filed by the companys employees in August, United granted only 80% of requests for religious exemptions and 63% of requests for medical exemptions from its mandate. The company also only offered exempted employees indefinite unpaid leave as an accommodation. Workers said that the use of indefinite unpaid leave has created irreparable harm on the basis that the company is placing them in an impossible position by preventing them from accruing seniority and causing them to face serious and irreparable injuries resulting from the loss of salary. The judge, however, ruled that the plaintiffs did not sufficiently show that they would likely suffer imminent, irreparable injury absent an injunction, and denied the employees motion. More related stories: Financial analysts SUSPENDED for criticizing totalitarian lockdowns and vaccine mandates Josh Sigurdson talks about worldwide protests against Covid vaccine mandates American companies walk back vaccine mandates for workers WHO says COVID vaccine mandates should be absolute last resort First responders, public safety being compromised by covid vaccine mandates Watch the video below to know more about how mandates are affecting the airline industry: This video is from the ZolnaReport.com channel on Brighteon.com. Follow Pandemic.news for more updates. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk HRDive.com (Natural News) Over the past couple decades, corporations have flooded the American food supply with chemicals and hormones that are disrupting childrens normal development, including hormones in meat and dairy products, and chemicals in plastic food containers and canned foods. Now, social media is brain-warping children into thinking they need operations to change their gender and more hormones to change their body hair, voices and breast size. And finally, to cap this all off, the term furries refers to children who identify as cats or dogs, and the educators are being forced to comply with this ridiculousness, or face job termination. The term furries can refer to children who claim to identify as a cat, dog, goat or rat At a recent school board meeting, it was revealed that a Michigan school literally placed LITTER BOXES in the unisex bathrooms for students who identify as cats. Are they using them? Talk about breaking Covid safety guidelines, this brings a whole new stupidity in this catering to gender fluid madness, except now its warped into species fluid. Billy, go pick up those pencils you dropped. Bark, Bark. Amy, stop fighting. Meow. If the teachers dont bark or meow back, they can be fired on the spot, just like the substitute teacher who called roll improperly when she refused to meow back to a cat-student. Her rant went viral on social media. Yes, this is happening in America right now. Now, a woman at a Michigan school board meeting is saying enough! She plans to investigate how many schools are doing this, and try to put a stop to it. If this is true, all Covid safety protocol goes flying out the window, and nobody should be required to wear masks or get vaccines, if the cats are peeing and pooping in school litter boxes they share and step in together, and the dogs are peeing on the street poles and fire hydrants in front of the schools. This is bad. Where is this all going, and when and where is it going to end? If the children declare themselves as rats or goats, then they wont be able to speak in class anymore, and the teachers cant ask them anymore questions, ever again. How dumb is this? All students must wear oxygen-depriving masks all day for safety, supposedly, but acting like wild cats and dogs in bathrooms is school PC-gender policy? What are the US schools turning kids into? And how can any real learning get accomplished if there are all these perverted and senseless distractions put in place that, if teachers dont respect or comply they get fired? Here is the link to watch the Michigan school board meeting litter-box whistleblower. pic.twitter.com/F4ut5qCtXt Trans-anything, animal fluidity, perverted youth sex-changes promoted in America as distraction from communist takeover happening in Washington DC One way communism is installed in a country is to have the populace so distracted by perversions, self-gratifications, drugs, pornography and low self-esteem, that nobody pays attention to big government decimating the Constitution, annihilating human rights and growing in power multiplicatively. The parents of these children are also manipulated, by the doctors, surgeons and psychologists who wont even let the parents into the room where sex change operations, gender fluidity and hormone pills are all being discussed and PROMOTED by the doctors themselves. Then the doctors and children team up against the parents and vie for operations and hormones that can alter the childs functionality forever and cause cancer too. Surgeons love the money they make off expensive surgeries that make the childs ears forever pointy on top, or remove testicles, or sew on fake breasts. Some children and teens are scarred, maimed and mutilated for life, including the destruction of reproductive abilities, often leading to thoughts of suicide and suicide itself. Maybe everything should remain the way Nature intended, organic body and mind, just like our food and medicine should always be. Stay tuned and stay frosty. Tune your internet to Censored.news for huge swaths of truth news thats being censored from the rest of media as you read this. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com CitizenFreePress.com NaturalNews.com Authorities in Uganda are carrying out an investigation into the untimely demise of a Saudi national after getting trampled to death by an elephant. The tragedy occurred on Tuesday at the Murchison Falls national park, which is a renowned tourist attraction in Africa. According to Independent , the deceased was attacked by an elephant while taking a rest. Ayman Sayed Elshahany, a tourist from the United Arab Emirates, was killed while on a safari game drive, a thrilling excursion in a national park or reserve that includes viewing wildlife from a moving vehicle. AFP reports that Bashir Hangi, the spokesman for Uganda Wildlife Authority, said that Elshahany and his colleagues were on their way to Arua city when the incident occurred. The group had taken a break from the safari game drive to eat some lunch. In a statement, Hangi said: "They stopped along the way and the deceased went out of the car, an elephant charged at him, killed him on the spot," as per The Guardian. Also Read: Ranger Dies After Rampaging Elephant Skewers Her Like Barbecue Investigation into the Death of the Tourist The wildlife park's officials have launched an investigation to find out what happened to the tourist and why an elephant charged at him. Moreover, in order to prevent a recurrence of the occurrence, Hangi reports that park security protocols would be reviewed for visitors. Locals that live near national parks have also been terrified of elephants. Attacks by wild animals are common in this east African nation. At a different park in the west of the country, a female game ranger's three-year-old son was eaten by a leopard in 2018. Last year, following the death of a 60-year-old man by an elephant in the Karusandara sub-county of Kasese district, local residents urged that the Uganda Wildlife Authority set up more ranger stations to better regulate animal attacks in the area. Animal-human confrontations have increased in certain of Uganda's national parks, despite the country's reliance on wildlife tourism. Human and Wildlife Interaction in Uganda Often overlooked in the fight to save endangered species (all great ape species are endangered), human populations are the ones affected. As restrictions around protected areas make it increasingly difficult for humans to get resources, human settlements face increasing hazards from wildlife assaults and/or disruptions to agriculture, as per Jane Goodall. However, there is a way out of this conundrum: In Uganda, the Jane Goodall Institute has been working with local communities to build community funds that safeguard local people from losses due to wildlife conflict, ensuring a better future for everyone. There are 42 million people living in Uganda. Human populations are increasing at an accelerating rate, putting the ecology at risk. As a result of the increased human-wildlife interaction, locals frequently approach these forests in search of water and a steady supply of wood for cooking. Also, human-wildlife violence has been worsened by struggle for dwindling resources, which has led to crop devastation, elephants mauling humans, and human attacking elephants. Related Article: Suspected Poacher 'Trampled to Death by Elephants' Splits Netizens For more news, updates about elephant attack and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! Scientists have discovered and documented the first three records of orcas (Orcinus orca), also known as killer whales, successfully hunting and killing adult blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus). The records were officially published in the journal Marine Mammal Science on January 21. First Three Recorded Blue Whale Killings Scientists first revealed the predation in late March 2019 during the annual whale and dolphin research surveys spearheaded by the Cetacean Research Center (CETREC) in Western Australia. Experts described orcas as "ferocious, with a preference for squid, fish and beaked whales," as per 9News Australia. The first recorded killing was not considered as an average hunt since it involved 12 orcas targeting an adult blue whale off the coast of Bremer Bay in southwestern Australia. The orca attack in March 2019 is said to be the first time humans have documented orcas successfully hunting and eating a blue whale. Although there have been instances of recorded orca attacks on blue whales in the past, the three recorded predation events are the first confirmed kills by orcas on blue whales. The new study has recorded a total of three cases of orcas successfully killing the blue whales. The second record took place in April 2019 and the third record was in March 2021, according to National Geographic. Also read: Three Pregnant Killer Whales Might Save Their Population From the Brink of Extinction Orcas as the Apex Predator Robert Pitman, a marine ecologist at Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute and co-author of the study, reported in National Geographic: "This is the biggest predation event on this planet: the biggest apex predator taking down the biggest prey." Some orcas are known to only prey on fish and marine mammals like sea lions, but the recent study shows that orcas are certainly capable of hunting large animals. The recorded blue whale killings are significant since prior to the new study's publication, only previous sightings and unconfirmed accounts were the basis of a potential blue whale killing by an orca. In some of these unconfirmed killings, blue whale calves were the most targeted. For instance, in May 2021, video footage by a local sailor off the coast of Nanaimo in Vancouver, Canada, showed a group of orcas apparently attacking a humpback whale and its calf in the Salish Sea, as per Live Science The footage shows the orcas slamming their bodies on the whales. It also revealed that 13 orcas may have attacked the whale. Orcas belong to the dolphin family and are the largest member of this group. Orcas are characterized by their short but sharp teeth and black-and-white body color. These killer whales can be found across all of the world's oceans except in the Baltic and Black seas. Based on the recorded blue whale killings, orcas resemble highly intelligent and usually conduct their killings through coordinated attacks. Following the study's publication, CETREC lead researcher and led author, John Totterdell, stated there is a need to further understand killer whale population ecology to determine the orcas' impact in Australia's waters. Related article: Killer Whales Live Up to Their Name in Whale-on-Whale Predation A new study suggests climate change, not genetic engineering, is responsible for recently boosting production in the Corn Belt. This has diminished the long-held notions that human agronomic methods and genetic engineering as the main contributing factor in increased yields. Climate Change Outweighs Crop Methods and Engineering Climate change, not genetic engineering, may have been responsible for an increase in crop production along the Corn Belt in the United States recently, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The Corn Belt is located across the central US, spanning from Indiana to Nebraska. The Corn Belt has produced more than 33% of the world's corn and produced 20 more times than it did in the 1880s, as per National Geographic. Prior to the study, modern farming methods and genetic engineering of crops are widely known to have mainly contributed to increased yield. Over the past several decades, modernization in agricultural methods and technologies has increased corn production significantly to provide substance to a growing population of both humans and animals. However, climate change-related weather conditions and not human influence have been the most significant factor for an increased boost in corn production in the Corn Belt. Using data collected for 15 years, the researchers found that 48% of the yield gain in food crops was caused by climate change, followed by 39% with agronomic management, and with 13% only attributed to genetic engineering of crops. According to National Geographic, while climate change has drastic effects in other parts of the world, its impact in the Corn Belt has been favorable. This is due to slightly longer seasons, especially during the spring season in the US and longer mild weather have helped farmers increase their yields over previous years. Also read: Crop Farmers Struggle as Climate Change Link to Rise of Agricultural Diseases New Study's Conclusion Alarms Scientists The new study opened a fresh inquiry-subject to contestation on whether the current crop methods and genetic engineering of crops are still relevant in the long-term future. In spite of the potential beneficial effects of climate change yield gains, scientists studying crop production are worried since relying on climate change-related weather conditions alone is not sustainable. Furthermore, scientists have warned that the continuance of global warming may reverse the effect in the Corn Belt. Although climate change may have greatly contributed to an increased yield of corn production, the situation is not sustainable in the long run. According to Nathan Mueller, the agriculture researcher at Colorado State University, mild weather conditions caused by climate change that has helped corns are not likely permanent. According to the Global Change Research Program's recent national climate assessment, the continued effects of climate change such as heatwaves, excessive torrential rain, and drought in the future may significantly affect yield by 2050. Related article: Agricultural Crop Yields Drop as Heat-Drought Season Rises This weekend, homeowners in Florida should be on the lookout for iguanas dropping from the skies. According to experts, these reptiles may fall to the ground when certain areas face a cold spell this weekend, especially on Saturday night. "We've reached falling iguana territory as temperatures," Vivian Gonzalez, a weather anchor at Miami's Fox-affiliated station WVSN, tweeted. Gonzales also informed the public that while the iguanas may seem immobilized, they are not dead. Iguanas are known to slow down or become immobilized due to the freezing temperature. She also cautioned the public to approach the iguanas with caution. According to KIRO7, this isn't the first time meteorologists have warned the public about this. The Miami National Weather Service posted an explanation of the event on Twitter in 2020. "Iguanas have a cold-blooded nature. When temperatures dip into the 40s, they slow down or become immobile," according to the article. "They may fall from trees, but they aren't dead," says the narrator. Related Article: Bizarre Nature: 3 of the Weirdest Discovery in the Animal Kingdom from 2021 Iguanas Affected by Cold Weather These cold-blooded reptiles are not native to Florida and are considered invasive species. When the temperature lowers, iguanas struggle to maintain their core body temperature, which causes them to become stiff, inflexible, and prone to falling out of trees, generally when sleeping. They survive their fall to the earth and are frequently surprised to discover themselves there in the first place when they resurrect. These monsters can grow up to 5 feet long and weigh up to 25 pounds, making them capable of injuring humans. When the temperature lowers, iguanas struggle to maintain their core body temperature, which causes them to become stiff, inflexible, and prone to falling out of trees, generally when sleeping. They survive their fall to the earth and are frequently surprised to discover themselves there in the first place when they resurrect. These monsters can grow up to 5 feet long and weigh up to 25 pounds, making them capable of injuring humans. According to Robert Molleda, a warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS in Miami, the uniqueness of the falling iguanas to the Floridian region helps make the delivery of weather alerts more interesting and compelling. "Although it wasn't an official warning, it took on a life of its own on social media since it's such a unique component of the frigid weather," he stated in a report in AccuWeather. Invasive Iguanas Wreaking Havoc Iguanas wreak havoc on residential and commercial landscaping plants, and property owners typically consider them nuisances. Trees with leaves or blooms, most fruits (excluding citrus), and practically any vegetable attract iguanas. Burrows dug by some iguanas corrode and collapse sidewalks, foundations, seawalls, berms, and canal banks, causing infrastructural damage. Droppings may also be seen on docks, moored boats, seawalls, porches, decks, pool platforms, and within swimming pools. Although iguanas are generally herbivores, researchers discovered tree snail remnants in the stomachs of iguanas at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, suggesting that iguanas may threaten local and endangered tree snail species. Iguanas have eaten nickerbean, a host plant for the endangered Miami Blue butterfly, at Bahia Honda State Park. Iguanas, like other reptiles, can transfer the pathogenic bacteria Salmonella to people by coming into touch with polluted water or surfaces. Also Read: 3 Animal Pairs You Won't Believe Are Actually Related! For more animal news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! According to information published on January 26, 2022, Kongsberg Geospatial announced today they successfully conducted sea trials of the Shield AI V-BAT Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard, operating from a small cargo vessel far offshore in international waters. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Shield AI V-BAT Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Picture source: Kongsberg) The Canadian Coast Guard is conducting trials of the long-endurance Vertical Take-of and Landing (VTOL) UAS surveillance system for possible deployment on Canadian Coast Guard Vessels under a project funded by Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC). The Shield AI V-BAT aircraft was selected due to its unique ability to combine VTOL from the small confines aboard ship with the long endurance of a fixed-wing aircraft while carrying multiple sensors. Kongsberg Geospatial teamed with Shield AI to deploy the V-BAT VTOL UAS for a 3-day sea trial in international waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The trials tested the capability of the aircraft to provide rapid launch and recovery, long-endurance, and confined space take-off and landing from a moving vessel in a variety of weather conditions both during the day and at night. In addition to tracking and identifying other ships at long ranges, the flights conducted a variety of simulated missions designed to emulate real-world situations where the Canadian Coast Guard would use the drones. These included locating and tracking dye patches that simulated wreckage or oil spills and locating life preservers in choppy seas and in a variety of weather conditions. The V-BAT operators used Kongsberg Geospatials IRIS UxS software to safely pilot the aircraft at long ranges from the launch vessel. The IRIS software provides a comprehensive situational awareness picture of the operational airspace, data from a variety of sensors and data feeds and shows the location of other aircraft and surface ships, as well as the launch vessel and the ownship, or drone being operated. Sensor data feeds from the cameras and sensors carried by the UAS were ingested, in real-time, into the Kongsberg Geospatial Modular ISR Data Analysis and Storage System (MIDAS). The MIDAS system records video and other data from the UAS, and serves as a mission intelligence coordinator to view current and historical sensor feeds of the UAS within a temporal and geospatial context to increase sensor utilization effectiveness. The V-Bat aerial system design features fixed wings and a slender fuselage. It is powered by a 157 cc, two-stroke engine, which generates an output power of 13 hp. The drone can fly at a maximum speed of 90 knots and offers a range of 300 nautical miles. It can operate at an altitude of 15,000 feet and in wind speeds up to 25 knots. It can perform continuous operations for up to eight hours at a speed of 40 knots. Sign up to get breaking news, weather forecasts, and more in your email inbox. Sign Up Now New Castle, PA (16103) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Townships unhappy to be excluded from economic development talks Upset over how the removal of Morgan Boyds seat on a foundation board played out in public, a group of five Lawrence County townships have ba Editor's note: A letter from the elected supervisors of five townships to John Cournan, president of the Lawrence County Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation, spells out some displeasure that the officials have with the chamber's recent workings. The letter, disseminated by email on Thursday, to Cournan and copied to the New Castle News, states in part: We come to you in dismay as elected officials of Lawrence County, regarding the newspaper articles, Commissioner Morgan Boyd's letter to the editor and the subsequent vote to dismiss him from the Lawrence County Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board, the Lawrence County Economic Development Board and the Lawrence County Regional Chamber of Commerce Board. We have been made aware that you have appointed Commissioner Loretta Spielvogel to these boards. As elected officials in the state of Pennsylvania, we are charged with these same responsibilities under the codes that the state has created for counties, cities, townships and boroughs that you are noting as your mission, vision, critical goals and executive summary. The only difference is, we work on these same items at public meetings and your boards make your decisions in private. We come to you as some of the most thriving communities in Lawrence County and we ask why we never get a seat at these boards or, if we are not doing something correctly, why we don't see you at our advertised public meetings. It's not that we haven't tried to get on your boards, or even get to come to a meeting of your boards. They are not public, and our attempts have not been successful. It is very disturbing that an elected commissioner serving on your board is dismissed because he voiced his opinion about the Forward Lawrence project after he reviewed it. Whether he was dismissed because his opinion was not the same as your board and employees, or the fact that the News asked him to comment on it and he did, our opinion is this: He was not wrong. That's what happens to elected officials, they are asked to share their opinions publicly often, it's called transparency. Story continues below video We understand your CEO has referenced one of our communities as a liability to Lawrence County, not an asset. What does your CEO think of the rest of our communities? So we are concerned if we differ from your board or your employees' opinions, will we be dismissed, or will you run someone against us that agrees with your boards and some of your employees opinions? That is not a democracy, that is a dictatorship, where only one opinion matters. These boards and some of your employees, who are not accountable to the public or the elected officials, have shown us a lack of communication, a lack of productivity, a lack of accountability and a lack of respect for the positions we hold. As we peruse your website, we find a calendar of events; we see quarterly legislative breakfast meetings, Heads of Lawrence meetings and community outreach and support. No one from our communities is ever aware of these events with elected officials, therefore, we are not sure who the community development division is meeting with at these events on the calendar. We see there was a Heads of Lawrence meeting that should have taken place on Jan. 18, 2022. Did this meeting happen, and where was it held? Finally, we would like to be included and believe we should have been included in any decisions that your boards are making that affect our communities. It appears we are only included when it is convenient to the opinions of your boards and employees. We welcome your boards to come to our communities, and Lawrence County has a lot to offer, but so does Commissioner Boyd. His energy and passion for our county is refreshing. He is forward-thinking, and it is a shame your boards don't like that he says it how he sees it. We will be sending a copy of this letter to the commissioners, asking Commissioner Spielvogel to continue being the voice of our community and the taxpayers of Lawrence County, as was Commissioner Boyd. Respectfully submitted, Mahoning Township Neshannock Township Shenango Township Union Township Wilmington Township Norwich saxophonist offers private tuition Norwich saxophonist offers private tuition Norwich-based David Fitzgerald has enjoyed an outstanding international career as a saxophonist, flautist and composer. He now offers to shares the treasures of his experience as a private tutor. If you would like to learn Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Piano or Music Theory, David is one of the most inspiring teachers working in Norwich. Under his encouraging teaching, countless students have gone to pursue careers in music. David is a Christian who has spent some 35 years in the Christian music world, recording and touring with many key worship leaders, song writers and musicians. David is also bringing his past experience to a new generation of aspiring musicians. In September 2021 he launched a new initiative called SaxWorld. This is running during school term time and provides an opportunity for aspiring musicians of all ages to make music with others. He has created a safe, creative environment where Saxophonists can make music together. There are three ensembles within SaxWorld: Saxsequential (for the beginner to Grade 4 standard), Saxology (Grade 5-8 standard) and Quartz (Advanced level/Grade 8+). These offer any aspiring Saxophonist a progressive journey and experience within these excellent ensembles. Saxworld takes place on every Saturday morning during school term time at St Anne's Church, Colman Road, Norwich NR4 7HA. For more information regarding SaxWorld please visit: www.SaxWorld.co.uk . David commenced his studies at the age of 15 (for three years) at the Royal Marines School of Music in Deal, and played in the Far East and Pacific as principal Flute and Saxophone in Her Majestys Royal Marine Band. Back in the UK he took regular part in Royal and State occasions such as the Trooping of the Colour, Royal Tournament and Edinburgh Tattoo. On leaving the Royal Marines Band Service, he continued to play across the world: at events such as the Coronation reception for Queen Beatrice of the Netherlands, and with Adrian Snell at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. David has recorded and toured extensively with Adrian Snell, throughout Europe, the UK and Israel since the mid 1980's. He has also toured and recorded with many other Christian artists and worship leaders over the years, including Graham Kendrick, Ron Kenoly, Don Moen, Noel Richards, Barry and Batya Segal (Israel), Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. In 1989, after travelling to Lindisfarne and Iona, he co-founded (with David Bainbridge) the highly acclaimed musical project IONA and recorded two albums (Iona and The Book Of Kells). Four further albums as a solo artist followed: Columcille, Lux Aeterna, Breath of Heaven and God Is Love. He toured widely and in 1992 returned to study for three years at Anglia Ruskin University before continuing with a recording and touring career. David moved to Norwich in 1996 and two years later premiered his project The Eye of the Eagle at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, performing in Norwich Cathedral. The event was filmed by Anglia TV and later broadcast on national television. Despite lockdown, David has made some new recordings this last year, including two significant projects for Roger Mayor (who has advanced stages of cancer but is still bravely working on his new project 'Closer', for which David has recorded). He released his other project 'Whispers' during 2021 (which David also recorded). The two became friends back in the 1980's when working on a landmark project called 'Alpha + Omega' with Adrian Snell. David has taught at many schools across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex and currently teaches at Norwich School, giving one-to-one lessons and directing ensembles. My purpose, said David, is to equip pupils with good practical skills as well as to assist them to discover a deeper understanding and appreciation of music. He promotes the progressive study of ABRSM Grade tuition (Classical and Jazz, including improvisation), and equally encourages students to look beyond grades and explore the wider musical landscape. I consider my role as a music teacher to be an honour and a privilege, he said. It is a God-given blessing to be able to pass on what has been given to me from the very finest of teachers and colleagues to those on the threshold of their journey. You can contact David on david@davidfitzgerald.co.uk or 01603 632444 or 07872 929346. More information is on his website on www.davidfitzgerald.co.uk Pictured top is David Fitzgerald on the Norfolk Coast, and (centre) on tour with Graham Kendrick Eldred Willey, 28/01/2022 The Ignite Youth Festival of the Diocese of East Anglia returned to Swaffham this year with an extravaganza of light, sound and teenage enthusiasm. The Ignite Youth Festival of the Diocese of East Anglia returned to Swaffham this year with an extravaganza of light, sound and teenage enthusiasm. Services to bid farewell to the Dean of Norwich A day of special services took place at Norwich Cathedral to bid farewell to the Dean of Norwich who is retiring after 42 years in ministry including eight years in Norwich. Read more We should respect our individuality and identity Robert Ashton reminds us that God made us all as individuals, and feels that we should respect peoples desire not to conform, especially if it is driven by their beliefs. Read more Dereham Baptist Church launches Support Hub for Ukrainians A Ukrainian who has been living in Dereham is helping to build a welcome for her compatriots as the Baptist Church opens a new support centre. Read more An opportunity come aside and rest a while at Bungay David Males will be leading a series of retreats at the Quiet Waters Christian Centre in Bungay on the theme of seeking Gods healing grace. Read more Harrys skydive raises 1K for Yarmouth church Harry Woods, Community Manager at Great Yarmouth Salvation Army has taken part in a skydive to raise fund for the centre, and its not too late to sponsor him. Read more Volunteers success at N Norfolk Christian centre A team of volunteer gardeners have been making a big difference at The Pleasaunce Holiday Centre in Overstrand, and invite more to join them for their next work-party day later this month. Read more Barrie's love affair with Norfolk's big blue sky Norfolk church leader and ex-dentist Barrie Lawrence has six daughters and 20 grand-children living in five different continents, but his favourite place is his life-long home under those famous big blue skies. Read more Author Patrick is just crazy about horses The varied strands of Patrick Coghlans life as a minister, counsellor, author and former riding school owner have come together in his most recent book Crazy about Horses. Sandie Shirley reports. Read more 70 years of loving care at Christian ethos home Staff and residents at Corton House, a not-for-profit care home situated on City Road, Norwich, recently enjoyed a 70th birthday tea attended by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Norwich, Cllr. Caroline Ackroyd and guest, Mr Gareth Phillips. Read more Sustainable fashion on Cathedral catwalk Sustainable fashion will be taking centre stage at Norwich Cathedral at a special event on May 6 encouraging everyone to be kinder to the planet. Read more Jamie says 'thanks for being With us' as Ditchingham community closes The innovative With Community at the former All Hallows Convent at Ditchingham is set to close its doors, with staff made redundant after a lack of bookings. Read more Dorothy dedicated 95 years to Salvation Army A Thetford Salvation Army member, who dedicated more than 95 years to the church, has died just weeks before her 100th birthday. Read more Norwich Franciscans say farewell to a lively brother The Norwich Pax et Bonum Franciscan Fraternity held a farewell celebration this week for Brother Robert Hardie. Read more Fuel the Fire leaders day in South Norfolk Fuel the Fire leaders day is an opportunity for Christian leaders in churches to meet one another in an atmosphere of worship and prayer and for relevant prophetic preaching or teaching. Read more Job vacancies at Norfolk Christian holiday centre The Pleasaunce Christian holiday centre at Overstrand in North Norfolk is looking for a Cook, a Kitchen Assistant and a General Assistant. Read more Children and Families Worker vacancy Are you excited by the prospect of sharing the gospel with children and with families? St Andrews Church, Eaton are looking for a person for this role as part time maternity cover. Read more Christian Aid pilgrimage to Walsingham A group of Christians will be leading an informal pilgrimage from Norwich to Walsingham next month to raise funds for Christian Aid. Read more Upon the request of the Kingdom of Tonga, a new batch of emergency supplies, delivered by Chinese military, has just arrived at Nuku'alofa, the capital city of the Kingdom of Tonga. On Friday, the aircraft of China's air force, carrying 33 tons of disaster relief materials, arrived at Fua'amotu International Airport. It's the first batch of supplies sent directly from within China. These materials include drinking water, food, personal protective equipment, tents, folding beds, water purifiers and walkie talkies. Disaster relief materials were loaded before departure in southern China's Guangzhou City. Disaster relief materials were loaded before departure in southern China's Guangzhou City. Disaster relief materials were loaded before departure in southern China's Guangzhou City. Disaster relief materials were loaded before departure in southern China's Guangzhou City. Disaster relief materials were loaded before departure in southern China's Guangzhou City. The aircraft, with Tonga's consent, left southern China's Guangzhou City for the archipelago on Thursday. Chinese military told the media ahead of the departure that the country would also send naval vessels on January 31st, just one day ahead of the Chinese New Year, to deliver emergency supplies to the country for disaster relief and post disaster reconstruction. The ships will carry bulky items such as portable cabins, tractors, generators and water pumps. According to China's Foreign Ministry, after the volcanic eruption in Tonga, the country has provided disaster-relief assistance through multiple channels. The Red Cross Society of China has provided USD 100,000 in cash as emergency humanitarian assistance to the Tongan side. The Chinese government, through the Chinese Embassy in Tonga, managed to put together in the shortest time possible some emergency supplies including drinking water and food and delivered them to Tonga on January 19. It's the first batch of assistance received by Tonga after the volcanic eruption. China has also put together supplies worth one million yuan through our embassy in Fiji, which is close to Tonga. Those supplies were loaded on January 24 and arrived in Tonga on January 27. Newburyport, MA (01950) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. 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. Pikeville, KY (41501) Today Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 54F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 54F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Our County Editor Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com. Gov. J.B. Pritzker prepares to begin delivering his State of the State address on Jan. 29, 2020, at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. After the pandemic forced 2021s address to be done virtually, Pritzker is scheduled to give this years address in person on Wednesday. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Champaign, IL (61820) Today Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 50F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 50F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Work continued on the fifth of five water main breaks this one at the corner of Collett and Olmstead streets on Thursday afternoon in Oakwood. Cumulative social disadvantage, as denoted by higher social determinants of health (SDOH) burden, is associated with a higher likelihood of obesity independent of clinical and demographic factors, according to a new study in Obesity, The Obesity Society's (TOS) flagship journal. The population-based study is the first to examine this hypothesized association in a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States. In general, contemporary care models for cardiovascular disease do not provide opportunities to holistically assess patients' social burden. In turn, this compromises quality of care and worsens health inequities." Khurram Nasir, MD, MPH, MSc, Division of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Texas Nasir is the corresponding author of the study. Nasir added "our findings call on healthcare providers and policymakers to develop novel care delivery models that allow for greater assessment of SDOH to inform patient care, and prioritize socially vulnerable populations in cardiovascular prevention programs for greatest population health benefits. Strong political will and partnerships between health systems and community stakeholders are needed to identify and address unfavorable SDOH, and alleviate the burden of obesity in underserved communities." Researchers explain that limited empirical data have suggested correlations between individual SDOH such as education, income, neighborhood and food environment, and obesity. However, the SDOH-obesity link has not been examined from an upstream, cumulative social disadvantage standpoint. Data from nearly 165,000 adults aged 18 or older were used from the 20132017 National Health Interview Survey, a cross-sectional household interview questionnaire conducted annually by the National Center for Health Statistics under the auspices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Overweight was defined as 25 with less than a body mass index (BMI) of 30 while obesity was defined as a BMI of greater than or equal to 30. Obesity was further categorized into three classes (obesity class 1 and 2, 30 kg/m2 BMI greater than 40) and obesity class 3 (BMI equal to or a greater than 40) to further examine the association of SDOH and different levels of obesity. To operationalize the SDOH framework, researchers adapted a model by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Individual SDOH were grouped into six domains, including economic stability; neighborhood, physical environment and social cohesion; community and social context; food; education and health care system. A total of 38 SDOH were aggregated to create a cumulative SDOH score, which was divided into four quartiles to denote levels of SDOH burden. Prevalence of overweight and obesity were studied across SDOH quartiles in the total population and by age, sex and race/ethnicity. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between SDOH quartiles and overweight/obesity, adjusting for relevant covariates. Results showed that there was a graded increase in obesity prevalence with increasing SDOH burden. At nearly each quartile, overweight and obesity rates were higher for middle aged and non-Hispanic Black adults compared to their White counterparts, additional differences were observed by sex. In fully adjusted models, quartile four of SDOH was associated with 15%, 50% and 70% higher relative prevalence of overweight, obesity class 1 and 2, and obesity class 3, respectively, relative to quartile 1 of SDOH. The study's authors note that future studies need to assess the SDOH-obesity link with longitudinal study designs. New research also needs to build platforms for data crosstalk to enable cross-referencing self-reported and medically-ascertained data. Future study should also include modeling cumulative impact of multiple SDOH considering additional methodological approaches such as machine-learning algorithms. "It is crucial for us to address the social determinants of health if we want to begin to address the complex multi-factorial disease that is obesity. With poor SDOH, we see a greater risk for overweight and obesity. Therefore, this study supports our need to address equity and access to SDOH to improve overweight and obesity in the United States and around the world," said Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, MBA, FTOS, an obesity medicine physician scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. She is the TOS councilor for advocacy, public affairs and regulatory. Stanford was not associated with the research. A new Yale study found that child care programs in the United States that practiced child masking early in the COVID-19 pandemic (May-June 2020) experienced a 13% reduction in program closure within the following year, and continued child masking throughout the one-year study period was associated with a 14% reduction in program closure. The first-of-its-kind study of child masking, publishing Thursday in JAMA Network Open, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Medical Association, followed the experiences of 6,654 center-based and home-based child care professionals from all 50 states during a one-year period (May/June 2020 through May/June 2021). It was part of a series of studies aimed at informing policies regarding the health and wellbeing of children in child care programs, as well as the 1.1 million child care professionals who care for them. It is believed to be the first large-scale longitudinal study of the potential effects of various safety measures used to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in child care programs and keep this essential service open for working families. The findings come at a time when child masking in schools and child cares continues to be hotly debated, particularly as a surge in cases related to the omicron variant has led to a wave of child care disruptions, affecting millions of American families. During the study period, 43% of child care programs had closed at least temporarily due to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in either a child or staff member, researchers said. Although several safety measures were studied (e.g., adult and child masking, 6-foot distancing, staggered arrivals and departures, outdoor drop-off and pick-up), child masking emerged as the strategy most associated with reduced child care closure rates, keeping children in safe learning and care environments and allowing working parents and child care providers to remain employed, researchers said. Six-foot distancing of seating and cots in child care facilities, when used over the one-year period, was associated with a 7% reduction in the odds of COVID-19-related child care closure. The study controlled for the degree of local COVID-19 transmission in the community. We have been seeing increased numbers of children, especially young children not yet able to be vaccinated against COVID-19, admitted to our children's hospital. It is heartening to know that following child masking recommendations for children two years and older may be an effective means for keeping young children in child care programs and potentially lowering their risk for COVID-19." Thomas Murray, associate medical director for infection prevention at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital and study's lead author Although the study provides encouraging evidence for the effectiveness of child masking, only 9% of child care programs required children two years and older to wear face masks during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. That percentage increased to 33% by May and June 2021. Masking rates were much higher for staff members, with 64% reporting that all adult staff were wearing masks in May and June 2021. Research has shown that children two years and older can safely wear masks in child care settings. "It's the disruptions in learning opportunities and care routines that harm children, not the masks," said Walter Gilliam, a professor of child psychiatry and psychology at the Yale Child Study Center and the study's senior author. "It is our responsibility to protect our young children by providing them with safe learning environments," Gilliam said. "We need to remember that young children are incredibly observant. If they cannot see us smile with our mouths, they still will see us smile with our eyes or in the way in which we talk with them. Masks don't harm children; COVID-19 does." Previous research from the Yale team, released in August 2021, showed that 78% of child care providers are vaccinated against COVID-19, a rate significantly higher than the general population at that time (65%). However, most children in child care programs are under five years old and not yet eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. This leaves these young children more vulnerable for complications due to COVID-19. "Until children under five years old are able to be vaccinated against COVID-19, they are a particularly vulnerable population," said Murray, a pediatric infectious disease expert. "We need to ensure that the adults and older children around them are vaccinated and following other proven precautions for keeping young children safe, such as having children two years and over wearing facial masks when in congregate settings like child care programs." The study was conducted before the highly contagious omicron variant became the predominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States. "It is possible that child masking may be even more important during the current surge of cases caused by omicron," explained Dr. Murray. The study comes at a time when child care programs are experiencing increased staffing shortages due to a spike in COVID-19 cases, which further threatens the vulnerable child care infrastructure -; and when much-anticipated funding increases for early care and education is stalled in the U.S. Senate. Child care closures due to COVID-19 illnesses and staffing challenges have made it very difficult for working parents to sustain employment. These closures also harm the ability of young children to benefit from the important social and early learning opportunities provided by a stable, safe, and caring early childhood program, researchers said. "We know that children benefit from in-person learning opportunities, and this includes young children, and we know that many parents rely on child care in order to go to work," said Gilliam, an expert on child care and early childhood policy. "Child masking will not eliminate all child care closures, but it may help reduce some of them, keeping our young children with caring adults who support their learning and development. "Child care professionals have had it very rough these past two years," Gilliam added. "They struggle to obtain even simple things like access to COVID-19 testing, masks, and pay protection during inevitable closures. We show how much we care for our children through how well we support these child care professionals who are doing their best in very trying times to keep our young children safe and well." The Yale Children and Adults Research in Early Education Study Team (Yale-CARES) conducted this study as a part of a series of research efforts aimed at informing policies regarding how best to safeguard the health and mental health of children and staff in early childhood programs. Yale-CARES is an interdisciplinary team of researchers representing the fields of epidemiology, pediatric infectious disease, vaccinology, child psychology, economics, and policy. In a 38-year-old man who manifested mild symptoms of COVID-19 for 20 days, the novel coronavirus continued to be detected in his organism and to undergo mutations for 232 days. If he had not been given continuous medical care, maintained social distancing and worn a mask, he could have spread the virus throughout these seven months. The atypical case of infection by SARS-CoV-2 was part of a study involving 38 Brazilian patients followed on a weekly basis between April and November 2020 by researchers affiliated with the Pasteur-USP Scientific Platform, a partnership between France's Pasteur Institute, the University of Sao Paulo (USP) and Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in Brazil. The patients were followed until they tested negative twice or three times consecutively by RT-qPCR. The study was supported by FAPESP. An article reporting its findings is published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine. It serves as an alert regarding the risk of limiting quarantine for COVID-19 patients to seven, ten or even 14 days after they test positive, as initially prescribed by protocols to combat the disease. It also reinforces the significance of vaccination, social distancing, and mask wearing. Of the 38 cases we tracked, two men and a woman were atypical in the sense that the virus was continuously detected in their organism for more than 70 days. Based on this result, we can say that about 8% of people infected by SARS-CoV-2 may be able to transmit the virus for more than two months, without necessarily manifesting any symptoms during the final stage of the infection." Marielton dos Passos Cunha, first author of the article The study was conducted while he was a postdoctoral intern at the Pasteur-USP Scientific Platform. "We wanted to know if a period of 14 days was really long enough for the virus to stop being detectable. We concluded that it wasn't. It can take a month for a patient to test negative, and in some cases included in our study the patients remained positive for 71 to 232 days," said Paola Minoprio, one of the coordinators of the Platform and principal investigator for the study. This is not the first evidence that the virus can remain active for longer than expected even in patients with mild symptoms. In early 2021, researchers at the University of Sao Paulo's Institute of Tropical Medicine (IMT-USP) in Brazil analyzed 29 samples of nasopharyngeal secretion from patients who tested positive for COVID-19. The material was collected at a public primary health center on the tenth day after the onset of symptoms, and inoculated into laboratory-grown cells. In 25% of the cases, the viruses present in the samples were capable of infecting the cells and replicating in vitro. In theory, therefore, other people could be infected if they came into contact with droplets of saliva expelled by 25% of these patients at the time the material was collected (more at: https://agencia.fapesp.br/35303/). The risk appears to be even greater for people with compromised immune systems. In a paper published in June 2021, researchers at the same university's Medical School (FM-USP) described a case of infection that lasted at least 218 days. The patient was about 40 years old and had undergone aggressive treatment for cancer before contracting COVID-19 (more at: https://agencia.fapesp.br/36281/). An article published in the New England Journal of Medicine in early December 2020 reported the case of an immunocompromised 45-year-old man with an autoimmune blood disorder in whom the virus continued to replicate for 143 days. And an article published in Cell in late December outlined a case study of a female leukemia patient in whom the virus continued to replicate for at least 70 days, although she had no symptoms of COVID-19. Even so, this week the Brazilian Ministry of Health reduced the recommended period of self-isolation from ten to seven days for patients with mild or moderate symptoms, and to five days for people without symptoms if they test negative. At end-2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cut its recommendation from ten to five days in the case of asymptomatic patients provided they continue to wear a mask and test negative for COVID-19. Intrahost mutations In the study led by Minoprio, the difference between women and men in terms of the duration of viral activity was not significant (averaging 22 days and 33 days respectively). As for the three atypical cases, the virus remained detectable for 71 days in the woman and 81 days in one of the two men. None of them had comorbidities and all had mild symptoms of COVID-19. The other atypical man continued to test positive for coronavirus for 232 days (April-November 2020), after which he tested negative three times by RT-qPCR. He has had HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, since 2018 but has no detectable viral load thanks to antiretroviral therapy. "The fact that he's seropositive for HIV doesn't mean he's more susceptible to other infections, as he has undergone the therapy since he was diagnosed. His capacity to respond to an infection by another agent is comparable to that of any other individual, and indeed he did respond to coronavirus when infected. He isn't immunosuppressed [like cancer patients, people with autoimmune diseases or transplantees, for example]," Minoprio said. According to the researchers, his HIV-positive status does not explain the long duration of his coronavirus infection. Many patients infected concurrently by HIV and SARS-CoV-2 would have to be compared with an appropriate control group in order to see if any genetic or immune traits in the host could be associated with such prolonged viral shedding. The patient underwent weekly tests that detected the persistence of the infection, and samples of the virus were regularly sequenced to show that it was not a case of reinfection and that the virus not only continued to replicate but was also mutating. The strategies used by the virus to escape the immune system during the infection were mapped, showing that viral load fell when there were more neutralizing antibodies, and that the virus was able to circumvent the body's defenses to build the load up again. The cycle repeated, forcing the production of more antibodies until viral load was again reduced. "It's important to observe patients like this one because we can learn more about how the virus mutates and which mutations can give rise to variants of concern," Cunha said. The patient in the study was infected by lineage B.1.1.28, which entered Brazil at the start of 2020. The researchers did not detect mutations in the virus isolated from the patient that could justify classifying it as more transmissible or more resistant to the immune system. The Pasteur-USP Scientific Platform continues to investigate these and other cases. The 38 patients analyzed in the study led by Minoprio are part of a bank of blood and nasopharyngeal secretion samples collected from 721 people who manifested symptoms associated with this coronavirus. "Fresh data will come from these samples, and we might be able to produce more palpable explanations for these atypical cases," Cunha said. "These cases are further evidence that mask wearing and social distancing are the best ways to control the pandemic. If 14 days after testing positive a person isn't tested again, they may still be shedding active viruses and be able to infect others, contributing to community transmission," Minoprio said. "It's crucial to keep track of infected people so we can find out more about mutations, novel variants, and the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2." The Endocrine Society joined a coalition of physicians, scientists and public health and environmental organizations to send a formal petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), calling on the agency to rescind its approvals for bisphenol A (BPA) in adhesives and coatings and set strict limits on its use in plastics that contact food. New findings from a panel of experts convened by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) indicate that the harmful effects from BPA exposure can occur at levels 100,000 times lower than previously thought. This new safe level based on recent scientific evidence is more than 5,000 times below what FDA says most Americans are safely exposed to. Without a doubt, these values constitute a high health risk and support the conclusion that uses of BPA are not safe. The petition calls on FDA to limit uses of BPA in food contact articles that may result in migration into food above 0.5 nanograms per kilogram of food. "he process EFSA used to reassess the safety of bisphenol is a template for how FDA should be doing it for the hundreds of chemicals it approved decades ago. Transparent, thorough, and grounded in the science. With Americans overexposed to BPA by more than 5,000 times, the agency must make this a top priority and make a final decision by the 180-day statutory deadline." Tom Neltner, EDF's Senior Director, Safer Chemicals The petition was filed by Environmental Defense Fund, the Endocrine Society, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Clean Water Action/Clean Water Fund, Consumer Reports, Environmental Working Group, Healthy Babies Bright Futures, Dr. Maricel Maffini, and Dr. Linda Birnbaum, former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program. BPA is used to make polycarbonate and other plastics, which are commonly used in hard items such as food containers, pitchers, tableware, storage containers and more. The chemical is also used in epoxy resins that line the inside of metal products and bottle tops. Small amounts of BPA can migrate from containers or equipment into food and beverages. Industry has taken steps in the past to limit the use of BPA in can linings and plastic baby bottles. These actions followed 2008 findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating the chemical showed up in 92% of US adults and additional studies that showed BPA can act like the female sex hormone, estrogen, in humans and disrupt normal development. Findings from EFSA's expert panel show that BPA's effects are much worse than previously understood and that people are exposed at levels dramatically above what is safe. Extremely low exposures to BPA can lead to an overactive immune system producing out of control inflammation, as well as changes in the ovaries, endocrine disruption, and reduced learning and memory, according to the EFSA panel. "FDA has an obligation to protect us from toxic chemicals that can come in contact with our food," said Maricel Maffini, Ph.D., scientist and coauthor of the petition. "These new findings should be a wakeup call to the FDA and all of us that our health is in jeopardy unless we take swift action to limit the amount of BPA that can come into contact with our food." FDA has long collaborated with EFSA on risk assessment and risk communication related to food safety, including working together to increase understanding of risks from chemicals used in food packaging, like PFAS. The agency now needs to listen to the warnings on BPA from its expert counterparts at EFSA and take steps to dramatically reduce our exposures to the chemical. "These findings are extremely concerning and prove the point that even very low levels of BPA exposure can be harmful and lead to issues with reproductive health, breast cancer risk, behavior and metabolism," said Endocrine Society BPA expert Heather Patisaul, Ph.D., of North Carolina University in Raleigh, N.C. "The FDA needs to acknowledge the science behind endocrine-disrupting chemicals and act accordingly to protect public health." To provide important genomic data to inform research about Europe's biodiversity, scientists from 48 different countries initiated the "European Reference Genome Atlas" (ERGA) in 2021. Along with over 600 researchers, scientists from the University of Gottingen contribute to ERGA to make up an essential transdisciplinary and transborder community of experts. Together, they want to produce extremely high-quality genome analyses, known as "reference genomes". The aim is to establish genomic resources for around 200,000 species in Europe. ERGA highlights the importance of reference-quality genomes for conservation biology. However, such data is only available for a tiny proportion of species. The need to bridge this gap is emphasised in a perspective paper in Trends in Ecology and Evolution. ERGA is a "moonshot" proposal, meaning that it is ambitious and exploratory whilst being groundbreaking and addressing a huge problem. The project seeks to generate reference-quality genomes for the entire biodiversity across Europe (around 200 thousand species). Threatened species, as well as those important for agriculture, fisheries, pest control, and for the function and stability of ecosystems, are all considered critical biodiversity by ERGA-;and will be prioritized in these efforts. These can be species from the most diverse groups of organisms. Genomic research that uses genetic material to study individual organisms, populations and ecosystems greatly benefits from reference-quality genomes because these provide answers about the evolutionary make-up and adaptive potential of a species. The accuracy of these genomic resources significantly advances all fields of biological research and innovation. The availability of high-quality reference genomes for a representative fraction of species is essential for biodiversity conservation. Yet, they are available for only a small fraction of European species. Analyzing a species' genomic diversity can serve as an early warning system to estimate resilience, predict declines and inform strategic planning of conservation measures. Professor Christoph Bleidorn, head of Animal Evolution and Biodiversity at the University of Gottingen explains. The European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) will enable us to develop new methods to monitor, manage and, most importantly, conserve biodiversity. The data generated by ERGA will be an absolute treasure trove for comparative genomics." Jan de Vries, Professor, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Gottingen Researchers working across the USA, Ghana and South Africa have captured an instance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) superinfection in an individual, simultaneously infected by two SARS-CoV-2 variants, Alpha and Epsilon during the second coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) wave in New York City in early 2021. Study: Capturing intrahost recombination of SARS-CoV-2 during superinfection with Alpha and Epsilon variants in New York City. Image Credit: Luca Lorenzelli/Shutterstock Probing suggests that recombination, facilitated by superinfection, is perpetually occurring within SARS-CoV-2 infections, demonstrated by the occurrence of recombinant haplotypes at high frequency in the superinfected individual. Background A pre-print version of the research paper is available on the medRxiv* server while the article undergoes peer review. Viral recombination occurs when at least two viral genomes, that are genetically distinct, co-infect or superinfect the same host cell and exchange genetic segments. It is a common evolutionary process in positive-strand RNA viruses, such as coronaviruses, to generate genetic diversity that allows them to overcome selective pressures while adapting to new environments and hosts. Despite a regular occurrence during SARS-CoV-2 infections, recombination can be difficult to demonstrate in vivo unless it involves genetically distinct parental strains. Moreover, due to the short mean duration of SARS-CoV-2 infections, SARS-CoV-2 superinfections and recombinations have rarely been reported to date. The team, in their recent study, characterize an instance of superinfection from January 2021, identified by the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and present evidence for recombination occurring within this superinfected individual, by providing an in vivo snapshot of this evolutionary process within SARS-CoV-2. The study The study was conducted on two SARS-CoV-2 positive nasopharyngeal swab samples, NYCPHL-002130 and NYCPHL-002461, that were submitted to NYC PHL (NYC Public Health Laboratory) for sequence analysis. In NYC, NYCPHL-002130 was the Index case belonging to the Alpha lineage of SARS-CoV-2 obtained from a sample drawn on 4 January 2021. Public health investigation on this index case revealed a history of recent travel to Ghana, where Alpha variant was already in circulation, and identified another contact case of an Alpha variant infection, sampled on 14 January 2021 (NYCPHL-002461). Initial PCR screening by NYC PHL on index sample, NYCPHL-002130, demonstrated S gene target failure (SGTF) phenotype with the real-time PCR assay. However, sample collected from the contact partner (NYCPHL-002461) did not show the SGTF characteristic of the Alpha variant. Later, genome sequencing on contact revealed substantial intrahost viral diversity- major and minor variants-within the viral genome, a possible signature of superinfection. To rule out any experimental or sequencing errors that could have led to this intrahost diversity, the sample NYCPHL-002461 was processed four times separately through independent reverse transcription, ARTIC PCR, library preparation, and sequencing reactions. Genomic alignments to other publicly available alpha and Epsilon variant sequences were performed and separate maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees for both major and minor variants were inferred. Molecular clock trees for the Alpha and Epsilon variants were inferred to determine whether the major and minor allelic variants were concomitant with the date of sampling. To determine any onward transmission of major-minor strain recombinant, the team compared the sequences obtained in the current study with all SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced by the NYC PHL and Pandemic Response Lab (PRL) from the specimens collected from NYC residents. Findings Typical of the Alpha SARS-CoV-2 variant, NYCPHL-002130 exhibited S gene target failure (SGTF) phenotype in initial real-time screening. The viral genome from this index case showed limited intrahost viral diversity. However, the contact partner NYCPHL-002461, did not exhibit the SGTF characteristic of the Alpha variant. And viral genome sequencing in this contact revealed substantial intrahost viral diversity, that indicated the instance of superinfection. A total of four replicate extractions, real-time PCR and sequencing runs demonstrated similar SGTF and confirmed the same signature of intrahost diversity. The viral allelic frequencies (AF) in NYCPHL-002461 were segregated into four categories: shared, major strain, minor strain, and other. Shared alleles referred to those present at 90% AF in three or more replicates (out of four replicates); major strain alleles occurred at frequencies between 60 and 90% (3 replicates), with all diagnostic Alpha mutations in this set; minor strain alleles that occurred at frequencies between 10 and 25% (3 replicates), with all except one diagnostic Epsilon mutation (A28272T mutation characteristic of Epsilon was absent in NYCPHL-002461) in this set. The other category encompassed all other variable sites occurring at AF between 25% and 60% or those found in only one or two samples. Root-to-tip regression analyses showed that the sampling date for NYCPHL-002461 was consistent with the molecular clock for both the major and minor strain sequences, and one would expect viruses of this degree of genetic divergence to have been circulating in mid-January 2021. The team also identified the genomes identical to the major variant circulating in both NYC (the NYCPHL-002130 index case) and in Ghana (EPI_ISL_944711) around the same time. The minor variant belonging to the Epsilon variant lineage was found to be genetically distinct, with the closest Epsilon relatives sampled in California, the United Kingdom, and Cameroon. The most similar of these relatives was sampled in California that represented its direct ancestor on the phylogeny. Cloning and sanger sequencing of longer genomic fragments provided greater resolution in the event of recombination. Later, to rule out the possibility of an in vitro recombination introduced by reverse-transcription and PCR amplification, which are part of both genome sequencing and cloning protocols, the recombinant haplotype frequencies across all the four extracts from NYCPHL-002461 were compared. A consistent signal for recombination was observed in all the four whole genome sequencing analyses and in cloned-fragment analysis, all suggesting the same recombinant haplotypes present at high frequency. We caution against assuming superinfection before potential issues of contamination, poor-quality sequencing, or bioinformatics errors have been appropriately dealt with, advises the team. No further transmission of the circulating recombinant was identified. The team points out that given that the initial index case and his contact were promptly given a COVID-19 diagnosis with advice to self-isolate by NYC DOHMH, the lack of onward transmission is not surprising. Figure 1: Phylogenetic consistency of major and minor 631 variants. (A) Phylogeny of B.1.1.7 immediate relatives, (B) Root-to-tip regression for B.1.1.7, (C) Phylogeny of B.1.429 immediate relatives, (D) Root-to-tip regression for B.1.429. NY-NYCPHL-0024661 is the genome deposited in GISAID from the case of putative superinfection. Because recombinant viruses can be successfully generated and transmitted between humans, this finding underscores their potential relevance to the future of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the team. Conclusion The occurrence of high frequency genetically variable recombinant haplotypes within a single superinfected individual suggests that recombination is constantly occurring within SARS-CoV-2 infections. Reduced incidence due to vaccine-induced and naturally-acquired immunity would lower the opportunity for superinfection, and the homogenizing effect of variant-driven selective sweeps (as seen in the Delta and Omicron variants) will lessen the potential for biological innovation in a recombinant genome. However, molecular surveillance for the emergence of a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 variant should actively continue to timely inform the public health authorities. *Important notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Even Eden, a snow-covered paradise in northern Vermont, is poisoned by omicron. The nearly vertical ascent of new coronavirus cases in recent weeks, before peaking in mid-January, affected nearly every mountain hamlet, every shuttered factory town, every frozen bucolic college campus in this state despite its near-perfect vaccination record. Of all the states, Vermont appeared best prepared for the omicron battle: It is the nation's most vaccinated state against covid, with nearly 80% of residents fully vaccinated and 95% of residents age 65 and up, the age group considered most vulnerable to serious risk of covid. Yet, even this super-vaxxed state has not proved impenetrable. The state in mid-January hit record highs for residents hospitalized with covid-19; elective surgeries in some Vermont hospitals are on hold; and schools and day care centers are in a tailspin from the numbers of staff and teacher absences and students quarantined at home. Hospitals are leaning on Federal Emergency Management Agency paramedics and EMTs. And, in a troubling sign of what lies ahead for the remaining winter months: about 1 in 10 covid tests in Vermont are positive, a startling rise from the summer months when the delta variant on the loose elsewhere in the country barely registered here. "It shows how transmissible omicron is," said Dr. Trey Dobson, chief medical officer at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, a nonprofit hospital in Bennington. "Even if someone is vaccinated, you're going to breathe it in, it's going to replicate, and if you test, you're going to be positive." But experts are quick to note that Vermont also serves as a window into what's possible as the U.S. learns to live with covid. Although nearly universal vaccination could not keep the highly mutated omicron variant from sweeping through the state, Vermont's collective measures do appear to be protecting residents from the worst of the contagion's damage. Vermont's covid-related hospitalization rates, while higher than last winter's peak, still rank last in the nation. And overall death rates also rank comparatively low. Children in Vermont are testing positive for covid, and pediatric hospitalizations have increased. But an accompanying decrease in other seasonal pediatric illnesses, like influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, and the vaccinated status of the majority of the state's eligible children has eased the strain on hospitals that many other states are facing. "I have to remind people that cases don't mean disease, and I think we're seeing that in Vermont," said Dr. Rebecca Bell, a pediatric critical care specialist at the University of Vermont Health Network in Burlington, the only pediatric intensive care hospital in the state. "We have a lot of cases, but we're not seeing a lot of severe disease and hospitalization." She added, "I have not admitted a vaccinated child to the hospital with covid." Vermont in many ways embodies the future the Biden administration and public health officials aim to usher in: high vaccination rates across all races and ethnicities; adherence to evolving public health guidelines; and a stick-to-itiveness and social cohesion when the virus is swarming. There is no "good enough" in Vermont, a state of just 645,000 residents. While vaccination efforts among adults and children have stalled elsewhere, Vermont is pressing hard to better its near-perfect score. "We have a high percentage of kids vaccinated, but we could do better," said Dobson. He continues to urge unvaccinated patients to attend his weekly vaccination clinic. The "first-timers" showing up seem to have held off due to schedules or indifference rather than major reservations about the vaccines. "They are nonchalant about it," he said. "I ask, 'Why now?' And they say, 'My job required it.'" Replicating Vermont's success may prove difficult. "There is a New England small-town dynamic," said Dr. Tim Lahey, director of clinical ethics at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. "It's easy to imagine how your behavior impacts your neighbor and an expectation that we take care of each other." While other rural states in the Midwest and South have struggled to boost vaccination rates, New England, in general, is outpacing the pack. Behind Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine, and Connecticut have the highest percentage of fully vaccinated residents in the country. "It's something beyond just the size," said Dr. Ben Lee, an associate professor at the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont. "There is a sense of communal responsibility here that is a bit unique." In a state with the motto "Freedom and Unity," freedom has largely yielded to unity, and the state's pandemic response has been met with eager compliance. "The general attitude here has been enthusiasm to be safer," said Lahey. Lahey credits the state's Republican governor, Phil Scott, who has been "unambivalent about pro-vax messaging." Combined with a "tendency to trust the vaccine, you get a different outcome than in places where political leaders are exploiting that minority voice and whipping people up in anger." Vermont's medical leaders are advising state leaders to shift from a covid war footing surveillance testing, contact tracing, quarantines, and lockdowns to rapprochement: testing for covid only if the outcome will change how doctors treat a patient; ceasing school-based surveillance testing and contact tracing; and recommending that students with symptoms simply recuperate at home. Once the omicron wave passes and less virus is circulating, Dobson said, a highly vaccinated state like Vermont "could really drop nearly all mitigation measures and society would function well." Vermonters will become accustomed to taking appropriate measures to protect themselves, he said, not unlike wearing seat belts and driving cautiously to mitigate the risk of a car accident. "And yet," he added, "it's never zero risk." Spared the acrimony and bitterness that has alienated neighbor from neighbor in other states, Vermont may have something else in short supply elsewhere: stamina. "All of us are just exhausted," said Lahey, the ethics director. But "we're exhausted with friends." In adults who had previously received a full regimen of a COVID-19 vaccine approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an additional dose of any of these COVID-19 vaccines was safe and prompted an immune response, according to study findings published Jan. 26 in The New England Journal of Medicine. The study's preliminary data had informed the FDA's recommendation in October to allow mix-and-match of COVID-19 vaccine boostersthat is, to administer boosters whose formulation differs from that of the primary vaccine series. This strategy provides people with more options to receive a different formulation if it's all that is available. It simplifies the distribution of vaccines to get boosters in as many people as possible." Dr. Christine Johnston, infectious disease specialist, University of Washington School of Medicine She oversaw a Seattle trial site that enrolled 46 study participants and was one of 10 sites nationwide. The findings are from an ongoing trial conducted by members of the Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium (IDCRC) and sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The trial began enrollment in May 2021. Its principal investigators are Drs. Robert Atmar of Baylor College of Medicine in Texas and Kirsten Lyke of the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The report describes findings from 458 adult volunteers who had been fully vaccinated with one of the three Emergency Use Authorization COVID-19 vaccines at least 12 weeks prior to enrollment and who had no reported history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among the fully vaccinated adults: 150 received a booster of Johnson & Johnson's Ad26.CoV2-S vaccine. 154 received a booster of Moderna's mRNA-1273 vaccine (100 mcg dose). 154 received a booster of Pfizer-BioNTech's BNT162b2. At 15 days after booster vaccination, serum antibody levels increased in all study groups, and leveled off by day 29. For a given primary EUA COVID-19 vaccine, administering a different vaccine as a booster elicited similar or higher serologic responses, compared with the booster response of the same vaccine formulation. Additionally, T cell responses were measured. Cellular CD4 Th1 responses directed against the spike protein increased in all groups except for volunteers who received a single dose of Johnson & Johnson followed by a booster of Johnson & Johnson. However, CD8 T cell responses were more durable in Johnson & Johnson recipients and in those who received an mRNA primary series followed by Johnson & Johnson boost. "Mix-and-match is not a new approach - it is a well-known principle in vaccine science research. Mixing vaccine platforms can elicit a stronger, longer-lasting response than a single vaccine regimen and could help us fight variants," Lyke said. A multi-million pound deal to help all of us in the UK lead longer, happier lives has been launched today and will drive new jobs, skills and businesses in the North of Tyne region. The 5.6m joint investment brings together the North of Tyne Combined Authority covering Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland with the National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA) and will see cutting-edge research being translated into new jobs, skills and tech start-ups in the area. Innovations could include smart homes, connected devices, remote monitoring and models of health, care and support that enable older people to live independently solutions that preserve independence, and support the challenge of getting to net zero. The emerging market for ageing innovation is huge and it will add 2% to global GDP by 2040. Multigenerational housing alone is likely to triple by 2040 and the numbers of people over 65 who are in work has doubled since 2001. Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor said: "The UK's population is ageing dramatically. This creates challenges but also opportunities. Our phones in our pockets are incredible and powerful tools that can help keep us fit and healthy as we age. Technology is more accessible than ever before and has the potential to do so more. "Our region leads on digital tech so we are perfectly placed to launch this latest innovation deal. It will grow local tech businesses, support them to be ready for these emerging markets, and create new good jobs. We will be investing in products and services that make a difference, and help people to live well as they live longer." The innovation deal has a specific focus on the Internet of Caring Things (IoCT) which uses the latest tech to support people to maintain their independence. This phase of investment will directly benefit North of Tyne by working with 600 businesses and creating 145 new jobs. It will work with over 1000 residents to engage them in the development of brand-new products and services. The region which spans from the Tyne to the Scottish borders, is already home to cutting-edge research within its Universities and National Innovation Centres. It has a rapidly growing data and digital economy; and a health, public services and life sciences sector that is large and globally recognised. Companies like P&G, onHand, Piaggio Fast Forward, BreatheHappy, GlycanAge, ConnectedLife, Solongevity and Coop Italy are already using NICA's Ageing Intelligence approach to translate this expertise to create new products and services. The deal builds on existing significant Government and Newcastle University investment into ageing and it will specifically accelerate the innovation and economic dividend for local and regional businesses. Our patterns of living, working and socializing are changing and services need to catch up with that. The innovation deal will help achieve this by amplifying and clarifying the opportunities of the Longevity Economy - by putting people and meaningful, accessible innovation at the heart of our work so that, together with our partner CPI, we can design an informed future aligned to changing needs. This could be in new products that support aging and healthy longevity 'by design' such as housing, intergenerational living, workplace, mobility, finance, health. The Longevity Deal will create new jobs, start-ups and scale-up businesses that benefit the region and the UK." Professor Nic Palmarini, Director of NICA Nick Forbes, Leader of Newcastle City Council and North of Tyne portfolio holder for Jobs, Innovation and Growth said: "We want people in Newcastle and the North of Tyne to live a longer happier life. This is what this deal is all about. It means businesses with good ideas will gain the support they need to contribute to our flourishing research and technical sector, to develop products that will make a real difference to people's lives. "It's about creating a virtuous circle within Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland where we attract the talent and innovation that will drive growth, attract further investment, and make the North of Tyne a better place to live, work, and do business." The region is making strides in leading the country in building critical mass as an innovation ecosystem with Newcastle University in partnership with Newcastle City Council, NHS Trusts and others developing outline masterplan proposals for the redevelopment of the Campus for Ageing and Vitality on the old General Hospital site. The vision for the site is to deliver an intergenerational residential environment, world-leading research facilities and an integrated health hub to deliver longer and healthier lives. Community consultation is already underway. At the invitation of the CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group, Dr. Frank Appel, the WCO Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, spoke at the Go Trade Summit held at the DHL Innovation Centre, Bonn, Germany on 27 January 2022. In his opening remarks, Dr. Mikuriya explained the WCOs approach towards Customs partnership with business forming the basis for connectivity at borders, as enshrined in its flagship instruments such as the Revised Kyoto Convention and the SAFE Framework of Standards. He explained in detail how the Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG) was supporting the WCO during the COVID-19 pandemic in identifying bottlenecks at borders and developing standards to keep goods moving along the supply chain. During the subsequent panel session, Secretary General Mikuriya went on to describe how the PSGC had a voice in setting international standards and actually co-chaired some of the WCOs working bodies. This had been the case, for example, when the Cross-Border E-Commerce Framework of Standards was developed in 2018. He added that this approach made it easier for the private sector to implement WCO instruments, while at the same time ensuring that Customs obtained the commercial data required to conduct risk management. He concluded that there was a need to stay connected by building trust between the public and private sectors. Other panellists welcomed the WCOs approach as a model for public-private partnerships. The Secretary General took the opportunity to visit Ms. Colette Hercher, President of the Central Customs Authority of Germany, at Customs Headquarters in Bonn. She valued the WCO Strategic Plan as a good basis for the future and supported the focus on data, highlighting the importance of data visualization and standardization for Customs statistics. In work that will enhance the study of such disparate diseases as stroke and dementia, researchers at UC San Francisco have catalogued all the cells that form the blood vessels of the human brain, along with their locations and the genes transcribed in each. The atlas characterizes more than 40 previously unknown cell types, including a population of immune cells whose communication with the brain's vascular cells contributes to the bleeding of a hemorrhagic stroke. This devastating form of stroke accounts for 10-15 percent of all strokes in the U.S., mostly among younger people. About half of hemorrhagic strokes are fatal. The findings will serve as a foundation for new research on brain vasculature globally, the scientists said. "This research gives us the map and the list of targets to start developing new therapies that could change the way we treat a lot of cerebrovascular diseases," said Ethan Winkler, MD, PhD, a neurosurgeon and research associate at the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and one of the lead authors of the study, which appears in the Jan. 27 issue of Science. Tangles in the brain's vasculature The team, headed by Adib Abla, MD, associate professor of neurological surgery and Daniel Lim, MD, PhD, professor of neurological surgery, both members of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neuroscience, along with Tomasz Nowakowski, PhD, analyzed cells in arteriovenous malformations, or AVMs, tangles of poorly formed arteries in the brain that are often the source of a hemorrhagic stroke. They compared the AVMs with samples of normal brain vasculature from five volunteers who were already undergoing brain surgery for epilepsy. UCSF, ranked #1 in neurosurgery by U.S. News, is a leading national center for brain AVM surgery and care. Some of the 44 samples of AVM tissue, acquired during delicate surgeries performed by Abla, Chief of Neurological Surgery, had been removed from the patient's brain while still intact, and other samples were only removed after they had started to bleed. The three varieties of tissue-;normal, intact AVMs, and AVMs that had bled-;allowed the researchers to get a fuller picture of differences between how the cells function normally and in different states of disease. In collaboration with the Cerebrovascular Research Center, the team used single-cell mRNA sequencing on more than 180,000 cells to determine which genes were being expressed in the differing samples and matched gene expression with a cell's location. Chang Kim, a graduate student in bioinformatics at UCSF and co-lead author of the study, then developed computer analyses that compared gene expression in the normal and diseased cells. An immune cell surprise The results revealed not only a variety of new cell types, but a population of immune cells that appear to communicate with smooth muscle cells in the diseased arteries and weaken them, resulting in a stroke. Scientists have suspected that the immune system is activated by malformations like AVMs. But Nowakowski said, "without this study, we wouldn't be able to pinpoint this very specific population of cells in the blood that might be the key drivers of disease progression." Identifying these specific immune cells completely changes how researchers can think about treating this sort of vascular disease, he added. If the cells circulate in the blood, it may be possible to reduce stroke risk by modulating the immune system. "This opens up huge therapeutic potential," said Nowakowski. That potential extends beyond stroke. The map can help investigate any neurovascular disease, including one of the most common: dementia. Many forms of dementia, including Alzheimer's, appear to have a vascular underpinning. We need an atlas like this to better understand how changes in the vasculature can contribute to the loss of cognition and memory." Daniel Lim, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurological Surgery, University of California - San Francisco "This work was a really a beautiful collaboration between surgeon-scientists and molecular biologists, occurring in a place with incredible access to clinical specimens," said Lim. "It's what makes the Weill Institute of Neuroscience at UCSF so special." While many institutions don't have access to all of these critical resources, they will have access to the dataset from this study, Lim added. Nowakowski believes that this information will allow researchers across the world to perform much less expensive analyses on large numbers of patients, which is the only way to get a fuller picture of how vascular diseases operate. "Understanding cerebrovascular disease at the cellular and molecular level will take the work of many researchers into new directions," Lim said. A "periodic table" for cells The team's study contributes to the Human Cell Atlas, an international effort to create cell reference maps for the entire body. Nowakowski calls these atlases a "periodic table of cell types." Just as the chemical periodic table organizes elements into a structure that allows chemists to draw relationships between them based on where they appear in the table, human cell atlases reveal the locations of cells in the body and the resulting interactions between them. While there is a lot of work taking place around the world to generate these atlases for different organs and tissues, many of them only map the geographic locations of cells. The comparison of normal and abnormal cells in this research takes it to a higher level, providing extremely refined guidance for drug development. "Our study really demonstrates how a cell atlas can be utilized," Nowakowski said. "With our 'periodic table' as a reference, we can start asking which cells might go wrong in disease and very precisely target those cells for therapy." An international team of researchers led by Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have discovered that a cell type in the central nervous system known as oligodendrocytes might have a different role in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) than previously thought. The findings, published in the journal Neuron, could open for new therapeutical approaches to MS. MS is driven by immune cells attacking oligodendrocytes and the myelin they produce, which is an insulating layer ensheathing nerve cells. These attacks disrupt information flow in the brain and spinal cord and causes nerve damage that triggers symptoms associated with MS such as tremors and loss of gait. Understanding which mechanisms influence the risk of MS is central to finding effective therapies. Previous genetic studies have found regions in the human genome that contain mutations (single nucleotide polymorphisms) associated with increased risk of MS. Many of these regions are localized near genes that are active in immune cells. Open configuration of the genome In this study, the researchers show in mice and human brain samples that oligodendrocytes and their progenitors have an open configuration of the genome near immune genes and at MS-risk associated regions. This suggests that the MS risk mutations may have a role in the activation of nearby genes in oligodendrocytes and their progenitors, meaning they could play a more important part than previously thought in the development of MS. Our findings suggest that the risk for multiple sclerosis might manifest by misfunction not only of immune cells, but also of oligodendrocytes and their precursor cells." Goncalo Castelo-Branco, Professor, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet Goncalo Castelo-Branco conducted the study with co-first authors Mandy Meijer, a PhD student, and Eneritz Agirre, a researcher. "These findings indicate that these cells can also be targeted for therapeutical approaches for MS, to prevent misfunction that might be caused by these mutations." The severity of COVID-19 pneumonia can be difficult to assess in people from different ethnic groups, due to inaccurate readings from a device that measures the level of oxygen in the blood of patients. The findings of the research, published in the European Respiratory Journal, show that pulse oximeters gave false readings of nearly 7% higher in a group of patients of Mixed ethnicity with Covid-19, compared to White patients at just over 3%. There were also falsely high readings in patients with both Black and Asian ethnicity, which could delay patients receiving the best and most timely treatment for the virus. Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive test that measures the oxygen saturation level of the blood. It can rapidly detect even small changes in oxygen levels. These levels show how efficiently blood is carrying oxygen to the extremities furthest from the heart, including the arms and legs. Medical professionals routinely use them in primary care and critical care settings like emergency rooms or hospitals to monitor the clinical status of their patients. The light wave transmission that this technology uses is modified by skin pigmentation and may vary by skin colour. A recent study reported different outputs in patients with Black skin compared to patients with White skin, which has the potential to adversely affect patient care. This led to the Food and Drink Administration in the USA releasing an expression of concern about the accuracy of pulse oximeters in 2021, which led to the current study. The study was delivered by a consortium of multidisciplinary teams from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. They made use of the electronic datasets that are collected for clinical use in real time, but archived and available to answer important clinical questions and improve both patient care and patient safety in the future. The NUH Covid-19 Patient Safety Database is anonymised to allow lessons to be learned without compromising individual patient confidentiality. The team included clinicians, managers, statisticians, computer analysts, software coders and data warehouse archivists. The team of experts from Nottingham used data from patients with Covid-19 infection to look at the difference in blood oxygen levels as measured by pulse oximetry and arterial blood gas tests, spilt into different ethnic groups over a wide range of oxygen saturations. Arterial blood gas tests measure the levels of oxygen in the blood from an artery, and represent the gold standard measurement for oxygen levels. The team used electronic data for patients admitted to Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust between February 2020 and September 2021 with Covid-19 infection. Pulse oximetry measurements with a paired blood gas measurement within a half an hour window were compared. Mean differences between pulse oximetry and blood gas oxygen saturations were recorded by ethnicity of White, Mixed, Asian, and Black patients, and were also split up by level of oxygen saturation as measured by arterial blood gases. There were differences in oxygen saturations (amounts of oxygen in the blood), between the pulse oximetry arterial blood gas readings in all groups. The highest difference was in the Mixed ethnicity group which was nearly 7% higher in the oximetry reading, with the lowest in the White group at 3.2% higher than the true measurement from arterial blood gases. A reading of 5.4% higher using pulse oximetry was found in the Black group of participants and 5.1% higher in the Asian population. The difference between the readings also increased in the clinically important range of 85 to 89%, when many clinical decisions are made. Mean values as measured by pulse oximeter were higher than reality in individuals with a recorded Black and Asian ethnicity, compared to those of a White ethnicity. The findings of the research are important as high levels of skin pigmentation are associated with ethnic groups who have a poorer outcome from Covid-19 infection, and would require the most accurate oxygen measurements available in order to deliver the most appropriate and timely treatment. This data builds on what we know, which is that patients with darker skin have less accurate oxygen measurements using the pulse oximeters. Any error of measurement of oxygen levels will make assessing the severity of Covid-19 infection more difficult, and may delay delivery of timely medical care. We are now exploring the impact of this on clinical outcomes to see if it may have led to any issues in escalating treatment intensity for our patients." Dr Andrew Fogarty, Study Lead Author, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham It's difficult to plan ahead when SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is so unpredictable. But, there is now a straightforward method for predicting one of the resources needed to slow the spread of COVID-19 in communities. Researchers at Boston University (BU) developed a real-time method for projecting COVID-19 quarantine needs in congregate housing settings ten day in advance. Eric Kolaczyk, Director of the Hariri Institute and Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Laura White, Professor of Biostatistics at the BU School of Public Health, and Wenrui Li, a former doctoral student in Mathematics & Statistics, joined forces to create a simple statistical model that incorporates readily available data, including daily case counts and contact tracing details, and is informed by sensible experiences and judgements on human behavior. The team's findings were published recently in The American Journal of Public Health (AJPH). As was the case for universities across the world, the initial surge of COVID-19 cases that shut down Massachusetts led to some concerns around bringing students back to the BU campus. So during the summer of 2020, BU leadership supporting the COVID-19 response tasked faculty experts with determining the efficacy of testing, contact tracing, and quarantine measures to bring students back safely in the fall. "There was a lot of collaboration across different departments and parts of the university, as well as university leadership that was collecting and storing the data," said White, "This is a really great hallmark of BU's response to COVID in that we made, what has proven to be, a very effective response." Some of the initial predictions for quarantine and isolation, however, were wrong. Fortunately, BU set aside hundreds more beds than were needed. "We found ourselves in uncharted waters in determining the number of quarantine and isolation beds," said Peter Smokowski, VP of Auxiliary Services, "However, the modeling that Eric's team completed was very helpful in establishing a benchmark number." The researchers' original model was intended to provide guidance for bringing students back to campus safely, rather than specific estimates on the number of beds needed. Modeling experts Kolaczyk, White, and Li continued working together in the fall to develop a more accurate model for predicting quarantine needs. The team's new model incorporates data on daily positive case counts for students and information from contact tracing on how student populations off and on campus interact. The model also accounts for dates when COVID-19 might spread more quickly, like long weekends or holidays. The methods that the team used to create their model are effective, and quite simple. "The software is only five lines of code," said Kolaczyk, "Yet it is based on a very principled method, based on standard notions of the arrivals of infected individuals and local transmission." Li remains pleasantly surprised by the simplicity and effectiveness of the model. "Our model is simple, but it works well," said Li. A different SARS-CoV-2 variant or new disease could spring up in the future, and determining how to allocate resources like quarantine housing could make a big difference in how quickly it spreads through congregate settings. The researchers' model can be applied to similar settings where people in close quarters interact with groups outside. Correctional facilities, nursing homes, or military housing locations could use this model to predict quarantine needs and allocate housing resources appropriately. The driver for us in transitioning this from a BU project to a publication is the realization of how ubiquitous the need for quarantine space optimization is across the world. Our model can be used as a predictive tool to allocate resources from a relatively milder baselinerather than being reactive." Eric Kolaczyk, Director, Hariri Institute and Professor of Mathematics & Statistics Ever since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the causal agent, i.e., severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been mutating leading to different variants. These variants have been classified as variants of interest (VOI) or variants of concern (VOC). Since the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, in November 2021, it has become the dominant circulating strain worldwide. There is emerging data suggesting that current vaccines are less effective against the Omicron variant and that Omicron is less pathogenic than previous variants. However, for vulnerable sections of the population, even a less pathogenic variant might have a large impact on morbidity and mortality. A new study has been published on the medRxiv* preprint server, where scientists studied the clinical impact of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection, and vaccine effectiveness, in patients undergoing in-center hemodialysis (IC-HD). Background The increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant and its ability to evade vaccine and infection-induced protection is a cause of major concern. This has led countries like the UK to bolster the booster vaccination campaigns. Emerging real-world data seem to demonstrate the reduced pathogenicity of the Omicron variant and this mirrors findings in the laboratory, based on animal models. Vaccines have been seen to be less effective against causing the symptomatic infection but more effective against severe infection requiring hospitalization. It must, however, be noted that for clinically vulnerable individuals, even a less pathogenic variant may have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality. One such vulnerable group comprises individuals suffering from end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) receiving in-center hemodialysis (IC-HD). Such patients show weak responses to vaccination and some recent studies have shown that even individuals with 3-doses of a heterologous vaccination regimen may have inadequate neutralizing ability against the Omicron variant. A new study A total of 1121 IC-HD patients were included in the analysis and all of the patients underwent weekly screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection via RT-PCR testing. Between 1st December 2021 and 16th January 2022, SARS-CoV-2 infection was diagnosed in about 14% of the patients. Almost 93% of those infected were infected by the Omicron variant. Eleven additional cases were attributed to infection by the Delta variant. 6.4% of the patients were unvaccinated, 26.4% were partially vaccinated and 67.3% had received 3-doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. Key findings Scientists showed that two doses of the vaccine failed to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, against the Omicron variant. The booster vaccine was effective, irrespective of whether the priming was achieved with BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1. Reinfections were found to be common, but the prior infection was observed to be clinically important in reducing the likelihood of infection. This finding was in line with immunogenicity data on immune responses following infection and vaccination. This finding was also in line with the observation that vaccination failed to be effective against hospital admission, but prior infection proved to be more effective. However, there could be a selection bias in these results in that more co-morbid patients did not survive earlier and more pathogenic variants. In patients with ESKD, the immunological responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were observed to be weaker and this was true even for the mRNA-based vaccines. A couple of recent in-vitro studies have also shown the necessity of a booster dose in dialysis patients. The first study reported no difference between patients primed with ChAdOx1 and an mRNA vaccine. The second study showed a significant proportion of patients primed with ChAdOx1 had undetectable neutralizing antibodies post the third dose. Researchers of the current study observed no significant difference in clinical outcomes in this primary analysis, but they stated that further monitoring is required. In comparison to previous waves, the mortality rates in patients with breakthrough infection were much lower. Molnupiravir and Sotrovimab, have both been shown to reduce disease progression in phase 3 clinical trials. However, patients with ESKD were excluded from these trials, which limits the knowledge about the potential safety profile of these medications in hemodialysis patients. Scientists stated that in the current study cohort, no safety concerns were reported, but, limited inference can be made on the use of molnupiravir due to the small sample size. Concluding remarks Scientists stated that 3-doses of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine are required for clinical protection against the Omicron variant, for hemodialysis patients. Although this variant appears to result in less severe clinical outcomes, this high-risk population requires close surveillance. Vaccine regimens and available treatments should be adapted rapidly if the evidence changes. *Important notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Northwestern scientists have developed a new tool to harness immune cells from tumors to fight cancer rapidly and effectively, published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering. Their findings showed a dramatic shrinkage in tumors in mice compared to traditional cell therapy methods. With a novel microfluidic device that could be 3D printed, the team multiplied, sorted through and harvested hundreds of millions of cells, recovering 400 percent more of the tumor-eating cells than current approaches. Most treatments for cancer involve toxic chemicals and foreign substances, which cause harmful side effects and weaken the body's immune response. Using tissue from one's own body can eliminate side effects and risk of rejection, and many disease therapies in regenerative medicine and cancer treatment have gained traction in the clinic. But sometimes the wheels skid. "People have been cured in the clinic of advanced melanoma through treatment with their own immune cells that were harvested out of tumor tissue," said Shana Kelley, PhD, a pioneer in translational biotechnology and corresponding author on the paper. "The problem is, because of the way the cells are harvested, it only works in a very small number of patients." Kelley is the Neena B. Shwartz Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and McCormick School of Engineering, and a professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at Feinberg. The cells of interest, called tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), are natural immune cells that invade tumor tissue by engaging cells in a form of hand-to-hand combat that looks like someone using insecticide on a weed. But, in this scenario, previous researchers have been attacking the weeds with a half-expired cannister of chemicals. This is the case in cell therapies used in clinics today, where a mixture of "exhausted" and "naive" cells is used to treat tumors. After they are extracted from tissue, cells are grown in labs far away from the patients they were harvested from. By the time they've multiplied and are ready to be placed back in the body, many of the cells are exhausted and unable to fight, having been in the tumor for too long. Assembling the best fighters Using a new technology called microfluidic affinity targeting of infiltrating cells (MATIC), researchers can pinpoint which cells are most active through cell sorting techniques enabled with nanotechnology. In the paper, scientists used MATIC to find what the authors called the "Goldilocks population" of cells, producing dramatic results for the mice population they were looking at. Tumors in mice shrank dramatically and in some mice disappeared completely producing a large improvement in survival rates compared to more traditional methods of TIL recovery. Instead of giving mice this mixture of cells with different phenotypes, we're giving them the one cell phenotype that can actually help them. You see much more potency and a much higher response rate when you really home in on the sweet spot of T-cell reactivity." Shana Kelley, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at Feinberg Reproducible, accessible technology Because her team's technology is small and easily reproducible, Kelley said it would be feasible to bring the 3D-printed device into hospital settings, rather than confining it to a lab. Getting cell therapy closer to patients would dramatically reduce research and development costs and ultimately deliver the treatment to more people. Kelley joined Northwestern in August from the University of Toronto and has continued to study how her platform might advance cancer treatments. Now, she's using the device to search for the same types of TILs in blood samples, which would eliminate the need for surgery to remove a small piece of tumor prior to this form of treatment. Kelley has also launched a small company to commercialize her devices and plans to work with industry partners and collaborators at Northwestern to continue expanding use cases for the tool. The platform itself has been used across applications, mostly for the analysis and measurement of rare cells in the body. "When we take on the development of a new technology, we typically end up with a hammer, and then need to go find a nail," Kelley said. "We got introduced to problems in cell therapy, and it was immediately apparent that this was a perfect fit." The lead author of the study, doctoral student Daniel Wang, will be joining Northwestern from the University of Toronto as a postdoctoral fellow and plans to continue developing new solutions for cell therapy in the Kelley group's labs on the Chicago campus. Kelley also is a member of the International Institute for Nanotechnology (IIN), the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, the Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (grant number FDN-148415) and the Collaborative Health Research Projects program. The research was part of the University of Toronto's Medicine by Design Initiative, which receives funding from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund. Epilepsy, a common neurological disorder associated with stigma, psychiatric comorbidities, and rising healthcare costs, affects approximately 50 million people globally. A common risk factor associated with the development of epilepsy and seizures is alcohol consumption. Various studies have focused on how alcohol consumption leads to provoked seizures, commonly occurring due to alcohol withdrawal, or heavy alcohol intoxication. However, very few of these focus on the link between alcohol consumption and unprovoked seizures. One such study was a meta-analysis conducted in 2010, which analyzed six case-control studies and found that alcohol users were more prone to developing unprovoked seizures. Interestingly, data from recent cohort studies contradict these findings, implying that there is no association between alcohol intake and epilepsy. Now, using more accurate diagnostic methods and recent data, a team of scientists led by Professor Kyoung Nam Woo and including Professor Yun Hak Kim from Pusan National University, South Korea, conducted an updated meta-analysis to conclusively clarify the relationship between alcohol consumption and unprovoked seizures and epilepsy. For this meta-analysis, which was made available online in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal on January 11, 2022, the team included a total of 8 studies, comprising 5 case-control studies and 3 cohort studies. Further, they conducted a cubic spline analysis on data extracted from these studies, to assess the dose-response relationship between alcohol intake and epilepsy. The findings suggested that overall, alcohol drinkers were at a significantly higher risk of developing epilepsy, as compared to non-drinkers. A significant positive dose-response relationship was found upon analysis of case-control studies, implying that the risk of epilepsy increases with an increase in alcohol intake. These findings are consistent with previous meta-analyses. An important finding was that cohort studies did not show a positive association between alcohol intake and epilepsy. In fact, 2 out of 3 cohort studies suggested that alcohol intake reduces the risk of epilepsy. Further large cohort studies of the general population are required to assert a definite causal relationship between alcohol consumption and epilepsy and to identify a potential threshold." Yun Hak Kim, Professor, Pusan National University Moreover, since cohort studies include more subjects, and are less prone to biases, they comparatively provide more accurate relationships between exposure and development of a disorder. "An assessment of the risk of alcohol consumption in various clinical situations, such as types of CNS insult and the time relation of alcohol consumption with seizures, will be important for primary prevention. To increase the applicability to the general population, future studies should be conducted in which the potential confounders such as age, sex, and smoking have been adjusted", says Prof. Woo, highlighting the long-term implications of this work. Once clarity is achieved, assessment of the risk of alcohol consumption in different clinical situations will be an effective step for the prevention of epilepsy in the general population. The zine "MoodRing" features the artwork and writing from local teens. The launch party will be held at the Carnegie Center this Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m. As part of the COLIBRI Project, implemented by the WCO and financed by the European Union (EU), a third face-to-face training course was organized in Dakar, Senegal, for the benefit of national administrations with powers and responsibilities in the field of general aviation (GA) monitoring and control. The course brought together 44 participants from Customs, the Gendarmerie, Air Force, Police and Civil Aviation authority ANACIM, as well as officers from the Airport Anti-Trafficking Unit (CAAT) of the Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP). This five-day workshop provided an opportunity to study in greater depth the subjects covered during the online course held in March 2021. The course was opened by Mr. Birame Sidy Kane, Director of the WCO Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) for West Africa, who emphasized the importance of the WCO initiative in ensuring that this particular means of transport does not represent a risk to the safety of international aviation activities, and in ensuring that there is full compliance with the regulatory framework applicable to GA. The first two days of the workshop were devoted to the theoretical aspects and regulations, while the remaining days allowed participants to take a closer look at the methodology used through practical case studies involving different examples of concealment methods discovered during controls conducted around the world. This experience-sharing of good practices provided participants with a solid basis to be built upon when planning future controls of GA aircraft. The final day of the training was dedicated entirely to practical work. The Armee de lAir (Air Force), in collaboration with the company Arc en Ciel, facilitated participants access to the apron of the old airport of Dakar, thus providing them with ideal conditions for conducting exercises on the ground. Three mixed groups made up of representatives of Customs, the Gendarmerie, Police, Air Force and ANACIM were given access to the different aircraft present on the runway and in the hangar, including a Cessna and a Piper. Assisted and guided by the experts, the groups carried out simulations of actual controls, physical inspections and documentary controls of the aircraft, pilot and crew. These practical exercises allowed them to visualize in situ the different modes of concealment and identify the main hiding places available on a GA aircraft. The participants were also able to consolidate concepts that were previously purely theoretical, such as the load capacity and the take-off and landing capacity of aircraft, as well as codes and matriculation plates. After this practical training, participants will be required to undertake the COLIBRI e-learning course available on the WCO CLiKC! platform in order to verify the knowledge acquired and receive a certificate of participation. This six-hour online course is a synthesis of the courses given during the training sessions, and its content is covered in the COLIBRI Project Technical Handbook for Training on Monitoring and Controlling General Aviation, available to administrations in four languages. The next activity taking place under the COLIBRI Project in Dakar will be in the form of Regional Training, to be held from 28 February to 4 March 2022, dedicated to the Geoportal and the use of the CENcomm. The Geoportal is a mapping tool which uses the very latest technologies available, such as satellite imagery to strengthen the monitoring of clandestine flights, and a mobile application to assist administrations in the organization of their controls. Vicky Zuverink is a past president of the Southern Indiana Genealogical Society. Queries are free and must include both a date to establish a time period and a location where the people lived. Please include your email or postal address so you can be contacted by someone interested in your family. Submit queries to: Vicky Zuverink at vzuverink@gmail.com (Newser) Update: The parents of two children killed after the father drove their military-style vehicle around a barricade and straight into a flooded creek in Arizona won't be serving jail time. People reports that Judge Timothy Wright sentenced Daniel Rawlings to 60 months of supervised probation and 1,000 hours of community service, while Lacey Rawlings was hit with 48 months of probation and 480 hours of community service. Their 5-year-old son, Colby, and 6-year-old daughter, Willa, died in the Nov. 29, 2019, incident, as did their 5-year-old niece, Austin. Our original story from April 2020 follows: The parents of two kids killed in an Arizona flash flood in November have been hit with charges after those children, plus one of their young nieces, drowned in the floodwaters. A spokesman for the Gila County Sheriff's Office confirmed to People that Daniel Rawlings was charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter, as well as seven counts of child abuse. His wife, Lacey Rawlings, was also charged with seven counts of child abuse. Daniel Rawlings was said to have been behind the wheel Thanksgiving weekend of a military-style vehicle that allegedly drove around a barricade erected to keep people from using a crossing over the swollen Tonto Creek. The vehicle got caught up in the rushing waters, and while Daniel and Lacey Rawlings managed to escape the vehicle with two of their children and two of their nieces, three children were swept away, per KPHO. Those children were IDed as the Rawlingses' 5-year-old son, Colby; 6-year-old daughter, Willa; and 5-year-old niece, Austin. Although Daniel Rawlings said "no comment" when asked for one by KPHO, Bruce Griffen, Daniel Rawlings' attorney, tells the station his client is "disappointed" about the charges against him. Lacey Rawlings had earlier blasted "keyboard warriors" and told the outlet that people don't understand what the family is going through. "Everybody's a critic," she said, per People. As of Monday, Daniel Rawlings hadn't yet been arrested, as the coronavirus outbreak has complicated logistics, Griffen says. "Everyone recognized that Mr. Rawlings is not a flight risk," he says, adding he's not the lawyer for Lacey Rawlings. A preliminary hearing for Daniel Rawlings is set for April 21, though it's not clear if virus shutdowns will affect that date. (Read more flash floods stories.) (Newser) Restaurants like repeat customers, but they might have mixed feelings about those who have COVID-19. Sarah Palin has tested positive for the illness, which was enough to postpone the trial in her defamation lawsuit against the New York Times but not enough to keep her from dining out while she's in the city. Palin, who has said she is not vaccinated against the coronavirus, ate indoors at Elio's restaurant Saturday and again outside on Wednesday, the Gothamist reports. New York City requires restaurant customers to show proof of vaccination before eating inside. "Tonight Sarah Palin returned to the restaurant to apologize for the fracas around her previous visit," Luca Guaitolini, manager of Elio's, said in a statement Wednesday night. "In accordance with the vaccine mandate and to protect our staff, we seated her outdoors. ... We are a restaurant open to the public, and we treat civilians the same." People in New York who test positive also are supposed to isolate for five days. "She tested positive and is out on the town," said a New Yorker who walked by Palin's outdoor party. "There's such a lack of care for the people around you and the people in New York City." On Tuesday night, Palin and a group dined outside at Campagnola, passersby said. Some people who saw her wanted autographs or selfies, while others were upset. It's not clear when Palin tested positive; the city said she won't be punished for dining indoors because an inspector didn't witness the meal. Anyone who came into contact with the former Alaska governor should be tested, a City Hall spokesperson said, per CNN. "Ms. Palin needs to respect small business workers and follow the rules just like everyone else," an aide to Mayor Eric Adams said. (Read more Sarah Palin stories.) (Newser) Ukraine received a series of grim assessments Thursday of the possibility of avoiding a Russian invasion. In a phone call, President Biden told Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky that there's a "distinct possibility" of Russian military action next month, the AP reports. The UK's defense minister said an invasion still could be headed off, per the BBC, but Ben Wallace said, "I'm not optimistic." Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson cautioned against reaching conclusions but agreed with Wallace. "There is not much cause for optimism," said Dmitri Peskov, per the New York Times. No one said all hope is lost, but nothing broke Ukraine's way Thursday. Russia said Putin will need time to look over the US and NATO responses to its demands, which it received Wednesday. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's early read was that the US answer holds "no positive reaction," though he said he saw elements that could provide "the beginning of a serious conversation." In the meantime, per CNN, Russia has added to its force at the Ukraine border even "in the last 24 hours," the Pentagon said. The US did call a meeting of the UN Security Council for Monday. That could lead to a US-Russia, face-to-face debate on the Ukraine issue, per the Times. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed impatience with the standoff. "This is not a moment to wait and see," she said. "The councils full attention is needed now." Asked if the fact that Russia is still talking is a good sign, White House press secretary Jen Psaki was noncommittal. "We don't know if the Russians are playing games on diplomacy," she said. "We hope not." (A mass shooting at a defense plant added to the tension in Ukraine.) (Newser) The echoes of the Cold War in the search for a US fighter jet that crashed in international waters are so strong that one defense consultant describes it as "The Hunt for Red October meets The Abyss." Abi Austen tells the BBC that an American salvage vessel is believed to be around 10 days away from the crash site in the South China Sea, meaning China has a strong chance of getting there first with submarines. The $100 million jet ended up at the bottom of the sea after it crash-landed on the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier Monday. The pilot and six sailors were injured. "It's vitally important the US gets this back," Austen says. "The F35 is basically like a flying computer," with technology China doesn't have yet. "If they can get into the 35's networking capabilities, it effectively undermines the whole carrier philosophy," says Austen, who notes that the battery in the jet's black box might die before the US vessel reaches the scene, making the F35C harder to locate. The Navy is understandably staying tight-lipped about the area where the jet sank, though China claims almost the entire seaand the jet is "technically fair game" in international waters, per the BBC. "Were certainly mindful of the value of an F35 in every respect of what value means," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said at a briefing Thursday. The salvage operation is expected to involve attaching large bags that will be inflated to raise the jet, though some military officers have noted that simply destroying it with a torpedo would be an easier option. The recovery attempt will be made "obviously with safety foremost in mind, but clearly our own national security interests," Kirby said. "And I think I will just leave it at that." A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman claimed Thursday that the country isn't trying to find the plane, the Guardian reports. "This is not the first time that the US has an accident in the South China Sea," Zhao Lijian said. "We have no interest in their aircraft." After a damaged EP-3 surveillance aircraft made an emergency landing on Hainan Island in April 2001, China detained the 24 American crew members for 10 days. The disassembled aircraft was returned in July that year. (Read more South China Sea stories.) (Newser) Almost two years after she apologized for saying she wouldn't self-isolate or change her daily routine because of the pandemic, Evangeline Lilly is back in the news over her COVID-related stance. In an Instagram post Thursday, the Canadian actress confirmed that she was at an anti-vaccine mandate protest in Washington, DC, Sunday where Robert F. Kennedy Jr. invoked Anne Frank and likened mandates to conditions in Nazi Germany, Rolling Stone reports. Lilly, who starred in Lost and Marvel's Ant-Man movies, said she was at the rally to support "bodily sovereignty." She also praised a cross-country convoy of anti-mandate Canadian truckers. Lilly said "she believes nobody should ever be forced to inject their body with anything, against their will, under threat of violent attack, arrest or detention without trial, loss of employment, homelessness, starvation, loss of education, alienation from loved ones, excommunication from society." She said she was "pro choice" before COVID and still is today, CNN reports. Variety says it has reached out to Disney for comment on Lilly's remarks. Lilly's next appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be in next year's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. (RFK Jr. apologized for his Holocaust remarks after wife Cheryl Hines described them as "reprehensible and insensitive.") (Newser) A 1978 note announcing the abduction of a former Italian prime minister by the group that would later kill him has sold for 15 times the estimate at a controversial auction in Rome. The two-sided letter from communist guerrilla group Red Brigades, written on the group's letterhead, was the first of several notes given to the press following Aldo Moro's kidnapping on March 16, 1978, per the Guardian. Sent a day later, it said Moro, leader of the Christian Democrats, was the "political godfather and most faithful executor of directives issued by the imperialist powers" and had been "enclosed in a prison of the people." Offered up by Rome's Bertolami auction house, the letter sold Thursday for $29,000, well above the estimate of between $1,450 and $1,900, though critics had condemned the sale. "These pages are dripping with blood, they can't be bought and sold, become a collector's item," said the journalist Mario Calabresi, whose father was killed by far-left insurgents while serving as a police commissioner in Milan in 1972, per the BBC. Five bodyguards were shot and killed when the Red Brigades seized Moro, who was himself found fatally shot in the trunk of a car in Rome almost two months later. Calabresi said the letter should have been placed in an archive "to remind us of the barbarity of terrorism." Former Red Bridages member Paolo Persichetti said the document was not an original, but a copy, like the hundreds others already existing in archives, per the BBC. Still, Democratic Party MP Filippo Sensi said he was saddened by the sale of such a "painful record." The Red Brigades were responsible for several kidnappings and murders in Italy throughout the 1970s and 80s, during the so-called "years of lead." Several former members who fled to France before their prison sentences could begin were arrested only last year, per NPR. (Read more auction stories.) 25 January 2022 marked the official ending of the SECO-WCO Global Trade Facilitation Programme (GTFP)s Light-Touch Intervention in Guatemala. This collaboration with the Customs Administration of Guatemala (SAT) was initiated in 2020 and consisted of a short-term assistance, mainly focused on trade facilitation and enhancement through modern and efficient Customs procedures by complying with international standards and best practices, specifically the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC). This official virtual closing ceremony was attended by the Director General of the Customs Administration of Guatemala, the Swiss Ambassador to Guatemala and SECOs Headquarters who acknowledged in their respective interventions the important work achieved by the country in developing a roadmap for RKC accession. In this regard, the parties expressed appreciation for the activities which have been successfully implemented in the country. In particular, Guatemala has successfully aligned its Customs procedures to the RKC which will contribute to reduce trade costs by up to 15%. The SAT is therefore now in compliance with the guidelines of the RKC and the Administration has initiated the internal process for the formal accession to this instrument. In spite of the global difficulties caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic which has made all activities virtual, this fruitful and efficient collaboration between the SAT and the GTFP has allowed Guatemala to successfully pave its way towards modern, efficient and predictable Customs procedures in the country, in line with international best practices. For more information on the GTFP, please, contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org (Newser) More critics are accusing the Spotify-exclusive Joe Rogan Experience podcast of sharing dangerous misinformation after Tuesday's episode in which a guest spouted what one scientist calls a "word salad of nonsense" about climate science. Just days after 270 members of the US scientific and medical communities demanded Spotify address COVID-19 misinformation on the podcast, Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson appeared as a guest, telling an estimated 11 million listeners that climate models get less reliable the further out you look, as with weather forecasts. "As you stretch out the models across time, the errors increase radically," said Peterson, who is not an expert in this field. "And so maybe you can predict out a week or three weeks or a month or a year, but the farther out you predict, the more your model is in error," he said. "And that's a huge problem when you're trying to model over 100 years because the errors compound just like interest." Climate scientists immediately balked. "To say that climate model errors increase like compound interest is laughable," John Abraham, a climate scientist at Minnesota's University of St. Thomas, tells the Guardian. He likens the episode to "a word salad of nonsense spoken by people who have no sense when it comes to climate." Australian climate scientist Dr. Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick adds Peterson "seems to think we model the future climate the same way we do the weather. He sounds intelligent, but hes completely wrong. He has no frickin' idea." CNN points out that Dr. Zeke Hausfather, Director of Climate and Energy at California's Breakthrough Institute, shared a graph showing climate observations have generally matched predictions since the 1970s. Michael Mann, an atmospheric scientist at Penn State University, warned about the consequences of such a "dangerous ... anti-science" discussion. He tells CNN "the promotion of misinformation about climate change is in some ways even more dangerous" than that of COVID-19 misinformation given the lives that will "perish from extremely dangerous and deadly weather extremes if we fail to act on the climate crisis." (Spotify just removed Neil Young's music after he issued an ultimatum over the podcast.) (Newser) They watched the Buffalo Bills trounce the New England Patriotsand it might cost them. A New York couple who attended the Jan. 15 wild card game allegedly used fake vaccination cards to do so. USA Today reports Amber Naab, 37, and Michael Naab, 34, were charged Tuesday with one count of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree. If they're found guilty of the class D felony, each could face up to 7 years in prison, though the local DA says prison time isn't likely in the event of a conviction. The West Seneca couple allegedly attended prior games by using CDC vaccine cards they had filled in themselves with a phony Pfizer lot number, which Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said the Bills caught wind of thanks to social media posts by the couple. The Washington Post reports the team received an anonymous tip about the posts. During the 3rd quarter of the Bills-Patriots game, officials with the Bills as well as members of the Erie County Sheriff's Office removed the couple for questioning. They are being prosecuted at the request of the Bills. WKBW reports the Naabs were released on their own recognizance and have a Feb. 22 court date. "I readily admit this is not the crime of the century," Flynn said. "I hate to be the guy that says 'I need to send a message.'" But "it's a slap in the face to the 70,000 others who did the right thing." All attendees 12 and older are required to show proof of full vaccination to attend a game at Highmark Stadium. (Read more fake vaccine card stories.) (Newser) Alabama executed an inmate by lethal injection for a 1996 murder on Thursday after a divided US Supreme Court sided with the state and rejected defense claims the man had an intellectual disability that cost him a chance to choose a less "torturous," yet untried, execution method. Matthew Reeves, 43, was put to death at Holman Prison after the court lifted a lower court order that had prevented corrections workers from executing the prisoner, the AP reports. He was pronounced dead at 9:24pm, state Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement. Reeves was convicted of killing Willie Johnson Jr., a driver who gave him a ride in 1996. Evidence showed Reeves went to a party afterward and celebrated the killing. Reeves claimed the state failed to help him understand a form that would have let him choose a new execution method involving nitrogen, but the state argued he wasn't so disabled that he couldn't understand the choice. Reeves was sentenced to die for the murder of Willie Johnson, who was killed by a shotgun blast to the neck during a robbery in Selma on Nov. 27, 1996, after picking up Reeves, then 18 years old, and others on the side of a rural highway. The court split 5-4 on allowing the execution to proceed. Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court's three liberals, including Justice Stephen Breyer, in saying she would have denied the state's request, CNN reports. The inmate had no last words. Earlier Thursday, Oklahoma inmate Donald Grant became the first person to be executed in the US this year. The 46-year-old received a lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester and was declared dead at 10:16am, reports the AP. It was the third execution in Oklahoma since the state resumed lethal injections in October following a nearly seven-year hiatus. "Yo, God, I got this," Grant said while lying strapped to the gurney. "No medication. I didn't take nothing. Brooklyn for life." He was convicted of the brutal murders of Brenda McElyea and Felicia Suzette Smith during a hotel robbery in 2001. (At a hearing last month, the court heard that Oklahoma pays a doctor $15,000 to verify the death of an executed inmate.) (Newser) A federal court has rejected a plan to lease millions of acres in the Gulf of Mexico for offshore oil drilling, saying the Biden administration did not adequately take into account the lease sale's effect on planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, per the AP. The decision Thursday by US District Judge Rudolph Contreras in Washington sends the proposed lease sale back to the Interior Department to decide next steps. The judge said it was up to Interior to decide whether to go forward with the sale after a revised review, scrap it, or take other steps. In his 68-page ruling, Contreras said Interior failed to consider the greenhouse gas emissions that would result from the lease sale, violating the National Environmental Policy Act, a bedrock environmental law. "Barreling full-steam ahead with blinders on was simply not a reasonable action for BOEM to have taken here,'' he said, referring to Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Environmental groups hailed the decision and said the ruling gave President Biden a chance to follow through on a campaign promise to stop offshore leasing in federal waters. A spokeswoman for Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said the agency was reviewing the decision. Energy companies including Shell, BP, Chevron, and ExxonMobil offered a combined $192 million for drilling rights on federal oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of Mexico in November. The Interior Department auction came after attorneys general from Republican states led by Louisiana successfully challenged a suspension on sales that Biden imposed when he took office. Companies bid on 308 tracts totaling nearly 2,700 square miles. It marked the largest acreage and second-highest bid total since Gulf-wide bidding resumed in 2017. (Read more oil drilling stories.) (Newser) Update: Tonga has entered its first lockdown of the pandemic, days after relief ships delivered aid to the disaster-hit Pacific island nation. Authorities say two workers who helped unload aid shipments tested positive for COVID, as did three of their family members, the New York Times reports. Tonga, which was hit by a volcanic eruption and tsunami last month, had long been COVID-free, and these are the first cases of community transmission it has recorded. Schools have been closed and travel between the country's 169 islands has been halted. Dozens of Australian sailors were infected in an outbreak on a relief ship, but authorities say the delivery was contactless and they don't believe the ship is linked to workers' infections, the BBC reports. Our story from Jan. 28 follows: British and Australian navy ships arrived in Tonga this week and attempted to deliver aid without making contact with anybody ashore to avoid spreading the coronavirus in a nation that has never had an outbreak. The danger of spreading the disease was underscored when nearly two dozen sailors aboard the Australian ship HMAS Adelaide were reported infected on Tuesday, raising fears they could bring the coronavirus to the small Pacific archipelago devastated by an undersea volcanic eruption and a tsunami on Jan. 15, the AP reports. Tongan authorities have been wary that accepting international aid could usher in a bigger disaster than the huge eruption. The tsunami killed three people. Since the pandemic began, Tonga has reported just a single case of COVID-19. Its one of the few countries in the world currently completely virus free. About 61% of Tongans are fully vaccinated, according to Our World in Data. Britain said its ship the HMS Spey arrived with 7,900 gallons of bottled water, medical supplies for more than 300 first aid kits, and basic sanitation products. It said none of its sailors disembarked the ship, and instead moved the supplies ashore by crane. The Australian government said its ship had completed the 2,050-mile voyage from Brisbane and would deliver supplies without contact with the local population to avoid infections. "The ship is undertaking an entirely contactless delivery of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies," the Australian statement said. Under pandemic measures, Tonga typically requires visitors to quarantine for three weeks on arrival and that complicates the international disaster response. All international aid is to be delivered without local contact. With restoration of the drinking water supply a major priority, the ship brings a desalination plant. The ship is the second aid mission from Australia in which at least one crew member tested positive. A C-17 Globemaster military transport plane was earlier turned around midflight after a person aboard was diagnosed with the coronavirus. (This Tongan man was called a "real life Aquaman" after his 27-hour ordeal.) (Read more Tonga stories.) (Newser) If you're a Denverite who'd planned on taking the kids to the local children's museum over the weekend, you'll have to wait. NPR reports the Children's Museum of Denver has closed its doors for 10 days after angry patrons harassed staff over its mask policy. A reopening is planned for Feb. 5. In a statement on its website, the museum notes that offering a "safe and welcoming environment" in its facility has become "increasingly challenging" in COVID times, and that recent "unacceptable behavior" has forced its hand regarding the temporary closure. "We know the stress of the last two years has taken a toll on everyone in our community, but regrettably, some guests who object to the Museum's mask policy have been inappropriately directing their anger toward our staff," the museum notes. That policy mandates that all museum visitors 2 and older have to wear a face covering, no matter their vaccination status, in accordance with local health regulations. The museum also said earlier this month it wouldn't be accepting medical exemptions due to the growing number of local COVID cases. In its statement, the museum says it decided on the short-term closure to "support our staff and bolster our policies with the hope of preventing this type of behavior in the future." President and CEO Michael Yankovich isn't saying exactly what transpired to cause such a drastic measure, simply noting in a statement to the Washington Post that the "demoralizing" incidents had increased in frequency and intensity of late. In an additional statement this week, he said the museum has been flooded with an "outpouring of support" since the incidents were publicized, per CBS Denver. Yankovich noted that updates to the museum's policies will be posted on its website before the museum opens its doors again. (Read more face masks stories.) (Newser) Before even reaching his second birthday, a Texas toddler is a hero after using the few words he knew to save his parents from a fire, the Washington Post reports. Kayla and Nathan Dahl, who are recovering from COVID-19, say they were sound asleep when their son Brandon woke them up. The couple couldnt smell the smoke because of their COVID symptoms and werent sure what was happening at first when Brandon said, Mama, hot and pulled on his mothers foot while coughing, per ABC News. Kayla Dahl quickly understood Brandons urgencytheir Alvord, Texas, home was full of flames. None of the smoke detectors had gone off, either. "We had seconds," Nathan Dahl, a volunteer firefighter himself, told ABC 8. "It's nothing short of a miracle." The parents, little Brandon, and his four siblings escaped safely but literally lost everything elseincluding the family car. Its going to be a long, hard road to get to be where we need to be and to replace those material items, Kayla Dahl told the Post. But at the same time, if it wasnt for my sons guardian angel that morning, I dont know where we would be. The cause is under investigation, but the family blames a gas heater in the living room. A GoFundMe for the Dahls had raised nearly $10,000 as of Friday and said the family also could use donations of clothes and shoes. Alvord is about an hour from Fort Worth, but it is not clear where the Dahl family is staying. Brandon, meanwhile, will celebrate his second birthday on Sunday. "He saved our entire family," Kayla Dahl told the local ABC affiliate. "I mean, he's our little mini hero." (Read more hero stories.) (Newser) Family members of a Black man killed hours after he arrived at a rural Pennsylvania cabin he had been invited to by a white coworker are calling his death "a modern-day lynching." The body of 29-year-old father-to-be Peter Bernardo Spencer was found on the lawn of the cabin in Rockland, Pa., before 2:30am on Dec. 12, with a bullet wound in the mouth, two in the buttocks, and six in the abdomen or chest, according to the Venango County coroner, ABC News reports. Renowned pathologist Cyril Wecht, who examined the body on behalf of the family after it was prepared by a funeral home, says it's possible the Jamaican immigrant from Pittsburgh was actually shot several times in the back, per the Washington Post. "There are nine shots fired beyond 24 inches of distance, or what we call long-distance shots. It's like looking at someone who got hunted down, which is absolutely horrifying," Wecht tells the outlet. The 25-year-old coworker was detained, questioned, then released along with three other white individuals. According to the family, the co-worker admitted to shooting Spencer but claimed self-defense. "I would love to see a district attorney who finds a crime scene with a house full of Black people, a white guy in the yard with nine bullet holes, and then detains them and lets them all go," the family's attorney Paul Jubas tells the Post. "That district attorney would be instantly out of office the next day." Venango County District Attorney Shawn White called for patience Tuesday to allow for a thorough investigation. But the family says six weeks is plenty of time. They're now demanding greater transparency, claiming Wecht has been denied the coroner's autopsy photos, report NBC News. They also want federal agencies to get involved amid concerns it was a racially targeted attack. Rev. Dale Snyder of Pittsburgh's Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church tells the Post that the concept of Jim Crow-era sundown towns, where Black people weren't permitted after dark, is still entrenched in rural areas like Venango County, whose population is 1.1% Black. "He was slaughtered and killed in what I consider an act of modern-day lynching!" Spencers sister, Tehilah, writes on a GoFundMe page. (Read more shooting death stories.) (Newser) Another ugly incident in the skies: A 50-year-old Canadian man has been sentenced to six months in a US prison after he groped a flight attendant, reports NBC News. Enio Socorro Zayas was sentenced this week in a Florida federal court after his assault on an American Airlines employee on a flight from Cancun to Miami in August 2021, court records say. The flight attendant thought Zayas was asleep and put a package of snacks on his lap. She then "felt a hand grip the bottom of her thigh and move upwards towards the lower portion of her buttocks before rubbing firmly from side to side, according to an FBI affidavit cited by CNN. The victim yelled at Zayas and he mumbled a response that was not intelligible, per the affidavit. Other passengers approached the shaken flight attendant to offer support and their willingness to cooperate with law enforcement. In October, Zayas pleaded guilty to simple assault within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United Statesa misdemeanor offense, according to court records. He was released on bond and has until March 28 to report to federal prison. Zayas and his attorney have never given an explanation of his behavior. (Unruly behavior by plane passengers has been on the rise.) (Newser) Jacqueline Durand, a college student who walked dogs for extra money, went to a Dallas-area home for a job on Dec. 23. What happened when she opened the front door was the stuff of nightmares. According to a lawsuit filed against Dr. Justin Bishop and his wife, Ashley, two of the couple's three dogs, a mixed-breed German Shepherd and mixed-breed pit bull, immediately knocked the 22-year-old University of Texas at Dallas student off balance and then attacked her head and face, NBC reports. The lawsuit says the "violent and bloodthirsty" dogs ripped off all of Durand's clothes, including her jeans. The dogs "tore off and ate Jacquelines ears, her nose, her lips, and most of her face below the eyes," the lawsuit states. She also suffered severe puncture wounds all over her body. The lawsuit accuses the Bishops, who hired Durand to look after the dogs while they were out of town, of negligence. The suit says the couple were aware of their animals' violent tendencies: A sign on the front door says, "Crazy Dogs. Please Dont Knock or Ring the Bell. Call or Text Instead." According to a police report, Durand was found with "serious facial damage," and officers and paramedics struggled to restrain the dogs as they brought her out of the home. She has been hospitalized since the attack. Lawyer Chip Brooker says she has already undergone several reconstructive surgeries and will need many more, CBS DFW reports. A judge decided earlier this month that the dogs should be euthanized, but Brooker has requested a delay so that the animals can be examined. The lawsuit says the dogs were out of the kennels they were usually kept in. It says they were in kennels when Durand met them after coming to the house to discuss the job with Ashley Bishop. Durand's relatives say the situation is especially bad because of how much Durand loves animals, WFAA reports. "She walked into that house with nothing but love for those dogs, her sister Barreca says. "We just hope that she can return to whatever her normalcy will be one day," her father says, adding that her family will be with her every step of the way. In a Jan. 18 Facebook post, Durand said she was making good progress. "I am so blessed to be surrounded by so much love and support as I go through this hard time in my life," she said. (Read more Texas stories.) As part of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Customs Operational Practices for Enforcement and Seizures (COPES) Programme, the WCO in partnership with Pakistan Customs has launched the Customs Enforcement Curriculum for Assistant Collectors (CECAC) Project, aiming at assisting Pakistan Customs in building its capacity to enhance security and combat serious crime, particularly by preparing Pakistans future senior managers to address the challenges ahead. In the framework of this project, a six-week training for sixteen Pakistan Assistant Collectors is held from 17th January till 25th February 2022. Twelve COPES accredited Experts and Consultant from around the world where mobilized to design the training material with a clear focus on border control, evidence collection and investigation technics. All Experts and Consultants will deliver training spread over the six weeks. The opening ceremony was chaired by Ms. Suraiya Ahmed Butt, Director General of the Directorate General of Training & Research-Customs, who expressed her appreciation to the WCO and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) of the United States Departement of State (US DoS) for its efforts in implementing the CECAC Project. Ms. Suraiya Ahmed Butt also stated that this training is an excellent opportunity to improve the professional standards of Assistant Collectors in Pakistan. Thereafter, Mr. Khoso, Director of the Customs Training Center of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in Pakistan, made an overview of the genesis of the Project up till now and apointed the excellent cooperation between the FBR and the WCO since the beginning of the Project. Finally, the opening ceremony ended with an overview of the COPES Programme followed by a summary presentation of the CECAC Project and a presentation of the COPES Experts and the participants. The WCO would like to offer its heartfelt thanks to Pakistan Customs for their welcome and their cooperation and to the US DoS INL for its financial support and expertise on the ground. For more information on the COPES Programme and CECAC Project, please contact COPES@wcoomd.org. (Newser) Six men went on trial Friday in Germany over a spectacular theft of 18th-century treasures from Dresdens Green Vault Museum in 2019, the AP reports. (Read about the wild heist details here.) The defendants, aged 23 to 28, appeared before a regional court in the eastern German city accused of gang robbery and arson. The heist is alleged to have resulted in the theft of 21 items of jewelry comprising about 4,300 gems worth more than $126 million. In their opening statement, prosecutors said the men were armed with a revolver and a pistol with a silencer, German news agency dpa reported. The Green Vault is one of the worlds oldest museums. It was established in 1723 and contains the treasury of Augustus the Strong of Saxony, comprising around 4,000 objects of gold, precious stones, and other materials. The stolen jewelry has not been recovered. Two of the men on trial were convicted in 2020 for a similar heist, the theft of a 220-pound Canadian gold coin dubbed the Big Maple Leaf from Berlins Bode Museum in 2017. The coin, with an estimated value of $4.18 million, also has not been recovered. Authorities suspect that it was likely cut up into smaller pieces and sold off. (Read more jewel heist stories.) (Newser) The FBI is seeking help in identifying a bank robber in Southern California dubbed the "Green Gaiter Bandit." Wearing a neck gaiter or face covering, often in the color green, the 6-foot-tall middle-aged white male has committed more than a dozen robberies or attempted robberies at banks in Los Angeles and Orange counties since October, authorities say. Often seen in "workwear-style clothing," including a tan jacket, he typically demands "loose bills" vocally or in writing, per the Los Angeles Times. In some cases, he's returned to target banks where he was initially successful. For instance, he robbed a Chase Bank in Huntington Beach on Oct. 30, then returned for a robbery attempt on Dec. 3, per CBS Los Angeles. Also on Dec. 3, he hit a Chase Bank in Costa Mesa, to which he returned on Dec. 17. He most recently targeted a Wells Fargo Bank in Placentia on Jan. 21. Thought to be between the ages of 50 and 60, with gray hair and a medium to heavy build, he typically flees the scene on foot. He has not been seen with a weapon but is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone with information should call the FBI at (310) 477-6565. (Newser) Elon Musk has been inserting himself lately into conversations about crypto, but the Tesla and SpaceX CEO shifted gears late in the week to lend support to an entirely different cause. "Canadian truckers rule" was his thumbs-up tweet Thursday, directed toward big-rig drivers headed toward Ottawa for an anti-vaccine mandate protest in the capital city on Friday, per Reuters. The Independent notes that although American truck drivers crossing into Canada have to be vaccinated against COVID, Canadian truckers had been exempt from that requirement. That changed on Jan. 15, when unvaxxed Canadian drivers were told they had to start quarantining for 14 days each time they came back home over the border. Industry officials say about 90% of the truck drivers crossing the US-Canadian border are vaccinated, but Canadian truckers who aren't are now miffed that they no longer get an "enter as you please" wave into the country. Hundreds of truckers planned to converge on Ottawa on Friday in protest, hoping to surround Parliament Hill with their vehicles and snarl downtown traffic. While organizers insisted the demonstration would be peaceful, there'd been some threats online of blocking hospitals and even a physical attack against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "We are aware of inappropriate and threatening language on social media related to this event," Ottawa Police tweeted Thursday, adding that "there will be consequences for persons engaging in criminal conduct, violence and/or activities promoting hate." Musk's stance on vaccination has shifted throughout the pandemic. In September 2020, the then-49-year-old dad of six insisted he wouldn't get vaxxed because he didn't think he and his family were at risk of getting COVID. Something changed along the way, because last month, in his profile in Time after being anointed the magazine's Person of the Year, Musk said he and his children that were eligible had all been vaccinated. Still, his stance on vaccine mandates hasn't wavered. "You are taking a risk, but people do risky things all the time," he said at the time of the unvaccinated. "I believe we've got to watch out for the erosion of freedom in America." A follow-up tweet on Thursday cemented that take. "Freedom is being stripped away one piece at a time until it is gone," he wrote. (Read more Elon Musk stories.) (Newser) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin joined the list Friday of political and military leaders around the world urging Russia to turn away from a fight at the Ukraine border. "There's no reason that this situation has to devolve into conflict," Austin said, per the Hill, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin still has a choice. "He can choose to deescalate; he can order his troops away. He can choose dialogue and diplomacy." Russia has been massing arms and troops at the Ukraine border, as well as deploying its navy in the Mediterranean and north Atlantic. Austin said that he doesn't think Putin has decided on his next move but that he has the strength now to attack Ukraine. All these warnings that an attack could happen at any minute don't thrill Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. One of his concerns is the effect on the nation's economy, the BBC reports. "There are signals even from respected leaders of states, they just say that tomorrow there will be war," Zelensky said at a press conference. "This is panichow much does it cost for our state?" He said the US, UK, and Australia made a mistake when they pulled the families of their diplomats out of Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said again on Friday that his country doesn't want war, per CNN. Zelensky said the biggest threat to Ukraine now is "the destabilization of the situation inside the country." A new threat to Russia, should it cross the border, surfaced Friday. The US is planning sanctions against large banks that could cause more problems for Russia than any economic penalties ever have, per the New York Times. Enforcing what's called extreme sanctions could prevent US financial institutions and Americans from doing business with Russian banks. That could suspend Russian banks' interactions with foreign financial institutions. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) Shamokin, PA (17872) Today Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. A new you in 2022! Exchange pumps up BE FIT Hub with latest health, wellness tips On 26 January 2022, the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO) participated in a hybrid event hosted by China Customs to celebrate the International Customs Day (ICD). The Vice-Minister Wang Lingjun of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) and other GACC representatives attended the celebration on site. Secretary General Mikuriya, Representatives from other Government bodies and Customs Attaches from nearly 30 countries and regions, as well as Chinese Customs officers from regional Customs districts joined the event virtually. In his remarks, Vice-Minister Wang Lingjun shared China Customs' progress in implementing Chinese President Xi Jinping's "Smart Customs, Smart Borders and Smart Connectivity" (3S) Initiative. He proposed that the global Customs community jointly builds Smart Customs through advanced technologies and innovative approaches, fosters Smart Borders through information sharing and mutual recognition, and achieves Smart Connectivity through closer cooperation with all stakeholders. Secretary General Mikuriya commended China Customs' achievements in implementing the 3S Initiative, suggesting that it is in line with the WCOs objectives of capitalizing on technology and innovation and ensuring connectivity at borders, and encouraged the international Customs community to work together to enhance data management and digital transformation, in accordance with the WCO theme for this year. The event included a panel discussion. Partners of several 3S pilot projects from China and seven other countries and regions shared their experience and views on how to further strengthen 3S cooperation among Customs and other stakeholders to boost economic and trade recovery. During the celebration, Vice-Minister Wang Lingjun awarded 21 Chinese Customs officers with the WCO Certificate of Merit for their exceptional service in promoting digital and smart development. Jenny Bell-Jones is chair emeritus of the Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This work represents her opinion and not that of the department. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa yesterday hailed the contributions of the citizens in the nation-building process, stressing that Bahrains future prosperity relies on the work of the Kingdoms citizens. His Royal Highness highlighted that citizens efforts contribute to the Kingdoms comprehensive development, led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The Deputy King said this during a meeting with Dr Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza and the Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs, Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, at Riffa Palace. During the meeting, which highlighted the importance of sustainable energy in supporting projects and attracting investment to the Kingdom, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa hailed the role played by Dr Mirza throughout his career in supporting projects and attracting investment to the Kingdom. Dr Mirza and Al Mubarak highlighted His Royal Highness commitment to supporting national development efforts. Also present were His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Chairman of the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club High Committee, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Concern rises among Bahrain parents as screen time soars for kids Concern rises among Bahrain parents as screen time soars for kids TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com At 8.15 am every weekday, Bahrain resident Aji Thomas nine-year-old son opens his laptop and signs in to Zoom to start the school day. For the next five hours, he is not supposed to switch off the camera and is only offered a recess time of ten minutes. Along with 45 classmates attending online classes, he is not allowed to eat or drink while on camera nor is he allowed to wear any dress other than uniform with the usual tie around the neck. It is really painful to watch my son struggling before the laptop, Thomas told The Daily Tribune. But there are not many options left. I want my son to attend offline classes. Since school buses are not running, there is hardly anything I can do. Headaches, eye pain or bloodshot eyes are no longer adult disorders after extensive online sessions. Even the children are facing similar health scenarios after being subjected to online classes for over one-and-a-half years now. Parents must ensure that their children are having their eyes protected amid this increasingly continuing online classes, said Dr Manoj Kurian Philip, Consultant Ophthalmologist at American Mission Hospital. Every child attending online classes must follow the 20-20- 20 rule; every 20 minutes spent using a screen; the child should turn his eyes at something that is 20 feet away for a total of 20 seconds. And this would make their eyes relaxed. But I dont know whether any parent is making their children regularly exercise this rule. Dr Manoj said that children can also use blue filter glasses to protect their eyes while attending online classes for longer hours. Increased screen time during the pandemic season is causing myopia progression among many children and the number of cases has been increasing. Both school authorities and parents must encourage outdoor activities intermittently to secure the eye health of children. Recent studies have also shown an increase in the cases of squint eyes among school children after the excessive use of digital screens. Speaking to The Daily Tribune, K Gopinath Menon, The New Indian School Bahrain Principal said school managements always opt for offline classes but there is no other option left in the existing scenario. Online classes are not by choice. It is something the pandemic situation has imposed on us. Gopinath said the teachers are aware of the struggle students are facing after being made to sit before the screens for longer hours. We give frequent breaks to students of lower classes. But for higher classes, we have limitations to offering frequent breaks as it would disrupt the momentum of classes. There are many students who switch off the screens after breaks. So, frequent breaks dont seem like the right solution to the suffering students face now, especially when we talk from a teachers perspective. We are offering breaks after two periods (one hour and 20 minutes) as per the generally established standards. The principal said he expected the number of students attending offline classes to rise. But unfortunately the number of students attending offline classes has remained stagnant between eight and 10 per cent. And I dont think it will improve in the near time as we see pandemic numbers increasing every day. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com A drug peddler has received a five-year jail term and a hefty BD3,000 fine for selling narcotics in Bahrain. The Criminal Court tried the accused, an Asian national, two others, who were also Asians by nationality. They received six months in prison and a BD100 fine each. The court also ordered the deportation of all of them after serving their prison terms. The arrests followed a tip-off the Ministry of Interior received informing that a person has kept unspecified amounts of narcotic substances for sale in the Kingdom. To bring the suspect to justice, police officers then planned an undercover operation. One of the undercover agents was assigned to buy some narcotic pills called Yaba worth BD 180 from the suspect. The agent managed to arrange a meeting with the suspect over the phone and recorded the conversation. Subsequently, officers in plain clothes accompanied the undercover agent to the agreed place. The accused came to the spot and handed over the agreed substances to the undercover officer, unsuspecting of the trap set. The suspect also photographed the money collected for his contacts. Police then tracked the accused with another person who was waiting for him. Meanwhile, Police confirmed the substance as Yaba through laboratory analysis and obtained an arrest warrant. Officer took the first and second accused in a raid. However, police officers retrieved nothing, except for the photograph of the money he clicked. The second suspect, during interrogation, admitted to receiving the narcotics from a third person. Just then, while the interrogation was ongoing, the third suspect called the second suspect on his phone without knowing about his arrest. Unaware of the turn of incidents, he asked the second suspect to meet and hand over the money. Police then decided to free the second suspect to trap the third. While the second suspect met the third, officers swooped on the suspects and took them into custody. The action took place as the third suspect was accepting the money from the second suspect. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Gandhi: His Engagement with Islam and the Arab World, a landmark Arabic-language book, authored by Abdulnabi Alshoala, focusing on the great Mahatma Gandhi and his impact on the Arab world, was launched yesterday in four translated versions English, Hindi, Malayalam and Urdu during a virtual event hosted via Zoom at the Isa Cultural Centre in Manama. The book, now in its third printing in Arabic, was launched in the presence of a sizeable audience, numbering several hundred people, tuned into the Zoom cast from Bahrain, India, Egypt and around the GCC Countries. Piyush Srivastava, the Indian Ambassador to Bahrain and Abdul Rahman Juma, the chairman of the Bahrain India Society -- who were both present in person and Dr Shobhana Radhakrishna, a noted, internationally-renowned Gandhi scholar, who appeared through a Zoom link, joined Alshoala at the launch. The event, moderated by Sara Al Buraik, a prominent Bahrain TV news anchor, was organized by the Bahrain India Society, which was founded by Alshoala. The launch of the book coincides with the anniversary of Indias Republic Day. Srivastava congratulated Alshoala on a brilliant and well-researched work on the life, thoughts, intellectual heritage and ideals of Gandhiji. It is only befitting, Srivastava continued, that the translated book has been launched in four languages today on the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day of India. It is also a tribute to the author, who is a distinguished intellectual, Gandhian scholar and a torch-bearer for strong bonds of friendship and partnership between India and the Kingdom of Bahrain. Juma, the Bahrain India Society chairman, said the society was honoured to be a platform for the multi-lingual launch of such a work of scholarly relevance as Alshoalas book. Alshoala said the book intended to both express his gratitude to India for the hospitality he received while a student and, also, to strengthen ties between India and Middle Eastern countries. A former Minister of Labour and Cabinet Minister of State, Alshoala is currently the chairman of Dar Albilad for Journalism, Publishing and Distribution and the founding chairman, and advisor to the board, of Alfanar Investment Holding. Alshoala also served on the Board of Directors of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Coming in French soon Alshoala announced that negotiations are underway to have the book published in the French language soon. A group of young people have rioted outside a police station in Japan's southwestern city of Okinawa. The riot was reportedly sparked by social media posts of an alleged assault by a police officer. A crowd started gathering near the police station around 11 p.m. on Thursday. Riot police were dispatched after some people threw stones, breaking the entrance windows, and banged on parked vehicles with sticks. The police warned those who had entered the premises to leave. The group had dispersed by around 4:30 a.m. on Friday. No one was injured. An officer on foot patrol and a motorcycle were in an accident in Okinawa City at around 1:15 a.m. on Thursday. Police say that the motorcyclist fled the scene. The fire department reports that the 17-year-old boy on a motorcycle called about five minutes later, saying he had been in an accident and had facial injuries. The boy's right eye was seriously injured and he was taken to a hospital. The police officer also sustained minor injuries. Social media posts said that a boy had lost his eyesight after being beaten by a police officer with a truncheon. DHAKA, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi government has formulated a new export policy with a target to facilitate receipts of annual 80 billion U.S. dollars by 2024. A host of incentives including low-interest loans under the new export policy has been planned to facilitate receipts of annual 80 billion U.S. dollars by the 2023-24 fiscal year (July 2023-June 2024). The new export policy was approved at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Wednesday. "The draft of Export Policy for fiscal 2021-22 to fiscal 2023-24 has been approved in light of the current world trade situation," Kamal said after the meeting. In line with the new policy, he said all required measures will be taken to bolster potential export sectors for further development. Priority sectors and special development sectors will be given special benefits including subsidies and tax benefits, the minister added. Bangladesh's previous export policy for fiscal 2018-19 to fiscal 2020-21 set an export target of 60 billion U.S. dollars. Bangladesh's total exports in the first half of the current 2021-22 fiscal year (July 2021-June 2022) reached nearly 25 billion U.S. dollars, up 28.41 percent year-on-year, according to the latest official data. Bangladesh set its export target in 2021-22 fiscal year at 43.5 billion U.S. dollars, including 35.14 billion dollars from ready-made garment products, which usually account for about 85 percent of country's annual shipment. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COVID-19 rates fell between 32 to 44 percent in Danbury area towns this week, but are still far higher than officials would like to see. Were headed in the right direction, but were not quite there yet, New Fairfield First Selectman Pat Del Monaco said at a Thursday Board of Selectmen meeting. Following a recent spike in infections due to the omicron variant, the states positivity rate dropped to below 10 percent on Friday. This followed data released Thursday that showed significant declines in the daily case rate per 100,000 people in Danbury area towns. The data covers the two-week period between Jan. 9 and Jan. 22. Cases in Redding dropped the most, going from 104.2 daily cases to 58 daily cases, according to the state data. Thats a 44.3 percent decline. In Danbury, the case rate fell 41.1 percent from 206.6 to 121.6 daily cases. This is still among the highest rates the city has ever had and is the worst rate in the area, trailed closely by New Milford, with 121 daily cases. After Redding, New Fairfield has the best case rate, going down 39.4 percent from 153.9 to 93.2 daily cases. But thats still too high, Del Monaco said. While thats wonderful, I want to remind everybody that it is not time to let your guard down, she said. Although our numbers are going down, the test positivity rate (in New Fairfield) is still higher than its ever been. As of Thursday, Del Monaco said New Fairfield had about 60 active COVID cases compared to 200 earlier this month. Given the towns COVID numbers, there will continue to be no in-person programs at the library and senior center programs. Ive had a lot of questions about programs in our library and the senior center, and the health director just does not feel that we are there yet, Del Monaco said. Were hoping that by maybe the second week of February well be able to get a little bit back to normal, she said, but for now were waiting for that test positivity rate to come down a little further. Del Monaco said residents should continue to wear high quality masks in public settings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends fully vaccinated individuals to wear masks indoors in public places with substantial or high transmission, and those who are not fully vaccinated to continue to take all precautions including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider. Testing and vaccinations Demand for COVID testing was high around the holidays, but is not as severe. This is in part because the state shipped thousands of at-home COVID test kits to municipalities and schools. Households may also order at-home test kits from the federal government online. In New Fairfield, the town distributed about 1,600 at-home COVID test kits to community members earlier this month and set aside 200 kits for local first responders, Del Monaco said. She expects to get more. More Information COVID rates by town: Bethel: 105.7 Brookfield: 115.3 Danbury: 121.6 New Fairfield: 93.2 Newtown: 94 New Milford: 121 Redding: 58 Ridgefield: 79.8 *Numbers reflect the average daily cases per 100,000 people between Jan. 9 and Jan. 22, according to state data released Thursday. See More Collapse The state of Connecticut continues to provide allocations, she said. We will be receiving additional kits for vulnerable populations, including our schools, and we will distribute them as specified by the state. Disabled residents who need help obtaining test kits can call the Selectmans Office at 203-312-5600. In addition to at-home kit distributions, Del Monaco said the town is looking to set up a local walk-up PCR testing site. Similar to the Griffin Hospital vaccination van that comes to town, she said the PCR testing would be provided free to residents and at no cost to the town. Although a facility has not yet been identified, Del Monaco said the hope is to have local PCR testing available by mid-February. There are no COVID testing sites in New Fairfield, according to 2-1-1 of Connecticut, which shows the closest one being DOCS Urgent Care in Danburys North Street Shopping Center on Padanaram Road. Despite efforts to get more residents vaccinated by having Griffin Hospitals mobile vaccine van come to town, New Fairfield continues to have one of the lowest vaccination rates in the area. As of Thursday, 80 percent of all eligible New Fairfielders had received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, according to the state Department of Public Health. The town of Sherman had the lowest rate in the area at 75 percent, while Washington had the highest at nearly 95 percent. Contributed photo For so many, 2021 proved to be yet another trying year. Still, you found a way to support our neighbors who needed a hand up. As we embark on a new, hopefully brighter year, I want to express United Way of Western Connecticuts gratitude to the News-Times and the greater Danbury community for their ongoing generosity and commitment to lifting others up, even in the darkest of times. There are countless examples of your generosity throughout 2021, however let me share just a few that stood out. Thanks to you, every case for the 2021 Giving Fund was successfully funded. In total, we raised $45,000 to make the holiday brighter for 38 families. For Alexandra, it meant the opportunity to settle her family in a new apartment after surviving domestic abuse. For Vilma, it was the ability to breathe easier and make Januarys rent despite the unexpected loss of her husband. For Harold, who is permanently disabled from a job-related injury, it allowed his family a small break from the stress of working multiple jobs. Every gift, big or small, had an enormous impact on someones life and your generosity made that possible. Thank you to the News-Times for their ongoing partnership on this initiative. Connecticuts largest electricity provider is predicting up to 125,000 outages during the noreaster that is expected to bring heavy snowfall and blizzard-like conditions starting Friday night. The utility plans to declare a Level 5 emergency at midnight, meaning up to 125,000 customers could lose power for one to three days. The Eversource Energy Center at the University of Connecticut said earlier it was predicting between 50,000 and 100,000 customers could lose power during the storm, which weather experts say could produce a bomb cyclone and wind gusts up to 60 mph. That outage range was based on an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 trouble spots that may occur as the storm is forecast to strike with strong wind and snowfall of several inches per hour. Each trouble spot on average produces around 50 outages, according to the center. Ahead of the storm, Gov. Ned Lamont on Friday announced a ban on tractor trailer trucks from all limited access highways starting at 6 a.m. Saturday. Were ready for what could be a really rough storm, Lamont said, speaking Friday at a state Department of Transportation maintenance garage in Wethersfield. The governor said the DOT has more than 600 plows ready to clear roads. However, the agency is still experiencing a 30 percent staffing shortage due to vacancies and 12 COVID-19 absences, DOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti said. The agency has 700 employees responding to the storm and will be bring in additional contractors to assist. Giulietti said crews can handle snowfall of up to 1 inch per hour, but the latest forecast calls for rates up to 3 or 5 inches per hour. Giulietti and Lamont urged residents to stay off the roads during the storm. Metro-North rail lines will operate on limited service while Amtrak will suspend service after its last trains Friday night. Steve Sullivan, Eversource president of Connecticut Electric Operations, said the company began hiring workers from out of state on Monday who started arriving Wednesday. The bulk of workers have already been positioned in eastern Connecticut, which is expected to get hit the hardest. But Sullivan said workers would be moved around as needed. COVID has not resulted in any significant staffing shortages for the storm, Sullivan said. High winds, especially in southeastern Connecticut, have the potential to bring down trees and limbs, resulting in power outages, Sullivan said. On the plus side, it looks like its going to be dry snow, and dry snow should cause less damage to the trees, he said. Its the trees that really cause damage to our system. But other forecasts call for wet snow, potentially exacerbating outages. Mark Wysocki, a senior lecturer at Cornell University and New York state climatologist, said the storm could produce a wide area outage not only for Connecticut, but for parts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and south into New York City. This will be a dangerous situation for power outages for two reasons, he said. A very long period of gusty wind, especially along the coast, coupled with wet snow that adds a lot of wet snow that could bring down trees and power lines with them. With the amount of snow left behind, thats going to impede the ability for the utility workers to get in there and fix things real fast, he added. In preparation of the storm, United Illuminating, which serves more than 340,000 customers in Connecticut, said it has increased its work crews by 50 percent. This storm is going to bring a lot of snow and strong winds. Its crucial everyone have a plan to stay safe and stay warm, said Frank Reynolds, UIs president and CEO. Customers should prepare for the possibility of weather-related outages and have a plan in case of an extended loss of service, UI added. Hospitals, already under strain from the pandemic, are also preparing for the storm. During a virtual press conference Friday morning, Hartford HealthCare officials said the organization would continue to provide care during the storm, but ambulatory services may be affected. Ahead of the storm, the organization has closed COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites, as well as some other services. Patrick Turek, the organizations system director for emergency management, said the hospital systems work crews are prepared for the storm. You know weve used the term so many times, but our colleagues really are heroes, he said. Some will come in eight hours before their shift to make sure they arrive on time, and even after storm passes us some colleagues may actually remain in the hospitals to help other colleagues coming in. ROME, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Italy's lawmakers and regional representatives, also known as the Grand Electors, held and failed a fourth attempt on Thursday to elect the country's 13th president. The members of Parliament's both houses plus 58 representatives of the regional governments have been voting for four days now to elect the successor to 80-year-old Sergio Mattarella, whose seven-year term ends on Feb. 3. The threshold needed for election was lowered on Thursday from two-thirds (absolute) majority support in the first three election rounds to a simple majority of 505 votes. Media and commentators had already predicted the outcome of the fourth round as the major parties failed to reach a consensus on a single candidate. Furthermore, 441 electors abstained on Thursday -- most of them believed to be from the center-right coalition, 261 cast blank ballots and 166 voted for outgoing President Mattarella, who thus received the largest number of votes to date. Italy's presidents serve a seven-year term. Mattarella has made clear that he does not want a second term. Meanwhile, representatives of the two main blocs in Parliament -- the center-left and the center-right -- continued their intense negotiations, mostly behind closed doors. As of Thursday, the names of three possible contenders were floated in the media: Pier Ferdinando Casini, former speaker of the lower house of Parliament; Elisabetta Belloni, director general of The Department of Information Security (DIS); and current Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Draghi is reportedly seen as a major contender. At the same time, several parties have voiced concerns that his election as president might create a leadership vacuum in the government. In Italy, the president's role is largely ceremonial and is usually chosen among figures perceived as non-partisan and with broad political and constitutional knowledge. However, the president's role becomes crucial in case of political crises, since he or she is tasked with solving major deadlocks between the government and Parliament. WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2022 /CNW/ - Today, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau and the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, Member of Parliament for Cardigan, met with the United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in Washington, where Secretary Vilsack provided clear direction to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to proceed expeditiously with the risk analysis of exporting PEI table stock potatoes to Puerto Rico and the continental U.S. During the meeting, Ministers Bibeau and MacAulay underscored the importance of restoring market access for PEI potatoes for Canada and Islanders, while also emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The Ministers expressed Canada's unwavering confidence that the trade of table stock potatoes is safe with the current risk mitigation measures in place, such as ensuring potatoes are: sourced from non-restricted fields, washed, graded, and treated with a sprout inhibitor. Secretary Vilsack expressed understanding for the challenges, and reaffirmed the importance of a science-based approach in the resolution of this matter. The Ministers advocated for the U.S. to prioritize restoring trade of table stock potatoes as a first step, in particular to Puerto Rico, as well as the continental U.S., given that this type of potato has a negligible risk of transmitting potato wart. Table stock potatoes also represent the biggest proportion of PEI's exports of fresh potatoes to the U.S. Minister Bibeau also highlighted the extensive engagement between the two countries to resolve this issue, and spoke about the ongoing efforts by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to provide the USDA with the scientific data and information they require. The Secretary provided assurance that the information provided to the USDA will be reviewed expeditiously. Secretary Vilsack also confirmed that a decision on Puerto Rico will be rendered in under two weeks. Ministers Bibeau and MacAulay and Secretary Vilsack agreed to remain closely engaged on the matter of PEI potatoes. Additionally, Minister Bibeau and Secretary Vilsack took the opportunity to underscore the importance of working collaboratively to address climate change and environmental sustainability in the agriculture sector, and discussed dairy tariff rate quotas (TRQs). They committed to working together to tackle supply chain challenges, with a focus on transportation and critical infrastructure. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada For further information: Marianne Dandurand, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, [email protected], 343-541-9229; Media Relations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 1-866-345-7972, [email protected] Indias BrahMos Aerospace and the Philippines are scheduled to ink an agreement on Friday for the Philippine Marines to buy three batteries of the BrahMos cruise missile for roughly $375 million, as per government sources. According to the sources, the agreement would be signed during a ceremony in Quezon City hosted by the Philippines Department of National Defense. Delfin Lorenzana, the Philippine defence secretary, will be among those in attendance. The Philippines Navy accepted an Indian BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited proposal costing USD 374.9 million earlier this month on 14th January to deliver Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile systems. The contract award announcement was also posted on the Philippine governments Department of Defense website. As part of the procurement process, a delegation from the Philippine Navy visited the BrahMos Aerospace production facility in Hyderabad in December. Lorenzana has stated that the Philippine Marines Coastal Defensive Regiment will be the major user of this new strategic defence capacity of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The BrahMos export order would be the countrys largest in this industry, and it is likely to push India into the ranks of arms exporter countries since further orders for the missile are predicted from other friendly countries as well. The agreement with the Philippines might pave the way for more sales of the BrahMos which has a range of 290 kilometers and can carry a 200-kg bomb to other Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia, which have been in discussions for the weapon system for several years. New York governor Kathy Hochul responded appropriately, saying, "India adopting its constitution has changed the world for the better." A day after Hamid Ansari made statements at the IAMC event condemning Indian democracy, New York governor Kathy Hochul responded appropriately, saying, India adopting its constitution has changed the world for the better. Her fellow Congressmen, on the other hand, disagreed with her and expressed their concerns about Indias human rights condition. These are two quite different perspectives from members of the same political party. According to Hamid Ansari, the people of the nation have seen the development of tendencies and practices in recent years that contradict the well-established premise of civic nationalism and substitute a new and fictional practice of cultural nationalism. He added that the Indian democracy aims to portray an electoral majority in the disguise of a religious majority and monopolized political power, pointing out that about 20% of Indians are religious minorities. It aspires to separate individuals based on their religious beliefs, foster intolerance, infer otherness, and create a sense of unease and uneasiness. Ansari went on to say that these tendencies should be challenged both legally and politically. Meanwhile, Hamid Ansaris anti-national statements on India drew a sharp backlash from numerous parties, as well as the ruling BJP. On the occasion of 73rd Republic Day, the former VP participated in a congressional briefing organized by the Indian American Muslim Council on the topic (IAMC) Protecting Indias Pluralist Constitution. Notably, the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) was created in 2002 in the aftermath of the Gujarat riots, and it advertises itself as the largest advocacy organisation of Indian Muslims in the United States. Since its creation, one of its key aims has been to punish Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his claimed role in the riots and to raise global awareness of so-called human rights crimes against Muslims in Gujarat. According to Financial Times, the new set of sanctions is being developed with the US support, and will be aimed at curtailing financing and technology transfer for future gas projects. The European Union and the United Kingdom are preparing sanctions against new Russian gas projects that will be imposed in case of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, media reported. According to Financial Times, the new set of sanctions is being developed with the US support, and will be aimed at curtailing financing and technology transfer for future gas projects. If introduced, these sanctions will affect European giants such as BP, Total and Shell which are investing in the Russian energy sector. In the past few months, the West and Ukraine have accused Russia of concentrating troops near the Ukrainian border in alleged preparation for an invasion. Russia has repeatedly said that it has no intention of invading Ukraine, while stressing that it has the right to move forces within its own territory. Dr. Peter Hotez, a Texas doctor who has co-developed a low-cost COVID vaccine, credits part of his interest in science to reading at a Connecticut library as a child. I used to have my father drive me to the big public library in Hartford because I needed I needed more books, said Hotez, the pediatrician and dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. The Connecticut native was one of the leaders behind the low-cost COVID-19 vaccine developed by Texas Childrens Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. Unlike the MRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, or the one produced by Johnson & Johnson, which uses a modified adenovirus, CORBEVAX is a recombinant protein vaccine. The technology has been around since the 1970s, when it was used to develop a vaccine against hepatitis B. The technique involved loading the genetic code for the viral protein into yeast cells. It's made through microbial fermentation of yeast, Hotez said Thursday during a virtual news conference hosted by Hartford HealthCare. And its a vegan vaccine, he added. No human or animal cells or animal proteins. Hotez has appeared as a regular commentator on the pandemic in Houston, where he and his wife live. He has emerged as an outspoken proponent of vaccines, authoring a book about his experiences raising his daughter Rachel, who has autism, and its origins in fetal brain development not vaccines, as some in the anti-vaccine movement have claimed. Hotez said the book, released in 2018, made him a target of the anti-vaccine movement. I've also become an expert, therefore, not only at the vaccine science, but the anti-science, the 1980 Yale University graduate said. The vaccine was also built on Baylor College of Medicines previous work developing two vaccines using the same technology against the coronaviruses that caused SARS and MERS. In 2020 when the coronavirus outbreak started, we already knew exactly what to do in that lab, said Maria Elena Botazzi, who co-directs the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Childrens Hospital alongside Hotez. To be honest, in three months we were able to create a prototype of a COVID-19 vaccine, which now is going to be deployed in billions of doses around the world, she said in a video produced by the hospital announcing the vaccine. News of the development came as Connecticut, along with the rest of the country, saw a rapid spike in cases associated with the omicron variant. Hotez noted that surge, which first emerged in South Africa, and an earlier one caused by the delta variant that was first detected in India, both came from nations with low vaccination rates. That underscores the need for a vaccine for the worlds poorest countries, he argued. Definitely the only way we're going to get around this is by vaccinating the global population, he said. In the Northeast, including Connecticut, cases and hospitalizations have fallen as the surge appears to be subsiding. In trials involving 3,000 participants, the vaccine was shown to be more than 90 percent effective against symptomatic infection of the original strain of the virus that causes COVID-19, and more than 80 percent effective against the delta variant. None of the participants in the trials had serious side effects from the vaccine, according to Texas Childrens hospital. Last month, the CORBEVAX vaccine was granted emergency-use authorization in India, where it will be manufactured by Biological E. Limited, a pharmaceutical company based in Hyderabad. The vaccines development was aided by money from private donors we were kind of cut out of Operation Warp Speed, Hotez said, referring to the Trump administrations effort to fund the development of vaccine in record time. One of the donors was Titos Vodka, a Texas company that gave the team $1 million, and also produced and donated hand sanitizer during the pandemic. The technology to make the vaccine locally is already available in low-income nations such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, India and Brazil, Hotez said. So if you're going to make a vaccine for the world that can be made locally, this is the technology to do that, he said. Hotez said the vaccine should cost around $2 to $3 per-dose making it cheaper than the cost of AstraZenecas vaccine at around $3.16 to $7, and much less expensive than the price the U.S. and European governments paid for the MRNA vaccines. He also sees promise for the vaccines use in children, because, he said, the same type of shots have been given to infants for decades in the form of the hepatitis B vaccine. While the vaccine wasnt originally developed for use in the United States, Hotez said he and Botazzi receive around a dozen emails a day asking if it will become available here. Some of the messages are from skeptics who do not want to take an MRNA vaccine, he said. So for now, it's more of a theoretical idea, Hotez said. I think it could find a use in the U.S., especially among kids, I think could help close the vaccine hesitancy gap. Correction: This article has been updated to reflect Titos Vodka produced and donated hand sanitizer. NEW HAVEN Addie Kimbrough, a community garden organizer in Newhallville, said when an elderly neighbor received a call from United Illuminating about an assistance program to aid with utility costs, she was convinced it was a scam. However, that was not the case. Through an overall increase in federal spending as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program program received an infusion of cash. The program subsidizes heating and energy cooling costs and weatherization and energy-related home repairs for eligible low-income households. I live in Newhallville, and this is coming at the right time, said Kimbrough. Kimbrough, as well as leaders of various nonprofit agencies providing assistance to low-income Connecticut residents, met with U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy Thursday afternoon at Community Action Agencys Whalley Avenue office to share feedback on the issues their constituents are facing. Dana Barcellos-Allen, marketing and development director of Operation Fuel, said she and her colleagues worry about May, when a state program that delays utility shut-offs based on economic hardship ends. There were COVID protections, and people have been protected. Now, people may have high bills, she said. Federal assistance in ameliorating the issue for low-income families would be crucial to people surviving cold weather, she said. Some families, she said, opt not to use heat at all as they cant afford it. Their budgets just cant handle another degree higher, she said. CAA employees described for Murphy how means testing programs impact some of their clients. The decision to tie assistance to eligibility for other federal programs such as SNAP has been beneficial, said Deb Polun, executive director of the Connecticut Association for Community Action. Amos Smith, president and CEO of CAA, said nonprofits are in a tenuous position. He said funding can be a challenge, and greater community need requires more funding. Barcellos-Allen said some households are finding the pandemic to be a strain on their utilities; having children home washing their hands and flushing the toilet at home instead of at school can make a difference for families, she said. The additional funds have kept families afloat in Connecticut, Polun said. The extra funds that have come in have been incredibly useful. We need the funds. Its cold and energy is expensive, she said. The state has been allocated $159.9 million in LIHEAP funding to provide energy cost assistance to low-income families. Murphy promised he would make the case to his Congressional colleagues that Connecticut residents need a continuation of the benefits theyve received as the next appropriation bill is prepared. I think were going to have to explain the benefit of some of the changes weve made, he said. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW HAVEN As a significant snowstorm readied to bear down on the region, officials in New Haven and nearby communities warned residents to stay off the roads, if it all possible, and instituted parking bans to ease efforts to clear the streets. By Friday evening, forecasts showed the area could expect more than a foot of snow between late Friday and Saturday night, with parts of the state looking at possible blizzard conditions with high, damaging winds. In New Haven, Mayor Justin Elicker asked residents to be patient as crews address the snowfall, noting the process is time-consuming. It takes us a lot of time to clear the streets. We want to clear the major arteries first; our priority is that emergency vehicles can get to peoples homes. We come back to focus on smaller streets, residential areas. We come back again to push back the snow, said Elicker. But there are many, many, many roads in the city. ... We do our best to cover as much as possible as quickly as possible. Our teams are going to be working around the clock. Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana said the storm would be a major event for the City of New Haven, and asked residents to stay off the road Saturday. Please dont drive unless you really have to if youre an essential employee, or youre if going to bring your wife to the hospital because shes having a baby. Its important that we keep people off the road, said Fontana. With everything, if youre stranded in your car, were going to have a hard time getting to you under those conditions. Fontana said it could take days for crews to clear city streets. Bear with us. This is all hands on, said Fontana, noting that residents in need can call the citys Emergency Operations Center at 203-946-8221. Elicker said said a citywide parking ban was to go into effect at 10 p.m. Friday, which would prohibit residents from parking on the odd side of residential streets, as well as downtown and on major arterial routes. Sandeep Aysola, head of the Transportation, Traffic & Parking Department for the city, said residents seeking a place to stash their vehicles could park in Yale lots, school parking lots, city parking garages at a reduced rate of three dollars per day, Elicker noted and city parking authority lots. Among other snow-related steps, Elicker noted that a shelter had been opened at the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen at 266 State St. and that staffers from the Livable City Initiative would be out after the precipitation to check whether residents had cleared the sidewalks in front of their domiciles appropriately, as is required in the city. Chief Administrative Officer Regina Rush-Kittle said off-days for police officers had been canceled in an effort to ensure shifts are fully covered. Fire apparatus had been strategically placed around the city, she said, to speed any necessary response and aid utility crews. The New Haven Free Public Library would be closed Saturday, Elicker said. Other municipalities around the region issued parking bans and closed some governmental buildings ahead of the storm. In Hamden, Mayor Lauren Garrett said a ban on parking on the odd-numbered side of streets was to begin at 8 p.m. Friday until further notice. Please stay off of the roads if possible to allow for cleanup and emergency vehicles, said Garrett in an email. North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda said plow drivers would hit the roads by the early morning hours and work throughout Saturday to try to keep the streets passable. All of our snow plows are lined up and ready to go, all fully-equipped with salt to de-ice and help treat the roads, he said Friday evening. We anticipate that sometime between 11 this evening and midnight, the snow will start picking up. The town was expected to have six inches of snow on the ground by 7 a.m. Saturday, Freda said. We encourage residents to stay home unless, of course, its a work day for them and they have to go to work, he said. The North Haven Police Department announced on Facebook that a parking ban was in effect from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Sunday. In Ansonia, police Lt. Patrick Lynch said a parking ban was in effect from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday, noting residents can park in city lots at Nolan Field, Ansonia Middle School and Ansonia High School, the former police station at 2 Elm St., municipal lots on East Main Street, West Main Street and Main Street, Prendergast School and Mead School. In East Haven, police said on Facebook that a snow emergency had been declared, and asked residents to utilize off street parking when the storm begins. We will be aggressively enforcing the parking ban which will carry a $100.00 penalty if cars are left on the street after a Snow Emergency is declared, said police. Our goal is not to ticket anyone, but we do want to make our hard working Public Works employees jobs easier. Help us help them and get those cars off the street as early as possible. In West Haven, Mayor Nancy Rossi also declared a snow emergency, banning all on-street parking in the community from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Sunday. Police will enforce the emergency order and tag and tow all vehicles violating the mandatory parking ban at the owners expense. Violators will receive a $100 fine, per the Severe Weather parking ordinance under Chapter 188 of the West Haven Code, police said on Facebook. Residents can stow their cars in all school lots, police said, along with a series of other locations around the city. For up-to-date information on the storm, visit nhregister.com. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com Military aid supplies provided by the US to Ukraine (file photo) By Lin Yuan The relation between Ukraine and Russia has worsened at a quicker pace recently with both countries sending massive forces to the border. The US-led western countries claimed Russia might invade Ukraine, but NATO members have failed to reach a united stance on the issue, which exposes the blocs deep-seated conflicts. A more heated struggle around the Ukraine situation may be on the horizon among the relevant parties. For one thing, its hard for the US to control the Ukraine situation. Although US top officials have kept talking tough to Russia lately, US Secretary of State Blinken made it clear that it was still too early for the US to impose an immediate sanction on Russia. Biden previously said he wouldnt assign American troops to Ukraine. If a NATO ally launches an attack according to Article 5 collective defense of the NATO Treaty, the US bears a moral and legal obligation to it, but such obligation doesnt apply to Ukraine. Analysts said if the situation in Ukraine keeps deteriorating, its not impossible that the US might repeat the Kabul moment and go back on its defense commitment to Ukraine at the critical juncture. Second, its hard for Europe to form a united front. At present, Germany and France hope to negotiate the Russia-Ukraine conflict in a Normandy style. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Berlin is aware of Russias demand for a security guarantee and is ready to have a dialogue on a joint agreement. Other countries, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, hope to see Ukraines defense capability continuously intensified in order to effectively cope with military threats from Moscow. The Guardian commented that although all 27 EU members threatened Russia with serious economic and diplomatic consequences if it took invasive actions, they were divided over the conditions and forms of sanctions, and the rift among European countries regarding the Ukraine issue might widen further. Third, its hard to avoid a conflict. Western media generally believed that a massive military action by Russia against Ukraine is unlikely given the mediation by various parties, but small-scale, low-intensity military actions cannot be excluded as Ukraine has been making frequent overtures to the West recently while provoking Russia. Their movements are worth close monitoring. MONTEVIDEO, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Uruguayan postal service on Thursday launched a commemorative "Year of the Tiger" stamp, which marks the ninth consecutive year of its Chinese zodiac series. "We wish the Chinese people peace and love," Uruguayan postal service director Jorge Pozzi told a presentation ceremony held here. The Chinese calendar has sparked "a lot of empathy" in recent years among Uruguayans who "collect the (Chinese zodiac) stamps," the official told Xinhua. Issuing the stamp that is welcomed by stamp collectors helps "strengthen the ties between the Chinese and Uruguayan people," he said. Chinese Ambassador to Uruguay Wang Gang described the series as "a great example of the traditional friendship between China and Uruguay." Noting the Uruguayan postal service's efforts for cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries, Wang said "We hope that this Year of the Tiger, which is the symbol of courage and strength, will help us take giant steps forward in all areas." CT State Police / Contributed SHELTON State police found two unidentified people dead in an overturned car near Shelton Thursday morning, but are unsure when the crash occurred. State Police Trooper First Class Sarah Salerno said units from Troop I barracks responded to a report of a suspicious incident in the area of the Old Stratford Road on-ramp to Route 8 North in Shelton around 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Bill aims to erase 'duty to retreat' in New York law ALBANY: Senator says state "has become a much more dangerous place" as a result of changes to the bail law. ZHOUQU, Gansu, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Zhouqu County in northwest China's Gansu Province is prone to be hit by geological disasters. To ensure people's safety, a relocation project was launched in June last year to move residents who are facing dangers posed by possible natural disasters to a new district in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu. So far, more than 3,000 people have moved to the relocation site. As the Spring Festival is approaching, the new arrivals will celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at their new homes for the first time. The relocation project plans to relocate 42,401 people in two batches. The first batch will be completed in three years, with the aim of relocating 12,415 people. Produced by Xinhua Global Service LOCKPORT The trial of the suspect accused of the grisly dismemberment murder of Terri Lynn Bills has been delayed indefinitely. Falls Police detectives are investigating a shooting in the parking lot of a gas station and mini-mart at the corner of 10th Street and Pine Avenue. (Photo by RobShots) Arka Boh lived in Thailand for his first nine years before coming to America to live in Buffalo. Boh scored highly on the civil service test in Lockport and put himself through the Police Academy. If all should go well in the second phase of the hiring process, he will be a Lockport Police officer, the first Burmese-American to hold such a position in Niagara County. (Photography by Benjamin Joe) Niagara Falls, NY (14301) Today A few clouds. Low 39F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 39F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has opened up on a conflict of choice between Bola Tinubu, the National ... Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has opened up on a conflict of choice between Bola Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Igbokwe said the APC would decide who would emerge as its flagbearer in the 2023 presidential election. The Special Adviser for Drainage and Water Resources to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, made the comments while appearing on Arise TVs Morning Programme. He, however, vowed to vote Tinubu if the national leader of the APC clinches the partys presidential candidate. Asked if there will not be a conflict of choice between Osinbajo and Tinubus followers, Igbokwe said, It is the party that will decide, we will go to the national convention, whoever emerges, well support that person because only one candidate will be fielded by the APC; it can be Asiwaju (Tinubu), it can be Osinbajo, it can be Umahi but as I speak to you now, my voter card is in my pocket and I am going to use it to vote for Asiwaju if he wins the primary. Tinubu, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, and Orji Uzor Kalu; Senate Chief Whip has all declared their intention to run for President in 2023. However, Osinbajo is yet to disclose his decision as far as the 2023 Presidential election is concerned. Bola Tinubu, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has travelled out of the country after weeks of consultation with stakehold... Bola Tinubu, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has travelled out of the country after weeks of consultation with stakeholders in the country over his 2023 presidential ambition. TheCable reports that a source in the former governors camp confirmed on Friday, that Tinubu travelled to London, the United Kingdom, to see his family. Other sources said the APC chieftain travelled out of the country to rest and see his doctors. This is coming less than four months after Tinubu returned to Nigeria from a three-month medical trip to the UK where he was said to have undergone knee surgery and rigorous post-surgery physiotherapy. A month after, he visited Orji Uzor Kalu, chief whip of the senate, at his residence in the federal capital territory (FCT) where they had a closed-door meeting. The former Lagos governor recently visited Oyo state over the deaths of Jimoh Oyewumi, the Soun of Ogbomoso; Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and Alao-Akala, former governor of Oyo. He also met with Seyi Makinde, the state governor, in Ibadan. On January 20, he also paid a visit to Minna, Niger state capital, to consult Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), former military head of state, and receive his prayers. Tinubu was, however, absent at the formal inauguration of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (ABAT) movements working committees in Lagos on Thursday. Speaking during the event, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, described the APC chieftain as the most qualified successor and marketable choice for the 2023 presidency. Earlier in the month, Tinubu visited President Muhammadu Buhari where he formally announced his intention to contest for the 2023 presidency. The former governor of Lagos described his bid to vie for the presidency in the next elections as a lifelong ambition. Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has hailed Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over Wednesdays primary election of the Peoples Dem... Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has hailed Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, over Wednesdays primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. The Ekiti State governorship primary election produced Bisi Kolawole as partys flagbearer for the June 18 poll. Fayose thanked PDP aspirants, members and supporters for their conduct during the exercise. In a statement by spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said the Oyo helmsman proved to be a man of his words and he deserved to be appreciated. By ensuring a level playing ground before and during the primary election, Governor Makinde has further earned my respect, he noted. Fayose urged him to support Ekiti PDP to win the election so that his position as the only governor in the South-West will be further strengthened. The politician further commended former governor, Segun Oni for his exemplary display of the spirit of sportsmanship. He advised that whatever happened before and during the primary be allowed to slide as no group can win an election alone. All stakeholders should rest assured of their rightful place in the new arrangement, Fayose said. President Muhammadu Buhari says the federal government is working to ensure that peace returns to Zamfara in the shortest possible time.... President Muhammadu Buhari says the federal government is working to ensure that peace returns to Zamfara in the shortest possible time. Buharis scheduled visit to the state on Thursday was cancelled due to bad weather. According to Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, the president said he would reschedule the visit for next week, while a date would be communicated later. Speaking with the people of Zamfara through a television broadcast on Thursday evening, Buhari said he was pained about being unable to make it to the state. According to a statement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, the president added that he has directed security agencies to sustain operations against bandits in the state. It pains me that I can no longer be with you today as I had planned. I had just finished what I came to do in Sokoto at the BUA cement facility and was looking forward to meeting you, he said. I have been told that the trip cannot hold anymore because of bad weather which has made it impossible for my helicopter to fly to Gusau from Sokoto. I understand how you feel about this development but I know that you will agree with me that Allah knows best. I particularly sympathise with your governor, Bello Matawalle, and his cabinet who have put everything in place to make the visit a successful one. I look forward to a more weather-friendly period when I will visit. I am directing our security agencies to sustain the onslaught against terrorists, restrict cross-boundary infiltration and all unauthorised access to the goldmines in the state. The Federal Government and the Zamfara State Government are working to ensure that peace returns to all parts of the State in the shortest possible time and we expect all citizens to cooperate with, and support in all ways, the Armed Forces and other security agencies. The lawmaker representing the Benue South Senatorial District, Abah Moro, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, over... The lawmaker representing the Benue South Senatorial District, Abah Moro, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, over the killing of one Shedrack Ochoche who was allegedly tortured to death by some police officers in Abuja. Shedrach, a former worker at a Chinese restaurant in the Jahi area of Abuja, was accused of stealing the car battery of his ex-boss, a Chinese woman popularly known as Madam Pimpim. A family member of the deceased, Napoleon Otache, said the allegation came five days after he resigned from his job because he was owed for three months. Outraged by the incident, many Nigerians on social media have demanded justice for the victim. Moro, who vowed that there must be justice for late Ochoche asked the Nigeria Police Force to come out with a clear explanation of the controversy surrounding the death of Ochoche. Read Also Recruitment: Screening of police constables begins February 1 FPRO Lagos gets new police commissioner as Odumosu bows out Police CSP deployed to Magodo by Malami, IGP defies Sanwo-Olu openly The petition read in part, To ensure that justice is truly gotten for Shedrack Ochoche, I, today submitted a petition to the Inspector General Of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, over the gruesome murder of the young man. I also copied the Executive Secretary of the Human Rights Commission. Like I prayed in my petition to the Senate over the sad incident, Im requesting that the IGP and Human Rights Commission ensure that, The Nigeria Police Force comes up with an explanation as to why they murdered Mr Shedrack Ochoche over a frivolous allegation, which was baseless and without proof. Late Ochoche never confessed to the stealing of any battery and was not charged to or arraigned in any Court of competent jurisdiction but tortured to death over a mere allegation. To ensure that the men of the Nigeria Police Force who tortured and killed young Ochoche are identified and brought to book. Ensure the Nigeria Police Force takes full responsibility for the young struggling family Ochoche left behind. TOKYO, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- One hostage died and another one remained unconscious in the hospital after the Japanese police arrested a 66-year-old man in a standoff near Tokyo on Friday morning. The man attacked three visiting medical workers and shot one of them dead in an 11-hour standoff that started at around 9:00 p.m. local time on Thursday evening until the small hours of Friday morning. A 44-year-old male doctor, thought to be the assailant's primary physician, was found by police with no vital signs and later died at the hospital. The medical workers arrived at the man's home in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, to offer their support and condolences following a death in the man's family. According to local reports, the assailant, named Hiroshi Watanabe, was armed with what has been described as a hunting gun. One of the medical workers, a 41-year-old physiotherapist who was shot in the abdomen by Watanabe, remains unconscious, local reports said. Watanabe hospitalized another medical worker by spraying him with tear gas, police said. Around 110 local residents were evacuated, and elementary and junior high schools in the area will remain closed on Friday. The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed optimism that his predicament in the ongoing trial by the Federal ... The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed optimism that his predicament in the ongoing trial by the Federal Government over alleged terrorism would last for a while. He also told all his followers to embrace the peace initiatives and should not be distracted. Kanus lawyer and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said these in a statement issued on Friday titled: Update on our routine visit to our indefatigable client Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the Headquarters of the Department of State Services, Abuja, being anuary 28 2022. He said, Our visit to our indefatigable client Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, remains positive as our legal strategies were discussed, and he is in firm spirit. Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu deeply appeals to Umu Chineke to avail themselves of the peace initiative presently ongoing and not to be distracted anymore. He further implored all Umu Chineke to keep their eyes on the ball because enemies are struggling in vain to entrench disharmony. Onyendu reiterates that the ongoing interventions towards peaceful coexistence must be respected, encouraged and abided by. His call for unity among the entire Umu Chineke at all levels, who believe in his peaceful message cannot be overemphasised. Further, Onyendu extends his warm regards to millions of his fans and followers who have equally remained consistently resolute and focused. He is convinced that the present situation will only last a while and he will emerge victorious. He also used the opportunity to offer special prayers for me in commemoration of my birthday, as he believed most strongly that the future is crystal bright and holds much good tidings. Consistent with our usual request, we crave for your unrelentless prayers and supplications to the Almighty Chukwuokike Abiama. It will surely end in praises. Thank you all, Umu Chineke and remain blessed. The founder of Salvation Ministry, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has cursed internet fraudsters popularly called Yahoo boys. Ibiyeomie, ... The founder of Salvation Ministry, Pastor David Ibiyeomie, has cursed internet fraudsters popularly called Yahoo boys. Ibiyeomie, who was preaching in his church recently, said Yahoo boys would get into an accident with a car because their activities have led to the death of some persons who they have scammed off all their retirement benefits. He also laid curses on police officers who released arrested Yahoo boys after collecting bribes from them. The clergyman said: Let me tell you, these Yahoo boys. Stop! I am a man of God. You kill people everyday. When you Yahoo somebody, it is stealing. Dont quote it anyhow. It is stealing. Most people, all their retirement benefits, you take it and people die. I curse you in the name of Jesus. It is a demonic, satanic way of getting money. Which kind of money is that? You are a thief. No matter how you colorize it, you are a thief. You love stealing! I curse the root of it. Do you know how many people you have killed? Scam kills people. Some people, the whole of their retirement benefit..You scam them and say you are buying a car. What nonsense? You will get accident with that car! He added, And to the police, all the Yahoo boys, jail them, arrest them. If you take bribes from Yahoo boys, that money will kill you! That blood money that you take will kill you. You know why? They stole from somebody who died. You now collect money and release them. You and your family die with it. Police stop taking that kind of money. Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest of 60 suspected Yahoo boys in Ogun. They were nabbed at a ceremony at the Conference Hotel in Abeokuta, the state capital. See video.. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds light and variable. Officials of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) distribute tickets to illegal migrants at the Misurata International Airport in Misurata, Libya, Jan. 27, 2022. A group of 165 illegal migrants were voluntarily deported from Libya to Niger, their home country, said a local official on Thursday. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) TRIPOLI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- A group of 165 illegal migrants were voluntarily deported from Libya to Niger, their home country, said a local official on Thursday. "After approval of the head of the Illegal Migration Control Department, a flight took off from Misurata City to Niger for a voluntary return of 165 illegal migrants, including women and children," Hussain al-Turki, head of the Illegal Migrants' Deportation Department of the Misurata International Airport, told Xinhua. The deportation was carried out in coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), al-Turki said. The Voluntary Humanitarian Return program, run by the IOM, arranges the return of illegal immigrants stranded in Libya to their homeland. Libya has become a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores. In 2021, a total of 32,425 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, while 662 died and 891 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, according to the IOM. Illegal migrants board an airplane at the Misurata International Airport in Misurata, Libya, Jan. 27, 2022. A group of 165 illegal migrants were voluntarily deported from Libya to Niger, their home country, said a local official on Thursday. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) Illegal migrants wait to depart at the Misurata International Airport in Misurata, Libya, Jan. 27, 2022. A group of 165 illegal migrants were voluntarily deported from Libya to Niger, their home country, said a local official on Thursday. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) Illegal migrants board an airplane at the Misurata International Airport in Misurata, Libya, Jan. 27, 2022. A group of 165 illegal migrants were voluntarily deported from Libya to Niger, their home country, said a local official on Thursday. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) No. The money should go to something that would benefit all citizens of the county, not just Watertown. Yes. The community would benefit from the indoor pools the project would provide. Vote View Results Hot broth in chilly weather is just a cornerstone of comfort food. The two dueling broths we experienced, side-by-side in the same divided pot, provided that appeal on a rain-lashed recent night. But they also added the thrill of something new, and the validation of daring to bring something different to the table. We were at YuYan Kitchen, the Chinese restaurant that opened in Fat City last summer. It was created by Yan Yu (the restaurant name follows the Chinese custom of using last names first). She married a New Orleans native and has been raising their children over the last few years. Now, shes made a foray in the restaurant business, determined to bring a taste of the food she grew up eating in northern China to her adopted home. That includes hot pots, a choose-your-own adventure meal served in a way that feels like dining in someones home. No shade on American-Chinese staples, for which I have an enduring craving, but its been exciting to see more traditional Chinese restaurants emerge in this town, and in some cases flourish. When I talk to the people behind these restaurants, they often tell me they want to present true Chinese food because no one else is serving it here. When I point out some of my favorites who seem to be doing just that, they are unmoved. Invariably, they tell me these examples are not in the regional styles they mean when they talk about true Chinese cooking. Yu explained the same thing to me back when she was opening her restaurant. In the beginning she started with a short menu focused mainly on bao and spicy beef noodle soups. More recently, she added hot pots. The concept is common across different Asian cultures, and we have some examples here and there around New Orleans. At YuYan Kitchen though, you get an unvarnished version of the style Yu knows from both restaurants and home cooking back in the old country. This starts with a large saucepan of broth set on a portable induction burner in the center of your table. These pans are divided by a curving barrier, giving a yin-yang shape and doubling your broth options. We had the spicy broth, which was red with chiles but more about depth of flavor than piercing heat; on the other side was a more mellow, tangy broth with hunks of ginger and whole dates bobbing along as it boiled. Then come any number of meats, seafood, vegetables, tofu and sauces, depending how you order. Prices vary by item ($6 to $17); two people can eat like kings for $80 or so, though you can adjust for your appetite. With the feast now set, we used a slotted ladle and chopsticks to add various ingredients to either of the broths, which by now were boiling furiously. The idea is to do this gradually and taste each morsel at its freshest, swiping them through a mix of peanut sauce and garlic sesame sauce along the way. The array of possible combinations for your meal is dizzying. We followed the lead of our host, ordered what she suggested, and soon our table was a verdant personal buffet of different flavors. We had brisket, spicy beef crusted with a chili paste and lamb sliced as thin as prosciutto, which tasted clean, lean and flavorful when finished. Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up We had seafood balls, with one made from shrimp ground to a creamy-smooth consistency, and another with tilapia made into flaky fish cakes. We had three different types of tofu, one fresh, one frozen, and one version of tofu skin which, when boiled, resemble broad thin noodles. Then there was duck blood tofu, which is essentially blood pudding, rich, dark, slippery and a little gelatinous. It was the only item we did not clear from our plates, though I dont regret ordering it. After all, how often do you get a chance to try something starkly new merely by venturing across town? That was the hot pot experience all over. Im always drawn to meals with an interactive aspect. They make time slow down a bit while we spend it enjoying ourselves with good company. The pace of the hot pot meal guides this, as you cook slowly, piece by piece, and savor it the same way. This operation is homespun. Many will remember the address as the longtime home of Korea House, which closed in the pandemic after three decades. The look has changed little, aside from a growing collection of Chinese art posters. Theres a short selection of beer, though no wine; we brought our own (and our own corkscrew) and drank from large metal tea cups. YuYan Kitchen still serves its full menu and this has grown significantly from its opening phase. There are the dragon eye meatballs (boiled egg encased in pork and beef), pillowy bao with just the right texture, fried rice, fried lo mien and braised pork belly, to name a few staples. Dumplings are a point of pride, and Yu has found a way to blend traditions with her utterly endearing Mardi Gras dumplings. These are pork dumplings variously turned purple, green and gold. She does in a customary Chinese way, using vegetables juices to change the color of the dumpling skins in this case purple cabbage, green spinach and yellow pumpkin for an edible emblem of Carnival. Authenticity can be a fraught term. Around the hot pots at YuYan Kitchen, however, it boils down simply to someone proudly showing what she knows and loves from her own heritage, and ardently hoping you like it too. YuYan Kitchen 3547 18th St., Metairie, (504) 888-0654 Mon.-Sat., 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. +5 French Quarter dim sum fav Dian Xin is opening a second restaurant The Chinese restaurant Dian Xin specializes in small blissful bites of dim sum. Eat one and you automatically want another. Soon, the French Q +10 Island soul food with New Orleans style fires up this tiny Mid-City restaurant The opening menu at Lisa Queen Trini Nelsons new Mid-City restaurant is short, but it bears close attention from diners. Even people well-v +20 Ian McNulty: Road trip-worthy burgers, po-boys as a time warp tavern returns yet again We came for lunch but ended up staying most of the day. One po-boy led to another, and the stories seemed always to weave through the past, ju +7 This Freret Street takeout shop is like having a private chef on call, now it's back When the Freret Market returned last month, Joanna and Bob Iacovone set up a stand to dish out butter chicken curry, pulled pork tacos and the In its last meeting before Fat Tuesday, the New Orleans Mayors Mardi Gras Advisory Committee was told Thursday evening that all parading krewes must certify their float riders are vaccinated against the coronavirus or tested negative for it in the 72 hours before their processions. The same rule applies to dance troupes, marching bands and other parade elements, said Dr. Jennifer Avegno, health director in Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration. Avegno said that despite the prevalence of the virus' omicron variant, she predicts Carnival can be conducted safely this year. Theres still a lot of virus out there, she warned, but infections in New Orleans seem to have peaked. The vaccine-or-test announcement made for the Cantrell administration's strongest statement to date on how it plans to administer the most public aspect of Carnival for the first time in two years. Avegno said the signed certifications are due by Feb. 11, and that she hoped it would not be an onerous burden on krewe captains and leaders of other parade elements. When someone in the audience of the committee meeting, at the Basin Street Station tourist center, used the Clydesdales as an example of a parade element, Avegno good-naturedly advised that the rule does not apply to horses. In requiring human parade participants to be vaccinated or test negative, City Hall is following the lead of some krewes that imposed their own such requirements on own members. Will City Hall accept the certifications purely under the honor system, or will officials spot check parade participants? Avegno said officials will probably rely on word of mouth to prevent violations. Folks know if the rules are being followed, she said, and theyll tell us. +19 Mardi Gras 2023, Predicting where and when the New Orleans parades will roll next year Mardi Gras 2023 takes place on Feb. 21, and the traditional Carnival season starts up a few weeks earlier on Jan. 6. We know that for sure. He Avegno has been a prominent figure in New Orleans' fight against the 22-month pandemic, and as a result she herself was invited to be queen of the Krewe du Vieux parade. Earlier this week, however, she backed out of the royal commitment because of what she said were unspecified threats to her safety and the krewes safety, citing hatred directed our way. She would not elaborate on her decision Thursday. The Mayors Mardi Gras Advisory Committee is composed of float parade representatives and parade-related city officials, including the Police Department. Much of its discussion Thursday centered on the routine regulations and etiquette of conducting one of the worlds great celebrations. Co-chair James Reiss III, a representative of the Rex organization, warned against the tossing of "illegal/political throws, perhaps heading off incidents of recent years such as distributing Confederate flag beads or beads advocating the preservation of the Robert E. Lee monument in New Orleans. +2 Jennifer Avegno quits Krewe du Vieux over security concerns, 'hatred directed our way' New Orleans health director Dr. Jennifer Avegno decided not to ride as queen of Krewe du Vieux next month after unspecified threats that cause Reiss cautioned against the overly enthusiastic tossing of throws at the Gallier Hall reviewing stand, where visiting VIPs gather. And he said bands should pause to perform at Gallier Hall for only 30 seconds. Overall, despite the two-year break since Carnival parades last rolled in New Orleans, the persistence of the pandemic and the shortening of parades for 2022, the recitation of rules seemed reassuringly routine. Mayor LaToya Cantrell was present throughout the meeting but spoke only briefly to express her joy at the return of the citys signature event. Im so excited," she said. New York artist Sanford Biggers has been busy despite the pandemic. Last year, he debuted a suite of works at New York Citys Rockefeller Center, anchored by a 25-foot cast-bronze statue called Oracle, which blends concepts of classical Greco-Roman sculpture and African art. There also were other sculptures, flags, multimedia works with photographs and video, and a large-scale mural inside the center. The mural featured the words JUST US, set shadowed in a blue sky full of clouds. If that seems familiar, its because Biggers was commissioned to create a similar mural on the much larger wall of the Contemporary Arts Center as part of the Helis Foundations Unframed series. Created in conjunction with New Orleans artists Wendo Brunoir and JoJean Laborde, the mural has taken shape over the past three months and was officially unveiled on Jan. 20. At first sight, the mural is an eye-catchingly bright burst covering a 140-by-20-foot wall, but its not so simple or straightforward. The words JUST US function as a homonym for justice, and its not clear how to read it. Everyone sees something different when they look in a cloud, Biggers told Gambit before the unveiling. In this case, if you look hard enough you might be able to find justice. Justice is something were always looking for. Sometimes its very hard to find. Everyones journey towards justice is quite different. Biggers is adept at blending diverse artistic traditions and ideas. He notes that clouds are common in surreal art, as well as in graffiti. He painted graffiti murals while growing up in Los Angeles, and it was an early public display of his talents. His career is defined more by sculpture and mixed-media work, and he studied classical sculpture in both Rome and Florence. He also lived in Japan for three years and has explored Buddhist ideas and art from many Asian nations. References to Buddhist mandalas and thangkas often figure into his work. But JUST US also relates to pop-culture and social commentary, and Biggers says its possible to relate the mural to comedian Richard Pryors work. Some works deal with text and satire and dark humor and surrealism, Biggers says. (This work) happens to be one of them. Biggers had long planned on being in New Orleans at about this time. He is just closing a show called Codeswitch at the California African American Museum. The show features more than 50 works based on quilts, including tapestries and 3D pieces. He collected and restored old quilts to repurpose in his work, and he sees them as historical references. Codeswitch builds on his multi-media works and the title refers to multiple meanings and codes of communication. In what he calls his Codex series, Biggers has created works in which texts and social contexts can have multiple meanings. Codeswitch was co-curated by Andrea Andersson and Sergio Bessa. Andersson founded the locally based Rivers Institute for Contemporary Art & Thought and is a former visual arts curator at the CAC. Following a visit to Biggers studio in Harlem, she worked on Codeswitch with Bessa, and it opened at the Bronx Museum in September 2020. Following the Los Angeles expo, it was supposed to come to New Orleans. The pandemic changed those plans, and instead it goes to Louisville, Kentuckys Speed Art Museum, though Biggers would like to see the show come here eventually. Biggers is familiar with New Orleans. His father is a graduate of Dillard University, and he visited the city often. His first major contribution to the citys art scene was a sculptural piece called Blossom that was shown at what is now the New Orleans Jazz Museum during Prospect.1 in 2008. It featured a baby grand piano with a tree growing through it, while it played Billie Holidays Strange Fruit, a work referencing lynchings of Black people in the South. Biggers work was included in the national Billboard Art Project in 2011, which featured an early version of JUST US. In 2019, he came here to work on the visual concepts for the film Antebellum, starring Janelle Monae. It was filmed in New Orleans and at Evergreen Plantation. Biggers also has a band, called Moon Medicin, and it was supposed to have performed in New Orleans during the planned Codeswitch expo, though that plan also was put on hiatus. Biggers is a fan of the Meters, jazz, zydeco and Mardi Gras Indian music. JUST US is the ninth in the Helis Foundations Unframed series of large-scale murals in the Warehouse District. They include work by local artists Brandan BMike Odums, Jessica Strahan and Ayo Scott as well as international artists such as Canadas Danae Brissonnet and the Polish duo who create street art as Etam Cru. The program is administered through the Arts Council of New Orleans, and Helis managing director Jessie Schott Haynes expects the program to add two more murals in 2022. For more information about Unframed murals, visit thehelisfoundation.org. MOGADISHU, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Somali National Army (SNA) said Friday its forces killed 28 al-Shabab militants and wounded several others in security operations conducted in the past two days within the vicinity of Balad districts in the Middle Shabelle region, 40 km northeast of Mogadishu. The SNA 27th Division commander, Salah Yakub, who led the security operation told Radio Mogadishu that the SNA forces destroyed al-Shabab hideouts during the operations conducted in four villages in the Balad district. "SNA killed 28 al-Shabab terrorists and destroyed their hideouts in special planned security operations at Marerey, Mukay-Dhere, Shalow and Yaqle villages under Balad district in the past 48 hours," Yakub said. He said several regions under the al-Shabab terror group's grip were also liberated during the two-day operations. Yakub said the security forces are ready to work with members of the public to alleviate the suffering of the locals in the Middle Shabelle region. The SNA, which has intensified security operations across the country amid national elections, has vowed to intensify operations against the militant group until their fighters are subdued amid ongoing national elections. The government forces have intensified operations against al-Shabab fighters in southern and central regions in the recent past, but the militants are still in control of the rural areas of those regions, conducting ambushes and planting landmines. Lusher Charter Schools Kathy Riedlinger, who has led the sought-after New Orleans school since 1982, announced Friday she was retiring as CEO, effective immediately. In a message to the board and Lusher students, staff and families, Riedlinger said that she would move into a support role for Deputy CEO Nicolette London, who will assume the role of interim CEO. "I will end my tenure at Lusher at the close of this semester," Riedlinger wrote. Efforts to reach Riedlinger Friday were unsuccessful. But in a news release, the school touted its academic achievements during her 40-year tenure, saying that she helped grow it into an in-demand, A-rated charter school with 1,900 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The news release boasted that Lusher is the highest-ranking K-12 school in Louisiana and has received two National Blue Ribbon School awards. It also touted Lushers partnership with Tulane University, which offers dual enrollment to Lusher juniors and seniors. Working with the support of so many in our school system and community, we have created one of the finest public schools in the history of New Orleans, Riedlinger said in the news release. Lusher achieved local, state, national and international recognition as a high performance academic institution that pioneered arts integration into the education and development of children in New Orleans. But while Lusher won praise for its academics, it has also been the focus of plenty of criticism and controversy over the years. It is one of the citys toughest public schools to get into, and some parents have chafed at the opacity of its admissions process. To be admitted, students generally have to score high marks on a standardized test, but the children of Tulane faculty members also get preference - as do those with older siblings who are already at the school. The school and Riedlinger have also come under scrutiny for what some parents and students said were too-slow efforts to remove the schools divisive name its named after Robert Mills Lusher, a Confederate official and steadfast segregationist. In September, the school's board voted to change the name, but a new name has yet to be selected. 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 a related controversy, a former principal of Lusher High School, Steven Corbett, asked Lushers board of directors in 2020 to investigate what he said was retaliatory and discriminatory behavior by Riedlinger. In a letter, Corbett said Riedlinger had brushed off complaints about racial equity at the school. About 59% of Lusher's student body is White, while close to 90% of public school students in the city are Black. In a response to a story published by The Times-Picayune in July, the school issued a statement that said an independent firm investigated Corbetts claims and found they did not merit any action by the school. Corbett left Lusher to take a job as CEO of Audubon Charter Schools, another network of highly rated public schools in Uptown New Orleans. Riedlinger's salary has also raised eyebrows. She earned $290,067 in 2019, according to the school's tax forms filed with the Internal Revenue Service -- among the highest salaries of any public school executives in the city. Under Riedlinger, Lusher has grown to two Uptown campuses one for the elementary school, the other for the high school. It will soon add a middle school campus, the Ellis Marsalis Jr. Building, the school said in its news release. During the 181-year history of the New Orleans Public Schools, Kathy Riedlinger's nearly five decades of service as an educator and school leader rank among few whose tenure was so long and at one institution. That accomplishment alone, during so many changes in pedagogy and accountability, stands as a significant achievement, Ken Ducote, executive director of the Greater New Orleans Collaborative of Charter Schools, said in the news release. In 2018, Riedlinger received the Terrel H. Bell Award for Special Lifetime Leadership from the U.S. Department of Education. Staff writer Gordon Russell contributed to this story. The omicron wave has peaked in Louisiana. In recent days, the number of new cases of COVID-19 in the state have steadily fallen from the all-time high of 81,305 weekly reached the week ending Jan. 8. However, health experts said the declines are driven by sharp drops in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the state's most populous regions, and warned that cases are still rising elsewhere. When you look at the state as a whole, we have peaked, said Dr. Joe Kanter, the state's top health officer, at a press briefing Thursday. But there still are a few regions of the state that are going up and we expect will be peaking very soon. Kanter said there aren't yet signs of a steady decline in Lafayette, Lake Charles, Alexandria and the north shore. He also warned that passing the peak in daily cases is still a far cry from points earlier in the coronavirus pandemic when cases were very low. There are still hundreds of people in the state's hospitals seriously ill with COVID-19, and the number of people dying each day is still rising. When youre on the other side of the mountain, you can still be awfully high up off the ground, which is where we are now, said Kanter. Even as dropping case counts in New Orleans and Baton Rouge have helped to pull down statewide numbers, there is far more COVID circulating in the state than at any other point in the pandemic: the level of infections remains roughly 60% higher than anything seen before. Drop in COVID cases in Orleans and Jefferson Parish schools - but still rising in St. Tammany Public schools in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish reported a sharp decline in positive COVID cases this week, the latest indication that they The story is similar when looking at counts of patients hospitalized with COVID, which serves as a measure of both the severity of the infections and the strain the pandemic is taking on health care resources. The omicron wave appears to have peaked statewide last week, when about 2,300 people who were infected were in hospital beds. By Thursday, the number of hospitalized patients fell to 2,187. Thats a dramatically lower rate than was seen during delta, when hospitalizations reached 3,022. More people were protected by vaccines during this wave, or had prior infections that may also have afforded some protection. Also, studies suggest omicron was milder than earlier variants. As with cases, the fall in hospitalizations has been driven largely by falling case counts in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport, though some of those declines are because deaths which lag infections by weeks are only now starting to increase. There have been 1.1 million confirmed and probable coronavirus infections in Louisiana since the beginning of the pandemic two years ago, which would translate to about one in every four residents having contracted it at some point. While some of those confirmed cases are likely re-infections, many other people may have contracted the virus without knowing it, or may have never gotten a test. The wave of cases driven by the highly-infectious omicron variant, which arrived in Louisiana in early December, was responsible for more infections than any other wave. In the 46 days since cases started rising, there have been 227,168 confirmed cases. The delta wave, which hit this summer, lasted 104 days, there were 191,725 confirmed cases. An additional 4,759 confirmed cases were reported Thursday by the Louisiana Department of Health. Omicron hit just as many people were gathering for the holidays. With few restrictions in place, it quickly swept through many families and workplaces. Hospital systems and health care providers were among the hardest hit. With isolation putting many nurses, doctors and other workers out of commission, hospitals were again stressed by the surge in patients, even if numbers didn't reach levels seen earlier in the pandemic. There are a lot of folks who are very burned out, said Dr. Julio Figueroa, chief of infectious diseases at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans. And that concerns me a lot. +2 Jennifer Avegno quits Krewe du Vieux over security concerns, 'hatred directed our way' New Orleans health director Dr. Jennifer Avegno decided not to ride as queen of Krewe du Vieux next month after unspecified threats that cause Health news in your inbox Reporter Emily Woodruff shares weekly updates and insights on local health news, including COVID coverage and medical research. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up At Ochsner Health, the states largest hospital group, a total of 698 employees were out due to COVID at the beginning of this week. Thats down from a high of around 1,400 out sick in late December, according to Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas. Ochsner is also reporting an encouraging drop in COVID patients in its facilities. As of Monday, about 644 patients systemwide were hospitalized with COVID, down from a peak of 726 two weeks ago. The downward slide in cases and hospitalizations comes just ahead of the busiest weeks of the Carnival season, when people across the state will gather for parties, parades and other revelry. Tens of thousands of tourists are likely to descend on New Orleans for parades that will roll for the first time since 2020, and balls and other gatherings are in full swing. The increased travel into New Orleans and the size of crowds may mean that COVID cases don't see the same steep decline as in other cities and countries hit earlier by omicron. Visitors from all over world, certainly all over the country come, Figueroa said of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Whatever is out and about in the country is going to come here and cause issues. In New Orleans, the weeks before Mardi Gras lead to an increase in hospitalizations during non-COVID times, said Susan Hassig, an epidemiologist at Tulane University. There are more accidents of all sorts, fights and hospitalizations related to alcohol intoxication. Regardless of whether omicron is losing steam, a COVID wave followed by an influx of people due to more activity could strain an already stressed system. With COVID surging, Gov. John Bel Edwards plans to skip most of Washington Mardi Gras Gov. John Bel Edwards flew to the nation's Capitol on Wednesday, but Louisiana politicos shouldn't expect to see him partying it up at Washing Weve got to hope and pray our hospitalization numbers are way, way down, said Hassig. We need to give the health care workers at least a week or two to recoup a little bit of energy, their resiliency and their resources to be able to handle whats going to start showing up in the ER in about a month. Hassig also warned that the end of omicron does not mean the end of COVID. In the short run, Hassig expects another wave in summer, as has been the pattern when people in this region go inside during the hotter months. My sense is that something is going to pop in the southern belt, as long as we remain substantially unvaccinated, every six months, Hassig said, referring to the low global vaccination rate that allows for the likelihood of new variants as well as Louisianas relatively unvaccinated population. About 52% of the states population is fully vaccinated, with 15 parishes reporting that less than 40% of residents have received both doses, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More treatments are expected to arrive in coming months that health officials hope will relieve the pressure on hospitals. Louisiana received just 672 doses of the monoclonal antibody that works against omicron this week, which were distributed across 71 hospitals. That means doctors have been limited in who they can distribute it to, reserving it for only the most at-risk patients who are early in the disease. By March or April, the supply of sotrovimab, the effective monoclonal, and antiviral pills like Paxlovid, which is a five-day course of pills, should be ramped up, said Figueroa. This week, the state received 1,140 doses of Paxlovid, which was distributed to 57 pharmacies. What is ultimately going to change how we interact with this virus long-term is the continued development of antivirals and post-infection therapies that reduce the likelihood of hospitalization, said Hassig. +10 For some Louisiana nurses, COVID was the last straw When Katie Remes New Orleans-area hospital needed nurses to staff a new COVID ward in March 2020, she volunteered. She wanted to be there for However, the medications will require both an ample supply of tests to identify infections early and a prescription process, because the antivirals are not without their own problems they cannot be taken with certain common heart medications or by pregnant people. Public health experts urged mask-wearing during on ongoing surge. I dont think masks are forever I dont even think theyre for this whole year, said Kanter. But while were in a surge, people need to mask up around other people, particularly indoors. The co-owner of a Canal Street vape shop who fatally shot a man near his store last year was among seven people indicted for murder on Thursday by an Orleans Parish grand jury. The indictments involve three separate slayings in 2021, when the city reached its highest murder total in 17 years, with 218 slayings. Khutbi Abdelkader allegedly told police that 24-year-old Anthony Francois, the man he shot dead one evening last May, had been harassing and threatening him and his brother for days at their shop, Smoke Sum, in the 900 block of Canal. Abdelkader, 24, from Harvey, allegedly told investigators he was standing inside his shop when Francois started banging on the storefront glass at about 4:50 p.m. He claimed he stepped outside to confront Francois, saw him reaching for an object and shot him twice. Abdelkader was booked on a second-degree murder charge shortly after the May 5 killing. Court records show he remained free Thursday on $350,000 bail. Killing at car repair shop on Tchoupitoulas The grand jury also indicted four men with second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the September killing of 20-year-old Torrin Girard inside a car repair shop on Tchoupitoulas Street, after an earlier argument miles away with a cousin. Police said Girard argued with Dominique Buggage in an apartment in the Little Woods section of New Orleans East on Sept. 20. An hour later, Girard was at a mechanic shop in the 4300 block of Tchoupitoulas when six men pulled up in two vehicles, according to police. Two of Buggages companions including one wielding a rifle shot and killed Girard, police allege. Buggage didnt shoot but returned to a getaway car with both shooters, investigators contend. 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 Indicted on charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder were Buggage, 30, Wallace Dickerson III, 21, Ulysses Thomas, 34, and Tremane Johnson, 20. All four men were booked in October as principals to murder. Buggage, Thomas and Johnson all were being held in the Orleans Parish jail Thursday. Dickerson did not appear in Orleans Parish jail records on Thursday. Bond amounts set after those indictments were not immediately available. Man killed, another injured in Florida neighborhood Also indicted Thursday on second-degree murder charges were Melvinisha Howard and Joe Robinson III, both 24, for the Aug. 13 killing last year of Djuan Brown and the attempted murder of another man in the Florida neighborhood. The victims were in a car in the 2200 block of Piety Street. Their car crashed more than a mile away, at Ursula Spencer Way and Humanity Street, where Brown died at age 32. Authorities tracked Howard and Robinson to their home in Baton Rouge six weeks later. Robison also was indicted on an obstruction of justice count, and Howard for allegedly violating a protective order. Howard was being held in the Orleans Parish jail Thursday on $460,000 in total bond. Robinsons bond was set at $1 million. +3 Canal Street vape shop owner kills man he accused of threatening his business daily: NOPD The co-owner of a Canal Street tobacco and vape shop fatally shot a man near his store and later tried to convince investigators that he was d Gretna man arrested in murder of man gunned down at New Orleans auto repair shop Authorities have arrested a Gretna man in connection with a fatal shooting at a New Orleans auto repair shop in September. The Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office has identified the man shot and killed at a Marrero apartment complex Thursday night as Torien McBride, 19. McBride, who is from Harvey, was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting, which occurred in the 2800 block of Mt. Kennedy Drive. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office is investigating the homicide. The department received a report of the shooting about 7:20 p.m. Deputies arrived and found McBride outside, lying wounded on the ground between two apartment building, according to authorities. Investigators have no leads on motive or a suspect in the killing. Anyone with information about the death of Torien McBride is asked to call the Sheriff's Office investigations bureau at 504-364-5300. The public can also call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-7867. Callers do not have to give their names or testify and can earn a reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to an indictment. A suspect held a man up at gunpoint in Bywater, demanded his property, then shot at the victim after he complied, New Orleans police say. Police responded to the armed robbery around 1:54 a.m. Thursday. A 27-year-old man was held up at gunpoint at St. Claude Avenue and Desire streets. The suspect demanded the victim's property, and the victim complied, police said. After the suspect handed over his property, the suspect shot in his direction and fled. The victim was not physically harmed. No other information was immediately available. Jefferson Parish sheriff's detectives have arrested a fifth suspect in the Terrytown shooting death of a Louisiana Army National Guard member. They booked Gerald Little, 18, on Thursday with first-degree murder in the killing of Jemond Cador, 21. Little's alleged co-conspirators include Myron Lee, Matthew Smith, Isaiah White, all 20, and Kewane Edwards, 21. They were booked in December with the same charge. Cador was shot and killed Dec. 6 inside his apartment in the 200 block of Wright Avenue. Deputies were dispatched to the residence for a report of gunfire at the apartment complex, noticed the door to Cadors unit was kicked in and found him wounded inside. He was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead. +3 After Harry Potter-loving National Guard member fatally shot in Terrytown, 4 booked with murder Four men have been jailed in the slaying of a Louisiana Army National Guard member who was shot and killed in his Terrytown home. The Sheriff's Office has not disclosed a motive or evidence linking the suspects to the crime. Little and the other suspects were being held without bond Friday. A Florida man was robbed on the edge of the French Quarter by a couple he met while visiting, New Orleans police say. The 46-year-old man was robbed Friday but did not report the incident to police until Wednesday, after he had returned to Florida. Police say the man met the couple during his visit. Toward the end of Friday evening, the man and woman demanded his cash, credit and debit cards and pin numbers, police said. The victim complied, and the couple fled. The robbery took place in the 900 block of Canal Street. No other information was immediately available. The past two years have seen a wave of carjackings across New Orleans that have touched nearly every neighborhood. The surge, which coincides with the coronavirus pandemic, has meant carjackings are now occurring at 160% the rate they were in 2019. Now, residents, the City Council and others are demanding answers on how the city plans to tackle the issue. The 210 carjackings reported to the New Orleans Police Department last year were higher than any other year in the past decade. Data from the District Attorney's Office suggests only a quarter of those incidents resulted in arrests, though NOPD says their data shows they booked suspects in about 1 in 3 of those crimes last year. +4 New Orleans carjackings rose 160% during the pandemic. Few resulted in arrests. By the time police tracked down four teens last month at the Super 8 motel on Chef Menteur Highway, several people across Uptown New Orleans w Few areas of the city made it through the year without any carjackings. Carjackings in New Orleans in 2021 Carjackings in New Orleans reached their highest level in a decade. That's similar to 2020, when police responded to 204 carjackings. Carjackings in New Orleans 2020 Carjackings surged in New Orleans at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic. Both of the last two years represent a dramatic increase in carjackings over 2019, when there were only 81 reported across the city. Carjackings in New Orleans 2019 Map of carjackings in New Orleans in 2019. 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 That's in line with a multi-year decline in carjackings and other violent crimes from a prior peak of 146 reached in 2015. Cities across the country have been coming to grips with similar upticks in carjackings. No crime is better at priming urban fear than carjacking, said Bruce Jacobs, a University of Texas-Dallas criminologist who has conducted extensive research on the crime. Its a democratic offense. It can target anybody, at any time. And it often really is the bogeyman leaping out of the shadows who does it. Meanwhile, advocates for children have argued that there is no way for the city to arrest its way out of the problem. All of the focus seems to be on the criminal legal system, said Aaron Clark-Rizzio, executive director of the Louisiana Center for Childrens Rights. What all the data has shown us is the system is not designed to fix this problem, and its not capable of fixing this problem. The only way of solving this problem is to invest in children and communities. A New Orleans man accused of opening fire after being confronted for allegedly cutting the long line for fuel at a Metairie service station after Hurricane Ida was indicted Thursday with second-degree murder by a Jefferson Parish grand jury, court records show. Walter Sippio, 20, faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison if convicted of killing Dwayne Nosacka, 36, during the heated parking lot exchange. Hurricane Ida made landfall on Aug. 29, leaving the New Orleans area without power. In the days after the hurricane, hours-long lines formed at the handful of gas stations that were open and selling fuel as people scrambled to keep their generators running. On the afternoon of Sept. 3, Nosacka had finally made it to the front of the queue at a Chevron station located at 2301 Clearview Parkway, according to Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office investigators. That's when Sippio, driving a minivan, entered the gas station parking lot from a different entrance and pulled up to the pump, authorities said. +3 Knife found under victim's body in deadly Metairie gas station shooting sparked by line cutting Since his arrest, relatives of Walter Sippio have contended that he was acting in self-defense when he shot and killed another motorist after 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 An angry and frustrated Nosacka got out of his vehicle and confronted Sippio. As the two men argued, authorities allege Sippio went back to his vehicle, got a gun and shot Nosacka in the chest. Nosacka, a father of two, died of his injuries. Sippio's relatives contend he was acting in self-defense and accused Nosacka of being armed during the argument. Investigators found a closed, folding pocket knife underneath the wounded Nosacka as they prepared to transport him to the hospital, according to the Sheriff's Office. +3 Metairie gas station killing could again test state's self-defense law: 'It's sad and horrible' It had been five days since Hurricane Ida disrupted power and led to hours long gas lines throughout southeast Louisiana, and 36-year-old Dway But investigators don't believe he wielded the knife during the confrontation. None of the six eyewitnesses interviewed ever said they saw Nosacka holding a weapon, according to the Sheriff's Office. Sippio left after the shooting. He surrendered to authorities later that day. After the indictment was handed up, the court increased Sippio's bond to $750,000. He was being held Friday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center. Sippio is scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 2. TOKYO, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Toyota Motor Corp. topped the rankings in global auto sales in 2021, accelerating past Germany's Volkswagen AG for a second straight year, data from the Japanese automaker showed Friday. According to the figures, Toyota Motor Corp.'s top ranking was supported by solid sales in China and the United States, with the impressive performance coming against the global chip shortage. Globally last year, Toyota said it sold almost 10.5 million vehicles, including those produced by the group's Daihatsu Motor and Hino Motors subsidiaries, which marked a more than 10 percent increase from a year earlier. The latest figures compare to an 11.3 percent slump booked in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The automaker is still grappling with pandemic-related issues which have recently caused 11 factories to temporarily suspend production in Japan. The maker of the popular Prius Hybrid and Corolla sedan models said, in 2021, its domestic sales totaled 2.11 million vehicles including minicars, which was 2.2 percent less than a year earlier. The group's global sales, however, gained 13.8 percent to 8.39 million units, it said. The Toyota brand alone sold 9.62 million vehicles globally, marking a 10.6 percent increase, while production retreated 1.5 percent from a year earlier to 2.88 million units, the automaker said. In December, its global sales retreated 7.0 percent from the same month a year earlier, with production dropping 6 percent, Toyota said. The firm hired by the Orleans Parish School Board to help find a new schools superintendent will host eight more community sessions, hoping for a better turnout this time around. The sessions begin Monday and run through Feb. 9. We need to hear from every segment of our population to make sure we get the next leader, to make sure were moving our district forward, said School Board member Ethan Ashley, who chairs the board's superintendent search committee. The current schedule calls for the board to have a new superintendent named by early April, Ashley said. Current schools Superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr. is stepping down when his contract expires at the end of June. The board hired Greenwood/Asher and Associates Inc. on a $90,000 contract in August to lead a national search but Ashley said Hurricane Ida has slowed the process. Since November, the board and Greenwood/Asher conducted meetings with at least 40 groups within the school community to determine what people want in a leader, though a series of eight community meetings earlier in January drew sparse attendance, The Lens reported. The School Board and search firm have also created a special website where people can obtain information and offer feedback on the superintendent search. A website, www.nolasuperintendentsearch.com, has been created to to collect feedback and has links to join the upcoming set of community meetings. We are asking (the firm) to engage as much as possible with the community to make sure they are intimately involved in this process, Ashley said. The new sessions will conducted online over four days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Feb. 9 at noon and 5:30 p.m., the School Board said in a recent news release. The meetings will last one hour each. 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 After the sessions, the board will accept applications and set up interviews. Mary Staes, whose daughter attends the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, said shes been lucky to have her daughter in top-performing schools and to have support regarding transportation and virtual learning, but she worries for fellow parents who haven't had the same things. She said she hopes the new superintendent will be more communicative with parents than in the past. She said she was unaware of the upcoming forums and wants to hear more from school leaders on pandemic-related issues. Virtual learning has been a rough transition for both Staes and her daughter, she said, adding that shes lucky to have a child who can navigate much of her education on her own. But she said that some students and parents dont have that luxury, and she wants those people to have greater support from the school district. Staes said shed also hope for students like her daughter to be recognized for their hard work, especially amid the pandemic. We continually push these kids for academic excellence and they get nothing out of it but being burned out, Staes said. Lewis has been superintendent of the all-charter school district since 2015. The School Board recently announced that it had received a $140,000 grant from the Greater New Orleans Foundation to pay for the superintendent search. The town of Abita Springs remained under a precautionary water boil advisory Friday after a contractor broke a water main that caused pressure to drop. On Thursday afternoon, Abita Springs issued a statement informing residents that a contractor had broken a 6" water main "Due to the size of the break, we lost water pressure quickly and have to issue a Boil Water Advisory," the statement said. Water pressure was restored on Friday morning, but the precautionary boil advisory will remain in affect until water samples have been tested by the Louisiana Office of Public Health Laboratory. The town reminded residents that the under a boil advisory, water used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, for consumption by pets and for food preparation should be boiled for three minutes. Ice made after the break should be tossed out. Water fountains at schools should not be used. "We appreciate your patience and understanding while our water supply personnel are working diligently to restore the system to normal operation as quickly as possible," the statement said. "It is our top priority that The Town of Abita Springs supply quality safe drinking water to all." Baton Rouge and New Orleans were not alone in 2021, with citizens watching daily reports about crime, especially shootings and homicides. Lots of small, medium and large American cities saw significant increases in crime, and this year has started with more of the same. Chicago led the nation in 2021 with 797 homicides, more than in 2020 and 2019, the most since 1996. Thats going to happen with more than 3,500 shootings in a single year. New York City has seen violent crime rising the last two years. More recently, some of the citys subways have become crime scenes, with eight murders in 2021. The Big Apple had more than 1,500 shootings, about double the number police recorded a couple of years ago. According to an analysis released by the Council on Criminal Justice, while the number of homicides increased in 2021 by 5% over 2020, there was a 44% increase over 2019. CCJ collected information from 22 big and small cities. Los Angeles was the largest. Norfolk, Virginia was the smallest. Among other cities, Atlanta, Detroit, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Memphis, San Francisco, Washington and Philadelphia as well as Austin, Memphis, Omaha and Seattle participated in the annual study. Though six of the cities saw a drop in homicides (Omaha, 24%; Seattle, 25%), most of the cities saw increases. Baton Rouge and New Orleans werent part of the study because our police data either didnt include enough comparable crime information from previous years, or what was available conflicted with data published earlier. CCJ uses incident-level data, which sometimes differs from Uniform Crime Report data. East Baton Rouge Parish and Orleans Parish had a tough 2021. Two years in a row, homicides increased in Baton Rouge, totaling 149 lives lost in 2021. Two years in a row homicides increased in New Orleans, with 218 lives lost in 2021, the first time the city had more than 200 murders since 2007. While we look at crime across the nation and wonder whats going on, what we care about most are the places where we live and work, the places where our children and grandchildren live and go to school. We dont like seeing so much crime anywhere, but we care most when its close to home. Theres been a lot of attention on violent crime during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some experts have attributed it to people losing jobs, folks being stuck inside under local or state mandates, and pent-up desires while under self-imposed or required quarantines. Others have attributed some of it to unrest related to the George Floyd police murder and subsequent social justice anger and concerns. Im not saying none of that is true, but there is more to it. One of CCJs conclusions is that police and policy leaders should look at more violence-prevention strategies of proven effectiveness and enact needed police reforms. Interestingly, CCJ noted that murder has DECLINED significantly since the 1990s. The 2021 data for the cities examined showed a homicide rate of HALF what it was for those communities 29 years ago. Were talking about 28 deaths per 100,000 in 1993 versus 15 deaths per 100,000 in 2021. In 1994, 424 people were killed in New Orleans. Its not as though people in law enforcement dont care. Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul regularly address crime issues. With meetings and public hearings, its good to see so much recent attention on crime in New Orleans by Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Police Chief Shaun Ferguson, District Attorney Jason Williams, Sheriff Marlin Gusman, the New Orleans City Council and criminal and juvenile court judges. But its not enough. Some of this is bigger than any series of carjackings and shootings. Some of this is tied to larger issues that too often we dont want to discuss or tie to nightly news crime coverage. Too many people are stressed and distressed, generally and particularly in the last two years. Too many people are concerned about being able to pay rent month after month. Too many people are worried about eviction. Too many businesses are concerned about getting good employees and too many of the employees and potential employees are scared, concerned that uncaring bosses might fire them because they have to take care of a sick child, making them five minutes late for work. Theres even more. There are big and small contributors to the problem. We, too, have to help solve it. Perry Young. Place: First Baptist Church of Norman 211 W. Comanche. May 26th, 2022. 1:30 pm. Lunch will be served 12:00pm at FBC before the service. If wanting to attend lunch, please let us know so there is enough food. 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. The Oklahoma House has given final approval to a Texas-style abortion ban that prohibits abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy. The bill passed Thursday by the GOP-led House now heads to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt. He's expected to sign it within days. The bill was immediately challenged in court by abortion rights advocates. The measure prohibits abortions once cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo. Experts say thats typically about six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. Like Texas, the bill allows private citizens to sue abortion providers or anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion for up to $10,000. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed a similar law in Texas to stand. BAGHDAD, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi authorities confirmed on Friday the continuation of all flights in the country despite a rocket attack at Baghdad International Airport earlier in the day damaging a civilian plane. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that it will assure the continuation of flights at all airports nationwide, especially at Baghdad International Airport. At dawn, unidentified militia fired at least six Katyusha rockets, targeting a military airbase, named Victoria Airbase, which houses some U.S. experts and agencies within the international airport area. A source with the interior ministry said that the air defense system shot down four rockets, while one landed near the runway of the international airport and another directly hit a civilian plane. A statement by Iraqi Airways confirmed that a rocket hit one of its out-of-service planes in the perimeter of the civilian part of the airport. No casualties were reported in the attack, the source said. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but uncontrolled militias frequently target Iraqi military bases housing U.S. military advisors across Iraq, as well as the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. 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. Harrisburg, Pa. The slow, multiyear process of amending the Pennsylvania Constitution has become the tool of choice for Republican lawmakers seeking to enact policy and avoid the governors veto. Last year, the proposals the legislature sent voters all received approval. Two limited the governors power to declare and sustain a state of emergency, and the other enshrined protection against discrimination based on race in Pennsylvania. Lawmakers are now considering a number of proposed changes that could radically reshape how parts of the state government work. But despite the potential significance of these changes, its difficult to track them as they move through the process. Amending the constitution, though cumbersome, does not involve the governor. Instead, proposed constitutional amendments, after passing both chambers of the General Assembly two sessions in a row, become referenda that voters can approve or reject in the following election. If a majority of voters approve an amendment and it survives any legal challenges it goes into effect and becomes part of the constitution. Since 1968, the year Pennsylvanias current constitution went into effect, voters rejected only six of 49 proposed amendments that reached them. Only 14 of those ballot questions appeared during presidential or gubernatorial election years, races that typically see higher turnouts. Since the latest two-year session began in January 2021, Democratic and Republican legislators have proposed more than 70 changes to the state constitution. Most of these proposed amendments are still stuck at the beginning of the process and havent been considered by lawmakers. Of those actually moving through the General Assembly, two could be on the ballot this year: Spotlight PA scoured this sessions bills to identify all the changes legislators want to make to the state constitution. Well update the below database when new proposals are introduced and as existing ones move through the process. 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. 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. Harrisburg, Pa. Mark Twain famously said, "Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is not enough." If you agree with Mr. Twain, you might want to check out the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's (PLCB) latest lottery. The PLCB's lottery offers the chance for a lucky resident or licensee in Pennsylvania to purchase 1,208 aged bottles of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon. The lottery is part of "an effort to more equitably distribute limited-availability, high-demand products to both individual consumers and licensees," according to lottery's description on Fine Wind and Good Spirits. The lottery line-up of rare Pappy Van Winkle bottles includes: Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 23 Year Old 95 Proof, $399.99 each - 31 bottles for individual consumers, 10 bottles for licensees Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 15 Year Old 107 Proof, $149.99 each - 59 bottles for individual consumers, 19 bottles for licensees Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 20 Year Old 90 Proof, $249.99 each - 70 bottles for individual consumers, 23 bottles for licensees Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Straight Bourbon 10 Year Old 107 Proof, $89.99 each - 211 bottles for individual consumers, 70 bottles for licensees Van Winkle Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 12 Year Old 90 Proof, $99.99 each - 537 bottles for individual consumers, 178 bottles for licensees This year's lineup is missing Family Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey which the distillery reported is due to a gap in their aged inventory. "This year's Van Winkle lottery features fewer bottles for the 10-, 12- and 15-year-old whiskeys than in previous years due to lower than anticipated barrel yields, per information received from Buffalo Trace Distillery," according to the lottery description. Registration for the lottery will remain open until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 28. Winners will be selected the week of Feb. 7, and all winning and non-winning entries will be notified. Interested individuals can register for the lottery at FWGS.com. 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. Lock Haven, Pa. A defense attorney argued that her client simply "turned around for a cigarette" prior to being taken into custody by Lock Haven police. A jury saw it differently as Jonathan Wesley Gadd, 36, of Mill Hall was found guilty on several charges after just a one-hour deliberation. The one-day trial ended with Gadd being found guilty of felony escape and misdemeanors that included resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance. Three officers, including Sergeant Stephen Nero of the Lock Haven City Police Department, testified during the trial. Nero testified that he used a taser to incapacitate Gadd after he pushed an officer, and that officers discovered a small vial that contained four pills and two syringes and a spoon covered in residue on Gadd after the incident that took place in May of 2021. Gadd, who could face a maximum of 13 years in prison, is scheduled to be sentenced on March, 21, 2022. 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. Lewisburg, Pa. Pennsylvania State Police at Milton said a man from Michigan went on a crime spree earlier this month in Lewisburg, after kidnapping his 12-year-old daughter and bringing her along to participate in the acts. Amos Mushatt, 32, of Lansing, allegedly drove a stolen vehicle into the front doors of Blaise Alexander Chrysler, Dodge on Jan. 5 and then stole a brand-new 2021 Ford Bronco before heading to a bank to steal cash, according to Pennsylvania State Police at Milton. Related reading: Stolen vehicle driven through local car dealerships front door According to a news release, Mushatt used a stolen 2020 Ram Promaster work van to drive through the front doors of the dealership and caused extensive damage before locating the Bronco keys and stealing it. Mushatt drove the Bronco several miles north to 1st National Bank on Ziegler Road in Kelly Township, where he allegedly used a large landscaping rock to break a window. Once inside, Mushatt used the rock to break open two coin safes and damaged a larger safe, according to the release. He got away with $775.01 in coins. Police said the 12-year-old daughter also actively participated in the crime acts. Mushatt had violated a custody agreement was being investigated in Michigan for allegedly kidnapping his daughter. Mushatt was apprehended by police on Jan. 15 in Trumbull County, Ohio. He was driving the stolen Bronco at the time and the stolen cash from 1st National Bank was in his possession, according to the release. Mushatt's daughter was safely returned to a family member. Mushatt remains incarcerated in Ohio awaiting extradition. Two sets each of felony burglary, theft, and criminal mischief charges were filed at the office of District Judge Jeffrey A. Rowe where Mushatt will be arraigned once he arrives in Union County. 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. Montgomery, Pa. Police discovered needles, baggies of fentanyl, and other drug paraphernalia scattered around a bassinet where a three-month-old went into cardiac arrest on Wednesday, Jan. 26 in an apartment at 25 S. Main Street in Montgomery. The baby was then pronounced dead at UPMC Muncy. Police twice visited the home of Tallia Germa Charlebois, 27, on January 26. The first visit, at 5:30 a.m., was in response to a complainants request that PSP Montoursville perform a welfare check on Charlebois and the infant. The complainant, Natalie Soloman, said Charlebois had called her to come over the previous night to help her clean her apartment for a CYS visit. Solomon said she arrived at the apartment around 11:30 p.m. She said by 1 or 1:30 the morning of Jan. 26, Charlebois was nodding off and stumbling around. She allegedly told Charlebois that she wasnt in good enough condition to care for the baby. Solomon told police that she witnessed Charlebois sitting in a chair located in the nursery holding the victim. Charlebois allegedly struck the victims head off the changing table, causing a red mark on the victims head, according to the police report. Solomon also said she observed blue glassine bags inside a cardboard box in the nursery. Charlebois told police that Solomon had been trying to take the baby from her and been telling her she was a bad mother, according to the affidavit. When Solomon left the apartment, she called police to perform the welfare check. According to the police affidavit, troopers arrived to the apartment at 5:30 a.m. Responding troopers ensured the victim was awake, alert, and not in need of medical attention. Additionally, when troopers cleared the scene, Charlebois did not appear to be incapable of caring for the victim, the police document stated. The second police visit, on January 26 at 1:33 p.m., was a response to Charlebois' call for an infant victim in cardiac arrest. When EMS arrived on scene, Charlebois advised EMS to use Narcan on the victim, the affidavit stated. At approximately 1458 hours, it was relayed to on-scene Troopers that the victim was deceased. According to the affidavit, Charlebois did admit to police that she snorted a partial bag of fentanyl in her bathroom at approximately 1 a.m. on January 26. After securing a search warrant for the apartment, troopers discovered five clear baggies in a dresser, a glass pipe, a yellow wipe out container in a baby swing that contained needles, and a glassine baggie on the floor next to the bassinet. A yellow handbag was also discovered on the floor near the bassinet that contained a baggie of fentanyl and a clear baggie with various types of pills. Magisterial District Judge Christian Frey denied bail for Charlebois after charging her with second-degree felony involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children. Charlebois was also charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and use or possession of drug paraphernalia. Charlebois will appear on Feb. 4 for a preliminary hearing. Until then she will remain incarcerated at the Lycoming County Prison. 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. Tillamook, OR (97141) Today Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 46F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 46F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. A herdsmen family have breakfast at home in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Veterinarians make a round of visits in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Herdsmen herd sheep in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) A herdsman herds sheep in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge) Aerial photo taken on Jan. 25, 2022 shows herdsmen herding sheep in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) A herdsmen family have breakfast at home in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge) Children play at home in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2022. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Aerial photo taken on Jan. 25, 2022 shows the Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Photo taken on Jan. 26, 2022 shows a herdsmen's house in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Two children play around their house in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 26, 2022. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge) A veterinarian makes a round of visits in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge) A veterinarian makes a round of visits in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) A woman makes tea at home in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 24, 2022. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Aerial photo taken on Jan. 26, 2022 shows the Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Photo taken on Jan. 24, 2022 shows sheep in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Li Zhihao) Veterinarians talk to a herdsman during a round of visits in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 25, 2022. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge) A herdsman rides on a horse in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 26, 2022. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Li Zhihao) Aerial photo taken on Jan. 25, 2022 shows herdsmen herding sheep in Akyaz Valley in Zhaosu County, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Akyaz Valley is an important winter pasture for herdsmen in Zhaosu. Every year, herdsmen would migrate along the Akyaz River, driving over 500,000 cattle with them to settle in the valley for the winter. With an average altitude of 3,000 meters, the Akyaz Valley has abundant grass, water and a warmer climate, thanks to the surrounding mountains which block the cold winds. In recent years, while protecting the nomadic tradition, the local government has tried to improve the living conditions in the valley by upgrading the roads, building new communication facilities, installing photovoltaic generators for herdsmen's houses, and constructing animal husbandry hospitals. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Honor has announced that it will attend MWC 2022 next month in Barcelona. While the company is light on details at the moment, it has teased that the global launch event will harness 'The Power of Magic'. Potentially, MWC 2022 could mark the Magic V's arrival, the company's first foldable smartphone. 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 Earlier this month, Honor revealed the Magic V, its first foldable smartphone and one of the few released since its split from Huawei. While Honor can sell smartphones outside China without US sanctions, it has not introduced the Magic V elsewhere. However, that could change next month at MWC 2022 in Barcelona. According to a press release, Honor will attend MWC on February 28, the first day of the four-day conference. The company states that its global launch event will commence at 13:00 CET (12:00 UTC), during which it will bring 'The Power of Magic'. Undoubtedly, Honor will announce a new Magic smartphone, its preferred branding for mobile devices. According to reports, Samsung is to simplify how it distributes software updates. Starting in Europe, the company will release a single update across the region for a given device, rather than one per country. The simplification should also accelerate Android update rollouts, such as One UI 4.0. 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 Reputedly, Samsung has started simplifying how it distributes software updates. To date, Samsung creates country-specific updates, identifiable by Country Specific Codes (CSC). However, GalaxyClub alleges that Samsung has begun developing a single European firmware, 'EUX', for the likes of the Galaxy Z Flip3, Galaxy Z Fold3 and the Galaxy A52 4G. Previously, Samsung would have developed distinct firmware updates per country. Now, these smartphones should receive the same firmware across Europe, regardless of which Member State in which people purchased them. Reportedly, Samsung's initial tests have gone well, as GalaxyClub claims that Samsung hopes to harmonise its EUX development branch across Europe. Theoretically, this change would apply to the Galaxy A, Galaxy M and the Galaxy S series, including the upcoming Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+ and the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The change in development style should benefit more than just Samsung, though. Since Samsung will develop significantly fewer versions of the same firmware, it should allow the company to roll out major OS updates in a more timely manner. Additionally, adopting a unified CSC should also enable more people to test One UI beta builds. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits the home of a Huajian Village local in Minqin County of Wuwei City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Li visited Jinchang and Wuwei of Gansu Province from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) LANZHOU, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has stressed the need to consolidate the results of poverty alleviation work and coordinate COVID-19 prevention and control with economic and social development. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for practical work to improve the people's well-being during his visit to Jinchang and Wuwei of northwest China's Gansu Province from Thursday to Friday. He visited various market stalls and a restaurant to learn about the supply, sales and prices of holiday goods in the Jinsanjiao market, Jinchang City. "China has a large number of micro, small and medium-sized firms and individually run businesses, which directly links to employment and supports the livelihoods of countless families," Li said. The country is considering increased tax and fee cut policies, Li said, urging local governments to devise plans for other fee cuts. In Minqin County of Wuwei City, Li said that desertification control and management is a major issue for the improvement of the ecological environment and the local living environment, which will continue to be supported and invested in by China. Efforts should be made to ensure the supply of drugs for rare diseases and increase aid for families in need, Li said while in the home of a Huajian Village local, adding that the country is also mulling more subsidies for agricultural supplies to support spring farming. While visiting a non-ferrous metals company, Li called for efforts to stabilize production and increase productivity, strengthen coordination among large, medium-sized and small enterprises in the industrial chain, and make more contributions to stabilizing the supplies and prices of bulk commodities. Li urged the company to fully leverage the preferential tax policies to expand investment in research and development, and develop more key materials and highly processed products. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a non-ferrous metals company in northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 28, 2022. Li visited Jinchang and Wuwei of Gansu Province from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, learns about desertification control and management in Minqin County of Wuwei City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Li visited Jinchang and Wuwei of Gansu Province from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a market stall to learn about the supply, sales and prices of holiday goods in the Jinsanjiao market, Jinchang City of northwest China's Gansu Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Li visited Jinchang and Wuwei of Gansu Province from Thursday to Friday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Skyline Middle School Assistant Principal Michelle Edwards, left, shows Sarah Green and her daughter, Caroline, a program used by counselors at an open house in the school on Wednesday. Within weeks of a Tennessee school district moving to ban "Maus," a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel depicting the horrors of the Holocaust, readers are propelling it to the top of best seller lists more than 30 years after it was first published. The hardcover edition of "The Complete Maus," which includes parts one and two of Art Spiegelman's opus, is topping Amazon's list of best-selling books, holding the No. 1 and No. 2 slots at different times Monday morning. Parts one and two of "Maus" hold the third and ninth spots on the best sellers list respectively. (As of publication time, "Maus" has not appeared on the Amazon Charts, the site's weekly list of books that are read and sold the most through the platform. The best seller list CNN is citing is updated hourly.) On January 10, the McMinn County, Tennessee, Board of Education removed "Maus" from the eighth-grade English language arts curriculum, citing "rough, objectionable language" and a drawing of a nude woman. "Maus," which was initially serialized and then published in two volumes in 1986 and 1992, is a blend of historical fiction and memoir that follows Spiegelman's Jewish parents in 1940s Poland, from their early experiences of anti-Semitism to their internment in Auschwitz. It depicts Jewish people as mice and Nazis as cats. Spiegelman told CNN last week he was still trying to "wrap [his] brain around" the ban. "I think they're so myopic in their focus and they're so afraid of what's implied and having to defend the decision to teach 'Maus' as part of the curriculum that it led to this kind of daffily myopic response," he said on CNN's "New Day." Banning books from being taught in schools can lead readers to seek out the book in droves. Angie Thomas, author of "The Hate U Give," an acclaimed novel about a Black teen who witnesses her childhood best friend's killing at the hands of police, said last year that after a Texas school district banned the novel from schools in 2017, residents bought "tens of thousands of copies in a week in that same district." Controversy can also prompt readers to revisit other works by an author. After Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced six books by the iconic children's author would not longer be published because of their offensive content, a slew of Dr. Seuss titles soared to the top of Amazon's best sellers list. (Notably, none of the discontinued books were among the best sellers.) The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. CNN's Chris Boyette contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Munster plastic surgeon donated to help Northwest Indiana women get timely treatment for breast cancer. Board-certified plastic surgeon David Robinson donated to the Womens Diagnostic Centers of Community Healthcare System to help uninsured patients who cannot afford diagnostic breast care that often has proven to be life-saving. He and his practice, Indiana Plastic Surgery, gave $2,500 to the Breast Cancer Awareness Fund at Community. Robinson and his staff raised the money in honor of his late mother, Virginia Robinson. She died in 2015 of other, unrelated causes after surviving a 28-year struggle with breast cancer. She had been married to Edward P. Robinson, who served from 1967 to 2003 as the administrator of Community Hospital in Munster, where she was involved in the programs and services. She was, for instance, guest of honor at the inaugural Lights of Life tree lighting ceremony, which raises funds to help the Community Cancer Research Foundation make advances in cancer research to benefit local patients. Her son David Robinson's donation will help fund the mammography used to diagnose breast cancer, which is the second leading cause of death in women after only lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. The Womens Diagnostic Centers of Community Healthcare System offer same-day appointments for 3D mammography that results in same-day results and treatment within 10 days of diagnosis. The facilities have attained national accreditations for mammography, breast imaging, breast ultrasound, stereotactic breast biopsy and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. We are so grateful for this donation, said Mary Nicholson, medical director of Community Hospital Womens Diagnostic Center in Munster and regional director of Breast Imaging Services for Community Healthcare System. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Robinson and his practice, this funding will allow us to provide excellent care to many more patients. For more information, visit COMHS.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Purdue University Northwest alumnus David Roberts and his wife Susan Roberts have donated $3 million to the university for an Impact Lab. The Impact Lab is planned to be a workspace for entrepreneurship, innovation and collaboration. Susan and I have dedicated our gifting to two causes: medical research and the education of students studying engineering and technology, David Roberts said in a news release. When PNW Chancellor Tom Keon and Dean Niaz Latif approached us about the opportunity to invest in the Impact Lab, it took very little time for us to say yes to the opportunity to create a place for students, educators and entrepreneurs to collaborate on innovative ideas and concepts that will strengthen the manufacturing base in Northwest Indiana. The lab will serve as a regional hub and will contribute to development in the area, including incubating new businesses, scaling existing businesses and providing a physical collaborative work space, according to the university. Purdue is currently evaluating potential sites near the Hammond campus for the lab. It will have a manufacturing technology laboratory, "makerspace" and a scientific research and development space. Chancellor Thomas Keon said he is hopeful the lab will open by the end of 2022. The idea of creating products and developing people that will Ignite the Region was the major driving force in our decision, Roberts said in the release, referring to a study by the Northwest Indiana Forum describing possibilities for growth in the Region. I began my work career in Northwest Indiana 50 years ago and at that time, the Region was a manufacturing powerhouse. Hopefully the Impact Lab will help it return to its former stature. The impact lab has been part of Keons vision for the university for nearly two years. He said he knows there are a lot of groups in Northwest Indiana that are interested in contributing to businesses and starting their own, but may not have the space for it. We shouldnt just be a bedroom community to Chicago, we should be thinking of new areas to expand to, economically, Keon said. He said it is important to bring in new economic development to the area, outside of manufacturing. Niaz Latif, dean of the College of Technology at PNW, said this is part of PNWs effort to scale up economic development. Latif said he is excited about the Impact Lab's potential. This is not the first time the Robertses have donated to the university. They previously contributed to the construction and refurbishing of the David Roberts Center for Innovation and Design, along with the Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes the United States' generalization of the concept of national security, its abuse of state power and its repeated malicious suppression of Chinese telecom operators in the absence of facts, the Ministry of Commerce said on Friday. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Thursday revoked China Unicom America's authority to provide telecom services in the United States. The move is a severe deviation from market-oriented principles, and it has damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and consumers, including those in the United States, and disrupted the normal order of the international economy and trade, the ministry said. The ministry urged the United States to immediately cease its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies and treat Chinese firms investing and operating in the United States fairly. The Chinese side will take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, according to the ministry. HAMMOND The former owner of a suburban Lake County ambulance service is avoiding prison for defrauding the government of millions of dollars in health care aid. Basil Ubanwa, 63, of Crown Point must serve a 12-month period of probation and assessed a $50,000 fine on him. But U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon declined to imprison Ubanwa under the terms of a plea agreement negotiated last summer between Ubanwas attorney, Daniel M. Purdom of Chicago and the U.S. Attorneys office in Hammond. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abizer Zanzi states in court papers his office agreed to probation for Ubanwa because of Ubanwas health issues as well as to relieve witnesses Northwest Ambulance Services customers of the burden of traveling into court to testify at a jury trial. Ubanwa gave up his right to make the government prove a health care fraud case against him before a jury in return for a leniency. Ubanwa also has agreed to pay $2.1 million in restitution. The government seized more than $1.9 million from the defendants bank accounts six years ago. Zanzi states in a memo to the court that Ubanwa orchestrated a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid of millions of dollars through a Crown Point-based ambulance company he once owned and operated from 2007 through 2018. The government claims his company became the second highest Medicare/Medicaid-paid ambulance provider in Indiana, generating $17 million in fees from transporting only 167 patients over those years. Medicare doesnt pay the high cost of ambulance transportation of patients requiring dialysis treatment for kidney failure unless the patients are unable to use wheelchair vans. The government alleged Ubanwa skirted this regulation by instructing his employees to falsify its data to Medicare/Medicaid about the patients' mobility. The government claimed a former employee told investigators Ubanwa threatened to fire her if she didnt falsify data as he ordered. Federal agents observed at least one patient walking on her own from one of Ubanwas ambulances into her home after a dialysis treatment. 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. CROWN POINT Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that has become more prevalent during the coronavirus pandemic, Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter said. About 72% of human trafficking cases in the U.S. involve sex trafficking, but labor trafficking also occurs, he said. The prosecutor issued a public safety announcement Friday about the warning signs of human trafficking and recognized January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Human trafficking often is thought of as something that happens in large metropolitan areas, but it occurs in communities throughout Indiana, Carter said. As more young people deal with economic and home life hardships, particularly because of the pandemic, it can become easier to become trapped into being trafficked, he said. Those most vulnerable to sex trafficking include youths in the welfare or juvenile justice systems, homeless children and runaways. It's rare for human trafficking victims to be randomly kidnapped and forced into the practice. Most victims are typically trafficked by someone they know, Carter said. Warning signs of human trafficking in juveniles or young adults include unexplained absences, skipping school, use of more than one phone, expensive gifts such as designer handbags that would otherwise be out of budget, and spending a lot of time with an older person who is relatively new in the younger person's life. About 10,600 cases of human trafficking were reported to the National Human Trafficking hotline in 2020, the latest data available, Carter said. Experts think the number of victims is much higher because human trafficking often is underreported, Carter said. In some cases, victims don't realize they are victims. Carter said his office is doing all it can to prosecutor human trafficking cases when they come to light. "By raising awareness and watching out for each other, we can make sure the scourge of trafficking doesnt visit Lake County," Carter said. Anyone who notices something suspicious should call his or her local law enforcement agency or the National Human Trafficking hotline at 888-373-7888. 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. Hoosiers who believe Indiana should scrap its secure electronic voting machines in favor of hand-marked and hand-counted paper ballots may never know how many members of the General Assembly share their opinion. The leader of the Republican-controlled House used a procedural maneuver Thursday to prevent state Rep. Curt Nisly, R-Milford, from getting a chamber vote on his proposal to return Indiana elections solely to paper ballots. Nisly, a professional computer programmer, said he has no objection to technology. But he said more than 50% of Americans don't trust voting machines and want to go back to marking paper ballots to elect candidates for local, state and national office. "Elections are based on trust," Nisly said. "We need to be able to trust that the vote we cast is the vote that is counted." Under Nisly's proposed amendment to House Bill 1116, Indiana's paper ballots would have to be printed on security paper and counted by hand after the polls close. The legislation also would have permitted a machine ballot count subsequently be used to verify the hand count, a reversal of the current process where a hand count can be requested to verify an electronic vote tally. State Rep. Dan Leonard, R-Huntington, objected to Nisly's proposed amendment. He claimed the change was not germane to the underlying legislation as required by House rules. House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, concurred with Leonard's objection, and the House then voted 83-10 via electronic device to deny Nisly a vote on his proposal by sustaining the ruling of the chair. Nisly unsuccessfully argued his proposal could not be more related to the underlying proposal, which limits who is permitted to submit a mail-in ballot and speeds the required use of paper audit trails for electronic voting machines but provides no funds for counties to convert their machines. Leonard said his objection stemmed from Nisly creating a different statutory regime for voting in Indiana instead of modifying specific components of the legislation as House rules direct. 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. Local author Dave Woerpel will appear at America's Antique Mall in Highland this weekend for a book reading and storytelling event. Woerpel is a Hammond city council member who previously served on the park board and as the chair of the Hammond Democratic Party. He represents the 5th district and serves as the council president. He recently wrote the memoir "Nothing Like I Planned" about growing up in Hammond and what mail carriers really go through. "In my opinion, the book is an outstanding piece of whimsical humor of a person growing up in Hammond, Indiana," said Jim Roumbos, owner of Miles Books in downtown Highland. "Dave also recounts the trials and tribulations he experienced as a mailman in Hammond." Woerpel will sign copies of the book and tell tales about growing up in Northwest Indiana at 1 p.m. Saturday at America's Antique Mall at 8311 Indianapolis Blvd. in Highland, across from Wicker Park at the intersection of Indianapolis Boulevard and Ridge Road. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit americasantiquemall.com or call (219) 237-2386. . Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. NEWTON COUNTY After being ejected in a rollover crash, a man was airlifted to a trauma hospital Thursday. At 12:27 p.m. Newton County dispatchers were alerted of a single-vehicle rollover crash on Indiana 55 near County Road 1300 South, about three miles north of Goodland, said Newton County Sheriff's Capt. Shannon Cothran. When first responders arrived, they found a 27-year-old Fowler man who had been ejected from his vehicle. Newton County EMS personnel transported him and he was later airlifted to a trauma center. His current condition is unknown. Good Samaritans driving in the area provided aid in the wreck. "The Newton County Sheriffs Office would like to thank the numerous motorists that stopped at this scene to assist," Cothran said. "We appreciate your efforts." The drivers identity has not been released and the crash remains under investigation. Police warned motorists about being cautious while driving under winter weather conditions. "During this time of year there are many occasions where the roads may be clear and dry in one area but there are patches that become snow and/or ice covered," Cothran said. "Please use caution when driving during this time of year." Newton County Sheriff's deputies were assisted by Newton County 9-1-1, Goodland Fire Department, Newton County EMS and Lutheran Air. 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. As the raging omicron variant of COVID-19 infects workers across the nation, millions of those whose jobs don't provide paid sick days are having to choose between their health and their paycheck. While many companies instituted more robust sick leave policies at the beginning of the pandemic, some of those have since been scaled back with the rollout of the vaccines, even though omicron has managed to evade the shots. Meanwhile, the current labor shortage is adding to the pressure of workers having to decide whether to show up to their job sick if they can't afford to stay home. "It's a vicious cycle," said Daniel Schneider, professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. "As staffing gets depleted because people are out sick, that means that those that are on the job have more to do and are even more reluctant to call in sick when they in turn get sick." Low-income hourly workers are especially vulnerable. Nearly 80% of all private sector workers get at least one paid sick day, according to a national compensation survey of employee benefits conducted in March by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But only 33% of workers whose wages are at the bottom 10% get paid sick leave, compared with 95% in the top 10%. A survey this past fall of roughly 6,600 hourly low-wage workers conducted by Harvard's Shift Project, which focuses on inequality, found that 65% of those workers who reported being sick in the last month said they went to work anyway. That's lower than the 85% who showed up to work sick before the pandemic, but much higher than it should be in the middle of a public health crisis. Schneider says it could get worse because of omicron and the labor shortage. What's more, Schneider noted that the share of workers with paid sick leave before the pandemic barely budged during the pandemic 50% versus 51% respectively. He further noted many of the working poor surveyed don't even have $400 in emergency funds, and families will now be even more financially strapped with the expiration of the child tax credit, which had put a few hundred dollars in families' pockets every month. The Associated Press interviewed one worker who started a new job with the state of New Mexico last month and started experiencing COVID-like symptoms earlier in the week. The worker, who asked not to be named because it might jeopardize their employment, took a day off to get tested and two more days to wait for the results. A supervisor called and told the worker they would qualify for paid sick days only if the COVID test turns out to be positive. If the test is negative, the worker will have to take the days without pay, since they haven't accrued enough time for sick leave. "I thought I was doing the right thing by protecting my co-workers," said the worker, who is still awaiting the results and estimates it will cost $160 per day of work missed if they test negative. "Now I wish I just would've gone to work and not said anything." A Trader Joe's worker in California, who also asked not to be named because they didn't want to risk their job, said the company lets workers accrue paid time off that they can use for vacations or sick days. But once that time is used up, employees often feel like they can't afford to take unpaid days. "I think many people now come to work sick or with what they call 'allergies' because they feel they have no other choice," the worker said. Trader Joe's offered hazard pay until last spring, and even paid time off if workers had COVID-related symptoms. But the worker said those benefits have ended. The company also no longer requires customers to wear masks in all of its stores. Other companies are similarly curtailing sick time that they offered earlier in the pandemic. Kroger, the country's biggest traditional grocery chain, is ending some benefits for unvaccinated salaried workers in an attempt to compel more of them to get the jab as COVID-19 cases rise again. Unvaccinated workers enrolled in Kroger's health care plan will no longer be eligible to receive up to two weeks paid emergency leave if they become infected a policy that was put into place last year when vaccines were unavailable. Meanwhile, Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, is slashing pandemic-related paid leave in half from two weeks to one after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reduced isolation requirements for people who don't have symptoms after they test positive. Workers have received some relief from a growing number of states. In the last decade, 14 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws or ballot measures requiring employers to provide paid sick leave, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. On the federal front, however, the movement has stalled. Congress passed a law in the spring of 2020 requiring most employers to provide paid sick leave for employees with COVID-related illnesses. But the requirement expired on Dec. 31 of that same year. Congress later extended tax credits for employers who voluntarily provide paid sick leave, but the extension lapsed at the end of September, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In November, the U.S. House passed a version of President Joe Biden's Build Back Better plan that would require employers to provide 20 days of paid leave for employees who are sick or caring for a family member. But the fate of that bill is uncertain in the Senate. "We can't do a patchwork sort of thing. It has to be holistic. It has to be meaningful," said Josephine Kalipeni, executive director at Family Values @ Work, a national network of 27 state and local coalitions helping to advocate for such policies as paid sick days. The U.S. is one of only 11 countries worldwide without any federal mandate for paid sick leave, according to a 2020 study by the World Policy Analysis Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. On the flipside are small business owners like Dawn Crawley, CEO of House Cleaning Heroes, who can't afford to pay workers when they are out sick. But Crawley is trying to help in other ways. She recently drove one cleaner who didn't have a car to a nearby testing site. She later bought the cleaner some medicine, orange juice and oranges. "If they are out, I try to give them money but at the same time my company has got to survive," Crawley said. "If the company goes under, no one has work." Even when paid sick leave is available, workers aren't always made aware of it. Ingrid Vilorio, who works at a Jack in the Box restaurant in Castro Valley, California, started feeling sick last March and soon tested positive for COVID. Vilorio alerted a supervisor, who didn't tell her she was eligible for paid sick leave as well as supplemental COVID leave under California law. Vilorio said her doctor told her to take 15 days off, but she decided to take just 10 because she had bills to pay. Months later, a co-worker told Vilorio she was owed sick pay for the time she was off. Working through Fight for $15, a group that works to unionize fast food workers, Vilorio and her colleagues reported the restaurant to the county health department. Shortly after that, she was given back pay. But Vilorio, who speaks Spanish, said through a translator that problems persist. Workers are still getting sick, she said, and are often afraid to speak up. "Without our health, we can't work," she said. "We're told that we're front line workers, but we're not treated like it." ___ D'Innocenzio reported from New York and Durbin reported from Detroit. As expected, the computer models have come into better agreement on the next round of lake effect snow to impact Northwest Indiana. While the forecast for up to 6 inches of snow has not changed, the area that has the potential to see that much now appears much smaller than it did Wednesday. Isolated snow showers are in the forecast for the entire Region Thursday. After midnight though, the amount of snow coming down will vary significantly. While periods of heavy snow are expected in northwestern Lake County, there may be no snow at all in eastern LaPorte County. This is due to the fact that the center of the lake effect snow band is now expected to set up near downtown Chicago. Friday morning will be more of the same. While lake effect snow will continue to dump across northwestern Lake County and Cook County in Illinois, significantly less will be falling across the rest of the Region. As far as the Friday morning commute goes, very few problems are expected for LaPorte, Porter, Newton, and Jasper counties. Even the southeastern part of Lake County probably won't be that bad. For anyone driving in northwestern Lake County and to Chicago though, it will be a very different story. Visibility will likely be greatly reduced and snow covered roads are expected. Ideally, travel should be avoided in this area. If you do have to get to work in Chicago Friday morning, give yourself plenty of extra time to get there. Drive below the speed limit and increase your following distance. For the rest of Friday, the lake effect snow band will be shifting to the east while losing its intensity. The afternoon hours Friday will bring Porter County its greatest chance of snow, but it will only be light to moderate in intensity. Friday evening looks like the best chance of snow in LaPorte County. All snow showers and flurries will exit the Region during the overnight hours. Dry conditions with partly cloudy skies are in the forecast for Saturday. Here are the amounts of snow that are expected to fall from Thursday night through Friday night at various locations across Northwest Indiana. In general, more to the north and west and less to the south and east. Hammond: 3 to 6 inches Portage: 0.5 to 2.5 inches Crown Point: 0.25 to 2 inches Michigan City: 0.5 to 1.5 inches Valparaiso: 0.25 to 1 inches LaPorte: 0.25 to 1 inches Newton County: 0 to 0.5 inches Jasper County: 0 to 0.25 inches As far as temperatures go, look for lows Thursday night to reach around 10 degrees. With winds gusting around 20 mph though, "feels like" temperatures will be in the low single digits. The wind will not be an issue for Friday or Saturday, but unfortunately temperatures look to stay below normal for this time of year. Highs Friday will be in the upper teens with low temperatures expected at or near zero degrees Friday night. Saturday will not be much warmer with high temperatures only in the low 20s. 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 0 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. Iran has dismissed the possibility of a meeting between the countrys president, Hassan Rouhani, and President Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next week, the countrys state-run news media reported on Monday. Neither is such a plan on our agenda nor will such a thing happen, Seyed Abbas Mousavi, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said at a news conference, according to Fars, a state-run outlet. This meeting will not be held. Mr. Mousavi added that if the United States stops economic terrorism and returns to the nuclear deal, then they may sit at a corner and be present within the framework of the nuclear deal member states. His comments come after an attack on two major oil installations in Saudi Arabia on Saturday further escalated tensions between Iran and the United States. The Houthi rebels in Yemen, who receive support from Iran, claimed responsibility for the strikes, but the Trump administration has accused Tehran of being behind the attack. Taking more steps during the day may be related to better sleep at night, according to an encouraging new study of lifestyle and sleep patterns. The study, which delved into the links between walking and snoozing, suggests that being active can influence how well we sleep, whether we actually exercise or not. Sleep and exercise scientists have long been intrigued and befuddled by the ties between physical activity and somnolence. To most of us, it might seem as if that relationship should be uncomplicated, advantageous and one-way. You work out, grow tired and sleep better that night. But a variety of past studies indicate that the effects of exercise on sleep are more scrambled than that. In some studies, when people work out strenuously, they sleep relatively poorly, suggesting that intense exercise might disrupt slumber. Other experiments have found that the impacts of exertion and sleep work both ways; after a night of ragged sleep, people often report finding their normal workout extra wearing. Past research also has produced conflicting results about whether and how the timing of exercise matters, and if afternoon workouts aid or impair that nights sleep. Most of these past studies have focused on planned exercise, though, not more incidental, everyday physical activity, and much of the research has involved people with clinical sleep problems, such as insomnia. Little has been known about whether simply moving around more during the day, absent formal exercise, might influence sleep, particularly in people who already tend to sleep fairly well. Side or Stomach Position Adults already spend the majority of time sleeping on their side, and research has found that people spend more time sleeping on their side as they age. Still, there isnt evidence to suggest that a certain body position leads to better sleep, and the sleep doctors I spoke to said you cant really control your movement while youre asleep anyway. The average adult only spends about 7 percent of their sleep time on their stomach, but I already fall asleep on my stomach as a rule. I cant drift off unless Im in a very specific position with my arms pinned underneath me, my face turned to the right side, and my right leg in a figure four. Shush The adult equivalent of shushing a baby is white noise or a fan (which can be used on babies as well). A meta-review of 38 studies reviewing the efficacy of noise as a sleep aid published this year showed that the evidence for this is weak. There was a lack of consistency in the research many of the studies used a different kind of background noise and some studies found that if the noise was too loud, it actually interrupted sleep, and could be bad for your hearing. That said, Clinically, if someone tells me they sleep better with the fan on, thats perfectly fine, but its not something I would recommend to everyone, said Jennifer Mundt, an assistant professor of neurology specializing in sleep at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. I live adjacent to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, so I have been using a white noise app on my iPad and have conditioned myself to associate white noise with getting sleepy. That can be comforting, said Dr. Mundt. Swing Rocking an infant helps put them to sleep, and the SNOO, a bassinet that uses motion and sound to calm a baby an invention of the aforementioned Dr. Harvey Karp is a hot ticket registry item. Theres a passage in a famous essay by David Foster Wallace, written about his trip on a luxury cruise ship, where he claims that heavy seas are great for sleep, because you feel rocked to sleep, the windows spume a gentle shushing, engines throb a mothers pulse. Unfortunately, none of the experts I spoke to knew of any research that tested the efficacy of rocking a grown-up on land or on the high seas, though, There is probably a market for an adult SNOO, said Dr. Mundt. TEHRAN, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Friday held a phone conversation with Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres, on regional issues and Vienna nuke talks, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website. Amir Abdollahian referred to the conflict in Yemen, stressing Iran's "continued approach to supporting a political solution to end the war in that country." He called for the UN to play a greater role in Yemen and urged special attention to the humanitarian crisis and the situation of Afghan refugees. "The Islamic Republic of Iran in the past few months has received about eight hundred thousand new refugees from Afghanistan," the foreign minister was quoted as saying. He reiterated Iran's position in forming an inclusive government in Afghanistan, and voiced his country's readiness to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid from the international community to Afghanistan through Iran. Regarding the ongoing talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna between Iran and the world powers to remove U.S. sanctions and the restoration of the 2015 nuclear deal, Amir Abdollahian described the process as "positive," stressing the Iranian expectation for "a good agreement as soon as possible." He underlined what he called "lack of trust in the White House authorities," urging the need for "practical, tangible, and verifiable action by the West and the United States to prove a lasting and credible (nuclear) agreement." For his part, Guterres appreciated the "constructive" positions of Iran on Yemen and Afghanistan, calling for "the right conditions for all Afghan citizens, especially women and children, to enjoy human rights and access to education." He also welcomed any progress in the nuclear talks and lifting of anti-Iran sanctions, saying that the UN has always supported the efforts for a nuclear agreement and international peace. Undated file photo shows a relic at Harvard Art Museums which is believed to have been unearthed from Jincun Village in the city of Luoyang, central China's Henan Province. (Xu Jian/Shanghai University/Handout via Xinhua) ZHENGZHOU, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- An archaeological survey of a royal mausoleum of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 B.C.-256 B.C.) has been launched in central China's Henan Province, the cultural relics and archaeology research institute of Luoyang confirmed on Thursday. The mausoleum is located in Jincun Village in the city of Luoyang, covering an area of about one square km. The archaeological survey, carried out by the cultural relics and archaeology research institute of Luoyang, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai University and other relevant local organs, is scheduled to comprise three phases and last for five years. "Detailed exploration and modern geophysical exploration technologies will be utilized to probe into the mausoleum area, but this will not involve the kings' tombs," said Yan Hui, an official with the cultural relics and archaeology research institute of Luoyang. Archaeologists said that many tombs of Eastern Zhou dukes have previously been found in the country, but none of the tombs of the kings of the dynasty, of the highest grade, have been discovered in its entirety so far. Archaeologists also believe that the survey is of great significance in tracing cultural relics that have gone missing from the mausoleum. From 1928 to 1932, thousands of cultural relics from the mausoleum in Jincun, such as objects made of gold, silver, bronze and jade, were stolen by tomb raiders. The relics have been found in dozens of cities in more than 10 countries. "The survey can provide reliable evidence for the repatriation of those lost cultural relics from Jincun," said Zhao Xiaojun, head of the cultural relics and archaeology research institute of Luoyang. Undated file photo shows an archaeologist conducting survey of a royal mausoleum of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 B.C.-256 B.C.) in Jincun Village in Luoyang, central China's Henan Province. (Cultural relics and archaeology research institute of Luoyang/Handout via Xinhua) Undated file photo shows a relic at the Royal Ontario Museum. (Xu Jian/Shanghai University/Handout via Xinhua) Undated file photo shows the site of a royal mausoleum of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 B.C.-256 B.C.) in Jincun Village in the city of Luoyang, central China's Henan Province. (Cultural relics and archaeology research institute of Luoyang/Handout via Xinhua) WASHINGTON A federal judge on Thursday canceled oil and gas leases of more than 80 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico, ruling that the Biden administration did not sufficiently take climate change into account when it auctioned the leases late last year. The decision by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia is a major victory for environmental groups that criticized the Biden administration for holding the sale after promising to move the country away from fossil fuels. It had been the largest lease sale in United States history. Now the Interior Department must conduct a new environmental analysis that accounts for the greenhouse gas emissions that would result from the eventual development and production of the leases. After that, the agency will have to decide whether it will hold a new auction. This is huge, said Brettny Hardy, a senior attorney for Earthjustice, one of several environmental groups that brought the lawsuit. If there is one impulse that unites Feinsteins oeuvre, it is perhaps this desire to tap into shared lexicons. The grid figures prominently in her work, both as a continuation of the abstract tradition and in recognition of how it shapes modern life, including our inner landscapes. Always, she seeks to find the grid as it exists in the world already, often in unexpected places. The result is sometimes diaristic. In Brainchild (1993), for example, titled after a childhood nickname given to her by her mother, Feinstein drew inspiration from a drawer in which her mother kept bits of string used to tie bakery boxes; like so many who lived through the Great Depression, she found such things impossible to discard. Conceiving of the brains quadrants as a grid, Feinstein divided a canvas into four parts and filled each with butchers twine and ombre-colored yarn glued in coiled formations then painted over them with black, gray and white acrylic paints. The result is not beautiful but absorbing I dont want to make work thats beautiful, said Feinstein interpretable literally as a representation of the brains gray matter but also as a tactile portrayal of muted disarray and psychic compartmentalization. The grid is revealed as an organizing principle but also a fragmenting one, resisting wholeness. Its difficult to summarize Feinsteins output, and thats no accident. I made a practice of not working serially and not refining, she said. This approach is clear in The Wonderfuls, a collection of more than a dozen 33-inch square works Feinstein began in the last days of 1990, when, determined to use the last of some red and green paints, she wiped them onto a canvas with a squeegee until the painting took on what she considered to be a hideous resemblance to holiday plaid. She titled that first work Its a Wonderful Life, an arch reference to the 1946 Christmas film. (I hate that movie, Feinstein said. I dont think its about familial love. I think its about money.) Later works in the series include Wonderful Sex (1992), which incorporates a dish towel Feinstein bought at a presidential library in Texas around the time Bill Clinton was making headlines for an alleged affair with Gennifer Flowers, and Wonderful Country (1996), a map she made from photos of food cut from grocery store mailers and embedded in resin. The canvases bear little resemblance to one another but operate together as a meditation on the word wonderful itself, on its vacuity and overuse in American culture. With Mr. Biden still weighing his options, one of his most powerful and important Democratic backers, Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, pressed his case loudly and publicly for his favored candidate, Judge J. Michelle Childs. Mr. Clyburn argued that Judge Childs would sail through the Senate with bipartisan support, including with the backing of her states two Republican senators, Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott. We have two Republican senators from South Carolina, he said at a Washington Post event. Both of them know Michelle Childs very well, and both of them have spoken highly of her. Republicans all over the state think she is an outstanding jurist. A pick who has Republican support would speed the process. Aides to Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, agreed that Judge Childs could earn some measure of Republican support. But she might not be alone. Mr. Graham and two other Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, have already voted to confirm another potential nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the powerful U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, where Supreme Court justices are often seasoned. Judge Childss nomination to the same appellate court is pending before the Judiciary Committee. For now, talk of bipartisanship has not scared liberal groups, which want a progressive nominee and like the names on the short list: Judge Jackson, Judge Childs and Justice Leondra R. Kruger of the California Supreme Court. These are each women who are at the height of their profession, said Fatima Goss Graves, the president and chief executive of the National Womens Law Center. We have historic, groundbreaking firsts up for consideration. Mr. Clyburn, the House majority whip and the highest-ranking Black lawmaker in Congress, resurrected Mr. Bidens flagging quest for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 by endorsing him before the South Carolina primary. And the congressman has never been shy about using the clout he attained from that singular endorsement to press his case. Proceeding with caution Arizona elected two Democratic senators during Trumps term and ultimately voted to oust him in 2020. And even in a national environment that could lift Republicans to the majority, they could still find ways to lose. Scarpinato said he hasnt seen candidates engage in behavior that would tear the party apart or put people in a position where theyre perceived as being unelectable. But he cautioned that Republicans cant become so preoccupied with fighting one another in the primary which is not until August that they delay their attacks against Kelly. They need to start now, Scarpinato said. One Republican national strategist involved in Senate races told us that the top concern for many in his party is that the eventual nominee drains all their resources on the primary, leaving them cash-strapped against Kelly, who ended last year with nearly $20 million in his campaign account. And while others noted that while Republican-aligned outside groups such as the Club for Growth could make up any gaps in spending, money is likely one reason that many Republicans keep hoping Ducey changes his mind and decides to run, Noble said. Ducey was re-elected in 2018 even as Democrats won a Senate seat in Arizona for the first time in decades. Hes already proven he can put together a top-tier statewide campaign operation. But Ducey has said publicly and privately that hes not running, and its easy to see why: Hed have to get through a Republican primary and general election without the support of Trump, who blames him for losing the state in 2020. Just a few weeks ago, Trump reiterated in a statement that Ducey would never have his endorsement or the support of MAGA Nation! One of the great unknowns in the 2022 election is the effect of the presidents approval rating. If it stays in the low 40s, Kelly could be ousted no matter how skilled a campaign he runs, or how bumbling an opponent he faces. I asked Dr. Marr for additional tips on how to take care of a respirator mask to maximize its use. Heres her advice. Q: How can we make sure our masks keep filtering particles? Dr. Marr: This ability can be compromised if any part of the mask is physically damaged in such a way to create leaks. This could be a tear or hole in the mask, a crease that means it doesnt seal to the face, or straps that are too loose to pull the respirator closely to the face. Q: Can a mask get saturated with particles? Dr. Marr: People might be concerned about the respirator filling up with particles, such that the filter material doesnt work anymore, but respirators are designed to handle a large amount of particles and still maintain their filtration ability. Aaron Collins (@masknerd on Twitter) points out that an N95 is designed to handle 200 milligrams of particles, which would be equivalent to wearing it nonstop for 200 days in very polluted air such as in Shanghai. The straps or nose bridge will break, the respirator will lose its shape, or the respirator will become visibly dirty before this happens. Q: If Im exposed to an infected person, will my mask be contaminated? Dr. Marr: It is possible that virus could be on the surface of the respirator, and you could touch it and transfer it to your eyes, nose or mouth. To minimize this risk, you should handle the respirator by the edges and straps and avoid touching the area in front of the nose and mouth. Over time several hours the virus will die off, so we probably dont need to worry about accumulating more than one days worth of infectious virus on the material. There is a scary-sounding study that reports that the virus survives for 14 days on an N95, but the researchers dripped a huge amount of virus onto the material like if you intentionally spit on the mask and removed it by soaking it in liquid, which will transfer more than just touching. Q: So how long do viral particles really survive on a mask? Dr. Marr: We are studying this question using a more realistic way of getting aerosolized virus onto an N95, and the virus decays to nearly undetectable levels in 30 minutes. Q: What do you think about the 40 hours of use rule? Dr. Marr: Forty hours of total use, whether over five eight-hour periods or a bunch of shorter periods, should be fine. The straps may become too loose or break, the respirator may lose its shape, or it may become visibly dirty before the 40 hours are up, in which case you should replace it. I have an N95 that I have worn for two round-trip plane trips totaling 25 plus hours and for attending church a few times, going to the store a few times, and attending a gymnastics meet, and its finally getting dirty enough mainly from rubbing against my face and losing its shape, such that Im planning to toss it. Q: Ive seen advice to air your masks out in multiple paper bags, labeled with the day of the week, and to rotate masks every five days. But most people just toss their masks in a drawer or purse, or hang them on hooks. Does it really matter? WASHINGTON Vice President Kamala Harris visited Honduras on Thursday to attend the presidential inauguration of Xiomara Castro, the countrys first female head of state, who the White House hopes will become a crucial ally in addressing the corruption and emigration that have challenged Central America. Ms. Harriss trip to Central America, her second as vice president, was more than a show of support, but also a sign of the Biden administrations eagerness to pursue a fresh start in tackling the poverty and graft that have pushed thousands of vulnerable families to the U.S. southern border in recent years. Top officials in other nations, including Guatemala, where Ms. Harris pressed for an independent judiciary during her first foreign trip last year, have continued to undermine democratic institutions and challenge Washingtons influence. We must uproot the corruption of the last 12 years of dictatorships, Ms. Castro said after acknowledging Ms. Harriss presence among the dignitaries in Tegucigalpa, the Honduran capital. We have the right to refound ourselves on citizen values and not on usury. Two days after Sarah Palin tested positive for the coronavirus, the former Alaska governor and vice presidential nominee dined outdoors in New York City on Wednesday evening, defying federal guidance that infected people isolate from others for at least five full days. Ms. Palin, who is unvaccinated, returned to Elios, the Upper East Side restaurant where she had been seen dining indoors on Saturday despite the citys requirement that indoor guests show proof of vaccination. Noncompliance can result in a $1,000 fine for business owners. Luca Guaitolini, a manager for the restaurant who confirmed both of Ms. Palins visits in the past week, said the restaurant had just made a mistake on Saturday. Mr. Guaitolini said in a statement on Thursday that she had returned to the restaurant Wednesday to apologize for the fracas around her previous visit. He said Ms. Palin was seated outdoors in accordance with the vaccine mandate and to protect the restaurants staff. We are a restaurant open to the public, and we treat civilians the same, he said. Over the last seven decades, the Broadway star Chita Rivera has taken on and defined some of American musical theaters most iconic roles: Anita in West Side Story, Rose in Bye Bye Birdie, Velma Kelly in Chicago. In her forthcoming memoir, Rivera introduces her fans and readers to a character she has rarely played in public: her alter ego of sorts, Dolores. And Dolores, which is Riveras given name, can be a little prickly, according to Riveras co-author, the journalist Patrick Pacheco. When they first sat down to discuss the memoir in the summer of 2020, Pacheco asked Rivera what people didnt know about her. She said, Well, Im not nearly as nice as people think I am, he recalled. I said, Great, lets introduce the public to her. New York City is pushing forward with an artwork to celebrate the abolitionist movement that some detractors have said is too abstract in a city where so few monuments honor Black people with figurative sculptures. The citys plan, still undergoing review, features a design by the artist Kameelah Janan Rasheed that incorporates messages of social justice into the benches and borders of a new $15 million park in Brooklyn named Abolitionist Place. The site belongs to a corner of Downtown Brooklyn that adjoins 227 Duffield Street, which received landmark status last year for its connection to antislavery advocates of the 1800s. The citys Public Design Commission said it had tabled the discussion of the design plan last January, after a group of preservationists and activists said they thought the plan should feature statuary of the abolitionists. But in September, the city said it was moving forward with the design, prompting a legal challenge filed this month by critics who asked a judge to review the citys approval process. LONDON The painter Francis Bacon was never particularly fond of animals, recalled Michael Peppiatt, one of his biographers, in a recent telephone interview. Bacon largely grew up on a stud farm in Ireland, but he shied away from horses and dogs because they triggered his asthma, Peppiatt said. As an adult, Bacon didnt have pets either, partly because they would have put limits on his bachelor lifestyle, much of which involved frequenting the drinking dens of London. Yet even if Bacon avoided the companionship of animals in his daily life, they were vital to his art. Now, they are the heart of a major exhibition of Bacons work that is opening at the Royal Academy of Arts in London on Saturday. Called Man and Beast, and running until Apr. 17, the exhibition highlights Bacons paintings of animals from screaming chimpanzees to haunting, wide-eyed owls as well as his grotesque half-animal, half-human figures known as the Furies. The exhibition also includes Bacons many paintings of people at their most animalistic, often little more than glistening lumps of flesh, fighting in the frame. BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China will explore the moon's polar regions and is mulling over a manned lunar landing in the coming five years, according to a white paper released on Friday. The white paper, titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective," said China will continue its studies and research "on the plan for a human lunar landing." A new-generation manned spacecraft will be developed to support its exploration of the cislunar space, according to the paper. It is part of the country's ambitious lunar exploration plan after its lunar probes landed on the far side of the moon in 2019 and brought back lunar samples last year, respectively. In the next five years, China is planning to bring two more probes onto the moon to explore its polar regions, a place believed to contain water ice, especially in the deep, permanent shadows of some mountains and craters. China will launch the Chang'e-6 lunar probe to collect and bring back samples from the moon's polar regions and launch the Chang'e-7 to perform a precise landing there and "a hopping detection" in lunar shadowed area, the paper said. Liu Jizhong, director of the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), said at a press conference on Friday that Chang'e-6 will bring new samples from the moon regions of high value and Chang'e-7 will probe the water distribution on the moon. Liu said China has signed an agreement with Russia for a collaborative lunar exploration with Chang'e-7 probe and Russia's "luna-26" orbiter. Wu Yanhua, CNSA's deputy director, said at the press conference that Chang'e-6, Chang'e-7 and Russia's lunar mission will fulfill in about five years the survey job before building a lunar research station. Also, the country will complete R&D on the key technology of Chang'e-8 and push forward the building of an international research station on the moon with global collaboration, according to the paper. China is going to launch Chang'e-8 lunar probe before 2030 to "probe the moon's polar regions and verify key technologies for the lunar research station," said Liu. The program is a counterpart to NASA's Artemis lunar exploration plans that try to return astronauts to the Moon by 2024, and establishes a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by 2028. Wu said China is planning to build, with another decade, a lunar facility like a small town. "It will be equipped with energy system, communication and navigation system, long-distance transport system, space-to-ground round-trip system, ground support system, and life support system if humans are stationed there in the future," said Wu. China's international cooperation will put stress on those missions by 2035 and after that, and multiple scientific investigations can be expected in accordance with different lunar probe task requirements of countries and organizations, according to Wu. In the next five years, China will launch asteroid probes to sample near-Earth asteroids and probe main-belt comets, according to the white paper. The white paper also revealed the country's technological preparations for Mars sampling and return, exploration of Jupiter system and boundary exploration of the solar system. Back to near-Earth orbits, China plans to launch, in the next five years, two experimental modules and a space telescope, complete its space station, build a space lab onboard, and carry out large-scale scientific experiments with astronauts on long-term assignments. Jonathan Brown, an art historian, curator and teacher who produced magisterial studies of Diego Velazquez, El Greco and other painters of the so-called Golden Age of 16th- and 17th-century Spanish painting, and who went on to do groundbreaking work on Spanish colonial art in Latin America, died on Jan. 17 at his home in Princeton, N.J. He was 82. The art historian Edward J. Sullivan, a longtime colleague of Professor Browns at the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, said the death came after a long, unspecified illness. When Professor Brown entered the field in the 1960s, international academic attention to Spanish Baroque art was languishing under the long, repressive dictatorship of Francisco Franco. He recalled that on a college visit to Madrid, he found the galleries of the Prado Museum dark, neglected and all but empty of visitors. By dedicating himself, virtually on the spot, to the art and artists he saw there including the lodestar figure of Velazquez he played a crucial role in bringing a neglected area of Western art history to light. He did so in innovative ways. When he began his career, art history as a discipline was largely connoisseurial in orientation, focused on dating, attribution and iconography. While giving full weight to these matters, Professor Brown also viewed the art of Spain through the filter of social and religious history; he placed careers, personalities, and individual works in the political context of their time, an approach that presaged the direction scholarship would increasingly take. And he presented his research in an accessible, jargon-free style that brought figures from the past to life and connected lived realities of earlier centuries with those of the present. It was sublime. By turns hilarious and tender those dual Didos are very much not played for laughs the show was a small miracle of careful craft and improvisatory looseness, of arch personae and moving sincerity. Costanzo was a superb, well, straight man to Bonds battiness, and their voices one slender and pure, the other husky and vibrato-heavy improbably blended. The return to live performance after a year and a half of lockdowns only increased the poignancy and delight of their obvious mutual love and respect. It was a confection that nourished. It still is. Alongside the release of an album version, the show is an apt opener for the festival Authentic Selves: The Beauty Within, organized by Costanzo as part of his Philharmonic residency. Focused on marginalized identities and (forgive the self-helpism) being yourself, the festivals programs include a pair of premieres sung by Costanzo, as well as a rare countertenor take on Berliozs song cycle Les Nuits dEte. On Thursday I missed Zack Winokurs daffy yet elegant full staging of Only an Octave Apart, especially Jonathan Andersons delirious gowns. But the 90-minute show compressed nicely into a 50-minute concert half, the union between classical and cabaret smoothed by Nico Muhlys lush yet subtle orchestrations. After White House press secretary Jen Psaki said yesterday that President Biden will stand by his commitment to appoint a Black woman to the Supreme Court, a Fox News panel criticized the administrations selection process. Ill take a wild guess and say they have exactly two problems with a Black woman. SETH MEYERS Joe Biden is going to pick a Black woman who is also qualified. These people act like Biden is just going to show up at the mall and be, like, Yo, Shaniqua, come with me. Uh, my name is Regina. It doesnt matter just put on these robes, I need help with abortion. TREVOR NOAH No, shes going to be qualified and why is that a bad thing? Why not make the Supreme Court a little more representative of the country it represents? I mean, their rulings impact the lives of every person in the country, so it would be nice to have at least one justice on there whos had to ask the Walgreens guy to unlock the shampoo shelf. TREVOR NOAH At the same time, I also hear what the Fox people are saying, you know? It shouldnt matter whether youre Black or white, this position should only go to the most qualified judge who also thinks that guns are people. TREVOR NOAH And yet, Fiennes moves the narrative along at a good pace and his storytelling becomes particularly animated when he is describing the actual grind of slogging through the snow and ice. The cliches melt away and are replaced by the hard-won descriptions of struggle, perseverance and initiative that only someone who has experienced such hostile conditions can know. I would have liked for Fiennes to make even more of these comparisons. The examples used are plucked out of sequence from a lifetime of pitting his body against the seemingly unendurable. As a consequence, while the story of Shackletons life unfolds in linear fashion, it is hard to get a sense of Fienness own journey. Perhaps it is another book, but the story of their lives told in parallel would make interesting reading, exploring both the similarities and the differences. As it is, the comparisons are the most novel contribution of this book. While in some instances they can seem a bit superfluous there simply for the sake of interjecting a connection at their best they offer real insight. For example, Fiennes compares the 24-pound weight loss experienced by Shackleton on his failed attempt to reach the South Pole during the Nimrod expedition with his own 55-pound weight loss after man-hauling sledges for 94 days in the Antarctic. He notes that the stress may have been responsible for the almost fatal heart attack he experienced 10 years later, and he postulates whether Shackletons similarly extreme weight loss under similarly extreme conditions requiring similarly extreme exertion may have also affected Shackletons heart. One hundred years ago, in the early hours of Jan. 5, 1922, while onboard his ship at Antarcticas South Georgia, Shackleton died, aged 47, most probably of a heart attack. When researching my own recent book I visited Shackletons hut at Cape Royds, from which he made his unsuccessful attempt to reach the South Pole. I was there to interrogate the hut, to see if I could deduce something of the men who had used it more than a century earlier. There is something of Shackleton that still lingers, and it has less to do with the discarded socks, the rusted cans of custard powder and the empty reindeer sleeping bags than the sense of camaraderie that still pervades the open-plan living quarters. Shackleton, as Fiennes shows, was an Everyman hero during an age of Antarctic exploration that was as regimented as it was heroic; and, in contrast to the custard powder, his story remains as exceptional and astounding today. In the end, unlike his polar expeditions, this book by Fiennes sets no records straight or otherwise. Its appeal lies in its perspective: reading about an extreme polar superstar from the viewpoint of another. The book is not a 10 like the man, but that hardly matters. For anyone with a passion for polar exploration, this is a must read. Morrisons unflustered logic is what I love about Recitatif, her short story originally published in 1983 and now being released for the first time as a stand-alone book. Recitatif depicts an interracial friendship between two girls one white, one Black who meet in a shelter. They have different reasons for being there: Robertas mother is sick, while Twylas likes to dance. In the story, told from Twylas point of view, we encounter the girls over many years, but Morrison never identifies eithers race. As she later explained in Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination, The only short story I have ever written, Recitatif, was an experiment in the removal of all racial codes from a narrative about two characters of different races for whom racial identity is crucial. Absence is Morrisons central point; once racial markers are stripped from the girls, each reader of Recitatif will experience the story in a purely subjective fashion. This subjectivity appears in literary criticism as well. Some scholars insisted theyd cracked Morrisons racial codes. In an essay called Black Writing, White Reading: Race and the Politics of Feminist Interpretation, Elizabeth Abel points out what she thinks are clues to the girls races. Ann Rayson, in Decoding for Race: Toni Morrisons Recitatif and Being White, Teaching Black, insists there are obvious cues as to race. However, when I went back to Recitatif some 25 years after my first read, it was clear that Morrison expertly used racial codes as a shell game: You never can find the prize. After a third and fourth read, I remain confused. Frankly, I like it that way. When Morrison published Recitatif in 1983, it was nearly a revolutionary act to insist that white people had a race, too. Thus, her 20th-century readers probably wouldnt have searched for signifiers of whiteness, the normative identity. (Some might say it remains the norm.) Most readers would have searched for Blackness its imagery, its music, its vernacular, its performance. Its static, American stereotypes. Remember, though, that Morrison tells us in Playing in the Dark that race is still there in the story. We (her readers) just cant identify it. Twyla and Roberta two wounded, mostly unmothered girls, growing up with material and emotional uncertainties are playing the racial hands theyve been dealt. Yet because we dont know who holds which hand, their social realities increasingly become more absurd. When an Israeli company released a new spyware product known as Pegasus in 2011, it changed cyberwarfare. Pegasus could reliably decipher the communications of smartphones without the phones user knowing and without the cooperation of AT&T, Apple or any other company. Mexicos government bought Pegasus from NSO Group, the Israeli start-up that created it and used it to capture El Chapo, the drug lord. European investigators used the product to break up a child sex-abuse ring and stop terrorist plots. But Pegasus also created some problems, and they quickly started becoming clear, too. Governments could use it to monitor and suppress critics and political opponents. Mexico was an example: It deployed the spyware not only against El Chapo but also against dissidents and journalists. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates used it against civil rights activists. The F.B.I. bought a version of Pegasus in 2019, according to a new Times Magazine investigation by Ronen Bergman and Mark Mazzetti. Since then, U.S. officials across the Trump and Biden administrations have debated whether to use it within this country as well as abroad. When Jeffrey Epstein died, he left behind an estate with an estimated value of $600 million. There were vast financial holdings, a private jet, and palatial properties including an island hideaway, a grand Manhattan mansion and a 7,600-acre New Mexico ranch. But taxes, property upkeep and temperature-controlled storage for his art collection as well as $121 million in settlements to more than 135 women who accused him of sexually abusing them when they were young have since cut into the size of Mr. Epsteins estate. Its now worth about a third of its value when the financier, 66, hanged himself in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges two and a half years ago. The biggest continuing expense is legal costs: $30 million so far to law firms brought in to clean up Mr. Epsteins affairs. Lawyers have helped hand out settlements, liquidate assets and sift through the complicated holdings of a man who once set up his own offshore bank. The work wont be over anytime soon. The estate must still resolve a civil fraud lawsuit, brought by the attorney general of the Virgin Islands, who claims Mr. Epstein used the territory to facilitate a criminal enterprise by bilking it out of more than $70 million in tax revenue. And Ghislaine Maxwell, the former associate of Mr. Epstein who was convicted of sex-trafficking charges last month, has sued the estate to recoup her legal fees. The judge reached the same conclusion as judges for both the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit and the District Court for the District of Alaska in cases within the past two years concerning lease sales based on a similar analysis. This is continuing to set an established precedent that NEPA requires a greenhouse gas analysis, said Collin OMara, the president of the National Wildlife Foundation. This just continues to show the damage that were doing by allowing federal leasing to go on. Keith Hall, director of the energy law center at Louisiana State University, cautioned that having to show the impacts of climate change does not necessarily mean fossil fuel development will come to a standstill. A future administration could show the full impacts of climate change in a lease sale decision and still legally decide that economic benefits outweigh the climate dangers. An administration more friendly to the fossil fuel industry could still go forward, Mr. Hall said. Weighing the pros and cons is ultimately a policy decision. The Biden administration is now in an awkward position of deciding whether to appeal the ruling. As a candidate, Mr. Biden promised to stop issuing new leases for drilling on public lands and in federal waters. Shortly after taking office, he signed an executive order to pause the issuing of new leases. But after Republican attorneys general from 13 states sued, a federal judge in Louisiana blocked that order, and also ruled that the administration must hold lease sales in the Gulf that had already been scheduled by the Trump administration. The Biden administration went forward with the sale in November, despite arguments by environmental activists that the Interior Department could have done more to prevent or reduce the size of the lease sale. MIAMI Cold winter days in South Florida are rare and fleeting. But when the temperatures dip below 60 degrees, one thing remains constant: long lines for freshly fried churros and thick hot chocolate. There are dozens of restaurants in the Miami area that serve churros all year, including some that focus solely on the treat, but winter is their biggest season. Bundled up in fluffy jackets and furry boots, locals stand in long, winding lines in the cold to get their hands on something warm, said Arletty Hernandez, 21. Its a Miami thing, she said, shivering, after picking up her churros from La Palma on Southwest Eighth Street. Nearly every member of NSOs research team is a veteran of the intelligence services; most of them served with AMAN, the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, the largest agency in the Israeli espionage community and many of them in AMANs Unit 8200. The companys most valuable employees are all graduates of elite training courses, including a secretive and prestigious Unit 8200 program called ARAM that accepts only a handful of the most brilliant recruits and trains them in the most advanced methods of cyberweapons programming. There are very few people with this kind of training anywhere in the world, and soon enough, few places would have a higher concentration of them than NSOs headquarters in Herzliya where there were not just a few top specialists but hundreds. This would provide NSO with an incredible competitive advantage: All of those engineers would work daily to find zero days, i.e., new vulnerabilities in phone software that could be exploited to install Pegasus. Unlike rival firms, which generally struggled to find even a single zero day and therefore could be shut down if it were made public, NSO would be able to discover and bank multitudes of them. If someone locked one back door, the company could quickly open another. In 2011, NSO engineers finished coding the first iteration of Pegasus. With its powerful new tool, NSO hoped to quickly build a stable of clients in the West. But many countries, especially those in Europe, were initially wary of buying foreign intelligence products. There was a particular concern about Israeli companies that were staffed by former top intelligence officials; potential customers feared that their spyware might be contaminated with even deeper spyware, allowing the Mossad access to their internal systems. Reputation mattered, both for sales and for holding onto the well-trained coders who had made Pegasus a reality. Hulio appointed Maj. Gen. Avigdor Ben-Gal, a Holocaust survivor and a highly respected combat officer, as NSOs chairman, and established what he said would be the companys four main pillars: NSO would not operate the system itself. It would sell only to governments, not to individuals or companies. It would be selective about which governments it allowed to use the software. And it would cooperate with Israels Defense Export Controls Agency, or DECA, to license every sale. The decisions NSO made early on about its relationship with regulators ensured that it would function as a close ally, if not an arm, of Israeli foreign policy. Ben-Gal saw that this oversight was crucial to NSOs growth it might restrict which countries the company could sell to, but it would also protect the company from public blowback about what its clients did. When he informed the Defense Ministry that NSO would voluntarily be subject to oversight, the authorities also seemed happy with this plan. One former military aide to Benjamin Netanyahu, at the time Israels prime minister, explained the advantages quite clearly. With our Defense Ministry sitting at the controls of how these systems move around, he said, we will be able to exploit them and reap diplomatic profits. The company quickly got its first major break. Mexico, in its ongoing battle against drug cartels, was looking for ways to hack the encrypted BlackBerry messaging service favored by cartel operatives. The N.S.A. had found a way in, but the American agency offered Mexico only sporadic access. Hulio and Ben-Gal arranged a meeting with Mexicos president, Felipe Calderon, and arrived with an aggressive sales pitch. Pegasus could do what the N.S.A. could do, and it could do so entirely at the command of Mexican authorities. Calderon was interested. Israels Ministry of Defense informed NSO that there was no issue with selling Pegasus to Mexico, and a deal was finalized. Soon after, investigators at an office of the Center for Investigation and National Security, or CISEN now called the Center for National Investigation went to work with one of the Pegasus machines. They fed the mobile phone number of a person connected to Joaquin Guzmans Sinaloa cartel into the system, and the BlackBerry was successfully attacked. Investigators could see the content of the messages, as well as the locations of different BlackBerry devices. Suddenly we started to see and hear anew, says a former CISEN leader. It was like magic. In his view, the new system had revitalized their entire operation Everyone felt like maybe for the first time we could win. It was also a win for Israel. Mexico is a dominant power in Latin America, a region where Israel for years has waged a kind of diplomatic trench warfare against anti-Israeli groups supported by the countrys adversaries in the Middle East. There is no direct evidence that Mexicos contracts with NSO brought about a change in the countrys foreign policy toward Israel, but there is at least a recognizable pattern of correlation. After a long tradition of voting against Israel at United Nations conferences, Mexico slowly began to shift no votes to abstentions. Then, in 2016, Enrique Pena Nieto, who succeeded Calderon in 2012, went to Israel, which had not seen an official visit from a Mexican president since 2000. Netanyahu visited Mexico City the following year, the first visit ever by an Israeli prime minister. Shortly after, Mexico announced that it would abstain from voting on several pro-Palestinian resolutions that were being considered by the United Nations. In a statement, Netanyahus spokesman said that the former prime minister never sought a quid pro quo when other countries wanted to buy Pegasus. The claim that Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke to foreign leaders and offered them such systems in exchange for political or other measures is a complete and utter lie. All sales of this system or similar products of Israeli companies to foreign countries are conducted with the approval and supervision of the Ministry of Defense, as outlined in Israeli law. BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority is setting itself against the entire Chinese nation with its provocative actions seeking "Taiwan independence," a mainland spokesperson said Friday. At a press conference, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, commented on DPP official Lai Ching-te's chat with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in Honduras, boasted by the DPP authority as a "diplomatic achievement." By colluding with external forces and acting as a pawn in the United States' anti-China scheme, the DPP authority opposes the entire Chinese nation, said Zhu, adding that its provocative activities will not go unpunished. Zhu also urged the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and honor its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence" with actions. Lawyers for the family of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer fatally shot by Alec Baldwin on the set of the movie Rust last year, filed a petition this week to appoint a representative for Hutchinss estate who will consider whether to file a wrongful-death lawsuit. Ms. Hutchins was killed when the old-fashioned revolver Mr. Baldwin was practicing with on the film set in New Mexico, which he had been told did not contain live ammunition, fired a live bullet, hitting her and the movies director, Joel Souza, who survived. According to the petition, which was filed in state court in New Mexico on Wednesday, lawyers for Ms. Hutchinss widower and son asked the court to appoint Kristina Martinez, a lawyer in Santa Fe, to represent the cinematographers estate solely for the purpose of investigating and pursuing a lawsuit under the New Mexico Wrongful Death Act. The court filing did not specify who would be named as a defendant should a lawsuit be filed. Ms. Hutchinss widower, Matthew Hutchins, and her 9-year-old son both support the petition to name a representative of Ms. Hutchinss estate, the filing said. Confession Rent or buy on Amazon. So many action films are massive freak-out affairs with big explosions and even bigger body counts. But every so often I crave modesty, and the writer-director David Betons Confession perfectly fits the bill. It takes place in a single location, a Massachusetts church, where Victor Strong (Stephen Moyer), a mysterious gunman with a bullet wound in his abdomen, takes a priest hostage. The dialogue-heavy film moves like an elongated confession: Both Victor and the priest, Father Peter (Colm Meaney), are broken, widowed parents estranged from their children. While Father Peter mines information from Victor who is this mysterious man? a similarly wounded cop named Willow (Clare-Hope Ashitey) hides in a church closet for the ideal moment to strike. For the meat-and-potatoes gunfights, the cinematographer Andrew Rodger relies on wide shots and foreboding blue lighting to imbue them with a melancholic edge. Never fussy, Confession feels like a tiny action miracle. The Last Son Rent or buy on most major platforms. While he sees the film business in a state of flux and hopes that theatrical moviegoing will survive, Coen was not particularly concerned that streaming would weaken The Tragedy of Macbeth or cinema itself. I dont have complaints about it, and Im not a zealot in one direction or the other, he said. There arent any filmmakers who want to see their work done on ever-diminishing platforms, he said. You worked too hard on making things, sweating all the details, and the difference between watching something on your computer alone and being in a theater with 400 people is obvious. However, Coen said that streaming services were fantastic because they bring the movie to all kinds of people who ordinarily might not have given it a shot. The major platforms, he said, are aware that this cant just be a business where youre dumping 40 new titles every other day on your service, and you want any of them to make a ripple in terms of peoples awareness. Streaming has also connected him to work like The Beatles: Get Back, Peter Jacksons mammoth rock documentary on Disney+, which Coen called a real mindblower, adding, Its like nothing Ive ever seen. Where possible, he tries to see movies in theaters or screening rooms. But if you find yourself beguiled by the convenience of home viewing, rest assured, Joel Coen does, too. I watch as much as I can and would like to see more things, and see them be in the theater longer, he said. But Im also as guilty as the next person of going, oh, Ill turn the streaming service on and see it there. Instead, I moved into my living room, hooked my laptop to my TV and streamed from the festivals easy-to-use website. In between movies, I texted some of the same colleagues I hang out with at Sundance when were in Park City. In 2020, we had shared our love for Time, Garrett Bradleys documentary about a familys struggle with the American prison system. (I sat out the festivals 2021 edition.) This year, we again traded must-sees and must-avoids. I told you how awful it is, my friend chided me about Youll Never Be Alone, a shocker about a witch. She had, sigh. We also kept returning to a favorite: Wow Nanny, she texted. Oh, yes. A standout in this years U.S. dramatic competition, Nanny was another one of the selections that I deeply regretted not seeing with an audience, for both its visceral shocks and its lush beauty. In this case, I would have stayed put in my seat, just as I did at home, where pesky domestic distractions can make paying attention a struggle, especially when a movie isnt strong enough to fully hold you. That was never a problem with Nanny, which kept me rapt from the start with its visuals and mysteries, its emotional depths and the tight control that the writer-director Nikyatu Jusu maintains on her material. Set in New York, the story centers on Aisha (the excellent Anna Diop), a Senegalese immigrant whos recently accepted a nanny position. Her new workplace, a luxurious sprawl as sterile as a magazine layout, sets off immediate alarm bells, as do the overeager smiles and obsessive instructions of her tightly wound white employer, Amy (Michelle Monaghan). The setup recalls that of Black Girl, the Senegalese auteur Ousmane Sembenes 1966 classic film about the horrors of postcolonialism. Its an obvious aesthetic and political touchstone for Jusu, who nevertheless quickly and confidently spins off in her own direction. Following renewed scrutiny in recent years over the sexual abuse allegations against Woody Allen brought by his adopted daughter, it was unclear whether Allens latest film, Rifkins Festival, would get a U.S. theatrical release. Actors and producers in the United States have increasingly declined to work with Allen, but he has continued to find support in Europe. Rifkins Festival received backing from Spanish and Italian production companies and premiered at the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain in 2020. Starting on Friday, Rifkins Festival will get a limited run in some theaters in the United States the list is currently 25 theaters long, according to the movies website. The only theater in New York City that is signed up to show the film is Quad Cinema, in Greenwich Village. It is also available to stream on several platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, iTunes and Google Play. Mr. Adams argued in his statement that Mr. Williams, 16, had gone free because judges are precluded from even considering danger to the community. Other elected officials and Mr. Williamss lawyer said the situation was more nuanced than the mayor was suggesting, with some arguing that the bail law was not at issue in a judges decision to free the teenager. Bronx prosecutors charged Mr. Williams on Jan. 19 with assaulting a police officer and possession of a loaded firearm, after a bullet from a gun he was carrying hit Officer Kaseem Pennant in the leg during a confrontation the previous day, according to court documents. Mr. Williamss lawyer, Dawn Florio, said her client had shot himself in the groin as the officer tackled him, and that the bullet passed through his thigh and grazed the officers leg. Her description matched one offered the night of the incident by police officials, who said Mr. Williams had refused to take his hands out of his pockets as officers questioned him. The specific charges against Mr. Williams were not affected by the revision to the bail law that took effect in 2020. Prosecutors were free to ask that Mr. Williams be detained, and the judge hearing the case, Denis Boyle, could have agreed. But the bail law compels judges to use only the least restrictive means necessary to ensure that a defendant returns to court, in line with constitutional law. A spokesman for the court system, Lucian Chalfen, cited that portion of the statute when asked about Mr. Adamss comments. Nevertheless, the mayors plan was immediately met with controversy, landing in a moment when liberals have perhaps never been so divided in their philosophies about crime reduction. Proponents of criminal-justice reform immediately criticized the plan for what they perceive as a regression to some of the most harmful practices of law enforcement. In a joint statement, the citys leading public defender groups said they did not support the focus on discredited punitive and surveillance-based strategies. Falling under particular scrutiny is the plan to resurrect and rebrand the police departments plainclothes anti-crime unit, which was shut down in 2020 but held a major role in gun searches involving young Black and Latino men at the height of the stop-and-frisk era. The mayors plan vows that the unit will operate differently and more responsibly now although it fails to say how it would do so. Nor does it acknowledge that at the height of stop-and-frisk, in 2011, the city still recorded 1,511 shootings, an increase over the previous two years. As Alex Vitale, a sociologist at Brooklyn College who studies policing, put it, the plan is almost completely lacking in evidentiary basis. Bail reform, which eliminated the option of cash bail for low-level, nonviolent offenses and took effect two years ago, is another target of the mayors plan, even though there is no conclusive research linking it to the recent rise in violent crime and even though violent crime has gone up in cities where bail reform has not been enacted. Given that the mayor has no real ability to reverse course reform is a matter of state law, and Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie quickly called the attack a scapegoat Mr. Adamss rhetoric is serving only to further alienate progressives when instead they might be brought along. Where reformists and serious law-and-order adherents easily find common ground is in the need to reduce the influx of guns into the state and city, which the new mayor is committed to doing. Here the plan calls in part for collaboration with state police to implement spot checks at bus and train stations, which may turn out to be a big success although its hard to imagine how many gun runners are moving their arsenals via the Megabus from Philadelphia. Absent from the blueprint is any discussion of how to handle domestic violence, which is especially curious given that it is devastating in itself and often the precursor to other crimes. Had there been some kind of protocol for resolving an argument between a mother and her son in Harlem last week, the outcome might well have been different, and the two officers who were killed might have never met gunfire. Liz Glazer, a former federal prosecutor who ran Mayor Bill de Blasios office for criminal justice for several years, said she believes the path forward rests on a robust infrastructure of prevention that includes significant improvements to public housing and conditions that aggravate frustration and despair. The thing about Adamss plan is that it does both,' she said. She was encouraged that the plan accommodates prevention but was cautious about the departments zealous history of intervention. The question is which way will it tip? If Mr. Avenatti seemed less combative and energetic than he did when he was a regular on the cable news circuit several years ago, it could be because his next stop regardless of the trials outcome is prison. Last July, he was sentenced to two and a half years behind bars after being convicted in February 2020 on charges of trying to extort more than $20 million from the apparel giant Nike. He is to surrender to the authorities on Feb. 28. The voluble Mr. Avenatti, 50, rose to prominence in 2018 representing Ms. Daniels in her litigation against Mr. Trump. Ubiquitous on cable news shows, Mr. Avenatti missed no opportunity to torment the president and even flirted with the idea of running for president himself, galvanizing some Democrats who saw him as an able adversary to the president. Im strongly considering it, Mr. Avenatti said in August 2018. Democrats need to nominate somebody who can actually beat this guy. At the time, Ms. Daniels fawned over her pitbull lawyer. Ill put it this way, she told The New York Times that summer. Every time I watch him work, I think, This is what it must have been like to see the Sistine Chapel being painted. But instead of paint, Michael uses the tears of his enemies. But almost as rapidly, Mr. Avenatti crashed: He was arrested the following March in the Nike case; two months later, he was indicted again in the case involving Ms. Daniels. That same year, he was arrested in a fraud case in California. It was on Tuesday, the second day of his trial in the case involving Ms. Daniels, that Mr. Avenatti announced outside of the jurys presence that he wanted to dismiss his lawyers and represent himself. He cited a breakdown in the relationship with his lawyers that goes to the heart of my ability to mount a defense. A particularly troubling economic indicator is the citys labor market, which has consistently lagged the recovery nationwide. New York City had an 8.8 percent unemployment rate in December, according to a jobs report released last week, compared with 3.9 percent nationally. New York City is not expected to recoup all the jobs it lost during the pandemic until late 2025, the budget office projected, while the national economy is projected to surpass prepandemic employment this year. Compared with other large cities, a disproportionate share of New York Citys work force is composed of low-wage jobs that rely on tourism and full office buildings. The risk is to have a more permanently polarized society between the haves and have-nots, said James Parrott, an economist with the Center for New York City Affairs. We already had a chasm between them before, but the longer this goes on, the wider that becomes. It has serious implications for the quality of life in New York City. The chasm could get bigger with the recent rebound in the residential real estate market, which has heightened concerns about the citys affordability. While rental prices dipped during the early months of the pandemic, according to the listings site StreetEasy, they have now surpassed prepandemic levels in neighborhoods like the Financial District in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, where many white-collar employees have been working remotely. The median rent in SoHo, where rents increased the most last year, is now $6,002. In the second half of 2021, more apartments sold in Manhattan than at any time in the last three decades, driven by demand for luxury buildings, according to the brokerage firm Douglas Elliman. In Brooklyn, the average sales price is almost $1.2 million, a 21 percent increase from before the pandemic. A sea of blue stretched down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Friday, as thousands of police officers gathered at St. Patricks Cathedral to bid farewell to Detective Jason Rivera a week after he was killed responding to a domestic disturbance call in Harlem. Detective Riveras death just 14 months after he joined the Police Department made him a symbol of the citys hope and fears at a moment fraught with uncertainty about its future. A son of Dominican immigrants, he had fulfilled a childhood dream of becoming a police officer during the pandemic as rising crime and the police killing of George Floyd roiled the city and strained his profession. Mayor Eric Adams, in his eulogy at St. Patricks Cathedral, said that Detective Rivera joined the department for the right reasons to make change from within and that his death was a reminder of what officers put on the line each day. He vowed to combat the senseless violence that led to the deaths of Detective Rivera and his partner. BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China calls on all countries to work together to build a global community with a shared future in outer space, according to a white paper published Friday. Titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective," the document was released by the State Council Information Office. For the first time, the white paper on China's space industry puts forward the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind in outer space, Xu Hongliang, a spokesperson for the China National Space Administration, said at a press conference following the release of the document. Noting that peaceful exploration, development and utilization of outer space are rights equally enjoyed by all countries, the white paper said China will work actively with other countries to carry out international space exchanges and cooperation, safeguard outer space security, and strive for long-term sustainability in activities related to outer space. China will be more open and active in broadening international space cooperation in the next five years, with more participation in the global governance of outer space and more wisdom contribution in the fields of near-Earth object monitoring and response, planet protection and space traffic management, said Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the administration, at the press conference. Summarizing the future plan, Wu also highlighted the project of building a research station on the moon, which will be jointly launched by China and Russia. "It will be a very large and long-term international scientific cooperation project, and we welcome all interested countries, organizations, scientists and engineers to participate in it," he said. The construction of the international lunar research station will provide opportunities for carrying international payloads and sharing scientific research data, Wu added. A crisis for persons in custody New York Citys jail system has long struggled to prevent people in custody from harming themselves. On the day Mr. Scott died, the city Board of Correction, a jail oversight panel, issued a report that described failures in a case of attempted suicide and noted that the breakdowns had become increasingly problematic after the pandemic began. In November 2020, an inmate hanged himself in the Manhattan Detention Center while a correction captain stood by and forbade a subordinate from intervening, prosecutors said when they later charged the captain with criminally negligent homicide. That was one in a soaring number of episodes of self-harm in the jail system since the beginning of the pandemic, and a foreshadowing of what would occur in 2021. By last September, at least five suicides had taken place in the previous nine months after more than two years without any, prompting the Correction Board to declare a crisis for persons in custody. At least one more suicide would follow, and yet another death still under investigation seems likely also to have been a case of self-harm. Inmates with histories of self-harm are usually flagged for special observation. But a lack of direct supervision from the staff led to conditions that allowed men to take their lives in several cases last year. Javier Velasco of Queens was described as a loving husband but protective to a fault he wouldnt let his wife go to the grocery alone. When he drank, these qualities hardened and darkened, turning him menacing and violent, said his widow, Amanda Velasco. She filed for divorce in what she said was an empty threat aimed at changing his ways. Ms. Velasco told the police in September 2020 that Mr. Velasco had broken into her apartment, stolen property and sent her threatening texts. He was jailed and released in February 2021, when he sent her more threatening texts. He was arrested again, sent to Rikers and, in March, he told her she was safer without him. Then he hanged himself. He was 37. The E.R.A. has thus become the Schrodingers Cat of amendments simultaneously part of and not part of the Constitution. Its ultimate fate is bound up in profound legal and political questions that force us to consider how we decide what our national charter includes and what it doesnt. Take the legal questions first. Does Congress have the power to set a time limit for ratification? Many of todays E.R.A. proponents, relying on the plain language of the Constitution, say no. And yet Congress has been doing so since the 18th Amendment, which introduced Prohibition and was ratified in 1919. (It was later repealed by the 21st Amendment.) When a lawsuit challenged this practice, the Supreme Court sided with Congress. In a 1921 ruling, the court wrote that because ratification is but the expression of the approbation of the people, any proposed amendment must be sufficiently contemporaneous in that number of states to reflect the will of the people in all sections at relatively the same period. By the 1970s, time limits were a standard and widely accepted part of proposed amendments. Martha Griffiths, the Michigan congresswoman who steered the E.R.A. through the House of Representatives, agreed with them on the grounds that an amendment should not be hanging over our head forever. When the E.R.A. failed to gain the necessary number of ratifications by the end of the extended deadline in 1982, its supporters admitted defeat. Sounds reasonable, right? Wait; it gets messier. Ten years after that failure, a different amendment barring Congress from raising its salary before the next federal election became the 27th Amendment to the Constitution. Like the previous 26, it had passed Congress and been ratified by three-quarters of the states. The only problem: It was more than 200 years old. James Madison had drafted it in 1789 along with 11 other amendments, 10 of which were quickly adopted and are known as the Bill of Rights. The other two passed Congress but failed to win approval in enough states. Both were largely forgotten until the early 1980s, when a college student in Texas noticed that the congressional-pay amendment had not expired and began a campaign to push it across the finish line. As soon as the 38th state ratified it in 1992, the archivist certified the amendment despite substantial legal controversy which included the Supreme Courts specific warning, from that 1921 case, that it is quite untenable to treat the congressional-pay amendment (or any other old one) as still valid. This history reveals a deeper truth: Despite what appears to be the clear language of Article V, the process for changing the Constitution is filled with ambiguities. For starters, is there any limitation on the subject matter of an amendment? Must each house of Congress separately pass an amendment by a two-thirds majority vote, or can it be two-thirds of both houses combined? The list goes on. Elissa Perkins, the director of infectious disease management in the emergency department of the Boston Medical Center, told me she spent most of 2020 imploring everybody I could in every forum that I could to mask. In the beginning, she said, this was to flatten the curve, and later to protect the vulnerable. But masking, she said, was intended to be a short-term intervention, and she believes we havent talked enough about the drawbacks of mandating it for kids long-term. If we accept that we dont want masks to be required in our schools forever, we have to decide when is the right time to remove them, she said. And thats a conversation that were not really having. At least, people in deep blue areas werent having it until recently. But as the Omicron wave begins to ebb, that conversation sometimes tentatively and sometimes acrimoniously has begun. This week Perkins co-wrote a Washington Post essay calling for schools to make masking optional. The Atlantic published an article titled, The Case Against Masks at School. Coming off the Omicron surge, I think theres going to be a tipping point with more and more people questioning does this need to continue in schools, said Erin Bromage, an associate professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Bromage worked with the governor of Rhode Island to reopen schools there, and later helped schools in southern Massachusetts reopen. He believes in the importance of Covid mitigations, but his views on school masking have evolved in recent months. There comes a point, he said, at which the reduction in risk that comes from the mask is balanced or begins to be outweighed by the detrimental side of things that come with masking. Peer review is both the greatest strength and the greatest weakness of the scientific research system. It filters out bad work and makes good work better. But it can also slow down the dispersal of new ideas, which is a big problem when it comes to tackling fast-changing challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic. And, of course, peer review can fail. Retraction Watch, a website, maintains a list of more than 100 Covid-19 research papers that were peer reviewed, published and then had to be retracted. On the whole the scientific community has done a good job of managing the peer review challenge. Most research today is released originally in the form of preprints, which are articles that are made widely available even though they havent been peer-reviewed. The major scholarly journals, which used to insist on exclusivity, have agreed not to deem a preprint as having been published, which means they will consider it for publication. That way the work gets out quickly and still has a chance to appear in a journal, which entails closer scrutiny (through peer review) and earns the authors a measure of academic repute. But dissemination of scientific knowledge could be done better. The limitation is that any idiot can publish any idiotic stuff on a platform that doesnt have pre-publication peer review, says Robert West, an emeritus professor of behavioral science and health at University College London and a past editor in chief of Addiction, a scholarly journal. The trick is to develop a system that keeps the speed while reducing the risk that bogus ideas such as treating Covid-19 with ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine will slip through. In an early stab at collecting and publicizing early-stage work, the National Institutes of Health created a registry for preprints of biology research, but discontinued it in 1967 after the scholarly journals in the field refused (at the time) to consider submissions that had previously posted as preprints, according to a 2020 article in JAMA. And within minutes of the presidents nomination of Judge Barrett, Republican senators began to declare their support for her. Thirty-eight days after Justice Ginsburg died, her successor was confirmed. The process exemplified one of the defining features of the modern Republican Party: its laser focus on the judiciary and its extraordinary discipline in filling seats when its members control the Senate or blocking confirmations when they do not. Opinion Debate Will the Democrats face a midterm wipeout? Elizabeth Warren explains her priorities and writes, if we fail to use the months remaining before the elections to deliver on more of our agenda, Democrats are headed toward big losses. explains her priorities and writes, if we fail to use the months remaining before the elections to deliver on more of our agenda, Democrats are headed toward big losses. Mark Penn writes that without a U-turn by the Biden administration, voters increasingly motivated by fear over a variety of issues will generate a wave election like those in 1994 and 2010. writes that without a U-turn by the Biden administration, voters increasingly motivated by fear over a variety of issues will generate a wave election like those in 1994 and 2010. Thomas B. Edsall asks, as the midterms approach, to what degree are Democratic difficulties inevitable, and which challenges stem from the partys strategic choices? asks, as the midterms approach, to what degree are Democratic difficulties inevitable, and which challenges stem from the partys strategic choices? Ezra Klein speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. While some Senate institutionalists may disagree with this new normal, we would be foolish not to understand it. Qualifications are critical and must be verified. But speed is also essential. Democrats should take a page from Mr. McConnells book and move as quickly as possible. Senators who stoke suspense over how they will vote only create fodder for the news media to focus on divisions among Democrats, rather than on the Republicans who are already laying the groundwork to oppose this historic pick. Although Justice Breyer wont step down until June or July, Mr. Biden should narrow his list and announce his selection as soon as possible, and Senate Democrats should move quickly to confirm her. In 2017, when Senator McConnell didnt like Democrats filibustering President Trumps first Supreme Court pick, for the same seat that he denied Merrick Garland, he blew up the 60-vote threshold so that nominees could be confirmed with just a simple majority. This was, of course, a tit-for-tat response to Senator Harry Reids changing those rules for lower-court nominees. With Vice President Kamala Harris vote, Democrats now have the seats they need to confirm a new justice. Despite the new Senate rules being in their favor, Democrats need to eliminate all possible roadblocks. President Biden and Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, have been extremely successful in holding Democrats together to approve a diverse set of judicial appointments, setting a record by confirming 42 in the presidents first year. Thats a sign that Democrats have a winning strategy for filling court seats. So here's my message to Democrats: Lets not overthink this. Shortly after Justice Breyers plans to retire were revealed on Wednesday, Mr. Schumer said Mr. Bidens nominee would be considered with all deliberate speed. Mr. Biden said that hed announce his nominee within a month, and from there, the White House suggested the nomination process could take several weeks. But given that the president is a former Senate Judiciary chairman and his chief of staff, Ron Klain, was a top aide on that panel, the Biden team likely has a short list and possibly a favorite already in mind. It may not seem obvious that the Kremlin, which has steadily amassed over 100,000 soldiers at the Ukrainian border since November, was not aiming at war. But the reasons to believe that Russia will pull back from an invasion are many. For one thing, Mr. Putin whose instinctive cautiousness Ive observed at close quarters for two decades has a record of withdrawing at the first sign of real conflict. When Russian mercenaries were killed by U.S. troops in Syria in 2018, for example, he had the perfect opportunity to retaliate. Instead, Russia denied the slaughter ever took place. Likewise, when Turkish drones struck down Russian mercenaries and equipment in Libya and Syria, there wasnt a peep of acknowledgment either. In fact, it seems that Mr. Putin was so conscious of Turkeys might that he didnt dare to join forces with Armenia when, in September 2020, its territory was attacked by Turkish-backed Azerbaijan. And after triumphantly sending in his troops to Kazakhstan for an indefinite time, Mr. Putin started to withdraw them very soon after Russias foreign minister took a call from his Chinese counterpart. Tellingly, Russias major successful military operations under Mr. Putin the defeat of Georgia in 2008 and the annexation of Crimea in 2014 happened when the West was looking the other way. In both cases, the world was caught unawares and Russia could complete its designs without the threat of armed international opposition. That is not the case now. Whats more, there are no internal reasons for pursuing a war. Yes, Mr. Putins ratings are down and prices are up, but theres no major domestic unrest and elections are two years away. Mr. Putin doesnt require an expansionist escapade to either shore up his rule or distract the population from its troubles. War is a big red button that can be pushed only once. Right now, theres no need. And then theres the main reason: Russia would not be assured of victory. The Ukrainian Army is much improved, having upscaled its equipment and preparations for a ground invasion, and the Russian troops deployed near the border are most likely insufficient to conquer the country. Because of its sheer bulk, the Russian Army might be able to advance: Quantity has a quality of its own, as Stalin reportedly said. But it would surely come at the cost of catastrophic losses in human life. As for the sources themselves, it may be possible to use their physicality the fact that these ledger books, bills of sale and fugitive slave ads are real, tangible objects to tell stories about the humans involved in this centuries-long nightmare, to use the means of objectifying others to undermine the objectification itself. There is a strange way in which the everydayness of the document helps you understand the extraordinary imbalance of power and the wrongness, Walter Johnson, a professor of history and African and African American studies at Harvard, said. If somebody smudges the ink on a ledger, you have to imagine a person writing that. And once you imagine a person writing that, youre imagining the extraordinary power that those words on a page have over somebodys life. That somebodys life and their lineage is actually being conveyed by that errant pen stroke. And then that takes you to a moment where you have to imagine those people. Indeed, the very banality of this material can help us understand how this system survived, and thrived, for so long. I am not a historian of slavery because I want to spend my time understanding massive moments of spectacular violence, Jennifer Morgan told me. I actually want to understand tiny moments of violence, because thats what I see as adding up to a kind of numbness a numbness of empathy, a numbness to human interconnection. All of this is to say that with the history of slavery, the quantitative and the qualitative must inform each other. It is important to know the size and scale of the slave trade, of the way it was standardized and institutionalized, of the way it shaped the history of the entire Atlantic world. But as every historian I spoke to for this story emphasized, it is also vital that we have an intimate understanding of the people who were part of this story and specifically of the people who were forced into it. It is for good reason that W.E.B. Du Bois once called the trans-Atlantic slave trade the most magnificent drama in the last thousand years of human history; a tragedy that involved the transportation of 10 million human beings out of the dark beauty of their mother continent into the newfound Eldorado of the West where they descended into Hell; and an upheaval of humanity like the Reformation and the French Revolution. The future of SlaveVoyages will include even more information on the people involved in the slave trade, enslaved and enslavers alike. We would like to add an intra-African slave trade database because there is a lot of movement of enslaved people on the eastern side of the Atlantic, David Eltis said. He also told me that he can imagine a merger with scholars documenting the slave trade across the Indian Ocean, the roots of which go back to antiquity and whose more modern form was concurrent with the trans-Atlantic trade. Were really leaning into territory which was unimaginable back in 1969, he said. We may not have many statues of the enslaved we may not have anywhere near enough letters and portraits and personal records for the millions who lived and died in bondage but they were living, breathing individuals nonetheless, as real to the world as the men and women we put on pedestals. Just over two years later, General Butler blew the whistle on a homegrown fascist coup scheme known as the Business Plot. In November 1934, he told a congressional subcommittee that a representative of a prominent Wall Street brokerage house headed by a former military intelligence officer tried to recruit him to overthrow President Franklin Roosevelt and end his socialistic New Deal. The plan called for General Butler to lead an armed mob of veterans up Pennsylvania Avenue, who would intimidate Mr. Roosevelt into resigning or delegating his powers to a cabinet secretary the plotters would choose. This embryonic putsch modeled on Benito Mussolinis 1922 March on Rome and a then-recent anti-parliamentary riot of far-right and fascist groups in France could have gone the way of Jan. 6, 2021, or worse, had the general not spoken out in time. Though many, including The Times, initially laughed off his allegations, he had reason to take the threat seriously: He had made a career subverting governments, including democracies, around the world on behalf of some of the same bankers and industrialists whom he had been told were prepared to back the coup. I have one interest in all of this, he told the subcommittee, and that is to try to do my best to see that a democracy is maintained in this country. The threat, however real it was, soon passed. Roosevelt persisted with his New Deal, showing Americans that liberal democracy, flawed as it was, could still meet their needs. The totalizing conflict against the fascist powers in World War II disabused many American elites of any previous affection they had felt for fascism as an alternative to democracy or class politics. But the generation that remembers those days is vanishing. We are now on the other side of two decades of slow burning, distant wars that are a throwback to the imperial conflicts of General Butlers era. Meanwhile, crises we face can feel as destabilizing as the Great Depression from the pandemic to climate catastrophe to daily economic struggles. Liberalism is again being discredited in the eyes of millions of Americans. Republican legislators demean democracy and openly tout the prospect of a national divorce. As the scholar Kathleen Belew has noted, The aftermath of warfare is the most consistent predictor of vigilante violence in the U.S. Once you learn to see the world as General Butler did, the similarities become obvious. You see the resemblances between the U.S. militarys refusal to hold anyone responsible for the killing of Afghan children in August, and the roaring standing ovation that greeted the vigilante Kyle Rittenhouse. You see that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and even an active-duty Marine were charged in connection with the siege of the Capitol. You see how the political assumption that has seemingly led the Biden administration to stall on its goal to close the Guantanamo prison camp also leads the QAnoners who stormed the Capitol to fantasize about imprisoning and executing their political enemies in that same gulag. FRONT PAGE An article on Thursday about President Bidens promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court referred incorrectly to the first appointment of a Black woman to serve as a federal appeals court judge. The appointment was made by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, not by President Gerald R. Ford in 1975. NEW YORK An article on Wednesday about a motion to temporarily block a ruling that had struck down New Yorks mask mandate misstated the next steps in the case. The state appeals court judge set a Friday deadline for papers to be submitted; he did not schedule an additional hearing for Friday. An article on Thursday about Sean Caddle, a political consultant who pleaded guilty to hiring two men to kill a longtime associate, misstated the status of his sentencing. It is scheduled for June 7, 2022; it is not the case that it had not been scheduled. BUSINESS An article on Wednesday about Fashion Nova, a clothing site accused of hiding bad reviews, described incorrectly the outcome of a dispute between Fashion Nova and the Federal Trade Commission. Fashion Nova agreed to a $4.2 million settlement; it was not a fine. In the spring of 2020, Emily Shaw was a recent college graduate and, like many pandemic graduates, she was living at home with no job and nothing to do. So she decided to put her degree in interior architecture to use and fix up her parents house in New Hampshire, chronicling the process on TikTok. Within a month, she had 1 million followers to her account, @emilyrayna, who watched her pull up carpets, replace countertops and restore old furniture. It was pretty scary, said Ms. Shaw, 23, who moved out of her parents house and now has a TikTok following of 5.2 million. I was never someone who was into social media before that. Ms. Shaw had unexpectedly landed on an audience with an appetite for the drudgery of do-it-yourself home improvement, packaged in the itty-bitty nuggets that make TikTok so delectable. Her early videos, narrated in a soothing yet perky voice-over, focus on the grit of renovation. In one clip, she talks about the tools she uses to remove wallpaper. In another, she recommends the best tape for painting (spoiler alert, its not blue.) Ms. Shaw is among a cadre of young influencers who offer an alternative to the glossy image of home makeover shows popularized by networks like HGTV. In this world of home improvement, there is no professional duo like Chip and Joanna Gaines to swoop in and hold a hapless homeowners hand as they tear down walls and slap up shiplap. Instead, these influencers on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are luring a younger generation eager to figure out how to fix up their homes on their own, on an extremely tight budget. NEW DELHI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- An aircraft of the Indian army with two trainee pilots on board crashed Friday in the eastern Indian state of Bihar, local media reports said. Both the pilots were found to be safe. The aircraft belonging to the officers' training academy crashed immediately after take-off in Gaya district, about 100 km south of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. "The crash took place in the fields adjoining a village under Bodh Gaya block when the pilots tried to make an emergency landing," a local media report quoting Bangajeet Saha, director of Gaya International Airport said. "Both pilots are safe." Reports said villagers noticed the trainer aircraft falling down and rushed to the spot and pulled the cadets out. "They were taken away by army personnel who arrived soon afterwards. Debris of the crashed plane was also collected by them," the report said. Authorities have ordered an inquiry into the crash. He and his younger sister and brother were raised by his mother, Kimeco Williams, who owns a local hair salon, and grandmother, Helena C. Williams. Being the oldest left him in a position of authority he often felt unready for. I had to make a lot of choices I wouldnt have had to make if my father had been there, he said. The choice to come out at 21 just before he graduated from Clemson University in 2013 was as fraught for Mr. Simmons as it was for Mr. Clark. Being from that region of the country, I was always taught that being gay was wrong and bad, said Mr. Simmons, who earned a masters degree in costume design from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016. But Helena Williams, who still speaks to her grandson three times a day from her home in Greenville, was instrumental in me saying my piece, he said. Mr. Simmons and Mr. Clark both understood the value of honest conversation well before they met. But each had experienced trouble getting there, not just with their parents, but also with previous partners. So when they arrived at the restaurant for their first date, their intentions, separately set, were in alignment. A lot of people try to hide things on first dates, Mr. Simmons said. I showed up with the attitude of, nothing is taboo. For example, I was fine talking about how I would like to have kids in the future. Mr. Clark was fine with that, too. On the car ride back, he took my hand from my lap and pressed his thumb into the doughy part of my palm as if he were hollowing out a spot to plant a seed. He wove his fingers into mine, held my hand to his chest, dipped his chin, closed his eyes, pressed his lips to my knuckles. I was afraid to move. I was afraid he would let go. I felt like I was holding his entire world in my small fist, and I wanted to keep holding him there for as long as I could. But if the pandemic had afforded us an insulated dream world, it had also allowed for some smoke screens. Eventually, we fought. He was the only person I wasnt afraid to get angry with, which felt empowering. He was flaky about making plans. Unreliable about returning phone calls. Inconsistent in his affection. Too mysterious for too long. He said there were things he hadnt told me but eventually would. I already had discovered his real age through a perfunctory Google search 41 not 36. In truth, I had known before I knew. He was too full of anecdotes and advice, too successful, and a little too jaded to be 36. He wasnt the first to lie on a dating app, and an 11-year age gap didnt faze me, but I was afraid of what else was waiting to be uncovered. I found what I was looking for in the archives of a Facebook page. I hadnt gone there with the intention to investigate. It seemed only natural that after months of being with him, we should at least be friends on various social media platforms. But when I found his account and scrolled, I stepped on a crack in a glass floor and fell through all the way to 2014. A woman had tagged him in a picture of a child handing out water bottles at a mosque. He didnt have any nieces. It struck me as a bit off. I clicked on the womans profile and scrolled to a post that read People, mail out your damn RSVPs or stay home yeah, its Bridezilla talking! under which he had commented, Ive got your back girl! Now there are few reasons to get wildly dressed up, and a lot of reasons not to. Or at least not to brag about it. The whole dream scenario risks becoming irrelevant. No one made that clearer than Viktor & Rolf, back on the runway after a two-year hiatus with their own kind of fashion horror story inspired by Nosferatu. There were looming shadows, witchy fingernails and tuxedo suits and governess dresses with shoulders so gigantically exaggerated built on a corseted superstructure, they started up around the ears that the models looked like they were being swallowed whole by their garments. Help! Save them! Creative vision had grown (literally) out of control. In a necessary reset, excess is being traded for intimacy. The Valentino show was held in the white-carpeted rooms of the house headquarters on Place Vendome, with the relatively tiny 60-person audience so close to the models that the guests could see them breathe. They could also see that Mr. Piccioli had built his dresses some so small they verged on the dangerous, some in chiffon wound round the bodice and trailing behind like their own slipstream to suit the bodies inside, rather than choosing the body to go with the dress. Or the pajama suit; the swishy harem jumpsuit; the regal taffetas; the sculpted, sparkling ball gowns. The opera capes, treated like sumptuous throw blankets. He wasnt trying to preach diversity, now a ubiquitous goal in fashion, but to celebrate individuality, in all its middle-of-the-road variations. Theres a difference. One is a public position, the other a form of self-care. PARIS Sixty years to the day after showing his first collection under his own name, Yves Saint Laurent, the designer who is synonymous with French fashion and who died in 2008, is once again taking Paris by storm. Or rather, his creations are. From Saturday through May 15, 50 pieces from the couturiers vast body of work will be shown among the permanent collections at five of Frances most prestigious museums: the Louvre, the Musee dOrsay, the Centre Pompidou, the Musee dArt Moderne de Paris and the Musee Picasso Paris. And the Musee Yves Saint Laurent, in the designers former headquarters on Avenue Marceau, is to display sketches, Polaroid photographs and rare toiles that illustrate the processes and craftsmanship that go into creating couture. Organizers say the contemporaneous displays of Yves Saint Laurent aux Musees, 18 pandemic months in the making, will be the first time a couturier has been honored in so many classic institutions at once. But it will be yet another of Mr. Saint Laurents firsts, including being the first couturier to embrace ready-to-wear, the first to take fashion inspiration from street style and one of the first designers to put models of color on the runway. And it may put to rest the perennial debate about whether high fashion belongs amid high art. Mouna Mekouar, the co-curator of the show and a contemporary art specialist (this will be her first fashion exhibition), said that while fashion and art traditionally have existed in parallel worlds, that separation no longer applies. The Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday that it had reached an agreement with Verizon and AT&T on a way to expand 5G cellular service while allowing more aircraft to safely land at airports nationwide, cooling down a heated dispute between wireless providers and airlines. At issue were concerns from airlines and the F.A.A. that a planned nationwide 5G expansion would threaten flight safety. The new generation of 5G service, which provides much faster access to the internet, uses so-called C-band frequencies, which are close to the portion of airwaves used by key safety devices. A day before the planned expansion last week, AT&T and Verizon agreed to a compromise: They would continue with the rollout, but would not activate 5G within two miles of some airport runways, in line with a request from the aviation industry. The F.A.A.s announcement on Friday suggested that all sides were progressing toward a more lasting solution. The F.A.A. said in a statement that it appreciates the strong communication and collaboration from the wireless companies, which it said had provided more precise data about the location of wireless transmitters and had aided in a deeper analysis of how 5G signals interact with sensitive aircraft instruments. The Obie Awards, an annual ceremony honoring theater work performed Off and Off Off Broadway, this year for the first time will consider digital, audio and other virtual productions. The awards administrators decided to expand their scope in recognition of the adaptations made by many theater companies during the coronavirus pandemic, which prevented most New York theaters from staging in-person performances for at least a year, and in many cases considerably longer. Numerous theaters pivoted to streaming, and some experimented with audio. We wanted to make sure that the work that did happen was eligible, said Heather Hitchens, the president and chief executive of the American Theater Wing, which presents the awards. The Obies respond to the season, and to the evolving nature and rhythms of theater. This years Obie Awards are expected to take place in November, which would be 28 months after the last ceremony, reflecting the extraordinarily disruptive role the pandemic has played in theatermaking. The ceremony will consider productions presented by Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway theaters between July 1, 2020 and Aug. 31, 2022. Joe Exotic, the former Oklahoma zoo owner who was the central figure in the 2020 Netflix documentary series Tiger King, was resentenced to 21 years in prison on Friday for the failed murder-for-hire plot targeting Carole Baskin, a self-proclaimed animal-rights activist who had criticized his zoos treatment of animals, his lawyers said. The new sentence reduces his punishment by one year. The original sentence, for 22 years in prison, was vacated as improper by a federal appeals court last summer. John M. Phillips, a lawyer for Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, said in a statement, We are unsatisfied with the courts decision and will appeal. At a news conference, he said that Mr. Maldonado-Passage was disappointed. In court documents on Friday, Mr. Maldonado-Passage said, Please dont make me deal with cancer in prison waiting on an appeal. The semiautomatic rifle used by Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager acquitted of criminal charges in the fatal shooting of two men and the wounding of another during a street protest in Kenosha, Wis., in 2020, will be destroyed under an agreement approved by a judge on Friday. Mr. Rittenhouse, 19, had consented to the agreements terms before a hearing in Kenosha County Circuit Court, according to his lawyer, but did not attend the hourlong proceeding. A spokesman for Mr. Rittenhouse had previously said that he did not want the AR-15-style rifle to become a political symbol or trophy. The rifle, a Smith & Wesson M&P 15, will be turned over to the Kenosha Police Department and taken to a state crime lab to be destroyed, along with the rifles magazine and scope, a prosecutor said on Friday. Ms. Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor who worked in the administration of Mayor Richard M. Daley, and who led a police disciplinary board under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, has defended her record. At the time of her election, she said this month, Nobody had in their minds eye that we would be shortly thereafter laboring under a massive global pandemic and all of the consequences. She added: Nobody thought that we would be suffering from one of the biggest economic meltdowns that weve seen since the Great Depression. Nobody thought that we would see this massive uptick nationwide in violence. She also noted that her outspoken demeanor was not a new trait at City Hall. I personally get asked this question of, Well, Mayor, you know your relationships with City Council, shouldnt you be nicer? Which I have to laugh at, Ms. Lightfoot said. When I think about who my predecessors were I worked for Rich Daley and I was around Rahm a lot, its not like they won contests for Mr. Congeniality. Ms. Lightfoot is expected to seek another term next year, and it is unclear how voters will respond. Though some high-profile critics have been rumored as potential opponents, the field of challengers remains largely unformed and there is no reliable public polling on the mayors job approval. But the chief criticism her eventual opponents will deploy of a mayor who makes enemies instead of allies, who stokes ill will instead of brokering compromise already seems clear. She does not know how to play well with others and shes never mastered the idea of a group project, said Stacy Davis Gates, the vice president of the teachers union. And that is the issue because shes the common denominator in every single scenario that has discord. PITTSBURGH In the City of Bridges, it was not a standout. The bridge, four lanes of Forbes Avenue raised on a steel frame over a picturesque wooded ravine, carried traffic to and from the neighborhoods on the citys East End. It was around 50 years old and, according to inspectors, in poor condition, but even by these measures was not particularly exceptional in Pittsburgh. Then on Friday morning, hours before President Biden was scheduled to visit the city to discuss the condition of the countrys infrastructure, the bridge collapsed into the snowy hollow below. At least 10 people were injured, four of them seriously enough to require hospital attention, according to a hospital spokeswoman. But no one was killed and officials said that none of the injuries were life-threatening. For a bridge that is routinely crowded with traffic in morning and evening rush hours, this was especially fortunate. The timing of the collapse around 6:45 a.m. and the fact that city schools were opening two hours late because of snow were partially to thank for that. MOSCOW, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- If the United States were to impose more sanctions against Russia, the country would risk severing relations with Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday. "Regarding the threat of (new) sanctions, the Americans were told during the contacts of the presidents that the package (of new sanctions) being considered by Washington, including a complete shutdown of those financial and economic systems controlled by the West, would be equivalent to breaking off ties," Lavrov said. The West understands this and such a scenario would clearly not be in anyone's interests, the foreign minister said during an interview with leading Russian media outlets. He pointed out how Western officials were inflating the situation regarding Ukraine, "hysterically" demanding a de-escalation and calling on Russia to "choose diplomacy." Lavrov stressed that Russia has chosen the path of diplomacy for a long time and has always adhered to the principle that no state should strengthen its own security at the expense of others. "The Americans have started to openly and cynically use Ukraine against Russia to such an extent that even Kiev has become frightened," he added. "We don't want wars, but we also will not allow serious attacks on our interests," Lavrov said. A state court in Pennsylvania on Friday struck down the states landmark election law as unconstitutional, dealing a temporary blow to voting access in one of the nations most critical battleground states. In a 3-to-2 decision, the state court sided with 14 Republican lawmakers who sued last year, arguing that the law was unconstitutional. Pennsylvania filed an appeal to its Supreme Court on Friday afternoon, triggering an automatic stay that keeps the law in place during the appeal process. The law, known as Act 77, was passed by the Republican-controlled legislature and signed by Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, in 2019. It permitted no-excuse absentee voting, created a permanent mail-in voter list, reduced the voter registration deadline from 30 days to 15 and provided for $90 million in election infrastructure upgrades. It also eliminated straight ticket voting. The majority opinion, written by Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt, a Republican, said that voting requires the physical presence of the elector and ruled that the legislature could not make changes to voting laws without amending the state Constitution. All 304 crew members aboard a South Korean Navy destroyer dispatched to the Gulf of Aden are quarantining in Oman after 27 of them tested positive for Covid-19, the South Korean military said on Friday. Most crew members are quarantining in a hotel and have taken Pfizers Paxlovid pills, South Korean officials said. The positive cases were discovered on Thursday after the crew took P.C.R. tests at a hospital. One crew member had received a positive result from a rapid test taken aboard the ship on Wednesday. The outbreak is the first group infection in six months among South Korean armed forces involved in an anti-piracy mission off the coasts of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. A different set of troops in that force, the Cheonghae Unit, was airlifted from the coast of East Africa in July after at least 247 of its 301 crew members contracted the virus. No one onboard had been vaccinated at the time. NEW DELHI Survivors of a particularly grim corner of Indias welfare system have been awarded thousands of dollars in compensation, a national human rights body announced this week. More than four dozen former residents of a homeless shelter for girls in north India endured horrific conditions; many were sexually assaulted. Shelters for women and girls, which typically house victims of domestic abuse or sex trafficking, along with those who have run away from home or been kicked out by their families, are notoriously overcrowded, squalid and often dangerous. But the case involving the shelter in the north Indian state of Bihar, which paid the compensation, was particularly striking because of the number of victims. Over a period of years, 34 of them were raped by shelter employees and officials of the state welfare department, according to the police. At least one was as young as 10; the oldest was 19. An independent auditors 2018 report revealing the scope of the abuse at the shelter, in the city of Muzaffarpur, prompted national outrage. Federal investigators opened an inquiry that resulted in the conviction of 19 people, including the shelters director, Brajesh Thakur. SEOUL A North Korean defector has been indicted on charges of breaking a South Korean law that banned the spreading of propaganda leaflets along the inter-Korean border, prosecutors and lawyers said Friday. Park Sang-hak, the defector, became the first person to be indicted under the new law, which critics say puts a policy of engagement with North Korea above human rights. For years, Mr. Park and others like him have launched balloons into North Korea loaded with propaganda leaflets urging North Koreans to rise up against their authoritarian leader, Kim Jong-un. Under the law, which went into effect last March, sending such leaflets was made a crime punishable by a fine or a prison term of up to three years. Mr. Park defied the ban in April by launching 10 balloons carrying a half million leaflets. The police later raided his office and interrogated him. In July, they formally asked prosecutors to indict Mr. Park under the law, which President Moon Jae-in has vowed to strictly enforce. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan The assault on a military post in a remote southwestern district lasted for several hours. Dozens of attackers, belonging to a Baluch separatist group, heavily armed with rocket launchers and sophisticated weapons, outnumbered the Pakistani soldiers. A heavy gunfight killed 10 Pakistani soldiers and one attacker, and the rest managed to escape, officials said. The ambush, on Tuesday evening, was one of the deadliest on Pakistani soldiers in recent years and comes at a time of heightened unrest. The countrys security forces were already in a state of alert after a string of terrorist attacks this month and officials said they are bracing for more attacks in the coming months as militant groups extend their reach and scale of attacks. The Pakistani military officially confirmed the Baluchistan attack Thursday evening, a day after it tried to downplay the incident and restricted the local news media from reporting on it. Military officials stressed that they were still trying to get details of the attack, which happened in Kech, a remote mountainous district of southwestern Baluchistan, a natural gas and mineral-rich province where an insurgency has simmered for decades. In a statement, the military said that three people had been arrested in a clearing operation, and it was still looking for other attackers. Armed forces are determined to eliminate terrorists from our soil no matter what the cost, the military said. When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel rolled up his sleeve in December 2020 to receive a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, kicking off one of the worlds first mass rollouts of Covid shots, he declared that it marked the beginning of the end of the pandemic. Thirteen months later, his prediction has proved far from true, but 10 billion vaccine doses have been administered globally, a milestone that reflects the astonishing speed with which governments and drug companies have mobilized, allowing many nations to envision a near future in which their people coexist with the virus but arent confined by it. The milestone, reached on Friday, according to the Our World in Data project at the University of Oxford, has not been arrived at equitably, even though 10 billion doses could theoretically have meant at least one shot for all of the worlds 7.9 billion people. In the wealthiest countries, 77 percent of people have received at least one dose, whereas in low-income countries the figure is less than 10 percent. As North America and Europe race to overcome Omicron surges by offering boosters, with some nations even contemplating a fourth shot, more than one-third of the worlds people, many of them in Africa and poor pockets of Asia, are still waiting for a first dose. Speaking just a day after a phone call with President Biden, Mr. Zelensky said that while he too saw grave risk in the Russian buildup, the American policy of publicizing intelligence and risk assessments around the Russian threat was unnerving Ukrainians and harming the economy at a time when he said he would like to see quiet military preparation and quiet diplomacy. There is military support, financial support, we are grateful for the support, Mr. Zelensky said at a news conference for foreign media, according to a Ukrainian government translation. But I cannot be like other politicians who are grateful to the United States just for being the United States. His complaints were echoed by his top security official, Oleksii Danilov, who said in an interview that panic is the sister of failure. Thats why we are saying to our partners, Dont shout so much, he said. Do you see a threat? Give us 10 jets every day. Not one, 10. And the threat will disappear. It is not clear what the long-term ramifications of the rift might be. It is unlikely that Mr. Zelenksys statements would have any effect on arms shipments or diplomacy as the West tries to deter Mr. Putin from military action. But further divergence between the two countries could induce Ukraine to pursue a separate path to a settlement, one that it has been exploring in the European-led talks underway now. It could also sow distrust that Mr. Putin could try to exploit. Last fall, it was the United States that first raised the alarm about the growing Russian troop presence on the border with Ukraine, and since then Mr. Zelenskys government has often appeared reluctant to fully embrace the Biden administrations sense of urgency. On Thursday, the Pentagon, which has ordered 8,500 American troops to be on high alert for deployment to Eastern Europe, said that Russia had continued to build up credible combat forces over the last 24 hours. [Follow for live updates as a report into U.K. lockdown parties is sent to Boris Johnson.] LONDON Just a week ago, Prime Minister Boris Johnsons political survival looked very much in doubt, his party in revolt and the public angered over disclosures about parties at Downing Street that violated lockdown rules. Now, Mr. Johnson appears to have won a reprieve aided, paradoxically, by the British police opening an investigation of the allegations. The polices involvement has derailed the publication of a full report on the parties, which many lawmakers have said could trigger a groundswell to oust Mr. Johnson. On Friday, the police confirmed they had asked for critical details to be withheld from the eagerly anticipated report, which was compiled by a senior civil servant, Sue Gray. By scrubbing the most incriminating material, the report could give Mr. Johnson a chance to regroup rather than face a crippling no-confidence vote. His stronger position, at the end of a murky, fevered week in British politics, has outraged opposition leaders and other critics. Some accused the police of an ill-timed intervention that allowed Mr. Johnson to escape judgment for flouting the rules he had imposed on others, as well as for dissembling about it afterward. The United States and Germany are increasing their warnings to Moscow that natural gas will not flow through a major new pipeline from Russia to Germany if Russia invades Ukraine. If Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward, the State Department spokesman, Ned Price, said at a daily news briefing on Thursday, referring to the pipeline. Mr. Prices language about the $11 billion pipeline project which has been built but has not received German regulatory approval to operate was more definitive than that of German officials. A day earlier, Germanys ambassador to Washington, Emily Haber, posted a tweet saying that if Russia violated Ukraines sovereignty, it will have to pay a high price, adding that nothing will be off the table, including Nord Stream 2. We are confident that there is broad support across the council for this meeting, one of the officials said, more than sufficient support for having this conversation. Another described the meeting as a really important opportunity for all the worlds powers to be on the record on whether they see a path to diplomacy or a path toward conflict. Though there is no expectation of any formal action to criticize Russias behavior, an open debate in the Security Council, broadcast live on the United Nations website, could potentially expose Russia to embarrassing isolation. Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement on Thursday that the United States, in consultation with other unspecified members of the council and with Ukraine, had requested the meeting to discuss a matter of crucial importance to international peace and security: Russias threatening behavior against Ukraine and the buildup of Russian troops on Ukraines borders and in Belarus. The Security Council members, the ambassador said, must squarely examine the facts and consider what is at stake for Ukraine, for Russia, for Europe, and for the core obligations and principles of the international order should Russia further invade Ukraine. This is not a moment to wait and see, she said. Russia has repeatedly criticized the United States and its allies over their portrayal of the Ukraine crisis as Russian malevolence. The United States cultivates Russophobia among its people and the people of like-minded states, keeps talking about the buildup of Russian troops as almost the root cause of all problems, Russias U.N. Mission said in a statement on its website earlier in the week. Yet when saying this, the United States forgets to mention that it is Russian forces deployed at the Russian territory. This stands in contrast with American and NATO arms and countless advisers that Ukraine and other states in the vicinity of Russian borders are swarming with. BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia have maintained stellar trade and economic cooperation, with both countries continuing to strive for greater synergy in various areas. Bucking a global downturn, trade between China and Russia rose 35.9 percent year on year to 146.87 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, reaching the highest level in history, data from the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) shows. "China has become Russia's largest trading partner for 12 years in a row," MOC spokesperson Gao Feng told a press briefing. In breakdown, China's exports to Russia increased by 33.8 percent year on year, while imports from Russia grew 37.5 percent. Trade volume of mechanical and electrical products logged 43.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, rising by 40.7 percent year on year. Liu Huaqin, with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the MOC, said that products traded between China and Russia have been increasingly diversified and complementary. Data shows that China's beef imports from Russia skyrocketed 235.7 percent to 17,000 tonnes in the January-November period of 2021, while imports of barley increased by 37.9 times. China's exports of automobiles and auto parts to Russia have registered robust growth, said Liu, adding that Chinese-brand smartphones have gained greater popularity among Russian consumers. Gao noted that Sino-Russia bilateral cooperation in energy and mineral resources, agricultural and forestry development, business and logistics, as well as industrial manufacturing has made solid progress. In 2021, the contract value of newly signed Chinese construction projects in Russia exceeded 5 billion U.S. dollars for the third consecutive year. The two countries have also proactively cultivated new growth drivers such as cross-border e-commerce, low-carbon transformation, bio-pharmaceutical industries and cultural creativity. China and Russia saw their cross-border e-commerce trade surge by 187 percent in the first 11 months of 2021, according to the MOC. "With the joint efforts of the two countries, China-Russia economic and trade cooperation will enjoy steady growth, and continue to upgrade," said Liu. An S.D.F. spokesman said Wednesday that at least 30 militia fighters and more than 100 militants had been killed in the fighting for the prison. The final tally is expected to be considerably higher. The S.D.F. said on Thursday that it had regained custody of the boys being held in the prison after taking control of most of the prison, and had transferred them to a separate facility. Human rights activists and some aid organizations have said the boys were as young as 10. S.D.F. officials said they ranged in age from 14 to 17. It was unclear if all the boys were accounted for, and if there had been any casualties among them. All were brought as children by their parents to join the Islamic State, with some forced by ISIS to become child fighters. Over the course of the weeklong fight for the prison, the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS has conducted airstrikes, and a small number of U.S. ground troops were sent to help the S.D.F. retake the prison. The United Nations childrens agency, UNICEF, said the fighting had forced 45,000 people in this city of one million to flee their homes, most of them women and children. Some have gone to stay with relatives, while others ended up in shelters in the city. A brochure for potential customers, obtained by The Times, says that Phantom allows American law enforcement and spy agencies to turn your targets smartphone into an intelligence gold mine. The yearlong Times investigation was based on interviews with government officials, leaders of intelligence and law enforcement agencies, cyber experts, business executives and privacy activists in a dozen countries. It tells the story of NSOs rise from a start-up operating out of a converted chicken coop on an agricultural cooperative to its blacklisting by the Biden administration in November because of its use by foreign governments to maliciously target dissidents, journalists and others. NSO began with two school friends, Shalev Hulio and Omri Lavie, hatching start-ups in Bnai Zion, an agricultural cooperative outside of Tel Aviv, in the mid-2000s. One of their start-ups, CommuniTake, which offered cellphone tech-support workers the ability to take control of their customers devices with permission caught the attention of a European intelligence agency, Mr. Hulio said. NSO was born, and the company eventually developed a way to gain access to phones without the users permission no need to click on a malicious attachment or link. (That the companys name sounded like the N.S.A. was a mere coincidence). You start to believe your every move is watched. After NSO began selling Pegasus globally in 2011, Mexican authorities used it to capture Joaquin Guzman Loera, the drug lord known as El Chapo. And European investigators used it to smash a child-abuse ring with dozens of suspects in more than 40 countries. Canadian truckers and their supporters who oppose the governments vaccination mandate have begun to arrive in Ottawa, the nations capital, for a protest outside of Parliament on Saturday. Calling themselves the Freedom Rally or Freedom Convoy, the truckers are traveling from the western, eastern and southern ends of the country to Ottawa, with the police estimating that 1,000 to 2,000 people will converge there on Saturday. The loosely organized convoys, one of which departed British Columbia last Sunday, has raised more than 7 million Canadian dollars in GoFundMe donations en route. Of that, 1 million Canadian dollars was released by GoFundMe so far, after the organizer submitted a clear distribution plan for funds being used to cover fuel costs of participants, the company said in an email. Most Canadian truckers are vaccinated, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a news conference on Wednesday, citing a close to 90 percent vaccination rate among them and calling the protesters a small fringe minority. How are these military takeovers greeted by the people? While their president was imprisoned at a military base, hundreds of Malians celebrated with soldiers in the streets. Not everyone supported the coup. But the juntas popularity has grown, even though it seized power again in May of 2021 the second putsch in an unsettling nine-month span this time from the civilian leaders who had been appointed to lead the transition to elections. The regional economic bloc, ECOWAS, imposed punishing sanctions that were partly intended to turn Malians against the junta, putting pressure on the military leaders to commit to a speedy election timetable. But whats happening is the exact opposite, said Ornella Moderan, head of the Sahel Program at the Institute for Security Studies, which is based in Pretoria, South Africa. The sanctions have caused anger, but against ECOWAS, not the junta. The military rulers, seen as standing up to self-interested foreigners, now have overwhelming support, according to analysts and local news reports. In neighboring Guinea, some initially greeted the coup leader as a liberator, but many also shut themselves up at home, afraid for the future. In Burkina Faso, a country that has experienced a lot of coups, there were a handful of pro-putsch rallies the day after the military seized power, but many people just went to work as usual. Some said they were inspired by the way the junta in neighboring Mali had stood up to France, the increasingly unpopular former colonial power. What It Looks Like in Northeastern Syria Jane Arraf Reporting from Hasaka, Syria Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York Times Im the Baghdad bureau chief for The New York Times. I arrived in a remote part of Syria this week to report on the siege of a prison by the Islamic State. My team and I were the first international journalists on the ground. Heres what we saw Stillwater, OK (74078) Today Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 58F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Strong thunderstorms likely. Damaging winds, large hail and possibly a tornado with some storms. Low 58F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. A tattoo artist in Thailand has been getting a lot of attention online after it was revealed that he shares his home with eight young wives, all of whom get along great with each other. Ong Dam Sorot, a young tattoo artist specializing in the traditional yantra style, recently sat down with a popular Thai comedian for an interview about his controversial marital status. Sorot is married not to one woman, but to eight, all of whom live under the same roof and consider themselves one big happy family. On the show, which has so far garnered over 3 million views on YouTube alone, Ong Dam Sorot introduced each of his wives and spoke about how they met. The eight women described their husband as the kindest, most considerate man on Earth and claimed to get along wonderfully. The young polygamist met his first wife, Nong Sprite at a friends wedding and quickly asked for her hand in marriage. The second, Nong L, he met at the market, and Nong Nan, his third wife, at the hospital. The fourth, fifth and sixth wives Sorot met via social media, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, respectively. The seventh wife, Nong Film, the man met while visiting the Phra Pathom Chedi temple with his mother, as for his eighth and final wife, Nong Mai, he met her while vacationing in Pattaya with four of his wives. He is probably the most caring and considerate man we have ever seen, the eight women all agreed, adding that he treats them so well that they have nothing to quarrel about. Two of Sorots wives are currently pregnant, and he already has a son with his first wife, Nong Sprite. The women sleep in four bedrooms, two per room, and wait their turn to share a bed with their husband. Apparently, no one has any problem with the arrangement. Speaking about the first time that Ong Dam Sorot brought up the possibility of taking on a second wife, Nong Sprite said that she loved him enough to agree, especially since he was always attentive enough to ask her if she was ok with the idea. She said ye, as long as he brought his would-be second wife home, so she could meet her first. As for the seven women who agreed to marry the tattoo artist knowing that he was already married, most of them just said that they fell madly in love with him and accepted the situation. He was charming, attentive, and proved that he could take care of them. Even though some of the women had problems explaining to their families that they were marrying a polygamist, they didnt give up on Ong Dam, and eventually, their friends and families accepted the situation. During the interview, Ong Dam Sorot revealed that he told his wives to always be honest with him. If they find someone else, they should just come and tell him. He will ask them three times if they are sure they want to break up, and if they say yes, they can go their separate ways. That has yet to happen, though. Ong Dam, who has his own popular social media and YouTube accounts, said that people always assume that he is rich and can afford to take care of his big family, but he claims that its not true. Every member of his family has their duty, and his wives earn their keep by doing chores, or selling various products, from food to cosmetics and handmade accessories. Ong Dam Sorots living arrangements sparked a heated debate on social media, with some declaring their admiration for the tattoo artist for sharing his home with so many young and beautiful women, while others jokingly pitied him for having to deal with not one, but eight wives. Nicole Malliotakis New York Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, a charter member of the Sedition Caucus who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results, stumbled her way through a five-minute interview on Jan. 27 with Steve Inskeep, host of NPR's "Morning Edition." As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Inskeep invited her to talk about how the Biden administration is handling the crisis in Ukraine. Biden was slow to act but is now moving a little better in the right direction, responded the Staten Island/Brooklyn representative. Malliotakis, who is my Congresswoman, faulted Bidens hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan for making the US look weak overseas. That opened the door wide open for Inskeep. He asked whether Malliotakis was aware that Americas adversaries overseas may have been watching as she voted to object to the election without any evidence of fraud. He then aired an audio of a European political analyst who said Russian strongman Vladimir Putin became convinced that democracy was dying in the US after he watched the trashing of the US Capitol. Malliotakis decided to run out the clock. She began talking about her Constitutional duties and then started blabbering about two states that might not have abided by the Constitution but that would not have overturned the results of the election. Go figure. As Inskeep warned her that time was running out, Malliotakis shifted gears to the Paris Accord, blaming Biden for restoring Americas place in the agreement without demanding that China and India up their anti-pollution effort. She then brought up the US reentering the United Nations human rights council, of which Russia is a member. Malliotakis probably would have started blaming Biden for the hefty tolls on the Verrazzano Bridge, but luckily for her, Inskeep ran out of time. Her time in Congress also may be running out as redistricting may add a slew of Brooklyn Democratic voters to her district. Lighten up, Democrats. A poll conducted by The Economist and YouGov found that Democrats are downright gloomy about Americas state in the world when it comes to income inequality, immigration, gay rights and religious tolerance vis-a-vis Republicans. E.g., forty percent of Biden voters say America ranks among the worst nations in the world on minority rights, compared to 11 percent of Republicans. Cmon. What about China, Russia, India and Iran? The magazine noted that though Republican voters are sometimes caricatured as provincial, many Democratic voters seem unaware of their comparative good fortune. The bad news for Democrats is that the poll found that Independent voters tracked more closely to Republicans. A reason Dems may be down in the dumps: the progressive wing of the party uses doom and gloom to attract funds and allies. Photo taken on July 21, 2019 from Xiangshan Mountain shows the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang) BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority is setting itself against the entire Chinese nation with its provocative actions seeking "Taiwan independence," a mainland spokesperson said Friday. At a press conference, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, commented on DPP official Lai Ching-te's chat with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in Honduras, boasted by the DPP authority as a "diplomatic achievement." By colluding with external forces and acting as a pawn in the United States' anti-China scheme, the DPP authority opposes the entire Chinese nation, said Zhu, adding that its provocative activities will not go unpunished. Zhu also urged the U.S. side to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and honor its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence" with actions. The High Court has clarified certain issues raised in four publicans' on going-test actions over FBD's failure to pay out on business disruption claims caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The issues relate to the quantum of losses sought in actions brought by Dublin bars Aberken, trading as Sinnott's Bar; Hyper Trust Ltd, trading as The Leopardstown Inn' and Inn on Hibernian Way Ltd trading as Lemon & Duke in Dublin. Leinster Overview Concepts Ltd the owner of Sean's Bar, which is based in Athlone, Co Westmeath, is the fourth plaintiff. The level or quantum of damages to be awarded will be determined at a later date. In his decision earlier last year, the outcome of which affects claims made by some 1,000 Irish pubs and restaurants, Mr Justice Denis McDonald found that a policy sold by FBD covered losses pubs sustained by having to close due to the pandemic. In a subsequent judgement, the judge ruled on what interpretation should be applied to the term 'closure' within FBD's Public House Policy of insurance, which is relevant to quantifying the losses. He found that the word closure is not confined to a total shutdown of the insured properties premises but extends to a closure of part of the premises. The actions then moved to the next stage of the process, namely a hearing to determine the quantum of the publican's losses. The level or quantum of damages to be awarded will be determined by the court. at a later date. Before that important aspect of dispute can be determined several issues regarding quantum arose between the parties which Mr Justice McDonald said required to be clarified by the court. The court considered evidence and submissions from the parties on the partial closure of the public houses at certain periods during the pandemic, staff costs, late payments, trends and circumstances, underinsurance, and the costs of capital expenses. Other factors including the effects of government and local authority guidelines, on matters including social distancing, on bar areas in his client's premises. The payment of wages to staff when the premises were closed, partially re-opened and the bars' costs of retaining staff were further considered. The relevance of the evidence varied from pub to pub, the court noted. One example was that the issue of partial closure was not relevant to Seans Bar as it had remained closed from March 2020 to June 2021. In a lengthy and detailed judgement regarding these matters of dispute Mr Justice McDonald noted the extensive efforts made by the parties to address the issues regarding the quantum of the losses. In relation to those issues that remain outstanding the judge encouraged the parties "to make every effort to seek to resolve the outstanding issues between them" If the parties engaged constructively, he added, then many of the outstanding issues "can be resolved without the need for further court hearings." The Judge welcomed that progress had been made between FBD and certain pubs in relation to certain issues. Among his findings the judge said that the Dublin pubs were subject to an early closing requirement in the period from 10th August 2020. That constituted a government-imposed closure because of outbreaks of Covid-19, he said. Under the policy of insurance, the judge said that Dublin pubs are therefore entitled to be indemnified in respect of the losses suffered by them during the relevant periods because of the early closing requirements in place from time to time since 10th August 2020. He also concluded that, for the duration of the relevant periods, the bar counters of the three Dublin pubs were subject to a government-imposed closure in response to outbreaks of Covid-19. The Dublin bars, he added, were entitled to be indemnified in respect of their losses during the relevant periods between June and September 2020 and in December 2020. The losses under that specific heading are to be calculated in accordance with a methodology reflecting their individual circumstances outlined by the court. The judge added that he was prepared to consider any workable amendments to that methodology agreed by the parties. With regard to the staff wages and salaries claims, each of the claims made by Seans Bar, Sinnotts and Lemon & Duke have been successful in part, the judge said. In the case of the Leopardstown Inn, the court was unable, considering the evidence put before the court, to make a finding that any part of its claim on that issue should succeed. He said that all the court could do in its case was ask the parties to liaise to see if any agreement can be reached in relation to any staff who were retained on its payroll when it was necessary to do so. The judge also concluded that FBD is not entitled to pursue any issue in relation to underinsurance. The case will return before the court next month. In his previous rulings Mr Justice McDonald disagreed with FBD's interpretation of its business disruption policy regarding Covid-19. He said that cover is not lost where the closure is prompted by nationwide outbreaks of disease if there is an outbreak within the 25-mile radius and that outbreak is one of the causes of the closure. The publicans challenged FBDs refusal to indemnify them, as well as the insurers claim its policies did not cover the disruption caused by Covid-19. They claimed that under their policies of insurance they were entitled to have their consequential losses covered by the insurer. FBD claimed the policies contained a clause that states the pubs will be indemnified if their premises were closed by order of the local or Government Authority if there are "Outbreaks of contagious or infectious diseases on the premises or within 25 miles of same." An important picture which was rediscovered by Irish fine art dealer and journalist, James Gibbons, from Clara, has been purchased by the State. The picture is Sarah Pursers portrait of the mother of Sir Arthur Vicars which once formed part of the collection of Sir Arthur and hung in Kilmorna House in Kerry. Sir Arthur instructed his valet to save the family portraits by throwing them out of the window just before the old IRA shot him dead and burned down Kilmorna. This picture has been hovering under the radar for years and is of museum quality, explains James Gibbons who recognised the work at first sight. Dr John OGrady, the former UCD lecturer, who compiled the catalogue raisonee on Purser was invited to attend a meeting at a private gallery in Dublin where I had sent the picture for some initial restoration. I was thrilled when the former history of art lecturer confirmed that not only was it Purser, but it was Purser at her best. Ive always had a keen interest in Kerry ever since Bernard McNamara asked me to research the history of the Parknasilla Hotel, he says. I enjoyed helping to promote the hotel with Jasmine Guinness who was brand ambassador for the Parknasilla Hotel Goffs Millions. Purser was a painter, portraitist - often commissioned to paint posthumous portraits art activist and stained glass artist. The picture hung in Clara for a period before contracts were signed between the State and Mr Gibbons, who originally trained with the prestigious fine art auction house, Adams on Stephens Green. The late Maurice Greene from Corkhill in Clara also trained in Adams many years ago, Gibbons confirms. The late Knight of Glin was Christies representative in Ireland and he introduced me to the director of the Hunt Museum, Ciaran MacGonigal, who recommended to Brian Coyle, the chairman of Adams that I be taken on and trained. Id been to universities and had some of the theory which is all well and good but I needed to handle blue chip pictures and furniture and soon I was handling extremely important works of art and cataloguing marvellous Irish furniture. Sir Arthur Vicars held the ceremonial role of keeper of the Irish crown jewels in Dublin Castle which were stolen on the eve of the visit to Ireland by King Edward VII in 1907. Sir Arthur also kept his mothers jewels in Dublin Castle for safe keeping and they were also stolen in the jewellery heist. Posters were distributed by the Dublin Metropolitan Police offering a reward of 1,000 for information leading to the recovery of the jewels and a full description of Mrs Vicars jewellery appeared on the posters beside a detailed description of the crown jewels. After his dismissal Sir Arthur eventually settled in Kilmorna House in Kerry. His mother had been married previously to Pierce Mahony of Kilmorna House and one of Sir Arthurs half-brothers who styled himself as The OMahony of Kerry was also painted by Purser. During the War of Independence Sir Arthur was accused of being too friendly with the British troops and was shot dead following a raid on his house by the IRA. Mr Gibbons went on to work as assistant curator with Ib Jorgensen in his art gallery on Molesworth St and then assisted the late Matty Ryan, Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers representative in Ireland. One never knew who was on the other end of the telephone in Mattys since he knew lots of royals on a couple of continents. The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret were friends of his, but had passed away by the time I started to assist him sourcing pictures and furniture in Ireland for Bonhams, however Princess Michael of Kent was still a great friend of his, Gibbons says. Matty was also an ami de la maison of the top racehorse owners and trainers in Ireland and the UK and he knew instinctively that everyone was the same and never kept people in compartments, introducing one layer of his friends with another and expected his old friends royalty included - to budge up and make room at his famous dinner parties in Thurles. At heart, Matty was a diamond expert and often mentioned Sir Arthur and the disappearance of the crown jewels and we often wondered what happened to them. In this particular portrait Mrs Vicars is wearing a ring, presumably one of the pieces of jewellery that was stolen. Gibbons recalls another of Pursers famous historical works, a double portrait of Constance and Eva Gore Booth purchased by the Naughtons at the Lisadell Sale in 2003 conducted by Christies. He added that Mr and Mrs Naughton ensured that after the picture was restored it went on public view in the Merrion Hotel and it has hung in the hotel for the past number of years and I have no doubt that the State will restore this picture to an equally high standard. 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. SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. (AP) The thousands of people paid to plant corn, pick apples and milk cows in New York often work long days, six days a week and earn overtime only after 60 hours of labor. The state is now looking at lowering that overtime threshold. New York could possibly join California and Washington state in phasing in a 40-hour overtime rule for farm hands, a threshold common in other industries. We need a better quality of life, said veteran dairy worker Lazaro Alvarez. He is among those who say the change is long overdue for an estimated 55,000 agricultural workers in New York, many from Mexico, Guatemala and other countries outside the United States. But the prospect is alarming farmers. They warn the extra costs would wipe out marginal farms, hobble others and actually reduce workers' earnings if farmers cap hours to manage expenses. While the industry overall may survive, many individual farms will not, Chris Laughton of Farm Credit East, a lender for the agriculture industry in the Northeast, testified this month. At Welcome Stock Farm near Saratoga Springs, Bill Peck said overtime after 40 hours for the farms 18 full-time employees would cost him up to an extra $12,000 a month. Dairy farmers like Peck say they cannot simply raise prices to reflect added expenses, since wholesale milk prices are regulated. We arent going to be able to invest in a new tractor. We arent going to be able to invest in adding another barn, said Peck. That money is going to go just into payroll, so which is good for them in the short term, but long term the business cant survive. Crop farmers who grow vegetables and apples say they would be particularly hard hit when extra seasonal labor is needed. They say higher overtime costs will make them less... Australias leading human rights and legal bodies have called on the government to end the arbitrary detention of asylum seekers and refugees in the country. Arrangements are being made to recover an F-35C warplane that crashed into the South China Sea after a landing accident, the US Navy has said. Divers, vets, the coastguard and a government minister are trying to help an injured whale calf after it became trapped in shallow waters off the coast of Greece, near Athens. BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing municipal government on Friday said that the current COVID-19 outbreak is broadly under control as new infections are declining and are being identified among those already in quarantine. From 4 p.m. Thursday to 4 p.m. Friday, the city reported four new locally transmitted cases related to the Delta variant. No new Omicron infections have been reported for five consecutive days, said Xu Hejian, a spokesperson for the Beijing municipal government. The city has opened more institutions for COVID-19 testing among at-risk residents, and strengthened the testing and disinfection of imported cold-chain foods. MENDON, Mass. (AP) A Boston hospital is defending itself after a man's family claimed he was denied a new heart for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19, saying most transplant programs around the country set similar requirements to improve patients chances of survival. The family of D.J. Ferguson said in a crowdfunding appeal this week that officials at Brigham and Womens Hospital told the 31-year-old father of two that he was ineligible for the procedure because he hasnt been vaccinated against the coronavirus. We are literally in a corner right now. This is extremely time sensitive, the family said in its fundraising appeal, which has raised tens of thousands of dollars. This is not just a political issue. People need to have a choice! D.J.'s mother, Tracey Ferguson, insists that her son isn't against vaccinations, noting he's had other immunizations in the past. But the trained nurse said Wednesday that hes been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm and that he has concerns about the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. D.J. is an informed patient, Tracey Ferguson said in a brief interview at her home in Mendon, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Boston. He wants to be assured by his doctors that his condition would not be worse or fatal with this COVID vaccine. Brigham and Womens Hospital declined to comment on D.J. Fergusons case, citing patient privacy laws. But it pointed to a response that it posted on its website in which it said the COVID-19 vaccine is one of several immunizations required by most U.S. transplant programs, including a flu shot and hepatitis B vaccines. The hospital said research has shown that transplant recipients are at higher risk than non-transplant patients of... The source said that the Ministry has already asked the experts to explore all the options to reopen the schools for students amid the Covid crisis. Indian High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, said in a press release, which also identified the four victims, that the next of kin of the deceased have been informed. The Consulate General of India in Toronto is in touch with the family of the deceased and is providing all consular support. Protesting students have called for state-wide bandh over alleged irregularities in the results of railway recruitment exams. RJD MLA from Mahua Dr Mukesh Raushan, along with his supporters also took part in the protest as part of Bihar Bandh. Delhi Police prosecutor compared the alleged planning of the February 2020 riots to that of the 9/11 terror attacks in the US while opposing former JNU student Umar Khalid's bail plea. The highly transmissible omicron variant of the coronavirus causes milder symptoms because it has a less severe impact on the upper.. Upworthy 01 Jan 2022 On Thursday, a California judge refused to dismiss the defamation lawsuit brought by chess grandmaster Nona Gaprindashvili against Netflix in September over what she said was a manifestly false reference to her in the finale of The Queens Gambit. In the episode, as the fictional chess prodigy played by Anya-Taylor Joy prepares to face off with a male opponent, Gaprindashvili is referred to by a commentator as a female world champion [who] has never faced men. The lawsuit calls the comment manifestly false, as well as being grossly sexist and belittling. By 1968, the year in which this episode is set, she had competed against at least 59 male chess players (28 of them simultaneously in one game), including at least ten Grandmasters of that time, Gaprindashvilis attorneys argue. U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips ruled that Gaprindashvilis claim had merit and that works of fiction are not immune from defamation lawsuits if they disparage real people. Netflix does not cite, and the Court is not aware, of any cases precluding defamation claims for the portrayal of real persons in otherwise fictional works. The fact that the Series was a fictional work does not insulate Netflix from liability for defamation if all the elements of defamation are otherwise present, Phillips wrote in her decision. In the newly filed court documents, its noted that Netflix concedes the line is inaccurate, but argues that the Line is fiction and thus not understood to be conveying a fact. Netflix additionally argues for a substantial truth defense because the difference between having faced men by 1963 versus 1968 amounts to only a minor inaccuracy. The hit series, which is based on Walter Tevis 1983 novel of the same name, is fictional, but does reference several real-life events and figures of the 1950s and 1960s, including Gaprindashvili. According to the lawsuit, the novel references her career correctly and Netflixs multiple chess consultants should have caught the error.Netflix had no need to use Gaprindashvilis name and to disparage her achievements for dramatic purposes. It could have used a fictional character instead; or it could have referred to her by name, but not told the lie that she had never competed against men. Instead, Netflix deliberately eschewed these non-defamatory alternatives because it believed that the lie made for a more dramatic story, the suit reads. In September, a spokesperson for Netflix stated, Netflix has only the utmost respect for Ms. Gaprindashvili and her illustrious career, but we believe this claim has no merit and will vigorously defend the case. Gaprindashvili sued Netflix for portraying her in a false light, invasion of privacy and defamation and is seeking $5 million plus punitive damages. She also took issue with being described as a Russian player when she is from Georgia, a country that had suffered under Russian domination when part of the Soviet Union, and had been bullied and invaded by Russia thereafter. Georgian-born Gaprindashvili was among the greatest chess players to come out of the Soviet Union and in 1978 became the first woman ever awarded the title Grandmaster. Variety first reported the story.*Related stories from TheWrap:* Cardi B. Awarded Nearly $4 Million After Winning Libel Lawsuit Against YouTuber Alec Baldwin Seeks to Dismiss 'Rust' Script Supervisor's Lawsuit Elliot Page, Lilly Wachowski Join ACLU Lawsuit Against Arkansas Anti-Trans Law A federal judge is set to decide a new sentence Friday for Tiger King Joe Exotic who was convicted in a murder-for-hire plot to kill Florida animal welfare activist Carole Baskin. The EMA`s recommendation was sent to the European Commission for a rapid decision applicable in all EU member states. Nine police officers in Nashville fatally shot a man Thursday after a standoff on I-65. The man did not have a.. Upworthy 28 Jan 2022 BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to boost public services with satellites and promote the application and transfer of space technology in the next five years, according to a white paper on the country's space program. The white paper, titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective," was issued Friday by the State Council Information Office. In the coming five years, China will cultivate and strengthen its space application industry by integrating it with the digital economy, and deepening the integration of communications technology, satellite navigation, and remote-sensing information, Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), made the remarks at a press conference on the white paper. China will intensify the integration of satellite applications with the development of industries and regions and space information with new-generation information technology such as big data and the Internet of Things, the white paper said. The country will extend the integrated application of remote-sensing satellite data for land, oceans, and meteorology. China will also advance infrastructure construction for the integrated application of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), satellite communications, and the ground communications network to improve its capacity to tailor and refine professional services. All these efforts will help achieve the goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality, revitalize rural areas, and realize new-type urbanization, coordinated development between regions, and eco-environmental progress. The significant role of satellites is evident in resource and eco-environment protection, disaster prevention and mitigation, management of emergencies, weather forecasting, and climate change response. It is also apparent in social management and public services, urbanization, coordinated regional development, and poverty eradication. The satellite remote-sensing system has been used by almost all departments at national and provincial levels to conduct emergency monitoring of over 100 severe natural disasters countrywide. The communication and broadcasting satellite network has made direct services available to over 140 million households in China's rural and remote areas. The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System has guaranteed the safety of more than seven million operating vehicles, provided positioning and short message communication services to over 40,000 seagoing fishing vessels, and offered precise positioning services for the freighting of supplies and tracking of individual movement for COVID-19 control and hospital construction. "The space applications have been extensively serving all socio-economical fields and helping to improve people's lives," Zhao Jian, director of the Earth Observation System and Data Center of the CNSA, said at the press conference. They have covered diverse fields such as the land and resource survey, agricultural development, forest and grassland monitoring, disaster prevention and mitigation, weather forecasting, transportation, education, and construction, said Zhao. In the next five years, China's space industry will seize opportunities from the expanding digital industry and the digital transformation of traditional industries to promote the application and transfer of space technology. More efforts would expand and extend the scope for applying satellite remote-sensing and satellite communications technologies and realizing the industrialized operation of the BDS. "This will provide more advanced, cost-effective, high-quality products and convenient services for all industries and sectors and mass consumption," the document noted. New business models for upscaling the space economy such as travel, biomedicine, debris removal, and experiment services will develop to expand the industry, it said. Canadian truck drivers determined to shut down central Ottawa over a federal government vaccine mandate rolled across the country toward the capital on Thursday, boosted by praise from Tesla Chief... #truckdrivers #tesla #truckers #elonmusk Pittsburgh is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the United States and the county seat of Allegheny County. A population of 302,971 residents lives within the city limits as of the 2020 US Census, making it the 68th-largest city in the U.S. and the second-most populous city in Pennsylvania, behind Philadelphia. The Pittsburgh metropolitan area is the anchor of Western Pennsylvania; its population of 2.37 million is the largest in both the Ohio Valley and Appalachia, the second-largest in Pennsylvania, and the 27th-largest in the U.S. Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: British asset manager M&G acquire substantially all of responsAbility Investments AG, a Zurich-based impact investor focused on private debt and private equity in emerging markets. The London-based investment manager will acquire 90% of responsAbility's shares, and expects to buy the remaining 10% "in due course". At the end of 2021, responsAbility had USD3.7 billion of assets under management. No financial details of the deal were disclosed. The company said in a press release that responsAbility will remain based in Zurich and retain its brand identity. It invests across three themes tied to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: financial inclusion, climate finance, and sustainable food. "There is a strong and growing demand for impact and sustainable investment products from our clients. The combination of responsAbility's specialist capabilities in this area and our scale, investment breadth, and global distribution reach represent a very powerful proposition," the company said. "responsAbility brings leading capabilities in impact investment to M&G, which will help us accelerate our ambition to place sustainability at the heart of our investment process, and further expands M&G's international operations, particularly concerning asset sourcing and origination," said Jack Daniels, chief investment officer at M&G. John Foley, chief executive of M&G, said: "This acquisition strengthens M&G's position in the r...................... To view our full article Click here On the 24th of January 2022, over 22,000 social representatives from 51 countries attended the international peace conference celebrating the Peace Day held virtually. The event commemorated a civilian-led peace agreement made between the Islam and Catholic communities in Mindanao 8 years ago. Back in 2014, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), an international NGO mediated the conflict in Mindanao by proposing a peace agreement by local representatives. Witnessed With the apostolic letter Aperuit Illis, promulgated September 30, 2019, on the liturgical feast of Saint Jerome, Pope Francis dedicated the third Sunday of Ordinary Time to celebrating the Word of God. He indicated that the purpose of this annual celebration would be to rediscover the foundational and normative value of the Word of God for the life of faith of every baptised person and of the whole Church. Pope Francis decision has a two-fold meaning. Firstly, Francis made the decision at the end of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, as if to underline the close relationship between the experience of Gods tender forgiveness and listening trustingly to his Word. Secondly, the ecumenical and interreligious significance of the celebration strengthens our ties with the Jewish people and with all Christians, reminding us that the Word of ... This content is reserved for Subscribers Dear Reader, access to all editions of LOsservatore Romano is reserved for Subscribers. Click here to subscribe One of the pillars of Israels faith is the belief that peoples actions are observed and recorded by God in a Book of Remembrance (Malachi 3:16). Nothing is hidden from Gods vision. In our earthly existence, we regularly see that the actions carried out by each individual have consequences for better or worse. Parts of the Bible declare that malicious people and those who blindly follow them end up destroying themselves, while those who acted with justice and mercy will forever be remembered and their good works will echo down the centuries forever (Psalm 1). Other parts of the Bible are less hopeful, at least temporarily bemoaning the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73). I believe that Gods activity in human history can be seen when great and oppressive empires collapse and when their tyrannical rulers who demanded idolatrous subservience are brought low. One by one they have vanished, from the empires of antiquity to Nazi Germany with its fevered dream of a thousand-year reich. Although past regimes that aspired to almighty power fell, the memory of their deeds must be preserved in human hearts. God requires us to remember the past and to understand our existence in light of it (cf. Deuteronomy 32:7). Seventy-seven years ago, on January 27, the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp was liberated by Soviet troops. It was the largest of the extermination camps that the Nazis and their acolytes had erected to annihilate all those they considered harmful to the Aryan race and its supposed destiny to rule the world. Of the 1,100,000 people who were exterminated there, 90% were Jews. In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly designated that January 27, the day of the liberation of Auschwitz, be memorialized as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Deuteronomy 25:17, God commands the people of Israel to remember forever the actions of the Amalekites who attacked them when they were weak and vulnerable following their escape from slavery (Exodus 17:8-16). Preserving the memory of such assaults warns us not to become complacent, to think that something like this could not happen again, or to imagine, this is not going to happen to me. We must not forget the horrific depths to which the human mind can descend and so not allow ourselves to fall prey to our own inner demons or to succumb to the charism and appeal of any despotic and malevolent leader. On April 30, 1943, while the Warsaw ghetto uprising was taking place, and the horrific massacres of Jews in Europe were becoming known, the famous Israeli poet Abraham Shlonsky published his poem The Vow in the newspaper Haaretz. In it he movingly expresses his promise not to forget anything that happened, to remember everything, and to see that people learn from his words. The same sentiment, Let our fate be a warning to you, is engraved on the mausoleum at Majdanek death camp in Poland, which contains the ashes and remains of those executed there. These words give voice to the feelings of the voiceless about those who remain alive. Thankfully, sensitive people saw to it that the victims soundless and anguished cry would be carved in stone forever. To remain in someones memory was the desperate wish of those who foresaw their harrowing end, and that of their family and friends, as they walked to the gas chambers. They hoped people in the future would never again be indifferent or daunted by the face of evil. They tried as best they could to keep the torch of human dignity high in the midst of the dark and miserable night that Nazism imposed on humanity. But to heed their warning we must remember the history of what happened. We must repeat it to our children and grandchildren, until they are indelibly imprinted on their consciences. The passage of time, the disappearance of the eyewitnesses to the Nazi abomination, the difficulties of transmitting the visceral horror to new generations, and the apathy of those who deny or minimize the historical all dim the memory that it is essential to preserve. Humanity desperately needs the memory of the Shoah against the Jewish people and of all the genocides suffered by different peoples before and since. It is memory that ultimately will break endlessly repeating cycles of viciousness. It is memory that will help overcome the destructive impulses that can lurk in the human heart. It is memory that will help us recognize the selfishness and pettiness and corruption that leaves so many people in misery today. In the Jewish tradition, God has a Day of Memory. It is Rosh Hashanah, when each new year begins. Gods Book of Memories that records the actions of each person is opened on that day. The Creator judges everyone and decides their fate. It is the day when God also remembers the covenants he made with humans, with Noah and Abraham and their descendants. Similarly, may this International Holocaust Remembrance Day be a time when God teaches us that there can always be a new beginning, and that the decision whether to repeat or reject past atrocities lies in each of our hands. * Gratz College, Melrose Park, PA, USA Abraham Skorka * As he continued his series of catecheses on Saint Joseph at the General Audience on Wednesday morning, 26 January, Pope Francis considered the four dreams by which God spoke to the Saint, whom the Pope described as the man who dreams. The following is a translation of the Holy Fathers words which he shared with the faithful gathered in the Paul vi Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning! Today I would like to focus on the figure of Saint Joseph as a man who dreams. In the Bible, as in the cultures of ancient peoples, dreams were considered a means by which God revealed himself. The dream symbolises the spiritual life of each of us, that inner space that each of us is called to cultivate and guard, where God manifests himself and often speaks to us. But we must also say that within each of us there is not only the voice of God: there are many other voices. For example, the voices of our fears, the voices of past experiences, the voices of hopes; and there is also the voice of the evil one who wants to deceive and confuse us. It is therefore important to be able to recognise the voice of God in the midst of other voices. Joseph demonstrates that he knows how to cultivate the necessary silence and, above all, how to make the right decisions before the Word that the Lord addresses to him inwardly. Today, it will be good for us to take up the four dreams in the Gospel which have him as protagonist, in order to understand how to place ourselves before Gods revelation. The Gospel tells us of the four dreams of Joseph. In the first dream (cf. Mt 1:18-25), the angel helps Joseph resolve the distress that assails him when he learns of Marys pregnancy: Do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (vv. 20-21). And his response was immediate: When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him (v. 24). Life often puts us in situations that we do not understand and that seem to have no solution. Praying in these moments means letting the Lord show us the right thing to do. Indeed, very often it is prayer that gives us the intuition of the way out, of how to solve that situation. Dear brothers and sisters, the Lord never allows a problem to arise without also giving us the help we need to deal with it. He does not cast us alone into the fire. He does not cast us among the beasts. No. When the Lord shows us a problem, or reveals a problem, he always gives us the intuition, the help, his presence, to get out of it, to resolve it. And the second revealing dream of Joseph comes when the life of the child Jesus is in danger. The message is clear: Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him (Mt 2:13). Joseph obeyed without hesitation: He rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod (vv. 14-15). In life we all experience dangers that threaten our existence or the existence of those we love. In these situations, praying means listening to the voice that can give us the same courage as Joseph, to face difficulties without succumbing. In Egypt, Joseph waited for a sign from God that he could return home, and this is the content of the third dream. The angel reveals to him that those who wanted to kill the child are dead and orders him to leave with Mary and Jesus and return to the homeland (cf. Mt 2:19-20). Joseph rose and took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel (v. 21). But on the return journey, when he heard that Archelaus reigned over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there (v. 22). Here then is the fourth revelation: Being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and dwelt in a city called Nazareth (vv. 22-23). Fear is also part of life and it too needs our prayer. God does not promise us that we will never have fear, but that, with his help, it will not be the criterion for our decisions. Joseph experiences fear, but God guides him through it. The power of prayer brings light to dark situations. At this moment I am thinking of so many people who are crushed by the weight of life and can no longer hope or pray. May Saint Joseph help them to open themselves to dialogue with God so that they may find light, strength, and peace. And I am thinking, too, of parents who are facing their childrens problems: children with many illnesses, children who are sick, even with permanent illnesses. how much pain is there! parents who see different sexual orientations in their children; how to deal with this and accompany their children and not hide in an attitude of condemnation. Parents who see their children leave, who die because of an illness, and also even sadder, we read about it every day in the newspapers teenagers who get into childish mischief and end up in car accidents. Parents who see their children not progressing in school and do not know what to do.... So many parental problems. Let us think about how to help them. And to these parents I say: do not be afraid. Yes, there is pain. A lot. But think about how Joseph solved problems and ask Joseph to help you. Never condemn a child. It fills me with compassion it did in Buenos Aires when I used to ride the bus and it passed in front of the prison. There was a queue of people who had to go in to visit the prisoners. And there were the mothers there who deeply moved me: faced with the problem of a son or a daughter who made a mistake and was in prison, they did not leave them alone, they stood up for them and accompanied them. This courage; the courage of a father and mother who always, always accompany their children. Let us ask the Lord to give this courage he gave to Joseph to all fathers and mothers. And pray that the Lord will help us in these moments. Prayer, however, is never an abstract or purely internal gesture, like these spiritualist movements that are more gnostic than Christian want to do. No, it is not that. Prayer is always inextricably linked to charity. It is only when we combine prayer with love, the love for children in the cases I just mentioned, or the love for our neighbour, that we are able to understand the Lords messages. Joseph prayed, worked, and loved three beautiful things for parents: to pray, to work, and to love and because of this, he always received what he needed to face lifes trials. Let us entrust ourselves to him and to his intercession. Saint Joseph, you are the man who dreams, teach us to recover the spiritual life as the inner place where God manifests himself and saves us. Remove from us the thought that praying is useless; help each one of us to correspond to what the Lord shows us. May our reasoning be illuminated by the light of the Spirit, our hearts encouraged by his strength and our fears saved by his mercy. Amen. 1 Cf. Gen 20:3; 28:12; 31:11,24; 40:8; 41:1-32; Nm 12:6; 1 Sam 3:3-10; Dn 2; 4; Gb 33:15. Special Greetings I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in todays Audience, particularly those from the United States of America. Today, I especially ask you to join in praying for peace in Ukraine. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke the Lords blessings of joy and peace. God bless you! Tomorrow is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is necessary to remember the extermination of millions of Jews, and people of different nationalities and religious faiths. This unspeakable cruelty must never be repeated. I appeal to everyone, especially educators and families, to foster in the new generations an awareness of the horror of this dark page in history. It must not be forgotten, so that we can build a future where human dignity is no longer trampled underfoot. Lastly, as usual, my thoughts turn to the elderly, to the sick, to young people and to newlyweds. Today the liturgy recalls Saints Timothy and Titus who, formed by the Apostle Paul, proclaimed the Gospel with tireless ardour. May their example encourage you to live your Christian vocation coherently, finding in the Lord the strength to face lifes difficulties. Allow me to explain that today I will not be able to come among you to greet you because I have a problem with my right leg: a ligament in my knee has become inflamed. But I will come down and greet you there and you can come by to greet me. It is a temporary thing. They say that this only happens to elderly people and I dont know why it happened to me... I offer my blessing to all of you. The Holy Father then led the faithful in prayer for peace in Ukraine, as he had announced at the Angelus on Sunday, 23 January. I ask you to pray the Our Father for peace in Ukraine, now and throughout this Day. Let us ask the Lord to grant that the country may grow in the spirit of brotherhood, and that all hurts, fears and divisions will be overcome. We have spoken about the Holocaust. But let us think too that [in Ukraine] millions of people were killed [1932-1933]. They are a people who have suffered; they have suffered from hunger, suffered from much brutality and they deserve peace. May the prayers and supplications that today rise up to heaven touch the minds and hearts of world leaders, so that dialogue may prevail and the common good be placed ahead of partisan interests. Please, no more war. Let us spray for peace with the Our Father. It is the prayer of sons and daughters who address the Father. It is the prayer that makes us brothers and sisters. It is the prayer of brothers and sisters who implore reconciliation and harmony. Ottumwa, IA (52501) Today Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low near 50F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low near 50F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. VALLETTA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chicken legs, fish fillets, potatoes, carrots, desserts, fruit... At 12 noon sharp, a sumptuous lunch is served to people lining up in a dining room which is located in a 16th century building in Malta's capital Valletta. A sign there says "Wait to be served." They are all homeless and hungry. In the 100-square-meter dining room, formally called "Soup Kitchen" but known locally as "public kitchen" or "warm home," volunteers offer free lunch, afternoon tea and dinner to the needy. The Soup Kitchen opened its doors last August, during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, it has served more than 30,000 meals to 8,600 people, an estimated 90 percent of whom are Maltese nationals. The food is donated by companies, schools and individuals. "We treat them all as guests. We offer them dignity. Our motto is 'life with dignity' because we believe everybody has the right to education, shelter and health," said Marcelino Micallef, 64-year-old director of the Soup Kitchen. The pandemic has changed the life of Malta's homeless and other vulnerable population in a major way. The social distancing requirement has forced them into an involuntary isolation and sourcing food, medicine and other necessities has become an uphill task for them. "The Soup Kitchen was opened at just the right time for these people," Micallef said, adding that "We are happy to provide some respite to the hungry, giving them dignity and helping them through their difficulties." An estimated 700,000 people sleep rough each night in Europe, 70 percent more than a decade ago, according to a survey published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union (EU), in May 2021. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Micallef said, the needs of Malta's homeless and vulnerable people have increased "exponentially." Charities like the Soup Kitchen are in dire need of help, but the pandemic-related social restrictions make it very hard even for volunteers to help out. "It's a strain on the system in general, which makes it extremely hard to operate a charity. No wonder we always appeal for help and assistance," he said. To prevent people suffering from hunger because of the health restrictions, the kitchen always prepares meals in take-away boxes for the unvaccinated, who are not allowed to enter the premises. "They cannot be forgotten," Micallef said. The Soup Kitchen is run by two full-time employees, one of them is a chef. It is also helped by a roster of almost 90 volunteers, including two barbers and a psychiatrist. There are showers where the clients can freshen up, and even a laundry service, so they can wash their clothes while they fill their stomachs. Angela Scerri, a volunteer, said she enjoyed her time in the Soup Kitchen. "It's a community," she said. "We try to help them find accommodation or a job, or just keep them company." "Most of us are volunteers, and we do our job with love. A lot of love," Scerri added. At the Soup Kitchen, two lawyers offer free legal aid for these people. And volunteers even help find jobs for the unemployed. So far, 12 clients have escaped from the dole with their help. One client, who preferred to remain anonymous, said he had lost everything - his family, job and friends - to drug addiction. Fortunately, he has started a drug rehab program and with the help of the Soup Kitchen he found a job. Donations to the kitchen come not only in the form of food or cash. According to Micallef, a company has recently donated a dozen water heaters, which were installed in people's houses. Another company mounted solar panels on someone's roof, so now he has electricity even in winter, while other companies donated white goods, such as microwaves. The Soup Kitchen's latest project is to turn a disused property next door into a shelter for the homeless. "The more you give, the more you receive," Micallef said. UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations held a virtual ceremony to mark the International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Thursday, in remembering the 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust during the Second World War. The Holocaust "defined the United Nations," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the ceremony, recalling that the UN Charter was drafted in San Francisco "as the Dachau concentration camp was liberated." In remembering the Jews who perished in the Holocaust, along with the Roma and Sinti, and countless other victims of its "unprecedented horror and calculated cruelty," the UN chief reminded that "our very name was coined to describe the alliance fighting the Nazi regime and its allies." "The United Nations must always be on the frontline of the fight against antisemitism and all other forms of religious bigotry and racism," underscored the UN chief. Across the globe, xenophobia and hatred are on the rise, said the top UN official. Guterres described rising antisemitism, intolerance and proliferating Holocaust denials, in which "no society is immune." "We must never forget that the Holocaust could have been prevented. The desperate pleas of the victims fell on deaf ears. Too few spoke out, too few listened - fewer still stood up in solidarity," he said. He urged everyone to never be indifferent to the suffering of others, forget what happened in the death camps, or let it be forgotten by others. In his address, Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, mourned the losses of the women, men and children who "perished during the worst atrocity in human history." "We honor those whose lives were cut short by ruthless and intolerable acts fueled by bigotry, antisemitism, and hatred," he said. "We ensure that they live on in legacy and in memory." And to prevent history from repeating itself, everyone must remember and keep "telling this story." "In memory of the Holocaust victims, and out of respect for the survivors, let us never forget. Let us unite for truth, peace, and justice for all." Kicking off the day's events, the UN Chamber Music Society featured Jewish composers in performing a moving concert, designed to preserve the memory of the tragedy for future generations. It also featured special performances from Argentine-Israeli Maestro Daniel Barenboim's West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, and artwork by Israeli New York-based artist, Roy Nachum. The ceremony was followed by a virtual seminar entitled Legacy of Medicine During the Holocaust and its Contemporary Relevance, which was aimed at healthcare trainees and professionals to reflect on their core values in the service of humanistic and ethically responsible patient care. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Collin Periatt. Wednesday, Jan. 26 10:20 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a suspicious situation at a Jerome Township residence. The 17-year-old caller reported at least two people shot a gun in the air at the residence, where he had dropped a friend off. Deputies made contact with the individuals at the residence, who denied having fired a gun. 8:48 p.m. A deputy conducted a traffic stop at a Lincoln Township location for a traffic violation. The deputy made contact with the driver, a 42-year-old Midland man. During the investigation, it was discovered the man had a suspended driver's license in the state of Michigan. The man was cited for the offense. The vehicle was turned over to a valid driver. 5:19 p.m. Officers investigated a hit-and-run vehicle crash near Joe Mann Boulevard and Elisenal Drive. 12:42 p.m. A garbage can valued at $75 was stolen from a roadway in Homer Township. 12:37 p.m. Deputies responded to a Homer Township residence for a report of larceny. Deputies made contact with a 46-year-old Midland woman, who said someone stole approximately $300 worth of wood cutting equipment. No suspects at the time. 1:59 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Warren Township residence about a verbal dispute between a 47-year-old woman and her 37-year-old boyfriend. No physical assault occurred. The parties agreed to stay separated for the night. 1:53 a.m. A deputy was dispatched to a city of Midland location for an assault report. A 22-year-old Greendale Township man said he was assaulted by a 26-year-old Greendale Township man. Director of Content and Operations Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run. He's on a mission to summit all 58 of Colorado's fourteeners and has already climbed more than half. Accra, Ghana (PANA) - A virtual extraordinary meeting of heads of state of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) opened on Friday on discuss the coup d'etat in Burkina Faso with a warning that no country is insulated from the deteriorating political situation in the sub-region BAGHDAD, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A rocket attack targetting the Baghdad International Airport on Friday, which damaged two civilian plane and the airport's runway, was aimed at isolating Iraq internationally by undermining its reputation, Iraqi officials said. The rocket attack on the airport "represents a new attempt to undermine Iraq's reputation, which we have endeavored to restore regionally and internationally, through endangering international flight standards at Iraqi airports and spreading an atmosphere of suspicion about internal security," Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi was quoted as saying in a statement by his media office. Al-Kadhimi called upon all political parties to "express their clear rejection and condemnation of this dangerous attack, as silence on such attacks is a political shelter for criminals," according to the statement. The prime minister also urged the international community "not to impose restrictions on travel or air transportation to and from Iraq" as part of the efforts to "deter terrorists from achieving their goal." Earlier in the day, a source in the Iraqi interior ministry told Xinhua that the rocket strike was directed at Victory Base, a military air base around the international airport that houses several U.S. experts and organizations. Four rockets were shot down by the air defense system, while another two hit targets including a civilian plane, the source said on condition of anonymity, adding no casualties were reported in the attack. According to a statement released by the media office of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command (JOC), unidentified militias fired six Katyusha rockets on the area of Baghdad International Airport, damaging two civilian planes. Iraqi security forces spotted a rocket launcher with three unfired rockets in the Abu Ghraib area in the north of the airport and defused them, the statement said. The security forces launched an investigation into the incident and found some clues about the perpetrators who will be brought to justice, the JOC statement added. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack, but militias frequently target Iraqi military bases housing U.S. military advisors across Iraq, as well as the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Flights have resumed at all airports around the country, including Baghdad International Airport, according to the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority. Following the attack, the Sadrist bloc, led by famous Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, promised in a tweet to "free Iraq from terrorism and uncontrolled weaponry." In a separate tweet, Hassan al-Adhari, head of the Sadrist Movement, said targeting "government facilities, in particular Baghdad International Airport, is one of the actions of Iraq's enemies who seek to isolate Iraq internationally and economically." In a statement, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq voiced its great concern regarding the ongoing wave of attacks in Iraq targeting political party offices, residences, and businesses, including the recent rocket attack on Baghdad International Airport. The statement urged all the Iraqi parties "to move beyond condemnations and swiftly pull together to expose those behind it (attack)." Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, has said needs are growing faster than generosity in the central Sahel as he paints a grim picture of the woesening humanitarian situation across the region Photo: (Photo : HENNING BAGGER/AFP via Getty Images) A retired teacher claims that he is the most prolific sperm donor in the world after fathering 129 children and nine more babies who will be born this year, totaling 138 kids. Clive Jones, 66 years old, has been a sperm donor for nearly a decade, but he doesn't have ties with official sperm banks. Instead, he conducts the arrangements from his van in Derby in the U.K. after closing deals on Facebook. He said he plans to donate for a few more years until he has fathered 150 kids. Jones claims that he's not charging anything for his sperm donations except perhaps to ask people for gas money. He also said he does not need the extra cash because he has enough as a retired teacher. Read Also: Actress Ginnifer Goodwin Willingly Offers Husband's Sperm to Her Best Friend An Overwhelming Demand for Sperm Donors However, U.K. fertility doctors, including the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority, have issued a warning against Jones because legal sperm donors should be treated and vetted at a licensed fertility clinic. Sperm banks in the U.K. also have a sperm donor age limit of 45 years old. A spokesperson for the fertilization agency said that sperm donation outside of a clinic environment could pose medical and legal risks. Licensed clinics also conduct rigorous tests to determine the donors' medical history and potential hereditary illnesses. Jones defended his activities by stating that many fertility clinics and sperm banks charge astronomical prices for semen samples instead of donating these to families in need. He also claimed that there is an overwhelming demand for sperm donors in the unregulated market. "I think people would understand more if they saw the messages I get and the photos of the babies with very happy mothers," Jones said in his interview with DerbyshireLive. As a dad of three grown-up children himself, Jones said that he understands people who regard kids as the most important goal in their lives. After reading a story about would-be parents desperate for a baby who make their arrangements on Facebook, he tapped into the underworld market. Nine years ago, he tried to post an offer to help people who could not have children and received a message from a local woman within an hour. However, Jones said that he has not advertised as a sperm donor in years and has simply made arrangements through referrals. Meeting His "Babies" In 2018, Jones said through a documentary program about unregulated sperm donations; he has met some of his "babies" in person since they live near Derby. He also admitted that his wife since 1978 is not happy he's a sperm donor. They now live apart despite remaining married. Jones also explained in the documentary that he needs the van to drive close to where the would-be parents live. He said many people who ask for his help are same-sex couples. The couple then informs him if the woman is ovulating, so he has cups and syringes prepared in his van to hand out his fresh specimen. From there, it's up to the couples to do what they please with the sperm donation. Jones said that he had a hectic year during the pandemic and donated an average of five specimens a week. From these sperm donations, about one in eight ends up in a full-term pregnancy. Related Article: Tokyo Mom Gives up Baby for Adoption Because Sperm Donor Lied About His Ethnicity Photo: (Photo : Getty images ) LAPD Officer Sergeant Bumjim Kim saved a choking baby girl's life after the baby's parents approached him in the middle of his patrol in Los Angeles, California, on January 19. The incident was caught on camera. While patrolling Echo Park, distressed parents holding a lifeless three-year-old approached Kim asking for help to save their child. The video showed a man crying and asking him, "Please, officer! Please! I don't know what's wrong!" Read Also: Atlanta Shooting: Six-month-Old Baby Hit by Stray Bullet, Suspect Arrested Airway obstruction The officer leaped into action. He immediately performed a procedure to remove the obstruction on the baby girl's airway. "My concern was that she looked really, really pale, "Kim said in an interview with NBC news later. He said they have training on breathing and air compression. "I have a three-year-old son, and he stuffs his face all the time, so I was thinking obstruction hazard." Sgt. Kim worked to clear the obstruction. The procedure, which included LAPD training and paternal instinct, took only a minute. "During the flipping of the mouth, I thought I felt something. Whatever it was that was obstructing, I believe came out, based on the fact that she was breathing and crying really loud," he said. The Los Angeles Fire Department arrived minutes after, and they took the toddler to the nearest hospital, where she was treated and is now listed in stable condition. 'Just doing my job' Kim told the NBC reporter that he only realized he had just saved a baby's life ten minutes later. "I thought about my child, I thought about my wife, if she had been in a similar situation, she would probably also be totally relieved," Kim said. People have been commending the officer, calling him a hero. The officer was unfazed, saying that he was just at the "right place, at the right time." He believes that of the thousands of police officers in Los Angeles, they would probably do the same if the situation calls for it. Kim also said he spoke to the father of the baby girl. "I spoke to the dad, and he was grateful...We shared a hug because I think it was a sigh of relief between both of us as fathers." Kim said that he is thankful that he could make a difference in the family's life. He also said he plans to meet the family again to give the little girl a teddy bear with a police vest. Airway obstruction happens when a child's throat or upper airway is blocked with small items, making it difficult to breathe. Around 5,000 children at the age of 14, a majority under four years of age, are treated in hospital emergency rooms every year for airway obstruction. Around 650 children die every year in the US due to air obstruction, strangulation, or choking. Kim is being hailed as a hero after the video of the choking baby girl went viral. Related Article: Walking Dead' Actress Alicia Witt Finally Breaks Her Silence About Her Parent's Death This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions When Spanish police were informed of an illegal electricity tap, a small building stealing a huge amount of power from its neighbors, they suspected an indoor marijuana farm. After all, weed needs a lot of lights and hydroponics if you want to grow it in the middle of Seville. But when the cops raided the building, they found racks and racks of humming graphics cards instead. The operation wasnt an illegal marijuana farm, it was an illegal cryptocurrency farm. VideoCardz.com spotted the story posted on a local news hub, noting that most of the cards used in the crypto mining rigs appear to be EVGA RTX 3000-series in addition to standalone ASICs machines. Police told the media that they seized 22 rigs worth 50,000 euro, and running off of 2000 euro a month in stolen electricity. For such an elaborate setup, the profit seems to be piecemeal: police estimate the operation generated approximately 3500 euro a month in profit, even after the illegal power tap. No arrests were reported. You can watch video of the raid here: Theres nothing illegal about mining Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in most countries, even if gamers desperately searching for affordable graphics cards might wish otherwise. But criminals and desperate chancers are seeing crypto as an easy and relatively safe way to generate income. Put that relatively in big quotes: running dozens of high-powered computers in close proximity gobbles up electricity (which is what made this farm illegal) and generates huge amounts of heat. In December, a crypto farm in Thailand was destroyed in a fire, possibly caused by excess heat and/or poor wiring. The aviation wing of the McDan Group of Companies, McDan Aviation, will today inaugurate Ghana's first private jet terminal at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in Accra. This follows the acquisition of a Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) licence from the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL). The terminal is at the Terminal One of the KIA and it is expected to help Ghana position itself and open up to the world as it aims at becoming the preferred destination for business and investment. In a telephone interview with the Daily Graphic yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the McDan Group of Companies, Mr Daniel McKorley, said McDan Aviation would offer aircraft operators and middle-to-high-end businesses a secure and private alternative to the airports main terminal. Opening up According to Mr McKorley, Ghana was opening up to the world, hence the need to set another standard where businessmen and businesswomen would have the opportunity to do business with ease as far as travel was concerned, without compromising on security and safety. He said the terminal also had the potential to boost business and tourism in Ghana by removing bottlenecks associated with travel to and from Ghana. The lounge of the private jet terminal has a conference room for people who want to have business meetings at the airport, without necessarily going into the city when they arrive. They get the business done and return on that same day and within hours, he explained. Services, jobs Mr McKorley pointed out that the company would kickstart its commercial private jet services with three aeroplanes and one helicopter, while arrangements were in place for the acquisition of other aircraft, including a Challenger 604 Bombardier, a Gulfstream jet and helicopters, to offer air-ambulance medical, as well as domestic tourism. He further disclosed that the commercial private jet service would offer direct employment to hundreds of Ghanaians when fully operational. He said the company would also sub-let services such as the cleaning of its aircraft and terminals, as well as baggage handling, to other businesses, which would also create many indirect jobs. The McDan Commercial Private Jet Service will not only provide convenience for business people; it will also offer direct employment to over 400 Ghanaians when its operations begin, the CEO indicated. Expansion Mr McKorley said McDan Aviation was also looking forward to expanding its private jet operations to other African countries. He said his outfit was currently exploring partnerships to offer private jet services in Liberia, Senegal and Equatorial Guinea. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Recent successes achieved in exporting Ethiopian coffee to China will provide a roadmap in leveraging export potential of other African countries, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has said. "Success recorded in exporting Ethiopian coffee to China will provide a roadmap in leveraging export potential for other ten African countries, where ECA is working this year, to provide more export potential from Africa to China," an ECA statement sent to Xinhua quoted Vera Songwe, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive of the ECA, as saying. "We are delighted to work with the government of Ethiopia on this real opportunity, to see how this partnership will continue to improve the livelihoods of citizens in Ethiopia, by offering an interoperable platform for trade," Songwe said. According to the UNECA, more than 11,200 bags of Ethiopian coffee were sold within seconds last week during the Ethiopian Coffee Brands Launch on China's largest e-commerce platform, Alibaba (Tmall Global), in a joint effort with the ECA and the Ethiopian government. "This launch demonstrates the benefits that, not only Ethiopia, but Africa can reap in harnessing digitalization," an ECA statement quoted Gebremeskel Chala, Ethiopia's Minister of Trade and Regional Integration. "ECA has joined efforts with Alibaba Group, and the government of Ethiopia to bring more quality African products to one of the largest markets in the world today, the Chinese online market," it said. Through this partnership, the electronic World Trading Platform (eWTP) has successfully on-boarded three Ethiopian coffee brands that are Wild, Arada, and Hedero. The ECA, Ant Group from Alibaba Group, and the Ethiopian government exclusively featured freshly roasted authentic coffee produced by small and medium-sized Ethiopian businesses at a livestream event to promote the launch of new Ethiopian coffee products on Tmall Global. According to the ECA, using AntChain's track and trace technology, all coffee on display was airlifted from Ethiopia; thus, guaranteeing a safe and transparent journey from departure to arrival. The primary objective of the initiative was said to leverage the infrastructure provided by the eWTP in creating an enabling environment to promote e-commerce and tourism for African entrepreneurs, whilst bringing quality African products into the Chinese market. The ECA expects the initiative to enable other African countries to participate in and benefit from inclusive global trade. Eric Jing, Alibaba Group Director and Executive Chairman of Ant Group, on his part commended the milestone as Ethiopian coffee penetrates the emerging Chinese coffee market. "Through coffee, we will build a bridge fostering China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, and stimulating economic recovery," the statement quoted Eric as saying. Meanwhile, the launch set in motion a community project on Tmall Global, in which for each bag of coffee sold, a special donation will be made to purchase school supplies for Ethiopian primary school students. Ethiopia's Minister of Trade and Regional Integration stressed that "through your purchases, support, and the power of e-commerce, the cooperation will benefit coffee farmers, SMEs and students in Ethiopia." First proposed by Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma in 2016, the eWTP has been recognized by the G20 and launched in China, Malaysia, Belgium, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. It also offers training and support in areas such as e-commerce, logistics, financing, cloud computing and mobile payments. Governance Lecturer at the Central University, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, has sent a stern warning to a Public Relations Officer of the Fair Wages Commission to refrain from making loose statements. Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' regarding the teacher unions' strikes, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah alluded to some comments purportedly made by the Head of Public Affairs for the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), Earl Ankrah. According to him, this PRO told the teachers that if they feel their salaries are small, so cannot commit themselves to their job, they should quit it. Mr Ankrah is reported to have told members of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) that they cannot continue striking while negotiations are underway. According to some media reports citing an interview he granted 3FM, whiles calling on them to return to the lecture halls saying you cannot negotiate while you are on strike so they must call off the strike before they can engage," he asked aggrieved Labour Unions to resign if they were not satisfied with their conditions of service. The FWSC subsequently waded into the fray clarifying that Earl Ankrahs words were taken out of context. The Commission in a press release indicated that Mr Ankrahs comment was not in direct reference to UTAG. In effect, responses to two different questions were mischievously treated as one. But it appears Dr. Otchere-Ankrah was unaware of the FWSC's response and scathingly admonished Mr Ankrah to learn how to communicate properly. ''There's one man at the Fair Wages Commission, I think it's their PRO. He should learn how to talk because, sometimes, it's your utterances that will irritate someone. If indeed he said that if you think your salary is not good, then stop your work; you can't talk like that. If you do a private business, you can say whatever you want but if it's the government's money you are taking . . . he should watch his words!'', he cautioned. 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 An officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, Chief Officer Francis Dzaka Mawunyo, has been shot dead by a gang of three highway robbers on the Asiakwa-Apedwa stretch on the Kumasi-Accra Highway. The deceased officer, according to a report by Myjoyonline, was shot in the face at close range after he refused to hand over his bag said to be containing an amount of GHC340 to the robbers. His refusal to hand over the bag on the command of the robbers angered a member of the gang said to have been wielding a pump-action gun. The angry robber shot him in the left eye, killing him instantly. The Kibi Divisional Police confirmed the incident noting that it responded to a distress call from the scene to the Information Room of the Eastern Regional Police Headquarters at Koforidua. According to a police situational report, the gang stopped and robbed about 20 vehicles on the stretch at about 2:30 am on Thursday at a spot between Brimso and Enyinasi. On the spot investigations disclosed that three armed men suspected to be of Fulani extraction stopped the vehicles and robbed the passengers of their properties, including cash and mobile phones, it added. The deceased was said to be onboard a 46-seater Hyundai bus with registration number AP 260-22 and was travelling from Kumasi to Accra direction of the road when the bus was stopped by the robbers. It was further disclosed that the robbers demanded that the deceased surrenders his bag, but he resisted; as a result, one of the robbers armed with pump-action gun fired at him at close range by the left eye, killing him instantly. The robbers subsequently collected the bag of the deceased, it said. A search on the body of the deceased is said to have led to the discovery of an amount of GH340 and a Prison Service ID card with his name Dzaka Francis Mawunyo on it. The deceased officer, until his death, was stationed at the Kumasi Central Prisons and was a few months away from his retirement in June this year. Chief Officer Francis Dzaka Mawunyo left behind a wife and three children. His body has since been deposited at the Kibi government hospital morgue pending autopsy. Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has announced a special operation to apprehend the suspects. 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. Kofi Issah, the Director, Family Health Division, Ghana Health Service (GHS), says some victims of the Appiatse explosion will live effects of the explosion years to come. The blast will definitely have a long-term effect. Today somebody might tell you I am quite okay, then five years down the line, he notices there is something very odd about him and he remembers there was some small shrapnel which came and lodged somewhere in him at that time. Weve always been hearing from our grandfathers saying weve been hearing from our grandfathers who say, somebody came back from the second world war and never realised there was a bullet lodged in him until one day he gets sick, and they find a strange object. What is this object? They say its a bullet. Can they remove it? Sometimes they just leave it in peace, he said. Dr. Issah said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency when the United Nations Population Fund donated 1000 packs of dignity kits to be distributed to the victims of the explosion. The kits contained underwears, toothpaste, and brushes, shaving sticks, bathing, and washing soap, sanitary pads, and condoms among others. The Director said COVID-19 gave the GHS an opportunity to develop a manual on how to deal with humanitarian emergencies and critically assess victim communities, their surroundings, district, region, and the nation at large to minimize the effects of such occurrences. That was being done for Appiatse, he said, adding that on a case-by-case basis, the Service would join other teams to assess what the victims would need as the effects could even affect generations. On Thursday, January 20, 2022, an explosion occurred along the Tarkwa-Bogoso-Ayamfuri road after a truck transporting mining explosives was involved in a crash. The explosion killed 14 persons and injured 179 others. 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 Parliament on Wednesday constituted a four-member Adhoc Committee to select an auditor to audit and report on the accounts of the Office of the Auditor General of Ghana. This follows a motion moved by Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and seconded by the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu in accordance with article 187 (15) of the Constitution. The committee, which is chaired by Mr James Klutse Avedze, Deputy Minority Leader includes; Dr Festus Awuah Kwofie, MP for Upper Denkyira East, Dr Stephen Amoah, MP for Nhyiaeso and Sampson Tangombu Chiragia, MP for Navrongo Central. Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also explained that Mr Klutse Avedze was selected as the chairman of the committee because he was the most senior member and also a member of the leadership of the House. He added that Mr Klutse Avedze was also a long-standing member of the House as well as the Chairman of the Public Account Committee. Mr Haruna Iddrisu in his comment stated that the decision to set up the committee was arrived at after a careful consideration and consultation with the leadership of Parliament. He said the committee was constituted for the purpose of auditing the Auditor General in accordance with Article 187(15) of the Constitution which allows the House to exercise such mandate. It would be like a Police Policing the Policeman he added. 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 Former President Mr John Mahama has accused the government of mismanaging the countrys economy since assuming office. In a Facebook post last Tuesday, Mr Mahama said Ghanaians are reeling under the impact of the countrys current debt crisis and the worsening economic hardships imposed on them by the government. The Ghanaian economy has been collapsed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. The debt crisis, for which there are very few tangible projects to show for and worsening economic hardship of Ghanaians amply demonstrate the negative impact of a collapsed economy, he claimed. Borrowing The 2020 flag bearer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) further indicated that the governments voracious appetite for borrowing and the imposition of burdensome taxes will erode business capital. According to him, the Akufo-Addo-led administration had also crowded out the private sectors access to credit. The NDC remains opposed to the imposition of the numerous fresh taxes on Ghanaians at a time when the government is living large and unwilling or unable to trim expenditure, cut waste and check corruption, he stressed. Appreciation to NDC MPs Mr Mahama commended the leadership and members of the Minority group for holding government accountable and demonstrating their commitment to protect and push for the interests of Ghanaians. It is important for MPs, as stressed by other Speakers and the leadership, to always remember that they are representing the people and are also in the House to represent the NDC. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Ms Josephine Nkrumah, has reiterated the need for constitutional reforms to enable the country to strengthen its democracy. That, she explained, would continue to put Ghana as the icon of democracy on the continent. In line with that, she said the NCCE would collaborate with all stakeholders to deepen the conversation on constitutional reforms on clearly defined issues such as what needed to be amended, how to amend it and when to amend it. Agenda 2022 Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Ms Nkrumah said it was important that Ghanaians saw the value in constitutional reforms after 30 years of constitutional democracy and then decide on how we go about it, when it should be done and the most cost-effective way to do it. She was speaking on the agenda of the NCCE for 2022 which, she said, would be on the theme: Sustaining our democracy: Ghanaian values in practice. Ms Nkrumah said democracy did not exist in chaos hence the need for the Constitution to be reviewed to make it responsive to the needs of the people and how challenges could be addressed. She said some work had been done already with huge resources including man hours and money spent. Context In 2010, President John Evans Atta Mills set up a Constitution Review Commission under the chairmanship of Professor Allbert Kodzo Fiadjoe to, among others, ascertain from the people of Ghana, their views on the operation of the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution and, in particular, the strengths and weaknesses of the Constitution; to articulate the concerns of the people of Ghana on amendments that may be required for a comprehensive review of the 1992 Constitution; and to make recommendations to the government for consideration and provide a draft Bill for possible amendments to the 1992 Constitution. Although the commission submitted its report, its recommendations are yet to be implemented. Values Ms Nkrumah said the process for constitutional reforms should be owned by Ghanaians and gave an assurance that the NCCE would educate Ghanaians to own it and defend the Constitution at all times so as to sustain democracy in the country. She said the choice of this years theme was anchored on restoring and reviving Ghanaian values to engender the requisite development of the country with the overarching effect of sustaining democracy. Those values, she said, were patriotism, respect, discipline, hard work, punctuality, truth and integrity. Ms Nkrumah acknowledged that the countrys leaders had not demonstrated enough commitment to the values but rather expected citizens to demonstrate them. This years theme makes a clarion call on all citizens to put into practice these nation-building values. The values should be put into practice in our national life, governance system, political life and socio-economic life, she stated. When asked about the challenge of civic apathy, Ms Nkrumah said it was a global problem, hence the NCCEs commitment to continue to engage all stakeholders through its programmes. She also appealed to media organisations to devote more airtime and space to educate the populace on the Constitution and their civic responsibilities. She said the NCCE would use its normal channels of engaging youth groups, faith-based organisations, marginalised groups, dawn broadcast to educate the citizenry. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Joe Biden will honour his commitment to make an African-American woman his first nomination to the Supreme Court, the White House says. She would replace the liberal justice, Stephen Breyer, who is expected to retire at the end of the current Supreme Court term in June. His retirement plans are yet to be officially confirmed. Justice Breyer's replacement would not shift the court's current 6-3 conservative majority.The Supreme Court plays a key role in American life and is often the final word on highly contentious laws, disputes between states and the federal government, and final appeals to stay executions. Read Full Story .... HERE >>> : 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 Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said in other jurisdictions when disasters of the magnitude of Appiatse occur, authoritoies do not hurriedly set up a fundraising committee as has been done in the case of Ghana. Instead, Mr Ablakwa said first, they establish an independent, impartial and credible enquiry to conduct thorough investigations. The enquiry, he said, will then lead the state to identify the facts (particularly as in this case there are such varying contradictory accounts); the investigations will also determine if the companies involved have questions to answer; the conduct of policy makers, examine possible regulatory lapses on the part of the Minerals Commission, and the role of the security agencies would all come up for intense scrutiny by the enquiry panel. He noted that It is absolutely possible that when the independent enquiry is completed, there would be no need to raise funds from the general public or use scarce taxpayer resources to assist victims and for reconstructing Appiatse because the entities found out to be responsible would be made to bear the full cost of compensation and rehabilitation/resettlement. In a facebook ppost, Mr Ablakwa noted that contrary to what pertains in other jurisdictions here we are being served with an incestuous gobbledygook of the Minerals Commission asked to investigate itself as the security agencies are also requested to look into their own conduct. We love to complicate what is rather straightforward. How long are we going to continue to burden the already stressed Ghanaian taxpayer while we allow the mighty and corporate giants who flout our laws to maximize personal profit get away with their blood-draping loot? he quizzed. According to the lawmaker, the other cardinal advantage of a comprehensive, independent, impartial and credible enquiry is the opportunity it affords to critically appraise the entire spectrum of importing, transporting, transacting and utilization of Ammonium nitrate and other explosive chemicals with the view to improving our collective safety. He cautioned that the state should not take lightly the threat of terrorism not only around us but in close proximity. Mr Ablakwa indicated in his post that The explosive in issue is the most patronized by terrorists all over the world and its been so for many years from the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, the 1998 East Africa US Embassy attacks in Kenya and Tanzania, 2003 Turkish bombings, all the way to the recent numerous violent extremist onslaughts carried out by Boko Haram and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Algeria, Niger, Togo, Burkina Faso and other places. He added that With the extent of international coverage the Appiatse explosion attracted and continues to attract, we must all be deeply worried that if we dont compel our government to act appropriately, the international terrorist ring may just see a soft target in Ghana on how to have easy access to or intercept in transit the dreaded ammonium nitrate God forbid, in the mean time, lets stop the pathetic window dressing and act right in our strategic national interest. This cannot be the time to shield, duck or cover up the death and injuries of so many must not be in vain. Mr Ablakwas statement comes after the government through the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, on Tuesday, 25 January 2022 launched an Appiatse Support Fund to raise funds to, among others, reconstruct the community. The Appiatse Community, near Bogoso in the Western Region was razed by an explosion that occurred when a truck carrying explosives for mining exploded at the community on Thursday, 20th January 2022. Thirteen people have been confirmed dead while many others suffered were injured. Source: classfmonline.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 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. UK-based gospel artiste, K.K Mensah, has urged his colleague gospel musicians in the diaspora to rethink their promotional strategy after releasing their songs. The budding gospel artiste told ghanaweekend.com that in the wake of the high cost of promotions and lack of structure within the Ghanaian music space, it has become important to focus on ones immediate territory and location in order to engage and grow a loyal fan base. KK Mensah released Aseda, his first single in 2019, which featured gospel heavyweight KODA, and followed up with a second single Mmre Nie (Its my time), featuring Pastor Edwin Dadson two years later. KK is currently working on his third single NAdom (His Grace) and will be embarking on a UK-wide church tour this year. The Aseda Tour is scheduled to make joyful stops at Milton Keynes, Leeds, Birmingham, Swindon, Luton, Manchester and London. KK Mensah is gradually endearing himself to the Ghanaian community in the UK as the next big representation of traditional Ghanaian gospel in the diaspora. Through the instrumentality of his management team, KK Mensah featured as the opening act for This far by Grace and Keteke concerts hosted by Pastor Edwin and KODA in Accra and Takoradi respectively. Catch the Aseda tour in a city near you if you are in the UK. You can also Follow KK Mensah on all social media portals. 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 TRIPOLI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Interior Ministry announced on Thursday three security officers were killed by Islamic State (IS) terrorists in southwestern part of the country. "An IS terrorist group attacked a security patrol 80 km west of Qatroun town on Wednesday, killing three security officers," said the ministry in a statement. The security patrol killed four terrorists and destroyed their vehicles in the area, while other terrorists were still being pursued, it added. Since the fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been plagued by insecurity and disorder, with IS terrorists staging occasional attacks in various parts of the country, particularly in southern Libya. FILE - This undated photo provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections shows Donald Anthony Grant. A federal appeals court in Denver has rejected a request from two Oklahoma death row inmates Grant and Gilbert Postelleto temporarily halt their upcoming lethal injections. A three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the inmates' motion in a ruling on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP, File) The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police "E" Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., Friday, April 13, 2018. RCMP say a man at a southern Alberta prison has been charged in the death of a fellow inmate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry pauses as she answers questions from reporters about gatherings due to the surge of the COVID-19 variant Omicron cases during a press conference in Victoria on December 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito 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. BUSIA, Kenya, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan security officers have detained two suspected poachers and recovered 14 pieces of ivory in Busia County near the border with Uganda. Busia deputy divisional police commander Stephen Kimunya said the two suspects -- a Kenyan and a Ugandan -- who were arrested Thursday evening had sneaked 26 kg of ivory from Uganda in search of a market in neighboring Kenya. Kimunya said the police received information shared in confidence by a member of the public before a joint police and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) team stopped the two as they tried to escape on a motorbike. "Police and KWS officers are working with other stakeholders to put in place mechanisms including enhanced community education, interagency collaboration and intensive intelligence led operations to eradicate all forms of wildlife crime, particularly poaching," Kimunya told journalists in Busia town. The two suspects are in police custody pending court charges. Kenya remains an important link on trade routes to international destinations for illicit consignments of wildlife products and particularly ivory due to its vibrant ports of Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, and Mombasa seaport. Vermillion, SD (57069) Today Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 46F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 46F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. On January 25, Iran celebrated National Womens Day with customary official ceremonies. The holiday is dedicated to the daughter of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and its dates move annually in accordance with the Muslim calendar. A number of wives of Islamic countries ambassadors attended an event held at the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, and President Raisis wife Jamileh Alamolhoda delivered a speech, the Iran Press news agency reported. The remarks by Alamolhoda expressed hope that the government planned to further elevate the status of women in Iranian society, the terse report stated, although no direct quotes from her speech were cited. According to Iran Press, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that 440 of the personnel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are women who play a key role in political, legal, international, and cultural areas. That claim is misleading given Iran's well-documented and continued suppression of women's rights. In fact, most women in the Iranian Foreign Ministry are tasked with low-level jobs. Historically, Iran has had four women diplomats. Currently, however, no women are listed as diplomats among its foreign ministry staff in Tehran or the countrys missions and embassies abroad. With few exceptions, like Zahra Ershadi, who serves as Irans deputy permanent representative in the U.N., females are limited to clerical and office assistant positions. Iran is one of six United Nations member states that did not sign the U.N. convention pledging equal rights and prohibiting discrimination against women (CEDAW). During the years of high-profile nuclear negotiations with Iran, neither Iran nor Russia included women among their representatives at the talks. On several occasions, Iranian media digitally altered the clothes of the Western female diplomats who appeared in photographs used for their reports. In 2015, Irans Islamic clergy heavily criticized the countrys Foreign Ministry for including women in its delegation to the annual meeting of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women. The delegation members had not been vetted by Irans intelligence services, and as such posed a threat to national security, the conservative Kayhan.ir news agency reported at the time. Moreover, the topics discussed at the U.N. meeting were against the values and principles of the Islamic Republic, as womens issues are not a part of the system, the news outlet said. Though Iran is a strict Islamic republic, some Muslim scholars consider its constitution generally liberal, as it includes language on women rights, equality and nondiscrimination. However, as Iranian researcher Gholamreza ZakerSalehi wrote in the Journal of International Womens Studies in 2020, in the section of women's rights, the emphasis is on the family as a unit and not just on the woman as an autonomous human with different personal freedoms. This Constitution considers women in the framework of the family and acknowledges their rights and duties alongside her husband and children. The U.K.-based Centre for Civilian Rights said in a 2019 report commissioned by the European Union that constitutional protections dont amount to much in practice. Women are treated differentially in many aspects of Iranian law and the judicial system, solely on account of their gender. Those who peacefully advocate for womens rights are often arbitrarily detained and imprisoned, where they endure the harsh treatment given to political prisoners in Iran. They are vastly underrepresented in political positions and in the labour force and continue to grapple with legacies of discrimination in the educational sector, the report said. Irans Civil Code defines a man as the head of the family, and states that a woman cant leave the house or take a job without permission from a man. It also allows a man to have multiple wives and arrange temporary marriages with girls from older than nine. Irans Penal Code states that there is no death penalty for a man who deliberately kills a Muslim. A woman guilty of the same crime must be sentenced to death. The code says the value of womans life is half that of a mans a ratio used to determine compensation payments made to relatives of a homicide victim. Courts count the testimonies of two women as equal to one mans and disregard them if the female witnesses are not accompanied by a male guardian. The Protection of Honor and Hijab law adopted in 2015 mandates that all women aged nine and older must wear a hijab in public (a full body coverage). This includes foreign nationals, diplomats and non-Muslims. Punishment for violation of the hijab law is 75 lashes delivered in public, or a fine and imprisonment for up to two months. There is also the Guardian Council a conservative religious decision-making body that rules Iranians lives according to its interpretation of Sharia (Islamic law). All council members are male. The Centre for Civilian Rights report said women in Iran are subjected to arbitrary vetting when considered for government positions. It described the Guardian Council as a major obstacle preventing women from serving in many state institutions, even when they are theoretically eligible to hold such positions. Despite societal, political and religious obstacles, women in Iran strive to achieve professional and political relevancy. The Guardian Council has regularly disqualified women who registered as presidential candidates, the U.S. Peace Institute reports. The Council approves women for parliamentary seats and government positions based on their religious views and relation to the country's selected elite. Yet, once in the office, the Iranian women tend to keep their focus on a struggle for rights and equality reforms, the Institute said. In the 2020 elections, women won only 17 of 290 seats in the parliament, called the Majles. Under the threat of brutal punishment, from public flogging to long-term imprisonment, brave Iranian women have formed and led nonprofit advocacy groups to fight for rights and freedoms, organize mass protests and rallies. The city of Aiken is set to acquire the Center for African American History, Art and Culture after City Council's meeting on Jan. 24. The city is getting the center, located at 120 York St., free of charge, and the transfer will take effect on March 4. The city has contributed funds of at least $621,000 for the renovation of the center over the last five years, according to agenda notes. The center was closed for a time due to these renovations, but reopened in June 2021 for a Juneteenth celebration. Since that time, the center has been rented out numerous times, according to agenda notes. Center board members began discussions around a year ago to transfer the property to the city, the notes read. In addition to this transfer, the city has entered into a memorandum of understanding with First Baptist Church, located across the street, to maintain the parking lot and lighting so both the church and the center can use the space. Jennifer Curtis, president of the center's board of directors, briefly spoke at the meeting, saying this is a moment she's been looking forward to. She was one of several board members who attended the meeting. Councilwoman Lessie Price applauded the center's board members for their work, despite them being volunteer positions. "These folks work full-time jobs and have families, and in spite of all of the things that this center has undergone in terms of renovations and other things, the programs Ive seen have managed to grow under this board," Price said. "So, I want to applaud you for your passion and your desire to see (the center) open fully, but also seeing the vision of what this can become." City Council passed the resolution unanimously, 7-0. The center's location is the former home of the historic Immanuel Institute, which was a church and school for freed enslaved people built in 1889. The center itself aims to be an "educational resource with interactive programs of sight and sound that educate and inspire, that celebrate both Aikens diversity and its sense of community and that demonstrate the many contributions of African Americans in Aiken County, in South Carolina and in our nation," according to its website. For more information, visit caahac.org. The Bridge 2 Home hosted its first fundraising and awareness event Saturday to support seven South Carolina minors that are victims of sex trafficking. The Introducing the Blue fundraiser included live music and a silent and live auction with all proceeds going toward funding a shelter for underage victims of sex trafficking. "We called it 'Introducing the Blue' because we wanted to introduce the Blue Campaign to the CSRA," said Dominique Bunton, founder of The Bridge 2 Home. The Blue Campaign is a national campaign is designed to educate the public, law enforcement and other industry partners about indicators of human trafficking and how to appropriately respond to possible cases, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Bridge 2 Home also auctioned off items in hopes of raising funds to open and outfit a local safe house for seven young girls. "We are in the process of getting licensed to be able to house a maximum of seven minor girls," Bunton said. "Tonight, we are hoping to raise enough money to buy a seven passenger vehicle." Bunton said the vehicle is important because when the girls move in, they will need to be taken to various appointments. "We need that vehicle so that we can take them to their mental health appointments, extracurricular activities and to take them to the doctor because sex trafficking is something that impacts not just your mental health, but it impacts your physical health and your spiritual health," Bunton said. Auction items were donated by members of Cedar Creek Church, members of St. John's United Methodist Church and local businesses. The Bridge 2 Home also hoped to gain volunteers to staff the home. "We're only using women because of the nature the issue, but I'm going to be offering forums and training on trauma weekly, starting February, for anybody that would be interested in volunteering, being a mentor or a potential staff," Bunton said. Meetings will be held at the Aiken County YMCA every Tuesday starting in February from 10 a.m. to noon, and are open to the public. 'Stuck on repeat' David Towns, a local spoken word artist, performed a piece he wrote specifically for The Bridge 2 Home at the fundraiser. The piece was written about human trafficking and was inspired by Towns' time in Vietnam. "There was a lot of human trafficking there and forced prostitution," Towns said. "I really just thought back to some of what we'd see when we were on the streets, in the middle of downtown and at the park." Towns said he wanted to use repetition in his piece because victims wake up and have to relive their experiences every day and because human trafficking is often overlooked. "I think sometimes we hear about human trafficking and you're told human trafficking is overseas, but it also happens in the states," he said. "I just wanted to get it stuck in your mind that this is what it is and what it's like." For the uplifting ending, Towns said he used scripture for inspiration. "I wanted the description to be very relatable," Towns said. "He's asking questions and saying that there's more to this life. I just wanted that to be relatable and approachable for anyone." 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. Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. VICTORIA, Seychelles, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Air Seychelles will go through a restructuring after its rescue plan was accepted by the noteholders and creditors to whom the airline owes 76 million U.S. dollars, Transport Minister Antony Derjacques announced on Thursday. Under the rescue plan, ground handling will continue and will be improved. Cargo, engineering and other services will also continue, while regional flights will have to be restructured. The rescue plan involves a 66.66 percent cut in the original debt of 76 million dollars, thereby saving Air Seychelles 50 million dollars. Air Seychelles will have to sell some of its assets to pay the remaining 27.8 million dollars with the help of the Seychelles government starting March 31 this year. "Air Seychelles also owes government but we are ready to forgive the debt when we enter the restructuration of Air Seychelles," said Derjacques. Established in 1978, Air Seychelles has been battling debts of around 70 million dollars owed to bondholders while the carrier was in partnership with Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways. In August 2021, the bondholders filed a petition to wind up the airline after a standoff over the debt. Etihad then owned 40 percent of the carrier but sold its stake to the government for one dollar in April last year. Upstart airline Breeze Airways will boost frequency on several routes from Charleston International Airport during the summer, including daily service to four destinations. The Utah-based carrier will fly daily to Tampa, Fla., on May 4; to Hartford, Conn., on June 1; and to Providence, R.I., and Akron/Canton, Ohio, on June 22, according to the airline spokesman Gareth Edmondson-Jones. Flights to the four destinations are now several days a week. Also, Breeze will increase flights from twice a week to four times weekly on four routes. They include Norfolk, Va., on May 5; Columbus, Ohio, and Huntsville, Ala., on May 26; and Pittsburgh on May 27. Twice-weekly flights to Huntsville resume Feb. 17 after being suspended since late November because of seasonal demand. Flights to New Orleans will jump from four times a week to five times weekly Feb. 10 through May 2, when they will drop back to four times a week. Service to Richmond, Va., will go from two to three times a week on May 29. The increased service lasts through Sept. 6, the end of the airline's posted flight schedule. New routes will be announced before the spring ahead of the carrier's launch in May of its new Alabama-built Airbus A220 aircraft, Edmondson-Jones said. Breeze's new jets also will be introduced for flights from the Lowcountry to Tampa, Providence, Richmond, Hartford and Huntsville, starting May 4. The airline also currently operates twice-weekly flights from Charleston to Louisville, Ky. In mid-February, it will offer service three times a week between the Lowcountry and Long Island MacArthur Airport east of New York City and Saturday-only flights between Charleston and Palm Beach International in South Florida. The Long Island flight's frequency will jump to four times a week on May 5. Breeze launched service last May to 16 destinations with 11 of those from Charleston. MONCKS CORNER Some residents in Moncks Corner will have options when it comes to their internet service. Comcast, the nations second-leading provider of cable-internet service with more than 20 million customers, announced that it is expanding its broadband network reach into parts of Moncks Corner, giving consumers of the Berkeley County community a choice of telecommunication suppliers for the first time. Home Telecom, an internet, phone and cable television provider that serves more than 40,000 customers in Berkeley County, had been the sole choice for internet-cable service. As we continue to navigate the impact of the pandemic, it is clear how critical it is to keep residents connected, said Jason Gumbs, regional senior vice president at Comcast. The Philadelphia-based cable giant will offer their cable-internet service to two mixed-use developments Foxbank Plantation and Moss Grove Plantation initially. The company has plans to expand their coverage within the town limits by the fall of 2022. The first phase of our broadband expansion is complete, said Alex Horwitz, vice president of public relations at Comcast. Our second phase will be complete by end of the third quarter. At that point, the majority of our service footprint in Moncks Corner will be finished. Up until this month, the closest Comcast had offered service near Moncks Corner was in Summerville. According to the 2020 census, Berkeley Countys growth rate over the past decade was 29.2 percent, putting it among the top 1 percent of fastest growing counties in the U.S. Moncks Corner has seen its share of rapid growth as well, going to more than 11,000 in 2021 from 7,700 residents a decade earlier. We saw a great opportunity with Moncks Corner, Horwitz said. Its a market that continues to grow and is anticipated to continue to grow. Its a part of our overall effort to expand our network throughout the Southeast over the next year. In addition to Comcasts traditional offerings, customers in Moncks Corner will also have access to the company's Xfinity products, such as streaming service. Comcast will also provide access to a $9.95 a month broadband initiative for low-income families. Nicki Schneider, who moved into the Foxbank neighborhood in Moncks Corner more than a year ago, welcomes more competition to the telecommunications market. What I hope it means is that prices will go down a little bit, Schneider said. Weve got Home Telecom and theyve been fine, but more competition is always a good thing for the consumers. Home Telecom did not return emails for comment on Comcasts expansion plans. A former division of the S.C. Research Authority will use money from a state grant to educate underrepresented minority students about jobs in technology fields. The S.C. Department of Commerce's Office of Innovation awarded Summerville-based Advanced Technology International one of 10 grants totaling $473,000 through its Relentless Challenge program. ATI will use the $35,000 to work with government and industry partners together to give students at the state's historically black colleges and universities and Trident Technical College a firsthand look into careers in the computer science field to increase minority representation, CEO Chris Van Metre said. Experts in cybersecurity and information security will serve as mentor for nine months, beginning in March. Students will spend one week in May working hands-on in internships tailor-made for them and will take part in a hackathon in November to end the program. Denmark Technical College will host the hackathon, which will include participants from Voorhees College, Allen University, Benedict College, Clinton College and South Carolina State University. The S.C. Commission of Minority Affairs is among the groups that will guide the students through the program. along with the National Science and Engineering Alliance, the Charleston Defense Contractor's Association, the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic, and the S.C. Council on Competitiveness. ATI is a nonprofit institute that essentially assembles researchers who study everything from shipbuilding to the electromagnetic spectrum and earns a fee for managing their work. The group was spun off from the state-chartered SCRA in 2017 in a $25 million sale to Virginia-based Analytic Services Inc. The College of Charleston is hoping to address health care workforce shortages with its new School of Health Sciences, opening in summer 2022. The college's board of trustees voted unanimously to launch the new school at a Jan. 27 meeting followed by a news conference. The school will build upon the college's current Department of Health and Human Performance and, ultimately, create a pipeline for CofC students to attend the Medical University of South Carolina. CofC President Andrew Hsu said he and his staff had been considering opening a school of health sciences since he started in the position in Oct. 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic made it clear a new school was needed. Over the course of the pandemic, nurses and doctors at MUSC and other hospitals throughout South Carolina have been pushed to the point of exhaustion, with many leaving the profession. Health care shortages were already a concern before the pandemic. South Carolina is projected to have the fourth-worst shortage in nurses by 2030, according to a 2017 report by RegisteredNursing.org, an online trade publication that analyzed data from the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis. "The pandemic has certainly reinforced the notion that for human society to operate at optimal levels we need more and more of our top minds working to improve human health," Hsu said in the news conference. Education lab To read more in-depth stories from The Post and Courier's Education Lab, go to postandcourier.com/education-lab. Provost Suzanne Austin said in an interview with The Post and Courier before the conference that although the school will be opening in the summer, it will be up to two years before the college opens new programs for students. In the next few months Austin will work with planning committees to identify new programs for the school and the costs and logistics that go along with them. Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter. Email Sign Up! "It's a really wonderful opportunity for the college to address workforce needs in the Lowcountry and the state," Austin said. Donate to our Investigative Fund to support journalism like this Our public service and investigative reporting is among the most important work we do. Its also the most expensive reporting we do. We cant do it without your support. Donate Now Austin added that she will spend the next few months developing plans with Zoher Kapasi, dean of the College of Health Professions at MUSC. At the news conference, Kapasi said the university is dedicated to working with the College of Charleston to build a sustainable pipeline of students that will ultimately fill workforce gaps in the Lowcountry. The new school also gives the college a chance to recruit more students. Hsu said he hopes it will help establish the College of Charleston as a nationally renowned university. "An independent school gives it more visibility so students know that we have those programs and this would be a good place to study health-related disciplines," Hsu said. The College of Charleston doesn't have any plans to build a new facility for the school at this time, but that may be considered in the future, Hsu said. The college plans to renovate current health and human performance classrooms with the announcement of the new school. JOHNS ISLAND Charleston County may buy a piece of land on this sea island to handle the many tree limbs and other debris that come down in hurricanes, which it would process by chipping or burning. But in an interesting feature of the potential deal, the land is attractive to county staff because of the Asian longhorned beetle, an invasive insect that was first discovered in southern Charleston County in 2020. The 95-acre parcel spans three adjacent tracts near Main Road and Humbert Road on the island. That's squarely inside a mandated quarantine zone for the beetle infestation, Eric Adams, the county's deputy director for public works, said in an interview. Knowingly removing vegetative debris from inside this area without first processing it into small pieces is punishable by steep fines, because it could allow the invasive species to spread. The beetle attacks hardwoods and had been identified in nearly 4,000 trees as of the beginning of 2021. Removing these trees and properly destroying them is the only way to stem the infestation. So the possible debris site would be used for chipping and burning for areas inside the quarantine zone where cleanup crews pick up fallen trees. It could also serve as a dirt mine for rural dirt roads that the county maintains, Adams said. On Jan. 27, County Council considered whether to let staff move forward with a purchase agreement and 120-day due diligence period on the land at a finance committee meeting. Councilwoman Anna Johnson, whose district includes the site of the land, worried over whether the county's work on the land would clash with neighbors there. "I am very concerned about this," she said. "I think I need to know what Johns Islanders have to say about receiving that amount of burning there, because it's not so rural, like it was before." Ultimately, the item passed the committee's vote with three dissenters: Johnson, Councilman Kylon Middleton and Councilman Robert Wehrman. All members of council are a part of the finance committee. In an interview before the meeting, Adams acknowledged that at other sites, some neighbors have complained of the smoke. In the past, the county has used "a combination of public land where we can, and private land where we have to get lease agreements with the property owner," he said. The volume of debris can be significant, too: Hurricane Dorian, which buzzed the coast in 2019, created 615,000 cubic yards of plant debris across Charleston County, which spans roughly a third of South Carolina's coast. A larger storm could create millions of cubic yards of fallen trees and limbs, county spokeswoman Kelsey Barlow wrote in an email. Adams said the county can use different burning techniques to reduce how much smoke is produced from debris fires, by directing more oxygen to a fire, making it burn hotter. There will also be public engagement during the due diligence period, he said. But ultimately, Adams argued a land purchase is the most reliable way to make sure the county can handle all the mess left behind by a tropical cyclone. "It's getting harder and harder to get agreements with private property owners for this type of arrangement," he said. "Having this land secured and owned by the county provides us the security to know we have a location to perform that operation." The Johns Island land that the county may buy is referred to in multiple online listings as Grayson Oaks, and has been on and off the market since at least the beginning of 2020. Ryan Dyal, the real estate agent representing the seller, declined to answer questions about the property but did confirm it was previously under contract last year, and the sale fell through. County staff declined to answer questions about the potential price of the land. One online listing describes it as "a farm with grand oaks, cleared/planted fields, a barn, garage, house, and stocked pond. A great opportunity for residential or commercial developers." A post on realtor.com indicates the initial asking price was $4.5 million, but that it fell to slightly less than $3.5 million by the end of 2020. County council will have to give three more approvals, or "readings," on the purchase agreement before staff can start the due diligence period on the land. The panel would then have to approve the actual purchase separately, after a price is negotiated. GEORGETOWN Every school in Georgetown County will soon have a full-time school resource officer after receiving a grant from the S.C. Department of Public Safety. Previously, only middle schools, high schools and a few elementary schools had dedicated police officers in the district. The fully-funded grant will place six Georgetown County Sheriffs deputies at Kensington Elementary, McDonald Elementary, Plantersville Elementary, Waccamaw Elementary, Waccamaw Intermediate and Coastal Montessori School as well as one Georgetown Police officer at Maryville Elementary. It provides funds for salaries, travel, vehicles, uniforms and related equipment. A previous grant in 2019 provided funding for officers at Andrews Elementary, Browns Ferry Elementary, Pleasant Hill Elementary and Sampit Elementary. Back in 2018, State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman, Gov. Henry McMaster and S.C. Law Enforcement Chief Mark Keel established a school safety vision that included having a school resource officer on every campus. In addition to improving the security in our schools, this is a great opportunity for young people to develop positive relationships with law enforcement, said Alan Walters, GCSDs executive director of Safety and Risk Management. The grant is for the remaining six months of the current school year, and then will auto-renew every year provided the state has funds for the SRO program, according to Georgetown Police Chief William Pierce. The SRO Program is funded through the state budget. Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. COLUMBIA A former Orangeburg County school district employee admitted to defrauding his former employer out of $550,000 while purchasing remote-learning cameras for classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic. David Cortez Marshall Jr. pleaded guilty Jan. 27 in the U.S. District Court of South Carolina to wire fraud, an offense punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Marshall, 30, agreed to cooperate with federal authorities in a plea agreement signed Dec. 7, according to court records. That includes providing "full, complete and truthful debriefings" about criminal activities. Columbia defense attorney Jonathan Harvey said Marshall intends to honor his commitment under the agreement. "David looks forward to resolution of his case," Harvey said. "He is confident that over the final phase of the case, all parties will work toward a fair disposition." Investigators say Marshall, a former media communications specialist for the school district, steered school contracts for remote-learning cameras to companies he secretly owned beginning in October 2020. Marshall contacted a vendor to purchase 875 cameras for the school district, according records. Using various shell companies, Marshall then sold the cameras to the school district at significant markup. He also sent the school district an invoice demanding $60,000 to pay for a state sales tax, the affidavit states. Marshall pleaded to using shell companies, fabricated documents, forged signatures and a false identity to hide the fraud. Altogether, federal authorities believe Marshall netted more than $550,000 in ill-gotten money. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Shoemake said Marshall's scheme was discovered by other school district employees, who confronted Marshall and reported the theft to the FBI. Any time an employee uses a position of trust to steal from their employer, it is inexcusable and wrong," U.S. Attorney Corey Ellis said in a statement. "Here, Marshalls crime was particularly reprehensible because he stole money, provided by South Carolina taxpayers, from a school district during a pandemic that has already created unprecedented challenges in public education." Susan Ferensic, special agent in charge of the FBI's Columbia office, said people like Marshall have created schemes and exploited programs designed to aid the public throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. NORTH CHARLESTON Mayor Keith Summey was frank about the city's ability to deal with blocked railroad crossings, an issue that has long frustrated commuters who find themselves stuck by trains on busy corridors throughout the city. "Unfortunately, there's nothing that can be done at the local level to dictate train movements in our city," Summey said in his 2022 State of the City address Jan. 27. "We wish there was." But Summey suggested there's light at the end of the tunnel. The State Ports Authority, which recently opened its Leatherman Terminal near the former Charleston Naval Base, has agreed to help fund a rail overpass at Rivers and Durant avenues, Summey said. Additional funding will be needed to finish the project. In a prerecorded, 12-minute address released during the city's City Council meeting, the mayor focused on five main areas: the city's upcoming 50th anniversary, recreation, redevelopment of the old Navy base, infrastructure improvements and public safety. The mayor briefly touted the city's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and said he's delighted things are slowly returning to normal. In that regard, Summey announced the return of the city's St. Patrick's Day Block Party and Parade, scheduled for March 12. But as the mayor touted promising projects on the horizon, notably absent from his speech was any mention of housing affordability. Neither did the mayor speak to how the city intends to support the predominately African American neighborhoods on the city's southern end against the threat of gentrification, as property values on that side of town have continued to rise and the area has become increasingly attractive to developers. Affordable housing should be a priority because it ensures opportunities for all individuals to improve their economic situation, said Omar Muhammad, executive director of the Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities. "The people of North Charleston have to put a focus on affordability," Muhammad said. Summey did reference the need to protect the city's traditional neighborhoods. He said that effort is being accomplished through the Rivers Avenue Overlay District, which will keep "high-density growth in the proper areas of our city." The plan seeks to complement the Lowcountry Rapid Transit project, which will create a 23-mile bus route through the city. 50th anniversary Established June 12, 1972, North Charleston reaches a milestone this year as it celebrates five decades as a municipality. To celebrate the occasion, the city will host what the mayor described as a family-friendly community celebration in June to highlight the city's history. Summey also spoke to the city's financial success over the past few decades. North Charleston saw $7.4 billion in retail sales last year, making it the No. 1 in the state for the 29th consecutive year, he said. "The past 50 years of North Charleston has been marked with ups and downs," Summey said. "But our progress is undeniable." Recreation Incoming recreation projects include the revitalization of Park Circle's Felix C. Davis Community Center and a playground and ball field at the circle to accommodate children of all abilities. The city also plans to revamp the Danny Jones Complex in the neighborhood to include an aquatic center and gym, Summey said. Two new senior centers off Carner Avenue and near the North Charleston Aquatic Center are also in the works. With additions in the southern end and Dorchester County areas of the city, we will have easily accessible centers for activities for our elderly population," Summey said. Base redevelopment The mayor recorded his address from a room inside the newly renovated Admiral's House on the former Navy base. The building was refurbished in a $4.3 million project completed last summer. The house joins Quarters F and K as spaces on the old base available for weddings, businesses gatherings and family events. The city is also in the process of creating a neighborhood in the historic part of the base. Known as Olmstead Park, the community will feature dozens of homes under and around oak trees. Also nearby, the city is nearing completion of its pedestrian bridge that'll expand Riverfront Park across Noisette Creek. Farther north, private developers seeks to transform 1.2 million square feet into new restaurants, shops, residences and offices. The plan includes revamping the old Power House into a space that could host concerts. In what is largely a working center shall be transformed with residential units and community-focused commercial space being established over the next few years," Summey said. Infrastructure improvements Keeping up with the city's growth requires improvements to local roadways, but this process will be neither quick nor cheap. Summey highlighted a few road projects in the planning phases that seek to relieve traffic congestion. Most notable is a pair of plans by the state Department of Transportation to widen Interstate 526. One part of the plan is the Lowcountry Corridor East project, which will cost $2.98 billion and widen the interstate through North Charleston and West Ashley. The project, which is now in the planning phases, will displace dozens of residents in four North Charleston neighborhoods. The other portion of the overall plan is the $4 billion dollar Lowcountry Corridor West project, which will widen the highway from North Charleston through Daniel Island and into Mount Pleasant. Other road projects include extending Palmetto Commerce Parkway pass Ashley Phosphate to Aviation Avenue, widening Dorchester Road between Michaux Parkway to Cross County Road, building a pedestrian bridge across the Ashley River to West Ashley, and constructing the Lowcountry Rapid Transit. "Over the next 10 years, North Charleston will see a lot of orange cones," Summey said. "But the result will be improved infrastructure and mobility." Public Safety The mayor touched on the police department's 2021 racial bias audit, which found disparities in a number of the city's law enforcement practices. Summey said the city is committed to improving community relations and transparency. While there are always areas of improvement, Summey said he's pleased the audit acknowledged the city as a diverse community with different communities that require "various levels of police presence." While accountability was a concern among residents, Summey pointed out that the audit recognized the active work to promote officer responsibility. Summey expressed confidence in Chief Reggie Burgess' leadership. "He is keenly aware that working hand-in-hand with the community improves our department and our city," Summey said. A Monday letter to the editor concerned the opening schedule of the Wappoo Creek bridge connecting James Island and West Ashley. The Wappoo Cut bascule bridge is on restricted openings set by the Coast Guard from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It opens only at the bottom of each hour. On weekdays, it is closed to waterway traffic from 6-9:30 a.m. and from 3:30-6 p.m. unless a tugboat with a tow or a government vessel requests passage. Weekend bridge openings are by request. The Wappoo Cut is on the Intracoastal Waterway, which is a federal highway that gives boaters the right of way. The state Department of Transportation and the U.S. Coast Guard have taken into account all of the letter writers concerns when setting the opening schedule for this bascule bridge. If one does not wish to admire the beauty of the structure as it opens, the DOT built the James Island expressway for that reason as it never opens to waterway traffic. Thats life in the coastal Lowcountry. ROBERT TYNDALL Summerville City isnt racist Sundays commentary by seven Charleston City Council members is based on the false assumptions that the city of Charleston is a systemically racist entity and that it can only be changed and redeemed by a commission created and controlled by them. Councilmen Jason Sakran, William Dudley Gregorie, Stephen Bowden, Karl Brady Jr., Robert Mitchell, Peter Shahid Jr. and Keith Waring apparently ignore: 1. All of the legislation passed by Congress over the past 60 years addressing civil rights, voting rights, fair housing and equal opportunity in education and employment. 2. Numerous federal and Supreme Court civil rights cases. 3. The election of Barack Obama to two terms as president of the United States. 4. The election of a woman of Indian descent as governor of South Carolina and an African American as a U.S. congressman and then a U.S. senator. 5. And, the accomplishments of the progressive and nationally acclaimed 40-year administration of Charleston Mayor Joe Riley. Charleston and its citizens are not systematically racist. We do not need the commission that is being called for by these council members. Instead, the mayor and council should focus on fiscal responsibility, public safety and sanitation, police protection, infrastructure, controlling flooding, growth management and affordable housing. If they do this, Charleston will continue to be a beautiful, livable, diverse and historic city. HENRY FISHBURNE Former District 1 Charleston City Council member Charleston Mace no leader A Jan. 23 Post and Courier article was about U.S. Rep. Nancy Maces reelection fight without the support of former President Donald Trump. Thanks to Republicans across other parts of the state who have no stake in the Charleston region, she also faces the fight without considerable numbers of African Americans, other people of color, minorities and Democrats. In the article, Mace is quoted as saying District 1 is a swing district. That wont be true if the brazen gerrymandering recently put forward by Republican state lawmakers survives legal challenges. Mace may represent the credo of a minority of the Republican Party, but she does not represent the credo of what has been District 1 for the past 10 years. She is merely one of a large number of post-Trump Republicans who place Fox News appearances and attention-grabbing, bombastic tweets ahead of real leadership and real legislation. Her legislative proposals on beagles and bongs are doing nothing to advance the standard of living for citizens in her district. Lets hope Democratic candidate Dr. Annie Andrews will help Mace enjoy her blind dates in peace come November. DAVID B. GROCE Johns Island Pigs dont fly I was so delighted at Tuesdays Post and Courier photo showing where a Refuel store will be located. It would add some charm to downtown Charleston. College students would love it, and I am sure all the tourists would find it a perfect delight. Too bad it will not have a gas station, as that corner was a perfect fit. Pigs still do not fly in Charleston. Then again, sensibilities in downtown Charleston do not fly either. A convenience store on the corner of King and Calhoun? Too bad Francis Marion isnt alive. He could have watered his horses there. SEYMOUR ROSENTHAL Mount Pleasant JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- South Africa is looking forward to the deepening of the relations with China on the economic and cultural fronts, and prosperity of both countries this year, said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Friday during a virtual celebration of the Chinese New Year. He wished the Chinese in South Africa and abroad a happy lunar New Year of the Tiger. "As we recover and rebuild in the wake of COVID-19, it is our wish that the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and South Africa will lead to mutual economic growth, development and common prosperity, prosperity for ourselves, for our respective regions, and for the rest of the world," said Ramaphosa, thanking China for the support during the COVID-19 pandemic and for assisting Africa to get the vaccines. The Minister of Arts and Culture Nkosinathi Mthethwa wished the Chinese community a prosperous 2022 and expected the "already existing relations" between China and South Africa to be enhanced this year as the two have common interests. Chinese ambassador to South Africa Chen Xiaodong said in 2021, the leaders of China and South Africa interacted frequently and deepened mutual political trust. The two countries overcame the challenges of COVID-19 while the bilateral practical cooperation was also steadily advanced. He expressed the wish for the New Year of the Tiger to bring strength to cement Sino-South Africa relations. In accordance with the lunar Chinese calendar, the Spring Festival, the first day of the Chinese New Year, falls on Feb. 1 this year. SPARTANBURG A proposed redistricting of Spartanburg County's six County Council districts has received approval on first reading. The ideal size of the new districts will be 54,444 based on population changes in the 2020 U.S. Census. The county grew by 14.8 percent over the past decade, from 284,307 residents to 326,662. County Council approved first reading on Jan. 24. The proposed map requires two additional readings before becoming official. "Our staff did a phenomenal job pulling that together," County Councilman David Britt told The Post and Courier. "We have to proportion each district where it has around 54,000 (residents). It has been done fairly and we worked not to split precincts up anymore than we absolutely had to. The districts are pretty much contiguous." Britt represents District 3. County Councilman Bob Walker, who represents District 5, said based on the proposed map, he would no longer represent Wellford and Duncan. A portion of District 5 is proposed to move to District 4 and District 6. "My district will reduce in size of about 4,000 (residents)," Walker told The Post and Courier on Jan. 26. "Outside of District 2 in the Boiling Springs area, I have had the most growth in District 5 over the past 10 years." County Council will hold a public hearing beginning at 5:15 p.m. on Feb. 21 on the proposed map ahead of a scheduled second reading. The meeting will be held at the County Administration Building at 366 N. Church St. in Spartanburg. 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 I was invited to appear on FOX News last night for a brief segment to discuss the January 14 sentencing of Montez Terriel Lee, Jr. The segment was tentatively bumped to this evening. I am posting this for viewers in the event that the segment runs tonight. The relevance of the story is enhanced by the fact that sentencing judge Wilhelmina Mimi Wright is now reportedly on the shortlist of potential nominees to succeed Justice Breyer on the Supreme Court: When the authorities let the Minneapolis Police Departments Third Precinct headquarters burn following the death of George Floyd on Memorial Day 2020, all hell broke loose. Thugs from all over the state made their way to the Twin Cities to participate in the orgy of riots, destruction and looting that spread throughout the Twin Cities. The destruction was wanton. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people participated in the rampage, but only a few perpetrators have been charged. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation of 150 arsons throughout the Twin Cities that occurred the week after Floyds death. The United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota has brought arson cases against a handful or two of defendants. See generally the Minnesota Reformer story by Rilyn Eischens One year later, few charges for the arson and destruction. Though there was initial chatter that the perpetrators were outside agitators, the defendants charged are mostly homegrown Minnesotans. At least one perpetrator was out on probation, while others appear to have been anarchists or malcontents eager to sow chaos for whatever reason, even if there was no evident gain to be achieved. One such arsonist was Montez Terriel Lee, Jr. Lee came up to the Twin Cities from Rochester to get in on the action on May 28. Lee was part of a small group that broke into the Max It Pawn Shop on East Lake Street in Minneapolis, home to many minority-owned businesses. The pawn shop was looted. Lee poured out a can of gasoline and ignited a fire that consumed the shop. Videos captured the action. Lee was proud of it. Filmed outside the shop as it burned, Lee commented: Fuck this place. Were gonna burn this bitch down. Bystanders knew someone had been caught in the fire. Two months later the authorities found Oscar Lee Stewart, Jr. in the charred remains of the pawn shop. The Star Tribune covered that part of the case here. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner found that Stewart had probably died of injuries and smoke inhalation as a result of the fire. I take it that Stewart himself was unlawfully in the pawn shop at the time of his death. Lee is not a good citizen. At the time of the arson, he had a rap sheet with convictions for burglary, theft, assault, and violation of a no contact order. Indeed, Lee was under a sentence for the prior assault in Olmsted County (Rochester) when he burned down the pawn shop. He is that kind of guy. In a statement posted at Minnesota Uprising Arrestee Support prior to his guilty plea, Lee explained himself: My name is Montez Lee. I am a 25 year old African American male from Rochester, MN. I am a father to two kids. I am being charged by the federal government on the charges of 1st degree arson. On May 28th, I decided to go to Minneapolis and protest with my community. I have faced injustices from local police departments myself and have been subjected to racism. I wanted to be a part of something bigger. I wanted to show my kids and peers that you fight for what you believe in. Im sick of seeing people of color murdered by the same people sworn to serve and protect. Im tired of people turning a blind eye to whats going on in this country. I am accused of burning down max it pawn on lake street. I did not burn that building nor did I loot or take anything that didnt belong to me. I went to make my voice heard and my presence known. I am currently being held at the Washington county jail. Though Ive been here for months fighting this case, I will not let it break my spirit or make me forget my principles. I stand with my community and my people. Until there is change and we are treated as equals, we will fight. No justice means no peace. Lee thereafter pleaded guilty to the arson charge. He committed felony murder in the process of the arson. Federal sentencing guidelines strongly suggested that a sentence of 20 years was appropriate, but the prosecutor argued for 12. Alpha News posted the prosecutors 13-page sentencing memo online here. At page 3 the prosecutor included two video screenshots of Lee in action. Reasonable minds can disagree about the appropriate sentence. However, the prosecutors rationale for leniency is, shall we say, troubling (emphasis added, citation omitted): The Guidelines state that departure below this range is not ordinarily appropriate. However this is an extraordinary case. The United States therefore seeks a downward variance, and a sentence of 144 months. Mr. Lees motive for setting the fire is a foremost issue. Mr. Lee credibly states that he was in the streets to protest unlawful police violence against black men, and there is no basis to disbelieve this statement. Mr. Lee, appropriately, acknowledges that he could have demonstrated in a different way, but that he was caught up in the fury of the mob after living as a black man watching his peers suffer at the hands of police. As anyone watching the news world-wide knows, many other people in Minnesota were similarly caught up. There appear to have been many people in those days looking only to exploit the chaos and disorder in the interests of personal gain or random violence. There appear also to have been many people who felt angry, frustrated, and disenfranchised, and who were attempting, in many cases in an unacceptably reckless and dangerous manner, to give voice to those feelings. Mr. Lee appears to be squarely in this latter category. And even the great American advocate for non-violence and social justice, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., stated in an interview with CBCs Mike Wallace in 1966 that weve got to see that a riot is the language of the unheard. Lily Rothman, What Martin Luther King Jr Really Thought About Riots, Time Magazine (2015), https://time.com/3838515. In light of these circumstances, the analysis of the Guidelines does not appear appropriate. On January 14 Judge Wilhelmina Wright sentenced Lee to 10 years, half the sentence suggested by the sentencing guidelines. The Star Tribune covered the sentencing here, but the Star Tribune reporter does not appear to have attended the sentencing hearing. His story includes none of Judge Wrights comments. By contrast, Erica Cutts quoted Judge Wright in her Rochester Post Bulletin story: You are more than the person who celebrated your actions on social media as if there was anything worth celebrating. You are more than the person that destroyed that business by fire, Wright said. You are more than the person who set that fire that killed a man. And no matter how upset you may have been and you may currently be, you are alive today. You have a future, she said. The victim of that fire does not. So while there are no excuses for your actions on May 28, 2020, you have a chance to move forward and live a productive life. You have a chance to move forward and contribute to a better life for yourself, to a better life for those that you love and to a better life for others. I hope that you use your prison term to address the struggles that you have, Mr. Lee, and to commit to treating and working through your depression, your anxiety, your PTSD and I hope that you also realize how your actions impact others. I wrote warmly about Judge Wright when she was confirmed in 2016. I know her (slightly) and like her. I stand by everything I wrote about her in 2016. Judge Wright nevertheless appears to have bought some part of the prosecutors all-in-a-good-cause rationale. It is difficult to imagine any such slack being cut for defendants charged in the January 6 riots, regardless of their human potential or their depression, anxiety, or PTSD. I find Judge Wrights apparent buy-in to the prosecutors apologetics troubling too. UPDATE: I have lost out to the crush of news again tonight. FOX News has given me the night off and suggested they may invite me back next week. After the Supreme Courts decision in Brown v. Board of Education, the Commonwealth of Virginia adopted a policy of massive resistance to school desegregation. The resistance was about finding ways to circumvent the Courts ruling. It included a law forbidding any integrated schools from receiving state funds and authorizing the governor to close any such school. Virginia also adopted tuition grants to enable students to attend private, segregated schools. Now, with the Supreme Court possibly on the verge of finding Harvards race-based admissions policy unlawful, Larry Tribe seems to be suggesting resistance to such a ruling. Tribe told the Harvard Crimson: Universities as intelligent as Harvard will find ways of dealing with the decision without radically altering their composition. But they will have to be more subtle than they have been thus far. In other words, they will have to find new, less obvious ways to discriminate in favor of Blacks and Latinos and against Whites and Asian-Americans. Tribes statement comes in the form of a prediction. On the face of it, hes predicting that Harvard and other universities will find clever ways to continue discriminating against applicants on the basis of race, whatever the Supreme Court says. Thats hardly a longshot. Thus, Tribe can say hes not advising anyone to circumvent, i.e., resist, a Supreme Court ruling. However, I read his statement as encouraging universities to do so. Is Tribe also sending a message to the Supreme Court? Is he trying to persuade a swing Justice or two that a decision in favor of the Asian-American students will have no real-world impact, and therefore isnt worth the trouble? Maybe. But the real message should be that if the Court decides the case in favor of the students, it should issue an opinion that forecloses, or at least sharply limits, the ability of universities like Harvard to resist its ruling that race cannot be a factor in determining which students to admit. Jurists as intelligent as our Supreme Court Justices can write an opinion that will accomplish this, I think. But it will take a little courage. PYONGYANG, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), inspected a munitions factory producing a major weapon system, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Friday. During the inspection, Kim learned in detail about the recent modernization of technology and production processes at the factory, and praised its leading role in collective innovation, said the report. He said the factory holds an important position and duty in modernizing the country's armed forces and realizing the national defense development strategy, urging staff to continuously develop the factory into an iconic one symbolic of the modernity of the country's defense industry. It was the left that initially came up with the phrase fake news, but that faded out when Donald Trump made the phrase his own, capitalizing on the grotesque inaccuracy of the liberal media. Then we have the Big Lie, which for liberals means the claim that Trump actually won the 2020 election; or, in its milder version (which I think is true) that the election was conducted in such a lax manner that it is impossible to tell who *really* won, if only legal votes were counted. But these days the focus is mostly on misinformation, and that misinformation usually relates to covid. The left loves covid because it is a disease, and as such, a matter of life and death, regardless of survival rate. Liberals say that misinformation about covid should be suppressed, as for example Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who suggested on MSNBC that social media companies should censor individuals like Joe Rogan who spread misinformation. The surgeon general @vivek_murthy: Critical part of how we get through this pandemic is limiting the spread of misinformation from shows like @joerogan pic.twitter.com/xexarsaNDN Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) January 25, 2022 Here is some of the dialogue: What do you think are the best ways to push back on misinformation about COVID that continues to be aggressively pushed, whether it be Joe Rogans podcast or all over Facebook? asked Brzezinski. We can have the best science available, we can have the best public health expertise available. It wont help people if they dont have access to accurate information, responded Murthy. People have the right to make their own decisions, but they also have the right to have accurate information to make that decision with. This is disingenuous. Obviously, people have access to accurate information. No one is preventing them from listening to the Surgeon General, the CDC, state departments of health, etc., all of which have vast resources to get their messages out. What Murthy is really saying is not that people should have access to accurate information, but that inaccurate information (like that promulgated by Joe Rogan, identified in this interview) should be censored, and that censorship should start with social media companies. This interview is consistent with many other calls for censorship, in identifying 1) advocacy of unproven treatments for covid and 2) questioning the need for, or efficacy of, vaccination as the key misinformation that must be suppressed. Frankly, I find this censorship effort puzzling. Doctors treat covid. Ivermectin is a prescription drug. Some doctors have found ivermectin, hydroxochloroquine or some other medicine to be effective in reducing covid symptoms. Liberals view such clinical results with horror and demand that they not be publicized. This is antithetical to the scientific method; physicians need to exchange information about what treatments are effective in what circumstances. Yet their efforts to do so have largely been suppressed. One of the weirdest aspects of the covid epidemic, in my view, is the lack of official attention to treatment of the disease. I have no idea whether, or when, drugs like ivermectin and hydroxochloroquine can mitigate covid symptoms, but public discussion of this question is good, not bad. As for vaccination, the CDC currently reports that 80% of Americans have gotten at least one shot of vaccine. I dont know how anyone could have expected a more positive response to the vaccines, especially after politicians like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris cast serious doubt on them. It is also hard to understand how the resurgent covid epidemic can be blamed on the fact that a small minority have chosen not to be, or are medically unable to be, vaccinated. Meanwhile, vaccines can have side effects, and the covid vaccines are no exception. Adverse cardiac effects are most common in young men, who are also at essentially no risk from the disease. I was among the first to be vaccinated, but if I were 19 years old, I would forgo vaccination and take my chances with the very mild omicron variation. Here, as always, the public is best served by diversity of views and open debate. It is ironic that public health officials are now insisting that covid orthodoxywhatever it is at the momentbe enshrined, and that all questions, doubts or contrary views be censored, given that public health officials have been consistently wrong about covid, and as a result have frequently had to change their opinions and advice. I suspect that the current war on covid misinformation is largely an effort to deflect attention from the fact that Joe Biden ran on a platform of crushing the covid virus, and instead has presided over a worse epidemic than what existed when he took office. The powers that be have to blame someone; why not Joe Rogan? But there is more to it than that. The left doesnt only want to censor information about covid. It also wants to delete everything relating to the Big Lie, which in practice means any expression of concern about election integrity, which most Americans agree is a major issue. If we allow the left to censor conversation about covid because it is a life and death issue, what follows? Every foreign policy issue is a life or death issue, so should all criticism of the Biden administrations Ukraine policy be suppressed? In a country of 330 million people, pretty much everything is a life or death issue, at some level. Immigration, the federal budget, the composition of the Supreme Courtyou name it, lives are arguably at stake. Those who believe in free speech think that the more important the issue, the more vital is vigorous debate. The left sees it otherwise: vigorous argument is perhaps admissible over the most trivial questionmaybe which woke movie should win an Oscarbut on any important issue, the party line is determined first, and all discussion of it is thereafter to be censored. That is the future we are heading toward if we give in to the lefts war against covid misinformation. The Washington Post continues to maintain that Joe Biden has Republicans right where he wants them, thanks to his decision to appoint a black women to the Supreme Court. This article by Mike DeBonis is called (in the paper edition) Supreme Court battle puts Republicans on the spot. Dan Balzs article is called Breyers retirement gives Biden a fresh opportunity for a badly needed victory. But I continue to believe that, if anything, the political considerations here probably favor the GOP. A close reading of todays Post supplies me with evidence. For example, the big frontpage headline in the paper reads Biden pledges to pick a historic candidate.' Notice that Biden isnt saying black female candidate or diverse candidate. Diverse once was a useful euphemism, but no longer. Thus, the pick needs to be characterized as historic. This packaging isnt likely to fool anyone. It doesnt obscure the fact that Biden has set aside a Supreme Court slot for a black female, thereby ruling out the vast majority of highly qualified candidates, including some Asian-American candidates whose credentials leap off the page (see below for one of them). This form of discrimination is unpopular. Selecting an Asian-American candidate would be even more historic than selecting a black female. The Court already has a black Justice (and had another one before him). It already has three women. It has never had an Asian-American. But Biden isnt interested in being historic. Hes concerned only with accommodating his identity politics-driven base. Everyone understands this. On balance, I dont see a political advantage in it. Todays Post also presents this op-ed by Ruth Marcus, the papers deputy editorial page editor, who frequently writes about the Supreme Court. Her article is defensive about Bidens decision to announce in advance that he will nominate a black woman. Marcus says she would have been more comfortable if Biden hadnt been quite so explicit about setting aside a Supreme Court slot for a black female. Why? Partly because it carries an aura of unfairness to announce that no one will be considered who does not meet an announced racial [and gender, she might have added] test. If Bidens conduct carries an aura of unfairness in Marcus estimation, imagine how it will strike non-leftists. Marcus is also less than fully comfortable because Bidens announcement opens the door to criticizing the nominees credentials compared to others ruled out due to their race and/or gender. Yes it does. Marcus thinks such criticism is unfair. She says Ronald Reagan promised to nominate a female Supreme Court Justice. I say Reagans resulting decision to nominate Sandra Day OConnor was one of the biggest mistakes of his presidency. Marcus also cites the qualifications of two of the black female candidates reportedly among the leading contenders for the nomination. Their credentials arent meager, but neither are they as impressive as those of Sri Srinivasan, for example. Among the credentials Marcus cites are graduation from Harvard and Harvard Law School in one case and from Harvard and Yale Law School in the other. Great. But were any of these admissions decision race based? Were any of the subsequent hiring decisions that advanced the careers of these two? Id love to know the answers, but, presumably, never will. It may be off-limits to ask, but I think were still allowed to wonder. This brings me back to DeBonis article, which speculates about the approach Senate Republicans will take in considering whichever black female Biden selects. Clearly, the approach will depend to some extent on the nominee. However, the most plausible path DeBonis describes is the one Democrats chose during Amy Coney Barretts confirmation: While some had urged scrutiny of Barretts personal background as a member of a conservative Catholic sect, Senate Democrats kept their focus solely on Barretts record and her stated views on issues likely to come before the court, including abortion rights. That approach would be fine with me. As I said yesterday, Republicans should abstain from advancing weak claims of personal misconduct. Nor do Republicans need to highlight the fact that Bidens decision is race/gender based. Biden, Senate Democrats, and their media allies will take care of that. And calling the selection historic wont make the decision go down any better with non-leftist Americans who care about the Supreme Court. The Underhandedness of Affirmative Action is the title of Harvey Mansfields prescient article in National Review way back in 1984 (unfortunately not available online easily that I can find). A key sample: To understand the threat [that affirmative action poses to constitutional government], let us return to the necessity that affirmative action conceal the help it renders its beneficiaries. As a policy, it cannot claim success, because to announce an affirmative-action appointment as such is to insult the recipient by implying that he would not have got it on merit. It is a peculiar policy indeed where the administrator cannot admit he has done nothing, since this is hardly action, yet cannot boast of doing something., lest his actions insult the beneficiary. Since the beneficiariesthe blacks, women, and others protected by affirmative actioncannot admit that they are incapable and undeserving, the only remaining solution, it seems, is to accuse the American people, or what is left of it after the protected groups have been subtracted, of discriminating against their fellow citizens on grounds of race, sex, or national origin. The unprotected must admit their guilt so that the protected do not have to admit their incapacity. I have a simple theory about why affirmative action is on the ropes now, and likely to be finally sanctioned by the Supreme Court, after decades of prevarication and straddling on the issue. When affirmative action was mostly an issue of black-and-white (with Hispanics at the margins of the action), it could be tolerated or papered over in the interests of remediating the legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, and other Democrat Party-generated oppressions. But with the arrival of large numbers of high-achieving Asians into the picture, the favoritism shown to blacks, and obvious discrimination against Asians, simply became too glaring to disguise any more. Consider the chart below, produced by The Economist magazine, contrasting the enrollment trends of Asians at CalTech (which has never embraced affirmative action in admissions) with other elite schools. There is no way to explain the disparity between CalTech and the rest without recourse to deliberate discrimination against Asians. You will see that CalTechs Asian admissions tracks the rise of the Asian population in the U.S. The convergence of the Ivy League schools on Asian admission rates would draw a very close look for anti-trust collusion from the Justice Department if they were for-profit corporations. (In fact, I suspect the reaction to this chart in many elite college admissions offices is, CalTech is blowing it for the rest of us.) Three southern African countries were this week hit by Storm Ana which has displaced thousands and killed about a hundred. Madagascar has recorded at least 48 deaths and 130,000 people were displaced from their homes to makeshift shelters, the BBC reported. Malawi has recorded at least 11 deaths. This disaster has caused a nationwide power cut and some areas have been declared disaster zones, the BBC added. The authorities have declared the state of natural disaster. Mozambique, meanwhile, has reported 18 deaths. More than 10,000 homes and dozens of schools and hospitals have also been destroyed in the country, while downing power lines. Meanwhile, officials said the exact toll is still unknown, with 20,000 affected by the flooding. The country had experience heavy rain and thunderstorms which had continued to hit some regions even after the storms passage, contributing to the flooding in the region. Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario said while Mozambique was not begging for help, the wreck from the disaster was not something one country can tackle. We are a country that does not contribute much for climate change, and yet we are one of the countries that suffer the most from its impact, he said. The UNICEF said it was deploying its staff to the country to help the 45,000 people it estimated will need humanitarian aid. UN Resident Coordinator in Mozambique, Myrta Kaulard, said vulnerability is very, very high. The challenge is titanic, the challenge is extreme, she said. About 44 emergency camps have been set up to deal with thousands of displaced and injured people, BBC said. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended Burkina Faso from all its institutions following the recent coup in the West African country. The suspension was decided at a virtual ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government extraordinary session convened to review political developments in Burkina Faso. According to a draft of the meetings resolution seen by PREMIUM TIMES, the authority strongly condemns the coup dEtat and expresses deep concern over the resurgence of military coups in the region following the coup dEtats in Mali on August 18, 2020, in Guinea on September 5, 2021 and in Burkina Faso on January 24, 2022. It also demanded the immediate release and protection of President Roch Kabore and all the other political detainees who were taken into custody by the army. The leaders called for the quick restoration of constitutional order by the militaries, urging them to remain republican by focusing on the role of safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country. The Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS) will also deploy a delegation to Burkina Faso to hold consultations with the military leaders to carry out an assessment of the security situation in the country and submit a report to be reviewed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government. The leadership further instructs the Commission to facilitate the deployment of a joint ECOWAS Ministerial Mission to Burkina Faso, led by the Chairperson of Council of Ministers on 31st January, 2022 to assess the political situation and submit their report to the Authority of Heads of State and Government. It added that the United Nations Special Representative to West Africa and Sahel and the African Union will participate in this mission. The Heads of State and Government will, on February 3, convene an Extraordinary Summit in Accra, Ghana, to re-examine the situation in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali. In attendance were Presidents of the Republic of Benin; Republic of Cabo Verde; Republic of Cote dIvoire; Republic of The Gambia; Republic of Ghana; Republic of Guinea Bissau; Republic of Liberia; Federal Republic of Nigeria; Republic of Niger; Republic of Sierra Leone; Togolese Republic; Republic of Senegal, amongst others. Burkina Faso Coup The Burkinabe army on January 24 arrested President Marc Kabore and later at night announced that his government had been deposed. The whereabout of the president is still unknown although the officer who announced the coup said he and other officials of his government were being treated with dignity in detention. According to the army, the coup was was as a result of the elected governments inability to tackle jihadists who have over the years caused unrest in the country as well as the region. The coup plotters later identified themselves as the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR) led by Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, a lieutenant-colonel. According to Aljazeera, 41-year-old Damiba had been promoted in December by Mr Kabore to command Burkina Fasos third military region. He studied at a military academy in Paris, obtaining a masters degree in criminal sciences from the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers. The recent military coup in Burkina Faso is the fourth in the West African region in recent times and the sixth successful coup in the continent since 2020. There had been two within the period in Mali, and one each in Guinea, Sudan, and Chad. As of Wednesday evening, almost 40,000 Nigerians have signed a petition calling on the United Kingdom (UK) home office to either remove Nigeria from the list of countries whose citizens are required to take English Proficiency tests or reduce the fees charged for the examination. The UK requires the citizens of any country willing to relocate to the country for work or study opportunities to take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. But Nigerians are kicking against the policy, describing it as a ripoff. Not the first time This is not the first time Nigerians are raising concerns about the policy and the renewed energy was a result of previous calls falling on deaf ears. The cost of the test, which currently stands between N80,000 and N90,000 in Nigeria, is almost three times the countrys minimum wage of N30,000. Apart from its high cost, the test is only valid for two years and can only be taken in 12 cities across the country. Individuals requiring it for their pursuits would have to take the test again if they fail or did not relocate to the UK after two years of taking the test. Petition The petitioners compared the English Proficiency tests with the French proficiency test which costs half the minimum wage. Using hashtages like #ReformIELTSPolicy, #IELTS, and #TOEFL, many Nigerians who took to the social media handle, Twitter, have accused the UK of commercialising the test. Policy Shapers, which iniated the online petition on Change.org, wondered why none of the over 20 anglophone countries in Africa was on the list of countries exempted from taking the test, despite the fact that these African countries are former British colonies and belong to the Commonwealth. UK Home Office reacts In 2020, the UK Home office, which is said to be primarily in charge of the test, told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that it did not have evidence that the majority of Nigerians speak English as a first language. We do not have the required evidence that shows the majority of people in Nigeria speak English as their first language, it wrote in a reply to the BBCs enquiry. It added: We must have evidence that at least 51 per cent of the population speaks English as a first language for a country to be included in the Majority English Speaking Country list. PREMIUM TIMES couldnt reach Dean Hurlock, head of communications, British High Commission, on his phone. An email sent to the UK home office has also not been replied as of the time of filing this report. Fear has enveloped Agodo in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State as residents have begun deserting the village following the brutal killing of their acclaimed monarch, Ayinde Odetola. Hoodlums Tuesday attacked, killed, and burnt the body of the monarch. Findings by PREMIUM TIMES show that the killing was the second of such in less than three months. The monarchs aide was also killed the same day. His brother was hacked to death by unknown assailants less than a month ago. As a result of this development, fear has gripped the dwellers and most have vacated the community. When a PREMIUM TIMES reporter visited the community, a graveyard silence was observed as one could barely see a person to speak with. A passerby who identified himself as Raheem told our reporter that he cannot afford to wait to speak with our reporter for five minutes as he was only was there to pick some of his clothes and return to hiding. My brother, may you not be unfortunate in your life, I cannot wait to speak to you, We can only continue to speak like this, the way people are being killed here is unexplainable and I dont want to die. When asked what he thought could be the reason for the recent killings, Mr Raheem retorted Haaa, you are asking too many questions and he fled toward his house shouting, please go back, stop following me. Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the command has been assuring the residents to return to their homes as the police are on top of the situation. We have been trying our best in speaking to the residents that we are on top of the matter, despite our promise of adequate protection, they have all abandoned their houses. When asked about the efforts made to arrest the assailants, he said, I can assure you we will arrest them all, in fact, we are closing up on them. They have no hiding place in Ogun here. We would bring them all to book soonest. Self-proclaimed king? On Thursday, the Owu Kingdom of Egbaland, under whose jurisdiction Agodo community falls, issued a statement questioning the legitimacy of Mr Odetolas kingship. The Akogun Owu, Ishola Akinsipo, said the land dispute in the community had caused bad blood between Mr Odetola and people of the community. He dismissed claims that the violence was triggered by a rift between Owu and Ake on who has authority to install a king in the village. The insinuation is far from the truth as on no occasion has the Agodo community, with a Baale, contested or applied to Olowu or Alake Egba for the uplifting of their Baale to coronet, Mr Akinsipo said. From time immemorial, Agodo village which has been a multi-clan community from Abeokuta had been in peace until some six years ago when some hoodlums besieged the environment to grab the communitys land. Reports available at our disposal in Owu Kingdom indicate the man who claimed to be Oba in Agodo village had been involved in land disputes with Agodo people which had caused bad blood among him, accompanied hoodlums and the Agodo community. The statement recalled that the community was thrown into crisis in 2016 following an alleged attempt by the deceased and some thugs to bury a corpse in Agodo village as a decoy to establish ancestry to the land. By the directive of Olowu Kangunere, Oba Olusanya Adegboyega Dosunmu, Olowu of Owu, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, Towulade Akinale, was deployed to visit Agodo village and ensure there was peace. The report of a meditative meeting in Agodo, suing for peace and co-existence of the community was published in a news magazine, The Village Network, vol. 3 No 5 (2016). The Agodo community as of today has denied their knowledge of any king, and the deceased monarch has no physical presence nor a palace in Agodo, the statement added. Seven agencies of the United Nations (UN) were on Wednesday indicted for tax evasion by the Borno State Internal Revenue Service (BO-IRS). The seven agencies, according to the states revenue service, are the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the United Nations Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The agency said that though the international laws regulating the operations of the UN system exempt them from paying tax as entities, it does not apply to their workers, especially the local manpower and contracting partners. Mohammad Alkali, the executive chairman of the Borno revenue board, told journalists at a press conference on Wednesday that while other UN bodies like the IOM have complied to the extant laws that compel Nigerian working for UN or foreign organisations to comply with the personal income tax laws, the aforementioned seven UN agencies had refused to comply despite all efforts put in to make them do the needful. The UN agencies, he said, are mandated by the provision of the Personal Income Tax CAP P8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 to remit to the state government what is known as PAYE and Withholding Tax for their staff and individual and enterprise contractors respectively. Other UN agencies and NGOs who are equally in large taxpayer category are already complying with the provisions of the extant laws as referenced above. Mr Alkali said his board had made a series of concerted efforts and engagementswhich culminated into forwarding of various correspondences to ensure that the listed organisations and agencies voluntarily comply with the relevant tax laws but to no avail. He said the BO-IRS was aware of the protocols restricting the humanitarian bodies from compelling workers to pay tax, that was why we demanded them to furnish us with the raw data of their workers as well as individual and enterprise contractors for us to interface with them directly but to no avail. So, BO-IRS is left with no option than to employ legitimate means to compel them to do so. And we have already taken steps by serving the UN Agencies herein mentioned notice of seizure of properties which is due to lapse on 24th February 2022, he said. The agency said it would be relying on Section 68 of the Harmonised Revenue Law for enforcement using personnel of the Nigeria police and their internal enforcement team. Mr Alkali noted that the state governor, Babagana Zulum, was aware of the situation. It was even the governor that encouraged us to liaise with the UNOCHA through his adviser on INGO affairs, Mairo Mandara, by writing to them, which we did repeatedly but the seven of them failed to comply. They (some officials of OCHA) came to our office in June 2021 to ask for the details of what we wanted and after that, they went away and ignored us, he added. PREMIUM TIMES reached out to all seven agencies but only received a response from UNICEF alone. According to Geoffery Njoku, a communications officer for the agency, we are UN, we do not pay tax. We pay to the UN you should know that. Also, Christina Powell, public information officer of OCHA, in an email response to PREMIUM TIMES said, OCHA does not have a comment to give at this time regarding your query. However, some UN officials who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES in confidence, told this newspaper that the UN was in talks with the government and will respond officially in due time. The Nigeria Police Force spent over N3 billion on controversial contracts and unexecuted projects in 2019, an audit report has revealed. About one-third of the money was paid for 10 contracts awarded to three firms owned by the same person, without proper disclosure, the report stated. These were part of the findings of the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation after an audit of government ministries, departments and agencies in 2019. The report, released in September 2021, was titled Auditor-Generals report on Non-compliance/Internal Control Weakness Issues in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria for the Year ended December 31, 2019. The 490-page report was recently submitted to the clerk of the National Assembly as Nigerias Constitution provides. In the report, the auditor-general said the anomalies discovered in the accounts of the Nigeria Police Force could be attributed to weaknesses in its internal control system. It could also amount to a loss of government funds and/or diversion of public funds, the report stated. The police management, however, did not respond to all the queries and concerns raised by the auditor-general. One person, three firms, N1.1 billion One of the issues raised in the report is about irregularities in the award and execution of contracts for the procurement of security items for the police. The report observed that a single entity used three different companies to get ten contracts in 2019. It said ten contracts totalling N1.1 billion were awarded to a single proprietor in the name of different companies. In the companies profiles, the contact phone numbers and email addresses of the three companies were the same and the three companies did not disclose their relationship by the fundamental principles of procurement as required by extant regulation, the report stated. The audit document said this violates Section 16 (8) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 which states that whenever it is established by a procuring entity or the Bureau that any or a combination of the situations set out exist, a bidder may have its bid or tender excluded from any particular procurement proceedings if:(g) the bidder fails to submit a statement regarding its dominating or subsidiary relationships concerning other parties to the proceedings and persons acting on behalf of the procuring entity participating in the same proceeding or who remains insubordinate relationship with other participants to the proceedings. It said the above irregularities could be attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at the Nigeria Police Force, the principal law enforcement agency in the country. Likewise, the inherent risks in the anomalies of the breach of the regulation, according to the report, are award of contract to the incompetent contractor, payments for jobs not executed and diversion of public fund. The auditor general requested that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) furnish reasons why contracts were awarded to companies owned by the same persons. It further asked the IGP to account for the sum of 1,136,715,200.00 (One billion, one hundred and thirty-six million, seven hundred and fifteen thousand, two hundred naira). The IGP was also required to remit the sum of N1.1 billion to the treasury and forward evidence of remittance to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly, Otherwise, the report recommended sanctions relating to the irregular award of contract and punishment for contravening any of the offences in the Public Procurement Act and paragraphs 3117 and 3126 of the Financial Regulations respectively. Payment for contracts not executed Paragraph 708 of the Financial Regulations states that on no account should payment be made for services not yet performed or for goods not yet supplied. The Nigeria police violated this law when it paid N924.9 million on contracts that were not executed in 2019. According to the audit report, the amount was paid for 11 contracts involving construction of three units of Gunshot Spotter System, supply of fifty units of Ballistic Roller Trolley and twenty units of Ballistic Mobile Surveillance House in some selected Commands and Formations. The final payments were made in March 2019 without evidence of execution, the auditor general said, but documents for the completion of the projects were not presented for audit examination. Likewise, the items claimed to have been constructed or supplied at the Force Headquarters, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit and Police Mobile Force (PMF) unit as specified in the award letters revealed that the contracts were not executed as at the time of physical verification of the purported items in June 2020. In another instance, the audit report said N613.5 million, representing 100 per cent total payment, made as advance payment, was made to two contractors before the execution of the contracts. Six contracts totalling N613.5 million were awarded to two contractors on 17 January 2019 for procurement of Ballistic Roller Trolley, construction of Gunshot spotter and Ballistic Mobile Surveillance House, the report stated. Advertisements But, there was no evidence of execution, as relevant documents such as invoice, SRV, SIV, Ledger entry, etc. were neither presented to the team nor the items found in the location indicated in the vouchers. This act contravened the provision of paragraph 2933 (i) of Financial Regulations which requires payment of mobilization fee not to exceed 15 per cent of the contract price. Also, the two contractors did not participate in the pre-qualification process, while tax clearance certificates were not presented for examination, the auditor general said. The report further observed that there was a contract for the supply of 20 units of Ballistic Mobile Surveillance in Borno State at a contract sum of N249.9 billion which was beyond the approval threshold of both the Force and its supervising ministry. Contract for supplies above N100 million requires approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the report stated. Again these anomalies were attributed to weaknesses in the internal control system at the Nigeria Police Force Armament and it is likely going to result in the loss of government funds and/or diversion of public funds, the report read. The police management did not respond to the queries raised by the auditor general. Nonetheless, the IGP was mandated to furnish reasons why payments were made for contracts not executed. The police chief was also required to recover N924.98 million and N613.5 million respectively, being paid for unexecuted contracts and remit the same to the treasury. Evidence of remittance should be forwarded to the Public Accounts Committees of the National Assembly, the report said. Otherwise, the auditor general recommended sanctions relating to payments for the poor quality of work and prosecution by the EFCC prescribed by paragraphs 3105 and (iii) 104 of the Financial Regulations, respectively, Violation of approval threshold on procurement contract On January 14, 2016, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation issued a directive restraining government agencies and ministries from directly approving contracts for supplies above N100 million until approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The circular was dispatched to all ministers and several other senior officials, including the head of the service, the presidents chief of staff, military chiefs, the central bank governor, and permanent secretaries, among others. In extant violation of the law, two contracts totalling N500.3 million were approved by the Nigeria Police Force. The contracts of such magnitude, the audit report said should have passed through the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval, as they were above the approval threshold of both the Nigeria Police Force Tenders Board and that of its parent ministry. The risks in the likely breach of the regulation, according to the report, are, misappropriation of public funds and/or diversion of public funds. Hence, the IGP has been requested to provide reasons why contracts that were above the approval threshold of tenders boards of both the police headquarters and that of the Ministry of Police Affairs were not forwarded to the Federal Executive Council for approval. The police will also account for the sum of N500.3 million. Other Queries Based on the review of the arms movement register and monthly return of arms and ammunition, the audit report noted that the total number of lost firearms as of December 2018 stood at 178,459 pieces. Out of this number, 88,078 were AK-47 rifles, the report said. It added that 3,907 assorted rifles and pistols across different police formations could not be accounted for as of January 2020 The Auditor-General said this violates Paragraph 2603 of the Financial Regulations states in the event of any loss of stores, the officer in charge of the store in which the loss occurs shall: a. Report immediately to the head of department or unit but not later than three (3) days, by the fastest means possible if the loss occurs away from headquarters. b. Report to the nearest police station if there is any suspicion of fraud or theft. Initiate action on Treasury Form 146 by completing Part 1 thereof and forward in duplicate to his head of division or unit, without delay Formal reports on the loss of firearms through duly completed Treasury Form 146 (loss of stores) were not presented for examination, the report read. Likewise, records obtained from force armament at the police headquarters showed that the 21 Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron, Abuja, did not report a single case of missing firearm, whereas, the schedule of missing arms obtained from the same PMF showed a total number of forty-six missing arms between the year 2000 and February 2019. The value of the lost firearms could not be ascertained because no document relating to their cost of acquisition was presented for examination, the report read. The innate risks are mishandling of firearms or firearms getting to the wrong hands and loss of government funds. It is unclear whether the police management had responded to the queries raised by the auditor general as of the time of filing this report. Frank Mba, the spokesperson of the Nigerian police, did not respond to our correspondent calls and text messages. Academic research has revealed why Boko Haram insurgents and Ansaru elements operating in the Nigerian North-east have failed to co-opt bandits operating in the Northwest of the country. The research, titled: Northwestern Nigeria: A Jihadization of Banditry, or a Banditization of Jihad?, was conducted by James Barnet, Murtala Rufai and Abdulaziz Abdulaziz. There were suspicions that Boko Haram insurgents had moved westward and infiltrated the ranks of the bandits terrorising the Northwest region. The Situation For over a decade, Boko Haram insurgents have been terrorising northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe as well as parts of Niger Republic, Chad Republic and Cameroon. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or displaced by the insurgents. In Northwest Nigeria, states like Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Kebbi have been suffering from the activities of bandits, which have led to the death and displacement of thousands of innocent people. 200 people were recently killed in attacks on communities in Anka and Bukkuyum local government areas of Zamfara while levies were imposed on several villages Farming activities, as residents in the affected states are largely farmers, have suffered the most, with the farmers chased away from their farms or forced to pay levies. Farm produce are also being burnt by the bandits. Rural-urban migration has also been on the increase while schools have been forced to shut in most of the states for months due to the abduction of students by bandits. The research Releasing the report through his Twitter handle, James Barnet, said the findings of the research would surprise terrorism analysts and other concerned citizens. Mr Barnet wrote, There are many reasons to expect Nigerias bandits and jihadis would cooperate or converge, given mutual interests and grievances. But this has not happened much. Jihadi efforts to work with bandits often fall flat, as have previous jihadi efforts to expand in North-west Nigeria. He noted that the research was a result of months of fieldwork and exclusive interviews with bandits and senior jihadi defectors. Mr Barnet said the authors finding revealed that the reasons why bandits were not coopted include: Nigerias bandits have grown so powerful that they are not in desperate need of cooperation with jihadis (let alone a need to convert to jihadism). The bandits gangs are so numerous and loosely organised, and bandits fight among each other so frequently over parochial issues, that jihadis would have difficulty coopting more than a handful of gangs at a time. Additionally, differences in the modus operandi and objectives of bandits and jihadis render jihadism unappealing to bandits: While bandits have no coherent political agenda and have managed to grow rich and powerful by plundering Muslim communities in the northwest, jihadis are deeply committed to a revolutionary political project and, particularly in the case of ISWAP and Ansaru, seek to gain popular support from the sorts of vulnerable Muslim communities that bandits prey on. Bandits not interested in revolution, theyre fighting for personal interests, he stated. The research also examined how a community in Sokoto State invited jihadists to protect them from the rampaging bandits. Mr Barnet noted that the research also revealed how ISWAP failed in an attempt to co-opt bandits. ISWAP has also had trouble coopting bandits. A high-ranking defector says al-Barnawi had the idea to send out jihadi commanders to the North-west in 2016 to recruit bandits to jihad. Only problem: These jihadis decided they liked banditry better. But he confirmed that the research found that jihadists and bandits are co-existing in the North-west. PHNOM PENH, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Trade volume between Cambodia and China was valued at 11.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, up 37 percent from 2020, according to a report issued by the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce on Friday. Cambodia's export to China reached 1.5 billion dollars last year, a year-on-year increase of 39 percent, while its import from China was 9.6 billion dollars, a rise of 37 percent from 2020, the report said. The main products the Southeast Asian nation shipped to China are milled rice, bananas, mangoes, dry rubber, cassava, fishery and apparels, and what it imported from China mostly are garment raw materials, machinery, vehicles, foodstuffs, electronics, medicines and cosmetics, among others. Penn Sovicheat, Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's undersecretary of state and spokesman, said trade cooperation between the two countries has been rising against the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. "China is a huge market for Cambodia, and despite the COVID-19, our bilateral trade volume has steadily increased," he told Xinhua. "Agricultural products such as rice, bananas and mangoes, among others are our potential goods for exporting to the Chinese market." Sovicheat said the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), which was entered into force on Jan. 1, 2022, would inject new impetus into the trade relations between the two countries. "Under the CCFTA, we hope that Cambodia's export to the Chinese market will be bigger, especially the export of agricultural produce, industrial products, and processing goods, among others," he said. He said the CCFTA will bring the proportion of zero-tariff products in the goods traded between Cambodia and China to more than 90 percent for both countries. The family of the murdered Masters student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke, has kicked against the Nigeria Polices move to try the accused persons in Abuja. The student had lodged in Hilton Hotels and Resorts at Ile-Ife, upon his arrival from Abuja on November 5, to enable him to arrive early for his examination at the OAU Distance Learning Centre, Moro, Osun State, on November 6 and November 7. The hotel is owned by Rahman Adedoyin. After Mr Adegoke was declared missing, the police were invited and seven suspects were arrested by the Osun state police command, where the investigation commenced. Later, men of the Intelligence Response Team at the Police Headquarters in Abuja took over the investigation and the case was transferred to the Federal Capital Territory. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the police sued the accused persons before a High Court in Abuja. The police are charging the owner of the hotel where Mr Adegoke was allegedly murdered with illegally disposing of his body, altering and cancelling his payment receipt, and removal of the hotels CCTV cameras with intent to destroy evidence. Others charged alongside Mr Adedoyin are: Adedeji Adesola, 23; Magdalene Chiefuna, 24; Adeniyi Aderogba, 37; Oluwale Lawrence, 37, Oyetunde Kazeem, 38; Adebayo Kunle, 35, and others who have taken to their heels. Mr Adegokes family is, however, opposing the location where the police decided to try Mr Adedoyin and others. The family through its counsel, Naim Adekilekun, is insisting that the trial should be done in Osun State since that is the state where the crime was committed. The petition In the petition obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday, the counsel is appealing to the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the case is heard at a High Court of Justice in Osun State. As we are preparing for the prosecution of the suspects arrested in connection to this murder, we wish to state that it has filtered to us that the Police in Abuja is ready to proffer a charge against the suspects in respect of this case at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It must be stated here that the family never doubted the competence of the Police to prosecute this case to a logical conclusion. But as the solicitors to the family, we have our reservation to the prosecution of this case at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. To start with, in criminal prosecution, the Court in the territorial jurisdiction of the area of the alleged crime will be seised (sic) of the case and nothing more, although this may not be the case of some Federal offences triable at the Federal High Court of any judicial Division and the reason for, is not far-fetched this can be traced to the fact that the Law recognizes Federal High Court of Nigeria to be one and single court irrespective of the Division. This explains the reason why a case instituted in Federal High Court A may be transferred to Federal High Court B if there is a need for that. This is not the case in respect of High Court of different state. A High Court of Osun State for example cannot transfer a case to the High Court of Oyo State for adjudication. A High Court of a State will be one in division (sic) with respect to other High Court in the same State and not a High Court of the other state. The lawyer noted that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act guides the prosecution of crimes at the Federal High Court in Nigeria and other offences punishable in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and it also provides the framework for criminal litigation in those courts where it is applicable. 93 (1) An offence shall ordinarily be inquired into and tried by a court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction: The offence was wholly or in part committed, or some act forming part of the offence was done; The consequence of the offence has ensured; An offence was committed by reference to which the offence is denied; or a person against whom, or property in respect of which, the offence was committed is found, having been transported there by the suspect or by a person knowing of the offence, a criminal charge shall be filed and tried in the division where the alleged offence was committed unless it can be shown that it is convenient to do otherwise for security reasons. However, the sub-section 2 which seems to provide a proviso to the Section 93 (1) does not operate in the circumstance of Timothy Case, because there is no security reasons for not charging these suspects at the High Court of Justice Osun State, it is not necessary that they should be charged at Ile-Ife, Osun State where the alleged murder was committed, they can be charged in the Osogbo, the state capital. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says the All Progressives national leader, Bola Tinubu, is the most qualified Nigerian to be president in 2023. Mr Sanwo-Olu said this while drumming support for Mr Tinubu candidacy during the formal inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (ABAT) Movements Working Committee in Ikeja. The Movement was conceived and set up by members of the Governors Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos for the actualisation of the presidential ambition of the former Lagos governor. He said the indisputable capability of Mr Tinubu to effectively manage human and material resources for visible progress stood him out as the most qualified Nigerian to be president in 2023. Mr Sanwo-Olu said Mr Tinubus qualification rested on his demonstrated capacity in deploying a mix of genius and statecraft to nurture a city on the brink into a flourishing economy. He said the progress in Lagos remained a visible experiment initiated by the APC leader. Mr Sanwo-Olu said Nigeria has continued to shoulder the burden of the black race, and the countrys transformation into a stable economy would be a source of pride to the black man. According to him, in 2023, the country needs a capable leader with progressive ideas to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari and build on the progress recorded by the current administration. Tinubus practicable ideas in governance make him the most qualified successor and saleable choice for the job. Our country is the most populous black nation in the world and the responsibility that comes with that is enormous. No doubt that the destiny of the entire black race is tied to the greatness of Nigeria. If our country must be great, we have the responsibility to choose the leadership that will bring about true transformation across every facet of our national life. Who is that rallying figure that should lead us in this journey? The answer is deeply connected to our mission and purpose here today. That person must be a detribalised Nigerian and a bridge-builder, who has been tested and trusted. A thinker, who must sustain the legacy our current president is leaving behind. That person is the reason we are inaugurating this movement for the actualisation of his presidential ambition. That person is our great leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he said. Mr Sanwo-Olu said that Mr Tinubus name was synonymous with growth and development and possessed a Midas touch to positively turn around the resources of the country for the general good. He said the event was to raise foot soldiers, team leaders, and cheerleaders, who would pursue the movements objectives and cascade down its messages to every voter at the ward level, with commitment and passion. The governor charged all selected for leadership roles in the movement to reflect Mr Tinubus political ideals of openness and tolerance in their engagement and mobilisation. APC stalwart, James Odumbaku, said the forthcoming general elections presented another opportunity for Nigerians to make the right choice, to keep the country on the path of development. Mr Odumbaku said the electorate must get it right by electing a tested and credible leader to steer the leadership of the country, hence, the movement believes that Mr Tinubu remained the right man for the top seat. GAC leader, Tajudeen Olusi, described Mr Tinubu as a genius in statecraft, adding that the APC leader was a saleable article in the political market. We have to be prepared and determined because the contest would be a battle of might and strength, Mr Olusi said. The Movements Director-General, Oyinlomo Danmole, said that ABATs structure was different from other support groups set up across the country for the actualisation of Mr Tinubus presidential ambition. Mr Danmole said that all cluster groups within the Lagos APC had representation in the movement, with the inclusion of every locality in the state. He said a seven-member committee had been set up in each of the 57 local councils in Lagos, with each committee headed by coordinators. Advertisements Mr Danmole said that at the ward level, the movement maintained similar committee structure of seven persons across the 377 wards, adding that registration to be part of the ward committee would be made open to residents in the coming days. (NAN) Report Magomago, a reporting website for corruption supported by the United State in partnership with some faith-based religious groups, was launched in Lagos on Friday. Magomago, in local parlance, means corruption, misconduct, and the absence of fair play. The website was launched in the Ikoyi area of Lagos to take a harder stance against corruption, Claire Pierangelo, the U.S. Consul General in Nigeria, said. Ms Pierangelo said the initiative is part of the U.S effort to fight corruption and its now time for Magomago to die out. Report Magago is an Initiative of the Interreligious Coalition Against Corruption in Nigeria (ICACN) in collaboration with the Strength in Diversity Development Centre (SDDC) and the Remedy for Religious Persecution and Discrimination (RRPD), a faith-based organisation. She described corruption as a central issue in a relationship between the United States and Nigeria. In 2016, we help to bring together religious leaders from both Christian and Muslim faith and later that year, these groups formed a coalition called the religions leaders anti-corruption community which has not become the Interreligious Coalition Against Corruption in Nigeria (ICACN), she said. She said the cross-faith program is primarily to eliminate corruption in the country. A Bishop, Emmah Isong, said another name for corruption is sin. He said many people who are corrupt came into the system by swearing with the Bible and Quran. Mr Isong urged religious institutions to kick against corruption by preaching it constantly to their followers. Shefiu Abdullareem, a co-founder of the initiative, said the project is an awakening call to bring corruption down. The Muslim cleric said they have been to about 19 states to engage people and ensure that people understand the danger of engaging in corruption. We need to report this, we need to talk, this platform is for every Nigerian to talk and not keep silent about corruption, he said. In his speech, the speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, urged Nigerians to take the fight against corruption beyond public officers. The speaker said that when people talk about fighting against corruption, they tend to target public officer holders. He said that the fight is for all Nigerians, adding that there is a need to look inward. A trader, Rashidat Ogunniyi, who accused her husband of loving his dog more than her, on Friday got her wish as the Igando Customary Court in Lagos dissolved her marriage. The President of the Court, Adeniyi Koledoye, held that the repeated refusal of the respondent to appear in court would not stop the proceedings. Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent did not honour court processes, therefore, the court has no other choice than to dissolve the marriage. The court hereby pronounces the marriage between Mr Kazeem Ogunniyi and Mrs Rashidat Ogunniyi, dissolved today. Both of you henceforth cease to be husband and wife. Each of you should go on his or her separate ways unmolested; the court wishes both of you well in your future endeavours, he said. Mr Koledoye gave the custody of the only child of the marriage to Rashidat and ordered Mr Ogunniyi to pay N10,000 monthly for her feeding. He held that Mr Ogunniyi would also be responsible for the childs education and general welfare. Earlier during the hearing of the case, Mrs Ogunniyi had sought dissolution of her 12-year-old marriage, claiming her husband was only concerned about the welfare of his dog. Kazeem is an irresponsible husband and father, he lacks care and love for me and our child. He only cares about the health, happiness and safety of his dog. He always showers the dog with compliments, Mrs Ogunniyi said. The 40-year old petitioner also said that Mr Ogunniyi was domineering and violent. My husband turned me into a punching bag, he beats me at the slightest provocation. There was a day he beat me in public and tore my clothes. He once gathered my clothes and wanted to burn them but for the timely intervention of our Imam who came to the scene and stopped him, she said. The mother of one said that she had not been at peace since she got married. According to her, Mr Ogunniyi encourages their daughter to steal her money and give to him so he could buy a phone for her. Mrs Ogunniyi prayed the court to dissolve the marriage, saying that she no longer loved Kazeem. I live every minute of my life in fear. Save me from the cruel hands of my husband and grant me the custody of our child, she prayed. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Mr Ogunniyi, who was served summons, was absent throughout the proceedings. (NAN) The minister of state for education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has linked the number of out-of-school children to the challenges of growth and development of countries. He said bringing every child aboard the ship of education is a national priority that must be taken seriously by every stakeholder. An educated populace, he said, is a critical recipe for development and peace in any society. The minister, who stated this on Thursday in his keynote address at the national campaign on out-of-school children in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, said no nation can make meaningful progress with a high number of its youths as illiterates. Basic education is officially free and compulsory in Nigeria, as stipulated by the Universal Basic Education ACT, (2004). Nigerias number of out-of-school children is currently estimated at over 10 million, with fears that more children could slide out of school a result of COVID-19 lockdowns and rising insecurity in the regions with the existing highest number of out-of-school children. Kebbi is home to about 900,000 out-of-school children, according to Governor Abubakar Bagudu. Last year, UNICEF estimated that over a million children in Nigeria are scared of going back to school. However, Mr Nwajiuba maintained that the federal ministry of education is determined to ensure that all children of school age who are out of school are returned to complete their basic and secondary education and possibly transit to tertiary institutions. He called for synergy amongst agencies especially communities where these children exist to ensure that they are given the necessary support to achieve education, adding that this is the only way we can achieve a better, reliable, developed and peaceful society. The minister appealed individuals and groups to take responsibility for the education of the children, especially for the orphans who have no one to care for their educational needs. He also called on state governments to upscale their efforts in supporting the federal government in the task of educating these children, adding that education is a collective responsibility. The minister also expressed pain over the remaining 14 students who were abducted at the Federal Government College, Birni Yauri in 2020. My heart and soul are with all Nigerian children who are still in captivity. I stand with the parents in the circumstance. Government will continue to do all it can to free our children who are being held for what they know nothing about the minister said. In his address, Governor Bagudu, represented by the secretary to the state government, Babale Yauri, said the state is fully committed to eradicating the out-of-school children phenomenal. He said his government has committed over N15.5 billion to the construction of 552 classroom blocks, boreholes, toilets and furniture in the state. He added that 42 nomadic schools have been constructed to provide access to quality education for the children of nomads and migrant fishermen, noting also that 167 basic literacy centres have been established for adult and non-formal education across the states 21 local government areas. Biodun Oyebanji, immediate past Secretary to Ekiti Government, has emerged winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries. Declaring the winner, Chairperson of the Primary Election Committee, Governor Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, said Mr Oyebanji, who resigned from his post last December to join the race, polled 101,703 out of the total number of votes cast. Mr Badaru made the declaration at the State Collation Centre, APC party Secretariat, located at Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. It is my pleasure to declare Biodun Oyebanji as the winner of this primary, haven scored the highest votes cast. Haven satisfied all necessary criteria, I hereby declare Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji as the winner, Mr Badaru said. He added that Ekiti APC had 183,560 registered members, 107,877 members were accredited and the total votes cast was 104,983. The chairman expressed surprise at the allegations by some aspirants that they were not consulted, adding that 20 names were submitted by each of the aspirants to be added to the list of the Returning Officers and they were all captured. Mr Badaru, however, explained that the meeting that was earlier slated for Thursday morning, between the committee and the aspirants was cancelled because there was a security report that the venue was tense. He said they had to call for the assistance of security agents to arrest the situation. The chairman said the primaries took place across the 177 wards and that it was free and fair. However, there are pockets of violence, when we receive the results, we will know where we need to cancel, we will. As we have earlier promised, we have ensured a level playing ground for all aspirants, the committee chairman added. On the protest by some of the aspirants, the committee chairman added that he had not received any official petition but only heard about it in the media. He directed that the returning officers of the wards where elections were not held should write their reports and submit to the committee. The results presented by the 16 Local Government Area Returning Officers revealed that Mr Oyebanji won in all the council areas. The breakdown of the results revealed other aspirants scores as follows: Opeyemi Bamidele, 760, Femi Bamisile, 400, Kayode Ojo, 767, Adedayo Adeyeye, 691, and Bamidele Faparusi, 376. Others were Demola Popoola, 239, and Oluwasola Afolabi, 47, in the Option A4, Direct Primary adopted for the election. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that six of the eight aspirants had in the morning protested the alleged hijack of the exercise and called for its stoppage and cancellation. The other two aspirants absent at the protest were Messrs Oyebanji and Popoola. (NAN) The Nigerian Police have denied reports that one of their aircraft crashed in Bauchi State after taking off from Abuja on Tuesday. Police spokesperson, Frank Mba, who made this known in a statement on Thursday, said the aircraft was only involved in a controlled safe landing. There were reports that the helicopter belonging to the police crashed in Bauchi State. The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) also said it was conducting investigations into the crash. The Bureau, in a statement on Thursday, said the aircraft with registration 5N-MDA, was involved in the accident on Wednesday. There were some injuries but no fatalities. The AIB said it was notified by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), adding that there were no fatalities and some of the six persons on board merely sustained injuries. The investigating agency, AIB-N needs and hereby solicits your assistance. We want the public to know that we would be amenable to receiving any video clips, evidence, or information any member of the public may have of the accident that can assist us with this investigation. The Bureau will appreciate that the general public and press respect the privacy of the people involved and not assume the cause of the accident until the formal report is released, the Bureau said. But debunking the report, Mr Mba confirmed that none of the occupants sustained any injury, contrary to the media reports. The Nigeria Police Helicopter, Bell 429 5N-MDA, flying from Abuja to Bauchi on Tuesday, January 26, 2022, was involved in a controlled safe landing at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi. The aircraft did not crash as being reported in some sections of the media and none of the occupants sustained any injury whatsoever. All six (6) on board including the pilot and co-pilot are in good condition. Similarly, the aircraft, which was flown by one of the best Police Pilots, was professionally safe-landed with minor damage on the rear rotor as a result of an obstacle at the landing spot. The incident occurred around 7:30PM (local time). The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has commended the Police Air-Wing for their professionalism in safe-landing the aircraft and averting any serious air-mishap. He further noted that the Nigeria Police Air-wing with a fleet of one fixed-wing aircraft, a citation jet and thirteen (13) helicopters has a strong history of air safety since its establishment in the year 1972, the statement read. The development comes amid multiple crashes of military aircraft in the last 12 months. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the last aircraft that crashed belonging to the Nigerian Air Force was shot down after coming under intense fire by bandits operating between Kaduna and Zamfara States. The incident came a few months after another military aircraft crashed killing a former Chief of Army staff, Ibrahim Attahiru, and other senior military personnel. The committee of the House of Representatives established to further alter the 1999 Constitution has adopted the bill seeking to confer citizenship rights on foreigners married to Nigerian women. The committee adopted the bill following its presentation by consultants working with the lawmakers on the amendment of the document. It is potentially another progress for women towards equality at the ongoing public hearing on the review of the Constitution. The lawmakers had agreed to the creation of extra seats for women in federal and states constituencies, although, the 35 per cent affirmative action was rejected. Joy Ezeilo, one of the consultants working with the committee, while presenting the recommendation of the consultants, said existing provision in the constitution is discriminatory against women. The existing law only allows citizenship by registration to be conferred on foreigners married to Nigerian men. She said the bill seeks to amend section26 (2a) of the 1999 Constitution by opening citizenship by registration to male and female. The Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, who chairs the committee, while speaking on the bill, called for more clarification on the specifics regarding the bill. According to him, even in Nigeria, there are differences in culture as regards the rights of spouses in Nigeria. Even within the context of our culture, I want to give an example of Idoma culture, you can only bury an Idoma woman in her homeland. In this age, we have a lot of attachment to our culture, Mr Wase said. He expressed concerns on the conferment of automatic citizenship on foreigners based on marriage. The deputy speaker argued that Nigerian citizenship should be guarded jealously. Ms Ezeilo argued that citizenship is not automatic, noting that the bill seeks to replace any woman with any person, which according to her is discriminatory. The Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, also raised concerns about the bill. According to him, such a bill could confer rights to vote and be voted for on foreigners. What I was saying is if we are going to agree to that provision, what about, for instance, somebody from Taraba State is married to a woman from Delta or Abia. Can that man from Taraba come down to Abia to contest? We should include it If we are allowing the husband to come from abroad and claim citizenship, he said. Despite the concerns, the bill was adopted by the lawmakers. However, the proposal would still follow Nigerias rigorous constitutional amendment procedure, including passage by both chambers of the National Assembly, approval of at least 24 of the 36 state legislatures and presidential assent. The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, says the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has achieved more in infrastructure development in six years than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did in 16 years under three presidents. He said the achievement is despite the administration having smaller resources than the preceding PDP administrations. Mr Fashola said this on Thursday at the Progressives Leadership Conversational Series held at Briston Palace in Kano. The dialogue series, broadcast live by some radio stations in Kano, provided a platform for interaction between residents of the state and the minister on issues of governance. Mr Fashola presented pictures of projects and commendations of a cross-section of Nigerians to buttress his claim on the performance of the Buhari administration in the last six year. Infrastructure is the most legitimate way to distribute money in an economy from the top to the bottom, said Mr Fashola who has coordinated the work of the administration in the sector as the minister since November 2015. From six years ago, this government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, as far as infrastructure is concerned, has been doing what the United States Government is still trying to do they are still trying to pass the infrastructure bill and they are still fighting, if you follow their politics. So there is a connection. Go to the inaugural speech of any local government chairman, any governor, any prime minister, any president in the last 50 years and see if you will find one where there is no commitment to building infrastructure because they got it and this government also got it, Mr Fashola said. The change APC promised Nigerians is happening because a three hours journey is now 30 minutes, the minister said, after quoting a testimony from a commuter plying the completed section of the Sokoto -Tambuwal road linking Kebbi and Niger states. Infrastructure projects by the APC administration are making life less expensive for Nigerians, people are saving money, putting them on the step of prosperity and that was part of the presidents commitment to lift 100 million people out of poverty, he added. Mr Fashola, however, failed to address the spike in kidnapping cases and banditry that have bedevilled many Nigerian roads. What differentiates APC from PDP The minister disagreed with the people he said often say the APC and PDP are the same. That is not true. We are not the same, even though, some of them have joined us. The same opportunity we had for six years, they had it for 16 years and this is the area (infrastructural development) where we are not only different but we are better. The PDP had the same opportunity longer and more resources, he added. The basis of the progressive ideology is to improve the human condition. Nigerians are now saying that you did this and our lives are better. The PDP cannot reproduce this kind of stories in 16 years. It is a major area of difference, when we have resources we commit it to improving human condition. Despite rising insecurity on Nigerian roads, he said residents are now feeling the impact of the Kano-Maiduguri highway that had been under construction for years. Mr Fashola said the Emir of Dutse, in Jigawa State, Nuhu Muhammad-Sanusi, is among the people who testified on the impact. The importance of this road to socio-economic activities cannot be over emphasised. This road covers about five states and is the heart of their economic activities. Our gratitude to the federal government is deep for making this possible, Mr Fashola qouted the monarch as saying. President Buhari dearly understands the necessity of investing in infrastructure to support not only the population but also as an economic driver. The minister said under Buharis administration, the federal ministry of works is managing 850 contracts that covers 796 projects of roads and bridges. For instance, the Kano-Maiduguri highway is one project with five contracts, he said. The ministry is also constructing houses in 34 states of the federation and new federal secretariats in Anambra, Nasarawa, Bayelsa, Zamfara, Osun and Ekiti states. Mr Fashola said all the feats were achieved because of the good collaboration between the National Assembly and the executive arm. He said critics misunderstand the National Assembly who are calling it a rubber stamp. Advertisements That is another area we are also different from them. The PDP could not achieve that cooperation in their 16 years, we only heard the news of money bags going in to buy cooperation, the minister said. Some unknown gunmen raided the Abuja office of one of Nigerias major news outlets, THISDAY, in the early hours of Thursday. The gunmen, who were confirmed to be about nine in number, arrived at the premises of the company in Jabi District at about 3 a.m. and assaulted some of the its production staff and private security guards on duty. Relaying the account, the newspapers Abuja Bureau Chief, Iyobosa Uwugiaren Iyobosa, told PREMIUM TIMES that the gunmen accessed the building through the route they came when the organisation was attacked about 10 years ago. In a twin attack, the newspaper offices in Abuja and Kaduna were bombed by suicide bombers on April 26, 2012, killing 11 persons and destroying the newspapers multi-million properties. The same route they passed in 2012 was the same route they passed on Thursday to enter into the premises. For about 45 minutes, they were in the premises, holding everyone to ransom. The people they met were the production staff those preparing newspapers for circulation that morning. They asked them all to lie down and threaten to kill if they alerted the police. They left through the same route, they didnt take anything but according to our private guard, they said they (gunmen) threatened to come back, Mr Uwugiaren narrated to this newspaper on Friday. While the bureau chief could not ascribe the raid to the weight of the newspapers engagements in recent times, he dismissed outright the explanation by the police that it was merely a robbery incident. He said he could not precisely link the raid to any of the newspapers political foes or who it might have offended in their story updates. We have reported the case to police at Utako for investigation but from what the police were trying to say, they claimed it was just an armed robbery without an attempt to investigate the matter, Mr Iyobosa said in disgust. He argued that if the incident was indeed an armed robbery the gunmen would not have left without taking a single thing all through the raid and harassment of the papers staff members. Hong Kong: SJ addresses govt school teachers Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng spoke to over 1,300 school principals and teachers on the relationship between the Constitution and the Basic Law at a symposium of the Association of Principals of Government Secondary Schools today. She also spoke on the importance of safeguarding national security and the improved electoral system at the forum. Ms Cheng started her talk by introducing the legal hierarchy to illustrate the Constitution as the fundamental law of the state with the highest legal effect. She highlighted that the relevant provision on the establishment of special administrative regions was written into the Constitution in 1982 and the National People's Congress (NPC) made the decision on the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR and adopted the Basic Law in accordance with the Constitution on April 4, 1990. The Constitution and the Basic Law together form the constitutional basis of the Hong Kong SAR to enable the implementation of "one country, two systems", she said, emphasising that the root of "one country" should be upheld so that the "two systems" can continue to flourish. Ms Cheng then described that the National Security Law was enacted by the NPC, which exercised its power conferred by the Constitution, to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for any act endangering national security. While taking time to explain the granting of bail and the designation of judges under the security law to dispel misconceptions in the community, she reiterated that Hong Kong has the constitutional responsibility to complete, as early as possible, the legislation for safeguarding national security as stipulated in the Basic Law. Regarding the NPC's decision to improve Hong Kongs electoral system, the Secretary for Justice said such a move had taken into account the citys actual situation, has a solid legal basis and provides a robust systemic safeguard for "patriots administering Hong Kong". The Legislative Council election that concluded smoothly last December fully demonstrated broad representation, political tolerance, balanced participation and fair competition, thereby promoting good governance in Hong Kong, she added. Ms Cheng said a new era for democracy has been opened in Hong Kong only with the support of the central government since its return to the motherland. Articles 45 and 68 of the Basic Law clearly states that the ultimate aim of universal suffrage should be achieved in light of the citys situation and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly progress. She also quoted a judgment of the European Court of Human Rights and the United Nations General Assembly resolutions that said there is no single model of democracy and it is for each state to mould its own democratic vision according to its circumstances. Ms Cheng noted that through the symposium, she hopes the education sector would gain a better understanding of the Constitution, the Basic Law, the National Security Law and the improved electoral system so that it could impart correct knowledge to students, thereby nurturing them into a law-abiding generation with a sense of national identity. This story has been published on: 2022-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RABAT, Jan.27 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan government on Thursday has extended the state of health emergency throughout the country until Feb. 28, in an attempt to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. The government's spokesperson Mustapha Baitas announced the decision following the cabinet's online meeting, adding that no decision yet was taken about the reopening of the country's borders. The suspension of international passenger flights and the closure of Morocco's borders came into force on Nov. 29, 2021, to curb the spread of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron. Meanwhile, Morocco's Health Ministry reported on Thursday 5,560 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total infections in the country to 1,120,087. The North African country launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on Jan. 28, 2021, after the arrival of the first shipment of China's Sinopharm vaccines. SYDNEY, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- As the school year begins in Australia, cash-strapped parents across the nation are paying about 2 billion Australian dollars (about 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) on necessities for their children, according to a bank on Thursday. The survey conducted during the first week of December by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) estimated the average family will spend 435 Australian dollars (about 306 U.S. dollars) on back-to-school items, a 9-percent increase over last year. Families with three or more children expect to spend about 880 Australian dollars (about 620 U.S. dollars) for school-related items such as electronic devices, uniforms, books and stationery. The priciest equipment is usually computer-related, with 22 percent of parents planning to buy laptops or other devices for their children, costing an average of about 640 Australian dollars (about 450 U.S. dollars). Almost 75 percent of parents said their children would need new uniform items that are expected to cost about 188 Australian dollars (about 132 U.S. dollars), while reading materials such as textbooks may set them back almost 200 Australian dollars (about 140 U.S. dollars). The survey noted about 80 percent of parents remained hopeful of being able to save a few dollars by making their purchases when they were on sale. About 65 percent of parents said they found it difficult to pay the bills and 60 percent were choosing to use "buy now, pay later" schemes or credit cards to delay their payments. CBA general manager Caleb Reeves said such strategies were popular given that many parents felt "financially overwhelmed" at this time of year following "all the spending they had already done over the holiday period." Post-colonial Africa has seen over 200 coup attempts, with roughly half seeing the head of government successfully removed. The democratic transition of 1989 to 1994 led to a dramatic decline of the unconstitutional seizure of state power. The past two years has however witnessed a new wave of coup detats on the continent. The current trend is yet different from those of the 1970s and 1980s. Today, we are witnessing the grand entry of politics by the gun. The military seized power in Burkina Faso on Monday, ousting the countrys democratically elected president, Roch Marc Christian Kabore. I was in a conference on security in the Sahel last November and already at that time, the conversation was that the military had decided to seize power in the country and the only question was when, not if they would. The main issue was the governments failure to stem jihadist attacks that have destabilised broad swathes of Burkina Faso, displaced 1.4 million people, and caused 2,000 deaths last year alone. The general feeling in the country is that the time has come to try an alternative government. The coup leader and president is 41-year old Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Damiba, an infantry officer trained in France and the United States. There are disturbing reports that just last week, he tried to convince President Kabore to hire the Russian Wagner paramilitary group and failed. What is known is that one of the first persons to congratulate Damiba is Putins friend and reputed owner of the Wagner Group, Evguini Priggojine, who spoke of, a new era of decolonisation in Africa. Signalling, I suspect, the substitution of the Russian for the French imperial power. The Burkinabe coup was, therefore, similar to the one in Egypt in 2013, when the coup was announced on national television months before it happened. The politics of Africa has been changing dramatically in recent years, propelled by the return of the military to power. There had been an abortive coup in Burkina Faso in 2015 that was foiled. This time, there was no impediment. In this newer dispensation, a military coup was staged in Zimbabwe in 2017. This was followed by the 2019 military coup in Sudan and the 2020 military coup in Mali. Military forces were active in assisting power takeovers in Tunisia and Algeria in 2020. The same year, a military coup was aborted in Niger Republic. The military strongman in Mali was not happy with the limited powers he was constrained to in 2020 and did another coup in 2021, giving himself full powers. The same thing happened in Sudan in 2021, as the military staged another coup to take on full powers and break the bonds with its civilian collaborators. In Chad, the 2021 coup was to keep power in the family, following the killing of strongman Idris Deby. In Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea, civilians have demonstrated in favour of military rule and have been ready to collaborate with them. Clearly, there is a new generation in Africa that has no memory of the terrible impacts of military rule and in its naivety thinks that military rule can be a political solution. Post-colonial Africa has seen over 200 coup attempts, with roughly half seeing the head of government successfully removed. The democratic transition of 1989 to 1994 led to a dramatic decline of the unconstitutional seizure of state power. The past two years has however witnessed a new wave of coup detats on the continent. The current trend is yet different from those of the 1970s and 1980s. Today, we are witnessing the grand entry of politics by the gun. In the Sahel, as well as other parts of Africa, numerous non-military groups have acquired guns and are engaged in armed struggle for power or sometimes just armed banditry. Generalised insecurity has become the order of the day and in many of our countries Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and so on, military forces have completely failed to contain armed combatants and reduce insecurity. Military powers have been complaining in loud whispers that corrupt democratic administrations have not been supplying them adequate weaponry to deal with insurgents, jihadists and armed bandits. The response is that deep corruption has also penetrated the military forces and they often misappropriate the funds given to them to execute wars. These situations have created two narratives in an emerging blame game. Military powers have been complaining in loud whispers that corrupt democratic administrations have not been supplying them adequate weaponry to deal with insurgents, jihadists and armed bandits. The response is that deep corruption has also penetrated the military forces and they often misappropriate the funds given to them to execute wars. War economies have developed in which officers are massively enriching themselves from war efforts and thereby sabotaging them. The winner in these situations, as it were, is corruption. The more profound narrative is that the African situation today is characterised by three types of coup detat. The first is the constitutional coup, in which serving presidents recklessly tear the normative framework they had themselves developed and engage in tenure elongation beyond constitutional limits, thereby destroying the legitimacy of political systems. The second coup is engaging in massive electoral fraud to change electoral outcomes. There have been at least thirteen African countries in which the leaders have used various legal devices and political manoeuvres to extend their tenures beyond two terms since 2012. The time has come for Africans to reopen the debate on the best pathways to deepening democracy in our countries We know from our past experience that the military cannot be the solution to our democratic and developmental needs. What we need to reinforce in our political systems is the early detection of democratic derailment, so we can put the system back on course. Often, it is the experience of these forms of coup detat that creates the conditions for the third type, which is the military coup detat. The result is that Africas robust normative frameworks for deterring unconstitutional changes of government and for advancing democracy, election and governance have been considerably weakened over time. The norms codified in Article 30 of the African Union Constitutive Act, 2002; and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, 2012, have gradually lost their meaning. It is for this reason that the condemnation of military coups by the African Union or the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have very little resonance because people always ask what these institutions did when democratically elected leaders were messing up constitutions and/or electoral systems. Democratic culture has therefore been weakened considerably through the anti-democratic practices of ruling parties. Repeatedly, ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations Security Council have strongly condemned coups and called on military forces to reinstate deposed leaders and restore constitutional rule with no effect. Even the imposition of sanctions has had very little effect on the emerging juntas. The time has come for Africans to reopen the debate on the best pathways to deepening democracy in our countries. The contemporary African must learn to read the tea leaves. Apparent democrats win elections with the promise of democratic consolidation and when they get power they work on dismantling the democratic system. Meanwhile, their colleagues in the African Union and regional organisations watch without comment them and only show concern when the military steps in. We know from our past experience that the military cannot be the solution to our democratic and developmental needs. What we need to reinforce in our political systems is the early detection of democratic derailment, so we can put the system back on course. A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES. Islamic law prescribes the death penalty for four crimes: murder, highway robbery involving homicide (what we would call felony murder), adultery by married people, and apostasy from Islam. Far from being a bloodthirsty code, the Shariah permits capital punishment but recommends clemency, either by payment of blood-money or forgiveness. The choice of punishment rests with the victim or his survivors, retribution being considered a personal right In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is His servant and Messenger. The conventional newspapers and social media have reported how Hanifah Abubakar, a five-year-old pupil, was kidnapped while on her way from Islamiyyah School in December and subsequently killed. When he was arrested at the Kano Police Command headquarters on Friday, her schools teacher, Abdulmalik Tanko told journalists that he killed her with a rat poison that he bought for N100. The sad incident involving the poisoning of late Hanifah to death by the so-called school proprietor will linger in the mind for some time. The villainous mindset and the parochial attitude of the monster involved can only be better imagined. Man is by nature a part of a society. He has to live with other individuals in that society. This living together results in a give-and-take relationship. He then has some relation with them in all fields of life. So, he does not have absolute freedom to do whatever he desires, as this will go against the freedom of others, resulting in endless disagreements and disputes that could lead to the extinction of the society. For this reason, rules have to be established to limit this freedom and organise the relations among individuals to enable all members of society to live in peace and harmony, and indeed prepare the society for peace and its continued existence. The tolerant Islamic Shariah was revealed by Allah to His Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and the latter taught it to people. Indeed, this Shariah is complete. The Shariah covers all fields of life and all possible relations between people; i.e., between the person and his Lord, between the person and other people, between the person and the group, or between the group and other groups. Islam is a religion that governs all aspects of life. The Islamic Shariah is valid for all times and all places. It never fails to address the peoples needs or their new affairs. The Islamic rulings are from Allah to govern mans conduct until the Day of Judgement. Its punishment or rewards are to be applied in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. The Shariah promotes the well-being of human society and wards off destructive tendencies of its members. Allah teaches us that the objective of the Shariah is to bring only well-being (good) to humanity living under its rule. The retributive punishments (Hudud) are to discipline, purify and for treatment, and not for revenge or quenching anger. These are gifts from Allah to His Servants. These Hudud also are for deterring others from falling in such bad deeds. They prevent the spread of evil and perversion on earth. For this reason, the punishment of whoever intentionally takes the life of a person, is to have his own life taken when not forgiven by the closest relatives of the person he killed. This punishment will inhibit others from committing such act and satisfy the relatives of the killed person. If the murderer is not killed according to the Shariah, the relatives of the murdered might avenge their death and more killings will undoubtedly follow, giving way to much destruction that could be avoided by applying the Shariah. Allah has made clear that the wisdom behind killing the killer who premeditated his act is to enable the society to live in harmony. Allah Almighty says: And there is for you in legal retribution [saving of] life, O you [people] of understanding, that you may become righteous. [Quran, 2: 179] Perhaps, whoever thinks of killing and knows that he will be killed will undoubtedly think twice before committing such an abominable act and might not carry it out. Failure in applying the rulings of Allah contributes to a great number of killings and other crimes in many societies, because they do not inflict on the criminal the punishment he deserves. Instead, they only jail him for civil reasons and pity him, and leave the victim who has lost his life without pitying him, his life or children who have lost their support in this life. They did not have pity on the society, which has become a dangerous place to live in. Everyone is in fear of his life because of these ruthless killers who do not think about the consequences of their acts or concern for their own lives as they are mindless and foolish. Islamic law prescribes the death penalty for four crimes: murder, highway robbery involving homicide (what we would call felony murder), adultery by married people, and apostasy from Islam. Far from being a bloodthirsty code, the Shariah permits capital punishment but recommends clemency, either by payment of blood-money or forgiveness. The choice of punishment rests with the victim or his survivors, retribution being considered a personal right (although the requirements of modern life have diminished the ability of private individuals to exact penalties). The individual may, at will, waive his right to punish the culprit via the right of retaliation, mercy being deemed highly meritorious in the eyes of Allah. Murder cases should be taken to court. The issue of killing someone must be referred to an Islamic court to study all its details, as it is more appropriate that a court looks into such matters. May Allah continue to console the family of late Hanifah. May He, the Most High, place her under the care of Prophet Ibrahim (AS). May Allah continue to expose all the evildoers in our societies, and may He continue to protect us with his divine protection, ameen. All praise is for Allah, Lord of all creation, who guided us to Islam and the Sunnah. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions and his true and sincere followers. Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumuah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okenes Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761. Im somewhat relieved that he was not accused of corruption, fraud, or incompetence. Im further consoled that he was not caught using government insider information to enrich himself or his siblings. I smile that he was not recorded on video with his hands in the cookie jar. Im happy that he was not discovered to have altered his age, cooked the books, or doctored his educational credentials. Im at equilibrium that he was not accused of other debaucheries that politicians of his ilk embrace as their stock-in-trade. On August 25, 2020, when he was sworn in as minister of justice and solicitor general (having previously served as minister of municipal affairs), Mr Kaycee Madu became the first black person to occupy that high government office in Alberta, Canada. We all rejoiced at this historic accomplishment that has placed him as the chief legal officer of the land and etched the name of my rural Mbaise in Imo State, Nigeria, on the world map, again. Some marveled at this young and unassuming lawyer who has the audacity to dance vigorously on the hallowed ground of Canadian politics, where even angels are so scared to tread. Others devised urgent means of reaching him with dubious congratulatory messages that were punctuated with the hidden agenda of remember me when you come into your kingdom, momentarily forgetting that Canada is not Nigeria where public office is sought for every other reason, except to serve the public. For good measure, the nation of Mbaise has a cogent reason to celebrate the trailblazing achievement of this son-of-the-soil: Her detractors always go to great length to downplay the laudable achievements of her sons/daughters, while actively amplifying their minor flaws that are also prevalent in other enclaves. As such, when on Monday, January 17, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) reported that Minister Madu has been asked to step back from his ministerial duties following a traffic violation controversy that happened on March 10, 2021 (10 months earlier), many commentators, including corrupt politicians and their clueless enablers, have been calling for him to be nailed to the cross. As much as I understand and accept their freedom of expression, it provokes me to holy anger to see phony attorneys, rouge judges, and sham journalists rush to convict him of an imaginary conflict of interest violation, even when all the facts surrounding the incident are not out yet in the public domain. As a stakeholder, and a proud son of Mbaise myself, I decided to withhold my comment until Premier Jason Kenny appoints an independent third-party investigator that would determine whether there was interference in the administration of justice. And having appointed Judge Adele Kent, a respected and retired Judge from Albertas Court of Queens Bench to undertake the investigation, I feel obligated to offer my studied perspective on the call made by Mr Madu, and all the relevant issues surrounding it. My mission, as facts will bear me out, is not to condone crime or corruption where one exists or to baselessly defend Mr Madu, but to critically look at the elements of the matter as they are currently available. Im convinced of Judge Kents competence and integrity, yet Im very concerned about the outcome of her investigation, given the high incidents of alleged racism, discrimination, and the racial profiling of blacks and indigenous people in Alberta, especially the notorious cases leading to the Lethbridge investigation, which is expected to end-up on the desk of the minster of justice and solicitor general. And this is the same investigation that Mr Madu may have referred to in his call with Chief Dale McFee of Edmonton police. The forgoing necessitates a passionate appeal to Judge Kent to examine every relevant aspect of this incident to unearth what really happened before, during, and after the traffic incident. This will ensure that Mr Madu receives a fair and just treatment from the investigation. As one would expect from him, because of his nature and training, he has indicated his willingness to provide full cooperation with the investigation in its task of considering both the content and context of his call to the chief, to determine interference or a reasonable perception of interference a difficult task to undertake with absolute certainty. As a law-abiding legal officer, Mr Madu paid the $300 traffic ticket fully and promptly, without contesting it, but insisted that he called Chief McFee only to seek assurance he wasnt being unfairly targeted because he is black or held a high-profile government position. Fortunately, this assertion was corroborated by both the police chief and the premier. In fact, Premier Kenny noted that Madu did not ask for his ticket to be rescinded but instead raised larger concerns about issues, including racial profiling. Im convinced that a tricky part of this investigation would involve the enormous task of determining if a foreign country played a role in the ticket episode. This becomes necessary as people we might quickly dismiss as charlatans or conspiracy theorists are boldly peddling the angle that a foreign country offended by his past comments may have been responsible for the ticketing incident. While this may sound alright ludicrous, it may not be entirely wasteful to dig into the activities and history of the ticketing police officer. Its interesting to note that the police in Alberta, like other parts of Canada and the U.S., may not be as clean and professional as they try to make us believe. There is overwhelming documentary evidence to prove this. I reckon there is in existence in Alberta, a compliant process that should have been followed in situations such as this (which may not include a direct call to the police chief), and granted that Mr Madu, in his mea-culpa, has stated that there is a saying that perception is everything in politics, and I regret raising the issue at all with Chief McFee, yet it doesnt necessarily make his call an attempt to interfere with the administration of justice or abuse of office. While this incident is not what I would have wished to discuss at this time, Im somewhat relieved that he was not accused of corruption, fraud, or incompetence. Im further consoled that he was not caught using government insider information to enrich himself or his siblings. I smile that he was not recorded on video with his hands in the cookie jar. Im happy that he was not discovered to have altered his age, cooked the books, or doctored his educational credentials. Im at equilibrium that he was not accused of other debaucheries that politicians of his ilk embrace as their stock-in-trade. Yes, Im overly satisfied that Mr Madu has never been found wanting in the discharge of his duties and responsibilities as minister of justice and solicitor general. In fact, its on record that he has handled the dictates of his delicate office with transparency, candour, and zeal. No matter where the pendulum swings, we are ready to welcome Mr Kaycee Madu as a deserving hero who went, saw, and conquered. While others, including his political enemies, are calling for his head to be bowed in shame, we are calling for his head to be decorated with the highest crown of the land for placing Mbaise nation on the highest pedestal, at home and abroad. Charles Ihejirika is the Lead Director of Daccade Law and Policy Inc., New York. He could be reached at ihecharles@yahoo.com The family of Japhtah Yekorogha, who is reportedly a cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, abducted on January 24, have appealed to his abductors to release him unconditionally. The appeal is contained in a statement by Azibaola Robert, younger brother to the victim made available to reporters, on Thursday, in Yenagoa. The statement, signed by Austin Ekeinde, media aide to Mr Robert, founder of Zeetin Engineering Ltd, appealed for support from members of the public that could lead to the quick release of their brother. We appeal to the abductors of our brother to immediately release him unconditionally, without harm; and turn a new leaf for the peace, security and prosperity of Bayelsa State, the statement said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Mr Yekorogha was whisked away on Monday night from his Yenagoa residence by unidentified gunmen. Our elder brother, Mr Jephthah Robert Yekorogha, was kidnapped at about 8:40 p.m. on Monday, 24th January, 2022, in front of his house gate at Biogbolo, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, by four gunmen in black uniform, who, at gunpoint, seized him and forced him into their vehicle and zoomed off. This incident was reported to the law-enforcement agencies immediately it happened and is receiving maximum attention. We want to thank all well-meaning Nigerians, who by way of calls, text messages and visits had stood by us since the incident occurred. We ask for the support of the public on any lead for the quick release of our brother. In particular, we express our appreciation to the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State, and the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) for their determined assistance, the statement said. Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Investment, Federal Otokito, who was abducted on January 20, was freed on January 24. (NAN) Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has advised Christians to actively participate in politics and stop seeing it as dirty if they want to have a positive impact on the society. Mr Diri gave the advice while speaking at the end of a two-day programme of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, tagged Light Up Bayelsa Holy Ghost Rally in Yenagoa on Thursday. He urged Christians not to stay away from politics or remain unconcerned but rather join to influence decision-making for the good of the generality of the people. Mr Diri said Nigeria is in dire need of people that would salvage it from its many challenges, adding that the church should not be docile in the face of insecurity, corruption and other vices threatening the country. The governor stated that under his administration, peace had come to stay in the state and that the days when people resort to violence to settle differences are over. Speaking about his achievements, Diri said within two years in the saddle, his administration had changed the landscape through various projects, ranging from road infrastructure, educational and health structures to lighting up of the major roads and building of a mega media complex. Mr Diri, who expressed joy that the programme coincided with activities marking his second year in office, declared that his administration had adopted it as part of its second-anniversary celebrations. He thanked the RCCG General Overseer, Enoch Adeboye, for his support for his administration. You are a good father. So, after consultation, we decided to give you the name Ebidaowei of Bayelsa, meaning the good father of Bayelsa. Our story as a government in Bayelsa will be better told by you, Daddy G.O. When we were told that you were coming to start the year with us, we opened our arms to welcome you. This government will be two years old on February 14. You have been a part of us, supported us, prayed with us and prayed for us. You have continued to support us by coming to begin the year with us. As part of our second-anniversary celebration, we have adopted this programme. Bayelsa has been lighted up. Bayelsa will not go back to Egypt, the governor said. (NAN) The National Park Service (NPS) said it has arrested nine suspects for illegal activities at the Okomu National Park, Udo, Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State. A statement issued by the Conservator, Park Service Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ntuyang, on Friday, in Abuja, said the arrest was carried out by the ranger corps of the park. Mr Ntuyang said the arrest was made when Abraham Goni, Conservator-General of the National Park Service, was on a four-day patrol activity in the park recently. The statement quoted the Conservator Park, Head of the Okomu Park, Augustine Obekpa, as saying that the park had embarked on aggressive park patrol activities. In a renewed effort to rid the park of all illegal activities and save one of the last remains of the tropical rainforest in Nigeria, Okomu National Park has stepped up aggressive and sustained park patrol activities, he said. Mr Obekpa reiterated the commitment of the park management to rid it of all forms of illegal activities, warning that all timber loggers, hunters and farmers, among others, should stay away from the park. He said the suspects would be made to face the full wrath of the law. The items seized during the raid, to serve as exhibits, included three power chain saws, one motorcycle, traps and cans of fuel. He used the opportunity to commend the Edo State Government for the moratorium it placed on logging activities in the state. He also solicited the cooperation of the public, especially the youths and traditional rulers, for the protection of the forest resources in the state. The Okomu National Park is a tourism destination reputed to be one of the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Nigeria. It is also the natural home of the threatened white throated monkey, forest elephants, and buffaloes, among others. The park serves as the watershed of the Okomu River. (NAN) The Enugu State Government on Friday donated equipment to the Enugu Custodian Centre to speed up the trial of criminal cases and decongest the centre. The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Miletus Eze, presented the items a desktop, projector and webcam to the centre. Mr Eze said the government discovered that some cases that involved inmates at the centre suffer undue delay, due to difficulty of producing them for trials in the court. With the outbreak of COVID-19, the way of doing business has changed, he said. The commissioner said courts in the state, including the Ministry of Justice, had started virtual hearings but discovered that unless the correctional centre was involved, trials would continue to be stalled. Mr Eze said with the equipment, they would not have to travel far to conduct criminal cases, especially capital offences, adding that it would help in prison decongestion. He said that decongestion would reduce complaints of lack of adequate vehicles and insecurity by correctional centre officials. Mr Eze noted that with time, the same gesture would be extended to Nsukka Custodian Centre. He promised that the equipment would provide reliable hearing and time saving provided there was an adequate internet network. Receiving the items, the Controller of the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Enugu, Nicholas Obiako, thanked the state government for the kind gesture, saying it would aid speedy hearing of criminal cases. With this, I know when it will be put into use, the centre will be decongested and by the grace of God, we are going to make good use of it, Mr Obiako said. (NAN) An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti, Kayode Ojo, has accused his party of conducting a fraudulent governorship primary election in the state. Mr Ojo said what the Governorship Primary Election Committee did with the conduct of the exercise in Ekiti, was a complete disgrace to APC. He alleged that figures were concocted for aspirants even when no election was held. The aggrieved aspirant, who spoke with journalists on Friday in Ado-Ekiti, said the exercise made a mockery of democracy. The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) recalls that Mr Ojo was one of the seven aspirants who alleged that Thursdays governorship primary was hijacked and called for its cancellation. He alleged that there was widespread fraud and manipulation. What we witnessed in Ekiti on Thursday and the day preceding the election showed that the election had been compromised even before it was conducted. With this, it was clear that the committee was not in Ekiti for a credible poll, but to see to the emergence of the anointed aspirant. But for now, I can confirm to you that the APC has no legal and credible candidate in Ekiti. By the results, one could attest to the fact that those figures were fake, concocted by the committee to suit their purpose, he said. Mr Ojo said the aspirants asked the committee about the personalities that would be used as Returning Officers on Wednesday, but it did not give any useful answer. He said that majority of the people used as Returning Officers were members of the APC state executives, appointees of government and elected party members, who are stooges and parts of the campaign council. The election committee asked us to nominate 20 people to be used as Returning Officers, up till now, we did not see where our lists were included, the original list was not updated. Those we gave to them were not posted to where they would monitor election, he said. He said what happened in Ekiti was inappropriate, unethical and unacceptable. Mr Ojo said: nobody had won any election here in Ekiti. We all reject this craziness. We have resolved to stand against this injustice. We are seeking every peaceful avenue to ensure that we have a process that would produce a credible candidate in Ekiti. It will be a disaster to APC to approach this election in this disgraceful manner. The aggrieved aspirant advised the national leadership of the party and the presidency to intervene in the primary, which he described as nullity and illegality. He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene before APC crumbles in Ekiti. NAN also recalls that the Mohammed Badaru Abubakar-led seven-man Ekiti Governorship Primary Election had in a statement signed by its Secretary, Victor Olabimtan, on Thursday night denied the allegation that the election was hijacked. Addressing journalists on Thursday night, Mr Badaru Abubakar, who is also the Jigawa governor, said his committee was fair enough to every aspirant, as they allowed for free, fair and violence-free primary. NAN also recalls that Biodun Oyebanji, the former Ekiti Secretary to Government, was declared the winner of Thursdays governorship primary, with a vote of 101,703. (NAN) Plattsburgh, NY (12901) Today Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low 41F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low 41F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. SYDNEY, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 outbreak in Australia's worst-hit states shows signs of slowing down, although some states still recorded grim milestones of death rate. The state of Queensland reported 9,974 new cases and 18 fatalities on Friday, making it the highest daily deaths since the pandemic began in the state. There are now 818 people being treated in hospitals, down from Thursday's tally of 829. Queensland Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said the situation in most of Queensland is very stable and the state is expecting to see falls sometime in the next seven days, and Gold Coast, the most affected region, were already witnessing a decline in cases. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also agreed the current situation is better than the worst-case scenario suggested by a modelling that is used by the state government to predict the current wave. "We were initially expecting 5,000 hospital beds across Queensland would be needed ... but what we are reporting at the moment is under 1,000. This is encouraging news," she said. In the state of New South Wales (NSW), hospital admissions have also shown a decline over the past few days while intensive care patients remained below 200. The state health department reported 13,333 new cases and 35 deaths on Friday. There are now 2,737 hospitalizations, and 189 people in intensive care. NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce said a decline in the daily cases was expected next week. "They might not follow a lovely curve, and it may be a bit lumpy, but we do expect that in the coming week we will start to see some declines," she said. Meanwhile, the state of Victoria recorded 12,755 new COVID-19 infections and a grim milestone of 39 deaths, the deadliest number the state has seen in the current outbreak. State Health Minister Martin Foley said Victoria's outbreak "seems to have stabilized" and some of the state's paused hospital services would be restarted once it's safe to do so. PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading structural failure attorneys and bridge safety advocates from Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky P.C., are available to discuss this morning's catastrophic bridge failure in Pittsburgh that has reportedly injured nearly one dozen individuals. Attorney Andrew R. Duffy, a national authority on structural safety from buildings to bridges, said on behalf of SMB, "We are deeply concerned for the health and welfare of those injured in this morning's bridge collapse in Pittsburgh's Point Breeze neighborhood, and grateful for the heroic efforts of first responders." He added, "As investigators work to determine whether this disaster was predictable and preventable, we are painfully aware in Pennsylvania that the Commonwealth has the dubious distinction of ranking near the top among states with the most 'structurally-deficient bridges'. That is completely unacceptable and it is critical that there be full public accountability and transparency when it comes to the root cause of this collapse, and that immediate steps are taken to avert additional bridge failures in Pennsylvania and elsewhere." SMB is recognized for skillfully and successfully representing victims of catastrophic structural failures in the US and abroad; the firm is currently among the lead plaintiffs' counsel in last year's Surfside high-rise condominium collapse that resulted in nearly 100 deaths, and also represents the victims in the 2019 Erie mass-casualty fatal day care fire. For more information, visit www.smbb.com . SOURCE Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky Zhongshan is also reputed as a "home of overseas Chinese". In the past, many Zhongshan people traveled abroad to make a living. After China's opening up, these expatriates were the first to invest in their hometown, driving the rapid economic development of Zhongshan. Zhongshan is one of the first cities in China to vigorously introduce foreign investment, hence its export-oriented economy. By continuously improving the quality of public services and accelerating the reform of the administrative approval system, Zhongshan creates a first-class business environment. The municipal government now handles the requirements and problems of enterprises with lighting efficiency. Zhongshan is indeed the hometown of Su Bingtian, the "Asian flying man"! The animated video Why not Start a Business in Zhongshan, produced by China Matters animation team, focuses on the 'Zhongshan Efficiency' while showing the city's sincerity in attracting investment with a favorable business environment. Contact: Tan Jiaqing Tel:008610-68996961 E-mail: [email protected] YouTube Links: https://youtu.be/VlUSMF5M-LE Video - https://youtu.be/VlUSMF5M-LE Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1515102/China_Matters_Logo.jpg SOURCE China Matters DAYTON, Ohio, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A class action settlement has been reached to settle disputes among parties in Shy v. Navistar International Corp., Case No. 3:92-cv-0333-WHR (S.D. Ohio) regarding Navistar's employment and retirement benefits. The Court granted preliminary approval of this settlement January 10, 2022. The settlement would eliminate the right to bring additional lawsuits concerning the current disputes in exchange for cash and other consideration, estimated at a value of $742 million plus interest, that would be used to increase the healthcare benefits received by union and salaried retirees of Navistar. Details about the settlement and related matters can be found at www.navistar.com/shysettlement. Retiree inquiries can be made toll-free by calling 1-877-353-5100 or emailing [email protected]. The settlement class is defined as: Present participants (including spouses and dependents) and those eligible to become participants, whether upon retirement or election (including eligible spouses and dependents), in the Navistar International Transportation Corp. Retiree Health Benefit and Life Insurance Plan (n/k/a the Navistar, Inc. Retiree Health and Life Insurance Plan). This includes all eligible present retirees, individuals eligible upon retirement or election, and participating, eligible, or future-eligible spouses and dependents in the Navistar International Transportation Corp. Retiree Health Benefit Program (n/k/a the Navistar, Inc. Retiree Health Benefit Program), the Navistar International Transportation Corp. Retiree Life Insurance Program (n/k/a the Navistar, Inc. Retiree Life Insurance Program), and the Navistar International Transportation Corp. Retiree Supplemental Benefit Program (n/k/a the Navistar, Inc. Retiree Supplemental Benefit Program). A hearing will be held before the Honorable Walter H. Rice on June 9, 2022, at 10 a.m. EST in the Walter H. Rice Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Courtroom 1, 200 West Second Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402, or as otherwise ordered by the Court ("Fairness Hearing") to: (i) determine whether the proposed Settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate; (ii) determine whether the above class definition should be adopted for the Settlement; (iii) determine whether Class Counsel's motion for attorneys' fees and expenses should be approved; (iv) determine whether certain provisions of the agreement resulting from the Shy case should be modified to effect the Settlement; (v) consider any Class Member's timely objection to the Settlement or to the motion for attorneys' fees and expenses; and (vi) consider any other matters that may properly be brought before the Court in connection with the Settlement. Members of the settlement class do not need to attend the Fairness Hearing. If you are a member of the settlement class, your rights may be affected. For further details about the settlement and related matters visit www.navistar.com/shysettlement. Inquiries can be made toll-free by calling 1-877-353-5100 or emailing [email protected]. SOURCE Navistar International Corporation "We are further investing into retail expansion in 2022 by expanding into new markets domestically. Retail is fundamental to our brand's growth strategy and we continue to see phenomenal growth within the retail sector. We look forward to bringing the gorjana retail experience to new communities and providing customers with the ability to interact with our brand in person and have access to services like buy online, pick up in store, same day delivery, complimentary bespoke engraving and personalized styling tips," says Jason Griffin Reidel, Co-Founder & CEO of gorjana. Stand-alone storefronts will be outfitted with signature details reminiscent of the Pacific Ocean, a nod to the company's Laguna Beach headquarters. The omnichannel experience is of key importance to the brand, allowing customers to have numerous access points to the brand, whether that's stand-alone stores, online, or in retail stores. The announcement of seven new retail store openings in the first half of the year will take the fine jewelry brand to a total of 33 stand-alone brick and mortar stores. gorjana retail opening dates and locations for Q1 2022: January 2022 - 160 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 Size: 1,350 sq ft. 160 Greenwich Avenue, 06830 Size: 1,350 sq ft. February 2022 - Pendry Park City, 2417 W High Mountain Road, Park City, UT 84098 Size: 765 sq ft. - Pendry Park City, 2417 W High Mountain Road, 84098 Size: 765 sq ft. March 2022 - 818 NW 23rd Street, Portland OR 97210 Size: 1,100 sq ft. About gorjana Based in Laguna Beach, California, the gorjana brand was founded in 2004 on the apartment floor of husband and wife duo Jason and Gorjana Reidel. The couple drove 50,000 miles to sell and market their collection and hit the trade show circuit. Through their own separate strengths and combined creative vision, the brand grew rapidly from an idea into a full-fledged business that is still owned and operated by both Gorjana and Jason. The eponymous line features fine jewelry as well as a selection of 18k gold plated styles. Many of the designs are versatile and feature adjustable clasps and sliding beads, which allows the wearer to make each piece their own. SOURCE gorjana MOSCOW, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation on Friday to discuss the establishment of long-term and legally binding security guarantees between Russia and the West. According to a Kremlin statement, Putin told Macron that Russia will carefully study the written responses from the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to Moscow's draft agreements on security guarantees. Putin stressed that the U.S. and NATO responses did not take into account such fundamental concerns of Russia as stopping NATO's expansion and refraining from deploying offensive weapons near Russian borders, among others. In addition, a key concept was also ignored in the responses, namely the "indivisibility of security" or the principle that no state should strengthen its own security at the expense of the security of others, Putin said. When discussing the situation in Ukraine, the Russian leader emphasized the importance of Kiev's strict compliance with the 2015 Minsk Agreements and other deals. As France presides over the Council of the European Union in the first half of this year, Macron and Putin agreed to continue the French-Russian dialogue on the entire range of European security issues. Andrew has extensive experience with R&D programs funded by Consortium OTAs, the DOD, and HHS including ASPR, BARDA, NIH, and CDC. He has a unique combination of consulting and private sector experience, most recently helping to secure and manage the largest contract in BARDA history. He also brings supply chain experience and has worked with the US Government on multiple industrial base expansion initiatives to establish domestic manufacturing capabilities for pharmaceuticals and personal protective equipment. "We are thrilled to welcome Andrew to the team," explained Jerry Jia-Sobota, Chairman of EverGlade. "His unique experience will add significant value to our clients, helping them assess the evolving landscape of federal funding opportunities, maximize program budgets and shorten timelines to award," he concluded. About EverGlade Consulting EverGlade Consulting is a Washington, DC based consulting firm that helps clients navigate the federal landscape. We are inspired by technology-driven companies whose focus is to secure non-dilutive funding through the federal government. We offer services ranging from proposal support through the implementation of systems to comply with federal regulations at agencies including BARDA, the DOD, HHS, NIAID, and DTRA. For additional information about EverGlade Consulting, visit: https://www.EverGlade.com Media Contact: Eric Jia-Sobota [email protected] SOURCE EverGlade Consulting CHICAGO, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Fastfrate Integrated Logistics, part of Fastfrate Group, announces the grand opening of its new US office on Monday, January 24, 2022. This new office located in Chicago, Illinois expands Fastfrate's intra U.S. freight capabilities beyond cross-border services and allows for domestic US services. "Chicago is the perfect city in which to expand our footprint" says Manny Calandrino, CEO of Fastfrate Group. "It allows us to serve the entire USA from one of the great American cities. Customers will receive domestic service from within the United States along with convenient access to a single source of contact within North America for all transportation and logistics solutions offered by Fastfrate." Fastfrate's Sales and Operations division will work out of the Chicago office while maintaining close ties with Fastfrate's home base of Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada. Services offered from the Chicago office include, TL and LTL, Intermodal, Air, Expedite, Hot-Shot, Drayage and Warehousing and Distribution. "It's exciting to expand the division in this manner, even as we navigate the challenges of the pandemic. For over 20 years, Fastfrate Integrated Logistics has provided supply chain solutions and transportation and logistics guidance throughout Canada. By establishing our first international office in Chicago, Canadian and U.S. companies can now use Fastfrate Integrated Logistics for all their US domestic freight needs and allows them to keep their Transportation & Logistics operations under one company" adds Frank Figliomeni, President of Fastfrate Integrated Logistics. "Illinois, really, is one of the major Transportation and Logistics hubs in North America" adds Calandrino. "The state can rightly boast having an efficient road and rail network, numerous major airports and water ports made to handle today's modern shipping needs. When deciding where to open our first office outside of Canada, Chicago Illinois is the obvious choice. We are absolutely thrilled to be here." About the Fastfrate Group Headquartered in Woodbridge, Ontario, The Fastfrate Group has been providing industry-leading transportation services for more than 50 years. From what started out as an LTL over the road and intermodal carrier, Fastfrate has grown into a diverse group comprised of multiple companies operating across Canada. This evolution now offers customers a full suite of asset-based transportation including over-the-road, cross border and intermodal LTL and TL, drayage and transload, warehousing, distribution, logistics services and final mile. Please visit fastfrate.com for more information. SOURCE Fastfrate Group PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has named GHR Healthcare, the parent organization of General Healthcare Resources, as the exclusive healthcare staffing partner for their newly announced COVID Staffing Strike Force. John Quirk, GHR Healthcare CEO and Keara Klinepeter, Acting Secretary of Health Pennsylvania Department of Health John Quirk, GHR Healthcare CEO The program is designed to provide clinical staff care teams to assist in hospitals and long-term care facilities across PA struggling to keep up with high patient volume and overburdened staff due to COVID-19. The first strike team was deployed to Grand View Health earlier this week. Acting Secretary of Health Keara Klinepeter discussed the program in a news conference on Monday. "We are extremely grateful for the continued efforts of healthcare workers on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 as the number of hospitalizations push healthcare facilities toward maximum capacity," said Klinepeter during the press conference. "Everyone in the community who needs care is affected when hospitals are forced to deal with the unprecedented capacity and workforce-related challenges exacerbated by COVID-19." Based in Plymouth Meeting, PA, GHR will work with the DOH to provide registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, doctors, and respiratory therapists. Due to in-state shortages of clinical personnel, much of their sourcing and recruiting efforts will be from states other than Pennsylvania. "We're honored to be partnering with the Department of Health on this initiative," said John Quirk, CEO of GHR Healthcare. "The Strike Force Team concept is a creative approach to bring qualified health care professionals into the state to provide some much-needed relief for existing staff members. For almost 30-years we have been providing staff to PA healthcare organizations and are excited to be part of this critical support program." About GHR Healthcare GHR Healthcare is the parent company to a family of operating brands focused on healthcare and community-based staffing: General Healthcare Resources, GHR Travel Nursing, GHR RevCycle Workforce, GHR Education, GHR Human Services, GHR Technology and GHR Search. Through these brands they provide a variety of workforce strategies and solutions, including contingent, per diem, long-term contract, travel, MSP, RPO and direct hire services to clients nationwide. For more information, visit www.GHRHealthcare.com. CONTACT: Mike Dunagan, Chief Marketing Officer GHR Healthcare 404-834-8180 [email protected] SOURCE GHR Healthcare DUBLIN, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Healthcare Staffing - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Global Healthcare Staffing Market to Reach US$47.8 Billion by the Year 2026 Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Healthcare Staffing estimated at US$33.8 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$47.8 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 6% over the analysis period. Propelled by growing need to save precious human lives, various countries are now focusing their attention towards adopting healthcare staffing model. The novel strategy is assisting medical professionals in improving clinical quality, along with enhancing patient satisfaction. With the world facing shortage of trained healthcare workers, governments are devising a wide range of innovative strategies with an intention of saving precious human lives. As a result, healthcare staffing is gaining acceptance among several hospitals, nursing homes, as well as pharmaceutical companies. Healthcare staffing is an expanding area especially due to the rise in geriatric population, and growing availability of medical insurance for more people. Advancements in healthcare technology have brought about different innovations such as telehealth and medical informatics. Thus, skilled labor is needed to handle the non-technical as well as technical aspects of the new medical devices. Automation and technology is being used by firms to streamline sourcing, recruiting and credentialing healthcare staffing recruitment to ensure that demands are met. Travel Nurse Staffing, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 5.9% CAGR to reach US$21.6 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Locum Tenens Staffing segment is readjusted to a revised 7.4% CAGR for the next 7-year period. With cost of healthcare continuing to rise, hospitals are adopting measures such as reducing working staff. In this regard, the role of travel nurses becomes critical when these healthcare facilities witness higher workloads. Increasing concerns for minimizing attrition rate and improving profitability margins is fueling demand for travel nurse segment. Locum tenens physicians typically are utilized for filling up for other physicians temporarily or for some days up to 6 months. The staffing model is chosen to address temporary staffing shortages occurring due to staff illnesses, vacancies and other reasons. Benefits offered including cost efficiency and growing physician preference to work as locum tenens are fueling market growth. Allied Healthcare Staffing Segment to Reach $8.3 Billion by 2026 Allied healthcare professional differ from nursing, pharmacy and medicine personnel, as they work in healthcare facilities mainly to ensure appropriate functioning of the healthcare system by offer technical, diagnostic, therapeutic and support services. Allied healthcare staffing includes workforce such as assistive personnel, technicians like community health aides, dental assistants & technicians, home health aides, OR technicians, pharmacy assistants, and radiology technicians among others. In the global Allied Healthcare Staffing segment, USA, Canada, China and Europe will drive the 4.8% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$5.5 Billion in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$7.5 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$842.9 Million by the year 2026. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $21.5 Billion in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $3.4 Billion by 2026 The Healthcare Staffing market in the U.S. is estimated at US$21.5 Billion in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 58.9% share in the global market. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$3.4 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 8.1% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Canada and Europe, each forecast to grow at 6% and 5.5% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 5.6% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$2.7 Billion by the year end of the analysis period. Better healthcare infrastructural availability together with constant R&D proficiencies to offer better healthcare facilities spur growth in North America region. Due to presence of large patient pool, demand for healthcare staffing in Asia-Pacific is gaining momentum. Absence of adequate medical facilities is fueling demand for healthcare staffing in the region. Key Topics Covered: I. METHODOLOGY II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. MARKET OVERVIEW 2020: A Year of Disruption & Transformation As the Race between the Virus & Vaccines Intensifies, Where is the World Economy Headed in 2021? Amidst the Pandemic, Healthcare Staffing Comes to Rescue Hiring Challenges of Healthcare Facilities Lowering the Burden on Contingent Staff during Pandemic Pandemics' Impact on Recruitment Strategies Shortage of Nurses Plagues the Healthcare Industry During the Pandemic An Introduction to Healthcare Staffing Benefits of Temporary Healthcare Staffing Global Market Prospects & Outlook Travel Nurse Staffing Leads Healthcare Staffing Market North America : The Largest Regional Market : The Largest Regional Market Competition M&A Activity Continues to Strengthen in Healthcare Staffing Market Major M&A Transactions in Healthcare Staffing Market for 2020 World Brands Recent Market Activity 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS (Total 162 Featured) Adecco Group Almost Family AMN Healthcare Aureus Medical Group CHG Management, Inc. Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. Envisions Healthcare Corporation Healthcare Staffing Services inVentiv Health LocumTenens.com Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc. Supplemental Health Care Syneos Health, Inc. TeamHealth Vista Staffing Solutions 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS As Global Megatrends Transform the Workforce Landscape, Staffing Companies Grow in Prominence than Ever Before Myriad Benefits of Staffing Agencies Drive Market Growth Shortage of Healthcare Personnel & Nurses Enhances Importance of Healthcare Staffing Services Staffing Firms Ensure Availability of Reliable, Qualified and Certified Healthcare Workforce Effective Communication, Training, and Recognition: Critical to Staff Wellbeing and Job Satisfaction Notable Trends in the Healthcare Staffing Market Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases and Resultant Need for Healthcare Services Drive Healthcare Staffing Demand Healthcare Needs of Aging Global Population Presents Opportunities for Healthcare Staffing Market Healthcare System's Expedited Shift towards Telemedicine Spurs Opportunities for Staffing Agencies COVID-19 Outbreak Accelerates Broader Use of Telemedicine Travel Nursing Market: A Leading Healthcare Traffic Sector Per Diem Nurse Staffing Market : Benefiting from Rising Demand for Temporary Workforce : Benefiting from Rising Demand for Temporary Workforce Rise of Telemedicine Spurs Opportunities for Telehealth Nursing How is Technology Impacting the Healthcare Staffing Market? Digitization of Healthcare Staffing and the Growing Relevance of Medical Freelancing Select Major Freelance Medical Platforms Increase in Healthcare Expenditure to Positively Influence the Healthcare Staffing Market 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE III. REGIONAL MARKET ANALYSIS IV. COMPETITION For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tm9pkp Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) plans to invest over $1 billion to create a new manufacturing site, along with nearly 600 new jobs in Concord, North Carolina. The brand-new facility will utilize the latest technology to manufacture parenteral (injectable) products and devices and increase the company's manufacturing capacity. "Lilly is entering an exciting period of growth and we are committed to delivering innovative medicines to patients around the world," said Edgardo Hernandez, senior vice president and president, Lilly Manufacturing Operations. "Expanding our manufacturing footprint in North Carolina enables us to continue to produce today's medicines while providing additional capacity to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. We are pleased to again partner with North Carolina to bring jobs to American workers and provide more medicines that patients need to address health challenges." Lilly selected Concord because of the manufacturing technology experience of the local labor force; its proximity to universities with strong science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs; and its access to major transportation infrastructure. In 2020, Lilly announced a $470 million investment in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park. In conjunction with this site, the new facility in Concord will allow the company to strengthen relationships with local governments and universities and diversify its growing presence in the state. Lilly plans to create nearly 600 new jobs for highly skilled workers such as scientists, engineers and manufacturing personnel, who will use advanced technology to produce life-changing treatments and devices to make life better for people around the world. In addition, an estimated 500 additional positions will be required while the facility is under construction. "Lilly's choice brings more good jobs to North Carolina from one of our most important industries," said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. "North Carolina has become a premier hub for the world, thanks to our exceptional workforce and commitment to education." Over the last five years, Lilly has invested over $4 billion in global manufacturing, including more than $2 billion in the U.S. The company also today announced plans to invest $500 million in a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Limerick, Ireland. Lilly anticipates additional future investments in manufacturing to address growth expected from potential new medicines to treat diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and autoimmune conditions. The investment in Concord is contingent upon completion of county and municipal government permitting and related approvals. Lilly partnered with several organizations throughout the project, including the Office of the Governor, the Department of Commerce, Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation, the City of Concord, Cabarrus County, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Rowan Cabarrus Community College, and the North Carolina Community College System. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly is a global health care leader that unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at lilly.com and lilly.com/newsroom. C-LLY This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about planned capital investments in a new manufacturing site and reflects Lilly's current belief. There are substantial risks and uncertainties in the manufacturing process, development, and commercialization of pharmaceutical products which could impact the overall commercial success of our products. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly's most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company COLLEGE PARK, Md., Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business is launching a Tech Management MBA Specialty Elective Track and Graduate Certificate targeting managers in public and private sectors. The program -- a collaboration with UMD's A. James Clark School of Engineering and School of Public Policy is tailored to deliver multi-disciplinary skills modern leaders need to successfully identify and implement technology across their organizations and markets. The 10-month graduate certificate program begins in August 2022. The certificate can be taken as a standalone credential or can be included in the school's Flex MBA Program, counted as electives toward that 54-credit program. (A free online information session is set for noon Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. Register via https://go.umd.edu/qNX.) The program is designed to broaden students' strategic understanding of the new economics of innovation and data and how to quantify the lifespan value and risk of investments in new technology. The program will further explore both the legal and ethical implications of technology development or adoption. "The program is exciting in its potential to help students unlock what they've already learned within their professional careers and bring new perspectives on how to execute with it," says Maryland Smith's Joseph P. Bailey, assistant dean for specialty undergraduate programs. "It's exciting to bring together the three colleges on campus, as well as collaboration with new partners such as the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) and their Federal Lab Education Accelerator program, because we want to expose students to thought leadership from different perspectives." "This experience will also offer greater insight into the relationship between government and business, especially when it pertains to more transformative and higher risk technologies," Bailey says. The FLC, for example, helps make connections between government research laboratories and businesses with the ability to commercialize federal technologies. From the start, Maryland Smith's approach to developing the Technology Management curriculum has been to incorporate but also produce real-world outcomes for its students and partners. As an example, the Federal Lab Education Accelerator partnership will complement classroom learning as cohort teams work with lab professionals on actual market feasibility studies for the technology under development. A successful project could even lead to an opportunity for the students to license the new technology. "This program is all about the co-education of leaders creating technology, leaders investing in technology, and leaders using technology across the public and private enterprises postured to define the future of the national capital region and beyond. We designed it for them, not just as individuals, but as a community of working professionals," says Frank Goertner, co-director of technology management programs with Bailey. Applications for the program are currently open and will select students on a rolling basis. Currently enrolled Maryland Smith Flex MBA students may opt to replace their second-year electives with the technology management track courses to graduate with both their MBA and Graduate Certificate in Technology Management. New students can earn just the certificate and choose to apply those 14 credits toward the Maryland Smith Flex MBA program at a later time. "Technology development is about connections, and its management is about values. The same can be said of business. One could say it is increasingly difficult to see where either ends and the other begins," says Goertner. "The future of business is tech, and the future of tech is business. Maryland Smith is preparing leaders for both ends of that equation." About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and flex MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, specialty masters, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia. Contact: Greg Muraski at [email protected] or 301-892-0973. SOURCE University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on the appointment of Dr. Laurie Leshin as director of the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California. "NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has a storied history of defying what was once thought impossible in the field of space exploration. In this new era of groundbreaking discoveries and constant innovation, it is clear that Dr. Laurie Leshin has a track record of scholarship and leadership needed to serve as director of JPL and cement the center's status as a global leader in the 21st century. "Under Dr. Leshin, the technology invented at JPL will continue to allow humans to explore the places in our universe that we cannot yet reach and spark the imaginations of future mathematicians, engineers, and pioneers in classrooms across America. I want thank Mike Watkins and Gen. Larry James for their contributions that the JPL team will build on for decades to come." For information about NASA's missions, discoveries, and activities, visit: https://www.nasa.gov SOURCE NASA CRANBURY, N.J., Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NeurologyLive, a multimedia platform dedicated to providing health care professionals with direct access to expert-driven, practice-changing news and insights in neurology, has partnered with the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) on an exclusive, expert-led Peer Exchange discussion covering the latest research and clinical implications of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and multiple sclerosis (MS). "It is our pleasure to present this timely peer exchange in partnership with CMSC," said Mike Hennessy Jr., president and CEO of MJH Life Sciences, parent company of NeurologyLive. "We are excited to bring together experts in the fields of neuroimmunology and virology to review the findings and discuss the implications for patients with MS, the healthcare providers who treat them, and the greater neurology community." Recently published findings from Ascherio et al add a significant body of evidence to long-held beliefs of an association between infection with EBV and development of MS. "We are excited to bring together a group of experts from varied backgrounds to discuss the very interesting study by Dr. Ascherio and colleagues on the association of EBV triggering MS," said Scott Newsome, DO, president of CMSC and associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The Peer Exchange will feature the following experts in neuroimmunology and virology: Alberto Ascherio, DPh, MD : Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School : Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, of Public Health; Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Anne Cross , MD : Professor of Neurology and the Manny and Rosalyn Rosenthal Dr. John Trotter MS Chair in Neuroimmunology, Washington University of St. Louis ; Secretary, CMSC : Professor of Neurology and the Manny and Rosalyn Rosenthal Dr. John Trotter MS Chair in Neuroimmunology, of ; Secretary, CMSC Avindra Nath , MD : Senior Investigator and Clinical Director, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Director of the Translational Neuroscience Center, and Chief of the Section of Infections of the Nervous System : Senior Investigator and Clinical Director, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Director of the Translational Neuroscience Center, and Chief of the Section of Infections of the Nervous System Scott Newsome , DO : Associate Professor of Neurology and Director, Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center at Green Spring Station, Johns Hopkins Medicine; President, CMSC : Associate Professor of Neurology and Director, Neurosciences Consultation and Infusion Center at Green Spring Station, Johns Hopkins Medicine; President, CMSC Michael Racke , MD: Medical Director for Neurology, Quest Diagnostics; Past President, CMSC For more click here. About NeurologyLive NeurologyLive delivers direct access to practice-changing news and expert insights directly from top medical conferences and researchers to improve the lives of patients with neurological diseases such as dementia, epilepsy, headache and migraine, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular diseases, stroke and more. The NeurologyLive platform offers an in-depth look at the hundreds of new treatments in development with ever-expanding mechanisms of action, all during an unprecedented time of growing demand for neurology expertise. The NeurologyLive platform also connects visitors with the most up-to-date clinical trial results, Food and Drug Administration approvals, practice-changing research, and expert insights. NeurologyLive is a brand of MJH Life Sciences, the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in North America, dedicated to delivering trusted health care news across multiple channels. Media Contact Alyssa Scarpaci, 609-716-7777 [email protected] SOURCE NeurologyLive LONDON, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With the challenges many have faced over the last year, Oppo Brothers are on a mission to make us all feel special have been giving away 1,000 every week throughout January 2022 to help you be good to yourself (or others) in 2022 - all they want to know is how you would use the money to do good. And with the last few days left of January, there's still time to enter! Their first winner and it's a lovely story Both from Lincolnshire, Lily (18) nominated her sister Daisy (15), and the money will go towards funding her participation in a diabetes education camp in Botswana. Daisy, who is diabetic, will be travelling with other young people and healthcare professionals to help improve access to knowledge about managing type 1 diabetes and provide medical equipment. Access to diabetes education and care for young people in Botswana can be very limited so the project is designed to help improve outcomes for children and young people living with type 1 diabetes via peer to peer education and professional training. There is more info on her justgiving page and it'd be amazing to get some coverage: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Daisy-Jones6 The second is Chloe who co-runs the Norwich Soup Movement & Universal Edit, a street soup kitchen and non-referral food bank based in Norwich. Her team of volunteer chefs serve home-cooked meals, desserts and sandwiches for the homeless, poor and vulnerable, mostly funded from their own pockets. Feeding around 50 people on the streets 5 nights a week and around 90 families per month at food bank isn't a cheap task, and the pandemic has only made things more expensive. They now need to provide more disposable items like takeaway tins to reduce crowding, where previously they were serving on paper plates etc. After seeing a rise in numbers currently as many people's financial situations seem to be worsening, the 1,000 will go towards making sure everyone is well fed and has basic essentials such as sleeping bags, and toothpaste, and allow them to continue their amazing and selfless work. Oppo believes in #GoodTemptation, doing right by people as well as the environment and have upped the ante on sustainability more than ever in the last six months. Oppo sources their milk locally, from cows that are free to roam naturally, and where circular farming methods are used to control waste and secrete it into a local forest to reduce C02 impact. For every sustainably-managed tree cut down for the packaging, Oppo plants three more, and their packaging plant runs on green energy. Constantly striving to help make the world feel good, not only are Oppo Brothers changing the way people eat by creating amazingly tasty ice cream that doesn't compromise on health or the planet, they strongly believe in sustainability and recently announced their new sustainability initiative 'PROJECT TREE60' and Partnership With TreeSisters, which will see Oppo Brothers plant the 60,000 trees in the Oppo Feel Good Forest. Watch this space during 2022 for more sustainable activities from the brand. To win 1000 a week throughout January to do something good, simply enter via the link below. https://www.oppobrothers.com/pages/win1000 About Oppo Brothers Brothers Charlie and Harry Thuillier conceived the idea for ice cream that makes you feel-good in Brazil in 2011, whilst breaking the world record for the longest distance travelled by kite. It took 2.5 years to create their first recipe. Since then they have become the only lower calorie ice cream brand to win Great Taste Awards, and are now stocked in most of the largest supermarkets in the UK and across the world. Charlie and Harry believe that their success is down to Oppo's focus on quality of product and premium, natural ingredients, plus an understanding that consumers are unwilling to compromise on taste. Oppo Brothers is sold in 12 countries worldwide and is stocked in Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, M&S, Booths, Ocado and more in the UK. www.oppobrothers.com SOURCE Oppo Brothers PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers ("FIGHT"), a community health provider to low-income individuals in the greater Philadelphia area serving our community since 1990, announced today that it was the victim of a criminal cyberattack that may impact the privacy of patient information. FIGHT cannot confirm that any specific patient information was accessed or acquired and is unaware of any fraudulent misuse of information related to this event. We are providing this notice out of an abundance of caution, along with steps that community members can take to better protect against the possibility of identity theft and fraud. What Happened? On November 30, 2021, FIGHT discovered suspicious activity in its computer network, indicating that it was the victim of a criminal cyberattack. Upon discovery, FIGHT disconnected its network from the Internet, stopping the cyberattack, launched an investigation into the nature and scope of the event with the assistance of third-party computer forensic specialists, and reported the crime to law enforcement. FIGHT promptly confirmed that this event did not impact its electronic medical record (EMR), or other clinical systems, based on available evidence. On January 13, 2022, it was determined that a criminal actor potentially accessed certain non-clinical systems within the network, and later that those systems contained legally protected patient information. FIGHT cannot confirm that any patient information was accessed or acquired and is informing the public of the event because legally protected information was located on impacted non-clinical systems. FIGHT is currently reviewing the impacted systems, and will be sending notification letters to any individuals whose information may have been impacted. What Information Was Involved? FIGHT cannot confirm whether any sensitive information was accessed or acquired by the criminal attackers and is providing notice of the event because patient information was located on the impacted non-clinical systems, including names, dates of birth, social security numbers, medical treatment, diagnosis information, and health insurance information. FIGHT is unaware of any publication or fraudulent misuse of information related to this event. What Philadelphia FIGHT is Doing. In responding to this event, FIGHT promptly investigated and took steps to secure its network environment and is continuing its investigation to identify and to provide written notification to any individuals whose sensitive information may have been impacted. FIGHT has also notified law enforcement, and is working to develop and implement additional security measures, policies and procedures to reduce the likelihood of a similar future event. What Individuals Can Do. FIGHT is not aware of any fraudulent misuse of any information from this event and cannot confirm whether any patient information was accessed or acquired by the cyber attackers based on available evidence. Nonetheless, FIGHT encourages all community members to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft by reviewing account statements, monitoring free credit reports for suspicious activity, and reviewing the following "Steps You Can Take to Protect Information" for further information. FIGHT understands that individuals may have questions about this event. As a result, we have established a toll-free call center to answer your questions: 855-604-1814 between 9:00 AM 9:00 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT INFORMATION Monitor Your Accounts Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. You may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of your credit report. Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended "fraud alert" on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer's credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer's credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer's identity before extending new credit. If you are a victim of identity theft, you are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should you wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any one of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below. As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a "credit freeze" on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer's express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in your name without your consent. However, you should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application you make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, you cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on your credit report. To request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following information: Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.); Social Security number; Date of birth; Addresses for the prior two to five years; Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill; A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver's license or ID card, etc.); and A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if you are a victim of identity theft. Should you wish to place a credit freeze, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below: Equifax Experian TransUnion https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/ https://www.transunion.com/credit-help 888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 833-395-6938 Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016 Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094 Additional Information You may further educate yourself regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps you can take to protect your personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or your state Attorney General. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov ; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. You can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. You have the right to file a police report if you ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, you will likely need to provide some proof that you have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and your state Attorney General. SOURCE Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers KIEV, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday discussed diplomatic efforts on de-escalation of the crisis in and around Ukraine during a telephone conversation, according to Zelensky's press service. The two leaders talked over the U.S. diplomatic presence in Ukraine and the results of the recent Normandy talks, said the press service. Zelensky and Biden also touched upon the issues of the U.S. military support for Kiev and the ways to increase financial support for Ukraine amid the crisis, it said. At the talks, Zelensky thanked Biden for the "strong and unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," and for the U.S. leadership in mobilizing the world community to resolve Ukraine's crisis. The Ukrainian president also expressed his hope that the U.S. "would take further steps to enhance defense cooperation" with Kiev and "strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities." The talks marked the second conversation between the Ukrainian and the U.S. leaders since the beginning of the year. Since November, Kiev and some Western countries have accused Russia of assembling heavy troops near the Ukrainian border with a possible intention of "invasion." Russia denied the accusation, saying that Russia has the right to mobilize troops within its borders to defend its territory as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's activities constitute a threat to Russia's border security. Advisors to the heads of state and government of France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia met on Wednesday in Paris under the Normandy format and called for an unconditional ceasefire in the Donbas region of Ukraine, where an armed conflict has been underway since April 2014. ALLENTOWN, Pa., Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) announced today that the company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareowners will be held virtually. The Annual Meeting will convene live via the internet on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at 9 a.m. Eastern time. Shareowners of record as of Feb. 28, 2022, are eligible to vote and participate in the Annual Meeting. Instructions on how to join the meeting will be included in proxy materials that will be mailed to shareowners. PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL), based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a leading U.S. energy company focused on providing electricity and natural gas safely, reliably and affordably to more than 2.5 million customers in the U.S. PPL's high-performing, award-winning utilities are addressing energy challenges head-on by building smarter, more resilient and more dynamic power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions. For more information, visit www.pplweb.com. Note to Editors: Visit our media website at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news about PPL Corporation. Contacts: For news media: Ryan Hill, 610-774-5997 For financial analysts: Andy Ludwig, 610-774-3389 SOURCE PPL Corporation SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PLD), the global leader in logistics real estate, today announced the tax treatment of its 2021 distributions. Exhibits A and B reflect the tax treatment of distributions on Prologis, Inc. common and preferred stock, respectively, as prescribed by the Internal Revenue Code. Persons who held shares of common stock of Prologis, Inc. in their name at any time during 2021 will receive an IRS Form 1099-DIV via Computershare, Prologis' transfer agent. Persons who held shares in "street name" during 2021 should note that the Form 1099-DIV information provided by a bank, brokerage firm or nominee may report only gross distributions. Therefore, the information herein may be needed to properly complete a federal tax return. This information has been prepared using the best available information to date. Prologis, Inc.'s federal income tax return for the year ended December 31, 2021, has not yet been filed. Please note that federal tax laws affect taxpayers differently, and we cannot advise on how distributions should be reported. Please also note that state and local taxation of REIT distributions may differ from federal rules. Prologis, Inc. recommends consultation with a tax advisor regarding the federal, state, and local income tax consequences of these distributions. Exhibit A Tax Treatment of 2021 Common Dividends Prologis, Inc. Common Shares CUSIP # 74340W103 Ticker Symbol: PLD Record Date Payable Date Cash Distribution Ordinary Taxable Income ($ per share)(1) Qualified Taxable Dividend ($ per share)(1) Long-Term Capital Gain ($ per share) (2)(4) Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain ($ per share)(2) Section 199A dividends ($ per share) Section 1061 One Year Amounts Disclosure ($ per share)(3) Section 1061 Three Year Amounts Disclosure ($ per share)(3) 3/19/2021 3/31/2021 0.630000 0.611877 0.001060 0.017063 0.000000 0.611877 0.017063 0.001595 6/16/2021 6/30/2021 0.630000 0.611877 0.001060 0.017063 0.000000 0.611877 0.017063 0.001595 9/17/2021 9/30/2021 0.630000 0.611877 0.001060 0.017063 0.000000 0.611877 0.017063 0.001595 12/14/2021 12/31/2021 0.630000 0.611877 0.001060 0.017063 0.000000 0.611877 0.017063 0.001595 (1) The sum of these amounts will be reported in Box 1a of Form 1099-DIV as Total Ordinary Dividends. (2) The sum of these amounts will be reported in Box 2a of Form 1099-DIV as Total Capital Gain Distributions. (3) For purposes of section 1061 of the Internal Revenue Code, Prologis, Inc. is disclosing two additional amounts related to the capital gain distribution. Section 1061 is generally applicable to direct and indirect holders of "applicable partnership interests." (4) 15.757% of the capital gain is section 897 capital gain for foreign shareholders. Exhibit B Tax Treatment of 2021 Preferred Dividends Prologis, Inc. Series Q Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares CUSIP # 74340W202 Ticker Symbol: PLDGP Record Date Payable Date Cash Distribution Ordinary Taxable Income ($ per share)(1) Qualified Taxable Dividend ($ per share)(1) Long-Term Capital Gain ($ per share) (2)(4) Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain ($ per share)(2) Section 199A dividends ($ per share) Section 1061 One Year Amounts Disclosure ($ per share)(3) Section 1061 Three Year Amounts Disclosure ($ per share)(3) 3/19/2021 3/31/2021 1.067500 1.036792 0.001795 0.028913 0.000000 1.036792 0.028913 0.002703 6/18/2021 6/30/2021 1.067500 1.036792 0.001795 0.028913 0.000000 1.036792 0.028913 0.002703 9/17/2021 9/30/2021 1.067500 1.036792 0.001795 0.028913 0.000000 1.036792 0.028913 0.002703 12/14/2021 12/31/2021 1.067500 1.036792 0.001795 0.028913 0.000000 1.036792 0.028913 0.002703 (1) The sum of these amounts will be reported in Box 1a of Form 1099-DIV as Total Ordinary Dividends. (2) The sum of these amounts will be reported in Box 2a of Form 1099-DIV as Total Capital Gain Distributions. (3) For purposes of section 1061 of the Internal Revenue Code, Prologis, Inc. is disclosing two additional amounts related to the capital gain distribution. Section 1061 is generally applicable to direct and indirect holders of "applicable partnership interests." (4) 15.757% of the capital gain is section 897 capital gain for foreign shareholders. ABOUT PROLOGIS Prologis, Inc. is the global leader in logistics real estate with a focus on high-barrier, high-growth markets. As of December 31, 2021, the company owned or had investments in, on a wholly owned basis or through co-investment ventures, properties and development projects expected to total approximately 1.0 billion square feet (93 million square meters) in 19 countries. Prologis leases modern logistics facilities to a diverse base of approximately 5,800 customers principally across two major categories: business-to-business and retail/online fulfillment. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The statements in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate as well as management's beliefs and assumptions. Such statements involve uncertainties that could significantly impact our financial results. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," and "estimates," including variations of such words and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the futureincluding statements relating to rent and occupancy growth, development activity, contribution and disposition activity, general conditions in the geographic areas where we operate, our debt, capital structure and financial position, our ability to form new co-investment ventures and the availability of capital in existing or new co-investment venturesare forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and, therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may affect outcomes and results include, but are not limited to: (i) national, international, regional and local economic and political climates; (ii) changes in global financial markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; (iii) increased or unanticipated competition for our properties; (iv) risks associated with acquisitions, dispositions and development of properties; (v) maintenance of real estate investment trust status, tax structuring and changes in income tax laws and rates; (vi) availability of financing and capital, the levels of debt that we maintain and our credit ratings; (vii) risks related to our investments in our co-investment ventures, including our ability to establish new co-investment ventures; (viii) risks of doing business internationally, including currency risks; (ix) environmental uncertainties, including risks of natural disasters; (x) risks related to the current coronavirus pandemic; and (xi) those additional factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by us under the heading "Risk Factors." We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statements appearing in this document except as may be required by law. SOURCE Prologis, Inc. CHICAGO, LONDON, TEL AVIV, Israel and SINGAPORE, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Prytek Holdings Pte. Ltd. (" Prytek " or the "Group") has today completed a strategic investment in ThriveDx (formerly HackerU), a leader in digital skills training, signaling the closing of a significant round of funding. Prytek, a global technology and investment corporation, has doubled-down on their strategic investment in ThriveDX bringing Prytek's total investment in the company to over $100 million. Prytek began supporting ThriveDx in early 2018, when it invested about $20 million to initiate the company's global expansion especially to the US and since then has formed an integral part of the management of ThriveDX, supporting it in its M&A activities and in building scale. This round of investment will allow ThriveDX to accelerate its expansion into the US, Europe and Asian markets bringing much needed cybersecurity and digital skills training to help close the global digital talent gap. Arnon Shiboleth, co-CEO of Prytek and a director at ThriveDX, said: "ThriveDX is a company with exceptional global capabilities in the field of education with a unique model. Prytek recognized its capabilities back in 2018, which was a local company starting to expand globally, and since then we have had the honor of working closely with management and supporting its exponential growth and global success." ThriveDX partners with top-tier academic institutions and corporations worldwide to offer advanced, professional development programs in digital technology. In collaboration with top global Institutions, the company offers cutting edge skills training in the most in-demand digital career paths such as cyber and information security, digital marketing, software engineering, data science and analytics, UI / UX and more. Among more than 20 top tier Global University partners are such Institutions as University of Michigan (#1 public university in the USA), NYU, University of Miami, San Diego State University, American University, and more. ThriveDX also operates a separate and unique, one of a kind SaaS platform. The ThriveDX SaaS division, specializes in supplying a comprehensive end to end solution to enterprises, encompassing all of its cybersecurity training needs in one all-inclusive cyber training SaaS platform. The company also supplies cyber and digital transformation consulting and custom programs to businesses and government bodies in diverse technological fields. These businesses and entities include Toyota, KPMG, Microsoft, SAP, Intel and more. ThriveDX employs over 2,000 people globally and impacts the lives of tens of thousands of learners. Gil Adani, CEO and founder of ThriveDX, said: "We are grateful for Prytek's expression of trust. Since Prytek's first investment about three years ago, the company has changed its face beyond recognition. As a result of the collaboration and support, the company has developed rapidly and has been able to successfully penetrate the international markets." ABOUT PRYTEK Prytek is a global technology and investment corporation. Managed by Andrey Yashunsky and Arnon Shiboleth together with the chairman, Yair Seroussi and the co-founder, Igor Rybakov. Prytek has invested over $400 million in its companies and in technologies globally, services more than 250 clients and maintains offices in eight locations worldwide. Prytek builds vertical integrated value-chain-solutions for universities and financial institutions, and by that, creates impact across industries. Prytek has rapidly grown into a multinational technology and investment corporation with a focus on building and investing in technologies and delivering managed services in the Financial Services, Cyber & Tech Education, and HR sectors. Prytek focuses on building strong and stable long-term companies and therefore works to help companies grow and reach their target markets quickly, among other things by creating collaborations between service companies and technology companies and the technology companies themselves so that group members can enjoy the benefits and strengths of the group ecosystem. ABOUT ThriveDX A leader in digital transformation training, ThriveDX (formerly HackerU) partners with top-tier academic institutions and corporations worldwide to offer the latest Cybersecurity training and advanced, professional development programs in digital technology. Leveraging 15 years experience in the industry, the company has built various learning solutions and study paths in cyber and information security, digital marketing, software engineering, data science, and UI / UX just to name a few. Among the top tier university partners the company works with is the University of Michigan (#1 public university in the USA), NYU, University of Miami, San Diego State University, American University, and more. In total, ThriveDX works with over 20 top tier universities around the world. By providing equity in access to the most in demand digital skills, ThriveDx leads the market in increasing the digital talent pipeline across the globe. ThriveDx was founded in 2006 by Gil Adani who has served as CEO of the company since its inception, and serial entrepreneur Dan Vigdor, who serves as the company's Executive Chairman. The mission-driven Ed-Tech firm operated exclusively in Israel for the first 10 years. In 2018, they extended their business operations globally in pursuit of becoming one of the leading international training companies. ThriveDX operations have now expanded to the US, Asia, and Europe where the need and demand just keeps on growing. For more information, visit www.thrivedx.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1699026/Prytek_Logo.jpg SOURCE Prytek We must prioritize training and recognize the contribution that study-related education can make to improving compliance Tweet this Chief Strategy Officer, David Turner, shares, "We are immensely looking forward to showing the effectiveness of SMi TrialD face-to-face with executives at SCOPE this year. With billions of dollars at stake and a timeline of ten-plus years, drug development is very complex and often daunting. Add to that the shift to decentralized trials because of the pandemic, and things just got more interesting. Education and training have never been more important when setting up a clinical trial or clinical study. With the additional moving parts, technology, and patient safety, education and training are paramount to de-risk trials and studies from the beginning." ScienceMedia will also be conducting a panel presentation with a former PRA employee, moderated by ScienceMedia's CEO, Mark Surles, on the importance of active protocol compliance management through study-specific training and education. Titled "What Do Olympic Medalist Lindsey Vonn and Protocol Compliance Management Have in Common?", Surles speaks to the significance of the panel discussion: "From role-based systems that offer the flexibility of on-demand study training for site personnel to patient-facing mechanisms designed to improve participant compliance, a range of educational tools are now available to enhance study performance. However, their adoption requires a shift in thinking to prioritize training and recognize the contribution that study-related education can make to improving compliance and thereby improving study performance." The panel will take place on February 10th as part of the program Improving Study Startup and Performance in Multi-Center and Decentralized Trials. To highlight ScienceMedia's innovative approaches to multimedia learning solutions, they will be raffling off an iPad at BOOTH #616. Turner adds, "The days of training PIs with a 160 slide PowerPoint presentation in a large room in Boca Raton, Florida are over. SCOPE has a trailblazing group of innovators, and we are enthusiastic about what awaits us in Orlando and the near future." For additional information about how our protocol compliance management solutions can benefit your trial, follow ScienceMedia via LinkedIn or our blog. About ScienceMedia ScienceMedia improves clinical competency through innovative multimedia learning solutions. SMi Trial, for site-based trials, and SMi TrialD, for decentralized or hybrid trials, are protocol compliance management platforms that mitigate clinical risk and decrease trial cost. SMi Source provides just-in-time, thoroughly referenced information on diseases and clinical trial topics through a mobile-enabled, cloud-based medical science library with 16,000+ microlearning topics and 400+ full courses. Contact: Jen Pfau [email protected] (805) 452-1795 SOURCE ScienceMedia SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trial Attorney Stephen C. Barrera, partner at BRCK Criminal Defense Attorneys, has been retained to represent Alejandro Trevino in McAllen, Texas. Alejandro, his brother Christian and a friend were arrested after they allegedly beat their stepfather to death for sexually abusing their 9 year old sister. Alejandro Trevino, aged 18, faces charges of aggravated assault and engaging in organized criminal activity. His younger brother Christian Trevino, 17, and their friend Juan Eduardo Melendez, age 18, are charged with capital murder and aggravated assault in the death of Gabriel Quintanilla, 42. All three are being held in Hidalgo County. "The evidence will show that stepfather had been previously charged with Continous Sexual Abuse with another victim that had never been executed. He has had an active warrant since 2019 for that incident," said Attorney Stephen C. Barrera. "My client looks forward to his day in court and presenting his side of the story to a jury of his peers." About BRCK Criminal Defense Attorneys Trial Attorney Stephen C. Barrera founded BRCK Criminal Defense Attorneys with his partner, Christopher D. Cavazos, serving accused citizens in San Antonio and its surrounding counties. In his 16 years as a Criminal Defense Attorney, Stephen has obtained favorable outcomes for clients ranging from DWI and Possession of a Controlled Substance to Murder and is regarded as one of the Best Trial Attorneys in his field. Stephen C. Barrera was born and raised in Wilson County, Texas. He attended St. Mary's Law School where Stephen made the Dean's List, wrote for The Scholar, St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice, and interned for United States Fifth Circuit Judge Emilio Garza. Stephen was also awarded 1st place and Best Speaker during the St. Mary's Law School 1L Moot Court Competition. Stephen's law career began at the law firm of Bracewell & Giuliani, where he worked in the firm's trial section. In 2008, Stephen started his own practice with a focus on criminal defense. Stephen also serves as a part-time judge in Wilson County, Texas. Stephen C. Barrera is a member of the San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and has received numerous awards, accolades and is routinely listed in S.A. Scenes Magazine's Best Lawyers. BRCK Criminal Defense Attorneys can be reached at 830-76-1010 or [email protected]. Media Contact: Christopher Cavazos 830-769-1010 [email protected] SOURCE BRCK Criminal Defense Attorneys HOUSTON, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Voss Capital, LLC ("Voss"), a significant shareholder of Griffon Corp. (NYSE: GFF) ("Griffon" or the "Company"), today issued an open letter to Griffon shareholders, which responds to several misleading statements and mischaracterizations made by Griffon in its recent investor presentation. Dear Fellow Griffon Shareholders, We have been encouraged by the positive investor response to our recent presentation that highlights the urgent need for change at Griffon, including our step-by-step plan for unlocking the value that is currently shrouded by Griffon's conglomerate structure, outsized management compensation and a lack of true Board independence. Sadly, Griffon's executive team and Board have been unwilling to acknowledge the need for change. Instead of providing logical, accurate responses to the issues we have raised, the Company has chosen to be confrontational since our very first meeting. The Company's recently released investor presentation and letter attempt to mislead investors by cherry-picking benchmarks, metrics, and time periods. This is a blatant attempt to justify executives' oversized compensation and the Company's value destructive strategy. The Company also failed to address several key issues raised in our deck including chronically low ROIC, the lack of margin expansion at CPP, sustained underperformance relative to peers, peer-leading management compensation, dismal of say-on-pay results, and ISS's and Glass Lewis' repeated criticisms of the company's corporate governance and compensation. Below we highlight just a few of the deceptive and outright false statements the Company has made. GRIFFON FALSE CLAIM #1 "Purposeful strategy to create a balanced portfolio the five-year evolution of our business that led to the sale of our Plastics division in 2018 continues with the review of strategic alternatives and sale process underway for our Defense Electronics business, which began in April 2021, and our successfully completed acquisition of Hunter Fan Company." The Company intimates that it has undergone a deliberate strategic portfolio repositioning over the past few years with the sale of Plastics and the recently announced sale of Defense. The reality is the Plastics divestiture was the result of an unexpected and unsolicited inbound offer. "Look, we weren't looking to sell Clopay Plastics Let me be clear. We're responding to an inbound inquiry on the sale of Clopay Plastics." CEO Ron Kramer on M&A Call September 6th, 2017 Furthermore, Griffon oversaw a 38% decline in Defense revenue before announcing a sale. Had selling Defense been part of some deliberate value creation plan, the Company would have sold Defense before such a large decline. The proposed sale now is merely a long overdue recognition that the Company has not properly run that business, and a belated attempt to recover some value for it. The Company also attempts to paint a picture that it was busy during 2021 selling Defense Electronics and pursuing Hunter Fan. Yet, according to the Company's own Proxy Statement, the Finance Committee which is "responsible for reviewing proposed transactions that will materially impact the Company's capital structure, as well as any material changes to the Company's capital structure" did not meet even once during Fiscal 2021 . GRIFFON FALSE CLAIM #2 The company touts margin expansion and says the current margin improvement strategy at CPP has delivered "meaningful gains." It is easy to improve margins through buying higher-margin businesses, such as Hunter Fan. What Griffon's deck neglects to demonstrate is what proportion of margin improvement is actually attributable to high-margin acquisitions versus internal improvements once a company was acquired. We suspect internal improvements are relatively small, as shown by results at CPP. The Company has discussed expanding margins at CPP for at least a decade during which time there has been zero sustained margin improvement. This management team has no credibility when it comes to forecasting their own business and continues to make baseless promises that they are clearly unable to fulfill. [please refer to the "Margin Expansion at CPP A Decade of Over Promising and Under Delivering" graph] GRIFFON FALSE CLAIM #3 "Voss' interests are not aligned with those of other shareholders." We own the same stock as every other Griffon shareholder. We are seeking what every shareholder is seeking: value creation . If anyone is not aligned with other shareholders, it's the Griffon management team who is incentivized with bonus metrics that directly conflict with shareholders' best interests. Despite owning a significant amount of Griffon stock, their actions only seek to protect the ~$30 million per year they receive to maintain the status quo at the expense of Griffon shareholders. In other words, why should they work to create value for all shareholders when they will be paid handsomely either way? With a negative TSR over the last five years despite an ongoing housing and remodeling boom, it is clear this management team and Board lack the ability to create sustainable value. Management's herculean effort to keep any truly independent Board members out of the boardroom is indicative of its fear that an independent member would provide stronger oversight, including of executive pay. GRIFFON FALSE CLAIM #4 "Our corporate function provides immense value to our operating companies M&A expertise, strategic direction and executive leadership." This is LinkedIn-style corporate jargon devoid of substance. The Company is clearly unable to quantify any discernable value that the conglomerate structure provides. Of the nearly $50 million in annual corporate overhead expense, over 60% is compensation for the top four named executive officers at Griffon despite each of the underlying businesses having fully built out management teams. For example, CPP has a segment President as well as its own COO, CFO, General Counsel and Corporate Controller. We wonder what level of "executive leadership" is needed when each segment already has all the necessary functions covered, and if this executive leadership is worth the $50 million per year it's costing us as shareholders. GRIFFON FALSE CLAIM #5 "Griffon has consistently engaged in good faith with Voss" The company's approach to our engagement has been anything but "in good faith." Following our meeting with Griffon Board members on November 9th, both sides agreed to send each other several information items, as well as the framework for a settlement agreement. Within 72 hours, Voss followed through on our commitment, sending both the requested information and a proposed settlement agreement. We never received the agreed upon information or a counteroffer from the Board. It was only after this lack of responsiveness that we decided to highlight our concerns publicly. GRIFFON FALSE CLAIM #6 The Company shows its TSR under current management's tenure as 431% compared to 316% for the Russell 2000. This statement demonstrates either pure mathematical incompetence or a deliberate attempt to mislead shareholders, neither of which can be construed positively. First, Griffon's total shareholder return is not 431% over this time frame as shown on slide 42 in their presentation, but is in fact 100 percentage points lower at 331%. Second, the Company is comparing its already inaccurate total return number to the simple price return of the Russell 2000 not its total return. The Russell 2000 total return is over 65 percentage points higher than the price return the Company shows. This misleading apples-to-oranges comparison to understate index returns is a tactic the Company uses throughout the presentation, including on slide 11. Third, in every annual report for the past 17 years, the Company has compared its total shareholder return to the S&P 600 index, never once mentioning the Russell 2000 index. The reason Griffon chose to now switch to the Russell 2000 in this presentation is clear: Griffon's total shareholder return has underperformed its own self-selected broad benchmark, the S&P 600, by 72% under management's tenure and by 66% over the past five years . [please refer to the "Total Shareholder Return Over Past 5 Years" graph] GRIFFON FALSE CLAIM #7 "Voss has no plan and is only interested in making a "quick buck"" Our recent investor presentation devotes an entire section, 11 pages, to our five-part plan. Our plan clearly lays out a path to unlocking over $50 per share in value for Griffon shareholders and includes sustainable operational improvements, cost-cutting initiatives and an optimized corporate structure. By contrast, the Company continues to offer shareholders the same old strategy which has generated poor shareholder returns and low ROIC, with unfathomably high overhead. Throughout their presentation, the Company touts "$60 million returned to shareholders since September 2018." This equates to $1.06 per share. So, while it hasn't been "quick", a "buck" more aptly describes what Griffon management has provided to shareholders over the past three years. It's also worth noting $60 million is far less than what the two top executives have personally pocketed over the same period. GRIFFON FALSE CLAIM #8 Management has proven it can "shine a light" on HBP's value as part of Griffon's portfolio There is a difference between "shining a light" and taking action. Mr. Kramer is continually telling shareholders that he believes HBP is worth a "mid-teens" EBITDA multiple. However, HBP never has and never will receive that valuation under Griffon's existing conglomerate structure. The Company's presentation included a chart showing an extensive list of recent transactions that have occurred in the building products space. The median 11.8X EV/EBITDA multiple of those transactions is on par with our projection for what HBP could realize in a sale. Such a multiple reinforces our view that the company must explore all strategic options for its HBP segment in order to realize its value. With the value of the business now clear, we urge the Board to fulfill its fiduciary duty to all shareholders to maximize value by exploring all options. GRIFFON FALSE CLAIM #9 "That success, however, could be derailed by the election of the nominee from Voss Capital LLC to our Board, which we believe would disrupt Griffon's substantial progress and business momentum, and diminish the quality and strength of our Board." Griffon's Total Shareholder Return is -5% over the last five years. How is that "substantial progress?" The idea that one board member out of 14 could "derail" a company's progress is laughable but we do appreciate the Company's acknowledgment that our candidate Charlie Diao would in fact be able to exert influence in the Boardroom. This complacent Board badly needs a true independent director. Mr. Diao brings experience chairing key committees on public company boards, realizing value for shareholders through M&A, and leading corporate development initiatives. GRIFFON FALSE CLAIM #10 "Griffon's Board is Focused on Governance Matters and Responsive to Shareholder Feedback" "Griffon has proactively engaged with shareholders around ESG." The reality is Griffon has not been responsive to shareholder concerns surrounding executive compensation. Despite the benefit of the insider ownership, as well as its large ESOP Plan, the Company has seen recurring shareholder dissatisfaction over its pay practices. The Company only spoke to shareholders owning 9% of outstanding shares in all of 2021. This is a surprising fact considering the number of Griffon institutional shareholders that have not only voted against Say on Pay, but also against unopposed incumbent Board members. [please refer to the "Griffon Say-on-Pay Approval Results 2011-2021" bar chart] We also find the Company's claim of responsiveness on governance matters to be a misleading characterization of minor changes made only after our suggestions. One touted improvement is reducing the special meeting threshold to 25%. This appears to be a hollow attempt to placate shareholders, especially considering the Company retains super-majority voting provisions. Furthermore, according to the Company's own proxy statement, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee only met once in all of Fiscal 2021. It wasn't until Voss engaged with the Company and recommended numerous governance reforms that the Company acted. Conclusion In this letter we have discussed what is in Griffon's presentation. Perhaps even more interesting is what is not in the Company's presentation. The Company never once addressed many of the most important shareholder concerns, including chronically low ROIC, the lack of margin expansion at CPP, sustained underperformance relative to peers, peer-leading management compensation, dismal say-on-pay results, and ISS's and Glass Lewis' repeated criticisms of the company's corporate governance and compensation. We believe Charlie Diao will provide a much-needed independent voice and oversight in the boardroom. He will provide value from day one. Vote the BLUE proxy card to send the message to Griffon's leadership and Board that shareholders deserve better. Vote the BLUE proxy card to support a nominee who will hold management accountable and who has experience focusing on the right data, metrics, and incentives to drive real value creation for all shareholders. More information on our case for change, plan for value creation and voting instructions can be found on www.renovategriffon.com. Sincerely, Travis Cocke Chief Investment Officer Voss Capital Media Contact: Serena Koontz Head of Investor Relations Voss Capital, LLC [email protected] Investor Contact: John Ferguson Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC [email protected] SOURCE Voss Capital HOUSTON, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Voss Capital, LLC ("Voss"), a significant shareholder of Griffon Corp. (NYSE: GFF) ("Griffon" or the "Company"), today issued a statement regarding Griffon's admission of the Company's involvement in the withdrawal of Voss's two director nominees. Voss's previous suspicions of Griffon's involvement in the withdrawals of our candidates have now been confirmed by the Company itself in its most recent letter. Two of Voss's nominees underwent a lengthy approval process conducted by their employers' executives and compliance departments, including at the parent company level. We have confirmation of the approval they received from their respective employers BEFORE accepting their nomination for Griffon's Board. However, several weeks after the public announcement of their candidacy, their respective employers revoked their approval. Neither employer was able to provide a reason for the reversal at the time, but now we know why. Griffon expressly admitted in their letter released on January 27, 2022, that they did indeed contact the employers of our candidates. We find it highly unusual that Griffon's "representatives" contacted the parent company of each of our candidates' employers rather than the actual employers themselves. Surely this is because therein lies the personal connection that they were able to exploit to strong-arm our candidates out of the running. In yesterday's letter to shareholders, the Company claims we did not correctly vet our candidates. This could not be further from the truth. When we decided to move forward with this process, we commenced a rigorous search for highly qualified candidates. Voss hired executive search firm GLG Research to conduct a comprehensive search based on the specific experience we believed was needed on the Board. We then narrowed our list to 16 different candidates before conducting interviews and deciding on our chosen three. We would much rather discuss the merits of our plan for value creation as presented in our deck and our candidate's extensive qualifications than engage in a tit for tat on past events. However, we cannot allow Griffon to continue its campaign of misinformation on this topic. It would appear that Mr. Kramer's boardroom buddies feel the same, as not a single independent director signed the Company's recent letter on behalf of the Board. Unsurprisingly, the only other person to sign the letter besides the CEO was his employee and fellow insider on the Board COO Robert Mehmel. The fact that Griffon would go to such extreme lengths to force out our candidates, crossing ethical lines and disregarding shareholders' right to a fair vote in the process, leads us to two conclusions. Griffon recognizes the strength in our case for change and is worried that our fellow shareholders will agree with our plan and vote for our candidate. Griffon is fully convinced that a truly independent Board nominee would, in fact, make a large difference in the boardroom and are terrified of finally being held accountable to shareholders. Unfortunately, Griffon's confirmation of tampering with our nominees seems typical, given the Company's history of acting in opposition to shareholder interests. This proxy contest provides shareholders the opportunity to support meaningful change at Griffon and establish a candidate in the boardroom who will prioritize value creation. If you have already voted Griffon's white proxy card, a later-dated vote on Voss' BLUE proxy card will revoke your previously cast vote. For more information on our case for change, visit our website RenovateGriffon.com. Media Contact: Serena Koontz Head of Investor Relations Voss Capital, LLC [email protected] Investor Contact: John Ferguson Saratoga Proxy Consulting LLC [email protected] SOURCE Voss Capital CHICAGO, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Work-from-anywhere culture, inventory shortages and expanding technology both in the car-buying process and the cars themselves these are the forces defining the automotive landscape for 2022 according to Cars.comTM (NYSE: CARS), a leading car-shopping marketplace. Despite a double-digit increase1 in overall prices and a narrowing market value gap between new and used cars, consumers are using what leverage they have to get the car they want, the way they want it. "Our relationship with our environments work, home, commerce, vacation they're all evolving, and personal vehicles are, quite literally, how many of us navigate those environments. So, naturally, the way car buyers shop and what they shop for have changed with the times," said Aaron Brangman, Cars.com's Detroit bureau chief. "More vehicles are being pre-ordered through dealerships as dealers continue to manage inventory shortages; more consumers are considering electric vehicles now that local personal use has become more of a factor than longer, daily commutes making them more appealing; and perhaps most important, consumer desire for personal transportation remains strong as health and safety are still top of mind." Preorders go mainstream: Some 41% of recent shoppers plan to preorder their next vehicle through a local dealer, 2 and of the 16% who recently preordered their car, 98% had a good experience and would do it again. 3 After spending an average of 19 hours 4 researching on Cars.com the exact features, color and trim level they want on their new car and selecting the best dealership to work with, preordering allows shoppers to get what they want without being restricted by current availability, which has been limited by chip shortages and other inventory challenges. Some 41% of recent shoppers plan to preorder their next vehicle through a local dealer, and of the 16% who recently preordered their car, 98% had a good experience and would do it again. After spending an average of 19 hours researching on Cars.com the exact features, color and trim level they want on their new car and selecting the best dealership to work with, preordering allows shoppers to get what they want without being restricted by current availability, which has been limited by chip shortages and other inventory challenges. Never-before-seen enthusiasm for EVs: Roughly two-thirds (66%) of Americans surveyed indicated they were more likely to buy an EV after the Biden administration last year announced plans to support nationwide EV infrastructure and proposed financial incentives to accelerate the country's move toward EVs. 5 While sales of EVs are growing at a slower rate, interest continues to rise. Searches for EVs on Cars.com have almost doubled since 2020 with markets such as San Francisco ; Los Angeles ; Sacramento, Calif. ; Seattle and Denver leading the charge. 1 Roughly two-thirds (66%) of Americans surveyed indicated they were more likely to buy an EV after the Biden administration last year announced plans to support nationwide EV infrastructure and proposed financial incentives to accelerate the country's move toward EVs. While sales of EVs are growing at a slower rate, interest continues to rise. Searches for EVs on Cars.com have almost doubled since 2020 with markets such as ; ; ; and leading the charge. Double-digit price increases not stopping demand: Consumers haven't shied away from vehicle purchases even as prices rose and availability declined last year. In fact, more than 60% of consumers stated the inventory shortage and price increases haven't changed their purchase timelines. 6 In 2021, total auto sales came in at 14.9 million vehicles, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Still, some consumers with ongoing concerns about the pandemic and vehicle shortages decided to delay their purchase over the past two years, creating strong, pent-up demand for vehicles this year a good thing for the auto market. Consumers haven't shied away from vehicle purchases even as prices rose and availability declined last year. In fact, more than 60% of consumers stated the inventory shortage and price increases haven't changed their purchase timelines. In 2021, total auto sales came in at 14.9 million vehicles, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Still, some consumers with ongoing concerns about the pandemic and vehicle shortages decided to delay their purchase over the past two years, creating strong, pent-up demand for vehicles this year a good thing for the auto market. Digital car buying accelerates: 38% of current car shoppers expect to complete the entire buying process online, with another 38% intending to purchase a vehicle in person but complete all paperwork online, saving them hours at the dealership. With platforms like Cars.com adding new capabilities for shoppers to complete more of the car purchase online with dealers including instant loan approvals and online financing the car buying experience is changing for the better. Fortunately for both consumers and dealers, digital facilitation works both ways; 41% of Cars.com's in-market audience is also looking to sell their current vehicle before buying a new one, presenting new opportunities for dealers to acquire cars directly from consumers. 1 38% of current car shoppers expect to complete the entire buying process online, with another 38% intending to purchase a vehicle in person but complete all paperwork online, saving them hours at the dealership. With platforms like Cars.com adding new capabilities for shoppers to complete more of the car purchase online with dealers including instant loan approvals and online financing the car buying experience is changing for the better. Fortunately for both consumers and dealers, digital facilitation works both ways; 41% of Cars.com's in-market audience is also looking to sell their current vehicle before buying a new one, presenting new opportunities for dealers to acquire cars directly from consumers. Car culture shifts in response to changing workforce: With the remote workforce taking control of how their time is spent throughout the day, we could see traffic patterns shift, peak retail times change, and a continued evolution of consumers' relationship with their cars. Workers are already using their newfound flexibility to cross off to-do-list tasks with 67% of remote workers reporting running errands throughout the day2, increasing Americans' usage of their cars during hours previously spent in the office. 1 Cars.com internal data, 2021 2 Cars.com's consumer survey results Dec. 10, 2021; 1,002 responses 3 Cars.com's DealerRater Survey, Dec. 8-13, 2021; 11,080 responses 4 J.D. Power, 2021 U.S. New Autoshopper Study 5 Cars.com's survey results April 2021; 1,056 responses 6 Cars.com consumer data, Q4 2021 About Cars.com CARS is a leading automotive marketplace platform that provides a robust set of industry-specific digital solutions that connect car shoppers with sellers. Launched in 1998 with the flagship marketplace Cars.com and headquartered in Chicago, the Company empowers shoppers with the data, resources, and digital tools needed to make informed buying decisions and seamlessly connect with automotive retailers. In a rapidly changing market, CARS enables dealerships and OEMs with innovative technical solutions and data-driven intelligence to better reach and influence ready-to-buy shoppers, increase inventory turn and gain market share. In addition to Cars.com, CARS brands include Dealer Inspire, a technology provider building solutions that future-proof dealerships with more efficient operations and connected digital experiences; FUEL, which gives dealers and OEMs the opportunity to harness the untapped power of digital video by leveraging Cars.com's pure audience of in-market car shoppers, and DealerRater, a leading car dealer review and reputation management platform. The full suite of CARS properties includes Cars.com , Dealer Inspire , FUEL , DealerRater , Auto.com , PickupTrucks.com CreditIQ and NewCars.com . For more information, visit www.Cars.com . SOURCE Cars.com Inc. In his final year as YMCG's Artistic Director, Yo-Yo Ma left a powerful message for participants that music and culture helps us envision and create a better future. Conducted by GSO Principal Conductor Jing Huan, the opening and closing concerts focused on empowering natural imagination. The closing concert combined prior YMCG participants and three groups of young string quartets from the China Philharmonic Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, and Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra to form the YMCG Symphony Orchestra. Yo-Yo Ma joined from Boston in performance and poignant speech. On January 17, 18 and 19, the Shanghai Quartet led virtual chamber music masterclasses, which were free and open to the public. Despite the quartet being unable to travel due to Covid prevention measures, YMCG quickly adapted the format and successfully presented the masterclasses and performances online with the three young string quartets who performed works by Beethoven. Additionally, on January 21, Yo-Yo Ma in Boston; GSO Music Director and Chairman of the YMCG Artistic Committee Long Yu in Shanghai; celebrated conductor Michael Stern in Kansas City; and members of the YMCG Orchestra, GSO President Chen Qing, conductor Jing Huan, and others at the Xinghai Concert Hall in Guangzhou joined for a virtual panel called "Music Without Boundaries: Musicians and Music for the Present and the Future." 2022 YMCG continued the tradition once again of community outreach by drawing inspiration from the cultural roots of Guangzhou and giving back. GSO ensembles visited locations throughout the city, bringing children and adults music filled with passion and love. The opening and closing concerts, Shanghai Quartet performances, and other excerpts will be available to view across the world on YMCG's Facebook channel. The next edition of YMCG is scheduled to take place in January 2023. Press Contact: Patricia Price Managing Director 8VA Music Consultancy [email protected] SOURCE Youth Music Culture Guangdong From late September to mid December each year, the temperatures begin to drop across Japan, the intense summer humidity eases and the leaves begin to turn vibrant shades of red, brown, orange and yellow. Autumn in Japan is an underrated, unforgettable time of the year, according to Inspiring Vacations. Because most tourists choose to travel to Japan in the winter or the spring months, autumn leaves much of the country free of huge crowds of tourists. This can make for a much quieter, more peaceful trip, says Inspiring Vacations . For those interested in Japan's rich culture and history, autumn is the perfect time to visit as many traditional Japanese holidays and festivals fall in the autumn months. The Nagasaki Kunchi Festival at the beginning of October celebrates the autumn harvest and involves a parade of Chinese-style dragon dances and mikoshi floats. The Jidai Matsuri in late October is held in Kyoto and commemorates the emperor's reign during the Meiji Restoration, featuring traditional musical performances and locals dressed in customary Samurai gear. Many other towns and cities in Japan host cultural festivals throughout autumn, showcasing Japan's prolific history and traditions. Inspiring Vacations urges travellers to take advantage of guided tours Japan tours are now open for booking, says the leading travel expert. For information on the best guided tours Egypt, South America, Asia and beyond, contact Inspiring Vacations today. This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Inspiring Vacations WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, held a telephone conversation Thursday to discuss the ongoing tensions on the Ukrainian border. According to a statement released by the White House, Biden reaffirmed U.S. support to Ukraine, including "additional macroeconomic support to help Ukraine's economy amidst pressure." The U.S. president also noted that despite the departure of American family members of embassy personnel, the U.S. embassy in Kiev remains open and fully operational. Biden, the statement said, also expressed Washington's support for resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine through the Normandy Format, a mechanism established in 2014 that involves French, German, Russian and Ukrainian diplomats. The president said he hoped that a recommitment by the quadrilateral dialogue members to the July 2020 ceasefire agreement will help decrease tensions and advance the Minsk agreements. The agreements call for an immediate ceasefire between government troops in Kiev and armed groups in the Donbass region while seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Zelensky said in a tweet that during the call the two leaders discussed "recent diplomatic efforts on de-escalation and agreed on joint actions for the future." He also confirmed that "possibilities for financial support to Ukraine were also discussed." Also on Thursday, Deputy Chairman of Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United States are using Ukraine to gain geopolitical leverage. "Ukraine, unfortunately, has turned, to some extent, into a toy in the hands of NATO and the United States, as Ukraine is used as a geopolitical instrument to exert pressure on Russia," the RIA Novosti news agency quoted Medvedev as saying during his interview with Russian media outlets. JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With a large number of seniors living in nursing homes and other assisted living facilities facing potential infection from the COVID-19 Omicron variant, AARP Mississippi State Director, Kimberly L. Campbell, Esq., is calling for immediate action to get residents and staff vaccinated and boosted. Campbell says there were 67 confirmed COVID-19 cases among staff and 49 confirmed cases among residents in the first two weeks of January. "The COVID-19 virus has demonstrated repeatedly that it is very dynamic," Campbell said. "AARP urges nursing homes to immediately prioritize boosters for both residents and staff. While still providing protection against severe illness and death, being fully vaccinated without a booster is no longer protecting nursing home residents from contracting COVID-19; the data are clear that a booster is necessary to remain protected. The rate of new infections in nursing home residents who have received a booster dose is more than 90 percent lower than the rate among residents who are not fully vaccinated, or who are vaccinated without an additional booster dose, according to CDC data for the week ending January 9." Campbell says only about 13-percent of direct care staff at Mississippi nursing homes have received a booster. "Families who have loved ones in nursing homes want to know that they are safe," Campbell said. "For those with a spouse, sibling, parent, or other loved one in a nursing home, AARP has developed 10 key questions to ask facilitiesincluding questions about booster shotsto help keep them safe and stay informed." 10 Questions to Ask if a Loved One Is in a Nursing Home 1. What is the status of COVID-19 vaccinations in the facility? 2. Is the facility screening and testing residents and staff for COVID-19 in line with government recommendations and regulations? 3. If COVID-19 is detected, is the facility ready to respond quickly to prevent further spread? 4. Has a positive case been identified at the facility in the past two weeks? 5. Is the facility managing visits in line with government regulations? 6. How is the facility helping residents stay connected with their loved ones virtually? 7. Does the facility have sufficient levels of personal protective equipment (PPE) masks, face shields, hand sanitizer, gowns and gloves? 8. How is the facility communicating important COVID-19 information? 9. Is the nursing home currently at full staffing levels for nurses, aides and other workers? 10. Are healthy-living programs back up and running? For more information, visit www.aarp.org/ms. AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media. Contact: Ronda Gooden, 601-898-5417 or 601-209-1812 (cell) SOURCE AARP Mississippi KIRKLAND, Wash., Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AstrumU, a Seattle-based data services firm that is pioneering the use of machine learning to forecast the value of educational experiences in the labor market, today announced that it has been certified System and Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2) and 3 (SOC 3), a widely-adopted auditing standard developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The certification is an extension of AstrumU's ongoing efforts to provide a secure data management platform that complies with the industry's premier privacy, security, and interoperability standards. "Public sector agencies, employers and educational institutions are using data in increasingly sophisticated ways to solve major societal challenges. Doing so requires third-party providers to manage and process data in concert with the highest standards of trust and integrity," said Kaj Pedersen, chief technology officer at AstrumU. "The achievement of this security standard is reflective of our ongoing commitment to data security, privacy and compliance." The SOC 2 and SOC 3 Type 2 standards were created to assess the design and integrity of security processes performed over a 12-month period, confirming that an organization's internal security controls are suitably designed and implemented. In achieving SOC 2 and SOC 3 Type 2 compliance, AstrumU has implemented controls to ensure the secure processing and storage of customer data, conforming with the rigorous and sophisticated security and confidentiality standards for technology companies worldwide. The audit process builds upon an already robust security protocol already in use by AstrumU. The company's data storage incorporates multiple layers of security, including authentication and authorization checks, encryption both at rest and within AstrumU's infrastructure, and access logging. With strict access control policies, derived from the principle of least privilege, AstrumU closely maintains the safety of customer data. In addition, clients retain ownership and control of their data at all times, granting them the ability to review and remove any information from AstrumU's system at any time. About AstrumU: AstrumU translates educational experiences into economic opportunity. We are on a mission to quantify the return on education investment for learners, education providers, and employers. We help institutions measure the value created for incoming and returning students, while assisting them in securing industry partnerships that lead students seamlessly into high-demand career pathways. Institutions partner with AstrumU to drive enrollment and increase alumni and corporate engagement, while extending economic mobility opportunities inclusively to all learners. SOURCE AstrumU ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Athenix Body Sculpting Institute , a leading aesthetic plastic surgery center on the west coast, today announced the hire of Chris Mijares as the company's Chief Financial Officer (CFO). In his new role, Mijares will report directly to James M. Haefner, CEO and Founder of Athenix Body Sculpting Institute. "Chris joins our organization at a pivotal time as we embark upon our national expansion," says James M. Haefner, CEO of Athenix Body Sculpting Institute. "He has an impressive track record of success in scaling high growth companies while delivering improved financial performance. We're honored to welcome him to our executive team as we grow our plastic surgery centers beyond the west coast." Mijares is a highly experienced and accomplished CFO with experience building and leading organizations through rapid growth, change and restructurings. Prior to joining Athenix, Mijares was the Chief Financial Officer of a multi-state dermatology medical group comprised of 42 locations, where he played a key role in doubling the company's revenue and number of locations over the past 6 years. In addition to 12 years of experience in executive finance positions in the healthcare industry, Mijares has also held high profile financial roles at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Toyota Motor Sales and Ernst & Young. A licensed Certified Public Accountant, Mijares holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Southern California and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from the same university. Athenix has five locations in Washington, Portland and California, with plans to expand nationally starting this year. To learn more about Athenix Body Sculpting Institute, please visit https://www.athenixbody.com/ Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Athenix Body Sculpting Institute ATLANTA, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Balentine, a leading independent wealth management firm, announced today that its assets under advisement have reached over $6 billion, a 100% increase in just three years. As a firm that has always been committed to innovation and improvement, Balentine's milestone growth has enabled significant new investments in talent, technology, and resources which will increase simplification for clients to assist them in making the best decisions for their families and businesses. Investments in Talent To ensure its clients continue to receive the highest level of personal attention and service as the firm continues to grow, Balentine added six new positions to its team in 2021, for a total of 48 employees, and has approved 11 more positions to add by the end of 2022. The firm has recently invested in personnel in the following areas: Operations. Jennifer Dangar has assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer. Dangar's highest priority is to improve upon Balentine's operational platform so that Balentine may maintain its high level of client service as the firm continues to scale and grow. Balentine strives to remain an employer of choice in its industry by cultivating a culture where motivated people flourish. To this end, Dangar will implement a human resources strategy to continue attracting the best and brightest talent. has assumed the position of Chief Operating Officer. Dangar's highest priority is to improve upon Balentine's operational platform so that Balentine may maintain its high level of client service as the firm continues to scale and grow. Balentine strives to remain an employer of choice in its industry by cultivating a culture where motivated people flourish. To this end, Dangar will implement a human resources strategy to continue attracting the best and brightest talent. Wealth Management. Bradley Martin , CPWA, a seven-year veteran of the firm, has been promoted to Head of Atlanta Wealth Management. Martin's mission includes helping Balentine's clients draw the maximum benefit from its growing stable of subject-matter experts and ensuring exceptional client service and a low advisor-to-client ratio as the firm grows. , CPWA, a seven-year veteran of the firm, has been promoted to Head of Atlanta Wealth Management. Martin's mission includes helping Balentine's clients draw the maximum benefit from its growing stable of subject-matter experts and ensuring exceptional client service and a low advisor-to-client ratio as the firm grows. Estate Planning, Trusts, and Lending. Relationship Manager Clifton Dortch , J.D. holds a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in Taxation. In addition, Balentine has recently brought in team members with expertise in estate planning, trusts, and lending. Their knowledge has allowed Balentine to strengthen the strategic planning advisory capabilities it offers to clients. Investments in Technology On the technology front, Balentine invested in Addepar, widely considered the industry's most scalable data aggregation and performance reporting platform. This will make it easier for clients to always have a pulse on their entire financial picture. To simplify processes and capture cost savings for clients, Balentine introduced an in-house trading platform, led by new Head of Trading, Kenneth Jackson. As a result, clients now enjoy lower trading costs, better execution, consolidated account operations, and improved tax management capabilities. Investments in Resources Recognizing the need for healthcare planning guidance, Balentine partnered with Bernard Healthcare Financial Planners to assist clients and their loved ones in navigating health insurance and Medicare decisions. Now, clients may meet with a healthcare advisor and receive a customized healthcare plan recommendation at no cost. Under the leadership of Balentine President Brittain Prigge, CFA, Balentine continues to focus on deepening relationships with, and broadening the services it provides to, its Family Office clients with needs that stretch beyond investment management to the more complex topics of wealth and legacy. Finally, Chairman Robert Balentine and CEO Adrian Cronje, Ph.D., CFA released their book First Generation Wealth and led a series of events to help wealth creators think through what it takes to build a meaningful legacy and best support future generations. The Value of a Client-Centered Approach Since Balentine was founded, leadership has committed to constant improvement and servitude to clients. As evidence that these efforts are resonating, Balentine has grown rapidly in the past year, reaching over $6 billion in assets under advisement. This revenue growth encompasses both new clients and existing clients who have consolidated their assets and entrusted them to Balentine. "Reaching over $6 billion of assets under advisement, just 12 years after our founding, validates our client-centered approach to wealth management, and underscores the trust our clients have placed in us," said CEO Adrian Cronje, Ph.D., CFA "But we're far from done growing and strengthening the firm for our clients' benefit." The Value of Independence Across the country, wealth management firmsincluding many in the Southeastare rapidly consolidating. What's more, private-equity firms have established a significant ownership presence in the industry. Balentine is independent and answerable only to its clients and its employees, and it intends to stay that way. The milestones mentioned above are just part of its larger vision: to build and continually strengthen a world-class wealth management firm that will be here for generations to come. Media Contact: Liz Thomas, [email protected] Balentine is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about Balentine's investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2, which is available upon request. For more important disclosures visit www.balentine.com/disclosures SOURCE Balentine "I can't wait to welcome more 'BIGionaires' to the Big Lots Fit Fam this year," said Lopez. "I'm honored that Big Lots has welcomed me and my family into its big family and I'm excited to see everyone crush it in 2022!" Big Lots began rolling out The Lot to its stores in 2020 with very positive customer feedback. Today, The Lot is featured in nearly 1,400 store locations across the country. The company switches out the trendy, themed merchandise in The Lot approximately every six weeks to inspire customers to return and see what exciting new products they can find next. Past themes have featured eclectic collections of nostalgic games and clothing items, outdoor activities, home organization and more. "Our customers love shopping at Big Lots for the exceptional value and surprising products we offer every time they visit," said Bruce Thorn, president and CEO of Big Lots. "We're the home of the hunt for bargains and treasures, and The Lot helps us take that idea a step further by offering a dynamic, constantly changing area in our stores where we can offer new merchandise categories anchored in themed presentations." Big Lots offers a unique shopping experience part treasure hunt, part bargain hunt and part everyday necessities to its growing community of "BIGionaires," or customers who feel like a million bucks searching for the best deals. To order online or find your nearest store, visit biglots.com. ABOUT MARIO LOPEZ Mario Lopez is an award-winning host, actor, producer and New York Times bestselling author. He is the host of NBC's "Access Hollywood" and "Access Daily." In addition, he is the producer and a lead on the critically adored series "Saved by The Bell" reboot, which is currently streaming its 2nd season on Peacock. He also hosts iHeartRADIO's national programs, "On with Mario Lopez" and "iHeartRADIOCountdown with Mario Lopez." In 2008, Mario made his Broadway debut as Zach in, "A Chorus Line," which is where he met his wife, Courtney, with whom he has three adorable kids, Gia, Dominic and Santino and two dogs, Julio & Oscar. He is also a fitness industry leader and shares his passion for health and physical fitness on multiple channels. ABOUT BIG LOTS Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is a neighborhood discount retailer and a Fortune 500 company, operating 1,431 stores in 47 states, as well as a best-in-class ecommerce platform with expanded capabilities via BOPIS, curbside pickup, Instacart and same day delivery. The company's product assortment is focused on home essentials: Furniture, Seasonal, Soft Home, Food, Consumables and Hard Home. Ranked one of the fastest-growing eCommerce businesses by Digital Commerce 360 and the recipient of Home Textiles Today's 2021 Retail Titan Award, Big Lots' mission is to help people Live BIG and Save Lots. The company strives to be the BIG difference for a better life by delivering exceptional value to customers through the ultimate treasure hunt shopping experience, building a "best places to grow" culture, rewarding shareholders with consistent growth and top-tier returns and doing good in local communities. For more information about the company, visit biglots.com . Media Contact: Taylor Castillejo Tombras [email protected] (865) 257-0026 SOURCE Big Lots, Inc. CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bundy Group, a 32-year-old investment bank, announces that it has advised a consortium of three Western U.S.-based companies (collectively known as "Pacific") in a consolidated sale to Integrated Power Services ("IPS"), a North American leader in service, repair, and engineering for electric motors and generators. IPS is a portfolio company of Searchlight Capital Partners, a global private equity group. The three companies are Industrial Electric Machinery ("IEM"), Reed Electric & Field Service ("Reed Electric"), and A+ Electric Motor ("A+"). The Pacific transaction was led by Clint Bundy and Stewart Carlin, Managing Directors with Bundy Group. Lorenc Biqiku and Megan Hagemann, Vice Presidents with Bundy Group, also worked on the Pacific transaction team. Pacific consists of complementary electrical apparatus, automation, industrial equipment repair, and field services organizations that deliver solutions across the Western U.S. Furthermore, it includes seven facilities, over 100 employees, a service region covering 12 states, and client end markets that include the wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal renewables segments. Founded in 1988, IEM, headquartered in Longview, WA with branch operations in Visalia and Carson, CA, is a leading provider of electrical apparatus repair, control systems integration, and distribution solutions. Reed Electric, a 93-year-old, fourth-generation family-owned company that specializes in the repair and sale of motors, pumps, and generators, has facilities in Los Angeles, CA and Reno, NV. Founded in 1999, A+ Electric Motor offers complete pump and motor repair services for clients in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and the Dakotas through its two repair facilities in Billings and Butte, MT. Spencer Wiggins, President of IEM, stated, "After Clint Bundy and I developed the idea of the Pacific consortium, the Bundy Group team worked flawlessly and in a collaborative fashion with respective Pacific firms to manage a highly competitive sale process." Spencer added, "The end result was a great new partner in IPS and a Pacific valuation that was higher for each shareholder as a result of selling as a group versus selling the companies individually. We could not have been happier with the outcome that the Bundy Group team delivered." Roy Richard, President of Reed Electric, commented, "The Reed team has had great respect for IEM, A+, and Bundy Group for many years, and we were excited to join the Pacific consortium. Bundy Group did an outstanding job of coordinating all Pacific members from beginning to end and treating the collective group as one team, which created fluid decision-making and an outstanding result." Roy continued, "The value delivered for the shareholders by Bundy Group was phenomenal, and the team at Reed Electric will have an ideal future partner in IPS." Joe Perry, General Manager of A+, stated, "Bundy Group was thorough in all phases of the sale process, worked non-stop, and had a relentless focus on delivering value for its clients." Joe elaborated, "The Pacific sale provided A+ shareholders a premium value, and it gave us the opportunity to reinvest into IPS and realize additional gains." Clint Bundy stated, "Bundy Group is a specialist in the energy & power, automation, and industrial services industries, and the success of the Pacific engagement is a major achievement for our firm." Clint further added, "This was a complex engagement, due, in no small part, to our coordinating three separate companies with the goal of acting as one group. We could not have executed and closed on this transaction without outstanding clients and a Bundy Group team that is among the best in the investment banking profession." Stewart Carlin with Bundy Group said, "Our work on behalf of the three clients included helping to articulate the vision of what a combined Pacific entity could look like and the steps to integrate the entities, all with the goal of demonstrating to the market that Pacific demanded a platform-worthy valuation." Stewart added, "We enjoyed working in partnership with the Pacific clients to achieve such an outstanding outcome." Bundy Group has significant experience in the energy & power, automation, industrial services, and business services sectors, and has previously advised clients including MR Systems, RAM Industrial Services, and Dorsett Controls. For more information about our industry expertise and other recent transactions, visit Industry Expertise - Bundy Group . About Bundy Group Bundy Group is an industry-focused investment bank that specializes in representing business owners and management teams in business sales, acquisitions, and capital raises. With over 250 closed deals over the past 32 years, Bundy Group's primary goals are to provide high quality options and actionable insights and to deliver an optimal strategic fit at a premium value for our clients. For more information, visit www.bundygroup.com. Bundy Group Securities, LLC, is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Check the background of Bundy Group Securities, LLC at FINRA's BrokerCheck. SOURCE Bundy Group LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The federal criminal case against two California women accused of smuggling designer handbags worth more than half a million dollars as part of an international scheme ended abruptly Wednesday when the judge dismissed the case. The government alleged defendants Kelly Ackerman and Alexandra Aiken brought more than 50 luxury Hermes handbags into the country from Europe and Asia by means of false statements. Prosecutors alleged the handbags, a popular brand among the rich and famous, were worth in excess of $10,000 each. The allegations claimed false customs declarations were submitted in the importation of hundreds of Hermes bags, cheating the government out of significant duties. But the case began collapsing once Ackerman's attorneys at Kaplan Marino, PC , a white collar criminal defense boutique located in Los Angeles, conducted their own investigation and litigated the actual falsity of the declarations. "The twist came when we filed a motion to dismiss which challenged the materiality requirement for the false statement regarding the bags' actual values to Customs," said Nina Marino , counsel for Ackerman and a Co-Founder of Kaplan Marino. Along with firm partner Jennifer Lieser and with assistance from San Francisco co- counsel Gail Shifman and Louis Feuchtbaum, Marino pushed the government to drop the charges against the defendants, arguing that the bags still would have entered the United States even if there were no false statements and thus the crimes, as charged, did not actually occur. On Jan. 26, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White of the Northern District of California approved the government's request to fully dismiss its criminal charges, bringing an end to nearly six years of litigation and negotiation. "Marino and Lieser identified and ran with a highly technical issue clearly obtaining a great result for our client," said partner Richard Kaplan . "We are delighted that this is how it ended. Every step of the way, we have been dedicated to dialing back this very interesting case," said Marino. The case was investigated by multiple government agencies including the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. The case is United States v. Ackerman in the Northern District of California, (Case No. 18-cr-00118.) About Kaplan Marino The attorneys of Kaplan Marino are known in California and globally as leaders in the field of criminal defense. By providing creative solutions and drawing on our decades of experience, we give clients the high-quality representation they deserve. For more information, please visit https://kaplanmarino.com/. SOURCE Kaplan Marino Chinese President Xi Jinping joined residents in north China's Shanxi Province days ahead of the Spring Festival as he began a visit on Wednesday. For 10 years in a row, Xi has made it a tradition to visit people in different parts of China, delivering warm greetings and best wishes. 'I feel assured' Braving the snow, Xi on Wednesday went to Fengnanyuan Village of Huozhou City, where he visited people affected by the flooding last year that disrupted the lives of 1.76 million residents in Shanxi. "I came to Shanxi today primarily out of the concern for people whose work and lives were affected by last year's disaster," Xi told the villagers. After inspecting the post-disaster reconstruction as well as local work in restoring farming and ensuring the public's access to heating in winter, Xi said, "I feel assured." On his past pre-Spring Festival tours, Xi sat down with residents, listened to their concerns and joined them for festival preparations ranging from making sticky rice cakes to frying dough and pasting red paper cuttings. Xi's trips are an example of his "people first" approach, which not only shows these rural residents that they have not been forgotten but also leaves them with a sense of hope for better lives in the year to come. Rural vitalization in full swing During the inspection tour to Duancun Village of Fenxi County on Wednesday afternoon, Xi urged more work to consolidate achievements in poverty alleviation by promoting rural vitalization, an indispensable part of the country's modernization drive. He told a group of villagers that modernization of rural areas will be realized and the residents will have an increasingly promising future. In February 2021, China officially declared that it had eliminated absolute poverty, meaning the Chinese people realized a long-cherished wish for ample food and clothing as well as comfortable housing. Since then, China has been working to foster rural industries, promote the application of agricultural technologies and nurture beautiful countryside. A total of 50 modern agricultural industrial zones, 50 industrial clusters with distinctive strengths and 298 towns with strong agricultural industries were established across the country in 2021, according to Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. SOURCE CGTN TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Golden Star Resources Ltd. (NYSE American: GSS) (TSX: GSC) (GSE: GSR) ("Golden Star" or the "Company") and Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining Co., Ltd. (SHSE: 600988) ("Chifeng") are pleased to announce the completion of the previously announced plan of arrangement under Section 192 of the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "Transaction"), involving the Company, Chifeng and its subsidiary Chijin International (Hong Kong) Limited ("Chijin"), and Chijin's assignee Kefei Investment (BVI) Limited (the "Assignee"), pursuant to the arrangement agreement dated October 31, 2021, as amended by an amending agreement dated November 24, 2021 and an assignment and assumption agreement dated December 21, 2021 (collectively, the "Arrangement Agreement"), following the receipt of all required regulatory approvals and satisfaction of all closing conditions. The Transaction Pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement, Chifeng, through Chijin and the Assignee acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Golden Star for US$3.91 in cash (equivalent to approximately C$4.85 as of October 31, 2021) per share, which equated to a total Transaction value of approximately US$470 million on a fully-diluted, in-the-money basis. Further details of the Transaction are set out in the Company's management information circular dated November 25, 2021 (the "Circular"). A copy of the Circular was filed on SEDAR on December 6, 2021 and can be found under Golden Star's profile at www.sedar.com. The common shares of Golden Star are expected to be delisted from (i) the NYSE American within approximately ten calendar days, (ii) the Toronto Stock Exchange within two to three business days and (iii) the Ghana Stock Exchange within eight business days. In addition, Golden Star will apply to cease to be a reporting issuer or its equivalent under U.S., Canadian and Ghanaian securities laws. In the meantime, the Company has requested that trading of the common shares of Golden Star on the NYSE American be suspended and that the NYSE American file a Form 25 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), notifying the SEC of the delisting of the common shares of Golden Star on the NYSE American and the deregistration of the Company's registered securities under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). The Company intends to suspend its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act by filing a Form 15 with the SEC approximately ten days following the filing of the Form 25. The deregistration will become effective 90 days after the filing of the Form 15 or such shorter period as may be determined by the SEC. The Company's obligations to file with the SEC certain reports and forms, including Form 40-F and Form 6-K, will be suspended immediately as of the filing date of the Form 15 and will terminate once the deregistration becomes effective. Advisors In connection with the Transaction, Golden Star engaged Canaccord Genuity Corp. as its exclusive financial advisor as well as Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP and Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP as its respective Canadian and United States legal advisors. Canaccord Genuity Corp. provided a fairness opinion to Golden Star's Board of Directors. In connection with the Transaction, Chifeng engaged Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. and First Asia Group Ltd. as its financial advisors as well as Goodmans LLP as its legal advisor. Chifeng Profile Chifeng is an international gold mining company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of approximately US$3.7 billion. It operates five mining assets, including the world-class Sepon gold mine in Laos. In 2018, Chifeng acquired Sepon before undertaking significant capital expenditures to redevelop the gold processing facility in order to double its future gold production. Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information Some statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation thereof. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause facts to differ materially. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Forward-looking statements may include but are not limited to the anticipated timing of delisting of the common shares of Golden Star; the reporting issuer status or its equivalent of Golden Star; the expected suspension of trading of the common shares of Golden Star on the NYSE American; the suspension of reporting obligations under the Exchange Act; and the deregistration of the Company registered securities under the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements are based on the assumptions, opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Golden Star's management believes that the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, without limitation: gold price volatility; discrepancies between actual and estimated production; mineral reserves and resources and metallurgical recoveries; mining operational and development risks; liquidity risks; suppliers suspending or denying delivery of products or services; regulatory restrictions (including environmental regulatory restrictions and liability); actions by governmental authorities; the speculative nature of gold exploration; ore type; the global economic climate; share price volatility; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; risks related to streaming agreements and joint venture operations; the availability of capital on reasonable terms or at all; risks related to international operations, including economic and political instability in foreign jurisdictions in which Golden Star operates; developments in Ghana that may have an adverse impact on Golden Star; risks related to current global financial conditions including financial and other risks resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic; actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; future prices of gold; possible variations in mineral reserves and mineral resources, grade or recovery rates; mine development and operating risks; an inability to obtain power for operations on favorable terms or at all; mining plant or equipment breakdowns or failures; an inability to obtain products or services for operations or mine development from vendors and suppliers on reasonable terms, including pricing, or at all; public health pandemics such as COVID-19, including risks associated with reliance on suppliers, the cost, scheduling and timing of gold shipments, uncertainties relating to its ultimate spread, severity and duration, and related adverse effects on the global economy and financial markets; accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; litigation risks; the quantum and timing of receipt of the proceeds from the sale by the Company of its interest in Bogoso-Prestea; risks related to indebtedness and the service of such indebtedness; and general business, economic, competitive, political, health and social uncertainties. Although Golden Star has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. Please refer to the discussion of these and other factors in Management's Discussion and Analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2020 and in our annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2020 as filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forecasts contained in this press release constitute management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to their inherent uncertainty. SOURCE Golden Star Resources Ltd. At the Open House, prospective buyers can learn about securing up to $10,000 in down payment assistance available to qualified first-time home buyers. In partnership with Good Places and KNGDM Group, the event aims to connect potential homebuyers with Citizens Trust Bank's certified mortgage professionals who can provide information on homeownership counseling and down payment assistance programs. Promoting Ion, College Park, Georgia's newest mixed-use community, Citizens Trust Bank Mortgage professionals will be on hand to prequalify interested homebuyer prospects looking to secure potential residence in the community. "Celebrating the Bank's legacy of building wealth through homeownership, this event is a living example of our ongoing commitment to having a shared value in the community by promoting the importance of healthy community ecosystems," says Yulanda Munford, Citizens Trust Bank Mortgage Operations Manager. "We are excited to partner with Good Places and the KNGDM Group to bring access to more resources and services to more of the communities' potential homebuyers," added Munford. The open house will take place at Ion Arts, the 16-unit Condominium site at 1805 Harvard Avenue, College Park, Georgia, 30337. Parking will be available onsite for public use directly across from Ion Arts. Contact Us at https://ctbconnect.com/contact-us-/ for further information. Looking to get prequalified at the Open House event? Be prepared to bring: Valid Identification 30-days of employer pay stubs Self-employed: Two [2] most recent years of tax returns Last two [2] years Form W2 Two [2] months of bank statements About Citizens Trust Bank Celebrating 100 years in the community, Citizens Trust Bank remains committed to providing personalized service and financial solutions to meet the community's growing needs. Through a legacy built on economic equality and well-being, we go beyond meeting the needs of offering banking solutions; our mission is to empower our customers and future generations for financial success. Through its parent company, Citizens Bancshares Corporation, the Bank offers its common stock over-the-counter to the public under the trading symbol CZBS and can be found at www.ctbconnect.com. About Good Places Drawing from over 25 years of combined local and international experience, Good Places focuses on neighborhood revitalization through its unique community-centered approach to development. Founded in 2017, Good Places is the first US affiliate of the Ethical Property Company, an international social real estate development business operating in five different countries worldwide. In collaboration with strong value-aligned community and capital partners, Good Places aims to develop equitable and sustainable communities through place-based real estate projects. About KNGDM Group KNGDM Group is a leader in aligning capital with values. KNGDM Group is a majority Black-Owned developer primarily focused on developing mixed-use, high-impact projects in the Southeast. They build real estate and invest in people to not just revitalize a community but to break cycles of poverty and drive wealth creation both locally and for their investors. SOURCE Citizens Trust Bank Photo released on Jan. 28, 2022 by twitter account Pittsburgh Public Safety shows a collapsed bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the United States. A bridge in Pittsburgh, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, collapsed early Friday morning, authorities said. Emergency personnel are responding to "a confirmed bridge collapse" near Forbes and Braddock avenues in east Pittsburgh, according to the Pittsburgh Public Safety department. (Pittsburgh Public Safety via Twitter/Xinhua) WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A bridge in Pittsburgh, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, collapsed early Friday morning, authorities said. Emergency personnel are responding to "a confirmed bridge collapse" near Forbes and Braddock avenues in east Pittsburgh, according to the Pittsburgh Public Safety department. The agency also tweeted a "gas line has been cut" after reporting "there is a strong smell of natural gas in the area." It added that updates on injuries will be provided later and that the Red Cross has been contacted for victim assistance. Several cars and a bus were involved in the collapse, photos of the scene showed. U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Pittsburgh later in the day to discuss infrastructure. Photo released on Jan. 28, 2022 by twitter account Pittsburgh Public Safety shows a collapsed bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the United States. A bridge in Pittsburgh, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, collapsed early Friday morning, authorities said. Emergency personnel are responding to "a confirmed bridge collapse" near Forbes and Braddock avenues in east Pittsburgh, according to the Pittsburgh Public Safety department. (Pittsburgh Public Safety via Twitter/Xinhua) To begin with, although data privacy is a relatively new concept in human history, privacy rights themselves can be traced all the way back to the formation of the U.S. Constitution. Tensions between the need for privacy and the need for security have been a part of American society since its inception. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures." This amendment was written in response to the British's dictatorial actions. The 1970s Fast forward to the 1970s, when computers began to become ubiquitous in households across the world. In reaction to fears over computer advancements and privacy in the use of personal data, the first modern data privacy regulation was established in Hesse, Germany. Sweden's 1973 Data Act was the country's first national data protection legislation, criminalizing data theft while also allowing individuals access to their records. The 1980s The western world soon caught up when the United Kingdom enacted The Data Protection Act of 1984, which laid down fundamental rules for data users and access to that data by people to which it pertained. Data Privacy Day January 28th is significant as it marks the day the Council of Europe opened the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data in 1981. Commemorating it is intended to raise citizen awareness of personal data protection and their rights and responsibilities. The tradition was initiated in 2007. The 1990s The regulations of The Data Protection Act of 1984 were updated and replaced with the Data Protection Act of 1998, which took effect on March 1st, 2000. In 1999, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) was passed by Congress. It is a federal regulation requiring financial firms to disclose how they share and safeguard private customer information. The law dictates that financial institutions must explain how customer data is shared, give customers the option not to have their information shared, and implement security. The GLBA's Safeguards Rule is the centerpiece of data protection regulations. The Federal Trade Commission's Privacy of Consumer Financial Information Rule (Privacy Rule), as well as regulatory authorities at the federal level and state insurance oversight agencies, implemented and enforced the act. The 2000s In the year 2000, the International Safe Harbor Privacy Principles was established. This was a set of regulations designed to address the various data privacy laws in the United States and Europe, allowing for improved information flow between them. In 2015, the European Court of Justice ruled that they were invalid due to U.S. legislation allowing American intelligence agencies unrestricted access to E.U. citizens' data. In 2016, the EU-US Privacy Shield was adopted to replace Safe Harbor but is no longer valid as of the year 2021. In 2003, California was the first state to pass data breach notification rules. Businesses and government agencies in California were required by new legislation to disclose when their customers' personal information had been exposed in a security incident. Most of the other states in the United States and several overseas governments have followed suit with this legislation. In the year 2012, the European Commission announced its plan to develop the GDPR. What's the GDPR? The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation in E.U. legislation on data protection and privacy in the European Union and the European Economic Area. This would take the place of the E.U. Data Protection Directive. E.U. citizens have the right to submit inquiries to search engines requesting that their personal information be deleted from search engine results when their name is searched. The Present The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was then approved in 2016 and officially took effect in 2018. How to keep your data protected in 2022 Try to make sure you're using clearly GDPR compliant services and state clearly how they will or will not be using your data. A good example of a GDPR compliance privacy statement can be found here , on cloudHQ's website. 5 Tools to use & Good to knows: Ad blockers An ad blocker might be helpful to install which blocks ads and the collection of data from companies. If you select an ad blocker to use, don't just look at verified ad blockers. Make sure you read their blog post too. This famous blog post from Get Ad Block explains that many ad blockers are actually malware, using its name to trick consumers into installing their extension to steal their data. HTTPS Install an HTTPS Everywhere extension. HTTPS Everywhere automatically directs you to the most secure version of the site. Enable DNS Enabling a DNS (Domain Name System) is great to determine how to connect to websites over a secure connection. There are four easy steps to do it: Go to your Chrome settings by clicking in your profile pic in your Chrome toolbar and then click on the pen idon to edit your settings. Navigate to Security and Privacy > Security > Advanced > Use secure DNS. Always make sure that if you're going to share any information about yourself or your email account, that the company you're sharing your data with doesn't sell your data to third parties, and is a trusted source. Check their privacy page. Here's ours for reference. It's even better if they're GDPR compliant. VPN Most VPNs are owned by shady companies , so for the time being, we don't suggest you use any VPNs. Follow the 4 steps above, and you'll have a much safer online data privacy experience. We here at cloudHQ strongly believe in data privacy and protect our clients from malware, while empowering them to be the most productive they can be at work. As our lives become more digital every day it is more important than ever to understand your digital privacy rights, and different ways to protect yourself, your friends, and your family. SOURCE cloudHQ The building's iconic Fifth Avenue Lobby windows this year feature a festive installation with artistic imagery and representations of this year's animal the tiger. Revered as heroic characters, tigers symbolize great strength amid adversity. The animal is depicted in an array of colors and art styles among diverse landscapes in a series of three scenes. The windows celebrate Chinese culture and history with images in florals, white, and gold. The festive display will remain in the lobby until Feb. 24. "Our tower lighting and Fifth Avenue window displays are annual Lunar New Year traditions at the Empire State Building, and we are happy to celebrate the Chinese community in the US, in China, and all over the world," said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. More information about the Empire State Building and its tower lights can be found online. B-roll of the lighting and imagery of the windows can be found here. About the Empire State Building The Empire State Building , "The World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust , Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience creates an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop-culture. Learn more at www.esbnyc.com . Declared "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, as well as the world's most popular travel destination by Uber and the #1 New York City attraction by Lonely Planet, it welcomes more than 4 million annual visitors from around the world. Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors primarily house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , Weibo , YouTube , or TikTok . About Empire State Realty Trust Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) is a NYC-focused REIT that owns and manages a well-positioned property portfolio of office, retail and multifamily assets in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area. Owner of the Empire State Building, the World's Most Famous Building, ESRT also owns and operates its iconic, newly reimagined Observatory Experience. The company is a leader in healthy buildings, energy efficiency, and indoor environmental quality, and has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per square foot of any publicly traded REIT portfolio in New York City. As of Dec. 31, 2021, ESRT's portfolio is comprised of approximately 9.4 million rentable square feet of office space, 700,000 rentable square feet of retail space and 625 units across two multifamily properties. More information about Empire State Realty Trust can be found at esrtreit.com and by following ESRT on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and LinkedIn . SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global endodontics and orthodontics market is expected to expand at a CAGR of around 5.2% over the forecast period of 2021 to 2031. As per the latest research report by Persistence Market Research, the global market was valued at over US$ 4.6 Bn in 2020. Increasing popularity of being aesthetically perfect in terms of appearance has driven the growth of the dental prosthetics and aesthetics sector over the past few years. Changing lifestyle and perception with regard to facial aesthetics have catalyzed demand growth of endodontic and orthodontic products, wherein, dental implants present a lucrative stance for further revenue growth in the industry. Increasing incidence of periodontal diseases, dental expenditure, and rising global geriatric population, as well as increasing disposable income are prime factors driving market expansion. Furthermore, novel advancements and innovations with respect to developments in endodontics, growing awareness regarding dental hygiene, and rise in the number of dental practitioners in established geographies are complementing market growth. Surge in the demand for root canal treatments followed by rising investments in research & development by key healthcare companies has led to the production of newer endodontic and orthodontic products, primarily dental implants. Many key manufacturers of endodontic and orthodontic products are focusing on emerging markets due to their extensive potential for growth as well as to widen their distribution channels across the globe. Request for sample copy of report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/27700 Key Takeaways from Market Study Endodontic products hold over two-third of the market value share, primarily because of the high prevalence of oral diseases. Dental clinics dominated the market with a share of around 72.3% in 2020, owing to rising number of dental professionals with independent clinical practices, globally. North America is the largest regional market with a value share of over 37% in 2020. It is further expected to grow 1.5X by 2031 owing to the presence of major players in the region. "Rising awareness regarding oral health and advancements in root canal treatments have driven demand of endodontic and orthodontic products" says an analyst of Persistence Market Research. Market Competition To increase their sales, major players in the endodontics and orthodontics market have been focused on product innovation. Manufacturers have been inventing ways to innovate their products in order to maintain their market position. Get customized report by asking an expert: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/request-customization/27700 For instance, key players such as Henry Schein , Inc. and Ivoclar Vivadent AG, in December 2019 , announced plans for the distribution of the new PrograMill One Milling System, where companies do business together. Agreements and distribution channel expansions are other key strategies adopted by manufacturers to increase their consumer base in different geographies. Patterson Veterinary Supply, Inc., a subsidiary of Patterson Companies, Inc., announced that it had signed an agreement to acquire all of the assets of Miller Vet Holdings, LLC, a multiregional veterinary distributor, in April 2021 . Prominent players in this industry include Dentsply sirona, Inc., 3M, Align Technology, Inc, DENTAURUM Gmbh & Co. KG, FKG Dentaire SA, Ivoclar Vivadent Inc, Patterson Companies, Inc., Mani, Inc., Coltene Holdings AG, and Danaher Corporation (Ormco). Get full access of report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/27700 What Does the Report Cover? Persistence Market Research offers a unique perspective and actionable insights on the endodontics and orthodontics market in its latest study, presenting historical demand assessment of 2016 2020 and projections for 2021 2031. The research study is based on the product (endodontic products (permanent sealers, files, obturation devices, and others) and orthodontic products (dental braces, molar bands, wires, retainers, and others)) and end user (dental laboratories, dental hospitals, dental clinics, and others), across seven key regions of the world. Related Reports: About Persistence Market Research: Persistence Market Research (PMR), as a 3rd-party research organization, does operate through an exclusive amalgamation of market research and data analytics for helping businesses ride high, irrespective of the turbulence faced on the account of financial/natural crunches. Overview: Persistence Market Research is always way ahead of its time. In other words, it tables market solutions by stepping into the companies'/clients' shoes much before they themselves have a sneak pick into the market. The pro-active approach followed by experts at Persistence Market Research helps companies/clients lay their hands on techno-commercial insights beforehand, so that the subsequent course of action could be simplified on their part. Contact Rajendra Singh Persistence Market Research U.S. Sales Office: 305 Broadway, 7th Floor New York City, NY 10007 +1-646-568-7751 United States USA - Canada Toll-Free: 800-961-0353 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com SOURCE Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd. BEIJING, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd. ("First High-School Education Group" or the "Company") (NYSE: FHS), an education service provider primarily focusing on high schools in Western China, today announced its voluntary update on Company's business operations. The Company's board of directors is aware of the recent unusual fluctuations in the Company's share price. The Company's business operations are in normal progress and it operates relevant schools in accordance with applicable governing laws and regulations. As of the date of this announcement, the Company is not aware of any potential changes in existing applicable laws and regulations that may have any material adverse impact on the business operations and prospects of the Company. The Company will continue to monitor the latest regulatory updates, and seek to comply with relevant laws and regulations in its business operations. About First High-School Education Group First High-School Education Group is an education service provider primarily focusing on high schools in Western China. The Company aspires to become a leader and innovator of private high school education in China, with the focuses on a comprehensive education management integrating education information consulting, education research project development, education talent management, education technology management, education service management, and general vocational integration development services. For more information, please visit https://ir.diyi.top/. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected trading commencement and closing dates. The words "achieve," "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in our annual report on Form 20-F and other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. and NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- OZY Media ("OZY" or the "Company") today announced that David N. Lawrence has agreed to become a Senior Advisor to OZY's Board of Directors to support OZY's legal, governance, compliance, and business development efforts. Lawrence is expected to play a critical role in the previously disclosed effort to instill confidence and restore value for all stakeholders, including the Company's audience, advertisers, distribution partners, employees, and investors. Carlos Watson, Founder and CEO, said: "Having David as a Senior Advisor to the OZY Board is a profoundly major step forward for us. He has rightfully earned the respect of many in the legal, governance, compliance and ethics communities, and, we are delighted to acknowledge the entrepreneurial and company builder communities as well." For 10 years, Lawrence served in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, where he held a number of executive positions including Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Chief of the Office's Public Corruption and General Crimes Units, as well as becoming the Office's first Chief Ethics Officer. Following his tenure at the U.S. Justice Department, Lawrence joined Goldman Sachs, serving as Associate General Counsel and Managing Director. During his 20 years at Goldman Sachs, he built and was the Global Head of the Business Intelligence Group and served on a number of the firm's senior committees. He also architected what became the market-leading compliance software covering economic sanctions and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and was the founder of Regulatory Data Corp (RDC) -- which attracted 20 of the world's leading banks and Bain Ventures as investors. RDC was acquired by Vista Equity Partners (2017) and then Moody's (2019), achieving a valuation for its various investors of $700 million. With backing from a wide range of leading investors, Lawrence retired from Goldman Sachs at the end of 2014, to become the Founder of the Risk Assistance and Network+Exchange ( RANE ), a for-profit company operating in the public interest. RANE is an information, data, technology, and risk advisory firm that works with leading and developing institutions throughout the private and public sectors to address the full spectrum of today's enterprise and human capital risks. In taking on the special advisor role, Lawrence specifically cited both the significance of OZY's mission and social impact, and his respect for Carlos Watson's intellect, creativity, and vision--which dates back to their time together at Goldman Sachs. "I firmly believe in the public interest imperative to ensure the sustainability and growth of a medium devoted to elevating our conversation and, in turn, elevating our diverse communities. I look forward to supporting OZY's many valued stakeholders," said Lawrence. Lawrence has already begun working closely with several OZY stakeholders on a variety of initiatives over the last three months. His legal and commercial experience is proving to be invaluable to these ongoing collaborative efforts to stabilize and grow the Company. Mike Moe, Chair of the OZY Board added: "OZY's best days are ahead of us. I am so proud of the work that Carlos and the team are doing and excited to have David aboard as we learn, grow and continue to build one of the most consequential media companies in the world." Harry Hawks, industry veteran, entrepreneur, investor and informal advisor to the Company, said: "I can think of no better way to demonstrate commitment to rebuilding OZY, enhancing reputation, restoring value, and addressing challenges, than by adding someone of David's stature to the team. He has that rare combination of widely respected professional standing, impeccable resume of accomplishment, tenacious discipline, and entrepreneurial drive, that can add tremendous value to the rebirth of OZY. He has what OZY needs. Notwithstanding, the addition of David is just one important step of many more to come." Launched in 2013, OZY has built a diverse and unique voice in media including 5 newsletters , 12 tv shows , 9 podcasts and 4 festivals . OZY has also built valuable advertiser relationships with dozens of the Fortune 500. In 2020, OZY won an Emmy Award for its groundbreaking television program, Black Women OWN the Conversation. SOURCE OZY Media ROLLING MEADOWS, Ill., Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, proudly announced that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2022 Corporate Equality Index, the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. "We are so pleased to have earned recognition for the fourth year in a row on the list of Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality," Susan Pietrucha, Global Chief Human Resources Officer said. "Inclusivity is core to who we are as a company and how we meet the needs of our colleagues, clients, and partners. Our inclusive culture brought us together to achieve outstanding business results this past year, and I am excited to continue our inclusion and diversity journey in 2022 and beyond." "When the Human Rights Campaign Foundation created the Corporate Equality Index 20 years ago, we dreamed that LGBTQ+ workersfrom the factory floor to corporate headquarters, in big cities and small townscould have access to the policies and benefits needed to thrive and live life authentically," said Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaign Senior Vice President of Programs, Research and Training. "We are proud that the Corporate Equality Index paved the way to that reality for countless LGBTQ+ workers in America and abroad. But there is still more to do, which is why we are raising the bar yet again to create more equitable workplaces and a better tomorrow for LGBTQ+ workers everywhere. Congratulations to Gallagher for achieving the title of 'best places to work for LGBTQ+ equality' and working to advance inclusion in the workplace." The results of the 2022 CEI showcase how 1,271 U.S.-based companies are not only promoting LGBTQ+-friendly workplace policies in the U.S., but also for the 56% of CEI-rated companies with global operations who are helping advance the cause of LGBTQ+ inclusion in workplaces abroad. Gallagher's efforts in satisfying all of the CEI's criteria earned a 100 percent ranking and the designation as one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality. "Gallagher has a strong and lasting commitment to supporting a diverse work environment and in the communities we serve," said Christopher Mead, Global Chief Marketing Officer. "We look for partners who share our values and that make a difference in areas of human rights, civil rights, inequality, and diversity and inclusion. We are honored to be recognized by HRC, signifying Gallagher's continued dedication to inclusivity." In 2002, the first year of the CEI, only 13 companies achieved a top-score, demonstrating the incredible impact the CEI has had on the business world over its 20-year life. This year's CEI reflects growth across every measurement category, from the adoption of inclusive non-discrimination policies, to equitable healthcare benefits for transgender employees. The CEI rates employers providing these crucial protections to over 20 million U.S. workers and an additional 18 million abroad. Companies rated in the CEI include Fortune magazine's 500 largest publicly traded businesses, American Lawyer magazine's top 200 revenue-grossing law firms (AmLaw 200), and hundreds of publicly and privately held mid- to large-sized businesses. The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars: Non-discrimination policies across business entities; Equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ workers and their families; Supporting an inclusive culture; and, Corporate social responsibility. The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei. ABOUT GALLAGHER Gallagher (NYSE: AJG), a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The company has operations in 68 countries and offers client service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community. SOURCE Gallagher Key Highlights Offered in the Report: Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices. Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models. Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers. Get a free sample report for more information Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers: Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Employee Relocation Services market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Employee Relocation Services pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as volume-based pricing, spot pricing, and cost-plus pricing and category management strategies and best practices to fulfil their category objectives. For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, www.spendedge.com/report/employee-relocation-services-sourcing-procurement-intelligence-report Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth: The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. Identify favorable opportunities in Employee Relocation Services TCO (total cost of ownership). Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes. Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities. Some of the top Employee Relocation Services suppliers listed in this report: This Employee Relocation Services procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies. Realogy Holdings Corp Graebel Companies Inc Madison Dearborn Partners LLC To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment. Subscribe Now for Free 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 Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses to Sponsor National Entrepreneurship Week 2022 Tweet this "Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is proud to be a partner of the 2022 National Entrepreneurship Week," said Jessica Taylor, National Director of 10,000 Small Businesses and Managing Director at Goldman Sachs. "Entrepreneurs are the drivers of new jobs, innovation and creativity throughout our economy. We are pleased to support this annual event and work together to strengthen entrepreneurs across the country." Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses provides business education, pathways to capital, and business support services for growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Participants develop an actionable growth plan for their business with the help of advisors and a network of like-minded entrepreneurs. The program is delivered at no cost to the participants. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses partners with Babson College and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) to reach and train entrepreneurs across the country. Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses represents over 12,000 business owners, across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, who employ 200,000 people and represent more than $14B in total revenue. ICIC drives inclusive economic prosperity in under-resourced communities through innovative research and programs to create jobs, income, and wealth for local residents. ICIC is the National Outreach and Recruitment Partner for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. Babson College empowers entrepreneurial leaders who create, grow and steward sustainable economic and social value everywhere. Babson College is the National Academic Partner for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. National Entrepreneurship Week democratizes entrepreneurship and is dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the diverse voices of entrepreneurship across the United States. The annual initiative was founded in 2006 through a bi-partisan congressional charter. For more information, visit www.natleshipweek.org. Contact: Joe Kapp [email protected] SOURCE National Entrepreneurship Week LOS ANGELES, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WorkingNation , a nonprofit news organization reporting on the future of work, today began releasing written, audio and video reports - plus economic data not available anywhere else - on how green jobs affect the economy of Pennsylvania and ways the underlying job skills could boost the state's workforce. Green Jobs Now, a series from WorkingNation. (PRNewsfoto/WorkingNation) Data collected for the WorkingNation journalism project, Green Jobs Now: Pennsylvania , shows nearly 30,000 workers in Pennsylvania's green economy. With a $1.2 trillion federal investment in U.S. infrastructure coming, the number of Pennsylvania green jobs is projected to grow 6.4% over the next five years, according to Emsi Burning Glass , the firm that collected and analyzed the Pennsylvania data for WorkingNation. "Pennsylvania is a window on the future," says Paula DiPerna , an author and strategic environmental policy advisor collaborating on the project. "Pennsylvania is trying to move towards a new definition of industrial growth in terms of transitioning from being dependent on an economy that flows from the use of fossil fuels to one that flows from alternatives." Pennsylvania represents the first state-focused installment of the WorkingNation/Emsi Burning Glass Green Jobs Now series, a state-by-state, data-driven journalism project to define and identify green jobs and skills, pinpoint where workers can find them, and create a vivid snapshot of the green economy. The Pennsylvania reporting includes: a WorkingNation.org article by Laura Aka on a company in Philadelphia and Allentown, Pa. , and New Castle, Del. , diverting construction and industrial debris out of the waste stream and repurposing it for new uses, and a Philadelphia workforce development organization that trains workers for green jobs. by on a company in and , and , diverting construction and industrial debris out of the waste stream and repurposing it for new uses, and a workforce development organization that trains workers for green jobs. an audio podcast in the "Work Green, Earn Green" series in which host Jay Tipton talks to architects transforming neglected Pittsburgh neighborhoods into eco-friendly communities, making the Steel City a green city. talks to architects transforming neglected neighborhoods into eco-friendly communities, making the Steel City a green city. a video in the "I Want That Job!" series highlighting in-demand jobs of Pennsylvania's green economy. green economy. an Emsi Burning Glass report detailing green jobs data and trends in the Keystone State. So where are the opportunities and how can local workers take advantage of them? Green Jobs Now: Pennsylvania identifies the state's most in-demand green skills overall and for selected occupations, and suggests certain workers could get salary boosts by learning and applying green skills. For example, an electrician with green skills and competencies could earn $5,000 per year more than average for the occupation in Pennsylvania. What's more, there is broad opportunity: It's estimated there are more than 1.5 million workers in the state who could learn new skills to give them access to the growing number of green jobs. Media organizations interested in accessing WorkingNation's data and experts may reach out to the contact below. About WorkingNation WorkingNation is a nonprofit journalism organization telling stories about solutions to the jobs skills gap disrupting our economy. Follow us on YouTube , Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook and Instagram . Media Contact: Steve Delsohn [email protected] 805-358-3318 SOURCE WorkingNation Get a free sample of this data, download our sample report: https://spendedge.com/procurement-report/industrial-lead-acid-battery-market-procurement-research-report Who are the Top Suppliers in the Industrial Lead-Acid Battery Market? The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several top suppliers. Some of the leading Industrial Lead-Acid Battery suppliers profiled extensively in this report include: Exide Technologies East Penn Manufacturing Co. Exide Industries Ltd. These are a few of the key suppliers in Industrial Lead-Acid Battery market. Discover more about these vendors, including the detailed analysis of procurement strategies deployed by major category end-users across several industries while sourcing for Industrial Lead-Acid Battery requirements. Download a free sample of this report: https://spendedge.com/procurement-report/industrial-lead-acid-battery-market-procurement-research-report What are the Most Adopted Procurement Strategies for the Industrial Lead-Acid Battery Market? The research includes a complete analysis of the most commonly used procurement strategies by buyers across sectors, as well as an insight into these strategies' innovation, regulatory compliance, quality, supply, and cost. Adopting these procurement tactics would enable buyers to minimize category TCO and achieve cost savings while sourcing Industrial Lead-Acid Battery. What Are the Most Effective Price Strategy That a Vendor Can Adopt and What is The Forecasted Incremental Spend? It is critical to monitor current and future pricing changes in order to maximize the value of the purchase. Price forecasts can assist in purchase planning, especially when combined with constant monitoring of price-influencing factors. The market expects an incremental spend of USD 28.8 billion over the forecast period as a result of several market drivers prevalent across multiple geographies. In addition, the sourcing and procurement report discusses different cost-cutting factors by analyzing the following criteria: Identify favorable opportunities in Industrial Lead-Acid Battery TCO (total cost of ownership) Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities Download the free sample report to get detailed insights into few more pricing strategies. Which are the Key Regions for Industrial Lead-Acid Battery Market? The Industrial Lead-Acid Battery market will register an incremental spend of about USD 28.8 billion during the forecast period. However, only a few regions will drive the majority of this growth. Moreover, on the supply side, North America, Europe, and APAC will have the maximum influence owing to the supplier base. The growth is expected to be primarily driven by increasing demand and adoption of the category across those few regions. To get more information on the volume drivers that are driving the adoption of the category across regions, download our free sample report. Smart Procurement Starts Here: SpendEdge's procurement intelligence platform is the go-to tool for companies looking to access latest procurement research insights and supplier data on an easy to use platform: Subscribe now for free, to get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment. Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ten people were injured after a bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh, U.S. state of Pennsylvania, on Friday morning, said officials. The injuries are all minor and not life-threatening, while three people were transported to the hospital, Pittsburgh's fire chief Darryl Jones told reporters. Four vehicles were on the bridge when it fell and the cause of the collapse is under investigation, Jones added. Ed Gainey, mayor of Pittsburgh, revealed that the bridge over Hot Dog Dam Dog Park was last inspected in September. U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Pittsburgh later in the day to discuss infrastructure. The White House said in a statement that Biden is aware of the incident and plans to proceed with his trip. "The President is grateful to the first responders who rushed to assist the drivers who were on the bridge at the time," the statement read. Emergency personnel responded to "a confirmed bridge collapse" near Forbes and Braddock avenues in east Pittsburgh early Friday morning, tweeted Pittsburgh Public Safety. The agency also reported a "gas line has been cut" after saying "there is a strong smell of natural gas in the area." Residents and motorists have been urged to avoid the area. More than 220,000 U.S. bridges need major repair work or should be replaced, according to an analysis by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association analysis in 2021. That figure represents 36 percent, or more than one-third, of all U.S. bridges. The states with the most serious or worse bridge conditions are Iowa, Oklahoma, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Louisiana, the study also showed. In a statement on Friday, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania John Fetterman called the collapse "the latest in a long line of preventable, man-made disasters." "Our infrastructure is failing our people. Our roads and bridges, which are supposed to connect us and bring us together, are increasingly putting us in danger," Fetterman bemoaned. "Last year, American viewers took full advantage of their viewing options, and drama was one of the favorite genres. Interestingly, many of the productions that dominated the ratings were foreign series that were not made specifically for the U.S. audience. So, we are convinced that Kanal D Drama's Turkish series will continue to have the impact and acceptance that good content brings," said Francheska Leon de la Barra, Marketing Director of Kanal D Drama in the U.S. and LatAm. "The U.S. audience continues to ask for and embrace universal stories where women are the protagonists, like ' Juegos del Destino' . We are sure this series will immediately captivate our fans." Juegos del Destino (Baht Oyunu) is a romantic comedy that tells the story of Ada (Cemre Baysel), who grew up among superstitious women, believing that the women in her family are haunted by a curse that forces them to marry the first man they fall in love with, in order to be happy, or they will be unhappy all their lives. But fate has prepared a surprise for Ada, who after discovering that Ruzgar (Idris Nebi Taskan), the man she has married, has deceived her, decides to act to avoid being a victim of the family curse. As part of her plan, she begins working for the attractive and charismatic Bora (Aytac Sasmaz). This will quickly take her on a challenging and romantic journey, which will force her to question everything she believes, and the superstitions she has grown up with. Will Ada decide to remain a prisoner of the family tradition, or will she risk everything for true love? The cast of Juegos del Destino features a group of young actors who are emerging from the flourishing Kanal D drama factory. The series also features the stellar performance of model and actress Asl Sumen (Tugce), who represented Turkey at the Miss World pageant in 2017. Kanal D Drama, the first 24/7 Turkish drama channel, is owned by Kanal D International Networks, and currently airs in 15 countries on three continents. It is the result of a strategic alliance between Kanal D International and Thema America, which is responsible for managing, operating, and distributing the Spanish-language signal and the Kanal D Drama streaming platform in the U.S., Spain, and Latin America. Thema America also presents other versions of Kanal D Drama in Albania, France, and Kosovo. Juegos del Destino premieres on February 10 on Kanal D Drama. It will be broadcast on the linear channel. and through the Kanal D Drama app, from Monday to Friday at 12:30 a.m. Eastern / 9:30 p.m Pacific via Xfinity and Verizon FiOS (channel 1586). To watch the trailer, visit: https://youtu.be/EbUzsyN79Rc . To learn more about Kanal D Drama, and its linear programming and SVOD service in the United States, visit www.kanalddrama.com and follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify. About Thema America: THEMA, a Canal+ group company, is a leading distributor of thematic and multicultural content on all platforms for MVPDs (Multichannel Video Programming Distributors). It has a varied portfolio of more than 180 channels worldwide. Its portfolio includes, among others, Kanal D Drama, in association with Kanal D International; MEZZO Live HD a Canal+'s, also it offers Mexico's leading channels, Once Mexico and Canal 22 International, and the Dominican Republic's Telemicro Internacional, among others. About Kanal D International: Kanal D International is the global business arm of Demiroren Media Group, Europe's leading media organization operating at television, newspaper, internet and magazine publishing and distribution industries. Since 2018, Kanal D International has widened its presence at the content world with Kanal D International Networks brand to reach the end-user. The distribution arm of the company continues its activities under the brand Kanal D International and Kanal D International Networks is the name of the business line that holds all linear assets. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1736315/Thema_America_Juegos_del_Destino.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1488303/KANAL_D_DRAMA_Logo.jpg SOURCE Thema America Parent Market Analysis Technavio categorizes the global manuka honey market as a part of the global packaged foods market within the global consumer staples software market. Technavio uses the total revenue generated by manufacturers to estimate the global manuka honey market size. External factors influencing the parent market's growth potential in the coming years have been thoroughly investigated in our research analysis, to know more about the levels of growth of the manuka honey market throughout the forecast period, Download a free sample . Manuka Honey Market Value Chain Analysis To maximize profit margins and evaluate business plans, an end-to-end understanding of manuka honey is required. The report will help vendors drive costs and enhance customer services during the forecast period. Inputs Inbound logistics Primary processing Secondary and tertiary processing Outbound logistics End-customers Marketing and sales Services Innovation To unlock information about vendor drive costs and customer service, download our free sample report. Vendor Insights The manuka honey market is fragmented, and the vendors are deploying various organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. To make the best of the opportunity, the market vendors should focus more on the fast-growing segment's growth prospect while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the manuka honey market, including some of the vendors such as Apihealth NZ Ltd., Arataki Honey Ltd., Capilano Honey Ltd., Comvita Ltd., Manuka Health New Zealand Ltd., Natures Way Products LLC, Pure New Zealand Honey Ltd., Streamland Honey Group Ltd., Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Group, and Wedderspoon Organic Inc. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the manuka honey market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile, and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Product Insights and News Apihealth NZ Ltd. - o ffers manuka honey that includes bee venom products, bee propolis products, bee pollen products, bee-deer velvet products, bee herbal products, bee products for pets, information about anti-aging beauty products, royal jelly products, and many more, under the brand name of Apihealth NZ Ltd. ffers manuka honey that includes bee venom products, bee propolis products, bee pollen products, bee-deer velvet products, bee herbal products, bee products for pets, information about anti-aging beauty products, royal jelly products, and many more, under the brand name of Apihealth NZ Ltd. Arataki Honey Ltd. - offers manuka honey that provides comb honey, kiwi honey, propolis and pollen, specialty honey, and many more, under the brand name of Arataki Honey Ltd. offers manuka honey that provides comb honey, kiwi honey, propolis and pollen, specialty honey, and many more, under the brand name of Arataki Honey Ltd. Capilano Honey Ltd. - offers manuka honey that provides Capilano classic, bioactive manuka honey, single floral varietal, specialty honey, and many more, under the brand name of Capilano Honey Ltd. The manuka honey market forecast report offers in-depth insights into key vendor profiles and offerings Download Free Sample Report Geographical Highlights The manuka honey market share growth in APAC will be significant during the forecast period. China, New Zealand, and Australia are the key markets for manuka honey in APAC. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in Europe, North America, South America, and MEA. The rising demand for market expansion is due to the increased usage of honey, the presence of a large number of producers, and concentrated production. The expansion in the middle-class population and urbanization in developing and developed economies such as Australia, China, India, Japan, and South Korea gives numerous opportunities for significant industry participants in the manuka honey market. The rising need for healthful foods is one of the key causes driving the expansion of manuka honey in APAC. People's eating habits have changed as a result of their hectic lifestyles and wellness concerns, promoting the rise of the manuka honey sector in the region. Furthermore, manuka honey consumption in APAC has risen as a result of growing disposable income and the availability of manuka honey in various forms. Moreover, countries like China, the US, New Zealand, Argentina, and Australia are the key market for the manuka honey market in APAC, owing to the significant increase in the demand for honey and the presence of a large number of producers in this region. To unlock the top strategies practiced by the maximum growth generating region, View Sample Report Key Market Dynamics- Manuka Honey Key Market Drivers: Increasing demand for healthier food products The rising desire for healthier food products with lower fat levels and more vitamins and minerals is one of the primary factors driving the worldwide manuka honey market's rise. The demand for manuka honey has increased as people become more conscious of the need of living a healthy lifestyle despite their busy schedules. Individuals' immunity is boosted by the excellent nutritional profile and antibacterial qualities, which aid in cytokine generation. Other reasons, including its use in the medicinal and cosmetic industries, will drive demand for manuka honey, resulting in market expansion over the forecast period. Manuka Honey Key Market Trends: Availability of manuka honey in the online sales channel There has been a rise in demand for healthier foods with lower fat content and more vitamins and minerals. This is done to guarantee that clients can maintain a healthy lifestyle despite their busy schedules. As a result, consumer preferences are having a beneficial impact on manuka honey demand. Manuka honey has a unique nutritional profile as well as antibacterial capabilities that aid in the production of cytokines. This trait contributes to the body's increased immunity. Because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, manuka honey can be used topically to treat eczema and acne. As a result, factors like these are driving up demand for manuka honey and will continue to do so in the future. Download a free sample for highlights on market Drivers & Trends affecting the manuka honey market. Customize Your Report Don't miss out on the opportunity to speak to our analyst and know more insights into this market report. Our analysts can also help you customize this report according to your needs. Our analysts and industry experts will work directly with you to understand your requirements and provide you with customized data in a short amount of time. We offer USD 1,000 worth of FREE customization at the time of purchase. Speak to our Analyst now! Related Reports: Functional Tea Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025 Functional Foods and Beverages Market in North America by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Manuka Honey Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.29% Market growth 2022-2026 $ 434.50 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.87 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 50% Key consumer countries China, US, New Zealand, Argentina, and Australia Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Apihealth NZ Ltd., Arataki Honey Ltd., Capilano Honey Ltd., Comvita Ltd., Manuka Health New Zealand Ltd., Natures Way Products LLC, Pure New Zealand Honey Ltd., Streamland Honey Group Ltd., Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Group, and Wedderspoon Organic Inc. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. About Us: Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio Joost brings over 30 years of finance and leadership experience in various CFO and general management roles and has extensive experience in building and growing businesses. He was formerly CFO and CEO of Eurofiber, a European fiber optic communication provider, that he co-founded in 2000 and was one of the initiators and Managing Director of Rabo's Bouwfonds Communication Infrastructure Fund. Micreos CEO Mark Offerhaus said: "We are very pleased to welcome Joost on board. He has a strategic and practical mind, and his M&A and private equity background will be invaluable as we bring our game-changing anti-bacterial technology out to the world, in the face of the 'hidden pandemic' of antibiotic resistance." "I am privileged to join an innovative leadership team focused on inventing health solutions that contribute to the future of humanity. Thanks to its outstanding technology, Micreos is already the leader in the field of targeted biological therapies and I am excited to work with the team to realize the company's growth strategy and financial goals," said Joost Goderie. About Micreos Micreos develops targeted antibacterial technology set to replace antibiotics. Looking for safer, healthier and more sustainable solutions, the company's researchers, in close collaboration with the Swiss Federal Technology Institute ETH Zurich, turned to nature's own precision anti-bacterials, called endolysins. These highly-specific enzymes target only unwanted bacteria while preserving the microbiome, comprising of billions of 'good' bacteria essential to our health. With headquarters in The Hague, The Netherlands, Micreos runs its Endolysin Technology Centre Zurich in Wadenswil (CH) and operates three business units in The Netherlands and Switzerland: Pharma, OTC and Food. Micreos Pharma focuses on anti S. aureus endolysins for atopic dermatitis, diabetic wound infections, bloodstream infections and CTCL, a type of skin cancer associated with the colonisation of S. aureus. Gladskin is Micreos's game-changing OTC brand for people with inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, eczema and rosacea. Phageguard represents Micreos Food Safety's contribution to safer food, based on targeted prevention of dangerous food pathogens such as Salmonella and Listeria. SOURCE Micreos DUBLIN, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Middle East Data Center Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Middle East data canter market witnessed investments of USD 3.89 billion in 2021 and will witness investments of USD 6.73 billion in 2027, growing at a CAGR of 9.56% during 2022-2027. The study considers a detailed scenario of the present Middle East data center market and its market dynamics for the period 2022-2027. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The report offers both the demand and supply aspects of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent ones operating in the market. The demand for cloud computing, big data, and IoT technologies will be a predominant driver for data center development in the Middle Eastern region. The Middle Eastern region witnessed data center investments from telecommunication service providers and global colocation operators. Most Middle Eastern countries' government are taking initiatives by developing special economic zones and industrial parks, which provides tax exemptions for data center development. In the Middle East, more than 15 data centers have added a white floor area of around 30,000 square feet area. In addition, approximately 10 data center facilities opened and under construction in 2021 have added a white floor area between 30,000 to 70,000 square feet. MIDDLE EAST DATA CENTER MARKET SEGMENTATION The server market is slowly shifting from rack-based servers to blade servers to support a high-density operating environment. This is because of the increased usage of IoT, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning by enterprises across the Middle Eastern market. UPS systems are being widely adopted to provide backup power for cooling systems installed in the facility. The adoption of lithium-ion batteries is likely to increase during the forecast period as their price will continue to decline in the Middle East data center industry. GEOGRAPHICAL OUTLOOK In 2021, the UAE will be one of the preferred data center locations in the Middle East, with more than 10 data center facilities investments. In 2021, Amazon Web Services announced the development of a new data center region in Abu Dhabi, which consists of three availability zones in the UAE. It is expected to be opened in the first half of 2022. In 2021, The Saudi Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) launched a USD 18 billion plan to collaborate with local players to build a network of hyperscale data centers across Saudi Arabia. Also, in terms of investment, Riyadh and Jeddah are the preferred locations, with major investments from colocation, enterprise, and government entities. VENDOR LANDSCAPE HPE, Dell, IBM, Huawei, Lenovo, NetApp, and Cisco are among the major revenue generators in the market. The innovations in the IT infrastructure space will result in the launch of new solutions at an affordable cost that suits the operational business needs of enterprises. Infrastructure providers enhance their DCIM and BMS operations through automation and artificial intelligence. The construction of mega data centers with thousands of infrastructure racks will be the major revenue generators for DCIM and BMS solution providers. KEY HIGHLIGHTS Middle Eastern countries are working towards digital transformation to attract foreign investments. 5G network deployment fuels the digital transformation, IoT, smart cities, and fourth industrial revolution. Middle East enjoys a strategic location between Africa and APAC that can easily connect both regions. This will benefit data center operators to invest in the submarine cable network passing through the country, thus will drive the MENA data center market. KEY GROWTH FACTORS 5G Deployments Fueling Edge Data Center Deployment Smart City Initiatives Drives Data Center Investments Deployment of Submarine Cables and Inland Cables Impact Data Center Investments Increase in Adoption of Renewable Energy Sources Adoption of Advanced IT Infrastructure in Data Centers VENDORS IT Infrastructure Providers Arista Networks Atos Broadcom Cisco Systems Dell Technologies Fujitsu Hewlett Packard Enterprise Hitachi Vantara Huawei Technologies IBM Inspur Juniper Networks Lenovo NetApp Oracle Prominent Support Infrastructure Providers ABB Airedale International Air Conditioning Alfa Laval Canovate Caterpillar Cummins Delta Electronics EAE Group Eaton HITEC Power Protection Johnson Controls designs Legrand Rittal Rolls-Royce Schneider Electric Shenzhen Envicool Technology Siemens STULZ Vertiv Group Prominent Construction Contractors AECOM Aldar Properties Anel Group Arup Ashi & Bushnag Atkins Dar Group DC PRO Engineering Deerns Edarat Group EGEC ENMAR Engineering Harinsa Qatar HATCO HHM Building Contracting Hill International ICS Nett INT'LTEC Group ISG Laing O'Rourke Linesight M+W Group Mace Mercury Engineering McLAREN Construction Group Prota Engineering Qatar Site & Power Red Engineering RW Armstrong Turner & Townsend Prominent Data Center Investors Amazon Web Services (AWS) Bynet Data Communications EdgeConneX Equinix Etisalat Group Future Digital Data Systems (FDDS) Group 42 Gulf Data Hub Moro Hub MEEZA Microsoft Ooredoo Turkcell Zain New Entrants Infinity Key Topics Covered: 1 Research Methodology 2 Research Objectives 3 Research Process 4 Scope & Coverage 4.1 Market Definition 4.2 Base Year 4.3 Scope Of The Study 4.4 Market Segments 5 Report Assumptions & Caveats 5.1 Key Caveats 5.2 Currency Conversion 5.3 Market Derivation 6 Market at a Glance 7 Introduction 7.1 Market Overview 7.2 Data Center Site Selection Criteria 7.2.1 Key 8 Market Opportunities & Trends 8.1 5G Deployments Fueling Edge Data Center Deployment 8.2 Smart City Initiatives Driving Data Center Investments 8.3 Deployment Of Submarine Cables And Inland Cables 8.4 Increase In The Adoption Of Renewable Energy Sources 8.5 Adoption Of Advanced IT Infrastructure In Data Centers 9 Market Growth Enablers 9.1 Cloud Adoption Driving Data Center Investments 9.1.1 Cloud Adoption Across The Middle East 9.2 Big Data & lot Fueling Data Center Investments 9.3 On-Premises Infrastructure Migrating To Colocation & Managed Services 9.4 Deployment Of Modular Data Centers 9.5 Covid-19 Impact On Data Center Investments 10 Market Restraints 10.1 Security Challenges For Data Centers 10.1.1 UAE 10.1.2 Saudi Arabia 10.1.3 Israel 10.1.4 Oman 10.1.5 Bahrain 10.1.6 Other Countries 10.2 Dearth Of Skilled Workforce 10.2.1 UAE 10.2.2 Saudi Arabia 10.2.3 Turkey 10.2.4 Israel 10.2.5 Jordan 10.3 Location Constraints On Data Center Development 11 Market Landscape 11.1 Market Overview 11.2 Investment 11.3 Area 11.4 Power Capacity 11.5 Five Forces Analysis 12 Infrastructure 12.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 12.2 IT Infrastructure 12.3 Electrical Infrastructure 12.4 Mechanical Infrastructure 12.5 General Construction 13 IT Infrastructure 13.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 13.2 Server Infrastructure 13.3 Storage Infrastructure 13.4 Network Infrastructure 14 Electrical Infrastructure 14.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 14.2 UPS Systems 14.3 Generators 14.4 Transfer Switches & Switchgear 14.5 Power Distribution Units 15 Mechanical Infrastructure 15.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 15.2 Cooling Systems 15.3 Racks 16 Cooling Systems 16.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 16.2 CRAC & CRAH Units 16.3 Chiller Units 16.4 Cooling Towers, Condensers & Dry Coolers 17 Cooling Technique 17.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 17.2 Air-Based Cooling 17.3 Liquid-Based Cooling 18 General Construction 18.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 18.2 Core & Shell Development 18.3 Installation & Commissioning Services 18.4 Engineering & Building Design 18.5 Fire Detection & Suppression 18.6 Physical Security 18.7 DCIM/BMS Solutions 19 Tier Standards 19.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 19.2 Overview Of Tier Standards 19.3 Tier I & II 19.4 Tier III 19.5 Tier IV 20 Geography 20.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine 20.2 Area: Snapshot & Growth Engine 20.3 Power Capacity: Snapshot & Growth Engine For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ai52ud Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Morgan Brookshire has built joint venture partnerships with various major private equity, Family Offices and Global Top 50 Banks. A Morgan Brookshire spokesperson states that this will allow the company to lend on deals as small as 30 thousand to as large as 300 Million. Morgan Brookshire has absolutely no upfront fees and can fund deals within their scope to up to 300 million. The range of sectors are numerous and Morgan Brookshire can fund any type of business all over the continental United States and Canada. The spokesperson for Morgan Brookshire states that the joint ventures makes us a player in the business funding space for decades to come. We welcome all inquiries regarding our services or our current commitments. Contact: Back Office [email protected] com 212-470-6801 About Morgan Brooksire LLC Morgan Brookshire LLC is a New York City based full-service financial institution specializing in business loans for small scale to Fortune 500 businesses. Related Links: www.morganbrookshirellc.com SOURCE Morgan Brookshire LLC WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded 12 construction contracts for work to be performed predominantly at the agency's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia, and at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Each contractor has been awarded an 8(a) small business set-aside, indefinite delivery/indefinite-quantity contract that will be accessed using firm-fixed price task orders. Every contract has a total maximum ordering value of $39.4 million and the period of performance for each is for five years, beginning immediately. The awardees are: Baron-Rand JV LLC of Newport News, Virginia Gana-A 'Yoo Construction Services JV LLC of Fredericksburg, Virginia Mark Turner Construction LLC of Glen Allen, Virginia MIG GOV LLC of Virginia Beach, Virginia New Dominion Construction LLC of Dumfries, Virginia QCM Inc. of Alexandria, Virginia Quality Contracting Inc. of Chesapeake, Virginia R.H. Contracting Inc. of Atlantic, Virginia SES Energy Services LLC of Lorton, Virginia Succor-Ocean JV LLC of Chesapeake, Virginia Tazewell Contracting of Norfolk, Virginia Teya Enterprises LLC of Chesapeake, Virginia Each contractor shall furnish all materials, labor, equipment, management, coordination, and quality controls necessary for the performance of construction, modification, repair, and rehabilitation of facilities. The facilities consist of, but are not limited to, office buildings, shops, laboratories, highly technical research facilities, clean rooms, spacecraft and instrument test facilities, integration and launch areas, aircraft hangars and active runways, storage areas, utility buildings, interior and exterior utility systems, and site improvements. The contracts may include work at other NASA or federal installations beyond Langley and Wallops. For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: https://www.nasa.gov SOURCE NASA NEW DELHI, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the study conducted by Astute Analytica, the Global Network-as-a-Service Market was valued at US$ 15,326.9 Mn in 2021 and is projected to reach US$ 1,18,709.3 Mn by 2027. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 40.7% during the forecast period 2022-2027. Network as a service (NaaS) is a business model for delivering enterprise-wide area network services virtually on a subscription basis. The growing impetus of the Global Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) Market is attributed to increasing adoption of cloud services among enterprises and augmentation in software-defined network (SDN). Request a Sample Report of Network-as-a-Service Market: https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/network-as-a-service-market Significance of the Global Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) Market Readiness towards the implementation and acceptance of advanced technology, strong research and development in the telecom industry, the surge in the number of cloud-based services and other factors are driving the Network as a Service (NaaS) market. The technology companies and the telecom service providers are embracing cloud platforms to reduce labor costs. Cloud deployment solutions allow enterprises to focus on their core competencies and strategic goals. With the appropriate use of NaaS offering, organizations can enhance the performance of their cloud applications. Large organizations, as well as SMBs, are rapidly deploying these services to reduce the costs related to the procurement of new devices and IT staff training. Hence, this will foster the deployment of NaaS, eliminating the need to maintain their complex network setup. The SDN (Software Defined Network) adoption has also been increasing in campus and enterprise segment as the demand for the efficient and flexible networks is high. SDN solutions, in conjunction with Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and open-source technologies, are anticipated to gain traction in the NaaS industry. Service providers who wish to expand their offerings for enterprise customers need to start looking into NaaS, as those customers seek to respond to dynamic business needs faster, identify additional ways to cut costs and have more control over their network. NaaS provides the solution and elevates the relationship between Communication Service Providers (CSPs) and their customers. CSPs can accelerate their network services transformation and reduce their investment by implementing field-proven technology from advanced software and services providers. Challenges Ahead In the present cloud computing scenario, most of the companies are adopting cloud services and allowing access to more remote users and devices compared to the past. Hence, data security and privacy concerns are likely to deter the progression of global network as a service market. Concrete measures for security are the need of the hour. Impact of COVID-19 Covid-19 and the associated work from home opportunities for workers have caused small businesses to consider network-as-a-service. Cloud technology helps employees access the system and application from home. People staying at home has increased the usage of the internet. This has surged the demand for high-speed network connection. Moreover, the organizations around the world are preparing for a post-pandemic workplace by investing in networking technologies that support the changing needs of employees and that's having a profound impact on the network. It appears COVID-19 is the problem NaaS solves. Request Customized Copy of Report @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/ask-for-customization/network-as-a-service-market Regional Analysis North America holds the highest market share in 2021 North America is projected to have the highest market share of 40% in the global network-as-a-service market in 2021. In North America, the US majorly contributes to the market growth in the region, with a share of 82.6% in 2021. This is owing to the early adoption of advanced technology solutions as well as prominent initiatives taken by industry players through partnerships with various technology players. Moreover, the penetration of cloud computing, advanced IT infrastructure, and higher concentration of the network virtualization solution vendors are expected to drive the NaaS adoption in the region. Technology services generates majority of the revenue in the network-as-a-service industry in North America, contributed 57.1% share in the regional market during the forecast period. UK holds the major share in the European NaaS Market Europe network-as-a-service market holds a modest share of 25.5%, in the global network-as-a-service market in 2021. Moreover, the Europe network-as-a-service industry is mainly driven by IT & telecommunication industry. Asia Pacific is projected to register the fastest CAGR during the forecast period China held the major share of in the Asia Pacific network-as-a-service market in 2021. Wide area network services segment contributed the major share of 37.1% in the Asia Pacific market with an increased demand for enhanced mobile services in network-as-a-service. A look at the Key Market Players The key players in the global Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) market are Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Aryaka Networks, Inc., Extreme Networks, Inc., Juniper Networks, Inc., NEC Corporation, SYNNEX Corporation, AT&T Inc., Cisco Systems Inc. IBM Corporation, and Oracle Corporation among others. Segmentation Overview The Global Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) Market is segmented based on component, type, service model, enterprise size, end user industry and region. These segments are further sub-divided to get a holist picture of the market. Following are the different segments of the Global Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) Market: - Component Segment of the Global Network-as-a-Service ( NaaS) Market is Sub-Segmented into: Infrastructure services Technology services Type Segment of the Global Network-as-a-Service ( NaaS) Market is Sub-Segmented into: Wide Area Network Services Local Area Network Services Wireless as a Service (WaaS) Enhanced Mobile Services Voice as a Service (VaaS) Secutity as a Service Service Model Segment of the Global Network-as-a-Service ( NaaS) Market is Sub-Segmented into: Bandwidth on demand Cloud-based services Integrated Network Security as a Service Virtual Private Network Wide-area network Enterprise Size Segment of the Global Network-as-a-Service ( NaaS) Market is Sub-Segmented into: Small & Medium Enterprise Large Enterprises End user Industry Segment of the Global Network-as-a-Service ( NaaS) Market is Sub-Segmented into: Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) Government & Public Sector Healthcare IT & Telecommunication Manufacturing Retail & E-commerce Others By Region Segment of the Global Network-as-a-Service ( NaaS) Market is Sub-Segmented into: North America The U.S. Canada Mexico Europe The UK Germany France Italy Spain Poland Russia Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China India Japan Australia & New Zealand & ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa (MEA) 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/network-as-a-service-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. 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 NEW YORK, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global oil refining pumps market is assessed at USD 6.2 Billion in 2022 and is gauge to outperform USD 8.6 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 3.3% during 2022-2032. In the oil and gas industry, manufacturers are focusing on the process of innovation and digitalization, which leads to cost-effective and profitable goods. In oil refineries, new technology-integrated oil refining pumps are gaining favor. Smart oil refining pumps based on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which can collect data from devices, monitor pipe thickness, pressure, and flow rate, have sensors and monitor software, and are energy-efficient, are expected to increase the market demand for oil refining pumps by 1.2X in the coming years. For More Valuable Information on Market Dynamics, Request a Report Sample https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=2434 Demand for oil is projected to increment by in excess of 110 million b/d in 2022, as indicated by the International Energy Agency's (Ikea's) Oil Market Report. The rising power demand and significant dependence on oil in creating economies is bringing about the improvement of petroleum treatment facilities, in this way driving the oil refining pumps sales. As indicated by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the interest for OPEC raw petroleum is assessed to increment by in excess of 40 million b/d before the finish of 2040, which is relied upon to fuel the energy interest. The part nations of OPEC are focused on putting resources into extending petroleum treatment facilities and developing pipelines and terminals. The demand for submersible pumps which comes under centrifugal pumps, reciprocating pumps and rotary pumps are witnessing 1.3 times demand in the oil industry. This is ascribed to the functions of oil refining pumps used to transfer fluid from one place to another. Moreover, the incorporation of various types of oil refining pumps in the refining system to serve a specific purpose of purifying and transporting fluids is expected to boost market growth over the forecast period. Report Attributes Details Base Year Value (2021A) USD 6.0 Billion Estimated Year Value (2022E) USD 6.2 Billion Projected Year Value (2032F) USD 8.6 Billion Global Growth Rate (2022-2032) CAGR 3.3% Key Takeaways: Middle East & Africa (MEA) oil refining pumps market currently holds 32.3% of the global market share. & (MEA) oil refining pumps market currently holds 32.3% of the global market share. Asia-Pacific oil refining pumps market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.3% by 2032. oil refining pumps market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.3% by 2032. By product type, centrifugal pumps to dominate the market with holding 36.1% market share. Application of oil refining pumps for refinery process holds highest market share. Growth Drivers: Increasing demand for oil is expected to propel the oil refining pumps market growth. Rising demand for crude oil globally has resulted in investments in oil refineries, hence stimulating the market forward. Key Restraints: As global emissions levels rise, governments around the world are enacting strict emissions standards in the oil industry. This is hampering the oil refining pumps market. To learn more about Oil Refining Pumps Market, you can get in touch with our Analyst at https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=AE&rep_id=2434 Competitive Landscape As there are so many local and regional competitors, the worldwide oil refining pumps market is extremely fragmented and competitive. Key players use a variety of marketing techniques, including mergers & acquisitions, expansions, collaborations, and partnerships. Leading companies also use new product development as a strategic approach to expand their market presence among consumers. As a result of these tactics, advanced oil refining pumps have been implemented. In 2020, Weir Group was awarded a three-year contract to repair and service motors and pumps by a national oil company in the United Arab Emirates . . In 2020, Alfa Laval received a supply contract to deliver Framo pumping systems for two Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels operating outside of Brazil's coast, which includes marine pumping systems for seawater and firewater lift service. Key Companies Profiled by Fact.MR are: Xylem Flowserve Corporation KSB SE & Co. KGaA Weir Group Sulzer Ltd. GRUNDFOS Gardner Denver ITT, Inc. March Pump TechnipFMC SPX Flow, Inc. Alfa Laval More Valuable Insights on Oil Refining Pumps Market Fact.MR provides an unbiased analysis of the oil refining pumps market, presenting forecast statistics for the period from 2022-2032. The study divulges compelling insights on the global oil refining pumps market with a detailed segmentation on the basis of: By Product Type : Centrifugal Pumps Single Stage Multi-Stage Axial and Mixed Submersible Seal less and Circular Reciprocating Pumps Piston Plunger Diaphragm Rotary Pumps Gear Vane Screw Lobe Progressive Cavity Pumps Piston Peristaltic By Capacity : Small (Up to 500 gpm) Medium (500-1,000 gpm) High (More than 1,000 gpm) By Application : Refinery Process Oil Refining Pumps Water Circulating Oil Refining Pumps Special Purpose Oil Refining Pumps Water/Wastewater Oil Refining Pumps By Region : North America Latin America Europe East Asia South Asia Oceania MEA Key Questions Covered in Oil Refining Pumps Market Report The report offers insight into the oil refining pumps market demand outlook for 2022-2032. The market study also highlights projected sales growth for oil refining pumps market between 2022 and 2032. Oil refining pumps market survey identifies key growth drivers, restraints, and other forces impacting prevailing trends and evaluation of current market size and forecast and technological advancements within the industry. Oil refining pumps market share analysis of the key companies within the industry and coverage of strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations or partnerships, and others. Explore Fact.MR's Coverage on the Industrial Goods Domain Reciprocating Pumps Market Forecast - The market for reciprocating pumps is expected to rise significantly. The global need for oil and gas, particularly in the petrochemical industry, is influencing the expansion of the reciprocating pumps market. Rotary Pumps Market Insights - In most developing countries, increasing access to water and the importance of sanitation is creating various chances for rotary pump market players. Furthermore, rising consumer disposable income is causing an increase in discretionary expenditure, particularly on chemicals and fuel, which is driving up demand for rotary pumps in developing countries. Canned Motor Pumps Market Scope - Due to interrupted operations in end-use sectors, demand for canned motor pumps has decreased dramatically. In the worldwide canned motor pumps market, reverse circulation canned motor pumps had the majority of the market share. Oil and Gas Pumps Market Forecast - The market for oil and gas pumps is expected to increase slowly. As the need for oil and gas rises, so does the demand for equipment like oil and gas pumps. Centrifugal pumps are widely used by oil and gas end customers due to their cheap product and maintenance costs, as well as their superior load and pressure handling capabilities. About Fact.MR Market research and consulting agency with a difference! That's why 80% of Fortune 1,000 companies trust us for making their most critical decisions. We have offices in US and Dublin, whereas our global headquarter is in Dubai. While our experienced consultants employ the latest technologies to extract hard-to-find insights, we believe our USP is the trust clients have on our expertise. Spanning a wide range from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare & retail, our coverage is expansive, but we ensure even the most niche categories are analyzed. Reach out to us with your goals, and we'll be an able research partner. Contact: Mahendra Singh US Sales Office 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583 E: [email protected] SOURCE Fact.MR TULSA, Okla., Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oklahoma-based Chef Joey's Premium Edibles, Delta Oil Company and Body Guac (all wholly owned subsidiaries of JDMG, LLC) are pleased to announce their partnership with Oklahoma City-based Children's Hospital Foundation (CHF) for February 2022 (National Cancer Prevention Awareness Month). How to Participate in Chef Joey's #KissesForCancer charity initiative benefiting Oklahoma Children's Hospital Foundation. Chef Joey's #KissesForCancer charity initiative benefiting Oklahoma Children's Hospital Foundation. The joint partnership's goal is to raise money through a campaign known as "Kisses for Cancer" (#kissesforcancer). The "Kisses for Cancer" fund raising audience is the Oklahoma medical marijuana market. Every time a person takes a selfie of them kissing Chef Joey's "face" (a pre-printed cut-out of his face) and posts the photo to Instagram mentioning @chefjoeysedibles and tagging #kissesforcancer, JDMG, LLC will donate $1 and CHF will match by allocating $1 of their own funds to the initiative. 100% of proceeds will go to the CHF's Pediatric Cancer Initiative. The donation goal is $2,000 by Feb 28, 2022. JDMG, LLC and CHF are proud to work together to help the Oklahoma community. "Children's Hospital Foundation is grateful to partner with the JDMG Family to raise funds for pediatric cancer during the month of February," said Kathy McCracken, Executive Director of Children's Hospital Foundation. "We are committed to ensure that Oklahoma's children battling pediatric cancer have the best health care possible, without leaving the state. Please join the fight against cancer and consider donating today!" Chief Executive Officer of JDMG, LLC, Dallas Owens, said "We are honored to be able to play a role in assisting Children's Hospital Foundation. Our company has been particularly drawn to Children's Hospital Foundation's 'Bears in a Chair Program', who doesn't love a stuffed bear?" In addition to raising funds for the fight against pediatric cancer, JDMG, LLC hopes to also raise awareness about the research being done on cannabis oil and cancer. Researchers have studied the effects of cannabinoids on cancer pain, and the world has seen a rise in recent years in the prescription of medical marijuana for cancer patients. To help JDMG, LLC and CHF raise $2,000, learn more about the initiative and see the fun and creative ways others have participated by visiting the "Kisses for Cancer" website at chefjoeys.com/kissesforcancer. About JDMG, LLC: JDMG, LLC and the Delta Oil Co. family of brands including Chef Joey's Premium Edibles, Delta Oil Co. and Body Guac were established in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2020. The brands' founders strive to be the highest quality and most scientifically accurate cannabis products on the market, and their products have already won multiple awards. For more information visit DeltaOilCo.com. About Children's Hospital Foundation: Children's Hospital Foundation is an Oklahoma-based nonprofit 501(c) (3) charitable organization that improves the health of children through its support of research, education, and clinical care at the Oklahoma Health Center. To learn more about Children's Hospital Foundation visit, Oklahoma Children's Hospital Foundation (chfkids.com). Media Contact: Dallas Owens 813-240-5450 [email protected] chefjoeys.com/kissesforcancer SOURCE JDMG, LLC MUMBAI, India, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumina Datamatics Limited, one of the largest service providers to global publishers and eCommerce companies, celebrated India's 73rd Republic Day by donating PPE kits and face masks for use by healthcare workers and patients who cannot afford them at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai. The activity falls under its Corporate Social Responsibility programme that includes skill development and training apart from healthcare. On January 26, 2022, team Lumina Datamatics reached the Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai Central in the morning hours for the event, which saw them donate 3,500 PPE kits and 5,000 N95 masks. The PPE kits comprise 60 GSM white coverall suits with headcover and shoe cover, which are also DRDO approved, i.e., among the best quality available in the market. The masks, too, are of the MH3D Plus N95 type, offering maximum protection against the virus. When new variants continue to arise, and the economy strives for normalcy, a robust healthcare system is our best bet against the pandemic. Healthcare workers need continued support in every way possible to contribute their best. Wockhardt Hospitals in South Mumbai is a 20-storeyed, 350-bed, state-of-the-art tertiary care hospital, which has played an essential role in Mumbai's response to the deadly virus. The Wockhardt Group's latest and largest flagship hospital has a dedicated COVID care facility. Apart from this, it has continued to provide services to COVID-19 patients undergoing home isolation through remote consultation and care, 24x7. The hospital plans to use the kits for HCWs and patients who cannot afford them. "Caring for people and educating, training them to make them employable is a focus area under all our CSR programmes." Said Anju Kanodia, Executive Director, Lumina Datamatics Limited. "Given the growing number of cases across metro cities yet again, we saw the need to provide help. We have decided the best way to do this is by strengthening the arm of our healthcare workers. For the third year in a row, they continue to be at the frontlines in our global battle against the virus. The Republic Day made the event memorable for us." About Lumina Datamatics Limited: Globally, 8 of the top-10 publishers and 3 of the top-5 eCommerce retailers trust Lumina Datamatics as their strategic partner in providing content, analytics, and technology solutions. Our clients benefit from the reduced time-to-market for new products and services, optimised business processes, operational efficiencies, improved competitiveness, and relevant insights. Lumina Datamatics' expert solutions combine its various in-house platforms, partnerships with global technologies, and more than 2800 professionals spread across India, the U.S., and Germany. This international footprint services our customers across four continents: Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Visit luminadatamatics.com or go to LinkedIn. PR Contact Ojas Kulkarni +912240340578 [email protected]; [email protected] Sheetal Singh [email protected] 8108564279 SOURCE Lumina Datamatics, Inc. MIAMI, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ONE Sotheby's International Realty announces the leading luxury brokerages entrance into the Northeast Florida market with the addition of affiliate firm First Coast Sotheby's International Realty. Marking its eighth recent acquisition, ONE Sotheby's International Realty continues to expand its presence along Florida's East Coast by welcoming First Coast's 93 agents and 5 offices across Palm Coast, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville, and Amelia Island. The company will also launch its record-breaking Development Division to support sales and marketing for new projects in the flourishing market. "As one of the fastest growing markets in Florida, Jacksonville is a region we have been targeting as a key component of our expansion strategy," said Daniel de la Vega, president of ONE Sotheby's International Realty. "First Coast's Sotheby's International Realty brings an incredibly talented group of agents to grow with us as the leading luxury brokerage along the entire East Coast of Florida. Backed by our industry-leading resources, I am confident they will continue to outperform in the Northeast Florida market." First Coast Sotheby's International Realty has established a reputation for being the preeminent luxury real estate brokerage in Northeast Florida, representing more than $770 million in 2021 sales volume. The firm was founded in 2010 by Jeffrey and Jane Chefan, who quickly grew First Coast Sotheby's International Realty to be among the region's most trusted brokerages. In 2018, they teamed up with Lou Izzo, Brian Moorman, Joe Cutajar and Dan Collins to further strengthen a shared vision for bringing buyers and sellers together while elevating standards for high-end real estate services in the market. Together they offer more than 140+ years of combined experience and will continue to have an integral role within the company. "We are thrilled to join forces with ONE Sotheby's International Realty under the leadership of Mayi and Daniel" said Jeffrey Chefan, owner and Managing Broker of First Coast Sotheby's International Realty. "Their company culture aligns with everything we have strived forto deliver an exceptional client experience through our expertise, extraordinary marketing tools, innovative technologyand above all, authenticity." "This alliance is a definitive moment for luxury real estate in Northeast Florida," said Lou Izzo, owner and CEO of First Coast Sotheby's International Realty. "There is now a clear sales and marketing leader with worldwide reach and unmatched value for our clients and agents. We look forward to achieving great things together." Recognized as the premier source for luxury real estate and development opportunities along Florida's East Coast, ONE Sotheby's International Realty offers an unsurpassed global network with an unmatched local footprint. The acquisition of First Coast Sotheby's International Realty brings the firm's total number of offices to 27 locations and 1,300 agents spanning Florida's entire East Coast. www.onesothebysrealty.com SOURCE ONE Sothebys International Realty DUBLIN, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Culinary Tourism Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global culinary tourism market reached a value of US$ 696.5 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 1,796.5 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 17.4% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, they are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor Culinary tourism, or food tourism, is a form of travel that involves visiting novel or tourist locations to explore the local culture through food and authentic dishes. It involves various activities, such as culinary trails, cooking classes, food festivals, guided food trips and farm weekends. Culinary tourism emphasizes on providing an enhanced experience of dining and tasting novel foods, along with undertaking educational initiatives to enhance knowledge regarding the local cuisines. It also aids in increasing the demand for regional food and beverages, creating social and cultural awareness and intensifying the connection between people and food, thereby generating fond memories for the tourists Significant growth in the tourism and hospitality industries across the globe is one of the key factors creating a positive outlook for the market. Moreover, the proliferation of various social media platforms is providing a thrust to the market growth. Food and travel bloggers are increasingly participating in culinary tourism activities for unique experiences and creating more awareness among the masses regarding local cuisines. Consumers prefer private, serene, and exotic locations with a prevalent food culture to get away from their hectic schedules and busy lifestyles and gain authentic experiences. In line with this, the availability of convenient and budget-friendly travelling and accommodation facilities is also contributing to the growth of the market. Various technological advancements, such as the utilization of smartphone applications, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and big data solutions to monitor the preferences of the consumers and generate customized itineraries, are also favoring the market growth. Other factors, including the implementation of beneficial government policies promoting culinary tourism, along with rising expenditure capacities of the consumers, are anticipated to drive the market toward growth Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Abercrombie & Kent Group of Companies S.A., Butterfield and Robinson Inc., Classic Journeys LLC, G Adventures, Gourmet On Tour Ltd., Greaves Travel L.L.C., International Culinary Tours, ITC Travel Group Limited, The Ftc4Lobe Group, Topdeck Travel Limited and Tourradar Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global culinary tourism market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global culinary tourism market? What are the key regional markets? What is the breakup of the market based on the activity type? What is the breakup of the market based on the tour type? What is the breakup of the market based on the age group? What is the breakup of the market based on the mode of booking? What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry? What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry? What is the structure of the global culinary tourism market and who are the key players? What is the degree of competition in the industry? Key Topics Covered: 1 Preface 2 Scope and Methodology 3 Executive Summary 4 Introduction 4.1 Overview 4.2 Key Industry Trends 5 Global Culinary Tourism Market 5.1 Market Overview 5.2 Market Performance 5.3 Impact of COVID-19 5.4 Market Forecast 6 Market Breakup by Activity Type 6.1 Culinary Trials 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Cooking Classes 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 6.3 Restaurants 6.3.1 Market Trends 6.3.2 Market Forecast 6.4 Food Festivals and Events 6.4.1 Market Trends 6.4.2 Market Forecast 6.5 Others 6.5.1 Market Trends 6.5.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Tour Type 7.1 Domestic 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 International 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by Age Group 8.1 Baby Boomers 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Generation X 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Generation Y 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Generation Z 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by Mode of Booking 9.1 Online Travel Agents 9.1.1 Market Trends 9.1.2 Market Forecast 9.2 Traditional Agents 9.2.1 Market Trends 9.2.2 Market Forecast 9.3 Direct Booking 9.3.1 Market Trends 9.3.2 Market Forecast 10 Market Breakup by Region 11 SWOT Analysis 12 Value Chain Analysis 13 Porters Five Forces Analysis 14 Price Analysis 15 Competitive Landscape 15.1 Market Structure 15.2 Key Players 15.3 Profiles of Key Players 15.3.1 Abercrombie & Kent Group of Companies S.A. 15.3.1.1 Company Overview 15.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.2 Butterfield and Robinson Inc. 15.3.2.1 Company Overview 15.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.3 Classic Journeys LLC 15.3.3.1 Company Overview 15.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.4 G Adventures 15.3.4.1 Company Overview 15.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.5 Gourmet On Tour Ltd. 15.3.5.1 Company Overview 15.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.6 Greaves Travel L.L.C. 15.3.6.1 Company Overview 15.3.6.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.7 International Culinary Tours 15.3.7.1 Company Overview 15.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.8 ITC Travel Group Limited 15.3.8.1 Company Overview 15.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.9 The Ftc4Lobe Group 15.3.9.1 Company Overview 15.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.10 Topdeck Travel Limited 15.3.10.1 Company Overview 15.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.11 Tourradar 15.3.11.1 Company Overview 15.3.11.2 Product Portfolio For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dotumr Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Planet Home Lending, LLC, a national mortgage lender and servicer, has a new team in San Antonio, Texas, led by Aldo Del Giudice (NMLS# 292837) with Benjamin Chairez (NMLS# 2066871) and Roland Mancha (NMLS# 2144306) as mortgage loan originators and Veronica Serrano as loan officer assistant. This is Planet Home Lending's sixth team in Texas. The team's VA loan knowledge helps service members stationed at any of the area's multiple military installations. The company also has loans for first-time homebuyers, move-up buyers, vacation homebuyers and borrowers who fall outside the standard credit box, including self-employed business owners, retirees, foreign nationals and people with credit challenges. "Planet Home Lending provides San Antonians with a comprehensive suite of lending solutions, Giudice said. "We ensure every step in the process is covered and every question answered. We believe you should know your options and feel at ease and empowered throughout the home loan process." San Antonio has multiple military bases and is nicknamed the Military City. It is also home to the Department of Defense's largest medical center. The housing market has consistently been strong in San Antonio, which translates into an increased need for home financing options. Planet Home Lending also offers the My First Texas Home program, which gives people who have not owned a home in the past three years a zero-interest loan they can use to pay up to 5% of their down payment and closing costs. In addition to the My First Texas Home program, Planet Home Lending offers six other down payment assistance programs in Texas that offer help with closing costs or down payments. Along with local expertise, Planet Home Lending offers a personal digital mortgage assistant, Skymore by Planet Home Lending, which consumers can use to apply to get a home loan from anywhere via their mobile device. Borrowers and real estate agents can track loan progress 24/7, reach out to ask their loan officer questions and submit paperwork electronically, to reduce reliance on paper. Another way Planet Home Lending supports a healthy environment is through a tree-planting partnership with the National Forest Foundation. In 2021, the company funded the planting of 100,000 trees to help restore national forests. About Planet Financial Group, LLC Planet Financial Group, LLC, Tampa, Fla., is the parent of Planet Home Lending, LLC and Planet Management Group, LLC, which also does business under the name Planet Renovation Capital. About Planet Home Lending, LLC Planet Home Lending, LLC, is a national mortgage lender and servicer delivering exceptional customer experiences to American homeowners and homebuyers. Offering affordable home loans backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, VA, FHA, USDA and private funders, it fulfills homeownership dreams for people in 47 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Planet Home Lending is an Equal Housing Lender. For more information about Planet Home Lending, LLC, please visit https://planethomelending.com/?utm_source=press-release&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=phl-pr-SanAntonio-2022-2-DR. Press Contacts: Dona DeZube Charlyne H. McWilliams Vice President, Communications Media Contact Planet Home Lending, LLC for Planet Home Lending, LLC [email protected] [email protected] (443) 263-2832 (301) 933-5567 SOURCE Planet Home Lending, LLC Head of Consumer Communications Heidi Armstrong says that January provides a great opportunity for prospective home buyers to assess how ready they are, and plan to fill any gaps. "To give your home loan application the best chance of approval, there's some necessary groundwork that you can do. And, with a record number of properties sold in Australia in 2021 and in record time a little preparation could go a long way this year." Checking on borrowing power and reviewing credit scores is a good first step, as this will give you an indication of what options might be available. For those who may have lower credit scores or are self-employed, a free-thinking non-bank like Liberty can offer a range of home loan solutions tailored to each customer's unique circumstances. By rolling your debts into one easy to manage repayment, some lenders may consider your application more favorably. If you're unsure whether a debt consolidation home loan is suitable for you, contact a broker. With expert knowledge about a range of lenders and products, a mortgage broker, such as a Liberty Adviser can help borrowers to navigate the application process. A Liberty Adviser will also be aware of any home loan grants that you may be eligible for. "Remember, a rejected application will show on your credit file and it can be a red flag on future applications," said Mrs Armstrong. "So you want to get it right the first time." Approved applicants only. Lending criteria apply. Fees and charges are payable. Liberty Financial Pty Ltd ACN 077 248 983 and Secure Funding Pty Ltd ABN 25 081 982 872 Australian Credit Licence 388133, together trading as Liberty Financial. Liberty Advisers represent Liberty Network Services Pty Ltd ABN 65 151 158 628 Australian Credit Licence 408042, part of the Liberty group. This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Liberty Financial KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- QM Power's ongoing development of high-efficiency electric motors and controls has led to renewed research sponsorships and expanded office space at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) as well as the opening of a satellite office in Albany, New York. As part of its network of university alliances in the US and Europe, QM Power has housed employees in office and laboratory space at the UNC Charlotte campus for several years. Its research sponsorships with the university's Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) have helped QM Power enable and accelerate its core technology development, by working collaboratively with top-level resources and talent in an innovation-rich environment. These amenities have played a key role in QM Power's contributions to the development of energy-efficient motors and controls. Recent and planned staff additions in engineering and business management have resulted in additional office space expansion to support ongoing product development and commercial activities. In addition to its expanded presence at UNC Charlotte, QM Power opened a new satellite office in Albany, New York, in November 2021. This location was chosen due to its proximity to QM Power's local engineering talent pool and other technology relationships with businesses in the area that contribute to the company's drive to innovate in the field of energy-efficient motors. Along with Charlotte and Albany, QM Power has offices in Kansas City, MO and Detroit, MI enabling the company to work closely with the customers it serves in the HVAC/R and Electric Vehicle markets. With these expansion initiatives, QM Power is positioned to deliver its mission. To enable a more sustainable and energy-efficient world with innovative electric motor and drive products. About QM Power QM Power has developed proprietary and patented innovations in magnetic circuits and electronic controllers for the global electric motor market. The company holds over 65 patents, including for the revolutionary Q-Sync technology, which offers the highest efficiency motors for commercial refrigeration applications and residential and light commercial HVAC. QM Power's portfolio also includes the innovative Q-Mag technology for use in the next generation of electric vehicle motors. Learn more at www.qmpower.com. About University of North Carolina at Charlotte UNC Charlotte is North Carolina's urban research university. With an enrollment of nearly 30,500 students, the University leverages its location in the state's largest city to offer internationally competitive programs of research and creative activity, exemplary undergraduate, graduate and professional programs, and a focused set of community engagement initiatives. Learn more at www.charlotte.edu . Contact: Mike More Tel.: (612) 327-9438 Email: [email protected] Website: www.QMPower.com SOURCE QM Power BALTIMORE, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosedale Federal Savings & Loan Association ("Rosedale Federal") and CBM Bancorp, Inc. ("CBM Bancorp") (OTCMKTS- "CBMB") jointly announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Rosedale Federal will acquire CBM Bancorp, the Baltimore, Maryland, based holding company and parent of Chesapeake Bank of Maryland, in an all-cash transaction for an aggregate purchase price of $64.4 million. CBM Bancorp, Inc. Under the terms of the merger agreement, which has been approved unanimously by the boards of directors of both entities, stockholders of CBM Bancorp will be entitled to receive $17.75 in cash for each share of CBM Bancorp common stock they own. "This is a very exciting time for Rosedale Federal as this transaction will provide immediate additional size and scale, along with a larger footprint for additional growth opportunities," said Kevin Benson, President and CEO of Rosedale Federal. "Evaluating opportunities in our marketplace has been part of our strategic plan for some time; now we have the opportunity to seize on an interesting time for local banks. The acquisition of CBM Bancorp truly makes sense when we look at how our businesses align on mortgage lending and deposits, along with branch locations that allow us to provide a strong financial benefit to our customers." Joseph Solomon, President of CBM Bancorp, said, "With local banking consolidation continuing and the additional headwinds facing our industry, we felt it was the right time for us to consider a partner. Rosedale Federal offers the scope of services, the community commitment, and the size that will provide the kind of community banking experience our customers expect. We both have a rich history in the Baltimore area and are excited to become a part of the Rosedale Federal family." The transaction will expand Rosedale Federal's footprint in Maryland and complement its ongoing strategy of continuous growth to benefit account holders and drive business goals, as well as offer Chesapeake Bank of Maryland's customers a larger banking network and more convenient banking options. In connection with the execution of the merger agreement, Rosedale has entered into stockholder agreements with the directors and executive officers of CBM Bancorp. Subject to the terms and conditions of the stockholder agreements, these parties have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the transaction. The merger is expected to be consummated during the first half of 2022, after the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and the approval of CBM Bancorp's stockholders. Mr. Benson continued, "This is an exceptional fit for Rosedale Federal. The combined assets of both companies will enhance our proven ability to serve our community, while enriching our customer and employee experience." Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC is serving as financial advisor, and Luse Gorman, PC is serving as legal counsel to Rosedale Federal in this transaction. Piper Sandler & Co. is serving as financial advisor, and Jones Walker LLP, Washington, DC, is serving as legal counsel to CBM Bancorp. About Rosedale Federal For more than 110 years, Rosedale Federal Savings & Loan Association has been serving Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Harford County residents with unparalleled personal service and high-quality savings and loan products at competitive rates. Rosedale Federal is a locally run, independent mutual savings and loan institution headquartered in Perry Hall, with 10 total locations in Overlea, Perry Hall, White Marsh, Abingdon, Forest Hill, Bel Air, Rosedale, Dundalk, Towson, and soon Timonium. In 2021 the bank donated nearly $270,000 to numerous area organizations and causes. Rosedale Federal continues to be the community bank that treats its customers like neighbors. Visit www.rosedalefederal.com for more information about products, services, or locations. About CBM Bancorp, Inc. CBM Bancorp, Inc. conducts its business operations through Chesapeake Bank of Maryland, a federally chartered stock savings association. The Bank was founded in 1913 as New Eastern Avenue Permanent Savings and Loan Association. The Bank operates as a community-oriented institution by offering a variety of loan and deposit products and serving other financial needs of its local community. The Bank conducts business out of its main office located in Baltimore County, Maryland, and out of three branch offices located in Arbutus, Bel Air, and Pasadena, Maryland. The Bank's business strategy consists principally of attracting retail deposits from the general public in its market area, and using those funds, together with funds generated from operations and borrowings, to originate loans secured by residential and nonresidential real estate. SOURCE Rosedale Federal Savings & Loan Association NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of Avalara, Inc. (NYSE: AVLR) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty. To obtain additional information, go to: https://www.zlk.com/compensation2/avalara-inc-information-request-form or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 363-7500. There is no cost or obligation to you. Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized firm with offices in New York, Connecticut, California, and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities lawsuits and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders. For more information, please feel free to contact any of the attorneys listed below. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Joseph E. Levi, Esq. 55 Broadway, 10th Floor New York, NY 10006 [email protected] Tel: (212) 363-7500 Fax: (212) 363-7171 www.zlk.com SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Cloopen Group Holding Limited ("Cloopen" or the "Company") (NYSE: RAAS). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Cloopen and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On or around February 9, 2021, Cloopen conducted an initial public offering ("IPO") in the United States, selling 23 million American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") priced at $16.00 per ADS. Then, on March 26, 2021, just over six weeks after its IPO, Cloopen published its 4Q 2020 and FY 2020 financial results. Cloopen reported 4Q 2020 revenues of just $39.6 million, $2 million short of analysts' consensus, net losses of $46.8 million, representing a staggering 466.9% increase year-over-year, and operating expenses of $27.6 million, representing a 30% increase over 4Q 2019. Cloopen blamed a "change in fair value of warrant liabilities of . . . US$34.4 million" for Cloopen's remarkable net loss and "an increase in the provision for doubtful accounts resulting from increased in accounts receivables" for the 59.2% increase in general and administrative expenses. On this news, Cloopen's ADS price fell $2.67 per ADS, or 18.52%, to close at $11.75 per ADS on March 26, 2021. Then, on May 10, 2021, after the market closed, Cloopen filed its Annual Report on SEC Form 20-F, revealing for the first time that its dollar-based net customer retention rate for recurring solutions had hemorrhaged from 102.7% in 2019 to 86.8% by year end 2020. On this news, Cloopen's ADS price fell $0.62 per ADS, or 6.47%, to close at $8.97 per ADS on May 12, 2021. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Renren Inc. ("Renren" or the "Company") (NYSE: RENN). The investigation concerns whether Renren and certain of its officers and/or directors have breached fiduciary duties owed to the company and its investors. If you are a shareholder who acquired Renren common stock or American depositary shares ("ADS") and held shares on April 29, 2018, just before Renren announced a transaction involving the transfer of major company assets, and are interested in obtaining additional information regarding this investigation, you are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of WeWork Inc. ("WeWork" or the "Company") (NYSE: WE). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether WeWork and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On December 1, 2021, WeWork disclosed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing that "[i]n connection with the preparation of the financial statements as of September 30, 2021, WeWork Inc. (the 'Company') reevaluated its application of Accounting Standards Codification ('ASC') 480-10-S99, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, to its accounting classification of the Class A common stock subject to possible redemption (the 'Public Shares') issued as part of the units sold in the initial public offering by the Company's predecessor, BowX Acquisition Corp. ('BowX'). The Company had previously classified a portion of the Public Shares in permanent equity. Upon further evaluation, the Company determined that the Public Shares include certain redemption features not solely within the Company's control that, under ASC 480-10-S99, require such shares to be classified as temporary equity in their entirety." Accordingly, WeWork advised that certain of its previously issued financial statements should not be relied upon and would be restated. In addition, WeWork disclosed that its management has concluded that, that in light of the classification error described above, there was a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting relating to the interpretation and accounting for certain complex features of the Public Shares." On this news, WeWork's stock price fell sharply, damaging investors. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP [email protected] 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 SOURCE Pomerantz LLP This article first appeared in The Conversation The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. The leader of the Oath Keepers militia, Stewart Rhodes, must stay behind bars pending trial for his alleged role in the storming of the Capitol, a judge ruled on Jan. 26, 2022. While this means authorities can keep tabs on the whereabouts of Rhodes and presumably limit any perceived threat from him the same may not be said for all members of the group. Rhodes and other defendants who have pleaded not guilty to charges of seditious conspiracy over the attempted insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, present just a fraction of the total membership of the Oath Keepers the size of which raises uncomfortable questions about the possibility of violent radicalization in the U.S. military. As experts on violent extremism, we believe it isnt only the number of Oath Keepers that is a problem, it is their makeup. A significant number of their members are veterans both female and male who bring military skills to the group and also serve as recruiters for other active and former armed service personnel. Challenging the commander in chief The Oath Keepers were founded by Rhodes in 2009 as an anti-government group in response to the Obama presidency. The groups name implies a mandate to honor their oath to the U.S. Constitution, and in particular to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. But its founding inspiration was precisely the opposite: challenging a legitimate president and commander in chief out of animosity toward what Barack Obama stood for. Since then, the Oath Keepers have armed and broadcast plans to mobilize. The Oath Keepers may number in the thousands, yet we believe they present a greater threat than their membership suggests. This is partly because the Oath Keepers actively recruit current and retired members of the armed forces. As UMass Lowell terrorism expert and our research collaborator, Arie Perliger, has shown in his work, Oath Keepers members are likely better trained militarily than other extremist groups because of the groups composition. About 10% of the Oath Keepers are active-duty military, and around two-thirds are retired military or law enforcement, according to analysis of the groups membership by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Several Oath Keepers present at the Jan. 6 attack were veterans, such as Larry Brock, the so-called zip-tie guy due to his being photographed with the makeshift handcuffs. According to an analysis of court and Pentagon records by CNN, as many as 14% of those charged with crimes related to storming the Capitol served in the military. This is double the proportion of veterans in the general American adult population. Military members are desirable to extremist groups because they bring special skills such as experience with weapons, targeting and combat experience. According to the indictment, the Oath Keepers used a stack, or staggered military formation, to breach the Capitol. As our previous research demonstrated, the processes of radicalization in an extremist group movement is in many ways similar to military training. Those with military backgrounds possess not only the skills that radical groups seek, but also the psychological readiness for violent conflict that is rare among civilians. The rise in radicalization within the ranks of the military can be observed in the increasing proportion of domestic terrorism acts in the U.S. involving active-duty and reserve personel, from 0% in 2018 to 1.5% in 2019 and 6.4% in 2020, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The number of Americans with military ties classified as extremists quadrupled in recent years, according to Michael Jensen and other researchers at the University of Marylands Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism center. Recruiting ground An increase in radical ideology among members of the U.S. military makes it a fertile ground for recruiting by groups such as the Oath Keepers. A 2019 poll of active-duty troops found that around 1 in 3 (36%) reported personally witnessing White nationalism and ideologically-driven racism among their peers. This included the use of racist language, but also swastikas drawn on service members cars and stickers supporting the Ku Klux Klan. This high proportion reflects a significant increase from the previous year: In a 2018 poll, 1 in 5 (22%) active military troops had reported witnessing such behavior. Why it matters As well as posing a risk due to their weapons training, active and former military personnel pose a greater threat as members of right-wing militia groups. Unlike civilians, military people must take an oath, pledging allegiance to their country and the institutions of democracy enshrined in the Constitution. When they align with groups like the Oath Keepers and plan an attack on the U.S. government, these military personnel betray their oath. This kind of hypocrisy is known in psychology as cognitive dissonance an uncomfortable psychological state that arises when ones actions contradict ones self-image, causing a motivation to double-down to justify ones actions. It is the reason that painful, embarrassing or humiliating initiation rites are often effective in radicalizing new members. The additional psychological cost of cognitive dissonance may mean military members of the Oath Keepers are more committed to their new allegiance after they turn away from their old one. While the Oath Keepers wish to present themselves as the ultimate masculine alphas, some of the real power lies with the women supporting their efforts. The number of men arrested over the Jan. 6 riot outnumber that of women. Of the 11 charged with seditious conspiracy, only one Jessica Watkins, a former army ranger who at the time of the attack identified as an Oath Keeper is a woman. However, women play key support roles from behind the scenes, raising money, disseminating propaganda and even recruiting new members. After Rhodes was arrested, Kellye SoRelle, a former attorney, was named as acting president of the Oath Keepers. The hidden face of extremism is often female, as our previous research on the subject has shown. In Jihadi groups, women were crucial for fundraising, disseminating propaganda and recruiting men for the cause. Women in Jihadi organizations, like al-Qaeda recruiter Malika el Aroud, were able to shame men into participating in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. On her website, minbar.sos, Aroud exhorted men to step up to prove that they were real men. We see comparable dynamics in American right-wing extremist groups and the ways in which women weaponize toxic masculinity. Some analysts have predicted that membership in the Oath Keepers will decline as a result of the indictments. But those indicted number a only a few; the real concern is that the men and women who make up the Oath Keepers rank and file could continue to recruit while the leaders remain behind bars. Mia Bloom is a Professor and fellow at Evidence Based Cyber Security Program, GSU, Georgia State University. Sophia Moskalenko is a Research Fellow in Social Psychology, Georgia State University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. "Today's event represents a significant milestone in this transformational project," said John G. Morikis, Sherwin-Williams Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "As construction workers, equipment and materials have been arriving at our building site in the heart of the city, we could not be more excited about the investment we are making in the future of our Company and the future of Cleveland. We are creating a next-generation workplace to serve our customers, retain and attract employees, as well as offer opportunities to celebrate the Sherwin-Williams brand and act as a catalyst for future development in and around our new campus." The new headquarters is part of the Company's comprehensive Building Our Future project, which also includes construction of a new 600,000 square foot Research & Development (R&D) Center in Brecksville, Ohio which officially broke ground in October 2021. Sherwin-Williams plans to invest a minimum of $600 million to build both the headquarters and R&D facility. "Attracting and retaining organizations like Sherwin-Williams is critical to the short- and long-term success of our city, region and our surrounding communities," said Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb. "We applaud the decision Sherwin-Williams made to further invest in Cleveland and in Northeast Ohio by building world class facilities for the workforce of the future. Their steadfast commitment to the area is an example of how the City of Cleveland will further establish itself as a destination for investment, job creation and top talent recruitment." Together, the two facilities will house more than 3,500 employees with room to accommodate future growth. Sherwin-Williams estimates it will add a minimum of 400 jobs at these facilities over time, an increase of 11 percent to the Company's current local workforce. Many of these jobs will include professional staff, engineers and chemists. "The positive economic impact generated from Sherwin-Williams over these past many decades is unprecedented," said Cleveland Council President Blaine Griffin. "Sherwin-Williams continues to be an important part of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio through their ability to provide good jobs, strong community support and robust economic activity for years to come." "We have been incredibly fortunate to have Sherwin-Williams be part of our community for more than 155 years," added Ohio State Senator Sandra Williams. "Together, the new headquarters and R&D Center will have significant and long-lasting impact on our region. This project represents a successful public/private partnership whereby the State of Ohio, JobsOhio, Cuyahoga County, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, the City of Cleveland and the City of Brecksville all worked together with Sherwin-Williams to provide support in the way of economic development packages which, in part, reflect the retention and addition of a significant number of jobs." In addition to Mayor Bibb and Council President Griffin, Sherwin-Williams was honored to have additional public and private dignitaries provide remarks at the ceremony. They included U.S. Representative Shontel Brown, Ohio State Representative Terrence Upchurch, Cleveland City Councilman Kerry McCormack and architect Bill Chilton of Pickard Chilton. Ohio State Senator Williams was unable to attend due to a last-minute scheduling conflict. The new global headquarters is expected to open by the end of 2024 and is projected to generate 4,000 construction jobs. Sherwin-Williams has extended its corporate inclusion, diversity and equity commitment to the construction of the two facilities. The Company has developed and is executing a strategic, intentional and fair process to include minority-owned, female-owned and small businesses that has already resulted in the awarding of multiple contracts totaling in the millions of dollars. Sherwin-Williams continues to work proactively with community, city, county and state leaders, local organizations and trade partners to identify further opportunities for involvement and also expects to provide considerable diverse workforce opportunities on the project over the next three years. For ongoing updates on the Company's new global headquarters and new R&D Center, please visit buildingourfuture.com. ABOUT THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of paint, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. The Company manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams, Valspar, HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy, Krylon, Minwax, Thompson's Water Seal, Cabot and many more. With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin-Williams branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 5,000 Company-operated stores and facilities, while the Company's other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group supplies a broad range of highly-engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets in more than 120 countries around the world. Sherwin-Williams shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: SHW). For more information, visit www.sherwin.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Julie Young Vice President, Global Corporate Communications Direct: 216.515.8849 - [email protected] SOURCE The Sherwin-Williams Company 2022 Skal USA President Richard Scinta is looking forward to a successful year in 2022 after our friends and colleagues in the travel industry have been affected so much. "We need everyone from ALL clubs to be involved in our success and communication is the key to that," he says. Scinta urges any member "to reach out with any questions or concerns so that we can help you through any issues you have retaining current members. Scinta also says he is also looking forward to working with newly elected Skal International President Burcin Turkkan from Skal Atlanta and her Skal International Team. "We are such good colleagues and friends and that is what Skal is all about! We will work with Burcin and her team to ensure a cohesive and thought-out plan for our organization moving forward. Creating more relevancy and strategic membership growth is a key to our success and we've heard that from many of our clubs! I know it is on Burcin's list and it will certainly be on mine as well. Whatever actions we take must have those two priorities in mind - Strategic Growth of Membership and Relevancy of our brand to the industry." 2022 President Richard Scinta joined Skal Orlando, one of the largest Skal clubs in the world, in 2009 and has served on the Executive Committee for the past 4 years. He has grown to embrace and appreciate Skal's mission of developing and enhancing a responsible tourism industry through networking with many of the strongest leaders in the industry. His experience as the Vice President of Club and Association Governance for Wyndham Destinations, where he is responsible for over for over 225 associations and relationships for over 900 board members will be a tremendous asset as he guides the 45 Skal clubs across the United States through another challenging year, as the industry continues to rebuild from the damages the pandemic has brought. 2022 will continue to bring its share of challenges as the travel industry tries to recover from the past year and the Skal USA Executive Committee is ready to do their part. To learn more about Skal International USA, head to their website at http://skalusa.org. Skal International is the world's largest global network of Tourism Professionals promoting Tourism, Business, and Friendship worldwide since 1934. Its members are Directors and Executives of the Tourism sector who relate to each other to address issues of common interest, improving a business network, and promoting destinations. Skal International has over 13,000 members in 345 clubs in 100 countries around the world. Skal International USA is currently the largest National Committee in Skal International with over 1,800 members and 45 clubs nationwide. For more information about Skal International and membership, please visit SkalUSA.org. Contact: Pam Davis, (808-225-8229), [email protected] SOURCE Skal International USA SAN DIEGO, Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SOCi, the marketing platform for multi-location brands, has announced record revenue growth of 149% YoY for 2021 as well as a 116% increase in ARR YoY. SOCi also doubled its employee base last year to support more than 600 multi-location brands managing over three million business locations through its platform. SOCi's technology platform helped reach more than 25 billion local consumers across hundreds of thousands of digital channels spanning search, social, reviews, ads, and more, making SOCi the largest enterprise platform for localized marketing. The impressive growth for this four-time Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America honoree comes at a time when Covid has changed the way brands and their locations interact with consumers. "Covid has driven consumers inside and online, and has forced a shift to digital channels, fundamentally changing how consumers communicate and engage with brands," said SOCi CEO and founder, Afif Khoury. "For multi-location brands to thrive in this new environment, they must leverage technology to manage their presence in local digital marketing channels. In 2021, SOCi delivered that technology to hundreds of national and global brands. In 2022, we will expand our offering to provide strategic recommendations and automate the steps brands must take to fully optimize those channels." With an expanded workforce and solution set, SOCi has further strengthened its core competence in providing marketing solutions tailored to multi-location verticals such as restaurants, retail, multi-family, fitness, healthcare, and more. Moreover, SOCi is setting its sights on further boosting the success of brands and their locations by applying data science and machine learning models to predict customer behavior and recommend actions that SOCi users, or the platform itself, can take to optimize results. "We've amassed a mountain of customer interaction data across all major marketing channels, and we are developing tools to analyze that data to determine customer reactions to various marketing campaigns, in order to make recommendations to a local marketer of what to do to gain the best return for their time," says Alo Sarv, SOCi's CTO. "And since these recommendations are generated by the SOCi platform, we can simply automate those tasks to drive massive local adoption, optimization, and engagement numbers for the brand." The localized marketing tech sector is maturing as brands become more proficient in using digital tools and analytics to empower and strengthen local connections with their communities. SOCi's accelerated and expanded product roadmap will make it the first platform to effectively marry best-in-class tools with big data and business intelligence to deliver a data-driven marketing automation platform focused on local engagement. SOCi has taken several steps toward achieving this vision. In 2021, the company expanded its product offering to better help brands with thousands of locations efficiently monitor customer feedback and assess performance. With the release of SOCi's Smart Review Response tool , multi-location marketers gained the ability to use machine learning to auto-generate customized review responses based on what customers have written. The tool helps businesses to respond to reviews efficiently and personally at scale, strengthening brand reputations at the local level. SOCi's Listening tool enables brands and their locations to track customer sentiment across social channels, aggregating millions of conversational data points and transforming them into actionable insights. The SOCi Reporting Suite allows corporate managers to track performance across locations, quickly identifying areas in need of improvement and high performers whose tactics could be replicated to increase overall success. SOCi's triple-digit year-over-year revenue growth led The Financial Times to recognize it as one of America's Fastest Growing Companies. The company's achievements in product development have also been recognized by two of the top peer review networks for B2B Technology companies: Capterra placed SOCi on its shortlist for both review management and brand management; and SOCi was recognized as a Gartner Software Advisor FrontRunner in Brand Management. About SOCi SOCi is the marketing platform for multi-location brands. We empower businesses like Ace Hardware, Sport Clips, and Anytime Fitness to scale marketing efforts across all digital channels in a way that's brand directed, locally perfected, and data connected. As one central place to scale marketing, SOCi makes the impossible possible by enabling top brands and their locations to strengthen and scale their digital presence across limitless local search and social pages while protecting what matters most, their reputation. For more information on how SOCi can help fuel your localized marketing success - visit us at www.meetsoci.com or message us at [email protected]. SOURCE SOCi, Inc. BILLINGS, Mont., Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A coalition of hundreds of private school students, homeschool families, and community supporters will fill the Yellowstone County courthouse lawn in what has become an annual event celebrating the impact of school choice in Montana. WHAT: School choice rally at the courthouse Celebration of National School Choice Week WHO: Jeff Laszloffy , president and CEO of the Montana Family Foundation , president and CEO of the Montana Family Foundation A coalition of hundreds of private school students, homeschool families, and community supporters WHEN: Noon, Friday, Jan. 28 WHERE: The Billings Courthouse, located at 217 N. 27th St. This event is organized by the Montana Family Institute. National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children, focusing equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of celebrations such as school fairs and open houses to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. School Choice Week also develops resources and guides to K-12 education for families. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com. SOURCE National School Choice Week ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Several hundred Alaska parents and educators will celebrate learning options and Gov. Mike Dunleavy's proclamation of Jan. 23-29 as "Alaska School Choice Week" at a school choice celebration. WHAT: Alaska's inaugural school choice celebration WHO: Several hundred parents, students, teachers, and community leaders Speakers including government and school leaders, parents, and students WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 29 , 1-3 p.m. WHERE: Anchorage Baptist Temple , 6401 E Northern Lights Blvd. #3312 This event is planned by the Alaskans for Choice in Education, along with the Alaska Policy Forum. National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children, focusing equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of celebrations such as school fairs and open houses to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. School Choice Week also develops resources and guides to K-12 education for families. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com. SOURCE National School Choice Week SANTA ANA, Calif., Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Not far from Amazon parrots and ring-tailed lemurs, several hundred families and educators will join together to celebrate school choice at the Santa Ana Zoo. This event marks the Orange County Parent Union's seventh annual school choice fair. WHAT: School choice fair with more than a dozen public schools and community groups Face painting, a photo booth, snacks, raffle prizes, and a DJ, plus free entrance to the zoo Celebration of National School Choice Week WHO: Mari Barker , president of the Orange County Board of Education , president of the Board of Education Lance Izumi , senior director of the Center for Education at the Pacific Research Institute , senior director of the Center for Education at the Pacific Research Institute former State Senator Romero Larry Sand , president of the California Teachers Empowerment Network , president of the California Teachers Empowerment Network Representatives from more than a dozen schools and community groups Hundreds of community members WHEN: 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday , Jan. 29 WHERE: Santa Ana Zoo, 1801 E. Chestnut Ave. This event is hosted by Parent Union. National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children, focusing equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of celebrations such as school fairs and open houses to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. School Choice Week also develops resources and guides to K-12 education for families. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com. SOURCE National School Choice Week UTRECHT, Netherlands, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 28, the movie recommendation website Veboli is launching personal recommendations for streaming services in Canada and the United States. Based on their unique preferences, streaming recommendations matches users and new visitors to movies they'll enjoy right on their streaming services, like Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and Netflix. Photo of Netflix recommendations for the United States. Photo of Amazon Prime Video recommendations for Canada. While there are thousands of movies to watch on streaming services, picking the right one can be quite the difficult task. "That's a shame because with personalized advice, everyone can easily stream a great movie" says Thomas van Wageningen, founder of Veboli. Veboli uses ratings to match people to like-minded users and movie critics and their movies to similar movies to generate personal recommendation scores for all movies. Users and new visitors can see which movies they should watch and which to avoid. Users can also get personal recommendations together with their friends to pick a movie everyone will enjoy. Recommendations are linked to what's on over 200 different streaming services, including not only the well-known providers but also smaller providers like Crackle, Fandor, and Kanopy. This feature is also available in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom and will be expanding to more countries in Europe and Asia the coming months. Media Contact: Thomas van Wageningen, Veboli Phone: +31648229594 Email: [email protected] Want to know more? Send Thomas an email at [email protected] or head over to the about page, the blog or try out the preview version of Quick Recommendations. SOURCE Veboli COLUMBIA, S.C., Jan. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- William Thomas Mills is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Distinguished Executive for his work in the Brokerage field and in acknowledgment of his work at Trinity Partners. With ten years of experience in the field, Mr. Mills is a successful executive at Trinity Partners. He works with investors in Retail Leasing, Sales, and Trusts. William T. Mills (PRNewsfoto/Continental Who's Who) Inspired by his father and grandfather to pursue Law, Mr. Mills first attended college at Hammond School in 2007. His work history starts in 2008, when Mr. Mills gained valuable experience as a Legal Courier for Ellis Lawhorne & Sims PA. During this time, he also enjoyed traveling to Costa Rica, Jamaica, Mexico, and Belize. Mr. Mills completed a Civil Law Internship at the South Carolina Attorney General's Office in 2009 in Columbia, SC, where he was responsible for data review and reviewing employee termination cases. He also worked on a team on an embezzlement case. He next attended Wofford College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics in 2011. During his time at Wofford College, he traveled to Poland, Hungary, France, Czech Republic, Peru, and Thailand, and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. Mr. Mills began working as an Assistant at Newmark Grubb Wilson Kibler in 2011, and rose through the ranks to become an Associate in 2013, and Senior Associate in 2017. As a result of his education and experience, Mr. Mills is a Licensed Salesman by the State of South Carolina Real Estate Commission. Today, Mr. Mills works as a Senior Brokerage Associate at Trinity Partners, where he has been since 2019. His main focus at his job is retail brokerage, sales, and leasing. He enjoys working with clients to find offices, industrial spaces, medical offices, retail spaces, and land, in order to invest in and create diverse portfolios. Mr. Mills enjoys working in this rapidly growing industry. Right now, he is focused on a Starbucks development project. Throughout their company history, Trinity Partners has leased 25 million square feet across the Carolinas. His exceptional work has been recognized with the 2016 Power Broker Award - Top Retail Leasing Broker by Costar Group. Mr. Mills has also achieved Eagle Scout status with the Boys Scouts of America, and is a member of the Columbia Rotary Club. Mr. Mills remains affiliated with the International Counsel Shopping Centers. He attributes his success to his resourcefulness, his networking abilities, and the guidance of his mentors. In the future, Mr. Mills hopes to contribute further to real estate development projects, and find investors for new properties and projects. For more information, visit https://www.trinity-partners.com/. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Chairman and CEO Ali Tajskandar to speak at and attend two leading investor events VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Wishpond Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: WISH) (OTCQX: WPNDF) ("Wishpond" or the "Company"), a provider of marketing-focused online business solutions, is pleased to announce that its Chairman and CEO, Ali Tajskandar, will present at the OTC Small Cap Growth Virtual Investor Conference on February 2, 2022, and will meet with investors at the Whistler Capital Conference on February 18th - 20th, 2022. OTC Markets Small Cap Growth Virtual Investor DATE: Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022 TIME: 1:30 pm ET LINK: https://bit.ly/otc_conference Mr. Tajskandar will discuss Wishpond's success since becoming a publicly-listed company, including completing four major acquisitions and reporting record revenue growth. Mr. Tajskandar will also share the company's acquisition and growth strategy, and provide attendees with a view of what to expect from Wishpond in 2022. The OTC Markets Small Cap Growth Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, brings together some of the most innovative small cap companies to help investors discover new opportunities through presentations from leaders in a range of different industries and markets. Whistler Capital Conference DATE: Friday, February 18th to Sunday, February 20th, 2022 LINK: https://cem.ca/conference/whistler-capital-event/ Mr. Tajskandar, will be hosting onsite meetings with several current and potential investors throughout a full day of 1-on-1 meetings and a series of networking activities at the Whistler Capital Conference. The 12th Annual Whistler Capital Conference, organized by CEM Events (CEM.ca) is an invite-only event that introduces growth-stage companies to active top-level capital finance individuals through a day of scheduled 1:1 meetings and networking activities. About Wishpond Technologies Ltd. Based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Wishpond is a provider of marketing-focused online business solutions. Wishpond's vision is to become the leading provider of digital marketing solutions that empower entrepreneurs to achieve success online. The Company offers an "all-in-one" marketing suite that provides companies with marketing, promotion, lead generation, and sales conversion capabilities on one integrated platform. Wishpond replaces disparate marketing solutions with an easy-to-use product, for a fraction of the cost. Wishpond serves over 3,000 customers who are primarily small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in a wide variety of industries. The Company has developed cutting-edge marketing technology solutions and continues to add new features and applications with great velocity. The Company employs a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business model where substantially all the Company's revenue is subscription-based recurring revenue which provides excellent revenue predictability and cash flow visibility. Wishpond is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker "WISH", and on the OTCQX Best Market under the ticker "WPNDF". For further information, visit: www.wishpond.com. Forward Looking Statement This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the outlook of the business of Wishpond, including, without limitation, statements relating to future performance, execution of business strategy, future growth, business prospects and opportunities of Wishpond and its related subsidiaries and other factors beyond our control. Such forward-looking statements may, without limitation, be preceded by, followed by, or include words such as "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans", "continues", "project", "potential", "possible", "contemplate", "seek", "goal", or similar expressions, or may employ such future or conditional verbs as "may", "might", "will", "could", "should" or "would", or may otherwise be indicated as forward-looking statements by grammatical construction, phrasing or context. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this news release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the management of Wishpond. Although Wishpond believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because Wishpond can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Wishpond disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Wishpond Technologies Ltd. DUBLIN, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Defibrillator Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Product (ICDs, External Defibrillators), by End Use (Hospital, Pre Hospital, Public Access Market, Alternate Care Market, Home Healthcare), by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2022-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global defibrillator market size is expected to reach USD 20.6 billion by 2030. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.0% from 2022 to 2030. The key drivers for this market include supportive regulatory policies, rising incidences of sudden cardiac arrests, product developments, and rising awareness regarding cardiac conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, gave rise to several challenges such as dampened demand for ICDs, logistical bottlenecks, postponed elective surgeries across the globe, and reduced sales growth. The demand for ICDs plunged during 2020 as governments in many key markets implemented movement restrictions and hospitals deferred elective procedures. The sales recovered gradually as movement restrictions were eased and elective procedure volume went up. For instance, Abbott reported a decline in demand and sales of its cardiovascular and neuromodulation portfolio in 2020. Abbott attributed the sales decrease to reduced procedure volumes resulting from the pandemic. The rising demand to develop solutions to improve sudden cardiac arrests response and the need to improve patient outcomes is expected to drive innovation in implantable as well as external defibrillators product segments. Innovation in the implantable defibrillators segments is driven by product advancements in subcutaneous and transvenous devices to increase device safety and efficacy. Integration of digital technologies such as analytics and tracking software is expected to drive the development in the external defibrillators segments. Other emerging technological trends include developments in personal AEDs for use in home settings, improvements in tracking technology for AEDs, the use of drones to deliver devices to care sites, and the use of IoT. Major market players are focused on launching technologically advanced products and collaborations to enhance their presence. For instance, in July 2020, Zoll Medical Corporation launched a new remote view technology feature on its X Series monitor/defibrillator. This enhanced the existing product portfolio. In 2020, the European Emergency Number Association (EENA) launched a project in collaboration with Everdrone and Schiller to understand and explore the possibilities of using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for emergency medical deliveries. The AEDs used were provided by Schiller, thus strengthening the company's market presence. Defibrillators Market Report Highlights North America held the largest revenue share in 2021 due to the advanced healthcare infrastructure, supportive policies driving adoption of public access AEDs, and deeper penetration of the technologically advanced devices held the largest revenue share in 2021 due to the advanced healthcare infrastructure, supportive policies driving adoption of public access AEDs, and deeper penetration of the technologically advanced devices Asia Pacific is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 7.9% over the forecast period owing to the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in China and India and increasing healthcare expenditure is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 7.9% over the forecast period owing to the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in and and increasing healthcare expenditure The industry participants are focusing on investing in acquisitions, collaborations, product launches, and partnerships to gain a competitive edge in the market Some of the leading players in the market are headquartered in Asia such as Asahi Kasei, Nihon Kohden, and Microport, thus contributing to the regional market growth such as Asahi Kasei, Nihon Kohden, and Microport, thus contributing to the regional market growth Europe held a significant revenue share in 2021 owing to initiatives by key companies and well-established healthcare infrastructure held a significant revenue share in 2021 owing to initiatives by key companies and well-established healthcare infrastructure For instance, in January 2020 , Medtronic received the CE mark for its Cobalt and Crome lineup of defibrillators. This extended the company's cardiac solutions offerings and enabled it to commercialize the products across Europe Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope Chapter 2 Executive Summary Chapter 3 Defibrillators Market Variables, Trends & Scope 3.1 Market Lineage Outlook 3.1.1. Parent Market Outlook 3.1.2. Related/Ancillary Market Outlook 3.2. Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping, 2021 3.3 Defibrillators Market Dynamics 3.3.1 Market driver analysis 3.3.2 Market restraint analysis 3.3.3. Market opportunity analysis 3.3.4. Market challenge analysis 3.4 Defibrillators Market Analysis Tools: Porters 3.4.1 Supplier Power 3.4.2. Buyer Power 3.4.3. Substitution Threat 3.4.4. Threat of New Entrants 3.4.5. Competitive Rivalry 3.5 Defibrillators Industry Analysis-PEST (Political & Legal, Economic, Social, and Technological) 3.5.1 Political/Legal Landscape 3.5.2 Economic Landscape 3.5.3 Social Landscape 3.5.4 Technology Landscape 3.6. Regulatory Landscape 3.7. Public Access Defibrillation Programs 3.8. ICDs Product Performance Analysis 3.9. Technology Trend Analysis 3.10. Pricing Analysis Chapter 4 COVID-19 Impact Analysis 4.1 COVID-19 Prevalence Analysis 4.2. Current and future impact analysis 4.3. Impact on Market Players Chapter 5 Defibrillators Market: Segment Analysis, By Product, 2017-2030 (USD Million) 5.1 Product Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030 5.2 Defibrillators market, by Product, 2017 to 2030 5.3 ImplanTable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD) 5.3.1 ImplanTable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD) market, 2017-2030 (USD Million) 5.3.2 S-ICD 5.3.2.1 S-ICD market, 2017-2030 (USD Million) 5.3.3 T-ICD 5.3.3.1 T-ICD market, 2017-2030 (USD Million) 5.3.3.2 Single Chamber 5.3.3.2.1 Single Chamber market, 2017-2030 (USD Million) 5.3.3.3 Dual Chamber 5.3.3.3.1 Dual Chamber market, 2017-2030 (USD Million) 5.3.3.4 CRT-D 5.3.3.4.1 CRT-D market, 2017-2030 (USD Million) 5.4 External Defibrillators 5.4.1 External Defibrillators market, 2017-2030 (USD Million) 5.4.2 Manual ED 5.4.2.1 Manual ED market, 2017-2030 (USD Million) 5.4.3 Automated ED 5.4.3.1 Automated ED market, 2017-2030 (USD Million) 5.4.4 Wearable cardioverter defibrillators 5.4.4.1 Wearable cardioverter defibrillators market, 2017-2030 (USD Million) Chapter 6 Defibrillators Market: Segment Analysis, By End Use, 2017-2030 (USD Million) 6.1 End-use Market Share Analysis, 2021 & 2030 6.2 Defibrillators Market, by End Use, 2017 to 2030 6.3 Hospital 6.3.1 Hospital market, 2017-2030 (USD Million) 6.4 Pre Hospital 6.4.1 Pre Hospital market, 2017-2030 (USD million) 6.5 Public Access Market 6.5.1 Public Access Market, 2017-2030 (USD million) 6.6 Alternate Care Market 6.6.1 Alternate Care Market, 2017-2030 (USD million) 6.7 Home Healthcare 6.7.1 Home Healthcare market, 2017-2030 (USD million) Chapter 7 Defibrillators Market: Regional Market Analysis 2017-2030 (USD Million) Chapter 8 Defibrillators Market-Competitive Analysis 8.1 Market Participant Categorization 8.1.1. Company Market Position Analysis 8.1.2. Synergy Analysis: Major Deals & Strategic Alliances 8.1.3. Market Leaders 8.1.4. Innovators 8.2. List of Key Companies Chapter 9 Defibrillators Market-Company Profiles 9.1 Medtronic 9.1.1 Company overview 9.1.2 Financial performance 9.1.3 Product benchmarking 9.1.4 Strategic initiatives 9.2 Abbott 9.2.1 Company overview 9.2.2 Financial performance 9.2.3 Product benchmarking 9.2.4 Strategic initiatives 9.3 Boston Scientific Corporation 9.3.1 Company overview 9.3.2 Financial performance 9.3.3 Product benchmarking 9.3.4 Strategic initiatives 9.4 BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG 9.4.1 Company overview 9.4.2 Financial performance 9.4.3 Product benchmarking 9.4.4 Strategic initiatives 9.5 MicroPort Scientific Corporation 9.5.1 Company overview 9.5.2 Financial performance 9.5.3 Product benchmarking 9.5.4 Strategic initiatives 9.6 Koninklijke Philips N.V. 9.6.1 Company overview 9.6.2 Financial performance 9.6.3 Product benchmarking 9.6.4 Strategic initiatives 9.7 Stryker 9.7.1 Company overview 9.7.2 Financial performance 9.7.3 Product benchmarking 9.7.4 Strategic initiatives 9.8 ZOLL Medical Corporation (Asahi Kasei) 9.8.1 Company overview 9.8.2 Financial performance 9.8.3 Product benchmarking 9.8.4 Strategic initiatives 9.9 Nihon Kohden Corporation 9.9.1 Company overview 9.9.2 Financial performance 9.9.3 Product benchmarking 9.9.4 Strategic initiatives 9.10 Schiller AG 9.10.1 Company overview 9.10.2 Financial performance 9.10.3 Product benchmarking 9.10.4 Strategic initiatives For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qfkxsb Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Pan Gang, Chairman and President of Yili Group, said, "With love for a healthy life, we will keep bringing more products of nutrition and health to customers worldwide by continuous innovation, and bringing warmth and love to people in need by doing good. With love for our career, we will let our staff feel more of a sense of fulfillment and happiness by helping them grow, we will join hands with our partners in the industry chain to open an era of greater prosperity by keeping moving forward." Yili's rapid growth benefits its employees With continued efforts to support the professional development of its employees, Yili has established a system covering talent cultivation and employee care. This provides an effective platform for individual employees' development, extensive training resources, and a well-developed reward mechanism. Over 100 awards were granted at this meeting to outstanding employees and teams, recognizing their achievements in talent cultivation, process building, safe production, quality management, and innovations. On top of base pay and merit pay, Yili provided more than RMB 1.2 billion in employee incentives throughout 2021. Yili is also dedicated to offering diversified career paths for its employees. It provided growth and development opportunities for over 2,000 employees last year alone. Yili boosts common prosperity throughout the industrial chain As one of the top five players in the global dairy industry, Yili has been advancing its technological upgrading and fostering value chains in the industry to facilitate the continued development of its upstream and downstream partners, both technologically and financially. Yili has also helped over five million dairy farmers to raise their incomes and improve their livelihoods. As of December 31, 2021, Yili had invested RMB 90 billion in financing 8,590 of its upstream and downstream partners in the industrial chain, with RMB 7.596 billion extended in 2021. With the aim of jointly building the Global Health Ecosystem and serving consumers worldwide, Yili invested approximately RMB 100 million in rewarding its outstanding dealers at the Top Partners Conference 2022. Currently, Yili has teamed up with partners in 33 countries across five continents. Yili supports public welfare to help improve people's lives Over the years, Yili has always fulfilled its social responsibilities. By the end of 2021, the "Yili Nutrition 2030" project had covered 12,000 Chinese schools, with a total investment of more than RMB 92 million, benefiting nearly 700,000 children. In addition, with the aim of ensuring children's safety, the "Yili Ark" project had covered 25 provinces and cities across the country, benefiting 300,000 children, teachers and parents. Yili is also committed to promoting the development of a green industrial chain. Yili recently received a carbon neutral verification statement from Bureau Veritas, marking the first such verification in the local dairy industry. Its industry-leading practices around realizing peak emissions and carbon neutrality were also featured as the only case study from the food and agriculture sector in the United Nations Global Compact's Corporate Net Zero Pathway. SOURCE Yili Group Fridays annual general meeting for Avon Protection PLC (LSE:AVON) is likely to be a sobering affair. Having conducted an in-depth strategic review of its armour business, it concluded last month an orderly wind-down of the body and flat armour business is in the best interest of stakeholders. The group already warned this year will be one of transition. Supply chain issues have been a concern and the business has been more adversely affected by the pandemic than might be expected of a company specialising in respiratory protection. ITM Power PLC (AIM:ITM), the manufacturer of integrated hydrogen energy systems, is one of those intriguing jam tomorrow companies. Valued at 1.9bn it has never made a profit and its turnover is minuscule akin to many tech unicorns with similarly large valuations. As such, the actual numbers in Fridays interims are likely to be of little concern to investors although for the record revenue is likely to be around 4.1mln and the underlying loss around 13mln. Cash burn said to be 12mln in the six months to the end of October, is less of a concern since the company raised 232mln in November. The focus will be on full-year guidance of power generation, which currently stands at 33-50 megawatts (MW) and the growth in its tendering pipeline. Significant announcements expected Interims: ITM Power PLC (AIM:ITM) (ITM Power PLC (AIM:ITM)) AGMs: Avon Protection PLC (LSE:AVON), Mosman Oil & Gas, Hollywood Bowl PLC, Tertiary Minerals PLC (AIM:TYM), Treatt PLC Economic data: CFTC GBP NC Net Positions (UK), Personal Consumption Expenditures (US) Advance Energy PLC (AIM:ADV) announced chief executive Leslie Peterkin is leaving the company as part of a cost-cutting programme aimed at slashing its costs base by 50%. It comes after the unsuccessful Buffalo well, offshore Timor-Leste, and the more than 90% drop in share price that followed. Today, the company told investors former Chariot Oil & Gas boss Larry Bottomley will step up from his non-executive director position to be Advance Energys new interim chief executive. Bottomley will be tasked with ushering in a new strategy for the company which will aim to recreate the exploration investor as an oil and gas production company to take advantage of growth opportunities. The plan is to focus on non-operated cash-generative assets among the project pipeline that the company has previously reviewed over the past twelve months. Such opportunities could be in Europe, Africa and the Far East it added. Advance Energy said it is looking at debt or vendor financing for such opportunities and added it is currently funded to mature these options. It said it is confident it will enter an agreement on at least one opportunity from the pipeline in the current calendar year. "Advance Energy has an exciting set of opportunities in the business development pipeline and a motivated and high-quality board focused on growing the company, Bottomley said in Fridays statement. Reducing the cost base leaves the company with sufficient cash and no debt, and importantly allows more time to assess and progress this pipeline. "The board are committed to delivering assets from the business development pipeline and excited by the opportunity it offers, and we look forward to updating the market as these progress." Leslie Peterkin added: The outcome of the B-10 well was a huge disappointment given the significant input that went into the project and the high degree of confidence that it would result in a commercial development. To support the company with its efforts to reduce the cost base, I have decided to step down, and leave the company in the very capable hands of the remaining board who I have no doubt will steer Advance Energy through these near-term challenges and set the company on a new long-term growth path." The 50% cost cutting plan announced today includes a reduction of salaries and director fees by over 60%. Among the small caps, Thor Mining PLC (AIM:THR, OTC:THORF, ASX:THR)'s rollercoaster week looks like ending on a high. Shares in the junior tumbled Wednesday only to bounce back yesterday as it reported it had unearthed some impressive gold-bearing indications from drilling at its Sterling prospect The results look characteristic of gold mineralisation prevalent in the East Pilbara Craton, home to a number of big Western Australian mines. Thor added that due to mechanical issues it had only been able to carry half of the planned drilling with 50% of the strong gold anomalies therefore remaining untested. Shares rose 17% today to 0.7p to make a two-day gain of 49%. 1.44PM: Ocado Group shares extend bad run Ocado Group PLC (LSE:OCDO) shares were the biggest faller on the FTSE 100 on Friday, down over 6% to 1,455.5p in mid-afternoon on news about the online groceries company's court battle with Norways Autostore over patent infringements. The latest was that a court in Munich has suspended Ocados effort to get the sale of Autostores B1 robot banned in Germany. All the more reason why Ocado, whose shares have fallen 11% over the month and 47% over the past 12 months, was keen to flag its new range of robot helpers earlier this week. 11am: Court drama Cineworld Group PLC (LSE:CINE) shares have dived 6% to 36.97p after it said that Canadian rival Cineplex, following a ditched takeover attempt at the start of 2020, has submitted a 'cross-appeal' to Cineworld's own court appeal to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. "Cineplex's cross-appeal suggests that it should be awarded alternative forms damages, if the Ontario Court of Appeal determines that the damages award of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice is incorrect," Cineworld said. Analysts at AJ Bell said the Anglo-US cinema operator can ill afford such a court battle "given it is only just picking itself up after the devastating impact of the pandemic and it already has an overstretched balance sheet" and "the bottom line remains just how much if anything Cineworld will have to pay out". 8.50am: Hola Amigo Amigo Holdings PLC (LSE:AMGO) shares found some favour on Friday morning, rising 8.6% to 2.4p after a new finance chief was unveiled, just three days after the last one departed. On Monday, the provider of guarantor loans warned it would go out of business unless shareholders approve a 19-for-1 rights issue to raise money to settle complaints from customers relating to its business practices in the previous decade. The controversial guarantor loans provider said today its new chief financial officer will be Danny Malone, co-founder and former finance director of Everyday Loans, chief executive of Secure Trust Bank and European CFO of a division of Citigroup. The appointment is subject to approval by the Financial Conduct Authority. Elsewhere, shares in Advance Energy PLC bounced 32% to 0.31p after it also announced a board appointment, with boss Leslie Peterkin leaving and non-executive Larry Bottomley promoted to replace him. One of the former Chariot Oil & Gas boss's first moves as interim chief executive is to lop off 50% of the company's cost base, following its unsuccessful well offshore Timor-Leste, which led to the shares dropping over 90% this month. "Advance Energy has an exciting set of opportunities in the business development pipeline and a motivated and high-quality board focused on growing the company, Bottomley said. Reducing the cost base leaves the company with sufficient cash and no debt, and importantly allows more time to assess and progress this pipeline." Abrdn PLC (LSE:ABDN) said it will return cash to shareholders after it sold a 4% stake in Phoenix Group Holdings PLC (LSE:PHNX). The renamed Standard Life Aberdeen recouped 264mln before costs as it offloaded 39,981,442 shares in the life and pensions consolidator at 660p each to institutional investors. It said it intends to return the net proceeds of the offering to shareholders after its financial results on March 1, with details on how and when the return will be made will be announced after the results are released. The Edinburgh-based investment manager will retain a holding of roughly 10.4%, and said its strategic partnership with Phoenix remains important for us. Likewise, Phoenix said Abrdn remains its 'core strategic' asset management partner, managing 165bn of its assets under administration. Last month, Abrdn agreed to acquire DIY stock-picking platform Interactive Investor for 1.5bn, stepping into a market where it will compete with London-listed firms like Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell. Hewlett Packard (HP) was claiming victory in its long-running battle with Mike Lynch after a judge in London said the US group had substantially won its civil action against the Autonomy founder. Hewlett Packard sued the UK entrepreneur two years ago claiming that with Autonomy's then finance director, Sushovan Hussain, Lynch had "artificially inflated reported revenues, revenue growth and gross margins" prior to the US group buying it for US$11bn in 2011. Justice Hildyard said the issue of damages would be settled at a later date, with the full ruling also yet to be published after only being circulated to the parties involved. It is another blow to Lynch, who earlier this week was told he faced extradition to the US after another legal ruling. Home Secretary Priti Patel has until midnight to decide whether to uphold the court ruling on Lynchs extradition and was believed to be waiting for today's outcome of this civil case before making a decision. Lynch, 56, is wanted in the US to stand trial on 17 counts of fraud over the HP sale in both federal and state courts. Autonomy was seen as a rare example of the UK developing a global tech giant when it was acquired by HP, but the deal quickly turned sour with HP eventually writing off US$8.8bn of the purchase price. Lynch has consistently denied the allegation made by HP, saying it was trying to make him "a scapegoat for their failures". Kelwin Nicholls of law firm Clifford Chance, who is acting for Lynch, said: Todays outcome is disappointing and Dr Lynch intends to appeal. "We will study the full judgment over the coming weeks. We note the judges concerns over the reliability of some of HPs witnesses. We also note the judges expectation that any loss suffered by HP will be substantially less than the US$5billion claimed. Sushovan Hussain, Autonomys former CFO, was jailed for five years in 2018 for crimes related to the Autonomy sale. SolGold PLC (LSE:SOLG, TSX:SOLG, OTC:SLGGF) CEO Darryl Cuzzubbo joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with the latest on the Alpala deposit at its Cascabel Copper-Gold-Silver Project in northeastern Ecuador. Cuzzubbo, who joined SolGold as CEO in late 2021, telling Proactive that the project is well advanced, with the company on track to get a pre-feasibility study out in the second quarter of the year. SolGold also has over 3,000 square kilometres of exploration concessions that are likely to lead to other economic copper deposits, he added. Golden Rim Resources Ltd (ASX:GMR) has continued to delineate multiple, broad, subparallel zones of gold mineralisation from its second round of resource definition drilling at its Kada Gold Project in Guinea. The companys reverse circulation (RC) program across seven holes totalling 1,093 metres has intersected strong gold results including: 61 metres at 1.2g/t gold from surface including 7 metres at 3.5g/t gold from 42 metres; 38 metres at 1g/t from 62 metres including 4 metres at 3.4g/t from 80 metres; and 42 metres at 1.5g/t from 141 metres including 7 metres at 4.0g/t from 165 metres. Moving forward, these new results will add significant ounces to the planned Kada maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), on track for delivery in February 2022. Watch: Golden Rim's resource definition drilling paints a positive picture for maiden resource Exciting target areas Golden Rim managing director Craig Mackay said: The seven holes reported in this release infilled gaps in previous drilling within and surrounding the Newmont non-JORC gold resource area. We drilled KRC049 in the underexplored northern portion of the resource area and it returned promising long intercepts of gold mineralisation in both the oxide and fresh material. Golden Rim has also extended its RC exploration drilling contract to provide more coverage along the 15-kilometre Kada gold corridor. Our initial focus for this exploration drilling is immediately north of the resource area, before moving to test several exciting target areas along the corridor that have potential to add more ounces to the Kada gold inventory. Golden Rims second round of received (purple) and outstanding (orange) resource definition drilling and preliminary 0.3g/t gold grade shells (blue) results Drilling results Golden Rim has completed the second round of Kada resource definition drilling across 46 holes for 6,796 metres. New assay results are encouraging, with sub-parallel zones of gold mineralisation obtained in many holes with other strong intersections including: 13 metres at 0.9g/t gold from 73 metres; 18 metres at 0.7g/t from 1 metre; and 23 metres at 0.7g/t gold from 98 metres. Moving forward, exploration RC drilling is underway and progressing well along the Kada gold corridor. KRC047 drill chips from 0-60m showing gold grades (g/t) Next steps Cabral Gold CEO Alan Carter joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share results from 12 RC drill holes and three diamond holes drilled within and above the Central Deposit within the Cuiu Cuiu project in Brazil. Carter telling Proactive the company has identified another gold in oxide blanket. This is the third one they have found. The company drilling at Central, returned 11.0m @ 0.7 g/t gold from surface, in gold-in-oxide blanket material, as well as 20.4m @ 0.5 g/t gold and 23.3m @ 0.3 g/t gold in un-weathered and highly brecciate and altered intrusive rocks further down the hole. Cabral also telling Proactive diamond drilling happening at the recently discovered mineralized zone at the PDM target located 2.5km NW of Central. SEED Innovations Ltd (AIM:SEED, OTC:FFRIF), the medical cannabis investor, said it was "pleased" by the progress of ASX-listed Little Green Pharma, which posted record revenues in its latest quarter. We are pleased to see the recent distribution agreements throughout Europe and Denmark's first locally produced cannabis medicine registration, Alfredo Pascual, VP of investment analysis at SEED, said. With a strong cash balance of over A$25mln and a A$5.8mln financing facility from National Australia Bank, SEED are looking forward to a positive 2022 with further progress and news flow from the LGP team." LGP reported revenue of A$3.7mln in its latest quarter alongside A$4.9mln in cash receipts. SEED owns 3.1% of LGP's issued share capital The new targets come after a 4.1 km2 induced polarization (IP) survey was carried out at the property, which is in the famous Golden Horseshoe area Thesis Gold Inc (TSX-V:TAU) told investors that it has identified numerous new targets at its wholly-owned Ranch gold project in British Columbia, underscoring the discovery potential at the 180 square kilometre (km2) asset. The new targets come after a 4.1 km2 induced polarization (IP) survey was carried out at the property, which is in the famous Golden Horseshoe area. Notably, numerous new epithermal targets were identified at Alberts Hump, which had similar characteristics to the already drill-tested, high-grade mineralization at the Bonanza, Thesis II, Thesis III, and Ridge prospects. "The company continues to generate new targets in the underexplored regions of the property, demonstrating the untapped discovery potential at Ranch," said Thesis Gold CEO Ewan Webster in a statement. "The strong agreement between the IP data, the mapping, geochemical, and ground magnetics provides us with increased confidence in these newly identified epithermal targets Thesis is well funded for its 2022 program that will continue to focus on expanding known zones of mineralization and advancing new targets through the exploration pipeline," Webster added. Thesis Gold pointed out that much of the district-scale Ranch property remains underexplored, and the firm will said it continues to use these "effective exploration tools to generate additional prospective targets". The company also noted that the IP anomalies found with strike-lengths greater than 500 metres (m) were consistent with regional northeast and northwest structural controls on gold mineralization, while some of the soil anomalies also remain open along-strike. The company's Ranch project lies around 300 km north of Smithers, British Columbia and is home to 21 known near-surface epithermal gold deposits and prospects and the company reckons there is a 2 million ounce exploration target there. Notably, 10,000 ounces of gold have already been produced from Ranch from three small open pits, while 35,500m of core drilling has been undertaken in 433 holes. Contact the writer at giles@proactiveinvestors.com Fobi said that customer-centric Abbots Butcher was looking to offer digital coupons to add value and make it easier for their customers to redeem their coupons Fobi AI (TSX-V:FOBI, OTCQB:FOBIF) Inc, a provider of real-time data analytics through artificial intelligence, has signed a deal on January 17 this year to provide Abbots Butcher, a premium plant-based protein brand, with Fobis Qples coupon platform. Abbots Butcher is an up-and-coming plant-based protein company that champions sustainability and health. It has a growing retail footprint that stretches into over 800 retail and food service locations across the US, including Whole Foods Market. Vancouver-based advanced technology company Fobi said that customer-centric Abbots Butcher was looking to offer digital coupons to add value and make it easier for their customers to redeem their coupons. READ: Fobi AI integrates with US payments giant Square offering real-time data analytics to retailers around the globe Abbots Butcher reportedly evaluated several options, but finally settled on Fobis Qples, an industry leader in digital coupons, as they were pleased by how easy Qples was to use. The great service they got from the Fobi team also sealed the deal, said the company. "We are excited to partner with Qples by Fobi and to launch our first-ever digital coupons at Abbot's Butcher. This will allow us to give back to our customers and drive trials for new customers," Abbots Butcher marketing director Kristi Fanning said in a statement. Abbots Butcher adds to a growing list of fast-moving consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands and retailers that trust Qples by Fobi with their print at home and digital couponing needs. Fobi will generate revenue from this deal through an ongoing per coupon revenue model, noted the company. This deal with Abbots Butcher continues our string of success with CPG brands, however, it is also very exciting as we are beginning to see success and expect exponential growth in our business in the Health Food Industry, said Fobi founder CEO Rob Anson. Fobis ability to deliver targeted coupons and promotions through the Qples platform, combined with the power of personalized real-time engagement through our Passcreator Wallet pass platform will drive digital transformation in the Health Food Industry. In 2020, during the pandemic, the global market for health and wellness foods swelled to US$764 billion, and is now projected to expand to US$1.1 trillion by 2027, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% from 2020-to-2027, according to a report from researchandmarkets.com. Fobi said this demonstrated a great opportunity for it to increase its business with CPGs and retailers in the industry. The growth is being driven in large part by the new 8112 Universal Coupon Standard being championed by The Coupon Bureau and Qples by Fobi, said the company. Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive Joe Bidens White House is reportedly planning a review of cryptocurrency and potential impacts on national security. The US President could make an executive order regarding the US governments stance on digital assets, with an announcement expected in the coming weeks, according to a report in Bloomberg. It speculated that the scrutiny on digital assets including crypto, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and stablecoins could lead to stricter regulatory frameworks. Such a move would make the US the latest major nation to address the emerging new digital wave of finance after China and Russia have in recent weeks sought to clamp down on Bitcoin and crypto-mining activities. Meanwhile, a report earlier this week claimed that money laundering involving cryptocurrency increased by 30% in 2021. "The Chainalysis Money Laundering Crypto Crime report showed US$8.6bn worth of cryptocurrency was laundered in 2021, up 30% from the previous year," businessinsider said. Bidens review, according to a report by Cointelegraph citing an unnamed source, is expected to look holistically at digital assets and develop a set of policies that give coherency to what the government is trying to do in this space. Government surveillance along with national and international regulatory challenges are also expected to be examined. The fact Bidens administration has rejected several Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in recent months could be attributed to the belief that crypto is a national security threat, Eric Balchunas, senior ETF Bloomberg analyst, said. Balchunas called the expected executive order a broader crypto crackdown in a Tweet. Meanwhile, earlier this week, Forbes said the government would issue reports on their findings by mid-2022 having considered the systemic risks of cryptocurrencies and their illicit uses. Golden Minerals Company (NYSE-A:AUMN, TSX:AUMN, ETR:7GB) CEO Warren Rehn tells Proactive it reported encouraging assay results from the first five holes of its Phase II drill program at the Yoquivo gold-silver project in Mexico. Highlights of the results include 1.5 metres (m) at 4.02 grams per ton (g/t) gold and 1,473.2 g/t silver, as well as 2.4m at 1.03 g/t gold and 266.6 g/t silver. Rehn also discussed results from the first ever drill program at the 830 hectare Sarita Este gold-silver-copper project in Salta Province, Argentina. Kiev, Jan 28 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has positively evaluated the talks of the Normandy format advisors that were held on Wednesday in Paris, the presidential press service has said in a statement. "Zelensky positively assesses the fact of the meeting, its constructive nature, as well as the intention to continue meaningful talks in two weeks in Berlin," said the statement on the Ukrainian presidential website. According to the statement, Zelensky emphasized that the sustainable and unconditional ceasefire in Donbas could be a basis for the next steps in the peace process, Xinhua news agency reported. Advisors to the heads of state and government of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France met in Paris under the Normandy format and called for an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine's conflict-hit Donbas region. During the talks that lasted for about eight hours, the parties agreed on a joint statement, the first since December 2019, and decided to hold the next meeting in Berlin in two weeks. The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has claimed the lives of some 14,000 people and left as many as 40,000 wounded, began in April 2014. Ankara, Jan 28 : Turkey's Health Ministry confirmed 82,180 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, the highest daily figure on record, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 11,250,107. The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 174 to 86,661, while 83,225 more people recovered in the last 24 hours, Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry as saying. Turkey began its mass Covid-19 inoculation on January 14, 2021. More than 57.38 million people in Turkey have received their first doses of the vaccine, while more than 52.33 million have received their second doses. Turkey has so far administered more than 141.41 million doses, including the third booster jabs. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Washington, Jan 28 : The US is equally focused on dealing with the threat posed by North Korea just as it is with all other major security issues, US Department of Defence Press Secretary John Kirby has said. North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday, marking its sixth missile launch since the start of this month, Yonhap news agency reported. "Just because right now one issue obviously is certainly capturing the attention of the world community doesn't mean that we are not equally pursuing and focused on other threats and challenges to the country," Kirby said in a press briefing. "And certainly, we're mindful of the destabilizing behavior by Pyongyang with respect to these recent tests," he added when asked why the US was not paying more attention to the North Korean missile issue. Kabul, Jan 28 : A human rights body has warned that millions of Afghans were at risk due to the economic measures imposed on the war-torn nation that are preventing aid agencies from moving funds into and within the country. In a report released on Thursday, the Norwegian Refugee Council said it is impossible for the humanitarian organisations to help millions of in-need people with humanitarian assistance, unless the US Department of Treasury and other donor agencies take actions towards enabling the banks to facilitate humanitarian financial transfers and support Afghanistan's central bank to resume its core functions, reports TOLO News. "The unresolved liquidity crisis is a key driver in what is becoming the worst humanitarian catastrophe in the world. We recently called for $4.4 billion for starving Afghans - the biggest call of its kind in the history of humanitarian work. But unless the US Treasury and other Western financial authorities enable us to transfer the aid money, we will be forced to work with our hands tied, unable to get that money to the communities who desperately need it," warned Jan Egeland, NRC's Secretary General. According to NRC, 23 million people in Afghanistan are facing acute hunger and the public services are on the brink of total collapse. The report says amid this situation, aid agencies are unable to scale up lifesaving operations because formal financial channels into the country are almost completely blocked. The report says while the licenses issued by the US Department of Treasury and the exemption of sanction by the UN on humanitarian assistance are good steps for supporting the people of Afghanistan but are not enough. "Millions of Afghans will suffer unimaginable consequences unless the Afghan central bank is provided with sufficient support to resume its key functions, including the purchase and circulation of bank notes, with appropriate safeguards in place. Unless this happens, we will struggle to respond to this crisis and the country's economy will continue to skydive," said Egeland. NRC has urged the US and European governments to support banks in allowing transfer of money into Afghanistan and also the aid agencies to withdraw those funds once reached in Afghanistan. The report comes amid the UN and some other international humanitarian agencies have also warned of a humanitarian crisis in the country. The UN also on Wednesday said it has launched its One-UN Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF) to assist the people of Afghanistan in 2022 through sustaining essential services and preserving essential community system. Kanpur : , Jan 28 (IANS) Mahesh Trivedi, the BJP MLA from Kidwai Nagar Assembly seat in Kanpur, has been caught on camera making a controversial statement against his rivals while addressing a gathering. In the video, the MLA is seen exhorting his supporters to hit anarchists with sticks, shoes and slippers. He repeated this twice, but asked his supporters not to shoot them. In the beginning of the video that has gone viral, the MLA is heard saying, "This time, the people who are anarchists, who talk one-sidedly and abuse power hit them with sticks, slippers, but don't shoot. Rest we will see." In the concluding part of the video, he is heard again saying, "We should take steps to eliminate the opponents, especially the Congress which is here. Don't you worry we, our army, ideology, organisation are together but don't shoot and we will see them by all means." Mahesh Trivedi, admitting to have made the statement and describing the video as his own, said, "If our workers stand up to teach the anarchists, who have biased belief and instil fear among voters, a lesson -- even if it is done with a stick-then we are with them and this is what I have said." He further said that he never backtracks and added, "If our supporters use sticks, slippers and shoes to cure the trouble-makers, then we will fight and die for our workers." The video went viral a day after the nomination process started. It was live streamed on social media by one of the supporters present at the gathering. Taking a dig at Trivedi's statement, the Samajwadi Party tweeted, "This is the real face and character of BJP. Election Commission should immediately initiate action against the MLA's viral video". Meanwhile, the district magistrate Kanpur, Neha Sharma said, "The administration has taken note of the video. We are examining its content and strict action will be taken if violations are found." Siddhartha Nagar : , Jan 28 (IANS) A probe has been ordered into an incident in which school children were allegedly made to raise slogans, hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, by their principal and teachers on Republic Day. A video of the event, held on Wednesday at a primary school in Sohratgarh Block of Siddhartha Nagar district, has gone viral. In the video, students after singing the national anthem are seen raising slogans in the name of freedom fighters as well as of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath on the directions of teachers, violating the model code of conduct currently in place in the state. District Magistrate, Siddhartha Nagar, Deepak Meena, told reporters that he came to know about the video through social media. "We have taken cognisance of the matter and directed the BSA (Basic Shiksha Adhikari) to investigate it. Action will be taken against whosoever is found guilty," he said. Tripoli, Jan 28 : A group of 165 illegal migrants were voluntarily deported from Libya to Niger, their home country, said a local official here. "After approval of the head of the Illegal Migration Control Department, a flight took off from Misurata City to Niger for a voluntary return of 165 illegal migrants, including women and children," Hussain al-Turki, head of the Illegal Migrants' Deportation Department of the Misurata International Airport, told Xinhua news agency. The deportation was carried out in coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), al-Turki said. The Voluntary Humanitarian Return program, run by the IOM, arranges the return of illegal immigrants stranded in Libya to their homeland. Libya has become a preferred point of departure for illegal immigrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores. In 2021, a total of 32,425 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, while 662 died and 891 others went missing off the Libyan coast on the Central Mediterranean route, according to the IOM. Lucknow, Jan 28 : To firm up their alliance further, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Rashtriya Lok Dal president Jayant Chaudhary will address a joint rally in Muzaffarnagar on Friday. This is their first joint rally after announcement of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The rally is being held after Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended an invitation to Jayant Chaudhary to quit the alliance with SP and join BJP. Jayant had responded by saying that he 'never flips like a coin'. The RLD and SP are also facing trouble on some seats over their choice of candidates and the two leaders will make an effort on Friday to explain the need for the alliance. The rally comes ten days before the first phase of elections begin on February 10 when districts in western Uttar Pradesh go to vote. Athens, Jan 28 : Greece's main opposition SYRIZA party has tabled a censure motion against the incumbent government over its handling of the recent snowstorms. SYRIZA has also criticised the government for its management of the Covid-19 pandemic, the economy and last summer's wildfires, reports Xinhua news agency. The country's Parliament will open a three-day debate on Friday that will culminate in a vote, the Greek national news agency AMNA reported. The ruling conservative New Democracy party has 157 seats in the 300-member Parliament. A severe weather front has hit Greece since the weekend, causing significant travel disruptions and power outages for days in large parts of the mainland and on the Aegean islands. On Monday, over 3,500 people were stranded in heavy snowfall on the Attiki Odos motorway that connects the Greek capital with its international airport and dozens of municipalities in the wider Athens region were left without electricity for several hours. The snowfall, which stopped on Tuesday, was the heaviest seen in the Greek capital since 2008, the National Observatory of Athens said on Thursday. On Thursday morning, the Attiki Odos motorway reopened, but in central Athens several households still had no power supply. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologised for "shortcomings" during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, pledging to improve the state's crisis management mechanism. Washington, Jan 28 : In a letter to US President Joe Biden, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced that he will retire later this year. Breyer, a longtime liberal, wrote on Thursday that he intends the decision to take effect when the Supreme Court rises for the summer recess, assuming that by then his successor has been nominated and confirmed, reports Xinhua news agency. Biden held an event at the White House later in the day marking Breyer's announcement. In his remarks, the President said he will nominate the first black woman to the US Supreme Court. "I have made no choice at this point. Once I select a nominee, I'll ask the Senate to move promptly on my choice," he added. Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a statement later, saying that Breyer's successor "should be an individual within the legal mainstream who can receive similar broad, bipartisan support". The Supreme Court is the final appellate court of the US judicial system, with the power to review and overturn the decisions of lower courts. It also has original jurisdiction in certain cases involving public officials, or disputes between states. To be appointed to the Supreme Court, a candidate must be nominated by the President and then confirmed by the Senate with a simple majority. The court consists of nine justices, who have life tenure and can serve until they die, resign, retire, or are impeached and removed from office. Currently, conservatives have a 6-3 majority over liberals in the institution. Breyer, 83, has served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court since 1994. Seoul, Jan 28 : Few members of South Korean President Moon Jae-in's delegation who accompanied him to his trip to the Middle East earlier this month have tested positive for Covid-19 after they returned home, an official said here on Friday. Moon, who returned home on January 23 from the eight-day trip to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, worked from home for three days until Tuesday in line with the government's containment guidelines, reports Yonhap News Agency. "After returning home and taking PCR tests, a small number of accompanying personnel tested positive," the official said. Moon didn't come into close contact with those infected during the Middle East visit, the official said, without specifying the exact number of cases. After the members tested positive, the presidential office took relevant measures in accordance with containment guidelines and no additional cases of infection have been reported since then, the official said. The official said he was unable to reveal details of the confirmed patients. Some have raised speculation that the infections could have affected Moon's decision not to hold a New Year's press conference, but his office said the two have nothing to do with each other and Moon decided to skip the press conference to focus on the response to the Omicron variant. New Delhi, Jan 28 : Leader of opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari has approached the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) saying his movement has been repeatedly obstructed by the West Bengal Police, which is against the 'fundamental right' to move freely within the country. Adhikari requested the NHRC chairperson to take appropriate action, which would put an end to such unconstitutional actions and reestablish his rights. Adhikari also wrote to the West Bengal Governor in this regard. In a letter to the NHRC chairperson, Adhikari wrote, "I am being punished by the West Bengal Administration for holding the constitutional post of the Leader of Opposition of the West Bengal Assembly. My movement, previously, time and again, has been obstructed by the West Bengal Police, mostly by the Additional SP rank officers in various districts of West Bengal." "On January 27, I along with other MLAs of the West Bengal Assembly were going towards Bikash Bhaban, which houses the office of the Principal Secretary, Higher Education Department, WB government. We were going to meet the Principal Secretary in order to discuss the issue of reopening of the educational institutions in the State," he wrote. He further wrote that just outside the aforementioned address, they were obstructed by around 100 police personnel led by Umesh Ganpat, IPS, DC, Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate and others. "As if following the template of earlier occasions this time too, the officers couldn't show any prohibitory order or couldn't answer in the affirmative when asking if Section 144 had been imposed in the area," Adhikari said. Adhikari informed the NHRC that earlier this month he had approached the Calcutta High Court in apprehension that his access to the Netai village of Jhargram district would be blocked. "The Attorney General assured the court that there is no restriction on any movement in the state and the government would provide security for safe passage to any part of West Bengal. He even submitted that as a citizen of India, I am free to visit any part of the country without any hesitation and the case should not have been filed in the first place," Adhikari wrote. Adhikari mentioned that he was stopped on his way to Netai by a huge contingent of WB Police deliberately defying the Calcutta High Court's order and contradicted AG's submission. "After today's incident, I have realised that my fundamental right has been curtailed. Article 19 in The Constitution of India ensures the protection of certain rights such as freedom of all citizens in regards to moving freely throughout the territory of India. But in my case the officers, who are supposed to uphold such rights, are acting at the behest of the WB government to infringe upon them," he said. Badaun : , Jan 28 (IANS) Trouble for the Congress in Uttar Pradesh does not seem to stop. Farha Naeem, party candidate from Sheikhupura constituency in Badaun, has refused to contest elections alleging that the party's district president "makes obscene remarks against her as a woman and against her community". Naeem also quit the Congress, saying she "does not feel safe in the party because of people like him". However, district president Omkar Singh has refuted the allegations and said "someone is using Farha Naeem to defame Congress". A teary-eyed Farha announced her resignation from the Congress and said she was thankful to Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for fielding her from the seat. She claimed that Singh makes obscene remarks quite often and had even raised questions about her character. Naeem said: "I got strength from Priyanka Gandhi, but Omkar Singh called me a 'Muslim woman' and used all tactics to throw me out of Badaun district. I cannot contest the elections as I don't feel safe as a woman under the leadership of Singh. I have quit Congress to send a message to Priyanka Gandhi about the situation here." Meanwhile, Omkar Singh has said: "What is happening is disheartening. I am a senior citizen, and if there is any truth in her allegations, she should produce evidence. Two other women have also got party tickets, and I have inaugurated their offices. I never opposed it when the party sought my opinion on giving the poll ticket to Naeem. It seems she was asked to do all this by someone who wants to defame the Congress party." New Delhi, Jan 28 : India on Friday reported a marginal decline with 2,51,209 new Covid cases registered in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday. In the same time span, 627 additional fatalities were also reported which increased the nationwide death toll to 4,92,327. Meanwhile, the active caseload stood at 21,05,611, accounting for 5.18 per cent of the country's total positive cases. The recovery of 3,47,443 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally to 3,80,24,771. Consequently, the country's recovery rate stands at 93.60 per cent. Also in the same period, a total of 15,82,307 tests were conducted across the country, taking the total to 72.37 crore. The weekly positivity rate currently stands at 17.47 per cent, while the daily positivity rate has come down to 15.88 per cent. With the administration of over 57 lakh vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's Covid inoculation coverage reached 164.44 crore as of Friday morning. More than 13 crore balance and unutilised Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Kabul, Jan 28 : A total of 700 Afghan security personnel who have been receiving military training, were commissioned to the forces of the Taliban-led government, authorities said. In Nangarhar, 500 police personnel graduated from a police training centre after completion of a one-month training in the provincial capital Jalalabad city, a top police official told Xinhua news agency. The newly graduate police forces will be deployed in four eastern provinces, including Nangarhar, he said. In the northern region, 200 border security soldiers graduated from military, professional and ideological training in the army's 209th Fatah Corps, according to a statement issued by the government. The soldiers will be deployed to provide better security in the country's borders, especially in the border areas of the northern provinces, according to the statement. Qari Fasihuddin, army chief of the Taliban-led caretaker administration, had recently said that the administration was trying to make a capable army to ensure security of the war-torn country. Rome, Jan 28 : Italian automaker Lamborghini has announced that it is set to release its first NFT (non-fungible token) next month. Lamborghini is joining Nike, Samsung and other tech companies in embracing NFTs. "This is Lamborghini`s historical first NFT project. In collaboration with the artist Fabian Oefner, Lamborghini developed five art pieces, that will go on auction on February 1," the company said in a statement. The art pieces are made of a physical element and a NFT component: The Space Key, the physical element is a piece of carbon fiber sent to Outer Space by Lamborghini. The digital component is an NFT of a photograph, that depicts a Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae, lifting off toward the stars.A Oefner created a total of five separate images that depict individual moments within seconds from each other as the car rises above the earth. Its parts, the engine, the transmission, the suspension and hundreds of nuts and bolts are shooting away from the chassis like the exhaust flame of a rocket. New York, Jan 28 : US State Department spokesperson Ned Price has characterised Russia selling the S-400 Triumf missile defence system to India as a "destabilising role". Asked at his briefing on Thursday how the missile purchase was going to affect Washington's relations with India given the tensions between the US and Russia over Ukraine, Price said: "I think it shines a spotlight on the destabilising role that Russia is playing not only in the region, but potentially beyond as well. "In many ways this (India buying S-400) doesn't change the concerns that we have with the S-400 system." "Whether it is India, whether it is any other country, we continue to urge all countries to avoid major new transactions for Russian weapon systems." Price did not however, expand on how the S-400 sale was "destabilising". But India purchasing the cheaper S-400 system and Navy frigates and signing an agreement last month with Russian weapons company Kalashnikov to manufacture its AK-203 rifles in India have put a wrinkle in New Delhi-Washington relations raising national security issues for the US in their drive to achieve equipment interoperability as they forge closer military ties. Price also said that the US has not decided whether to impose sanctions on India under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) which requires sanctions against countries buying Russian defence equipment. "When it comes to CAATSA sanctions, you've heard me say before we haven't made a determination with regard to this transaction, but it's something we continue to discuss with the government of India, given the risk of sanctions for this particular transaction," he said. India's purchase of the S-400 system poses a quandary for the US because of the growing ties with New Delhi as a counterpoise to China in Asia and elsewhere. James O'Brien, the nominee for Coordinator for Sanctions Policy, had said earlier this month that in considering sanctions on India, "there are important geostrategic considerations, particularly with the relationship to China" and "so, I think, we have to look at what the balance is". Republican Senator Todd Young, who had asked O'Brien about CAATSA sanctions at his confirmation hearings, put the dilemma succinctly: "India is vital ally in our competition against China, and that's why I believe we should resist taking any actions that might drive them away from us and the Quad. I'm therefore strongly supportive of waiving CAATSA sanctions against India, given our shared foreign policy interests." The Quad is the group of India, the US, Australia and Japan that is drawing closer together in the Indo-Pacific region that is witnessing increasingly aggressive actions by China. As tensions mount between Russia and the US along with its allies, Washington has reached out to India to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke with Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla last week and they discussed "Russia's concerning military build-up on Ukraine's borders", Price had said in a readout after the call. He added that they "agreed to remain closely coordinated on shared goals and priorities". (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis) Chennai, Jan 28 : A 45-year-old woman was assaulted, stripped and tied to roadside pole by a group of people, including women, in Arupukottai taluk of Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar district, police sources said on Friday. The incident took place on Wednesday evening after the third son of Meenakshi, R. Sakthisiva (24) who works in a rice mill in Chennai, eloped with their 19-year-old neighbour on Sunday. Despite frantic searches, the families could not locate the two. The girl's family, which was financially and socially better, was against the relationship. After the search went in vain, a group of people led by the girl's mother Sudha barged into the boy's residence and dragged his mother Meenakshi out. The girl's relatives, led by her mother, then beat up the boy's mother, tied her to a pole and stripped her. A case has been registered and the couple is still absconding, according to Virudhunagar police. The victim is undergoing treatment for her injuries in a hospital. January 28 : Sara Ali Khan and Vicky Kaushal have wrapped up Laxman Utekar upcoming film on Thursday. They took to their respective Instagram handles and announced the wrap up. The actors were shooting in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, for the last one-and-a-half months. Taking to his Instagram handle, Vicky shared a first look still from the film along with a long heartwarming note of thanks. The image shows Sara and Vicky embracing each other while looking at each other in the eyes. Their chemistry seemed to be strong, and fans are expecting a great onscreen pair. Sharing the still, Vicky wrote, Baat yeh dil ki hai, jo ghar ghar tak pohonchegi ya shayad baat ghar ki hai jo har dil ko chuyegi. The Uri actor also thanked the people of Indore for their cooperation. While the film is yet to get a title, Vicky wrote, Naam mein kya rakha hai, abhi toh wrap hua hai!!! Thank You #DineshVijan @pvijan @maddockfilms, @laxman.utekar Sir, @saraalikhan95 and the entire team @raghav_dop @jatinbajaj20 @sujit_dube @punit_dave__ @bruh_mistha @rana_the_aprajita @_pawni_tripathi @rohit_utekar1 and everyone for such an amazing experience. Each day of filming this beautiful story has been memorable for me. Going to miss you guys terribly and all the madness involved. Also, a very big thank you to the wonderful people of Indore who have been so cooperative and full of love. Thank You! Baat yeh dil ki hai, jo ghar ghar tak pohonchegi ya shayad baat ghar ki hai jo har dil ko chuyegi. . See you all soon at the movies! Sara also shared the same still from the film, and thanked director Laxman Utekar for helping her become Somya, her character in the film. Its a film wrap. Cant believe its already over! Thank you @laxman.utekar sir for giving me Somya. Thank you for all the guidance, patience and support. Thank you for always being so understanding and always pushing me to do better and better, Sara wrote. Sara also thanked her producers, technical unit and hair and make-up department for being a great team. Sara further wrote how she and Vicky had a blast offscreen too. Talking about their friendship, Sara wrote, @vickykaushal09 every day with you on set has been a blast. From enjoying Punjabi songs and bonfires to early morning drives and copious cups of chai. Thank you for making this journey so memorable for me. Youre one of the most humble, talented and gifted actors Ive met, and Im so privileged that I got to share screen space with you and learn so much from you. Actor Sharib Hashmi had wrapped up his portion in the film a few days back. Sharib had shared several behind-the-scenes clicks with Sara, Vicky and the crew. The untitled film is touted to be a romantic comedy. The film is bankrolled under the Dinesh Vijan production banner. Chennai, Jan 28 : Rocket maker Skyroot Aerospace Private Ltd's Vikram-1 rocket is slated to lift off from a mobile launch pad or transporter, erector and launcher (TEL), a top company official said. The Hyderabad-based company is planning to test launch its rocket with a couple of satellites by the end of this year, he added. "Our maiden rocket launch will be with a couple of satellites from a mobile launch pad or technically called transporter, erector and launcher. The launch will happen from India's rocket port at Sriharikota belonging to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)," Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-Founder and CEO, Skyroot Aerospace told IANS. Simply put, a TEL is a vehicle that carries the rocket, then elevates to a lift off position where from the rocket blasts off towards the skies. Queried about the customers with whom Skyroot Aerospace has inked satellite launch agreements Chandana said one launch agreement with another Indian space startup Dhruva Space has been signed and couple of more agreements are in the process. Chandana however agreed that the company's Vikram-1 rocket may not be carrying to its full payload capacity of about 225kg on its maiden flight. "Normally, all maiden flights of new rockets are with dummy payloads. But we have one customer and will be having a couple of more. In terms of payload, the rocket may be carrying 50 per cent of its payload capacity on commercial terms," Chandana said. The company is developing three rockets -- Vikram 1, 2 and 3- with varying payload capacity. Chandana expects the government to come out with its final policies relating to the space sector soon. (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in) Toronto, Jan 28 : The four members of a Gujarati family, who froze to death in minus 35 degrees temperatures on January 19 near the Canadian town of Emerson while trying to cross illegally into the US, have been officially identified after autopsies. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which discovered the bodies on the Canadian side of the border, identified the four as Jagdishkumar Patel, 39, his wife Vaishaliben Patel, 37, daughter Vihangi Patel, 11 and son Dharmik Patel, 3. The family belonged to Dingucha village in Kalol taluka of Gandhinagar district. Jagdish Patel reportedly paid Rs 70 lakhs to human smugglers to help him cross into the US from Canada. The RCMP said: "The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Manitoba has confirmed that the cause of death was due to exposure." It added that the family landed in Toronto from India on January 12. They travelled to the town of Emerson on the Canada-US border in Manitoba on, or about about January 18. Since no vehicles were found abandoned near the spot where the four bodies were found on the Canadian side of the border, the RCMP said someone drove them to the border and then left. "We know the Patel family moved around Canada for a period of time and we are looking for anyone that may have had encounters with them," the RCMP said. It is not yet known when the bodies will be flown to India. The Indian High Commission on Ottawa, which sent a team from the Consulate in Toronto to Winnipeg to assist the Canadian authorities in the investigations, said the next of kin of the family in India have been informed. New Delhi, Jan 28 : A 38-year-old man was shot dead in north Delhi's Alipur area by unknown assailants, the police said here on Friday. The deceased, identified as Pramod Kumar, 38, a resident of village Hirnaki in Delhi, was himself involved in two cases of attempt to murder, one case of Arms Act and a case of theft. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer north district) Brijendra Kumar Yadav informed that the incident took place on Thursday night. "Three PCR calls were received at Alipur police station at around 10.44 p.m. stating that some unknown persons have fired on one person and have escaped from the spot," the DCP said. The police immediately rushed to the spot where they during preliminary enquiry found that some unidentified assailants had come on a motorcycle and fired upon the deceased victim Pramod. By the time police reached the spot, the victim had already been taken to nearby Max Hospital in Haidarpur, Delhi. According to the MLC, the victim was declared brought dead at the hospital. The police official said that the spot where the incident took place was thoroughly examined by the Crime Team of Delhi Police. The police found nine empty cartridges at the spot, indicating that nearly 10 shots were fired to kill Pramod. The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act. Dhaka, Jan 28 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that when the opposition BNP were in power, they financed terrorism and destroyed the country. Addressing Parliament on Thursday, she further asked the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to explain the source of millions of dollars it gave to lobbyists as part of their funding for militancy and anti-state conspiracy. The Prime Minister criticised the BNP-Jamaat alliance, saying that they tarnished the image of the country by looting the nation's wealth and employing lobbyists abroad with that money. "But I have confidence and trust in the people of the country that they will not be misled by any untrue propaganda and lies. The country is moving forward, it must move forward. "The BNP has to answer and explain from where they have got millions of dollars to give foreign firms and how the money has been siphoned off abroad," she added. Hasina claimed the lobbyists have been hired by BNP to prevent the trial of war criminals, thwart elections, make polls questionable, protect militants and killers of the Father of the Nation, tarnish the country's image and prevent its progress. The BNP had hired six lobbyists in the US to stop the trial of Bangabandhu's assassination, stop the trial of war criminals, and spread propaganda against the country, including propaganda against the RAB. The Prime Minister also said Bangladesh became a "champion in corruption" for five times during the tenure of the BNP-Jamaat alliance. "After coming to power, we tried our best to develop the country... We were able to handle the economy during the Covid pandemic, whereas in big countries like the US, 2.5 million people fell below the poverty line," she said. Not mentioning the name, Hasina also added that a well-known supporter of BNP had lobbied for the closure of the Padma Bridge and stopped the World Bank loan. "But we have been able to build the Padma bridge with our own funds. This decision has taken Bangladesh to a very high level in the world. It is our pride. We will become a developed and prosperous country in 2041." New Delhi, Jan 28 : Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a virtual review meeting with the health ministers of southern states and UTs over Covid-19 situation on Friday. The meeting has been convened to review the public health preparedness in the southern states. Health ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Puducherry, Lakshadweep and Andmand Nicobar Island will participate in the meeting, said a source. Mandaviya is expected to review the public health preparedness and containment measures taken by these states against the new Covid variant Omicron. Other senior state health officials are also expected to participate in the meeting. On Tuesday, Mandaviya held a meeting with Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Ladakh and Uttar Pradesh - virtually to review the Covid situation. During the meeting, he directed the states to review and expedite implementation of activities under ECRP-II package for strengthening the health infrastructure in the virtual meeting. Mandaviya urged the health ministers and the state authorities to plug the existing gaps by efficiently utilising the amount sanctioned for various infra projects. In a press brief on Thursday, the health ministry said that 551 districts were reporting case positivity rate of over 5 per cent as on January 26. More than 3 lakh active cases have been reported in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala while over one lakh has been reported from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, the Ministry added. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text January 28 : Sanjay Leela Bhansalis much-anticipated film Gangubai Kathiawadi, starring Alia Bhatt in the titular role, has been postponed by a week. The film will now hit the theatres on February 25. Earlier, it was slated to release on February 18. Alia took to her Twitter account and announced the postponement of the film by a week. #GangubaiKathiawadi will rise to power in cinemas near you on 25th February, 2022, she tweeted. The movie has been earlier delayed several times due to Covid-19 pandemic in the country since March 2020. The much-awaited film will be screened at the 72nd edition of the Berlin International Film Festival this year. So grateful to be part of a wonderful team that now celebrates its official selection to the #BerlinFilmFestival2022. See you on 18th February, 2022, Alia had tweeted after the films selection at the Berlin International Film Festival. Gangubai Kathiawadi is the only Indian film that has been selected to be screened at the Berlin International Film Festival, which will start on February 10, 2022. The film will be screened as a part of the Berlinale Special Gala, a segment that showcases exemplary cinema. Gangubai Kathiawadi is a biographical crime drama produced by Jayantilal Gada and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Besides Alia Bhatt, the film features Vijay Raaz, Indira Tiwari and Seema Pahwa in pivotal roles. Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi are featured in extended cameo appearances. The film is based on the life of young Ganga, who becomes Gangubai, a madame in the red light area of Kamathipura. The film will also release in Telugu. Bansali and Bhatt were also dragged into some legal battle last year. A case was filed against the actor, director and writer S. Hussain Zaidi by Kathiawadis adopted son Babuji Rawji Shah. Gangubai Kathiawadi is loosely based on a true story, narrated in the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai written by Hussain Zaidi. Gangubai Kathiawadi faced another challenge when SS Rajamoulis magnum opus RRR was announced to be released a day after Gangubai Kathiawadi was supposed to be released in January. While Gangubai Kathiawadi was earlier slated to release on January 6, RRRs release was taking place on January 7. However, Sanjay Leela Bhansali backed out from the clash. Later, both the films were postponed due to the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 28 : Prominent journalist E.Somanath passed away here on Friday, sources said. He was 60. He is survived by his wife and daughter. Earlier this week, Somnath had a fall in his house and suffered a haemorrhage and has been on ventilator support. He was Covid positive. The veteran journalist had recently retired from Malayala Manorama daily after more than three decades of service. Hailing from Kannur, Somanth had been working in the state capital since the turn of the century. He had been a mentor to numerous present day journalists here and was liked and respected by one and all. His political reports besides his daily column whenever the Kerala Assembly was on session were keenly discussed and debated in vaious political circles. Somnath's love for nature turned him into an avid traveller and he was in the process of penning a book on his travels. Condolences from all quarters have started to pour in remembering "Soman"" as he was fondly called. New Delhi, Jan 28 : India joins the elite club of missile exporters on Friday with the Philippines signing a $374.96 (Rs 2,770 crore) million deal for procuring Brahmos shore based anti-ship variant supersonic cruise missiles. Philippines signed a pact with Brahmos Aerospace Pvt ltd for the supply of three batteries of 290 kilometers range BrahMos missile system for its naval force. The Philippines Navy is ramping up its naval prowess to counter China's belligerent behaviour in the South China Sea. The country has territorial disputes with Beijing in the region as China claims sovereignty over the sea that has a huge source of hydrocarbons. The first ever contract to export Brahmos missiles, which India has developed jointly with Russia, will pave the way for more such deals. Brahmos Aerospace is the Joint Venture between India's DRDO and Russia's NPOM. The shore based anti-ship system of the Brahmos is a deadly conventional weapon that flies almost three times the speed of sound. Earlier this month, the Brahmos had sent the proposal to the Philippines government, which after deliberations was accepted by them. The Philippines Department of National Defence had informed the BrahMos Aerospace about the decision through a Notice of Award. Besides, other Southeast Asian countries, which have evinced interest in BrahMos supersonic missile system, include Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Sources in the government stated that the deliberations with Thailand are in preliminary stage, with Vietnam at an advanced stage while with Indonesia, its naval team had visited India to discuss if missiles could be fitted on the Indonesian warships. Bengaluru, Jan 28 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who turned 62 and completed six months in office on Friday, started his day with 'gau puja' (worshiping of cow). Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amith Shah and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa greeted him on the occasion. Speaking to reporters, CM Bommai said: "I am not celebrating my birthday. Party leaders, workers, office-bearers and people from my constituency are greeting me. President Ram Nath Kovind has congratulated us. Narendra Modi Ji has tweeted and Amith Shah Ji called up to congratulate me. All their blessings will help me strive towards development of the state," he stated. Their support will motivate the programmes for the development of farmers, poor, backwards and women. On the occasion of the government completing six months, a booklet of achievements of the state will be released. It will encapsulate the achievements of the government on Covid management, flood management and policies and steps taken towards development of farmers, OBC and SC-ST sections, CM Bommai added. "Soon I will be presenting the state budget which would be the last budget of the five year period. All dimensions of making the state economy stronger on the one hand and giving justice to all on the other hand, ensuring state's economic progress will be kept in mind while presenting the election year budget," he said. Washington, Jan 28 : In a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Joe Biden reaffirmed Washington's readiness along with its allies and partners to "respond decisively if Russia further invades" Kiev, according to the White House. In a statement following the call on Thursday, the White House said that Biden also "underscored the commitment of the US to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity". "President Biden noted the US has provided Ukraine with over half a billion dollars in development and humanitarian assistance in the last year, and is exploring additional macro-economic support to help Ukraine's economy amidst pressure resulting from Russia's military build-up," it said. The statement further said that despite the departure of the family members of the staffers at the US Embassy in Kiev, the mission "remains open and fully operational". According to the White House, the leaders also discussed coordinated diplomatic efforts on European security, underscoring the principle of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine". Biden, the statement said, also expressed Washington's support for resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine through the Normandy Format, a mechanism established in 2014 that involves French, German, Russian and Ukrainian diplomats. The President said he hoped that a recommitment by the quadrilateral dialogue members to the July 2020 ceasefire agreement will help decrease tensions and advance the Minsk agreements. The agreements call for an immediate ceasefire between government troops in Kiev and armed groups in the Donbas region while seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Taking to Twitter, Zelensky said that during the call the two leaders discussed "recent diplomatic efforts on de-escalation and agreed on joint actions for the future". He also confirmed that "possibilities for financial support to Ukraine were also discussed". The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has claimed the lives of some 14,000 people and left as many as 40,000 wounded, began in April 2014. Jammu, Jan 28 : Timely rescue by the Indian Army has saved a woman's life in J&K's Poonch district. A defence spokesman said, "On the night of January 27, 2022, the Indian Army received a distress call from the border area village Tuglu, Noorkote in Poonch district for medical assistance to a woman, namely Rukhsana Kausher, who was in labour pain. The Indian Army troops responded promptly. With the help of locals, the distressed woman was evacuated to the nearest road head and further to the nearest civil Hospital thereby saving her life, said the army. Rome, Jan 28 : Italy's lawmakers and regional representatives, also known as the Grand Electors, held and failed a fourth attempt to elect the country's 13th President. MPs from both houses plus 58 representatives of the regional governments have been voting for four days now to elect the successor to 80-year-old Sergio Mattarella, whose seven-year term ends on February 3, reports Xinhua news agency. The threshold needed for election was lowered on Thursday from two-thirds (absolute) majority support in the first three election rounds to a simple majority of 505 votes. Media and commentators had already predicted the outcome of the fourth round as the major parties failed to reach a consensus on a single candidate. Furthermore, 441 electors abstained on Thursday -- most of them believed to be from the centre-right coalition, 261 cast blank ballots and 166 voted for outgoing President Mattarella, who thus received the largest number of votes to date. Italy's presidents serve a seven-year term. Mattarella has made clear that he does not want a second term. Meanwhile, representatives of the two main blocs in Parliament -- the centre-left and the centre-right -- continued their intense negotiations, mostly behind closed doors. As of Thursday, the names of three possible contenders were floated in the media: Pier Ferdinando Casini, former speaker of the lower house of Parliament; Elisabetta Belloni, director general of The Department of Information Security (DIS); and current Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Draghi is reportedly seen as a major contender. At the same time, several parties have voiced concerns that his election as President might create a leadership vacuum in the government. In Italy, the president's role is largely ceremonial and is usually chosen among figures perceived as non-partisan and with broad political and constitutional knowledge. However, the president's role becomes crucial in case of political crises, since he or she is tasked with solving major deadlocks between the government and Parliament. New Delhi, Jan 28 : RENEE Cosmetics, India's leading beauty brand, will be part of a specially curated task 'FAB5' this week on COLORS' 'Bigg Boss'. As the finale gets closer and before the ultimate winner is crowned, the viewers will get a chance to see if the female contestants of the show have the FAB5 qualities to be the deserving winner. As a part of the activity, life-size cut-outs of all the existing female contestants of the house will be placed. Placed next to them will be neck-tags labelled with 5 good qualities namely Cruelty-Free, Colourful, Must Have, X-Factor and Strong that resonate with brand RENEE's ethos. The existing male contestants will have to come forward one by one and declare who they think has got these FAB5 qualities to become the winner and place the neck tags on her cut out. At the end of the task, the female contestants will be presented with Renee Cosmetics hamper as a gratification. On the association with Bigg Boss show Ashutosh Valani, -- co-founder affirmed, "The essence of the most popular reality show on COLORS, Bigg Boss is such that it is being watched in almost every household of the country today. The spirit of the show strikes the right chord with our brand's ambition. We are aggressively moving towards becoming a household name in India, and the first choice of every woman. We could not have missed having Bigg Boss on our marketing plan, as it is one of the best stages to be on if one is going all out". As a brand, RENEE has shaken the barriers of the beauty world with its ground-breaking innovation and introducing the Fab 5- in-1 and Fab 5-in-1 Nude lipsticks. The brand has been serving a complete marketing strategy encompassing social media, OTT and television in the right proportions. With the current participation, it has established its rigorous approach in the beauty domain, presenting in front of its wider audience and will be aggressively looking forward to being part of the reality shows. Latest updates on Bigg Boss Season 15 New Delhi, Jan 28 : Delhi Police has arrested nine people, including eight women, in the sexual assault case of a 20-year-old woman in the city's Shahdara area. Two male minors were also apprehended in the case. The incident occurred on Wednesday when the woman was allegedly attacked by a group of people, including women, who tonsured and stripped the victim before blackening her face and parading her on the streets of the Shahdara area. It was also alleged that the woman was gang-raped in a house in the same area. "We have so far arrested nine people and apprehended two minors," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara district) R Sathiyasundaram told IANS. According to the DCP, the two minors, who have been apprehended, were involved in sexually assaulting the victim. The police have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for gang-rape, kidnaping, illegal confinement, and physical assault of the woman. "All possible help and counselling was provided to the victim. We took the matter very seriously," said the DCP. Source privy to the investigation told IANS that the victim woman used to live in the same locality till she got married a few years ago and then moved to some other area. "She is a mother of a two-year-old child," said sources. A man who used to live in her neighbourhood and was in one-sided love with her. She had spurned his advances many a times. Last year, the same man had allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a train. His family blamed the victim woman for their son's death and wanted revenge. The DCP also confirmed that the crime prima facie seems due to some personal enmity, however, the cops are in the process of verifying the facts and allegations. IANS was able to access the names of 7 people, all women, who were involved in the brutal crime. The accused women were identified as Shalu alias Mungeri, 36, Rajji, 40, Prerna, 18, Komal, 25, Varsha, 38, Priti, 36, all residents of Kasturba Nagar, Delhi and Baby, 40. Soon after the incident, a video in which the victim women was being paraded on the streets with a blackened face and the mob cheering in the background went viral on social media forcing the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) to take suo-motu cognisance of the said incident. In the video, which was also shared by DCW chief Swati Maliwal, the victim woman was also made to wear a garland of slippers. Maliwal issued a notice to the Delhi Police in connection with the matter and said that it was the most unfortunate incident that was reported from the national capital. "A woman was gang-raped by the accused, who deals in illicit liquor business. She was made to wear a garland of shoes. Her face was blackened and she was paraded in the area. Most unfortunate incident. I am writing to Delhi Police to provide security to the woman and her family and take strong action against the accused," said Maliwal. Maliwal, along with her team, met the victim at the hospital and recorded her statement. She has assured all help to her. Delhi Chief Minister also reacted to the horrific incident and asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to instruct Delhi Police to take strict action against all the accused. "This is very shameful. How did the criminals get so courageous? I urge the Union Home Minister and the Lieutenant Governor to instruct the police to take strict action and pay attention to the law and order situation. Delhiites will not tolerate such heinous crime and criminals at any cost," said Kejriwal in a tweet. Bharatiya Janata Party MP from east Delhi Gautam Gambhir said that he spoke to DCP Shahdara over the "barbaric assault on the 20 year old woman". "Some arrests have been made & more will follow. I assure that these animals (men & women) will not be spared. Every kind of support will be provided to the survivor," the parliamentarian said. New Delhi, Jan 28 : India on Friday achieved yet another milestone in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic as more than 1 crore precaution doses or the third vaccine shot have been administered to the eligible population. According to the Central government's CoWIN portal, a total 1,02,90,374 precaution doses have been administered among frontline workers, healthcare workers and people above 60 years of age so far. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister @Narendra Modi ji, the world's largest vaccination campaign is continuously scaling new heights", said Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted. "In just 19 days, more than 1 crore Precaution Dose has been administered to healthcare and frontline workers and eligible people above 60+ age". The drive for administering the precaution dose commenced across the country on January 10. According to the Union Health Ministry's latest update on Friday, a total 30,80,268 precaution doses have been administered to healthcare workers, 32,72,230 to frontline workers and 39,88,944 for the above 60. India has administered a total 4,43,89,137 first vaccine doses among the 15 to 18 age bracket so far. With the administration of more than 57 lakh vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's Covid vaccination coverage has exceeded 164.44 crore. Hyderabad, Jan 28 : Actor Nani took to his social media handles to release the teaser of Sree Vishnu's upcoming political thriller titled 'Bhala Thandanana'. "Happy to launch the teaser of #BhalaThandhanana A very talented team :) Wish you guys a huge success," the 'Shyam Singha Roy' actor wrote, as he shared the 'Bhala Thandanana' teaser. The 'Bhala Thandanana' teaser features Sree Vishnu in a boy-next-door avatar, while he showcases his other side of a revolutionary young man who goes against a corrupt political leader. Directed by Chaitanya Dantuluri, the teaser gives a glimpse into the interesting political thriller that is up for release in the coming days. As it seems to be a story that revolves around hawala scams, it is expected to be a good thriller. The BGM by Maestro Manisharma is so much in sync with the teaser's narrative, while Sree Vishnu's role as a crime reporter creates much anticipation. Actress Catherine Tressa is also seen as a reporter, as she is introduced in the teaser of 'Bhala Thandanana'. While 'KGF' fame Ramachandra Raju has played the villain in this movie, actors Srinivas Reddy, Adarsh Balakrishna, Satya, Posani Krishna Murali, and others have played key roles. 'Bhala Thandanana' is produced by Rajani Korrapati under Vaaraahi Chala Chitram. The movie is slated for a February 2022 release. New Delhi, Jan 28 : La fenAtre ouverte (1929, estimate: A14,000,000-24,000,000), presented at auction for the first time, is a seminal work from Pablo Picasso's Surrealist period. The painting will be featured in Christie's 21st edition of The Art of the Surreal Evening Sale, which will be held on March 1, 2022, as part of the 20/21 Shanghai to London auction series. La fenAtre ouverte is a work of striking visual power, impressively scaled and rendered with a bold colour palette and direct handling. This complex and compelling studio scene, painted on November 22, 1929, is one of a series of Atelier works that Picasso began around 1926, richly symbolic and radically constructed paintings that reveal the artist's multi-faceted interests at the time. Other works from this series can be found in museums such as New York's Museum of Modern Art and Paris's MusAe National d'Art Moderne, Le Centre Pompidou. La fenAtre ouverte is a rich source of personal and artistic symbolism. It is a still life, a veiled Atelier scene, and a Surrealist distortion of reality. Two highly abstracted figures tower in the foreground of this painting. A plaster bust on the right appears to be a disguised image of the artist's great lover and muse at the time, Marie-ThArAse Walter. The figurative object on the left, a jumble of feet intersected by an arrow, is thought to be an abstracted, symbolic representation of Picasso himself. In the background, two spires of the Sainte-Clotilde church can be seen. According to John Richardson, this work depicts the secret Left Bank apartment that Picasso and Marie-ThArAse shared as a hideaway during their relationship. A configuration of abstracted objects is depicted in the foreground in an arrangement reminiscent of the artist's earlier cubist still lifes. Olivier Camu, Deputy Chairman, Impressionist and Modern Art, Christie's: "Held in the same European collection for half a century, this powerful and explosively coloured painting from the highpoint of Picasso's Surrealist period and two years into his clandestine love affair with Marie-ThArAse, represents a brilliant fusion of the different passions and inspirations that defined the artist's life at the end of the 1920s. Relishing the secret nature of their romance, Picasso could not help but include his lover's presence in the form of the plaster bust in this painting. Marie-ThArAse's presence in Picasso's life reinvigorated every area of his work, her statuesque form and radiant beauty, as well as her youthful, carefree sensibility inspiring the artist to create works that stand as the finest of his career. This metamorphosised, cryptically coded work stands as a fascinating self-portrait of Picasso and his golden haired muse, which we are thrilled to present to the market for the first time as a major highlight of the 21st edition of The Art of the Surreal Evening Sale." Although Marie-ThArAse did not appear in full form in the artist's work until the spring of 1931, when he created the sentinel-like plaster busts, her profile and sweep of hair are instantly identifiable in La fenAtre ouverte. Her presence in the artist's life and art was unknown at the time, but the iconic visual idiom that Picasso developed in his portrayals of her, in profile and with the luminous white visage, was already present. La fenAtre ouverte was included in Picasso's landmark 1932 retrospective, which was first shown at the Galerie Georges Petit in Paris from June to July, before moving to the Kunsthaus Zurich from September to October. The painting was also included in the seminal survey exhibition 'Dada, Surrealism, and Their Heritage' at The Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1968. Picasso's La fenAtre ouverte will be on display in New York from February 4 to 8, 2022, and in Hong Kong from February 15 to 17, 2022, before travelling to London from February 23 to March 1, 2022. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) New Delhi, Jan 28 : If you board an Air India flight on Friday, the pilot will welcome you with a different announcement, as the airline has been formally handed over to the Tata Group. On Friday, the first day post the formal take over by the Tata Group, the pilots were asked to change the welcome announcement which are made after the closure of the cabin. "Dear Guests, this is your Captain (Name) speaking... Welcome aboard this historic flight which marks a special event. Today, Air India officially becomes a part of the Tata Group again, after seven decades," the welcome speech reads as sent out to all the pilots. Further, the pilots are asked to say: "We look forward to serving you on this and every Air India flight with renewed commitment and passion. Welcome to the future of Air India! We hope you enjoy the journey. Thank you." On Thursday, Tata Group Chairman, N. Chandrasekaran called upon Air India employees to work together to build the airline according to the country's needs. In a communication to the employees, Chandrasekaran said: "Now is the time to look ahead." The communication to Air India employees came on the same day when Tata Group subsidiary, Talace Private Limited, formally took over the managerial control of the airline. "Today is the beginning of a new chapter. The entire nation's eyes are on us, waiting to see what we will achieve together. To build the airline our country needs, we need to look to the future," Chandrasekaran added. He added that the "golden age" of Air India lies ahead and the "journey towards it starts now". Patna, Jan 28 : A light aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) made an emergency landing in Bihar's Bodh Gaya due to a technical glitch on Friday, an official said, adding that the two pilots, including a trainee, were safe. The two-seater aircraft M-102 was being used by the Air Force Station of Gaya for training purposes. The official said that there were two pilots, one of whom was undergoing training in the aircraft when a technical glitch arose. The two pilots managed to land the aircraft in the agricultural field in the Bagdaha Beli Ahar village under Bodh Gaya police station. The training had started in the OTA ground on Friday morning from where it took off. Gaya City Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar confirmed the incident. He said that both pilots were safe and the aircraft did not suffer much damage. The IAF officials have taken the aircraft to their base. Following the incident, the IAF officials rushed to the accident site and removed the aircraft. A large number of villagers also assembled at the place, who demanded compensation for the crop loss due to emergency landing. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Congress will raise issues like farmers' distress, Chinese incursions, relief package to Covid victims, selling of Air India, and other key issues during the Budget session of Parliament. A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group which was chaired by Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The meeting comes ahead of Centre's all-party meet on Monday convened for smooth functioning of the house in the Bugdet session. MPs Mallikarjun Kharge, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, A.K. Antony, K.C. Venugopal, Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, K. Suresh, Jairam Ramesh, Manickam Tagore, Manish Tewari among others attended the meeting. In the winter session, the opposition was divided with TMC parting ways from Congress and despite suspension of MPs no joint strategy was reached though Congress had tried its level best to keep TMC with them. Some fence sitters like TRS had joined opposition rank on the issue of paddy procurement in Telangana. On Monday, the meeting of the floor leaders will be held virtually at 3 p.m. where the government will discuss the agenda and Legislative business it would likely follow in the session. The Budget Session will commence on the same day with the Presidential address at 11 a.m. followed by the laying of the Economic Survey. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on February 1. Taking to Twitter, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said: "1st part of the #BudgetSession to commence on 31st January, with the address of the Hon'ble President to both the Houses. On 1st February, Hon'ble FM @nsitharaman ji will present the Union Budget. To ensure Covid safety protocol, the two Houses of Parliament will function in shifts." New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Delhi High Court has stayed an order issued by the Centre against nine Sahara Group of Companies, in which the government asked the investigating officials to submit a probe report of the companies. "... We hereby stay the operation, implementation and execution of the orders dated October 31, 2018, and October 27, 2020, passed by the respondents as well as subsequent actions and proceedings initiated pursuant thereto, including coercive proceedings and look-out notices, qua the petitioners herein, till the next date of hearing," the bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh said in an order dated December 13, 2021. As per the October 31, 2018 order passed by Registrar of Companies (ROC), Mumbai, investigation was directed into the affairs of three Companies -- Sahara Q Shop Unique Products Range Limited, Sahara Q Gold Mart Limited, and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Limited. Six more Companies -- Aamby Valley Limited, Qing Amby City Developers Corporation Ltd., Sahara India Commercial Corporation Limited, Sahara Prime City Ltd., Sahara India Financial Corporation Limited, Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Limited were also ordered to be probed. The Sahara argued that there is no reason that has been assigned in the government order as to why it was considered necessary that an investigation be made against the companies. It was categorically mentioned that the Investigation Report shall be submitted by the Inspectors to the Central Government within a period of three months. However, no such report was rendered within three months and in fact even today, despite the passage of more than three years, the investigation is still ongoing, the Sahara group argued. "Section 212(3) of the Companies Act stipulates that where the investigation into the affairs of a company has been assigned by the Central Government to SFIO, it shall submit its report to the Central Government within such period as may be specified in the order, which in the present case was three months, in the order. Thus, there is a clear violation of statutory mandate in the present case by Respondents in continuing the investigation after the lapse of the period of three months," the company's counsel said. He further said, even a plain reading of the provisions of Section 219 (a) to (d) leaves no doubt that there must be some affiliation between the Company under investigation and other Body Corporate during the relevant time. It is completely vague and silent on the affiliation between the six Companies sought to be investigated into and the earlier three Companies under investigation, he added. Petitioners have clearly averred the writ petition that the six Companies have never been, at any relevant time, the Subsidiary Companies or the Holding Companies of the three Companies already under investigation. The Sahara Group also categorically denied that these six companies were ever managed by any person as Managing Director/Manager, who is the Managing Director/Manager of any of the three Companies under investigation. It is further denied that the Board of Directors of any of the said six companies are or were comprised of nominees of any of the three Companies, whose affairs are being investigated into, pursuant to the order. Therefore, the investigation initiated is per se illegal, being contrary to the statutory provision, the group said. Bengaluru, Jan 28 : Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa's granddaughter was found dead at her residential apartment here on Friday The victim, Soundarya, is the daughter of Padmavathi, Yediyurappa's second daughter. The incident came to light at around 10.30 a.m. when the domestic helper came to wake her up for breakfast. When she didn't open the door of her room, the helper informed others. The apartment staff arrived and the victim hanging from the ceiling of the balcony and informed the police. Soundarya and her husband Neeraj had lived in the apartment since two and a half years. The body has been shifted to the Bowring hospital for the post-mortem. An investigation into the matter is currently underway. Varanasi, Jan 28 : Ravidas Jayanti on February 16 will be celebrated on a much grander scale this year in Varanasi which is the birthplace of 15th century mystic poet-saint and Dalit icon Sant Ravidas. The importance of the event can be gauged from the fact that the Election Commission had rescheduled Punjab polling date from February 14 to 20 as lakhs of devotees come to pay obeisance on Ravidas Jayanti and would not have been able to cast their votes. The temple in Seer Govardhanpur is, meanwhile, being prepared for grand celebrations on February 16 amid Covid protocol and a huge footfall is expected this year. Kishanlal Saroa of the Shri Guru Ravidas Janam Sthal Charitable Trust and temple manager Ranvir Singh said: "Trust chairman Sant Niranjan Das will arrive in a special train with pilgrims on February 14 after which Ravidas Jayanti celebrations will start. We have not invited any political leader, though they are free to come and offer prayers on their own." A tent city comes up near the temple every year to accommodate the pilgrims. District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said: "Just as in Magh Mela at Prayagraj, tent city has been permitted for Ravidas Jayanti celebrations. It will have capacity of accommodating 30,000 persons but only 15,000 will be allowed due to Covid norms. Social distancing will be ensured, and sanitisation would be done round-the-clock." Sharma said there is no restriction on politicians and they can visit the temple on Ravidas Jayanti to offer prayers and seek blessings of Sant Niranjan Das, but they cannot deliver speech. Due to Covid-19, devotees in Punjab had been urged to visit in small groups before birth anniversary and celebrate the occasion in the temples of their villages. This year, too, pilgrims will be provided food in temporary Langar Hall. "We will perform some rituals in the new Langar Hall during celebrations but will run community kitchen in it from next year," Saroa added. Divisional CCommissioner Deepak Agrawal said the project of developing Sant Ravidas birthplace area has a budget of over Rs 90 crore and land acquisition for the park has been completed. The political significance of Ravidas temple had increased when, as Chief Minister, Mayawati had tried to develop a grand park at birthplace in Seer Govardhanpur in 1997, but the bid was foiled by Yadav-dominated local population. The BSP chief had attended Ravidas Jayanti celebrations as Chief Minister in 2008 and had gifted a golden palanquin to the temple. Later, leaders of all parties started frequenting Ravidas temple as a part of their Dalit outreach agenda. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Explainer: World Wetlands Day on Feb 2 - What are wetlands? Why are they important?. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 28 : Humanity and biodiversity survive on water, and wetlands are the natural repositories of water. The United Nations recognised 'World Wetlands Day' is celebrated on February 2 to mark the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in the Iranian City of Ramsar on the same day in 1971. Wetlands, often known as 'liquid assets' are the most crucial natural resources that help stabilise water supplies, cleanse polluted waters, protect shorelines, and recharge groundwater aquifers. However, the degradation of wetlands is happening unabated across India. The key message of 'World Wetlands Day' is to call for stepping up investment of financial, human, and political capital to save the wetlands from disappearing and to restore those we have degraded. Each year, a global theme is adopted to focus attention and help raise public awareness about the value of wetlands. The theme for 2022 is 'Wetlands Action for People and Nature', which means a call to take action for wetlands is the focus of this year's campaign. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav is to preside over the World Wetlands Day function at Sultanpur National Park, near Gurugram, along with Haryana Chief Minister. Another major virtual event is slated to be organised by the Wetlands International South Asia (WISA) highlighting the need for an 'all of society' approach to wetlands conservation. "The wetlands are disappearing because of incessant encroachment, conversion to alternate land uses, degradation of natural catchments, fragmentation of water regimes, pollution, spread of invasives and impacts of climate change. The current generation cannot wait any longer to take action. Sincere efforts towards conserving wetlands and their integration in sectoral programmes such as Jal Jeevan Mission and SMART Cities has become imperative to abate the impending crisis," WISA president Dr Sidharth Kaul said. What can you do to spread awareness? Some efforts are simple, some a tad difficult. The simple ones include your participation and/or encouraging others for it when some organisations are holding competitions on the occasion. For instance, the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Central National Herbarium, Howrah and the Central Media & Website Cell are going to organise the aNational Virtual Drawing Competition' on February 2. They have requested those wishing to participate to make a drawing on the theme of Wetland Day 2022, click or shoot their short videos while making the drawing and submit the entry between January 31 to February 2. Not only would there be top three winners from each category, the drawing of the winners would also be posted on official social media accounts of the BSI for spreading awareness. Similarly, in the run up to the World Wetlands Day, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has organised a virtual quiz competition, especially for the children to enable participants to learn more about the wetlands' functions in sustaining ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and more. This has been organised with Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society (NMEPS). The Wetlands International South Asia (WISA), highlighting the need for an 'all of society' approach to wetlands conservation, is hosting a public webinar on the theme of the day: 'Wetlands Action for People and Nature.' Manila, Jan 28 : The Philippines will allow fully vaccinated foreigners from countries and regions with visa-free entry to the Philippines starting from February 10, authorities said on Friday. Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said foreigners travelling for business and tourism purposes must present vaccination certificates and passports valid for at least six months at the time of arrival, reports Xinhua news agency. People aged under 18 are exempted from this measure, he added. Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said the decision to permit "leisure travellers" to visit the country "will contribute significantly to job restoration, primarily in tourism-dependent communities, and in the reopening of businesses shut down by the pandemic". By reopening the country to international tourists, Puyat hoped that the Philippines would keep up with its Southeast Asian neighbours that have already had their borders opened. "We are also aware that there is no room for complacency given the unpredictability of the virus. We will closely monitor the situation and ensure that health and safety protocols are strictly implemented in all tourism establishments," Puyat said. Meanwhile, the Philippines will temporarily suspend the Covid-19 risk classification for fully vaccinated travellers starting February 1. All travellers entering the country must present a negative RT-PCR test taken 48 hours before departure. The travellers are no longer required to undergo facility-based quarantine but monitor themselves at home for seven days. The Philippines now has 3,511,491 confirmed Covid-19 cases in total, with at least 53,736 deaths. January 28 : Bollywood power couple, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan are back onscreen together, but this time it is for a commercial. While fans were excited to see their favourite couple together onscreen, Gully Boy actor Ranveer Singh reacted to it. Kareena shared the television commercial that featured her with Saif. In the commercial, Kareena can be seen in a shop, where she asks the salesman, played by Saif, for a product. In frustration, she tells him, MA in English hai ji. Saif in reply tells her character, Gusse mein aap ekdum Kareena Kapoor lagti hain (You look just like Kareena Kapoor when you are angry.) Sharing the ad on Instagram, Kareena wrote, Dil main hua aur bhi jingalala 'cause I'm in my saif space ji. As soon as the commercial was dropped, fans loved it, and the post garnered more than 13 lakh views in a few hours. Ranveer Singh also showered love for Saif and Kareena and wrote in the comments section, Hahahahah! Love it! From Kareenas look in the commercial, some fans were reminded of the actress character Geet from Jab We Met. One of them wrote, Geet in the house, while another wrote, Cutest bebo n saifu. Still another wrote, Bebo I loved it. Another netizen commented, Saif jis perfect for the part. Meanwhile, on the work front, Kareena is waiting for the release of her forthcoming film Laal Singh Chaddha with Aamir Khan. The film is an official Hindi remake of the Hollywood film Forrest Gump. The film also featured Naga Chaitanya and Mona Singh in key roles. Laal Singh Chaddha is slated to release on April 14 this year on the occasion of Baisakhi. Helmed by Advait Chandan, the film is backed by Aamir Khan Productions, Viacom18 Studios and Paramount Pictures. Kareena has also turned a producer and has signed a new film with Hansal Mehta, and will co-produce the venture with Ekta Kapoor. She will also star in the film. Earlier, in a statement, Kareena had said, Very honoured and excited to work as a producer on this film with Ekta whom my family has known for years and of course to be directed by Hansal for the first time. I am a huge fan of Hansals films and to be working with him for the first time will be special. There are a lot of firsts on this film, and I cannot wait to begin this journey. Saif Ali Khan was last seen in Bhoot Police. The actor is looking forward to the release of Om Rauts Adipurush, where he stars alongside Prabhas. He will also be seen in Vikram Vedha alongside Hrithik Roshan. The film is the Hindi adaptation of the 2017 Tamil film that starred Vijay Sethupathi and R Madhavan. Lucknow, Jan 28 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh faces its biggest challenge in the Terai region in the Assembly elections, due to a combination of factors. The biggest troubled spot in this region is Lakhimpur Kheri ,which goes to polls in the fourth phase on February 23. Lakhimpur Kheri is now best known for the October 3 incident in which four farmers and a journalist were mowed down by a SUV, allegedly owned by Union minister Ajay Misra Teni's son, Ashish Misra, following a farmers' protest. Three BJP workers were killed in retaliatory violence. Ashish Misra is in jail and Ajay Misra Teni remains comfortable in his ministerial position though he has been asked to remain away from the public eye. The SIT that probed the incident has said that it was 'pre-planned'. A strong sense of unease is palpable among the voters and local BJP leaders are acutely aware of the ground situation. Surjeet Singh, a young farmer from Palia, says, "The wounds are still raw and the ruling party has not fulfilled its promises that included dismissal of Ajay Misra Teni. Farmers are not being aggressive, but there is a strong wave of resentment among them." The party suffered another jolt when its sitting MLA from Dhaurhara, Bala Prasad Awasthi, joined the Samajwadi Party. In Nighasan, where the October 3 incident took place, the BJP has replaced sitting MLA Ram Kumar Patel with Shashank Verma. In the neighbouring Pilibhit, the situation is no better. The local BJP MP, Varun Gandhi, has been rather vocal in criticising his own party over the farmers' issues. Gandhi enjoys considerable support from the Sikh community -- his mother Maneka Gandhi is a Sikh -- and his posture during the farmers' agitation as well as the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which he demanded the minister's arrest, has added to the BJP's troubles here. The BJP has retaliated by dropping Varun Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi from the national executive and now the list of star campaigners. Sensing trouble, the BJP has also changed two of its four candidates. Kishan Rajput has been replaced by Swami Pravaktanand in Barkheda while in Bisalpur, Vivek Verma has replaced Agyash Verma. The party has, however, retained Sanjay Gangwar from Pilibhit Sadar and Baburam Paswan from Puranpur Assembly seats. Top BJP leaders have not yet started campaigning in the region and party sources were evasive about their programme. Tokyo, Jan 28 : One hostage died and another remained unconscious in a hospital after the Japanese police arrested a 66-year-old man following an 11 hour-long standoff near Tokyo on Friday. The man attacked three visiting medical workers and shot one of them dead in the standoff that started at around 9 p.m. on Thursday night until early Friday morning, reports Xinhua news agency. A 44-year-old male doctor, thought to be the assailant's primary physician, was found by police with no vital signs and later died at the hospital. The medical workers had arrived at the man's home in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo, to offer their support and condolences following a death in his family. According to local reports, the assailant, named Hiroshi Watanabe, was armed with what has been described as a hunting gun. One of the medical workers, a 41-year-old physiotherapist who was shot in the abdomen by Watanabe, remains unconscious, local reports said. Watanabe injured another medical worker by spraying him with tear gas, police said. Around 110 local residents were evacuated, and elementary and junior high schools in the area will remain closed on Friday. Hyderabad, Jan 28 : The Telangana High Court on Friday asked the state government if it would allow the reopening of schools from January 31. The High Court sought details on plans to reopen schools, which have remained closed since Sankranti vacation from January 8. The state government counsel replied that a decision on the matter is pending. While schools were to reopen on January 18, the government on January 16 extended the vacation till January 30. On Tuesday, while hearing a batch of PILs and writ petitions on Covid, Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma directed the state director for public health and family welfare, to appear on Friday. Telangana's director for public health and family welfare GH Srinivas Rao on Friday informed the Court that the positivity rate stands at 3.16 per cent. He said that the state government has covered 77 lakh households under the fever survey. During the course of the online hearing on Friday, the High Court Bench also directed the state government to submit a report on the measures taken to control the Covid spread in weekend markets and religious fairs. Seoul, Jan 28 : North Korea's top envoy in Geneva has claimed the recent series of weapons tests do not pose any threat to its neighbours and called on the US to permanently end military exercises with South Korea, Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry said on Friday. Ambassador Han Tae-song made the remarks in a speech during the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva earlier this week, amid renewed security concerns over Pyongyang's continued test-firings of missiles this month, reports Yonhap News Agency. "The recent test fire of the new-type weapons was part of activities for carrying out the medium- and long-term plan for the development of defence science, and it does not pose any threat or damage to the security of the neighbouring countries and the region," Han was quoted by the Ministry as saying. The Ambassador then called on the US to withdraw its "hostile policy" and "double standards" toward the North and "permanently end the offensive military exercises and the deployment of various nuclear strategic assets" in and around the Korean Peninsula. The North has been ratcheting up tensions with a series of missile launches, including the tests of its self-proclaimed hypersonic missiles on January 5 and 11, amid a protracted deadlock in its nuclear negotiations with Washington. Both Seoul and Washington expressed concerns over the launches and reiterated calls for Pyongyang to return to dialogue. Ottawa, Jan 28 : Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds, who hails from the Canadian city of Vancouver, is to be nationally recognised with the opening of 'Ryan Reynolds Way', which is located in the east end of Ottawa. Jim Watson, Mayor of Ottawa, tweeted: "It's clear that Ottawa has a special place in Ryan's heart - and in his honour, I'll be bringing forward a motion later today to have a street named after him. Ryan Reynolds Way will be located in a new subdivision in the east end. Look forward to seeing it open soon!" The 'Deadpool' star responded to the news by calling it an "incredible honour" and joked that in return he would rename one of his children Ottawa, reports femalefirst.co.uk. In a tweet, he said: "This is an incredible honour and a deal is a deal, Mr Mayora I've changed my daughter's name to Ottawa." The recognition comes after Ryan and his actress wife Blake Lively had several made donations to causes across Canada including the Ottawa food bank. Ryan also collaborated with Ottawa Public Health to play Bruce, a hapless social media intern who as well as messing up basic details in news tweets also encouraged people to wear a mask and get vaccinated against Covid-19 in a string of posts on their Twitter profile which went viral. When it was revealed that Ryan was behind the satirical posts, Ottawa Public Health said: "We were, to say the least, delighted when Mr. Reynolds agreed to participate. We appreciate that Mr. Reynolds took the time out of his busy schedule to help us share this important public health message." Bengaluru, Jan 28 : Dr Soundarya (30), the granddaughter of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, had left her nine-month-old baby in the other room of the flat before committing suicide on Friday. Meanwhile, High Ground police have lodged a case of unnatural death following the complaint by her husband Dr Neeraj. The police are awaiting the statements from the family of Soundarya on ascertaining what made her take the extreme step. According to sources, Dr Soundarya conducted naming ceremony of her baby three months ago. Police sources say that there are very less chances of family dispute and reason for the suicide is yet to be ascertained. The maid and statements collected so far in the apartment said that couple lived happily. Dr Soundarya worked at the Bowring hospital as an Assistant Professor and she was a practicing doctor. Her husband Dr Neeraj, a Radiologist worked at the M.S. Ramaiah hospital. Neeraj is son of elder brother of Zilla Panchayat member Mariswamy. Dr Sathish, one of the doctors who conducted autopsy of the body, stated that there is a mark in the neck and no other mark has been found in the body. A team of three doctors conducted the post-mortem the report of which has been generated and submitted to the tehsildar, he stated. The body has been handed over to the family after the autopsy. Soundarya, the daughter of Yediyurappa' daughter Padmavathi, got married to Dr Neeraj in 2018 and the couple studied in the same medical college in the city, sources said. The incident has come to light at 10.30 a.m. when maid came to wake her up for breakfast. When she didn't open the door of her room, the maid informed her husband Dr Neeraj and others. The apartment staff arrived and saw her body hanging from the balcony and informed police. Though she was rushed to hospital immediately, the doctors declared her dead at arrival. The couple stayed in the apartment since two-and-a-half years. Dr Neeraj had left the house at 8 a.m. this morning. B.S. Yediyurappa and family members have reached Abbigere residence of Dr. Neeraj. According to family sources, the final rites will be carried out in the farm house of her husband Dr. Neeraj. High Ground police are investigating the case. Chennai, Jan 28 : Reports from the Tamil Nadu health department have revealed that more than 50 per cent of the frontline workers are yet to inoculate themselves with both the doses of Covid-19 vaccine. The state has 9.7 lakh frontline workers and half of this population are yet to take both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. More than 1.7 lakh frontline workers, including revenue officials, policemen, and local body staff are yet to take a single dose of the vaccine. Data available with the immunisation wing of the state public health department revealed that only 4.4 lakh frontline workers of the state have taken both doses of the vaccine. However, 97 per cent of the health workers, including doctors, nurses, and paramedics have taken a dose of the vaccine with 64 per cent taking both doses of the vaccine. Dr. Selvavinayagam, Director, Tamil Nadu Public Health Department while speaking to IANS said, "The Central government has last week informed the Supreme Court of India that it has not made vaccination mandatory and hence Tamil Nadu has also not made vaccines mandatory. This is the reason why many people have not taken both the doses of vaccine and around 1.7 lakh frontline workers have not yet taken even a single dose of the vaccine." He said that the state has made it mandatory that entry to malls and workplaces will be allowed if people take both doses of vaccine. Dr. Selvavinayagam said, "There is an increase in the number of deaths due to Covid-19 over the past two weeks and more than 80 per cent of the deaths are of people above the age of 60 and we are insisting that all should vaccinate themselves at the earliest." He also said that almost all the PHCs in the state are loaded with vaccines and people have to present themselves to get inoculated. However retired Judge of the Madras High Court, Justice Kirubakaran while speaking to IANS said, "Health is a state subject and the state must ensure that vaccination is done compulsorily. This is to ensure the safety of the people of the state. The state must strictly enforce its decision not to allow people without double vaccines in any public or workplaces." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Puri/Bhubaneshwar, Jan 28 : "Amara jati pramana nathibaru ame sarakari sahayataru banchita heuchu (We are deprived of government entitlements because we do not have a caste certificate)," said Meena Das (34) before a gathering of academicians, researchers, and journalists in Odishas capital, Bhubaneswar, in late September. Das belongs to Sabakhia Kela, one among 13 listed Kela communities found in Pipili, Brahmagiri and Sadar blocks of Odisha's Puri district. They have lived for generations as a nomadic tribe. Some members of the community are still snake charmers, while others perform stunts for money and food. Many of them play instruments like the Tingi Khadu as they go door-to-door, collecting alms. Murali Shikari (41) from the Mundapota Kela community said, "The male members of the community bury their heads under the earth and hold their breath while the women beat the drums to attract the public so that they can collect alms. We have also been performing a typical dance form - the ghoda nacha. That was our livelihood." The Kela tribes have been subject to continuous neglect and social stigma. All because the community has never been entitled to the all-important caste certificates that can open the doors to various kinds of government support, claimed Meena Das. A district official on the condition of anonymity told 101Reporters that it is difficult to issue certificates to the Kela community as they do not have past records or any information about their origins in Odisha. "One of the key problems in placing these communities on India's developmental map is the unavailability of authentic and relevant data. It is not available as no caste-wise census was undertaken between 1931 and 2011," said Sandip Patnaik, a researcher studying the socio-economic conditions of Kela communities. Patnaik added that most of these communities are nomadic and their numbers are not likely to be enumerated in the Census data. "A number of states have not prepared the list of de-notified or nomadic communities," he said, adding, "the lack of official records has made them invisible in the development process. Many of them are still struggling to get a caste certificate so that they can avail government benefits." In search of home The study revealed that Kela communities have limited access to land, housing and sanitation, forcing them to live in neglect. Murali Shikari said that the government has not been able to provide proper housing for his family either through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or the Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana meant for the poor. "We are living in a marshy place and are vulnerable to diseases," he said. Lata Shikari (65), a widow living in Pipili block, has been waiting for 40 years to build a house through government support. She has attended most of the rallies conducted by the ruling party in Bhubaneswar with the hope that her demand will be fulfilled. She has not succeeded so far. In the past, Meena Das said, the members of the Kela community would eat anything they could find - from dead birds to snakes. But now, things have changed as many look forward to a dignified life. "Now, we either work as seasonal labourers or farm labourers and sharecroppers," she said, adding that the people of her community would be able to live a better life if they had a home. No jobs, no school The lack of caste certificates, for example, has left the Kela community unable to access job cards that are given under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. This was particularly tough when job prospects were further dented by the coronavirus pandemic and the nationwide lockdown imposed by the government in March 2020. "The meagre income we used to get as labourers stopped. We had to depend on the five kilograms of rice that we got from the public distribution system. It was insufficient," Meena Das said. Lakhia Shikari (44) of the Beherasahi in Pipili block, who belongs to Mundapota Kela community, said that the pandemic forced them to once again take up their traditional occupation. "The sudden lockdown announcement crushed our livelihood. We lived hand-to-mouth. When there were no work opportunities due to the pandemic, we fell back to our traditional occupation - begging for alms," she said. Muna Das (21), from Ghusuria Kela community, had to quit college during the pandemic and work at a farm to provide for his family. He was unable to procure a stipend when he was completing his degree as he had no caste certificate. He had to pay regular fees like his counterparts from the general category, ultimately making it difficult for him to continue his studies. "I approached government officials and even the district collector to request a caste certificate, but to no avail," he said. Muna Das' dreams of becoming a teacher were shattered due to the lack of caste certificates. "We are so invisible in the eyes of the government that even after so many years of independence we are deprived of a caste certificate. Now, the pandemic has broken all our hopes," he rued. Murali Shikari's children studied for free till Class 8 in a government-run school. However, to put them through high school, he will now have to pay fees. "Due to lack of caste certificates, our children are unable to get a stipend to continue studies. Many children drop out from schools as their parents fail to pay school fees," he said. Stigma that follows them everywhere The stigma attached to the Kela communities has followed them even in dire situations, highlighting rampant discriminatory practices. They were not spared even during natural calamities. When Cyclone Fani killed 74 people in Odisha in April 2019 and caused damages worth Rs 1200 crore, several shelters were built to temporarily rehabilitate those who were displaced. Here, the members of the Kela communities were allegedly subjected to casteist behaviour by people of the upper caste. "In the multi-purpose cyclone shelter, the upper castes had already occupied the space and they didn't allow us to enter," said Meena Das. "Thus, we returned and took shelter in a school verandah. Here, the upper caste people did not allow us to use the washroom. We were forced to urinate at a faraway place even when it was raining heavily," she said. Even in their day to day lives, the women of Kela community have had to face discriminatory remarks, like while foraging for date leaves that they use to stitch mats or make brooms. Rupa Shikari from the Mundapota Kela community said, "People either deny or demand money for the leaves. How will we pay the amount? Moreover, the availability of plastic mats and brooms have made it difficult to sell our traditional skills," she said, adding that they were now working as construction labourers to make ends meet. (The author is a Bhubaneswar -based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters) Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 28 : CPI secretary Kanam Rajendran on Friday once again expressed his displeasure over Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sending an ordinance to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan seeking amendment of Kerala Lokayukta Act thus diluting the powers of the anti-corruption body. CPI is the second biggest ally of the ruling Left government in Kerala. On being asked as to why did the four CPI ministers not raise any objection when the matter came up in the cabinet, Rajendran said: "You have to ask them," in a clear expression of his displeasure. Reiterating that there was no political discussions on this, he said he failed to understand the reason for the undue haste in coming out with an Ordinance, when the budget session of the Assembly is just round the corner. Incidentally, the important development was taken at an online cabinet meeting which Vijayan presided over from his hospital bed in the US on January 19. On Tuesday, former Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala brought to people's notice the new Ordinance which is now with Khan. Vijayan, who had issued a list of decisions which the January 19th cabinet meeting had taken, had made no mention of this important decision. Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan on Friday asked CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to first convince his CPI counterpart Kanam Rajendran. "There was an article of Balakrishnan on the tweaking in their party organ which was published on Friday. First let him convince Rajendran, who has by now expressed his mind on this tweaking. It's very clear now that this sudden rushing through of this Ordinance is to save his own skin, as the Lokayukta is hearing a petition against him on the way the Chief Minister's Dearness Relief Fund was handled and also another petition against his cabinet colleague R.Bindhu," said Satheesan to the media here on Friday. On Thursday, the top leaders of the Congress-led Opposition called on Khan and told him that taking into the interest of the state and public at large, they requested him to abstain from providing his assent to the Kerala Lokayukta (amendment) ordinance 2021. In 2021 April, soon after the Assembly elections, the Kerala Lokayukta ruled that the then State Higher Education Minister K.T. Jaleel had violated his oath of office and had appointed his relative following which Jaleel had to quit and this is what the Vijayan government fears in the light of two cases before the Lokayukta. Meanwhile, the otherwise media friendly Khan who has been regularly meeting, especially in the past few weeks when he had a feud with the Vijayan government on the re-appointment of the Kannur vice chancellor and even went to the extent of relinquishing the post of chancellor, is tight lipped on the issue. And now all eyes are on Vijayan who returns in the wee hours of Saturday from the US, where he has been under treatment for an undisclosed ailment. New Delhi, Jan 28 : With the Budget Session of the Parliament scheduled to begin from January 31, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday took a stock of the preparations and also inspected various facilities in the Parliament House Complex. Birla inspected the Lok Sabha Chamber, Central Hall and several other facilities in the Parliament House Complex. The Speaker has issued instructions to ensure safety of the members, officials and the media persons during the Budget Session, keeping in view the necessary Covid-19 guidelines. He was apprised about the implementation of the Covid protocol norms in Parliament House Complex by senior officials. Birla was also briefed about the progress of the construction of the New Parliament Building. He provided several inputs to ensure world class landscaping around the New Parliament Building. The Speaker also enquired about the building materials and architectural highlights of the building. Birla directed the officials to ensure the maintenance work of Parliament House is taken up regularly, and stressed that the facilities should be improved with the use of latest technology. He also directed the officials to undertake adequate safety measures for Members in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers. During his inspection, Birla issued directions to ensure better facilities and maximum cleanliness in the media stands, lobbies and the Central Hall. The Parliament will function in two shifts during the Budget Session from February under which the Rajya Sabha will function in morning, and the Lok Sabha in the evening, owing to the Covid situation. The Budget Session will be held in two parts this year, from January 31 to February 11, and from March 14 to April 8. The Union Budget for FY23 will be tabled in the Parliament on February 1. All Covid protocols will be in place in the Parliament to prevent the outbreak of the disease, officials said. As per the schedule, President Ram Nath Kovind will address the joint sitting of both the Houses at 11 a.m. on January 31. "During the sittings from 31.1.2022 to 11.2.2022, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers and their galleries will be used for sitting of members in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic," said a bulletin. The bulletin said that members should arrive at the Parliament by 10.30 a.m. on January 31 in order to obviate any inconvenience. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) San Francisco, Jan 28 : Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that US President Joe Biden "is treating the American public like fools" after Biden met with executives from rival car companies General Motors and Ford Motor earlier this week, Fox Business reported. Biden invited GM CEO Mary Barra and Ford CEO Jim Farley to the White House along with other business leaders to discuss his administration's $1.75 trillion Build Back Better legislation, which was stalled in the evenly split Senate after US Senator Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., refused to support the legislation. The massive spending bill would bump up the $7,500 tax credit to $12,500 for union-made electric vehicles and would also make GM and Tesla eligible for the existing tax credit again after they hit the 200,000-vehicle limit for the credit. Biden touted GM's recent $7 billion investment in Michigan to ramp up electric vehicle production, the report said on Thursday. "Companies like GM and Ford are building more electric vehicles here at home than ever before," the president tweeted after the meeting, prompting the response from Musk that Biden was treating the American public "like fools". Musk also tweeted that "Biden is a damp [sock] puppet in human form" and "Starts with a T, Ends with an A, ESL in the middle." It is not the first time that Musk has taken shots at Biden. The electric vehicle pioneer said in September that the administration was "maybe a little biased" and "seems to be controlled by unions." New Delhi, Jan 28 : Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar has announced plans to convert 150 villages around the 'Centres of Excellence' into 'Villages of Excellence' with technical assistance from Israel. The Centres of Excellence (CoEs), an example of cooperation between India and Israel, are producing more than 25 million vegetable plants, over 3,87,000 quality fruit plants and can train more than 1.2 lakh farmers per year. The Minister expressed satisfaction at the functioning of 29 Centres of Excellence in 12 states. "Out of 150, half of them, i.e., 75 villages are being taken up in the first year to commemorate the 75th year of India's independence, where India and Israel will work together," Tomar said and expressed happiness on the completion of 30 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel. Tomar was speaking when the newly appointed Israel Ambassador to India Naor Gilon called on the Agriculture Minister on Thursday, a release from the Agriculture Ministry said on Friday. Tomar also highlighted the various schemes that have been launched by the Government of India for the welfare of farmers. Those included PM-Kisan, Agri-Infrastructure Fund (AIF), formation of 10,000 FPOs, Schemes for promotion of organic farming, natural farming, and soil health cards etc. The Ambassador appreciated the working of Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR) institutes and showed interest in further collaboration with ICAR and making available the latest technologies available with Israel. He proposed the certification of CoEs to further enhance the standards and quality of services being provided to the farmers, the release said. Gilon also invited Tomar to visit Israel. Agartala, Jan 28 : Forest and wildlife officials continued their study and inspection for the second day on Friday after the carcasses of over 500 migratory birds were found at the famous Sukh Sagar lake in southern Tripuras Gomati district, top officials said on Friday. Tripura's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dvijendra Kumar Sharma said that the officials since Thursday are busy collecting information, samples of dead birds and trying to ascertain the reasons behind their deaths. "The officials are examining all possible reasons for the death of the migratory birds. We are also sending the samples of the dead birds to the laboratories to ascertain the cause of the death of the birds," Sharma told IANS. Every year during the winter season, lakhs of migratory birds of different species fly down to Sukh Sagar and other lakes and water bodies of Tripura from different parts of the country and abroad. This year too was no exception as the winged guests came to the northeastern state. Though the officials are yet to ascertain the reason behind the birds' deaths local people suspect that they might have died of insecticides used in the nearby paddy fields. Local people said that every year thousands of migratory birds come to Sukh Sagar but they had never witnessed such a horrific sight where a large number of migratory birds were found dead at one time. They estimated that over one thousand migratory birds might have died in the lake. Sub Divisional Forest Officer Kamal Bhowmik after conducting a preliminary investigation said that the carcasses of the migratory birds have been sent for post mortem to Agartala. Officials said that the carcasses were found scattered across the big Sukh Sagar lake and it was very difficult to give the exact count of the dead birds. The officials referring to the local people's assumptions said that poachers might have poisoned the water body with pesticides, and the migratory birds, which have been coming from abroad, might have died after consuming the water of the century-old lake. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has offered a cash reward of Rs 50,000 to any person who would provide information on the missing accused individuals in the murder case of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Abhijit Sarkar, sources said here on Friday. Sarkar was allegedly killed in the post-poll violence that broke out in West Bengal after the declaration of Assembly election results on May 2, last year. On August 19, 2021, based on a report by the National Human Rights Commission, the Calcutta High Court had ordered a CBI investigation into the cases of rape and murder that were reported during the post-poll violence in the state. According to the CBI, the accused persons in the case are Amit Das alias Keto, a resident of Kolkata, Tumpa Das alias Kali, Arup Das alias Bapi, Sanjay Barik and Papiya Barik, all residents of Sitalatala Lane in Kolkata. "The CBI has declared a cash reward of Rs 50,000 against each and it will be given to anyone who will give information leading to their arrest," the Special Crime Branch of CBI said. It further said that the identity of the informer will be kept as a secret. Pertinently, so far no arrests have been made in the said case by the probe agency. Though Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had claimed that there was no incident of post-poll violence in the state, an NHRC report has said that there were several cases of rape and murder after the announcement of Assembly election results in 2021. Sarkar's family had continuously alleged that the Kolkata police were not investigating the matter properly and were not arresting the 'Trinamool goons' responsible for the murder, who are not only moving scot-free, but also threatening the family members. Biswajit Sarkar, the elder brother of the victim, has filed petitions to probe Sarkar's death before the Supreme Court and the Calcutta high court. Sarkar was allegedly strangled to death with a television cable. He was the only BJP worker who died in the state capital in the post-poll violence. New Delhi, Jan 28 : In a boost to maritime security, the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) MK III was inducted at INS Utkrosh by Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command Lieutenant General Ajai Singh at Port Blair on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, Lt General Singh termed the induction as a boost to the security of Andaman and Nicobar. He added that the induction is a symbol of the country's resolve of being self-reliant in its security and maintaining peace in this region. As the rotor blades of the versatile helicopter cut through the air, it was ceremoniously welcomed into ANC with a traditional water cannon salute. The induction marks a continuing increase in the capabilities of the Andaman and Nicobar Command in the past two decades of its raising as India's only joint theatre command. The ALH MK III is manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and represents a tremendous leap towards self-reliance in the field of military aircraft, in line with the government's push for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. Till date, over 300 of these copters have been delivered by HAL and are being flown by the Armed Forces. Amongst its variants, the MK III is a maritime role variant encompassing state-of-the-art sensors and weapons that add punch to India's prowess at sea. The ALH MK III with its glass cockpit, Shakti engines, advanced Maritime Patrol Radar, Electro-optical payload and Night Vision Device will act as a force multiplier in keeping India's far eastern seaboard and island territories safe. It has multi-role capabilities including maritime surveillance, support for the Special Forces, medical evacuations besides search and rescue roles. New Delhi, Jan 28 : China has expressed concern over the business environment in India as Indian authorities conduct 'irregular' tax audits, Global Times reported. China has urged India to provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese enterprises. Gao Feng, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce in China, made the comment during a routine press conference in Beijing on Thursday. "China has contributed to Indian economic development, and created a large number of local jobs, and we hope India can provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese businesses," Gao said. The Finance Ministry in India issued a statement on January 5, saying that Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi's local company in India had engaged in "tax evasion" and demanded that it pay a total of Rs 6.53 billion ($88 million) in taxes owed between April 2017 and June 2020. Xiaomi denied the claim, saying that company adheres to legal and compliant operations around the world and abides with the relevant laws and regulations of each jurisdiction in which it operates, the report said. Xiaomi said in a statement sent to the Global Times on January 5 that the Indian authorities are asking it to pay back the import taxes on the royalty and licence fees that are not related to Xiaomi's current business, adding that the official statement from the Indian authorities is not a final decision. Indian tax authorities launched a broad investigation into Chinese companies operating in India on tax and income issues in December last year, including Chinese mobile companies Oppo, Xiaomi and OnePlus. Chinese mobile phone brands are highly popular in the Indian market, and their market share far exceeds that of local Indian brands. Xiaomi led the Indian smartphone market shipments in the third quarter of 2021, holding a 22 percent share, as per Counterpoint's latest research. The total Indian smartphone shipments crossed 52 million units in the third quarter with Xiaomi on top, according to gadgets.ndtv.com. Counterpoint's latest report on Indian smartphone shipments in the third quarter of FY22 shows that Xiaomi, Samsung, Vivo, Realme and Oppo were the top performing brands, in that order. Yang Yishuang, a deputy professor from Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times earlier that such "unjustifiable" suppression for the purpose of protecting domestic industries in India may affect the confidence of Chinese companies to further expand investment in the Indian market, the report said. New Delhi, Jan 28 : A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the film "Why I Killed Gandhi", which is set to release on various OTT platforms on January 30, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. Seeking removal of all contents of the controversial film from all online platforms, petitioner Sikandar Behl, through advocate Anuj Bhandari, also sought the prohibition of any exhibition or publication of the film or any of its contents in any manner whatsoever on any OTT platform or social media. If the release and exhibition of the said movie is not stopped, it would irreparably tarnish the image of the Father of the Nation and would cause public unrest, hatred and disharmony, the plea read. It also stressed the need for content regulation of OTT platforms. In the movie's two minutes twenty seconds' long trailer, an attempt has been made to blame Mahatma Gandhi for the partition of India and atrocities against Hindus in Pakistan, and thereby an attempt has been made to justify the killing of Mahatma, it said. Last year, the top court had observed that "uncontrolled and unscreened" viewing of films on OTT platforms is an issue. "One of the issues, which has cropped up in the facts of the present case, is regarding control and regulation of the platforms on which web series are released," the apex court noted. As the film ignited a massive controversy, the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a total ban on the film, which "seeks to glorify Gandhiji's assassin Nathuram Godse", and its exhibition would shock the people. The film features Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Amol Kolhe in the role of Godse, sparking friction among the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress since the past few days. Bengaluru, Jan 28 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi called former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and consoled him over the death of his grand-daughter on Friday. Dr Soundarya (30), the grand-daughter of Yediyurappa, committed suicide by hanging at her flat in Bengaluru. Family sources said that the PM consoled Yediyurappa on his loss and asked him not to lose strength at this difficult hour. The High Ground police have registered a case of unnatural death following a complaint by her husband. The police have taken possession of the veil used in the hanging. Khwaja Hussain, the staff manager, said that the couple had lived in the flat for two years. The couple were cordial and shared a harmonious bond. After the birth of their child, Soundarya did not come to the flat and her husband Dr Neeraj lived alone. There were two workers at home. Soundarya came back home on Thursday. We knew she was the grand-daughter of Yediyurappa. She had given the baby to the nanny before ending her life, Hussain stated. Family sources said that Soundarya's final rites would be performed at her husband's farmhouse later on Friday. New Delhi, Jan 28 : Appreciating the steps being taken to open the doors of the defence establishments for girls and women, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday said India needs their contribution. The Prime Minister said there are ample opportunities for women, highlighting that they are taking admission in Sainik Schools, and are getting major responsibilities in the army. "The daughters of the country are flying fighter planes in the Air Force," said the Prime Minister during his address at the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Rally at the Cariappa Ground in the national capital. The Prime Minister also said it should be the government's endeavour to include "more and more daughters" in the NCC. The Prime Minister inspected the Guard of Honour, reviewed March Past by NCC contingents and also witnessed the NCC cadets displaying their skills in army action, slithering, microlight flying, parasailing as well as cultural programmes. The best cadets also received medal and baton from the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister noted a different level of enthusiasm in the celebrations as the country is marking the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. He remembered with pride his NCC connection and credited his training as an NCC cadet for giving him the strength to carry out his responsibilities towards the nation. He also paid tributes to Lala Lajpat Rai and Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa for their contribution in nation building. "Both the brave sons of India have their jayanti today." Modi talked about the steps being taken to strengthen the NCC in the country in a period when the country is moving forward with new resolutions. For this, a high-level review committee has been set up in the country. In the last two years, 1 lakh new cadets have been created in the border areas of the country, he said. He elaborated on the steps being taken to open the doors of the defence establishments for girls and women. He noted the presence of the large number of the girl cadets and termed it to be a symbol of changing attitude of the nation. Noting the young profile of the cadets, who are mostly born in this century, the Prime Minister underlined their role in taking the country towards 2047. "Your efforts and resolve and the fulfilment of those resolutions will be the achievement and success of India," he said. He said no power of the world can stop the country whose youth starts moving ahead with the thinking of nation first. India's success in the playfield and the startup ecosphere exemplify this very clearly, the Prime Minister said. In the Amrit Kaal i.e. from today to the next 25 years, the Prime Minister urged the cadets to combine their aspirations and actions with the development and expectations of the country. Modi also underlined the major role that today's youngsters can play in the 'vocal for local' campaign. "If today's youth resolves to use only those goods that have been created with the labour and sweat of an Indian, India's destiny can be transformed," he emphasised. He remarked "today, on the one hand, there are good possibilities related to digital technology and information, on the other hand, there are dangers of misinformation". He stressed that it is also necessary that the common man of our country not fall prey to any rumour. He proposed that NCC cadets run an awareness campaign for this. He further said that drugs should not reach the school/college where there is NCC or NSS. He advised the cadets to be free from drugs, and at the same time keep their campus free from drugs. "Help the friends who are not in NCC-NSS to give up this bad habit too," he stressed. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Chennai, Jan 28 : Japanese diesel engine group Yanmar has begun commercial production at its industrial engine plant located near here. The new plant owned by Yanmar Engine Manufacturing India will produce 80,000 units of 15kW to 37kW class of industrial engines initially for Yanmar brand tractors manufactured by International Tractors Ltd and for other agricultural and construction industry equipment makers. The company will also supply engines to overseas markets like Europe, USA and Asian countries. According to Varun Khanna, Managing Director, Yanmar Engine Manufacturing India, the demand for industrial engines is expected to grow as mechanisation increases in the agricultural and construction sectors. The new plant will be an important base for expanding Yanmar's global industrial engine sales in the future, said Director Hajime Hirai. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) Centre of Excellence (CoE) for IoT & AI, in collaboration with KITS (Karnataka Innovation & Technology Society) and IT industry's apex body Nasscom on Friday launched the second edition of the Enterprise Innovation Challenge (EIC) with a focus on the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals. Initiated in 2021, EIC aims to leverage the innovations created by Indian entrepreneurs and nurture sustained engagements between innovative startups and enterprises. During the virtual inaugural session of the EIC challenge, panellists called for a greater role of technology in the nation's ESG goals. Abhishek Singh, CEO, Digital India, MeitY, said that as we mature into a truly global economy, ESG will be one of the top priorities for our industry and for all of us. "Recently at COP26, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the net zero commitment and this will require each one of us, including government and the industry to put our best foot forward to ensure that we are able to put forward a sustainable agenda which not only takes care of our present day needs but also the needs of the future," Singh elaborated. "Even in corporate governance, what we really need is that if our unicorns have to become real value-adding companies and if our startups have to go up and become the best in the world, the adoption of ethical corporate governance standards becomes a very important part of it," he added. According to Debjani Ghosh, President, Nasscom, ESG has become a top priority not just for governments but also for our clients, investors as well as for employees across the Tech industry. "In India alone, the assets under management for ESG funds rose by 2.5 times in just a year. From $275 million in FY20, the assets under management for ESG funds went up to $650 million in FY21," said Ghosh. Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI (The Energy & Resources Institute) said that in order to move in the right direction for ESG, one of the most fundamental and crucial things is mindset. "As a society we need to adopt the right mindset to achieve our goals. From an industrial perspective, it is not only the production and processes but also the raw material which goes in which needs to be looked into from our ESG goals perspective," she emphasised. The MeitY initiative also presented some unique use cases like 'Market transformation towards Sustainable Palm Oil' establishing the linkage between sustainable palm oil and biodiversity conservation, climate and how it can help attract youth attention and possible action on this issue. "Judging companies by their ESG score has picked up immense momentum. In our industry, digital technologies are playing a critical role in driving ESG goals but it also has to involve society by spreading awareness around these goals," said Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc. According to Mona Soni, Global Head of ESG Technology, S&P Global Sustainable, technology will be a key lever in accelerating progress and supporting innovation in this rapidly-evolving ESG market. New Delhi, Jan 28 : In a major development on Friday, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) allowed Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech to conduct clinical trials for its intranasal Covid booster dose in India. The clinical trials will be conducted at nine different sites, including AIIMS Delhi. The vaccine manufacturer had proposed the booster dose for those who have been already been inoculated with Covishield and Covaxin vaccines. "Granting permission to conduct clinical trials with vaccine does not convey or imply that, based on the clinical trial data generated with the vaccine, permission to market this vaccine in the country will automatically be granted," said the national drugs regulator. Bharat Biotech plans to conduct clinical trials on both who have taken Covishield or Covaxin vaccine shots. As per sources, the trials will be conducted on half individuals who have received Covishield and another half who have been administered Covaxin. A gap of around six months is expected between the second vaccine shot and the intranasal booster dose. The intranasal vaccine reportedly has the potential to prevent transmission of new Covid variants. Bhopal, Jan 28 : If all goes as per plan, every village in Madhya Pradesh will have a unique identification and its birthday celebrated every year. As per the plan, the elected representatives of villages (panch and sarpanch) and the villagers will decide a particular day to celebrate the birthday. The panchayats will decide a particular date, with its unique identification, coinciding it with any ritual, traditional, or historical value of their villages. The gram-panchayat will hold a meeting with residents of village and prepare a comprehensive plan for the celebration. All the people who belong to a particular village but are living in other districts, states, or countries will be invited for the event. A proposal for this unique programme has been made by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday. Chouhan has made an appeal to all village panchayats in the state to start the process. And, if the announcement is brought into the reality, probably it would be a first-its-kind of initiative in the country. While making an announcement, Chouhan also talked about the purpose behind this unique proposal. It would not only give villages their unique identification but people living far from villages will be able to reconnect with their birth places, he said. "People living far from their villages, who have expertise in different sectors will gather under one roof and contribute in setting the path of development of their village. I am sure each person, he/she may be at any position will be ready to contribute to his/her village. Also, they can remain connected with their birth places," Chouhan added. How the gram-panchayat can fix a particular date for village's birthday celebration, Chouhan gave an example of his own village- Jait, which is in Sehore district. "I, along with the people, have decided to celebrate birthday of my village on Naramada Jayanti as Jait village is located on the bank of the river Narmada," he added. IANS pd/shb/ New Delhi, Jan 28 : With eye on Dalit votes in the assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has planned a week-long celebration of Guru Ravidas Jayanti. The BJP SC Morcha will celebrate the Ravidas Jayanti (birth anniversary) from February 13 to 20, and hold programmes at block levels in the poll-bound states. Schedule Castes (SC) comprise around 32 per cent of the Punjab population, the highest among all states in the country, and around 21 per cent of Uttar Pradesh's total population. They play a crucial and decisive role in Punjab and their support is also important for the political parties in Uttar Pradesh. BJP SC Morcha national president Lal Singh Arya told IANS that the party workers will celebrate Ravidas Jayanti across the country from February 13 to 20. "In northern states, Ravidas Jayanti will be celebrated at mandal (block), district and state level of the party. In southern states, it will be celebrated at district and state level," he said. As part of the celebration, BJP leaders will visit Ravidas Temple and felicitate the priest and saints. "Poll bound states are asked to make other programmes to celebrate Ravidas Jayanti apart from the events decided for rest of states," Arya said. The BJP SC morcha will also celebrate the Ravidas Jayanti on social media. A team of volunteers has been assigned the responsibility to celebrate Ravidas Jayanti on the social media. "About 100 volunteers will oversee Ravidas Jayanti celebration on social media. They will share the teachings of Ravidas on our social media platforms," Arya said. Ravidas Jayanti will be celebrated on February 16. To woo the Dalit voters and followers of Ravidas, all the political parties in Punjab had requested the Election Commission (EC) to change the polling date in state. On the request of political parties, the EC rescheduled the polling to February 20 from February 14. Among SC communities, the BJP trying to make in road of BSP vote bank by projecting former Uttarakhand governor and party national vice president Baby Rani Maurya as its Dalit face in the state against former chief minister Mayawati. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP is trying to make inroads among Dalit votes which traditionally votes for Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Mumbai, Jan. Jan 28 : Hours after the Supreme Court quashed the suspension of 12 Opposition legislators from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for one year, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government reacted cautiously while the Bharatiya Janata Party members were jubilant on Friday. Leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress termed the suspension as a decision of the legislature which had the power to take action, while the BJP termed the apex court verdict as a 'slap' on the MVA government. "The Maharashtra Legislature has the power to suspend MLAs, or for that matter the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha can also suspend MPs, it is well within their powers," said Sena MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut. Senior ministers - NCP state President Jayant Patil and national spokesperson Nawab Malik - said that now it is an issue of the "jurisdictions of the court and the legislative bodies, concerning legislatures across and the country and the Parliament". "The state Legislature Secretariat will study the order after which the Speaker would take a call in the matter," Malik added. Congress state unit chief Nana Patole - himself an ex-Speaker - also said that the Legislature Secretariat will first study the SC order before proceeding ahead in the matter. Raut said that any decision in the matter will be taken by the Assembly Speaker, who had given his ruling on the suspensions at that time after a scuffle in his chamber. "I think it's his (Speaker's) right. Decisions are taken as per the law and the Constitution. The suspended MLAs and their party (BJP) need to self-introspect," he said. It may be recalled that on July 5, 2021, during the Monsoon Session of the state Assembly, 12 BJP MLAs were suspended for "misbehaving" and using "abusive language" vis-a-vis the then Presiding Officer Bhaskar Jadhav during a discussion on OBC quotas in the House. The move to suspend the dozen Opposition MLAs sparked a massive furore and the party has been repeatedly raising the issue with the MVA to revoke the suspension. The legislators are: Ashish Shelar, Jaykumar Rawal, Atul Bhatkalkar, Parag Alvani, Girish Mahajan, Yogesh Sagar, Ram Satpute, Sanjay Kute, Abhimanyu Pawar, Shirish Pimple, Narayan Kuche, Kirtikumar Bagadia. Shelar, the BJP's chief whip, later moved the apex court in the matter. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case to investigate fraudulent issue of Income Tax refunds to the tune of Rs 263 crore following a complaint filed by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). In the complaint to the CBI, Munish Gupta, Additional Director General (Vigilance), CBDT said that Tanaji Mandal Adhikari and Bhushan Anant Patil have entered into a criminal conspiracy and intentionally and fraudulently managed to give credits for taxes deducted at source. Adhikari has contrived and criminally conspired with other persons to get issued refunds exceeding Rs 263 crore fraudulently which were deposited in the bank account of proprietary concern of Patil located at Panvel, Mumbai. Amounts have also been subsequently transferred to ICICI Bank accounts at Lucknow and Ahmedabad, and it evident that money might also have been transferred to some other persons/entities across the country and even outside the country, the CBDT said. "This is a serious crime against the nation and involves cheating, embezzlement, and misappropriation of Consolidated Fund of India by way of fraudulently issuing refunds. Hence, it is requested that a complaint involving criminal conspiracy/fraud may be registered by your Office and necessary appropriate action may be taken at the earliest," the CBDT said to the CBI. An anonymous information was received by the Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai, regarding bogus issuance of refunds in the case of Blitz Multimedia for assessment years (AY) 2007-08 and 2008-09. From the records, it was seen that the assessee, in its ITR, had mentioned the details of its bank account in the form of a current account with Central Bank of India, Mumbai Main Office. On November 13, 2019, an additional Saving Bank Account No 37759757340 with State Bank of India, Panvel in the name of SB Enterprises - a proprietary concern of an individual named Patil was added in the system and the funds were credited into it. It appears that the first fraudulent refund had been issued on November 13, 2019 Subsequently, this bank account was removed from the ITD system on July 8, 2021. The conspirators, with a view to give a semblance of authenticity to the fraudulent actions, generated dummy orders on the ITBA platform of the Income Tax Department. On January 20 this year, the matter was brought to the notice of Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Mumbai, and, in turn, the official brought the same to the notice of Member (Admin and Faceless Services), CBDT and also the Chairman, CBDT. The matter was also brought to the notice of DGIT, Investigation, Mumbai and on the basis of information gathered, a search was conducted u/s 132 of lT Act on the premises of Adhikari (Sr. Tax Assistant up to January, 2021), an Inspector of Income Tax, who had access to RSA Tokens and login credentials of his supervisory authorities including the Assessing Officer and the Additional CIT and has orchestrated the fraud in connivance with Patil and the refunds have been deposited in Patil's SBI saving account. During the search and seizure action under section 132 of the lT Act, Adhikari has claimed that a person named Rajesh Mathani working for Blitz Multimedia Pvt Ltd approached him and persuaded him to pass multiple orders giving credits of fictitious TDS to Blitz Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. and issue refunds fraudulently. However, contact details or whereabouts of Mathani have not been disclosed till now. lt is also learnt that an amount of about Rs 7.21 crore has been transferred from the SBI account of SB Enterprises to Lucknow in the name of Ashish Mehdiratta. Another ICICI Bank account in Ahmedabad in the name of Daywind Enterprises Pvt Ltd, has also been credited by transferring fund from the account of SB Enterprises. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the suspension of the 12 BJP MLAs by the Maharashtra Assembly, on July 5, 2021, for one year was "grossly irrational" and also violated basic democratic values. A bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari, and C.T. Ravikumar said: "Suspension beyond the remainder period of the ongoing Session would not only be grossly irrational measure, but also violative of basic democratic values owing to unessential deprivation of the member concerned and more importantly, the constituency would remain unrepresented in the Assembly." Justice Khanwilkar, who authored the judgment on behalf of the bench, said it would also impact the democratic setup as a whole by permitting the thin majority government (coalition government) of the day to manipulate the numbers of the opposition party in the House in an undemocratic manner. In a 90-page judgment, he said: "Not only that, the Opposition will not be able to effectively participate in the discussion/debate in the House owing to the constant fear of its members being suspended for longer period." The bench added that there would be no purposeful or meaningful debates but one in terrorem and as per the whims of the majority. "That would not be healthy for democracy as a whole," it said. The top court emphasised that a representative of a constituency cannot be kept away from the House in the guise of suspension beyond the necessary (rational) period linked to the ongoing Legislative Assembly session, including the timeline referred to in Article 190(4) of the Constitution and Section 151A of the 1951 Act. "Suspension beyond the Session would be bordering on punishing not only the member concerned, but also inevitably impact the legitimate rights of the constituency from where the member had been elected," said the bench. The top court said suspension for a long period and beyond the session of the House has the effect of creating a de facto vacancy though not a de jure vacancy. "The argument of the state that despite suspension from the House, the members would continue to discharge all other functions outside the House as an elected representative. This plea, in our view, is tenuous," said the top court. It had earlier said that one year suspension is worse than "expulsion", "disqualification" or "resignation" - insofar as the right of the constituency to be represented before the House/Assembly is concerned. A battery of senior advocates -- Mahesh Jethmalani, Mukul Rohatgi, Neeraj Kishan Kaul, and Siddharth Bhatnagar -- argued for the suspended legislators and were assisted by advocates Siddharth Dharmadhikari and Abhikalp Pratap Singh. On January 19, the top court reserved the verdict on petitions challenging the one-year suspension of the 12 BJP MLAs -- Ashish Shelar, Girish Mahajan, Atul Bhatkalkar, Jaykumar Rawal, Yogesh Sagar, Narayan Kuch, Abhimanyu Pawar, Sanjay Kute, Ram Satpute, Parag Alvani, Kirtikumar Bhangadiya and Harish Pimpale. New Delhi, Jan 28 : Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday asked the southern states to focus on the 5-fold strategy of 'Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and Adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour' along with effective surveillance of cases which is crucial for Covid management. Mandaviya reviewed the public health preparedness on Covid with state Health Ministers and senior health officials of eight southern states and UTs -- Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep in the presence of Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health on Friday. Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangaswamy was also present at the meet. The states and UTs were advised to keep a close watch on the emerging clusters and hotspots. States which have reported lower share of RT-PCR in Covid testing were advised to review the same. Adequate and timely testing will help in prompt identification of the infected cases and prevention of a sudden surge, they were told. "Mutual understanding, sharing best practices and collaborative spirit between the Centre and States have helped us in our fight against the pandemic," said the Health Minister, as he applauded the remarkable synergy between the Centre and the states during the video interaction with the states. "India's Covid-19 vaccination drive is a global success story, especially for such a populous country like ours," said Mandaviya. To give a further boost to the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive, we have now started the Precaution Dose and the vaccination for the 15-18 years age group from this month, he added. He noted that more than the projected requirements of doses of both vaccines were provided to the states and UTs. The Health Minister also advised the states to focus on ramping up opening of more tele-consultation centres as part of the Hub and Spoke Model for better public health management. "The tele-consultation centres will help us not only during Covid pandemic but also for non-Covid medical care," he said. While talking about the ECRP-II package under which the funds have been provided to states and UTs, and need to be utilised before March 31, Mandaviya said that while some states have expedited effective utilisation of the approved funds for health infra creation, other states may also review the physical and financial progress under ECRP-II and expedite the progress. He assured the states of all support from the Centre in their efforts for Covid response and management and urged them to provide data on time for efficient policy making. The State Health Ministers who joined the high level review meeting included K Sudhakar from Karnataka, Veena George from Kerala, Ma Subramaniam from Tamil Nadu and Thanneeru Harish Rao from Telangana. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Chandigarh, Jan 28 : In an apparent embarrassment for Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, his 'elder sister' Suman Tur on Friday described him a 'cruel' for deserting her elderly mother after father's death with an intention to 'grab family property'. She told the media here that Sidhu had abandoned her mother and she passed away on a railway station in 1989. In the run up to the assembly elections in Punjab when the race is 'hot' between Sidhu and his bete noire and Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi over the chief ministerial face, Sidhu's sister claimed her brother had 'forced' her and her mother to leave the house in 1986 to grab the property. Responding to the allegations, Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu told the media in Amritsar that Tur was Sidhu's step-sister. "I don't know her. His father had two daughters with his first wife. I don't know them," Navjot Kaur added. Mumbai, Jan 28 : Soon after the Supreme Court quashed the suspension of 12 Opposition legislators from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for one year, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) reacted cautiously while the Bharatiya Janata Party was euphoric, here on Friday. The Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress leaders termed the suspension as a decision of the legislature which had the power to take the action though the BJP said the apex court verdict was a 'tight slap' on the MVA government. "The Maharashtra Legislature has the power to suspend MLAs or, for that matter the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha can suspend MPs, it is well within their powers," said Sena MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut. The NCP's senior ministers -- State Party President Jayant Patil and National Spokesperson Nawab Malik -- said now it is an issue of the "jurisdictions of the court and the legislative bodies, concerning legislatures across the country and the Parliament". "The decision to suspend the legislators was of the Speaker and not the (MVA) government. The State Legislature Secretariat will study the order after which the Speaker would take a call in the matter," Malik added. Congress State President Nana Patole - himself an ex-Speaker - said that the Legislature Secretariat will first study the SC order and the powers of the legislature before proceeding further. Terming it as a "tight slap" on the MVA government, Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Devendra Fadnavis said it wasn't only a question of 12 legislators but of more than five million citizens in those 12 constituencies. "Right from the start, we have been saying that the suspensions were unconstitutional, unethical, unfair, undemocratic, illegal and gross misuse of the power to suspend our MLAs for such a long period (one year), without a valid reason, and to create an artificial majority. The SC has upheld our stance," Fadnavis said. Hitting back, Congress State Spokesperson Atul Londhe said the SC verdict was not a 'clean chit' and there was nothing for the BJP to indulge in celebrations like this. "They should read Pt. No. 74 in which the SC has raised concerns about the rough behaviour of MLAs, cautioned how the masses are watching everything, their actions in the House and raising commoners' issues. I don't understand why the BJP is thinking that they are exonerated from such behaviour, abusing the Chair, the public expectations and the Assembly," Londhe said in a sharp statement. Raut added that any decision in the matter will be taken by the Assembly Speaker, who had given his ruling on the suspensions at that time after a scuffle in his chamber. "I think it's his (Speaker's) right. Decisions are taken as per the laws and the Constitution. The suspended MLAs and their (BJP) party need to self-introspect," Raut pointed out. On July 5, 2021, during the Monsoon Session, 12 BJP MLAs were suspended for "misbehaving" and using "abusive language" vis-a-vis the then Presiding Officer Bhaskar Jadhav, during a discussion on OBC quotas in the House. The move to suspend the one dozen Opposition MLAs sparked off a massive furore and the party has been repeatedly raising the issue with the MVA to revoke the suspension. The legislators who were suspended are Ashish Shelar, Jaykumar Rawal, Atul Bhatkalkar, Parag Alvani, Girish Mahajan, Yogesh Sagar, Ram Satpute, Sanjay Kute, Abhimanyu Pawar, Shirish Pimple, Narayan Kuche, Kirtikumar Bagadia, and later Shelar, the BJP's chief whip moved the apex court in the matter. The BJP State President wondered whether the MVA government will go against the verdict of the 3-judge SC bench and urged them to comply with the orders. Invoking 'Satyameva Jayate', Fadnavis welcomed the 'historic' ruling by the apex court in this matter which would save democratic values as the 12 MLAs were fighting for the cause of the OBCs when they were suspended. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in) Jaipur, Jan 28 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said the district Superintendents of Police should play an effective role in strengthening the law and order situation up to the bottom level, and also ensure that every victim gets timely justice. He said that effective monitoring should be ensured up to the police check posts level to set an example of pro-active policing. The Chief Minister said this while addressing a meeting of Inspector General of Police and Superintendents of Police through video conference from his official residence on Friday. He said that it is a matter of satisfaction that after initiatives taken by the state government, there has been a significant reduction in the average time taken for disposal of cases in Pocso Act, crime against women, and SC/ST harassment cases. He said that the investigation time in rape cases was 211 days in the year 2018, which has come down to 86 days in 2021. The accused got punishment in 510 cases of Pocso Act in 2021 including death sentence in four cases and life sentence in 35 cases. Effective action must be ensured by police in such cases in the future also, he said. The Chief Minister said the superintendents of police should adopt innovations for effective prevention of cyber and economic crimes that are done by misuse of technology. The Crime Branch should conduct quality supervision of crimes and the senior officer should ensure fair investigation in the serious crimes by personally visiting the spot. Incidents of custodial death, rapes, juvenile crimes, atrocities against women etc., should be taken on priority, he said. The Chief Minster further said the media should be immediately apprised of the actual situation in such cases so that the law and order situation does not deteriorate. "There should be effective co-ordination between the Police Headquarters and social media teams in the districts." Chandigarh, Jan 28 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday demanded transfer of state intelligence officials, including the top brass, who face charges of compromising the security of Punjab and indulging in electoral malpractices to provide "illegal, illegitimate and immoral" help to the ruling Congress. Addressing the media here, Harcharan Bains, principal advisor to Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, said the party has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India, detailing how the state's intelligence wing was used by the Congress by placing it at the disposal of a private agency to illegally acquire inputs about prospective candidates of opposition parties and ways to threaten them to withdraw from the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled on February 20. He said SAD has given detailed account on the working of intelligence wing officials with the private agency, MovDekPOLITICO, in securing inputs. He said there are credible reports that the highest-ranked police officers of the state were asked to collaborate with the private company in intelligence gathering. Bains said the party has told the EC that the continued presence of these officers on active duty would make a "free and fair poll impossible". Apart from the fact that inaction on the part of the EC would bring its own role as an impartial authority under a 'thick cloud of suspicion', it will also embolden other officers and the entire government machinery to continue to help the ruling party, he said. "This is blatant misuse of power by the ruling party and may influence the outcome of the elections, which is against the spirit of free and fair polls and will deal a lethal blow to the democratic institutions as well as democracy itself," read the letter to the EC. Sydney, Jan 28 : Australia has recorded 35 cases of BA.2 -- a subvariant of the latest Omicron variant. The cases have been detected in Tasmania, ACT, Queensland, WA and Victoria, the Guardian reported. The country also recorded 98 deaths due to Covid-19. Of the new deaths, 39 were recorded in Victoria, 35 in NSW, 18 in Queensland, and one in the ACT. The previous one-day high was on January 21, when 88 deaths were recorded, the report said. The World Health Organization maintains that BA.2 is not a "variant of concern," meaning there is no current evidence to suggest this new subvariant will worsen Covid transmission, illness severity, or efficacy of vaccines and public health efforts like masking and social distancing. The subvariant BA.2, dubbed with the moniker "Stealth Omicron," is rising around the world with at least 40 countries reporting cases to a global variant tracking database. It has spread rapidly in Denmark and the UK, with almost half of recent cases in Denmark attributed to BA.2. According to India's National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the prevalence of Omicron sub-lineage BA.2 is gradually increasing in the country. Addressing a Health Ministry press briefing on Thursday, NCDC Director Sujeet Kumar Singh said that Omicron sub-variant BA.2 is more prevalent in comparison to the BA.1 variant in India now, adding that the BA.3 sub-variant has not been detected in India yet. BA.2 shares 32 mutations with the original Omicron, but BA.2 also has 28 mutations which are different, Seshadri Vasan, the Covid-19 project leader at the CSIRO, Australia was quoted as saying to ABC news. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Central government on Friday appointed V Anantha Nageswaran as the Chief Economic Advisor. Prior to this, Nageswaran has worked as a writer, author, teacher and consultant. He has taught at several business schools and institutes of management in India and in Singapore and has published extensively. He was also a part-time member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India from 2019 to 2021. He was the Dean of the IFMR Graduate School of Business and a distinguished Visiting Professor of Economics at Krea University. He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and a doctoral degree from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Nageswaran passed out with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in 1985. He obtained a doctoral degree in Finance from the University of Massachusetts in 1994 for his work on the empirical behaviour of exchange rates. Between 1994 and 2004, he worked for Union Bank of Switzerland (now UBS) and for Credit Suisse in Switzerland and in Singapore. In July 2006, he joined Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd. in Singapore as the Head of Research for Asia. In March 2009, he was appointed as the Chief Investment Officer for the bank, and has been consulting, writing and teaching since July 2011. Nageswaran has been an adjunct faculty with the Singapore Management University and with the Wealth Management Institute at the Nanyang Technological University, and is a co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of NPS International School, Singapore. He is a member of the Board of Directors of several companies in India, including TVS Logistics and Aparajitha Corporate Services (P) Limited. He was Dean, IFMR Graduate School of Business (Krea University) from October 2018 to December 2019. In October 2019, he was appointed as a part-time member to the Economic Advisory Council of the Prime Minister of India for a period of two years. He helped co-found Aavishkaar Venture Capital (Venture Capital Investor in Social Enterprises) and the Takshashila Institution (a public policy think-tank cum teaching institute). His co-authored books, 'Economics of Derivatives' and 'Derivatives' were published by the Cambridge University Press in March 2015 and October 2017 respectively. Another co-authored work, 'Can India grow?' has been published by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in November 2016. His recent book, "The Rise of Finance: Causes, Consequences and Cures" has been published in 2019 by Cambridge University Press. Gandhinagar, Jan 28 : Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi on Friday said that a Muslim cleric (Maulvi) provided the revolver and bullets to 30-year old Hindu youth Kishan Boliya Bharwad's murderers. He has since been arrested. On January 25, Kishan Boliya was shot dead by some persons who came on a bike on a public road in Dhandhuka. He had allegedly shared a blasphemous social media post which had angered some people. Sanghavi said, "It was shocking that a Maulvi gave a revolver and five bullets for the murder. Radicalization of youths is unacceptable. Putting my hand on the head of the 20 days old daughter of Kishan Bharwad, I vowed and assured the family of timely justice." "A 20-day-old innocent child's father Kishanbhai was brutally murdered. Ram Bapu, Zanzarka Gadi Pati, our district leaders, minister Kiritsinhji and other persons demanded that teams should be formed immediately to reach to the truth in this case. An urgent decision was made and action was taken within an hour. The Ahmedabad district police formed various teams and through them, the probe was initiated into all aspects of this case," informed the minister. "Some murders are done in anger, some murders are executed for revenge, but this murder is special. This murder is a case of conspiracy. When an in-depth probe was carried out, we received the details on why this murder case is special. The details surfaced how murders were motivated," added Sanghavi. "A revolver with which a 20-day-old child's father was killed was provided to the murderers by a Maulvi. Lakhs and crores of people like me are jointly marching ahead for the development of Gujarat. They are saddened to know that those people responsible for proper guidance, actually motivated the youths to commit a murder. The youths who committed the murder were quite young. Radicalization of youths is unacceptable. The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has nabbed the Maulvi responsible for this crime. The youths who committed the murder of Kishanbhai were given a revolver and five cartridges by this Maulvi," said Sanghavi. "Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, State party chief CR Paatil and other leaders have demanded that such cases must be investigated in a very serious manner and the Anti Terrorist Squad, Gujarat, Ahmedabad Crime Branch are probing it," added Sanghavi. The state government has asked the district police to appoint a Special Public Prosecutor if required. It has assured that it will rope in the best lawyers and give justice to the family of Kishanbhai. "We held a meeting with community leaders. They have thanked the Ahmedabad district police personnel who have not gone to their homes for the last three days. I promise you that I will ensure timely justice. I have talked to various community leaders and appealed to them to maintain peace so that the police can concentrate on the probe and its attention is not diverted elsewhere," Sanghavi said. Dhandhuka, Dhrangadhra, Surendranagar and many other towns in Saurashtra observed a strike and held protests over the murder of Kishan. Two people who executed the crime were nabbed earlier. A large rally was also held in Southern Gujarat town Navsari protesting the murder. Such protests were also reported from Vadodara. "It appears that this murder was part of a planned conspiracy. At times, people from different communities act out of rage and we sort out such acts of anger by counselling them. But this is totally different and radicalization of youths seems to be behind this," said Virendra Singh Yadav, Superintendent of Police, Ahmedabad (Rural). New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested three criminals belonging to the notorious Gogi gang, an official said here on Friday. The accused have been identified as Amit alias Commander, 32, a resident of Narela, Sunny, 30, a resident of Shahpur Jat, and Amit, 21, from Sonipat, Haryana. According to the official, a team of Special Cell was working to check the criminal activities of crime syndicates in Delhi-NCR. The team was gathering inputs regarding a gangster named Deepak alias Boxer, who manages the day-to-day activities of Gogi gang after the death of gang leader Jitender Singh Mann alias Gogi. Gogi was shot dead inside a courtroom in Delhi by two assailants of rival Tilu gang on September 24, 2021. On the intervening night of January 25-26, on the basis of specific information, a raid was conducted at Gautam Nagar, in which three armed accused were apprehended. During the operation, the police recovered one 9 mm pistol with three live rounds, one .32 bore pistol with four live rounds, and one .315 bore country-made pistol with one live round. "All three accused are currently in police custody and further investigation is underway," the official said. Kolkata, Jan 28 : A 45-year-old man was arrested by the police on Friday for allegedly beating four children inhumanly at Garbeta in West Midnapore district of West Bengal. The four children aged between 8 and 10 have been admitted to the hospital for treatment. According to the police, Rabiyal Khan, a local businessman, tied the children's legs and kicked and beat them with a thick bamboo stick. The children were forced to lie down on an open field. Khan later told the police that the children had stolen parts from his tractor. A video of the incident has gone viral which shows the man beating the four children with a bamboo stick. The wailing of the children could be heard in the video, but the man kept on beating them mercilessly. The video even shows that he pushed everyone away who came to stop him. "When we reached the spot, we found that all the children were bleeding but he (Khan) continued to assault them. We requested him to stop but he didn't bother to listen. We felt that if he continued in this way, our children would die. So we rushed to the police station and lodged a complaint. We are thankful that the police came to our rescue immediately and arrested Khan. The children were immediately taken to the hospital," Sukur Ali, the father of one of the victims, said. "We have arrested the man while the children have been taken to the primary health centre. The doctor informed us that they are fine and might be released on Saturday or the day after. The man will be produced before the court on Saturday," said an investigating officer. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Ministry of Finance on Friday granted additional borrowing permission of Rs 7,309 crore to Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh for undertaking stipulated reforms in the power sector. While Rajasthan has been allowed to borrow an additional Rs 5,186 crore, Andhra Pradesh has been allowed to borrow Rs 2,123 crore, as per the recommendation of the 15th Finance Commission. Apart from Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, nine other states -- Assam, Goa, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh -- have also submitted their proposals to the Ministry of Power, which are under examination. Additional borrowing permission will be issued to the eligible states on receipt of recommendation from the Ministry of Power. The Ministry of Finance has decided to grant additional borrowing space of up to 0.5 percent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) to the states every year for a four-year period from 2021-22 to 2024-25 based on the reforms undertaken by the states in the power sector. This was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech of 2021-22. This will make available additional resources of more than Rs 1 lakh crore every year to the states. In order to avail additional borrowing for power sector reforms, a state government has to undertake a set of mandatory reforms and also meet stipulated performance benchmarks. Once, the reforms have been undertaken by a state, its performance is evaluated on the basis of percentage of metered electricity consumption against total energy consumption, including agricultural connections, subsidy payment by direct benefit transfer (DBT) to consumers, payment of electricity bills by government departments and local bodies, installation of prepaid meters in government offices and use of innovations and innovative technologies. Atna, Jan 28 : Amid the ongoing tussle between the leaders of Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the latter has sent Union minister Bhupendra Yadav to Patna to assess the situation and take the feedback from leaders and ministers of the saffron party. The party has told every BJP minister to attend a meeting on Saturday and give their feedback on the functioning of the state government and the weightage they are gaining in it. Some sources have said that the ministers are not getting their due in the state government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of the JD(U). The bureaucrats in the ranks of principal secretary and chief secretary are reportedly creating hurdles in every key decision and not allowing the BJP ministers to dictate terms. The first meeting will be held on Saturday where two Deputy CMs, Tar Kishore Prasad and Renu Devi, and state BJP chief Sanjay Jaiswal will be present, among others. "The BJP leaders will discuss the issues on which they are having clashes with the leaders of JD(U)," said a source. "BJP and JD(U), despite running a coalition government in Bihar, have clashed with each other several times in the past. Issues like liquor ban, caste-based Census, depleting law and order situation in the state, farmers' issues etc. have brought the leaders of the two camps at loggerheads," he said. Yadav will also discuss the seat sharing formula for the MLC elections to 24 seats. The BJP has already announced a 50:50 seat sharing formula. Yadav will also meet Nitish Kumar on Saturday. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a chargesheet against eight accused persons in the ISIS Kerala terror module case. The accused have been identified as Deepthi Marla alias Maryam, Mohd Waqar Lone alias Wilson Kashmiri, Mizha Siddeeque, Shifa Haris alias Ayesha, Obaid Hamid Matta, Madesh Shankar alias Abdullah, Ammar Abdul Rahiman and Muzamil Hassan Bhat. The probe agency said that it had registered the case in March 2021 pertaining to terrorist activities of Mohammed Ameen alias Abu Yahya, a resident of Kerala, and his associates, who ran various ISIS propaganda channels on different social media platforms such as Telegram, Hoop and Instagram for propagating the violent Jihadi ideology of ISIS and radicalising and recruiting new members for the ISIS module. Earlier, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against three accused persons in the same case on September 8, 2021. The NIA said the investigation has revealed that all the eight accused persons chargesheeted on Friday were affiliated to ISIS. It further said the accused were involved in radicalising and recruiting people for ISIS, organising terror funds and grooming like-minded gullible Muslim youth using different secured social media platforms. Earlier on January 3, the NIA and Kerala Police in a joint operation had arrested woman ISIS operative, Mundadiguttu Sadananda Marla Deepthi Marla alias Maryam, a resident of Mangalore. During the course of investigation, the NIA found that after the decline of ISIS Caliphate in Syria and Iraq, Deepthi and Mohammed Ameen had visited Kashmir in January and March 2020 for religious migration. "But the real purpose of their visit was to get engaged in terrorist activities and supporting the activities of ISIS. Our investigation has also revealed that Deepthi was the kingpin of the ISIS conspiracy along with Mohd Ameen," an NIA official said. Jaipur, Jan 28 : The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has approved a budget of Rs 838.43 crore for a two-lane project on NH 162E connecting Charbhuja with Nichli Odan (Nathdwara) in Rajasthans Rajsamand district. With the approval of this project, the historic Kumbhalgarh Fort and Haldighati will be connected to Udaipur. Also, direct connection to many prominent religious sites will boost tourism in the region. Apart from this, travel for the general public will become easy and less expensive, said Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari, expressing her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, and other ministry officials for the budget approval. Earlier, the Centre had sanctioned Rs 722 crore for the Gomti to Beawar four-lane project. Mumbai, Jan 28 : The approvals required for setting up National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL) and India Debt Resolution Company (IDRCL), including from the RBI, have now been received, lending major SBI said on Friday. Accordingly, both the companies are ready to commence their business. In her Budget speech last year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the setting up of a 'bad bank', including an asset reconstruction company and asset management company, to take over the existing stressed debt of banks. Notably, a total of 38 accounts aggregating Rs 82,845 crore have been identified for transfer to NARCL. However, the transfer will happen in a phased manner. "Under Phase I, about 15 accounts, aggregating Rs 50,335 crore, are expected to be transferred in the current financial year, i.e., on or before March 31, 2022," SBI said in a statement. Besides, SBI said that IDRCL is expected to bring in superior resolution techniques, preserve the value, show-case brown field assets and attract domestic as well as foreign investors and alternate investment funds, among others. "This will maximise the value for all the stakeholders. This mechanism is also expected to free up capital for the lending banks for deployment," SBI said. According to the statement, both the companies have their respective boards in place, consisting of seasoned professionals from the market. "To start with, both companies are having their MD and CEOs on secondment basis. Padmakumar Nair, a chief general manager from SBI's stressed assets vertical, will manage NARCL, while Manish Makharia, head of alternate investment fund, SBI Funds Management Pvt Ltd, will be heading IDRCL," the statement said. "Subrata Biswas, the nominee director on the board of NARCL, will be the interim chairman, while Diwakar Gupta continues as the chairman of IDRCL," it added. Assam to launch Sadbhavana plan to offer fast administrative support to the people. Image Source: IANS News Assam to launch Sadbhavana plan to offer fast administrative support to the people. Image Source: IANS News Assam to launch Sadbhavana plan to offer fast administrative support to the people. Image Source: IANS News Guwahati, Jan 28 : The Assam government would launch a citizen-centric 'Sadbhavana plan on February 1 to provide prompt administrative support and clearances to people, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday. While appraising the government's objective to launch the plan, the Chief Minister during an interactive session said that the employees of the Assam civil secretariat will play an important role in making the plan a grand success. The civil secretariat is the epicentre of the state administration, he pointed out. To make the authorities a responsive administration, the Sadbhavana plan also envisages to dispose of old official files pending for several years, affecting the interest of the people. Emphasising that the citizens are an integral part of the state administration, Sarma said that the employees of the state government need to show their sensitivity to dispose of pending files. He also said that along with the plan, the state government would also introduce an e-office system. In sync with the project, the state government would launch 'Swacchata Abhiyan' in Janata Bhawan, which houses the Assam civil secretariat. New Delhi, Jan 28 : Delhi cabinet on Friday approved ex-gratia relief to farmers on Friday at the rate of Rs 20,000 per acre on account of loss due to unseasonal rains. Due to incessant rains and water logging of fields owing to overflow of nearby natural drains during September-October 2021 in Delhi, crops of farmers have been severely damaged, the Delhi government said in a release, adding that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had taken cognisance of the matter and assessed that a relief package for crop damage was necessary to be provided. The cabinet also approved the rates at which ex-gratia relief to farmers was to be paid as per assessment of the loss. The expenditure under the exercise will be about Rs 53 crore for an approximate area of 29,000 acre. "If the loss is assessed to be 70 per cent or less, compensation will be paid at the rate of 70 per cent. If the assessed loss is more than 70 per cent, compensation will be paid at the rate of 100 per cent," it further said. Upon directions of the Chief Minister, teams were sent to the ground to assess the damage done to the crops. The CM has given express orders to the teams to understand the needs of the farmers and assure that everyone gets justice.- Chennai, Jan 28 : Retired Tamil Nadu teacher K. Sivaprakasam cracked the NEET with the 349th rank, under the 7.5 per cent government school student quota, but was rejected on technical grounds. Officials said that Sivapraksam had completed the Pre University Course (PUC) system which was later abolished by the Tamil Nadu government and this led to his disqualification. The 61-year-old retired zoology teacher was undecided on taking the seat or not as his son advised him against it as it would mean a young aspirant would be deprived of the seat. Sivaprakasam was called for counselling on Friday under the government school student quota. There are 437 seats under the quota and Sivaprakasam would automatically have got the seat but for the PUC issue. Talking to IANS, he said: "I was in two minds on whether to take the seat or not as my son who is house surgeon at Kanyakumari Government Medical College had advised me not to take the seat as it would mean losing the opportunity of a young boy." He said that he always wanted a young boy to get the seat and that he was happy that he had cracked the NEET. Bengaluru, Jan 28 : Apart from being aware of the plight of the people, the present Karnataka government has humane conscience and is committed to serve the people, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Friday. Bommai was speaking after releasing a booklet -- 'Bhavya BhavishyakkagiABharavaseya Hejjegalu' -- at a function to mark the completion of six months of his government. "We are committed to work for the welfare of the people. Every decision we take is intended to address the plight of the people. I have the full cooperation of my Cabinet in taking these decisions," Bommai said. Development works to the tune of Rs 24,000 crore had been taken up amid the Covid crisis, he said, adding that crop loss compensation to farmers has been doubled. Sandhya Suraksha, Widow Pension and pension for the physically challenged has been increased, which benefited about 58 lakh people, reflecting the conscience of the state government, he said. The Raitha Vidya Nidhi programme has been launched to provide scholarships to students from farmers' families, benefiting about 4.50 lakh students. Children of construction workers too have been covered under the scholarship programme, Bommai said. "Our government's aim is to make the people stakeholders in development, not mere beneficiaries. Karnataka is in the fourth spot in terms of GDP, and only 30 per cent of the people are contributing to it. The remaining 70 per cent are toiling for their livelihood. Programmes for their economic empowerment have been formulated," he said. A secondary agriculture directorate is being established to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to double farmers' income, and opportunities are being created through dairy farming, sericulture and horticulture, he added. "It is the working class that drives economic growth. Work is worship, which is the motto of our government. Our policies are industry-friendly. It is a matter of pride that Karnataka is attracting 45 per cent of foreign direct investment in the country. Big boost is being given to ease of doing business and setting up startups, which in turn will spur GDP growth in the state," Bommai said. Medical infrastructure in the state has been ramped up during the second and third wave of Covid, he said. "Karnataka is the first state in the country to implement the New Education Policy. A thorough change is being affected in the field of education. Our objective is to ensure education, employment and empowerment for the backward, SC and ST communities," Bommai said. New Delhi, Jan 28 : The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) announced on Friday that it will observe January 31 as a 'Day of Betrayal across India with large-scale protest demonstrations at district and block levels. "All the farm unions associated with the Morcha will observe this protest with great fervour. It is expected that this programme will be organised in at least 500 districts of the country," SKM, a consortium of farmers' organisations, said in a statement after the meeting of its coordination committee. "In the protest demonstrations on January 31, a memorandum will also be submitted to the Union government. The preparation for this programme was reviewed during the meeting," the statement said. The SKM had taken a decision to this effect in its review meeting held on January 15. The farmers claimed that the government has handed them deceit. The farmers had agitated for more than a year, demanding repeal of the three contentious farm laws. After the agitation was called off following the government's decision to repeal the three farm laws, SKM had declared that the agitation could resume if the government fails to meet their other demands, prominent being legal backing for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all farmers. The anti-farmer stand of the government is evident from the fact that even after the meeting of SKM on January 15, the government did not fulfil any of the promises made in its letter dated December 9, 2021. "No action has been taken in the last two weeks on the promise of immediate withdrawal of cases filed against the protesters, or on compensation to the families of the martyrs (who died during the yearlong agitation). The government has not announced the formation of a committee on the issue of MSP either," SKM said, adding, "Therefore, the Morcha has called upon the farmers across the country to convey their anger to the government through the 'Day of Betrayal'." The SKM also made it clear that 'Mission Uttar Pradesh' will continue, through which "this anti-farmer regime will be taught a lesson". "A call will be made to the people of Uttar Pradesh to punish the Bhartiya Janata Party for not sacking and arresting Ajay Mishra Teni, whose son was allegedly involved in the tragic incident at Lakhimpur Khiri last year," the SKM statement said. To operationalise this campaign, a new phase of the mission will be announced through a press conference on February 3. Under this, a message to punish the BJP will be conveyed by all the organisations under SKM through literature distribution, press conference, social media, and public meetings throughout Uttar Pradesh. The first phase of voting for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections is to be held on February 10. The SKM reiterated that it fully endorses and supports the nationwide strike called by the Central Trade Unions on February 23 and 24 for issues such as the withdrawal of four anti-labour codes, as well as for MSP for farmers. The SKM also reiterated that the name, banner or platform of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha will not be used by any political party or candidate in the run-up to the Assembly polls in Punjab, scheduled on February 20. Patna, Jan 29 : The Bihar government has directed the teachers of government schools to keep an eye on the consumption of liquor, manufacturing units, smuggling, and provide information to the officials on the toll free numbers. Sanjay Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of Education Department of Bihar government has written a letter on Friday to deputy directors of all zones, district education officers, and district education officers of primary, middle and higher secondary schools of Bihar to implement the same in their respective jurisdictions. As per the directive, the principals, teachers, contract teachers and teachers of Madrasas to collect the information about consumption of liquor, manufacturing units, smuggling, transportation and other operations of mafias and informed on toll free numbers. "We have issued two cell phone numbers 9473400378 and 947300606 and toll free numbers 18003456268/15545 for them. We will keep the identity of teachers completely secret," Sanjay Kumar said. "We have also directed the teachers to not allow any person to use school premises for consuming liquor," he said. In the last 15 days, three major liquor-related incidents have taken place in Nalanda, Saran and Buxar districts. Amaravati, Jan 29 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has urged the Prime Minister to reconsider proposed changes in the IAS (Cadre) Rules, 1954 and retain the existing process of requiring the state NOC to officers going on Central deputation. Responding to the Central government's proposal to amend the rules, Reddy cited "practical issues" arising from implementation of the proposed changes to the rules pertaining to deputation of IAS officers. In his letter addressed to the Prime Minister on Friday, Reddy expressed reservations over certain clauses of the proposed amendment. As per one of the clauses, the Central government can override the state government in case of disagreement over deputing an IAS officer in the state. The Chief Minister observed that generally the state government issues a no objection certificate (NOC) to such requests after evaluating the officer's skill set and the state's requirements. However, the proposed amendment could jeopardise the state government's projects, he pointed out. "The proposed amendment may take away such an important flexibility from the state government to plan such deputation of officers. The state may have to immediately relieve an officer upon the orders of the Central government. And such untimely change in the leadership of a department/project in the state would derail some critical projects taken up by the state." Reddy also pointed out that such a move would have an adverse effect on the personal lives of IAS officers selected for deputation. "I would also like to bring to your kind consideration that such sudden deputation orders to an officer without his/her willingness will affect the personal lives of such officers, considering their families, children and their education, and he/she may not be able to deliver to their best in such circumstances." The Chief Ministers of neighbouring states like Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala have written to the Centre expressing their dissatisfaction with the proposed changes to the rules. Washington, Jan 29 : Ten people were injured after a bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh in US' Pennsylvania, on Friday morning, said officials. The injuries are all minor and not life-threatening, while three people were transported to the hospital, Xinhua news agency quoted Pittsburgh's fire chief Darryl Jones as saying. Four vehicles were on the bridge when it fell and the cause of the collapse is under investigation, Jones added. Ed Gainey, Mayor of Pittsburgh, revealed that the bridge over Hot Dog Dam Dog Park was last inspected in September. US President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Pittsburgh later in the day to discuss infrastructure. The White House said in a statement that Biden is aware of the incident and plans to proceed with his trip. "The President is grateful to the first responders who rushed to assist the drivers who were on the bridge at the time," the statement read. Emergency personnel responded to "a confirmed bridge collapse" near Forbes and Braddock avenues in east Pittsburgh early Friday morning, tweeted Pittsburgh Public Safety. The agency also reported a "gas line has been cut" after saying "there is a strong smell of natural gas in the area." Residents and motorists have been urged to avoid the area. More than 220,000 US bridges need major repair work or should be replaced, according to an analysis by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association analysis in 2021. That figure represents 36 percent, or more than one-third, of all US bridges. The states with the most serious or worse bridge conditions are Iowa, Oklahoma, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Louisiana, the study also showed. In a statement on Friday, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania John Fetterman called the collapse "the latest in a long line of preventable, man-made disasters." "Our infrastructure is failing our people. Our roads and bridges, which are supposed to connect us and bring us together, are increasingly putting us in danger," Fetterman bemoaned. We chose to partner with Southern HVAC because of the strong alignment with our company culture and values. We felt strongly this was the best choice for our customers and employees." Southern HVAC Corporation announced the acquisition of Assured Comfort Heating, Air & Plumbing (Assured or the Company) on Monday. The acquisition of Assured by Southern HVAC builds on their already established Cunningham Associates Heating & Air Conditioning brand servicing the northern Atlanta markets. For more than two decades, Assured has offered high-quality, award-winning plumbing, heating, and air conditioning services to homeowners in the greater Atlanta area. The Company will retain its iconic branding and exceptional customer service, while gaining access to industry-leading training, sales, marketing and operational resources. We are proud that Jerry Hall and the leadership team at Assured Comfort chose to partner with Southern. Assured has long been one of the highest quality service providers in all of metro Atlanta. The Companys customer first approach and brand recognition made it an excellent fit for the Southern HVAC family of brands, said Jarrod Brinker, Vice President of Acquisitions at Southern HVAC. Our goal is to grow the Assured brand throughout metro Atlanta while providing each employee with the tools and training needed to advance their careers. Customers can expect the same great service they have always enjoyed. We chose to partner with Southern HVAC because of the strong alignment with our company culture and values. We felt strongly this was the best choice for our customers and employees, said Jerry Hall, President of Assured Comfort. I look forward to the partnership and seeing the continued growth of the company. Atlanta area homeowners can learn more about Assured Comforts products and services through their website, http://www.assuredcomfort.com or by calling (770) 285-8529. Headquartered in Maitland, Florida, Southern HVAC operates heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical home service businesses in the United States. As part of the broader Southern HVAC team, Assured Comfort joins Southern HVACs family of fifteen other service brands across seven states. About Southern HVAC Since its inception in 2016, Southern HVAC Corporation has remained one of the home service industrys premier growth platforms driving both organic initiatives and an accretive acquisition strategy focused on industry-leading brands. For more information about Southern HVACs acquisition program, visit SouthernHVAC.com/acquisitions. We are delighted to be recognized by an organization of Metrigys standing, not least because it places emphasis on the measurable value gained by our customers investments, explained Thibaut Felgeres, CEO, Kurmi Software. Kurmi Software, the management platform for enterprise collaboration, has been recognized by leading research firm, Metrigy, as a MetriStar Top Provider for Contact Center Platform Management Tools. Metrigys MetriStar awards recognizes providers who are both highly rated by their customers, and whose customers have achieved measurable success for their investments. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the UC space over the past two years, with remote work creating new demands for communications platforms and collaboration tools. For contact centers reliant on maximum supervisor and agent availability to maintain the same level of customer experience (CX), the need to manage administration of users in a hybrid workplace has led to significant investment in methods to streamline UC processes. Based on data gathered from hundreds of CX leaders in North America, Western Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia, Metrigy has identified Kurmi Software as a technology provider whose contact center customers are achieving measurable success from their investments. With the worlds largest organizations relying on its solutions for simplified, smarter, and automated UC and contact center (CC) management, Kurmi Software is answering the call from enterprises challenged with handling user admin at scale. We are delighted to be recognized by an organization of Metrigys standing, not least because it places emphasis on the measurable value gained by our customers investments, explained Thibaut Felgeres, CEO, Kurmi Software. Contact centers have arguably undergone the biggest transformation over the past 24 months, and we are proud to have been able to ensure that our customers can continue provisioning employees wherever they are working without impacting customer experience or productivity. This award is validation of our approach to helping customers take charge of their collaboration solutions and get the most from their UC tools. Metrigy is an innovative research firm focusing on the rapidly changing areas of Unified Communications and Collaboration, digital workplace, and Customer Experience and Contact Center, along with several related technologies. The Metrigy MetriStar Top Provider Award for Contact Center Platforms selects six providers from a crowded field, with further information to be found here. About Kurmi Software Kurmi Software develops software solutions that automate, simplify and reduce the administration cost and time of Unified Communications and Collaboration services (telephony, videoconferencing, email and messaging, collaborative applications). Kurmi offers a powerful, user-centric software suite for simple, customizable, and ultra-scalable management of the markets leading Unified Communications platforms (Cisco, Avaya, Microsoft, Alcatel-Lucent, and others). Founded in 2011, with offices in New York, Montreal, Berlin, Rennes, Paris and Dubai, Kurmi Software supports global enterprises with a network of certified partners around the world. Contact Details TUVA Alex Brooks Alex.brooks@tuvapartners.com The idea is simple - live local, support local, provide local, said Murray. In 2021, MurLarkey CEO Thomas Murray unveiled the Farm To Flask Initiative: a corporate mandate to reduce environmental impact while supporting local trade partners wherever possible across all aspects of business, including raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, shipping, and sales channels and trade. Within the past year, great progress has been made in the following areas: Hyper-local focus on sourcing raw materials from sustainable growers/providers in Virginia MurLarkeys corn and grain is now 100% VA-based Re-use of manufacturing byproducts as feed and fertilizer by providing it free to area farmers Use of regionally made US glass New, re-engineered, eco-friendly packaging for MurLarkeys Bootleg Boys RTD line to further reduce carbon footprint Implementing and leveraging smart-technology in an e-commerce wholesale portal environment to provide frictionless order placement and fulfillment, significantly improving shipping logistics and helping reduce gas emissions Supporting accounts and local economies by promulgating the Buy Local message The idea is simple - live local, support local, provide local, said Murray. I think the recent COVID experience and now the supply chain issues woke many companies up to the fact that we are all in this together and must be cognizant of not just the environmental impact, but also the socio-economic impact we now face in many localities. MurLarkey has always strived to be a socially and environmentally conscious leader in our space. From our fundraising contributions to such organizations as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, to our humanitarian contributions in providing free hand sanitizer to local residents and families in the early days of the pandemic, this initiative illustrates our core values and demonstrates our continued commitment to our business practices, by contributing to sustainable environmental, social, community and economic development. MurLarkey will continue to look for ways to support local and reduce its environmental impact as part of the MurLarkey Farm To Flask Initiative in 2022 and beyond. For more information, visit: http://www.murlarkey.com About MurLarkey Since 2014, MurLarkey has challenged convention, producing a broad array of award-winning, internationally acclaimed, premium, handcrafted spirits and RTDs, taking home multiple gold medals at San Francisco World Spirits Competition, New York International, American Distilling Institute and San Diego to name a few. MurLarkey was recognized as the #4 distillery in the U.S. in Travel & Leisures The 25 Best Distilleries in the US. The distillery is open to the public Thursday 10am to 5pm, Friday 10am to 6pm, and Saturday 1pm to 6pm as well as Monday through Wednesday by appointment. Follow MurLarkey Distilled Spirits on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @murlarkey. For more information about MurLarkey, products, or press-ready photos, contact: mailto:josh@murlarkey.com [josh@murlarkey.com __title__ null]. Starting with a meager 23-gallon copper still, second generation Irish-American cousins Tom Murray and Mike and Jim Larkin, along with a small team of family and friends, began distilling high-quality, small-batch spirits. Using only the finest, all-natural ingredients, MurLarkey spirits are produced to uncompromising standards. Distilled to perfection, packaged with pride and delivered with cheer, MurLarkey embodies the Founders heritage, culture and love for life. MurLarkey is an American Distilling Institute (ADI) Certified Craft Distilled Spirit producer. For more information, visit http://www.murlarkey.com. Joseph Everette Williams Jr., the fifth of seven children raised in a small community in rural Mississippi who attended neighborhood schools in the integration era, has completed his new book One with God: A Tool for Understanding and Practical Application: a thought-provoking workbook and guide for spiritual health. One with God provides insight into the understanding that we are more than work, money, and our five senses. If we are only using the physical or the material side of our power to be, do, and have, we are working with only half of our strength. One with God: A Tool for Understanding and Practical Application is for thinking people working through conscious actions within the physical laws of nature, to control their surroundings, to overcome difficulties, to be, do, and have health, wealth, and long life. Published by Page Publishing, Joseph Everette Williams Jr.s engrossing book is an intriguing choice for avid self-help readers. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase One with God: A Tool for Understanding and Practical Application at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com Kentlin Hopkins, a Brooklyn-born writer presently living in Florida with his fiance, Wanda, has completed his new book The Black Widow: a gripping and potent literary debut that keeps the pages turning until the dramatic conclusion. I found the bartender, and I took her statement. Jill her name was. Jill told me that every night, these guys would show up at around the same time, have a lot of drinks, do a lot of gambling, and then they would do a whole lot of fighting. Tonight, they had been gam- bling at the pool table. The guy laid out on the table, Shawn Davis, had done all of the losing, and then he had done all of the fighting in an attempt to avoid paying his bill. That did not work out too well for him, because he was now laid out on the pool table with his head split open and half of a pool stick protruding off his neck. Yeah, I would definitely say that tonight was not his night. We do not have to look too far for the killer. In fact, he was in the back seat of one of the police cruisers at this very moment, being escorted down to the precinct to be booked for murder. So this is what has given me the opportunity to be rushing to get to my house and make an attempt at getting a good nights rest. Oh yeah, I love my job. Published by Page Publishing, Kentlin Hopkins engrossing book is an entertaining choice for avid crime fiction readers. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase The Black Widow at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Kerry Elmore, an Alabama native, has completed his new book A Jackal at Bay: a thrilling tale of murder mischarged. Elmore shares, In the days before the internet and social media, corrupt authorities in a small Southern town were determined to make an arrest for a capital murderany arrest. This miscarriage of justice propelled a young man to find the courage to mount a desperate search for the one thing that would save his lifethe truth. Follow Kerry Elmore as he pursues the truth. To fail would mean death. Published by Page Publishing, Kerry Elmores gripping work is born of his many experiences and exposes corruption in a small southern town. Readers who wish to experience this chilling work can purchase A Jackal at Bay at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Richard Lippard, a US military veteran who served in the Air Force from 1964 to 1968, a 1971 graduate of the University of Denver, and married father of four grown children presently residing in Lakewood, Colorado, has completed his new book The Abductors: Murder on the High Plains: a gripping and potent thriller that keeps the pages turning until the stunning conclusion. When people are found murdered and others begin to disappear in Sunland, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, the FBI calls in John Burton and Sally Martin. People have been disappearing at an alarming rate. No trace of the missing people has been found, no clues are forthcoming, and there are no hints of foul play. They justdisappear. With nothing to go on, John and Sally must find the missing link, the common denominator, even as the numbers grow. Coupled with this, a former member of Johns Special Forces unit, whom John had transferred out of his unit back in Vietnam for conduct unbecoming, must aid them in their search. The man is now the chief of police in Sunland Park. Roger Haskell is not happy to see his former squad leader, and the resentment grows while the two men are forced to work together. As the numbers grow and the dead bodies increase, John and Sally must use all their wits and all their knowledge to stop whoever is responsible. Published by Page Publishing, Richard Lippards engrossing book is a superb choice for avid crime fiction readers. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase The Abductors: Murder on the High Plains at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com As it finished its last lap of 2021, Big Blue Swim School one of the nations fastest-growing swim school franchises opened four new locations, signed 13 leases, and awarded 82 units to eight new franchise partners for the year. Those deals included a partnership with Olympic gold medal swimmer Peter Vanderkaay and his brother, NCAA champion swimmer, Alex Vanderkaay, with a four-location deal in Detroit, a nine unit deal with Gary Cohen to develop stores across Boston, and a 21-store deal with Austin C. Smith to open locations in Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. In 2022, the brand will leverage that momentum for its biggest development year yet, planning to sign agreements for another 39 units while building out its pipeline of 201 locations to open over the next several years. Big Blue CEO Scott Sanders acknowledges that signing for 201 locations within three years of launching franchising is a validation of the brands proven business model, strong franchise partner support, exceptional consumer offering, and the unprecedented execution of its proprietary enterprise technology to parents and franchise owners alike. "Big Blue continues to garner interest from smart investors because it is a business opportunity that is recession-resistant, filling retail spaces that landlords are desperate to fill, Sanders said. Big Blue not only makes a difference in the lives of thousands of kids each year, but we also provide families with a vital life skill that cannot be automated or taught virtually. We expect to continue to thrive as we fill the white space in these markets that are swim school deserts. As the company gears up for an aggressive 2022 new-location opening schedule, Big Blues corporate team also announced the promotion of Brooke Mallick from vice president of marketing to chief marketing officer in 2021, to aid its franchise partners in their local marketing efforts. Mallicks wealth of marketing expertise allows the brand to implement a data-driven method to elevate local marketing for each pool, which in turn helps franchise partners engage in a strong marketing platform from the start. There are many data sources we use to triangulate information about how our paid media and email campaigns are performing and what we can do to drive more efficient and effective campaigns, Mallick said. But the most important tool we have at our disposal is our massive database of historical customer information from our proprietary enterprise system, LessonBuddy. With that data, we better understand and leverage knowledge of past customer behavior to drive future results in a way that separates us from the competition. One set of franchise partners who experienced a strong opening in 2021, largely in part to Big Blues new pool opening marketing strategy, are Wendy and Erik Skaalerud who brought Big Blue to Centennial, Colorado. There, they debuted the brands first location in the state and broke Big Blues record for pre-registrations as hundreds of families eagerly signed their children up for swim lessons. Sanders sees the successful launch of the Centennial location as a confirmation that the brands real estate and new pool opening strategy works. Our ability to determine the right locations with excellent drive-by traffic and demographics that align perfectly with our brand is the result of the exhaustive research we put in before every launch, Sanders said. That strategy complements our robust new pool opening plan that our marketing team executes to support our franchise partners so they experience strong enrollment before they even open their doors. This year, the brand plans to open locations in Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Miami, St. Louis, Dallas, Los Angeles, Fairfax, Va., Watchung, N.J., and Paramus, N.J. Were excited about the pace of the growth were experiencing, Sanders said. And were also thrilled by the reception we are receiving across the country. Were not just opening swim schools, were helping children build life-saving skills and boosting their confidence at the same time by showing them they can do anything by unlocking their full potential in the water. Thats extremely rewarding for us, and for our franchise partners. The brand is actively looking for qualified franchise partners to develop in several other key markets across the country, including Kansas City, San Jose, Raleigh, Cleveland, Seattle, Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay, among others. The total investment to start a new Big Blue Swim School is $2,334,223 to $3,641,998. To learn more about Big Blue Swim School franchise opportunities, visit https://bigblueswimschool.com/franchising/. ABOUT BIG BLUE SWIM SCHOOL Big Blue Swim School was founded in 2009 by competitive swimmer Chris DeJong. The first location opened in Wilmette, Illinois, followed by four additional Chicagoland schools. In 2017, Level 5 Capital Partners acquired a stake in the brand, and pools are now open in Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and Northern Virginia. Big Blue is currently growing through franchising with plans to have a minimum of 240 pools sold by the end of 2022. Big Blue Swim School's real estate expertise, strong brand, proprietary technology, and leadership support, coupled with its best-in-class consumer offerings, position its franchise partners for long-term success. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Big Blue Swim School, visit http://YourBigMomentStartsHere.com. Dele Health Tech, the leader in Data Fusion Fall Technology, announced that Carefield Living (Solana Beach, CA), has selected Dele Health Techs intelligent platform for their fall management solution. We wanted a solution that was rooted in technology and that would tell us in real time that a resident had fallen. Deles dignified technology and Smart Alerts approach takes the guesswork out of falls. Now, we know who has fallen and we know it in real time, so we can help our residents immediately, said Breck Austin, Chief Operating Officer at Carefield Living. The combination of advanced software and in-apartment sensor devices provides fast, accurate Fall Detection, Fall Prediction, and Fall Protection. One of the benefits we loved most about the solution is that it detects falls without being intrusive. There are no cameras. Our residents dont want anyone watching them on video. With this solution from Dele Health Tech, our team, our residents and their families feel protected, all while maintaining privacy, added Austin. Carefield Living is a tech-focused, senior living leader in the U.S. We are excited to welcome them into the Dele Health Tech family, and are looking forward to leading the fall movement with a resident-first, privacy focused solution, said Delaine Blazek, Chief Commercial Officer, Dele Health Tech. Carefield Living is also seeing other benefits of Deles dignified technology approach, including being a significant differentiator among other older adult communities in their geographies. The detection and predictability of the Dele Health Tech solution allows our residents to feel empowered, safe, and helps improve their overall quality of life. Not many senior living communities can say that. This will also have a significant impact on maximizing our occupancy rates, added Austin. The caregiving team at Carefield Living will be able to use the platform to receive real-time Smart Fall Alerts within seconds, said Dele's staff gerontologist, Dr. Lydia Manning. Every minute matters when a resident has fallen. The Dele Predict solution creates predictive correlations by combining sensor data with other data streams from platforms such as Electronic Health Records (EHR). This will allow Carefield Living to develop individual fall risk profiles - providing caregivers with actionable and individual insights about resident fall risks. ABOUT DELE HEALTH TECH Dele Health Tech (DELE) is revolutionizing healthcare with innovative data fusion for dignified fall management. Founded in Norway and operating in the US and Europe, the companys AI-based solution fuses sensor data with electronic health record data to provide innovative fall detection with accuracy and speed, seamless nurse call integration, personalized fall prediction, and commercially viable scalability for multiple healthcare and senior living scenarios. How the Bird Got His Song: an inspiring tale of the gifts God provides. How the Bird Got His Song is the creation of published author Darla Martin, a loving wife and mother with three beloved grandchildren. Martin shares, Toby is a hardworking bird with lots of friends. He keeps busy with the work that God has for him, but he is wondering what else can be done. There has got to be more to life than just flying around delivering messages all day. Yes, he loves his work, and he loves spending time with God. But there has to be more to do, something that will make everyone happy and give joy to God. What can he do? Well, he thought he would just ask some friends; they will know what to do. Yeah, his best buds Jacob and David are pretty smart. They will have an idea. Or maybe not. Toby thought and thought and finally decided to talk to God; maybe he will have an idea. Toby was thrilled when God knew just what to do. He should have thought of that in the first place. Sing? Really. Okay, well, here it goesYes, its amazing! Yes, I will share my new gift with everyone. God has a plan for each and every one of us, and sometimes, it takes time to figure out what our plan is. Sometimes we wonder if we will ever have our own purpose, and sometimes we go through life and walk right past our purpose because we think we are not good enough or too good to do what God wants us to do. We are all a part of Gods plan, and no matter how little or small, it is all important. Without the feet, we couldnt get anywhere; without the hands, we couldnt pick up a pencil; without our thumbs, its really hard to write; and without our voice, we couldnt tell others about God and his love for each and every one of us. No matter how big or small, we are all children of God, and we are all important to him. John 3:16 says For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Yes, even you. So sing, write, or help a neighbor in need, and God will bless you. Amen. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Darla Martins new book will encourage young readers in their faith. Consumers can purchase How the Bird Got His Song at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about How the Bird Got His Song, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. 2022 Hyundai Elantra in stock at Dickson City Hyundai Dickson City Hyundai, an automotive dealership in Scranton, Pennsylvania, has welcomed the 2022 Hyundai Elantra to its inventory. The 2022 Elantra has a roomy cabin and a stylish exterior. It comes in SE, SEL, N Line, Limited, Hybrid Blue, and Hybrid Limited trim levels. The 2022 Hyundai Elantra has three engine options- first is a 2.0-liter Inline 4-cylinder engine that generates 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet torque. A 1.6-liter turbocharged Inline-4 is another engine option that churns out 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. A 2.0-liter Inline-4 is also available that delivers 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. Inside the 2022 Hyundai Elantra is a spacious and feature-packed cabin so that the driver feels confident while handling the vehicle. Seats are comfortable and contribute to the convenience quotient for customers. The cockpit is beautifully designed so that the driver can easily access all the information and focus on driving. 2022 Hyundai Elantra has an 8.0-inch center display and an optional 10.3-inch digital gauge display to connect and entertain passengers during long journeys. Individuals who want to learn more about the 2022 Hyundai Elantra can schedule a test drive from the Dickson City Hyundai website. To get more information, customers can contact the dealership at 570-487-5000. The dealership has qualified technicians who provide maintenance and repair services. Interested shoppers can browse the dealership's online inventory or visit the showroom at 1519 Scranton Carbondale Highway, Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Flickering Storms, Life Support, Heavens Door and Back: a potent reminder of the strength one can draw from devoted faith. The Flickering Storms, Life Support, Heavens Door and Back is the creation of published author Ella Glover, RN, a graduate of Germanna Community College in Culpeper, Virginia, with an Associate in Applied Science degree. She is married to the love of her life, a retired US Army officer. They have two sons, six grandchildren, and one special dog. Glover shares, This book was written to inform readers, Christians, and non-Christians alike, about how the Lord will go before you in times of grave illness, turmoil, and diseases. Hell always see you through the thick and thin of everything. If life has knocked you down with storm after storm, get ready to pick yourself back up and give your problems, illnesses, trials, and tribulations to the Lord. Build a relationship with God through His word. God is on top of the mountain and in the valley. God is a waymaker, a healer, a miracle worker, a promise keeper, and the light in darkness. Have faith in God, no matter what, and trust His word always. Listen for His soft voice. Hell never stir you wrong. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, said the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an unexpected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearten unto you. (Jeremiah 29:1112 KJV) Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Ella Glover, RNs new book will empower and encourage others in their relationship with God. Glover pairs personal reflection and insight with relevant scripture to encourage others to develop and nurture a strong connection with God. Consumers can purchase The Flickering Storms, Life Support, Heavens Door and Back at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about The Flickering Storms, Life Support, Heavens Door and Back, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Rapidly-deployable Mobile Cleanroom for Advanced Therapies Our mobile platform supports decentralized models, which will also allow the industry to democratize these therapies globally A first of its kind, mobile platform for cell and gene therapy was introduced this week by Germfree Labs, a Florida company, at Advanced Therapies Week in Miami Beach. The new bioGO cGMP Mobile Cleanroom solves complex logistical challenges facing the CGT (cell and gene therapy) industry. The flexible bioprocessing platform was designed by Germfree in response to critical constraints in the development, manufacturing and delivery of new and emerging curative therapies. Germfrees biomanufacturing platform addresses current industry needs, while de-risking and future-proofing for a rapidly evolving industry. The industry is delivering on the promise of cell and gene therapeutics with rapid development and growth. New patient care requirements are a key consideration, adding a sense of urgency. The precise timing and logistics of collecting a patients cells may not work in a centralized model. Our mobile platform supports decentralized models, which will also allow the industry to democratize these therapies globally said Carol Houts, VP of Business Development. The bioGO mobile platform supports the scale-out process by using standard, proven cGMP facility designs that are pre-commissioned and pre-qualified, significantly shortening the time to process readiness. Process spaces can also be reconfigured or interconnected to add bioGO units, for a larger facility. We are delivering fast, flexible and cost-effective infrastructure, previously not available, said Kevin Kyle, CEO of Germfree. The extremely high cost of clinical trials, was also a consideration when rolling out bioGO. The adaptive infrastructure and financial model can promote development by reducing early financial obstacles. Fast, flexible space allows clinical trials to start when needed. A trial can become operational, pivot or scale without traditional capital building expenditures. We looked at the main drivers that are important to our clients and patients. Germfrees bioGO Mobile Cleanrooms will be an impactful solution in overcoming many of the challenges the industry is facing, said Kevin Kyle. About Germfree: Germfree Laboratories Inc. creates environments that serve life science innovation and advance global health. The company, founded in 1962, designs, engineers and manufactures flexible cGMP-compliant cleanroom facilities and mobile units, as well as high containment laboratories, which are process-ready, upon deployment. "I highly recommend George and his team when considering selling. I also want to extend a sincere thank you to my dedicated staff and customers who have become like family to me. Hot Metal Harley-Davidson will always hold a special place in my heart. Toby O'Brien Performance Brokerage Services, North Americas highest volume dealership brokerage firm, is pleased to announce the retirement closure and sale of Hot Metal Harley-Davidson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from Toby OBrien to George Gatto of Three Rivers Harley-Davidson, Pokey Weiss of Steel City Harley-Davidson, and Jim McMahan of Z & M Harley-Davidson. The dealership was established in 1964 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania as Harley-Davidson Motors. After moving several times, with many name changes, Hot Metal Harley-Davidson finally made its home at the Frito-Lay distribution center on Route 885 in West Mifflin where it operated since 2004. When Toby OBrien acquired the dealership, he and General Manager, Lori Flanigan, knew that the dealership would need a much different approach to reshape its future. An immediate staffing overhaul, systems upgrade, and regeneration of the service department was just the beginning. Toby went on to redesign and modernize the interior, and most importantly, the philosophy of the dealership. Hot Metal Harley-Davidson became known for their family values and their committed and hard-working staff who have a passion for motorcycles. Their mission statement was, We fulfill dreams through the experience of motorcycle riding, by providing enthusiasts a legendary selection of motorcycles, branded products, and world-class service that is personal. In dealings with customers, suppliers, and employees, Hot Metal Harley-Davidson was committed to promoting absolute integrity through honesty, fairness, dedication, loyalty, and passion, and the enrichment of the community through leadership by participation in civic and charitable endeavors. Following the sale, OBrien commented, I have known George Chaconas of Performance Brokerage Services for many years and had finally made a decision to sell my Harley-Davidson dealership and hire George and his team. George was able to identify multiple buyers, but ultimately, we negotiated a buy-sell with the Verackas. Unfortunately, Harley-Davidson Motor Company decided to exercise their Right of First Refusal and assign the Asset Purchase Agreement to the three surrounding dealers and close the location. With a very heavy heart, it was not what I had intended for my legacy of 18 years as a dealer, my amazing staff, and loyal customers. I am hopeful that my employees will be able to get jobs at the surrounding dealerships and that my customers will get the exceptional customer service that they have grown accustomed to. Hot Metal Harley-Davidson has been a huge part of my life, and this was not an easy situation to go through. I appreciate George Chaconas and his Associate, Courtney Bernhard, for helping me navigate this very difficult, challenging, and emotional situation for myself and my family. I highly recommend George and his team when considering selling. I also want to extend a sincere thank you to my dedicated staff and customers who have become like family to me. Hot Metal Harley-Davidson will always hold a special place in my heart. Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of over 250 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. In 2021, the company consummated over 72 transactions, marking a record-breaking year. George C. Chaconas, the exclusive advisor for this transaction and the head of the National Harley-Davidson and Powersports Division for Performance Brokerage Services commented, I had the pleasure of meeting Toby at the Harley-Davidson Dealer Show in Boston over 5 years ago, and we have since developed a friendship. We recently started talking about his exit strategy since he didnt have a succession plan. While we spoke to multiple prospects, we ultimately negotiated an attractive purchase with the Verackas. Harley-Davidson Motor Company exercised their Right of First Refusal, assigning the purchase contract to the three surrounding dealers to consolidate the market. I wish Toby and his family the best and much continued success to the surrounding dealers. The dealership closed its doors, and its customers will now be served by Three Rivers Harley-Davidson in Glenshaw, Steel City Harley-Davidson in Washington, and Z & M Harley-Davidson in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The seller was represented by Joshua M. Farber of Clark Hill PLC. The buyer was represented by William R. Lauer of Allegheny Capital, LLC. About Performance Brokerage Services Performance Brokerage Services, Inc. is the nations highest volume dealership brokerage firm, specializing in buy-sell activity for automotive, commercial truck, motorcycle, RV and equipment dealerships. With over 25 years of experience, 700 dealerships sold and a 90% closing rate, the companys reputation is unmatched and governed by the utmost ethical conduct and integrity. The company offers a unique approach by providing complimentary estimates of value with no upfront fees, no reimbursement of costs and paid a success fee after the transaction closes. Headquartered in Irvine, California, and supported by 5 regional offices in Utah, Florida, Texas, Virginia and New Jersey, clients benefit from national exposure with local representation. As trusted and respected experts in the field, the company utilizes an extensive network of industry related attorneys, accountants, hundreds of registered buyers, and longstanding relationships with most of the auto manufacturers. For more information about the services offered by Performance Brokerage Services, visit https://performancebrokerageservices.com. If you would like to know more about the Constellation Brands, Inc. lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland K. Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. The Northern California labor law attorneys at Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC, filed a class action complaint against Constellation Brands, Inc., TPWC, Inc., Robert Mondavi Winery, Constellation Brands U.S. Operations, Inc., Franciscan Vineyards, Inc., and Constellation Wines U.S., Inc. (collectively, "Defendants"), for allegedly failing to provide meal and rest breaks. The class action lawsuit, Case No. 22CV000006, is currently pending in the Napa County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. According to the lawsuit, Defendants allegedly violated California Labor Code Sections 201, 202, 203, 204, 226, 226.7, 246, 510, 512, 558, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802 by failing to: (1) pay minimum wages; (2) pay overtime wages; (3) provide required meal and rest periods; (4) provide accurate itemized wage statements; (5) provide wages when due; (6) reimburse employees for required business expenses; and (7) provide sick pay. As a result of their rigorous work schedules, Defendants' employees were allegedly unable to take off duty meal breaks and were not fully relieved of duty for meal periods. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges employees were from time to time interrupted during their off-duty meal breaks to complete tasks for Defendants. Employees were allegedly required to perform work as ordered by Defendants for more than five (5) hours during a shift without receiving an off-duty meal break. Further, the lawsuit alleges Defendants failed to provide employees with a second off-duty meal period each workday in which these employees were required by Defendants to work ten (10) hours of work. Defendants' policy allegedly caused employees to remain on-call and on-duty during what was supposed to be their off-duty meal periods. Employees therefore allegedly forfeited meal breaks without additional compensation and in accordance with Defendants' strict corporate policy and practice. If you would like to know more about the lawsuit, please contact Attorney Jackland K. Hom today by calling (619) 255-9047. Zakay Law Group, APLC and JCL Law Firm, APC are labor and employment law firms with offices located in California that dedicate their practices to fighting for employees who have been wronged by their employers due to unfair employment practices. Contact one of their attorneys today if you need help with workplace issues regarding wage and hour, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, and harassment. -THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT- "Our personal injury lawyers are here to provide personalized service and a commitment to seeking the highest amount of compensation for our Orlando clients, says Attorney Keith Ligori. Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law is an established personal injury law firm based in Tampa, Florida. They are pleased to announce the opening of a new office location at 1515 South Orange Avenue in Orlando, Florida. The legal team at Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law has been fighting for their fellow Floridians that are injury victims of negligent actions since 2003, with multiple offices in Florida, including the newest Orlando location. Keith Ligori, Meaghann Ligori and the rest of Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Laws legal team have extensive experience and understanding of the complex injury laws that protect victims from negligent actions. When an injury is caused by anothers negligence or an injury could have been avoided using reasonable measures, clients depend on Ligori & Ligori to defend and protect their rights and to secure compensation for their injury. The practice areas at Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law include car, truck and motorcycle accidents, aviation and auto accidents, assault and shooting injury attacks, dog bites, wrongful death, product liability injuries, nursing home abuse and neglect, catastrophic injuries and workers compensation. The team at Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law has decades of combined legal experience working on all types of personal injury cases and securing millions of dollars in compensation for clients. Clients only pay if they win their legal claim, so there is no risk for injured parties to consult with Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law in Orlando to determine eligibility to pursue compensation. Our personal injury lawyers are here to provide personalized service and a commitment to seeking the highest amount of compensation for our Orlando clients, says Attorney Keith Ligori. More About Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law: Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law has offices in Tampa, Lakeland, Key West, Ocala and now Orlando Florida, serving clients needing legal help in acquiring compensation for their injuries. They handle a wide variety of personal injury and insurance claims, including those involving auto accidents, truck accidents, property damage, storm damage, wrongful death, negligence and more. The practice was established with a mission to provide personalized attention for your personal injury while leveraging resources and experience to help clients obtain fair compensation for a loss. For more information about the legal services offered at Ligori & Ligori Attorneys at Law, please visit http://www.callmeonmycell.com, or call the Orlando office directly at (407) 837-4357. Alexander Clemons, JD, and Robert McSorley, JD, are unique among Ocean Tomo's testifying experts. Ocean Tomo announces the appointment of Alexander Clemons, JD, MBA, and Robert McSorley, JD, CPA, to Managing Directors in the Intellectual Property Disputes financial damages and related expert testimony practice. Ocean Tomo Chief Executive James E. Malackowski has worked alongside Alex and Bob on many cases, including: Centripetal Networks, Inc. v Cisco Sytems, Inc. Motorola Solutions, Inc. and Motorola Solutions Malaysia SDN. BHD v Hytera Communications Corporation Ltd., Hytera America, Inc and Hytera Communications America (West), Inc. Securitypoint Holdings, LLC, v The United States of America Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and the University of Chicago v. 10X Genomics, Inc Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. V Verizon Communications, Inc., et al Unique among Ocean Tomos other testifying experts, Alex and Bob hold a JD. Jim observes, this background best positions them to understand, anticipate and discuss with counsel the ever-changing legal landscape surrounding damages proof requirements while developing innovative solutions to the most challenging damages issues. Mr. Clemons joined Ocean Tomo in 2013, where he has worked for nine years in the IP disputes and financial damages space. His work includes a wide variety of IP assets, dispute types, and industries, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, telecommunications, semiconductors, consumer electronics, smartphones, software, e-commerce, and the automotive industry. He is routinely engaged in patent infringement cases involving lost profits and reasonable royalties, trade secret misappropriation damages, copyright infringement damages, breach of contract damages, and contract interpretations cases. Mr. Clemons has been engaged as an expert in matters related to damages in patent, trade secret, copyright litigation, and breach of contract cases where he has provided financial damages deposition testimony. Prior to joining Ocean Tomo, Mr. Clemons worked as an attorney, assisting clients in many aspects of both civil litigation and transactional matters. Mr. Clemons graduated with Academic Excellence from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, with an MBA concentrated in Finance. He graduated cum laude from DePaul University, College of Law, with a JD. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Mr. McSorley has 30 years of experience addressing the economic, financial, and accounting issues concerning commercial litigation. Mr. McSorley has focused on intellectual property disputes since 1998 and regularly evaluates the measures and amounts of monetary recovery for infringement/ misappropriation. He has offered expert testimony in federal courts and depositions on dozens of occasions, and courts and juries have adopted his opinions and conclusions. Mr. McSorley is regularly retained by pharmaceutical firms involved with Hatch-Waxman litigation. Mr. McSorley has been engaged in Paragraph IV disputes since 2005. In connection with these engagements, Mr. McSorley evaluates financial and economic evidence relating to the issue of commercial success, a secondary indicium of non-obviousness. In addition, he regularly evaluates allegations of irreparable harm. Through his work in these engagements, Mr. McSorley has gained experience with certain economic aspects of the US pharmaceutical industry, such as the profitability of the US Fortune 500 pharmaceutical firms and their ability to finance and recover R&D costs. Mr. McSorley holds a BA degree in Accounting from the Pennsylvania State University and a JD from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a CPA and a licensed attorney. Mr. McSorley is a member of the Licensing Executives Society, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Federal Circuit Bar Association. About Ocean Tomo Established in 2003, Ocean Tomo, LLC provides Financial Expert, Management Consulting, and Advisory services related to intellectual property (IP) and other intangible assets; corporate accounting investigations; regulatory and reporting obligations; solvency and restructuring; and contractual or competition disputes. Practice offerings address economic damage calculations and testimony; accounting investigations and financial forensics; technology and intangible asset valuation; strategy and risk management consulting; mergers and acquisitions; debt and equity private placement; and IP brokerage. Intangible assets comprise 90 percent of business value but are also subject to significant impairment due to enterprise and regulatory compliance risk. Ocean Tomo assists clients corporations, law firms, governments, and institutional investors in realizing Intellectual Capital Equity value broadly defined. Statistics about the median price of a home or the number of homes sold throughout the United States are meaningless for someone who wants to buy a home in a specific community or neighborhood With the so-called "Spring Market" coming soon in most parts of the United States, many prospective homebuyers will have questions regarding the real estate market. The biggest question is where they will get their advice. Last April, CNBC reported that the number of google searches for the phrase, "When is the housing market going to crash?" skyrocketed 2,450 percent. "Why is the market so hot?" searches doubled over one week. Some industry observers thought consumer inquiries signaled a bubble. "How much over asking price should I offer on a home in 2021," searches spiked 350 percent. Dedicated real estate buyer agents from the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) encourage homebuyers to carefully choose where they obtain their real estate advice. "Online information is not always current or even accurate," said St. Petersburg, Florida-based Eve Alexander of Buyers Broker of Florida. "Only an exclusive buyer agent that is knee-deep in the trenches really knows what is going on, and they are always willing to give the good, the bad, and the ugly of what is happening in their local real estate market." Information online often does not provide all the details needed for a prospective homebuyer to make an informed decision. "If you only search online for real estate market information, you'll only get part of the story," said Justin Graham of Globella Buyers Realty in San Diego. "The best way to get the whole story and truly understand your hyper-local real estate market is to partner with an experienced buyer's agent who you feel confident will provide you with trustworthy advice." Like politics, all real estate is local, and it's seasonal in some regions of the country. "The best times to buy ... depends on what part of the country you live in, it can also depend on what your price range is," said Mike Crowley of Spokane Home Buyers in Spokane, Washington. "There are thousands of resources on the Internet for buying and selling real estate, but when it comes to your own personal investment, find an experienced local real estate broker who will listen to your specific needs and address them. While agents who represent sellers list most properties on their local multiple listing service, also known as the MLS, some homes for sale are harder to find. "Searching only online can restrict homebuyers from learning about off-market properties," said New York City-based Gea Elika of ELIKA Real Estate. Elika added that inventory in new developments is not always made publicly available. "Also, due to the lack of inventory, exclusive luxury properties in sought-after New York City buildings are often solicited off-market by buyer's agents on behalf of their clients." Homebuyers also need relevant and local real estate market data. "Statistics about the median price of a home or the number of homes sold throughout the United States are meaningless for someone who wants to buy a home in a specific community or neighborhood," explained NAEBA President Rich Rosa of Buyers Brokers Only, LLC in the Boston area. "An exclusive buyer agent will happily provide a homebuyer with detailed local market reports." ABOUT NAEBA: Members of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) believe in a better way of working in the real estate industry. NAEBA members voluntarily dedicate their careers to exclusively representing home buyers, providing fiduciary-level duties to protect home-buying consumers. Exclusive buyer agents are 100 percent loyal to home buyers 100 percent of the time and work at real estate brokerages that do not ever represent home sellers. NAEBA members are true buyer agents. NAEBA members do not accept listings, advertise properties for sale, or represent home sellers. Its members avoid the conflicts of interest common at traditional real estate companies, which attempt to represent buyers and sellers in the same transaction. Consumer advocates created NAEBA in the mid-1990s to fill the void faced by homebuyers and start a professional association that would provide home buyers with a higher standard of ethics. NAEBA also matches home-buying consumers with its members around the country for no additional cost. Barclay Place Apartments in Wilmington, NC Named Elite 1% for Best Online Reputation Scores - Property Management by Drucker + Falk Leading apartment industry research firm, J Turner Research, has announced the 2021 Elite 1% Online Reputation Assessment (ORA) Power Ranking of properties with the best online reputation across the nation based on individual ORA scores. The research firm partners with Multifamily Executive to publish the ORA Power Ranking, evaluating top properties and management companies in the U.S. based on their ORA scores, a cumulative compilation of a propertys ratings across multiple review sites. The online ratings of nearly 130,000 properties are monitored and analyzed nationwide, and properties are assigned a score of 0-100. This score aids in comparing properties and portfolios against one another and serves as a reference point for local, regional, and national competition. In the eighth annual 2021 Elite 1% ORA Power Ranking, 1,564 properties made it to the ORA Elite club (over 250 more than last year). Of those 1,500 plus apartment communities, 10 Drucker + Falk (DF) Multifamily communities made the list, each with an ORA score of 94. Drucker + Falk, a best-in-class multifamily management organization and full-service real estate and investment firm, is proud to be recognized in the Elite 1% again this year. DF Multifamily currently manages apartment communities across eleven states including Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Louisiana. See below for the 10 Drucker + Falk - managed apartment communities on the Elite 1% list: Avalon Peaks | Apex, NC Barclay Place Apartments | Wilmington, NC Fairgate Apartments | Raleigh, NC Haygood Halls | Virginia Beach, VA Hidenwood North Apartments | Newport News, NC Mayfaire Apartments | Raleigh, NC The Chapman Apartments | Hampton, VA The Crossings at Red Mill Apartments | Virginia Beach, VA The Lincoln Apartments | Raleigh, NC Venture Apartments iN Tech Center | Newport News, VA Tarra Secrest, Director of Marketing + Property Development for Drucker + Falk, said, Resident satisfaction across every single one of our communities is centric to our business. Having multiple DF Multifamily communities named to this nationwide list every year is such an honor and validates the daily efforts put in place by on-site teams to create exceptional experiences for our residents. ABOUT DRUCKER + FALK Founded in 1938, Drucker + Falk is a full-service real estate and investment firm, managing a diverse portfolio of more than 40,000 apartments in 11 states including Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Louisiana. With roots in third party fee management, Drucker + Falk specializes in multifamily management of all asset types, new development construction consultation and lease up, urban revitalization, asset repositioning and stabilization of challenging properties, mixed use management and due diligence services. With more than 3 million square feet under management, Drucker + Falk also offers commercial sales, leasing and management services. For more information, please visit Drucker and Falk. ABOUT ORA POWER RANKINGS Developed by J Turner Research, the ORA Power Rankings are a monthly, independent ranking of apartment properties and management companies based on their Online Reputation Assessment (ORA) scores. A property or management company is not required to be a J Turner Research client to qualify for this ranking, which is published by J Turners media partner Multifamily Executive. To learn more or to request your ORA score, visit http://www.jturnerresearch.com/about/what-is-ora-score. The Charming Taste of Europe is pleased to announce that it will host an interactive, two and a half hour-long luncheon at The City Club of San Francisco on February 9th at 12-2:30pm PST. The City Club of San Francisco, the citys premiere business and social club since 1987, has been a primary location for colleagues to make valuable connections as well as engage in networking and social opportunities. During the luncheon participants will gather to enjoy a special menu put together to highlight the quality of products from The Charming Taste of Europes partners. Throughout the event there will be an emphasis on signature wines from Abruzzo and Bordeaux as well as kiwis and cherries from Greece. The Charming Taste of Europe campaigns goal is to educate members of the event on various wines and food from Europe while learning more about their partners from the Consorzio Tutela Vini dAbruzzo, Sweet Bordeaux Wines, Kavala Coop, and the Agricultural Cooperative of Rachi. To learn more about The Charming Taste of Europe Campaign, visit charmingtasteofeurope.eu, which highlights the characteristics of the selected European products. Pages dedicated to The Charming Taste of Europe'' can be found on all main social networks, such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The participating Consortia invites everyone to join the social media campaign using the hashtag #charmeu. About the Charming Taste of Europe: Europe, a place with timeless charm, is the birthplace of some of the highest-quality products in the world. The Charming Taste of Europe is a special project that introduces exquisite specialties to the United States and Canada, such as Italian and French wines, and fresh fruits from Greece, that showcase Europes charm, beauty, culture, history, art, heritage and unmistakable tastes. The mission of the Charming Taste of Europe, co-funded by the European Union, is to increase awareness of the merits and quality standards of select European wines and fresh fruits with promotional activities in the competitive markets of the U.S. and Canada. The Charming Taste of Europe is promoted by the Consortium for the Protection of Wines of Abruzzo, the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Kavala (Kavala COOP), the Agricultural Cooperative of Rachi Pieria Agios Loukas and the Union of Sweet Bordeaux Wines. These European agricultural products, famous around the world for their outstanding qualities, will continue to be promoted with initiatives and events for consumers, journalists and trade professionals. For more information visit charmingtasteofeurope.eu To Follow The Charming Taste of Europe Campaign: Website: charmingtasteofeurope.eu Facebook: @CharmingTasteofEU Instagram: @charmeu_usa YouTube: The Charming Taste of Europe Hashtags: #thecharmingtasteofeu and #charmeu The content of this promotion campaign represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission and the European Research Executive Agency (REA) do not accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the information it contains Sons of Glory: Redemption of the Body: The Revealing of the Sons of God during the Great Tribulation: an illuminating spiritual journey in pages that will draw one closer in faith to God and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ. Sons of Glory: Redemption of the Body: The Revealing of the Sons of God during the Great Tribulation is the creation of published author Tyrone D. Walker, a full-time evangelist. He ministered in churches from coast to coast and abroad. In 2013, the Lord called for him to move to Miami where he is presently attending King Jesus Ministry. Walker shares, This book is for those sons and daughters of the Lord Jesus Christ who have been weeping between the porch and the altar, crying out unto the Lord of glory. There is something stirring inside of you ready to explode. The fire inside of you is burning. You feel like its time for you to move now! But it seems as if someone has pushed the pause button thats keeping you from your destiny. If you feel like everything that used to work for you has dried up, God has you in a strange place, a place where you are hungry and full at the same time, where all your spiritual senses are being exercised. This book was written to let you know the time of your coming out is at hand. Get ready! Keep pressing, keep praying, keep seeking. This is the price of becoming a Son of Glory. We are living in what the Bible calls the beginning of sorrows: All these are the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:8). This book is designed to encourage you to stay planted by the rivers of water (Psalm 1:3) for your season is at hand. Im not talking about the rapture. Im talking about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the last days, to glorify his Sons of Glory here on earth, the manifestation of the Sons of God. Jesus will return to reveal his glory. It will manifest in the life of his sons and daughters. This book is written for those who understand they cant stay in their comfort zone, they have to go places theyve never known, for there is a glory realm that has been hidden since the beginning of the church age that is ready to be revealed in these last days. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Tyrone D. Walkers new book is a stirring manuscript that brings to the readers enlightening knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual inspiration that will strengthen their faith enough to be prepared for Gods glory. View a synopsis of Sons of Glory: Redemption of the Body: The Revealing of the Sons of God during the Great Tribulation on YouTube. Consumers can purchase Sons of Glory: Redemption of the Body: The Revealing of the Sons of God during the Great Tribulation at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Sons of Glory: Redemption of the Body: The Revealing of the Sons of God during the Great Tribulation, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919 or Author Tyrone Walker at 858-752-9990. Queretaro Mexico We pay $800 a month for our one-bedroom duplex, which is fully furnished and includes all utilities" Housing eats up the biggest chunk of most folks monthly budget. But with much lower costs in the right spots overseas, its just one of the ways retirees can save big when they move abroadleaving more funds available for the fun stuff. Expats retired abroad report they live a richer, more varied life than they could on the same budget back home. A perfect example of this is the story Wendy Justice, International Living Correspondent, tells in her report from her new home in Queretaro, Mexico. Located in Mexicos Colonial Highlands, Queretaro offers retirees gracious, big-city living, Mexico style. Some say Queretaro has it all: a lovely, well-preserved historic center (which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996); modern shops and malls; excellent medical facilities; concert halls, museums, and other cultural outlets; universities galore; and a strong local economy. A sophisticated destination, Queretaro isnt overly touristed and feels very genuinely Mexican. My husband David and I are renting a one-bedroom house in the Los Arcos area, with a full view of the 18th-century aqueduct that stretches from the hills in the east to the center of town, says Justice. We pay $800 a month for our one-bedroom duplex, which is fully furnished and includes all utilities and the occasional homemade dinner that our landlord brings to us (hes awesome!). Were paying a bit more than the norm, since we didnt know if we wanted to stay long-term, so our place is month-to-month without a deposit. If we decide to stay on, well get a furnished place with a lease and our rent should drop down to the $400- to $600-a-month range. This city offers one of the highest qualities of life in Mexico. Queretaro is one of the cleanest towns Ive ever seen, she says. It doesnt fit my preconceived notions of Mexican cities. Every block has at least one litterbin, and people use them. Parksand there are manyare meticulous, with pretty fountains, comfortable benches, and flowering trees. Everywhere you go, its clean and orderly. This area offers a quality of life that has totally taken me by surprise. There are attractive residential streets, trendy restaurants, upscale boutiques Its clearly a prosperous city and its also one of the safest cities in Mexico; only Merida on the Yucatan Peninsula has a lower crime rate. Comida corridaliterally food on the runrestaurants are everywhere, and they offer incredible value. For $3.50, Justice can have her choice of entreesanything from carne asada (thinly sliced, seasoned beefsteak) or milanesa de pollo (chicken schnitzel) to standard Mexican enchiladas or chili rellenos. The set price includes a pitcher of juice, often a pastry, rice, beans, a salad, bread or tortillas, and a small dessert. Although she makes a point of going to the places packed with locals; they know the best restaurants in town. Queretaro is quite compact, so she doesnt feel the need for a car. In less than 15 minutes, she can walk to the heart of the historic district, shop at a major supermarket or mall, and take her pick from more restaurants than she may ever be able to sample. Most of the main streets here are level with wide sidewalks. And a ride in a Didi Taxi (a competitor to Uber) of two or three miles is always under $5, including a tip. The historic center is so special that UNESCO has designated more than a dozen monuments in Queretaro to be of exceptional historical value. Majestic, ornately constructed churches and immaculate plazas dot the central city. I already feel the positive effects of being in a temperate, walkable city, reports Justice. Every day, I feel more physically fit. Im still exploring the maze of cobbled streets and plazas in the historic district, and soon Ill start in on the museums. Queretaro has more museums than any other town in Mexico with the exception of Mexico City. Ive seen a couple of them so far, and they are excellent. With my INAPAM senior discount card (available to anyone age 60 or older who has a temporary or permanent residency visa), admission is free to most museums, which provides an even greater incentive to see what they all have to offer. Justices fully story can be found here: A Fully Furnished Rental for $800 a MonthBills Included Editor's Note: Members of the media have permission to republish the article linked above once credit is given to Internationalliving.com Further information, as well as interviews with expert authors for radio, TV or print, is available on request. Photos are also available. For information about InternationalLiving.com content republishing, source material or to book an interview with one of our experts, contact PR Managing Editor, Marita Kelly, +001 667 312 3532, mkelly@internationalliving.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/internationalliving/ Twitter: @inliving https://twitter.com/inliving?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/International.Living/ About International Living Since 1979, InternationalLiving.com has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities. Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters, extensive website, podcasts, online bookstore, and events held around the world, InternationalLiving.com provides information and services to help its readers live better, travel farther, have more fun, save more money, and find better business opportunities when they expand their world beyond their own shores. InternationalLiving.com has more than 200 correspondents traveling the globe, investigating the best opportunities for travel, retirement, real estate, and investment. Italian trade print book publishing generated 1.701 billion ($1.866 billion) in sales in 2021, a jump of 16% over 2020. A total of 115.6 million copies were sold, which is a hike of 18 million copies -- or 18% -- over 2020, according to data from the Italian Publishers Association (AIE). The AIE ranks Italy's book trade as sixth in the world, trailing the U.S., China, Germany, the U.K., and France. The average cover price of a book sold in Italy in 2021 was 14.72 ($16.42). Audiobook sales and subscription sales were also strong, jumping from 17.5 million to 24 million, up 37%. E-book sales fell 11% from record numbers 2020, to 86 million total sales in 2021. Print book production continues to rise, with 85,551 new titles released in 2021, up 22.9% compared to the previous year. The number of e-books fell to 49,313, down 5.6% from the previous year, but up 1.1% compared to 2019. Among the strongest categories showing sales growth were comics, which more than doubled in sales, going from 4.7 million copies sold in 2020 to 11 million copies sold in 2021, and translated fiction, which sold 9.2 million copies in 2021, a rise of 15%. Customers continue to buy books in physical bookstores, which accounted for 51.5% of total print book sales last year. Online stores are growing and account for 43% of sales, taking away market share from major retail chains, like department stores. The overall data, compiled with the assistance of Nielsen BookScan, shows Italian publishing has been able to react to the pandemic and, also thanks to the public support policies implemented by the government and parliament, closes 2021 with significant growth, after an already satisfactory 2020," said Ricardo Franco Levi, president of the AIE. Still, he said, the industry faces challenges in 2022, with the price of printing on the rise due to supply chain issues, as well as the ongoing threat pf piracy. In addition, sectors where the Italian industry has thrived, such as art book and travel book publishing, have also continued to decline as the pandemic continues. Brian Farrey, who has worked as both a bookseller and as a book publicist in the Twin Cities, became a published author in 2011 with the release of his debut novel, With or Without You, a contemporary YA. Since then Farrey has become firmly ensconced in the middle grade fantasy world, with his Vengekeep Prophecies trilogy and a stand-alone, The Secret of Deadwillow Carse. His newest novel, The Counterclockwise Heart, is set in a country on the verge of war as two young people cross paths while seeking to unearth the secrets of their lives. While Prince Alphonsus and his mother keep secret that there is a clock ticking in his chest, Esme is searching for her estranged mother, the Nachtfrau, to kill her and thus lift a curse. We spoke with Farrey about who and what inspires him to write, his attempts to dispel gender stereotypes and consider representation in his work, and his belief that even the most evil villain possesses redeeming qualities. How did the concept for The Counterclockwise Heart come about? I think a lot of it was my previous novel, The Secret of Deadwillow Carse. It was about the importance of asking questions. When I was done with that book, I still had things I wanted to say about that. So its kind of where Counterclockwise was born, my wanting to talk about how we can convey information to kids, and what they can then do with that. Do they sit on it, or do they ask some questions about the information provided, to find out more? Thats really where it came from. The two books are set in different worlds but they definitely complement each other well. The Counterclockwise Heart is very reminiscent of dark German fairy tales. Who or what are your literary influences? I am glad you said that; thats very much what I was going for. When I figured out where I wanted to take this, I went back and reread some of the Brothers Grimm to get a feel for those old fairy tales, so they were definitely among my influences. The original fairy talesthat were a bit darker and maybe a little scarier at some points. Theres so much death, and sadness, and betrayal in this novel. Do you think middle grade readers can handle such a tale? Oh, definitely. Children are so resilient. Theres nothing in this book that they dont pick up on in the news, or in daily life. Were doing regular shooter drills in schools. We have to acknowledge that children can choose to look at things and say, wow, thats really dark, but I am going to find the strength to get past that. The original Grimms fairy tales are incredibly dark. You read them and you think, these are not for kids, but thats where they ended up. Anything that is tempered with an attempt to understandwhy is it like this, why is this story being told like this, what can I take away from this?I think its going to make kids want to read more. You play with gender stereotypes in this novel. What was your thinking in writing these strong female characters who defy gender expectations? I guess my biggest thought was that they talk about, in books for kids, the need for representation; kids need to see themselves. In a lot of ways, that was at the forefront of my mind: lets make this a world where people recognize that there are same-sex parents and there are women leaders, women in roles of power. I was getting away from what men traditionally do and what women traditionally do. I hope I turned that on its head a bit with this book. Its something I was very aware of as I was writing; I had to question my own biases and my own instincts to go in a certain direction. Why am I doing it this way and what does that say when I do it this way? How can I improve on that so that a made-up world can still reflect the world we live in? Are you concerned that because, for instance, the empress and her partner, the imperatrix, are lesbian parents, some parents and other adults will protest this book and try to ban it from schools and libraries? I try not to concern myself.... Ive got to do what Ive got to do when it comes to writing and I cant stop and worry about what if it doesnt end up in this or that library. My first YA novel, With or Without You had gay characters and people told me that there were some libraries that would not carry this book just because of that. I am not here to please everyone. Speaking of your YA novel, With or Without You has a contemporary setting, but your four middle grade novels are set in fantasy worlds. Is this conscious on your part, that you write different kinds of books for different age groups? That is called, I write what my brain tells me to write. I cant explain it any other way than that. When I get an idea and then I start to develop it, one of the first things I do is think about the settingwhere will this work the best? The past few books have been middle grade fantasy, but I have a couple of projects I am working on now that are contemporary. It all depends upon writing in the format in which I can best get across the things I want to say. In my middle grade books, it felt like the best way to do that is in a world where theres a little more imagination. The women in this novel are tough but also nurturingin fact, their love for and commitment to their children opens them up to betrayal by those who want to seize power. Was this set-up deliberate on your part? Oh, thats a very interesting way of looking at it. I dont ever see motherhood as being a weakness. My thoughts for this book were the opposite. This book is dedicated to my late friend Ann Kaner-Roth who was an incredible woman: she was an activist who was at the forefront of the Vote No campaign for marriage equality in Minnesotabut more than anything, she was this amazing mother. She passed away a couple of years ago and left three brilliant kids who have this shining model to look to. If anything, I tried to embody how important mothers can be in this book. Guntram Steinherz is so evil, but at the end, when we discover his back story, there is some sympathy for him. What was your thinking in mitigating his villainy? I try not to make anybody totally evil. Villains dont think of themselves as evil; in their minds, theyre the hero of the story. In the first chapter of Counterclockwise, you meet the boy, and hes very lonely. He doesnt have anything to do, so he starts talking to the mysterious statue. People then think hes responsible for turning around the fortunes of his village. He gets attention and begins to think of himself as special. He finally gets what he wants, but hes frightened that it will be taken away from him. Nobody had told him before that he was special, so he had to forge his own idea of that. It would have been nice if hed been able to figure out a way to do that without going over to the dark side. But he didnt have that guidance. There are three main charactersAlphonsus, Esme, and Guntram. Alphonsus was brought up in a very loving family; Esme had a loving father for a while, and then was raised by lunatics; Guntram did not have any of that family love. But I dont like to think anyone is beyond redemption. Towards the end, Alphonsus says to Guntram: All I ever wanted to do was help people, and I never thought of how I could help you. That compassion it just destroys Guntram. How does your background as a bookseller and as a book publicist inform you as an author? I think when you work in the book world in generalbe it as a bookseller or a publicistyou find yourself surrounded by a variety of ideas and voices. I strongly believe that all writers should read widely and diversely and I feel like these past jobs have exposed me to writing that, whether I know it or not, has impacted the way I write. Whats the one big thing you want people to take away from this novel? I want people to think about the power of compassion: what it can do for you, for your soul, and how it can help you reach out to your community and share goodness. The Counterclockwise Heart by Brian Farrey. Algonquin Young Readers, $17.95, Feb. 1 ISBN 978-1-61620-506-5 On January 8, New Jersey fourth-grade science and social studies teacher Mike DeMaiobest known by his students and his 294,000 YouTube subscribers as Mr. DeMaioreleased his 100th humorous and fact-filled video for kids on the YouTube channel he launched in 2013. Episodes like Black Holes Explained for Kids! and Six Times Table Song! (Cover of Cheerleader by OMI) feature DeMaio and friends (including fellow teachers and Muppet-like puppets) performing sketches, graphic-rich presentations, or singing, dancing, and goofing, all while delivering solid STEM lessons. And next week, hes bringing his silly, science-centric style to a new middle-grade book series, Mr. DeMaio Presents!, published by Penguin Workshop. Launching the series on February 1 are Record-Breaking Natural Disasters, exploring hurricanes, tornadoes, and other catastrophic phenomena; and The Biggest Stuff in the Universe, in which the crew travels across the galaxy in search of super-giant asteroids, mega space volcanoesand a 26-pound gummy bear. The books are a dreamed-of next step in DeMaios lifelong science journey. My interest in science started as a boy, he recalled. I loved watching shows like Bill Nye the Science Guy or Beakmans World and I would eagerly await the portion of my school day dedicated to the subject. As he grew older, he narrowed his focus to some favorite areas of exploration and study, including astronomy, paleontology, biology, and environmental science. Today, I continue to be fascinated with how things work and the story of why things are the way they are, but furthermore, I thoroughly enjoy explaining these things to people and sharing my knowledge with those who will listen. When DeMaio was in college and began considering career paths, I knew more than anything I wanted to do something that had a lasting impact on the world, he said. He thought back on the people who had positively influenced his life to that point. There was a wide array from police officers to teachers to counselors who lived to help others and make a difference. I had taken a few college courses in each of these areas and slowly the dots started to connect. I knew I wanted to be a teacher! It was during his first year in the elementary classroom that DeMaio was inspired to embrace videos as a teaching tool. I was teaching a science lesson and one of my students had put his head down, DeMaio said. Later in the day, I asked him why. Did he not have enough sleep? Played too much kickball during recess? Nope. He said he was just bored. DeMaio took that students response as a personal challenge. That night I thought of my science experience and what I enjoyed. I remember my fourth grade teacher using videos from our library to supplement her lessons in class, so I attempted to do the same. I played a video on classifying animals that I had found in the library for my class. Lo and behold, that same student had his head down. When that first audio-visual attempt didnt cut it, DeMaio soldiered on. He realized that he had all the necessary tools to create videos of his own. I went home, threw a quick video together and showed it to my class. The response was electric! he said. They kept asking for more and more and I felt compelled to give it to them. Parents from all over my small town were so grateful and excited that their children were coming home and choosing to watch videos on science subjects. It is that same excitement from kids and families that still drives the creation of my videos today. In fact, DeMaios students play a key role in developing his video content. In addition to listening to his gut, I talk to my students, DeMaio said of his creative process. They started this path and I usually let them guide it. Even when I have a subject in mind, I will ask their opinion about it. He receives additional requests, opinionsand some financial supportvia Patreon. DeMaios videos now rack up roughly two million views every month, and he produces a new episode approximately every three to four weeks. Fans can even purchase Mr. DeMaio merchandiset-shirts, pillows, socks, face masksfeaturing favorite characters or quotes from the videos. Beyond his video empire, DeMaio said hes been interested in creating media outside of YouTube for some time and thought that books could be a fun new format.[After spending a few months coming up with ideas, I was approached by Nick Magliato, a senior editor at Penguin Workshop [who had seen his YouTube videos], DeMaio said. He had a strong grasp on what I was hoping to accomplish, and I felt as though he saw the vision I had for my books. The topics for the two inaugural titles were selected due to the success that similar subjects have had on my YouTube channel, DeMaio noted. Shifting creative gears was a little tricky at first, DeMaio said. I knew I could nail down the informative part, but I was worried whether I would be able to present my same style of humor in print form as I do in video. It took some getting used to, but I believe I was able to find my comedic voice. He had additional concerns about the constraints of transitioning to print. Whether it is teaching in person or creating a video, you have plenty of time, he said. I can always continue a lesson tomorrow or add an extra minute or two to explain something in a video, but books are different. Theres only so much space on a page, so you have to make sure what you are saying is clear and concise. Once I figured out how to do that it was smooth sailing. Looking ahead, DeMaio noted that hes not quite sure where his book series will lead. I have quite a few ideas for more books, but I want them to develop organically. Lets see how these books perform and, like the videos, let the fans guide the path of where we go next. If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit West Lafayette councilor and Purdue biological sciences professor David Sanders announced his intention to run for the newly drawn District 23 state Senate seat on Tuesday. Sanders previously ran for a state Senate seat in a different district in 2004 and was elected to City Councilor at Large for West Lafayette in 2015. He said he decided to run again this year because of the new inclusion of West Lafayette in District 23. Previously, West Lafayette was in District 22. The decision to split up Lafayette and West Lafayette was met with backlash from many Democrats. Its an empty seat, he said. It involves West Lafayette and a number of more rural counties and I thought it could be well represented by me. He said he hoped to help rural counties feel less neglected by the state government. While counties like Tippecanoe have grown recently, smaller counties havent had the same opportunities, Sanders said. Specifically for rural counties, I am interested in bringing better access to broadband, better roads, better health care, and jobs, he said. Sanders said what sets him apart from other candidates is his experience as a scientist. Im very much interested in bringing science to public policy, he said. I think that its important to have individuals who have that (science) expertise, particularly now with the pandemic and other challenges that we face such as climate change. He also said that he hopes to continue his work in West Lafayette across Indiana. Sanders recently sponsored an ordinance that passed in West Lafayette City Council to ban the government use of facial recognition. I am interested in enhancing privacy protections, he said. With that particular issue, peoples concerns go across the political spectrum. I do think that its something that is important for people to take a stand on. I wish him all the best, and I think he would be a great legislator, said Shannon Kang, West Lafayette councilor and Purdue Student Government president. Hes been a great legislator in the city and also at Purdue. The line of the Sagamore Parkway CVS drive-through stretches to the back of the store Wednesday afternoon. New York City, NY (11385) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 55F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 55F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Athens, GA (30605) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. People gathered in Harmony Parking lot in Brattleboro on Friday, April 22nd for a street festival and parade in celebration of Earth Day. According to Nancy Braus of 350 Brattleboro, the goal was to celebrate the ways in which the community is working towards climate justice and to empower A copy of the Brattleboro Reformer stating that public schools are closed in Vermont rests outside of the Bellows Falls Middle School on Monday, March 16, 2020. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. E4227/2021 Publisher Austria: Constitutional Court of Austria (Verfassungsgerichtshof) Publication Date 16 December 2021 Citation / Document Symbol ECLI:AT:VFGH:2021:E4227.2021 Other Languages / Attachments Decision in German Cite as E4227/2021, ECLI:AT:VFGH:2021:E4227.2021, Austria: Constitutional Court of Austria (Verfassungsgerichtshof), 16 December 2021, available at: https://www.refworld.org/cases,AUT_FCCA,61f441824.html [accessed 5 May 2022] Comments Austrian Constitutional Court examined the international protection needs of a healthy man from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. In its judgement E 4227/2021, issued 16 December 2021, the Austrian Constitutional Court examined the international protection needs of a healthy man from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. In its contested judgement of 12 October 2021, the Federal Administrative Court in the case of an ethnic Pashtu man originating from Paktia province had taken the view that the security situation in Afghanistan had calmed down since the Taliban took over. The single-judge decision by the Federal Administrative Court argued that the Taliban would have to build on existing supply structures, which is why it considered COI addressing the humanitarian situation before the Taliban's takeover as still valid. The Federal Administrative Court further argued that it could not be assumed that the strained and since the Taliban's rise to power even deteriorated humanitarian situation would collapse totally soon. Therefore, it deemed the complainant not to be in need of international protection. The rejected asylum-seeker lodged a complaint against the judgement with the Constitutional Court and was granted leave to remain until the Court's judgement. On 16 December 2021, the Constitutional Court issued its ruling which was finally published in mid-January 2022 (the full judgement is available here and the summarized core legal ruling here - both in German). The Constitutional Court found that the Federal Administrative Court had erred in considering a return to Afghanistan to comply with Art 2 and 3 ECHR. The Constitutional Court recalled that based on the country information sheet on Afghanistan issued by the Austrian COI Unit (Staatendokumentation which is based in the asylum authority BFA), dated 19 July 2021, the security situation in Afghanistan was to be considered as so extremely volatile at the time of decision-making by the Federal Administrative Court that returnees would face a real risk of a violation of Art 2 or Art 3 ECHR. The Court went on to state that considering current reports, the situation in Afghanistan continues to be volatile (referencing the updated EASO Country Guidance on Afghanistan dated November 2021), which is why the Constitutional Court sees no reason to come to a different conclusion. Furthermore, the Constitutional Court found that the assessment of the Federal Administrative Court concerning the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is not comprehensible in view of current country reports (referencing the UNHCR Fact Sheet on "Afghanistan situation: Emergency preparedness and response in Iran" dated 11 October 2021 stating that "nearly half the population of Afghanistan [] require aid assistance to survive"). Hence the Constitutional Court found that the complainant's return to Afghanistan would violate Art 2 and 3 ECHR, quashed the judgement of the Federal Administrative Court regarding the negative decision on subsidiary protection and referred the case back to the Federal Administrative Court. Please note that the Constitutional Court only extremely rarely finds a violation of Art 2 and 3 ECHR in its judgements. Normally its positive decisions are based on the finding that the contested judgement of the Federal Administrative Court has been inadequately reasoned and thus arbitrary. (Please note that two decisions with similar reasonings have been issued by the Constitutional Court on 16 December 2021, see E 4382/2021 and E 4280/2021. Both also concerned single, healthy Hazara men from Afghanistan with one originating from Ghazni province whereas the other had lived in Iran since his childhood.) Beckley, WV (25801) Today Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low 51F. N winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. Low 51F. N winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. TORRINGTON The Northwest Connecticut Chamber has scheduled the following events and meetings. Learn more about the chamber at nwctchamberofcommerce.org. To join a committee, email or call Lauren Zordan at Lauren@nwctchamberofcommerce.org or call 860-482-6586. Feb. 1: Small Business Council Meeting, 8 a.m. The Small Business Council has been established for the small business owner/manager - the decision makers - to discuss challenges, share solutions and work as a back-office consortium. Many small business owners have issues that they stumble upon throughout their workday that they may not have experience with - but another small business owner does. The Chambers Small Business Council is a resource for the owners and managers so they can keep their businesses running smoothly. photo from the Hartford police department Facebook page. HARTFORD Police are continuing to investigate after reportedly finding approximately 100 bags of fentanyl in the bedroom of a city youth who died after overdosing at school earlier this month, according to the department. Lt. Aaron Boisvert said officers, after executing a search warrant, found the additional drugs, which were packaged in the same manner as the bags located at the school and had the same identifying stamp, in the youths bedroom. This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. ASEANs consensus-driven diplomacy risks being sidelined by more flexible arrangements to address regional issues. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, center, holding up the gavel for ASEAN chairmanship during the online closing ceremony of the 2021 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) virtual summit, on Oct. 27, 2021. As the Southeast Asian bloc struggles to forge a consensus on divisive issues like the South China Sea and Myanmar, analysts see a possible shift in how the regions diplomats and officials go about their business. Consensus-driven diplomacy, epitomized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is in danger of being sidelined in favor of more flexible and nimble arrangements to address issues of regional concern. International relations wonks have got a name for it: minilateralism. Just this week, top leaders of Singapore and Indonesia signed a number of key documents paving the way for stronger bilateral cooperation including in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the defense ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines were also due this week to meet and discuss trilateral security cooperation, although those talks were postponed until March, reportedly because of Covid-19. And Indonesia is planning talks with a small group of nations next month on maritime security. Observers say the trend may signal a rethinking of ASEANs principle of consensus, when all the member states should agree and find a common stance on any subject. Instead, they may look to form smaller, more informal and flexible groupings within the bloc in order to deal with pressing issues more effectively. Sadly minilateralism is probably the only way forward, said Shahriman Lockman, a senior analyst at the Malaysian Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS). A China Coast Guard ship is seen from an Indonesian Naval ship during a patrol north of Natuna island, Indonesia, Jan. 11, 2020. Credit: Antara Foto via Reuters. Foster brotherhood Differences with ASEAN have been on display in recent weeks over Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen maverick attempt to resolve the crisis in Myanmar. Last week he lashed out against his Malaysian counterpart for criticizing his dealings with the junta. But probably the most enduring, divisive issue within ASEAN is the South China Sea, which has left nations without a stake in those disputed waters at odds with those that do. In December, Indonesia invited officials in charge of maritime security from five other ASEAN members to meet to share experiences and foster brotherhood among the countries facing similar challenges posed by China there. Head of the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) Vice Adm. Aan Kurnia said hed invited counterparts from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam to a meeting in February to discuss how to establish a coordinated approach in matters related to the South China Sea, and how to respond in the field when we face the same disturbance. Huynh Tam Sang, a lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) in Vietnam, said: ASEAN has tried its best to maintain a neutral stance when coming to the South China Sea issue. But as ASEAN countries are all small- and middle-sized states, it is not easy [for them] to come up with a solid stance and effective strategy to navigate the South China Sea issue, he said. Shahriman from the Malaysian ISIS was more forthright: I think there is a growing frustration with the fact that ASEAN is unable to be more cohesive, he said. Minilateralism is inevitably seen as an option. I dont believe that minilateralism will be as damaging to ASEAN as some may think. For years, countries around the Mekong [river] have been working in their own mechanisms without raising existential questions about ASEAN, Shahriman explained. So why should it be any different for the South China Sea? There have been precedents, including the Malacca Strait Patrol which involves several littoral states, and the Trilateral Cooperation Arrangement for the Sulu Sea, according to the Malaysian analyst. Unlike multilateral settings, minilateral ones tend to focus on narrower and more specific themes with exclusive membership, thereby proving more effective in solving issues that matter to those directly involved, agreed Sang from Ho Chi Minh City USSH. Experts say a grouping of like-minded countries focused on maritime security cooperation would work best to promote stability and prevent conflicts in the disputed waters. Role of Bakamla Beijing has been accused of harassing other countries when they are exploring resources in the South China Sea. Indonesia, for example, has been repeatedly told by China to stop drilling for oil and gas near the Natuna islands as the block lies within the so-called nine-dash line that China uses to demarcate its expansive claims. Sang said the situation in North Natuna Sea, as well as Beijings constant objections to Jakartas development projects, has challenged Indonesias stance that its a non-claimant in the South China Sea. Jakarta could no longer stay aloof from the South China Sea disputes, he said, proposing that Indonesia, via its maritime security agency Bakamla, should take the lead in navigating South China Sea challenges. Dedi Dinarto, a senior analyst at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, concurred. I believe that this is a feasible arrangement for Bakamla to interact with the neighboring coast guards as Indonesia prefers to maintain a cooperative security approach when dealing with threats and instability in the region, he said. Bakamla can initiate the minilateral white hulls forum as an initial step, said Dedi, who specializes in Indonesias politics and maritime security. But there are many hurdles to overcome before the neighbors can come up with a well-oiled working mechanism. Beijing, known for putting economic pressure on smaller regional states, will not let those actions go unnoticed, analysts said. Domestic obstacles should also not be discounted, said Dedi. To sustain or even expand its role in the regional setting depends on its reputation at home and the willingness of the central government to place more resources for Bakamla and to set it as the key player compared to other maritime security agencies including the Navy, he said. Bakamla still has very modest operational assets, including just 10 coastguard vessels and minimal weaponry. Its unclear institutional identity, said Dedi, led to a limited acknowledgement at home and up to date, the agency remains dependent on the Navy for backup support. With these issues, it remains to be seen whether Bakamla can thrive and play a more significant role. The verdict comes amid fears that Hong Kong is getting less attractive as a business location. A court in Hong Kong on Friday found 11 people guilty of "rioting" in a 2019 National Day protest in the city's Wong Tai Sin district, acquitting one, local media reported. Two among the 11 convicted -- who were aged 16-24 at the time of the protest -- were also found guilty of possession of offensive weapons. All had pleaded not guilty. The verdict was given in a court hearing attended by large numbers of the defendants' friends and relatives, with some saying goodbye and taking photos together outside the court. It came despite the judge admitting that there was no direct evidence that any of the defendants had taken part in a riot. Instead, the fact that they were in the vicinity of clashes between police and protesters and hadn't left supported a guilty verdict. He said the group had been found in possession of goggles, respirator masks, helmets and other items typically used by protesters to protect themselves against the huge amounts of tear gas fired by police during the 2019 protests. In the case of defendant Lau Chi-fung, who was dressed as a first-aider, "nobody appearing at the scene in a get-up like that could be a passer-by," Judge Edmond Lee told the court. "It was clearly intended to show the rioters that there was a first-aid service available and that any injuries would be treated, so they could fight against the police with confidence," Lee said. Defendant Wong Pik-yung was acquitted because she wasn't wearing or carrying anything that could be construed as evidence of involvement in the protests. Even if the defendants hadn't committed any radical acts, their presence alone would have encouraged and facilitated the riot, while most were arrested near a makeshift roadblock, Lee said. The 11 defendants were immediately detained on remand, bursting into tears and hugging each other when the verdict was announced. Sentencing will take place on March 4. Foreign finance moves out The verdicts came as foreign media reported an ongoing exodus of foreign financial institutions and staff from Hong Kong in the wake of ongoing restrictions aimed at subduing transmission of COVID-19 in the community, the Financial Times reported. The paper cited Bank of America sources as saying that the bank could move some employees to Singapore, and is currently reviewing its Hong Kong operations. Hong Kong currently imposes a 21-day quarantine on all arrivals from high-risk countries, while temporary bans have been imposed on flights and transit passengers arriving from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia from Jan. 8. Law Ka-chung, visiting professor in finance and economics at Hong Kong's City University said the tough quarantine rules have affected the day-to-day running of foreign banks. "Middle and senior managers at foreign banks all need to enter and exit [Hong Kong], so the shutdowns will have had an impact on foreign banks," Law told RFA. "The current measures have severely restricted the flow of people." "They're not saying it's a border closure, but it effectively is a closed border ... I think it's unreasonable," he said. An unrealistic goal Political scientist Ian Chong said Beijing's "zero-COVID" policy is an unrealistic goal for Hong Kong, warning in local media reports that ongoing travel restrictions will harm foreign direct investment in the city. "If bankers working in Singapore want to go overseas to meet with clients or do business, they can still do that," Chong said. "There aren't as many restrictions as in Hong Kong." "People can also get into Singapore to do business in the financial sector." Law agreed. "The [ruling Chinese] Communist Party wants zero-COVID, and Hong Kong officials are very party-minded, and they have to follow all of these policies locally." "But the whole idea of zero-COVID is a deception, because it's not actually achievable," he said. "But the leaders are insisting on it." Chong said the CCP's imposition of the national security law on Hong Kong, ushering in a widening crackdown on dissent and political opposition, had also made Singapore look relatively stable. "Freedom of information is also important for any industry, particularly the financial sector, and without that free flow of information, Hong Kong isn't as good as Singapore right now; there may be controls on information in Singapore, but they're not as strict as in Hong Kong," he said. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Authorities in the central Chinese province of Hunan have held the subversion trial of activist Ou Biaofeng, who publicly supported the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, in secret, RFA has learned. Ou stood trial behind closed doors in Hunan's Zhuzhou city on Jan. 27, facing charges of "subversion of state power," inside the Zhuzhou No. 1 Detention Center, where Ou is being held. Despite tight security around the facility, two people managed to break through a security cordon and display a placard and shoot video showing support for Ou. Ou's wife Wei Huanhuan said she wasn't allowed to attend the trial, and that several state security police officers were watching her building on the day. "Apparently the trial was held in a court inside the detention center, and it wasn't open to the public," Wei told RFA. "They wouldn't let family members in as observers, because of the pandemic." Police had told her that Ou wasn't being singled out for special treatment, and that many cases are currently being heard in this way. "But they also said family members couldn't attend because of the nature of the case," she said. Wei said Ou was represented by a government lawyer, whom she described as "very passive." "We repeatedly tried to negotiated with the state security police, but they kept saying that these were Ou Biaofeng's wishes," she said. "We had been hoping to hire a lawyer of the kind we trust ... but Ou Biaofeng had been inside for so long that ... he had no choose but to compromise [with police demands]." Wei said it is hard to find a good rights attorney willing to take on a dissident's case in China. "The lawyers are themselves under political pressure, with some law firms putting pressure on them not to represent [Ou], so they were unable to get involved," she said. "Even if they wanted to take the case, the authorities would find a way [to obstruct them]." The government lawyer allocated to represent Ou was unavailable for comment on Thursday. Activists watched, taken by police But a local rights activist who requested anonymity told RFA that two people were jailed on administrative sentences after being taken way by police, while a number of activists were placed under surveillance and police restrictions ahead of the trial, to prevent them from showing up in the first place. "Two people were detained ... They took the authorities by surprise because they went there in the night," the activist said. "A lot of people were placed under restrictions on Jan. 26, and quite a few were detained and placed under house arrest or kept at the police station for stability maintenance." The activist said they had also been forced to leave Zhuzhou. "Three people came to my hotel room [on the morning of Jan. 27], stayed for more than two hours, then escorted me back [to my hometown] at 10.00 am," the activist said. The activist said security appeared to be much tighter than in previous years, possibly due to the forthcoming 20th Party Congress later this year, which will decide whether to endorse another term in office for ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping. "We basically have to keep a low profile, and we can't go anywhere," they said. Prior to his detention, Ou had been a vocal supporter of the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, starting from the 2014 Occupy Central campaign for universal suffrage, which later broadened into the Umbrella Movement, and continuing with his support for the 2019 anti-extradition movement, which broadened to include demands for full democracy and accountability for police violence against largely peaceful protesters. In August 2020, after national security police raided the headquarters of the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper and its parent company Next Digital, Ou posted a photo of himself to social media holding a copy of the Apple Daily. He also expressed his support for Next Digital's founder, pro-democracy media magnate Jimmy Lai, who is currently behind bars awaiting trial under a draconian national security law imposed on Hong Kong from July 1, 2019, and called on his friends to mail copies of the Apple Daily to Hunan to show support for the paper, as Hongkongers lined up to buy copies in solidarity following the raid. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. All defendants were denied legal representation in military tribunals or sentenced in absentia. Phyo Zeyar Thaw (L), a lawmaker with the deposed National League for Democracy party, and activist Ko Jimmy (R), a leader of the 88 Generation Student group, were both sentenced to death for violating the Myanmar's Anti-Terrorism Law. Myanmars junta has condemned more than 100 people to death in the Yangon region alone since it seized power a year ago. None of the people sentenced were given the right to defend themselves. Of the 101 people documented by RFAs Myanmar Service, 50 were convicted in secretive military tribunals where they were denied access to legal representation, while the rest were sentenced in absentia. Those convicted hailed mostly from the Yangon townships of North Okkalapa, South Dagon, North Dagon, Hlaingtharyar, Dagon Port and Shwepyithar, where martial law has been in place amid resistance to military rule. Two of the more well-known prisoners facing the death penalty are Phyo Zeyar Thaw, a lawmaker with the deposed National League for Democracy (NLD) party, and activist Ko Jimmy, a leader of the 88 Generation Student group. Both were sentenced for violating the countrys Anti-Terrorism Law, according to a Jan. 21 announcement by the junta. Bo Bo Oo, a former NLD lawmaker from Yangons Dallah township, told RFA that not only were the two men sentenced without legal representation, but photos suggested they were tortured during interrogation. We could say they are two of the worst cases of arbitrary arrests and torture of civilians in the country since the coup, he said. Both were given maximum sentences. By closely looking at the pictures [released by the junta] of the two, we could surmise they had been severely tortured during interrogation. Arresting and torturing people anytime, anywhere, is a threat to civilization. Bo Bo Oo said the junta is cracking down on those who oppose it and sending a message to imposing maximum penalties including death. Ko Jimmys wife, Nila Thein, who is also a well-known 88 Generation Student, told RFA that she would not negotiate with the junta over her husbands sentence and would continue to fight for democracy. A high court lawyer in Yangon, who spoke on condition of anonymity, criticized the military council for terrifying the public with the threat of executions. Their judiciary has no justice and no independence. So, Im not going to say their verdicts are right, he said. There have been no executions since the [last] military takeover in 1988. The junta is trying to intimidate the population. Serious rights violations Aung Myo Min, human rights minister for the countrys shadow National Unity Government (NUG), called the death sentences serious human rights violations. [The death penalty] is a legal procedure that must be approved by the president and the present sentences are not even in accordance with the laws of the country, he said. They are arresting anyone they like and then handing out death sentences, and these are very serious [violations of Myanmars laws]. NUG Minister for Defense Naing Htoo Aung called the juntas death sentences unacceptable. The people of Myanmar and the entire world understand the true situation, he said. The entire [legal] process is unfair. Attempts by RFA to contact junta Deputy Information Minister Zaw Min Tun went unanswered Thursday. Since orchestrating a coup on Feb. 1 last year, security forces have arrested nearly 8,800 civilians and killed close to 1,500 mostly during nonviolent protests of junta rule, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association of Political Prisoners. Earlier this week, the Swedish Embassy in Yangon issued a statement calling for the abolishment of the death penalty in Myanmar and the unconditional release of all political prisoners. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Fourteen foreign firms have left since February, but observers say others are waiting to take their place. An announcement by two major energy firms of plans to close their operations in Myanmar mean a significant loss of tax revenue for the junta and highlight a growing exodus by large companies concerned about indirectly funding the militarys suppression of the Burmese people, according to experts. Late last week, U.S.-based Chevron and France-based Total, which pay millions of dollars in annual taxes to the junta to produce oil and gas in Myanmar, announced that they will be shuttering their operations in the country. The companies cited serious human rights abuses and worsening rule of law as the reason for their departure and the announcement came a day after Total called for international sanctions on Myanmars key oil and gas sector. Nearly a year after seizing power, the military has detained 8,800 civilians and killed 1,500 others, mostly during nonviolent protests of its Feb. 1, 2021 coup, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association of Political Prisoners. Speaking to RFAs Myanmar Service, Soe Thura Tun, Minister of Electricity and Energy for Myanmars shadow National Unity Government (NUG), said that Chevron and Total paid around U.S. $40 million in taxes to the junta in December related to their work on the Yadana Gas Project in Tanintharyi region, and that their exit would impact the junta both politically and financially. The amount varies, depending on their gas production, but their withdrawal will surely affect the juntas income, he said, acknowledging that the firms could be replaced by someone else. Either way, the withdrawals [of the two companies] will surely have more of an impact on their political image. Following last weeks announcement, junta Deputy Information Minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun rejected claims that the companies decision was based on the political situation in Myanmar. He said that if international energy companies leave the country the junta will find a way to work with other partners. There are many different reasons [companies might leave]. There are also those who are directly putting pressure on them, he said. Another thing that is really happening is the decline in natural gas production. So, they might have considered this and decided to leave. What I want to say is that we will continue to work with partners who can work together with us. Zaw Min Tun said that although foreign investment had declined immediately after the coup, it had recently stabilized. He blamed terrorist attacks in some parts of the country, where the military is fighting prodemocracy militias, for tarnishing the juntas political image and driving away foreign investment. Earlier this month, the Myanmar Investment Commission approved 10 new ventures in the livestock and fisheries sectors, manufacturing sector, mining sector and services sector. It said the total investment of these businesses surpassed U.S. $241 million and would create more than 2,600 jobs in the country. Waiting in line Than Soe, an economist who worked with the deposed National League for Democracy (NLD) government, said that while the departure of foreign companies could hurt the juntas political reputation, other firms are waiting to take their places. It doesn't really work. Such measures were not effective during the previous [military regimes], he said. If a company has set up many subsidiaries in Myanmar it sells its stakes to its subsidiaries and when the political situation improves, it will come back. He noted that during previous military regimes, companies from Western nations were replaced by those in nations allied with the junta, such as China, Thailand and Vietnam. Soe Tun, a Yangon-based businessman, said it was worrying that big companies like Total and Chevron plan to leave but anticipated that business will continue as usual. It seems to be very worrisome for investors. There might be some direct impact, he said. But we recently saw [Norwegian telecom firm] Telenor leave our country. When it left, its market share was transferred to someone else. And now, although Total and Chevron are leaving, I don't think things will stop. Business in Myanmar Rights groups have tried to make a difference by highlighting the problems with doing business in Myanmar. On Jan. 1, Myanmar-based watchdog Cut Off Blood-Money wrote to U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron urging them to stop Chevron and Total from paying taxes to the junta because of its rights abuses and has urged other nations to do the same. Human rights groups say some 50 percent of Myanmar's foreign exchange earnings come from the energy and oil and gas industries money that could be used by the junta to buy weapons and suppress the public. What we are pointing out is that [the junta] is illegal they are not our government. There is no rule of law. So, we want to stop [firms] from paying the junta, a spokesperson for the group told RFA, speaking on condition of anonymity. There is evidence that some of their money was used to buy weapons and people were killed with these weapons. If these companies continue to pay, they will be accomplices in the committing of war crimes. Earlier this week, New York-based Human Rights Watch warned that the military will continue to collect massive revenues from natural gas and other extractive sectors unless new targeted sanctions block foreign currency payments supporting the juntas abusive rule. In a statement, the group warned that while Chevron and Total had announced plans to leave Myanmar, natural gas revenue to the junta will continue because other companies will take over their operations. Reporting by RFA has found that at least 14 foreign companies have left Myanmar since the coup. In addition to Chevron, Total and Telenor, Australian telecom Myanmar Mytel, Singapore tobacco producer Lim Kaling, Thai real estate firm Amata, and Malaysian oil firm Petronas have also made their exit since the coup. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. DUSHANBE -- A Tajik migrant community leader accused of inciting anti-government sentiment vanished in Russia earlier this month, raising suspicion in Tajikistan that he was secretly detained and extradited to Dushanbe. Amriddin Alovatshoevs family in the remote Gorno-Badakhshan region say they last heard from him on January 11, after which his phone went dead. The following day, Pamirdailynews -- a publication that focuses on Gorno-Badakhshan -- reported that Alovatshoev had been abducted in Russia. He will be sent to Dushanbe on the night on January 13, the publication wrote, citing unnamed sources. Pamirdailynews claimed that Tajik security services had been pursuing Alovatshoev, 44, since the November anti-government rallies in Gorno-Badakhshan. Tajik authorities have denied the claim. The Interior Ministry told RFE/RL that Alovatshoev wasnt among the people sought by Tajik security forces. Alovatshoevs disappearance comes as prosecutors have reportedly launched a new probe into the four-day demonstrations in the volatile region that killed three people and injured at least 17 others. The protests in the provincial capital, Khorugh, broke out on November 25 after security forces fatally wounded a local man wanted on charges of kidnapping. They demanded a probe into his death. The rally turned violent when protesters tried to seize the local government building, prompting security forces to open fire on the crowd, eyewitnesses said. On the same day, a group of Gorno-Badakhshan natives staged protests in front of the Tajik Embassy in Moscow with the same demands as the demonstrators in Khorugh. Alovatshoev was said to be at the rally. During a government meeting in Khorugh on January 10, one official accused Alovatshoev of inciting anti-government sentiment among young people in Gorno-Badakhshan, from abroad. Russian Police's Silence Alovatshoevs wife, Sofia Munimshoeva, said she has heard that her husband and several others -- presumably fellow Gorno-Badakhshan natives -- were briefly detained in the Russian city of Belgorod. Those who were with my husband told me that they were detained on January 11 and were all released two days later, but they havent seen my husband since then, Munimshoeva said. Munimshoeva added that she has asked Russian police about her husbands alleged arrest, but the authorities havent yet responded. Law enforcement agencies in Tajikistan insist they are not aware of Alovatshoevs detention in Russia. Oraz Vazirbekov, a native of Gorno-Badakhshan and a fellow migrant community leader in Moscow, told RFE/RL that he has information that Alovatshoev is being held in the Agency Against Organized Crime in Dushanbe. He didnt elaborate. Asked for comment by RFE/RL, the agency denied that Alovatshoev was in their custody. But Tajiks often dont trust the governments denial of the detention and extradition of Tajik citizens in Russia. At least 15 Tajik anti-government activists and opposition supporters have disappeared in Russia since 2015, human rights defenders say. Some of them have reappeared in Tajikistan -- often in police custody, facing dubious charges ranging from fraud to extremism. The whereabouts of others remain unknown. Tensions between the government in Dushanbe and residents of the linguistically and ethnically distinct region of Gorno-Badakhshan have simmered ever since a civil war broke out in Tajikistan shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Alovatshoev was among the so-called informal leaders in Gorno-Badakhshan in recent years. In October 2018, Alovatshoev and six other influential leaders were warned by the local government against getting involved in criminal actions. The men reportedly signed a letter pledging not to "set up criminal groups, incite mass unrest and the seizure of government buildings and entities, insult government officials, smuggle weapons and drugs, or undermine the security of the state and society. Alovatshoev moved to Russia in 2019 and has since been known as a leader of the Gorno-Badakhshan natives working and studying there. He set up a group that promotes healthy living as well as maintaining close ties among the community members. There has been no indication that Alovatshoevs group has been involved in politics or anti-government activities. Written by Farangis Najibullah in Prague based on reporting by Khursand Khurramov and Mirzonabi Kholiqzod in Tajikistan. U.S. State Secretary Anthony Blinken has urged Belarus's government to "immediately" and "unconditionally" release political prisoners jailed for taking part in mass protests against authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka. In a statement issued late on January 27, Blinken said more than 1,000 political prisoners were now being held in Belarus, while tens of thousands of other "innocent Belarusians" had spent time in jail as well "since, and in the lead up to the fraudulent presidential election in August 2020." The Crisis In Belarus Read our ongoing coverage as Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka continues his brutal crackdown on NGOs, activists, and independent media following the August 2020 presidential election, widely seen as fraudulent. "Since August 2020, the United States, in coordination with allies and partners, has imposed five rounds of sanctions on officials and supporters of the brutal Lukashenka regime. Those sanctions will remain in place until the authorities cease their relentless repression of the Belarusian people, including by unconditionally releasing all political prisoners," Blinken said. Lukashenka claimed victory in the August 2020 election after clamping down on opposition candidates during the campaign. Many Belarusians have faced trials linked to mass protests sparked by the results, with many Belarusians -- and some Western governments -- saying the poll was rigged. The protests were met with the heavy-handed detention of tens of thousands of people. Much of the opposition leadership has been jailed or forced into exile. Several protesters have been killed and there have been credible reports of torture during the widening security crackdown. "The United States calls again for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, recognizing it as a necessary step for Belarus to emerge from its political crisis. We will continue to work for justice for victims and accountability for perpetrators.... We stand with the people of Belarus as they seek a future based on the rule of law and accountable, democratic government," Blinken's statement said. NATO will not compromise on its open-door policy under pressure from Russia, but prospective members like Georgia must make significant domestic reforms and resolve territorial disputes to join the club, a top alliance official said. Javier Colomina, NATOs special representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia, said that Georgia needs to take steps now to prepare to join the alliance, even though membership may be off in the future. We know that right now is not the time for a breakthrough in the open-door policy. And I know the Georgian authorities know that, but they still need to be prepared, to fulfill all the reforms that are needed -- in electoral reform, judicial reform, security, etc., Colomina told RFE/RL in an interview. The comments come as Russia is using a troop buildup near Ukraine to press a list of security demands from the United States and NATO, including guarantees Ukraine and Georgia will never join the alliance. The United States and NATO on January 26 rejected Moscow's demand to permanently shut the door on the former Soviet states from ever joining the Western alliance. NATO also said allied deployments of troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe are not negotiable. We've been extremely clear with the Russians: We won't compromise on our basic principles. We won't compromise on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine or Georgia. I think it's 100 percent clear from NATO that we won't compromise on our open-door policy, Colomina said. Georgia aspires to join NATO and is one of the alliances closest partners, participating in drills and missions with allies. At the 2008 Bucharest summit, allies agreed that Georgia is eligible to become a NATO member, provided it meets all necessary requirements. But Georgia faces significant domestic hurdles to join the alliance. Russia backs Georgias two separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in part to create frozen conflicts to block Georgias hopes for NATO membership. We believe that Georgia should continue on its Euro-Atlantic path, and whenever Georgia is ready to access NATO, it will do so, although I don't think there is a possibility to integrate just one part of Georgia, Colomina said, referring to the territorial disputes. We believe that the territorial integrity of Georgia is a fundamental principle. And therefore we will press the Russians to withdraw their troops and at the same time continue to work as we are doing towards Georgias accession, he added. Meanwhile, Georgia has been plagued by political paralysis and escalating tensions between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition since parliamentary elections in 2020. The crisis has been exacerbated by the arrest last year of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, the founder of the main opposition United National Movement party. Colomina said probably the biggest obstacle to advancing Georgias NATO prospects is the slow pace of reforms and a highly polarized domestic political climate. That is among the concerns of those within the alliance that might have a different view on an open door for Georgia, he said. 2021 wasn't the best year in that sense. Nonetheless, Colomina said the military relationship between NATO and Georgian troops is optimal, pointing to joint drills and Georgia's contribution to some NATO operations. NATO and partners exercising within the partnership is not something that we do with every partner; it is something that we do very specifically with the partners that we believe are actually trained at the level to exercise with NATO directly. This alone is proof of how excellent the relationship is, he said. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned a new prison sentence handed to prominent Iranian human rights defender Narges Mohammadi and called on Tehran to "immediately and unconditionally" release her. "Iranian authorities' cruel detention and prosecution of Narges Mohmmadi only one year after she was released from an earlier prison term and then piling on more unfair prison sentences are clearly intended to crush her into silence at all costs," Tara Sepehrifar, senior Iran researcher at HRW, said in a statement released on January 28. A court sentenced Mohammadi to six years in prison for "assembly and collusion to act against national security," and to two years in prison and 74 lashes for "acting against national security and disrupting public order," her husband, Taghi Rahmani, told HRW on January 27. The sentence also included a two-year ban on membership in political parties and "activities in social and digital platforms," as well as two years of internal exile in Iran. Rahmani said his wife's trial lasted no longer than five minutes and the judge specifically mentioned her recent nomination by two Norwegian parliament members for the Nobel Peace Prize and her efforts to shed light on Iran's use of prolonged solitary confinement against political prisoners. In a letter published on January 27, Mohammadi said that the prosecutor informed her of the new accusations on November 22 and she was taken to the prosecutor's office on December 24 to be informed that she would be formally charged. Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi condemned the "unjust" sentence against Mohammadi. "Narges has not done anything against the law and the sentence against her must be dropped," Ebadi said in a January 28 interview with RFE/RL's Radio Farda. International prizes shine light on the work of those who win these prizes and the Islamic republic fears the attention because it wants to continue its oppressive policies without the world watching," the exiled rights defender said. Mohammadi was arrested in November 2021 after she attended the memorial for a man killed by Iranian security forces during nationwide protests in November 2019. Last week, she was transferred from Tehran's Evin prison to the Gharchak women's prison near Tehran. Before imprisonment, Mohammadi was the vice president of the banned Center for Human Rights Defenders in Iran. She has been repeatedly jailed and harassed by the authorities. In May 2021, a Tehran court sentenced her to 2 1/2 years in prison, 80 lashes, and two separate fines on charges that include "spreading propaganda against the system." In 2016, she was sentenced to 16 years in prison on charges that rights groups said were solely related to her human rights activities. Following her release from prison in October 2020 after her sentenced was reduced, she continued to criticize human rights abuses in Iran, and accused prison authorities of sexually harassing her and other female prisoners. In March 2021, Mohammadi was among a group of activists who filed an official complaint against the use of solitary confinement against political detainees. "People like Narges Mohammadi are the ones who work to bring Iranian civil society together," Sepehrifar said. "Governments that are engaging diplomatically with Iran should make sure to press the government to stop its relentless crackdown against human rights defenders," she added. A journalist and an engineer, she has been awarded several prestigious prizes, including the American Physical Society's Andrei Sakharov Prize in 2018 for outstanding leadership in upholding human rights. The latest round of talks to save the Iran nuclear deal have neared a final stage, diplomats said, after weeks of intense diplomacy in Vienna. Diplomats from Germany, France, and Britain, known collectively as the E3, together with Russia and China, have been meeting in the Austrian capital since last spring trying to bring Iran and the United States closer to a deal to restore the 2015 agreement. The EUs Enrique Mora, who is coordinating the talks, said on January 28 that participants will go back to their capitals for consultations before coming back next week. Political decisions are needed now, he wrote on Twitter. In a statement, the E3 said all sides know the talks are reaching the final stage, which requires political decisions. "January has been the most intensive period of these talks to date," they said. Russia's representative, Mikhail Ulyanov, who is often optimistic about the talks, said: "My instinct tells me that agreement will be reached soon after mid-February." The pause comes after Iran this week suggested it could negotiate directly with the United States if a good agreement can be reached. To date, the EU has mediated indirect talks between Tehran and Washington. "Our understanding is Iran has not yet agreed to direct talks," State Department spokesman Ned Price said on January 27. "We remain prepared to meet directly." U.S. President Joe Biden has signaled that he wants to rejoin the deal, after his predecessor, Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew the United States and reimposed sanctions. The return of economic sanctions led Iran to start rolling back its commitments and restart some uranium enrichment activity, pushing the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to the verge of complete collapse. Key issues in negotiations remain the speed and scope of lifting sanctions on Tehran, including Irans demand for a U.S. guarantee it will not violate the agreement again. The talks are also moving slowly over technical details about how and when to restore curbs on Irans atomic work, which has advanced significantly since the United States withdrew from the accord. With reporting by AFP, AP, dpa, and Reuters At least two people were killed and many more wounded as Kyrgyz and Tajik security forces traded fire along a disputed segment of the border between the two countries, according to officials on both sides. A standoff over a blocked road apparently triggered the fighting on January 27. It was the most intense outbreak of violence between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan since a similar border clash killed dozens last year. Authorities in both countries agreed to a cease-fire on January 28. With the threat of a major military escalation still looming, the United States and NATO have responded to Russia's demands for sweeping restrictions on the Western alliance -- but how will Russia respond to the response? Also, COVID cases skyrocket, Aleksei Navalny is put on a list of "terrorists and extremists," and an apparent abduction casts a stark spotlight on President Vladimir Putin's man in Chechnya -- again. Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward. War Or Peace During the flurry of diplomacy that ensued after Moscow leveled sweeping security demands at the United States and NATO last month, Russian officials have repeatedly warned the West not to drag out the process of talks. Six days after Russia announced its demands in the form of draft treaties with Washington and the Western military alliance on December 17, President Vladimir Putin said they must be addressed "immediately." But while the United States has made clear it wants to keep the diplomacy going given the possible alternative, Russia -- which has amassed an estimated 100,000 troops or more near Ukraine's borders, implicitly threatening to use them to get its way while denying it has any intention of doing so -- also appears in no hurry to stop talking, at least for now. Earlier in January, the end of a series of meetings between Moscow and the West seemed like a likely time for the question haunting a wide swath of the world for months -- will Russia launch a new offensive targeting Ukraine? -- to be answered. Later, it seemed like the answer could come after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on January 18, or after the United States and NATO provided written responses to the Russian demands, as Moscow insisted they do. After those responses were handed over on January 26, however, it soon became clear that the elusive moment of truth -- if there is to be one -- was not a hand. "I maintain that the only person who can tell you what the Kremlin endgame is is President Putin. I don't think anyone else knows," Blinken told RFE/RL in an interview the following day. "And he may not even know at this point because what he's done in the past, and what I believe animates the way he approaches things, is to create as many options as possible." Russian officials and diplomats gave the U.S. and NATO responses a tentative thumbs-down, with Putin's spokesman saying the responses provided "not too much cause for optimism," but they made no move to close the door on diplomacy. Lavrov, in fact, suggested talks could continue. He panned Washington's refusal to give in on the "main question" -- Moscow's call for binding guarantees that NATO will never expand further to the east and will reverse deployments made since 1997. At the same time, he said the U.S. response "enables us to count on a serious discussion, but [only] on the secondary issues." 'Twisted, Grousing' Given concerns that Moscow might use the formal rejection of its demands on NATO expansion and deployments as a pretext for military action, some observers saw such remarks as a relatively good sign. "There was no chance the Kremlin would welcome US/NATO proposals short of surrender," Daniel Fried, a retired U.S. diplomat who is now a fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, wrote on Twitter on January 27. "So this twisted, grousing initial Kremlin response is the most positive we could have expected." But it was only an initial response. Russian officials will study the U.S. and NATO responses and report to Putin, who will then "make a decision on our further steps," Lavrov said. He gave no time frame, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it "would be foolish to expect it as early as next week." And in new comments on January 28, Lavrov stopped far short of ruling out military action: "We don't want wars, but we also will not allow our interests to be rudely trampled upon or ignored," he said. Meanwhile, talks involving Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany aimed at resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which is closely tied to Russia's abruptly escalated dispute with the West over the future of Ukraine and the region as a whole, yielded an agreement to meet again around February 9. "The good news is that advisers agreed to meet in Berlin in two weeks, which means that Russia for the next two weeks is likely to remain on the diplomatic track," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said following the January 26 talks. And numerous observers have speculated that Putin would be unlikely to launch a major offensive against Ukraine during the Beijing Olympics, to be held on February 4-20, out of deference to China. So once again, there are several indications that diplomacy will continue for a while. How long a while is unclear. And some analysts argue that it makes little sense to frame it as matter of either/or -- talks or military action by Russia. "There is no firm line between war and diplomacy in such a conflict," Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation think tank, wrote on Twitter on January 27. "Moscow is likely to seek a negotiated settlement even if it goes to war." Others suspect that Russia may not launch a major offensive -- not in the near future, at least. "Putin is known to be emotional about Ukraine. He is, however, also experienced and crafty; he hasn't made a statement on the crisis in weeks," commentator Leonid Bershidsky wrote in a Bloomberg Opinion article published on January 27. "It's almost as if he's decided to wait out the invasion hysteria and then go on calmly weighing his options -- and waiting for pro-Western Ukrainian governments to run out of rope as they struggle ineffectively with the country's seemingly incurable corruption." For nearly two months now, Russia's military buildup near Ukraine and its demands for what amounts to a substantial rollback of the results of the Soviet Union's downfall 30 years ago have drawn attention away from domestic developments. Going Viral One of them is the current surge of COVID-19 cases and the potential consequences for a country in which a majority of the people -- nearly 52 percent, according to the Coronavirus Research Center at Johns Hopkins University, which tracks the official government numbers worldwide -- are not fully vaccinated. The number of new cases recorded per day has skyrocketed this month with the advent of the omicron variant, rising from 15,316 on January 6 to 98,040 on January 28, according to the state task force for combatting the virus. That number is more than double the previous high, recorded in early November 2021, and more than three times the record high before that, in December 2020. Meanwhile, just over a year after Aleksei Navalny was arrested upon his return to Russia following treatment in Germany for a near-fatal nerve-agent poisoning he blames on Putin, the state's campaign against the opposition politician and anti-corruption crusader continued. On January 25, the government put Navalny and 11 of his associates, including lawyer Lyubov Sobol, on a list of "terrorists and extremists," equating them with alleged members of outlawed far-right groups and foreign organizations such as Islamic State. Earlier this month it had added two other top allies of Navalny, Leonid Volkov and Ivan Zhdanov, to the same list. The designations are part of a persistent clampdown on Kremlin critics, independent journalists, and civil society groups that rights activists and Western governments see as a sweeping attempt to stamp out opposition to Putin, who has been president or prime minister since 1999 and may seek a new six-year term in 2024. Navalny emerged as the most prominent opposition figure over the past decade, leading or participating in numerous peaceful protests against Putin's government and overseeing the production of a series of investigative reports exposing evidence of corruption at the highest levels. He sought to challenge Putin for the presidency in 2018 but was barred from the ballot on the basis of convictions on financial-crimes charges he and supporters contend were fabricated. Since his arrest and imprisonment a year ago, his organizations have been outlawed and many associates have fled the country. The listing of Navalny and his associates came as an alleged abduction case shone a spotlight on a Russian political figure who Kremlin critics and rights activists say is an actual extremist -- Ramzan Kadyrov, the former rebel Putin picked to lead the North Caucasus region of Chechnya nearly 15 years ago, in 2007. 'Unjustly Detained' Dozens of relatives of critics of Kadyrov were abducted in late December, according to Amnesty International, including members of the family of Abubakar Yangulbayev, a lawyer for the Committee Against Torture, a Russian rights groups that has exposed alleged abuses by security forces controlled by Kadyrov. On January 20, Yangulbayev's mother, Zarema Yangulbayeva, who also goes by the last name Musayeva, was taken from her apartment in Nizhny Novgorod, hundreds of kilometers from Chechnya, by masked men who said they were Chechen police. The following day, Kadyrov said that Yangulbayeva would be imprisoned, alleging that she attacked a law enforcement officer. The Kremlin-backed regional leader also said that Chechen authorities "will take care of" her son Abubakar and that her entire family could find themselves "either in jail or underground." Yangulbayeva is now jailed in Chechnya. Yangulbayev, who is no longer in Russia, aired a video message in which he urged Putin to replace Kadyrov with a "normal" person. Putin has not mentioned the matter in public. His spokesman, Peskov, said on January 21 that the Kremlin had no information about what relatives said was Yangulbayeva's abduction and "prefer not to believe" it occurred. Amnesty International also urged Russian officials to take action, asking, "Will Russia's federal authorities again ignore the developments in Chechnya and pretend that they are not aware of attempts by the Chechen authorities to muzzle their critics by criminal acts and abductions of their relatives?" Rights groups charge that Kadyrov frequently flouts Russian law, rules Chechnya through fear and oppression, and should be held responsible for widespread abuses carried out by forces he controls. Kremlin critics say that Putin is unwilling or unable to rein in Kadyrov -- or both. In a statement on January 27, the U.S. State Department condemned what it said was the forcible transfer of Yangulbayeva to Chechnya, as well as "dozens of reported abductions and arbitrary detentions in recent weeks targeting the relatives of Chechen human rights defenders and dissidents," and called for "the immediate release of all who have been unjustly detained." "We call on Russian federal authorities to refrain from enabling repressive acts...originating in Chechnya and to bring those responsible for continuing egregious human rights violations in Chechnya to justice consistent with the law of the Russian Federation and Russia's international human rights obligations," State Department spokesman Ned Price said. President Vladimir Putin says the West has "ignored" Moscow's security concerns over the expansion of NATO as the United States again urged Russia to withdraw its forces from areas near Ukraine's borders amid continued fears that the troop buildup could be a prelude to an invasion of its western neighbor. In Ukraine, meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pushed back on some of the dire warnings from the United States about an imminent Russian attack as he urged people to remain calm. Live Briefing: Ukraine In The Crosshairs RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Putins conversation with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on January 28 came as tensions continue to soar, with more than 100,000 Russian troops deployed to regions north, east, and south of Ukraines borders. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that Putin has all the military capabilities ready to act against Ukraine and that it now comes down to a political decision on what action Moscow will take. "While we don't believe that President Putin has made a final decision to use these forces against Ukraine, he clearly now has that capability," Austin told reporters. He said Putin has "multiple options" available, "including the seizure of cities and significant territories, but also coercive acts and provocative political acts like the recognition of breakaway territories." After Putins phone call with Macron, the Kremlin issued a statement saying the Russian side would study written responses submitted by the United States and NATO this week concerning Moscow's demands on security guarantees "after which, it will decide on further actions." Russia is demanding a major restructuring of Europes security architecture in exchange for a de-escalation of the crisis over Ukraine. The United States and NATO, however, have largely rejected the demands, including the call to permanently shut the door on Ukraine -- and other former Soviet republics -- from ever joining the Western alliance. NATO also said allied deployments of troops and military equipment in Eastern Europe are not negotiable. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, speaking at an Atlantic Council forum on January 28, said the alliance was ready to step up its presence in Eastern Europe to reassure allies and prove to Russia its resolve amid the Ukraine crisis. He added that Russia was deploying thousands of combat-ready troops and military hardware in Belarus, which borders NATO's eastern flank, as well as Ukraine. Western intelligence agencies estimate that more than 100,000 Russian troops have already been moved into the border regions with Ukraine. Stoltenberg, however, noted that, at this point, there is "no certainty" that Russia plans to invade Ukraine. Speaking to reporters on January 28 in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that tensions with Russia have not increased and that the main risk to his country is destabilization from within. Zelenskiy said that while he couldn't rule out a further escalation of tensions, it is not clear the start of a war with Russia is certain. "I don't consider the situation now more tense than before. There is a feeling abroad that there is war here. That's not the case," he said. "I am not saying an escalation is not possible...[but] we don't need this panic." Earlier on January 28, U.S. Ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan said Washington was now waiting for Russia's response to its written proposals for a diplomatic path out of the Ukraine crisis, voicing hope that meeting between American and Russian diplomats could then follow. Sullivan said diplomacy was the only way forward, but warned that could only happen if Russia starts dismantling its buildup near the Ukraine border. "If I put a gun on the table and say that I come in peace, that's threatening," Sullivan told an online briefing. He also warned that economic sanctions would be just one part of the West's response if Russia were to invade Ukraine, saying that other measures would include export controls, greater defense of allies in Europe, and preventing the Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipeline from Russia to Germany from operating. U.S. officials have indicated that possible punitive measures against Russia such as disconnecting Russia from the SWIFT system of global bank transfers or imposing an expanded ban on high-tech exports to Russia are under consideration. Sullivan also said the size of the Russian military buildup on Ukraine's borders would allow an invasion with little warning. He added that "what the Russian government has said publicly is that it has no intention to invade Ukraine, but the facts on the ground tell a much different story." His comments came hot on the heels of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's reassurances that it won't be Russia's decision to start a war against Ukraine -- but with the caveat that Moscow will not allow its interests to be "ignored." Washington laid out in its response a "serious diplomatic path" to resolve the Ukraine crisis, while repeating threats of unprecedented economic sanctions should Russian further invade Ukraine. "If it depends on the Russian Federation, there won't be a war," Lavrov said in an interview with Russian radio stations in an indication Moscow is willing to continue to engage in finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis. "We do not want wars, but we won't allow our interests to be rudely trod upon or to be ignored," Lavrov said, adding that the U.S. proposals were "almost an example of diplomatic propriety," compared to NATO's highly "idealized" response. Lavrov said he expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the coming weeks for a new round of talks amid the crisis, though ultimately Putin would decide how to respond to the American proposals. He added that a new round of U.S. sanctions against Moscow would likely lead to the severing of relations between the United States and Russia. "The Americans were told, including at the level of presidential contacts, that this package...accompanied by the total disconnection from the financial-economic systems controlled by the West, would be tantamount to the severing of relations," Lavrov said. Western governments have also called on Russia to pull back its troops from the border regions and from Belarus, a move Moscow has rejected, saying it can place soldiers anywhere it wants on its own territory. Speaking to foreign reporters in Kyiv, Zelenskiy called for calm and appeared to downplay the urgency of the threat, in contrast to what U.S. officials have been saying in recent weeks. "I don't consider the situation now more tense than before. There is a feeling abroad that there is war here. That's not the case," he said January 28. "I am not saying an escalation is not possible...[but] we don't need this panic. Are there tanks driving on our streets? No, Zelenskiy said. But if you are not here, that's the sense you are getting in England, Germany, France, in Lithuania.... The impression you are getting from the media is that there is a war going on here, that soldiers are marching down our streets, that a mobilization has been declared, that people are going somewhere. That's not the case. We don't need this panic. In Minsk, authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka, a close ally of Putin, sounded a bellicose note, saying Belarus would go to war if Russia was attacked, pledging to host "hundreds of thousands" of Russian troops in the event of war. Lukashenka said in a televised national address that Belarus would go to war if it was attacked first. Several rounds of diplomacy held in European cities this month between the West and Moscow have failed to reach a breakthrough, although the sides have shown a willingness to continue talks. Moscow has been backing separatist fighters in an ongoing war in eastern Ukraine that has claimed more than 13,200 lives since 2014, the same year Russian illegally annexed Crimea. With reporting by RFE/RL senior correspondent Mike Eckel in Kyiv, RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, Reuters, AFP, and AP NUR-SULTAN -- Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has replaced predecessor Nursultan Nazarbaev as the leader of the ruling Nur-Otan party, the latest in a series of moves to consolidate his power and marginalize his predecessor following deadly anti-government protests in early January. The presidential press service said that the decision was made at the party's congress on January 28 at the behest of Nazarbaev. Despite announcing in March 2019 that he was stepping down after almost 30 years of ruling the oil-rich Central Asian state, Nazarbaev continued to have a strong influence over Kazakhstan's domestic and foreign policies as lifetime chairman of the influential Security Council and the leader the Assembly of Kazakhstan's People and the Nur-Otan party. While he lost the first two positions earlier this week, and the party leadership on January 27, Nazarbaev continues to enjoy the powers of "elbasy" (leader of the nation). The congress was held amid a protest by some members of the party who quit its ranks over what they see as the party's "failure" to prevent bloodshed during the anti-government protests. After the party congress announced him as the new leader, Toqaev reiterated previous statements -- again without presenting evidence -- that "terrorists" tried to take over the country by "hijacking peaceful protests." He also said that "due to ongoing rumors in the country, I would like to say again that our first president contributed a lot to turn our nation into a stable country with a strong base." The protests earlier this month in the remote town of Zhanaozen over a sudden fuel-price hike quickly spread across Kazakhstan with much of the protesters' anger directed at Nazarbaev, who had ruled Kazakhstan since 1989. In the wake of protests, Toqaev, Nazarbaev's handpicked successor, claimed that Almaty was attacked by "20,000 terrorists" as he issued a "shoot-to-kill-without warning" order and invited troops from the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization's to enter the country. No officials have given direct evidence of any "terrorists" being involved in the unrest." Kazakh authorities say that 227 people were killed during the unrest, including 19 law enforcement officers, and 12,000 others were detained. Human rights groups insist that the number of people killed during the violence may be much higher as scores of people remain missing. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Ukrainian schools are preparing children for the possibility of war with Russia. At one Kyiv school, police demonstrated bombs and shells, and children practiced an evacuation. KYIV -- Ukraines president again pushed back on U.S. assertions that a new Russian invasion of Ukraine was imminent, as he sought to tamp down fears within the country and ease mounting economic strains. Speaking before foreign reporters in Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskiy insisted that tensions with Russia had not increased and that the main risk to his country is destabilization from within. Live Briefing: Ukraine In The Crosshairs RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Zelenskiy said that while he couldn't rule out a further escalation of tensions, it is not clear that the start of a war with Russia, which has moved more than an estimated 100,000 troops to areas close to Ukraine's border, is certain. "I don't consider the situation now more tense than before. There is a feeling abroad that there is war here. That's not the case," he said January 28. "I am not saying an escalation is not possible...[but] we don't need this panic. In recent weeks, a number of U.S. officials have made sometimes dire warnings that Russia planned to launch a new invasion of Ukraine. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki earlier this week said that an invasion was imminent." Ukrainian officials have made notably different statements in an attempt to downplay an immediate threat. Are there tanks driving on our streets? No, Zelenskiy said. But if you are not here, that's the sense you are getting in England, Germany, France, in Lithuania. The impression you are getting from the media is that there is a war going on here, that soldiers are marching down our streets, that a mobilization has been declared, that people are going somewhere. That's not the case. We don't need this panic. Zelenskiy gave veiled criticism of Western nations who were warning of new economic sanctions but only if Russia invades. He suggested that the sanctions were needed before any possible invasion. Everyone is saying that there will be a war tomorrow, a large-scale one. Why all this talk about sanctions afterwards? he said. Such sanctions are definitely not designed [to help] our country. It speaks of an effort to restrain a large-scale aggression away from EU member states. But it cannot be done at the expense of our country. You are talking of the need to come up with some preemptive sanctions -- NATO is one such sanction. If it's not NATO, then be so kind and show us your security guarantees, he said. Zelenskiy said that Ukraine needs not only military support from the West during the current crisis but also political and economic support, including $4-5 billion to help stabilize the economy. He also warned that Ukraine, as well as eastern members of the NATO military alliance, may be exposed to cyberattacks and other tactics by Russia. Danvers, MA (01923) Today Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Sanford, NC (27330) Today Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. . , . This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Show More Show Less Firefighters rescued an injured resident of a senior housing complex in Pleasant Hill on Thursday after a fire started in one of the second-floor units, officials said. Crews with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District arrived at the Hookston Senior Homes around 1:15 p.m. and found the resident on his second-floor balcony, trying to escape the flames in an adjacent unit, said Steve Hill, a Contra Costa Fire public information officer. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In the battle to establish San Franciscos Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District, Rachele Pasco Sullivan was behind the scenes until the moment she took center stage. In a ceremony at the famous queer bar the Stud in June 2018, there was Sullivan in a leather evening dress, holding the scissors used to cut the ceremonial ribbon. Rachele was a tireless foot soldier in our efforts to get the district formed, said Bob Goldfarb, executive director of the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District. She was someone in the background talking to people and getting things worked out. Those things took place very quietly. Sullivan was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in September 2021 and died Jan. 17 at home in Pittsburg, said her sister Ernestine Tina Sanchez. Sullivan was 54. Through her brief and intense illness, Sullivan never complained, other than about being the center of attention. As a registered nurse who had worked in emergency rooms, inside prisons and in hospice care, she was used to being the one doing the caregiving. Rachele was one of the most dedicated and intuitive healers I have ever known. She had so much heart for anyone in pain, said Kat Wallace, a close friend who prefers to go by the name she uses in the leather community, Ms. Willowcat. On the one hand, she was a Western-medicine nurse, but she also constantly sought out Indigenous and alternative healing practices, said Willowcat, also a hospice professional. She was a deeply spiritual person and a leather person. Sullivan was a single mother raising a son when she first explored leather culture, which she later told friends was at the core of her persona all along. She volunteered for the Folsom Street Fair, Pride and Ms. San Francisco Leather, which benefited from her willingness to do any kind of job, from fundraising to working backstage. She was super-friendly and reached out to people everywhere, Willowcat said. She got people excited to come in and help set up barricades and do all of the things that make these events happen. Rachele Cordova Pasco was born in San Francisco on Dec. 17, 1967, the third of four daughters. Both of her parents were immigrants from the Philippines. Her father, Ernesto Pasco, was a machinist, and her mother, Raquel Cordova Pasco, worked in data entry at Wells Fargo. The family lived in the Richmond District before settling in a hilltop home in the Sunset with a view of the ocean. Sullivan attended Star of the Sea Elementary, where she served as vice president of the Filipino American Association, and Presentation High School, where she involved herself in theater as part of the stage crew. After graduating in 1985, she enrolled at University of San Francisco, where her older sister Ernestine was already attending classes. But the burden of two private tuition bills was too much of a strain on the family, so she transferred to College of Marin. When she entered the medical field, she was hired to work in the cancer ward at UCSF Parnassus and at St. Lukes Hospital in the Mission District. On her 22nd birthday, in 1989, she married Gary White Sampson, a paramedic who contracted AIDS, possibly when he was stuck by a needle while treating a patient. Sampson died in 1995. After that, his widow became involved in fundraising in the fight against AIDS. One steady source of funds in the early years was the annual International Ms. Leather contest held at the Holiday Inn on Van Ness Avenue. Sullivan ran the silent auction, which raised thousands for education and outreach. We were born and raised Catholic, but Rachele was a free spirit, Sanchez said. She moved mountains. Sullivan was working in the hospital ward at San Quentin State Prison when she met Chris Sullivan, a correctional officer there. They were married, and a son, Sebastian Sullivan, was born in 2000. The Sullivans divorced shortly after, although Rachele kept her married name. She eventually settled in Pittsburg, but commuted to San Francisco for work and for her off-duty pursuits as a member of the Exiles, a leather and BDSM education group in San Francisco. We tell people how to be kinky and do it safely, said Rio Spooner, co-coordinator for the Exiles. Rachele had endless amounts of energy and a wide range of interests. Sullivan did not wear leather in the traditional fashion: Muir cap and vest, leather pants and motorcycle boots. Her style was mostly in a feminine mode leather dresses and accessories. She accentuated that with a personality that played against stereotypes of the leather community, according to Spooner. Rachele was bubbly and joyful, Spooner said. She enjoyed being with people and loved being part of a community. In addition to the Exiles and the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District, Sullivan was involved in establishing the Eagle Plaza next to the famous S.F. Eagle leather bar at Folsom and Harrison streets. She served on the board of both the San Francisco Bay Area Leather Alliance and the Folsom Street Fair, where she ran the volunteer registration booth and the hospitality area. She was the driving force behind establishing Venus Playground, a fenced-in sanctuary and safe space at the fair where women, nonbinary people and trans people could avoid the gawkers and the gropers. But Sullivan was seldom seen in Venus Playground. She had too many other duties at the fair. Her deepest involvement was in establishing the Leather District, a push that began in 2017 to forestall displacement of venues, organizations and rent-controlled apartments during the push for gentrification. It took a year of nonstop work and political campaigning before the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved legislation to create a 22-square-block quadrant roughly bordered by Howard Street, the Interstate 80 overpass, Division Street and Seventh Street. 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. Sullivan neither lived in the district nor had a personal stake in it, but she put in a tremendous number of hours on a week-to-week basis, Goldfarb said. Sullivan was always on the move, and that included in her nursing career. She worked at a variety of hospitals and in private hospice. In 2017, she was part of a team of Bay Area Indigenous and women of color organized by elder L. Frank Manriquez to travel to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation and camp out in the North Dakota cold for a week to protest construction of an oil pipeline. Sullivan served as the camp cook. After that experience, Rachele dedicated her life to serving Indigenous people and the Filipino community, said Holly Calica, who was part of the delegation. One of her gifts was her access to spiritual healing. In 2018, Sullivan accepted a job as a nurse and administrator at the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe in Darrington, Wash. She sold her condo in Pittsburg to move to the Northwest. In 2020, she was recognized as a top registered nurse in Todays Nurse magazine and received an award of recognition from the International Nurses Association. Her mantra in life was that everyone was her friend, and wherever she felt she was needed was where she was at, said Christy Busch, a close friend from the leather community. Shed be gone for six months working on a project and then she would be back home. After the pandemic hit in March 2020, she left the job with the tribe and worked on the front lines, administering coronavirus tests in San Francisco. My mom was a caring and amazing individual, said Sebastian, now 21 and living in Pittsburg. I was able to learn so much about different people and different cultures from her. She was just an amazing mother. A public vigil will be held at 4 p.m. Feb. 8 at St. Anne of the Sunset, 850 Judah St., San Francisco. Survivors include her son Sebastian Sullivan of Pittsburg; mother Raquel Cordova Pasco of San Francisco; and sisters Josiebel Pasco Vargas of San Francisco; Ernestine Sanchez of Pittsburg; and Erleen Pasco Rosendo of San Jose. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@samwhitingsf This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UPDATE: Should people age 50+ get their second booster shot now, or wait? Six Bay Area experts told us when they are planning their second booster shots. As some countries begin to offer a second booster shot a fourth dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, should you consider getting one? Given the data that exists now, Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of medicine at UCSF, says he would skip it. The doctor took to Twitter to explain that the situation is complicated, and as with most things concerning the virus, rapidly evolving. As it stands now, Wachter said, early data from Israel, one of the few countries already doling out fourth doses, shows that second booster does provide some additional protection against severe disease and infection. But people with just one booster are so highly protected already that the difference isnt significant. But hes willing to change his mind if that difference changes over time. In the U.S. severely immunocompromised people, such as those receiving active cancer treatment or who have had an organ transplant, are eligible for a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For this group, a fourth dose is the first booster dose: Three doses are considered a complete vaccine series for them. As Wachter notes, preliminary findings in Israel the first country to offer a fourth shot to anyone older than 60 boosted antibodies but didnt do much to further prevent infection rates or serious disease with the omicron variant, the Times of Israel reported. Thats largely because a booster shot alone or a third shot already significantly reduced chances of dying from COVID-19. For a 65-year-old man with no additional risk factors, its about one in 1,500, Wachter said, or 0.07%. However, more recent data out of Israel touted better results saying a fourth shot offered a threefold reduction in serious illness and twofold reduction in infection compared to people who had just gotten one booster dose, the Times of Israel reported, though the data is still preliminary. But Wachter explained that that threefold reduction may not be as significant as it sounds. First, Wachter notes that early evidence out of the United Kingdom shows that antibodies from booster shots begin to wane by 15% to 25% around ten weeks after the shot, decreasing the shots effectiveness. But scientists still do not know how much waning antibodies increase risk of hospitalization or death, Wachter said. To determine if its worth getting the fourth shot, Wachter uses the Number Needed to Treat (NNT), a measurement commonly used in medicine to help doctors and patients decide if a treatment is worth the potential risks and costs. The larger the NNT, the fewer people are helped by the treatment. For a second booster shot, the NNT is 1,163, Wachter calculated. In contrast, most medical treatments ideally have an NNT of 5 to 15, Wachter said. Importantly, the NNT changes when other risk factors are involved, so it would likely be lower or more effective for an 80-year-old diabetic, but much higher for a healthy 30-year-old, he explained. But unlike treatments for other diseases that can be expensive and have severe side effects, COVID-19 vaccines are safe and cheap, Wachter noted. They also help beyond just the outcome preventing death, which Wachter used to calculate the NNT they prevent hospitalization and may even decrease risk of long COVID. Additionally, because its COVID, its not just about the individual, Wachter wrote so if a fourth shot decreases risk of infection, that means the spread of the virus is lowered for the entire community. Wachter also noted that people may think they should wait for omicron-specific vaccines that Pfizer and Moderna are currently developing but hes skeptical that these variant-specific boosters will make much difference, he wrote, given how effective current vaccines and boosters already are in preventing serious illness and death even with omicron. If I was convinced that a 4th shot was beneficial now, I wouldnt delay getting it to wait for a potentially better vaccine, he wrote. In an interview this week with ABC News, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he doesnt yet know whether a fourth dose will be needed as data on the durability of the first booster dose is still coming in and hes hopeful that the third dose will provide longer-lasting protection against severe disease than the original vaccine series did. 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. Thats where we would like to be ... where you dont have to get more and more, always, every six months with a booster, he said. We may need to boost again. Thats entirely conceivable, but before we make that decision about yet again another boost, we want to determine clearly what the durability of protection is of that regular boost, that third shot that were talking about. Another concern is the persistent lack of vaccination access in much of the world. As of December, only half of the World Health Organizations member states had reached their goal of vaccinating 40% of the population, because of lack of supply. Epidemiologists have argued that leaving much of the world unvaccinated while the vaccinated receive boosters means that variants wont stop developing. Blanket booster programmes are likely to prolong the pandemic, rather than ending it, by diverting supply to countries that already have high levels of vaccination coverage, giving the virus more opportunity to spread and mutate, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of WHO said in a December media briefing. Wachter noted this concern, but said that if a forth shot was unambiguously useful in preventing deaths & infections, we have other ways to contribute to global vaccine equity without foregoing beneficial treatment. The data from Israel does not consider people who are vaccinated, boosted and got a mild case of omicron, Wachter said a growing group of people who likely have some hybrid immunity that would make a fourth shot less beneficial. With all that in mind, Wachter said hell be holding off on the fourth shot for now saying the NNT is too high and the evidence too weak to require or recommend a fourth shot at this time. However, that conclusion is subject to change as more data rolls in, he said. But if additional data confirm the Israeli findings, then Id probably take it, because the risks are near-zero and the benefit may grow over time, he said, either because of further waning immunity from the first booster or because the spread an even more infectious variant may increase the value of having the maximum possible immunity. Danielle Echeverria is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DanielleEchev San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin issued a rebuttal Thursday against a man who said his office failed to ensure his rights as a victim after he was struck with a plastic bat. A spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office presented a starkly different version of events, corroborated in part by documents separately obtained by The Chronicle. The records detail how a victim advocate from the office documented that she reached out to the victim, Anh Le, more than two dozen times, leaving several messages in the week leading up to a plea deal for Jimmy Tanner, the defendant who got into an altercation with Le on Nov. 2, 2019. The spokesperson called Les assertion that he was not consulted about the cases settlement not accurate, and records show that a victim advocate made notes in an official log that she sent multiple emails and called Le to ask if he would testify at a hearing, but that she received no response. An attorney representing Le said the district attorney was re-victimizing her client in trying to refute the claims in his lawsuit. Le, who is 69 and Vietnamese American, sued the District Attorneys Office this week, alleging that officials did not confer with him when they resolved Tanners case on April 12, 2021 with a plea deal: He was found guilty of a misdemeanor battery charge and agreed to probation and a stay away order. The lawsuit alleges Le was not afforded the opportunity to attend hearings, give a victim impact statement or comment on plea-bargaining discussions in court. He said the attack was racially motivated. It began when Le confronted Tanner for taking up too much space on a sidewalk, where Tanners 11-year-old son was pushing a bicycle, according to District Attorneys Office spokesperson Rachel Marshall. Tanners son swung a plastic bat at Le several times, according to Marshall. Tanner, who uses a wheelchair, intervened and made verbal threats against Le while holding a Snapple bottle, Marshall said. Police arrested Tanner on accusations of criminal threats, elder abuse and battery, and then-District Attorney Suzy Loftus filed charges against him on Nov. 6, which did not include any hate crime counts. At that point, a victim advocate was assigned to the case and reached out to Le, Marshall said, adding that the advocate saw the case to its conclusion, contacting Le numerous times via phone, email and mail. In an entry from the victim advocates log dated March 23, 2021, the advocate said she had told Le that a preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 12, and asked whether he was available to testify. On April 6, she noted that she emailed Le, asking to schedule a meeting with the assistant district attorney handling the case, according to the log. Two days later, she said she attempted to call Le, leaving a message when the call went straight to voice mail, the records show. I left him a message, I told him that it is possible that the case will resolve and the (assistant district attorney) and I would like to speak with him tomorrow, the victim advocate wrote in the log. Attorneys for Le did not initially respond to The Chronicles detailed questions about these log entries. In a statement provided after the story was published, the attorneys said Le was never told in a phone call or email that a plea deal would be reached or was being considered. The attorneys said no emails explained that a critical hearing was happening which would resolve the case and that the defendant would be pleading to a misdemeanor with one-year probation. Les attorneys said they requested all email communications from the DAs Office notifying Mr. Le about a potential plea deal. The Legal Team received no emails. When the parties agreed to the plea deal on April 12, the prosecutor shared in court that Le had expressed concerns about the case, saying he wanted Tanner to be sentenced to state prison and his child to be prosecuted, according to Marshall. The day after the hearing where the plea deal was agreed to, the victim advocate said she sent an email to Le: I attempted to contact you by phone and email but I have not been able to reach you, the message said, according to the log. The prosecutor wanted to speak with you because the case reached a resolution. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. She then asked to schedule a call with Le and the assistant district attorney, to provide an update, according to the log. Quyen Ta, an attorney representing Le, said in a statement that her client was again being re-victimized and that his injuries and trauma are being minimized. It is no wonder that victims of Asian American hate crimes hesitate to report their attacks, to seek help from the institutions that are supposed to assist them, and to speak up on behalf of themselves and other victims, Ta said. Ta emphasized that victims of anti-Asian American hate crimes, particularly seniors and those from immigrant communities, need to have confidence in the criminal justice system and to be respected, rather than second-guessed. We hope that we can work together with the District Attorneys Office to create a safe sanctuary for victims of Asian American hate crimes, she said. In a statement, Kasie Lee, chief of the victim services division in the District Attorneys Office, said the lawsuits mischaracterizations of the cases events undermined the trust between crime victims and their advocates. We also want to provide reassurance to victims that they will receive comprehensive services when working with our advocates, Lee said. We will continue to do everything we can to support victims. Editors note: This story was updated after it was initially published to include additional comments from attorneys for Anh Le and to clarify what his attorneys and the District Attorneys Office said about their communications. Rachel Swan and Megan Cassidy are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com, megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan, @meganrcassidy Candis Dorsch, a real estate broker in Bozeman, Mont., has spent years selling vacation homes to Bay Area residents at a healthy clip. But a few months into the pandemic, she said, demand from the Bay exploded. I have a vacation rental in Bozeman, Dorsch told The Chronicle. It became slam-booked for the entire summer. Buyers were making phone calls, buyers were buying properties, sight unseen, to get out of the Bay Area. It really happened in the very beginning, and never really stopped. The data backs up Dorschs observations. In 2020 and 2021, moves from San Francisco to Montana increased by 140% compared with the previous two years making Montana the state that saw the biggest increase in new San Franciscans during the pandemic. Overall moves from the Bay Area increased by 51% during that time as well, according to data on migration patterns from the California Policy Lab, a research group based out of the University of California. The data tracks movements of all Californian adults with active credit information. In order to analyze moves over the same time periods, we looked at data from the first seven quarters of 2020-21 and compared them with the same period in 2018-19. While the S.F.-to-Montana increase was large in terms of percentage, the data only shows 360 total moves from San Francisco to Montana in 2020 and the first three quarters of 2021, so its not like the city is overwhelming Montana on its own. (Nearly 2,400 Bay Area residents moved to the state in 2020-2021, excluding Napa County, which didnt have enough data for us to include in our analysis.) But while San Francisco saw the biggest pandemic-era percent increase to Montana, all 10 of Californias most populous counties saw move-outs to the state increase significantly. And based on the 32 counties with enough data for us to measure, at least 13,000 Californians moved to Montana over the last two years not a small number for a state of just over 1 million residents by the latest census count. The reasons for this new influx of Californians to Montana are varied. One obvious one is Californias ever-more-prohibitive housing costs, which has contributed to pushing residents out-of-state at record levels during the pandemic. For more financially secure ex-Californians who can now work remotely, like many of the tech-sector clients with whom Dorsch works, the Big Sky states spaciousness, scenic vistas and ample outdoor activities all contributed to its pandemic-era allure. The city of Bozeman has seen an especially large influx of Bay Area tech workers, according to Dorsch, because of its proximity to an international airport and relative connectivity compared with more rural parts of the state. Bozeman has kind of become a little Silicon Valley, she said. Not everyone is happy about the California-to-Big Sky pipeline. In the public Facebook group Moving to Bozeman, Montana, for instance, one user, posting a question about moving logistics in November 2021, apologized for being from California. Another user, responding to her post, warned her not to California her new home state. A large share of Montanans frustration with incoming Californians appears to be economically based. From January 2020 through December 2021, home prices in Montana increased by 39% the fourth-largest increase, by percentage, of any state over that time period. Its insanity, said Kelly Martin, a real estate agent at Windermeres downtown Bozeman office. Half the homes in Bozeman are well over a million and thats definitely the out-of-staters coming in and paying cash. ... People born and raised in Montana, its almost like theyre completely priced out. He said that while the state is building homes as fast as they can, shortages of both homebuilding materials and construction workers have slowed the process down, further contributing to the low supply. Theres rows of houses that cant be listed because they cant get refrigerators in, or stoves. A lot of them are selling with no garage doors, just plywood (over the garages), he said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Dorsch agreed that out-of-staters, particularly Californians, are having an impact on the local housing market, and that this is partly whats frustrating local Montanans. Its very easy to point the finger at Californians who came from million-dollar houses that were little two-bedroom 700-square-foot houses and (have helped) drive the price up, she said. But some of the tension is cultural, too. Dorsch, who grew up in Montana, still remembers when she moved back home from San Diego with her husband in 1993. And the same feeling existed then that exists now, with those whove been born and raised in Bozeman, for example, or Montana, she said. I dont want to say they dont like change, but when change happens, sometimes its challenging to embrace. Part of what Dorsch sees as her role, then, is to try and ease some of that tension on both sides. The conversation we have as realtor(s), with all our past clients and clients moving in, is youre not moving in to change the way Montanans live, she said. Likewise, with locals who live here, understand that change is healthy, change is good, and if we dont have change then we might be dying from a standpoint of economy. Susie Neilson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: susie.neilson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susieneilson An investigator with the San Francisco District Attorneys Office said she was pressured by prosecutors to remove certain pieces of evidence from an affidavit against Terrance Stangel, a San Francisco police officer facing battery and assault charges for beating a man with a baton. A judge overseeing Stangels case, however, said that no significant evidence appeared to be suppressed, and that the allegations seemed unlikely to make a difference in the officers case. Investigator Magen Hayashi testified Thursday that she felt she could be fired if she did not sign the affidavit as prosecutors wished during a hearing in which attorneys for Stangel argued that the case against him should be dismissed. Hayashis affidavit, containing the findings from her investigation, was presented as evidence of probable cause to charge Stangel. Nicole Pifari, an attorney for Stangel, claimed that the District Attorneys Office withheld incriminating evidence from police as they investigated the man Stangel allegedly beat, Dacari Spiers. That evidence that Spiers was allegedly beating his girlfriend prior to the altercation with Stangel would have justified Stangels use of force, Pifari said. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Teresa Caffese did not rule on the motion to dismiss the case, but appeared disinclined to drop it, saying the evidence allegedly withheld from the affidavit was redundant and irrelevant to the criminal case against Stangel. The D.A.s office is not on trial, Caffese said. Opening statements for Stangels trial are scheduled to begin Monday. In court filings, Assistant District Attorney Hans Moore called Stangels motion a giant stinking smokescreen designed to inform the press and general public about the (defenses) perspective. There is a gag order placed on the case, meaning that neither the defense nor prosecution can comment on it publicly. San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin filed felony battery and assault charges against Stangel in late 2020. In October 2019, Stangel and another officer responded to a 911 report of domestic violence at Fishermans Wharf when they approached Spiers, touching off an altercation in which Stangel hit Spiers with his baton at least once while Spiers was on the ground. In announcing the charges, Boudin said Stangel unnecessarily escalated the situation and then violently (beat) a Black man whom he had no legal basis to even arrest. The incident triggered investigations into the actions of Spiers and the officers. The District Attorneys Office is required to investigate police use-of-force cases involving shootings, in-custody deaths and serious injuries. Police investigated the domestic violence allegations against Spiers. While the two investigations are separate, police and district attorneys investigators are expected to coordinate with one another. In her motion to dismiss the case, Pifari said Hayashi, the district attorneys investigator, failed to inform the Police Department of a follow-up interview with a witness who reported seeing Spiers assaulting his girlfriend. The defense alleged that Hayashi then lied about it by saying she had no further contact with the witness when providing police with an update on the investigation. Pifari claimed Stangel was justified in his use of force because Spiers was allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. The follow-up interview was consistent with what the witness told both police and the district attorney in earlier interviews, Pifari said. Caffese held up this detail to argue against the allegation that evidence was suppressed, despite Hayashis omissions. 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 responding to Pifaris questions on the stand Thursday, Hayashi said she was pressured to sign the affidavit against Stangel after removing exculpatory information. Asked who pressured her, she said, It was a general understanding in my experience in this office, if you dont sign these things youll be fired. Police did not recommend domestic violence charges for Spiers, and the District Attorneys Office did not charge him. Pifari also alleged that the prosecution of her client was politically motivated by Boudin, who ran a campaign on a platform of reforming the criminal justice system and prosecuting police for excessive uses of force. Parts of the defenses allegations, however, precede Boudins time in office. Judge Caffese noted that it appeared both police and the District Attorneys Office had the same statements from the witness, and that the follow-up interview with the witness provided no new information. What Im not hearing here is that there was any evidence suppressed, Caffese said. The judge added that the jury was not allowed to hear that the Districts Attorneys Office did not charge Spiers with domestic violence. Megan Cassidy and Rachel Swan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com, rswan@sfchronicle.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Casa Sanchez building in San Franciscos Mission District is slated to receive historical landmark status for its contributions to the city and its Latino community, according to the San Francisco Latino Historical Society. The designation will mark one of the first Latino-owned buildings listed for this honor, said Anne Cervantes, an architect and founding member of the San Francisco Latino Historical Society. The group helped the business apply for the historical status and is working on getting other local institutions to receive the same recognition. The Board of Supervisors unanimously passed an ordinance on Jan. 25 that would designate the building at 2778 24th St. as a historical landmark. A required second vote is scheduled for Tuesday before it heads to Mayor London Breeds office for final approval. Casa Sanchez has been a San Francisco institution for nearly 100 years selling tamales, enchiladas, chorizo, masa, handmade tortilla chips and salsa and has already been recognized as a legacy business by city officials. The family-owned company is more than a business, according to its leagues of supporters: Its owners helped create the identity of the citys Latino business district in the Mission District, they said. More for you Casa Sanchez named a San Francisco legacy business Cervantes said the landmark designation was an important step in documenting and preserving the history of Latinos in the city and one way of slowing down gentrification in the Mission District a primarily Latino neighborhood that has changed over the years with the influx of the tech industry and the high costs of living. Our history hasnt been documented, she said. Were not an invisible society and this is a first step to show we have made contributions. Cervantes added that Casa Sanchez also contributed to the identity of the Mission Districts Calle 24 Latino Cultural District, where many businesses line the colorful street. Roberto and Isabelle Zenteno-Sanchez, the founders of Casa Sanchez, immigrated from Mexico to Texas in the early 1900s before arriving to San Francisco in the 1920s, according to the S.F. Latino Historical Society. They started the business in 1924 in the Western Addition and it later evolved from a tamale factory into a wholesale Mexicatessen company that sold homemade tortilla chips, salsa and other ingredients at the Mission District location. Today, the 98-year-old business is widely known for its tortilla chips and Mexican salsa sold at grocery stores across the country, and their iconic logo of Jimmy the Cornman a man wearing a sombrero while riding a piece of corn. Some customers have Jimmy tattooed on themselves as part of an old deal to get a lifetimes worth of free lunch. In 2017, Casa Sanchez was formally named the citys 100th legacy business. Were just a small piece of the entire pie of businesses in the Mission and were just fortunate to be acknowledged, said Robert Sanchez, 65, president of Casa Sanchez and the third generation of the family. His mother, Martha Sanchez, died in 2011. Robert Sanchez was heavily involved in the neighborhoods business district and helped start the 24th Street Festival and the 24th Street Merchants Association, according to the S.F. Latino Historical Society. He said he hopes the landmark designation allows other legacy businesses in the neighborhood to also be recognized. 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. Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who represents the Mission District, said she was so excited about the landmark status. Landmarking the building, the actual physical space, is sort of enshrining that history forever and recognizing the importance of Latino entrepreneurship and contribution to San Franciscos fame and history, Ronen said. As the executive director of the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District, Susana Rojas said one of their goals is to support and enhance the citys and Mission Districts Latino community and businesses and that she was proud of Casa Sanchez. Having such a core part of our history and our neighborhood be designated a landmark is beyond the proud moment, she said. Casa Sanchez no longer runs its business at the 24th Street location their manufacturing facility where they make and distribute chips and salsa is in Hayward and a Salvadoran restaurant now operates at the San Francisco location. But the Sanchezes still own the building and consider the Mission District their home. The Mission District is home for us, said Robert. Were here to stay ... for generations to come. Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores Federal labor regulators on Thursday accused Amazon of illegally surveilling and threatening workers who are trying to unionize a Staten Island, N.Y., warehouse. The complaint, first reported by Bloomberg, marks the National Labor Relations Board's latest brush with the e-commerce giant over questions about its tactics. The NLRB wants to compel Amazon to take certain actions to inform workers of their right to organize, according to Kathy Drew King, a regional director for the agency. Amazon "repeatedly broke the law by threatening, surveilling, and interrogating their Staten Island warehouse workers who are engaged in a union organizing campaign," King said in a statement. Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said the allegations were false, adding without elaboration that "we look forward to showing that through this process." (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) The complaint comes as a separate, high-stakes unionization effort is playing out in Alabama, where Amazon workers in Bessemer are poised to vote. Workers there overwhelmingly rejected a union last year, but the NLRB called for a revote after finding that Amazon improperly interfered in that election. An NLRB official specifically cited the company's placing of an unmarked U.S. Postal Service mailbox in front of the warehouse just after voting started, writing that Amazon "essentially [hijacked] the process and gave a strong impression that it controlled the process." It also coincides with a surge in labor activism across the country; dozens of strikes and strike authorizations have flared up in recent months - including at Kellogg's and John Deere. The Amazon Labor Union, an independent group of workers that isn't connected to a major national union, recently collected the required signatures to hold a vote in Staten Island, an NLRB spokesperson said Wednesday. A hearing on the vote is scheduled for Feb. 16. The NLRB complaint stems from four recent cases, the earliest of which was filed in May 2021, according to a legal document obtained by The Washington Post. It alleges the company threatened workers against unionizing, surveilled them in their activities, and tried to solicit grievances in exchange for voting against the union. It names two human resources managers, one operations manager, two security guards, and a consultant of acting on Amazon's behalf to violate workers' rights. According to the complaint, the consultant "interrogated" employees about their organizing activities, called union organizers "thugs," and allegedly threatened employees by telling them it would be futile to select the union as their bargaining representative. The consultant also is accused of soliciting unspecified grievances from employees with the promise to remedy them if they reject the union. Regulators also describe attempts to confiscate "union literature" and prevent employees from distributing it in break rooms. One of the security guards is alleged to have taken union literature and told employees not to distribute it, while a human resource assistant is accused of ordering employees to remove it from the break room. The complaint contends Amazon has been "interfering with, restraining and coercing employees" who are exercising their rights under the law. It seeks to require Amazon supervisors to undergo mandatory training describing employees' rights under the National Labor Relations Act. It also seeks to require the company to post notices describing workers rights on social media, in its electronic applications for workers, and in all employee bathrooms including in the stalls. The NLRB has set a hearing on the matter for April 5 and has given Amazon until Feb. 10 to respond to the complaint. - - - The Washington Post's Rachel Lerman contributed to this report. San Francisco announced Thursday that it will be softening its indoor mask mandate to allow exemptions for "fully stable" cohorts of vaccinated and boosted individuals at spaces such as gyms and offices. While the mandate remains in place in all other indoor settings, the San Francisco Department of Public Health signaled that could change sooner than some residents might be expecting. Currently, the state of California is enforcing a statewide indoor mask mandate that is scheduled to remain in place through Feb. 15. That mandate overrides all county policies, though the state allows San Francisco to implement the mask and gym exemption because of a pre-existing mask mandate San Francisco and other Bay Area counties adopted over the summer of 2021 in response to the delta variant. Under that local mandate, eight Bay Area counties San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa and Sonoma have three shared criteria for lifting the mandate: 1. A county reaches the "moderate" (yellow) tier of case rates as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's data tracker and remains there for three weeks. 2. The county health officer determines that COVID-19 hospitalizations are "low and stable." 3. Eighty percent of a county's total population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or eight weeks have passed since a COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for children ages 5 to 11. (All counties have met this criterion as eight weeks have passed since vaccine authorization for children ages 5 to 11.) Even in non-surge times, it was very difficult for counties to satisfy the first criterion. Only Marin County was able to remain in the yellow tier for three weeks and lift its mask mandate. Under current county health orders, San Francisco and the other Bay Area counties will continue enforcing indoor mask mandates even if the state mandate is indeed lifted Feb. 15. Only Marin County has announced it will be scrapping the case criterion and relying solely on hospitalization data given the highly infectious nature of the omicron variant and its ability to infect fully vaccinated residents at a rate higher than past strains of the virus. Throughout the summer and fall of 2021, San Francisco's health department remained committed to the shared criteria when asked about the attainability of the case requirement. On Thursday however, SFDPH did not commit to using the case requirement when SFGATE asked once again. "As it has been the case throughout the pandemic, a regional approach has proven to be successful in our COVID response and we will try to pursue that strategy when possible," the department said in a statement. "Omicron has shown us that we cannot prevent every case of COVID, but can double down on preventing the worst outcomes of the disease, such as severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths, and continue to focus our resources on supporting our highly impacted communities. With that in mind, our hospital census will definitely play an important role in our efforts moving forward." As for when hospitalizations might be "low and stable" enough to satisfy the second requirement? "COVID-19 hospitalizations, which trail a peak in cases, are currently peaking in San Francisco," SFDPH said. "The hospital census is likely to remain in its current range for up to a week and then steadily decrease faster than in prior surges. Our hospitalization rates remain at a level within the health care systems bed capacity. We expect cases to continue to decline at a faster pace than previous variants if current trends hold." Regardless of when hospitalizations which experts warn are being overcounted in this surge might be low enough to satisfy the second requirement, no action can be taken until the state mandate is lifted. But if the state mandate goes away as planned Feb. 15, San Francisco's mandate could go with it. Authorities in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo are investigating the shooting death of a man who worked as the manager at a popular beachfront bar, the second fatal attack within a week in the resort town of Playa del Carmen. The Tuesday killing at Mamita's Beach Club followed an assault the previous Friday on three Canadians at a resort less than six miles away. Officials have said last week's shooting at the Hotel Xcaret was the result of an argument between guests, and that the Canadians who died both had criminal records. In the most recent slaying, multiple media reports identified the victim as Mamita's manager Federico Mazzoni, a native of Argentina. He was reportedly discovered in a bathroom, according to local news accounts. The attorney general's office in the state of Quintana Roo wrote in a tweet Tuesday evening that it was investigating the homicide of a restaurant employee in the municipality of Solidaridad and had sent agents to collect evidence and do interviews at the scene. The tweet did not identify the business or the victim. On Wednesday, Quintana Roo's secretary of security wrote in a tweet that helicopter patrols were continuing to search for suspects in the killing. Mamita's, which rents out pool and beach chairs and boasts live DJ sets, is situated on the Caribbean Sea in an area surrounded by restaurants, resorts and bars. On social media, the club shows pictures of smiling patrons in swimsuits, peaceful beaches and tropical drinks - a far cry from the news images of police on the shore after the shooting. Tourist destinations in the Riviera Maya region, including Playa del Carmen and Cancun, have been trying to combat news of violence for months, after several shootings in popular areas since the fall. In November, tourists south of Cancun ran into resorts for safety after gunmen shot at each other on the beach. Two men died in the incident, a clash between gang members over drug territory, authorities said. Experts told The Washington Post late last year that the violence is spilling out of disputes over drug trafficking. "Where tourism increases, so does the drug trade," Kenneth Bombace, chief executive of Global Threat Solutions, which offers travel protection services, told The Post. "Where you have a growing population, you're going to have these problems down there . . . and people are getting caught in the crossfire." The U.S. State Department says travelers should reconsider going to Mexico because of the coronavirus, and it advises those visiting Quintana Roo to "exercise increased caution" because of crime. The U.S. Consulate General in Merida reiterated that advice Tuesday in a security alert issued "in light of recent security incidents and criminal activity in popular tourist destinations" including Cancun and Playa del Carmen. "Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state, including areas frequented by U.S. citizen visitors," the alert said. Sign up for our Remote Control newsletter to receive the best of streaming in your inbox every week. There are few celebrity scandals from the last few decades more infamous than the unauthorized sex tape of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. Maybe you saw the grainy VHS featuring the Baywatch star and Motley Crue drummer, streamed it through a pre-broadband internet connection or heard about it through the avalanche of insensitive press coverage. Or perhaps the mid-90s scandal has been lapped so many times by similar celebrity sex news that its vintage at this point. But whatever you think you know about the tape, the new Hulu drama Pam & Tommy, based on a 2014 Rolling Stone article by Amanda Chicago Lewis, will make you reconsider. The tape shows Lee and Anderson on a boat, having newlywed amounts of sex and just generally being mega in love. The video popped up on a shady website in late 1995, at first for mail order as a VHS, then as one of the first viral streaming videos. Lee and Anderson filed an unsuccessful lawsuit against Penthouse when it tried to publish the stills, then the tape became national news. The events kneecapped Andersons attempts at being taken seriously and led Lees erratic behavior to spiral further out of control. Their marriage dissolved soon thereafter as Lee became violent toward Anderson, resulting in six months of prison time. They rekindled their love shortly in 2008, then broke up again. The show, which premieres on Hulu on Feb. 2, begins at Lees Malibu mansion. Carpenter/retired porn star Rand (Seth Rogen) is turning Lees bedroom into something of a sex auditorium, but Lees erratic requests keep forcing Rand to redo his work. When Rand asks for payment, Lee, who seldom wears more than a Speedo around the house, flies off the handle and fires him. When Rand returns for his tools, Lee points a shotgun in his face. Kelsey McNeal/ Hulu In retaliation, Rand breaks into Lees mansion and steals a safe filled with guns, money and an unlabeled Super 8 videotape. Rand shows the tape to his former porn director boss Uncle Miltie (Nick Offerman), then the pair shops it around to every porn company in the Valley. When no one will touch it for fear of a lawsuit, Rand and Miltie take advantage of an emerging technology called the internet to sell the tape anonymously. Lee pieces together the elements of the crime and sends out goons to retrieve the tape. Miltie flees to Amsterdam, and Rand falls deeper into an underworld of crime. As with the original tape, viewer discretion is advised here. The first few episodes where Anderson (Lily James) and Lee (Sebastian Stan) fall in love and consummate their marriage many times over include a very low ratio of clothed-to-naked scenes. To the shows credit (and a theme also noted in the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That), theres almost equal gender parity when it comes to the nudity. Which is to say, alongside the T&A, theres an equal amount of D. The lingering shots on Lees notorious manhood seem like a small act of atonement, and as the series progresses, it becomes clear that theres much to atone for. Rand released the tape as an act of revenge against Lee, without considering that it would earn Lee high-fives at bars from fans, while Anderson would be the one who would really suffer. And suffer she does. Erin Simkin/ Hulu The show claims that they waited until marriage to have sex ... which becomes less surprising when you learn they married after just four days of courtship. Shortly thereafter, Anderson becomes pregnant. Lee considers the sex tape a document of the moment of conception. Tragically, the show implies that the stress of its release would contribute to Anderson having a miscarriage. Professionally, the release of sexy superhero film Barb Wire, intended to be her breakout role, is overshadowed by the sex tape. The lawsuit against Penthouse requires her to go through a grueling disposition, in which the defense lawyers dissect her image like a frog. Her marriage implodes. While appearing as a guest on The Tonight Show, she grimaces through a lazy pun from Jay Leno about the exposure she got from the tape. She loses out on roles in L.A. Confidential and Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and shifts her focus from acting to activism. Her most notable cause is animal rights, but she also lobbied President Donald Trump for the pardon of Julian Assange in support of freedom of the press. Stan delivers a despicable performance, playing Lee as a loathsome rock star who wears even fewer clothes than his wife. Rogen makes a likable antihero, and its a delight to see Offerman playing against type in sleazebag mode. But James is the star here. Erin Simkin/ Hulu Although Anderson never gained critical acclaim herself, James deserves serious Emmy consideration. She pivots effortlessly between Andersons initial Hollywood naivety, outwardly unflappable sexuality and inner turmoil. Especially during her media appearances, its easy to forget that youre not watching actual archival footage. It feels like the first time many viewers will see anything that resembles the real Pamela Anderson. Anderson reportedly had no involvement in the show and doesnt plan to watch it, but its hard to imagine how any input from her end could have resulted in a more sympathetic take. Pam & Tommy sheds new light on a story previously only told in tabloids and late-night show punch lines, questioning whether the tape should even technically be considered pornography, given the lack of consent in its release. Its a revisionist history of the best kind one that feels long overdue. Juneau Black, aka Jocelyn Cole (l.) and Sharon Nagel Juneau Black is the pen name of authors Jocelyn Cole and Sharon Nagel. They share a love of excellent bookshops, fine cheeses and good murders (in fictional form only). Though they grew up separately, if you ask either of them a question about their childhood, you are likely to get the same answer. Shady Hollow (out now from Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, originally published in 2015 by Hammer & Birch), is the first in their series by the same name; the next two installments will follow close on its heels: Cold Clay (March 2022) and Mirror Lake (April 2022). Why the pen name? Sharon Nagel: We were both booksellers for a long time, and the problem with two-author books is that they inevitably get shelved in the wrong place. Jocelyn Cole: The pseudonym Juneau Black is a nod to Milwaukee and the bookstore where we both spent so much time. Juneau is Solomon Juneau, who is one of the founders of the city, and Black is Schwartz [in German, schwarz means black]--we both worked at Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops for years. What's the origin story? SN: After Schwartz Bookshops closed and [its flagship store] became Boswell Books, on a slow night, we were pricing finger puppets. They were all these adorable little woodland creatures, and so we decided to give them names and occupations, and we said what if they lived here and did this, and so we wrote a story about them. JC: And because NaNoWriMo was coming up, we had this idea: What if we just trade off days and see if we could get a novel out of it? How do two people together write a novel? JC: I imagine it's different for every team. We were physically at the same bookshop and talking together every day for the first book, so we just sent a Word file back and forth. I would write 1,667 words, because that's what NaNoWriMo suggests you do, send the file to Sharon, and then she'd write the next day and e-mail it back, until we had what very roughly approximated a draft of a novel. SN: We seem to have the same snarky sense of humor, so it didn't seem like two separate people. It melded pretty well. JC: There was definitely an editing process after, to glue things together. But I think it speaks to the fact that we are on the same wavelength that when I go back now and read passages from Shady Hollow, I have no idea who wrote what. SN: No idea. JC: I do freelance editing, so that was already a little bit in my wheelhouse. I edited the first pass, but we did then hire an editor, to be an objective voice and be sure it was really clean. And now you're moving from an independent publisher [Hammer & Birch] to a traditional one. SN: It's a simple thing. All you have to do is work in bookstores for 10 years and meet people. No, actually we were very fortunate to have a wonderful publishing rep for Penguin Random House who I've known for many years, and one day he said, "Hey, I'd like to show your work to my bosses," and we were like, "Ha, go ahead!" And fortunately for us they were interested. JC: It's been a pretty smooth process, because the books were already written and published. We weren't on the hook to complete a novel after making a deal. It was just getting more polished, copyediting again for house style and cleaning up any last remaining edits. And beautiful new covers! It's been really nice to see the difference between doing everything ourselves and having a team, which is just amazing. And they're publishing all three books! JC: I think they were excited that they could see what was there already. They weren't just buying an idea; they had read all three books and liked them. What are the challenges of animal characters versus human ones? SN: Not so much in the writing, because we're fully invested in the idea of our animals. But when you handsell it to a person and try to explain what it is, you either get immediate enchantment or you get the look that says... I don't want any part of this. Not everybody is really into it, but those that are, are heavily into it. JC: A lot of people do assume it's for kids, because it's animals, which I understand, but on the other hand it's also murder. They're very anthropomorphic animals, so we're writing them just as we would any character. You occasionally stumble over a word like handkerchief in draft--oh, they don't have hands, they wouldn't have that word. You realize certain terms are so human-centric; you have to work around that. How did your bookseller careers help you write a successful novel? SN: I think we can appreciate how important indie bookstores are to a writer's journey. When booksellers love a book, they will sell it to anyone who will stand still long enough. Our biggest cheerleader is Daniel Goldin, the owner of Boswell Books, and we always said, if we just had Daniels all over the country... and now we sort of do. Daniel tirelessly promotes us and other writers--it's what he does all the time, and he does it so well. JC: It comes from our history of being booksellers and loving books. We've both been through library school. When you're among books for so long, you can see what appeals to people, what takes off, what resonates. When I talk about the books, I often use the high-concept explanations: it's like Knives Out meets Animal Crossing. It's like Redwall meets Agatha Christie. We have all these references that people understand because they're all book people. What do you love about the world of Shady Hollow? SN: I like the level of comfort in the surroundings. You feel at home; you know you can go down to Joe's Mug and have a cup of coffee. The murders are there, and they matter, but they're secondary to the characters and the atmosphere. JC: The fact that it is animals kind of allows people to let go and just relax and enjoy it. You're already accepting this level of fantasy and you can just roll with it. That's very appealing to people, particularly in pandemic times, that there is this little world where the weather is usually beautiful; there's always coffee. There's an occasional murder, but it's fine. SN: It'll be handled. --Julia Kastner, librarian and blogger at pagesofjulia Mark Turocy had high hopes for Black Rock Social House, the restaurant he opened in Bridgeport's Black Rock neighborhood in March. With a fully gluten-free menu of international comfort foods, his concept would "take care of people that are in a demographic of this industry that is underdeveloped," he said. He's now facing an eviction notice from the building on Fairfield Avenue, and says he will likely have to close the restaurant in about a month's time. Turocy cites COVID-19 as a factor for lost revenue, but also notes that as a newer restaurant owner, he was not eligible for certain funding sources because he didn't have a year or more of financial figures to demonstrate. He applied for programs such as the Small Business Association's Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and also for small business grants through the city of Bridgeport. Calls to local, state and federal government offices for help have gone unreturned, he said. "The only thing I qualify for is the Restaurant Revitalization Fund," he said. "My app is in." According to a new survey released by the Connecticut Restaurant Association Wednesday, the first round of Restaurant Revitalization Fund funding saved more than 12,000 Connecticut jobs and helped 97 percent of grant recipients stay in business. But while the funding provided support to 1,300 small businesses in Connecticut, the state still has 2,066 pending applications that total more than $489 million, according to the CRA. "The National Restaurant Association estimates indicate that full replenishment of the RRF will save an additional 18,000 Connecticut restaurant jobs, said Scott Dolch, the CRA's president and CEO, in a statement. A plea for replenished funding comes as restaurants face the latest pandemic struggle: the effects of the omicron variant. Forced to adapt to deteriorating consumer confidence, restaurants reduced hours/days of operation, cut seating capacity, and shut down, many pivoting to takeout. According to the survey, 96 percent of restaurants experienced a decline in customer demand for indoor dining because of the omicron variant, 87 percent of operators report that business conditions are worse now than three months ago, and 80 percent say their restaurant is less profitable now than it was before the pandemic. "The RRF was a critical lifeline to many, but far more remain on the sidelines, desperately looking for support amidst continued economic uncertainty," Dolch said. "The decisions Congress could make in the coming weeks will be critical toward the future of the restaurants that are so proud to serve our communities." The CRA's survey also found that nearly 51 percent of restaurant operators who did not receive RRF grants feel its unlikely that they will stay in business beyond the pandemic without a grant. Ninety-six percent of restaurant operators who applied for an RRF grant, but did not receive funding, said a future grant would enable them to retain or hire back employees. If Turocy were to receive a hoped-for $182,000 from the RRF, he would be able to pay his debts, "which would reset me personally and professionally," he said, and he would have working capital. But without any funding, "I'm literally in financial ruins," he said. "It's very real and very scary." Jeremy Jackson and Tricia Martin of TJ's Burritos in East Granby opened their restaurant and coffee shop in February 2021, one month before Turocy introduced Black Rock Social House. Jackson said they applied for RRF funding in the first month they opened, and were approved to receive $63,000, but the money never came. "They ran out of funds and they closed the portal," Jackson said. "I'm under the presumption that if it gets revitalized, we're going to get that $63,000. But I'm not sitting here crossing my fingers that that's going to happen anytime soon...That was the only federal or state aid we were eligible for, having opened in February of last year." TJ's offered expanded outdoor dining in the summer, but with the loss of the patio tables for the winter, sales have declined about 30 percent, Jackson said. Price increases on everything from paper goods to chicken have also impacted their revenue. "For the last two or three months, we've been breaking even, or barely breaking even," he said. "There's no ability to put anything in the kitty, so to speak." Divina in Stamford, which opened in April 2021, has seen an omicron-related drop in business, said owner Enzo Bruno. The Italian restaurant had been doing well for several months, especially when the state lifted capacity restrictions in May. "We started flying. Business was great. And then in mid-December...we hit a wall," he said. The restaurant lost a buyout for a private party on Dec. 16, he said, and then that weekend, the restaurant had 250 cancellations and 70 no-shows. Bruno attributes the lost business to the fast-spreading variant, noting that Stamford also instituted a mask mandate Dec. 21. "We were profitable, closing the year, but starting in mid-December...you lose over 50 percent of your daily business, and that has a strong impact," he said. "And we don't have any help from the government [as a new business.] We had to go under an extremely tight budget because of the new circumstances. We were profitable, and now we're digging into our emergency funds." SHELTON - Proposed Board of Education policy changes - focusing on censuring or removing members from specific offices - is going back to the drawing board. The Board of Education voted 5-4, with Republican Board Chair Kathy Yolish joining the four Democratic board members in approving the new language. But the four remaining Republicans voted against the policy proposal, meaning it is dead since such changes require a 2/3 majority, or six votes. This policy was actually meant to serve as a protection for board members in that it cites specific areas and circumstances for censure, Yolish told Hearst Connecticut Media. The policy has now been referred back to the Policy Committee, of which board member Lorraine Rossner is now chair. I am hopeful that we will be able to revise the wording of the policy to everyones satisfaction and bring it back to the full board for approval, Yolish added. Yolish said the revisions to board bylaw No. 9222 - titled Resignation/Removal from Office/Censure - were recommended by the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), on which the board is a member, and board attorney Fred Stanek. The revisions are to the removal from office and censure sections. Board member James Orazietti who joined fellow Republicans Carl Rizzo, Amy Romano and Joseph Pagliaro in opposing the new language questioned the need for the changes. Before I make any decision on a censure policy, it better be right. This is far from right, Orazietti said. Is this even necessary now? Were in the middle of budget season. This is not my focus right now. My focus is on the kids. Stanek offered his opinion during Wednesdays board meeting, saying the present language is seriously lacking in that it does not set forth sufficient causes for removal from office, nor procedures for censure or reprimand of a board member. The revision, as written, addresses the due process inadequacies of the present bylaw. Stanek noted that the policy does not allow for removal of a board member, since they are elected by the residents. This policy offers authority for the full board, by a 2/3 vote, to remove members from officer positions such as chairman, vice chair, secretary and subcommittee chairmanships. The removal from office section lists cause, which is any conduct that is deemed deleterious to board operations; negatively affects the rights and interests of the public; violates board rules or policies; or interferes with the orderly operation of the board. For censure, the proposed language says any board member who fails to act in complete accordance with the provisions and tenor of the policies and bylaws of the board is open to censure or other action. Rizzo said he opposed that line, which includes other action, because it leaves the question of reprimand open-ended. Prior to any censure vote, the board may review the performance of the board member in question in open or executive session before any action. If the board determines action is necessary, notice is given to the board member. Board Vice Chair Kate Kutash said CABE sends the board suggested policy updates every year. These include wordings for areas that may need to be updated or corrections made based on new laws, Kutash said. In one update last spring they included clean-up for this policy that defined censure and gave suggested wordings to use in appendices. It was brought before the policy committee of which I was then acting chair. We are justified in cleaning up the language and defining what constitutes censure, Kutash said. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com Try out LudingtonDailyNews.com for only 99 per month for the first 3 months, $9.99 a month after. 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. 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Page Content Federal agencies are warning health plans and health insurers that they will be subject to enforcement actions if they fail to deliver parity between physical health coverage and treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. The departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury issued their 2022 report to Congress on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) on Jan. 25. The joint report highlights the agencies' recent emphasis on greater MHPAEA enforcement, along with guidance on how to correct compliance failures. The MHPAEA, enacted in 2008, mandates that financial requirements and treatment limitssuch as co-payments and prior authorization requirementsimposed for mental health or substance use benefits cannot be more restrictive than the financial requirements and treatment limits that apply to physical and surgical benefits. The law applies to plans sponsored by employers with more than 50 employees, including self-insured and fully insured arrangements, and to health insurers that sell coverage to employers with more than 50 employees. The agencies' joint report cites examples of both self-funded and fully insured plans failing to ensure treatment parity. For example, a health insurer covered nutritional counseling for physical conditions like diabetes but not for mental health conditions such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. "Health plans and insurance companies are falling short of providing parity in mental health and substance-use disorder benefits, at a time when those benefits are needed like never before," U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh said in a statement. SHRM Resource Hub Page Mental Health Stepped-Up Enforcement The DOL's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) considers MHPAEA enforcement "a top priority," Walsh said. Similarly, HHS, through its Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has increased its MHPAEA enforcement activities in the individual and fully insured group markets. The EBSA has primary enforcement jurisdiction over the MHPAEA for approximately 2 million health plans covering roughly 136 million Americans. The CMS has enforcement jurisdiction over the MHPAEA in the individual and fully insured group markets in states where it has enforcement authority. The joint report also outlines the agencies' efforts to interpret, implement and enforce the amendments to the MHPAEA made by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which provided the agencies with additional funding for enforcement actions. The agencies issued a fiscal 2021 MHPAEA enforcement fact sheet along with the joint report. The fact sheet summarizes the EBSA's and the CMS' 2021 investigations, public inquiries and complaints related to the MHPAEA and highlights the EBSA's settlements against United Behavioral Health, United Healthcare and Oxford Health Insurance totaling $13.6 million in restitution to participants and beneficiaries. Complying with 2021 Guidance Last April, the EBSA issued a new set of MHPAEA frequently asked questions and answers, along with examples to help group health plan sponsors and administrators determine if their plans comply with the statute's parity requirements. "Employers must be ready to prove their compliance with MHPAEA standards, particularly for nonquantitative treatment limitations (NQTL)," wrote Brian M. Johnston, an attorney in the Overland Park, Kan., office of Jackson Lewis, when the guidance was released. "NQTL can include medical management standards that limit or exclude coverage based on medical necessity, prior authorization or other bases," he explained, and when imposed on mental health and addiction treatment services, they must be comparable to and applied no more stringently than standards used for physical and surgical benefits. "The departments warned that plans should not wait for a letter from a regulator to begin building their comparative analyses," noted law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in Los Angeles. "Given that plans were required to have comparative analyses available upon a regulator's request by Feb. 10, 2021, plans that have not already prepared comparative analyses should do so as soon as practicable," the firm advised. Last year, regulators issued 156 letters to plans and insurers requesting comparative analyses comparing physical and mental health benefits for 216 unique NQTLs across 86 investigations, the joint report said. The NQTLs that were most commonly the subject of an inquiry from regulators included: Preauthorization and precertification requirements. Network provider admission standards. Out-of-network reimbursement rates. Treatment plan requirements. Provider qualification or billing restrictions. Limits on residential care or partial hospitalization programs. Related SHRM Articles: Mental Health Parity: Don't Get Left Out in the Cold, SHRM Online, December 2021 DOL, State Regulators Step Up Enforcement Around Mental Health Parity Enforcement, SHRM Online, October 2021 Mental Health Parity Compliance Returns to Forefront for Group Health Plan Sponsors, SHRM Online, May 2021 Appropriations Act Requires Employer Actions to Ensure Mental Health Parity, SHRM Online, January 2021 Akamai Technologies, Inc., the worlds most trusted solution for protecting and delivering digital experiences, released today new research detailing the persistence of online piracy. Pirates in the Outfield is Akamais latest State of the Internet / Security report and examines the evolving piracy landscape, which, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerces Global Innovation Policy Center, costs the U.S. economy alone $29.2 billion in lost revenue each year. The new report is a collaboration between Akamai and MUSO, which provided data on streaming and download piracy activity across several industries. The research illustrates how online piracy continues to be prevalent across, and financially detrimental to, a variety of industries. Between January and September 2021, global piracy demand measured by visits to websites offering access to movies and television shows, either directly through a browser or mobile application, as well as torrent downloads reached 3.7 billion unlicensed streams and downloads. According to the research, 61.5% of consumers who visited piracy sites accessed them directly, while 28.6% actively searched for them. Piracy is an ongoing battle, and theres no silver bullet to address each type of piracy online. As content developers get better at guarding against piracy, criminals are adapting their methods to access protected content, said Steve Ragan, security researcher at Akamai and author of the report. The impact of piracy goes far beyond stolen movies and other content. The real cost is behind the scenes, leading to the loss of livelihood for those who work to create the movies, films, books, and software we all consume and enjoy. The scale of online piracy outlined in the report presents one of the most difficult and complex issues for companies to address. At a time when media, publishing, and other digital services companies are focusing on protecting revenue due to changing consumer behavior, its paramount to understand the threat landscape to successfully mitigate risk. Piracy poses a security issue both internally at organizations and as another potential attack vector to protect against breaches of critical intellectual property (IP). When examining piracy globally and across the film, TV, software, publishing, and music industries, the vast scale of piracy is clear. Perhaps more concerningly, in many areas, piracy is still a growing problem, with an overall 16% increase on the previous nine-month period, said James Mason, CTO of MUSO. As highlighted by our partnering with Akamai on this report, working collaboratively to deeply understand the latest trends within piracys ever-changing ecosystem is key to forming effective anti-piracy strategies, as opposed to combating piracy in silos. Breaking down piracy trends In addition to the unrelenting demand for pirated materials, the report revealed several other notable takeaways, including: A total of 132 billion visits to piracy websites occurred between January 2021 and September 2021 The top pirated industries were television (67 billion total visits), publishing (30 billion total visits), film (14.5 billion total visits), music (10.8 billion total visits) and software, which includes video games and modern PC software (8.9 billion total visits) Globally, the United States (13.5 billion), followed by Russia (7.2 billion), India (6.5 billion), China (5.9 billion), and Brazil (4.5 billion), were the top five locations for piracy website visits last year To access the full Akamai 2022 State of the Internet / Security report Pirates in the Outfield, please visit Akamais State of the Internet page. For additional information, the security community can access, engage with, and learn from Akamais threat researchers and the insight that the Akamai Intelligent Edge Platform affords into the evolving threat landscape by visiting Akamais Security Threat Hub. Existing Akamai customers can also leverage Akamais Managed Content Protection offering to mitigate the effects of growing piracy demand. San Mateo, CA (94402) Today Some clouds. Low 47F. WSW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 47F. WSW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. 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! To accept that BlueScopes campaign to put its price list under the noses of steel manufacturers in Taiwan and India, as well as Australian steel distributors, was nothing more than a lawful but failed sales strategy was an evisceration of competition law, Hodge said. The essence of the defence is that, yes, Ellis wanted to raise the price of the product, but what he was seeking to achieve was to have these people do what he wanted them to do, but not commit to what he wanted them to do, Hodge told the court in August. Nobody can bear a $10 million fine or 10 years in prison. Unidentified Yieh Phui manager The issue of Elliss intentions has made the only recorded evidence of his contested interactions central to the case. In the Taiwan recording, Ellis tells Yieh Phui executives that because BlueScope had an 85 per cent market share in Australia, the price list merely established a market norm. But Ellis then goes on to say that its not compulsory to follow this you can follow or not follow it. This is when the Yieh Phui managers in the recording start to sound worried. They are clear about the penalties linked to Australias 2009 criminal-cartel law and the willingness of the ACCC to investigate price-fixing arrangements. Again, we focus on the spirit of the ACCCs [rules requiring] an unrestricted market, without any limitations, an unidentified Yieh Phui manager says in the recording. Nobody can bear a $10 million fine or 10 years in prison. Ellis attempts to reassure them. The price list was perfectly acceptable in Australia, he tells the Taiwanese. There is absolutely no illegality about that. Please believe me that before I had this conversation, my lawyer talked to me. That a group of managers, thousands of kilometres from Australia, would be so familiar with the countrys antitrust laws should have sounded alarm bells for BlueScope. In evidence presented to the court, we now know that a BlueScope competitor had been in touch with the Taiwanese executives to warn them of the perils of Elliss pitch. At least one of two other local steel companies, Shang Shing and China Steel, had also been warned. Enforcer under pressure Despite the recording of the Taiwan meeting, the ACCC has repeatedly found itself on the back foot since the civil lawsuit was announced in 2019. By its own admission, the ACCC had wanted this to be a criminal-cartel prosecution, something that is reflected by its approach to the investigation and the documents it prepared. For reasons that remain unclear, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions declined to pursue the matter. This left the ACCC scrambling to file a civil lawsuit within the allowed five-year window. The ACCC then attempted to suppress reporting of the civil lawsuit before a parallel criminal-obstruction prosecution against Ellis had been resolved. Finished coils of rolled steel at BlueScope's Port Kembla steelworks in NSW. Credit:Bloomberg But OBryan rejected the ACCCs request following a legal challenge by The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, saying the threshold for the suppression of legal proceedings was high and the ACCC had failed to clear it. In September 2020, Elliss obstruction prosecution culminated in a guilty plea, marking Australias first criminal-obstruction conviction in a competition case. Liquid dinner The reliability of the ACCCs witnesses has also been called into question. The recollections of Malcolm Griffith Wright, known as Griff, were repeatedly impugned by lawyers for the defence, who managed to obtain an itemised bill of Wrights 2013 dinner with Ellis. Wright, the manager of Victoria-based Wright Steel, met Ellis at the No. 8 restaurant in Melbournes Crown Casino complex, with BlueScopes Matthew Hennessy also present. The table ordered four Bombay Sapphire gins, a Lord Nelson beer, a $115 bottle of wine and three orders of Highland Park Scotch. Defence lawyers said Ellis didnt drink leaving Wright and Hennessy to account for the alcohol intake. Barrister Cameron Moore, representing BlueScope, suggested to Wright that those drinks may have affected his recollection of a dinner that took place eight years ago. I make no criticism it seems like a pretty standard dinner, Moore said. In response, the ACCC depicted Ellis, the son of mining giant BHP Billitons former chairman Jerry Ellis, as unreliable and his evidence as flying in the face of all logic. How could it be that Ellis, or anyone else from BlueScope, thought it was a good idea to visit competitors in both Asia and Australia with a price list in hand? Why would they have any interest in doing that? Hodge asked the court. But Ruth Higgins, representing Ellis, said that the judge should focus not on whether visiting rivals was a smart move, but whether it amounted to an attempt to establish a price-fixing arrangement. It is not sufficient that his conduct was imprudent or unwise your honour might conclude both. But your honour has to find specific intention to bring about an arrangement, Higgins said. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size My doctor told me I wasnt depressed, but I counterargued that I was anxious. He suggested therapy while I introduced the idea of valium. He said that pregnant women dont take valium, and what did I think I needed it for? I told him we were one year into a global pandemic, my debut novel was about to be released, and I was due to give birth. Congratulations, he said, and I left with a referral for six sessions of therapy. In the therapists office, I sat on a stiff chair and told her I was open to valium if she thought it was a good idea, but she remained silent. I said that when I signed the publishing contract, it felt like the eye of luck had opened, and shone the precious light of legitimacy over me. Finally, I wasnt an unemployed pregnant person bobbing aimlessly through life, I was a novelist. I tried to explain to her that as good as this was, I still felt the need to read every review of my book. She put her pen down and frowned. That doesnt seem to be coming from a place of love, she said. Australian author Ella Baxter, whose debut novel is New Animal. Credit:Keith Little I couldnt decide whether I liked this novel or not. Three stars. The eye of luck stayed open, which meant cases were down and my book launch could go ahead. I bought an aqua coloured 70s sparkling pantsuit to wear, but in front of the linen literary crowd, it made me feel too bold and flammable. Twenty minutes in, I disassociated like a shucked oyster from nerves and spent the rest of the evening floating between the industrial fans of the bar. Occasionally, I was pulled back to earth by someone trying to touch the fabric of my outfit. No plot. Two stars. The eye of luck blinked closed, and all book launches moved to Zoom. Most people kept their cameras on throughout, but as the pandemic raged, and the fatigue of being perceived online set in, many chose to take the form of a black square. I watched as authors released books that contained years and years of meticulous effort and time, and I softly applauded them from the dark, welcoming their beloved work into the world. BIOGRAPHY: Churchills Shadow: An Astonishing Life and a Dangerous Legacy, Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The Bodley Head, $58 There are hundreds of books about Winston Churchill, and this new work even contains an afterword that discusses quite a lot of them. But few of these earlier works are as sceptical of the Churchill legend as this one. Churchills early career was meteoric. He converted his adventures in the Boer War into a seat in the House of Commons at the age of 26 and appointment to the Cabinet at 33. It needs to be remembered, of course, that he was born the grandson and nephew of dukes, and so was part of the aristocratic class from which most leading politicians came. Not everyone, however, was impressed. The King Edward VII - thought him almost more of a cad in office than he was in opposition. Sir Winston Churchill at the White House in 1954. Geoffrey Wheatcrofts book is deliberately provocative. Credit:AP But this brilliant career came to a sudden halt in 1915 when Churchills proposal to breach the Dardanelles failed and resulted in 60,000 Allied troops, including 10,000 Australians, dying on the Gallipoli peninsula. Churchill was forced out of the Cabinet, but bounced back in 1917 and spent most of the 1920s in office, including as Chancellor of the Exchequer for the second half of the decade. If This Gets Out, Sophie Gonzales & Cale Dietrich, Hodder, $17.99 Credit: Queer YA romance is having a moment in the sun. Thats a great thing. The genre didnt exist a few decades ago, and there are generations of queer folk who wish it had. Australian authors are leading the way Gary Lonesboroughs recent novel, The Boy from the Mish, portrayed with poignancy the tentative love of two Aboriginal boys, for instance and in If This Gets Out, romance blossoms inside the highly regimented world of a superstar boy band. Ruben, Zach, Jon and Angel are members of Saturday. Ruben knows hes gay but has been kept in the closet by management, who ruthlessly mould each band members public persona to maximise their appeal. Zach is closeted, unconfident, and only just beginning to explore his same-sex attraction. He develops a crush on Ruben during a whirlwind tour of Europe, as all four members of the band chafe against the inhuman demands of fame. Backstage life is vividly imagined through both Zach and Rubens perspectives, and theres plenty of teen drama amid the joys and pangs of first love. Credit: Piazza Garibaldi, Marisa Fazio, Merrijig, $25 Set in the Marvellous Melbourne of the 1880s, this slender novella has a seductive and unusual perspective. The first half is told through the eyes of a young Sicilian woman who works at a bordello behind what is now Pellegrinis Espresso Bar in Bourke Street. Known professionally as Sapphire, she entertains gentleman callers and meets an Italian artist, Piero, with whom she falls in love. Elsewhere in Melbourne, Ricciotti Garibaldi a railway labourer from a powerful Italian family is rendered sleepless by a heatwave, and encounters Sapphire by chance near a famed Italianate fountain. Piazza Garibaldi finds beguiling corners of Melbournes rich history ripe for fictional treatment, and Melburnian readers will be especially tantalised by some of the historical detail. Yet the prose style is too sparse and uninspired to develop into the promised lyricism, and you get a sense that the two very different 19th-century Italian migrants need a full-length novel to fully flesh them out. Credit: The Womens Pool, Ed., Lynne Spender, Spinifex Press, $26.95 Languishing in a landlocked Melbourne suburb on a summer afternoon, I read this collection of stories about the McIvers Ladies Baths at Coogee with vicarious pleasure tempered by envy. In evocative, sensuous and playful prose, the women who frequent this ocean pool with its crabs, darting fish, anemones and resident octopus revel in its moods, its seasons, its history as a place of womens business, its secluded atmosphere where Muslim women can swim free from the male gaze and where a Vietnamese-born woman who arrived in Australia by boat overcame her fear of the water and learned to swim. For some, the pools thalassa therapy has restored body and soul on a daily basis, especially during COVID. For others, the colourful sandstone cliffs carved by the wind, sea and sand are a reminder that to be weathered and buffeted by life is not to be damaged but transformed. Credit: Another Day in the Colony, Chelsea Watego, UQP, $29.99 The title of this collection of essays comes from a hashtag used by Chelsea Watego (and others) on Twitter to describe the types of colonial violence that Blackfullas are subjected to every day. Violence that is physical, emotional, spiritual, cultural. By speaking of the colony as an ongoing entity, she subverts the dominant narrative that Australia has shucked off its colonial mentality and that the problem lies with First Nations people. The problem, as Chelsea Watego so eloquently and forcefully articulates, is that colonisation never ended. Once we were massacred, now we are researched known, only ever to be erased. Watego shifts seamlessly between her personal experience and that of the Blackfulla more broadly. Addressing her mob, she elaborates strategies for living fully based in truth-telling; the most important truth being that sovereignty was never ceded. Credit: Malas Cat, Mala Kacenberg, Michael Joseph, $35 Twelve year-old Mala knew the German invasion of Poland had begun when she looked up to the sky one evening in August 1939 to see soldiers clutching rifles falling from the sky. Two years later, her Jewish family were rounded up for deportation. Out in the forest seeking food to feed them when it happened, she spent the rest of the war fending for herself, accompanied by her cat, Malach, whom she thought of as her guardian angel. Despite the atrocities she witnessed, the fearless young woman stood up to the German occupiers with disarming chutzpah, defying death many times over. Able to pass as a Christian, she ended up in Germany working as a maid in a hotel until the Allied victory. With its defiant, hopeful spirit and dramatic immediacy, Malas Cat deserves to sit alongside The Diary of Anne Frank as a classic of Holocaust literature told through the eyes of youth. Credit: Slime: A Natural History, Susanne Wedlich, Granta, $39.99 Slimy people are repellent, slimy creatures are the stuff of horror stories. Slime is, as children know, deliciously yuck. Yet for all our ambivalence about this viscous fluid hydrogel, life would probably not exist without the protection it has provided biomolecules from a hostile environment. From micro-organisms and human secretions to the skin of the earth and the sea, slime is the lubricating interface between surfaces that holds things together. It is also evidence that our boundaries are more permeable than we like to think, says Susanne Wedlich, hence the unease it stirs in us. But while they were talking I went over to his accordion, which was on the floor, and started trying to play it and press it, he says. That was enough to convince the teacher to take on the youngster. He was a really good teacher, says Crabb. Ive been lucky throughout my whole career with really good teachers who have inspired me and kept me going. The accordions always been part of my life since I was four. It wasnt long before the young Crabb found himself in demand playing traditional Scottish tunes at parties and ceilidhs. The experience was to stand him in good stead. I was used to just entertaining and not thinking too much about the intricacy of analysing and all that, he says. I think that served me well. I was just happy playing in a happy environment. It was never really about learning, it was just about playing. Thats something Im incredibly happy that I still have. For me its about making music. Its not about the fee I get or the kudos of playing with great orchestras. I mean, thats a bonus. For me its about entertaining. By 16 he was beginning to reach the limits of both the instrument and the repertoire he was playing. It was then he was introduced to the classical accordion, opening up the almost limitless musical possibilities he is still exploring today. James Crabb in Sydney. Credit:Louie Douvis The crucial difference between the traditional and classical accordion is a technical one that allows the player to turn off the pre-determined chords in the left hand, creating a single-tone keyboard mirroring that of the right hand. Armed with a tonal range of more than seven octaves, classical accordion players can tackle transcriptions of works from the Baroque and other periods as well as the growing body of contemporary repertoire written for the instrument. Crabb happily plays the role of ambassador for the classical accordion, patiently explaining the technicalities to those for whom the word accordion conjures up images of an old man in a panama hat playing Thats Amore to loved-up couples in an Italian restaurant. I dont mind having a discussion about it, and then I play and you can judge, he says. Its interesting to see peoples reactions. When he was 18, Crabb moved to Copenhagen to study classical accordion under one of the great pioneers of the instrument, Mogens Ellegaard. It was there that he became captivated by the works of the late Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla, who wrote for the bandoneon, a near cousin of the classical accordion, mostly used in tango ensembles. I remember playing a piece by Piazzolla in a chamber group in Denmark, says Crabb. I didnt know it was Piazzolla but I thought, Oh, god, this is such good music. Thats what got me interested in Piazzolla in the first place and Ive been playing his music ever since. Works by Piazzolla will form the cornerstone of Crabbs concert series with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and its leader, Crabbs long-time friend, and collaborator Richard Tognetti. Loading Crabb becomes even more animated when he describes how it feels to perform the Argentinian masters music with an orchestra. Youve got to feel it, he says. Youve got to feel where you want to take the music. To understand the harmony, and the language, and the rhythm, and the melody, and integrate all these things into something else. Piazzolla brings in all those elements that I love. Alongside works by Piazzolla and other contemporary composers including Harrison Birtwistle and Australian Elena Kats-Chernin, and transcriptions of older music, Crabb has also returned to the music of his youth. I turned my nose up at folk music for a while when I was studying in Denmark, he says. Afterwards, I got my senses back why am I turning my back on my roots? I loved playing folk music. And I use it a lot in concerts as encores, and sometimes in solo recitals, Ill put a little folk music element in, because its part of the music, its part of my heritage as well. And I love playing it. Not so long ago, youd be lucky to get a cube of sweaty cheddar and a pickled onion at your local wine bar. Now, you go to a bar to eat as much as to drink. They have real kitchens, proper chefs and considered menus, yet they still come with all the easy welcome and pull-up-a-stool informality of a local bar. The flexibility of a bar suits the new generation of chefs but mainly, it suits us. Illustration by Simon Letch. Credit: Bars make us feel good. We behave differently in bars. We talk to strangers, chat to the staff about more than the weather, or sit happily, contentedly, by ourselves. Bars are more forgiving than restaurants, often cheaper and more fun. Theyre not empty stages waiting for the cast to arrive and shuffle self-consciously into position. Theyre somewhere in the middle of the third act at all times. Its not business, its life, suggests Gerald Diffey in his recent autobar-ography about Geralds Bar in North Carlton. This new breed isnt going to insert an eight-course tasting menu into the sturm und drang of that third act. Bar eating is all about big pops of flavour, lots of crunch, and easy sharing. Im thinking here of Ali Currey-Voumards chicken livers on toast at Fitzroy Norths bottle-lined Public Wine Shop, and Ellie Bouhadanas burrata with artichoke at Collingwoods Hope St Radio wine and pasta bar. In Sydney, the new bars are often hybrids. Dropping in to Paski Vineria Popolare in Darlinghurst is like walking into an Italian enoteca (wine store), but for the fact you can dine on Enrico Tomelleris handmade pasta. At Hickson House Distilling Co. in The Rocks, they dont just serve a mean G&T, they distill the gin for it on site. Todd Liubinskas, 38, and Trent Knox, 42, meet at a Sydney beach every Saturday at 4.30am to run. While its therapy for their bodies, what they hadnt reckoned on was it being a journey towards their mental rehabilitation, too. Trent: I met Todd in 2015, at a friends gym. We started chatting and found we had a lot in common: our dads were both rugby league players whod trained to feel fit and strong and that was us now. Wed bump into each other, have a coffee and a chat. I was starting a Saturday-morning run club. A few of us would run up and down the hill at Bronte Beach [up Calga Place, then down Bronte Road] 10 times, then go for a dip. The early start was keeping me out of trouble on Friday nights. I was in a dark place. Id been unhappy in my real-estate job for years, not coping well with the pressure and egos of the profession, and been accumulating anxiety around the turbulent family life Id had as a kid. I was binge-drinking, going on cocaine- and ecstasy-fuelled benders; Id lost a long-term relationship and some close friends because of it. I needed help. In 2016, I set up an Instagram account and invited everyone I knew to join me in the 440 Run Club [its 440 metres from the bottom to the top of the hill]. I started to harass Todd to come down. I hadnt told him about my struggles. He knew something was going on, but he didnt push me about it. He just always made himself available to let me air any kind of problem without judging me or telling me what to do. Stepping Up What a remarkable tale of Stephenie Rodriguezs journey [December 11] to hell and back, resulting in her losing both her feet in order to save her life. Given her determination, optimism, courage and true grit I think it may have been a bit premature for her ex-husband to have given away her 400-pair shoe collection! Aila Copland Mornington, Vic Send us a picture or Instagram one of Good Weekend in your life, using the hashtag #goodweekendmag. We choose one each week to publish here and in print. It was very hard for me to get to a point of self-acceptance of my new feet, but I now look at them as things of beauty, Stephenie Rodriquez tells us. The word inspiring is often overused these days, but it certainly applies to this beautiful and amazing woman, a single mother, who had a long nightmare experience, and has very successfully rebuilt her life. It also takes courage to tell her story like this, to be so frank and not shy away from the grim details. A mosquito bite, cerebral malaria, an infection running rampant, 18 months of drastic surgery that eventually required amputation. And now Rodriquez is back on her feet and getting on with her life and career. In anybodys book, she is a true survivor. Chris Brown Erskineville, NSW Loading Dirty Business The tactics employed by Hume Coal to acquire prime grazing properties, while claiming it was an Australian company, were unbelievable [December 11]. As farmer Doug Graham said when referring to the local aquifer at risk, Long after the coal is dug up and burnt in a furnace, were still going to need that water. Thanks to the Martins and others who fought for 11 years to save the NSW Southern Highlands. Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Vic I have just finished reading the excellent article Dirty Business. One thing that would be helpful, when it refers to the NSW government, is to know which party was in at the time. Interesting that all this commenced in the days of Labor premiers (Morris) Iemma, (Nathan) Rees and (Kristina) Keneally. The implication is that folk will blame the current Liberal government. Brian Rose Kellyville, NSW I enjoyed your article on Berrima, but am compelled to address a categorical error describing Mr Leo Sayer as a former pop star. On December 1, 2021, in a heaving Enmore Theatre, Mr Sayer, along with similarly talented colleagues, demonstrated he can still dance ... and sing. I am happy to report that, despite numerous, spirited attempts, likely only dampened by degenerative arthritis, Mr Sayer was not mobbed on this occasion. Julian Wojtulewicz Frenchs Forest, NSW Confusing the idea of gender identity and the reality of sex risks adverse health consequences and deeper and more insidious discrimination against women, she said. Sex [a reproductive category], gender [a societal role], and gender identity [an inner sense of self] are not synonymous but are being treated as if they are. The trend to erase the use of the term women or redefine it has started to sweep the world. Midwifery professor Jenny Gamble Pregnancy, birth and early motherhood are fundamentally sexed issues, not gendered. Pregnant and birthing women and new mothers and their infants have unique vulnerabilities and also require protection. Researchers have lamented the exclusion of women from medical research for decades and researchers have campaigned for more biologically targeted research to understand the difference between the sexes. Professor Gamble said the trend of erasing or redefining the term women had started to sweep the world and that coming from Australia it seems that the way the UK has moved to erase the use of sexed language has been rapid and extreme. Transgender spokespeople say inclusion can be achieved without erasing the term women. Advocate and co-founder of Transgender Victoria, Sally Goldner, said it was possible to represent everyone who gives birth and feeds infants, including those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, who may also require customised information. Its important that we represent everyone. The standard cis-gender woman will still be able to get the messages, but then we can add in the messages we need for other groups in terms of breastfeeding/chestfeeding and giving birth, she said. I think there are ways we can do it and include everyone, and make [information] comprehensive, accessible and inclusive, she said. Its really important each group gets consulted and has a sense of ownership; its just about listening to people so the resources are there. The paper supports this approach. The term cis-gender applies to people whose gender identity fits expectations given their biological sex. Teddy Cook of ACON, Australias biggest LGBTQ health organisation, said: While the language is changing or emerging, what were actually doing is taking courageous steps to be inclusive and affirming with populations who are highly marginalised, highly vulnerable and shouldering a burden of poor health no one in this country deserves. He endorsed the use of language such as pregnant women and people. The LGBTQ parenting support group, Rainbow Families, Transgender Victoria and the Royal Womens Hospital were contacted for this article. A hospital spokeswoman said it was not in a position to comment. The authors of the paper, Effective communication about pregnancy, birth, lactation, breastfeeding and newborn care: the importance of sexed language, due to be published in the journal Frontiers in Global Womens Health, include breastfeeding researcher Associate Professor Karleen Gribble of the University of Western Sydney, obstetrician Professor Susan Bewley, of Kings College London and breastfeeding and health researcher, Assistant Professor Melissa Bartick of Harvard Medical school. They stress that some use of desexed words is appropriate, especially when dealing one-to-one with people who prefer it: And we fully endorse the importance of being inclusive and respectful. For those who are pregnant, birthing, and breastfeeding but who do not identify as women, the individuals preferred terminology for themselves and their body parts should be used wherever possible, they say. As debate about gender terminology escalated in 2021, the Australian Breastfeeding Association was criticised for producing a tailored booklet on feeding for transgender parents in 2021, including the term chestfeeding. The right to breastfeed or chestfeed at work was enshrined in Victorian law last year. An article on language in womens health by Melbourne University political philosopher, Holly Lawford-Smith, was live on the website of O&G magazine for less than a day in 2021, reportedly taken down after a backlash. Credit: In late 2021, when the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published an article titled Those birthing people - theyre women, by the Melbourne University political philosopher Holly Lawford-Smith in an O&G magazine edition on language in womens health, the article was taken down within a day. In the now-archived article, Dr Lawford-Smith, who describes herself as a gender-critical feminist, argued considerations against gender-neutral language for female-specific health issues include the history of struggle for womens representation in language, which our feminist foremothers fought hard to win. Dr Lawford-Smith has been labelled a TERF or trans-exclusionary radical feminist by critics of her views. A RANZCOG spokesperson said an editorial in the same magazine stated, the most appropriate language to use is, as always, an ongoing conversation. The organisation which confirmed Holly Lawford-Smiths article is no longer up agrees with the researchers opinion that it is a continuing challenge to apply language in a way that is clear, concise and preserves the dignity of all people being described. Associate Professor Gribble said she noticed sex-specific language starting to be phased out four years ago, when she was writing a paper on lactation and someone suggested I not use the word mother. Loading She and colleague Hannah Dahlen, a midwifery professor, were also prompted to examine the issue of desexed language by the 2021 cover headline on The Lancet, which read Historically, the anatomy and physiology of bodies with vaginas have been neglected. Their paper says the headline, which caused fierce international debate, was part of the trend to replace the word women which can diminish women. Professor Dahlen said the very good intention of making language inclusive is starting to exclude women and cause rampant misrepresentation of sex in scientific data. Chief executive of Gender Equity Victoria, Tanja Kovac, said she was regularly asked by our own members to comment on [the removal of sexed language]; its a significant feminist issue. While we dont have any time whatsoever for TERF feminism, that does not mean we dont see a need to provide very tailored policy differences and responses for men, women, trans people who identify as women and other non-binary and gender-diverse people, who need specially, tailored policy for them, said Ms Kovac. A push towards desexed language, or a great generic removed choice around how people define themselves. What were seeing is, at an elite level, an attempt to linguistically deny the capacity for people to choose how they want to self-describe ... organisations and policy settings need to respond to peoples unique needs, you cant pretend that nuance doesnt exist, she said. I dont think its healthy for anybody to have diminished nuance in healthcare, particularly. The Australian Breastfeeding Associations Naomi Hull said the organisation agreed there were risks attached to blanket removal of sexed language. Its counsellors tune into and mirror the callers language, adapting terminology as needed, but within mass public health messaging, such personalisation [it] is rarely possible. Clear and easy to understand [and translate] concepts are pivotal, and ABAs approach is to use sexed language, where its relevant to the communications. Jacquie Ducat, a breastfeeding educator, does not have concerns about the language used about pregnancy, birth or motherhood shifting towards less use of sex-based words. Credit:Luis Enrique Escui Breastfeeding community educator Jacquie Ducat, whose children Michael and William are five, and 15 months, said she did not take issue with such language changing as she realises desexed terminology still includes her. I can appreciate for some people it may feel like erasure, maybe [due to] the things they base their identity on, by changing the language it makes it feel like that is being taken away from them, said Ms Ducat, from Melbourne. I can appreciate how some people feel [but] some of my circle who are more gender fluid or dont have the typical family dynamic, [have told me] stories about how it has been very difficult to feel included, and that things are for them because theres a lot of assumptions made. Not everyone who births uses the word mother, but I can appreciate how difficult the dynamics are and the changing structure of society, and its happening very quickly. Lara McGirr, an anthropologist and breastfeeding mother, is among those who believe there are risks attached to removing the words woman and mother from maternity resources, research and information. Credit:Brook Mitchell Anthropologist and breastfeeding mother from Sydney Lara McGirr said the erosion of the use of sexed language around pregnancy, birth and feeding set women back. This stuff is not in womens best interest, she said. I think we can get it right, we can support the trans experience and validate and accept it whilst also letting mothers be mothers, and supporting and empowering them. Sydney restaurant owner Sam Luo refused to be perturbed when the coronavirus threatened to derail the opening of his new eatery at Hurstville days before Christmas last year. As fears brewed of another lockdown, Mr Luo was adamant his traditional Cantonese restaurant, Taste of Shunde, would open to diners, despite the sudden spike in cases fuelled by the Omicron outbreak in December. Taste of Shunde restaurant owner Sam Luo wants to give people hope at the start of a new year. Credit:Cole Bennetts His determination appears to have paid off. After a quiet but steady January, the restaurants tables are booked out for traditional celebrations the night before Lunar New Year, which falls on February 1 this year. Lunar New Year is a new start for everyone, Mr Luo said. Its a time to get rid of the bad things and embrace the good things, with the hope that next year will be better. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size As the Cronulla ferry chugged its way across the sparkling waters of Port Hacking early Friday morning, school principal Tony Ibrahim was on board admiring the blue seas and skies, accompanied by a coveted supply of rapid antigen tests. About 115 of his students at Cronulla High School live almost an hours drive to the south, nestled in the Royal National Park villages of Bundeena and Maianbar. Rather than ask their parents to travel into town to pick up two weeks supply of rapid tests before school starts on Tuesday, Mr Ibrahim and his deputy principal took 20 boxes of tests and made the journey across the water themselves. Bundeena resident Stuart Buman picks up RAT tests for his children Eve and Dane. Credit:Dylan Coker They were greeted at Bundeenas ferry wharf by the schools administration assistant Angela Clarke, herself a local resident, who was charged with the next stage of distribution. Ms Clarke brought a trestle table from home and camped outside the wharf for two hours on Friday morning, handing out tests to parents and children. Then she drove both the table and tests 10 minutes to Maianbar and set up her makeshift stand again, waiting outside the local cafe until 2pm. Its absolutely beautiful. Ive got a nice shady spot with an awesome view, she told the Herald from her supply stand at midday. Shell repeat the service again on Monday, until all 460 tests are collected by families ready to start the school year on Tuesday. Advertisement Some parents came down with their kids, others drove, some came with their dogs, Ms Clarke said. I got some good feedback from the parents; they were very appreciative they didnt have to drive all the way around to Cronulla High. They were just stoked we were able to facilitate it here. So marked the final chapter of the state governments self-described mammoth military operation to distribute more than 5 million rapid tests to students across all corners of NSW this month under its back-to-school plan. Rapid tests had been distributed to schools all across NSW by Friday. Credit:Dylan Coker When teachers and students return to classrooms next week, theyll be asked to take two rapid tests a week for the first four weeks of term as part of a surveillance testing program to detect COVID-19 cases in schoolchildren and staff. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said all schools including about 3000 public, private and Catholic schools and 5000 early childhood education centres had received their RAT supplies by Friday. This has been a phenomenal effort ... We always thought it would be a substantive challenge, not just in the procurement of these tests [but] the distribution right across NSW. I want to thank and congratulate everyone involved. The operation to distribute the tests has involved dozens of corporate workers filling boxes at a Sydney warehouse over the weekend, maintenance staff driving hundreds of kilometres across the state to distribute them to regional hubs, and principals organising the final delivery to families this week. Advertisement Mr Perrottet said the governments plan had been devised by consulting the Education Department and NSW Teachers Federation about their concerns. It should give confidence, a lot of confidence, to parents and to teachers that when we open up schools day one, term one, we are doing so in a safe way for you and your family, he said. Were asking parents to use these tests twice a week ... This is about having flexible, a common-sense approach. If you can test your kids before day one, do that, if you cant, thats OK. Lisa Ingram and her daughter Kira Hunter, 12, pick up RATs from Angela Clarke in Bundeena. Credit:Dylan Coker An extra 3400 school bus services and 200 train services will also be added to the states transport network during peak hour from Monday next week when school children return to public transit. NSW Transport will work directly with schools if dedicated services are impacted by any COVID-related timetable changes. NSW Transport Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said while staffing had been a challenge through the Omicron outbreak, he was confident the increase in services could be achieved. He said between 2500 and 3000 COVID cases were recorded in Transport for NSW workers during the peak of the outbreak. That has reduced as people have come back to work after isolation and recovering from COVID, Mr Collins said. Advertisement NSW is lagging other states and territories in vaccinating children against COVID-19 with health experts saying delayed deliveries and some hesitancy has led to a slower uptake compared with adults. As the rollout enters its fourth week and tens of thousands of students return to school within days, 35 per cent of children aged five to 11 have received their first dose of the paediatric COVID-19 vaccine. Infections in young children are making up a rising proportion of the states cases, with almost 12,000 children aged nine and under contracting the virus in NSW last week. The vast majority of infections in children continue to be mild or asymptomatic and few result in hospitalisation. Jennifer Barrett plans to have her sons Hudson and Theo (pictured) vaccinated once the former has recovered from the virus. Credit:Brook Mitchell On Friday, health authorities expressed confidence that Omicron hospitalisations will soon fall and the mass surveillance testing of students with bi-weekly rapid kits will provide reassurance to parents and help control the spread of the virus in schools. NSW has recorded 49 deaths and 13,354 new COVID-19 infections as health experts say the state is lagging in the uptake of child vaccines. Of the new cases reported on Saturday, 5426 were self-reported from at-home tests and 7928 were from PCR testing. Eight million children worldwide have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19. Credit:Getty Images Almost a quarter of a million 241,034 positive rapid tests have been reported to NSW Health since it became mandatory on January 13. There are 2693 people in hospital with the virus, of whom 186 are in intensive care units. Of those in intensive care, 73 are being ventilated. Police have said the bodies of a married couple found in a charred house in Brisbanes south-west had evidence of violence, after initially suspecting they perished in the fire. Emergency services were called to a Hannant Street property in Collingwood Park, a suburb of Ipswich, about 1am on January 23, arriving minutes later to find the house engulfed. Christine Stephan with husband Joseph. The bodies of 73-year-old Ray White Redbank Plains salesman Joseph Stephan and his 68-year-old wife Christine were found shortly after the blaze was brought under control. Police initially said on Sunday before autopsies were done that detectives did not believe there was any third-party involvement. Queensland has recorded 18 deaths on Friday the most for any single day of the pandemic on the day that also marks two years since the state saw its first case of COVID-19. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has used the grim milestone to publicly release modelling showing the state has avoided many of the worst-case scenarios predicted before the borders were opened last year. The deaths announced on Friday included a person in their 30s as well as 12 people in aged care. Four of the people who died were in their 60s, four were in their 70s, seven were in their 80s and two were in their 90s. All these lessons were, of course, already learned in earlier excursions to wars here and there, and a genocide in Africa. But the dreadful repercussions from human-made conflict are relatively unsurprising. The inevitable results of war the breakdown of society, you might say have been known since the first spear was thrown. Natural disasters, designed by no one, are of a different pitch. They come out of nowhere, requiring swift and extraordinary responses that rely on the goodwill and strong hearts of victims, rescuers, caregivers, leaders and the community at large. We might, in this late January week of the anniversary of the third year of another disaster, reflect upon such matters. On January 25, 2020, the first case of something then called a novel coronavirus was confirmed by Victorian health authorities. The patient, a man from Wuhan, China, had flown to Melbourne from Guandong on January 19. Here was a disaster that broke the rules, for it did not arrive with a cannonade of wind, the sudden emptying of the sky, or a convulsion of the earth. It was altogether invisible. But it came with a power that would infect hundreds of millions worldwide, kill more than 5.5 million so far (and in Australia alone, take about 3400 lives and counting), upend economies, work, education and lifestyles, and create furious political arguments about the damnedest of things, from mask-wearing to denial that the virus is anything worse than a cold. Lately, because so many workers have been infected, the virus has contributed to a near-critical shortage of goods on supermarket shelves, reminding us of the thin line between society as usual and chaos. It has required the brave and the good, principally doctors, nurses and paramedics, to sacrifice their safety, their time with family and friends, and their over-stretched spirits to prevent the pandemic from overwhelming the health services for which they toil, saving many and easing many others into otherwise lonely deaths. Loading They are still doing it, assisted now by the vast majority of Australians who have agreed to be vaccinated, protecting themselves from hospitalisation and death and more importantly, from spreading the virus to the vulnerable. This, you might consider, is the way of things when natural disasters strike. The good and the brave and the generous are those who are remembered when the terror passes. Those years ago in Grantham, I met a man named Neville Warbuton who had clung to life through an entire night, perched on the roof of his service station as floodwaters swirled by, his only hope and comfort the sight of candles flickering in the window of a house across the valley. A neighbour, Linda Weston, had witnessed his peril. She lit all the candles she could find and stood in her window to let Warbuton know he wasnt alone. In thanks, he flicked his cigarette lighter every five minutes a message that he hadnt fallen asleep and tumbled into the water, where others were drowning until his thumb was almost worn away. My angel in silhouette, Warbuton said of his neighbour. There were, it happens, angels all around, some of them dropping from the sky to haul survivors into helicopters. Later, squadrons of volunteers gave weeks of their lives to help dry and clean the homes of thousands who had suffered. On the darker side, up and down the valley, and way down the track in flooded Brisbane, signs were tacked to fences and sheds warning that looters would be shot. Scavengers crawl out in the wake of every disaster, knowing the pickings are easy. Three weeks later, Cyclone Yasi caused less damage than feared in Townsville, though you could have sworn the world was ending when the wind was at its fiercest, and no one but a fool would have ventured out or stood next to a window. The next few days, however, revealed how easily the thread between order and chaos could be snipped. The entire electricity supply to Townsville was lost. Air-conditioning sputtered out, fraying already stretched nerves in the tropical heat; food went rank in refrigerators and parents became desperate as babys milk soured. When an ice factorys auxiliary power generator kicked in, fights broke out between large men exerting their right to get blocks of the stuff. Those hoping to escape to safer places south discovered they were stranded without power, fuel stations couldnt pump petrol or diesel. Besides, those without cash couldnt buy fuel or anything else: unpowered ATMs couldnt dispense cash and credit card machines didnt work. Floodwaters cut the highway. Long lines of trucks and cars jammed the road, their frustrated occupants almost melting in the humidity. The aftermath of Cyclone Yasi in Townsville. Around town, pockets of looting were reported and familiar signs went up: business operators were prepared to shoot. And yet, many of those in their stranded vehicles chose to share whatever they had with those who had nothing. Sandwiches and slabs of cake appeared from cooler boxes, calming hungry children. In cafes, staff set to preparing lunches from anything available for emergency workers. Happily, power and order was restored in a few days. But in those few days, you could detect the early stages of a potential fracturing of the civility that holds societies together, offset by a determination from ordinary people that such a thing wouldnt be allowed to happen. And then came news that downtown Christchurch had been destroyed by an earthquake. Photographer Jason South and I flew to Auckland. There was precisely one seat available on a last flight to Christchurch. We needed photographs: Jason got the seat. I hopped on a flight to Wellington and caught a small plane to the town of Picton, in the north of New Zealands south island, leaving me almost 350km short of Christchurch. I stood on the side of the road and put out my thumb. The kindness of strangers knows no boundary. A middle-aged couple in a twin-cab ute pulled up. They were in a hurry to get to Christchurch, they announced their daughter was there, desperate to escape the broken city. Would I mind if they drove fast? These fine people shared the sandwiches they had packed, and insisted I pour myself a mug of coffee from their Thermos. To my shame, I later lost the piece of paper on which they wrote their names and address. Christchurch, still shaking and banging every few minutes, was a place engulfed in shock and grief and disbelief. Most of the city was without power, the gas was switched off and drinking water was in short supply. Rescue crews worked frantically within dangerous rubble. Christchurch, still shaking and banging every few minutes, was a place engulfed in shock and grief and disbelief. And yet, when Jason and I found lodging in an empty motel at the edge of the ruined CBD, the obliging owners somehow found food, produced bottles of wine and sat up late with us, filling us in on the moment the quake hit and, I suspect, trying to reassure us as the motel bucked with continuing aftershocks. Here, surely, was a place where civil order might have been endangered. Authorities, recognising the risk, brought in unarmed NZ Defence Force troops and police to form a perimeter around the worst-struck areas, and security was supplemented by 300 Australian police. And yet, civility rarely buckled, though six looters were arrested within a day of the earthquake. Even the citys newspaper, The Press, edited by Andrew Holden (later editor-in-chief of The Age), continued publishing, despite the top floor of the papers office collapsing, trapping staff and killing one. The newspaper was on the streets 15 hours after the tragedy. The staff worked every day from cabins on the edge of town, serving Christchurchs community with a stream of sorely needed information. These years later, the deluded, the deliberately ignorant and the self-important use social media, the streets and in a few cases, parliament itself, to undermine and loot the efforts of civil society to recover from our latest, seemingly endless natural disaster. The truth is, when we finally get a time to look back, it will be to celebrate the good and the generous. They are everywhere. At the start of last year, COVID-19 remained close to untreatable. Only a single drug the controversial remdesivir was approved for use in Australia; much treatment remained close to desperation. Today, doctors have one of the widest drug arsenals available of any virus. The virus is still not curable but there are an array of treatment options. Traditionally, weve had a lot of trouble treating viruses, said Associate Professor Nial Wheate, a medicines expert at the University of Sydney. Its a testament to science, and to capitalism, how fast weve been able to develop these drugs. Nurses prepare to roll a patient in their bed as part of their COVID treatment process. Credit:Justin McManus Eight different drug treatments are now approved by the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce. That does not count a new antibody cocktail, approved in December, and two new antivirals from Merck and Pfizer, approved by Australias drug regulator last week, that scientists hope could be the best of the bunch. More than 2000 homes across Victoria remain off the grid after massive storms battered the state on Friday, trapping cars in floodwaters, taking down trees, damaging homes and dropping hailstones the size of a 20 coin. The State Emergency Service received about 1140 calls for help in the 24 hours to 7am on Saturday, with Wheelers Hill among the suburbs worst affected. Also bearing the brunt of the weather front were Castlemaine and New Gisborne. Passengers make their way through the rain at Moorabbin station on Friday afternoon. Credit:Penny Stephens Showers will continue to drench the state on Saturday morning, but the trough that carried the storm activity has since moved towards the states east, reducing the risk of thunderstorms repeating for a third consecutive day. Cooler weather conditions will bring some relief from the muggy weather over the past week, but the change will be short-lived, with temperatures rising to 28 degrees on Sunday. A cold front will bring colder temperatures on Tuesday. A 43-year-old Ascot man has been charged after he allegedly drugged and raped two young women he met via an online dating site. Sex Assault Squad detectives have charged the man over the two separate incidents, one in May 2021 and the other in December, and believe he met both women through a dating app. The 43-year-old man will appear in court on Friday. Credit:iStock It will be alleged that in May the man sexually assaulted a woman in her early 20s at a residence in Burswood, after rendering her unconscious with a stupefying drug. In December 2021, the man sexually assaulted a woman in her late 20s at a residence in Ascot, also rendering her unconscious using a stupefying drug, police say. West Australian Education Minister Sue Ellery has announced the new definitions of close contacts in education settings, and said schools will not shut in the face of an outbreak. On Friday, Ms Ellery said schools would operate differently to the rest of the community, to take into account the importance of keeping our schools open and providing face-to-face learning. Western Australias Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery. Credit:Peter De Kruijff This is so important to childrens learning, social and emotional development, overall wellbeing and physical and mental health, she said. The new definitions of close contacts in schools have been based on South Australias model and will take effect once WA records higher daily caseloads, the exact number of which has not been decided. The Central Land Council, one of Australias most powerful Aboriginal land councils, has called for a lockdown in central Australia as coronavirus spreads through vulnerable Indigenous communities. There are currently 95 people in Northern Territory hospitals with the COVID-19. About 90 per cent of them are Aboriginal. Just over half the Indigenous population in the Northern Territory has received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, but growing case numbers in Aboriginal communities have prompted the Central Land Council to accuse the NT government of failing Central Australia. According to the Department of Health people in remote communities are more at risk from Coronavirus due to the prevalence of other health issues and the limited access to services. The intellectual, activist and chairman of Cape York Partnership offers us the prospect of a more complete commonwealth. In a conception he first delivered in 2014, Pearson said: Our nation is in three parts. There is our ancient heritage, written in the continent and original culture painted on its land and seascapes. Loading There is its British inheritance, the structures of government and society transported from the UK fixing its foundations in the ancient soil. There is its multicultural achievement: a triumph of immigration that brought together the gifts of peoples and cultures from all over the globe forming one indissoluble commonwealth. We stand on the cusp of bringing these three parts of our national story together, Pearson said, with constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians. This reconciliation will make a more complete commonwealth. Of course, other nations have the same three elements - Indigenous peoples, British-born democracy and immigrant influxes. Australian uniqueness should flow from some distinguishing features. One is that Indigenous Australians represent the oldest continuing civilisation on earth. Another must be found in the manner of our reconciliation. Seven years on, hows Pearsons vision looking? After the annual and escalating clash of Australia Day celebrations with Invasion Day protests, is the nation any closer to reconciliation? Is Australia able to construct its unique, more complete identity? Or are we doomed mindlessly to mimic the disintegration of American politics racism on the right and identity politics on the left, each side demanding greater rights than the other? Loading I asked Noel Pearson. For as long as we have been waiting for it to happen, we have been fraying, the country has been fraying, he says. Its not good that it go on much longer. My anxiety is about the need for leadership. Otherwise we risk this kind of narrative of separatism and we go down the American road because we havent found some kind of resolution. Young people want this, young people across the board, and by young I mean people in their 40s down. Young white Australians are familiar with these issues and they stand in solidarity with the protesters. They are not happy with the situation. This is why I think recognition is so imperative. We have to tie the nation together rather than let it fray. I dont want protest separatism to continue its not good for our [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander] people and its not good for our country. Protest separatism is getting more and more pronounced. So it may be surprising to hear that Pearson thinks that the elements are falling into place to realise his vision. Of course, any lasting reform must be bipartisan. Unless both sides of politics agree, any referendum will fail, any legislation will be vulnerable to repeal. So it may be even more surprising to hear that Pearson thinks that, among the Labor, Liberal and Nationals parties, the Nationals are most supportive: National Party people are the best because they have blackfellas in their electorates, they went to school with them, they played footy with them, they know them by name. Blackfellas arent abstract to them, theyre not scared of them. There has been bipartisan support for constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australia since John Howard proposed the idea shortly before the 2007 election. He committed to a referendum within 18 months to achieve it but, of course, lost the election. Kevin Rudd had immediately agreed with Howard, though, once in power, he postponed any referendum to a second term. Which, of course, he didnt get, except for a few fleeting months in 2013. For the last 14 years, every government has gone into an election on a platform of constitutional recognition, weve had two parliamentary inquiries and three public policy processes, laments Pearson. Its been the longest bloody process in history and blackfellas have stuck with it through every twist and turn. But while it may have been excruciatingly slow, the delays allowed time for an idea with more substance than just constitutional recognition alone. The Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017 inspired the idea of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Loading Malcolm Turnbull dismissed this idea as a third chamber of Parliament. This was a deliberate mischaracterisation to excuse his government from acting on it. The Voice has only ever been proposed as an advisory body, not an executive or legislative one. It wouldnt make policy or law; it would offer advice and suggestions on policy and law affecting Indigenous Australia. A parliamentary committee led by the Liberals Julian Leeser and Labors Pat Dodson produced a report on how to create a Voice and Scott Morrison committed his government to starting work on it. The 2019 budget allocated $7 million to co-design with Aboriginal communities the institutional shape of the Voice. And last month the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, responded by announcing a process to create 35 local and regional Voice bodies to improve grassroots decision-making. A national Voice is supposed to follow later. Noel Pearson gives Morrison credit for a step-by-step process, not setting the hares running, not getting ahead of themselves. And Morrison has allocated $160 million to run a referendum on constitutional recognition. But theres a catch. Pearson and other Indigenous leaders want to change the constitution to create a constitutional place for the Voice. Any such proposed amendment would not specify the design of the Voice that would be up to the Parliament. But Morrison has not supported this idea. Hes so far supported a referendum for recognition of Indigenous Australians, but without any reference to a Voice. Pearson isnt perturbed; the next steps will have to wait till after the election due by May. What the government hasnt done is rule it out. Everything is heading towards resolution. It just requires that the person whos leading the country in the next term of Parliament take this to a bipartisan conclusion. Its gotta be substantive, its gotta be real. Australia is fortunate that its Indigenous leaders have been conciliatory and patient. Very patient. Over two and a quarter centuries since the British colonised the country and 14 years since John Howard proposed constitutional recognition, Pearson thinks reconciliation is approaching. I see it mate, we are on track, we are on track. And he can take some satisfaction from the Prime Ministers words this week as Morrison gave thanks for a history that spans 65,000 years; a continent of unmatched beauty and wonder; a democratic tradition that is the foundation of our freedom; and our kaleidoscope of multicultural and multi-faith communities. The federal governments dramatic gesture of acquiring the rights to the Aboriginal flag is a reminder of just what a powerful symbol it has become. Very few flags, anywhere in the world, have played the same role in bringing together a disparate group of downtrodden people and leading them in a struggle against difficult odds. Part of its success is that it is beautiful and simple but it encapsulates a whole world view. Black for our people. Red for ochre and earth. Yellow for the sun, giver of life, is how Ken Wyatt, Indigenous Affairs Minister described it. It is a work of genius. Its innate beauty is enhanced by the backstory of its creation at a heady moment in history when Indigenous people started to demand and win the political recognition they had been denied for so long. Singapore: Angel had never heard the sound of a gunshot before but that all changed late last year when fighting began in her town in Myanmars eastern Kayah state. The 16-year-old was visiting her grandmother when the shooting began and was terrified that the house would be struck. Angel, not her real name, had her town taken over by conflict. Credit:Save the Children I was so shocked and frightened no idea what to do, recalled Angel, whose name has been changed for safety reasons. My neighbour fled to the monastery. I couldnt go at that time and leave my grandmother. All the neighbours were fleeing, no one was left inside the home or on the road. I heard the sound of continuous bomb blasting and gunshots. Knowledge is power, gives confidence and peace of mind. Knowledge straightens the spine, lifts up the chin, and empowers ones steps. Knowledge, formally acquired through the educational system, or informally learned through modern technology, is not a luxury but a must in todays world. In retirement for three years, I reflected on forty-five years of engagement with society as a teacher, lawyer, TV host, the first Ombudsman of Sint Maarten, mentor, motivator, and more, and feel compelled to issue a CALL TO ACTION for 2022. First to all who aspire to assume a leading role in public office, and secondly to young entrepreneurs and the community of Sint Maarten at large. A call to be curious and seek KNOWLEDGE to empower oneself. Congratulating our Government and Parliament with mixed feelings for being the longest coalition in place since Sint Maarten acquired an autonomous status within the Dutch Kingdom, I call upon all political parties intending to contest the next Parliamentary elections, to recruit prospective candidates from now. These candidates and any person desirous to hold a public function should be trained and prepared to assume the job ahead of time. With the speed that the world is moving and changing, we can no longer afford to have persons learning on the job while leading the country. Todays leaders are required to be equipped with the knowledge to organize, legislate and manage the country. As such I will avail myself to any group of persons seriously willing to learn more about matters of good governance, the Kingdom Charter, and the Constitution of Sint Maarten. I am almost certain that there are many other people available too. The past years were challenging, but yet a blessing in disguise as they over-exposed the fragility of our community, the importance of loyalty to ones job and to the employees, while individual creativity encouraged entrepreneurship. The next important step for our new entrepreneurs is, however, getting equipped to deliver quality service and goods. A good idea alone does not guarantee business success. Though a formal certificate might not be required, proper knowledge of the products and or services offered is a must. There is no reason to settle for mediocracy, while excellence is available at the tip of your finger via the internet. Applauding the many community efforts offering free courses to empower youngsters and the community as a whole, my experience in building in particular the Ombudsman Institute, taught me that you have to take the information directly into the communities. Advertising alone in newspapers, on billboards, social media, and flyers often does not reach those we want to empower the most. Apart from churches and community organizations, it practically requires a door-to-door approach if we really want to make the difference envisioned, and reach those that need to be empowered and equipped. And last but certainly not least, a shout goes out to my fellow retirees, to make an effort to stay up to date with the digital world. We do not want to be living dinosaurs. And so my CALL TO ACTION to the people of Sint Maarten is to be curious, collectively and individually, making KNOWLEDGE the target for 2022 and beyond. Dr. R.J.A. (Nilda) Arduin January 2022 FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Louisville Metro Police Department shows Officer Brett Hankison. Attorneys for Hankison, a former police officer involved in the Breonna Taylor raid, want to ban news outlets from part of the jury selection process. Hankison is set to go on trial on wanton endangerment charges, with jury selection set to begin on Feb. 1, 2022. (Courtesy of Louisville Metro Police Department via AP, File) Edith (Edi) Marie Smith, daughter of the late Glen Lester and Dorothy Jane Allison, was born in Youngstown, OH on Friday, October 11th, 1963, and she departed this life on Saturday, April 30th, 2022, having attained the age of 59 years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death b LONDON - After the death of a close friend, Kieron McArdle was struggling, and three friends came over to help him celebrate his 50th birthday in his backyard in Coleshill, a town in Warwickshire, England. Less than an hour later, the police were banging on the front door. McArdle was fined $134, which he said he was content to pay, as he understood he'd violated the ban on social gatherings in place at the time, in March of last year. But he's incredulous about the scandal of a string of parties - including a birthday celebration - at the British prime minister's Downing Street office and residence over the past two years. "It's galling to watch. It's one rule for them, one for us," said McArdle, a company director. "What they did was exactly the same as what I did," he said, only "I was happy to pay my fine. I broke the rules and accept responsibility. Why don't they?" Britain is awaiting the findings of dual investigations into government parties - more than a dozen have emerged - that allegedly broke the government's own coronavirus rules. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has apologized for three of the gatherings, but stopped short of admitting any personal wrongdoing. In the case of Johnson's birthday, ITV News reported that 30 people attended an afternoon gathering - with singing and a Union Jack-themed cake - on June 19, 2020, when the country was in its first and strictest lockdown. A Downing Street spokesperson told The Washington Post that staff members "gathered briefly in the Cabinet Room after a meeting to wish the prime minister a happy birthday. He was there for less than 10 minutes." Downing Street has maintained that other gatherings were work-related - never mind all those bottles of wine. For people outside of government who have been punished for breaking covid-19 rules, it's been infuriating to observe what they say are double standards. They say their trespasses look a lot like what the people at the center of power have been doing - and not once or twice, but throughout the pandemic - without consequence. Since the start of the pandemic, more than 100,000 "fixed penalty notices" - the covid equivalent of a speeding ticket - have been issued in England and Wales to people violating coronavirus restrictions. During some stages of the pandemic, the rules have been very strict, with little to no mixing of households allowed, and with people permitted to leave their homes only in limited circumstances. The size of the fine has depended on the offense. A large proportion have been for breaching bans on small gatherings. Those carried penalties of about $270, which could be reduced by half if paid promptly. People who had unlawful gatherings of more than 30 people - like a student in Nottingham - faced a steeper penalty of about $13,400. The possibility of punishment was real enough that a London police officer was able to falsely arrest Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, on the pretext that she'd broken lockdown rules. He was convicted last year for her rape and murder. Adam Wagner, a lawyer who has tracked the lockdown rules closely, said there have been more than 100 rule changes during the pandemic, with a change every four or five days on average. So it's been difficult for many people to keep up with the latest regional and national rules, and to separate what's law and what's advice. "It was pretty confusing and difficult for people," Wagner said. There were "endless iterations of different rules: we had 3 tiers, then 4 tiers; then local restrictions, then different restrictions in bigger areas; national lockdowns, local lockdowns; and the rules within the regions changed regularly. " But, he added, "none of that excuses how the government behaved - these were literally people making the rules," he said of the government ministers, who gave regular televised briefings on what the rules were. Wagner said some of the alleged Downing Street parties look difficult to defend, including the birthday gathering for the prime minister. "I can't see how that could possibly be allowed under the rules. There was no work being done. It was a gathering to celebrate a birthday," said Wagner, who works for Doughty Street Chambers law firm and is a visiting professor of law at Goldsmiths, University of London. Some people who have been fined say they should get their money back. In the lead-up to Christmas 2020, James Kearns, 41, who runs a scaffolding company, invited about a dozen of his employees out for a drink. Pubs and restaurants were closed at the time, but he has the keys to his father's pub in east London. So he let the crew in, and - although they'd been working side-by-side throughout the year - he asked that they spread out in groups of three. Within 20 minutes, he said, about 20 police officers were knocking on the doors. "We hid in the toilets, but the banging wouldn't go away. So I had no choice but to go and let them in." They were all fined 100, or about $134. Initially, Kearns said, he thought it was fair: after all, they had broken the rules. It has since emerged that, just five days before Kearns's gathering, Downing Street may have held its own Christmas Party. According to the Daily Mirror, which first reported the story, about 40-50 people were "crammed" into a room on Dec. 18, 2020. Some wore Christmas sweaters. There was a Secret Santa gift exchange. Johnson told Parliament he had been "repeatedly assured" that there was no Downing Street Christmas Party and that no covid rules had been broken. But video leaked of his staffers joking about such a party, and his aide, Allegra Stratton, resigned over it. "We should get our money back," Kearns said. "Boris Johnson is doing the exact same thing as what everyone else was doing, and he hasn't been fined. They are the people running the country and making up the rules, don't they have to abide by the rules? How is that fair?" Milton, PA (17847) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. The Ministry of Finance is currently involved in conducting two analyses with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), one on the Codes on deregulating capital movements and invisible current operations and the other on the application of the principles of corporate governance of public enterprises in Romania, Minister of Finance Adrian Caciu said on Friday at the end of the meeting with the Secretary General of the OECD, Mathias Cormann, according to a ministry's release. "I am pleased that today I received a positive opinion for adhering to the OECD recommendations on the principles of the Independent Fiscal Institutions. I am confident that in the next period we will make technical progress in this area with the Fiscal Council and the OECD. The Ministry of Finance is currently involved two analyses with the OECD, one on the Codes for deregulating capital movements and invisible current operations, and another on the application of the principles of corporate governance of public enterprises in Romania. Now we are waiting for the publication of the OECD report," Adrian Caciu was quoted as saying. The Minister of Finance and the Secretary General of the OECD discussed the OECD Economic Survey for Romania, this being the first meeting in the roadmap negotiations for Romania's accession to the prestigious organization, Agerpres.ro informs. According to the Ministry of Finance, the talks focused on developments in the field of public finance, such as reducing the budget deficit and maintaining dedicated fiscal support, digitizing the tax administration, efficient implementation of public investment and governance of state-owned companies. In his speech, Adrian Caciu underlined the maintenance of Romania's commitment to return within the limits of the Stability and Growth Pact in 2024 and the gradual fiscal consolidation. In addition, the Minister of Finance presented the measures adopted at national level, as well as those taken by the Ministry of Finance in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which will accelerate the continuous modernization of the tax administration, which will play a crucial role in improving tax collection. Adrian Caciu mentioned that the Government's priority is the efficient implementation of the public investments assumed in the 2022 budget, at the level of 6.7% of GDP, the highest allocation in recent years. The talks were also attended by Alvaro Pereira, Director, Country Studies Directorate, Department of Economics, Andreas Schaal, Director of the OECD Secretariat for Global Relations and Sherpa G7 / G20, and Abby Symes, Special Adviser to the OECD Secretary-General. On behalf of Romania, the meeting was also attended by Luca Niculescu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the French Republic, and Cristian Stanica, President of the National Commission for Strategy and Forecast. The OECD Council decided on January 25, 2022 to take the first step in accession talks with Romania, in parallel with Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia and Peru. From now on, individual roadmaps will be prepared, which will set out the terms, conditions and accession process, provided that the respective countries confirm their adherence to the values, vision and priorities reflected in the OECD Vision Statement made on the occasion of its 60th anniversary, and in the 2021 declaration of the Ministerial Council. Founded in 1961, the OECD plays an advisory role to the governments of countries with strong economic, social and governance policies. The 38 OECD member states together account for about 60% of the world economy, 70% of world trade and 20% of the world's population. 500 years after it was consecrated, a stone church near Suceava was turned into a monastery. Meeting on Wednesday, the Suceava Diocesan Council approved the establishment of the Sunday of All Saints Monastery in the village of Parhauti in Suceava County. The community will be built around a church built and consecrated during the reign of St. Stephen the Great, as well as the Monastery of St. John the New in Suceava, reports the Basilica News Agency. Were confident that the presence of a well-knit monastic community will lead to work on conservating and restoring the cultural heritage and, especially, will be a landmark in the cultural and spiritual formation of locals and pilgrims, said diocesan representatives. The Sunday of All Saints Church was founded in 1522 by the great Logothete Gavriil Trotusan in Parhauti, about 10 miles northwest of Suceava. It was included in the list of Suceava County historical monuments in 2015, and still boasts its original iconography from around 1530. In the narthex is a tomb believed to belong to Trotusans father, Anjinco Vamesul, who is believed to have fought alongside St. Stephen the Great at Razboieni in 1476. In August, another church, this one built by order of St. Stephen the Great himself, was given hermitage status, also under the auspices of St. John the New Monastery in Suceava. The actions are part of an eparchial strategy to open additional monasteries. Save Romania Union (USR) leaders Dacian Ciolos, Anca Dragu, Dan Barna and Catalin Drula participated, on Friday afternoon, at the Mogosoaia Local Council meeting, in solidarity with Felicia Ienculescu-Popovici. "I am attending the Mogosoaia Local Council meeting, where I came with several colleagues to support our colleague," Ciolos wrote on Facebook. "As a sign of solidarity with our colleague Felicia Ienculescu-Popovici, we are present at the meeting of the Mogosoaia Local Council. Citu, is still a PNL member your councilor that threatens women with mutilation? I understand that PMP proposed the exclusion of their councilor. It is the only normal gesture in the given situation," Catalin Drula wrote on the same social network, Agerpres.ro informs. "We are here to send a strong message: Romania does not tolerate violence," Dan Barna said. The agenda of the meeting also included a project aimed at acquiring legal advice services, mainly for the processes related to properties that can be removed from ownership. USR PLUS Mogosoaia announced on Thursday evening that Felicia Ienculescu-Popovici had filed a complaint with the police after she was physically assaulted by a representative of National Liberal Party (PNL) and one of People's Movement Party (PMP) during a commission meeting of the Local Council. The police of the city of Buftea investigate the crime of assault and prepared a criminal file in the case of the USR councilor. PNL Ilfov announced on Friday that Valentin Ene, a local councilor in Mogosoaia, had been suspended from all party leadership positions until the investigation was completed. Minister of National Defence Vasile Dincu had, on Thursday, a telephone conversation with the United States Secretary of Defence, Lloyd J. Austin III, the agenda of discussions featuring the developments in the security situation in the Black Sea region, NATO's posture on the Eastern Flank, as well as expanding US presence in the region, the Ministry of National Defence (MApN) informs in a release sent to AGERPRES. Minister Dincu emphasized the necessity to consolidate the Allied posture on the entire NATO eastern flank, especially in the Black Sea region, as a defensive formula to ensure the security of the allies and to discourage aggressive action. "In this sense, the need, more than ever, for a coherent, unitary and balanced approach as part of the forward presence of the Alliance on the eastern flank was expressed. Furthermore, the Romanian dignitary hailed the announcement by President Biden regarding the US' determination in deploying additional forces in Eastern Europe, including for the support of security and defence of Romania," MApN shows. According to the source, at the end of the phone call, Minister Dincu expressed his appreciation towards the effort and involvement of the US Defence Secretary in defining and ensuring the implementation of Washington's additional commitment to support the consolidation of Allied presence in Romania and reaffirmed Romania's determination in regards to consolidating the Strategic Partnership between the two countries and implementing the effort lines agreed upon in the roadmap regarding US - Romania defence cooperation in the 2020-2030 period. A total of 5,660,000 COVID-19 tests will arrive in schools this weekend, until the beginning of next week, the Minister of Education, Sorin Cimpeanu, informed on Friday. "Given the epidemiological evolution and the importance of complying with health regulations along with responsible testing, 5,660,000 tests will reach schools this weekend, before the beginning of next week. Also, 5,000,000 protective masks have already reached schools. We sent 10.54 million tests to schools last week and we are sending 2.3 million tests more this weekend, to schools and kindergartens," informed Minister Cimpeanu. He added that at this time, "stocks are provided in all schools" for tests scheduled for the first decade of February, Agerpres.ro informs. "I call once again for strict observance of health rules and responsible reporting of test results, so that the educational process carried out in conditions of health security is affected as little as possible," the Minister said. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, said, on Thursday, that he sees no issue for the Russian Federation or any other side to visit the military base in Deveselu, but evoked, in context, the principle of reciprocity. "I see absolutely no problem for the Russian Federation or anyone else to come and visit the base in Deveselu and personally convince themselves there is nothing else than what we said. There is no threat towards the Russian Federation. But there is at the same time, and I believe it's an absolutely logical demand, there is a demand for reciprocity: if the Russian Federation is interested in checking what I already believe they know, namely that this base doesn't represent, in any case, a threat, but we, the allies, including Romania, have the right to visit missile bases ourselves, deployed, for example, on the territory of the Russian Federation. I believe it's an absolutely normal request," said the head of Romanian diplomacy at private broadcaster Digi24. He emphasized that the principle of transparency regarding the Deveselu anti-missile shield was applied ever since the negotiation of its installation. "We discussed since the moment we negotiated the presence of the anti-missile shield in Romania with US partners, we discussed openly the possibility of transparency measures and we discussed also recently, in this period, with the United States. We have nothing to hide in Deveselu," showed the minister. He emphasized the fact that the allies have always said that "one would find there interceptors that target possible ballistic missile threats from outside the Euro-Atlantic space, so not from Russia." "The positioning of this base in Deveselu relative to the Russian Federation is of such a nature that it does not present a real threat to the intercontinental or any other type of missiles of the Russian Federation and there are certainly no offensive rockets on this base, as the Russian Federation claims," Bogdan Aurescu said. On Friday, President Klaus Iohannis signed a decree awarding a state decoration to Professor Fairleigh John of Queen's University in Belfast, founder and former director of the Romanian-Irish Cultural Foundation. According to the Presidential Administration, as a token of "appreciation for the essential contribution in time to the development of Romanian-Irish cultural relations, promoting the image of Romania in Ireland and the rest of the world," Iohannis awarded Fairleigh a Cultural Merit medal in rank of Commander, Category F - Culture Promotion The project of a new bridge in Giurgiu - Ruse must be the first bridge project between Romania and Bulgaria on which the authorities of the two countries should focus, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Sorin Grindeanu transmitted on Friday during a meeting with the Bulgarian ministers of Regional Development and Transport. "Constructive talks today [on Friday] in Ruse through which we unblocked the bilateral Memorandum with Bulgaria signed in March 2019. I have clearly conveyed Romania's intentions and objectives to the Deputy Prime Minister, the Bulgarian Minister for Regional Development, Grozdan Karadjov, and the Minister of Transport and Communications. Nikolay Sabev: it is important for the Romanian side of the Danube to be navigable, as provided by the FastDanube project. The Bulgarian authorities have reaffirmed that they want to build new bridges over the Danube, which is why we have proposed that the project for a new bridge in Giurgiu-Ruse be the one we should focus on in the first phase," Sorin Grindeanu noted on his Facebook page. The minister of transport proposed that Bulgarian authorities seek the support of the Romanian experts for the completion of the Feasibility Study of Bulgaria, which is necessary for the implementation of the "Fast Danube" project, Agerpres.ro informs. "Furthermore, we offered the support of the Romanian experts to help the Bulgarian side complete the Feasibility Study necessary for the implementation of the Fast Danube project. In order to speed up the implementation of the projects, we agreed to resume technical meetings of the working groups, which will be corroborated with quarterly meetings at the level of ministers. The next meeting would take place in Giurgiu," added Sorin Grindeanu. No less than 31.41 per cent of the COVID-19 tests carried out in the past 24 hours came out positive, the Ministry of Health informed on Tuesday. "As many as 31,724 people resulted to be positive out of a total of 109,900 RT-PCR and antigen tests carried out within a time span of 24 hours, on the territory of Romania. The positivity rate is thus 31.41pct," the Ministry of Health informed in a press release sent to AGERPRES. The Ministry asks people who have symptoms that may indicate the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (fever, cough, fatigue, headache, loss of taste and smell, etc.) to call their family doctors, DSP call centres or the single emergency number 112 to ask for testing. Also, people who show symptoms and are in Bucharest or in the Ilfov County are only allowed to travel by their own transport means, not by public transport, to the centres that were especially created for the collection of samples for COVID-19 testing. People who test positive can go to the COVID-19 assessment centres for consultation and treatment. "If you have severe forms and aggressive symptoms, call the single emergency number 112," warns the Ministry. Public health experts say vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent severe forms of COVID-19 and death. "Today, 646 of the 773 people in the ICUs were unvaccinated. Moreover, 53 out of the 60 COVID-19 patients who died were unvaccinated," said the same source. There are only a few days left until the deadline, January 31, when Romanian swimmer Avram Iancu of Petrosani can be voted to win the Performance Of The Year 2021 award of the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA). Avram Iancu is noted for his 2021 performance in the world, in open water swimming, after he managed to swim 26.35 km upstream in the Danube River in Romania, starting from the Iron Gate Dam and finishing in 18 hours 30 minutes, in an unprecedented attempt. Avram Iancu's performance of September 9, 2021, was certified by the California-based WOWSA, and the swimmer was nominated, along with 14 other athletes from around the world, for the Performance of the Year 2021 award. "It is very difficult to achieve such a performance. Even the nomination itself is very difficult to get because that is made along strictly specialist lines. To be one of the 15 nominees, out of thousands of swimmers around the world, is an achievement, and to me it is like winning a title. I think that if I won the award I would be speechless," Avram Iancu told AGERPRES on Friday. Online voting is active throughout January 31, following two simple steps that supporters of swimmer Avram Iancu will find on his homonymous Facebook page. The procedure takes a few minutes for voters to register at https://www.openwaterswimming.com/login/?action=register. Then a vote now link is clicked on https://www.openwaterswimming.com/contestants/avram-iancu-romania-2021. When the voting began on January 11, the reaction of Avram Iancu's supporters was positive. The votes could be seen for two days, and the final results will be announced on February 7. "People have sent me text messages saying they have voted for me, and a lot of them posted screenshots of their voting. I would be happy, however, if we could rejoice together in this achievement," added Avram. The librarian of Petrosani is known for his sporting achievements that include crossing the English Channel in August 2016. In the summer of 2017, he swam the entire Danube over a distance of 2,860 kilometres. The list of his achievements also includes crossing the Black Sea in the fall of 2018, when he swam 680 kilometres along the coast, from Sulina in Romania to Istanbul in Turkey in 60 days. Senior official for strategic affairs with Romania's Foreign Ministry (MAE) Dan Neculaescu on Friday welcomed German ambassador to Romania Peer Gebauer to discuss current security affairs with emphasis on recent developments in the European Union's Eastern Neighbourhood, with a view to further ensuring in-depth bilateral and NATO coordination. The two officials shared their concern about the continuing deterioration of the regional security state and underscored the need to de-escalate tensions that have a negative impact on European and Euro-Atlantic security as a whole, according to a MAE press release. Support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty was also reiterated. The Romanian official and the German ambassador also addressed consolidating NATO's deterrence and defence posture on the eastern flank. Neculaescu welcomed Germany's decision to contribute to the consolidation of such measures by participating in the Enhanced Air Policing South, an important signal of NATO solidarity, Agerpres.ro informs. Gebauer said on Wednesday that Germany continues to position itself firmly alongside Romania amidst the current security developments. In a statement released by the German Embassy in Bucharest, the ambassador pointed out that in mid-February, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) will contribute Eurofighter planes and troops to the Enhanced Air Policing South. "Together with Italy, we assure the security of NATO airspace as reliable partners, with a visible and high-quality contribution. That is a clear sign of transatlantic and European solidarity," Gebauer said. According to his message, requests for the withdrawal of NATO troops from Romania and a return to the 1997 state of affairs must be firmly rejected. "We cannot turn back 25 years. Romania's NATO membership is an essential achievement and cannot be questioned by third parties. We are very concerned with the current situation in the region. Russia's attitude is not just a threat to Ukraine, as it affects the security of the entire Europe. Therefore, a new breach of Ukraine's sovereignty would lead to a strong and common European response," according to Gebauer. President Klaus Iohannis signed the decree appointing Marcel Bolos as Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitization, after being nominated by the National Liberal Party (PNL)'s National Political Bureau for this position on 27 January 2022, informed the Presidential Administration. Marcel Ioan Bolos was born on April 1, 1968, in Hodisu, Poieni, Cluj County. He graduated the Faculty of Economic Sciences, Oradea University (1993-1997), the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty (1992-1997), he has a Master's Degree in Financial-Banking Institutions Management (1997-1999) and he holds a doctor's degree, for the thesis: "Budget and accounting of local communities in the current state of affairs and possibilities of modernization" at the Faculty of Economic Sciences, West University, Timisoara (2000-2005), according to the http://steconomiceuoradea.ro website. He started his teaching career as a university assistant in "Enterprise financing," at the Faculty of Economic Sciences, Oradea University (1999-2001). He became a lecturer, PhD, (2001-2008) and then a senior lecturer, PhD, (2008-2015) and he finally became a university professor, PhD, (on October 1, 2015), at the Finance and accounting department of the abovementioned university centre. In June 2017, he obtained the Certificate of Authorisation in Finance, for the thesis "Using computer intelligence in structural funds and financing fields," the Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest, affiliation: Doctoral School of Finance, Oradea University, according to the abovementioned source. His professional career included the following positions - inspector with the Public Relations Service, Oradea City Hall (1993-1997), head of office at the Oradea City Hall (1997-1998), chief accountant - Real Estate Department of the Oradea City Hall (1998 - 2000), economic manager at the Real Estate Patrimony Administration - the Oradea Local Council (2005-2008), executive manager - the Department of Project Management with International Funding, Oradea City Hall (2008 - 2012), State Secretary with the Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism (2012 - 2013), General Manager, Coordinator of the POST (Sectoral Operational Programme Transport) Management Authority and of the General Management and Strategies Department with the Ministry of Transport (2013 - November 2015), State Secretary with the Ministry of Transport (November 2015 - January 2017), general manager of the North West Regional Development Agency (as of January 2017), according to the same source. Marcel Bolos was Minister of European Funds in the period of 4 November 2019 - 23 December 2020, in the Ludovic Orban Cabinet. Metropolitan Arseni of Kuopio and Karelia installed on Sunday the new abbot at Finlands Valaam Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Archim. Mikael Nummela has studied Economics and Theology and speaks, in addition to Finnish, 10 other languages. The new Abbott, Archim. Mikael Nummela, was elected by the monastery synaxis on January 4, after his predecessor, Archim. Sergei Rayapolvi, was ordained Bishop of Hamina, according to basilica.ro. Archim. Mikael Nummela is 47, has been in the monastery since 2013 and says the wish to become a monk must have been born when he was only eight and first visited the monastery. Valaam is the only Orthodox monastery in Finland, while in its proximity, at Lintula, is the only Orthodox convent in the country. Both are located in Heinavesi Province, Eastern Finland, and are part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The holy place was established in 1940, when the monks from Valaam Monastery in todays Russian Karelia took refuge from Soviet troops. That is why the Finnish monastery is also called New Valaam. Valaam Monastery of Finland has 11 novices and monks with an average age much under 50. The youngest is 23. Approximately 160,000 tourists visit the monastery every summer. A new tranche of 177,600 doses vaccines from the Moderna Pharmaceutical Company arrived in the country on Friday at the National Company Unifarm SA, informs the National COVID Vaccination Coordination Committee (CNCAV). According to the cited source, the transport was provided by the manufacturing company, and the vaccine doses were brought to Bucharest by land. "The doses were stored with the National Company Unifarm SA, and in the next period they will be distributed in the regional centers at national level from Romania. The warehouse of the National Company Unifarm SA is fully authorized and endorsed by the National Authority for Medicines and Medical Devices of Romania (ANMDMR), the national authority that has competence in the field of medicines for human use," the cited source shows. So far, our country has received 3,715,100 doses of vaccine produced by Moderna, and 991,583 have already been used to immunize the population. Romania has taken a comprehensive approach to managing the effects of the pandemic, with economic and social measures accounting for 3.6pct of the GDP in 2020 and 1.4pct of GDP in 2021, the Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mathias Cormann, who is currently paying an official visit to Bucharest, said on Friday. In this way, in the second quarter of last year, Romania's GDP exceeded the level before the pandemic. Economic activity has resumed since last year, and the recovery continues. After the economic growth of 6.3pct of the GDP recorded in 2021, we estimate that Romania will have an economic growth of 4.5pct of the GDP, both in 2022 and in 2023, said the Secretary General of the OECD, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES by the Government. In his opinion, Romania has made significant progress, managing to catch up quickly with the economies of the OECD countries, despite the global financial crisis of 2007-2008 and the pandemic crisis we are currently facing. In 2019, before the outbreak of the pandemic, Romania saw a Gross Domestic Product per capita of 27,000 US dollars, 63pct of the OECD average - a significant increase compared to 30pct of the OECD average Romania reached in the early 2000s, Mathias Cormann explained. On the same occasion, the high OECD official underscored that this progress can be further supported, including by implementing structural reforms associated with the implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which will contribute to the country's economic recovery through massive stimulus of public investment, according to the same source. The Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Mathias Cormann, and Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca attended the launch event of the OECD's Economic Study for Romania on Friday, which took place during a visit by the organization's Secretary General to Romania. The visit comes shortly after the decision of the OECD Council to give green light to the opening of negotiations for Romania's accession to this intergovernmental forum. The Inter-Ministerial Committee for Admission to the OECD validated, at its meeting on January 26, Romania's commitment to the principles, values and standards of the organization, as they are strengthened and developed in the two documents adopted at the OECD Council meeting in Paris, last October. On January 25, 2022, Romania was officially invited to join the OECD, along with Bulgaria, Croatia, Argentina, Brazil and Peru. The leadership of the Oltenia Energy Complex (CEO) welcomes the decision of the European Commission, announced on January 26, to approve the restructuring aid of up to 2.66 billion euros (13.15 billion RON) ensuring the revitalisation and long-term viability of one of the key companies of the National Energy System. According to the president of the Oltenia EC Directorate, Daniel Burlan, quoted in a company statement, "the decision of the European Commission means the salvation and, at the same time, modernisation of the Oltenia Energy Complex". "The decision of the European Commission means the salvation and, at the same time, modernisation of the Oltenia Energy Complex. This is the news we were expecting and the success of both the company and Romania. We have a Restructuring and Decarbonisation Plan in line with European environmental policies, on which we have been working hard in recent years and which is being validated and accepted in Brussels. I would like to thank all those who contributed to this success - the CE Oltenia team, the CEO's Supervisory Board, the consulting firms PricewaterhouseCoopers and Energobit, representatives of the Ministries of Energy, Finance, the Competition Council and Fondul Proprietatea. It is a joint project whose success is essential for Romania's energy independence. The ongoing dialogue with the European Commission and the constructive debates for finding viable solutions have brought us to this important point from which we can build a sustainable future for CE Oltenia," said Daniel Burlan. "The European Commission's green light is also very important because it now allows us to access the Modernisation Fund. It is about 895 million euros that will finance the gas plants in Turceni and Isalnita and the 8 photovoltaic parks. The timing of the European Commission's favorable decision with the processes that will lead to partnering transactions, bank financing and from the Modernisation Fund was the fundamental element for success, a fact that makes us happy and obliges us at the same time," Daniel Burlan went on to say. A number of 4,036 family doctors have concluded contracts with the National Health Insurance House (CNAS) for performing COVID-19 tests. In Bucharest, as of Friday, 220 family doctors had signed contracts for testing COVID-19, according to a summary published on the CNAS website, Agerpres.ro informs. According to the quoted source, on Friday, 212 evaluation and treatment centres were operational for the patients infected with the novel coronavirus. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca declared on Friday that pension reform is an important objective, mentioning that it needs to be done so that "the Romanian people can benefit, after a lifetime of work, of an income that allows them to have a decent living". "The pension reform is a very important objective, and I must share with you that at the level of Government attention needs to be focused so that the Romanian people can benefit, after a lifetime of work, of an income that allows them to have a decent living," the PM said, during a joint press conference with the Secretary General of OECD, Mathias Cormann. Ciuca mentioned that the pension reform is a target of Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mathias Cormann, is carrying out an official visit in Bucharest on Friday. The Secretary General of OECD also took part in the launch of the "Economic Survey of Romania" study. President Klaus Iohannis on Friday welcomed at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace the Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Mathias Cormann, on which occasion he underscored that the fastest possible accession to the OECD is a priority to Romania, according to a press release of the Presidential Administration. During the discussion, the head of state welcomed the recent decision of the OECD Council regarding the expansion of the organisation, which paves the way for the start of negotiations on our country's accession to the OECD, and thanked the Secretary General and the member states for their support. President Klaus Iohannis said that the visit of the OECD Secretary General to Romania, the first since the announcement of this decision, is a clear political message in recognition of Romania's efforts and commitment in this process of modernisation and consolidation, Agerpres.ro informs. "The President of Romania also pointed out that the decision of the OECD Council is a historic moment expected by the Romanian side, which confirms the commitments of our country in the sphere of the principles of democracy, market economy and multilateralism," said the Presidential Administration in the same press release. The long-term cooperation between Romania and the OECD was highlighted. In this context, President Iohannis reconfirmed the objective of continuing the close collaboration with the structures of the organisation, for the implementation of the necessary reforms and the promotion of a sustainable economic development for Romania. Among the areas of interest, the head of state mentioned the excellent collaboration with the OECD in the field of education, expressing confidence in the further development of cooperation on this important level, within the "Educated Romania" project. In his turn, Mathias Cormann congratulated Romania for the favourable decision to open accession negotiations, showing that Romania is among the most active partners of the organisation. At the same time, in the perspective of the accession to the OECD, he expressed the readiness of the organisation to support the Romanian side in achieving the established objectives, of institutional consolidation and of economic and social development. The OECD official is paying a visit to Bucharest at the invitation of the Romanian side. President Klaus Iohannis signed the decree appointing Marcel Bolos as Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitization, informed the Presidential Administration. According to the cited source, the swearing-in ceremony of Marcel Bolos will take place on Friday, at 14:00, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. Former Minister of European Funds (November 2019 - December 2020), Bolos is the National Liberal Party (PNL) proposal for the ministry whose portfolio is vacant since December 15, 2021, after the resignation of Florin Roman. Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Friday about Marcel Bolos that the "national and European administrative experience, seriousness and responsibility" demonstrated in recent years are assets for his work as Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitization. "I welcome to the team Marcel Bolos, who is taking over as Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitization at a key moment for this field! His involvement in various stages of the development and operationalization of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan is a guarantee of detailed knowledge of Romania's major objectives. The results of the digital transformation, one of the pillars of the most important national post-pandemic recovery project, are able to bring significant benefits for everyday life, for the economy and for the Romanian administration. Moreover, the national and European administration experience, the seriousness and responsibility shown these years are assets for his activity as Minister of Research, Innovation and Digitization. Good luck, Marcel Bolos!," Nicolae Ciuca said on Friday, according to a post on the Government's Facebook page, Agerpres.ro informs. Most new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the previous report are in Bucharest - 5,691, and in the counties of Timis - 2,000, Cluj - 1,541, Iasi - 1,319, Constanta - 1,260, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS) informed on Friday. The least cases are reported in the counties of Covasna - 133, Giurgiu - 140, Mehedinti - 160. The Capital remains in the red zone in terms of SARS-CoV-2 infection rate, with an incidence of 14.11 cases per thousand inhabitants, increasing compared to the previous day (12.79). The highest incidence rate is in Cluj (18.93), the county followed by Timis (17.54), Ilfov (13.52), Bihor (12.65) and Brasov - (12.2). Five counties are in the yellow scenario. The Romanian Patriarchates representative to Cyprus, Fr. Matei Petre, received an order of cultural merit from the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, in recognition of his efforts to consolidate Romanian spirituality and culture in the Republic of Cyprus. The President of Romania signed the decoration decree for the Rev. Stavrophore Fr. Matei Petre on January 6 as a sign of appreciation for the dedication with which he was involved in preserving the identity of Romanian communities abroad, the Presidential Administration announced, according to basilica.ro. Father Matei Petre, a former professor at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Buzau, has led the Romanian Orthodox community in Nicosia since 1995. The activity of this Orthodox community aims at the pastoral care of Romanians on the territory of Cyprus. Periodically, the community organizes philanthropic projects and programs to help Romanians in Cyprus and Romania. The Romanian Ministry of Justice announced on Friday having concluded with the Prosecutor's Office of the Supreme Court of Justice (PICCJ) a funding agreement for a project called "Protection of victims of crime." Funding for the project is secured by the "Justice" programme, part of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 and managed by the Ministry of Justice as a programme operator, on a budget of 2,000,000 euros, of which 85% is made up of Norwegian financial grants, and 15% is national co-financing, with an implementation period of 27 months. The project will be implemented by PICCJ as a project leader in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, through the Crime Prevention Directorate, the Bucharest Social Assistance and Child Protection General Directorates, districts 4-6, and the European Union's Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA). The Ministry of Justice says that the aim of the project is to strengthen the rule of law by ensuring efficient, accessible and high-quality criminal justice for juvenile offenders and victims of hate crimes, with special emphasis on the Romany population, Agerpres.ro informs. "Under the project, 35 spaces will be arranged for the hearing of minor victims - 30 at prosecutor's offices, and the others at the five Social Assistance and Child Protection General Directorates of Bucharest. The spaces - vital for observing children's rights and for obtaining complete and useful testimonies, while reducing as much as possible the minors' traumatisation and revictimisation - are a necessity in Romania. In those areas, children will be protected and will have the necessary psychological support, customised for age, personal development and capabilities, in an environment that inspires security and confidence. The spaces will be equipped with audio-video equipment for recording the hearings, in order to avoid as much as possible repeated interrogation at various procedural stages." St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden speaking to the media on the condition of two St. Louis City Police officers who were shot in Ferguson Wed. Jan. 26, 2022 around 2pm. One officer in his 20s was shot in the abdomen and is in critical and unstable condition. Both officers have been on the force less than three years. ST. LOUIS When Glow Studio in the Central West End shut down with the rest of the world in spring 2020, aesthetician Emily Karsteter worried that few of her clients would return to their regular beauty routines. Voluminous lashes would not be on the priority list, she thought. But it was the complete opposite, Karsteter said. We got so completely busy, I couldnt always get people in. With the proliferation of masking, the upper half of the face has become prime cosmetic real estate. Eye-makeup sales increased by almost 50% from 2019 to 2021, and #MaskMakeup tutorial videos swept across TikTok. Longer-lasting, dramatic styles like eyelash extensions and eyebrow tattooing evolved from a special-occasion frill to an everyday look, even with price tags of up to $500. The procedures had already been on the upswing, pre-COVID, with celebrities like Kim Kardashian flaunting long fringes and thick arches, and artists posting striking before-and-after photos of their handiwork on social media. The pandemic provided an opening for St. Louis-area lash technicians and tattooists to elevate their skills or expand their businesses. Chioma Emeka of St. Louis learned how to do eyelashes during her senior year at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, about 150 miles north of St. Louis. When she graduated with a degree in business administration in May 2020, uncertainty was prevalent and jobs were scarce. So she opened At Lash out of her downtown St. Louis apartment that summer, with the intention of buying herself some time. A year and a half later, Emekas appointment book here is packed, and she also returns regularly to her hometown of Quincy, Illinois, to service her loyal early clients. Hanna Boehler of the Tower Grove South neighborhood got her first set of eyelashes from Emeka about three months ago. Boehler had grown frustrated wrestling with eyelash strips from the drugstore. Theyd press against my glasses and come off, she said. On self-apply strips, a row of fake lashes fans out from a band, which gets glued to the eyelid in one piece. With extensions, a technician separates each lash with tweezers, then uses a speck of adhesive to attach a fake lash to a real one. The process is repeated on each hair, an average of 90 to 150 times per eyelid. Appointments take two to three hours and can cost between $100 and $250. There are a lot of choices to be made: Lashes are categorized by thickness, length, curl type and shape. The most common ones are made from polyester or polished acrylic. It took me a few months to really perfect my technique, Emeka said. Its a science. Strips are for single-day use; extensions last up to two months. Every couple of weeks, clients return for a fill to replace the hairs that naturally fall out during the growth cycle. Aside from that, maintenance is minimal: a swipe with a tiny spindle brush after you wake up, and youre out the door. Kelly Kodner of Creve Coeur appreciated erasing an item from her morning to-do list when she switched to Emekas extensions last summer. Kodner used to apply mascara every day, and wore stick-ons for special occasions. Who has time for that? she said. This is super low-maintenance. You wake up looking good every day. Like long-lasting makeup When she was in high school, Chasity McKinney decided she wanted to be an eyelash tech, but she couldnt afford classes. So she bought a training kit, complete with mannequin head, from Amazon. Her mom volunteered to be her first real-life guinea pig. After about six months of practice, McKinney finally adjusted to the tasks intricacy. At first, my hands would be numb and cramping a lot. My shoulders and back hurt, said McKinney. But you get used to it. By the time she graduated in 2019, she had established Charm Beauty House. She works out of Beauty Therapy Spa in Bridgeton and markets herself on Instagram. McKinneys feed caught the eye of Kortasia Long of Florissant last summer. She liked the extensions exaggerated swoops some edged in pinks and reds even as she felt a little hesitant about the process. She scheduled an appointment anyway. I was nervous at first, said Long. But going into her space was calming. Its a couple of hours stretched out in a chair, eyes closed, no phone pinging. Its self-care, she said. Justice Hobson started her career a few years ago doing makeup, then added eyelashes to her Serving Justice Aesthetics brand. Cosmetic tattooing a semi-permanent treatment designed to mimic makeup grabbed her attention not long after the pandemic hit. I just kept diving deeper into the beauty world, said Hobson. She took a class, then moved from central Illinois in July for an apprenticeship at Aesthetic Finesse in St. Charles. Social media has made blading-and-shading procedures more palatable, said Hobson. Pictures of neatly groomed brows highlight the tattooists diligence and precision. People are noticing that permanent makeup artists are really perfecting their craft, she said. It used to be, A face tattoo? Eyebrow work microblading, microshading or a combination of the two is long-lasting, but not permanent. Needles etch tiny dots or lines that resemble powder makeup or brow hairs. But the tools dont go as deep as a traditional tattoo, and the pigment eventually gets metabolized by the body. Microblading lasts a year or more and costs around $500. A confidence lift Simone Listons calling was always hair: cuts, colors, curls. She had been a stylist for almost two decades when her appointments dried up in the early days of the pandemic. A pivot was in order. So Liston earned certifications in cosmetic tattooing and converted the front of her Webster Groves home to accommodate her double business. Soon, she was booked six days a week, fixing hair during the day and filling in eyebrows at night. It feels a little artsy, Liston said. She measures the brows endpoints, maps out the arch and matches the tint. Then, she shades it all in with short, light scrapes. Tools and techniques have improved since permanent cosmetics began to make a mark in the United States about a decade ago. Pigments have become more realistic. And trends have changed, with the overplucked look replaced by caterpillar brows that hearken back to the 1980s. Its growing and evolving, said Liston. You can change your style. For Tess Boeding of Fenton, it goes beyond style: It will change your whole life, she said. Boeding was always insecure about her barely-there brows and penciled them in every day. She heard about Liston from a friend. My whole life, all I thought about was I really wanted eyebrows, she said. Now theres finally a solution. The self-esteem boost is no minor benefit, said Ashley Gross, owner of Natural Ashthetic in Swansea. Gross was employed at an insurance company when she decided a 9-to-5 life wasnt for her. Ive always had a passion for makeup, she said. I just knew I wanted to make women feel more confident. In September of 2020, she earned her first certification, in microblading, and then kept studying, learning variations such as 3D brows, meant to look fluffy, not flat. For six months, Gross kept her office job while inking eyebrows after hours. Last spring, she made the leap to full-time, working out of Dark Horse Tattoo Co. This March, she plans to move into her own shop in Belleville. Gross built her customer base with word-of-mouth recommendations and by making videos of her craft. Amanda King of Fenton tapped Gross to cover a scar that has gnawed at her for 15 years. As a 9-year-old, Kings face was on the receiving end of her sisters hairbrush, which opened a gash above her left eye. Gross made the scar almost imperceptible. She also re-creates eyebrows on cancer patients who have lost their hair to treatment. Its not always for cosmetics and convenience, Gross said. Its a need and not a want sometimes. 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. ST. LOUIS COUNTY A real estate developer for electric carmaker Tesla has filed plans to open a dealership and service center in South County, the auto giants second in the region. St. Louis County Planning Commission this week approved the carmakers site plan for 5711 South Lindbergh Boulevard, just off Tesson Ferry Road in unincorporated St. Louis County a stretch of road that includes other car dealerships like Dave Sinclair Buick GMC, Bommarito Chevrolet South and Suntrup Kia South. Art Van Furniture, which previously operated as Rothman Furniture locally, used to occupy the property before the Detroit-based company closed all stores in 2020. Neither Tesla nor the developer, Chicago-based InSite Real Estate, immediately returned a request for comment. Tesla entered the St. Louis area in 2013 with a location in University City. But it closed that dealership in 2017 after its licenses to sell cars in the state expired during a legal battle over its direct-to-consumer business model. The company later won that battle and opened a dealership in Chesterfield, at 16955 Chesterfield Airport Road, in 2019. The market for electric vehicles is still in its infancy here. Recent estimates peg the number of EVs at just 9,000 statewide. But analysts think that number could increase 25-fold by 2030 as carmakers and customers shift away from gas-powered machines and their climate-warming exhaust. And its not just new-school dealers taking notice. Elco Cadillac in Ellisville just finished rebuilding its showroom to make way for the electric Lyriq. Cadillacs new crossover is in such high demand that the first models coming to the dealership are already spoken for. Tesla, which recently moved its headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to Austin, Texas, reported $17.7 billion in fourth quarter revenue, a 65% spike over the same period last year. But its stock slid 12% on Thursday, closing at $829.10, after CEO Elon Musk said in an earnings call this week that Tesla will delay new models like Cybertrucks until 2023 due to supply chain challenges. He said Tesla instead would focus on ramping up volume of existing models in 2022 by more than 50% rather than launching new ones. Austin Huguelet of the Post-Dispatch and Reuters contributed to this report. 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. FENTON Several city aldermen will help draft an agreement to let the YMCA run the municipal recreation center. The Fenton Board of Aldermen on Thursday agreed to send four or fewer members, along with City Administrator Nikki Finkbiner, to meet with the Gateway YMCA to hash out terms for it to run RiverChase Recreation Center. RiverChase has operated at a deficit for years and has lost the city at least $6.1 million since 2004. Officials said there are many details still to be laid out about how the partnership would work. If talks progress, the Board of Aldermen and Gateway Region YMCA board of directors could sign a deal by midyear. Then it could take anywhere from a few months to a year to transition operations, said CEO Tim Helm. It would be the first time the Gateway Region YMCA would take over operations of an existing facility in the St. Louis region. RiverChase, at 990 Horan Drive, cost around $17 million to build in 1999, financed by Fentons parks and stormwater sales tax of one-half of 1%. 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. WASHINGTON The White House is considering extending Trump-era tariffs on solar power imports, but with a handful of tweaks to make it easier for domestic installers to access supplies, according to two sources familiar with the administration's thinking. The plan represents an attempt by U.S. President Joe Biden's administration to find common ground between two important political constituencies: union labor, which supports import restrictions to protect domestic jobs, and clean energy developers keen to access overseas supplies that are cheaper than U.S.-made goods. Former President Donald Trump had imposed a four-year tariff regime on solar imports in 2018, starting at 30% and declining to 15% in the final year, in a bid to create U.S. solar manufacturing jobs. They had been set to expire on Feb. 6, but several domestic solar manufacturers last year sought the extension arguing their products were still unable to compete with overseas-made goods, mainly from China, that dominate the U.S. market. The White House is now considering extending the tariffs on solar panels and cells. But its plan would double the amount of cells that can be imported before the levies kick in to 5 gigawatts per year from 2.5, the sources said. The United States typically imports far less than 5 GW per year of cells. The plan would also exclude bifacial solar panels, which can generate electricity on both sides and are used in utility-scale projects, the sources said. The Trump administration in 2019 had sought to temper its solar levies by excluding bifacial panels but then reversed course a year later to include them again. That triggered litigation by the solar manufacturing industry that resulted in their exclusion again in November of last year. The White House declined to comment. An administration official who asked not to be named told Reuters that no decision had been made yet, but that trade protections were likely. "The Administration is clear that regardless of the 201 decision, it will maintain strong trade remedies on solar and other products imported from China," the source said. By writing several informative books on the region where he grew up and lives today, Brooks Blevins, 52, has created a niche as an expert on the Ozarks, that beautiful, myth-laden hill region spanning dozens of counties in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, as well as a few in Oklahoma and one in Kansas. The Ozarkers is his latest book, the third in a trilogy, A History of the Ozarks. Blevins series could be called exhaustive. One can imagine turning to his deeply researched and somberly written books for history often known only by word of mouth. In the third volume, Blevins focuses on the cultural history of the area. We learn of violence against Blacks over the decades since the Civil War, such as the time a homeless Union Army veteran was killed in 1906, reportedly by two Black men. Two months later the play The Clansmen brought to Springfield its message condoning vigilante violence in the cause of maintaining white supremacy, Blevins writes. This play added fuel to an explosive situation. In the end, three Black men were lynched without a trial and their bodies burned in the heart of Springfield. He also recounts the raw history of the Baldknobbers, a post-Civil War band of violent vigilantes. The group later gave its name to a musical act playing onstage for tourists in Branson. Theres a humorous side to some of Blevins research. By the end of World War II, he writes, the practice was for many women to work in small factories throughout the Ozarks, and their husbands might be known as a go-getter. [I]t became something of a regional pastime, he writes, to poke fun at a new symbol of modern manhood in the rural Ozarks, the go-getter who dropped off his wife off at the factory door in the morning and had to go get her when the shift ended that evening. Nowhere was this more evident than in two of the regions leading employment sectors: garment factories and shoe plants. Blevins, professor of Ozarks Studies at Missouri State University in Springfield, spoke recently by Zoom about his book. His family roots are in Izard County on a family farm in north central Arkansas. He commutes to his classroom at Missouri State a couple of times a week and also teaches remotely. After 11 books, his respect for the land and its people is obvious when he speaks about the Ozarks. Blevins explains why the Ozarks has long attracted dreamers, oddballs and others from baby doctor Benjamin Spock, who retired to Arkansas, to Gerald L.K. Smith, an anti-Semitic radio personality. People in the rural Ozarks are willing to leave you alone, Blevins says. Theres the old saying, Kill your own snakes, which a lot of Ozarks people go by, and its basically just mind your own business. Comparatively speaking, the hilly, rocky land is also cheaper, Blevins adds, which means it isnt attractive for investors interested in productive farmland. This fact makes it appealing to individuals and groups that want to get away from cities and nosey neighbors. In addition, the Ozarks has long been a sort of tabula rasa, he says, a blank slate where people can move here and make it whatever they want it to be. Its a place that has attracted people from religious sects because they think the world is ending or because they just want to get away from everything, he says. Blevins picture of the land on both sides of the Missouri-Arkansas line is different than the Netflix series Ozark or the way movie producers use stereotypes of barefoot hillbillies to tell stories. One story that Blevins thinks is accurate, however, is Winters Bone, a novel by Daniel Woodrell that depicts a poor family struggling in a contemporary world of drug use and sales. The Ozarks has had its share of sundown towns, where Blacks were not welcome after the sun went down. Blevins notes that historically the Ozarks had few Black residents, which may have made the region attractive to various fringe groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. You know, if you were a white supremacist in the 1970s and youre looking for a really lily-white place to move to in the United States, the Ozarks would have been near the top of that list, he says. Today, however, the demographics are changing dramatically, partly because of poultry processing plants in northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. Workers for those plants, Blevins says, come from as far as the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific. Then theres Bentonville, Arkansas, where the gigantic Walmart retail chain is headquartered. Among the cultural attractions is Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, created by Alice Walton, daughter of the discount chains late founder, Sam Walton. Writes Blevins in the last chapter of The Ozarkers: A short walk from the cozy town square where Alices father, Sam, once stocked the shelves of his five-and-dime, Crystal Bridges boasted the greatest collection of American-created artwork ever assembled in one location. In a region where vernacular had been an all-encompassing term for art, this was a monumental departure from the norm. Alice Walton applied her dads old Buy American slogan to her passion, spending tens of millions of dollars to pluck works of iconic artists from the walls of venerable galleries on the coasts: John Singleton Copley, Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, Thomas Hart Benton, Georgie OKeeffe, Jackson Pollack, Andy Warhol. Blevins explains by closing his book with these words: This beautiful but unforgiving land still demarcates places of poverty from pockets of prosperity. Its inhabitants continue to evolve with a changing nation and world. Repps Hudson is a freelance writer and adjunct instructor of journalism and international affairs. Chilean writer Isabel Allendes latest novel is Violeta, an epic tale that transports readers across a century of South American history, through economic collapse, dictatorship and natural disasters including an earthquake and a hurricane. From the aftermath of World War I to the present day, narrator Violeta del Valle recounts the story of her life in an unnamed South American country with a book-long letter to her grandson Camilo. Violeta tells of living through the Spanish flu pandemic as the youngest child and only daughter in a family of five sons. After her father loses everything in the Great Depression, the family must relinquish their comfort in an old mansion in the nations capital and adopt a more modest life in the countrys rural south. Violeta recalls Allendes best known and highly successful novel The House of Spirits, which weaves together the personal and the political in a saga stretching across decades. Violeta also details the horrors of the 1970s dictatorships in South America, which saw tens of thousands of suspected political opponents kidnapped, tortured and killed, often through Operation Condor, a U.S.-backed alliance among the regions right-wing military governments. The government was committing atrocities, but you could walk down the street and sleep soundly at night without worrying about common criminals, Violeta writes of those repressive times. Violetas son is a journalist who seeks exile, first in Argentina, then in Norway after learning he is on the dictatorships black list. Violeta suspects her sons father of involvement in the repression through his work as a pilot. Much of the book involves Violetas long, passionate, but troubled relationship with her sons father following a short, unsatisfying marriage. Ultimately, she obtains contentment late in life with a retired diplomat and naturalist. Considered the worlds most widely read Spanish-language author, Allende is known for her many novels including Eva Luna, Of Love and Shadows and A Long Petal of the Sea, as well as nonfiction books such as Paula, a 1994 memoir. Allende left Chile for exile two years after Salvador Allende, her fathers first cousin, was overthrown in a 1973 coup. Isabel Allende lived for years in Venezuela before settling in the United States. FRIDAY, Jan. 28, 2022 (American Heart Association News) -- Having been a flight engineer during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Jeffrey Morse knew resilience. He knew headaches and migraines from his past. But in the summer of 2012, it felt like someone was ripping the skin open on the back side of his neck with searing pain pounding in his head. This was a migraine like no other in his past and the pain was much worse. Light hitting his eyes made it even more excruciating. Wearing dark sunglasses, he drove to visit his general practitioner in Mooresville, North Carolina. The doctor could tell right away that Morse was in severe distress. An elevated heart rate and blood pressure confirmed it. Within the hour, Morse was in an ambulance on the way to the emergency room. Tests revealed several problems below his brain. The immediate concern was an aneurysm, a bulge in one of his arteries that was weakening. If the aneurysm burst, it would cause a potentially fatal stroke. Above the aneurysm was a dissection, or tear, in the wall of the artery. Morse needed more specialized care than his local hospital could provide. He was transferred to Charlotte, where doctors performed surgery to repair the aneurysm. When Morse woke up after surgery, he couldn't move his arms or legs. He felt like he was in a coffin, buried alive. When he inhaled, it felt like a thick leather belt was tightening around his chest. The surgeon told Morse that although all went well in repairing the aneurysm, something else went wrong. During the surgery, Morse had a stroke on his spinal cord that left him paralyzed. "More than likely, you will never walk again," the doctor told him. "Watch me," Morse responded. "I will walk out of this hospital." His comeback began in the hospital's rehabilitation center. Physical and occupational therapy often left Morse exhausted. Yet as much as he craved sleep, he dreaded its arrival. Closing his eyes without being able to feel his body triggered the sensation of non-existence. In time, he learned to use his thoughts to control parts of his body. His left big toe moved first. Then his right hand. Strangely enough, while he could see the movement, he couldn't feel it. Still, he'd done it. He was moving. Along the way, Morse started setting goals. He told his family he would walk again and that he'd be with them in Paris at the end of the year. He'd eventually write a book. He'd get back to work as an airline instructor. To drive toward these goals, he changed his mindset. He took leaps of faith with a can-do objectiveness, stopped thinking of the past and the old him, focused on the present and kept "I can't" out of his vocabulary. He also relied on the message he learned during military survival school: Survive and adapt. On Aug. 9, 2012, Morse left the hospital using a walker to propel limbs he could not yet feel. He met the goal he said he'd achieve the day he awoke paralyzed. That December, he indeed traveled to Paris with his wife and other family members. He walked haltingly, and in intense pain, yet the joy of being there was worth it. For the next few years, Morse tried anything and everything to ease his extreme pain and smooth his gait. This included massage therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, Pilates, tai chi and yoga. He also began working with Jackie Murray, a licensed neuromuscular massage and bodywork therapist. One of her specialties is loosening tight muscles and connective tissue. That in turn makes other therapies more beneficial. The first time Murray met Morse, "he was very rigid, physically and emotionally." "He was focused on what he couldn't do anymore and on powering through everything," she said. Where he saw limits, she saw progress. "You need to start telling yourself that you're OK," Murray told him. "You survived incredible odds. And you're walking!" Morse began to cry. No one had said he was OK in this condition. He certainly never thought so. Hearing her say it changed his perspective. Fast forward to today, and Morse has fulfilled all his hospital goals. He's continued to travel internationally, he's written a book and he's back at work, training young pilots. "His story, his will and his drive it's just incredible, especially once he embraced his condition and worked with it instead of fighting it," Murray said. "He inspires me every day." American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org. By Diane Daniel Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. Aisha Sultan Aisha Sultan is home and family editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Aisha Sultan 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 Missouris attorney general is trying to score political points in the most nefarious and cynical way weve seen in some time. Eric Schmitt is targeting public school children in the St. Louis region suing 45 districts (at last count) for requiring masks during a pandemic surge and forcing their taxpaying parents to fund his frivolous lawsuits. Schmitt, whose political opponents once described him as a reasonable man, seems to have lost his soul in his quest to win the Republican nomination for the upcoming Senate race. He couldnt match the aggrieved, almost-impeached narrative of our former governor, Eric Greitens, who was credibly accused in testimony of assaulting a woman (not his wife). So he has to work overtime to out-conspiracy him. Most of that work involves suing anyone he thinks his base hates. This pony has learned one trick and, by God, hes sticking with it. He tried last August to sue school districts requiring masks to protect students and staff during a pandemic. He lost. He also tried to sue St. Louis County to overturn its mask mandate. He lost. This is the same guy trying to sue China over the coronavirus. Im not a lawyer, but Im betting thats another L. He also lost the lawsuits he joined trying to overturn Obamacare and challenging President Joe Bidens election. By now its pretty clear that the real purpose in filing loser lawsuits is to get his face on Fox News. Maybe it leads to some out-of-state donations for his campaign and boosts his name recognition around Missouri. Using our tax dollars this way is sketchy, at best. But there are real-life consequences to this shameful campaigning. A majority of Wentzville School Board members refused to adopt a mask mandate, even when record numbers of students were testing positive and dozens of teachers were out sick. The superintendent pleaded earlier this month for a temporary mask policy to stem the rise in cases. Post-Dispatch education reporter Blythe Bernhard reported that board member Jason Goodson mentioned the litigation risk in his arguments against a mask mandate. That suggests Schmitts threats are working, at least in some districts. At the very least, its giving those local school officials who are ideologically aligned with him cover for their actions. Schmitt has talked about his son with special needs publicly, so he likely knows that federal law protects the rights of students with disabilities to a free and appropriate public education to meet their needs. His own son is protected by this federal law. Students with certain health conditions are at far greater risk for serious illness from a COVID infection. Some may not be able to participate in classrooms where masks are optional right now. There are likely a number of people in Wentzville who would have been spared sickness during this surge if the board had approved a mask policy. Kids with disabilities who have lost out on schooling could make the argument that the district has violated their right to an education. In fact, the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals just ruled that some Iowa schools can require face masks to comply with federal protections for students with disabilities. In our state, a district could argue that the threat of litigation influenced their decision to kill a mask mandate. Whos been running around slapping lawsuits against schools in Missouri? Given the protections of qualified immunity for elected officials, such a lawsuit may fare as well as Schmitts own legal wranglings with China. But filing suits seems to be Schmitts preferred method of communication. Tony Rothert, director of advocacy for the ACLU of Missouri, says they have received calls from several parents upset about how Schmitts actions could affect their childrens health and education. Apparently they trust doctors, scientists, public health officials and school leaders more than a politician looking to move up in his career when it comes to protecting their kids during a pandemic. Interestingly, Schmitt also sued the Special School District of St. Louis County, the largest district in the state that serves students with disabilities, to force them to give up their mask policies. He may think that these parents will forget in six months time when the primary rolls around that he used their vulnerable children as political pawns. Like many of his loser lawsuits, he may have misjudged this one. 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. Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger 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 When Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski came to St. Louis in August 2020 to lead the more than 400,000 Catholics in this region, one of his first meetings was with a group of young priests. They told him something that brought back memories of his hometown of Baltimore. They were expressing their concerns that they were ordained to serve people, Rozanski told me in a recent interview. They had become caretakers of buildings versus ministers to people. For 60 years, the Catholic Church in St. Louis has mirrored its city, with a decline in population and a move of the congregation away from some historic buildings that cost a tremendous amount to maintain. As a young priest, Rozanski served two parishes that were within three blocks of each other in south Baltimore, a city that shares many characteristics with St. Louis. Some of the nine buildings in the complex were of pre-Civil War construction. Their concerns resonated with my experience as a young pastor, Rozanski says. Now, nearly two years later, Rozanski is about to lead the St. Louis Archdiocese on a mission to remake itself, in a process intended to reinvigorate the faithful, restructure the concept of a parish, and move resources around in a way that makes more sense as congregations have migrated away from their historic immigrant neighborhoods. Called All Things New, and unveiled in Catholic parishes in St. Louis this week, the process is sure to have an impact on the entire region as, eventually, some church buildings, parishes and schools are closed or merged, and the church seeks to reinvigorate its congregations into evangelizing to its neighbors. A vibrant Catholic Church leads to a vibrant community, which leads to a vibrant city, says the Rev. Chris Martin, one of those young priests Rozanski met with. He is helping to plan this yearslong effort of prayer, reflection and transformation. Martin offers some numbers to help explain the problem the archdiocese faces. There are about 30,000 Catholics in the area that encompasses south St. Louis city and county, Martin says, with 26 priests to serve them. In Cottleville and Dardenne Prairie, in St. Charles County, there are about the same number of Catholics served by just six priests. About half of the Catholics in the Archdiocese are concentrated into 27 parishes; the other half are spread among 151 parishes. There are currently about 200 full-time priests in the St. Louis Archdiocese to serve 178 parishes. Martin says the number of priests is expected to dip to 150 by 2030, and 130 one decade later. If we dont do the planning, the planning is going to be done for us, Martin says. That process will kick off with hundreds of listening sessions this fall, with the archdiocese offering early looks at what the new blueprint of parishes might look like. The church is using a consultant, the Catholic Leadership Institute, which has helped archdioceses in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh go through similar processes. In Cincinnati, for instance, the archdiocese reorganized 208 parishes into 60 families of parishes. Rozanski hasnt been in St. Louis long, but he knows that the deep sense of parochialism and historic neighborhood connection here will make that process difficult for some Catholics. That model served the church well more than a century ago, Rozanski says, but its broken now, and the church needs to refocus its mission on the people it serves. We are still relying on a model of church that is based on 18th century European immigration patterns, Rozanski says. That model is over. What were taking the time to do is assess where we are as a church right now, and what do we need to do to better evangelize. That word evangelize is rooted in the Catholic tradition, Rozanski says, to go and make disciples of Christ, but is not something the Catholic Church has been very good at in recent decades. It needs to learn from some of its Christian brethren, he says, who do a better job of simply meeting people where they are and offering them a path to faith. Its one reason why the archbishop was at the event at the International Institute earlier this month, as civic leaders look for ways to welcome more Afghan immigrants to the city. The church can play a role in that process, Rozanski says, and it shouldnt be tied to a specific neighborhood or parochial interest. These discussions will affect our church for the next 50 to 75 years, Rozanski says of what he knows will be some tough conversations in the next couple of years. Were a church, so we wont just go by the numbers. Well go by the mission. From City Hall to the Capitol, metro columnist Tony Messenger shines light on what public officials are doing, tells stories of the disaffected, and brings voice to the issues that matter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OFALLON, Mo. A City Council member was ousted from office Thursday just hours after a judge refused to block an impeachment vote over the councilwomans investigation of a former police chief. Council members voted 6-1 to convict Katie Gatewood of lying to the council and violating city rules by investigating former police Chief Philip Dupuis. Councilwomen Deana Smith and Debbie Cook left the dais in protest ahead of the vote. I will not continue participating in a process that I find unconstitutional and unjust, Smith said. The six council members who voted in favor of Gatewoods ouster did not make statements at the meeting but approved articles that outlined how she was ineffective and should be removed. Gatewoods attorney, Dave Roland, said the entire proceeding had violated Gatewoods constitutional rights because officials were disciplining her for public statements she made and for convening a biased disciplinary panel against her. I think it is absolutely clear that the removal from office is retaliation, he said. Earlier in the day, Roland had asked U.S. District Judge Audrey Fleissig to issue a temporary order that would stop the impeachment vote, but the judge denied that motion at 4:30 p.m., saying a state court was the most appropriate venue for the controversy to be heard. Roland said Gatewood had already suffered damage from hearings last year at which she was forced to defend herself and said in court that even if Gatewood was returned to office by a judge, she would suffer further if her removal denied her the ability to participate in votes and deliberations until she won her case. Roland also said Gatewoods improper removal could call future council actions into question. Responding to Fleissigs questions about why the case wasnt filed in state court, Roland reiterated that it relied on constitutional questions and said there was no legal way to block the councils actions in state court before the vote. Jeffrey Deane, a lawyer for the city, said Gatewoods suit was not ripe for federal court, as she had neither been impeached nor removed. He cited principles of federal law that reserve state matters for state courts. Deane also cited a similar case in the 1990s in which an OFallon mayor was removed and later restored by the courts. Deane said mistakes made in the mayors case were avoided in Gatewoods, because she was provided a full hearing to challenge council members qualifications to judge her. He also said the mayor, acting as judge in the impeachment proceedings, had not found clear and convincing evidence that council members were biased against her. Timothy Engelmeyer, a lawyer for Mayor Bill Hennessy, asked Fleissig to allow the impeachment vote to proceed, saying, Judge, were 99% done with the process here. Engelmeyer insisted that process had been fair to Gatewood. It is unclear how Gatewoods removal might change the federal case, but the judge asked Thursday for lawyers to submit more arguments after the vote took place, Roland said. The controversy started after Dupuis became the citys interim chief on Oct. 2, 2020; the interim title was removed by a 7-3 vote on Jan. 7, 2021. In a meeting the week after that, Gatewood said shed opposed Dupuis because of concerns brought to her by fellow police officers, later clarifying that the concerns were raised by a civilian and confirmed in conversations with police officers, according to court filings by Gatewood. Gatewood also had called police agencies in Texas, where Dupuis had previously worked, to ask about him. Other council members claimed Gatewood lied in her Jan. 14, 2021, statement, and violated city code prohibiting interference by council members in matters that come under the city administrators direction. They sought an investigation that would eventually lead to the impeachment hearings and Thursdays vote. Dupuis resigned in June, saying it was due in part to the unintended consequences of a new Missouri law seeking to invalidate federal gun laws, as well as Gatewoods actions. He said in a November hearing that she directly interfered with his duties by pressuring him to add positions or enact police department policies. Gatewood was elected by the citys 5th Ward in 2020 to a three-year term. Correction: This article has been corrected to reflect that Councilwoman Deana Smith made the comments about the impeachment process. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Robert Patrick Robert Patrick is a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Robert Patrick 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 OFALLON, Mo. Family and friends are mourning the death of a 17-year-old who was fatally shot over the weekend after an encounter with police. Kiara Neal said officers approached her brother, Christopher Chris Jones, as he slept in a car late Sunday morning in an OFallon neighborhood. Police said they walked up to the Honda Accord around 11 a.m. and loudly knocked on the window, spotting a handgun in the front seat. The driver then put the car in reverse and struck a police car. Officers then fired at the Honda, which moved forward until coming to rest blocks away. Paramedics transferred Jones to a hospital, where he later died. Neal, 24, was Jones legal guardian. She said in an interview that her brother was sweet, funny and had a difficult life but loved his family. When I was little, I couldnt wait to get older so I could have money for us to do stuff, she said. He always told me how happy he was for everything I did. Neal recalled with a laugh how they stayed up late and filmed improv comedy scenes on her phone. She said she taught her brother manners like saying Yes, maam and No, sir and helped him with money when he needed it. She said Jones wasnt going to school but had plans to complete a program to get his high school diploma. And when Jones recently found out Neal was pregnant, he texted her and promised to support her. Thats my best friend, she said. We just had a super tight bond. Neal said she believed her brother had driven with his best friend, another teen, to meet up with a friend in OFallon late Saturday night. The three stayed up into the early hours of Sunday talking, and the two boys had fallen asleep in the car, she said. Police were called to the area, the 500 block of Prentice Drive, for a call about a suspicious vehicle just before 11 a.m. Thats where they found Jones and his friend in a car that had been reported stolen. Some questions remain about what happened next. St. Charles County police, who are handling the investigation, cited the ongoing inquiry in declining to answer questions about how many shots were fired, whether either of the people in the car pointed a gun at police, where the officers were standing when they fired their weapons or whether the bullet that killed Jones was fired by police. The department will forward the results of the investigation to prosecutors to consider once it is completed, a department spokeswoman said in an email. Both officers were placed on leave while the investigation continues, OFallon police said Sunday. Body camera footage was forwarded to St. Charles County as part of the investigation. Jones girlfriend, Terrae Wilson, 16, said she also wants to know more about what happened to the kind, generous person she knew so well. I just want justice for him, she said. He didnt deserve to die. He was so young. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. UPDATED to correct information about mother's claim JENNINGS Police canceled an endangered-person advisory Thursday after a Jennings girl who went missing under strange circumstances turned up safe. An initial report to police said the 12-year-old girl was taken from her home on Hamilton Avenue on Wednesday afternoon by a woman posing as a child welfare worker. St. Louis County police Officer Adrian Washington said the report about the Department of Family Services worker came from the child's mother. Police checked with the state's DFS and found that that agency didn't take custody of the girl. Washington said the girl returned home Thursday morning. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. EAST ST. LOUIS A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by conservation groups seeking to block navigation projects on the Mississippi River. U.S. District Judge David Dugan said in a 40-page ruling last week that the groups had not revealed any clear error of judgment on the part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Further, none of the Corps' decisions in this matter were shown to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act," Dugan wrote. Dugan stressed in his ruling that it was not his role to substitute his judgment for that of the Corps. The lawsuit claimed planned dredging and construction to maintain a navigation channel would make flooding worse and harm fish and wildlife on the Middle Mississippi River, a 195-mile section beginning just north of St. Louis and extending south to Cairo, Ill. They also said the Corps made a series of mistakes in the environmental impact statement for the project and did not comply with all environmental laws. Lawyers for the Corps denied that. The National Wildlife Federation, American Rivers, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, Missouri Coalition for the Environment and Prairie Rivers Network sued in U.S. District Court in East St. Louis in 2020. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS St. Louis police Officer Colin Ledbetter remained unconscious and fighting for his life Thursday, a day after he was shot in the line of duty, his family said. Hes doing very well, better than expected, Steve Ledbetter said of his 25-year-old son, who has undergone hours of emergency surgeries over the past two days. Hes still not conscious, and theres still a long way to go. Ledbetters heart stopped after he and another St. Louis police officer were shot Wednesday afternoon, Steve Ledbetter said. The two officers were taken to Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The two officers were wounded while chasing a car connected to a homicide in St. Louis, police have said. The chase led the officers into Ferguson. At least one of three people in the fleeing car shot at officers, hitting Ledbetter in the stomach and another officer in the leg, police said. Officers shot back, and one of the men in the car, 23-year-old Equan Hopson, of St. Louis, was hit and later died from his injuries. Prosecutors charged both surviving occupants of the car August Burns, 23, of Florissant, and Clyde Thomas, 35, of Farmington with resisting arrest. Burns is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Burns and Thomas have been convicted of previous felonies, according to court records. Meanwhile, Ledbetters family is hoping the young officers progress continues. Ledbetter joined the police department in October 2017 because he thought St. Louis police were the best in the world, his father said. He always had a deep caring about other people and couldnt stand seeing people hurt others, Steve Ledbetter said. Colin is soft but tough. Hes a heck of a cop. Gunfire in Ferguson Around 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Ledbetter and other officers started following a white Toyota 4Runner SUV that had been spotted at the scene of a homicide hours earlier, according to an account from St. Louis County police, who are leading the investigation. The SUV fled, weaving in and out of traffic as officers chased it into Ferguson. The SUV driver eventually lost control and crashed near West Florissant Avenue and Lang Drive, according to court documents. There, at least one of the SUVs three occupants, while running away, fired at the officers, and officers shot back, according to St. Louis County police. Burns, of Florissant, was riding in the back of the SUV. As he got out of the 4Runner and tried to run away, a shotgun fell from his seat. He was also wearing an ammunition carrier holding shotgun shells, court documents said. He is being held on a $250,000 cash bail. Thomas, of St. Francois County, was also riding in the back of the car and was arrested while trying to run away, court documents said. His cash bail was set at $50,000 Thursday. Along with Ledbetter, the officer shot in the leg remained hospitalized Thursday. Both were wearing bulletproof vests when they were struck, St. Louis police said. Authorities did not identify the homicide that led to Wednesdays chase, but there was just one killing reported overnight by police. It happened about 1 a.m. Wednesday outside Dianas Royal Palace, a bar at 4266 Natural Bridge Avenue in the Greater Ville neighborhood. In that shooting, police said four men approached another group of four people sitting in a car, announced a robbery and took some of their property. A security guard at the business then fired shots at the group, and one of the suspected robbers, in his 30s, was killed. Joel Currier of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Katie Kull Katie Kull covers public safety for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She previously wrote about local government for the Springfield News-Leader. In her spare time, you can find her cooking, riding horses or spending time outdoors. Follow Katie Kull 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 ST. LOUIS A St. Louis man who pleaded guilty 3 years ago to murdering a man in 2016 was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison. Marcus T. Jackson 27, received the term from Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer for killing Patrick Hunter Jr., 23, in a heroin-related shooting on Jan. 12, 2016. Jackson has been in custody since 2016 and will receive credit for time served. He pleaded guilty Aug. 31, 2018, to charges of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and three counts of armed criminal action. His sentencing was deferred until after the disposal of cases against four codefendants. Two of four other men indicted with Jackson in 2016 received 10-year terms in September for their roles in shooting at undercover police officers. They are Nathan Tilson Jr., 27, and Marquise R. Henderson, 32. The Circuit Attorneys Office previously dismissed three counts of first-degree murder and other charges against Henderson, who was accused of fatally shooting Tylan Bogan, 23, and Henry Williams Jr., 24, on Jan 10, 2016. He was also accused of killing Lenny Hogan, 29, on Jan. 18, 2016. Co-defendants Cortez A. Smith, 22, and Jordan D. Brown, 27, pleaded guilty in the case in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and were sentenced to 15-year prison terms. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BERKELEY A St. Louis woman was charged Wednesday in the fatal shooting of her cousin six days earlier in Berkeley. Logan L. Cheatham, 24, of the 1000 block of Spruce Street, was charged in St. Louis County Circuit Court with one count of involuntary manslaughter. Charges said Berkeley police officers were dispatched on Jan. 20 to a home in the 4000 block of McKibbon Road where they found Jessica Cobb in the front yard with a gunshot wound to the head. Officers learned Cheatham had left earlier to seek treatment of hand injuries at Christian Hospital, charges said. Witnesses told police Cheatham struck Cobb with a gun and that it fired, killing her. The St. Louis County Medical Examiner's Office said Cobb was 41 and lived at the home on McKibbon. She was pronounced dead at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Charges do not provide additional details about the circumstances or victim. Berkeley Police Chief Art Jackson said Cheatham shot Cobb during an argument over a $120 debt about 2:30 p.m. He said Cheatham also accidentally shot herself in the hand during the confrontation. Jackson said his department didn't put out a press release about the homicide because he didn't want to bring negative publicity to Berkeley. If the killing hadn't been an "isolated domestic issue," he said his department might have notified the public. "We're trying to build our image up," he said. "It shines a bad light on our community." "I believe in being transparent," he added. A St. Louis County judge set Cheatham's bail at $25,000. She was not in custody Thursday. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS The city fire department is embarking on a door-to-door structural assessment of vacant buildings citywide in hopes it can identify those at risk of collapse, stop firefighters from going inside and prevent deaths like the one earlier this month. St. Louis fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson said identifying the citys most dangerous vacant buildings, those too dangerous for any firefighter to enter safely, is an effort long past due. Were going to move pretty quick on this, Jenkerson said on Thursday. I dont want this to wait. The new assessments, which will alert firefighters of identified dangers when called to a vacant building, gathered momentum in the days after the death of firefighter Ben Polson, 33, who died Jan. 13 on a north city fire. He was checking for victims on the second floor of a vacant house on Cote Brilliante Avenue when the roof collapsed. St. Louis has 10,000 vacant properties, dotting block after block in north St. Louis, and officials have wrestled with their upkeep for decades. But the city has demolished fewer than 2,000 over the past five years, leaving those still standing a constant danger for first responders. Other city departments, including the citys building division and its development agency, St. Louis Development Corp., keep data on the lots. The agencies already share some data. Building Commissioner Frank Oswald said he spoke with Jenkerson on Thursday morning and hopes to help the fire department build the database for the new assessments. Laura Ginn, the citys point-person on vacant buildings, said the St. Louis Development Corp. will support the fire departments efforts, too. Its not the first time the city has worked to mark buildings unsafe for first responders. At one point, the fire department identified buildings that it viewed as prime demolition candidates and shared those addresses with the building division, Jenkerson said. But the money, from a bond issue, ran out, and the practice fell by the wayside. Retired St. Louis fire Battalion Chief Gerald Mickey Jorden, 65, a 35-year veteran, remembered efforts in the 1990s to ID dangerous structures. Then, the city spray-painted No FD on boarded-up buildings to mark them as off-limits. Some of the markings are still visible today. But not nearly enough. How many more buildings became vacant in the interim? Jorden said. Right now, captains of arriving fire companies size up buildings, on the spot, and decide if theyre safe for firefighters to enter. Jenkerson wants tougher standards. He said this effort will begin with captains and battalion chiefs inspecting vacant buildings, neighborhood by neighborhood. Over time, each type of building would get a number. Firefighters could enter a tier 3 house, for example, with less immediate concern of collapse. But if a company got a call for a tier 1 building, they would know its unsafe to enter and must be fought from the outside. Jenkerson hopes to contract with St. Louis software and IT companies to connect the data with the existing dispatch system. Jorden, the retired battalion chief, said no solution is ironclad. People calling to report the fire may not know a houses exact address. And city staff arent necessarily notified when houses become newly vacant. These are the things we have to fit into an imperfect world, he said. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JEFFERSON CITY Members of a House committee started their day Thursday listening to the brutal details of dog attacks, with some lawmakers and witnesses making the case that aggressive canines can come in all shapes, sizes and breeds. The often-riveting testimony came during a hearing on the latest bills aimed at banning breed-specific laws and regulations in Missouri. The proposals, sponsored by Rep. Kent Haden, R-Mexico, and Rep. Ron Hicks, R-Defiance, specify that local governments can enact laws regarding dogs, but those laws cannot target any particular breed. Their bills would negate any breed-specific bans and regulations in the state. Breed-specific legislation, most targeting pit bulls, has a long, controversial history, muddied by conflicting research and misinformation. Some research has tied such laws, as well as home insurance policies that charge higher premiums if certain dog breeds are on the property, to a history of media sensationalism surrounding certain dog breeds and racial housing discrimination. Hicks told the House Local Government committee the issue was about property rights and that absent a clear threat to peoples safety, dogs cant just be taken from their owners. But others argued breed-specific legislation has been proven to increase overall safety in some areas. Rep. Richard West, R-Wentzville, said as the owner of a dog kennel and a police K-9 officer, he believed the issue was not that pit bulls are more apt to bite, its just what their bite does. Sources differ on whether pit bulls bites are more dangerous than some other breeds. An effective solution to address dog attacks, advocates argued, isnt breed-specific legislation; its more targeted vicious-dog legislation. Looking at only one type of dog, supporters said, ignores the broader issue of aggression in many types of dogs. Committee members and witnesses traded dog attack anecdotes to make their cases for the most dangerous dogs, vividly describing dismemberment and carnage perpetrated by pit bulls, German Shepherds and others. Ive run into vicious dogs of all breeds, said Haden, who also works a veterinarian. Vicious dog legislation, sponsors said, would target dogs based on reports and indications of aggression. In 2017, Florissant overturned a breed-specific ban in favor of strengthening dangerous dog legislation, which includes provisions on registering dogs and spaying and neutering. Several opponents of the legislation said these sorts of decisions should be made at the local level. Ive always said were always all for local control, said Rep. Randy Railsback, R-Hamilton, until we want to take it away. Rep. Craig Fishel, R-Springfield, said that as a former local elected official, he found it offensive that state representatives thought they knew better how to keep his community safe. Advocates countered that it would be more cost-effective and efficient to address the issue at the state level. One cited a model calculated by Best Friends Animal Society estimating that Missouri spent $8.9 million on enforcement of these laws. Instead of continuously wasting our finite resources without clear and convincing evidence that we are improving the safety of our neighborhoods, we should enact effective animal management strategies that center around basic laws and apply consistently to all dog owners, said Cody Atkinson, Missouri state director for the Humane Society of the United States. The proposed laws are House Bill 1588 and House Bill 1657. Originally posted at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27. Grace Zokovitch gzokovitch@post-dispatch.com FRANKLIN COUNTY Missouri will no longer require emission checks of many Franklin County vehicles beginning July 1 following approval of the change Thursday by the state Air Conservation Commission. Steve Hall, air pollution control director for the state Department of Natural Resources, said the requirement would no longer apply then to vehicles registered in Franklin County and operated primarily in that county. While the federal Environmental Protection Agency also must sign off on the change, Hall said we have submitted what the department believes is an approvable plan. State officials, he said, dont anticipate issues. According to a summary attached to the commissions Thursday meeting agenda, the EPA had asked that the July 1 effective date be removed or changed to Oct. 31 while it considered the change. While EPA strives to take expeditious action on all state submissions, this date could cause confusion for the public in the St. Louis area and could risk the possibility of sanctions should the change take place prior to full EPA approval, the federal agency said in its statement. But state officials decided to go ahead with the July 1 date for removing Franklin County, on the outer fringe of the metro area. The states action was applauded by Franklin County Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker, saying the move truly reflects how taxpayers can overcome unfair situations through tenacious consistency. The Missouri Legislature last year passed a bill excluding Franklin, St. Charles and Jefferson counties from vehicle testing requirements. However, Gov. Mike Parson last summer vetoed the measure because of concerns that the state would potentially lose $52 million in federal road and bridge funding as a penalty. Meanwhile, the state agency may ask EPA to issue an improved air quality rating for the entire Missouri side of the metro area a move that some local officials hope will eventually result in ending the vehicle emission checks throughout the region. Illinois also is seeking an improved air quality rating for Metro East counties, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments says. 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. EAST ST. LOUIS Metro East projects, including a new public safety center serving Metro Transit and Americas Central Port in Granite City, will receive more than $37 million under a new round of grants funded through Illinois $33 billion infrastructure bill passed in 2019. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was in East St. Louis Wednesday to announce nearly $220 million worth of downstate transit grants and port improvement funding. The $21 million in state funding for Americas Central Port, which handles barge traffic on the Mississippi River, was among the largest and follows a $4.14 million federal grant award to the port last month to extend the harbors wharf so it can handle up to six barges at once. The three Illinois state grants to the Granite City port, which Pritzker called an economic engine for this entire region, will fund dredging in Madison Harbor, truck staging and other improvements. In St. Clair County, a nearly $10 million state grant through the St. Clair County Transit District will fund a new public safety center for security on Metro Transit, which also serves St. Louis and St. Louis County. St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern said the new center will house eight dispatchers who will monitor cameras and can dispatch public safety personnel to trouble spots. The site sits on a fiber-optic cable running along the MetroLink system, allowing for fast communication across jurisdictions. This facility answers a lot of the questions the public has had about safety on Metro, Kern said at Wednesdays announcement. The Madison County Mass Transit District will receive $6.35 million, including $3.25 million for a Collinsville park-and-ride. The Rebuild Illinois program, passed during Pritzkers first year in office, aims to invest $33 billion in Illinois infrastructure through 2025. Including past grants such as $96 million to extend MetroLink to MidAmerica Airport, Pritzkers office said there has been a combined $600 million awarded to ports and downstate transit. The program has also funded repairs of Mississippi River bridges and a rehab of Interstate 255. Originally posted at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27(tncms-asset)f0f015fe-6417-11ec-8a73-00163ec2aa77[0](/tncms-asset)(tncms-asset)2bcf06de-9241-11eb-ba2b-00163ec2aa77[1](/tncms-asset) 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. BRENTWOOD A busy stretch of Manchester Road will be closed to most traffic for two weekends in February, the Missouri Department of Transportation announced. Manchester Road will be closed in both directions to "through traffic" between Hanley Road and South Brentwood Boulevard from Feb. 4-7 and Feb. 11-14. The closures, which are scheduled to take place weather permitting, will allow MoDOT crews to construct a deep sanitary sewer the first weekend and a storm sewer the following weekend, MoDOT officials said in a statement. The closures are to begin at 9 p.m. on Friday of each weekend, and open by 5 a.m. the following Monday. During the closure, there will be limited access for local traffic, MoDOT officials said. From Hanley, local traffic will be able to travel west as far as Dorothy Avenue. From Brentwood Boulevard, local traffic will be able to head east as far as Van Mark Way and Mary Avenue. Drivers coming from Mary Avenue will only be able to turn west onto Manchester Road. JEFFERSON CITY Visitors flocked to Missouri State Parks in record numbers in 2021, continuing a pandemic-fueled return-to-the-outdoors trend that officials dont expect to end anytime soon. The biggest complaint we get now is we cant get into a state park, David Kelly, director of the Division of State Parks, told the Post-Dispatch in an interview this week. Missouri State Parks reported 22.5 million visitors last year, a nearly 7% increase from the year before and an all-time attendance record for the network of 92 parks and historic sites, recently released figures show. But two even more impressive stats for park administrators: a 24% increase in campsite rentals and a 17% jump in lodging units rented. Because Missouri State Parks require no entry fee, visitation figures are only estimates. Overnight stays are considered a hard indicator of the popularity of the parks system, and both campsite and lodging rentals reached all-time highs in 2021. The fact that camping was up 24% this year was astounding, Kelly said. On the horizon: Officials are looking to build on the increased popularity. Were doing things to try to meet customer demands as quickly as we can, he said. There are plans to open new parks, construct new cabins, install electric vehicle charging stations, increase internet connectivity in and around state parks and to upgrade existing campsites, park offices and water systems. Many of the upgrades will be made possible by the federal government, which is showering money onto the states via the American Rescue Plan Act, which was approved by Congress with only Democratic support and signed by President Joe Biden in March. In addition, the budget signed by Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, last year authorized the sale of bonds for the first time since the 1980s, Kelly said, allowing officials to begin construction of more cabins and campground space. Kelly said the first four projects include adding a campground loop at Montauk State Park in Dent County, renovating a campground loop at Roaring River State Park in Barry County, replacing a 30-year-old lighting system in Onondaga Cave and building full-service cabins at Johnsons Shut-Ins State Park in Reynolds County. The state sold $60 million in bonds in October, and the funds are intended to go toward 28 projects at 22 parks across the state, according to the state parks website, with a total projected cost of $68 million. The bonds have been sold, we have the money and now its just working with our Office of Administration and getting those bids out and getting that work underway, he said. I think the demand is there, and I think its going to be there for a while, Kelly said. The pandemic really helped, Kelly said. It sends a lot of people to state parks. Future plans Park officials plan to open Bryant Creek State Park, in south-central Missouris Douglas County, sometime this summer, Kelly said. The parkland was originally purchased under former Gov. Jay Nixon. The first phase includes parking, vault toilet, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) trail and then a trail that goes out to an overlook, overlooking Bryant Creek, Kelly said. Parsons proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins in July includes $69 million in ARPA funding for the Rock Island Trail Corridor. His administration said the money would be spent on constructing a 78-mile stretch of the trail between Beaufort in Franklin County and Eugene, in southwestern Cole County. The money would pay for two tunnels and two major bridges, including an 1,800-foot bridge over the Gasconade River, according to budget documents. The entire Rock Island project is 144 miles and plans call for one day linking it to the Katy Trail at Windsor in Henry County. Parsons budget blueprint also includes $9.6 million for increasing Wi-Fi and connectivity at parks, part of an overall $400 million for connectivity and the states broadband network funded by ARPA. Its really bringing in high-speed to state parks to run our operations and do public Wi-Fi, Kelly said. At the same time were hoping, because these parks are in rural areas, that bringing in broadband out to the parks will serve as an anchor to bring it out to residents and businesses in those rural areas around the parks. Other budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2023 include $42 million in ARPA funding for drinking water and wastewater upgrades in state parks. The budget also includes $5 million for HVAC upgrades, Kelly said. He said the parks network contains about 2,000 structures. When I first started and we built a lot of visitors centers back in the late 80s early 90s, Kelly said, and of course, you know, theyre exceeding their lifetime and need to be upgraded. Another update to expect: electric vehicle charging stations. The budget for the current fiscal year includes $1 million for charging stations, Kelly said. We are working on that now, he said. Weve been doing our research, talking with other states and trying to figure out, you know, the type of EV charging stations well have and where those might go. Hopefully as these become more popular, itll bring people out ... a little further than possibly they thought they could because they can charge and then go home, Kelly said. High attendance Echo Bluff State Park referred to in this newspaper as the Cadillac of state parks when it was being constructed in 2015 saw an 18% increase in lodging rentals last year, which surpassed 9,000. Overall attendance declined 3%, but camping site sales continued to increase, jumping 22% compared with 2020. The parks system sold 382,815 camping units each unit representing a night sold in total, up from 309,055 the year before, according to state figures. Though the visitation figures are only estimates, there were noticeable increases at several St. Louis-area state parks last year, including a 15% increase at Castlewood State Park and a 42% rise at Dr. Edmund A. Babler State Park, both in west St. Louis County; a 15% increase in visits to Don Robinson State Park in Jefferson County; and a 64% increase at Meramec State Park in Franklin, Washington and Crawford counties. Originally posted at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28 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. Maybe its just wishful thinking, but Justice Stephen Breyers retirement announcement offers Republicans a real opportunity. No, not the opportunity to install yet another hard-right conservative on the bench. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell already can claim victory for the kinds of obstructionist and unfair manipulation that yielded the courts current lopsided split favoring conservatives. Now is the moment for Republicans to make a move to save this badly divided nation from splitting even further. Would it be asking too much for Senate Republicans to let President Joe Biden exercise the same prerogative granted for decades to his predecessors to appoint his choice to the high court? It would mean, just once, that McConnell & Co. stifle the penchant to seize every opportunity to deepen divisions and exploit every issue for maximum political gain. At some point, even McConnell must recognize the damage these divisive tactics are inflicting on the nation. The growing trend toward tribalism is fomenting chaos and violence. At times over the past year, America has looked more like a nation barreling toward civil war than a democracy founded on principles of national unity and political compromise. Biden didnt help heal those wounds with his Jan. 11 speech in Atlanta, accusing Republicans of instituting Jim Crow 2.0 with their opposition to two voting-rights bills. But Biden was correct in declaring that the battle for the soul of America is not over. The soul of America is rooted in its ability to overcome the most bitter of political disputes and find ways to unite for the sake of the nations survival. On that front, both sides can offer gestures aimed at building bridges. McConnell has the power to block Bidens Supreme Court nominee by telling his caucus to put up a united front of stubborn opposition, while using backroom negotiations to pull senators like Joe Manchin or Kyrsten Sinema onto his side. But why do it? He already has shaped the court balance to his liking, in large part by employing odious tactics to block Democrats from their rightful court appointments. The nation could use a reminder of how it was not so long ago. Consider that Republicans joined Democrats in approving liberal Justices Elena Kagan in 2010 by a 63-37 majority and Sonia Sotomayor in 2009 by a 68-31 majority. Democrats joined Republicans to affirm conservative Chief Justice John Roberts in 2005 by a lopsided 78-22 majority. Continued obstruction can only serve to divide the nation further, deepen resentments and make it that much harder for Democrats to meet the GOP halfway in the future. Retiring Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, fresh from receiving his Henry Givens Jr. Legacy Award for his bipartisan spirit, has nothing to lose by demonstrating that spirit and convincing fellow Senate leaders to extend a hand to the other side and stop driving Americans further toward the political extremes. The self-proclaimed conservatives who control the Missouri Legislature have been pursuing some very un-conservative ideas this week, including micromanaging how businesses choose to respond to the pandemic and how local school boards conduct their elections. It shows yet again that elected Republicans today feel they must pander to the reactionary right, even if it means abandoning the long-held principles of their party. In Missouri, as across America, school board members who hold among the most important yet thankless elected positions anywhere are under siege from right-wing ideologues over reasonable school mask mandates and classroom curriculums that address race or other issues that make the right uncomfortable. In essence, school boards are the latest front in the culture wars, which has led to disruption of board meetings and threats against board members. The last thing this explosive situation needs is the infusion of more politics, yet numerous measures moving through Jefferson City now seek to do exactly that. Some legislation would allow for recalling school board members who vote in ways that activists dont like, providing another lever of intimidation. Other bills would move school board elections to November so they coincide with general elections deliberately putting schools in the middle of the most hotly partisan election cycles. It wasnt that long ago that Republicans routinely lectured Democrats about the importance of letting local officials handle local issues like schools, rather than trying to micromanage them with centralized edicts from distant state capitols. But in todays radicalized GOP, the conservative principle of respecting local control has been sacrificed on the altar of pandering to the hard-right base. The same phenomenon is at play regarding the once-sacred conservative principle of keeping government out of business decisions. Who couldve imagined even a few years ago that Republicans would be doing battle with private businesses, trying to prevent them from taking commonsense protective measures against infectious disease? Yet multiple bills in the Legislature now would prevent employers from requiring vaccination as a condition of employment. The issue sparked a rare public break this week between Republican legislators and normally GOP-aligned business groups like the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. When this legislative body is willing to take the financial, the fiscal, and the emotional responsibility of owning and running a business, the groups lobbyist told legislators, then maybe you should come over here and tell our folks that have put everything on the line for that business how they should operate. Its the kind of lecture Republicans traditionally aimed at Democrats who sought to regulate private businesses. But that was from a time when Democrats stood for things like labor rights and the environment, and Republicans stood for things like entrepreneurship and free enterprise. Today, Democrats still stand for the same things while Republicans stand for nothing but retaining power at any cost. Unmasked, infected and out on the town An unmasked and unvaccinated Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska, was caught on video at a New York City restaurant after her attorney revealed she had tested positive for the coronavirus. Palin was in Manhattan for the trial in her libel lawsuit against The New York Times. The trial was delayed because she couldnt attend, having testing positive and needing to be quarantined. She had tested positive three times. Yet she was caught on video entering unmasked and sitting with a group at a covered, enclosed outdoor table at Elios restaurant. She was first seated indoors, in violation of city rules requiring diners to present proof of vaccination. The restaurant apologized for not asking her for a vaccine card and then seated her outdoors. Palin has publicly denounced the coronavirus vaccines whose development was spearheaded by her political ally, former President Donald Trump. Itll be over my dead body that Ill have to get a shot, she has said. Given her reckless behavior, it might be over other peoples dead bodies instead. Gotta be a better way to make a buck What kind of desperate or weird individual goes around falsely claiming to be a health inspector so he can randomly take icky nasal swabs of gas-station employees? Eddie Nash Jameson, thats who. Jameson, of Wentzville, claimed to be working for Community Wellness America, collecting coronavirus test samples. According to his version, the company paid him $20 for every test he submitted. Jameson claimed to need the money to pay his rent. He entered a QuikTrip store last spring and allegedly claimed to be a health inspector. He had five employees fill out forms that included their names, birth dates and personal information, then he took swab samples from their noses, according to court records. He also allegedly went to an international market attempting the same ploy, but the store manager suspected it was a sham. Jameson has been arrested and charged. Given todays job market, with businesses screaming for help, isnt there a better way to earn a buck than rooting around in other peoples noses? Scamming the scammer A Long Island grandmother knew something was off when a man claiming to be her grandson contacted her and asked her to put up cash for bail for a drunk-driving arrest. The womans grandkids arent old enough to drive. She agreed to provide the money. When the bail bondsman arrived at her house to pick it up, police were waiting. The 73-year-old woman, Jean (her last name wasnt revealed in media reports), said the man claiming to be her grandson told her his bail was $8,000. I knew he was a real scammer, Jean told WCBS-TV of New York. I just knew he wasnt going to scam me. So she played along, inviting him to send the bail bondsman to her home to pick up the cash. Then she called police. When the man arrived, she handed him an envelope stuffed with paper towels. As soon as he took it, police emerged and arrested him. Joshua Estrella Gomez, 28, faces a charge of attempted grand larceny in the third degree. Not OK, RFK Jr. Young Holocaust victim Anne Frank hid with her family for several years before being captured by the Nazis and sent to her death. Todays federal vaccine mandates seek to require certain groups of workers to either get vaccinated or tested to prevent spreading a deadly disease to others, or find a different job. Only in the twisted mind of anti-vaccination fanatic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could those two scenarios be somehow comparable. The son of the late senator and nephew of President John F. Kennedy has long been (to the dismay of his storied family) a vocal anti-vaccination activist, even before the current coronavirus pandemic. Kennedy outdid himself last Sunday, at a rally of like-minded people at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, when he invoked the name of arguably the most famous of Nazi Germanys millions of victims. Even in Hitlers Germany, you could cross the Alps to Switzerland, he said. You could hide in an attic like Anne Frank did. Kennedy later apologized to the families that suffered the Holocaust horrors. Now how about an apology for his role in lengthening this pandemic with his anti-science disinformation? Recalling superpower Olympic rivalries On the eve of the Winter Olympics, the NBC streaming service, Peacock+ is running a four-part series called Meddling about the 2002 figure skating scandal at the Salt Lake City Olympics, which resulted in a complete overhaul of the judging of the sport. Figure skaters were supposed to be judged without regard to any national affiliation. Evidence arose that judges instead were voting according to their loyalties either to the Russia-friendly Eastern bloc or the Western bloc favorable to Canada and the United States. The French judge, Marie-Reine Le Gougne, was allegedly pressured to give the pairs gold medal to the Russians weeks before the actual competition in exchange for Russian support for the French dance-skating pairs. Oympic gold medalists Scott Hamilton and Tara Lipinski co-produced the series, which includes interviews with four skaters eventually awarded gold medals for Russia and Canada as well as the French judge, the alleged head of the Russian mafia who was involved, and even James Comey, then head of the FBI, all of whom played a role in the investigation. Episode 29: Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about the Lets Go Brandon chant and what it says about us as a nation. Next they discuss UFOs and so why many people are obsessed with the question about whether were alone in the universe. And in our third segment, they look at a recent study that shows vaccine mandates might not be working as intended. Its an age-old question: Business or pleasure? For airline passengers these days, the answer increasingly is both. The growth in so-called bleisure trips blending personal getaways with remote work has helped fill seats on planes during the coronavirus pandemic and marks a shift in travel patterns for an industry used to clear divisions between briefcase-toting road warriors and sun-tanned vacationers. Such excursions have been on the rise as the spread of the omicron variant has delayed the return to offices, especially among larger employers. The share of business trips that include a weekend has increased 23 percentage points to 38% since 2019, according to corporate travel manager TripActions Inc. Many of our customers that weve historically called leisure travelers are actually flying for reasons beyond just vacation, American Airlines Group Inc. President Robert Isom said on a conference call Thursday. They may travel to a beach or a mountain destination, but theyre actually going to work remotely for the week. The lines between leisure and business travel are definitely blurred. In response to the growing demand, TripActions added a dedicated personal trip booking platform in 2020. It averaged 22% monthly growth last year, said Kelly Soderlund, TripActions senior director of communications. A plunge in traditional business travel during the pandemic has hurt the bottom line of carriers that count on large corporate customers as a key source of profit. Their absence has been felt most deeply on international routes, as well as key cross-country travel corridors like New York to Los Angeles. Overall business travel bookings are 66% below pre-pandemic levels, according to industry trade group Airlines for America. But the boom in bleisure a term not everyone loves has helped make up for some of that lost traffic. American says the blended trips often are booked at the last minute and carry a higher fare. The airline also saves on marketing expenses and has found that people making such excursions tend to fork over the cash for a better level of service. United Airlines Holdings Inc. is generating a record amount of revenue from selling premium seats to leisure customers, Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said on a conference call Thursday. The trend represents a meaningful amount of potential upside to the carriers revenue plans, he said. Even as Big Business remains cautious about travel for work, domestic trips taken by employees of small- and medium-sized enterprises have rebounded sharply with more of those now including added time for leisure. Bleisure travelers are increasingly flying on Thursday, joining business passengers who historically have made that the biggest travel day of the week. That allows them to work Friday and move into the weekend sooner, according to Vasu Raja, Americans chief revenue officer. As we go through the pandemic, customers have a lot more flexibility with their time, Raja said. LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Stocks slip ahead of US interest rate hike Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - 17:16 (Alliance News) - Stocks in London closed down on Wednesday as trading tensions grew ahead of the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision, despite the outcome of the meeting unlikely to be a surprise. Since I've yet to find anyone who doesn't expect 50bp, clear indications of more to come at a similar or even faster pace, and the start of balance sheet reduction, this evening is either a non-event or a huge surprise, said Societe Generale's Kit Juckes. The FTSE 100 index closed down 67.88 points, or 0.9%, at 7,493.45. The FTSE 250 ended down 301.28 points, or 1.5%, at 20,219.48, and the AIM All-Share closed down 14.96 points, or 1.5%, at 998.56. The Cboe UK 100 ended down 0.7% at 746.48, the Cboe UK 250 closed down 1.5% at 17,880.72, and the Cboe Small Companies ended down 0.4% at 15,068.03. In European equities on Wednesday, the CAC 40 in Paris ended down 1.2%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt fell a more modest 0.5%. European markets slipped and Wall Street was trading on the back foot in anticipation of the Fed decision, due at 1900 BST. This will be followed by a press conference with Fed Chair Jerome Powell at 1930 BST. The outcome of the meeting is unlikely to surprise, with markets pricing in a 99% chance of a 50 basis point hike. Such a move was all but confirmed by Powell in remarks last month when he said a half-point hike would be on the table for May. It is appropriate, in my view, to be moving a little more quickly. And I also think there's something in the idea of front-end loading whatever accommodation one thinks is appropriate, Powell said during a debate on the global economy hosted by the International Monetary Fund on the sidelines of its spring meetings. Stocks in New York were lower at the London equities close, with the DJIA down 0.2%, the S&P 500 index down 0.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite down 1.4%. The dollar pulled back ahead of the Fed. The euro stood at $1.0560 at the European equities close Wednesday, up against $1.0535 at the same time on Tuesday. Against the yen, the dollar was trading at JP129.93, down compared to JP129.97 late Tuesday. Weighing on the greenback was data showing US private sector employment growth slowed in April. Ahead of Friday's key nonfarm payrolls figure, ADP data showed 247,000 jobs were added to the US private sector in April, down from March's upwardly revised 479,000 and below a market forecast of 395,000 jobs. This was followed by surveys highlighting inflationary pressure amongst US service sector firms in April. The Institute for Supply Management's services purchasing managers' index registered 57.1 in April, down from 58.3 in March. Any reading over 50.0 indicates expansion. The S&P Global services PMI registered 55.6 in April, significantly above the flash estimate of 54.7. However, this remained below the 58.0 registered in March. The pound slipped to be quoted at $1.2501 at the London equities close Wednesday from $1.2511 at the close on Tuesday. Hot on the heels of the Fed comes the Bank of England, announcing its latest interest rate decision at midday on Thursday. After slashing interest rates to a record low of 0.10% in March 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic began to engulf Europe, the BoE was among the first central banks to begin lifting interest rates with a 15 basis point hike in December 2021. This was followed up by successive hikes in February and March, to bring Bank Rate to where it currently stands at 0.75%. Markets overwhelmingly expect the BoE to hike rates for the fourth meeting in a row, which would bring Bank Rate to 1.00% - a level it has not stood at since 2009. Even a vote or two in favour of a 50 basis point hike tomorrow would be bullish for the pound, whereas two or more votes in favour of no change would be perceived as dovish and could trigger another bout of sterling weakness, commented Matthew Ryan, senior market analyst at Ebury. In London, shares in Flutter Entertainment rose 5.1% after saying it grew revenue in the first quarter, led by a strong performance in the US market which offset a decline in the UK & Ireland. The Dublin-based sports betting and gaming company said in the first quarter, total revenue was 5% higher year-on-year at 1.57 billion from 1.49 billion. This was a 6% increase on a constant-currency basis. With our enlarged recreational customer base, winning position in the US and ongoing focus on sustainable growth, our business remains well placed for the future, said Chief Executive Peter Jackson. Retailers were bunched at the bottom of the FTSE 100, with DIY retailer Kingfisher falling 5.0% and athleisurewear firm JD Sports down 4.7%, after the latest British Retail Consortium-NielsenIQ tracker showed UK shop price growth accelerated in April. Shop prices rose 2.7% annually in April. Growth quickened from 2.1% in March. April's climb was also above the six-month average rise of 1.5%, the BRC noted. Sports Direct owner Frasers fell 5.3%. Elsewhere in the FTSE 250, Aston Martin raced ahead by 6.7% after reporting a first-quarter performance in line with expectations, with growth in revenue on strong pricing but a widened loss through higher expenses. In addition, the luxury carmaker confirmed the appointment of Amedeo Felisa as chief executive officer, with immediate effect. He will be replacing Tobias Moers, who is stepping down after two years in the role since 2020. Felisa was CEO of Ferrari from 2008 and 2016. He joined the Aston Martin board as a non-executive director last summer. Chair Lawrence Stroll said there is a need for the business to enter a new phase of growth with a new leadership team and structure. Direct Line fell 6.3% after the insurer said total gross written premium & service fees fell 2.4% in the first quarter to 734.3 million from 752.3 million the year before. On AIM, boohoo shares dropped 12% after the online retailer posted a sharp annual profit plunge driven by high item return rates, subdued consumer confidence and international woes. Pretax profit in the year ended February 28 dropped 94% to 7.8 million from 124.7 million a year prior. Revenue increased 14% to 1.98 billion from 1.75 billion. Boohoo blamed higher returns rates, subdued consumer demand and extended delivery times for the performance. Joules tumbled 25% after it reported profit in the Easter trading period slumped, and said its chief executive officer is set to exit the company. The Leicestershire, England-based country lifestyle retailer said in the 13 weeks to May 1, challenging market conditions have caused profit to fall below management expectations in some areas of its business, despite a 20% revenue increase. CEO Nick Jones will step down from his role during the first half of the group's next financial year, with the current year ending in May. The search for his successor will begin shortly. Joules anticipates the trading challenges will continue into the first half of financial 2023, and is cautious about its near-term outlook. In commodities, Brent oil was quoted at $108.55 a barrel at the London equities close Wednesday, up from $106.12 late Tuesday. Brent prices saw support after the European Commission proposed new sanctions on Russian oil exports over the invasion of Ukraine, officials from the EU executive branch confirmed to dpa on Tuesday. The sixth sanctions package prohibits businesses in the EU from purchasing oil from Russia and aims to phase out imports from the bloc. Gold was quoted at $1,866.98 an ounce at the London equities close, down against $1,873.30 at the close on Tuesday. Thursday's economic calendar as a Chinese services PMI overnight, German factory orders at 0700 BST, and a UK services PMI at 0930 BST. US jobless claims are at 1300 BST. Dominating the day is the UK interest rate decision from the Bank of England at midday. Focus will also lie on the latest OPEC meeting of major oil producing nations. The UK corporate calendar on Thursday has updates from oil major Shell, industrial turnaround firm Melrose Industries, packaging firm Mondi, clothing retailer Next and defence firm BAE Systems. By Lucy Heming; lucyheming@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Japanese engine maker IHI is partnering with Britains Rolls-Royce to develop a new engine for Japans FX stealth aircraft. Over half a billion dollars will be spent by the partnership to produce a demonstrator (working prototype) within a decade. Rolls Royce has been developing aircraft engines for over a century. Rolls was one of the first firms to develop a jet engine for fighters during World War II. Right after the war Rolls sold the Soviets 25 of its Nene jet engines with the condition that they would not be used for military aircraft. Technically the Russians complied, but when shot down MiG15s were examined the Russian jet engine was clearly a copy of the Nene. While Rolls-Royce still develops some military engines, most of its business is as a primary or secondary supplier of engines for Boeing, Airbus and other commercial aircraft makers. While the American firm General Electric is the largest supplier of airliner engines, Rolls is firmly in second place. Rolls has also partnered with Japanese engine manufacturer IHI, which also builds engines for large airliners. IHI also built the engines for Japanese F-15s and F-16s. Rolls has some operations in Japan and seemed a good fit to develop a more powerful engine for the Japanese stealth aircraft as well as a similar project Britain and other European firms are developing. In 2016 Japan successfully flight tested its prototype X2 stealth aircraft, which was a demonstrator that Japan could develop and build a production model stealth fighter. The X2 project took over a decade but Japan held off on proceeding with the FX until it received its first American F-35 stealth fighters and was able to examine what made it successful. Even before Japan received its first of (0f 147) F-35s in 2018 it seemed likely that Japan could create its own. Japans first F-35 squadron was operational in early 2019 and that confirmed that what made the F-35 special was something the Japanese could produce. Japan confirmed that it could match the stealth of the F-35 and create software similar to what the F-35 used. Japan has long been a prolific developer of complex software systems and produced the most reliable initial releases of such software. Unique software was a key element of the F-35s popularity with American and export-nation pilots. By the end of 2020 Japan decided that it could build its own stealth fighter for itself and export customers. In 2014 Japan finally changed its constitution to all weapons exports. There were two restrictions, countries at war or under sanctions were not allowed. The ability to export its new FX stealth fighter made the project affordable. The FX project will cost $12 billion and the Japanese parliament provided $703 million in the 2021 defense budget to start work. Japan has been actively developing technologies for a new fighter for over a decade and for that reason the first FX prototype is expected to make its first flight in 2028 and enter service in the mid-2030s once the new Japan-British engine is ready for regular use. The FX prototype will be used to test the working prototype of that engine, which both nations will share the rights to. Japan is also willing to help Britain with their new Tempest sixth generation aircraft that will incorporate stealth as well as even more advanced software. Britain was encouraged by Japans progress with its FX and both Tempest and FX are to enter service in the mid-2030s. Tempest is being jointly developed by Britain based multi-national firm BAE and Rolls-Royce along with European firms Leonardo and MBDA. Tempest will replace Typhoon, which entered service in 2003 and was developed by Airbus, BAE and Leonardo. Typhoon was developed from a British Aerospace prototype that flew in 1986. British Aerospace later became part of BAE. With Tempest Britain intends to develop an aircraft that will not just be a demonstrator. Britain also bought F-35s and realized that a European firm would produce a similar aircraft that could compete with the Americans, who had long taken the lead in developing the latest aircraft, which then grabbed most of the export market. Fewer than 600 Typhoons were built, while contemporary American aircraft, like the F-35, are being produced in the thousands, mainly for export customers. By partnering with Japan, Britain gained an edge the Eurofighter lacked. With no American tech in the FX or Tempest the builders can export to anyone without restrictions the Americans often imposed on those using some of their tech. HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Maverick Natural Resources (Maverick) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire certain producing properties in the Permian Basin from ConocoPhillips for a purchase price of $440 million, subject to customary adjustments, with an effective date of September 1, 2021. The assets to be acquired produced over 11,000 boepd (50% oil) from the Central Basin Platform and Northwest Shelf of the Permian Basin during September 2021. The position spans approximately 144,500 net acres across Andrews (Texas), Ector (Texas), Eddy (N.M.), and Lea (N.M.) Counties and is largely operated and held by production. The acquisition was approved by Mavericks board of directors and majority equity owner, EIG, and will be funded by a fully committed $500 million reserve based loan provided by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; Royal Bank of Canada; Citizens Bank, N.A.; KeyBank National Association; and KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. Subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and funding, the parties expect the transaction to close in the second quarter of 2022. Chris Heinson, Mavericks CEO, commented, This Permian acquisition expands the scale of Mavericks operations and provides high quality, oil-weighted drilling inventory. The transaction highlights our portfolio focus in Texas and Oklahoma, which follows our recent divestitures of assets in California and Michigan. Chris Heinson continued, Pro forma for the acquisition, Mavericks production exceeded 78,000 boepd in September 2021. We are conservatively financed with pro forma leverage of approximately 0.5x at closing and expected pro forma 2022 EBITDA of approximately $450 million. We expect to utilize our enhanced scale, operational track record, and conservative balance sheet to access capital markets for funding future acquisitions. About Maverick Maverick is a private oil and gas company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Maverick specializes in the management of mature upstream assets through application of automation and data-science technology while focusing on safety, emissions, and environmental responsibility. For additional information, please visit Mavericks website at www.mavresources.com. About EIG EIG specializes in private investments in energy and energy-related infrastructure on a global basis. During its 39-year history, EIG has committed over $39 billion to the energy sector through over 375 projects or companies in 38 countries on six continents. EIGs clients include many of the leading pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, and sovereign wealth funds in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. EIG is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Houston, London, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, and Seoul. For additional information, please visit EIG's website at www.eigpartners.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220128005022/en/ Maverick Sarah PayneMedia 713-437-8084 Andrew RoweBusiness Development 713-437-8020 EIG Kelly Kimberly and Brandon Messina, Sard Verbinnen & Co [email protected] 212-687-8080 Source: Maverick Natural Resources Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bejeti, a new ultra-luxe, obsessively designed, unisex accessory brand introduces its premiere line of one-of-a-kind wallets. Bejeti wallets are a combination of sustainably repurposed materials, precious metals, and rare celestial elements forged by the hands of expert craftsmen. The resulting masterpieces bring form, fashion and function to an everyday accessory. The only wallet of its kind, each piece features a sophisticatedly restrained design with an artistic lean towards cubism and futurism ensuring no two wallets are the same. After completing an invitation-only pre-sale launch in Fall of 2021, Bejetis inaugural series (including CELESTIAL, ELEMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL lines) is now available to trendsetters around the globe. While art and fashion are constantly evolving, wallets have remained relatively unchanged. That is until the mastermind behind Bejeti, Eduardo Sande, decided it was time for a change, and invented a new market of ultra-luxury wallets. We believe people are as unique as their fingerprint and our wallets are designed to showcase that type of individuality and expression, says Eduardo Sande, CEO and founder of Bejeti. Meteorite has become an increasingly sought-after material amongst luxury fashion designers. Now, Bejeti is pioneering its use in the luxury wallet industry. The meteorite wallet is exclusive to the PLANETESIMAL series, and is currently limited to eight wallets. For fans of rare metals like Damascus steel, Titanium Damascus and hand-forged Mosaic Damascus steel, there are the HEPHAESTUS, the number22 and ARTIFICER models. For the planet-conscientious luxury connoisseurs, the CASPIAN and ENDURVINA offer chic crafted pieces reborn from oceans polluted with polystyrene plastics, instantaneously reinventing pollution into timeless works of art. As a first-generation Uruguayan immigrant, I grew up in a family who worked with their hands to build, craft and bend materials to our will. Bejeti wallets are a culmination of my love for both art and engineering and my insatiable desire for entrepreneurship. We know there are people who relish rarity, ingenuity, luxury and sustainability and our wallets bring all of these together to truly commemorate personal achievement through design and stature, says Sande. Every collection of Bejeti luxury wallets features a money clip, durable silicone bands and a signature triangular notch for ease of card access. They also include a multi-layered counterfeit prevention system and certificate of authentication. Each masterpiece is imbued with the striking characteristics of the materials it was crafted from, creating a singular artistic experience worthy of all who carry it. Sneakers, watches, even cars have become collectable pieces of art, and Bejeti wallets are no different, said Sande. I wanted to bring that same spirit of invention and creativity forward, and challenge the idea that personal accessories are confined to traditional materials like animal hides. Bejeti gives people the chance to carry their own piece of art with them, wherever they go. Bejeti wallets are sold exclusively online with free worldwide shipping. All models are currently available, including the PLANETESIMAL ($29,500), HEPHAESTUS ($6,300), number22 ($7,222), ARTIFICER ($11,500), and the CASPIAN and ENDURVINA ($1,900). To learn more about Bejeti wallets, visit www.Bejeti.com. About Bejeti BEJETI wallets are obsessively designed to be one-of-a-kind works of functional art. Handcrafted in the USA, Bejetis experts transform rare elements and celestial materials through uncompromising processing techniques to fully express their natural beauty. Each wallet is a tribute to form, to function and to perfection. Check out Bejeti on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. ### Attachments Source: Bejeti Solar panels are seen at the Desert Stateline project near Nipton, California, U.S. August 16, 2021. Picture taken August 16, 2021. REUTERS/Bridget Bennett By Jarrett Renshaw and Nichola Groom WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House is considering extending Trump-era tariffs on solar power imports, but with a handful of tweaks to make it easier for domestic installers to access supplies, according to two sources familiar with the administration's thinking. The plan represents an attempt by U.S. President Joe Biden's administration to find common ground between two important political constituencies: union labor, which supports import restrictions to protect domestic jobs, and clean energy developers keen to access overseas supplies that are cheaper than U.S.-made goods. Former President Donald Trump had imposed a four-year tariff regime on solar imports in 2018, starting at 30% and declining to 15% in the final year, in a bid to create U.S. solar manufacturing jobs. They had been set to expire on Feb. 6, but several domestic solar manufacturers last year sought the extension arguing their products were still unable to compete with overseas-made goods, mainly from China, that dominate the U.S. market. The White House is now considering extending the tariffs on solar panels and cells. But its plan would double the amount of cells that can be imported before the levies kick in to 5 gigawatts per year from 2.5, the sources said. The United States typically imports far less than 5 GW per year of cells. The plan would also exclude, bifacial solar panels, which can generate electricity on both sides and are used in utility-scale projects, the sources said. It would likely be extended by four years, in line with a reccomendation from the Internatioal Trade Commission. The Trump administration in 2019 had sought to temper its solar levies by excluding bifacial panels but then reversed course a year later to include them again. That triggered litigation by the solar manufacturing industry that resulted in their exclusion again in November of last year. The White House declined to comment. Administration officials who asked not to be named told Reuters that no decision had been made yet, but that trade protections were likely. The U.S. government used it authority under section 201 of the 1974 trade act to impose the tariffs. "The Administration is clear that regardless of the 201 decision, it will maintain strong trade remedies on solar and other products imported from China," the source said George Hershman, chief executive of SOLV Energy, the nations largest utility-scale solar installer, urged the Biden Administration on Thursday to end the tariffs. The Section 201 solar tariffs have cost American workers thousands of jobs at a time when we cant afford to slow down Americas clean energy transformation," he said. (Editing by Richard ValdmanisEditing by Alexandra Hudson and Bill Berkrot) TICKERS: LIO; LOMLF; LLO; LY1 Source: Clive Maund (1/25/22) Technical Analyst Clive Maund dissects Lion One's stock chart and explains why he sees this to be a "great buy spot" for the company's stock. Although Lion One Metals Ltd. (LIO:TSX.V; LOMLF:OTCQX; LLO:ASX; LY1:FSE) hasnt done much since we nibbled at it back in September, aware that it could continue the basing process, its technical condition has certainly improved to the point that a new bull market is looking much more likely soon, and it just so happens that during the night the company came out with impressive drill results that are thought likely to get the stock moving today, especially as the pressure is coming off the sector after yesterdays dramatic reversal in the broad stock market. Whilst Lion Ones performance in recent months doesnt look impressive on its 6-month chart, as it has basically continued to bump along sideways above an important support level, when we look more closely we can see technical evidence that a new bull market in the stock is brewing. "This is a great buy spot for Lion One." The first bullish point to note is the high volume rally in November that drove the price into the still falling 200-day moving average. This move is regarded as a preliminary breakout, and it was not surprising to see the price give back the gains due to the still unfavorable alignment of moving averages; however, the price and moving averages are now starting to bunch together in a manner that often leads to a breakout into a new bull market, and todays news out of the company may well be the catalyst that triggers the breakout. Another bullish point to note is that there was not much downside volume on the reaction back from the November high, which is a reason why the Accumulation line has held up well on the reaction, which also bodes well. Lastly, yesterdays candle at the support was positive as it accompanied by a marked increase in upside volume that drove the Accumulation line higher despite the stock closing down on the day. The 3-year chart shows the entirety of the correction from the August 2020 high and we can see how it had run its course by last June, since which time it has been bumping along sideways above the strong support level shown marking out what looks more and more like a base pattern that will lead to a new bull market. The increasingly tight bunching of price and moving averages is more evident on this chart and as mentioned above this is a potent setup that often leads to a breakout, with the recent lack of interest shown by the generally light volume another positive factor, since Smart Money tends to buy when the mobs attention is elsewhere. The conclusion is that this is a great buy spot for Lion One, as in addition to the excellent drilling results out today, there was a dramatic reversal in the broad stock market yesterday (maybe the Fed just created another trillion) and a parallel reversal in the precious metals sector with a bullish candle (dragonfly doji) appearing on the GDX chart. While the price is obviously likely to be positively affected by the news, it will probably take a while to filter through to many investors, some of whom may still be shuffling around in their carpet slippers with a bowl of Cheerios having stayed in bed with the wife. So with a bit of luck we can do some buying in the early trade before the price gets moving in earnest. Lion One is rated a strong buy here for all timeframes and not regarded as particularly speculative. There is an interesting new article on Lion One in Streetwise Reports. Lion One Metals website. Lion One Metals Ltd, LIO.V, LOMLF on OTC, closed at C$1.01, $0.79 on 24th January 22. Posted on CliveMaund.com at 9.05 am EST on 25th January 22. Clive Maund has been president of www.clivemaund.com, a successful resource sector website, since its inception in 2003. He has 30 years' experience in technical analysis and has worked for banks, commodity brokers and stockbrokers in the City of London. He holds a Diploma in Technical Analysis from the UK Society of Technical Analysts. [NLINSERT] Disclosure: 1) Clive Maund: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: None. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: None. CliveMaund.com disclosures below. 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Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this interview, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Lion One Metals, a company mentioned in this article. Charts provided by the author. CliveMaund.com Disclosures: The above represents the opinion and analysis of Mr. Maund, based on data available to him, at the time of writing. Mr. Maund's opinions are his own, and are not a recommendation or an offer to buy or sell securities. Mr. Maund is an independent analyst who receives no compensation of any kind from any groups, individuals or corporations mentioned in his reports. As trading and investing in any financial markets may involve serious risk of loss, Mr. Maund recommends that you consult with a qualified investment advisor, one licensed by appropriate regulatory agencies in your legal jurisdiction and do your own due diligence and research when making any kind of a transaction with financial ramifications. Although a qualified and experienced stock market analyst, Clive Maund is not a Registered Securities Advisor. Therefore Mr. Maund's opinions on the market and stocks can only be construed as a solicitation to buy and sell securities when they are subject to the prior approval and endorsement of a Registered Securities Advisor operating in accordance with the appropriate regulations in your area of jurisdiction. YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan Henry is 4 years old and needs a lift to New Mexico. Henrys trouble is hes overweight so much so that he fails to qualify for a seat on the Patriot Express, the government-contracted air service between the United States and its overseas military bases. Hes a 145-pound Great Dane whose owners, Senior Airman Avaunte Frizzell, 22, and his spouse, Josie Hayward, 21, have started a GoFundMe page to raise the $15,000 they need to ship him back to the States. The natives of Lake George, Mich., are moving to Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, N.M., in February. Their campaign, Help ship our baby with us had raised $1,285 as of Friday in Japan. "I refuse to leave him here," said Frizzell, a flight propulsion journeyman at Yokota. "We don't have any kids. He is our pride and joy. That is all we have, and we don't plan on having kids for a while. And for him, he is big enough to be two kids. It is something we refuse to do." Their options are limited. In March 2020, the coronavirus pandemic prompted United Airlines to suspend its PetSafe program, with the exception of a route between Guam and Honolulu, until further notice. The program ships dogs and cats that cant safely ride in an airplanes cabin. The Patriot Express, also called the Rotator, is the most affordable option. It charges a sliding scale based on the combined weight of the pet and its carrier. Under 70 pounds costs $116; 71 to 140 pounds is $232; and 141 to 150 pounds is $348. The combined weight of a pet and kennel cannot exceed 150 pounds, according to the Air Mobility Command website. Pets over the limit will not be accepted for shipment. Frizzell said the Air Force should consider waivers for large pets, the way it charges for overweight bags. "There is no waiver around the weight limit, yet you can take oversized bags, and pay extra for them," Frizzell said. "My dog (with the kennel) only weighs 40 pounds over the limit; I'll pay for that. It is already coming out of our own pockets to get them there anyways, so why not let us cover the extra cost?" At a dead end, the couple looked for options. Hayward said many shippers wont even consider Henry because of his size. All Nippon Airways quoted the couple a budget-busting $30,000, they said. Searching further, they found Third Side, a small pet consultation company in Japan that wants $15,000 to ship Henry stateside. The couple has already spent $3,000 for a custom crate, Frizzell said. They hesitated to start a GoFundMe campaign, he said, because they recognize the financial burden is their responsibility. But, after running out of options, they decided to reach out for help. "We are trying to do as much as possible to come out of this even, or a little under, other than 20 grand in the hole," said Frizzell. Rachael Blanks, a military spouse at Yokota and the couples friend, donated $20 to the GoFundMe campaign to help Henry stay with his family. I donated because the military doesnt have sufficient support in place for members large pets, Blanks told Stars and Stripes via Facebook Messenger on Friday. Its sad that a GoFundMe was even needed, but I was happy to support a sweet friend in bringing a member of their family back home with them. Henry is worth the expense, Frizzell and Hayward said. They adopted him two years ago from his previous owner, who planned to drop Henry off at an animal shelter. He had already been through three families," Hayward said. So, we adopted him. I talked him (Frizzell) into it because he didn't want him at first. We had to put our previous dog down because he was sick, so he really didn't want another dog, but I talked him into it." Henry has taught them an important lesson, Frizzell said. "Out of all of this, yes, it has been stressful, but it shows our drive," he said. "We have surprised ourselves on what we have accomplished in such a short amount of time. Also, it kept our priorities straight on what's important to us." Command Sgt. Maj. Jeremiah Inman has returned to the U.S. Armys European footprint as the senior enlisted leader for the service in Europe and Africa. Inman, who recently served in Afghanistan, took the reins Friday from Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Abernethy at U.S. Army Europe and Africa, headquartered in Wiesbaden, Germany. Inman also previously served as the former U.S. Army Africas command sergeant major in Vicenza, Italy. Abernethy will become the senior enlisted leader for U.S. European Command at Patch Barracks in Stuttgart, Germany. If there is any success that we found in the last few years, a lot of that is due to Rob Abernethy, Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the commander of USAREUR-AF said Friday during the ceremony in Wiesbaden. He has made this command stronger. USAREUR-AF has approximately 73,000 soldiers throughout its area of responsibility, which consists of 104 countries. Abernethy spent almost four years at USAREUR-AF, having assumed the senior enlisted duties in April 2018. Moscow, February 1992: Russian riot police try to maintain order at a pro-Communist rally near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Red Square. Before the day was over, 10 police officers and several demonstrators were injured in clashes that were described as the most violent since the fall of the Soviet Union. The demonstration, sparked by a rapid decline in living conditions, was witnessed by a Stars and Stripes team that was in Moscow to talk with recipients of American food aid brought in by U.S. military airlifts. I sometimes feel disconnected from military spouses, since my husband retired from the Navy five years ago. As a veteran spouse, I no longer endure PCS moves and deployments, which are cornerstones of active-duty life, affecting everything from childrens education to mental well-being, to finances and marriage. Now, when I write about these issues, I research what todays active-duty spouses go through. However, there is one milspouse matter that affected me in such a profound way, my life has been forever changed The military spouse unemployment problem. Simply put, marrying a Navy man killed my career as an attorney. I tried to keep it alive for many years by getting two licenses, faithfully reading legal reviews, paying my student loans and bar dues and taking part-time research jobs. One year, I mustered the courage to ask the local DA if hed allow me to volunteer at his office while I studied for the Virginia bar exam. As milspouse luck would have it, that was the same month my husband informed me he was deploying for a year. When he got home, we moved overseas. The life support plug got pulled, and my litigation career took its last breath. Stories like mine are powerful proof that the military spouse unemployment rate, which has stubbornly stagnated at 22% (seven times the national average) for more than a decade, is a crisis. Milspouse unemployment and underemployment contributes significantly to force retention, financial stresses and a host of other military concerns. However, the National Military Spouse Network (NMSN) has released its 2022 White Paper, The Military Spouse Employment Dilemma: The Multi-Million Dollar Question That No One Is Asking ... Until Now, indicating that, despite an abundance of anecdotal evidence, there is a lack of urgency among military leaders and politicians to effect true change. The Paper contains a chart outlining 16 federal programs, initiatives and hiring incentives addressing military spouse unemployment. However, data shows these programs have been ineffective. Although they help spouses find employment, spouses often cant retain those jobs through subsequent PCS moves, making them less likely to advance and qualify for retirement benefits. In the past, just finding a spouse any job was the problem. Now, its finding a spouse a career they can grow and keep, the Paper explains. Clearly, anecdotal evidence is not enough. If we are brave enough to share our stories, then we should be bold enough to offer solutions, Sue Hoppin, Air Force veteran spouse and founder and president of NMSN, told me in a recent interview. Although Sue has seen a sincere willingness on Capitol Hill to listen to spouses unemployment stories in recent years, she said they wont act unless military spouses offer answers. Its our responsibility, Sue explained. As such, the Paper lists clear recommendations for the DoD, including establishing data-based metrics measuring the bottom-line effectiveness of employment programs, creating milspouse employment lifecycle maps to identify problem phases and promoting awareness of existing employment programs. NMSN started publishing White Papers [in 2019] to provide solutions, one of which has been signed into law. Together, weve figured out how to be more strategic about military spouse unemployment issues, Sue said. I asked about Sues own career path. A well-educated daughter of a USAID contractor, Sue aspired to attend law school and pursue her own diplomatic goals. But then, I met my Air Force husband, she said, soon finding herself a stay-at-home military mom on McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kan. Volunteering offered Sue work with paid child care, but she struggled to find meaningful employment after each move. After attending graduate school, Sue thought her impressive education, volunteer experiences and fluency in several languages would finally land her a good job. No one really cared, she said, telling the all-too-familiar tale of military spouse unemployment. Fortunately, Sue found her calling in 2010, when she founded NMSN. Ever diplomatic, Sue concluded, We cant just share our problems, we have to offer our leaders opportunities to help us. Undiplomatically, I say, our leaders better take action, or they can take their lip service and kiss my milspouse bottom line. Read more at themeatandpotatoesoflife.com, and in Lisas book, The Meat and Potatoes of Life: My True Lit Com. Email: meatandpotatoesoflife@gmail.com. CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea North Koreas state-run news agency on Friday said the regime successfully test-fired four missiles this week and pledged to keep developing powerful warheads. The practical combat performance of the long-range cruise missile system would hold a reliable share in boosting the war deterrence of the country, the Korean Central News Agency reported. North Korea launched two tactical guided missiles that struck an island target Thursday, its sixth round of weapons tests so far this month. It fired two cruise missiles on Tuesday, according to KCNA. South Koreas Ministry of National Defense reported Thursdays tests were short-range ballistic missiles that are prohibited by the U.N. Security Council. South Koreas military estimated those missiles flew a maximum 118 miles at an altitude of 12 miles, specifications that are below a previous ballistic missile test conducted Jan. 17. The military did not release detailed information on Tuesdays cruise missiles. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, which oversees all U.S. forces in the Pacific, said it was aware of North Korea's missile launches and was "consulting closely with our allies and partners." "While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies, the recent series of [North Korean] ballistic missile tests highlight the destabilizing impact of the ... illicit weapons program," the command said in a statement on Wednesday. The commander of U.S. Forces Korea, Army Gen. Paul LaCamera, met following the launches with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, South Korean air force Gen. Won In-choul, according to local media reports. LaCamera "routinely meets with Gen. Won, but their discussions are confidential to maintain operational security, candor, and maintain trust, USFK spokesman Col. Lee Peters told Stars and Stripes in an email to Stars and Stripes on Friday North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was not reported to have attended the missile tests. In a separate report, KCNA said he visited a munitions factory that was producing a major weapon system. The series of tests comes after KCNA called for the immediate bolstering of North Koreas military capabilities to confront hostile moves by the United States. The propaganda outlet on Jan. 19 echoed the regimes claim that its weapons program is purely for defensive purposes and is being developed in preparation for a long-term confrontation with the U.S. imperialists. U.S.-North Korean relations nose-dived this month after the U.S. Treasury Department slapped sanctions on six North Koreans, a Russian and a Russian firm suspected of aiding Pyongyangs weapons program. U.N. representatives from the U.S., Albania, Brazil, France, Ireland, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom also condemned this months launches. [North Koreas] unlawful behavior is a threat to international peace and security, said a joint statement issued Jan. 20. These launches demonstrate the regimes determination to pursue weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs at all costs, including at the expense of its own people. Meanwhile, the U.S. on Wednesday signaled its willingness to negotiate with North Korea without preconditions. We have made it very clear to Pyongyang: We will go anywhere, we will talk about anything, there are no reservations we have, Mark Lambert, deputy assistant secretary of state for Japan and South Korea, said during a panel discussion hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. We have to have a serious discussion about the denuclearization of North Korea, and if North Korea is willing to do that, all sorts of promising things can happen. YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan Approximately 500 airborne troops from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force teamed up recently with 300 U.S. airmen for Airborne 22, a jump and cargo drop from this base in western Tokyo. The exercise is the biggest static-line personnel jump and cargo drop by the United States and Japan, according to base spokesman Staff Sgt. Juan Torres Chardron. Airborne 22 demonstrates the Ground Self-Defense Forces ability to insert troops anywhere in Japan, said a statement attributed to Capt. Jordan Baab, a 36th Airlift Squadron C-130J pilot and an Airborne 22 mission commander, that was emailed to Stars and Stripes on Thursday. The operation took place Tuesday and Wednesday. Thirteen Air Force C-130J Super Hercules flew the Japanese paratroopers and cargo loads from Yokota to a drop zone at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji. Airmen dropped 120 supply bundles for Self-Defense troops at six points on the ground to support those firing positions, Baab said. The simulated cargo consisted of fuel, water, food and different types of ammunition. The 1st Airborne Brigade of the Self-Defense Force, along with the 36th Airlift Squadron, 374th Maintenance Group and 374th Operations Support Squadron at Yokota and the 39th and 40th Airlift Squadrons from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, took part in Airborne 22. This is a proof of concept that the tactics, techniques and procedures that we practice and train every day actually play into effect and work pretty well, Capt. Audrey Crismon, a pilot with the 39th Airlift Squadron and an Airborne 22 mission commander, said in the statement. No matter where we are, who are working with. Baab said the Air Force first took part in the airborne exercise last year, and planning by both services for this years event started in November. Supporting Airborne 22 provides the 36th AS an opportunity for us to maintain our readiness while supporting our international partners in the region and building a baseline for future operations, he said. We have a lot of players in the region, and this exercise shows the U.S. Air Forces ability to support large-scale operations with our local partners. A Maryland-based company has been awarded a $38.8 million Navy contract to lay and repair transoceanic cables that carry information vital and mundane for the U.S. Defense Department. The Navy gave the contract to the Transoceanic Cable Ship Co. LLC of Baltimore, for work on submarine cables around the world, the Pentagon announced in a news release Jan. 18. This agreement is an option in an underlying contract with Transoceanic from 2018. The contract may be extended up to three years and 11 months, making it worth as much as $205 million, according to the announcement. Work is expected to be complete by Dec. 22, 2023. Under the contract terms, Transoceanic will do the work with the cable-laying vessel CS Global Sentinel. The 31-year-old ship is the property of oceanic cable company Tyco Telecommunication of Morristown, N.J., and is based in Baltimore, according to Nauticapedia.com. The vessel has laid cable all over the world, including work on the Trans Pacific Cable in 1990. Underwater telecommunications cables are vital global links, sometimes called information superhighways. A representative for Transoceanic Cable Ship did not return emails sent Monday by Stars and Stripes seeking further information. Commercial undersea cable communications carry over 97% of all intercontinental electronic communications, facilitating the reach and speed of internet and phone access critical to international trade, official government communications, and daily end user requirements, said a 2017 report by the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security. For the DOD, transoceanic cables are an important part of the Global Information Grid, the network that provides information on demand to warfighters, policy makers, and support personnel, and they play a role in the DODs ability to wage digital war on the internet, according to a 2010 report for Homeland Security by Michael Sechrist of the Harvard Kennedy School. The grid uses undersea communication cables to provide large segments of DOD personnel living and working overseas with fast, reliable and relatively cheap communication, Sechrist wrote. Nearly all government traffic, including sensitive diplomatic and military orders, travels these cables to reach officials in the field, according to his report. Although undersea cables could be targeted by adversaries in a future conflict, the most common threat today is accidental physical damage from commercial fishing and shipping, or even from underwater earthquakes, according to a Center for Strategic and International Studies report in June by Pierre Morcos and Colin Wall. Those factors are responsible for about 150 to 200 subsea cable faults every year, they wrote. It can be a heavy blow to the DOD if the cables are damaged, Sechrist said. The department lost 60% of its commercial and military connectivity due to cable breaks in December 2008. One result was a significant loss in video footage recorded by military drones and transmitted via undersea cable. This resulted in a decline in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle flights, also known as drones, Sechrist wrote, which dropped from in the hundreds to the tens during the cable breaks. 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. TOKYO COVID-19 continued to hold sway in Japans capital city on Friday, posting a one-day record of new coronavirus infections for a fourth day in a row. Tokyo confirmed 17,631 new cases, nearly 1,100 more than the previous day, according to public broadcaster NHK. Nearly half, 44.4%, of hospital beds set aside for COVID-19 patients in the city were filled Thursday, slightly more than the previous day. The number of seriously ill patients, 20, increased by two, NHK reported. Only 5.5% of the beds designated for those patients were occupied Thursday, according to metro government data. Tokyo, the surrounding three prefectures and nine others are under a public health emergency until Feb. 13 that essentially calls on restaurants and bars to close early and curtail alcohol sales. An emergency in 21 other prefectures, including Kyoto, Osaka and Okinawa, is scheduled to end Feb. 20. Japan on Thursday also set a new one-day record of 78,736 cases, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. Another 47 people died, still far below the one-day record of 217 coronavirus-related fatalities set May 16. Meanwhile, U.S. service members, civilian employees and their families headed into their third and possibly final weekend under a stringent set of restrictions aimed at reducing their contact with their Japanese neighbors. A stay-at-home order that started Jan. 10 and extended one week is scheduled to end Monday. U.S. Forces Japan on Friday reported another 271 COVID-19 cases at 15 U.S. installations across Japan and 13 pending confirmation. Thats 56 fewer cases than the previous days report. The Marine Corps Camp Hansen had the top spot Friday with 57 infections, followed by Kadena Air Base with 49. Both are on Okinawa. Yokosuka Naval Base, the 7th Fleets homeport south of Tokyo, came in third with 43. Yokosuka has 678 active cases, 27 more than a week ago, although no one is hospitalized, said a Friday post on the base Facebook page. Kadena reported 283 active cases as of Thursday, down from 314 the day before, according to updates on the base website. Okinawa prefecture said it confirmed another 1,073 infections Friday, along with 135 from the U.S. military community, according to the prefectural Department of Public Health and Medical Care. Sasebo Naval Base on Kyushu Island announced via its Facebook page 17 new COVID-19 cases Friday and 208 active infections. None are hospitalized. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni on Friday reported six new cases since its last report the previous day, according to a base news release. The stay-at-home order is keeping the U.S. military population on their installations or in their off-base homes, except for essential services like doctors visits and grocery shopping. A separate curfew keeps them off the streets between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Fingers crossed the restrictions dont get extended, Steven Holt, 53, a contractor for University of Maryland Global Campus at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, said Friday on the Yokota Community Facebook page. Holt, a retired Air Force master sergeant from Rochelle Park, N.J., wrote in a message to Stars and Stripes that he just wants to get out and do some traveling with his family. I would also understand if it has to be extended for everyones safety, he wrote. I have been here 18 years and will never leave. So, I have time. I feel bad for those who arrived when this all started and may leave without being able to really explore this beautiful country. Yokota spouse Heather Nason answered Holts Facebook post with: Im over being grounded. The whole situation is unfair, she wrote in a message to Stars and Stripes. I used to work in healthcare before we moved to Japan so I understand how dangerous this virus can be, but this virus is also here to stay, much like the flu. For people to risk so much to protect our freedom, we sure have lost our freedom. Stars and Stripes reporter Mari Higa contributed to this report. MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his call for lasting, legally binding security guarantees from the United States and NATO in a phone call Friday with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, the Kremlin said, after a top Russian official threatened that Russia would retaliate if its demands were not met. Putin warned Macron that further NATO expansion was unacceptable to Russia, saying that United States and NATOs responses to Russias demands did not take into account Russias key security concerns, the Kremlin said. Both Washington and NATO ruled out ending NATOs open-door membership policy in the responses handed to Moscow on Wednesday. But Putin told Macron he would study the documents carefully and agreed to keep in close contact with the French president, the Kremlin said, leaving the door open to further diplomatic efforts. Macrons search for a diplomatic solution came amid Western alarm that Putin may launch a new attack on Ukraine in the wake of a massive Russian military buildup near Ukraine. Putin repeated some of Russias other key demands, notably that NATO remove its military equipment and forces from former Soviet and Warsaw Pact countries and agree not to deploy missiles close to Russias borders, the Kremlin said. There were no signs Macron managed to persuade Putin to deescalate or pull back Russian forces and equipment massed near Ukraine. After the call, Putin met with members of the Russian Security Council. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would retaliate if its demands for a halt to NATO expansion were not met. He said the decision would be made by Putin. Speaking on Russian radio, Lavrov ruled out a war if it depends on the Russian Federation, even as the countrys warships conducted live firing exercises in the Black Sea amid a massive military buildup near Ukraine. But he said there was no room for compromise on Russias key demands, which include an ultimatum that the United States and NATO permanently bar Ukraine from joining the Western alliance. Washington and its allies have rejected that demand. As U.S. officials warn that Russia could attack Ukraine at any time, Putin has a choice of either accepting the few compromises offered by the West, or launching a war that would devastate Ukraine and trigger sweeping sanctions designed to cripple Russias economy. The crisis is a major test of President Joe Bidens presidency as Putin challenges Washingtons dominance of transatlantic security, dragging the administrations eyes away from core security concerns in China. Diplomatic talks between the West and Russia over the Ukrainian crisis have failed to persuade the Kremlin to deescalate, with Russian officials repeating that Moscow has no plans to attack Ukraine. French officials said before the call that Macron would seek clarification from Putin on the aim of the military buildup near Ukraine. The situation is very serious, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on RTL radio Friday morning. But for the moment, we believe that the dialogue can still develop and this is the objective of the conversation that President Macron will have with President Putin today. Russia has insisted that Washington and NATO accept all its main demands. Lavrov said Friday the Wests proposals contained some positive elements, but only on issues of secondary concern to Moscow. Lavrov said Russia was willing to hold a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Russia not the trilateral meeting with Biden present that Zelenskyy recently called for. He said any meeting would be limited to bilateral relations and ruled out discussions about the war in eastern Ukraine, where Russia has backed pro-Kremlin separatists since 2014 and has issued more than 500,000 passports to Ukrainians in recent years. Lavrov said that Western sanctions designed to cut Russia off from the worlds financial system would be equivalent to severing all diplomatic ties. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the U.S. and NATO responses to Russia, written in coordination with Ukraine, set out a serious diplomatic path forward. But the Kremlin may not budge from its desire for a grand bargain, while NATO has said it will maintain an open-door policy for potential members. There was little optimism that Macrons phone call would make a decisive difference throughout his five-year term, his diplomatic initiatives have so far yielded limited results. Just this week, four-way talks involving Paris, Berlin, Moscow and Kyiv ended without a deal, though the parties agreed to resume face-to-face talks in two weeks. You have to place it in a broader context of a president who tries and often fails to solve crises, said Bruno Tertrais, deputy director of Frances Foundation for Strategic Research. Shaky diplomacy continues, which is the only option we have, said Marie Mendras, a French political scientist at the Paris Institute of Political Studies who focuses on Russia. On Thursday, U.S. officials again sought to consolidate support in Europe. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held his first phone call with his counterpart in Romania, a NATO member near Ukraine. And in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden pledged more financial and diplomatic support, while reaffirming that Washington would respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine, according to a White House readout. Zelenskyy expressed hope that the United States would take further steps to enhance defense cooperation, his office said. On the same day, the Pentagon said for the first time that elements of the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, XVIII Airborne Corps and the 4th Infantry Division were among the 8,500 troops put on high alert ahead of a possible deployment to Eastern Europe. The Russian threat to Ukraine has also helped unify the West in a way that is potentially surprising to the Kremlin, said Tara Varma, head of the European Council on Foreign Relations Paris office. I dont think Russia takes Europe seriously when it comes to military issues, and they thought that it would be very easy to destabilize the continent. One notable crack in the Western response includes diverging energy interests between Germany and other European Union members. The continent depends on Russia for about 40% of its natural gas needs, and Berlin has been working to set up Nord Stream 2, a major pipeline that would carry Russian gas to the German coast. Many fear that the activation of the pipeline would increase German dependence on Russia. And Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday that he wanted to increase gas supplies to his country from Russia, according to Reuters. Budapest is a NATO member, though Orban has closer ties to Putin than other alliance leaders. Nearly half of every dollar spent on brand medicine goes to middlemen like insurance companies, PBMs, the government and others. Learn about whats missing from the drug pricing legislation and why we must fix it so middlemen share these savings with patients. Germany has also been scorned by Ukraine and some other allies for refusing to send defensive weapons, instead choosing to provide the beleaguered country with 5,000 helmets. But Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, one of the more hawkish members of the German government, told lawmakers Thursday that Berlin would be open to scrapping the Nord Stream 2 project as part of a broad range of potential punitive measures in the event Russia renews its aggression against Ukraine. The remarks came after U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price declared that Nord Stream 2 would not proceed if Russia launched an attack. Ukraines security service announced Friday it had arrested a Russian spy in Kyiv who had been feeding information to Russias security services. Meanwhile, ordinary Ukrainians are preparing for the worst. Oleksiy Bida, a 47-year-old graphic designer, has been training as a reservist member of the 130th defense battalion for the past two years. He said he had long been a committed pacifist, but Russian threats have changed the equation. I thought that any conflict could be resolved through peaceful means, he said. But I dont believe that anymore not with Russia. Jeong reported from Seoul. Noack reported from Paris. The Washington Posts Missy Ryan in Washington, Loveday Morris in Berlin and David L. Stern in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. NAPLES, Italy NATO activity in the Black Sea region has become less frequent since Moscows takeover of the Crimean Peninsula nearly eight years ago, sparking concerns that the West is falling short in checking further Russian ambitions in the strategically critical waterway. A Stars and Stripes analysis of the data revealed that despite NATO rhetoric about a stepped-up presence in the Black Sea, the trend has gone in the opposite direction. The U.S. Navy has shouldered most of the burden for patrolling the Black Sea. The number of days its warships spend annually in the strategic waterway mostly has fallen since 2014, when Kremlin forces seized Crimea from Ukraine. The area could soon become a flashpoint again as Russian ships transit eastward through the Mediterranean Sea, while its forces on land surround Ukraine. Navy patrols, military drills and port calls are critical in sending a deterrent signal to Russia, military and security experts say. (With) the Black Sea specifically, so much of deterrence and dealing with other nations geopolitically has do with presence, said Jim Townsend, a fellow at the Center for a New American Security in Washington and a former Defense Department undersecretary for European and NATO policy. If youre not there one way or another, then the assumption is you dont care about it. U.S. ships spent about 210 collective days in the sea in 2014, a Stars and Stripes analysis of data from the Istanbul-based ship-watching website Turkishnavy.net found. Two years later, that number was about 58 days. Stars and Stripes compared the U.S. ship data with Navy press releases and news reports, finding rare variances of a day or two. U.S. warships had not spent more than about 126 days in the sea annually since 2016 until last year, when tensions rose along the Ukrainian-Russian border. In 2021, about 12 Navy ships, including the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship Mount Whitney, spent some 182 collective days in the Black Sea. Thats still 15% less time than they spent there seven years earlier. The Black Sea falls under the operations area of U.S. 6th Fleet, which did not respond to a request for comment after being sent the data. In a Nov. 25 news release announcing that the destroyer USS Arleigh Burke was entering the Black Sea, 6th Fleet said the ships patrol would ensure security and stability in this vital international waterway. The Arleigh Burke spent about 21 days in the sea and made port calls in Constanta, Romania, and Varna, Bulgaria. Both countries are NATO members. Representation from a few other NATO countries has picked up in recent years but has been inconsistent. Alliance members Germany, Poland and Netherlands made intermittent Black Sea patrols from 2014 to 2021, the data show. Retired Adm. James G. Foggo III, who led U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Forces Command Naples from 2017-2020, said that it was frustrating to see wavering allied presence in the Black Sea, depending on what crisis or what tension is building up in any given (situation). The inconsistency is driven by competing security priorities among allies, a lack of available ships and resources, and the failure of NATO to devise and implement a strategy in the Black Sea, Foggo said. The result is an emboldened Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is orchestrating a stranglehold on Ukrainian ship traffic in the adjoining Sea of Azov and harassment of NATO ships in the Black Sea, said Foggo, now dean of the Arlington, Va.-based Center for Maritime Strategy. He and other analysts say that regardless of the outcome of the current situation in Ukraine, the U.S. must take the lead in developing a NATO Black Sea strategy. They advocate a nearly constant patrol presence in the sea, an increase in the number of surveillance operations and assistance to Ukraine in building up its naval capacity and capabilities. However, the burden for funding and implementing a strategy should not fall primarily to the U.S., said James R. Holmes, a professor at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. It's time for Europeans to turn those resources into diplomatic and military influence rather than continue depending on us to guarantee the region's security, Holmes said. We need to become an alliance of equals. In 2021, Spanish ships spent about 92 days in the Black Sea, according to the Stars and Stripes analysis. English ships spent some 61 days, and Italian ships spent about 52 days on patrol in the sea. Greece and France each made three Black Sea visits last year, and Germany appears to have sent none of its ships to the sea in 2021. One German warship did spend 11 days in the sea in 2020, the data show. Increasing presence would require creative thinking, Luke Coffey and Brent Sadler wrote in a May report from the Washington D.C.-based conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, which relied in part on the same data. NATO and its non-Black Sea members should invest in and help develop the maritime capabilities of the alliances Black Sea littoral states, such as Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, along with NATO partners Georgia and Ukraine, they wrote. They also recommended exploring ways to circumvent various restrictions on warships in the sea. Russias demands that U.S. and NATO troops leave the countries that once formed the Cold War-era Warsaw Pact have several nations on the Black Sea concerned about Moscows intentions, particularly in light of Russias massive military buildup along Ukraines borders. That is why it would be a mistake ever to ignore Russia, even while much of the U.S. security establishment has focused on China in recent years, analysts said. We are never going to be able to just turn our back, Foggo said. (The Russians) are always going to be there. KYIV - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday criticized Western nations, including the United States, for their handling of Russias military buildup at his border, taking aim at his most important security partners as his own military braced for a potential attack. The 44-year-old leader faulted the West for waiting to impose more damaging sanctions on Moscow - thats not the way to do it, Zelensky said - while assailing decisions by the United States, Britain and Australia to withdraw some embassy staff and families, and accusing Western leaders of inciting panic with repeated suggestions that an invasion was imminent. I cant be like other politicians who are grateful to the United States just for being the United States, Zelensky told reporters during a news conference here. As his country takes in billions of dollars of economic and military assistance from the West, Zelensky expressed frustration with the public assessments made by the United States and other allies who believe an incursion is increasingly likely, and he appeared to criticize President Joe Biden directly for statements earlier this week indicating Russian forces could advance on Ukraine as soon as next month. These signals have come even from respected world leaders, who speak openly and with undiplomatic language. They say simply tomorrow there will be war. This is panic, he said. Zelenskys criticisms have rankled and confused U.S. officials, who have tried to project an image of Western unity in support of Ukraine. Russia has deployed more than 100,000 troops along with tanks and heavy artillery across large sections of the border while denying any intention to invade. Zelensky said satellite imagery alone was not sufficient to assess the Kremlins objectives. Were grateful to the United States for its constant support of our sovereignty and territorial integrity, Zelensky said. But I am the Ukrainian president. Im located here. I know . . . deeper details than any president. Kyivs concerns about causing a panic came as the Biden administration continued to broadcast an ominous outlook about Ukraine. At the Pentagon, Gen. Mark. A Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, predicted a catastrophe if Russia follows through on a major invasion. Given the type of forces that are arrayed - the ground maneuver forces, the artillery, the ballistic missiles, the air forces, all of it packaged together - if that was unleashed on Ukraine, it would be significant. Very significant, Milley said. It would result in a significant amount of casualties, and you can imagine what that might look like in dense urban areas, along roads, and so on and so forth. It would be horrific. It would be terrible, he added. The U.S. military has issued prepare to deploy orders to 8,500 personnel, including Army combat units and elite paratroopers, who could be called upon to augment NATOs rapid response force and help enhance security in areas of Eastern Europe that remain vulnerable. As of Friday none had been sent overseas, with defense officials expressing their hope for a diplomatic resolution. But efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully continued to falter. Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his call for lasting, legally binding security guarantees from the United States and NATO in a phone call with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, the Kremlin said, after a top Russian official threatened that Russia would retaliate if its demands were not met. Putin warned Macron that further NATO expansion was unacceptable to Russia, saying that the United States and NATOs response to Russias demands did not take into account Russias key security concerns, the Kremlin said. Russia also has called on the alliance to withdraw military personnel and weapons from the region. It was Putins first conversation with a Western leader since Wednesday when Washington and NATO formally rejected Russias red line on NATO expansion. The Russian leader showed no sign of blinking in the face of transatlantic unity over NATOs open-door policy and the rights of Ukraine and other nations to choose their own alliances. He complained that Western leaders were ignoring Russias concerns. Both Washington and NATO ruled out ending NATOs open-door membership policy in a formal written communication delivered to Moscow this week. But Putin told Macron he would study the documents carefully and agreed to keep in close contact with the French president, the Kremlin said, leaving the door open to further diplomatic efforts. A French government official said the tone of the call, which lasted for over an hour, was serious but respectful. Unsurprisingly, the Russian President reiterated the Russian vision of the current situation, the official continued. In response, Macron told Putin that Russia needs to respect the essential principle of state sovereignty to ensure security in Europe, the official said. There were no signs Macron managed to persuade Putin to de-escalate or pull back Russian forces and equipment massed near Ukraine. After the call, Putin met with members of the Russian Security Council. Despite the setbacks, the Biden administration continues to seek a diplomatic solution in an array of international forums. On Monday, the United States will square off with Russia at the United Nations Security Council, a meeting requested by Washington. In New York, the Biden administration hopes to rally the councils support for Ukraines territorial integrity, an exercise U.S. officials are calling preventative diplomacy aimed at forestalling war. This is a really important opportunity for all the worlds powers to be on record about whether they see a path forward for diplomacy or whether they would prefer to see a path towards conflict, a senior State Department official told reporters Friday, speaking on the condition of anonymity under guidelines set by the administration. Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would retaliate if its demands for a halt to NATO expansion were not met. He said the decision would be made by Putin. Speaking on Russian radio, Lavrov ruled out a war if it depends on the Russian Federation, even as the countrys warships conducted live firing exercises in the Black Sea. But he said there was no room for compromise on Russias key demands. U.S. officials have warned that Russia would face devastating sanctions designed to cripple its economy if its forces attack Ukraine. Lavrov said any effort to cut Russia off from the worlds financial system would be equivalent to severing all diplomatic ties. The crisis is a major test of the Biden administration as Putin challenges Washingtons dominance of transatlantic security, dragging the administrations eyes away from core security concerns in China. Putin has numerous options available to him, including the seizure of Ukrainian cities, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during remarks alongside Milley on Friday. Russia, he added, also could carry out provocative actions like recognizing new breakaway territories or manufacturing pretexts for invasion. President Biden has ruled out U.S. troops fighting in Ukraine, where roughly 200 American personnel are among a small contingent of Western forces providing training for the Ukrainian military, but Austin declined to rule out the military getting involved in an evacuation of U.S. citizens should that become necessary. Lavrov, the foreign minister, said Moscow was willing to hold a bilateral meeting with Zelensky in Russia - not the trilateral meeting with Biden present that Zelensky recently called for. He said any meeting would be limited to bilateral relations and ruled out discussions about the war in eastern Ukraine, where Russia has backed pro-Kremlin separatists since 2014 and has issued more than 500,000 passports to Ukrainians in recent years. Zelensky has rejected a meeting in Russia, citing Lavrovs refusal to discuss the war in eastern Ukraine. On Friday, the Ukrainian leader called Russias military buildup dangerous, saying that any attack would lead to a horrible war and asking why Moscow felt it needed to deploy so many troops and conduct military exercises so close to Ukraines border. Why are you doing this? Zelensky said. To threaten us? What is this sadomasochism? What is the pleasure of this, of someone being afraid. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the U.S. and NATO responses to Russias demands, written in coordination with Ukraine, set out a serious diplomatic path forward. But the Kremlin may not budge from its desire for a grand bargain. There was never much optimism that Macrons phone call would make a decisive difference - throughout his five-year term, his diplomatic initiatives have so far yielded limited results. Just this week, four-way talks involving Paris, Berlin, Moscow and Kyiv ended without a deal, though the parties agreed to resume face-to-face talks in two weeks. Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday agreed to work together to ensure Europes energy security, should Moscow block supplies in retaliation for any Western sanctions. The Kremlin, which has sought to leverage any signs of disunity in Europe, announced Friday that Putin would hold a joint news conference Tuesday with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Orban told local radio that he would be asking Putin to increase gas supplies to Budapest. In September, Hungary, which is both a member of the European Union and NATO, signed a 15-year-deal with Russian gas giant Gazprom for 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year - around half of the countrys supply. The deal was sharply criticized by EU leaders and Kyiv, with the new gas flowing through a route that bypasses Ukraine. Orban has closer ties to Putin than other alliance leaders. Ukraines security service announced Friday it had arrested a Russian spy in Kyiv who had been feeding information to Russias security services. Meanwhile, ordinary Ukrainians are preparing for the worst. Oleksiy Bida, a 47-year-old graphic designer, has been training as a reservist member of the 130th defense battalion for the past two years. He said he had long been a committed pacifist, but Russian threats have changed the equation. I thought that any conflict could be resolved through peaceful means, he said. But I dont believe that anymore - not with Russia. - - - Dixon reported from Moscow, Noack reported from Paris and Hudson reported from Washington. The Washington Posts Andrew Jeong in Seoul and Loveday Morris in Berlin contributed to this report. 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 (Tribune News Service) Anticipation of a fraught tax season is leading Democrats to consider more funding for the IRS to assist and educate taxpayers. While Democrats have focused heavily on ramping up enforcement to bring in more tax dollars, another filing period complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, new tax breaks meant to provide relief from the crisis and a lengthy backlog of unprocessed returns is putting the spotlight on years of stagnant funding for taxpayer services. Democrats proposed an infusion of $80 billion in extra funding for the IRS over the next decade including almost $3.2 billion for taxpayer services in the Senate version of their sweeping budget reconciliation bill. But that measures been held up amid intraparty discord over benefits and programs in the package. That leaves delayed fiscal 2022 appropriations as likely the fastest and surest way to infuse the department with more cash as lawmakers work across the aisle toward an omnibus spending bill. Theyre aiming to finish before temporary government funding runs out Feb. 18, though another short-term stopgap bill may be necessary. Maryland Democrat Chris Van Hollen, who leads the Senate Appropriations subcommittee responsible for the IRS budget, said the panel is considering funding for the agency above the $13.6 billion panel Democrats proposed in October. I would like to see taxpayer services get a bigger boost because of exactly the kind of backlog were in, Van Hollen said. The IRS had a backlog of more than 11.8 million unprocessed tax returns and 4.75 million pieces of taxpayer correspondence as of mid-December, according to the National Taxpayer Advocates Jan. 12 report. The vast majority of phone calls went unanswered and some returns were delayed for months, wrote National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins, who described 2021 as the most challenging tax year yet and predicted problems will persist. IRS staffing has fallen by about 17 percent since fiscal 2010 while the number of individual and business tax returns climbed by 13 percent, according to the report. Treasury officials have said the pandemic closed facilities, caused staff to take leave from their jobs and spurred new aid programs like advance monthly child tax credits and relief checks that put a bigger burden on the IRS. Collins primary recommendation to address the problem is a bigger IRS budget paired with more oversight. Center for Taxpayer Rights Executive Director Nina Olson, who served as taxpayer advocate for two decades, concurs. She said taxpayer services has been chronically underfunded, both due to politics and a poor job by the IRS forecasting their needs and advocating for more staff to answer phones and resolve errors. Along with a bigger budget, Olson said she wants to see the IRS share a clear and detailed plan for the funding to show the agency will solve problems that existed long before the pandemic crisis exacerbated them. I dont want them to be finally given some money and then blow it, you know, because they dont have a good plan, she said. Because then they will never get the money again. Partisan dispute The House Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal 2022 Financial Services spending bill last summer that wouldve devoted $13.6 billion to the IRS, a 14 percent increase from the 2021 enacted funding level. Thats in line with Senate Democrats October bill and President Joe Bidens budget request. Its unclear if Republicans would get on board with that level of funding. Top Senate GOP appropriator Richard C. Shelby of Alabama described the boost as among partisan reforms in the Democrats proposal. Key Republican lawmakers sent a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles P. Rettig on Jan. 19, saying the IRSs return processing backlog and customer service problems have reached crisis levels, but money isnt really the problem. Democrats COVID-19 relief package, enacted last March, included $1.86 billion for necessary expenses for the Internal Revenue Service including administration of advance payments, taxpayer assistance and information technology upgrades. Republicans asked Rettig to explain why over $1.4 billion of that supplemental funding hadnt been spent yet, adding that a failure to hire more customer service representatives was due to a weak job market and lack of applicants. This crisis is not due to a lack of funding, the GOP letter said. It was signed by House Ways and Means Committee ranking member Kevin Brady of Texas and House Appropriations Committee ranking member Kay Granger of Texas, as well as Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina, top Republican on the Ways and Means Oversight subcommittee and Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee ranking member Steve Womack of Arkansas. Asked about getting Republicans on board with higher IRS funding, Van Hollen said: I would hope everybody wants to make sure people get their money back as quickly as possible. The House-approved bill and Senate Democrats version would each devote over $2.9 billion to taxpayer services, a 15 percent bump from fiscal 2021 enacted spending. That budget gave a 1.8 percent increase to taxpayer services over fiscal 2020, so Democrats have already put forward a significant boost. But when senators did so, they envisioned it coming on top of the $3.2 billion over 10 years included in the budget bill. The party largely agrees on increasing IRS funding. Earlier this month, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called on Biden and Appropriations Committee leaders to send emergency funding to the IRS in anticipation of this filing seasons challenges and impasse on the budget package. Feinstein wrote that a supplemental bill would be a timelier way to help the IRS rebuild its capacity to efficiently process taxpayers returns, refunds, and questions. On Thursday, Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Jeff Merkley of Oregon led a letter with 13 fellow Democrats asking the Treasury Department to keep working with Congress on increased IRS funding and to propose a budget boost for fiscal 2023 at least as big as the 14 percent jump the administration sought for fiscal 2022 Van Hollens House counterpart, Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois, said in a statement that its imperative to boost IRS funding for taxpayer services along with other functions like enforcement. Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden of Oregon predicted that senators will return to Washington after this weeks recess with evidence of the problem. Theyll be talking about what they heard at home, which is people cant get through, they cant get the services, and thats what we need, Wyden said. I hope that people want to work on it. Immediate salve? Hiring, building better online systems and other improvements the IRS could spend money on take time, so its likely too late to fully fix this tax season with funding. Theres bipartisan support for some actions the IRS could take as a more immediate salve. In a letter to Rettig and Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen on Wednesday led by Sens. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., 23 Democrats and two Republicans urged the IRS to consider steps including a pause on automated collections of unpaid taxes, dropping fines for taxpayers who paid at least 70 percent of what they owed for the 2020 and 2021 tax years, expedited processing for amended tax returns and others to smooth the process for taxpayers challenging a penalty. Ways and Means members Linda T. Sanchez, D-Calif., and Darin LaHood, R-Ill., led a near-identical letter with 191 House signatories. The IRS responded Thursday, saying in a statement its looking at suggestions but is constrained by legal mandates and outdated technology. Accountants and advocates participating in a Tuesday media briefing agreed the IRS needs more funding that makes taxpayer services a priority. But they urged immediate action to address predictions of chaos, frustration and even despair for taxpayers in the weeks ahead. Melanie Lauridsen, senior manager of tax policy and advocacy for the American Institute of CPAs, said proposals recommended by their group and others, which are in line with lawmakers suggestions, are within the IRSs abilities. If there is ever a time to provide relief to taxpayers, this is it, she said. 2022 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden said Friday that he will soon send a small number of U.S. troops to Eastern Europe as Russia continues amassing an historic amount of forces along its border with Ukraine. Ill be moving U.S. troops to Eastern Europe in the NATO countries in the near term not a lot, Biden told reporters Friday evening at Joint Base Andrews, Md., after returning from a trip to Pittsburgh. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday placed roughly 8,500 troops in the U.S. on heightened alert to be ready to deploy to Eastern Europe within five days should the U.S. decide to send troops to support its NATO allies as tensions with Russia increase. "We haven't actually moved any troops [into Europe.] We put troops on higher alert," he said. "If and when we do move troops, the purpose of those troops deploying would be to reassure allies, or directly in support of NATO." It was unclear Friday whether the troops that Biden plans to send are among those placed on high alert in the U.S. or those who are already stationed elsewhere in Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin has positioned more than 100,000 troops along Ukraines eastern border with Russia and northern border with Belarus, leading NATO countries including the U.S. to suspect Putin might be considering an invasion. If war were to breakout on the scale and scope that is possible, the civilian population will suffer immensely, Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Friday. An invasion of Ukraine would cost countless lives as Russian forces continue to amass along the countrys eastern and northern borders in numbers not seen in 30 years, the general said. Given the type of [Russian] forces that are arrayed, the ground maneuver forces, the artillery, the ballistic missiles, the air forces all of it packaged together, if that was unleashed on Ukraine ... it would result in a significant amount of casualties, Milley told reporters at the Pentagon during a news briefing alongside Austin. He said Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe with several densely populated cities such as Kharkiv and its capital, Kyiv. You can imagine what [an invasion with casualties] might look like in dense urban areas, all along roads, and so on and so forth," Milley said. "It would be horrific. It would be terrible." Russia has been building up its forces along its border with Ukraine since last month, and began adding troops to Ukraines northern border with Belarus last week for what it said were military exercises. There are almost as many Russian troops flanking the country as there are in the Ukrainian active-duty force of 150,000 troops, Milley said. This is larger in scale and scope in the massing of forces than anything we've seen in recent memory, and I think you'd have to go back to the Cold War days to see something of this magnitude, he said. More so, Ukraine's "flat, open plains" and "abundance of rivers and lakes" with high water tables that freeze also make "optimal conditions for cross-country, tracked and wheeled vehicle maneuvers" so armed forces can move easily throughout the country should an invasion occur, Milley said. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: Russia does not pose a threat to anyone, calling reports of a potential Russian invasion an empty and groundless escalation of tensions, Russias government-owned Tass news agency reported Friday. Among those placed on high alert Monday are soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., and the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo., along with troops from unspecified units at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Fort Hood, Texas, Robbins Air Force Base, Ga., Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Fort Polk, La., Fort Stewart, Ga., and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The bulk of those troops would join the NATO Response Force should it be activated, while others could be sent to U.S. allies near Ukraine, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said this week. The NATO Response Force consists of about 40,000 troops from multiple countries in the alliance, Kirby has said. It includes land, air, sea and special operations forces that the alliance can deploy on short notice, wherever needed. Austin said it remains unclear what Russias next steps will be, but the Russian military presence around Ukraine offers Putin multiple options including the seizure of [Ukrainian] cities and significant territories, but also of course ... provocative political acts like the recognition of breakaway territories." In terms of what Putin thinks and the way he feels about things, that's hard to predict, he said. If you look at the forces that he has moved into the region and that he continues to move into the region, there was no provocation that caused him to move those forces." Conflict is not inevitable Austin said the U.S. remains hopeful for a peaceful, diplomatic resolution and conflict is not inevitable. There is still time and space for diplomacy, he said. The United States in lockstep with our allies and partners and has offered Russia a path away from crisis and toward greater security. The U.S., NATO and Russia have been engaged in diplomatic negotiations since Russia demanded last month that the alliance bar Ukraine from NATO membership and the West withdraw troops and military equipment from countries added to NATO in the past 25 years, such as Romania and Bulgaria. The U.S. on Wednesday sent a written response to Russias demands, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. Without specifying its contents, he said the document did not bend to those requests but offered some room for negotiation on other matters such as arms control and nuclear weapons management. Peskov on Thursday criticized the response: We cant say that they took our concerns into account or showed any readiness to take our concerns into consideration, according to a Tass report. Russia is now preparing different versions of reaction to the response for Putins review, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday, according to Tass. It will ultimately be up to Putin to decide whats next. What we will do, should the West fail to hear the voice of reason, the president has said it already: should our attempts to agree to mutually acceptable principles of security in Europe fail to bear fruit, then we will take response measures," Lavrov said in the Tass report. The foreign minister said those response measures can be wildly different, ranging from military to diplomatic actions. NATO preparations President Joe Biden said Tuesday that while he has no intention of putting American forces or NATO forces in Ukraine, the U.S. has a responsibility to reassure its Eastern Europe allies of its commitment to their security. In Eastern Europe, theres reason for concern. [Russian troops are] along the Russian border. Theyre on the Belarus border, Biden told reporters. So, everyone from Poland on has reason to be concerned about what would happen and what spillover effects could occur. Four NATO-member countries flank Ukraine to the west, including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed its Crimean Peninsula after deadly protests toppled the countrys former pro-Russian government. In response, NATO sent four multinational battlegroups to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. There were no NATO forces in the eastern part of the alliance before 2014, according to NATOs website. Their presence makes clear that an attack on one ally will be considered an attack on the whole alliance. Since then, NATO forces have maintained a military presence in the eastern region of the alliance. In recent days, some NATO countries aside from the U.S. have announced additional upcoming deployments to the region, according to the website. Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands each plan to send sea and air support including frigates, and F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to the region, while France "has expressed its readiness to send troops to Romania under NATO command," according to a NATO statement earlier in the week. Austin on Friday said the U.S. and NATO are unified in opposition to Russia's attempts to undermine those core values and threaten peace and security in Europe. Any Russian attack or further incursion into Ukraine would not only ignite conflict it would also violate the bedrock principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and self-determination, he said. The latter is something that we're taking very seriously both as a strong partner of Ukraine and as one of 30 members of NATO. Though the U.S. has no plans to send additional troops to Ukraine, there are between 100-200 Florida National Guard troops in the country on an advise-and-assist mission to train the Ukrainian military. The U.S. also continues to support Ukraine with security assistance packages, pledging $200 million worth of equipment to the country in December alone. The latest shipment arrived Wednesday and included 300 Javelin anti-tank missiles, according to the U.S. embassy in Kyiv. Austin said the U.S. has also recently sent Ukraine other anti-armor weapons, grenade launchers, large quantities of artillery and small arms, ammunition and other equipment. The United States remains committed to helping Ukraine defend itself through security assistance material, he said. Since 2014, we've committed more than $2.7 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. That includes more security assistance to Ukraine in the past year $650 million than at any a previous time. PLAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (Tribune News Service) Like his famous namesake, John Adams did his part in securing his countrys future and freedom. In a living room filled with photos and memories, Adams celebrated his 98th birthday this week. He recently shared some of those memories, including about his combat duty in the South Pacific during World War II. Ive had a wonderful life, he said. The good Lord has been good to me. Born in 1924, Adams grew up as one of eight children on a 40-acre farm in Clarksburg, W.Va. We specialized in strawberries, he said. Adams said they were lucky because in the midst of the Great Depression, they were able to grow their own food. We both knew we were going to war pretty soon. He ran away from home at 17 when he saw a notice in the local post office seeking laborers for the new Pentagon building in Washington, D.C. When the project was completed, he moved to Canton, where one of his brothers was working for Diebold. He was making armored plates, he said. We both knew we were going to the war pretty soon. Adams was drafted into the Army and did his basic training at Camp Davis in North Carolina. From there, he was sent to Fort Dix in New Jersey, then six months in Hawaii, followed by deployment to the South Pacific, where he served as a truck driver and gunner in the 504th Artillery in Okinawa and the Philippines. That was our Normandy, Adams said. We should have done the same thing in the South Pacific. We sat for 60 days waiting for (support). We almost waited too long to get into the war. (Franklin D.) Roosevelt wanted to get into it, but the American people didnt. A case of jungle rot landed Adams in a hospital in New Guinea. On April Fools, they sent me back to Okinawa, he laughed. Six months later, Adams was on hand as Gen. Douglas MacArthur made his initial landing in Leyte Gulf in Philippines. At the start of the landing, Adams was driving a truck on shore firing 90mm artillery rounds when the Japanese began an artillery attack on his ship. A somber Adams said he lost three friends while they were loading ammunition and suddenly came under fire. He shot enemy planes out of the sky. I wasnt anxious to shoot anybody or to get shot. War is dangerous, he said. I wasnt anxious to shoot anybody or to get shot. If somebody tells you they werent scared, youve met a big liar. It wasnt all bad. He met his wife, Dorothy, while stationed at Fort Dix. She was 16 and I was 19, he said with a smile. She wrote to me every day for three years. We dated for another year before we got married. They had two sons, Robert and Carl, both of whom served in the military. When Dorothy died last August, the couple had been married for more than 74 years. Robert, who operates the Well Doctor, a well-digging business started by his hard-working dad, said he never talked about his war experiences. Allison Dudley, community ambassador for Mission BBQ in Jackson Township, said thats why learning about veterans experiences is so important. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, fewer than 250,000 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II are still living. Adams is in hospice care. Earlier this month, Adams was one of three veterans given a birthday party Mission BBQ where they all have a designated Seat of Honor. I pulled my son out of school for our World War II party because I wanted him to learn, Dudley said. If you dont learn about the past, you cant shape the future. Parents need to teach kids about what veterans have sacrificed. charita.goshay@cantonrep.com 2022 The (Canton, Ohio) Repository. Visit cantonrep.com . Changes to the SunCommercial's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition, by default, is now presented in Text view. The Greerton Aquatic and Leisure Centre is closing its doors for maintenance next month. From February 7, 2022, the centre will be closing its doors for nine weeks to undertake scheduled improvements. During the closure, improvements will be made with the aim of enhancing the visitor experience, including an upgrade to the reception area, new non-slip poolside flooring and additional change room facilities. Along with new family rooms close to the Learn to Swim pool, additional change facilities including three accessibility change rooms will be created next to the Hydrotherapy Pool. This 18m pool is heated to 34 degrees and has an access ramp to make it easier for patrons with injuries or limited accessibility to enter the warm water. There are also water wheelchairs available onsite and sensory swimming every Wednesday evening where the lights are dimmed and noise reduced to help those with sensory sensitivities enjoy a swim. The lengthy closure period will enable seismic strengthening to take place, with over 100 roof brackets being installed above the pool area. All three pools will also be re-painted. We are also taking this time to undertake important maintenance to the pools and plant room, install new grandstand seating and add much needed additional change facilities, says Bay Venues CEO Chad Hooker. Our customers safety is paramount, so new non-slip poolside flooring is also being installed. Greerton Aquatic & Leisure Centre was first established in 1971, starting off as an outdoor pool that is now fully enclosed and enjoyed by over 80,000 people annually. The Clubfit Greerton gym will continue to operate over the aquatic closure period. There are several other pools available in the area such as Baywave Aquatic and Leisure Centre, Memorial Pool, Otumoetai Pool and Mount Hot Pools. Tauranga filmmakers working on a documentary about the response to the Rena disaster are thanking the Bay of Plenty community for getting behind a crowdfunding campaign to help make the film. With the goal of reaching $25,000 by 11pm on Christmas Eve, the six-week campaign hit the funding milestone with a few hours to spare. Titled The Rena, The Reef and The Residents, the documentary will capture the memories and thoughts of some of the more than 8000 volunteers, local government officials, businesses, wildlife experts and iwi involved. Its been fantastic to have Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana, Holland Beckett Law and Bay Conservation Alliance come on board as match funders during the campaign, says co-producer Rosalie Liddle Crawford. And we are so thankful to all of our 127 donors for helping us not only reach our crowdfunding goal of $25,000, but push us beyond that to $25,560. Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana contributed $5000, which was a tremendous boost towards the end of the campaign and attracted a flood of further funding from individuals, says Rosalie. Holland Beckett Law kicked off the campaign for us with a fantastic contribution of $2000, with Bay Conservation Alliance also joining as a match donor. And special thanks to Western Bay Wildlife and Bruce Banks from Western Bay Neighbourhood Support for their help and support. Bruces email campaign and contribution took us over the line. The funds are needed to cover the costs of editing and post-production. The crowdfunding campaign also served another purpose we had, which was to find more people that we now plan to interview so we can uncover more of the unique stories that will enrich the documentary. Every financial donor will have their name included in the film credits, as well as those contributing in other ways. We have had people from all over the country contact us with footage, photos and their own individual accounts of things that happened during the community response to the Rena disaster. Two-minute teaser videos were released each week of the six-week campaign on SunLive, showcasing some of the interviews already completed and covering aspects of the iwi, government, community and wildlife response. Executive producers and Sun Media directors Claire and Brian Rogers joined forces with Rosalie and director Anton Steel to make the documentary. Sun Media publishes The Weekend Sun newspaper and runs online news site SunLive - the first media outlet to break the news to the world that the Rena had run aground on Astrolabe Reef in October 2011. The footage, as well as thousands of photos that Sun Media have archived, are being made available for the documentary which Rosalie and Anton plan to complete in 2022. The crowdfunding campaign has helped us to create some strong links and relationships with organisations, businesses, networks and individuals that will help build a groundswell of awareness about the documentary, says Rosalie. Get website access for only 99 per month for the first 3 months, then $8.50 a month after. Cancel anytime! 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. Atlantic, IA (50022) Today A few showers this evening, becoming a steady light rain overnight. Low 48F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight A few showers this evening, becoming a steady light rain overnight. Low 48F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. 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. 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. A GoFundMe fundraiser was created to support Alexandra Chandler, a Killeen ISD teacher, and her family after she contracted COVID-19 just before giving birth to her first born. As of Thursday, she remains in the ICU with two collapsed lungs fighting for her life. Tesla CEO Elon Musk considered 2021 a huge year for the EV company following its improvement for its fourth-quarter profit. The tech boss announced that they were able to collect a profit of $2.3 billion for the said quarter. With that, the business magnate is positive that they will continue to improve in 2022 amid supply chain issues. Breakthrough Year For Tesla The Verge wrote in its latest report that the electric vehicle manufacturer managed to salvage its performance over the past year. In the final quarter of 2021, the company has a net income of $5.5 billion which is far from what it earned in 2020 at $721 million only. Tesla managed to flip its profit to big returns despite the declining average sales of the EVs because some companies offered cheaper alternatives such as Model Y SUV and Model 3 Sedan. "2021 was a breakthrough year for Tesla, and for electric vehicles in general. While we battled, as everyone did, with supply chain challenges throughout the year, we managed to grow our volumes by nearly 90 percent last year," CEO Elon Musk announced during the earnings call. On top of that, the tech boss said that he was hopeful to achieve above 50% growth for this year. Amid several issues such as chip shortage, Tesla is only one of many firms which struggle from supply and production problems. Although they were already a part of the cycle, the EV maker surpassed its expectations and showed impressive records. The car manufacturer was reportedly re-writing its software while utilizing less scarce chips to cope with the production. Related Article: Elon Musk: GM Has 'Some Room for Improvement' Regarding New Michigan Plant; Will It Beat Tesla's Yearly Production? Tesla to Expand EV Factories In another report by BBC, Tesla is eyeing for an expansion of its plants in 2022. Beginning in California, the electric car pioneer has already constructed factories in many parts of the world such as Germany and China. To hasten the car production for this year, Musk plans to build new auto factories in the future. This would also be their safety net to keep up with the intense competition with other EV makers. Despite the hardships amid the semiconductor crisis, the California-based company opened two plants to sustain those locations dealing with supply problems. Most importantly, Musk said that the profitability for Tesla is within the capability of the "full self-driving" cars. He also considered that some companies might be a threat to them, yet he knew that there's always a space for improvement. Per Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, Elon's firm should have exceeded its production if it wasn't for supply chain problems. He believed that the company could have delivered up to 20% more EVs in the last three months. He also predicted that Musk would be richer this 2022 if he achieved all the five financial tranches in the next few months and years. Meanwhile, Tesla's AI Director Andrej Karpathy revealed that Tesla Bot will soon become the most powerful artificial intelligence platform Read Also: Tesla Cybertruck Prototype Available in Giga Texas; Production Already Done? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google Cloud is now looking for crypto experts to help the company enter the blockchain industry. Right now, the cryptocurrency market is becoming more accepted by more individuals and companies across the globe. Now, the search engine giant is joining the blockchain trend. As of the moment, Google, Amazon, and other cloud-computing companies offer centralized businesses. However, Google Cloud wants to change this after announcing that it will soon enter the decentralized blockchain industry. Google Cloud To Hire Blockchain Experts According to CNBC's latest report, Google Cloud's Head of Strategy for Digital Assets, Richard Widmann, confirmed this detail. Also Read: Google Drive Blocks Text Files Containing '1' or '0' Due to 'Copyright Infringement' He announced that the cloud-computing giant is now looking for blockchain professionals to join them in their new venture. "We think that if we do our jobs right, it will drive decentralization," said Widmann. As of the moment, Google Cloud already offers various tools and services that can help develop blockchain networks. On the other hand, the tech firm also has various blockchain consumers, such as Theta Labs, Hedera, and Dapper Labs. Widmann also said that Google Cloud is planning what blockchain services it will offer soon. Google Cloud's Other Activities SiliconAngle reported that Google Cloud is also quite busy with other innovations. Aside from entering the blockchain industry, the tech company also launched a new startup program for its cloud service. The new "Google for Startups Cloud Program" ensures that other companies will benefit more from Google Cloud's products and services. This new project also allows consumers to enjoy one year of free access to the Google Cloud service. If you want to see more details about this new program, you can visit this link. In other news, a Google Chrome update is expected to release a new critical Android feature. Meanwhile, Google Project Iris was found in an AR headset. For more news updates about Google and its upcoming innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Google Docs Adds Watermark Feature | Users Can Now Mark Documents as Confidential, Draft, and More This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SpaceX claims that it can conduct a total of 52 launches in the entire 2022. This means that the giant space agency needs to have one space flight every week until the year ends. As of the moment, SpaceX is one of the leading independent space companies that are active when it comes to launches. Back in 2021, Elon Musk's agency sent 31 rockets into orbit. Its latest achievement broke the 2020 record, which only had a total of 26 launches. Because of its massive growth, SpaceX represented around one-fifth of the world's successful orbital space flights back in 2021. This allowed the independent space company to keep up with China and other countries when it comes to space flights. SpaceX To Conduct 52 Launches This 2022 According to CNBC's latest report, Sandra Magnus, a former NASA astronaut, attended the meeting between SpaceX and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as a panel member. Also Read: SpaceX Fan Asks Elon Musk about the Starship Cargo and Starlink Satellites; CEO Speechless? During their conversation, she confirmed that SpaceX wants to launch 52 space flights before 2022 ends, saying that the ambition of the independent space company is an "incredible pace." However, it is still unclear if the upcoming weekly launches include test flights of SpaceX's Starship prototype rockets. As of the moment, Elon Musk's space agency and NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel haven't made any comment regarding the types of SpaceX launches. A SpaceX Rocket Will Crash Into the Moon? USA Today reported that a SpaceX spacecraft is expected to crash into the dark side of the moon within five weeks. This is specifically the Falcon 9 rocket, which was launched back on February 11, 2015. The independent space firm sent this spacecraft into space to carry the $340 million DSCOVR (Deep Space Climate Observatory. However, it wasn't able to go back to Earth because of insufficient fuel, making it float in a chaotic orbit ever since it was launched. In other news, SpaceX closed a U.S. Air Force deal, leading to a 5-year contract between the space agency and the defense department. Meanwhile, NASA TV decided not to air the SpaceX Cargo Dragon ISS departure. For more news updates about SpaceX and its upcoming activities, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: A SpaceX Rocket Is On A Collision Course With The Moon This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple will be adding a new feature for the iOS 15.4 beta for European users. According to the Cupertino giant, the COVID-19 vaccination certificates can now be added to the Wallet and Health applications. How to Add COVID Certificate to Health and Wallet Apps Securing a physical COVID-19 record for the vaccine status is a must since several establishments in some parts of the world are considering it as mandatory. However, if people want more convenience, they should also consider having a digital copy of their vaccination certificates. Aside from being handy, this would also be a good option if a person is considering a backup for a record. In an article written by Macrumors on Friday, Jan. 28, European residents can now add their digital COVID record to Apple Health and Wallet apps. If you are residing in the EU and you want to try this, follow these steps. Open the Camera app Scan the QR code of the certificate Wait for the yellow notification on the Health App and click it. Click the button which reads "Add to Wallet & Health." You can now see a digital copy of your COVID-19 vaccine certificate. Upon finishing this process, a person can now check his/her name in the app. The type of vaccine and the date when it was received are also indicated there. In addition, the issuer of the vaccine and the electronic signature in the QR code is included. Using the Health app, the person can access the immunization records, too. Related Article: iOS 15.4 Beta Lets Users Use Face ID Despite Wearing Face Masks COVID-19 Vaccine Certificates Not Accessible in Wallet Yet Federico Viticci, the editor-in-chief of MacStories, recently tweeted that this update was big news for all EU-based citizens. He wrote that he tested his Italian vaccination record and found out that it was working in the Health app. Big news for EU citizens: iOS 15.4 will bring support for adding EU Digital COVID Certificates in the Health and Wallet apps. I tested my Italian vaccination record and it worked with Health. Not in Wallet yet. These will show up under Immunization records in the Health app. pic.twitter.com/0UFndDFncO Federico Viticci (@viticci) January 27, 2022 However, he discovered that the feature was not yet accessible in Wallet. In connection to this, Apple said that the iOS 15.4 beta has not yet brought the COVID Certificates to feature in countries such as Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Switzerland, Cape Verde, and Palestine. iOS 15.1 Support For Vaccination Certificates In the same report, the iPhone maker has reportedly enabled the feature to add COVID-19 vaccination records to Wallet and Health Apps during iOS 15.1 beta phase. It was first issued to the users in the United States before being introduced to Canadians. Through the EU Digital COVID certificates, we could expect Apple to continue expanding its service to other countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, and more. Fake COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates Amid digital accessibility, it's still better to stay safe online, especially when keeping their confidential information. In another story from CTV News, the authorities in Ottawa issued a warning to people since an email scam had been wandering the area. The police in the vicinity discovered that there were fake COVID-19 vaccination certificates. In addition, they added that people should not click any link about it because it was a phishing scam. There's a chance that you can lose your sensitive information stored in your device or email. Speaking of vax status, Tech Times reported last month that there's now a coronavirus microchip implant that can verify a person's vaccination record. Read Also: California Unveils Digital COVID-19 Vaccination Record, Governor Newsom Says it Does Not Constitute a 'Vaccine Passport' This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joseph Henry 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Microsoft Azure public cloud will soon host the records of millions of patients from one of the largest NHS (National Health Service) Trusts in the United Kingdom, as part of the Trust's attempt to strengthen its current IT infrastructure. ComputerWeekly reports that the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is specifically migrating the Electronic Health Records of their patients to Azure. Considering that they help treat around 1.5 million patients every year in the West Yorkshire region of the U.K., this is a massive deal. All of these EHRs contain very sensitive patient data: chronological medical histories, medications, past diagnoses, as well as treatment plans and allergies, to name a few. Leeds keeps these records updated in real-time, making it hard to store due to its immense size. The Trust mentioned that their records have grown from a mere 25,000 to over 1.5 million per month, which is just way too big for the organization's current IT infrastructure to handle. Furthermore, the data must also be kept accessible 24/7, which is critical to the Trust's healthcare professionals looking to administer timely, effective treatment. As such, they had to decide to outsource hosting the EHRs, which is where Microsoft Azure came into play. They might have done so at the right time, too, considering how healthcare cybersecurity has been under attack in recent times. There were multiple healthcare cybersecurity breaches recorded last year, some of which were considered the biggest hacks ever. HealthcareITNews lists a few examples, like the Florida Health Kids Corporation hack, which affected roughly 3.5 million people. There were fears that the critical personal information of these people was accessed, which includes names, addresses, birth dates, financial information, and even Social Security numbers. With this move to Azure, the Leeds Trust likely made an excellent decision. Read also: Healthcare Faces the Wrath of Ransomware Hackers: Is it Worse Than the Pandemic? Is A Move To Microsoft Azure Wise? Quite simply, yes. This is due to a recent circumstance that basically proves the might of Microsoft's cybersecurity infrastructure and how other healthcare institutions have already tapped their services in the past. You might not know it, but Microsoft may have just thwarted perhaps the largest DDoS attack of all time: a 3.47 Tbps DDoS hack perpetrated by hackers who were targeting Azure customers in Asia. The Big Tech giant's DDoS attack came from 10,000 different sources located in multiple countries (via ArsTechnica). This includes Taiwan, India, China, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Iran, Vietnam, Russia, and the United States. The attack itself dwarfs almost any that came before it, including the 2.54 Tbps hack that Google stopped five years ago. If Microsoft is able to fend off an attack of this scale, no wonder why other healthcare institutions have put their trust on them. CVS Pharmacy partnered with the tech giant to further digitize their processes and deliver their customers' healthcare needs faster and more efficiently. It could be safe to say that the Leeds Trust, especially its critical patient records, is in good hands. Related: 50TB Worth of COVID-19 Vaccination Data Allegedly Deleted as Hackers Exploit the Brazilian Ministry of Health This article is owned by Tech Times Written by RJ Pierce 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. With NFTs becoming extremely popular, OpenSea has become one of the most popular marketplaces for nonfungible tokens like Bored Apes Yacht Club and more. Then someone was suspected of exploiting a vulnerability found on OpenSea for profit. Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs Involved As per a tweet by Wu Blockchain, the NFTs that were involved in the exploitation involve Cool Cat #1546, #9575, #7218, #3537, and BAYC or Bored Ape Yacht Club #1397, #6623, #775, and number #2068. As of the moment, OpenSea is being suspected of blocking the address, noting that he is selling on LooksRare. The profits from this exploited OpenSea vulnerability have reportedly reached 150 ETH. Someone exploited the OpenSea vulnerability for profit again. The NFTs involved are Cool Cat #9575 #7218 #3537 #1546 and BAYC #6623 #1397 #775 #2068, the profit is close to 150ETH. OpenSea is suspected of blocking his address, he is selling on LooksRare. https://t.co/0tN0k5lgBu pic.twitter.com/gWM1lrVWmX Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) January 28, 2022 What is OpenSea? Wu Blockchain shared a link to NFTGo.io, which shows transactions of different NFT transfers. This, however, is an extremely rare occurrence in the world of NFTs since one of the promotions of blockchain technology is its security. As per its description on Google search, OpenSea acts as a peer-to-peer marketplace for NFTs and other digital items and crypto collectibles. As per an article by ProductMint, OpenSea was initially powered by Ethereum smart contracts but had just recently added the Klaytn chain support. Who are the Founders of OpenSea? The platform currently uses the Ethereum layer-2 protocol Polygon or MATIC, allowing them to decrease trading costs while increasing overall transaction speeds. OepnSea initially had its headquarters in New York City when it was founded by Devin Finzer, the CEO, and Alex Atallah, CTO, in December 2017. Before starting the company, both of the founders amassed impressive resumes. CTO Atallah graduated in 2014 with a degree in Computer Science from Stanford. After that, he then started working at Palantir and Zugata. As a software engineer until 2016, he launched a social polling platform called Whatsgoodly. Company CEO Graduated from Brown University When it comes to Finzer, he initially graduated from Brown University with a GPA of 4.0 for studying Mathematics. He then started working as Pinterest's software engineer. In 2016, he launched a tool that would allow users to find out if a business owes them money by searching the state's unclaimed property database. The tool was called Claimdog. Read Also: Ads Linking ADHD and Obesity Pulled from Instagram and TikTok | Cerebral Chief Medical Officer Says He Didn't Approve OpenSea Initially Sold $500,000 Worth of Collectibles He was then able to successfully sell the company to Credit Karma as the Engineering Manager until he finally opened up OpenSea. By the time OpenSea was set up in 2018, OpenSea was able to sell $500,000 worth of collectibles. OpenSea relied quite heavily on game developers during the platform's early days. The platform bought out its competitor Atomic Bazaar for an undisclosed amount. In 2021, the platform raised capital from Andreessen Horowitz and investors like Mark Cuban and Alexis Ohanian, the founder of Reddit. Related Article: Top 10 NFT Projects Activity All Drop Except NFTX Hashmasks | Decentraland Down 38% This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Lome-Teheran axis is getting stronger This is what is shown by a report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on a trip by Minister Robert Dussey to Tehran (Iran). Here is the content... Robert DUSSEY on a working visit to Tehran, Iran Press Release Within the framework of the strengthening of the relations of friendship and cooperation which exist between the Togolese Republic and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart, HE Dr. Hossein AMIRABDOLLAHIYAN, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran , HE Prof. Robert DUSSEY, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Togolese Abroad paid a working visit to Tehran from January 23 to 26, 2022. During this visit, which marks the will of the Heads of State HE Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, President of the Togolese Republic and HE Ebrahim RAISSI, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to deepen, further diversify and update their cooperation with a view to better adapting it to the real needs of their two countries, Prof. Robert DUSSEY was received in audience by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also had a working session with his Iranian counterpart H.E. Dr. Hossein AMIRABDOLLAHIYAN. During the work marked by an atmosphere of cordiality and openness, the two parties addressed issues related to their cooperation in the fields of energy, health, mining, agriculture, infrastructure and investments, than in the international context. In the field of health, the two parties are committed to exchanging their experiences within the framework of training programs and professional exchanges. They also intend to deepen discussions at the technical level with a view to establishing a partnership in the pharmaceutical field. On this subject, they mentioned the possibility of setting up Iranian pharmaceutical factories in Togo, within the framework of the Industrial Platform of Adeticope. Regarding the energy sector, Iran is committed to supporting Togo in the implementation of its electrification strategy which aims for a rate of electricity coverage of the entire national territory of 100% by 2050. Technical discussions will clarify the details of this support. Turning to the field of agriculture, Minister DUSSEY recalled the discussions held by the two parties during the work of their joint cooperation commission concerning the need for support from Togo in the context of irrigation. He proposed that this cooperation project be revived and that the two parties actively work towards its realization. The Iranian side welcomed this proposal and invited the Togolese side to submit concrete projects in this direction. With regard to the field of infrastructure, the two ministers spoke with satisfaction of Irans construction of the administrative block of the University of Kara in 2007 and pledged to revitalize their cooperation in this field. In the field of investments, Minister DUSSEY placed particular emphasis on the promotion of Iranian private investments in Togo. To this end, he presented the 2020-2025 government roadmap and the investment and partnership opportunities it offers. He also provided useful information on the Adeticope Industrial Platform which is already operational and which also constitutes an investment opportunity in Togo. In this regard, the two parties urged each other to support their private sectors with a view to establishing partnerships and setting up joint projects. Business meetings and exchange visits will be organized in this context. Specific cooperation agreements will also be signed to promote the flow of investments between the two countries. At the international level, noting their convergence of views on the importance of peace and security for the development of countries, the two parties mutually congratulated each other on the respective commitment of Togo and Iran in the search for effective responses to terrorism and violent extremism in their respective regions. In this regard, the two ministers spoke with concern about the persistence and expansion of terrorism, violent extremism and acts of maritime piracy in West Africa and undertook to combine their efforts within the framework of the initiatives of ECOWAS and the United Nations to curb these scourges. Finally, at the multilateral level, the two parties intend to maintain permanent consultations in order to coordinate their positions on issues of common interest and to grant reciprocal support for their candidacies for positions within international organizations. At the end of the visit, H.E. Prof. Robert DUSSEY invited H.E. Dr. Hossein AMIRABDOLLAHIAN to visit Togo in order to further deepen the exchanges and launch the cooperation projects mentioned in Tehran. The Iranian minister said he was very pleased with the opportunity to make this visit, the date of which will be agreed through diplomatic channels. Done in Tehran, January 26, 2022 Alex Billiot, a member of the Pointe-Au-Chien tribe and a crabber, worries that his son wont be able to enjoy the fishing traditions that have been passed down for generations. He shares his concerns during LPB's 'Louisiana Spotlight: The Plight of Pointe-Au-Chien.' A sharply divided Louisiana Supreme Court refused Friday to remove Baton Rouge City Court Judge Johnell Matthews from the bench, rejecting arguments that she's constitutionally barred from holding office because she reached the state's mandatory judicial retirement age of 70 before her coronavirus-delayed election in 2020. The Judiciary Commission of Louisiana had asked the high court to strip Matthews, 71, of her judicial role. "The facts in this case are driven by the pandemic and subsequent proclamations issued by the governor which delayed the elections. But for these delays, Judge Matthews would have taken office prior to attaining the age of seventy," Supreme Court Justice Piper Griffin wrote for the four-justice majority. Griffin emphasized that the court's decision "is limited to the individualized circumstances surrounding this case and election." Matthews' attorney, Mary Olive Pierson, said the judge "is not only relieved after this two-year prolonged ordeal, but extremely pleased with the result in the Supreme Court." Matthews was 69 when a primary election was scheduled, but the vote was twice delayed because of the pandemic and she turned 70 in the interim. Matthews soundly defeated lawyer Whitney Higginbotham Greene in an August 2020 runoff. Greene is the daughter of retired state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Toni Higginbotham and former 19th Judicial District Judge Leo Higginbotham. Three of the state Supreme Court's justices, including Chief Justice John Weimer, disagreed with Griffin, Scott Crichton, James Genovese and Jeff Hughes. Weimer said the "clear and unambiguous" language of the state Constitution prohibits anyone over the age of 70 to serve as a judge unless that person began serving a term of office as a judge prior to turning 70. "This court is not free to create an ambiguity where none exists, or to revise or rewrite the language of the constitutional provision under the guise of interpretation," he wrote. +3 70-year-old Baton Rouge judge is 'constitutionally barred' from staying in office, panel says A Baton Rouge judge who reached the state's mandatory judicial retirement age before her coronavirus-delayed election last summer has brought Sitting judges who turn 70 during a term can serve out the rest of that term. Weimer noted that Matthews "has served well and is a respected jurist" and he agreed with the Judiciary Commission that "her character and her right to initially qualify to seek judicial office are not in question," but the chief justice said the facts of the case "dictate an unfortunate result" that she be removed from office. 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 Justice William Crain, who also dissented, said he is "sympathetic" to Matthews' situation and said through no fault of her own the City Court election was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic until after she turned 70. "She did nothing wrong to create the predicament that now disqualifies her from serving," he wrote. "Sympathy, however, is not a basis for disregarding or amending the Constitution." The third dissenter, Justice Jay McCallum, said the case presents "yet another example of an unfortunate consequence of the pandemic and the government's reaction to it; namely, the decision to change the date of the election." "Through no fault of her own, Judge Matthews became a casualty of this decision. Although empathetic to Judge Matthews' situation, I do not find any circumstance by which this court may ignore the express and unambiguous terms of the Louisiana Constitution and, in my view, her age at the time of the election prevents her from remaining on the bench," he wrote. Pierson noted that the dissenters agreed Matthews is an excellent judge who serves the public well. "Her service does not bring any discredit on the judiciary," she said. "It strains the imagination how such a judge could possibly be recommended for removal from the bench for any reason." The Judiciary Commission's recommendation to the Supreme Court was a complete reversal of what a commission-appointed hearing officer, retired Orleans Parish Civil Court Judge Carolyn Gill-Jefferson, decided last year. She stated that Matthews should not be removed from office. +2 A 70-year-old Baton Rouge judge is not too old to serve, hearing officer says. What's next? A hearing officer has rejected arguments that a Baton Rouge City Court judge is constitutionally barred from office because she reached the st The nine-member commission consists of judges, lawyers and laypersons. The commission had argued that only state Supreme Court has the power to grant Matthews a COVID-related exception. During the Matthews case, Pierson repeatedly cited a pair of state Supreme Court decisions from 2020 one involving Baton Rouge state district Judge Chip Moore and the other the state bar exam in which the justices took the pandemic into consideration in their reasoning. Moore was hospitalized due to the virus and was unable to personally sign his qualifying papers by the July 24, 2020, deadline, but the high court ruled that the extraordinary pandemic should not knock Moore out of his reelection bid. The justices allowed Moore's campaign chairman to sign the judge's papers so Moore could appear on the Nov. 3, 2020 ballot. The justices said Moore only had to sign them by the day before that election, which he ultimately did. Moore was then reelected after his two challengers dropped out. In the bar exam matter, the Supreme Court announced in summer 2020 that it would grant "diploma privilege" to some recent law school graduates, allowing them to practice law without taking the July 2020, exam, which the court canceled due to logistical difficulties caused by coronavirus-driven restrictions. A Baton Rouge man accused in the 2019 killing of local civil rights activist Sadie Roberts-Joseph won't stand trial in March as previously scheduled. Ronn Bell's March 14 trial date has been converted to a status conference, court records indicate. State District Judge Kelly Balfour is in the process of appointing a new lawyer to represent Bell. Bell, 40, is charged with second-degree murder in the slaying of Roberts-Joseph, 75, who was suffocated. He's also charged in the case with failing to register as a sex offender. +2 Sadie Roberts-Joseph's accused killer pleads not guilty in civil rights activist's slaying The man accused of killing civil rights icon Sadie Roberts-Joseph pleaded not guilty Thursday in the July slaying of the woman who had founded Roberts-Joseph was discovered July 12, 2019, in the trunk of her car behind an abandoned house in the 2300 block of North 20th Street. Bell's DNA was found on her body, an arrest report says. 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 Bell was a tenant in one of Roberts-Joseph's properties and had fallen about $1,200 behind on his rent, according to police. Bell acknowledged that during an interview with detectives, but said Roberts-Joseph agreed he could stay in the house as long as he paid her something, police said. Bell later admitted to detectives that he had been in the location where the car was dumped, but said he had not been inside the vehicle and had not seen Roberts-Joseph for several days before her death, police said. A search warrant indicated bleach was poured over her body in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence. Detectives later found two empty bleach bottles inside Bell's home. Roberts-Joseph founded the Odell S. Williams African-American Museum in downtown Baton Rouge in 2001 and organized an annual Juneteenth festival celebrating the end of slavery in this country. A federal appeals court has affirmed a former Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola guards conviction and more than nine-year prison term for brutally beating a handcuffed and shackled inmate and then plotting to cover up the assault. The 2014 attack left the inmate with extensive injuries, including a dislocated shoulder and collapsed lung. Prosecutors referred to Daniel Davis, who was a major, as the ringleader of the beating and cover up but said he didn't act alone. Three of his former colleagues were convicted of lesser offenses after accepting plea deals. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Monday let stand Davis' 110-month sentence and his convictions for depriving an inmate of his civil rights by assaulting him, conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and perjury. In his appeal, Davis had challenged, among other things, U.S. District Judge John deGravelles' decision to admit testimony from two witnesses recounting statements made to them by an eyewitness to the assault. He argued the eyewitness's statements ran afoul of the Confrontation Clause and constituted inadmissible hearsay. The 5th Circuit panel rejected those arguments. Davis' attorney, Andre Belanger, said Wednesday he intends to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. "Mr. Davis was deprived of his confrontation right with the admission of hearsay evidence," he said. "We think precedent is on our side and (we) will ultimately prevail." 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 Trial evidence established that Davis initiated the inmate assault by yanking on the man's leg chains, causing him to fall face first onto a concrete breezeway, officials said. That's when Davis and other officers punched, kicked and stomped on the fallen inmate, leaving him with a dislocated shoulder, localized internal bleeding known as a hematoma, a collapsed lung and broken ribs. Davis later ordered his subordinates to help him cover up what had happened. Scotty Kennedy, John Sanders and James Savoy Jr., who were all captains at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, pleaded guilty in the case. Sanders and Savoy were sentenced to 18 months in prison and 24 months, respectively. Kennedy, whom officials described as the least culpable officer, was out on probation for 14 months. Sanders admitted he punched the inmate repeatedly in the head in retaliation for an earlier incident. Savoy admitted failing to intervene when he witnessed other guards using excessive force against the inmate. Kennedy pleaded guilty to depriving the prisoner of the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment, and to conspiracy to obstruct justice. The injured inmate sued Davis, Kennedy, Sanders and Savoy after the assault, and the case was settled in 2016. All four officers were terminated after an internal affairs investigation. Davis was acquitted of an additional count of depriving the inmate of his civil rights related to another alleged assault. James Finn writes for The Advocate as a Report For America corps member. Email him at JFinn@theadvocate.com or follow him on Twitter @RJamesFinn. To learn more about Report for America and to support our journalism, please click here. Some officials are calling again for Hammonds police chief to be fired for his role in a violent arrest four years ago after a newly released investigation called some of his acts during that arrest, like hitting a handcuffed man with closed fists, egregiously unreasonable and excessive. Police procedure expert Seth Stoughton presented the 158-page report to the Hammond City Council on Tuesday. The council in 2020 commissioned Stoughton to investigate the 2017 arrest of Kentdrick Ratliff, a Black man whom Hammond Police officers punched, kicked and choked while he was handcuffed in an interrogation room. Of 10 acts of force cops used on Ratliff after his booking on drug-possession allegations, the report found that all but two were unreasonable and excessive. Stoughton called up to four acts seen in the video egregiously unreasonable and excessive. This is among the most abusive uses of force Ive seen in reviewing I cant even tell you how many cases, he told the council, referencing an officer stomping on Ratliff's face at one point of the video. Leaked footage shows Ratliff being kicked, punched and tasered multiple times while he was on the ground and handcuffed in an interrogation room. Then-Hammond police Sgt. Edwin Bergeron, who is White, can be seen punching Ratliff multiple times in the video. Despite concerns about the violent arrest, Bergeron was named the citys police chief in early 2019, a position he still holds. At that time, only a 30-second clip of Ratliffs arrest was circulating on social media. It showed a handcuffed Ratliff lunging across the booking counter to grab for two bottles of pills; then two officers are seen tackling him to the ground. WBRZ published a full 12-minute surveillance video of the encounter in September of 2020, sparking furor and calls for Bergeron's firing by some on the City Council. The council lacks authority to fire the police chief, though, and instead asked Hammond Mayor Pete Panepinto to strip Bergeron of his status as chief. Panepinto ultimately said he had no intention of firing Bergeron. The council voted unanimously to ask an independent expert to review the arrest footage and assess whether use of force in the incident was appropriate. Stoughton, a professor at South Carolina University, was commissioned to conduct the investigation through a Baton Rouge law firm. The policing expert testified last year in the trial of Derek Chauvin, the White Minneapolis officer whose killing of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests. +6 Police said he died after sleeping in a dumpster. But why was he there when he had a home? Many people in Hammond knew Jermaine Watts by a different name: Mainey Fresh, a moniker his loved ones say captured his sharp sense of style a In presenting his investigation to the City Council, Stoughton walked through each of the 10 acts of force seen in the video, weighing whether each one could be considered reasonable for officers to use under the circumstances. Officers used wrist locks to subdue Ratliff, held him down with several different kinds of choke holds, punched him with closed fists and stomped on his face, among other acts of force. 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 Stoughton also said that a report written by one of the officers after Ratliffs arrest understated the number of use-of-force acts officers exacted on him during the incident. And there was no Taser report filed after the incident, he said, despite officers twice using a stun gun on Ratliff. Months after the leaked 12-minute video ignited the first calls for Bergerons resignation, another video emerged of Hammond police officers hitting an arrested man who lay prone on the ground. After Stoughton finished going through the the video, Councilman Devon Wells asked Panepinto whether the officers in the video were still working for the city police department. Panepinto replied that they were. Wells asked Panepinto what the plan was to address the findings of the report, which he said brings tears to me. We actually have a real problem here, he said. For myself, being a Black male, Im scared. Wells then asked to add two resolutions to the council agenda: One that would have called on the FBI, the Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Attorney General to investigate the findings of Stoughtons report; the other that would have again asked Panepinto to fire Bergeron. Neither resolution passed because those measures require unanimous approval from the council to be enacted, and several members voted against adding the resolutions to the agenda. Some council members said they needed more time to consider the report's findings before choosing a way forward. A video shows Hammond police hitting a suspect on the ground. Some council members are alarmed. A video that shows Hammond police officers hitting a man who is lying on the ground has raised alarm among some City Council members. But some said they saw where Wells was coming from. Watching that video, there shouldnt be much else to see, Councilman Sam Vittorio said. Those awful sounds the guy made, it doesnt get any more clear than that. And then to promote a guy in the administration its very sad to know that. At multiple points in the surveillance video, Ratliff can be heard shrieking in discomfort as police beat and restrain him. Bergeron did not immediately return a phone message Thursday. A juvenile facility escapee managed to smuggle a gun into his cell at the Acadiana Center for Youth in St. Martinville, officials learned, prompting Louisiana State Police to open an investigation into the incident. According to state troopers, the gun was found on one of two teen offenders who escaped the facility Jan. 19. The 16-year-old in question was taken back into custody Jan. 20 after troopers found him inside a stolen vehicle on U.S. 61 near Thomas Road in East Baton Rouge Parish. State Police said the day the teen was caught, he was taken to a medical facility for injuries sustained when a gun the two boys stole was accidentally fired after their escape. He was later booked into the East Baton Rouge Juvenile Detention Center. The other teen, identified as three-time escapee Damarion Simmons, also 16, was discovered in Pointe Coupee Parish by local law enforcement several days later. Simmons has a demonstrated history of breaking out of detention centers alongside other teens. Before the duo's Jan. 19 escape, Simmons broke out of the Acadiana Center for Youth with another person on Dec. 11 and the Bridge City Juvenile Detention Center with three others on Nov. 21. 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 3-time juvenile escapee possibly in or around Baton Rouge; accomplice caught, sheriff says A 16-year-old suspected car thief who escaped from three different juvenile facilities in as many months was believed to be back in either the Pointe Coupee Parish sheriff Rene Thibodeaux previously estimated he broke into up to 30 cars before he was arrested in New Roads Jan. 8. Beth Touchet-Morgan, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice, said OJJ is conducting a separate investigation into the Jan. 19 jailbreak, noting a preliminary report found that human error played a role. Police said the investigation aims to find out how the weapon was brought into the St. Martinville facility. The probe will be headed by investigators with Louisiana State Police, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office and the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice. "Upon discovery of the contraband, OJJ reached out to local law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation," said OJJ Deputy Secretary William Sommers. "We are fully cooperating in this investigation to assure the safety of the youth in our care, our staff and the general public." Benjamin Williams of Lake Charles tosses out a bait line while crabbing in Calcasieu Pass in October in Cameron Parish. Construction on the Venture Global LNG plant can be seen along the coast of Monkey Island in the background. Mall landlords are seeking out new ways to entice shoppers back to physical stores through new offerings of interactive and food-based retailers that have proven to be internet-proof. In a new survey of 4243 Asia Pacific-based consumers across 14 countries, UBS Evidence Labs says concerns around the growth of eCommerce post the disruption of COVID-19 have weighed on the outlook for retail-focused real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate companies. But the respondents said landlords that are prepared to reconfigure the tenant mix will survive amid the rise of online shopping. Centuria Capital Group and GIC have paid $202m for the West Village retail precinct in West End, Brisbane. The UBS Bricks and Clicks survey says online continues to take market share with growth in all categories, but the gains do not signal the end of the physical mall. A few moments before discovering he was the winner of the 2022 Heath Ledger Scholarship, actor Rahel Romahn spoke candidly about his difficult journey, from a childhood in war-torn Kurdistan to a career in Australian television and film. It was one, he said, which often left him feeling lonely, unworthy and depressed. I have been a nominee in the past for a few awards, Romahn, 28, said. I have never been a winner. But in a happy twist worthy of a road-to-Hollywood story, Romahn emerged victorious from a field of more than 600 candidates to win the coveted scholarship, named after acclaimed Australian actor Heath Ledger, whose career was defined by films including Brokeback Mountain and The Dark Knight, and whose life ended in 2008. Actor Rahel Romahn won the 2022 Heath Ledger Scholarship. Credit:Janie Barrett His name, Romahn said, was the last name that I would have thought of, of the six [finalists]. Now heres a feast: the Europa Europa Film Festival is a privately curated collection of films from the conglomeration of very different countries that comprise Europe. In his welcome message on the festivals website, artistic director Thomas Caldwell says that Europe is not just the birthplace of cinema, but throughout the history of the moving image it has helped define and innovate world cinema by offering a much-loved alternative to the dominant forms of visual storytelling established by Hollywood. You could have a lot of arguments with that sentence, so why not do so after seeing one (or more) of the festivals excellent offerings? Farce meets horror in Bloody Oranges. Many of the films screening have shown at international film festivals over the past year; most are unlikely to have commercial seasons in Australia, so this is a rare opportunity to see them as they were made to be seen, in cinemas. Along with 41 new films are two enduring favourites in remastered versions: Mike Leighs excoriating mix of sex and class conflict, Naked (1993), and the disturbing Gomorrah (2008) by Matteo Garrone, which follows a group of thrill-seeking boys slipping into working for the local Mafia. From among the more recent films, here are some highlights: Bloody Oranges Classic French farce meets fierce body horror in Jean-Christophe Meurisses black comedy, which bestrides rocknroll dancing, rape and be warned a very grisly scene involving garden shears and a microwave. Theatre maven Meurisse adroitly manages the tonal change from bright social satire in a series of witty set pieces the judging panel of a jive competition arguing over how they should treat a disabled contestant; a gynaecologist reflecting morosely (and hilariously) on labial ageing; a sleazy government minister posing for cosy family shots for a glossy mag to much darker comic territory. The ministers car breaks down. He knocks on the wrong door. He drinks the liqueur offered him. Whoops. Expert reaction to the federal governments commitment to spend $1 billion on the Great Barrier Reef over the next decade has been remarkably consistent: the funding is welcome but will do nothing to save the reef from its existential threat, climate change. The worry is that it is a billion dollar band-aid, World Wildlife Fund Australia head of oceans Richard Leck said of Fridays announcement. Coral bleaching on Lizard Island. Credit: Distinguished Professor of Biology at Macquarie University Professor Lesley Hughes, an ecologist and member of the Climate Council, described the package as a band-aid on a broken leg. Associate Professor Jodie Rummer, a researcher in Marine Biology at James Cook University, noted that at 1.2 degrees of global warming the Great Barrier Reef has already suffered three marine heatwaves within five years. This has led to mass coral bleaching and mortality across 98 per cent of the 2300km reef. Of the 210 COVID-19 deaths reported in NSW between January 21 and 27, 43 occurred in aged care facilities, Dr Chant said. An additional 147 COVID-19 patients died in hospital over the past week and two died at home: a man in his 60s and a man in his 80s. Dr Chant said the vast majority of people dying from the virus in NSW continued to have not received a booster dose. Of the 18 people aged under 65 who died from the virus this week, nine were not fully vaccinated, eight have received two doses and only three had received a third dose. Of these younger people who died from COVID-19, two had significant cardiac disease, two had significant obesity, three had chronic pulmonary disease, one had asthma, four had diabetes, two had chronic kidney disease, one had severe liver disease, six had cancer, one had severe mental illness, three were already on a palliative care pathway and three had very rare severe genetic conditions. I particularly want people who have got chronic conditions affecting their neurological systems, their heart, their lungs, their livers and kidneys or that are overweight or obese to get vaccinated and the elderly to get that booster dose, Dr Chant said. We know for the greatest protection against the Omicron variant we need that third dose. Every school has received its RATs: Premier NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says the states 3000 state, Catholic and independent schools have now all received their supply of rapid antigen tests, to be used as students return to classrooms over the next week. Children will need to be tested twice a week at home under the states program. Schools will provide information to families about how the program will operate at their school. Obviously every school is different if you cant pick up your tests on day one, dont worry, Mr Perrottet said. The schools will provide your child with those tests as school commences. An extra 3400 school bus services and 200 train services will be added to the network from next week to allow better social distancing when schoolchildren return to public transport. Transport Minister David Elliott said, There are a lot of mums and dads out there that dont want to expose their kids to the virus by using public transport, thats why theyre driving them to and from school [and] I get it, which is why I specifically appeal to those parents that live close to the schools to think about walking, think about riding the bike. QR codes to remain in NSW out of caution: Minister The latest figures come as NSW Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello defended the decision to retain QR check-in codes despite NSW Health having stopped contact tracing. Loading He said it was a line-ball decision aimed at giving people more confidence to go out. There are people out there who are still scarred and still lacking in confidence when it comes to going out there, particularly with Omicron, Mr Dominello told 2GB on Friday morning. Its important that we err on the side of caution it does give you alerts on your phone and, equally, if you dont want alerts, you can turn that off. He said the QR codes were also part of a bid to align the settings in place across NSW, Victoria and Queensland. We never want to go back to lockdowns or border closures, so if we got the same settings in place on the eastern seaboard, it makes travelling a lot easier as well, Mr Dominello said. He said settings would remain in place for the next month as children return to school but that the state had got through the worst of it in terms of Omicron. The next horizon will be a potential new wave in winter this isnt going away so were just going to have to deal with it, he said. Mr Dominello also apologised to L-platers, some of whom have faced delays of more than two months in taking their driving tests, and said testing centres were facing staff shortages due to the surge in Omicron cases. We are getting back on track, were just doing our best, he said. Health authorities expect the number of hospital patients with COVID-19 will drop significantly over the coming weeks, with expectations that elective surgery will resume in mid-February. Updated NSW Health figures showed the number of people with COVID-19 in intensive care was 189 on Friday, which continues to be lower than the ministrys best case modelling released in January. NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce says discussions are beginning about the return of elective surgery next month. Credit:Renee Nowytarger There were 2737 COVID-positive people in hospital on Friday, more than the best-case prediction, although still fewer than were considered likely three weeks ago. NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce advised there had been a decline in direct admissions for COVID-19, although the number of positive people admitted for other reasons recorded as COVID-19 admissions due to the impact of the virus on other conditions had been rising. A detective will stand trial accused of leaking the address of a murder and counter-terrorism suspect to a television news crew. The charges were the result of a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation and the decision to commit to a trial came on the last day in office for outgoing CCC chair Alan MacSporran. Bryan Anthony Swift was an Acting Detective Inspector for the murder investigation into the suspect. Credit:Toby Crockford Detective Bryan Anthony Swift will stand trial in Brisbane District Court at a date to be set, after magistrate Michael Quinn said on Friday a jury could convict him. I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence upon which a jury properly instructed could convict the defendant of an indictable offence with which he is charged, Mr Quinn said. Federal Labor is promising to splash $150 million to build a freeway interchange in Beveridge in outer north Melbourne, in an election pledge aimed at shoring up its hold on the rapidly growing seat of McEwen. The commitment to build the Camerons Lane Interchange linking with the Hume Highway in the growing township of Beveridge is part of an appeal to a diversifying electorate and a bid to win over voters in new housing subdivisions with the promise of jobs. Labor leader Anthony Albanese is promising to build a $150 million interchange in Melbournes north if Labor wins the federal election. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Backbench MP Rob Mitchell holds the seat with a 5.3 per cent margin, but he suffered a swing against him in 2019 and the demographics of McEwen continue to change as new housing estates are built in Whittlesea and tree-changers move into Macedon and Woodend. Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the construction would deliver up to 2,000 jobs and the completed interchange would ease traffic congestion for locals across Melbournes north. Previously, Ramirez was the senior group manager, product public relations at Hyundai Motor North America responsible for communicating the attributes of Hyundai's entire product lineup to traditional and digital media throughout the country, including auto show strategy, new vehicle launches and ongoing content creation for Hyundai vehicles. Ramirez also spent 13 years leading product development, market launches and lifecycle management for Hyundai's lineup of cars, CUVs and alternative-powered vehicles. He has extensive multicultural experience serving as the chair of Hyundai's internal "Amigos Unidos" employee group, which is tasked with community engagement and raising culture awareness at Hyundai. Ramirez received his Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of San Diego. Ramirez starts in his new role on Jan. 24 and reports to Hyundai Motor North America chief communications officer, Dana W. White. Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Motor America focuses on 'Progress for Humanity' and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs and electrified vehicles. Our 820 dealers sold more than 738,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2021, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com. Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn Contact Michael Stewart (714) 887-2495 [email protected] SOURCE Hyundai Motor America Parachuting with Purpose: Local US Marine Corps Veteran BASE Jumps Off Camelback Mountain to Raise Awareness of Veteran Suicide PHOENIX, Jan. 28, 2022 -- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among post-9/11 Veterans. Marine Veteran and Arizona State University alumni Tristan Wimmer is returning to the skies of his hometown to bring attention to this national crisis. On Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, Wimmer will team up with four other Veterans to complete 22 BASE jumps off of Camelback Mountain22 is symbolic of the 22 United States Active Duty and Veterans who succumb to suicide each day. The jumps will be held as part of the 3rd Annual 22 Jumps event at Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, AZ, beginning 6 a.m. (MST). After exceeding his symbolic $22,000 fundraising goal in last year, Wimmer and his team hope to raise another $22,000 for 2022. Donations can also be made online at https://www.22jumps.org/donate/ or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1062751280953306/ . Wimmer's brother took his own life in 2015 after sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Iraq while serving in the United States Marine Corps. The event, 22 Jumps, began in 2020 as a tribute to his brother, but quickly drew local and national media attention, as well as support from the brain injury, mental health, and Veterans' communities, and countless families affected by Veteran suicide. Since then, Wimmer's effort, 22Jumps.org has been awarded nonprofit status and has grown into a nationwide initiative with more than $100,000 raised across several events. All funds raised go to support Cohen Veteran Bioscience (CVB), a nonprofit biomedical research organization that is dedicated to fast-tracking precision diagnostics and tailored therapeutics for brain trauma, a major risk factor for suicide. 22Jumps.org founder and veteran Tristan Wimmer stated- "TBIs disproportionately effect servicemen and women. I personally know dozens of Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and emotional management issuesmany of whom have succumb to suicide. The effects of those deployments linger long after returning home. I'm honored to fundraise for CVB, an organization that recognizes the need to develop new treatment options for the millions of Veterans and civilians who suffer from TBIs and other mental health issues to finally combat the epidemic of Veterans suicide. To move forward, Veterans need more advocates like CVB, and we need more science that embraces the complexity of this Veteran-heavy disease." Fast facts about TBIs and Veteran suicide: 19% of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans reported a probable TBI during deployment. and Afghanistan Veterans reported a probable TBI during deployment. Veteran suicides make up a disproportionate14 percentof total suicides in America. TBI and PTSD have taken an enormous toll on Veteran populations. With more than 2.7 million men and women deployed to support combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001, the likelihood and burden of these brain diseases will only increase. and since 2001, the likelihood and burden of these brain diseases will only increase. Less than 50% of all veterans in need receive any type of mental health diagnosis or treatment ADDITIONAL MEDIA INVITATIONS: Interview with Magali Haas, MD, PhD, CEO & President of Cohen Veterans Bioscience Dr. Magali Haas will be presenting "How Cohen Veterans Bioscience supports the Transformation of Trauma Care Model" will be available for interviews immediately following the short presentation held during 22 Jumps' post-event fundraising celebration. Where: Cider Corps, 31 S. Robson #103, Mesa, AZ When: Jan. 29, 2022, 7 p.m. Dr. Haas will also be available for interviews during the pre-event donor gathering. Where: Rooster Tavern, 14202 North Scottsdale Road When: Jan. 28, 2022, 6 p.m. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 to receive free, confidential support and crisis interventional available 24/7/365. About 22 Jumps www.22Jumps.org The rate of suicide among veterans is at an all-time high22 per day, according to 2012 US Dept. of Veteran Affairs study. Yet, despite this soaring statistic, scant public funding is allocated to the problem. 22 Jumps was founded in 2020 by Tristan Wimmer, Infantryman and Scout Sniper in 2nd Battalion 1st Marines, in response to his brother Kiernan Wimmer's own suicide. Kiernan was a recon and MARSOC marine who served one tour in Afghanistan and one tour in Iraq. In 2006, Kiernan sustained a massive TBI that diminished his quality of life and contributed to his decision to commit suicide. About Cohen Veteran Bioscience www.cohenveteransbioscience.org/ Cohen Veterans Bioscience (CVB) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) research organization dedicated to fast-tracking the development of diagnostic tests and personalized therapeutics for the millions of Veterans and civilians who suffer the devastating effects of trauma-related and other brain disorders. CVB is harnessing the power of biotechnology (including neuroimaging, 'omics, and biosensors) in combination with high-performance computing and data analytics to understand the underlying mechanisms of brain trauma and discover new ways to improve treatment for all patients. Donations: https://www.22jumps.org/donate/ SOURCE Cohen Veterans Bioscience Associate Editor Brent Addleman is an Associate Editor and a veteran journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He has served as editor of newspapers in Pennsylvania and Texas, and has also worked at newspapers in Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Kentucky. Republican Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, left, signs into law HB 2569 making Arizona the first state in the nation to provide universal recognition for occupational licenses as he is joined by the bill sponsor state Rep. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, at the Arizona Capitol, Wednesday, April 10, 2019, in Phoenix. Kentucky Rep. Joni Jenkins speaks to the members of the House during the opening day of the Kentucky State Legislature in Frankfort, Kentucky on Tuesday. Staff Reporter Nyamekye Daniel has been a journalist for five years. She was the managing editor for the South Florida Media Network and a staff writer for The Miami Times. Daniel's work has also appeared in the Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald and The New York Times. Sebastopol, CA (95472) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 46F. S winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 46F. S winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. This is the temporary subscription pass for users returning from the Vision Data subscription process. Your subscription will be updated within 24 hours, after your information is verified. Please click the button below to get your pass. Towanda, PA (18848) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Oneonta, NY (13820) Today Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 43F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Low 43F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Melanie joined The Daily Times in the early 90s and has served as the Life section editor since 1993. A William Blount and UT alum, Melanie is generally the early arriver who turns on the lights in the newsroom. Follow Melanie Tucker 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 Jase Graves is an award-winning humor columnist from East Texas. His columns have been featured in Texas Escapes magazine, The Shreveport Times, The Longview News Journal, and The Kilgore News Herald. Contact Graves at susanjase@sbcglobal.net. Authorities investigate the scene where three Houston Police officers were reportedly shot in the 2200 block of McGowen St., at the intersection of McGowen Street and Hutchins Street, in Houston, on Jan. 27, 2022. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP) 3 Police Officers Shot in Houston, Suspect in Custody Three police officers are in stable condition late Thursday after they were injured with gunshot wounds in a shootout near downtown Houston, Texas. The Houston Police Department announced Thursday afternoon that three officers had been shot in the 2100 block of McGowen St. The suspect fled the scene in a white Mercedes and is being sought at this time. Please avoid the area, the department announced on Twitter. HPD commanders & PIO are en route to Memorial Hermann Hospital where officers are being taken. Later, at a a news conference, Police Chief Troy Finner told reporters that officers were responding to a family disturbance call at 2:40 p.m. at a home in northeast Houston. Police were responding to a report of a shooting at the home of the suspects girlfriend, said Doug Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers Union. When officers arrived, the suspect fled in a vehicle and led police on a chase for several miles. One of the officers was shot in the arm, another was shot in the leg and the third was shot in the foot, Griffith said. The chase ended when the suspects vehicle crashed at an intersection in a residential neighborhood just off Interstate 69 on the southeastern edge of downtown Houston. Finner said the suspect, after having crashed, had carjacked a white Mercedes at gunpoint. After having fled in the Mercedes, the suspect headed to a home located several miles northeast of where the crash occurred. Officers surrounded the home, from which the suspect fired multiple times but did not hit any of the officers, who returned fire, Finner said. The suspect remained in the home until shortly after 7:30 p.m., when officers arrested him after hours of negotiations, according to Houston police. The suspect was believed to be the only person in the home. It was not immediately known why he went there, Finner said. The suspect was identified as Roland Caballero, 31, according to Andy Kahan, director of victim services and victim advocacy at Crime Stoppers in Houston. Caballero, who has five prior felony charges, was wanted for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and unlawfully carrying a weapon with a felony conviction, Kahan wrote. Criminal history records showed that Caballeros first arrest was in 2008, when he was 18 years old, reported local outlet KPRC. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a statement to local outlets he was relieved to hear that the injuries of the three police officers were not life-threatening. My thoughts and prayers go out to them, and I will be at the hospital soon to check on their recovery, thank them for their service and speak to their families, he wrote. I ask everyone to pray for the officers who were shot and for every law enforcement officer working on the streets of Houston. We live in dangerous times, and it will take all of us working together to make our city safe. Turner told a news conference late Thursday that the shooting reflects the rising violent crime in Houston and other U.S. cities over the past several years. Turner said he and Finner plan to announce next week some additional steps his administration will take to tackle rising crime in Houston. Its going to take all of us working together to have a very safe city, Turner said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. About 100 Bags of Fentanyl Found in Bedroom of Connecticut Student Who Died After Overdosing at School, Police Say From Hartford Courant HARTFORD, Conn.About 100 bags of fentanyl were allegedly found in the bedroom of a Hartford child who died this month after overdosing on the drug at school, police said this week. In a release Tuesday evening, police said that a search warrant was executed at the juveniles residence, revealing approximately 100 additional bags of fentanyl, which were packaged in the same manner as the bags located at the (Sport and Medical Sciences Academy school), had the same identifying stamp and tested at an even higher purity level of 60 percent. Police said they had found nearly 40 bags of fentanyl stashed in multiple locations within the school in a search prompted after the student overdosed. We can confidently say that the fentanyl that caused the overdose was the same fentanyl that was located in the juveniles bedroom, police said in the release. At this time, we have found no evidence that anyone other than the deceased juvenile brought the fentanyl to school. Police said the investigation into how the juvenile came into possession of the fentanyl remains ongoing. The teen has not been identified because of his age. The student, a seventh-grader at the Sport and Medical Sciences Academy school, died Jan. 15, two days after ingesting the drug, which subsequent tests confirmed to be fentanyl, police spokesperson Lt. Aaron Boisvert previously said. We will be taking custody of the fentanyl from the DEA to complete additional testing, which will include fingerprints and DNA testing, in an attempt to identify the person who the deceased juvenile procured these bags from, Boisvert said in the release. Boisvert said police have identified a person of interest in the case but cannot label him a suspect at this point. The person was not named by police. Boisvert said the juveniles mother has been interviewed and has been fully cooperative with this investigation, noting that investigators have no evidence to support her having any prior knowledge of her sons possession of the fentanyl. The fentanyl from the school and the fentanyl recovered from the juveniles bedroom were collected by the DEA, Boisvert said. This was done so that the DEA lab could expedite the testing process. The fentanyl that was tested by the DEA, which was previously disclosed as having the extremely high purity level (58 percent pure), was a sample tested from the approximately 40 bags located at the school. Boisvert said the investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with any information regarding the case is asked to call the HPD Tip Line at (860) 722-TIPS (8477). 2022 Hartford Courant. Visit at courant.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Alabama Inmate Executed After Supreme Court Clears Way A death row inmate was put to death late Thursday after the Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling, clearing the way for the execution. Death row inmate Matthew Reeves, 43, was pronounced dead at 9:24 p.m. CST after being administered a lethal injection, state Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement. The nations high court on Thursday ruled 54 to lift an injunction from a lower court that had prevented the execution by lethal injection. Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and Stephen Breyer dissented in the decision. Death row inmate Matthew Reeves, who was scheduled for execution on Jan. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Alabama Department of Corrections) The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had sided with a district court on Wednesday to grant Reeves a stay of execution, ruling that until the state could use nitrogen hypoxia, he could not be executed. Alabama then appealed, sending the case to the Supreme Court. Reeves lawyers had argued that his rights were violated under the Americans with Disabilities Act, saying that he had an intellectual disability and was not properly assisted to fill out a form that asked his preferred method of execution, a decision between lethal injection or nitrogen hypoxia. Reeves later said he would have picked the nitrogen hypoxiaa less torturous, yet untried, execution method. Reeves death sentence was over a murder conviction in 1996 after he was arrested for killing a man, Willie Johnson Jr., during a robbery. Johnson was a driver who gave Reeves a ride. Evidence showed Reeves went to a party afterward and celebrated the killing. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement that the victim, Johnson, was a good Samaritan lending a helping hand who was brutally murdered. She said that Reeves death sentence is fair, and tonight, justice was rightfully served. Kagan, in a dissent (pdf) joined by Sotomayor and Breyer, wrote that the Supreme Court has no other basis for reversing the detailed findings the District Court made to support the injunction. As the lower courts recognized, the State will soon be ready to execute Reeves by nitrogen hypoxia, she added. A short delay cannot justify dismissing, as the Court does today, the strength of Reevess suitor the careful work of the judges primarily responsible for assessing his case. In October 2021, Alabama inmate Willie B. Smith was put to death by lethal injection, after he had unsuccessfully appealed. Similar to Reeves case, Smiths lawyers had argued that he had an intellectual disability and was therefore unable to make a decision about an execution method. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 16, 2020 (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Alaska Joins Texas Suit Over National Guard Vaccine Mandate Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a lawsuit in federal court against President Joe Biden and top Pentagon officials to stop a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for National Guard members. The lawsuit is an amended version of the suit Texas filed at the start of January over the Pentagons COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in late August 2021 issued a directive that required all military service members, including the Guard to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Austin later directed the Pentagon in November to withhold federal pay or benefits, which includes monthly drill weekends, from unvaccinated Guard members. The lawsuit contends that the federal government does not have authority over the national guardsmen when they are serving the state. There has long been a clear and distinct line between when National Guardsmen are governed by state authority and when they are governed by federal authority. When National Guardsmen are serving the State, the federal government has no command authority, the complaint (pdf), filed on Jan. 25, states. In these instances, the vaccine mandate usurps state sovereignty and illegally undermines state governors authorities as commanders of state National Guard units, according to Dunleavys office in a release. Spc. Kailee Soares prepares a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine during a drive to vaccinate Hawaii National Guardsmen assigned to the COVID-19 task force response on Kauai Island, Jan. 12, 2021. (U.S. Air National Guard/Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson) Our Alaska National Guard has recently responded to winter storm disasters in Yakutat, the Interior, and the Mat-Su. What happens in the next disaster if Guard members cant be activated because they chose not to get a federally-mandated COVID vaccine? Dunleavy said in a statement. Protecting the freedom and liberty of National Guard members has fallen on responsible governors. The federal government has no authority to make health decisions for National Guard members who are at work under state authority. I pledge to protect that medical freedom and to challenge the trampling of our states rights under the 10th Amendment. The lawsuit argues the situation is not a case demanding a position of pro- or anti-vaccine, nor is it a case that challenges any aspect of the federal governments authority over National Guardsmen once federal authority has been properly established. It adds, Instead, this case seeks to have federal action cabined within federal authority, prohibiting the federal governments unconstitutional attempt to force Texas and Alaska, through their Governors, to submit to federal orders and impose federally dictated disciplinary action on their National Guardsmen. A Texas National Guardsman fixes the razor wire fencing on the bank of the Rio Grande with Mexico on the far side, in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Jan. 25, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Attorney General Treg Taylor, whose office represents Governor Dunleavy in the lawsuit, said in a statement that the federal vaccine mandate for the National Guard puts public safety and emergency response in jeopardy, while ignoring the Governors authority. We rely on our National Guard to deploy during natural disasters and perform search-and-rescue operations. They keep Alaska safe and they are integral to protecting our state, he said Per the complaint, more than 220 members of the Texas Air National Guard and about 40 percent of the Texas Army National Guard members have not opted to get the vaccine due to religious reasons or otherwise. Meanwhile, about 8 percent of the Alaska Air and Army National Guard members have not taken any COVID-19 vaccine, and 90 percent of these members have requested a medical or religious exemption but none have been granted so far. In late December 2021, a federal judge ruled against Oklahoma, which had requested to block the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guard members in the state. The White House did not respond to an email from The Epoch Times seeking comment. The Pentagon referred to Austins letter sent to Dunleavy in late January. In the letter, Austin reasserted that National Guard troops must get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to The Associated Press. Update: This article has been updated with a response from the Pentagon. A view of the town of Alice Springs in Australia's Northern Territory on October 13, 2013 (GREG WOOD/AFP via Getty Images) Alice Springs Mayor Seeks Federal Help Over Crime Crisis The mayor of the Northern Territory town of Alice Springs, Matt Paterson, has issued a plea for help to around 40 Australian federal ministers, senators, and state MPs over a crime wave that he says has brought the town to breaking point. In a letter posted on social media on Friday, Paterson said he was fed up, business owners were fed up, and so were residents. This isnt about politics, I dont care which side of the political aisle you sit on, he said. At local government level we are restricted in what we can do regarding crime but this is a call for help. Something needs to change immediately. Paterson said was not exaggerating when he claimed that each day, businesses were being destroyed, cars stolen and smashed, houses broken into, people are assaulted while walking to their cars, and intruders climbing through the bedrooms of young children while their parents slept. People no longer feel safe in their homes. Weve had tragic deaths and near misses as a result of crime in our community, the letter read. Frankly, we are at the end of the road. Among the recipients of the letter were Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt, 25 members of the Northern Territory (NT) Parliament, and NT federal Senators Sam McMahon, and Malarndirri McCarthy. The letter said the Alice Springs Council ran several youth services, and had an extensive CCTV network, as well as other infrastructure to combat crime. So we are certainly delivering on our role, it read. I am aware that we receive grants from the Commonwealth and Territory government, and for that I am grateful. However, right now its simply not enough. Paterson wrote that collaboration was key to solving the crisis, with involvement from the entire community and all institutions. Please accept this as an invitation, I am urging you to come to Alice Springs to witness this first hand, he wrote. I am sending you this letter because I believe you can help us get Alice Springs back to the amazing place it once was and I believe can be again. Meanwhile, NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said at a press conference on Friday that there was always a spike in criminal activity in Alice Springs in January, citing 17 unlawful entries in the 24 hours preceding Wednesday as an example. Its unfortunately a pressure point in Alice Springs at the moment, he said. We had significant planning in place, but unfortunately with the COVID pressures, Ive had to divert some of my resources away to provide support into various remote communities. He went on to say that the efforts of Alice Springs police have been outstanding, noting that they are working against a social welfare challenge thats been present for decades. If people want to try to raise that issue at the national level, then I think its highly appropriate people start having the conversations about what the true causation is and why the highest welfare dependency is in place in these populations, Chalker said. In Alice Springs from Dec. 1, 2019 to Nov. 30, 2020, more than 2,000 crimes were committed against a person, whereas 4,670 crimes were committed against property. For the same period over 2020 to 2021, those figures rose to 2,166 and 6,084 respectively, increases of 5.45 and 30.28 percent. In reference to specific crimes, the stand-out change over the period was the rate of commercial break-ins and house break-ins, which increased by 67.6 percent and 29.68 percent respectively. Recall Organizer Not Surprised by Bonins Decision Not to Run for Re-Election LOS ANGELESLos Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin announced he will not be running for re-election in the upcoming race for Council District 11less than two weeks after his near escape from a recall campaign that was short of about 1,400 validated signatures. Bonin, who was first elected to District 11s council seat in 2013, was reelected in 2017 by winning 71 percent of the vote. Last year, he announced he would seek re-election in the upcoming race for his seat in 2022. On Jan. 26, however, Bonin posted a series of tweets and a video saying he has decided not to seek a third term and will instead shift his focus to his health and wellness. I know this decision is surprising, Bonin said in the video, saying his position in the city council has forced [him] to focus much more of [his] time and energy on battling the negative instead of creating the positive. Some Angelenos took to Twitter to thank Bonin for his work over the past two terms. Councilmember Mike Bonin is one of the truest and sincere public officials Ive known in LA. His presence will be missed on the LA City Council. I wish you well, buddy, Andrew Lewis, a member of the North Westwood Neighborhood Council, wrote on Twitter. Angeleno and writer Alissa Walker wrote on Twitter, Mike is the rare elected official who is both honest and courageous, and he has risked everything to prioritize the well-being of families ignored by this city for far too long. Its a loss for LA, but his decision to prioritize his own well-being is a testament to his leadership. On the other hand, Recall Mike Bonin campaign organizer Nico Ruderman told The Epoch Times he was shocked, but not surprised by the news. If Bonin is suffering from mental health issues, we hope hes able to get the help he needs, Ruderman said. But if hes not healthy enough to run a campaign, then hes not healthy enough to be your city councilmember. Ruderman and Katrina Schmitt, both Venice Beach residents, launched the recall in June and submitted 39,188 signatures in November. The campaign ended on Jan. 18, however, when the city clerk announced that a total of 25,965 recall petition signatures were verified1,352 fewer than the 27,317 required. While gathering signatures for the recall, Ruderman said he learned that many residents in the district were critical of Bonin. We had a movement of over 30,000 signatures, Ruderman said. The numbers clearly show hes done. And he had no chance of winning any election, whether it was a recall or primary or whatever it was. Ruderman also said the recall campaign is currently in the process of recounting the invalid signatures with the city clerk, saying a lot of those signatures were registered voters that were thrown out on technicalities. The recall campaign came mainly as a result of residents growing frustration with Bonins handling of homeless encampments, which has become a humanitarian crisis, according to the campaign statement. Bonin, who was once homeless, champions an approach that eschews the encampment ban altogether and focuses efforts solely on providing temporary and permanent housing for the unhoused in his district. During the pandemic, Bonin declared the Venice Beach Boardwalk a sanctuary zone for those seeking shelter. Over the last summer, he partnered with Mayor Eric Garcetti on an Encampment to Home program that housed about 200 homeless people on the boardwalk. However, the councilmans approach to housing came under fire when the boardwalk, as well as other places in his district, became overcrowded with encampments as Bonin refused to enforce the citys ban on encampments for public spaces. Despite the recall efforts backed by over 30,000 signatures, Bonin maintained that he would have won a third term if he ran. Im pretty damn confident I could have won a third term on the city council, Bonin said in his video. So why am I not running? The decision is not political. My decision is deeply personal. Those running for the District 11 seat in the upcoming race include Venice Neighborhood Council President James Murez, public law attorney Traci Park, and attorney and educator Allison Holdorff Polhill. Polhills campaign consultant Michael Trujillo told The Epoch Times in an email that polls did not favor Bonin in the upcoming race. The polling I was privy to had a tough road for [Councilman] Bonin, even getting into the runoff in June, Trujillo said. [Council District] 11 is a highly educated voting community thats why Allison Holdorff Polhill and her coalition of [Parent Teacher Alliance] Presidents, public school teachers and community leaders will prevail in this race. The primary race for the District 11 seat will take place on June 7. The Apple stock market ticker symbol AAPL is displayed on an iPhone screen and reflected in the logo of an iMac computer in Los Angeles, in this illustration photo taken on May 24, 2021. (Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images) Apple Stock Bounces Off Key Level, Rallies Higher: Whats Next? Apple Inc. shares are trading higher Friday after the company announced better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter financial results. Apple reported quarterly earnings of $2.10 per share, beating the $1.88 estimate. The company reported quarterly revenue of $123.9 billion, beating the estimate of $118.28 billion. Apple was up 5.75 percent at $168.38 midday Friday. Apple Daily Chart Analysis Shares have broken out of what traders call an ascending triangle pattern and saw a jump higher. More recently, shares fell back toward the $155 level and are holding this area as support, looking to see a bounce. The stock trades below the 50-day moving average (green) but above the 200-day moving average (blue). This indicates the stock is in a period of consolidation. The 50-day moving average may hold as an area of resistance, while the 200-day moving average may hold as an area of support. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) saw a jump higher Friday and now sits at 49. This shows that the stock is seeing more buyers moving into the stock. The RSI shows that buyers are now almost equal to the amount of sellers. Whats Next for Apple? Apple bouncing off the $155 level is a bullish sign for the stock as it is finding buyers where it once found sellers. Bullish traders are looking to see the stock continue to trend higher along the higher low trendline and cross above the 50-day moving average. Bearish traders are looking to see the stock fall back below the $155 level and cross below the higher low trendline. This could cause the stock to begin a longer-term bearish trend. By Tyler Bundy 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Australia Provisionally Approves Pfizer Boosters for 16 to 17-Year-Olds Australias medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, has granted provisional approval for Pfizers comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine to be used as a booster shot for teens aged 16 and 17. The dosage for this age group will be the same as for adults and the booster dose can be administered within three to four months after receiving the primary two doses, regardless of the branding of the first two doses. This decision follows TGAs provisional approval to Pfizer for the use of its comirnaty vaccine as a booster in individuals aged 18 and older on Oct. 26, 2021. Booster doses for those aged 16 and older has also been approved for use in the United States, Israel, and the United Kingdom. Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Sunrise that this was good news. It is the first of the two green lights that are necessary. The Therapeutic Goods Administration, our medical regulator, has said that Pfizer in 16 to 17-year-olds as a booster is safe and effective, Hunt said. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) will soon be expected to provide advice and further information on when this age group will become eligible to receive the boosters. Were hopeful to get advice from them within the next week, if not earlier, Hunt said, promising that once approved by the ATAGI, boosters will be made available immediately. The minister said that booster take up has been extraordinary with 232,000 doses as of Jan. 27. Two thirds of the population that are eligible have already taken up the booster so were actually seeing a booster take up at a faster rate than the highest daily rate from first or second doses, he said. He said that those who have been infected with the Omicron strain of the novel coronavirus should still get the booster shots. That is the very clear medical advice from the Chief Medical Officer of Australia, he said. The TGA will continue to monitor ongoing trials associated with booster doses for younger children. According to the TGA, provisional approval for the vaccine is subject to certain strict conditions, such as the requirement for Pfizer to continue providing information to the TGA on longer term efficacy and safety from ongoing clinical trials and post-market assessment. Australias International Border May Open by Easter: PM Australia may have its sights set on opening its international borders to tourists for the first time in two years, offering potentially good news to suffering tourism operators impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Scott Morrison stopped short of providing an exact date for the potential reopening, but said he hoped it would happen before Easter. Well, I cant give you a specific date yet and thats because were just watching how Omicron is sort of washing over the eastern states at the moment, he told 4CA in Cairns. But with Omicron peaking, that then starts opening up opportunities. Weve got kids going back to school now in New South Wales and in Queensland very soon, and we want to make sure that goes off successfully. The government has encouraged international backpackers and students to return with a visa fee rebate, with Morrison saying that welcoming international tourists back will be the next hurdle. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks at the Citizenship and Flag Raising Ceremony on January 26, 2022 in Canberra, Australia. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images) The relaxation of the quarantine arrangements in Queensland will mean more people coming into Queensland directly, he said of the nations major tourism state. As those [quarantine] arrangements relax for fully vaccinated arrivals, then youre going to see people coming back. And with that in place, then, you know, international visitors being able to return becomes very possible. So I dont think its too far away, to be honest But weve just got to get some medical advice further on that. Bit more work to do with the states to make sure were comfortable about it. Id like to see us get there soon, certainly before Easter, well before Easter, he added. Based on restrictions currently in place, only Australian citizens and permanent residents, their families, and tourists from New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea with certain visas and exemptions can enter Australia. With Australias vaccination rates now above 90 percent, tourism business operators have been urging the government to open the international border to save the suffering industry. The tourism sector was one of the first to feel the huge costs of COVID-19. The international border has been closed to tourist markets for 678 days and counting, John Hart, executive chair of Australian Chamber Tourism, said in a statement on Jan. 27. As a matter of priority, the Federal Government must expedite the reopening of our international borders to all fully vaccinated travellers, a move that will provide the tourism industry with confidence to resume their operations. Tourists gather to watch sunset colours on Uluru, also known as Ayers rock, at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australias Northern Territory on Oct 26, 2019. (Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images) Hart called on the government to implement targeted financial assistance and other key policy initiatives outlined in Australian Chamber Tourisms newly released pre-budget submission (pdf). Without a commitment to fully open the international border, it is only fair that businesses receive support to prevent them going under through no fault of their own, he said. It is essential that targeted support measures are provided to businesses that continue to be negatively affected by international border restrictions, including travel agents, the inbound tour operators sector, the cruise industry, and business events. For the financial year ending June 2021, Australias international visitor numbers fell by 98.4 percent, international visitor spend fell by 97.1 percent, and visitor nights decreased 96.5 percent, according to statistics by Tourism Research Australia, an organisation within the Australian government. The coffee cognoscente turns their nose up at mall coffee, seeking instead to identify and enjoy the ultimate brew. We accepted the challenge to collect a sampling of the most unusual javas. Thank a Civet This coffee delivers a complex flavor and lingering aftertaste, thanks to Asian palm civets, which roam Indonesian coffee plantations eating and excreting coffee cherries that theyre unable to fully digest. The partially fermented cherries are collected from the ground, and the beans are separated, washed, dried, and roasted. To prevent animal abuse, these beans are sourced only from uncaged civets. MSRP: $399.99 for 16 ounces The Ultimate Hand-Picked Beans After a small herd of elephants in Thailand enjoy a meal of Thai Arabica coffee cherries and fruit, the undigested cherries are extracted from their dung, and the beans are washed and prepared. This rare coffee, mostly sold to five-star hotels, is said to have a delicate yet earthy flavor. $120 for a single 1.23-ounce pack (makes four espresso-sized cups) The First Coffee of Colombia Colombias first coffee plantation was established in 1835 by Don Mariano Ospina, who later also served as the countrys president. Five generations and another president later, the plantation produces flavorful Arabica beans, grown in volcanic soil at altitudes between 7,700 feet and 7,900 feet, delivering an orchestra of flavors including chocolate, orange, and jasmine. $790 for 8.8 ounces Volcanic Eruptions of Flavor Using a varietal of beans developed in Ethiopias Gori Gesha region, this coffee offers floral, peach-like notes. Grown in the rich soil on the slopes of Guatemalas Volcan Atitlan, these beans command a high price, as they require a very extensive cultivation process. $46 for 12 ounces An Old-School Approach A traditional, natural processing method gives this coffee its distinctive flavor. Most growers separate the coffee cherries from the beans prior to drying, but in this case, the cherries are left intact with the beans to ferment during the drying process. The beans absorb sweet, fruity flavors from the pulp and skin before theyre removed. $50 for 10 ounces Capturing the 5th Taste In addition to the four basic tastessweet, salty, sour, and bittertheres a fifth: umami, a rich, deeply savory taste. The Montecarlos plantation in El Salvador was the first in the world to cultivate pacamara beans, known for their relatively large size and umami flavor. $31.20 for 10 ounces Capitol Report (Jan. 27): 29 Democrats Wont Seek Reelection President Joe Biden on Tuesday stood alongside Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to officially announce Breyers retirement. He will leave his position at the end of the current termsometime this summer. Biden will announce his nominee by the end of February. Midterm election campaigns are getting startedand many House Democrats are not seeking reelection this November. Will it be an easy win for the GOP? Since the upset in Virginias race for governor, the old dominion state has seen a lot of national attention. All eyes are on Virginia again. The southern border has been under siege on multiple fronts and still continues to see record illegal border crossings and massive amounts of drugs coming through. We have the former chief of the United States Border Patrol here with us to discuss. The United States Holocaust Museum commemorated 77 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. And members of Congress wrote messages on Twitter in memory of the Holocaust, and in commemoration of the victims. The movie Unsilenced is bringing viewers to tears across the country. Its based on true eventsa Chinese student and an American reporter risk everything to expose the Chinese Communist Partys deadly propaganda. Follow CapitolReport on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/capitolreport Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CapitolReport/ Gettr https://gettr.com/user/capitolreport Tibetans, Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Hongkongers, Southern Mongolians, Taiwanese, and Chinese Democracy Activists join together for the Global Day of Action to call on governments to stand against the Chinese Communist Partys suppression of freedom, democracy, and human rights, in front of the Chinese Consulate in Toronto on Oct. 1, 2020. (NTD Television) CCP Intent on Eliminating Dissenting Voices in Overseas Chinese Communities: Canadian Government Report From identifying enemies and monitoring dissidents to manipulating local organizations, Beijing is using every means in its toolbox to silence those in overseas Chinese communities, including in Canada, it views as a threat, according to a government report. The report showed that China is actively engaged in a systematic campaign of intelligence-gathering, persuasion, influence, and manipulation against dissident voices through its Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO). The OCAO, which the Chinese regime claims protect[s] the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese, was tasked with influencing or manipulating community members and using coercive tactics against those who challenged the regime, according to the report. This involves intimidation of OC (Overseas Chinese) at every level of society, said the report, authored by the Canada Border Security Agency (CBSA) in March 2020 and obtained by Global News, which published an article on it on Jan. 26. The managing of their behaviour is accomplished through incentive or disincentive, as well as intelligence-gathering, surveillance, and subversion against OC communities. The CBSA report added that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seeks to eliminate any perceived overseas threats to its power, such as from Taiwan independence advocates and Falun Gong adherents, and relies on the OCAO, which is established in almost every country to personally liaise with local OC communities. Pro-Taiwan independence activists call for the referendum in front of the headquarters of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party during a demonstration in Taipei on Oct. 20, 2018. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images) According to Global News, the report was disclosed during a recent court case involving former OCAO employee Yong Zhang and his spouse Yuxia Gao, who were both denied permanent residency in Canada when their appeal was dismissed by the Federal Court on Jan. 19. In her ruling, Justice Vanessa Rochester wrote that while the couple was sponsored by their daughter, who is a naturalized citizen, a Canadian immigration officer in Hong Kong had deemed them inadmissible due to Zhangs previous employment with OCAO. The Officer determined that there were reasonable grounds to believe that OCAO had engaged in acts of espionage that are contrary to Canadas interests, she wrote. Zhangs lawyer Jacqueline Bonisteel told Global that her client was never alleged to have engaged in spying for China; he was just a low-level member of an organization Canada accused of espionage. He had no personal involvement, he is not a spy, Bonisteel said. The judge noted Zhang was a computer technician from 1983 until 2002, at which time he was transferred to an administrative position. She wrote in her ruling that Immigration Canada noted by the time Zhang retired in 2004, he was a chief staff member. The CBSA report shares a similar conclusion with the immigration officer as it makes the case that OCAO engages in espionage and is known to operate in Canada. The OCAO is involved in covert action and coercion against OC communities and other minorities around the world by targeting Chinese dissidents overseas, and engaging in intelligence gathering on OC and their activities, it said. The OCAO works to undermine individuals identified as threats to the CPC (Communist Party of China), and it organizes and monitors overseas Chinese business, student, cultural, media, and political networks. The CBSA report, which quoted from the U.S. government, academic journals, and news accounts, according to Global News, said the Chinese intelligence services were among the most active in the world, and were becoming more aggressive. Although estimates on the number of spies vary, it has been reported that China can rightly claim to have the worlds largest, most amorphous, but also most active intelligence sector as any Chinese, especially those from China, from student to CEO, are potential active intelligence assets, it said. Sheng Xue, a Chinese-Canadian democracy activist in Toronto, said the deeply entrenched pro-Beijing elements planted by the CCP threaten national security, and not just in Canada. The threat and infiltration of the CCP has formed a networked mode of action in democratic countries. As long as there are incidents that are not conducive to the CCP, the organizations and personnel assigned by the CCP in these countries will take immediate measures, she said in a previous interview with The Epoch Times. Gloria Fung, director of Canada-Hong Kong Link, speaks at a press conference on Parliament Hill on Aug. 30, 2016. (Jonathen Ren/NTD Television) Gloria Fung, president of Canada-Hong Kong Link, said apart from attempting to silence the business, cultural, and media sectors in Canada, the CCP is also actively looking to muzzle any politicians who are outspoken about the regimes brutality and misconduct. She cited the example of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu who lost his seat in the B.C. riding of StevestonRichmond East in the 2021 federal election. They have also interfered with the democratic integrity of the country in the recent federal election by spreading fake news about Kenny Chius Bill C-282, saying that it will lead to discrimination or racism towards the Chinese Canadians, Fung said in a previous interview. Bill C-282 is a private members bill that seeks to compel those working on behalf of foreign entities to register as foreign agents in order to increase transparency. Chiu told The Epoch Times in a previous interview that he has been a target of misinformation in previous election campaigns, but in 2021, it has been exceptional. Both the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, a special parliamentary committee, have published reports warning of increasing threats by foreign state actors against Canadas national security. The CBSA report says Beijing will stop at nothing to eliminate rival discourse or potential threats to its existence. The OCAO is focused on the elimination of threats to the regime and it seeks to undermine those threats in the countries in which it operates, it said. Noe Chartier contributed to this report A nurse administers a pediatric dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to a girl at a clinic in Los Angeles on Jan. 19, 2022. (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) Challenge to New York Revoking Religious Exemptions for School Vaccinations Reaches Supreme Court Parents of schoolchildren in New York state have filed a challenge with the Supreme Court contesting the states 2019 repeal of a law that exempted those with sincere religious objections from having to accept the vaccinations that children are normally required to receive in order to attend school. The petition comes as courts across the country, including the Supreme Court, are considering the separate, more specific issue of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations and becoming increasingly receptive to arguments that governments are overstepping their lawful, constitutional authority in combating the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The case is F.F. v. State of New York, Supreme Court file 21-1003. The petition for review (pdf) was filed with the Supreme Court on Jan. 10, with attorney Stephen Bergstein of Bergstein and Ullrich in New Paltz, New York, listed as the counsel of record. Prominent activist and attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of Peachtree City, Georgia-based Childrens Health Defense is listed on the petitions cover as co-counsel for the petitioners. Although the state of New York requires children to be vaccinated against communicable diseases, such as hepatitis B, measles, and polio, as a condition of attending public or private school, the state had recognized both medical and religious exemptions to this requirement since 1966. But in June 2019, state lawmakers repealed the religious exemption, leaving the medical exemption in place. Existing state rules dont require students older than 18 or any other adult in the school environment to be vaccinated. The petitioners in the case are parents from throughout New York, who have not vaccinated their children because of their sincerely-held religious beliefs, according to the petition. In the past, the parents had sought and been granted religious exemptionsand getting the exemption has hardly been a rubber stamp process in New York, and many school districts, such as New York City schools, rejected the overwhelming majority of applications. There is no doubt that vaccines are tremendously important to our country, the petition reads. Most people believe in vaccines and take them without a second thought. We do not pretend otherwise. But equally important to our country is the foundational principle that ones sincerely-held religious beliefs ought be respected. So vital is this principle, it is enshrined in our Constitution. As it happens, a small minority of our population objects to vaccinations on religious grounds. We cannot simply disregard these few just because most of us might believe otherwise, or because other legitimate, or even vital, interests might be at stake. Such would be antithetical to our founding ideals. Rather, we must respect all religious views, no matter how foreign or peculiar they may seem to us. The New York Supreme Court for the County of Albany dismissed the complaint and declared that the challenged repeal law was constitutional. Two state appellate courts affirmed the ruling. One of the appellate courts found that the legislation revoking the religious exemption was sound public policy and not motivated by politics or ideology. The petitioners dispute this. In supporting the repeal, various legislators, including leadership and the laws sponsors, made religiously hostile comments, rejecting the notion of a true religious objection to vaccination and belittling such objectors as anti-vaxxers and misguided fools, the petition reads. Thousands of children who were previously exempted from the vaccine requirement based on their religions objections have been evicted from all public, private and religious schools and put in the position of choosing between their religious beliefs and access to school-based education. But the appellate court sided with medical groups that describe the highly contagious nature of measles, noting that prevention will occur when 93 to 95 percent of the population becomes immune, requiring that the vaccine be given to virtually everyone who can safely receive it, according to a statement from the American Medical Association in April 2021. This court decision is an important victory for public health, Bonnie Litvack, president of the Medical Society of the State of New York, was quoted as saying at the time. As we are seeing in the current COVID pandemic, vaccinations are an absolutely essential component to combatting communicable diseases. Physicians across the state will continue to work on the front lines to ensure they protect their patients health and make sure the public is educated about the importance of vaccinations in protecting everyones health. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, supports adding COVID-19 vaccines to the list of mandatory inoculations for schoolchildren. The Epoch Times reached out to the states usual counsel in the Supreme Court, New York Solicitor General Barbara Underwood, but a reply wasnt received as of press time. The Supreme Court has directed the state to file a response to the petition by Feb. 14. Sarah Bloom Raskin, in her former role as deputy Treasury secretary, participates in a meeting of the President's Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans, in Washington, on Oct. 2, 2014. (Reuters/Yuri Gripas/File Photo) Chamber of Commerce Uneasy About Bidens Fed Nominee Raskin, Cites Her Fossil Fuel Defunding Remarks The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has sent a letter to congressional lawmakers raising concerns about Sarah Bloom Raskin, President Joe Bidens nominee as the Federal Reserves vice chair for supervision, with the lobby group citing her calls for federal regulators to pull financing from the fossil fuel industry. Tom Quaadman, executive vice president of the Chambers Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness, said in the Jan. 27 letter that Raskins past actions and comments on several fronts have raised concerns among the business community and should be scrutinized by the Senate Banking Committee. Raskin, a former Federal Reserve governor and Treasury official under former President Barack Obama, is set to face a confirmation hearing on Feb. 3. She needs the banking committees nod of approval before her nomination is considered by the full Senate. In his letter to the leaders of the banking committee, Quaadman said Raskin has been critical of the Federal Reserve for letting oil and gas companies access emergency funding programs during the pandemic, citing her op-ed in the New York Times in which she questioned why the Fed was spending so much money on a dying industry. Quaadman called on the banking committee to press Raskin for answers whether its her view that its the role of the Fed to channel money to or away from politically favored or disfavored industries, writing she has also advocated for federal regulators to transition financing away from the fossil fuel industry in her writings and public comments. Quaadmans other concerns include demanding that the committee press Raskin for assurances about Fed independence, determining whether she backs implementation of Basel III banking standards in a way that doesnt reduce the availability of credit to U.S. small businesses, and if shell commit to not imposing more stringent standards on the U.S. financial sector than is the international norm stipulated in guidelines of the Swiss-based Financial Stability Board (FSB). White House spokesperson Michael Gwin told Reuters that Raskin would bring unparalleled experience to the position and enjoys bipartisan support from a spectrum of economic experts. Bloom Raskin believes firmly in the independent role of the Federal Reserve and will work in concert with Chair (Jerome) Powell and her colleagues to identify and mitigate a range of risks facing our financial systemincluding cyber and climatewithin the Federal Reserves existing mandate, he told the outlet. Raskin is firmly opposed to the Federal Reserve allocating credit by sector or choking off sectors from access to credit, a senior administration official told Reuters. She supports the existing policy framework on climate risks that has been articulated by Powell and [current Fed vice chair for supervision Randal] Quarles. Quarles, who was appointed the Feds vice chair for supervision by former President Donald Trump in 2017, resigned in December. Raskin is one of five Fed nominations put forward by President Joe Biden. If confirmed, Bidens nominees will hold a majority of seats on the Feds seven-member board and have the power to drive Fed regulatory policies. The banking supervision role Raskin is being tapped for is perhaps the most consequential of all the vacancies, with the Fed vice chair for supervision leading policymaking on issues like climate change financial risks, community lending rules, and financial technology companies. Reuters contributed to this report. Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during their meeting on the sidelines of a BRICS summit, in Brasilia, Brazil, on Nov. 13, 2019. (Ramil Sitdikov/Sputnik/Kremlin via Reuters) China Will Play Major Role in Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Experts Tensions are mounting throughout the world concerning the possibility of a war between Russia and Ukraine. One question that has experts on edge is what role China might play in such a conflict, and how such an event could set a dangerous precedent for Chinas global ambitionsparticularly in relation to Taiwan. Russia has demanded that Ukraine never be allowed to join NATO. As of this week, it has amassed 130,000 troops at the eastern border of Ukraine to intimidate Western nations into disallowing Ukraine from ever joining the alliance and to pressure the global community away from further militarizing the region. The Chinese leadership has joined in the effort, urging cool heads while also giving cover for Russia and its history of illegal expansion. The regimes Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke about the situation during a telephone call on Jan. 27. Wang used the call to tell Blinken to stay calm and warned the United States to stop creating anti-China cliques. The interaction could signal a much-increased role for China as a diplomatic go-between for Russia and the rest of the world. A Different World than 2014 Despite the temptation to compare the current crisis to Russias illegal annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, experts say that the geopolitical and economic landscape is quite different in 2022. Perhaps the most notable difference, they say, is that China will play a prominent, if not dominant, role in any potential conflict and its eventual resolution. This state of affairs is in stark contrast to 2014 when, given the chance to support Russias claims to Crimea, the Chinese regimes leadership demurred. China did not recognize the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea because it did not want to get implicated, said Sam Kessler, a geopolitical analyst at North Star Support Group, a multinational risk management firm. They didnt condemn it either, which is important to know. The Chinese delegation abstained twice when initiatives to officially condemn the [annexation] were introduced at the United Nations, Kessler added. There were multiple reasons for declining to recognize the Crimean Peninsula as Russian territory at the time, according to Giselle Jamison, associate professor of political science and international relations at St. Thomas University. In the first, it interfered with plans for a deep-water port in Ukraine that China had invested in, Jamison told EpochTVs China Insider program. In the second, China did not have the depth of economic ties with Russia that it has now. In fact, the increasing interconnectedness of the Chinese and Russian economic spheres owes largely to the 2014 annexation, which Kessler said changed nearly everything about the U.S.-China-Russia trilateral relationship and its balance of power. The sanctions imposed in 2014 enabled Moscow to abandon most of their Western economic interests and pivot to China and the rest of Asia, Kessler said. This has streamlined significant economic, security, defense, political, and good neighbor agreements that previously had either been stalled or gradual processes. This interconnectedness means that China stands to lose much more to sanctions on Russia in 2022 than in 2014. The potential knock-on effects of Russian sanctions on Chinese markets may thus necessitate that Chinas communist leadership will engage heavily in the Ukraine crisis. A conflict between Russia and Ukraine would force Beijing to take a more solid stance than they did in 2014, Kessler said. The current circumstances and diplomatic environment are more evolved and strained between all parties involved than they were in 2014. It would impact China both politically and economically because their strategic positioning is now more direct and transparent than it had been. Kesslers comments were in line with the findings of a recent report on the issue by Christopher Miller, an assistant professor of international history at Tufts University, and co-director of the schools Russia and Eurasia program. Because China is deeply intertwined with Russia in terms of trade and, to a lesser extent, finance, it would be unable to sit on the sidelines, Miller wrote. Beijing would either have to reject US sanctions and export controls, help enforce them, or do some mix of both. Either way, China would be forced to choose. China is Key to Russian Success, or Failure That power over the effectiveness of U.S. economic coercion methods is new territory for China and means that Beijing could make or break any attempt by the United States to punish Russia for its actions. There are two key reasons, according to analysts, that indicate that Beijing would not support Western sanctions on Russia. The first is that its dependence on international trade with Russia has grown. The second is that its leadership is not incentivized to promote U.S. goals or ways of doing business. Concerning the first, Russia currently imports and exports more goods with China than any other nation. Sanctions would majorly disrupt Chinas state-owned firms and Russian-based corporations. Specifically, Millers report warns that commodity markets for aluminum, nickel, copper, and palladium could be significantly disrupted, leading to price hikes which would further compound supply chain woes for critical technologies, to say nothing of energy supplies and other sectors. Likewise, enforcing such measures would require China to go against its longstanding dedication to national sovereignty, by serving as an enforcer of the United States vision for a liberal international order, which is unlikely. There is also a tertiary problem for Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders, according to Jamison, which is pride. Pride that would prevent the regime from promoting export controls that could be used to imply that China somehow needs U.S. permission to trade with whomever it wishes. This time, if the West carries through on its most severe threats, the impact on China could be profound, in terms of economics, but also in terms of reputation, Miller wrote. If China adheres to US sanctions against Russia, Beijings economic heft will seem less significant and Americas financial power will be enhanced, Miller wrote. This raises the stakes for Beijing, which in a crisis might conclude it has no choice but to stand up to Americas extraterritorial sanction power. If so, Russia would find a valuable friend amid the crisisand the West could find itself embroiled in a two-front financial war. China Signaling Support for Russia The Chinese regime, in fact, may gain influence if the United States attempts to leverage heavier sanctions on Russia, analysts note. This is due in no small part to the fact that Beijing has made leveraging loans a strategic priority for garnering influence worldwide. If the United States sanctioned Russia, China could offer loans to cover the lost revenues, thereby simultaneously helping Russia to evade the heft of the sanctions while also increasing its own economic sway over Russia. China is very likely to not obey any Western sanctions that would be imposed on Russia since they already firmly opposed the ones placed on Iran, Kessler said. If the West imposed more export controls and sanctions on Russia, then China could find ways to violate them while imposing blame on the West for having caused it, Kessler added. To that end, Chinese state-run media has already broken with the precedent of 2014, and suggested support for Russia. The Global Times, a hawkish CCP-controlled outlet, tweeted an editorial that said the crisis stemmed from NATO cannibalizing Russias strategic space. In recent times, as the United States and its allies have taken an increasingly tough stance toward Beijings malign activities, China and Russia have grown closer. Putin is expected to visit China in February, and the two nations have implemented joint military drills on an unprecedented scale over the last year. While China is key to Russian success, however, its communist leadership is not as altruistic as Russia might like to believe. And Chinas slow shift into the leading role in the Sino-Russian relationship could carry its own price to pay for Russia. Chinese philosophy and politics, in my opinion, is a lot more long term and, in a way, [more] clever, than the abrupt nature of Putin, Jamison said. While Beijing is unlikely to directly aid in a conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Jamison said, it would help Russia sidestep any punishments, and carefully calculate the United States response. China is watching, Jamison said. Ukraine: A Precedent for War With Taiwan? The Russia-Ukraine crisis is something of a litmus test, then, for the viability of an alternative framework to the U.S.-led international order. It is an opportunity for CCP leadership to measure the effectiveness of authoritarian governance as a counter vision to the liberal-democratic ideals enshrined by the U.S.-led rules-based international order. According to Miller, China will use the crisis in Ukraine to gauge the effectiveness of the United States in responding to regional issues throughout Eurasia, and determine what the corollary responses should be. The success or failure of U.S. efforts to impose meaningful costs on Russia if it escalates will be seen as a test of whether the U.S. could do something similar in Asia Because of this, China will not see a new phase of war between Russia and Ukraine as a peripheral issue in its foreign policy, even though China has no core issues at stake in Ukraine itself, Miller wrote. In this way, Kessler said, Chinas observations of the Ukraine crisis will inform how it proceeds in its ambition to unite Taiwan with the mainland. Russia and China are very likely engaged in observing every little move the West is making and testing them to see how it responds, Kessler said. This will greatly impact Chinas future decisions regarding Taiwan, especially since Xi Jinping is facing reelection, he added, referring to the Chinese leaders bid for an unprecedented third term in power to be determined at a twice-in-a-decade Communist Party Congress to be held this autumn. Chinas ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, in an unusually direct statement, said in an interview on Jan. 27 that the United States would face military conflict over Taiwan if the islands democratic government continued to seek independence from the regimes communist government. According to Kessler, what lessons the CCP ultimately derives from U.S. efforts to sanction Russia could have profound implications for the continued success of the United States in the Indo-Pacific and abroad, as CCP officials consider the ongoing tensions to a test of American power itself. Other than Ukraine, this could lead to future military and economic decisions relating to Taiwan as well, Kessler said. The endgame for Russia and China is to very likely figure out the potency of Western commitment and resolve. David Zhang contributed to this report. Participating vessels in the historic 1862 battle have been given various namesso has the battle itself The battle that changed naval warfare forevermore, the Battle of Hampton Roads, is one of historys 10 greatest ship-to-ship engagements. No longer would wooden warships rule the waves. Armored, turreted ships with heavy rifled guns would dominate the seas for the next 75 years. Despite all the battles acclaim, the names of the ships and of the engagement itself are numerous and various. The March 89, 1862 Battle of Hampton Roads, similar to many other Civil War battles, has many titles. Nevertheless, no matter what you might call it, the battle is always recognized as a change agent. Often it is called Clash of Iron, Monitor vs. Merrimac, or Battle of the Ironclads. This naval engagement was really two distinct battles: the sinking of the wooden warships USS Cumberland and USS Congress by CSS Virginia on March 8, and the March 9 fight between the Monitor and the Virginia. Since it was fought in the harbor of Hampton Roads, Virginia, over two days and changed naval warfare forever, the battles name should be the Battle of Hampton Roads. This somewhat confusing choice of names raises another question: What is the proper name of the Confederate ironclad that sank two Union capital ships and fought USS Monitor to a standstill? Is it Merrimac, Merrimack, or Virginia? USS Monitor does not suffer from this type of identity crisis. The Union ironclad inventor, John Ericsson, was asked by Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gustavus Vasa Fox to give the new ironclad, referred to as Ericsson Battery while under construction, a proper name. Since Ericsson believed that his innovative ironclads impregnable nature and aggressive character will admonish the leaders of the Southern Rebellion, as well as prove to be a monitor to the British Navys ironclad production, he proposed to name the new battery Monitor. The ironclad was such a success that Monitor became the name of an entire class and type of warship. Merrimac, Merrimack, or Virginia? The Confederate ironclads name, however, is consistently inaccurate. The most common usage is Merrimac. This reference, used by Civil War participants and historians ever since, is incorrect. The steam and sail powered forty-gun frigate with a screw propeller built at Charlestown Navy Yard was named USS Merrimack by John Lenthall, Chief of the U.S. Bureau of Naval Construction, on September 25, 1854. Naval constructor E.H. Delano, who designed the frigate, noted the ships name as Merrimack in his plans. This warship was the first of a class of six frigates built during the 1850s. Each of the ships was named for an American river: Roanoke, Wabash, Colorado, Minnesota, and Niagara. President Franklin Piercewho was a native of Concord, New Hampshire, the county seat of Merrimack County, located on the Merrimack Riverapproved the construction of this class. He signed the act approving the appropriation and the ship names on April 6, 1854. The frigate to be built at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston was spelled Merrimack. Even though this evidence clearly documents that the frigates name should always be spelled with a k as it was named in honor of the Merrimack River, confusion concerning the rivers spelling is commonplace. The first written reference dates to 1691 during the reign of William and Mary, noting the northern boundary of Massachusetts as 3 miles north of the Merrimack River. Other references to the Merrimack spelling include Governor Thomas Hutchinsons 1764 History of the Province of Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Native American word said to mean swift water. By the mid-19th century, many writers, Henry David Thoreau excepted, had begun to drop the k. It appears that the spelling Merrimack with the k is more often used at places along the river above Haverhill, Massachusetts, a city located at the head of navigation. Merrimac without the k is the popular spelling below Haverhill. The river formed the Merrimack Valley, which is often referred to as Merrimac Valley. This region was a major textile manufacturing area. One town in the region is named Merrimac, Massachusetts, but was not established until 1876. This circumstance, and the fact that it is easier to spell Merrimack with just a c rather than a k, is perhaps why so many Civil War contemporaries used the term Merrimac when writing about the frigate. The Boston Evening Transcript on June 15, 1855, referred to the frigate as Merrimac. Frigate Becomes an Ironclad Once the Confederates raised the burned hull of the frigate, it was configured into an ironclad christened on February 17, 1862, as CSS Virginia. Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen R. Mallory and Flag Officer Franklin Buchanan, whose flagship was Virginia, both referred to the ironclad in all of their correspondence after this date as Virginia. Consequently, from February 17, 1862, the ironclad should always be called Virginia. Unfortunately, few immediately recognized this technicality, as even both the ironclads executive officer, Lieutenant Catesby ap Roger Jones, and its chief engineer, H. Ashton Ramsay, called the vessel Merrimac. Both of these men served on the frigate prior to the war, which may have caused the continued usage of Merrimac as the ships name. The Southern publications usually referred to the vessel by its rechristened name CSS Virginia; however, Northern newspapers constantly used the name Merrimac without the k. Colonel William Norris, CS Signal Corps, perhaps expressed the best summation clarifying the ironclads name proper when he wrote: And Virginia was her name, not Merrimac, which has a nasal twang equally abhorrent to the sentiment and to melody, and meanly compares with the sonorous sweetness of Virginia. She fought under Confederate colors, and her fame belongs to all of us; but there was a peculiar fitness in the name we gave her. In Virginia, of Virginia iron and wood, and by Virginians she was built, and in Virginias waters, now made classic by her exploits, she made a record which shall live together. The Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia will forever be indiscriminately called Merrimac, Merrimack, and Virginia. Whatever name is used, CSS Virginia should always be remembered as the vessel that proved once and for all that iron ships would rule the waves. This article was originally published in American Essence magazine. A Coast Guard vessel is seen from the open hatch of an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft during a patrol mission, in the Florida Straits, on July 17, 2021. (Marco Bello/Reuters) Coast Guard Intercepts 191 Haitians Aboard Sailing Vessel Off Bahamas MIAMIThe Coast Guard has intercepted 191 Haitian migrants aboard an overloaded sailing vessel off the Bahamas that was believed to be headed for Florida, officials said on Wednesday, a day after the encounter. The Haitians were taken aboard two Coast Guard vessels on Tuesday to be given food, water, and basic medical attention, and will ultimately be returned to the Bahamas and repatriated to their country of origin, a Coast Guard spokesman, Petty Officer Jose Hernandez, told Reuters. The cutters were on routine patrol around the Bahamas Great Inagua islands, about 540 miles southeast of Florida, in waters that have become hub of human smuggling operations between the Caribbean and Florida. These grossly overloaded vessels operate without proper safety equipment and are not built for these hazardous voyages, Lieutenant David Steele, a Coast Guard liaison officer for the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, said in a statement. The Coast Guard said the nationalities of the vessel from Bimini, which lies just 50 miles east of Miami, have yet to be determined. Sea-borne smuggling of Haitian migrants has become increasingly frequent as the Caribbean island nation deals with economic and political crises, as well as gang-related kidnappings. The Coast Guard said it has rescued more than 800 Haitians since October, on top of 3,900 picked up at sea over the five previous years. A box of Veklury, also known as remdesivir, sits on a counter in a file image. (Dirk Waem/Belga/AFP via Getty Images) Combination of Remdesivir and Antibodies Didnt Work Against COVID-19: Study A combination of remdesivir and a concentrated solution of antibodies did not work well in people hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a newly published study. The clinical trial tested remdesivir, an antiviral from Gilead Sciences, combined with anti-coronavirus hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulin (hIVIG), the concentrated solution, but the combination did not significantly improve favorable outcomes among the patients, researchers reported in The Lancet. The antibody solution was made using antibodies from blood plasma donated by people who recovered from COVID-19, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. About 600 patients spread across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America were divided into two cohorts for the study. About half received the experimental drug combination while the other half received a placebo and remdesivir. When measuring the outcomes among the patients after seven days following the treatment, there was little difference between the groups. Researchers reported that there was no evidence that patients who received a single infusion of hIVIG in addition to remdesivir and other standard of care had better clinical outcomes at day 7 after randomization than patients who received placebo plus remdesivir and standard of care. The hope was when starting the trial that giving people hIVIG at the onset of COVID-19 symptoms could bolster the bodys natural immune response, leading to a reduction of serious illness and death. The phase 3 trial that researchers reported the results of was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a U.S. institute directed by Dr. Anthony Fauci. Unfortunately, the trial demonstrated that this strategy did not improve the health of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 and may be harmful for a certain subset of patients. Studies testing this strategy in non-hospitalized adults earlier in the course of infection are underway, Fauci said in a statement. Studies testing the same combination in adults who have COVID-19 but are not hospitalized are underway. Remdesivir is one of the most-recommended COVID-19 treatments by the COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel, a panel convened by National Institutes of Health (NIH). Faucis institute is part of the NIH. Remdesivir was recently cleared by U.S. drug regulators for use outside hospitals. The panel said in a recent statement that remdesivir is expected to be active against Omicron, a variant of the CCP virus. Gilead said recently that its drug retained activity against Omicron in laboratory testing. U.S. regulators have effectively banned use of two monoclonal antibodies after several preprint studies found lower or little effectiveness against Omicron, which is dominant in the United States. Remdesivir has drawn criticism from some experts because of its cost and studies indicating it has little to no effect on COVID-19, though other research has suggested it does help COVID-19 patients, at least in some settings. The drug also has serious side effects including kidney failure. The World Health Organization currently recommends against its use in hospitalized patients. President Joe Biden holds a meeting with his national security team on the Russia-Ukraine crisis, at Camp David, Md., on Jan. 22, 2022. (The White House/Handout via Reuters) Companies Push Biden, Congress for Caution on Russia Sanctions WASHINGTONPresident Joe Biden has threatened to impose devastating sanctions on Russia if leader Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine, but some big companies and business groups are pushing the White House and lawmakers to be cautious. A trade group representing Chevron, General Electric, and other big U.S. corporations that do business in Russia is asking the White House to consider allowing companies to fulfill commitments and to weigh exempting products as it crafts any sanctions. At the same time, big energy companies are pushing Congress to limit their scope and time frame. The Biden administration and Congress need to get the details right in case they must follow through on the threat of sanctions, Jake Colvin, president of The National Foreign Trade Council, told Reuters Monday. Those details should include consideration of safe harbors or wind-down periods to enable companies to fulfill existing contracts and obligations, as well as carve-outs for lifesaving medicines and other humanitarian considerations consistent with longstanding U.S. policy, Colvin said. Energy companies have also reached out directly to U.S. lawmakers to press for a cool down or wind down period so their assets are not seized if they are unable to fulfill business agreements in Russia, a congressional aide told Reuters. The American Petroleum Institute, the largest U.S. lobbying organization for oil and gas drillers, has discussed sanctions on Russia with congressional offices. Sanctions should be as targeted as possible in order to limit potential harm to the competitiveness of U.S. companies, an API spokesperson said. Export sanctions are typically phased in, giving companies time to wind down their existing business, or ensure delivery arrivals, said William Reinsch, a former senior U.S. Commerce Department official. But in this case, the sanctions are likely to be applied suddenly, in the middle of a crisis, making a wind down period more difficult to secure, he said. The U.S. Treasury in the past has provided some mitigation measures on financial sanctions, such as granting licenses protecting senders of humanitarian aid and personal remittance flows to Afghanistan despite sanctions against the ruling Taliban. A U.S. Treasury official declined to comment on any such measures regarding potential sanctions against Russia, but added: We are prepared to deliver severe costs to the Russian economy while minimizing unwanted spillover. The Russian navys frigate Admiral Essen prepares to sail off for an exercise in the Black Sea, in this image released on Jan. 26, 2022. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) Crimea Sanctions Legacy Oil companies felt the aftermath of the U.S. sanctions on some of Russias more expensive drilling operations for years after Putin invaded Crimea in 2014. The measures forced Exxon Mobil out of Russias Arctic and ended the companys collaboration with Russian state oil company Rosneft, with which it signed a $3.2 billion deal in 2011 to develop the region. Exxons argued the sanctions, which slowed work on a major discovery in the Kara Sea above the Arctic Circle, unfairly penalized U.S. companies while allowing foreign companies to operate in the country, one of the worlds largest oil producers. The 2014 sanctions hit the easiest targets in Russias high-tech exploration oil and gas projects in the Arctic, Siberian shale and deep sea. New sanctions could be broader, but also tricky to pull off without damage to Western companies. One possible safe harbor measure could protect companies from legal liability for sanctions violations if certain conditions were met, said Reinsch, such as showing that a shipment went to the sanctioned country without permission, perhaps from a third country. Exxon did not immediately respond to a request for comment about any lobbying it is doing on the potential Russia sanctions. A spokesman for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the largest lobbying group for American business, declined to comment on the topic. U.S. goods and services trade with Russia totaled an estimated $34.9 billion in 2019, according to the U.S. Trade Representatives office. By Andrea Shalal and Timothy Gardner Cargo awaits to be transferred from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach on Oct. 14, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Containers Linger at LA Ports More Than A Week Before Shipping Consumer goods still wait on the ground for more than a week at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach before trucks pick them up for shipment, according to a report issued on Jan. 27. Wait times remained at an all-time high in December, with cargo containers staying on average nearly eight days at a marine terminal after they are unloaded from ships at the twin ports, according to the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. That was only about half a day shorter than the record wait times recorded in November. For cargo waiting to be shipped by rail, the average time containers waited during the holidays was nearly four days, which was the same as October, according to the shipping association. While container dwell time did not worsen in the month of December, it was still high, Jessica Alvarenga, manager of government affairs for the shipping association, said in a press release. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the average container dwell time for local containers leaving on trucks was under three days, Alvarenga said. Managing the flow of containers last year was slowed by transportation disruptions and warehouse availability, she said. Meanwhile, container ships continued to pile up off the coast of Mexico as they waited in line for a turn to offload goods at the twin Southern California ports. Marine Exchange of Southern California, which handles ship traffic at the ports, was monitoring seven cargo ships that were waiting or anchored within sight of Los Angeles Jan. 26. Another 92 cargo ships were waiting at least 50 miles away from the coast of California and Mexico, Marine Exchange of Southern California Director Kip Louttit told The Epoch Times in an email. (Courtesy of the Marine Exchange of Southern California) Once they reach the waters near the Port of Los Angeles, container ships wait an average of 13 days to dock, according to the Port of Los Angeles. At the Port of Los Angeles, more than 11,000 containers have waited nine days or more as of Jan. 27. At the Port of Long Beach alone, terminals received 1.1 million containers this year. New research is good news for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who favor thick, heavily cushioned running shoes. Although these shoes are increasingly popular because they provide comfort and a high degree of shock absorbing protection, those benefits were thought to come at the expense of increased overall leg stiffness, which alters a runners normal stride and could increase muscle fatigue. Plenty of research suggests just such a result when running on a compliant surface, like a synthetic rubber track, but no one had actually tested how the cushioned midsole of a running shoe affects overall leg stiffness. Until now. Our results show that runners do not need to worry about the amount of cushioning, says Nicholas Holowka, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University at Buffalo and first author of the study in the Journal of Biomechanics. That element of shoe design is not interrupting your normal running style in any significant or meaningful way. Runners Optimal Leg Stiffness Leg stiffness can be compared to a springs tension. If the leg alone were modeled as a single spring, that coil would have one level of stiffness. The leg, however, is made up of many muscles that control degrees of stiffness. When running on cushioned surfaces, leg stiffness increases, but thats not the case when running in heavily cushioned shoes. There is an assumed optimal leg stiffness for runners, but if you increase your leg stiffness above that point youd be using more muscles to stiffen that leg spring, which means more energy and fatigue over long distance, says Holowka, an expert on the biomechanics of walking and running. We were interested in the idea that when people run on surfaces that are elastic, with a certain amount of compliance, they subconsciously change the stiffness of their leg to maintain an optimal stiffness. Was this the same when it came to the cushioning of their shoes? At a glance, the absence of research on midsole running shoe thickness and running style seems surprising, but Holowka says the problem is more complicated than it appears. Its very hard to account for all of the factors in such a way that allows you to isolate specifically on the stiffness of the footwear itself, he says. If you try to compare different shoes, then you have design differences, like heel height or arch support, which makes it difficult if not impossible to look at the effects of the shoes cushioning. Our study was geared at looking at this one variable. And to do that, Holowkas team custom created sandals for the study. Natural Running Style The researchers enrolled 20 experienced runners and measured them in four different conditions: barefoot and sandals made from three different materials. The first sandals were a commercially available model inspired by the footwear of the Tarahumara, an Indigenous population living in Mexico who have developed a tradition of long-distance running. These sandals, made from the common shoe cushioning material ethylene-vinyl acetate foam (EVA), served as molds for two other similar designs with different degrees of cushioning. Participants ran on treadmills that measured the forces the body was putting against the ground. The researchers also measured their motions through a specialized camera system. The data contributed to a model of the leg as a linear spring, which allowed the researchers to calculate leg stiffness under the different conditions. We went into this with the hypothesis that the cushioning might change leg stiffness, but that just wasnt supported, says Holowka. The results show that your running style is still natural even when running in these heavily cushioned shoes. Our findings tell us something that was previously unknown about shoe design, essentially the extent to which shoe cushioning influences normal running style. And thats important information for runners who prefer heavily cushioned shoes, but are concerned about how those shoes affect running style, Holowka says. You can have that cushioning if you like it and still run with normal natural leg stiffness. Additional coauthors are from Harvard University and Yale University. This article was originally published by University at Buffalo. Republished via Futurity.org under Creative Commons License 4.0. Attendees take pictures and interact with the Engineered Arts Ameca humanoid robot with artificial intelligence as it is demonstrated during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nev., on Jan. 5, 2022. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) Do Robots Create or Kill Jobs? News Analysis Despite a decades-long drumbeat among some fields of thought that robotics will steal jobs from workers, a 2021 study from Management Science points to the oppositeto a certain extent. Investments in robotics predicts improved performance at companies, according to the researchers. This can lead to an increase in demand for the firms products and services, which results in the company needing more workers to meet higher levels of production. The study found that the implementation of automation led to an increase in employment for low-skilled and high-skilled workers, along with a decrease in employment for middle-skilled workers. The reduction in demand for mid-level positions could be related to a shift away from managerial needs. While managers may still be required in a company that implements automated tasks, these individuals often can supervise more lower positions, especially if some or most of these lower positions are now filled with machines. In cases such as this, there are fewer managers needed overall, and incumbent managers may be shifted to other roles when robotics enter places like factories. In nearly all cases, rather than letting employees go, manufacturing companies implementing automated solutions redeploy their assets, James DeSmet, president of CRG Automation, which provides automated packaging and custom assembly and manufacturing solutions, told The Epoch Times. There is typically an adjustment period when automated solutions are brought into manufacturing facilities, according to DeSmet. In todays stretched labor market, it can be a struggle to find workers willing to carry out difficult tasks and hard labor. Moreover, workers in these positions are often glad to step into a new role. Once employees see that the robots are doing the heavy lifting, and they no longer have to do such strenuous labor, they are usually very open to the change, DeSmet said. They might even show interest in helping to program the robots for the tasks theyll perform. The shift to automation started well before the pandemic, noted DeSmet, whose company has increased its workforce five-fold during the last two years to meet the demand for automated solutions. Companies of all sizes are making the switch, added DeSmet, from small and mid-sized firms to large corporations. CRG Automation, which is based in Louisville, Kentucky, pays its workers nearly twice the average wage of the area. The move to automated tasks is well underway in every business sector, according to Steve Reinharz, founder and CEO of Robotic Assistance Devices. Robotic devices already deliver food, take care of the elderly, perform cleaning services, serve as cashiers, and provide customer help and support, he told The Epoch Times. Some of the tasks best suited for robots involve labor that is repetitive and takes place in a controlled environment. Rather than tiring after an eight-hour shift in a factory, for instance, a robot can continue 24/7, provided the conditions are adequate. Manual tasks that can cause wear and tear on humans, such as constantly bending over to move parts from one machine to another, are also popular candidates for automation. In some cases, automated services can take the place of jobs that workers dont want. Security cameras, when coupled with AI and technology to respond to potential intruders, may be set up in residential buildings and offices that previously employed night guards. Change is here, Reinharz said. To survive, we must embrace it. The rollout of automation isnt a straightforward path, noted Sara Johansson of Onsiter, a marketplace for IT contractors and businesses. Simply adding automation isnt going to cut it, she told The Epoch Times. In addition to employee adoption, robots in places where consumers shop such as retail stores and supermarkets may not be seen as welcome right away. Consumers will need time to adjust to the idea of vehicles moving about in stores for front-of-store applications of robots, such as replenishing shelves, Johansson said. Frustration may also arise if machines in stores break down, are unable to help customers locate items, or communicate in an unclear way. Data privacy concerns are also on many consumers minds, Johansson said. Technology and automated tasks that unveil private information such as identity and financial accounts could require extra care to maintain protections. In the short term, the impact of automation may be moderate for workers of all education levels, but our calculations reveal that individuals with lower education levels may be significantly more vulnerable to being displaced by machines in the long run, Tyson Stevens, founder of EduRef, told The Epoch Times. Governments and businesses must collaborate to assist people in adjusting to these new technologies through retraining and career shifts. A culture shift toward adaptation and lifelong learning may coincide with automation trends in the coming years. Improved STEM abilities will be critical in helping people to pursue high-tech jobs created by AI and robotics, Stevens said. Soft skills will also be critical in making people adaptive and employable throughout their working careers. Emotional Story in New Movie Unsilenced Touches Northern Californians SAN JOSE, Calif.Tears and silence filled the theater as audience members processed the emotional yet hopeful story in the award-winning film Unsilenced. Based on a true story, the two-hour film follows the experiences of an American journalist stationed in China as well as two young couples. The American journalist, tired of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) lies, resolves to take a big risk to bring the truth back to America. He quickly finds himself a target of the CCP. The movie also reveals the types of persecution and torture the two couples living in China endured as they spread the truth about the spiritual practice Falun Gong. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, includes meditative exercises and moral principles based on truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. According to official estimates, there were 70 million to 100 million Falun Gong adherentsmore than the reported number of CCP membersbefore the CCP began to persecute Falun Gong in 1999. The films director, Leon Lee, said producing a movie like Unsilenced is difficult due to the Chinese regimes influence on Hollywood. Audience members in the Bay Area told The Epoch Times they felt moved by the story and hope more people can see the film. Century 25 Theater in Union City, Calif., on Jan. 25, 2022. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) Marc Frost attended a showing in Union City. He said he is familiar with the CCPs persecution and human rights atrocities and appreciates the emotional storytelling. I think it was a good movie. It highlighted a lot of the injustices going on in China and the evil done by the Communist Party, Frost said. I think its easily forgotten when people are going on with their daily lives. I think its sometimes good to remember it and see it. Its easy to become emotionally detached from the news, even if you intellectually know about it. He watched the movie with his friend Ms. Xiang. She is a human rights activist who assisted lawyers and Falun Gong practitioners in China during the 2014 Jiansanjiang incident. Ms. Xiang and Marc Frost stand outside the Century 25 Theater in Union City, Calif., on Jan. 25, 2022. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) She told The Epoch Times in Chinese that four prominent human rights lawyersTang Jitian, Jiang Tianyong, Wang Cheng, and Zhang Junjiehad been assisting Falun Gong practitioners who were being held in illegal detention facilities known as black jails. The lawyers were subsequently arrested and jailed themselves. Xiang said that after the lawyers release in 2014, they made public the news of the torture they had experienced, including being hung by their wrists, beaten, and kicked. Xiang and nearly 300 other human rights activists and lawyers went to Jiansanjiang to demand accountability from authorities. She said the film Unsilenced is well-written and exposes many of the realities she and people still in China face today. Just as the film says, many human rights activists, people with differing opinions, and other people of faith are being persecuted. They need more people to know the truth and need more attention, Xiang said. The last sentence of the film amazed me. Another audience member, Peter Yang, watched the film in Union City and expressed a wish to donate $1,000 to help with film promotion and encourage more people to watch. An overhead sign indicates that Unsilenced is showing at Century Theater in San Jose, Calif., on Jan. 26, 2022. (Cynthia Cai/The Epoch Times) Audience members in San Jose were also familiar with the ongoing persecution, and they said seeing these real stories told on the big screen made the knowledge more real. Donna was surprised by the emotional impact of the story but agreed that the ending offered a bit of hope. It really brought it to home more. It hit harder, she said. The fact that the truth is being told to more and more peoplemaybe theyll do something, say something. Donna watched the film with her friend Sally, who wished more action could be taken to address the ongoing persecution. [The movie] is a way of getting educated, because were very isolated here in America. We can say, Yeah, well, they get tortured over there, but we dont really know what thats like, said Sally. Both recommend that people see the film to learn more about the truth of the situation taking place in China today under the communist regime. Bay Area theaters extended the film showing for an additional week until Feb. 3 in response to the positive audience reception. Ilene Eng contributed to this report. This image provided by Pfizer in October 2021 shows the company's COVID-19 Paxlovid pills. (Pfizer via AP) EU Approves Pfizers COVID-19 Pill for Adults at Risk of Severe Disease The European Commission (EC) on Friday authorized the use of Pfizers COVID-19 antiviral pill one day after the European Unions (EU) drugs regulator backed the treatment for adults who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk of severe disease. Stella Kyriakides, the EUs commissioner for health and food safety, called it a key step in bringing the most promising therapeutics to citizens and a strong, second line of defense against the pandemic after vaccination. Important #COVID19 therapeutics news today @EU_Commission has authorised the use of Paxlovid in A key step in bringing the most promising therapeutics to citizens and a strong, second line of defence against the pandemic after vaccination. pic.twitter.com/xBjzNpGANf Stella Kyriakides (@SKyriakidesEU) January 28, 2022 The pill, Paxlovid, was endorsed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which issued a statement on Thursday as it granted conditional marketing authorization for the oral antiviral medicine used for treating the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19. Paxlovid is the first antiviral medicine to be given by mouth that is recommended in the EU for treating COVID-19, the EMA said. The drug was cleared by regulators in the United States and Britain in late December, although authorities noted that supplies would be extremely limited. Paxlovid is made of two active substances that come as two separate pills taken twice a day together for five days. Britain said last month it already secured more than 2.75 million courses of the drug. A similar antiviral pill produced by Merck is also expected to soon be authorized. The pills from both Pfizer and Merck are expected to be effective against Omicron because they do not target the spike protein where most of the variants worrisome mutations reside. Mercks antiviral pill against COVID-19 is seen in an undated photograph. (Merck via AP) The EMA said its decision was made based on a review of the drugs use in people who were mostly infected with the Delta variant of the CCP virus, but they believed it would also be helpful against Omicron. Based on laboratory studies, Paxlovid is also expected to be active against Omicron and other variants, the regulator said. It said the drugs safety profile was favorable and that side effects were generally mild. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis talks at a press conference in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Oct. 19, 2021. (Ronald Wittek/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) EU Defends Lithuania in WTO Action Against China Over Taiwan Dispute The European Union filed a complaint on Jan. 27 in the World Trade Organization (WTO) against communist China over discriminatory trade practices on behalf of its member state, Lithuania, regarding its relationship with Taiwan. The move comes after China has launched what has come to be a literal economic embargo and a restriction of services against the small Baltic nation last month. The EU filed a request to meet with PRC representatives in Geneva, having gathered what it sees as ample evidence from interviews with affected Lithuanian businesses over the past month. The request is the first formal step toward a WTO case that is likely to drag on for years before a final decision is reached. These actions, which appear to be discriminatory and illegal under WTO rules, are harming exporters both in Lithuania and elsewhere in the EU, as they also target products with Lithuanian content exported from other EU countries, said the EU in a statement. As attempts to resolve this bilaterally have failed, the EU has resorted to initiating dispute settlement proceedings against China. China had demanded that the EU not get involved with what it considers a mere bilateral dispute with Lithuania. Last August, Beijing recalled its ambassador to Lithuania and demanded that it summon back its ambassador from Beijing in response to a Lithuanian decision to deepen ties with Taiwan, which the Chinese regime claims as a rogue province. Lithuania permitted a Taiwanese diplomatic presence in its capital of Vilnius and agreed that the Taiwanese office would bear the name Taiwan instead of Chinese Taipei, which is the name used by most countries with relations with Beijing. In December, China began imposing an import and export ban on Lithuania and put international pressure on companies in the EU to cease supply and logistics operations in the Baltic state. The Chinese communist regime subsequently blocked goods from France, Germany, and Sweden that contained components made in Lithuania. Lithuanias exports to China dropped by more than 90 percent in December compared to the same month in the previous year. The Chinese regime followed up with a declaration that any political moves in favor of Taiwan violated the spirit of the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Lithuania. Chinas actions against Lithuania have been viewed by Brussels as an attack on the blocs single market, which Lithuania joined in 2004. The trade bloc views any economic move against one member state as a trade attack against all. The EU has officially protested the Beijing regimes violation of WTO rules, in a letter sent by EU Ambassador to the WTO Joao Aguiar Machado to his Chinese counterpart Li Chenggang. These measures predominantly concern goods or services from or destined for Lithuania or linked in various ways to Lithuania, but also have an effect on supply chains throughout the EU, said Machado. In response to the filing, communist Chinas foreign affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian insisted that Brussels should move to counter Lithuanias actions. We also advise the EU to distinguish right from wrong, remain vigilant against Lithuanias attempts to hijack ChinaEU relations, and persuade Lithuania, like other EU member states, to fulfill the political commitments it made as establishing diplomatic relations with China, warned Zhao. We urge Lithuania to immediately correct its mistake, he added. European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis defended the EUs stance in a statement. Launching a WTO case is not a step we take lightly. However, after repeated failed attempts to resolve the issue bilaterally, we see no other way forward than to request WTO dispute settlement consultations with China, said Dombrovskis. The EU is determined to act as one and act fast against measures in breach of WTO rules, which threaten the integrity of our Single Market. China is putting pressure on international companies to abandon the use of Lithuanian components in their production, said Dombrovski, or otherwise, they may face import restrictions. We are in parallel pursuing our diplomatic efforts to deescalate the situation, he added, but said that our relationship requires mutual respect. Let me be clear: these measures are a threat to the integrity of the EU single market so it affects the entire EU trade and EU supply chains, and they have a negative effect on EU industry. The Lithuanian government said it was grateful for the support from its allies. This step is a clear message to China that the EU will not tolerate politically motivated actions of economic coercion, said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. Beijing denies that it has involvement in directly pressuring international companies to abandon Lithuania and other related markets. The EU slammed the denials as false, saying the measures are attributable to China and are most likely in concert with the government, said Machado. Brussels says that it has ample evidence of China actively blocking Lithuanian and other European exporters from its market in violation of WTO rules. The EU has said it will first formally ask Beijing for a consultation to clarify its actions against Lithuania, in order to settle the trade dispute. The Chinese regime has the right to accept or reject the consultation designed to quickly arbitrate the dispute, without resorting to a drawn-out process before it heads to the WTO for a decision. A woman holds smartphone with Facebook logo in front of a displayed Facebook's new rebrand logo Meta in this illustration picture taken on Oct. 28, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters) Facebook Wins Conditional EU Antitrust Nod for Kustomer Deal BRUSSELSFacebook on Thursday secured EU antitrust approval for its acquisition of U.S. customer service startup Kustomer after agreeing to provide rivals free access to its messaging channels for 10 years. The European Commission said the pledge addressed competition concerns. Reuters reported last month that the worlds largest social network would gained conditional EU clearance for the deal. Our decision today will ensure that innovative rivals and new entrants in the customer relationship management software market can effectively compete, EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. Kustomer, which sells CRM software to businesses so they can communicate with consumers by phone, email, text messages, WhatsApp, Instagram, and other channels, would help Facebook scale up its instant messaging app WhatsApp, which has seen usage soar during the COVID-19 pandemic. A buying spree of startups by big companies has triggered concerns on both sides of the Atlantic, with regulators worried about so-called killer acquisitions aimed at shutting down potential rivals before they are big enough to be a threat. By Foo Yun Chee Vice President Mike Pence reads the final certification of Electoral College votes cast in November's presidential election during a joint session of Congress after working through the night, at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021. (J. Scott Applewhite, Pool) Federal Prosecutors Probing False Electoral College Submissions in Several States Federal prosecutors are probing 2020 Electoral College submissions that they say falsely declared former President Donald Trump the winner of several states he lost. Our prosecutors are looking at those, and I cant say anything more on ongoing investigations, Lisa Monaco, the Justice Departments deputy attorney general told CNN. Attorneys general in Michigan and New Mexico told The Epoch Times that they have referred investigations related to illegitimate Electoral College results to federal prosecutors. While review under state law is ongoing, our office has referred this matter to the United States Attorney, Fred J. Federici, a spokesperson for New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas, a Democrat, told The Epoch Times in an email. A spokesperson for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat, said in an email, Our department still has an open investigation and we will continue to cooperate with the federal authorities as we pursue parallel efforts. According to nonprofit watchdog group American Oversight, public records requests and disclosures show the submissions were also sent in by Republican Party officials in Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Officials in Pennsylvania said a clause inserted into the documents there means our office does not believe this meets the legal standards for forgery. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, told reporters recently that the federal government should investigate the matter. The Republican parties in the seven states didnt respond to requests for comment or couldnt be reached. The electoral documents from the states were not accepted by Congress on Jan. 6, 2021. Some Republican members of Congress that day objected to electoral votes from several states where fraud was alleged to have occurred, but the objections were overruled and Joe Biden was certified as the winner of all of them. Some Republicans have said what they did is being misconstrued, including David Shafer, head of the Georgia Republican Party. We were told by the lawyers that if the Republican nominees for the Electoral College did not meet on Dec. 14 and cast their votes, then Trumps lawsuit would be mooted because there would be no remedy available to him if he prevailed, he told the Washington Examiner. So we met to preserve his remedies if he prevailed. Shafer said on Twitter at the time that, with Trumps lawsuit contesting the Georgia election still pending, the group was forced to meet and cast their votes. If they had not, he wrote, the presidents pending election contest would have been effectively mooted. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. The Exiles is all about unfinished business. In 1989, documentarian Christine Choy started filming the exiled Chinese student leaders who were trying to continue their movement in America, shortly after the Tiananmen Square massacre. Since she had not been there in the square, she did not feel a close connection to her subjects, so when she ran out of money, she simply dropped the project. She also assumed that the world would force the communist government to come to some sort of understanding with the student protesters. Obviously, the campaign for democratic reform in China remains just as unfinished as her film, if not more so, since now some of her footage will finally be seen by audiences. Decades later, Choy reconnects with three of the most prominent activists she nearly documented, in Violet Columbus and Ben Kleins The Exiles, which premiered during the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Choy is best known for the Oscar-nominated Who Killed Vincent Chin, but for former students like Columbus and Klein, she is the blunt-spoken, chain-smoking, vodka-swilling Ab-Fab-ish film professor who constantly inspired them. She was born in Shanghai but raised in South Korea, before moving to America to study and work. The first 15 minutes of The Exiles establishes her leftist credentials in glorious detail. That might alienate some viewers, but no Chinese Communist Party trolls can credibly accuse her of being a CIA plant or the like. Choy was originally approached to document the student leaders-in-exile, because she spoke Mandarin and had the necessary micro-budget skills. For years, Choy kept the resulting film cans in storage, with no clear plan for them. Then, with financial assistance from a famous colleague, she started the process of restoring the footage. In the light of current events, her previously unseen film takes on fresh new significance, especially in light of the ongoing Uyghur genocide in Xinjiang. (Men, LR) Yan Jiaqi, Wuer Kaixi, and Wan Runnan appear in The Exiles, by Ben Klein and Violet Columbus. The film was awarded the U.S. Documentary Competition Grand Jury Prize at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. (Christine Choy/Courtesy of Sundance Institute) Of the three focal student-activists, Wuer Kaixi was the most widely known during the demonstrations. In the film, he is probably the most emotionally honest and revealing interview subject, and he is Uyghur (describing himself as Uyghur by blood, Chinese by birth, Taiwanese by choice), which is significant. Ostensibly, he is still wanted in the PRC, and he has tried to turn himself in, in the hope that he might finally see his family again by doing so. But Chinese embassies have perversely rebuffed his attempts to surrender himself. Yan Jiaqi should have been one of Chinas greatest scholars, but he remains haunted by the Peoples Liberation Armys assault on the square. Like most of his colleagues, he never believed the government would open fire on the studentsa nightmare that still haunts him. In contrast, Wan Runnan was not even a student at the time. The entrepreneur was well on his way to becoming a tech tycoon, but he believed that his country needed the modernizing reforms the students advocated, so he financially supported their demonstrations. Yan Jiaqi and Wan Runnan also have plenty to say about the price they paid and the dismal state of human rights in mainland China. Their testimony is gripping stuff, but The Exiles is most powerful when Choy shows the three men in the previously unseen footage she shot of the exiled activists in their idealistic youth. It is a bittersweet viewing experience for them and us. With brutal honesty, they admit that they are not sure whether they would do it all again if they had the choice. Yet, they also admonish the West for emboldening the CCP regime with its weak response to the massacre. This is a profoundly sad film in many ways. It intimately documents the acute pain and survivors guilt of the three aging activists, while supplying solid context to understand the full enormity of the Tiananmen crackdown. At a time when Beijings puppet government in Hong Kong is tearing down Tiananmen Square memorials, the rest of the world should redouble our efforts to remember the massacre. A film like this definitely helps toward that end. Frankly, the caustic Choy is sometimes a bit of a distraction, but she still deserves credit for shooting the footage and keeping it secure over the subsequent years. It needed and needs to be seen. Highly recommended for the exiles themselves and the warning they issue regarding the danger represented by the CCP regime, The Exiles premiered at this years Sundance. The Exiles Directors: Violet Columbus and Ben Klein Starring: Christine Choy Rated: PG Running Time: 1 hour, 35 minutes Release Date: 2022 Rated: 4 stars out of 5 Joe Bendel writes about independent film and lives in New York. To read his most recent articles, visit JBSpins.blogspot.com A view of a street is seen in the city of Marib, Yemen, on April 7, 2021. (Ali Owidha/Reuters) Five Dead, 30 Hurt in Missile Strike on Yemens Marib-State Media ADENAt least five people were killed and 34 injured in what Yemeni-government media said was a Houthi missile strike on Marib city on Wednesday night, state news agency SABA said on Friday. Marib city is the Yemeni governments last northern stronghold. It sits in an energy-producing region which has been the focus of fighting over the past year, during which Iran-aligned Houthi forces advanced towards the city. The fighting for Marib has dashed U.N.led ceasefire efforts as both sides ramped up military operations. Aid agency Save the Children late on Thursday said 28 civilians had been killed or injured and that international law must be respected in Yemens seven-year conflict. Civilians must be spared the horrors of ongoing fighting, it said in a Twitter post. In the past few weeks the Houthis have launched a number of missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, which leads a coalition backing the governments fight against the Houthis, and two unprecedented attacks on the United Arab Emirates, a coalition member. The Saudi-led coalition has in recent weeks stepped up air strikes on Houthi areas in Yemen, including on a detention center that killed around 90 people. (L-R) Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, attend a briefing on the administration's CCP virus response in the press briefing room of the White House in Washington on March 2, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Former CDC Director: Fauci-Shaped Paper on Origins of COVID-19 Antithetical to Science The claim that the virus that causes COVID-19 definitely was not from a laboratory, put forth in a paper quietly shaped by Dr. Anthony Fauci that was cited by other scientists who called the lab idea a conspiracy theory, was antithetical to science, a former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director says. The purpose of science is to have rigorous debate about different hypotheses. Ive never really experienced in my life where there was private telephone calls among scientists that had a decision on what position they would take collectively, and to see that position then published in a scientific journal like Lancet, to say that individuals that thought like myself, had a different scientific hypothesis, somehow had to be put down and viewed as conspirators, this is really antithetical to science, Dr. Robert Redfield, the agencys head until Jan. 20, 2021, said during a Jan. 26 appearance on Fox News. Emails recently made public show that Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), played a key role in shaping a paper published by Nature in early 2020. The authors, most of whom messaged repeatedly with Fauci, joined him on a teleconference shortly before the paper was published, and have since received millions from Faucis agency, claimed that their analyses clearly show that SARS-CoV-2 is not a laboratory construct or a purposefully manipulated virus. SARS-CoV-2 is another name for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19. The Nature article was one of those cited by EcoHealth Alliance founder Peter Daszak and a separate group of scientists in an article later published in The Lancet. We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin, wrote Daszak, whose group funneled money from Faucis agency to scientists in Wuhan, China, and the other authors. Many experts later acknowledged theres no clear evidence that the CCP virus has a natural origin, and some have said the bulk of the evidence points to it coming from the set of laboratories in Wuhan. Redfield is one of them. I dont think its biologically plausible that this virus emerged from a bat to some intermediate species into humans and became one of the most transmissible viruses that we know in human disease. This virus clearly had a detour and that detour was being educated how to infect human tissue in the laboratory. I think thats the most plausible explanation, he told Fox. Dr. Francis Collins, Faucis boss when he was the head of the National Institutes of Health, and Fauci were trying to protect science by suppressing debate over the virus origins, Redfield posited. The problem is, theres very limited data to support their position, he told Fox. Asked if Fauci, who has been in his position since 1985, should be fired, Redfield demurred but said he did think Fauci should reflect on this and then provide the science leadership that we need to move forward. I have a lot of respect for him over the years. I think he needs to step back and not try to second guess and make things a way that he thinks the world can hear. We should just tell the truth, Redfield said. NIAID didnt respond to requests for comment. Redfield also said that he believes scientists will eventually solve the mystery of the origin of the virus. An RCMP officer sits outside a home surrounded by police tape where four people were found dead Tuesday, in Richmond, B.C., on Jan. 26, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) Four Deaths From Same Family in Richmond, BC, Was an Isolated Incident, Police Say RICHMOND, B.C.Police say two men and two women who were found dead at a home after a shooting in Richmond, B.C., were from the same family. Sgt. David Lee of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said the identities of the four people arent being released until their family members have been notified. This is a tragic loss of life, but we are able to confirm the community is not at risk, Lee said Thursday. Based on evidence collected at the scene and other information available to us, were able to confirm that all persons involved in, and responsible for the homicide, were located at the scene. There are no suspects at large and (we are) not looking for any additional persons. He said investigators have confirmed that the shooting was an isolated incident and the deaths are not a result of partner violence. Lee said one of the deceased had a valid firearms licence and access toguns. The family members had no known associations to criminal activities, he said. The two men and two women were found in the home Tuesday, although police say they have confirmedthe shootings happened on Monday evening. There was a call to British Columbia RCMP for a suspicious occurrence at the house (on Tuesday) and the police responded to check on the family right away, Lee said when asked about the delay. He said a search warrant was executed Thursday that allowed officers to continue their investigation at the scene with the help of the BC Coroners Service and the Integrated Forensic Identification Section. A timeline of events is being constructed and a motive has not yet been determined, police said. Investigators are still interviewing witnesses and are asking that anyone who was in the area on Jan. 24 or has information to contact the homicide team. By Brieanna Charlebois Marvin Kincy (C), Tioni's uncle, speaks at a press conference before the funeral for 16-year-old Tioni Theus in Los Angeles on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Funeral Held for 16-Year-Old Girl Found Dead Near South LA Freeway LOS ANGELESOne day after a reward fund swelled in hopes of generating tips leading to the killer of Tioni Theus, funeral services were held Jan. 27 for the 16-year-old girl who was shot and left alongside a South Los Angeles freeway. Tionis body was discovered Jan. 8 on the side of the Harbor (110) Freeway on the Manchester Avenue on-ramp near South Figueroa Street. Tioni was last seen Jan. 7 after telling a family member she was going to meet a friend to go to a party, officials said. No suspect description was available. The state on Wednesday added $50,000 to a growing reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the teens death. The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a $10,000 reward in the case. Los Angeles City Councilmen Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Curren Price have introduced a motion for the city to offer another $50,000. That motion is expected to be approved in the next week. Darius Jackson (C), father of Tioni, is embraced after the funeral for 16-year-old Tioni Theus, whose body was discovered on the side of a freeway in South Los Angeles after she was shot and killed, in Los Angeles on Jan. 27, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) A host of elected officials, including District Attorney George Gascon, had a news conference Wednesday reaching out for public help tracking down the girls killer or killers. The district attorney said there is evidence indicating that this young girl may have been the victim of human trafficking, and noted that the investigation into her death is ongoing. We need the publics help, Gascon said. Please help bring Tionis murderer to justice, and if you have any information, please contact the California Highway Patrol. Gascon did not elaborate on the human-trafficking allegation. The girls cousins told the Los Angeles Times last week that Tioni had been pulled into prostitution and theft by a man she met on Instagram. Were definitely not pretending that Tioni was an angel, cousin Nafeesah Kincy told the paper. She faced trauma. I want to humanize her. I dont want her to be seen as a prostitute or a runaway or somebody that people feel like Oh, well, they live that lifestyle. Its so many young women out here being victimized and being taken advantage of physically and sexually. So, its my cousin today. But it could be your cousin, your daughter, your friend tomorrow, Kincy added. Speaking to reporters prior to Thursdays funeral service at the Winston Mortuary in Los Angeles, relatives again called out for public help finding her killer. I dont want anybody else to have to go through this, Tionis father, Darien Jackson, said. And we know they will, but I hope that we can do something to eliminate some of the things that are happening to our babiesboys and girls. Its just not girls. The CHP asked anyone with information about her killing to call the agency at 323-644-9557. Financier George Soros attends the official opening of the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) at the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin, Germany, on June 8, 2017. Sean Gallup/Getty Images George Soros Pours $125 Million Into Super PAC Ahead of 2022 Midterms Left-wing billionaire George Soros handed over $125 million to a Democrat-aligned super PAC to boost Democrat groups and candidates ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. The controversial 91-year-old investor confirmed to Politico on Friday his plans, saying the large donation to Democracy PAC, which he set up in 2019 as his main political action committee to support Democrats, is a long-term investment beyond the 2022 elections. Soros said that the new infusion of funding will back pro-democracy causes and candidates, regardless of political party and who are involved in strengthening the infrastructure of American democracy: voting rights and civic participation, civil rights and liberties, and the rule of law. Soross son, Alexander Soros, will serve as Democracy PACs president. The younger Soros issued a statement to news outlets about the development, immediately making reference to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. According to his statement, Soros said he believes there is an existential threat to our democracy by alleged attempts to discredit and undermine our electoral process. It is a generational threat that cannot be addressed in just one or two election cycles, Alex Soros said. Democracy PAC is now positioned to pursue its mission of preserving and protecting our democracy well into the future. Democracy PACs spending will be uploaded on Monday, Jan. 31, after it files with the Federal Elections Commission, according to Politico. In recent years, Soros has courted controversy for his donations to left-wing candidates, including district attorneys who have promoted and enforced policies that critics say allow criminals and repeat offenders to be allowed back on the streets. Soros in May 2021 gave $1 million to the Color of Change PAC, whose website explicitly calls for defund[ing] the police, according to Federal Election Commission records. Soros also contributed some $300,000 to Chicago District Attorney Kim Foxx for her first campaign in 2016 and another $2 million for her reelection in November 2021, records show, according to the New York Post. Hes also provided funds to controversial Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon, who is facing a recall after critics say his office has taken a soft stance on crime, as well as providing $1 million to newly elected Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, among others. Earlier in January, Bragg, a Democrat, announced in a memorandum (pdf) that he will not prosecute certain offenses, including marijuana misdemeanor, not paying public transportation fare, trespassing except a fourth degree stalking charge, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration in certain cases, and prostitution. And in 2020, Soros Open Society Foundations poured some $220 million into initiatives that seek to advance left-wing racial justice causes. The Epoch Times has contacted Soros Open Society Foundations for comment on the $125 million donation. Germany: Pesticide Misuse Suspected in Deaths of 2 Children BERLINProsecutors in Germany said Thursday that misuse of pesticides may have led to the deaths of two young children whose bodies were found in their home near Frankfurt this week. First responders arriving at the house in the town of Karlstein early Monday were unable to revive the five-year-old girl and her four-year-old brother. Tests in the building showed the presence of phosphine, a highly toxic chemical. The childrens 49-year-old father told investigators that he had used pesticides in the house. Authorities said this may have resulted in a chemical reaction which produced phosphine, though the precise cause of the childrens death hasnt yet been determined. Prosecutors said the father is being investigated on two counts of causing death by negligence. A 3D printed Facebook's new rebrand logo Meta is seen in front of the displayed Google logo in this illustration taken on Nov. 2, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters) Google Versus Facebook: Tech Giants Back Rival Mobile Phone Operators in India Alphabet Inc.-owned Google will invest up to $1 billion in Indias second largest telecom operator Bharti Airtel, two years after Mark Zuckerberg-led Facebooksnow renamed as Meta Platforms Inc.smega funding in Reliance Jio Platforms. What Happened The deal involves Google investing $700 million to buy a 1.28 percent stake in Airtel at a price of about $9.9 a share and also pump in up to $300 million toward potential multi-year commercial agreements, Airtel said in a regulatory filing on Friday. The New Delhi-based Airtel said the deal will help boost its 5G plans across smartphones of all price ranges. It would also push the cloud ecosystem for businesses across India. As a part of its first commercial agreement, Airtel and Google will work together to build on Airtels extensive offerings that covers a range of Android-enabled devices to consumers via innovative affordability programs, Airtel said. The deal, it said, is also aimed at lowering the barriers of owning a smartphone across a range of price points, in partnership with various device manufacturers. Google CEO Sundar Pichai had in 2020 said the company would invest about $10 billion for the India Digitization Fund over the next five to seven years. Why It Matters The investment is the latest instance of growing interest in Indias 1.8 billion mobile users from U.S.-based tech giants. Google and Meta productsGoogle search, Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsAppare immensely popular in India where operators are running 5G trials ahead of the expected commercial deployment this year. Meta Platforms had in 2020 invested $5.7 billion in Reliances Jio Platforms, the largest privately-held telecom company owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambanis listed company Reliance Industries. By Rachit Vats 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Government Overreach Is Coming to an End: Massive Truck Convoy Heading to Washington After Ottawa American truckers protesting against vaccine mandates and government overreach have been joining a record-breaking Canadian convoy of tens of thousands of vehicles headed to Ottawa. Brian Von D, the administrator at Convoy to DC 2022 announced that they will join forces to ride from California to Washington, adding that America is next. As [the Canadian convoy] moved from the west to the east, [the American truckers] have been filtering into this convoy, and it is absolutely massive. It is known worldwide, it is the largest thus far, he said in a live video on Facebook. Tens of thousands of vehicles were reported to have departed from all parts of Canada. Truckers and supporters depart on a cross-country convoy destined for Ottawa to protest a federal vaccine mandate for truckers in Delta, B.C., on Jan. 23, 2022. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press) A large number from the United States have been joining along the way. Brian clarified that some numbers running around on social media about the trucks joining the convoy are not correct. A post says 100,000 to 5,000. Those arent correct. Somebody made those numbers up. Theres no way for us to put a number on exactly how many United States trucks have gone over there. Speaking about the upcoming U.S. convoy, he said it will start in California and it will end in DC and were gonna stay there, just like Canada is doing, Brian said. Youre gonna have your main artery everybody will join in as they go down the interstate to DC. He added that dates and planned routes would be released soon on a website and various social media platforms, and a GoFundMe page would only be released on their CONVOY TO DC 2022 Facebook page. Were done with the mandates, were done with the government telling us what to do, we will continue and we will follow just like the rest of the world on these trucker protests, and they will be 100 percent legal, they will abide by the law. Brian added that nobody has been kicked out of the convoy so far for failing to abide by agreed-upon terms. Its been a unity that Ive never seen before, not anywhere in the north. Canada has definitely shown thatthe most peaceful protest in the convoy I have seen to date, Brian further stated. America, its your turn, its your turn to step up and show what youre made of. We dont care what side youre on, we dont care where youre from, if you live in America, in Canada, or anywhere you may come from, were doing it for you, he said. Businesses of different sizes, as well as families in the two countries, have helped the convoys with food, shelter, and gas. As they passed through different cities, videos on Facebook show they were greeted with long rows of people cheering and holding Canadian flags, with some shooting off fireworks. He added that theyre also doing it for the trolls that are disrupting their various pages. Were actually doing it for the trolls too. So they can work and live their lives too. So it doesnt matter. We love you all. America, its time to stand up. Welcome to the finale of the show. We love you. God bless you. The massive event has seen little reporting so far by the corporate media. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the people who are on their way to Ottawa a small fringe minority that is holding unacceptable views during a press conference on Jan. 26. He then announced on Jan. 27 he came into contact with someone infected with COVID-19 and has gone into self-isolation. He told The Canadian Press that he tested negative, feels fine, and has no symptoms. Not Essential Workers Brian said that during the pandemic, truckers were not able to pull in to eat or shower freely due to their not having been considered essential, and didnt receive funds or stimulus checks. The government has completely extended their arm and their reach to control for far too long and far too easy and made money off of you. To tell us what to do. We elected those officials in, now its time to elect them out. Its all by design so you can see the corruptness and youre awake to it. There is no hate in this group, Brian added. The government overreach is coming to an end, and this is how we do it. If you go back to America, in 1776, it took one shot to be heard. The British came over, an entire army came over. And it was villages that beat the British, an entire army, Brian noted, Well, we dont do it that way anymore. Its not violent like that anymore. Brian added that they had a plan that has worked to a T. All you do is get in and drive and be a part of something that is now making history that will be in the history books, it will forever be known in 2022 that you are part of this worldwide movement. You, not us. Were together with you. Were just the voices to get it out. One voice can be heard worldwide. And thats through you the people. International Support More U.S. truckers joined the protesting efforts after the creators of Freedom Fighter Nation, Attorney Leigh Dundas and her paralegal and personal assistant Maureen Steele, started organizing in the United States. Our wonderful country is mobilizing! People who have been numbed and stunned over what has transpired over the past two years are waking. They are now doing and we are coordinating and moving in an intentional manner, Steele told The Epoch Times. Steele said that Australia is mobilizing its own convoy now, and more rally points in the United States are being established, with thousands to attend at each one. We are taking our country back. Make no mistake, we the patriots and freedom lovers are the majority. The 20-25 percent that want socialism or communism that is the MINORITY. It doesnt matter right now who is left or who is right, none of that matters if we lose our freedom. Freedom is a banner we can all rally under. Liberty crackles through all of our veins. God bless our Canadian brothers and sisters for reminding us we are fighters! Thanks for the nudge. We are awake. AWAKE. I saw a post on a Canadian site that said you woke the sleeping lions. Well, America just got a wake-up call from our Canadian neighbors, and guess what? Im putting the world on notice. They woke the fire-breathing dragon!! Steele further noted. Other countries such as Brazil have organized their own convoys, expressing solidarity for the cause. Willow, the Biden family's new pet cat, wanders around the White House on Jan. 27, 2022. (Erin Scott/The White House via AP) Here, Kitty: Bidens Welcome Cat Named Willow to White House WASHINGTONFor the first time in more than a dozen years, a cat is living at the White House. Her name is Willow, and shes a 2-year-old, green-eyed, gray and white farm cat from Pennsylvania, who first caught the eye of First Lady Jill Biden out on the campaign trail. Willow is settling into the White House with her favorite toys, treats, and plenty of room to smell and explore, said Michael LaRosa, the first ladys spokesperson. Jill Biden had said that they would bring a kitty to the White House, but months passed without a sighting or word of when she would arrive. Then last month, the White House said the cat would come in January. Willow is named after the first ladys hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Willow, the Biden familys new pet cat, wanders around the White House on Jan. 27, 2022. (Erin Scott/The White House via AP) The short-haired tabby made quite an impression on Jill Biden after she jumped up on stage and interrupted her remarks during a 2020 campaign stop in Pennsylvania, LaRosa said. Seeing their immediate bond, the owner of the farm knew that Willow belonged with Dr. Biden, he said. The owner gave the first lady the cat, who was kept away from the White House until the time was right to move her and her litter box in. The White House has been without a feline resident since India, President George W. Bushs cat, who died at the mansion in January 2009, just before the end of his term. Before that, President Bill Clinton had his cat, Socks, at the White House, too. Willow joins Commander, a German shepherd puppy Joe Biden introduced in December as a birthday gift from the presidents brother James Biden and his wife, Sara. White House press secretary Jen Psaki teased that Willow could show up someday at one of her daily briefings. She has a standing invitation. It would be purrrfect, Psaki tweeted, adding #COTUSwhich stands for Cat of the United States. Willow, the Biden familys new pet cat, wanders around the White House on Jan. 27, 2022. (Erin Scott/The White House via AP) The Bidens had two other German shepherds, Champ and Major, at the White House before Commander. But Major, a 3-year-old rescue dog, started behaving aggressively after he arrived in January 2021, including a pair of biting incidents. The White House had said Major was still adjusting to his new home, and he was sent back to the Bidens Delaware home for training. The Bidens, after consulting with dog trainers, animal behaviorists and veterinarians, decided to follow the experts collective recommendation and send Major to live in a quieter environment with family friends, LaRosa said last month. Champ died in June at age 13. President Joe Bidens dogs Champ and Major are seen on the South Lawn of the White House on March 31, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via Reuters) People cross the street at a shopping district in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 8, 2016. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters) Hostage-Taker Arrested in Japan After 11-hour Standoff, Hostage Found Dead A 66-year-old man in Japan has been arrested on Friday after shooting a medical worker and taking a doctor hostage in an 11-hour standoff, the police said. The suspect, who was identified as Hiroshi Watanabe, was arrested at his residence in Fujimino, Saitama Prefecture, on Friday morning. Watanabe allegedly attacked three medical staff who had been to his house at around 9 p.m. on Thursday. Police said that the victims were in charge of the in-home medical care of the suspects mother and came for a visit to express condolences following the death of the mother, local media Kyodo News reported. The suspect allegedly took the 44-year-old doctor, Junichi Suzuki, hostage at his home with a gun. Suzuki was in cardiorespiratory arresta term used in Japan before death is officially confirmedas police couldnt confirm his condition during the 11-hour standoff. Suzuki was later confirmed to have died as a result of being shot. The standoff ended only after police stormed into the suspects home and apprehended him. Watanabe also shot the second victim, a 41-year-old physiotherapist, and sprayed the third victim with tear gas. Both of them were taken to the hospital, but the second victim remained unconscious. Local emergency authorities were notified of the incident at around 9.15 p.m. after receiving a report from a resident in the area who claimed to have heard two people being shot. Around 110 residents were evacuated, and all nearby elementary and junior high schools were closed for the whole day as a result of the standoff, which lasted until Friday morning. Throughout the standoff, police talked with Watanabe by a phone call, during which he made no specific demands. According to police, the suspect professed a desire to help Suzuki and pleaded for his rescue. Some residents in the neighborhood claimed that Watanabe has been living with his bedridden mother and has rarely socialized with neighbors as he had to take care of his mother. I got the impression that he was really devoted to caring for his mother, one resident said. Gun-related crime is rare in Japan due to the countrys strict gun control laws, with only six gun-related deaths reported in 2014. The revision of the law, the first since 1995, imposed heavier punishments for gun crimes committed by members of organized crime gangs. Reuters contributed to this report. How Do We De-Woke the US Military? Worlds greatest military succumbs to spell of CRT wokeness Commentary I spent 33 years in the uniform of the U.S. military. I remember my first duty weekend with the Washington State Army National Guard at Camp Murray like it was yesterday. The old F-101 Voodoo interceptor of the Washington Air Guard is still there. In 1983, the Reagan build-up was just beginning to take hold. We were on a mission. The United States was good, and the Soviet Union was bad. Former President Jimmy Carter personified weakness, doubt, and self-loathing. President Ronald Reagan personified strength, confidence, and optimistic action. Vietnam was in the rearview mirror, the good days were back, and Wild Bill Casey was in charge of the CIA to unleash mayhem on the communists. Reagan ignored his advisers and winged it with his Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall speech, and the rest is history. I had no idea what National Security Decision Directive 75 (NSDD-75) was at the time, but I was living it. It was an incredible journey for me in the national security apparatus of the United States over the years, which included time on the National Security Council at the White House. I first noticed the cancer in the U.S. military institution when I was at the pinnacle of senior military education, the Army War College, in 2009. There was a nuanced but clear narrative for all to follow. Certain words and thoughts were allowed, while other words and thoughts were on the other side of the ledger. While exhorting buzzwords such as innovation, out of the box thinking, and speaking truth to power, at the same time, the orthodoxy and adherence of thought and behavior was manifest. When Secretary of Defense Robert Gates unleashed the Aug. 9, 2010, memo on efficiencies (pdf), I feel as though that was the beginning of the end of the U.S. military culture of being the firewall, defender, and advocate of apolitical, constitutional-based, Judeo-Christian values and beliefs and of being a North Star, known starting point for all that is good in the United States. Gatess action gutted the military, identified hundreds of general officers/flag officers, senior civilians, and offices and organizations for elimination, and established woke-ism before it had a name. The infamous memo threw the military into a frenzy of cannibalism, heartless downsizing, and a constant state of hyper over-deployment and under-resourcing. I remember the detailed memo very well: It targeted my own office for elimination. When a senior executive sends out an email starting with, Dont panic, what do you think will happen? One of the things also thrown out was any semblance of Judeo-Christian values. Unit chaplains were transformed into political commissars to oversee new initiatives on transforming foundational military values and institutional beliefs. Values could be anything you wanted them to be, as directed by the current administration. Gates had fired the last general of the old order, Gen. Peter Pace, and he brought in the vanguard of the new general officer/flag officer belief system, Adm. Mike Mullen, who would set the pathway for secular, progressive senior leaders who wouldnt be constrained by any semblance of traditional values. A brave new world was upon us. It hasnt turned out well so far. Many (But Not All) Senior Generals and Admirals Have Flipped The predictable, synchronized cadence of retired military senior leaders that served as part of the coordinated effort to bring down President Donald Trump was a harbinger and signal to those still on duty. After Joe Biden entered the White House, all pretense was thrown out the window. Gen. Mark Milley chose sides and navel-gazed on white rage, appointing himself as warrior philosopher in chief, while Adm. Michael Gilday chose critical race theory (CRT) over seamanship. Rust abounds on U.S. Navy ships, the Navy culture is enfeebled and flummoxed on how to grow the fleet from roughly 290 to 400 ships in 30 years, and collisions and accidents abound, but the Department of the Navy is Green on CRT training according to non-woke, retired generals and admirals. There are generals and admirals retired and on active duty who realize the gravity of the situation. Russian President Vladimir Putin is creating a distraction, and the Chinese military is aggressively posturing for action. It took the Battle of Kasserine Pass to lop off most of the Army leadership in early World War II: Lets hope a similar modern-day tragedy isnt the precursor for a clean-slating of senior U.S. uniformed leadership. We Have Less Than 90 Days to De-Woke the US Military My grave concern is that after the Genocide Olympics, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will make its overt military move, smoke-screened by Putins antics in Ukraine. If Milley and Gilday are serious in their sworn oaths to the Constitution, they need to reflect and do the right thing: focus relentlessly on building deterrence and, if deterrence fails, assuring victory. Otherwise, theyll go down as the modern Gen. Walter Short and Adm. Husband Kimmel of Pearl Harbor infamy. Most forget that the Department of Defense (DOD) is a civilian-run department, so responsibility begins with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Austin needs to reject CRT and embrace de-woking the U.S. militaryand the center of gravity is resetting all junior, mid-level, and senior training institutions away from the zany ideology of CRT and CRT-like vestiges. This is where the cancer took hold and spread. The spirit of NSDD-75 needs to return and replace this CRT sickness and become the new mantra at the DOD, the intelligence community, and the National Security Council. The main event is staring down the CCP and any expansionist or adventurist intentions it plans to act upon in order to distract from its own mounting domestic issues. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. How the Supreme Court Rewrote the Constitution Part V: Killing Economic Freedom Commentary The first, second, third, and fourth installments of this series described how the Constitution established a relatively small federal government with limited powers and how President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal challenged that plan. Initially, the Supreme Court tried to balance the New Deal with the Constitution. However, during the years from 1937 to 1944, the court dismantled most of the Constitutions restraints on federal power. The first two casualties were limits on federal spending (1937) and on federal land ownership (1938). This installment explores the destruction of constitutional limits on Congresss economic authority. Congresss Economic Powers The Constitution granted Congress significant, but limited, economic powers. Those powers included passing uniform Laws on the subject of Bankrupcies, coining and controlling the currency (pdf), fixing weights and measures, establishing post offices, establishing post Roadsthat is, intercity highways (pdf)issuing patents and copyrights, governing federal enclaves and territories, and regulat[ing] Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribesthe commerce clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). In addition, the necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) recognized Congresss prerogative of approving laws necessary and proper for carrying out other powers. Congresss Commerce Power The vast expansion in federal economic authority during the years from 1937 to 1944 was made possible by the Supreme Courts decisions that rewrote the two clauses that, working together, create Congresss Commerce Power: the commerce clause and the necessary and proper clause. To understand how the court mangled these provisions, we must first understand their original meanings. When the Constitution gave Congress the authority to regulate Commerce, the phrase meant approving laws on the purchase and sale of products and some traditionally associated activities, such as navigation and cargo insurance (pdf). Commerce excluded other economic activities, such as production (manufacturing, agriculture, and mining), real estate transactions, and most kinds of insurance. It also excluded non-economic activities, such as crimes of passion, marriage and divorce, religion, and morality. The Constitution left oversight of all of those activities to the states (pdf). The commerce clause also limited Congress to supervising commerce across political borders. Congress could regulate the sale of shoes by a North Carolina wholesaler to a New York retailer. But only the New York state government could oversee a New York retailers sale to a New York buyer. Those who wrote and adopted the Constitution thoroughly understood that economic and non-economic activities all affect each other. If a wheat grower has a bumper crop, it affects the price of wheat in commerce. Similarly, the price of wheat may influence the growers decision to buy more land, marry, or have children. In the 1930s, progressives often claimed that because of interdependence, the federal government should regulate everything or at least all economic activities. They seemed to think that the Founders didnt understand interdependence or that it was something new (see, for example, the quotation from Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes in the second installment of this series). But interdependence was nothing new, and the Founders fully understood it. Still, when writing the Constitution, they split responsibility between the states and the central government. They did so because other values (such as freedom) are more important than central coordination. However, the Founders qualified the split of responsibility with the necessary and proper clause. That clause is too complicated to cover here (curious readers might consult the book The Origins of The Necessary and Proper Clause). Suffice to say that it allowed Congress to govern some activities that werent exactly commerce, but were subordinate (incidental) to it. For example, the commerce clause allowed Congress to regulate the shipment of goods across state lines, while the necessary and proper clause permitted Congress to regulate how the goods were labeled for the journey. 1937: Hughess Attempted Compromise The third installment of this series discussed Hughess opinion in National Labor Relations Board v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation (pdf). Hughes said Congress could regulate labor relations (part of production, rather than commerce) in a very large interstate company to prevent an obstruction to commerce. Hughess opinion reveals that he was relying on the necessary and proper clause, although he didnt use the name. But for the necessary and proper clause to allow Congress to regulate an activity, its not enough that the activity obstructs or otherwise affects commerce. The activity must also be subordinate or incidental to commerceand labor relations are far too important for that. Ultimately, Hughess attempted compromise gave more extreme progressives a vehicle for destroying the limits on federal Commerce Power entirely. 1938 to 1941: Progressives Take Over the Court Retirements after Jones & Laughlin allowed Roosevelt to place New Deal supporters on the bench. The previous installment in this series mentioned Hugo Black (1937) and Stanley Reed (1938). Benjamin Cardozo was replaced by Felix Frankfurter (1938) and Louis Brandeis by the far-left William O. Douglas (1939). The conservative Pierce Butler was replaced by FDRs attorney general, Frank Murphy (1939). James McReynolds was supplanted by James Byrnes, a pro-New Deal senator (1941). Also in 1941, Hughes retired. FDR moved the more liberal associate justice Harlan Fiske Stone up to Chief Justice. He then filled Stones slot with Robert Jackson, who had succeeded Murphy as attorney general. By 1942, the courts make-up stood as follows: nine liberals and zero conservatives. 1941 to 1944: The Court Gives Congress Total Economic Power In February 1941, the court handed down United States v. Darby (pdf). The Darby Lumber Company was a Georgia enterprise far smaller than the Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation. The issue was whether federal labor law was enforceable against this smaller entity. Stones meandering opinion appears to have relied on the necessary and proper clause, but it never mentioned that clause by name. Stone cited Hughess decision in Jones & Laughlin, but ignored the fact that Hughess decision was limited to much larger companies. Stone noted that Congress could regulate any production with a substantial effect on commerce, but never defined substantial effect. Stone further said Congress may regulate production thats so related to the commerce and so [affecting] it as to be within the power of Congress to regulate it, apparently not recognizing that this statement is circular. Constitutionally, the portions of Darby just discussed were inane. But they gave a relative handful of federal politicians almost absolute power over every business in the United States. The courts 1942 case, Wickard v. Filburn (pdf), naturally followed from Darby. Roscoe C. Filburn was a farmer who grew wheat. Pursuant to a New Deal program, the federal government imposed a maximum wheat quota. Filburn didnt sell more than the quota, but he grew some extra to use on his own farm. The government fined him. The court unanimously upheld the fine. Jacksons opinion acknowledged that Filburns raising wheat for home consumption wasnt commerce. But Jackson relied on the Darby case and said Congress could regulate Filburns decision because his decision, when amalgamated with others like it, had a substantial effect on commerce. Like Hughes before him, Jackson also misrepresented comments by Chief Justice John Marshall. At the beginning Chief Justice Marshall described the federal commerce power with a breadth never yet exceeded, Jackson wrote. Gibbons v. Ogden [Marshall] made emphatic the embracing and penetrating nature of this power by warning that effective restraints on its exercise must proceed from political rather than from judicial processes. In fact, Marshall never permitted congressional control over production under the pretense that it affected commerce. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) addressed navigation, a subject within the core of the commerce clause. In the same case, he listed activities outside of the scope of federal power, including some that substantially affect commerce. He also never said that effective restraints must proceed from political rather than judicial processes. On the contrary, in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) he affirmed explicitly that if Congress exceeded its authority, it would become the painful duty of this tribunal to say, that such an act was not the law of the land. Jacksons duplicity in Wickard was exceeded only by Blacks in United States v. South-Eastern Underwriters Association (pdf), decided on June 5, 1944. South-Eastern Underwriters overruled longstanding Supreme Court precedent that held that Congress may regulate all forms of insurance because all of them (not just cargo insurance) are commerce. Blacks opinion for a unanimous court was a classic example of judicial mendacity. Black claimed that 18th-century dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other books defined commerce to include all forms of insurance. Yet he failed to cite a single dictionary, encyclopedia, or book saying that (because there are none). He cited a report by Alexander Hamilton, but failed to reveal that Hamiltons report referred only to cargo insurance. He referenced Marshalls Gibbons v. Ogden opinion to prove that insurance is a form of commerce. Actually, Marshall never mentioned insurance in that case. He also cited a thinly documented 1937 book claiming that commerce included all economic activities. But this claim is rebutted by the text of the Constitution itself, which lists other economic activities separately (see above). When we consider the enormous scope of the current federal regulatory regime, we would do well to remember that the ultimate constitutional justification for most of it consists of the Supreme Courts mendacious ruling in South-Eastern Underwriters and vague substantial effects language from Darby and Wickard. A flimsy foundation indeed. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Fellow police officers turned out in the thousands during the funeral of Jason Rivera at St Patrick's Cathedral in New York on Jan. 28, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) Thousands Attend Funeral for First of Two Slain NYPD Officers NEW YORKFor the second day in a row, Fifth Avenue in New York City was awash in a sea of blue on Jan. 28 as thousands of NYPD officers descended upon St. Patricks Roman Catholic Cathedral for the funeral of their fallen brother, Jason Rivera. The day before was Riveras wake. While attendees stood outside and braved only the cold for the wake, there was a light but steady snowfall during the funeral. Attendance in the church was limited, so there were speakers set up on either side of the entrance for those on the street. However, one set of speakers didnt work. NYPD officers assemble at St. Patricks Cathedral in New York for the funeral of fallen Officer Jason Rivera on Jan. 28, 2022. (Dave Paone/The Epoch Times) New York Police officers gather along Fifth Avenue for the funeral of officer Jason Rivera, outside St. Patricks Cathedral in New York on Jan. 28, 2022. (Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo) The funeral began with organ music, a cantor, and a choir singing the traditional Alleluia hymn. The Rev. Robert Abbatiello gave one of several eulogies, switching between English and Spanish. It surely seems, it seems, that death has the victory. But my brothers and my sisters, the sting of death and what appears to be deaths victory is not what brought us to this magnificent house of God today, he said. It is faith that brings us here today. Abbatiello spoke of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and how Lazarus was destined to die a second time. Unlike Lazarus, our brother Jason will never have to die again, he said. Somber faces among police colleagues outside St Patricks Cathedral in New York at the Jan. 28 funeral service of officer Jason Rivera who was fatally shot while on duty on Jan. 21, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a retired NYPD captain, also addressed the congregation. Today, we salute Police Officer Jason Rivera for the last time, he began. We as a city, as a state, and as a nation, say thank you, Jason. NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell spoke briefly in both English and Spanish and promoted Rivera posthumously to the rank of detective first grade. Police officers wore ribbons across their badges as a sign of respect for Jason Rivera, the young officer killed in the line of duty on Jan 21, 2022. Thousands of colleagues turned out for the service on Jan. 28, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) Riveras widow, Dominique Luzuriaga, held back tearsunsuccessfully at timesand spoke of the hours just before and after his murder, including an argument they had. You know, its hard being a cop-wife sometimes, she said. Luzuriaga also confronted Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. This system continues to fail us. We are not safe anymore, not even the members of the service, she said. I know you were tired of these laws, especially the ones from the new DA. I hope hes watching you speak through me right now, Luzuriaga said, which was followed by applause from the congregation. She ended with, I love you to the end of time. Well take the watch from here. Dominique Rivera (L), widow of NYPD Officer Jason Rivera, watches as his casket is loaded into a hearse outside St. Patricks Cathedral after his funeral service in New York on Jan. 28, 2022. (Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo) Many officers were emotional during the funeral of Jason Rivera at St Patricks Cathedral in New York on Jan. 28, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) Attending personnel wore their class-A dress uniforms with white gloves, with black, mourning bands across their shields. Rivera was shot and killed in the line of duty on Jan. 21 while responding to a domestic dispute involving a mother and her son in the Harlem section of Manhattan. As they did at the wake on Jan. 27, the NYPD had officers working the detail, including uniformed and plain-clothes cops, a K-9 unit, the Patrol Services Bureau, Emergency Services, and a few officers carrying AR rifles. Rivera was a 22-year-old rookie and worked out of the 32nd Precinct. Two other officers, including Wilbert Mora, also responded to the call. Mora was shot as well. The 27-year-old died from his wounds on Jan. 25. A wake for Mora will be held on Feb. 2, with his funeral on Feb. 3, both at St. Patricks Cathedral. Thousands of police officers showed their respects to Jason Rivera who was killed in the line of duty on Jan. 21, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) A sea of blue uniforms stretched at least seven city blocks in New York during slain officer Jason Riveras funeral at St Patricks Cathedral on Jan. 28, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) There were many moments for reflection by police during the funeral of slain officer Jason Rivera. on Jan. 28, 2022. (Richard Moore/The Epoch Times) NYPD officers assemble at St. Patricks Cathedral in NYC for the wake of fallen policeman Jason Rivera on Jan. 27, 2022. (Dave Paone/The Epoch Times) Hundreds of Police Turn Out to Wake of First of Two Slain NYPD Officers NEW YORKFifth Avenue in Manhattan fell silent as pallbearers carried the flag-draped casket of NYPD officer Jason Rivera up the steps of St. Patricks Roman Catholic Cathedral on the morning of Jan. 27. The only notable sounds came from a police helicopter hovering above and Amazing Grace played on a single bagpipe. Hundreds of New Yorks finest stood down the center of the avenue, wearing their class-A dress uniforms with white gloves, saluting their fallen brother. All had black, mourning bands across their shields. NYPD officers salute as the casket of Jason Rivera is carried into St. Patricks Cathedral in NYC for his wake on Jan. 27, 2022. (Dave Paone/The Epoch Times) Rivera was shot and killed in the line of duty on Jan. 21, while responding to a domestic dispute involving a mother and her son in the Harlem section of Manhattan. A motorcycle escort preceded the hearse and a mounted unit was on hand. The NYPD had officers working the detail, including uniformed and plain-clothed cops, a K-9 unit, the Patrol Services Bureau, Emergency Services, and a few officers carrying AR rifles. A police color guard stood on the sidewalk directly in front of the church. Firefighters from the FDNY were present as well. Rivera was a 22-year-old rookie and worked out of the 32nd Precinct. Two other officers, including Wilbert Mora, also responded to the call. Mora was shot as well. The 27-year-old succumbed to his wounds on Jan. 25. On Twitter the NYPD posted, In his final act of service Officer Wilbert Mora saved the lives of five people thanks to his organ donation. Shortly after the shootings on the night of Jan. 21, Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD executives gave a press conference from Harlem Hospital, which was live-streamed on Facebook. Tonight a 22-year-old son, husband, officer, and friend was killed because he did what we asked him to do, said Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell as she began the conference. It is our city against the killers, said Adams who was once an NYPD officer and retired as a captain. Mora will have a wake on Feb. 2 with a funeral on Feb. 3, both at St. Patricks Cathedral. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Chief Medical Advisor to the President, gives an update on the Omicron COVID-19 variant during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington on Dec. 1, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Infectious Disease Expert at Faucis NIAID Challenges School Mask Mandates A researcher who works for the agency headed by Dr. Anthony Fauci and two other scientists made the argument that schools should not mandate mask-wearing in schools, undercutting the federal governments recommendation that they should. Many public-health experts maintain that masks worn correctly are essential to reducing the spread of COVID-19, wrote Margery Smelkinsonwho works for the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases headed by Faucialong with Leslie Bienen, a faculty member at the Oregon Health & Science UniversityPortland State University School of Public Health, and Jeanne Noble, an emergency medicine doctor at the University of CaliforniaSan Francisco. However, theres reason to doubt that kids can pull off mask-wearing correctly,' they wrote for The Atlantic. We reviewed a variety of studiessome conducted by the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] itself, some cited by the CDC as evidence of masking effectiveness in a school setting, and others touted by media to the same endto try to find evidence that would justify the CDCs no-end-in-sight mask guidance for the very-low-risk pediatric population, particularly post-vaccination, they added. We came up empty-handed. While the National Institute of Health and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases describes masks as effective at stopping the spread of COVID-19, the researchers cited a CDC study that found that U.S. counties without mask mandates saw larger increases in pediatric COVID-19 cases after schools opened but noted the agency again did not control for important differences in vaccination rates. The CDC has cited several other studies conducted in the previous school year to support its claim that masks are a key school-safety measure, their article states. However, none of these studies, including ones conducted in North Carolina, Utah, Wisconsin, and Missouri, isolated the impact of masks specifically, because all students were required to mask and no comparisons were made with schools that did not require masks. Democratic-leaning areas ignored that much of the country reopened their schools last year. Now they are ignoring that much of the countrys schools are back to normal, Smelkinson also wrote on her personal Twitter account, which says that opinions expressed here are my own and not those of the NIH, HHS, or the fed [government]. Mandatory mask-wearing in schools has become a contentious issue of late, as some governors have opted to issue orders to give parents the choice on whether their children should wear masks in class. Numerous studies have shown that children are at an extremely low risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms. The Epoch Times has contacted NIAID for comment. An Australian parliamentary committee has recommended easing pathway to permanent residency for skilled temporary workers and best and brightest international students . (William West/AFP via Getty Images) International Students Allowed Into Western Australia Despite Border Closure The Western Australia (WA) government has backflipped on its strict border closure to grant exemptions for returning international students to enter the state, while Australians from other states are still locked out. This comes after WA Premier Mark McGowan shelved his plan to reopen the states borders on Feb. 5 citing the threat of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, leaving thousands of students and the friends and family of WA residents in limbo, and universities disappointed. However, the government this week announced the Returning Students Directions (No 2) that says returning students would be allowed to come into Australia and cross into WA from other states provided they are triple vaccinated and self-quarantine for 14 days. The students are also required get tested for COVID-19 on the first and 12th day of their quarantine as well as download the G2G Now app while in quarantine. Those who do not comply with any of the directions can face imprisonment for up to 12 months or a fine of up to $40,000 for an individual or $250,000 for a body corporate. Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan (C) speaks at a press conference in front of the Carnarvon Police Station in Carnarvon, Western Australia, on Nov. 4, 2021. (Tamati Smith/Getty Images) International Education Association of Australia CEO Phil Honeywood said the backflip was a complete political shambles and policy-making on the run, and that WAs reputation as a welcoming study destination would continue to suffer. The victims of these policy backflips are the students as well as education providers who still arent certain which of their enrolled students will qualify for a semester one start, he told News Corps The Australian. Over 30 percent of all international students studying in WAjust under 7,000remained outside of the country at the end of 2021, The Guardian reported on Jan. 27. It was also revealed that university operating revenues for the sector were down by five percentor $1.84 billionto $34.9 billion in 2020. McGowan last week stressed the importance of getting a third vaccine shot given the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant. As the Prime Minister has said, Omicron has changed everything and right now we dont know the full picture of what Omicron could mean, he said. There is insufficient data to make meaningful assumptions of what it would look like once Omicron takes full effect and case numbers peak over east, except that we know, because of case numbers, it is a very bad situation. Travel exemptions will also be granted to returning West Australians, a small class of approved travellers like members of the parliament, and those entering the border on compassionate groundsfor funerals or to see dying relatives. Richard OHalloran, an Irish businessman banned from leaving China for two years, is seen talking to Yvonne Murray from RTE in Shanghai, in this image taken from a video interview broadcasted on Feb. 18, 2021. (Courtesy of RTE) Irishman Richard OHalloran Allowed to Return Home From China After Three Years Irish businessman Richard OHalloran, who has been prevented from leaving China for almost three years, will be allowed to return home, the Irish government has confirmed. Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said on Friday that he was pleased to confirm that the restrictions placed on OHalloran have been lifted, enabling him to return home to Ireland shortly. Coveney said his department has been working on ensuring the safe return of OHalloran. The minister travelled to China last year in a bid to secure the Irishmans release from travel restrictions. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D., is pleased to confirm that the travel restrictions placed on Mr. Richard OHalloran in China have now been lifted, enabling him to return home to Ireland. pic.twitter.com/kY8jkBrah1 Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) January 28, 2022 Richard OHalloran, 46, a director of China International Aviation Leasing Service (CALS), left his Dublin home in February 2019 for Shanghai, China. What he thought was a short business trip turned out to be nearly three years in limbo, after he was caught up in an investigation into his employer Min Jiedongs crowdfunding activities. Min, OHallorans employer, invested in dozens of countries around the globe, including aircraft leasing company CALS Ireland, in which he was the chairman and the main shareholder. Mins funding had been raised through peer-to-peer crowdfunding, in what he boasted as a pioneering business model P2F2B+PDP (Person-to-Financial institution-to-Business+Pre-Delivery Payment). Mins business model was widely praised in Chinese media outlets and business magazines as being innovative, until he was accused of defrauding investors in July 2018 when Chinese authorities launched a crackdown on lenders and he landed in prison. The fundraising took place before OHallorans employment, and the Irishman was not charged with or accused of any wrongdoing. But he was not allowed to leave China. In a statement issued on Friday, Irelands Department of Foreign Affairs said: This has been a difficult time for Mr. OHalloran and his family. The government has been actively engaged on the matter throughout and is delighted it has reached a successful result. The minister wishes Mr. OHalloran a happy reunion with his family, the statement said. Coveney, the foreign minister, wrote on Twitter: Very good news, after many months of work. Thank you to everyone who assisted. I want to wish Richard and his family well following a traumatic three years and hope that their privacy will be respected on his return home. Irish premier Micheal Martin said: Warmly welcome the returning home of Richard OHalloran. I acknowledge the work of the many people in Ireland and in China who have helped make this day happen. It has been a very difficult journey for him and his family. Thinking of them today. Lily Zhou and PA Media contributed to this report. Kyle Rittenhouse looks on as the jury is let out of the room during a break during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 15, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool) Judge Orders Kyle Rittenhouses Rifle to Be Destroyed The rifle and magazine that were used by Kyle Rittenhouse when he shot and killed two individuals in self-defense during a night of riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August 2020, were ordered destroyed by a judge. Wisconsin Judge Bruce Schroeder, the same judge who presided over Rittenhouses criminal trial in November 2021, said defense attorneys and prosecutors will be provided footage of the destruction of the AR-15-style rifle and magazine. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said the gun will likely be destroyed in April 2022. Schroeder approved an agreement between Rittenhouses lawyers and prosecutors to deal with the rifle. The partiesthe defense, the state, and also Dominick Black, who purchased that firearmhave all signed off on a stipulation whereby the Kenosha Police Department and Joint Services will destroy that firearm, as well as the magazine, and the scope, Binger told Schroeder during a hearing Friday. It will not be in anyones possession. I have discussed this with my client and it meets his goals, and were in agreement, Rittenhouse attorney Mark Richards told the court Friday. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger holds Kyle Rittenhouses gun as he gives the states closing argument in Kyle Rittenhouses trial in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 15, 2021. ( Sean Krajacic/Pool/Getty Images) The judge also ordered that Rittenhouses $2 million bail be divided among his attorney, a foundation that solicited donations for his defense, and actor Ricky Schroder, who donated to the defense fund. Rittenhouse, who was not at the court hearing on Friday, was found not guilty on all charges on Nov. 19, 2021, stemming from the shooting in a landmark case on the right to bear arms and what constitutes self-defense. Richards and David Hancock, a spokesman for Rittenhouse, both said earlier in January that Rittenhouse wanted to destroy the rifle and throw the rest of the items away so nothing can be used as a political symbol or trophy celebrating the shootings. At the end of the day, two people did lose their lives, period, Hancock told news outlets. That weapon doesnt belong on a mantle. It doesnt belong in a museum. It belongs where Kyle wants it, and Kyle wants it destroyed. During the 2020 incident, Rittenhouse shot and killed Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum before wounding Gaige Grosskreutz in the midst of riots and arson attacks following the officer-involved shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha. It came after months of left-wing riots and unrest that was sparked by the killing of George Floyd in May 2020. The demonstrations turned chaotic at times, with people burning buildings. Rittenhouse and his friend, Dominick Black, joined a group to protect a used car lot on the night of Aug. 25, 2020. Black had purchased the rifle for Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Supporters of the Freedom Convoy protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates and restrictions in front of Parliament of Canada, in Ottawa, Canada, on Jan. 28, 2022. A convoy of truckers started off from Vancouver on Jan. 23, 2022, on its way to protest against the mandate in the capital city of Ottawa. (Dave Chan/AFP via Getty Images) Justin Trudeau Ducks the Great Trucker Revolt Commentary The resistance reveals itself always in unexpected ways. As I type, thousands of truckers (numbers are in flux and are in dispute) are part of a 50-mile-long convoy in Canada, headed to the capital city of Ottawa in protest against an egregious vaccine mandate imposed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. They will be joined upon arrival by vast numbers of protestors who are defying the restrictions, closures, and mandates of the last nearly two years. The triple-vaccinated Trudeau, meanwhile, has decided that he has to go into deep hiding because he was exposed to Covid. A clean, ruling-class, fit, and fashionable lefty like him cannot be expected to face such a pathogen directly. As a member of the vanguard of the lockdown elite, he must never take risks (however small) and must keep himself safe. It is merely a matter of coincidence that he will be locked away in hiding as the truckers arrive together with hundreds of thousands of citizens who are fed up with being treated like lab rats. Previously, Trudeau had said nearly two years ago that the truckers were heroes. On March 31, 2020, he tweeted: While many of us are working from home, there are others who arent able to do thatlike the truck drivers who are working day and night to make sure our shelves are stocked. So when you can, please #ThankATrucker for everything theyre doing and help them however you can. Its true. Like many essential workers in the United States, these truckers bravely faced the virus and many already gained natural immunity, which Canadian law does not recognize. Trudeau decided that they needed to be forced to get the vaccine anyway. Keep in mind: these are the people who get food to the stores, packages to homes, and all products that keep life moving. If they dont drive, the people dont eat. Its that simple. Now Trudeau must deal with #FreedomConvoy2020. Few events in modern times have revealed the vast chasm that exists between the ruled and rulers, especially as it pertains to class. For nearly two years, the professional class has experienced a completely different reality than the working class. In the United States, this only began to change once the highly vaccinated Zoom class got Covid anyway. Only then did we start seeing articles about how there is no shame in getting sick. It appears that in many countries, the working class that was forced into early confrontation with the virus are saying that they arent going to take it anymore (and many are playing that song to make the point). Its a massive workers strike but not the kind of communist dreams. This is a working class movement that stands squarely for freedom against all the impositions of the last two years, which were imposed by an overclass with almost no consultation from legislatures. Canada has had some of the worst, much to the shock of its citizens. The convoy is an enormous show of power concerning who really keeps the country running. The convoy is being joined by truckers from all over the United States too, rising up in solidarity. This is easily the most meaningful and impactful protest to emerge in North America. It is being joined by as many as half a million Canadian citizens, who overwhelmingly support this protest, as one can observe from the cheers on the highway along the way. Indeed, its likely to break the record for the largest trucker convoy in history, as well as the most loved. Trudeau, meanwhile, has dismissed the whole thing as a small fringe of extremists and says it means nothing to him and will change nothing. This is because, he says, these truckers hold unacceptable views. This is setting up to be one of the most significant clashes in the world in the great battle between freedom and those governments have set out to crush it. Meanwhile, Im looking now for information on this in the mainstream media. It is almost nonexistent outside social media. Fox is covering some of it but thats about it. The Epoch Times is a wonderful exception, as weve come to expect in recent months. Its not being covered in any depth in Canadian papers and TV. All the usual subjects in the United States have completely ignored this mighty movement. Its almost like these venues have created an alternate version of reality, one that denies the astonishing reality that anyone can see outside the window. Yes, I know that we have all come to expect that the corporate media will not cover what actually matters, and much of what it does cover it does only with a strong bias toward narratives crafted by ruling elites. Even so, it seems to stretch credulity beyond any plausible extent for the major media to pretend that this isnt happening. It is and it has massive implications for the present and the future. This is not really or just about vaccine mandates. Its about what they represent: government taking possession of our lives. If they can force you to get an injection in your arm over which you have doubts, all bets for freedom are off. There must be evidence that you complied. The phone app is next, which gets tied to your bank account and your job and your access to communications and your ability to pay your rent or mortgage. It means eventually 100 percent government control over the whole of life. The technology already exists. Everything going on now with these passports is driving to this point. This is why the truckers are striking this way. It is an act of bravery but also of desperation. Once the tyranny of health passports arrives, there will be no escape. The window of opportunity to do something about this will have closed. So this is the moment. There might not be another one. Something needs to be done to fight for human rights and freedom, and put in place systems that make lockdowns and mandates impossible in the future. This is the largest and latest example of the revolt and one that could make the biggest difference yet. But it is only one sign among many that the ruling elites in most countries have overplayed their hand. They have arrogantly imposed their plans for everyone else based on the opinions of only a few and without real consultation with experts with differences of opinion or with the people whose lives have been profoundly affected by the pandemic response. In the US the revolt is taking many forms. There was the rally in D.C. this past weekend. It was impressive. Also the latest polls on political alliances show that the Democrats have lost a major part of their base. Virginia right now points to where this is headed. The party lost vast amounts of its political power in elections last year and now Republicans rule the state with great popularity. Meanwhile, Im looking at Bidens latest poll numbers. I almost cannot believe my eyes. We are talking about an overall 14-point split between approve and disapprove. If this is an indication of what happens to the pro-lockdown political elite, it stands to reason that Trudeau should be worried. In the Vietnam War, many Americans fled the draft by going to the safe haven on the northern border. Thats one way that Canada had earned its long reputation for being delightfully normal, peaceful, and mercifully boring. Pandemic policies in Canada changed that, with some of the longest-lasting stringencies in the world. No one asked the workers. Now they are rising up. Nor does it matter that 90 percent of the Canadian public is vaccinated. Possessing that status alone does not mean that people no longer feel resentment for being forced to accept what they do not believe they needed and did not want in the first place. The vaccinated do not automatically give up their longing to be free and to have their human rights recognized. The resistance to tyranny in our times is taking many unexpected forms. There will be many confrontations on the way, and there is still a very long way to go. At some point, and no one knows when or how, something has to give. 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. Kids Need to Be Deprogrammed From Progressive Agenda: Craig Kelly MP Education should be reformed to teach children a more positive perspective on Australias culture and history, distancing itself from progressive-leaning views which seek to undermine traditional values, according to United Australia Party (UAP) leader Craig Kelly MP. In a wide-ranging interview with Emeritus Law Professor David Flint, Kelly, who last year resigned from the Liberal Party to join the UAP, said history is not taught to young Australians and that the current education minister needed to unwind the toxic, leftist, and defeatist agenda being fed to kids in school. Kids in general need to be told what great opportunities they have and that they are better off than their father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and how much longer their life expectancy is than 100 years ago, he told Flint in an episode of Australia Calling, which can be viewed on The Epoch Times website, as well as Rumble and YouTube. Thats the first thing to be done. The second is to undo the damage that [former Prime Minister Julia] Gillard did when she was health ministerthe Melbourne Declaration (pdf), he said. It had three overriding themes, which was sustainability every subject was taught through the prism of climate change. The other two areas were Indigenous studies and Asia. To embed all those across the curriculum, rather than just learn about a particular subject on its own merits, I think the former prime minister did enormous damage to our national curriculum, he said. Theres a very strong leftist agenda. I see some of these kids coming out of school and think, You almost need to be de-programmed. The makeup of the Australian curriculum has been a hot topic over the course of 2021. A proposed curriculum released in April attracted heavy criticism for removing all references to Australias democratic and Judeo-Christian heritage. Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge told the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) to substantially rewrite the draft otherwise it would not be approved. The overarching impression from the curriculum is that the main feature of western civilisation is slavery, imperialism, and colonisation, he wrote in a letter to ACARA obtained by News Corps The Australian. Kelly applauded Tudges actions and hoped it would continue receiving full backing from the Liberal National government. Meanwhile, Kelly also called for a move away from education being managed by the federal government, and instead, full responsibility be allocated to the states. Theyre probably far better decentralised, giving parents the choice to see what curriculum they offer, he said. Let parents choose. Therell be so much more competitive pressure among the different areas and states. Watch Next Part 1 Craig Kelly interview on Rumble Part 2 Craig Kelly interview on Rumble Part 3 Craig Kelly interview on Rumble This photo taken on Jan. 16, 2022, shows a boat out of the water and on the dock from the tsunami at the harbor in Tonga's capital Nukualofa following the Jan. 15 eruption of the nearby Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai underwater volcano. (Mary Lyn Fonua/Matangi Tonga/AFP via Getty Images) Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake Jolts Tsunami-Hit Tonga Tonga was struck by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported, which came less than two weeks after the Pacific region was ravaged by an underwater volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami. The USGS data shows that the earthquake occurred at 6.40 a.m. and was centered 219 kilometers (136 miles) west-northwest of Pangai. The USGS has revised the quakes depth to 4.2 kilometers (2.6 miles) after first reporting the quake happened at a depth of 14.5 kilometers (9 miles). There have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage so far. Tonga was hit by an underwater eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga-Haapai volcano and subsequent tsunami on Jan. 15, which wiped out an entire village on one of Tongas small outer islands and killed at least three people. The eruption also severed Tongas sole fiber-optic communication cable connecting the country to the outside world. Prior to Thursdays earthquake, the government of Tonga permitted the coronavirus-hit Australian navy ship, HMAS Adelaide, to dock in Tonga to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies under a contactless protocol. A total of 23 personnel on board the ship were tested positive for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, commonly known as the coronavirus. The ship will berth, and no contacts will be made. Australians from the ship will unload their cargoes and sail from port, Tongas Health Minister Saia Piukala told Broadcom Broadcasting radio. The authorities have insisted that all foreign aid be delivered without any person-to-person contact and that supplies sent by aid flights be left unpacked for 72 hours to minimize the risk of infection. The contactless protocol is intended to avert an outbreak in Tonga, one of the few countries free of the virus, with only one case of infection known since the pandemic began. This photo shows the Australian Navys HMAS Adelaide docked at Vuna Wharf in Tongas capital Nukualofa on Jan. 26, 2022, to deliver aid following the Jan. 15 eruption of the nearby Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai underwater volcano. (Mary Lyn Fonua/Matangi Tonga/AFP via Getty Images) Australia has delivered more than 40 tonnes of emergency relief supplies to Tonga, including shelter materials, water, and sanitation supplies, equipment to restore communications, and personal protective equipment for people clearing ash. The government of Scott Morrison has committed an additional $2 million (US$1.4 million) in humanitarian funding to assist Tonga, bringing the total commitment to $3 million (US$2.1 million) so far. The United States said it would also provide an additional $2.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Tonga through the U.S. Agency for International Development. This is on top of the $100,000 initial pledge for immediate assistance. Tonga also received humanitarian and medical supplies from Japan and New Zealand. The Chinese Embassy in Fiji has also sent drinking water, food, generators, and other goods to assist the people of Tonga. Epoch Times Sydney Staff contributed to this report. Man Convicted in 1988 Explosion That Killed 6 Kansas City Firefighters Wins $344,000 in Records Suit By Luke Nozicka and Bill Lukitsch From The Kansas City Star KANSAS CITY, Mo.A federal judge has awarded more than $344,000 in legal fees to a former prisoner who sued the Justice Department seeking answers about a 1988 explosion that killed six Kansas City firefighters, for which he spent nearly 20 years in prison. Bryan Sheppard, who maintains his innocence in the explosion, filed the lawsuit after his release in 2017. He petitioned under the Freedom of Information Act, seeking the disclosure of records stemming from a federal review prompted by a Kansas City Star investigation that raised questions about whether federal investigators engaged in misconduct. This case is not about whether the Stars allegations are indeed true or whether the five individuals convicted of the 1988 arson are actually innocent, Sheppards attorneys wrote in the lawsuit, filed in the Western District of Missouri in December 2017. Instead, it is about whether a federal government agency reviewing the actions of its own investigators and prosecutors, should be allowed to conclude unilaterally, without any public review or accountability, that the agency and its personnel have done nothing wrong. Sheppard was among five convicted in the Nov. 29, 1988, explosion at a construction site along U.S. Route 71 near 87th Street. Prosecutors argued that Sheppard, 17 at the time of the arson, had conspired with four other co-defendants to steal tools to sell for drug money and set fire to a tractor-trailer in the early hours of the morning. In March 2017, Sheppard, who was the youngest of the five defendants, was released from prison. He had been granted a new sentencing hearing after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that it is unconstitutional to impose mandatory life sentences on juveniles without first taking into account their individual characteristics and life history. No physical evidence tied the five defendants to the arson. Reporting by the late, Pulitzer Prize-winning Star reporter Mike McGraw spotlighted inconsistencies in the case. He interviewed witnesses who said they had been coerced by authorities. A key witness was Edwards daughter Becky, who has since said she was pressured to lie about overhearing her mother and the others planning a theft at the construction site. Some of the jurors who voted to convict Edwards have acknowledged they believed in her innocence, McGraw reported. They said they found Edwards guilty because they wrongly believed letting her go would set the other defendants free. His investigation prompted a U.S. Department of Justice review of the case. In 2011, the justice department said it found information, not previously known to prosecutors, that suggested other people may have been involved in the arsons. Sheppard sought records kept by the Justice Department concerning its investigation. In the civil lawsuit, U.S. District Judge Nanette K. Laughrey issued earlier rulings that found the Justice Department improperly withheld documents requested by Sheppard. In total, Sheppard was awarded $344,122 in attorneys fees to be paid under an order issued Tuesday by Laughrey. Lawyers for Sheppard had requested $444,314 in fees. 2022 The Kansas City Star. Visit at kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A broken iron anchor, hundreds of years old, attests to a storm that foundered one of two ancient shipwrecksfrom the mid-3rd and 14th centurieswhich were discovered in the same location off the coast of Caesarea, Israel. Their antiquated cargos yielded nothing short of treasure preserved by the low-oxygen environment under the sea. While conducting an underwater survey, divers from the Israel Antiquities Authoritys Marine Archaeology Unit located the remains of two wrecked hulls scattered across the seafloor in shallow waters at a depth of about 4 meters, finding dozens of large bronze nails, lead pipes from a bilge pump, the said anchor, and a sounding lead for measuring the depth of the seafloor. Also produced were treasures from the ships cargoincluding hundreds of silver and bronze Roman coins from the first to third century; a large hoard of about 560 silver dirham coins from the early 1300s, during the Mamluk period; a bronze eagle, symbolizing Roman rule; a pantomimus (Roman performer) figurine in a comics mask; several bronze bells, for warding off evil spirits; as well as several pottery vessels. Coins are important for understanding the economy of this period, said Dr. Robert Kool, head of the Authoritys Department of Coins. We know a lot from documents, but actually from the archaeological material, we have very few finds. Even more interestingly perhaps, the archaeologists stumbled on a number of rare personal effects of long deceased ocean farers, including a red gemstone (which would have been set in a gemma ring), featuring a carved lyre (known in Israel as a kinor David or Davids harp); found nearby was a stunning octagonal gold ring set with a green gemstone engraved with a young shepherd carrying a ram or sheep on his shoulders. This design is believed to represent the Good Shepherd, one of the earliest and oldest Christian symbols for Jesus, tending his flock of humanity. This unique gold ring bearing the figure of the Good Shepherd gives us, possibly, an indication of its owner, an early Christian, the Authority stated in a press release. The ring was discovered near the port of Caesarea, a site of great significance in Christian tradition. Caesarea was one of the earliest centers of Christianity and housed one of the first Christian communities. This was where the apostle Peter baptized the Roman centurion Cornelius, they noted, the first instance of a non-Jew being accepted into the Christian fold, according to the Bible. As for the storm that ravaged these two shipswhich date some one thousand years apart from each otherthey may have been anchored offshore for fear of difficult conditions or stormy weather, the Authority stated, because sailors know that mooring in shallow, open water outside of a port can be dangerous or lead to disaster. The harbor is the most dangerous place for the ship, said Jacob Sharvit, director of the Authoritys Marine Archaeology Unit. Thats why we have in this small anchor site many places that we can find many shipwrecks from different periods at the same place. Israels coasts are rich in sites and finds that are immensely important national and international cultural heritage assets, said Director of the Authority Eli Eskozido, adding that the ships are also extremely vulnerable, which is why the Authority conducts underwater surveys to locate, monitor, and salvage any antiquities. There are many kinds of sporting activities along Israels shores, including diving, snorkeling, open water swimming and sailing, during which antiquities are occasionally discovered, said Eskozido. We appeal to divers: if you come across an ancient find, take a note of its underwater location, leave it in the sea and report it to us immediately. The discovery and documentation of artifacts at their original find spot has tremendous archaeological importance and sometimes even a small find leads to a great discovery. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Bright newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-Ky.) (C) speaks to reporters as other senators stand by, in Washington on Sept. 22, 2021. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) McConnell, Other Republicans Warn Against Letting Radical Left Hijack Supreme Court Pick Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other Republicans are advising President Joe Biden not to outsource his Supreme Court pick to the radical left, warning that they will fight hard against the confirmation of anyone they consider too left-wing. Liberals, fearful of losing another seat on the 63 conservative-leaning court, had for months pressured 83-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer to step down while a Democrat held the White House. After a flurry of rumors that his retirement was imminent, Breyer officially announced on Thursday that he will step down at the end of the courts term this summer. The White House confirmed on Thursday that Biden would stand by a promise made on the campaign trail to appoint a black woman to the Supreme Court. Following Breyers official announcement, Senate GOP Leader McConnell advised Biden not to allow the radical left to take over the nomination process. McConnell noted that Biden, whose party took the Senate by the thinnest possible margin, does not have a mandate to appoint a radical justice. The American people elected a Senate that is evenly split at 5050, McConnell said in a statement. To the degree that President Biden received a mandate, it was to govern from the middle, steward our institutions, and unite America. The President must not outsource this important decision to the radical left, McConnell continued. The American people deserve a nominee with demonstrated reverence for the written text of our laws and our Constitution. McConnells statement echoes a similar statement made by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) earlier on Thursday. Hawley took to Twitter to warn Democrats that they should expect a major fight if Biden tries to appoint a woke activist to the nations highest court. Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel predicted in a statement that Bidens nominee would be a left-wing radical. Bidens nominee, said McDaniel, will be an activist judge who will rubber stamp the far-lefts political agenda. This type of judge, McDaniel said, is a threat to Americans constitutional rights including religious liberty, the Second Amendment, the right to life, and free speech. The RNC will do everything in our power to expose Bidens Supreme Court nominee and hold Senate Democrats accountable in November for their votes, McDaniel vowed. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) noted in a press release that he had supported Breyers confirmation in 1994, as had most other senators. However, since then the Supreme Court picks have faced increasingly partisan confirmation processes. The confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett, the Supreme Courts newest Justice, was pushed through with no Democratic supporta first in U.S. history. Bidens next pick will likely face a similarly partisan vote. Still, Grassley expressed his hope that the nominee be someone within the legal mainstream who can receive broad, bipartisan support. Grassley ruled that [s]uch a candidate will preserve faith in the court, and reflect Americans will when they elected an evenly divided Senate. Despite their nominal majority, Democrats could face a challenge in pushing through too partisan a nominee. For one, Republicans could block the nominee from moving beyond the Senate Judiciary Committee, where both parties have an equal number of votes. This, however, would require the full consent of all Senate Judiciary Republicans, including swing-voting Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). And even if all Judiciary Republicans fell into line, the nominee could still make it to the Senate floor. This is due to rules worked out between GOP Leader McConnell and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) at the beginning of the 117th Congress; 50-50 splits in the Senate are extremely uncommon in U.S. history and pose significant obstacles to the legislative process. In Senate Res. 27, passed in February 2021, both leaders agreed that committee assignments would be equally divided between the two parties to represent their equal control of the Senate. In previous Congresses, committee assignments were weighted in favor of the majority party. For example, during the 116th Congress, when Republicans held the Senate, the GOP had 12 seats on the Judiciary Committee while Democrats had only 10. When the Senate is not equally divided, committee votes usually turn out a clear majority. Bills or nominees that receive a majority vote are reported and sent to the legislative calendar for floor consideration. But in a committee with equal representation on both sides of the aisle, tie votes are far more common, which threatens bills with death by committee limbo. S. Res. 27 overrides existing Senate rules and allows the committee chairmanin this case a Democratto report a bill or nominee anyways in the event of a tie. Thus, even if all 10 Judiciary Republicans opposed a nominee, Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) would still be able to advance the nominee to the Senate floor. The other option for Republicans to challenge an appointee they consider too radical would require at least one Democratic defection. Under President Donald Trump, Senate Republicans used the so-called nuclear option to change Senate rules to advance Trump nominees through confirmation votes after Democrats refused to end debate on Neil Gorsuch. Before, ending debate on Supreme Court nominees to move to a final floor vote required 60 votes. After using the nuclear option, Republicans lowered the threshold to 51 votes. This decision could come back to haunt the party soon, as they find themselves in the minority. If all 50 Democrats agree on advancing a nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris will be able to cast her tie-breaking vote to end debate and allow the final confirmation vote. In this event, there will be practically nothing that Republicans can do to stop the confirmation. However, in the event of at least one Democratic defection, Democrats will be unable to meet the 51-vote threshold. If Bidens pick is too radical for GOP tastes, Republicans could turn to Senate moderates Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) as potential defectors. Speaking to a West Virginia radio station, Manchin did not rule out voting for a nominee who was more left-wing than he isbut neither did he commit to voting for anyone the president sends to the Senate. In any event, Republicans have made clear that they will do all in their power to oppose any nominee that is too left-wing. Should Biden move ahead with a radical pick despite these warnings, the nominee would run the risk of alienating crucial moderate votes. The White House said on Thursday that Biden would make his choice by the end of February. Many schools fail at financial education, but so do some parents and employers, financial educators say. Most K-12 American public schools dont provide children with money management skills, studies show. Only 21 out of 50 states require financial education courses to graduate from high school, according to the Council for Economic Education latest Survey of the States. Five states plus the District of Columbia dont even include personal finance in their standards, the report said. Thats not enough. This is crucially important education and we would like to see more young people being exposed to it, Dennis Moore, president of the Financial Planning Association, told the Epoch Times. Money management education for children and young adults is increasingly important, according to the Financial Educators Council. It says the problem is not only in the schools, it often begins at home. Thirty-six percent of American households cant withstand a financial emergency of $400 or more, a Federal Reserve study found. While its likely that no one will argue that financial education is not vital to kids growing up to be economically successful adults, there is sometimes debate on who should teach them these skills, according to the Survey of the States. In previous generations, these money management values have generally been passed on at least in part by parents to children based on family values and resources, several financial advisers say. They note that regardless of who teaches children about money, it is important that they learn basic skills such as how to use credit cards or the importance of compounding. They warn a lack of financial education, either at home or at school, could ruin a childs life. Despite some recent progress, the majority of American high schools still dont require graduates take at least one personal finance course, say financial education advocacy groups. The problem goes beyond the children. A 2018 study by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) reported 58 percent of American adults have not been offered financial education by a school or employer, and fewer have utilized education offered. The study also said that about half of American consumers dont have three months worth of an emergency fund. Most, 69 percent, are not satisfied with their personal financial condition, FINRA reported. Educators and financial professionals say financial education should be taught in schools along with the standard core subjects of English, math, and science. They argue that teaching financial concepts in the classroom is a way to improve economic success for young people. This, they say, ensures all can learn about finances, regardless of family background or experience. Some states seem to be taking notice and doing a little more, but the problem persists. A few more states recently started to push for financial education, according to the Survey of the States. Most high schoolers had at least some access to personal finance, with almost 70% provided the option to take at least a one-semester elective. However, less than 17% of high schoolers were required to take at least one semester of personal finance, according to the survey. The survey also said financial education failures contribute to income inequality. In states where there is no required one-semester personal finance course, there are large gaps between schools educating higher and lower income students, the survey said. The Consumer Federal Protection Bureau, in a recent report, affirms the effects of early financial education. Well-implemented state financial education mandates led to a clear improvement in financial behaviors, the report states. Many U.S. financial education programs improve financial knowledge for students, though effect sizes vary based on the population served, amount of instruction time, and topics covered. But the federal agency also said other countries do more than the United States. They have used more widespread randomized controlled trials to study the effects of programs as they embed and expand them broadly. Those studies also provide useful information. The widespread dispersal of money management information, through workplaces and schools, could also help other Americans such as those not saving enough for retirement. Investing in Stocks Numerous surveys and advisers have found Americans dont put enough in stocksgenerally the highest return investment asset. But they continue to put too much into company stock despite the Enron scandals in which thousands of employees lost most of their retirement assets. One blind spot for employees is company stock. Many think its a safe investment. Reality has shown the opposite. A large holding in a single stock is far riskier than a similar investment in a mutual fund, which holds a basket of stocks, according to a report by the 401(k) Help Center. Participants perceive a lower level of risk for their company stock than for domestic, diversified stock funds, the report said. This is true despite all the publicity about Enron. There appears to be the attitude, that may have happened at Enron, but it wouldnt happen at my company.' Indeed, the long-term problems of financial illiteracy are all around. Many Americans have no retirement savings, writes Fool.coms Jack Caporal. The fact that 26% of non-retirees dont have any retirement savings at all is troublesome, he writes. Caporal recommends Americans save 15 percent of income for retirement. He adds pre-retirees should ensure they obtain every cent of matching retirement money. Maxing out retirement contributions and taking advantage of retirement saving tax breaks are basic lessons of money management that one can learn at school or in the workplace. However, these are lessons many Americans young and old arent learning. In previous generations, these money management values have generally been passed on by parents to children based on family values and resources, notes adviser Charles Hughes, one of the founders of the certified financial planning profession. It is a big issue and there needs to be early money education of kids. I would start in parochial schools in the third or fourth grade, forget about public schools, teaching young people basic financial planning education. You cant wait until high school. Then it is often too late, he adds. Hughes, a longtime adviser with his own firm in Bay Shore, New York, says he would prefer these courses in private schools. Thats because he has had unpleasant experiences with public high schools and money management courses. Regardless of who teaches children about money, it is important that they learn basic skills such as how to use credit card or the importance of compounding and why the sooner the better, advisers and educators say. This is why most financial professionals agree: the average American, especially the average student, needs much more money education. And, adds Moore, the Financial Planning Association president and an adviser in Dallas, the sooner they get it, the better. Team leader for housebound vaccinations, Julie Fletcher, prepares to administer a dose of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine to housebound patient, Gillian Marriott, at her home in Hasland, near Chesterfield, central England, on April 14, 2021. (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images) Multiple European Countries Begin Relaxing COVID-19 Restrictions Despite High Levels of Omicron Multiple countries across Europe have started to relax COVID-19 rules and restrictions in an effort to keep the economy afloat, despite increasingly high levels of cases, driven by the Omicron variant. On Thursday, England lifted multiple restrictions including mandatory facemasks in enclosed places and vaccine passports that were previously required to enter nightclubs and large events, although organizations can still choose to use the NHS COVID pass if they wish to do so. People are also no longer advised to work from home in the country and from Jan. 31, the limit on the number of visitors allowed into care homes will also be removed. These Plan B measures were put in place in December after Omicron cases were found in the country. Meanwhile, incoming visitors flying into the county who are vaccinated will no longer have to undergo testing or isolation, while unvaccinated arrivals only have to take pre-departure and post-departure tests, but are also not required to isolate unless they test positive for the virus. Elsewhere in the Netherlands, which has been under a hard lockdown since mid-December, the Dutch government also announced it will start lifting restrictions to allow the hospitality industry to again welcome back customers. As of Jan. 26, most locations in our country can once again be open, under certain conditions, officials said in guidance explaining the easing of reactions. This means that restaurants and bars, cinemas, theatres, music venues, museums, zoos, and amusement parks can reopen. From Wednesday, the Dutch hospitality industry is allowed to welcome back customers, though only with a reduced capacity and social distancing rules in place and between the hours of 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Customers will still have to present a COVID-19 vaccine passport to enter the premises and face masks are still mandatory for everyone aged 13 and over on public transport and public indoor spaces such as shops, museums, and cinemas. People are also still advised to work from home and are allowed no more than 4 visitors aged 13 and over into their homes each day. Meanwhile, the Danish government on Wednesday announced that it has decided that COVID-19 should no longer be categorized as a socially critical disease after 31 January 2022 and will be lifting virtually all of the restrictions it put in place to prevent the spread of the disease, except for testing on arrival from abroad. Customers drink and eat at a terrace in Tilburg, the Netherlands, on Jan. 26, 2022. (Rob Engelaar/ANP/AFP via Getty Images) Year 8 students wear face masks or coverings as they take part in an English class at Park Lane Academy in Halifax, northwest England, on Jan. 4, 2022. (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images) Belgium last week announced a slight easing of its restrictions from Jan. 28 despite record infections, while Frances Prime Minister Jean Castex and health minister Olivier Veran have set out a timetable for a gradual lifting of restrictions within the country in the coming weeks. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also told reporters on Jan. 10 that he wants the European Union to consider approaching COVID-19 in the same way it approaches flu. The move by the string of European countries comes after World Health Organization on Monday suggested that Europe will experience a quiet COVID-19 period before the virus returns toward the end of the year but this time without a full-blown pandemic. WHO Regional Director of Europe, Hans Kluge, told Agence France-Presse that the highly infectious Omicron variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19, could infect 60 percent of Europeans by March before easing for some time due to global immunity. But once those case numbers across Europe subside, Kluge said he expects that 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. So we anticipate that there will be a quiet period before COVID-19 may come back towards the end of the year, but not necessarily the pandemic coming back, he said. However, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) earlier this month warned Europe to brace for more cases to emerge in the coming weeks, driven by the Omicron variant, which it said could put further strain on current essential worker shortages, such as health care employees, and create potential difficulties with testing and contact tracing capacities in many EU member states. The EU health agency says that the overall level of risk to public health is very high as Omicron cases continue to sweep throughout Europe. There have been at least 120,294,000 reported infections and 1,954,000 reported deaths caused by COVID-19 in Europe so far, according to a Reuters COVID-19 tracker. Newsom Announces $10 Billion Plan to Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed to inject another $6.1 billion into a plan on Jan. 26 that will accelerate the states transition to zero-emission vehicles. The funds will build upon the states $3.9 billion November 2021 investment in making electric vehicles more affordable while also investing in charging stations. The future is electric, and were making it easier and cheaper than ever before to go electric, Newsom said in a statement. The proposal comes after Newsom pledged the state will phase out gasoline-powered cars by 2035. The deadline is years away, but electric cars are reportedly one of Californias top exports, with the state representing half of the United States zero-emission vehicle market, according to the governors office. The investment provides $256 million for low-income consumer purchases and $900 million to build more charging stations in low-income neighborhoods. To ensure public transportation modes will also reach the 2035 goal, $1.5 billion will go toward electric school buses and other school transportation, $1.1 billion will support zero-emission trucks and buses, and $935 million will provide 1,000 zero-emission heavy-duty trucks. Other funding will go toward ensuring transportation for individuals with critical mobility needs and creating projects that target high carbon-emitting industries, such as aviation, rail, and maritime. The effort to move towards zero-emission cars is also a part of the states goal to combat climate change. If the state reaches the 2035 benchmark, it is anticipated more than 35 percent of greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced and an 80 percent improvement in oxides in nitrogen emissions, according to the governors office. To achieve Californias climate goals we must focus on the needs of the most polluted and underserved neighborhoods, Vice President of Policy at The Greenlining Institute Alvaro Sanchez said in a statement. The COVID-19 restrictions in Wales have been significantly more stringent than those in Engand. (David Davies/PA) Nightclubs to Reopen as Wales Scraps Omicron Restrictions Nightclubs in Wales can now reopen after the regional government scrapped restrictions brought in last month to tackle the Omicron variant of the CCP virus. First Minister Mark Drakeford said Wales has completed the move to alert level zero, meaning nightclubs can reopen from Jan. 28 and the requirement for two-metre social distancing and the rule of six has ended. First Minister Mark Drakeford speaks during a Welsh government press conference in Cardiff, Wales, on Dec. 17, 2021. (Ben Birchall/PA) Drakeford said: We have passed the peak of this Omicron wave and there are encouraging signs that cases of coronavirus may be starting to stabilise. But we all need to continue taking steps to stay safeunfortunately the pandemic is not over yet. We are moving to alert level zero and we will retain some important protections, such as face coverings in most indoor public places and risk assessments, he added. Compulsory indoor mask-wearing, self-isolation rules, and COVID Passes as a condition for entry for nightclubs, large indoor and outdoor events, cinemas, theatres, and concert halls remain in place. Businesses, employers, and other organisations must continue to undertake a specific COVID-19 risk assessment and take reasonable measures to minimise the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Everyone must also continue to self-isolate if they test positive for COVID-19 but the Welsh government has reduced the self-isolation period from seven to five full days. In December, the Welsh government amended legislation to make attending a workplace unnecessarily a criminal offence. Workers could be fined 60 ($80) for going to their office if they were able to work from home. But now working from home is no longer a legal requirement, though it remains part of the official advice. The Welsh Labour governments COVID-19 restrictions, which have been significantly more stringent than those in England, have been criticised by the Conservative UK government. UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Dec. 28 that he could not see the reason behind the strict restriction on outdoor events. Parkrun has helped so many people improve their health across the UK. I cant see how restricting outdoor exercise in this way is justified or proportionate, he wrote on Twitter. Simon Hart, the UK governments Welsh secretary, said on Jan. 5 that the tighter controls in Wales had not produced better results than in the rest of the UK, and that it is throttling the recovery and it is throttling economic activity. Lily Zhou and PA Media contributed to this report. People watch a TV showing a file image of North Korea's missile launch shown during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on Jan. 20, 2022. (Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo) North Korea Confirms Launch of 4 Missiles North Korea confirmed the launch of four missiles this week, which involved an upgraded long-range cruise missile system and a surface-to-surface tactical guided missile, state-run media reported on Friday. Two long-range cruise missiles were launched over the East Sea of Koreaalso known as the Sea of Japanon Tuesday, hitting a target island 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) away, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in its report. KCNA also noted that Pyongyang launched two tactical guided missiles on Thursday to assess the explosive power of the conventional warhead of a tactical guided missile. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff earlier reported that two ballistic missiles were launched from Pyongyangs Hamhung city on Thursday and traveled about 190 kilometers (118 miles) to a maximum altitude of 20 kilometers (12 miles). It also detected the two cruise missiles launched off the east coast of Korea on Tuesday. Missile tests launched from an undisclosed coastal area in North Korea, on Jan. 27, 2022. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly visited a munitions factory that produces the countrys major weapon system, KCNA said in a separate report on Friday, without specifying the date or location of the factory. The report claims that Kim lauded the factory for its collective innovation and improvement in the production of major weapons, and emphasized the factorys critical role in modernizing the national defense sector. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects an area planned for a vegetable greenhouse farm in the Ryonpho area of Hamju county, South Hamgyong province, northeast of Pyongyang, North Korea, in an undated photo. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) Pyongyang has conducted six missile tests this month, including the recent two launches. Two of its previous missile tests on Jan. 5 and Jan. 11 involved hypersonic missiles, one of which was described as having superb maneuverability. The U.S. ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, issued a joint statement on Jan. 20 on behalf of eight countriesthe United States, Albania, Brazil, France, Ireland, Japan, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdomurging the Security Council to be unified in condemning Pyongyangs unlawful behavior. They called on the council committee to support the U.N. sanctions against those who aid North Koreas weapons programs, warning that failing to do so would be tantamount to giving Pyongyang a blank check. Mark Lambert, deputy assistant secretary of state for Japan and Korea, said that Washington has made it very clear to Pyongyang that it holds no reservations regarding denuclearization talks. We have to have a serious discussion about the denuclearization of North Korea, and if North Korea is willing to do that, all sorts of promising things can happen, Lambert said on Wednesday, Yonhap News Agency reported. The Biden administration has said it is open to a dialogue with North Korea at any time without preconditions, but the authoritarian state accused Washington of having hostile policies such as military drills and sanctions that it must withdraw against Pyongyang before any talks can resume. Mail-in primary election ballots are processed at the Chester County Voter Services office in West Chester, Pa., on May 28, 2020. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo) Pennsylvania Court Strikes Down No-Excuse Mail-In Voting Law The Pennsylvania court struck down the states mail-in voting law on Friday and said the Pennsylvania Constitution requires voters to cast their ballots in person unless they meet specific requirements. No-excuse mail-in voting makes the exercise of the franchise more convenient and has been used four times in the history of Pennsylvania, wrote commonwealth court judge Mary Hannah Leavitt (pdf) in an opinion. Approximately 1.38 million voters have expressed their interest in voting by mail permanently. If presented to the people, a constitutional amendment is likely to be adopted. But a constitutional amendment must be presented to the people before measures like Act 77 can take effect, the court wrote Friday. Act 77 was passed in the Pennsylvania Legislature and signed into law in 2019 by Democrat Gov. Tom Wolf. Three Republican judges opted to strike down the law over the dissent of two Democratic judges. Democrat Gov. Tom Wolfs administration will most likely appeal the ruling. A spokesperson for Wolfs office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Following the 2020 election, Republicans criticized Pennsylvania court decisions, including one that allowed mail-in ballots to be counted up to three days after the 2020 election so as long as they were postmarked by Election Day. Big news out of Pennsylvania, great patriotic spirit is developing at a level that nobody thought possible, former President Donald Trump said in a statement that celebrated the Pennsylvania ruling on Friday. Make America Great Again! More than 2.6 million Pennsylvanians voted via the mail during the 2020 general election, according to the Pennsylvania elections agency. The figure includes both absentee voting and no-excuse mail-in voting. In August 2021, 14 Republican members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives filed a lawsuit against the mail-in voting law, saying it was unconstitutional. Bradford County Commissioner Doug McLinko in September 2021 filed a similar legal challenge before the two suits were consolidated into one. Later, the Democratic National Committee and the Pennsylvania Democratic Party intervened to defend the law in tandem with Wolfs administration. The Democratic National Committee and the Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of States office did not immediately issue comments after the courts ruling on Friday. On Thursday, meanwhile, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declined to hear a separate case from Lehigh County Judge candidate Zachary Cohen over undated mail-in ballots. The court upheld a Commonwealth Court ruling that some 257 undated mail-in ballots need to be discarded. Adam Bonin, Cohens lawyer, told the Allentown Morning Call that his client is disappointed in the courts ruling, not only because of its impact on Zac, but especially for all those voters who deserve to be heard in this election. Cohen is 74 votes behind Republican David Ritter in the race. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pauses while speaking during a media briefing at the Pentagon, in Washington, on Nov. 17, 2021. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo) Pentagon Takes Steps to Limit Civilian Casualties After Botched Airstrike in Kabul Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the Department of Defense to develop an action plan to improve how it can prevent, mitigate, and respond to civilian casualties caused by U.S. airstrikes. In a two-page directive (pdf), Austin asked top civilian and military officials to provide him within 90 days a Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan. The action plan would outline steps and resources required to implement recommendations that had been issued from recently-completed, Pentagon-sponsored studies of civilian harm, as well as evaluations from the DoDs Office of the Inspector General, and independent reviews that Austin had directed into strikes that led to civilian casualties. The protection of innocent civilians in the conduct of our operations remains vital to the ultimate success of our operations and as a significant strategic and moral imperative, Austin said in the memo. The move comes after a botched drone airstrike on Aug. 29 in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed 10 innocent Afghan civilians, including seven children. Afghan residents and family members of the victims gather next to a damaged vehicle inside a house, day after a US drone airstrike in Kabul on Aug. 30, 2021. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images) U.S. Central Command had initially announced the strike targeted a member of the ISIS terrorist group, after the group had claimed responsibility for an attack that took place on Aug. 26 outside the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, killing 13 American troops and more than 100 Afghan nationals. But military officials later said that a review, directed by U.S. Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander of the U.S. Central Command, found that the target, aid worker Ezmarai Ahmadi, wasnt involved with ISIS. McKenzie in September 2021 apologized for the strike. We now assess that it is unlikely that the vehicle and those who died were associated with ISIS-K or were a direct threat to U.S. forces, he said at the time. I offer my profound condolences to the family and friends of those who were killed. This strike was taken in the earnest belief that it would prevent an imminent threat to our forces and the evacuees at the airport. But it was a mistake, and I offer my sincere apology. As the combatant commander, I am fully responsible for the strike and this tragic outcome. Austin said in his memo on Thursday that the end of the U.S. militarys mission in Afghanistan, alongside other factors, offers new opportunities to improve on preventing and mitigating civilian harm. We will revisit the ways in which we assess incidents that may have resulted in civilian harm, acknowledge the harm to civilians that resulted from such incidents, and incorporate lessons learned into the planning and execution of future combat operations and into our tactics, techniques, and procedures, he said. Earlier on Thursday, the RAND Corporation, a nonpartisan think tank funded in part by the federal government, released a report that said the Pentagon is not adequately organized or resourced to sufficiently assess, reduce, and respond to civilian-harm incidents. Improvements will require DoD to address civilian-harm issues with institutional, not just operational, changes, RAND senior researcher Michael McNerney said in a statement. Per the RAND Corp. report, institutional changes include creating positions in the military that are dedicated to protecting civilians; improving data collection and analysis; and having an improved guidance to investigate and respond to civilian-harm incidents. The report says there should be a standardized civilian-harm operational reporting process put in place, which should retain critical information to enhance learning from previous incidents. Researchers also said in the report that the Pentagon had limited distribution of their investigations of civilian harm-incidents, which limits the ability of military members to avoid repeating mistakes. In interviews, RAND researchers found that even personnel involved in an incident often never received investigation results, and thus could not learn anything from them, the think tank announced in a release. The bridge, located in the Point Breeze neighborhood, carries Forbes Avenue over Frick Park. It collapsed on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety) Pittsburgh Bridge Collapses Hours Before Biden Visit to Talk Infrastructure A snow-covered bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, collapsed several hours before President Joe Bidens scheduled visit to speak about an infrastructure deal. Officials said 10 people were injured on Friday morning in the collapse. The bridge, located in the Point Breeze neighborhood, carries Forbes Avenue over Frick Park, according to a Twitter post from the citys Department of Public Safety, which said the collapse occurred at around 7 a.m. ET. The good thing, at this point, is that theres no fatalities, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey told reporters at the scene. We were fortunate. Pittsburgh Fire Chief Darryl Jones told the Post-Gazette that three people were transported to the hospital. None had injuries that were considered life-threatening, he added. While on the scene, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said that the bridge is a major artery for certain commuters. To think about what a major artery this is for so many people coming from the East End, the eastern suburbs through Squirrel Hill, and on into Oakland and town a lot of work is going to need to be done, he said. Fitzgerald told the outlet that the bridge collapse caused a significant natural gas leak. Crews from the Peoples Natural Gas were able to shut down the gas leak, he said. White House press secretary Jen Psaki wrote on Twitter that Biden was informed of the bridge collapse and would go ahead with his trip to Pittsburgh as planned. Our team is in touch with state and local officials on the ground as they continue to gather information about the cause of the collapse, Psaki wrote, noting that Biden was grateful to the first responders who rushed to assist the drivers who were on the bridge at the time and that the president would stay in touch with officials on the ground about additional assistance we can provide. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said his office is monitoring the situation. We are monitoring the situation in Pittsburgh and prepared to provide support as needed. Pittsburgh residents: Please stay safe and continue to avoid the area, he wrote on Twitter. The cause of the collapse is currently under investigation. City officials said the bridge was most recently inspected in September 2021. Biden was slated to visit Pittsburgh to promote his $1 trillion infrastructure deal that passed in Congress last year. Some Democrats seized on the collapse and claimed its a sign that the United States needs an infrastructure overhaul. I hope its a wake-up call to the nation that we need to make these infrastructure investments, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat who is running for Senate in Pennsylvania, said at the site of the collapse. Sketch of Rare Birds by Huang Quan. The painting represents 20 animals dominated by birds including two bees and a wasp. (Supplied) Prevalence of Bees in Art Shows Positive Association With Humankind A new study of bees in creative practices throughout the ages from ancient carvings and historic cave art to the big screen and across social media has revealed that weve always had a friend in bees. First author Kit Prendergast, from Curtins School of Molecular and Life Science, said that bees have long provided artistic inspirations with their hardworking spirit, sacrifice, and sweet contribution to humans. Looking back at some of the early records of human representations in cave art dating back more than 8,000 years to art by the ancient Mayans of South America, we found that humans have had an enduring relationship with bees, Prendergast said in a release. Carving of a bee logogram on a wall of a temple in Luxor, Egypt. (Jair E. Garcia/Supplied) The researchers also found that positive images of bees in art may have been inspired by the sweetness of honey. There are links between the sweet-tasting nutritious food that could have acted to condition positive responses in the brain, leading to the development of an aesthetic appreciation of work representing bees, according to the paper published in Art and Perception. Representation of bees in Chinese painting. (Supplied) This aesthetic appeal endures today, with bees represented in a remarkable variety of mediums and platforms ranging from Pokemon characters, including Combee, to the 3D-printed beehive structure that NASA says could be our future home on Mars. These examples clearly show how bees have been deeply rooted in the way different people around the world perceive and relate to bees through creative practice, Prendergast said. She also hoped that we can harness the aesthetic connection to bees shown in the study to support efforts to address the underlying threats that may drastically affect their future. There is increasing scientific and public awareness that bee species face many threats, including extinction due to the impact of the expansion of human industrialised living and agricultural practices, habitat fragmentation, increased urbanisation, and pesticide use. For example, the Hive, a 14 metre aluminium honeycomb structure, was built to bring attention to honeybee decline. A spokesman said the work was inspired by scientific research into the health of honeybees and has become a visual symbol of the challenges facing bees today. Sip beehive, a classic design that inspired humans for over 2,000 years, The Beehive building in New Zealand, and The Hive. (Supplied) Co-author Associate Prof. Adrian Dyer, from RMIT University, said that the consistent appearance of bees in art shows the positive effect that bees have had on humanity. The frequent bee art themes show our common understanding in human culture of how important bees are to how we live and prosper, Dyer said. Progressive Caucus Warns California Democrats to Approve Nations First Single-Payer Health Care Bill SACRAMENTO, Calif.The Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party is threatening to withdraw endorsements for any assemblymembers who vote against the single-payer health care bill on Jan. 31, according to an email sent out by the party this week. What weve made clear to our delegates is that if an assembly member is going to vote against the partys values, and vote against what is endorsed by the California Labor Federation, and what is supported by the majority of Californians, then they dont deserve endorsement because they dont believe in the values of the California Democratic Party, Progressive Caucus Chairman and California Democratic Party Executive Board Member Amar Shergill told The Epoch Times. Without endorsement from the party, Democrat lawmakers seeking reelection could have trouble securing financial backing. The preliminary endorsement process for the November election begins Feb. 5a few days after the Jan. 31 deadline for the assembly to approve the proposal before it moves to the Senate. Assembly Bill 1400 (AB 1400)also known as the Guaranteed Health Care for All Actwould create CalCare for all California residents regardless of citizenship status. Authored by Assemblymembers Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) and Alex Lee (D-San Jose), the bill was approved in a series of health committee hearings this month. The single-payer system would eliminate both private health care and current government health care options, such as Covered California and Medicare. Instead, the state would be the only health care provider. To put the system in motion, Kalra also authored a constitutional amendment, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 11 (ACA 11), which proposes a slew of taxes to push AB 1400 into reality. The amendment relies on a gross receipts tax, payroll tax, and a personal income tax on those earning above $149,509 to fund the single-payer health care system. We already pay for every dollar of health care in California, Shergill said. So, what were saying is instead put all of that money in one bucket and actually pay less for better care. If the bill passes, it wouldnt become law until 2023. Shergill said there would be a transition period and that its not going to happen overnight. He said the bill provides a consultative process with labor unions and employers to ensure a smooth transition. The bill is supported by the California Nurses Association and other labor union groups, but its opposed by California Chamber of Commerce, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Taxpayers Association, and several other businesses and medical associations. Jim Stanley, press secretary for the Assembly Republicans, told The Epoch Times previously that ACA 11 would increase payroll taxes on anyone earning more than $49,000 a year. That would be a massive middle-class tax increase, he said. If the fund that they create to pay for this runs out of money, they will be allowed to increase taxes with a simple majority vote in the legislature, so that is repealing part of Prop. 13 requiring two-thirds approval. And it would also include payroll tax increases on businesses. The California Taxpayers Association estimated that AB 1400 would cost businesses and individuals $163 billion annually to sustain the systema stark contrast to Gov. Gavin Newsoms estimate of $2.7 billion. Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, told The Epoch Times previously that the tax hikes will have an accelerating effect on the number of people and businesses leaving California. There are a lot of people who are not richwho are going to be making between $50,000 and $100,000 a yearwhich barely covers the cost of living in California, but theyre going to have the state demand that their employer take out 1 percent to give to the state, so theyre actually hurting the middle class and the working poor with this proposal, Coupal said. If the bill doesnt pass on Jan. 31, it will be waived for the remainder of the year, since the bill was introduced last year in the Assembly. I know the political pressure by the far left special interest groups will be strong for my colleagues, Assemblywoman Laurie Davies (R-Laguna Niguel) told The Epoch Times. But the wrath of constituents for passing a $12,250 per-household tax increase will be stronger. Health Committee Democrats approved the bill in the first series of hearings, but Assemblywomen Autumn Burke, (D-Inglewood), and Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, (D-Davis) indicated they would vote no when it reaches the Assembly floor come Jan. 31. Aguiar-Currys office declined to comment at this time, and Burkes office couldnt be reached by press deadline. Public Universities Cant Mandate COVID-19 Vaccines: Virginia Attorney General New Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares wrote in a legal opinion that public universities in the commonwealth cannot mandate students to receive COVID-19 vaccines or booster doses as a requirement to attend in-person classes. Although the General Assembly specifically authorized public institutions of higher education to assist the Department of Health and local health departments in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, the legislation did not grant such institutions power to impose vaccine requirements, Miyares wrote in his opinion, which was requested by new Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican. The attorney general cited a Virginia state law that stipulates what vaccines students at public universities must receive before attending. Virginia schools require students to be vaccinated against diseases like tetanus and diphtheria, but Miyares noted in his opinion that such requirements are passed by Virginias General Assembly, whereas COVID-19 vaccine mandates were not. There is no question that the General Assembly could enact a statute requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for in-person school attendance, he wrote. As of this writing, it has not done so. The state of emergency that was created by the COVID-19 pandemic didnt expend the powers of entities that are expressly subject to the control of the General Assembly, Miyares said. He also wrote: Notably, the authority to require immunization during a public health emergency belongs to the State Health Commissioner. Several state universities in Virginia previously mandated vaccination as a requirement to go to in-person classes, including James Madison University, George Mason University, Virginia Tech University, and the University of Virginia. The University of Virginia and George Mason University recently confirmed they would roll back employee vaccine mandates for employees. Other universities such as Virginia Tech, James Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University, the College of William & Mary, and the University of Mary Washington have done the same, according to the Washington Post, which reported at the time vaccine mandates for students on campus remain in place. It came after Youngkin in early January issued executive orders (pdf) prohibiting state agencies, including colleges and universities, from requiring COVID-19 vaccines as a condition for employment. We will continue to ensure that every Virginian has access to the information necessary to make an informed decision about the COVID-19 vaccination and ensure all who desire a vaccination can obtain one, said Youngkin in a memo. However, the requirement of state employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and disclose their vaccination status or engage in mandatory testing is harmful to their individual freedoms and personal privacy. On Friday, meanwhile, Miyares said in an accompanying news release that he has received a COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot, and he also encourages people to receive them. But, his news release stipulated that nowhere in the Code of Virginia does the law say that Virginia public institutions can require vaccinations as a condition of enrollment or in-person attendance. Putin Says US, NATO Ignored Its Security Demands as Kremlin Rules Out War in Ukraine The president of Russia said on Friday the United States and its NATO allies have ignored Moscows security demands, while a top Kremlin official said Russia does not want a war. There wont be a war as far as it depends on the Russian Federation, we dont want a war, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during an interview with local radio stations. But we wont let our interests be rudely trampled on and ignored. During a call on Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his first comment since the United States and NATO sent written responses to a raft of Moscows security proposals that the West has failed to consider key conditions that include a ban on Ukraine joining NATO, halting further NATO expansion, stopping the deployment of alliance weapons near Russian borders, as well as rolling back NATO forces from Eastern Europe. During the call, Putin said he wants to continue dialogue with the West to negotiate a stalled peace agreement for eastern Ukraine between Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany. Presidential envoys from the four countries already met in Paris on Wednesday and agreed to another meeting in Berlin in two weeks. The U.S. and NATO responses didnt take into account Russias key concerns such as preventing NATO expansion, non-deployment of strike weapons systems near Russian borders, or returning the alliances military potential and infrastructure in Europe to positions existing in 1997, Putin was reported to have said, according to a Kremlin readout of the call. The latest diplomatic move also comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday called on the West not to create panic, challenging U.S. warnings about an imminent Russian attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a joint news conference at the Mariinsky palace in Kyiv on Aug. 22, 2021. (Sergey Dolzhenko/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) I dont consider the situation now tenser than before. There is a feeling abroad that there is war here. Thats not the case, Zelensky told reporters at a Friday press briefing. We dont need this panic, he added. Zelenskys comment comes one day after rumors spread that President Joe Biden warned him during a phone call that Kyiv would soon be sacked in an invasion by Russian military forces. Emily Horne, a White House National Security Council spokeswoman, took to Twitter on Thursday to dismiss the alleged comments, insisting that the report, which was published by CNN, was not true and that Biden said that there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February. He has previously said this publicly and we have been warning about this for months. Reports of anything more or different than that are completely false, she said. Meanwhile, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko also ruled out that there will be war, saying there will not be a war unless Belarus or Russia comes under attack. The leaders of some countries have gone mad, they think they can win that war, Lukashenko said. But there will be no victory, we will all lose. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin in Moscow on Sept. 9, 2021. (Mikhail Voskresenskiy/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told parliament the number of Russian troops near Ukrainewhich amounts to about 130,000is comparable to Moscows military buildup last spring, when Moscow eventually pulled its forces back after massive exercises. We havent observed any events or actions of military character that significantly differ from what was going on last spring, with the exception of the deployment to Belarus, Reznikov said. While Moscow and the West are mulling their next steps, NATO said it was bolstering its deterrence in the Baltic Sea region, and the United States ordered 8,500 troops on higher alert for potential deployment to Europe. Russia has launched military drills involving motorized infantry and artillery units in southwestern Russia, warplanes in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, and dozens of warships in the Black Sea and the Arctic. Russian troops have also headed to Belarus for sweeping joint drills, again raising Western fears that Moscow could stage an attack on Ukraine from the north. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News Recent Los Angeles Murders Put Spotlight on Equitable Approach to Fighting Crime Commentary Enough is enough. Crime is not usually something I think much about, but two murders in the last two months hit too close to home. Most recent was the senseless murder of 24-year-old Brianna Kupfer from my town of Pacific Palisades. Before that was the equally senseless murder of Jacqueline Avant, the mother of my friends childhood friend. Both were women allegedly killed by black males with long rap sheets. I would normally never note the race of the individuals involved, because it is typically not relevant. But when our leaders embark on crime policies designed to be more equitable, race is at the center. Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon has been clear that he is committed to making our communities more safe and more equitable. Put simply, more equitable means finding ways to prosecute fewer minorities. To the left, these minority groups are the true victims, of so-called systemic racism. Mayor Eric Garcetti subscribes to the same line of thinking. In response to the 2020 George Floyd protests and absurd calls from Black Lives Matter to defund the police, Garcetti and the city council cut $150 million from the LAPD budget, handing the money instead over to leftist experiments like guaranteed income handed out to residents via a lottery. Thanks to the defunding, Los Angeles now has 500 fewer officers than in 2019. It also has a demoralized police force which clearly does not have the support of City Hall. To city leaders, the criminal is the victim and the police are the culprits. The response of many officers has been to retreat from crime fighting. This is only natural since the more aggressively they fight crime, the more likely they are to be accused of brutality or being racist. Los Angeles just released its 2021 crime statistics and, not surprisingly, they show increases across the board, with homicides up 94 percent over 2019. The numbers came as no surprise to Angelenos who have been seeing and feeling the change. Even less surprised was no doubt Garcetti and Gascon since their policies are what led to the increase. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon speaks at a press conference in Los Angeles on Dec. 8, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) Gascon, who took office in December 2020, was previously the San Francisco district attorney where he masterminded Prop. 47, which converted a host of crimes from felonies to misdemeanors in California. Steal less than $950 and you face only misdemeanor charges. Oh, and his office did not prosecute 60 percent of misdemeanor crimes it was presented! The result? The city saw a 49 percent increase in property crimes. He also effectively ended the requirement of cash bail in San Francisco, making it easy for those charged with crimes to remain on the street and commit more crimes. Seeing that reelection was likely not in the cards, he resigned early to instead run for Los Angeles district attorney. Neither the San Francisco mayor or city attorney, his fellow Democrats, endorsed Gascon, supporting his opponent Jackie Lacey instead. Gascons reputation so preceded him that the Los Angeles Police Protective League donated a million dollars to a political action committee that supported Laceys campaign. But this was not near enough to offset the millions Gascon, born in Cuba, received from the far left. His top supporter was George Soros who, through his Open Society foundation, donated $2.25 million. (No, Soros does not live in Los Angeles, he is from Hungary and lives in New York.) Also coming up with over $2 million was Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and his wife. (No, they also do not live in L.A.they live in Santa Cruz.) With the benefit of their money, the white male Gascon defeated the incumbent black female, Lacey, and Angelenos unwittingly elected Gasconmost having no true concept of his plans. He immediately announced that he would not seek cash bail for numerous offenses and would release those currently awaiting such bail. He also said he would never seek the death penalty (despite it being the law in California), and would end charging juveniles as adults. He also announced he would reevaluate all sentences of prisoners having served over 20 years. And, of course, he continued his policy of ignoring smaller crimes. He quickly became so unpopular in Los Angeles that he faced recall efforts in his first year, led by family members of crime victims. The supporters sought to reverse his anti-crime victim/pro-criminal policies, and provide hope for the millions of law-abiding people living in Los Angeles Countycitizens who, because of DA Gascon, today feel less safe. And that was before this months murders. There is a reason that the Lady Justice statue in front of the Supreme Court is blindfolded. Justice should be colorblind. That means equality whereby all are treated the same, not equity whereby the government measures everything by race and is obsessed with equal outcomes. Angelenos are paying with their lives for this woke, leftist utopia approach to fighting crime. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) speaks as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on The Biden Administration's Priorities for U.S. Foreign Policy on Capitol Hill on March 10, 2021. (Ken Cedeno-Pool/Getty Images) Malicious: GOP Lawmaker Slams Chinese Surveillance Giant for Attempting to Interfere With Congress U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) has criticized Chinese video surveillance giant Hikvision over very malicious and malevolent attempts to interfere with U.S. government protocols and silence dissenting voices. It is really just no business of a foreign Chinese-backed company to be interfering and trying to use and exploit our Ethics Committee to try to spy on and try to cause sanctions or even fining or any other penalties, to be weighed in on a U.S. company that is actually exposing them in the media, Tenney told NTD, The Epoch Times sister media outlet, during a Jan. 26 program. Washington has blacklisted Chinas Hikvision, a leading maker of video surveillance gear both at home and abroad, since 2019 under Trump-era orders because of cybersecurity and human rights concerns. The U.S. government stated that the company, with a market value of more than $70 billion, supports the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region of China. The Pennsylvania-based video surveillance research firm IPVM detailed in a March 2021 report how Hikivision helped write surveillance standards dictating that data captured by facial recognition cameras across China should be segmented by dozens of characteristicsfrom eyebrow size to skin color and ethnicity. The congresswoman said the state-controlled company had attempted to go after IPVM, which has published key investigations revealing the longstanding issues against the Chinese-based company. In 2021, Hikvision wrote to congressional ethics officials, asking them to investigate IPVMs alleged illegal activities, Axios reported. It was attempted censorship, using our very own government against another [U.S.] company, Tenney said during the interview. This company is very malicious and malevolent. Hikvision is actually a Chinese-backed state-run surveillance company that actually, sadly, is doing the type of surveillance and video surveillance to actually determine ethnicity. And its been used against the Chinese Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in China to segregate them and to target them. In a joint letter with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) sent on Jan. 18 to congressional clerks, Tenney said Hikvision is bullying IPVM into silence for its unfavorable reporting. The alleged influence attempt came after Hikvision resigned its membership in the Maryland-based trade organization Security Industry Association (SIA), citing IPVMs participation as its reason. IPVM called the act an excuse in a statement, saying Hikvision was being investigated for violating the SIA ethics code and facing the risk of being expelled. Tenney said many companies in the West hope in good faith that China opens up and minimizes human rights violations. But the opposite is true, she said. Theyre really naturally and instinctively authoritarians, and they can be cruel and exacting. And theyve used the United States. And some of these, Ill say naive U.S. partners, who have allowed this to continue to fester and grow. They undermine freedom and they undermine human rights along the way. The outer wall of whats believed to be a re-education camp is equipped with several surveillance cameras in Xinjiang, China, on May 31, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images) Hikvision and Dahua Technology, another of Chinas largest artificial intelligence companies also blacklisted by Washington, control one-third of the global market share for video surveillance, according to a report by Deutsche Bank AG (pdf). More than 300 different U.S. government organizations, including local governments and public schools, have purchased cameras and surveillance systems from the two companies since August 2019, government contract data show. Hikvision didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. Rita Li Follow Rita Li is a reporter with The Epoch Times, focusing on China-related topics. She began writing for the Chinese-language edition in 2018. General Mark Milley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, answers questions from reporters about Russia and the crisis in the Ukraine during a news conference at the Pentagon in Washington on Jan. 28, 2022. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) Russia-Ukraine War Not Inevitable but If It Happens, Death Toll Would Be High: US Military Officials A Russian invasion of Ukraine is not inevitable but if it does take place, it would lead to a significant number of deaths, top U.S. military officials said Friday. Conflict is not inevitable, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters at the Pentagon in Washington. There is still time and place for diplomacy. Russia has amassed upwards of 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine, which was part of the Soviet Union until it gained its independence in 1991. Its also maneuvered artillery, ballistic missiles, and other weapons into the region. Ukraine has about 150,000 active-duty troops, with others in the reserves. Austin and Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Russia should work with the United States and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members to reach an agreement instead of going to war. But if an invasion does happen, the terrain and conditions in Ukraine means the fighting would result in a significant amount of casualties, Milley said. Fighting could break out quickly in cities like Kyiv, population 3 million, because moving troops across Ukraine is easier this time of year due to frigid weather freezing bodies of water. You can imagine what that might look like in dense urban areas, all along roads, and so on. It would be horrific, Milley added. President Vladimir Putin, Austin said, clearly now has the capability to invade Ukraine. Russia has so far held back from invading its neighbor and one top official said Friday that we dont want war, but a Russia-NATO agreement hasnt been reached and Russia has not withdrawn any troops from the region. Putin said Jan. 27 that he would analyze a written response from the United States that came after Russia demanded Ukraine not be allowed to join NATO or host U.S. military bases. Ukrainian officials have condemned certain U.S. actions, including the removal of diplomats and the urging of U.S. citizens to leave the region. Ukrainian servicemen check their position in a trench on the front line in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine on Jan. 28, 2022. (Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo) In my opinion, this is a mistake. Because those are signals of how the world reacts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters in a briefing in Kyiv. Journalists, if they want to understand the situation, let them come to Kyiv. Are tanks driving here on our streets? No. But it feels like this [reading the news], he also said. NATOs top official, Jens Stoltenberg, told a briefing in Belgium around the same time that the alliances members are prepared to up their military presence in the blocs eastern portion. From the NATO side, we are ready to engage in political dialogue. But were also ready to respond if Russia chooses an armed conflict, confrontation. So we are ready for both options. We are working hard for the best peaceful, political solution but were also prepared for the worst, he said. The United States and its allies have been sending security assistance to Ukraine, including grenade launchers and guns, but U.S. President Joe Biden has promised not to send troops to fight in the country. However, the United States stands ready to fulfill its obligations under NATO rules, which stipulate that an attack on one NATO country is an attack on all of them, and has placed 8,500 troops on heightened alert. Those troops may be deployed to NATO members that border Ukraine, including Poland, Hungary, and Romania, U.S. officials said. We havent actually moved any troops. We put troops on higher alerts. Even if and when we do move troops, the purpose of those troops deploying would be to reassure allies or directly in support of NATO, or both, Austin said. We certainly have no intent whatsoever that Im aware of in putting offensive forces to attack Russia, and I dont think thats NATOs intent at all, Milley added. This is entirely engineered by Russia and President Putin as an overt act of coercion against Ukraine. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon speaks at a press conference in Los Angeles on Dec. 8, 2021. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images) Pro-Criminal Paradise: Amid Surge in Violent Crime, Second Recall Effort Against LA District Attorney Launched A second recall effort against District Attorney George Gascon is officially underway after Los Angeles County approved a petition on Jan. 27. Organizers have until July 6 to gather and submit about 570,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot. We are sick and tired of living in the pro-criminal paradise Gascon created, said Desiree Andrade and Tania Owen, co-chairs of the Recall DA George Gascon campaign, in a release issued after the county registrars approval. The bipartisan recall effort is supported by more than 30 cities in LA County, which have passed votes of no confidence against the district attorney. Most recently, Beverly Hills officially endorsed the recall campaign on Jan. 4. Grounds for the effort include Gascons crime-friendly policies, including his disregard for existing laws and his support for weakened sentencing for violent criminals, organizers said in the petition. George Gascons new policies treat career and repeat violent offenders as if they had never committed a crime, ignoring public safety laws approved by the people, the recall group said in the petition. Gascon has come under fire lately for several policies that critics say have emboldened gangs and criminals in Los Angeles. Gascon issued a special directive (pdf) in 2020 directing his prosecutors to seek dismissals of all three strikes charges, gun, gang, and other sentencing enhancements, saying the majority of those incarcerated belonged to long-disadvantaged groups. Outspoken critic LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the district attorneys zero bail policy of allowing economically disadvantaged suspects out of jail without posting bond has added to drastic increases in homicides, auto theft, and robberies. A crime wave of smash-and-grab retail theft and follow-home robberies have shocked many Los Angeles residents in the past year. Notable victims have included a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer, killed while off duty on Jan. 10 during a shootout with robbery suspects, two women killed by suspected homeless people, and philanthropist Jacqueline Avant, wife of music icon Clarence Avant, who was shot to death during a home invasion robbery in her Beverly Hills home. Law enforcement bypassed Gascons office and elected to seek federal charges for four alleged gang members suspected of involvement in the death of LAPD officer Fernando Arroyos. Villanueva said the depravity behind Arroyos slaying should bring harsher punishments than Gascon would seek. In response to the petition, Gascon called the recall effort a right-wing attempt and said California didnt need another political recall attempt supported by Donald Trump backers and frequent Fox News guests. This is not about keeping Angelenos safe, its about a political power grab by well-funded conservative operatives who have fought reforms on juvenile detention, mental health treatment, police accountability in fatal shootings, and the death penalty for decades, Gascon wrote in his response to the county registrar. This is the second attempt to recall Gascon. Last year, another committee fell short in its recall attempt, but raised more than $1 million and collected over 200,000 signatures, according to organizers. SALZBURG, AustriaThe pandemic has had a huge impact on the world and people are ready for it to be over. However, some feel that the virus has not been all bad and may even be changing the world for the better. After attending the matinee performance of Shen Yun Performing Arts on Jan. 25, Dr. Martin Gollner, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, shared his opinion that the pandemic is not a regular virus. Perhaps there is more to it than meets the eye. At least the virus doesnt affect children and there hasnt been any disease so far that doesnt affect children. Dr. Martin Gollner Maybe its a divine virus, Gollner said. At least the virus doesnt affect children and there hasnt been any disease so far that doesnt affect children. Gollner attended Shen Yun with his wife, Julia Edtmayr, an independent lawyer. He shared that although he practices Chinese medicine, the performance introduced him to the concept of the divine in China which is something he thought did not exist in China anymore. I like that there is divine belief in China as well. I didnt know that before and Im a Chinese doctor in training and Ive realized here today that the divine also plays a role in China and not only regarding the body, Gollner said. In Chinese medicine, it is known that the five elements are connected to the five major organs of the body. However, there is a spiritual side of Chinese medicine that has been lost after communism took over in China. This aspect is not mentioned in my training, it is always just wood and water this element theory, but the divine is not. And that is new. And that communism has actually destroyed this world, that is also new. And today we have seen that tradition should return again, then China has a chance, he said. Shen Yun is dedicated to reviving the beauty and spirituality of China through dance and music. The couple found that there were great similarities in the spirituality presented in the performance and in their own Christian belief. Yes, that is very similar! So the Creator has come to earthI am a Christian and so is my wife, Gollner said. He added that Shen Yun has shown him that although China has been taken over by communism and everyone places great importance on their electronics, the people there are still beings with their own thoughts and values. He shared his appreciation to Shen Yun for sharing that with the world. Its great that Shen Yun is being carried all over the world because I think we might have a wrong image of China, he said. We have the image that they are electronic people and that they are being guided by the regimebut they have a heart and a soul, exactly what is shown here. Every nation has its own traditions, its own dances and if you suppress that, it will not go well in the long run. Ticket As a Birthday Present Charlene Kopansky at Shen Yun Performing Arts at Salzburgs Groes Festspielhaus on Jan. 25, 2022. (Qing Rui/The Epoch Times) Charlene Kopansky was also in the audience for the afternoon performance. She received the ticket as a birthday gift and traveled from Munich to attend. It was full of color and the precision and the choreography was amazing as was the skill of each dancer and their ability to coordinate, Kopansky said. There is a lot of liveliness in the performance and the physical fitness level was incredible, she said. The music was also very, very good. As someone who once did modern jazz dancing, she was impressed by the talent of the performers. So much energythe jumps and the turns and the leaps and the interaction of the players, she said. Those dancing were also acting, so I thought that was very, very good and very animated. Stories Will Touch You Helmut Hahn, a hotel owner from Bavaria, was also in the audience. He said he was impressed by the diversity in Shen Yuns programs. The real beauty is the artistry of the dancershow well they dance, how well they move. And the stories are very appealing as well, Hahn said. You cant imagine beforehand that the stories will touch you so much, there are always different ones. You think, when youve seen one, there cant be much else but something else comes up, he said. It is very diverse and thats fun. Im very excited. Hahn also remarked on the performances efforts to present goodness in humanity, adding that he would like to have his children experience Shen Yun as well. Helmut Hahn at Shen Yun Performing Arts at Salzburgs Groes Festspielhaus on Jan. 25, 2022.(Qing Rui/The Epoch Times) I think it comes across very well You can tell that these people have feelings. And thats actually the most important thing, thats what gets lost quite often, he said. Importantly, I will put in the effort so that my children come and see it for themselves. Reporting by Yu Ping, Qing Rui, and Maria Han. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Professor Nicola Spurrier, Chief Public Health Officer for SA Health speaks during a media opportunity at the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre in Adelaide, Australia on January 09, 2021. (Photo by Sue McKay/Getty Images) South Australian Teachers Put Strike on Hold A teachers strike planned for the first day of school term in South Australia (SA) has been postponed after negotiations between that states government and the Australian Education Union (AEU). This comes after almost two-thirds of the AEUs school and preschool teacher members supported industrial action via a full day stoppage on Feb. 2 if COVID-19 safety concerns were not addressed. Since the vote was put to members last week, the AEU and South Australian Department for Education (DE) have been engaged in negotiations on whether the proposed return-to-school measures make the environment safe for staff and students, whether they will slow the spread of COVID-19, and whether they are consistent across all sites. Progress was made on Tuesday when SA Chief Public Health Officer Prof. Nicola Spurrier met with the AEU again; a meeting Premier Steven Marshall said was productive. I think last week they presented us with 18 or 19 demands, I think thats been whittled down to three or four, he said at a press conference on Thursday. Marshall said the major sticking point has been the use of rapid antigen tests (RAT) for surveillance testing, but in Tuesdays meeting, Spurrier went into a lot of detail on why the use of RATs, if not applied correctly, could provide a false sense of security. Its a point in time test, its highly inaccurate in terms of giving false negatives, he said. We really only in our system accept a positive, because if its a positive, its pretty definitely a positive, so we allow that to be considered a positive for them to start their ten days [isolation]. Marshall emphasised that the SAs chief public health officer, the national chief medical officer, and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) do not support the use of RATs for surveillance testing of teachers. The teachers had a long list of concerns. We have addressed the vast majority of those, but the use of rapid antigen tests we just cant agree with the union on, he said. Meanwhile, the AEU agreed the negotiations had been constructive, with discussions including the use of air purifiers, N95 masks, and RATs, ABC reported. AEU SA branch president Andrew Gohl said that the situation is better than it was two weeks ago. Are we getting everything we want to see here? No, were not, but at some point youve got to be realistic about this, he said. In the context that conversations are happening in a positive way with the department, with the commitment for that to continue, I think were happy to put this motion to our members. Therefore, the AEU will hold a second ballot to determine whether or not teachers still want to go ahead with the strike. That ballot opens tonight, and the ballot will close by close of business tomorrow night, Gohl said. He said that although thats a quick turnaround, the union would do its utmost to provide updated information to the members and community. Meanwhile, Marshall has said that while the current health advice does not support the use of RATs for surveillance testing, they will be used for teachers who become close contacts so they can attend work on a daily basis. In addition, RATs will be provided for earl childhood teachers due to the nature of the work requiring closer contact with children. Under the states back-to-school plan, Jan. 31 will see the return to school of the most vulnerable students, as well as children of essential workers. Then on Feb. 2, pre-school and reception, along with years one, seven, eight, and 12 will return, while other levels will start back face-to-face on Feb. 14, after two weeks of online learning. State Department Cites Missile, Drone Threat in UAE Travel Warning The U.S. State Department said an updated travel advisory for United Arab Emirates on Friday that people should reconsider travel due to the threat of missile or drone attacks. The possibility of attacks affecting U.S. citizens and interests in the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula remains an ongoing, serious concern, the state department said in its advisory Friday. Rebel groups operating in Yemen have stated an intent to attack neighboring countries, including the UAE, using missiles and drones. Recent missile and drone attacks targeted populated areas and civilian infrastructure. The move comes after Yemens Houthi movement, aligned with Iran, launched a missile attack at the UAE on Jan. 24. U.S. and Emirati officials said the attack was seeking to strike a base hosting the U.S. military. The UAE intercepted and destroyed the two Houthi ballistic missiles with no casualties, its defense ministry stated. A Houthi military spokesperson said the group had fired Zulfiqar ballistic missiles at al-Dhafra airbase, used by U.S. forces, and other sensitive targets. Houthis had also launched drones toward Dubai, the spokesperson said. It marked the second attack in a week. The former attack, which involved ballistic missiles and armed drones, killed three people in Abu Dhabi. The UAE is part of a Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting the Iran-backed Houthis for control of Yemen over more than six years. The updated travel advisory maintains the highest level warning (Level 4: Do not Travel). The department also noted that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an advisory Notice to Airmen and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation [d]ue to risks to civil aviation operating within the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman region, including the United Arab Emirates. The State Department previously urged against traveling to the UAE due to COVID-19. Reuters contributed to this report. Tex Attorney General Ken Paxton (C) and Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen announce a lawsuit against President Joe Biden's administration, in Edinburgh, Texas, on Jan. 28, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) States Sue Biden Administration Over Alleged Abuse of Refugee Program EDINBURG, TexasTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton and seven other attorneys general on Friday lodged a lawsuit against President Joe Bidens administration over its alleged abuse of a refugee program. The Central American Minors Program lets illegal aliens petition the government to bring their minor children or other family members to the United States, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, an office inside the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If aliens dont meet the criteria for refugee status, officials will consider them for parole, which DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, a Biden nominee, can grant on a case-by-case basis to let the aliens into the country but is only supposed to be used if the secretary finds compelling reasons in the public interest in each case. Aliens can apply for family members to come even if they dont have legal status, according to the agencys website. But Congress hasnt granted the authority for the government to run such a program, the attorneys general charge. There are no lawful paths for aliens who lack status to come join other aliens who lack status in the United Statesand for good reason. It defies common sense. No sovereign nation would reward those who break the law by permitting family members abroad to join them in living in the sovereign territory unlawfully, particularly with the assistance of the government itself, the officials said in the 34-page lawsuit, filed in federal court in Amarillo. The program, they said, is illegal. The suit asks the court to stop the program. The attorneys general of Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Montana, and Oklahoma joined Paxon in the suit. All are Republicans. Mayorkas and other officials, and DHS and other agencies, are named as defendants. The White House, DHS, and the State Department didnt respond to requests for comment. The Biden Administration has sown nothing but disaster for our country through its illegal, unconstitutional immigration policies, Paxton said in a statement. Bidens latest round of flagrant law-breaking includes his Central American Minors Program, which has contributed significantly to many states being forced to take in even more aliens. My fellow attorneys general and I are suing to stop it. The suit was filed shortly after the Biden administration reported almost 1.9 million apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2021, easily setting a new record. Charlotte Cuthbertson Senior Reporter Follow Charlotte Cuthbertson is a senior reporter with The Epoch Times who primarily covers border security and the opioid crisis. A T-Mobile store that was victim to a smash and grab robbery sits open for business in Fountain Valley, Calif., on Jan. 27, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Suspect Arrested, 2 Still at Large in Fountain Valley Smash-and-Grab Robbery FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif.One man has been arrested and two others are still at large after a Jan. 25 smash-and-grab robbery inside a T-Mobile store, according to Fountain Valley Police. The three males were seen exiting the store at 17850 Newhope Street, carrying Apple iPhones and Apple Watches ripped from the display cases. When the men ran outside, they saw officers in the parking lot, causing them to drop the merchandise and flee on foot, authorities said in a Jan. 26 press release. [A]ll three subjects began violently ripping phones, smart watches, and tablets off of their display stands and alarm cables, according to a police report on the incident. The officers chased one of the suspects on foot for about a quarter mile, before catching up with him near Talbert Avenue as the suspect attempted to hide in some nearby hedges. The suspect was arrested and later identified as Albert Alexander Murkison, 20, of San Jacinto. Murkison was charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, resisting arrest, and felony vandalism. He was held in an Orange County jail and his bail was set at $20,000. However, sheriffs department records indicate he has already been released. The other two suspects were still at large Jan. 27, authorities told The Epoch Times. They were last seen, authorities said, getting into an older model black Nissan Maxima and fleeing the parking lot. A total of 11 iPhones and watches worth about $6,700 were recovered at the scene, though they were damaged after being dropped, police said. Additionally there was $1,000 in damage done to the display cases. No tools, just bare hands, were used in the commission of the crime, according to police. Authorities said such robberies in Fountain Valley are rare. Its not normal for Fountain Valley, but the cell phone scenario that we got here, that does happen from time to time, where they just go and rip things from the display cases and run out. And in this scenario, our cops were in the right place at the right time and interrupted it, Fountain Valley police Sgt. Donald Farmer told The Epoch Times. An employee who witnessed the incident told The Epoch Times that the store seemed to be secure, with alarms and a camera around the back of the building. Employees of businesses nearby said they were unaware of the robbery. Customers from a Starbucks, next door to T-Mobile, also said they were also unaware of the incident. A day earlier, a Newport Beach jewelry store reported a similar smash-and-grab robbery, with four suspects entering the building, smashing display cases with hammers, grabbing jewelry, and fleeing in a getaway car. There was no indication the incidents were related, authorities said. Additionally, according to Escondido Police, an Escondido jewelry store was also subject of a similar-style robbery Jan. 26, with two suspects, described as Hispanic male adults, breaking into the store by crashing into it with their car. One suspect broke display cases with an ax. A number of such robberies have received heavy media attention, especially during last months holiday shopping season, as groups in Los Angeles and San Francisco committed such crimes at a number of high-end retail outlets. A teacher's presentation at a Waterloo Region District School Board meeting was cut off after she raised questions about the age-appropriateness of some books in elementary school libraries that deal with gender transition. (jakkaje879/Shutterstock) Teacher Who Questioned Age-Appropriateness of Some Gender-Transition Books in Schools Has Legitimate Concerns: Trustee Long-time Waterloo school board member Mike Ramsay says board is using the charter to limit people's speech An Ontario school board member is calling out the boards chair for engaging in moral panic by shutting down debate about the content in some childrens books on gender transition that deals with sexuality. The issue arose after a teachers presentation at a Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) meeting was cut off because she raised questions about the age-appropriateness of some parts in certain books in elementary school libraries. At a subsequent meeting on Jan. 24, trustee Mike Ramsay demanded chair Scott Piatkowski apologize to the community for the tensions created by cutting off the teachers presentation. However, Piatkowski repeatedly dismissed Ramsay, telling him he was out of order. The chair and majority of my colleagues have been exploiting for political gain the fears and concerns of not only our transgender friends and neighbours, but also friends and neighbours that are asking legitimate questions, Ramsay told The Epoch Times. On Jan. 17, teacher Carolyn Burjoski made a delegation to the board about publications she said are available to children from Kindergarten to Grade 6, while reading excerpts from two of the books. She had begun to argue that one book made it seem cool to medically transition to another gender when Piatkowski forced her to stop. After the board removed her from the virtual meeting, Burjoski said she was bullied and later assigned by school administration to work from home. Waterloo Region District School Board trustee Mike Ramsay. (Handout) Board members have taken to radio, television, social media to grossly misrepresent my remarks. I feel bullied, slandered, and abused, she said in a video posted on Twitter on Jan. 21. Although the WRDSB usually posts video recordings of its meetings on YouTube, the recording of the Jan. 17 meeting was not posted. In his opening remarks at the Jan. 24 board meeting, Piatkowsi raised concerns that Burjoskis comments violated the Ontario Human Rights Code. While some trustees and some well-meaning delegates might genuinely not have seen the harm the delegate caused in what she was saying, I can assure you it was real, he said. During the Jan. 17 meeting, Burjoski read excerpts from a book titled Rick in which the main character questions his sexuality because hes not thinking about naked girls, and later declares an asexual identity after joining the schools rainbow club. While reading this book I was thinking maybe Rick doesnt have sexual feelings yet because he is a child, she said. It concerns me that it leaves young boys wondering if there is something wrong with them if they arent thinking about naked girls all the time. What message does this send to girls in Grade 3 or 4? Burjoski said another book titled The Other Boy, in which a 12-year-old named Shane Woods undergoes gender transition, makes very serious medical interventions seem like an easy cure for emotional and social distress, and that it does not take into account how Shane may feel later in life about being infertile. Delegates gave emotional testimonials during the meeting in support of the boards decision to cut off Burjoskis presentation, while others opposed it. But Ramsay and other critics say their issue with the incident isnt about whether or not LGBTQ books should be allowed in schools. Instead, they argue that when governments at any level silence one side of the debate, it sets a dangerous precedent. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is intended to protect citizens from government, its not intended to expand the authority of government, Peter Woolstencroft, a political science professor at the University of Waterloo, said in his testimony. [Yet] heres the school board using the charter to limit peoples speech. Woolstencroft said the charter and the Ontario Human Rights Code has never been used in school board meetings to limit or prohibit speech. No right is paramount. No right overrides everything else, but rights have to be taken in balance, he said. He added that according to the provincial code, he didnt believe Piatkowsi had the right to shut down Burjoskis speech. The Ontario Human Rights Commission is designed to carefully assess each claim before adjudicating, Woolstencroft explained. It never makes spur-of-the-moment decisions about the code being violated, nor instant judgements. Yet, this is what the board did, he said. Ramsay, who has himself served as chair three times, said he also didnt agree with the boards decision to withhold the video of the Jan. 17 meeting from the public, arguing that the community has been denied the opportunity to draw their own conclusions. This is public property, thats dangerous grounds that theyre on, he said. In a statement emailed to The Epoch Times, the board said it sought out external legal counsel, which confirmed it made the right decision to not share the video. The board also noted that it reduced liability by putting a stop to Burjoski, and the action was in compliance with all applicable bylaws, policies, the Ontario Human Rights Code, and the Ministry of Education. The board has taken the necessary steps to reduce harm to WRDSB students, staff and community and reduce its legal exposure, the statement said. On Twitter and in local media, Piatkowski said he stands by his decision. He told CTV News that Burjoskis comments were frankly transphobic. Burjoski, a 20-year veteran English teacher, released a statement on social media platforms saying the board grossly misrepresented her remarks. She said that she has promoted human rights all her life, and is not questioning trans-persons right to exist. The board removed the video of the meeting so people are not able to hear what I actually said, she added. A spokesperson from the administration of Burjoskis school said they couldnt comment on whether she would be reinstated because the investigation is still ongoing. Teenager Who Sexually Assaulted Girls in Virginia County Wont Have to Register as Sex Offender: Judge A teenager who was convicted of sexually assaulting girls at two different Virginia high schools and apparently assaulted a third will not have to register as a sex offender, a judge ruled Thursday. The 15 year old, whose name has not been made public, was ordered by Loudoun County Juvenile Court Judge Pamela Brooks in mid-January to register for the registry, which helps members of the public learn where convicted sex offenders reside. Just two weeks later, Brooks reversed her decision, local news outlets reported. The judge said she mistakenly accepted an oral motion from prosecutors asking for the registration and that the prosecutors office had not submitted a written motion, WJLA-TV reported. Brooks said in her judgment that juvenile court is aimed at rehabilitating criminals and noted a recent report entered by defense lawyers that says nearly all 12- to 17-year-old sex offenders who receive treatment do not commit additional crimes in the future. Brooks also revealed the teen is accused of assaulting a third girl but that girl has not come forward yet. The judge in the previous hearing had touched on how disturbed she was by the report on the defendants psychosexual and psychological evaluations. Yours scared me for yourself, your family, and society in general, Brooks told the teen, adding, Young man, you need a lot of help. Scott Smith, the father of one of the girls the teenager assaulted, told The Epoch Times after the hearing that he opposed the decision. What happened today was horrific. Hopefully, he doesnt offend again. If he does, its not on me, its on them. I fought to the bitter end for this, he said. Smith told The Epoch Times previously regarding the teen, I want him to become better in the future instead of sitting in jail for the rest of his life, but I also want him marked as a sexual predator. The Smith family added in a written statement that they felt both the justice system and Loudoun Commonwealth Attorney Buta Biberaj, a Democrat, failed them. The person who committed these horrible crimes against these three young women will not have to bear the shame at being known as a lifetime registered sex offender, as he was originally sentenced. Rather, we are now concerned more than ever that this change in his legal status may put other parents daughters at risk of harm in the future, they said. A lawyer representing the teenager did not immediately respond to a request for comment and the office of Biberaj didnt pick up the phone on Friday morning. Prosecutors had shifted their request during the hearing. Originally, they asked the judge to force the convict to register as a sex offender for life. In the new request, they asked for the judge to force the teen to register for 15 years, WUSA-TV reported. Defense attorneys argued during the hearing that juveniles placed on the list are more likely to reoffend. Terri Wu contributed to this report. An aerial view of Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory in Shanghai on March 29, 2021. (Xiaolu Chu/Getty Images) Tesla Sues Chinese Social Media Influencer for Defamation American electric carmaker Tesla, Inc. is involved in another high profile lawsuit in mainland China. The company is suing a Chinese social media influencer for defamation. Mainland Chinese media Securities Times reported on Jan. 26 that Tesla would sue a Chinese social media influencer with the account named of Xiaogang Senior for reputation damage. The carmaker confirmed to the media that the company had filed a suit against Chen Zhengang (influencers real name) on Jan. 26 for falsifying data in his car test video. According to reports from Chinese internet news portals Sohu and NetEase, at the end of April 2021, Xiaogang Senior conducted emergency braking tests (AEB) on a Tesla Model 3 and a Chinese electric car Xpeng P7. In his three experiments, the Tesla Model 3 directly hit an obstacle twice because of no braking response. Assessing the test results, Xiaogang bluntly said that the Tesla could not stop. After the video went viral, some netizens found that during the test, the kinetic energy recovery bar of the Tesla Model 3 showed that the accelerator pedal was manually depressed when the vehicle was about to collide with the fake car in front. Netizen Xiao Li Feiche believes that Xiaogang Senior covertly pushed on the accelerator during the test, which caused the vehicle to fail to stop. When running non-standard tests, the test results can be misleading. Many car reviewers also accused the influencer of being immoral, but Xiaogang Senior insisted that there was no fraud and that the video was real and valid. The tests video came out a week after a Chinese Tesla owner made a scene at the Shanghai auto show accusing Tesla of brake failure and causing her father to have an accident. Tesla posted on its account on Chinese social media platform Weibo on May 25, 2021: We have established data centers in China to localize data storage, and will add more local data centers in succession. All data generated from the vehicles sold in mainland China will be stored in the country. Since then, Teslas legal department has successively counter sued some who made unfounded accusations against the carmaker in China, including the woman at the Shanghai auto show. As for being sued by Tesla, Xiaogang responded on his Weibo account, Okay, I know. Xiaogang Senior has not disclosed any further information yet. The Covid Narrative Falls Apart in South Africa Commentary Last week, China Daily published an article that perfectly encapsulates the magical thinking taking place worldwide around Covid-19. Titled Plea for jabs even as Africa infections trend lower, the piece described how African health experts are stepping up calls for more people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in a bid to ward off future outbreaks even as trends point to a decline in the growth rate for new infections. Thats right, despite a clear downward trend in mostly-mild Omicron cases, health experts want shots imposed indiscriminately throughout the whole population. And adding even more to the cognitive dissonance here are the reasons they cite for the decrease: John Nkengasong, director of the Africa CDC, attributed South Africas decrease in new infection cases to increased population levels of antibodies, meaning that many people have been infected so hence developed antibodies combined with the high vaccination rate in the country, wrote Edith Mutethya before adding the kicker: To date, South Africa has fully vaccinated 27.3 percent of its population. This is, of course, a perfect example of how health officials massage and manipulate the facts to suit their narrative. In this case, in his drive to get more jabs, Nkengasong laughably tells us the countrys high vaccination rate is partially responsible for the decline in Omicron cases. A high vaccination rate, in this case, of wait for it 27.3 percent. Granted, 27.3 percent is higher than the meager 10 percent full vaccination rate for the rest of Africa. But given these low percentages, especially by Western standards, one would be forgiven for thinking Covid-19 was raging like a wildfire across the continent, overwhelming hospitals and leaving massive levels of death and severe illness in its wake. Except, thats not the case at all. Not even close. In fact, deaths per million are surprisingly low for the vast majority of countries in Africa. Tunisia, a small country of 12 million, leads the pack at ~2,200, and only five othersSouth Africa, Namibia, Seychelles, Eswatini, and Botswanaare even above 1,000. Thats a stark contrast to the United States ~2,600, Brazils ~2,900, or Bulgaria and Hungary with more than 4,000 each. Still, according to World Health Organization regional emergency director Abdou Gueye: Although Africa appears to be emerging from the peak of its fourth pandemic wave, vaccination which is a pivotal measure against the virus remains far too low. About 50 percent of the worlds population is fully vaccinated. In Africa, this is just 10 percent. After a peak of 37,875 reported cases on Dec. 12, 2021, South Africahome of the Omicron variant that now dominates the globehas seen its case numbers decline steadily since. How can this be? Nkengasong, to his credit, tells a partial truth by partially crediting natural immunity. He should have stopped there. Why didnt he? I submit that its because of the magical thinking around Covid vaccines. Even a paltry 27.3 vaccination rate, he reasons, must have contributed to the decline. Would that health officials here in the States were so generous. Instead, the third of the country that remains unvaccinated is blamed for everything from virus spread to the Black Death. Were told that vaccines against a spike protein that is no longer dominant are the keys to ending the pandemic, but they refuse to explain in light of recent data exactly how. Instead, our overlords allow the majority of the public to falsely blame the unvaccinated for contraction and spread, even while knowing full well that the vaccinated are just as responsible. Why is the virus raging again in Israel, the most vaccinated and boosted country on the planet? Why is there no statistical difference between virus infection rates in highly vaccinated versus lower uptake areas in the United States? Why do the unvaccinated have the lowest infection rate according to disturbing newly revealed data from Scotland? I could go on and on. (And yes, we have asked the same questions about mask use.) The sad, tragic fact is that their measures, from lockdowns to masks to even vaccine mandates, have done little to nothing to curb the spread of this highly contagious respiratory virus, and taken as a whole theyve likely done more harm than good. I take no pleasure in pointing this out. Truly, I wish something HAD worked. If so, we wouldnt be talking about this two years in. But alas, the only thing thats working is viral attenuation and Omicron infecting everything it touches, regardless of masking or vaccine status. Its not that these vaccines dont have their uses. If someone is at high risk for a bad outcome from Covid, taking the jab and even endless boosters could be a smart move. But we were promised something else a year ago, werent we? Take the shot, we were told, and you can live a normal life free of masks and restrictions. That promise, like so many others, has been broken and memory-holed, relegated to the dustbin of so many other Faucian noble lies. Try to get into a restaurant in New York City or Chicago with eight masks on but without a vaccine card and see where that gets you. Walk into almost any large restaurant or retail establishment in the country, even here in eastern Tennessee, and every employee will be forcibly masked. It seems like the more the vaccines dont work to stop this pandemic, the more our overlords double down on nonsense. Thankfully, the prevalence of Omicron is exposing their absurdity for the world to see, if people would only look. But but but it would have been worse, people smugly retort. To that, I would simply point to South Africa, where Omicron is on its last legs despite a poor healthcare system, much of its population living in poverty, and a vaccination rate that would have Joe Biden really losing his patience. Published originally on the authors Townhall.com column, republished 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. He tried and tried again to secure financial ties in Europe at a time of great need for the new nation Known to be blunt, impatient, and cantankerous, John Adams, second president of the United States, is not generally thought of as having a diplomats character. He had a quick temper and, at times, could be explosive. In spite of those flaws, he nevertheless scored major success as a diplomat in Europe at a very crucial time for America. Credit that to his bedrock principle of putting the public good first, and to his unwavering belief (with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength) in the founding ideals of this country. In September 1780, Congress designated Adams as minister plenipotentiary to the United Provinces of the Netherlands (The Dutch Republic) to negotiate a sizeable loan and a commercial trade treaty. At that crucial stage, the Thirteen Colonies were, for the most part, bankrupt. The Revolutionary War had been dragging on for years, but America had no public money to fund the war. In addition to a quick loan, the Colonies desperately needed a foreign source of trade and commerce. The war had totally curtailed the traditional trade with Britain, and economies throughout the Colonies contracted sharply from 1776 onward. So why was Holland targeted? Back then, Amsterdam was the internationally recognized money center of all Europe as well as Northern Europes trade emporium. As William Henry Trescot mentions in his Diplomacy of the Revolution: An Historical Study (1852), The large commerce, vast capital, and banking character of Holland, rendered an alliance with the Netherlands more important to the United States than any European connexion after that with France. Immovable Objects Upon Adams arrival there, he decided to locate in Amsterdam, where he could meet and speak with bankers. Nevertheless, it did not take him long to run into difficulties. He had in his possession letters of introduction from the President of Congress, Samuel Huntington, intended for the States-General (the representative body) and the Stadtholder (the chief magistrate). The letters were not accepted because the United States did not have diplomatic recognition from the Dutch Republic. America was still universally regarded technically as a group of disgruntled English colonies. In order to get a loan from the Dutch, much less a commercial treaty, the upstart nation first had to receive diplomatic recognition as an independent country. The chances of obtaining that were quite slim. First of all, the Stadtholder, William V, was a staunch Anglophile and a direct cousin of George III, king of England. Second, the States-General insisted upon neutrality in the ongoing war between Britain and America, even though they were facing pressure from the English and the French to commit one way or the other. Third, as a people, the Dutch were painstakingly cautious and contemplative. None of this boded well for Adams. At one point he wrote, They will deliberate and deliberate and deliberate! As the future president was to learn, all interests in Dutch society at the time were implacably opposed to each other, as the late poet and academic J.W. Schulte Nordholt (19201995) wrote. Politically, the division was among three groups: the Stadtholder and his supporters (the army, the established Church, and the lower classes); the growing, emerging middle class; and the local Regents. The Regents were republic-minded merchants in control of town-councils, the states, and the legislative body of the states, the States-General. The more progressive Regents referred to themselves as Dutch Patriots. According to Nordholt in his essay John Adams and the Dutch Republic, they constituted a bourgeois-aristocratic uppercrust that was a splendid example of oligarchy. Adams learned that while the Regents dreamt of participating in flourishing trade with America, there was enough opposition in the States and States-General to curtail work on a trade treaty. Additionally, bank capital in Holland was inevitably tied to bank capital in Britain. Given the circumstances, a loan would not be forthcoming so long as America and the United Provinces were at war, albeit separately, with Britain (the fourth Anglo-Dutch war occurred from 1780 to 1784). A Shift in Strategy After this disappointment, Adams shifted his strategy and relocated to Leiden, a town outside of The Hague, where both the Stadtholder resided and the States-General convened. He remained there several weeks and in subsequent months made many trips between Amsterdam and The Hague. Employing a mixture of his hallmark impatience, his American pluck, and a large amount of his self-sacrificing principles, Adams set out to educate the Dutch and persuade decision-makers to favor giving his fledgling country diplomatic recognition. In short, he initiated his own marketing campaign. The first step he took was to write lengthy memorials addressed to the Stadtholder and the States-General. In the memorial to the States-General, according to editors of the digitized John Adams Papers published by the Massachusetts Historical Society, Adams argued that if the Netherlands delayed recognizing the United States, it risked exclusion from the American market. Moreover, the failure of the American Revolution through lack of support from the Dutch and other Europeans raised the specter of a stronger and more voracious British empire. Nevertheless, he encountered the same brick walls. The official Dutch response was no response. Adams soon fell ill as a result. Being a heavy smoker and chewer of tobacco, and a moderate drinker, his body rebelled under prolonged stress. He was prone to depression, heartburn, and respiratory infections, and he possibly suffered from hyperthyroidism. He would later write of the period, My Feet had well nigh Stumbled on the dark mountains. Despite his ailments, he pushed himself onward. He met a newspaper publisher in Leiden named Jean Luzac, a French Huguenot refugee, who ran a famous French newspaper called the Gazette de Leyde. Another helpful person in Leiden was the French journalist A.M. Cerisier, who published another French newspaper called Le Politique Hollandais. As the editors of the digitized John Adams Papers boast, With a missionarys zeal Adams sought to increase European understanding of the United States and the American Revolution through frequent contributions to Le Politique Hollandais, the Gazette dAmsterdam, and the Gazette de Leyde. Surrender at Yorktown Turns the Tide His press campaign for America no doubt had positive impact, but the tide changed very quickly after news arrived of the British surrender at Yorktown (October 18, 1781). Just as the 1777 surrender at Saratoga greatly influenced France, so the surrender at Yorktown greatly influenced the United Provinces. Dutch Patriots seized the moment to push diplomatic recognition for America through the separate States and in the States-General, too. In early 1782, Friesland was the first State to do so and was followed by the others. In April, the States-General officially gave national recognition by the Netherlands to the United States. It was just the second country to have done so (the first was France). With this new development, the loan and the commercial treaty for which Adams initially traveled to the Netherlands were forthcoming. In June, with the assistance of Joan van der Capellen tot den Pol, Adams negotiated a loan of 5 million guilders financed by Nicolaas and Jan van Staphorst, and Wilhelm and Jan Willink, among others. It was the first of several loans over the next dozen years. Then, in October, 12 months after the decisive Battle of Yorktown, the States-General signed the Dutch-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce. The United States had a new trading partner, and John Adams went home a happy man. This article was originally published in American Essence magazine. Mask mandates and social distancing have proved highly ineffective in containing COVID-19 but other measures are still being overlooked. (Tatyana Blinova/Shutterstock) The Public Health Response to COVID-19: A Missed Opportunity If there was ever a time for our public health officials to urge early treatment and outdoor exercise, this was it In an in-person interview last month, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told ABC News that the COVID-19 crisis was far from over. The best way to end the pandemic, Walensky insisted, is to lean in to the same public health strategies that the CDC has been recommending for nearly two years now: masking, social distancing, and vaccinating. The CDC also recommends avoiding large crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces, and encourages frequent self-testing for COVID-19 whether or not you have any symptoms, washing your hands often, covering your coughs and sneezes, cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, and monitoring yourself for fever and other symptoms daily. But while masking, social distancing, and vaccinating may seem like good ways to keep people from getting sick, Americas government officials have notoriously flip-flopped on several of these recommendations, in particular masking. In early March 2020, Surgeon General Jerome Adams tweeted: Seriously peopleSTOP BUYING MASKS! They are NOT effective in preventing the general public from catching #coronavirus. Soon afterward, however, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is currently the White House chief medical adviser, told the American people that masks werent only recommended but should be made mandatory. Since then, despite a growing body of research suggesting that masking doesnt work effectively, as well as a plethora of evidence that most people dont wear, clean, or dispose of their face masks properly, being masked in both public and private has been a cornerstone of Americas federal public health prevention policy. While public health officials keep insisting that masking, distancing, and vaccinating are the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the numbers tell a different story. Despite the fact that the majority of the American public has followed these strategies, more than 888,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States, according to worldometers.info, a website that tracks infection rates and deaths. Moreover, cases of COVID-19 have continued to climb. Currently, the dangers of the Omicron variant have led to even more school closuresmore than 600 classrooms in New York City public schools have gone back to online learning, and many schools in Maine, Minnesota, Michigan, and several other states have shuttered in an effort to stop the spread of the virus, according to local news sources. Instilling Fear Does Not Promote Public Health Dr. Cammy Benton, a medical doctor based in Huntersville, North Carolina, believes the high numbers of deaths and severe illness from SARS-CoV-2 in the United States indicates that the governments current public health policies are failing. We have instilled fear and isolation and abandonment into the people of this nation, Benton said. And this has been exacerbated by the oppression of doctors who treat early COVID symptoms. The government has gone to extremes not to help people prior to hospitalization. Benton has 21 years of medical experience and treats COVID patients in her practice almost every day. This is not about health. Its about money, greed, power. Dr. Stuart Fischbein, a community-based obstetrician in Los Angeles, California, also believes that social isolation and social distancing are the wrong strategies. You need to live your life. All this social isolation is horrible. And we know that because depression is on the rise, suicide is on the rise. Cognitive abilities are falling. Fischbein, who has been practicing medicine for more than 35 years, pointed to research on babies born during the pandemic conducted by scientists from Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University. The study of 672 healthy children found that these children had reduced motor skills, verbal skills, and overall cognition compared to babies born before the pandemic. Theyre not reaching their milestones, Fischbein said. Theyre not seeing faces, not interacting. Some parents are so fearful that they wont let their children play with other children. Instead of following the flawed and failing public health recommendations, Fischbein believes we need to use scientifically based methods to support the immune system. These are protocols that dont benefit pharmaceutical companies, Fischbein said, but they will help you stay healthy and recover quickly if you do get sick. Boosting Immunity Without Masking or Distancing The first line of defense against illness, according to Fischbein, is to be close to your friends and family. Having fun, smiling more, hugging more, loving, being kind to your neighbor, kissing your spouse, these are things that increase oxytocin, Fischbein said. Oxytocin, which is released by the pituitary gland, acts on all the organs in the body. Though its usually only discussed in the context of childbirth, Fischbein said this neurotransmitter is essential for relationship-building as well. Oxytocin is an amazing hormone. Its your bonding hormone: the hormone you secrete when you feel loved, Fischbein said. In my profession [obstetrics], its what causes your uterus to contract and your milk to be let down. When you have good feelings, youre putting out good hormones like dopamine and oxytocin, and not stress hormones like cortisol and adrenalin that cause your body to wear down. Exercising, Especially Outside Another way to increase your dopamine levels, improve your mood, and support your innate immune system, the medical doctors and other health professionals I interviewed said, is to move your body throughout the day and also to exercise. Being sedentary is bad for your health, increasing your likelihood of getting sick. According to research done by a team of Korean scientists published in 2020, Sedentary behaviors have wide-ranging adverse events on the human body including increased all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, cancer risk, and risks of metabolic disorders. Lack of exercise, these scientists found, also increases your likelihood of getting osteoporosis, becoming depressed, and suffering from cognitive decline. Therefore, reducing sedentary behaviors and increasing physical activity are both important to promote public health, they concluded. Imagine how much healthier Americans would be if our public health officials would champion exercise over isolation, said James Yang, a physical therapist based in southern Oregon. Being outside and exercising helps every system in your body, and the most beneficial way is exercising outdoors. It keeps people happy and healthy and will even stimulate your appetite for healthy food. It has a snowball effect. One of the best things about outdoor exercise, Yang said, is that you are exposing your skin to sunlight. Higher levels of vitamin D are associated with better COVID-19 outcomes, he pointed out. Like Yang, Benton believes that lifestyle and nutritional upgrades are both key to preventing and recovering from COVID-19. If the government really cared about public health, they would be promoting vitamin D levels being checked, going outdoors and exercising, taking care of pre-diabetes and diabetes, Benton agreed. Having good nutritional status is of utmost importance, she added. This means eating fresh, real, whole foods instead of processed food-like substances. So why hasnt the CDC or any of our public health officials promoted healthy eating during the pandemic? Nutrition and natural healing just arent part of the medical paradigm, Yang said. Many people understand that their car isnt going to run on the wrong kind of gas but they dont understand that your body wont work well if you eat the wrong kind of food. This is the message that public health should promote. Early Treatment Matters The experts I spoke to also felt that public health officials and medical doctors should be educating the public about effective protocols to treat COVID-19. Benton herself recently contracted what she described as a moderately severe case. It went straight to my lungs, she said. Wheezing, chest tightness, cough. Though she felt very ill at first, she was 80 percent better in just 36 hours, she said. Benton credited her rapid recovery to her overall state of good health before getting the virus, as well as her use of early treatment protocols: She took ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, monoclonal antibodies, nebulized iodine and colloidal silver, high-dose vitamin C, and high-dose vitamin D. I was better and testing negative within six days, Benton said. Its treatable. Dr. Jeffrey I. Barke, a board-certified primary care physician in private practice in southern California who has been practicing medicine for 25 years, insists that public health officials should be promoting early treatment protocols instead of actively censoring them. As our unelected healthcare bureaucrats push vaccines and masks none of them is talking about the importance of early treatment with sequenced multi-drug protocols, Barke wrote in an email. Even the simple intervention with a nose/throat rinse with dilute Betadine or hydrogen peroxide can make a huge difference. Its reprehensible that none of our so-called leaders are sharing these protocols. Barke said he has successfully treated hundreds of patients with COVID-19 in all risk categories. Early treatment works. Our government officials promised that if we masked, socially distanced, and got vaccinated, we could return to normal life, Fischbein points out. But since the roll-out of the vaccines, we have seen a spike in COVID-19 cases, as well as a huge number of reports of vaccine adverse events. According to CDC data, there have been 1,053,828 adverse events reported through Jan. 23, including 22,193 deaths, 118,684 hospitalizations, 8,886 cases of anaphylaxis, and 13,137 cases of Bells palsy (facial paralysis) directly following vaccine administration. Public health has now admitted that the vaccine doesnt prevent the spread of the infection, Fischbein said. The CDC is telling you to get your vaccine and that this is a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Thats clearly untrue. We were told when the vaccine came we were going to return to normal, now were told it doesnt work that well and we have to get a booster and another booster and you still have to wear a mask and were never going to return to normal. So which it? Jennifer Margulis, Ph.D., is an investigative health journalist and book author. She has worked on a child survival campaign in Niger, West Africa; championed the rights of Christian children sold into child slavery in Southeast Asia on prime-time TV in Paris, France; and taught post-colonial literature to non-traditional students in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the author of Your Baby, Your Way, and co-author, with Dr. Paul Thomas, of The Vaccine-Friendly Plan and The Addiction Spectrum. Learn more and sign up for her free weekly emails at her website: JenniferMargulis.net. Weve been pushing and pounding down the doors of the federal government and were still nowhere closer to getting these people help than we were a year ago. In this episode, we sit down with Brianne Dressen, who suffered adverse reactions after participating in the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial. She is the founder of react19.org, a research organization focused on long COVID and vaccine adverse events. We also sit down with 13-year-old Maddie de Garay, who was severely injured while enrolled in the Pfizer vaccine clinical trial for children, and her mother Stephanie de Garay. Editors Note: For viewers who have expressed concern about Maddie de Garays situation and would like to offer help, you can find her LifeFunder page here. Jan Jekielek: Maddie and Stephanie de Garay, Brianne Dressen, such a pleasure to have you on American Thought Leaders. Brianne Dressen: Thanks for having me. Stephanie de Garay: Thanks for having us. Mr. Jekielek: Thank you for coming here, and were of course here ahead of this march thats going to be happening on Saturday against vaccine mandates. I just want to highlight that because I keep seeing all this weird propaganda as press talking about it being anti-vaxxers or something, and its really clearly about being against vaccine mandates. But you are in a particularly unusual situation in that you were very early vaccine adopters. Maddie, you were enrolled in the Pfizer trial. Brianne, you were enrolled in the AstraZeneca trial. Things didnt go as you expected. So maybe, between Stephanie and Maddie, maybe you can just tell me your story to start. Ms. de Garay: We had had some friends that were in the Pfizer trial, the adult trial, and had no problems. She had enrolled her son in it, so my son found out about it through him and signed up. Then my daughter and my other son heard that he was doing it and then they asked if they could do it as well. My husband and I had also signed up for a trial. It ended up being the AstraZeneca trial that was stopped, so thats why we never were actually in the trial, so thank you for that. Ms. Dressen: Youre welcome. Mr. Jekielek: So Maddie, you were enrolled. So what happened? Miss de Garay: I got my first vaccine December 31st and you get the second one I had just the normal symptoms, like fever, tiredness, that stuff. Then I got my second one January 20th. Then in the middle of the night, I felt like I didnt feel right. Then in the middle of the night, I felt sick, and I went into my parents room, which I never do, and I was like They were like, You dont have to go to school. But I dont like missing school because then you have to make up work, so I was like, No, Ill go. Biggest mistake. Then I got there. I just kept getting worse throughout the day to the point where I could barely walk and I was in so much pain and I was so dizzy by third period. But I didnt want to call my dad because then Id have to go to the nurse and stuff, which I hated doing. So I just went through the day, and when I got home, I barely made it home off the bus and I went into my dads office and I started bawling my eyes out because I was in so much pain. My back hurt, my stomach hurt, my head hurt, I had a fever of like 101-something. My toes were numb and they were ice cold and they were white, and same for my fingertips. We called the trial people, because thats what they told us to do if you had any complications. Ms. de Garay: They told us to go to since- Miss de Garay: Yes, they told us to go to the ER. Then, we went to the ER because these were symptoms that no one else had had. So we went to the ER. Then they basically did an ultrasound and then they did some blood tests, and I think some came back abnormal but they didnt say anything about it, obviously, because they dont want their vaccine to be having problems. So obviously, theyre going to protect it as much as they can. Then they sent us home. We were there from like 5:00 until 10:00 and then we went home. Then I think it was like two days later, we went back to the ER because I had more symptoms and I was in even more pain. Then they kept checking for stuff and stuff would come back, but they would dismiss it and they would say, Its not a big deal. Then it just kept going on and then I got My first admission was January 31st to the 2nd of February. Then I got admitted the second time March 7th no, March 6th, and then I got out a week later on March 13th. They did an endoscopy and stuff and thats the day that they diagnosed me with functional neurological disorder because they said with endoscopy and everything, even though the endoscopy did show stuff and the tests did show stuff same for my MRI Then when I woke up from my MRI because I had my MRI and endoscopy at the same time I couldnt walk. I tried to get up to go to the bathroom and I just collapsed. They were like, Oh, it should go away tomorrow. So I went to bed that night and then I woke up the next day and tried to walk and I collapsed again. They were like, Oh, it should go away in a few days, because they were like, You can stay, but theres nothing were going to do because youre just going to wait it out. And I was like, Obviously, I want to go home. Then I progressively got worse. Oh, I also couldnt eat at the time. Thats why we went in. So I couldnt eat for a week before that. Then eventually, at the end of the admission, I could chug shakes because I didnt want this- Ms. de Garay: She couldnt swallow, though. Miss de Garay: Yes. But then I forced myself. But it got to the point where it was too much. I made it and then I was out of the hospital and then I couldnt do it anymore. I did it for, like, a day and you had to do 10 shakes and every time, I thought I was going to throw up and I felt so sick from them because I had to chug them by a certain amount of time or they were going to put the feeding tube down me and I didnt want that. So we went home and then I couldnt eat for a month after. We kept contacting them and contacting them, like, Its been a week. She cant eat. Its been two weeks. She still cant eat. Its been three weeks. We kept trying to get them to do something and they wouldnt do anything. Also, my walking was getting worse, so I was getting to the point where I couldnt move. I couldnt feel it at all, any of that, and then I got in. They finally were going to put me in because I started having seizures from a medicine called Lyrica. Id have 20 seizures a day. They wouldnt necessarily knock me Some of them would knock me unconscious, but some of them, I could also hear people talking. The only thing that woke me up was a sternal rub.Its really painful and I had bruises all down my chest from it, and when I woke up, I was like, Its hard to breathe, every time. We went to the hospital and my blood sugar was super low. I was not doing good at all. We actually went to the hospital to get an EEG and stuff and to figure out my seizures, but then they eventually passed because [they] took me off the Lyrica. So we got admitted because my blood sugar was in the 40s, and a good blood sugar is 100 to 125. They said if we would have waited another day, I wouldnt have made it. So then they gave me emergency glucose, but they gave me a lot. They gave me that big of a bottle because how low it was. But it ended up being way too much and then my blood sugar spiked to 600. Then I had a seizure type of thing. I was there for like a week and then I got transferred downstairs to rehab and I was in rehab for like one and a half months. So I was there about two months. I was there from April 9th to June 1st, so almost three months. But the rehab people were super mean and I would cry every single day after to my mom while she was at work because my physical therapist said some mean things. She once said that if I wasnt going to try, because I wasnt fitting her standards of how quick She was like, If you arent going to try, then you might as well just leave, because there are other kids who need it more than you. Also, I dont have much bladder control because I cant feel, and I was using the commode and I finally started to be able to walk with a walker after a month, and then she was like Im like, I dont know if Ill make it, because she took away the commode. Im like, I dont know if Ill be able to make it, since I was still really slow at walking with the walker and my legs went all over. Shes like, If a two year old can go to the bathroom by themselves, then you can. Then she just kept saying stuff and then none of her stuff would work and then she would say I always argued with her because she would always yell at me. I would cry every single day after. I would call her because she would be at work and I would bawl my eyes out. Then we werent making any It was super slow progress and they just kept trying to give up on me, but I kept trying to push. Then there was a point where I was walking with a walker and they basically said, If you dont walk with a walker by the end of this week without the walker it was like 250 feet Then were making you leave. Then they tried to send me to a mental hospital that they said was going to help with my eating, which they said was rumination syndrome, which it isnt because rumination is when you chew it and you spit it up and then you chew it again, which is disgusting and I never did that. I just threw it up. Its just nasty. I just threw it up. It would just come up, and they literally saw it. So they tried to send us there and they said all these good things about it, that it would help me and that I would only have to be there for a week. But when we got there, they said I was going to have to squat down and make sure I wasnt hiding anything. They were going to have to watch me to make sure I wasnt purging, make sure I wasnt exercising when I had none of that. I didnt have an eating disorder or anything. Ms. de Garay: She couldnt even move right. Miss de Garay: I could barely even walk. Then I wasnt going to have my phone, I couldnt have anything. Then they said I was going to actually have to be there for like three months, not a week. There were kids throwing glass, banging on doors, and they were really weird. Ms. de Garay: I stopped the admission because they lied to us. If she would have been admitted, Id have no control over getting her out. So they made me sign an against medical advice to stop the admission, so she never We were in the admission- Miss de Garay: They said they could have sent me to court or something. Ms. de Garay: Yes, I would have to go to court. But I knew that from my husband, so I called him- Miss de Garay: But they said if it wasnt safe for me, theyd have to send me to court for I dont even remember. Mr. Jekielek: Because, I mean, basically, they were saying that this is some kind of mental condition, that its not a physical condition. Miss de Garay: Yeah. Ms. de Garay: Yeah. So she had blood in her urine. Theres just one example. If you have anxiety, which she doesnt have, then you would not have blood in your urine. Thats not what happens. Thats just one example. If you have anxiety, you wouldnt have a Chiari malformation that shows up on your MRI. If you have anxiety, its not going to make your red blood cells be high Because I sent her [Brianne] my results and stuff. [I] had the experience. Theres lots of abnormal results and everything has been brushed off as, Oh Theres always an explanation. But then once we had other doctors start reviewing the records, theyre like, Well, did they do this? Did they, I forget all the different tests, Because of the blood in the urine? Did they do a skin punch biopsy because of not being able to feel in her legs? All the things that would have showed something, they didnt do, and anything that did show something, there was always an explanation. Oh, thats because they had a tourniquet on for her blood- Miss de Garay: Which doesnt make sense, because you have to use a tourniquet or something to help you get blood. And with that same blood test, they said that I was for one of them that I wasnt supposed to do my feed before, but they never told us that. But for another blood test in the same blood that they took, they were like, Oh, well, you were supposed to have a feed before that. So they made excuses for everything that showed up and then they were like, Oh, well, thats not that serious. Thats just mild. Because it wasnt like- Mr. Jekielek: I mean, basically, you had this feeling like the doctors were kind of predisposed to dismiss the symptoms somehowthe physical symptoms. Is that what youre basically saying? Ms. de Garay: Yes. Thats what happened. Once we requested her medical records, the full records, you saw a lot more in the notes from doctors. Miss de Garay: Oh, doctors, the nurses were all so mean. This one nurse accused me of dumping my formula down the drain because there was a little bit of formula in the sink, because you have to let the air out so you dont get it in you. So you have to let the air out, and sometimes its hard to time it right so some gets in there. She said the sink drain was full of formula, which wouldnt make sense at all because its a drain. And then she said I was going to the bathroom and not telling her, so then they had to watch me go to the bathroom. And it was still the same because I wasnt lying. Then the doctor said that they had to do my feeds from now on. Ms. de Garay: Its almost like they tried to drive her crazy. Miss de Garay: To make me a mental patient. Ms. de Garay: Yeah. And its not unique to her. I mean, weve talked to lots of people and thats what they do. They try to make you feel like youre crazy. Mr. Jekielek: Like whats happening isnt really happening. Ms. de Garay: Right. Yes. Exactly. Ms. Dressen: Tell them about the first ER- Miss de Garay: Oh my God. The first ER. There were a ton of people in there. They were all old people, so it was an adult hospital. When I went in there, I couldnt breathe and they were like, Well, your stats are normal. I was like, Okay, well, I still cant breathe. And I was hyperventilating and he was like The one doctor They couldnt catheterize me and the lady was like- Ms. de Garay: She went into the hospital because her stomach was distended, just to get you a little bit It looked like she was pregnant, and then she started vomiting so we took her to the ER. After she threw up, she started to not be able to breathe. So we get to the ER, shes trying to breathe by hyperventilating, and we get in there and they check and her oxygen levels were fine. Nothing else was fine. So she was getting enough oxygen because she was compensating for it. They did an X-ray. It ended up her NG tube was in her esophagus, so thats why she couldnt breathe. And then her small and large bowels were totally full. Miss de Garay: But the one doctor said He came in when they were trying to catheterize, just came in, and then was like, You are 13. You should not be crying and freaking out over this. You have anxiety and this is all anxiety, and you need to stop hyperventilating or else were going to shove a tube down your throat and put you on a ventilator. Ms. de Garay: So the problem is, once you have functional neurologic disorder in your charts, everybody can see your charts. Then nobody looks for Because there was all this. Theres a real problem. There was a real problem. Her NG tube was in her esophagus which makes it hard to breathe. Mr. Jekielek: People assume that its- Ms. de Garay: They assume that its just anxiety, so they pump her with medicine, which makes her sicker. Miss de Garay: They gave me Ativan, which didnt do a thing, which was supposed to calm me down if you have anxiety, but it didnt do a thing. Ms. de Garay: So prior to all this, all she had was ADHD and dermatographia. Still has both of those, now a bunch more. She was totally healthy. Mr. Jekielek: It sounds like you had some really challenging moments in these hospitals. Hard to fathom. What has been your experience through all this? Ms. de Garay: So first of all, whenever they entered the trial, I thought if, in the slim chance, the rare chance anything happened, that theyd be in the best hands. If youre going to have anything happen, the best time would be in a trial because they would do everything they could to get you better and to figure out why, because thats the whole point of a trial. Thats not what happened, at all, at least in this trial, it was all about making the results look good. So they quickly, before they did any tests, had that functional neurologic disorder not diagnosed, because they couldnt until they did some tests, but they had it written in her The first hospital of the first admission. So this is before an MRI, an endoscopy, before any significant tests. And this is when she had blood in her urine. That was like seven times she had blood in her urine, by the way. Not just once. So clearly, thats a problem. Never did anything in order to check. So I mean, through my experience, what Ive learned is when they say you have to advocate for your child I never thought that Id have to advocate this hard. Miss de Garay: Its like a full-time job. Shes always saying stuff to try and help. Theyre always doing stuff. Ms. de Garay: You have to research on your own, and sometimes you find peer-reviewed articles that say, This has happened to other people, identical to what happened to her. But no, it didnt happen to her. So I mean, it happened to her before those peer-reviewed articles were even written, so its not even like she could copy it. You know what I mean? If anything, people would be copying them. Traditional medicine has failed. The only people that can help are the ones that dont accept insurance because theyre not being controlled, so you have to pay out of pocket. But then theyre the ones that know whats happening. So for whatever reason I dont know if its because theyre afraid Because like you had said earlier, I got to think that there arent this many horrible people in this world that are kind of just pushing her to the side and saying, Hey, you took one for the team. Through all this, what Ive learned is if you get your vaccine and you get injured, I dont care if you were in the trial or not, you will not get help. You are on your own. And insurance, you wont be able to get help from a doctor that is covered by your insurance. You will not. Mr. Jekielek: Thats a terrible indictment of the system. Ms. de Garay: Its whats happening, and its real. Mr. Jekielek: I think you alluded to this a little bit earlier, but why did you decide to enroll in the trial in the first place? Because it was both you and your daughter. Youre very serious about trials, it seems. Miss de Garay: Well, my brothers were in it, too. Ms. de Garay: This is the first trial they were ever in. But my kids have always They had all their vaccinations, we get our flu shot every year. Id hear stories about people injured by vaccines and I For me, its like you dont know them so it doesnt really I dont know. You know that it happened, but its like, Oh, thats rare. Nothing ever happened to my kids before. Weve never had a problem. I trusted what the government said. I trusted what the doctors said, and I wanted this pandemic to be over. And the way that it was presented to the world was, This vaccines going to end the pandemic. I mean, my kids are stuck at home, they cant leave, were wearing masks. I work in a school. I see how its affecting elementary-aged kids. So my kids would get the vaccine before everybody else, theyd be safe. I wouldnt have to worry. Theyd be helping other people. Thats why we enrolled. We wanted to get it early, protect ourselves, but also help- Mr. Jekielek: Contribute to society. Ms. de Garay: Right. I felt like this one Other trials, you think, Oh, thats new. Whatever. Its not safe. But the way it was presented to you and the risks and the informed consent were like, Youre going to have cold symptoms. Or, In the rare event, you can have an anaphylactic reaction. Which Im like, Okay, you just need an EpiPen, youll be there, itll be fine. Mr. Jekielek: Gotcha. Ms. de Garay: I trusted the government and I trusted the doctors. I dont anymore. Mr. Jekielek: Maddies been through multiple visits to hospitals. I can see Maddies obviously still in a wheelchair. Are you able to walk now, or- Miss de Garay: No, I cant walk, cant feel from my waist down, dont have bladder control or control of going to the bathroom, and I cant hold up my neck. So if I hold up my neck, it goes like that and its hard to breathe because it goes back. And I have pain all over my body and stomach pain. Ms. de Garay: So its uncomfortable to sit. Miss de Garay: Yeah, I lay down all the time and I sleep all day. So does Bri. We love to sleep. Ms. Dressen: And your feet, when they come out of your wheelchair. Miss de Garay: Oh, my feet One time, my foot- Ms. de Garay: One time? Miss de Garay: Okay, maybe a few times. It went behind that tiny wheel and then I guess it went up and my toe or something got stuck, because I was trying to move and it wouldnt move. I was Mr. Jekielek: Because you cant feel. Miss de Garay: jamming my toe. Then one time, my friend We were bowling, and I had my legs as the thingy Ms. de Garay: The ramps. Miss de Garay: The ramps. Because I cant hold up a bowling ball because Im super weak. She pushed it down and then it flew off my legs and it landed on my toes, I guess, and they got all swollen and purple but I couldnt feel a thing. My brother has hit me with a charger and I couldnt feel it. Hes not abusive I mean, hes not abusive, but we joke around. Ms. de Garay: Hes a brother and he wanted to make sure she couldnt feel and he proved that she couldnt. So two things with that. She cant feel, but also, back to the mental thing, she lives her life, she goes bowling, she adapts. So its trying to prove the whole functional neurologic disorder, being depressed, being anxiety, because thats what theyre saying with a lot of these people. She lives her life. Mr. Jekielek: So still at this point, theyre suggesting that her paralysis is Ms. de Garay: in her head. Mr. Jekielek: somehow in her head? Ms. de Garay: Anxiety. Mr. Jekielek: Fascinating. Ms. de Garay: She definitely has ADHD. Mr. Jekielek: Youve gotten some second opinions on this, obviously. You were just talking about that, right? Ms. de Garay: Yes. We did go to one other hospital. Its a smaller hospital, which was kind of a waste of time, but they are maintaining her. Doctors will say that there are things wrong to you. They wont put it in the charts. Miss de Garay: But the nurses are super nice there. Ms. de Garay: So one example is when she saw the cardiologist. Hes like, Well, she definitely has POTS, or dysautonomia. But hes like, I dont see any point in putting it in her charts. Im like, I see a point. Now, the only thing they could do was the sit/stand tests. But based on her other symptoms and the other tests that he did Thats just one example. The neurologist had said theres definitely something wrong. He started out with, I want to figure this out, and then aligned with the same time with Bri with when he changed his position to its functional neurologic disorder. Its the exact same literally the same It was in September or October. Thats when everything changed again. Mr. Jekielek: Okay, so youve been hearing everything thats being said here and now youve kind of been entered into the story. So what happened? Ms. Dressen: Of all the cases I, myself, I know for a fact Ive talked to well over 12,000 people who have had adverse events to the COVID vaccines, and thats at a minimum. Mr. Jekielek: So this is your mission in life. Ms. Dressen: Right now, yes. If the government actually does their job, I would like to go back to focusing on healing and being able to dedicate my time to helping my dear friend Maddie over here. But of all the cases, theres a couple of cases that are the top two of massive neglect, massive mishandling by the drug companies, the test clinics, the government, and thats Maddie de Garays case. 100 percent is at the top of that list. Her doctors gaslit her. They abandoned her. They did everything they could to hide her and to put a label on her, and that child right there deserves way better than what she got, hands down. And every time I try to quit this, because this is toxic and this is hard and this is ugly, I call Steph and Im like, Im done, shes like, Okay, Ill get Maddie on the phone and you can tell her that youre done. So- Ms. de Garay: Oh, we talked every day. Ms. Dressen: Yes. So until Maddies better, we cant walk away. Theres no way. Ms. de Garay: And now theres more kids like her. Her new friends now are vaccine injured. Same symptoms. Ms. Dressen: Theres a community of kids here in the United States that are trapped in sick bodies and they dont need to be. So in Maddies case, she has all of these doctors that were looking at symptoms, thinking its FND. She has FND put in her chart one time and it plagues her for over a year now to get medical care. They dont look at the underlying etiology of whats going on, period. They dont do small fiber neuropathy tests. They dont do POTS testing. They dont do the appropriate blood work to look for autoimmune disorders. Ms. de Garay: Mast cell. Ms. Dressen: Mast cell. Theyre not looking at anything thats going to actually treat the underlying condition. Because one doctor decided she has FND so all of the doctors after that, Its FND. We dont need to worry about it. Wheres the second opinion? Wheres the honest and objective look at her case? Its not happening. And I dont know how Steph does this every single day. I dont. Because I just get little tastes of it and it makes me so upset that this is what we have allowed to happen to a child. This is the United States of America. This is beyond un-American. Mr. Jekielek: You participated in, I think, not one but maybe two hearings that Senator Ron Johnson organized and told elements of this story. And I still want to get your whole story on record. There hasnt been doctors or anybody interested in actually figuring this out? I mean, its- Ms. de Garay: Its not your doctors that youre going to go to that esteemed childrens hospital Miss de Garay: Its like private stuff. Ms. de Garay: First of all, the challenge with a child is a lot of these places that everybody else is going to, they wont see children. So youre limited on the places that you can go to get help for something complex. So a lot of the places that Ive been referred to, they dont treat children. So that [is] number one. So the big childrens hospitals, a lot of them, theyre running COVID vaccine trials at. So Ive learned that if that is happening at the hospital, you might as well not even waste your time. Mr. Jekielek: Because theres this potential for conflict of interest or- Ms. de Garay: There is. But I mean, theres and Im going to say names. Dr. Whelan, right? Ms. Dressen: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Ms. de Garay: At UCLA, wrote a letter to the FDA about concerns that he had about a similar reaction to the COVID vaccines that kids were having to COVID with the MIS-C. Its basically an allergic reaction where your body attacks itself. Its the same thing thats happening and what happened to her. There are so many different things you can call it, is the problem. The MIS-C, the Ms. Dressen: Guillain-Barre. Ms. de Garay: Guillain-Barre, the mast cell MCAS with POTS and having EDS. Shes also hypermobile, so is she, so am I. Theres all these different things. Its all the same thing, they just have different diagnoses or theyll break them up. They all go together. You- Ms. Dressen: But Maddie doesnt have any of those diagnoses. Ms. de Garay: No. Ms. Dressen: Shes not getting any of that because shes a kid, so then you narrow down the diagnoses and the resources to pediatricians and pediatric specialists. But then you also have the added layer of the current stigma with anyone being able to talk about the COVID vaccines, so then that narrows down your pool of people that are willing to take care of her even further. So she has a very, very small window of being able to get medical care, and she has to do it under guise of darkness and quietness and delicateness because the word COVID vaccine is involved. Miss de Garay: If no one knew that our cases were from the COVID vaccine and they just started fresh, it would probably be way different. If we just said it was from something else. Ms. Dressen: And we have people that have to do that because theyre so desperate for care, and so they lie to their doctors and say, Hey, I got COVID. Now I have X, Y, and Z problem. And guess what? They get care. Mr. Jekielek: I see. But if its associated with the vaccine, people are afraid to take it up because it might suggest theres something wrong. Ms. de Garay: No doctor is going to say especially for a child that was in the trial, okay? Just think about it. Do you want to be the doctor thats in traditional medicine Outside of traditional medicine is a different story, because those are the people that are, I think, unique and theyre trying to dig and theyre trying to figure it out. Do you want to be the doctor that says she has when you know what tests are going to show something. You do those tests. She has whatever it is. This is whats happening. You give the concrete proof basically saying they lied in the trial, they treated her completely wrong from January until October when we switched her care. Do you want to be that doctor? What do you think is going to happen to you if youre that doctor that says that? Youve lost your career, guaranteed. Ms. Dressen: And there are a couple. Theres a couple of doctors that have the smoking gun and theyre afraid. Theyre very afraid. Miss de Garay: Or theres been doctors who leave their job because they were trying to mandate the vaccine at the- Ms. Dressen: If you question the vaccine, whats going to happen to you? Nobody knows. And so its kind of strange for people to question that there would be adverse events when, in the history of vaccines, all vaccines have caused side effects. Yes, the flu vaccine has caused fatalities. This isnt new, so it blows my mind that for some reason, we would assume that the COVID vaccines would be any safer than previous vaccines. Then, if we talk about it, then thats not okay to talk about it. Its not okay to take care of those people that fall through the cracks. It blows my mind, and these doctors, theyre getting the same because their licenses have been threatened. Because of misinformation. We have people in our group that theyve lost their physicians after those directives came from the medical boards. The doctors called them and said, Im sorry, I cant be your doctor anymore because you yourself dont put bread on my table and Im afraid of whats going to happen if I continue to see you. So we have politics that seeped so far into the healthcare system that its completely upended the patient/physician relationshipthat never should be the case. Then also, we have politics that seeped into the scientific process, and that also should not be the case. We should have protocols, systems, everything set in place to keep that from happening. But under the guise of pandemic, all of a sudden, all of those rules and safeguards and protocols, were going to throw them out the window because of a pandemic. Instead of the whole reason we have this setup is for this exact circumstance, when we are in crisis globally, to make sure that the corruption and the problem that were in doesnt happen. So the sad reality is, there are very real people, families that have been shattered because these protocols have not been followed, because we have allowed and openly, weve allowed politics to seep into all of these processes, when politics should have nothing to do with this. Ms. de Garay: Politics and money. Money is the other- Ms. Dressen: Its money, yes. Ms. de Garay: Its not just politics. Its money. Ms. Dressen: Yes. So you have all of these people with power, the puppet masters, whatever you want to call it. And then youve got Maddie in a wheelchair and shes fighting for her life. So I know Maddie- Miss de Garay: And theres even been deaths. There was a kid who died that was 16. He was playing basketball with his friend and then he just collapsed. Then basically they did CPR and [he] basically passed away right there because his heart was enlarged, more than double the size normal. Ms. Dressen: Ernest Ramirez. So Maddie de Garay, thats who she sees. She sees what happens to Ernest Ramirez. She sees what happens to her new injured friends. Ms. de Garay: That wouldnt have happened to him if they would have Ms. Dressen: If they were talking about it. And actually, we brought this up to the FDA. I dont know if I told you guys this. But the second meeting we had with Peter Marks, we had a critical care physician whos injured on that call and she made it very clear, Look, before you guys provided the communication to the medical community about myocarditis, we had one case that we recognized and identified from the vaccines. However, after that directive was given, we were able to identify 35 in the next two and a half weeks. So what happened to those before the directive came out? Obviously, they fell through the cracks. Theyre probably lost in this very complicated medical system that were all victims of now. So the government agencies doing their job, provides avenues for all of us to get medical care, it opens up the doors for us to be able to get the appropriate testing, the diagnostics, the research that needs to happen to get these people better. But because theyre not doing their jobs, then we have people that continue to suffer. We have people that are literally dying. We have people like Maddie de Garay, who slowly is declining. Shes not getting better, and thats what makes me so upset about this case. Miss de Garay: Theres people who get so like from people, not doctors not helping them or anything, they just get so beat up from their selves and then they take their own lives. Multiple [people] Ms. Dressen: Yeah. And its common. So of course, yeah, we get pegged with anxiety. Over 80 percent of the members of our organization, we Because the government wasnt helping us, so we have to help ourselves. We launched our own 501(c)(3). Its reAct19.org. Its launched by patients and its for the patients, and over 80 percent of our membership was misdiagnosed as anxiety initially. And some of us were able to Miss de Garay: Cope with it. Ms. Dressen: get appropriate diagnoses months after the fact. But then you still have an even amount, like Maddie de Garay, who they cant get the appropriate testing to get appropriate diagnoses. Which, then how is she going to get better if theyre not going to be willing to examine and find the underlying cause of whats going on? Theyre just masking the symptoms. Ms. de Garay: Well, yeah. Ms. Dressen: Physical therapists gaslighting her, doctors gaslighting her. Thats not going to get her better. Ms. de Garay: Well, the other problem is, they just medicate and with most of the people, because of whats happening, the medication is making most medications, other than antihistamines, makes them worse. So she talked about the seizures and stuff. That was gabapentin, the Lyrica, Compazine, all those she had reactions to. She had the MRI and she got worse after the MRI. The MRIs use gadolinium with the contrast. Were fairly certain shes allergic to metals. We can take a step back just real quick. The allergist and immunologist that she saw saw her for 15 minutes and did zero tests. The biggest thing happening to her, one of the biggest things, its mast cell. Its an allergic reaction. 15 minutes. Zero tests. Collaborated with the principal investigator and said it before and after the appointment. She literally put it in the notes. Mr. Jekielek: And you think, again, this is because of this diagnosis of- Ms. Dressen: Should I speak to that? Ms. de Garay: Yes. She was- Ms. Dressen: My example is the classic example of what these misdiagnoses can do in a case. Obviously, Maddie, you get slapped with a label and thats it. Theres no further investigation. So for me, I was misdiagnosed with anxiety when I was incontinent, peeing my pants. Oh, blood in my urine like Maddie as well and I couldnt walk. So on my chart last November, anxiety due to the COVID vaccine. Mr. Jekielek: So you were- Ms. Dressen: So you signed up for the- Mr. Jekielek: Maybe this is the opportunity where you just tell me a little more about your situation. So you enrolled in the AstraZeneca trial and then Ms. Dressen: Yes. Oh, but I have short-term memory loss, so before I forget Miss de Garay: Yeah, so do I. Ms. Dressen: Right. Yes. We all are like space cadets now. Mr. Jekielek: Wow. I shouldnt be laughing. Ms. Dressen: No. No, thats legit what it is. Ms. de Garay: Thats what you have to do. We may seem very relaxed, but thats how you cope. Miss de Garay: You have humor. Ms. Dressen: Yeah, otherwise this thing will eat you up and spit you out and youll be dead. Miss de Garay: And thats what happens with the people- Ms. Dressen: Weve seen it. We literally have seen this thing consume people to the point where they take their own lives. So we have to have our own strange way of coping, and for us, its cracking jokes about our memory loss and our rashes and the fact that we have diarrhea for days. Miss de Garay: Even one person sent her a note, wasnt it? Ms. Dressen: Yeah, theres been several. Several. Miss de Garay: Yeah. Its sad. Ms. Dressen: They all deserved better. And this is how it is with any chronic illness. Someone has a chronic illness, in our case, someone gets vaccinated and has an adverse event. Its not everybody, but some. And its like a bomb goes off and the blast radius consumes your family, your friends, your work community. You go from a healthy, functioning person to confined to your room and to your home just trying to survive for months. And then what happens? All of those people that depend on you, you now depend on all them. Its like a total 180, upends your whole life. Just like Steph. Steph has been consumed with trying to advocate for her daughter to the point where its like every other day, shes like, I dont know how I can do this. I dont know how I can do this. I dont know how I can do this. So we reach our limits regularly, and then we have to figure out how to gather the pieces, put ourselves back together, and keep pushing forward. Because we dont have any other choice. Well, some of us have making the choice to end it, but at the same time, its not a black-and-white decision for them, either. With the anxiety, my anxiety diagnosis plagued me until I went to the NIH. I went to the NIH in June. My injury was in November. So that was six months, seven months, and then finally at the NIH, I was able to get appropriate diagnoses now, like dependent neuropathy. Pretty sure thats not anxiety. You cant get that from anxiety. Severe postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, short-term memory loss, severe tinnitus, sensory neuropathy in my hands and my feet, thats not anxiety. But after I was able to get those appropriate diagnoses from lead researchers and COVID, my doctors started taking me seriously. But even with all of that paperwork, that huge paper trail and the top researchers in the country giving me appropriate diagnoses, my doctor still in our office visits, theyre hesitant to say the word COVID vaccine, so they say, COVID-related illness. COVID vaccine. If we cant even say the words COVID vaccine in a medical environment with two people sitting in a doctors office, HIPAA compliant The privacy laws here in the United States for healthcare are top of the line. We protect medical information like nobodys business. And even with that setup, were still going to say COVID-related illness instead of the word COVID vaccine? Where does that come from. Whos holding the puppet strings to make that happen? I really want to know at this point, who is the one doing this to us? Whos the one that has done this to Maddie? Because its not just one or two people. Ms. de Garay: Its everywhere. And theyre all afraid. Mr. Jekielek: And youre not talking about the injury. Youre talking about the response, right? Ms. Dressen: Right. Mr. Jekielek: Or lack of. Ms. Dressen: Yes. It starts somewhere, and it starts with leadership. It started with leadership in multiple positions at the drug companies and the government level. And then you have the healthcare agencies, like the AMA. They can provide appropriate directives to all of these medical facilities. Because really, the only reason were having this conversation is because nothing is happening for these sick people. If the appropriate things were happening for these sick people, we wouldnt be here. We would be home, focusing on our healing. Ms. de Garay: There are doctors that do know whats going on and they will admit it. Once again, they are not covered by insurance. Theyre doing the same tests that should have been done, so theyre out of pocket and theyre- Miss de Garay: And they actually admit Ms. de Garay: Yeah. They admit it was from the vaccine. Miss de Garay: They see something. Ms. de Garay: And theyve treated people. But a lot of people dont have the money to do that. So I mean, were in that position where we are to the point where were going to have to set up a life fund. Ive avoided doing this clear up until this point. But were at the point where we have exhausted Im on the phone with doctors every night. I go to work and then I come home and I talk to doctors. Im on the phone. Miss de Garay: Its all she does. Ms. de Garay: And then she cant do anything for She cant transfer herself from the bed to the wheelchair. She relies on me and my husband, and my kids help, too. But its like, this is our life. That is all that we do. We dont go out. We cant. This is a vacation for her, by the way. Im not even joking. But this is what it does to peoples lives. Ms. Dressen: Its one thing to be sick and its a whole other thing to be sick with what feels like the world is against you when you did- Ms. de Garay: And you dont know whats going on. Ms. Dressen: And you did nothing wrong. These people did nothing wrong. Mr. Jekielek: It sounds like you kind of did everything right. Ms. de Garay: Some are being mandated. Mr. Jekielek: I mean, at least what you were- Ms. Dressen: We did what we thought was right and we made that choice, especially Maddie and I. We gladly signed up to do our part, to be an active participant in the scientific process to get everybody out of the pandemic. And now that theres something that has gone wrong, instead of actually looking at it, investigating it, weve been cast aside. Marginalized. Silenced. Miss de Garay: And most people are honestly getting COVID almost A lot of people in my school have gotten COVID and whether they have the vaccine or not, and none of them are severe cases. They just get a little sick, like a cold. Mr. Jekielek: So Brianne, its been over a year since you took the AstraZeneca vaccine, experienced these reactions, started getting through it, and then got motivated and started connecting people. I just want you to tell me a little bit about that process. Youre in the lead paragraph of an article in Science right now. The article is, In rare cases, coronavirus vaccines may cause long COVID-like symptoms. I imagine theres a bit of a story to getting to that point as well, and I wanted to kind of chart that, for finding the other people who are experiencing the sorts of things you did and then getting us to this point where a major magazine is talking about symptoms that vaccines may cause, right? Ms. Dressen: Right. Yeah, I got my COVID vaccine on November 4, 2020 and my reaction started within an hour. Ended up with pins and needles down my arm, had double vision that night, sound sensitivity that night. Over the next two and a half weeks, my symptoms progressed to the point where I had extreme tachycardia, blood pressure fluctuations, temperature fluctuations. My sound sensitivity and light sensitivity became so severe I had to be confined to my bedroom 24/7. I have two little kids, so it was very traumatizing to them. My little boy would come and try to hold my hand to comfort his mom and my hands were on fire. It hurt, so he couldnt even touch my hand. I had tinnitus in both of my ears, a freight train in one and the in the other. So with everything going on, the head pain and the motor dysfunction, I landed in the hospital just before Thanksgiving and thats when I was given my inappropriate diagnosis of anxiety. I was sent home from the hospital with intensive occupational and physical therapy with a diagnosis of anxiety. Had to learn how to walk again, retrain my bladder, retrain my colon. I couldnt even sort a box of toys. It was just too much, and I ended up with these horrific internal vibrations, and so it basically feels like you have an electrical shock surging through your body 24/7. And so your brain vibrates all the time, and so my eyes, I couldnt see straight because I was seeing double still. But then it also felt like my eyes were vibrating because my brain felt like it was vibrating. It was so severe that I couldnt think, I couldnt eat. The only thing I could do is breathe, and I just remember day after day. I still cant figure out how you dont cry when you talk about your thing, because Miss de Garay: I dont cry. Ms. Dressen: yours is so much worse. But yeah, I couldnt breathe. I remember waking up every day and just, Okay, just breathe. Just breathe for one minute. Just breathe in and breathe out. Because the sensations were that painful, they were that horrific, all I could do was try to live minute by minute. Then after months of existing like that, I was able to extend that to living hour by hour, and now I can live day by day, but it took a long time. It took like seven months before I was able to live day by day. So the reaction for me was life changing. I went from a very healthy mother of two to confined to my bedroom 24/7, just literally trying to convince myself that I needed to live like this, that I had no choice, there was no way out. I had to live like this. And instead of that being just for a little bit of time, it was months. Just unrelenting severe pain, electrical sensations. It was the worst experience of my life and I would never wish that on anyone, let alone a child, and especially marching someone to that fate without any kind of help for them. It seems like the most barbaric thing that we could do to other people. Because these are people. I mean, these are humans. These are human beings. We dont need to be vilified as anti-vax or against the government, or as Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer, criminals. Is that what were called? Criminals? Criminals. How can we be criminals? We signed up for the clinical trials. We actively participated in the scientific process for the betterment of society and somehow that makes us criminals? Mr. Jekielek: You somehow along the way decided to start connecting people, right? Ms. Dressen: Oh yeah. Sorry. Mr. Jekielek: No, no. Ms. Dressen: Short-term memory loss. Hey. Yeah. Mr. Jekielek: No, but this is I mean Thats part of the reason why were sitting here, right? Ms. Dressen: Yes. I mean, yes. After enduring like this for months totally on my own, I thought it was an isolated incident. And lifetime vaccine taker, no problems, so I didnt think it was going to be a big deal when I got my vaccine. But I suffered like that totally on my own. There was nobody else we could figure out that had this same set of symptoms coming up from the vaccine. So my husband, hes a PhD scientist. He got to work right away trying to figure out what was actually happening to his wife. Because all of a sudden, he was taking care of the kids, trying to keep me alive, try to hold down his job. We were a sinking ship at our house. So through the research, he started putting together some of these theories that is this the spike protein thats causing this? Is this an immune dysfunction? Is this autoimmunity? So all those questions, he started combing through the peer-reviewed published articles and he came up with a pretty good concept pretty early. So he started reaching out to scientists all over the globe. COVID experts is where this landed. The symptoms and its in the Science mag article they are so similar to long COVID that thats given us a kind of base to where we can look for testing, treatments, even resources. So there are several vaccine injured that have lied and said that they had COVID so they can get into long COVID clinics, because were so desperate for care. And it shouldnt be that way. Just let us into the clinic, right? So I ended up in these long COVID forums, just kind of lurking there on my own. It was kind of like a- Ms. de Garay: Me too. Im in a kids one for her. I just wrote- Ms. Dressen: Yes. As a fraud. I felt like a fraud for a long time because youre just sitting there gleaning all of this information off of these people and youre like, This is all of my problem. Every one of these symptoms. Oh, and then you try some of their treatments and their treatments, they work. Okay, so maybe it is the spike protein. So my husband reached out to the NIH in January. The NIH, from there, they postulated the theory that this is tied to the spike protein and its immune-mediated process, and that theory still holds today. But if you cant actually look at the underlying cause, youre going to end up like Maddie, trapped in a body with no help. And Ive been incredibly lucky, because I was able to get help, and I still am not even close to being better. Right now, my body is vibrating. But its better than nothing. So after doing this for months all on my own, I ran into Dr. Danice Hertz. Shes an injured physician and she had a small email group. This was in March. There was like five of us. But then by April, we realized that we werent just a small group. We were not just isolated incidents and so we expanded into some social groups on Facebook and by June, we had well over 2,000 members. And thats how we found each other. Mr. Jekielek: You say youve actually spoken to 12,000 people. Ms. Dressen: Yes. Through reAct19.org, weve been able to connect with other vaccine-injured individuals. These are people that have been on their own for months. So these are not people that felt like crap for a couple of weeks. These are people who their lives have been altered, theyve been trying to figure this out on their own for months, and some of them didnt even know we existed. For example, we had a woman and this was just like a month ago, a month and a half ago. Maddie, youre doing so good. She didnt know we existed. She thought she was totally on her own because of the full-on stop on the flow of information on this issue. She thought she was on her own for months and months and months, to the point where she thought that it would be a reasonable idea to book tickets to Switzerland and have humane euthanasia done. So this is a woman that has four young kids. This is how bad it is. This is how bad the internal vibrations are. When we go to bed at night, we dont just go to bed and the lights go off and our brains turn off and we go to sleep. We go to bed, and when everythings quiet, then our bodies remind us how sick we are because were being electrocuted 24/7. So its not like people are just laying around on their couches. Their bodies are attacking themselves from the inside out. So of course, if youve got that going on, you cant sleep, you cant eat. And then for her and many others, there is no way out. Whats the point of living? And the FDA knows about this. I have emailed Janet Woodcock about this and she has replied to me and said, This is so sad. So were writing eulogies for our dead friends and all we can get from the federal government is, This is so sad? These people need help. They did their part. And weve been pushing and pounding down the doors of the federal government for the betterment of a year and were still nowhere closer to getting these people help than we were a year ago. Mr. Jekielek: And so just let me get this straight. With everything we know, with this article now published on this topic, this very verboten topic, Maddie, youre still not getting help. Miss de Garay: Mm-mm (negative). Ms. de Garay: No. She has no treatment. Miss de Garay: My treatment is drugs. Okay, I sound is medicine. Im on like 17 meds. Ms. de Garay: Most of them are- Ms. Dressen: None of which address the underlying issue. Miss de Garay: None of them really help. Ms. de Garay: Yes. Her stomachs a mess. She has zero good bacteria in her stomach. Zero. Mr. Jekielek: But basically, youre just looking for a good doctor who can truly assess her case and- Miss de Garay: We found good doctors, its just you have to go through all these things because of my case. Ms. Dressen: And have money. Ms. de Garay: Yes. I mean, so the treatment- Miss de Garay: It takes a lot of time to do all this stuff, and test results can take months to get back. Ms. de Garay: And theyre in other states, and then the treatment can take five months. Because if you wait too long, you have more things to fix because its just going to continue to get worse. So if youre treated early, youre done. You could be fine. Im going to use the example with MIS-C. Its IVIG and steroids. Our neighbor, her son got MISC-C from COVID. Hes totally fine now. But he got treatment within the first week. Miss de Garay: Yes, after a week he was normal. Mr. Jekielek: Maddie, youre a very, very brave young girl and Im so happy to have you here on the show. As we finish, what Im getting here is lets acknowledge that these things are a reality. Lets make sure people can get early treatment so they can get treated. This is what Im hearing thus far. Miss de Garay: Thank you. Ms. de Garay: We need to figure out the root Why is this happening to people? Figure out why so it doesnt happen to other people. Then you dont need to be anti-vaccination. You can still have the vaccination if it works. But if its going to make certain people sick, figure out why. All were doing is were going to drive up medical costs because now, they have more problems. So its not about dont have the vaccination, okay? If its going to work, then we should have vaccinationif they work. But if people are going to get sick, just like with the flu shot, they say if you have an allergy to eggs, you probably shouldnt have this version of the flu shot, or you should take a bunch of Benadryl, or have your EpiPen. Its like, just figure it out. Theyre not figuring it out. Figure it out. Because this could happen to anybody. Ms. Dressen: And allow it to be figured out. Ms. de Garay: And just because it didnt happen to vaccine one she was fine with one it could happen on the second, it could happen on the third, it could happen on the fourth. So youre just going to keep having more and more people until they figure out why and how to treat them. Mr. Jekielek: Until they do the robust studies and research to understand whats really going on and be transparent about it. Ms. de Garay: Right. Thats what they didnt do. Ms. Dressen: Transparency. Ms. de Garay: Transparent. Admit it. Admit it. Ms. Dressen: What a novel concept, right? Transparency. Ms. de Garay: Its admit it, because if you would admit Okay, you do a trial. Something happens. You figure out why and then you know how to treat it. People arent going to not get the vaccine because something could happen if they know that theres a solution for it or they know to avoid it because of X. Just do that. Its that simple. But right now- Ms. Dressen: It doesnt need to be this hard. Ms. de Garay: If you hide it, its creating a bunch of people that are afraid. Its not anti-vaccination. Its afraid. Ms. Dressen: I dont know. My whole thing from the beginning on this has been these are human beings. I mean, for some people, yeah, were numbers, but those numbers have faces, they have families, they have dogs, they have jobs. These are human beings. Yeah. Most of us have dogs. Ms. de Garay: No, did have jobs. Ms. Dressen: Did have jobs, yes. Yes. Did have jobs. Ms. de Garay: Because they cant work anymore now. Most of them. Ms. Dressen: So we know at this point, the government isnt going to do what needs to be done any time soon, so its up to us as fellow humans to help each other. And thats kind of what we were hoping would happen with the pandemic; that we would come together and support each other. But the vaccine injured and those with long COVID as well, they really do need that help. Their life, their quality of life totally depends on good people just coming to help us, to support us. And that comes in many forms. Just talk about it. Say, Yeah, the vaccines can cause some problems. It doesnt have to be, The vaccines are bad. Stop the vaccine program. But its kind of strange that thats all you hear from this side that makes it through to some of the bigger media outlets. But theyre not sharing our stories, and thats not our fault, by the way. Miss de Garay: Weve tried. Ms. Dressen: Steph and I gladly We would gladly talk to The New York Times. We would gladly talk to CNN. Ms. de Garay: Well, we have talked to them sometimes. Ms. Dressen: And we have talked to them. Ive talked to three reporters at The New York Times myself. Youre not seeing it on those outlets for a reason, and its not because of us. We have nothing to hide and we have nothing to lose by sharing our stories. We are that sick and that desperate for help. And if this is what it takes to get 12,000 Americans the appropriate help thats needed, then yes, were going to keep fighting and were going to keep standing up for the truth. Were going to keep standing up for whats right. Mr. Jekielek: Well, Maddie, its really, really great to have you here, sticking it out here with us on the show. Stephanie and Maddie de Garay, Brianne Dressen, such a pleasure to have you on the show. Ms. Dressen: Thanks for having us. Ms. de Garay: Thank you very much. Miss de Garay: Thank you. [Narration]: The CDC and the FDA did not immediately respond to our requests for comment. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Editors Note: For viewers who have expressed concern about Maddie de Garays situation and would like to offer help, you can find her LifeFunder page here. After this episode was published, the FDA told The Epoch Times that they cannot comment on or respond to questions about Maddie de Garays specific case. They added that U.S. safety monitoring systems have identified several health problems potentially associated with vaccination, including Guillain Barre syndrome, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia, myocarditis, and pericarditis. Subscribe to the American Thought Leaders newsletter so you never miss an episode. Follow EpochTV on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV How a lost peoples lone (and lonely) survivor saved the Pilgrims In 1614, a Patuxet lad named Tisquantum was kidnapped by English explorer Thomas Hunt. The Patuxet lived in what would later be called coastal Massachusetts, one of many bands spread out over scores of villages and towns collectively organized as the Wampanoag Confederacy. Tisquantum was never seen by his people again. Not long after the kidnapping, a devastating disease swept through the region. Tens of thousands of American Indiansindeed, the vast majority of the areas native inhabitantsperished. Now, entire villages lay completely empty. One of them was a seaside community that had previously been home to the Patuxet. An eerie quiet fell upon the place. Six years passed. When the Mayflower landed at a location its passengersthe Pilgrimscalled New Plymouth, the ship was actually landing at the now-empty site of the forsaken Patuxet village, completely reclaimed by nature since the time of the plague. Pilgrim leader William Bradford described the area as a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men. The relationship between those wild men and the newly arrived colonists was uncertain, to say the least. Bradford characterized his native neighbors as savage barbarians readier to fill [our] sides full of arrows than otherwise. Far to the south, in Virginia, English colonists at Jamestown (founded a decade earlier) had experienced much turmoil in their interactions with the natives, who at various times had played the parts both of friend and blood enemy. Allies for the Tribes Things worked out a little differently at Plymouth. One reason for this may be that the tribal confederacy of the areathe Wampanoagwas in sore need of allies against its long-time enemies, the Narragansett, centered to the west in present-day Rhode Island. The most powerful of the Wampanoag tribes was the Pokanoket, whom the explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano had encountered way back in 1524. These people, he reported at that time, are the most beautiful and have the most civil customs we have found on this voyage. Once, the Pokanoket had been powerful, but since the plague, they had been reduced to paying tribute to the despised Narragansett. Now, the Pokanoket, led by their chief, Ousamequin (also known as Massasoit), looked to the English at Plymouth as potentially useful allies against their tributary masters. Thus it happened that in the spring of 1621after a devastating first winter, when so many of Plymouths recently arrived colonists had died frozen and starvinga native man approached the settlement. His name was Samoset. He asked for beer. Samoset was a native chief from farther north (present-day Maine), beyond Wampanoag territory, who had been in the area to visit Ousamequin. Having learned a little English through his interactions with European fishermen, Samoset spent the night with the Pilgrims and, later, tried to get them to trade with him for furs. (On this occasion, his hosts declined; it was the Sabbath, after all.) Samosets visit was momentous, however, because next he returned with another man: Tisquantum. Tisquantums English was much better than Samosets. Why? As it turned out, hed spent yearsin Europe! How could this be? Squantos Sojourns After being kidnapped seven years earlier by Thomas Hunt, Tisquantum was carried to Spain and subsequently sold as a slave on the Iberian Peninsula. Eventually purchased by a group of monks (who bought him for the purpose of freeing him), he was educated for a time in Spain before making his way to London, where he was able to secure passage back to his homeland by promising to be a guide. However, after arriving in America, he abandoned the exploring party who had hired him and made straight for his home village. He found it completely wiped out by the plague. Gone. No one left. Tisquantum had been in Europe during those terrible years of sickness and death. He was, he discovered, the last of his people, the Patuxet. Indeed, the abandoned Patuxet site on which Plymouth had been erected had once been the summer village of Tisquantums very band! Meanwhile, the mighty Pokanoket, he saw, had been reduced to lowly tributary status. Unsure where to go, Tisquantum decided to join himself to Ousamequin and his people. It was Tisquantum, apparently, who had helped to convince the Pokanoket leader that perhaps the English who had just arrived at Plymouth might be useful allies. Samoset and Tisquantum helped the settlers of Plymouth avoid another disastrous season. They taught the colonists how to grow corn. They taught them where to trade. They taught them how to forage. They taught them how to gather and prepare herbal medicines. They taught them how to build dams for fishing. They taught them how to use fish as a fertilizer. In return, they hoped that the Pilgrims might be willing to sign a peace treaty with the Pokanoket. Ousamequin even offered to become a tribute-paying chief to the Plymouth group, offering a certain amount of corn on a regular basis. That autumn, the Pilgrims prepared a traditional English banquet to celebrate the harvestand invited Ousamequin. The Wampanoag head showed up with almost 100 hungry compatriotsto say nothing of five freshly slaughtered deer. Three days of feasting followed. Perhaps the two groups would be able to live in harmony. Like so many of his people before him, Tisquantum died of fever in 1622, but by then, and thanks to him, an alliance had been forged and 40 years of peace secured. That peace would ensure the survival of this first Puritan enclave in America. Almost certainly, only the uniqueand tragicworld travels of Tisquantum (more commonly known now by the diminutive Squanto) made this possible. This article was originally published in American Essence magazine. Tiger King Joe Exotic Resentenced to 21 Years in Prison Joe Exotic, the subject of the Netflix documentary Tiger King, was resentenced Friday to 21 years in prison, reducing his punishment by a year despite his pleas for leniency as he starts treatment for cancer. Please dont make me die in prison waiting for a chance to be free, Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, told a federal judge, reported The Associated Press. Maldonado-Passage in 2019 was convicted in a murder-for-hire case involving animal welfare activist Carole Baskin, who was also featured in the Tiger King documentary. He also was convicted of 19 separate wildlife crimes. After his sentencing in early 2020, he claimed that his two murder-for-hire convictions were wrongfully separated and said Baskin was unfairly allowed to attend his trial despite her status as a witness. The defense submitted a series of attachments that showed excessive government involvement in the creation of the offense for which hes been convicted, attorney Molly Parmer told reporters following the hearing on Friday. We are going to continue our post-conviction litigation, but we did preview for the court the evidence we have through our post-conviction investigation. Joseph Maldonado known also as Tiger King Joe Exotic answers a question during an interview at the zoo he runs in Wynnewood, Okla., on Aug. 28, 2013. (Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo) The former zookeeper was sentenced in January 2020 to 22 years in prison after he was convicted of trying to hire two different men to kill Baskin. A three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Maldonado-Passage that the court should have treated them as one conviction at sentencing because they both involved the same goal of killing Baskin, who runs a rescue sanctuary for big cats in Florida and had criticized Maldonado-Passages treatment of animals. While in court Friday, an AP reporter noted that Maldonado-Passage still had his trademark mullet hairstyle, although bleach-blonde had faded to brown and gray. Baskin, meanwhile, issued a lengthy victim impact statement. Maldonado-Passages actual conduct shows he continues to harbor intense feelings of ill will toward me, she alleged in her statement. On social media since the original sentencing, Mr. Maldonado-Passage has persistently posted derogatory statements about me that are attacks on my character, accuse me of crimes, or are threatening in nature, including an image referencing that I am dead. For him I believe the evidence shows it is a personal to the point of obsession. Every person who worked at the zoo and later came to us to report the mistreatment of animals told us that he ranted against me daily, Baskin continued. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Supporters cheer on truck drivers in the "Freedom Convoy" headed for Ottawa, from an overpass in Kingston, Ont., on Jan. 28, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Lars Hagberg) Trucker Convoy: All Sides Should Defend Freedom Without Going Insane Commentary Honk if you love freedom. Sneer if you hate the rabble. Tweet an obscenity if youre insanely tribal. My goodness. What a commotion. Have we all gone mad? Perhaps. The lockdowns have been hard on everyone. And while folly and abuse were not invented yesterday, I am still very concerned as the trucks converge on Ottawa. Obviously, my heart is with the convoy. I have been criticizing excessive COVID restrictions since roughly May 2020, as soon as we knew it wasnt the next Black Death. I cannot believe the harm weve inflicted on the children we profess to value above life itself (except when defending abortion) through school lockdowns, cancelling Christmas, etc. And I resent the degree to which the people hissing at anyone who asked questions about science or policy kept changing their story but never changed their tone. The arrival in the national capital of this large, broad-based fringe group actually coincides with an overdue admission that the critics had a point all along. For instance, Ontarios Chief Medical Officer of Health Kieran Moore: We have let our lives be controlled for the last two years in a significant amount of fear and we have to learn to live with this virus. But if its true today, it was true a year ago. And those of us who said it then should get some credit. Instead, the mainstream media are sneering at the convoy as mindless bigots. I know many journalists wish it was 1963 and they were heroically backing Martin Luther King Jr. against Bull Connor. But wishing it isnt a good excuse for believing it, even if a Confederate flag was spotted and waved triumphantly, recalling the communist cowbirds in Walt Kellys Pogo always happy when were filled with loathing. Too many journalists are working overtime to confirm Robert Conquests Third Law that The simplest way to explain the behavior of any bureaucratic organization is to assume that it is controlled by a cabal of its enemies. If you wanted to lower the reputation and circulation of newspapers, and inflame the public mood in a way that helped elect Donald Trump in 2016, youd act as though a college education and a fancy vocabulary made you Marie Antoinette. One famous Globe columnist just compared the unvaccinated to tax evaders, when he must know its not illegal to be unvaccinated. Which helps legitimize, say, paranoia about jailing dissenters, and erupting into incoherent rage. The prime minister also acted his habitual disgraceful part, smearing the convoy from a safe distance then hiding under the bed, bullies generally also being cowards. Saying he was exposed to COVID and since hes fully vaccinated and tested negative, he must self-isolate until all the big scary truckers leave isnt exactly Trudeau Sr. facing down St. Jean Baptiste Day rioters in 1968, is it? And it amounts to saying vaccines dont work so take them anyway, a splendid way to fuel conspiracy theories. If I were Erin OToole, its what Id want Trudeau to do. Whereas if I were Trudeau, Id want OToole to dither while his caucus goes Rahr then flip-flop into an evasive position. And Conquest would expect it. As for the convoy, we havent just had the usual retweeting of obvious stupidities like it stretching 2,400 km, from Ottawa past Winnipeg. Weve had people insulting and threatening journalists as though life were a race to the bottom. I dont yet have three rules of politics, but I do have If people think youre a clown, dont show up in a fright wig. And while the protest is not bureaucratic, its manifesto certainly fits Conquest 3.0. Many convoy supporters have a healthy sense that freedom is eroding. Its revealing that their real emblem is Canadas flag, not the stars and bars. But far too few have made any credible effort to understand how our government works or should (for instance by watching my 2016 documentary True, Strong and Free). And far too few of their critics have made any credible effort to understand how its not working now (ditto re the documentary). Instead of speaking truth to power, much of the press now speaks power to truth, from climate to COVID. At the risk of appearing even-handed, I get that theres a lot of fear and anger out there. Some is directed at the loss of liberty and some at the loss of control. Gone are the days when a CBC panel with Andrew Coyne and Chantal Hebert could define the limits of permissible discussion. And we could order popcorn in a theatre without showing that our papers are in order. And we favoured rational debate over hollering insults and waving shocking obscenities where kids can see them, or retweeting them. So honk if you love freedom. But stay sane about it. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A general view of outdoor diners in Hardware Lane in the CBD in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 22, 2021. (Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images) Two Australian States Announce Small Business Support Funds The Australian states of Tasmania and Victoria have announced funding to support the recovery of local, small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tasmanian Minister for State Growth Roger Jaensch announced on Jan. 28 that more funding will be made available to the states COVID-19 Business Impact Support Program for small businesses. The program, which opened on Jan. 19, provides funding to help Tasmanian small businesses that have seen a reduction in business due to the COVID-19 Omicron outbreak since Dec. 15. Funding of between $1,000 and $5,000 is available to eligible businesses where a reduction in business may be caused by a loss of staff due to COVID-19 exposure, which has affected the businesss ability to operate, or a loss of business, due to reduced customer demand. Support is also available to businesses that have experienced an inevitable loss of perishable goods. Jaensch stated that so far, more than 200 businesses have been able to access more than $420,000 in funding assistance under the new program. To be eligible, businesses must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan and a completed risk assessment in place and have been using the Tasmanian check in app. Support for Regional Victoria The Victorian government also announced on Jan. 28, a funding program of $500,000 to set up events and boost the local economy for regional business. The funds aim to help the recovery of businesses from the impacts of the pandemic and bushfires in Eastern Victoria from 2019 to 2020. We know that our regional communities have been doing it tough with bushfires, drought, and the pandemic. We are standing by them, and this funding will support industry groups with their recovery efforts, Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas said. This program is putting local business collaboration front and centre to help deliver stronger local economies and create more opportunities and jobs for our regions. Grants can go up to $10,000 which will enable regional industry groups to host networking events and collaborate on ideas to help local economies recover from natural disasters. State changes come in place as the National Cabinet on Jan. 27 backed the decision made by the Infrastructure and Transport National Reform Committee on Jan. 25 to alleviate the truck driver shortage crisis. National Cabinet agreed that as a matter of immediate priority, all states and territories will enact arrangements to allow New Zealand citizens to use their NZ equivalent heavy vehicle licence in Australia for 12 months or less if the licence expires before then, before being required to obtain an Australian licence. Since driver licences differ across states, states and territories will also allow equivalent arrangements for interstate Australian drivers to ensure Australian workers are not disadvantaged. These measures will be a temporary COVID-19 response that will be reviewed 12 months after implementation. National cabinet also agreed to allow asymptomatic workers in critically essential roles that are not customer facing, such as food distribution, to leave isolation and continue to attend work, which they say has seen improvements in the transport sector. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden arrive for a summit at Villa La Grange in Geneva on June 16, 2021. (Saul Loeb/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) USRussia Tensions Increasing Risk of Nuclear Conflict, Expert Says As tensions heighten between the United States and Russia over the standoff along Ukraines border, so too does the risk of nuclear conflict, according to Russia scholar Clint Ehrlich. Most voters today dont fear nuclear disaster, Mark Meckler, president of Convention of States Action (COS), told The Epoch Times. When I was growing up, that was a thing. We havent really talked about it since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Meckler said. Thats not part of the public consciousness. But with tempers flaring between leaders over the situation in Ukraine, Russia has threatened to deploy strategic forces to Venezuela and Cuba. This poses the risk of the geopolitical landscape returning to something reminiscent of the Cold War era, said Ehrlich, who was a visiting researcher at Moscow State Institute of International Relations at MGIMO University. This is really a global standoff that isnt just limited to the borders of Russia and Ukraine. Russia has modernized its military, and especially its strategic forces, to a point where it now feels like its able to project power in a way it hasnt in the past, Ehrlich told The Epoch Times. I think, frankly, weve entered a more dangerous era of relations between the West and Russia, because theres a misperception, or at least a difference in perception, between the West and Russia about Russias relative strength in the international order. Global leaders still have time to deescalate tensions, but many policymakers dont seem to be properly weighing the risk of nuclear disaster, Ehrlich said. Were not quite at the same point as we were in the Cuban Missile Crisis, because Russia hasnt made the deployments that it could. Russia doesnt have missiles in Cuba or Venezuela right now, nor do they have strategic forces like bombers, but thats the overall direction were headed in, he said. And whats really different and disturbing is that during the Cold War, the American people and the world at large were aware of the risk of nuclear war, and they gave it real concern. It weighed on them. It deterred reckless behavior, he said. Today, policymakers seem cavalier about the risk. And thats really what is most alarming to me, the lack of regard for the danger that exists in this intense situation. As for how to deescalate tensions, policy experts have varying opinions. Some see Russias buildup of troops near Ukraine as a response to NATO seeking to expand, and they would have Western leaders provide assurances that that wont happen. Others think Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks to reassert dominance in Eastern Europe due to perceptions of American weakness. They would have leaders invoke sanctions against Russia, and failing that, take military action. Ehrlich tends to take the first viewpoint, at least when it comes to policy prescriptions. I would suggest that the United States push internally within NATO to walk back the 2008 Bucharest declaration, which said that Ukraine was going to be a member of NATO. I think rolling back that declaration would be key to having a diplomatic breakthrough in the crisis, he said. That way, if the Russians were still aggressive, at least their motives would be in the open. At least theyd lose the pretext that theyre acting because of the threat to their security posed by Ukraine and NATO. Fortunately, from Ehrlichs point of view, most voters seem to agree with him. Drawing on a sample of 1,081 likely voters39.3 percent Republicans, 25.6 percent Democrats, and 25.1 percent nonpartisan, the latest poll from Meckler and COS found that only 15.3 percent of American voters believe U.S. troops should be sent to Ukraine if Russia invades. The poll also said 84.8 percent of respondents believe the United States should have limited involvement in the event that Russia invades Ukraine: 31.1 percent believe leaders should provide supplies and military weapons, 30.5 percent believe the country should provide only diplomatic area pressure, and 23.2 percent believe the Pentagon should provide U.S. military advisers. The anti-war sentiment holds true for both Republican and Democrat voters, Meckler said. Its been an interesting switch over the last 10 or 15 years, he said. My opinion is weve seen involvement in so many conflicts with any stated objective or measure for victory, and I think people are tired of that. Steve James, consultant anesthetist at the Kings College Hospital, speaks to NTD outside No. 10, Downing Street, in London on Jan. 17, 2022. (Earl Rhodes/NTD) UK Government Faces Legal Challenge Over Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers A legal challenge has been launched in England on Friday against the incoming vaccine mandate for health care workers. The challenge, supported by campaign group Together, comes days before the deadline by which health care workers have to get their first doses of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus vaccines to avoid being redeployed, or more likely, sacked, due to limited redeployment opportunities. Lawyers representing seven NHS staff members and a dental student have sent a letter before action to the government. Dr. Steve James, a consultant anesthetist at Kings College Hospitals intensive care units who voiced his opposition of the mandate to Health Secretary Sajid Javid, is leading the challenge. General practitioner Dr. Helen Westwood and specialist paramedic Matthew Lee Taylor are also among the claimants. The claimants argued that the mandate is unlawful as its coercive, unethical, discriminatory, unnecessary, and irrational. The government is accused of breaching the fundamental right to privacy and bodily autonomy and attacking the need for informed consent in respect of any medical treatment by mandating the vaccines, and being irrational in dismissing the importance of natural immunity. The claimants also labeled the mandate an insult to the unvaccinated NHS workers, who they say were applauded by the public in 2020, deemed safe to work until March 31, but will be dismissed as unsafe and unwanted from April 1. The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed it has received the pre-action protocol letter, but said it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time. Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson claps outside 11 Downing Street to salute local heroes during the nationwide Clap for Carers NHS initiative to applaud workers fighting the CCP virus pandemic, in London, on April 2, 2020. (Pippa Fowles/10 Downing Street via AP) CCP virus vaccination has been made a condition of deployment in care homes since November 2021. A similar mandate for the NHS and wider health care settings is due to take effect on April 1, meaning those in scope will have to start their vaccination course by Feb. 3 to allow the required eight-week gap between the doses. A previous legal challenge by Together against the vaccine mandate for care home workers was rejected by the high court, which refused to grant a judicial review of the regulations, but the campaign group argued on its crowdfunding page that the arrival of the Omicron variant has been changing the landscape completely. Up until Monday, the government insisted the mandate is the right approach and will go ahead as scheduled, amid calls for the policy to be delayed or thrown out to avoid staff loss and reports suggesting ministers were considering an 11th-hour delay. But Javid gave a slight hint on Tuesday that the planned rule is not yet set in stone. He told a select committee of MPs that its the professional duty of every NHS worker to get vaccinated, and that the whole principle of the vaccine mandate is about patient safety. But he acknowledged that staff loss is part of the cost element that also affects patient safety. When we made this decision, that was the principle, and we weighed it up. The dominant variant of the time was Delta, Javid said, adding he believes it is rightin light of Omicronthat we reflect on all this, and keep all COVID policies under review. According to NHS weekly data, by Jan. 23, around 5 percent (77,591) of Englands NHS staff members and 18 percent (193,354) of social care workers had not received any CCP virus vaccines. Unsilenced Film Is a Scathing Indictment of the CCP: Pompeo On Jan. 21, around 9:00 p.m., when the film Unsilenced was just finishing in Hall 10 of Cinemark in Fairfax County, Virginia, the audience stayed motionless in their seats. Ten seconds, 20 seconds, even 30 seconds passed no one spoke or stood up as the screen kept scrolling with the casts names. Some were wiping away tears, apparently unable to pull themselves from the story so soon. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently watched the movie in the same theater. He called the film a moving, honest, scathing indictment of the CCP [Chinese Communist Party]. The truth of Xi & his predecessors utter depravity & the power-driven horrors theyve inflicted cannot be denied, he wrote on Twitter and encouraged people to watch it. This movie unsilences the wonderful Chinese people. My friend Miles Yu & I went to see Unsilenced a moving, honest, scathing indictment of the CCP. The truth of Xi & his predecessors utter depravity & the power-driven horrors theyve inflicted cannot be denied. This movie unsilences the wonderful Chinese people, go see it. pic.twitter.com/Mv7ECNP1KO Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) January 28, 2022 In theaters in Mesa, Arizona, and in Raleigh, North Carolina, the audience gave a standing ovation at the end of the movie. Unsilenced has since its debut on Jan. 21 been released in 30 U.S. cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and San Diego. So far, the showtimes have been extended for another week until Feb. 3. Canadian filmmaker Leon Lee presents a story of two couples of Chinese college students, who risked their lives to reveal the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) appalling persecution of peaceful Falun Gong adherents. With the help of a Chicago journalist, they successfully unearth the CCPs dehumanizing abuses to the international community. Falun Gong is a spiritual practice that features three core tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, along with five slow-moving exercises. After it was made public in 1992, its following in China grew to an estimated 70 million to 100 million people in 1999. The CCP, deeming the practices popularity a threat, then launched a nationwide campaign to eradicate it. The production is based on actual events in connection with practitioner Wang Weiyu, a gifted graduate of Chinas Tsinghua University. Wang experienced torture, including hours of electrocution by electric baton, during eight and half years imprisonment in Beijing for refusing to give up his belief in Falun Gong. In 2013, he fled communist China and joined his family in the United States. Wang (Ting Wu) in a prison cell after being tortured for practicing Falun Gong. (Courtesy of Flying Cloud Productions) New York-based screenwriter Maximilian Kempf described Unsilenced as a legal thriller, which kept the audience always questioning in their mind. You know, it always makes you want to question, Kempf said in an interview with The Epoch Times. Youre at the edge of your seat throughout the movie. He said the movie is highly professional in terms of the graphics, the music, the act, and especially the narrative. Even the torture scenes were handled in a tasteful way, said the screenwriter. At the same time, he highlighted its Western perspective, which appeals to the international audience. He said that the production carries humanity and compassion, which is a universal value. So Id encourage people to go to the website that the movie is based on, said the screenwriter. This movie needs a lot more publicity, hopefully. In many ways, I was attracted to this film, Margarita Marin-Dale, a retired professor and a human rights lawyer, told The Epoch Times after she watched the show with her two sons. Because Im very concerned about individual liberties, freedom of religion, freedom of speech. I think it shows how difficult and conflicting it is for people to stand up for the truth. Margarita Marin-Dale, a retired professor of American University and a human rights lawyer, with her two sons after watching Unsilenced in Fairfax, Va., on Jan. 21, 2022. (Sherry Dong/The Epoch Times) She said, I think that this movie brings attention to the oppressive nature of the regime in China, even though China is doing economically very well. Moreover, she heaped praise on Falun Gong believers for their bravery shown in standing up to the Chinese totalitarian regime. And as Americans who believe in democracy and freedom, I think we should be very supportive of them, said the rights lawyer. She was also convinced that the Chinese communist regime is doomed to failure. Its like a pot of boiling water, she said. But eventually it will explode if you keep on holding the lid down. So, its very important that freedom prevails. The movie also captivated her two sons William Dale and Philip Dale. It felt like you were really there, said William Dale. I definitely shed a few tears during the film. That was very emotional. His brother Philip Dale commented, I love how it portrays the humanity of all the characters in the situation. Mary Lien Nguyen is a retired IT specialist who had worked in the Federal government for nearly 30 years. She fled Vietnam and moved to the United States in 1979. She told The Epoch Times the show moved her to tears. As an immigrant from communist Vietnam, Nguyen said she knows how terrible communists are. She accused the CCP of concealing the truth about Falun Gong and trying every means to silence fearless whistleblowers, like the college students in the movie. She warned that communists try to destroy humanity. She said that is a terrible thing for her, and she hoped that the truth told in the show would spread to the entire world. Falun Gong practitioners take part in a parade marking the 22nd year of the persecution of Falun Gong in China, in Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 18, 2021. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times) Positive audience reviews abound on social media. My young son and I saw this incredible film today, said an internet user named Kerry Debois. Its my deepest hope every person goes to see this important and very well done movie. I was gripped the entire time. A viewer by the name of Karen Evanek left a message, The abundance of anonymity in the credits is stunning. May they/you all remain safe. There is a post from Iris Neal, reading that Just saw this powerful eye-opening film today. I will recommend it highly. Sad that so many involved with production had to be anonymous.' A parent calling herself Hawa Agnes-Hass said, Im taking my husband and kids to see this movie as a family! My kids have to understand what is happening in my America. Unsilenced was the Audience Award Winner at the Austin Film Festival in 2021. And on Jan. 25 it gained nomination by The Political Film Society as the best film on human rights as well as the best film expose for 2022. Leon Lee also directed the documentary Human Harvest (2014), which exposed the CCPs removal and sale of organs from prisoners of conscience, who are mainly Falun Gong detainees. The film was broadcast in more than 25 countries and won the Peabody Award in April 2015. Unsilenced is now playing in select theaters nationwide. For the full theater list, visit UnsilencedMovie.com. Trade Representative Katherine Tai testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on May 12, 2021. (Susan Walsh/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) US Focused on Existing Metals Talks, Tai Tells South Korean Trade Chief WASHINGTONU.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told South Koreas trade minister on Thursday the United States was focused on existing conversations on steel and aluminum access and that domestic industrys concerns were influencing the Biden administrations approach, her office said. South Korea is seeking relief from U.S. tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum after Washington reached a quota deal in October with the European Union. The Biden administration also has launched discussions with Britain and Japan over potential metals tariff relief. In a statement issued after a meeting in Washington with South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, USTR gave no indication that the United States was ready to expand such negotiations. Ambassador Tai emphasized the challenges of global overcapacity driven by non-market practices and ongoing strong concerns of U.S. stakeholders, as the United States focuses on existing conversations to develop a global arrangement that addresses the carbon intensity of steel and aluminum trade. The U.S.EU deal aims to curb trade of steel made with high carbon emissions and subsidized excess production in China. U.S. steelmakers have voiced concerns about the Biden administration allowing a flood of foreign-made steel and aluminum into the country as the industry pours billions of dollars into new and cleaner capacity nearly four years after the global Section 232 national security tariffs were imposed in March 2018. In the meeting with Yeo, which came as the U.S.Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) approaches its 10-year anniversary, Tai also provided an update on U.S. plans for a new Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, USTR said. The new Biden administration initiative is aimed partly at countering Chinas growing economic influence in the region. At an event later on Thursday, Yeo said the framework should include increased access to U.S. markets. I think market access could be one of the important sort of returns that countries in the region expect from U.S. leadership, Yeo told a forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. By David Lawder and David Brunnstrom President Joe Biden makes remarks as he meets with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on Sept.1, 2021. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images) White House Denies Biden Warned Ukraines Zelensky That Kyiv Would Soon Be Sacked in Russian Invasion The White House National Security Council has denied reports that President Joe Biden warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a phone call that Kyiv would soon be sacked in an invasion by Russian military forces. Emily Horne, a National Security Council spokeswoman, took to Twitter on Thursday to dismiss the alleged comments, which were reported by CNN. Horne re-tweeted a post by CNNs Senior National Security Correspondent Alexander Marquardt which cited a senior Ukrainian official. A Russian invasion is now virtually certain once the ground freezes, Biden said to Zelensky Kyiv could be sacked, Russian forces may attempt to occupy it, prepare for impact, Biden said, the tweet reads. However, Horne insisted that the report was not true and that President Biden said that there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February. He has previously said this publicly and we have been warning about this for months. Reports of anything more or different than that are completely false, she added. The White House also issued a statement regarding the call between Biden and the Ukrainian President which states that the U.S. president underscored the commitment of the United States to Ukraines sovereignty and that the leaders discussed coordinated diplomatic efforts on European security. Biden also reaffirmed the readiness of the United States along with its allies and partners to respond decisively if Russia further invades Ukraine the White House statement reads. Ukraines embassy in Washington also shared a statement saying some reports regarding the phone call were completely false. A spokesperson for Zelensky said the Ukrainian president also encouraged to carefully treat all information in this troubled time especially from the unconfirmed sources. On Thursday, Zelensky himself also shared details of his conversation with Biden on Twitter. Had a long phone conversation with POTUS. Discussed recent diplomatic efforts on de-escalation and agreed on joint actions for the future. Thanked President Biden for the ongoing military assistance. Possibilities for financial support to Ukraine were also discussed, he said. However, some lawmakers, including Republican Rep. Banks (R-Ind.) are now demanding that Biden and the White House release the full transcript of his call with Zelensky, telling Fox News that we have no idea what was said on this call. In December last year, Russia demanded that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) deny Ukraine and other former Soviet nations membership to the alliance and that NATO members scale back troop deployments in Central and Eastern Europe. Washington and NATO allies rejected Russias demands but instead put forth a number of proposals while maintaining that they are open to dialogue with Moscow regarding issues such as arms control, confidence-building measures, and limits on military exercises. However, the Kremlin responded by saying that there is not much reason for optimism, with regards to U.S. officials accepting its demands. It cannot be said that our considerations were taken into account or that any willingness to take into account our concerns was demonstrated, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters this week, adding that President Vladimir Putin would be analyzing the State Departments responses. No matter how diametrically opposed our views sometimes are, dialogue is always needed, he said. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also announced on Monday the Pentagon had placed 8,500 troops on heightened alert to assist with the defense of NATO allies but noted that no decision has been made to deploy any troops at this time. However, Alexey Zaytsev, deputy spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, told reporters on Jan. 27. that Russia considers the idea of an armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia unacceptable. Our nation has likewise repeatedly stated that we have no intention to attack anyone, Zaytsev said. We consider the very thought that our people may go to war against each other unacceptable. A Mexican woman skirts a Jaguey water hole, Feb. 4, 2006, near San Marcos Tlacoyalco. The Tehuacan Valley south-east of Mexico City has long experienced severe water shortages. Water resources in the area area are largely based on a weekly delivery by truck as well as collecting water from small pools known as Jagueys. This collected water was traditionally only used for animals but now more and more people are relying on it as a water source for crops and for drinking and bathing purposes. (Brent Stirton/Getty Images) Why Latin America Is Suffering Critical Water Shortages SANTA CRUZ, BoliviaNearly 31 percent of the worlds fresh water supply is in Latin America, which endures perilous scarcity in some areas due to decades of mismanagement, rapid population growth, privatization, and negligent agricultural practices. There is enough water to meet the needs of the worlds population, yet its distribution is unequal. Also, much has been wasted, polluted, or poorly handled at an administrative level, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Further, UNESCO admits theres no actual shortage of fresh water so much as there is a misuse of the critical resource. In Puerto Suarez, on the Bolivia-Brazil border, a man named Benito Ruiz gazed into a marshy green field that used to be a lake. He pointed to an old rowboat still tied up beneath a dry dock. Our lake is only seasonal now, Ruiz told The Epoch Times, reminiscing about a time when commercial fishing opportunities in the town werent just a rainy season thing. Not far down the road, cattle ranches dot the landscape as far as the eye can see. Farmers in the area use unregulated slash and burn farming practices to clear land for cattle, much of which is due to the escalated demand from China for beef exports. The destructive agricultural practice creates a variety of side effects, including wildfires, soil erosion, water pollution, and drought. Regardless, Bolivias socialist government endorses this method and quadrupled its annual beef exports to China as of 2020. Diversion of water in the Pantanal region, which is the worlds largest freshwater wetland, for farming and ranching, is another contributor to a growing shortage of the resource. A dry dock in Puerto Suarez where a year round lake is now only seasonal, on Dec. 8, 2021. (Autumn Spredemann/The Epoch Times) Too Much Too Fast? A similar problem exists in Mexico City, which was originally built on the all but vanished Lake Texcoco. The citys population exploded to more than 20 million in less than 50 years, prompting drainage of the surrounding lake to make room for the rapidly expanding population. While officials scrambled to create more land, it left the city overly dependent on water brought in from far away reservoirs or underground. Presently, more than 30 percent of what comes out of the tap in Mexico City arrives from distant lakes and rivers. The rest is drawn from an aquifer beneath the urban metropolis, which created a completely different problem. The city is now sinking into the ground. Parts of the urban hub are submerging by more than a foot per year, which makes it difficult to maintain the 60 year old water pipes supplying the populace. The Mexican government has spent billions trying to manage the tangle of issues, leaving many residents reliant on trucks delivering non-potable water thats only good for toilets and washing. Yet even the truck delivery isnt reliable or guaranteed. Astonishingly, the city has more annual rainfall than London. Due to its location in a valley, it also has issues with flooding during heavy rains. Such a stark contradiction has been blamed squarely on the mismanagement of corrupt officials. The water crisis is a crisis of governance, caused largely by corruption that is widespread throughout the sector, Transparency International commented. Mexico City is among several key urban centers in Latin America struggling with explosive populations and diminishing water supplies. Others include Lima (Peru), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Caracas (Venezuela), and Valparaiso (Chile). Lima resident Dario Alvarez told The Epoch Times, You never take water for granted here. Every drop counts. Green Energy Creates Problems Meanwhile, Argentina grapples with a problematic combination of naturally arid terrain, a growing population, and expanded agriculture. Upwards of 70 percent of the nations territory is arid or semi-arid and in those areas, theres increasing pressure for more water to use in production and consumption. Several provinces had to dictate water emergencies to give priority to the use of human consumption, Argentinian engineer Pablo Bereciartua told The Epoch Times. Bereciartua, who is a board member of the Stockholm based Global Water Partnership, indicated his nation suffers from a complexity of factors affecting water scarcity. Chief among those being drought. Of the nations 23 provinces, eight are dealing with urgent water supply issues, including the famous wine region of Mendoza and Rio Negro, located in the popular recreational district of Patagonia. View of the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, on the Parana river, Alto Parana, in the Paraguay-Brazil border, on Dec. 18, 2015. (Norberto Duarte/AFP via Getty Images) Bereciartua says an important factor contributing to the dry conditions is the historically low water levels in the Parana River. The Parana River, which is a vital resource for the nations of Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia, has been experiencing a significant and localized drought for the past few years. Interestingly the drought followed closely on the heels of an increased power output from Paraguays Itaipu dam, which began ramping up its production in 2016. The dam is located directly on the Parana River. Earlier this month Paraguays President Abdo Benitez announced that, thanks to the nations hydroelectric projects, their country was able to run on 100 percent renewable energy. While many celebrated this green energy accomplishment, some experts point to mega dams as a major culprit in regional drought issues and decreased water levels in rivers. A study on the relationship between water scarcity and dam projects by Ted Veldkamp at Vrije University in Amsterdam revealed that after $2 trillion spent on global dam initiatives in recent decades, the world was left with 23 percent less water. The War On Water Back in 2019 Chiles climate conference in Santiago was inundated with chants of water is a right, not a business, not a privilege, by protesters. The nation has one of the most privatized water systems in the world, dating back to the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet and a water code established in 1981 that allows private companies to own and control the nations vast aquatic resources. As a result residents and farmers now pay among the highest prices in Latin America for water access, creating a manufactured crisis. Rodrigo Mundaca, agronomist and national spokesperson of the Defence Movement for Access to Water, Land and Environmental Protection, said that theft is institutionalized when it comes to the precious resource. A report from Jan. 15 states that amid recent drought and scarcity, rights to water in Chile are being sold at millionaire prices to mining and agricultural companies. A sign reading Water yes, Gold no!, is seen through a window with a hole of a projectile in the Andean town of Celendin, Cajamarca, Peru, on July 5, 2012, after deadly clashes between the police and people protesting against the Conga mining project. (STR/AFP/GettyImages) Maria Catalina Espinoza, president of the Potable Water Union said, There is water, but the businessmen have it. Bolivians fought a similar privatization effort in the arid city of Cochabamba back in February and April, 2000. The government granted consumption and sanitation water rights to an international consortium called Aguas del Tunari the previous September. This triggered protests and violent clashes with local police against the subsequent hike in prices and access for farming in rural communities. When the news spread sympathy groups in other areas quickly organized and the protests expanded, resulting in the infamous Cochabamba water war. In the end, the Bolivian government canceled the contract with Aguas del Tunari and amended the legislation of Act No. 2029 over water rights and usage. Pollution Plays Its Part Ecological crises in the Amazon River basin are nothing new. However, 20 percent of the worlds fresh water can be found in this region alone, which covers an area roughly the size of the continental United States. Peruvians battle with mining companies over the contamination of essential waterways that suffer from toxic byproducts dumped into them. Much of the pollution comes from gold mining and oil drilling. In 2017 a group of indigenous Achuar people crippled seven important areas of operation for petroleum facilities in Loreto Province. Demonstrators demanded justice for oil spills on their land and contaminated water. On the other end artisanal gold mining remains the primary offender for mercury pollution in Amazonian rivers due to its use in the extraction process. Gold mining in the region accounts for 10 percent of the worlds demand. Consequently different organizations have called for the reduction of the use of the toxic element to prevent further health calamity. The World Health Organization classifies mercury as one of the top 10 chemicals causing a major public health concern. The mercury pollution crisis in the Amazon is, unfortunately, both invisible and largely ignored despite growing evidence of the dangers, said Jordi Surkin the director of the World Wildlife Funds Amazon Coordination Unit. EDITORS NOTE: The Intelligencer requests briefs be submitted at least 10 days prior to the desired publication date. Due to the volume of community-submitted briefs, the content may be published within 10 days of submission. Holidays and weather forecasts may impact some events. The Intelligencer cannot guarantee that submission will be published. Fish Fry Every Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 S. State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two pieces of cod or one catfish filet and sides. 618-656-9774 Fish Fry 4:30-8 p.m. at the Edwardsville Moose, 7371 Marine Road, Edwardsville. Dine-in and carryout options. 618-656-5051 Saturday, Jan. 29 74th Annual Sausage Supper 1-7 p.m. at Salem United Church of Christ, 1117 West North St., Alhambra. Drive thru only. Fresh homemade pork sausage, sauerkraut, potatoes, green beans and applesauce. $12 donation. Meat sales preorders can be picked up on Thursday, Jan. 27 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 29 from 9 a.m. - noon. For order forms go to salemuccalh.org or call 618-488-3216. Beginner Knitting Group with Greta 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. via Zoom through the Glen Carbon Library. Experience how easy it can be learning to knit through a structured, interactive social knitting group. Perfect for true beginners or those looking for an easy refresh project. Different intermediate skills will be introduced on a project-by-project basis. Set up as a 2-day class with homework in between. Registration Required. Sunday, Jan. 30 Scams and Frauds You Encounter Every Day 1-3 p.m. at the Maryville Community Center, 500 East Division St. Presented by Steve Baker, an International Investigations Specialist for the BBB. In-person and virtual sessions available. Attendees are asked to social distance and wear masks. The Zoom session can be opened with Zoom ID: 850 8666 4733; Pass Code: 236771 or mobile number: +131262667799. Part of the Maryville Parks & Rec 16th annual Discovery Sunday Series, check the Village of Maryville website for changes. Tuesday, Feb. 1 Cribbage Club 6 p.m. at Camelot Bowling Alley, 801 Beltline Road, Collinsville. Beginners welcome, free to attend. Contact Phil (618) 288-7910 or Susan at (618) 978-1664 for more information. Toddler Time 10 a.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Ages 0-2. Theyve got the books, bops and bubbles. Bring your babies and toddlers to share stories and songs with Miss Kristen and all the Story Time friends. Registration Required. (Jan 18-Apr 26) Pasta Dinner Every Tuesday 3-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. Edwardsville. Pasta of the week served with salad. 618-656-9774 Wednesday, Feb. 2 Blood Drive at St. Johns 1-6 p.m. at St. Johns United Methodist Church, 7372 Marine Road, Edwardsville. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a decline in donor turnout, the cancellation of blood drives and staffing challenges, leading to the worst blood shortage in more than a decade. To schedule, go to redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROS (1-800-733-2767) Thursday, Feb. 3 PFLAG Edwardsville Meeting 7-8:30 p.m. online. Contact Amy for a link, 618-977-5078 or pflagedwardsville@outlook.com. PFLAG Edwardsville offers support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ people and their allies. There will be a speaker from Alton Pride to discuss their new youth group. Chicken Dinner Every Thursday 4-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two or four pieces of chicken and vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy and a biscuit. 618-656-9774 NAMI Meeting 7-8:30 p.m via Zoom. The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) family support meetings may also be in person. To receive the link for a Zoom meeting or address for an in-person meeting contact Pat Rudloff, silverlining6@charter.net. Friday, Feb. 4 Book Sale 9 a.m.-noon at the Tri Township Library, 209 South Main, Troy. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Book donations are accepted during the book sale and on Tues. from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. If the Triad Unit 2 School District is closed on the day of the book sake then the book sale will be canceled. Fish Fry Every Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two pieces of cod or one catfish filet and sides. 618-656-9774 Fish Fry 4:30-8 p.m. at the Edwardsville Moose, 7371 Marine Road, Edwardsville. Dine-in and carryout options. 618-656-5051 Sunday, Feb. 6 Discover Bees and Beekeeping 1-3 p.m. at Maryville Community Center, 500 East Division St. Available in-person and online as part of the Maryville Park & Rec Discovery Sunday Sessions. Dennis Hessel of the St. Clair Beekeepers Association will be presenting. Attendees are asked to social distance and wear masks. The Zoom session can be opened with Zoom ID: 850 8666 4733; Pass Code: 236771 or by mobile number: +131262667799. Check the Village of Maryville website for any changes. Tuesday, Feb. 8 Exploring Ancient New River Gorge National Park and Preserve 6-7:30 p.m. online via Zoom. Zoom registration is available on the Sierra Club Piasa Palisades Group Events tab at www.sierraclub.org/illinois/piasa-palisades. Join this presentation of the February Speaker Series to hear more about the interesting story from long-time Piasa Palisades Group member Dr. Rich Keating. For questions contact Chris Krusa 410-490-5024. Cribbage Club 6 p.m. at Camelot Bowling Alley, 801 Beltline Road, Collinsville. Beginners welcome, free to attend. Contact Phil (618) 288-7910 or Susan at (618) 978-1664 for more information. Toddler Time 10 a.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library. Ages 0-2. Theyve got the books, bops and bubbles. Bring your babies and toddlers to share stories and songs with Miss Kristen and all the Story Time friends. Registration Required. (Jan 18-Apr 26) Pasta Dinner Every Tuesday 3-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. Edwardsville. Pasta of the week served with salad. 618-656-9774 American Legion Post 199 meeting 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Post 199 at 58 S. State Rt. 157. All legion members are encouraged to attend the meetings. Non-member visitors are welcome. Thursday, Feb. 10 NAMI Meeting 7-8:30 p.m via Zoom. The National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) family support meetings may also be in person. To receive the link for a Zoom meeting or address for an in-person meeting contact Pat Rudloff, silverlining6@charter.net. Preschooler Story Time 10 a.m. at the Edwardsville Public Library, 112 S Kansas St. If youre ready for a story, clap your hands. Ms. Megan will be sharing fun tales & tunes, and dont forget, bubbles. Ages three - five. Registration required. (Jan 20 -April 28 2022) Chicken Dinner Every Thursday 4-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two or four pieces of chicken and vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy and a biscuit. 618-656-9774 Friday, Feb. 11 Fish Fry Every Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Dine-in or Carryout at the Edwardsville American Legion Post 199, 58 South State Rt. 157, Edwardsville. Two pieces of cod or one catfish filet and sides. 618-656-9774 Fish Fry 4:30-8 p.m. at the Edwardsville Moose, 7371 Marine Road, Edwardsville. Dine-in and carryout options. 618-656-5051 Glo-Bingo 6 p.m. at the Edwardsville Moose Lodge, 7371 Marine Road. Bring your own snacks. Saturday, Feb. 12 Galentine's Party 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at The Ink House, 117 North Second St., Edwardsville. Presented by Opal & Lace. Over 25 vendors, cash bar, photo mini shoots, music and makeup and eyebrow tint and waxing. Vendors interested in participating can email kemiller2014@gmail.com Ongoing Events Al-Anon For information call 618-463-2429. For more information, visit SIAFG.org and District-18.org. Winter Reading Challenge Begins Dec. 1 - Jan. 31 at the Edwardsville Public Library. Read books, earn badges and be entered into prize drawings on Beanstack. This challenge is for all ages, 0-109. To register visit www.edwardsvillelibrary.org. Take Home Crafts Pick up a take-home craft bag at the Edwardsville Public Library with all the materials to make the project. A new craft will be available each month at the Youth Desk. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Be prepared to walk back in time to Germany in the 1930s when the world was on the edge of war. The cars, costumes and sets will make you feel like you are there. Munich the Edge of War is a political intrigue film. It is very loosely based on a true story although the names have changed. There is something about being around a bunch of fascists that puts my teeth on edge! Even though this takes place over 80 years ago, so much of it seems relevant today. In 1932 three best friends Hugh Legat, (George McKay), Paul von Hartman, (Jannis Niewoher) and Lenya, (Liv Lisa Fries), celebrate at a party at Oxford University; they are supposedly best friends forever with their entire lives in front of them. Six years later, in the autumn of 1938, Adolf Hitler is preparing to invade Czechoslovakia. Neville Chamberlain, (Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons), is desperately seeking a peaceful solution to stymie Hitlers aggression. He goes to Munich and gives Hitler Czechoslovakia without a fight. Legat, an undersecretary to Chamberlain, and von Hartmann, a German diplomat, meet again in Munich where the two estranged friends find themselves involved in a political deception and very real danger. Sandra The acting is superb. You can feel the tension in almost every scene. George McKay and Jannis Niewoher are wonderful. The interaction between the actors heightens the tension. The screenplay was written by Ben Power based on the book Munich by Robert Harris. I was intrigued by the script. Although I thought it dragged briefly in several places, I enjoyed the movie and wanted to know if the two friends survived their dangerous trek. The screenplay is very sympathetic to Chamberlain even though history has labeled his actions at best naive at worst ignorant. Usually, Chamberlain comes off as a wimp. He doesnt in this film which is refreshing. Director Christian Schwochow does a terrific job making the audience feel they are in Munich participating in the tension and pathos. If you are a history buff you will love this film. It brings out details that most history books gloss over or dont mention at all. If you want to see this on the big screen, it is now showing at Plaza Frontenac in St. Louis. If not, it can be seen on Netflix. I give it 4 stars. Todays British accent first appeared among Londons upper class around the time of the American Revolution. Before that, the British accent was similar to that of Americans. During the American Revolution, the word Columbia was used to describe all of America. Thats why the capital is called Washington, District of Columbia. Although Thomas Paines Common Sense outsold any other book of its time, he didnt make any profit, instead of donating the sales to buy mittens for the troops in the American Revolution. The deadliest Atlantic hurricane in history occurred right in the middle of the American Revolution, killing over 22,000 and causing heavy losses to both British and French fleets. Due to their entrepreneurial and capitalistic spirit, American colonists had the highest standard of living in the world during the American Revolution. At the Battle of Brandywine, British rifleman Patrick Ferguson chose not to shoot a distinguished American officer he had in his sights since his back was turned. It was George Washington. After the American Revolution, 14,000 Loyalists fled to western Nova Scotia. They were treated poorly by the existing population, so the Loyalists pressed for the creation of a Loyalist colony. The British created New Brunswick for them in Canada. Peter Francisco (A.K.A. The Virginia Giant) was an American soldier in the American Revolution renowned for his strength and size. He once killed 11 men with his five-foot broadsword at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. The Purple Heart is the oldest U.S. military decoration. General George Washington awarded the first purple-colored heart-shaped badges to soldiers who fought in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Around 16.6% of Hessian mercenaries in the American Revolution ended up staying and living in America. Due to generations of a healthier diet, the average American soldier was about an inch taller than the average British soldier at the time of the American Revolution. Approximately 90% of all gunpowder used by the Patriots during the American Revolution was supplied by France. By 1779 there were more Americans fighting in the British army than there were Americans fighting in Washingtons Continental Army. Washingtons army consisted of 3,468 men. At Yorktown, there were nearly three times as many French troops as Americans. Salida, CO (81201) Today A shower or two around the area early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 34F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight A shower or two around the area early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 34F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%. At a time insurance is suffering acceptance in the Northern part of Nigeria upon her massive population, an Islamic insurance system called Takaful emerges. ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE investigates that while settling losses in the conventional insurance and the surplus or profit belongs to the company or its shareholders, the Takaful remains all in the ownership of the people who paid, since the premium was pooled by subscribers. The article traces that the difference between the conventional insurance and Takaful (while the concept of pooling resources remains the same) is that the capital which is pooled by the fortunate many, whatever capital they are pooling, is left to their ownership forever Over the years, professionals in the insurance industry in Nigeria have expressed concern over what they observed as low acceptance of insurance in the Northern part despite its population size. The President of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Bola Onigbogi was among the experts. She declared that during the conferment of NCRIB brand ambassador to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, last year. Her point was that in spite of the huge population of the North, statistics showed that the level of acceptance of insurance as a risk mitigating device is abysmally low. Onigbogi added that it was NCRIBs hope and prayer that the Emir would deploy his position of influence as a father of all to constantly enlighten his numerous subjects about the benefits of insurance to their properties and lives, most importantly, the need for them to engage registered insurance brokers in order to fully maximize the value of their insurances. She later frowned that diverse reasons like poverty, poisonous religions and traditional beliefs have downplayed the insurance industry in some sections or individuals; hence the economy has been affected. The experts view might have taken a swift turn with the vibrancy of Takaful Insurance in the North. Otherwise called Islamic insurance, the Takaful insurance companies that were founded by Mr Momodou Musa Joof in his country, The Gambia and Zambia, said that Takaful Insurance model is the panacea for those who shunned the insurance sector owing to religion because Takaful is more about fairness and transparency. Takaful is also regarded as a Risk Sharing Avenue for participants who put their funds together as Donations (Tabarru), to cover one another against specific risks. Investigation reveal that Since 2005, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), regulator of the Nigerian insurance industry, licensed the countrys first Takaful products and has been a key supporter of the Takaful industry, which were launched that year by the African Alliance Insurance regarded as Nigerias oldest life insurance provider. It was gathered that this brand of insurance is mainly accepted in the Northern part, because Muslims make up around 48% of Nigerias 184m-strong population, meaning that Nigerias market essentials point out noteworthy prospective for Takaful uptake in the coming years. And Nigeria stands as the largest Islamic community in Africa. As if that was not enough, information has it that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) sees the success of Takaful insurance to the spreading demand by a high number of Muslim countries. This could have geared Cornerstone Insurance said to be a major local player introducing a full-fledged Takaful window, revealing that by 2013, Takaful had contributed around 3% of the firms total GWPs and in another year, Takaful generated N100 million in premium income in four months and is growing at 30 to 40 per cent per annum while conventional insurance is growing at five per cent annually. Examination revealed that Takaful holds its meaning from Arabic word Kafalah which translates to a mutual guarantee. Those who know better say that the "mutual guarantee" has been first experimented in the Islamic Development Bank, whose headquarter is in Jeddah, (Saudi Arabia), dating back some decades ago, and was followed by the Dubai Islamic Bank in 1975 and then in 1979 by the general islamization of Pakistan's banking system. This later went viral to Iran and Sudan which created the first Islamic insurance company in 1979 the Islamic Insurance Company of Sudan. Not taking chances in making insurance compulsory in the north, the NAICOM, had a move to not only implement compulsory insurance in the North in recent times, but also, to increase industrys penetration through the Takaful in order to arrest nano, micro, small, and medium (NMSME) development across the North. This didn't just start notwithstanding, said a Commissioner for Insurance, Sunday Thomas. The sensitization had intensified since around the North but especially in November 2020. In living its talk, a courtesy visit was later paid to the Executive Governor of Kano State, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who said Kano is strategic to Takaful in the region. According to him, Going by the population statistics of Kano State, it is obvious that the state is a critical stakeholder in increasing insurance penetration and growth. Kano State as a centre of commerce has the opportunity to lead other northern states and serves as a hub for Takaful Insurance otherwise known as Islamic Insurance in the country. Spreading like wildfire, sources declared that about 500 Takaful companies operate in 72 countries. The aim is to ensuring risk and asset management in the Islamic banking and finance industry. And for Nigeria, 5 Takaful companies operate with four full-fledged companies and one approved window by NAICOM. It is believed that Takaful has the capability to make-deeper insurance in Nigeria through personal life products that are tailor-made for households and MSMEs. For instance, the company said in a data mined by this reporter: Noor Takaful, an indigenous insurance company licensed by the National Insurance Commission in 2016, the pioneer composite Takaful Insurance firm in Nigeria, for the third year in a row in 2021, declares N36m surplus payment for policyholders, unveils new product. A total of 621 participants including individuals, private and public organizations, banks and higher institutions of learning, would receive this surplus payment. The Takaful even has personnel at the countrys NAICOM known as Mr. Zubairu Sulaiman. He is the Head of Takaful Unit at the national body of insurers. He had delivered lectures among which is titled, "Takaful and the Growth of Nigeria's Insurance Industry". In the data: The surplus payment which comes as a result of the Win-Win model of insurance operated by Noor Takaful, Takaful is the non-Interest finance insurance that seeks to serve a large market of uninsured Nigerians spread across different parts of the country. Sulaimans words are that the future of insurance industry is to embrace innovation and technology such as AI, Blockchain, Insurtech and Analytics amongst others as Millennials; Gen Z's are born into the era of telecommunications; the best thing for the insurance industry is to embrace innovation. However, for Joof, "The same proposal form, or application form that is completed in conventional insurance is what is completed when you patronise Takaful insurance, we are regulated by NAICOM as the conventional insurance are. So we also apply the approved rate for the industry, but the fact is that on the Takaful proposal form, it transparently informs you or declares that whatever payment that is made, 30% of it belongs to the company. "So 30% of N1,000 contributed by one person plus 30% of N50,000 contributed by a bank, collectively, these forms our management expenses pool. The 70% must be kept in a separate bank account for participants ownership. What is it used for? It is used to pay genuine claims, it is used to pay zakat and it is used to pay commission or intermediaries. When you are a broker or intermediary, you are not receiving anything less than you would have received if you were doing business with conventional insurance. To this end, the Takaful operators that spread the nook and crannies put in enough energy to capture small and medium businesses, understudy them and understand their insurance needs, thereby using sensitization programmes that will increase consciousness of the sections value to the whole insurance industry. "With Takaful, we promise to settle your claims faster because we are paying it from a pool which belongs to you, and that pool where it generates profit, at the end of the year must be distributed back to participants who had not suffered losses," he added. Joof, who said he was in conventional insurance practice for a period of 14 years, starting from an Accounts Clerk, to Underwriting Clerk, all the way to Assistant Manager before he left for Malaysia to do his Masters in Management at the International Islamic University of Malaysia, lectured that: conventional insurance operates on the law of large numbers, a system where you pool the fortunate many members to help the unfortunate few that suffer losses. For example, he added: if you have in your community, 5,000 people who own vehicles and they came together to protect each other and contribute or pay a premium related to the value of their vehicles, the higher the value, the more premium they would pay within a period of one year.There is a quest for intensive partnership between the NAICOM and Takaful operators to bridge the gap on the knowledge of Takaful. They also had plans with IFSB and AAIOFI for capacity building and skills development for operators and regulators. According to His Highness, Khalifa, Muhammadu Sanusi II, while delivering his keynote address at the event on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, in Lagos: The concept and practice of the distribution of surplus by Noor Takaful is an added value proposition which is non-existent in conventional insurance, thus making Takaful very advantageous to its patronizers. You dont have to be a Muslim to operate Takaful, anyway. It is an alternative to conventional insurance which complements all classes of clients without discrimination. The realization of the surplus distribution is a testament to the success in its underwriting activities. For the Chairman, Board of Directors, Noor Takaful Insurance Limited, Muhtar Bakare at a public presentation, We assure you that we shall carry that burden of trust with probity, diligence and good faith. Noor Takaful will continue to provide innovation and leadership in the Takaful industry in Nigeria whilst maintaining high, ethical and professional standards. Onwumere writes from Rivers state via: [email protected] Globally, life is sacred and killing is an abomination. Effium the largest Community in Ebonyi State of Nigeria is not part of this positive world where human life is sacredly managed! On 22nd January 2021, a tussle between members of the NURTW over the management of Effium motor park was used by Effium indigenes of Korri extraction (Uffiom people) and their political leaders to unleash a fratricidal war on Effium indigenes of Ezza Ezekuna extraction (Ezza-Effium people). The war has allegedly consumed thousands of lives of children, women and other vulnerable groups. According to Uffiom people's documents, they are in the war to: 1. Rescind the perpetual covenant which totem [Ngambo Amnaberu-Ezza-Ogbu playground] stands in Uturu village, Effium, between Uffiom forebears and their heirs, on one hand, and Ezza-Effium forebears and their heirs, on the other hand, which abhorred spilling of blood and decreed peaceful cohabitation in Effium land between the parties; and 2. Revoke and eject Ezza-Effium people from inheritances arising from realty irrevocably demised by the forebears of Uffiom to Ezza-Effium forebears in consideration of Ezza-Effium forebears' peacekeeping and protective roles which saved Uffiom people from extermination at the expense of Ezza-Effium forebears' lives and limbs; and thus divest the surviving generations of Ezza-Effium people of constitutional rights to life, acquire and own properties and rights to enjoy properties which Ezza-Effium succeeding generations have validly.inherited and acquired in Effium Community. Autonomous Communities (known then as "subordinate council areas") created for Ezza-Effium people in Effium listed in no. 14 in the 1st schedule of Anambra State of Nigeria Edict No 9 of 1976. Pursuant to extant provisions of chapter 4 of the 1999 CFRN (as amended), the rights to live in, acquire, own and enjoy properties fundamentally innure on every citizen of Nigeria including Ezza-Effium and Uffiom in Effium Community of Ebonyi State and, indeed, anywhere within Nigeria. Verifiable facts suggest that this obnoxious bid of Uffiom people to turn their amiable Ezza-Effium kindred into modern day slaves has been incubated for decades with collaborations of successive managers of state apparatuses inspite of the abolition of slavery in Haiti since January 1, 1804; UK since August 1, 1834; USA on 18th December, 1865; by the UN in 1948; and, particularly, sections 34 and 42 of the 1999 CFRN. For instance, the old Anambra State of Nigeria Edict No. 6 of 1976 created autonomous communities across the state including four, namely Unwuezokohu, Unwuezeoka, Izzikworo-Kpakpaji; and Effium, in Effium land. Since then, subsequent state governments have continued to recognize the traditional institutions of all the communities and even effected further proliferations of those communities; but the traditional institutions of Unwuezokohu, Unwuezeoka and Izzikworo-Kpakpaji respective autonomous communities in Effium is yet to be recognized after 46 years of creation simply because it was created for Ezza-Effium people. In Ebonyi State and Nigeria which respectively taunt abolition of slavery and "discrimination based on circumstances of people's birth" via sections 34(b) and 42(2) of the 1999 CFRN as well as fundamental rights via chapter 4 of the 1999 CFRN, Ezza-Effium people are not permitted to contest and vote in the traditional leadership elections in the only autonomous community recognized by EBSG in Effium! That an Ezza-Effium man, Chief Ekuma Omaka, was the pioneer recognized traditional ruler known then as "Clan Head" of "Effium clan" could not sway the commitment of successive collaborating administrations including the present Ebonyi State Government from what has been adjudged a systemic policy of slavery targeted against Ezza-Effium people. Certificate of recognition issued to Chief Omaka Okede, an Ezza-Effium man in 1960 as the pioneer Clan Head (traditional ruler) of Effium Clan by the Governor-in-council of Eastern Region. The argument of Gov. David Umahi that he is unwilling to create autonomous communities for Ezza-Effium people due to non-availability of geographical boundaries between Uffiom and Ezza-Effium people does not and cannot suffice because there are no geographical boundaries among polling units and the five electoral wards; as well as between the Development Centres in Effium Community, yet Governor Umahi administers over them in Effium Community. Same administrative mechanism should be extended to the different autonomous communities in Effium land whether activated or created afresh. If geographical boundaries have ultimately become important, it should not be used as a ploy to enslave Ezza-Effium people or citizens of Ebonyi State, nay, Nigeria. Rather, the template for delineation of geographical boundaries should be invoked on the entire Effium land and every individual shall belong to whichever polling unit, electoral ward, autonomous community or Development Centre he/she lives in. That is the spirit and provision of the Nigerian constitution which has been criminally observed in breach for long to the extent that 14 polling units of Uffiom people have been over-streatched to amount to three electoral wards, while sixty-six polling units of Ezza-Effium people have been squeezed and stifled into two electoral wards in Effium community! Gov. Umahi swore to protect and defend the constitution; and he is hereby charged to courageously give full vent to the provisions of the 1999 CFRN in Effium Community, except there is anything to suggest that Ezza-Effium people are not Nigerians or that Effium Community is not part of Nigeria! The Federal Government is hereby invited to investigate the age-long operation of the 1999 CFRN at half-mast in Effium Community; the uncountable but grevious allegations of complicities against some security agencies and state actors in Ebonyi State in Effium war in order to unravel reasons for the continuation of the war for over a year inspite of F-G's peace intervention! This is necessary to curb the flourishing abominations in Effium Community because according to an African axiom, "When an abomination thrives for long, it becomes a tradition"! I read with much relief two expositions on the electricity crisis in Nigeria. And I must confess that any interested observer of the critical appraisal of the issue will agree that those submissions were factual and patriotically expressed. While the first came from a reader who reacted to my initial intervention Still on Nigerias Electricity Crisis, the other and very revealing submission came from the government quarters-the Delta State Commissioner for Energy, Engr. Jonathan Ukodhiko. Beginning with the first, it reads; the manifest failure of the poorly executed power sector privatization by the discredited Jonathan administration is a pointer to the root cause of our problems...... over centralized political structure. It is the cause of the unprecedented insecurity in the country, decaying infrastructures, arrested development etc etc. Until we restructure this nation politically and economically, meaningful economic development will continue to be elusive. On his part, Jonathan Ukodhiko, the Delta State Commissioner for Energy while Speaking to journalists in Asaba at the weekend, , deplored the continued rip off of communities through estimated billings by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, (BEDC) noting that most rural communities were groaning under huge electricity bills as a result of estimated billings. According to him, you cant continue to give people estimated billing, provide a bulk metering system for the communities so that they can pay for what they consume.I found out that most of the rural areas are a big mess; even places with grids have no light. Why is there no light? BEDC said ``It is because most of the people are not paying.What do you mean by these people not paying? You cannot continue giving people estimated bills and expect them to pay. So we are discussing with BEDC to meter these communities. At this point, the state Commissioner dropped a bombshell. Lets listen to him; For a fact, BEDC does not even have the power to distribute. As we know the whole country is generating about 2500 megawatts, which is been shared to the whole of the country, even at that, BEDC is not even paying or buying from the GENCOs maybe because the people are not paying.What they do, is that the little that they get, they are giving it to the people that can pay in industrial areas, towns and oil states that they know can pay. He concluded. What does all this mean to us as Nigerians? Personally, it reminds of the dust created by the fracas, by the ill fated privatization of the electricity sector under President Goodluck Jonathan led Federal Government which gave a clear and early indication of inabilities of the companies that won the bids to take over and manage effectively the distribution centres. Take as illustration, while some were still sourcing for funds to complete payment to enable them take over their new companies, some of the host states, going by media reports, rejected the consortium of companies located in their areas. The Governors of Edo, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo, under the Benin distribution centre, for example rejected the result of the privatization bid that presented Power Consortium, as the preferred bidder. The governors maintained their stand that the security of the company that won the bid cannot be guaranteed in their states. Adams Oshiomole of Edo, Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, held a joint press conference two days after the results were announced, in Abuja, to denounce the exercise insisting that they would not allow Vigeo power Consortium take over the distribution centre on whose bid their company had invested heavily in. The governors insisted that the process that produced Vigeo was fraudulent and unacceptable and argued that the company had no capacity to run the distribution centre efficiently to give the people of their states the desired results in power supply. Meanwhile, the NCP has stood its ground by releasing a list of approved preferred and reserve bidders for the 10 distribution companies and six generating companies. The list showed Vigeo as the preferred bidder of Benin distribution Centre. Today, bearing in mind the above declaration by the Commissioner, it is obvious that these Governors (former/serving) have not only been vindicated; rather, their fears expressed many years ago can no longer be described as unfounded. Echoing the same sentiment, the rejection of this earlier warning by the then Federal Government, has reinforced the believe in some quarters that here in Nigeria, once a direction is chosen by an average Nigerian leader, instead of examining the process meticulously and set the right course; one that will allow us to overcome storm and reach safety before we can progress and achieve our goals, many obstinately persist with the execution of such plans regardless of a minor or major shift in circumstance. To show that we did not draw any lesson from the past mistakes, the National Council on Privatization (NCP), in 2021, a report noted, approved the sale of five GenCos in the Country through a competitive bidding process. On a similar note, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), going by media reports, called on prospective investors to express interest in purchasing 100 percent shareholding. It was reportedly gathered that the five power GenCos constructed under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) listed for sale are located in Kogi, Edo, Cross River, Ondo and Ogun. According to reports, the five generation plants include Geregu Generation Company Ltd with gross installed capacity at ISO condition of 506 Megawatts (MW); Benin (Ihovbor) Generation Company Ltd with 507 MW; Calabar Generation Limited with 634MW; Omotosho Generation Limited with 513MW and Olorunsogo Generation Company Limited with 754MW. The report also indicated that the sale was in continuation of the ongoing reforms of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry said to be consistent with the Nigerian Electric Power Policy and Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act, 2005. Prospective investors would therefore be expected to submit separate Expressions of Interest (EoI) for each GenCos. Aside from this author, there are also those who might wish to ask; why the NCP failed to consider as important the warnings/concerns raised by Oshiomole, Mimiko, Uduaghan and Fayemi? Or at the very least investigates their observations/grievances? Why has the present administration, on its part, neither revitalized the nation's power/energy sector/ its power supply programme nor vigorously pursued the expansion of electricity generation and distribution up to 40,000 megawatts in four to eight years as previously promised in its draft manifesto? But continued in the old order of Nigerian Electric Power Policy and Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act, 2005? While answer(s) to the above questions are expected from relevant authorities/agencies, two realities stand out. One truth must be told to the effect that as a nation, we have carried out greater devotion and adherence to maintenance of old structures, policies and principles in the sector rather than engineering real policies that will guarantee sustainable development of electricity and boost energy supply in our country. Secondly, the present crisis in the sector was created by the Federal Government, exacerbated by the Federal Government and can only be managed/solved by the Federal Government. So, using the above scenario as a dashboard to correct this present challenge, it is important as a nation to openly admit and adopt within the sector both structural and managerial changes/approaches that impose more leadership discipline than conventional, and create a sector that is less extractive but more innovative in operation. This is important not for political consideration but to end the bundle of paradoxes in the sector and grow our economy. Utomi, is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), A Lagos-Based Non Governmental Organization (NGO). He could be reached via [email protected]/08032725374. The immediate past Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar Mohammed has stated that he is still consulting and praying before deciding whether to contest for governorship seat in Kaduna state in the 2023 election. Alhaji Mohammed has come under pressure recently from prominent stakeholders and well-wishers in Kaduna state and beyond urging him to run for governor in order to consolidate on the gains being experienced in the state. In an interview with journalists after attending a meeting of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria ( SCSN) on Thursday in Kaduna, which discussed the Continuous Voter Registration exercise being undertaken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abdullahi Mukhtar confirmed that he was aware of the clamour by political stakeholders in the state for him to vie for the governorship of Kaduna State. Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar Mohammed He however said he was still consulting and praying over it Yes there is a lot of calls, agitations, advocacy and clamour from the society that I contest. But it is still under consideration. At the moment, I am at the stage of intensive prayers and consultation. Barrister Mukhtar who is principal partner at Compass Chambers in Abuja promise to make his decision known soon. On the issue of poor state of participation of Kaduna electorates in the ongoing voter registration exercise, Abdullahi Mukhtar called for the establishment of a robust task force that will mobilize the population of voting age for the voter registration exercise. flush out hired internet warriors (in their thousands) form a sizeable cabinet and reduce costs use savings from governance cuts on civil servants, ors sanitize and reorganize markets and parks reorganize state revenues and eliminate roadside/street touting fix failed state and urban street roads and drainages evacuate mountains of refuse dumps merge and upgrade public nursery and primary schools Intersociety, Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, 28th Jan 2022: The Intl Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law-InterSociety had monitored democracy and good governance process in Anambra State in the past ten years and found that democratic leaders such as elected or INEC proclaimed Governors failed woefully or succeeded remarkably in their leadership positions depending on how prepared or otherwise they were before taking over or at the formative stages of their Governments. It has further been found that leaders who failed to get on the right track formatively end up failing woefully. Formative stages of democratic leaders/leaderships include direction or directions through which such leaders wish to go or direct their governance; otherwise called policy directions. That is to say that the moment a democratic Government misses a right governance track, it is failure all through till the end. It is therefore correct to formatively advise a Governor/Government before its coming on board than to do so after it had taken over or run out of the right governance track. In the context of nobody is perfect, such Government having properly got on tracked, will continue to survive and achieve remarkably till the end on the basis of constructive criticisms, suggestions and commendations. Flush Out Hired Internet Warriors In Their Thousands : One of the major reasons why the outgoing Government of Anambra State failed woefully in its outgoing eight years governance is the use of hired and paid internet warriors, derogatorily called e-rats. Their number also helped to swell the number of the over-bloated cabinet size of the Government which had been operating with not less than 3000, if not 4000 aides among them are those slotted to Christian leaders and leaders of the Traditional Institutions. Our findings have revealed that many, if not most of them have been responsible for roadside and street revenue touting and other social menaces running riot on the State in the outgoing eight years. They have also been responsible for the inability of the outgoing State Government to allow constructive criticisms and make amends where and when necessary. The incoming Soludo Government is therefore called upon to flush out and retire them permanently. Form A Sizeable Cabinet And Reduce Costs :This area does not require many explanations. This is because the incoming Governor is an expert in same even though nobody knows it all. Use Savings From Governance Cuts On Civil Servants, Ors: The essence of cutting the costs of governance is to re-channel same into areas that are most appropriate and one of such areas is the welfare of the State active and retired Civil Servants in the State and Local Government Systems including review and reasonable increment in their remunerations such as salaries, allowances, pensions and gratuities, among others. The improved pay welfare for the States active workers must go hand in hand with improved service deliveries including dedication and commitment to the assigned duties and compulsory in-service and out-service trainings and re-trainings, etc. Sanitize And Reorganize Markets And Parks : As far as Anambra State is presently concerned, two major grassroots of stability for any incoming Governor are Markets and Parks. They are also the main revenue avenues of the State. From what we have seen since 2021, it will be rancorous and slavish for the incoming Governor Soludo to inherit the Markets and Parks as they are because they are not what they ought to be so as to be inherited. Therefore, the Anambra Markets and Parks as they are cannot be smoothly, legitimately and popularly inherited without total sanitization and reorganization including fresh and proper elections into the Markets. As a matter of fact, the States Markets and Parks are presently in the hands of friends and cronies and loyalists of the top political appointees of the outgoing Government of Anambra State. Reorganize State Revenues And Eliminate Touting And Roadside Militancy These, if bottled up and nipped in the bud are capable of soaring the Soludos formative popularity. All over the State, it is militant extortion (blue collar) and coded extortion (white collar) and over 95% of them have been traced to Government appointees, State and Federal legislators, LGAs TC Chairmen and troublesome private individuals. Yet in the end, over 85% of the militantly collected revenues end up in private pockets. The personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Police and Army as well as Paramilitaries are also running riot on Anambra Road and Street users by molesting and extorting them at will and with impunity. The incoming Governor Soludo must expertly end these especially those involving revenue and toll collections; by using direct and digital and digitalized revenue methods. Fix Failed State And Urban Street Roads And Drainages No fewer than 85% of the State Roads and urban streets have failed and become a nightmare; likewise drainages. Not less than 70% of the previously awarded roads scattered across the State have also been abandoned. Therefore, Soludos popularity will soar legitimately further if constructive palliative measures are put in place to remedy the sorry state of road network in the State and one of the strategies to be used in tackling the States drainage and debris blockage is to send the long idle Local Government Transition Chairmen back to work and if possible, be made to spend night inside drainages until they are cleared and their debris evacuated. Evacuate Mountains Of Refuse Dumps All strategic nooks and crannies in the States urban areas are not dotted with mountains of refuse dumps. For instance, apart from a mountain of refuse dump that has become an eyesore at the right size of the Service Lane along Ogbogwu/Tools and Allied Markets Junction toward the Onitsha Niger Bridgehead, the major waterway from Borromeo Roundabout to Niger Bridgehead has now been filled with debris and converted to scene for open defecation and urination. The contractors handling debris evacuation across the State must be given a matching order to sleep at all the dumping sites until mountains of refuse dumps are cleared and evacuated. Merge And Upgrade Public Primary And Nursery Schools For too long, the middle class parents and guardians and the low income others across Anambra State have been gnashing their teeth over the chronic monopolization of the Nursery and Primary School System by private school owners in the State and unchecked commercialization and extortion therein as well as poor supervision and lack of policy turnaround by relevant Government Ministries or bodies. The private school owners have cashed in on Government neglects in the Primary School sub sector and its inability to merge and upgrade the Public Primary and Nursery Schools. The poor monitoring and lack of decisive policy direction coupled with bribery and corruption have led to situation of over-commercialization by private school owners-whereby money spent in training two pupils in nursery and primary schools can comfortably train three adults in a Federal University. In many of the States private nursery and primary schools, it takes N250, 000 to N300, 000 per term to pay for school fees and related others of four pupils belonging to their parents. This further translates to N750, 000-N900, 000 per section and more than N7m from Nursery to Primary School-which can train at least five to six adults in a Federal University. Scores of parents and guardians have died as a result while others have been hit by blood pressure and stress related terminal illnesses. The incoming Government of Soludo stands the chance of garnering silent majority support and popularity if these can be reversed and tackled headlong. Signed: For: International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chair Chinwe Umeche Esquire, Head, Democracy and Good Governance Chidimma Eva Udegbunam Esquire, Head, Campaign and Publicity Research by Christian Solidarity International (CSI) has found that, in the first three weeks of 2022 alone, hundreds of Nigerians have been killed and abducted by Fulani militants, and thousands displaced as a result of the extreme violence affecting communities in Nigeria. From 1 to 21 January, at least 615 people were reported murdered by bandits, herdsmen, gunmen and Fulani militants, and at least 231 known persons were abducted by the aforementioned. Approximately 13,050 Nigerian people were displaced from their homes due to the violence. These statistics have been aggregated from reports in both the international and local Nigerian press. (Click on the link to see tables). They almost certainly represent an undercount, as many killings go unreported in the press. The first day of 2022 was marked with violence and death for Christians in Nigeria. Fulani militants attacked worshippers returning home after attending an annual new years prayer meeting in the Irigwe chiefdom in Plateau State. The following three weeks brought more attacks on Christians: A chieftain with the All-Progressives Congress party was shot dead in Ikot Udoma after attending Qua Iboe Church; four seminarists were abducted; and a Christian man was murdered and his pregnant wife abducted near Kaduna city. Raids on predominantly Christian villages by militant Fulani herdsmen have continued. In one incident in Tyaana, Plateau State, three young men were killed with guns and machetes. On average, it appears that at least 29 people were killed daily in Nigeria within the first three weeks of 2022. Plateau State has the highest number of incidents (killings, abductions and/or displacements), followed by Kaduna. Muslim-majority Zamfara State has had the highest number of killings, estimated at 272 people, with 200 of them killed in one single attack. Some 10,000 people were subsequently displaced. Read the full story at Nigeria Report. UPDATE: Nigeria Report has been following the case of Luka Binniyat, a journalist from southern Kaduna jailed for his reporting on massacres of Christians in his home state. Yesterday, 27 January, after 84 days in jail, he was finally granted bail, but under onerous conditions. He remains in jail in Kaduna City until his supporters can provide the guarantees demanded by the court. Follow Nigeria Report on Twitter for the latest updates. Nigeria Report is a project of Christian Solidarity International. Its goal is to spread awareness of, and promote solutions for, the widespread sectarian violence afflicting Nigeria. Christian Solidarity International (CSI) is a Christian human rights organization promoting religious liberty and human dignity. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide extols Professor Charles Soludo on the far-reaching policy statement that Innoson vehicle will be his official car while in Office as the governor of Anambra State. The Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd (IVM) is a Nigerian automobile manufacturer based in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. The IVM was founded by an Igbo entrepreneur, Chief Innocent Chukwuma. The Innoson vehicles, also known as the Pride of African Road, have gained wide market and acceptability, especially in African countries, namely; Mali, Sierra Leone, Ghana, etc. In July 2017, the Malian government placed an order for 400 Innoson vehicles and they were duly supplied. Also, in August 2020, the Sierra Leone government placed an order to the IVM worth of over $4.7million and were delivered. A lot of other transactions with IVM by African countries are replete. It is therefore morally reprehensible and indeed the worst form of imperialism for Nigerian governments at all levels to prefer and patronize foreign companies as against the locally manufactured goods. For instance, while other African countries patronize IVM, the Nigerian Lawmakers in 2019, placed an order for Japanese cars valued over N5.5 Billion. On the other hand, the aggregate expenditure on foreign cars by all the levels of Nigerian government is over 200 Billion per annum. Ohanaeze Ndigbo posits on a firm wicket that when the volume of import into a country far exceed its exports, the balance of trade is distorted and the value of its currency severely threatened. The self-induced imperialism and mass poverty by the Nigerian leadership takes various forms: most people in government own buildings in the USA, UK, Germany, France, etc, and their children attend schools in foreign countries; the fuel for cars, gas for bigger machines, including kerosene; health care, etc are sourced from foreign countries. In fact, almost everything which can be sourced within are imported without corresponding effort for meaningful exports. This obnoxious self-inflicted injury has already thrown Nigeria into the poverty capital of the world and fragile states index status; and counting. Ohanaeze Ndigbo had in October 2019 urged the Buhari-led Federal Government and other State Governments to patronize locally manufactured goods. It is heartwarming that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, in one day, procured 100 Innoson Hilux vans for security operatives in Enugu State. A visit to Ebonyi State also shows that the traditional rulers of the State use the IVM brand, courtesy of Governor Dave Umahi. The Imo State government, led by Senator Hope Uzodimma is not left out in promoting the IVM, with over 100 vans and several trucks; and more. Elementary economics informs that the more we promote our locally manufactured goods, the more the employment opportunities for our teeming population and the better the indices of economic growth. Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Ambassador Professor George Obiozor in a congratulatory message to Professor Soludo after his emergence as the governor elect of Anambra State had prophetically enthused the age-long strategic place of Anambra State in Igbo Land and hopes that his sterling pedigree will add extra-ordinary value to social economics of the State and the entire Igbo Land Soludo, has by the robust steps he has taken so far, proved beyond doubt that he is an experienced development economist and a scholar of world renown. Professor Chinua Achebe had long lamented that the problem of Nigeria is leadership. The implication of the Achebe lodestar is that if President Muhammadu Buhari, 36 State Governors, National Assembly Members, Ministers, etc adopt the Soludo Model by patronizing the local goods and services including Medicare, schools, cars, foods, etc, the regrettable tailspin of Nigerian economy, perhaps, may be reversed. Evidently, Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson in Why Nations Fail had Nigeria in mind when they stated that poor countries are poor, because the authorities make choices that create poverty. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide. The All Progressive Congress (APC) national leader and the frontline contender of the party's presidential ticket has reportedly returned to Londong. The former governor of Lagos State popularly known as Jagaban reportedly departed Nigeria for London, the United Kingdom (UK) today. Details about the trip are still sketchy but Arise TV reports that Tinubu returned to the British capital to rest and run medical checkups after months of consultations with prominent Nigerians about his presidential bid. During his previous visit, Tinubu was said to have undergone a knee surgery which his media office said went successful without complication and that he contemplates none in the future. Tinubu formally confirmed that he would be running for president On January 10, 2022, shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House. I have informed the President of my ambition but I have not informed Nigerians yet, I am still consulting. And I have no problem consulting. And Ive not set a parameter of limitation to the extent of how many people I will consult. You will soon hear. All you want to hear is the categorical declaration. Youve gotten that truth from me that I have informed Mr President of my ambition, and you dont expect more answers than that, he had said. Some nursing mothers and pregnant women at Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State have had their medical bills in the hospital paid off by a non-governmental organisation, Pega and Friends Foundation. Similarly, Pega and Friends Foundation, has offset the medical expenses of a patient suffering from Testicular Hydrocele in Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government, Ogun State. Pega and Friends Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2010 by Prince Ekunola Gbenga Abraham (PEGA), a Nigerian from Ogun state. Pega & Friends Foundation has a reputation for bringing together great people of like mind with the aim of channeling all available resources to help less privileged persons in society. The foundations latest humanitarian works were done across the nation which including Adeoyo Maternity Hospital in Ibadan, where the foundation under the leadership of Prince Gbenga Ekunola offset medical bills of some patients and nursing mothers in the hospital, and another patient of Testicular Hydrocele in Ayetoro, Yewa North Local Government, Ogun State. The foundation further extended financial support to a pupil of Ibadan Municipal Grammar Basic primary School (I.M.G), Moor Plantation, Apata-Ibadan who was involved in a fire accident. In her usual character, the foundation members in their hundreds moved into the compound of Jesus Children Missions Outreach at New Bodija, Ibadan, where materials of different kind and food items were donated to the orphans, to marked the foundation annual get-together with the children of the orphanage, the adopted children of the foundation were not left out of the occasion. On a propitious day that will forever stay ingrained in the memory of the beneficiaries of Pega and Friends foundation welfare package, Prince Ekunola Gbenga, said the assistance was in furtherance of the organizations mission statement, to help and empower less privileged persons in the country. PEGA said that since its inception in 2010 that the Foundation has committed its resources and time to alleviating poverty, hopelessness, Hunger and sickness in the society, stressing that the greater majority of its beneficiaries have been the downtrodden ones. Ekunola, said that Pega and friends foundation, has beamed a new ray of light and hope to the children of Jesus Children Missions Outreach, New Bodija, Ibadan of the support rendered to them by the foundation. Speaking after the charity obligation to its beneficiaries across the country, the founder and the director of the foundation Prince Ekunola Gbenga Abraham (PEGA), noted further that the foundation was focused at enhancing the quality of life of Nigerians by promote health, socio-economic development and status of vulnerable and disadvantaged women, children, youths and men in community and welfare, character management & rehabilitation programs for inmates. He said, We go round Nigeria to help the underprivileged in the society and this we have been doing over the years. To change our society and make the world a better place we must love, give and share no matter how small. In appreciation to Pega and friends foundation, the representative of Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, Ibadan Mrs. Adebola Debora Abimbola praised the NGO for its gesture, saying that it had set a pace for others to follow. The patients expressed their gratitude to the NGO for paying their hospitals bills. They prayed God to grant those behind the NGO their heart desires. They prayed God to guide and protect the members of the Pega and friends foundation and as well reward them. Also Mr. Abraham Johnson and his wife of Jesus Children Missions Outreach at New Bodija, Ibadan expressed their appreciation to the foundation for organising the fun-packed event, Madam Johnson on behalf of the orphanage home commended the foundation for their show of affection and love to the children, stating that the children would forever remember this wonderful experience. Other side attractions of the program was the get-together party and general meeting among the members of the foundation to roundup the occasion, dignitaries at the get-together includes, His Royal Majesty Oba Samuel Olukayode Sodimu, the Olu of Sunren-Olorunsogo Egbaland, His Royal Majesty Oba Ololade Makinde, the Olu of Iwoye-Yewa, Ogun state, Barrister Biyi Otegbeye of Regency Alliance, Assistant Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Obafaiye Shem and the State Commandant of NSCDC Oyo State Commandant Adaraleye Tayo among others, they all applauded the initiative of Prince Ekunola Gbenga and urged him never to look back on his evangelism to make the lives better for others. Finally, Prince Ekunola appreciated all the members of the foundation for their support towards the successful execution of 2021 charity obligation programs, without your support, prayers and encouragement this program may not be possible, I sincerely appreciate you all, Ekunola said. Signed. Prince Ekunola Gbenga Abraham Director, Pega and friends foundation 09059558880 www.pegaff.org Dear Academy members: Today, Jan. 27, is a big day! You can begin to choose your nominees for the 2021 Academy Awards! And, if you cant decide who to select, here are some suggestions for your ballot. Best Picture This year, with ten films to be nominated, consider the range of strong movies that emerged during such an uncertain time. Meaningful stories about families should top your list, including Jane Campions The Power of the Dog, an illuminating study of intense relationships set against the breathtaking West; Belfast, Kenneth Branaghs facts-of-life tale about a family in 1960s Northern Ireland; and CODA, the look at a family nearing a turning point that was a smash at last years Sundance Film Festival. Dont forget how good it felt to experience Maggie Gylenhaals moving study of a mothers regret, The Lost Daughter, as well as the inspiring tale of the family behind the Williams sisters, King Richard. Think back to the New York Film Festival where Joel Coen captivated opening night with the power of Shakespeares The Tragedy of Macbeth and how you were singing and dancing in the aisles after seeing Steven Spielbergs remake of the musical West Side Story. To round out the top ten, remember Adam McKays outrageous Dont Look Up, and Paul Thomas Andersons delightful Licorice Pizza and Denis Villeneuve's powerful rendition of Dune. Best Actor You can make this race a showdown between Benedict Cumberbatch moving as a man trapped by denial in The Power of the Dog and Will Smith riveting as a father determined to create a better life in King Richard. Add the strong work from Denzel Washington in The Tragedy of Macbeth and another thrilling turn from Andrew Garfield in Tick, Tick, Boom. For the fifth slot, take a close look at how Peter Dinklage breathes new life into the familiar story of Cyrano. Best Actress Olivia Colman, who won an Oscar for The Favourite and was nominated last year for The Father," continues her on-screen reign with her powerful interpretation of a mothers disappointments in The Lost Daughter. Joining her should be two recreations of the famous Jessica Chastain in The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in Spencer as well as Penelope Cruz in Parallel Mothers. For the fifth slot, look again at the subtlety of Nicole Kidmans recreation of Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos. Best Supporting Actor Dont forget Kodi Smit-McPhee, who soars in this category as a young medical student searching for answers in The Power of the Dog. As you complete your ballot, think of Troy Kotsurs caring father in CODA, Richard Jenkins gripped father in The Humans, and Ciaran Hinds wise grandfather in Belfast. For the fifth slot, remember the nuance in how J.K. Simmons portrayed William Frawley in Being the Ricardos. Best Supporting Actress Again, think The Power of the Dog, and Kirsten Dunsts stunning portrayal of a woman searching for inner peace on the frontier. At the same time, remember two other memorable mothers, Ann Dowds portrayal of maternal pain in Mass and Aunjanue Ellis release of maternal hope in King Richard. And dont forget how Ruth Negga broke our hearts in Passing and Ariana DeBose gave us joy in West Side Story. Best Director While you can choose ten nominees for picture, you can only nominate five directors, which means five films may have directed themselves. In this category, please include directors of the strongest picture contenders Jane Campion for The Power of the Dog, Kenneth Branagh for Belfast, Denis Villeneuve for Dune, Paul Thomas Anderson for Licorice Pizza and for the final slot, think about Maggie Gyllenhaal for her stunning directorial debut with The Lost Daughter. So, Academy members, be sure to vote on time! We look forward to hearing your nominations on Feb. 8 and watching the Oscar presentation on March 27. If theres a walkaway from the viral video of a fathers noxious tirade at a Fairfield smoothie shop, its that it is inspiring many viewers to consider different perspectives. Though captured on video, the story has evolved with subsequent tellings. The initial narrative offered over social media such as TikTok was simple: A customer in a Fairfield Robeks hurled anger, racist comments and a smoothie at teenaged employees as they asked him to leave. The father, Fairfield resident James Iannazzo, was immediately flogged in the public square of social media, charged by police with intimidation based on bigotry or bias, breach of peace and criminal trespass and dismissed from his job as a financial adviser at Merrill Lynch. Hes worked at the firm since graduating from University of Connecticut in 1995. Iannazzos actions werent just hostile. Throwing the cup and trying to get to their work area crossed the line into frightening. We condemn his toxic words and actions. Everyone recognized Iannazzos reaction was inappropriate, even Iannazzo. They do not reflect my values or my character, he said in the statement. I feel terrible that I lost my composure so completely. But something interesting happened after Iannazzo and his lawyer added details to the narrative. Iannazzo said his rage was fueled by his 17-year-old son being taken to the hospital while suffering with life-threatening anaphylactic shock after digesting the smoothie. After he started to drink his smoothie, my son lost the capacity to breathe properly; his lips and face swelled up, and he required an EpiPen shot, but it did not offer him relief. I called 911, Iannazzo said in a statement describing his sons nut allergy. My son then went to the bathroom, threw up and fell unconscious to the floor. He threw up again. My wife gave him another EpiPen while I called 911 again. Those are poised words, far removed from the fury captured in the video. It didnt excuse Iannazzos horrid actions, but it inspired many people to ponder what they might have done with a loved one suffering in a similar situation. Im trying to imagine how I would have reacted, became a refrain. Its worth embracing, and celebrating, such empathy. During this historic pandemic, even those who have successful dodged COVID cant escape heightened stress. Such anxieties have put social workers on watch for increases in the likes of domestic violence. Incidents of road rage in the streets and Cov rage in businesses are becoming far too commonplace. Some restaurants struggling with staffing issue have posted pleas for patience. Not all pundits on comment boards were compassionate. There is a twisted irony that some people wrote unseemly attacks aimed at those they felt were giving Iannazzo a pass. The Fairfield incident is also a cautionary tale that food workers can carry a weight of responsibility similar to that of a lifeguard. Attention to allergies demands attention from those on both sides of the counter. Iannazzos behavior will long be summoned as an example of how not to respond in times of crisis. But if anything should go viral, its the response of compassion. "Accidentally" - yeah, sure... A teacher has made a real tit of themselves to not only her class but the whole internet, after appearing to accidentally record herself farting - and then uploading it as a test question for her students online. Student Mia Moore uploaded the below video to her Instagram Story, explaining how the teacher made the error on the homework platform. "Okay so, I'm in this French class and there's this learning tool that we have where there's the audio of the question, then we respond with typing. "Usually the questions will be, like, three seconds long and then you would type in your response. So what's interesting about this one is, this one is two minutes and 13 seconds and its all silence, until this part". Check it out below. From an office in the Press Corps of the Indiana Statehouse, the journalism majors of Franklin College's Pulliam School of Journalism work alongside the best reporters in the state, digging into the behind-the-scenes stories of Indiana politics. We're a student newsroom, but our work doesn't sit on a professor's desk. We create daily content for this website and 35 professional media partners around the state. Bob Foley: It's going to be quite a year EDWARDSVILLE An Alton woman has been charged with three felonies for an alleged Cottage Hills home invasion. Amber D. Golliday, 33, of Alton, has been charged with home invasion and armed robbery, both Class X felonies, as well as unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. According to court documents, on Jan. 23, Golliday allegedly was armed with a firearm and entered a residence in Cottage Hills. She is accused of taking property, including an undisclosed amount of cash and an iPhone. Her bail was set at $300,000. She has been charged with obstructing justice for allegedly aiding Berton L. Newton, 30, of Alton, who has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, all Class X felonies, in connection to a shooting Jan. 22 in the East Alton Ice Arena parking lot. In that case, presented by the East Alton Police Department, Newton allegedly injured two people, one who is still recovering in a hospital. Other Class X felonies recently filed by the Madison County State's Attorney's office include: Austin R. McFadden, 24, of Madison, was charged with armed robbery, a Class X felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Oct. 3, McFadden allegedly used a handgun to take an undisclosed amount of cash, a cellular telephone and a set of car keys from a person. Bail was set at $150,000. Devin L. Warren, 27, of Madison, was charged with armed robbery, a Class X felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Oct. 3, Warren allegedly had a handgun and took an undisclosed amount of cash, a cellular telephone and car keys. Bail was set at $150,000. Darron L. Stafford, 42, of Granite City, has been charged with home invasion, a Class X felony; residential burglary and aggravated robbery, both Class 1 felonies; offenses related to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony; and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony. On Jan. 22, Stafford allegedly entered a residence in the 6300 block of Illinois 162 and caused emotional damage to the residents by taking an Apple iPhone 13 and $200 in cash. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. Bail was set at $750,000. Alan W. Jakul, 39, of Troy, was charged with home invasion, a Class X felony; domestic battery and unlawful restraint, both Class 4 felonies; and violation of bail bond conditions, a Class A misdemeanor. On Jan. 21, Jakul allegedly entered a Troy residence caused injury to a person by striking them in their arm. The case was presented by the Troy Police Department. Bail was set at $100,000. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALTON A slight dusting of snow Thursday morning reminded the Riverbend that it's still winter. Alton received a fraction more snow than areas to the east. But despite the big flakes which ended by about 9 a.m. it was business and school as usual. A warming trend is forecast to start Friday, with highs in the mid to upper 20s. Highs are expected to be above freezing throughout the weekend, with mid-50 temperatures forecast for Tuesday. Precipitation chances also return to the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday. SPRINGFIELD A bill was introduced in the Illinois House on Thursday revamping the Prisoner Review Board, the board that decides whether those convicted of felonies will be freed and the conditions they will face if they are released from prison. The goal of the new legislation, HB 5126, is to increase transparency, require a certain number of board members to have a law enforcement background and imprint victim rights on the boards mission statement, according to House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, who sponsored the bill. Durkin said the recent release of a cop killer, a murder-rapist and a child killer underscored the need for this legislation. These are just three specific cases, horrible cases, but they tell you everything you need to know, Durkin said during a virtual news conference. In each one of these cases a victim or their family publicly stated their strenuous opposition to the parole of each one of these. Doesn't that victim or the family member have any say? Shouldn't they be afforded greater weight in a parole decision, he asked. Each one of these former inmates have one thing in common: They are cold-blooded killers who should have never lived a free day after their conviction and sentence. These monsters are the true faces of evil. Durkin served as assistant states attorney for Cook County for five years, working in the narcotics bureau and felony trial division concentrating on murder and violent crime. Some major points of the HB 5126 include: Requires five members of the 12-member Prisoner Review Board to have experience as police officers or a prosecutor. Broadcasts via live stream Prisoner Review Board hearings. Makes clemency recommendations to the governors office public. Requires a two-thirds vote for parole for those convicted of first-degree murder. Currently, the vote must be a simple majority voting for parole. Authorizes testimony from one representative of the person under parole consideration, one member of law enforcement from the county where the person was convicted, and one member of the victims family at the parole hearings. Makes the decision of the governor in parole cases subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Requires the Prisoner Review Board to notify victims in writing when an application for clemency has been made within a week of the filing of the application. If the victims fail to file a statement 30 days before the clemency hearing date, a second notice should be sent to the victim. A victim will receive a 45-day extension to provide a statement if they request it, and that time must elapse before the board can hold the hearing. During the news conference Thursday, Durkin highlighted the release of three convicted murders: Paul Bryant, Ray Larsen and Johnny Veal. Bryant was convicted of murder, rape, home invasion and burglary. Bryant was convicted of killing a 59-year-old woman whose throat he slashed during a robbery in 1976 and the murder of a 19-year-old woman whom he raped, beat, strangled and set on fire in 1977. Another woman was held at knifepoint, robbed, and raped in her home. He was sentenced to 500 to 1,500 years. He was released in 2021. He is now 72. Larson was sentenced to 100 to 300 years in prison after confessing to killing 16-year-old Frank Casolari in a forest preserve near Chicagos OHare International Airport in 1972. At the time of the killing, Larson was serving time for robbery, but was on a family furlough from prison to visit his grandmother. After his release in May 2021, Larson fled the state, but was arrested and returned to prison on a parole violation. He is now 77. Veal was 17 when he was charged with the sniper style murders of Chicago Police Sgt. James Severin and Officer Anthony Rizzato in 1970 as they walked across a field in the Cabrini-Green public housing complex. Veal was sentenced to 100 to 199 years in prison. The Prisoner Review Board voted to parole Veal in May 2021. He is 70 years old. The administration is placing criminals above victims and they are trying to silence the voices of victims across the state, Durkin said. There is no reason that cold blooded murderers are released back into society against the wishes of the people they hurt. EDWARDSVILLE A Missouri man has been charged with unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class X felony, and unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 3 felony, by the Madison County State's Attorney's office. According to court documents, on Dec. 5 Jesse D. Yount, of Florissant, Missouri, allegedly had 15 to 100 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine with the intent to deliver. He also allegedly had a 380-caliber Ruger handgun. The case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. Bail was set at $75,000. Other recent felony charges filed by Madison County include: Billy J. Clark, 40, of Hartford, and Matthew S. Holmes, 37, of Wood River, were both charged with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony, and unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the State of Illinois. According to court documents, on Jan. 23 Clark and Holmes allegedly had a 2000 Ford F350 that was stolen or converted as well as more than 30 grams of a substance containing cannabis. Bail for Clark was set at $100,000; bail for Holmes was set at $50,000. Michael A. Dalton, 51, of South Roxana, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Jan. 22, Dalton allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000. Ronald C. Feldpausch, 41, of Collinsville, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Jan. 22, Feldpausch allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. Bail was set at $25,000. Timothy H. Ponce, 61, of Collinsville, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Jan. 22, Ponce allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000. Lorie L. Sherman, 49, of OFallon, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Jan. 22, Sherman allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000. Scott M. Perryman, 34, of Glen Carbon, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. On Jan. 24, Perryman allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000. Dilynn J. Schehl, 30, of Bunker Hill, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Glen Carbon Police Department. On Jan. 21, Schehl allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. Bail was set at $20,000. Ryan E. Kite, 28, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. On Jan. 22, Kite allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000. Alyssa J. Gardner, 27, of Marthasville, Missouri, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a Class 1 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. On April 2, Gardner allegedly had more than one gram of fentanyl, a controlled substance, with intent to deliver. Bail was set at $75,000. Robert L. Rayoum Jr., 30, of Edwardsville, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony, and aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Jan. 25, Rayoum allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine and caused injury to the neck of a household or family member. Bail was set at $75,000. Mary E. Johnson, 36, of Benld, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. On May 10, Johnson allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000. Nicholas A. Bonk, 35, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. On Sept. 27, Bonk allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine, and less than 15 grams of a substance containing cocaine. Bail was set at $15,000. Antoine J. Shipp, 67, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony, and retail theft under $300, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison Police Department. Shipp allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine and took merchandise from Dollar General, totaling less than $300 in value. Bail was set at $20,000. Mark E. Cameron, 50, of Highland, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony, and unlawful failure to register as a sex offender, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Highland Police Department. On Dec. 21, Cameron allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine and failed to register three days after establishing a new residence. Shannon M. McMahon, 42, of Madison, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. On Nov. 10, McMahon allegedly had less than 15 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. Bail was set at $15,000. Kenneth T. Pointer, 36, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Jan. 25, Pointer allegedly had less than five grams of a substance containing methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EDWARDSVILLE The Wildey Theatre is best known for its classic rock concerts, but the venue is gearing up for a special blend of jazz music and tap dancing. On Saturday, Feb. 12, the Wildey and STL Rhythm Collaborative will present In Due Time, a live music and tap dance tribute to the Dave Brubeck Quartet featuring mostSTLy TAP & mostSTLy JAZZ. There will be two shows at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. There will be a question-and-answer session with the cast immediately following each performance. The 75-minute (sans intermission) production features choreography by internationally renowned choreographers including Anthony J. Russo and Christian Frommelt, as well as Maria Majors, Tommy Wasiuta and Megan Mayer from STL Rhythm Collaborative. The music will feature selections from the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which featured Dave Brubeck (piano), Eugene Wright (bass), Joe Morello (drums) and Paul Desmond (alto sax). The musicians are best known for their experimentation with uncommon time signatures and polyrhythms. The quartet's most recognized track is "Take Five," released in 1959 on the "Time Out" album, which is one of the biggest-selling jazz albums of all time. We dance mostly to traditional jazz music, and we like music that challenges us, either tempo-wise or signature-wise, said Majors, who is the executive director for STL Rhythm Collaborative and artistic director for mostSTLy TAP. A couple of years ago, one of our dancers brought into a rehearsal Blue Rondo a La Turk, which is a song by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Usually, the music that we dance to is in a 4/4-time signature, and this song was a 9/8. We started listening to more Dave Brubeck Quartet songs, wondering what else we could find in their catalogue that is like this. The more we listened, the more we realized how many of the Dave Brubeck Quartet tunes we were already familiar with. Take Five is one of the more popular jazz singles of all time and its one of those songs that even people who arent that familiar with jazz may recognize. From there, the concept that would become In Due Time started to grow. Tommy Wasiuta, who is one of the choreographers of the show, half-jokingly said we should do a whole show that is a tribute to Dave Brubeck, Majors said. It kind of snowballed from that off-the-cuff remark into thinking this would be a cool thing. The more we thought about it, the more we realized we should actually do it. It would challenge us and it would also bring back the Dave Brubeck music that we love and respect so much. In Due Time made its stage premiere in October at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood, and that is the only time that the show has been performed. We rehearsed and built the show over a two-year period, but we have been invited to bring an excerpt of the show to a festival in Chicago this summer, Majors said. As tap dancers, we think of ourselves as musicians and as additional musical accompaniment to the music that the live musicians are playing. Its a very visual and high-energy performance because there are dancers moving around on stage. There are also times when there are soloists interacting with the musicians in a communicative sort of way. Majors feels that the question-and-answer sessions after each show add to the experience for both the audience and the performers. We often get questions about how every time we do the show, its a little different, Majors said. While there are choreographed sessions when the ensemble is dancing together, the musicians and the dancers all take turns being featured in some way with improvisational solos or trading situations with the dancer and the musician. There will be two shows (at the Wildey) and they will be a little different even though well do all of the same pieces. Thats because of the improvisation that the dancers share with each other and with the musicians. Majors emphasized that In Due Time is not just for fans of dancing and/or jazz music, but for anyone who wants to expand their musical and artistic horizons. People came to the show not knowing what to expect, Majors said. A lot of them dont know anything about dance or about jazz, but they said they were thoroughly entertained the whole time. That was the other reason why we felt that going with the Dave Brubeck catalogue to celebrate for the show was a good idea. The music is so accessible and relatable, so you dont need to have a trained ear to understand what youre listening to. You just sit back and relax and enjoy what is there. Majors said that STL Rhythm Collaborative wants to present more live music in both St. Louis and the Metro East but added that she isnt sure when the next performances of In Due Time will occur. In the meantime, the next performance of the show may be this summer in Chicago at the Rhythm World festival, which is hosted by the Chicago Human Rhythm Project. The Chicago Human Rhythm Project has been around for about 30 years, and they present the Rhythm World festival annually, Majors said. They bring in artists from all over the world to teach master classes and present public performances. A lot of the events are open to the public and they reached out to us and commissioned to bring an excerpt of In Due Time as part of one of their public performances. Thats a pretty prestigious honor and were excited about it. For more information on any event at the Wildey Theatre, 252 N Main St., call 618-307-1750 or go to wildeytheatre.com. For both performances of In Due Time, there is a 20% discount for groups of 10 or more. For more information about STL Rhythm Collaborative, visit www.stlrhythmcollaborative.org. EDWARDSVILLE A St. Louis man has been charged with two counts of burglary by Madison County State's Attorney's Office. Philip R. Dierker, 50, of St. Louis, was charged with two counts of burglary, a Class 2 felony, and three counts of unlawful use of a credit card, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Edwardsville Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 16 Dierker allegedly entered Planet Fitness of Edwardsville and Planet Fitness of Collinsville with the intent to commit thefts. Without the consent of the credit card holder, Dierker allegedlybought a 65 Samsung TV, a 55" LGO TV and several pairs of Apple Airpods, totaling more than $900 between all three counts. Bail was set at $75,000. Other felonies recently filed in Madison County include: Kyle D. Carter, 33, of Alton, was charged with unlawful failure to register as a sex offender, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. According to court documents, on Jan. 24, Carter allegedly failed to register his new address within three days of establishing a new residence. Bail was set at $50,000. Trina G. Skelton, 41, of East Alton, was charged with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the State of Illinois. On Jan. 23, Skelton allegedly knowingly had a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer that was stolen or converted. Bail was set at $50,000. Javonta C. Brown, 22, of Cahokia, was charged with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon and criminal damage to government supported property, both Class 3 felonies; aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony; and resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Jan. 24, Brown allegedly struck an officer with his hands, while also being in possession of a 380-caliber handgun. Brown also allegedly damaged the in-car camera and camera mounts located inside of the Granite City Police Department squad car. Bail was set at $100,000. Andrea I. Ostendorf, 32, of Collinsville, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony, The case was presented by the Edwardsville Police Department. On Dec. 2, Ostendorf allegedly struck a person and put her hands on their neck in the parking lot of Scott Credit Union. Bail was set at $25,000. John P. Daly, 47, of Roxana, was charged with theft over $500, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. On Dec. 15, Daly allegedly knowingly exerted unauthorized control over property of a Boost Mobile store, having a total value in excess of $500. Bail was set at $20,000. Samuel L. Durr, 28, of Cottage Hills, was charged with theft over $500, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. On Jan. 5, Durr allegedly knowingly exerted unauthorized control over property of the plaintiff, which included an HP laptop, an Amazon Kindle Fire tablet, an LCD drawing pad, an IG Stylo 4 smart phone, a MOGA Bluetooth gaming controller and a Chromecast, totaling over $500 in value. Bail was set at $15,000. John P. Chapman, 38, of Jerseyville, was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Jan 24, Chapman allegedly fled from an officer in a 1999 Dodge Durango, going over 21 miles per hour of the posted speed limit. Bail was set at $50,000. Tony Smith Jr., 38, of Edwardsville, was charged with domestic battery, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Edwardsville Police Department. On Jan. 22, Smith allegedly struck a family or household member in the face with a closed fist. Bail was set at $20,000. Scott A. Lemp, of Collinsville, was charged with criminal damage to property over $500, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the St. Jacob Police Department. On Jan. 18, Lemp allegedly knowingly damaged a 2021 Kia motor vehicle, with the damage being in excess of $500. Bail was set at $40,000. Brandon S. Rackhaus, 18, of Fairmont City, was charged with two counts of burglary, both Class 2 felonies. The case was presented by the Fairmont City Police Department. On Jan. 11, Rackhaus allegedly entered a business in the 5900 block of Collinsville Road, and a camper on the 3200 block of Canteen, with the intent to commit a theft. The bail was set at $50,000. Traci M. English, 45, of Pontoon Beach, and was charged with two counts of burglary, both Class 2 felonies, and two counts of theft over $500, both Class 3 felonies. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. On Jan. 17, English allegedly entered businesses in Highland and Worden with the intent to commit a theft. English also allegedly exerted unauthorized control over property of two businesses, one being $6,491 in value and the other being $5,555. The bail was set at $60,000. Antoinette D. Gatson, 31, of Collinsville, was charged with forgery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Jan. 25, Gatson allegedly forged a $100 bill used at Walmart in Collinsville. The bail was set at $15,000. Jason L. Zarantonello, 43, of Alton, was charged with theft over $500, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. On Jan. 20, Zarantonello allegedly exerted unauthorized control over property of International Mulch Company, being 33 wooden pallets, with a total value over $500. The bail was set at $30,000. Kimberly M. Bluiett, 43, of Granite City, was charged with retail theft under $300, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Jan. 25, Bluiett allegedly took merchandise from the Granite City Walmart, including a leather backpack, 13 5-packs of BIC lighters, 22 2-packs of BIC lighters and candy, totaling less than $300. The bail was set at $15,000. Todd S. Venable, 35, of Granite City, was charged with aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Jan. 23, Venable allegedly struck an officer. Bail was set at $50,000. Brian K. Macon, 25, of Alton, was charged with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. On Jan. 21, Macon allegedly had a 2020 Dodge Charger that was stolen or converted. Bail was set at $50,000. Jamella M. Bradford, 24, of East St. Louis, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. On Jan. 23, Bradford allegedly struck a family or household member with a mirror, causing a large laceration to the forearm that required 10 stitches. Bail was set at $20,000. Willard L. Johnson, 30, homeless out of Collinsville, was charged with forgery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Jan. 24, Johnson allegedly knowingly delivered an altered payment to Moto Mart gas station. Bail was set to $30,000. Richard H. Robinson, 56, of Cahokia Heights, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of weapons, a Class 4 felony, and resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the State of Illinois. On Jan. 21, Robinson allegedly had a 40-caliber Glock 22 in a motor vehicle and resisted a peace officer. Bail was set to $50,000. Carlton J. Turner, 52, of Granite City, was charged with domestic battery, a Class 4 felony, and interfering with the report of a domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. On Jan. 22, Turner allegedly made physical contact with a family or household member and put his hands around her neck as they contacted police. Bail was set to $40,000. Dereaun D. Clay, 23, of Alton, was charged with unlawful restraint and domestic battery, both Class 4 felonies. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriff. On Jan. 21, Clay allegedly detained and drove a family or household member to Missouri against their will. Bail was set to $40,000. Reid M. Vandever, 28, of Breese, was charged with retail theft under $300, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Jan. 21, Vandever allegedly took merchandise from Walmart in Granite City valued at less than $300. There was no bail. The icy winter temps in the Midwest mean a slow season for many. But for Illinois farmers like me, its the time of year to plan ahead for the spring planting season. Many in agriculture are already feeling the strain of rising input costs and fractured supply chains due to the ongoing pandemic. Farmers are worried these issues could be compounded by additional water regulations and unreliable fuel standards, which will drastically impact many family farms. The Illinois Farm Bureau Board of Directors, which represents the largest group of farmers in the state, set new priorities for the organization in January. Theyll focus on supporting members as the ag industry faces the challenges ahead. Since the spring of 2020, nearly every person has experienced price fluctuations and supply limitations on products they need. For farmers, fertilizer shortages have made a large dent in business profitability. Growers are reporting price hikes of more than 300% on fertilizer purchases this year. Thats especially significant because fertilizer costs account for approximately 15% of the total cash costs for crops. And the lack of truck drivers and congestion at American ports mean delivery times are anyones best guess. If these trends continue, consumers might also see rising prices at the grocery. To curb this issue, were looking to Congress to help us find solutions. Last November, the Biden administration announced a plan to return to a previous definition of waters of the United States. The proposed regulation would repeal the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule and broaden the federal governments authority under the Clean Waters Act. Farmers are frustrated with the federal governments decision to expand federal jurisdiction onto waterways on private lands. The revised rule would make it difficult for farmers and property owners to decipher where their property will be impacted and create challenges when implementing conservation practices in those areas. For people whose properties wont be affected by the ruling, this issue might seem trivial. But for family farmers who would lose the right to manage parts of their land, its a big concern. As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers considers a final rule, the agriculture community would like to see clear terms that are easy to interpret and apply, with flexibilities for landowners to conduct innovative and environmentally beneficial projects. As one of the largest producers and exporters of soybeans and corn in the country, Illinois ag has played a critical role in ag trade for decades. Over time, the transportation of commodities has left roads, bridges and waterways in our state in desperate need of repair. The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill signed into law by President Biden last fall works to address the wear and tear on transportation systems across the nation. As funds make their way to our state, its important that theyre used to rebuild transportation routes that get supplies to farms and, in turn, help farmers get their products to consumers. Dollars should also be disbursed fairly to rural areas, especially the funds marked for expanding rural broadband. The need for additional education and telehealth resources has become increasingly important while dealing with fluctuating COVID cases over the past couple of years. As it stands, many farmers and entrepreneurs in small towns lack the technology they need to improve their businesses. When large meat packing plants closed their doors early on in the pandemic, small companies stepped up to the plate to fill the need. The situation demonstrated why businesses of all sizes are needed to keep our domestic food supply strong. Just imagine the innovation and economic gains that would come with access to reliable, affordable and fast internet in all parts of the state, not just the highly populated areas. With so much on the table for farm families in 2022, its critical that they get the tools they need to succeed. The supply of food, fuel and fiber people depend on relies on the strength of agriculture in our state. Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell recently committed the kind of Freudian slip that can give one a political fracture. He was trying to explain his opposition to legislation that would ensure state governments dont deliberately prevent black citizens from exercising their right to vote. Such legislation simply isnt necessary, McConnell assured reporters at a press conference in Washington. And why? The concern is misplaced because if you look at the statistics, African American voters are voting in just as high a percentage as Americans, McConnell said with a straight face. The Kentuckians words implied that black citizens somehow arent real Americans. Black Americans overwhelmingly support the Democratic party. As Suzette Hackney pointed out in USA Today, African American voters were a critical demographic that helped to determine the final outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Cities with large Black populations such as Philadelphia, Detroit and Atlanta bolstered Bidens lead in critical battleground states that we Democrats lost in 2016. Perhaps McConnell inadvertently expressed his anger that black voters helped to evict Trump from the White House. Perhaps he believes that real Americans vote only for Republican candidates. McConnells unintentional bluntness evoked a political firestorm. Being Black doesnt make you less of an American, no matter what this craven man thinks, tweeted Charles Booker, a former member of the Kentucky House of Representatives. U.S. Rep. Donald McEachin, D-Virginia, remarked in a letter to McConnell, This is 2022 and being American is not synonymous with looking or thinking like you. African Americans are, in fact, American citizens deserving of our recognition, respect and equal protections under the law. I, too, was disgusted by McConnells statement. Being 68, however, gives me a unique perspective on this matter. I remember a long-ago incident when another Republican publicly asserted that non-whites somehow arent real Americans. Generation X members and all the generations that followed them know Watergate only from history books. We Baby Boomers read about it in our daily hard copy newspapers and even watched the Watergate hearings live on TV, either in color or black and white depending on our level of affluence. I probably could have related the following incident from memory but thought it wiser to track down some newspaper accounts. I found this article in the Aug. 2, 1973 edition of the New York Times. H.R. Haldemans lawyer referred today to Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Democrat of Hawaii as that little Jap and said later that he saw nothing wrong with the comment, adding: I wouldnt mind being called a little American. John J. Wilson, 72 years old, made the first remark after the morning session of the Senate Watergate hearings when a reporter asked if he believed Mr. Haldeman had been questioned fairly by Senator Lowell P. Weicker, Republican of Connecticut. Oh, I don't mind Senator Weicker, replied Mr. Wilson. What I mind is that little Jap. Mr. Wilson nodded in the direction of Mr. Inouye, a member of the committee and a muchdecorated United States Army veteran who lost an arm during fighting in Europe during World War II. Mr. Inouye is of Japanese extraction. He was born in Hawaii. Mr. Wilson, questioned later about his comment, acknowledged that he had meant Mr. Inouye when he used the phrase that little Jap and told reporters: That's just the way I speak. I consider it a description of the man I wouldn't mind being called a little American." Like McConnell, Wilson was a Republican, In fact, I found multiple media sources quoting him as saying, "I'm a conservative Republican who hasn't approved of any conservative Republican in years because most conservative Republicans aren't conservative enough for me." Although he made no public comment on Wilsons statement, President Richard Nixon surely couldnt have been pleased with his fellow Republicans timing. The Washington Post noted that Wilson's little Jap comment, came while Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka was in Washington meeting with President Nixon. Wilsons racist comment was made generations ago. McConnell just gave us proof that some Republicans still cant accept non-whites as fellow Americans. ALTON Each week award-winning photographer John Badman of The Telegraph captures images of the Riverbend. Here is a sampling of his photographs from this week. They also appear in the weekend issue of The Telegraph. Dear Editor, I wrote a letter a few months back stating that something must be done to support our men and women in blue, in my opinion, a new bill supporting the death penalty for any one person whom committed malicious attacks or murder on a law enforcement officer. Just a short time ago shock waves hit the law enforcement communities with the senseless deaths of Brooklyn Officer Brain Pierce and Pontoon Beach Officer Tyler Timmins. I wrote letters to every House Representative, plus State Senator, in Illinois asking for better protection of law enforcement officals. On January 26th 2022 an Illinois State Representative filed a bill to reinstate death penalty for killing a police officer. State Representative Dave Severin filed House Bill 4746. He stated we have to make change in Illinois to make it safer for correctional officers and for police officers. Now I am writing to ask the law enforcement communities to write your state legislators or House representatives. Ask them to support the passage of House Bill 4746. We must help protect those men and women in blue whom proudly put on that uniform, walk that thin blue line to protect and serve the people in their communities. Sincere thanks to each and every officer. Patricia Ford Roxana Westerly, RI (02891) Today A shower or two around the area early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight A shower or two around the area early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. Professional services group Capita has announced the sale of another business as it continues to streamline its operations and slash its debts. IT services and software firm Trustmarque was bought by the outsourcing giant for 57million in 2016 and will now be sold for 111million to One Equity Partners, the former merchant banking arm of JP Morgan. Trustmarque offers cybersecurity, data and analytics for the NHS and cloud-based services, amongst many other services, and made revenue of 122million and pre-tax profits of 16million in 2020. New sale: Capita bought Trustmarque for 57million in 2016 and will now sell it for 111million to One Equity Partners, the former merchant banking branch of JP Morgan Its senior management and staff will remain within the business following the completion of the sale, from which Capita has the potential to earn another 3million dependent upon meeting specific targets. Capita said that once the sale is finalised, it will have achieved over 700million in disposals by June 2022, a goal brought in under current chief executive and turnaround specialist Jon Lewis. Earlier this month, the company confirmed it had finished the sale of its Secure Solutions and Services (SSS) arm, a software provider for the emergency services and criminal justice sectors, to NEC Software Solutions UK for 62million. Since November, it has also agreed to offload its AMT Sybex software business to Jonas Computing, and specialist insurers Capita Commercial Insurance Services and Capita Managing Agency for an undisclosed sum to Marco Capital Holdings. On top of that, Capita has sold its majority stake in Axelos to the examination certification corporation PeopleCert, and exited from its employee benefits business, Capita Life & Pensions Services, and pension scheme Atlas Master Trust. But the largest deal was the sale of its Education Software Solutions division to funds controlled by Montagu Private Equity for an initial payment of 299million followed by a further 45million in July. Outsourcing: Capita is responsible for collecting the London Congestion Charge These transactions form part of the company's plan to place greater focus on its Capita Public Service and Capita Experience branches. The former provides support services to the UK Government, including the Royal Navy, HMRC, the Standards and Testing Agency and London Congestion Charge, whilst the latter works with the private sector, including major banks, the RSPCA and Thames Water. Capita boss Jon Lewis said: 'I am delighted that, once this sale is completed, we will have exceeded our disposals target - and achieved this much earlier than originally planned. 'It marks another significant step towards materially reducing our debt, as we continue to simplify and strengthen Capita, and become a more successful business for the long term. 'We are now focused on selling the remaining businesses in our Portfolio division, with the goal of disposing of the majority by the end of 2022.' Despite the upbeat trading announcement, shares in the FTSE 250-listed outsourcer continued their long-term downward trend on Friday, falling 1.8 per cent to 31.8p. The group's share price has now plunged nearly 90 per cent over the last five years following the loss of contracts, a profit warning in early 2018, higher-than-expected restructuring costs and years of declining revenues. Shell and BP could find it 'impossible' to work in Russia if it invades Ukraine, experts have warned. Western countries have threatened to impose crippling sanctions on Moscow after it began building up troops on the Ukrainian border. The US, UK and EU are drawing up plans to hit Russian gas projects with severe restrictions. This could put a stranglehold on one of the country's most important industries. But it could also deepen the energy crisis gripping Europe. The sanctions could still put important company partnerships in jeopardy and deprive them of cash in the long-term. Analysts said soaring oil prices could cushion the blow for Shell, BP and other firms affected by the rules. Crude prices hit fresh seven-year highs of almost $92 a barrel last night. Shell works in Russia with energy giant Gazprom and BP with state-backed oil firm Rosneft, in which the British group owns an almost 20 per cent stake. Shell became a 'strategic partner' of Gazprom when it first signed on to develop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The energy giant is working on Sakhalin-2, a huge oil and gas project in the Sea of Okhotsk off Siberia with Gazprom, Mitsui and Mitsubishi. Berlin-based energy market expert Dr Thomas O'Donnell said if Russia invaded and sanctions were imposed 'any company's business in Russia will be difficult to maintain'. James Waddell, head of European gas at Energy Aspects, said: 'Europe looking to hit long-term Russian gas production capacity would likely be a step up from anything we've seen before.' Politicians and analysts believe Russia is purposely sending less gas to Europe to pressure Germany into approving the opening of the gas pipeline Nord Stream 2, which runs through Ukraine. Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, said: 'Sanctions have the potential to pose a notable threat to the oil giants operating in Russia, including BP and Shell.' But, Scholar added, high oil prices mean it could 'weather' sanctions, 'provided that oil prices continue to go up'. A BP spokesman said: 'BP's stake in Rosneft is an important part of our portfolio.' Shell declined to comment. H&M set out plans yesterday to double sales by 2030 as it drew a line under the pandemic. The Swedish fashion giant hailed a 'strong recovery' from the coronavirus crisis driven by a healthy bounce back in the UK. The company, which was founded in 1947 and is the world's second biggest fashion retailer behind Zara-owner Inditex, said in an update that profits in the year to November 30 rose seven-fold to 1.1billion. Boost: H&M hailed a 'strong recovery' from the coronavirus crisis driven by a healthy bounce back in the UK It was boosted by its 4,800-strong store estate being open for much more of the year and a 24 per cent jump in online sales. Overall sales rose 6 per cent to 15.8billion meaning if the company hits its new target, sales would top 30billion by 2030. In the last three months of the year, sales were up 8 per cent at 4.5billion. They were boosted by its UK arm, where it has 289 stores, as sales jumped 36 per cent from a year earlier to 430.5m. To reach its ambitious target, it is opening shops in six countries, Ecuador, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Cambodia. It will add online stores in five countries. The fashion group also promised to halve its carbon footprint by the same time. Shore Capital retail analyst Clive Black said the target was 'exceptionally bold' but added it is 'there to be done'. He said: 'It is a big and demanding target and they are going to be constantly measured by this now. So they need to make sure this doesn't become a millstone and you hope the target is something they feel very confident about hitting.' Sales over the year were hit by supply chain disruption, but H&M said it offset any losses by selling less clothing at a discount. Chief executive Helena Helmersson said Covid-related disruption would continue, but she was optimistic about the group going forward. The firm's shares in Stockholm jumped 5 per cent on the news. Women's careers could be damaged if they continue to work from home, the boss of one of the City's biggest institutions has warned. As increasing numbers return to the office following the end of Covid restrictions, Aviva chief executive Amanda Blanc said working mothers who take on the brunt of childcare duties could miss out if they are at their desks less often than their male peers. Calling for an end to the 'hokey-cokey' in-out working-from-home guidance, the mother-of-two said: 'If what you see is that all the men come back to the office and the women don't, then obviously the women are not going to be around when some of the conversations are being had and they're going to miss out on opportunities. Warning: Amanda Blanc said working mothers who take on the brunt of childcare duties could miss out if they are at their desks less often than their male peers 'So that's what I'm calling out I don't want that to happen. We know that the progression of women in financial services is simply not good enough women are not moving into more senior roles quickly enough. 'We just need to make sure that, in the way that we work, we don't jeopardise women's opportunities.' The comments came as millions of workers return to the office following the lifting of Covid restrictions. Several leading City institutions are hauling their staff back in. A briefing note from one team at investment bank JP Morgan, seen by the Mail, said staff must be in the office for three days, including a Monday or Friday. This would stop many workers being at their desks on their preferred days of just Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Goldman Sachs has also asked its 6,500 London staff to head back in, and rival Citigroup is expecting staff to be in 'at least three days a week'. Blanc said her staff were expected to be in the office three days a week. She told the BBC: 'I'm really keen that we do have some physical presence in the office, even though I think the way we work in the office will be different to how it was pre-Covid.' Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former leader of the Tory party, said: 'There's a whole ecosystem in Britain's town and city centres that depends on people working in them. If people don't come in for work, it won't be there for their social activities. There are a lot of people who depend on jobs in bars, restaurants, shops. If workers don't go back into their offices, this ecosystem won't survive.' Many firms are cautiously easing their office workers back into their commute, pushing staff to be in just three days a week. Blanc has previously spoken about a 'motherhood penalty', which many women face in their career after returning from maternity leave. Blanc: 'Ditch EU pension rules to unlock billions' The Government must ditch EU rules which restrict where pension funds can invest, the boss of Aviva has urged. Amanda Blanc said Chancellor Rishi Sunak should scrap so-called Solvency II regulations, which limit the types of assets which pension funds can hold. This could unlock billions of pounds to invest in areas such as renewable energy plants, improved transport systems and nascent industries, she said. Solvency II was introduced to ensure the safety of investors' money, and make sure their pensions were protected in the case of a downturn. But Aviva continually performed stress tests and had plenty of capital to cover a crisis. 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) 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. Kingsport, TN (37660) Today Mainly clear. Low 51F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 51F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. The policies of the Webster Groves School District, including its mask policy, are based upon the authority granted to the board of education of the school district under the laws of the state of Missouri, including policies relative to the health and safety of its students and staff. John Simpson, WGSD Superintendent Britain warned big business on Friday to bolster defences against possible Russian cyber attacks as Western fears deepened that President Vladimir Putin would order his troops to annex another part of Ukraine. The United States, the European Union and Britain have repeatedly warned Putin against attacking Ukraine after Russia deployed around 100,000 troops near the border with its former Soviet neighbour. Russian officials say the West is gripped by Russophobia and has no right to lecture Moscow on how to act after it expanded the NATO military alliance eastwards after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union and sowed chaos in Iraq and Syria. Britains National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of the GCHQ eavesdropping intelligence agency, warned large organisations to bolster their cyber security resilience amid the deepening tensions over Ukraine. Western leaders say the 21st Century will be defined by a struggle between democracies and rivals such as China and Russia who they say are challenging the post-Cold War consensus militarily, technologically and economically. Over several years, we have observed a pattern of malicious Russian behaviour in cyberspace, said Paul Chichester, NCSC director of operations. A cyber attack on Ukraine earlier this month warned Ukrainians to be afraid and expect the worst. Ukraine said Moscow was behind the attack. Incidents in Ukraine bear the hallmarks of similar Russian activity we have observed before, said Chichester. The worlds top cyber offensive powers are the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia and China, according to a 2020 ranking by the Belfer Center at Harvards Kennedy School. Britains spymasters say Russia remains the biggest immediate threat to the West but Communist Chinas long-term dominance of technology poses a much bigger problem. UK organisations are being urged to bolster their cyber security resilience in response to the malicious cyber incidents in and around Ukraine, Britains National Cyber Security Centre said. SOURCE: REUTERS Hell hath no fury like an Elon Musk scorned by the government. The ever-contentious Tweeter took to the social-media platform on Thursday to hit back at the Biden administration after the President spoke about the future of electric vehicles in America and seemed to have left Musks Tesla off the list of impactful companies. I meant it when I said the future was going to be made right here in America, Bidens original Tweet said. Companies like GM and Ford are building more electric vehicles here at home than ever before. Musk negged back at him spelling out the letters of Tesla, pointing out that the POTUS had forgotten to mention the name of his company when talking about electric vehicles. Starts with a T, Ends with an A, ESL in the middle, he immaturely typed out. Starts with a T Ends with an A ESL in the middle Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2022 Another unrelated Twitter user responded to that Tweet of Musks to say shame on Joe Biden and call his claims about electric vehicles lies. It was then that Musk chose violence and went for the jugular. Biden is a damp [sock] puppet in human form, he said, using the sock emoji for added effect. That particular Tweet has since garnered 10,000 retweets and over 45,600 likes. Criticism of the Biden administrative is nothing new coming from Musk, who called the President not the friendliest during an interview at the 2021 Code Conference and later poking fun at Biden by calling him Sleepy Joe via social media. But Musk didnt stop there. Later last night, he began pushing back on the Canadian government as well. A new mandate instated on January 15 in Canada now requires all truck drivers that go across the border to be vaccinated, which has sparked a series of paraded protests in the country, most notably in Ottawa. Canadian truckers rule, Musk chimed in seemingly out of left field before following up with If you scare people enough, they will demand removal of freedom. This is the path to tyranny. If you scare people enough, they will demand removal of freedom. This is the path to tyranny. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2022 How uplifting! Last month, Musk duked it out with Senator Elizabeth Warren after she criticized Times decision to make the billionaire 2021s Person of the Year, calling for him to pay more taxes and stop freeloading off everyone else. You remind me of when I was a kid and my friends angry Mom would just randomly yell at everyone for no reason, Musk hit back. The billionaire has vowed to sell 10% of his total stock in Tesla amid scrutiny from politicians and others around the fact that Musk does not pay personal income taxes on his wealth because he does not earn a standard salary or bonus (he can only be taxed if he sells shares in Tesla.) Musks estimated net worth was $214 billion as of Friday morning. Copyright 2022 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate About two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert received a curt phone call from top officials at the New York Racing Association. In the brief exchange, NYRA CEO Dave O'Rourke and then-Senior Vice President of Racing Operation Martin Panza asked Baffert for his home address because they wanted to mail him something overnight, Baffert recounted Thursday. Then they told him to read his email. After that, they could talk more. When Baffert clicked on the message in his inbox, he said he was stunned to see a notice from NYRA declaring that he was being temporarily suspended from racing at their three tracks Saratoga Race Course, Aqueduct Racetrack and Belmont Park. I was pretty disappointed. They were friends of mine and I sort of felt, you know, sort of betrayed in a way," Baffert said Thursday, testifying in his defense to try to stave off a suspension. Ive always showed up and ran all these races. ... I was a little bit surprised by it. After all, Baffert has never had a positive drug violation in New York in decades of racing in the state. The temporary suspension was eventually forestalled by a judge. But in administrative hearing proceedings launched this week, NYRA has moved to make the suspension a reality, based upon previous drug-related violations Baffert has received in other states, including a positive test violation issued to Baffert's horse Medina Spirit after winning the 2021 Kentucky Derby. That violation prompted NYRA to pursue their suspension. After four days, the hearing is nearing a close, and the hearing officer, former New York Solicitor General Peter Sherwood, will soon issue a decision regarding whether Baffert will be suspended from New York's top thoroughbred tracks, and if so for how long. Closing arguments were scheduled to begin Friday morning. Baffert, who testified for much of Thursday's session, recounted the events surrounding each of six drug positive violations that the trainer received in 2019, 2020 and 2021. The trainer emphasized that he tries to always follow state regulations on medication usage. He attributed some of his past violations to "mistakes" by his veterinarians or employees. He offered his explanation for each of the incidents and described a friendly working relationship with NYRA officials until after the 2021 Derby. NYRA's legal team sought to highlight that Baffert's recent violations particularly repeat positives of the same drug were a pattern, not merely coincidental mistakes. NYRA attorney Henry Greenberg grilled Baffert about his changing story regarding Medina Spirit's drug positive in the Derby. Baffert recounted the days after the Derby in depth: On May 8, one week after Medina Spirit placed first in the race, Baffert received a call from his employee and right-hand man Jimmy Barnes, who told him Kentucky officials were searching the barn after Medina Spirit tested positive, Baffert said. The media learned about the positive soon after Baffert did, and soon the news was all over the Internet. Baffert described it as a "nightmare" scenario. Baffert flew from California to Kentucky, and on May 9 gave a lengthy press conference in which he insisted he did nothing wrong and never administered the medication betamethasone to the horse. He suggested a "conspiracy" or some outside problem caused the positive test. I was just so upset that I knew that I didnt inject that horse with betamethasone," Baffert remembered Thursday. "I knew there had to be a reason. Greenberg, NYRA's attorney, suggested that Baffert's allusion to a conspiracy cast aspersions on state regulators and brought harm to the horse racing industry. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. The next day, May 10, Baffert gave a series of television interviews, again saying he had no idea how Medina Spirit could have a betamethasone positive because no one treated the horse with that drug. Baffert said his violation might be an example of "cancel culture," a phrase that Baffert on Thursday said he regretted using. Finally on May 11, Baffert issued a press release stating they had identified a probable cause of the drug violation, a topical ointment that contained betamethasone that was applied to the horse for a skin rash. That substance is permitted for use around races. Betamethasone cannot be injected in a horse within two weeks of a race in Kentucky. Baffert said Thursday he learned about the ointment from his veterinarian, Dr. Vincent Baker, and didn't previously know there was betamethasone in it. According to Baffert and Clara Fenger, a racetrack veterinarian who testified on his behalf Thursday, New York's equine drug laboratory performed testing on Medina Spirit's sample from the Kentucky Derby and determined the betamethasone detected had not been injected. NYRA's and Baffert's attorneys also questioned the trainer about previous comments in which he voiced support for the use of anabolic steroids for certain horses in the mid-2000s. He said he's opposed to them now. Churchill Downs, which hosts the Kentucky Derby, has suspended Baffert for two years. NYRA is pursuing a suspension by charging that Baffert's actions have threatened the integrity of horse racing and the welfare of horses, jockeys and their business. Baffert's attorneys argued that NYRA is suspending him because the organization's board members have a "personal vendetta" against him and are tired of their horses losing to his. NYRA's attorneys Thursday questioned Baffert about why he is alleging that NYRA has a conflict of interest, when he has not objected to the members of other state regulatory boards owning horses or even owning horses trained by him. Top jockeys Johnny Velazquez and Mike Smith and a former New York Gaming Commission official testified in support of Baffert Wednesday. NYRA executives described how Baffert's drug positives hurt their brand and upset their customers and bettors. A NYRA veterinarian and equine investigator discussed the organization's efforts to prevent injury to horses and monitor medications and drugs. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Town of Greenfield Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Town of Greenfield Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Town of Greenfield Show More Show Less 5 of 5 More than 50 community and political leaders gathered at a celebration of the opening of Greenfield Ambulance, the first-ever 24/7 ambulance service centered in the town of 8,200 residents. The town said it put together the new service unit by partnering with Corinth to give its residents and visitors improved emergency response times. Present were: State Sen. Daphne Jordan, Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh, Greenfield Town Supervisor Kevin Veitch, Saratoga Chamber President Todd Shimkus, Corinth Town Supervisor Eric Butler, Greenfield Ambulance Director Matt Fogarty and former Greenfield Town Supervisor Daniel Pemrick, who recently retired after 39 years of service to the town, among others. Photos provided by Jenn Ginley This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TROY The Capital Regions Ukrainian American community is worried about relatives in Ukraine and the lack of a more robust response by the U.S. and NATO as Russian troops continue to mass along the Ukrainian border. Writing to senators and congressmen, social media campaigns, prayers and planning possible public demonstrations are what Ukrainian Americans have been doing to bolster support for Ukraine as it prepares for a possible Russian invasion. We feel like were sitting on a powder keg with the fuse lit, said Dr. Andrij Baran, president of the Capital Region branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of North America, who also speaks on behalf of the Ukrainian-American Cultural Center, based in Watervliet. Its almost playing back the horrors of Stalin, said Baran, a cardiologist in Saratoga Springs with relatives in Ukraine. Ukrainians have historically suffered from actions by other countries, Baran said, citing the Ukrainian famine during the 1930s when Josef Stalin ruled the Soviet Union and the invasion by Nazi Germany under Adolph Hitler during World War II. Ukraine declared its independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. For many Capital Region residents of Ukrainian descent, Vladimir Putins moves against Ukraine are a never-ending rerun of his aggression against the country. Being born in the States, I was brought up as a patriot for Ukraine and Ukrainians. Ive got family there, said Peter Fil, first vice chairman of the Ukrainian-American Cultural Center and an assistant professor of applied technologies at Hudson Valley Community College. Putins at it again. Hes that annoying bully, Fil said. Its going to take you back to World War II. Its serious for the rest of the world. Ukrainians have had a long presence in the Capital Region. Ukrainian immigrants first settled in Troy, Watervliet and Cohoes in the 1880s. Thats where their churches are located and traditionally their cultural institutions. In South Troy, where Third and Fourth streets come together, Ukrainian heritage is honored with a monument erected in 1988 to Taras Shevchenko, the bard of Ukraine, in a city park named Taras Shevchenko Place. Just north of the park at 376 Third St. is St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which opened in 1897, 11 years after the first Ukrainians arrived in Troy. St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Watervliet and St. Peter and St. Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Cohoes also serve the Ukrainian community. Were praying for peace. Were praying for Ukraine, said Father Vasyl Dovgan, pastor of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Dovgan also said it was Putins machinations that were causing the strife and raising the potential for worse things to happen. Wednesday was a day of prayer for Ukraine. Pope Francis called for the prayers and was joined by the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops in doing so. Ukrainian churches also marked the day of prayer. The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, the largest representative of Americans of Ukrainian descent, has publicized what is happening and urged Ukrainian Americans to lobby on behalf of the country to get military and diplomatic support so it can stand up to Russia. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. There are an estimated 8,218 people who identify as being of Ukrainian descent in the greater Capital Region out of 140,637 across New York state, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. There are an estimated 1.01 million people who identify as Ukrainian in the U.S., the bureau reported in 2019. Russian threats to invade Ukraine have seized hold of these Americans. Everybody in the Ukrainian community is talking about it. Thats what were watching on the news, Fil said. Putins threatening stance toward Ukraine would lead to cultural devastation in the country should Russia successfully invade, Bagan said. He would want to abolish the Catholic and Orthodox Ukrainian churches, Bagan said. Ukrainians are happy to see the U.S., Great Britain and Canada taking actions, but want to see France and Germany stand up, Bagan said. You have to take clear action, Bagan said to send a message to Putin. Ukraine is going to fight. This is not going to go away, Bagan said. Local Ukrainian Americans have relatives in areas such as the Crimean Penninsula, which Russia invaded and annexed in 2014 under Putin, Fil said. It still bothers them. Ive been to Ukraine. I know the people. Thats where the U.S. and NATO have to step in and let Russia know they wont back down, Fil said. The U.S., NATO, they have to get their act together and send a strong message. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY - The University of Albany now has a team of storm chasers. While the schools atmospheric sciences program is well-established, they are going mobile this winter with a trio of trucks that, starting next week, will be chasing storms along the New York-Canada border. Its a bit different from what some may think of when the topic of storm chasers comes up. Unlike the motley crew chasing tornadoes through the Great Plains, as depicted in the 1996 movie Twister, or the countless amateur tornado chasers who end up on reality TV, these atmospheric scientists dont go tearing through the countryside. That would be hard to do in a 24,000-pound truck hauling an eight-foot wide radar antenna and a 55-foot telescopic mast with wind meters and other devices. This vehicle, known as Doppler on wheels finds a spot near the edge of what could become a freezing rainstorm rather than a tornado. The operators then stop the truck, turn on the radar, release sensing balloons and monitor other devices in an attempt to get a clear picture of the rainstorms inner workings: the pressure gradients, temperature swings and levels of moisture content. That will help create a predictive model for future freezing rainstorms. As it turns out, the area between Plattsburgh and Montreal is to freezing rain what Tornado Alley, is to tornadoes in the Plains States of the U.S. Its a function of geography and topography, explained Justin Minder, a UAlbany associate professor of atmospheric sciences. Warmer air flowing up the upper Hudson Valley and along Lake Champlain collides with colder air coming down the St. Lawrence River in Canada, frequently around Montreal, causing the warm/cold air layers that causes this rain to hit the ground in the form of ice. That effect is concentrated by a funnel effect from the Adirondack and Green mountains to the south and the Laurentian mountains north of Montreal. Its kind of this broad valley, Minder said of the flat area around Montreal as well as Plattsburgh and the tip of northwestern Vermont. This area has more freezing rain events than anywhere else in North America except for eastern Newfoundland, Canada. As a result the greater Montreal area sees frequent headaches with slick roads, even road closures due to freezing rain, not to mention the outages that can come with icy power lines. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. In fact, scientists noted the calamitous 1998 ice storm that paralyzed parts of Quebec and northern New York, when applying to the National Science Foundation for the $3.6 million grant that is funding this study in partnership with Canadian researchers. UAlbany was a natural choice to participate due its proximity to northern New York, its large atmospheric program and its operation of the states Mesonet, or series of networked on-the-ground weather stations across the state. Combining Mesonet data with what the radar trucks find will help build their models which should eventually inform safety decisions and storm preparation. Once they have good models, transportation agencies in Montreal and other areas of Quebec and northern New York should better predict when an ice storm is coming and if more road treatment or even closures are warranted. Utility companies will also get a better idea of when to go on alert. In addition to the radar truck on display at UAlbany Friday, two others will be stationed in Quebec. And Canadian researchers will use a twin engine turboprop plane to follow, observe and measure the freezing rainstorms from above. ALBANY On Dec. 10, Gov. Kathy Hochul broke from her whirlwind schedule in New York and flew to New Orleans for a meeting of the Democratic Governors Association. Even 1,400 miles away from the Empire State, Hochul did something on the brief trip that had become a feature of her days back home: She held a campaign fundraiser hosted by someone with business interests before New Yorks government. The French Quarter event was at the apartment of Howard Glaser, a former top aide to ex-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo who now works in the gambling industry. His clients have included Las Vegas Sands, the casino giant; at least one official from the company is said to have attended the fundraiser, and donated $5,000. An especially generous Hochul supporter, the powerful lobbyist David Weinraub, donated $5,000 the same day. Weinraub, who represents Las Vegas Sands, has been pressing Hochuls office to legalize lucrative casino licenses in the New York City area, according to state records. Since August, Weinraub has donated $39,000 to the governor, and his firm, Brown & Weinraub, held a high-dollar fundraiser for her in October and has given an additional $16,000. Neither Las Vegas Sands nor Glaser would comment on their interactions with Hochul at the New Orleans fundraiser, including whether they pushed her to legalize downstate casino gambling. But in her state budget unveiled in mid-January, Hochul proposed paving the way for the state to allow three new casinos in New York and for the first time, they would likely be located downstate. As Hochul has raised campaign funds at the fastest clip in New York history nearly $22 million between her inauguration in August and this month donors have not always gotten the results they sought. But with enough cash to hire a lobbyist and attend a high-dollar fundraiser, many interest groups enjoyed the opportunity to directly speak to New York governments most powerful person. State Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy recently accused Hochul of raising $21.9 million "by selling state government out her back door." But lobbying firm fundraisers are a longstanding, bipartisan practice in Albany, albeit one that Hochul has accelerated. As Hochul was furiously fundraising this fall, the effort was widely viewed a response to the threat posed by state Attorney General Letitia James in the Democratic primary for governor. James, who struggled to meet Hochul's historic pace, dropped out of the race on Dec. 9. In a recent Times Union editorial board meeting, Hochul stated she was motivated to exceed the $18 million in remaining campaign cash in Cuomo's war chest, calling it "the biggest threat against me." Hochul also acknowledged she didn't have an indication whether Cuomo would try run for governor this year. The scandal-scarred Cuomo has given no indication that he's running. "It's a horse race, and people are looking at me like, 'Does she have what it takes?'" Hochul said. "Literally, I've been written off from the very beginning, and I had a lot to prove. ... I need to have the resources to go the distance." Hochuls unprecedented numbers, according to those familiar with the autumn push, relied partly on aggressive tactics employed by her team, such as setting a $250,000 fundraising minimum to secure her attendance at major lobbying firm events. She is also said to navigate the events artfully, working the room and following up personally with some donors and attendees a longstanding practice in New York's political spectrum. Before Hochul attended a Manhattan campaign fundraiser on Dec. 8, the law firm hosting the event, Feuerstein Kulick, touted access to the governor as an explicit selling point. In pitching the event to players in the cannabis industry, the law firm advertised the chance to get one on one time with the governor," according to a person with knowledge of the law firms outreach. (A spokesman for Feuerstein Kulick denied that the outreach had been made, or that anyone at the event privately met with Hochul.) In a Dec. 1 email to clients who are hoping to land licenses to sell recreational marijuana, an attorney for the New York City law firm wrote that attending might provide them access to the governors staff throughout the (licensing) application process. Hochul promised a new era of transparency on her first day as governor; her campaign declined to answer nearly all questions for this story. The governors senior campaign adviser, Abby Erwin, declined to comment on the governors interactions with specific donors, or whether Hochul campaign aides ever take notes documenting donors requests of the governor made at fundraisers. She would not say if, since her swearing-in in August, Hochul has attended any one-on-one meetings with donors at the office of a lobbying firm. Hochuls campaign spokesman, Jerrel Harvey, said the fundraising events "are organized and attended solely by campaign staff members and contributions have no influence on government decisions, nor does anyone on the campaign advocate for donors to the administration. It is not unusual or improper for the governor to briefly speak with attendees at her events, and she appreciates the widespread support from all across New York." While Hochul's campaign says it never advocates for donors to her administration, the campaign did not say whether donors' concerns are ever forwarded to state officials. According to campaign records and people with knowledge of the matter, between Hochul becoming governor on Aug. 24 and mid-January, she held a dozen fundraisers thrown by lobbying firms with significant Albany operations. Around the time Hochul attended a small campaign fundraiser thrown by the prominent lobbying firm Dickinson & Avella, some of the firms clients who cut five-figure checks reported directly lobbying Hochul and confirmed that discussions about state business occurred at the event. In a New York City restaurant on Oct. 26, Hochul went from table to table, listening to executives interests and concerns for a few minutes each. The setup mirrored some of the other lobbying firm events. Among the attendees at the Dickinson & Avella event was John Witkowski, president and CEO of the state Independent Bankers Association, which represents community banks and gave Hochul $10,000. A day before the fundraiser, Dickinson lobbyist William Crowell had written a letter on behalf of the IBA to Hochuls governmental counsel, Elizabeth Fine. The letter urged Hochul to sign a bill on the governors desk that would expand the requirements of the state Community Reinvestment Act which already covered community banks to non-depository lenders. During that same time period, Crowell reported directly lobbying Hochul herself concerning a state bill on community banking on behalf of the IBA. Six days after the fundraiser, Hochul signed the bill. Witkowski told the Times Union that he had not discussed the pending bill with Hochul at the fundraiser. He added he did bring up the idea of a state bank, terming the discussion "simple, 30,000-foot-level stuff." Crowell, the Dickinson lobbyist, figured into another action taken by Hochul soon after the fundraiser. As the Times Union previously reported, less than two weeks later, Hochul vetoed a bill creating an office to fight for residential utility consumers and certain language in Hochuls veto message mirrored an opposition memo that had been written by Crowell. The Oct. 26 donations included $10,000 from another Dickinson & Avella client, the New York State Builders Association, which reported concurrently lobbying Hochul on a bill making it easier for homeowners to build accessory dwelling units small, independent residential units located on the same lot as a primary residence. Lewis Dubuque, executive vice president of the Builders Association, confirmed he spoke to Hochul at the fundraiser about the bill, which he opposed due to a provision protecting tenants against unwarranted evictions a poison pill, in his view. But Dubuque said he strongly supports a measure contained in Hochuls State of the State proposal permitting accessory dwelling units in single-family neighborhoods, which would be a boon for the homebuilders he represents. He didn't consider the event any different from any other fundraiser: Hochul "was out in public shaking hands, a meet-and-greet." Craig Antell, a physician who has started the cannabis company State of Mind LLC, donated $5,000 on Nov. 17. Dickinson & Avella later reported lobbying Hochuls office on behalf of the company, which will likely seek a marijuana license in New York. Antell did not respond to a call seeking comment. Firm partner Christina Dickinson, who declined to comment, was a deputy counsel for state Senate Democrats before leaving the chamber in 2008; her partner, Michael Avella, is a former longtime chief counsel for state Senate Republicans, and left the body the same year. In 2015, Avellas work for an Arizona-based company was an element in the federal corruption case against former Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, who was convicted on federal corruption charges. Avella was not accused of wrongdoing. The Albany-based firm also represents Delaware North the gaming and hospitality company where Hochuls husband is a high-ranking executive. In October, Hochul signed a memorandum recusing herself "to the greatest extent permitted by law" from matters related to the company. Cannabis conflict In late September, Dickinson began working as a lobbyist for the major Boston-based cannabis company Ascend Wellness Holdings. Even by Albany standards, the terms of the lobbying contract were extraordinary: The company is paying $30,000 a month to the lobbying firm, roughly double what would typically be considered a generous lobbying retainer. But Ascend needed fast action from New York cannabis regulators as it faced a pressing deadline for a deal that would see the company take majority ownership of medical cannabis license holder MedMen NY. The paperwork requesting state approvals had been languishing since it was submitted in March to the Department of Health, which used to oversee the industry. In a phone call with shareholders on Nov. 11, Ascend Wellness CEO Abner Kurtin addressed the tight time frame: The company needed state approval of the deal by Dec. 31, or MedMen could pull out, which the license holder ultimately attempted to do. Our extreme focus is to get this deal closed by year end, Kurtin said during the call. And we think we're in a good position to do that. But the matter did not make it onto the agenda of the newly appointed state Cannabis Control Board at its initial meetings in October or November. In the final weeks of last year, Dickinson & Avella reported lobbying top officials at the Office of Cannabis Management on behalf of Ascend, including on matters related to finalizing the deal. Another firm that held a Hochul campaign fundraiser, Mercury Public Affairs, reported lobbying the office for Ascend multiple times in late 2021, including about the pending transfer of MedMen's license. Ascend and two of its subsidiaries gave Hochul three checks worth $15,000 on Oct. 28 two days after the Dickinson & Avella fundraiser. Greenberg Traurig, a lobbying and law firm now representing Ascend in litigation with MedMen, held its own high-dollar Hochul fundraiser on the same day the donations were recorded. According to Ascend, the company did not attend the Dickinson & Avella fundraiser. But an Ascend spokesman would not say whether anyone from the company attended the Greenberg Traurig event. No evidence has yet been presented that the company's donations resulted in pressure being exerted on cannabis regulators to issue the approvals necessary to force MedMen to keep its end of the deal. A spokesman for the Office of Cannabis Management, Freeman Klopott, refused to say whether Hochuls campaign had reached out to the office concerning the acquisition or its deadline. After initially declining to answer the question last week, Hochul's campaign said on Friday that "no one from the campaign contacted the Office of Cannabis Management." Now, Ascend and MedMen are locked in an acrimonious legal battle that began earlier this month when MedMen sought to void the $73 million agreement. Ascend said the companies gained the necessary state approvals for the acquisition by the Dec. 31 deadline. In a recently filed counterclaim, an attorney for MedMen alleged state cannabis regulators bent to political pressure and undue influence from Ascend, and falsely claimed the companies had final approval though the process was incomplete. While some statements in MedMens Jan. 24 counterclaim regarding Ascends lobbying and fundraiser attendance appear to be based on hearsay and were flatly denied by Ascend and the Hochul administration others are based on MedMens direct experience, and sworn to under penalty of perjury. Among them was a set of claims about their interaction with Richard Zahnleuter, the general counsel for the Office of Cannabis Management. On Dec. 16, the state Cannabis Control Board which oversees the Office of Cannabis Management and issues final determination about state marijuana policies issued what it termed a conditional approval of the transaction between MedMen and Ascend. The boards resolution said the approval was contingent on a review by the Office of Cannabis Managements staff for compliance with state law and regulations. According to MedMens filing, on Dec. 27, Zahnleuter told MedMen during a phone call that the office had only recently begun to consider the application, and requested further information. Asked how long the review would take, Zahnleuter allegedly estimated 30 to 60 days. But on the evening of Dec. 29, Zahnleuter sent an email stating that the Cannabis Control Boards Dec. 16 resolution constituted final approval by the board for the purposes of closing the transaction and transferring the license. Ascend then put out a press release with that same language, which MedMen said it did not consent to. In a final phone call with MedMen on Dec. 31, the company said Zahnleuter admitted over the phone that he had been pressured to send the email. These allegations are false, OCM spokesman Freeman Klopott said on Thursday. Landlords' largesse New York Citys powerful real estate industry has emerged as huge a donor to Hochul, and some of its leading players have reported directly lobbying Hochul since she became governor. That includes Related Companies. In November, its CEO Jeff Blau gave Hochul a maximum donation of nearly $70,000. So did the companys chairman, Stephen Ross. According to lobbying records, Related Companies directly lobbied Hochul in November or December, and discussed matters such as economic and development policies. The company did not respond to a request for comment. On Sept. 14, Hochul attended the executive board meeting of the Real Estate Board of New York, which represents Related and other major New York City developers. Before the meeting, Hochul held two campaign-related private events." REBNY declined to say if the group had held a fundraiser for the governor. The commercial office giant Vornado reported directly lobbying Hochul late last year, but said on Friday that her inclusion in the lobbying filing was an administrative error. The Vornado spokeswoman declined to comment on whether company executives had met with Hochul since she became governor. Two Vornado trustees, David Mandelbaum and Russell Wight, each gave Hochul the maximum of nearly $70,000 on Nov. 1. Hochul is going forward with a huge commercial development around Penn Station in Manhattan that will allow 10 "supertall" towers to be built. The plan would greatly benefit Vornado, which owns much of the development zone. Cuomo had first pursued the idea. Hochuls plan reduces the size of the towers making up the development, but not their number. Hochul outlined the revised plan on Nov. 3 two days after the Vornado trustees' donations. And in December, Vornado founder Steven Roth gave the maximum of nearly $70,000. In a Nov. 2 earnings call, Roth said the company was very, very, very optimistic that the new government leaders at the city and state will be constructive, will be business-friendly and will recognize that the Penn district is something that requires and demands their attention. And we believe we will get that, Roth said. This is a PERFECT political promise because it demands BILLIONS in taxpayer funding but offers no proof of delivery. Meanwhile, corproate welfare for the elite is secured as just one component of a bigger plan intended to create social justice. For the record . . . THIS IS THE MOST SHAMELESS SCHEME IN KANSAS CITY HISTORY AND IF LOCAL VOTERS ARE DUMB ENOUGH TO LET IT PASS THEN WE DESERVE TO GO BANKRUPT!!! Moreover . . . Losing the Royals would be a small price to pay in order to prevent this town from going the way of Detroit. Here's the pitch . . . The Imagine Downtown KC plan aims to reflect the diversity of Kansas Citys people, combat systemic racism, invest in disenfranchised communities, and create an excellent experience for all with design, arts, culture, and a strong economy. The best strategic plans feature a quality they dont teach you in business school, says Lynn Carlton, the chair of the Downtown Council. Its fueled with compassion, fueled by human experience, and passion to create equitable, inclusive, and vibrant urban place. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . This week deadly shootings send the Kansas City homicide count back to a record pace at the outset of the new year. As of this writing we're already ahead of last year's pace . . . Which was the 2nd deadliest year in KCMO history. The first report on the murder . . . Homicide 30th and Van Brunt On todays date around 6:15 PM, officers were dispatched to the BP gas station at 30th and Van Brunt on a reported shooting. Upon arrival they found a male in the parking lot who had been shot. Officers began lifesaving measures. EMS responded and pronounced the victim deceased. We do not have any suspect information at this time Detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to the scene and are actively canvassing for witnesses and processing the scene for evidence. If you have any information please call the Homicide unit at 234-5043. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call the TIPS hotline at 474-TIPS, with up to a $25,000 reward for an arrest in this case. ############################ Here's the TKC MSM news collection . . . 1 shot to death Thursday night near 30th, Van Brunt Boulevard KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Police in Kansas City, Missouri, are investigating the city's latest homicide on Thursday night. One person died in a shooting near East 30th Terrace and Van Brunt Boulevard. The incident happened around 6:15 p.m. No suspect information or any additional details on the shooting were immediately available. KCPD investigating homicide near 30th & Van Brunt KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The Kansas City Police Department is investigating a homicide that happened on Thursday night. According to the KCPD, it happened near E. 30th Terrace and Van Brunt Boulevard. The KCPD notified the media they were headed to the area shortly before 7 p.m. Kansas City police investigate a homicide near 30th, Van Brunt Kansas City police said they are investigating a homicide Thursday evening near 30th Street and Van Brunt Boulevard.Police were called to the area about 6:15 p.m. on a reported shooting.Authorities have not released any other details. Refresh this page for updates. Kansas City police said they are investigating a homicide Thursday evening near 30th Street and Van Brunt Boulevard. Kansas City police investigating homicide near 30th and Van Brunt KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri police are on the scene following a deadly shooting Thursday night. The shooting was reported just after 6 p.m. at the BP gas station near E. 30th Terrace and Van Brunt Boulevard. When officers arrived on scene they found a man in the parking lot who had been shot. Developing . . . As always, this quick post we round up more than a few pending and decided court cases, mugshots, police reports and ALLEGED misdeeds. As always, we try to finish with a bit of hope . . . Check the TKC collection . . . Kansas state Rep. Aaron Coleman charged after November arrest LAWRENCE, Kan. - Months later, Kansas state Rep. Aaron Coleman is now facing charges after an arrest in November in Douglas County. The Democratic lawmaker from Kansas City, Kansas, has been charged with two traffic infractions: speeding and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper arrested him Nov. Kansas City man pleads guilty to leading an arson-for-profit ring It took years for federal and state investigators to catch up to 40-year-old Wandale J. Fulton, but now he will spend at least ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty Thursday in federal court in Kansas City, Missouri. Fulton and five others were named in a 21-count indictment in August 2020. Paola man pleads 'no contest' to 2018 murder charge in Johnson County OLATHE, KS (KCTV) -- A man who is accused of stabbing and killing a man in Shawnee in 2018 has pleaded no contest to his murder charge. Vincenzo Lucasta of Paola submitted his plea Wednesday to a charge of Second Degree Intentional Murder in the death of David Paterno. Family speaks out after man shot, killed on 40 Highway in Independence INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - The family of a 23-year-old man found shot inside a vehicle last week in Independence, Missouri said his murder is pure evil. Riley Youngblood's family is still trying to process what led to his death. They say Youngblood will be remembered for his giving nature and the gifts he gave after his death. Man sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping patient while working as nurse in Independence JACKSON COUNTY, MO (KCTV) -- A man who was a nurse at an Independence hospital has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping a patient of his. According to the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office, Chukwuemeka U. Emmanuel was convicted in November of first-degree rape or attempted rape after a bench trial. 7 Missourians indicted in catalytic converter theft ring SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A federal grand jury has indicted seven southwest Missouri residents who allegedly stole thousands of catalytic converters and sold them to an Arkansas company for millions of dollars, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. The thefts have increased dramatically in the Springfield area for the last two years, U. Thieves steal van from Shawnee animal rescue organization Thieves have hit a nonprofit pet shelter in Shawnee for the second time in six months. This time, thieves made off with its only form of transportation."We were hoping maybe a volunteer showed up early but that was not the case," said Kaitlin Thompson, of Melissa's Second Chances.It's been a difficult year for Melissa's Second Chances pet shelter in Shawnee."Why would somebody steal from an animal shelter?" Car salesman who survived being shot talks about delayed justice in his case A Kansas City man is facing nearly two decades in prison for his role in a botched robbery in Grandview. He's a career criminal but it still took nearly seven years before he was sentenced.The man who survived the shooting talks about moving on and delayed justice."I remember it very vividly," Michael Mitchell said.Mitchell said he remembers the day too well. Officers Recover Firearms, Arrest Suspects From Car Break-Ins Saturday night, Jan. 22, officers chased down and caught three suspects for numerous car break-ins in the Westport area.They recovered multiple firearms in the arrests & charges are pending. Developing . . . Despite a great deal of cheering from local media, let's share an inconvenient reminder . . . Mayor Q has already lost a fight over police funding and now he's starting a battle that's even more hopeless with the Missouri state government. It's easy for our progressive friends to cheer tough talk against the Missouri Republican super majority. However . . . Objectively, Democratic Party leaders across the state are wondering if the mayor isn't wasting time, money and votes by putting himself in opposition to law enforcement leadership. MAYOR Q GETTING SMACKED DOWN IN COURT AGAIN BY WAY OF A DOOMED DEFUND BATTLE HURTS MISSOURI DEMOCRATS AND KANSAS CITY!!! Sadly, this isn't a problem that the mayor can solve with a few tweets and photo-op ride-alongs . . . Democratic Party leadership have already warned that "defund the police" is a losing cause and something that should be avoided. Sadly, among local voters the mayor hasn't found a way to avoid getting boxed in to this unproductive battle . . . And now the fight threatens to eat up more of the KC budget than most residents realize. Take a look . . . "The money would come from an unappropriated portion of the citys general fund. It would enable the city to hire outside attorneys to combat the proposed law, which was sponsored by Republican Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, whose district includes Platte and Buchanan counties. "The bill would hike the amount that Kansas City is required to allocate to the KCPD from 20% to 25% of the citys general revenues. It also contains language broadly defining the citys general revenue as revenue that can include special taxes, fees and other sources of funding." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . . Brevard, NC (28712) Today Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. 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: Dorsett Automotive South Africa: Digital learning is required now, not in the future Motshekga The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that digital learning is required now, not in the future, says Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga. Delivering closing remarks at the end of the three-day Basic Education Sector Lekgotla held at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Motshekga said there is a need to provide all learners with the necessary assistive devices, increased human resources and ICTs for learning, teaching, and school management. Commission three on ICT, Digitisation, e-Education Management, Distance Learning, and Online Schools has developed a SMART Action Plan, which I fully support. As a department, we must spare neither courage nor expense in leading the finalisation of the ICT in Education Strategy, Motshekga said on Friday. The Minister emphasised that before this term of office comes to an end, every teacher must be in possession of a laptop provided by the department. As mandated by the President, every child must have learning materials on a digital device. In the meantime, we must speed up the digitalisation of the Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) in all subjects and grades. As part of the architecture, the design of online programmes must be available in sign language, Motshekga said. She added that there must be wall-to-wall connectivity and data availability as recommended by the commission in all basic education offices throughout the country. Advocating for children with disabilities The Minister has called on the education sector not tire in advocating throughout society for learners with disabilities not to be stigmatised and harassed. All mainstream schools must be revamped to be friendly to learners with disabilities. I hope our communications team takes up this advocacy campaign to end the stigma and mainstream all our learners, Motshekga said. In addition, the sector must ensure that there is early intervention to support learners with learning disabilities as soon as they start Grade R. As part of fighting to end the stigma, we must all drive the message that young people with disabilities who drop out must return to schools or those who are not yet enrolled to do so. Strengthening the curriculum As suggested, Motshekga said the sector must embark on a curriculum strengthening process to equip learners with 21st-century skills and facilitate a more efficient transition from school to work. The strengthened curriculum must explicitly state the knowledge, skills, and competencies to be achieved. The curriculum must be inclusive to all, and schools must be appropriately resourced to teach 21st-century skills. Thus the commission is correct on the need for a curriculum redesign to highlight the skills and competencies to be achieved. Motshekga said that a task team to look at how knowledge, skills and competencies can be explicitly infused or re-packaged in Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) to equip learners transition from school to work is urgently required. She said they must reconsider the assessment regime in all grades to align with competency and skills assessment instead of content and knowledge assessment. In the meantime, we must steam ahead with a slick national advocacy campaign to explain and entice young people to engage and choose correctly from our Three Stream Model, the minister said. Rotational learning Motshekga said that apart from the existing COVID-19 recovery plans, including the trimmed curriculum grades, it is time to take the bulls by its horns. Referencing Prof Martin Gustafssons presentation, Motshekga said: We must urgently end rotational learning because some schools' 22% learning losses were primarily driven by rotational learning. She said there is a need to tighten up the system, as there are years of investment that go into these systems, such as the South African Administration and Management System (SA-SAMS) and the Learner Unit Record Information and Tracking System (LURITS). We must also, as he said, align the enrolment and attendance data. Finally, we must increase learning time by providing extra classes, attending school every day and giving learners more homework, she said. The Minister extended her gratitude to all stakeholders, speakers, commissions and her office for the work done so far. The annual national event brought together provincial education departments, teacher unions, school governing body organisations, learner organisations, non-governmental organisations, academics, international guest speakers and other stakeholders. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Indiana State University will need to make $8.4 million in cuts to its general fund budget over the next two budget years to make up for enrollment declines and a corresponding loss of student tuition revenue, according to information presented to trustees Thursday. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Send us your news, photos, and videos and let us know what's going on! Submit Here (BPT) - A significant majority of parents want to be home every night to tuck their children into bed (based on a OnePoll and Amazon Glow survey of 2,000 American parents*). Thats not always possible if you work long hours or are among the more than six million Americans who have a job that It's been two weeks since the hike of fuel prices took effect , yesterday fishermen of the G Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov met with a bipartisan delegation of the U.S. Congress in Kyiv. "Today I had the honor to welcome the bipartisan delegation of the U.S. Congress to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Our unity is our strength! Reznikov posted on Facebook. According to the minister, productive communication with the U.S. Congress members "gives hope for new U.S. legal levers to deter Russian aggression." On January 25, the delegation of the U.S. Congress members led by Gregory Meeks, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the U.S. House of Representatives, started the visits to Brussels and Kyiv. In Ukraine, the lawmakers are going to meet with government officials to discuss the security situation, strengthening the US' support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. ol At present, no events or actions of military nature, which would differ significantly from what happened last spring, are observed near Ukraines border. "At present, there are no events or actions of military nature, which would differ significantly from what happened last spring. The only difference in military terms that we are following is the situation in Belarus. What is radically different is the intensity of hybrid measures, primarily information ones, as well as the impact of these measures on the macroeconomic situation," Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov said during an hour of questions to the Government at the Verkhovna Rada, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. He noted that the Ukrainian intelligence and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces are in constant contact with international partners and have all the information. According to Reznikov, the difference in figures on the build-up of Russian troops near Ukraines border covered, especially in the international media, is due to the fact that Ukraine uses data on the area of Russian military concentration of up to 200 km. These data more accurately reflect the trends, the minister said. As reported, on December 5, 2021, Defense Minister Reznikov stated that the total number of Russian troops near Ukraines border could increase to 175,000. On January 19, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov said that Russia would need a million troops to plan a full-scale ground operation. As of now, there are about 127,000 Russian troops, including the ground component of 106,000, near Ukraines border. Danilov considers the current situation "uncritical". ol Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov has called the international military assistance to Ukraine very optimistic. "I can't say the exact amount we received in aid, but I can say that it is more optimistic than the media reports," Reznikov said at the Verkhovna Rada, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The minister also noted that the Ukrainian side was following the passage of six large landing ships from the Northern and Baltic Fleets of the Russian Federation which had entered the Mediterranean Sea and may enter the Black Sea. "We know which marine units are on board, and the US Navy's aircraft carrier group knows this even better," Reznikov said. In addition, the minister added that "the number of modern anti-tank weapons that our military has today Stuhna, Korsar, Jevelin and other systems exceeds significantly the number of potential targets." "We are already receiving aircraft with US aid under a $200 million aid package, we have received Swedish-made anti-tank aid from Britain, we are now waiting for aid from the Baltic states, we are receiving financial support from the Government of Canada, the Government of Denmark and continue this work. I cannot disclose details in terms of weapons and armaments we get, but believe me, this assistance significantly bolsters our defense capabilities. As reported, Washington plans to hand over a new batch of aid to Kyiv in coming days as announced by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a briefing on January 26. On January 22, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said that the United States intended to hand over Mi-17V-5 / Mi-8MTV combat helicopters to Ukraine. ol Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen have discussed the issues of support for Ukraine's economic and financial stability. The meeting was held as part of an official visit of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister to Copenhagen on January 27, Ukrinform reports, referring to the ministrys press service. The parties agreed on further participation of Denmark in supporting the reform process in Ukraine, in particular in the framework of Danish technical assistance in the next phase of the Danish Neighbourhood Programme (DANEP) in 2022-2026. As expected, Denmark will allocate EUR 73 million for the projects in Ukraine. The interlocutors paid special attention to the possibilities for construction by Danish companies of multi-purpose vessels in Ukraine, in particular for the needs of Ukrainian border guards and rescue services. In this context, the Ukrainian and Danish parties agreed to start intergovernmental negotiations on the development of a draft bilateral agreement on shipbuilding based on Ukrainian infrastructure. iy In the near future, Canada and Ukraine will start negotiating the expansion of the current free trade agreement. In 2016, I was in Kyiv for the signing of the original free trade agreement between our two countries. And today, on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Canada and Ukraine, we are further deepening our economic partnership at a time when our support is of critical importance, Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Canada, said in Ottawa on January 27, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. As noted, Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development of Canada, met with Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraines First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, and the parties committed to further strengthening bilateral relations through trade. The ministers announced that Canada and Ukraine will proceed with negotiations on the modernization of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA), with the first round of modernization negotiations to take place as soon as feasible, the statement reads. As noted, a modernized trade agreement will further benefit workers, businesses and consumers in both countries. The modernization of CUFTA will also contribute to Ukraines stability and broad-based economic development. The Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement entered into force on August 1, 2017, and allowed for the mutual abolition or reduction of import duties on most commodity items. It was settled that the deal would be further expanded to cover services and investment. ol In January-December 2021, Ukrainian banks received UAH 77.5 billion in net profit, which is the highest in the past years. Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, Kyrylo Shevchenko said this at a round table meeting NBUs Foreign Exchange and Monetary Policy. Results and Forecasts, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. "According to the latest data, the profit of the banking system came to UAH 77.5 billion in 2021. This is the highest profit in the recent years," Shevchenko said. As Ukrinform reported, Ukrainian banks got UAH 41.3 billion in net profit in 2020, which is 29% less than in 2019. iy Europe may use Ukraine's underground gas storage facilities to stabilize potential energy crises. "Ukrainian gas storage facilities have a volume of 33 billion cubic meters, of which we use about 20-24 billion cubic meters as a rule. In any case, we can use our gas storage facilities as a gas safe deposit for European companies," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said during an hour of questions to the Government at the Verkhovna Rada, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. According to him, the European companies already keep part of their gas reserves in the Ukrainian underground storage facilities in the customs warehouse regime. At the same time, Ukraine will negotiate with Europe to make this process more systematic. According to Shmyhal, the creation of a "gas fund" on the basis of the Ukrainian underground storage facilities will help stabilize possible energy crises in the future. As reported, more than a thousand companies are already customers of the Ukrainian underground gas storage services. ol On January 27, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal had a meeting with the ambassadors of the Group of Seven (G7) and the European Union. The parties discussed a wide range of issues of cooperation and support for Ukraine in various areas, the Government portal informs. The Head of the Government of Ukraine thanked the European Union and the G7 countries for their political, financial, and military support. "In the face of international tensions, we feel the support of many countries today. We are grateful to the governments of your countries for their efforts to back reforms and democratic institutions. Strengthening Ukraine's defense capacities and increasing economic stability appear the best response to the actions of the aggressor country," Shmyhal stressed. According to the Prime Minister, the positive messages sent to Ukraine by international partners help to strengthen its position. Shmyhal noted that in November 2021 the IMF Board of Executive Directors had approved the first revision of the joint Stand-by Arrangement with Ukraine and extended its validity until the end of June this year. In addition, Ukraine intends to continue cooperation with the IMF in the framework of programs to support the implementation of reforms and direct a request to the Fund to launch a new program. Moreover, the Prime Minister stressed that Ukraine was ready to immediately begin consultations with the EU on launching a new macro-financial assistance program. Shmyhal thanked the European Commission for the announcement of a EUR 1.2 billion package of financial assistance to Ukraine. He noted that ensuring the effective activity of anti-corruption institutions, the integrity and independence of the judiciary and the prosecutor's office, and the pursuing of corporate reform were part of Ukraine's agenda. "We clearly understand the importance of the ongoing progress of reforms in Ukraine. We have consistently fulfilled all our commitments and will continue to do so. The unity of all branches of government is on our side: the President, the Government and the Parliament," the Prime Minister stressed. Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhiy Marchenko, Ambassador of Germany to Ukraine Anka Feldhusen, Ambassador of France to Ukraine Etienne de Poncins, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine Larisa Galadza-Cronin, Ambassador of Great Britain to Ukraine Melinda Simmons, Ambassador of Italy to Ukraine Pier Francesco Zazo, Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine Matti Maasikas, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy Alan Purcell took part in the meeting. Photo credit: kmu.gov.ua ol Ukraine raised the issue before the OSCE member states of the exercises held by Russian naval strike and landing groups in the Black Sea. The relevant statement was voiced at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on January 27, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Against the background of increasing military presence along the state border with Ukraine and in the occupied territories, Russia has also spread the escalation at sea. Yesterday (January 26 - ed.) Russian navy kicked off military exercises in the Black Sea, the Ukrainian delegation noted, adding that frigates, patrol, missile, and landing vessels are involved. The Ukrainian missions chief, Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk has put forward a question, what exactly are the tasks that Russia is posed to fulfill using warships as part of landing and strike groups. He pointed out that Russia continues to deploy a disproportionate number of weapons systems, including nuclear ones, in the already militarized territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea, which further undermines European security. The diplomat stressed that the events of recent months have clearly shown that Russia has taken a deliberate stance toward increasing tensions and is now again threatening Ukraine and its people with the use of force. The missions chief reiterated the fact that more than 106,000 regular and well-trained Russian servicemen have been amassed near the eastern border of Ukraine, along with 1,500 main battle tanks, 3,600 armored combat vehicles, and more than 2,000 artillery units. Moreover, these forces and hardware have been deployed there with no good reason, Tsymbaliuk told the OSCE Permanent Council. According to the Ukrainian diplomat, Russias intention to hold military exercises near the northern border of Ukraine and the transfer of Su-35 fighter jets is also worrying. He has called for transparency of the exercises, including through voluntary briefings. He also drew the attention of foreign delegations to the fact that Russia continues to strengthen the combat and offensive capabilities of its forces in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. According to Tsymbaliuk, the proposal of the Russian ruling party, United Russia, to officially supply military hardware and ammunition to certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions only proves whats long been known, that is, such supplies have never ceased. As Ukrinform reported earlier, Russias armed forces have conducted a series of exercises over the past month, including in the regions bordering Ukraine, as well as scheduled new maneuvers. They are taking place against the backdrop of rising tensions between Russia and NATO and reports of a possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia im The United States is convening an open meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday to discuss "Russia's threatening behavior against Ukraine and the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine's borders and in Belarus." This was reported by Ukrinform with reference to a statement of the U.S. envoy to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. The diplomat says the issue on the agenda is of crucial importance to international peace and security. The U.S. envoy recalled that more than 100,000 Russian troops had been deployed on the Ukrainian border, and that Russia was engaging in other destabilizing acts aimed against Ukraine, "posing a clear threat to international peace and security and the UN Charter. "As we continue our relentless pursuit of diplomacy to de-escalate tensions in the face of this serious threat to European and global peace and security, the UN Security Council is a crucial venue for diplomacy," said Thomas-Greenfield. It is also noted that the members of the Security Council should examine the facts and consider what is at stake for Ukraine, Russia, and Europe "should Russia further invade Ukraine." "This is not a moment to wait and see. The Councils full attention is needed now, and we look forward to direct and purposeful discussion on Monday," she said. im At a meeting on Thursday, the PACE approved Resolution "Ending Enforced Disappearances on the Territory of the Council of Europe," which was amended at the initiative of the Ukrainian delegation. The amendments refer to the responsibility of the Russian Federation for disappearances in the territories of Ukraine it has temporarily occupied, as reported by Ukrinform. The Assembly expresses deep concern over the unclear fate and whereabouts of the victims of enforced disappearance in the territory of the Russian Federation and territories under Russia's effective control, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions (Ukraine)," the resolution says. Read also: UN General Assembly adopts updated resolution on human rights situation in occupied Crimea The PACE also invites member states and observers who have not yet taken such measures to classify enforced disappearances as a separate crime within the framework of national criminal law and to provide for prosecution according to the gravity of the crime. Among the amendments put forward by the Ukrainian delegation and approved by the PACE is the one on developing a mechanism of sanctions that would apply to government agencies, groups, and officials involved in disappearances or obstructing their investigation. It is important to use every opportunity to remind the international community, again and again, about the situation in which Ukraine has found itself. And at the January session, as before, we did that," member of the permanent delegation of Ukraine to the PACE, Yevhenia Kravchuk, wrote on Facebook after speaking at the PACE to report on the amendments offered by the Ukrainian delegation. As Ukrinform reported earlier, yesterday in Strasbourg, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in a resolution adopted during the winter session on the ratification of the Russian delegations credentials, called on the Russian authorities to withdraw their troops from Ukrainian borders as soon as possible and cease escalating military tensions. im Turkey's National Security Council has called for easing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, urging both parties to remain prudent. That's according to a statement issued after the first meeting of the National Security Council this year, Ukrinform reports. "Mounting tensions between the Russian Federation and Ukraine were discussed. It was pointed out that this will not lead to results in anyone's favor. [The meeting participants] called on all parties to reduce tensions, being guided by prudence," the document said. It notes that the meeting of the Turkish National Security Council lasted almost five hours. President Erdogan stated earlier that Turkey had consistently supported Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. In his opinion, potential armed aggression against Ukraine would not be a "wise act" for Russia or for the region as a whole. op Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is planning to visit Ukraine on Tuesday, February 2. During the visit, he is expected to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal, Ukrinform reports, citing the news site Wpolityce.pl. "The visit of the prime minister should be a symbol of support for Ukraine," the report said. According to the report, the Polish government and Polish President Andrzej Duda are planning "many forms of support for Ukraine." This will be Morawiecki's first visit to Ukraine as Poland's prime minister. He has held this post since December 2017. Last autumn, Morawiecki met with Shmyhal as part of the Economic Forum in Karpacz. Warsaw on Friday hosts a meeting of the Polish National Security Council to discuss the tense security situation in the region. op In the U.S. Congress, there is unwavering bipartisan support for Ukraine's territorial integrity against the background of the aggressive policy pursued by the Russian Federation and the threats it poses. This was stated by Congressman Mark Green, who heads the Republican part of the bipartisan delegation of the U.S. House of Representatives that arrived on a visit to Kyiv, Ukrinform reports. "The Republicans that I lead in this (bipartisan - ed.) delegation stand firmly with our colleagues across the aisle, completely united in our support for Ukraine, for a peaceful resolution of the crisis," the congressman said. Asked by an Ukrinform correspondent whether such a bipartisan unity could be threatened by narratives spread among the Republican base, questioning the need for U.S. support for Ukraine in its standoff with Russia, Mark Green reaffirmed the united bipartisan stance of the U.S. Congress on the need to counter the Russian threat. "I am speaking on behalf of those present here and, I am sure, many other Republicans. When someone pushes troops to the borders of a NATO member, to Belarus, it changes the schedule. We are talking about another level in general (threats - ed.). We have obligations to these countries under Article 5 (UN Charter - ed.). And we will not ignore it. " Addressing Vladimir Putin, Mark Green stressed: "Mr. Putin, you have united NATO, you have united the European Union, and all, many people across the globe, and you have united the United States Congress - Democrats and Republicans are here together in a bipartisan fashion to show solidarity." As Ukrinform reported, on January 17, a delegation of the U.S. Congress with Republican senators Rob Portman, Kevin Kramer, Roger Wicker, and Democratic senators Chris Murphy, Jeanne Shaheen, Amy Klobuchar and Richard Blumenthal onboard visited Kyiv. A House bipartisan delegation led by Gregory Meeks, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, arrived in Ukraine on Thursday to meet with government officials and civil society leaders. The delegation also includes Congressmen David Cicilline, Amy Bera, Colin Allred, Chrissy Houlahan, Tom Malinowski, Sarah Jacobs, Mark Green, August Pfluger, Mikie Sherill, and Victoria Spartz. Legislation laying down new sanctions against Russia in case the Kremlin proceeds with invading Ukraine could be approved in a matter of weeks. Thats according to Rep. Gregory Meeks (D), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who heads the bipartisan delegation of congressmen on their visit to Ukraine, Ukrinform reports. Were not talking months for sure. Were talking no more than weeks, Gregory Meeks said in response to an Ukrinform correspondent's question as to how long it could take Congress to vote on the new sanctions. Well get back into session next week, well have meetings and conversations and dialogue in that regard, again, so that it is clear that our resolve is together, Rep. Meeks said, adding that he will be working with a number of other committees on armed services and intelligence, as well as talking with members of Senate, so that it is a bicameral voice also. We dont want any questions as to how we stand in regards to making sure that Mr. Putin understands the resolve of the United States of America if he dares cross that line, the House Foreign Affairs Chairman concluded. As Ukrinform reported earlier, a bill was tabled in the House, authored by a group or Republicans, that offers to grant Ukraine as a NATO Plus status. A group of Democrats then presented in Senate a bill on protecting Ukraines sovereignty set to introduce new sanctions against Russia and provide additional support to Ukraine. On January 20, Rep. Jim Banks (R) presented a bill which, among other restrictive measures, offers to disconnect Russia from SWIFT. On January 21, Gregory Meeks (D) introduced legislation providing for sanctions on Nord Stream 2, as well as personal sanctions against Vladimir Putin. On January 27, a bipartisan delegation of U.S. congressmen arrived in Ukraine on a two-day visit to meet with Ukraines top officials and civil society representatives in a show of solidarity in the face of Russian aggression. The Ukrainian Embassy in Lebanon hosted a meeting with the newly appointed leadership of the Ukrainian Community in Lebanon to discuss joint cultural projects for 2022. "We have an interesting year ahead of us. We will begin it with the traditional Ukrainian stand at the Beirut International Book Fair and the Shevchenko Festival in March and end it with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Lebanon in December, the Ukrainian embassy posted on its Facebook page, Ukrinform reports. The embassy noted that among important priorities of work for 2022 are the Ukrainian school named after Ahatanhel Krymsky in Lebanon and the creation of Ukrainian Cultural Center. iy COVID-19 vaccination has saved about 18,000 lives in Ukraine. "According to mathematical modeling data, vaccination has saved 18,000 lives in Ukraine. The same number of our compatriots died of coronavirus disease in the first year of the pandemic," Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko said during an hour of questions to the Government at the Verkhovna Rada, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Now, according to the official, half of the adult population has received one COVID-19 vaccine dose, 47% two doses, and almost a third of a million have received an additional or booster dose. According to him, the vaccination strategy for 2022 will be booster vaccination for those who received a basic vaccination course in 2021 as well as the use of triple vaccination a basic vaccination course and a booster dose for new patients. Liashko stressed that there would be no interruptions in the supply of vaccines. According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Health Minister Viktor Liashko and the Ministry of Health team are working almost day and night to fight the coronavirus. "The health minister is doing everything possible to ensure that Ukrainians have the opportunity to be vaccinated, protected against the coronavirus. The work of the minister and the entire Ministry, as well as all Ukrainian physicians today, is absolutely 24/7, Shmyhal said. As reported, according to the Ministry of Health, there are now about 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Ukraine. As previously stated by minister Liashko, Ukraine has contracted 25 million Pfizer doses and 6.5 million CoronaVac doses for 2022. It is also expected that 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses will be delivered during the year under the COVAX Facility. ol Have a great photo taken in Walla Walla Valley? We'd love to see it! One photo will be featured each Sunday. At the end of the month, there will be a vote for the best reader photo from that month. Go to the entry form Mansi Bhatt, left, and her husband, Dhaval Bhatt, outside their home in St. Peters, Missouri. When their son was seen in an emergency room in April, he was covered by an insurance plan that was provided by Dhaval Bhatt's employer and had a $3,000 deductible. (Whitney Curtis/Kaiser Health News/TNS) Want to keep omicron away? Wear a better mask, like the N95 Jennifer Ann Hancock was born Nov. 20, 1956, in Atlanta, to William Roy and Martha Jones Hancock. She went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, in Gray. She was preceded in death by her father, William Roy Hancock, and her brother, Timothy Roy Hancock, as well as grandparents Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group said Friday its chief operating officer Marcelo Claure is leaving the company, following reports that his demands for as much as $1 billion in compensation had fuelled an internal clash Tokyo, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2022 ) :Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group said Friday its chief operating officer Marcelo Claure is leaving the company, following reports that his demands for as much as $1 billion in compensation had fuelled an internal clash. The group's founder Masayoshi Son said in a statement that US-Bolivian businessman Claure, 51, "made many contributions to SoftBank" during his nine years at the firm. "We thank him for his dedication and wish him continued success in his future endeavours," said Son, Japan's richest person according to Forbes who has transformed the telecoms group into a tech investment behemoth. The statement came after Bloomberg News reported that Claure has clashed with Son in recent months as he pressed for compensation of $1 billion after making $16 million in the last fiscal year. Claure had argued he deserved more money and authority after making key contributions to the company, including the turnaround and sale of US telecom unit Sprint and the listing of troubled start-up WeWork, Bloomberg said. Michel Combes will take over Claure's responsibility for SoftBank Group International and oversee its operating and investment portfolio, the company said. In the same news release, Claure said he would "forever be grateful for my experience at SoftBank". "I am particularly grateful to Masayoshi Son, who gave me the opportunity to thrive at SoftBank and served as a mentor and friend during my tenure," he added. A SoftBank Group spokesman told AFP that Claure would be replaced by another SoftBank representative on the board of office-sharing start-up WeWork. In 2016, Son's then right-hand man Nikesh Arora quit the company just two years after being plucked from a high-profile job at Google, with SoftBank citing a "difference of expected timelines" for succession. Later, Son admitted his desire to hang on to power a little longer had pushed away the former US tech executive seen as his heir apparent. Miami, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2022 ) :The US Coast Guard said Thursday it will soon call off the search for dozens of people missing from a boat that capsized off Florida last weekend in a suspected human smuggling tragedy. Search teams have recovered five bodies, from around 40 people who were on the boat, according to the military branch. Coast Guard captain Jo-Ann Burdian said that if the force does not receive new information to narrow its search, active search efforts will end at sunset Thursday. "Unfortunately we've come to the most difficult time in any search and rescue case and that is the point at which we decide when to cease actively searching," Burdian told a news conference. Four of the bodies were recovered in the past 24 hours. One person is known to have survived. The Coast Guard sounded the alarm Tuesday morning after receiving a report from a commercial boat that had rescued that man clinging to a capsized vessel. As the search proceeded this week, hopes for the missing people -- stranded in cold Atlantic waters with no life jackets or supplies -- dwindled. The boat left Bimini in the Bahamas on Saturday and capsized the next morning after hitting rough seas 45 miles (65 kilometers) east of the city of Fort Pierce, the Coast Guard said Wednesday. Burdian has said the failed journey was considered a suspected human smuggling venture, as it occurred along a route commonly used for such clandestine trips from the Bahamas to the United States. The one man who survived said there were 39 other people onboard and no one was wearing a life jacket. Human smugglers are known to use the Bahamas -- a group of islands near the Florida coast -- as a jumping off point for getting people, many from other Caribbean countries such as Haiti, into the United States. Bimini, the westernmost district of the Bahamas and its closest point to the US mainland, is approximately 130 miles from Fort Pierce Inlet. - Hazardous voyage - Late Tuesday the Coast Guard intercepted a sail freighter packed with 191 people, reportedly all Haitian, 40 miles southwest of Great Inagua in the Bahamas, due to "safety of life at sea concerns." "The Coast Guard maintains a persistent presence patrolling the waters around Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, to help prevent loss of life on the high seas," David Steele, Coast Guard liaison officer at the US Embassy in Haiti, said in a statement. "These grossly overloaded vessels operate without proper safety equipment and are not built for these hazardous voyages." On Friday, 32 people were rescued after a boat capsized five miles west of Bimini in another suspected human smuggling attempt, according to the US Coast Guard and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. Spikes in the number of people trying to reach the United States from the Caribbean have accompanied upheavals in the region. US authorities noted an increase in migration from Cuba by sea in recent months. In July, the country saw scores of demonstrations triggered by economic strife, medical and food shortages and anger at the government. Miami, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2022 ) :The United States Coast Guard ended its search for over 30 missing people on Thursday, after a boat capsized off the Florida coast last weekend in a suspected human smuggling tragedy. Search teams had earlier recovered five bodies from around 40 people who were on the boat, before Coast Guard captain Jo-Ann Burdian announced the rescue operation had been called off. The decision was made "with much regret" after taking into account the weather conditions, the absence of life jackets on the boat and the time elapsed since the incident, Burdian said in a statement. The Coast Guard sounded the alarm morning after a man clinging to a capsized vessel was rescued on Tuesday. He told authorities he had left the Bimini Islands in the Bahamas on Saturday with 39 others, none of whom were wearing life jackets. As the search proceeded this week, hopes for the missing people -- stranded in cold Atlantic waters with no life jackets or supplies -- dwindled with Burdian saying on Wednesday there was little hope of finding survivors. Burdian has said the failed journey was suspected to be a human smuggling venture, as it occurred along a route commonly used for such clandestine trips from the Bahamas to the United States. Human smugglers are known to use the Bahamas -- a group of islands near the Florida coast -- as a jumping-off point for getting people, many from other Caribbean countries such as Haiti, into the United States. Bimini, the westernmost district of the Bahamas and its closest point to the US mainland, is approximately 130 miles from Fort Pierce Inlet. Mumbai, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2022 ) :Google will invest up to $1 billion in India's second-largest mobile operator, Airtel, the companies said Friday, as the Android-maker looks to bolster its presence in the vast nation's booming telecoms market. The global tech giant will buy a $700 million stake in billionaire Sunil Mittal's Bharti Airtel, giving it 1.28 percent ownership, the firms said in a joint statement. Up to $300 million more will be invested in "mutually agreeable" commercial projects over the next five years, including exploring opportunities to "bring down the barriers of owning a smartphone" in the price-conscious market. "We are proud to partner on a shared vision for expanding connectivity and ensuring equitable access to the internet for more Indians," Sundar Pichai, the Indian-born chief executive of Google parent Alphabet said in a statement. Google already holds a 7.7-percent stake in Indian market leader Reliance Jio, owned by Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, following a $4.5-billion investment in 2020. The two companies collaborated on a 4G-enabled, low-cost smartphone that launched in November last year. Jio has been locked in fierce competition with Airtel and British telecoms giant Vodafone's local unit Vi since it kicked off a price war in 2016 by offering dirt-cheap internet and free calls. Rabat, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2022 ) :Morocco on Thursday inaugurated construction of an anti-Covid vaccine manufacturing plant in partnership with Swedish firm Recipharm, the official news agency MAP reported. The factory to be known as Sensyo Pharmatech will produce vaccines against coronavirus and other diseases, with production expected to reach 116 million units in 2024, MAP said. It was launched in Benslimane, a region of Morocco's economic hub Casablanca during a ceremony attended by King Mohammed VI, it said. The plant will need investments of between 400-500 million Euros ($445 million-$557 million). It is aimed at ensuring vaccine "self-sufficiency" for the North African kingdom, MAP said. Its goal is to make, between 2022 and 2025, "active substances for more than 20 vaccines, three of which would be against coronavirus... to cover 70 percent of the kingdom's needs and more than 60 percent of needs across Africa", the agency said. Morocco is already producing the Chinese anti-Covid Sinopharm vaccine, with more than three million doses being made per month. By next month it plans on producing five million doses and more than 20 million by the end of the year. Home to 36 million inhabitants, Morocco is hoping that its vaccination drive will help eradicate Covid-19. More than 23 million people have already received a second dose against coronavirus, according to the health ministry. Authorities hope to vaccinate 80 percent of the population with either Sinopharm or Pfizer-BioNTech. In July, Recipharm said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Morocco and a consortium of the country's leading banks to build a factory to produce vaccines and biotherapeutics in the kingdom. As part of the deal, it said in a statement at the time, $500 million would be invested into the project by the Moroccan government and consortium. "The investment is primarily to supply the African continent and help it gain vaccine sovereignty and access to future biotherapeutics," it said. Hasakeh, Syria, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2022 ) :Kurdish-led forces on Thursday found dozens of militants holed up in a Syrian prison during mop-up operations after recapturing the facility from Islamic State group fighters. An IS assault on the sprawling Ghwayran prison complex near the city of Hasakeh on January 20 sparked six days of fighting, in violence that claimed at least 235 lives. It was the most high-profile attack launched by the militants since the loss of their "caliphate" nearly three years ago. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said they had retaken full control of Ghwayran prison on Wednesday, ending battles that turned northeastern Syria's largest city into a war zone. But search operations the next day found around 60-90 militants still holed up in one wing of the prison, the SDF said, adding that 3,500 IS members had so far surrendered to its troops. "Our forces have made a call for safe surrender... and in case they did not surrender, we will deal with them firmly," said a statement from the SDF, the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration's de-facto army. Sporadic clashes broke out again Thursday in the vicinity of the prison compound during the Kurdish mop-up operations, killing at least 12 militants, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The bodies of five others were found inside the prison, added the Britain-based war monitor. Hasakeh entered it's fourth day in lockdown with US-backed Kurdish forces blocking all entrances to the city to keep fleeing militants from crossing into other areas. Around 45,000 people had fled their homes in Hasakeh to escape the violence, according to the United Nations, with many taking shelter in mosques or wedding halls inside the city. On Thursday, families gathered at a checkpoint erected at the entrance to the neighbourhood of Ghwayran, pleading with security forces to let them through, an AFP correspondent reported. "We came to check on our house," said Abu Hamza, who was waiting in the biting cold with his five children. "But they turned us away because the situation is not good." Nearby, two women carrying plastic bags packed with bread were also hoping to gain access to the neighbourhood where they said trapped civilians had been left without basic supplies for days. "People have been left without bread, without water, without anything," one of the women told AFP. "We came, and risked our lives to buy bread for the neighbourhood and we will distribute it," she said. The Observatory said Kurdish forces combing areas inside the prison were proceeding with "great caution over fears of suicide bombers or landmines laid by the IS group". It said 173 IS militants, 55 Kurdish fighters and seven civilians had been killed since the start of the assault. "The fate of dozens of other people is still unknown," said the Observatory. Around 120 SDF Kurdish fighters and members of the security forces were wounded and taken to hospital, "some in serious condition" it added. The Kurdish authorities have insisted no inmates escaped from the compound but the Observatory, which relies on sources on the ground, has said significant numbers got away. In New York, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths called for children trapped in the prison to be evacuated. "We are extremely concerned about the hundreds of children trapped in a terrifying prison siege," he told the Security Council. (@ChaudhryMAli88) A bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, early on Friday and at least ten people suffered non-life-threatening injuries just hours before President Joe Biden was to arrive in to discuss the city's infrastructure WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2022) A bridge collapsed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, early on Friday and at least ten people suffered non-life-threatening injuries just hours before President Joe Biden was to arrive in to discuss the city's infrastructure. "Please avoid the area of Forbes and Braddock for a confirmed bridge collapse. Fire, EMS (Emergency Medical Services) and Police responding. No reported injuries at this time," Pittsburgh Public Safety said via Twitter. It added that there is a strong smell of natural gas at the site of the incident and urged people to avoid the area. "Gas line has been cut. Updates on injuries will be provided once PIO (Public Information Officers) is on scene," it said. The local chapter of the Red Cross said it has been contacted to provide victim assistance. Fire Chief Darryl Jones told reporters that at least ten people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, but three of them were taken to a hospital. Jones explained there were three to four vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed and rescue teams are still trying to ensure they have removed everyone from under the structure. Meanwhile, the White House said Biden has been informed about the accident and their team is in touch with state and local officials on the ground, spokesperson Jen Psaki said via Twitter. "(The president) is grateful to the first responders who rushed to assist the drivers who were on the bridge at the time. The President will proceed with trip planned for today and will stay in touch with officials on the ground about additional assistance we can provide," Psaki added. The Pittsburgh police told the local WTAE-TV channel that no serious injuries have been reported. (@ChaudhryMAli88) China calls on all countries to work together to build a global community with a shared future in outer space, according to a white paper published Friday BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2022 ) :China calls on all countries to work together to build a global community with a shared future in outer space, according to a white paper published Friday. Titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective," the document was released by the State Council Information Office. For the first time, the white paper on China's space industry puts forward the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind in outer space, Xu Hongliang, a spokesperson for the China National Space Administration, said at a press conference following the release of the document. Noting that peaceful exploration, development and utilization of outer space are rights equally enjoyed by all countries, the white paper said China will work actively with other countries to carry out international space exchanges and cooperation, safeguard outer space security, and strive for long-term sustainability in activities related to outer space. China will be more open and active in broadening international space cooperation in the next five years, with more participation in the global governance of outer space and more wisdom contribution in the fields of near-Earth object monitoring and response, planet protection and space traffic management, said Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the administration, at the press conference. Summarizing the future plan, Wu also highlighted the project of building a research station on the moon, which will be jointly launched by China and Russia. "It will be a very large and long-term international scientific cooperation project, and we welcome all interested countries, organizations, scientists and engineers to participate in it," he said. The construction of the international lunar research station will provide opportunities for carrying international payloads and sharing scientific research data, Wu added. (@ChaudhryMAli88) French police have arrested the mother of a 10-year-old-boy whose body was found stuffed into a suitcase outside Paris, prosecutors said Bobigny, France, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2022 ) :French police have arrested the mother of a 10-year-old-boy whose body was found stuffed into a suitcase outside Paris, prosecutors said. The body was found Thursday in the town of Ferrieres-en-Brie east of Paris. The mother, aged 33, who police had been searching for since her partner signalled his alarm, was detained in the nearby town of Choisy-le-Roi at the home of a family member, regional prosecutors said. Concern had initially been triggered after blood was found at the family home and authorities immediately started a search operation. The investigations led to the discovery of the body of the child "hidden in a suitcase on wheels, in a rubbish bin" close to the family home, said Laureline Peyrefitte, the public prosecutor from the town of Meaux. "He had several serious wounds, most likely caused by a stab," she added. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact causes of death. The Lithuanian government on Friday said it had already built 200 kilometers (124 miles) of barbed wire fence at the border with Belarus to prevent illegal migration MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2022) The Lithuanian government on Friday said it had already built 200 kilometers (124 miles) of barbed wire fence at the border with Belarus to prevent illegal migration. "The concertina barrier has already been built in the most sensitive and migrant flow-vulnerable sections. The overall length of this barrier is now about 200 km long," a statement published on the government website read. The government said that the 14 foot high barrier becomes longer by 1.8 mile day by day. About 600 workers and more than 100 units of heavy machinery were mobilized for the construction. The construction of a total 310 miles of barrier is expected to be concluded in September, while areas of priority should be done by April 30, the statement said. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Shimonyte on Friday visited the Aleksandras Barauskas checkpoint. She expressed certainty that the project would be completed on time, within budget, and stressed the necessity of installing cameras along the entire border. After thousands of middle Eastern migrants flocked to the Belarusian border with Lithuania last year, Lithuania announced it would build the first European wall. The construction started in November. Similar measures were taken up by other countries bordering Belarus. On Tuesday, the Polish border guard announced it had begun construction of a 16 foot high and 115 mile long barbed wire fence. (@FahadShabbir) French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed on the need for a "de-escalation" in the Ukraine crisis during a call on Friday, with the Russian leader saying he had "no offensive plans", an aide to Macron said Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2022 ) :French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed on the need for a "de-escalation" in the Ukraine crisis during a call on Friday, with the Russian leader saying he had "no offensive plans", an aide to Macron said. The two leaders spoke for more than an hour on Friday morning during a call that was described by the French side as "serious and respectful" which highlighted "fundamental differences" but also a "joint desire" to keep talking. The conversation "enabled us to agree on the need for a de-escalation," the aide said during a briefing with journalists. France hosted more than eight hours of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Paris on Wednesday which were seen as a test of whether Putin wanted to lower tensions, having massed around 100,000 troops on Ukraine's border. "President Putin expressed no offensive plans and said he wanted to continue the talks with France and our allies," the French official said on Friday, adding that the Russian leader "said very clearly that he did not want confrontation. " Macron said earlier this week that Russia was behaving as a "power of disequilibrium" in the region but had also made clear he wanted to speak with Putin, whom he invited to France for talks during his summer holidays in 2019. His relatively conciliatory tone has contrasted with the more strident rhetoric about the probability of a Russian invasion from France's NATO allies the UK and United States. "Now the ball is in Putin's court," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told RTL radio Friday before the phone call between the leaders. "Does he want to be the one to say that Russia is a power of disequilibrium, or is he ready to show de-escalation?" he asked. "It's up to Vladimir Putin to say if he wants confrontation or consultation. We are ready for consultation. But it still takes two to do it," he said. Le Drian said that there was "of course" still the risk of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, warning that such a move would have "massive repercussions" for Moscow. DUSHANBE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2022) Two people were killed and 10 more injured, including six servicemen, during the Thursday clash on the Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border, Tajikistan's State Committee for National Security said on Friday. "As a result of the border conflict the Tajik party had 10 people injured, including six servicemen and four civilians," the committee said, as quoted by the Khovar news agency. The authorities added that two people had been killed in the incident: an ambulance driver and a villager. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2022) Three police officers were shot in an altercation near downtown Houston, Texas, by a suspect who fled the scene in a white Mercedes, the Houston Police Department (HPD) said in a statement. "(Three) HPD officers have been shot in the 2100 block of McGowen St. The suspect fled the scene in a white Mercedes and is being sought at this time. Please avoid the area," the Houston Police Department said via Twitter on Thursday. Police commanders are en route to the hospital where the shot officers were taken. All three officers are currently in stable condition, HPD said in an update. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner will provide a briefing on the incident with more details at Memorial Hermann Hospital, the HPD added. Two Algerian soldiers and two militants were killed in a firefight near the desert border with Niger, the North African country's defence ministry said Friday Algiers, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Jan, 2022 ) :Two Algerian soldiers and two militants were killed in a firefight near the desert border with Niger, the North African country's defence ministry said Friday. "Following a clash with a terrorist group along the border zone in the Hassi Tiririne region... two soldiers were killed on the field of honour," the ministry said. Two "terrorists" were also killed, it added. The Algerian army regularly reports they have arrested or "neutralised" militants fighters, two decades after the end of a decade-long civil war between the state and militants groups which left 200,000 people dead. Despite a peace and reconciliation charter signed in 2005 to end the violence, armed groups still carry out occasional operations against security forces. On January 1, the defence ministry said 23 "terrorists" had been neutralised and over 200 arrested over the course of last year. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2022) The US Coast Guard found a total of five bodies from a boat that capsized off Florida and plan to suspend the operation at sunset with 34 migrants still missing, Captain Jo-Ann Burdian said at a press briefing. "We have found four deceased bodies in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to five deceased bodies we've recovered inside our search area," Burdian said on Thursday. "I have come to the most difficult portion of when to cease actively searching... at sunset this evening, we will suspend active searching." Burdian, captain of the coast guard's Miami sector, said in making the decision she balanced unseen weather conditions, the number of people who went into the water, and the confidence they have. She said the victims in this case have been in the water since Saturday evening. Burdian said that if the Coast Guard receives additional information that helps the operation, the search could resume. She also said the Coast Guard will continue to keep a robust on-water presence with its partners. The search party recovered one body earlier in the week and the lone survivor spotted on the hull of the capsized vessel was rescued by a passing Good Samaritan who took him ashore where he was given medical attention, Burdian said. The survivor told authorities that 40 people left Bimini in the Bahamas on Saturday night and said the vessel they were in capsized during rough weather. None of them wore a safety jacket. Anthony Salisbury, special-agent-in-charge with the US Department of Homeland Security also spoke at Thursday's press briefing. He said the tragedy stems from a suspected human smuggling operation gone awry and asked the public and family members to call in to a DHS tip line so that investigators can identify, arrest and prosecute the people who facilitated or profited from the venture. Lincoln, RI (02865) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 49F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Catholic Bishops in Australia join other faith-based and community groups to advocate for a generous response from the Australian government to welcome Afghans fleeing the Taliban regime, saying that current refugee commitments are not enough. By Lisa Zengarini Catholic Bishops and organizations in Australia are joining faith-based and community groups in urging political leaders to scale up efforts to support refugees from Afghanistan, including providing Afghans who are already in Australia with pathways to permanency and the opportunity to reunite with their families. 20,000 additional places needed The Australian Government this week announced some 15,000 places over four years for Afghans fleeing the Taliban regime through existing Humanitarian and Family Visa programs. However, according to the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA), an association co-convened by Jesuit Social Services and Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Australia, this is an inadequate response and at least 20,000 additional places should be allocated. Making a tangible difference The announcement by the Federal Government disguises the fact that these 15,000 people will be included within Australias existing annual humanitarian intake of 13,750. This is a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed to make a tangible difference to the lives of those fleeing Afghanistan in search of safety, said Jesuit Social Services Acting Chief Executive, Sally Parnell. The Australian Government has an opportunity to demonstrate true leadership by providing safety and security to those people already in Australia as a priority, and supporting their families, in addition to the urgent humanitarian response needed to support those fleeing the current crisis in Afghanistan, she added. Scaling up practical compassion The request is supported by the Australian Bishops Conference (ACBC). The scale of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan requires the urgent creation of additional places in Australias humanitarian intake, said Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, chair of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service. We need to scale up our practical compassion, not simply adjust priorities within existing plans, the prelate stressed. 9 million Afghans forced to flee Afghans make up one of the largest refugee populations worldwide. Though fighting has subsided since the United States withdrew its troops from the country and the subsequent Taliban takeover in August 2021, fear, violence and deprivation continue to force Afghans to seek safety and asylum across the border, particularly in neighbouring Iran and Pakistan. More than 2.2 million registered refugees and another 4 million Afghans with different statuses have fled abroad. Another 3.5 million people are internally displaced. Read also 11/01/2022 Afghanistan: UN launches largest single country aid appeal ever At the launch of 2 plans in Geneva on Tuesday, United Nations agencies and their humanitarian partners appealed for more than $5 billion for the people of Afghanistan for 2022. Famine Overall, some 9 million Afghans have been forced to flee their homes, while the country is now on the brink of famine, making Afghanistan the worlds largest humanitarian crisis at present. More than twenty million Afghans (half the population) suffer from hunger resulting from the worst drought of the last few decades and since the Taliban takeover the economy is plunging. The UN has warned recently of a humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan. Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher's visit to Beirut will take place from January 31 to February 4, and includes meetings with political and religious authorities to mark 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Lebanon, the nation faces a deep social, political and economic crisis. By Michele Raviart Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher is expected to visit Beirut from January 31 to February 4, to mark a number of celebrations and anniversaries relating to relations between Lebanon and the Holy See. The Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States will convey Pope Francis concern and closeness to the Middle Eastern nation as it faces a grave social, economic and political crisis. A year of anniversaries This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Lebanon, and the 25th anniversary of the Apostolic Journey of Pope St. John Paul II to the country. That visit took place on the occasion of the signing of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation A New Hope for Lebanon, on 10 May 1997, following the Special Synod of Bishops for Lebanon which was held in Rome 1995. Also occurring this year is the 10th anniversary of the Apostolic Journey of Pope Benedict XVI, who signed the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Ecclesia in the Middle East in Beirut, after the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East in 2010. The visit's programme During his stay, Archbishop Gallagher will meet the State Authorities, the Catholic and Orthodox Patriarchs and Bishops, as well as Muslim and Druze religious leaders and cultural and political personalities. He will also visit some significant places and communities and participate in the opening of the Symposium on John Paul II and Lebanon, organized by the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik. Read also 01/07/2021 Pope's prayer for Lebanon: May we sink our roots in the dream of peace At the end of a World Day of prayer and reflection for Lebanon, in which Lebanon's Christian leaders joined Pope Francis in the Vatican, the Pope prays for peace in the ... Pope Francis closeness to Lebanon The English Archbishop will bring the Popes affection and closeness to all the Lebanese people. Lebanon is constantly present in Pope Francis thoughts. In his recent annual address to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See, on 10 January, the Pope renewed his prayer for the beloved Lebanese people, who are working to find a solution to the economic and political crisis that has gripped the nation, expressing hope that necessary reforms and the support of the international community will help the country to persevere in its proper identity as a model of peaceful coexistence and brotherhood among the different religions. Receiving in audience Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in the Vatican, on 25 November 2020, the Pope said that "Lebanon is a country, a message, and also a promise to fight for" and added this prayer: "Lord God, take Lebanon by the hand and say, Arise!' At the end of the General Audience, on 4 August 2021, on the first anniversary of the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut, he launched a new heartfelt appeal asking the international community to help Lebanon to make a journey of resurrection with concrete gestures, not just words". Finally, on the Day of Prayer and Reflection for Lebanon, held in the Vatican on 1 July 2021, Pope Francis once again reiterated: Let there be an end to the few profiting from the sufferings of many! No more letting half-truths continue to frustrate peoples aspirations! Stop using Lebanon and the Middle East for outside interests and profits! The Lebanese people must be given the opportunity to be the architects of a better future in their land, without undue interference. He concluded: Brothers and sisters, may the night of conflicts recede before a new dawn of hope. May hostilities cease, disagreements fade away, and Lebanon once more radiate the light of peace. Vietnam will implement mandatory electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) from July 1, 2022. E-invoices are expected to save businesses time and money, contributing to greater efficiency for both enterprises and tax authorities. While businesses have until July 2022 to transition and comply with the new regulations, they are encouraged to apply early and implement the use of e-invoices for their business. Vietnam will mandate businesses to implement e-invoices from July 2022. Thus, businesses should prepare for when the regulation comes into effect and be aligned with the legal framework, set by Vietnamese authorities. We will look at the several Decrees and circulars that the government has issued for implementing the mandate on e-invoices. The Ministry of Finance issued Circular 78/2021/TT-BTC (Circular 78) guiding the implementation of e-invoices including Decree 123 which we discuss below. Circular 78 also takes effect from July 1, 2022. As per Circular 78, the party that is authorized to issue invoices is related to the seller. This authorization must be made in writing through an agreement between the two parties. These two parties must also register with the tax department. As a follow-up to Circular 78, Vietnam also issued Official Dispatch No. 4144 which discusses invoice form numbers, symbol number, serial number, and guidance for correction of the issued e-invoices. As per Circular 78, the pilot implementation of phase 1 of e-invoices already started in some provinces from November 1, 2021. These include Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, and Binh Dinh. Phase 2 will begin from April 2022 and tax authorities will decide which localities will be part of this phase. Prior to this, Vietnam also issued Decree 123/2020/ND-CP (Decree 123) guiding the implementation of invoices and a postponement in the implementation of e-invoices until July 1, 2022. Earlier the deadline, for implementing the use of e-invoices was November 1, 2020. As per Decree 123, the current invoicing regulations including Decree 51/2010/ND-CP, Decree 04/2014/ND-CP, and Decree 119/2019/ND-CP will remain effective during the transition period until June 30, 2022, though some aspects of Decree 119 were eliminated after November 1, 2020. However, if firms receive a notification from the tax authorities, they are required to switch to e-invoices as stipulated in the timeframe issued by the tax department. If firms do not have the necessary infrastructure in place to implement the use of e-invoicing, they can use the current invoices but must submit information relating to invoices in Form 3 as per Decree 123, along with the submission of VAT returns. In addition, newly established firms that have been instructed by the tax authorities to implement e-invoicing but do not have the infrastructure in place can use invoices as per Decree 51 and Decree 4 but will need to submit Form 3 as per Decree 123. Guidelines on implementing e-invoicing: Circular 68 Vietnam issued Circular 68/2019/TT-BTC (Circular 68) to provide guidance for Decree 119/2018/ND-CP (Decree 119) on the use of electronic invoices (e-invoices). Decree 119 states that all businesses, excluding household businesses or individuals, must issue an e-invoice with or without the tax verification code to the buyer for the sale of goods and services. Below, we highlight the steps and procedures investors should undertake to help them become compliant with the new regulations. Types of e-invoices There are two types of e-invoices: one with the tax authoritys verification code and one without. E-invoices with the verification codes can be used for tax declarations. Firms in the electricity, petroleum, telecommunication, credit financing, transportation, e-commerce, insurance, supermarkets, and trading sectors can use e-invoices without tax verification codes. In addition, enterprises that transact directly with the tax authorities electronically or have the technology infrastructure, accounting software, and e-invoice software as per regulations are not required to use e-invoices with verification codes. Individuals and companies in the high tax risk category that are involved in the agriculture, forestry, fishery, industry, and construction sectors, employ more than 10 laborers, and have an annual revenue over US$130,000 (VND 3 billion) in the preceding year must use e-invoices with verification codes. The same goes for individuals and companies that have annual revenue of over US$430,000 (VND 10 billion) in the trade and services sector. E-invoice registration Companies need to register before they use e-invoices (with or without tax codes) to get approval from the tax authorities through the General Department of Taxations website. In case a point-of-sale (POS) system is used, the seller needs to register for the use of e-invoices sent by the POS system for online transfer of data with the tax department. E-invoices must also be written in Vietnamese. While other languages can be included, it cannot replace Vietnamese. How to rectify errors in e-invoices For e-invoices that contain errors, there are three conditions for correction: If a mistake is made in the buyers name and address, but other information is correct, the seller should inform the buy and send a notice to the tax authorities (the e-invoice will not be required to be re-issued); If the tax code, invoice amount, tax rate, tax amount, or description of goods is incorrect, a new e-invoice will need to be issued (the seller and buyers will need to prepare a document specifying the errors and send a notice to the tax authority); and If the tax department finds an error in the e-invoice, it will send a notice to the seller and the seller will need to re-issue the e-invoice in the designated time frame. As per Circular 78, if the seller issues an invoice and there is a cancellation of service, the seller will cancel the issued e-invoice and notify the tax authority on invoice cancellation. If the e-invoice is issued without an invoice symbol or number, the seller will make adjustments without any cancellation or replacement. Transition period Businesses that have already self-printed their invoices or have received invoices issued by the tax authorities before October 19, 2020, can use them till the end of June 30, 2022, in accordance with Decree 123. If a firms IT infrastructure is not ready by the deadline, they can apply for an extension and send invoices using a Form 3 as an attachment as mentioned earlier. Public organizations, such as medical establishments and schools, that use fee receipts are allowed to continue using the receipts but need to move to electronic receipts or e-invoices according to the roadmap of the Ministry of Finance. Firms exporting goods are also required to issue e-VAT invoices or e-sales invoices once export procedures are completed. The e-signature of the buyer is not mandatory on e-invoices. As long as the buyer meets technical conditions for digital signing, the buyer can electronically sign e-invoices if this is agreed between the seller and buyer. Vietnam continues to go the digital way The latest development reflects the governments move to reform tax administration and overhaul the informal economy. E-invoices will not only save time and costs, but will also reduce the administrative burden and help in account reconciliation, minimizing billing frauds, and maintaining transparency. Altogether the government expects the initiative to save around US$43.9 million (VND 1 trillion) if the projected 2.5 billion invoices are used in a year. Until the end of October 2021, around 850,000 businesses had signed up for electronic filings. The new regulations ensure that the governments focus remains on reducing administrative costs and reform tax issues. However, businesses are likely to face some challenges during the transition period and should carefully study the new changes to make appropriate adjustments. Decree 123s extension can thus be used, allowing for additional time to make the required changes for application. We visit a brewing company in Groveland, California where co-owner Rachel Sabatine tells us her story of starting a new business with her husband during the pandemic. Find out why they decided to move forward with their brewery and how the community supported them. Reporter/Camera: Michelle Quinn, Producer/Editor: Elizabeth Lee A survey of the Islamic State groups attacks around the world in 2021 indicates the group killed and injured more people in Afghanistan last year than it did anywhere else, and experts warn the terror group is on the rise following the U.S. military withdrawal from the country. Widely known as ISIS, the group conducted its most deadly attack in 2021 last August at the Kabul International Airport when a suicide bomber killed 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. military personnel. During 2021, Islamic State carried out 365 terrorist attacks in Afghanistan that caused 2,210 casualties, a significant increase compared with 2020 when 82 IS attacks that caused 835 casualties were reported, according to an Israeli think tank, the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. Globally, IS operatives carried out 2,705 attacks resulting in 8,147 casualties. Iraq stood second to Afghanistan in casualties with 2,083. The Meir Amit group uses Islamic States claims of responsibility, as published in public sources, to attribute responsibility for attacks. The increase in ISIS activity in Afghanistan (especially in the second half of the year) came in the wake of the pullout of U.S. forces from the country, the disintegration of the old regime and the takeover of the country by the Taliban movement, the center, which has tracked Islamic State attacks around the world for more than a decade, said in a report published this week. The United Nations, which tracks civilian casualties in Afghanistan, has not yet released its final report for 2021. During the first half of 2021, the United Nations reported at least 1,659 Afghan civilians were killed and 3,524 were injured. Of those, the U.N. blamed 39 percent on Taliban insurgents and less than 10 percent on Islamic State fighters. The rise in the number of civilians killed in IS attacks came as Afghanistan was expecting an end to war-related casualties after almost two decades of fighting between the U.S. and Taliban forces. Thousands of Afghans were killed and wounded during the Talibans brutal insurgency, which started immediately after the U.S. military invaded Afghanistan in late 2001 and lasted until the last U.S. soldier left the country in August 2021. The victims Even before the U.S. military withdrawal, the United Nations reported rising civilian casualties caused by Islamic States offshoot in Afghanistan, the Khorasan Province, which is also known as IS-K. In the first half of 2021, more than 124 Afghan civilians were killed and 315 were wounded in Islamic State attacks a 45 percent increase compared with the same period in 2020, the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported. Even while the Taliban claim they have ended the war and restored peace in Afghanistan, IS fighters have continued attacking civilians in different parts of the troubled country. Last week, the group claimed responsibility for an attack in Herat city, west of Afghanistan, which killed at least six and wounded several other civilians. Since its emergence in 2015 in eastern Afghanistan, bordering Pakistan, the IS Afghan affiliate has caused more than 7,000 civilian casualties (including over 2,200 deaths) in the country, according to a tally of U.N. totals and other reports. IS-Khorasan primarily targets Shia communities mosques, schools and residential areas in Afghanistan. Shias account for about 12 percent of the countrys estimated 35 million population. The group has also attacked journalists, civil society activists and health workers. IS-Khorasan attacks, human rights groups say, amount to crimes against humanity. There are growing concerns now that in the absence of strong counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan, IS has found a conducive environment in the country to regenerate force and launch even more deadly attacks. It's not difficult to carry out operations targeting civilian targets, Matthew Levitt, a counterterror expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told VOA, adding that while Islamic State can cause a lot of disruptions in Afghanistan, it appears unable to topple the Taliban regime, at least in the near future. U.S. President Joe Biden warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday there is a distinct possibility that Russia could invade Ukraine next month, according to a White House statement. President Biden said that there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February, Emily Horne, the White House National Security Council spokesperson said. He has said this publicly, and we have been warning about this for months. Russia said Thursday there was little ground for optimism that tensions would ease in Eastern Europe after the United States rejected its demand that Ukraine be banned from NATO membership and that the West pull back its troop deployment and weaponry from countries bordering Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the U.S. reply to its demands contains no positive response, but that some elements of it could lead to "the start of a serious talk on secondary issues." The U.S. and its European allies have rejected the key Moscow demands as nonstarters. The top Kremlin diplomat said officials will submit proposals to President Vladimir Putin. His spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said the Russian reaction would come soon, adding that there always are prospects for continuing a dialogue. It's in the interests of both us and the Americans." Biden talked Thursday with President Zelenskiy to reassure him of U.S. and allied support during the mounting tension. Afterward, the Ukrainian leader tweeted that he and Biden had also talked about additional financial support for Ukraine. Officials from Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany held talks Wednesday in Paris and agreed to another round of talks in Berlin in the second week of February. The sides agreed to maintain an official cease-fire in eastern Ukraine, according to Dmitry Kozak, the Kremlin's envoy. "We need a supplementary pause. We hope that this process will have results in two weeks," he said. The February talks will take place at the same diplomatic level as the Paris talks. Not on the agenda is a summit with heads of state. Nothing has changed, this is the bad news, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. The good news is that advisers agreed to meet in Berlin in two weeks, which means that Russia for the next two weeks is likely to remain on the diplomatic track. The U.S. has called for a meeting Monday of the United Nations Security Council on Ukraine. "More than 100,000 Russian troops are deployed on the Ukrainian border and Russia is engaging in other destabilizing acts aimed at Ukraine, posing a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. Charter," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Thursday in a statement. This is not a moment to wait and see. The Councils full attention is needed now, and we look forward to direct and purposeful discussion on Monday. Russia is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council and therefore has veto power over any resolution. The meeting, Thomas-Greenfield said, will be about exposing Russia for its actions and isolating the Kremlin for its aggressive posture regarding Ukraine, according to Agence France-Presse. The U.S. and its European allies, fearing an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, continue to protest Russias massing of more than 100,000 troops along its border with the onetime Soviet republic, although Moscow says it has no intention of attacking. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the document the U.S. handed Russia includes concerns of the United States and our allies and partners about Russias actions that undermine security a principled and pragmatic evaluation of the concerns that Russia has raised, and our own proposals for areas where we may be able to find common ground. Biden, while ruling out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine, repeatedly has warned Russia that the West will impose crippling economic sanctions against it if it crosses the border and attacks Ukraine. While Russia and the U.S. and its allies trade demands, both sides have ramped up military preparations. Russia has launched military drills involving motorized infantry and artillery units in southwestern Russia, warplanes in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, dozens of warships in the Black Sea and the Arctic, and Russian fighter jets and paratroopers in Belarus. NATO said it was boosting its presence in the Baltic Sea region, and the U.S. has put 8,500 troops on heightened alert for deployment to Europe as part of a NATO operation. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said American forces currently in Europe, some already on heightened alert, could likewise be mobilized to also bolster our NATO allies if they need that. Kuleba said Ukraine is not planning any offensive actions, and he expects diplomatic efforts to address the crisis along the Russia-Ukraine border to continue. We are committed to [a] diplomatic track, and we are ready to engage with Russia at different levels in order to find [a] diplomatic solution to the conflict, Kuleba said at a news conference. However, if Russia decides to fight, we will fight back. This is our country, and we will defend it." Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Deutsche Welle, Agence France-Presse, and France 24. New data from Russias Rosstat state statistics service show the nations COVID-19 deaths passed 700,000 Friday, the Reuters news agency reported. Russias state coronavirus task force has reported more than 11.5 million confirmed cases and 329,443 deaths in the country, by far the largest death toll in Europe. But the Rosstat statistics agency uses broader counting criteria and puts the death toll much higher. It said the overall number of virus-linked deaths between April 2020 and October 2021 was more than 625,000. Rosstat reported Friday that 54,630 people had died from COVID-19 or related causes in December, after monthly coronavirus deaths hit a record of nearly 90,000 in November. Reuters calculated that Russia's overall pandemic death toll reached 701,703 Friday, based on Rosstat figures from the end of December and data from the coronavirus task force for January. Russias coronavirus task force reported a record 98,040 new daily infections Friday, a new record for the eighth consecutive day. Meanwhile, as of Friday, residents in Spain's northeastern Catalonia region will no longer be required to present a so-called COVID-19 passport or proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, bars and gyms. Earlier in the week, the regional government also eliminated the 10-person capacity limits for bars and restaurants. The government said the restrictions were either ineffective or no longer necessary. Meanwhile, the White House coronavirus task force said Friday that the U.S. this week had hit a milestone in its global effort to donate COVID-19 vaccines to the world. The nation has now shipped 400 million doses vaccine to 112 countries, it said. In a statement from its Twitter account, the task force said the U.S. had donated four times more doses to the world than any other country. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that a third primary shot of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for immunocompromised people could significantly reduce their need for hospitalization. The CDC said the recommendation of a third shot, not a booster, was the result of a study of immunocompromised people in which the third shot proved to be about 88% effective against hospitalization. The two-shot regime proved to be 69% effective in avoiding hospitalization among that group. The government authorized the third shots of Pfizer or Moderna for people with compromised immune systems in August. Later, in October, regulators said the immunocompromised who had gotten their third shots would be eligible for boosters early this year for even more protection. However, that information has not trickled down to all health facilities and people have reported that they have been turned away at some hospitals and pharmacies. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. China is watching with growing interest as Russia and the West face off over Ukraine. With more than 100-thousand Russian troops deployed on the Ukrainian border, there is growing concern among Western nations that the Kremlin is planning an imminent invasion. Moscow has denied any such plans. Western nations have threatened unprecedented economic sanctions against Moscow if it invades Ukraine. If cut off by the West, could Russia look east, to China, for help? Professor Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at the University of Londons School of Oriental and African Studies, says Beijing is ready to step in. China under Xi Jinping has a clear policy of making the world safe for autocrats. And China under Xi Jinping also believes itself to be a leading socialist country now and it has a soft spot for former socialist countries. So, Russia under (President Vladimir) Putin ticks two boxes that make Russia very deserving of Chinese support. WATCH: China Weighs Risks, Rewards of US-Russia Standoff Over Ukraine The policy I think China is likely to take is to do whatever they can to help the Russians to face up to the economic sanctions that the U.S. and Europeans may impose on Russia. (However) I think economic links between Russia and China are not really strong enough to replace any break of economic links between Russia and Europe, Tsang told VOA. Moscow-Beijing coordination Beijing is engaged in its own territorial disputes in Asia and has offered political support for Moscow. This foreign policy coordination will definitely increase, says analyst Dmitry Suslov of Russias National Research University in Moscow. Because from the Russian perspective, intensification of the military partnership between Russia and China is precisely one of the major pains which Russia can inflict to the United States and NATO in order to compel them to compromise, Suslov said at a recent panel discussion on Ukraine, organized by the London-based policy group Chatham House. NATO states are mulling increased troop deployments in eastern European member states to deter Russia. The United States has put further 8,500 troops on alert for possible deployment to Europe. Taiwan China is closely watching NATO and Americas response to any Russian invasion, says security analyst Julie Norman of University College London. Even though theres these troop deployments to Eastern European states, no states are talking about directly sending troops into Ukraine itself to defend it. And of course, Chinas taking note of that, with some of their own territorial disputes in their own areas, Norman told VOA. Taiwan is Chinas biggest territorial dispute and there is a risk of miscalculation as Beijing watches events unfold in Ukraine, says Steve Tsang. The Chinese seeing the Americans and the Europeans talking big but not doing very much about it would embolden them over Taiwan and potentially miscalculate what the American response to a crisis over Taiwan might be. Chinas Belt and Road Despite their mutual rivalry with the United States, China's and Russias interests dont always align. China has also invested billions of dollars in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which could be at risk in the event of any conflict. Beijings multitrillion-dollar "Belt and Road" initiative cuts through several former Soviet bloc states, including Ukraine. A direct rail and ferry freight link opened in 2016, linking China with Illichivsk port on Ukraines Black Sea coast via Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, bypassing Russia. Ukraine is a major exporter of grains to China. By 2025, Beijing and Kyiv aim to increase bilateral trade by 50 percent, to $20 billion per year. China has also funded infrastructure projects, including a new metro line for Kyiv. If Russia invades Ukraine, could Beijings investments in the region be at risk? For now, China is showing little concern, says Tsang. The more immediate impact on the Belt and Road initiative would in fact be the Russian military intervention in Kazakhstan. And the Chinese government have actually shown that they are quite relaxed and comfortable with that. To them, its more important to support authoritarian states and autocrats to stay in power than for some of them to be closer to Russia than to China, at the moment. Over the longer term, things may change, Tsang said. In the short term, analysts say, China is keen to keep a lid on the simmering tensions for at least the next few weeks, as it prepares to host the Winter Olympics starting February 4. Syria, a country torn by civil war, recently joined China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a move analysts say reflects China's growing interest in the Middle East. Through BRI, China has been investing in and building infrastructure on several continents to realize its vision of land and sea trade routes linking Asia to the rest of the world. By staking its claim in Syria, experts contend, China can increase its influence in the Middle East, realize its goal of reestablishing its ancient Silk Road trade route and perhaps gain additional energy sources. The agreement between China and Syria, finalized January 12 in a ceremony in Damascus, "would help [Syrian President Bashar] Assad to break out of its diplomatic isolation. It would help Assad get more investments, said Ibrahim Al-Assil, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. China's Middle East interests Syria's admission to BRI is part of a larger Chinese strategy to ascertain influence in the Middle East, experts say. "Syria's location offers a huge leverage for China. When any international player, if they have a leverage in Syria first, they can get some leverage over so many of its neighbors. We're talking about Turkey which is important for China. We're talking about Iraq, where more than 10% of China's oil comes from. We're talking about Israel. We're talking about Jordan. We're also talking about some global powers in Syria like Russia and the United States. So it's more of geo-economic interests than just the pure economic interests for China to increase its investments in Syria," Al-Assil told VOA. As of December, 17 countries in the Middle East and North Africa have joined the BRI. Experts say the inclusion of the Middle East in the initiative is rooted in Chinese history and is a symbolic move for Beijing. "China is trying to reconstitute the ancient Silk Road, and Syria was part of the Silk Road, so that was something that was emphasized in the announcement that China had with Syria," David Sacks, research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told VOA. There are also economic interests. "China has become a net importer of energy in 1993, and in 2017, it became the largest crude oil importer in the world, and almost half of that oil, 47% to 48%, comes from the Middle East. And that's why the Middle East is going to just rise in significance in the next decade for China," Al-Assil said. Filling the US gaps Syria's participation would help China's Middle Eastern strategy as the United States leaves a smaller footprint in the region. In December, the U.S. ended its combat mission in Iraq and transitioned to an "advise, assist and enable" role for Iraqi forces. "For China to have more leverage in the region, it needs to look at where the U.S. is disengaging and try to increase its diplomatic presence and economic presence in those gaps, or those subregions of the Middle East, and that's where Syria comes in," Al-Assil told VOA. Syria-China relations The diplomatic relationship between Beijing and Damascus dates to 1956, and ties between the two countries continued during the Syrian civil war. China, along with Russia, has repeatedly exercised its permanent veto power on the U.N. Security Council to block resolutions imposing sanctions on the Syrian government concerning the use of chemical weapons. In 2016, the Chinese military agreed to support the Assad government with training and humanitarian assistance, according to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency. Syria and China also share intelligence because of China's fears of radicalized Muslim Uyghurs from China fighting in Syria. The inclusion of Syria in BRI "provides the greatest contribution to the economic reconstruction and social development in Syria," stated Feng Biao, China's ambassador to Syria, according to Xinhua. China's risky investment Any form of Chinese investment in Syria, however, is a risk because of the country's dire financial situation, analysts say. "I don't think the Chinese will be able to get any real return on any investments inside Syria. The economy is still shattered, the country is fragmented, the corruption is deep within the Syrian state institutions, and that is not going to change anytime soon with the current conditions," Al-Assil said. "It seems highly unlikely Syria would be in any position to repay major loans for infrastructure in the future," Sacks told VOA. Geopolitical consequences Some analysts say Syria's participation in BRI reveals how China and its longtime ally Russia are showcasing a united foreign policy front. Moscow entered the Syrian conflict in 2015 in support of the Assad regime. "I don't think that this will force a rethink of U.S. policy towards the country," Sacks said. "But clearly what it does show is that China and Russia are increasingly acting in lockstep on the global stage, and that's becoming increasingly clear in Europe, in Central Asia and now in the Middle East as well." Others, however, including Al-Assil, say closer ties between China and Syria could create a rift between Beijing and Moscow, referencing the Chinese foreign minister's high-profile visit in July to Syria and Russia's adverse reaction to it. "The Russian reaction wasn't encouraging because they felt that the regime didn't coordinate with them and that the regime was trying to seek other great power support," Al-Assil told VOA. Russian media, Al-Assil added, criticized the Chinese move and emphasized that the future of Assad was linked only to Russia and that "Russia would have the upper hand." Whether it is investing in diplomacy or infrastructure, China is taking a risk in Syria, experts say, but it's all part of Beijing's larger strategic calculus in the region. VOA's Elizabeth Lee contributed to this report. This year marks the 30th anniversary of China having established diplomatic ties with five central Asian countries. In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, and Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan gained independence. Three decades later, in the first week of January 2022, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with the presidents of the five states. China's influence in Central Asia has grown exponentially in recent decades as the five nations seek Chinese financing for everything from infrastructure projects to educational endeavors, according to Samantha Custer, director of policy analysis at AidData, a research lab at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. She told VOA the main goal of Chinese financial diplomacy in the region is to gain access to energy supplies and strategic positioning for transit routes. Custer said the five countries are of interest to Beijing for two main reasons: First, they offer access to ready supplies of energy via oil, natural gas, or hydropower; and secondly, potential Belt and Road initiative trade routes from China to Europe and the Middle East run through them. In keeping with this strategy, most of Chinas financial diplomacy has been focused on the energy and transportation sectors, Custer said. Last month, in a new report titled Corridors of Power, Custer and her coauthors analyzed how China used massive financial assistance to win friends and allies across Central and South Asia. According to the report, the Chinese government directed $127 billion in financial assistance across 13 countries in Central and South Asia over nearly two decades. The five countries in Central Asia are among the biggest recipients of Beijings financial assistance. Kazakhstan alone attracted 26% ($33 billion) of Beijings financial assistance dollars, Custer said, adding these investments were heavily focused on the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline. Turkmenistan was the second-largest Central Asian recipient of Chinese financing, worth $9 billion. Soft power investments Even as Beijing emphasizes economics over soft power in Central Asia, it recognizes that these tools are most formidable when employed in concert, according to Custer. In this vein, Chinese leaders doubled down on soft power overtures via education, culture, exchange and media to foster people-to-people ties with Central Asian students and professionals over the last two decades, Custer said, adding these efforts are important avenues to cultivate future markets for Chinese goods, services and capital in Central Asia. In its bid to become a premier study-abroad destination for students from Central Asia, China offers less burdensome visa requirements than its competitors and financial assistance for education, according to the report. Kazakh and Kyrgyz students were top recipients of Chinese state-backed scholarships, and both countries received a large share of Beijings language and cultural promotion efforts in the form of Confucius Institutes at the university level and Confucius Classrooms at the primary and secondary school level, Custer said. Chinese leaders have also practiced city-level diplomacy to cultivate relationships with public and private sector leaders at the local level, according to the report. As a case in point: Turkmenistans Mary province received more money from Beijing over two decades than seven of the 13 countries in South and Central Asia, Custer said. Kazakhstans Atyrau, which received $5 billion, was the second-largest district-level recipient of Chinese state-backed financing in the entire region. Investing in security China has also been investing in security in Central Asia, according to Emil Avdaliani, director of Middle East Studies at the Georgian think tank Geocase. Before, Russia was seen as the only and irreplaceable security provider, Avdaliani said. China has also penetrated the region. It operates a military base in Tajikistan, funds a new semi-military one there and has increased the number of drills with separate states in the region. Avdaliani said that even though Chinas position in central Asian countries has evolved quite successfully, China still faces obstacles such as nationalism in the Central Asian states and political elites distrust of Beijing. But the elite also sees that the five states need China. They need investment, and in the longer run, they need China as a balancer against Russia, Avdaliani told VOA in an email. Beijing successfully uses this opportunity, and it is likely to continue in the future, he said. For the past 10 years, China's domestic policy changes have carried a growing sense of demographic urgency. A strictly enforced one-child mandate changed to a two-kids-in-some-cases option (2013), which morphed into two children for all (2016), which rolled over to the current government push for three offspring (2021). But where are the babies? Why aren't playgrounds as jammed as Beijing's notorious 3rd Ring Road? The workers of tomorrow are nowhere to be found. Despite the government's best efforts, the data released last week by China's National Bureau of Statistics show that in 2021 in a nation of 1.4 billion people, there was a net population growth of only 480,000 people against 10.1 million deaths and 10.6 million births suggesting a disconnect between China's policy goals and its people. "Working overtime night and day and facing the ridiculous cost of goods who wants your children to grow up in such an environment?" said a poster on Weibo, China's microblogging platform. "You can't have both mortgage and formula," another joked. A third quipped, "Let's guess will this year's Spring Festival gala be promoting the three kid policies?" The Spring Festival Gala, a TV production from the state-owned China Media Group, was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's most watched TV program since 1983. And, according to state-controlled CCTV, it is an annual must-watch New Year's Eve extravaganza of dancing, singing and comedy. China's birthrate has declined swiftly over the past five years, from 12.4 births for every 1,000 citizens in 2017 to 7.52 births for every 1,000 citizens in 2021, the lowest in nearly 60 years, according to statistics bureau records. The time span is significant because the Great Chinese Famine began in 1959 and ended in 1961, three years before China conducted its benchmark second census. "Some 30 million Chinese starved to death, and about the same number of births were lost or delayed," according to an article about the famine in the National Institutes of Health archive. Yi Fuxian, a senior scientist in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of Big Country With an Empty Nest, told VOA Mandarin that "as China's economic miracle has been heavily based on its inexhaustible labor force, an inflection point in its population will inevitably mean an inflection point in its economic model." Has population already peaked? Although scholars have already referred to China's demographic crisis as a ticking time bomb, China's population may have peaked much earlier than projected given a rapidly aging population coupled with the rapidly declining birth rate, Yi said. China's National Population Development Plan (2016-2030) estimated that the fertility rate between 2020 and 2030 would hover around 1.8 babies per woman of childbearing age, and that the country would start to experience negative population growth in 2031. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, a public policy think tank, a nation needs a fertility rate of 2.1 to maintain a stable population. China's true fertility rate may be lower than the official estimate, Yi said. "We will start to see the population decline in 2022, nine years earlier than expected," he added. Mark Williams, chief Asia economist at Capital Economics, wrote last week on his company's website that "the most likely scenario is that slowing productivity growth and a shrinking workforce prevent China ever passing the U.S." China's seventh census, released in 2020, found that there were 880 million between the ages of 16 and 59 in the workforce, a sharp drop of more than 40 million compared with 2010 figures. You Jun, vice minister of China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said in March that China's labor force would continue to decline, shrinking by as many as 35 million people in the next five years. In about 25 years, one-third of China's population will be retirees, according to the 2020 census report by China's National Bureau of Statistics. Global issue China is not alone in facing this issue. A study published in October 2020 in The Lancet, a medical journal, warns of the "jaw-dropping" economic, social and geopolitical effects on nearly every country as fertility rates fall and populations shrink. "Our findings suggest that continued trends in female educational attainment and access to contraception will hasten declines in fertility and slow population growth," said the authors of the study. Thomas Duesterberg, a senior fellow who specializes in economics at the Hudson Institute, said population growth is one of the most important sources of economic growth because as the workforce declines, so does the rate of innovation. "The innovativeness and ingenuity of human beings is reduced because a large part of the creativity of people comes in the first part of their career," he told VOA Mandarin. "So, if you have an aging population and a declining population, you're likely to see less of that ability to innovate, which is another key element of growth going forward." Ning Jizhe, head of China's National Bureau of Statistics, acknowledged after the release of the 2020 census that "the country's economic structure and technological development need to be adjusted and adapted" as the country's population structure changes. Bill Conerly, an economist and the author of The Flexible Stance: Thriving in a Boom/Bust Economy, said the declining birth rate would not have an immediate impact on China's economy. "A baby is a net drain on the economy for 15, 25 years and sometimes even longer. So I don't put a lot of importance in this," he told VOA Mandarin. But in the long term, the declining birth rate will eventually affect the labor market. "Actually, the birth rate has been coming down for quite some time," he said. "So maybe China's only 10 years away from having a very tight labor market. It will eventually come." West African political bloc ECOWAS is meeting Friday to discuss dealing with coups in Burkina Faso and Mali. The bloc has already put sanctions on Mali for its coup leaders delaying elections and Burkina Faso could be next. But analysts say sanctions must be handled carefully to avoid further damage to the region's security and stability. On Friday, after an extraordinary session to discuss recent military coups in Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso, the regional political bloc ECOWAS announced it was suspending Burkina Fasos membership and would send a delegation to the capital, Ouagadougou. The move comes after a military coup in Burkina Faso on Monday led by Colonel Paul Henri Damiba, which saw the democratic government of former president Roch Kabore ousted by mutinying soldiers. ECOWAS has already placed sanctions on Mali after its military junta sought to extend the transition period to democratic rule by five years. ECOWAS could now be gearing up to do the same for Burkina Faso. Alexandra Lamarche is the senior advocate for West and Central Africa at Refugees International. She says sanctions could have devastating consequences in a country where there are already 1.5 million people displaced by a six-year conflict with armed groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaida. In Burkina Faso this could further exacerbate already dangerous resource scarcity With decreasing food production and with the lean season expected to start earlier this year, it is projected that more than 2.6 million people will be food insecure by this summer. The ripple effects of the coup and possible impacts of ECOWAS sanctions could raise this projected number and leave more people in need of assistance, Lamarche said. In his first address to the nation Thursday night, Damiba appealed for the support of Burkina Fasos friends within the international community. Burkina Faso needs its partners more than ever. This is why I call on the international community to support our country so that it can emerge from this crisis as quickly as possible," he said. Ibrahima Maiga is a pro-coup activist with the Movement to Save Burkina Faso. He pointed out that many ECOWAS states have leaders who have changed constitutions to stay in power. He also warned sanctions may have other consequences. In Mali, we can easily say that it will give the opportunity to Russia to gain more opportunities in this region, because if you put sanctions on our countries, they will for sure change their relationship they have with France and others, because most people believe that France is behind ECOWAS. Anti-French and pro-Russian sentiment in both Burkina Faso and Mali has been growing in recent months. Michael Shurkin is director of global programs at 14-N Strategies, a Senegal- and U.S.- based political advisory firm. He says sanctions are unlikely to have much impact, but probably have to go ahead anyway. ECOWAS is really in a jam and it has to come out strongly against the coup and sanction the coup, but at the same time its very clear that it doesnt help, right, so its not really clear what ECOWAS can do, Shurkin pointed out. Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to Burkina Faso has said the United States would need to review its aid arrangements with the country if Monday's coup is deemed to be undemocratic. Germany's health minister said Friday the omicron variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is "well under control" in the nation, even though he said he expects the number of daily cases to double to nearly 400,000 cases before it begins to drop. Speaking at a news conference Friday in Berlin, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach explained that while the wave of infections itself cannot be controlled, the consequences can be minimized by taking the proper steps. He said he expects daily cases to double to nearly 400,000 cases by mid-February, but he then expects them to drop, probably by the end of next month. Cases are currently rising, with the country's Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases, or RKI, reporting 190,148 new cases as of Friday. Speaking at the same news briefing, RKI President Lothar Wieler said about 890,000 new cases were reported nearly "1 percent of the entire population in just one week." The RKI reports the infection rate per 100,000 people, as of Friday, was 1,073. Lauterbach says the government's goal is to get through the wave with as few elderly people falling ill and as few deaths as possible, and he says so far, they are succeeding. The health minister sought to dissuade people of the notion that just because the omicron variant is believed to be less severe, that vaccinations were not needed, saying that is wrong and not helpful. He encouraged everyone to get vaccinated and all those eligible to get booster shots. Some information for this report was provided by the Associated Press and Reuters. Billions of dollars have poured in from federal and local governments to help Americas homeless survive the coronavirus pandemic. And this spending is helping for now. VOAs Veronica Balderas Iglesias examines whether the strategies spurred by the pandemic could be a long-term solution to this chronic U.S. problem. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Electric vehicles are in high demand as gas prices and concerns about carbon emissions and global warming climb. From the 2022 Washington Auto Show, VOA's Saqib Ul Islam examines where consumers and car manufacturers think all-electric vehicles are heading in the future. Camera: Saqib Ul Islam Produced by: Saqib Ul Islam The French Embassy in Kenya has issued a terror alert to Western nationals, urging them to avoid places this weekend where foreigners gather, such as hotels and shopping centers, especially in the capital, Nairobi. The German Embassy sent that countrys citizens a less specific terror alert, urging caution. Kenyan police say they have seen the terror alert and have beefed up security. Kenyan authorities say they have deployed enough security to respond to any planned terror attack in the country. The step comes as France issued a terror alert and warned its citizens against visiting shopping malls and hotels, especially in the capital, Nairobi. Kenyas police spokesman, Bruno Shioso, told VOA they saw the alert on social media and there was no need to fear. I cant comment on that but what I can tell you, Kenyans and the world, is that the country is so safe, we have put measures in place, we placed all major towns and critical areas with our security, our security guys are very alert and on the ground. So there should be no need for fear, Shioso said. In 2013, al-Shabab militants stormed the Westgate mall in Nairobi, killing more than 60 people. Another attack by the Somali terrorist group on the Dusit hotel three years ago killed 21. Hassan Khannenje is the head of the Horn Institute for Strategic Studies. He says Kenya and other countries must work together to combat any security threat to the East African nation. It's important because the terror problem is an international problem that foreign countries with missions countries in the region are able to work with their local counterparts either to preempt or at least to be able to approach it in a more coordinated fashion because one of the challenges in fighting terror has been poor coordination among the key stakeholders, and that includes governments, Khannenje said. The Horn of Africa region is facing both political and security challenges. The Ethiopian government is involved in a war with its northern Tigray region. Somalia faces a political crisis that emanates from the delayed elections and Kenya is preparing for general elections in August. Khannenje says the region needs to be on high alert to deal with those who want to benefit from its political volatility. This year is going to be very critical for the region in trying to manage those threats, because the challenge the region has faced, not just Kenya, is the moment there isnt a massive attack, then people tend to be complacent and government response tends to be a little bit complacent and so this calls us to attention that as stakeholders and people who care about peace, peaceful citizens of the region should be more vigilant with regards to potential exploitation of the confusion of the chaos exist in the region today, Khannenje said. Since the beginning of this year, Kenyan security agencies have reported several attacks against people in Lamu County, which borders Somalia. On Wednesday, suspected al-Shabab fighters in Lamu sprayed a convoy carrying judicial officials with bullets, injuring several people. An Islamist militia in eastern DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) killed more than 1,200 people in 2021, up almost 50% from the previous year, the United Nations said on Friday, even as the government imposed martial law and conducted joint operations with Uganda to root it out. The increase in killings occurred as the Allied Democratic Forces, a Ugandan armed group that pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2019, extended its attacks farther northward into Ituri province, the U.N. Joint Human Rights Office said. The group often kills civilians as retaliation for military campaigns against it. IS has claimed responsibility for some of the violence carried out by ADF, including a string of bombings in Uganda in October and November, and an explosion in a restaurant in the Congolese city of Beni on Christmas Day. However, United Nations researchers say they have found no evidence of IS command and control over ADF operations. DRC imposed martial law in Ituri and neighboring North Kivu province in May and began joint operations with Uganda's army in November against the ADF. Violence levels have not come down, but Congolese authorities insist they are making progress. Authorities on Friday detained a Kenyan ADF fighter, Salim Mohamed Rashid, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said. He did not provide further details. Salim appeared in the first video of an ADF beheading last June, according to Laren Poole of the U.S.-based Bridgeway Foundation, which studies the group. "Foreign fighters such as Salim demonstrate the reach of the ADFs networks into [East Africa] and could also pose a direct danger should the ADF decide to start sending them back to their countries of origin to establish cells, as they have done in Uganda in the past," Poole said. In September, authorities said they had arrested a Jordanian ADF fighter, who was thought to have been in charge of the militia's drones. Criticism of Hong Kongs judicial independence has no value according to the special administrative regions chief justice, but law experts say many questions remain. Since Beijing imposed a national security law on the region 18 months ago, Hong Kong has endured major changes to its political system and media environment. Now, attention has turned to whether Hong Kongs judiciary can remain freestanding as Beijing tightens its grip. In December, Britain released a six-month report about Hong Kong that outlined the citys eroding freedoms after the implementation of the security law. The report included the accusation that Hong Kongs judicial independence is increasingly finely balanced. The Hong Kong government rejected the finding. Concerns remain, though, as to whether Hong Kong will maintain its British-style justice system or eventually replace it with Chinas opaque system. Speaking at the opening of the legal year Monday, Hong Kong's Chief Justice Andrew Cheung said the territory's judicial independence is fact, RTHK reported. Criticisms of court decisions, which are made without first ascertaining the facts in a case or reading and understanding the reasons for the court's decision, are as meaningless as they are hollow so is any unsubstantiated doubt over the court's independence. Judicial independence in Hong Kong exists as a fact. And we are here today to bear witness to this fact. But one lawyer formerly of Hong Kong, who chose to remain anonymous, told VOA that Cheung hasnt taken into account criticism of the judiciary. The Chief Justices comments at the opening of the legal year are thoroughly underwhelming. (The) dismissal of critics of Hong Kong's rule of law as being motivated by surmises, political stances or geopolitical considerations also smacks of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) propaganda. I would expect a Hong Kong judge to stick to analytical reasoning, and weigh these criticisms for their merits, rather than attack the critics for ulterior motives, the lawyer said. The national security law prohibits acts deemed as secession, subversion, foreign collusion and terrorism, with punishments of up to life in prison. Critics of the security law including pro-democracy opposition and Western governments have said the legislation threatens Hong Kongs unique autonomy, promised when Britain handed the territory back to China in 1997. Out of at least 150 people who have been arrested under the security law, five have been convicted and three have been sentenced to jail. Those sentenced include former waiter Leon Tong Ying-kit, 24, who received nine years in prison following his conviction for terrorism and secession in July. November saw pro-democracy protester Ma Chun-man sentenced to nearly six years in prison for inciting secession, and pro-independence youth activist Tony Chung sentenced for secession and money laundering. For Hong Kong's national security law cases, Chief Executive Carrie Lam has handpicked judges to oversee the proceedings, a move that has angered legal experts. "What about the existence of the appointment system in the first place? Why should there be national security law judges? How does that serve the rule of law or ensure a fair trial?" asked the lawyer who was formerly in Hong Kong. Eric Yan-ho Lai, a law analyst and fellow at Georgetown University, also questioned the way judges are selected to preside over national security cases and whether there are any checks on the chief executives power to choose them. Cheung said Monday the impartiality of the courts was not affected because all designated judges are bound under judicial oath to pass justice without fear or favor, self-interest or deceit. But Yan-ho Lai told VOA, Andrew Cheung could not explain why the chief executive picking the national security law judges would not affect impartiality, especially when Cheung himself visited the chief executive for a meeting just before the Court of Final Appeal hearing on Jimmy Lai's bail appeal. Media mogul Jimmy Lai is in jail facing a slew of criminal charges and facing the possibility of life in prison. Reports said Lam met with Cheung ahead of a bail hearing for Lai in February. Lam denied discussing court cases with Cheung, reiterating her commitment to judicial independence, the South China Morning Post reported. Since the security law has been in force, Hong Kong authorities have arrested pro-democracy activists, journalists and former lawmakers with the crackdown paving the way for a political revamp in the city. Last month, Hong Kongs mini parliament, the Legislative Council, saw its first-ever patriots only elections in which all but one of the seats were won by pro-Beijing candidates. Beijing restructured the legislature last year by reducing the number of directly elected seats voted on by the public. A vetting committee comprising Beijing loyalists also has been installed to determine whether political candidates are loyal to China. No member of the pro-democracy opposition ran in the elections. Those arrested under the security law include dozens of pro-democracy political figures who remain in pre-trial detention after being charged under the law in February. Although Andrew Cheung shared his beliefs, he could not explain why fair trial can be upheld when dozens of national security law defendants are being remanded in pre-trial detention for almost a year. When Cheung's words and deeds are not consistent, the public might be less convinced that the integrity of the court in Hong Kong can be upheld in the post-national security law era, Yan-ho Lai added. Additionally, Hong Kongs media have taken a downward turn since pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily closed in June when several of its executives were charged under the security law and authorities froze the companys financial assets. And pro-democracy news outlet Stand News closed its doors on Dec. 29 as part of a sedition investigation. Independent news sites Citizen News and Mad Dog Daily also decided to fold, citing uncertainty in the region. At least 50 civil society groups also have disbanded in Hong Kong since last year. One of two New York police officers shot dead was laid to rest Friday, in a case that has crystallized a rise in gun violence that new Mayor Eric Adams has vowed to tackle. Officer Jason Rivera, 22, was killed while responding to a domestic disturbance in Harlem with his partner Wilbert Mora, 27, who also died this week of his gun wounds. Under a light snow and somber sky, thousands of officers along with Rivera's family, the police commissioner and Adams, himself a former cop, gathered at the famed St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan for the funeral service that was held in both English and Spanish. The state's Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Chuck Schumer also were in attendance. "He lived his dream, although too short a time," the priest said of Rivera. "He made a difference." An organist played "God Bless America" to close the ceremony, and the blaring of bagpipes filled the streets outside the cathedral, as is traditional in New York police funerals. "Through pain and sorrow, this is exactly how he would've wanted to be remembered. Like a true hero," said the officer's widow, Dominique. The childhood sweethearts were newly married. One police officer in attendance told AFP in Spanish that "I'm in a lot of pain" following the shooting of the man she called a friend, with whom she said she graduated. Another officer, who also would not give his name, said, "We are sad. Sad for him, for his family. Unfortunately, he won't be the last." The city's police commissioner, Keechant Sewell, gave Rivera a posthumous promotion to the highest rank for a detective, first-grade, a traditional promotion for officers killed while working. "The NYPD will never give up this city," said Sewell to the congregation. "We will always prevail." 'We are New Yorkers' The shooting on January 21 was the latest flashpoint in Adams' nascent rule, and it prompted him to release a new plan to rein in the crime he has long decried. Calling Rivera a hero, Adams delivered a eulogy to the slain officer, saying that "his journey by our side has ended. He takes another path." He vowed to combat the "senseless violence" that resulted in the deaths. Honoring the officer's family, Adams told the cathedral, "We are New Yorkers. I believe in this city with all my heart. "We care about each other. That's what makes this city possible, along with the courage of officers like Jason Rivera." The shooting deaths are seen as part of a broader, national trend of gun violence fueled by the accessibility of firearms, against the backdrop of the social and economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adams' plan includes restoring a controversial anti-gun unit that was cut in 2020 amid the mass social justice protests that followed the police killing in Minnesota of George Floyd. The plainclothes police units had become notorious for targeting Black and Latino New Yorkers. This time, the teams would be equipped with body cameras and wear a piece of police insignia but would travel in unmarked vehicles. Adams also is calling for changes to bail laws and a tweak to another law that would allow prosecutors to charge children in adult court if they're arrested with guns, although it is unclear if either of those proposals have necessary state support. The mayor's blueprint has rankled lawmakers on the left, many of whom advocate for more investment in community initiatives, health care and education rather than approaching crime issues through more policing. The largest American city has suffered a spate of violence in January, not only shootings but also the deadly shoving of an Asian American woman onto subway tracks as a train entered Times Square. Gun incidents in New York far from the violence the city was suffering decades ago ticked up slightly in 2021, up 4.3 percent from the 2020 numbers. In a sign that Adams' tough-on-crime line is garnering political backing, President Joe Biden is expected in New York on February 3 to discuss his strategy against gun violence nationwide, according to the White House. Russia's military buildup near Ukraine has expanded to include supplies of blood along with other medical materials that would allow it to treat casualties, in yet another key indicator of Moscow's military readiness, three U.S. officials tell Reuters. Current and former U.S. officials say concrete indicators like blood supplies are critical in determining whether Moscow would be prepared to carry out an invasion, if Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to do so. The disclosure of the blood supplies by U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, adds another piece of context to growing U.S. warnings that Russia could be preparing for a new invasion of Ukraine as it masses more than 100,000 troops near its borders. These warnings have included President Joe Biden's prediction that a Russian assault was likely and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remarks that Russia could launch a new attack on Ukraine at "very short notice." The Pentagon has previously acknowledged the deployment of "medical support" as part of Russia's buildup. But the disclosure of blood supplies adds a level of detail that experts say is critical to determining Russian military readiness. "It doesn't guarantee that there's going to be another attack, but you would not execute another attack unless you have that in hand," said Ben Hodges, a retired U.S. lieutenant general now with the Center for European Policy Analysis research institute. The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment. A White House spokesperson did not immediately comment on any Russian movement of blood supplies but noted repeated public U.S. warnings about Russian military readiness. The Pentagon declined to discuss intelligence assessments. The three U.S. officials who spoke about the blood supplies declined to say specifically when the United States detected their movement to formations near Ukraine. However, two of them said it was within recent weeks. Russian officials have repeatedly denied planning to invade. But Moscow says it feels menaced by Kyiv's growing ties with the West. Eight years ago, Russia seized Crimea and backed separatist forces who took control of large parts of eastern Ukraine. Russia's security demands, presented in December, include an end to further NATO enlargement, barring Ukraine from ever joining and pulling back the alliance's forces and weaponry from eastern European countries that joined after the Cold War. Putin said Friday the United States and NATO had not addressed Russia's main security demands in their standoff over Ukraine, but that Moscow was ready to keep talking. Biden has said he will not send U.S. or allied troops to fight Russia in Ukraine but told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a phone call Thursday that Washington and its allies stand ready to respond decisively if Russia invades the former Soviet state, the White House said. The United States and its allies have said Russia will face tough economic sanctions if it attacks Ukraine. Western countries already have imposed repeated rounds of economic sanctions since Russian troops seized and annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014. But such moves have had scant impact on Russian policy, with Moscow, Europe's main energy supplier, calculating that the West would stop short of steps serious enough to interfere with gas exports. Some supporters of Burkina Faso's military coup this week were seen celebrating with Russian flags and calling for their country to switch alliances from France to Moscow. While the extent of pro-Russia sentiment in Burkina Faso is unclear, there is no doubt many are fed up with French efforts to help fight gangs and Islamist militant groups. Riding through the streets of Ouagadougou on Tuesday, two demonstrators flew a Russian flag, celebrating a military coup in the country a day earlier. They also turned out in Ouagadougous Place de la Nation to celebrate the military takeover. No, we dont want no more France, one demonstrator told VOA. We are here because we want the defense of Russia. France hasn't done anything that gives us success. France has been giving military assistance to Burkina Faso during its six-year conflict with armed groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaida. Earlier this month, the leader of neighboring Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, welcomed mercenaries into the country from the Russian private security company Wagner, which has close links to the Kremlin. The mercenaries took over a military base in Timbuktu that was vacated by French troops in December. Demonstrators in Burkina Faso carried pictures of Goita at this weeks demonstration and on Jan. 22, held a march in solidarity with Mali. Police broke up the gathering using flash bombs and tear gas. Analysts say in recent months, there has been growing anti-French sentiment and a pivot toward Russia. Analysts say Mali is using Russian involvement as a bargaining chip after the West African bloc ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) sanctioned the country for refusing to hold democratic elections within the next five years. The Malian military junta is trying to mobilize national feeling, if you like, said Paul Melly, an analyst with London-based think tank Chatham House. It seems to have brought the Russians in or sought to bring the Russians in as a sort of tool of leverage. Its not entirely clear how much practical military impact it could actually bring. The Russian Embassy in Burkina Faso and the military junta both declined to give VOA an interview. Bernard Bermouga, a Burkinabe political commentator, is pragmatic about the situation. Whether Burkina Faso aligns with France, Russia or another country, Bermouga said, its not out of generosity. It's not free. Theyll want something in return. What is needed is someone who can help Burkina Faso get out of the situation in which it finds itself. Activist Francois Beogo from Burkina Faso, who attended the demonstration, said the French must let them work things out on their own. The demonstrators are not against France, he said, but France must manage their affairs and allow Burkinabe to manage theirs. Without France, he said, soldiers will have peace of mind and be able to reflect on how to organize and free the people. Meanwhile, the Russian organization that trains troops in the Central African Republic has offered military support to Burkina Faso. It remains to be seen if Burkina Fasos new de facto leader, Paul-Henri Damiba, will take up the offer. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday the United States and NATO have not addressed Moscows concerns in its standoff with Ukraine. The Kremlin said Putin made the remarks in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, contending Western diplomatic responses did not consider Russias concerns about NATO expansion, stopping the deployment of alliance weapons near Russias border and rolling back its forces from Eastern Europe. U.S. and NATO officials have rejected those demands but have outlined areas where dialogue is possible. The Kremlin said Putin told Macron he would further study the responses this week before deciding on next steps. "The key question was ignored: how the United States and its allies intend to follow the principle of security integrity ... that no one should strengthen their security at the expense of another country's security," the Kremlin said. A French presidency official said that during Fridays call with Macron, Putin called for de-escalation, comments echoed by Russias top diplomat. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia does not want war with Ukraine but that it will protect its security interests against the West if necessary. Lavrovs comments came in an interview Friday with Russian radio stations one day after U.S. President Joe Biden warned of a distinct possibility that Russia could invade Ukraine in coming days. If it depends on Russia, then there will be no war. We don't want wars, Lavrov said. But we also won't allow our interests to be rudely trampled, to be ignored." U.S. President Joe Biden warned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a White House statement Thursday that Russia could invade Ukraine next month. President Biden said that there is a distinct possibility that the Russians could invade Ukraine in February, Emily Horne, the White House National Security Council spokesperson said. He has said this publicly and we have been warning about this for months. Ukraines president sought to play down those fears, warning the talk of war was having a detrimental effect on his countrys economy. We dont need this panic, Zelenskiy told a news conference in Kyiv on Friday. In talks between Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Geneva last week, the two committed to put their countries concerns and responses to them in writing for further discussion, along with NATOs. Blinken said Thursday the document the U.S. handed Russia includes concerns of the United States and our allies and partners about Russias actions that undermine security a principled and pragmatic evaluation of the concerns that Russia has raised, and our own proposals for areas where we may be able to find common ground. The U.S. has called for a meeting Monday of the United Nations Security Council on Ukraine. "More than 100,000 Russian troops are deployed on the Ukrainian border and Russia is engaging in other destabilizing acts aimed at Ukraine, posing a clear threat to international peace and security and the U.N. Charter," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Thursday in a statement. This is not a moment to wait and see. The Councils full attention is needed now, and we look forward to direct and purposeful discussion on Monday. Russia is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council and therefore has veto power over any resolution. Russias military buildup along Ukraines border has reached the point that Putin now has a full range of military options, including some short of a full-scale invasion, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday. While we don't believe that President Putin has made a final decision to use these forces against Ukraine, he clearly now has the capability, Austin said at a Pentagon news conference. Austin said Putin has the capability to seize Ukranian cities and significant territories in the country with some of the 100,000 troops at the border. Austin also warned Russia could use coercive acts or provocative political acts," such as recognizing breakaway territories inside Ukraine. The U.S. and its European allies, fearing an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, continue to protest Russias massing of troops along the borders of the onetime Soviet republic, although Moscow says it has no intention of attacking. Biden, while ruling out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine, repeatedly has warned Russia that the West will impose crippling economic sanctions against it if it crosses the border and attacks Ukraine. While Russia and the U.S. and its allies trade demands, both sides have ramped up military preparations. Russia has launched military drills involving motorized infantry and artillery units in southwestern Russia, warplanes in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, dozens of warships in the Black Sea and the Arctic, and Russian fighter jets and paratroopers in Belarus. On Friday, Ukraines military held artillery and anti-aircraft drills in the countrys southern Kherson region near the border with Russian-annexed Crimea, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance was ready to bolster its troop presence in Eastern Europe. Stoltenberg, speaking online from Brussels at a Washington think tank event, also said NATO was closely monitoring Russias movements of thousands of troops, aircraft and S-400 anti-aircraft systems into Belarus. From the NATO side we are ready to engage in political dialogue, Stoltenberg declared. But we're also ready to respond if Russia chooses an armed conflict confrontation." He added that NATO is not planning to deploy combat-ready troops to Ukraine. NATO said earlier this week that it was boosting its presence in the Baltic Sea region, and the U.S. has put 8,500 troops on heightened alert for deployment to Europe as part of a NATO operation. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. Ugandan traders welcomed Rwanda's announcement Friday that it will reopen its border after being closed for three years. The Rwanda Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that following last week's visit by Ugandan Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba who is also President Yoweri Museveni's son the Gatuna border post will be reopened Monday. In February 2019, Rwanda closed the border crossing after accusing Uganda of supporting rebel groups in order to destabilize Rwanda. Uganda, meanwhile, accused the Rwanda government of spying. The Rwandan statement says the government has taken note there is a process to solve issues raised by Rwanda, as well as commitments made by the Ugandan government to address remaining obstacles. In a tweet after Muhoozi's return from Kigali, Thomas Tayebwa, the Ugandan government's chief whip in Parliament, noted this was a step in the right direction toward what he called normalizing Uganda-Rwanda relations. Great Lakes Region security analyst Dismas Nkunda said the events that followed Muhoozi's return from Rwanda, including the firing of Uganda's military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Abel Kandiho, were a sign the reopening of the border was imminent. "So, a lieutenant general in the name of Muhoozi went to Kigali. Had a private meeting in which he was told, we can begin talking because Abel Kandiho is the one who is hosting all the enemies of Rwanda in Kampala, which was true," Nkunda said. "And so, if you relieve him of his duties and he doesn't harbor the same issues he has against Rwanda, we are OK to open the border." The closure of the Gatuna-Katuna crossing created financial hardships for Rwandan and Ugandan citizens doing business across the border. Business analysts are calling on both governments to compensate traders who lost money due to the closure. In 2019, Sheila Kawamara, executive director of the Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women, filed a lawsuit asking the court to order the reopening of the border and allow traders, especially women, to resume work. "I would propose and appeal to the two governments to find a way for compensating the losses the traders have had," she said. "So, there should be a mechanism that Rwanda and Uganda put in place to ensure that the business community on either side of the border are able to get back into business." Meanwhile, residents of Gatuna in Rwanda and Katuna in Uganda are eagerly waiting for Monday, when the gates reopen for the first time in three years. Editor's note: Here is a fast take on what the international community has been up to this past week, as seen from the United Nations perch. UN chief: We cannot abandon the Afghan people The U.N. secretary-general warned on Wednesday that Afghanistan is "hanging by a thread," as the organization appealed for a total of $8 billion to scale up humanitarian assistance to more than 22 million Afghans this year. UN Chief: Afghanistan 'Hanging by a Thread' Norway hosts talks between Taliban and Afghan civil society Norway hosted three days of talks in Oslo between a Taliban delegation and members of Afghan civil society. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said at the U.N. this week that the meeting did not confer recognition or legitimacy on the Taliban but was "a first step" in dealing with the de facto Afghan authorities to prevent a humanitarian disaster in that country. Norway Defends Hosting Talks with Afghan Taliban Military coup in Burkina Faso Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern about the January 23 military coup in the West African nation of Burkina Faso that deposed President Roch Marc Christian Kabore and his government. Guterres said the role of militaries must be to defend their countries and people, not attack their governments and fight for power. The secretary-general's special representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, will travel to Burkina Faso this weekend on a good offices mission. West African Nations See String of Coups In brief A U.N. team of experts arrived in Lima, Peru, on January 24 to assess the social and environmental impacts of an oil spill linked to the underwater volcanic eruption that triggered a tsunami in the Pacific island nation of Tonga. The team is specialized in contamination assessment and will advise authorities on how to manage and coordinate their response. Some good news World Health Organization chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a meeting of the agency's executive board on January 24 that if countries change the conditions driving the spread of coronavirus infections, it is possible to end the acute phase of the global pandemic this year. That includes vaccinating 70% of their populations, monitoring the emergence of new variants and boosting testing. A small but important glimmer of hope in Libya: the U.N. political chief told the Security Council on January 24 that the overall humanitarian situation improved in 2021. Rosemary DiCarlo said the U.N. recorded a 36% decrease in the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance, from 1.3 million at the start of 2021 to 803,000 by the end of the year. Additionally, about 100,000 of the more than quarter million displaced Libyans returned home last year. Quote of note "Were we to observe a minute of silence for each victim, that silence would last more than eleven years." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, addressing a virtual U.N. memorial ceremony marking the International Day for Holocaust remembrance on January 27. What we are watching next week On January 31, the U.N. Security Council will hold an open meeting to discuss tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The meeting was requested by the United States, and Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters, "This is just one more step in our diplomatic approach to bring the Russians to de-escalate and look for an opportunity to move forward." The meeting will take place one day before Russia assumes the rotating presidency of the 15-nation council for the month of February. Did you know? The ancient Greek tradition of an Olympic truce goes into effect on January 28. It starts seven days before this year's Winter Olympics open in Beijing and continues for a week after the close of the Paralympic Games. The U.N. General Assembly endorsed the truce during a meeting on January 20. The U.N. secretary-general is headed to Beijing for the opening ceremony on February 4. With President Joe Bidens broader domestic agenda stymied in the Senate, Democratic leaders in Congress have begun looking for legislative victories elsewhere, with a new focus on improving the U.S. ability to compete with China. Democrats in the House of Representatives are attempting to come to agreement on legislation that would provide large financial subsidies to the semiconductor industry as well as generous research and development grants to support supply chain resilience, buoy domestic manufacturing operations and underwrite new scientific research. The effort in the House follows a push in the Senate last year, which resulted in bipartisan passage of the United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021. That bill proposed $52 billion in assistance to the semiconductor industry as well as nearly $200 billion more on research and development projects meant to bolster U.S. competitiveness. The House is likely to pass its own version of the legislation, meaning the two chambers would have to come to an agreement on final language before a bill could go to the White House to be signed into law. It remains unclear whether an eventual House bill would garner any Republican support in that chamber, or whether compromise language would continue to attract the Republican support that helped the Senates original bill come to the floor for a vote. But in a statement this week, the president made it clear that he would like to see the legislation on his desk. Biden praised the transformational investments that the legislation would make. With the proposed legislation, he said, We have an opportunity to show China and the rest of the world that the 21st century will be the American century forged by the ingenuity and hard work of our innovators, workers, and businesses. Countering Chinese subsidies In Congress, even among conservative lawmakers who generally shy away from government intervention in the economy, there is recognition of a need to balance the scales for U.S. companies that frequently find themselves in competition with Chinese firms that receive subsidies and other preferences from the government in Beijing. When the Senate passed its version of the bill in June, Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said, This type of targeted investment in a critical industry was unthinkable just a couple years ago, but the need for smart industrial policy is now widely accepted. That comes as a surprise to many observers of U.S. policymaking. There is somewhat of an ambivalence, or confusion, in D.C. where, on the one hand, people want to say that China's industrial policies are both very unfair, and also very important in explaining China's competitive success, Gerard DiPippo, a senior fellow in the Economics Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA. But then, they also seem reluctant to actually engage in those policies because they think those policies are actually very distortionary and ineffective. So, it sort of cuts both ways. Semiconductors in focus Despite strong economic growth in the U.S. over the past year, a persistent shortage of semiconductors has caused some sectors of the economy the automobile industry in particular to lag behind. Supply chain disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic have been difficult to resolve, leading many members of Congress to propose funding to re-shore domestic production of semiconductors. Both the Senate bill and the version being considered by the House of Representatives would funnel $52 billion in grants and subsidies to the industry. However, China is not a major competitor of the United States when it comes to semiconductors. While China does make some semiconductors, the largest manufacturer in the world is TSMC, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. in Taiwan. Decoupling seen as troubling Some American companies that do business with China are concerned about the long-term efforts of both countries to achieve economic independence from each other. China is upset with efforts to increase export restrictions on U.S. goods, block Chinese companies from accessing certain U.S. goods, and restrict some direct investments in China, Doug Barry, a senior director with the U.S.-China Business Council, told VOA in an email exchange. They worry about incentives to relocate production of some critical goods back to the U.S. At the same time, China is working to reduce dependence on certain goods like advanced semiconductors, while slow-walking promised market access reform and opening, Barry said. Our members worry that these efforts signal mutual economic decoupling thats not in the long-term interest of either country, he said. Both governments need to engage in direct talks to better manage differences, adhere to WTO principles, and ensure that Phase One Agreement commitments are fully met. Government interference misguided Ryan Young, a senior fellow with the Competitive Enterprise Institute, told VOA that efforts by Congress to mimic China by trying to manipulate the U.S. economy are misguided at best, and at worst destructive. This falls into what I think of as the But they do it, too, argument, Young said. While it is indisputable that the Chinese government creates all sorts of advantages for certain sectors within its economy, he said, it doesnt follow that the answer is for the U.S. to do the same. Despite government support, large Chinese tech firms are burdened with substantial debt, operational inefficiencies and political meddling, he said. Further, Young noted that the semiconductor industry, which the legislative efforts target above all else, has already taken steps to bring some of its production into U.S. territory, with chip giant Intel expanding a $50 billion complex of chip manufacturing facilities in Arizona. The U.S. and Taiwanese vice presidents had a brief conversation Thursday at the inauguration of the new Honduran president, a rare encounter that is highly symbolic and likely to add to Beijing's tensions with Washington. The United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, though its strong support for the island both politically and through arms sales is one of the main sources of Sino-U.S. friction. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said she spoke with her Taiwanese counterpart, William Lai, in Honduras about their shared interest in Central America and the U.S. government's "root causes" strategy to curb migration. "The brief conversation that we had was really about a common interest in this part of the region and apparently Taiwan's interest in our root causes strategy," she told reporters, adding Lai had approached her. Taiwan's official Central News Agency characterized it as a "simple greeting," saying the two "talked briefly and interacted naturally." It carried a picture of them standing next to each other on a stage talking, both wearing face masks, and Lai sporting a lapel pin of entwined Taiwanese and Honduran flags. Honduras is one of only 14 countries still to formally recognize Taiwan. Honduras' new president, Xiomara Castro, floated the idea of ditching Taipei for Beijing in her election campaign, though on Wednesday she told Lai that Honduras is grateful for Taiwan's support and hopes to maintain their relationship. Castro and Lai met again Thursday, with Lai handing over a donation of supplies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. "I appreciate the solidarity, as well as the willingness to support us in our development agenda," she wrote in a tweet. Speaking after her meeting with Castro, Harris said they did not discuss China. China has ramped up pressure to reduce Taiwan's international footprint, saying the democratically governed island is Chinese territory with no right to state-to-state ties. In the runup to the November election, a visiting U.S. delegation to Honduras made clear it wanted the Central American country to maintain its Taiwan relations. The United States has worried about growing Chinese influence in its back yard. China last month reestablished relations with Nicaragua, a neighbor of Honduras, and has openly said it is aiming to reduce the number of Taiwan's diplomatic allies to zero. The most senior U.S. military officer warns Russia will end up blazing a path of death and devastation, for all sides, should it decide to resolve its differences with Ukraine by using military force. U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley issued the blunt admonishment Friday during a rare news conference at the Pentagon with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, where both men insisted tragedy could be avoided if Moscow was willing to pull back from the brink. "Given the type of forces that are arrayed, the ground maneuver forces, the artillery, the ballistic missiles, the air forces, all of it packaged together, if that was unleashed on Ukraine, it would be significant, very significant," Milley told reporters. "It would result in a significant amount of casualties. And you can imagine what that might look like in dense urban areas," he said. "It would be horrific. It would be terrible. And it's not necessary." The U.S. warning Friday comes as the standoff between Russia and Ukraine appears to have reached a tipping point. Later Friday, President Joe Biden told reporters he would add U.S. troops to the NATO presence in Eastern Europe. "I'll be moving troops to Eastern Europe and the NATO countries in the near term. Not too many," Biden said on return to Washington from a speech in Pennsylvania. Putin's call with Macron Senior U.S. defense officials cautioned that Russia had amassed sufficient firepower to launch a full-scale invasion at any time, while Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron that the West had failed to adequately address Moscow's security concerns. Putin, according to the Kremlin, told Macron that the most recent Western diplomatic responses did not consider Russia's concerns about NATO expansion such as stopping the deployment of alliance weapons near Russia's border and rolling back its forces from Eastern Europe. Separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russian radio stations Friday that Russia did not want war with Ukraine but that it would protect its interests against the West if necessary. "If it depends on Russia, then there will be no war. We don't want wars," Lavrov said. "But we also won't allow our interests to be rudely trampled, to be ignored." Escalating tensions and rhetoric But the U.S. defense secretary pushed back, telling Pentagon reporters Friday that no one has done anything to lead Russia to encircle Ukraine with more than 100,000 troops. "There was no provocation that caused them to move those forces," Austin said Friday at the Pentagon, calling out Moscow for a new wave of disinformation campaigns. "Indeed, we're seeing Russian state media spouting off now about alleged activities in eastern Ukraine," he said. "This is straight out of the Russian playbook. And they're not fooling us." Austin also painted Moscow's saber-rattling as counterproductive. "A move on Ukraine will accomplish the very thing Russia says it does not want a NATO alliance strengthened and resolved on its western flank," he said. But with no sign of give from any side U.S. and NATO officials have repeatedly rejected Russia's demands there are growing concerns that fear or hysteria could spread, making an already fragile situation more perilous. "We don't need this panic," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told a news conference in Kyiv on Friday, accusing U.S. leaders of talking up the possibility of conflict. "Are tanks driving here on our streets? No. But it feels like this [reading the media]," he said. "In my opinion, this is a mistake. Because those are signals of how the world reacts." Despite the disagreement over rhetoric, U.S. and European officials said they continue to hold out hope that diplomacy can prevail. One senior U.S. administration official, talking to reporters on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss developments, said remarks like those Friday by Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov are a positive sign. "We welcome the message," the official said. "We need to see it backed up by swift action." The official added that Monday's United Nations Security Council meeting on Ukraine will be "an opportunity for Russia to explain what it is doing, and we've come prepared to listen." Ramping up military preparations While Russia and the U.S. and its allies have spent much of the past week trading demands, both sides have also ramped up military preparations. On Saturday, a Russian lawmaker appealed to residents who live in parts of Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed rebels to enlist in the Russian armed forces, a sign some observers see as Moscows effort to integrate those territories as much as possible. Viktor Vodolatsky told Russias state-run Tass news agency that residents of those regions, controlled by the rebels since 2014, fear attacks by Ukrainian forces and that Russias military would welcome those who hold Russian passports. If Russian citizens residing in the [Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine] want to join the Russian Armed Forces, the Rostov regional military commissariat will register and draft them, said Vodolatsky, deputy chairman of the lower house of Russias parliament. He said the recruits from those territories would serve in Russia, but did not address the possibility they could join any future invasion force. To date, Russia has granted more than 500,000 passports to people in those rebel-held territories. Russia has also launched military drills involving motorized infantry and artillery units in southwestern Russia, warplanes in Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, dozens of warships in the Black Sea and the Arctic, and Russian fighter jets and paratroopers in Belarus. Ukraine's military held artillery and anti-aircraft drills in the country's southern Kherson region Friday near the border with Russian-annexed Crimea. And the U.S., which has been providing Kyiv with anti-tank missiles, grenade launchers, artillery and ammunition, said another shipment arrived Friday to help bolster Ukrainian defenses. Also Friday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance has already bolstered its troop presence in Eastern Europe and continues to watch Russia's military movements, including the positioning of aircraft and S-400 anti-aircraft systems in Belarus, closely. "The aim now is to try to reduce tensions," Stoltenberg said, speaking online from Brussels at a Washington think-tank event. "We urge Russia, we call on Russia to engage in talks," he said, adding that opting for the use of force will not work out well for Moscow. "When it comes to Ukraine, I am absolutely certain that Russia understands they will have to pay a high price [for invading]," Stoltenberg said. "I am certain President Putin and Russia takes NATO very serious when it comes to our ability to protect and defend all allies." Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. The United States is marching ahead with sending free vaccines to lower-income nations, with the White House on Thursday announcing a donation of nearly 300,000 doses of the two-shot Pfizer vaccine to the landlocked central Asian nation of Tajikistan. The doses are set to ship Thursday, a White House official told VOA. Just a day earlier, the White House announced that the U.S. hit the milestone of 400 million donated doses to at least 112 countries. VOA spoke exclusively to Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to U.S. President Joe Biden, who said that international vaccine donations are part of the U.S. strategy to beat the pandemic. "It's absolutely critical," Fauci told VOA via Zoom. "You address a global outbreak by a global solution and a global effort. And that's why the United States has been committed to, and will deliver on, vaccine doses to low- and middle-income countries." The latest donation will see the central Asian nation receive 299,520 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The donation will be handled by COVAX, a global initiative founded to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Scientific, legal and regulatory teams in both nations will ensure the prompt delivery of safe and effective tranches of vaccine, the White House said. These new doses come from the half-billion doses secured by the Biden administration over the summer, according to the White House. Critics have said that while the U.S. has done more than any other nation, the world's wealthiest country can afford to do still more. Some are pushing for the global adoption of the TRIPS waiver, an agreement that would waive patents and intellectual property rights on COVID-19 tools like vaccines, therapeutics, tests and more. "I don't think that that's really necessarily a part of the puzzle, because it's very clear that we can get doses that are manufactured in the plants that are already going full-blast to the low- and middle-income countries," Fauci said, when asked about how the TRIPS waiver fits into the fight against the pandemic. "I mean, obviously, you want to make sure that you have everything you can do to make doses available for the developing world. But I think we can do that on the basis of what's going on right now." Global aid groups say the waiver is key. "The U.S. should lead in responding to what low- and middle-income countries are asking for the ability to manufacture their own doses for their own citizens," said Robbie Silverman, senior manager of private sector advocacy at Oxfam America. "This starts with adopting the TRIPS waiver, opening the vaccine recipe, sharing the technical know-how, and providing resourcing to qualified manufacturers throughout the world," he added. "The waiver is needed now more than ever," said Candice Sehoma, South Africa advocacy officer for Doctors Without Boders' Access Campaign. VOA asked Fauci whether the U.S. might retool its vaccine donation plans now that booster shots are becoming the norm in the developed world. "I think the donation effort is really substantial and will get better and better," he said. "And I think, ultimately, that will accommodate the need for boosters. But let's take one step at a time. A very small percentage of some of the countries, particularly in southern Africa, are fully vaccinated. Let's get that first, and then we'll worry about the boosters. But we do appreciate the need, ultimately throughout the world, to get people optimally protected. And we know that optimal protection with an mRNA [vaccine] means a third shot. And with [the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine] means a second shot." The most recent recipient of American donations, Tajikistan, appears to be moving swiftly on its vaccination campaign. As of the start of the year, nearly 6.9 million vaccine doses have been administered in the nation of 10 million people, according to the World Health Organization. Tajikistan has seen more than 17,600 confirmed cases of the virus and 125 deaths. Jorge Agobian contributed to this report. Pakistan this week has marked a full year without detection of wild polio cases, a landmark development in a country where the disease annually paralyzed approximately 20,000 children in the early 1990s. The South Asian nation of about 220 million people and neighboring Afghanistan are the last two wild polio-endemic countries in the world. While polio paralyzed 84 children in Pakistan in 2020, the most recent infection of the wild virus, known as WPV1, was recorded on January 27, 2021, the lowest number of reported cases in the country ever. Twelve months without detection of WPV1 cases in Pakistan is an encouraging epidemiological signal but must be taken with caution, Dr. Hamid Jafari, director of polio eradication for the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region, told VOA. It does not mean that WPV1 has been eradicated from the country or the circulation of virus has stopped in Pakistan, he said. Poliovirus does not follow calendar years it is a seasonal virus, and right now we are in the low-transmission season when the virus is weakest, Jafari said. Surveillance efforts continued to detect the virus in environmental samples as recently as last month, pointing to continued transmission of WPV1 in Pakistan. Pakistani officials and international partners recognized that challenges to reaching all Pakistani children with vaccines also persist in key areas of the country, including parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. The biggest danger we face right now is complacency. This is the time we need to pull out all stops to intensify our surveillance and actively search for the virus -- be it in tracking down the remaining chains of transmission, or any remaining affected children, Jafari said. He noted that countries in the final stages of their anti-polio efforts, notably India and Nigeria, have shown that low-level transmission can persist for a significant amount of time before the strain is completely eradicated. Nigeria officially eradicated wild polio in 2020, leaving Pakistan and Afghanistan as the only countries where the disease is still endemic. Setbacks, skepticism Pakistan formally launched national anti-polio drives in 1994 and tens of thousands of vaccinators have since been staging regular inoculation campaigns across the country. Polio vaccination drives in Pakistan have suffered setbacks in recent years due a variety of factors, including attacks on vaccinators and police personnel guarding them. The latest attack came on Tuesday when gunmen shot and killed a policeman providing security for polio vaccinators in a northwestern town, Kohat. No health workers were harmed in the incident. Outlawed militant groups, which claim they are fighting for establishing their brand of Islamic law, or Sharia, in Pakistan, see the polio vaccine as an effort to collect intelligence on their activities. Pakistani officials denounce the claims as ridiculous and dismiss the militants as criminals and thugs. Fundamentalist religious groups in conservative rural parts of the majority-Muslim nation reject the immunization as a Western-led conspiracy to sterilize children. The false information has triggered attacks during vaccine campaigns, killing scores of health care workers and security forces in the last decade or so. Pakistani officials insist the attacks on polio teams have particularly increased since 2011, when the CIA arranged a fake vaccination campaign with the help of a local doctor, enabling U.S. forces to locate and kill fugitive al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden deep inside Pakistan. The progress that has been made to date is largely thanks to sustained commitment by leaders at all levels, including at the highest levels and now is the time to ensure commitment and effort must now be sustained and intensified, Jafari said. Only four cases of wild polio were confirmed in Afghanistan in 2021, down from 56 cases a year before. The U.N. said the lowest ever polio transmission in the country has provided an unprecedented opportunity to achieve eradication. The end of the Afghan war has also fueled hopes a polio-free Afghanistan is within reach. Last year in November and December, U.N. officials say health workers were able to deliver polio vaccinations to 2.6 million Afghan children who had previously been inaccessible due to the conflict. Close coordination with Afghanistan is being strengthened to detect poliovirus and improve vaccination among cross border mobile populations, Jafari said. As an unprecedented number of Afghan refugees are placed in U.S. cities, resettlement agencies struggle to keep up. Deana Mitchell talked to several Afghan families new to Austin, Texas who said they arent getting the help they need. Several political parties filed names of candidates today at the Nomination Court countrywide, who will contest by-elections in six parliamentary constituencies which were declared vacant despite a Supreme Court ruling that the person that recalled lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party from the House of Assembly was not a legitimate representative of the organization. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced sometime this week that they had abandoned holding by-elections in Pumula, Nkulumane, Harare East, Kambuzuma, Mutasa South and Mbizo following the Supreme Court ruling. But President Emmerson Mnangagwa proclaimed in a government gazette that the Nomination Court should sit and select candidates for the seats as per a High Court ruling on Wednesday. Nelson Chamisas Citizens Coalition for Change fielded some of the candidates who were recalled by the MDC-T, which accused them of aligning themselves with the MDC Alliance. The recalled PDP lawmakers contested the 2018 parliamentary polls under the MDC Alliance. Justice Never Katiyo ordered ZEC to open the Nomination Court for filing the six vacant seats, a day after ZEC announced that there wont be elections in these constituencies in compliance with a court ruling early this year ordering parliament to reinstate the six Members of Parliament. Benjamin Rukanda, who claimed to be secretary for the PDP, filed an urgent chamber application on Wednesday challenging the cancellation of the nominations in the six constituencies. Several and council and parliamentary seats also fell vacant when the MDC-T recalled all councillors and lawmakers, who were linked to Chamisa's MDC Alliance. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. Boise Volfam: unfortunately this morning Jon tested positive for COVID, so we will have to cancel our appearance tonight at Idaho Center. Jon is asymptomatic and feeling fine, so were hopeful he will be back behind the kit soon. Ghost and Twin Temple are still playing, but refunds are available from your point of purchase if requested. In the meantime, our great friend and amazing drummer Jon Dette is dropping everything to meet up with us in Portland and will be filling in until our Jon is cleared to return, so we can resume the tour tomorrow night. Boise, we hope to be back soon. Please stay safe in the meantime! Mukhtar Ablyazov, the fugitive ex-head of the BTA Bank and founding president of the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (QDT) party [1], was taken in by Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus (who had also fooled French President Emmanuel Macron in 2019). In the gag, the two Russians pretended to be associates of Alexei Navalny and discussed by videoconference with Mukhtar Ablyazov of their joint alliance for the overthrow of dictatorships in Kazakhstan and Russia, but also in Ukraine and Venezuela. Despite the mountain backdrop behind him, Mukhtar Ablyazov spoke from Paris where he has political asylum. He boasted of having dedicated 4 years to the organization of the attempted regime change in Kazakhstan. They concluded the conversation standing up, to the sound of the European Union anthem. Good evening. We face a critical moment for Euro-Atlantic security. Russias military build-up in and around Ukraine continues, with more than 100,000 troops in position, and more on the way, including significant deployments in Belarus. We call on Russia once again to immediately de-escalate the situation. NATO firmly believes that tensions and disagreements must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Not through force or the threat of force. So today, NATO has conveyed our written proposals to Russia. We have done so in parallel with the United States. Let me outline the three main areas where we see room for progress. First, NATO-Russia relations. Russia has cut diplomatic ties with NATO, which makes our dialogue more difficult. So we should re-establish our respective offices in Moscow and in Brussels. We should also make full use of our existing military-to-military channels of communications, to promote transparency and reduce risks, and look also into setting up a civilian hotline for emergency use. Second, European security, including the situation in and around Ukraine. We are prepared to listen to Russias concerns, and engage in a real conversation on how to uphold and strengthen the fundamental principles of European security that we have all signed up to, starting with the Helsinki Final Act. This includes the right of each nation to choose its own security arrangements. Russia should refrain from coercive force posturing, aggressive rhetoric, and malign activities directed against Allies and other nations. Russia should also withdraw its forces from Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, where they are deployed without these countries consent, and all parties should engage constructively in efforts to settle conflicts, including in the Normandy format. Third, risk reduction, transparency, and arms control. History has shown that engagement on these issues can provide real security for everyone. So we need practical measures that will make a real difference. As a first step, we are proposing mutual briefings on exercises and nuclear policies in the NATO-Russia Council. We should also modernise the Vienna Document on military transparency, and work to reduce space and cyber threats. We should consult on ways to prevent incidents in the air and at sea, and recommit to full compliance with international commitments on chemical and biological weapons. Finally, we need to have a serious conversation on arms control. Including nuclear weapons and ground-based intermediate and shorter range missiles. These areas represent an agenda for meaningful dialogue, and I have invited Allies and Russia to a series of meetings to address all of these issues in greater detail in the NATO-Russia Council. Allies are ready to meet as soon as possible. In all of our efforts, we continue to coordinate closely with Ukraine, as well as with other NATO partners, including Finland, Sweden, Georgia, and of course, the European Union. NATO is a defensive Alliance, and we do not seek confrontation. But we cannot and will not compromise on the principles on which the security of our Alliance and security in Europe and North America rest. We remain fully committed to our founding treaty, and our collective defence pledge enshrined in Article 5. We will take all necessary measures to defend and protect all Allies. And with that I am ready to take your questions. NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu: And well start with POLITICO, David Herszenhorn. David Herszenhorn (POLITICO): Thanks very much, Mr. Secretary General. I wonder if you tell us if there are any plans for renewed talks, for further diplomatic talks [inaudible] in written responses. Do you think will provide basis for more conversation, the kind of conversation described going forward? NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: We have invited, I have, as Chairman of the NATO-Russia Council, invited all 30 Allies and Russia to a series of meetings where we are ready to sit down and to have substantive discussions on a wide range of issues. I mentioned main issues in the NATO written proposals we have sent to Russia today. We also had to sit down and listen to the Russian concerns. And we also strongly believe that these issues represent topics where we both can benefit: arms control, reducing the threats from nuclear weapons, from short range and medium range missiles, addressing the threats and reducing the threat from cyber space, but also from space based weapons systems, more transparency on military activities. All of these issues represented, in different ways, areas where actually we can improve the security, both for NATO Allies and for Russia. So at the end of the day, this is about whether its a will to engage in good faith and to try to sit down and find common ground. NATO Spokesperson: Will now go to Natalia Drozdiak from Bloomberg. Natalia Drozdiak (Bloomberg): Thank you so much for my question. I just [inaudible] that NATO wants to keep an open door policy with Ukraine, but could it not in either of these responses or in responses going forward to Russia, would NATO consider, in writing, saying that you Ukraine is not on track for membership anytime soon? Depending on the wording, this wouldnt necessarily close the door to membership, but it would simply state the reality of the situation. NATO Secretary General: What we have made clear is that we will not compromise on some core principles. And one of them is, of course, that every nation has the right to choose its own path. So NATO respects a country or a nation when they decide to apply for NATO membership, as for instance, Ukraine, or when they decide to not apply for a NATO membership as Finland and Sweden have done. So, this is about respecting the right for self-determination. And then, at the end of the day, decisions on membership will have to be made by consensus among the 30 Allies and, of course, the country that applies for a membership. And that is, fundamental principles and that is also, of course, reflected in the NATO positions. NATO Spokesperson: Next question, well go to Courtney Kube from NBC. Courtney Kube (NBC): Thank you. I want to ask you about the NATO Response Force. Mr. Secretary General, can you give us your assessment over whether you think that is going to actually be activated and when? Theres a lot of talk here in the US that it could be activated in advance of some sort of movement by Russia as more of a deterrent? And then, can you give us a sense of what you think the ultimate size could grow to, the number of troops and any special capabilities, any kind of insight into that? NATO Secretary General: We are now reaching out to Russia once again to try to pursue a path of dialogue and to find a political solution. Thats the reason why we sent them this evening the written proposals from 30 NATO Allies covering a wide range of different issues. But of course while we are hoping for, and working for, a good solution, de-escalation, we are also prepared for the worst. And therefore, in parallel with our efforts on the dialogue track, we are also increasing the readiness of our forces. And NATO Allies have also increased the presence including in the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea region, with more ships and more planes, partly to conduct surveillance, to monitor, to have the best possible picture of the developments in and around Ukraine, but also to provide reassurance to Allies. And then, part of that is that we actually some weeks ago increased the readiness of the NATO Response Force. This response force its composed of different elements and the lead element of the NATO Response Force consists of around 5000 troops. Its currently led by France. But also other Allies contribute troops to this lead element, and it can be deployed within days. And then, we have additional follow-on troops that can also be deployed on short notice. And to deploy the NATO Response Force, or any element of the NATO Response Force, we need the decision by the North Atlantic Council, by NATO. And that decision will be made, if necessary, and we will deploy, if necessary. We have plans in place that we can activate, execute on very short notice. So what we have done over the last two weeks is to increase readiness. And then, what weve done over the last years, since Russia used force against Ukraine the last time, we have increased our presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, with battlegroups in the Baltic countries and Poland, and also more air policing and naval presence. I welcome the US decision to assign [8500] troops on high readiness to the NATO Response Force, just demonstrating the very strong commitment from the United States to European security and demonstrating the strength of NATO, bringing NATO Allies together and having a multinational force like the NATO Response Force. NATO Spokesperson: Well take the next question from Denis Dubrovin from TASS. Denis Dubrovin (TASS): Thank you very much, good evening. My question is about the possibility for Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO. As NATO has said that there will be no compromise on this. Should we understand that the decision of Bucharest Summit will not be dismissed? As of now, many politicians in Ukraine and Georgia are using this statement to show to its people that their countries will become members of NATO and the European Union very soon. It was the case, for example, in Maidan in 2014. Dont you feel that you are lying or gets the wrong signal to those countries? Thank you very much. NATO Secretary General: We are standing by the core principles on which European security has been based for many years, for decades. And that is that we respect the sovereign right of every nation to choose what kind of security arrangements it wants to be part of, or [doesnt] want to be a part of. And thats the reason why we, of course, respect decisions by Georgia and Ukraine to apply for membership and also, the reason why we have engaged in a very strong and close partnership with both these countries. Our focus now is on the reforms, is to help to modernize and strengthen the defense and security institutions, and to meet NATO standards. But also while we respect decisions of countries not to apply for membership, for instance, as Finland and Sweden, but also with them, we have very close partnership, politically strong and close consultations, and also our forces exercise together, train together, and we have achieved very high degree of interoperability. So this is about respecting nations and their right to choose their own path. And that has not changed. And that is actually a principle that also Russia has subscribed to many times, starting with the Helsinki Final Act in 1975, but also the Paris Accord in 1990, and many other documents where this principle has been clearly stated. NATO Spokesperson: Well now go to Thomas Gutschker from Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Thomas Gutschker (FAZ): Thanks a lot. Secretary General, my first question is: is there anything new in your, in the answer that has been transmitted to Russia that did not come up when Russian officials were at NATO for the last NATO-Russia Council? And the second question: there clearly is risk that Russia takes this written response as a pretext to attack Ukraine because its requests have not been fulfilled, obviously. So why did you still decide to reply in written form? Thanks. NATO Secretary General: We decided to reply in written form because we take it very seriously, the efforts to try to make progress in our political dialogue with Russia. And we have listened to Russian concerns, we have listened also to the Russian call for a written response. And I also think its helpful not only to meet in the NATO-Russia Council, as we did a couple of weeks ago, having an oral, and open, and frank discussion on many of these issues, but also actually to go one step further, and to write down and agree, among 30 Allies, proposals, ideas, topics, where we believe it is possible to make progress, to find a way forward and to find areas where we can actually agree. And thats a reason why we have put all this into a written document. We, of course, many of these positions and views were also reflected in the discussion we had in the NATO-Russia Council. But the fact that we now are submitting a written document provides us with the opportunity to be more specific, to go more into the detail, and to be more concrete on everything from how to reduce the risks from missiles, short range, medium range missiles, reduce the risk of nuclear weapons, arms control, to transparency on military activities, or cyber threats, and how to reduce threats from, for instance, space based weapons. We strongly believe that within these areas there is actually plenty of room also for Russia, to see benefits and something that can be mutually reinforcing the security both for Russia and for NATO Allies. And thats the reason we have conveyed the proposals and thats the reason why we really hope that Russia will read through them, the proposals and the documents from NATO and from the United States, and then be ready to continue in further dialogue. Let me also add that theres no secret that we are far apart, and that there are some serious differences between NATO and Russia. But at the same time, that makes it just even more important that we look into the proposals, listen in reciprocal way to our concerns, and try to identify political solutions where we can agree to prevent new armed conflict in Europe which will, of course, be extremely serious, and something we all have to try to prevent. NATO Spokesperson: The next question, well go to Greg Palkot from FOX News. Greg Palkot (FOX News): Thank you, Oana and good evening Secretary General. Thank you for allowing us to ask these questions. Ive got to ask the question that I asked you two weeks ago, frankly. Are we closer to war with Russia now than we were two weeks ago, considering the developments of recent days? NATO Secretary General: Tensions are increasing. Russia continues its military build-up. And we see also more troops not only in and around Ukraine, but also now in Belarus, where Russia is in the process of deploying thousands of combat troops, [dozens] of aircraft, S-400 air defence systems and a lot of other very advanced capabilities. And this takes place under the disguise of an exercise, but it integrates very much the Russian forces and the Belarusian forces. And these are highly capable, combat ready troops, and that there is no transparency on these deployments. So of course, this adds to our concerns. It adds to the tensions and it shows that there is no de-escalation. On the contrary, its actually more troops, more capabilities in more countries. But at the same time, that makes it just even more important to engage in political effort to find a political solution. NATO Spokesperson: Will now go to Beata Plomecka from Polish Radio. Beata Plomecka (Polish Radio): Hello, Secretary General. Beata Plomecka, Polish Radio. On the more transparency on the military exercises. What do you mean by this? Do you envisage the reduction of military exercises? Because if you reduce exercises, then what do you need the forces, for example? And the second thing is, do you have all Allies on board? Because in recent days we had some doubts about, for example, the German solidarity. Thank you. NATO Secretary General: All Allies are on board. All Allies have agreed. This is a document that all Allies have negotiated and agreed, and that I have now on behalf of 30 Allies sent to Russia. So all Allies are behind these positions, these proposals. And all Allies also support what I would call the dual-track approach, deterrence and defence combined with dialogue. Its not possible for me to go into the specifics of each and every proposal, but what I can say is that we have actually proved before that transparency on exercises can be very helpful. We have something called the Vienna document, which is agreed in the OSCE framework. And we strongly believe that we should re-invigorate that dialogue, that process, and to try to modernize the document to allow, for instance, observation, inspection of military exercises, and also to address a loophole in the existing agreements where snap exercises had not allowed for any kind of inspection. So this is partly about adhering to existing agreements and partly modernizing developing and strengthening the agreements on how to provide transparency on military activities, including exercises. And I think the importance of this is demonstrated, illustrated as we speak. Because with the significantly increased Russian deployment of combat ready troops in Belarus, and aircraft and advanced systems like S-400, and fighter aircraft that is taking place now as an exercise. And of course, that is exactly why we need inspection and transparency on exercises. Because we have seen before, we saw that in Crimea in 2014, weve seen it many times before, that exercises, high readiness of forces as part of an exercise, is used as a disguise to launch an attack. So anything that can improve predictability, transparency on exercises will also help to reduce tensions and prevent exercises being used as a pretext, as a disguise for aggressive military reactions. NATO Spokesperson: We have time for two last questions and well go to Ketevan Kardava from TV Imedi, Georgia. Ketevan Kardava (TV Imedi): Good evening to everybody. Mr. Secretary General, Blinken says that US offers path forward in response to Russian demands. Do you really believe that it is possible when talking about Russia? And second question does the written reply sent to Russia includes the position of NATO on Georgias future membership? And the final point, do things that so far empty dialogue, give aggressor the chance to occupy and annex the neighbours? Thank you so much. NATO Secretary General: A political solution is still possible. But then of course, Russia has to engage in good faith, to de-escalate and to sit down and really make a real effort to find a way forward, where we can find a political solution. We have made our proposals. We are listening, we are ready to listen to Russian concerns and engage in reciprocal efforts to find our way forward. On a membership, well, we have stated clearly, that we of course, respect and not compromise on the right of any nation to apply for membership. Thats a core principle for European security. Then, I think it is important to also understand that we have proven before that it is possible to make agreements with Russia that is of mutual benefit both for Russia and NATO Allies. We have decades of arms control, which has actually reduced the number of nuclear weapons in Europe by, on the NATO side with roughly 90%, and banned different types of nuclear weapons, and also limited the number of strategic warheads in Russia and in the United States. So arms control has proven effective before. And thats one of the reasons why we think is important to re-engage once again in real efforts to strengthen and agree on arms control. But we are not naive. And we need to make sure that whatever we agree in different formats, this can be bilateral agreements Russia - the United States, it can be agreements in the OSCE, can be also things we agree in different formats, it has to be balanced, it has to be reciprocal, and it has to be of course, verifiable. And therefore, at the same time as we are engaging in a serious effort to engage with Russia in a political effort, political dialogue, we are also stepping up when it comes to readiness of forces, sending a clear message to Russia that if they use force against Ukraine or another country, once again, it will have serious consequences. And, of course, theres absolutely security guarantees for all NATO Allies. And thats also a reason why we have increased the readiness of the NATO Response Force. NATO Spokesperson: And for the final question, well go to Eirini Zarkadoula from ERT/ ANA. Eirini Zarkadoula (ERT/ANA): Thank you Oana for the floor. Mr. Secretary General, a while ago, Secretary Blinken told that whether Russia choose the path of diplomacy, whether they are they choose the path of aggression, we are prepared. Do you feel that we can still choose the path of diplomacy? Or are you scared that we are moving towards the path of further escalation with regarding the fact that the United States have mentioned that clearly our favour of open door policy that NATO, of course, is in favour of as well. Thank you. NATO Secretary General: So NATO decides on NATOs open door policy and all NATO Allies, including United States, they stand by NATOs open door policy. But also of course, we stand by the core principle, which is linked to that open door policy that every nation has the right to choose its own path. We are concerned because we see that the military build-up continues. But for me thats not an argument against dialogue. For me, thats an argument in favour of engaging in dialogue, to prevent a new armed conflict. So we are prepared both, to engage in serious dialogue, thats reason why I put forward the proposals today. But were also of course prepared for an eventuality, or a situation, where Russia once again decides to use force. And we are conveying a message of that that will have severe consequences, sanctions. NATO Allies provide support to Ukraine. That will also increase the cost [for] Russia if they decide to use force, to conduct aggressive actions against one way or another against Ukraine. And we are removing any question about our ability to defend and protect all Allies by increasing the presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, and also increasing the readiness of our NATO response force and being ready to respond if needed. NATO Spokesperson: Thank you very much. This concludes this press conference from NATO Headquarters. Good evening. To the Editor: We are responding to the opinion piece by Thomas Chittenden titled Councilor expresses concerns about land regulations. (The Other Paper, Dec. 16, 2021) Chittenden states that his allegiance is always to the residents of South Burlington. However, his message paints a picture of someone who wants to protect the largest landowners in the city. The city council is elected to represent and govern for the good of all residents. Our local democracy fails if elected officials cede their power to the largest landowners who demand that new land development regulations cater to their immediate and long-term development plans. Rather than applaud our new land development regulations for being exemplary and forward thinking in terms of environmental protection and climate change mitigation, Chittenden calls them the most aggressive in the entire state. He is concerned that we are over-conserving swaths of South Burlington for the wrong reasons. As we heard from the South Burlington Fire Department at a recent city council meeting, the population growth in the city has led to fatigue and burnout in our firefighters. Maybe over-conserving is just what our city needs? Chittendens message is that the consultants hired by the city to identify our most valuable natural resource did not use thorough enough methods to withstand legal challenges. He presents no evidence to back up this statement. For fear of litigation, the city should ignore the consultants scientific recommendations, back down and let the largest landowners determine the fate of our city. Regarding the University of Vermont, Chittenden says he wants to honor their centuries of expert land stewardship in the public interest to keep them as a collaborative partner with city leadership. Many South Burlington citizens, as well as the universitys students and staff, would agree with this. However, Chittenden would have us believe that he is saving residents from a legal collision course with the deep pockets and expertise of the University of Vermont. Indeed, it is not the citizens that will benefit from lax environmental standards, but rather the largest landowner in South Burlington and Chittendens full-time employer, the University of Vermont. It is no surprise that there will be differing opinions on the new land development regulations. It is a surprise that Chittenden is speaking out now, at the end of our three-year interim zoning process. The planning commission has updated and briefed the city council regularly on its progress in amending the land development regulations. One would expect that the city councilors would be actively engaged in this process and work collaboratively with city committees, rather than obstruct the process at hour 23. Allan Strong Janet Bellavance South Burlington Oh, you like podcasts? Sign up for Vultures new recommendation newsletter 1.5x Speed here. Photo-Illustration: Vulture The true-crime-podcast universe is ever expanding. Were here to make it a bit smaller and a bit more manageable. There are a lot of great shows, and each has a lot of great episodes, so we want to highlight the noteworthy and the exceptional. Each month, our crack team of podcast enthusiasts and specialists picks its favorites. Deep Cover: Mob Land The second season of Deep Cover focuses on the career of Chicago lawyer Bob Cooley, a gold chainwearing big shot who fixed cases for the Mafia before deciding on a whim in 1989 to join forces with the FBI. Journalist Jake Halpern spent months interviewing Cooley to try and get a bead on this brilliant, baffling character a former cop and lapsed Catholic with his own strict sense of ethics who considers Mafia guys whacking each other business as usual and bribes as merely gestures of his largesse in cases hed win anyway. Cooley is, of course, an unreliable narrator, which is part of the appeal. Halpern supplements Cooleys interviews with tons of background research as well as interviews with his FBI handlers, a few of Cooleys brothers (who seem like totally fascinating people in their own right), and people who were touched by Cooleys actions, such as the stepdaughter of infamous Mob hit man Harry Aleman, whose case was the very first that Cooley was asked to fix. I had the chance to listen to the entire season, and its truly compelling stuff. Halpern, an almost annoyingly prolific Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist, is great at establishing a rapport with Cooley and trying to get to the heart of this strange, lonely guy whose sole remaining pleasure seems to be feeding the birds near the home he rents a room in somewhere at the edge of a desert. Jenni Miller Chameleon: Wild Boys Campside Medias wildly entertaining con-man podcast is back for a third season, this time focusing on the story of Canadas Bush Boys, a pair of brothers, who, in the early 2000s, emerged from the British Columbia woods claiming theyd been raised in the wilderness and had scarce knowledge of modern society. Journalist Sam Mullins is our guide here, and hes a good one, too: A native of the small B.C. town of Vernon where the boys set up camp, hes able to give an insider perspective on the whole thing (and hes pretty funny, too). Anyway, given the premise of this podcast, youve probably already guessed these Bush Boys may not be who they claim to be. But just two episodes in, the slow unraveling of their claims is already fascinating (like, why are they so obsessed with fruit?!), and later episodes promise an actual conversation with the two men in question. Its enough to make you eschew the spoiler-filled Google machine to just enjoy the ride with these Wild Boys. Amy Wilkinson American Radical How did 34-year-old Roseanne Boyland end up dead inside the Capitol building on January 6, 2021? In this five-part series from MSNBC, journalist Ayman Mohyeldin, a high-school friend of Roseannes brother-in-law, Justin, heads to her hometown of Kennesaw, Georgia, in hopes of finding out. What brings a seemingly apolitical person to a violent far-right uprising? Since her death, Roseannes sister, Lonna, has been retracing and analyzing her life and movements, as well as her autopsy results, in search of answers and found, of course, more questions. What triggered Roseannes tumble into QAnon, and how did it happen so quickly? (Was there someone at her AA meetings preying on a vulnerable population?) What happened to Justin Winchell, who traveled with Roseanne to Washington, D.C.? The question of how Roseanne died is still up for debate; even pathologists cant agree on exactly what happened to her. Even that uncertainty will, for better or worse, shape how shes remembered, especially as Congress investigates the January 6 attack. In spite of missing pieces, untraceable steps, and media spins, Roseannes loved ones continue to search for answers. Chanel Dubofsky Jensen and Holes: The Murder Squad: Winter Distraction: The Victims of Jack the Ripper with Hallie Rubenhold Its one of the sad ironies of true crime: Despite little evidence to his true identity, Jack the Ripper is one of the most infamous serial killers of all time, while his female victims, many of whom appear numerous times throughout the public record, languish largely in obscurity. At least one woman is trying to change that. Historian and author Hallie Rubenhold dives into who these murdered women Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Kate Eddowes, and Mary Kelly really were in her book The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper, and she is Billy Jensen and Paul Holess guest for an enlightening two-part episode. Through research not only into the womens lives but also the social mores of the time, Rubenhold paints a much more vivid portrait of the victims while also raising questions about some of the long-held facts of the case. (For instance, at least one or two of the women who were characterized as sex workers may not have been at all.) Its a refreshing reexamination of the old bogeyman tale, and if it leaves you wanting even more information. Rubenhold hosted her own podcast on the topic last year called Bad Women: The Ripper Retold, which I personally plan to listen to posthaste. Amy Wilkinson True North True Crime Still early in its broadcasting life, True North True Crime occupies an important spot in the true-crime podcast universe: The series revolves around unsolved crimes and murders in Canada, often those of Indigenous women and girls. The second episode of 2022 focuses on the disappearance and death of Cameron Collin, an Alberta native who traveled to Billings, Montana, for a wedding in 2018 and didnt make it back home alive. The evidence collected by Camerons mother, Marion, contradicts investigators assertions that his death was an accident. Why was Cameron wearing a pair of boots he didnt own when he was found? Why was the color of his shirt described by the coroner as dark green when it clearly wasnt? Why were the police in such a hurry to wrap up the investigation? Three years later, the case remains labeled as an accident in spite of Marions social-media push to reopen it and take a look from a different angle. Chanel Dubofsky Seidi Haarla and Yuriy Borisov in Compartment No. 6. Photo: Sony Pictures Classics Theres something startlingly intimate about Compartment No. 6. It lies not so much in the subject matter or the stylistic approach or even the themes of the movie. Rather, its in everything in between in the way it captures a mood, an inexpressible sense of lostness and wandering that sets the viewers mind ablaze. Theres nothing particularly surprising about the story, but Finnish director Juho Kuosmanen finds a way to make an old tale feel new. It opens theatrically in the U.S. this week, but it premiered at Cannes last year, where it won the Grand Jury Prize, and is currently on the short list for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars. So I guess that makes it one of this years best films and one of last years. Compartment No. 6 follows two mismatched souls forced together during a long train ride from Moscow to Murmansk. When we first meet Finnish student Laura (Seidi Haarla), shes wandering awkwardly through a house party filled with Russian intellectuals trying to one-up each other. Her girlfriend Irina (Dinara Drukarova) is the one throwing the party, but this gives Laura no cachet or protection; she and her heavily accented Russian still come in for their share of mockery, and its clear she feels completely out of place amid Irinas wine-drinking, quote-spouting, know-it-all guests. With her budding interest in archeology, Laura is set to depart the next day on a trip to the Arctic port city of Murmansk to see the Kanozero petroglyphs, ancient rock drawings dating back around 5,000 years. She and Irina were supposed to go together, but Irina claims to be busy with work, so Laura must travel alone. Once aboard the train, she finds she has to share her compartment with Ljoha (Yuriy Borisov), a boorish young man who, not long after her arrival, gets drunk off his ass and asks her, in the crudest terms, if shes there to turn tricks. Quite a step down from the elegant Irina and her high-ceilinged flat filled with books and paintings. The film is based on a popular 2011 Finnish novel by Rosa Liksom, but Kuosmanen has taken some liberties with it. Originally, there was a notable age difference between the two protagonists, and the train was headed to Mongolia. Their encounter also took place in the waning days of the Soviet Union. The films time period isnt specified, but it appears to be the late 1990s a character mentions Titanic at one point, and the Kanozero petroglyphs werent discovered until 1997 which would suggest its the waning days of the Yeltsin regime, another turbulent and wild era in Russia. Kuosmanen shoots with an immediacy that seems to run counter to the storys literary origins. He keeps his camera close to his performers, often following them handheld through the cramped train, highlighting their loneliness and awkwardness while capturing the strange air of unpredictability that gathers whenever youre thrust into close quarters for extended periods with someone you neither know nor particularly like. Outside the train rolls a gray, cold, industrial landscape, which we only see in dark, forbidding glimpses. Inside, filmed with warm colors, we sense shelter, but its a sickly, uninviting kind in keeping with the restless camerawork. You can still feel the chill in your bones. There were probably practical reasons for such aesthetic choices second-class compartments on Russian railcars arent exactly hospitable to motion-picture camera crews but they work rather well from an artistic standpoint as well. Weirdly enough, I spent a surprising amount of time in Russian trains in the mid-1990s, and I was startled by how well the film captured both the physical and atmospheric qualities of the experience. But you dont need to be familiar with this specific situation to appreciate what Kuosmanen has done. You lose yourself in the mood of the picture as this otherwise highly specific journey starts to feel like a cosmic one. Anyone who has ever felt adrift in a world where they longed for a friendly face or a kindly gesture anyone human, in other words should be able to relate to it. Of course, Laura and Ljoha get to know each other better over the course of the trip. Despite the disastrous first impression, he turns out to be surprisingly loyal and generous, and the understandably standoffish Laura starts to warm to this curious young man. (If you squint really hard, you could imagine this movie as a harder, grittier Before Sunrise set amid post-Soviet decay.) Both of these people are unmoored: Laura herself doesnt actually know all that much about the petroglyphs or even how one goes about seeing them; for her, the point of the trip was to be with the beautiful, worldly Irina more than anything else a pleasant cocoon against the outside world that was never going to last. If Haarlas Laura is hesitant and submerged, Borisovs Ljoha is wiry and restive. From one angle, he seems like pure predator. Look closer, however, and you might see pure prey. His eyes glint intensely as if they might peer into your soul or eat you alive, but they also dart wildly as if he might be set upon by unseen dangers at any moment. He works in a big mine, but he says he wants to save money to start a business. When she asks him what kind of business, he seems perplexed at the question: Fuck. Just business. (One is reminded of the mechanics of the word: busyness.) Laura and Ljoha are a study in contrasts, but like most studies in contrast, they also complete each other though not in a romantic, Jerry Maguire kind of way. She doesnt seem capable of navigating this reality; he seems capable of navigating only this reality. Together, perhaps just for a brief moment, they find purpose and grace at the far edge of the world. Starting January 15, many Americans can get home Covid-19 tests at no cost through their private insurance. They can obtain the tests from pharmacies, retailers and online vendors. Decatur, IL (62521) Today Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 52F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 52F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Tornatore's tribute to Morricone hits Italian cinemas. A new movie dedicated to the much-loved Italian composer Ennio Morricone goes on general release in cinemas around Italy on 17 February. Ennio: The Maestro is the title given to the 'docufilm' by its director Giuseppe Tornatore, a long-time collaborator of Morricone who died in Rome aged 91 on 6 July 2020. Morricone composed soundtracks for all of Tornatore's movies since the Oscar-winning 1988 classic Cinema Paradiso, winning several awards for his music on The Legend of 1900. Ennio is centred around an 11-day interview with Morricone, featuring clips of films he set to music as well as his arrangements for pop songs. The film has input from numerous actors and directors, who share their memories of Morricone, including Bernardo Bertolucci, Marco Bellocchio, Carlo Verdone, Roland Joffe and Dario Argento. Big names from the English-speaking world of cinema also make an appearance, including Clint Eastwood, Quentin Tarantino and Oliver Stone, as well as musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez and Gianni Morandi. In a recent interview with news agency ANSA, Tornatore said Morricone believed that a soundtrack had to strike the right balance with a movie, "so that the music and images do not overshadow each other". Morricone, who lived in Rome his entire life, wrote the soundtracks for over 500 films and television series, starting with the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone, such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Giuseppe Tornatore and Ennio Morricone He was nominated for an Oscar five times and in 2007 he received an Honorary Academy Award for his contribution to film music. In 2016 he won an Oscar for best original score for his soundtrack to Tarantino's movie The Hateful Eight. When he died, there was a huge outpouring grief in Italy, with the president Sergio Mattarella hailing the composer as an "eminent and brilliant artist." Morricone wrote his own obituary, and his privately-held funeral was accompanied by music from The Mission, the soundtrack he composed for the 1986 film to which the maestro was particularly attached. Italy went on to celebrate Morricone with a special edition 5 coin, and Rome renamed the Auditorium Parco della Musica in honour of one of the city's most famous sons. News in Italy: Pontiff says being properly informed is a human right. Pope Francis has hit out against the spreading of fake news and disinformation about covid-19 and vaccines, including by Catholic media, warning that the pandemic has sparked an "infodemic". The pope made his remarks at a meeting with representatives of the Catholic FactChecking website, a consortium of Catholic media outlets whose stated aim is to "clarify fake news and misleading information" about covid vaccines, Reuters reports. The pontiff said that "being properly informed, being helped to understand based on scientific data and not fake news, is a human right", reports the Italian bishops' newspaper Avvenire. Pope Francis condemned the spread of an "infodemic" which he said was a "distortion of reality based on fear" that leads to "falsified if not invented news." The pope added: "Correct information must be ensured above all to those who are less equipped, to the weakest and to those who are most vulnerable," according to the National Catholic Reporter. The pope has in the past urged people to get vaccinated against covid-19, describing the vaccination as an "act of love", and has called for equitable distribution and rapid access to vaccines, particularly in the poorest areas of the world. In January 2021 the pope said it was an "ethical duty" to get vaccinated, describing opposition to the covid vaccine as a "suicidal denial that I cannot explain." The pope's support for covid-19 vaccines has seen him come under attack from ultra-conservative Catholic websites. Photo credit: giulio napolitano / Shutterstock.com. Placeholder while article actions load I have always believed we need more bipartisanship in Washington, but just because an idea is bipartisan doesnt make it good. A bill now making its way to the Senate floor is a perfect example. Few bills in recent memory have been as misleadingly titled as the American Innovation and Choice Online Act. It takes a swing at big tech companies but would hit American consumers and workers on the nose, knocking both backward. Supporters of the measure claim it will create commonsense rules of the road for major digital platforms by preventing them from unfairly preferencing their own products. That sounds great in theory, but what it calls common sense is really just a failure to understand the technology industry and how it works. In practice, the bill would impose immense costs, limit consumer choice, reduce innovation, undermine competition, and quite possibly outlaw some of the most popular services that Americans use every single day. Advertisement At the heart of the bill is an effort to prevent big tech companies from using a widespread business practice called self-preferencing, which is generally good for both consumers and competition. Think of it this way: An ice-cream parlor makes its own flavors and sells other companies flavors, too. Its storefront window carries a large sign advertising its homemade wares. In smaller letters, the sign mentions that Haagen-Dazs and Breyers are available, too. Should Congress force the ice-cream store owners to advertise Haagen-Dazs and Breyers as prominently as their own products? Thats essentially what this bill would force a handful of the largest tech companies to do. For instance, Google users searching the name of a local business now get, in their search results, the option of clicking a Google-built map. But under the bills requirements, the search results would likely have to exclude the Google map. Similarly, Amazon would likely be prevented from promoting its less-expensive generic goods against the biggest brand names. Lots of businesses offer configurations of products and services in ways that are attractive to customers, often for both price and convenience. Doing this can allow companies to enter and potentially disrupt new markets, to the great advantage of customers. Advertisement Yet the bill views such standard business conduct as harmful. It would require covered companies essentially Amazon, Apple, Google, Facebook and TikTok to prove that any new instance of preferencing would maintain or enhance the core functionality of their business. Failure to comply could lead to fines of up to 15% of a companys total U.S. revenue over the offending period. In addition to being draconian, this stipulation would contravene the bills stated goals of encouraging innovation and helping consumers. Where the large tech companies might once have conducted continual experimentation to find new product combinations that appeal to consumers, theyd now need to seek government permission. Given the legal risks, they may not even try, fatally undermining the trial-and-error process that leads to innovation. The bill might also derail some immensely popular offerings. Take Amazon Prime, the enhanced-shipping service used by about 150 million Americans. Prime is made possible by a program called Fulfillment by Amazon, in which merchants pay a fee to have Amazon handle their logistics and get their stuff to customers within a day or two. Although its language is ambiguous, the bill would likely prevent Amazon from labeling certain goods as Prime-eligible, thus eroding the consumer benefit of selecting products that could arrive fastest. Depending on how its interpreted, the bill could also prohibit the funding model that makes Prime possible, or even render the entire fulfillment arrangement infeasible. Advertisement Is crushing Amazon Prime really what Congress thinks the American people want? The bills supporters claim that some tweaks were made to ensure that Prime wont actually be banned. But what about the next company that wants to offer an innovation like Prime? And what about all the other economic and consumer benefits the bill could effectively outlaw? An aide to one of the bills sponsors summed up the answer perfectly: If we make carveouts for all the pro-consumer features, then the bill will be useless. That is exactly right and why the bill should be defeated. Bills like this happen when lawmakers try to channel animus toward tech companies into high-minded legislation, with insufficient concern for the unintended consequences. Easy politics rarely make smart economics. There are many, many other ideas in Washington that deserve bipartisan support. This deserves a bipartisan burial. Michael R. Bloomberg is the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News, and UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Where are the hearings? Its been eight weeks since Liz Cheney, the top Republican on the House select committee investigating the attack of on the U.S. Capitol of Jan. 6, 2021, promised multiple weeks of public hearings to detail everything the committee has learned about the riot and former President Donald Trumps attempt to overturn an election he lost. Not only do we have no hearings yet, but we still have no idea when they will begin. The one-year anniversary of the attacks has come and gone. Legislation to address some of the procedural weaknesses that Trump tried to exploit is moving ahead in the Senate before the committee reveals any of the evidence it has compiled. Eight weeks ago, the select committee was already slower than initial investigations of Watergate, Iran-contra, and the Trump-Ukraine scandals. Advertisement Each week, the committees case that it is investigating an urgent threat to the republic is harder to make. Every week, it becomes easier for Trump and his allies to argue that the insurrection is ancient news, and that Democrats are just digging it up now to embarrass Republicans before the midterm elections in November. The threat is indeed urgent, and Democrats and the two committee Republicans are quite right to want to accumulate every detail of what happened. Doing so is not partisan; its patriotic. But the longer the lawmakers wait, the harder it will be to convince anyone open to convincing. And there arent all that many of those folks to begin with. Theres been little public information about whats taking so long. My speculation is that the committee is determined to wrap up its full investigation, which involves hundreds of interviews and huge numbers of documents as well as numerous fights over subpoenas, before moving to the public phase. The work away from the cameras is certainly important. But so are public hearings. Advertisement And its not just for the story-telling process. Public hearings can put pressure on reluctant potential witnesses. People who have been subpoenaed already have a legal obligation to testify. However, compelling compliance (whether through the courts or through Congresss own powers) isnt quick, and while the House should follow through on forcing cooperation, it can do so while the the public portion of the investigation is underway. After all, if new information is turned over as it was after a recent court decision that upheld the Houses position that might actually increase the drama if the public hearings revisit something that was already covered once new revelations are obtained. Theres a necessary caveat: No one should expect too much of a congressional hearing. Even the Senate Watergate Committee hearings only did limited damage to President Richard Nixon. He had already been weakened by information that emerged before that committee got started, and serious impeachment momentum didnt happen until the Saturday Night Massacre of Oct. 20, 1973, when Nixon fired the key federal officials supervising the Watergate probe, and that came after the Senate hearings had ended. No one should expect the Jan. 6 committee hearings to deliver large public-opinion effects. But giving a public accounting of what happened from Election Day 2020 through the Jan. 6 attack is still essential. Lets get it started. Advertisement For weekend reading, here are some of the best items from political scientists this week: Matt Grossmann talks with Yanna Krupnikov and Johnny Barry Ryan about partisan polarization and the biggest gap in U.S. politics that you may not know about. Julia Azari and Seth Masket at Mischiefs of Faction on parties that censure their own elected officials. I think Im with Azari on this one; I dont see any reason parties should not do this. Also at Mischiefs: Matthew Green talks with Daniel Wirls about the Senate. Sarah Binder at the Monkey Cage on filibuster reform. Robert Farley on President Joe Bidens potential response to a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Scott Lemieux on the Supreme Courts decision on vaccine mandates. Chris Baylor at A House Divided on Bidens first year. And Molly Reynolds on Senator Mitt Romney and the filibuster. Advertisement This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Jonathan Bernstein is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy. He taught political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio and DePauw University and wrote A Plain Blog About Politics. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load The coup this week in Burkina Faso has been met with the usual bromides of reproach from the international community. In Washington, the designated hand-wringer was State Department spokesman Ned Price, who didnt care even to turn an original phrase in a statement claiming the U.S. was deeply concerned by events. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Such apathy should shame any U.S. administration, never mind one that has made the promotion of democracy its shibboleth. President Joe Biden, who only last month hosted a Summit for Democracy, may not bear responsibility for the acceleration of democratic retrenchment around the world during his first year in office, but he must demonstrate more determination to reverse the trend. There can hardly be a more propitious place to start than sub-Saharan Africa, where Burkina Faso has become the fifth country to experience a military takeover in the past year after Mali, Chad, Guinea and Sudan. (It might have been the sixth but for an abortive attempt to topple the government of Niger.) All these countries are in the Sahel belt, which stretches across the width of the continent just south of the great desert. Advertisement Quite apart from democratic principles and promises to promote them, Biden should make the Sahel a priority for national security and foreign policy reasons. It is in this stretch of territory where Al Qaeda, the Islamic State, Boko Haram and other Islamic terrorist groups are putting down roots. Left unchecked, they will undoubtedly use the Sahel as a staging ground for attacks against the U.S. and its allies. For the best part of a decade, the task of helping Sahelian states to root out the terrorists has fallen to international forces led by France which ruled much of the region during the colonial era with the U.S. very much a junior partner. But the French effort is flagging. President Emmanuel Macron, facing a tough re-election campaign, is keen to bring his troops home. Biden knows where hes coming from, having withdrawn the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. Macron has rationalized his decision by claiming, disingenuously, that French efforts in the Sahel have been successful and implying that the governments in the region are capable of finishing the job with assistance from afar. Whether those governments are run by military strongmen or elected civilians matters not very much to Paris. After a period of finger-wagging, Macron tends to come to an accommodation with coup leaders. Advertisement But if we have learned anything from the fight against terrorism elsewhere, its that military governments often end up exacerbating the conditions that jihadists then exploit: misrule, corruption, poverty. Most analysts expect the conflict in the Sahel to get worse this year after the coups of 2021. Bidens challenge is twofold: First, to press coup leaders for a restoration of power to elected civilians, and then to press civilians to deliver better government. Persuading the military to return to the barracks will be hard enough: Biden will need to stiffen Macrons resolve for a joint diplomatic effort that combines French soft talk with the big stick of American sanctions. Strengthening democracy will require longer, deeper engagement with political parties and civic society. There is plenty of evidence that Africans, and especially young Africans, want elected, inclusive governments: They arent fooled by the assurances of security proffered by military strongmen nor taken in by the promise of prosperity held out by advocates of Chinese-style autocracy. But they wont settle for Bidens platitudes, either. The promotion of democracy requires repeated demonstration of its virtues. Advertisement That effort should focus on countries that havent been blighted by coups but where men in uniform might be inspired by events in Mali, Burkina Faso and elsewhere. In Cameroon, Togo and the Ivory Coast, longstanding rulers will need to be coaxed into transferring power to a new generation of leaders. The Biden administration should also draw attention to African countries that have recently made successful democratic transitions notably, Niger in the Sahel and Zambia further south and reward them with substantial financial, diplomatic and military assistance. In Senegal, President Macky Sall should be encouraged to keep his promise to respect the outcome of the vote in local elections on Sunday, when his party lost key cities. Finally, the U.S. should pay close heed to the general election this summer in Angola, the continents second-biggest oil producer. President Joao Lourenco, whose party has maintained a lock on power for nearly five decades, looks vulnerable as anti-government protests have mounted. Lourenco has promised the election will be free and fair; he must be held to his word. Advertisement Thats how Biden can keep his. More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: The U.S. Can Help End Ethiopias Civil War: James Stavridis Emmanuel Macron Is Dancing With Dictators: Bobby Ghosh Guinea Cant Shake the Resource Curse: Clara Ferreira Marques and David Fickling This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He writes on foreign affairs, with a special focus on the Middle East and Africa. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Russian military action in Ukraine could trigger an energy crisis even more serious than the one already hitting Europe. As has been pointed out, should the West hit Russia with severe new sanctions, President Vladimir Putin could cut off natural gas exports, leaving the continent shivering through midwinter. Yet there is another potential weapon of Russias thats been less discussed and might be very effective: An ability to disrupt global oil markets, which would directly hit U.S. consumers. Theres no doubt that Russias influence over natural gas exports to Europe gives Putin reason to believe he might avoid harsh punishment should he invade Ukraine or undertake major efforts to destabilize the Kyiv government. Despite talk from U.S. President Joe Bidens administration about finding the Europeans supplies from elsewhere, there simply is not enough uncommitted natural gas in the global system that could be redirected to Europe at a reasonable price. Piped natural gas can only flow where existing infrastructure takes it. There are also constraints on liquified natural gas, which can be more easily redirected with container ships: As of 2020, 60% of this LNG trade was governed by medium- and long -term contracts. Even if Europe was successful in bringing existing spot-market LNG trade its way, it would mean paying extremely high prices in a bidding war with Asian and other customers. Advertisement That said, cutting the gas supply has some notable downsides for Putin. First, it would forever damage Russias relationship with the Europeans. They would no longer be able to argue, as they have to U.S. officials wringing their hands about their dependence on Russian gas, that Gazprom PSJC, the state-owned behemoth, has been a reliable supplier for decades. Even after this particular crisis, there would be no returning to the status quo. As European Union climate chief Frans Timmermans told EU energy and environment ministers last week, If we really want to stop long-term making Putin very rich, we have to invest in renewables and we need to do it quickly. In addition, Europes consumption of Russian gas is central to Putins own economy. In 2021, Russian natural gas made up nearly 13% of all of Russias exports, depositing almost $62 billion in the Kremlins coffers. And while Russia has been looking to shift natural gas to other markets, the overwhelming majority of it is transported through pipelines that flow east to west, so redirecting it to thirstier markets like India or China would be very expensive and logistically a near-impossibility in the short and medium term. Moreover, while Russias actions would potentially cause a major spike in natural gas prices, Russian coffers wouldnt greatly benefit. The inability to redirect most of the gas to other markets means that Russia could only expect to make up through higher prices a modest portion of the revenue lost because of lower sales. Paradoxically, a cutoff of Russian natural gas to Europe could benefit U.S. LNG exporters, by providing new access to consumers on the continent. Advertisement Given these potential pitfalls, Russia may find oil markets a more sensible place to retaliate. The global market for oil is extremely tight right now, made apparent by rising oil prices even in the face of an economy feeling the weight of the omicron variant. (Note that the International Monetary Fund has revised its forecast for global economic growth in 2022 downward by 0.5%). Russia could unilaterally drive up global prices if it cut its current oil production of 10 million barrels per day by even a relatively small amount. An oil-price spike would directly affect the U.S. and a Biden administration understandably sensitive to gasoline prices. While there no doubt would be a full-court press on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to produce more oil immediately, it is not entirely clear how Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would respond to such entreaties, especially given Bidens unwillingness to speak with him since taking office. Moreover, even if Saudi Arabia did respond by increasing its production, this move could virtually tap out any existing spare capacity the ability to bring more oil to market quickly in the global system. And markets get jittery when spare capacity shrinks or disappears; although exact numbers are unknown, the International Energy Agency and others believe that the worlds spare capacity is dwindling in face of limited investment. At a certain point, tapping into existing spare capacity could drive prices up as much as it brings them down. Advertisement Finally, depending on how much Moscow curtailed its oil production and the reaction of other producers, Russia might even find a move to curtail global oil supplies to be revenue-neutral. Given the inelasticity of demand for oil, a sudden sharp move reducing supply could drive prices up to a level at which Russia brings in more money from lower exports. Of course, just as with cutting off natural gas to Europe, tampering with oil markets would not be without costs for Russia. As Dan Yergin, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Prize: The Epic Quest For Oil, Money & Power, reminded me, One needs to remember that Russia makes a lot more money from its oil exports than from gas. A spike in oil prices would displease China, straining Beijings support for Russian efforts to rewrite the rules of the international order, beginning with the European security architecture. Playing the oil card could also cause a significant rift between Russia and Saudi Arabia although it would be little surprise to the Gulf states, who remember Russias hasty and ill-conceived withdrawal from the OPEC+ agreement in March 2020, just as Covid began to gut global demand for oil. For these reasons, Russia might well disguise a retaliation-through-oil strategy, claiming an explosion on a pipeline or an environmental disaster. Russia has allegedly curtailed its oil exports under dubious circumstances in the past. Advertisement Curtailing its natural gas flows to Europe remains Russias most obvious leverage in avoiding harsher sanctions. But Putin has no doubt considered his options as they relate to oil as well. Western policy-makers need to focus on reacting quickly to either contingency or both. This means increasing use of the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, coordinating with allies and other consumer nations about what to do if and when Russia acts, and convincing Saudi Arabia that the world needs it to play its longstanding role of calming markets during global conflicts. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Meghan L. OSullivan is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. She is a professor of international affairs at Harvards Kennedy School, the North American chair of the Trilateral Commission, and a member of the board of directors of the Council on Foreign Relations and the board of Raytheon Technologies Corp. She served on the National Security Council from 2004 to 2007. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Boris Johnsons leadership may have become a laughingstock thanks to Partygate breaches of lockdown rules at Downing Street, but the U.K. is being taken more seriously in one part of Europe than it has been for years Ukraine. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Today, the most clear-eyed response to Russias propaganda offensive on NATO and aggression toward Ukraine has come from Britain. U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has delivered 2,000 state-of-the-art N-LAW anti-tank weapons to Ukraine though London had to avoid German airspace to do so. Even before other Western ministers took notice, Wallace challenged Vladimir Putins now notorious 5,000-word thesis from 2021 that argued Ukraine has no existence separate from Russia. It is high time that Britain recovered its diplomatic mojo. Along with the U.S. and Russia, the U.K. is a signatory to the 1994 Budapest agreement, which guaranteed the borders of newly independent Ukraine in return for surrendering its share of the former Soviet nuclear arsenal stationed on its territory. Back then Britain still had a place at top table: The U.K. was an important second-tier power whose military, nuclear and diplomatic heft was universally acknowledged. Advertisement Yet when Russia twice attacked Ukraine in 2014, first to annex the Crimea and then to support separatists carving up territory in the east of the country, the U.K. made light of its Budapest obligations. Along with the U.S., it shuffled off responsibility for patching up peace with Moscow to the cautious leaderships of Germany and France. As editor of The Sunday Times, I argued to then-Prime Minister David Cameron that Britain must be represented as a forceful advocate for Ukraine, but he was preoccupied by domestic issues. It is true that the U.K. is now taking a firmer stand in the latest iteration of the Ukrainian crisis. But it could and should still do more to stop Russian money being laundered through the City of London especially as its allies appear disunited. Germanys new traffic light government led by Olaf Scholz, made up of Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Liberals, is anxious not to provoke Moscow. Having shut down its nuclear power plants, Berlin is naturally worried about its gas supplies from Russia. The SPD looks back fondly, too, on its gentle Ostpolitik version of detente with the Soviet Union. Advertisement Scholzs French partner, President Emmanuel Macron has not distinguished himself in this crisis either. Having declared NATO brain dead, Macron initially made grandstanding calls for a European Union response that would have distanced the bloc from Washington. Brussels, however, has been almost invisible throughout. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson and U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss have been vocal in support of Kyiv. The prime minister surely welcomes any distraction from his current domestic woes, but better someone who does the right thing for the wrong reasons than otherwise. In a rare outbreak of unanimity, Keir Starmer, the opposition leader, has broken with his Labour predecessors soft line on Russia too. Britain was once far more respected by friend and foe alike for the consistency of its approach to the Kremlin. The lines were clear: Russian aggression was firmly resisted, but London was always willing to do hazard-headed business with Moscow to de-escalate tensions. Advertisement From Winston Churchills famous Iron Curtain speech in 1946 to Harold Macmillan in the late 1950s to Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, British leaders made a distinct contribution to the Western Alliance. They rejected anti-Communist hysteria but were skeptical of the more extravagant claims made by German, and sometimes American, administrations for detente. Yet Churchill, Macmillan and Thatcher remained open to agreement with Moscow. It was the Iron Lady who first spotted the star quality of a rising Soviet apparatchik, Mikhail Gorbachev, and marked him out to her ideological ally President Ronald Reagan as a man you could do business with. Still, when Moscows spies became brazen in their activities, Britain expelled them en masse, sometimes by the hundred. Theresa May ordered the last clear-out in 2018 after a Russian defector, Sergei Skripal, was poisoned with a chemical weapon. At the Security Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations, Londons diplomats worked with Washington and other allies to contain the Communist threat. Around the world, British soft power put the case for Western democratic values without stridency. Advertisement Today, Britains Foreign Office needs a reboot. It effectively lost responsibility for relations with Washington and Brussels long ago to No. 10 although Truss has taken on the role as negotiator for the Northern Ireland Protocol with the EU. Its diplomats failed to prepare a Plan B for leaving the EU before the referendum in 2016. Its civil service chief, still in situ, refused to come back from holiday after the shambolic evacuation of Kabul last year, because, he told a shocked House of Commons committee, it wouldnt have made any difference. The U.K.s armed forces are in a better state, though they have been shrinking. The navy and air force are adapting to the revolution in military affairs in which more technicians than fighting men will be required to wage war. If the armys plan to modernize is given the right investment Britain currently meets the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defense the U.K. will be able to deploy combat-ready forces in NATO-allied territory bordering Russia at short notice. Thats a big if. So the U.K. has the means, but does it retain the ambition to count for something in the world? Under Thatcher and Tony Blair, the U.K. punched above its weight sometimes by sheer force of will and clarity of purpose. Their successors, both before and after Britains departure from the EU, have been much less assured. Skeptical friends in Berlin and Paris, still sore from Brexit, have marked the decline along with enemies in Moscow and Beijing. Advertisement Johnson and his putative Tory successors are now wedded to a forward-looking foreign policy called Global Britain and have even deployed forces to the Indo-Pacific. The rhetoric is ringing, but does this government have the staying power to make the U.K. a force once more? More From Bloomberg Opinion: Putins Wealth May Be Unreachable, But Russias Isnt: Timothy L. OBrien Gas Will Stay High Even After the Spat With Russia: Javier Blas Macrons Bid for Power Europe Runs Into Putins Russia: Lionel Laurent This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Martin Ivens was editor of the Sunday Times from 2013 to 2020 and was formerly its chief political commentator. He is a director of the Times Newspapers board. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Despite all the fanfare around Mark Zuckerbergs plans to create a cryptocurrency that was predicted to bring in billions in new revenue, the project has petered out with barely whimper. Meta Platforms Inc., the company formerly known as Facebook, agreed to sell assets tied to the project born in 2019 as Libra and now known as Diem to Silvergate Capital Corp. for about $200 million. With Diems director jumping ship last November and its ambitions scaled back amid fierce pushback from regulators and central banks, the projects death was anticipated by some. But a post mortem tells us something more troubling: Facebook continues to struggle to develop new services without buying them, and in a toughening regulatory environment, that does not bode well for Zuckerbergs metaverse plans, a pivot he has bet the entire company on. Among the history of Facebooks innovation misfires: a home screen for Android phones that flopped soon after its 2013 launch; Snapchat competitors Poke and Slingshot (2014 and 2015); and mobile-development platform Parse. The company also floundered on efforts to build its own versions of Amazon Inc.s Alexa. Advertisement Facebooks workforce shines at executing and scaling, but software developers who want to build innovative products tend to go elsewhere. At Facebook, many find themselves under pressure to ensure a new prototype or feature contributes to ad dollars. It helps that the right acquisition can open the door to new markets. For instance, the iPhones upcoming payment feature for merchants is possible in large part because Apple Inc. paid $100 million for Canadian startup Mobeewave, which makes payment technology for smartphones. And while Zuckerberg did steer Facebooks rapid pivot to mobile in 2012, his $1 billion purchase of Instagram that same year was critical to the shift. Instagram now contributes more than a quarter of Facebooks revenues. The metaverse represents an even more radical pivot. Theres much less consensus that virtual reality will get mainstream adoption, and building software for VR is more difficult for engineering teams to adapt to than it was from desktop to mobile. Advertisement The obvious answer is for Zuckerberg to buy a company already making inroads in the metaverse, like Roblox Corp. That companys wildly popular virtual world sees close to 50 million daily visitors play games, attend concerts or just chat with friends, exactly the kinds of activities Zuckerberg has talked about hosting in the future. Roblox is even headquartered in Menlo Park, California, the same city as Meta, and with its shares tumbling recently, must look like an increasingly attractive takeover target except Zuckerbergs hands are tied. Regulators, aghast at having rubberstamped so many Big Tech deals in the past, have signaled they will scrutinize future acquisitions more heavily, or even block them. For instance, the Federal Trade Commission has opened a formal inquiry into Metas $400 million purchase of virtual reality company Within, according to a December report in The Information, which said that at minimum, Meta wouldnt be able to finalize that deal for another year. Competition regulators in the United Kingdom have also blocked Meta from buying a GIF search company. Zuckerberg clearly wants to buy his way into the metaverse. He has acquired a string of small, virtual-reality companies in the past two years, mostly in gaming, including Big Box VR, Unit 2 Games and Beat Games, the studio behind Beat Saber. But he hasnt purchased Instagram-like game changers such as Fortnight publisher Epic Games Inc. or games developer Unity Software. Zuckerberg tried to buy Unity several years ago back when its valuation was in the single-digit billions, according to The History of the Future, a book about the founding story of Oculus. Unity has since gone public and has a market cap of $28 billion. Advertisement Zuckerberg must be kicking himself for not chasing those acquisitions when regulators were a little more forgiving. Now with his $62 billion war chest of little use, he needs to focus on the more arduous job of building new services that consumers want to use. Thats a tough transition for any large company to make. Microsoft Corp. managed to do it, though regrettably for Zuckerberg, it took a brand new CEO to make that success happen. More From Bloomberg Opinion: FTCs Second Crack at Facebook Carries a Lot of Weight: Tae Kim The Next GameStop Is a Faded Brand in the Metaverse: Tim Culpan Its Awkward Being a Woman in the Metaverse: Parmy Olson This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Parmy Olson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. She previously reported for the Wall Street Journal and Forbes and is the author of We Are Anonymous. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Millions of people took to the streets in the Philippines to force President Ferdinand Marcos from office in 1986 after a two decade reign in which thousands were killed under martial law, the economy contracted and government coffers were plundered -- infamously symbolized by his wife Imeldas extravagant shoe collection. Lately, however, the family has seen a resurgence in popularity, much of it driven by social media. Scion Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. has been the front-runner to succeed another strongman, Rodrigo Duterte, as president in this years May 9 election. Yet the Marcos candidacy has also reopened some old wounds -- and he could still be disqualified. 1. Who is Bongbong Marcos? Bongbong, 64, is the only son of the former first couple. While in his 20s he was already governor in their home province of Ilocos Norte, about 440 kilometers (273 miles) north of Manila. He fled to the U.S. with the family after his father was ousted. The Marcoses returned to the Philippines in 1991, two years after the patriarchs death. Bongbong won a congressional seat a year later, then became governor again. He lost his first attempt for a position elected nationwide -- a 1995 race for the Senate -- but won a seat in 2010. With his term ending, he ran in 2016 for vice president, narrowly lost to Leni Robredo, then unsuccessfully protested the results. His resume has also caused a stir: His Senate profile initially stated that he had an Oxford degree in philosophy, politics and economics. Critics said he had a special diploma that fell short of an actual degree. In October, the University of Oxford waded in, saying that Marcos didnt complete his degree. The website has been amended. Advertisement 2. How did they get so popular? Family members have been in politics and government for decades in their home province, which includes a village named Ferdinand in a municipality called Marcos. Their power didnt initially translate nationally after their return; along with Bongbongs Senate loss, Imelda failed in two presidential bids. But in a country where dynastic politics is common and embraced, the Marcoses rebuilt their political capital by forging alliances with other politicians including Duterte, who allowed a heros burial for the late dictator. This influence now is bolstered by social media like Facebook and YouTube, where posts rewriting history about the Marcos dictatorship, painting it as a golden era, have spread widely, boosting Bongbongs campaign. He has denied any connection to the posts. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa last year called disinformation on social media an atom bomb for public discourse in the Philippines. 3. What about the past? Advertisement Thousands were killed or disappeared and many more were tortured or suffered other human rights violations under martial law. The government in 2013 allocated 10 billion pesos ($195 million) from Swiss bank deposits recovered from the Marcoses as compensation. Some victims, not wanting to see another Marcos as president, have filed petitions trying to disqualify Bongbong, citing his conviction for failure to file tax returns in the 1980s as grounds. One petition has been dismissed, while others are pending and could take months to be resolved. (If he is disqualified, he could still run while he appeals to the Supreme Court.) Bongbong has dodged questions about his fathers regime, telling television interviewers on Jan. 24: We will no longer go back to 35-year-old issues, he said. 4. Whats his strategy? He has teamed up with Dutertes daughter Sara, whos running separately for the vice presidency, aiming to benefit from her fathers continued popularity. (The constitution bans Duterte from seeking a second term.) In the Senate, Bongbong helped pass bills mostly pertaining to local governments. If he becomes president, Bongbong has promised unifying leadership and to prioritize pandemic recovery and the economy. He also has pledged to aid the farm sector, de-congest Manilas roads, push renewables and continue fighting a long-running communist insurgency. He said he plans to negotiate a resolution to territorial disputes with China while fostering ties with the U.S. and Russia. There is some concern that public efforts to hold the Marcoses accountable and to recover ill-gotten wealth will stop if Bongbong wins. In the 2019 documentary The Kingmaker, Imelda Marcos is quoted saying becoming president is her sons destiny. Advertisement 5. Who else is running? Vice President Robredo, the opposition leader who defeated Bongbong in 2016, has been a distant second to the dictators son. Also among the contenders are Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, boxer-turned-Senator Manny Pacquiao, Senator Ping Lacson and labor rights activist Leody de Guzman. Duterte is supporting his daughter but hasnt named his favorite for president. Whoever gets the most votes wins; theres no runoff. 6. Whats happening with the Marcos fortune? The Marcoses amassed between $5 billion to $10 billion from the government through their cronies, associates and dummies, but only $3.4 billion has been recovered as of the end of 2020, according to the Presidential Commission on Good Government, which was set up to identify and retrieve the assets. For this, the dictator Marcos holds the Guinness world record for the greatest robbery of a government. Most of the recovered wealth was remitted to the national treasury and used for agriculture programs. The commission is still selling or privatizing some $1.1 billion worth including land, shares of stocks and jewelry. Its also going after another $2.5 billion from the Marcos fortune, some of which was concealed in various foreign banks, including in Switzerland, as well as in the form of vacation homes and fine art. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Coast Guard to end search for migrants Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The U.S. Coast Guard said it will suspend the search for dozens of migrants reported missing off the coast of Florida on Thursday after finding four additional bodies, concluding they are unlikely to find any more survivors. Capt. Jo-Ann F. Burdian, who commands the U.S. Coast Guards Miami sector, said officials planned to stop actively searching at sunset Thursday for the remaining 34 people thought to be on the ship unless they receive any new information. The halt to the massive search which involved combing an area the size of Massachusetts by air and sea comes two days after a tugboat stumbled across a man clinging to an overturned boat 45 miles off Floridas southeast coast. He told authorities that 40 people departed from Bimini in the Bahamas on Saturday aboard the ship and that it capsized amid rough weather shortly after casting off. Advertisement The decision to suspend is really a very complicated one, Burdian said, adding officers have saturated the area over and over again and exhausted every possible resource to determine if there were additional places they could explore for survivors. Anthony Salisbury, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Miami, said there is an ongoing criminal investigation to identify, arrest and prosecute anyone who organized or profited from the doomed venture. He asked anyone with information to contact the authorities. In recent months, officers have come across vessels carrying upward of 200 people en route to the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the mainland United States. On Tuesday, the Coast Guard intercepted 191 Haitians aboard an overloaded vessel, about 40 miles southwest of Great Inagua, the southernmost island in the Bahamas. Advertisement Paulina Villegas County bans acclaimed book on Holocaust A school district in Tennessee banned the use of Maus, a Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust, in its middle school classes, citing the works profanity and nudity in a 10-to-0 vote. As leaders in conservative areas across the country push for more control over the way history is taught, the McMinn County school board expressed concern that the expletives in Maus were inappropriate for eighth-graders. Members also said Art Spiegelmans illustrations showing nudity which depict Holocaust victims forced to strip during their internment in Nazi concentration camps were improper. Spiegelman, a cartoonist, wrote and illustrated Maus based on interviews with his father, a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor. (Maus is the German word for mouse.) The graphic novel, drawn in black and white, depicts Holocaust victims as mice and their Nazi oppressors as cats. Advertisement Spiegelman, a cartoonist, wrote and illustrated Maus based on interviews with his father, a Polish Jew and Holocaust survivor. (Maus is the German word for mouse.) The graphic novel, drawn in black and white, depicts Holocaust victims as mice and their Nazi oppressors as cats. Maus won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992 after the publication of its second volume. The McMinn County ban was first reported by TN Holler on Wednesday, though the school boards vote occurred Jan. 10. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum said in a statement that Maus has been vital in educating students about the Holocaust through the detailed experiences of victims. Books like Maus can inspire students to think critically about the past, it said, noting that Thursday marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Andrew Jeong GiftOutline Gift Article People look at cars abandoned in the Bronx borough of New York City after a night of extremely heavy rain last September. (Getty Images) Researchers say individuals should respond to the hazard most pressing at the time and be prepared to move locations if necessary. Trusted local news has never been more important, but providing the information you need, information that can change sometimes minute-by-minute, requires a partnership with you, our readers. Please consider making a contribution today to support this vital resource that you and countless others depend on. The cost of providing essential workers automatic compensation for COVID-19 infection would be $315 million, according to new analysis, which is less than half the $638 million the state government estimated as the reason to repeal the cover. University of NSW Professor of Economics Richard Holden has found the governments cost of the presumption that frontline workers were infected on the job instead of in the community is outdated and more than double (103 per cent) of what he calculated. Essential workers in health, transport, hospitality, retail, education, construction, disability and aged care would need to prove they contracted COVID-19 at work. Credit:Chris Hopkins The figures are included in a submission by public policy organisation, the McKell Institute, to a NSW parliamentary inquiry into the governments decision to repeal section 19B of the Workers Compensation Act which was introduced last year to provide automatic protection for COVID-19 infection. Hearings for the upper house inquiry will be held next week. The repeal would mean essential workers in health, transport, hospitality, retail, education, construction, disability and aged care would need to prove they contracted COVID-19 at work and not at the shops or in the community. I believe in the power of cartooning so much, says Badiucao. That power might be harder to see in Australia, against the background of our busy public discourse. But the artist who has joined The Age as a regular political cartoonist was born in China where art is always used as a tool for propaganda, he says, and the censors axe quickly falls on cartoons expressing dissent. Badiucao, with something on his mind. Credit:Badiucao My experience in China assured me that the power of the cartoon is so mighty that that government would just hunt me down, harass my family, everything they can to stop me from drawing. If it is all for nothing, then why are they doing it? The perfect example, he says, is the viral meme of portraying Chinese President Xi Jinping as a cartoonish Winnie the Pooh, a meme he played a role in spreading and popularising. Its banned on the Chinese internet. They tinted the glass to prevent us to see people outside. We peel it off, they put it back, but now they give up, he says. While most days are monotonous and painfully long, Hussein has found a routine to keep his mind from wandering to a dark place: I take sleeping pills and sleep during the day, so time goes faster. The government tinted the windows, but the refugees would remove it. Hussein in his room. He watches films, but even those have become hard to relate to. The hotel gym burnt down in December 2021. Occasionally, Hussein gets out of his room to use the only common area he has access to a kitchenette with a microwave and kettle but no eating area. Hussein seldom sees the other refugees. The thought of socialising is depressing because there is nothing to talk about. The celebrity guest Earlier this month, Husseins routine was thrown by Djokovics detention at the hotel, which took place while a series of court cases sorted out whether he could play in the Australian Open. For 10 days, international and local media, boisterous Djokovic supporters, anti-vaxxers and refugee advocates descended on the streets outside the hotel. Inside, the sudden activity below was a shock. I was just feeling sad that one persons life who is only detained for a few days was more valuable than all of us that have been detained for almost 10 years, Hussein says. Novak Djokovic supporters light candles and sing in Serbian outside the Park Hotel in Melbourne. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola The only good thing about it is the attention he brought with him. He can have somewhere to go back to and they will welcome him with open arms. If we go back, we will be welcomed by bullets. Somalia has been in civil war since 1991, when the regime of President Siad Barre fell. From 1992, many Somalis sought asylum in Australia. Melbourne is home to the largest Somali population in the country, with about 7000 Somalis living here. Hussein says the uncertainty of his situation is made more confusing and frustrating because of what he sees as a random immigration system. At the start of 2021, Kurdish-Iranian refugee, Mostafa Azimitabar and 51 other refugees were freed from the Park Hotel and given bridging visas to live in what the government calls community detention. Hussein does not know why some were chosen and others not. Refugees watch the action on the street during Djokovics detention. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui They just came with a paper list of the names and they said you, you and you will get freedom. The cases of the men were similar to Husseins. Like him, they had sought asylum by boat and been told they would never be allowed to resettle in Australia. Even some of ... the guys who were released were not recognised as refugees, he said. Responding to questions from The Age, a Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said it did not comment on individual cases and its border protection policies remain steadfast. Referring to people such as Hussein as transitory persons, the spokesperson said in a statement they could return to a regional processing centre or seek settlement in a third country such as the United States. Some could be allowed into the Australian community under community detention, if the minister decided it was in the public interest. What is in the public interest is a matter for the Minister to determine, the statement said. Similar broad discretionary powers were used by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to cancel Djokovics visa on the grounds he was a threat to public safety and social cohesion. The God powers Husseins case has not so far found ministerial favour. Many of his Somali compatriots went to the United States or were released into the community. Some even chose to go back to Somalia. It is an option that, despite the danger, Hussein has considered. If I could go back I would, he says. But I will die. Husseins lawyer, Noeline Balasanthiran Harendran, from Sydney West Legal and Migration, has been working on his case since 2020. She and another lawyer, Daniel Taylor, have helped more than 100 medevac refugees who came by boat. Some moved into the community; some resettled in the US. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The process for Hussein to get to the United States has proved slow. It was apparently taken away when then-president Donald Trump imposed a travel ban on people from eight Muslim countries, including Somalia. But the law has since been revoked, and he has applied again. Those who return to their countries are pushed to go, not because they want to, she says. As for community detention, she says its unclear why the minister allows certain refugees out and detains others when, on the face of it, their cases are quite similar. It is very inconsistent it is entirely in the hands of the minister to decide whether Ismail gets a visa. It is just like God, she says. Hussein requested to be sent back to Manus Island but was refused. He also applied through a Canadian charity for settlement in that country. His final interview is in a month. It is the only hope I have left, he said. Nothing to tell United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, Felipe Gonzalez Morales, told ABC Radio earlier this month: According to international law and standards, immigration detention should be a measure for last resort not a regular one as it has been the case in Australia for many years. Hussein has spent so long in detention he is worried about what life will look like if it ends, about the effects of what hes seen and endured on Manus Island and in Melbourne. And because of the hopelessness of his situation, he hasnt spoken to family back home in Somalia in years. Hussein no longer talks to his family because he has nothing to tell them. In 2021, another Somali asylum seeker, Abdirahman Ahmed Mohammed, died of a heart condition a year after being released in the community. Loading Hussein is scared that he could end up in a similar situation. He was brought to Australia under medevac laws suffering from type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety all developed while in immigration detention. Disgraced former television presenter Andrew OKeefe has lashed out at journalists after he was charged over allegations he choked, punched and kicked a would-be business partner. The former White Ribbon ambassador and chairman repeatedly screamed f--- off at reporters as he was transferred from the CBDs Day Street police station where he spent Thursday being charged with six offences including intentional choking, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault. Police said Mr OKeefe met the woman at his home on Kent Street in the Sydney CBD on Tuesday afternoon. A verbal argument ensued between the pair, before the man allegedly assaulted the woman grabbing her by the throat, pushing her to the ground and punching her, police said on Thursday. Assistant Commissioner Adams said police would not identify any more about the family, who were suffering extreme grief and trauma. Having been a police officer myself for over 35 years dealing with these issues, even though police are subjected to trauma on a regular basis and the response to it, nothing prepares you for this, he said. The exact cause of death and the circumstances will be thoroughly investigated. But ... we are treating this incident as a double murder-suicide. In a video uploaded to Facebook by the father in mid-December, he spoke about his recent struggles with mental health, and encouraged others feeling the same to get help. Its been a while since I posted anything on Facebook ... Ive had my personal reasons for it. To those who felt a difference and reached out, I thank them, a lot of those calls and messages have gone unanswered and I do apologise but the care and concern shown is appreciated, he said. The area has been taped off by police. Credit:9 News Perth People who have known me well enough for long enough, I would feel quite certain they may not think of me as someone going through depression or being depressed ... but I have recently been diagnosed with depression. Im on medication which is helping, I would think, because the unpleasant signs of mental health issues or even depression is not only does it affect you, it affects the people around you. Suiciding is possibly not the solution ... reach out to people, try and talk to people, seek help, see what you can do before you make that drastic decision where if you are successful there is no coming back. One of the neighbours, Maammad Zaki Hussainy, told Nine News Perth that, as a dad himself, it had been hard to hear about what had happened. Another neighbour, Danny Green, said he had been watching the cricket when he heard the police sirens. It is shocking... absolutely horrific. I think it will (hit the community), it is pretty heavy for sure, he told Nine News Perth. It is always quiet you dont hear anything, you wouldnt expect anything out of that house, absolutely not. Police have appealed to the community to come forward if they have any information and have offered counselling to the family and first responders, who were badly shaken by the scene. The tragedy comes a month after a Madeley mother who killed her two young daughters in 2019 was found not guilty of a failed murder-suicide plot due to her being of unsound mind. In an eerily similar circumstance, Milka Djurasovic, 40, killed her children Mia, 10, and Tiana, 6, inside their Madeley home in October 2019 while her husband was at work, placing one of the girls in her bed afterwards. The Supreme Court heard Ms Djurasovics mental health had spiralled in recent months, and that she was suffering from major depression with psychotic features. Success death investigation Salisbury, MD (21801) Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Weatherford, TX (76086) Today Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low 67F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms - some may contain locally heavy rain, especially this evening. A few storms may be severe. Low 67F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. 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. For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy will transfer to the Royal Court after its sell-out debut at the New Diorama in central London. Playing from 31 March 2022, Ryan Calais Cameron's play follows a group of young Black men meeting for group therapy. Cameron and Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu will be co-directing the original cast who include Emmanuel Akwafo, Mark Akintimehin, Nnabiko Ejimofor, Darragh Hand, Aruna Jalloh and Kaine Lawrence. The production features set and costume design by Anna Reid, lighting design by Rory Beaton, sound design by Nicola Chang, movement direction by Theo Oloyade and musical direction by John Falsetto. Wabriya King is the drama therapist. Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, said: "For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy is a piece of work that demands to be seen. It is a real privilege to be able to give this complex, joyful, brilliant play a further life and to open up the opportunity for more people to experience it. "Ryan Calais Cameron is a writer and theatre-maker who has close associations with the Royal Court and we are all in awe of what he, Tristan and the team have created. It reminds us of what theatre is for." Cameron, playwright and Nouveau Riche Artistic Director, said: "After ten years of writing and developing For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Hue Gets Too Heavy it was remarkable to experience these stories at NDT. This transfer will be a huge cultural event and landmark for Nouveau Riche and our community, to see the words For Black Boys in bright lights in the centre of Sloane Square." Programme Assistant, Kobayat, Tripoli Organization: WFP - World Food Programme Country: Libya City: Tripoli Office: WFP Tripoli, Libya Closing date: Wednesday, 9 March 2022 Are you passionate about changing and improving the lives of millions of people world-wide? Are YOU up for a Life-Changing Experience? Do you want to be part of an International Humanitarian Organization with a very diverse workplace? If YES, this WFP job vacancy is the opportunity for you Deadline for applications: This Vacancy Announcement will close on 09 March 2022 at 11:59 PM, Rome Time. Terms and conditions: - This position is open to qualified Lebanese candidates ONLY - Female candidates are encouraged to apply. - Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted About WFP: Assisting more than 90 million people in 83 countries each year, the World Food Program (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty. WFP Lebanon provides humanitarian assistance to nearly 1.1 million vulnerable persons, in the form of unrestricted assistance in-kind and cash-based transfers. WFP Lebanon also provides food assistance in the form of snack and fresh food to school aged students and their families. This support is designed to improve the students health and make them and their families more motivated to pursue the childrens right to education. To know more about WFPs mission, please check the below video: https://www.facebook.com/WorldFoodProgramme/videos/10154930622760178/ The United Nations World Food Programme is the worlds largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need. Organizational Context: The position will be based in Tripoli, reporting to Qobayat Field Office. The incumbent will be under the direct supervision of the Deputy Head of Field Office and the technical supervision of the Head of Vulnerability Analysis and Maping (VAM) Unit in the Country Office. Job Purpose: To provide technical specialized support, ensure data quality and analyses to policy and programme activities that effectively meet food assistance needs Duration: The Programme Assistant will be contracted for an initial term of 12 months. Contract may be extended based on business need and satisfactory performance. Key Responsibilities (not all-inclusive, nor exhaustive): Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Deputy Head of Field Office and the technical supervision of the Head of Vulnerability Analysis and Maping (VAM) Unit in the Country Office, the Programme Assistant (VAM) will perform the following responsibilities: Provide specialized project management support to specific and/or defined programmes to ensure that the various activities are performed within the established targets following WFPs policies and procedures. Enhance the process of targeting and assessment systems, while applying concrete tracking methods. Consolidate the quantitative proves of targeting and assessment data and elevate main issues to the VAM CO unit on a weekly basis. Ensure that required surveys for the targeting, verification, assessment plans are met and in compliance with agreed coverage for quality control, while incorporating gender and protection perspectives in all areas of work. Provide technical support and assist in the development and implementation of various activities including (targeting, verification assessment, market) and processes within the specific area of work supporting alignment with wider programme policies and guidelines. Conduct field visits in the related area maintaining the direct dialogue with beneficiaries and technical support. Prepare and submit field visit report including and programmatic recommendations and gender observations. Within the specific area of responsibility, prepare a range of reports and data analysis and highlight trends/issues ensuring deliverables adhere to corporate standards and quality control. Support head/deputy head of sub-office in identifying areas of improvement of programme to support programme reviews and improve services. Coordinate and communicate with local partners, agencies, NGOs and government institutions to gather feedback and comments. Support the capacity building of WFP staff, cooperating partners and national government within the specific technical area. Provide guidance for cooperating partners on WFP operational practices, food security and assessment tools and methods in order to support them to complete various tasks and to contribute to the visibility of WFP in the coverage areas. c5oGp4b Dh7qKS Arrange for regular meetings with community leaders and cooperating partners on commodity pipeline, distribution arrangements, food entitlements and other relevant issues to support effective communication flow and efficient operations. Suggest improvements to field processes and procedures for efficient implementation of the assistance and targeting programmes. Report periodically to the WFP Officer on relevant events regarding beneficiaries, food management, distribution, partner shops, and other related issues. Perform other related duties as required. STANDARD MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Completion of secondary school education. University degree (Bachelors degree) in International Affairs, Statistics, Economics, Nutrition, Public Health, Food Security or other field relevant to international development assistance is a plus. Experience: At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience, including at least four (4) years in the field of research, assessment, monitoring and evaluations, statistics, food security, economics, programme and policy, humanitarian assistance or any related field. Language: Fluency in both oral and written communication in English and Arabic languages. Desired Skills and Knowledge: Ability to maintain accurate and precise records, well organized Able to interpret and analyze a variety of data and resolve discrepancies Ability to coordinate and facilitate communication with teams including ability to contribute to the effective implementation of programmes and policy discussions. Experience utilizing computers including Microsoft Office specifically Microsoft Word, Excel. Ability to undertake statistical analysis. Experience utilizing Access and SPSS. Knowledge of WFP activities and procedures in the country is a plus. Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status. No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service. Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1643218812287 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WILTON After being canceled last year due to the pandemic, Wiltons Winter Carnival is set to return. Chamber of Commerce Director Camille Carriero said the annual event will take place Feb. 6 from noon to 4 p.m. to bring the community together and boost small businesseses during the post-holiday lull. Coupled with an opportunity for local businesses to benefit from the influx of people to town center, the carnival originally started as a way to bring neighbors together during the cold weather months. Now, Carriero hopes the event will fill that desire to mingle after many have had relatively limited interaction with their neighbors since the onset of the pandemic. On Feb. 6, the town green will be reconfigured into a space for vendors manning stands, childrens activities such as arts and crafts, a magician performance and an ice sculpting demonstration. The most anticipated feature of the carnival, Carriero said, is the horse and carriage ride around Wilton Center. This year, the carriage will no longer be enclosed but rather an open carriage that fits more people per ride. We modified it this year, it is 100% open, she said, noting the event organizers strived to make this event fully outdoors in every sense. She also focused on the amount of new residents that have moved into town and wants to help them acclimate and meet their neighbors. This past year, weve had so many new people come into Wilton, she said. Coming from the perspective of someone relatively new to the area myself, it is great to come in and see the town and the people of Wilton, said Jarred Barnes, of the Riverbrook YMCA, who is also sponsoring the event. He said the Riverbrook YMCA underwent a pretty stark makeover just before the pandemic started, and he hopes to invite new and existing residents back to see all the changes made. With increased foot traffic, Carriero is hopeful that nearby storefronts and restaurants gain an influx of customers during a typically slow post-holiday streak. She also is encouraging businesses, whether chamber members or not, to run deals or specials that weekend to entice more customers into their doors. One such business owner will not be asking carnival attendees to come to her door, but rather her window. Wendy Fellows, a near 20-year Wilton resident and owner of Bubble and Brew, will be one of three food trucks at the event. She will serve freshly baked goods, including gluten-free options, as well as bubble teas and espresso. Fellows started the food truck business in 2018 after a long career in graphic design. One of my all time favorite toys as kid was the E-Z Bake Oven, and Ive loved baking ever since, she said. Once her daughter graduated college, she said the pair started looking at brick-and-mortar stores to open a store but high rent prices forced them to think outside the box. So we found a very unique French firetruck, Fellows said. Now, she runs the small operation with her daughter and has stayed very busy, especially during the summer months. She said its even sweeter that shell have the opportunity to contribute to an event in her hometown. That is one of my favorite things about having the food truck, Fellows said. The streets here are very narrow and we hardly ever see neighbors except for at Stop & Shop. Working in the truck, I get to see and meet a lot of the people here in town. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Norwalk Police Department Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Norwalk Police Department Show More Show Less 3 of 3 NORWALK Two Brooklyn, N.Y., residents accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of perfume from a city store were arrested Tuesday with the help of a tracking device, according to police. Kerina Semervil, 24, and Davon Sejourne, 23, were each charged with third-degree larceny after the pair allegedly raided the Ulta Beauty store at 650 Main Ave. shortly after 1 p.m. on Jan. 25. Cliff Eyland found a use for library catalogue cards long before libraries replaced them with computers as a way for visitors to find books on the shelves. Cliff Eyland found a use for library catalogue cards long before libraries replaced them with computers as a way for visitors to find books on the shelves. Art Preview Click to Expand Cliff Eyland: Library of Babel A Retrospective Winnipeg Art Gallery To May 15 For decades, the painter and sketch artist, who moved to Winnipeg in 1994 to work at the University of Manitobas School of Art, would transform three-inch-by-five-inch cards into portraits, landscapes and abstracts. He created thousands of works out of those humble cards, which are about the size of a smartphone, and a small portion of them about 1,000 are part of Cliff Eyland: Library of Babel A Retrospective, a new exhibition at the Winnipeg Art Gallery that is on display until May 15. Eyland was 65 when he died May 16, 2020, after several years of poor health. He received a double-lung transplant in 2016 but lived with sarcoidosis, a systemic inflammatory disease. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Cliff Eyland with his work in The 80s Image at the Winnipeg Art Gallery in 2018; the Winnipeg artist died in 2020. Eyland and Robert Epp, a guest curator for the exhibition and longtime friend of the artist, began working on the retrospective in 2017. "He had organized a lot of pieces and had them packed up," says Epp, a museum consultant who worked with Eyland at the University of Manitoba School of Arts Gallery One One One. "Hes talked about having as many as 28 different categories for his art. Everything from robots to clouds to portraits, landscapes. Practically anything you could put on a three-by-five card or board, he tried." Library of Babel is similar to Eylands most visible permanent work in Winnipeg. Untitled, a collection of more than 1,000 of his three-by-five artworks made on wooden blocks, is at the main entrance of the Millennium Library. Even those walking by on the skywalk on their way to nearby Canada Life Centre where the Winnipeg Jets play have seen his display. WILLIAM EAKIN / COLLECTION OF THE ARTISTS ESTATE Detail of Treaty Landscapes with Art and Crosses of Faith and Lost Faith, assembled in 2017. He also received commissions for similar eye-catching collages at libraries in Halifax he first went to art school in the Nova Scotia capital and Edmonton. Eyland spent countless hours at the Millennium Library installing Untitled, and getting the WAG exhibition set up was no simple task for gallery staff. SUPPLIED Peach Tree Chronicles (Book Painting), from the series Librarians, Books and Clouds, 2014-2016 "They used laser levels and it takes a lot of patience. You have to map everything out and pound all these little nails," Epp says. Libraries were a source of inspiration for Eyland and his little paintings and sketches were his calling card. He would often create a work among the stacks and leave it behind in a book for someone to enjoy later on. "Its a practice he had been doing for many many years, practically right out of art school," Epp says. "He was very much interested in this nexus of the library and the art gallery. He was interested in bringing the library into the gallery and the gallery into the library." WILLIAM EAKIN / COLLECTION OF THE ARTISTS ESTATE Smartphone, from the series Cameras, Cellphones and Hard Drives, 2003-2018 Eyland placed dozens of art pieces among obscure dissertations at the Raymond Fogelman Library at the New School University in New York and thousands of his works are hidden treasures at the Millennium Library and the Cornish Library on West Gate. "Its a real exhibition on its own right there," the curator says. Eylands sketches would crop up in the darnedest places. "He would not only hide them in library books," Epp says. "I remember having a party at our place and he was there. The next day were cleaning up and lift up the rug and heres some Cliff Eyland drawings he left behind, just as a gift." Library of Babel holds up for repeated viewings in the same way Qaumajuqs visible vault does for the thousands of Inuit art sculptures it holds. There are so many pieces of Eylands art to see that its easy to overlook one while gazing at another. The exhibition isnt all handheld-sized art though. It includes two video installations by Winnipeg filmmaker Adam Brooks, one of them a 2021 documentary, Cliff: A Portrait of an Artist, which follows Eyland at his studio and in the library, surreptitiously inserting his sketches into a book before putting it back in the stacks. A video version of Status Update, a 2015 collaboration Eyland took part in with fellow University of Manitoba professor George Toles is also part of the exhibition. COLLECTION OF THE NOVA SCOTIA ART BANK Cliff Eylands Self-Portrait with Yellow Streak, 1987. Eyland would make a painting or sketch to go with the daily narratives Toles posted to Facebook; the combination eventually led to a book that came out in 2021. "I know Cliff contributed about 1,700 images for Georges stories and that went on for at least three or four years," Epp says. "Every day, Cliff would have to come up with new artwork." Alan.Small@winnipegfreepress.com Twitter: @AlanDSmall If you value coverage of Manitobas arts scene, help us do more. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A federal judge resentenced Tiger King Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison on Friday, reducing his punishment by just a year despite pleas from the former zookeeper for leniency as he begins treatment for early-stage cancer. FILE - In this Aug. 28, 2013, file photo, Joseph Maldonado answers a question during an interview at the zoo he runs in Wynnewood, Okla. Maldonado known also as Tiger King Joe Exotic is headed to a federal courtroom Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, for a resentencing hearing. He's now in federal prison after a jury convicted him in a murder-for-hire plot involving his chief rival, Carole Baskin. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A federal judge resentenced Tiger King Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison on Friday, reducing his punishment by just a year despite pleas from the former zookeeper for leniency as he begins treatment for early-stage cancer. Please dont make me die in prison waiting for a chance to be free, he tearfully told a federal judge who resentenced him on a murder-for-hire charge. Molly Parmer, a member of Joe Exotic's legal team, speaks with the media after Joe Exotic whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage was resentenced at the Federal Courthouse in Oklahoma City, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. A federal judge resentenced Tiger King Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison on Friday, reducing his punishment by just a year despite pleas from the former zookeeper for leniency as he begins treatment for early-stage cancer. (Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman via AP) Joe Exotic whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage was convicted in a case involving animal welfare activist Carole Baskin. Both were featured in Netflixs Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, Maldonado-Passage, 58, still had his trademark mullet hairstyle, but the bleach-blonde had faded to brown and gray. Baskin and her husband, Howard Baskin, also attended the proceedings, and she said she was fearful that Maldonado-Passage could threaten her. He continues to harbor intense feelings of ill will toward me, she told the judge. Baskin said even with Maldonado-Passage in prison, she has continued to receive vile, abusive and threatening communications" over the last two years. She told the judge she believes Maldonado-Passage poses an even more serious threat to her now that he has a larger group of supporters because of the popularity of the Netflix series. Maldonado-Passage's attorneys told the judge their client is suffering from stage-one prostate cancer, along with a disease that compromises his immune system, making him particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Stage-one prostate cancer means it has been detected early and hasn't spread. Maldonado-Passage previously said that he planned to delay treatment until after his resentencing. Federal officials have said Maldonado-Passage will need up to eight weeks of radiation treatments and would be unable to travel during the treatments. His attorney Amy Hanna told the judge he's not receiving the proper medical care inside the federal prison system and that a lengthy prison sentence is a death sentence for Joe that he doesn't deserve." Prosecutors also told the judge Friday that Maldonado-Passage received a disciplinary write-up in September for being possession of a contraband cellphone and unauthorized headphones that was not included in his pre-sentencing report. Palk added that Maldonado-Passage had four previous disciplinary write-ups, although he described those as relatively minor and not violent." Friday's court proceedings came about after a federal appeals court ruled last year that the prison term he's serving on a murder-for-hire conviction should be shortened. Supporters packed the courtroom, some wearing animal-print masks and shirts that read Free Joe Exotic. His attorneys said they would appeal the resentencing and petition for a new trial. The defense submitted a series of attachments that showed excessive government involvement in the creation of the offense for which he's been convicted," attorney Molly Parmer told reporters after the hearing. 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. We are going to continue our post-conviction litigation, but we did preview for the court the evidence we have through our post-conviction investigation." The former zookeeper was sentenced in January 2020 to 22 years in prison after he was convicted of trying to hire two different men to kill Baskin. A three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Maldonado-Passage that the court should have treated them as one conviction at sentencing because they both involved the same goal of killing Baskin, who runs a rescue sanctuary for big cats in Florida and had criticized Maldonado-Passage's treatment of animals. Prosecutors said Maldonado-Passage offered $10,000 to an undercover FBI agent to kill Baskin during a recorded December 2017 meeting. In the recording, he told the agent, Just like follow her into a mall parking lot and just cap her and drive off. Maldonado-Passages attorneys have said their client who once operated a zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) south of Oklahoma City wasnt being serious. Maldonado-Passage, who maintains his innocence, also was convicted of killing five tigers, selling tiger cubs and falsifying wildlife records. ___ Bleed reported from Little Rock, Arkansas. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops says it wants to be transparent about fundraising to support reconciliation efforts and has named Indigenous directors to oversee the money. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops says it wants to be transparent about fundraising to support reconciliation efforts and has named Indigenous directors to oversee the money. The Canadian bishops made a commitment last year to raise $30 million in up to five years. The Catholic Church was under pressure to properly compensate survivors under the Indian Residential School Survivor Agreement after it was reported that less than $5 million had been raised out of a $25-million goal. Bishop William McGrattan, vice-president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the bishops are committed to a path of healing and transparency. But, he added, they understand it must also demonstrate transparency and accountability. Having Indigenous oversight will help achieve that, McGrattan said. "The Indigenous experience and voice is critical for us as Catholics and Canadians to understand the path we need to take," he said in Calgary. Chief Wilton Littlechild, a residential school survivor, is a lawyer who was a commissioner for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. He is to be one of the directors of the church's Indigenous reconciliation fund. Giselle Marion, a Tlicho lawyer in the Northwest Territories, and Rosella Kinoshameg, a nurse from Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation Territory who is part of the Catholic bishop's Indigenous council, will also be directors. McGrattan said some dioceses in the country have already begun their fundraising campaigns and more are expected to start in coming weeks. He added it is a way for Catholics to be truly honest and understanding of how the church's history has affected Indigenous people. "We have to go forward and we have to find a path to healing," he said. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a news release Friday that there will be four priorities when distributing the money: healing and reconciliation; culture and language revitalization; education and community building; and dialogues for promoting Indigenous spirituality. The fund is to publish annual reports and be subject to an audit by an independent accounting firm each year, they said. The bishops said in the news release that there was "considerable disappointment" with the previous fundraising campaign tied to the residential school agreement. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops said it was not party to that agreement but learned lessons from and "recognized shortcomings" in that campaign. Individual churches and dioceses formed a corporation in 2006 and made three commitments: a cash payment of $29 million, in-kind services with a value of $25 million and a "best efforts" campaign to raise $25 million over seven years for healing and reconciliation. The "best efforts" campaign came up with less than $4 million. The federal government took the church to court, but a Saskatchewan judge ruled in 2015 that the Catholic Church had met its legal and financial obligations. The federal government did not appeal the ruling, a decision that has also faced scrutiny. "The Bishops of Canada are fully committed to addressing the historical and ongoing trauma caused by the residential school system," Bishop Raymond Poisson, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a news release. "In moving forward with our collective financial commitment, we will continue to be guided by the experience and wisdom of Indigenous peoples across the country." 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. Criticism of the Catholic Church's role in residential schools re-emerged last year after unmarked graves were found at the sites of former schools. An estimated 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Metis children were forced to attend residential schools. More than 60 per cent of the schools were run by the Catholic Church. Pope Francis said last year he is willing to visit Canada. Indigenous leaders have said any trip must come with an apology for residential schools. A planned Indigenous delegation to the Vatican to meet with the Pope in December was delayed because of the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program has a hotline to help residential school survivors and their relatives suffering trauma invoked by the recall of past abuse. The number is 1-866-925-4419. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2022. OTTAWA - Dozens of big rigs rolled into downtown Ottawa Friday, as a planned protest began to swell in size and energy, and some in attendance promised to stay put until vaccine mandates are abolished or Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is forced from office. Protesters and supporters drive over the Nipigon Bridge on the Trans Canada Highway as part of a trucking convoy against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Nipigon, Ont., on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Jackson OTTAWA - Dozens of big rigs rolled into downtown Ottawa Friday, as a planned protest began to swell in size and energy, and some in attendance promised to stay put until vaccine mandates are abolished or Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is forced from office. But what some believe to be a demonstration in support of truckers opposed to a cross-border vaccine mandate is, in fact, a much broader push to end all COVID-19 restrictions. It is rooted in a movement that goes at least as far back as the last time a convoy of trucks rallied on Parliament Hill. Smaller groups of protesters have been staging events around Ottawa, including outside what they seemed to think was Trudeau's home, for months. While police have warned their intelligence is flagging the potential for violence, the atmosphere Friday in the early hours of the demonstration was more carnival than combat. The noise at times was overwhelming, with people cheering, car horns blaring, music blasting and vehicles circling in a constant parade. Expletive-laden signs and decals targeting Trudeau were a dominant theme around downtown. While some commercial trucks were around, the vast majority of vehicles were still personal cars and pickup trucks. By late afternoon at least 1,000 people lined the road, sidewalks and lawn in front of Centre Block, some setting up barbecues and others looking to camp out in their vehicles. The sharp scent of marijuana hovered over much of the scene. "This is a love-in," said Dana-Lee Melfi. "It's like I'm in the '70s. We are going to show the world how to get this stuff started." Melfi, dressed head to toe in camouflage, said he lives in the Ontario "bush" and would camp out in Ottawa for weeks if necessary until the mandates end. Others want more than that. Robyn May, a business owner from Long Point, Ont., said she plans to stay until "Justin Trudeau is no longer our prime minister." We are not a free country, May said, adding her business had been forced to close at times because of government orders. As dusk settled, the protest began to spill out of Parliament Hill toward the ByWard Market and down other city streets. Hundreds more vehicles were expected by Saturday, from Western Canada, Quebec and the Maritimes. A person walks by a truck with a Freedom on it before the departure of the trucks from Kingston to Ottawa, in Kingston, Ont., on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg As evening fell, commercial rigs lined the road, double file, their lights glaring in the darkness, their horns blaring. More convoys are expected Saturday. In Rigaud, Que., near the Ontario border, a heavy police presence watched convoy supporters amass at a truck stop. Some were there to support, while others were headed to Ottawa, demanding "freedom." Peter Julius said what started about trucking has morphed into something more, in his opinion, with a message to government that lockdowns and mandates are excessive and unnecessary. People are tired, thats what it comes down to, said Julius, a father of three from Saint-Lazare, Que., who attended with his children. Canadas a free country and it feels like were stuck in prison. Yes, were free, but were limited to what we can do, were limited to see our family, who we can have over. Its not a way to live, he added. The sentiments reflect the fact the protest is not specifically about truckers or the vaccine mandate imposed on them, and in reality it didn't even start out that way. The Jan. 15 decision to extend the vaccine mandate at the border to commercial truck drivers poured gasoline on a fire already raging among an angry segment of Canadians. They have been protesting COVID-19 restrictions for almost two years, but also have other grievances with the government over climate action and energy policy. The convoy is mainly organized by a movement known as Canada Unity, which launched on Facebook in February 2019, when the United We Roll convoy protested on Parliament Hill, demanding more oil pipelines and an end to the carbon price. The memo being pushed by Canada Unity unlawfully demands Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and the Senate force the federal and provincial governments to lift all COVID-19 restrictions, including vaccine mandates. It does not mention truckers, and was initially sent to the Senate and Simon on Dec. 11. While the federal government has imposed a vaccine mandate for federally regulated workers and at the border, almost all COVID-19 restrictions fall to provincial jurisdiction. That includes mask mandates, business and school closures, and other public and private gathering limits. In the last two years Canada Unity founder James Bauder has posted multiple times on Facebook about government and media conspiracies pushing a fake COVID-19 narrative, and a year ago predicted it would lead to World War III by last February. The group's Facebook page was suspended in the fall for pushing false and potentially dangerous information about COVID-19. Bauder launched his own GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for a convoy in mid-October, that raised about $20,000 to date, separate from the one launched on the website Jan. 14 that has now raised more than $7 million. He and his wife have been travelling the country leading various protests. Videos posted by Canada Unity to online-video platform Rumble show events throughout the fall in Ottawa, with group members blockading Ottawa-area media buildings, screaming about freedom while standing maskless inside the entrance to the National Arts Centre and staging a mask protest inside a downtown Dollarama store, which drew a verbal altercation with police. In both December and mid-January, the group brought convoys of cars to the traffic circle near the Rideau Hall gate to shout at Trudeau. The prime minister and his family live in a cottage on the property well back from the convoy's position and not in the gate house some in the group seemed to think was his home. The Canada Trucking Alliance has disavowed the latest protest and said most of its members are vaccinated and are continuing to do their jobs. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole posted on Twitter Friday that he met with truckers headed to Ottawa. "Truckers are our neighbours, our family, and most importantly, they are our fellow Canadians," he wrote. While the atmosphere has been non-violent, though loud and raucous, so far, Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly said more intelligence warning of the potential for violence is still coming in. "Even during the course of this conference call we've had new intelligence coming in, in regards to local threats," he said during a briefing Friday morning. He said Ottawa police are working with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, RCMP and other agencies to identify any potential threats to public safety. "That will continue and we will be as prepared as possible to identify those individuals or groups that may seek to come here physically to cause harm to the city, to disrupt lawful demonstrations, or that may be inciting hate and/or criminal violence online," he said. But many who spoke to reporters on Parliament Hill Friday expressed anger that their push to end COVID-19 restrictions had them labelled as extremists. Others were angry that it appeared people with far-right connections and links to white supremacist groups were trying to latch on to the protest. Andrew Broe, who drove in his red rig from Trenton, Ont., with his girlfriend, said the extremists were not part of the movement, but that it was very frustrating to hear reports they might be trying to infiltrate the rally. Earlier this week the larger GoFundMe campaign hosts asked anyone involved to report signs of hatred or violence. 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. But at least one organizer, Pat King, said on a Facebook Live post in December that the situation with COVID-19 mandates was so out of control "the only way that this is going to be solved is with bullets." There are currently rallies officially planned for Saturday and Sunday but many are not looking to leave in just a few days. Ashley Piche, a 33-year-old life coach, was part of a large group from Sudbury, Ont. She said she was planning to stay for around a week to hold it down. She said she is not an anti-vaxxer but did not want to be part of an experimental vaccine and should have the freedom to choose whether to get vaccinated. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2022. With files from Sidhartha Banerjee in Rigaud, Que. TOKYO (AP) Toyota is working with Japan's space agency on a vehicle to explore the lunar surface, with ambitions to help people live on the moon by 2040 and then go live on Mars, company officials said Friday. This undated photo provided by Toyota Motor Corp. shows a robotic arm developed for a vehicle called "Lunar Cruiser" to explore the lunar surface. Toyota is working with Japan's space agency on the Lunar Cruiser to explore the lunar surface, with ambitions to help people live on the moon by 2040 and then go live on Mars, company officials said Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. The arm developed by Gitai Japan Inc., a venture contracted with Toyota, is designed to perform tasks such as inspection and maintenance. (Toyota Motor Corp. via AP) TOKYO (AP) Toyota is working with Japan's space agency on a vehicle to explore the lunar surface, with ambitions to help people live on the moon by 2040 and then go live on Mars, company officials said Friday. The vehicle being developed with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is called Lunar Cruiser, whose name pays homage to the Toyota Land Cruiser sport utility vehicle. Its launch is set for the late 2020s. The vehicle is based on the idea that people eat, work, sleep and communicate with others safely in cars, and the same can be done in outer space, said Takao Sato, who heads the Lunar Cruiser project at Toyota Motor Corp. This undated photo provided by Toyota Motor Corp. shows a robotic arm developed for a vehicle called "Lunar Cruiser" to explore the lunar surface. Toyota is working with Japan's space agency on the Lunar Cruiser to explore the lunar surface, with ambitions to help people live on the moon by 2040 and then go live on Mars, company officials said Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. The arm developed by Gitai Japan Inc., a venture contracted with Toyota, is designed to perform tasks such as inspection and maintenance. (Toyota Motor Corp. via AP) We see space as an area for our once-in-a-century transformation. By going to space, we may be able to develop telecommunications and other technology that will prove valuable to human life, Sato told The Associated Press. Gitai Japan Inc., a venture contracted with Toyota, has developed a robotic arm for the Lunar Cruiser, designed to perform tasks such as inspection and maintenance. Its grapple fixture allows the arms end to be changed so it can work like different tools, scooping, lifting and sweeping. Gitai Chief Executive Sho Nakanose said he felt the challenge of blasting off into space has basically been met but working in space entails big costs and hazards for astronauts. Thats where robots would come in handy, he said. Since its founding in the 1930s, Toyota has fretted about losing a core business because of changing times. It has ventured into housing, boats, jets and robots. Its net-connected sustainable living quarters near Mount Fuji, called Woven City, where construction is starting this year. 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. Japanese fascination with the moon has been growing. A private Japanese venture called ispace Inc. is working on lunar rovers, landing and orbiting, and is scheduled for a moon landing later this year. Businessman Yusaku Maezawa, who recently took videos of himself floating around in the International Space Station, has booked an orbit around the moon aboard Tesla CEO Elon Musks Starship. Toyota engineer Shinichiro Noda said he is excited about the lunar project, an extension of the automakers longtime mission to serve customers and the moon may provide valuable resources for life on Earth. Sending our cars to the moon is our mission, he said. Toyota has vehicles almost everywhere. But this is about taking our cars to somewhere we have never been. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden has an opportunity for a reset on climate policy after a federal judge rejected an administration plan to lease millions of acres in the Gulf of Mexico for offshore oil drilling. President Joe Biden speaks to members of the media as he arrives at Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin, Penn., Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden has an opportunity for a reset on climate policy after a federal judge rejected an administration plan to lease millions of acres in the Gulf of Mexico for offshore oil drilling. U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras tossed the drilling plan late Thursday, saying the Interior Department did not adequately take into account the proposed drillings effect on planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Environmentalists say the lease sale goes against Bidens campaign promise to stop new oil and gas leasing on federal land and water. The court decision was released on the one-year anniversary of a federal leasing moratorium Biden ordered as part of his efforts to combat climate change. The Biden administration proceeded with the sale after losing a court case in Louisiana last summer. Energy companies including Shell, BP, Chevron and ExxonMobil offered a combined $192 million for drilling rights on more than 300 tracts totaling nearly 2,700 square miles, one of the largest sales ever in the Gulf. The 68-page decision by Contreras sends the proposed Gulf lease sale back to Interior to decide next steps. Biden has set an ambitious goal to slash planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, speeding what is already a market-driven growth of solar and wind energy and lessening the countrys dependence on oil and gas. The push comes as the effects of climate change, including more powerful hurricanes, wildfires and drought, are increasing. Moving ahead with the sale initiated by the Trump administration was terrible policy and also bad politics,'' said Drew Caputo, vice president of litigation at Earthjustice, one of the environmental groups that challenged the offshore sale. Biden campaigned on addressing climate change, and a growing sector of the electorate young, diverse and active are climate change voters,'' he said. "They voted for Biden, and if he wants them to vote for him again the White House needs to respond on climate.'' Melissa Schwartz, a spokeswoman for Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, said the administration was compelled" to proceed with the lease sale following the Louisiana court ruling. Interior has documented serious deficiencies in the federal oil and gas program, Schwartz said, adding that Haaland has recommended an overhaul of the nations oil and gas leasing program to limit areas available for energy development and raise costs for energy companies to drill on public land and water. Especially in the face of the climate crisis, we need to take the time to make significant and long overdue programmatic reforms, Schwartz said. Our public lands and waters must be protected for generations to come. The White House has not acted on the Interior report, which was submitted in late November. "The oil and gas lease program continues to be under review,'' White House spokesman Vedant Patel said Friday. He referred questions to Interior. Despite being on the losing side of Thursdays ruling, the administration can count it as a win for Biden's climate agenda, said analysts Rene Santos and Sami Yahya with S&P Global Platts. This decision basically resets the clock back to January 2021 when Biden issued the executive order halting new permits and leases, Santos and Yahya said in an email. The June court ruling had forced the administration to rely on a Trump-era environmental analysis that has been faulted by courts for underestimating the climate impacts of large fossil fuel sales. A review conducted by the Trump administration and affirmed under Biden reached the unlikely conclusion that extracting and burning more oil and gas from the Gulf would result in fewer climate-changing emissions than leaving it in place. Federal officials have since changed their emissions modeling methods but said it was too late to use that approach for the November auction. Louisiana officials said Friday they are exploring potential legal remedies. It is extremely disappointing that the Biden administration continues to sabotage oil and gas lease sales,'' said state Solicitor General Elizabeth Murrill, who works for Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry. Biden's actions are crippling consumers, destroying jobs and jeopardizing our national security,'' Murrill said. In the short term, the ruling is expected to have little impact on oil and gas companies operating in the Gulf since they already have numerous leases and the ones in dispute likely would not have been developed for many years. Still, if the disputed leases are not reoffered and future sales get curtailed, it would mark a significant setback for the oil industry in a region that accounts for 15% of total U.S. crude production. 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. This ruling is yet another example of the increasing policy and legal uncertainty that is jeopardizing the future of American energy leadership and leading to greater dependence on foreign energy sources that result in higher emissions,'' said Frank Macchiarola, senior vice president of the American Petroleum Institute, the oil industry's top lobbying group. Macchiarola urged the administration to continue lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, calling the region "critical for meeting demand for affordable energy while generating billions in government revenue.'' Energy analyst Jim Krane at Rice Universitys Baker Institute said the Gulf leasing dispute underscores a conundrum as governments struggle to address global warming: Fossil fuels are wreaking havoc on the climate, but limiting domestic supplies wont reduce demand and could cause prices to rise, encouraging more production in countries with fewer environmental restrictions. Restricting production in the Gulf of Mexico is the wrong target anyway for opponents of fossil fuels, Krane said, since its less carbon intense than oil thats produced onshore through fracking. Wed all be better off with a tax on carbon and letting companies and their customers figure out how they can reduce their emissions,'' he said. ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana, and Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans contributed to this story. FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) Some residents think a northern Alabama city's new logo might be sending the wrong message. This image provided by the city of Florence, Ala, shows the old and new logo for Florence, Ala. The northern Alabama city's new logo is sparking a visceral reaction among residents. When Florence unveiled its new logo this week, it drew immediate backlash and an online petition demanding changes that had more than 5,000 signatures. The logo uses the name Florence, and arranges two letters after the F into an exclamation point. (City of Florence via AP) FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) Some residents think a northern Alabama city's new logo might be sending the wrong message. Florence's new logo uses the first three letters of its name a capital F followed by an L and an O arranged as an exclamation point to form F! When the city unveiled the new logo this week, it drew immediate backlash and an online petition demanding changes that had nearly 7,500 signatures. The city paid $25,000 to a Birmingham marketing firm for the branding, WAAY-TV reported. 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 new logo symbolizes the people of Florences passion and love for the city, the city said in a news release announcing the new logo. A sense of amazement, delight and pride is all reflected in the Florence logo exclamation point. City leaders are pushing back on claims that they didnt consider hiring a local firm to do the work, saying a request for proposals was issued but no local companies responded. Travis Tatum, of Tatum Design, explains the creative process of designing the city of Florence's new logo during a reveal at the Shoals Theatre, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, in Florence, Ala. Some residents think the city's new logo might be sending the wrong message. (Dan Busey/The TimesDaily via AP) Residents were engaged early in the process through a community survey sent to hundreds of people, city officials said. WAAY-TV reports that it was unable to find a copy of the survey and the city didnt respond to its requests to see it. In a letter to residents Thursday, Florence Mayor Andy Betterton said the new branding will serve multiple needs and audiences as our community grows and moves forward." As we navigate developing the new branding, one thing is for sure; the process has highlighted our communitys talents, humor, and love for Florence," Betterton wrote. City Council member Kaytrina Simmons said she has requested a meeting with the mayor and council to discuss the logo and revise it. In a letter to residents, Simmons apologized for the logo which has brought so much disappointment to our great city. FREDERICTON - The federal agriculture minister is optimistic the United States could approve the resumption of shipments of Prince Edward Island potatoes to the key market of Puerto Rico within weeks. Prince Edward Island Premier Dennis King speaks with media as bags of potatoes sit on a table, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld FREDERICTON - The federal agriculture minister is optimistic the United States could approve the resumption of shipments of Prince Edward Island potatoes to the key market of Puerto Rico within weeks. Marie-Claude Bibeau and Island MP Lawrence MacAulay met with U.S. officials in Washington Thursday to discuss the ban imposed by Canada on exports of the potatoes in November following the discovery of potato wart in two P.E.I. fields. The fungal parasite spreads through the movement of infected potatoes, soil and farm equipment and poses no threat to human health but leaves the potatoes disfigured and can greatly decrease crop yields. "I'm very optimistic," Bibeau said in an interview Friday. "It went very well. We got the best outcome we could at this point in time." Bibeau said American officials have agreed to look at Canada's mitigation measures and make a decision on shipments of table-stock potatoes to Puerto Rico where potatoes are not farmed in the next week or two, followed by a decision on shipments to the continental United States. Puerto Rico usually gets 80 to 85 per cent of its potatoes from Prince Edward Island, representing about a quarter of the province's exports to the United States. Bibeau said she's confident American officials will agree that P.E.I.'s table-stock potatoes potatoes used for food not planting pose no risk. "These potatoes come from fields that are not known for ever having potato wart. Then the potatoes are washed, brushed, graded, given a visual inspection and then they are treated with a sprout inhibitor," she said. Originally, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) were going to conduct a thorough investigation of both table-stock and seed potatoes from P.E.I. a process that some officials estimated could take until 2023 to complete. Bibeau said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack directed those groups to deal with table-stock potatoes first. "Having the head of APHIS around the table yesterday, I think brought a message that they were in solution mode. They were there to find a solution to this situation," Bibeau said. However the minister said the investigation into seed potatoes will take longer and will involve the examination of about 35,000 soil samples. Canada banned shipments of P.E.I. fresh potatoes to the U.S. on Nov. 22. At the time, Bibeau said if Canada had not issued the suspension voluntarily, the Americans would have imposed their own ban. Subsequently the U.S. decided to block imports until Canada provides the technical data to show the potatoes are safe. 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. Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. Potato Board, says the ban is in its 10th week and losses to farmers are around $25 million dollars so far, but Thursday's meeting has provided a glimmer of hope. "At least there's a timeline. We want to hold them accountable to those timelines, because this never should have happened, and it shouldn't have continued as long as it has," Donald said Friday. He said if there is a favourable decision concerning Puerto Rico, it will take some time for farmers to get shipments ready. He said the potatoes have to be trucked to Halifax for shipments that depart each Monday. "As soon as there's any indication, they're going to get geared up and get potatoes loaded, ready and waiting. That does take a few days," he said. Donald said so far, Island farmers have avoided having to destroy any potatoes in storage. Instead they've been looking for new markets and have sent potatoes to food banks across the country. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2022. Neil Young severed ties with Spotify this week, but for Canadian listeners many of his classic songs are still streaming on the platform. Neil Young severed ties with Spotify this week, but for Canadian listeners many of his classic songs are still streaming on the platform. "Heart of Gold," "Harvest Moon," and "Rockin' in the Free World" are just a few of Young's defining tracks that remain accessible on Spotify Canada days after a massive takedown of his music. Two images of Neil Young's profile page on Spotify are seen in a composite image made from two screenshots. The left screenshot is from the Canadian site, while the right side is from the U.S.A.'s site. "Heart of Gold," "Harvest Moon" and other hits remain available in Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Staff Their presence throws a wrench into Young's passionate boycott of Spotify. Earlier this week, Young gave the streaming giant an ultimatum saying they must remove his music from the service if they continued to allow podcaster Joe Rogan to spread misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine on his show "The Joe Rogan Experience." Spotify, which has a multi-year distribution agreement with Rogan, granted Young's request on Wednesday and within hours began taking down his albums. In the United States, that left Young's Spotify profile looking especially bare. Only a selection of collaborations he recorded with other artists were still available, including several from a 1992 live recording of Bob Dylan's 30th anniversary concert. In Canada, some of Young's work, "Cinnamon Girl," "Old Man" and the entirety of his new album "Barn," disappeared, but many other songs included on film soundtracks and compilations did not. A representative for Spotify did not respond to a request for comment. Music distribution in the digital era is often clouded by past deals and other licensing agreements that determine who can upload and take down songs in each country. "Rights in different territories might have different guidelines that have to be followed," said Colin Mills, a music business professor at Algonquin College in Ottawa. "It's a little bit more complicated for Neil Young than an artist that's come out in the last five or 10 years where the rights are held by one or two parties. (With) a Neil Young there might be multiple parties involved over the span of his career." Young's record label Warner Music Canada declined to comment while his manager did not respond to requests for comment. Since Monday, when Young first posted about Spotify on his website, shares of the streaming service have lost nearly seven per cent of their value on the New York Stock Exchange. The 76-year-old musician has been outspoken on various COVID-19 issues over the past two years. He told Howard Stern in a recent interview that he refused to tour any time soon worried that he might be "playing to a bunch of people with no masks on." In a statement on his website, he suggested that many of Spotifys listeners are hearing misleading information about COVID through the platform. Theyre "impressionable and easy to swing to the wrong side of the truth," he wrote. 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. "These young people believe Spotify would never present grossly unfactual information," he said. "They unfortunately are wrong. I knew I had to try to point that out." He said he appreciated his record label for standing behind him, since Spotify is responsible for 60 per cent of his music being streamed all over the world. He said it was "a huge loss for my record company to absorb." "I sincerely hope that other artists can make a move, but I can't really expect that to happen," he added. "I did this because I had no choice in my heart. It is who I am. I am not censoring anyone. I am speaking my own truth." With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2022. MONTREAL - Saudi Arabia and Cirque du Soleil have reached a deal that could see the struggling circus company perform a slew of shows in the kingdom. Cirque du Soleil artists perform in Beirut, Lebanon on Wednesday, June 6, 2005.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Press Photo MONTREAL - Saudi Arabia and Cirque du Soleil have reached a deal that could see the struggling circus company perform a slew of shows in the kingdom. The Saudi Ministry of Culture said Friday the agreement means Cirque will "have the potential" to debut at least five of its touring performances including the Blue Man Group and Paw Patrol, as well as a possible resident show unique to the country. However, "there are no firm projects to announce" at the moment, Cirque said. The two parties will also develop a plan to set up a regional Cirque training academy there, the government said. Cirque last pitched its tent in the kingdom in 2018, raising the ire of some of its artists who hoped the company would cancel shows amid international criticism of the regime, which added to a high-profile diplomatic dispute between it and Canada sparked by the arrest of womens-rights activists. The condemnation followed the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic struck two years ago, Cirque scrapped its performances and cut nearly 3,500 employees, but began to add shows again last summer. The Montreal-based company was sold to a group of its creditors led by Catalyst Capital Group in late 2020 after the circus troupe was forced to file for creditor protection. It is not the only Canadian franchise to have faced calls to cancel shows in Saudi Arabia. Pop star Justin Bieber heard similar demands ahead of his concert in the Red Sea city of Jidda last month during the kingdom's Formula One race. He took the stage on Dec. 5. Cirque, which performs in more than 90 countries, said in an email it values "open-mindedness and diversity." "Through our shows, our goal is always to inspire the local population and our presence in any market should not be interpreted as a political and moral stance. As a private company, we do not believe it is appropriate to interfere in the domestic and foreign affairs of the governments of the countries we visit," spokeswoman Caroline Couillard said Friday. 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. She also pointed to announced economic and social reforms by de facto ruler Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman aimed at modernizing Saudi Arabia. The regime's Vision 2030 agenda seeks to diversify the economy away from oil and lure talent and investment from abroad. Last year, the government announced judicial reforms to increase accountability and play down the prominence of Islamic law in its legal system. In June 2018, women were granted the right to drive. They remain subject to guardianship laws, though these were loosened in 2019, allowing them to obtain a passport and travel abroad without a male relative's permission. Newly protected by standard employment discrimination protections, women must still seek a male guardians permission for certain actions, such as entering a domestic violence shelter. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2022. Sales are still down for nearly two-thirds of Manitoban small businesses, according to new data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Sales are still down for nearly two-thirds of Manitoban small businesses, according to new data from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Less than half of companies 46 per cent are fully staffed. Thirty-two per cent are not fully open. Kathleen Cook "Its such a tough time to be a small business," said Kathleen Cook, the CFIBS senior policy analyst for Manitoba. Ongoing restrictions, including 50 per capacity limits on certain sectors, play a big role in the lack of sales pickup, Cook said. Many companies bottom lines are impacted despite not being constrained by public health orders. "A good example is a dry cleaner," Cook said. "The number of people working from home, theyre not taking their clothes to the cleaners, so those businesses see a huge drop in sales." Decreases are happening elsewhere, like at companies supplying chairs for event centres and eateries, she said. A lack of consumer confidence has also left its mark. "Even for businesses that are allowed to remain open, theyre seeing less customer traffic because people are staying home," Cook said. "They hear the message that Omicron is circulating, and theyre trying to stay safe." Across Canada, 70 per cent of small businesses are experiencing below-average sales. Just 42 per cent are fully staffed, and 35 per cent are not fully open. Manitobas numbers are slightly higher because restrictions are more severe in provinces like Ontario and Quebec, Cook said. "We consider ourselves lucky to be open, and just (feel) bad for the other businesses that shut down," said Ronak Arjomandi, co-owner of Cottage Bakery on Pembina Highway. The shop is near Vincent Massey Collegiate. It buzzed with students Thursday at lunch. "Its hard with the restrictions," Arjomandi said. "People get used to coming in, dining in, and then all of a sudden they put new restrictions." The bakerys sales have risen and fallen over the past two years, but the search for good staff remains a constant. "Its hard to find the right people," Arjomandi said, adding the resume pile is slimmer and the applicants shes seen havent been dedicated. 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. Pre-pandemic, her business employed 14 people. That dropped to five and has since increased to nine, but Arjomandi hopes to get back to 2019 levels. First, good workers need to apply, she said. "We just see how everything goes and go day by day," she said. The CFIB polled 3,595 businesses in mid-January for their surveys results. The margin of error is +/- 1.6 per cent, 19 times out of 20. Small businesses confidence in the short and long term dropped this month, according to a different January CFIB survey. Labour shortages and supply chain issues are major contributors to the pessimism, Cook said. Business confidence is below that of summer 2020, the CFIBs poll found. gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com Twenty-five years ago, the Winnipeg Airports Authority was born. It took five years of negotiations with the federal government to get there. Twenty-five years ago, the Winnipeg Airports Authority was born. It took five years of negotiations with the federal government to get there. Among other things, it took some time to wrap heads around a complex ownership and governance model: It was to be a non-share capital corporation that was not a Crown corporation beholden to or owned by either the provincial or federal governments, and it was to be operated for the benefit of the community. One of the sticking points at the time was the hefty land lease fee the federal government demanded 11 per cent of the revenues generated. That is still a very expensive sore spot, inflamed even more by the dramatic drop in revenue caused by the pandemic travel restrictions. Traffic, due to the pandemic, is down by 85 per cent and is not likely to get back to even 50 per cent of its pre-pandemic levels before the year is out. The WAA has had to lay off staff and cut operating expenses by 30 per cent. In the former structure the federal bureaucracy just did the job they were assigned, which was to keep the runways clean and run the airport. Sandy Hopkins Yet despite the expensive rent and incalculable setback endured over the past 20 months there are few who would dispute that the first 25 years of the Winnipeg Airports Authority has been a successful undertaking. In its first year running the airport it generated $22 million in revenue. In 2019 it was up to $140 million. Sandy Hopkins, who chaired the task force that created the entity and then chaired the WAA through its first seven years, said theres no question it has worked. "In the former structure the federal bureaucracy just did the job they were assigned, which was to keep the runways clean and run the airport," Hopkins said, "They werent going out to find new customers, or do things like develop the cargo business. None of that would have happened." While it may be argued that the new current structure has forced up the cost of air travel in Canada it ushered in the implementation of the airport improvement fee, now $38 per flight it has also helped transform the Winnipeg airport into one of the most important economic driver of the city. PHIL HOSSACK / FREE PRESS FILES Barry Rempel will soon retire after 20 years as the CEO of Winnipeg Airports Authority. Barry Rempel, the outgoing chief executive officer of the WAA, said it is now generating $4.3 billion in economic output. Yes, the WAA now carries more than $600 million in debt it increased by $100 million last year to cover the pandemic shortfalls but it also continues to be a significant jobs generator which contributes to community wealth by adding to the tax base. "If there is anything the pandemic has shown us is that the model we have for airports in Canada is good when traffic is growing. It is a problem when there is no revenue," Rempel said. "Most companies would have gone to shareholders to raise capital. In our model we can only do it on the back of debt." Rempel, whos been running the airport for 20 years, said it is now responsible for 18,500 jobs, which includes private industry such as StandardAero that operate on the airport campus. Twenty years ago that number was about 5,000. Critics of airport authorities have questioned the capital spending of airport authorities in Canada. (All the major airports in Canada operate under similar governance structures.) MIKE APORIUS / FREE PRESS FILES In a report in 2014, the Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations was critical of expenditures on elaborate new terminals such as the 10-year-old $585-million terminal in Winnipeg. In a report in 2014, the Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations was critical of expenditures on elaborate new terminals such as the 10-year-old $585-million terminal in Winnipeg. But Brita Chell, the current chair of the board of the WAA, argues that the airport authority is about more than the bottom line. "The first three words of our mission statement is With our community. That is the mantra under which we operate," she said. "Thats different than a private or publicly held corporation and the structure has worked very effectively for the WAA. We can still discharge our governance mandate but at the same time with the view to serving our community." That 2014 report also questioned the accountability of the airport authorities but its advocates say that because board members are nominated by a variety of community entities the City of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Winnipeg, the Assiniboia Chamber of Commerce, the RM of Rosser, the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba and the WAA board itself all nominate people to the board it is very much accountable to the people of Winnipeg and Manitoba. Under Rempels watch the airport has become the largest all-freighter airport in the country, the campus now includes three hotels and a modern parkade replaced what was had been exclusively surface parking before. MIKE SUDOMA / FREE PRESS FILES Brita Chell, the current chair of the board of the WAA, says that the airport authority is about more than the bottom line. Theres also the newly built Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, targeted to open in March. As well, development of a $62-million multi-tenant air cargo logistics facility at the site of the current Air Canada cargo building at the end of Sargent Avenue is about to get underway. Winnipeg has always had to fight carriers to expand its destination portfolio. It is currently at a low point in that regard. United Airlines which because of an agreement with Air Canada took over all of Air Canadas U.S. routes from Winnipeg cut all its cross-border traffic during the pandemic and has yet to resume, but Rempel is confident that business will return once people start travelling again. (Delta Airlines, which flies to Minneapolis, and WestJet, which flies to multiple locations, continue to operate cross-border routes.) Chell said the board hopes to announce Rempels successor very soon and that person will lead the WAA through some more development that Rempel believes will be of strategic importance to the continued growth in the city. "The next phase of development will be over on the west side of the airport," he said. There is 2,200 acres of land between the western edge of the airport and the Perimeter Highway that needs to be serviced. "That is where the overall community has the greatest potential for growth over the next 20 years," he said. "There are some great plans that I believe will really serve the community well." martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca RENO, Nev. (AP) A federal judge decided Friday not to rein in the roundup and capture of wild horses in eastern Nevada, rejecting advocates' claims the federal government was needlessly and recklessly killing free-roaming mustangs in violation of U.S. law. FILE - Horses stand behind a fence at the BLM Palomino Valley holding facility on June 5, 2013, in Palomino Valley, Nev. A federal judge is considering temporarily suspending the capture of wild horses in Nevada where their advocates say the federal government is needlessly and recklessly killing free-roaming mustangs in violation of U.S. laws. (AP Photo/Scott Sonner, File) RENO, Nev. (AP) A federal judge decided Friday not to rein in the roundup and capture of wild horses in eastern Nevada, rejecting advocates' claims the federal government was needlessly and recklessly killing free-roaming mustangs in violation of U.S. law. With a little more than four weeks to go for federal land managers to complete what they call a drought-prompted gather near the Utah state line, U.S. District Judge Miranda Du said she wasn't convinced groups trying to stop the process would win their underlying lawsuit. The court finds that plaintiffs have not shown they are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims and that the balance of equities in this instance weighs against enjoining the 2022 gather, she said. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management insists it must round up the mustangs before the end of February one of several operations scheduled on an expedited basis due to historically dry conditions on the Western range. Maggie Smith, a Justice Department lawyer, told the judge on Wednesday that a delay of even two or three days would prevent the agency from completing planned removals before the end of the year. This is a very high priority (for the bureau). Its an area that is suffering from extreme drought conditions, very limited forage and a huge overpopulation of horses, Smith said. The bureau plans to capture more horses this year than ever before, at least 19,000 across 10 western states. The 13,666 gathered last year was the previous high. Agents are prohibited from using helicopters to drive herds into temporary corrals from March 1 to June 1, when mares typically are pregnant and give birth. After that, summer heat adds stress on the animals and contractor availability becomes a problem in the fall, Smith said. Horse advocates led by Laura Leigh, Wild Horse Education, Animal Wellness Action and the nonprofit CANA Foundation say the agency is squeezing the roundup of 2,030 horses in Nevada into a month under an illegal environmental assessment of a series of gathers over 10 years. Of 1,048 horses rounded up as of Wednesday, the bureau said 11 died. The horse groups say the low-flying helicopters combined with unsafe muddy conditions on the ground in mid-January create a purely artificial hazard that is deadly to these wild horses, a congressional protected, public natural resource. The bureau said a 1% fatality rate was consistent with the 1.1% rate estimated as the average for all horse gathers from 2010-19. In short, there is nothing to suggest the conditions of this gather are unusually dangerous to the horses, it said in response to the request for Du's emergency order. 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. It fact, Smith told Du, it is proceeding very smoothly. While we certainly regret the harm to any animal, what we are seeing here is exactly what we expected,. Du asked lawyers for the horse groups if they expected no horses to die in the roundup. Jessica Blome, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said that while some deaths do typically occur, in this case, there have been more than necessary." This particular herd is foaling now and pregnant now, Blome told Du on Wednesday. If they had followed the proper process and monitored the herd, they would know that. ____ Associated Press writer Ken Ritter in Las Vegas contributed to this report. ROME (AP) The Vatican said Friday it has signed a contract to sell a luxury London building that is at the heart of a fraud and embezzlement trial under way in the Vatican's criminal tribunal, recovering more than it expected from the loss-making investment. FILE - A view of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, on Nov. 10, 2020. On Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. The Vatican said Friday it had completed the sale of a London residential building that is at the heart of a fraud and embezzlement trial under way in the Vatican City States tribunal, recovering more than it expected from the loss-making investment. The Vaticans economy ministry revealed the sale contract had been signed, and 10% of the deposit received, as it released the Holy Sees budget for 2022. It foresees a narrowing of the Holy Sees budget deficit to 33 million euros from 42 million euros last year. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File) ROME (AP) The Vatican said Friday it has signed a contract to sell a luxury London building that is at the heart of a fraud and embezzlement trial under way in the Vatican's criminal tribunal, recovering more than it expected from the loss-making investment. The Vaticans economy ministry also revealed, in releasing the the Holy Sees budget for 2022, that 10% of the deposit has been received and the sale is expected to be concluded in June. The budget foresees a narrowing of the Holy Sees deficit to 33 million euros ($37 million) from 42 million euros last year. The head of the ministry, the Rev. Juan Antonio Guerrero Alves, told Vatican media that the loss from the London building had already been accounted for in the Holy Sees balance sheets. No figures were given, including on the final sale price of the property, but Guerrero said it had sold for more than its appraisal price. The Vaticans purchase of the building, located at 60 Sloan Ave. in Londons Chelsea neighborhood, has been one of the blackest marks on the Vaticans finances in recent years. The Secretariat of State poured some 350 million euros into the investment, much of it donations from the faithful, for a building that its previous owner had purchased for 129 million pounds less than half the sum invested. The scandal exposed the incompetence of the Vaticans monsignors in managing its coffers, since they signed away voting shares in the deal and agreed to pay exorbitant fees needlessly to Italians who were known in business circles for their shady dealings. 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. Vatican prosecutors have accused the Holy See's longtime money manager, Italian brokers and lawyers of fleecing the Holy See in the various contortions of the deal and of then extorting the Vatican of 15 million euros to finally get full ownership of the property, a former Harrods warehouse. Pope Francis had announced his intention to get rid of the property in 2020 when he ordered the Secretariat of State to hand over all its remaining assets to a centralized Vatican treasury, since the London fiasco proved how poorly the office's monsignors had managed the financial portfolio. That reputational blow, combined with the coronavirus pandemic, has impacted the Vatican's bottom line since much of the funding for the original London investment came from the Peters Pence donations from the faithful that are destined for the popes charitable works and the upkeep of the Holy See. In the budget estimates, Guerrero said Peters Pence donations have continued to decline for several years, as much as 15% last year, thanks in part to the reduced attendance at Mass during the pandemic, when the collections are usually made. This should make us think about other methods of soliciting the help of the faithful and receiving donations, he told Vatican media. The Vaticans 2022 budget is swelling from 300 million euros last year to 800 million euros in 2022 because new accounting parameters incorporate big-ticket Vatican-owned entities, including the Bambino Gesu pediatric hospital in Rome, one of Europes biggest. A Winnipeg city councillor is calling for the city to join the movement to appeal to the federal government to decriminalize the possession of a small amount of drugs. A Winnipeg city councillor is calling for the city to join the movement to appeal to the federal government to decriminalize the possession of a small amount of drugs. Coun. Sherri Rollins said when police charge a person with possessing drugs, it makes it hard for them to access harm-reduction services, can leave them without a job and there is potential to become homeless. It is really hard to seek treatment when you are literally in jail, said Rollins shortly after her motion came up at Thursdays city council meeting. The motion was referred to the executive policy committee and it is expected to be voted on by council next month. I think it is a really important piece to the harm reduction regime of the city that we dont have right now. Rollins said current laws result in Black and Indigenous people being dramatically over-represented in terms of drug possession charges. She said Winnipeg should join other cities, including Vancouver and Toronto, which have called for the federal government to strike the law. Coun. Markus Chambers, chairman of the Winnipeg Police Board and the councillor who seconded the motion, said the issue is more of a health crisis than a criminal issue. But, when asked if he supports the motion, Mayor Brian Bowman wouldnt say. Im going to have to have a lot more discussion with my council colleagues and with community members on this one I will let you know, said Bowman. I would encourage Winnipeggers, if they have views on this, regardless of what their views are, to share them with their members of council. Shohan Illsley, executive director of the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, said of the motion it is about time. We have tons of evidence which shows criminalization of people who use substances has done more harm than good. Illsley said once someone is criminalized it makes it hard for public health to help. She said Portugal decriminalized the possession of small amounts of drugs in 2000 and now 70 per cent of people with drug use problems access health care services versus what she believes are only about 10 to 15 per cent of people here. And Illsley said there is an even more tragic toll. She says it appears the number of overdose deaths in Manitoba in 2021 will exceed 400. For everybody who dies, we have many more people overdosing and needing health care services, she said. Jamil Mahmood, the Main Street Projects executive director, said they support moving away from a criminal justice or abstinence approach towards drugs. Our history has repeatedly demonstrated that notions of a drug-free society are abstract at best, said Mahmood. This is just a small step however. We need to be far more proactive and work more on overdose prevention and improving health outcomes through the provision of a safer consumption site, implement drug testing and support legal community access to safer drug supply. Winnipeg police Chief Danny Smyth was asked for comment. Instead, the Winnipeg Police Service replied with a report released by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police in 2020 which supported recognizing substance use disorder as a public health issue. 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 associations report also agreed the evidence suggested decriminalization for simple possession as an effective way to reduce the public health and public safety harms associated with substance abuse and endorsed alternatives to criminal sanctions for simple possession of illicit drugs, requiring integrated partnerships and access to diversion measures. Smyth sits on the associations board. In a statement, Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said the act of decriminalizing small amounts of drugs would require federal legislation, not provincial or municipal. If federal legislation is proposed, our government would then review all implications of the changes. with files from Joyanne Pursaga kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca A city firefighter has been criminally charged for allegedly assaulting and pointing a handgun at his wife, also a WFPS employee, in 2020. A city firefighter has been criminally charged for allegedly assaulting and pointing a handgun at his wife, also a WFPS employee, in 2020. The accused who remains actively employed by the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service was arrested Nov. 24, 2021, by city police while on duty at the Osborne Street fire hall. He was released on a promise to appear in court; his first hearing is scheduled for Feb. 15. The Free Press is not naming either the accused nor alleged victim as it is a domestic violence case, nor is it revealing the location of the reported offence as it could possibly be identifying. No publication ban has been issued by the courts at this time. The alleged assault took place Oct. 7, 2020, in rural Manitoba. A criminal complaint was filed with the RCMP on May 31, 2021, and an investigation was launched. Manitoba RCMP secured an arrest warrant for charges of assault and pointing a firearm (pistol) Sept. 23, 2021. The United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg the union that represents city firefighters did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. In a written statement sent to the Free Press, a WFPS spokeswoman said an "employment investigation" into the matter is "ongoing at this time." "Typically, any action taken by an employer must be balanced with the employees constitutional right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Our practice has been to consider each case on its own," the spokeswoman said. 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. "We can further advise that the employee in question is in an accommodated position with no interaction with the general public. We will not be providing additional comment, as its an ongoing human resources matter." The alleged victim is listed in the City of Winnipegs 2020 compensation disclosure agreement as a dual firefighter-primary care paramedic. The accused is a more recent hire in the department, who remains on a probationary period. He is not listed in the citys latest compensation disclosure document. The allegations have not been proven in court. ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe A father frantically tried to save his children by repeatedly running into his home as flames ravaged the single-storey structure in Winnipegs West End Thursday morning. A father frantically tried to save his children by repeatedly running into his home as flames ravaged the single-storey structure in Winnipegs West End Thursday morning. The dad of the house kept running in and out, grabbing his kids. He ended up getting them all out, but the one kid was severely burned, neighbour Richard Rivard said. He estimated the boy to be about 10 years old. After hearing screams and noticing smoke coming out of the home at 323 Simcoe St. just before 6 a.m., Rivard and another neighbour, Thomas Watt, jumped into action. Watt, 50, and Rivard, 43, said they felt helpless because the fire was so intense. We went there and kids were still trapped in the house, Rivard said, sitting in his living room Thursday afternoon. We couldnt get in, we tried getting in, there was just so much smoke we couldnt think about going in there. They watched as the father of the children went back inside again and again. Nine people were rushed to hospital, including the critically injured boy. Just before 6 a.m., firefighters were summoned to the blaze, just south of St. Matthews Avenue. They managed to put it out within a half-hour. The cause of the blaze is under investigation. Watt and Rivard and others who live in the house next door took the victims to their home and put out a mattress on the living room floor for them to sit on. It was freezing out this morning, they came out in shorts and things, because they were sleeping. We just did the best we could for them, Rivard said. Thursday afternoon, parts of the sidewalk on Simcoe Street were coated with ice, the indent of a winding firehose frozen in place. A childs cartoon character blanket lay littered in front of the grey house with its front door and window boarded up, as police tape cordoned off the lawn. 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. Around the back of the house, fire-charred debris sat next to a porch, where the neighbours said the fire appeared to have been sparked. The windows were boarded up, too, while Winnipeg Police Service officers sat in a patrol car, watching over the scene. The city said it called in additional paramedic units to assess and transport the victims, including the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Services major incident response vehicle, a full-sized bus outfitted for medical care. Four adults were taken to hospital by ambulance in unstable condition; four children were transported by the major response vehicle in stable condition No update on their condition was provided. Twitter: @erik_pindera erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca OTTAWA Manitoba Metis leader David Chartrand is being sued over allegations he helped divert federal funds to associates and had excessive sums paid from an Indigenous government to his wife. OTTAWA Manitoba Metis leader David Chartrand is being sued over allegations he helped divert federal funds to associates and had excessive sums paid from an Indigenous government to his wife. Chartrand counters that those claims are a vindictive mischaracterization of normal financial practices. None of the claims have been tested in court. "Its a scheme to try to make something out of nothing," Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation, told the Free Press. In a statement of claim filed Thursday with the Ontario Superior Court, the Metis National Council alleges its former leadership misused federal funds and were "calculated, malicious (and) demonstrated a callous disregard" for the organizations bylaws. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES MMF president David Chartrand. The national group seeks $16 million in damages from 11 defendants, including Chartrand, former MNC president Clement Chartier, their associates and various consultants. Chartier and Chartrand ran most of the national councils operations in the three years leading up to last fall, as a rift grew within Metis governance. In September 2021, Chartrand had the Manitoba federation pull out of the national council, abandoning the other four provincial branches on the grounds they are letting in too many people with spurious claims to Metis ancestry. The Ontario branch, in particular, has been offering Metis citizenship to people who claim some First Nations and European background but lack proof of ties to the Red River Colony, situated around what became Winnipeg. Its a scheme to try to make something out of nothing. David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation Chartrand says that perverts the process of people connecting with their ancestral roots, which many Metis families buried in order to avoid discrimination. The Manitoba federation has since started a process to sign up members from other jurisdictions, arguing it will be a competing group that represents true Metis people. Before pulling Manitoba out of the national council, Chartrand and Chartier ended numerous contracts with vendors, some of whom now provide services to the MMF. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES David Chartrand and his wife, Glorian Chartrand. The national council argues these contracts should have either been maintained, or ended with reasonable payments back to the council. Instead, it alleges Chartrands peers paid these businesses unreasonably large sums and then encouraged them to stop any future work with the national council. In filings, the council argues Chartrand and others "embarked upon a scorched earth policy to intentionally cause financial harm and other injury to MNC" in order to assert the Manitoba federations dominance. The council alleges financial improprieties, such as a 15 per cent administration fee on programs such as providing grants to veterans out of a federal $30-million fund. Chartrand said its long been the Manitoba federations structure to take that cut and use it for a mix of administrative costs and investments, with the resulting profits spent on various programming. Chartrand was defensive of a claim his wife, Glorian Chartrand, had been paid "at least $13,500 per month" for an unspecified amount of time for various consultancy services. Chartrand said his spouse had worked largely as a volunteer over two decades but did some paid work on projects documenting Metis military veterans. Maybe they were expecting me to give them a bologna sandwich after 30, 40 years of his life. David Chartrand The claim notes Chartier received a parting gift of a gold watch valued around $4,000, in addition to his $244,710 severance which Chartrand did not dispute. "Maybe they were expecting me to give them a bologna sandwich after 30, 40 years of his life," the MMF leader said. He also took issue with allegations of an inappropriate funding relationship between the councils Ottawa office being leased from an entity with ties to the Manitoba federation. He said that has been a long-standing policy that was well-known in the organization. Chartrand said hes confident the court will not find him in the wrong, arguing he was cleared of similar allegations in the past. Download Untested statement of claim by Metis National Council In 2019, CBC News revealed the RCMP investigated the national council, after Ottawa launched an audit into concerns about "departmental funding being used for ineligible expenditures" in how the MNC paid for professional services and reimburses expenses. The Trudeau government opted against filing a criminal complaint, which stopped the RCMP probe. Chartrand has supported Liberal candidates in elections but insists Ottawa would have pursued a prosecution if it had grounds to do so. "Id do the same things Ive done all over again, because I know I did right," said Chartrand, who has led the Manitoba federation since 1997. 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. Cassidy Caron took over the national council last fall, and argues shes airing her organizations dirty laundry and seeking compensation in order to have a fresh start, after "toxic" infighting that has left Metis people disillusioned. "Nothing could have prepared me for the number of challenges I have encountered," Caron said in a video message Thursday. "The apparent actions of the past are impeding our ability to move forward." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Premier Heather Stefanson has admitted she failed to follow the provinces conflict-of-interest rules after the sale of properties worth millions of dollars. Premier Heather Stefanson has admitted she failed to follow the provinces conflict-of-interest rules after the sale of properties worth millions of dollars. The real estate deals that tripped up the premier involve rental and commercial properties that are the subject of a letter the NDP sent to the provinces conflict-of-interest commissioner; however, Stefanson is unlikely to face any consequences under legislation that critics have long complained has no teeth. In 2019, the McDonald Grain Company Ltd. Stefanson is listed as a director sold The Ritz apartment block (859 Grosvenor Ave.) for $7 million and Drury Manor (1833 Pembina Hwy.) for $22.5 million without filing a statement disclosing the disposal of assets. In 2016, she failed to disclose the disposal of a storage facility on Saulteaux Crescent the McDonald Grain holding company sold for $1.78 million. Stefanson owns 20 per cent of the shares in the real estate holding company. In 2019, the McDonald Grain Company Ltd. Stefanson is listed as a director sold The Ritz apartment block at 859 Grosvenor Ave. for $7 million and failed to disclose it. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) The Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Conflict of Interest Act requires that members file with the clerk of the legislative assembly statements within 15 days of the start of a new session that list their and their spouses assets and any potential conflicts. If they acquire or dispose of any assets afterward, theyre required to file a further statement disclosing them, and are to meet with the conflict-of-interest commissioner within 60 days to ensure that adequate disclosure is made. Stefanson, who has been an MLA since 2000, had listed the properties for several years among her assets and then stopped, but failed to file any statements disclosing they had been disposed of when they were sold. On Thursday, Stefanson said in a prepared statement that she should have done so, and that it was an "oversight" and would be corrected immediately. Canadas democracy watchdog says provinces across the country rely on elected officials to follow what amounts to an honour system and that its a "bad system." "Voters need to know what politicians and public officials own and owe in order to determine whether theyre in a financial conflict of interest," Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch, said from Toronto Wednesday. In 2019, the McDonald Grain Company Ltd. Stefanson is listed as a director sold Drury Manor at 1833 Pembina Hwy. for $22.5 million. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) "It simply cant be determined unless you know what they own and what they owe. If you want to serve the public, then you shouldnt have any problem disclosing what your private interests are. No one who actually wants to serve the public should have any problem with disclosing this information." Having someone in charge of a province who forgets to disclose the disposal of assets worth millions of dollars is troubling, the director of the non-partisan, non-profit organization said. "Why should anyone trust them with the public budget of billions of dollars?" Conacher said. Elected officials acquisition and disposal of assets needs to be tracked in real time, especially when it involves real estate and members of a governing majority with the power to quickly change laws and regulations, he said. "If we dont have that information, you simply cannot tell at any time whether a politician or public official has a conflict of interest, and thats why the disclosure is key and why meeting the deadlines for the disclosure is also key," he said. In 2016, Heather Stefanson failed to disclose the disposal of a storage facility on Saulteaux Crescent the McDonald Grain holding company sold for for $1.78 million. (Mikaela MacKenzie / WInnipeg Free Press) Across Canada, conflict-of-interest or ethics commissioners dont have the power to punish violations, Conacher said. Some dont even have the power to investigate alleged breaches. In Manitoba, members disclosure statements can be viewed in person in the clerk of the legislative assemblys office. The documents arent available electronically and making photocopies is not permitted. If a voter believes a member has a conflict, they must go to Court of Queens Bench and pay $300 to file a detailed affidavit asking a judge to authorize a hearing before another judge. If the hearing is granted and the judge determines conflict-of-interest rules were broken, the member could be suspended for up to 90 days, pay a fine of up to $5,000, get kicked out of office and have to pay restitution to the government or Crown agency for any financial gain that resulted from the violation. The opposition NDP sent conflict-of-interest commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor a letter regarding the premiers failure to disclose disposing of $31 million in assets. It asked him for an opinion on whether members should be required to follow the rules laid out in the legislation. "It is of the utmost importance that public officials who are charged with creating and administering the law follow those same requirements themselves," NDP finance critic Mark Wasyliw said in the letter obtained by the Free Press. Premier Heather Stefanson says the failure to disclose the sales of various properties was an oversight. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files) Elected leaders need to be transparent about their business transactions because "those transactions can impact and influence their public decision-making," the letter from the member for Fort Garry said. "This is a matter that concerns the ability of Manitobans to trust their leaders are following the law and the law applies to all Manitobans equally, regardless of their political position." The premier needs to explain how she failed to disclose selling off the assets, he said Wednesday. Conflict laws in Canada called wimpy Canadas conflict-of- interest laws are too trusting and inadequate thanks to a lack of oversight or deterrence and a reliance on public officials being transparent and forthcoming. Its a really bad system, said Democracy Watch director Duff Conacher. Provincial governments appoint ethics or conflict-of-interest commissioners, who dont have the power to punish violations, he said. In some provinces, they dont even have the authority to investigate alleged breaches, he said. Rather than a watchdog, some will appoint a lap dog, said Conacher, whose group is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that advocates for government accountability. click to read more Canadas conflict-of- interest laws are too trusting and inadequate thanks to a lack of oversight or deterrence and a reliance on public officials being transparent and forthcoming. Its a really bad system, said Democracy Watch director Duff Conacher. Provincial governments appoint ethics or conflict-of-interest commissioners, who dont have the power to punish violations, he said. In some provinces, they dont even have the authority to investigate alleged breaches, he said. Rather than a watchdog, some will appoint a lap dog, said Conacher, whose group is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that advocates for government accountability. Politicians and public officials should not be trusted to follow any of these laws because the people who violate them are in office for the wrong reasons, he said. We know, throughout history, that in every jurisdiction there are always some people in politics who are there to serve themselves, and not serve the public. He said none of the commissioners in Canada conduct audits. Its all run on an honour system and they all should be doing audits. If youre not doing audits, youre just saying Im trusting everyone to follow this law, he said. Manitobas conflict-of-interest commissioner, Jeffrey Schnoor, said he doesnt have the power to investigate and therefore no power to audit. He has no problem with having audit power as a matter of policy but questioned what that would mean in practice. Presumably, I would have to employ a forensic accountant and/or an investigator to go looking for undeclared assets or liabilities, he said in an email. In the absence of a tip or a lead, where would they look? Thats multiple land registries, corporate registries and personal property security registries (for starters) just in Canada, let alone the U.S. and the rest of the world to say nothing of assets and liabilities not subject to public registration. Having a system that reacts based on investigations following complaints may seem to be inadequate and overly trusting, said Schnoor, who was appointed commissioner in 2016. However, an active audit system sounds to me like a difficult and expensive fishing expedition with few benefits. Im open to being convinced otherwise, but those are my initial thoughts. Unlike the lap dog breed of commissioner that Conacher referred to, Schnoor has criticized Manitobas conflict-of-interest legislation. He called it the oldest and arguably the weakest conflict-of-interest legislation in Canada in a 2018 report he wrote on how to modernize it. One of his recommendations was that the disclosure of assets and liabilities be posted online so the public can scrutinize it. The Tories introduced Bill 21, the Conflict of Interest (Members and Ministers) and Related Amendments Act that requires MLAs and ministers to disclose their liabilities, as well as their interests and assets. It changes the conflict-of-interest commissioners title to ethics commissioner and doesnt come into force until one day after the next general election, and didnt adopt all of Schnoors recommendations. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Close At the start of every session, every MLA, including the premier, meets one-on-one with Schnoor to talk about their financial situation and is advised on how to stay in compliance with the law, Wasyliw said. "I mean, this is pretty sort of foolproof. Its set up so that every single MLA doesnt matter how sophisticated and knowledgeable you are would be able to comply with the law. So she would have met over the course of this period of time and had a sit-down meeting with Mr. Schnoor. The issue is, did she disclose this in that interview with Mr. Schnoor? And did she ignore his advice? I think theres a lot of questions here." In a written response to the NDP finance critic, Schnoor declined to opine on Stefansons failure to disclose, saying the legislation allows him to give members an opinion on their own obligations under the act, not those of another member. The commissioner doesnt have the power to investigate alleged breaches of the conflict-of-interest act, Schnoor wrote in his letter to Wasyliw that the NDP provided the Free Press. Any voter can seek a remedy from the court, the commissioner wrote, citing that section of the legislation. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Its hard to imagine how the government could consider loosening restrictions when hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, surgeries continue to be cancelled and dozens of patients per week are transferred to hospitals far from home. Opinion Its hard to imagine how the government could consider loosening restrictions when hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, surgeries continue to be cancelled and dozens of patients per week are transferred to hospitals far from home. However, thats what the provincial government is contemplating, even with COVID-19 deaths reaching some of their highest levels since the beginning of the pandemic. Health Minister Audrey Gordon said during a news conference Friday that Premier Heather Stefanson plans to announce updated public orders next week. The minister said she hopes the announcement will include "an outline to reopen the province." The province isnt exactly closed. There are some restrictions in place, including capacity limits in public places, and measures such as a ban on serving alcohol past 10 p.m. However, compared with some provinces, including Ontario and Quebec, Manitobas measures are relatively mild. Stefanson was urged to bring in more stringent public orders prior to Christmas to slow the spread of the Omicron variant and reduce the impact on hospitals. She refused. We are now seeing the consequences of that: more than 700 COVID-19 patients in hospital (the highest since the beginning of the pandemic), rising ICU numbers, more cancelled surgeries, and the daily transfer of patients to hospitals that are sometimes hundreds of kilometres away from a patients home. Manitoba also has the second-highest COVID-19 death rate in the country over the past two weeks at 7.2 per 100,000 people. Fridays news conference was mostly about setting the tone for a likely loosening of restrictions next week. "Were seeing early signs of stabilization and positive indicators that COVID-19 is stabilizing in our province," said Gordon. Thats not entirely true. Hospital bed occupancy has not "stabilized." The only reason its not growing further is because hospitals are still cancelling surgeries and moving low-acuity patients out of Winnipeg. Meanwhile, total ICU numbers have grown to 110, of which 52 are COVID-19 patients (pre-pandemic ICU capacity was 72 beds). Thats not stability, thats chaos. Gordon said the government will continue to monitor public health data and hospitalization numbers before making a final decision on restrictions next week. "We need to ensure that we continue to have hospital beds and staff available to provide care for patients in need," said Gordon. They dont have hospital beds available for patients in need now what makes Gordon think they will be available next week? MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Premier Heather Stefanson refused to bring in more stringent public orders prior to Christmas to slow the spread of the Omicron variant and reduce the impact on hospitals. Tens of thousands of surgeries have been cancelled to free up hospital space for COVID-19 patients. As a result, surgery patients are not getting the care they need. Many are suffering in pain and agony; some have no idea when their procedures will be rescheduled. Its inhumane. Even if hospitalization numbers decline slightly over the next week, hospital wards will still be full, surgeries will still be cancelled and patients will still be sent to hospitals hundreds of kilometres from home. The government is trying to downplay those negative impacts, including by withholding vital data, as it prepares to loosen restrictions. When asked during the news conference how many surgeries have been cancelled in January, Dr. David Matear, health system co-lead for the provinces unified health-sector incident command, said he didnt know. Of course they know, they just dont want to share the information. When asked about patient transfers to remote communities, Gordon tried to normalize them by saying the province has been transferring patients for years (it has, but not dozens per week to hospitals hundreds of kilometres away). If there was any empathy in the past for patients suffering on long waiting lists or languishing in emergency room wards, it is now gone. The government is shifting its focus away from that as it prepares Manitobans for a "good news" announcement next week. This is the Stefanson governments "new balance." The Omicron variant was going to spread no matter what restrictions were in place. However, transmission could have been mitigated to ease the burden on hospitals. The Stefanson government chose not to take those actions. They now seem prepared to ease restrictions further, the consequences of which could be dire. tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca The documents are finally on the way, its time for funding to follow. The documents are finally on the way, its time for funding to follow. Last week, the federal government announced it would hand over hundreds of thousands of previously unreleased residential school records to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation based in Winnipeg. The more than 875,000 documents were in a holding pattern due to "third-party obligations" to Catholic organizations, according to government officials. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Reconciliation centre director Stephanie Scott. A memorandum of agreement signed by both parties will determine how and when these historic records will be transferred to the centre. Among the files are "school narratives," which describe important details about each federally-funded and church-run institution, such as names of administrators, student populations and reports of abuse. Documents like these are integral to the work of the NCTR and the goals of reconciliation more broadly. Canada cant reconcile its present without fully understanding and acknowledging the truth of what happened at these schools. The system was designed to further the colonial agenda by separating First Nations, Inuit and Metis children from their families and their culture. This was done with force and abuse was rampant. Children died in these places and for decades their kin have been left without answers. School narratives offer a paper trail to the truth and can provide a modicum of closure for communities that have been mourning the loss of these young people for generations. "Whether its finding unmarked graves or gathering records of what took place it helps us honour and remember all the children who never made it home," said Stephanie Scott, executive director of the NCTR. Demand for records has grown more urgent with the ongoing discovery of unmarked graves at former school sites across the country most recently, 93 presumed graves were identified at St. Josephs Mission Residential School in British Columbia. Whether its finding unmarked graves or gathering records of what took place it helps us honour and remember all the children who never made it home Stephanie Scott, executive director of the NCTR The centre, located on the University of Manitoba campus, is responsible for archiving and sharing information about the residential school system with Indigenous communities and the general public. Its a massive undertaking made larger with the release of every new batch of records. Last fall, during the federal election, the Liberals campaigned on a promise to spend $60 million on the development of a new home for the NCTR, as well as an additional $5 million in annual operating support in each of the following five years. The funding would provide much needed resources for the archival process while allowing the centre to move forward on its plans for a purpose-built location. The NCTR is currently housed in an historic building on Dysart Road. The goal is to open a new facility within five years on the recently acquired Southwood lands within the U of Ms Fort Garry campus. The development will include a permanent space to store the centres collection of records and oral histories, a learning lodge, ceremonial spaces and facilities to support survivors and their families. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Investment in this new building is one concrete way the federal government can support the ongoing work of reconciliation in Canada. Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller has said he intends to follow through on those campaign pledges. The government has made good on its promise to turn over long-hidden documents. Now its time to make good on its financial promises. The federal budget is right around the corner; lets hope reconciliation is among the line items. TORONTO - Ontario has reported the deaths of more than 1,000 people due to COVID-19 so far this month, a grim figure the province's top doctor largely attributes to the previous, more virulent strain of the virus, though he admits the data is murky. TORONTO - Ontario has reported the deaths of more than 1,000 people due to COVID-19 so far this month, a grim figure the province's top doctor largely attributes to the previous, more virulent strain of the virus, though he admits the data is murky. The province has logged persistently high numbers of fatalities each day this month, despite the dominant Omicron variant of the virus typically causing milder illness and all but replacing the more severe Delta variant almost six weeks ago, while circulating among a well-vaccinated population. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said officials are trying to ascertain what factors are causing so many Ontarians to die, including whether Delta or Omicron or a combination of the two is responsible, but whole genome sequencing to determine variant type takes weeks. Essentially 100 per cent of outbreaks in the community are Omicron right now, Moore said, but roughly 10 per cent of hospital admissions are still "relevant to Delta." "Death is a delayed signal from an outbreak, given that we've got access to health care and an ability to try to protect people through hospitalization and intensive care unit settings," he said this week. "In the first several weeks of January, we're confident that a significant proportion of (the deaths) were from Delta." Dr. Andrew Morris, an infectious diseases doctor, said many deaths are likely the result of infections that occurred as far back as early December, when Delta was dominant. "We know that deaths are a lagging indicator, that they're often reported substantially later than they occur," he said. "But even if they were mostly due to Omicron, it wouldn't surprise me just by the sheer volume of cases that we've seen, along with the fact that many of the very sick patients that we've been taking care of are either unvaccinated or under vaccinated and (their illnesses) behave very much like some of the earliest cases that we saw with COVID." According to data from Public Health Ontario, there have been 1,075 deaths related to COVID-19 reported so far this month. About 57 per cent of the people who died were aged 80 or older, and another 35 per cent were people between the ages of 60 and 79. The vaccination status of the people who died is not readily available, but Public Health Ontario says that in the past month, unvaccinated people aged 60 or older were more than 22 times more likely to be hospitalized due to COVID-19 than their peers who received booster shots. Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious diseases doctor, said Omicron is causing disease differently than COVID-19 has in the past, and that may be a factor in the higher numbers of deaths. During the third and fourth waves, there was a lot of "classic COVID," a severe pneumonia requiring lots of oxygen, Chakrabarti said. It could be treated, but some would go on to require ICU care and some would die. Many of the people who died were unvaccinated, and many were younger, he said. With Omicron, a lot of people are being admitted to hospital for reasons other than pneumonia, with COVID-19 triggering other issues or exacerbating existing conditions, particularly in older people, Chakrabarti said. Jen Zoratti | Next A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "They're not coming with classic COVID requiring lots of oxygen. COVID is a thing that causes a mild fever, mild illness, but that's enough to put a lot of these individuals over the edge," he said. "It's disproportionately causing destabilization of medically fragile individuals, who tend to be older, and their risk of dying to begin with is higher. But that's not to say that there isn't unvaccinated people coming in with classic COVID and dying. That's happening, but it's just this extra, new kind of feature that we didn't see in previous waves is really coming to the forefront right now." Moore said he is trying to refine the death reporting process to make clearer if each fatality is caused by or associated with COVID-19. Ontario is also planning on doing a "selective review" of death certificates and documented deaths to assess the quality of the data. As well, Moore said, he will be looking at "all cause mortality" to see if the province's reporting structure is missing deaths that could be associated with COVID-19. "It's very important that we have good data for all Ontarians to understand the impact of COVID-19," he said. "It won't be changed in a day. It's going to be a journey to improve that level of data." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2022. KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) A Wisconsin judge on Friday approved an agreement by lawyers to destroy the assault-style rifle that Kyle Rittenhouse used to shoot three people during a 2020 street protest. FILE- Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger holds Kyle Rittenhouse's gun as he gives the state's closing argument in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. Rittenhouse, who was acquitted in the shootings of three men during street protests in Kenosha in 2020, has filed papers in court to recover property seized by police after his arrest including the gun he used in the shootings. The filing said Rittenhouse wants to make sure the gun "is properly destroyed." (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool_File) KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) A Wisconsin judge on Friday approved an agreement by lawyers to destroy the assault-style rifle that Kyle Rittenhouse used to shoot three people during a 2020 street protest. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said the state crime lab would destroy the gun, probably in April. Judge Bruce Schroeder, the Kenosha County judge who presided over Rittenhouses trial, approved the agreement. Rittenhouse was not in court for Friday's hearing. FILE - Kenosha Police Department Detective Martin Howard, right, picks up the weapon Kyle Rittenhouse used on Aug. 25, 2020, during Rittenhouse's trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 8, 2021. A Wisconsin judge on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, approved an agreement by lawyers to destroy the assault-style rifle that Rittenhouse used to shoot three people during a 2020 street protest. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News Pool Photo via AP) Rittenhouse shot the men during the protest in Kenosha in 2020. He killed Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm. Rittenhouse argued he fired in self-defense after each of the men attacked him. A jury last year acquitted him of multiple charges, including homicide. Rittenhouse's attorney, Mark Richards, filed a motion Jan. 19 asking prosecutors to return Rittenhouse's rifle, his ammunition, his face mask and other clothing he was wearing the night of the shooting to him. Richards and David Hancock, a spokesman for Rittenhouse, said last week that Rittenhouse, who is now 19, wanted to destroy the rifle and throw the rest of the items away so nothing can be used as a political symbol or trophy celebrating the shootings. The rest of Rittenhouses property has been returned to him, Binger told the judge. Conservatives across the nation have praised Rittenhouse, saying he was defending Kenosha from far-left militants. Liberals have painted him as a trigger-happy vigilante. Meanwhile, another legal fight is brewing over the fate of the $2 million conservatives raised to cover Rittenhouse's bail. Richards filed a motion Thursday seeking the money, with plans to divide it between his law firm and the #FightBack Foundation. Attorneys Lin Wood and John Pierce, who were representing Rittenhouse in the early days of case, formed the foundation to raise money for him. Richards also wants to give $150,000 back to actor Ricky Schroder, who donated to Rittenhouse's defense. The Patent and Trademark Hedge Fund Trust filed a motion Thursday laying claim to the $2 million as well. The trust's attorneys argue they're Pierce's creditors so they deserve all the money. Demonstrators took to the streets for a number of nights in Kenosha in August 2020 after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, in the back as Blake was resisting arrest during a domestic disturbance. The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down. The protests turned chaotic at times, with people burning buildings. Rittenhouse and his friend, Dominick Black, joined a group of militia members to protect a used car lot on the night of Aug. 25, 2020. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at time and living in Antioch, Illinois, was armed with an AR-15-style rifle that Black had purchased for him earlier that year because he was too young to buy a firearm under Wisconsin law. According to the motion, Black had agreed that the rifle would become Rittenhouse's property on his 18th birthday, Jan. 3, 2021. 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. Bystander and surveillance video shows that just before midnight Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse down and Rittenhouse shot him as he closed in on him. He shot Huber after Huber swung a skateboard at his head and Grosskreutz after Grosskreutz ran up to him holding a pistol. Everyone involved in the shooting was white. Black pleaded no contest to two citations earlier this month for contributing to the delinquency of a minor in exchange for prosecutors dropping two felony charges of intent to sell a dangerous weapon to a person younger than 18. ___ Richmond reported from Madison, Wisconsin. ___ Find the APs full coverage of the Rittenhouse trial: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse Criminal complaints have been filed against three men accused of bringing a record amount of methamphetamine into La Crosse. Armando Lara Nieto, 49, Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota; Emmanuel Flores Sauceda, 39, West St. Paul, Minnesota; and Juventino Lara Plancarte, 53, Los Angeles, face charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. All three have initial appearances set for Jan. 28 in La Crosse County Circuit Court. Lara Plancarte is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on $150,000 cash bond. He was released from prison in 2020 after serving nine years for methamphetamine distribution. Flores Sauceda and Lara Nieto are being held in the La Crosse County Jail on $50,000 cash bonds. According to the complaints, the arrests were the result of the La Crosse Police Department conducting extra surveillance of northside hotels where suspected drug activity was taking place. While watching the 1800 block of Rose Street Jan. 20, police received a report from a Wisconsin State Patrol officer of a suspicious vehicle with its windows rolled down on Interstate 90. The officer told La Crosse police that the driver slowed down to 62 mph in a 70 mph zone and "looked like he saw a ghost" upon seeing the State Patrol car. The vehicle, driven by Lara Nieto and registered to an owner in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, exited the Interstate, pulled into the AmericInn on Rose Street and remained parked in front of a door for 30 minutes with nobody exiting or approaching the vehicle. The vehicle then headed to the parking lot of KFC, where Lara Plancarte, Flores Sauceda and Lara Nieto all got out and attempted to enter the lobby, which was closed due to COVID-19. The three got back inside the vehicle, went through the drive-through and then parked in the KFC lot for nearly an hour. The vehicle headed back to AmericInn and waited another 45 minutes with nobody exiting or approaching. Police believe the three were looking for someone they were scheduled to meet. The vehicle left the parking lot and entered Interstate 90 westbound. The vehicle was pulled over by La Crosse police for a window tint violation shortly before it would have crossed into Minnesota. Lara Nieto reportedly told police they were heading back to Minnesota after meeting a friend in La Crosse. Police summoned a K9 unit to detect for the presence of drugs. After the K9 gave a positive response, police searched the trunk and allegedly a found backpack containing nearly 10.96 pounds of methamphetamine. The drug was divided among 12 plastic bags. Police also found $778 in cash in Lara Plancarte's wallet. The amount of methamphetamine is described by La Crosse police as the largest ever seized during a single arrest in the city's history. Police report the most recent major methamphetamine busts recovered 822 and 681 grams less than two pounds. 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. Winona, MN (55987) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 42F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 42F. Winds light and variable. JUNEAU A 28-year-old Prairie du Chien man was placed on a $100,000 cash bond Thursday following a chase through Beaver Dam that ended in a crash Wednesday. Kyle Orr faces a felony count of fleeing or eluding an officer, two misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing an officer and a misdemeanor count of operating a motor vehicle while revoked. Orr appeared before Dodge County Court Commissioner Steven Seim. As a condition of his bond, Orr may not operate a motor vehicle without the permission of the court. Orr is accused of leading Beaver Dam Police on a chase through Beaver Dam prior to rolling his van on Wednesday afternoon. According to the criminal complaint, Beaver Dam Police were advised by Dodge County Dispatch at 1:48 p.m. to be on the lookout for a white cargo van whose driver was wanted in conjunction to two felony retail thefts out of Fond du Lac County. The officer observed the van around 2 p.m. traveling south on Highway 151. The officer believed the van was traveling 80 to 85 mph on 151 before exiting onto Highway 33 and entering the city of Beaver Dam. The van failed to stop at a traffic light and was traveling a high rate of speed. The officer activated his emergency lights and was traveling around 77 mph, but the van was allegedly traveling faster. According to the criminal complaint, near the intersection of Highway 33 and Vita Avenue the van was traveling between 60 and 70 mph when it drove left of center and into oncoming traffic in order to pass a vehicle. The van drove through the red light at Highway 33 and Spring Street and was traveling about 60 mph. The van continued through downtown and drove through a red light at Front and Center streets and allegedly almost struck two pedestrians. The van turned south on Madison street and had slowed to between 40 and 50 mph when it neared the intersection of Chatham and Madison streets. According to the criminal complaint, the van passed another motorist left of center into oncoming traffic before going back into its lane. The van passed two other vehicles near Curie Street. The van started accelerating when passing Lake Crest Drive and was traveling over 100 mph while still passing vehicles. The officer slowed when approaching the onramp for Highway 151, but the van was still traveling between 55 and 65 mph and the van flipped three to four times down the embankment onto the wire fence on the bottom of the ramp. Orr allegedly tried to get the van to drive out of the snowbank, but was unable to do so. The officer commanded him to show him his hands. The police officers assembled a team to go to the van in order to retrieve Orr from the van. Orr got out of the vehicle and said he did not know who was driving. Orr was taken to Marshfield Medical Center Beaver Dam for minor injuries before being taken to the Dodge County Jail. Orrs preliminary hearing is scheduled on Feb. 3. Downtown Beaver Dam Incorporated became an affiliate organization within the Beaver Dam Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. The BDACC approved the change virtually at its annual business meeting held via Zoom due to the critical level of COVID-19 risk. Chamber Director Tim Schlais informed members that the DBDI Board of Directors requested to become a chamber affiliate rather than remain a corporation. The DBDI board request after a review of financial requirements, nonprofit status and leadership challenges. DBDI started as a committee of the chamber and branched away in hopes of obtaining a nonprofit status for grant writing purposes, however the status was never achieved and therefore the need for a separate organization had no benefit, said Schlais. The affiliate will now change its name to Downtown Beaver Dam Inclusive in order to maintain the acronym DBDI. The broad mission is to make downtown Beaver Dam a great place to live, work and play. Affiliates have more autonomy than a committee and it will have a separate bank account so there is no co-mingling of funds. All affiliates send a representative or advisor to chamber meetings, Mike Wissell will serve as the DBDI representative. The annual chamber awards, that were to be announced Wednesday, have been postponed to April 27. BDACC Executive Director said she is hopeful county COVID numbers will decrease by that time and honorees in new award categories can be celebrated. The chamber is putting the focus on younger people by selecting Five-Under-Forty winners, as well as recognizing Innovation and Emerging Leader award winners. Propst gave a presentation looking back at the chambers accomplishments in 2021. Some of the highlights included adding the Wisconsin Arts and Peony Festival, which had an estimated attendance of 700-900 people in its inaugural year, a record attendance of 700 people for the Taste of Wisconsin event and more than 10,000 receipts being turned in during the local restaurant promotion. I hope you can see we gave it our all, she said. New initiatives for the chamber include a website update which will launch March 15. The website will include an extensive Experience Beaver Dam section to feature things to do, restaurants, shopping and more. The $10,000 website revamp is being paid for with a portion of a $46,000 grant the chamber received last year. The website will include pages or links for the following: key events, such as the Best Dam Fest, Taste of Wisconsin, Holiday Events, Arts and Peony Fest and Fall Downtown Fest; chamber programming; how to start a business, resources, available properties, grants/funding; available properties and highlight chamber member realtors; an enhanced business directory in which chamber members can make changes; and streamlined ticketing and event registrations. The chambers Leadership Beaver Dam class will begin its BD Connect project May 17. The event will address the needs of younger people who move to the area and have a difficult time connecting with others. Chamber members were asked to promote the new group to young people in their circles. In the area of workforce retainment and development, Propst said the chamber is looking long term to connect students with local employers and career opportunities. A high school job board will launch along with the new chamber website. Beaver Dam Unified School District is calling on chamber members to serve as a resource for guest speakers or provide access to video assets for learning. Chamber networking events such as the bi-monthly Breakfast Network and monthly Business After Hours will remain. Propst said she has set a goal of having a regional Business After Hours to include Juneau, Mayville, Horicon, Waupun, Hustisford and Randolph. The BDACC is set to receive approximately $170,000 this year for its tourism budget from the citys room tax. Some of those funds have been assigned to the hiring of a tourism marketing manager. Follow Kelly Simon on Twitter @KSchmidSimon or contact her at 920-356-6757. 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. JUNEAU A 43-year-old Columbus man was taken into custody Thursday evening in connection with the bank robbery that occurred at the Horicon State Bank in Neosho on Wednesday. Alan Schade is currently housed in the Dodge County Jail. According to the press release from Dodge County Sheriffs Office Wednesday, deputies responded at 3:19 p.m. to an alarm at Horicon Bank, 226 S. Schuyler St., Neosho. There were no injuries and no weapon was displayed in the robbery, the release said. The sheriffs office released little other information at the time of the robbery and Sheriff Dale Schmidt said that was to protect the integrity of the investigation. This expeditious, yet thorough investigation was a collaborative effort between the Dodge County Sheriffs Office, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Dodge County District Attorneys Office, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said in a press release. Various other law enforcement agencies also assisted in the investigative process. Schmidt said, This was not simply a Detective Bureau success, but included our Communications Officers and the Patrol Division as well as so many played a role in this investigation, Schmidt said. A new public comment policy will be in place next month to allow people to speak directly to elected officials during public meetings. The Portage Common Council was back to meeting virtually Thursday night. Alderpersons voted 8-1 to approve a policy for public comment and a State of Emergency. Alderperson Jeff Montfort voted no. The policy needs to be published and could first be on the agenda for the second February common council meeting on Feb. 24. People wishing to make public comment will need to submit an appearance form to the City Clerk no later than 10 minutes before the beginning of the common council meeting. The same form will need to be submitted for board, committee and commission meetings to the chairperson. The form asks for the individuals name, address and the topic of discussion they wish to comment on along with their signature agreeing to the public comment rules. Rules for Public Comment Public Comment is limited to oral statements presented by a member of the City of Portage non-elected general public, citizens residing in the City of Portage, City of Portage property owners, or City of Portage business owners who have completed the Public Comment Form and has been recognized at the podium by the Mayor or Chairperson. Each speaker at the Public Comment Period is limited to a maximum of 3 minutes to speak on the topic after being recognized by the Mayor or Chairperson. The Public Comment Period at the City of Portage meeting shall not exceed a maximum time of 30 minutes in length but will end sooner if the Mayor or Chairperson determines that there is no one present who wishes to speak. Public Comments shall be limited to comments on any topic regarding city government or matters over which the Common Council, Board, Committee or Commission has the authority to act on; and that are not a topic of a current or previous public hearing before the Common Council, Board, Committee or Commission. The following comments are prohibited: comments on personalities or employees, personal attacks, campaigning for elected office. Speakers shall be respectful and not disruptive of the meeting. Behavior that involves personal attacks, profanity, obscenity, or otherwise impedes or disrupts the safe, orderly and effective conduct of a Public Meeting is equally unacceptable during the Public Comment Period as it is during other portions of the meeting. Clapping, shouting, gestures, whistling, booing, profanity, obscenity, personal attacks and other disorderly behavior are prohibited. Those rules include a maximum of three minutes for each speaker with the public comment period not to exceed 30 minutes total. The period could end sooner if the mayor/chairperson determines there are no other speakers. It can also be extended by a two-thirds majority vote of the council, committee, board or commission. The policy states the following individuals can provide public comment: Members of the city of Portage non-elected general public Citizens residing in the City of Portage City of Portage property owners City of Portage business owners Alderperson Dennis Nachreiner asked if the policy allows people to yield their time to others to get around the time limit. City Attorney Jesse Spankowski said people will not be allowed to yield their time to another person or persons. The council also approved an ordinance related to the public comment that states where the public comment section will appear on the agenda, which will be after approval of agenda and before approval of minutes. At the Jan. 13 meeting a new state of emergency was discussed. Mayor Rick Dodd asked the alderpersons what they thought about going to virtually meetings as part of the emergency declaration. Alderpersons Chris Crawley and Shimpach were against switching meetings from in-person to virtual. Dodd asked the rest of the board and said the majority of members were in favor of the declaration. On Thursday night Alderperson Mark Hahn said the declaration is a misuse of government power. Hahn read the state statute for declaring an emergency. There is nothing in the state statute about not wanting to go to meetings, Hahn said. Nachreiner said the reason for the declaration was to keep alderpersons and their families safe as cases of COVID-19 have risen drastically in recent weeks. Its a matter of health, Alderperson Jeff Monfort said. If youve been to city hall theres a sign on the door suggesting people mask up in municipal buildings. The declaration will be in place until March 1 and allows the council to extend or rescind the state of emergency if necessary. 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 U.S. House committee investigating the insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol has subpoenaed two Wisconsin Republicans, including the former chair of the state Republican Party, who signed official-looking documents in late 2020 seeking to hand Wisconsins Electoral College votes to President Donald Trump. Committee chair and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said in a statement the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol seeks information about attempts in multiple states to overturn the results of the 2020 election, including the planning and coordination of efforts to send false slates of electors to the National Archives. The committee has subpoenaed 14 individuals in seven states, including Andrew Hitt, former chair of the state Republican Party, and 8th Congressional District GOP chair Kelly Ruh, who joined eight other Wisconsin Republicans in the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign official-looking documents purporting that Trump had won the state. The meeting occurred on the same day that the Democratic slate of Wisconsin electors convened in the same building to deliver the states 10 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden. We believe the individuals we have subpoenaed today have information about how these so-called alternate electors met and who was behind that scheme, Thompson said. We encourage them to cooperate with the Select Committees investigation to get answers about January 6th for the American people and help ensure nothing like that day ever happens again. Official-looking certificates like those signed in Wisconsin were also submitted by Republicans claiming to be electors in six other states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. The subpoenas call for Hitt and Ruh to sit for depositions on Feb. 28 and provide documents by Feb. 11 detailing any information about your role and participation in the purported slate of electors casting votes for Donald Trump and, to the extent relevant, your role in the events of January 6, 2021. Hitt is listed in the signed documents as the chairperson, and Ruh is listed as the secretary. Hitt said in a statement he absolutely will cooperate with the committees request to provide information. As I said in the past, the Wisconsin Electors were simply following the guidance of Wisconsin legal counsel to preserve the ongoing Wisconsin legal strategy, Hitt said. There was no intent beyond that and Im happy to participate in this process to clarify any confusion that may exist. Ruh, a De Pere city council member, did not respond to a request for comment Friday. Others to sign the documents in Wisconsin include Robert Spindell, a Republican who sits on the state Elections Commission; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Carol Brunner; Dane County Republican Party chair Scott Grabins; La Crosse County Republican Party chair Bill Feehan; 5th Congressional District GOP chair Kathy Kiernan; 6th Congressional District GOP chair Darryl Carlson; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Pam Travis; and Mary Buestrin, vice chair of the Midwest region for the Republican National Committee. Liberal law firm Law Forward last year filed complaints with the Wisconsin Elections Commission and Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office alleging the Wisconsin Republicans committed fraud. A third complaint was filed against Hitt with the Office of Lawyer Regulation, the agency that handles complaints against lawyers. So far, none of the agencies has formally taken up the complaints, while Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Westphal sent a letter last week to Jeffrey Mandell, an attorney with Law Forward, suggesting that the state or federal justice department would be best suited to determine what steps, if any, should be taken on the matter. Mandell on Wednesday wrote in a letter to the Elections Commission that, if the agency fails to take action on the complaint in a timely manner, Law Forward will file a lawsuit over the matter. Assistant Attorney General Mike Murphy replied to Mandells request in a Friday email indicating that the complaint could be taken up in closed session as soon as March 9. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, who has not ruled out the possibility that he may look into the complaint, said earlier this month he believes its critical that the federal government fully investigates and prosecutes any unlawful actions in furtherance of any seditious conspiracy. In a separate letter sent to Kaul on Wednesday, Mandell urged state and local prosecutors to also investigate the matter. Republican Party of Wisconsin chair Paul Farrow, who earlier this month called the allegation of fraud a frivolous complaint that doesnt deserve the time of day, said in a statement Friday the Republicans who signed the documents were advised to do so by attorneys and the actions were done in accordance with precedent. That Democrats are now trying to fabricate a story from a simple procedure is nothing more than a desperate attempt to divert attention from their record as they face the electorate in 2022, Farrow said. National news reports indicate the Republican electors were coordinated by Trumps legal team in an attempt to present Vice President Mike Pence with conflicting slates of electors during the congressional certification so that he could throw the election to a House vote, which would have handed the election to Trump. Pence refused to participate in the purported scheme. Weather Alert ...The National Weather Service in Indianapolis IN has issued a Flood Warning for the following rivers in Indiana... Wabash River at Lafayette and Covington. .Multiple rounds of rain over the last few days is bringing minor flooding along lower portions of the White River and upper portions of the Wabash River. Additional rainfall Thursday evening through Friday evening should keep portions of the White and Wabash above flood stage through the weekend. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/ind. This statement will be updated later this evening. && ...FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING TO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Lafayette. * WHEN...From this evening to early Saturday morning. * IMPACTS...At 12.0 feet, High water affects a few low river cabins and county roads. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 5:30 PM EDT Wednesday the stage was 10.7 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage late this evening to a crest of 12.6 feet early tomorrow afternoon. It may then fall below flood stage Friday afternoon depending on Friday's rainfall. - Flood stage is 11.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && A first day cover with stamps for the Year of the Tiger is seen during the inauguration ceremony in Budapest, Hungary on Jan 25, 2022. A special zodiac stamp issued by the Hungarian Post to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Tiger was presented to the public in Hungary on Tuesday. [Xinhua] A special zodiac stamp issued by the Hungarian Post to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Tiger was presented at an online ceremony here on Tuesday. Hungary has issued stamps commemorating the Chinese New Year for nine consecutive years. It was the fifth time that Hungary and the Chinese Embassy in Hungary jointly issue zodiac stamps. The sheetlet for the Year of the Tiger was designed by graphic artist Agnes Szajko-Berta, with a total volume of 20,000. Each sheetlet consists of two stamps, with two tigers connected end to end. The stamp features the colors red and yellow, with red symbolizing happiness and contentment and yellow representing prosperity and abundance. "In the past year, China and Hungary have maintained close cooperation and mutual support in the fight against the epidemic," Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Qi Dayu said during the ceremony. "The friendly relationship between the two countries is based on mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual support, which is of great significance not only to China and Hungary but also to the region and the international community," Qi added. "The bilateral cooperation between China and Hungary is being carried out at an unprecedented level," said Geza Lang, deputy state secretary of the Hungarian state asset management department. "China is Hungary's most important trading partner outside of Europe, and Hungary is willing to continue to provide an open business environment for Chinese enterprises wishing to invest in Hungary," he underlined. The Year of the Tiger begins on Feb. 1, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. A first day cover with stamps for the Year of the Tiger is seen during the inauguration ceremony in Budapest, Hungary on Jan 25, 2022. A special zodiac stamp issued by the Hungarian Post to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Tiger was presented to the public in Hungary on Tuesday. [Xinhua] A first day cover with stamps for the Year of the Tiger is seen during the inauguration ceremony in Budapest, Hungary on Jan 25, 2022. A special zodiac stamp issued by the Hungarian Post to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Tiger was presented to the public in Hungary on Tuesday. [Xinhua] First day covers with stamps for the Year of the Tiger are seen during the inauguration ceremony in Budapest, Hungary on Jan 25, 2022. A special zodiac stamp issued by the Hungarian Post to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Tiger was presented to the public in Hungary on Tuesday. [Xinhua] A first day cover with stamps for the Year of the Tiger is seen during the inauguration ceremony in Budapest, Hungary on Jan 25, 2022. A special zodiac stamp issued by the Hungarian Post to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Tiger was presented to the public in Hungary on Tuesday. [Xinhua] (Source: Xinhua) Liang Qianjuan, a woman who returned from the cities to her hometown Shitan Village, Huixian County, Longnan City, northwest China's Gansu Province to start her own business, opened an online store on an e-commerce platform. A livestreaming host livestreams farmers picking gold emperor chrysanthemum in Wenchong Village, Shucheng County, Lu'an City, east China's Anhui Province, Nov. 3, 2021. [People's Daily Online/ Chen Li] By providing products that suit the market demand, she has turned ordinary local agricultural products into Internet-famous commodities and attracted an increasing number of consumers to her online store. As the supplies of special agricultural products in Shitan Village fell short of demand, she started to sell farm produce from neighboring villages and even farmers across the city, according to Liang. Today, she sells more than 50,000 kilograms of agricultural products a year on average for villagers living in the surrounding areas and helps increase the income of more than 300 households. Wu Yunping, representative of women in Chaijia Village, Jilin City, northeast China's Jilin Province, has run training courses on straw plaiting to help women in the village increase their income. To further promote the traditional craft and straw-plaited products through the Internet, she took part in a training session jointly organized by the Jilin municipal women's federation and the Jilin municipal commerce bureau, in which she acquired knowledge and skills about livestreaming promotion, including online store operation, product description, as well as skills for hosting livestreaming shows. "Now there are up to 500 people watching us make straw-plaited products via livestreaming," Wu said happily. In Zhijin County, Bijie City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, local embroiderers have seized opportunities generated by the booming livestreaming e-commerce market and managed to make products featuring Miao embroidery and batik, national-level intangible cultural heritage of the Miao ethnic group, into fashionable consumer goods that enjoy great popularity online. "I learned livestreaming from scratch and I'm now able to introduce embroidery and batik vividly to consumers online. Once I sold 200,000 yuan ($31,640) worth of products in a show," said Yang Xuexue, a local embroiderer. A livestreaming host in Congjiang County , southwest China's Guizhou Province, promotes Miao embroidery products online, Dec. 10, 2021. [People's Daily Online/ Luo Jinglai] After receiving comprehensive training in livestreaming skills, she opened an account on a livestreaming platform and quickly emerged as a well-known embroiderer online. The fast-growing digital economy characterized by innovation, high penetration rate in various industries, and wide coverage has become a new growth point for the Chinese economy. Women, a driving force that should not be neglected in the development of digital economy, are playing indispensable roles in the field. Data suggested that 55 percent of the entrepreneurs in Internet-based businesses in China are women. Digital economy has generated new opportunities to boost employment and entrepreneurship for women, narrow the gap in women's development between rural and urban areas, and improve the quality of women's employment and entrepreneurship. As the Internet has enabled people living in remote regions of China to sell their high-quality local products to various parts of the country, livestreaming e-commerce, online marketing and other skills have become an important approach to re-employment of women in remote, rural, and impoverished areas. While women embrace more opportunities in the era of digital economy, they also need more support in pursuing further development. Since 2015, the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) has rolled out guidelines and work plans to promote women's development and protect their rights. At the same time, the ACWF has arranged special funds and worked together with government bodies including the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs as well as e-commerce platforms to carry out training sessions on e-commerce and livestreaming skills for women. Women's federations at all levels have also organized livestreaming contests across the country, which have helped drive the growth of a good number of successful women e-commerce operators, promote a lot of special agricultural products, and cultivate a considerable number of capable women livestreamers. Livestreaming hosts sell local specialties online at an e-commerce base in Wudu District, Longnan City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Nov. 11, 2021. [People's Daily Online/ Li Xuchun] In addition, they have also cultivated a number of brands to facilitate employment and entrepreneurship for women, which have helped more than 500,000 women increase their income by riding the waves of new economy and new forms of business. More jobs and entrepreneurship projects suitable for women should be created to promote women's employment in the future, said Du Rui, member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, adding that efforts should be made to provide matchmaking services to facilitate recruitment and employment for enterprises and women working in digital economy. China should provide more support for women in such aspects as inclusive finance and training in entrepreneurial skills, offer guidance to rural women on the development of new industries and new business forms, and help more women secure employment or start their own businesses in digital economy, Du pointed out. Meanwhile, the country needs to constantly improve relevant systems to better protect the rights and interests of women workers in digital economy and provide guarantee and support for fuller, fairer, and higher-quality employment and entrepreneurship for women in digital economy, according to Du. (Source: People's Daily Online) BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a message of sympathy to Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih over the latter's COVID-19 infection. In his message, Xi said that learning about the infection of President Solih, he extends sincere sympathy to him and wishes him a speedy recovery. Noting that China and Maldives have helped each other to overcome difficulties together since the outbreak of COVID-19, Xi said that China will continue to firmly support Maldives in its fight against the pandemic. Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Maldives relations and stands ready to work with President Solih to drive bilateral relations steadily forward for the benefit of the two countries and their people. (Source: Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Yan Yan] TAIYUAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) President Xi Jinping extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to north China's Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, wished Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese healthier and happier lives in the Year of the Tiger, and expressed his hope that the motherland would increase in prosperity and strength. This year's Spring Festival falls on Feb. 1. Xi, as the Party's top leader, has for 10 consecutive years visited people at the primary level especially those from disadvantaged groups ahead of the Spring Festival, the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar and an occasion for family reunions. Xi on Wednesday visited the people of Fengnanyuan Village in Huozhou City, one of the places hit hard by floods last October. Xi learned about local post-disaster reconstruction, crop replanting, improvements to the local disaster relief and emergency response system, and measures to keep people warm in the winter. When he sat down with a family to hear about their day-to-day lives, Xi said that locals who have been affected by the disaster are often in his thoughts and that he chose the village as his first stop to see the reconstruction and recovery first hand. Xi stressed the need to dovetail reconstruction with rural vitalization, improve integrated river basin management, and improve the capacity for disaster prevention, mitigation and relief. Later that afternoon, Xi went to Duancun Village in Fenxi County. In a villager's home, Xi checked the kitchen, the bedroom and the sheepfold, and asked about the family's income and their life. Xi was pleased to learn that the family, after shaking off poverty in late 2016, has prospered through raising sheep and seeking work in other places. "The CPC's resolve to ensure all Chinese people live happy lives has remained unchanged for more than a century, and it will not falter," Xi said. Speaking in front of villagers at a local square, Xi said that the fundamental purpose of the Party is to strive to ensure people's happy lives. Noting that the goal of building a modern socialist country cannot be attained without the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, Xi urged efforts to consolidate the achievements of poverty eradication, advance rural vitalization, and improve people's lives. Touring Pingyao, one of the best-preserved ancient walled cities in China and a UNESCO world heritage site, on Thursday, Xi called for more efforts to conserve the country's cultural heritage and protect "the valuable treasure left to us by our ancestors." At a museum in Pingyao, he said the unique traditional Chinese culture should be promoted more to contribute to economic and social development and people's quality life. Dropping by souvenir shops inside the ancient walled city, Xi shopped cooked beef and vinegar as festive purchases for his family. People in China usually eat dumplings with vinegar. Xi even took part in vinegar-making in a workshop. He also visited a lacquerware shop and demanded cultural treasures such as the traditional lacquering skill be better protected. "We should promote traditional cultural industries with distinctive Chinese features to the rest of the world," said Xi. On COVID-19 response, Xi warned that the pandemic is still spreading worldwide and new features of transmission have shown. He told local authorities to stay alert, adopt science-based and targeted control measures and ensure people's safety and necessities. With the winter power and heat supply in mind, Xi on Thursday afternoon inspected a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years. There, he visited an intelligent fuel management center, a laboratory and a coal yard, among other facilities. "Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality are not something asked of us, but something we are doing on our own initiative," Xi said, adding that the goals cannot be achieved easily but efforts must be made immediately. He called for strengthening domestic energy production, ensuring the supply of coal and facilitating the clean and low-carbon development of the coal industry. Efforts should be made to accelerate green and low-carbon technological breakthroughs and continuously upgrade China's industrial structure to achieve the goals of carbon peaking and neutrality proactively and steadily, Xi said. The supply of power and heat is vital to the overall economic development and social stability, Xi said. He urged major enterprises, especially state-owned enterprises, to lead by example in maintaining the stability of supply and prices to ensure that people stay safe and warm in winter. Xi asked Shanxi to actively serve and integrate into the country's new development paradigm, coordinate COVID-19 containment with economic and social development, promote the steady improvement of people's lives, and continuously make breakthroughs in high-quality development. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the post-disaster reconstruction in areas affected by last year's floods as well as local work in restoring farming and ensuring the public's access to heating in winter in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects local work in consolidating and expanding anti-poverty achievements and advancing rural vitalization in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects local work in consolidating and expanding anti-poverty achievements and advancing rural vitalization in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. [Xinhua/Yan Yan] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with employees while inspecting a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to employees while inspecting a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a vinegar-making workshop in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a coal yard of a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to the crowd while touring Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a shop selling cooked beef in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, tours the ancient city walls in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with employees while inspecting a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to the crowd while touring Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Yan Yan] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with the crowd while touring Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a coal yard of a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, wishes Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese healthier and happier lives in the Year of the Tiger, in front of villagers at a local square in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] (Source: Xinhua) Wu Qiuyue peels winter bamboo shoots at a yard in Zhuhai Village of Baijie Town of Naxi District, Luzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 18, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Kun] Years ago, Wu Qiuyue used to work in an electronics factory in south China's Shenzhen. Later, in order to take care of her parents and daughter, she and her husband Huang Zhongping decided to return to her hometown to start a business together. At the beginning of 2020, the couple, with certain experience in e-commerce, began to try short video shooting, and opened an account on the short-video platform Douyin to record farming over the four seasons in the village. She has now become an influencer with more than 10.8 million followers and has received more than 110 million likes. "My videos are all about the original rural life. Many people who work far away from their hometown may feel the warmth of home after watching our videos. Some people live in the city are also happy to learn about life in countryside through the videos we shared." Wu said. As their followers grew, Wu and Huang decided to sell agricultural products. Therefore, they began to make and sell dried pickled radish using radish grown in the mountains in Litang County, Sichuan. In their first live broadcast, they received more than 10,000 orders, and the sales volume has increased steadily since then. In 2021, nearly 40 million kilograms of radish have been sold to all over the country, which has not only opened up the market for more than 100 radish growers, but also provided jobs for more than 200 locals in Luzhou. They planned to build a dried radish processing factory in Litang County in the new year, so as to promote the employment of local farmers in the county. By exploring new forms and applying new technologies, Wu Qiuyue and his husband have made great difference in rural revitalization. "I grew up in the countryside. I want to promote the specialties of my hometown and bring the good things in my hometown out of the mountains." Wu said. Wu Qiuyue looks for winter bamboo shoots at a bamboo forest in Zhuhai Village of Baijie Town of Naxi District, Luzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 18, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Kun] Wu Qiuyue dries radish at a yard in Zhuhai Village of Baijie Town of Naxi District, Luzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 18, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Kun] Wu Qiuyue slices cured meat when shooting short videos in Zhuhai Village of Baijie Town of Naxi District, Luzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 18, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Kun] Wu Qiuyue learns about the feedback of customers in Zhuhai Village of Baijie Town of Naxi District, Luzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 18, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Kun] Aerial photo taken on Jan. 18, 2022 shows a view of Zhuhai Village of Baijie Town of Naxi District, Luzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province. [Xinhua/Liu Kun] Wu Qiuyue's younger brother shoots a video of her grinding tofu at a yard in Zhuhai Village of Baijie Town of Naxi District, Luzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 18, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Kun] Wu Qiuyue edits video with her younger brother in Zhuhai Village of Baijie Town of Naxi District, Luzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 18, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Kun] Wu Qiuyue looks for winter bamboo shoots at a bamboo forest in Zhuhai Village of Baijie Town of Naxi District, Luzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 18, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Kun] Wu Qiuyue and her family shoot a short video about their daily life in Zhuhai Village of Baijie Town of Naxi District, Luzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 18, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Kun] Wu Qiuyue watches the video shot by her younger brother in Zhuhai Village of Baijie Town of Naxi District, Luzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 18, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Kun] Wu Qiuyue (2nd, L) packs dried radish with workers in Zhuhai Village of Baijie Town of Naxi District, Luzhou, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 18, 2022. [Xinhua/Liu Kun] (Source: Xinhua) After posting a video of them getting their marriage certificate on social media, a policewoman and a fireman were showered with blessings by hundreds of thousands of netizens across China. In the video, the newlyweds were both in uniform. Many netizens joked that their coupling was a combination of 110, the emergency hotline for police, and 119, the hotline for firefighters. Bao Jianbang, the firefighter, works in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. He met his wife, Ren Qianni, at a friend's party in his hometown in Dongyang, Zhejiang Province, in January last year. "We fell in love at first sight," Bao said. "But she didn't like the idea of long distance relationships, so she hid her feelings for me at first." A man of action, Bao began calling Ren frequently and drove back to Dongyang, more than 200 kilometers from Wuxi, to visit her whenever he had time. He would often drive back to Wuxi the same day. On March 20, Bao unexpectedly showed up at Ren's birthday party with a bunch of flowers. Ren was finally moved by his persistence and sincerity and agreed to become his girlfriend. Ren and Bao did not have too much time together. Apart from the 200-km distance, both have stressful jobs that keep them busy. Last year, they didn't see each other for nearly six months, partly because Bao was sent to Henan Province in July to help with rescue efforts after severe floods inundated the area and claimed many lives. "I didn't have much time to call her," Bao said. "There was too much work to do in the flood-hit areas. Although she got worried when our calls didn't connect, she told me every time we spoke that I just needed to take care of myself, and that she would take care of my parents in my hometown." Ren was also taking part in rescue efforts after several powerful storms swept through their hometown, but she never told Bao. "I never saw her cry, but I cried after reading stories about her and her colleagues on social media," Bao said. "I thought that policewomen wouldn't be sent to dangerous places. She never told me what she was doing at the time because she didn't want me to worry." In January, Bao asked for two days' leave and presented Ren with 99 roses on their wedding day. He said that they never expected to receive so many blessings from friendly netizens. Bao said that he has also frequently been touched by friendly people he encountered in his work. While he was in Henan in July, local inhabitants flooded their tents with food and drink. "Many people had tears in their eyes when they thanked us for our help," he said. Bao said he plans to apply to work at home to spend more time with his wife and family members. "I'm sorry that I have had to let her down many times because of the long distance and work pressures. I'll try my best to make it up," he said. "I'll be good tempered and nice, no matter how angry she might become with me in our future life." (Source: China Daily) This Oct. 25, 2021, photo shows Kyle Rittenhouse at a hearing ahead of his trial for shooting three people in Wisconsin. 11.25 police precept tax increase will help save lives on roads, crack down on abuse and put more bobbies on beat says North Wales PCC This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 28th, 2022 The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner has unveiled a plan to increase the number of drug driving tests in a campaign to improve road safety and save lives. The crackdown is part of new strategy by PCC Andy Dunbobbin who is also ramping up the fight against child abuse, domestic violence and cybercrime, whilst putting more bobbies on the beat including 10 new Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs). He will reveal more detail his plan to the North Wales Police and Crime Panel on Monday when he will ask them to back an increase of just under 22p a week in the cost of policing the region The proposed 3.68% increase would cost Band D householders an extra 11.25 a year. According to Mr Dunbobbin, he is honouring the pledges he made in his manifesto during the campaign that led to him being elected last May and bringing to life his first Police and Crime plan which sets out the blueprint for policing North Wales. Among the proposals is a concerted drive to improve road safety which will see three extra staff supporting the Roads Policing Unit and increase use of roadside drug testing kits due to the increase in drug-related driving. An additional 10 officers and support staff will help perpetrators of domestic abuse to change their behaviour and reduce re-offending, as well as bringing offenders to justice and safeguarding victims. The Economic Crime Unit will be bolstered by three more officers and two modern day apprentices to tackle the rising tide of cybercrime, including online fraud. An extra 10 PCSOs will also be recruited to help reassure elderly and vulnerable people in North Wales that is different to the the 20 new PCSOs being paid for with funding from the Welsh Government. Mr Dunbobbin said: The plan I am putting before the North Wales Police and Crime Panel provides the right balance between financial prudence and delivering on the manifesto that was voted for by the electorate. My first and overwhelming priority is protecting the public of North Wales and keeping people safe and this is the principle that underpins the proposal to increase the precept by 22p a week. For example, too many people are dying or being seriously injured on our roads. Tackling road safety needs education and awareness raising for all road users, as but I will also ensure that appropriate enforcement is supported so that those that cause the most danger on our roads understand that it will not be tolerated. Part of the campaign will involve the increased use of roadside drug testing kits in a major push to reduce the number of people driving under the influence of drugs. Criminals and organised crime groups involved in the County Lines drugs trade and Modern Day Slavery use the road network to go about their business, so I will also target those doing so to deny them use of the roads and prevent exploitation of vulnerable people and harm in our communities. At the same time I will work with the Chief Constable to increase the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) which is an effective tool in tackling serious and organised crime. The campaign to tackle domestic abuse is being strengthened with three additional officers and support staff to work with perpetrators so we can reduce reoffending. Men need to be aware of their behaviour and the impact that has on women. Cybercrime is up 50 per cent and continues to be the biggest growing crime in the UK and the rest of the world so I am beefing up our pioneering Economic Crime Unit so that North Wales Police can continue to lead the way in fighting this new menace. I am also passionate about strengthening Local Neighbourhood Policing Teams who are the bedrock of North Wales Police. As well as providing visibility and reassurance, they are also the source of invaluable intelligence to tackle the most serious and organised criminality. In recruiting an additional 10 PCSOs, I am building on the investment of the Welsh Government who have provided funding for another 20 PCSOs in North Wales. Our joint commitment is a direct response to the concerns that people have expressed to me and this is massively important in terms of promoting community cohesion, safety and wellbeing, particularly for the most vulnerable people in society. 60+ Industrial Cadets sharpen skills with giants of manufacturing and engineering in Wrexham This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 28th, 2022 Industrial cadets are sharpening their skills and career prospects in partnership with Coleg Cambria and leading North Wales companies. More than 60 Cadets from the colleges Deeside site are combining their studies with placements at industry including Ardagh, AMRC Cymru, ConvaTec, Magellan Aerospace, Atlas Copco, TATA, Electroimpact, ESD, DRB, Triumph Actuation Systems, UPM Shotton, JCB and Kelloggs. The debut cohort joined Cambria in September and are already making great strides towards their gold awards, according to Nick Tyson, Vice Principal for Technology, Engineering and Construction. The Industrial Cadet programme has been incredibly popular and is giving the learners an opportunity to gain vital real-life, real-time experience with fantastic organisations in various sectors, from food production to manufacturing, engineering and more, said Nick. They are operating in groups of six with different businesses and have access to support and guidance, guest speakers and mentors. This will all culminate in a presentation based on a project theyre currently working on, and ultimately, if successful, the gold award. He added: The most important aspect is the work-related side of this because there is demand for apprentices and they will be the perfect fit to fill those roles and go on to secure jobs in the future. This is the first time Cambria has been involved and we look forward to building on existing partnerships to provide more opportunities like this, which have been successful despite the challenges of the pandemic. Led by the educational charity the Engineering Development Trust (EDT), the programme is an industry benchmark for outreach and education, building pathways through academia and employment. Promoting the development of the next generation of young minds, Industrial Cadets is a kite mark for schools and students seeking valuable and exciting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering Maths) opportunities. Alice Batts, Industrial Cadets Lead, said: Taking part is an excellent CSR (corporate social responsibility) opportunity, supports early talent pipeline, helps to develop staff, and is a fantastic way to nurture local talent and inform them about the STEM career opportunities that are available to them locally. Patron HRH The Prince of Wales added: It is hugely encouraging that so many young people have become Industrial Cadets. Its clear to me that the rapid pace of change in the way our industry is operating is bringing a host of new challenges and opportunities, not only in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics but also of course in the creative arts. For more information, visit www.etrust.org.uk/industrial-cadets. Visit www.cambria.ac.uk for the latest news and information from Coleg Cambria. Dont miss out on up to 2,000 towards childcare costs, says HMRC This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 28th, 2022 Thousands of working families in wales could be missing out on an opportunity to get up to 2,000 a year to help with the cost of childcare HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding parents, ahead of February half term. Tax-Free Childcare the 20 per cent childcare top-up provides eligible working families with up to 500 every three months (or 1,000 if their child is disabled) towards the cost of holiday clubs, before and after-school clubs, childminders and nurseries, and other accredited childcare schemes. Over 11,035 working families used the scheme in September 2021, in Wales 535 of which were in Wrexham. HMRC has paid out more than 35 million in top-up payments, which was shared between nearly 316,000 families across the UK an increase of about 90,000 families compared to September 2020. Tax-Free Childcare is available for children aged up to 11, or 17 if the child has a disability. For every 8 deposited into an account, families will receive an additional 2 in government top-up. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRCs Director General for Customer Services, said: The 20 per cent government top-up offers working families help to pay for childcare, whether its nursery bills, after school clubs or holiday clubs. Search Tax-Free Childcare on GOV.UK to find out more. By depositing money into their accounts, families can benefit from the 20 per cent top-up and use the money to pay for childcare costs when they need it. Accounts can be opened at any time of the year and can be used straight away. For example, if parents and carers have school-aged children and use holiday clubs during school holidays, they could deposit money into their accounts throughout the year. This means they could spread the cost of childcare while also benefitting from the 20% government top-up. Tax-Free Childcare is also available for pre-school aged children attending nurseries, childminders, or other childcare providers. Families with younger children will often have higher childcare costs than families with older children, so the tax-free savings can really make a difference. Childcare providers can also sign up for a childcare provider account via GOV.UK to receive payments from parents and carers via the scheme. Parents and carers can check their eligibility and register for Tax-Free Childcare via GOV.UK. Pregnant women urged to come forward for covid vaccine after uptake lower than hoped This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 28th, 2022 Pregnant women across North Wales are being urged to come forward for their coronavirus vaccine. It comes as uptake in the group for the jab has been lower than initially anticipated. In December the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) announced that pregnant women should now be considered a clinical risk group within the COVID-19 vaccination programme. Gill Harris, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, has issued a fresh appeal urging women to come forward for their covid-19 vaccine. Ms Harris said: For any mother to be, getting their first, second and booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is one of the most important things they can do to protect themselves and their unborn baby against COVID-19 and, particularly against the new omicron variant. Based on the data about safety, together with the increased risk from COVID-19 the JCVI has advised that pregnant women should be considered as a clinical risk group. We strongly encourage all mothers to be to attend one of our drop-in clinics across North Wales or book an appointment online. As part of the health boards weekly vaccination update details are also provided on the uptake of the jab so far, with more than 1.5 million jabs administered to people living or working in the region. Over 81 per cent of those who are eligible have also received their booster vaccine. This week saw the completion of offering the vaccine to housebound residents in North Wales, with 100 per cent of the most vulnerable protected against coronavirus. The next stage of the rollout involves offering the jab to five to 11 year olds in clinical risk groups or who are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed. Ms Harris said: This week we will continue to contact children with underlying health conditions by telephone to arrange an appointment, there is no need to contact the Health Board. Where possible, these appointments will be arranged in a familiar setting, such as a childrens outpatient department in one of our hospitals. So far there has been a good response from children in the 5 to 11 year old cohort that are living with an immunosuppressed person for the majority of the week, i.e. 4 days in 7 or more. This can be done when contact is made to arrange an appointment for the household member who is immunosuppressed, or by completing our online form which we will validate and be in contact to arrange an appointment. If anyone thinks their child is in a clinical risk group and has not been contacted they can leave their details with our Contact Centre on 03000 840004 for that eligibility to be checked. Booster doses are also being offered to 16 and 17 year olds, along with second doses to 12 to 15 year olds. Second doses and boosters can be delivered at drop-in clinics across North Wales or you can also book an appointment online for some clinics or call 03000 840004. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have previously announced that individuals who are immunosuppressed should receive a third primary dose of vaccination. Ms Harris said: We have been working closely with clinicians to identify relevant individuals and determine whether a third or booster dose needs to be administered at a specific point within their treatment cycles, or whether there is a need to delay medication in order to ensure the greatest positive immune response to the vaccine. The majority of those identified do not need specific timing and they will receive a letter of appointment for their third primary dose. If they have already had a booster, this will be amended on their record to a third primary dose and they will be invited for a booster no sooner than three months (91 days) later. We are continuing to work closely with our clinicians to invite those that require a specific timing based on their treatment and/or medication schedule. She added: You are always welcome if you change your mind to come forwards and be vaccinated, we still have the staff in place and vaccines available for people who havent had their first, second, third or booster doses. It is important to make sure you protect yourself, your families and our NHS services from COVID-19 so we would urge to book their appointments as soon as possible. If youre eligible for your first, second or booster dose, you can attend one of our drop-in clinics across North Wales. You can also book an appointment online for some clinics or call 03000 840004. Producer Jacob is the Executive Producer of News 3 This Morning. He joined the News 3 team in December of 2020 as 6 pm Producer. In October of 2021 he was promoted to Executive Producer. Jacob is a proud alum of SIU-Carbondale. National Unclaimed Property Day is February 1. Here's how you can see if you have any unclaimed property. A surge in COVID-19 infections in the Northern Territory (NT), coupled with the poor underlying health conditions in impoverished Aboriginal communities and limited health facilities in remote areas, is resulting in a major crisis. Yuendumu in central Australia Since quarantine requirements for domestic visitors to the NT were dropped on December 20, more than 11,000 new infections have been recorded in the territory. Prior to the border reopening, just 363 cases had been detected in the 21 months following the first positive test in the territory. Almost two thirds were overseas arrivals in quarantine. There are currently 95 people hospitalised for COVID-19 in the NT, up from 13 on December 20. The territory has officially recorded two COVID-19 deaths, both in the last two months, and both in Aboriginal communities. The first was a woman in her 70s from the Binjari community near Katherine, and the second a fully-vaccinated woman in her 40s from the Bagot community in Darwin, the NT capital. Another death was reported yesterday, of a man in Tennant Creek, who died of a cardiac arrest while in the early stages of COVID, according to NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles, but this has not been included in official figures at this stage. In a joint open letter sent to Michael Gunner, chief minister of the NT Labor government, the Central Land Council, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress and the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT said the territorys failure to act quickly had directly led to Covid spreading out of control in the Aboriginal communities of Central Australia and beyond. The groups called for an immediate lockdown of Central Australia, in the southern part of the territory. The region is currently under a limited lockout, meaning unrestricted movement is allowed within the area for people who have received at least two doses of vaccine, while unvaccinated people are limited to a 30-kilometre radius and only allowed to leave home for essential goods and services, medical treatment and masked exercise. An indoor mask mandate is in place for all residents. Since reopening the border, the territory government has done little to stop transmission. Mask wearing was not mandated until December 31 and, while QR-code check-ins were required, the check-in app sent no exposure alerts for 10 days over Christmas, just as the surge was picking up speed. Under these circumstances, when people have not been provided with the necessary resources or public health education to prevent the spread of the virus, the role of lockouts is to punish the most vulnerable layers for the reckless policies of government. On Monday, the Guardian reported that an elderly woman with COVID-19 was forced to sleep outside and self-isolate under a tree in an effort to avoid infecting her relatives, including a person on dialysis and a young child. One of the womans relatives said: Positive people have been staying in their houses, in every house in Yuendumu [a remote Aboriginal community 260 kilometres northwest of Alice Springs], thats how the spread went really fast. More than 140 people in the community of around 800 have contracted the virus since the outbreak was first reported on January 8. Yuendumu is just one among dozens of Aboriginal communities across the territory in which COVID-19 is circulating. While 95 percent of the NTs population is fully-vaccinated, only 67 percent of Yuendumu has received two vaccine doses. In some remote Aboriginal communities, that figure is as low as 38 percent. The rapid spread of COVID-19 through Aboriginal communities is a stark expression of the class issues at the centre of the pandemic. Decades of oppression and malign neglect have resulted in widespread poverty and third-world health and living conditions. According to 2016 census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, just 10.8 percent of Yuendumu residents work full time, and 50 percent of the population is unemployed. In 2019, 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was shot by police in Yuendumu and bled to death without receiving professional emergency care. The local health clinic had been closed by NT authorities the day before. Across Australia, 98 deaths were reported today, 39 in Victoria, 35 in New South Wales (NSW), 18 in Queensland, 5 in South Australia and 1 in the Australian Capital Territory. Of the deaths in NSW, 8 people had received three vaccine doses, 15 had received two, and 12 were unvaccinated. One of those who had received two vaccine doses was a man aged in his 40s. As fatalities mount, government figures around the country continue to claim the Omicron surge has peaked or soon will, as part of a propaganda barrage to force teachers and students back to school, and parents back to work. While daily infection numbers do appear to be declining in most parts of the country, the complete breakdown of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing since late December and the lack of availability of rapid antigen tests (RATs) mean the official figures are a vast underestimation of the true extent of the spread. Over the past two years, private pathology companies have raked in billions of dollars from government-funded PCR testing. With test positivity rates at 1 percent or lower throughout much of the pandemic, these companies were able to maximise profits by pooling up to 20 samples in each test run, reducing the need to invest in more lab equipment. When the more infectious Omicron variant arrived, and was met with the repudiation of virtually all public health measures, positivity rates soared to 30 percent or more, meaning samples had to be run individually. Without the testing capacity to do this, testing sites were shut down, and people waited days for test results, which in some cases never came. The response of Australias governments to this crisis was to change the rules, limiting PCR testing to close household contacts and people with symptoms. Despite the complete breakdown of testing, more than 2 million COVID-19 infections have been recorded in Australia this year, more than four times as many as in 2020 and 2021 combined. The relentless promotion of the idea that the virus has peaked deliberately obfuscates the fundamental character of pandemic viruses. The return to in-person learning around the country will lead to a surge in infections, as has been acknowledged by the very leaders forcing the reopening. Dr. Gaetan Burgio, from the Australian National University, told NCA NewsWire: In my view, it is too early for Australia to ease restrictions given schools are reopening and another spike in infection is anticipated. The onset of winter, Burgio said, will certainly impact the transmission of the virus and its spread. Burgio noted: With the Omicron surge, it is now clear that Australia is no longer different to Europe or the US. Already, a new sub-variant of Omicron, BA.2, is circulating in at least 40 countries. University of Melbourne epidemiologist Professor Nancy Baxter yesterday warned that initial data showed it could be more contagious than Omicron. Baxter said if it gets here, it may extend our waves and they may take a lot longer to get out of. This is the direct result of let it rip policies imposed by virtually every capitalist government worldwidewith the notable exception of Chinawhich continue to ensure mass infection and continuous mutation of the virus. As the current surge of infection in Australias Aboriginal communities makes clear, it is the most vulnerable layers of the working class who will suffer the worst consequences of the subordination of public health to the profit demands of big business. This includes schoolchildren and teachers who are currently being forced back into unsafe face-to-face learning. The only alternative to continued waves of mass infection, illness and death is a fight by the international working class for the global elimination of COVID-19. This is inseparable from the struggle for the social interests of the entire working class, including a major expansion of high-quality public housing, health and education, and well-paid, secure jobs in remote areas. This means a fight for socialism and the reorganisation of society to put the health and lives of ordinary working people ahead of the interests of the wealthy elite. The World Socialist Web Site urges railroad workers to contact us with your comments. Opposition is continuing to build among workers at the railway BNSF to a punitive new points-based Hi-Viz attendance policy. Under this policy, which is scheduled to take effect on February 1, workers will start with 30 points and lose points each time they take off from work, no matter the reason. After losing a certain number of points, workers will be subject to discipline, including termination. A BNSF rail terminal worker monitors the departure of a freight train, on June 15, 2021, in Galesburg, Ill. BNSF railroad wants a federal judge to prevent two of its unions from going on strike next month over a new attendance policy that would penalize employees for missing work. (AP Photo/Shafkat Anowar, File) Workers voted almost unanimously earlier this month to approve strike action against the new policy, which was imposed unilaterally by management. However, a federal court in Texas issued a temporary restraining order against strike action Tuesday, on the grounds that the policy, which would threaten to latch workers entirely to their jobs with no time left over for their families, was a minor issue over which workers are prohibited from striking by the reactionary Railway Labor Act. Following the WSWS publication of a lengthy interview with a BNSF engineer, several other workers reached out to the WSWS to denounce the attendance policy. A worker with 17 years experience at BNSF said, With the policy we have for attendance right now, I can go anywhere from four to six days at a time without seeing my family while they are awake. With the new policy, this will happen way more often. BNSF has claimed that its new attendance policy will make work schedules more predictable. But the worker explained that bad train line-ups force workers to take time off to get needed rest. All the time, my schedule shows me not going to work until, say, 8:00 a.m. the next day, he said. Then, as soon as I lay down in bed at 10:00 p.m., they call me to go to work. Then I have to pull an all-nighter with no sleep because they cant give me an accurate train schedule. They blame this on people calling in sick, but it has nothing to do with that. It is because the company wont keep accurate train schedules. Moreover, the 30-point system is itself deceptive. You really dont have 30 points, said the worker. If you get called to work and get in a wreck on the way in, you will lose either 17 or 20 points. That means you always have to keep that many points because you never know when you will get into an accident. Even under its current attendance policy, BNSF punishes workers not only for taking time off for medical appointments, but also for having medical emergencies. Under the current system, I personally know a guy who was punished for taking off work when his wife had a grand mal seizure, said the worker. The company had no sympathy for him at all! My quality of life is so horrible that I would gladly give up a raise in pay and even my health care if I could just be treated like a human! the worker concluded. A BNSF conductor from Kansas City, Missouri, told the World Socialist Web Site about how the unpredictable work schedule causes significant difficulties. We dont have set days off or a schedule, he said. Im on call for most of my days. A lot of weeks, Ill be called to go into work, and do a 12-hour trip, and have to spend nearly the equivalent amount of time in a hotel, and then head back. The long, irregular hours take a toll on workers personal lives. It is extremely difficult to have a family, said the conductor. Ive never known anyone else to have a job like this. It is so demanding on your time, knowing every time you go to work, youll never know when youll be home. In this context, BNSFs new attendance policy will limit the amount of time workers take off and make an already bad situation worse, he said. I know a lot of people who are considering quitting because they dont think they can actually work and live with the new point system. Were going to come to work tired more often, and thats a safety risk, said the conductor. Aside from moving nearly everything across the country, including stuff for UPS, FedEx, Amazon and things like cars, we also move dangerous hazmat material through towns. Part of our jobs is to inspect railway cars before we bring them into the yard. We check for liquid leaks, gas leaks, making sure everything is safe, making sure the railway cars arent messed up. The conductors do a lot of these checks. Being tired and not being alert on the job is going to create dangerous situations. Im talking about hazmat leaks in populated areas. Former BNSF employees described the punishing conditions that they had endured at the company. I worked there 22 and a half years before I just could not take it anymore, said one worker. Could not even make doctors or dentists appointments for fear of being fired. Its like a Hitler dictatorshiptheir way or the highway. And seems no one can stop them. They have too many smart lawyers. They hire the top ones in their class out of Harvard and Yale every year. Workers at other railroads told the World Socialist Web Site that they face the same pressures as BNSF workers and expressed their solidarity with them. As a railroad crew member, myself and fellow employees were forced under a similar attendance policy approximately 18 months ago, said one Union Pacific worker. These policies are so restrictive and do not allow any regular schedule or family life whatsoever. Weve lost several employees who fell victim to the constraints of this. Other workers resigned because of conditions like those at BNSF. I used to work for Union Pacific railroad in Seattle, Washington, said one worker. I resigned on January 23 because of working conditions after eight years. We have almost an identical policy as BNSF. The BNSF employees are not just crying and complaining, said a worker who took a job at Norfolk Southern Railroad in 2005. It was going to be my last job, and I loved working there, he said. Fast forward 15 years, and I couldnt take it anymore. The railroads are conducting a relentless campaign to cut costs by reducing the workforce. These railroads want to run all this freight with the least amount of people possible, said the former Norfolk Southern worker. The [workers] who try and stick it out are being absolutely punished. This job is taxing on your home life, social life, marriage, childrens lives and your body. I cannot stress to all of you enough about how strenuous and taxing the schedule of this job can be. If you truly love someone, steer them as far away as possible from working for any Class 1 railroad. The only reason the railroads are hiring like crazy is because they havent found a way to do it without them. ... These railroads dont deserve hard workers like you. I quit the railroad after 15 years of service and havent looked back. CSX Transportation, another freight railroad, uses a point system like the one BNSF has introduced. Our working conditions are deplorablewe have men that have quit in record numbers, said one CSX worker. Resignations are not uncommon even among new hires because of the companys treatment of the workforce. Its not from COVID or the great resignation, but those are convenient causes to blame. This started before either of those. The CSX worker referred to the Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) system that is being used to cut costs. When questions arise, said the worker, they say theyre following PSR strategy, and everyone says, OK, thats an involved plan that only railroad executives can understand, so I wont question it. Is everyone blind to the fact its a term for fleecing a company? Thousands are suffering from the greed of a few dozen millionaires. Please help us, this story you wrote is old news to us, and we need to shed light on the industry. A retired rail worker put the current situation in the context of the workforce reductions of the past few decades. In the early 1980s, the size of the train crew was reduced from four or five per train to three, he said. By the late 1980s, most trains were operated with two people. Most of the labor agreements included buyouts, up-front cash and incentive schemes for higher seniority workers. It was done through attrition. Along with attrition comes the incentive for the railroads to create poor working conditions, the worker continued. Make the job as nasty as they can, increasing the number of people who quit. The rail companies have been stuck at two people per train since, say, 1990. They increased efficiency by greatly increasing train length or tonnage. A one-person crew has long been a goal of the industry. There was a major push by the railroads to reduce the crew to one, starting 15 or 20 years ago, said the retired worker. This came to a screeching halt with the Lac-Megantic oil tanker train disaster in Quebec, Canada, nine years ago. The incident involved a train with a one-person crew. I figured at the time that the disaster set the railroads pursuit of smaller crews back 10 years. As usual, they are ahead of me. Apparently, a little less than nine years is enough time for a towns demise to be forgotten. The current harassment by the railroads is a resumption of their pursuit of the one-person crew, the retired worker continued. Make the job unbearable. Make it easier to give up when the railroads come with their next crew reduction scheme. They will not be satisfied with one worker on a train. The technology has been around for many years for that two-mile long, 10,000-ton train running through your town to be operated remotely. Justice Stephen Breyer announced Thursday that he will retire from the US Supreme Court after the conclusion of the current session, which ends in late June or early July, giving President Joe Biden his first opportunity to appoint a new justice to fill a vacancy on the highest court. President Joe Biden listens as Supreme Court Associate Justice Stephen Breyer announces his retirement in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Breyer, at 83, is the oldest justice, with the second-longest tenure, behind only the arch-reactionary Clarence Thomas. He was nominated in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, and is the oldest of the three Democratic appointees who comprise the moderate-liberal minority on the court, along with Sonya Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Breyer appeared alongside Biden at the White House Thursday afternoon, giving brief remarks that were notable for indicating concern over the permanence of what he called the American experiment in democracy and the rule of law. Breyer quoted from the Gettysburg Address, focusing on Lincolns words: And we are now engaged in a great civil war to determine whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. This was his oblique allusion to the mounting threat of ultra-right authoritarianism, demonstrated for all the world to see in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Bidens remarks were equally brief, consisting mainly of effusive praise for Breyers five decades in the federal government, including the executive, legislative and judicial branches, and the reiteration of a campaign pledge to nominate a black woman to fill the first vacancy on the Supreme Court that occurred during his term in officea bow to the central role of identity politics in the Democratic Party. The replacement of Breyer by any of the half dozen or so judges now being widely mentioned in the corporate media will not change the balance of power on the court, where six conservatives, most of them identified with the far right of the Republican Party, outnumber the three moderate liberals. All the likely replacements, such as Ketanji Brown Jackson of the DC Court of Appeals, Leondra Kruger of the California Supreme Court, and J. Michelle Childs, a federal District Court judge in South Carolina, are long-time figures in the judicial apparatus of the capitalist state. Their class position is what is critical, not their race or gender, as is demonstrated by the example of Kruger. She served in the Department of Justice in the Obama administration, when it was engaged in justifying the right of the US president to carry out drone-missile assassinations. Breyer was arguably the most right-wing figure among the moderate-liberal bloc on the court. A reliable vote for corporate power and business interests, as well as for the national-security state, he was a liberal only on questions of race, gender, abortion rights and democratic rights in generalthe last only inconsistently. He did, however, express himself with increasing hostility toward the open politicization of the court as it became packed with right-wing ideologues of the type of Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch. His main concern was not so much the impact of reactionary and arbitrary court rulings on the interests of working people and victims of state oppression and violence, as the discrediting of the court in the eyes of the population, as the court became more and more viewed as the direct instrument of the political right. Breyer was himself confirmed to his position on the court by a vote of 879 in the Senate, a year after the Senate approved Ruth Bader Ginsburg by a vote of 963. Since then, however, confirmation votes have become vicious mudslinging affairs decided by virtually party-line votes. Trumps three nominees were all confirmed by narrow margins: Gorsuch by 5445, Kavanaugh by 5048, Barrett by 5248. The closeness of the votes does not indicate any real struggle by the Democratic Party, which has avoided highlighting the dangers to democratic rights represented by the packing of the court with diehard reactionaries in favor of complaints about process or alleged personal misconduct. Gorsuch was chosen for the seat held open for a year by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to ensure a Republican president could fill the vacancy. Barretts nomination was rammed through only days before the presidential election. Kavanaugh was the target of a campaign of vilification based on unprovable allegations of sexual assault brought forward 30 years after the fact. The Democrats proceeded in this way in order to avoid alerting the American people about the growing danger of right-wing authoritarianism and to avoid undermining any further the dwindling popular respect for the Supreme Court as an institution. Despite the efforts of the Democrats and allied groups to portray the Supreme Court as a bastion of democratic and constitutional rights, the moderate-liberal wing of the court has itself moved steadily to the right over the past half century, and throughout that period never constituted more than four out of the nine members of the court. Since the 1990s, the role of swing or middle justice was always played by a conservative Republican: first Sandra Day OConnor, later supplanted by Anthony Kennedy, then Chief Justice John Roberts, as the center of gravity on the high court steadily shifted to the right. With the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Trumps selection of Amy Coney Barrett, the open reactionaries now constitute six out of nine justices. The role of swing justice, now an almost meaningless term, apparently devolves on Brett Kavanaugh, a longtime Republican partisan, member of the Federalist Society and central figure in the Starr inquiry that led to the impeachment of Clinton. Whoever Biden nominates must win confirmation in the 5050 Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris potentially casting a tie-breaking vote. The two right-wing Democrats who torpedoed Bidens Build Back Better legislation and voting rights bill, Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin, have never voted against any of Bidens nominees for district or appeals court judgeships, and have previously voted for several of those reputed to be on Bidens short list when they were nominated for lower court positions. Within hours of news of Breyers retirement there was already speculation in Washington about whether his replacement by a black woman would benefit the Democrats politically in the November midterm elections. Typical was Dan Balz in the Washington Post, who wrote: If Biden fulfills his pledge to nominate an African American woman and thereby make history on the court, he could go a long way to patching up relations with Black votersa critically important constituency for Democrats, one that has been disappointed at the lack of progress on voting rights and what it views as Bidens other still-unfulfilled promises. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California, former co-chair of the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, speaking with the New York Times, said of the prospective nomination, My first thought is just that it moves us one step closer in a long journey towards racial justice. He added that he hoped the vacancy would be a galvanizing moment for Democratic voters. There is a strong element of desperation in such comments, and in the preceding campaign, waged by a number of Democratic Party-allied groups, imploring Breyer to retire before the November election, when the Democrats could well lose their Senate majority and therefore the ability to confirm Bidens nominee. Having completely failed to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control, instead embracing the herd immunity policy first adopted by the Trump administration, and in the midst of mounting economic crisis and social decay, the Democrats express the hope that exchanging an elderly white male for a younger black female on a Supreme Court that has become largely discredited will somehow boost their popular standing. This is truly clutching at straws. This is the first of a two-part article. Read part two here. Driven by the Brazilian ruling elites complete abandonment of social isolation measures, the more contagious Omicron variant has produced an explosion of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. On Tuesday, Brazil recorded an average of 160,000 cases and 322 deaths, an increase of 203 percent and 170 percent respectively from two weeks ago. This is leading to an exponential increase in the occupation of ICU beds throughout the country, including by children, threatening a new health care collapse. INPA researcher Lucas Ferrante (Credit: CNPq) This already dramatic scenario may turn catastrophic with the reopening of schools throughout Brazil scheduled for next week, warned scientist Lucas Ferrante in an interview with the World Socialist Web Site. A researcher at the renowned National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) in Manaus, Amazonas, Ferrantes studies on the pandemic have been published in the worlds most prestigious scientific journals, such as Science and Nature, and have effectively exposed the herd immunity policies of Brazils fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro and his local ally, Amazonas Governor Wilson Lima. A target of frequent attacks for these works, Ferrante said he even received an internal e-mail from INPA ... saying that I should shut up since I was warning about the second wave [that erupted in January 2021]. An INPA employee came to me and said, the ABIN (Brazilian Intelligence Agency) came here to take your personal data. Last Friday, when we spoke with Ferrante, he was recovering from a thyroidectomy. He was diagnosed with a thyroid cancer shortly after finding battery material in his houses water pipes, in what was a suspected attempt on his life. We know that the lithium present in a battery is something that primarily attacks the thyroid, Ferrante explained, which supports the hypothesis that the poisoning caused cancer. Manaus is showing that Omicron is the worst of all variants Contrary to the claims in the Brazilian and global media that Omicron is mild, Ferrante explained, We have no way to assess its potential without the vaccine. Omicron is not being devastating [for deaths] because we have the vaccine ... What we are seeing is that the vaccine is being effective, not that Omicron is not devastating, quite the opposite. We have evidence of this. Yesterday and the day before (January 20 and 21), Manaus registered record numbers of infections by the Omicron variant, which is predominant in 93 percent of the cases. For Manaus to break infection records, and we know Manaus record [from the two previous waves], it shows that Omicron is the worst, most terrible, most virulent of all the variants that have ever emerged. This situation, according to Ferrante, points to an imminent collapse in the health care system of Manaus and Amazonas, where hospitalizations increased 856 percent in the first three weeks of this month. Yesterday, the two main hospitals that receive COVID cases had a 100 percent occupation of ICU beds. This, in turn, will drive the death toll: In our studies, through epidemiological models, we have seen that the death rate can double or triple with the collapse of the health system. Ferrante also warned that the situation in Manaus can extend throughout the country: If today we are seeing a low lethality level for COVID in Brazil, this is going to change because we are starting to enter a collapse scenario in which lethality changes. Then the vaccine is not enough, and we need to curb community transmission [with social isolation measures] to prevent new cases and actually relieve the health system. The resumption of in-person classes will be catastrophic With the resumption of in-person classes, Ferrante warns of a worsening pandemic with increased community transmission. We are already foreseeing a catastrophic signal for at least three states that we have evaluated, Parana, Minas Gerais and Amazonas, but this will be replicated for other states. Ferrantes assessments use a standard model in epidemiology, SEIRS (Susceptible - Exposed - Infected - Removed - Susceptible). In a letter published in Nature Medicine in August 2020, this model was able to predict the second wave in Manaus four months in advance. Also using this model, another study led by Ferrante, published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities last September, showed that the return of in-person classes in Manaus not only created the second wave, that has already been demonstrated, but it generated the Gamma variant, he said. By early 2021, this variant would come to be responsible for the second deadly wave not only in the city, but throughout Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America. Once again, Ferrante warned: We already understand that we need triggers for these case increases, and the triggers for the current wave were the New Year holidays. Now, are we going to repeat the main trigger, the worst one, which is the return of in-person classes? The New Year holidays dont increase community and urban mobility by more than 40 percent, 50 percent, the return of in-person classes does. So thats going to be catastrophic. This reopening of schools will coincide with the worst time of the Omicron outbreak, with Brazil potentially exceeding 1 million reported cases by early February, according to a Washington University projection. Ferrante also pointed to the increase in intra-familial cases with Omicron and the role of children in the dynamics of the pandemic: When we talk about children in social isolation, were not just talking about protecting children, were talking about decreasing the degree of infection in society. Even asymptomatic, they are transmitting it to everyone. They will start to interact inside a bus with health professionals that are going to a crowded hospital. They will catch it inside the bus and transmit it to their family. The protocols in schools really dont work. COVID will not become endemic Taking into consideration the enormous transmissibility of Omicronfar more infectious than the measles virus, hitherto the most infectious known virusthe global character of the pandemic, and the possibility of a new variant of concern emerging with the abandonment of social isolation measures, particularly the return to in-person classes, Ferrante does not believe that COVID-19 will become endemic. I dont think it will end up endemic, Ferrante stated. Because we are exporting variants, and all the variants that have emerged have not stayed in the same place. Also, the transmissibility [of Omicron] is very high. The transmission goes through an airport, through a boat, we are not isolating any place properly from the rest of the world. I see it as very impossible for it to become endemic. He further explained: We are giving rise to more and more virulent variants. And why is that? It is a matter of evolution, natural selection. If I have something extremely lethal, I kill those susceptible, and I keep those more resistant individuals in my population. With the abandonment of all social isolation measures, we are increasing the range of susceptible individuals, he continued. So I cant select individuals, Im going to have a much larger pool of individuals than I had in the previous wave because the population, instead of going into social isolation to have a low level of infections, Im increasing my exposed population. There is not a selection of new individuals ... As Im putting more individuals in contact than Im selecting resistant individuals, because of less and less social isolation. This, he adds, is reinforced by the waning of immunity from vaccines and especially by contact with the virus. Ferrante sees two possible scenarios in the coming year: Either we will generate now, with the increase of community transmission, throwing all children out in society with the reopening of schools, a vaccine-resistant variant, and we will once again be in one of the worst points of the pandemic; or, we will take the right measures now [social isolation and 95 percent of the population vaccinated] and next year we wont be talking about COVID. To be continued The delayed inquiry report by senior civil servant Sue Gray into drinks parties held by the Conservative government at Downing Street and other venues during the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 remained stalled Thursday, with its publication date still unclear. Grays findings had been scheduled for publication this week. However, Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson left London yesterday morning for a scheduled trip to North Wales. With no government business scheduled in Parliament Friday, and most MPs having left for their constituencies, it appears likely that the report will not be made public until next week. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson accompanied by the Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart visits RAF Valley in North Wales. 27/01/2022. (Picture by Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street/FlickR) The report has been delayed after the intervention of the Metropolitan Police Tuesday, who said they were opening a criminal investigation. Reports attest to concerns in Downing Street and by the Met over how much of the report can even be published. Politico reported, Government lawyers, police officers and human resources officials are poring over the document line by line because there are legal concerns that publishing some of her findings on the eight alleged events being looked at by the police could prejudice their investigation. One issue is those who have given statements to Gray will have done so without a lawyer present, and those statements could result in criminal prosecutions. The crisis wracking the Johnson government is only spurring on its reactionary agenda at home and abroad. MPs left the capital amid discussions on the UK possibly sending hundreds of troops to Eastern Europe to confront Russia and on the day that, from 7am, all COVID Plan B restrictions in England were lifted. England is by far the most populous area of the UK, with 56.2 million people of a total 68 million population. Restrictions are also being rapidly withdrawn in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Masks are no longer legally required anywhere except on public transport in London, where they remain mandatory. Mask wearing has been prohibited in schools, even in communal areas. The governments determination to consign mitigations to history is clear in the stipulation that if any local authority reintroduces mask wearing at any point, these orders must be routinely reviewed and removed at the earliest possibility. From next Monday, care home residents will be permitted to receive unlimited visitors. Self-isolation periods being undertaken by residents will be cut from 14 days to 10 for those who do test positive for the virus; and care homes will have to follow outbreak management rules for just 14, rather than 28 days. Restrictions were ditched as Johnson declared that the the pandemic is not over and the most accurate tracker of the spread of COVID cases recorded a surge of Omicron, directly linked to the decision to abandon all restrictions in schools. This came amid predictions that the more transmissible sub-lineage of Omicron, BA.2, was predicted to be the dominant variant in the UK within a month, as cases caused by it are doubling every few days. The Financial Times reported, In the UK, the subvariant accounted for 1 percent of genomically sequenced cases uploaded to the global repository Gisaid in the week to January 23, up from just 0.5 percent the week before. In Denmark and India, BA.2 already makes up about half of all sequenced cases, according to Gisaid. Around 100,000 cases of COVID are still being reported in Britain every day, along with hundreds of deaths. Thursdays 96,871 cases and 338 deaths brought the total in just the first four days this week to 380,662 cases and 1,180 deaths. More than 16,500 people are ill in hospital with COVID. A staggering 16.2 million people have been infected in Britain, almost a quarter of the population23.7 percent. In total cases, the UK is behind only four other countriesthe United States, India, Brazil and France. The number of those dead within 28 days of testing positive stands at over 155,000. More than 176,000 people have died when measured by those who perished with COVID mentioned on the death certificate. The Financial Times noted that coronavirus cases in the UK are rebounding, driven by a jump in infections among schoolchildren. It was citing the latest result of the Zoe Covid surveillance study run by Kings College London researchers, which found that cases jumped 10 percent in the week to January 26. The results, from an app on which tens of thousands of users record their symptoms, found that around one in 30 Britons had COVID symptoms in the week to January 26. It confirms yet again the central role played by schools as vectors for the community-wide spread of COVID. The Mail reported, The latest report states the uptick in cases among under-18s since [sic] was triggered by pupils returning to the classroom at the start of the month and has now accelerated to the highest level ever recorded by the study. One in 11 children aged under nine have the virus (8.8 percent), while one in 21 people aged 30 to 39 are infected (4.6 percent). Meanwhile, 4.4 percent of 10 to 19-year-olds have symptomatic Covid, compared to 3 percent of adults in their 20s and 40s. Professor Tim Spector commented, The bounce back in case numbers just as we lift restrictions has come sooner than many expected. But it's not surprising given that, throughout the pandemic, we've seen the end of school holidays repeatedly usher in a rapid rise in cases among children, which then cross over into parents and school staff. This is in fact the desired outcome of the governments herd immunity policy, which has kept schools open for virtually the entire pandemic bar a few months during the first lockdown in early 2020 and a few weeks early last year. This January, with the collaboration of the education unions, schoolchildren were sent into classes without masks; the last mitigation that had been in place, albeit only among secondary school children. Hundreds of thousands more children have been infected as a result. Department of Education figures released Tuesday found that 415,000 children (5.1 percent) of pupils in state schools in England were off for reasons linked to coronavirus on January 20. This was significantly up from 3.9 percent a fortnight earlier. A staggering 322,000 pupils had a confirmed case of coronavirus on January 20. This was almost double the 159,000 who had a positive case on January 6, during the first week that children returned to class for the spring term. The number of staff absent from school is rising at a similar rate. The Financial Times reported, Nearly one quarter of all state schools had more than 15 percent of teachers and school leaders off work, up from 8 percent in September at the start of the academic year. The head of Burnt Mill Academy Trust in London revealed that almost 50 percent of staff were currently absent at one of his schools. The only priority of the ruling class, with or without Johnson in charge, is fully restoring the flow of profits into the pockets of the corporations and super-rich and to ensure every penny in public spending paid out during the pandemic is brutally torn out of the hides of the working class. This was the meaning of Johnsons statement in North Wales, as the Tories announced a raft of attacks on the working class, complaining, We had to spend over 400 billion keeping the British economy going during the lockdowns Commenting with satisfaction on the ending of restrictions, the Telegraph demanded one more policy be implemented. The one remaining imposition is mass testing, which is becoming increasingly pointless and harmful given the large numbers with omicron, it editorialised yesterday. There is utter unanimity among the parliamentary parties of the ruling elite in backing this murderous offensive. After Sir Keir Starmer declared last week that Labour does not want to see restrictions in place any longer than necessary, the party did not even note the ending of restrictions Thursday as cases and deaths continue to mount. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 7 announced late Wednesday night that the three contracts with grocery chain King Soopers had passed in Colorado Springs. King Soopers is owned by grocery giant Kroger and operates stores throughout Colorado and Wyoming. Picketing King Soppers strikers (Source: Twitter/@standardeviance) The vote took place two days after voting in the Denver metro area, where the contract also passed. The union abruptly shut down a strike by over 8,000 King Soopers workers in Denver on Friday, forcing them back to work before even being able to vote on the deal. The union has claimed that the sellout contract, which fails to address the most basic concerns of workers and offers inadequate wage increases for most workers, passed overwhelmingly. Yet, as with the earlier vote in Denver no vote count was provided by the union. Assuming a majority of workers did in fact vote in favor of the contract, it was not out of support for the deal, but because of the attempts by the union to browbeat them and present the contract as a fait accompli. UFCW Sellout contract (WSWS/Media) Workers who spoke to the WSWS were suspicious of the declared outcome. They noted that time and space was limited, meaning that many workers were unable to even study the contract before voting. The votes were done in pencil on a 2 inch piece of paper, said one worker. No organization whatsoever. The [voting] location is far for everyone. With todays technology why is this the only option? How many people didnt get a say? They [the UFCW] were celebrating it as a win before we even got to see the details. Kim Cordova said they did this so the scabs didnt deserve to know. When it was finally presented, it was done in the same way [the] company did. Almost as if it was the same person organizing the whole thing. I believe they threatened the things we already had so they could call them gains. I think the strike was to justify their [the unions] existence. They divided us by giving people in the middle of the pay scale what they deserve. Why [else] wouldnt they just raise the top out wage to [give] them something to stay for? The journeymen Ive spoken to all feel the company is trying to push us out. Ive been with the company since 2007. I no longer believe in the people working in the union. I think some serious restructuring needs to be done. The whole meeting was disorganized. It seemed more important to coerce people into thinking we won. People are upset and no one is talking about it. I wonder how many hours the union people put in over the course of the contract. Throughout the pandemic we didnt see a single union rep in my store. When they are in the store they arent equipped to answer any questions. Before the strike our store manager made them look like idiots by asking simple questions about what the union wanted from the contract. I think it was a staged fight. The company couldve just stepped up and taken care of its people. Im afraid for so many of those people that arent going to see it coming. Another worker from central Denver said, Im mostly just disappointed. The raise was so negligible that at this point I would make the same amount working from home for a call center, without the risk of COVID or violent customers. We expected health care costs to go up, to be honest, since its been the same for like 5 years, but its disappointing that we dont get any better health care because of it. They were talking about pushing for hearing coverage which a ton of folks need, and better dental and vision, and all they ended up with was slightly better disability benefits and those are still s***. My biggest disappointment is that they didnt push harder to change health care coverage for non-full time workers. We could have changed it from a year to 90 days and it wasnt even brought up. Starting wages are still below industry standard too. Those two facts combine to ensure that our hiring and retention issues continue. When I [asked about this I was told] that because theyre having the company offer more full-time positions, that it solves the problem. But we have thousands of part-time employees and theyre only offering a few hundred more full-time positions. Many workers know that they could have gotten more and deserved a far-better contract than the one they received. They recognize that their strike had the company on the run and that it was they who had the upper hand. But the UFCW is a business in its own right; with over $1 billion in assets it has become a leading contractor of labor to large corporations like Kroger for decades. This corporatist relationship between the union and the companies means that the UFCW ultimately acts to serve the interests of the bosses, not the workers. Last year, the UFCW either canceled strikes or ignored strike authorization votes by Kroger workers in West Virginia, Arkansas, Houston and Portland. It has also played a key role in keeping meatpacking and food production workers on the job in spite of mass infections, including at the JBS beef plant in Greeley, Colorado, where six workers have died of COVID-19. This weekend, nearly 3,000 Kroger workers in New Mexico are voting on whether to authorize strike action. Together with their coworkers in Colorado and around the country, they must learn the lessons of the King Soopers strike and begin building new organizations, rank-and-file committees, to oppose the betrayals and sellouts of the UFCW. Asia India: Haryana rural health workers continue strike action Around 50,000 rural health (anganwadi) workers and helpers have been holding state-wide strikes and protests since December 8 over long-outstanding demands. Strikers demonstrated outside the mini-secretariat in Gurgaon on Tuesday, burnt an effigy of government officials and demanded re-employment of all workers dismissed during the strike. Four union leaders have been terminated from their jobs and framed up on charges of obstructing government officials from doing their duties. There are 26,000 anganwadi centres in 22 districts and all have suspended activities. Anganwadi workers want their monthly honorarium increased to 24,000 rupees ($US319) and 18,000 rupees for helpers. Other demands include a rise in their status to skilled worker category, payment of a dearness allowance and 300,000 rupees in retirement benefits. These low-paid exploited workers are involved in the governments Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and oversee the health and education of children. They also provide assistance and advice to expectant mothers as well as being expected to do election duty and be frontline workers monitoring the health of rural communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Andhra Pradesh government workers hold state-wide protest Andhra Pradesh government workers began a state-wide campaign on Tuesday opposing a government wage revision which reduced their pay. The unions said they planned to hold a four-day hunger protest commencing Thursday, demonstrations on February 3 and non-cooperation (turn off all apps) on February 5. They have also threatened to begin an indefinite strike on February 7. The Hyderabad High Court had ruled that the government has the right to reduce wages of government employees to boost the ailing economy. Tamil Nadu sanitary workers oppose job outsourcing Sanitary workers in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu demonstrated on Monday over several demands and condemned the state governments decision to outsource sanitary work at the states civic bodies. Protesters demanded that sanitary workers at all urban civic bodies be paid a 700-rupee ($US9) minimum daily wage, uniforms be provided to workers who segregate the degradable and non-degradable waste, and additional workers be hired, rather than the outsourcing of jobs. They also want wage deductions for the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to be properly paid into workers accounts. Another demand was for COVID-19 infected workers to be paid full wages, along with a 15,000-rupee incentive allowance in accord with a previous state government announcement. Punjab government bus drivers protest pay cuts Bus drivers from Punjab Roadways and Punbus stopped work in Bathinda on January 21 and used buses to block the entry and exit points of the city bus stand and other roads. Workers alleged that their wages had been reduced since the state run-bus companies altered timetables to favour private bus operators. The drivers ended their protest after a government representative assured them that the original timetable would be restored. Andhra Pradesh government teachers demonstrate against salary cut As part of state-wide protests, Federation of Andhra Pradesh Teachers Organisations members demonstrated outside the district collectors office in Amaravati on January 20. They claim that their pay has been reduced by the Pay Revision Commission and implementation of revised House Rent Allowance. They demanded that the government order that the revisions be withdrawn. Police arrested several teachers after their protest outside the Chittoor collectors office blocked the Chittoor-Vellore National Highway. Similar protests were held at various collector offices across the state. Police established roadblocks in several cities in an attempt to intimidate and restrict protesters. West Bengal fast food delivery workers demand higher pay Swiggy partnersi.e., gig workersprotested in Kolkata on January 20 to demand higher wages. A section of delivery workers went on strike on January 19 over low wages and pressed for other demands. The demonstrators complained that because they are contracted as partners they are not eligible for benefits such as provident fund and gratuity. The workers said they only receive 20 rupees for every order up to 4km but effectively this is for 8km when the return journey is included. With rapidly increasing fuel costs it was very difficult to survive on this amount. Tamil Nadu public transport workers protest Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation workers demonstrated in Trichy on Monday against the governments delay in wage talks. They also demanded that wage deductions towards Provident Fund and Employment State Insurance (ESI) be deposited into their accounts. The Stalinist Communist Party of India (CPI) affiliated All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) coordinated the bus depot protests. New Delhi hospital nurses demand compensation for families of deceased workers Nurses at various governmental hospitals in New Delhi wore black ribbons while on duty on Monday as part of their protest over the Delhi governments delay in paying an already announced 10 million rupees ($US13,300) compensation to the kin of workers who die while on COVID-19 frontline duty. The Delhi Nurses Federation (DNF) have threatened to intensify their protests if the payments were not made by January 27. Bangladeshi polytechnic teachers demand unpaid salaries About 50 teachers from the Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute and the Rajshahi Womens Polytechnic Institute protested on January 18 to demand 18 months of unpaid salaries. They formed a human chain near the Shahid Minar on the Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute premises. The teachers, who are members of the Bangladesh Polytechnic Teachers Federation, said they have suffered a loss of income since the COVID-19 pandemic and been forced into debt, imposing a heavy burden on their families. Sri Lankan internal revenue workers protest Hundreds of Inland Revenue department workers have been holding lunchtime protests outside the departments head office since Monday demanding the government withdraw a plan to dissolve the department. The government intends to transfer the administration of the special goods and services tax to a special unit under the treasury. The workers claim that the plan is a step toward privatising government services and that they will have to resign from all duties and take indefinite strike action if the government continues to ignore their demand. Malaysia: Glove factory workers strike over beatings by security guards Workers at a rubber glove factory in Sepang, Malaysia went on strike on January 23 after two of their colleagues were beaten by new security personnel engaged by their employer. The workers alleged that an Indonesian female employee was beaten three days earlier and a Bangladeshi male worker beaten the day before the strike. The rubber glove workers demanded the new security companys contract be terminated and former security guards brought back. Several hours after the strike began management agreed to move the new security guards from the gates of the workers hostel where the beatings took place but insisted on retaining the company for other security purposes. Workers said they now feared that the security guards may retaliate against them. Australia New South Wales nurses protest excessive workloads and burnout Over 50 off-duty nurses and midwives rallied outside Liverpool Hospital in south-western Sydney on Thursday morning to demand the New South Wales (NSW) Liberal government urgently address the long-standing staffing problems in hospitals which have worsened during the current Omicron variant outbreak. Protesters held placards saying Fatigued, worn out, exhausted, burnt out and Public health in crisis. One speaker told the rally, Some of them [nurses] are in tears here this morning, just come off a night shift. They are caring for, sometimes, one nurse for eight to 10 people and covid has made their situation so harrowing. Nurses and midwives across the state are calling for urgent action to alleviate the worsening staffing crisis. The 70,000-strong New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association, however, has not called any industrial action over the governments criminal removal of COVID-19 mitigation measures. Instead, the association has issued a series of toothless calls to the government. An association spokesman told the media it had written to Premier Dominic Perrottet appealing to him to alleviate unsustainable pressure on hospitals and for a COVID-19 allowance for healthcare workers, for nurses and midwives to be given special leave when COVID-19 positive and increases in shift-by-shift ratios to ensure adequate staffing levels. Food appliance maintenance workers in Queensland strike Australian Manufacturing Workers Union members at Global Food Equipment in Queenslands capital Brisbane walked off the job for four days on January 20 in a dispute over the companys proposed enterprise agreement. Global Food Equipment supplies and services appliances like coffee machines and commercial ovens at restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets. Workers said safety and training are major issues in the enterprise agreement dispute. The conflict that Washington is provoking with Russia over Ukraine threatens the globe with a catastrophe beyond measure. Driven by insoluble internal crisis and rapacious geopolitical ambition, US imperialism is recklessly marching to the brink of World War III. The crisis over Ukraine has been manufactured by the United States and its NATO allies on the basis of lies. The Biden administration denounces Russia for the movement of troops within its own borders. The claim of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine is repeated endlessly by the White House and echoed unquestioningly by the mass media. It is hysterical war propaganda. Russia has never threatened to invade Ukraine. Moscow has stated, however, that it cannot tolerate Ukraine becoming part of NATO. Members of Ukraines Territorial Defense Forces, volunteer military units of the Armed Forces, train in a city park in Kyiv, Ukraine, Jan. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is not a geographical alliance of democratic states but an imperialist cabal for war with Russia and other countries. Incorporating Ukraine would station NATO arms and forces on Russias immediate border and would bind the forces of US and Western European imperialism, under Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, to go to war on behalf of the far-right regime in Kiev, tied to neo-Nazis and fascists, in the event it provoked a conflict with Moscow. US officials have revealed plans to deploy up to 50,000 troops to the borders of Russia and Ukraine. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered a statement spurning Moscows written request for guarantees that Ukraine will not be allowed to join NATO. The Biden administration is not negotiating. It does not seek to ease tensions but to goad Putin into armed conflict so that he can be presented as the aggressor. While US and NATO troops are being mobilized, Washington has set into motion the apparatus of economic warfare. Biden and Blinken have both threatened severe economic sanctions against Moscow, and Russia is preparing for Washington to cut its access to the global SWIFT financial system for US-dollar transactions, which would exclude the country from much of the world economy. The US has invaded countries all over the world, and Putin knows what defeat at its hands would entail for him. Manuel Noriega and Slobodan Milosevic died in prison, Muammar Gaddafi was brutally murdered, and Saddam Hussein was hanged. Washington wants Putin dead. The Biden administration has created a situation that Putin and Russia must construe as an existential threat. There is no concession that Moscow can make that will prevent the advance of NATO forces, short of complete capitulation. It faces the choice of war now or war in the near future when NATO stands on its doorstep. The White House is recklessly marching to war, yet no one is discussing the implications. No reporter asks Biden what the worst-case scenario might be, and not one has asked if it might entail the use of nuclear arms. Washington acts as if the conflict it is pursuing will be neatly contained in the eastern regions of Ukraine, sealed off in the Donbass. The United States has waged a series of wars since 1991, and each has ended in catastrophe. Millions are dead, and entire societies in the Middle East and Central Asia have been reduced to dust and rubble. They were primitively armed. Washington now has the country holding the worlds second largest store of nuclear weapons in its sights. If the US and NATO have convinced themselves that they can level an existential threat against Russia without raising the tremendous danger of nuclear war, they are deluding themselves. How can they exclude this possibility? If they do recognize the risk, their actions are mad. All of the war propaganda of the US and NATO depicts Putin as a deranged criminal; all of their strategy relies upon his conduct being saner than their own. There is a deeply reactionary faction within the Russian ruling elite and military circles, many of whom are imbued with all sorts of fascistic conceptions. War has an inexorable logic of its own; it does not abide by the tidy plots drawn up on the Resolute desk of the Oval Office. The military vortex that Washington is setting into motion will drag the great powers into a global conflict. China confronts Washingtons demand that it abandon its Zero COVID policy and allow the pandemic to kill millions of its people. The US war drive in the Asia Pacific region, almost as advanced as that confronting Russia, presents Beijing with a similar existential threat. China sees in the US deployment of troops to Taiwan a direct parallel to the developments in Ukraine. British imperialism, donning again the pith helmet, invents its own lies in service to the war drive. Washington pressures the German bourgeoisie, with the blood of 28 million Soviet citizens on its conscience, to again set its sights eastward. The unleashing of a war with Russia would within weeksif not daysdrag in Iran, Israel, China and Taiwan. Japan and Australia would rapidly be caught up in the ever expanding fray. Military imperatives would take over. The world would be engulfed. The loss of life that is being prepared is incalculable. The American ruling class has shown that it is impervious to mass death. Over 900,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 in less than two years, but the Biden White House does not even speak of it. The evening news anchor discusses the daily weather and not the daily dead. There is not a shred of a conscience that will prevent Washington from starting a catastrophic global war. There is a madness in this policy, but it is a madness with objective causes. The drive to war is fueled by an utterly toxic mixture of deranged geopolitical ambitions and insoluble internal crisis. The conflict flows from the desperate efforts of the US since the dissolution of the Soviet Union to restore its geopolitical dominance and offset its economic difficulties, by military means. As the Stalinist bureaucracy dismantled the Soviet Union, the imperialist powers weighed how best to profit from the ensuing social devastation. In 1992, a leading foreign policy academic, Walter Russell Mead, published a significant article in World Policy Journal, bearing the subtitle A Modest Proposal for US Policy after the Cold War. He advocated that the US acquire Siberia from the impoverished Russian nation and profit off privatizing Siberias vast storehouse of natural resources. This area contains some of the worlds most valuable deposits of oil, gas, diamonds, and gold, Mead wrote. There are vast stands of timber; huge mineral deposits. All of these resources are worth more as part of the United States than as part of Russia. He wrote of the value of acquiring Vladivostok, one of the finest harbors in Asia, and of royalties to be secured from concessions to the Japanese. This is the language of imperial plunder. Mead proposed to purchase Siberia. Now Washington seeks similar ends by means of military aggression to fragment the country. Hitler conceived of Russia as a breadbasket. The United States has more grandiose designs. Even more decisively, it is the explosive social crisis of the pandemic and the emergence of open class struggle that is driving the ruling class to war. The immense rupture of social life produced by the global pandemic has fundamentally destabilized all the bourgeois regimes. An opinion piece by Thomas Edsall, published Wednesday in the New York Times, declared that intense social polarization placed the United States in uncharted and very dangerous territory. He quoted a political scientist who stated that a successful depolarizing event would have to be one where the causes are transparently external. It is this above all that fuels the drive to war. War with Russia would allow the American ruling class to use nationalism to channel social anger outward and provide it a pretext for suppressing dissent. The crisis of capitalism, brought to a knifes edge by the pandemic, confronts the bourgeoisie with an insoluble dilemma, and it turns to war to find a way out. The greatest danger that now exists lies in the vast chasm between the scale of the danger and the public awareness of it. The working class has been kept in the dark, lied to, battered by the pandemic and is being forced back to work. The working class, which is fighting to prevent the spread of the pandemic and oppose the relentless growth of social inequality and exploitation, must be made politically aware of the war plans of the elite. Whatever the immediate outcome of the provocations over Ukraine, the situation is immensely dangerous. The working class must proceed on this basis. It is necessary not to throw up ones hands in fright but to fight for a correct policy. Imperialism is preparing a catastrophe that can be averted only through the development of an international working class movement to fight against war. In 2016, already recognizing the intensification of the war drive of US imperialism, the International Committee published a statement, Socialism and the Fight Against War, calling for the construction of an international movement of the working class and youth against imperialism. The ICFI distilled the critical principles of this anti-war movement: The struggle against war must be based on the working class, the great revolutionary force in society, uniting behind it all progressive elements in the population. The new antiwar movement must be anticapitalist and socialist, since there can be no serious struggle against war except in the fight to end the dictatorship of finance capital and the economic system that is the fundamental cause of militarism and war. The new antiwar movement must therefore, of necessity, be completely and unequivocally independent of, and hostile to, all political parties and organizations of the capitalist class. The new antiwar movement must, above all, be international, mobilizing the vast power of the working class in a unified global struggle against imperialism. The permanent war of the bourgeoisie must be answered with the perspective of permanent revolution by the working class, the strategic goal of which is the abolition of the nation-state system and the establishment of a world socialist federation. This will make possible the rational, planned development of global resources and, on this basis, the eradication of poverty and the raising of human culture to new heights. The urgency of building this movement has only increased. The most critical question is the fight for these policies in the working class. All those who agree with this perspective need to take up this fight and join the Socialist Equality Party. Spains Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government is provoking mounting opposition as it sends warships and fighter jets to join NATOs threats against Russia in Eastern Europe. Last week, Minister of Defence Margarita Robles announced Madrid was sending one of the most modern frigates in the Spanish navy , the Blas de Lezo, to NATOs permanent fleet, to operate in the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea against Russia. Spain will also send the BAM Meteoro to join the Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2, which it will lead for six months. The groups role is to provide NATO with immediate operational response capability against Moscow. Podemos party leader Pablo Iglesias speaks as Spain's caretaker Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez looks on after signing an agreement at the parliament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul White) Robles said that she had offered NATO to send fighter jets to Bulgaria, beyond the 360 soldiers already deployed in Lithuania and six Eurofighter jets in Romania. In addition, she recalled that for six years Spain has had more than 300 soldiers in Latvia. She threatened Moscow, Russia cannot tell any country what it can do, and NATO will defend any country that Russia wants to enter. The deployment of Spanish military troops and the warmongering threats of the PSOE-Podemos government are provoking growing opposition among workers and youth. Over the past several days, the hashtag #NoALaGuerra (No to war) has been trending on Twitter. No to war was the main slogan throughout 2002 and 2003 on the eve of the Iraq war when America, Britain and Spain, led by the right-wing Popular Party (PP), all pushed for an invasion that devastated Iraqi society and led to the deaths of one million Iraqis. Jose Antonio Perez tweeted: Today Spain has decided to contribute ships, planes and troops because it is intolerable that Russia has soldiers on its territory next to the border with Ukraine. The US has had bases in Spain and in half of Europe for more than 50 years and nobody says anything. Helena, a public health worker tweeted: This Russian thing reminds me a bit of Iraq. They repeated ad nauseam that they had no weapons. The trio of the Azores [former US President George W. Bush, UKs Tony Blair and Spains Jose Maria Aznar, who sent an ultimatum to Iraq in 2003 from Azores Islands] insisted on yes. War. Russia is repeating ad nauseam that IT IS NOT GOING TO INVADE UKRAINE. NATO insists that yes... this is going to end very badly. Laura tweeted: Today, thinking about the possible participation of Spain in a war, I was assailed by the anguish of thinking that they would begin to recruit every man over 18 years of age. I thought of my son, with his whole life ahead of him. I imagined how I would try to hide him. And this has happened and continues to happen. Another user, Anibal, raised an article headlined, Spain positions itself and offers its jets to Bulgaria amid the Russian threat, saying, Partisan headline: the threats come not Russia, who is asking for security guarantees, but the [US] and the EU sending weapons to Ukraine and trying to corner Russia by joining NATO. The PP got us into a war and the PSOE wants to get us into in another. Hector wrote: Between NATO and Russia, they have more than 12,000 nuclear weapons. If there is war, we all lose. Another user, Josep, recalled the mass protests involving millions throughout the world against the Iraq invasion 20 years ago: Once again a chill is running through my body, almost twenty years later, No to war! is back. I shouted this with all my mightit was useless. Mass mobilizations around the planet were of no avail. This is an exposure of the bankruptcy of the Podemos party. Twenty years ago, the political layer from which it emergedthe Stalinist-led United Left movement, trade unions and petty-bourgeois activistssubordinated the mass movement against the Iraq war to the PSOE. The PSOE then joined NATO wars in Afghanistan and Libya while sending troops to Lebanon and off the Somali coast. Now joined by Podemos in government, it is leading Spains participation in NATO war threats against Russia. Aware of growing opposition in the working class, Podemos is cynically posturing as a critic of the militarist actions undertaken by the government of which it is a part. To cover its alignment with the NATO war drive, it advances calls for the EU to develop its own foreign policy, claiming it is too subordinated to the US-led NATO alliance. Last week, Podemos released a statement rejecting the deployment of Spanish troops to Eastern Europe. Podemos advocated detente and strategic autonomy to defend Europes own interests, claiming that the extension of NATO towards Ukraine and Georgia is exclusively due to US interests and puts peace at risk. The Minister of Equality, Podemos member Irene Montero, stated the following day that Spain is the country of no to war and called for dialogue and diplomacy. On Saturday, former Podemos leader and Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias stated at a campaign rally that Europe does not have the slightest interest in a military confrontation on European soil with a country that has nuclear weapons. He added that NATO is a military alliance to protect the interests of the United States. Podemos statements are empty posturing. The deployment of the frigate Blas de Lezo was approved in a government meeting on December 21. Podemos ministers did not raise any opposition. The frigates deployment has simply been advanced three weeks from the time it was expected to be deployed. Podemos is not an anti-war party. Founded in 2014, boasting it had entered Spanish politics to democratise the post-Franco regime and re-distribute wealth towards the poorest, Podemos has instead channelled growing social opposition to capitalism back into the PSOE, the ruling classs main party of government since the fascist Francoite regime fell in 1978. The PSOE has a decades-long record as a party of imperialist war and militarism. Before entering power with the PSOE, Podemos recruited leading members of the army, including former Air Force General and Chief of the Defence Staff Julio Rodriguez, the man who led the Spanish armys participation in the US-led neo-colonial wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and who played a major role in the 2011 NATO war on Libya. Rodriguez is now a leading member of Podemos. Once in power, Podemos has aligned itself ever more closely with NATO wars in the Middle East in Afghanistan and Libya, pledged to keep the four US military bases in Spain, and supported the increase of Spains weapons sales to a record 22.5 billion, including Saudi Arabia in its bloody war against Yemen. Last October, it participated in the militarist-chauvinist Day of Hispanicity on October 12. It has also voted in favour of the latest military budget, which has increased 9.4 percent last year, beating its earlier record rise from 19.7 billion in 2020 to 21.6 billion in 2021. Podemos defence of European strategic autonomy is not an anti-imperialist position. Rather, speaking for factions of the European ruling class, its support means mass militarisation of Germany, France and other European states to wage wars in Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe independently from the US. Internally, this can only be accompanied with the gutting of public expenditure in health care, education and social spending. There is deep, historically rooted opposition in the working class in Spain and internationally to militarism and nationalism. However, the lessons of the anti-war protests in 2002-2003 must be assimilated. Middle-class groups like Podemos are not opposed to militarism, and are neither willing nor able to mobilize the vast opposition against the current war drive. These forces aim to subordinate, isolate and finally suppress the mass anti-war sentiment. Only a united socialist offensive by the international working class can prevent the ruling class from plunging the planet into the abyss. The only way for workers and youth to oppose the drive towards militarism, war and repression is to build Trotskyist parties, sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), in opposition to the pseudo-left parties like Podemos. K-12 schools in Riverside County, California, have been a major source of COVID-19 infections among teachers, school employees, and students. Riverside is located just east of Los Angeles and has a current positivity rate of 33.5 percent with more than 1,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations. Since December 2020, educational facilities accounted for 45.7 percent of all reported COVID-19 outbreaks in the county. COVID-19 reporting in the schools has been limited this month, but as of January 10 there have been 20 outbreaks in school settings. Kindergarten students sit in their classroom on the first day of in-person learning at Maurice Sendak Elementary School in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Ann, a public school bus driver in Riverside County, spoke with the World Socialist Web Site about the conditions in elementary schools in her area. To maintain anonymity, Anns name has been changed for this article. Regarding the surge in infections in recent weeks due to the Omicron variant, Ann stated, Students are getting sick, as well as teachers and bus drivers. We are also short on drivers and are trying to get help covering routes. We do think that bus drivers are getting sick from students. There has been low attendance and it seems like a cycle of infection thats going around. Six to nine of our kids will be sick throughout the day, leaving school. Then the next week another batch of kids gets sick. Then you see two to three drivers leaving a week. It really is as if they are saying everyone just needs to catch COVID, which is so sad to hear. Ann expressed frustration and confusion over the constant loosening of safety policies in her district, saying, Our district is now allowing people with asymptomatic cases to drive school buses because there is a low number of drivers. But they can still infect others! We are confused. When the pandemic started it was two weeks quarantine, then ten days, now within five days, and if you have it you are still spreading it! At the beginning of the semester, we were told to double mask with a cotton mask and a surgical blue mask. We were also told to change the surgical mask daily and change the cotton mask every eight days. It has been over two weeks and we have only been given one surgical mask and one cloth mask. Are we expected to supply our own masks? I saw that CDC guidelines say we are supposed to wear N95 masks. We arent seeing any help from anybody. Back in 2020 when schools were closed, during the fall semester, we were constantly in meetings. Back then we were told that buses were going to be sprayed with disinfectant twice a week. This is still protocol, but even this isnt happening regularly. Regarding ventilation they just told us to have two windows always open. I will say that no one leaves the yard with their windows down when its freezing in the mornings. And still, two windows are not enough to get good airflow. Ann also described an incident that showed the level of infection taking place among students: Last week I was really touched by a student. She wasnt on my bus before winter break. On Monday, she came on the bus quiet. I can always tell how my kids are feeling and she had a sad look on her face. As we were driving, I asked her, Are you new? I dont remember seeing you. She looked at me teary-eyed and responded, no, but yeah. Then she said, I had COVID. I told her, Its ok, Im so sorry. But youre ok now, youre better. She started to cry. When I asked her what was wrong, she said, kids at school are making fun of me for having COVID. I asked her, what about your friends? She said, A lot of kids in my class have it. Ann commented, I was so upset and tried to console her. This really bothered me as Im sure there are so many kids who are going through something like this. Not only does she have to deal with having COVID, now its a mental thing because she is getting bullied. Discussing the need to close schools as part of a broader strategy to eliminate COVID-19, Ann stated emphatically, We shouldnt be waiting for a higher authority. Schools need to be closed now! Not forever, but to keep everyone safe, students, teachers, drivers, during this surge. Describing another incident, Ann said, I went to my daughters high school this week to pick her up to get tested because I found out someone in our family had symptoms. When I entered the building with all the offices, all the admin and staff were in there in one room talking and laughing without their masks on. I was shocked because here I am, coming on to campus and theres someone there making sure I have my mask on but the people in the office arent even following the guidelines! Later that day, I asked my daughter about conditions in her classrooms. She said, teachers sit with their masks down. People are sniffling and coughing, and no one is sent to the nurses office. No protocols are being enforced. My husband and I are so upset with the fact that these guidelines are not being enforced. We are thinking of just taking my daughter out of school until the surge passes. Ann also described the conditions among special education students and staff who have faced high levels of infections since schools reopened. Districts such as Anns are loosening COVID safety protocols, which are further exacerbating the surge conditions in the area. As transit drivers we drive general education elementary students. There is another set of drivers that drive special education students. In our district, SpEd students are getting so sick with COVID. Only the drivers and teachers really know about this. We talk to each other and find out why certain routes are not running. We have realized that there are no SpEd students to transport because they were getting COVID. Since schools reopened, most SpEd drivers have been at home with no pay because the routes were closed, and more recently they have been shifting around divers to drive on the general ed routes in order to give them pay. No one reported on this, no news media, nothing. They kept it hush-hush so no one knew about it. They reopened the schools and look what happened! All these SpEd students, they are letting them get sick. These are kids with some of the worst health conditions or are more vulnerable if they catch it. Since two-thirds of South Australian (SA) teachers voted to strike against the dangerous reopening of schools next week, the Australian Education Union (AEU) has done everything it can to cancel the stoppage and ensure that its members are herded into COVID-infested classrooms as scheduled. South Australian teachers protesting attacks on their pay and conditions in 2019 (Credit: AEU SA, Facebook) Within hours of the strike ballot closing last Monday, union executives floated the prospect of the stoppage being called off, based on unspecified progress in talks with the state Liberal government. The following days involved a flurry of meetings, within the executive and between union officials and the government. On the basis of these backroom discussions, the AEU suddenly announced last night that it was reballoting members on whether to indefinitely postpone the stoppage. Voting began at 8 p.m. and is concluding at 5 p.m. today. The ballot follows a playbook that has been used repeatedly by the unions over the past several years. When workers deliver a result that goes against the wishes of the union executive, they are compelled to vote again on the exact same issue, sometimes repeatedly, until the ballot goes the opposite way. This could be likened to elections held under a dictatorship, where everyone can cast a vote, but there is only one candidate. The use of this method is all the more striking, given that the SA AEU is the only education union in the country to have called a vote on action against the reopening of the schools amid the countrys worst COVID crisis to date. In the other states, including New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, where the virus is rampant, the unions are simply functioning as a forwarding service for government dictates that children and teachers return to the classrooms. The SA AEU was compelled to call the initial ballot because of widespread shock and concern over the COVID surge in that state, which previously had hardly any transmission. The total number of cases has increased from one thousand in the first two years of the COVID crisis, to well over 100,000 in the past six weeks. The union also confronted a near-rebellion in 2020, when it forced through a wage-cutting enterprise agreement in the face of widespread opposition. The AEU limited the options to a one-day strike on February 2, which would do nothing to prevent their members facing dangerous conditions the next day and each day after. The union never challenged the premise of reopening schools amid mass COVID transmission, and has not even provided teachers with the opportunity to demand online learning. The AEU backs the government line that schools must be opened, so that parents can be forced into dangerous workplaces and corporate profits made. The union initially called only for a two-week postponement of term, but has dropped that demand. Even the token 24-hour strike had to be subverted, for fear that it could become the focal point of a broader movement of teachers across the country against the reopenings. Again, teachers have been told of progress in the secret discussions between the AEU bureaucrats and the right-wing state government, but the few details provided by the union to its members indicate that the return to school plan is virtually unchanged. A bulletin to teachers last night highlighted such progress as Helpline in place to provide advice to employees and Letter to parents and further communications being developed for parents with clear expectations regarding children not attending when unwell, mask use etc. The union claimed that one of its central demands was for air purification and improved ventilation. The SA government has, it says, agreed to strategically deploy 100 air purifiers in the states 605 public schools. If each school has an average of 30 rooms, for a total of 15,000 classrooms across SA, 0.6 percent would have a purifier. Thousands more are supposedly on their way, but there is no indication of when they will arrive. There would also be Site works ongoing to enable increased ventilation, no hold up regarding funding or site works usual procurement processes. But the schools are reopening next week. Dilapidated classrooms, with a limited number of windows, some of which dont even open, are hardly going to be refurbished in the next four days. Teachers were particularly hostile to the prospect of being forced to work after having been exposed to the virus, and voiced concern about the dangers to their colleagues with underlying vulnerabilities. The AEU bulletin provides non-answers to the many questions that educators have raised on these issues. The government had agreed to Clear guidelines regarding Close Contact (classroom contact) and isolation requirements. What they are, no one knows. The government had similarly made the monumental concession of a Commitment to develop clear definition of vulnerable at some point in the unspecified future. There would be provision of N95 masks, but when, where and in what quantity is another unknown. The union had previously stated that one of its key demands was for the mass use of rapid antigen tests (RATs). This is a centrepiece of the NSW and Victorian reopenings. The self-administered use of these less reliable tests, by students and their parents, is designed to provide a veneer of safety where there is none. It is nevertheless noteworthy that even on this question, which was supposedly of such concern to the AEU officials a few days ago, the union has capitulated. RATs will only be trialled for test to stay in special settings and discussions continue re extending this trial to other vulnerable cohorts. At most schools, RATs will reportedly only be used after a positive case is detected. How such infections are to be identified, in the absence of testing, is unclear. Asymptomatic cases especially will simply be missed. Even the AEU highlights give an inkling of the conditions the union is preparing to enforce. Substitute teachers will be engaged on contract in regions/hubs to assist with staff shortages. And: Regarding the need to utilise sick leave when contracting COVID, on a case-by-case basis, the Department is open to discussing individual circumstances where employees dont have remaining sick leave. Hardly great reassurance. These provisions indicate that as in NSW and Victoria, the SA authorities and the union know there will be mass transmission in the schools. In the former two states, official modelling has indicated that up to 20 percent of teachers could be off sick at any one time. In comments to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, SA AEU branch president Andrew Gohl said: Are we getting everything we want to see here? No, were not, but at some point youve got to be realistic about this. The progress, Gohl stated, was that conversations are happening in a positive way with the department, with the commitment for that to continue The bulletin ended on a similarly pathetic and self-damning note. It is a fact that there is nothing that can be done to totally protect education workers and students against COVID in schools, the AEU stated, ignoring the fact that online education would do precisely this. Ultimately, the Premiers intransigence to push back the start of the school year by two weeks has created a situation where many of the issues raised by members have not been resolved because of the short timelines, the union officials wrote. In his intransigence, the premier confronted a union that would not even back a one-day strike overwhelmingly endorsed by its membership. It could never be accused of intransigence, except in defying the demands of teachers. All of which meant, The reality will be that many of the unresolved issues will have to be addressed at the local level. But rest assured, the AEU would provide future advice in the form of similar bulletins. The union may as well have concluded by declaring: Youre on your own! Such is the role of all of the education unions. Their privileged executives collaborate hand-in-glove with governments and education departments as they implement policies that will likely kill some of the teachers the AEU claims to represent. But despite the immense dangers, teachers must be realistic. Teachers in SA who have not yet voted should reject the strike cancellation with the contempt it deserves. But broader conclusions must be drawn. The experiences of the past week have shown that the unions are determined to stifle even the most limited action in defense of health, safety and lives. This demonstrates that the fight for a return to online learning, the only means of protecting teachers and children while the virus is circulating, requires a rebellion against the AEU. Independent rank-and-file committees are needed to take up a fight against the reopening. This must include the demand for full income support for parents affected by online learning and a massive expansion of funding for public education. The fight against the school reopenings should be the spearhead of a broader movement of the working class, demanding a repudiation of the let it rip pandemic policies and a scientifically-grounded program to eliminate the virus. In close collaboration with Washington and in blatant violation of international law, Justin Trudeaus federal Liberal government is moving to completely seal the border to asylum seekers entering Canada from the United States. According to government sources who leaked information to the Montreal daily La Presse last month, Canada and the United States have negotiated an agreement to close loopholes in the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). Protest against the reactionary Canada-US Safe Third Country Agreement (Photo credit: David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights) The purpose of the agreement, signed in 2004 by Paul Martins Liberal government and the administration of George W. Bush, was to allow the Canadian government to turn back all asylum seekers entering Canada from the United States on the pretext that the latter is a safe country for refugees. The agreement stipulated that asylum seekers would be turned back if they made their claim at an official port of entry to Canada. However, it did not specify how asylum applications should be handled if they were filed by people who had entered Canada from the US irregularly. This loophole encouraged refugees desperate to escape the Trump administrations vicious persecution of immigrants to cross the 8,900-kilometre-long Canada-US border at unguarded points in order to file their asylum application on Canadian soil. To do so, tens of thousands of impoverished refugees from Latin America, the Middle East and Africa have undertaken a dangerous and often life-threatening journey that often involves walking long distances in bitterly cold temperatures. The leak to La Presse, which has close ties to the Liberal Party, came shortly after a ban on migrants entering Canada, put in place at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, was lifted last November. Agitating against the migrants, the anonymous government source responsible for the leak urged the government to quickly implement the till now secret agreement, declaring, We dont have the leisure to wait much longer for the new agreement to be implemented to be able to stop this flow, which is totally unsustainable in the more or less short term. Amending the STCA to nail shut the door to all refugee claimants has been a longstanding demand of the Conservatives and the most right-wing provincial governments, such as the Ford government in Ontario and Legaults Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) government in Quebec. Stoking anti-immigrant chauvinism and openly courting the far-right, they have regularly referred to the border as a sieve and blamed refugees for the dilapidated state of public services. In a recent tweet, calling for the closing of Roxham Road, a commonly used irregular border-crossing point for migrants seeking refuge in Canada, CAQ Labour Minister Jean Boulet scapegoated migrants for the spike in COVID-19 cases produced by the Omicron variant. In reality, if Quebec and Canada are now being devastated by the pandemics fifth successive wave, it is because Canadas federal and provincial governments, acting at the behest of big business and the financial oligarchy, have systematically prioritized the protection of corporate profits over human lives The CAQ has played a key role in the implementation of this murderous agenda by embracing an explicit herd immunity policy and denying high-quality PPE to education workers, health care staff and other working people. By acceding to the demands of the most right-wing sections of the establishment over the STCA, the Trudeau Liberal government is demonstrating, yet again, that its claims to be pro-refugeethat is supportive of those fleeing oppressionare an utter fraud. The ruthless persecution experienced by asylum seekers under Trump has continued under Biden and the Democrats, who have upheld Trumps reactionary pushbacks at the US-Mexico border and backed the fascistic thugs of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the hilt. The Trudeau government was intimately involved in Trumps anti-refugee campaign, with Canada-US collaboration on anti-immigrant measures reaching unprecedented levels during the Republican presidents four years in the White House. Trudeau and his ministers have themselves repeatedly discouraged migrants from coming to Canada, while escalating deportations and ensuring only a small percentage of asylum claims are accepted. In 2018, in the name of securing the borders, the Trudeau government implemented a target of 10,000 annual deportations, a 35 percent increase from the previous year. Hundreds of people who have had their applications rejected, including children, are being held in prison-like conditions, similar to those imposed on prospective deportees in the United States, while they await expulsion from Canada. In 2019, the Trudeau government dramatically reduced the ability of migrants to claim asylum in Canada by surreptitiously adding reactionary amendments to the Budget Implementation Act. While adding $1 billion for border security, the amendments prevent migrants who have already made an asylum claim with countries that have an information sharing agreement with Canada from making an asylum claim. These countries are the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, all of which, along with Canada, are members of the Five-Eyes, a network of countries that conduct mass surveillance on the worlds population. Notwithstanding the raging pandemic, 12,222 refugees were deported during 2020, the highest total for deportations since 2015. Of the 58,000 migrants who have crossed the border irregularly since February 2017, just 14,500 have had their claims accepted and 12,000 have been rejected, according to the Immigration and Refugee Board in Canada. Around 29,600 claims are still pending. The Canadian governments attempt to posture as a defender of human rights is highly hypocritical. Ottawa has one of the worlds most restrictive immigration policiesa fact underscored by the explicit praise it won from Trump during his presidency. This policy is not constrained by any humanitarian responsibility to asylum seekers, but rather shaped by the mercenary labour market needs of big business. Thousands of poorly paid and abysmally accommodated migrant workers from impoverished parts of the Caribbean and Latin America labour on farms, in meatpacking plants and other low-wage sectors every year on the basis of temporary residency permits. These programs, which are akin to the indentured-labour contracts of centuries past, only grant a worker permission to stay in Canada if they maintain their job with a specified employer, and block any legal route to permanent residency. While claiming to be welcoming to immigrants and refugees, Canadian imperialism has natural and political walls to shield it from the large numbers of people uprooted from their homes by the wars, environmental devastation, and economic restructuring programs that it and its western allies inflict on the peoples of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere. Not only is Canada bordered by oceans on three sides, it can rely on Washington, under Republican and Democratic Party administrations alike, to ruthlessly police the Mexican border and bully Mexico to deal with migrants from Central America and further south by sealing its own southern border. The persecution of refugees and immigrants enjoys the support of all institutions of the Canadian capitalist state. Last year, the Liberal government won its appeal of a federal court ruling that found the Safe Third Country Agreement unconstitutional, because those returned to the US in accordance with its provisions have been subject to treatment that shocks the conscience. This includes automatic imprisonment, often in concentration camp-type conditions, with children potentially separated from their parents and detainees deprived of food, medical care and basic human dignity. In overturning the lower court ruling, the Federal Court of Appeal willfully ignored both the barbaric conditions in which those returned from Canada are held by the US government and their subsequent fate. That is, almost certain deportation to their countries of originto countries, like Haiti, that invariably have been ravaged by American and Canadian imperialism. Had it not been for the leak to La Presse, the US-Canada agreement to make the STCA even more restrictive and draconian would have remained secret till Ottawa and Washington choose to enforce it. This begs the question: What other secret agreements have been concluded between Canada and the United States? Washington is currently provoking a direct military confrontation in Eastern Europe with Russia, which threatens to plunge the world into a catastrophic conflagration involving nuclear weapons. What secret deals has Trudeau made with Biden on how Ottawa would respond if war breaks out? In recent decades, Canadas close military-strategic partnership with Washington has seen the Canadian military participate in an uninterrupted series of wars and military interventions led by Washington, whether in Haiti, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan or Iraq, which, not incidentally, are the countries of origin of a large percentage of the worlds refugees. Canada is closely integrated into the ongoing diplomatic, economic and military-strategic offensive against China and Russia, the two powers the United States has identified as its main rivals. The correction of the loophole in the STCA, which will increase the refugee-claimant population in the United States and the number of ICE expulsions, represents a favour granted by the Biden administration to Canada. In return, Washington no doubt expects Ottawa to work even more closely with it in its diplomatic and military offensive against Russia and China, as well as in upholding their common imperialist interests in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since taking office, the Trudeau government has worked assiduously to strengthen the eight-decade Canada-US military partnership. This includes increasing military spending by more than 70 percent by 2026, reaching a little-publicized agreement with Washington to modernize NORAD, the North American aerospace and maritime defense command, participating in Washingtons freedom of navigation operations off the coast of China, and continuing to work with far-right forces in Ukraine to threaten and prepare for a military offensive against Russia. Yet the United States, whether led by Trumps Republicans or Bidens Democrats, and significant sections of the Canadian ruling class are demanding that it do still more. Recently the Trudeau government announced that it is developing an anti-China Indo-Pacific strategy in close consultation with the Biden administration. The latter has ratcheted up the US offensive against China, by forming the US-Australia-United Kingdom (AUKUS) military-intelligence pact, arming Australia with nuclear submarines, and championing the Quad, a quasi-military alliance of the US, its key Asia-Pacific allies, Japan and Australia, and India. Working people in Canada must oppose the persecution of migrants and demand that all the secret agreements Ottawa has entered into with Washington aimed at facilitating imperialist oppression, aggression and banditry be made public. Workers on the London Underground have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action against swingeing cuts being prepared by the Johnson government, Transport for London (TfL) and Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan. But the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) is working with ASLEF, Unite and other rail unions to head off a coordinated fightback by transport workers against the governments slash-and-burn proposals. Fully 94 percent of RMT members voted yes for strike action during a four-week ballot that closed on January 10. The union balloted 10,000 members, with a 52 percent turnout. In November, ASLEF train drivers on the London Underground returned a 99 percent strike vote against the same planned attacks on pay, conditions and pensions. London Underground (Credit: Lisa Bettany, Flickr) London Underground faces cuts of 509 million. Around 600 jobs are targeted for destruction initially, mainly among station and ticketing staff, according to TfL bosses who briefed unions last month. Overall, TfL has a 2 billion annual shortfall due to the deep cuts to central government grants since 2014. The scale of de-funding over the next two years may push the citys public transport system, including roads and bridges, into managed decline, according to TfL finance chiefs. In December, a short-term funding agreement was reached by Khan and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. It expires on February 4, with the Johnson government refusing to say whether new bail-out funds will be on offer. They are deliberately forcing TfL into crisis, slow-roasting Londons entire transport system, with Khan and his feckless minions scrambling below. TfL relies on passenger revenue to cover two-thirds of its operating costs, compared to France, Spain and even New York which receive around two-thirds of their funding from government. Successive Conservative governments have pushed TfL to become self-reliant, a free-market directive dutifully embraced by Labours Khan who has slashed 1 billion from the transport authoritys budget since he became mayor in 2016. The pandemic pushed TfL over the edge. Fares collapsed by 95 percent at the start of the pandemic and passenger levels have not yet fully recovered. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Shapps have seized on the funding crisis to force through a Thatcherite wish-list of asset sales, privatisation and attacks on transport workers. Property developers, investors and other financial parasites are the key beneficiaries. The Tories regard train drivers pensions, for example, as ridiculously inflated and are insisting they be gutted, along with pay-rates and terms and conditions won in decades of struggle. Khan is complying with Johnsons marching orders, commissioning a review last year by bankers which found that TfL pensions were outdated and expensive. Despite being given a clear mandate to defeat the governments brutal assault, ASLEF, the RMT and TSSA (which represents salaried staff) are suppressing their members call for action and trying to channel this huge social force behind the Labour Party. At a protest by rail unions in December, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch issued grovelling appeals to Khan to join the side of workers, while Labour MPs were praised for their imaginary support for workers in struggle. Mick Lynch (source: RMT) The Johnson government, beset by crisis, would be incapable of enforcing a single cut without Khans and Labours active participation. The Labour Partys real attitude to workers in struggle was on display at the start of the Night Tube strikes, which Khan and other Labour politicians denounced. On January 14, RMT officials trumpeted the ballot results, Its a YES from us! Drivers vote to strike to defend pay, pensions and agreements! The RMTs newsletter declared, Now that we have a ballot mandate, we can fight back against any attacks, and remind management that without us, not a wheel will turn. Five days later, Lynch issued a letter to members explaining, the National Executive Committee has considered this matter and taken the decision to call industrial action as detailed below. Their sole recommendation was that from February 2, all members are instructed as follows: Not to familiarise staff who do not usually work at a location; No training of staff for roles that are outside of their normal substantive role; No undertaking of training that is outside of a members normal substantive role. No further measures were proposed. Lynch simply closed his letter with an empty promise that the RMT National Executive Committee would be considering options for further action if commitments [from TfL] are not forthcoming. Likewise, ASLEF has said it will honour the strike mandate delivered by thousands of tube drivers only if [TfL] try to force through changes to our agreements. But London Underground bosses have already done so, with ASLEFs blessing. They scrapped a 2016 agreement on the Night Tube service, axing the dedicated night crew and forcing all train operators to work night shifts on top of their existing duties. A tube train at Charing Cross Station (Credit: Roger Marks, Flickr) The RMTs response could not be clearer. With Boris Johnsons premiership hanging by a thread amid the deepest political crisis since the 1930s, the RMT has thrown the Tories a lifeline. The RMTs refusal to call all-out industrial action to defeat the governments bailout plans and remove the Tories from office is politically criminal, especially amid the growing clamour for war against Russia. It confirms the RMTs slavish adherence to the Trades Union Congress and its affiliated unions who have worked throughout the pandemic to enforce Johnsons herd immunity agenda on behalf of business, forcing workers into unsafe workplaces to keep the economy moving, a policy that has claimed more than 170,000 lives. Notwithstanding its promotion as a militant union by pseudo-left groups such as the Socialist Party, Socialist Workers Party and the Stalinist Morning Star, the RMT is an industrial police force against workers. Where disputes do break out, the RMT isolates them before calling them off as soon as possible. As such, the current Night Tube fight is being confined to just two tube lines, while a strike by RMT members at Neasden depot over scheduling, due to start on January 20, was called off. London Underground workers can place no faith in the RMT, ASLEF and other corporatist trade unions which work as loyal partners of the Johnson government and the employers. Nationally, rail unions are participating in the Rail Industry Recovery Group established by Johnson to slash costs across Network Rail and train operating companies that were temporarily brought back under government control during the pandemic to bail-out private operators. Transport workers willingness to fight is not in doubt. The struggle must be taken out of the hands of the rail unions and directed by workers through the formation of rank-and-file strike committees at every station, depot and maintenance yard. Through such committees, workers can formulate key demands and turn out to win support among bus, rail and other transport workers. Such a fight will win the enthusiastic backing of workers everywhere who are facing the ongoing social and economic costs of a global pandemic that must be ended. After months of silence throughout the devastating Delta and Omicron waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australias main university trade union is trying to block any fight by staff and students against the dangerous reopening of campuses. This is under conditions in which the countrys federal, state and territory governments, Labor and Liberal-National alike, are imposing a live with the virus program of mass infection, disease and death. For all the false government and media claims that the Omicron variant is mild, has peaked, or will somehow end the pandemic, its unfettered transmission in Australia and globally is creating the conditions for new, possibly vaccine-resistant mutations, as well as serious dangers of Long COVID. Staff and students protesting cuts at Macquarie University in Sydney late 2019 [Source: WSWS Media] Most immediately, Australias spiralling COVID-19 death tollalready over 1,000 this monthis about to be accelerated by the reopening of primary and secondary schools, which is being carried out solely to ensure that parents are fully returned to their workplaces for the sake of corporate profit. As has already been seen in universities across the US, cramming students into classrooms and other campus venues, such as libraries, will produce super-spreader events, resulting in more deaths and suffering. Universities, like schools, are proven vectors for transmission and community spread. A study of over 30 US colleges found that at least half reported infection spikes of 1,000 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people within the first two weeks of classes. Last month, Cornell University was forced to go remote after nearly 1,000 student infections occurred in just four days, despite more than 97 percent of the students being vaccinated. Far from opposing the return to campus drive by the governments and university managements, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) is joining other unions in appealing to employers to develop risk assessment and mitigation plans to justify this program. NTEU members received emails this week saying the union was part of an emergency national meeting of union leaders last week and we strongly support the outcomes of that meeting. That gathering, convened by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), had nothing to do with protecting the safety of workers. The unions will continue to help dragoon workers into workplaces, despite raging infections, as they have throughout the pandemic. The aim of the ACTU meeting was to put on a show of concern, cover up the culpability of the unions for workplace transmissions and prevent the eruption of action by workers outside the unions control. At the end of last year, the NTEU blocked all discussion on the unsafe COVID conditions at meetings it called to discuss new enterprise agreements with the employers, claiming the pandemic danger was not related to the bargaining talks. Now it is asking for consultations with management to draft risk assessments. These talks will seek to defuse anger over the unsafe conditions and deepen the collaboration between unions and highly-paid university executives. The only other NTEU requests are for N95 or equivalent masks and rapid antigen tests for employees who are required to work on campus and for buildings to be appropriately ventilated with occupancy limits. That language is deliberately vague. Rapid tests are unreliable, virtually impossible to obtain, and do not prevent infection in the first place. Such union calls for rapid tests dovetail with business demands for the use of such tests to get ill or isolating workers quickly back on the job. To forestall demands by university workers and students for action, the NTEU said: In the coming days we will be writing to each university calling on them to continue or immediately begin the consultation on appropriate Omicron risk plans that they are required by law to undertake. But many university managements have already reopened campuses and resumed face-to-face classes, or announced their intention to do so. That includes Victoria University, where summer courses are being conducted on-site, Monash University, the University of Melbourne, the University of NSW and the University of Queensland. At Western Sydney University, the management has told staff that it does not expect any significant changes to its return to campus plan for the start of the Autumn session, despite an increase in infections at the university. International students are being flown into the country, offered visa fee refunds and allowed to work full-time, with uncapped hours, in order to reactivate campuses, boost corporate revenue, shore up university finances and exploit them as cheap labour in industries such as aged care, fruit picking and hospitality. The NTEU will do everything it can to prevent industrial action that could halt these plans. To try to give itself some credibility in the eyes of workers, the ACTU last week said stoppages could occur, but only if businesses failed to provide risk statements. The NTEU avoided even making that token threat, despite walkouts being lawful on health and safety grounds under the anti-strike Fair Work laws drawn up by the unions and the last federal Labor government. The NTEU, like the other education unions, fears the development and spread of opposition among educators. This week, teachers in South Australia gave a lead. They voted by a two-thirds majority to strike against the planned resumption of in-person classes next week. But the Australian Education Union, well aware that teachers around the country are equally hostile to the unsafe return, is working to stop the strike from going ahead in collaboration with the state Liberal government. Members of the Committee for Public Education (CFPE) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), both initiated by the Socialist Equality Party, are urging all university workers and students to oppose any return to campus during the Omicron disaster and to fight for joint strikes and walkouts to force an immediate return to remote learning, in order to prevent mass COVID outbreaks. Staff and students should form rank-and-file committees, independent of the unions, and link up with the international movement that is emerging, including strikes, student walkouts and protests in France, Greece, Britain, Canada and the United States. Last week, University of Oregon graduate workers walked out to demand an immediate return to remote learning. Such a movement is needed to end the pandemic and save lives, fighting for a shutdown of non-essential production, with full compensation for workers, and online learning for the schools and universities. These policies have to be part of a broader struggle in Australia and internationally for the elimination of the virus and for a socialist perspective, aimed at reorganising society to meet the needs of working people, not the profit demands of the financial elite. Newly inaugurated governor Glenn Youngkin wasted no time in attacking Virginias schools and hospitals earlier this month when he signed a slate of executive orders that contradicted Virginia law on his first day in office. Youngkin has eliminated the last remaining employee, student and patient COVID-19 protections, while also making Virginia the latest Republican-led state to begin the process of banning divisive concepts in the classroom. New Virginia governor signs executive order to end mask mandate in schools (Steve Helber/AP) Executive Order 6 (EO6), which Youngkin says fulfills his promise to declare Virginia open for business, represents the thrust of the orders. Per the governors office, EO6 Reinvigorates Job Growth by Removing Burdensome Regulations from Virginias Business Community, a euphemistic way to introduce the removal of workplace safety mandates related to the pandemic. The order hinges on the unsubstantiated claim that present standards are not having a measurable impact on preventing the spread of COVID-19. EO6 directs the state health board to convene an emergency meeting to determine which protections can be slashed. Virginia being open for business, the governor argues, necessarily involves endangering the working class, and with all possible haste. Executive Order 2 (EO2), which effectively ends mask mandates in schools, takes this same logic into the classroom. Youngkin repeats the lie that Omicron is less severe in children and concludes that since the cloth masks worn by most children are ineffective, no masks whatsoever should be required. Youngkin also wants to stop life-saving distance learning procedures. In guidelines for his executive orders released on January 21, his office affirms, Schools must be open five days a week for in-person learning. EO2 has been challenged by multiple school districts and faces a lawsuit from Chesapeake teachers and parents, some of whom are immunocompromised. According to their attorney, the order clearly violates last years law SB1303 which prohibits any school from having fewer protection measures than Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidlines. Underscoring the fascistic character of Youngkins executive orders, the new governor intends to enforce his proposed bans on pandemic precautions and divisive concepts in classrooms through the formation of a tip line. He has invited parents to send their concerns about violationssuch as the continued enforcement of mask mandates or teaching historical subjects his administration considers inappropriate for studentsdirectly to a government email address set up by his administration. Youngkin says his administration will catalog it all. Youngkins orders fall on a Virginia still reeling from the homicidal pandemic policies pursued by the out-going administration of Democratic governor Ralph Northam. Parents report their districts have made no effort to keep them informed of in-school infections this school year. As one Norfolk parent put it to the World Socialist Web Site, Virginia Beach Public Schools didnt communicate much either, but at least they sent weekly updates. Since we switched to Norfolk, we havent heard anything at all. No families interviewed in the Hampton Roads area have been notified this year regarding the present infection crisis. Screening programs remain in development everywhere in the state. Meanwhile, districts in Hampton Roads have reported positivity rates over 50 percent, with many reporting rates above 40 percent every day for almost a month. At the beginning of the school year, districts received small numbers of BinaxNOW rapid tests for students to take home. After this initial test distribution, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has been unable to provide schools with a timetable for replenishment. Per local news station WVECs reporting, Portsmouth Public Schools (a district with over 13,000 students) stated they have received 1,584 tests for the entire 2021-22 school year. Nearby Suffolk schools received enough tests for about 5 percent of their students. Schools in Hampton Roads, which are displaying their test positivity, report infection rates above 30 percent, and most have reported these high levels since the beginning of the year. Another Norfolk Public School parent relates to the WSWS, I have a kindergartner in NPS. I kept her home the week after New Years because Omicron was raging in the city, with a 50 percent test positivity rate. I have my daughter back in now only because I dont want her to be disenrolled for missing more than seven days. The school has more positive cases for students and teachers every day. The parent went on to say, I am so worried about COVID that I take my daughter out for lunch in the parking lot daily so she doesnt have to sit in the cafeteria without a mask. Every day I see that cafeteria, I see a super-spreader event in real time. Eventually, every child in there will have COVID, every single one. The staff shortages are wreaking havoc wearing a mask means cloth or a surgical mask, i.e., something that does no good at all. The parents I know plan to demand a virtual option because this is dangerous and no one is learning a damned thing. An increasing number of families are recognizing claims that Omicron is mild and a path to herd immunity for the unscientific declarations they are. Regional pediatric systems like Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughters have been overwhelmed since the beginning of the year, as many parents found out on January 3 from a text message informing them that the areas pediatric emergency rooms and urgent care facilities were full. Health care workers are notoriously overworked, but Youngkin signed Executive Order 11 to give healthcare providers flexibility and support to battle staffing shortages caused by the COVID-19. Said flexibility refers to the freedom of workers to be subjected to increased exploitation. The order empowers the VDH to waive any state regulation and enter into contracts without regard to normal procedure, ostensibly in response to staffing shortages. Hospitals and nursing homes can add beds and disregard staffing ratios as the health department sees fit. The order eliminates the testing requirement for admission to nursing homes and exempts staff from requiring practice agreements to prescribe medication. Pharmacists can now be expected to supervise more technicians, and technicians engaged in Covid tasks no longer count toward this ratio, spreading them even thinner. The disastrous policies implemented by the Youngkin administration leave working families with an impossible choice: expose their children to rampant infection and lasting disability or lose their homes and livelihood to poverty in order to provide childcare. This dilemma is the outcome of deliberate policies designed to keep kids in school and parents at work, so that business can go on as usual, even as the pandemic rages on, killing an average of 2,500 people every day in the US. Workers have had two years to see their underpaid and deadly labor enrich the wealthiest members of society to record heights while simultaneously watching their own life expectancy decline as deaths mount ever higher. Only an elimination strategy led by the working class has any chance of protecting the population and ending the pandemic. While teacher-led strikes and student walkouts unfold across the US and internationally, the unions and the corporate press work to isolate and silence their struggle for online learning and safe working conditions. Workers must take their safety into their own hands. The World Socialist Web Site has been working with teachers around the world to establish Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees, where teachers and parents can join the fight to defend public education. The Southern Educators Rank-and-File Committee comprises an area from Texas to Virginia, and invites any interested teachers or parents from the area to contact the WSWS today. Weather Alert ...The Flood Warning is extended for the following rivers in Indiana... White River at Edwardsport. White River at Elliston. Wabash River at Montezuma. .Multiple rounds of rain over the last few days will lead to minor flooding along lower portions of the White River and upper portions on the Wabash River. Additional rainfall later this week should keep portions of the White and Wabash above flood stage through Saturday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/ind. This statement will be updated within the next 12 to 24 hours. && ...FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL MONDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Wabash River at Montezuma. * WHEN...Until Monday evening. * IMPACTS...At 18.0 feet, Montezuma agricultural levee is overtopped. Fourteen hundred acres of low bottomlands flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 10:45 AM EDT Wednesday the stage was 13.0 feet. - Forecast...The river will rise to 13.4 feet just after midnight tonight. It will then fall to 13.3 feet and begin rising again early tomorrow afternoon. It will rise above flood stage early Friday morning and continue to rise to 17.1 feet early Saturday afternoon. It will then fall below flood stage Monday morning. - Flood stage is 14.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && Schroeder named new state superintendent Following an order from a federal judge Thursday denying a motion for a preliminary injunction seeking to halt Gov. Mark Gordon's appointment of a new state superintendent of public instruction, the governor was free to name his choice for the position. Gordon announced Thursday afternoon that he'd appointed Brian Schroeder to replace former Superintendent Jillian Balow, who resigned earlier this month to take a similar position in Virginia. Schroeder has worked as a teacher and administrator in private schools in California, Wisconsin, Michigan and Wyoming, and as a family and youth counselor. He most recently served as Head of School at Veritas Academy, a private Christian school in Cody, according to a news release from the governor's office. Schroeder earned his bachelors degree from Maranatha Baptist University and holds a master's degree in professional counseling from Liberty University. I reviewed application materials and conducted interviews with all the candidates that came through the selection process, and after much prayer and careful consideration, I have determined that Brian Schroeder is best suited to fill the superintendent's position, Gordon said in the release. Brian demonstrated his commitment to ensuring that parents are intricately involved in their childrens education, just as it should be. I will work to ensure a smooth transition in leadership for the Wyoming Department of Education. I am honored and humbled beyond words at this incredible opportunity to serve the students, teachers and parents of Wyoming, Schroeder said in the release. Ill do my best to help strengthen education for the future of our state. Schroeder will serve as superintendent for the remainder of Balows term, which ends in January 2023. The state superintendent oversees K-12 education in the state as the director of the Wyoming Department of Education; makes rules and regulations; enforces the provisions of the Wyoming Education Code; prepares and maintains a list of accredited schools; gathers reports and statistics as required by law; inspects schools; and appoints members to the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board. As one of the state's top five elected officials, the state superintendent also serves on numerous boards and commissions, and is required to make a biennial report to the governor and Legislature. Amy Schneider won a hefty total on "Jeopardy!," but her run has ended. (Photo: Casey Durkin/Sony Pictures Television) Jeopardy! juggernaut Amy Schneider's 40-day run on the show, which ended Tuesday, gave her much more than the nearly $1.4 million she won there. It also helped give her self-acceptance. "A few months ago, deep down, I simply did not believe that I could ever really be accepted for who I was," the record-breaking contestant wrote in a piece for the Jeopardy! website. "That is, I had come to believe (not without some difficulty) that at least some people accepted me: my family, my girlfriend, my inner circle of friends. But I always believed that most people would see me as trans people have so often been seen: a freak, a pervert, a man in a dress, a liar, mentally ill." Schneider, who is transgender, said she had prepared herself for rejection when her episodes aired, but she was happily surprised that it never came. "Sure, there have been a few isolated voices trying to bring me down, but the overwhelming reaction has been of support and acceptance," Schneider wrote. "People actually believe me when I say who I am. They don't think there's something wrong with me. And because of that, for maybe the first time in my life, I'm starting to think there really isn't anything wrong with me either." She explained that, although she's more than her trans identity, that has been the "source of easily the biggest rewards I've gotten from this experience." And she thanked transgender women and men who helped make it possible for her to have it. "The acceptance I've received is the fruit of long, violent struggles some famous, some forgotten in which generations of trans people have risked their lives to secure their basic right to exist. Frances Thompson and Billy Tipton, Lili Elbe and Dora Richter, Sylvia Rivera and Felicia Elizondo, Laverne Cox and Gavin Grimm, and so many more who are lost to history, have devoted themselves to creating the conditions that exist today, where a trans Jeopardy! champion can be, for most people, uncritically accepted and celebrated as the person she is," Schneider reflected. "And the most rewarding thing I've gained from my Jeopardy! run is the ability to finally say that I, too, have helped that cause. I haven't thrown rocks at the police, or fought for my rights in the Supreme Court; all I've really done is chase a lifelong dream of appearing on Jeopardy!. But I knew that I was taking on a burden of representation, and I will always and forever be proud to say that I've done my little part to ease the path for future generations of trans people to live free, open, and happy lives, and that feeling is worth more to me than any financial gain could ever be." Still, she added, she's keeping the cash! She already knows just how she wants to spend it. "We're gonna go to Ireland and go on a little bit of a shopping spree, get some designer clothes, and things like that," she told Extra on Thursday. "For the most part, we're holding out for it to become a mortgage." If endless sequels, prequels, reboots, spin-offs, teamups, callbacks and shout-outs have put you off the idea of the shared cinematic universe, you havent been spending enough time in Karatas, world cinemas smallest, wildest, weirdest crossover microcosm. The fictional village in rural Kazakhstan, populated exclusively by the clueless, the cowardly, the comic and the corrupt has provided a stark, absurdist backdrop for most of prolific Kazakh director Adilkhan Yerzhanovs films, including his newest, the dark, funny, freaky Assault. It may not be the most essential Yerzhanov entry its not the darkest, funniest or freakiest but Assault is a droll refresher on his singular sensibilities, and his borderline miraculous ability to maintain a coherent tone while narrative logic and consistency are highly expendable commodities. Good taste, too, can be as casually tossed out as one of the stuttered insults that make up about 80 percent of the dialogue. Here, the plot revolves around a school hostage situation that directly nods to real-life horrors such as Beslan and Kazan. But it is set at such an ironic remove from real life (often literally, in vast, snowy wides that reduce people to slip-sliding outlines like in a particularly bleak Bruegel) as to make the potential tragedy entirely abstract. More from Variety Yerzhanov characters have a fundamental inability to not sweat the small stuff. In fact theyre always so busily sweating the small stuff, that the big stuff can stroll right past them, wearing ghoulish masks and brandishing assault weapons, and they wont notice. In this way, a small squad of gunmen infiltrate Karatas isolated secondary school one bone-chillingly icy morning, trooping past PE teacher Sopa (Berik Aitzhanov) and his slow-witted sidekick Turbo (Daniyar Alshinov), as Sopa shows off his inexpert nunchuck skills to some kids. Story continues The squad walks calmly by the school principal (Teoman Khos), berating the drunken watchman Dalbych (Yerken Gubashev), and files purposefully past music teacher Max (Nurlan Batyrov), arguing over an exposed pipe with homophobic caretaker Jamjysh (Nurbek Mukushev). And they glide unnoticed by the glass windows of a classroom; when math teacher Tazshy (Azamat Nigmanov) finally does look up, its to lock eyes with his estranged wife Lena (Aleksandra Revenko) who is here to take custody of their son Daniyal (Timur Muratov), a student in Tazshys class. Refusing her petition and locking Daniyal and the other kids in his classroom, Tazshy goes for an illicit smoke, which is when he hears gunfire, and makes a calamitously cowardly choice. He walks robotically out of the school and onto one of the waiting rescue buses, telling Sopa that he has got his students to safety when they, including his own child, are still locked in. Hours later, gathered with the other teachers some of whom are also parents in the office of the ineffectual police chief (Nurlan Smayilov), he finally confesses. Tazshy must spend the rest of the film atoning for his unforgivable inaction. The frozen mountain pass means a SWAT team will take days to arrive, so Tazshy, suggesting the kids are in more imminent danger than he can know (one of those narrative glitches that proves how little Yerzhanov really cares about tight plotting), recruits the other adults into a petty, bickering, motley crew. Together, they embark on a simultaneously complex and hare-brained scheme to rescue the children. Its as though Assault on Precinct 13 were remade as a snow western starring the chastened Dad from Force Majeure and a backing band of drunks and charlatans. The scenes of them staggering about the frigid wasteland on a scale-model plan of the school scraped into the snow have exactly the long-shot lunacy that suggests. But those scenes like all of Assault are also beautiful. Reteaming with his A Dark Dark Man and The Gentle Indifference of the World DP Aidar Sharipov, Yerzhanovs eye for inventive choreography and striking compositions has never been sharper. He has to be among the foremost practitioners of the deadpan-pan, the skewed symmetry, the dry-witted interruption. And his cinephilia, while not as front-and-center as in his tragicomic lovers-on-the-run pic Yellow Cat, is in evidence too, not just in the films referenced, but in the genre conventions subverted. One confessional moment, during which the Dean-Martin-in-Rio Bravo-esque drunkard Dalbych sobs out his backstory and the others refuse to do the same, feels like a direct lampooning of all those campfire chats in cowboy movies, when terse action men share nighttime confidences before the big showdown. But then, while some team members get a moment to shine, Assault does not really deal in comfy arcs of self-actualization. Despite its apparent poker-faced amorality, it is highly moral, and as an equal-opportunities expose of the hypocritical machismo of Kazakh society, its heart is as dark as its humor. Welcome to Karatas: you might get out alive, but you wont get out unscathed. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Blue Chips is a monthly rap column that highlights exceptional rising rappers. To read previous columns, click here. If you know Stockton, Californias high homicide rates and the gang activity, poverty, and institutional neglect that account for them, Louis Park seems located in a different zip code. The lush, green park is interspersed with towering trees, barbecue pits, picnic tables, handball courts, and baseball diamonds. Docks jut into the bordering San Joaquin River, where BounceBackMeek and his friends go boating during the summer, their most private conversations partly spoken in Khmer. For Meek, the 24-year-old grandson of Cambodian immigrants and one of the brightest talents in Stockton raps first golden age, Louis Park is a sanctuary. Thats a safe place for us. I can have fun and play basketball or handball, Meek says over the phone as he and his daughter wander through a Cambodian market in Stockton, her laughter sometimes audible in the background. I dont have to worry about anything but the police. The collective us includes members of the Louis Park neighborhoods Westside Bloods, the Cambodian gang to whom Meek has deep familial and communal ties. He chronicles the bonds, casualties, and incarcerations in naturalistic yet clever couplets and lean, catchy hooks on his debut album, this Januarys West Side Story (BounceBackBoiz /Thizzler On The Roof). Scored by instrumentals that split the difference between the rich Bay Area Mobb Music of old and the sparser beats of contemporary West Coast rap, Meeks tailored his grim slaps to rattle the rear views of cars that dont brake for red lights. The deep bass lines, ominous melodies, and door-slamming percussion aurally mirror lyrics that affirm any function could become a funeral. On songs like Lay Down, which now boasts over 1.5 million YouTube views, Meek sounds calm amidst the chaos, unsettlingly nonchalant about the prospect of retaliating to any threat. After watching family and friends get locked up, catching a case and serving time, surviving police raids and rap beef, and more, there might be little that fazes him. But hes keenly aware of the relationship between recorded and real-life violence. Story continues This shit was going on before the music. But the music does play a part now. People diss each other more, Meek says before acknowledging the emotional import of shared experience. It does bring more violence in a way, but it helps people get through shit. Between 1975 and 1979, his Cambodian grandparents were, to put it mildly, going through shit. Millions of their compatriots were tortured, executed, or worked to death by the Khmer Rouge and communist dictator Pol Pot. They fled the killing fields to a refugee camp in Thailand and had Meeks mother before arriving in the states and settling in Stockton, which currently has one of the highest Cambodian populations in the U.S. Initially, according to Meek, the Westside Bloods formed to protect themselves from racist attacks. Meeks father joined and was incarcerated for an attempted home invasion when Meek was an infant. Due to Californias draconian gang enhancement laws, Meek wouldnt see his father for over two decades. The oldest of four children, Meek watched his mother struggle to find work for the seven-odd years she lost and worked to regain her green card. As the family bounced between Texas and Stockton, Meek absorbed 2Pac classics alongside Mike Jones and Paul Wall hits. There was also Summer Hit from a group of Louis Park rappers a B-version of Dove Shacks Summertime in the LBC but Lil Waynes prolific late-aughts run inspired a young Meek to record freestyles on the family tape deck. Meek dropped out of high school during 10th grade, but he never abandoned rap. While hustling, he recorded promising early singles like 2017s Bando. That same year, just as his career bloomed, Meek was arrested for weapons and traffic charges and served six months before taking a plea deal and being released on probation. In the years after his release, following police raids on his friends residence, Meek left Louis Park and began recording in earnest once more. On 2020 singles Flash Out and Pinocchio, he fleshed out his sound and caught the attention of Thizzler on the Roof. An Oakland-based blog-turned-media company that covers and works with Bay Area and Central Valley rappers, Thizzlers aided the careers of other burgeoning Stockton artists like Acito and Young Slo-Be. Meek wants to win. Hes easy to work with because hes coachable, says Thizzlers operations manager, Tyrese Johnson. Today, Thizzler distributes Meeks music. He understands that he doesnt know everything but wants to learn and make the best decisions for himself and his career. Hes a hard worker and cares about his people. Caring about his people has, to a degree, hurt Meeks career. His Instagram photos with friends have been flagged for promoting gang violence, and hes rebuilt his social media following multiple times. He also still visits his old neighborhood, making him vulnerable to threats on his life from Westside Blood rivals. Im still in. Even if I leave, if they get me, theyre still going to think of me as a trophy, Meek explains. You can leave, but youre never 100% out. (Credit: Thizzler On The Roof) For the first time, though, Meek is all in on his career. With prison in the rear-view and Thizzler in his corner, he plans to release a project and several music videos every quarter. Hes doing it for himself and every Cambodian kid in Louis Park. We feel like we really got a chance out this motherfucker. Im the first one from the hood to ever touch a million views. It gives kids more hope. The post BounceBackMeeks West Side Story appeared first on SPIN. While people around the globe welcome the new year by counting down to midnight on December 31, members of Asian communities also celebrate new beginnings during Lunar New Year, which begins on February 1 in 2022. While Lunar New Year is commonly referred to as Chinese New Year, the holiday which spans the first 15 days of the first month of the lunar calendar is also celebrated across Asia and Southeast Asia in countries like Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, Tibet, Mongolia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Chinas Lunar New Year is known as the Spring Festival or Chunjie in Mandarin, while Korea calls it Seollal and Vietnam refers to it as Tet. Asian Americans in the U.S. celebrate Lunar New Year in their own ways, mixing traditions from the East and West to satisfy our unique cultural identities. While traveling and spending time with friends and family is at the heart of Lunar New Year, with the pandemic, many are celebrating with their loved ones virtually and navigating the time differences over FaceTime, KakaoTalk, WeChat and Zoom. Whether youre an immigrant, Asian American or an ally, take Lunar New Year as an opportunity to reaffirm your goals and recharge your hopeful energy for the coming year. After all, Lunar New Year is about starting on a clean slate, cleansing the negative and welcoming the positive, and setting intentions for a prosperous, lucky and fulfilling year and who doesnt need some extra positive vibes in this year of the Tiger? Photo credit: a.v.Photography - Getty Images What are the traditions of Lunar New Year? Each country and every individual celebrates Lunar New Year a little bit differently with distinctive traditions, foods and festivities, but here are a few you might experience. Cleaning house It makes sense to welcome in a new era with a cleanse, and those who celebrate Lunar New Year often prepare for the holiday by literally cleaning every corner of their house, or at least trying to. Dr. Jianguo Chen, an associate professor of Chinese at the University of Delaware, says, It is customary for people to completely clean their houses to get rid of bad fortune from the old year. In China, after cleaning, people decorate their houses with the color red in forms like festive scrolls, folk painting, paper-cuts, and lanterns. Bright red is the preeminent color of festivity, symbolic of good health and fortune, wealth, prosperity and longevity, he says. Story continues Offering greetings While we greet people in January with a basic Happy New Year in the U.S., various Asian countries have different sayings in their respective languages. In Korea, to honor elders, people say Saehae bok mani badeuseyo, which means, Please receive a lot of good fortune for the New Year. Chen says that in China, people greet each other with phrases like Gong xi fa cai in Mandarin and Gung hei faat coi in Cantonese, which mean Wishing you a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year. In Vietnam, people say, Chuc mung nam moi, which simply means Happy New Year in Vietnamese. Gathering with family Like any other major holiday, Lunar New Year is a time to be with your loved ones, and for many, it is the one time a year they travel back to see their families. Typically, on the first day of the festival, people would pay a visit to their elderly and respected by offering good wishes, says Chen. Travel guides often warn of congested streets and overbooked international flights during the period. Coming from different parts of the globe, several generations of family gather to eat the family reunion dinner, catch up, and reminisce during Lunar New Year. Giving and receiving red envelops Nothing signifies Lunar New Year more in pop culture than little red envelopes adorned in gold and stuffed with cash. During a visit to older relatives, people are usually gifted money in these red envelopes, known as Hon bao in China. In the Philippines, the red envelopes are called Ang Pao and Vietnam calls them Li xi, or lucky money. In Korea, however, money from the elders called sae bae don, translated as new years money, is usually given not in red but in white or patterned envelopes. Buying new clothes To refresh the wardrobe and prep to impress the grandparents, people who celebrate Lunar New Year will sometimes purchase and wear new traditional clothing. In Korea, people wear traditional garb called Hanbok for formal occasions and holidays, including Lunar New Year. Womens Hanbok consists of a long skirt and a short jacket in colorful patterns and lustrous materials. In China, women can wear Qipao or Cheongsam, a high-necked and often short-sleeved dress, for the holiday. Photo credit: Daniel Osterkamp - Getty Images Attending a lantern festival In China, Lunar New Year ends with the Lantern Festival, a celebration that includes folk dancing, traditional games, lantern parades, and dragon and lion dances. People also eat glutinous rice balls, called Yuanxiao or Tangyuan, which are sweet treats with various fillings like black sesame, peanuts, red bean, rose petals, and rock sugar. According to Chen, in China, the Lantern Festival is sometimes known as Chinas Valentines Day, where singles hope to meet their new flame. He says, Needless to say, setting off firecrackers is an important part of the Chinese New Year and also of the Lantern Festival. What foods are traditionally eaten for Lunar New Year? Holidays are about eating, and the Spring Festival [in China] is particularly so, says Chen. You might see: Dumplings While some associate moon cakes with Lunar New Year, the delicacy is actually used for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Dumplings, or Jiaozi in Mandarin, are a staple for Lunar New Year celebrations. Since the shape of Jiaozi looks like gold ingots used as currency in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), eating Jiaozi, so it was believed folklorically, would bring prosperity, says Chen. Some parents would even hide a big clean coin inside a Jiaozi for the lucky kid to find as a table game on Chinese New Years Eve. Photo credit: Twomeows_IS - Getty Images Rice Cake Soup For Seollal, Koreas Lunar New Year, Koreans eat Tteokguk, literally translated as rice cake soup. The savory soup is made with thin disk-shaped rice cakes that resemble coins, which symbolize prosperity. In Korea, they say you get one year older when you eat a bowl of rice cake soup. The dish, which is made with water, small chunks of beef, green onion, egg, and rice cakes, is predominantly white in color, which signifies purity and new beginnings. You Might Also Like Riotsville is a peculiar place a town meant to look like nowhere and everywhere at once. One-story buildings painted with loud reds, yellows and blues line the main street. The roads are virtually empty save a few individuals. Look closely and you can make out the shape of a person, armed and uniformed, perched atop one of the structures. Riotsville is not a real place. It is an invented town, a fictional locale constructed by the U.S. military. Why does a place like this exist? Its a question that Sierra Pettengills riveting documentary Riotsville, USA anticipates and answers with solemnity, conviction and precision. The impressive essay film, composed entirely of archival material from the late 1960s and footage created by the military, is a sobering look at a distressing reality. The militarization of the American police force, which every few years becomes the topic of mainstream news coverage, has been a steady work in progress, initiated decades ago. More from The Hollywood Reporter Riotsville begins with a tour of these military-constructed locales. The well-preserved footage shows supermarket advertisements, a city hall, a main street with shops, a person riding a motor scooter toward the edge of the frame and another, barely distinguishable, atop a building aiming his gun at an unknown target. The eerie tour is made more sinister and uncanny by Jace Claytons spare score. The story of these model towns begins in the 1960s when, according to a poetic script penned by the writer Tobi Haslett and narrated by the actress Charlene Modeste, Americans in a hundred cities took to the streets in protest of racist and inhumane conditions. Nothing that big or bright or sudden had ever happened and in so many American cities, the narrator says. Nothing so fierce or hard to grasp. The riots blew the roof off daily life. The effect of this mass mobilization galvanized the people and scared those in charge. From that fear emerged a backlash and a steady stream of funds to police departments around the country. Story continues Pettengill, whose last film, The Reagan Show, used archival footage to examine Ronald Reagans presidency, is skilled at building stories through the archive. That gift is on full display in Riotsville, which weaves together broadcast programs, archival images and occasional on-screen text to contextualize why and how the U.S. military set up these towns around the country. These visuals also serve as an uncanny parallel to present-day United States; astute viewers will connect the dots between then and now, and recognize the ways in which conversations around racism in the U.S. have been overcomplicated and manipulated to further militarize city police forces. After the riots came a committee. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson created the Kerner Commission and tasked the 11-member group, composed of political moderates, to investigate what prompted the nationwide demonstrations. The results were published a year later and sold for $1.25 evidence that the state is never beyond selling you anything, including confirmation of your own instincts and experience. The commissions report painted a pointillist picture of social collapse, Riotsville notes, and urged the government to take immediate action. They offered solutions: One would require the United States government to spend money on social programs; the other more of an aside, really advised them to fund methods that would control future demonstrations. You can guess which option was implemented. The early part of Riotsville establishes this information in a methodical but engaging way. The archival footage, coupled with the screenplay, clearly articulates the choices presented to the U.S. government and the course of action they chose instead. It is a damning portrait of the state, which simply refused to spend the money needed to tackle the root of the problem. It is also a rebuttal to those who insist on the impracticality of making the U.S. more equitable. After all, the government funneled money into building model towns where police officers could train. Its there that they learned the aggressive and dangerous tactics regularly deployed against future generations of protesters. Pettengill, with the help of editor Nels Bangerter, spends the rest of the documentary using the archives to tell two interconnected stories: one of the Riotsville trainings and the other of Americas willful ignorance of how it treats Black people. Riotsville ends on an echo, a scenario that mirrors our present, and a reminder that the past is never as distant as we are led to believe. All elements of this arresting documentary work together to push an urgent thesis: What we are attuned to hearing, to seeing and to thinking about the U.S. and what the country can and cannot afford to do is by design. Its better to realize that now before its too late. Click here to read the full article. Jurong Bird Park Jurong Bird Park Marcus Tan secures the bird in his arms while waiting for it to recover from anesthesia A changeable hawk-eagle in Singapore recently underwent a remarkable procedure to install "feather implants" into its wings after losing its ability to fly. The injured bird was brought to Jurong Bird Park's avian hospital on Jan. 8 with burnt feathers on both of its wings and its tail, leaving it incapable of flying, according to a news release from Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which manages the bird park. "To help speed up the bird's release into the wild, Jurong Bird Park's veterinary team used bamboo chopsticks to reattach over 50 new donor feathers" to the bird, which was otherwise in "good health," according to a video detailing the procedure posted to the Mandai Wildlife Reserve's Facebook page. An individual on Jurong Island reported the injured bird. The National Parks Board responded to the report, rescued the hawk-eagle, and brought the creature to the bird park for care, per Thursday's news release from Mandai Wildlife Reserve. RELATED: Bindi and Terri Irwin Say the Australia Zoo Animals Run to See Baby Grace: 'Steve All Over' On Jan. 20, the bird's damaged feathers "were successfully" replaced. The next day, National Parks released the bird, who used its repaired wings shortly after returning to the wild. "Each feather had to be meticulously trimmed, measured, and arranged to ensure the aerodynamics of the bird's flight," the Mandai Wildlife Reserve said in their video about the injured hawk-eagle. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Jurong Bird Park Jurong Bird Park Dr Ellen Rasidi tests the fit of one of the donors secondary feathers In the news release, Dr. Ellen Rasidi, a veterinarian at Jurong Bird Park, compared the procedure to humans getting hair extensions. The difference, she said, is the level of care that goes into affixing the feathers to the wing. Story continues RELATED: The World's Oldest Living Aquarium Fish Is a Californian Who Loves Belly Rubs Named Methuselah "Each feather is shaped differently, and fixing them in incorrect angles may affect the aerodynamics of the bird's flight," said Rasidi. "Feathers are not only essential for a bird to fly but also help regulate their body temperature, act as camouflage and protect them from water." She added, "Without sufficient feather coverage, this bird would not have been safe to be released into the wild despite its otherwise good health." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday. Jurong Bird Parks avian hospital Jurong Bird Park Jurong Bird Parks avian hospital When it's time for birds like the one rescued in Singapore to molt, their new feathers naturally push out the existing implanted feathers. "The process is painless for the bird as feathers are made of keratin, the same material as human hair and nails," the reserve said. RELATED: World's Oldest Male Gorilla Dies at 61 in Atlanta Zoo: 'This Is a Devastating Loss' "While birds will naturally grow new feathers through their molting cycle, it could take up to 12 months for the eagle to fully regrow its feathers and be able to fly again," the Mandai Wildlife Reserve noted in their release. A real-time satellite tracking device, which can relay information about the bird's location to a central database, was attached to the bird's tail before it was released into the wild. As of Wednesday, the hawk-eagle had flown about six miles from its release site. Antonio Rodriguez rolls his sleeve up before getting his COVID-19 booster from medical assistant Jessica Lopez during a clinic at Promise Arizona's office in Phoenix. Cases from the omicron coronavirus variant are falling in much of the nation, but the massive wave of infections continues to drive up U.S. death tolls from COVID-19, as hospitals nationwide are once again straining to keep up. Since mid-November, seven-day rolling averages for new daily COVID-19 deaths nationwide have been rising. That figure hit 2,267 on Thursday, surpassing September's peak of 2,100, when delta was the dominant variant. While omicron symptoms tend to be milder than previous variants, its high transmissibility has caused more people to become infected and die of the virus. Experts have emphasized that omicron can still be deadly, especially for those who are unvaccinated. In February, three military medical teams will be dispatched to support overwhelmed Oklahoma City hospitals, where COVID-19 hospitalizations this week hit an all-time high. Amid worsening staff shortages, the city's four major health systems have said they have no open intensive care unit beds left. Understaffed hospitals in Brevard County in Florida are also struggling against caseloads, despite drops in infections. And in Tennessee's Knox County, hospitalizations, deaths and case counts all shattered records in the past week with the county reporting almost 15,000 active cases this week, topping all previous surges. Hospital administrators said Knoxville region facilities are under "unprecedented strain" in a joint statement Wednesday. "Our emergency departments are overflowing with these cases and other medical emergencies, leading to longer-than-usual wait times as we work to deliver care to all who are counting on us," the statement said. Also in the news: Canadian songstress Joni Mitchell said she's pulling her music from Spotify in solidarity with Neil Young, who wrote an open letter this week demanding his songs be removed from the platform due to its spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. One million at-home COVID-19 testing kits will hit liquor stores across New Hampshire in the next two weeks, Gov. Chris Sununu said. "In addition to tax-free liquor and lottery tickets, youll be able to grab a tax-free test!" he said on Twitter. Story continues Pope Francis on Friday denounced COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation, calling it a spreading "infodemic," at a meeting with Catholic journalists who are part of a fact-checking network. Utah Sen. Mitt Romney tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, according to a statement from his office. He is asymptomatic and has been fully vaccinated and boosted, the statement said. At the Beijing Winter Olympics, 36 Games-related personnel have been infected with COVID-19 as daily COVID-19 infections jump to 19 on Friday among athletes and team officials, Reuters reported. San Francisco will allow vaccinated office workers, gym members, and other "stable cohorts" of people to stop wearing masks indoors on Feb. 1. Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 74 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 883,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 371 million cases and over 5.6 million deaths. More than 211 million Americans 63.7% are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What we're reading: The Biden administrations mandate that began Jan. 15 calls for those with private health insurance to get a monthly allotment of free tests. Yet health experts say the ambitious federal plan to quickly extend home testing will be challenging because of the nations fragmented health care system. Keep refreshing this page for the latest news. Want more? Sign up for USA TODAY's free Coronavirus Watch newsletter to receive updates directly to your inbox and join our Facebook group. Center for COVID Control shuts down Chicago headquarters amid FBI investigation A nationwide chain with hundreds of coronavirus testing sites is encouraging site operators to break off from Center for COVID Control management as the business suspends operations "indefinitely" and questions emerge about two other labs in the Chicago area. Center for Covid Control founders Aleya Siyaj and Akbar Syed this week "encouraged the independent operators" of more than 300 of its affiliated collection sites to seek "affiliations with other vendors" and with a certified lab, a spokesperson said. The corporate name shutdown and the branching off leaves open the possibility that the company, under investigation by the FBI after, may not be truly going away. The more than 300 testing sites formerly managed through CCC may begin working with other vendors and labs. The news comes as Center for COVID Control and its primary lab, Doctors Clinical Lab, are under investigation by state and federal officials. The company and lab "provide inaccurate and deceptive" test results, fraudulently reported negative results and "represented to the federal government" that people with private or public insurance were actually uninsured, the Minnesota Attorney General's Office alleged in a complaint. Grace Hauck Suburban Seattle bar faces backlash over discounted tickets for people with COVID-19 A pirate-themed bar in the Seattle suburb of Lynwood faced a social media firestorm after advertising a show with discounted ticket prices for people infected with COVID-19. Come see the show, maybe catch the virus or just stay home and whine, Vessel Taphouse posted to Facebook last Friday, according to the Daily Herald. Tickets 10 bucks or 6 with proof of Omicron positive test!! The event, called the "I'm too sick to attend" show, led four employees to quit and three bands refuse to play at another show that weekend, the bar's owner Steve Hartley told the newspaper. Vaccinated parents give COVID protection to unvaccinated children, study finds A new study out of Israel found that unvaccinated children may get indirect protection from COVID-19 through their vaccinated parents. Researchers studied households made up of two parents and unvaccinated children, estimating the effect of parental vaccination on unvaccinated childrens risk of catching COVID-19. The research was conducted during two periods in 2021, corresponding with the alpha and delta variant waves. The study found that, regardless of household size, having one vaccinated parent decreased the risk of an unvaccinated child catching COVID-19 by 23.4% on average. Two vaccinated parents decreased the risk by an average of 64.9%, although the risk only decreased by 58.1% during the delta wave, compared to 71.7% during the alpha wave. 60M households have ordered at-home tests from federal government Sixty million households have ordered free COVID-19 tests from the federal government since the Biden administration launched COVIDtests.gov last week, White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday. The website is part of the administrations effort to make 1 billion rapid tests available as the highly contagious omicron variant continues to surge around the country. Americans are allowed to request four tests per household, which are supposed to be mailed by the Postal Service within seven to 12 days of ordering. Tens of millions of tests have been shipped, Jean-Pierre said. Many have already arrived. Among Americans who tried to get an at-home test over the past month, 6 in 10 said one was difficult to find, according to a survey released Thursday by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health research organization. Four in ten blamed President Joe Biden and test manufacturers for the limited availability. Slightly more said the Food and Drug Administration deserves at least a fair amount of blame. The Jan. 11-23 survey was still being conducted when Biden announced mid-month that free tests would be coming. Maureen Groppe Health and Human Services is failing on crises, watchdog says The government's main health agency is failing to meet its responsibilities for leading the national response to public health emergencies including the coronavirus pandemic, extreme weather disasters and even potential bioterrorist attacks, a federal watchdog said Thursday. The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office said it is designating the Health and Human Services Department's leadership and coordination of public health emergencies as a high risk area for the government signaling to Congress that lawmakers need to pay special attention to the agencys operations. Long-standing persistent deficiencies at HHS have hindered the nations response to the current COVID-19 pandemic and a variety of past threats, the GAO said in its report. The shortfalls include managing the medical supply chain, coordinating with federal and state agencies and providing clear and consistent communication to the public and the health care community, the GAO said. The Associated Press FDA pulled monoclonal antibodies authorization because they were 'doing nothing' against omicron The Food and Drug Administration pulled its authorization of two of the most used monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19 this week, leaving doctors with fewer options to help their patients avoid the hospital. Why did the FDA shut them down? Because the two, from drugmakers Regeneron and Eli Lilly, don't work against the omicron variant that now causes more than 99% of coronavirus infections in the United States. "All the data show that these older antibodies are ineffective against omicron," said Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. It was clear that for patients with omicron infections the monoclonals were "doing nothing," said Dr. Eric Topol, founder and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California. "There's overpowering data (that these) monoclonals are unable to bind to omicron," he added. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY Contributing: The Associated Press; Dana Branham, the Oklahoman; Amira Sweilem, Florida Today; Vincent Gabrielle, Knoxville News Sentinel This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID deaths pass delta's peak; hospitals strained: Updates A Delta plane grounded due to snow Courtesy of Delta Air Lines The Northeast is expected to get walloped by a winter storm this weekend a prediction that has already started disrupting travel throughout the region and is The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings for New York City and much of the surrounding area as well as blizzard warnings for the Boston area. So far on Friday, more than 100 flights heading to LaGuardia Airport in New York had been canceled, according to FlightAware. Additionally, another 84 flights heading to Boston Logan International Airport were canceled along with more than 50 flights each heading to both Newark Liberty International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport. For Saturday, more than 230 flights scheduled to take off from Boston have been canceled along with 125 flights originally expected to take off from LaGuardia, 113 flights scheduled to leave Newark, and 111 flights scheduled to leave JFK. Several airlines have already issued travel waivers ahead of the storm, including Delta Air Lines, which is waiving the fare difference from Jan. 28 to Jan. 29. Additionally, American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and Spirit Airlines have all issued similar waivers for travel to and from the East Coast. In total, Boston could see 18 to more than 24 inches of snow from Saturday into early Sunday, the NWS tweeted. Wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph are also a threat, with possible gusts rising to 70 mph along coastal Massachusetts. In New York City, snow accumulation could reach 5 to 10 inches with up to 1 inch falling every hour possible. And on Long Island, snow accumulation of 10 to 16 inches is forecast, according to the NWS. "A strong storm system will bring moderate to heavy snowfall and strong winds to much of the area tonight through Saturday," the NWS in New York wrote in an advisory on Friday morning. Low pressure will allow the winter storm to become a "bomb cyclone," according to The Weather Channel, a term used to describe a "low-pressure system associated with fronts with a central pressure that plunges at least 24 millibars in 24 hours or less." Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram. Denying Boris Johnson's role in evacuation of animals from Kabul was 'inaccurate', says Foreign Office mandarin A diplomat told MPs that Boris Johnson had not intervened to evacuate Pen Farthing's rescue animals. Emails show otherwise, forcing Sir Philip Barton to apologise for 'inadvertently inaccurate answers'. Chris Bryant said it is 'difficult to have confidence that we are getting full answers'. The top mandarin at the Foreign Office has admitted that MPs were given "inadvertently inaccurate answers" suggesting Boris Johnson had not had any involvement in the evacuation of rescue animals from Kabul. Sir Philip Barton, the head of the Diplomatic Service, has apologised to the Foreign Affairs Committee after Nigel Casey, head of the Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran directorate, had denied receiving any correspondence suggesting the prime minister had authorised the evacuation. In a committee hearing on Tuesday, Casey told MPs: "I checked all my emails on the subject and I couldn't find any which referred to any prime ministerial intervention on the subject of Nowzad. If you have something that shows otherwise, I'd be very interested to see it." But just a day later, the committee published emails from civil servants referring to the prime minister personally authorising the evacuation of animals at the Nowzad shelter, run by Pen Farthing. The email, which was sent by an official in Foreign Office minister Zac Goldsmith's office to the FCDO's "special cases" desk, read: "Nowzad, run by an ex-Royal Marine, has received a lot of publicity and the PM has just authorised their staff and animals to be evacuated." Downing Street continue to deny Johnson had any involvement. A No 10 spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister had no role in authorising individual evacuations from Afghanistan during Op PITTING, including Nowzad staff and animals. "At no point did the Prime Minister instruct staff to take any particular course of action on Nowzad." In a letter dated 27 January, Barton wrote to Tom Tugendhat, chair of the committee, "to apologise for the inadvertently inaccurate answers given to these questions". Story continues He added: "On the day the email was sent, Nigel was almost entirely focused, in his role as Gold in our crisis response, on the terrorist threat to the evacuation, which led to our changing our Travel Advice that evening to warn British nationals to move away from the airport. "As Nigel said to the Committee on 25 January, he has no recollection of having seen emails in which staff attributed this decision to the Prime Minister. Nor do I." However, in a statement issued alongside this letter, a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee said it raised further questions. Chris Bryant, who is also chairman of the Commons' Standards Committee, said: "The disaster of our withdrawal from Afghanistan requires the highest level of scrutiny. Parliament can only do this if there is transparency from Government. "Since we published internal Foreign Office emails earlier this week, further emails have come to light that make it difficult to have confidence that we are getting full answers from the department." Prior to Casey's appearance in front of the committee, Barton reiterated in a letter to Tugendhat on January 17 that he had no reason to believe there was support from the prime minister or No 10 about the Nowzad evacuation, and that Casey had not received any correspondence. Read the original article on Business Insider As harsh winter weather hits across the U.S., many of us find ourselves heading to our nearest Lowe's location, whether in search of products to keep the heat in or ways to spruce up our home while we're stuck inside. There are nearly 2,000 Lowe's stores scattered across the country where shoppers can find an assortment of items for the home, appliances, and tools. But your shopping options could be even more expansive in the near future. Lowe's just announced that it's looking to make one major change in stores, starting in February. Read on to find out how the retailer might look different in the coming months. RELATED: The One Thing You Should Never Buy at Lowe's, Shopping Experts Warn. Lowe's is adding Petco shops to stores in February. Lowe's is getting ready to expand its offerings for shoppers. The home improvement retailer just announced that it is teaming up with renowned pet company Petco. According to a Jan. 27 statement from Lowe's, the two retailers will be introducing a "store-in-store program" that will bring some of Petco's products and services into Lowe's locations. The first of these stores is expected to open in early February at the Lowe's in Alamo Ranch, Texas. The program will be expanding to more stores soon after. Lowe's shoppers in Alamo Ranch are not the only ones who will get to experience the new Petco locations. According to the retailer, this is still a pilot program, so only select locations will be getting the upgrade for now. But there are already plans to expand the initial program to 14 additional Lowe's locations by the end of March 2022some in Texas and some in two other states, North Carolina and South Carolina. It has not yet been announced which stores in these states will be getting a Petco add-on. "For many of our customers, their pets and their homes top the list of things that matter most, especially after two years spent mostly together within the same four walls," Bill Boltz, Lowe's executive vice president of merchandising, said in a statement. "This partnership enhances the total home solution we offer them by bringing home improvement and pet care products, services and expertise together under one roof." Story continues RELATED: For more retail news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. The new Lowe's + Petco locations will undergo a number of changes. According to Lowe's, the new Lowe's + Petco locations will offer a "curated assortment" of products already sold at Petco stores, which will include some of the pet company's brands such as WholeHearted, EveryYay, Youly, Leaps&Bounds, and So Phresh, as well as other popular national brands. Shoppers will be able to purchase these products in store, but they will also be available online for those who can access pick up services at the pilot locations. There are hundreds of Petco products expected to become available at these stores, according to USA Today, but the new program won't stop at its item offerings. These combined locations are also planning to offer a limited selection of Petco's pet services, "including Vetco vaccination clinics, microchipping, prescription pest prevention, and mobile grooming" during select times. "To better serve those looking for expertise in both the home and pet space, pilot locations will staff knowledgeable Petco partners (employees) during peak hours to offer pet-focused guidance alongside Lowe's associates' advice on home improvement projects," Lowe's added in its announcement. Millions of people in the U.S. have brought pets into their home during the pandemic. Lowe's and Petco's partnership was created to provide convenience amid a growing rate of pet ownership in the country, officials for both companies told USA Today. They said that more than 11 million new pets have been brought into U.S. homes over the past two years. Nick Konat, Petco's chief merchandising officer, told the news outlet that it is clear that pets have been a source of joy and comfort for many during the pandemic. A survey conducted by Lowe's found that 67 percent of respondents have found their greatest comfort in pets recently. "And at the same time, people are spending more time in their homes, investing to make their homes better places to live and better places for their pets to live in as well," Konat added. Marisa Thalberg, Lowe's executive vice president, chief brand and market officer, told USA Today that around 60 percent of people the company talked to "indicated they'd be more likely to shop at a home improvement retailer if they could also purchase all their pet needs in the same place." RELATED: Home Depot, Lowe's, and Other Retailers Are Pulling This Product from Stores. Photo credit: photographs by Joe Matty / getty images Caer Maiko Ferguson and Sharon Yeung, two bartending friends in Austin, threw a Lunar New Year party in 2019 with a goal of super Asian cocktails at their pop-up, Daijoubu. They served a banchan martini with MSG tincture and lemongrass shochu , a baijiu -and-sherry cocktail with fish sauce caramel, shots of a sake cocktail served in miniature Yakult bottles, and a frozen drink with rum , Darjeeling tea liquor, condensed milk, Adzuki beans, and Asian cookies. For starters. We wanted to create a space not based in speakeasy history, which is a very white American story, says Ferguson over the phone from Austin as she preps for this years Lunar New Year. She is working on including a boba tea with bergamot liqueur-infused tapioca bubbles, her joy palpable: Ive never felt more like I was being myself. Daijoubu has big plans for the February 1 occasion, and it is not alone. All three bars at Las Vegass Venetian Resort are debuting specialty Lunar New Year cocktails. At Bar Chinois, in Washington, D.C., the Lunar New Year cocktail lineup includes a baijiu lavender gin fizz garnished with a hongbao (the holidays traditional red envelope). At Singapura, a Singapore-inspired bar in New York, its a baijiu cocktail with pineapple wedges. And at Viridian, in Oakland, a 60-foot silk dragon will hover over customers scotch drinks pierced with pandan-saffron soda. Photo credit: Courtesy Acknowledging that Lunar New Year is celebrated broadly (Imlek in Indonesia, Seollal in South Korea, Tet in Vietnam, a multicultural festival in Singapore, etc.) these Lunar New Year-specific cocktail programs are the newest vanguard of a recentand growingrenaissance among Asian-American bartenders nationwide. The trend reflects the global reality of cocktail culture, in which Asia was the most-represented continent among the Worlds 50 Best Bars of 2021 holding 18 slots, six of which were in Singapore alone (compared to just three New York outposts, one of which was a Japanese bar ). Even Eurocentric spirits are now anchored in Asia; The Philippines, for example, is the worlds largest per-capita consumer of gin. Cocktails are Asia-centric now, which has massive implications for the $86 million U.S. cocktail market given its booming 23-million-strong Asian-American population. California is home to the worlds largest diasporas from Cambodia, South Korea, Laos, The Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Thailand (including the worlds first Thai Town, in Los Angeles). Thats not including the massive nationwide Chinese and Indian diasporas. Story continues The word renaissance is a good one, says Jack Tchen, a historian with expertise in anti-racism, because, if you think of the Harlem Renaissance, it wasnt just people trying to make money. Langston Hughes was not trying to make money. It was something far more meaningful. He was trying to create a new culture. He took the past seriously, history seriously, heritage seriously, but also the creativity of the moment, the community of the moment, and the future of that community seriously. Thats where American vibrancy becomes American potency. And thats whats going on now with these Asian-American mixologists. Nancy Yao Maasbach, president of the Museum of Chinese in America, agrees: Now I get disappointed when I go in Asian restaurants and they havent gotten wind of it, yknow? Its almost a mark that its a very traditional place that doesnt know about the trend. The shift is cultural and even economic, but also personal, as a new wave of Asian Americans come of age. Yeung encapsulates many Asian-American bartenders motivation: My parents immigrated here and its the story you know: We came here with nothing and we want to raise you to be Americanized because thatll be a better life for you, with less struggle. So for me, a lot of wanting to do this is to reach back into my heritage because I lost some of it being raised to be more American than I wanted. I didnt want to lose as much Asian-ness as I did. So now Im yearning for it constantly. This is who I am: take it or leave it. Even seeing other Asian bartenders doing something similar, its empowering like, wow, this can actually be a thing. We dont have to be afraid of who we are. Photo credit: Courtesy But Asian-American bartenders are leaning into their American-ness, toonot just their Asian-nesswith the gusto of their cheffing counterparts , and bringing the rest of the drinking population with them. This Asian-American renaissance, then, is not just about the next generation, but rather the next iteration. If BTS or Simu Liu or Kumail Nanjiani can change what a sex symbol can be, why cant these bartenders change what a cocktail can be? Take the shot of rye with pho aromatics and hot pho broth at Pho Bac in Seattle. Or the coconut and chili oil swirling inside Fish Cheeks rummy Thank You Kha in New York. Or Prubechus Guamanian skewer of pickled bittermelon, turmeric daikon, rakkyo, and more in its jalapeno-and-wasabi sake-driven Bloody Mary with a kimchi rim in San Francisco. Hell, in New York, Undercotes Purrrfect cocktail blends plum sake with catnip-infused vodka. Its not that these voices are just emerging now, says Ravi Kapur , owner at Good Good Culture Club, the newest extension of Liholiho Yacht Clubs heritage-driven menu in San Francisco. The broader, dominant culture is now open to hearing the stories and the voices. The ripple effect is subtle but strong. Take Starbucks, which has casually mainstreamed chai, dragonfruit, matcha, and now boba (which it calls coffee popping pearls ). The timing is perfect. Photo credit: Courtesy This living out loud as Asian Americans really grew up alongside the pandemic, says Jeff Yang, a co-author of Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now. Its a reaction , not just to the rise of violence, but also to slurs and the casual racism of the early pandemic, especially in restaurants and bars simply because food and drinks have been an interesting communications medium for cultural defiance over the decades. Its easier to communicate a message over a drink instead of a book or a movie. Jenn Saesue, a co-owner at Fish Cheeks who has overseen its cocktail program, says of the pandemic: It gives us more time to be with the community. Ive met more of my peers during the pandemic than I ever have before. There's another silver lining to the Covid-19 era, thanks to all those mostly-white bartenders who got through lockdown by teaching online mixology classes. If everyone can make a negroni at home now, it pushes the evolution of excitement about what going out can deliver, says Ran Duan , a nationally recognized bartender in Boston. It needs to go above and beyond with ingredients, flavor profiles, garnishes, presentation, everything, the total experience. Asian food has already infiltrated every restaurant. Look at Sriracha , lemongrass, Sichuan peppercorn, ponzu, sesame, tofu. Its mainstream in a way that people are starting to crave the flavor profile that, sorry, margaritas and martinis just dont have. That creativity is spilling over into true inventiveness thanks to the unprecedented presence of distinctly Asian booze. Two Vietnamese refugees in their fifties, Sui Dinh and Tien Ngo, for example, opened SuTi Craft Distillery in suburban Dallas in late 2020 as the only U.S. producer of ruou e, a Vietnamese moonshine. We have a mission now, says Ngo. Dinh explains: Connecting Vietnamese people to something theyve only heard of from their parents or grandparents. Theyre aiming for nationwide distribution this year (as is a Filipino companys debut of the worlds first ube cream liqueur). Although supply chain chaos has compelled Saesue to substitute Sailor Jerry spiced rum for Fish Cheeks mekhong cocktail, she proudly serves ya dong, an herbal alcoholic concoction from rural Thailand similar to Dominican mamajuana. Ya dong is old-school, she says, from older generations, rural, not upscale or trendybut we think its very cool because its often homemade and everyone has their own recipe. To me, thats culture with respect. Often, much of this nationwide inventiveness is equal parts courage in highlighting what Asian Americans take for granted. Its not about twists on classics, says Katie Rue, owner of Reception, a soju bar in New York. Its about a whole new showcase: chrysanthemum, bergamot, lotus, Korean pear, Korean green plum, bokbunja, yumberry. People come and drink and now know what yuja honey is and how its different from yuzu. It teaches without hitting you over the head. We dont have a huge exclamation point after every drink. Photo credit: Courtesy Ricky Agustin, a bartender in Seattle who steered his past as a Starbucks barista into mixology, has a pop sensibility about it: Its a really cool thing when culture bounces around across people and oceans. Look at rock n' roll: It bounces back and forth over the Atlantic and gets cooler every fucking time. Its the same with cocktail culture across the Pacific. Of course, trending or mainstreaming marginalized culture is not without controversy or complexity. Tchen, for his part, counters with academic sobriety: Theres some audacity here because Asian Americans are now seen broadly as cool for their new sensations, new sounds, new looks, new tastesbut the reason theyre new is because they have been historically excluded from mainstream culture. Even well-intended descriptors like authentic navigate a difficult path of assumptions, expectations, and stereotypes, as Dean Moskones, a co-owner at Bar Chinois, notes. How are you going to tell me that I, as a Filipino American, am appropriating or misappropriating Filipino culture when the country used to be an American colony ? he asks. We are the definition of conquered people trying to find our way to fit in. Let us be. We eat with a fork and spoon. We have the Latin alphabet. We crave Spam . Whats enough? Just let us be. Intersecting all these topics is a debate about what exactly is meant by calling something or someone Asian in 21st-century America. The busiest bartender in San Francisco, Christian Suzuki-Orellana, for example, is Japanese and also Salvadoran. Raj Shukla, a bartender in Indiana who found a national spotlight for a turmeric cocktail inspired by his grandfather, a Hindu priest, is Indian and Dutch. Kapur is Chinese, Indian, and Native Hawaiian. Ferguson is Japanese and Irisha heritage that was literally the stuff of 90s science fiction . If I make a kung pao chicken-inspired cocktail, thats very interesting, says Don Lee , Americas bar mentor of the year in 2020. Is it Asian? Is it Asian because Im Asian and I did it? Is it Asian because people think its Asian? Its certainly not Asian in the sense that it comes from Asia. Then you take it to Asia and its weird there. Its American. Theres a double not-fitting-in were fighting. Lee was an early voice of this renaissance, making his mark at Momofuku as the liquid equivalent to David Chang . I did a lot of Asian-themed drinks when I worked at Momofuku because people thought it was an Asian restaurant and thats what they wanted. People who knew would drink wine. Most people drank sake, he says. So I invented the Seven Spice Sour and its still the best-selling drink there. I made a kimchi Bloody Mary for brunch. It wasnt necessarily smart or about identity. It was the market. When Applebees has a margarita special on Cinco de Mayo , we dont blink an eye. So the mainstream question is: when will it not seem weird if they do a Lunar New Year thing? Tim Ma, a D.C. chef who co-created Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate , tilts optimist on these questions. Our generation is leaning more towards celebration thats not in banquet halls with Chinese people but in bars with everyone. Its becoming a little more Cinco de Mayo, a little less Asian ancestry, he says. As a touchpoint for non-Asians to dive into the culture, thats a good thing. Photo credit: Courtesy But not everyone is so upbeat. Its lonely, says Shukla. We dont have the Aziz Ansari or the Mindy Kaling of mixology yet. But hopefully soon. Our moment has been coming and maybe its here now. He flags a particularly personal frustration: that punch, a basic cocktail category, is ignored as an Indian creation (it derived its name from paanch, the Hindi word for five, for its five core ingredients: booze, citrus, sugar, tea, and water). There are so many Americans who care about Asian food but not the people or the culture behind it. It diminishes who we are as people, says Suzuki-Orellana. So hopefully with cocktails we can expand that conversation, or restart it reboot it and rewrite it, really. Weve been secondary and tokenized for a long time. But now is our time to stand up and be vocal. To get there, Lunar New Year will need creativity and inventiveness from white America, too. The track record there is unsurprisingly unflattering. Many white residents who at other times united in saying 'the Chinese must go' find it convenient to invade Chinatown during the holidays and freely partake of Celestial hospitality, wrote The San Francisco Call about 1892s Lunar New Year , also flagging how much Chinese booze was being imported for the festival. Some go further than this and try to carry off everything that is not nailed down." In fairness, it was a time before mocktails . You Might Also Like The mother of a 6-year-old North Chicago boy whose body was found in Gary, Ind. is accused in connection with his suspicious death while the boys brother was charged with allegedly hurting him, hiding the body and misleading authorities, officials said Saturday evening. Jannie M. Perry, 38, was charged with first-degree murder, concealment of a homicidal death, and obstructing justice in the death of Damari Perry, 6, whose body was found early Saturday in an abandoned house in the 700 block of Van Buren Street in Gary, Ind., according to a statement from the Illinois states attorneys office in Lake County. Damaris brother, Jeremiah R. Perry, 20, was charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm to a child younger than 12, concealing a homicidal death and obstructing justice, the statement said. Damari was reported missing Wednesday by his mother and a sibling, and the family at first told police he might be in Skokie, which turned out to be a completely false story, contradicted by evidence and resulting in the obstructing justice charges, according to the statement. Investigators then quickly turned their focus to the boys home in North Chicago and the three relatives were arrested Friday night, officials said. Mother and son initially were expected to appear in Lake County bond court Sunday for a hearing, but officials later said Jannie Perry had been pulled from the days docket for reasons that were not immediately clear. Another of Damaris siblings, a juvenile, who allegedly was responsible for his death, faces charges in Lake Countys Juvenile Court in Waukegan. Prosecutors suggested additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues. Our hearts ache over the murder of 6-year-old Damari Perry, Lake County States Attorney Eric Rinehart said in the statement. We would not have reached the awful truth of this case without the work of the FBI, the North Chicago Police Department and the investigators and staff at the Lake County Childrens Advocacy Center. Story continues Prosecutors, investigators and victim support professionals worked late into the night and into the early morning to make sure we understood this tragic crime now, because of their rigorous and detailed investigation, we will be able to bring Damaris killers to justice in a courtroom, Rinehart said in the statement. All other children in the familys home were placed in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, according to the statement. There was no threat to the general public, according to an earlier statement. Its not clear immediately how Damari died, and his autopsy is slated for Monday in Indiana. rsobol@chicagotribune.com Mayoral candidates Frank Urbanic, left, Carol Hefner and Jimmy Lawson speak during a debate in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt faces three challengers in the Feb. 8 election. Oklahoman reporter Hogan Gore joins The Source podcast this week to talk about the mayor and candidates Carol Hefner, Jimmy Lawson and Frank Urbanic. Gore reported on the race this week after the three challengers went on stage to debate, an event the mayor did not attend. A big topic of discussion was homelessness in the city, along with the MAPS program. More coverage: The Source is a podcast exploring current events in Oklahoma, as told by reporters and editors from The Oklahoman. Hosted by Nuria Martinez-Keel and Dale Denwalt. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: The Source Podcast: OKC mayoral candidates debate city issues Victoria Torres Garcia listened as two women spoke to her in a private room about the risks of seeking an abortion. They gave her pamphlets and prenatal pills, claiming that ending her pregnancy with medication would prevent her from conceiving again. But the college student, then 21, knew what they were saying was bogus. Garcia had already been pregnant once before and had gotten a medication abortion. Here she was, pregnant again, her own proof that what they were telling her wasnt true. At the time, she had no way of knowing that she had made an appointment at a crisis pregnancy center (CPC), an organization with the primary mission of turning people away from choosing abortion. (Proabortion rights advocates may use the term CPC, whereas anti-abortion advocates typically call these sites as pregnancy care centers.) These centers promise free services, including pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, in addition to social resources and products, like baby supplies, typically for low-income people. CPCs provide essentials for pregnant people who may not be able to afford help anywhere else, but research shows these facilities typically only give out supplies and support to those who attend their programming, such as counseling sessions, and are thereby plugged into the global anti-abortion movements sophisticated digital infrastructure, according to a new study of CPCs in nine states by the Alliance. But advocates are concerned that amid heightened state-level threats to abortion access, CPCs are poised to be enforcement sites of anti-abortion laws like SB 8 in Texas, in which any public citizen can report an alleged violation of the six-week abortion ban. And while anti-abortion groups argue these centers provide crisis intervention, the coalition in support of abortion rights says the existence of these facilities is a crisis in and of itself. CPCs are visually difficult to distinguish from other reproductive care facilities because they are often branded with similar names and signage as local abortion clinics, according to the study. They also often have a clinic-like waiting room that makes patients feel as though they are at a medical provider and use similar language that abortion clinics use on their websites. This effectively confuses people who are seeking medical care: 10% of CPCs in the Alliances study operated mobile units near abortion clinics to divert patients. Story continues And because so much personal information is gleaned from patients, researchers say these sites are becoming dangerous repositories that can be weaponized in states that have become increasingly hostile to abortion rights. Because CPCs are a global network theyre actually poised to become the surveillance mechanism to enforce these unconstitutional laws, said Erin Maye Quade, advocacy director at Gender Justice, a Minnesota-based organization thats part of the Alliance, a coalition of state and regional law and policy members that advocates for reproductive justice. Through deceptive and coercive tactics, CPCs dispense medical misinformation and misleadingly present themselves as local support facilities for pregnant people and parents, Maye Quade said. With CPCs outnumbering abortion clinics by a national average of three to one, reproductive justice advocates say the likelihood that someone like Garcia inadvertently ends up at one is high. I think people just dont realize that CPCs are as extensive as they are, that theyre state-funded and theyre causing as much harm as they are, Maye Quade said. The Alliance found that CPCs intrude on patients privacy, deliberately gathering data on their reproductive, medical, sexual health histories that could later be used to criminalize them. These facilities also provide little to no actual medical care and disperse falsehoods that abortion causes infertility or depressive post abortion regret, among other claims, the report found. Roland Warren, president and CEO of Care Net, one of the nations largest pregnancy center networks, told BuzzFeed News that about 60% of its more than 1,100 affiliates are licensed to offer medical services, including consultation with a licensed medical professional, limited diagnostic ultrasound for confirmation of a viable pregnancy, and testing for sexually transmitted infections and diseases. Medical services are provided in accordance with all applicable laws, and in accordance with pertinent medical standards, under the supervision and direction of a licensed physician, Warren said in an email. The Christian network has saved more than 823,000 babies from abortion since 2008, according to Care Nets website, equips people to save babies from abortion, and works to train churches in providing anti-abortion ministry. The primary mission of the pregnancy center is to share the compassion, hope, and help of Jesus Christ both in word and deed with those facing pregnancy decisions, Care Nets Standards of Affiliation webpage states. People like Garcia inadvertently find CPCs because these networks invest in search engine advertising to effectively target those searching for abortion care, and people are often led there regardless of their search engine or query keyword, the Alliance found. Care Net countered the claims that it uses misleading advertising: Care Net-affiliated pregnancy centers are trained to use advertising strategies with Federal Trade Commission standards that are truthful and not misleading according, for example, to the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. 45. For Garcia, Google suggested Aid for Women, a CPC near her Illinois college that had free, same-day appointments for uninsured people like her. At the time, she didnt know an actual abortion clinic called Womens Aid Center was just a 15-minute drive away from that facility. (BuzzFeed News has reached out to Aid for Women for comment.) Her plan was to seek an abortion if a pregnancy were confirmed. As a first-generation college student and a child of a single mother who raised five children, Garcia knew she wanted to finish her bachelors degree and build a life for herself. (Now 24, she owns a house, has a full-time job, and works with Illinois-based abortion funds.) Even though she knew the choice she wanted to make, Garcia said she would go on to experience an aggressive anti-abortion environment at the CPC. After walking through hallways lined with baby supplies, the staffers gave her a urine test and confirmed she was about three weeks pregnant. They overwhelmed her upon delivering her results, she said, telling her shed love being a mom and that adoption was a better option than abortion. The language they used was very manipulative, she said. I didn't know the language they used was something that CPCs end up using in their tactics. At this time, I was just like, I have options. Abortion is an option. According to Garcia, the staffers told her they could provide a procedure known as abortion pill reversal if she ended up getting a medication abortion and changing her mind. But Maye Quade said this nonscientific procedure is the most dangerous thing CPCs advertise, the idea that taking the hormone progesterone can undo a medication abortion (a two-pill protocol that ends a pregnancy). Its not a process. It doesnt exist, the lead author of a stalled abortion pill reversal study, Mitch Creinin, an OB-GYN at the University of California, Davis, told BuzzFeed News. The trial included 40 people who each took the abortion pill mifepristone. Then they were given either a placebo or progesterone. After three participants began to hemorrhage severely, Creinin stopped the study. Youre really under the impression theyre there to help, Garcia said. But theyre not. They dont give you all your options. I did not feel listened to at all. I felt that I was being talked down to. But CPCs outnumber abortion clinics nationwide, the study found, with higher disparities wherever theyre state-funded. Maye Quade said that in Minnesota, the difference translates to eight clinics that provide abortion care versus 90 CPCs across the state. CPCs obtain taxpayer money in at least 29 states, according to the study, and at least 14 of those states have alternatives to abortion (A2A) programs that operate with public funding, according to the Alliance study. States allocate a combination of general revenue and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding (a federal program aimed to help families with low incomes) toward their A2A programs. Nearly half of the CPCs in the Alliances study were affiliated with a CPC umbrella organizations like Care Net or Real Alternatives. Funding for these umbrella organizations vary widely. In some cases, state government contracts with CPC umbrella organizations, but in other cases, the umbrella networks have no say over whether its affiliate pregnancy centers apply for or receive government funding. Pennsylvania was the first state to legislate federal and state funding for its A2A program. The state contracts with a CPC network called Real Alternatives, which in turn subcontracts 27 service providers that have 80 centers across the state, Brandon Cwalina, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, told BuzzFeed News. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, Real Alternatives said its mission is to provide enough social support for pregnant people that having another child isnt a burden abortion doesnt have to be a consideration. The program is prohibited by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from promoting abortion, referring a person for an abortion, or counseling a person to have an abortion. Real Alternatives also said that Pennsylvanias programs provide social not medical services, and they have served 335,000 people in the last 25 years. If necessary, the organization will make referrals to medical providers. The value of these organizations is derived from the fact that they provide unique crisis intervention counseling and mentoring services that most medical providers do not provide to women experiencing an Unexpected Pregnancy, the organization said. Pennsylvanias A2A program has received more than $100 million since the 1990s in state funding, according to the Alliance. The state provided $6.26 million for the A2A program in the 20212022 fiscal year alone. Alternatives to abortion programs have ballooned over recent years into these multimillion-dollar enterprises that are funded in some cases almost exclusively with tax dollars, said Molly Bangs, director of Equity Forward, which researches the web of actors directing money between states and CPC networks. She added its egregious that federal money from TANF, a government-funded social safety net, is being used to support anti-abortion organizations. Theres a lack of transparency among these government subcontractors, she added, making it especially difficult for taxpayers to trace whether their money is potentially going toward anti-abortion efforts. She said the balance sheets for privately funded CPCs are even more difficult to track; since they are often not nonprofit organizations, they do not disclose their donations. Other abortion battleground states are funneling millions of taxpayer dollars to CPC networks, and the amount is swelling each year. In Minnesota, annual funding of $3.3 million for a five-year period was awarded in 2021 to 27 sites operated by the states A2A program, Positive Alternatives. Texas has budgeted more than $100 million over the next two years. Fewer than 10% of Care Netaffiliated centers received any type of state or federal funding in 2018, according to the network. Care Net also says it provided more than $62 million in free services in 2018, about $40 million of which was spent on health services. You have these abortion bans, and everyone is talking about them, and CPCs are doing quiet damage on a local level, traumatizing individuals in our neighborhoods, and we dont hear about it, said Crystal Grabowski, a Pennsylvania-based abortion care worker. And not everyone has a negative experience in these centers. Care Net reported that 97% of clients indicated positive outcomes in an exit survey in 2015. And research has found that many people who went to the centers had already determined they would not have an abortion if they were pregnant. Rather than looking for options, they needed social support, one study found. [The CPC] helped us make a hospital appointment, sign up for Medicaid, and even helped us through the process of telling our parents. In addition, Miguels counselor was really mentoring him and helping him prepare to become a dad, while my counselor was helping me prepare for motherhood, Care Net clients Jeanette and Miguel said, according to a testimony provided to BuzzFeed News by the network. These centers do fill a gap in many communities across the nation where pregnant people with low incomes struggle to access baby supplies, professional services, and emotional support. But while the centers are successful at meeting these needs, support comes with strings attached. The Alliance found that 88% of CPCs in the study promised an earn to learn campaign. These programs target low-income pregnant people and parents who are required to attend Bible studies, counseling, and other faith-based sessions to simply access diapers. And an anti-abortion tone can make patients feel their other health needs are being ignored. This was the experience of Nicolee when she went to Care Net Pregnancy Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Nicolee, who declined to use her full name to protect her privacy, lost her left fallopian tube due to an irregular pregnancy in July 2020. When she suspected she was pregnant again in April 2021, she wanted a medical provider to confirm it and run an ultrasound right away to ensure her remaining tube would be safe. Like Garcia, the college student, Nicolee observed there were few other patients in the building, which was located next to her local Planned Parenthood. Its common for CPCs to be across from or bear similar names to actual abortion clinics, Grabowski said, and they work hand in hand with anti-abortion protesters who attempt to divert patients away from clinics. Nicolee told BuzzFeed News she was taken to an examination room and introduced to a volunteer. Intake paperwork asked her if she wanted to view an abortion video. She declined. She wasnt necessarily seeking an abortion, she just wanted to confirm if she was pregnant and learn what her next steps would be to protect her right fallopian tube. She said she was seated by the window while a CPC staffer sat in front of the door. There was a television and a table with anti-abortion pamphlets. A nurse then left Nicolee alone in the room while the volunteer questioned why she didnt want to watch the video. Nicolee said the volunteer repeatedly said it was Gods plan that she had had an ectopic pregnancy (when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus). Bringing this up triggered her trauma from this experience. The questions continued: Was she married? Were her parents married? Did she have a job? Then she was told the sites ultrasound technician wasnt available that day, despite Nicolee having called ahead to confirm shed be able to visit with one. Instead, a staffer told her there wouldn't be an opening for three more weeks. Clients always receive honest and open answers, is the third tenet of Care Nets Commitment of Care & Competence. The sixth commitment reads: Clients receive accurate information about pregnancy, fetal development, lifestyle issues, and related concerns. According to the Alliance, putting off an ultrasound is part of a strategy to delay a patient from accessing abortion care. A lot of times, people who are coming from a CPC are really frustrated and have had a lot of their time wasted, Grabowski said. People knew they wanted to have an abortion and had weeks of their time wasted and are getting a longer or more expensive procedure, or are no longer eligible for medication abortion. The CPC might advise someone to have multiple redundant ultrasounds or fail to offer immediate appointment times, as Nicolee experienced. They feel stupid in a time when they should be feeling supported and empowered, Grabowski said. Ill have people who call in, they wanted an abortion when they were four weeks pregnant, and they spent a month communicating back and forth with the CPC and then they come to me, and theyve wasted an entire month. The Alliance report also found that CPCs target pregnant people of color, who are disproportionately likely to have higher maternal mortality and morbidity rates, according to the CDC. CPCs blackwash their websites and publish information in multiple languages to appeal to communities of color, Maye Quade said, adding that 25% of people served at CPCs in Minnesota were Black. These are the people who need early prenatal services, she said. Getting a lecture about not having an abortion when what you need is blood work and prenatal vitamins. That is real harm on the people who are eventually delivering babies. Nicolee hopes to have kids eventually, so she wanted to make sure her remaining fallopian tube was safe. Instead, she said, the volunteer gave her a handbook about the light of God. Then an older woman came in the room and joined the nurse and volunteer as they began praying over her, Nicolee said. I felt like I was getting initiated into a cult, she said. She left and sobbed in her car. After her experience at the CPC, Nicolee went back to her research. She found Southwestern Womens Options, also in Albuquerque, and made an appointment for the next day, when she learned the embryo was traveling beyond her uterus into her remaining fallopian tube. She had to terminate the pregnancy. If she had waited three weeks to get an ultrasound, as the CPC had tried, she could have lost her right tube and the ability to ever have children. She added that if she had been younger, she could have felt guilty for considering abortion. She understands how someone could be scared to speak up, she said, especially if they are a victim or experiencing a crisis. And rather than find answers from the CPC, she said, You blame yourself. Jan. 31, 2022, at 17:38 PM Other stories Republican Josh Mandel, left, and Democrat Morgan Harper, both running for the U.S. Senate in Ohio, debated Thursday night in Columbus. (Photo: Jay LaPrete/Associated Press) COLUMBUS, Ohio Morgan Harper said she couldnt get her main opponent in Ohios Democratic Senate primary to debate her, so she opted for the furthest thing from him a candidate on the other side of the aisle. Way on the other side. Harper, a progressive underdog, debated far-right Republican Josh Mandel, the presumed front-runner in Ohios GOP primary, in an Ohio church on Thursday night. It went as well as you might expect. Mandel, 44, repeatedly said the Democratic Party condescends to people of color like Harper, and he insisted the reason her opponent wouldnt debate her is because she isnt a white male. Mandel also predicted he would set records for winning Black votes in Ohios Senate race. Harper, 38, shot back: What we dont need to happen is have Josh Mandel talk for the Black community. At one point, Mandel called Harper a looney Nancy Pelosi for advocating for all this green energy when Harper pledged to support renewable energy to help mitigate climate change. In the evenings most bizarre exchange, Mandel insisted there is no separation between church and state in the United States the literal First Amendment of the Constitution. Im pro-God, pro-gun, pro-Trump, and I will fight in Washington with the Constitution in one hand and the Bible in the other.GOP Senate candidate Josh Mandel I do not believe in separation of church and state. Theres no such thing. The founders of this county, the Founding Fathers, they did not believe in the separation of church and state. When you read the United States Constitution, nowhere do you read about the separation of church and state. It does not exist, he said, followed by an audible gasp from the audience. Naturally, Harper and Mandel couldnt be further apart on just about everything. Josh Mandel is the swamp.Democratic Senate candidate Morgan Harper I am scared as a woman, as a Black person, as a daughter who has a mother who lives off of a monthly pension, of getting this guy anywhere near a seat of power in the United States Senate, Harper said. Story continues Harper is a staunch progressive who challenged now-Congressional Black Caucus chair Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) in a 2020 primary. She ran then with the backing of Justice Democrats, the group that helped democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez knock off a New York City incumbent to win her congressional seat. Mandel, a former state treasurer, has veered hard right in the primary, trafficking in election conspiracies and racist rhetoric to appeal to the Trump base and Trump himself for a potential endorsement. Mandel has done much of his campaigning in evangelical churches. Im pro-God, pro-gun, pro-Trump, and I will fight in Washington with the Constitution in one hand and the Bible in the other, Mandel said. Ryans campaign said it would debate Harper at some point, but right now its more focused on meeting voters. It doesnt matter whether Josh Mandel is standing in a cornfield calling for an armed insurrection or showing his out-of-touch, anti-worker agenda on the debate stage; hes wrong for Ohio and doesnt belong anywhere near the U.S. Senate, Ryans spokesperson Izzi Levy said. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Jeff Spicer/Getty Images In casting news that almost makes too much sense, Jason Momoa may be joining Vin Diesel in the next Fast & Furious flick. The Aquaman star is reportedly in the final stages of negotiations to join the action franchises 10th installment, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The films working title is, appropriately, Fast & Furious 10, with Justin Lin (Fast & Furious, Fast & Furious 6, F9: The Fast Saga) returning to direct. Fast & Furious 10 will begin filming this spring and is slated to premiere on May 19, 2023. Franchise alums Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, and Sung King are set to return for blockbuster No. 10, and THR reports that Charlize Theron is expected to reprise her villainous role from F9. Dwayne Johnson Calls Vin Diesels Olive Branch an Example of His Manipulation While plot details are being kept under wraps, Momoa is rumored to play a villain in the new filma fun departure for the actor who, with the exception of his brusque Game of Thrones character Khal Drogo, tends to play good guys. His casting may also be an effort to fill the vacancy left by fellow muscly man Dwayne Johnsons exit from the franchise. In spite of Diesels odd Instagram guilt-trip attempt to convince Johnson to return for the 10th installmentin which he implored his former co-star to rise to the occasion and fulfill [his] destinyJohnson has been steadfast in his decision to leave the F&F universe. Momoa may be able to bring the necessary muscle and star power to the new movie. Hes flexed his capacity for franchise work with his aforementioned GOT role, as well as Warner Bros. Aquaman. And most recently, he appeared as the fierce hero Duncan Idaho in part one of Denis Villeneuves sci-fi epic, Dune. 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. SKAL INTERNATIONAL INSTALLS USA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Skal International, the most trusted voice in the Travel & Tourism Industry is poised to do whatever they can to help the industry get back on its feet. Skal is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry around the world. Skal's motto of "doing business amongst friends" has never been more important than it is today. Richard Scinta, 2022 Skall International USA President Newly elected officers and leadership team for 2022 were inducted in a ceremony in North Little Rock, Arkansas as part of that Club's 50th Anniversary celebration Officers consist of Richard Scinta, President, Skal Orlando; Holly Powers, International Skal Councilor, Skal Boston; Arthur Allis, Vice President Finance, Skal Tucson; Karen Trevino, Vice President Membership, Skal Arkansas; Pam Davis, Vice President Public Relations and Communications, Skal Hawaii; Alton Hagen, Vice President Administration, Skal Kansas City; Mark Irgang, Director of Membership, Skal Long Island; Robert Lowell, Senior Auditor, Skal New Jersey and Steven Rodriguez, Internal Auditor, Skal Tampa Bay. 2022 Skal USA President Richard Scinta is looking forward to a successful year in 2022 after our friends and colleagues in the travel industry have been affected so much. "We need everyone from ALL clubs to be involved in our success and communication is the key to that," he says. Scinta urges any member "to reach out with any questions or concerns so that we can help you through any issues you have retaining current members. Scinta also says he is also looking forward to working with newly elected Skal International President Burcin Turkkan from Skal Atlanta and her Skal International Team. "We are such good colleagues and friends and that is what Skal is all about! We will work with Burcin and her team to ensure a cohesive and thought-out plan for our organization moving forward. Creating more relevancy and strategic membership growth is a key to our success and we've heard that from many of our clubs! I know it is on Burcin's list and it will certainly be on mine as well. Whatever actions we take must have those two priorities in mind - Strategic Growth of Membership and Relevancy of our brand to the industry." Story continues 2022 President Richard Scinta joined Skal Orlando, one of the largest Skal clubs in the world, in 2009 and has served on the Executive Committee for the past 4 years. He has grown to embrace and appreciate Skal's mission of developing and enhancing a responsible tourism industry through networking with many of the strongest leaders in the industry. His experience as the Vice President of Club and Association Governance for Wyndham Destinations, where he is responsible for over for over 225 associations and relationships for over 900 board members will be a tremendous asset as he guides the 45 Skal clubs across the United States through another challenging year, as the industry continues to rebuild from the damages the pandemic has brought. 2022 will continue to bring its share of challenges as the travel industry tries to recover from the past year and the Skal USA Executive Committee is ready to do their part. To learn more about Skal International USA, head to their website at http://skalusa.org. Skal International is the world's largest global network of Tourism Professionals promoting Tourism, Business, and Friendship worldwide since 1934. Its members are Directors and Executives of the Tourism sector who relate to each other to address issues of common interest, improving a business network, and promoting destinations. Skal International has over 13,000 members in 345 clubs in 100 countries around the world. Skal International USA is currently the largest National Committee in Skal International with over 1,800 members and 45 clubs nationwide. For more information about Skal International and membership, please visit SkalUSA.org. Contact: Pam Davis, (808-225-8229), info@skalusa.org SkalUSA.org (PRNewsfoto/Skal International USA) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/skal-international-usa-inducts-2022-officers-301470385.html SOURCE Skal International USA VTC Academy Hoang Viet Tung (Left), Chairman of VTC Academy and Hoang Viet Tan (Right), CEO of VTC Academy. Photo by VTC Academy Hoang Viet Tung (Left), Chairman of VTC Academy and Hoang Viet Tan (Right), CEO of VTC Academy. Photo by VTC Academy HANOI, Vietnam, Jan. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VTC Information Technology and Design Academy (VTC Academy) has announced its business performance for three years after securing funding of 3 million USD from Vietnam Investment Group (VIG). In addition, VTC Academy revealed that it plans to raise 20 million USD for its next 5-year development plan. During the previous three years, VTC Academy has received full support from VIG for the establishment of three branches in the two most dynamic cities in Vietnam, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. VTC Academy has mainly focused on building a high-quality professional team that develops various academic programs according to the strictest recruiting standards. Therefore, those professionals play a critical role in R&D and are one of the key pillars at VTC Academy. In addition, a large international education partner network has differentiated VTC Academy from other institutions in Vietnam, resulting in its superior academic standards and the reputation. Furthermore, the academy has equipped a range of modern learning facilities and resources for excellent support for all students here. For the last two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has exerted an adverse impact on most of the service companies and educational organizations in Vietnam, several of them even had to shut down or go bankrupt. VTC Academy, on the other hand, has proved its agility, adaptability, flexibility, and capacity by consistently coming up with innovative solutions that have resulted in revenue and enrollment growth of up to 200% each year over the previous 3 years. Furthermore, the digital education ecosystem that VTC Academy has been developing will create a game-changing shift to optimize business performance and cost-efficiency. This ecosystem allows VTC Academy to automate workflows in marketing communication, admission, academic management, real-time portfolio updates, and other areas. As a result, engagement between VTC Academy and students, as well as between businesses and students, have been substantially enhanced throughout the learning process. Story continues Over a decade of development, VTC Academy has successfully developed more than 10,000 students who are currently working at leading organizations in Programming, Full-stack development, Game development, 3D Design and E-commerce such as: Shopify, Sparx*, Viettel, VNG, Gameloft, Shopee,... VTC Academy always guarantees employment upon graduation for 100% of students. Mr. Hoang Viet Tan CEO at VTC Academy shared: Vietnam has been experiencing an explosion in demand for human resources in Tech, Design and Digital Marketing sectors. The Covid-19 pandemic has become one of a crucial driving force, stimulating the growth of technology-based human resources across Asia and around the world, including Vietnam. Despite having a unique mindset and eagerness to adopt new technology trends, Vietnamese youngsters need to be equipped with adequate knowledge and competency, sharpen their creativity, learn how to apply the technology to meet the increasing demands of the domestic and regional market. Mr. Hoang Viet Tung Chairman at VTC Academy said: According to the next 5-year business plan, with a targeted fund of 20 million USD, VTC Academy plans to provide high-quality educational opportunities for all students across the country by developing the digital academic ecosystem and expanding new branches. Our major goal is to develop a student-centered academic ecosystem that includes an online career orientation library 4.0, an E-learning platform, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system, and a centralized data platform to engage students throughout the learning process, as well as a recruitment platform that connects enterprises and high-quality human resources in Vietnam. Ms. Le Thi Khanh An - Education Investment Director at VIG shared her thoughts about VTC Academy: VTC Academy has achieved rapid progress and earned the trust of VIG as a result of dominant core values such as a dedicated and experienced leadership board, a clear long-term vision, and a coherent development strategy. About VTC Academy: VTC Information Technology and Design Academy (VTC Academy), founded in 2010, is a pioneer in providing a digital education environment based on worldwide standards in Information Technology (IT), Design, and Digital Marketing in Vietnam. VTC Academy focuses on developing high-quality Vietnamese human resources that meet the recruitment needs of both the local and global workforces to become a Top Asian Education Organization in IT, Design, and Digital Business Administration in the next 10 years. About Vietnam Investment Group (VIG) Vietnam Investments Group (VIG) is a private equity firm founded in 2006, focusing on investing in high growth and influential businesses in Vietnam. Currently, VIG is managing 3 funds with the capital of 500 million USD. The investment portfolio of VIG consists of top Technology Groups and Education organizations such as Seedcom, Teko, ELSA Speak, VTC Academy, Galaxy, Wellspring School System, Sylvan Learning Vietnam, Online Management Training (OMT)... Press contact information: Thao, Mach Phuong thaomp@vtc.edu.vn https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e04f1a96-0ea2-4aaa-b5b6-614f8aef1016 You are the owner of this article. A Toppenish man working to restore the Beverly railroad bridge near Vantage died Tuesday afternoon after falling about 70 feet to an island be In 1995, when Ryan Busse began working for a tiny gun company called Kimber America, he believed that the gun industry and the NRA embodied wholesome values. Those were still the days of magazine covers featuring the warmth of father-son hunting trips, he writes in his new book, Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America. Busse, who moved to Montana in 1996 to become Kimbers vice president of sales, believed Kimbers guns were for self-defense, hunting and target shooting. From the mid-1990s until his resignation in 2020, he helped develop the company and often met with gun lobby leaders. But during this time, he gradually saw the gun industry abandon its traditional norms of safety, instead spreading fear and conspiracy theories to sell military-style assault weapons designed to kill many people quickly. Busses book is the story of a man who refused to change his values as the NRA and much of his industry, blinded by profits, became a dangerous extremist force. While working in the industry, Busse admits, he did things he regrets. In 2000, for example, he helped the gun industry boycott gunmaker Smith & Wesson when its CEO Ed Shultz agreed with the Clinton administration to put trigger locks on all of its guns, develop guns that only authorized users could fire and take steps to prevent the companys dealers from selling guns illegally. These common-sense steps enraged the gun lobby. Busse and other gun executives told their dealers to stop selling Smith & Wesson guns. The companys sales plummeted, and Shultz was forced to resign. These events are recounted in a 2012 report by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence titled Smoking Guns: Exposing the Gun Industrys Complicity in the Illegal Gun Market. After 9/11 and Bushs war on Iraq, the gun industry increased its emphasis on selling military-style assault weapons. The NRAs leader, Wayne LaPierre, and others spread fear of minorities and anti-government conspiracy theories to sell more of them. In 2007, in his column on the Outdoor Life magazine website, Jim Zumbo, wrote that assault rifles have no place in hunting. For that he was roundly criticized and quickly fired, even though he immediately apologized. Until then, says Busse, reasonable, experienced, and morally conscious people had moderated the industry. No longer. The new profits were too great. The conflict between Busses values and his job as a gun exec grew more intense. He came to question Republicans who proclaimed support for hunting while pursuing policies that were toxic to the environment. The Trump administration, he writes, wrecked multistate bipartisan wildlife-conservation projects and rolled back clean-water protections that had benefited wildlife across the nation. Finally, in August 2020, Busse resigned from Kimber and became an environmental activist. In a speech at the Montana State Capitol, he warned that the gun industry had built and fueled the same politics that eventually threatened the wild place where he hunted an area so beautiful it felt sacred to him. In his book, Busse makes a strong case that Trumps surprising political success happened largely because he adopted the NRAs messaging and tactics. He writes: The self-absorbed real estate tycoon embraced the same hatred of the media, the same criticism of the cultural elites, the same overriding belief that only power mattered and the same innate sense that promulgating fear was the most efficient way to reinforce all of it. Today Busse advises progressive organizations with the aim of undoing the countrys dangerous radicalization. Better than selling guns in an industry much of which has no principles except to make money. To the editor -- A contradiction or not? A Jan. 20 story in the Yakima Herald-Republic cites "a group of Latino voters from the Yakima Valley suing the state of Washington alleging violations of the Federal Voting Rights Act with an intentional dilution of Hispanic voters' influence in new political maps." District 15, including parts of Yakima, Grant, Benton, Franklin and Adams counties in the plan, has a Latino voter population of 50.2% and overall minority of 55.05%. The lawsuit seeks to keep the state from conducting elections in the new District 15 and at the same time create majority Latino districts in the Yakima Valley. The extension added rural white communities in three counties with their voters more active than Latino voters, according to the suit. There's a number of other Native American and Latino equations in the suit, including a concern that District 15 leans Republican in voter IDS. The paper's factual extrapolating detail is admirable, but leaves the reader with the begging question, if we're all legally voting citizens, what difference does the race-matter matter -- IF we're all Americans -- unless race is being used as a gerrymandering tool? And that could be a bit of politics-by-racism. You think, possibly? ROBERT CUMMINGS Yakima GREEN BAY, Wis. - Frederick K. Geissler, 76, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022 in Green Bay. He was born Nov. 11, 1945, in Copper City, Michigan, to Kurt F. and Mary C. (Kopp). Fred grew up in the Calumet, Michigan, area and was a standout student at Calumet High School. He graduated with an electrical engineering degree from Michigan Tech University and earned his law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Fred worked in Detroit early in his career before raising a family as a longtime attorney in Ironwood, Michigan, where he also opened his own title insurance company and served as chief executive officer of Grand View Hospital. He was later an attorney in Austin, Texas, and director of human resources for the city of Green Bay before a battle with cancer led to his retirement. Fred was a voracious reader with a deep passion for learning, and he had an extensive knowledge of history, law, literature and business. He also loved traveling and trying new things, whether it was painting, speaking fluent German, hiking Denali National Park, or attending the Austin City Limits Music Festival. As a proud Michigan native, he faithfully (and always with good humor while among his Wisconsin counterparts) rooted for the Detroit Lions. Fred is survived by three children, Amy, Kurt and Mary; three grandchildren, Christopher, Tyler and Lily; son-in-law, Thomas (Rozwadowski); beloved sister, Judith; and many cousins, nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Mary Ann, Margaret and Irene. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The family is planning a celebration at a later day. To send online condolences, please go to BlaneyFuneralHome.com. By ZACHARY MARANO [email protected] BESSEMER Gogebic County Board of Commissioners Chair Jim Lorenson is working with Emergency Management and 911 Coordinator Heidi DeRosso to secure grant funding from the state for first responder training. At the boards meeting on Wednesday, Lorenson said there are two requirements for the grant: one is that the governmental units have a per capita taxable value of under $15,000, the other is that the training be completed by the end of the fiscal year. Lorenson said it would be wonderful if state money could fully cover the cost of recr... 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. The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), an international collaboration managed by the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, has capped off the first seven months of its survey with the largest and most detailed map of the universe ever. Yet its only about 10% of the way through its five-year mission. Once completed, DESI will have mapped out an enormous volume of the universe in 3D, yielding a trove of data on the history of the universe's expansion and the growth of structure within it and, in turn, a deeper understanding of dark energy, which drives the expansion and shapes the large-scale structure of the universe. DESI scientists reported on the performance of the instrument and some early astrophysics results last week at a Berkeley Lab-hosted webinar called CosmoPalooza, which featured updates from other leading cosmology experiments. DESI is an international science collaboration managed by the Department of Energys Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) with primary funding for construction and operations from DOEs Office of Science. Originally proposed over a decade ago, construction on the instrument started in 2015. DESI was installed at the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Ariz. Kitt Peak National Observatory is a program of the National Science Foundations (NSF) NOIRLab, which the Department of Energy contracts with to operate the Mayall Telescope for the DESI survey. The instrument saw first light in late 2019, and by May 2021 it was ready to start its science survey. There is a lot of beauty to it, said Berkeley Lab scientist Julien Guy, one of the CosmoPalooza speakers. In the distribution of the galaxies in the 3D map, there are huge clusters, filaments and voids. Theyre the biggest structures in the universe. But within them, you find an imprint of the very early universe, and the history of its expansion since then. Risa Wechsler, a cosmologist at DOE's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, director of the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology, and an original DESI co-spokesperson, agreed. "It's fantastic to see the instrument working so well," Wechsler said. "The project has come a long way to reach this point. For me personally its wonderful to see DESI go from the idea stage when I joined the project to a successful working instrument. The team has done amazing work to make it happen. Seeing dark energys true colors DESIs primary task is simple yet bold: collect detailed color images of millions of galaxies across more than a third of the sky. By breaking down the light from each galaxy into its spectrum of colors, DESI can determine how much the light has been redshifted stretched out toward the red end of the spectrum by the expansion of the universe during the billions of years it traveled before reaching Earth. In general, the more redshifted a galaxys spectrum is, the farther away it is, and astrophysicists can use redshifts to build a 3D map of the cosmos. With that map in hand, physicists can chart clusters and superclusters of galaxies. Those structures carry echoes of their initial formation, when they were just ripples in the infant cosmos. By teasing out those echoes, physicists can use DESIs data to determine how those structures formed and how the universe expanded over time. Understanding the expansion history is crucial. Today, about 70% of the content of the universe is dark energy, a mysterious form of energy driving the expansion of the universe ever faster. As the universe expands, more dark energy pops into existence and speeds up the expansion, in a cycle that is driving the fraction of dark energy in the universe ever upwards. Dark energy will ultimately determine the destiny of the universe whether it will expand forever or collapse onto itself again in a sort of reverse Big Bang. Studying dark energy has benefits beyond understanding the fate of the universe: By comparing the expansion history with the growth history, cosmologists can also check whether Einsteins theory of general relativity holds over these immense spans of space and time. Black holes and bright galaxies Understanding the fate of the universe and probing general relativity will have to wait until DESI has completed more of its survey, but in the meantime, DESI is already driving breakthroughs in our understanding of the distant past, when galaxies were still young. For example, as part of its main science goals, DESI will search for quasars, particularly bright galaxies that are among the brightest and most distant objects known. Quasars brightness derives from central, supermassive black holes surrounded by gas and dust that heats up as it falls into the balck hole. Because of their power, quasars make excellent probes of the early universe, and with them, DESIs data will go back in time 11 billion years. Durham University astronomy graduate student Victoria Fawcett and her colleagues are using DESI data to understand the evolution of quasars themselves. Its thought that quasars start out surrounded by an envelope of dust, which reddens the light they give off, like the sun through haze. As they age, they drive off this dust and become bluer. But it has been hard to test this theory because of the paucity of data on red quasars. DESI is changing that, finding more quasars than any prior survey, with an estimated 2.4 million quasars expected in the final survey data. The benefits arent limited to quasars. Were finding quite a lot of exotic systems, Fawcett says, including large samples of rare objects that we just havent been able to study in detail before. Meanwhile, DESI has so much data-gathering capacity that some of it is being dedicated to pilot projects that could guide what the experiment will focus on once the main survey is done. In one of those projects, Elise Darragh-Ford, a Stanford University graduate student working with Wechsler, will map out dwarf galaxies relatively close to us that is, from about 20 to 150 megaparsecs, or between 65 to about 500 million light years away. Studying these objects, on the opposite end of the distance scale from quasars, will help researchers better understand the formation of the small-scale structure of the universe and ultimately help probe the nature of dark matter. Weve been working to make the most of everything were measuring, Wechsler said. DESI is such a powerful instrument that you can do all kinds of things with the data. Theres more to come for DESI. The survey has already cataloged over 7.5 million galaxies and is adding more at a rate of over a million a month. In November 2021 alone, DESI cataloged redshifts from 2.5 million galaxies. By the end of its run in 2026, DESI is expected to have over 35 million galaxies in its catalog, enabling an enormous variety of cosmology and astrophysics research. The early data is just beautiful," Wechsler said. "This is going to be a big leap in our ability to measure dark energy, map the structure of the Universe, and so much more." Editor's Note: This article is based on a press release from DESI. DESI is supported by the DOE Office of Science and by the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, a DOE Office of Science user facility. Additional support for DESI is provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Science and Technologies Facilities Council of the United Kingdom, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Heising-Simons Foundation, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico, the Ministry of Economy of Spain, and the DESI member institutions. The DESI collaboration is honored to be permitted to conduct scientific research on Iolkam Duag (Kitt Peak), a mountain with particular significance to the Tohono Oodham Nation. For questions or comments, contact the SLAC Office of Communications at communications@slac.stanford.edu. SLAC is a vibrant multiprogram laboratory that explores how the universe works at the biggest, smallest and fastest scales and invents powerful tools used by scientists around the globe. With research spanning particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology, materials, chemistry, bio- and energy sciences and scientific computing, we help solve real-world problems and advance the interests of the nation. SLAC is operated by Stanford University for the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. GRAND ISLAND The Grand Island Senior High Auditorium was filled with the sound of nearly 160 fourth through sixth graders as Sing Around Nebraska made a stop and a York director guided the youngsters through a musical journey. This program involves day-long choir workshops for students 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 who 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 with nearly 160 young voices rising toward the GISH rafters. The following questions were asked recently on the Wonderline: Q: What is the law regarding properties in disarray in York, where there is garbage and appliances and with all sorts of problems because it is not being maintained? A: Municipal code calls for properties to be maintained, for health hazards to be eliminated, for garbage to be taken away from properties, for junk vehicles to not be on residential lawns, etc. The city does issue warnings to residents, giving them an opportunity to clean up their properties and if the property owners do not respond, sometimes citations are issued. There have also been properties that eventually were taken to court over matters and some properties have been cleaned up by the city with liens placed on the properties for that purpose. If there is a big problem that needs to be addressed, residents can contact the city offices or the city police department. Officials will then begin the process of working with the property owner/tenant/resident to address the problems. Q: In local stories, I sometimes read that the judge issued a bench warrant because of failure to appear. What does that mean? A: If a defendant does not appear for a crucial court hearing, such as an arraignment, change of plea or sentencing, they are in non-compliance with the court and the presiding judge has the option of revoking their bond and issuing a warrant for their arrest, from the bench. Q: Charles Herbster, in one of his campaign ads, sported a cap with the official UNL Husker N. Does wearing that mean he has the endorsement of the University of Nebraska? A: One would assume Herbster happened to be wearing a piece of clothing bearing the UNL insignia, as many Nebraskans do on a regular basis, without any formal endorsement connected to it. Q: I read with great interest the story about the proposed solar field project by McCool Junction. Can you tell us anything more about the company that wants to do that? A: EDF Renewables designs and builds solar projects both on large and small scale, according to materials from the company. They said, We develop assets contracted as long-term offtake agreements or via turnkey solutions for customers that desire to own the facilities. Our tailor-made solutions meet the growing energy needs and demands of utilities, municipalities, cooperatives, government entities, universities and corporations. Company materials say they have constructed and are operating 157 small or large projects in North America and they have 35 years of experience in renewable energy. They also say since 2010, they have paid over $18 billion to vendors, including lease payments made to landowners. They have also worked with many large companies achieve their sustainability goals, including Yahoo, Microsoft, Walmart, Hines, ESPN, Adobe, Cisco, Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy. Q: Regarding this solar panel field by McCool, Im just curious as to how this theory works. A: As explained this week by representatives of EDF Renewables, the sun bathes the earth with enough energy in one hour to satisfy the entire worlds energy needs for a year. Solar panels capture the sunlight and create Direct Current (DC) electricity. The AC power is directed from the inverter into the buildings electrical panel. The utility tracks the net energy produced with the utility electric meter. A solar inverter takes the DC electricity and converts it to Alternating Current (AC), which can be used to power a building. Q: With Omahas mask mandate, what are the rules? A: As it stands right now, the Omaha mask rule requires everyone who is five years old and older to wear face coverings in most public venues, unless they can maintain at least six feet of social distance from others. The mandate applies to schools, but doesnt include church services or eating at a restaurant while seated. The mask order will be reviewed every few weeks, health officials have said, and it will be lifted if virus case counts and hospital capacity improve significantly." Q: Why do some people sick with COVID-19 need a ventilator? A: According to yalemedicine.org, a ventilator pumps air usually with extra oxygen into patients airways when they are unable to breathe adequately on their own. If lung function has been severely impaired due to injury or an illness such as COVID-19 patients may need a ventilator. There is nothing more frightening than a car fire, so it must have been especially intense in this case, not just for the occupants but also for anyone near the vehicle. There is no way that even the most experienced supercar spotter will be able to solve the mystery behind this poor vehicle because you see the remains of a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster. In our knowledge, no one was injured in this fire. According to reports, this supercar is a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ 63 Roadster, which had a production run of just 63 cars. Also included in the post are images of the car before the fire broke out, as well as an image of the entire car fully engulfed in flames. The incident occurred south of Mexico City, between Cuernavaca and Chilpancingo, on the Cuernavaca-Acapulco highway. News agency 24 Morelos reports that the car caught fire and burned on the Mezcala Solidaridad suspension bridge, atop the highway. The incident was not reported to have injured anyone in the tweet by the news agency. Read also: Volkswagen owned Bentley invests heavily to upgrade its manufacturing in Electric Vehicle overhaul The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ63 is powered by a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine making 759 hp of power and 719 Nm of torque. This powerful V12 is mated to a 7-speed ISR transmission, helping this supercar to achieve 350 km/h of top speed. The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ alone is worth over half a million dollars, and the Roadster is even more expensive-and that's without considering the rare 63 model. Sadly, this Lamborghini is beyond repair. Live TV #mute The journey that started in 1932 as Tata Airlines has finally come to a full circle with homegrown conglomerate Tata Group acquiring 100 percent stake in Air India from the Government of India under PM Modi's vision of privatization. Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy (JRD) Tata founded the airline in 1932 and in 1946, the aviation division of Tata Sons was listed as Air India. Welcome back, Air India pic.twitter.com/euIREDIzkV Ratan N. Tata (@RNTata2000) October 8, 2021 In 1953, Air India was nationalised and was split into two - a domestic airline and an international carrier. When the Jawaharlal Nehru nationalised Air India, JRD fought vehemently against it. "From the first airmail service flight from Karachi to Bombay in October 1932 with JRD steering a Puss Moth aircraft to wresting control of Air India 89 years later, the conglomerate has had a roller coaster ride in the Indian civil aviation history," writes a news agency. But that's the thing of the past, as all eyes are on Tata Group to change the fortunes of the Air India, often been mocked in international circuits for various reasons. Tata has many pressing issues to address, right from the food quality to better quality planes and a better on-time performance, all of which made Air India, the erstwhile national air carrier as a laughing stock. Also read: Air India handed over to Tata Group, Maharaja comes home after 69 years With Tata Group also running Vistara as a joint venture with Singapore Airlines, the stakes becomes even higher. In a short time, Vistata has carved a niche for itself as a premium airline service industry best food, new aircrafts, technologies like Wi-Fi and smartly dressed cabin crew. People are now drawing parallels between Air India and Vistara, both now part of Tata Group, along with Air Asia India. So what's the changes one can expect in the immediate run? Sources privy to the development confirm that Tata Group has already started to implement changes to Air India's flights, elevating passenger experience. Here are few of the changes that Tata is planning to implement in coming days, or has already implemented - We'll have a player with tremendous capabilities for int'l & domestic traffic -a party that probably has a game plan & strategy to ensure best value for our customers. It'll be a win-win position for all stakeholders in this industry: Civil Aviation Min on #AirIndia disinvestment pic.twitter.com/QkgUcD82GT ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 Smart and well-groomed cabin crew members The crew members will have to be smartly dressed and well-groomed, and there will be grooming executives who will be conducting checks at the airports. Better on-time performance of flights Since on-time performance is extremely important, all endeavours will have to be made by the crew members to ensure that the doors are closed 10 minutes before the flight's departure. Calling passengers as "guests" The employees have been told by the Tata Group that there will be a change in "image, attitude and perception" of Air India, they said. Cabin crew members have been instructed to address all passengers as "guests" and cabin crew supervisor will have to ensure safety and service standards provided to the guests, they noted. Enhanced in-flight meal service Enhanced meal service will be provided to passengers in select flights in the initial days post the takeover. This enhanced meal service will be expanded to passengers in all Air India flights in a phased manner. The "enhanced meal service" was provided on four flights -- AI864 (Mumbai-Delhi), AI687 (Mumbai-Delhi), AI945 (Mumbai-Abu Dhabi) and AI639 (Mumbai-Bengaluru). The "enhanced meal service" will be served on Mumbai-Newark flight and five Mumbai-Delhi flights on Friday. Consolidated network Air India is the India's biggest international airliner and now has over 200 aircraft and over 80 domestic and international destinations. The group now has two full-service carriers -- Vistara and Air India -- along with two low-cost airlines -- Air India Express and AirAsia India -- and a ground and cargo handling company, AISATS. According to sources, it plans to pilot synergies between all its airlines to compete in various market segments. With inputs from agencies Live TV #mute New Delhi: The approvals required for setting up National Asset Reconstruction Company (NARCL) and India Debt Resolution Company (IDRCL), including from the RBI, have now been received, lending major SBI said on Friday. Accordingly, both the companies are ready to commence their business. In her Budget speech last year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the setting up of a `bad bank`, including an asset reconstruction company and asset management company, to take over the existing stressed debt of banks. What is a Bad Bank? For the unversed, a bad bank is a corporate firm that is set up to absorb the illiquid and risky assets held by banks and other financial institutions or a consortium of banks. As of now, a total of 38 accounts aggregating Rs 82,845 crore have been identified for transfer to NARCL. However, the transfer will happen in a phased manner. "Under Phase I, about 15 accounts, aggregating Rs 50,335 crore, are expected to be transferred in the current financial year, i.e., on or before March 31, 2022," SBI said in a statement. Besides, SBI said that IDRCL is expected to bring in superior resolution techniques, preserve the value, show-case brown field assets and attract domestic as well as foreign investors and alternate investment funds, among others. "This will maximise the value for all the stakeholders. This mechanism is also expected to free up capital for the lending banks for deployment," SBI said. According to the statement, both the companies have their respective boards in place, consisting of seasoned professionals from the market. "To start with, both companies are having their MD and CEOs on secondment basis. Padmakumar Nair, a chief general manager from SBI`s stressed assets vertical, will manage NARCL, while Manish Makharia, head of alternate investment fund, SBI Funds Management Pvt Ltd, will be heading IDRCL," the statement said. Also Read: RBI imposes restrictions on Indian Mercantile Cooperative Bank; withdrawals capped at Rs 1 lakh "Subrata Biswas, the nominee director on the board of NARCL, will be the interim chairman, while Diwakar Gupta continues as the chairman of IDRCL," it added. Also Read: Bank Holidays in February 2022: Banks to remain shut for 12 days, check important dates Live TV #mute New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2022 on February 1 (Tuesday). This budget will be focussed towards boosting India's economic growth and maintaining the fiscal disciple in the aftermath of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Breaking away from the tradition of the customary `Halwa ceremony` before the commencement of the Budget Session of the Parliament, this time sweets sweets were provided to the core staff due to undergoing "lock-in" at their workplaces. (Here's looking at Longest and shortest Budget speeches given by India's Finance Ministers) The move has been deemed fit due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, keeping the health and safety concerns of people. Also, FM Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2022-23 in a paperless form for the second time on February 1. (Also read: Meet James Wilson, the man who created India's first-ever Budget) As she prepares to present the Budget, here is a brief summary of the process that the Finance Ministry undergoes to make the annual statement. The Union Budget is the annual statement of how much money the union government expects to raise in the next financial year and how it will spend that money. The 'Annual Financial Statement' is laid before both Houses of Parliament. The budget speech is also used by the government to propose other policy measures. The customary 'halwa ceremony' used to mark the beginning of the period when over a 100 finance ministry officials and staff begin to remain in isolation till the time the Finance Minister reads out his speech. As per tradition, the Finance Minister would serve officials with bowls full of halwa at the North Block to thank his team for their hard work. Live TV #mute Mumbai will get its back iconic double-decker buses, electric motors instead of combustion engines will power these buses. Maharashtra Minister Aditya Thackeray told that Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) would get 900 AC electric double-decker buses for Mumbai. The Maharashtra Minister said that he and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray have been personally keen on reviving Mumbai's iconic double-decker buses. "The BEST double-decker, now electric! Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and I have been personally keen on reviving Mumbai's iconic double-decker buses," he said in a tweet. He further said that the aim is to have maximum double-decker buses, as this increases capacity. "While doing so, the BEST is procuring 900 of them, fully electric and emission-free. As we increase our BEST fleet, ultimately to 10,000 electric/clean alternate fuel buses, our aim is to have maximum double-decker buses, as this increases our capacity," he said. Read also: BYD delivers first batch of 30 E6 electric MPVs in India Besides Mumbai, Aditya said, he has requested municipal commissioners of other cities who are procuring electric buses to also add double-decker electric buses into their fleets on busy routes. With inputs from ANI Live TV #mute MUMBAI: Actor-filmmaker Kenneth Branagh's 'Death on the Nile' is set to release theatrically in India on February 11, the makers announced on Friday. The mystery-thriller is based on the 1937 Agatha Christie novel of the same name. The film is Branagh's follow-up to his 2017 blockbuster "The Murder on the Orient Express". According to the official synopsis, "Death on the Nile" is a tale of "unbridled passion and incapacitating jealousy" which makes the travellers on board suspects in the case. On its official Instagtam account, the 20th Century Studios' shared the release date of the movie and the Hindi trailer. "One of them is the murderer, find out who! Watch #DeathOnTheNile in cinemas, February 11 in English and Hindi," the post read. Branagh returns as director and reprises his role of detective Hercule Poirot. "Death on the Nile" boasts of star-studded ensemble including Ali Fazal, Armie Hammer, Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Annette Bening, Rose Leslie, Russell Brand and Emma Mackey. New Delhi: Witness the drama unfold in two weeks, as the brightest detective alive - Hercule Poirot is back to get to the bottom of the mystery in Death On The Nile. What happens when a happy affair in a luxury cruise turns grim after one of the passengers is found dead? What is the motif behind this murder? Daring mystery-thriller based on the novel by Agatha Christie opens in cinemas on February 11, 2022. The film directed by Kenneth Branagh, features him, and the likes of Gal Gadot, Tom Bateman, Ali Fazal, Leititia Wright, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Armie Hammer, Rosie Leslie, among a host of other eminent actors. Haris Zambarloukos camera, Michael Greens screenplay and Patrick Doyles music need special mention. Don't miss this film. Save the date! New Delhi: Ahead of the Budget Session, top Congress leaders are going to meet on Friday (January 28, 2022) to discuss and strategise the party's stand during the session. Congress President Sonia Gandhi will hold discussions with senior party leaders at a virtual meeting of the Parliamentary Strategy Group. The meeting is likely to witness former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, senior party leaders A K Antony, KC Venugopal, Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh, Jairam Ramesh, Manickam Tagore and Ravneet Singh Bittu in attendance. The party is likely to raise the issue of MSP laws, growing unemployment and shifting of Amar Jawan Jyoti. The meeting is called before every Parliament session to decide the party's strategy. Meanwhile, the Budget Session will commence on the same day with the Presidential address at 11 am followed by the laying of the Economic Survey. The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on February 1. In a tweet, Union parliamentary affair minister Pralhad Joshi said, "1st part of the #BudgetSession to commence on 31st January, with the address of the Hon'ble President to both the Houses. On 1st February, Hon'ble FM @nsitharaman ji will present the Union Budget. To ensure Covid safety protocol, the two Houses of Parliament will function in shifts." (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: India's drug regulator on Friday (January 28) permitted Bharat Biotech to conduct clinical trials of intranasal vaccine BBV154. Bharat Biotech has received approval for phase 3 clinical trials, which will evaluate the nasal vaccine for both the two dose primary schedule as well as booster dose schedule. During the last meeting, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) had recommended the internasal vaccine clinical trials. The NOC letter issued by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) read, "Central Licensing Authority hereby permits Bharat Biotech International limited to conduct clinical trials of the new drug or investigational new drug." The trials will be done at 9 different sites. ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 "The Phase -3 clinical trial should be conducted as per protocol multi-center study to compare immunogenicity and safety of BBV154 with COVAXIN," the letter added. The dosage form of the intranasal vaccine is liquid and every single dose contains 0.5ml, the news agency reported. The trials of Bharat Biotech's intranasal vaccine, BBV154, will take place at nine different sites including Atman Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat; AIIMS, Delhi and Patna; Oyster and Pearls Hospitals, Pune; Pt.BD Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences at Rohtak, Haryana; Acharya Vinobha Bhave Rural Hospital, Wardha; Jeevan Rekha Hospital, Belagavi; Rana hospital, Gorakhpur; and Prakhar Hospital, Uttar Pradesh. Intranasal vaccines can be administered easily in mass vaccination campaigns. Meanwhile, a day earlier, DCGI had granted conditional market approval to Serum Institute of India's (SII's) Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for use in the adult population subject to certain conditions. (With agency inputs) Live TV NEW DELHI: In a major judgement, the Supreme Court on Friday quashed the one-year suspension of 12 BJP MLAs from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly while terming it unconstitutional and arbitrary. While quashing the suspension, the Supreme Court termed the decision as unconstitutional and arbitrary, and said the Maharashtra assembly resolution of July 5, 2021, was ''illegal'' and "beyond the powers of the Assembly". The resolution suspending 12 BJP MLAs from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly beyond the period of the remainder of the session held in July 2021 is unconstitutional, the top court said in its order. Supreme Court quashes one-year suspension from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly of 12 BJP MLAs while terming it unconstitutional and arbitrary. MLAs were suspended for one year for allegedly misbehaving with the presiding officer. pic.twitter.com/LsXiT9MtNR ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 It may be noted that the BJP MLAs were suspended for one year for allegedly misbehaving with the presiding officer. The BJP MLAs later challenged their suspension in the top court. The 12 suspended BJP MLAs were Sanjay Kute, Ashish Shelar, Abhimanyu Pawar, Girish Mahajan, Atul Bhatkalkar, Parag Alavni, Harish Pimpale, Ram Satpute, Vijay Kumar Rawal, Yogesh Sagar, Narayan Kuche and Kirtikumar Bangdia. Reacting to the verdict, former Maharashtra chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis thanked the Supreme Court. We welcome & thank the Hon SC for the historic decision of quashing of suspension of our 12 @BJP4Maharashtra MLAs, who were fighting for the cause of OBCs in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during the monsoon session,'' he said in a tweet. The top court had last week reserved its judgement in the matter after the 12 MLAs had moved the SC challenging their suspension from the Assembly for the alleged unruly conduct. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who had represented some of the petitioners in the court, had said during the course of the hearing The decision of the House without hearing lacks natural justice and is extremely irrational. They cannot police an MLA for one year This is arbitrary. Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, who had appeared for some of the other petitioners, also said the intention of the suspension should have been to discipline. During the arguments, the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and CT Ravikumar had said that the suspension of the 12 MLAs was prima facie unconstitutional. After the top court order, the BJP MLAs will now be entitled to all consequential benefits after the conclusion of the session in July, last year. Live TV Lucknow: Ahead of UP Assembly Polls which will kickstart on February 10, leaders across parties are increasingly locking horns. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday (January 28) alleged that he was stranded in Delhi as his helicopter was not allowed to fly to UP's Muzaffarnagar for an election programme. In a tweet in Hindi, the SP president posted a picture with the helicopter in the background and said no reason was given for it. Later in another tweet, Akhilesh said he is ready to take a flight. Akhilesh Yadav and RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary are scheduled to address a joint press conference in Muzaffarnagar. "My helicopter is still detained in Delhi without assigning any reason and not being allowed to go to Muzaffarnagar, whereas a top BJP leader has just flown from here. This is a desperate conspiracy of the losing BJP. People are understanding everything," he said in his earlier tweet. pic.twitter.com/PFxawi0kFD Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 28, 2022 About half an hour later, the SP chief tweeted, "The abuse of power is a sign of the people losing. This day will also be recorded in the history of socialist struggle. We are going to take a historic flight to history." Akhilesh also posted a picture of his with this tweet. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hit out at Akhilesh and his Samajwadi Party, calling them supporters of Pakistan and "worshippers of Jinnah". Adityanath's remark ostensibly refers to the SP president's recent statements on Pakistan and its founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah. "They are worshippers of Jinnah, we are worshippers of Sardar Patel. Pakistan is dear to them, we will sacrifice our life for Maa Bharati (Mother India)," Adityanath said in the Hindi tweet without taking any name. In another tweet, The CM said, "When they were (in power), Ram devotees were fired upon. Kanwar Yatras were cancelled. Exploits (karnamey) like Safai Mahotsav took place. When we are (in power), dream of Sri Ramlala Virajman came true, flowers were showered from helicopter on 'kanwariyas'. Deepotsav and Rangotsav become the identity of Uttar Pradesh." Adityanath was referring to firing on "kar sevaks" in Ayodhya when SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav was the chief minister of the state. (With PTI inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will review the Covid-19 situation and the public health preparedness to tackle the omicron spread in eight states and union territories on Friday (January 28, 2022). Health ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands will participate in the video conferencing with the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. The review meeting is scheduled at 2.30 pm today and will be held through video conferencing. Earlier, on January 24, Mandaviya had held a similar meeting with the health ministers of nine states and union territories namely- Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Ladakh, and Chandigarh. Additionally, the Indian SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortia INSACOG said that Omicron is in the community transmission stage in India. It has become dominant in multiple metro cities where new cases have been rising exponentially, with BA.2 lineage, an infectious sub-variant of Omicron, found in a substantial fraction in the country, INSACOG said. As many as 9,672 Omicron samples were found in January in genome sequencing constituting 75 per cent of the total sequenced samples of Covid-19, a huge rise from 1,292 in December, the government said on Thursday. At a press conference, National Centre for Disease Control Director Dr S K Singh said sub-lineages of Omicron -- BA.1 and BA.2 -- were found in sequenced samples while BA.3 has not been found yet. "We were getting more samples of BA.1 earlier mostly in travellers. But now we are seeing that BA.2 has become more prevalent in the community," Singh said. The Union Health Minister re-emphasised the need for ramping up testing in the States and UTs. Those States/UTs that are showing a lower share of RTPCR testing were requested to ramp up tests through RTPCR. States and UTs were also reminded to keep a close watch on the emerging clusters and hotspots and monitor the trend of hospitalised cases along with the deaths in the state. Dr Mandaviya said that with our past experience, `Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate and Adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour` along with monitoring of cases remains crucial for Covid management. (With PTI inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The Delhi police have arrested 11 people, including nine women, in the alleged sexual assault case of a 20-year-old in Delhis Shahdra. The police on Friday (January 28, 2022) arrested four people in the case, while the other seven were arrested on Thursday. Police officials confirmed that the sexual assault on the victim was due to personal enmity. The incident took place in Kasturba Nagar of Shahdara District where a woman was allegedly abducted, gang-raped and paraded on the streets with her face blackened with ink, head shaved and with a garland of shoes around her neck. Sexual assault on a woman in Delhi's Shahdara: A total of 11 people, including 9 women, arrested. Nine out of the 11 accused who are named in the FIR, have been arrested. Delhi Police say that more arrests will be made soon. ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 The authorities revealed that nine arrested out of the 11 named in the FIR, are women. The police also assured that more arrests will be made soon. According to police, they were informed about an incident that took place on Wednesday by the woman`s husband, who was not present at the spot but was informed about it by his landlord. Police said after receiving information, they rushed to the spot and rescued the 20-year-old woman from assault and took her to the police station. Police have registered a case under different sections of the Indian Penal Code including gang rape, physical assault, sexual assault and criminal conspiracy among others. According to the victim`s sister, a boy living in the neighbourhood who claimed to be in love with the woman committed suicide in November last year. "His family blames my sister for their son`s death," she said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday called it a shameful act and urged the Centre to instruct the police to take strict action. Delhi Commission for Women also issued a notice to the Delhi Police in connection with the gruesome crime and has demanded quick action to arrest the criminals and provision of security to the family of the survivor. "An unfortunate incident of sexual assault of a woman due to personal enmity happened in Shahdara District," said R Sathiyasundaram, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara. "Police has nabbed four accused and probe is on. All possible help and counselling are being provided to the victim," the DCP said. (With ANI inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Railway job aspirants have been protesting for the past several days and some observed Bihar Bandh today to protest against the alleged irregularities in the Railway Recruitment Board's Non-Technical Popular Categories (RRB-NTPC) exam 2021. Zee News Editor In Chief Sudhir Chaudhary in his show DNA analysed the reasons behind these protests and the growing distance between railway jobs and students' ambitions. In 2019, Railway Recruitment Board had invited applications for a total of 35,277 posts in Non Technical Popular Categories (NTPC). The recruitment was announced for the posts of Junior Clerk, Train Assistant, Guard, Senior Time Keeper and Station Master and the maximum salary for these posts was Rs 35,000 per month. For these 35,000 vacancies, RRB had received more than 1.25 lakh applications. The official notification had mentioned that 20 times more students will be passed in the examination than the number of posts announced so that the maximum number of students can get a chance in the second stage exam. With this in mind, the results of the first phase were declared by the Railways on January 14 and 15, in which 20 times more students passed than the number of jobs. However, the procedure led to controversy among the aspirants. Many students had applied for more than one job and when the first stage result was declared many of these aspirants cleared the exam for different posts. The Railways counted one student four times if they had cleared the exam for four different posts. This led to anger among students who alleged that due to this process, even though more students passed in number, in reality only 10 percent of aspirants cleared the first stage. Students are also dissatisfied because of the delay in these exams. Railways had invited applications for these posts in 2019 and the exam was to be held in the month of September that year. However, the exam was postponed due to some reasons and later the first phase was conducted from December 2020 to July 2021. The results of the same examination were declared on January 14, 2022. The second phase examination was to be held on February 15, 2022, which has also been postponed. Railway Recruitment Board says that the reason for the delay in the examination is crores of applications for these jobs. Another point of contention is that the recruitment board had informed that the Group C Level 1 exam will be held in two phases on January 24, while students are alleging that the second exam was not even mentioned in the job notification. Moreover, as graduate students have also applied for Junior Clerk and Time Keeper jobs, Class 12th pass students feel that this will reduce their chances of getting a job, and hence, they want the central government to create different categories for them. The root cause of all this is the recruitment process of these jobs. Recently, students in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar held demonstrations alleging irregularities. During these protests, the police lathi-charged the protesters in Prayagraj and Patna and also used water cannons on them while some students set fire to a train in Gaya. We believe that neither the coercive action by the police nor vandalism by the students is right. It is necessary that the voices of these aspirants are heard by the whole country today. Live TV Bengaluru: The granddaughter of former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa was found dead at her home in Bengaluru today (January 28). Soundarya was found hanging at a private apartment in Bengaluru and the police have reportedly filed a case of unnatural death. Her postmortem is underway at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bengaluru. Soundarya, a doctor by profession, was the daughter of Yediyurappa's daughter Padmavathi. She got married a few years ago to Niranjan, who's also a doctor. The postmortem of Soundarya, the granddaughter of former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa's granddaughter, is underway at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bengaluru. She was found hanging at a private apartment in Bengaluru. Visuals from the hospital. pic.twitter.com/tgBW52E9Rt ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 According to a report in Deccan Herald, the police informed that the case came to light when around 10 am, a domestic helper called Niranjan and said that though they were ringing the bell and knocking on the door there was no response. Niranjan, after failing to get through his wife on her cell phone, rushed to the apartment and opened it with a spare key, states the same report. It was then she was discovered in a hanging state. She was rushed to a private hospital where doctors reportedly declared her to have been brought dead. She also reportedly has a nine-month-old baby. As per news reports, police has said that prima facia evidences point out that it's a case of suicide. Further investigations are on. Live TV New Delhi: India recorded 2,51,209 new Covid-19 cases, 627 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the total death toll to 4,92,327, according to the data released by the Ministry of Health on Friday (January 28, 2022). The active cases stand at 21,05,611. A decrease of 96,861 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The country also recorded 3,47,443 recoveries today, taking the total number of recoveries to 3,80,24,771. India reports 2,51,209 new #COVID19 cases, 627 deaths and 3,47,443 recoveries in the last 24 hours Active case: 21,05,611 (5.18%) Daily positivity rate: 15.88% Total Vaccination : 1,64,44,73,216 pic.twitter.com/vz7DhaPdvz ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 The active cases comprise 5.18 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate stands at 93.60 per cent. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 15.88 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 17.47 per cent, according to the ministry. Additionally, the cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive have exceeded 164.44 crore. The Ministry, in its release, informed that 15,82,307 Covid-19 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. Over 72.37 crore tests have been conducted so far in the country, said the ministry. Meanwhile, Director of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Sujeet Kumar Singh, on Thursday said, Omicron sub-variant BA.2 is more prevalent in comparison to the BA.1 variant in India now. He, however, added that BA.3 sub-variant has not been detected in India yet. "Earlier, the BA.1 variant was dominant among the samples collected from the travellers. Now in community settings, we have found that the BA.2 sub-variant is gradually increasing," Singh said. Singh also emphasised that the Delta variant has not gone yet. Talking about Covid fatalities, he said that those unvaccinated and people with comorbidities are in the high-risk group. "Around 64 per cent of those who died in Delhi were from the unvaccinated group with major comorbid population," he added. Live TV New Delhi: India`s BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) signed a contract with the Department of National Defence of the Republic of Philippines on Friday for the supply of Shore Based Anti-Ship Missile System to the Philippines, the Ministry of Defence said. The BAPL is a joint venture company of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). "The contract is an important step forward for the Government of India`s policy of promoting responsible defence exports," the Ministry added. India's BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited (BAPL) signed a contract with the Department of National Defence of the Republic of Philippines for the supply of Shore Based Anti-Ship Missile System to the Philippines, the Ministry of Defence said. pic.twitter.com/cHHErycyiC ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 The Indian team of BrahMos Aerospace in India, led by BrahMos CEO Atul D Rane, Deputy CEO Sanjeev Joshi, Lt Col R Negi, and Praveen Pathak, was present at the signing of the deal. These missiles are meant for the Philippines Navy. Earlier this month, the Philippines accepted BAPL`s proposal worth USD 374.9 million to supply Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile systems for the Philippines Navy. DRDO and BAPL together have been pushing hard for exports of this missile to friendly foreign countries for the last few months. The BrahMos export order would be the biggest for the country in this field and is likely to propel India amongst arms exporting countries as more orders for the missile are expected from other friendly countries. Negotiations with some other nations are at an advanced stage. The missile has also become more capable due to added range and other modern technologies being incorporated into it. Live TV New York/Toronto: The family of four Indian nationals from Gujarat, found frozen to death near the Canada-US border, has been identified, with Canadian authorities saying they had moved around the country for a period of time and met with their tragic end when they were driven to the border by someone, in a case being described as that of human smuggling. Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, 39, Vaishaliben Jagdishkumar Patel, 37, Vihangi Jagdishkumar Patel, 11 and Dharmik Jagdishkumar Patel, 3, all from the same family, were found dead near Emerson, Manitoba, approximately 12 metres from the Canada/US border on January 19 by Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Earlier, authorities had said that the family included an adult male, adult female, teen male and an infant. But it has now revealed the victims included a young girl and not a teen male. Identities of the victims were confirmed by Canadian authorities and autopsies were completed on January 26. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Manitoba has confirmed that the cause of death was due to exposure, a statement from Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said on Thursday. Indian High Commission in Ottawa, Canada, said in a press release, which also identified the four victims, that the next of kin of the deceased have been informed. The Consulate General of India in Toronto is in touch with the family of the deceased and is providing all consular support. The High Commission offers its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victims, it said. The Identities of four victims, whose bodies were recovered near the Canada-US border in Manitoba on 19 January 2022, have now been confirmed.@MEAIndia @IndiainToronto @rcmpmb pic.twitter.com/ptwj2ER0Uf India in Canada (@HCI_Ottawa) January 28, 2022 The press release from the mission added that Canadian authorities have also, after medical examination, informed that based on the circumstances, the death of all the persons have been determined to be consistent with exposure to the outdoor elements. The RCMP confirmed that the Patel family arrived in Toronto on January 12, 2022, and from there they made their way to Emerson around January 18. There was no abandoned vehicle located on the Canadian side of the border. This indicates that someone drove the family to the border and then left the scene, RCMP said, adding that it is looking to determine how they travelled from Toronto to Emerson. With what we know so far of their activities in Canada, along with the arrest that occurred in the United States, we believe this to be a case of human smuggling, it said. RCMP said the Patel family moved around Canada for a period of time and we are looking for anyone that may have had encounters with them. A criminal complaint was filed last week in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota against 47-year old US citizen Steve Shand, who has been charged with human smuggling. Shand, a suspected smuggler of undocumented foreign nationals was arrested by American authorities near the US/Canadian border on January 19 for transporting two Indian nationals, who were illegally present in the US. The two Indian nationals have been identified as SP' and YP' in the complaint. A group of five Indian nationals illegally present in the United States were also identified and arrested around the time of Shand's arrest. The day Shand was arrested, US Border Patrol authorities had received a report from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that bodies of the Patel family were found frozen just inside the Canadian side of the international border. Shand has been released from prison conditionally and without paying a bond. Following the discovery of the bodies, an extensive investigation was immediately launched and the Manitoba RCMP, including officers from Emerson RCMP Detachment, the Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) and Major Crime Services, worked in close collaboration with US Customs and Border Protection and the US Department of Homeland Security. The RCMP has also been working closely with RCMP Liaison Officers in New Delhi, India and Washington, DC, and have been in regular contact with Indian consular officials, RCMP said. The Indian High Commission and India's Consulate in Toronto are working closely with Canadian authorities on all aspects of the investigation into this incident. A special team, led by a senior consular officer from the Consulate General of India in Toronto, is camping in Manitoba to assist ongoing investigations by Canadian agencies and to render any consular services for the victims, it said. The High Commission said the tragedy has highlighted the issues of safe and legal migration as Canada is a preferred destination for Indian immigrants and students. Live TV Chennai: The Madras High Court on Friday (January 28) reserved its order without specifying the date after hearing arguments in Thanjavur alleged 'Forced Conversion' case. The case was originally filed by the victim's parents, who sought a CB-CID probe in the matter and raised questions about the integrity of the Police investigation, into their minor daughter's suicide. Representing the Government, the Prosecutor informed the Court that the cops were investigating all angles and that over 50 witnesses had been questioned. It was also added that Muthuvel, the individual who shot the girl's 'dying declaration' video was not cooperating with the probe. The counsel for the girl's parents made a slew of points that needed to be investigated. Some of them included how the victim managed to obtain poison in the children's hostel, the need for her 'dying declaration' video shot by a third party to be taken as direct evidence. The manner in which the Cops ruled out religious conversion angle, right at the initial stage was pointed out. In addition to this, the Education Minister has termed the act of shooting the dying declaration video 'wrong' was also mentioned. Referring to the cause of suicide as a continuous process and the alleged attempt to forcibly convert the girl to Christianity, around two years ago, the Counsel said that confidential details of the probe(such as new videos) were being leaked out after the said phone, where it was recorded, was handed over to the Cops. A similar case of Sukanya, a student in a Missionary-run institution, who ended her life in 2006 under mysterious circumstances and how it turned out to be a case of gang rape, was also brought up. Quoting the victim's parents, the Prosecutor said that the dying declaration video was shot on January 17th and that the parents raised this issue only after the daughter's death(on Jan 19th). Stating that the victim's parents' statements were recorded thrice, the Prosecutor said that their further allegations could be filed as an affidavit. The School's counsel informed the Court of having shared a confidential affidavit with the Judge, in order to protect the privacy of the family. The allegations of conversion were also denied, adding that they were in the field of education for many years and that there were no complaints so far. Allegations were also made against the girl receiving stepmotherly treatment at her home and questions were raised over why the family kept mum over conversion allegations for two years. School's counsel alleged that the said 'dying declaration' video was tailored and doctored. It was also stated that the girl was more attached to the school than her home and that she generally didn't go home on short vacations. Allegations were also made about the victim not being on good terms with her stepmother. The school's counsel also alleged that the victim was under depression and care was being provided by the school. The case pertains to a 17-year old girl from a poor background, who studied in a Christian Missionary School in Tamil Nadus Thanjavur district. According to Police, the victim had consumed poisonous material on January 9 and had succumbed ten days later. In an unverified video, she is seen saying, In front of me also they asked my parents about converting me to Christianity so that she would make me study. She would also keep scolding me and not let me stay there." When asked who she was referring to, the victim is heard sayingSister Rachel Mary. When asked if she was tortured because she refused to convert to Christianity, the victim is heard saying it could be possible. As per the Legal Rights Protection Forums(LRPF) complaint to Indias National Commission for Protection of Child Rights(NCPCR), the victims school had been illegally converting children into Christianity and was imposing corporal punishments on those who resisted. It added that this was causing mental agony to students and driving them to extreme steps. The victim was forced to convert to Christianity and when she refused the same, she was refused permission to return home from a hostel. She was made to clean toilets and wash dishes reads the complaint. It also adds that the child tried to end her life owing to the atrocities inflicted upon her(following which, she eventually succumbed). Last week, the bereaved parents approached the Madras High Court, seeking a CB-CID probe in this matter. Earlier this week, the Madras High court had ordered that the phone in which these videos were recorded was to be submitted for forensic examination adding that the person who shot the video must take part in the investigation. Live TV New Delhi: The registration deadline for the fifth edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Pariksha Pe Charcha has been further extended. Students, teachers and parents now have a chance to apply for PPC 2022 through the official site of My Gov on mygov.in till February 3, 2022. This is the second time the last date to register has been extended. Earlier, the registration process was scheduled to be closed on January 27, the earlier deadline was January 20. No worries if you missed it! The registration date to participate in #PPC2022 has been extended to 3rd February 2022. Get ready to interact with Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi & become #ExamWarriors. Visit : https://t.co/oYeFu1HKck #PPC2022 pic.twitter.com/YVZIaydwQc Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) January 27, 2022 According to the reports, more than 11.74 lakh students and 2.64 lakh teachers have registered for PPC 2022 so far. It may be noted that the date for Pariksha Pe Charcha 2022 has yet to be decided. Pariksha Pe Charcha 2022: How to register Step 1. Visit the official website of Pariksha pe Charcha or mygov.in Step 2. On the homepage, click on the Participate Now button Step 3. Enter required details and register yourself under the suitable category Student/Parent/Teacher Step 4. Enter the details and click on submit. Step 5. Keep a hard copy of the same for future reference. Pariksha Pe Charcha 2022: Direct link to register here The first edition of the prime minister's interactive programme with school and college students, "Pariksha Pe Charcha 1.0", was held at the Talkatora Stadium here on February 16, 2018. "The format of this programme is proposed to be in the online mode like in 2021. An online creative writing competition is being conducted on various topics from December 28 to January 20 to select the participants. The questions asked by the selected winners will be featured in the Pariksha Pe Charcha programme," the official said. The topics for creative writing for students include exam stress management strategies during Covid-19, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahostav, self-reliant schools for a self-reliant India, Clean India, Green India, digital collaboration in the classrooms, environmental conservation and climate change resilience. Similarly, the theme for the teachers is "National Education Policy (NEP) for Naya Bharat" while the themes for the parents are "Beti Padhao, Desh Badhao", "Local to Global - Vocal for Local", "Lifelong Students' Yearning for Learning". Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he was extremely proud of being an active member of NCC once as he addressed the National Cadet Corps (NCC) rally at Cariappa Ground in the national capital around 12 Noon on Friday. Prime Minister also inspects the Guard of Honour, reviews March Past by NCC contingents pic.twitter.com/OPH3OQZAbB ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 While addressing the event, the PM said, "I am proud that I was also an active member of NCC. Our govt is taking several steps to strengthen the NCC. A large number of girl cadets participated in the rally, this is the change India is witnessing today." Heaping praise on the NCC for its selfless and dedicated service to the motherland, the PM said, "Over one lakh new NCC cadets were added in border areas in the last two years.'' At the event, Prime Minister inspected the Guard of Honour, reviewed the March Past by the NCC contingents, and also witnessed the NCC cadets displaying their skills in army action, slithering, microlight flying, parasailing as well as cultural programmes. #WATCH | NCC cadets displaying their skills in army action during the NCC rally at Cariappa Ground in Delhi pic.twitter.com/Nr32B4hKQE ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 The Prime Minister, while noting that women were being given more responsibilities in the country's armed forces, also pitched for more women in the NCC. PM Modi, while addressing the NCC rally in Delhi, further stated, "We all need to connect with the roots of India. We can change India's future with your determination and support. Drug addiction destroys the life of youngsters, we need to fight against this.'' The PM also distributed medals and batons to the NCC candidates after the culmination of the NCC rally. Best cadets receive medals and batons from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the event. pic.twitter.com/UawiH0yz5R ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 In a statement issued on Thursday, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had said the rally will mark the culmination of the NCC Republic Day Camp and is held on January 28 every year. India celebrated its 73rd Republic Day on Wednesday in the year when the country is celebrating "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav". Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the National Cadet Corps PM Rally at Cariappa Ground in the national capital on Friday (January 28, 2022) at around 12 Noon. According to a statement released by the Prime Minister`s Office (PMO), the Rally is the culmination of NCC Republic Day Camp and is held on 28 January every year. The Prime Minister will inspect the Guard of Honour and review March Past by NCC contingents at the event. PM Modi will also witness the NCC cadets displaying their skills in army action, slithering, microlight flying, parasailing as well as cultural programmes. The release informed that the best cadets will receive a medal and baton from the Prime Minister. India celebrated its 73rd Republic Day on Wednesday in the year when the country is celebrating "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav". Live TV Mumbai: Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's judgement, in which it termed the suspension of 12 BJP MLAs from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly as "unconstitutional" and "irrational". The Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly said the apex court's decision is "another tight slap" on the face of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress for its "unconstitutional, unethical, unfair, illegal and undemocratic actions". The Supreme Court on Friday held that a resolution suspending the 12 BJP MLAs beyond the period of the remainder of the session held in July 2021 is "unconstitutional" and "irrational". The top court delivered its verdict on the pleas filed by the 12 legislators, who had challenged their one-year suspension from the state assembly. They were suspended on July 5 last year from the Assembly after the state government accused them of misbehaving with presiding officer Bhaskar Jadhav in the Speaker's chamber. Reacting to the apex court's judgement, Fadnavis said in a tweet, "Satyameva Jayate. We welcome and thank the Supreme Court for the historic decision of quashing the suspension of our 12 BJP Maharashtra MLAs, who were fighting for the cause of OBCs in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during the monsoon session." Apart from Ashish Shelar, the BJP's chief whip in the Assembly, others who were suspended were Sanjay Kute, Abhimanyu Pawar, Girish Mahajan, Atul Bhatkhalkar, Parag Alavani, Harish Pimpale, Yogesh Sagar, Jay Kumar Rawal, Narayan Kuche, Ram Satpute and Bunty Bhangdia. Fadnavis said the SC decision will save the democratic values and it is yet another tight slap on the face of the MVA government for its unconstitutional, unethical, unfair, illegal and undemocratic actions and activities. "I congratulate our BJP Maharashtra 12 MLAs for getting justice," he added. "Since the beginning, we were saying that it was completely unconstitutional and gross misuse of power to suspend our MLAs for such a long period to create artificial majority & that too for no valid reason & the Hon SC has upheld our stand," the former chief minister said. It was not only a question of these 12 MLAs, but of more than 50 lakh citizens in these 12 constituencies, he said. Speaking about the development, state minister Nawab Malik, who is also the chief spokesperson of the NCP, said, "The speaker of the legislative assembly will take a decision once the Supreme Court's written order is available. The decision to suspend 12 MLAs of BJP was taken by the speaker and not by the government." The secretariat of the Maharashtra Assembly will study the SC decision after which the speaker decide on that, he said. Live TV New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry is likely to issue an advisory to the states and UTs to reopen the schools with Covid norms amid declining trends of new cases. A source said that the Ministry may issue advisory soon to the states and UTs in this regard to reopen schools with protocols. As per the source, the government is working on a model to reopen the schools as being demanded by parents. The source said that the Ministry has already asked the experts to explore all the options to reopen the schools for students amid the Covid crisis. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who holds the Education portfolio, on Wednesday said that a generation of children will be left behind if we do not open schools now and that excessive caution is now harming our children. A delegation of parents had submitted a memorandum signed by more than 1,600 parents for reopening of schools in the national capital on Wednesday. Meanwhile, 95 per cent of eligible population has been administered with first dose of Covid-19 vaccine in the country. India`s Covid-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 164.35 crore as per the Health Ministry report on Thursday evening, with over 49 lakh doses administered during the day till 7 p.m. So far, over 1 crore precaution doses for identified categories have been administered since the beginning of the drive. Live TV New Delhi: The assembly elections to the five key states, including Manipur, are less than a month away and the key political players like BJP and Congress are putting their best forward to claim the throne. While the BJPs agenda include issues like AFSA, peace, development and migration, Congress will play on the track record of achievement between 2002-2017. However, as Manipur gears to into polls from in dual phases on February 27 and March 3, here are the key issues that the assembly elections will be focused upon: Internal Security Insurgency is the most challenging issue faced by the state government with a few incidents of pre-poll violence disturbing a relatively peaceful environment in the recent past. Seven people including Assam Rifles officer Colonel Viplav Tripathi, his wife, and their five-year-old son were killed in an ambush on November 13. On January 5, one Assam Rifles soldier was killed and another injured in a bomb blast in Thoubal district. The key issues in the state ahead of the polls are unemployment (9.5%) the second-highest after Nagaland in the northeast, political stability, internal security, and the issue of Scheduled Tribe status for Meiteis, who account for 57% of the states population, experts said. Unemployment Manipur has the second-highest unemployment rate in the Northeast states and thus voting trends will largely depend upon which party has to offer more on combating unemployment that in turn leads to mass migration. Corruption The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned senior Congress leader and former Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh in connection with its FIR registered in November 2019 for alleged misappropriation of state government funds worth Rs 332 crore in June 2020, officials said. While in December 2021, the CBI said that they have filed a case of owning disproportionate assets against a Customs Department Inspector and have initiated a probe. According to the information, the CBI received a complaint against the Inspector of Customs posted at Customs Preventive Force (CPF), Moreh, Imphal, alleging that he acquired huge wealth by alleged corruption. Covid Mismanagement Dr Y. Mohen, the chairman of the Manipur state chapter of the Indian Red Cross Society, said that the Manipur government was always one step behind. He lamented the fact that Manipur does not have a health minister to deal with the situation. L. Jayantkumar Singh, who was the health minister in the Biren Singh government, was dropped from the cabinet in September last year. Drug Abuse In April 2021, the Center has instructed the N Biren Singh-led government to take necessary action over the impending drug menace in the state, including the multi-crore drug haul case of Lukhosei Zou in 2018. Withdrawal Of AFSPA The polls have come in the wake of the Churachandpur incident on November 14, where Assam Rifles officer Col Viplav Tripathi was killed along with six others and the 14 civilian killings in neighbouring Nagaland. Biren, too, has advocated for repealing the AFSPA from the state. The NPP and NPF have both said they will raise their voice for the repeal of AFSPA. The Congress, too, has requested Biren to take up this issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Violence An 18-year-old college student was shot dead and his father received bullet injuries when unidentified gunmen fired at them in Manipurs Thoubal district, police said. The incident took place on January 26. In another poll-related killing in Manipur, police personnel and his cousin brother were shot dead by miscreants in Imphals west district on January 9. Pre-poll violence has become common. Sources said this was why the polls had been split into two phases. Water scarcity Water scarcity is a major problem in Manipur, which is a drought-prone state. The issue of water needs to be resolved. The state also needs more connectivity to the mainland. Political issues, and not peoples issues, are at the forefront of this election. Hence, none of the politicians has touched on these problems. Live TV Chandigarh: Days ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, fresh controversy seems to be plaguing the Congress, and more specifically Navjot Singh Sidhu. NRI Suman Toor, who says she is Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu's sister, described her brother, Sidhu as a 'cruel person' and alleged that he had deserted their old mother after their father's death. Toor, who is based in the United States, alleged, "Sidhu abandoned our old mother after the death of our father in 1986 and she later died as a destitute woman at Delhi railway station in 1989." According to her, Navjot Singh Sidhu ended "everything for the sake of money". She also said that in a news article earlier Sidhu had lied about their parents having been separated, when he was two years old. Meanwhile, a response from Navjot Singh Sidhu on the allegations is still awaited. #WATCH | Chandigarh: Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu's sister from the US, Suman Toor alleges that he abandoned their old-aged mother after the death of their father in 1986 & she later died as a destitute woman at Delhi railway station in 1989. (Source: Suman Toor) pic.twitter.com/SveEP9YrsD ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2022 Meanwhile, yesterday (January 27), addressing the issue of Punjab chief ministerial face in the upcoming state Assembly polls, Rahul Gandhi said that a candidate for the top post will be announced after consulting Congress workers. Gandhi also said that incumbent Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and the party's state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu have assured him to work together despite which of them will lead the government if Congress is elected. Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi and State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu assured me that whoever will lead (CM face) Punjab the other person will support him. Party workers will decide (name of CM face), Gandhi added. The demand for declaring CM face will be met as soon as possible, the Congress MP stated. Channi also claimed there is no feud between him and Sidhu over the CM post in the upcoming election. Punjab will go to the polls on February 14 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10. (With ANI inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (January 28) that it was under the BJP government, girls were given the opportunity to serve in Indian defence forces and admitted to the Sainik schools. Shah made the statement while campaigning for the upcoming Uttarakhand Assembly Elections in Rudraprayag. Earlier, only boys were eligible for Sainik school, girls could not apply, but we (BJP) made it possible...Today our daughters can become pilots, join NDA and match shoulder-to-shoulder (with boys), said Shah during a campaign rally. Earlier, only boys were eligible for Sainik school, girls could not apply, but we (BJP) made it possible...Today our daughters can become pilots, join NDA and match shoulder-to-shoulder (with boys): Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand pic.twitter.com/20cqytMqOG ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 28, 2022 The leader also said that the BJP government in Uttarakhand is working towards modernizing the Army and producing weapons within the country in an effort towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. "Several works are being done by the Modi govt to modernise the Army and to make the country self-reliant in the production of weapons," Shah said while addressing former Army personnel in Rudraprayag in the poll-bound Uttarakhand. The former BJP President also noted that the defence budget was increased by the BJP government at the Centre from Rs 2 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs 4.78 crore in 2021-22 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Highlighting the works of the party in the defence sector, Shah said that BJP has implemented programs to provide modern defence material to those on the line of duty and has made an effort to ensure that the quality is not compromised. Slamming the Congress, Shah said that they are known as "failed government" while the BJP is known as a "double-engine" government. Earlier in the day, Shah also offered prayers at Baba Rudranath Temple in Rudraprayag. Polls to elect the 70-member Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly are scheduled to be held on February 14. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. Live TV New Delhi: Delhi Police prosecutor on Friday compared the alleged planning of the February 2020 riots to that of the 9/11 terror attacks in the US while opposing former JNU student Umar Khalid's bail plea. Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad drew the parallels while accusing Khalid of organizing a conspiracy meeting and supervising the site of protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. He said that a facade of secular protest was created whereas the protest was planned and tested. Opposing his bail plea before Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat, the prosecutor said, "Just before 9/11 happened, when all the people were involved, they reached a particular place and took training. A month before that, they moved to their respective positions. That is what is relevant in this case also." He went on to say, "The reference to the 9/11 episode is very relevant. The person who was behind 9/11 never visited the US. The conspiracy meeting happened in Malaysia. There were no WhatsApp chats available at the time. Today we have documents available that he was part of the group. There is a foundation to show that violence is likely to happen." He further told the court that the issue regarding the 2020 protests was not CAA or NRC but to embarrass the government and take such steps that it gets highlighted in international media. "Issue was not CAA-NRC. The issue was you had to somehow embarrass the government. In the process of embarrassing the government, you take steps which will reflect in the international media," SPP Prasad said. On the last date of the hearing, the prosecutor told the court that all the protest sites were picked because of their proximity to mosques, but were purposefully given secular names. Khalid and several others have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a stringent anti-terror law, and are accused of being the "masterminds" of the riots which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The arguments on their bail pleas have been going on for more than five months. Live TV New Delhi: Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary on Friday (January 28) turned down BJP leader Amit Shahs indirect invitation for an alliance with his saffron camp and said that he (Chaudhry) is not interested in what Shahs invitation and neither does he take it seriously. I don't take his (Amit Shah) invitation seriously. ANI quoted Chaudhary as saying. I don't take his (Amit Shah) invitation seriously. Western UP is not all about Jats. They're trying to create a further division. They don't talk about real issues but talk of 80-20 percent, Jinnah, Aurangzeb. We've taken a decision & will stand by it: RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary pic.twitter.com/5k1gm686jY ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 28, 2022 RLD chiefs statement came in response to Amit Shahs address to the Jat community on Wednesday during his campaign trail. According to PTI, while talking to Jat leaders from western Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday on the upcoming assembly elections, Shah said the ideology of both the parties (BJP and RLD) and the Jat community is the same as both keep national interest first and have been fighting against ''invader" and that Jayant Chaudhary chose the "wrong home." The Union home ministers remarks are being seen as an indirect invitation for the RLD to join hands with the BJP for the upcoming UP Assembly Elections. However, Jayant Chaudhary, who enjoys massive popularity among Jat voters in the Western UP, not only rebuffed Shahs offer but also accused the saffron party of playing divisive politics. They're trying to create a further division. They don't talk about real issues but talk of 80-20 per cent, Jinnah, Aurangzeb. We've taken a decision and will stand by it, said Chaudhary. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh, which holds 403 constituencies, will go to the polls in seven phases from February 10 to March 7. The counting of results will take place on March 10. Live TV Muzaffarnagar: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday asked farmers to be wary of the BJP, saying the ruling party's government had withdrawn its controversial farm laws only for the sake of votes. He also assured farmers that if his alliance forms the government in Uttar Pradesh, they will not allow the implementation of any such anti-farmer law in the state. Yadav made the statement addressing a joint press conference with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary, whose outfit is contesting the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in alliance with the Samajwadi Party. Ahead of the Assembly polls, the BJP is reaching out to the Jats in western Uttar Pradesh, from where members of the community had taken part in the year-long stir against the laws at the Delhi's border points. BJP leaders had also asked the RLD chief to join hands with their party after Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with Jat leaders in Delhi on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Jayant Chaudhary said his party's alliance with the SP is "solid" and aimed at furthering the cause of farmers. Akhilesh Yadav said, "The BJP had promised to double the income of farmers but it brought the three anti-farmer laws. The farmers forced the government to repeal the laws. The BJP rolled back the laws for the sake of votes. The BJP is a party, which brings laws without telling anything." Akhilesh asserted on coming to power, their party won't implement any such law in the state and said he and Jayant are taking forward the cause of farmers championed by former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and the late farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait. Jayant said earlier people had doubts if both parties would forge an alliance. "Our confluence had taken place much earlier. We want UP to develop and have forged the alliance as we want to take the fight of Chaudhary Charan Singh ahead," Jayant said remembering his grandfather. Akhilesh had reached Muzaffarnagar late for the press conference, claiming earlier in the day that he was stranded in Delhi as his helicopter was not allowed to take off. In a tweet in Hindi, the SP president posted a picture with a helicopter in the background and said no reason was given for it. "My helicopter is still detained in Delhi without assigning any reason and not being allowed to go to Muzaffarnagar, whereas a top BJP leader has just flown from here. This is a desperate conspiracy of the losing BJP. People are understanding everything," he said in his tweet. Live TV New Delhi: The West Bengal government wrote to district magistrates (DMs) of eight districts asking them to remove all unauthorised temples and shrines from all public places. In an order dated January 27, 2022, the state government asked DMs of these eight districts Darjeeling, Alipurduar, Coochbehar, Kalimpong, East Midnapore, North 24 Parganas and East Burdwan to take action against the "unauthorised" structures. The order further directed that the district administration should exercise caution while removing such structures. As per the government order issued in April 2010, The Government will not allow any new unauthorized constructions in public places. The State, Government Departments and Local Bodies such as Panchayats and Municipalities will be alert enough to detect and stop such constructions at the earliest stage, before the structure gains public acceptance. The demolition, if it is necessary, will be the responsibility of the Department owning the land." The government had said that these structures must be demolished unless there are compelling reasons for not doing so. The order had also asked government departments and local bodies to carry out a survey of public places to identify 'unauthorized religious structures' and prepare a report which had to be submitted by July 31, 2010. The survey had to be conducted on keeping in mind the location, age of the structure, the extent to which the structure is obstructing the movement of pedestrians or vehicular traffic, complaints received from the local people asking for removal of the structure, the possibility of relocation on a nearby plot of land and the implication of forcible removal on the maintenance of law and order and communal harmony, the 2010 order had said. Live TV New Delhi: Manyavars parent firm Vedant Fashions Ltd has fixed a price band of Rs 824-866 a share for its upcoming Rs 3,149-crore initial public offering (IPO). The Manyavar IPO will open on February 4 and conclude on February 8. Vedant Fashions Ltd has said that anchor investors can start bidding for the IPO shares starting from February 3. The Manyavar IPO consists purely of an offer for sale (OFS) of 36,364,838 equity shares by the promoter and existing shareholders. The OFS includes the sale of up to 1.74 crore shares by Rhine Holdings Ltd, up to 7.23 lakh shares by Kedaara Capital Alternative Investment Fund-Kedaara Capital AIF I, and up to 1.81 crore shares by Ravi Modi Family Trust. Investors can bid for a minimum of 17 equity shares. Bids can be placed in multiples of 17 equity shares. Vedant Fashions Ltds promoters are Ravi Modi, Shilpi Modi and Ravi Modi Family Trust. The firm wont receive any proceeds from the public issue since the offer is entirely an offer for sale. The company is aiming to raise Rs 3,149 crore from the public issue at the upper end of the price band. 50% of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional buyers, while 35 per cent of the offer is reserved for retail investors. The remaining 15 per cent has been reserved for non-institutional investors. According to media reports, Vedant Fashions-owned Manyavar brand is a category leader in the branded Indian wedding and celebration wear market, thanks to its pan India presence. Also Read: SBI Big Update: IMPS charges to change from next month; check new rate Other brands owned by Vedant Fashions include Twamev, Manthan, Mohey and Mebaz. The company has an extensive retail network with 546 exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) including 58 shop-in-shops globally, including 11 overseas EBOs across the United States, Canada and the UAE as of September last year. Also Read: Kotak Mahindra Bank Q3 profit rises 31% to Rs 3,403 crore Live TV #mute New Delhi: The Reserve Bank on Friday said it has imposed several restrictions on Indian Mercantile Cooperative Bank Ltd, Lucknow, including a cap of Rs 1 lakh on withdrawals. The restrictions came into force from closure of business hours on January 28, 2022 (Friday). In a statement, RBI said the Lucknow-based co-operative bank will not, without its prior approval, grant or renew any loans and advances, or make any investment. "In particular, a sum not exceeding Rs 1 lakh of the total balance across all savings bank or current accounts or any other account of a depositor, may be allowed to be withdrawn...", subject to certain conditions, it added. The central bank, however, added the directions should not per se be construed as a cancellation of the banking licence by the RBI. "The bank will continue to undertake banking business with restrictions till further notification from RBI. The Reserve Bank may consider modifications of these Directions depending upon circumstances," it noted. Also Read: PLI scheme for textiles: Centre extends deadline for applications till Feb 14 The restrictions would remain in force for six months and are subject to review. Also Read: Bank Holidays in February 2022: Banks to remain shut for 12 days, check important dates Live TV #mute New Delhi: Union Budget 2022, the most anticipated financial event in the calendar year, is all set to be announced on Tuesday, February 1 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The one thing that the common man will be eagerly waiting to hear from the finance minister during Union Budget 2022 presentation is the announcement on Income tax, that have a direct bearing on their finances. (Also read: Check 10 options to save income tax other than 80C) We can only wait for FM to spell out what she has in store for the common man, we could have a look at a few types of incomes which are exempt from the scope of Income Tax. Such type of incomes are known as tax-free incomes. (Also read: 65% people unhappy about current Income tax structure in India, finds survey) Heres looking at 5 major sources of income that are tax free in India Gift received from relatives Gift received from relatives are exempt from tax by virtue of Section 56. The following will be considered as relative for the purpose of claiming such exemption. (a) Spouse of the individual; (b) Brother or sister of the individual; (c) Brother or sister of the spouse of the individual; (d) Brother or sister of either of the parents of the individual; (e) Any lineal ascendant or descendent of the individual; (f) Any lineal ascendant or descendent of the spouse of the individual; (g) Spouse of the persons referred to in (b) to (f). Agricultural income Agricultural income is not taxable in the country. However, if you have non-agricultural income too, then while calculating tax on non-agricultural income, your agricultural income will be taken into account for rate purpose. Even if you have only agricultural income, you are advised to maintain some proof of your agricultural earnings/expenses. Provident fund Employee Provident Fund (EPF) offers tax-free returns for those employees who have had an active contribution for more than 5 years in his/her job. This is applicable even if the person has changed multiple organisations/employers in those 5 years. Scholarships Income earned on scholarship is tax free under sec 56(ii) of the Income Tax Act. Salary Components Chunks of your salary component that comes under reimbursement like transport allowance, meal coupons, mobile phone bills, internet bills, books and periodicals, leave travel allowance, leave travel concession etc is tax exempted. Live TV #mute CHENNAI: The MK Stalin-led Tamil Nadu government has decided to withdraw the night curfew imposed from 10 pm to 5 am due to the Covid-19 situation and announced that schools will re-open for students of Classes 1-12 from February 1. The DMK government has also withdrawn the complete lockdown on January 30 (Sunday). The decision I this regard was taken following a meeting chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, which was also attended by states Health Minister Ma Subramanian, Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu, and other officials. Considering the future of the students, livelihood of the people, employment and economy, the Chief Minister ordered certain relaxations in the state which will be in place from February 1-15. Among those measures, schools for students of Classes I-XII will commence from February 1. Except for colleges that serve as Covid care centres, the rest of the institutes, universities and training centres can operate from February 1. It has also been decided that social, cultural, and political gatherings across the state will remain restricted. People have been asked to follow Covid-related guidelines issued by the state election commission during the urban local body polls. While playschools and nursery classes will not be allowed to function, exhibitions, cultural events, both by government and private bodies, will remain restricted. The state government has allowed hotels, restaurants, mess, etc to operate with a 50 per cent seating capacity. A maximum of 100 people will be allowed to participate in marriages, while 50 will be permitted for funerals. Textiles and jewellery showrooms have been asked to ensure that the customers are not exceeding 50 per cent of the total capacity. Clubs, gyms, yoga centres, multiplex/theatres, indoor auditoriums, beauty parlours/saloons, and spas can operate at 50 per cent capacity. Amusement Parks, excluding water sports, can also run at 50 per cent capacity. People staying in containment zones will be allowed to move out only for essential activities. Tamil Nadu on Thursday recorded 28,515 cases, pushing the cumulative tally to 32,52,751. With 53 casualties, the toll reached 37,412. As many as 28,620 recovered in the last 24 hours, leaving 2,13,534 active cases in the state. Tamil Nadus positivity rate currently stands at 19.42 per cent. Live TV New Delhi: Apple iPhone users will soon be able to unlock their smartphones even when wearing a mask with an upgraded Face ID feature. According to a report by MacRumors, Apple has added a new feature designed to allow Face ID to be used with a mask in the iOS 15.4 beta update. Users dont need to rely on Apple Watch for authentication. Apple said that the feature can "recognise the unique features around the eye" for authentication purposes, allowing users to unlock devices even while wearing a mask on the face. However, users will have to rescan their face for Face ID to use the new feature during setup. Once the setup is complete, Face ID will be able to unlock iPhone devices even when youre wearing a mask. Users can visit the "Use Face ID with a Mask" toggle in the Settings app to turn on or off the feature. Moreover, theres is also a new feature in iOS 15.4 beta to "Add Glasses" to make Face ID more accurate when youre wearing glasses and a mask at the same time. However, Apple is informing the users in the settings app itself that Face ID is "most accurate" when its set up for full-face recognition only. If youre wearing a mask, you will need to look directly at your device to get it unlocked via Face ID. Users can use the Face ID with a mask to authenticate Apple Pay payments. Face ID with a mask on can also be used in lieu of a login and password in apps supporting Face ID, unlike the prior Apple Watch Face ID feature. Also Read: Google to invest $1 billion in Airtel; pick up 1.28% stake for $700 million According to the media report, the Face ID with a mask feature requires an iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 model. The report added that the feature is not available for users who have the iPhone 11 at this time. Also Read: Kotak Mahindra Bank customers, alert! Your debit card wont work for few hours next week, check timings Live TV #mute Mumbai: Actor Shilpa Shetty penned a note to thank Gauahar Khan for speaking in support of her sister Shamita Shetty, who was age-shamed ahead of the `Bigg Boss 15` finale. Shamita's fellow contestant Tejasswi Prakash has been receiving huge backlash for calling Shamita 'aunty' on the show recently. After Gauahar Khan voiced her support for Shamita on Twitter, Shilpa Shetty responded to her gesture by writing, "Thank you @GAUAHAR_KHAN for being so vociferous. Takes a strong woman to take up for another, That you are. #respect. Never give up on 3 things. Your family, your heart or your Dignity. @ShamitaShetty so proud, u showed grace under fire #ShamitaIsTheBoss #ShamitaShettyForTheWin." Thankyou @GAUAHAR_KHAN for being so vociferous.Takes a strong woman to take up for another, That you are.#respect Never give up on 3 things. Your family , your heart or your Dignity . @ShamitaShetty so proud, u showed grace under fire #ShamitaIsTheBoss #ShamitaShettyForTheWin https://t.co/hohPUphBz5 SHILPA SHETTY KUNDRA (@TheShilpaShetty) January 27, 2022 In her tweet, Gauahar had written, "Disgusting behaviour. It just keeps getting worse . Calling someone aunty is still proof of your insecurity but chadh gayi uspe is sheer filth of someone`s mindset . #shamita was such a sport . U cant teach dignity , it`s inbuilt . #bb15." Disgusting behaviour. It just keeps getting worse . Calling someone aunty is still proof of your insecurity but chadh gayi uspe is sheer filth of someones mindset . #shamita was such a sport . U cant teach dignity , its inbuilt . #bb15 Gauahar Khan (@GAUAHAR_KHAN) January 27, 2022 Earlier Bipasha Basu also took to Twitter to express her disappointment over the incident. The grand finale of `Bigg Boss 15` will take place on January 30. At a press conference, Ramirez stated that a total of 11,337 hectares of sea and land have been affected as a result of this ecological disaster. "We are going through an unprecedented situation in the history of our country. We never thought that an event like this would occur, thus generating serious environmental and economic damage," the minister said. The government official explained that, in the case of liquids, 4,225 barrels have been recovered, and 16,258 m3 of stockpiled sand has been removed, which will be treated and returned to its original location. Moreover, Ramirez indicated that nine skimmers provided by the State are currently in operation. Each one collects approximately 2,000 gallons of oily liquids from the sea. "We have 52 vessels, which are carrying out substantial work to contain and recover the oily material. 4,880 meters of barriers have been placed and, in Chancay, 1,000 meters are preventing oil from spreading and harming more Peruvians along the coast," the Cabinet member mentioned. He reported that 11 floating tanks are collecting oily material from the sea. In addition, 119 heavy land equipment machines such as front loaders, caterpillars, among others are recovering the material from Earth's crust. "Through this procedure, around 9,482 m3 of hazardous solid waste has been recovered, which is properly confined," said the head of the Environment Ministry (Minam) Oil spill On January 15, an oil spill was reported in Ventanilla district's sea area , at La Pampilla refinery, run by Repsol company. Repsol on Friday reported that 10,396 barrels of oil were spilled into the sea. The oil slick has spread along the coast of Ventanilla, reaching Ancon and Chancay, where a negative impact on marine flora and fauna is registered. ?? En vivo | Ministro del Ambiente, @RubenJ_Ramirez_, informa, mediante conferencia de prensa, las acciones que esta realizando el Poder Ejecutivo por la #EmergenciaAmbiental debido al derrame de petroleo en #Ventanilla.#PeruGeneracionDelCambiohttps://t.co/qBxN94tqJP pic.twitter.com/SMFEJY2bUY Ministerio del Ambiente ?????? (@MinamPeru) January 28, 2022 ?? "El Estado, en su respuesta contundente y rapida, ha realizado acciones para contener y neutralizar el avance del material oleoso, como el recojo y tratamiento de la parte de agua y arena", informo @RubenJ_Ramirez_.#EmergenciaAmbiental#PeruGeneracionDelCambio pic.twitter.com/WB1tqGqQWP Ministerio del Ambiente ?????? (@MinamPeru) January 28, 2022 ?? "En la zona de #Chancay hay 1000 metros de barreras que estan impidiendo el avance del material oleoso que perjudicarian a mas hermanos en el litoral", indico @RubenJ_Ramirez_.#EmergenciaAmbiental#PeruGeneracionDelCambio pic.twitter.com/bWSuWiVgMY Ministerio del Ambiente ?????? (@MinamPeru) January 28, 2022 (END) MCA/RMCH/RMB/MVB Repsol on Friday reported that 10,396 barrels of oil were spilled into the sea. The oil slick has spread along the coast of Ventanilla, reaching Ancon and Chancay, where a negative impact on marine flora and fauna is registered. ?? Ministro @RubenJ_Ramirez_, en compania de Lisa Kenna de la @USEMBASSYPERU, y el jefe de la Zona Reservada Ancon -del @SERNANP- supervisan las acciones limpieza y remediacion de playa Pocitos en #Ancon, tras derrame de petroleo en nuestro litoral.#EmergenciaAmbiental pic.twitter.com/xPQTAgSdbr Presidente @PedroCastilloTe: "Vamos a defender y limpiar el mar. Sancionaremos a las empresas que lo contaminan. Tambien a las que abusan de los pueblos, afectan su entorno y no se hacen responsables".#SiempreConElPueblo pic.twitter.com/6AQ9xBq3xa YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan addressed a congratulatory message on the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Armenian Armed Forces, his Office said. The message runs as follows: Dear compatriots, Respectful representatives of the Armed Forces, I congratulate all of us on the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia. During these three decades the Armenian Army has both glorious days and passed through many challenges. The Armenian people appreciate the heroism of all our heroes, those soldiers, officers, generals and volunteers who have fought until the end for the defense, security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Homeland. Today we are moving on the path of systematic reforms aimed at further developing the Armed Forces, by re-assessing the past path of the Army, the advantages, shortcomings and problems it had. The Republic of Armenia will have a professional army, and the government will carry out that work tirelessly, without depression and pessimism, but with optimism on the path of building the security environment. Improving the Armys combat preparedness, armament and the military service conditions is our priority. Since 2018, the government of Armenia has started the process of improving the social and living conditions of servicemen, and it will be continuous. Each soldier and officer of Armenia must feel the states support, and we will be consistent in that process. Military, officer service must be a subject of special public respect and appreciation, which must be expressed by the system of special social guarantees to the servicemen and their families. In line with this, the intellectual, professional, physical and psychological preparedness criteria of service assessment must also be raised, and the public respect and appreciation towards the Army must be based on these points. Dear compatriots, On the occasion of the Army Day, I would like to specifically thank all volunteers, soldiers, officers and generals who contributed to the formation of the Armenian Army. I would like to thank all defenders of our Homeland, all servicemen for the sacrifices they made for unconditionally serving to our country and people in these difficult conditions. I also want to thank their families for the patience, tenacity. I bow before our heroes: their memory is immortal, their work is sacred. God bless the Armenian Army! YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian addressed a congratulatory message on the occasion of Army Day, his Office said. The message reads: Dear compatriots, Today is the Army Day. The Armenian Armed Forces are 30 years old. Regardless of the situation, our Army has been and remains the guarantor and protector of our security and identity. Let us remember with gratitude and bowing all those who fought for our Motherland, Armenia, and Artsakh, who sacrificed their lives for our independence and freedom. I wish health to all the injured ... Together with all of you, I look forward to our captive compatriots. We must continue our efforts to return them home and quickly find the missing. We must all be united with the Army, keep its back strong, strengthen it, and consolidate around the army. The army and education are the most important cornerstones of our statehood. The world is changing rapidly, and it depends on us how to use these changes for the well-being of our state and people. For this, we must have educated citizens ready to defend our Homeland, organized, disciplined, technically equipped, technologically advanced and efficient Armed Forces, a competitive and developing economy, and, of course, a society that is ready to support the Army at all times. Dear servicemen, Every one of you is the unique axis of the Army. Our Homeland and we all look at you with hope and faith, respect, pride, and confidence; we will build new victories together. Glory to the Armenian Army! STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan received a group of members of the Union of War Volunteers of Artsakh to bestow them with state awards on the occasion of the Homeland Defenders Day, his Office said. President Harutyunyan thanked the meeting participants for their service to the Homeland and stated that the consequences of the last war cannot distract them from the path of state-building, the Armenian people are fighting for more than thirty years. YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The Embassy of the United States in Armenia addressed a congratulatory statement on social media on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Armenian Armed Forces on January 28. As Armenia honors its armed forces today, we recognize those who have served and express our gratitude for Armenias partnership with us, including in international peacekeeping efforts. We honor those who have fallen in defense of their nation and salute the families and citizens who support them, the Embassy said in a statement. The Republic of Armenia and Armenians around the world celebrate the 30th anniversary of foundation of the Armenian Armed Forces on January 28. YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. From Army To IT Industry program participants say after ending the military service they were in uncertainty over their future, didnt know from where to start, but they got acquainted with the announcement about this program and decided to apply. Hrant Gishyan and Grigory Grigoryan applied to this program. They said that they got informed about it on the internet, immediately applied to it and passed all stages. These boys stated that for the beginning no professional knowledge is needed, just it is necessary to have elementary knowledge. This program made me go deeper into the field. There was an uncertainty after the military service, I didnt know from where to start. And I saw the announcement on the internet, immediately applied, and the program really contributed to my quick orientation about what I want in the future, Grigori Grigoryan said. He informed that after completing the courses he applied for a job in one of the IT companies in Armenia and was selected among the many applicants. He is sure that this program helped him to be hired by that company. In turn Hrant Gishyan said that in addition to professional skills, he also gained a skill of working in a team, made new friends. He says this course is a wonderful opportunity for the newly demobilized men to create a career, work and be useful for the state. The launch of this program is a very good idea. After the war it was difficult to do something new, there was no desire at all, but this program made me go further into the future. It was an amazing opportunity to try to learn something new without spending money. The field in its turn has prospects, Gishyan said. He says that after the war this program forces to understand that they are not ignored and that the government thinks about them. These two boys are friends now, both have applied to this program, met each other and currently work in the same company thanks to the knowledge gained by the program. Education program director at the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE) Shamam Gevorgyan told Armenpress that this program has been implemented since 2016, after the April War. The program beneficiaries were the boys who participated in the April War. Gevorgyan said that the results were satisfying as a total of 168 men were trained in 2016. Shamam Gevorgyan said that after the 2020 War, the number of program applications declined. This year 85 out of 138 registered participants of the program have passed professional trainings. The UATE will soon launch a new course in partnership with DISQO. Armenian soldiers who participated in the September 27, 2020 war launched by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, the disabled servicemen, their family members, as well as the family members of fallen soldiers will have an opportunity to develop their skills in the IT sector. The Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE) of Armenia restarts its project From Army to IT Industry, aimed at solving the education and employment issue of the beneficiary groups in the technology sector. The UATE is working jointly also with the Armenian ministry of high technological industry, providing free participation to online technology education courses conducted by the ministry for the persons who have participated in the war operations. YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia addressed a congratulatory message on the Armenian Army Day. Today is the Armenian Army Day, in other words, the day of the protection, security, dignity and strengthening of our nation and homeland. Lets pray for our army, lets stand by our army. The strengthening of the Armenian Army is the strengthening of the homeland and our nation, Catholicos Aram I said. The Republic of Armenia and Armenians around the world celebrate the 30th anniversary of foundation of the Armenian Armed Forces on January 28. YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS. The statement of the defense ministry of Azerbaijan according to which on January 27 the units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at the Azerbaijani military positions located in the north-eastern section of the border is disinformation, the Defense Ministry of Armenia said. In reality, on January 27, at around 22:00, several irregular shots were fired by the Azerbaijani side in the aforementioned section of the border, to which the Armenian units didnt respond, the Ministry said in a statement. Commander of the Defense Army of Artsakh, Lieutenant-General Kamo Vardanyan addressed a congratulatory message on the occasion of the Armenian Army and the Homeland Defenders Day. January 28, 2022, 14:03 We will be consistent in keeping high the title of Homelands Defender Artsakh Defense Army Commander STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 28, ARTSAKHPRESS: As "Armenpress" informs, in his message Kamo Vardanyan said that values have been created which have guaranteed Armenians place and role in regional and geopolitical developments for decades. I bow before the memory of all those fallen for the Homeland, before their relatives and co-servicemen. Congratulations to all those persons who have ever held and continue holding the highest title of the Homelands Defender. We still have a lot to do and a long path to pass, and congratulating our compatriots on behalf of the commanding staff of the Defense Army and myself personally, I want to assure that we will be consistent in preserving the best traditions of the past 30 years and keeping high the title of the Homelands Defender, he said in his message. One of two men arrested in Manchester as part of the investigation into the Texas synagogue attack has been released (PA) (PA Wire) One of two men arrested in Manchester as part of the investigation into the Texas synagogue siege has been released. The other man held on Tuesday by officers probing Malik Faisal Akrams attack remains in custody, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said. Akram, 44, originally from Blackburn in Lancashire, was shot dead when the FBI entered the place of worship in Colleyville on January 15 following a 10-hour stand-off. We urge everyone to remain vigilant, and if you do see anything suspicious then please report it Greater Manchester Police Four hostages were unharmed. A GMP spokesman, who said the arrests were part of the local investigation, added: Communities defeat terrorism, and the help and support we get from the public is a vital part of that. We urge everyone to remain vigilant, and if you do see anything suspicious then please report it, in confidence, to police via the anti-terrorist hotline or gov.uk/ACT. It wont ruin lives but it may well save them. FBI director Christopher Wray called the stand-off an anti-Semitic incident, while US President Joe Biden said it was an act of terror. The FBI said Akram was not known to US intelligence services, with the agency conducting rigorous analysis of Akrams associates, his online presence, and his devices. Akram flew to New York on December 29 before later travelling to Texas and entering the Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue. Akram, who is understood to have had a criminal record, was investigated by the UKs security service MI5 in 2020 but deemed not to be a credible threat to national security, official sources confirmed to the PA news agency. It is not yet clear how he was able to travel to the US despite his criminal past. The FBI said it is working hard to learn more about how Akram acquired the firearm he possessed. Every Friday, The Citizen features a pet available for adoption from the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York. This week, we spotlight Bear. AGE: 2 1/2 years old BREED: Shiba inu mix COMMENTS: Bear has been in the shelter far too long. He has asked us to run his last interview again. He is providing some new information, and he's hoping that his new family will read about him and come to meet him and take him home. Bear spent most of his life living in a small crate. His kennel is a palace compared to his former living conditions. He is full of energy and loves to run it off. He needs a lot of exercise and would be an incredible running partner for a dedicated jogger. He does enjoy his downtime, but is always ready to get up and go again! We would recommend obedience training for Bear and his new family. Bear has been tested for heartworm disease, is negative and is on monthly preventives. He has been fully vaccinated (rabies, distemper, kennel cough), neutered and microchipped. Please stop by to check him out. Q. Who is your best friend? A. There is no doubt about it! Athena is my BFF. She and I have something significant in common. We have been here at the shelter the longest of any of the other pups. My shelter peeps think I might be a little depressed because of that. Anyway, I have chatted with Athena and we have agreed that when we get to go home, we will continue to be each other's BFF at least in spirit. I hope our new families are reading this. What are you waiting for? Q. If you could visit any place in the world, where would that be? A. Well, as you have been told, part of me originated in Japan! I was bred to be a hunting dog, and I still have some of those traits in me even though I am far away from my origins. I believe that a brief stopover in Japan on my way to another exotic destination would be quite satisfying, so that's where I would like to visit. Q. Do you have an interesting fact to share today? A. Sort of. Shiba inus are currently one of the most popular companion dogs in Japan, and we have been declared a national treasure of the country. Many shiba inus have become Instagram and YouTube sensations. I'm thinking that if I do get to go to Japan, I might look into starting my own YouTube. Being a sensation appeals to me. Well, I am sensational anyway! Q. How would you describe yourself? A. Why don't I tell you how Wikipedia describes me! It says that I am alert and agile. That's just for starters. My shelter people think I am very intelligent which I am. I am a quick learner and would love to show my new family just how smart I am by enrolling in obedience training. Finally, I am very cute and snuggly. You really need to check out my picture. I could go on, but don't want to bore you. Q. If you could have a job, what would that be? A. As I mentioned, my breed was originally bred for hunting. While that does not appeal to me, I might want to become a search-and-rescue pup. Doing that kind of work would give me a great sense of satisfaction since I would be helping people and even other dogs. However, at the moment, I'm quite happy being unemployed. But thanks for asking. Q. If you could meet someone famous, who would that be? A. There is a famous shiba inu who has his own Instagram. His name is Maru Taro, and he has 2.6 million followers! I checked him out. He is handsome and witty, so he could give me some competition. But, I would still like to meet him. Maybe my new family could hook me up with him on Instagram! Q. Do you have any advice for our Citizen readers? A. Yes, I do! While I don't want to sound like a broken record, I will repeat the following. Please, good friends, bring your pets dogs and cats inside on these terribly frigid days! If your dog must be outside, it absolutely must have appropriate and adequate shelter. If you need information on that, my shelter peeps will be happy to provide that to you. Thank you for keeping all of your family members warm and safe. Much love and many licks. Bear and friends. The Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York is a New York state-registered shelter/rescue, registration No. RR-181. Pursuant to Article 26-A, Section 408 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, the registrant is authorized to operate as a registered pet rescue, in compliance with such law. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A submission from "Sean Patrick" to the New York Independent Redistricting Commission offers a glimpse at how the Democratic-controlled state Legislature could redraw congressional district maps, including the existing 24th district in central New York. "Sean Patrick" isn't an ordinary New Yorker. He is U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, a Democrat who represents the 18th Congressional District. In addition, he is the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the House Democrats' political arm. Maloney and House Democrats have a lot of interest in New York's redistricting because it could affect the race for the majority later this year. Democrats have a slim majority in the House and Republicans are hoping to win enough seats to regain control of the chamber. In Maloney's submission to the commission, he details his vision for how the 24th district, which includes western Oswego County and all of Cayuga, Onondaga and Wayne counties. "The central New York seat, now known as the 24th, should ideally tie together similar urban and suburban communities," Maloney wrote. Maloney's proposal would result in a district that stretches west to include part of Monroe County and Livingston County. The northernmost part of the district would be comprised of Wayne and Oswego counties. It would stretch south to Onondaga County and cover much of the Finger Lakes, including the cities of Auburn, Canandaigua and Geneva. While that district would contain areas where Republicans have an enrollment advantage, it would put Democrats in a much better position to compete in congressional elections and win the seat. Maloney's submission differs from what was proposed by Democrats on the redistricting commission. The Democratic plan would put some of the same areas in a congressional district, but Syracuse and most of Onondaga County would be in a different district. That district would stretch east to Utica and south to Ithaca, creating a Democratic-friendly district. Now that the Democratic-controlled state Legislature is taking over the redistricting process, it's expected that there will be more Democratic-friendly districts and Republicans will have a small number of districts. Democrats have their sights set on central New York, where the party's nominees have lost four elections to retiring U.S. Rep. John Katko. But as Maloney's plan and the Democratic redistricting commissioners showed, there isn't a consensus on how central New York's district should be configured. Some plans would separate Auburn and at least a portion of Cayuga County from the Syracuse-area district. It's believed that Democrats want to add Ithaca to any Syracuse-area district because that would strengthen their enrollment advantage. They would also remove some of the more GOP-dominated areas, such as Wayne County, from the district. State legislative leaders haven't announced when the new maps will be released. The Legislature will vote on the redistricting plan next week. Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. At its meeting Tuesday, Flagstaff Unified School District' board addressed the auditor general report that found the district was one of six in Arizona at high financial risk. The board discussed the reasons the district landed where it did in the report as well as some steps it was taking to respond. Ginger Stevens, FUSDs director of finance and business services, presented the reports findings during the meeting. The decrease in student count in 2021, a statewide distance learning adjustment and decisions made to spend down some of our cash balances were the primary factors that led us to this place, she said. The first budget for FY21 was presented in June, with a student count of 8,930 (the group A weighted student count, or WSC, was 10,701) and a maintenance and operations (M&O) budget of $72.4 million. By the final revision of the years budget, the student count was 8,307 (a WSC of 9,959) and the M&O budget was at $67 million. Three million dollars of the M&O budgets decrease was due to the lowered student count (offset by $3.2 million in enrollment stability grants) and $2.4 million was because of a distance learning adjustment. The distance learning adjustment was a decision from the state government that remote students would be funded at a percentage of the amount schools received for in-person students. FUSD Superintendent Michael Penca said online students were weighted at 0.95, compared to 1.0 for in-person students, and that the district had expected them to be fully funded. The district was aware of declining enrollment, due to lower birth rates and high cost of living, among other factors. Stevens said FUSD has been using staff reductions through natural attrition over the last several years to reduce spending in response to lower student counts. The report had found that FUSD's budget limit reserves had decreased for both M&O and capital funds. The M&O budget is where there's a bit of good news to report, Stevens said. After the Arizona Department of Education processed the districts final student count, FUSD was able to carry forward $368,375 to the next year -- more than what it had expected. Without the distance learning adjustment, the carry forward for FY21 would have been around $2.3 million, according to Stevens. The figure would still be less than in previous years, she said, but we still would have had a good healthy carry forward. The distance learning adjustment just really took a toll on us, she said. That adjustment was also the reason Stevens gave for the districts change in fund balance of negative 26.6%. Had it not been made, the districts ratio would have been a positive 1.3%, she said. The lack of capital budget reserve was due to several large projects FUSD had undertaken, specifically the Mount Elden Middle School renovation. Extra funds were spent to ensure cohesion between the old and new buildings, and to bring the project to completion, rather than having to restart construction at a later time. If we had put that project on hold, it would be 30% more, said board member Anne Dunno. I understand that weve drawn down that carry forward on the capital, but I think those were good decisions between the administration and the team and the board to keep going and pressing forward on the project. The report did not include carry-forward funds in its calculation of operating margin ratios, another area in which FUSD was listed as high risk. Funds left over from previous years were not included in revenue calculations, in other words. Stevens said that, while she agrees "with the calculationit doesnt really tell the whole story, especially for Flagstaff. We have been blessed to have healthy cash balances that we have been carrying forward for years, she said. Some of those expenses came out of those accounts where we didnt get the revenue in the current fiscal year, but we could have had it for years prior. This calculation simply looks at what happened in that year only. FUSDs response to the reports findings include ongoing meetings with its cabinet and the auditor generals office. Penca said the district would be looking at its current budget and adjustments it could make to its ESSER III budget, and would be monitoring student enrollment. So far, enrollment has increased by around 300 students this year, he said. Itll be interesting how that will greatly impact many of the measures that the auditor generals using for this report . Our [enrollment] hasnt rebounded to where we were prior to the pandemic, but that also wasnt what we were projecting. We were projecting a steady, slow decline thats related to birth rate, to some factors of our community that at times can make it challenging for many to afford to live [here], he said. Stevens said that because the report is only in its second year, she wasnt aware how much it would affect us and would be sure to check the measures before the end of each fiscal year. My goal is that we won't be here again, she said. Because weve been here once, we know now more how it happens, and I think we have an excellent team in place that will conquer this. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 6 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. Benchmark assessment results for Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) have mostly improved from the fall to winter of the 2021-22 school year, according to a recent report presented to the districts board. Robert Hagstrom, FUSD's director of research and assessment, presented the results at FUSDs board meeting Tuesday. This time, we have a little bit of good news, Hagstrom said. ...Not every area looks like we wanted them to, but a lot of them do. Im really happy to see that our students are growing. We know we had learning loss, but we know that we can help bring them where theyre supposed to be. Mary K. Walton, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, presented measures the district was taking to respond. The presentation focused on kindergarten through eighth-grade results from AIMSWeb Plus and Study Island assessments in math and English language arts (ELA), which are administered three times throughout the school year. Hagstrom and Walton had presented results from the fall tests from beginning of year at the boards Oct. 26 meeting. The AIMSWeb benchmark gives a composite percentile score for a series of assessments taken by elementary students (grades K-5). The number of students falling into higher percentiles rose as the number falling into lower percentiles decreased -- which Hagstrom said was a good sign. For every grade level except for second grade in math, were moving in the right direction, he said. ...We want to see that movement through the year. Elementary schools in the district continue to have weekly collaborative team meetings and provide information to families on student progress as part of their intervention strategies, Walton said. FUSD has also added measures to address learning loss this semester, many focused on teacher training. To address learning loss, its not just finding out the kids that need it and sending them to a tier two or tier three intervention like weve had in the past. Weve needed to strengthen our tier one, which is in the classroom, she said. New professional development that Walton mentioned included understanding Dreambox data, math recovery (currently only at Kinsey and Thomas elementary schools, though its planned to expand to other sites next year) and reading. She said elementary school principals in the district had formed a reading task force that includes interventional specialists. The task force meets monthly to research resources and best practices in reading support and to develop a professional development plan. You cant just hand over a program that has shown good research somewhere if you dont have the pedagogy and instructional value behind it, she said. When asked about mask-related challenges for students in speech and language therapy, Susan Smith, the district's director of equity, inclusion and support, said it could be "a struggle." Students are struggling with speech and language therapy because its hard to be able to produce the sounds, for the students to see the teacher and the teacher to see the student," she said. "...Teachers are doing the best they can to provide those services, but it is a barrier." Masks with clear sections are used for these lessons (yet there are some issues with fogging) and some students have an exception to the districts mandate that allows them to wear face shields during speech therapy, Smith said. Arizonas standardized test (the Arizona Academic Standards Assessment, or AASA) will have an oral reading fluency portion for the first time in the spring, data Hagstrom said will be really interesting to analyze. Study Island results also measure a composite of assessment scores -- this time for students in grades six through eight. These tests are meant to show a students progress towards a goal, meaning that the assessments have the same level of difficulty based on where students should be at the end of the year. The districts math results for the winter are really what we want to see, Hagstrom said. Each grade level's score had improved from the fall assessment. ELA results were more mixed, with sixth- and eighth-grade scores falling slightly from the fall results and seventh-grade scores rising. The subject is less linear than math, and Hagstrom said the end-of-year benchmark should give a better sense of where things stand. Some standards measured by this benchmark possibly havent been covered yet, for example. Im hopeful that were going to see a U-shaped curve between fall and winter, and then in spring well see that come back up because the standards should have all been presented by then, Hagstrom said. FUSD also plans to check the assessments measures to ensure each benchmark has the same standards and level of difficulty over the course of the year. If they all line up, the next step is to check instruction, a school-level analysis already underway in parts of the district, Hagstrom said. I know that the instructional specialists and principals in a lot of cases are already doing that analysis, he said. Theyre doing that reflection and having those conversations and trying to figure out what works best for those students, for those grade levels. FUSDs two middle schools, Mount Elden and Sinagua, have dedicated advisory periods for student interventions. Like the elementary schools, their response includes communication with families as well as meetings with administration and instructional specialists on the goals and direction of intervention. Instructional practices [are] what really strengthens and changes the trajectory of our students progress, Walton said. The full presentation can be seen on the district's Vimeo and a final round of benchmarks for the 2021-22 school year will take place in May. Love 1 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. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes Just weeks after taking office as Mayor of New York, Eric Adams faces a political and public-policy challenge that is vexing Democratic mayors across the countryand President Joe Biden. Gun violence in the United States is at record levels, and Democrats are under intense pressure to bring down violent crime while also curbing police abuse. More than two-thirds of the countrys largest cities, including the three largestNew York, Los Angeles, and Chicagoexperienced an increase in homicides in 2021, a continuation of a surge in violence that some officials had hoped would fade as covid-19 lockdowns eased. Instead, homicides have also risen in smaller cities, such as Albuquerque, Austin, Columbus, Louisville, Nashville, Rochester, and Tucson. All told, more than twenty thousand people were killed by gun violence in 2021an increase from the record number set in 2020, when homicides spiked by roughly thirty per cent from the previous year, the largest single-year jump since the F.B.I. began publishing the numbers in the nineteen-sixties. As has been true for decades, the vast majority of those killed were young men of color living in low-income communities, but Americans are also dying in confrontations over parking spaces, or because of something they wrote on social media. Bystanders, many of them children, are being killed or injured in rising numbers, too. Gunshot admissions in pediatric hospitals rose in multiple cities, with a three-hundred-per-cent increase in Hartford, Connecticut, and a fifty-per-cent rise in Houston. Police officers are perishing as well, with sixty-one officers killed by firearms in 2021, a thirty-six-per-cent increase from 2020. (The No. 1 killer of law-enforcement officials last year was covid, which killed three hundred and one officers, a sixty-five-per-cent increase from 2020.) The pandemic also limited trials, with jurors often unable to meet. And gun purchases surgedtoday, an estimated eighty million Americans own guns. During Mayor Adamss first month on the job, a man with a history of mental-health issues pushed Michelle Go, a forty-year-old woman, in front of a subway train in a Times Square subway station, killing her; an eleven-month-old baby was hit in the cheek by a stray bullet while sitting in a parked car with her mother in the Bronx; and Kristal Bayron-Nieves, a nineteen-year-old cashier at a Burger King, was shot dead as she struggled to open her register during a botched robbery in East Harlem. Police officers were wounded in separate incidents in the Bronx and on Staten Island. But it was a seemingly routine call for a domestic disturbance in Harlem on Friday evening that presented the greatest challenge so far to Adams in his brief tenure. Jason Rivera, a twenty-two-year-old police officer, and Wilbert Mora, a twenty-seven-year-old officer, were fatally wounded by a man wielding a Glock pistol with a high-capacity magazine. The gun had been stolen from its owner in Baltimore, in 2017. The gunman, who was shot by a third officer, died of his wounds. It is our city against the killers, Adams, who is also a retired police captain, said during a press conference at the scene of the shooting. This was just not an attack on three brave officers. This was an attack on the city of New York. On Monday, Adams, a centrist Democrat who campaigned on a promise to reduce crime, unveiled a Blueprint to End Gun Violence that includes the revamping of anti-crime police units that Mayor Bill de Blasios Administration had disbanded in 2020, after weeks of protests against police brutality following the killing of George Floyd, in Minneapolis. Progressives immediately criticized Adams for bringing back the units, which had been criticized for employing heavy-handed tactics in communities of color, predicting that the move would increase tensions between those communities and the police. Adams also called for changes in state laws surrounding bail for defendants who are considered dangerous and the minimum age that someone can be charged as an adult. Adams, in a local television interview on Tuesday, dismissed the criticisms from progressives and said that he had promised voters that he would crack down on illegal guns. The people of this city elected me mayor, he said. What I believe has happened in this city and country is that the social media savvy, the loudest, that body, has really hijacked the narrative. People want to be safe and they dont believe people who carry guns should be returned to our streets. Democratic mayors across the countryand the Biden Administrationare also announcing new strategies. Last year, President Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland launched a Justice Department initiative to reduce violent crimes by slowing the spread of illegal guns. The department has created five regional strike forces to target gun-trafficking corridors, required U.S. Attorneys offices to update and enhance joint strategies with local law enforcement tailored to specific regions, and provided roughly seven hundred and fifty million dollars in grants to reduce violent crime. Hours before the killing of the young police officer in New York, in a speech to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Garland announced that the Biden Administration is requesting a billion dollars from Congress in additional community-policing grants. While many of the public-safety challenges our cities face require a unique and tailored approach, gun violence is a universal challenge and one that demands comprehensive action, Garland said. The trafficking of firearms up Interstate 95 from Southern states with laxer gun-control laws to New York and other large Northeastern cities where they are sold at a profit has become so common that law-enforcement officials refer to the highway as the Iron Pipeline. Biden and Garland also announced a crackdown on ghost gunsdifficult-to-trace firearms that are often bought online and shipped in parts that can be assembled after delivery. They proposed a rule change that would eliminate loopholes in federal regulations that allow certain firearm parts to be manufactured without serial numbers because they are not, legally, firearms until they are assembled. Anyone legally barred from buying firearms can order ghost-gun kits online because a background check is not required for purchase. In December, a tech-savvy thirteen-year-old boy in Georgia, who ordered ghost-gun kits and then assembled the weapons at home and sold them, accidentally shot and killed his fourteen-year-old sister. Republican elected officials describe the country as lawless under Biden and big-city Democratic mayorsand mostly scoff at such measures. Efforts to defund police departments have largely stalled, but conservatives continue to highlight the issue as evidence that Democrats are soft on crime. Some far-right-backed lawmakers in Republican-controlled states are going further, refusing to participate in federal efforts to track illegal guns used in crimes. Last year, the Republican-controlled state legislature in Missouri passed a law prohibiting local law-enforcement officials from participating in federal programs that did so. The law was part of a Second Amendment sanctuary movement led by conservative activists who, according to the Times, demand that Republican-controlled state governments act more aggressively by defying the Democratic-controlled federal government on culture-war issues, such as abortion, voting, and gun rights. Lisa Monaco, the Deputy Attorney General, said that the department filed a statement of interest supporting a lawsuit filed by the city of St. Louis challenging the constitutionality of the Missouri law, which has resulted in at least a dozen officers around the state declining to participate in federal gun-tracing programs. Our focus, my focus is: Whats the impact on our ability to actually do the enforcement job, to do the job of protecting communities? Monaco told me. Weve seen a retreat from participation on our task forces, things like the A.T.F. task forces, and providing information, providing guns for us to trace. Monaco said that the Biden Administrations approach is centered on identifying the gun traffickers and repeat offenders who are the main sources of gun violence and working closely with community members and local law enforcement. Asked about prioritizing high arrest numbers, a strategy touted by some Republicans, Monaco declined to comment on the efforts and approaches of previous Administrations. What were focussed on is addressing the most significant drivers of violent crime, she said. The repeat offenders, the gun trafficking, and the gun violence and doing it with communities. Regardless, crime appears to be a growing political vulnerability for the White House. A December poll by ABC News and Ipsos found confidence in Bidens handling of crime declining, with only thirty-six per cent of those polled approving, a drop from forty-three per cent in October. Approval of his handling of gun violence was even lower: thirty-two per cent, down from thirty-nine per cent in October. Only one in four Independents said that they supported Bidens response to gun violence. A Justice Department official was hopeful that, as the effects of the pandemic begin to ease, some of the factors likely contributing to the increase in gun violencefewer criminal trials, closings of schools, and reduced access to drug treatmentwould end as well. They said covid-19s impact cannot be overstated. It removed social supportsA.A. meetings, drug treatment, in-person mental-health treatment. Kids were no longer in school, the official said. The criminal-justice system at all levels was severely impacted by the pandemic. A small number of Democratic-controlled citiesincluding Dallas, Boston, and Charlotte, North Carolinaexperienced a decrease in murder rates in 2021. And, in St. Louis, which had the worst homicide rate in the nation in 2020, homicides fell by twenty-five per cent in 2021. Criminologists say it is too early to tell which strategies are proving effective in those cities, but last week the Washington Post reported that some approaches show promise. Concentrating police efforts on the most active criminal groups and individuals that appear to be fuelling homicides seems to have an impact. Police departments that embrace transparency and invest significantly in efforts to improve relations with the local community also appear to gain more cooperation from the public. Mayor Adams, when he outlined his plan on Monday, noted that immediate action is needed. I want to be clear: this is not just a plan for the futureit is a plan for right now, he said. Gun violence is a public-health crisis. There is no time to wait. Divisions remain within and between parties about how to curb gun violence, but it is, as Adams said, a public-health crisisone that is claiming a record number of American lives. And, as with covid, failing to aggressively address it will have political consequences. A Vietnam veteran was recognized by the Gage County Board of Supervisors this week for his service to the country. Alvin Huls was named the recipient of the veteran honor award, a monthly program during a County Board meeting. Gage County Veteran Services Officer Scott Bates introduced Huls to the board and detailed some of his service history. Alvin Huls enlisted in the United States Air Force on Jan. 7, 1964, Bates said. He was honorably discharged on Jan. 5, 1968. During that time Alvin was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal and later served in the Nebraska Army National Guard from 1973-1974. Alvin has been an active member and past commander of the Beatrice American Legion Post 27 and hes an active member of the VFW Post 1077 in Beatrice, where hes held many positions. Bates said when he enlisted he took his oath on his 19th birthday. He went to tech school before being stationed in Michigan. Two and a half years into my service, I got my orders for Vietnam and I had to go back through school because they were transferring me to TAC, which is Tactical Air Command, Huls recalled. I went to Phan Rang, Vietnam and we had the F100 Super Sabre and the F4 Phantoms. I had a brief tour in the Philippines. I came back to the United States to Shaw Air Force Base and thats where I took my discharge. I want to thank everybody for recognizing me, because I sure wasnt recognized when I came back from Vietnam, I can tell you. Erich Tiemann, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, commended Huls for his service as well as his involvement in the community. I spent many years sitting behind him and his family at church growing up, Tiemann said. Its wonderful, people go and fight for our freedom, come home and are active in the community. Thank you and your family very much. This is a great opportunity for all of us to say thank you. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The In the Footsteps of Norman Maclean Literary Festival is in June in Missoula and will feature nationally prominent authors who will discuss the unique heritage of American wilderness, public lands and sacred grounds. The event was postponed in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and will include nationally known Western writers and literary talents native and non-native who will present their work and share ideas on the evolution of national parks, decolonization of American literature and history, and the literary inspiration that comes from the unique heritage of American wilderness and public lands. The event, the fourth to be hosted by the Maclean Literary Festival, is called "Public Land & Sacred Ground: Western Writers Bear Witness," and is scheduled for June 24 to June 26 at the new Missoula Public Library. Admission will be free to the public. The Maclean Festival was initially designed to celebrate the literature of the West, said Festival Director Jenny Rohrer. Our 2022 Festival is moving beyond that mission to respond to conservation issues specifically the global climate crisis and the need to protect public lands and native ground because they should be sacred to all of us. We truly believe that literature can educate, motivate, and initiate a call to action. The literary festival was launched in 2015 to celebrate the life and work of author, scholar and teacher Norman Maclean, who was noted for his books "A River Runs Through It and Other Stories" and "Young Men and Fire," which won the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1992 for its account of the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire north of Helena. Maclean lived in Missoula when he was a child, worked for the U.S. Forest Service in western Montana, and spent time fishing on the Blackfoot River near his familys Seeley Lake cabin, which still stands today. Maclean Festival speakers include well-known leaders of the conservation movement and literary talents in the country and in the West: Timothy Egan, author of The Big Burn and National Book Award winner, The Worst Hard Time, and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and opinion writer for the New York Times. (Saturday keynote speaker) Terry Tempest Williams, educator, conservationist and author of The Hour of the Land: A Personal Topography of Americas National Parks. (Sunday keynote speaker) Shane Doyle, a Montana-based scholar, teacher, musician and community advocate whose work focuses on the history and heritage of Native American tribes of the Northern Great Plains. He is an enrolled member of the Apsaalooke Nation (also known as the Crow Tribe), and holds a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Montana State University. Doug Peacock, author of Grizzly Years: In Search of the American Wilderness, a memoir of his experiences in the 1970s and 1980s, much of which was spent alone in the wilderness of the western U.S. observing grizzly bears. Gretel Ehrlich, author of The Solace of Open Spaces, and, more recently, Unsolaced, Along the Way to All That Is, which merges intense, vivid, factual observations of nature with a wryly mystical personal voice. Rick Bass, an award-winning author and activist known for his celebration of the natural world and his defense of the wilderness in his many novels, including Why I Came West and The Yaak. Debra Magpie Earling, the Salish author of The Lost Journals of Sacajawea and Perma Red, which won the American Book Award and the 2003 Spur Award for the Best Novel of the West. John Taliaferro, former senior editor at Newsweek and the author of Grinnell: Americas Environmental Pioneer and his Relentless Drive to Save the West, which won the America Outdoor Book Award and the 2019 Montana Book Award. Peter Stark, an adventure and exploration writer who wrote Astoria, a New York Times bestseller, and who will release his new book, Tecumseh, in spring 2022. Sterling HolyWhiteMountain, who grew up on the Blackfeet Reservation and whose work has appeared in Off the Path: An Anthology of 21st Century American Indian and Indigenous Writers, The Atlantic and The New Yorker. Most events will be held at the Missoula Public Library and will be free of charge to the public. A cocktail reception will be held at the Dana Art Gallery Friday evening and a gala dinner will be served Saturday evening at The Wilma. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 State and federal experts confirmed their confidence in research justifying stringent limits on selenium in Lake Koocanusa on Thursday, while lawyers for the Canadian coal mine responsible for the pollutant claimed the studies need more review. The different views came before a special committee of state legislators studying the selenium rule, which was approved by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and federal Environmental Protection Agency last winter. Both state and federal officials OKd a level of 0.8 micrograms per liter for selenium in Lake Koocanusa. Canadian mining company Teck Resources and the Lincoln County Commission objected to the rule, and the 2021 Legislature ordered a review to determine whether the 2020 site-specific standards for Lake Koocanusa are appropriate. Selenium can damage fish eggs and reproductive tissue. DEQ water quality science specialist Lauren Sullivan said the selenium damage doesnt affect adult fish or cause deformities in young fish. Rather, it results in fewer eggs hatching or the baby fish failing to reach maturity. It can also cause winter stress syndrome, where adult fish can no longer survive the stress of winter water conditions. 2020 studies of selenium levels in the system found them to be the highest on record, with some doubling previous amounts, Sullivan said. Teck has five open-pit coal mines in the upper Elk River drainage of British Columbia. It also has proposals to open new coal mining operations in the same area. The company digs metallurgic coal, needed for metal smelting. Most of Tecks coal production goes overseas to Chinese steel producers. It produces about 9 million metric tons of coal a year, with a current estimate of 28 more years of probable reserves. Waste rock from those mines totals more than 7 billion tons equivalent to several hundred of the slag piles surrounding Anaconda, according to Sullivan. Rain and snowmelt passing through that waste rock leaches selenium into the river. Canadian studies found the Elk River flowing out of the mine area contributed 95 percent of the selenium detected at a testing site just north of the United States border. The EPAs national standard for selenium is 1.5 micrograms per liter of water. But the agency allows for site-specific standards as necessary, and Sullivan said the Koocanusa fish tissue studies showed that level was too high. The 1.5 microgram standard was clearly not protective, Sullivan said. The 0.8 microgram standard does meet them. Sullivan added that the 0.8-microgram level would have no economic impact on Montana businesses or communities, and no one in the state would be required to treat the water. However, she said the selenium discharge would hurt fishing. DEQ Director Chris Dorrington added the U.S. Forest Service has indicated the selenium rules wont affect any timber harvest or other forest activity. Rep. Steve Gunderson, R-Libby, said hed been frequently asking, Where are the two-headed trout? He also wondered why Montana officials werent considering the extensive water treatment work Teck has done near its mines to control selenium discharge. If there are no detectable problems found on Lake K, and weve set the standard so low, what defects have been found on Elk and Fording rivers (near the Teck mines)? Gunderson asked. Why have we not seen any major problems? DEQ Water Quality Standards Section Chief Myla Kelly replied that the standards are set to protect beneficial use. Using the example of lead poisoning, Kelly said the agency shouldnt wait for people to get neurological damage before regulating lead levels. Like the lead example, we dont set standards on what entities can treat to, Kelly said. We set on whats safe to consume. We dont use treatment technology to set the standard. We have the fish tissue data, Kelly added, and we are seeing exceedances in Montana. Canadian authorities fined Teck $60 million in 2021 for fisheries damage from selenium and calcite discharges in the Elk River watershed an amount 10 times greater than any previous punishment under the Canadian Fisheries Act. While Canadian standards set a 2-microgram-per-liter selenium limit, a 2012 investigation found Teck was releasing between 9 and 90 micrograms into the upper Fording River upstream of the Elk River and Lake Koocanusa. The upper Fording River also lost nearly 95% of its adult cutthroat trout population between 2017 and 2019. An internal report by Teck concluded the fish died because of excessive ice in waterways where it had changed the habitat, but not because of selenium. Teck attorney Vicki Marquis said the company was in the process of building covers for 500 acres of waste rock, and had already spent about $1 billion on other treatment efforts. Teck plans to spend close to $800 million in the future to control selenium releases. This is the largest treatment project theyre aware of anywhere in the U.S. or North America, Marquis said. The 0.8 milligram standard came through a rushed process and is far more stringent than other EPA selenium limits, Marquis told the committee. She also questioned whether the state studies adequately considered the impact of Libby Dam on Lake Koocanusas water conditions, and if Lincoln County stakeholder concerns were properly addressed. It would be helpful to know and validate that model and be sure were moving in the right direction, Marquis said, recommending the legislators consider a work plan proposed by Teck to review the findings. That drew an angry response from Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Natural Resources Department Director Rich Janssen. It confounds logic that the state would consider the plan of a foreign, for-profit company that is the source of the contamination over the DEQ plan, Janssen said. He called for the review process to be concluded and the standards retained. House Joint Resolution 37, which created the study group, gave it until April 1 to finish its work. Gunderson proposed extending the deadline to August, but the legislators voted that down 5-3. Study group chairman Sen. Walt Sales, R-Manhattan, called for another review session in February, saying the group should be able to complete its findings or seek an extension by then. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Gov. Mark Gordon on Thursday appointed the head of a private Christian school in Cody to serve as Wyoming's next superintendent of public instruction. Brian Schroeder, who oversees the Veritas Academy, will serve out the remainder of the superintendent's term, which ends in January 2023. He replaces Jillian Balow, who resigned earlier this month to take the same post in Virginia. Schroeder's appointment capped a dramatic day that saw a federal judge clear the way for Gordon to act after critics of the selection process filed a lawsuit. Gordon had three candidates to choose from. I reviewed application materials and conducted interviews with all the candidates that came through the selection process, and after much prayer and careful consideration I have determined that Brian Schroeder is best-suited to fill the Superintendent's position, Gordon said in a press release. Brian demonstrated his commitment to ensuring that parents are intricately involved in their childrens education, just as it should be. I will work to ensure a smooth transition in leadership for the Wyoming Department of Education. Gordon was tasked with picking one of three candidates nominated by the Republican State Central Committee -- made up of three Republicans from each county -- which voted Saturday on its top three choices. Gordon was statutorily required to make a decision on one of the candidates by Thursday. Schroeder beat out Marti Halverson, a far-right former state representative and chairman of the Lincoln County GOP, and Thomas Kelly, the chair of the Political and Military Science Department at American Military University. Schroeder has worked as a teacher and administrator in private schools in California, Wisconsin, Michigan and Wyoming and as a family and youth counselor, according to the governor's press release. I am honored and humbled beyond words at this incredible opportunity to serve the students, teachers and parents of Wyoming, Schroeder said in the press release. Ill do my best to help strengthen education for the future of our state. The new superintendent earned his bachelors degree from Maranatha Baptist University and has a Masters degree in professional counseling from Liberty University. Replacing Balow did not go by without some hiccups. Former Wyoming Speaker of the House Tom Lubnau and 15 others filed a lawsuit this week against Gordon, the Wyoming Republican Party, the partys chairman and the Wyoming Republican State Central Committee over the selection process. The plaintiffs included Dave Northrup, a former state lawmaker and an unsuccessful candidate for the superintendent position, Doug Camblin, the Campbell County GOP committeeman, Rex Arney, a former state lawmaker, as well as a dozen voters from all across the political spectrum. They were represented by former Attorney General Pat Crank. The plaintiffs alleged that the process of selecting the temporary superintendent is unconstitutional, because each county gets an even number of votes in the matter, not a number of votes proportional to the county's population. This, they claim, violates the "one man-one vote" principle in both the Wyoming and U.S. constitutions. On Wednesday, a U.S. District judge barred Gordon from choosing a candidate until noon Thursday to have time to review the materials. The defendants' lawyers countered by arguing, among other things, that even under the plaintiffs' selection approach, the outcome of the selection process was unlikely to change, given that the three nominees won by overwhelming margins in the central committee's vote. U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl ultimately ruled against the plaintiffs' request for a temporary halt on Gordon's ability to choose a candidate. In the ruling, Skavdahl wrote that the plaintiffs could not "demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits because the case law does not support their position. Additionally, Plaintiffs have failed to establish irreparable injury." Skavdahl added in the conclusion that "Plaintiffs argue they have a likelihood of success on the merits but ignore Supreme Court precedent relevant to their case." Following the decision, Crank said he thinks the future is bright'' because a federal judge acknowledged the issues that arise when all counties get the same number of votes in these matters. But theres also a route outside of the courts. If this is to be fixed, the citizens need to petition their Legislature and the Legislature needs to take action to solve this election integrity problem, Crank said. The lawsuit could move forward, even as Schroeder holds office, or Crank could choose to dismiss it. This is seemingly the first time the constitutionality of the process has been raised. Both Secretary of State Ed Buchanan and Sen. John Barrasso were first put into their current positions through selection of the state central committee and the governor. Buchanan told the Star-Tribune the constitutionality of his appointment was not raised to him at the time. The transition of power of the top schools official comes at a pivotal time for Wyoming's public education system. The Cowboy State's K-12 education system has long been one of the best funded in the nation because of money from from fossil fuels, but that revenue stream alone can no longer support K-12 education. This past general session, after a month of debate in committee rooms and on the floor, neither chamber could come to an agreement. No changes were made to how Wyoming pays for education. Additionally, critical race theory and removing certain books from school libraries have become hot button issues. In September, Balow appeared with two top state senators to introduce the Civics and Transparency Act. The superintendent was clear the bill was intended to challenge critical race theory. Critical race theory is not currently being taught in Wyoming schools, but it came up repeatedly as candidates vied for the superintendent position before the state central committee over the weekend. If he so chooses, Schroeder can file for reelection in a couple months to run to keep his position as state schools superintendent. He has only lived in Wyoming a short time, but he will enter the race with some of the luxuries of incumbency like name recognition. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Wyoming reported 2,039 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, a new single-day record for the state, Department of Health figures show. The new high easily eclipsed the state's previous record, set Jan. 21, when the state reported 1,875 cases. Before that, the previous record was set on Jan. 19. The surge is the result of the omicron variant, a more contagious strain of the virus that health officials say is now responsible for nearly all of Wyoming's new COVID infections. The variant was first identified here in mid-December in a handful of University of Wyoming students. But it quickly supplanted the delta variant, which up until recently had been the major strain circulating through the state. Omicron has shown to produce major increases in cases. But in places where the variant arrived earlier, those spikes have tended to be relatively short-lived, with both a dramatic rise and fall. The trajectory in Wyoming has been going in only one direction so far. In mid-December, the seven-day average for new cases was hovering in the 60s. It's now well over 1,000. Hospitalizations have risen as well, though not as dramatically as cases. That in itself is not a surprise. The omicron strain has been shown to produce less severe symptoms, especially for those who are vaccinated and boosted against the virus. On Jan. 1, Wyoming's hospitals were treating 60 COVID patients, according to numbers kept by the Wyoming Department of Transportation. On Wednesday, they were treating 155. For context, during Wyoming's last surge in the fall, COVID hospitalizations topped out at roughly 250. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 2 For the past eight years I served on the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, six as Chair. When combined with my eight years in the House, I have spent more time evaluating the Public Service Commissions regulatory duties and commissioners than anyone in the Legislature. The PSC consists of five members, each elected from a distinct geographic Montana district, whose primary charge is keeping your lights on and power costs low. Previous efforts made by the Legislature to redraw the PSC district boundaries to correct for population imbalances as required by the Constitution (one man, one vote) died in committee, as both parties sought to gerrymander seat boundaries to their benefit. Further, prospective PSC candidates, while still serving in the Legislature, worked to ensure they had a favorable seat for their upcoming race. Despite the growing population imbalance between Districts, the Chair of House Energy did not redraw district boundaries this session, perhaps because he planned to run. A federal court has intervened. The court, recognizing the unconstitutionality of the current PSC District population imbalance, has indicated that a 3-judge panel (2 from Montana, 1 from California) will engage in redrawing PSC districts. Now there are legislators clamoring for a Special Session to draw districts including the previously uncooperative chair of the House Energy Committee, Rep. Derek Skees. I do not support a special session. Hastily drawn district lines from an expensive short special session will just kick the can down the road. The right temporary solution is to let the court rapidly engage, then the Legislature can do a thoughtful permanent fix in the 2023 session, a short 10 months away. A hastily called special session will do more harm than good, especially as there are legislators that will work to extend the session to include their pet topic. This will waste tax dollars and stick the public with 10 more years of questionable PSC policy decisions. The current call for a special session is the final act of individuals who repeatedly chose to ignore their statutory obligations. As such, I adamantly oppose the call. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 0 Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Shaul Hurwitz, research hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. The timing of major events in Earths long history are continuously being refined as the accuracy and precision of dating methods improves and as new discoveries are being made. Ongoing research in Yellowstone is also providing new insights into the regions volcanic, hydrothermal and glacial history. But when did these major events in Yellowstone take place within the context of Earths history? Before we address that question, we need to answer a more fundamental question: how old is Earth and how do we know it? Based on evidence from age-dating of iron meteorites, specifically of fragments from the Canyon Diablo meteorite, the age of Earth is 4.54 0.05 billion years. This determination was made considering the Earth and meteorites as part of the same evolving system in which the isotopic composition of lead changes over time owing to the decay of radioactive uranium. The determined age represents the last time that lead isotopes were homogeneous throughout the inner solar system, and the time that lead and uranium were incorporated into the solid bodies of the solar system. The determined age for the Earth is consistent with the ages of the oldest-known terrestrial and lunar samples. Geologists divide the approximately 4.6 billion years of Earths history into geologic units based on rock sequences that are calibrated against well-dated rocks. Over the years, development of new dating methods and the refinement of previous ones have resulted in revisions to the ages of different Eons, Eras, Periods and Epochs in Earths history. How do major volcanic events in Yellowstone relate to the major events in Earths history? To answer this question, lets use our imagination and scale the approximately 4.6 billion years of Earths history to one calendar year. In that geologic calendar year, each of the 12 months represents 383 million years, each day represents 12.6 million years, each hour represents 525,114 years, each minute represents 8,752 years, and each second represents 146 years. Now lets place some of Earths major events on the geologic calendar. To find out when major events in Yellowstone took place, youll have to be patient its not until late December. On Jan. 1 The Earth formed. On Feb. 13 The oldest known rocks on Earth were formed. In early March - Earths first oceans formed. On March 27 - The first recorded forms of life; simple single-celled organisms. On June 27 - Oxygen appears in Earths atmosphere. Lets skip a few months. On Nov. 19 - The Cambrian explosion which marked a profound change in life on Earth when most major groups of complex animals appeared in the fossil record. On Nov. 26 The first known mass extinction at the end of Ordovician time. On Dec. 12 - The largest mass extinction at end of Permian time caused by large changes in Earths climate. On Dec. 15 - End-Triassic mass extinction triggered by widespread volcanic eruptions, and an increase in atmospheric CO2 that caused acidification of the oceans and global warming that killed most of the marine and terrestrial species on Earth. Dec. 19 The most famous mass extinction, when the dinosaurs vanished. Its late December and we are finally ready for some activity in Yellowstone. On Dec. 29 at 5 p.m. - Volcanism started along the Yellowstone hotspot track at the McDermitt Caldera, in northern Nevada and southeastern Oregon. On Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. - Volcanism in the Yellowstone Plateau started with the eruption of the Junction Butte Basalt, exposed in northeastern Yellowstone National Park, and the rhyolitic lava flow of Snake River Butte, in southern Island Park, Idaho, after which followed the eruption of the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff. On Dec. 31, 9:30 p.m. Eruption of the Mesa Falls Tuff and the formation of the Henry's Fork Caldera. On Dec. 31, 11:38 p.m. Not in Yellowstone, but Homo sapiens appear in Africa. On Dec. 31 at 10:48 p.m. The Yellowstone caldera formed following the eruption of the Lava Creek Tuff. On Dec. 31 at 11:43 p.m. (or slightly before) The penultimate Bull Lake glaciation covered Yellowstone in ice for about 2.5 minutes. On Dec. 31 at 11:52 p.m. - The most recent eruption of rhyolitic lava flows formed the Pitchstone Plateau in southwestern Yellowstone National Park. On Dec. 31 at 11:58 p.m. The last glacial retreat from Yellowstone following approximately one minute of the Pinedale glaciation and the largest hydrothermal explosion that formed the Mary Bay crater (1.5-mile (2.6 km)-diameter). On Dec. 31, 11:59 p.m. - Beginning of the Holocene Epoch (the past 10,000 years). With just over one second remaining before the year draws to a close, Yellowstone was declared as the first National Park in the United States. With just a tenth of a second left in the geologic calendar year, the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory was formed, and with just a few milliseconds to spare, the first Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles article was published. Following Scottish naturalist James Hutton (17261797), who is considered to be the founder of modern geology, many discoveries have been made by geologists that tell the story of our planets history. Geologists also spent decades putting together the pieces of Yellowstones complicated jigsaw puzzle. This fascinating puzzle is not yet complete, and our understanding of Yellowstones volcanic history will continuously be refined as new discoveries are made. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Supporters of a ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana through North Dakota's constitution have again fallen short of signatures to prompt a public vote. Their deadline was Jan. 22 to submit at least 31,164 valid signatures to the secretary of state. They did not do so. Measure sponsoring committee member Dustin Peyer, of Driscoll, told the Tribune on Sunday that the group gathered 19,500 signatures in its one-year time limit. Supporters already are forming committees to propose two future ballot measures related to quality and accessibility of medical marijuana -- which is legal in North Dakota -- and use of recreational marijuana by people ages 21 and older, he said. Peyer said the signature threshold "is a lot of signatures for an unpaid volunteer effort." "We grew support across the state through a network of small businesses," he said. "The biggest obstacle is those who are pushing the hardest are disabled, parents, business owners, or have generally a lot going on in their life." Petitioners also have faced backlash in their efforts, he said. Measure Chairwoman Jody Vetter, of Bismarck, did not return phone messages or an email regarding signature-gathering. The proposed measure would have restricted recreational marijuana to people 21 and older, banned its use in public, and allowed the Legislature to license and regulate the industry. The measure also would have allowed home-growing of up to 12 plants. The effort was another shot after an unsuccessful try in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic hampered the group's signature-gathering. Marijuana was a major topic in the Republican-controlled Legislature last year. State representatives brought bills to legalize and tax the drug as an effort to head off Vetter's group, but the Senate killed the House-passed bills, along with one to decriminalize marijuana. The Senate also rejected the introduction of a proposed ballot measure. Two other proposed ballot measures for voters this year would put term limits on the governor and the Legislature, and would raise the bar for amending the state constitution. Those petition deadlines are not for a few months. North Dakota voters in 2016 approved of a state medical marijuana program; in 2018 they rejected recreational marijuana by 59%. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. 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. Military officials are preparing to put on an air show at Ellsworth Air Force Base for the first time in seven years. The Rapid City Journal reported Friday that the Ellsworth Air & Space Show is set for May 14 and May 15. The show will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the base north of Rapid City as well as the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid and the 75th birthday of the Air Force. The show will feature a science booth and flyovers by the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels aerial acrobatics team. COVID-19 forced officials to scuttle plans for the 2020 and 2021 shows. A federal jury has convicted a Minot man on seven child pornography charges involving children age 6 and younger. Derrick Walker, 46, was convicted on six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor involving six victims, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas Chase. The jury also found him guilty of receiving images that depicted the sexual exploitation of a child. Authorities say Walker helped a co-defendant in the case, Katie Heidinger, of Velva, produce images and video. At Walkers request she used the internet to produce and distribute the images, officials said. Heidinger in June 2020 pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Shell be sentenced March 16. A sentencing date was not immediately set for Walker. The actions of these defendants are revolting," said Jamie Holt, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in St. Paul, Minnesota. "The harm theyve caused their victims is devastating and can last a lifetime. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 A federal judge has dismissed a civil lawsuit in which a Watford City indoor recreational vehicle park sought $5 million in damages from state agencies over what it called arbitrary licensing nonrenewal issues. The attorney for ND Indoor RV Park filed a voluntary dismissal late last week, about six weeks after an attorney from the North Dakota Attorney General's office filed a motion for dismissal. U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland on Monday signed an order dismissing the case without prejudice, which leaves the door open for future legal action. The parks attorney, Matthew Kirschenmann, did not immediately respond to a Tribune request for comment. Some oil patch workers live in RVs even during the winter months. ND Indoor RV Park, which bills itself as the only such facility in North Dakota, is built to house 160 RVs in 10 insulated buildings, each divided into eight bays. An outdoor option can hold 60 RVs. The parks owner said the Health Department by denying the parks 2021 operating license circumvented a district court ruling on a state fire marshal order that sought to stop the residential use of the parks buildings. The suit sought damages of at least $5 million, or the stoppage of the order that bars the park from operating. The suit named as defendants the Health Department and Julie Wagendorf, head of the agencys Food and Lodging Division; the office of the attorney general, which oversees the state fire marshal; and Fire Marshal Douglas Nelson. Deputy Solicitor General James Nicolai in a Dec. 10 brief said the federal court lacked jurisdiction because state agencies and state officials arent persons subject to suit for money damages, and that the state has not waived its sovereign immunity rights which would allow it to be sued in federal court. The state has only consented to be sued for alleged state law claims in state court, the brief says. Nicolai also responded to the park's effort to stop enforcement of the states orders barring the park from operating, saying federal court is limited to the prevention of ongoing violations. Dispute history The Health Department placed a hold on the parks license in 2016. After a meeting with the department and the state fire marshal to discuss RV spacing and a fire safety plan, park officials reduced the number of RVs per bay from three to two. The park was again granted an operating license in 2017 and 2018. Nelson, who was appointed in March 2018, issued an order halting residential use of the buildings due to what he said were fire and safety deficiencies. The parks lawsuit stated that Nelson endeavored to shut down the operations notwithstanding years of inspections, governmental approvals and incident-free operation. The two sides agreed to put enforcement on hold after the matter went to court. A judge eventually dismissed the case in October 2020 when the marshal's office didn't prosecute. The lawsuit accused Nelson of using Wagendorf to backdoor the park by having the Health Department refuse to issue an operating license last year until the park corrected spacing violations and complied with the fire marshals order. The conditions of that order would be cost-prohibitive, the document states. The Health Department informed the park last March that its operating license would not be renewed and that continued operation would result in criminal penalties, the lawsuit states. The departments arbitrary and unreasonable refusal to reissue an operating license came about despite numerous state, county, and municipal agency inspections and approvals and the departments previous annual renewals of the operating license, the plaintiffs said. Further, the parks $5 million investment relied on those approvals, the document states. Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has withdrawn from its role as a cooperating agency in the ongoing environmental review of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Tribal leaders say the decision was driven in part by a lack of transparency surrounding the pipeline developer's oil spill emergency response plans. They also cite Lake Oahes recent low water levels, which they say could make cleanup of any spill into the Missouri River reservoir difficult. Emergency responders in the event of a spill would not easily be able to access the waters edge because its so far out from existing docks and roads, Standing Rock Water Resources Director Doug Crow Ghost said. The prospect of an oil spill during such low water is truly scary, he said. Standing Rock says it has not received a full copy of the pipelines emergency response plan. The tribe has long raised concerns about the potential for an oil spill and a lack of information to evaluate risks posed by the line. Pipeline operator Energy Transfer maintains the line is safe and has said its emergency response plans are adequate. The company did not immediately respond to a Tribune request for comment Thursday, nor did the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the Missouri River and permitted the pipelines crossing just upstream from the reservation. Crow Ghost said the lakes water lies 12 feet below normal, as the Corps releases water from dams farther downstream to ensure adequate supply for barge navigation and nuclear power plants. Tribal Chairperson Janet Alkire said the Corps has misplaced priorities in the operation of Oahe and the other dams on the Missouri River. The Army Corps must raise Lake Oahe to safe levels or shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline immediately, she said. Recent press releases from the Corps have indicated that the agency is working to address the impact of the yearlong drought on the Missouri River. The drought has affected nearly all of the western United States, and its led to little runoff compared to normal. Crow Ghost said the tribe would like to see the Corps better incorporate climate change within its Missouri River management planning. Standing Rock had been acting as a cooperating agency on the court-ordered Environmental Impact Statement of Dakota Access. The review will play a key role in the Corps decision whether to reissue a permit for the lines Missouri River crossing. A federal judge revoked the permit in 2020 after concluding that previous environmental analyses of the pipeline were inadequate. The tribes status as a cooperating agency allowed it greater involvement in the review and early access to information, though some experts have described the designation as a potential red herring that could give the impression the tribe is on board with the process, even if its not. Standing Rock has raised concerns about the study in the past. Former Tribal Chairman Mike Faith said in September 2021 that the Corps is already gravely off track on the review. He called for the agency to start over. Among the tribes concerns was that a contractor tapped to complete the review has ties to the oil industry. The reviews end date has been pushed back several times. The Corps most recently indicated the study is slated to wrap up this November. First, it must release a draft of the document for public comment. A spokesperson for the pro-pipeline GAIN Coalition said the tribe's decision to withdraw from its cooperating agency role is disappointing. "While the tribe's decision to no longer 'cooperate' is well within their purview, it underscores that this whole exercise has been a solution in search of a regulatory problem," Craig Stevens said. Meanwhile, the five-year legal battle over the pipeline continues. The Supreme Court is expected to decide early this year on whether to take up an appeal of a lower court ruling affirming the need for the new environmental review. The pipeline operator is challenging the ruling. Dakota Access has been operating since 2017. Energy Transfer is in the process of nearly doubling the lines capacity to 1.1 million barrels per day, an amount roughly equal to North Dakotas daily oil output. The company most recently has said the lines capacity is 750,000 barrels per day. Dakota Access runs from the western North Dakota oil fields to Illinois. North Dakotas oil industry considers it to be a hugely important piece of infrastructure, and it has the support of numerous state officials. Reach Amy R. Sisk at 701-250-8252 or amy.sisk@bismarcktribune.com. Love 1 Funny 2 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. BENSON, Minn. (AP) The newspaper hit the front porches of the wind-scarred prairie town on a Thursday afternoon: Coronavirus numbers were spiking in the farming communities of western Minnesota. "Covid-19 cases straining rural clinics, hospitals, staff," read the front-page headline. Vaccinate to protect yourselves, health officials urged. But ask around Benson, stroll its three-block business district, and some would tell a different story: The Swift County Monitor-News, the tiny newspaper that's reported the news here since 1886, is not telling the truth. The vaccine is untested, they say, dangerous. And some will go further: People, they'll tell you, are being killed by COVID-19 vaccinations. One little town. Three thousand people. Two starkly different realities. It's another measure of how, in an America increasingly split by warring visions of itself, division doesn't just play out on cable television, or in mayhem at the U.S. Capitol. It has seeped into the American fabric, all the way to Benson's 12th Street, where two neighbors -- each in his own well-kept, century-old home -- can live in different worlds. In one house is Reed Anfinson, publisher, editor, photographer and reporter for the Monitor-News. Most weeks, he writes every story on the paper's front page. He wrote that story on clinics struggling with COVID-19. He's not the most popular man in the county. Lots of people disagree with his politics. He deals with the occasional veiled threat. Sometimes, he grudgingly worries about his safety. While his editorials lean left, he works hard to report the news straight. But in an America of competing visions, some here say he has taken sides. Nowhere in the Monitor-News, for example, will you find reports that local people are dying because they've been inoculated. "There are no alternative facts," Anfinson says. "There is just the truth." But whose truth? His neighbor, Jason Wolter, is a thoughtful, broad-shouldered Lutheran pastor who reads widely and measures his words carefully. He also suspects Democrats are using the coronavirus pandemic as a political tool, doubts President Joe Biden was legitimately elected and is certain that COVID-19 vaccines kill people. He hasn't seen the death certificates and hasn't contacted health authorities, but he's sure the vaccine deaths occurred: "I just know that I'm doing their funerals." He's also certain that information "will never make it into the newspaper." Wolter's frustration boils over during a late breakfast in a town cafe. Seated with a reporter, he starts talking as if Anfinson is there. "You're lying to people," he says. "You flat-out lie about things." *** "In rural Minnesota we still have a work ethic, and I'll call them Christian values, and that's not reflected in our local newspaper," said Al Saunders, a farmer and friend of Wolter's who graduated from Benson High School a couple years after Anfinson. "I just can't stomach it anymore," said Saunders, whose family settled on part of his sprawling farm more than a century ago, and who speaks almost lovingly about the rich brown soil. Anfinson's editorials on farm subsidies and politics leave him fuming. "Trash gets thrown at you so many times and eventually you just give up." He grudgingly subscribes to the Monitor-News, which has a circulation of roughly 2,000. But just to follow local politics. Anfinson does cover Swift County intensely -- the city council, the county commissioners, the school board and nearly every other gathering of consequence. He's there for school concerts, community fund-raisers, elections and livestock judging at the county fair. His white Jeep is often spattered with mud from the county's dirt roads. He works relentlessly. Wednesday afternoons, after he gets that week's edition ready for printing the next morning, often count as his weekend. Anfinson is 67 but looks at least a decade younger. A contemplative man who casually quotes Voltaire, he loves newspapers deeply, and mourns the hundreds of small-town papers that have gone under in recent years. Still, Anfinson sometimes is surprised to find himself in Benson. Family is a powerful force here, and this town is knitted together in ways that few Americans understand anymore. His grandfather, a poetry-loving plumber and child of Norwegian immigrants, came to Benson as a child. His father came home from World War II, became a reporter at the Monitor-News and eventually bought the newspaper with a partner. Anfinson grew up planning on a journalism career somewhere beyond small-town Minnesota. But he found those plans upended when his father's health began declining in the late 1970s. "I thought I'd come back here just for a little while," he said. "It turned into the rest of my life." Not that he regrets it. He's proud that his reporting means something here, whether it's a high-school student getting an award or an expensive building project the community rejected after he wrote about it. Still, there are times when it's exhausting. And expensive. With declining circulation and ads, he estimates his three little local newspapers are worth at least $1 million less than a decade ago. "The easy part is speaking truth to power. The hard part is speaking truth to your community. That can cost you advertisers. That can cost you subscribers," he said. *** It can be easy, looking around Benson, to think it is a land that time forgot. Bartenders often greet customers by name. The town's cafes feel like high school lunchrooms, with people wandering between tables to say hello. Those in search of solitude go to the Burger King, where they sit alone at plastic tables, staring out the windows. Benson was built in the 1870s as railways reached this part of the prairies, and trains remain the town's background music. In the cafes, people barely look up when mile-long trains roar through downtown. Few people stop talking. They've been hearing those trains for generations. Many farms and businesses have been owned by the same families for decades: through the droughts of the 1930s; through the thriving years around World War II; to the population decline that began in the 1950s. But plenty has changed. Stores closed. Little farms were bought up by more successful farmers. Families left. Swift County's population has dropped about 30 percent since 1960, and now has about 10,000 residents. Meanwhile, a county that was 98% white in 1990 has seen a stream of new minority residents, particularly Latinos. The county is now 87% white - far whiter than much of America, but far more diverse than a generation ago. Today, longtime locals can sometimes feel unmoored. "There are a lot of people coming through that I don't recognize," said Terri Collins, Benson's cheerful mayor, whose family has been in Benson for five generations. "I used to know all of my neighbors and now that's different. And I don't know what to blame for that." Once, neighborliness and good manners were near-commandments here. Now anger is on the rise. Neighborhood shouting matches are more common, a local official's car was vandalized, and a "F--- Biden" flag now flies along a school bus route. Collins and the town police chief both say they sometimes worry about Anfinson's safety. "Ten years ago I don't think anything like this would happen," she said. But that was then. Travel across the plains of western Minnesota and you'll find plenty of people who are bestirred by a new and often dark vision of America. They are not on the fringes, at least by current standards. They are, for the most part, mainstream conservatives who see a nation that barely exists in traditional newspapers and mainstream TV news broadcasts. People like the store manager, sitting at an American Legion bar drinking $3 cocktails, who calls the billionaire financier George Soros, a Jewish survivor of the Nazis and a powerful backer of liberal causes, "one of the most evil men I've ever heard of." And the semi-retired nurse who fears teams of sex traffickers she says operate freely in countless small towns. But it would be a mistake to think they can be categorized easily. Some desperately want Trump to run again; others pray he won't. One farmer quietly admits he worries about the growing numbers of racial minorities; another enjoys hearing new accents at the grocery store. Many are nearly as dismissive of conservative media as they are of traditional news outlets. While social conservatism has long run deep in Swift County -- even the former, longtime Democratic congressman was anti-abortion and pro-gun rights -- many say the presidency of Barack Obama marked a change. Gay marriage was legalized and identity politics took hold. Growing calls for transgender rights seemed like an issue from another planet. The sometimes-violent racial justice protests that followed police killings of Black men had some here stocking up on ammunition. Trump's cries that he loved America resonated in an area where new approaches to teaching U.S. history, with an increased focus on race, were confounding. So in a county where Obama won with 55% of the vote in 2008, Trump won with 64% percent in 2020. "We've seen a shift here in Swift County," said Al Saunders. "But you won't see that in the newspaper." *** Anfinson's weekly column, where he writes about everything from political divisions to rural housing shortages, is a local lightning rod. He sighed: "That editorial page will have people hate me." Across the U.S., many smaller newspapers, already facing economic decline with the rise of the internet, have cut back or completely stopped running editorials, trying to hold onto conservative readers who increasingly see them as local arms of a fake news universe. But Anfinson won't consider that, even if sometimes he feels like he's tilting at angry, small-town windmills. He says it's his duty to expose people to new ideas, even unpopular ideas like stricter gun control. The editorial page is, he says "the soul of a newspaper in a way." "I would be a traitor to the cause of journalism, of community newspapers," by giving up on editorials, he said. "I would be cowardly." Some would call him stubborn, and his wife and business partner, Shelly, would not disagree. It can be complicated being married to Reed Anfinson. Like the day last spring, when Anfinson was in the bar next to the office and a man loudly told a friend that Anfinson was a communist and "somebody should do something about that guy." Anfinson knows the man. So does Shelly. A longtime dental hygienist, she cleaned his teeth for 20 years. She still says hello when she passes the man on the street. "I try not to create a bigger divide," said Shelly, who, after a series of intensive classes on the newspaper business, began running another of the couple's weekly papers two years ago. "I've definitely lost sleep over some confrontations that he's had," she said. "But do you let that stand in the way of reporting the facts?" Shelly is warm and gregarious and easy to like. And when it comes to politics, she's not who you'd expect to be married to the man often tagged as Benson's best-known liberal. She's a pro-life Republican who voted for Trump, at least the first time. It annoys her when news outlets talk down to conservatives. She worries that there are too few Republican journalists. She and Reed married 20 years ago, after both had been divorced. She moved in across the street and soon he was walking her home. She is often torn between support for Reed and worries over subscriber loss. Still, she's been pressing him to tone down the politics. "It is a struggle. I can tell these things to my business partner. It's harder to tell them to my husband." *** In the custom of small-town Minnesota, the Anfinson and Wolter families get along, at least outwardly. They wave when they see each other. When one family is out of town, the other will sometimes watch their home. "We're still personable," Wolter says. "I just don't trust him." "He's not going to come to church and I'm not going to buy his newspaper. But we can still treat each other as neighbors." While he believes Anfinson is sincere in what he publishes, he does not believe his neighbor has a monopoly on truth. Wolter also knows that plenty of people would write him off as just another conspiracy monger. But he's far more complicated. He worries his conservative opinions color what he believes: "There are times when I've thought: 'Well, what if all my angst over this is misplaced?'" he said. "Maybe everyone else is right?" But he worries more about America: "This is a dark time." He criticizes conservative politicians for trying to make it illegal to burn the American flag, but worries about far-right accusations that that U.S. soldiers are hunting down American conservatives. "Maybe five or 10 years ago, I would have said 'That's crazy!'" he said. "Now I acknowledge it might be possible. I'm not saying I think it's happening, but at least I don't dismiss it the way that I would have." Wolter, whose home library includes everything from Sophocles to "The Grapes of Wrath," is a careful reader, in his own way. He's wary of conservative news sites like Breitbart, believing it shapes its reporting to please conservative readers. Instead, he finds his news farther off the beaten path, like on Gab, a Twitter-like social media platform that has become home to many on America's far right. "For better or for worse I don't really trust anything I read," he says. The answer, he said, is research, probing the farthest corners of the internet. The answers are not to be found, he insists, in the Swift Country Monitor-News. Anfinson, for his part, doesn't want to talk about Wolter, at least not directly. He's watched Benson's fragile web of community fray too much. Instead, he talks proudly about the Monitor-News: how it prints letters to the editor that are harshly critical of it; how he reports the truth even if it costs him; how his coverage of the pandemic goes to the heart of journalists' responsibility to keep their communities safe. He mourns how some people see him as an enemy. His newspaper should bind people together, he says. Instead, America and Benson are growing angrier. Contentious midterm elections loom. "It's kind of sad," he said. "But it would be foolish of me not to be aware of (my safety) with the sentiments out there." Does he carry a weapon? This soft-spoken man says he does not. "But I know where one is if I need it." Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 0 Advocates for legalizing recreational marijuana in South Dakota have submitted thousands of petition signatures to the secretary of state. They say they've collected enough to place the initiative on the November ballot. South Dakotans for Better Marijuana Laws has scrambled in recent days to gather the nearly 17,000 petition signatures required to place a proposed law on the ballot. The signatures must come from registered South Dakota voters. Matt Schweich, campaign director for the organization, says the campaign evaluated the petitions and estimates it has at least 19,250 valid signatures. Williston is at the epicenter of understanding what its like to be whipsawed by prices that we dont control. This project is not dependent on the price of oil, and these jobs wont be dependent on it. -- Gov. Doug Burgum, announcing a massive $1.9 billion cryptocurrency data center being built west of Williston. q q q "Many residents are alive today because of the vaccine." -- North Dakota Long Term Care Association President Shelly Peterson, noting that there are fewer deaths in nursing homes during the current COVID-19 spike than there were during the one in late 2020, before the availability of vaccines. q q q It's important because it includes what the public will get for information. It's important that the citizens know what is going on before so that they can respond and react to what's happening in the Legislature, the city commission and in their life in general. That's how a democracy works. -- North Dakota Newspaper Association Attorney Jack McDonald, detailing the importance of North Dakota's shield law, after a Williston reporter's phone was illegally confiscated by a law enforcement agent. The law is aimed at protecting journalists from being forced to turn over notes and other information without a court hearing. q q q We have a soft spot in our hearts for her. -- North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum Curator Jenny Yearous, on the restoration of a 140-year-old portrait of Linda Slaughter, a prominent Bismarck woman and great-grandmother of Gov. Doug Burgum. q q q "I feel good about what I've accomplished. I feel even better about what my colleagues, we conservatives, have come together and accomplished for the people in the state of North Dakota, and there is a lot more work to be done, but it is going to be left up to others to carry on that work." -- State Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, who formed the ultraconservative Bastiat Caucus in the Legislature, announcing that he won't seek reelection this year. q q q "We grew support across the state through a network of small businesses. The biggest obstacle is those who are pushing the hardest are disabled, parents, business owners, or have generally a lot going on in their life." -- Dustin Peyer, of Driscoll, a leader of a failed effort to gather enough petition signatures to force a public vote on legalizing recreational marijuana in North Dakota. q q q Weve worked hard to prepare for this, and our very high vaccination and booster rates among residents have resulted in very few seriously ill people, and we are not anticipating any hospital admissions at this time." -- State Correctional Health Authority Dr. John Hagan, on a spike in COVID-19 cases in North Dakota's state prison system amid the omicron variant wave. q q q We have adequate production and processing of milk. Our concerns lie with access to containers for processors, labor issues within the supply chain and a major shortage of drivers. -- Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, as he and Gov. Doug Burgum announced measures meant to ease a shortage of truck drivers to deliver milk to schools, businesses and other customers in North Dakota. q q q Every time I talk to a utility and mention data centers, they say, Oh yeah, weve got all kinds of people talking to us wanting to come. -- John Weeda, director of the North Dakota Transmission Authority, on data centers eyeing North Dakota because of its cool climate and abundance of electricity -- both of which are critical to the industry. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Biodiversity Heritage Library is pleased to welcome JJ Dearborn to the newly created position of BHL Data Manager. The new Data Manager position is part of the BHL Secretariat, hosted by the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. As Data Manager, Ms. Dearborn will be responsible for the oversight and management of the digital data collections (datasets) of BHL. She will be developing and implementing a comprehensive view of how BHL collections can be optimized to support the interoperability of BHL data in the larger biodiversity community. Ms. Dearborn previously worked for three BHL founding Members (Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, Smithsonian, and Harvard Botany Libraries) as well as the Wolbach Library at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, bringing over a decade of experience serving open data, open science, and open access initiatives. In previous positions for The State of Massachusetts (Product Owner and Data Librarian for the State of Massachusetts); The Knight Foundation Open Data to Open Knowledge Initiative (serving as Data Librarian for the Boston Public Library and the City of Boston); and BHL (most recently serving as Digital Projects Librarian for Harvard Botany Libraries), she wore many hats as a technical project manager, data librarian, UX researcher, blogger, and instructional designer. Ms. Dearborn holds an M.S. in Library and Information Science from Simmons College and a B.A. in History from UCLA. Ms. Dearborn will bring years of project management and data management experience to this exciting new position for BHL. Please join us in welcoming her to the BHL family! Marcus Tullius Cicero (b. 106 BC) is one of the best-known ancient Roman authors. A formidable speaker at court trials and political debates as well as a prolific theorist of rhetoric and philosophy, he influenced generations of scholars and students. It is less known, however, that through his striking and often beautifully illustrated work the Aratea, he was also responsible for introducing many a medieval and early modern reader to the Classical constellations. An animation of the constellation Sirius the Dog Star, from a 12th-century copy of Ciceros Aratea (England, Peterborough, around 1122): Cotton MS Tiberius C I , f. 28r In addition to his many prose works, Cicero was also a poet. However, his reputation as a poet was tarnished somewhat by an infamous work he wrote about his own political genius, The history of my own consulate, which is now lost. Nevertheless, other examples of his poetic texts are preserved, including his translation of an epic poem by the 3rd-century BC Greek poet Aratus. 'Portrait' of Cicero and his friends from a Renaissance copy of his treatise on friendship (France, Tours, 1460), Harley MS 4329 , f. 130r (detail) Aratus was asked by the Macedonian king Antigonus Gonatas (320 239 BC) to compile a handbook on stars and constellations. The resulting work, entitled Phaenomena (Appearances on the Sky) is in hexametric verse and presents an overview of the entire astronomical knowledge of Aratuss time in polished poetic language. It was highly esteemed, and survives in many copies, often with commentaries. An early example is a fragment of a 4th-century papyrus codex that contained the poem with notes on the right-hand margin. Fragment from a papyrus codex containing Aratuss Phaenomena in Greek with marginal notes (Egypt, 4th/5th century) Papyrus 273 (fragment B) The popularity of this work is also demonstrated by the fact that the Phaenomena is the only pagan poetic text that is explicitly referred to in the New Testament. In the Acts of the Apostles, when Paul speaks to the Athenians on the Areopagus, his speech begins with a quotation from one of the poets of the Greeks. The unnamed poet was in fact Aratus. Paul cites from line 5 of his Phaenomena claiming that we are all offspring of a supreme God (Acts 17: 28). It was perhaps this wide-reaching popularity of Aratuss poem that attracted Cicero to translate it into Latin at the very beginning of his career. His translation became known as the Aratea, after the original Greek poet. Unfortunately, Ciceros translation does not survive in its entirety; the prologue and several other portions of the work are now lost and less than half of the original text has eventually come down to us. However, what the manuscripts did preserve is the illustrative tradition of the text, which may date from Late Antiquity. Allegories of five planets from a 9th-century copy of Ciceros Aratea (France, Reims, c. 820), Harley MS 647 , f. 13v One of the earliest and fullest copies of Ciceros Latin translation of Aratuss poem is a manuscript made in the early 9th century (Harley MS 647). The manuscript preserves a carefully edited text: Ciceros Latin verses are arranged in blocks copied on the lower half of the page in Caroline minuscule. Above, there are lavish coloured illustrations, which contain explanatory notes written in old-fashioned Roman rustic capitals inside the images. The work, therefore, is both useful and beautiful, as is apparent in the section on the constellation Cygnus the swan. The constellation of Cygnus the swan, Cicero, Aratea (France, Reims, ca. 820), Harley MS 647 , f. 5v This early layout comprising text, illustration and commentary proved very successful. It had a long afterlife surviving in a number of later manuscripts, such as a deluxe copy produced at a Benedictine abbey in Peterborough around 1122. This adaptation of Ciceros Aratea shows a similar layout to the manuscript 300 years earlier but the illustrations are now drawn in pen, without colours except for red dots marking the stars of the constellation. The constellation of Cygnus the Swan from a 12th-century copy of Ciceros Aratea (England, Peterborough, around 1122), Cotton MS Tiberius C I , f. 24r Manuscript copies of Ciceros Aratea were produced up until the end of the 15th century when they were replaced by printed copies retaining the illustrative tradition of the earliest manuscripts on the printed pages. This longstanding history of the textual and illustrative tradition of the Aratea shows not only the success of Ciceros poetical skills in translating Aratus but also the wide-reaching influence of ancient literature and scientific thought on the evolution of science through the manuscripts and their illustrations. You can read more about medieval astronomical manuscripts in our article Medieval science and mathematics on the Polonsky Foundation Medieval England and France, 7001200 website. Peter Toth Follow us on Twitter @BLMedieval Part of the Polonsky Digitisation Project In 2009, McDonald's closed all three of their restaurants in Iceland. One of the last customers, Hjortur Smarason, purchased a Big Mac and fries. He had heard that the food never decomposes so he put it on a shelf in his garage as an experiment, and eventually forgot about it. Ten years ago, he found the bag with the food inside. Now it's an historical artifact of the country's fast food past. From Atlas Obscura: Smarason says that he was reluctant to open the bag at the time, remembering the decomposed sandwich that once spent an entire summer at the bottom of his child's school backpack. But upon opening the sack, "it looked like I bought it just 15 minutes earlier," he says. "And the same with the fries, it all looked almost new. Just turned cold on the way home." It wasn't long before Smarason realized what a treasure he had. "This was now like a historical artifact that belonged to Iceland," proclaims Smarason. "The last McDonald's burger in Iceland. And what do you do with a historical artifact? You put it in a museum." The meal spent a year at the National Museum of Iceland before the institution worried that it would decompose under their care. (In 2020, McDonald's put out a statement claiming that their burgers don't seem to decompose due to a lack of moisture, instead of some nefarious preservative.) Smarason then gave it to the Bus Hostel Reykjavik, where the meal spent years on display. Now, it resides at another hostel, the Snotra House, in southern Iceland. Enio Socorro Zayas has been banned from molesting flight attendants for six months. The 50-year-old Canadian gentleman, who was convicted of assaulting an American Airlines flight attendant by groping her buttocks, will serve his sentence in a U.S. penitentiary. From CNN: According to an affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, the flight attendant, believing Zayas was asleep, placed a snack package on his lap. When she turned away, the flight attendant "felt a hand grip the bottom of her thigh and move upwards towards the lower portion of her buttocks before rubbing firmly from side to side," the affidavit reads. From Insider: After a Tennessee school board decided to ban Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer prize-winning graphic novel Maus: A Survivor's Tale a historical account of Holocaust survivors based on Spiegelman's parents a college professor channeled his anger by creating a free online course for McMinn County's 8th12th grade students. The course will "not be public, but open only to McMinn County, TN, students who apply," Professor Scott Denham of Davidson College says on his Maus class website. "I have taught Spiegelman's books many times in my courses on the Holocaust over many years." Denham, a Harvard graduate who teaches German studies at Davidson in North Carolina, says the course is a work in progress, and students of McMinn County can register here. No results yet from last weekends Buffalo Winter Sectional Tournament. Face-to-face games in the bridge clubs continue to scale back because of Covid. The Bridge Center of Buffalo now has moved its game at noon Tuesday back to Bridge Base Online. Master point limit is 1,100. For the moment, the club is continuing its other face-to-face games an open game at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and an open game at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Attendance is ranging from three to five tables. Continuing on Bridge Base Online are the clubs 0-750 master point game at 7 p.m. Mondays, its 999er game at noon Thursdays and the Delaware Wednesday game at 7 p.m. Wednesday for players with fewer than 2,000 points. For more info, visit the Buffalo Bridge Center website, call 716-691-6201 or email acting club manager Terry Fraas at tmfraas@gmail.com. The East Aurora Bridge Club has been holding face-to-face games for more than a year. Play begins at 10 a.m. Wednesdays in the Aurora Senior Citizens Center, 101 King St., East Aurora. Players must wear masks. Attendance is generally three or four tables. For more info, email director Dave Larcom at dmocral@verizon.net. Also back to in-person play is the Lockport Duplicate Club. Games begin at 1 p.m. Saturdays in the Dale Center, 33 Ontario St., Lockport. For info, call Dian Petrov at 716-668-1226. Players who arent comfortable with face-to-face play or who are not vaccinated can earn ACBL master points in a variety of games sponsored by local clubs on Bridge Base Online. Info can be found at acbl.org or bridgebase.com. The Rust Belt Bridge Group, which invites players from Buffalo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh to play on Bridge Base Online, has novice games at 9:45 a.m. Monday to Saturday, with open games at 9:50. To visit the groups homepage, click this link. For other info, call Dian Petrov at 716-688-1226 or email dpetrov@roadrunner.com. The Airport Bridge Club is linked on Bridge Base Online with the Alliance Bridge Club, the ACBLs largest bridge club, which offers more than a dozen games every day. Anyone who has played at the Airport Club is automatically a member. For more info, visit alliancebridgeclub.com or call Airport Club manager Bill Finkelstein at 716-603-6943. The Delaware Wednesday Club plays on Bridge Base Online under auspices of the Buffalo Bridge Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday. For info, call Ed Harman at 716-480-1666 or email eharmon@roadrunner.com. The Bridge Centre of Niagara in St. Catharines, Ont., has stopped holding its in-person games on Wednesdays and Thursdays due to Covid-19. All of the clubs games are back on Bridge Base Online. Tournament calendar 2022 GONE FROM THE ACBL SCHEDULE: St. Catharines Sectional Holiday Inn & Suites Parkway Conference Center, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ont. Friday, Feb. 11, to Sunday, Feb. 13. Buffalo Spring Sectional Main-Transit Fire Hall, 6777 Main St., Amherst. Friday, April 1, to Sunday, April 3. For more info, click this link. Toronto Easter Regional Sheraton Toronto Centre, 123 Queen St. West, Toronto, Ont. Tuesday, April 12, to Sunday, April 17. For info, click this link. Bridge club websites: Click names for links. The Airport Bridge Club does not have a website. For info, call 716-603-6943. The Duplicate Bridge column is compiled weekly by News Staff Reporter Dale Anderson. The print version stopped appearing Saturdays in The Buffalo News in March 2020 when the pandemic forced local bridge clubs to halt face-to-face play. These days you can find it in two places online. Google Duplicate Bridge plus the current Saturday date and that should bring up a link to it on buffalonews.com, the Buffalo News website. Another place to find it is on Dale Andersons bridge blog at http://newsdupli.blogspot.com/ Deadline for submission of scores and notices is Tuesday night. Email danderson@buffnews.com or dahotwings@aol.com. Office phone is 716-849-4420. A Gold Life Master, Dale Anderson has reached a career total of 2,900 master points. Playing exclusively online these days doesnt provide as much drama for his bridge blog as face-to-face competition, but he still writes about his quest for the next measure of achievement, Sapphire Life Master (3,500 points), and other bridge adventures here. Duplicate scores from Bridge Base Online Week of Jan. 17 to Jan. 23 Buffalo Bridge Center Monday evening 0-750 game. North-south, Violet and Jasbeer Makhija, 73.26%; Margaret Zhou and Joyce Frayer, 57.64%; Janet and David Desmon, 57.29%; Fran Schmidt and Richard McGowan, 53.12%; east-west, Amita Arora and Martha Townson, 73.26%; Bonnie Clement and David Schott, 63.19%; Phyllis Wilkinson and Gerry Hooley, 52.08%. Buffalo Bridge Center Tuesday morning 0-1,199 game. North-south, Amita Arora and Jim Lanzo, 62.50%; Sharon Wilcox and Audrey Ray, 60.42%; (tie) David Schott and Terry Camp, Paula Rosen and Linda Milch, 52.08%; east-west, Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 64.93%; Jim Hassett and Bill Rich, 56.94%; Terry and Bram Hamovitch, 53.12%; Janet Desmon and Joanne Nover, 52.78%. Buffalo Bridge Center Wednesday morning Open game. Saleh Fetouh and Jay Costello, 56.94%; (tie) Mike Ryan and John Ziemer, Chris Urbanek and John Sinclair, 54.63%; Donna Steffan and Judy Padgug, 51.39%; Davis Heussler and Kamil Bishara, 50.46%. Buffalo Bridge Center Thursday morning 0-1,500 game. North-south, Carol Roth and Audrey Ray, 66.50%; Richard McGowan and Bill Rich, 62.75%; Paula Rosen and Maryann Szafran, 58.25%; Candace Graser and Cynthia Tashjian, 55.25%; Larry Himelein and David Schott, 54.75%; east-west, Marilyn Wortzman and Jim Easton, 61.75%; Sam Pal and Rajat Basu, 60.25%; Agi Maisel and Tova Reinhorn, 57.50%; Laura and John Houghtaling, 55%; Denise Slattery and John Bava, 52.25%. Bridge Club of East Aurora Wednesday morning Dan Clark and Dave Larcom, 56%; Linda and Paul Zittel, 54%; Joan and Bob Ciszak, 53%. Delaware Wednesday evening North-south, Richard McGowan and Bill Rich, 66.67%; Mary Ball and Joyce Frayer, 61.57%; Jan OMara and Walt Olszewski, 60.65%; east-west, Violet and Jasbeer Makhija, 65.28%; Madhav Deshmukh and Sushil Amlani, 63.89%; Terry Camp and Ed Harman, 53.24%. Staying in? We've got you covered Get the recommendations on what's streaming now, games you'll love, TV news and more with our weekly Home Entertainment newsletter! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Continuing a year-long theme of transportation issues, the Buffalo Board of Education is trying to find creative solutions to solve the problems plaguing how children across the city are getting to and from school. To start, the district will begin distributing Metro Bus passes to high school students who live less than 1.5 miles from school. That change was unanimously approved by the School Board on Wednesday. School districts trying to minimize the impact of staff shortages on kids The number of positive cases among children, teachers and staff in public schools in Erie and Niagara counties doubled from Dec. 1 to Jan. 1, with a total 2,500 new cases reported on Tuesday and Wednesday. Meanwhile, the board voted 6-3 to send to its Finance and Operations Committee a resolution that would allow the district to purchase prepaid gas cards that would be used to reimburse parents who drive their children to school as a result of the school bus driver shortage, an idea that sparked heated debate among board members. Both resolutions were introduced by Ferry District Board Member Sharon Belton-Cottman who, along with Central District Board Member Paulette Woods, took umbrage at the idea of not immediately approving the measure to provide relief for some parents and their children who she said have been forced to wait hours in the cold for school buses that sometimes don't arrive. "We don't know if it'll work but, damn it, you can't blame us for trying," Belton-Cottman said, demanding that her colleagues vote either up or down on the measure instead of delaying action. School districts devise plans to battle bus driver shortage "From the day school started, it has been atrocious," Latrice Martin, the parent of three children in Buffalo, said of the bus driver shortage. Other members raised numerous questions about the practicality of the measure, and whether it would actually help alleviate the problems brought on by a school bus driver shortage. Members also questioned the basic fairness of handing out gas cards. The measure would do nothing for parents who don't own a vehicle and rely on public transportation or ride-sharing apps to get their children to school. "The goal is making sure that this works," said Board Member at large Ann Rivera, who added that sending the item to committee did not indicate a lack of support for the resolution. Board Member at large Terrance Heard, who voted with Belton-Cottman and Woods against sending the item to committee, insisted that the board could have voted to approve it at Wednesday night's meeting and could make any necessary modifications to it later. School districts struggling with 'severe' bus driver shortage School districts and private contractors in New York State are reporting a 15% to 20% shortage in the driver force. Belton-Cottman said that, because of federal Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief funds, the district has access to over $15 million for its transportation needs that could provide immediate relief to parents and thereby reduce the number students who require school bus transportation to get to and from school. Both resolutions introduced by her are in response to the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic that began in late winter of 2020. These include chronic absenteeism among 10% to 20% of the district's students, she said. Meanwhile, Superintendent Kriner Cash criticized Belton-Cottman for not specifically seeking out his opinions on her resolution first before presenting them to the board, noting that, as superintendent, he would be required to execute the resolution. Cash said he wanted to look into some of the issues raised about the gas card idea, not least of which is the cost, which was not contained in the resolution. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Federal authorities are looking into the friendship between State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski and Peter G. Gerace Jr., the Cheektowaga strip club owner indicted last week as part of an ongoing investigation into organized crime. But the attorney representing the judge, who was struck by a freight train Feb. 28 and remains hospitalized, says there is no indication that Michalski has done anything illegal. Attorney Anthony J. Lana told Buffalo News on Monday that federal authorities contacted the judge about two weeks ago to ask him about Gerace, who has been charged with paying bribes to a Drug Enforcement Administration agent. Lana said that the judge and Gerace have been friends for decades, starting when Michalski was in private practice and handled legal work related to Geraces Pharaohs Gentlemens Club, which was raided by federal agents in 2019. My understanding is that Johns work from 20 years ago involved business and a real estate transfer involving Pharaohs and that it was nothing of a criminal nature, said Lana, who has been representing the judge for about two weeks. They wanted to see what the relationship was. What is the connection? Was this just a prior from twenty years or did it develop into something more, Lana said. He said Michalski, 59, has remained friends with Gerace. Lana said he is a longtime friend of the judge and, though "there are no criminal charges requiring representation," he explained he is "looking out for the judge's interests." When asked for details on how Michalski was hit by a CSX freight train near the Amtrak station in Depew, Lana said he has not yet had the opportunity to meet with Michalski at Erie County Medical Center to discuss it. I know he suffered a broken leg and is expected to make a full recovery. I think there is video from the CSX freight rail yard and a witness or two who had their cellphones out, Lana said. John is in a Covid wing and no visitors are allowed, but I know he is in good spirits. U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy declined to comment on Michalski. Gerace, 53, of Clarence, was the second person charged with bribing retired DEA agent Joseph Bongiovanni for help to avoid arrest for drug dealing. Gerace has also been charged with maintaining a drug involved premises; conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. He has pleaded not guilty. Gerace is the nephew of the man federal law enforcement officials call the leader of the Buffalo Mafia, Joseph A. Todaro, who has repeatedly denied that allegation and has never been charged. Bongiovanni, who has also pleaded not guilty, is accused of accepting $250,000 in bribes from drug dealers allegedly connected to organized crime in exchange for protecting them from arrest. The U.S. Attorneys Office has been looking into individuals they claim have ties to the Mafia and organized crime, according to statements made by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi in U.S. District Court and court documents. In 2019, Michael Masecchia, a Buffalo high school English teacher, was charged with bribing Bongiovanni. In December, when Masecchia pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and criminal possession of firearms, he admitted that he and unnamed others received sensitive law enforcement information from Bongiovanni to help them avoid arrest as he sold more than a ton of marijuana. Given the latest developments involving Gerace, Lana said authorities would be negligent if they did not examine the relationship between Michalski and Gerace. Anyone who knows John is aware that he is vivacious and become friends with him," Lana said. "That is what happened, John became friends with Peter Gerace and their friendship continued. I know they have been out to dinner and that they have regular conversations. John has been invited to some Gerace family occasions. In stressing that he believes there is nothing of an illegal nature, Lana said, I have absolutely no basis of knowledge to believe there is any criminal wrongdoing. Michalski officiated at Geraces marriage to Katrina Nigro on Sept. 18, 2014. Nigro has told The News that the marriage was illegally conducted because a 24-hour waiting period was waived based on false information. Nigro and Gerace divorced in 2018. She has told The News that she has testified before a federal grand jury investigation of organized crime, but declined to say what she told the grand jury. Lana said he was aware of the allegation of an illegal marriage, but said he did not have any details. Gerace has told The News that Michalski is a friend. He dismissed his ex-wifes claims that the marriage was illegal. The Depew Police Department, which is investigating the train accident involving the judge, has refused to answer questions about the incident. It has referred The Buffalo News Freedom of Information Law request for details of the accident to Depew Village Attorney Sam Alba. Alba said he is reviewing the request. 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. Hong Kong: Relaxed rules for helpers explained The Government said today that it will allow foreign domestic helpers to undergo self-monitoring at licensed hotels or guesthouses after completing 14 days of compulsory quarantine. It announced yesterday that starting February 5, the compulsory quarantine period for inbound travellers from overseas places will be adjusted to 14 days in designated quarantine hotels or designated quarantine facilities, to be followed by a seven-day self-monitoring period. In accordance with the above arrangement, foreign domestic helpers should undergo self-monitoring at the employer's residence and be subject to compulsory testing upon completion of the 14-day compulsory quarantine requirement. Understanding that some employers may wish to arrange their helpers to complete self-monitoring at licensed hotels or guesthouses due to considerations of the family situation or household environment, the Government will allow the helpers to do so. However, such licensed hotels or guesthouses must not be serving designated quarantine hotels or designated quarantine facilities, so as to prevent cross-infection with people who are still undergoing the 14-day compulsory quarantine. The Government explained that it is not necessary to make an application to the Labour Department, but the relevant arrangement should be mutually agreed upon by the employer and the helper. Helpers are not allowed to undergo self-monitoring at places which are not the employer's residence apart from licensed hotels or guesthouses, it added. This story has been published on: 2022-01-28. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Thursday marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day, coinciding with the 77th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, where 1.1 million people, mostly of Jewish descent, were murdered. Every day, but on this day in particular, Holocaust museums and centers around the world work diligently to teach the history of this genocide and honor the legacy of its survivors and victims. Therefore, it has been alarming to hear more and more instances of inappropriate comparisons of modern-day issues being made to the Holocaust. This trend is nothing new, but it seems to have escalated recently and must be stopped. On both the right and on the left, politicians, newscasters, celebrities and our own friends and family members have been making these analogies, perhaps to be provocative or in an attempt to help them win arguments. While it is natural to connect new information with existing knowledge, it is deeply wrong to make these parallels for a number of reasons. First and foremost, these comparisons are extremely disrespectful and demeaning to Holocaust survivors, their family members and to the 11 million people who were murdered. We must think about the 40 survivors and their descendants who are our Western New York neighbors, as well as the WWII veterans who fought valiantly for our democracy and who liberated the death camps. Our community is home to people like Ruth Lansing, who at 103 years old is one of the last surviving witnesses to Kristallnacht the Night of Broken Glass and Sophia Veffer, who as a child hid in more than 10 hiding places in Amsterdam, was turned in to the Nazis, and survived Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. Their horrific experiences become diminished when every modern-day issue is compared to what they experienced in the Holocaust. Second, when we start equating every bad or controversial situation to the Holocaust, we increase the chances of becoming immune to this global tragedy. As Edna Friedberg, historian at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, puts it, the nature of Nazi crimes demands that we study the evidence, alert ourselves to warning signs, and wrestle with the worlds moral failure. When we reduce it to a flattened morality tale, we forfeit the chance to learn from its horrific specificity. We lose sight of the ordinary human choices that made genocide possible. Third, making analogies to the Holocaust distracts from the important task of finding solutions to the issues of today. Modern issues do not need to be compared to the Holocaust to be considered negative or important. Friedberg emphasizes that these analogies shut down productive, thoughtful discourse especially at a time when our country needs dialogue more than ever. Please help us remember the history of the Holocaust and honor the experiences of the survivors and victims by rejecting these comparisons whenever you hear them. The Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo is firmly committed to our mission: to teach the lessons of the Holocaust, remember the survivors and victims, and promote social justice, civic responsibility and human rights. Elizabeth Schram is director and Wendy Weisbrot chairwoman of the Holocaust Resource Center. Times Beach Nature Preserve, a 55-acre site on Buffalos Outer Harbor, will receive much-needed attention as a result of the local share of last years $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal. Times Beach is a unique Buffalo ecosystem, hugging the shore of Lake Erie within sight of the city landscape. It needs protection against both human interference, as well as the forces of nature. The area withstood years of battering by the weather. There hasnt been enough money to repair the damage. Until now. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, recently announced that the Army Corps of Engineers will receive $10 million in infrastructure funding to restore the site. Times Beach its not a beach sits just south of the current U.S. Coast Guard facility on the citys waterfront. It is, as Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz described, a peaceful but fragile ecosystem that is very vulnerable to bad weather due to its location. It is because of this vulnerability that the money is so necessary and, as Higgins pointed out, the restoration there will complement the existing parkland. With work expected to begin this spring and expected to be completed within a year, those who have been stewards of the area will start to see change. The Friends of Times Beach Nature Preserve is a volunteer group. It had been working to restore a trail destroyed by the Halloween storm of 2019. Since then, the organization says 12 other storms including one last month inflicted additional damage. The injuries have put most of the site, including its break wall, off limits to visitors. Lt. Col. Eli Adams, commander of the Army Corps, offered assurances that the new federal funding will aid them in making the repairs. The Corps plans to work on the project with Erie County, which manages the site in an agreement with the City of Buffalo, the owner of the property. Higgins indicated that the Times Beach restoration is the type of project that has been long needed, but only being funded now because Congress passed the 2021 infrastructure bill. The project fits well with Higgins $189 million plan to create the new parkland, renovate Erie Basin Marina and build two new parkways leading to the waterfront. That work will be funded through the infrastructure legislation and money from the New York State Power Authority. The infrastructure legislation stands to do much for the country, whether in places like Buffalo or the more rural Southern Tier, where Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, said it is already having an effect. Times Beach Nature Preserve, an entrancing juxtaposition of the wild and the urban, is well deserving of the measures attention. Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing. Combined Companies Currently Serve 15 States, More than 150 Communities EVANSVILLE, Ind., January 27, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MetroNet, the nations largest independently owned, 100 percent fiber optic network provider, today announced a merger with Lubbock, Texas-based Vexus Fiber. Vexus builds and operates fiber optic networks that connect directly to homes and businesses in Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana. The combined companies will continue to operate under their current brands with their current leadership teams. Terms of the merger were not disclosed. "Were very excited to welcome Vexus Fiber and their associates to MetroNet," said John Cinelli, Chief Executive Officer of MetroNet. "Vexus has a fast growth and high customer service mentality, very similar to MetroNet, and joining with them allows us to quickly expand our service area to even more Americans." "Our mission at Vexus is to bring our high-quality service to as many homes and businesses in the Southwest as possible," said Jim Gleason, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vexus. "With this merger, we can reach even more people faster." Vexus Fiber currently operates fiber-to-the-home networks in Lubbock, Amarillo, Wichita Falls, Abilene, and surrounding areas in Texas, as well as Hammond, Covington and Mandeville in Louisiana. The company is also building new networks in the Rio Grande Valley, Tyler, Nacogdoches, and San Angelo, Texas and expanding in Lake Charles, Louisiana as well as Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Both MetroNet and Vexus build and operate fiber optic networks with symmetrical speeds of 1 gigabit or higher connected directly to homes and businesses. The networks are future proof and can scale to higher speeds. Both companies are dedicated to connecting Americas underserved cities and towns and bringing state-of-the-art fiber optic connections for workers, businesses, schools, hospitals, government facilities and homes. Story continues About Vexus: Vexus is a leading provider of fiber-based communications solutions for both residential and business customers across Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico. As a technology leader in the industry, Vexus Fiber offers an extensive range of internet connectivity over a true fiber-to-the-premises network. Services also include a robust HD Video platform, Voice, TeleCloud services, and more. For more information, please visit vexusfiber.com. About MetroNet: MetroNet is the nations largest independently owned, 100 percent fiber optic company headquartered in Evansville, Indiana. The customer-focused company provides cutting-edge fiber optic communication services, including high-speed Fiber Internet and full-featured Fiber Phone with a wide variety of programming. MetroNet started in 2005 with one fiber optic network in Greencastle, Indiana, and has since grown to serving and constructing networks in more than 120 communities across Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, and Missouri. MetroNet is committed to bringing state-of-the-art telecommunication services to communities services that are comparable or superior to those offered in large metropolitan areas. MetroNet has been recognized by PC Mag as one of the Top 10 Fastest ISPs in North Central United States in 2020 and Top 10 ISPs with Best Gaming Quality Index in 2021. Broadband Now has recognized MetroNet as the Top 3 Fastest Internet Providers and Fastest Fiber Providers in the Nation in 2020, and #1 Fastest Mid-Sized Internet Provider in two states in 2020. In 2020, MetroNet was awarded the Vectren Energy Safe Digging Partner Award. For more information, visit www.MetroNetinc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220127005371/en/ Contacts Katie Custer Katie@RunSwitchPR.com 502.821.6784 Research Survey: Cheating Concerns in Online Courses Have Eased College instructors have changed their attitudes toward academic integrity in online courses, according to a new report from Wiley. Just 27% of faculty surveyed by the education publisher this past fall said they felt students were significantly more likely to cheat in an online course than an in-person course a precipitous drop from 62% who said the same in 2020. "Many college instructors worried about problems with academic integrity when courses shifted to online instruction early in the pandemic," explained Jason Jordan, senior vice president of digital education at Wiley, in a statement. "Our findings, however, suggest those concerns were greatly allayed as instructors gained more experience with remote coursework." Instructors reported employing a number of strategies to ease academic integrity worries in their online courses: 55% used online proctoring software; 37% lowered grades as a consequence of cheating; 36% used more open-ended questions; 34% created question pools; 33% spoke to students about consequences more often; 28% gave more project-based assignments; 28% added a section in the syllabus to raise awareness of cheating; 24% instituted a mandatory signing of the honor code; 17% eliminated or reduced multiple-choice questions; and 15% assigned more essays. Notably, while the majority of students surveyed (59%) agreed that cheating was easier online compared to in-person, only 28% said they were more likely to cheat online. For most students (52%), course modality had no impact on their likelihood of cheating. And 73% said they are simply less likely to cheat if they think they're likely to get caught. Students gave a variety of reasons why they might cheat: 71% cited pressure to get good grades; 44% said they had too much coursework; 43% felt pressure because of the cost of a degree; 42% found it hard to balance school with other responsibilities; 40% said they were more likely to cheat if course content/material wasn't relevant to them personally; 37% were more likely to cheat if course content/material wasn't relevant to their major; 34% perceived assignments as busy work; and 26% cheated because others were cheating. To further illuminate students' motivations around academic integrity, the report quoted Tricia Bertram Gallant, director of the Academic Integrity Office at the University of California San Diego and board member of the International Center for Academic Integrity: "The research tells us that people are more likely to engage in dishonesty when they're under stress and pressure and when they're in a situation where the norms are unclear and there are temptations and opportunities." "The actual belief that their peers are cheating is one of the most important predictors of academic dishonesty," added David Rettinger, director of academic programs at the University of Mary Washington and president emeritus of the International Center for Academic Integrity. "Being surrounded by cheaters has an almost contagious effect." Wiley's "New Insights into Academic Integrity" report is based on a survey of 2,868 college instructors and 682 students in the United States and Canada, conducted in September 2021 as a follow-up to its Spring 2020 report on academic integrity. The full report is available on the Wiley site. "It might seem like Noahs death is unique and unprecedented. It isnt. Children die in septic tanks each year, but unlike Paul and Ashley, few of their parents see the inside of a courtroom." For this most recent season of Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles, we wanted to highlight a series from The Roanoke Times that was first reported and produced in 2018 by journalists Jacob Demmitt and Robby Korth. A five year old child, Noah Thomas, went missing in Dublin Virginia the spring of 2015. When his body was discovered days later in the family's septic tank, the mother was put on trial both by the court system, as well as social media, where misinformation, accusations, and vengeance-fueled comments spread unchecked. Roanoke Times reporters Jacob Demmitt and Robby Korth went to great lengths to present an honest and well-rounded narrative that explores the ways a community failed one of their own while also touching on broader implications like the effects of Facebook, the stigma of drug addiction in rural America and the distortion of facts. The first episode is embedded above, but we just posted the seventh (and final) episode of the series if you're already caught up: The first section is an interview with Noahs preschool teacher, who gave a eulogy at Noahs funeral, and wanted to make sure he was remembered as a joyful little boy instead of just a life cut short by tragedy. The second part of the episode will be an update from 2018 covering the legal case which was resolved six months after Septic was first released, and more than three years after Noah Thomas death followed by an additional update to the story that brings it current. Links: If you appreciate what we're doing, we encourage you to invest in local journalism and support The Roanoke Times, or whichever newspaper it is that serves your community. Subscribe to Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Past episodes and seasons can be found here: https://omny.fm/shows/late-edition-crime-beat-chronicles Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 27) The Philippines is again "the worst place to be" during the pandemic, according to Bloomberg's COVID-19 resilience ranking. For the third time in the past five months, the country ranked the lowest out of 53 economies in handling the global health crisis. The Philippines' resiliency score was at 48.3 this month down from 52 in December, when it slightly climbed to the 50th spot. Bloomberg cited the country's challenges in administering COVID-19 vaccines in remote areas "as [it] sees an Omicron surge worse than other Southeast Asian countries, like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand." On Thursday, the Department of Health reported 1,153 cases of the highly contagious variant, including five deaths. Majority of these infections were positive for the "stealth" or BA.2 sub-lineage. Metro Manila, on the other hand, may have already reached the peak of the Omicron surge as it continues to log decreasing cases, the DOH said. But the agency noted it may be too early to consider easing restrictions. The other four nations at the bottom five as of January were Argentina with 57, Russia with 55.9, Romania with 55.5, and Vietnam with 53.4. Countries from the Middle East dominated in terms of responding to COVID-19, Bloomberg said. The United Arab Emirates placed first for the second time since November with a score of 78.9. "Its success is based on an approach it's been following for months: a combination of almost full vaccination, coupled with consistent openness to travel, alongside what has been a smaller outbreak compared with elsewhere," Bloomberg noted. The UAE was followed by Saudi Arabia with 77.8. Finland and Turkey got 70.1 each. Singapore rounded up the top five with 70. Last month, the Philippines' resilience ranking improved as it saw COVID-19 cases as low as 200. It was likewise put under the less strict Alert Level 2, encouraging more mobility during the holidays. That same month, however, was when the Omicron variant is said to have entered the country. CONTACT TRACING - Dr. Julia Benedetti (above) holds an armadillo. Armadillos are considered the source of leprosy in America. Contact with the animal or contaminated soil appears to be the cause, but researchers are still investigating transmission of the disease. The New England Hansens Disease Clinic is in Burlington. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon is receiving mixed reactions after revealing that she voted to disqualify former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos from the upcoming presidential elections. The three petitioners who sought the disqualification of MarcosAkbayan Party-list, Campaign Against the Return of the Marcoses and Martial Law (CARMMA), and National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Commissioner Abubakar Mangelenwelcomed Guanzon's vote in their favor. Akbayan said it was right in asserting that the late dictator's son and namesake is not qualified to run for public office for his 1995 conviction for failing to file his income tax return for four years, then again failing to pay fines. "Binuking niya ang matagal nang pambubudol ni Bongbong Marcos. Hindi kwalipikado na lumahok si Bongbong sa ating halalan," the group said in a statement Thursday. [Translation: She exposed the long-standing lies of Bongbong Marcos. He is not qualified to run in our national elections.] The CARMMA on Friday said it is eagerly waiting to hear the identity of the "powerful politician" supposedly interfering with Comelec first division's decision and causing the delay in its release, as revealed by Guanzon to CNN Philippines late Thursday. "We beseech Commissioners Aimee Ferolino and Marlon Casquejo to stand on the right side of history and decide for truth, justice, and integrity and no more delays," the martial law victims said, referring to Guanzon's fellow poll commissioners in the first division. RELATED: Guanzon says powerful politician may be behind Marcos case delay Meanwhile, the political party of Marcos urged Comelec to penalize Guanzon, threatening it could lead to the forfeiture of her retirement benefits and lifetime pension. Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) General Counsel George Briones urgently called on the Comelec En Banc on Friday to conduct an administrative probe for her "illegal" disclosure of her vote, claiming this shows her "undue interest" to seeing Marcos removed from the presidential race. "To the extent that she will forfeit her retirement benefits and lifetime pension to support the candidacy of Vice President Leni Robredo, who the petitioners in this case openly support, speaks of how deep she (GUANZON) IS INTERESTED IN THIS CASE," Briones said in a statement. Guanzon, who is set to retire on Feb. 2, is not taking the threats from PFP sitting down. "Alam ba ni BBM that Partido Federal is threatening me, the Presiding Commissioner while his case is pending? Baka e contempt ko kayo ipakulong ko kayo sa Mla city jail," she tweeted on Friday. Guanzon disclosed her vote against Marcos on Thursday, more than a week after the first division's target to release the decision. She also said Commissioner Ferolino who has been tasked to pen the first division's decision on the Marcos case has been incommunicado for four days now. She claimed the resolution has been "hijacked by the ponente." The votes of two other commissioners in the First Division have not yet been revealed. At least one more member must have a similar vote to formalize the division's decision. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Although new COVID-19 cases are on the downtrend in Metro Manila, it is not yet low enough to merit a downgrade to Alert Level 2, OCTA Research said on Friday. OCTA fellow Guido David said that the healthcare utilization in the National Capital Region is currently at low risk, but all other metrics used by the Inter-Agency Task Force as basis for the alert level classification remains at high risk. "The average daily attack rate will still be high and the positivity rate will still be above 10% and I think those will be major considerations in deciding whether to go down in alert level two," he told CNN Philippines. David projects that it could go down to moderate risk by next week. He added, "My sense is that they might wait for the number of cases to decrease even further and that will be a long way actually because after next week, the NCR might already be moving to low risk. When that happens, definitely I think Alert Level 2 can be considered." David also said the new coronavirus infections in Metro Manila and the majority of Calabarzon and Central Luzon continue to go down. During the peak, these three regions accounted for 88% of the daily new cases, but it is now at only 32% and still decreasing. He reiterated that it's possible for the National Capital Region to record 500 to 1,000 daily cases by mid-February since the current figure is now at around 2,200. Metro Manila remains under Alert Level 3 until Jan. 31. The next classification has yet to be announced by the IATF. Most major cities outside Metro Manila, such as Metro Cebu and Baguio City, are starting to record a lower number of new cases, he claimed. "I am foreseeing that because the trends have been close to peaking or peaking in many areas outside NCR Plus, that the number of cases will probably start to decrease over the next few days," argued David. "I would tend to guess that soon we will be at less than 10,000 cases per day. It could happen probably within one to two weeks." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) The "stealth Omicron," a sublineage of the original variant, may be dominant nationwide, but it cannot be considered a cause of concern just yet, the Philippine Genome Center said Friday. "It does not really concern us in terms of symptomatology and presentation," PGC executive director Cynthia Saloma told CNN Philippines' The Source. Saloma said that while the BA.2 seems to be "outcompeting" the BA.1, or the standard Omicron variant, it shows milder symptoms compared to the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant, which is present in a few areas of the country. "We are looking at this very, very closely because nakikita natin na (we can see that) it is outcompeting BA.1 so it has a negative advantage in terms of transmissibility," Saloma said. "So far, the indications are the symptoms compared to Delta are much, much milder. There are a lot of asymptomatic cases and this could also reflect that particularly here in the NCR (National Capital Region) and Calabarzon area, where the vaccination coverage is really high," she added. Saloma said PGC noticed the dominance of BA.2 towards the end of 2021 and beginning of January. This means there is a high possibility that those who caught COVID-19 just after the holidays, especially those in Metro Manila, had the stealth variant. "Practically all sequenced cases in NCR are of the BA.2 sublineage," she added. Saloma said PGC is now capable of sequencing as much as 1,400 samples in a week. A number of sequencing machines which were recently delivered to the Visayas and Mindanao will be operational in February to help detect COVID-19 variants in the central and southern regions. Health experts across the globe said the BA.2 does not cause a certain signature on lab tests called s-gene, which only makes it look like the other COVID-19 variants on a first screen. But there's no indication yet that BA.2 can spread more easily or cause a more severe disease than the original version. CNN cited a report from the UK Health Security Agency which assured the public that vaccines give protection against BA.2 as they do against the original Omicron variant, with better protection against symptoms an average of about 70% two weeks after a booster. RELATED: BA.2, the newly detected version of Omicron, is not a cause for alarm, scientists say Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) The Philippines is suspending the COVID-19 risk classification for incoming travelers beginning Feb. 1, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said on Friday. The removal of the red, yellow, green list classification means there will be no distinction regardless if a traveler arrived from a country that is high, moderate, or low risk for COVID-19 transmission. There will instead be different requirements for arriving passengers based on their vaccination status. Fully vaccinated travelers are no longer required to undergo facility-based quarantine. They only have to monitor themselves for symptoms at home for 7 days. Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travelers have to undergo facility-based quarantine until they get a negative test result taken on the 5th day, then complete their 14-day quarantine at home. Outbound travelers, regardless of vaccination status, must present a negative RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before their departure. Nograles said this will be the quarantine and testing protocol in place until a new variant of concern emerges. Meanwhile, the Philippines will once again accept fully vaccinated foreign tourists from non-visa required countries starting Feb. 10. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Department of Health made the recommendation to the Inter-Agency Task Force to ease travel restrictions in light of the widespread transmission of the highly contagious Omicron variant in the community. She said data showed the local spread of the Omicron variant did not stem from returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs). She added there are a lot more Omicron patients without travel history compared to ROFs who were found with Omicron. "Ang sinasabi ng ating mga eksperto, it doesn't make sense anymore because ang transmission dito sa ating bansa ay napakataas na, baka mas mataas pa doon sa mga pinagbabawalan natin na mga travelers coming from other countries," she said during the Palace briefing. [Translation: Our experts are saying the restrictions don't make sense anymore because transmission here in our country is already too high, perhaps even higher than in countries where travelers we subject to restrictions come from.] The health official said that with the lifting of the travel ban, efforts to cut transmission in the community should be strengthened. The Philippines has a total of 1,153 Omicron cases, mostly with the "stealth" sub-variant BA.2, which is the most common lineage among local cases. (CNN) Google is investing up to $1 billion in a major Indian telecom company, a move it hopes will drive down the cost of smartphones in a huge and rapidly expanding market. Google said in a statement Friday that it would invest $700 million in Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest telecom operator, and acquire a 1.28% stake in the company. An additional $300 million would be used for potential multi-year commercial agreements, the companies added. According to Airtel, the two companies want to work with device manufacturers to "bring down the barriers of owning a smartphone across a range of price points." They also expect to work together on 5G and cloud services in the country. The deal, which is still subject to regulatory approvals, marks Google's latest push into a market that has become critical for Big Tech firms looking to expand their global footprint. India, the world's second most populous country, has 750 million internet users, with hundreds of millions more yet to come online for the first time. And unlike its more populous neighbor China, India has been welcoming huge amounts of investment from American tech: Facebook, Google, Amazon, Netflix and others have already invested billions of dollars into growing their Indian operations. Google alone has already put up some serious cash in India, including a $4.5 billion investment two years ago in Jio Platforms, an Airtel rival that is part of billionaire Mukesh Ambani's tech empire. That deal was in part touted as a way for the companies to develop a super cheap smartphone for the local market. They launched their first low-cost 4G smartphone late last year. In a statement on Friday, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and its subsidiary Google, called the Airtel investment a "continuation" of its efforts to "increase access to smartphones, enhance connectivity to support new business models, and help companies on their digital transformation journey." Airtel's stock was up nearly 1.5% in India after the announcement. The company has nearly half a billion customers in 17 countries across South Asia and Africa. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Google is investing another $1 billion in India's smartphone market." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) The Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE), together with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and various partner stakeholders, will hold a two-day online investment expo for free on Jan. 29 to 30. The event will showcase a wide range of personal finance and investment-related topics for potential, new and existing investors that can help them achieve their money goals and build their investing strategies for the year. "Since the start of the pandemic, we have seen more retail investors participate in the stock market. With restricted movement in most areas of the country, people are looking for avenues where they can channel their disposable income. We hope that they consider investing in the stock market as one of the best ways to maximize their hard-earned money. This investment expo aims to help attendees make sound decisions related to their money and investments," PSE President and CEO Ramon S. Monzon said. The invited speakers for Day 1 of the conference include GCash Vice President and Head of Wealth Management Jong Layug who will discuss "The Shifting Business Landscape"; Philequity Management, Inc. Vice President Miguel Agarao who will delve on "2021 in Review and 2022 Outlook"; and Unicapital, Inc. First Vice President Pamela Louise Q. Victoriano who will talk about "Investing in IPOs". Mr. Agarao and Ms. Victoriano will join Mr. Monzon in a panel discussion that will be moderated by ABS-CBN News Channel business news correspondent Michelle Krystle Ong. Empower and Transform, OPC President and CEO Salve Duplito will moderate the topic, "Improving Your Relationship with Money" with key panelists, YouTube content creator Nicole Alba, Money Health Check founder and Tiktok content creator Antonette Aquino, and The Global Filipino Investors founder Floi Wycoco, joining the discussion. COL Financial Group, Inc. Chief Investment Relations and Corporate Strategist April Lee Tan will talk about "Applying Smart Investing Strategies for the New Year" while BDO Securities, Inc. team composed of Stephanie Anne Dela Cruz, Karina Lee Lozada and John Paul Palma will discuss "The Starter Pack: Getting Started with BDO Securities". Topics for Day 2 include "Digital and Crypto Assets" to be moderated by PSE COO Roel A. Refran with key panelists Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Technology Risk and Innovation Supervision Department Director Melchor T. Plabasan, SEC Markets and Securities Regulation Department Director Vicente Graciano P. Felizmenio, Jr., Union Bank of the Philippines Chief Technology and Operations Officer, and Chief Transformation Officer Henry R. Aguda, and Coins.ph Chief Executive Officer Nauman N. Mustafa, leading the discussion. Other topics lined up on January 30 are: "Generating Consistent Returns for Your Stock Investments" by 8VI Holdings Limited Master Alex Ng, "Diversi-Fly: Starting a Budget-Friendly, Multi-Asset Portfolio on the Fly" by First Metro Securities Brokerage Corporation AVP and Head of Business Development and Market Education Andro Leo I. Beltran, "Crossroads: Navigating Change for Investors in 2022" by Abacus Securities Corporation Vice President for Research Raymond Neil Franco, and "Key Sector Trends to Expect in 2022" by BPI Securities Corporation Research Head Angelo Torres. SEC Chairman Emilio B. Aquino will deliver the keynote message on opening day while Mr. Monzon will give the welcome remarks. The Expo will be hosted by Ms. Danie Laurel, news anchor-producer of BusinessWorld Live on One News. The PSE also prepared raffle prizes for lucky expo participants. Mechanics on how to qualify for the raffle will be shared during the event. The PSE Investment Expo 2022 Event Presenters are Securities and Exchange Commission, Abacus Securities Corporation (MyTrade), BPI Securities Corporation, COL Financial Group, Inc., First Metro Securities Brokerage Corporation, GCash (Mynt Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.), Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Philequity Management, Inc. and 8VI Holdings Limited. Platinum sponsors are Ayala Corporation, BDO Securities, DDMP REIT, Inc., DoubleDragon Corporation, First Gen Corporation, MerryMart Consumer Corp. and Unicapital Securities, Inc. Gold sponsors are AAA Southeast Equities, Inc., AREIT, Inc., Ayala Land, Inc., First Metro Asset Management, Inc., Globe Telecom, Inc., Robinson's Retail Holdings, Inc. and Union Bank of the Philippines. ABS-CBN News Channel, BusinessWorld, CNN Philippines, and the Philippine Daily Inquirer are the media partners of the PSE Investment Expo 2022. Investors who are interested to join the two-day online conference may register for free at expo.pse.com.ph. Through the eyes of Esnyr Ranollo, it feels like we all went to the same high school. In one of his classroom skits on TikTok, Esnyr focuses on the jealousy that we used to feel whenever any of our classmates gets excused from class. It deftly covers all possible iterations: Nicole the student leader who says, Sayang hindi ako makasali sa long quiz! Kaya niyo yan, while their classmates roll their eyes; Margielyn the dance troupe member who tuts their way out of the classroom in a Jabawockeez mask; the sassy marching band member who flips their hair and walks away with a lyre in tow. In another, a stern canteen lady aggressively mixing an imaginary jar with a plastic ladle is approached by a student trying to buy buko juice. (May nakikita kang buko? is the reply, so they settle for mango shake instead.) The exchange ends when the student hands over a 100 bill. The canteen lady raises a heavily lined brow and informs them that she doesn't have enough change. She tells them to try their luck with another canteen stall instead. On Esnyr: Randolf tattoo barong, Nicolo bluemarble shorts, and stylist's own shirt. Photo by JL JAVIER In all of Esnyrs videos, the costumes are DIY, the background is wonky (often made with low res stock photos of classroom scenarios), and every character is played by one person @esnyrrr himself. Yet millions see their old lives reflected in these skits. We are the classmates who had to endure the long quiz while student athletes get a free pass for the day. We are all the trembling voices attempting to buy cheap canteen food from a woman who has no concept of customer service when it comes to children. Esnyr is right: when youre 14 years old, you have zero human rights so you better bring your 100 bill to someone who might care. Esnyr is one of the most celebrated Filipino TikTok creators today, with almost four million followers and 117 million likes after less than a year of joining the platform. He not only plays every role in all his videos, hes also the de facto costume designer, prop master, editor, and director. His classroom skits feature fully realized characters like brown noser Precious, strict teacher Maam Castro, and the universally beloved Andrei, the introvert who always covers his mouth with a handkerchief. Through these videos, Esnyrs brand of comedy has managed to capture a nations sense of nostalgia: younger students who havent had face to face classes in two years, and older generations who are longing for simpler days sans a global pandemic. Late in 2021, he was cast in the romantic comedy Love is Color Blind starring Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano, where he plays a version of Andrei the introvert. Without any acting workshops or an audition, he was flown out to Manila to begin shooting. He recalls how nervous he was on set: Pag first day of shooting, napressure talaga ako nang bongga! Kasi hindi ko alam hindi naman sa tinatakot, pero bine-briefing ako na if ever masigawan ka, wag kang ma-culture shock. Wag mo i-take personally. Natatakot pa rin ako na ganunin din nila ako. Im thankful that I have the guidance of my co-artists, mga cast din na super bait." On Esnyr: Nicolo notch collar shirt and Randolf borders rashguard. Photo by JL JAVIER His role as Andrei was expanded after the director was pleased with his performance. Supposed to be, Im a cameo lang dapat. Tapos ginawa akong cast, kasi parang nasiyahan daw sila, Esnyr says. Hanggang sa wrap up, nandoon ako. Hanggang sa mga promotion, nandoon ako. He soon received what he says is his plot twist of the year after his successful stab at acting, he was eventually signed under Rise Artist Studio, which is co-managed by Star Magic and ABS-CBN Film Production. As of publishing, he has a series thats currently in production. Dalawa po yung kumuha sa kin. May possible two projects ako, pero pipili ako ng isa, he says. The kind of fame that Esnyr is enjoying right now is extraordinary, even in a time when nearly anyone can get famous. TikTok may be full of budding stars, but the platforms powerful algorithm will put any one-hit wonder to the test. What then does it take to become a legitimate TikTok star? *** The social networking service TikTok looks deceptively simple. From a users perspective, the app can seem like its only populated by teenagers doing dance challenges or aesthetic-focused outfit videos. It has made fame and popularity more ephemeral than ever you can go viral one day, but become completely forgettable next. From 65 million users back in 2017, there are currently 1 billion users on the app, and creators are vying for eyeballs before users can swipe up to the next 60-second spectacle. There are ways to game the system, such as using trending audio to get pushed up on peoples feeds, though such methods dont necessarily guarantee longevity. On Esnyr: Nicolo translucent shirt and metallic shorts, Randolf crybaby schoolboy shirt. Photo by JL JAVIER The fact that Tiktok is anyones game means that it takes a true contender to stay on top. 24-year-old Filipino-American creator Bella Poarch is the most followed Filipino on TikTok, with 85 million followers as of writing. Her video of dubbing and bopping to the song Soph Aspin Send (also known as "M to the B") by Millie B is still the most liked video on the platform. A few million followers down is dancer Niana Guerrero with 29 million, who primarily does dance covers with her older brother and younger sister. Its also one thing to be famous on TikTok; another to break out of the platform and be known by the public at large. Poarch is an extraordinary example in that she worked her way to a musical career from being known for dubbing (the music video for her single Build a Bitch has more than 350 million views on YouTube). Prior to TikTok, Guerrero has already gained popularity as a creator on YouTube and Facebook, thereby extending her reach far beyond the app. Another creator with a similar background to Esynr is Sassa Gurl with 4.5 million followers on the app. They were recently tapped to be the first openly queer White Castle calendar model for 2022. For everyone else, TikTok can feel like an insular community; while the app may have a billion inhabitants (and counting), theres still a larger world out there who might simply have no idea you exist. Esnyrs following is comparably more modest than Poarchs or even Guerreros, but his work is easily identifiable outside of the app. Even with a face mask on, the TikTok star cant walk more than a few feet without being recognized. The afternoon we met we were stopped at least five times. The first was right in the middle of our interview in a chain cafe two healthcare workers in scrubs approached us after picking their drink orders and asked, Ikaw yung nasa TikTok, diba? Pwede bang mapa-picture? By some miracle, Esnyr has been able to grow a solid fan base and turn viewers into believers all in less than a year. Its a TikTok fairy tale come to life. On Esnyr: Nicolo notch collar shirt, Randolf borders rashguard, and stylist's own shorts. Photo by JL JAVIER *** The first few times I watched Esnyrs videos, I fully expected him to be close to my age, an older millennial armed with a few jokes, a cell phone, and a dream. He oscillates between the roles of teacher and student with ease, implying a fair amount of wisdom and introspection. (It bears noting how Esnyr portrays satire while he copies the effectations of teachers to a T, the portrayal is never offensive.) Esnyr revealed that hes still very much a student, and is in fact in his second year of studying Petroleum Engineering at Palawan State University. (Petroleum Engineering is a highly competitive program that only accepts around 100 passers per school year; according to Esnyr, he chose it because hindi kailangan mag-bar exam.) It would take him a year of doing virtual classes to finally give in and download TikTok. [I was] a basher of Tiktok, Esnyr recalls. Isa ako sa mga nagsasabi na I will never download that app. I will never install that app. Parang goal ko sa sarili ko [dati] na matapos tong pandemic na to, hindi pa rin ako nakakapag-TikTok. Kasi nacr-cringe ako dati sa TikTok. Yung mga sayaw-sayaw ganon. He knew what he wanted for himself to find a place where he could show off his comedic skills so he thought hed try his luck uploading skits on his Facebook and Instagram stories. They proved to be popular, but it limited his reach. It would take participating in a dance relay video with friends for him to finally download TikTok, and have a taste of the apps enticing virality. [Pagkatapos ng] one hour, 100k views. That time, na-shookt ako. Hala, ang fast pala ng TikTok. Akala ko pag wala kang followers, hindi ka makikita. Nagulat ako na pinakita yung video ko sa FYP, Esnyr recalls. (FYP stands for for you page, a curated feed of videos by creators you might not follow, but the algorithm thinks that you might like them based on your interactions on the app.) Ang daming people nag message, Uy lumabas ka sa FYP ko. So from that one video, naka-garner ako ng 2k followers. Tapos sabi ng mga kasama ko na Why wont you utilize that 2k followers, parang business? Supposed to be, Im a cameo lang dapat. Tapos ginawa akong cast, kasi parang nasiyahan daw sila. Hanggang sa wrap up, nandoon ako. Hanggang sa mga promotion, nandoon ako. Gaining new followers so quickly was a phenomenon that Esnyr could not believe at first. TikTok was not his first foray into fame, or at least some version of it. Hes previously made attempts at making a name for himself online, owing to his personability in his school in Davao. Known ako to be entertaining sa school. I [had been] a student leader from Grade 7 up until senior high school. Feeling ko doon ako magkakaroon ng clout. Noong una, ginawa ko siya pang clout, Esnyr reveals. Kada campaign, natutuwa sila sa akin, jino-joke time ko yung campaign. Tapos nananalo ako, kahit sinong maganda or famous na itatapat sa kin. Esnyr even tried vlogging on YouTube, without much success. Yung support system ko lang at the time was yung barkada ko, he says. To the point na kahit gagala kami sa isang cafe, pine-play nila yung video ko sa TV. Tapos nahihiya ako. (Laughs) After that, narealize ko na super baba ng views ko. Dati 300 views, pero feeling ko famous na ko at the time. (Laughs) YouTube wasnt enough. Esnyr reveals that at one point, he had been a prolific author on Wattpad. He would not only write original stories, but he also edited covers for each one of them. (These Wattpad stories actually inspired his first few videos on TikTok romantic POVs that end with a comedic twist. Kunwari mag-isa ka sa cafe, tapos tatabihan ka ng pogi pero sa i-invite ka [pala] sa networking.) On Esnyr: Stylist's own white shirt. Photo by JL JAVIER The first of his classroom videos came about after his Wattpad followers kept pressuring him via DM to post more videos. It was about two warring sections during a school-wide competition, and was only meant to be filler content. He went back to his Wattpad-inspired POVs, but soon realized that his engagement shot up in his school seryes. From two thousand followers in March 2021, he gained his first million just six months after. Despite his writing background, Esnyrs TikTok videos arent scripted. In the morning or during class, he brainstorms over a concept and starts filming at around four in the afternoon. It takes him three to four hours to film and an hour to edit any lines or side comments from all the characters are purely spontaneous. (His only requirement per video is to make sure each of his personas gets a second or two to shine.) Esnyr doesnt hesitate to completely scrap a fully done video if it goes beyond 60 seconds, or if the video, in his words, ay hindi havey at all. His approach to his craft suggests that Esnyr is purely working on instinct, a confidence in his own abilities to make something; anything. But despite his steady climb to fame and success, Esnyr clearly sees showbiz as a viable career a way to be a breadwinner for his family. While hes serious about his studies, hes also willing to shelve it in favor of work. Kung hindi ko na mai-balance both, I think uunahin ko yung fastest way to help my family, which is [mag-artista,] he says. Kasi isa po ako sa yun nga, parang breadwinner. I need to be stable first. It also bears asking if Esnyr has considered the wealth of content he still has remaining. But Esnyr isnt worried; he owes the universality of his videos for having experienced both public and private education throughout high school. Siguro pag babalik na yung face to face, sa online class naman yung gagawin ko. (Laughs) Ako, gusto ko maging universal student talaga. Pero yung hindi ko alam kung ano yung plano, he muses. Go lang ako sa flow, living in the moment. Siyempre, iniisip ko yung future ko, pero when it comes to my content, hindi pa naman. Feeling ko meron at meron pa akong magagawa, sa dami ng experience ko sa high school. On Esnyr: Randolf split jacket and stylist's own white shirt. Photo by JL JAVIER As for the rest of us, Esnyrs high school skits perfectly document the Filipino classroom experience the moments of triumph and defeat, the fear and disappointment, and the innocence of affection. The sheer weirdness of it all. What his body of work has managed to say is that we are united by more than we realize, across space and time. High school isnt forever, but talent like his is the kind that endures beyond the limits of a 60-second video. Esnyr Ranollo may only be 20 years old, but he seems to have lived a hundred lives before, and will probably live a hundred more. *** Styling by RJ SANTOS Assisted by NICOLO PEREZ Produced by GABY GLORIA Cover design by THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MANILA Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) It might take a while for broadcast giant ABS-CBN to secure its own frequencies after the government reallocated its former channels to other broadcasting firms. In an interview with CNN Philippines' The Source on Friday, National Telecommunications Commission Deputy Commissioner Ed Cabarios shared his view when asked whether ABS-CBN would likely be last on the list of those applying for the grants, once it secures a franchise. "Kung sakali yes, kasi ang titingnan is first, yung nakapila ka, then we will check the legal qualifications," he said. [Translation: In case, yes, because, first, we're looking if you are in line, then we will check the legal qualifications.] Cabarios said in a previous interview that the assignment of frequencies is awarded on a "first come, first serve basis." "First is, you consider the dates, kung sino nauna. Then take a look at compliance, kung hindi nagcomply then go to the next until the last," the deputy commissioner noted. [Translation: First is, you consider the dates, who applied first. Then take a look at compliance, if it didn't comply then go to the next until the last.] "If it is legally qualified, technically qualified and financially qualified, then a grant authorization is given. Ito yung sinusunod (This is what we follow)," Cabarios added. He explained that Advanced Media Broadcasting System, which can now temporarily operate analog Channel 2 and digital Channel 16, applied for a digital TV slot as early as 2006. Billionaire and former senator Manny Villar currently owns the broadcast firm. It received a 25-year franchise to operate TV service last 2019. READ: Villar firm gets ABS-CBN frequencies NTC NTC also recently gave former ABS-CBN frequencies to Aliw Broadcasting, the operator of radio station DWIZ; and Swara Sug Media Corp, also known as Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI). Aliw now has the authority to use Channel 23 while SMNI can use Channel 43. NTC earlier said Aliw was the second one to apply for digital TV broadcasting on July 2007, followed by SMNI, which filed on October the same year. READ: Quiboloy network, Aliw Broadcasting bag other ABS-CBN frequencies Cabarios said he does not have the exact number of applicants that are still on the waiting list, but there are others that also filed for provisional authority from 2017 to 2019. "If ABS-CBN would be able to get the congressional franchise, it will be a new franchise. They have to apply for authorizations after and nakapila po yan, marami po sila (it must fall in line, and there's a lot of applicants lining up)," he noted. [Translation: If ABS-CBN would be able to get the congressional franchise, it will be a new franchise. They have to apply for authorizations after and there's a line. There are many in line.] He also said a network with a provisional authority has the option to "join others, build a single transmitter, share the cost, and go on air" depending on available program channels. ABS-CBN failed to secure a fresh 25-year franchise in July 2020 after a House panel denied its application. It has since strengthened its presence in digital platforms and aired some shows on free TV at the A2Z channel out of a broadcast deal with religious leader and congressman Eddie Villanuevas Zoe Broadcasting Network. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Aimee Ferolino on Friday asked the poll body to "review" the actions of fellow Commissioner Rowena Guanzon who had disclosed her vote on the disqualification case against Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos. In a letter addressed to chairman Sheriff Abas a copy of which was obtained by CNN Philippines Ferolino urged the Comelec to look into Guanzon's media guestings and social media posts in relation to the case. "Her excitement and eagerness have taken over her that she may have forgotten the sub judice rule," Ferolino said of Guanzon, the presiding commissioner of the First Division handling the consolidated petitions against Marcos. Ferolino also expressed concern over Guanzon's public revelation that she was the one tasked to pen the much-awaited ruling. "Her disclosure will expose me to possible pressure from different personalities and organizations and will pose a threat to my safety and security," she said. Guanzon on Thursday went on the record and disclosed that she voted to disqualify Marcos from the 2022 presidential race, citing his conviction for failure to file income tax returns, among others. RELATED: Petitioners laud Guanzon's disqualification vote, but Marcos party seeks penalty The presiding commissioner also called out the "unreasonable" delay in the release of the resolution, which she said has been "hijacked by the ponente." She said the decision can be written in a matter of hours. Guanzon also hinted that a "powerful" politician may be meddling in the case. 'Well within the timeline' Ferolino, however, refuted claims that she had been delaying the resolution. For one, she said there was no internal agreement within the First Division to release the ruling by Jan. 17. She said the deadline Guanzon earlier announced to the public was imposed upon the other poll officials. "It was the Presiding Commissioner (Guanzon) herself who set that date and imposed the same upon me and Commissioner Marlon Casquejo," Ferolino's letter further read. "It was Twitter and not the Commissioners who first knew of the promulgation date." Ferolino added it's impossible to draft a complete decision only three days after the last set of evidence was delivered to her office. She also reiterated that she underwent quarantine earlier this month after close contact with a COVID-positive lawyer assigned to the case. "I cannot risk the health and well-being of my lawyers and staff especially those who are COVID positive and those experiencing symptoms," Ferolino said. "In resolving the Marcos case, my office is well within the timelines, and well within the bounds of the rules." Ferolino also accused Guanzon of putting pressure and "trying to influence" her decision on the disqualification case. "The Presiding Commissioner of the First Division is putting the cart before the horse to justify her demands. In doing so, one thing is clear to me, she is trying to influence my decision and trying hard to persuade me to her direction," she said. Guanzon demands explanation The same day, Guanzon wrote a letter to Ferolino asking her to explain why the case decision took long. The presiding commissioner gave the ponente until Monday to submit a written explanation. "I have no other conclusion that you are deliberately delaying the release of your ponencia until after I retire in order to defeat my vote," read Guanzon's memorandum which she shared on Saturday. Marcos is facing a string of petitions challenging his presidential bid. Last week, the Comelec Second Division junked for lack of merit a petition of civic leaders, which sought to cancel his certificate of candidacy. A plea looking to declare the son and namesake of the late dictator a nuisance bet was also earlier dismissed. CNN Philippines' Melissa Lopez and Alyssa Rola contributed to this report. . Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) An anti-cybercrime agency on Friday told lawmakers it found no evidence of hacking of Commission on Elections servers, but believed the software provider Smartmatic system was compromised. On the contractor of the Comelec, Smartmatic, we believe that their system is compromised, said Undersecretary Cezar Mancao of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center, an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology. We have identified a group that claimed and we have sufficient artifacts, Mancao said during a public hearing of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System. Mancao did not go into details, citing the sensitivity of information. Senator Imee Marcos and Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, heads of the Senate and House panels, granted Mancaos request for a closed-door session. Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo allayed fears that the supposed breach would impact the May 9 elections. The participation of the provider (Smartmatic) is more on just providing the software itself. We do not give them sensitive information, Casquejo said. In the event that there are alleged hacking incidents in our provider, we are pretty much sure the election is still intact, because we do not provide them any sensitive data information, he added. CNN Philippines is trying to reach Smartmatic for comment. Smartmatic supplied the automated elections platform and equipment since 2010. After figuring in controversies in past polls, there were efforts to ban the company from taking part as a service provider, but these have not materialized. Early this month, news of an alleged hacking of Comelec servers spooked the public and prompted investigations. The Manila Bulletin reported that a hackers group downloaded files that included usernames and PIN of vote-counting machines. Comelec later discredited the report, saying the configuration files havent even been completed yet. Meanwhile, Marcos and Barzaga requested the poll body to hold another round of mock elections to prove the technical issues that cropped up during the simulation in December were resolved. Casquejo said the poll body will check if it is feasible given the limited time left. Woburn, MA (01801) Today Light rain early. Partial clearing overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Light rain early. Partial clearing overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 48F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao will push for responsible mining if he wins the presidency. "Okay naman 'yun basta responsible at hindi ka nakakasira ng kalikasan (It's okay as long as it's responsible and it will not hurt the environment)," Pacquiao told talk show host Boy Abunda on Friday. The boxer-turned-politician admitted small scale and open pit mining are harmful to the environment, but he emphasized mining permits should be heavily scrutinized to see their effects on communities. "In that area, isang license lang magmina tapos may limit lang (only one license should be granted and there should be a limit). Kailangan nakatutok ang ating gobyerno para bantayan ang mga (The government must be focused in monitoring) open pit mining," Pacquiao said. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently lifted the nationwide ban on open pit mining, which was previously halted by the late Environment Secretary Gina Lopez in 2017. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) The number of births among women below 20 years old in the country recorded a sharp decrease since 2003, the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM) reported on Friday. POPCOM Executive Director Juan Antonio Perez III said the drastic decline in births was due to the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns and the suspension of face-to-face classes during the pandemic. The adolescent pregnancies went down by 23,855 in 2020 - a 13% drop - setting the record for the sharpest decrease in births among the age group. POPCOM said in its report that a substantial part of the decrease was attributed to women aged 15 to 19, which comprise 98.7% of the total 2020 adolescent births - or 23,557. The daily birth rate of mothers in that age bracket went down from 489 in 2019 to 425 in 2020. Young female adolescents, or those 10 to 14 years old, tallied 298 births in 2020. Its daily birth rate also declined a bit from seven in 2019 to six in 2020. "Parents and their adolescent children have internalized an increased awareness about the problem of teen pregnancies with regard to the health and well-being of girls having children as minors. The decline noted throughout the year serves as evidence that things are slowly changing for the better of our young women," said Perez. Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte issued Executive Order 141 to address the increasing adolescent births in the country. The EO came after former POPCOM chairperson and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia labeled teen pregnancy as a "national social emergency" in 2018. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Adults fully vaccinated with Sinopharm as their primary series can receive Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer for their booster shot, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Friday. She added Russia-made COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik Light was also granted an emergency use authorization to be used as the booster dose for those who received AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, and Sinovac shots. The official, however, said Sinopharm and Sputnik Light cannot be administered as booster shots to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Authorities arrested four persons in Cebu province over the alleged sale of illegal COVID-19 test kits. The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) said the suspects sold unregistered antigen test kits to buyers across social media platforms. They were caught red-handed in two separate entrapment operations in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue on Jan. 25 and 26. Some 200 boxes of Chinese brands "Clungene" and "Joinstar" rapid antigen test kits equivalent to about 1-million were also seized, the bureau said. Such brands are not licensed for public sale. The NBI-7 said it believes "rampant" sale of unauthorized COVID-19 test kits is happening on social media, so it made arrangements with the suspects to access messaging threads. It said it is intensifying its campaign against illegal sellers and profiteers of COVID-19 related and unregistered pharmaceutical products and test kits. Just last week, the Bureau of Customs seized 150 million worth of fake antigen test kits, Lianhua Chinese herbal medicines, and N95 face masks in an unidentified warehouse in Manila owned by a Chinese national. CNN Philippines' stringer Dale Israel contributed to this report. (CNN) Five people were shot dead and another five injured when a Ukrainian soldier opened fire at a military plant, the country's interior ministry said Thursday. A Ukrainian National Guard service-member was detained following the attack, which left four soldiers and a worker dead at a state-owned machine-building factory in eastern city of Dnipro. A woman was among the dead, and doctors are "fighting" to save the lives of those injured, Ukraine's Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky said on Facebook, where he sent his condolences to the victims' family and friends. There was no immediate sign of a motive for the shooting rampage, the interior ministry said. A commission will investigate what led to the soldier's actions, and evaluate his mental health when he was issued with a weapons permit, Monastyrsky said on Facebook. "On my orders, a commission will be set up to investigate the circumstances that ... led to the actions of a 21-year-old serviceman, who was called up to learn how to defend the country and take care of security, not to shoot his colleagues," Monastyrsky added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said doctors "are fighting for the lives of the five wounded," in a Facebook post on Thursday. "Sincere condolences to those who lost their relatives today. The killer was detained. I expect law enforcement officers to fully inform the public about all the circumstances of the crime," he added. The plant where the shooting took place works with Ukraine's State Space Agency to produce rocket and airspace technology, including missiles systems and space launch vehicles, according to state news agency Ukrinform. The attack comes amid sky-high tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Russia has amassed tens of thousands of troops near the Ukrainian border, sparking fears of a potential invasion. This story was first published on CNN.com "Ukrainian soldier kills 5 in shooting rampage at military factory" (CNN) Parker Christensen, a high school senior from Newaygo, Michigan, received a notification from Central Michigan University (CMU) on January 21 informing him that he had been awarded a prestigious full-ride scholarship to the university. University officials now say that Christensen and 57 other students received the notification in error. "When I opened up the email saying 'Congratulations,' my heart stopped like, I was blown away," Christensen, 18, who wants to pursue pre-med at CMU, told CNN. "I couldn't believe that I was part of this group, probably out of like 600 kids that applied for it. It was amazing." After he was accepted to CMU in October, Christensen applied for the university's prestigious Centralis Scholar Award. Recipients are given full tuition and room and board for four years, according to the university's website. They also receive a $5,000 study away award. Christensen said he had to submit essays, a creative project in which he chose to paint a picture, his GPA, high school transcripts and recommendation letters. He estimates he spent 48 hours to put together the scholarship application. This past weekend, he received a notification that he was a recipient of the scholarship. "I kept rereading it over and over just making sure that I actually got it and it was me," he said. "And then once I found the form, and I accepted...I was just so proud of myself for all the hard work I did." University now offering a full tuition scholarship But CMU said that notification was sent mistakenly to 58 students. Now, the university says it is reaching out to the impacted students "to make it right" and award them with an amount equivalent to a full-tuition scholarship. "While testing a new messaging technology over the weekend, CMU staff inadvertently posted a message about the prestigious Centralis Scholar Award that was seen by students who were logged into the system at that time," the university said in a statement. "The message appeared to indicate the student had received the Centralis Scholarship, when in fact they had not. CMU deeply regrets the disappointment and frustration this mistake caused for students and their families." Christensen said he was heartbroken when he was contacted by the university. "Getting that phone call, my heart sank," he said. "I was second guessing even going to CMU... I was just angry and disappointed in what they did to me and other 57 other students." Now that the school has said it will award those students affected with the equivalent to a full-tuition scholarship, Christensen said "it's a lot to take in." "It's such an emotional roller coaster. I've been up and down, sad and mad and angry and confused," he said. "I still am now. I don't know how all this is happening." CMU noted that the Centralis Scholar Awards that were inadvertently offered to the 58 students included room and board. The offer the university is extending to these students is equivalent to a full-tuition scholarship but does not include room and board, according to an email from the university. This story was first published on CNN.com 'Dozens of students were told they received full college scholarships. Then they learned it was a mistake' When Mike Langan first started his career, he initially didnt think about going into real estate. In the beginning, he was selling animal feed for farms but on the side, he said he bought these old junker houses, renovated them and would either sell or rent them out. I realized this was fun, Langan recalled. Somehow or another someone said, Why dont you get a license and be a realtor. I thought at first that I couldnt do that but it was actually pretty easy to do. This happened in the early 1980's, and sure enough, Langan went on to get his realtor license which kickstarted a multi-decade career in the field. Earlier this year, Langan retired from the field after 41 years in Columbus. He first started at Town and Country Reality before bouncing around to different locations. Then, in the 1990's, he worked at Re/Max Total Realty where he worked until his retirement. Total Realty owner and realtor Rick Grubaugh whos worked with Langan since the early 1990s said working with Langan was a pleasure. He added Langan always enjoyed coming into work. Mike is just a great guy, Grubaugh said. Hell do anything for anybody. Thats why he had the clients he had. He was tremendous to his clients. He has the talents to fix some things and thats something as a realtor that you need to have. He had a high percentage of repeat business. When talking to Langan, it is obvious that he enjoyed the line of work. You meet so many interesting people, he said. There are a few bad times but its a really, really good profession. I would recommend it to anybody. Its a good profession. Langan said the real estate in Columbus has changed quite a bit since he first started. Originally, he said to become a realtor they would have to go to Lincoln to take classes, as well as pass a test. Those who failed the test would have to wait a month to retake the course, Langan said. He said it was quite a drag if that happened. Langan would know. He said he failed his first test by a single question but retook the courses and ended up passing the second one. Back then you would have to wait by the mailbox for the mailman to come in so I was really anxious when it came in, Langan said, with a chuckle. What has also changed is the paperwork. When buying or selling a house, it only took a single piece of paper for each, Langan said while holding up his index finger. Now, its a lot different, he said. Its a lot more complicated now than it was then. Although Langan has retired from real estate, hes still staying busy. He owns a maintenance shop where he and his son, Mike, restore old John Deere tractors. He joked theyre supposed to sell them but they end up keeping several of them. Langan also has some traveling in the books. He said he and his wife are planning a trip to Arizona to see family. Well enjoy it, he said. Well go down for two to three weeks and warm up a little bit. Reflecting on the past 40 years, Langan said he had a lot of fun. I have no regrets. I would do it all again, Langan said. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A bill recently proposed by District 23 Sen. Bruce Bostelman would drastically change the composition of Nebraska's two largest public power boards, but public power won't give in without a fight. Nebraska is the only 100% public power state left in the country. Each public power district is overseen by a board of directors, the members of which are selected by local voters in public elections. However, Legislative Bill (LB) 1046 would change how board of directors members are selected for the two largest public power districts in the the state -- Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) and Omaha Public Power District (OPPD). "Basically this bill wants to take NPPD and OPPD and make them nine-member boards -- five members who would be appointed by the governor and four who would be elected. ... And then the governor would also appoint the chief executive officer, who would serve at the pleasure of the governor," Loup Power District President/CEO Neal Suess said at a Loup board meeting on Jan. 25. On one hand, public power districts in Nebraska are proud of the tradition of local control over electric utilities, which are publicly owned and operated, as opposed to being owned by investors and operated by a large energy company. However, Suess said Bostelman has cited concerns over whether board members are qualified to serve. LB1046 doesn't target Loup, but as one of NPPD's wholesale customers, Loup does have close ties with NPPD. NPPD, headquartered in Columbus, currently has an 11-member board and Tom Kent serves as the president and CEO. Kent was among those to testify against LB1046 at a committee hearing on Thursday afternoon in Lincoln. He attributed NPPD's consistent reliability and affordability partly to the board's oversight. "Establishing a board where a majority of the members are political appointees reduces the voice of the customers we serve, and reduces our customers' opportunity to hold the board accountable," Kent said. Kent added that one of the board's most important duties is selecting a CEO. "The clear alignment and accountability between the board and CEO is critical to the successful function of the organization," Kent said. "Creating a situation where the CEO serves at the pleasure of the governor but takes direction from the board is a recipe for confusion and conflict, does not represent good governance and would impede the successful function of the organization." On Tuesday, Suess shared his own thoughts with the Loup board. "My big concern is the loss of public representation. And, obviously, if the governor appoints somebody...might the governor have some kind of ulterior motive," Suess said. On Tuesday, the Loup board also seemed to oppose LB1046. Loup Board Subdivision 5 Director Chris Langemeier pointed out that NPPD plans decades ahead, and that an elected board with gradual, natural turnover is more conducive to that kind of long-term planning. "When you appoint that many people, you can change direction too fast," Langemeier said. Molly Hunter is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach her via email at molly.hunter@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mechanicsburg Area School District administrators presented updates this week on the status of multiple building projects in the district, as well as a new district comprehensive plan thats still in the works. At a school board meeting Tuesday night, district construction manager Richard Castner outlined the current status of several district building projects at the high school, Elmwood Academy, and Broad Street, Northside, Shepherdstown and Upper Allen elementary schools. At the high school, work continues on a building expansion project that kicked off construction there last summer. Planned additions include a new rear classroom wing and new support offices fronting the high school. Work there is scheduled for completion this fall. Contractors at the high school are installing structural steel for the rear classroom wing, with masonry work also progressing in this area of construction, Castner said Tuesday. At the front addition, contractors have completed structural steel installation and now are focused on completing masonry work that will enclose this section at the high school. Meanwhile, a building expansion project at Elmwood Academy that included a new two-story rear classroom wing is nearly finished with only a handful, of minor items and warranties left to address, Castner said. At Northside Elementary School, the first phase of a building expansion project has been completed and now is occupied. The completed phase includes a new classroom wing, new multipurpose room/kitchen and a portion of the schools administrative offices. Food service workers resumed operations in the schools kitchen this week, Castner said. Other planned work at Northside includes renovations to the existing media center and a site reconfiguration to improve and fully separate the schools bus and parent drop-off areas. Although the district considers building work at Broad Street Elementary School as substantially complete, further site work remains at water retention basins located in front of the school. Completion is pending connection to a future storm borough stormwater system planned for Broad and Keller streets. The Broad Street Elementary project involved a single-story classroom addition comprising four regular classrooms, one open collaborative-style classroom, dedicated rooms for art and music, and a new media center. Meanwhile, the district said its finalizing remaining details of its building expansion and renovation projects at Shepherdstown Elementary and Upper Allen Elementary schools, which includes finalizing discussions on a regional water solution that will be benefit both the district and other areas. Castners report Tuesday also said the Wildcat Foundation is continuing discussions regarding a $350,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for future improvements at Memorial Stadium. The foundation is discussing plan priorities. Masks still mandated Also on Tuesday, Superintendent Mark Leidy told the school board that although masks remain mandated inside district buildings for now, administrators are working with its community advisory panel on how and when to optionalize masks in district buildings. I would rather wait an additional week or two to wear these masks than to (optionalize) too soon and make cases go up again, he said. Its already happened for other schools that went optional and then had to go back to full masking when cases went up again. I dont want to do that. I want for us to do it right and not have to wear these again. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Why does the death of a spouse lead some people to die of a broken heart while others live many years longer with grace and strength? There are sources of stress that are unique to each stage of life, but older adults certainly face their share of setbacks and worries. Stress in the later years of life stems from adjusting to retirement, caregiving for a loved one, receiving a troubling medical diagnosis, or losing a spouse or lifelong friends. Regardless of a persons age, stress can wreak havoc on the body and diminish longevity. The bodily effects of stress have been measured in terms of higher blood pressure, higher blood glucose, increased inflammation, increased obesity and compromised immunity. Why, then, do research studies find that many older adults experience a high sense of well-being and quality of life, low stress, recovery from adversities, and consider themselves to be aging successfully despite the onset of chronic conditions? The answer is found in the capacity for resilience in the face of adversity. Resilience is an individuals ability to cope and recover from crises, sustain a sense of purpose and vitality, and emerge stronger from stressful experiences. Research in psychology suggests that older adults are capable of high resilience despite socioeconomic backgrounds, personal experiences and declining health. Most important, the research suggests that resilience is not a personality trait that some people have and others dont, but rather it is something that every person can develop. Cindy Bergeman, a psychology professor at the University of Notre Dame, puts it bluntly: you decide what is stressful and what is not by how you interpret the situation. She offers the example of walking down a dark street at night by yourself. You hear footsteps behind you, and the hairs on your neck stand up. Your heart beats faster as the footsteps get closer and closer to you from behind. You begin looking around for open businesses and other people, or you fumble for your phone. Then you turn around and realize the person behind you is a friend who is trying to catch up with you so that you do not walk alone. The sense of relief washes over you and you feel your shoulders relax. In Professor Bergemans example, you interpreted the information differently and your body responded accordingly. Interpreting the circumstances plays a crucial role in developing resilience for successful aging. The toolbox of a resilient older adult will include the ability to distinguish a range of complex emotions being felt in response to situations, the identification of a sense of purpose, and the development of a social network and true connections with other people. Anyone who has watched as dementia slowly takes the memory and identity of a loved one knows how heart-wrenching this can be and how difficult it is to find a positive interpretation of the circumstances. Professor Bergeman notes, however, that caregiving is an opportunity for connection, showing love and even resolving past conflicts. Similarly, a person might anticipate a funeral as an overwhelming moment of sadness, but it is also an occasion for bringing people together to celebrate a life well lived and to enjoy remembrances of the deceased persons impact on other lives. You decide whether it is stressful or not. Meditation can be a powerful tool to manage not only the major stressful events that occur in older adulthood, but also the little annoyances that occur all the time. You may not be aware of the physical toll taken by worrying about bills arriving in the mail, keeping track of medications, struggling to see the words in your favorite books, or realizing over and over that TVs and phones seem to require an engineering degree to operate. Meditation simply involves the practice of noticing what is happening in the present moment and how you are reacting to it. When you meditate your breath slows down, heart rate slows, blood pressure decreases, and tension in the body decreases. Being aware of frustrations is the first step; deciding how you will respond in a healthy way comes next. A mindset of resilience equips people to face illness, death and other later-in-life stressors without debilitating worry. One of the best predictors that a person will live to age 100 is having a sense of purpose. Being a role model for grandchildren, excelling at a hobby or showing kindness and encouragement to others can provide a reason for living that is larger than any setback encountered in a persons later years. Having a compelling reason to wake up every day leads to a resilience mindset. It allows a person to re-frame the loss of mobility or the loss of control over circumstances as a minor hindrance in the bigger picture of life. Having a purpose re-directs a persons focus on the good that person can still do. Even in what seems like an uncontrollable situation there are little things that a person can control, and that may make all the difference in the persons capacity for resilience. Forming and maintaining connections with other people will often result in having a larger purpose for living. Connecting socially can develop a persons sense of empathy, causing the person to worry less about personal troubles and to devote energy to helping people who need it. There is a mountain of scientific evidence that having a social network leads to a range of health benefits. Research at the Rush Alzheimers Disease Center in Chicago found that the rate of cognitive decline was 70 percent less in people with frequent social contact than those with low social activity. Having a social network has been shown to prevent further disability and extend life, as people help each other with getting around and maintaining healthy habits. The benefits for health and resilience in older adults go beyond the way people interpret their own circumstances, however developing resilience to get through the setbacks of older adulthood requires commitment. Re-appraising a situation that seems overwhelming or finding opportunity in a moment of heart-breaking sadness is not easy. It takes practice to become aware of emotions and reactions and to be intentional about forming social connections. But the benefits for resilience and well-being make it worth the effort. Find additional articles & resources at www.KeystoneElderLaw.com or join their Facebook group Later in Life Planning and Resources. Keystone Elder Law P.C. is located in Mechanicsburg. Free seminars are available with Attorney Cawley on Feb. 2 and Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. on the topic of Legal Planning for Later in Life. Call 717-697-3223 for more information and to register. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Several area firefighters responded to a house fire in Park Hills Thursday night. Fire departments were dispatched at 7:57 p.m. to a two-story house in the 200 block of Reuter Street in Park Hills. Park Hills Fire Chief Brad Weiss said the first Park Hills fire truck arrived at the address at 8:01 p.m. to find fire coming from the basement on both sides of the house. The chief said crews made their initial push into the house, and a propane tank ruptured in the basement, forcing them to back out and attempt to get back down into the basement. We ended up striking a second alarm because, by the time we got there, there was fire on the first floor and the second floor, Weiss explained. So with that size house, we just wanted to make sure we had the manpower there to do it. Weiss said the majority of the fire damage was contained to the basement, but the first floor had already collapsed when firefighters first arrived on the scene. The chief explained that fighters had the fire under control within approximately 40 minutes and remained on the scene for a little more than three hours performing overhauls and cleanup. There were reportedly no injuries during the fire. Weiss said the home was unoccupied and had recently been vacated by an older couple who had moved in with some of their family members. Weiss said the cause of the fire was undetermined but would be investigated by the Missouri State Fire Marshals Office in the coming days. All in all, it actually went really well, Weiss added. It was just such a large house. Assisting the Park Hills Fire Department with Thursday nights containment efforts were mutual aid fire companies from Leadington, Desloge, Farmington, Bonne Terre/Big River, Wolf Creek, Bismarck, Doe Run, and Leadwood. Bobby Radford is a reporter for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at bradford@dailyjournalonline.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A northern Missouri man faces sex trafficking and enticement charges after allegedly threatening a Washington County juvenile into sending him sexually explicit content through social media over the course of a year. Jordan Christopher Tippetts, 21, of Elsberry, has been charged in Washington County with second-degree sexual trafficking of a child and enticement or attempted enticement of a child (actor 21 years of age or older and child less than 15 years of age). According to a probable cause statement from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, from October 2020 to September 2021, Tippetts had conversations with a juvenile female on a social media platform. The report states that Tippetts began communicating with the girl via Snapchat when she was just 12 years old. During their Snapchat conversations, Tippetts is alleged to have forcefully asked the child for nude photos of herself along with videos of the girl performing sexual acts. The report states that a search warrant was executed on Tippetts' Snapchat account. When reviewing the voice message data, investigators reportedly discovered that the man had sent several voice messages threatening the girl in order to receive explicit images and video. In one of the messages, the report states that Tippetts told the girl to send him a 5- to 10-minute video of her performing a sex act or else he would keep calling or "spam call" her. The report states the man sent several other messages to the juvenile, including one saying, "you either send me a video of you [performing a sex act] for five to eight minutes or I'll find where you live, go there, and have a baby with you; you choose." He reportedly went on to state, "I am not threatening; I am making a promise." In addition, the report states that Tippetts sent several nude photos of himself to the child, along with videos of himself performing sexual acts. When authorities interviewed Tippetts, he reportedly confessed and confirmed that he was the person heard in all of the voice messages. The man allegedly admitted that he asked the girl approximately 40 times to have sex with him and asked her for nude photos 10-15 times. He reportedly told the investigators that the girl had sent him two nude photos and two nude videos after threatening her. The report states that Tippetts told police that he sent the nude photos of the girl to two other unknown people through Snapchat. The man also reportedly confessed to sending nude pictures of himself to 20 other underage females. Tippetts was booked at the Washington County Jail, and a $200,000 bond was set in the case. If released on bail, the man is prohibited from having contact with any person under the age of 17. The charging documents indicate that Tippetts resides in Lincoln County and "will likely be charged with multiple counts of child pornography and other offenses." The criminal complaint also notes that Tippetts faces two possible life sentences if convicted of the charges filed in Washington County. Tippetts is scheduled to appear in court for a bond reduction hearing on Feb. 8. Bobby Radford is a reporter for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at bradford@dailyjournalonline.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 2 Angry 14 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 Park Hills man pleaded guilty to a federal child pornography charge on Thursday. United States District Court Judge Rodney W. Sippel accepted a plea of guilty from Scott E. Reid, 59, for possession of child pornography. A grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri previously indicted Reid for the charge. Judge Sippel set sentencing for April 29. According to the plea agreement, on or about August 11, 2019, Reid uploaded multiple images of child sexual abuse material to a website. According to the press release from U.S. Attorneys Office and court records, on Dec. 19, 2019, a search warrant was executed at the residence of Reid on Jarvis Road in St. Francois County. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children had received a CyberTip reporting an IP address registered to his residence had uploaded images of child pornography. Law enforcement seized computers and electronics on which Reid had downloaded from the internet 3,344 images and 24 videos of child pornography depicting juveniles engaged in sexual conduct. Reid admitted that he has viewed child pornography beginning as early as 1995 through internet chatrooms. The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Missouri State Technical Assistance Team and the St. Francis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 6 Perhaps some of the most overlooked first responders in any given community could be the very people who represent the first line of contact when an emergency arises and swift help is needed those who power 911 centers. The 911 center for St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve counties is the Alan Wells St. Francois County Joint Communications and EOC Center in the Park Hills Industrial Park. Employees there, as well as first responders from area ambulance districts, police and fire departments, dropped by Wednesday afternoon to say goodbye to a woman whos helped preside over almost 30 years of emergency evolution in this region. Deputy Director Tina Harris retirement party welcomed dozens of guests who brought gifts, good memories and best wishes as she segues into more free time as a boat owner, fisher and grandmother. I look forward to spending more time with my family and friends. We plan to spend more time boating, biking and traveling with no set schedule, she said of her plans with her husband, Alan Harris. We plan to travel a lot. My husband is a retired pilot, after 25 years, and now it's our turn to travel together. I have a bucket list of places I want to see. 911 Center Director Alan Wells, who has been with the center since it began, told the crowd he was going to miss her terribly. I can remember the day she came applying for the job as my secretary assistant and taking over the office administration stuff, and she was a little skinny gal, walked in the office about 28 years ago and applied for this job, he remembered. And I go, well, I do have someone else that I'm interested in, I think they they're a little bit more mature, probably has a little more experience, and she said, I need this job! Wells indicated he didnt have the heart to turn her down, so he didnt. She's not only shown her skills and abilities from when we first hired her to be the office manager, she's grown in leadership and friendships as part of this operation. I couldn't have done it without her for sure, she's been my right hand and I know she's been a big part of all the employees lives here, he said. She's just been such a great blessing and a part of all of us. The 911 Center Board President Ron Bockenkamp said Harris work and her relationships with the community have been critical to the centers progress over the years, as well as her informed contributions. He said Harris was a huge component of the recent tax-retention issue that succeeded in November. And let me tell you, she's not timid if she disagrees, if she thinks that maybe a position you're taking is not right. She will let you know, believe me, and I have benefited from that, Bockenkamp said. But I have to tell you that she is unique in her skills and her dedication to her job. The hours that she put in, the commitment that she made not only to Alan in his role as director, but to the board. You could ask Tina for something on Monday and by that afternoon, you're going to get it. She is not a believer in letting something lay that requires action. Harris thanked the board, employees, responders, and friends and family who gathered that day to see her off as she transitions into retirement. She confirmed Wells earlier testament to her avoidance of attention, and graciously accepted a commemorative quilt and crystal plaque noting her years of service to the emergency dispatch center. It has been an honor and a privilege to be involved with serving the public and our citizens in my capacity of Deputy Director for the 911 Center, she said. Throughout my employment I had the opportunity to receive a tremendous amount of job-specific training and professional development that equipped me to understand my job and accomplish the task put before me. Harris grew up in Park Hills, graduated from Central High School and moved to Desloge in 1983. She applied for a job with the center in 1994. At that time the 911 Center was looking for an administrative assistant, which involved budgeting and payroll management, she said. With my previous employment background with financial management, I felt I could bring my knowledge and experience to that position. I was excited to be given the opportunity to be part of such a successful organization that has proven to be an amazing career choice. She was promoted to deputy director in 2016, a role Chuck Farr will take on next week. Harris said the career challenges and the opportunity to serve her community has kept her dedication to the center steady over the decades. One of the biggest changes shes seen in her time was the passage of the 911 sales tax that let them upgrade their equipment within the center, purchase a new CAD system, a new phone system and radio system. The other big change was the expansion of the original dispatch center which let the center increase from four dispatch positions to 10, to handle a growing county and the addition of Ste. Genevieve County. She added it also paved the way for a state-of-the-art emergency operations center in the event of a disaster. Its been very rewarding, I have been blessed to work with so many wonderful people over the years, she said. We have a great board of directors that l am thankful had confidence in me to do the job. Director Wells and I had a great working relationship and I truly appreciate him taking a risk with me and giving me room to be successful. I also have to give credit to my wonderful husband and family that have been so supportive throughout my career. I couldn't have done it without them. Sarah Haas is the assistant editor for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 573-518-3617 or at shaas@dailyjournalonline.com. 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. An effort in the Virginia House of Delegates to give all localities the ability via a voter referendum to increase the local sales tax in order to pay for school construction projects was stopped in a subcommittee meeting Friday morning. The subcommittee voted 5-3 all three times to lay on the table all three bills relating to the issue. A similar bill carried by Del. Dave LaRock, R-Loudon County, was struck from the agenda at the start of the meeting. Similar legislation cleared the Virginia Senate earlier this week, meaning the overall push isnt dead, yet. Del. Sally Hudson, D-Charlottesville, sponsored a Charlottesville-specific bill as well as one that wouldve given all the localities the authorization to ask voters for approval. Well have another chance when the Senate bills come over to the House, Hudson said after the meeting. That means Virginians whose Delegates blocked this bill need to make their voices heard if they want the vote to change. Two of the bills would give Charlottesville the authority to ask voters to approve a sales tax increase up to 1%. That increase would bring in an extra $12 million a year, city officials have said, and go toward the renovation and expansion of Buford Middle School. Charlottesville officials have said increasing the sales tax would be key to moving forward with the project, which has been discussed for more than a decade. Councilors Sena Magill and Juandiego Wade lent their support to the bills during the meeting. Impossible to overstate broad support for the bill, Hudson tweeted after the meeting. Unanimous rec from the bipartisan commission on school modernization. Red counties, blue cities, teachers, school boards, & superintendents all in. The other killed bill would give Prince Edward County the authority to seek a referendum. No one spoke against the bills during the meeting, which were supported by the Virginia School Boards Association, Virginia Education Association, Virginia Municipal League, and Virginia Association of Counties, among other groups. Lawmakers did not ask questions or explain their votes during the meeting. A motion to table is non-debatable. So far, nine localities in Virginia have received similar authorization from the General Assembly to issue a referendum since Halifax County proposed the idea in 2019. Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, made the motions to lay the bills on the table. He has not yet responded to a request for comment about his vote. Del. Chris Runion, R-Bridgewater, who represents parts of southern Albemarle also voted against the bills. Runion also has not yet responded to a request for comment. In testimony ahead of the vote, speakers pointed to the age of Virginia school buildings and backlog of school construction and renovation projects. The state commission on school construction and modernization found that more than half of the buildings are more than 50 years old. Replacing those buildings would cost nearly $25 billion. Over the past decade, Virginia school divisions have an increasingly large backlog of needed upgrades, said Chad Stewart with VEA. ... We have clear evidence from many longitudinal studies at this point, that modern school infrastructure has a direct impact on student outcomes, the health of students and staff and improves teacher retention. Other speakers said the school construction projects were a matter of health and safety for students as well as an economic development opportunity. Lisa Larson-Torres, chairwoman of the Charlottesville School Board, spoke in favor of the bills. Were currently positioned to move forward with an exciting reconfiguration of our middle school, she said. Were in a position now where we do need and are very grateful for your consideration of this option for a funding strategy to allow us to continue as our city is beyond its capacity to fund all of the projects we have on the books right now. On Twitter, Hudson clarified that the bills would not have raised taxes for any city or county that didnt want to take that step. The bills simply gave local governments the right to ask their voters for a referendum to fund school construction, she wrote. Virginias Dillon Rule handcuffs us again, and kids pay the price. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Four elementary classrooms in Charlottesville City Schools and two teams at Walker Upper Elementary were temporarily moved online this month as the division continues to feel the effects from the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. Division officials have previously said the decision to switch a class to virtual learning for up to two weeks would be based on the positive cases in a classroom, staffing levels and student attendance rates. Before winter break, a total of two K-4 classrooms had moved online, division spokeswoman Amanda Korman said. So far this week, the school division has reported 61 new cases among students and 11 among employees. Thats fewer than the high of 119 student cases reported in the second week of this month but still much more than any week before winter break. Staff absences are remaining stable and still at a level that supports in-person learning, Korman said. Student absences are looking better than last week, but its clear were still in the midst of a surge at this moment. The University of Virginias COVID-19 model is predicting that the omicron surge will peak during the first week of February. Both Albemarle County and Charlottesville continue to keep their respective mask policies in place. The Fluvanna County School Board voted earlier on Thursday to lift its mandate and the Louisa County School Board was expected to discuss the issue at its meeting Thursday evening. In Albemarle County, no classrooms or schools have had to switch to virtual instruction, division spokesman Phil Giaramita said. In a presentation to the county school board on Thursday evening, division staff said the surge is having a medium impact on the school system, based on metrics set by the Virginia Department of Education. Currently, there are multiple classrooms with multiple positive cases within the classroom, according to the presentation, though they havent yet been classified as outbreaks by the Blue Ridge Health District. Student absenteeism is slightly above baseline and staff capacity is strained, according to the presentation. The division has reported 82 new cases among students this week, a significant drop from the record set last week at 210, according to Albemarles dashboard. Students were out of school Monday and Tuesday this week. About 93.5% of students attended school on Wednesday, slightly below the divisions average of 95%. As of Thursday evening, 24 staff members have reported a positive test result this week. About 75 staff members were absent from school Wednesday, according to the presentation. Hundreds of students have recently returned to school after quarantining because of a possible exposure to COVID-19. Currently, 44 students are quarantining. At one point earlier this month, 554 students were in quarantine. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The city of Charlottesville is coming off a tumultuous year of leadership transitions and departures and city leaders pondered questions of recovering and how to get back on track during an all-day retreat Wednesday. Some things to just really keep in mind as you all move forward is really thinking about your priorities and your goals, Deputy City Manager Ashley Marshall to the city council and officials. The reason why these are so important is because, if those clear expectations are not conveyed to your executives, theyre going to really flounder because theyre going to be guessing at what you need or missing the mark completely. In the past few years, the council has had issues working with several city managers and a substantial part of the retreat was spent explaining the relationship between the city manager and the council. Charlottesville has a city manager form of government wherein the day-to-day operations are managed and decisions made by the manager hired by the council. The citys weak mayor system of government is designed to thwart nepotism and patronage systems that often grow in strong-mayor communities. The city manager has experience and education, expertise in certain topics. Theyre not there ever to tell you what exactly to do but they are there to provide you with background guidance, research that you all may need to make some decisions, Marshall said. Robert Bobb of the Robert Bobb Group, LLC, the firm the city hired to perform interim city manager duties, said the relationship between the city manager and City Council cannot be a one-time discussion. He said a continuous dialogue promotes confidence and trust. Bobb also emphasized that the city manager must remain apolitical, even if under intense political pressure. Were going to have a hard discussion with whoever it is that youre going to employ to be your next city manager to make sure they understand the political environment in which he or she works in, but they are to be apolitical, Bobb said. Your city manager is Switzerland, Marshall said. Theyre there to listen, to advise and to manage. Deputy City Manager Sam Sanders presented the hot topics the city may face in the next year, including the budget, the council-manager relationship and organizational assessment. We narrowed those down to three, knowing very easily that there are probably 65 hot topic items that need to be discussed right now in the city of Charlottesville, being perfectly honest, Sanders said. Officials also discussed ways to shorten meetings by limiting comments. City Vice-Mayor Juandiego Wade said council meetings frequently run past midnight. We want to make running for council more doable for anyone and right now if you have a job and you have a family, having meetings that go to 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. is just not feasible and its just not fair, Wade said. Councilor Brian Pinkston agreed. Most of the public is not able to be watching events on Zoom, let alone being down at City Hall between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m., Pinkston said. I dont think its fair to many of our citizens. Councilors also noted that city staff, consultants and experts attending to give presentations sometimes wait hours for their agenda item to come up, often well after 11 p.m.. Council procedures state that the goal is end meetings by 11 p.m. Regular City Council meetings start at 6:30 p.m., with closed sessions and work sessions typically starting at 4 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. prior to the regular meeting. Councilors debated the best way to shorten meetings, from limiting public comment to putting a time limit on councilors statements. In the end, they voted to change meeting procedures so that people who speak during the first public comment session cannot speak in the last public comment segment of the meeting. If a member of the public did not speak earlier during the meeting, they will be allowed to speak during the last session. This was the only public comment period City Council could limit, according to city code. City attorney Lisa Robertson said that City Council could not eliminate public comment on the consent agenda, though Snook proposed doing so. Councilor Sena Magill was strongly opposed to limiting public comment and cited a part of city code that encourages councilors to limit time spent giving their remarks. Council policies and procedures recommend councilors state the basis of any motion in less than five minutes with three minutes of debate per councilor on the motion. In asking a question of a speaker, council members should take less than three minutes but that hasnt always been happening. Magill suggested displaying the same three-minute time clock that is displayed for public comment to help councilors stay on track. We should also be looking to ourselves and how we can make sure were employing parsimony in our own questions, Magill said. Councilors decided that, in the future, they would take a vote on whether to continue the meeting if it looked like it would go past 11 p.m. and reassess how many items can go on one meeting agenda. Announcements and proclamations, they suggested, could be moved to work sessions. 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. When Richmonder Ali Faruk snapped a picture of a desk for working parents at Henricos Fairfield Area Library and posted it to Twitter, he didnt think much of it. "A new public library in my area has these work stations for caregivers with babies!" he tweeted. "Maybe these are common in other places but [I've] never seen anything like this before." The unique-looking desk has a work station for the parent with a play area attached to it for toddlers or babies outfitted with a vinyl cushion and built-in play features like a mirror and holes for playing peek-a-boo. I thought, Wow, that is really amazing for working parents who can now keep an eye on their kids, Faruk said. A working dad himself, he had taken his children, age 5 and 7, to the Fairfield library as a way to spend time on a cold and blustery Saturday. When he saw a few likes on his tweet a few minutes later, he thought, Well, thats nice. An hour later, he saw 1,000 likes. Then 8,000 likes. Then 15,000 likes. As of this writing, the tweet has gathered over 240,000 likes and the desk has been covered in Newsweek and The Independent in the U.K. as life-changing item for working parents and caregivers. The computer work-and-play stations at Fairfield Area Library debuted in 2019 when the brand new $29 million library opened to the public at 1401 N. Laburnum Ave. in Henrico. There are four parent-child carrels joined together in a cluster on the second floor of the library in the childrens area. The desks were designed by the Henrico County Public Library and Quinn Evans, an architecture firm with a location based in Richmond, which designed the library. The idea for the parent-child carrels arose during the planning phase for the new 44,800-square-foot library building. Our library director Barbara Weedman had seen this issue throughout her career: caregivers of small children struggling to use a library computer. Shed see a mom balancing a young one on her knee while trying to fill out of a job application or send emails and there is just no good way to do it, Patty Conway, a spokesperson for the library, said. Shannon Wray, a Richmond-based designer at Quinn Evans, worked with Weedman to create a custom solution. She said, You know, if you could solve this problem, I think everyone across the country would want one of these, Wray said. The designer reached out to Michigan-based TMC Furniture, which stands for The Makers Creative, to create the custom computer work-and-play stations. Made of maple veneer plywood and colored dyes, the carrels feature a mural on the outside, built-in boards for tiny hands in the play area and an attached desk with a computer station for the working parent or caregiver. They offer privacy, as well as an easy physical connection for the parent to attend to the child, Wray said. Faruk's tweet quickly went viral, with people chiming in, saying that they wished they had a work-play station like this at home or in public spaces. "This is a game-changer," one person commented. "I worked in a busy metropolitan library & too often saw moms in very difficult circumstances try to manage their babies/toddlers while using the PACs to apply for jobs or housing. It was so difficult for them. What a great innovation. Well done!" Another wrote, "I would have broken down in tears had they had these at my library as a new mom...it would have given me...precious time." Two years after their debut, the revolutionary desks are finally getting their due, partly in thanks to the pandemic. I think whats making them resonate with so many people is that weve all had to work from home for the past two years during the pandemic, Wray said. So many of us have had to try and balance working from home with taking care of or educating our kids at the same time. I think thats what made it so relatable to people right now. I heard so many people say, 'Gosh, I wish I could have one of these for my house, its so hard to occupy my kids while trying to get work done,' Wray added. After its debut at the Fairfield library in 2019, TMC furniture launched the Fairfield Parent+Child Carrel, named after the Fairfield library, which retails for $3,451. After the Fairfield library tweet took off over the weekend, TMC has seen increased interest in the custom piece. Its wonderful to see our community solution for a very human need motto really taking off, Evan Wood, operations manager for TMC, said via email. Requests for information have gone up ten-fold, at least, with orders right behind it. Our website traffic has skyrocketed as well. Many other libraries have purchased the carrels including libraries in Illinois, Oklahoma, California, and even in British Columbia and Japan. As for his innocuous tweet getting national and international attention, Faruk said, At first I thought, Oh thats really cool that its getting attention. But now I think its kind of sad that people think this is revolutionary. This is something that everyone should have access to. Faruk is the policy director of Families Forward Virginia, a nonprofit that aims to prevent child abuse. Raising children is so hard in America. Theres no universal child care or health care. To see something that actually makes life easier for parents of babies, people are like, Oh, its amazing! Faruk said. I really applaud Henrico County and the leadership for creating spaces that are accessible to families. I hope to see more of that everywhere, he said. Polls show that a majority of Americans are very worried about the state of U.S. democracy. One survey from January 2022 finds that 64% of Americans believe U.S. democracy is in crisis and at risk of failing. Both Republicans and Democrats affirm these concerns, but they have very different understandings of what exactly is in crisis and who is responsible. Most importantly, polls have repeatedly found that a majority of Republicans tens of millions of Americans continue to believe the lie that the 2020 election was stolen. For those Americans who know that it was not, the entrenched commitment of their fellow Americans to a falsehood no doubt exacerbates their worries. How do you argue with someone who is committed to a lie? But the bigger question is what to do about it, given that so many Americans myself included fear for the very survival of our democracy. As a scholar who researches democratic virtues, I have spent time with the work of Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican monk who lived in the 13th century and whose feast day was Jan. 28. Aquinas words are relevant to the times in which we find ourselves. Above all, he shows what it means to hope. Hope as a theological virtue Aquinas is widely regarded as the single most important Catholic theologian. His massive body of work speaks to virtually every aspect of the Christian faith. Most importantly, perhaps, Aquinas insisted that reason and revelation were separate but complimentary forms of knowledge. He argued that since both ultimately come from God, they cannot be in conflict. Accordingly, Aquinas is also one of the first thinkers to reconcile the work of ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle with Christianity. Aristotle argued that ethics is principally concerned with becoming the best version of ourselves. For Aristotle, a truly ethical person is also a truly excellent person. Aquinas accepted this understanding. But he also argued that Aristotles interpretation of ethics was incomplete and imperfect. Aquinas said that ethics must also incorporate the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. These virtues, Aquinas argued, come to us not from reason but from grace. They are gifts from God that serve to direct people toward their salvation. According to the theologian, they make it possible for human beings to achieve a dimension of both happiness and excellence that they cannot achieve otherwise. Aristotle defined virtue as a mean between two vices, that which depends on excess and that which depends on defect. So, for example, Aristotle said that courage is found between recklessness an excess of courage on the one hand and cowardice, its deficiency, on the other. Deciding how to be courageous is never simple and depends dramatically on circumstances, but courage will always be found between these extremes. Aquinas follows this concept of virtue, and he argues that the theological virtue of hope fits the pattern. According to him, it lies between two vices: Presumption is the excess of hope, while despair is its deficiency. Presumption is the easy confidence that everything is going to be fine. The presumptive person thinks that no matter how much he sins, as Aquinas notes, God would not punish him or exclude him from glory. Despair is the opposite. It means the sinner believes that she has fallen so far from God that she has no possibility of salvation. The question of salvation is one thing, while the condition of American democracy is entirely another. Nevertheless, there are examples of many Americans responding to the current democratic crisis with the same vices of presumption and despair. Democratic presumption and despair In the current democratic crisis, presumption appears as a vague optimism that American democracy has survived many crises and that this is just another one. Many Americans believe that the current crisis is a problem for those in power to address; whistling past the graveyard, they see no reason to change their own behavior. Political scientist Sam Rosenfeld notes that despite a prevailing feeling of crisis, voting behavior has not changed in response; its shown remarkable stability and continuity with patterns established at the outset of the century. Despair is even more apparent. Most Americans have expressed at least temporary feelings of despair around climate change and a seemingly never-ending pandemic, and also about our democracy. And no doubt having all of these crises coincide at once only adds to the sense that they are beyond our ability to solve. But for Aquinas, hope is not merely the mean between these two vices; it is also the more realistic response to our condition. Hope as a democratic virtue By Aquinas definition, hope is grounded in some desired future that is both possible to achieve but also very difficult. Hope is therefore more realistic than either vice. Presumption denies the difficulty of the goal, but also the responsibility of the individual in making it happen, while despair denies the fact that the goal, despite its arduousness, is yet possible. Hope is the mean because it requires people to be both clear and conscientious about what they are up against, and what they are striving to achieve. In this understanding, hope is much more than mere optimism. Hope is an act of will. One chooses to be hopeful. Hope insists that though the task is difficult, even daunting, change remains possible. It therefore sustains all who take up the work that must be done. If this act of will seems beyond your ability right now, consider this. Aquinas said that we hope chiefly in our friends. It is easier to be hopeful when others love us, support us, and share our hopes. This is why, he says, Christians need a community of fellow believers. For Americans faced with the current democratic crisis, community can include anybody who is likewise ready to embrace the hope that American democracy can endure. That community, as well, is better able to overcome the inclination to despair, and more able to achieve the desired outcome. Understood the way Aquinas suggests, hope emerges as a distinctively democratic virtue. Without willful, realistic hope, and without a coalition of hopeful people working together, Jim Crow does not end, the Berlin Wall does not fall and marriage for gay couples remains impossible. That history, as well, ought to inspire us to find the hope we need right now. Christopher Beem is Managing Director of the McCourtney Institute of Democracy and Co-host of Democracy Works Podcast. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Albany leaders are considering how to handle the mounting trash near homeless camps and may call on volunteers to help. The topic came up at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 26, as councilors were set to discuss unloading a city-owned lot that could be developed into affordable housing, with homeless advocates connecting the lack of affordable homes to the number of people experiencing homelessness. The councilors ultimately put off a decision about what to do with the 1-acre lot at 205 Madison St. NE along Waterfront Avenue until next week. In January 2020, there were as many as 14,655 Oregonians experiencing homelessness statewide, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A 2020 a point-in-time count by the Community Services Consortium found 318 people were without housing in Linn County. Another 233 people were unhoused in Benton County. The number of scattered homeless people in Albany remains unclear. Homeless advocates testifying to the Albany City Council as far back as 2019 have pegged the number as high as 150. A number of homeless camps have surfaced in public parks around Albany and Linn County, according to Carol Davies, vice president of the Creating Housing Coalition, a homeless outreach group. "As far as what's needed, obviously the very first thing that should be on that list is affordable supportive housing," Davies said. "Everything else that we're doing here is a Band-Aid." Among the struggles for homeless residents, Davies said, is the absence of trash cans. As someone new to Albany after being homeless outside of Linn County for decades, homeless resident Mattie, who requested her full name not be published for safety reasons, said it's hard finding public trash cans. "There's nowhere to put anything," Mattie said the day after the meeting as she walked along downtown. "I have to carry everything." Back at the meeting, Albany City Councilor Dick Olsen said he's moved his own garbage dumpster along the canal near his home where he says trash mounts from local shoppers. He conceded the dumpster may break city rules, but he wants more like it for the homeless. "If there's no place to put garbage and junk and so forth, it's hard for me to blame anybody for not knowing what to do with it," Olsen said. "You don't have a wheelbarrow or a car. Where can you haul it if you did?" Other city councilors suggested providing homeless camps with other amenities such as outhouses. "If you're going to live somewhere, you need some way to deal with life," Councilor Matilda Novak said. More pressing for unhoused residents like Mattie, she said, is the need for 24/7 laundromats. "There's no way for me to wash my clothes," Mattie said. "I'm dirty all the time." City staff advised councilors Wednesday that permanent dumpsters could conflict with local ordinances which the City Council would have to reevaluate. Councilor Bessie Johnson said the debate over dumpsters is settled under law. "Why are we allowing the homeless to camp in a place that's illegal?" Johnson said. "They're not supposed to be there, so why would we want to provide services to people who are illegally camping?" According to Albany's city code, no one "shall camp in or upon any sidewalk, street, alley, lane, public right-of-way, park or any other publicly owned property or under any bridge or viaduct" without public permission. Violations are punishable by fines up to $10,000. However, under a federal appellate court ruling, cities in the western United States can't enforce those laws unless they also provide adequate shelter for the homeless population. Davies also voiced frustration with city agencies, which she said ceased to communicate with one another or coordinate with groups like hers. At Wednesday's virtual meeting, Albany Mayor Alex Johnson II voiced interest in partnering with a volunteer cleanup crew to help manage the city's homeless camps. Olsen said he would volunteer for it. Johnson said Albany's homelessness crisis boils down to communication between city agencies as much as residents. "We're not talking to each other," Johnson said. "We must be better at that." The Community Services Consortium is set to begin Benton and Linn County's homeless point in time count on Thursday. The Albany City Council is next scheduled to meet virtually at 6 p.m. Feb. 9. Editor's note: This article has been edited to correct the name of the organization conducting the point in time count as the Community Services Consortium. Tim Gruver covers the city of Albany and Linn County. He can be contacted at 541-812-6114 or Tim.Gruver@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter via @T_TimeForce. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Oregon gubernatorial hopeful and Alsea School District Superintendent Marc Thielman is a master at political theater and self-promotion, but his latest stunt puts Coast Range residents at risk and may end up harming the schools finances. For those who missed the news, the Alsea School Board, under Thielmans direction, determined that the district would no longer enforce state pandemic rules regarding masks in classrooms in any school settings except when riding buses. The decision took effect Monday, but Alsea schools werent particularly strict beforehand. In a less than shocking coincidence, the district shut down this week due to novel coronavirus cases and quarantines. The Oregon Department of Education is withholding about $275,000 in federal funds from the district until it comes back into compliance with all state laws and regulations. Thats a huge chunk of change, even if Alsea has seen its enrollment surge in recent years due to a focus on in-person instruction during the pandemic. That withheld funding likely amounts to only a warning shot, though. Thielman could lose his administrators license. The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division also could levy significant fines. Oregon OSHA already has fined the district a measly $420 for violating mask rules as a result of an inspection conducted late last year. The maximum penalty for a willful violation, such as what is occurring now, is nearly $136,000. Thielman and individual board members also probably have opened themselves up to liability in civil court. Its one thing to dance around state law a bit, and another to openly challenge health and safety rules during a global pandemic. And theres dissension in the ranks at Alsea School, as some employees disagree with districts new mask policy. This disregard for the law is also a disregard for the health (both physical and mental) and safety of the entire Alsea community as well as a disregard of your duty to protect the staff and students, states a letter from the Alsea Education Association, the local teachers union. The letter added that the new policy to ignore the states mask rule was an affront to teachers professionalism. Thielman claims to have data saying that masks dont impact transmission of the novel coronavirus. But numerous scientific studies point to mask wearing as a proven method of reducing the spread of the disease. Thielman believes not only that vaccines dont work, but they are harmful, despite numerous scientific studies that testify to the efficacy of inoculation. The superintendent also confided that his own doctor dropped him as a patient because of his refusal to get vaccinated. Lets be clear here, there are risks associated with the vaccines, but they are miniscule compared to coming down with COVID-19, which has a death toll of 870,000 and growing in the United States. And that doesnt even take into account the problems of long haul symptoms associated with the illness. Given his belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, it shouldnt surprise that Thielman also is an election denier who doesnt think Joe Bidens presidential win was legitimate, despite mountains of evidence that no election fraud occurred. It seems as if Thielmans stance on masks is a method of jockeying for position in a crowded Republican primary field for the Oregons governors race. But while his latest battle with the state raises his profile and certainly will thrill a segment of GOP voters and Alsea residents, it also could backfire. On social media, critics are sharing articles about financial problems at districts Thielman previously led, and an embarrassing video of him at a school assembly years ago has resurfaced. But those pale in comparison to his latest lack of judgment. Educators are role models. Theyre supposed to be responsible and inspiring examples for our children. Thielman is teaching students that they can pick and choose which rules to follow. If they dont like the rules, simply break them. Oregon has had some of the strictest rules in the nation regarding masks and social distancing. And, correspondingly, Oregon also has one of the lowest death rates in the nation during the pandemic. We dont particularly like wearing masks either, but the rules are in place for a reason. The Oregon Health Authority reported on Thursday, Jan. 27, 7,871 new confirmed and presumptive cases of COVID-19, bringing the states case total to 613,221. There were 19 new COVID-related deaths, raising Oregons death total to 6,067. Oregon has now surpassed 6,000 COVID-19 related deaths. Dr. Dean Sidelinger, state health officer and epidemiologist, called the 6,000-death milestone heartbreaking in OHAs Wednesday update, saying COVID-19 is still a formidable foe. Weve lost mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers. Coworkers and neighbors. These losses pain all of us, Sidelinger said in a news release. What makes these losses more painful is that nearly all our most recent deaths could have been prevented by COVID-19 vaccines, which remain the best protection against serious illness and death. In Thursday's data, Linn County reported 350 new cases of the virus, raising that countys case total to 22,374. There were no new deaths in Linn County, and the death total remains at 222. Benton County reported 59 new confirmed and presumptive cases, raising that countys case total to 12,337. There was one new death, a 99-year-old woman who died Dec. 17 at Samaritan Albany Medical Center, raising Benton Countys death total to 51. OHA released the coronavirus vaccine breakthrough report Thursday, showing 71.2% of the 57,011 cases between Jan. 16 and Jan. 22 occurred in unvaccinated individuals. To date, 2.9% of all vaccine breakthrough patients have been hospitalized and 0.7% have died. The average age of vaccinated people who have died is 81. Vaccines remain the most effective tool to reduce the spread of the virus, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Hospitalizations: There are currently 1,130 Oregonians hospitalized with COVID-19, 169 of whom are in intensive care unit beds. Fifty-nine of 655 adult ICU beds are unoccupied, making for a 9% availability rate. Of 4,188 non-ICU beds, 266 are unoccupied, a 6% availability. In the mid-Willamette Valley, 6% of adult ICU beds are available and 1% of adult non-ICU beds are available. Vaccinations: OHA reported that 13,523 vaccine doses were added to the state immunization registry Jan. 26. There are now more than 3.1 million Oregonians who have had at least one dose of the vaccine, and more than 2.8 million who have completed a vaccine series. Nationally: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 565,181 new confirmed and presumptive cases of the virus over the weekend, raising the U.S. case total to nearly 72.9 million. There were 2,819 new deaths, raising the countrys death total to 873,957. Staff writer Cody Mann contributed to this report. Joanna Mann covers education for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6076 or Joanna.Mann@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @joanna_mann_. 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. Your morning rundown of the latest news from overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Almost three years after acquiring Telenors operations in Bulgaria, Hungary and Serbia, PPF Group has confirmed that it will stop using the Norwegian groups branding from 1st March 2022. From this date, the three units will operate under the new brand Yettel. PPF Group acquired the units from Telenor in a deal first announced in March 2018 - along with the Scandinavian operators Montenegrin operation, which has since been sold to Hungarys 4iG and has thus far continued to use their established branding. CommsUpdate noted that despite the name change, PPF does not plan to alter its strategy for the operators in any other way, with Telenor Serbia director-general Majk Misel saying: During 2022, we will launch new products and services, while our strategic focus remains unchanged: we want to further develop our business and the Serbian market, contribute to the economy and the community and offer quality services through a state-of-the-art network and infrastructure. India's No. 2 mobile-phone operator Bharti Airtel announced that it will receive a US$ 1 billion investment from Google as part of its Google for India Digitization Fund. The $1 billion investment includes equity investment as well as a corpus for potential commercial agreements over the course of the next five years. Google will make a $700 million equity investment to acquire 1.28% ownership in Bharti Airtel at a price per share of INR 734. "Up to $300M that will go towards implementing commercial agreements, which will include investments in scaling Airtels offerings that covers a range of devices to consumers via innovative affordability programs as well as other offerings aimed at accelerating access and digital inclusion across Indias digital ecosystem," said a press release from Airtel. The partnership will focus on enabling affordable access to smartphones across price ranges and will continue to explore building on their existing partnerships to potentially co-create India-specific network domain use cases for 5G and other standards, and help accelerate the cloud ecosystem for businesses across India. This deal will be subject to necessary regulatory approvals, said the release. The two organizations recognize the importance of a connected India, in empowering businesses as they progress on their Digital Transformation journeys, and building a strong digital ecosystem for consumers everywhere. Both organizations are committed to working towards building an open technology ecosystem that serves customers and businesses with innovative digital services and have agreed to jointly explore and invest across a wide spectrum of areas to create digital solutions that uniquely serve Indias requirements. As a part of its first commercial agreement, Airtel and Google will work together to build on Airtels extensive offerings that cover a range of Android-enabled devices to consumers via innovative affordability programs. Together, the companies will continue to explore further opportunities to bring down the barriers of owning a smartphone across a range of price points, in partnership with various device manufacturers. Under the larger strategic goals of the partnership, both companies will also potentially co-create India-specific network domain use cases for 5G and other standards, with cutting-edge implementations. Airtel is already using Googles 5G-ready Evolved Packet Core & Software Defined Network platforms and plans to explore scaling up the deployment of Googles network virtualisation solutions to deliver a superior network experience to their customers. Both companies will also focus on shaping and growing the cloud ecosystem in India to accelerate their digital transformation journeys. Airtel serves over one million small and medium businesses with its enterprise connectivity offering, and this partnership will help accelerate digital adoption. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel said, Airtel and Google share the vision to grow Indias digital dividend through innovative products. With our future-ready network, digital platforms, last-mile distribution, and payments ecosystem, we look forward to working closely with Google to increase the depth and breadth of Indias digital ecosystem. Airtel is a leading pioneer shaping Indias digital future, and we are proud to partner on a shared vision for expanding connectivity and ensuring equitable access to the Internet for more Indians, said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet. Our commercial and equity investment in Airtel is a continuation of our Google for India Digitization Fund's efforts to increase access to smartphones, enhance connectivity to support new business models, and help companies on their digital transformation journey. Kazakhstan is finalising new draft legislation covering spectrum licences ahead of a competitive tender later this year. Local news outlet Profit.kz reports that the regulations are aimed at facilitating the licensing process as well as ensuring spectrum compatibility standards are met. TeleGeography notes that the countrys government is targeting a 2022 launch for 5G services across Kazakhstans largest cities. The draft order will inform the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation & Aerospaces strategy for the upcoming spectrum auctions. The ministry will sign off on winning bidders based on the recommendations of the State Radio Frequency Service. Kazakhstan is in the process of refarming the 3.5GHz frequencies needed for nationwide commercial 5G services, although operators are offering limited 5G pilot networks in certain cities. Nokia has joined hands with OIV, a provider of communications infrastructure in Croatia, to deliver a 5G private wireless network solution for AD Plastiks automotive component manufacturing facility in Croatia. The Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) application platform will enable low latency and secure, reliable 5G wireless connectivity for equipment, machinery, and a set of applications at AD Plastik's manufacturing campus in Zagreb, the vendor said in a press release. It will replace and overcome the limitations of the existing Wi-Fi infrastructure to allow AD Plastik to implement new Industry 4.0 use-cases and enhance operational efficiency, the release added. The 5G private wireless network solution offers capabilities beyond connectivity, such as local edge computing, video services, and a catalog of applications. The solution is comprising network equipment, a cloud-based operation monitoring system, and industrial connectors that ease standard and industry-specific protocol connectivity. Michael Siegel, Director of Nokia Enterprise South-East Europe, said: By implementing the Nokia DAC, AD Plastik will benefit from the highest reliability and lowest latency connectivity for all their operations, allowing the company to accelerate its digitalisation and industry 4.0 transformation for efficiency and flexibility. Andrej Skenderovic project manager at OIV Digital Signals and Networks, said, OIV as a modern digital company is constantly looking for new solutions for existing and future clients. We see the Private 5G network as a key technology for further development in the next decade. That is why we launched this project with the aim of expanding the range of our services. In this technology, which is characterised not only by a large capacity of the network but also by many other possibilities, we see the potential to start the recovery and further development of the industry. We hope that with this project we will continue to be the provider of innovative services in our country. Marinko Dosen, president of AD Plastik Group, said, Further digitalisation and automation of business in our industry is simply a necessity. Just as your chances on the market are significantly reduced if you produce vehicles that cannot be connected, you have to keep up with trends in the production of automotive components. Industry 4.0 is our reality, and we must be ready to continue its implementation. 5G technology, in addition to being a hundred times faster than the existing one, allows us to simultaneously connect smart and digital devices that we use every day in our production, which will be even more represented in the future. Simply put, at the moment it is the basis for connecting devices that will help us in the production and delivery processes, and for the future, we create the preconditions for building a modern, digital and promising company. Rock Connect has selected Nokia to deploy a 4G-LTE Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) network in Jamaica. The project aims to cover 95% of the population by 2025. Nokia was selected as the sole vendor in the deal, and will provide its complete solutions portfolio, delivering a customised, digital and 5G-ready network. The new network will allow Rock Connect to offer a competitive alternative to existing fixed networks in terms of speed and capacity, with faster setup times. Additionally, broadband services will be available in regions where fibre connectivity is currently not. Under the deal, Nokia will provide its latest AirScale product portfolio, designed for seamless, simple, and efficient plug-in deployment and reduced power consumption. Nokia will also provide carrier aggregation with its Wavence portfolio, supporting future 5G backhaul use cases across different frequency bands. The vendor will also deploy its Cloud Packet Core to deliver the flexibility, scale, capacity and performance needed to support the increasing number of users, devices and throughput, enabling Rock Connect to launch new competitive solutions and services to meet business and consumer needs. Bruce Bowen, Chairman at Rock Connect, said: Rock Connect continues to lay the foundation of a reliable and advanced network, with the ability to rapidly deploy new services. We are focused on excelling at customer service. With an agile response to customer demands, we can provide broadband solutions and new opportunities to empower Jamaicans. Osvaldo Di Campli, Head of Latin America at Nokia, said: We hope to build the foundations for a long-term partnership with our best-in-class portfolio, enabling Rock Connect to enter new markets with broadband options for consumers and business in cities and connecting distant regions for the first time. Following news that the Supreme Court may overturn Roe V. Wade, pro-choice protesters took to the streets of Moscow, and Planned Parenthood officials want to remind people that its health centers are still open and abortion services are currently legal. Press Release January 27, 2022 Bong Go expressed support for measure granting continuous benefits to healthcare workers; urges gov't to ensure funding sources can be made available Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has expressed his support for a measure that would provide continuous benefits to public and private health professionals during the ongoing pandemic and future health crises. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go said that he is supportive of the measure that seeks to grant the benefits. He, however, urged the Executive Department to continue working together, particularly the health officials and government finance managers, to thoroughly study the matter and make sure funding sources can be made available. "Hangga't kaya ng gobyerno, ibigay dapat ang mga benepisyong nararapat para sa ating mga HCWs. Kaya mahalagang mapag-aralan ito nang mabuti upang malaman kung magkano ang kakailanganing halaga at kung saan kukunin ito," said Go. The senator stressed that the country must advance the welfare of its healthcare workers (HCWs) who are considered the heroes in the continuing fight against COVID-19. "Willing akong mag-overtime para lang maipasa ito at upang maipaglaban ang kapakanan nila," he added. The House Committee on Appropriations on Monday, January 24, approved a substitute bill that grants mandatory Special Risk Allowance (SRA) to public and private health workers, including barangay health workers (BHW), during public health emergencies. A counterpart measure, Senate Bill 2421, was authored and co-sponsored by Go and is currently pending in the upper chamber. The measure 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 SRA 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 aggressively promoting the interests and protecting the welfare of medical frontliners. He had successfully pushed for free COVID-19 testing, personal protective equipment, hazard pay, and special risk allowances for health workers at the onset 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. Marianna resident Leon Kelly is heading to Las Vegas on Sunday for a mid-week conference of the National Order of Trench Rats, where he will be formally recognized as the national organizations Imperial Executive Rat for all its dugouts, or chapters, in the state of Florida. Seriously. The group was formed in the days of World War I, founders realizing that Americas war-wounded stationed in France needed more community support as they lay recuperating in hospitals with too-few beds to adequately meet the need. It took its name from the fact that soldiers battled more than bullets in the trenches of France-they also had to contend with vermin. So the Trench Rats became heroes of those men who suffered. The organization was once an arm of the Disabled American Veterans but for two years has been a stand-alone entity. It continues serving veterans to this day, and as a member Kelly often finds himself tending to the needs and interests of veterans now living in nursing homes. A 23-year veteran of the Army, himself, Kelly said its rewarding and exciting to be part of a group he feels gives voice to veterans and puts their caregivers on notice that someone is watching what they doand dont dofor those who put their lives on the line for their country. He said theres also much fun in being part of a group that can be so lighthearted with its name and office titles, but be so seriously committed to its cause. Kelly joined the military as soon as he graduated from Marianna High School in 1976 at the age of 19, and had six overseas tours, including duty in German, Korea, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm attached to the 101st airborne division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Kellys rise to the status of Imperial Executive Rat after five years in the group puts him on the national level of leadership and he will be pretty much in charge, he said, of all the dugouts, the groups term for chapters, in Florida. The six now existing in the state stretch from Miami to Jacksonville. Before being appointed to that role, Kelly served as the Golden Rodent, or president, of his individual dugout headquartered in Jacksonville. He was tapped for that post almost immediately after transferring to that chapter from one that disbanded in Pensacola, with a reputation for dedicated service following him to that new spot across the state. His alternate, should something keep him from serving out his term, is former Jackson County resident Deborah Jones Mann, who now lives in Tallahassee. Hell be sworn in to much fanfare over the four-day conference. But everything else that happens in Vegas... MONTGOMERY A combative Roy Moore took the witness stand Thursday in a defamation case against him, insisting he did not know a woman who says he sexually molested her when she was 14. Moore was called to testify by attorneys for Leigh Corfman in a trial dealing with dueling defamation lawsuits they filed against each other in the wake of a sexual misconduct allegation that rocked the 2017 U.S. Senate race in Alabama. Corfman says the former Alabama judge and failed Senate candidate defamed her when he denied her accusations as false and malicious. Moore countersued. I never met that woman, Moore said loudly, pointing at Corfman as she sat with her attorneys. The outburst followed an emotional moment earlier in the trial when Corfman testified that Moore knows what he did to her. Corfman said she met Moore in 1979 when she was 14 and he was in his 30s. She described how he touched her over her underwear after bringing her to his home. At one point Corfman stared from the witness stand at Moore, who stared back at her. It did happen, and he knows that it happened, Corfman testified Tuesday. She said his denials damaged her reputation. The allegations overshadowed the conservative Republican during the 2017 campaign when Corfman shared her story with a reporter from The Washington Post. Moore ultimately fell in a stunning red state defeat to Doug Jones, the first Alabama Democrat elected to the Senate in 25 years. Republican Tommy Tuberville defeated Jones in the next election. The presiding judge had to gently chide Moore multiple times Thursday to answer questions as they were asked. Asked if he was afraid 2017 voters would view the conduct as inappropriate, Moore said: The only thing inappropriate in this case is the testimony that I knew her and did anything to her. Corfmans attorneys earlier in the day presented the testimony of four women who said Moore asked them out or dated them when they were teens. None accused him of misconduct. He said many of his tiger-inspired artworks present a more endearing image of the feline to change people's perception of tigers as a ferocious animal. Each work is not only a display piece, but it also serves a functional purpose, based on its size and shape, he added. Duong Van Minh in the southern province of Binh Duong has taken a weeks leave before Tet since his hometown Thanh Hoa requires visitors to self-isolate for seven days. "I am worried if there are some cases of infection, Thanh Hoa authorities will not let me return, and so I asked to leave work earlier than last year," he told VnEpxress International. His company, Asia Saigon Food Ingredients Jsc, is in fact facing a shortage of workers as a result of many workers leaving early for Tet (Lunar New Year). General director Pham Dang Long said: "Most factory workers are from Thanh Hoa. Since some localities in this province require quarantine of seven to 14 days, many workers are worried." Vietnam recorded an average of 15,437 new Covid-19 cases nationwide in the last seven days. Another Binh Duong firm, construction materials manufacturer Dai Dung Company, faces a similar plight with around 10 percent of its 1,200 workers asking to leave early, some choosing to forego their pay, Nguyen Van Hung, its labor union chairman, said. But company leaders are not grudging them this demand and have made it easy for them to leave and even provided travel support despite the labor shortage, he added. The stringent Covid-19 measures in provinces such as Thanh Hoa and Nghe An are causing concern among workers since Tet is by far the most important holiday for Vietnamese, when people often travel back to their hometown to unite with their family, and this is causing labor shortages at many factories. Thanh Hoa has been making headlines in recent weeks for its tough Covid restrictions, especially for people coming from outside. One commune has even set up a temporary lodging place with 60 tents to house returning workers though the province does not require it. "Workers leaving early for Tet has severely affected our business, and we are [also] concerned that some might not come back to work immediately after the holiday due to Covid-19 concerns," Dinh Hai Ninh, CEO of Hung Phuoc Investment and Development company in Binh Duong, said. However, companies have to comply since the workers demand is reasonable, he said. A shortage of workers often occurs around Tet, but most usually stay until the last working day. Ly Kim Chi, chairwoman of the HCMC Food and Foodstuff Association, said many food companies are recruiting temporary workers to deal with the shortages, and they currently make up 20-30 percent of their total workforce, but even then it is challenging. But taking a week off is not something workers want either after months of no or low income last year when tough restrictions were imposed in the southern region. New US ambassador lands in Vietnam The new U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, Marc Evans Knapper, arrived in Hanoi on Thursday. The U.S. embassy quoted him in a Facebook post as saying: "[We] are now starting quarantine. We can't wait to meet with our Vietnamese friends and partners soon." The U.S. Senate confirmed Knapper as the next ambassador to Vietnam on Dec. 18, a full eight months after his nomination by President Joe Biden. Marc Evans Knapper's family arrive in Hanoi on Jan 27, 2022. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy On Jan 21 he sent new year greetings in Vietnamese at a virtual event, promising he would do his best to foster bilateral ties. Vietnam and the U.S. established the Comprehensive Partnership framework in 2013. They are cooperating in a number of areas spheres, while trade climbed to $111.5 billion last year. International passengers entering Vietnam will not need to receive rapid tests for Covid-19 upon boarding or embarking planes, the Government Office announced. Passengers on international flights only need to present their Covid-19 PCR test results, according to document regarding international flights to Vietnam issued by the Government Office on Friday. Fully vaccinated people will be isolated at their residence or hotels for three days, and others for seven days. Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh also agreed to increase the commercial flight frequency to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, as well as Europe and Australia in the trial program for flight resumption. The decision seeks to facilitate overseas Vietnamese returning home for Tet, the document added. Vietnamese aviation officially reopened regular flights between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok, Phnom Penh, San Francisco, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo on Jan. 1 this year. Besides PCR test results, people coming from countries with Omicron had also been required to undergo rapid test before boarding a flight and after landing. On January 4, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has proposed that the quick test requirement be removed. Press Release January 27, 2022 Bong Go sponsors measures establishing new DOH hospitals to further improve the country's healthcare system On Tuesday, January 25, Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health Christopher "Bong" Go sponsored measures establishing new Department of Health hospitals in a bid to improve the country's healthcare system further. Citing the COVID-19 pandemic which forced the country to acknowledge the need to improve its health delivery system, Go stressed the importance of establishing new public hospitals, especially in the countryside. "Sa pandemyang ito, nakita natin kung gaano kahalaga ang investment sa kalusugan. Nahihirapan tayo ngayon dahil hindi natin ito binigyan ng pansin nitong nagdaang mga dekada. Kaya ngayon, nagkulang ang ating mga ospital, kama at equipment para labanan ang pandemya," noted Go in his speech. "Kailangan din nating palakasin pa ito dahil hindi natin alam kung ilang pandemya pa ang darating. Huwag po nating hintayin na tuluyan nang bumigay ang healthcare system natin at malagay sa panganib ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan," he added. Go pointed out that establishing hospitals run by the national government should not be treated as a burden but an investment, noting, "Dahil sa huli, kapag hindi yan nagawa ng LGU, national government din ang sasalo sa problemang iyan." The senator added that the national government must pursue initiatives to establish these much-needed hospitals as they are critical in aiding more Filipinos across the country. "Ngayon, natuto na po tayo at hindi na natin dapat hintayin na LGU ang magpatayo ng sarili nilang ospital dahil, una, dalawa o mas marami pang probinsya ang makikinabang dito. To be clear, these are not just district hospitals; these are Medical Centers and General Hospitals," stressed Go. He noted that despite the increase in the tax allocation of local government units this year, this might still not be enough for them to establish their own hospitals. Furthermore, Go pointed out that some LGUs might choose not to prioritize the improvement of their healthcare system. "Kahit na tumaas ang tax allocation ng LGUs simula ngayong taon, maaaring hindi ito sasapat para makapagtayo at operate ng isang tertiary hospital," said Go. "Kahit na tumaas na ang tax share ng LGUs, hindi natin hawak ang priority ng LGUs. Hindi natin madidiktahan kung saan nila ilalaan ung pondo. Sa ibang mga LGU, kulang pa rin ang increase na ito para sa healthcare services nila," he added. The new DOH hospitals to be established under Go's sponsored measures include the Ilocos Sur Medical Center, Samar Island Medical Center in Western Samar, Southern Luzon Multispecialty Medical Center in Quezon Province, Northwestern Cagayan General Hospital in Cagayan, Joni Villanueva General Hospital in Bulacan, and Northeastern Misamis General Hospital in Misamis Oriental. As for funding, Go said most of the hospitals already have funding for the initial construction from previous years, and all have lots ready to be donated to the DOH. Go further explained that under the 2022 Unprogrammed Appropriations, the government has PhP4 billion for Health Facilities Enhancement Program and PhP9.2 billion for operation of DOH hospitals in the regions. "Ibig sabihin po kapag may excess collection tayo pwede na nating simulan ito this year. So kung noon po ang concern po natin ay funding, ngayon po meron na tayong sources of funds and other possible sources if we have excess collections," he remarked. Additionally, Go noted that according to the DOH, regulatory requirements for the establishment of all the hospitals in consideration have been met. "Kailangan po ng suporta ng ating mga kababayan. Hindi natin pwedeng pabayaan ang mga nangangailangan," he stressed. "It is for these reasons, Mr. President, that I ask your support for the passage of these measures," he ended. On the same day, Go also sponsored measures upgrading existing DOH hospitals. Tuscarora is going to be a very large part of the American Pacific story going forward, and is going to see a significant amount of exploration in 2022, American Pacific Mining Corp. CEO Warwick Smith said during a web conference Jan. 26. American Pacific is planning to spend $5 million Canadian, or $4 million U.S., on an extensive drilling program at the site. They are planning to drill up to 70 holes at 23 sites. A drill arrived at the site Jan. 25 to start work. We are incredibly excited about getting back out here, Smith said. Smith said he and American Pacific President Eric Saderholm have been involved in looking at the Tuscarora site since 2018. The Tuscarora Project is in Elko County, about 12 miles southwest of Jerritt Canyon and 22 miles northeast of the Carlin trend. Since 1982, there has been almost continuous exploration in the Tuscarora District. Operators have built on the previous exploration work. Ultimately, this work led to the area covered by the Tuscarora Project, the American Pacific website says. I dont think this has ever been fully consolidated by one company. Smith said. It has been patchwork in the past. Were the first company to ever own this in totality. That gives us the opportunity to step back, put all of this data together, and really get a feeling for how big it can be. An old system It is the oldest epithermal system in the state of Nevada, likely in the Western United States, Smith said. It is the same age as Carlin. Its part of our belief thats why the grades are so high. The location is essential, Saderholm said. Its on the outside of a caldera. So its an area that you would expect to find this type of mineralization. What makes this stand out is the age of it. Its 40 million years old. Thats the same age as the Carlin trend. A lot of gold was being placed at that time. That separates it from the other epithermal systems we know of in Nevada, which are much younger. A dozen veins run through this project, and were going to have the opportunity to test the bulk of them on this campaign, Smith said. We have a good program, its well thought out, its geologically sound, and its doable. The area has a history of past production. From 1867 to 1990 the total production from the Tuscarora Mining District was more than 500,000 ounces of gold and 7.6 million ounces of silver. Chevron and Horizon produced about 40,000 ounces of gold and 255,000 ounces of silver from 1989 to 1991 at the Dexter Pit by the Tuscarora Project. Bonanza grade samples In September American Pacific announced that a sample from surface at the Grand Prize Target at Tuscarora had 21,032 grams of gold per ton and 38,820 grams of silver per ton, or 5.9% precious metals content. Smith said although this sample was a highlight, ten of the samples taken at that time had over 100 grams of gold per ton, all over a half dozen different veins. So its not like its coming out of one pod. Its certainly disseminated across all these other veins. Saderholm said that although they have mainly been looking at the gold zones so far, the site also has rich silver zones typical of this kind of volcanic rock. As you move up into the Independence Vein and the other veins in the silver rich zone, you get into some pretty fancy grades up in there, with a little bit of a gold component, too. So what weve now done is turned it into a gold and silver project, and thats exciting to us because we firmly believe in both of those metals. And theyre both quite recoverable and theyre both high grade. Growing the package American Pacific optioned the Tuscarora Project from Novo Resources Corp. in November 2017, and became the 100% owner in February 2021. In September the company doubled the size of the Tuscarora site by acquiring 77 claims over 1,031 acres from Ubica Gold Corp. On Jan. 26 the company announced further expansion of the project by staking an additional 47 claims over 971 acres. This was great work done by Eric and his team, Smith said. We felt that we needed to get those claims, so over Christmas time we had guys go in and stake these all for us. That makes the entire claim package 4,275 acres of district style, a nice big claim package for us to go after. The project has a total of 215 claims. Other projects American Pacific is a gold exploration company with its home office in Vancouver, B.C. It is currently working on four projects in addition to Tuscarora. The Madison Copper Gold Project in Montana is about 24 miles southeast of the Butte Mining District. This is a joint venture, and Kennecott Exploration Company, part of the Rio Tinto Group, must spend $30 million to earn up to 70% of the project. The Gooseberry Project in Storey County, Nevada, has 42 unpatented claims over 708 acres. Smith said they recently spent about $1.5 million on exploration at Gooseberry. Red Hill is about 80 road miles southwest of Elko and about 15 miles southeast of the Cortez Hills gold deposit. South Lida is in Esmeralda County in southwest Nevada. Smith said American Pacific plans to spend about $100,000 each on Red Hill and South Lida this year to bring the technical reports into good standing, and then they will look for joint ventures on those projects. Were going to be driving forward on multiple fronts this year, Smith said. Love 2 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. ELKO An Elko man who has been arrested a dozen times over the past four years has been sentenced to prison. Javon J. Keester, 21, pleaded no contest this month to attempted battery resulting in substantial bodily harm. He was sentenced to 12 to 30 months in prison by District Judge Mason Simons. Keester was last arrested Nov. 23 in Reno on a warrant for contempt of court and failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. According to Elko County Jail records, he was arrested Sept. 11, 2020, for battery by a prisoner; July 31, 2020, for battery by a prisoner and damaging jail property; April 16, 2020, for battery on a protected person; Jan. 8, 2020, for felony possession of a controlled substance; and July 30, 2019, for battery on a protected person. Keester was also arrested July 12, 2019, for battery with a deadly weapon. Police were called to a southside residence on a report of a stabbing. They found Keester three blocks away, and the knife was found along his path. Police said the stabbing apparently occurred during an argument over a debt. He pleaded guilty to three counts of battery in Elko Justice Court and on Nov. 15, 2019, was ordered to serve 120 days in jail and pay $1,065 in fees and fines. Keester also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit possession of a controlled substance and was given a suspended sentence of 187 days in jail on April 30, 2020, by District Judge Nancy Porter. Less than a week later he was sentenced by District Judge Al Kacin to 180 days in jail after pleading no contest to battery on a health care provider. Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 ELKO A Utah man was arrested Wednesday night in Carlin after allegedly threatening to throw a child through a wall, beating a man, and breaking back into a home after leaving. Carlin police were called to the Hamilton Street residence shortly before 8 p.m. Thurman R. McDole Jr., 43, of Sunset, Utah, was visiting his sisters home when he snapped over the sound of music being played on a computer, according to a police report. He then got into an altercation with another man and punched him several times in the head, broke a glass on the floor, and then left the residence through the front door. The sister locked the door but a short time later McDole allegedly broke it into several pieces. He re-entered the home and punched the other man in the head several more times before leaving again, according to the police report. McDole was booked at Elko County Jail on charges of battery, home invasion and burglary. His bail was listed at $41,140. Love 2 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ELKO A Spring Creek resident has been sentenced to prison for starting a fire in an Elko hotel. Charlie William Senk Jr., 37, pleaded no contest to fourth-degree arson. Firefighters were called to the Western Inn on the morning of Dec. 6, 2020, but the blaze had been extinguished by a manager using a fire extinguisher. Police viewed surveillance footage of Senk leaving his room and then re-entering and leaving again shortly before 9 a.m. A minute later, smoke detectors began going off in the room. Smoke could be seen filling the hallway and another manager began informing residents of the fire. One manager said that when he informed Senk about the fire he took off running. Senk was originally charged with first-degree arson. At the time he was booked he was already in Elko County Jail on charges of possessing, receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle. District Judge Al Kacin sentenced Senk this month to 15 to 40 months in prison and he was ordered to pay $1,213 restitution to the victim. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Governor Steve Sisolak announced that he had raised a record setting $4.5 million for a tough re-election campaign in 2021. That gives Democrat Sisolak a political war chest of $8.28 million cash on hand, more than all his Republican challengers combined. The second-biggest fundraiser for 2021 in the governors race was Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, a Republican, who raised $3.1 million since announcing his campaign for governor in June. He has $2.65 million cash on hand. Lombardos campaign claimed this fundraising cements his status as the frontrunner in the Republican gubernatorial field touting the haul as more than any Republican or Democrat candidate in Nevada history has ever raised in a non-election year, until later eclipsed by Sisolak. A Mellman Group poll done for the Nevada Independent in September showed Lombardo as the most likely Republican to beat the politically vulnerable Sisolak assuming he wins the GOP nomination. That poll showed the race essentially even (Sisolak 45%, Lombardo 44%). Lombardo has been the target of Democratic groups seeking to defeat him in the GOP primary. Last September, former Nevada Senator Dean Heller announced his gubernatorial candidacy as another expected frontrunner. Heller reported raising roughly $650,000 in 2021 and having $265,000 cash on hand. Included in that total was the transfer of $176,000 from his leftover federal campaign account, and a personal loan to his campaign of $100,000. Lombardo enters 2022 with clear political advantages over Heller. Even with a 30-year history as a Republican in Nevada politics, Heller continues to suffer from his failure to support former President Donald Trump in 2016, a position he later awkwardly reversed with expressions of strong support for Trump. His Trump problem persists and was underscored by Heller drawing boos at a GOP gubernatorial debate in January. Importantly, Lombardo raised nearly five times more campaign money than Heller did in 2021. And, Lombardo has a tenfold advantage in cash on hand going into the 2022 election year ($2.65 million vs. $265,000). Heller initially led Lombardo among Republican voters in early polls, based on greater name I.D. In a July Tarrance Group survey (Republican-sponsored), Heller led Lombardo 27% to 22%. Heller also beat Lombardo in the September Mellman Group poll, 31% to 23%. However, in a major reversal the most recent Tarrance poll in November showed a dramatic shift to Lombardo. Lombardo led Heller by a wide margin, 37% to 19%. After announcing for governor before a national audience on Fox & Friends, North Las Vegas Mayor and GOP candidate John Lee reported raising nearly $1.6 million in 2021, loaning his campaign $1 million. A conservative former Democrat, Lee previously served in the state legislature. He ended 2021 with $798,000 in cash on hand. The November Tarrance Group poll found Lee with 5% support among Republican voters. Two firebrand far-right Republicans are also in the governors race. Las Vegas City Councilwoman Michelle Fiore, who announced for governor in October, raised nearly $600,000 in 2021 and has about $190,000 cash on hand. A former Assemblywoman and Republican National Committeewoman for Nevada, Fiore made a splashy announcement video firing her handgun shooting beer bottles to illustrate her policy plans. Fiore won 8% support in the Tarrance poll. Reno personal injury and criminal defense attorney Joey Gilbert reported raising about $325,000 and ended the year with $65,000 in cash on hand. A former professional boxer, marijuana dispensary owner and reality show participant, Gilbert polled 7% in the November Tarrance survey. Other Republicans in the field include: Venture capitalist Guy Nohra, a Lebanese-American, reported raising $1.3 million, 94% contributed to himself. Dr. Fred Simon, a Minden surgeon and businessman, raised $183,000 in 2021, two-thirds of that money donated to himself. And, Tom Heck, an Air Force veteran and twice an unsuccessful candidate for GOP Senate nominations. He raised $97,000 in 2021. Email Jim Hartman at lawdocman1@aol.com. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Last month scientists identified what has been described as a stealth version of the Omicron variant, which is difficult to distinguish from other variants using the common PCR tests. With identifiability such an issue for experts little is known about how and where the variant has spread to so far. Omicron has fuelled a surge of covid-19 cases in the United States and further afield in recent months with its high contagiousness allowing it to surpass vaccine immunity more frequently. The stealth version contains many of the same mutations that have made Omicron so infectious. Read more The variant was first found among covid virus genomes in Australia, South Africa and Canada, but that disparate list gives little clue as to where the stealth Omicron first mutated. For now the scientific community is unsure about the scale of the stealth Omicron spread and the vast majority of cases will likely have been included in statistics as being a function of the original Omicron. Dr Jacob Lemieux, an infectious disease specialist at the Massachusetts General Hospital, explains: "What we don't know and still have almost no information on is what impact this will have on case counts, on hospitalizations, on deaths. How dangerous is stealth Omicron? The new stealth version of the variant has been christened BA.2, the regular Omicron variant is known as BA.1, and has been found in the United States. At least four states - California, New Mexico, Texas and Washington have a recorded case of BA.2 but scientists remain fairly calm about the prospect of a new version of coronavirus. Dr Lemieux said of the news: "I don't think it's going to cause the degree of chaos and disruption, morbidity and mortality that BA.1 did. "I'm cautiously optimistic that we're going to continue to move to a better place and, hopefully, one where each new variant on the horizon isn't news, she added. Omicron Sub-variant BA.2. Update: - Belongs to the Omicron family - Unclear if it causes reinfections - Calling it stealth or son of omicron is media sensationalism - Delta had sub-variants too - Our current strategy works against BA.2. More here: https://t.co/hv3KnPril4 Faheem Younus, MD (@FaheemYounus) January 27, 2022 The decision to name the newer variant as BA.2, rather than issuing it a distinctive name, hints at the approach that health leaders as taking. Typically the individual Greek letter names are reserved for the globally threatening variants of concern like Delta and Omicron. Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr Allison Arwady explained: "Every time there's a new variant, first of all, we will get a name So if this is something we have to worry about, nobody will call it the 'stealth something,' it would get a Greek letter name." China will employ its space station for carrying out astronomical observations, Earth science and research, and space science experiments in the next five years, according to a white paper published Friday. The white paper, titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective", was released by China's State Council Information Office. The country plans to complete the construction of its orbiting space station this year after the launches of the station's two science modules. The current six-month Shenzhou XIII mission by three taikonauts aboard the Tianhe core module is China's longest in manned space program. More extensive cooperation in astronaut selection and training, joint flights and other fields will take place between China and foreign countries, said the white paper. Cooperation will also be strengthened in the China-led international lunar research station project, as the white paper said China welcomes international partners to participate in the research and construction of the station at any stage and level of the mission. Besides, it will expand cooperation in the fields of asteroid and interplanetary exploration. The next five years will also witness China work together with countries, including Italy, Brazil and Pakistan, on satellite engineering and technology, according to the white paper. It also highlights that China will conduct dialogue with Russia, the United States and other countries as well as relevant international organizations on outer space governance. The officers, who will be sent to the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), receive the President's decisions. (Photo: VNA) This is the first time Vietnam has deployed officers to the UNISFA at the invitation of the UN, Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said at the ceremony in Hanoi, adding that the country plans to deploy an engineering unit to the mission in the time ahead. He urged the officers to fulfill their tasks assigned by the UN, while setting up good relations with the mission and the locality to support the engineering unit. Given the COVID-19 spread, Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, head of the ministrys steering committee for participation in UNs peacekeeping operations, asked the officers to observe pandemic prevention and control regulations set by the mission and the Ministry of National Defence. Among the officers, two have completed their peacekeeping tasks in South Sudan and Central Africa for one tenure. On this occasion, the ministry reviewed the performance of Vietnamese officers at the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Lauding the officers for their fulfillment of tasks at the two missions, Chien said Vietnamese forces joining UN peacekeeping operations have recorded noted achievements over the past time and have been applauded by the UN./. Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine Nguyen Hong Thach (Photo: VNA) Granting an online interview to the Vietnam News Agency, he said amid contradictory information about the situation in eastern Ukraine, the embassy has still maintained frequent contact, either in person or online, with most of the Vietnamese community across Ukraine, except for those in Donetsk that it hasnt gained access to. There havent been any worrying signs in Ukraine, and economic activities can still take place as normal, Thach said, noting that the embassy has still organised many activities marking the 30th anniversary of the two countries diplomatic relations. The ambassador appealed to the Vietnamese community in Ukraine not to be overanxious but stay calm to sustain economic activities for the sake of themselves. Regarding the Ukraine situation, he cited the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that the situation is not really tense like what some western media agencies reported, and that some countries withdrawal of their diplomatic staff is too circumspect. Thach stressed the Vietnamese Embassy is keeping a very close watch and perceives that the situation is not too tense to lead to a war, the relevant countries are working towards negotiations, and every diplomatic effort is still being made through meetings and contacts among diplomats such as the recent meeting in Geneva. The embassy made this assessment, through frequent contacts with diplomats of other countries, with all of its sense of responsibility towards the homeland and the Vietnamese community in Ukraine, he added./. Press Release January 27, 2022 Bong Go hails gov't efforts to modernize BFP as he witnesses turnover of 62 fire trucks to LGUs The Bureau of Fire Protection on Tuesday, January 25, conducted a ceremony to mark the turnover of 62 new units of fire trucks as Senator Christopher "Bong" Go lauded the government's efforts to strengthen fire protection and suppression services nationwide. The event which Go virtually attended was held at the BFP national headquarters in Quezon City. The 1,000-gallon capacity fire trucks are part of a set of purchases made in 2020 which are expected to be fully delivered and distributed to select cities and municipalities nationwide within the year. In a speech, the lawmaker hailed the Duterte Administration's commitment to transform the BFP into a leading institution on par with international standards for fire management and mitigation. He pledged to serve as an advocate lawmaker by supporting the agency's strategic goals and ensuring sufficient resources are provided. "Modernizing the country's Bureau of Fire Protection has always been one of our main advocacies with President Rodrigo Duterte. Just like you, it is our vision to see a better and modern fire response service that is capable of ensuring that this country will be fire-safe," said Go. "Full support po kami ... sa mga bumbero sa ating Bureau of Fire Protection. Sa katunayan, ang mga bumbero ay kasama rin po sa ipinangako ni Pangulong Duterte na naging doble po ang sahod sa mga entry positions noong 2018," he continued. To implement the President's vision, Go had primarily authored and spearheaded the effort to pass Republic Act No. 11589 which provides for the implementation of a ten-year modernization program. Signed last September 10, the law broadens the BFP's mandate to include natural and man-made disasters and rescue and emergency medical services in cooperation with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and local government units. It establishes the BFP Modernization Trust Fund and provides several other sources of funds for acquiring new fire prevention and suppression, fire investigation, and emergency medical and rescue services facilities and equipment. The Act also includes the development of highly specialized fire protection services, such as high-rise building fires, chemical fires and disaster rescue services, to enhance the capabilities of BFP personnel. It likewise provides for the establishment of a Search and Rescue Force, Hazardous Material or HAZMAT units, Fire and Arson Investigation Unit, and Security and Protection Unit in every region and city, as well as an Emergency Medical Service in every municipality and city. "Manatili po tayong matatag dahil kailangan tayo ng ating mga kababayan. Tulad ng sabi ko, isa kayo sa mga itinuturing kong mga bagong bayani ng bayan. Kaya sana ay ipagpatuloy ninyo ang paglilingkod sa ating bayan at pagiging kaakibat sa mga hangarin ng gobyerno na mabigyan ng mas maayos na serbisyo ang mga Pilipino," appealed the senator. In return, Go encouraged the firefighters in attendance to continue serving to the best of their abilities while showing communities the same compassion and dedication espoused by him and President Duterte. "Kahit hindi pa ako senador, pinupuntahan ko po ang mga nasunugan, kahit saang sulok ng Pilipinas, para makapagbigay ng tulong at ngiti sa panahon ng kanilang pagdadalamhati. Hanggang sa ngayon, patuloy pa rin akong nagseserbisyo sa kanila sa abot ng aking makakaya. Pinapaalala ko sa kanila na nandito ang gobyerno para magsilbi at hindi sila pinapabayaan," shared Go. "Kami ni Pangulong Duterte, nandito lang kami at handa kaming magserbisyo ... Patuloy din namin na ipaglalaban ang inyong mga pangangailangan sa abot ng aking makakaya," he vowed. In fulfillment of his campaign promise, President Duterte also signed Congress Joint Resolution No. 1 in January 1, 2018, which doubled the base pay of a Fire Officer 1 in the BFP and other equivalent ranks in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Public Safety College, Philippine Coast Guard, and National Mapping and Resource Information Authority. The opening ceremony of the fair (Photo: VNA) The fair had more than 30 booths, displaying and selling a wide range of typical Tet products and other goods from Vietnam, bringing the Tet atmosphere to overseas Vietnamese in Laos. In addition, a photo exhibition, documentary screening, musical performances, and folk activities were also held at the event. The fair aims to introduce the cultural identity of Vietnam, create a merry Tet atmosphere, and help both Vietnamese and Lao people prepare for the traditional festival of Vietnam. Besides, it is also an occasion for traders of Vietnamese goods to access more consumers. On this occasion, a photo exhibition is underway at the Vietnamese culture centre, showcasing a number of pictures of the two countries relations. It is part of activities during the Vietnam - Laos Year of Solidarity and Friendship 2022, which marks the 60th founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and 45 years since the signing of the countries treaty of friendship and cooperation. The event will end on January 31./. At the event (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang expressed his sympathies for overseas Vietnamese over their COVID-19-induced difficulties. He emphasized that he is proud to see the Vietnamese community in France integrating well, preserving their traditional culture and tradition, and contributing to their home nation, particularly regarding Vietnams response to the pandemic. The ambassador wished the overseas Vietnamese a lunar new year of happiness, health, prosperity. On the occasion, he presented the Prime Ministers certificate of merit to the Overseas Vietnamese Association in France (UGVF) for its outstanding achievements in consolidating and developing the Vietnamese community in France. He also handed over the head of the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs certificates of merit to individuals and organsations with significant contributions to Vietnams COVID-19 prevention and control. Representatives of the overseas Vietnamese associations in France affirmed Vietnamese people in France always care for their fatherland, striving to build a united and strong community and joining hands in contributing to Vietnams development./. TEHRAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force held on Thursday the final stage of a seven-day combined security war game in the eastern province of South Khorasan, IRIB state TV reported. Held in an area of 500 kilometers in a public district of the border village of Shahrakht, Zirkuh County, the exercise was aimed at increasing the military and defense preparedness of the IRGC Ground Force units in the face of potential threats and Takfiri groups, and training the new generation of the soldiers, according to IRIB. During the drill, combined operations to counter possible terrorist threats were carried out by the IRGC's drones, aviation, armored vehicles, artillery, branch insignia, infantry, commando and electronic warfare units. The latest military tactics as well as special ammunition and armaments were used in the exercise, which was conducted in environments closely simulated based on real-life potentially threatening situations. Improving coordination among different systems and assessing their overlap were the main objectives pursued by the commanders and forces taking part in the drill. Among the outstanding features of the war game were the forces' high morale and advanced capabilities during the operations as well as people's enthusiastic reception of the maneuver. Iran's Armed Forces hold routine military exercises throughout the year. The country's officials have repeatedly underscored that the Islamic Republic will not hesitate to build up its defense capabilities, emphasizing such abilities are entirely meant for the purpose of defense and will be never subject to negotiations. On Jan. 13, the IRGC Ground Force held the largest ever combined military exercise in the country's southeast. The drill was held by the Quds Base of the IRGC Ground Force in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan. Editor: WXL Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) TAIYUAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to north China's Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, wished Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese healthier and happier lives in the Year of the Tiger, and expressed his hope that the motherland would increase in prosperity and strength. This year's Spring Festival falls on Feb. 1. Xi, as the Party's top leader, has for 10 consecutive years visited people at the primary level -- especially those from disadvantaged groups -- ahead of the Spring Festival, the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar and an occasion for family reunions. Xi on Wednesday visited the people of Fengnanyuan Village in Huozhou City, one of the places hit hard by floods last October. Xi learned about local post-disaster reconstruction, crop replanting, improvements to the local disaster relief and emergency response system, and measures to keep people warm in the winter. When he sat down with a family to hear about their day-to-day lives, Xi said that locals who have been affected by the disaster are often in his thoughts and that he chose the village as his first stop to see the reconstruction and recovery first hand. Xi stressed the need to dovetail reconstruction with rural vitalization, improve integrated river basin management, and improve the capacity for disaster prevention, mitigation and relief. Later that afternoon, Xi went to Duancun Village in Fenxi County. In a villager's home, Xi checked the kitchen, the bedroom and the sheepfold, and asked about the family's income and their life. Xi was pleased to learn that the family, after shaking off poverty in late 2016, has prospered through raising sheep and seeking work in other places. "The CPC's resolve to ensure all Chinese people live happy lives has remained unchanged for more than a century, and it will not falter," Xi said. Speaking in front of villagers at a local square, Xi said that the fundamental purpose of the Party is to strive to ensure people's happy lives. Noting that the goal of building a modern socialist country cannot be attained without the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, Xi urged efforts to consolidate the achievements of poverty eradication, advance rural vitalization, and improve people's lives. Touring Pingyao, one of the best-preserved ancient walled cities in China and a UNESCO world heritage site, on Thursday, Xi called for more efforts to conserve the country's cultural heritage and protect "the valuable treasure left to us by our ancestors." At a museum in Pingyao, he said the unique traditional Chinese culture should be promoted more to contribute to economic and social development and people's quality life. Dropping by souvenir shops inside the ancient walled city, Xi shopped cooked beef and vinegar as festive purchases for his family. People in China usually eat dumplings with vinegar. Xi even took part in vinegar-making in a workshop. He also visited a lacquerware shop and demanded cultural treasures such as the traditional lacquering skill be better protected. "We should promote traditional cultural industries with distinctive Chinese features to the rest of the world," said Xi. On COVID-19 response, Xi warned that the pandemic is still spreading worldwide and new features of transmission have shown. He told local authorities to stay alert, adopt science-based and targeted control measures and ensure people's safety and necessities. With the winter power and heat supply in mind, Xi on Thursday afternoon inspected a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years. There, he visited an intelligent fuel management center, a laboratory and a coal yard, among other facilities. "Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality are not something asked of us, but something we are doing on our own initiative," Xi said, adding that the goals cannot be achieved easily but efforts must be made immediately. He called for strengthening domestic energy production, ensuring the supply of coal and facilitating the clean and low-carbon development of the coal industry. Efforts should be made to accelerate green and low-carbon technological breakthroughs and continuously upgrade China's industrial structure to achieve the goals of carbon peaking and neutrality proactively and steadily, Xi said. The supply of power and heat is vital to the overall economic development and social stability, Xi said. He urged major enterprises, especially state-owned enterprises, to lead by example in maintaining the stability of supply and prices to ensure that people stay safe and warm in winter. Xi asked Shanxi to actively serve and integrate into the country's new development paradigm, coordinate COVID-19 containment with economic and social development, promote the steady improvement of people's lives, and continuously make breakthroughs in high-quality development. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the post-disaster reconstruction in areas affected by last year's floods as well as local work in restoring farming and ensuring the public's access to heating in winter in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects local work in consolidating and expanding anti-poverty achievements and advancing rural vitalization in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects local work in consolidating and expanding anti-poverty achievements and advancing rural vitalization in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with employees while inspecting a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to employees while inspecting a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a vinegar-making workshop in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a coal yard of a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to the crowd while touring Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a shop selling cooked beef in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, tours the ancient city walls in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with employees while inspecting a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to the crowd while touring Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with the crowd while touring Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a coal yard of a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, wishes Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese healthier and happier lives in the Year of the Tiger, in front of villagers at a local square in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Editor: WXY Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2015 shows the national flags of China (R) and the United States as well as the flag of Washington D.C. on the Constitution Avenue in Washington, capital of the United States. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan) China and the United States, as the world's two largest economies and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, should bear in mind the fundamental interests of the people of both countries, follow the trend of global development, and well implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday held a phone conversation over China-U.S. relations and the current situation in Ukraine. The top priority for China and the United States at present is to truly implement the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden during their video meeting in November last year, said Wang. During the video meeting, Wang recalled, Xi summarized the experience and lessons of China-U.S. exchanges over past more than half a century, and put forward three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, charting the course for the healthy development of China-U.S. relations. Biden responded positively by then, and said that the United States neither seeks a "new Cold War" with China, nor pursues a change in China's system, the revitalization of its alliances is not anti-China, and the country does not support "Taiwan independence," and has no intention to have conflict and confrontation with China, sending a positive signal which is different from the previous U.S. administration, said the Chinese foreign minister. However, Wang said, what the world has seen is that there has been no substantive change in the tone of the U.S. policy towards China and Biden's pledges have not been fully delivered. The U.S. side is still making erroneous words and deeds related to China, which have dealt a new blow to bilateral relations, Wang added. Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the "Shanghai Communique," Wang said that China and the United States having no intention of changing each other is the precondition of the normalization of bilateral relations, and should be the guarantee of peaceful coexistence between the two countries in the future. Competition between major countries is not the theme of a post-pandemic world that will encounter new situations and challenges, nor will it address the problems facing the United States and countries worldwide, Wang said. Photo taken on Oct. 28, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) China and the United States, as the world's two largest economies and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, should bear in mind the fundamental interests of the people of both countries, follow the trend of global development, and well implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state, he said. Wang said the two countries must have a good grasp of the general direction of bilateral ties, take concrete actions to fulfill commitments, expand the positive aspects of bilateral cooperation, and manage differences constructively. Pressure will only make the Chinese people more united, and confrontation will not stop China from becoming stronger, he stressed. At present, the top priority for the U.S. side is to stop interfering in the Beijing Winter Olympics, stop playing with fire by playing the "Taiwan card," and stop forming all kinds of small cliques aimed at working against and containing China, he said. For his part, Blinken said it is important for the two sides to maintain regular communication, stressing the position that U.S. President Joe Biden elaborated in the virtual meeting between the two heads of state has not changed. The United States and China have shared interests as well as differences, Blinken said, noting the United States is ready to manage differences responsibly. The U.S. stance on the one-China policy remains unchanged, he said, and the United States will cheer for its athletes who participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics and wish the Chinese people a happy Chinese New Year. U.S. President Joe Biden arrives at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States on Jan. 24, 2022. Biden reiterated Tuesday that there is no intention in his administration or within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to send troops into Ukraine, but that Russia will face serious economic consequences if it invades the former Soviet republic. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) Blinken then stated the U.S. position on issues including the issue of Ukraine. The Chinese foreign minister said to address the tensions in Ukraine, it is necessary to return to the 2015 Minsk Agreements approved by the Security Council, which is a fundamental political document recognized by all parties and should be implemented in earnest. China will support any effort that conforms to the direction and spirit of the agreements, he said, adding China calls on all parties to remain calm and refrain from inflaming tensions or hyping up the crisis. Wang stressed that the security of one country should not be at the expense of the security of others, and regional security should not be guaranteed by strengthening or even expanding military blocs. In the 21st century, all parties should completely abandon the Cold War mentality and form a balanced, effective and sustainable European security mechanism through negotiations, he said, adding Russia's legitimate security concerns should be taken seriously and addressed. Editor: WXL BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The ability to follow social norms has long been commended as propriety in China, as is reflected in the Chinese idiom "Ke Ji Fu Li," which means restraining one's words and deeds to comply with social norms. Proposed by ancient philosopher Confucius (551-479 B.C.), the term is recorded in The Analects, a collection of teachings and thoughts of him. It is the fundamental method that Confucius recommended for achieving benevolence, a key idea in his thoughts. Confucius' disciple Yan Yuan once asked him about benevolence. "To restrain yourself and practice propriety is benevolence," Confucius replied. Confucius' thoughts have had a profound influence on later generations in China and some other Asian countries. In modern days, littering, spitting, cursing, cutting in line and smoking in public venues are considered uncivilized and contradictory to the Confucian doctrine of practicing propriety to conform to social norms. Editor: WXL BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official has called on overseas Chinese to draw wisdom from the enduring Chinese civilization in the face of global changes unseen in a century. "The overseas Chinese will be well perceived in the world only when the Chinese civilization is correctly understood," Pan Yue, director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, said Tuesday. Pan extended greetings to overseas Chinese as well as those who have returned to China and their families ahead of the upcoming Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year. Noting that 2021 marked the accomplishment of the first centenary goal of the Communist Party of China, Pan commended the contributions by generations of overseas Chinese over the past century. Compatriots share the sentiments of overseas Chinese at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage globally and the international situation remains complex with rising unilateralism and racism, Pan said. Over the past year, China has provided COVID-19 vaccines to millions of overseas Chinese nationals working and studying in 180 countries and has stepped up assistance to overseas Chinese in need, Pan added. The official said that the Chinese government will continue to forge a closer bond with overseas Chinese by improving online medical, administrative and cultural services, among others. Editor: WXL Siu Chak-yee (2nd L), the commissioner of police of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, pose for a group photo before a press conference of the Hong Kong Police Force in Hong Kong, south China, Jan. 27, 2022. Hong Kong police on Thursday said they had arrested 162 people during related law enforcement by Jan. 25, 2022, since the national security law took effect in June 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) HONG KONG, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong police on Thursday said they had arrested 162 people during related law enforcement by Jan. 25, 2022, since the national security law took effect in June 2020. Among the 162 people, more than 100 have been prosecuted. The police, in 2022, will continue to collect and analyze intelligence and information concerning national security, and conduct intelligence-led operations to prevent and deter acts and activities endangering national security, according to a hand-out released at a press conference of the Hong Kong Police Force. In 2022, apart from safeguarding the national security, Hong Kong police also aim to draw strength from the whole community to counter terrorism, advance crime prevention and elimination, address issues of public concern, and build stronger ties with communities and different sectors of Hong Kong society. Siu Chak-yee, the commissioner of police of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, speaks at a press conference of the Hong Kong Police Force in Hong Kong, south China, Jan. 27, 2022. Hong Kong police on Thursday said they had arrested 162 people during related law enforcement by Jan. 25, 2022, since the national security law took effect in June 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) Editor: WXL HONG KONG, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong on Thursday recorded 164 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. The newly reported cases consist of 48 imported cases and 116 local cases. Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), told a press conference Thursday that the existing social distancing measures will be extended by another two weeks to last until Feb. 17, and some schools will suspend face-to-face classes until Feb. 21. Lam also said the HKSAR government will move to accelerate the inoculation program to achieve a 90-percent first-dose vaccination rate. As of Thursday, about 5.3 million people, or 78.6 percent of the eligible population in Hong Kong, have taken at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. Lam said Hong Kong will introduce a "vaccination passport" scheme on Feb. 24 and make more venues not accessible to those unvaccinated. Meanwhile, Hong Kong will extend its suspension of incoming flights from eight countries, originally set to run from Jan. 8 for 14 days, to Feb. 18. The ban affects passengers from Australia, Britain, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United States, including transferring passengers. Lam also said Hong Kong will shorten its 21-day quarantine requirement for inbound travelers to two weeks from Feb. 5. Editor: WXL Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs a virtual summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and five Central Asian countries and delivers an important speech in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 25, 2022. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the summit. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) -- Hailing the development of China-Central Asia relations over the past three decades as "a good example of fostering a new type of international relations," Xi pointed out that the keys to the successful cooperation are mutual respect, good-neighborly friendship, solidarity in trying times and mutual benefit. -- The Central Asian leaders said they will work with China "together for a shared future," echoing the motto for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and said they eagerly look forward to attending the opening ceremony of the sporting event next week. -- Analysts said that the complementarity between China's economy and the economies of the five countries provides huge space and potential for them to expand their pragmatic cooperation. BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- China and five Central Asian countries vowed on Tuesday to build an even closer community with a shared future, as Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired a virtual summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the five countries. As China's first major diplomatic activity involving Central Asia this year, the summit was attended by leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. "No matter how the international landscape may evolve or how developed China may grow, China will always remain a good neighbor, a good partner, a good friend, and a good brother that Central Asian countries can trust and count on," Xi said, reaffirming China's commitment to the region. Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs a virtual summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and five Central Asian countries and delivers an important speech in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 25, 2022. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended the summit. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) MODEL TIES Hailing the development of China-Central Asia relations over the past three decades as "a good example of fostering a new type of international relations," Xi pointed out that the keys to the successful cooperation are mutual respect, good-neighborly friendship, solidarity in trying times and mutual benefit. The leaders of the five Central Asian countries spoke highly of the fruitful results of cooperation with China, praising the development of relations between Central Asian countries and China that has not only promoted their respective development and prosperity, but also effectively safeguarded regional peace and stability. Li Yongquan, head of the China Society for Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, said that, since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has always treated the five Central Asian countries equally, and has carried out practical cooperation with the five countries to help them resolve their most urgent problems. Both sides said they viewed the summit as a significant milestone. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the heads of state of the six countries reviewed the past, summed up their experience, discussed cooperation, and reached many important consensuses, which will inject new impetus into the future development of relations, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng told media after the summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs a virtual summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and five Central Asian countries and delivers an important speech in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) CLOSER COMMUNITY WITH SHARED FUTURE "China stands ready to work with Central Asian countries to build on the good momentum and strive shoulder-by-shoulder to build an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future," Xi said in his speech, also making some proposals to realize the objective. He announced that China will continue to provide vaccines and anti-epidemic supplies to Central Asian countries, and will step up joint production and technology transfer with respect to COVID-19 vaccines and medicines. In 2022, China will provide an additional 50 million doses of vaccines as aid to Central Asian countries, and set up traditional medicine centers in countries where they are needed, Xi added. The Central Asian leaders said they will work with China "together for a shared future," echoing the motto for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and said they eagerly look forward to attending the opening ceremony of the sporting event next week. Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs a virtual summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and five Central Asian countries and delivers an important speech in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) HIGH-QUALITY COOPERATION Trade between China and Central Asian nations has grown by more than 100 times in the past 30 years, and the stocks of China's direct investment in the five countries exceeded 14 billion U.S. dollars, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Jan. 17. Analysts said that the complementarity between China's economy and the economies of the five countries provides huge space and potential for them to expand their pragmatic cooperation. In his speech, Xi suggested that the two sides should speed up high-quality cooperation, and strengthen cooperation on artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing and other high-tech sectors. According to a joint statement released after the summit, China and the Central Asian countries agreed to strengthen the docking of the Belt and Road Initiative with the five nations' own development strategies. "I believe the summit will open up broad prospects for Central Asia and China to further strengthen pragmatic cooperation," said Yerlan Madiev, an expert at the Institute of World Economy and Politics in Kazakhstan. Editor: WXY Press Release January 28, 2022 De Lima welcomes and supports recommendation to file criminal charges vs 'Pastillas' bribery suspects Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima welcomed the filing of a Senate Committee Report recommending the criminal prosecution of current and former immigration personnel allegedly involved in the so-called "Pastillas Scam." De Lima also urged her colleagues to adopt Committee Report No. 542, which was filed after the two-year probe on the scam by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros. "I congratulate Sen. Risa Hontiveros and my colleagues in the Senate on the filing of Committee Report No. 542 on the infamous "Pastillas Scam", she said. "I call on my colleagues to adopt this Report at the soonest possible opportunity so that our country will know that this Senate did not stand idly by while corruption pervades in this government. Tumindig po tayo lagi laban sa korapsyon," she added. The Committee Report was filed last January 27, and was signed by all 11 members and ex-officio members of the panel, including De Lima. The Report noted that the combined revenue streams from the Pastillas kickbacks and the visa-upon-arrival (VUA) kickbacks is estimated to be in the billions of pesos with the bulk earned by the father and son tandem of Maynardo Marinas and former port operations chief Marc Red Marinas, with other Bureau of Immigration (BI) employees under their instruction and command. According to the Report, the Marinases and several other BI officials and employees should face criminal cases for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, the plunder law, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Notably, Senators also recommended further investigation on former justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre for his appointment of Red Marinas and his issuance of Department No. 41, which gave the father and son tandem wide discretion over the approval of VUAs. The "Pastillas Scam" was an illegal operation that allowed the entry of mostly Chinese nationals, mainly workers for Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs), with hardly any scrutiny in exchange for bribes to corrupt immigration officers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). It can be noted that the scam was named as such because the bribe money was usually rolled up like the popular Filipino milk-based candy "pastillas". De Lima, a social justice and human rights champion, said the Committee's investigation was "methodical, thorough and ultimately effective in ferreting out the truth behind the scam that compromised our border control and allowed trafficking and prostitution to happen. "The Committee's findings were significant. The allegations that about 90% of the immigration officers are in on the scam show that there is an endemic, institutional and malignant culture of corruption in the Bureau of Immigration (BI). This allowed practically unregulated entry in our country by unwelcome foreigners for a fee," she stated. "Sa maraming pagkakataon, itong mga foreigners pa na pinalusot ang gumagawa ng krimen sa atin gaya ng pang-aabuso sa ating mga kababayan at human trafficking," she added. In spite of these damning revelations by witnesses, this administration remains unmoved, and to date has not done anything to solve this problem. "Ang pinakamalala pa, tuwirang sinabi ng mga testigo na si dating DOJ Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre ang tumayong protector at padrino ni Marc Red Marinas na sinasabing ring leader o pangunahing nagpapatakbo ng scam sa BI. Nagmistulang inutil si BI Commissioner Morente dahil ang dating boss niya mismo ang pumipigil sa kaniya na aksyunan ang mga kalokohang nangyayari sa kaniyang opisina," she said. "Hindi gaya ng mga pekeng imbestigasyon laban sa akin, malinaw ang pagtukoy sa posibleng kaso laban kina Aguirre at sa mga tauhan niya sa BI," she added. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, speaks at a symposium with leaders of national religious groups ahead of the Lunar New Year in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang extended Spring Festival greetings to religious personages and believers nationwide on Thursday. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, extended his greetings at a symposium with leaders of national religious groups ahead of the Lunar New Year. Speaking highly of the work of religious groups in 2021, Wang called on them to enhance their self-education, safeguard the stability and harmony of the religious circle, and guide religious personages and believers to enhance their recognition of the motherland, the Chinese nation, the Chinese culture, the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics. Efforts should be made to further develop religions in the Chinese context, and better adapt religions to socialist society as well as to the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Wang said. Wang also called for the strict implementation of anti-pandemic protocols and reasonable arrangements of religious events to ensure a happy and harmonious Spring Festival. Editor: ZAD Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs a virtual summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and five Central Asian countries and delivers an important speech in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 25, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech, delivered at a virtual summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and five Central Asian countries, has charted course and injected impetus for an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future, experts have said. "No matter how the international landscape may evolve or how developed China may grow, China will always remain a good neighbor, a good partner, a good friend, and a good brother that Central Asian countries can trust and count on," Xi made the remarks in his address on Tuesday. Timur Shaimergenov, deputy director of the Library of the First President of Republic of Kazakhstan, fully agreed with Xi's words, saying that Kazakhstan and China have seen great vigor in their mutual support and cooperation. A freight train departs for Almaty of Kazakhstan, at a transit center in Jiaozhou, east China's Shandong Province, April 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Zhaomai) Noting that the two countries have been keeping close coordination within multilateral mechanisms, such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Measures in Asia, Shaimergenov said the two sides have also supported each other's major cooperation initiatives, jointly practiced multilateralism, and played important and constructive roles in ensuring regional security. Sayfullo Safarov, chairman of the National Association of Political Scientists of Tajikistan, said that the successful hosting of the virtual summit has witnessed the solid friendship between China and Central Asian nations, and further elevated bilateral cooperation to a new level. Central Asian countries share many common interests with China, and the Tajik people hold a strong bond with the Chinese, Safarov said, adding that the Tajikistan-China relationship enjoys a solid foundation, the all-round cooperation has been deepened, and the two countries have conducted extensive and effective cooperation in various fields. Tourists visit the exhibition zone of Tajikistan during the "Tajikistan Day" event at the Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 20, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) With close-knit relations and high-level political mutual trust, China and the five Central Asian countries are seeing increasingly frequent economic and trade cooperation, as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges, said Ruan Zongze, executive vice president of the China Institute of International Studies. During the summit, Ruan continued, the five Central Asian countries' heads of state said that they are eagerly looking forward to attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics next week, which has shown solidarity and mutual trust between China and the countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Former Kyrgyz Foreign Minister and former SCO Secretary General Muratbek Imanaliev said that over the past 30 years, Central Asian countries and China have deepened relations as good neighbors and friends, while cooperation in various fields has also yielded fruitful results. Noting that China does not interfere in other countries' internal affairs, Imanaliev said that China has actively provided help for developing countries, which is welcomed by Central Asian countries. Editor: WXY On the eve of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Ukraine and Canada are preparing to expand the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA). As First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko said on her Facebook page, at the talks with Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development of Canada Mary Ng, discussions have already taken place on areas that are supposed to be strengthened. "Global changes in international markets require the CUFTA to be updated. Ukrainian and Canadian businesses are primarily interested in the service sector, e-commerce, telecommunications, and environmental protection," the minister said. The CUFTA expansion is intended to provide a level playing field for international trade, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. The CUFTA has already demonstrated its effectiveness last year, when, according to Svyrydenko, the volume of exports of Ukrainian goods to Canada almost doubled from $81.3 to $160.1 million. The planned diversification and expansion of trade cooperation between Canada and Ukraine will contribute to long-term economic growth, the minister is sure. Earlier, a delegation of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the President's Office also held talks in France, during which an increase in the participation of French capital in a variety of Ukrainian projects was considered. National Nuclear Generating Company Energoatom plans to sign an agreement with the French operator of nuclear power plants Electricite de France SA (EDF) on cooperation in the development of nuclear energy, Head of the company Petro Kotin has said. "Today, we are preparing a memorandum with EDF on cooperation in the development of nuclear energy in Ukraine and in the world. A lot of issues are being worked out there regarding the current operation of units, equipment modernization, personnel training, as well as the development of nuclear facilities in the future. Now we have provided them with our version of the memorandum, they are considering it," Kotin said in a commentary to Energy Reform during a visit to the Central Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility. He said he met with Head of EDF Jean-Bernard Levy at a nuclear exhibition in Paris (November-December 2021), where it was agreed on the need to establish cooperation. According to Kotin, it can become fruitful and profitable for both companies. "EDF is the world's largest operator of nuclear power plants. If we produced 86 billion kWh last year, which is the highest result in the last six years, then they produced 360 billion kWh. But we are the second in terms of electricity production in Europe, except for the Russian Federation," the head of Energoatom said. At the same time, he admitted that cooperation with EDF could eventually extend to the development of small modular reactors in Ukraine. "Now this issue is dealt with by many companies, all large organizations that have expertise in this area. Some have conceptual solutions at the stage of coordination with regulatory authorities, many are still at the concept stage," Kotin explained, adding that "the horizon for the use of small modular reactors is another six-eight years." As reported with reference to Deputy Head of the President's Office Rostyslav Shurma, Ukraine plans to cooperate with French EDF, in particular, in the construction of new units of nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the country. EDF operates more than 70 nuclear reactors, including 58 in France, and is among the world's largest nuclear power plant operators. In addition, EDF owns stakes in generating companies in many European countries, the USA, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, China, India, and Morocco. The Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) has become a new shareholder of Bank Lviv, which operates mainly in the western region of Ukraine, with a 13.94% stake in the charter capital. "With this investment, Bank Lviv continues to be a 100% foreign-owned bank. The largest shareholders are the Swiss responsAbility (48.56%) and Margeir Petursson (Iceland, 37.47%). "We are happy to welcome NEFCO to Bank Lviv as a shareholder. Besides the investment, NEFCO will help strengthen Bank Lviv's focus on sustainable environmental and social finance. Our international shareholders believe in Ukraine and seek a positive impact through direct investments in the bank's capital. I am certain that NEFCO's experience and expertise in green financing will support Bank Lviv's development as a modern and sustainable bank," Ashot Abrahamyan, the chairperson of the Bank Lviv management board, said. "Bank Lviv's strategy, our previous cooperation and the engagement and ownership of other professional impact investors encouraged us to invest in the bank. NEFCO and Bank Lviv share the same goal of accelerating the green transition and we believe that our participation will help the bank achieve its goals of sustainable and responsible banking. Bank Lviv is close to its customers, provides good service and aims to promote sustainable businesses practices and make a positive impact on the economy. The bank's sustainable growth potential motivates us, and we are looking forward to continuing our cooperation with the Bank Lviv team," Thor Thorsteinsson, the Vice President for Nordic SMEs at NEFCO, said. "Bank Lviv is one of the fastest growing banks in Western Ukraine, and the leading micro and SME lender in the region. During last three years, the bank's loans increased by 45% and deposits by 30% annually. One of the top 30 banks in Ukraine, Bank Lviv operates through 19 branches in Western Ukraine and Kyiv," the report says. "NEFCO, the Nordic Green Bank, is an international financial institution that finances the initial scale-up of Nordic green solutions on global markets. Founded in 1990 by the five Nordic countries, NEFCO has already financed and implemented over 1,500 projects in energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean water and sanitation, waste management, and cleaner industrial processes, among others. We serve the interests of our owners, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, and work with concrete actions to accelerate the green transition," according to the document. Ukraine will spend at least $4-5 billion to stabilize the economic situation, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. "To stabilize our economy, we will spend about $4-5 billion. I do not count on a smaller figure, this is the amount we need," Zelensky said at a briefing with foreign media representatives in Kyiv on Friday. The President said that the West, providing Ukraine with funding and assistance, gives an appropriate signal of support for the country. "But the question is still not in the amount, but in the fact that they believe in the economy of Ukraine and send the appropriate signals," Zelensky said. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said on Twitter that he had discussed with his American counterpart Joseph Biden the ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict in Donbas and agreed on common actions. "Discussed recent diplomatic efforts on de-escalation and agreed on joint actions for the future," Zelensky said on Twitter on Thursday evening. He also thanked Biden for the ongoing military assistance to Ukraine in the form of lethal weapons sent. In addition, the parties discussed the possibility of providing financial support from the United States to Ukraine. The President of Ukraine stressed the importance of supporting the economic and financial stability of our country in the current situation. The leaders discussed concrete steps by the United States to increase financial support for Ukraine, both bilaterally and by involving international financial institutions, the presidential press service said. The Presidents of Ukraine and the United States also discussed the results of the recent Normandy talks at the level of political advisers. Biden commended the agreement reached on an unconditional return to the ceasefire. Zelensky noted Ukraine's readiness to hold a meeting in the Normandy format at the level of leaders in the near future. The United States of America has convened a meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) scheduled for Monday, January 31, on the threat of a Russian military invasion of Ukraine, Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said. She said that after weeks of close consultation with Ukraine and partners on the Security Council, the United States called an open meeting of the Security Council to discuss a matter of crucial importance to international peace and security: Russia's threatening behavior against Ukraine and the build-up of Russian troops on Ukraine's borders and in Belarus. "This is not a moment to wait and see. The Council's full attention is needed now, and we look forward to direct and purposeful discussion on Monday," Thomas-Greenfield said. According to her, this issue is of "crucial importance for international peace and security," so the members of the UN Security Council should carefully study the facts and consider what is at stake for Ukraine, Russia and Europe. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen says that the European Union is discussing all possible sanctions, including the exclusion of Russia from the SWIFT system, as well as stopping the Nord Stream 2 if Moscow invades Ukraine. She said this in an interview with CNN, published on the website on Thursday. The article, which quotes the words of the President of the European Commission, says that when it comes to sanctions, including the murder of the discussed Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the exclusion of Russia from SWIFT, a high-security network that unites thousands of financial institutions around the world, if Moscow invades Ukraine, nothing is removed from the table (nothing is removed from the discussion). "I want to be very clear nothing is off the table," von der Leyen said in an exclusive interview with CNN when asked if the EU would cancel the proposed energy deal. The President of the Commission reminded that "the Commission is responsible for designing, shaping, and developing the sanctions," pointing that "you should not forget that the European Union is the biggest trading partner to Russia. About of 40% of trade and goods is done between Russia and the European Union. The European Union is also the biggest foreign investor: 75% of direct foreign investment is coming from the European Union. So, these figures tell you that we have a strong leverage and that it would be very painful for Russia in case that they increase this aggression against Ukraine," CNN quoted von der Leyen as saying. First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar commented on the complaint of the Crimean museums about the decision of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal on the return of Scythian gold to Ukraine. "We are not surprised that the Russian invader wants to continue its dirty game in order to delay the trial, which has already lasted seven years, as long as possible. But no matter how long it lasts, we will continue to protect our interests," Dzheppar wrote on Facebook. She noted that Ukraine is ready to prove for the third time that the artifacts belong to the Ukrainian museum fund already in the Supreme Court of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Dzheppar recalled that on January 26, the so-called "museums" in the temporarily occupied Crimea filed a cassation appeal against the decision of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal to return the collection of Scythian gold to Ukraine. Vietnam removes rapid Covid-19 testing requirement at airports Passengers arriving in Vietnam will no longer need quick Covid-19 testing at airports following a new decision from the government. Passengers wait at immigration desks at Noi Bai Airport Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh has just agreed with a proposal from the Ministry of Transport to increase the frequency of some international commercial flights and remove the Covid-19 rapid testing at airports for all international passengers arriving in the country. The Deputy PM approved to increase the frequency of some commercial flights to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan while considering expanding flights to Australia and some European markets to meet the rising traveling demand around the Lunar New Year holiday. The Ministry of Health has been asked to issue detailed instructions to prevent the spreading of the Omicron variant to Vietnam. Starting January 1, 2022, all arrivals to Vietnam must have tested negative for Covid-19 using PCR testing method within the previous 72 hours and installed the PC-Covid app for health monitoring. The PCR test requirement will not apply to children below two. Those who have been fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 will only need to self-monitor their health for three days, either at home, hotels or other facilities. Seven countries and territories, including the United States, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, South Korea and Chinas Taiwan, have agreed to resume air routes to Vietnam, CAAV said. Most have basically agreed with Vietnam's proposal on the frequency of four regular international passenger flights per week per direction. Home > 2022 > Nepal: G B Yakthumba - Peoples General who revolted against Rana oligarchy (...) by Mandeep Lama This the story of one mans vision and grit in freeing Nepal from the tyrannical Rana oligarchy, on how he cobbled up a valiant fighting force from a ragtag motley group of patriotic warriors, and eventually rid Nepal of its Ranarchy Part 1 Prologue The ruling autocratic oligarchy of the Ranas had seized power in Nepal on the heels of the infamous palace armoury massacre of the 15th of September, 1846. The massacre had taken place on account of the murder of Regent Queen Rajyalaxmis favourite courtier Gagan Singh, whom many believed to be her paramour. Previously, Gagan had been denied a berth in the council of ministers formed in September 1845, by the new Mukhtiyar, or the Prime Minister, Fateh Jung Shah Chautariya. Ever since the Queen had been pushing for Gagans induction into the ministerial forum with earnest. Then, one fateful day, Gagan Singh is found murdered on the balcony of his palace. Who was the murderer? What was the motive? Why was he killed? No one knows for sure. Except for a slew of conjectures, Nepals history on this count leads to several blind alleys. When the Regent Queen hears the news of the murder of her favourite courtier, she summons all the court officials to the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Armoury or the kot. In the evening everyone assembles at the armoury as per Rajyalaxmis orders. General Jung Bahadur Kunwar arrives with five of his brothers and three other men in arms and straightaway accuses one Pandey courtier for the murder of Gagan Singh. He advises the Queen to give orders for his execution and, at the same time, asks the Mukhtiyar to support the Queen on the issue. Already in great rage, Rajyalaxmi orders one Abhiman Singh Basnyat to carry out the sentence but Abhiman hesitates. The King, Rajendra Bikram Shah, who wields no real authority, and the Mukhtiyar raise their feeble voice against punishing anyone without carrying out proper investigation and a fair trial. After raising his objections, the King leaves the kot and, strangely enough, straightaway goes to the British Embassy but is denied entry so late in the night. At the kot, with Abhiman Singh vacillating,, the volatile situation relapses into some sort of a stalemate. At this point, some accounts say, the Queen leaves the armoury in a huff. Abhiman Singh wants to follow suit but is prevented by Jung Bahadur and his men. Arguments soon break out and, in the scuffle that follows, Abhiman Singh is killed prompting the massacre. Still some other accounts say that when Abhiman Singh hesitates to carry out the order, the enraged Queen abruptly lunges forward to kill the accused man herself, which triggers the bloody gun and sword battle. Whichever may be the correct report, Hanuman Dhoka Palace Armoury witnesses a terrible bloodbath. However, for some strange reason, the Nepalese people would describe this massacre with one bizarre expression: kot parva! In this particular context this idiom is pregnant with a grotesque, almost savage, innuendo, because in the Nepalese tongue the word parva means a festive occasion or the festivity itself! The heinous carnage, ostensibly carried out by General Jung Bahadur Kunwar, results in fifty-five other sources say thirty-four and/or forty-four courtiers and the Mukhtiyar lying dead in a pool of blood that gushes to the sewer outside. This ghastly palace armoury massacre catapults the class of Chhetris, who call themselves Kunwars, to the centre stage of governance in Nepal. After the massacre, Jung Bahadur makes himself Prime Minister and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, and immediately establishes a hierarchical roll for the post of premiership in which, unlike in the progenitorial kingship, the post would pass from one brother to another. A decade later, on 6th of August, 1856, Jung Bahadur prevails upon the King to issue a sanad, the Royal Charter, declaring him Maharaja of Lumjung and Kaski regions. Not only this, the sanad also confers upon him absolute power over his Monarch and, thereby, over the entire country. The history-changing sanad in part ran: Should I anytime tyrannise over my subjects, the Sirdars or the army, or wish to cause any dispute between the government of my country and that either of England or China you are free to prevent my doing so, and if I do not act according to your advice, you are to enforce me to do so with my Sirdars and the Army, to both of which I have given orders to obey you and assist at such time. The Shah dynasty goes down the slope thereafter, with subsequent kings either exiled or turned into virtual prisoners by way of putting them under strict surveillance at all times. There is one more theatric the Kunwar usurpers would resort to. In their bid to rise above the other co-class Chhetris, and also to add some exotic flavour to their pretense, they decide to embellish themselves with the grand title of Rana. Having accomplished this, the Ranas are now at par with the Shah Kings on the count of the title. Rana becomes the new buzz word in Nepal and, donning this title, begins to rule the central Himalayan nation with the proverbial iron fist. Running Down Ranarchy The Ranas like all usurpers in history chose their only option to consolidate their rule. So instead of ruling by honour, they decide to rule by terror. But, with the passage of time, the title debunks into an embodiment of evil of the worst kind. Over the decades, with their wielding of absolute power in the most brazen manner, Ranarchy would evoke such intense hatred in the hearts and minds of their impoverished countrymen and women that they decide to prepare for an armed revolution against the Ranas in a most assiduous manner. To give definite shape and solemnity to the idea of an armed revolution, a meeting of the Nepalese compatriots is convened in Calcutta on the 20th of May, 1948. At the political level, this meeting is facilitated by Nepali Rastriya Congress, and is held in the office of one Puran Singh Khawas, who also chairs it. One important thing that emerges out of this meeting is that everyone present here unequivocally agrees on one proposal: to raise a fighting force to seek to put an end to the more than 100 years of the repressive Rana Rule in Nepal. Planning a Revolution A number of Nepalese compatriots, who are motivated by their intense patriotism and a deep sense of sacrifice for the cause of the motherland, attend the meeting. Major Dilman Singh Thapa-Magar, Captain Man Bahadur Rai, Buddha Singh Gurung, Rup Narayan Pradhan, Birjung Ghale and Ram Prasad Thapa come all the way from Amritsar and Vaksu. Likewise, Gyan Bahadur Yakthumba, CB Rai, Dil Bahadur Rai, Babu Lal Moktan, Nirmal Lama, Donald Grangden, Shyam Kumar Tamang, Narendra Lama, Ram Singh Nepali, Dik Bahadur Tamang, Harsha Vardhan Lama, and Lok Bahadur Rana-Magar make it to the meeting from as varied a place as Siliguri, Kurseong, Darjeeling, Guwahati, and Shillong. Those who attend the meeting from Calcutta are Dil Bahadur Chhetri, Dan Bahadur Chhetri and Chhabilal Nepali, who originally hailed from Syangja in central Nepal. This historically significant meeting unanimously adopts resolution for raising an armed force of able bodied men to take on the might of the Ranas and their National Army. After a daylong deliberation on the various aspects of the force, Gyan Bahadur Yakthumba, a former lieutenant in the 4th Gorkha Regiment of the British Army, proposes that the force be called Janamukti Sena or Peoples Liberation Force. Since the name seems appropriate enough, everyone present in the meeting agrees to it. After this moment in time it so happens that the person of Gyan Bahadur Yakthumba, a man of extraordinary courage and vision, and Janamukti Sena becomes synonyms of each other. However, the path that lay ahead of the two Yakthumba and the Sena as well as for others involved in the mission, is not at all easy to tread upon. The way to a decisive revolution was going to be fraught with dangers and difficulties. Nobody with a sane mind could ever imagine that it was going to be easy dislodging the well-entrenched Ranas who have been ruling Nepal with impunity for a little over a century from their seat of absolute power. Members of the yet to be raised Janamukti Sena hold their first meeting in Puran Singhs office on the 25th of May, 1948. Several strategies are discussed in the meeting including the one on how to kick-start their avowed mission. After spending much time in rumination, members decide on travelling to various parts of Nepal incognito in order to study the terrain as well as to collect information on the current situation in the country. They would then return to Calcutta by the last week of June and, after carefully analysing the ground situation in Nepal, begin outlining their plan of action. Acting upon this decision Gyan Bahadur Yakthumba, accompanied by C. B. Rai, makes a clandestine visit to Kathmandu, the citadel city of the Ranas. At the same time, in Kathmandu, one Badri Bikram Thapa is engaged in a covert operation aimed at preparing and strengthening the ground for the impending revolution while employed as a teacher with the National Army. Widely known as Master Saheb, Badris official function is to impart education to the soldiers of the Rana regime. This job provided Badri a unique opportunity otherwise denied to other civilians. He was able to enter the army barracks with ease and could move around freely. Endowed with refined qualities and a pleasant personality, the soft spoken Badri could make friends easily. Thus, he combines his easy access to the soldiers and their officers and the affable charm of his personality to the hilt for his covert operations. With admirable skill he had been identifying and marking on those soldiers who could be sympathetic to the cause of their beleaguered nation, motivating them to the idea of a revolution that was brewing up against the Rana Rule. With help from this courageous crusader, Yakthumba is successful in taking one Chitra Bahadur Tamang, a junior officer in the army, into his confidence. With the help of Chitra Bahadur, Yakthumba prepares maps of all the military hotspots in Kathmandu, identifies important and influential personnel in the National Army, and makes a number of reliable confidants in the Valley. There were any numbers of people in Kathmandu who despised the Ranas and wanted them vanquished. Many of them had clandestinely come together to work for destabilising the Rana regime. Later on, this group of activists is converted into a regular body of intelligence network system of the Janamukti Sena. Named Intelligence Network, it functions quite effectively prior to, during, and after the armed revolution of 195051. Before returning to Calcutta, Yakthumba manages to procure a safe house for one Jamuna Rai, another pro-revolution activist, who is working in tandem with Badri Bikram Thapa. Later on, Jamuna Rai would regularly collect information on the Rana regime as well as political activities in the Valley, and send them to the Commanders of the Janamukti Sena. Formation of Janamukti Sena In the last week of June, 1948, when everyone who had gone on to the reconnaissance tour of Nepal arrives, a meeting of the Janamukti Sena is convened in Puran Singhs office. The core agenda of this meeting is to constitute an Executive Committee which would be responsible for planning and directing the armed revolution against the Ranas. Puran Singh Khawas is elected President of the Executive Committee whereas Gyan Bahadur Yakthumba and Dilman Singh Thapa-Magar are elected the two Vice-Presidents. At the operational level, however, the entire responsibility of raising the Janamukti Sena is assigned to Gyan Bahadur Yakthumba, who is to be assisted by C. B. Rai. Intent upon expediting the work of raising a force from scrap and, eventually, launching a nationwide armed revolution in the near future, Yakthumba begins his work in the North Bengal town of Siliguri in the district of Darjeeling. His first requirement entails establishing a camp where recruits could be trained. Such a camp is soon established in Burma Busty in Siliguri. As soon as the news pertaining to the formation of Janamukti Sena and its recruitment process spreads, volunteers start pouring into the camp in a steady stream. Selection is made primarily on the basis of patriotic fervour and the ability to fight. Former and serving army personnel with experience in the Second World War are particularly favoured. After the initial recruitment process is complete, regular training session commences in right earnest at the makeshift camp at Burma Busty. Recruits are made to get used to the daily grind of physical exercises, parades and training in weapons that would turn them into lethal combatants. The day for the trainees began, as well as ended, with a prayer to the goddess Durga, the epitome of shakti or power. Yakthumba and some of the trainers at the camp happen to be experienced World War II veterans. Still others are those ex-servicemen who had been trained in the art of guerrilla warfare by the British Army, as also by the Japanese Army once they had joined Netaji Subash Chandra Boses Azad Hind Fauj as volunteers. Under the capable leadership of such battle-hardened war veterans, the structure of the Janamukti Sena soon begins to emerge with heartening results. Most of the recruits are from far-flung rural areas in Nepal. Although bursting with enthusiasm, most of them are young farmers with little or no education at all. It was, therefore, not an easy job to mould these simple and regular folks from the countryside into dreaded guerrilla fighters who would then take on the professional army of the Rana regime. Therefore, apart from training in arms, they were also to be psychologically fortified for a series of hard battles ahead that was sure to turn nasty. It was even more certain that many of the young men would be losing their lives in the process! Freedom from the oppressive Rana rule was going to cost them much blood, tears and, for those unlucky ones, their lives too. Such being the ominous scenario for the imminent future of the recruits, a team of ten experienced and dedicated trainers, including Gyan Bahadur Yakthumba, start slugging it out in the Burma Busty camp with utmost solemnity. Along with training the recruits in the art of war, it is also in the curriculum of the trainers to impart lessons on the code of military conduct, discipline, holding of appropriate moral attitude, and to drench them with patriotic fervour for their motherland that was presently under shackles. Responsibility for the preparation and launching of the revolution chiefly rests on the shoulder of Gyan Bahadur Yakthumba. And, such is the pressure and gravity of the monumental task entrusted upon him that Yakthumba, otherwise a perennial optimist and a skillful organiser deft at handling adverse situations, would occasionally drift into deep and prolonged contemplation. While training of the recruits is going on smoothly, an unanticipated crisis slowly begins to brew in the Burma Busty camp. This crisis soon engulfs Yakthumba as well as the other trainers. For days they struggle to iron out the problem. It had so happened that, as a huge response to the formation of the Janamukti Sena, an avalanche of volunteers eager on joining the ranks start pouring into the camp on daily basis. First it is just a trickle, but it rapidly turns into a torrent! Soon enough the provisional camp at Burma Busty becomes saturated with cadets. It can no longer accommodate the increasing number of the recruits. Eventually, after days of deliberations and consultations, the camp is shifted to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh and then to Allahabad. But, after sometime, the camp is shifted to Lucknow, where it is divided into three sub-camps due to administrative compulsions. Training of the recruits goes on smoothly for a longer period of time in Lucknow. However, due to the ever-increasing number of cadets, it soon becomes apparent that they are in need of a much bigger and wider space. Thus, the camp is finally shifted to a place called Leheriasarai in Bihars Darbhanga district. Hereafter, training of the men goes on without any discernible hitch. Political Realignment About two years later, in the opening months of the year 1950, negotiations for the merger of Nepali Rastriya Congress, led by B. P. Koirala, and Nepal Democratic Congress, led by Mahendra Bikram Shah, commences in right earnest. The March 19th issue of The Hindu carries a joint statement of the Presidents of the two parties, which in part reads: Both the organisations have decided that the country should be prepared for a fight to the finish against an autocracy that has no parallel in ruthlessness. On the 9th of April, 1950, Nepali Rastriya Congress and Nepal Democratic Congress, both operating from Indian soil, formally merge to form Nepali Congress. Under the fresh beacon of this refurbished political alignment in Nepalese politics, activities of the Janamukti Sena begin to move at a faster pace. This change in momentum brings the Sena ever more close to its objective of launching an armed revolution in the country to oust the despicable Ranarchy. However, there is yet another daring undercover drama that would be enacted in Kathmandu before anyone is able to pull the first trigger. There is no margin for error whatsoever in the execution of this act. This drama takes some months to unfold but, when it does, it releases such violent tremors on the superstructure of the century old oligarchic Ranarchy that they increasingly find it hard to handle the resultant crises meaningfully. The Royal Picnic On the 5th of November, 1950, King Tribhuwan Bir Bikram Shah Dev, reduced to the status of a house prisoner by the Rana administration, seeks and gets permission from the Prime Minister, Mohan Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, to go on a family picnic and leopard hunting expedition at the Nagarjuna Grove in the northern mountains. The date for the royal picnic is immediately set for the next day. On the 6th of November, at 10 Oclock, accompanied by his family members, except for the three-year-old grandson Gyanendra, Tribhuwan moves out of the Narayanhiti Palace in a convoy of five cars led by his beige Mercury. The cars are driven by the King and the princes themselves, who are accompanied by one Rana officer in each. The royal cavalcade slowly saunters through the courtyard but as soon as it rolls out of the imposing palace gate, it suddenly accelerates as if the royal party is eager to reach the northern mountains rather quickly. However, as Tribhuwans car approaches Sital Niwas, the Indian Embassy, which happens to be en route to the Nagarjuna Grove, and even before the Rana officers accompanying them are able to gather their wits, the King suddenly swerves his vehicle towards the embassy gate and enters its compound followed by other cars in equal haste. A Sikh sentry opens the door of the Mercury, and out steps the King in khaki Jodhpuri and grey scarf. Colonel I. C. Katoch, the Indian Military Attache, receives the King with a warm handshake, and informs him that the Ambassador, Sir Chandreswar Prasad Narayan Singh, is waiting for them inside the embassy. In the meantime, the Rana officers accompanying Tribhuwans entourage hasten back to Singha Durbar to report the Kings taking of refuge in the Indian Embassy. Pretty soon, leading a contingent of the National Army, General Bijaya Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, son of the Prime Minister, arrives at the embassy gate and forthwith demands that the King and the members of his family be handed over to him. But King Tribhuwan and the members of the royal family are safely ensconced in the sovereign territory of India. Late that afternoon, All India Radio breaks the news that the King of Nepal, along with his family members, has sought asylum in the Indian Embassy at Kathmandu. The next day, a Council of the Elders of the Rana regime promptly deposes King Tribhuwan, and announces the enthronement of the three-year-old Gyanendra, the younger grandson of the King, whom he had deliberately left behind. Obviously, Tribhuwan didnt want to leave his kingdom without a member of his family at its head. However, the Government of India firmly refuses to recognise Gyanendra as the new Head of the Kingdom of Nepal. Among a plethora of reasons for the Kings dangerously desperate move, there was one particular case on which the Rana regime had been pressurising Tribhuwan to submit to its wishes. Sometime back, the Nepali Congress had hatched a daring plot to eliminate the top brass of the Rana hierarchy at the place where they customarily assembled for celebrating the ancient Newari festival of Indrajatra. But the Rana administration had sniffed off the design and had squarely busted the plan. A number of Congressmen and the members of Janamukti Sena had been arrested. The Hari Shumsher Commission, which had been constituted to investigate the treason plot, had promptly recommended capital punishment for twenty-three of those arrested, including Ganeshman Singh and Major Dilman Singh Thapa-Mangar. The Ranarchy now wanted the King to give his assent, which would send the condemned men to the gallows. King Tribhuwan knew that those sentenced were patriots who wanted to put an end to the rule of the oligarchic Ranarchy that had become absolutely overbearing. However, he himself being under constant surveillance and severe restrictions, Tribhuwan had not much of a choice. He had, therefore, decided to seek asylum in the Indian Embassy rather than give his assent to the execution of the nationalists. To carry out his secret plan, the king takes into confidence the German physician Erika Leuchtag who had been invited a year ago from Shimla by the Prime Minister Mohan Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana to look after and take care of the health, especially of the two Queens of King Tribhuwan. Erika soon becomes aware of Tribhuwans sordid situation, and readily agrees to act as a catalyst between the subsequent Indian Ambassadors Sir Chandreswar Prasad Narayan Singh and Surjit Singh Majithia and the King. The kind of consummate ease Tribhuwan makes good his and his familys flight reflects on how effectively Erika had measured up to the confidence of the beleaguered monarch. On the 10th of November, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru sends an Indian Air Force plane to fetch the royal family to New Delhi, where the King is received with full state honours. With the King out of harms way, the turf is now clear for Nepali Congress and other allied organisations to launch a nationwide armed revolution and peasants uprising to root out the century-old Ranarchy. Armed Revolution of 2007 BS The much-awaited and eagerly anticipated date in history was finally at hand. Launching of the armed revolution of 2007 Bikram Samvat (BS), corresponding to 195051 AD, was imminent. Things could no longer be postponed. The inevitable had to begin! As the clock struck eleven on the night of the 11th of November, 1950, the armed revolution, as well as peasants uprising against the Rana regime was to commence throughout Nepal. The Nepali Congress had been successful in raising a reliable fighting force in the name and style of Janamukti Sena. Now the time had come to severely test its mettle. Meanwhile, Puran Singh Khawas had been made Chief Commander of this force. In the process of deploying the Sena to different locations, the Koirala brothers Bisheswar Prasad and Matrika Prasad were assigned command of the Sena in Biratnagar, while Gyan Bahadur Yakthumba, Thirbhum Malla, and Buddha Singh Gurung were to jointly lead in Birgunj. Dr. K. I. Singh was to direct the Sena in Bhairawa. Other Commanders were likewise deputed across the nation to launch the revolution. The contingent of Janamukti Sena that had been assigned the Birgunj campaign had a risky job at hand. The National Army and the extended members of the Rana clan and their henchmen regularly frequented the rough patched highway between Kathmandu and Birgunj, which also snaked through Purwanipur, Amlekhgunj and Bhimphedi. This highway was also used for going into the different parts of the country and also for going to India. Thus, as Birgunj was well connected with roads, this connectivity was liable to become disadvantageous to the freedom fighters if the battle was to prolong beyond a reasonable span of time. In such a case, there was every possibility of more units of the National Army pouring into the scene and jeopardising the Senas overall plan. It was, therefore, utterly important to win the opening battle at Birgunj in a blaze of a lightning strike. (NOTE: All References are given at the end of this two-part serialized narrative, to be concluded next week) Media reports regarding the conflict that occurred during a telephone conversation between the Presidents of the United States and Ukraine, Joseph Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky, are unreliable, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stressed. "The conversation between the presidents yesterday was lengthy, frank and constructive. All key positions on the part of the United States regarding the inadmissibility of any agreements behind Ukraine's back and support for Ukraine with concrete assistance have been confirmed. The media reports regarding the tension and some kind of conflict that occurred yesterday are unreliable," Kuleba said during the "hour of questions to the government" in the Verkhovna Rada on Friday. Earlier, a CNN correspondent, citing a senior Ukrainian official, reported on Twitter that Biden, in a conversation with Zelensky, said that the Russian invasion is now almost certain to happen as soon as the earth freezes over. According to him, the U.S. president also warned that Kyiv could be looted as Russian troops would try to occupy it. In addition, according to the correspondent's source, Biden said that Ukraine would not receive significantly more military assistance. As reported, a telephone conversation between the presidents of the United States and Ukraine took place on Thursday, it lasted almost an hour and a half. Almost 600 foreign guests will arrive at the NATO PA session in Kyiv in May, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk has said. "Up to 600 foreign guests are expected to arrive. The NATO PA session will consist of a plenary session, committee meetings, protocol events, study visits," Stefanchuk said at a meeting of the organizing committee to arrange and hold the spring session of the NATO PA on May 27 to May 30, 2022. According to the parliament's website, the Verkhovna Rada chairman said that issues related to the organization of the event would require the involvement of the Cabinet of Ministers, the President's Office of Ukraine, some ministries and departments. The meeting participants approved the composition of the working group for the preparation and holding of the NATO PA session (subject to possible additions), the places and dates of meetings and side events within the NATO PA spring session. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky says that Ukraine, in view of the threat from Russia, should receive a clear answer in the near future on the prospects for membership in the North Atlantic Alliance. "We want specifics, we need to have something that we can count on... Well, give us the reasons. Okay, we are not in NATO - okay, tell us that we are not in NATO. Tell it openly: we will never be there... Why do we need to talk about the future? We have risks here, in our present," Zelensky said at a briefing with representatives of foreign media in Kyiv on Friday, answering a question of what Ukraine needs from the United States and what Ukraine does not receive in order to contain and resist Russia. According to him, the issue of joining NATO can be used as preventive sanctions against Russia. "If we take the global issue facing us, the protection of human life, then we raise the issue of NATO ... Of course, security guarantees: the desire is not that if there is a war, the armies of other countries will protect us - no, we believe that this is also there are preventive sanctions What is NATO, what is it, war? These are sanctions. You say that we need to find some preventive sanctions NATO is one of those sanctions. Or, if it is not NATO, please show security guarantees," the President of Ukraine said. "When we will be in NATO now does not depend on Ukraine, unfortunately," Zelensky said. Another plane with 81 tonnes of ammunition from USA arrived in Ukraine The fourth aircraft delivered a batch of ammunition to Ukraine as part of military-technical assistance from the United States, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said. "This time, the fourth bird delivered 81 tonnes of ammunition of various calibers to Ukraine. Next week we are waiting next US planes with military-technical assistance to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities," Reznikov said on Twitter on Friday evening. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met with a bipartisan delegation of the U.S. Congress led by Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives Gregory Meeks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA) press service said. "The key topic of the talks was the implementation by Ukraine, the United States and European partners of a comprehensive package to deter Russia from further aggression. The interlocutors discussed the strengthening of the international coalition in support of Ukraine, a package of tough sanctions against the Kremlin, deepening the security of interaction with Ukraine, support by the United States and partners for the stability of the economy and financial system of Ukraine amid economic challenges of Russian escalation," the MFA said in the statement. Kuleba said that the only way Russia can prove that it has no intentions to start a new military operation against Ukraine is to continue diplomatic negotiations within the established formats. He also said that Ukraine is committed to the political and diplomatic settlement of the armed conflict. At the same time, the minister said that the end of Russian aggression against Ukraine will be not only the de-escalation of the current tension by Russia, but the complete return of the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia, territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions and Crimea by political and diplomatic means. In addition, Kuleba said the unity of the international community with Ukraine today is of key importance for maintaining and protecting peace, justice and security throughout the Euro-Atlantic space. "Ukraine has reliable bipartisan support from the United States amid the aggressive actions of Russia. We are grateful for this longstanding and unanimous position of both parties of the U.S. Congress," the minister said. The members of the delegation reaffirmed the unanimous support of the United States for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their state, the readiness of the United States to strengthen the security of Ukraine and promote the stability of the Ukrainian economic and financial system through concrete actions. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on other countries to initiate defense cooperation in formats alternative to NATO. "I do not want to talk about NATO in every answer, but we do not hear about other security alliances. If certain states are ready to offer Ukraine an alliance for security, defense or in some other format, in providing real, powerful assistance, in any very difficult moment, then we are ready for such agreements," Zelensky said at a briefing with representatives of foreign media on Friday. He said these issues are being worked out and they are very important. At the same time, the president said that if there is a war, the army of no country will defend Ukraine, but this does not mean that this war will not affect NATO member countries. "This is very scary for NATO, because if Ukraine is taken into NATO, then if something happens later, it will need to be defended. And these are very serious challenges for NATO... But if there is a full-scale war, which we are talking about now, and it starts, then it will be on the borders of some NATO countries. It will definitely be. And there may be provocations, because some of these countries were once also republics of the Soviet Union," Zelensky said. Sisi urged developing these roads, as well as the southern sector, so that they become lifelines that better integrate these huge national projects with the rest of the country Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi urged on Friday developing the roads and highways of Egypts North Coast to cope with the traffic and commercial movements that are expected to rise due to the comprehensive development in the area. The president inspected existing road development projects along the North Coast, the presidencys spokesman Bassam Radi said in a statement. El-Sisis inspection tour included new roads on the North Coast and the highways to link the area with the Cairo and delta governorates and cities, Radi noted. El-Sisi urged developing these roads, as well as the southern sector, so that they become lifelines that better integrate these huge national projects with the rest of the country, the spokesman said. The national projects underway include the New Delt project for agricultural production, the New Alamein city, the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, the El-Alamein International Airport, Ras El-Hekma city and the tourist resorts extending to Matrouh Governorate. The road projects El-Sisi inspected includes 160 kilometres of the Cairo-Alexandria desert road, which are being expanded to eight lanes in each direction, and development along the Al-Dabaa Corridor extending over 260 kilometres, also encompassing eight lanes per direction. The projects also include upgrading the International Coastal Road leading to the Alamein airport and developing 130 kilometres of the Wadi El-Natrun-Alamein Road, also encompassing eight lanes per direction. Search Keywords: Short link: The United Nations says food distribution in Ethiopia's blockaded Tigray region has reached its 'all-time lowest' while more than 50,000 children are thought to be severely malnourished, the latest sign of growing crisis amid efforts to end the country's 14-month war. Thursday's update by the U.N. humanitarian agency says food aid stocks and fuel are ``almost entirely exhausted'' in the Tigray region of some 6 million people, where a government blockade was imposed in late June 2021 in an attempt to keep supplies from reaching Tigray forces battling Ethiopian and allied troops. Conditions under the blockade have become so dire that the International Committee of the Red Cross in a statement this week said some doctors in Tigray are now using salt to clean wounds, handing out expired medications and reusing single-use items such as chest drains and gloves. The war also has affected Ethiopia's neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar, where rebuilding has begun after Tigray forces retreated back into their region in late December under a drone-supported military offensive. The U.N. update says more than a half-million people in Amhara received food assistance during the week ending Jan. 12. During that time, food aid reached only about 10,000 people in Tigray, the U.N. said. The recent shift in the war was seen as an opening for further mediation efforts and new U.S. special envoy David Satterfield was in Ethiopia on Thursday to meet with senior officials. On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after a call with the African Union envoy leading mediation efforts said he was delighted to hear ``there is now a demonstrable effort to make peace'' in Ethiopia, but neither he nor envoy Olusegun Obasanjo's spokesman gave details. Fighting continues. Several drone strikes have killed scores of civilians in Tigray in recent weeks. The combatants also include soldiers from neighboring Eritrea who are allied with Ethiopian forces and blamed by witnesses for some of the worst atrocities in the war, as well as fighters from Amhara who now occupy western Tigray. In light of Eritrea's involvement, ``any possibility of ending the war through a negotiated settlement goes directly through Asmara,'' Eritrea's capital, the leader of the Tigray forces, Debretsion Gebremichael, wrote Thursday in The Africa Report. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt is witnessing a record rise in infections with the Omicron variant of Covid-19, though the risk of serious illness or hospitalisation is far lower. There is almost no home now that doesnt have at least one case of Omicron, Mahmoud, whose parents have recently contracted the Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus, told Al-Ahram Weekly, adding that the low severity of the symptoms was making people less cautious and dealing with it as a common cold. People are now less scared of the coronavirus, letting their guards down and abandoning many precautionary measures, said Tamer Fikri, a physician. A lot of people infected with the Omicron variant go about their daily activities, go out and mingle with others, and claim that their mild symptoms are seasonal flu and thus spread the virus, he added. According to the Health Ministry, the symptoms of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 include a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and a sore throat. It has recently updated its health advice by urging those who suffer from common cold symptoms to consider that they may have contracted Covid-19 and should therefore self-isolate and avoid sharing personal items with family members so that they can avoid developing symptoms and passing the infection to others. Presidential adviser for health affairs Mohamed Awad Tageddin said last week that the highly infectious Omicron variant is now responsible for the vast majority of cases. Due to the spread of the Omicron variant, Egypt has been seeing a hike in daily infections that on Tuesday exceeded the record rates of summer 2020. The country reported 1,809 new cases on Tuesday. The global average daily infection rate of the Omicron variant is three million cases, a number that is three times that for the Delta variant. These numbers mean that Omicron is much more widely spread than Delta, but less severe [in symptoms and illness], Islam Anan, a pharmacoepidemiology and pharma-economics lecturer at Ain Shams University in Cairo, said. When the coronavirus emerged, we used to say that one person could infect up to three people. With the Delta variant, a patient could infect six or seven people, but now with Omicron a patient can infect three times the number of those with Delta, he noted. Any virus tries to maintain its survival, and that is why it mutates to become more prevalent. In this process, it often becomes less severe, Anan said. Thus, this is the beginning of the end to the coronavirus, he added, predicting that in 2022 Covid-19 will become like any other seasonal virus treated with an annual vaccine. Unlike with Delta, we now have [various types of] vaccines and more vaccinated people and anti-viral drugs for the coronavirus. Moreover, because of Omicrons rapid spread, a large number of people have been infected in a short time, and this is a contributing factor in achieving relative herd immunity in the community, Anan said. On Monday, the Health Ministry announced that Egypt was the first country in Africa and the Middle East and the fourth globally to provide the anti-coronavirus drug Molnupiravir after the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) issued an emergency use authorisation for Mercks Covid-19 drug and allowed five national companies to manufacture the oral antiviral in a first stage. The local companies have already manufactured 25,000 Molnupiravir packages that are ready for use, head of the EDA Tamer Essam said in a Health Ministry statement, adding that Egypt has enough raw material to manufacture an additional 150,000 packages. Molnupiravir, which has been included in treatment protocols and will only be allowed for hospital use, has obtained emergency use authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). It consists of capsules to be taken orally to treat the coronavirus that can decrease hospitalisations and deaths by half for patients suffering from mild to moderate illness. Egypt is also expected to receive AstraZenecas Evusheld coronavirus antibody treatment for the treatment of 50,000 patients, and Pfizers Paxlovid pills required for the treatment of 20,000 coronavirus patients by the end of the month, said Health Ministry Spokesperson Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar. While Paxlovid and Molnupiravir are both used to treat cases with mild-to-moderate symptoms during the early days of infection, Evusheld is meant to prevent coronavirus infections. Egypt tops Africa in coronavirus vaccine stock, including almost all the available vaccines worldwide the Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac, the British-Swedish AstraZeneca, the Russian Sputnik V, and the US-made Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Egypt has obtained over 134 million vaccine doses and had administered up until Monday this week 36.9 million vaccine shots as first doses and 25 million as second doses, in addition to 564,000 booster shots, according to the Health Ministry. The rate of hospital admissions, according to the latest studies in the US and Britain, is 50 per cent lower than for the previous wave, said Anan. This is good, but we still have to be careful because even though Omicron is less ferocious, it still causes deaths and hospitalisations, he said, stressing the importance of adhering to precautionary measures. Anan believes that the current peak of infections will continue until the first week of February and then the infection curve will gradually reduce in March. Amid the increase in daily coronavirus infections, Egypt has recently updated its plans to contain the spread of Omicron by implementing new coronavirus-related restrictions at airports, seaports, and land crossings. Starting on 22 January, Egyptian and foreign travellers arriving in Egypt, except children below the age of 12, are required to hold certificates of World Health Organisation-approved or EDA-approved coronavirus vaccination, either the single-dose vaccine or the last dose of a two-shot vaccine at least 14 days before arrival. If travellers are not vaccinated, they must present the negative results of coronavirus tests the PCR test, the Antigen rapid test or the ID NOW test issued within 72 hours of arrival. Egypt will not accept ID NOW tests from travellers coming from South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Eswatini, the acting health minister said on Friday. Travellers whose coronavirus tests or vaccine certificates do not conform to established standards will have to take Antigen rapid tests at the airport. If the test is positive, they will have to self-quarantine at their hotel or residence for five days. On the sixth day, they will undergo a PCR test and will be allowed to end the quarantine if they test negative and show no symptoms of illness. Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli recently stressed the importance of not allowing any person who is unvaccinated to enter government facilities in Egypt in a reminder to people to get the vaccine and contain the outbreak. Egypt has not only made vaccination mandatory for those above 18 years old and is now vaccinating 12 to 18-year-olds as well as offering booster shots to those who are double vaccinated, but it is also studying lowering the age of vaccination for children from five to 12 years old, according to the Health Ministry spokesperson. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: President Al-Sisi directs the Ministry of Education and Technical Education to appoint 30,000 teachers annually for the next five years to fill a shortage gap. As Egypt suffers a real deficiency in the number of school teachers, especially those of primary schools, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi last week instructed the Ministry of Education and Technical Education to appoint 30,000 teachers annually for five consecutive years. The problem of a teachers shortage in K12 education years surfaced at the beginning of the current school year in early October when Minister of Education Tarek Shawki asked for volunteers for LE20 an hour to fill in the gap resulting from the ministrys limited resources. Al-Sisi instructed the government to provide LE3.1 billion as additional incentives for teachers. The new teachers will be appointed through a competition, according to Mahmoud Hassouna, spokesman of the Ministry of Education and Technical Education. When the ministry finishes preparing and defining the technical and educational qualifications for choosing teachers, an official announcement on the contest will be made. Defining these qualifications is being worked on in coordination with the Central Agency for Organisation and Administration, Hassouna said. The results of the contest will be announced within two months and teachers will be chosen mainly from among graduates of the faculties of education, those who hold a diploma in education, and those who have previously served as part-time teachers, explained Hassouna. Fulfilling the needs of teachers for the schools, part of the Decent Life initiative, will be included in the competition, Hassouna said, adding that the contest will be public and open to all. Abdel-Raouf Allam, chairman of the Supreme Council of Education Trustees, praised President Al-Sisis directives, saying the shortage in the number of teachers ranges from between 200,000-300,000. By appointing 30,000 teachers annually for five years means a total of 150,000 teachers. This would help in developing the education sector, Allam said. According to Allam, the shortage of teachers had reached a stage where it was necessary to come up with complete and radical solutions. The new appointments reveal the governments high awareness of the problems which the education system is suffering from, Allam added. Educational expert and professor at Ain Shams University Mohamed Fathallah noted that according to the Egyptian constitution the government should allocate six per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to developing the education sector, four per cent for pre-university education and two per cent for higher education. But the government has allocated only 2.4 per cent to the entire educational system. This year the government has allocated LE56 billion for school education. Most of the money goes to salaries with very little invested in new schools and training teachers. According to Fathallah, the country needs at least 30,000 more classrooms. Figures from the Information Systems and Decision-Making Support Centre put the overall number of schools in Egypt at 57,749, with 518,553 classrooms for 24,403,924 students. There are currently one million teachers. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: The conflict in Ukraine is part of a renewed Western-Russian geopolitical rivalry, but it also has huge implications for the Arab world. As the rhetoric between the US and Russia over Ukraine grows more bellicose amid warnings that Russian President Vladimir Putin could at any point send tanks rumbling into the country, attention has been focused on Europe since the continent is spiralling towards its worst security crisis in decades. But in the Arab world the crisis is also raising questions about what the Arab regimes and public think of the current tensions, especially if they escalate into a fully-fledged war. Whether because of competition between rival global powers or its proximity to the Middle East, a war in Eastern Europe would have far-reaching consequences for the region and the Arab worlds security order. For many analysts, the situation in Ukraine is bad, and war is increasingly becoming a possibility. The grim assessment comes as Russia continues to send troops to Ukraines eastern border and neighbouring Belarus and the US and its Western allies are upping weapon supplies to Ukraine. US President Joe Biden last week triggered the alarm by saying that he expected Putin to order his troops into Ukraine. Biden warned that any movement of Russian units across the Ukrainian border would be taken as an invasion. For now, the US and Russia have agreed to keep diplomacy alive in their standoff over Ukraine, even as both sides continue to raise the military stakes on the ground and step up the rhetoric. The escalation has attracted global attention with most of the concern centred around Europe and its security. Little attention has been given to the costs that could be paid by other parts of the world if there is an uptick in military activities and possibly a war. One of these vital areas is the Arab world, where the rising tensions have ignited little debate as to whether the region risks becoming embroiled in a terrible quagmire in case of a flare-up in Eastern Europe. In the larger Middle East arena, Iran, Israel, and Turkey are facing similar consequences, and the three countries seem to be trying to figure out what the crisis could mean for their strategic choices. History could be useful in understanding these implications, since the Middle East suffered tremendously from the geopolitical rivalries of the major powers during the 20th century, particularly during the two world wars when the consequences for the Arab region were dire. More than a century after the end of World War I, its impact still echoes across the region both militarily and geopolitically and reverberates in the Arab worlds politics. The experience of both wars in the Arab region was far-reaching, and their political, social, and economic effects were deep and devastating. The former Ottoman Empire, which included most of what is now the Arab world, joined Germany through a secret alliance before World War I. Its objective was to recover territories lost during the Russo-Turkish wars and to thwart attempts by the British-French alliance to seize its Arab provinces. The impact of the war is still exceptionally strong in the region and was demonstrated in the political arrangements entered into immediately afterwards that eventually led to the emergence of the modern Arab states as well as to the aborted birth of the state of Palestine. Many of the newly independent states attained their present borders as part of the post-war colonial arrangements between the victors, and that carve-up has continued to haunt the region. During World War II, the Middle East again became an active theatre for some of the major battles between the allied forces and the Rome-Berlin Axis because the allies thought the Germans might invade the region. The war witnessed a major shift in the major powers strategic orientations towards a region which had increasingly become vital to their national security and other political and economic interests. With the Axis defeated and the armies of the wartime allies no longer on the field, the Cold War started, and the former allies began openly to disagree about the design of the post-War map and their strategic global outreach. The Arab world found itself sandwiched between competing agendas and interests as the superpowers vied to expand their influence, spread their ideological preferences, and achieve long-term ambitions in the region. The Cold War may have had various goals, but in the Middle East the US and its Western allies had a fairly straightforward objective: to entrench their influence as the dominant external power in the region and to prevent or limit the influence of the former Soviet Union. This history helps the Arabs to understand how this violent past is responsible for the current turmoil in the Middle East and that the current crisis in Eastern Europe cannot be taken for granted. However, the Arab world seems to be sitting out the growing crisis between the US and Russia, leaving the conflict to solve itself and prevent a war on its doorstep. There are debates on social media, but little attention is being paid by governments or experts on what a war over Ukraine could mean for the Arab world and the regions choices. The Arab countries seem to be caught between a rock and a hard place on the US-Russian standoff, and their diplomacy is attempting to walk a fine line amid the complexities of the Middle Easts new geopolitics and foreign-policy challenges. No one knows how the Arab regimes will assess the risks to their countries and the possible implications if the negotiations fail and Russia invades Ukraine. While a full-scale invasion will have serious consequences on a region that is not far away from the theatre of operations, even a limited war will remain consequential. Apart from the military actions, the conflict could also play out in any number of ways, including so-called cyber-attacks, hacking, and disinformation campaigns that could signify a return to Cold War policies implicating the Arab world. With a strong military, political, and economic presence in many Arab countries, Russia enjoys extensive ties in a region where it presents itself as an alternative partner compared to the Western powers that have been the predominant external actors and security guarantors over the past century. While the Arab governments have so far been reluctant to respond to the Ukraine crisis publicly, apparently to safeguard their bilateral relations and economic interests with both parties, many in the Arab street have been more receptive towards Russia. This attitude does not express a realistic calculus or reflect favourably on Russia but rather indicates a tendency to review Washingtons Middle East policies negatively and a desire to see the US challenged by a rival superpower. The ambiguity in the official Arab position on the Ukraine crisis will certainly end if no diplomatic solution is found, in which case the Arabs will find themselves obliged to choose between the US and its Western allies and Russia. There is the question of how the Arab countries will react if the Western alliance imposes strict economic sanctions on Moscow, since Washington will expect these to be forcefully applied by its allies worldwide and they will have negative impacts on the Arab economies. The Arab countries should think about the broader consequences of the conflict and how it could affect their security and stability, not precluding the much-talked-about Putins quixotic quest to restore a Russian empire that could expand further south into the Mediterranean. Whether as a result of its naval strategy or its military outposts in Syria, its outreach in Libya, and its growing role in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East is becoming an integral part of Russias strategy for the wider theatre and its broader global ambitions. The conventional wisdom also dictates that the Arabs should also weigh up their options if the US and its allies get an edge over Russia in the crisis in the Balkans. The Arabs have always been divided on confronting challenges and safeguarding their common and national interests, but it is now time that they put aside their differences and took collective stands on the dangers posed by a looming international conflict on their doorstep. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Russia hit back Wednesday at US threats of direct sanctions against President Vladimir Putin, saying moves against the Russian leader would be ineffective and hurt efforts to lower tensions over Ukraine. Officials from France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine met for talks in Paris in the latest bid to ease a crisis sparked by fears that Moscow is preparing an invasion of its pro-Western neighbor. The West has warned Russia of severe consequences if it does invade, and on Tuesday, Washington said there could be sanctions personally targeting Putin. Reacting to the news, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the threats as worthless because senior Russian officials are barred from holding assets abroad. But such a move, he said, would do serious damage to diplomatic attempts to ease ratcheting tensions over Ukraine. "Politically, it's not painful, it's destructive," Peskov told reporters. The Kremlin has previously said any US sanctions personally targeting Putin would be akin to crossing a red line, warning the move could result in a rupture of bilateral ties. US President Joe Biden said Tuesday that any Russian military attack on Ukraine would trigger "enormous consequences" and could even "change the world". High-tech Export Sanctions Echoing Biden's message, a senior US official described potential economic sanctions "with massive consequences" that would go far beyond measures implemented in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea region. The official said new measures would include restrictions on exports of high-tech US equipment in the artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and aerospace sectors. Cutting Russia off from these technologies would hit Putin's "strategic ambitions to industrialize his economy quite hard", the official said. The speaker of Russia's lower house said Wednesday that Washington's threat against Putin showed the US "wants a loyal Russian president that it can control". "The United States is not happy that under President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Federation has become strong and independent," Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on social media. A senior Russian lawmaker meanwhile called on the Kremlin to arm pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine saying "the Kyiv regime must be stopped." Andrei Turchak, an official in Putin's United Russia party, said Russia "must provide" weapons to "deter military aggression clearly being prepared by Kyiv." During weeks of talks between Russian, US, and European diplomats, Western leaders have repeatedly warned of far-reaching economic measures against Moscow in the event of an attack. The talks in Paris Wednesday are bringing together one of Russia's deputy prime ministers and a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as diplomatic advisors to French President Emmanuel Macron and German leader Olaf Scholz. Negotiations so far have failed to ease tensions, though Washington and Moscow have agreed to keep talking. Russia To Take 'necessary measures' Russia has said it expects this week to receive written US responses to sweeping security demands Moscow made last year that seek to dramatically limit NATO's reach and capabilities in Eastern Europe and the ex-USSR. Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned in an address to lawmakers Wednesday that Moscow would take "all necessary measures" if it didn't receive constructive responses and if the West continued its "aggressive policy". A senior Western diplomat said later that NATO was close to finalizing its response, describing many of the Russian demands as "unacceptable or unrealistic". The diplomat, however, identified areas where NATO could "work on their concerns". Moscow has meanwhile announced a spate of military drills including in Belarus, and said Tuesday it would hold fresh exercises involving 6,000 troops near Ukraine and within the Crimea region. As part of separate naval exercises announced this month, Russian warships entered the Barents Sea on Wednesday, the North Fleet said in a statement. The West has accused Russia of massing some 100,000 troops along the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Wednesday that the number of Russian troops "is insufficient for a full-scale offensive" but does pose "a direct threat" to Ukraine. Fears of a Russian invasion follow on from Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and the capture by pro-Kremlin separatists of two self-proclaimed breakaway republics in Ukraine's east. More than 13,000 people have died in the fighting between government forces and the pro-Russian rebels. Search Keywords: Short link: Germany on Thursday vowed serious consequences for Russia if it invaded Ukraine, with sanctions expected to hit the disputed Nord Stream 2 pipeline built to bring Russian gas to Europe. "We are working on a strong package of sanctions" with Western allies, and it covers several aspects "including Nord Stream 2", Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told parliament. Nord Stream 2 is set to double supplies of cheap natural gas from Russia to Germany, which the EU's top economy says is needed to help transition away from coal and nuclear energy. Germany's insistence over the years on the 10-billion-euro ($12 billion) gas pipeline had angered allies, who fear it would increase Europe's dependence on Russian supplies. But with the drums of war getting louder, Germany's new Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on his first day in office, warned of consequences for the pipeline if Russia made a move on Ukraine. It was completed in September but Germany's energy regulator BNetzA has said the approval process for the pipeline is likely to drag into the second half of 2022. On Wednesday, Economy Minister Robert Habeck acknowledged that if sanctions had to be deployed against Russia, the German economy would also suffer. "If there are to be sanctions, there will be none that won't hit the German economy," he told a news conference. US President Joe Biden has said he would consider adding direct sanctions on Vladimir Putin to a raft of measures being drawn up. A senior US official has said that new sanctions would include restrictions on exports of high-tech US equipment in the artificial intelligence, quantum computing and aerospace sectors. Search Keywords: Short link: Kurdish-led forces in northeast Syria on Friday found the bodies of 18 fellow fighters inside a prison that the Islamic State group attacked last week, a war monitor reported. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces said Wednesday that they had recaptured the sprawling complex in the city of Hasakeh following a January 20 IS jailbreak attempt that sparked days of clashes inside the facility and in surrounding areas. But mop-up operations are still underway in the Gweiran prison where Kurdish forces say dozens of jihadists remain holed up. During a sweep on Friday, the SDF backed by Kurdish internal security forces "found the corpses of 18 fellow fighters killed by jihadists", the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The war monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria, also reported that an overnight airstrike near the jail, carried out by the US-led coalition battling IS, killed seven jihadists. The death toll since January 20 now stands at over 260, including around 180 IS jihadists, 73 members of Kurdish-led forces and seven civilians, according to the Observatory. The extremists that remain inside the facility have barricaded themselves in "cellars that are difficult to target with airstrikes or infiltrate on the ground", the Observatory said. Kurdish forces "are looking to starve jihadists into surrendering", said Observatory head Rami Abdul Rahman, adding that those holding out were diehard IS followers. An SDF official said around 60 IS fighters were holed up in a basement and a ground floor above it. "We believe there are no minors among them," he told AFP on the condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to comment on the issue. The jihadists have been given a deadline to surrender and if no progress is made they will be dealt with "firmly", he said, without specifying a time frame. The Gweiran jail assault was the most high-profile IS attack since the jihadists lost their "caliphate" nearly three years ago. According to the SDF, around 3,500 inmates and IS attackers have surrendered to its forces since the start of operations to recapture the prison. Search Keywords: Short link: Stakeholders in the conflict in Yemen are vying for strategic gains before talks take place on a possible political solution. Fighting escalated in Yemen this week in the aftermath of an attack claimed by Houthi forces on UAE capital Abu Dhabi on 17 January. The attack left three people dead and six wounded. The Saudi-led Arab Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen then intensified its air strikes on the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, targeting the port of Hodeida, the capital Sanaa, and the Houthi stronghold of Saada. Though the fighting has been heating up in the south of the country, driving the Houthi rebels out of Shabwa and the energy rich Marib province, the air strikes appeared to be in retaliation for the Houthi attack on the UAE. Forces loyal to Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansur Hadi have been suffering setbacks in trying to stop Houthi advances in Marib, and the forces of the UAE-supported Southern Transitional Council (STC) and the Amaleqa (Giants) Brigades led by Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, son of late Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, have been the main authors of military successes against the Houthis. Although the UAE withdrew its forces from Yemen in 2019, it has maintained its involvement in the coalition by supporting the Southern forces. Observers say that the Houthi attack on the UAE was a result of the battles in Shabwa and around Marib. The escalation is mainly an indication that the Houthi rebels are feeling the pain of their losses in Shabwa and Marib, Saudi commentator Abdel-Aziz Alkhames told Al-Ahram Weekly. It could be a last flare-up, leading to the rebels backtracking and accepting the Saudi and international initiatives to end the war and start a political process for a settlement in Yemen. Iran might also want this to happen, as it fears the collapse of the ongoing talks on a nuclear agreement in Vienna, Alkhames added. The escalation in the fighting could also suggest that strategic manoeuvering is taking place in order to determine ground positions as a negotiating card in any upcoming talks about a political solution in Yemen. While both the US and Saudi Arabia agree on a vision to end the war that would recognise the Houthis, the UAE wants to end the influence of the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood affiliate Al-Islah Party in Shabwa. The STC also wants to regain control of Shabwa, said Gulf expert and Oxford University academic Andrew Hammond. All parties agree on the need for talks, but the difference is about what comes first to start a political process: a ceasefire or ending the blockade of the Houthis, Hammond told the Weekly. The Houthis might accept the Saudi demand that a ceasefire precede lifting the blockade if they lose the conflict in Marib, he said. Military advances by Amaleqa and STC forces could make the Houthis more open to accepting peace initiatives. The escalation in the Yemen conflict coincides with the anticipated end of the eighth round of talks in the Austrian capital Vienna between Iran and the major powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. The previous deal faltered in 2018 when former US president Donald Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that was meant to curb Irans nuclear programme in exchange for lifting international sanctions on Tehran. The talks in Vienna focus on what sanctions will be lifted if Iran starts to recommit to the JCPOA and the US rejoins. There has been talk about an interim agreement to replace the JCPOA that might include provisions beyond Irans nuclear programme. The Arab Gulf countries have been raising concerns about Irans ballistic missile programme and its interference in the region through proxies like the Houthis in Yemen and Hizbullah in Lebanon. It is not clear how far the US will adopt the Gulf interests, but the Vienna talks are now entering a critical juncture. This might explain why the UAE said it reserved the right to respond to the attack on Abu Dhabi by the Houthi rebels and did not immediately retaliate. Professor at Exeter University in the UK and former BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus suggested this week that the Emirati response might come in the form of increasing its support for forces fighting the Houthis in Yemen. So how will the UAE now react? Stability is crucial to the states self-image One obvious response might be to step up support for its allies on the ground, Marcus wrote on the BBC website this week. While Iran remains a clear ally of the Houthis (and much of the weaponry used in these recent attacks may well be of Iranian origin), the fact remains that this is not a simple client-proxy relationship. The Houthis make their own strategic decisions, and it is unclear the extent to which this attack will be viewed positively in Tehran, he added. The next few weeks may be decisive in the Yemen conflict, as all the parties involved agree that there can be no military solution. A political settlement is the ultimate goal, and Houthi stubbornness in snubbing Saudi, UN, and US calls for talks used to be fuelled by the weakness of Hadi government forces. With the Southerners and Brigades now making advances on the ground, the Houthis might become less stubborn. The fighting in Yemen and the attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE might come to an end if the Houthis suffer more losses in the fighting around Marib. Some observers, including Hammond, say it will be a week or two before things become clearer. The US is keen to reach an outcome to the Vienna talks by the end of this month, and whatever that outcome is, it will be reflected in the Yemeni situation, with either the fighting heating up or there being a move towards a ceasefire and talks on a political settlement. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: In addition to domestic journalists, the CIO has inquired into the data of journalists from at least four foreign media outlets -- Asahi Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun, and the Nikkei, all based in Japan. In early January, the Japanese paper Mainichi Shimbun learned that the CIO collected information on three of its reporters based in Seoul, two of whom are Japanese nationals. "We're really concerned. When a government agency checks the phone records of journalists, freedom of speech is endangered," a Seoul correspondent at Mainichi said. "Finding out that the government is checking our activities is terrifying." "It's crucial for journalists to be able to protect their sources," said Jean H. Lee, a former Pyongyang bureau chief for the Associated Press and a senior fellow at the Wilson Center. "Ordering telecommunications companies to hand over phone logs should not be allowed or tolerated as a routine practice in a democratic society -- only as a part of a specific criminal investigation or national security issue." For many, the extent of the CIO's inquiry is worrying because of its allegedly "indiscriminate" scope, extending even to civilians and foreign correspondents. The news has sparked concerns about press freedom in Korea. It has also renewed scrutiny around a law that allows investigative agencies to access phone records without a warrant. Chung is one of over 120 journalists from over 22 media outlets who are known to have had their communication data queried by the agency, known as the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO). In recent weeks, a growing number of journalists, civilians, and politicians have learned that their phone records have been accessed by an investigative agency that was created last January to investigate corruption among high-ranking government officials. The surprise came when he learned that the agency had searched the phone records of not only journalists, but also some of their family members. "That's a whole different terrain," said Chung, who's been a journalist for over 18 years. "I've never seen this happen before." When TV Chosun journalist Chung Dong-kwon found out a state investigative agency had searched his phone records, he wasn't shocked. It is relatively common for investigative agencies such as the police and the prosecution to collect phone records of citizens in Korea without a warrant. So while Chung was somewhat startled, he knew that such an occurrence wasn't out of the question. Under Korea's relevant media laws, investigative agencies such as the CIO can demand users' phone records if the agency deems those records necessary for investigation, trials, sentencing, or national security. Upon request from an investigative agency, a telephone company must provide a user's name, resident registration number, address, mobile plan start date, and communication history. Communication history includes the phone numbers of incoming and outgoing calls. The investigative office is not required to receive a warrant or explain the nature of the investigation. When Mainichi asked the CIO why it searched its reporters' information, the CIO responded that it conducted the searches for the purpose of an investigation, not to monitor news gathering. The CIO did not specify the details of the investigation. "Just citing 'investigative exigencies' does not dispel concerns over threats to freedom of the press," a public relations official at Mainichi said in response. "We demand that the agency provide additional explanation about how and why it made the information request, and that it never commit similar acts in the future." Lee, the former AP bureau chief, also said she believes the CIO should be more transparent regarding the purpose of its queries. "I think the CIO owes journalists and the public a detailed explanation for the practice," she said. When a person's phone records are accessed, they do not automatically receive a notification. To find out whether one's records have been accessed, a person must submit a disclosure request to their telephone company. Upon a disclosure request, the company must tell the person which investigative agencies have checked their data within the past year and when. Because of this mechanism, a person does not know if their phone records were checked unless they proactively seek out the information. It is almost certain that there are more cases than have been reported thus far. According to a foreign correspondent for an American media company, the recent revelations have set off a flurry of other foreign correspondents checking to see if their own phone records have also been queried. Three members of the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club, which seeks to defend media rights, told Chosun Ilbo that SFCC leadership has sent out a notification about the recent events to its members. In the notification, the SFCC said that the CIO has collected the phone records of a number of SFCC members. The club also asked members to let the board know if they learn that the CIO has accessed their telephone records. In light of the CIO's failure to specify the details of its investigations, many journalists are left to wonder how they might be connected to potential CIO probes. "The CIO was created to monitor high-ranking officials," said a TV Chosun journalist whose communication history was checked by the CIO four times. "So my initial reaction was: Why me?" The CIO not only looked into her phone records, but also some of her family members'. Other journalists at TV Chosun and the newspaper Joongang Ilbo have also learned that the CIO looked into their family's phone records. The CIO checked the phone records of one TV Chosun journalist's mother, a housewife, and her younger sister, an office worker. "My mom and my sister are just ordinary citizens," she said. "My mom was really scared, and my sister was scared for me." Journalists at Joongang Ilbo have alleged that the CIO has been checking phone records to identify the sources of leaks to the media. On Jan. 9, Joongang Ilbo reported that the CIO checked a KakaoTalk chat room where over 70 of the paper's journalists and editors made editorial decisions. These allegations have raised concerns that the CIO's actions violate press freedom and will discourage whistleblowers from coming forward in the future. The CIO has claimed that its data requests were legitimate because the people whose phones they checked had phone conversations with people linked to its ongoing investigations. But according to the TV Chosun journalist, her family members are civilians and had no conversations with high-ranking officials. Because the CIO has checked even the phone records of journalists' family members, Chung and the TV Chosun journalist said they suspect that journalists themselves are the target of the investigations, rather than high-ranking officials. "When an investigative agency has a prime suspect, they usually check the phone records of the suspect and their close contacts the day of, the day before, and the day after an incident," Chung said. "Because that was the case for our journalists, I believe that journalists were the subject of investigation." Chosun Ilbo asked the CIO to respond to the allegation that the CIO is investigating journalists and news-gathering procedures rather than high-ranking officials. "The CIO is conducting investigations in accordance with due process, and it is difficult to provide specific details of each ongoing investigation," an official wrote. "However, as we have stated in our official position, please be aware that we are working on ways to improve investigation practices, such as an internal inspection of communication queries." Critics have also accused the CIO of focusing disproportionately on the opposition People Power Party and opponents of President Moon Jae-in. Around 80 out of 105 opposition party members in the National Assembly have reported that the CIO has searched their phone records. The CIO has also queried the communication history of the PPP presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl, as well as his wife Kim Keon-hee. As of Jan. 10, neither the ruling Minjoo Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung nor any MP lawmakers have reported that their communication history has been queried. The article of the media laws that allows investigative agencies to access phone records without a warrant has long been criticized on the grounds that it violates privacy. Similar criticisms about the collection of phone records have been leveled against the police and the prosecution, including during PPP presidential candidate Yoon's tenure as prosecutor-general. "Over the decades, we have seen domestic media reports that Korean prosecutors and other law enforcement have been collecting phone records on Korean citizens," said an American media reporter who requested anonymity because he requires clearance from his media outlet to speak to other media. But some journalists said they believe the extent of the CIO's recent queries -- especially its querying of foreign correspondents -- has been cause for particular concern. "The CIO investigates crimes of high-ranking officials. So why is it searching Japanese media?" the Mainichi correspondent said. "I've never heard of government agencies checking the phone records of Mainichi journalists. This is really the first time for us." On Jan. 3, on Chosun Ilbo's YouTube channel, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Soo-hyun claimed that the CIO's communication queries are standard procedure for investigative agencies. He noted that, as of last June, the police had looked into 1.8 million phone records and the prosecution 600,000. The CIO checked 135. Park did not provide a more recent number that includes the searches the CIO has conducted since June. Many of the queries that have recently come to light -- including those on journalists from Mainichi, Nikkei, and Joongang Ilbo -- happened later than June. For many, the widespread nature of communication data query by the government does not excuse the CIO. Rather, it is cause for large-scale reform. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has criticized the collection of phone logs by investigative agencies since as early as 2014. Last Thursday, Song Doo-hwan, the chief of the NHRCK, issued a statement urging the government to enact new systems and legislation to prevent human rights violations in the collection of phone records. Song called the current requirements for government agencies to demand communication history "too broad." Song also noted that the United Nations has recommended that Korea improve its phone data collection measures three times in 2015, 2017, and 2019. Another Chosun Ilbo reporter whose phone records were checked said he worries that the CIO's actions threaten the ability of journalists to report news accurately and thoroughly. "The way a journalist acquires their information is private," he said. "If the government looks at our phone records, it can guess what we're onto and what we're going to release next." The Mainichi correspondent said he also worries that the CIO's actions threaten the foundations of a free press. "We simply have to protect the people who cooperated with us. This is the basis of journalism," he said. "We totally don't know why our staff were targeted. But we believe it should not be repeated again." Jung Ye-lim contributed reporting. U.S. biotech company Moderna announced on Wednesday that it has begun clinical trials of a booster dose of vaccine designed specifically to combat the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The trials will involve a total of 600 adults, half of whom have received two doses of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine at least six months ago, and half of whom have received two doses plus the previously authorized booster dose. The booster specifically targeting Omicron will therefore be evaluated as both a third and a fourth dose. The company also reported results on the efficacy against Omicron of the booster that has already been authorized. It said that six months after the booster injection, the levels of neutralizing antibodies against Omicron were reduced by six times from the peak observed 29 days after the injection but remained detectable in all participants. These data were obtained by studying the blood of 20 people who received the 50-microgram booster, half the amount of the first two injections. "We are reassured by the antibody persistence against Omicron at six months after the currently authorized" booster, said Stephane Bancel, Moderna's chief executive, in the statement. "Nonetheless, given the long-term threat demonstrated by Omicron's immune escape, we are advancing our Omicron-specific variant vaccine booster candidate and we are pleased to begin this part of our Phase 2 study," Bancel added. Australia has offered to provide additional liquefied natural gas to Europe, should Russia decide to cut off energy supplies as tensions rise over Ukraine. As tensions over Ukraine grow between Russia and the West, there are mounting fears that Moscow could reduce or shut down the gas it supplies to Europe. The European Union is already short of gas after the easing of COVID-19 restrictions put huge demands on depleted stocks. The EU depends on Russia for around a third of its gas supplies and could need alternative sources as fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine escalate. Australia is one of the world's leading producers of liquefied natural gas or LNG and is prepared to boost its exports to European countries. Trade Minister Dan Tehan said in a statement Thursday that Australia was "ready to support our friends and allies in the current challenging and complex, geostrategic environment." Prince Andrew's lawyers asked a U.S. court again Wednesday to throw out a lawsuit accusing him of sexual abuse, citing multiple legal defenses. The lawyers said that if any sexual activity did occur between the prince and Virginia Giuffre, it was consensual. The court filing made clear that Andrew wasn't admitting sexual contact with Giuffre. But it said if the case wasn't dismissed, the defense wants a trial in which it would argue that her abuse claims "are barred by the doctrine of consent." Attorney David Boies, representing Giuffre, responded in a statement asserting Andrew "continues his approach of denying any knowledge or information concerning the claims against him, and purporting to blame the victim of the abuse for somehow bringing it on herself." The defense request was filed in federal court in Manhattan, where Giuffre sued Andrew in August. The American accused the British royal of sexually abusing her when she was 17 while she traveled with financier Jeffrey Epstein. More people are expected to visit their family and relatives during this Lunar New Year's holiday than last year even as the Omicton variant of coronavirus rages. The government is desperately urging people to refrain from visiting their family and relatives during the biggest holiday season of the year which starts this weekend, while closing down cemeteries to prevent people from gathering to pay their respects to their ancestors, but it seems to little avail. People line up for their trains in Gangneung, Gangwon Province on Thursday. /Yonhap The Korea Transport Institute said Wednesday that 28.77 million people are expected to visit their ancestral hometowns over the weekend, up 17.4 percent from the same period of 2020. Some 19.4 percent said they remain undecided, and 63.3 percent of those cited coronavirus infection fears. Provincial governments have strung up huge banners to urge people not to travel. South Jeolla Province hung up around 700 banners urging residents to stay home, while Sokcho in Gangwon Province is inspecting restaurants and coffee shops to see if they are abiding by lockdown rules. People pay respects to their ancestors in a cemetery in Daejeon on Jan. 23, ahead of the Lunar New Year. North Jeolla Province is closing 26 cemeteries during the holiday season and urged people to pay respects to their ancestors through online services. Ancestral graves are traditionally swept clean and spruced up for the New Year. Some people are jittery. One 29-year-old office worker in Seoul decided not to visit his parents in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province this time. "I went to see my family every Lunar New Year even during the pandemic, but I'm really worried about the Omicron variant," he said. The International Press Institute has urged Korea to investigate a new anti-corruption agency for accessing the phone records of more than 120 Korean and foreign journalists. "Such mass data collection... compromises press freedom and risks the anonymity of journalists' sources," the IPI warned in a statement Tuesday. "Some journalists suspect their phone records were accessed [by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials] in an attempt to discover their sources," it added. "A full investigation must be carried out into how and why this data collection was approved and carried out." IPI Deputy Director Scott Griffen said, "Such actions clearly undermine the right of journalists to protect the identities of their sources." He called on the CIO to "cease its apparently indiscriminate collection of journalists' phone records, which is a violation of democratic norms." "At least 120 journalists from 22 different media organizations, including several foreign media outlets, have had their phone data accessed" by the CIO, IPI said. "Current [Korean] law allows the CIO to access phone records without notifying the person in question. The number of journalists targeted is therefore most likely higher than is officially known." The IPI, a global network of editors, journalists and media executives from 120 countries, has worked to protect freedom of the press since it was launched in 1950. KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2022 - 00:12 | World, All China will allow U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet to visit the far western region of Xinjiang, the Foreign Ministry said Friday. Bachelet received Beijing's approval to visit the region with the understanding that it would be a "friendly" trip rather than an investigation into alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims, according to The South China Morning Post. Sources told the Hong Kong newspaper that China has also asked the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to postpone publishing a report about Xinjiang until after the Beijing Winter Olympics. A spokesperson from Bachelet's office reportedly said last month that it would soon publish a report on its findings on human rights violations against Uyghurs and other minority groups in Xinjiang. Last week, U.S. lawmakers released a letter requesting that Bachelet's office publish the report before the start of the Winter Olympics next Friday. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters on Friday that the purpose of Bachelet's visit is to "promote exchanges and cooperation" and Beijing opposes "anyone using this matter for political manipulation." However, Zhao did not elaborate on the exact dates of Bachelet's visit. KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2022 - 15:39 | All, Japan, Coronavirus U.S. Forces Japan will lift COVID-19 restrictions on its personnel's activities outside bases in Japan at the end of this month as scheduled, Japan's Foreign Ministry said Friday. The restrictive measures, such as limiting the movement of U.S. military personnel outside military facilities to essential activities and a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., will end on Monday, but the obligation to wear a mask on and off base will be maintained, according to the Foreign Ministry. The measures were introduced on Jan. 10 following a surge in coronavirus cases among U.S. military personnel in prefectures such as Okinawa and Yamaguchi that host U.S. military bases, on the back of the rapid spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant. The spike in new infections among American personnel followed COVID-19 case clusters last month at some U.S. military facilities. The restrictions were extended for a week beyond the original end date this past Monday. KYODO NEWS - Jan 29, 2022 - 05:28 | All, World China's Ambassador to Washington Qin Gang warned of "military conflict" if the United States continues to take moves which Beijing perceives as encouraging Taiwan's independence, in an interview with U.S. media aired Friday. "If the Taiwanese authorities, emboldened by the United States, keep going down the road for independence, it most likely (will) involve China and the United States, the two big countries, in a military conflict," Qin told National Public Radio, referring to the self-ruled democratic island which China views as its own. "The Taiwan issue is the biggest tinderbox between China and the United States," the ambassador said. The radio broadcaster said it was an "unusually" direct statement on the United States and Taiwan, noting that China usually speaks in more general terms, such as saying the United States is "playing with fire." Washington is committed to its "one China" policy, which recognizes Beijing as the "sole legal government of China," but allows unofficial ties with Taiwan and assistance for the island to maintain sufficient self-defense capability. Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, and has endeavored to bring the democratic territory into its fold. The administration of President Joe Biden has been urging Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure and coercion against Taiwan. Asked about the prospects of Beijing attacking Taiwan, Qin, who assumed the ambassadorial post in July last year, said the people of mainland China and Taiwan are both Chinese and "the last thing" to do would be to fight with "compatriots." "We will do our utmost in the greatest sincerity to achieve a peaceful reunification...But...Taiwanese authority is working down the road towards independence, emboldened by the United States." "So China will not commit to giving up the un-peaceful means for reunification because this is deterrence," the envoy said. KYODO NEWS - Jan 28, 2022 - 23:51 | All, Japan Japan plans to withdraw some of its embassy staff from Ukraine amid the Eastern European country's heightened tensions with Russia, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Friday. The embassy has about 20 staff members and the ministry will keep only those needed to help Japanese nationals living in Ukraine, the official said. Family members of the embassy staff have already begun to leave. "In a crisis situation, it's not necessary to keep all staff members there," the Japanese official said. Rising concerns that Russia may invade Ukraine have led to increased diplomatic efforts by the United States among others to diffuse the tension. The United States and Britain have already decided to evacuate family members of their embassy staff in Ukraine. The Japanese ministry has warned against traveling to Ukraine for any purpose, raising its advisory to the second-highest Level 3. It has been urging the roughly 250 Japanese nationals residing in the country to leave. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has told parliament that Japan is watching Russia's military build-up near Ukraine's border and related developments with "grave concern," saying that it will deal with the issue appropriately using the framework of the Group of Seven industrialized nations. KYODO NEWS - Jan 28, 2022 - 23:31 | All, World, Japan Japan will recommend a gold and silver mine on Sado Island for the 2023 UNESCO World Heritage list, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Friday, drawing an immediate backlash from South Korea which urged Tokyo to stop attempting to list the site linked to what Seoul views as forced Korean laborers during World War II. The decision, a reversal of the Japanese government's initial plan to forgo making a recommendation this year, comes amid growing pressure from former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who heads the largest faction in the Liberal Democratic Party, and other lawmakers of the ruling party who wanted the government to go ahead. "It's a wonderful cultural heritage site," Kishida told reporters at his office. "I understand South Korea has its own opinions. Because of this, we'd like to call for calm and thorough discussions and dialogue." The Cabinet is scheduled to decide on Tuesday to recommend the site in Niigata Prefecture for the U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's World Cultural Heritage list. Even if a letter of recommendation is submitted to UNESCO by Tuesday, the deadline, South Korea's opposition may cloud the outlook for the screening process. Relations between Japan and South Korea remain soured over issues related to wartime history, including what South Koreans see as forced labor during Japan's 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula and "comfort women," or Koreans who worked at Japanese military brothels. South Korea's Foreign Ministry released a statement saying it "strongly regrets" the Japanese government's decision and "sternly urges" it to stop its attempt. The ministry also summoned Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Aiboshi to lodge a protest. Opposition in South Korea mounted after Japan's Council for Cultural Affairs last month selected the mine as a candidate. Following South Korea's immediate reaction, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Tokyo had told Seoul its argument is "unacceptable." Hayashi also told reporters that Japan wants to have "a sincere dialogue with South Korea and discuss in a calm and courteous way" as advised by UNESCO's operational guidelines for World Heritage registrations. Niigata Prefecture has said the site has a history of outstanding mining technology development before and after industrialization and became one of the world's largest producers of gold in the 17th century. "We will make all-out efforts to gain international support for the listing," Niigata Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi said. Kishida rebuffed the idea that his government backpedaled on its earlier decision not to seek registration this year. But he told reporters that he had explained the latest decision to "people concerned" over the phone, without identifying them. Abe quickly welcomed the move by Kishida, who served as foreign minister in his administration. "Prime Minister Kishida made a decision that is cool-headed and right," Abe said in a statement. If all goes as scheduled, a UNESCO advisory body will survey the mine site in the fall and decide around May next year whether it is worth adding to the list. The World Heritage Committee will then screen its opinion that summer. But given South Korea's opposition, there is a possibility that UNESCO will shelve the screening process by calling for bilateral negotiations on the matter between Tokyo and Seoul, which remain at odds over a number of wartime issues. "This is a situation that relates to Japan's honor," Sanae Takaichi, policy chief of the LDP who has close ties with Abe, told a parliamentary session earlier this week. Related coverage: Japan won't consider South Korean opposition in Sado heritage push Japan mulls delaying controversial Sado mine list for World Heritage KYODO NEWS - Jan 28, 2022 - 17:12 | All, Japan A Japanese inquest panel comprised of citizens said Friday that 35 people should be indicted over vote-buying by former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai for his wife in the 2019 upper house election. With the conclusion, Tokyo prosecutors will reinvestigate the case after it decided in July not to indict 100 individuals, mostly local politicians, suspected of receiving cash from Kawai, who was in the post under then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The panel for the inquest of prosecution said it has deemed that 35 of the 100 should be indicted as many of them were in public office and have received 100,000 yen ($870) or more. Related coverage: Japan's ex-Justice Minister Kawai accepts jail term over vote buying Jail term to be finalized for ex-Japan minister over vote buying Japanese lawmaker found guilty of casino bribe claims false charges Kawai was given a three-year prison term and a fine of 1.3 million yen for handing out a total of 28.7 million yen to 100 local assembly members and supporters in his wife Anri's constituency in the western prefecture of Hiroshima in a ploy to buy votes. The 58-year-old became the first former Japanese Cabinet member in over 10 years to have a prison term finalized. Anri Kawai, who won a seat in the 2019 election, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for five years, for also distributing money to local legislators in the prefecture. The ruling was finalized in February last year. The inquest body said that punishing only the Kawais and not prosecuting those recipients would send the message that accepting cash is not a serious crime. The 100 allegedly received between 50,000 yen and 3 million yen, with 22 accepting the amount over multiple occasions. When the Tokyo District Court handed down the ruling to the former justice minister in June last year, he immediately appealed the decision but later retracted it, saying in a statement, "The responsibility is solely on me, and I am ready to accept it all." He also said, "I ask for leniency on the people who have accepted cash." By Shogo Kawakita, KYODO NEWS - Jan 28, 2022 - 13:11 | World, All ASEAN is becoming increasingly important and adding to its strategic value as geopolitical tensions between the United States and China intensify, a seasoned Singaporean diplomat said recently. "Both China and the U.S. see the value of using ASEAN for their own respective national interests," Ong Keng Yong, secretary general of ASEAN for five years from January 2003, told Kyodo News in an online interview. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations finds itself between the two major powers as their rivalry intensifies and each ramps up diplomatic lobbying. The Biden administration, which has just marked its first anniversary, has been focusing on engagement in Southeast Asia amid Beijing's ongoing quest to expand its regional clout. Last year, the United States sent senior officials to the region regularly. President Joe Biden also joined a virtual meeting of the U.S.-ASEAN summit, excluding Myanmar, in October in sharp contrast to his predecessor Donald Trump who largely shunned multilateralism and only attended in 2017. Ong, currently serving as the executive deputy chairman of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, welcomed the involvement of the United States. "During the Trump era, there was some dissatisfaction among ASEAN member states," said Ong, adding the diplomatic efforts to demonstrate U.S. engagement were "minimal" and led to ASEAN members feeling "somewhat sidelined." Ong stressed ASEAN is "vital" because it is economically successful, fast-growing and geographically important as it encircles the South China Sea, a crucial shipping lane for both the United States and China. "Looking at the (geographical) position, some people call (Southeast Asia) the soft underbelly of China," said Ong. It is also important for export-oriented China to tap into the growth of the region for its economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, he added. The United States, also reliant on ASEAN member nations, would put itself at a disadvantage if it is distracted from the region at a time when China is laser-focused, Ong said, while the growing crisis on the Russia-Ukraine border complicates the situation. Amid a tug-of-war between the global powers, ASEAN is facing a dilemma about how to remain autonomous. The notion of ASEAN centrality, or its desire to play a central role in the region, is being challenged. In December, Biden hosted a virtual "Summit for Democracy" in which he invited more than 100 world leaders with the aim of strengthening democracy and countering challenges posed by countries deemed authoritarian such as China. Ong admitted that a debate on the two models, respectively represented by the United States and China, was essential. It would invite healthy competition necessary for the development of society and provide incentives to tackle challenges, he added. However, Ong was cautious about a binary approach in which the rivalry is framed as an ideological battle between democracy and autocracy. "It is almost impossible to have a zero-sum arrangement" in the current world, Ong said. "This kind of idea continues to trouble the global community," as systems that are so diametrically opposed foster instability. Ong is also somewhat skeptical when countries like China describe Biden's democracy-versus-autocracy framing of the situation as a "Cold War mentality" hangover that is dividing the world. "I do not fully accept (China's criticism of the United States) because the way Beijing discusses this kind of matter is also stuck in their own Cold War mentality," he said. Ong warned that both Washington and Beijing view the world based on their respective perspectives and experiences, suggesting a more "clinical" approach is needed to view and discuss issues. He likened the situation to a patient who complains of many health problems but none of them are serious. In such a case, the doctor could suggest that the patient live with the various symptoms that are not life-threatening. "There is always day and night," said Ong. He did, however, stress that easily agreed upon and practical issues such as combating the COVID-19 pandemic could be overlooked if such a "black or white" approach takes the upper hand. To survive this age of tumult, "What is important is to learn how to adjust our own life and our own country's interest in the presence of this choice," Ong believes. BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday held a phone conversation with Mongolian Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg. Wang said that last year marked the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China and the Mongolian People's Party, which is of great significance to both China and Mongolia. Under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, the two sides have strengthened solidarity and cooperation, overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and made new progress in bilateral relations, Wang said. Wang recalled that last year he had an in-depth exchange of views with Battsetseg in Tianjin, which enhanced mutual trust and resulted in many consensuses. China stands ready to work with Mongolia to inject strong impetus into China-Mongolia cooperation and push bilateral relations to a new level, Wang said. For her part, Battsetseg extended her greetings to China on the Chinese New Year of the Tiger, and thanked China for its strong support at the most difficult time of Mongolia's fight against the pandemic, which has played an important role in helping Mongolia prevail over the pandemic. Mongolia attaches great importance to strengthening relations with China, and greatly appreciates China's neighborhood policy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, she said. Mongolia also speaks highly of and supports the Global Development Initiative proposed by Xi, and hopes to strengthen synergy with China to expand their all-round cooperation involving mineral trade, border ports, connectivity, finance and environmental protection, among others, she said. Mongolia, she said, firmly supports China in successfully hosting the Beijing Winter Olympic Games and has always opposed the politicization of sports. Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene looks forward to attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, said the minister. Wang said China values Mongolia's desire to strengthen the synergy of the two countries' development strategies and their practical cooperation, and stands ready to work with Mongolia to step up coordination and implementation to achieve more tangible results in bilateral cooperation. Noting that the Olympic Games are a symbol of human solidarity and friendship, Wang said that Mongolia, as a good neighbor of China, has always supported China in hosting the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene is one of the first foreign leaders to express willingness to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, and has made clear his opposition to the politicization of sports, which China greatly appreciates, said Wang, adding that China attaches great importance to and will make proper arrangements for Oyun-Erdene's trip to China to ensure its great success. BISHKEK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov on Thursday sent a letter to the Chinese embassy, congratulating the Chinese business community in Kyrgyzstan on the upcoming Lunar New Year. "In the light of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kyrgyzstan and China, we especially note that we highly appreciate the activities of the Chinese business community in the market of Kyrgyzstan, which today continues to make a significant contribution to the development of the economy of our country," said Zhaparov in the letter. The president stressed that he would continue to support the Chinese business community in doing business in the country. "The government of Kyrgyzstan will continue to support your activity for the benefit of the people of the two countries, and I also call on you to participate in new projects in Kyrgyzstan and close economic cooperation in 2022," read the letter. Giant pandas Cai Tao and Hu Chun, a couple on a 10-year-loan from China to Indonesia's Taman Safari Zoo from 2017, have become ambassadors of friendship between the two countries. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Contrary to alleged reports of women being confined to home under Afghanistan's Taliban administration, nearly a dozen women and girls are seen hard at work in a confectionery shop in the northern city of Mazar-I-Sharif. The owner of the shop, Sayed Abas, told Xinhua that 10 women and girls work there regularly, making cakes and biscuits. "The ladies working here have had no problems resuming work. We all enjoy working here," said Habiba Amini, one of the sweet makers. Amini said that Mayor of Mazar-i-Sharif Mawlawi Qudratullah Tareq had visited the store to show his support for working women. The mayor rejected reports of women being beaten and confined to their houses by authorities, saying, "Women have the right to work." The Taliban administration has, however, barred women from working in some government entities and has stopped girls from attending school beyond grade seven. In Kabul, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said schools for girls would open in the new school year, which begins in March. Following the abrupt withdrawal of U.S.-led forces in August 2021, Washington has imposed sanctions on the embattled country, seizing Afghan assets and compounding the poverty brought by 20 years of foreign occupation. Women are an important part of what workforce remains amid the devastation in Afghanistan, most notably in health, schools and retail. Mother of two Adalat Bahri is a manager of the Rabia Balkhi market, a bazaar for women who run their own businesses including confectioners, shoe shops, restaurants and handicrafts. "I have been working for here for two years and make enough to support my family," she told Xinhua. "Finding a job today is very difficult, even for men. I feel lucky to have a regular job and income," she said. "I want to see women working and jobs are provided for people who are hungry in the country." Produced by Xinhua Global Service Diplomats and representatives from foreign countries and international organizations view the Chang'e-5 lunar mission-related devices and models at the National Astronomical Observatories of China under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- China has been engaged with the international space community over the past five years, yielding fruitful results in space science, technology and application, a Chinese official said Friday. China launched a lunar research station project with Russia, and carried out extensive international cooperation in manned spaceflights, lunar exploration projects, Mars explorations and other missions, said Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the China National Space Administration. Wu made the remarks at a press conference on the release of a white paper, titled "China's Space Program: A 2021 Perspective." The official also highlighted the signing of the BRICS Remote-Sensing Satellite Constellation agreement, the launches of the China-France Oceanography Satellite and the China-Italy Electromagnetic Monitoring Experiment Satellite. China also pressed ahead the BeiDou system in the standard systems of many international organizations in fields such as civil aviation and maritime affairs. To improve the international community's capacity for disaster prevention and mitigation, data of the Chinese Gaofen-1 and Gaofen-6 remote sensing satellites have been offered free of charge 550,000 times in 158 countries and regions. The country has also provided data of Fengyun meteorological satellites to 121 countries and regions. Moreover, five Chinese satellites and three constellations have participated in the mechanism of the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, Wu said. PHNOM PENH, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Friday met with visiting Timor-Leste's Foreign Minister Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno, discussing ways to broaden cooperation for mutual benefits, Cambodia's foreign ministry said in a press statement. During the meeting, Hun Sen proposed some initiatives of bilateral cooperation for Timor-Leste to take into consideration, including the Agreement on Protection of Investments, Free Trade Agreement, and the Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation between the two countries, the statement said. On Thursday, Magno also had a bilateral meeting with the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, talking about the cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, tourism, health, education and human resources development, it said. "On trade and investment, both sides agreed on the need to resume momentum in trade activities and cooperation by encouraging their respective relevant institutions to effectively implement the existing signed documents," the statement said. They also encouraged the acceleration of the negotiation on pending memorandums of understanding and agreements on tourism, trade, education, and air service. For the cooperation on fighting against COVID-19, both sides congratulated each other for successfully containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in their respective countries and for gradually opening their countries by living and adapting to the "new normal", it added. On regional and international cooperation, they also exchanged views on issues of common interests and expressed their full support for each other in multilateral fora, the statement said, adding that Sokhonn reaffirmed Cambodia's support for Timor-Leste's application for the membership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Magno arrived in Cambodia on Wednesday for a four-day official visit. UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Friday released 20 million U.S. dollars in emergency funds for 270,000 people in Yemen, including those newly displaced by airstrikes, a UN spokesman said. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths allocated the money from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support the humanitarian relief for people in Marib, al-Jawf and Hadramout, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "It will also help to scale up operational capacities to support the response, including humanitarian air transport," Haq told reporters in a regular briefing. A week ago, three airstrikes in quick succession by the Saudi-led coalition hit a detention facility in the northern city of Saada run by the Houthi rebels. He said staff from the UN Human Rights Office in Yemen were in Saada this week collecting information following the airstrikes. The team verifying civilian casualties said it received reports of 91 detainees killed. "The information they have collected paints a chaotic and desperate picture after the prison in Saada was struck," Haq said. "The Human Rights Office urges the Saudi-led coalition to ensure that its investigation is in line with international standards and is transparent, independent and impartial," he said. Shortly after the attack, an official of Saada's local authority told Xinhua News Agency, "The airstrike completely destroyed the prison building." Saada is one of the main strongholds of the Iran-backed Houthis fighting for years Yemeni government forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition. KATHMANDU, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A team of Nepali mountaineers has set out for Mt. Cho Oyu with a view to opening the first commercial route to the top of the world's sixth tallest peak from the Nepali side, officials and mountaineering agencies said. "A team led by veteran Gelje Sherpa set out for Mt. Cho Oyu on Wednesday," Mingma Devid Sherpa, founder of the Elite Exped which is one of the sponsors of the expedition, told Xinhua. "The team has moved toward the mountain with necessary equipment to open the route and climb the mountain in the course," he said. Even though there have been occasional ascents of the 8,201-meter-high mountain from the Nepal side through the southeast and southwest parts of the peak, the routes have failed to develop as commercial ones so far. Sherpa said the expedition team would install hooks and ropes as they summit the mountain that straddles Nepal and China. "It may take 30 to 35 days provided the weather conditions remain favorable," he added. Before setting out for the mountain, the 10-member team has obtained climbing permits from Nepal's Department of Tourism. "As they're also climbing the mountain, they received the climbing permits," said Bhishma Raj Bhattarai, a section officer at the department. "Another team is also seeking our permit to climb the mountain through the new route to be opened by the first team." Currently, most climbers use the route from the Chinese side to summit Mt. Cho Oyu. Nepali officials and mountaineering agencies said that there has not been frequent summits of the peak from the Nepal side because it is difficult to climb it from the southern side through the existing routes. "Because of the low success rate from the Nepali side, we have failed to commercialize our existing routes," said Santa Bir Lama, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association. "The team is aiming to find the easiest way to Mt. Cho Oyu from the Nepal side." Ougadougou: Fourteen people were killed in an attack on a church in eastern Burkina Faso where places of worship have suffered a string of Islamist assaults this year, the regional government said. The attack took place on Sunday. "Unidentified armed men" carried out the attack during a Sunday service at a Protestant church in the town of Hantoukoura near the border with Niger, the government statement said. "This attack unfortunately left 14 dead and many wounded," it said. Soldiers in the region were hunting down the assailants, who fled on scooters, a security source said earlier. The poor West African country has suffered a series of attacks on Christian targets since February, leaving 21 dead before Sunday's attack. Burkina Faso's population is around two-thirds Muslim and one-third Christian. Jihadist groups target Christian clerics as well as Muslim ones they do not consider sufficiently radical in a country where traditionally the two religions have co-existed peaceably. More than 700 people have been killed in Islamist unrest since fighting spilled across the border from Mali, according to an AFP count. An ambush on a convoy transporting employees of a Canadian mining company in eastern Burkina Faso earlier this month killed 37 people, the deadliest attack in nearly five years of jihadist violence. Attacks in Burkina Faso, which borders Mali and Niger, began in the north but spread to the east and the west of the country in 2018, while the capital Ouagadougou has been hit three times. Most of the violence is attributed to jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group, with around 500,000 people internally displaced by attacks, according to the UN. Also Read: Terror Checks Intensify As London Bridge Attack Enters Election Fray Attacks have intensified this year as the under-equipped, poorly trained army struggles to contain the Islamist militancy in the former French colony. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The team of the Hyderabad Police investigating the gruesome gangrape and murder of the veterinary doctor is stunned at the meticulous, cold-hearted planning by the four accused. The police say that the accused have shown no remorse after the arrest. All four accused have confessed to the crime. Disturbing details are emerging from the police probe that shows the extent to which the four accused went to make sure that there was no trace of their crime. The investigation show that the accused decided the disturbing, spine-chilling crime the moment they saw the doctor parking her red scooter near toll plaza. The probe revealed that the accused forced liquor down the doctors throat. Unconscious, the doctor was not able to call for help. The accused - Mohammed Areef, Chintakunta Chennakesavulu, Jollu Naveen and Jollu Shiva - took turns to rape her. When she started bleeding and gained back her sense, Areef smothered her to death. The police probe also says that to remove all the evidence, the accused decided to dump the body. They wrapped the body in a bedsheet and set it on fire near Ashiyana Hotel in Chhattanpalli. The police got the first lead from a petrol pump attendant, who called the cops and told them that around 12:30 am on Friday, two men on red scooter came to the outlet and demanded fuel. When he refused, the men went towards Shadnagar area. The police zeroed in on all the mechanics till one of them told the cops that two men on red scooter came to him and asked for tyre alignment air check. These two leads matched the description of the doctors red scooter. The timing also matched with the moment the doctor called her sister. Also Read: Hyderabad Vet Rape-Murder Case: Telangana CM Orders Setting Up Of Fast-Track Court Later, the police examined the CCTV footage and saw the lorry parked just 300 feet from the red scooter. The footage gave the much needed clue- the number plate of the lorry was clearly visible in the footage. Soon, the police nabbed all the four accused. The man accused reportedly told his mother that he may have killed somebody by accident. According to The Hindustan Times, the accused in fact, went back to the site to check whether the body was completely burnt or not. New Delhi: In yet another instance of negligence in midday meal distribution, a dead rat was found in the food served in a school on Tuesday, following which an inquiry has been ordered by the district administration. Additional District Magistrate Amit Kumar Singh said that eight students and a teacher of Janata Inter-College in Mustafabad Panchenda village were taken ill and sent to hospital after the rat was found in one of the plates though no one had eaten the food at that time. NGO Janklyan Samiti of Hapur had supplied the mid-day meal to the school. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident and strict action will be taken against those found guilty of negligence, Singh said. District authorities have ordered lodging of an FIR against the mid-day meal supplier, the official said. The students and the teacher complained of vomiting after they saw the rat and were taken to hospital, he said. Last week, another case of apathy had come to light when a video showed that a litre of milk was allegedly diluted with a bucket of water so that 81 children could be served during their midday meal at a government school in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, following which a teacher was suspended. Two months earlier a similar shocking video had emerged from Siyur Primary School in Mirzapur district showing a woman distributing rotis and another giving salt to children in the midday meal. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had taken note of the Mirzapur incident and sent a notice to the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary following which two teachers were suspended. According to a NHRC statement, the commission had also sought a detailed report about the status of the midday meal scheme across the state within four weeks. The state government had lodged an FIR against the journalist who recorded the video of schoolchildren being served salt and roti in their midday meal. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East New Delhi: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said the current economic slowdown is temporary and a result of the ongoing global trade war between the US and China. The fall in the GDP growth during the second quarter of the current fiscal is cyclical in nature and the economy has started moving in the right direction, he said. The slowdown in the economy is not because of domestic reasons but the ongoing trade war between the US and China, Pradhan told reporters here. Petroleum Minister said the trade-tension between the two large economies has adversely impacted seveal countries. Asked about the dip in GDP growth to 4.5 per cent in the July-September period, 2019, Pradhan said it was also the impact of the trade war and the issues relating to oil and other commodities in the world market. It is natural and cyclical in nature, he said. Indias economic growth slipped further to hit an over six-year low of 4.5 per cent in July-September, according to official data released on Friday. The previous low was recorded at 4.3 per cent in the January-March period of 2012-13. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was registered at 7 per cent in the corresponding quarter of 2018-19. Pradhan, who is also the steel minister, was here to campaign for BJP candidates for Jamshedpur East and West constituencies, Seraikela and Kharswan assembly seats. He said the fundamentals of the countrys economy are strong and it has started moving in the right direction. Pradhan said steel and passenger vehicles sectors in the country have started showing improvement. The sale of two-wheelers is also recorded an upward trend, the BJP leader said. He said the Jharkhand is heading towards retaining a stable government. The people of the state have made up their minds to repose faith in the BJP-led government, Pradhan claimed. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed were planning attacks in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) post Pulwama attack, according to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). According to reports, one of the members of the terror ground had carried out a recce of key government organisations such as South Block and Central Secretariat along with areas like Delhis Civil Lines, Kashmere Gate, BK Dutt Colony, Lodhi Estate, etc. According to NIA, the discovered a new modus operandi of the Jaish in which they used virtual number to hide their identities. They opted for it after photo IDs were made mandatory for purchasing SIM cards in India, reported India Today. NIA has revealed the information in a chargesheet filed before Delhi court on September 16 against alleged JeM members Sajjad Ahmad Khan, Tanvir Ahmad Ganie, Bilal Ahmad Mir and Muzzafar Ahmad Bhat. Sajjad was arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell in March from Old Delhi, following which three more terror operatives were arrested. The case was handed over to the NIA, the report said. The NIA in its chargesheet claimed that Bilal Ahmed volunteered to be the suicide bomber after viewing the video of Pulwama suicide bomber on February 14 itself. On February 15, at about 10.24 hours, Bilal requested Pulwama mastermind Mudassir Ahamad: Next main karuga insha allah [I will carry out the next suicide attack], the chargesheet mentions, reported Indian Today quoting NIA chargesheet. According to the report, Pakistan-based Jaish terrorist Kari Mufti Yaseer infiltrated into India a few months before the Pulwama attack. He was sent her to recruit, train and motivate Kashmiri boys to launch further attacks. The NIA in its chargesheet said the terror module also watched Union Minister Rajnath Singh speak of giving befitting reply to Pakistan attacked operators for 14th February Pulwama terror attack, the report said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Petrol Rate, Diesel Rate Today: Fuel prices remained unchanged on Monday, December 2. As per the Indian Oil website, the petrol rates are Rs 74.91 per litre in Delhi, Rs 80.59 per litre in Mumbai, Rs 77.61 per litre in Kolkata, and Rs 77.91 per litre in Chennai, respectively. However, diesel prices remained unchanged. Diesel prices in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai remained at Rs 65.78, Rs 69.00, Rs 68.19 and Rs 69.53 per litre respectively. In Noida, petrol is retailing at Rs 76.24 a litre, while diesel price is Rs 66.09 a litre. The price of petrol in Gurugram is Rs 74.44 a litre while diesel was selling at Rs 65.13 a litre. How To Get Petrol, Diesel Rates Via SMS You can check the latest rate of petrol and diesel via SMS. IOC customers can send RSP to 9224992249, BPCL users can message RSP at 9223112222 and HPCL customers can send HPPRICE to 9222201122 for the latest prices. Why Petrol, Diesel Prices Change Every Day? The fuel prices are in India are revised daily. Petrol and diesel prices are revised every day at 06:00 am to sync it with the variation in global oil prices. Oil marketing companies (OMC) review the global fuel prices and decide petrol and diesel daily. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum release the new rates at 6 am every morning. Generally, when international crude oil prices gain, prices in India move higher. Other factors also impact the price of fuel like rupee to US dollar exchange rate, cost of crude oil, global cues, demand for fuel, and so on. Why Fuel Prices Differ In Every City? The price of fuel includes excise duty, value-added tax (VAT), and dealer commission. As VAT varies from state to state, the price of fuel is different in every city. (Disclaimer: This information is based on external sources and News Nation is not responsible for any difference in the rates) For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Iraq's parliament approved the resignation of the embattled cabinet on Sunday, after two months of violent unrest that have left more than 420 people dead and thousands mourning them in nationwide marches. Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi said Friday he would submit his resignation to parliament following a spike in the death toll among protesters who accuse the entire ruling elite of being inept, corrupt and beholden to foreign powers. Parliament opened its session on Sunday afternoon and within minutes had approved Abdel Mahdi's resignation, which according to the constitution renders him and the entire cabinet a "caretaker government." The speaker of parliament said he would now ask President Barham Saleh to name a new prime minister. Just before the session began, another protester was shot dead in the capital, medical sources said. The formal resignation came after an emergency Cabinet session earlier in which ministers approved the document and the resignation of key staffers, including Abdul-Mahdis chief of staff. In a pre-recorded speech, Abdul-Mahdi addressed Iraqis, saying that following parliaments recognition of his stepping down, the Cabinet would be demoted to caretaker status, unable to pass new laws and make key decisions. He listed his governments accomplishments, saying it had come to power during difficult times. Not many people were optimistic that this government would move forward, he said. He said the government had managed to push through important job-creating projects and improve electricity generation. But unfortunately, these events took place, he said, referring to the mass protest movement that engulfed Iraq on October 1. We need to be fair to our people and listen to them. At least 400 people have died since the leaderless uprising shook Iraq with thousands of Iraqis taking to the streets in Baghdad and the predominantly Shiite southern Iraq decrying corruption, poor services, lack of jobs and calling for an end to the post-2003 political system. Security forces have used live fire, tear gas and sound bombs to disperse crowds leading to heavy casualties. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday claimed on a regional news channel that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given him an offer to work together in Maharashtra but he declined. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi had insisted on working together with me, as on some issues we have similar opinions. But I refused his offer, news agency PTI quotes Pawar as saying to a regional news channel. The statement comes after Shiv Sena forged alliance with NCP and Congress to form government under Uddhav Thackerays leadership in Maharashtra. Pawar further said that he assured PM Modi that NCP will not oppose central governments policies just for the sake of opposition. "Modi told me that my political experience would be helpful for him to run the government. We both share similar opinions on some national issues, hence he made the offer," Pawar said. The NCP chief had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on November 20 amid the political deadlock in Maharashtra. Although Pawar had at that time said that they only dicussed the issue of farmers during the meeting, there were reports that he was offered President's post by the Prime Minister in exchange of his party's support to the BJP in Maharashtra. However, Pawar rejected the reports claiming that he was offered President's post. "But there surely was an offer to make Supriya (Sule) a minister in the Modi-led cabinet," he added. Earlier on Saturday, Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government of the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance won the floor test in the Maharashtra Assembly. Altogether 169 MLAs vote in favour of the motion of confidence. On the other hand, BJP legislature party leader Devendra Fadnavis was named as Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly. In the October 21 Assembly elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party winning 105 seats. The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress won 56, 54 and 44 seats respectively in the October 21 polls. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Calicut University B.Sc 4th Semester and M.Sc 2nd Semester Result 2019 has been declared online. All candidates who appeared for the Calicut University B.Sc and M.Sc semester exams need to visit the official website of the university, i.e. uoc.ac.in to check the result. According to University Result notification, the result has been declared for 2nd semester M.Sc Microbiology, M.Sc Biochemistry, M.Sc Human Physiology and 4th semester B.Sc. programmes. In order to check the Calicut University B.Sc. and M.Sc. Result 2019, candidates need to follow the below mentioned steps: First, visit the official website of Calicut University, i.e. uoc.ac.in Click on the result section that is available under Pareeksha Bhavan on the homepage Click on the respective subject and proceed further Enter the required details like the registration number Download and take a printout of the result for future reference It is to note that the B.Sc. and M.Sc. semester result have been declared for the exams that were conducted in the month of April, 2019. The Semester result of the Calicut University will include details such as name and roll number of the candidate along-with name of the programme and final grade point. Candidates can download and take a printout of the result from the official website. In addition, candidates will get the original hard copy of the result from the universitys respective departments. Candidates can click on the below mentioned direct link to check the Calicut University Result. Calicut University B.Sc, M.Sc. Result 2019 Direct Link New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed a bill to amend the Act governing the elite-Special Protection Group (SPG) with Home Minister Amit Shah rejecting the opposition's charge of political vendetta and asserting the government was concerned about security of all 130 crore Indians and not just the Gandhi family. Replying to a debate on the SPG (Amendment) Bill, Shah said that the BJP does not carry out any action with a vindictive approach and it was the Congress that took many such decisions in the past. He said no discussion happened when security cover reviews with respect to former prime ministers including PV Narasimha Rao, IK Gujral, Chandra Shekhar, HD Deve Gowda and recently Manmohan Singh were undertaken. SPG Act Bill In Rajya | Highlights: 16:51 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Home Minister Amit Shah during discussion on SPG Bill: "CPI(M) ko toh haq hi nahi hai ye kehne ka ki political vendetta se sarkaar chal rahi hai, aapne isi political vendetta se Kerala mein 120 BJP karyakarta maar diye gaye." 16:39 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Rajya Sabha passes Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill 2019 restricting use of elite SPG. Congress, Left and DMK staged a walkout from the House. 16:38 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Congress walks out of Rajya Sabha saying it is dissatisfied with Home Minister's reply on amendment to SPG Act. 16:38 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha: "Security cannot be made a status symbol. Why demand only SPG? SPG cover is meant for only the 'head of the state', we cannot be giving it to everyone. We don't oppose one family, we are against dynasty politics." 16:28 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "120 workers of the BJP, the RSS were killed in Kerala, says Home Minister Amit Shah replying to charge of the BJP government acting with political vendetta. 16:22 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "No discussion when SPG security cover of Manmohan Singh and other non-Gandhi families was withdrawn," said the Home Minister 16:20 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha on SPG Bill: "This is the 5th amendment in the SPG Act. This amendment is not brought in by keeping Gandhis in mind, but, one thing that I can say for sure is that the previous 4 amendments were done by keeping only one family in mind." 16:16 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha on SPG Bill: "It's not true that we've brought the SPG Bill by keeping only Gandhi family in mind. Security from Gandhis was withdrawn after the threat assessment analysis even before bringing this bill." For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: It was just another cold, wintery December morning for Eijaz Karim Khan. The security guard at an upscale high-rise society in Ghaziabads Indirapuram area had taken a round of the building compound and was settling in his chair when he heard a loud thud. At first, he thought it was a cat or a dog. But it was too loud for the four-legged creatures. Khan quickly rushed to the direction of the sound and what he saw next sent shivers down his spine. Three persons- a man and two women- were lying on ground writhing in pain and pool of blood. Quick-thinking Khan called police and his superiors. He recognised the man lying on the ground as aathvein (8th) floor wale sahab. The police arrived at the spot and Khan took them to the flat. Upon entry, the police team straight away went to the balcony where red slippers and white chairs were the silent witness of the tragic end of a beautiful family of five. Further inside the apartment were two children lying motionless on the bed. With no sign of resistance, it was said that the children were murdered while they were sleeping. Such was the meticulous planning that the man, now identified as one Gulshan Kumar, had also killed his pet rabbit. The body of the rabbit was found in a carton in childrens bedroom. The last wish of the family was scribbled in frail hand-writing on the wall of one of the rooms. Rs 500 notes were pasted on the wall with the note - Heres the money for our rites. Our last wish is that all five of us should be cremated together. So what forced Gulshan Kumar to take this extreme step? The police says that the investigation points to a bad deal where Kumar lost Rs 2 crore. With no money and pressure from other dealers, Kumar was unable to cope with the situation. Apart from Kumar, his wife and a close associate also ended their lives. Initially, there were reports that the other woman Kumars second wife. But now, the cops say that she was the close associate, who used to handle all businesses. Sources say that she was living with the family for past five years. New Delhi: From Delhi to Bengaluru, from city streets to Parliament, the nation is witnessing furious protests over the brutal gangrape and murder of the veterinary doctor in Hyderabad. While the social media is flooded with angry posts, there has been no tweet or post by women ministers in Narendra Modi government over the gruesome crime. All three women ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani and Harsimrat Kaur Badal have not tweeted a single line about the case. Not just ministers, other women leaders are also silent on the issue. The list includes names such as ex-minister Maneka Gandhi, actors-turned-politicians Hema Malini and Kirron Kher. Among those who did tweet about the case was Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur! The Bhopal lawmaker, who is at the centre of Nathuram Godse controversy, took to Twitter to express her anguish. In a tweet in Hindi, Thakur demanded strict action against the accused and prayed for the doctors family. The silent women in BJP also include senior leaders such as Uma Bharti and Meenakshi Lekhi. Woman BJP leader who has spoken up against the crime is Sonal Man Singh. I'm ashamed and shocked, I'm also disappointed that such incidents are reported from across country. Why there is govt, Police, civil society apathy? Each time there're candle marches & rallies then, why is it continuing, the Rajya Sabha MP asked. The Congress, on the other hand, has been much vocal about its protests against Hyderabad rape. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she was deeply disturbed over the rape and murder of a 26-year-old veterinarian in Hyderabad. She also said as a society, we have to do far more than just speak up when such incidents happen. "Our mindsets have to be jolted into changing, into rejecting violence, into refusing to accept the abhorrent manner in which women are being brutalised on a daily basis," Priyanka Gandhi said on Twitter. "I have been so deeply disturbed by the savage rape and murder of the young veterinarian in Hyderabad and the teenage girl in Sambhal that no words are enough to express my outrage. As a society, we have to do far more than just speak up when these horrific incidents take place," she added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Monday termed Anant Kumar Hegdes statement as treachery with Maharashtra. The former Union minister had termed Devendra Fadnavis taking oath as Chief Minister as drama. Taking to Twitter, Raut said, Anant Kumar Hegde says Devendra Fadnavis as CM for 80 hours, moved Maharashtras Rs 40000 crore to Centre. This is treachery with Maharashtra (sic). Hegde on Sunday invoked a controversy saying, the entire exercise was pre-planned for a big goal. You all know our man in Maharashtra became CM for 80 hours. Fadnavis then resigned, why did he do this drama? Didn't we know that we didn't have majority, Hegde asked. Then he claimed that, Chief Minister has access to around Rs 40,000 crore. If the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena would have managed to come in power at that point, they would have misused Rs 40,000-crore fund. It's all central government money and it wouldn't have been used for development. According to Hegde, the surprise political twists of November 23 that saw Fadnavis taking oath at Raj Bhavan around 8 am was planned much before. This was all planned much before. It was decided that there should be a natak (drama). So, Fadnavis took oath as Chief Minister. Immediately, in 15 hours he moved all Rs 40,000 crore to wherever it belonged. Fadnavis saved all the money. All the money was given back to the Centre, Hegde claimed. Earlier in the day, Raut took a veiled poetic jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) amid the ongoing political developments in Maharashtra. Taking to micro blogging website, Twitter, Raut quoting a dialogue from 1965 Bollywood film, Waqt, starring Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar and Shashi Kapoor wrote, Jinke apne ghar sheeshay ke hoon ... woh doosron par patthar nahi phenka karte, which roughly translates to: "Those whose own houses made of glass ... do not throw stones at others." For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : A war of words broke out in Lok Sabha on Monday when Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers tried to corner Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury over his remarks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were infiltrators. During the Question Hour, when the Congress MP rose to ask a supplementary related to the Steel Ministry, ruling alliance members tried to mock him by shouting the word infiltrator several times. The Congress leader immediately countered it by saying Yes, I am an infiltrator, I am a deemak (termite). Modi is an infiltrator. Amit Shah is an infiltrator. Lal Krishna Advani is an infiltrator. To this, Union Petroleum and Steel Minister Dharmendra Pradhan shot back saying his design would be exposed soon. Sab khulengi, aap ki paribhasha se desh nahi chalega (Everything will be exposed. The country will not run by your definitions, Pradhan said. On Sunday, Chowdhury had termed PM Modi and Union Home Minister Shah as infiltrators in Delhi. The Congress leader also said they are migrants since they have their homes in Gujarat but are now living in Delhi. Earlier in November, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had made a big announcement in the Rajya Sabha saying that the NRC exercise will be implemented across India. He had reiterated, no person of any religion should be worried regarding NRC. Shah also cleared up the confusion between the NRC and the Citizenship Bill. So far, Assam is the only Indian state that has implemented the NRC. The Final NRC List with names of all 3.30 crore applicants in Assam was published online on September 14. NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela had said that the final list, which was published on August 31, consisted only of supplementary lists and several queries were being received about the publication of overall results of all family members "irrespective of their involvement in the claims and objections process". For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday questioned in Rajya Sabha why SPG protection should be accorded to the Gandhis, saying the Constitution is equal for all and he would like to see the family in jail on corruption charges. Welcoming the SPG (Amendment) Bill, he said the assassinations of former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had nothing to do with security. Constitutional principle of equality before the law applies to them (Gandhis). There cannot be a separate Constitution for them. The Constitution applies to all of us, he said. Questioning the privilege to them, Swamy remarked: We want them (Gandhis) to be all alive because I would like to see them to go to jail on corruption charges. Referring to former prime minister Indira Gandhis assassination, he said that it was nothing to do with the lack of security. In the case of Mrs Indira Gandhi, the IB had presented a report saying that two of your security guards are infected and they should be transferred out. It is on record. It is there in the various commissions which have gone into this and it was not approved by Mrs Gandhi herself and also members of the family. And those very two guards assassinated her in her own house, not when she was on tour or when she was addressing a meeting. Challenging KTS Tulsi to prove his reference to a report that said Rajiv Gandhis assassination was due to a security lapse, he said it was he who moved the resolution in the House at that time and had got hold of the report submitted. Swami said, It was laid on the table of the House... The Commission has also observed that the Congress party workers and organisers of the venue of the meeting did not extend the required cooperation to the police and created impediments in making proper security arrangements for Rajiv Gandhi particularly in ensuring strict access control in his proximity. He said the then government had accepted the recommendations of the commission that some guidelines and code of discipline should be framed for political parties. Talking about the present threat perception to the Gandhis, Swamy said, It must be very serious otherwise Z plus would not have been given. At the same time he said that none of the threat perceptions which earlier existed were there now. One is the LTTE threat, he said and added the IK Gujaral government was toppled on the ground that the DMK was a member of it and therefore the Congress withdrew support. It is on record... Now they are friends with the DMK. The Supreme Court said that this crime was so gruesome and so much against the nation that they should be given capital punishment, Swamy said. He claimed Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter to the President advocating reduction of punishment to life imprisonment. He said he has the copy of the letter. Swamy also said that Priyanka Gandhi went to jail to meet Nalini despite the jail manual providing for only relatives can meet convicted prisoners. "She broke the prison rule. And so there is no threat from LTTE." Demanding to know what else could be the threat, he said in a lighter vein that Islamic forces cannot be threat because they are very secular. We are the ones who have to suffer from it... Constitutional principle of equality before the law applies to them. Later the House passed the bill to amend the Act governing the elite-Special Protection Group (SPG). Earlier Tulsi (Nominated) said that security must be above politics. Threat perception has to be decided by experts and we are not waiting for an incident to happen, he said quoting a report on Rajiv Gandhis assassination which said that the prime cause was withdrawal of SPG cover. It will be decided on whims of those in office on who needs protection. Request home minister to lay on table any report that says that there is no threat to the Gandhis, he said. KK Ragesh (CPI-M) questioned the governments intentions to bring such a bill saying it was politically motivated. He said that the Prime Minister has violated the SPG protocol many times, and it is called heroism. BK Hariprasad (Cong) urged the government to exercise some restraint and added that in every third speech, Modi and Amit Shah attacked Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. He said if there is no protection to those getting lynched in the country, how safe are these politicians, he questioned adding that bluebook guidelines of SPG have been violated 600 times. Opposing the bill, P Wilson (DMK) said it targets one party and ignores the assassination of Rajiv and Indira Gandhi.? Rajiv Gandhis SPG cover was revoked after he demitted PMs office and then he was assassinated. Are we compromising security on account of saving a few lakhs? Democracy is not static. Tomorrow, you will occupy the Opposition bench. How can threat perception be fixed for 5 years, he asked. Wilson said that the government should consider that the amendment will not just affect the Gandhi family but also the BJP after it demits office. V Vijaysai Reddy (YSRCP) said the SPG had become status symbol and represent colonial hangover. Binoy Viswam (CPI) said it was political vendetta. Others who spoke include Naresh Gujaral (SAD), Narendra Jadhav (Nominated) and Satish Chandra Misra (BSP). For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Lt Shivangi Swaroop from Muzaffarpur scripted history as she became Indias first woman naval pilot on Monday. She earned her wings at a ceremony in Kochi. She will join the naval operations in Kochi and will fly the navys Dornier aircraft. The indigenously-built Dornier has been deployed by the Navy to carry out a short-range maritime reconnaissance mission. After six months of mission-based flying, she will aim for the P8I long-range maritime aircraft. Shivangi belongs to Bihars Muzzafarpur and completed her schooling from DAV Public school, Muzzafarpur. She was inducted into the Indian Navy as SSC (Pilot) as part of 27 NOC course in Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala and got formally commissioned by Vice Admiral AK Chawla, in June last year. The Navy's Aviation branch has had women officers operating as air traffic control officers and as 'observers' in the aircraft who are responsible for communication and weapons. Shivangi underwent rigorous training at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. Joining the operations ahead of the Navy Day on December 4, the young officer said that gender is immaterial, only skills are important. The path-breaking achievement comes days after the Supreme Court told Centre to rethink about women officers in the Indian Army. The top court made observation on permanent commission demand for the nearly 1,000 women serving the army as short services commission officers. These are women in service of the nation. If you give them permanent commission, just think what message you will send to the world, the bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Ajay Rastogi said. The bench frowned at Army's move to grant permanent commission to women officers who joined the forces under SSC after March 2019, and not to include those who are already serving under SSC before March 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has supported the idea of permanent commission for women and announced the change in policy in his Independence Day speech last year. Some women officers have been in the job for nearly twenty years, while SSC term terminates in 14 years. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Two army personnel were killed when an avalanche hit an army patrol in the southern Siachen glacier sector in the Union Territory of Ladakh on Saturday, officials said. A Srinagar-based defence spokesperson said the Army patrol was operating at an altitude of approximately 18,000 feet in Southern Siachen Glacier when it was hit by the avalanche during the early hours of Saturday. He said an Avalanche Rescue Team (ART) following the patrol immediately rushed and managed to locate and pull out all members of the team. Simultaneously, Army helicopters too were simultaneously pressed into service to evacuate the avalanche victims, he said. Despite the best efforts by the medical teams, two Army personnel, however, perished in the avalanche, the officer said. It was for the second time that an avalanche occurred in Siachen in the past two weeks. Earlier on November 18, four Indian Army personnel and two civilian porters were killed in an avalanche in the northern part of the Siachen Glacier. The Siachen Glacier at the height of around 20,000 ft in the Karakoram range is known as the highest militarised zone in the world where the soldiers have to battle frostbite and high winds. Avalanches and landslides are common at the glacier during winters with temperatures often dropping to as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Lucknow: With just a few days left for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. In such a situation, all the parties are campaigning in a big way. At the same time, all the parties are attracting the attention of the voters on different issues. In this election season, the Jinnah-Pakistan issue is also looking very hot. This has now been reacted to by the famous shayar Munawwar Rana. Rana said, "People will look into the real issues and vote. What is the point of elections from Jinnah-Pakistan? No party will gain anything from this. He further said, "Earlier the name of the barrister was being taken, then Jinnah's name had to come. At the same time, Rana also targeted the BJP, saying, "Right now we will say that we are 'resting', then these people will start saying why are you 'coming' in our Ram." At the same time, he also attacked PM Narendra Modi, he said that PM Modi has stopped talking sugar to sugar for fear of China. Talking about migration, Rana said, "I have already said, if the yogi comes, I will flee. This point should be clearly noted. He also said that, if the exodus of 10 Hindus from Kairana is mentioned, thousands of Muslims are also migrating from here which should be looked into. He said that muslims have now stopped keeping knives in their homes that they do not know when the yogi will lock them up. Congress gets a major setback ahead of Goa polls Majithia slams Sidhu after filing nomination in Punjab elections Mukhtar Naqvi slams Hamid Ansari for his remark on intolerance Bangalore: Karnataka Police have arrested a woman from Bangladesh who had been living in India with a Hindu identity for 15 years. The 27-year-old woman has been arrested from the outskirts of Bengaluru based on inputs from the Foreigners Regional Registration of India (FRRO). According to police, he is a resident of Narel district of Bangladesh. He was nabbed from his rented house in Bengaluru on January 25. Police said he was arrested after a three-month search operation. The arrested Bangladeshi woman has been identified as Ronnie Begum. In India, she had changed her name to Payal Ghosh and got married to Nitin Kumar, a delivery executive from Mangaluru. Since the arrest of the woman, her husband is said to be absconding. The police are now looking for Nitin. Ronnie Begum came to India at the age of 12. He worked at a dance bar in Mumbai. During this time, she changed her name to Payal Ghosh and claimed that she is a Bengali. In the meantime, she fell in love with Nitin and then the two got married. After the marriage, they started living in a rented room in Anjannagar area of Bengaluru in 2019. Ronnie began the work of tailor. He made a PAN card while living in Mumbai. Later, Nitin also made an Aadhaar card with the help of his friend in Bengaluru. Ronnie came to the notice of the police when she was about to leave for Bangladesh to attend her father's funeral. She reached Kolkata and from there she planned to go to Dhaka. In the meantime, the migration authorities got suspicious of his passport and seized it. He was told not to leave the country. His statement was recorded during the investigation of the incident in 2020. But he wasn't arrested. Later, during the course of investigation, it was revealed that he was an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant. The FRRO then informed the Bengaluru Police Commissioner about the same. A case has been registered by The Byadarhalli police in this regard. DCP West Sanjeev Patil said that investigations are on to trace the people who helped in getting fake PAN card, Aadhaar card and voter ID. Bullets fired near JMM supremo's residence, Kalu Lama killed Verdict in Bhaiyyu Maharaj suicide case! Servant became the cause of death Gang rape of a woman in front of several women, 9 accused arrested in Delhi case On Thursday, Turkey's Health Ministry reported 82,180 new Covid-19 cases, the highest daily number on record, increasing the country's total number of infections to 11,250,107. In Turkey, the number of persons who have died as a result of the virus has increased by 174 to 86,661, with 83,225 more people recovering in the last 24 hours. On January 14, 2021, Turkey initiated a widespread Covid-19 vaccination campaign. In Turkey, more than 57.38 million people have received their first doses of the vaccine, with another 52.33 million receiving their second doses. Turkey has given out around 141.41 million doses so far, including the third booster shot. "For those in high-risk categories, the disease can be deadly. In intensive care units, we meet people over the age of 65 who have not received booster doses. In Istanbul and other major cities, we are seeing an increase in intensive care patients "Demirkran stated this on Thursday. Earlier, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca urged the people to abide by the rules and keep social distance of "up to 3 metres (9.84 feet) from one other." "Even if the virus mutates, our countermeasures remain same. Individual measures are more crucial today than they have ever been "Last month, Koca stated in a written statement. UNAMA concerned about human rights breaches in Afghanistan The Australian government announces $703 million funding for the Great Barrier Reef Tokyo: Man arrested for doing wrong with three medical professionals ANKARA Turkey announced that Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and special envoy Ruben Rubinyan have been invited to the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in 2022. According to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has accepted these leaders' attendance in the event. Azerbaijan will also attend the conference, according to Cavusoglu, who also stated that delegates from both Armenia and Azerbaijan will be allowed to "voice their ideas" at the location, which will serve as "confidence-building steps." Azerbaijan is supporting Turkey's normalisation process with Armenia, according to Cavusoglu. The Antalya Diplomacy Forum is a high-level gathering of diplomatic professionals such as political leaders, diplomats, opinion makers, and academics, and it will take place on March 11-13 this year in an Antalya resort on the Mediterranean coast. On January 14, Turkish and Armenian envoys met in Moscow with the goal of ending decades of animosity between the two neighbours. Due to the lack of diplomatic ties, Turkey named Serdar Kilic, a former US ambassador, as the special envoy, while Armenia named National Assembly Deputy Speaker Ruben Rubinyan to lead the negotiations. As part of their normalisation efforts, Turkey and Armenia will resume mutual charter flights between Istanbul and Yerevan on February 2. Turkish President files criminal charges against Opposition lawmakers UNAMA concerned about human rights breaches in Afghanistan UN recalls victims of Holocaust's unparalleled horror: Guterres UNITED NATIONS The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has had its mandate extended until July 31, but the Security Council has voiced significant concerns about a number of problems, including continuing violations of the military status quo along the ceasefire lines. The Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2618, which urged the leaders of the two Cypriot communities, as well as all other parties concerned, to refrain from any acts or statements that could jeopardize the settlement process or exacerbate tensions on the island. It also expressed concern about tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, emphasizing the importance of peaceful resolution of issues in accordance with international law. The Council expressed grave concern about both sides' alleged advance into the buffer zone dividing Greek and Turkish communities in the northern and southern sections of the Mediterranean island since 1974, as well as the rise in illegal construction. It urged both sides to lower current impediments to intercommunal communication and praised the UN for continuing to hold regular talks with them. China to crack down on illegal coal price gouging DPP authority sets itself against entire Chinese nation with provocative actions: spokesperson Fully vaccinated Tourists will be allowed admission into the Philippines Islamabad: The border dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan is not taking the name of stopping. Pakistan's army has once again made it clear that the fencing of the Pakistan-Afghan border will be completed as planned as the blood of Pakistani martyrs is involved in this important initiative. The Pakistani army has said that the threat of cross-border terrorism has increased after the departure of foreign troops from Afghanistan and in such a situation, it is necessary to complete the fencing work on the Durand line. According to media reports, Chief Military Spokesperson (DG ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar, during a press conference held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, said, "The purpose of fencing is not to divide the people, but to protect them. This work is being done to ensure peace at the border... Work on this will continue and the fence will remain here." The remarks by the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) came after Taliban fighters removed parts of the fence on the Pakistan-Afghan border. Some time ago, videos were going viral on social media in which Taliban fighters were seen uprooting a fence erected by Pakistan. Afghan defence ministry spokesman and some other Taliban officials had said the fence being erected by Pakistan was illegal as it separated tribes on both sides. Turkey welcomes Armenia to participation in Antalya Diplomacy Forum This Country hits new high of 82,180 Corona Cases UNAMA concerned about human rights breaches in Afghanistan By Trend Croatian companies preliminary talks on investment opportunities in Azerbaijani liberated territories, Croatian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Branko Zebic told Trend. Commenting on whether Croatian companies are interested in investment opportunities in Azerbaijani liberated territories, the ambassador noted that yes, they are interested and there are some preliminary talks about it with the Azerbaijani authorities and business community. Commenting on the prospects for opening Trade Houses of Azerbaijan in Croatia and vice-versa, Ambassador said that this possibility has been overlooked some years ago, unfortunately without results. For the beginning, we should start with a more significant presence of our food products and beverages on both markets through regular store chains. There are only a few Croatian food products on the Azerbaijani market. A similar situation is with Azerbaijani products in Croatia. I will soon have a meeting in AZPROMO in this regard. Certainly, we, Azerbaijan and Croatia, have untapped possibilities to strengthen our cooperation in agriculture and food processing industries, he said. He also noted that the next meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation will be held in Baku, having emphasized that the second meeting of the Commission was held in November last year. This kind of meeting usually takes place every two-three years. For the moment, we only know that the next meeting will be in Baku. It was a productive meeting in Zagreb where more than 30 high representatives of the different state bodies and ministries from both sides participated. Azerbaijani delegation was headed by Minister of Culture Mr. Anvar Karimov and Croatian by Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Mr. Tomislav ?ori?. All possibilities of economic and trade cooperation were discussed and scrutinized. We hope for positive results in the near future, he said. Furthermore, commenting on whether the COVID-19 pandemic in any way affected the bilateral relations, Zebic said that bilateral trade turnover remained stable. We do not have yet the results for the whole 2021 year, but most probably, they will even outgrow the last years as well as those of the year before. As regards bilateral relations generally, despite the pandemic it has intensified. Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Mr. Gordan Grli? Radman paid an official visit to Azerbaijan in October and the Second Meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Economic and Trade Cooperation was held in Zagreb in November, ambassador said. He also noted that there were also exchanges of cultural programs and projects in the organization of the Croatian Embassy in Baku and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Zagreb. In this context, I would like to highlight two concerts in Baku in December, performed by the Croatian Vocal Ensemble Klapa Bosket, he added. In turn, commenting on the progress on Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) project, developed by four countries: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania, Zebic recalled that an online meeting was held with all relevant stakeholders on January 18, 2022 during which it was concluded that the project company needs to be established as soon as possible. There is an intention that representatives of all four governments will sign a statement of support for the development of project company on 4 February 2022 on the margins of the Southern Gas Corridor Ministerial Meeting in Baku. We believe that the company will be established in the next few months, depending on the pandemic situation, he said. He also noted that although the preparation of the project company is in the mature phase now, due to the COVID-19 situation it is still not established. Of course, technology has not become advanced enough to download food. However, it is also equally true that one cannot stop drooling after seeing captivating food pictures and videos. Foodies in Nepal who use Instagram know it well. Many foodies in Nepal have been food-blogging on Instagram and other social media for the past several years. With the mushrooming number of restaurants and eateries, it always becomes difficult for food lovers to make their choice. In such a case, you can always rely on these famous food pages on Instagram by famous foodies in Nepal: 1. Mr. Foodie Nepal (mr.foodie_nepal) Photo: Screengrab/mr.foodie_nepals Instagram page Mr.foodie_nepal is run by a 29-year-old food enthusiast. He, who considers himself a big-time foodie, impulsively started this page in 2016. His food blogging journey specifically started after a bad food experience from one of the appealing appearing restaurants as he believes people deserve the truth. Since then, there has been no full stop as he has been popular among foodies in Nepal. He explores numerous restaurants and eateries in Nepal, eats food, takes photographs, records videos, and writes reviews. His Instagram page has 243,000 followers. 2. Nepal.food (@nepal.food) Photo: Screengrab/nepal.foods Instagram page Siddhartha Ghimire is the man behind this page (@nepal.food), which is one of the most famous food v/blogging pages popular among foodies in Nepal. Ghimire initially started with Sidharth.Food in 2015 as a personal food diary. And, when the page grabbed the attention of more and more people, he switched to @nepal.food. Ghimire considers his father, who is a chef by profession, as his major influence on the culinary world. Following his passions for exploring new restaurants, taking photos, rating food and writing reviews, he has come a long way in his food blogging journey. Now, he has about 278,000 followers on his Instagram page. Ghimire posts comprehensive reviews, recipes and a lot more relating to the culinary world. 3. Foodnommics (@foodnommics) Photo: Screengrab/foodnommicss Instagram page Foodnommics is one of the growing food pages that have appealed to several foodies in Nepal. Inspired by her love for food and photography (food), Aleesa started this page in August 2016. Since then, there has been no looking back as this page has drawn over 738,000 followers. Initially, she just used to post delicious-looking food pictures. But, as the attention grew, she started reviewing the foods taste, quality and restaurants service of food. 4. Love Eat Repeat (@love.eat.repeatt) Photo: Screengrab/love.eat.repeatts Instagram page Shubam Parajuli, an aspiring photographer and all-time foodie, and his friend Sweksha Bhandhari handle the page @love.eat.repeatt. Parajuli created this page for foodies in Nepal, following his passion for food photography. This page has 752,000 followers on Instagram and is praised for its reviews of food and restaurants and drooling pictures of food. 5. Hungry Tummy (hungry.tummy) Photo: Screengrab/hungry.tummys Instagram page Hungry Tummy is run by food blogger and home cook Ismita Rawat. Rawat started food v/blogging on Instagram in 2020 when boredom hit really hard during the first lockdown and her passion for cooking was on high. Following her passion for food, she made several dishes and posted their pictures on the page, dedicating them to foodies in Nepal. Later on, because of her work, she could not continue posting homemade food, and then she decided to post pictures of food that she eats outside at restaurants with her review. Along with this, she still cooks in her spare time and posts captivating pictures of home-cooked food. 6. My Darling Food (mydarlingfood) Photo: Screengrab/mydarlingfoods Instagram page My Darling Food officially started reviewing food and posting on Instagram in 2016. It was actually when her personal Instagram account was inundated by the photos of food and the constant queries about food she had to deal with. Through her v/blog, she, an avid food lover, takes you around the restaurants and eateries in Nepal and also her kitchen. Not only will you find eateries to visit nearby and satisfy your cravings, but she also shares easy recipes one can make with the ingredients readily available in their kitchen. She has garnered about 467,000 followers on Instagram. 7. Foodie Sisters Nepal (@foodiesistersnepal) Photo: Screengrab/foodiesistersnepals Instagram page Another famous food page of Nepal, run by two sisters Mena and Priyanka, is @foodiesistersnepal. When the sisters faced trouble finding perfect food places to kill their hunger, they decided to create this medium to connect numerous food lovers and explore varieties of new tastes. It started back in 2016. After their blog got discontinued in 2018, they again started from scratch. Today, there are 201,000 followers relying on their food and restaurants reviews and recommendations on their Instagram page. Butwal, January 28 In a recent incident of the Nepal-India border crisis, Nepalis in Susta of the Nawalparasi West district have accused Indian authorities of constructing a road on the borderland in such a way that it would inundate Nepal in the monsoon. Indian authorities are constructing a 27-km road on the southern side of four rural municipalitiesSusta, Pratapur, Sarawal and Palhinandanof the district. The road is within 25 metres of the borderline. Locals claim the road would inundate Nepal as it is above the surface, which means it would block the water from passing southwards when it rains. Ram Prasad Pandey, the chief of the Susta rural municipality, says the locals have submitted a memorandum to the prime minister via the chief district officer to look into the issue. Chief District Officer Dharmendra Kumar Mishra says he is aware of the construction work, saying the federal government should try to solve this issue in consultation with the Indian counterpart. This issue is not limited to one district, he says, The government should try to solve this via diplomatic mediums. Mishra says he has also informed the federal Ministry of Home Affairs about the issue. Susta has remained one of the disputed areas between Nepal and India. Gopal Gurung, a local activist, says India has encroached on around 14,000 hectares of land. Two fine gentlemen communicated with me recently, David Effron and Chad Rabinovitz. The first I knew 35 years ago back in Manhattan. The second I've known almost since we moved to Bloomington eight years ago. Both have monumentally contributed to Bloomington's cultural scene. (And both can really make you laugh.) David Effron is seen conducting in this file photo. Reconnecting with conductor David Effron After three and a half decades, I saw conductor David Effron again. It was after an opera at the Musical Arts Center eight years ago. I thought I recognized him standing in the lobby. I had known him back in Manhattan, engaged, as I was, to his first cousin and best friend, author Ken Platnick. (Ken wrote the first book about the financial world's puts and calls, "The option game: Puts and Calls and How to Play Them." Incidentally, these derivative investments, whose prices soar or plummet based on fluctuations of other financial products' prices, had beckoned to, and ruined, my dad in the 1970s.) Effron, professor emeritus at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, was a conductor there for 18 years, leading productions of "Peter Grimes," "Wozzeck" and "Der Rosenkavalier" as well as seven of the 10 symphonies of Mahler and a plethora of standard opera and symphonic repertoire. Before Jacobs, he taught for 21 years at Eastman School of Music. He retired in 2016, two years after my MAC sighting of him. More: New restaurant The Elm aims for February opening; Function Brewing under new ownership David and I talked for a few minutes that night, vowing to meet for dinner. I didn't follow through, but then last week, as I interviewed David's now closest friend, conductor Arthur Fagen, we thought it would be fun to give David a call. David and I met for coffee, and his pretty wife of nearly 30 years, Arlene, an artist, joined us. Have you ever reconnected with someone after that long? It's bad enough that the holidays are just over, and they always remind us of time's passing. But this just swooped me back into my history. Story continues David's eyes and voice are exactly the same. So are his mannerisms. His son Daniel, now a social psychologist in London, was a toddler when I knew the Effrons. I made him laugh by crying like a baby one night. David is still warm and fuzzy and brilliant. We talked about the squirrel-in-the-toilet story (be glad you weren't there), past spouses, and Cynthia Auerbach, an opera director with the New York City Opera for 15 years, who died at 44. "I conducted at the New York City Opera for 18 years and Cynthia Auerbach was a beloved colleague who hired me at the Chautauqua Institute when she was artistic director there," he said, looking sad. Auerbach had fought lung cancer. I could still see why people always seemed to gravitate to David, who has retained his down-to-earth-ness and vulnerability, rare for one who climbs this far up the ladder. I plan to write later about what conductors do. I mean, don't they just get put on a pedestal and wave a ruler in the air while the musicians do the work? David, and maybe others, will enlighten me. For now, I challenge you to use social media to find someone you haven't seen in 35 years. Cast members for Bloomington Playwrights Project's production of "Modern" include, from left, front row, Josh Ingle Jr. and Shane Stoltz; second row, Evan Vaughan and Luke Swaller (hidden); third row, Alanna Porter, Natalie Stahl and Joelle Jackson; back row, Kabir Gandhi, Jaden Holtschlag and Asher Ramaly. Broadway veteran Jerry Dixon directing BPP musical A three-time Broadway and 20-time Off Broadway veteran is directing Bloomington Playwrights Project's dramatic musical "Modern," the new opening date for which is Feb. 11. Early in his career; in fact, at its start, Jerry Dixon was called into the office at a Kalamazoo, Michigan, theater where he was performing. "I thought I was being fired," he said. Jerry Dixon Instead, Irving S. Gilmore had noticed Dixon's talent in "Pippin" and believed the kid could make it in New York, where musicals reign. "Mr. Gilmore wrote me a check." That check, intended to keep Dixon going, and auditioning, in Manhattan for three months, catapulted him into staying three years, and yes, making it. (Irving S. Gilmore was the son of James Gilmore, who founded Kalamazoo 's Gilmore Department Store in 1881.) More: IU opera, ballet to feature music of William Grant Still, first professional Black conductor "Modern" resonates with Dixon, who as a gay Black man has experienced a few rites of passage himself. The plot involves Amish teenagers, who now that they are approaching adulthood, must choose to stay in their Amish communities or leave, and stay gone forever. "It's not that my family rejected me for being gay," he said. "It's more that I wasn't supported." (Today, however, his mother adores Dixon's husband. "She runs up to Mario and says, 'Oh, my baby!'") One of the lessons in "Modern," Dixon said, is that when we make decisions we are doing it for ourselves, not someone else. "You'll get lots of advice, but it's YOUR decision." Your decision might be to buy tickets soon. "Seating is extremely limited," said Rabinovitz, the producing artistic director. "As it is, we only have six performances, which we could fill up with just the students who want to see the show, let alone our subscribers, and let alone single ticket buyers." So it's first come, first served, and the theater simply wont have the capacity to meet demand for this one. "Im honestly not saying that to boost sales," he said. "Im saying that so people dont get mad at me later and call my mother and tell her that I wouldnt let them into the show and get me in trouble and have my inheritance taken away." If you go WHAT: "Modern," a musical drama, book and lyrics by Selda Sahin, music by Derek Gregor. WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11-19 (These are new dates and may be expanded). WHERE: Ted Jones Playhouse at Bloomington Playwrights Project, 107 W. Ninth St. TICKETS: newplays.org/boxoffice/calendar/ or 812-323-3020; For last minute tickets, order online or call or visit the BPP, 812-334-1188. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington Playwrights Project musical, interview with David Effron Jan 28 (Reuters) - Cineworld Group said on Friday Canada's Cineplex Inc filed an appeal against its plea challenging an order the British cinema operator pay C$1.23 billion ($965.92 million) in damages to Cineplex for abandoning a planned takeover. The London-listed company said it disagreed with the submissions made by Cineplex in its cross-appeal and will respond to it, adding Cineworld does not expect to pay any damages while the appeals are ongoing. In December, a Canadian court ordered Cineworld, the world's second-largest cinema operator, to pay the damages after the British firm walked away from a $1.65 billion deal in mid-2020, citing breaches in the merger agreement by Cineplex. Cineplex rejected the claims and accused Cineworld of avoiding its obligations under the agreement in light of the pandemic's impact on the industry. Some analysts at that time said the fine was bigger than Cineworld's available resources. Cineworld, which operates Regal Cinemas in the United States, has been struggling with debt of about $8.3 billion and has mooted listing itself or a part of its business in the U.S. where it generates the bulk of its revenue. ($1 = 1.2734 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) Coal waits to be loaded on train cars to depart the Hobet mine in Boone County By Sudarshan Varadhan CHENNAI (Reuters) - Global coal prices have shot back towards record highs as the Ukraine crisis raises expectations that European buyers will start loading up on the fossil fuel for fear that a standoff between Russia and western nations will cut off gas supplies. The benchmark Newcastle coal index has soared by over a third this month to $262 a tonne, fuelled initially by a month-long export ban by top supplier Indonesia and now by worries that any military engagement in Ukraine will sever gas supplies from Russia. Europe relies on Russia for around 35% of its natural gas, and has been grappling with a gas shortage since last summer that sent local prices to record highs late last year. GRAPHIC: Global coal prices soar as Ukraine tensions add to coal supply worries, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/klpykmkympg/ICENewcastleCoalJan282022.png Gas prices started to ease in recent weeks as imports surged, but have rallied again as the escalating tensions with Russia raise concerns about a potential supply disruption https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/what-are-europes-options-case-russian-gas-disruption-2022-01-27. To protect themselves from any fuel shortages, European utilities have stepped up imports of coal, further tightening a market that has yet to recover from Indonesia's shock ban that cut coal flows during the peak winter demand season. "Spot cargoes are becoming scarcer in the near term, with movement towards Europe where prices are jumping due to gas prices and the simultaneous effect of the recent Indonesian ban," said Puneet Gupta, founder of Indian coal marketplace Coalshastra. While Europe's coal use has declined sharply in recent years - accounting for just 6.2% of global coal use in 2020, according to BP data - European buyers have aggressively stepped up purchases since mid 2021. GRAPHIC: Europe thermal coal imports, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/dwvkrjrblpm/Europethermalcoalimports.png Under pressure to meet climate targets, several EU countries have shut down old coal-fired power plants. Some countries retain coal plants for use for back-up supply but many have already been fired back up https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/what-are-europes-options-case-russian-gas-disruption-2022-01-27 due to high gas prices. Story continues According to commodity flows tracking firm Kpler, Europe is on course to import 5.58 million tonnes of thermal coal in January, the highest monthly total since November 2019, and over 1 million tonnes more than the monthly average in 2021. The buying has helped coal prices snap back sharply after drifting off record highs struck last October on shortages in China and India amid extreme weather and post-pandemic industrial demand. KNOCK ON EFFECT The rise in European consumption could squeeze out other buyers, especially in number two coal consumer India. GRAPHIC: Europe's imports of thermal coal set to jump in January amid tight gas supplies, worries over Russia-Ukraine fallout, https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/gkplgjgyevb/RegionalCoalImports.png India will have to pay a higher price for seaborne coal as supply tightens in the coming weeks, said Rajendra Singh, managing director at Komin India Resources Pvt Ltd, a commodities trading firm. "The Ukraine-Russia geopolitical issue will exacerbate the logistical challenges due to the coal ban by the Indonesian government," Singh said. Top coal consumer China gets roughly 90% of its supplies from domestic mines, making it better insulated from international market gyrations. Even so, traders there remain wary of any lengthy disruptions to international coal flows given the country relies on coal for over 60% of its electricity. In the Philippines, where coal also accounts for around 60% of electricity production, power producers have been told to use more domestic coal supplies where possible. "For other power plants that solely rely on imported high-grade coal, there is no other recourse but to seek other sources of coal from nearby countries such as Australia, Russia and Vietnam," said Arnulfo Robles, executive director of lobby group Philippine Chamber of Coal Mines. "But the downside is that the supply of high-grade coal from these countries is more expensive given high freight costs," he said. The impact of the Indonesian ban has also been felt more on high-energy coal as replacement options are more limited, said Rory Simington, a principal analyst at Wood Mackeznie While prices should fall in February, the picture could change in the event of the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Europe or an interruption to Russian coal exports, he said INDONESIAN OUTLOOK UNCLEAR As well as uncertainly over Ukraine, importers are still unclear over what to expect from Indonesia after authorities there said only miners that have complied with new domestic market sales regulations will be allowed to resume exports after the official ban expires on Jan. 31. Private power plants in India would "definitely be impacted" by the Indonesian coal ban, as the issue has not been fully resolved and Indian utilities mostly buy from small miners, said Kirit C Gandhi, joint president at Indian cement firm Shree Cement. "If fresh loading is not allowed in the next 5-10 days, there will be a further jump in prices. Consumers cannot wait any further because this is peak buying season," Gandhi said. Vasudev Pamnani, managing director of Indian consultancy Lavi Coal Info OPC Pvt Ltd, said buyers have "very few options, there are supply issues everywhere." (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan in New Delhi, Enrico De la Crus in Manila, Muyu Xu in Beijing, Shivani Singh in Singapore, Yuka Obayashi in Tokyo, editing by Gavin Maguire and Richard Pullin) Google will invest as much as $1 billion in the Indian telecom operator Airtel, the latest in a series of bets the search giant has made in the world's second largest internet market as part of a $10 billion commitment to the country. Google said it will invest $700 million to acquire a 1.28% stake in Airtel, the second largest telecom operator in India with over 300 million subscribers, and pour in up to $300 million more to explore multi-year commercial agreements with the telco. The two firms will work to expand Airtel's offerings to cover a wide-range of Android-enabled devices to consumers via "innovative affordability programs," they said. Google and Airtel will also explore partnerships with smartphone makers to make more affordable smartphones, they said. Airtel is a leading pioneer shaping Indias digital future, and we are proud to partner on a shared vision for expanding connectivity and ensuring equitable access to the Internet for more Indians, said Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Google and Alphabet, in a statement. Our commercial and equity investment in Airtel is a continuation of our Google for India Digitization Fund's efforts to increase access to smartphones, enhance connectivity to support new business models, and help companies on their digital transformation journey. An Airtel store as seen in Kolkata, India, on 24 November 2021. (Photo by Debarchan Chatterjee/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Friday's announcement comes at a time when Airtel and Vodafone have been scrambling for ways to repay billions of dollars they owe to the Indian government. Vodafone gave away over 35% ownership to New Delhi earlier this month, making the Indian government its largest shareholder. Vodafone and Airtel compete with Jio Platforms, run by Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani. Jio Platforms has amassed over 400 million subscribers in India, thanks to its cut-rate voice calls and data offerings. Google invested $4.5 billion in Jio Platforms in 2020. Facebook and nearly a dozen more firms have backed the Ambani-controlled firm. Story continues Google and Jio Platforms have also collaborated to build a custom Android smartphone that they initially said will be aimed at the masses. But the handset, whose launch was delayed once, is fairly too pricey to reach much of the population, analysts have said. (At an event in India in 2017, Pichai said that many markets such as India need phones at a price point of $30 for mass adoption. JioPhone costs about $87.) Airtel said on Friday that it will explore "larger strategic goals" with Google and "potentially" co-create India-specific network domain use cases for 5G and other standards. The companies also plan to collaborate on "shaping and growing" the cloud ecosystem in India, they said. Airtel, which already serves over 1 million small and medium-sized businesses with its enterprises connectivity offering, said Friday's announcement will "help accelerate digital adoption." Airtel and Google share the vision to grow Indias digital dividend through innovative products. With our future ready network, digital platforms, last mile distribution and payments ecosystem, we look forward to working closely with Google to increase the depth and breadth of Indias digital ecosystem," said Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel, in a statement. With over 600 million internet users -- and just as many yet to come online -- India is one of the last great growth markets for American technology groups. Both Google and Facebook ran programs in the past decade to bring internet connectivity to tens of millions of Indians. African cities, particularly sub-Saharan ones, have the fastest global urban growth rate. But with challenges around overcrowding, congestion, infrastructure, power and poor governance, these cities are maxed out in what they can provide to the average African living in urban environments. Some experts think charter cities offer a solution. They are granted a special jurisdiction to create a new governance system and allow city officials to adopt best practices in commercial regulation. Typically, charter cities are public-private partnerships between city developers and host countries. There are a few examples of successful charter cities globallySingapore, Shenzhen and Dubai among thembut most have underperformed or failed, especially in Nigeria. For instance, Eko Atlantic, a purpose-built city near Lagos, planned to house more than 250,000 people in an area where a large majority of its 15 million population cannot afford housing. The ongoing project, which commenced in 2009, also threatens to displace tens of thousands of people who live in coastal areas around the new development. Nigerias special economic zones (SEZ)regions with different business and trade laws from the rest of the country, with tax and business incentives coupled with regulatory innovationhave also struggled. For example, the 16,500-hectare Lekki Free Trade Zone hasnt lived up to expectations. The precedent set by these two plans showcases a more significant problem: Charter cities and SEZs often cant escape the crisis and economic stagnation of their host state, particularly in poor countries. This is why theres some skepticism surrounding the Talent City project, a futuristic charter city for tech professionals announced in January 2020 by Future Africa, a firm housing rolling funds and collectives that invest in African startups. But the firm believes the planned city will be a success because it will focus on creating jobs and attracting the talent that drives Africas technology, innovation and digital economy. Story continues Talent City, in a statement, the city will be managed within a free trade zone with its own productivity-focused, entrepreneurial-centred regulations and bylaws. Do African states need charter cities for tech? Its been two years since this announcement. And while no single structure has been constructed, Future Africa general partner Iyinoluwa Aboyeji and his partners have continuously touted Talent Citys promise. Progress has been incremental, but Talent City has acquired land to begin construction of its first location: Talent City Lagos, a 72,000-square-meter plot of land located in Alaro City, a 2-000 hectare city-scale development area in the Lekki Free Zone. This first prototype city, featuring a central coworking campus and a variety of housing options, will be home to 1,000 residents and 2,500 remote workers. These figures are subject to change, the company said. A small piece I wrote about my moonshot startup project - building a new city where the digital economy may thrive. https://t.co/mPk5B6ohck iyin.eth (@iaboyeji) January 16, 2020 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js On a call with TechCrunch, Aboyeji, who kickstarted the project with Luqman Edu and Coco Liu, points out three main problems Talent City hopes to solve for techies. During Aboyejis time at Andela, the company was still a tech talent incubator and housed engineers in its hubs. Between 2014 to 2017, the company spent heavily on office settings and living quarters because most real estate developers in Lagos didnt understand how to build real estate for tech people, said the Andela and Flutterwave founder. Andela, like many others, also faced issues around power, internet and commutes. Furthermore, these startups contend with stifling government policies (2020s ride-hailing ban and last years cryptocurrency ban come to mind), political instability and security issues. This was not just an Andela problem, said Aboyeji, who also co-founded payments unicorn Flutterwave. Today, I run an investment firm with 60 portfolio companies (mostly technology companies) and over $20 million in assets under management, and they all continue to tell me the infrastructure problem has not only gotten worse but more expensive to solve. Over the years, the industry has grown from when I was at Andela. Last year, the technology industry raised over $1.4 billion in venture capital. Yet entrepreneurs in Lagos are still stuck in a subpar environment despite a strong drive to build, deeply frustrated with their living conditions along with a system that is not functional. Talent City, he claims, could remedy these problems. According to Aboyeji, Talent City is being designed for remote work and built for the niche of tech entrepreneurs and professionals. The charter city will provide infrastructure for tech such as constant power and high-speed internet; favorable policies that enable innovation; and a like-minded community of people who live and work in proximity to each other. Aboyeji said that constructing the compound within the larger ecosystem of Alaro City will shield Talent City and its inhabitants from knee-jerk government reactions to policy changes, which will be critical to its ultimate success. Were trying to build for the part that were good at, which is the community and the technology piece of things. Were not trying to reinvent the wheel by negotiating something new with the government, said Liu, a former designer at Google and Line and Talent Citys head of operations and experience. And thats why we positioned ourselves strategically in the Free Trade Zone within a larger city. So we have de-risked in terms of policy and infrastructure from both sides of the ecosystems we belong to. Africas new Silicon Valley? Lius comments are telling. Contrary to other charter cities, which are built as public-private partnerships, Talent Citys first project in Lagos would eschew government participation. Talent City is taking advantage of Alaro Citys already-formed partnership with the Lagos state government, thus providing some coverage in that aspect, said Edu, adding that the company took this route because it needs to be able to test out ideas in Lagos before using it as a prototype to replicate in other parts of Africa. The plan for Talent City is to scale across Africa We are already speaking strategically about where we intend to put the second one once we get this one up and running. We have set up charter cities across Africa from the beginning, said Edu, who also owns real estate services and proptech companies currently operating in 12 states of Nigeria. Its understandable why the team thinks highly of its project. But Nigerias tech ecosystemwith Lagos at the forefront, even regionally (the city is Africas startup capital from the recent StartupBlink report released this month)has managed to pull in billions of dollars in venture capital funding and minted three unicorns last year, despite battling all of the infrastructure challenges. So is Talent City even necessary? Aboyeji argues that while a lot of money has been pumped into Nigerian tech, real estate prices for offices and housing are becoming prohibitively expensive due to a lack of infrastructure, which Talent City wants to fix. Also, in the past, founders and tech professionals alike touted Yaba, a suburb of Lagos, as the countrys Silicon Valley. But big company exits by the likes of Andela and Konga in 2017 (and several others over the years) due to infrastructure deficits and a fading sense of community has stained the towns once-heralded tech reputation. And though we now operate in a remote-first world, companies cannot guarantee that their employees have what it takes to deliver amenities themselves consistently. So although startups and tech professionals have found different places to thrive within Lagos, especially on the island part of the city, Talent City is hoping to draw in that talent to become Africas Silicon Valley. The company said its pricing will be competitive enough for individuals and corporations as it offers monthly rent and mortgages to match global expectations, along with communal benefits of working together. Aboyeji said his venture capital firm, Future Africa, which is remote-first, will also move its headquarters to the new city. Future Africa is the majority owner of the project. With founding residents such as prominent founders and VCs (Yele Bademosi, Timi Ajiboye, Nadayar Enegesi and Kola Aina have already taken pieces of real estate), local tech companies may make similar transitions -- if the city takes shape. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji (Andela and Flutterwave co-founder; Future Africa founding partner, and Talent City co-founder) Talent City will be working with Amsterdam-based design and urbanism firm NLE and real estate agency Jones Lang LaSalle for community and development management purposes. The charter citybacked by Pronomos, Charter Cities Institute, Ventures Platform and LoftyInchas raised more than $13 million for its Lagos project. However, Aboyeji said fundraising efforts are still ongoing. The first construction phase is set to begin by May, with some structures completed by the end of 2023. We cant build a $1.4 billion industry in thin air. I mean, it sounds romantic. And so people want to try it. And Ive been one of those advocates of attempting it. But the ecosystem must have an address, said Aboyeji, who referenced a trip to Israel as an influential factor in starting Talent City. So I think the important thing is that this becomes that address for the ecosystem, it becomes where people come together to do tech. It has amazing prospects; theres a seaport opposite our location and an airport about 20 minutes away, so this is undoubtedly going to be the future of Lagos. And I think it would be really fun for tech to get here first. Aboyeji isnt the only tech leader trying to build a private city. Ryan Rzepecki, an ex-Uber executive who sold his electric bike company Jump to the mobility tech giant, said in 2020 that he wanted to fund a politically autonomous charter city to welcome tech workers abandoning Silicon Valley during the pandemic. However, his reasons differ from Aboyeji. In an interview with The Telegraph, Rzepecki said his goal was to fix the homelessness crisis in San Francisco. The way we have built regions and cities is not fundamentally sustainable and there is a chance to build new places that are better, more sustainable and environmentally friendly, he said in the interview. There is a pretty broad spectrum of people who are interested in this and I think most people, or at least myself, are trying to make a better world in the broadest terms. Its not like things are working for everybody on the planet at the moment. I think having some people say, lets try something different, shouldnt be met with skepticism. And some big-name investors arent skeptical: Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen invested in Pronomos, a backer of Talent City. While successful charter cities have been created with government backing, the tech hubs of the future are attracting private funds, suggesting its only a matter of time before a blueprint is drawn for charter cities to be replicated globally. Where diverse industries and a huge market gather OSAKA, Japan, January 28, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Kansai region, which includes unique cities of Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto, is a massive market with a population of 24.65 million people and a GDP of approximately 100.05 trillion yen. It equals the metropolitan area centered on Tokyo as a site for business and plays the central role in the economy of Western Japan. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220124005319/en/ Succeed Together in Japan and Beyond (Graphic: Business Wire) In this region, particularly on the Osaka Gulf Coast, there is a cluster of companies and research institutes related to the environmental and new energy industries. Also, throughout Osaka City, bio-related pharmaceutical companies and food manufacturers gather as well as the chemical and medical equipment companies. [Source] JETRO Investing in Japan "Osaka City" https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/invest/region/data/osaka-city.html O-BIC "Industry of Osaka" https://o-bic.net/e/attractive/ As the host city of the next World Expo in 2025, Osaka has been a hot spot for startups attracting various companies and people from all over the world. Boosting up innovation movement, Global Innovation Conference Hack Osaka Executive Committee* will host Startup Business Meetings from February 8th (Tue) to 9th (Wed), co-organized by Osaka Prefecture, as one of the programs of Annual Global Innovation Conference, Hack Osaka 2022. * The committee composes of Osaka City, Urban Innovation Institute, JETRO Osaka, and Osaka Business Development Agency. In 2022, with the themes of "Next-Generation Air Mobility" and "Infrastructure", a talk session between companies engaging in eVTOL development, reverse pitch by corporations in Kansai region, and global pitch contest Hack Award 2022 are waiting to be streamed. Hack Osaka 2022 Date: Thursday, Feb. 10th, 2022 1 p.m. 7 p.m. (JST) Registration: https://www.innovation-osaka.jp/hackosaka/en/index.php Story continues Startup Business Meetings 2022 Date: Tuesday, Feb. 8th to Wednesday, Feb. 9th, 2022 9 a.m. 8 p.m. (JST) Information: https://www.innovation-osaka.jp/hackosaka/en/business-meeting.php [List of Startups] UrbanChain Group Limited Hong Kong (Smart parking) Autofleet Israel (Fleet management) HeyCharge GmbH Germany (EV charge in in-door environment) H3 Dynamics Singapore (Hydrogen propulsion drone AI) MobyFly Switzerland (Zero-emission hydrofoil) FLYING WHALES France (Air freight solution with loads of 60t) Sharper Shape Inc. USA (Digital twin for utility infrastructure) INFINITE FOUNDRY Brazil (3D Digital twin for industries) Asilla, Inc. Japan (AI security system) NanoLock security Israel (Zero-trust security for IoT devices) BYSTAMP France (Digital stamp) Falkonry Inc. USA (Fact-based insights for manufacturing with AI) Innoviz Technologies Israel (3D LiDAR) Materna IPS GmbH Germany (Biometrics passenger processing) Verily Vision Thailand (Logistics automation at ports, warehouses, factories) Details of Startups: https://www.innovation-osaka.jp/hackosaka/assets/doc/2022-participants/en/all-business2022-en.pdf View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220124005319/en/ Contacts [Inquiries] Global Innovation Conference Hack Osaka Executive Committee (JETRO Osaka) Aki Hirahata TEL: +81 6-4705-8603 (Mon Fri 9:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. Closed during national holidays) E-mail: osd@jetro.or.jp Abortion is not expected to be a top issue at the Oregon Legislature this session. But as the Oregon March for Life returns to the Oregon Capitol Saturday, activists on both sides are awaiting a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could have a significant impact nationwide. Organizers with Oregon Right to Life expect about 2,000 people to attend the rally in Salem. The city will close Court Street to vehicle traffic starting at 10 a.m., as well as Cottage Street and one lane of Center Street at about 2:30 p.m. All streets are expected to be reopened by 5 p.m. The rally begins at 2 p.m., with the march itself scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Religious and political leaders will be among the speakers. The primary focus is to honor and acknowledge the lives that have been lost due to legal abortion, Oregon Right to Life executive director Lois Anderson said. Its also to stand together and commit together to our cause. Case before the Supreme Court The Supreme Court case in question deals with Mississippi and its ban on most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The high court heard the case in December, and long-time observers say a majority of the justices seemed poised to uphold the abortion ban, though perhaps fewer are willing to completely undo Roe v. Wade. Abortion rights advocates say allowing Mississippi's 15-week ban to take effect would, in practice, overturn Roe by wiping away one of its central holdings: that people have a right to an abortion until viability, the point when a fetus can survive outside the womb or about 24 weeks into a pregnancy. Abortion ruling impact: Why Oregon is insulated from looming US Supreme Court abortion decision At least 17 states enacted "trigger bans" or have pre-Roe abortion bans in place in the event the Supreme Court overturns the ruling, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Oregon is not among these states, and has passed laws securing access to abortions independent of what happens at the federal level. Story continues Teresa Danovich, of Eugene, attends the March for Life at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Jan. 25, 2020. While legal protections would remain, that does not mean Oregonians are entirely insulated from a ruling. For example, it is easier for some who lives in eastern Oregon to get an abortion in Boise, Idaho, because it is closer than Bend. Those people would have their access impacted, as Idaho is one of the states with a trigger ban. More people from Idaho are also expected to seek abortions in Oregon if the ban goes into effect, creating more demand for those services here. Proposed Oregon legislation Three bills that mention abortion or reproductive rights have been introduced for the 2022 Oregon legislative session, which begins Tuesday. Two of those bills are from Republicans, which Anderson acknowledged are unlikely to receive even initial hearings in the Democrat-controlled Legislature. The third is an omnibus bill with technical fixes within health care. Senate Bill 1553 is a re-introduction of a bill from a previous session that would require babies born alive despite an attempted abortion receive certain medical and legal protections. Proponents say the bill would afford needed protections, while opponents say situations where this bill would be needed are vanishingly rare and moreover, the bill is unnecessary because infanticide is already illegal. Rental help: Oregon renters can apply for assistance once again House Bill 4042 would require informed consent at least 24 hours prior to a planned chemical abortion about the option of reversing the procedure. The reversal is performed by taking a drug between the first and second pill of a two-pill medication abortion series. A handful of other states have passed similar bills, though medical and research groups say scientific evidence does not support the assertion that chemical abortions can be "reversed," and safety risks are unstudied. Anderson said the Supreme Court decision won't change her organization's focus of identifying and introducing anti-abortion legislation, as well as backing anti-abortion candidates for the state Legislature and for governor. Were all anticipating it will be a major decision; there will be a major shift in what we can do as individual voters and our legislators at the state level to limit abortion," Anderson said. Oregonians have largely shown their support for abortion rights and access. In 2018, voters shot down a ballot measure by a 2-to-1 margin that would have prohibited public funds from being spent on abortions. An Do, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, said that while the state has strong protections in place, there are still Oregonians who are experiencing barriers to abortion access. The state needs to push for even greater access, Do said, in addition to pushing back against attempts to limit access. Folks are always trying to chip away at the edges, Do said. "There are a lot of ways to introduce bills that attack abortion rights without an outright ban." But if the Supreme Court undoes some or all federal abortion access protections, those attacks could turn into "full-frontal assaults," Do said. USA Today contributed to this article. Reporter Connor Radnovich covers the Oregon Legislature and state government. Contact him at cradnovich@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6864, or follow him on Twitter at @CDRadnovich. Support local journalism by subscribing to the Statesman Journal. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon's March for Life returns as SCOTUS verdict looms OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 28, 2022 /CNW/ - The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, and the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, the Honourable Mary Ng, will hold a news conference following a National Summit to strengthen Canada's supply chain. The ministers will be available to answer questions from the media. Date: January 31, 2022 Time: 12:45 p.m. EST Location: Sir John A. MacDonald Building Room 200 144 Wellington St. Ottawa, ON K1P 5B9 Media will be able to ask questions via teleconference. Toll-free (Canada/US) dial-in number: 1-866-206-0153 Local dial-in number: 613-954-9003 Passcode: 6235714# NOTE: To help ensure optimal simultaneous interpretation sound quality, journalists are encouraged to use a microphone (headphones/headset) or, when possible, a landline, and to avoid using speaker mode if queuing up for questions. SOURCE Transport Canada Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2022/28/c6117.html By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has assigned a code to the Zangilan International Airport in liberated Karabakh, Digital Development and Transport Ministry has reported. The airport has been assigned the four-digit ICAO code "UBBZ," which will be published in the ICAO Location Indicators (ICAO, Doc 7910/182) in March. State Civil Aviation Agency Director Arif Mammadov praised ICAO's recognition of another liberated Karabakh city as a reliable partner and stated that its inclusion in the catalog is a source of pride. "A new air hub is being built on the foundation of the airports currently under construction in Karabakh and East Zangezur. Within a short period of time, Zangilan Airport will become one of the region's transportation and transit hubs," he added. It should be noted that the construction and commissioning of Zangilan Airport will link the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to Azerbaijan's main territory. It will also help to build a large modern logistics hub in the region. The construction of the airport commenced in April 2021, another historic achievement of the country. On August 12, 2021, the State Urban Planning and Architecture Committee established the Karabakh Regional Main Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, ensuring the systematic and consistent implementation of restoration and reconstruction work in the liberated lands. Furthermore, massive projects like Fuzuli International Airport, which opened on October 26, 2021, and the Zangilan and Lachin international airports, which are currently under construction, aim to create favorable conditions not only for investment but also for the region's tourism development. Azerbaijan also started to implement great road construction projects in Karabakh and the East Zangazur regions. On November 7, 2021, the Victory Road connecting the Fuzuli region with the Shusha city was built and inaugurated in a short period of time. Currently, work is underway on the construction of over 1,400 kilometers of roads, as well as telecommunications networks on the liberated territories. Over the past year, the country launched Shusha, Fuzuli, Kalbajar, Jabrayil, Zangilan, Gubadli substations, as well as Gulabird and Kalbajar-1 Hydroelectric Power Stations to provide uninterrupted energy supply in these regions. Moreover, steps have been taken to implement the Green Energy concept to ensure sustainable energy supply in the area. Azerbaijan launched the implementation of the smart village projects in its liberated lands to promote economic development, as well as modern governance models in the region. The first such project was launched in Zagilans Aghali village. Azerbaijan allocated $1.5 billion for the reconstruction of the liberated territories in 2021. In particular, these funds will be used to restore the infrastructure (electricity, gas, water, communications, roads, education, health, etc), as well as cultural and historical monuments. Minister Bibeau and Minister MacAulay meet with United States Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack Minister Bibeau and Minister MacAulay meet with United States Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack Canada NewsWire WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2022 WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2022 /CNW/ - Today, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau and the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, Member of Parliament for Cardigan, met with the United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in Washington, where Secretary Vilsack provided clear direction to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to proceed expeditiously with the risk analysis of exporting PEI table stock potatoes to Puerto Rico and the continental U.S. During the meeting, Ministers Bibeau and MacAulay underscored the importance of restoring market access for PEI potatoes for Canada and Islanders, while also emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The Ministers expressed Canada's unwavering confidence that the trade of table stock potatoes is safe with the current risk mitigation measures in place, such as ensuring potatoes are: sourced from non-restricted fields, washed, graded, and treated with a sprout inhibitor. Secretary Vilsack expressed understanding for the challenges, and reaffirmed the importance of a science-based approach in the resolution of this matter. The Ministers advocated for the U.S. to prioritize restoring trade of table stock potatoes as a first step, in particular to Puerto Rico, as well as the continental U.S., given that this type of potato has a negligible risk of transmitting potato wart. Table stock potatoes also represent the biggest proportion of PEI's exports of fresh potatoes to the U.S. Minister Bibeau also highlighted the extensive engagement between the two countries to resolve this issue, and spoke about the ongoing efforts by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to provide the USDA with the scientific data and information they require. The Secretary provided assurance that the information provided to the USDA will be reviewed expeditiously. Secretary Vilsack also confirmed that a decision on Puerto Rico will be rendered in under two weeks. Story continues Ministers Bibeau and MacAulay and Secretary Vilsack agreed to remain closely engaged on the matter of PEI potatoes. Additionally, Minister Bibeau and Secretary Vilsack took the opportunity to underscore the importance of working collaboratively to address climate change and environmental sustainability in the agriculture sector, and discussed dairy tariff rate quotas (TRQs). They committed to working together to tackle supply chain challenges, with a focus on transportation and critical infrastructure. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Rating Action: Moody's affirms Mohawk Industries' Baa1 ratings; outlook is stableGlobal Credit Research - 28 Jan 2022New York, January 28, 2022 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") today affirmed the Baa1 senior unsecured debt ratings of Mohawk Industries, Inc's ("Mohawk"). The company's commercial paper rating was also affirmed at Prime-2. Moody's also affirmed the senior unsecured debt ratings of Mohawk Capital Finance S.A. at Baa1 and the commercial paper ratings of Mohawk Capital Luxembourg S.A. at Prime-2. The outlook remains stable.The affirmation of the ratings reflects Mohawk's continued strong credit metrics, significant size, good geographic diversification, and leading market share in floor coverings. Consumers continue to focus on renovating their homes as the global pandemic lingers and spending in other categories such and travel and entrainment has yet to fully recover. Additionally, increased levels of home sales spurred by the pandemic continue to drive good demand in the flooring market. The rating also reflects the cyclical demand of Mohawk's products and variability in raw material and transportation costs, which causes earnings and cash flow volatility. Mohawk has excellent liquidity which can help it manage through cyclical downturns.Moody's expects Mohawk's operating performance to remain strong over the next 12 to 18 months as the global pandemic continues to disrupt markets and consumers remain focused on home renovations. The strong housing markets in the US will also continue to drive healthy demand for flooring. Mohawk will continue to capitalize on its strong market position and benefit from continued healthy backlog and low inventory levels at dealers following very strong demand in the previous year. Moody's expects the company will be able to offset rising labor costs and commodity expenses with disciplined pricing actions. Barring any debt financed acquisitions or share repurchases, Moody's expects Debt to EBITDA to remain below 1.5x and retained cash flow to net debt to remain very strong at above 50%. There remains risk that once the pandemic subsides, a stronger recovery in spending outside of the home in areas such as travel and entertainment will weaken demand for flooring. Mohawk is well positioned to handle any such retraction in its business given good cost discipline, excellent liquidity, and the current strong credit metrics.The ratings and affirmations of Mohawk Capital Finance S.A. and Mohawk Capital Luxembourg S.A. reflect the irrevocable and unconditional guarantee from Mohawk Industries, Inc.The following ratings are affected by today's action:Ratings Affirmed:..Issuer: Mohawk Capital Finance S.A.....GTD Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Affirmed Baa1..Issuer: Mohawk Capital Luxembourg S.A.....GTD Senior Unsecured Commercial Paper, Affirmed P-2..Issuer: Mohawk Industries, Inc.....Senior Unsecured Commercial Paper, Affirmed P-2....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, Affirmed Baa1Outlook Actions:..Issuer: Mohawk Capital Finance S.A.....Outlook, Remains Stable..Issuer: Mohawk Industries, Inc.....Outlook, Remains StableRATINGS RATIONALEMohawk's Baa1 senior unsecured rating reflects its strong credit metrics, significant size, good geographic diversification, and leading market share in floor coverings. Mohawk's credit profile is constrained by the cyclical demand of its products and variability in raw material and transportation costs, which causes earnings and cash flow volatility. The ratings are constrained by the highly cyclical nature of the flooring business, which can result in sharply lower earnings and cash flow during the weaker part of economic cycles.Mohawk is moderately exposed to environmental, social and governance risks. The Company's manufacturing process uses a significant amount of energy, especially natural gas, and commodity inputs. The company needs to invest to ensure its facilities and suppliers minimize the environmental impact. A failure to adhere to environmental regulations could result in financial penalties and remediation costs.Social factors relating to demographics and changes in consumer preferences abetted by technology will continue to influence the long-term demand trends for the company's products. The company's diverse business portfolio and consistent product development with a mix of growing products such as luxury vinyl tile (LVT) helps to mitigate categories where demand is declining such as carpeting, providing some stability to the overall revenue base and current strong operating cash flow generation.From a governance perspective, the company has a conservative financial policy, which is balanced among growing its business through acquisitions, share repurchases and debt repayment. The company maintains very low leverage, generates strong free cash flow, and has not historically paid dividends giving it greater flexibility to adjust return to shareholders. The vast majority of Mohawk's Board members are independent directors and have strong consumer product experience. Mohawk is a widely held public company.The coronavirus outbreak and the government measures put in place to contain it continue to disrupt economies and credit markets across sectors and regions. Although an economic recovery is underway, it is tenuous, and its continuation will be closely tied to containment of the virus. As a result, there is uncertainty around Moody's forecasts. Moody's regards the coronavirus outbreak as a social risk under its ESG framework, given the substantial implications for public health and safety. The consumer durables industry is one of the sectors most meaningfully affected by the coronavirus because of exposure to discretionary spending.FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATINGSThe stable outlook reflects Moody's view that Mohawk will maintain a healthy credit profile over the next 12-18 months with continued strong operating performance and low financial leverage. The outlook also reflects Moody's expectation that Mohawk will maintain strong credit metrics and excellent liquidity during this period.An upgrade is possible if Mohawk generates consistent organic revenue growth without materially reducing the EBITDA margin, and Moody's anticipates that the company can reduce operating volatility and maintain earnings, free cash flow and credit metrics at healthy levels throughout an economic downturn. Mohawk would also need to adhere to a more conservative financial strategy to be considered for an upgrade. An upgrade would require that retained cash flow to net debt be sustained over 45%.Ratings could be downgraded if operating performance weakens because of market share losses or a decline in product demand. A shift in the company's financial policies such as toward higher leverage or the introduction of a material dividend could also cause the rating to be downgraded. Also, a downgrade could occur if retained cash flow to net debt is sustained below 30%.The principal methodology used in these ratings was Consumer Durables published in September 2021 and available at https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1276767. Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.Headquartered in Calhoun, Georgia, Mohawk Industries is a leading producer of floor covering products for residential and commercial applications. Brands include Mohawk, Unilin, Karastan, Lees, Bigelow, Dal-Tile, American Olean, Pergo, Marazzi and Quick-Step. Revenues for the publicly-traded company are approximately $11.1 billion as of the last twelve months ending October 2, 2021.REGULATORY DISCLOSURESFor further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action, and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action, the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity. Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures, if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entity or its designated agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.These ratings are solicited. Please refer to Moody's Policy for Designating and Assigning Unsolicited Credit Ratings available on its website www.moodys.com.Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review.Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at http://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1288235.The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph 3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies. Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the UK and is endorsed by Moody's Investors Service Limited, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5FA under the law applicable to credit rating agencies in the UK. Further information on the UK endorsement status and on the Moody's office that issued the credit rating is available on www.moodys.com.Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating.Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating. Maria Iarriccio Vice President - Senior Analyst Corporate Finance Group Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. 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Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of NCPA - Hydroelectric Project 1Global Credit Research - 27 Jan 2022New York, January 27, 2022 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of NCPA - Hydroelectric Project 1 and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review discussion held on 18 January 2022 in which Moody's reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology (ies), recent developments, and a comparison of the financial and operating profile to similarly rated peers. The review did not involve a rating committee. Since 1 January 2019, Moody's practice has been to issue a press release following each periodic review to announce its completion.This publication does not announce a credit rating action and is not an indication of whether or not a credit rating action is likely in the near future. Credit ratings and outlook/review status cannot be changed in a portfolio review and hence are not impacted by this announcement. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history.Key rating considerations are summarized below.The Northern California Power Agency's (NCPA) - Hydroelectric Project Number One's Aa3 rating takes into consideration the unconditional take-or-pay power sales agreement with NCPA member participants and the Aa3 weighted average credit quality of the participants. Santa Clara (Silicon Valley Power) and Palo Alto have the largest share of generation, combining for 60%, providing robust socioeconomics for the rating. The project, while highly leveraged, benefits from contractual arrangements that ensure full cost recovery with fixed charge coverage ratios continuing to remain at approximately 1.0x . The participants are obliged to a 25% step-up provision in case of a default of another participant and the project benefits from a stable liquidity reserve. A strength to the rating is NCPA's strong track record in managing the power resources of its members, maintaining operating reserves for each project and providing additional management services to members. The rating is constrained by the below average debt service reserve requirements . However, this is mitigated by the Hydro project's other available liquidity sources and additional cash reserves at the agency level.This document summarizes Moody's view as of the publication date and will not be updated until the next periodic review announcement, which will incorporate material changes in credit circumstances (if any) during the intervening period.The principal methodology used for this review was US Municipal Joint Action Agencies Methodology published in August 2020. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.This announcement applies only to EU rated, UK rated, EU endorsed and UK endorsed ratings. Non EU rated, non UK rated, non EU endorsed and non UK endorsed ratings may be referenced above to the extent necessary, if they are part of the same analytical unit.This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history. Gayle Podurgiel Lead Analyst Project Finance Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 7 World Trade Center 250 Greenwich Street New York 10007 JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Angelo Sabatelle MANAGING DIRECTOR Project Finance JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 2022 Moodys Corporation, Moodys Investors Service, Inc., Moodys Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, MOODYS). 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(MSFJ) is a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of MJKK. MSFJ is not a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO). Therefore, credit ratings assigned by MSFJ are Non-NRSRO Credit Ratings. Non-NRSRO Credit Ratings are assigned by an entity that is not a NRSRO and, consequently, the rated obligation will not qualify for certain types of treatment under U.S. laws. 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The policy goes into effect immediately. City Manager Stuart Turille is implementing a work from home policy for non-essential city employees, Petersburg spokesperson Joanne Williams said in a statement. The manager emphasized continuity of service to citizens so that government services will continue as usual, however without in-person contact for non-essential services. In person service will continue for essential services such as Police, Fire, Billing & Collections, Transit service (buses operating) and limited Social Services, etc. City Hall and its annex, Union Train Station, the library and Petersburgs museums are on the closed-to-public list, as are the police station, the public utilities and facility management offices, and Petersburg Area Transit headquarters. City offices open but with mask and social-distancing requirements include the Fiscal Management Building, court clerks offices, Social Services, fire stations and Dogwood Trace Golf Course. Social Services lobby will only be open to the public, and the fire stations will open to the public for emergencies. Meetings for City Council and the Planning Commission will return to Zoom, the city said. City Council approved an emergency resolution authorizing Turille to implement the restrictions. On Wednesday, the Virginia Department of Health said 56 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Petersburg. VDH said the city has averaged 86 new cases a day over the past seven days. Williams said in the statement that Petersburgs Emergency Management Team will work with VDH and the Crater Health District to monitor the citys case rate and determine when it will be safe to resume normal operations. Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is daily news coach for USA TODAY's Southeast Region-Unified Central, which includes Virginia, West Virginia and central North Carolina. He is based in Petersburg, Virginia. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg cites high COVID rate in decision to shutter city offices According to a Bloomberg report on Jan. 28, the Wonderland DeFi project has been linked with Michael Patryn, the co-founder of the failed Canadian crypto exchange QuadrigaCX. The projects treasury head going by the Twitter pseudonym 0xSifu was asked to step down by Wonderland co-founder Daniele Sestagalli. The decision came after an anonymous Twitter user revealed that 0xSifu was indeed the former boss of the failed crypto exchange. The report added that Patryn, who had changed his name twice, spent 18 months in U.S. federal prison. In 2005, he was deported to Canada after pleading guilty to a string of offenses including credit and bank card fraud, burglary, grand larceny, and computer fraud. 1/ This needs to be shared @0xSifu is the Co-founder of QuadrigaCX, Michael Patryn. If you are unfamiliar that is the Canadian exchange that collapsed in 2019 after the founder Gerald Cotten disappeared with $169m I have confirmed this with Daniele over messages. pic.twitter.com/qSfWNnQPhr zachxbt.eth (@zachxbt) January 27, 2022 Unraveling Identities The Canadian crypto exchange QuadrigaCX hit the news in 2018 when co-founder Gerald Cottons death unveiled a massive scam that caused around $133 million in losses for 76,000 investors. Patryn was closely tied with Cotton in the early days of the exchange though the two parted ways in 2016. Bloomberg commented that this latest debacle highlights the headaches for the DeFi sector which largely operates under a cloak of anonymity while facing increasing attention from regulators. Crypto podcaster Aaron Lammer said that Sestagalli was aware of 0xSifus identity which makes this even worse. Dani was aware that the person in charge of the treasury was a convicted financial criminal who spent time in prison. Story continues On Jan. 27 the project co-founder came clean stating the past of an individual doesnt determine their future, 1/ Today allegations about our team member @0xSifu will circulate. I want everyone to know that I was aware of this and decided that the past of an individual doesnt determine their future. I choose to value the time we spent together without knowing his past more than anything. Daniele never asks to DM (@danielesesta) January 27, 2022 By then it was too late and the projects treasury and native token had started to collapse. The report added that a crypto wallet identified as belonging to Patryn began dumping various tokens on Thursday. Wonderland Tokens Tank The projects native token TIME has crashed and burned over the past couple of days as investors rushed to liquidate. Since Wednesday, TIME prices have collapsed 60% from around $800 to $315 where they currently trade according to CoinGecko. In early November, the token surged to an all-time high of around $10,000 but it has now crashed by 97% from those lofty levels. Wonderland is a decentralized reserve currency protocol running on the Avalanche network. This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: By David Shepardson and Daina Beth Solomon WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three U.S. lawmakers on Friday urged General Motors and the Mexican government to safeguard worker rights ahead of a union vote next week of Mexican autoworkers at a pick-up truck plant in central Mexico. Representative Earl Blumenauer, who chairs a House Ways and Means subcommittee on trade, along with Representatives Bill Pascrell and Dan Kildee raised concerns on Friday about reports of worker intimidation ahead of next week's union election at GM's Silao plant in Guanajuato, where it builds the Silverado. "It is imperative that GM and Mexico's labor authority ensure that every single worker may cast a secret ballot freely and without intimidation," the lawmakers said. GM said Friday it has "been absolutely committed to working with the Mexican authorities, the work force, vote observers and all partners, including the (Biden) Administration and U.S. Congress to provide the environment for a free and fair election." GM added it looks forward "to working with whichever union leadership is selected by our work force," and addressing any worker concerns in a subsequent negotiation process. Mexico's Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registration, which is organizing the vote, said on Friday it has inspected the plant to ensure access for voters and this week set up an email account to receive worker complaints, although none so far have been submitted. For decades, workers across Mexico have often faced intimidation tied to contentious union votes. The Center added that nearly 6,300 workers are eligible to cast ballots on Feb. 1-2 at five different areas of the plant, and that transportation will be provided to workers whose shifts fall on other days. The United Auto Workers (UAW), which represents GM workers in the United States and last week also called for tighter scrutiny https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/uaw-union-urges-gm-ensure-fair-workers-vote-mexico-2022-01-22 over the election, previously said as many as 7,000 people would be voting. Story continues Workers will choose among four unions in line with a Mexican labor reform aimed at ensuring freedom of association, a key tenet of a new trade deal with the United States and Canada. A vote last year on the collective contract was initially marred by irregularities, prompting the U.S. government to demand ramped-up scrutiny in a formal complaint under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Workers eventually voted to dissolve the contract, opening the door to elect a new union. U.S. officials in September closed https://www.reuters.com/business/us-trade-office-says-gm-mexico-labor-case-concluded-tariff-threat-lifted-2021-09-22 the GM complaint about last year's vote, but are still tracking the issue, a U.S. government labor committee report said last week. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Aurora Ellis and Sandra Maler) Text-to-pay, wireless terminals and card on file features make collecting customer payments easier for small businesses LEHI, Utah, January 28, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Weave (NYSE: WEAVE), the all-in-one customer communication platform for small business, today announced the company has surpassed $1 billion in payments processed through Weave Payments. With recent enhancements to its payments offerings, this milestone is significant as Weave continues on its mission of becoming an essential software for small businesses. Weave Payments is the full payment processing solution that offers multiple contactless payment options, including in-office payments, mobile card payments, manual card entry, and Text To Pay, an innovative feature that allows customers to pay instantly from a mobile device. With Weaves easy-to-use Payments dashboard, customers can quickly see which bills are outstanding, which have been paid, which have been refunded, and which need to be recorded. "Communication serves as the foundation of everything a small business does," said Roy Banks, Chief Executive Officer of Weave. "Its our job to help our customers deliver seamless and convenient interactions with their customers, everything from the first interaction through payments. Weve received an overwhelmingly positive response from our customers about our ability to integrate payment processing within existing communications channels. This milestone signifies the importance of effective communication in managing customer interactions and we are focused on growing payments across our customer base." Weave has been growing its payments offering since it launched in 2020, most recently adding wireless terminals and the ability to store customers preferred payment methods in the last quarter of 2021. "My favorite feature of Weave, hands down, is Text To Pay," said Weave customer Valarie Caulfield, Office Manager at Sodorff & Wilson Family Dentistry. "80% of our patients are paying within 24 hours." Story continues To learn more about Weaves unified customer communications and engagement platform, visit getweave.com. About Weave Weave is the all-in-one customer communications and engagement platform for small business. From the first phone call to the final invoice and every touchpoint in between, Weave connects the entire customer journey. Weaves software solutions transform how local businesses attract, communicate with and engage customers to grow their business. The first Utah company to join Y Combinator, Weave has set the bar for Utah startup achievement & work culture. In the past year, Weave has been included in the Forbes Cloud 100, Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies in America, and was certified as a Great Place to Work. To learn more, visit www.getweave.com/newsroom/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220128005079/en/ Contacts Kali Geldis Director of Communications, Weave pr@getweave.com A woman who led police on a wild chase after she was caught squatting in a southern Stafford County home last year was ordered Thursday to serve a year and two months in prison. Ebony Y. Hampton, 37, of Stafford was sentenced to a total of 14 years with all but 14 months suspended. She had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of hit and run, assault on a law enforcement officer, eluding, grand larceny and destruction of property. Judge Bruce Stricklands sentence was at the low end of the recommended state sentencing guidelines, which called for a maximum sentence of three years in prison. The incident began March 20, when workers arrived at a home in the 400 block of Wood Landing Road for a roofing project. Hampton came out of the house and ordered the workers off the property. She then grabbed a shovel and began swinging it at the workers. Felipe Penazola, the project leader, called the owner and confirmed that no one was supposed to be in the home. Meanwhile, Hampton jumped into a truck belonging to one of the workers and drove off. The truck had a full construction trailer attached to it. A pursuit finally ended on northbound U.S. 17 when deputies got the stolen truck pinned in. By that time, Hampton had struck several vehicles, including two deputies cruisers. She also ran red lights and drove on the wrong side of a road during much of the incident. Extensive damage was found inside the home, including damaged gas lines that court records said could have easily ignited. Hampton on Thursday expressed remorse for her actions and said she was grateful that no one was killed. Supporters said they are willing to help Hampton and blamed her actions on mental health issues. Attorney Colleen Barlow represented Hampton, who had a number of charges dropped as part of a plea agreement. 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. Xi extends Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during Shanxi visit Xinhua) 07:48, January 28, 2022 Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) TAIYUAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to north China's Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, wished Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese healthier and happier lives in the Year of the Tiger, and expressed his hope that the motherland would increase in prosperity and strength. This year's Spring Festival falls on Feb. 1. Xi, as the Party's top leader, has for 10 consecutive years visited people at the primary level -- especially those from disadvantaged groups -- ahead of the Spring Festival, the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar and an occasion for family reunions. Xi on Wednesday visited the people of Fengnanyuan Village in Huozhou City, one of the places hit hard by floods last October. Xi learned about local post-disaster reconstruction, crop replanting, improvements to the local disaster relief and emergency response system, and measures to keep people warm in the winter. When he sat down with a family to hear about their day-to-day lives, Xi said that locals who have been affected by the disaster are often in his thoughts and that he chose the village as his first stop to see the reconstruction and recovery first hand. Xi stressed the need to dovetail reconstruction with rural vitalization, improve integrated river basin management, and improve the capacity for disaster prevention, mitigation and relief. Later that afternoon, Xi went to Duancun Village in Fenxi County. In a villager's home, Xi checked the kitchen, the bedroom and the sheepfold, and asked about the family's income and their life. Xi was pleased to learn that the family, after shaking off poverty in late 2016, has prospered through raising sheep and seeking work in other places. "The CPC's resolve to ensure all Chinese people live happy lives has remained unchanged for more than a century, and it will not falter," Xi said. Speaking in front of villagers at a local square, Xi said that the fundamental purpose of the Party is to strive to ensure people's happy lives. Noting that the goal of building a modern socialist country cannot be attained without the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, Xi urged efforts to consolidate the achievements of poverty eradication, advance rural vitalization, and improve people's lives. Touring Pingyao, one of the best-preserved ancient walled cities in China and a UNESCO world heritage site, on Thursday, Xi called for more efforts to conserve the country's cultural heritage and protect "the valuable treasure left to us by our ancestors." At a museum in Pingyao, he said the unique traditional Chinese culture should be promoted more to contribute to economic and social development and people's quality life. Dropping by souvenir shops inside the ancient walled city, Xi shopped cooked beef and vinegar as festive purchases for his family. People in China usually eat dumplings with vinegar. Xi even took part in vinegar-making in a workshop. He also visited a lacquerware shop and demanded cultural treasures such as the traditional lacquering skill be better protected. "We should promote traditional cultural industries with distinctive Chinese features to the rest of the world," said Xi. On COVID-19 response, Xi warned that the pandemic is still spreading worldwide and new features of transmission have shown. He told local authorities to stay alert, adopt science-based and targeted control measures and ensure people's safety and necessities. With the winter power and heat supply in mind, Xi on Thursday afternoon inspected a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years. There, he visited an intelligent fuel management center, a laboratory and a coal yard, among other facilities. "Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality are not something asked of us, but something we are doing on our own initiative," Xi said, adding that the goals cannot be achieved easily but efforts must be made immediately. He called for strengthening domestic energy production, ensuring the supply of coal and facilitating the clean and low-carbon development of the coal industry. Efforts should be made to accelerate green and low-carbon technological breakthroughs and continuously upgrade China's industrial structure to achieve the goals of carbon peaking and neutrality proactively and steadily, Xi said. The supply of power and heat is vital to the overall economic development and social stability, Xi said. He urged major enterprises, especially state-owned enterprises, to lead by example in maintaining the stability of supply and prices to ensure that people stay safe and warm in winter. Xi asked Shanxi to actively serve and integrate into the country's new development paradigm, coordinate COVID-19 containment with economic and social development, promote the steady improvement of people's lives, and continuously make breakthroughs in high-quality development. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the post-disaster reconstruction in areas affected by last year's floods as well as local work in restoring farming and ensuring the public's access to heating in winter in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers in Fengnanyuan Village, Shizhuang Township of Huozhou City, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects local work in consolidating and expanding anti-poverty achievements and advancing rural vitalization in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a villager's home in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects local work in consolidating and expanding anti-poverty achievements and advancing rural vitalization in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi on Wednesday began his visit to Shanxi Province ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with employees while inspecting a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to employees while inspecting a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a vinegar-making workshop in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a coal yard of a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to the crowd while touring Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a shop selling cooked beef in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, tours the ancient city walls in Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with employees while inspecting a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to the crowd while touring Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks with the crowd while touring Pingyao, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects a coal yard of a company that has made progress in the clean and efficient utilization of coal in recent years, in north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 27, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, wishes Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese healthier and happier lives in the Year of the Tiger, in front of villagers at a local square in Duancun Village, Sengnian Township of Fenxi County, north China's Shanxi Province, Jan. 26, 2022. Xi extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese people during his visit to Shanxi Province from Wednesday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) By Trend Romanian energy minister Virgil-Daniel Popescu will visit Azerbaijan to take part in the upcoming Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Councils meeting in Baku in February, a diplomatic source told Trend. A large delegation from Romania, including heads of Romgaz and Transgaz will also attend the event, noted the source. The Southern Gas Corridor, which is comprised of Shah Deniz 2, the South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion, the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) became fully operational on December 31, 2020. Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) AG confirmed on Dec. 31 the commencement of gas flows from Azerbaijan. The first gas has reached Greece and Bulgaria, via the Nea Mesimvria interconnection point with DESFA, as well as Italy, via the Melendugno interconnection point with SNAM Rete Gas (SRG). TAP transports natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz field in the Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea to Europe. The 878 km long pipeline connects with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi, crosses Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy. The first meeting of the SGC Advisory Council was held on February 12, 2015, the second meeting - on February 29, 2016, the third meeting - on February 23, 2017, the fourth meeting - on February 15, 2018, the fifth meeting on February 20, 2019, the sixth meeting was held on Feb.28, 2020 and the seventh meeting on Feb.11, 2021. Attorney General Jason Miyares issued a legal opinion Friday that Virginia colleges cannot require their students to receive COVID vaccines, the latest challenge to COVID mandates from the state's new Republican leadership. The opinion cuts against the opinion of judges in other parts of the country, who have allowed vaccine mandates at colleges to continue. In the immediate future, Miyares' legal opinion does not change the vaccine mandates in place at most Virginia colleges. Miyares writes that the General Assembly could have written a law requiring vaccines for college attendance but has never done so. And current legislation "did not grant such institutions power to impose vaccine requirements." Nearly all of Virginia's public colleges have vaccine mandates for their students. Most private schools do, too - with Liberty University as an exception. Some colleges, including Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia, required students have booster shots for the spring semester, if they're eligible. Most colleges had employee vaccine mandates, too, until Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order rescinding the mandate for all state employees, which includes most employees of public colleges. A YEAR into his term, the fiction that Joe Biden would instantly undo Donald Trumps impact on transatlantic relations has been exposed as just that. The past 12 months have instead demonstrated that Trump and Biden agree with each otherand disagree with Europemore than either cares to admit. Blowouts over Afghanistan and Australian submarines have spilled the most ink, but agriculture may better demonstrate bipartisan continuity in U.S.EU relations. Biden and Brussels are still at loggerheads over food production, despite a face-saving communique in November. Indeed, while the U.S. pleads for moderation, France promises to spend its six-month EU presidency pushing an accelerated phase-out of pesticides, with serious consequences for food security and the environment. In picking up Trumps baton, Biden is angering European (and American) environmentalists, but is revitalizing American leadership in another way. Farmers across the developing world are counting on Washington to fend off EU-imposed pesticide bans that would devastate their livelihoods. Europe has cemented this TrumpBiden accord, with ecological groups dominating debates over the EU Green Deal and food productionputting beleaguered European farmers and over $10 billion in U.S. exports at risk. Specifically, EU environmentalists dictated the terms of the Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, which decrees European farmers cut pesticide use by 50 percent and increase organic food production by 25 percent by 2030. Skeptical European commentators see F2F as completely disconnected from reality, given crop protection products are approved by government food safety bodies. EU lawmakers face vicious blowback when they run afoul of environmentalists. Europes Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) allocates over 20 percent of its budget to green farming, but because it recognizes the need for industrial farming, the European Environmental Bureau lambasted it as a monumental failure of leadership. Curbing pesticides sounds admirable, but flies in the face of the science underpinning food production. Were the EU model implemented worldwide, the U.S. Department of Agriculture warns food prices would rise by up to 89 percent, and 185 million more people would face food insecurity. Organic farming produces lower yields and requires more landhurting people in developing nations alongside Europeans. The Biden administration has taken a more polite tone, but despite harrowing experiences in countries which adopt EU-compliant policies, the EU is still ignoring these warnings. After President Gotabaya Rajapaksa moved his country entirely over to organic farming, for example, Sri Lanka was forced to change course when it became clear herbicide and pesticide bans had produced shortages of staples like rice and mass protests by farmers. As science reporter Ludger We noted in 2020, pesticides are maligned but necessary: Without them, farming would be difficult. Look at the swarms of locusts that attack parts of Africa and the fall armyworm that eats its way through the fields and even reaches Japan and Australia 80 percent of all small farmers in Africa are now affected by this pest. Unfortunately, other nations may share Sri Lankas fate. Kenyas National Assembly wants to implement an EU-style agrochemicals ban to facilitate exports to Europe. For most Kenyan smallholders, this ban would mean increased costs, reduced yieldsand locusts. Faced with $1.3 billion in reduced harvests, local farmers groups are pushing back. To quote Okisegere Ojepat of Kenyas Fresh Produce Consortium, Europe is saying close that door without showing our people where the exit door is. Other governments, including Ghana and Liberia, have joined Bidens Sustainable Productivity Growth Coalition, which builds off Trump-era initiatives to rally developing countries against EU-imposed organic farming. Ultimately, this battle boils down to different views of individual choice. EU officials like Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides argue their rules encourage production methods which benefit farmers and consumers. U.S. consumers who pay a premium for organic, non-GMO products might agree, but in Europe (and in Kenya), these changes are being forced upon the whole sector, with neither farmers nor consumers getting a say. While healthier biopesticides and measured pesticide reduction might have benefits, Kyriakides herself admits there are large data gaps in justifying the costs. Nonetheless, Europes environmentalists have made clear they are willing to destroy their own agricultural sectorand take the worlds farmers down with them. Paul Brian is a journalist focused on politics and culture who has contributed to The Hill, the American Conservative, The Week, BBC, Reuters and more. You can follow him on Twitter @paulrbrian. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. These internship grants will support public library interns who will contribute to the scope and value of the diverse programs and activities in Nebraskas public libraries. The internships are a great opportunity for students to get involved in library work. Beyond earning money and gaining valuable work experience, the student is exposed to the broad range of library services and programming. Internships provide an opportunity for the student to view the library as a viable and satisfying career choice. In addition, interns bring a fresh perspective and their own unique talents to the library, said Nebraska Library Commission Director Rod Wagner. You dont get to be Moses every day. But music teacher Karen Hartwig got to portray the famous Israelite leader during a skit this week at St. Pauls Lutheran School. Like their peers across the nation, students in the rural Arlington school have been observing National Lutheran Schools Week. Pat Dunklau is principal of the school, which serves 87 students from preschool through eighth grade. From dodge ball to rocketry, students have embarked on a variety of adventures during the event. Dunklau defined Lutheran Schools Week. Its a celebration of our Christian education, bringing kids to Christ and trying to give them an all-around type of education, Dunklau said. Not only do you get the basics, but we have our religion class and we try to be faith-based in everything that we do and everything that we teach. Farm families started the school years ago. This school has been here for a long time, he said. Its always had great support among the community in Arlington and the farm families around here. Kids enjoy the weeklong celebration. Regular classes take place in the mornings with special activities in the afternoon. The school had its first dodge ball tournament on Monday afternoon. Tuesday was Career Day. Four individuals came in to talk about their jobs. Wednesday was Spirit Day. Students wore school colors of red, white and black. Teachers presented chapel in the afternoon. Thats where Moses came in. The chapel skit involved the story of Moses and the Israelites escaping from Pharaoh and the Egyptian army through the Red Sea. Fifth- and sixth-graders portrayed the walls of water to the right and the left of the fleeing Israelites. Hartwig and seventh and eighth grade students walked in between the walls of water. Prairie STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), a nonprofit from Omaha, came to the school, providing four different units. The units included: robotics, rocketry, drones and virtual reality. Morning activities included Muffins with Moms on Tuesday and Doughnuts with Dads on Thursday. Grandparents Day took place Friday afternoon. Each class presented a skit and grandparents were treated to cookies and coffee. Grandparents got to see the classrooms and what the students are doing in school. To finish the week, students will sing during the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday at St. Pauls Lutheran Church. Dunklau said the chapel offerings for the past nine weeks will go to St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded by entertainer Danny Thomas, St. Judes is a pediatric treatment and research facility that focuses on childrens catastrophic diseases, primarily leukemia and other cancers. Dunklau appreciates Lutheran Schools Week. You get to see the kids and teachers in a different light, he said. I think thats good and its just kind of uplifting. It creates a good school spirit. And sometimes, somebody even gets to portray Moses. 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. Fremont Christian Womens Connection will be having a noon meeting on Monday, Feb. 14, at the Midland University Dining Hall, Ninth and Pebble streets, in Fremont. The theme of the meeting is Bumps in Lifes Road. Debbie Nelson will be giving a presentation about the Memory Cafe, a comfortable, social gathering for individuals with Alzheimers or dementia. Nelson also will provide music. Linn Ann Huntington of Hays, Kansas, will speak on When Things Dont Make Any Sense. Huntington is an award-winning journalist and author who helps make sense of whats happening in the world. She was raised in Oklahoma and received both her bachelors and masters degrees in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. She worked six years as an editor of the largest news organization in Oklahoma before starting her college teaching career. Cost of the luncheon is $15. Call Sue at 402-721-4522 by Feb. 8 to make a reservation. Honoring your reservation is necessary. 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. When it comes to taking photos of dogs, Ken Shuster said he never stands during the shoot. You have to get on their level, he said. If youre shooting down at something, it lessens the object. It diminishes its strength when youre shooting down on something. Last Saturday, Shuster had a class at the Fremont Area Art Association dedicated to teaching attendees the basics of shooting pictures of dogs. The students used Darci and Greta, two dogs belonging to board member Katy Jones, as subjects during the class. Shuster, who has spent almost his entire life in Fremont, previously worked for the Chicago and North Western and Union Pacific railways before his retirement nine years ago. I used to do a little bit of photography when I was growing up, just the general taking pictures of the kids and vacation and what have you, family events, Christmas, that kind of thing, he said. But it wasnt until about 15 years ago when Shuster got seriously involved in photography. I saw these exhibits out at the mall by different portrait photographers and thought, Well hell, I can do that, he said. So I ended up with a small digital camera and went from there. Since taking up the art, Shusters topics of focus have been wildlife and landscapes, as well as macro photography, which focuses on small objects with high magnifications. Around 10 years ago, Shuster became a member of the FAAA, which has hosted his exhibits and work in its giftshop. Its one of the hidden gems of this city, he said. Its been here for 60 years, and I dont think three-fourths of the city knows where its at. Shuster has also used the space to hold classes, including teaching photography of landscapes. He hopes to host a matting and framing class later this year. When teaching, Shuster said he uses odd but effective methods, including avoiding taking any pictures himself during a class. If I do it, youre shooting like me, not like you, he said. Theres a big difference. The idea for Shusters dog class came from the FurEver Home, as he photographed for its annual Pet Pictures with Santa event, which has members of the public bring their furry friends in for a photo shoot. Bringing his expertise to the FAAA, Shuster said the students enjoyed getting to learn the different angles of photography dogs, especially ones as excitable as Darci and Greta. It seemed to go real well, he said. The first thing I had them do was take pictures looking down at the animals and then looking eye-level at the dogs, and then from lower. Shuster said when teaching at the FAAA, which he thanked for being so accommodating, he tells his students to shoot in the middle of the action. Find your photograph, find the story that you need to tell, he said. And its no different with kids, dogs, people, flowers. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Since Thanksgiving, retired teachers have been giving school staff members in the Fremont area treats as thanks for their work. Nowadays when theres a lot of teachers getting out of the profession because everything has changed so and its so, so stressful, this hopefully gives them a little bit better feeling for at least a little while, Ruth Register said. The Fremont Area Association of Retired School Personnel, of which Register is a member of, is visiting 22 schools with baked or bought treats through March. Having taught physical education for elementary students in Fremont Public Schools from 1972 to 2010, Register became involved with FAARSP after her retirement. The organization also expresses appreciation to other organizations, including the Disabled American Veterans Joseph C. H. Bales Chapter 18. For more than a decade, FAARSP has made Christmas and Valentines Day cards for the veterans and given them treat bags as well. FAARSP initially started its treats for school staff program around 15 years ago, having to put it on hold for the COVID-19 pandemic. We kind of developed it and got it going a little bit better, Register said. So we didnt recognize just one group like the school secretaries or different things like this, so we just made it school staff. Register said FAARSP members sign up for a school and a date to make the donation. And a lot of times, the individuals who sign up to go to a school, they want to go back to the school that they taught at or worked at, she said. The members then reach out to the school beforehand to find out how many staff members it has to prepare for. Theyre responsible for making or baking or buying anything that they want to say thank you to the schools staff for everything that they do throughout the year for our community and for the school system and our youth, Register said. For her own gift, Register said she provided popcorn, M&Ms, nuts and cookies from local community businesses for the teachers. Its not a meal, but its just a little something to say thank you for everything that they do, she said. Register said the teachers have been appreciative of the treats, which she said from her experience in a teachers lounge, have gone fast. When my members ask me, Well, what do I need to take? I said, Just remember when you were back teaching or working in the school, she said. What is it that you enjoyed when someone would bring something to you? With teachers having to go through so much during the COVID-19 pandemic, including changing teaching styles, Register said the treats are a way to just show appreciation. And not on any special day, like teachers are recognized on Teachers Day or something like that or Education Day, but just in the middle of winter, she said. Just to have a little thank you and brought some stuff, it makes it all worthwhile. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The substitute teacher shortage is hitting the educational arena in Grand Island on another front. The Grand Island Education Association, the collective bargaining unit for Grand Island Public Schools teachers, alleges the district is shorting some of its members pay under a misclassification. We discovered that many of the long-term subs, who the district had classified as long-term subs, were actually filling a full-time equivalency position, said Michelle Carter, GIEA president and a fifth-grade teacher at Dodge Elementary. Under Nebraska law, an employee who is hired to fill an open position is not considered a substitute. A news release from the Nebraska State Education Association states: The petition points out that those misclassified employees are part of the GIEA bargaining unit and should be paid under GIEAs agreement with the district. The district, however, is paying them as substitutes. According to the school district website, the highest pay a substitute teacher can make per day is $200. Additionally, the website specifies, there are incentives for substitutes who work a high percentage of available days per pay period and/or work 125 days or more. Still, that falls short of certified staff pay, Carter said in the Nebraska State Education Association release. They could be making $250 to $300 a day if they had a contract. A full days pay for a teacher who has been here at least five years is over $300. As a result, the Grand Island teachers union filed a petition with the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations against the school district Jan. 21, alleging a violation of the Industrial Relations Act. In a statement, the district said: GIPS is confident that we are operating in good standing with the terms of our existing agreement. Jessica Votipka is the education reporter at the Grand Island Independent. She can be reached at 308-381-5420. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I dropped to my knees in the ICU as blue and white lights flashed and doctors and nurses ran down the hallway. My husband, Chuck, was coding. I was outside my husbands room at the time. Nurses were going to move him from the ICU to another hospital room where he could recover further. Later, I learned when they went to move him, he coded. It took medical people four to five minutes to get a breathing tube in him and his heart stopped for 11. He never really came back after that. You dont know how youre going to react in any situation of sudden trauma. But in those first few moments of crisis, I was on my knees praying to God. With my eyes closed, I found myself praying like some kings in the Old Testament. First, theyd tell God how great he is and then theyd tell him the problem. And then theyd ask for help. So I began asking God: Is anything too hard for you? Nothing is impossible for you. I guess that was my form of praise, a confirmation of what I knew God could do. Id also been taught that if you pray Scripture, youre praying the heart the God. Soon, I found myself praying part of a Psalm Id memorized. Which Psalm? You might think Id pray the beloved 23rd Psalm, which speaks of the Lord leading us by still waters, restoring our souls and helping us not to fear as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Instead, I prayed part of Psalm 121. Its one of the Psalms of Ascent. Bible scholars believe these were Psalms that the Hebrew people sang as they made their way to Jerusalem to attend three pilgrim festivals the festivals of Passover and Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. PassoverThe festival of Passover was when they remembered how God led their ancestors out of slavery in Egypt. Centuries later Mary, Joseph and Jesus were part of a large group of people who made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Joseph and Mary were on their way home when they realized 12-year-old Jesus wasnt with them. They returned to Jerusalem. There, they found him three days later in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, asking questions. Im sure that was a Passover pilgrimage they never forgot. PentecostThe Old Testament describes the festival of Pentecost as a thanksgiving for the first fruits of the harvest. Christians celebrate Pentecost as the time when the Holy Spirit descended on Christs disciples and they spoke in other languages. The Apostle Peter then preached a sermon and 3,000 people became believers in Christ. You could say that was one great harvest. The Feast of Booths The third festival was Sukkot. This was called the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. It was a time when the Hebrew people built and lived in small booths, recalling when their ancestors wandered in the desert for 40 years. Ill bet Hebrew people looked forward to these pilgrimages times when they could celebrate Gods goodness and how hed taken care of them. But I wonder if there werent some hazards, too, like rugged terrain and robbers. Jerusalem is on hills not flat terrain like many places in Nebraska. Ill bet you could slip and fall if you werent careful. And you were in the elements blazing sun during the day (wheres the suntan lotion?) and cold at night. Such things are reflected in Psalm 121, which begins with: I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, The Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip. Can you imagine the Hebrew people singing that as they made their way to Jerusalem? They were looking above those hills of Jerusalem to God to help keep them safe on their journey. The Psalm continues saying how our God keeps watching over us. Our God doesnt sleep on the job. Hes our shade. He shields us from sunstroke. And he shields us from the moon (old-time people worried that the moon could cause insanity, thus we get the word lunacy). The Lord will keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life. He will watch over your coming and going forever more. Its a beautiful Psalm, telling of Gods protection and care. I only prayed the first five lines of that Psalm in the ICU. After praying about God not letting our foot slip, my mind went to part of Isaiah 43: When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The next thing I knew, a young man, probably an intern, had ahold of my hands. He knelt in front of me as he helped me into a chair and said: Maam, you will have to sit down. I noticed a small, clear plastic glass of water next to the chair and a woman chaplain was nearby. Soon, she took me into a little waiting room, where I went face down on the carpet and begged God to bring my husband back. You know how long I waited for a husband. You know how long he waited for a wife, I reminded God. One of the medical people popped through the doorway to let us know Chuck was in critical condition. A doctor later told us what had happened after Chuck coded. In the next 10 days, family and friends prayed and sang to Chuck as he lay in the hospital bed. More than once, I got right in his face. Cmon, Chuck. Fight. Youre Irish, Id remind him. But sometimes our spouses just cant do what we want them to do. Chucks condition worsened and 10 days after he coded, we said goodbye and he went to be with the Lord. That was almost nine years ago. It took me awhile to memorize all of Psalm 121. Yet for the past several months, Ive included it in my morning prayers. Theres something wonderfully comforting about that Psalm. Like those ancient-day pilgrims, we can look to the hills before us and know we serve a God who helps us. This is our great creator, who made the heavens billions of galaxies with trillions of stars and an earth filled with mountains, valleys, oceans and deserts and a vast array of creatures. Our God shields us from more than we ever know. He watches over our lives now and forever. He is our peace, protector, provider and healer. He travels with road with us. Hes with us as we face the hills of life. What hill are you facing? Or is it more like mountain of work? Debt? Health problems? Sorrow? Guilt? Regret? Addiction? Fear? We all face hills of some sort at some time in our lives. Maybe thats when we need to remember a Savior who knows all about hills. He walked up a hill to a place called Golgotha, where he was nailed to a cross. And if you remember, even Jesus had help carrying his cross, when Roman soldiers made Simon of Cyrene help carry it. So I think if Jesus had help carrying his cross, hell surely help us carry ours and hell help us climb whatever hill were facing. I lift my eyes up to the hills. Where does my help come from? It comes from our loving God, who made the hills, the Savior who was crucified on one and the Holy Spirit who reminds us of them both. Tammy Real-McKeighan is news editor of the Fremont Tribune. She writes a weekly faith-based column. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Trend The State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) has placed a deposit in the amount of one billion euros for a period of six months with the Central Bank of Turkey, SOFAZ told Trend. According to the report, these investments will make a positive contribution to Turkey's financial stability. "The investment of these funds in the Central Bank of Turkey was carried out within the investment strategy of SOFAZ," the fund said. Welcome to Gandhara's weekly newsletter. This briefing brings you the best of our reporting from Afghanistan and Pakistan. If youre new to the newsletter or havent subscribed yet, you can do so here. Taliban accused of misappropriating foreign aid Ron Synovitz writes about how the cash-strapped Taliban-led government is using international humanitarian aid intended for starving Afghans to pay government workers. The move is part of the Talibans food for work program, under which Afghans must do manual labor on public-works projects to receive foreign food aid. The militant group is now expanding the program by using donated wheat to pay the salaries of public sector workers. But many Afghans have complained that only those with connections to the Taliban have received work under that program. Ive gone 20 times to them to try to get food for work, but all I do is leave my identification number behind, said Omaruddin, a day laborer in Kabul. Its only the ones who have connections that get hired under this program. A devastating economic crisis has pushed millions of Afghans to the brink of famine since the Taliban takeover. Taliban representatives held talks with Western diplomats in Norway this week over ways to address Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres this week told the Security Council that Afghanistan is "hanging by a thread" and urged the body to "suspend the rules and operations" that are preventing the international community from providing urgent assistance. Taliban uses Afghan water to appease Iran I write about the deepening cooperation between Afghanistans Sunni Taliban rulers and Iran's Shi'ite clerical regime. In a sign of growing ties, the Taliban recently released water from the Kamal Khan Dam in southwestern Afghanistan into Hamun Lake in southeastern Iran, a poor and arid region. The move is seen as part of the Talibans attempt to curry favor with Iran. Disputes over the distribution of cross-border water supplies have long plagued relations between the two neighbors. "Overall, Iran needs a stable, if also dependent, Afghanistan and the Taliban a non-threatening, economically cooperative neighbor," Marvin Weinbaum, the Afghanistan and Pakistan studies director at the Middle East Institute in Washington, told me. Fazal Hadi Wazeen, an Afghan political analyst, said the Taliban is using water as a diplomatic tool. "They are using the water from the Kamal Khan Dam to improve relations with an important neighbor," he told Radio Azadi. Journalists and activists in peril Radio Azadi reports on the spate of mysterious attacks on Afghan journalists and activists in recent weeks. The incidents, blamed on the Taliban, are seen as part of the militant groups attempts to crush dissent. "They were pulling the gate like scissors on both sides of my neck," said Zaki Qais, a former television journalist who was attacked by unidentified men at his home in Kabul. "Someone grabbed me by the back of my hair and another person in front of me pulled the gate toward me." Afghans and international rights groups have condemned the Talibans reported arrests of two female activists, Tamana Zaryabi Paryani and Parwana Ibrahimkhel. Their whereabouts are still unknown. Even as the Taliban denied arresting the women, a spokesman for the group said that insulting the religious and national values of the Afghan people is not tolerated anymore. Pakistan continues to court the TTP Daud Khattak reports on a new effort by the Pakistani government to revive peace talks with the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after negotiations broke down in December. Islamabad recently sent a secret delegation to Afghanistan, where most of the TTP leadership resides. The delegation was made up of influential Pashtun tribal elders from Pakistan. The elders stayed there for two nights and held three or four rounds of discussions, a source close to the delegation told Radio Mashaal. The TTP leadership welcomed the delegation with traditional Pashtun hospitality and slaughtered two sheep. Pakistans attempts to revive peace talks comes as the TTP intensifies its attacks in northwestern Pakistan, its former stronghold. I hope you found this weeks newsletter useful, and I encourage you to forward it to your colleagues. If you havent subscribed yet, you can do so here. I encourage you to visit our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Yours, Abubakar Siddique Twitter: @sid_abu P.S.: You can always reach us at gandhara@rferl.org. An undisclosed number of Fort Carson troops have been placed on "increased readiness" to deploy to Ukraine, should Russia invade, along with t Rajko Anic, left, and Aaron Hueser with El Paso County Public Health tests patients for COVID-19 at a drive-up testing site Monday, Aug. 3, 2020, during the weekly food distribution outside the Southeast Armed Services YMCA in Colorado Springs. El Paso County Public Health has continued contact tracing those testing positive for coronavirus through the overwhelming omicron-driven wave of cases. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) Attorneys sparred over evidence to be used in the murder trial of Letecia Stauch, accused of killing her 11-year-old stepson Gannon Stauch two years ago today, at a Thursday afternoon motions hearing. Fourth Judicial District Judge Gregory Werner ruled on several motions filed by defense attorneys for Letecia Stauch and prosecutors in her case Thursday afternoon, several of which had to do with information obtained through warrants that defense attorneys wanted suppressed. Stauch, 38, is accused of first-degree murder in the killing of her stepson Gannon Stauch in January 2020, along with child abuse resulting in death, tampering with a body, and tampering with physical evidence. Authorities found the 11-year-old's remains in Florida, and believe he was killed sometime after 2 p.m. Jan. 27, 2020, two years before Thursdays motion hearing. I'm at the motions hearing for Letecia Stauch, which starts at 1:30 p.m. today. Today's hearing falls on the two-year anniversary of the day authorities believe Gannon Stauch was killed. @csgazette. esteban candelaria (@ubercandelaria) January 27, 2022 Among the motions discussed was one to suppress incriminating information obtained from an Apple iPhone, and another to suppress incriminating information obtained from an ADT Security Services alarm system listing Letecia Stauchs phone number. In both, defense attorney Josh Tolini said in court that the search warrants used to obtain information from the phone and security system were overly broad, failing to include date ranges in both motions. Prosecutor Angelina Gratiano said they werent, and that the court should find probable cause in them. Werner said he agreed the iPhone warrant wasn't overly broad and that date ranges might not apply to the ADT warrant, and denied both motions. Defense attorneys also made a bid to suppress wiretap evidence obtained from two phones Stauch allegedly obtained and used after the El Paso County Sheriffs Office seized her original phone for their investigation, and argued that motion in court Thursday as well. Werner, however, found there was probable cause for those warrants to have been signed, noting investigators suspected a homicide by the time Stauch obtained the first replacement phone. Also discussed Thursday afternoon was a Jan. 10 letter from the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, where Werner ordered at the last hearing Stauch would be evaluated. Werner said per the letter that two professionals were working Stauchs case, but due to the enormity of discovery and records in the case, wouldnt be able to have their report in until March 31. We start March 28, which is potentially problematic, Werner said. That problem, however, will be handled at a future court date on March 17, he said after a conference with attorneys. Werner also discussed with attorneys some of the logistical plans hes made for the trial. He reaffirmed with both sides that the trial will likely last around six weeks, with Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen saying that presenting evidence could take four. Werner noted that while he expected pushback, he planned to require attorneys to tether their electronics to the tables they sat at during trial. He said that was to prevent laptops from "potentially falling off the table" or "being used at the last minute." Prosecutors in September presented evidence linking Stauch to the murder, including blood linked to Gannon that was found on Stauch's shoe, tracking data showing she had traveled to an area near where Gannon's body was found, and her DNA, which was found on a gun tied to the killing. Defense attorneys sought to create doubt that Stauch committed the murder by suggesting that someone else could have entered the home around the time Gannon died, and sought to tie home security data with the unknown DNA on the gun investigators found. But FBI agent Andrew Cohen testified in September that Stauch was the only person investigators believe could have committed the murder. I haven't seen any evidence of anyone else coming into the house, Cohen said. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilov Heydar Aliyev Palace will host an exhibition timed to the National Youth Day on February 1. Around 40 young artists will take part in the exhibition co-organized by the Culture Ministry, Heydar Aliyev Palace and the State Art Gallery. The event will be held within "United by Culture" project. Azerbaijan annually celebrates the National Youth Day on February 2. The public holiday takes its origin from the First Youth Forum which was held in 1996. A year later, national leader Heydar Aliyev signed a decree according to which February 2 was declared the Day of Azerbaijani Youth. From that time Azerbaijan became the first country among the CIS and Eastern Europe states to solemnly celebrate this day. National Youth Day is celebrated with a series of events. By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli Azerbaijan and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen bilateral defence ties in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Vietnamese media. In this regard, the parties intend to increase the exchange of delegations, meetings at all levels, and training. These remarks came during a meeting between Vietnam's National Defence Deputy Minister Hoang Xuan Chien and Azerbaijan's ambassador to Vietnam Anar Imanov. Chien stressed that the sides have a time-honored friendship and noted that the Vietnamese people always remember the valuable material and spiritual support of Azerbaijan and its people in the past struggle for national independence and reunification. He added that the cause of national building and safeguarding at present is highly appreciated. The minister thanked Azerbaijan for its support of Vietnam's tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2020-2021. Imanov agreed with the host's assessment of the two countries' relations, including defence ties. Azerbaijan and Vietnam established diplomatic relations on September 23, 1992. Azerbaijan opened an embassy in Vietnam in 2013. Currently, the Vietnamese embassy in Russia, which is also accredited in Azerbaijan, coordinates bilateral relations. Jimmy Sengenberger is host of The Jimmy Sengenberger Show Saturdays from 6-9am on News/Talk 710 KNUS. He also hosts Jimmy at the Crossroads, a web show and podcast in partnership with The Washington Examiner. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held a videoconference meeting with Secretary-General of the World Customs Organization Kunio Mikuriya. Hailing the fruitful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the World Customs Organization and the support of the organization for the country, President Ilham Aliyev recalled with pleasure previous meetings and discussions he held with Kunio Mikuriya. The head of state hailed the fact that the cooperation with Azerbaijan has always been in the focus of attention of the World Customs Organizations Secretary General, pointing out that the organization's valuable recommendations and advice contributed to the development of this sector in the country. Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya expressed satisfaction with his visit to Baku ahead of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the customs service in Azerbaijan and congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on the growing role of the country in the region and across the world. Emphasizing that his organization will continue to support customs reforms in Azerbaijan, he noted that Azerbaijan has become a center of regional development and transport hub. Kunio Mikuriya said that the stability in the South Caucasus region has created favorable opportunities for the development of regional cooperation, people-to-people contacts and transport links. President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan has become a transport and logistics center in the region thanks to the country's favorable geographical position, investments in infrastructure, and relations with neighboring countries, adding that regional ties create a favorable environment for cooperation. Pointing to the issues of regional cooperation, the head of state said that despite the global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in trade with key partner countries for Azerbaijan last year was an indicator of the country's economic recovery and development. The President of Azerbaijan described last years growth of the economy by more than 5 percent, the non-oil sector by 7 percent and the non-oil industry by 20 percent as a result of reforms. President Ilham Aliyev hailed new opportunities for cooperation in the region after the end of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The sides exchanged views on prospects for developing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the World Customs Organization. For almost 38 years, Amy Grunhovd has called her kindergarten classroom home. But at the end of this year, she will pack up her belongings, and leave her room for Ivy Leitch, her daughter. I dont think its really going to seem real until next fall, because we always have that break and then come back, so I think thats when it will hit me that its over Amy said about retiring this year. Forest City Elementary has been home to Amys career for 38 years, with almost all of them in the Forest City Elementary building. She started her journey similar to Ivys, as a prep teacher, and then filled the position for full-day kindergarten when it opened at Forest City. When Ivy graduated from Iowa State, a position happened to be open at Forest City as a preschool teacher, and she jumped on the opportunity. It was always my dream to teach in Forest City Ivy said. Both her and Amy graduated from Forest City High School, and came back to teach after college. And when her mothers position opened up, Ivy applied for the position. I thought it would be neat to carry on the family tradition, Ivy remembers her new classroom throughout her childhood, Its the school I grew up in, I spent a lot of time in that room after school In high school I peer tutored in that room, so Ive kind of gotten to watch her through the years. I think I subbed for her a couple of times as well, she laughed. So I know a little bit, but (Amy) has big shoes to fill. Amy had no intention of giving her classroom to her daughter upon retirement, but they are both excited about how easily it has all fit together. Being in the same building for six years, both mother and daughter will miss each other. The two remembered one particular day together, when they accidentally matched outfits, but Amy plans to come back and volunteer in the future. It would be hard to just step away and not have any more interaction at all, Amy has plans to spend more time with her grandchildren, travel, and help with her parents. And while Amy takes time to slow down and enjoy life, Ivy is excited to begin a new journey. I am very excited. Itll be fun to have some familiar faces next year, Im excited to be on that team Ivy smiled. Amy has been going through her curriculum to make sure it is ready to pass down to her daughter, and Ivy prepares for a full day with her classes. Im excited to have more time with the kids. As a preschool teacher, Ivy works a half day in the morning with students, and a half day in the afternoon. It will take some time to get used to having kids all day, but Ivy is looking forward to see how much they grow, they grow a lot in kindergarten. Ivy intends to keep her new classroom for many years, where her daughter can grow up in the room watching her mother work, just as she watched Amy Grunhovd. 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 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DES MOINES The state tax on Iowans income would be lowered to 3.6 percent over five years for all filers and eventually phased out altogether under a tax proposal unveiled Wednesday by Republican lawmakers in the Iowa Senate. The Senate GOP tax plan also would eliminate the state tax on retirement income, reduce the state tax on businesses and eliminating some tax credits and exemptions. And it would put funding into the long-starved state fund for recreation, conservation and water quality programs. When fully implemented, the plan would result in total taxpayer savings and thus a reduction in state revenues of roughly $2 billion, Senate Republicans said. The current state budget is just more than $8 billion. Sen. Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs and chair of the Senates tax policy committee, said the legislation accomplishes the goals he and his colleagues set for changing Iowas tax laws. Iowa House bill would require hands-free phones while driving In Iowa last year, there were 373 crashes and six fatalities directly related to distracted driving. One was to return the money back to taxpayers that is clearly over-collected. Two, to use that money when returning it to build back a better tax code. And three, whats our vision going forward, Dawson told reporters Wednesday. I think this bill that were going to produce meets all three of those goals. The Senate Republican plan would: Gradually reduce state income taxes over five years until, in 2027, there is a flat rate of 3.6%. Currently, the highest state income tax rate in Iowa is 8.53%, and lower-income workers pay gradually lower rates. Restructure the state taxpayer relief fund into a fund dedicated to eventually eliminating the state income tax. Gradually reduce the state corporate tax rate over six years until, in 2028, large businesses pay a 7.8% rate, down from the current 9.8 percent, and small businesses would pay 5.3%. Eliminate the state tax on retirement income including pensions and annuities. Enact a shift in tax collections to fund the states Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund. The fund was established by Iowa voters in 2010, but state lawmakers in the dozen years since have not enacted the required sales tax increase to fund the program. Rep. Sharon Steckman to seek eighth term in Iowa legislature While Steckman serves the District 53 now, under the census-driven realignment of political districts, she will seek re-election in the District 59. Jack Whitver, the Republican Senate majority leader from Ankeny, said he believes the proposal aligns with the tax plan that Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed earlier this month. Reynolds plan called for a four-year transition to a 4% flat income tax, the elimination of the state tax on retirement income, and a reduction of the state corporate tax rate. She did not propose this year a mechanism to fund the state recreation, conservation and water quality trust fund, but she had in a 2020 proposal. Majority House Republican have not yet unveiled their tax plan. I have been very clear: Our tax plan will not raise taxes for any Iowan, House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, said in a statement. Iowa House Republicans will be releasing a tax plan very soon that is similar to the governors plan and is simple, responsible and cuts taxes for all Iowans. Republicans hold majorities in both the Iowa House and Senate, which along with a Republican in the governors office gives them unfettered control of the state lawmaking process. Sen. Zach Wahls, leader of the minority Senate Democrats from Coralville, called Senate Republicans tax plan another tax giveaway to millionaires and big corporations. The Republican plan would result in higher taxes for hardworking Iowans and the defunding of public education, public safety and health care services, Wahls said in a statement. Senate Democrats are focused on putting more money into the pockets of hardworking Iowans. That includes targeted tax cuts for middle class families, expanding access to affordable child care and paid family leave, fully funding our schools, and making job training and apprenticeships available and affordable for all Iowans. Whitver said Senate Republicans tax plan would not impact state spending because of current surpluses in the state budget. According to the states nonpartisan fiscal services agency, there is projected to be more than $1 billion in the taxpayer relief fund, and the general budget fund is projected to contain in excess of $1.2 billion. In addition, the states reserve funds are flush with more than $800 million. Who takes over when Iowa's governor is out? DES MOINES The line of succession plan for when an Iowa governor is no longer in office would be clarified under a proposed amendment to the state constitution. The lost revenue from proposed tax cuts can be absorbed by the current amount of money were taking in, Whitver said. Were at a point where we cant afford to not do tax cuts. Whitver said he plans for the Senate tax plan to start working its way through the legislative process next week, and that he hopes it will be passed early this legislative session. The legislation was not yet officially filed as of Wednesday evening. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 President signs order on 30th anniversary of Khojaly genocide 28 January 2022 [17:38] - Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order in connection with the 30th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide. Views: 529 A quick-hitting storm system was expected to bring up to 3 inches of snow, gusty winds and bitterly cold temperatures to the Dan River Region. The National Weather Service in Blacksburg placed Danville and Pittsylvania County under a winter weather advisory from 4 p.m. Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday. Potentially starting as a rain, forecasters said the precipitation would become all snow by midnight when the temperature dips to the lower 20s. For our region this will be a relatively quick event, with snow falling and moving east within a 12-hour period for most, Blacksburg meteorologists wrote in a Friday morning forecast discussion. More concerning than the snow will be the wind and resultant wind chills. As a system steers toward the East Coast, an Arctic air mass will merge and trigger a low pressure system to form along the coast. That could trigger blizzard conditions in areas like the Delmarva Peninsula, New Jersey and New England on Saturday into Sunday. The higher elevations will see snow longer and will subsequently see higher amounts; alternately lower amounts will be possible at lower elevations where more rain falls, the Blacksburg discussion said of snowfall for the area. Up to 3 inches of snow is possible before Saturday morning. Thats when gusty winds will emerge for the area. Saturdays high is expected to remain below freezing. The weather service warns even a light coating of snow coupled with the frigid conditions will make travel hazardous. The Virginia Department of Transportation also reported roads especially overpasses, ramps, crossovers and bridges could become slick and icy. In Danville, crews started pretreating major roads, bridges and overpasses with a solution of salt and water Thursday, city spokesperson Arnold Hendrix reported. When the water evaporates, salt is left behind in an effort to break the bond between snow and road. Danville Public Works vehicles have snowplows mounted and are ready for 12-hour shifts. Crews begin plowing major thoroughfares when an inch of snow accumulates on street surfaces, Hendrix said in an email. Residents and visitors are urged to avoid travel once snow begins. VDOT also is asking residents to not venture out when the snow starts to fall. However, those who must travel should take care to maintain a safe speed and increase their distance from other vehicles. Keep in mind, we will continue to see a risk of refreeze on roadways possibly for several days as temperatures fluctuate and snow and ice melt, then freeze again, Len Stevens, a spokesperson for VDOTs Lynchburg district, the area that covers the Dan River Region. In the event of power outages caused by the snow and heavy winds, Danville Utilities crews will be in standby mode, Hendrix said. If large-scale electrical disruptions occur, crews will work staggered 16-hour shifts. Danville residents or visitors who need shelter may call the city of Danvilles non-emergency number at 434-799-5111 and press option 8. On Thursday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin declared as state of emergency ahead of the incoming storm system. 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. Following a quick closed session Thursday night, the Danville School Board unanimously voted to continue requiring students to wear masks at the citys schools. Theres certainly a lot of community transmission [of COVID-19], Danville Public Schools spokesperson Lanie Davis told the Danville Register & Bee after the boards 7-0 vote. The decision was to make sure were able to continue providing in-person instruction without a lot of spread in schools. The vote defies Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkins executive order making mask-wearing among students in the states public schools optional. However, a state law requiring students to wear masks at schools and on schools buses was approved and signed into law last year, with bipartisan support in Richmond. Danville Schools Superintendent Angela Hairston, who recommended keeping the mask mandate in place, told the Danville Register & Bee the move was important to enable the school division to continue in-person instruction. We feel that anything we can do to help our children remain in the classroom and teachers remain face-to-face is really important, Hairston said Friday morning. Danvilles vaccination rate is low and positivity rate is high, she pointed out. We want to be sure that everyone feels safe going into a face-to-face environment, Hairston said. The school boards vote sent a message to our community and parents that we have leadership in the school district that believes that masking is an important part of our strategy in keeping our kids safe, she said. During public comment at the start of the school board meeting, local officials spoke in favor of keeping the mask mandate in the citys schools. Alice Willingham, Danville representative for the Virginia Education Association, asked the board to please err on the side of caution and keep everyone as safe as possible. Please keep the mandates in schools, Willingham said. Guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls for universal masking of students and staff, she pointed out. It is still the best way to protect people from COVID infection, she said. Danville has a 46.8% positivity rate, Willingham said. The positivity rate is the percentage of those tested for COVID-19 who test positive for the disease. On Friday, there were five students and two employees in the Danville school system with active COVID-19 cases, a dashboard showed. The mask mandate needs to stay in place because there are immunocompromised students and teachers, as well as those who live with vulnerable relatives, she added. Three of my members have died from this virus, Willingham said. Proper masking is the single most effective COVID mitigation strategy for students and educators. Danville Vice Mayor Gary Miller pointed out that a positivity rate above 20% is considered bad. Miller, a cardiologist, also emphasized the dangers of forgoing the vaccine and refusing to wear a mask. The CDC views any positivity rate above 5% to mean COVID-19 is spreading uncontrolled in an area. COVID-19 is one of the most contagious viruses known to man, Miller said. However, one parent who spoke at the meeting disagreed with the mask mandate, saying that his children have struggled to make social connections such as not being able to see their classmates smile. I believe the parents have the right to make the decision for their children, Eric Lindsay told the board. There has been a a huge increase in childhood depression due to lack of connection, he said. Were harming our children no matter what we do, he said. Pittsylvania County on Monday sided with Youngkins directive and allowed parents to opt out of the mask mandate. This decision was made with School Board awareness, Pittsylvania County Schools Superintendent Mark Jones told the Register & Bee via email Wednesday. The Pittsylvania County School Board met before the executive order was issued on Jan. 15, the same day Youngkin took office. Masks are still required on school buses, Jones said in a statement. Also, all school employees must continue to wear face coverings. On Friday, there were two dozen students in Pittsylvania County Schools with active COVID-19 infections. Seven employees also reported having COVID-19, a dashboard showed. 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. Updated 5:20 p.m. GREENSBORO North Carolina welcomed supersonic jetmaker Boom Technology this afternoon during an official announcement at its future home, Piedmont Triad International Airport. "We're back again," Gov. Roy Cooper told about 300 people packed into an airport parking area on a frigid Wednesday afternoon, "to talk about good-paying advanced manufacturing jobs. Talking about sustainable energy and the future of clean transportation. Talking about going places. Last month, it was by land. Today, it's by air." Cooper was in the Triad for the second time in less than two months to announce another blockbuster economic-development success for the region. On Dec. 6, Toyota announced it would build a $1.3 billion factory in Randolph County making batteries to power electric cars. The factory would also employ more than 1,700 people. "On another chilly day 118 years or so ago," Cooper said, "the Wright brothers took off from Kitty Hawk, making North Carolina first in flight. And this afternoon, we're launching the future of flight." Kathy Savitt, Boom's president and chief business officer, told the group that North Carolina and the Triad have everything the startup company could want, from a first-class airport and workforce, to a short distance from the coast, where Boom hopes to test its planes for supersonic flight over open water. "We're guided by one audacious mission, and that's to make the world dramatically more accessible," Savitt said. "By the end of this decade, millions of travelers will be able to enjoy sustainable supersonic flight aboard Overture, an airliner twice as fast as any commercial aircraft flying today." This is a developing story. Check back for updates at greensboro.com. GREENSBORO Boom Technology, a 7-year-old aviation company based in Englewood, Colorado, will receive up to $12 million in tax incentives from Guilford County and $1,500 per job from Greensboro to build its Boom Supersonic airliner factory at Piedmont Triad International Airport. The Guilford County Board of Commissioners held a rare early morning meeting Wednesday to unanimously approve the incentives, which require the company to invest up to $500 million and employ up to 1,700 workers at the site. Ninety minutes later the Greensboro City Council voted unanimously to approve an incentive of $1,500 per job that the company creates. Also Wednesday morning, the state's Economic Investment Committee unanimously approved a Job Development Investment Grant package worth up to $106.5 million to pay for infrastructure improvements at PTI. The committee is required to give final approval to the largest N.C. Commerce Department incentive packages. The committee said Boom also considered sites in Greenville, South Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida, for the project. Construction is projected to begin sometime this year. Gov. Roy Cooper will formally announce the new company at a press event at 2 p.m. at the airport on Wednesday. Regional officials have been working for many months to recruit the company. The manufacturer, which has contracts with major airlines to buy its yet-untested supersonic airplane, is the culmination of dreams of at least two former Airport Authority board chairmen, Executive Director Kevin Baker, and the Triad economic development community for more than a decade. It comes a little over a month after Toyota announced it would build a $1.3 billion factory in Randolph County for batteries to power electric cars. That announcement was also the climax of a decade-long effort to recruit a major manufacturer to the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite near Liberty. Putting Greensboro and the Triad on the international map for its manufacturing has been a dream of business leaders for more than 25 years after the textile, tobacco and furniture industries once the bedrock of the region's employment cut tens of thousands of jobs, moving some overseas while other companies shrank due to dropping sales. Five years ago, PTI was already seeing thousands of workers join the HAECO aircraft maintenance company and Honda Aircraft Co., which manufactured the jewel of the very light jet market, the HondaJet. But officials were pressing on with plans for the western side of the airport, on the opposite side from the prosperity on the east. Five years ago, they were still building a massive taxiway bridge over the yet-uncompleted Interstate 73 so aircraft could be transported from an aviation megasite of 1,000 acres onto the airport's 2-mile western runway. Now that work is done and the dream of recruiting a major aircraft manufacturer is about to come true. Contact Richard M. Barron at 336-373-7371 and follow @BarronBizNR 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. RALEIGH North Carolina nonprofit hospitals too often are billing poor people for medical care when they should write the expenses off as a result of their tax-exempt status, according to a report released Wednesday by the state treasurers office. The report, developed by the State Health Plan and the National Academy of State Health Policy, declared a lack of transparency obscures how common such billings are and how existing law offers little protection to patients and taxpayers. A bipartisan group of state lawmakers, along with State Treasurer Dale Folwell, held a news conference about the report and called for reforms. They include setting minimum requirements for how much charity care nonprofit hospitals must provide. The findings in this report show the need for greater accountability, Folwell said in a news release. Despite lucrative tax breaks, nonprofit hospitals do not always provide more charity care than their for-profit counterparts. The North Carolina Healthcare Association, which represents for-profit and nonprofit hospitals, said in an extensive statement that charity care spending and community benefit investment activity is transparent and accountable. The group blasted the news conference as a public relations stunt by Folwell at a time when hospital staff is stretched thin while handling record hospitalizations during COVID-19. Folwell, a Republican reelected in 2020, also released a report in October that found a majority of the states largest nonprofit hospital systems failed to provide a monetary charity care that exceeds 60% of the value of the systems tax breaks they had received in recent years. Wednesdays report, which Folwell said was peer-reviewed by Rice University researchers, found that some nonprofit hospitals in fiscal year 2019 billed $149.2 million to poor patients who should have qualified for charity care under the hospitals own policies. But that covered fewer than 20% of the states nonprofit hospitals, the report said. Citing 2019 federal tax filings, the report showed that an average 12% to 29% of bad debt for nonprofit hospitals in the state should have been charity care, while the national average, last recorded in 2017, is 10%. The pandemic likely is making the problem of patient debt worse, the report said. The report also alleges that hospitals seeking to collect unpaid bills sometimes do so through damaging credit scores or suing patients. Some hospitals also have encouraged patients to open medical credit cards that charge interest to pay bills, the report said. The health care association has pointed previously to community benefits that hospitals provide to their coverage areas beyond charity care spending. Hospitals must annually submit audits to tax regulators to retain their tax-exempt status, according to the association. There should be no doubt that nonprofit hospitals are proudly fulfilling their charity care and community benefit commitments to North Carolinians, the association said in its statement. Tens of Afrin children lost their lives in attacks carried out by the Turkish occupation forces and the affiliated mercenary groups in addition to land mines laid by mercenary groups in the Shahba Canton. According to the Kurdish Red Crescent, 70 children were martyred and around 213 were injured in the Turkish assault on Afrin and after their displacement to Shahba. The unjustified blockade imposed by the Syrian government on the Shahba Canton had a role in aggravating the situation in the canton as they are denied access to Aleppo's hospitals and dispensaries not to mention the rarity of medicines in the canton under blockade. Nebi Bakr, 14, an Afrin IDP lost his leg last year due to a mine explosion laid by ISIS mercenary groups in the canton in the company of his cousin that lost a leg too. Nebi relates his story that took place in the village of Sheikh Issa as they did not know they were in a mine filed at the outskirts of Tal Rifa't. Nebi said he suffers unbearably in his life as he is obliged to walk for a 20 minutes daily to reach his school. Nebi said the Avrin Hospital rendered held in providing him with an artificial limb denouncing the role played by international organizations that disregard the IDPs of Afrin living in Shahba Canton. In turn, administrator in the Health Committee of the Afrin Council Berivan Hisein said the most affected by the Turkish occupation shelling and the blockade imposed by the Syrian government are children as they are deprived of basic necessities of life to pass their childhood safely. Berivan indicated the international organizations did not provide anything to Afrin children and keep watching. Many of these are working in Shahba under false names just deliver promises, Berivan said. Berivan noted the administration of the Shahba Canton seeks to provide all necessities within its available capabilities. The held is provided to children lost limbs adding the capabilities are not sufficient to cover the all needs. From his part, administrator in the Documenting Office of the Kurdish Red Crescent Haidar Mustafa said children are bore the brunt of the Turkish occupation aggression on the Afrin Canton that lasted 58 days. Haidar said the from the very first day of the aggression up to date, 213 injuries were documented and 70 martyrs under 15. Haidar said many lost lives and injured by mines laid by ISIS mercenary groups in the Shahaba Canton, '' up to date land mines are still pose threats to children living in the Shahba Canton. Many lost their lives and others their limbs, not to mention the constant Turkish shelling on the canton and the Shera district of Afrin. Haidar said the Kurdish Red Crescent provided many children with artificial limbs. In the course of three years Turkish occupation forces committed three massacres against children under 15. The first was in Tal Rif'at in 2019 claiming the lives of 8 children and the injury of 12 others. The second was in the village of Aqbiye in Sherawa and the third was in 2021 in Tal Rif'at too claiming the lives of three children. L..A ANHA " " Male pattern baldness tends to follow a predictable, well, pattern. H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images You've seen the commercials or spotted it on your nearest and dearest the loss of hair on the front or top of a head while a fringe remains around the chrome dome. Male pattern baldness (MPB), known in scientific circles as androgenetic alopecia, is responsible for more than 95 percent of male hair loss. Indeed, MPB affects around 50 million American men, with more than half of men over 50 reporting at least some hair loss, a risk that only increases with age. So, with such a great number of people affected, why is the baldness pattern generally the same? Hair loss is complicated, and scientists are still trying to work out the bugs on why and how it happens. Pretty much all of them agree that MPB is usually genetic. Typically, loss begins above both temples, receding until a characteristic "M" pattern emerges. Often, but not always, the crown also starts to lose hair. This is likely due to changes in how the body processes certain androgens, the male sex hormones. In fact, men with MPD actually inherited a genetic sensitivity to the androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This sensitivity causes hair follicles to miniaturize, which shortens their life span and eventually leads them to stop growing hair. The areas most often affected by miniaturization are you guessed it the crown and frontal hairline. Advertisement "Many men have frontal hairline recession only. Others will have thinning in the vertex (crown) of the scalp. Many times, both happen at the same time," says Dr. Amy McMichael with the Wake Forest Department of Dermatology in an email interview. "The order is predicted by genetics and each person has slightly different genetics that determine when hair will begin to thin and how severe hair loss will be." The rest of the hair on the head is made of hardier stuff, apparently. "The reason why men do not lose hair in the posterior scalp is that these follicles are genetically programmed to be stem cells and do not shed," emails Dr. Marc Glashofer, a board-certified dermatologist and hair loss expert practicing in Northern New Jersey. "This is why hair transplants harvest the hair from the back of the scalp." Scientists are using this knowledge to develop more effective treatments to slow or stop hair loss. Currently, only two treatments are approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Minoxidil (brand name Rogaine) is applied topically, directly to the scalp to stimulate hair follicles. It has shown some success at slowing hair loss, even helping to re-grow hair. The other option is Finasteride (Propecia), which is taken orally to limit or production of the disruptive androgen DHT, which slows hair loss and promotes hair growth. The drug has had a higher success rate than minoxidil. Now That's Interesting Hair loss can and does happen to women, too. Typically, it occurs much later in life than men, usually after menopause. Rather than going completely bald, most women experience significant thinning of the hair to the point where the scalp is visible at the top. For All U of U Health Patients & Visitors For the past eight years I served on the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, six as chair. When combined with my eight years in the House, I have spent more time evaluating the Public Service Commissions (PSC) regulatory duties and commissioners than anyone in the Legislature. For the unfamiliar, the PSC consists of five members, each elected from a distinct geographic Montana district. Their primary charge is keeping your lights on and power costs low. Over the last two decades I have watched the Montana PSC descend into a state of dysfunctionality. Rather than focus on its regulatory role, it has become a political body whose commissioners routinely degrade each other. Todays commissioners often let politics distract them from their role of regulating energy costs and energy reliability. Previous efforts made by the Legislature to redraw the PSC district boundaries to correct for population imbalances as required by the Constitution (one man, one vote) died in committee, as both parties sought to gerrymander seat boundaries to their benefit. Further, prospective PSC candidates, while still serving in the Legislature, worked to ensure they had a favorable seat for their upcoming political race. Despite the growing population imbalance between PSC districts, the chair of House Energy did not redraw PSC district boundaries this session, perhaps because he planned to run. A federal court has now intervened. The court, recognizing the unconstitutionality of the current PSC District population imbalance, has indicated that a three-judge panel (two from Montana, one from California) will engage in redrawing PSC districts. Now there are legislators clamoring for a special session to draw districts including the previously uncooperative chair of House Energy. I do not support a special session. Hastily drawn district lines from an expensive short special session will just kick the can down the road. The right temporary solution is to let the court rapidly engage, then the Legislature can do a thoughtful permanent fix in the 2023 session, a short 10 months away. In most states, PSC commissioners are appointed. This is done to ensure that commissioners have a background in energy analysis. Going forward, I would propose that two commissioners be elected, one from an eastern congressional district and one from the western congressional district. The other three would be appointed, two by the majority party and one from the minority. To ensure that Montanans can be confident in the commissions expertise, I would establish minimum requirements for background experience. A hastily called special session will do more harm than good, especially as there are legislators who will work to extend the session to include their pet topic. This will waste tax dollars and stick the public with 10 more years of questionable PSC policy decisions. The current call for a special session is the final act of individuals who repeatedly chose to ignore their statutory obligations. As such, I adamantly oppose the call. Sen. Duane Ankney, R-Colstrip, is chair of the Montana State Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee. Love 9 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Trend Global food prices have risen to the highest level in the world over the past decade, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) told Trend. The FAO official noted that a sharp increase has been observed in global food prices over the year 2021. The Food Price Index computed by the FAO averaged 133.7 points in December 2021, up 25.1 points (23.1 percent) from December 2020. This pinpoints that food prices have risen to the highest level in the world over the past decade, the official said. During the last year, the official noted, a number of factors contributed to this increase. The breakdown of the value chain, unfavorable weather conditions, rise in energy prices and high costs of inputs, as well as the steady increase in demand for food are among the main factors leading to rising food prices, the FAO added. The official emphasized that projections suggest that food prices are likely to remain high also in 2022. Rising food prices, restored worldwide concern about the nutrition and food security all over the world. At the national level, food security is a situation through which a state is able to meet the food demand of its population on a continuous and stable basis, the official said. Nutrient loss is one of the most serious pollution threats faced in the U.S., causing a Rhode Island-sized dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, poisoning local lakes and streams and causing serious health problems for people and domesticated animals. This year, Illinois lawmakers are considering how to best direct state resources to help reduce nutrient runoff, particularly in the agriculture sector and suburban sewage runoff. One goal is to incentivize farmers to adopt nutrient runoff reduction strategies through government incentives and other policy changes. Its an effort to better fulfill a runoff reduction strategy that began in 1995 but hasnt led to the results lawmakers had hoped for. Illinois is one of 11 states in the Mississippi River basin that have pledged to develop strategies to reduce the nutrient loads leaving their borders. Illinois aimed to reduce nitrates and nitrogen by 15% and phosphorus by 25% by 2025, but the latest update showed that nutrient loss increased by 13% and phosphorus losses increased by 35%, compared with a baseline period from 1980 to 1996, according to the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Implementation Biennial Report. The state is making headway on its goal to reduce nutrient discharge from wastewater treatment facilities. From 2019 to 2020, funding tripled for investment in water treatment, resulting in more than $200 million in investment for improvements at wastewater plants. Clear guidance was in place to help wastewater operators understand what improvements needed to be made and how to get funding to make them, according to the report. Agriculture has not seen the same reductions. Increased and more intense rains fueled by climate change complicated those nutrient loss efforts, experts say. While developing agricultural strategies to address nutrient loss, they are complicated by geography and financial considerations for the 72,000 farmers who farm 27 million acres across the state. Farm conservation is, by far, the most effective way to combat nutrient loss, but it can be costly for individual farmers to implement, said Michael Woods, division manager of the Division of Natural Resources for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Some of the key agricultural practices to combat nutrient loss and help reach the goal of a 45% reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus pollution are conservation tillage, testing the soil before applying phosphorus fertilizer, using the maximum return on nitrogen rate for nitrogen fertilizer, putting grass buffers on waterways, and using cover crops. A state program offers a $5-per-acre discount on crop insurance, but demand for the program is far outpacing the availability even as its funding was doubled this year. In 2019, the first year of the Fall Cover for Spring Savings, the program covered 50,000 acres. It took 12 days for the applications to be filled. IDOA estimated 70 percent of the applicants were new to planting cover crops. In 2022, the acreage limit was doubled to 100,000 acres. It took less than 12 hours to fill the first-come, first-served program. It shattered records, Woods said. This program is in high demand because it is not cheap to employ conservation methods. This program offsets some of those costs. Legislative efforts State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, is the sponsor of a measure that has thus far stalled in the General Assembly that would have extended state runoff reduction efforts. Though this isnt an issue that hits the front page, it is an important one and one that we should make sure we make a priority, he said. Villivalam filed Senate Bill 3471 earlier this month that would extend a program run through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Partners for Conservation Fund, through 2032 and allow it to receive private funds. It would also allow for fund transfers from other state funds to conservation efforts and give the Illinois Department of Revenue better grant-making guidance. It also increases funding for runoff reduction efforts. We have made progress on this in appropriations, Villivalam said. We will continue to work to make funding available and to make sure that funding is used appropriately to combat this problem, as well as seeing what other gaps exist. The funding will rise over the next 10 years from $10 million to more than $25 million in 2027, extending through 2032. The bill asks for agricultural management on state-owned and leased lands to support nutrient loss reduction efforts. It also directs much of the current allocation to the Illinois EPA toward implementation of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy and infrastructure projects for nutrient capture. In 1995, the Illinois Legislature passed Conservation 2000, a comprehensive, six-year, $100 million initiative designed to promote ecosystem-based management of privately held land in a public-private partnership and create partnerships between the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Natural Resources. It became Partners for Conservation in 2008, but it was scheduled to expire in 2021 as legislation to extend it failed to pass. The latest legislative effort will extend that program and provide additional guidance on setting goals and targets to advance conservation efforts, expand the eligible uses of the Partners for Conservation Fund, including funding for the Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program, and enhance reporting to the Legislature on progress through the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. The bill will not only help align state programs with the NLRS, but it creates a framework that will help agency staff direct state and federal conservation dollars toward nutrient loss programs. It creates partnerships that would measure data, track success and devise strategies that would allow for easier application to get those federal dollars, said Max Webster, Midwest policy manager for American Farmland Trust. It would also stabilize state funding for the programs allowing for matching federal money, Webster said. Villivalam filed the bill Jan. 19, and it had not received a committee assignment as of Wednesday. Other obstacles Participation in voluntary incentive programs, like the cover crop program, might not be enough to meet the goals in the NLRS, said Catie Gregg, agricultural program specialist for Prairie Rivers Network. If we continue to not see improvements, or things are getting worse, as seen in the 2021 NLRS report, we will need to look at a broader range of strategies that may include both voluntary programs and requiring certain best management practices, Gregg said. Conservation tillage, maximum return rate for nitrogen, and testing the soil for phosphorus before applying fertilizer should be part of those strategies, Gregg said. For Illinois to meet those nutrient loss reduction goals, agriculture programs should be scaled up, Gregg said. New agriculture programs are at the scale of millions of dollars, whereas wastewater treatment facilities have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in reducing nutrient pollution in their plants, often funded by the state revolving fund. It is not surprising that we are seeing nutrient pollution reductions in wastewater, but not from agriculture, Gregg said. We will need that same level of funding if we are to see reductions in runoff at the same scale from agriculture. Farmers want to protect their land and environment, but they have to consider the bottom line when starting a new regimen on their farms, such as planting cover crops or installing buffers, said Lauren Lurkins, director of natural and environmental resources for Illinois Farm Bureau. Financial incentives can offer inducement to try conservation measures. Each year, every farmer will have to look at their own situation to decide. This year, everything is higher; seeds, fertilizer, everything. They may decide that the program alone isnt enough to justify the additional costs, Lurkins said. Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, who farms 1,600 acres in Washington County, echoed that sentiment. Ten years ago, when cash crop prices were high and fertilizer prices were reasonable, Meier said, it made sense to try to maximize yield. This year, the fertilizer prices are high and supplies are harder to source, making it a good time to push conservation efforts. But Meier points to inadequate state agriculture budgets and a lack of commitment to address the nutrient loss problem. The soil diversity across the state also means that incentive programs must allow for flexibility so the farmer can be successful and continue to use conservation methods after the incentive period ends. Farmers compete. You look at your neighbors fields and you want to do as well or better than they are, Meier said. Farmers dont want mandates. Farms across the state are different. What works for a farmer in Champaign County may not work in Monroe County. Farmers want flexibility to do what works for them. Meier participated in the federal Conservation Stewardship Program on his farm money that came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. He created buffers along the waterways to absorb nutrients, targeted areas for fertilizing with testing and GPS, planted cover crops in the fall where he will plant cash crops in the spring and milkweed for pollinators in less productive areas. But the federal program guidelines can be complicated and the paperwork and documentation can be daunting, especially for farmers who also work off of the farm, according to Rob Myers, director of the Center for Regenerative Agriculture at the University of Missouri. And Meier said successful implementation of any cover crop program requires farmers to be continuously learning about technology and employing what works for their farm, being adaptable and embracing change. Some Illinois farmers are making changes, not only to reduce runoff but to lower their costs and improve their soil quality and improve their yields and the quality of the yields while reducing their use of fertilizers. Mark Litteken operates a hog and cattle farm on 120 acres in Clinton County. He also grows corn and soybeans. Litteken started planting cover crops in 2010. Litteken chose not to use the state or federal programs so he could be more flexible in his choice of cover crops and how he used them. He grazes his cattle on the grass, clover and radishes he grows. This isnt really new. This is stuff my grandfather used to do, Litteken said. There is science behind it, but you also have to know your goals and your ground. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In the meeting season for agriculture, farmers are being beckoned from miles around to hear speakers that prognosticate the future. Their crystal balls are clear, and they charge hefty appearance fees that are paid by hefty registration fees paid by those in the audience. Of course, those are the members of the farming community who are just as insightful as the speakers prancing on stage. It is difficult to predict the future. However, it is not hard to identify the dynamics pushing and pulling on the future. We may not know how the results turn out, but everyone knows those familiar forces of economics, nature, and humanity. As farmers listen to those futurists, many will talk about 2022 production expenses, as well as the actual availability of the crop inputs in demand. All price records have been broken by fertilizer, because of China halting exports, U.S. tariffs on phosphate imports, and high natural gas prices in Europe. We hear those daily, but no one really knows when, and even if, prices will return to normal or whatever the new normal will be. Those speakers will also talk about the difficulty in getting the active ingredients in the U.S. to manufacture herbicides. Have Plan B in mind this spring, they say. Others talk about having Plan C in place. No one is yet talking about Plan D, because that is a weed hook and there is not enough labor available for that. Those speakers who have foresight are using some hindsight and telling farmers they were smart if they had sold some of their 2022 crop, and their 2023 crop, and some of their 2024 crop. What farmers dont want to be told is that that the market will be going down. After all, what goes up, also comes down. We all curse the gravity in a bearish market trend, and on an icy sidewalk. In the past two years the grain market has been bolstered by Chinese buyers, trying to keep consumers happy in that country. But there is no one who can be sure of what China will do, since its real needs are unknow, its domestic production is unknown, and its political leaders dont show their cards. What we know about China is its desire to make anything and everything and ship it all to American consumers, who will buy anything and everything, even as prices are becoming inflated. Those supply chains in China are well greased, but here in the U.S. they have slipped off the sprockets. While politicians work to fix them with new economic incentives and sometimes offsetting regulations, many farmers will yearn for those more simple days described by Grandpa. That is, until it is time to climb into the tractor cab, illuminate the numerous display screens that provide details of the world outside, and head through the field. At that point there is an opportunity for fewer headaches, less decision pain, and more time to enjoy the future, for it has arrived. Stu Ellis is an observer of the Central Illinois agriculture scene. In addition to his weekly column, you can view his From The Farm and Harvest Heritage reports on WCIA 3 News. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Many things can be said about Illinois, but it's not this: There's nothing good to eat here. On the contrary, Illinois is known for vast menu of culinary favorites, from the famous Chicago-style hotdog to the less-ubiquitous burgoo. Grab a snack and read on for 11 foods that Illinois loves to eat. Pork tenderloin sandwich While the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is said to have originated in Indiana, its a staple at restaurants throughout Illinois, too. The sandwich consists of pork thats been pounded thin and flat, then battered, deep fried and served with a hamburger bun and your choice of toppings. The most authentic of tenderloins will be about the size of a dinner plate, far outsizing the bun. Horseshoes The Springfield-born horseshoe sandwich consists of a couple slices of Texas toast and your choice of meat, served under a pile of French fries and cheese sauce. The horseshoe name came from the shape of the ham used in the original 1928 sandwich, while the French fries represent the nails of the shoe and the sizzle platter represents an anvil. Regional pizza styles Illinoisans love their pizza, and the most famous is, of course, the Chicago deep dish. Its served with the sauce on top, and a couple inches worth of cheese, toppings and crust tucked underneath youll need a fork and possibly a knife to tackle this creation. Some of the best-known spots serving up the Chicago deep dish are Lou Malnatis, Giordanos, Uno Pizzeria and Ginos East. Different pizza styles abound in different parts of the state. If youre near St. Louis, youll encounter a cracker-thin crust and Provel cheese, a creamy mix of Swiss, provolone and cheddar. And it will be cut into squares, not triangles. Look for this style especially at Imos Pizza. St. Louis-style pizza is a close cousin to the tavern- or pub-style pizzas found throughout Illinois and the wider Midwest. Its a thin-crust pizza cut into squares, but with a more traditional cheese on top. Finally, the Quad Cities-style pizza features dough with a malt that gives it a nutty, toasted taste and bakes into a crisp crust. The sauce has a kick to it, usually with red chili flakes and cayenne, and the toppings tend to be heavy on the sausage. Pumpkin pie Illinois is the top pumpkin-producing state, and Morton, in Tazewell County, has been dubbed the Pumpkin Capital of the World. Some 85% of the worlds canned pumpkin is packed in the Nestle/Libbys plant in Morton. In 2015, a law was passed by the Illinois legislature and signed by the governor to make pumpkin pie the official state pie. Corn, in various forms Farmland covers 75% of Illinois total land area, and the state is one of the nations top producers of corn. So, its no surprise that corn became the official state grain in 2018, sweet corn the official state vegetable in 2015, and popcorn the official state snack food in 2003. Toasted ravioli We have to give credit to St. Louis for toasted ravioli, but this Italian-style appetizer can be found in the Metro East region and elsewhere in Illinois, too. The dish consists of ravioli thats breaded, deep fried, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and served with a side of marinara sauce. Chicago-style hotdogs You know the type: an all-beef hotdog on a poppy seed bun, piled high with yellow mustard, chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomatoes, sport peppers and celery salt. No ketchup allowed. Cozy Dogs The origin of the corndog has been debated, but we can say that Springfield was an early champion of this iconic fair food. The Illinois iteration of the corndog was perfected and popularized on an Air Force base in the 1940s. After his service, Ed Waldmire returned to Springfield and began selling corndogs there, including at the Illinois State Fair in 1946. Since 1949, the dogs have been sold at the Cozy Dog Drive In along the original Route 66 in Springfield. Wine We may not be the Napa Valley, but make no mistake Illinois has a rich supply of local wines. In fact, the Prairie State was one of the countrys largest wine producers pre-Prohibition Era. Today, Illinois is home to 165 wineries and tasting rooms, with many situated along the states seven wine trails. And, rose has been claimed the title as Illinois state wine. Burgoo Burgoo is a pioneer-era stew made of any meats and vegetables one has available, including wild game. Today, burgoo is often served at fall festivals, where the stew is cooked for hours over an open fire and served up to hungry attendees. At one of the largest and longest-running burgoo festivals, held in Utica each October, the stew includes beef, carrots, potatoes, hominy, celery, tomatoes, cabbage, onions, peppers and other vegetables, along with spices and herbs. Apples Apple orchards can be found in all corners of the state, with prime apple-picking season from June through October. The orchards draw large crowds on fall weekends, while everything from apple pie, cider and butter to applesauce and caramel apples fill Illinois kitchens, supermarkets and farmers markets. The state fruit, by the way, is the Goldrush apple. Sources: Illinois.gov, Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, Village of Morton, cozydogdrivein.com, Wikipedia, Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance, Village of North Utica, Illinois Farm Bureau Contact Robyn Skaggs at (309) 820-3244. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Satisfy your cravings With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR The Decatur school board has called a special closed meeting for Monday to interview a new candidate for superintendent. The board previously announced that there were two finalists for the position, Malika Savoy-Brooks and Michael Gaal, who took questions from community members during an online forum on Jan. 5. Savoy-Brooks is currently chief of academic supports officer for the School District of Philadelphia. Gaal is a retired U.S. Air Force pilot who left the service to immediately launch himself into an education career. He has been deputy chancellor of Washington, D.C. Public Schools and chief operations officer and elementary Network Leader in the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan, based in Detroit. School board President Dan Oakes said he could not address the question of the status of those two finalists when reached by phone on Thursday, but did say that the person the board will interview on Monday is a new candidate. More information should be available after that interview. The board hired the search firm of Hazard, Young, Attea to conduct the search for candidates to replace Paul Fregeau, who left Decatur in June for a position in the Fox C-6 district near St. Louis. Board members said the search could take several months but their hope was to complete the process quickly. They named retired assistant superintendent Bobbi Williams as interim to serve during the search. Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BLOOMINGTON It's been nearly 100 years since Route 66 was built as the main thoroughfare between Chicago and California. While the original roadway is no longer in service, traveling along the historic route makes for the quintessential American road trip. Here are some things you might not know about the road's path through Central Illinois: 19 Height, in feet, of the Paul Bunyon Hotdog Statue in Atlanta. 1926 Year Route 66 finished construction. By 1985, most of it had been replaced by newer interstates, and Route 66 was removed from the United States Highway System. 24 Height, in feet, of the Railsplitter Covered Wagon in Lincoln. Its been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest covered wagon in the world. The site is also home to a large statue of Abraham Lincoln. 301 Miles of Route 66 in Illinois. In total, the road spans 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. 1966 The year of Bob Waldmires renovated school bus the Road Yacht on display at the Route 66 Museum in Pontiac. Waldmire was known as a Route 66 artist and preservationist, and visitors can tour his bus from May through October. The museum complex also houses some of Waldmires artwork, and his iconic VW van. 2026 In honor of the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026, a parklet will be installed at Main and Jefferson streets in downtown Bloomington. Scheduled for completion in 2022, the site will feature benches sculpted from recycled truck parts, as well as a bike rack and planters featuring the Route 66 symbol. 3600 Bill H.R. 3600 advanced to the U.S. House in November. If passed, it would create the Route 66 National Historic Trail and give the National Park Service authority to help communities preserve the roadway. 18 Width, in feet, of Dead Mans Curve in Towanda. The sharp turn and narrow roadway here led to many traffic crashes for Route 66 travelers. Also in Towanda is the Geographical Journey Parkway, a walking tour with educational kiosks for each state along Route 66. Theres a collection of Burma Shave signs here, too. 2005 Year Illinois Historic Route 66 was designated as a National Scenic Byway by the U.S. Department of Transportation. 1939 Year John Steinbecks novel The Grapes of Wrath dubbed Route 66 as The Mother Road. Springfield now hosts a Route 66 Mother Road Festival each September. 1824 Year that Isaac Funk chose the location for a well, setting in motion what would eventually become Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup. 1980 Year that Carl Garbe created Carl's Ice Cream, which has grown to include locations in Bloomington and Normal. 100 Interior height, in feet, of rotunda in the center of the McLean County Museum of History in downtown Bloomington. The former courthouse now houses the Cruisin with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center. Contact Robyn Skaggs at (309) 820-3244. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR As blood supplies across the U.S. become scarce, local health care providers and hospitals are emphasizing the need for blood donations. This is a concerning situation for us, our hospitals, our patients and our communities in general, said Amanda Hess, vice president of donor relations and marketing at ImpactLife. Blood is not something that can be manufactured, it has to come from other people. Hospital administrators and doctors shared their current blood supply status and reasons why blood donations are needed during a joint news conference Thursday hosted by ImpactLife. ImpactLife is a not-for-profit organization providing blood supply to 126 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. Local hospitals include those in Decatur, Mattoon, Bloomington, Lincoln, Taylorville, Pana, Shelbyville, Monticello, Springfield, Champaign and Effingham. The conference highlighted the various uses of blood donations in hospitals throughout the Central Illinois region while advocating for the public to donate as much as they can. Hess said they are still seeing significantly less donations because of the COVID-19 pandemic and are operating at about 27% fewer mobile donations compared to what they had in 2019 before the pandemic began. Its been emphasized well that blood is a life saving intervention, its a critical medical resource and no matter the reason, we must have blood components on the shelves at all time, said Dr. Ruchika Goel, ImpactLife medical director. Unfortunately, blood is becoming an increasingly scarce resource and not only is the severity of the critical blood shortage getting attention but the frequency of the critical blood supply is increasing as well. Goel, who is a physician with Memorial Health and HSHS Illinois, said shortage is a national problem. As blood collectors, ImpactLife faces a challenge with managing the growing instability of blood inventories across the region which becomes an urgent need to employ all resources for blood conservation as hospital demands eventually go unmet, Goel said. The pandemic has also created roadblocks, preventing them from restocking their blood inventory as blood drives are being canceled or consolidated and the heightened urgency continues, Goel said. At a hospital level, these critical blood shortages can have significant operational consequences including the cancellation of elective procedures, Goel said. We really want to work and continue to supply blood product availability and avoid any disruptions. Dr. Gurpreet Mander, chief physician executive at HSHS Illinois, said having enough blood on hand to treat patients is critical to their hospital network that includes HSHS St. Marys in Decatur, HSHS St. Anthonys Memorial in Effingham and HSHS Good Shepherd in Shelbyville. Blood is important from a number of perspectives clinically, Mander said. In the case of major trauma, major heart surgery or significant blood loss after childbirth, it helps replace the blood pressure and manage that but also helps with oxygen transport and with facilitating clotting in the body. Without the administration of blood and this important therapy in these situations, our patients can die, Mander said. Cancellations and postponements are also a possibility as they are managing their blood inventory on a day to day basis, constantly making sure they have the necessary supply to meet the demands of patients, Mander said. Mander said the blood is also needed for patients undergoing dialysis or with other blood disorders which require multiple blood transfusions a week and if they do not receive their necessary transfusions, they can then become sick over a period of time. Other than surgical and trauma patients, Dr. Linda Jones, vice president of ancillary operations at Memorial Health, said blood donations are important for the hundreds of cancer patients they treat across their hospital network that includes Decatur Memorial and Springfield Memorial Hospitals. Many cancers cause loss of blood from unusual bleeding when cancers invade organs and blood vessels but also the impact of treatment is very serious, Jones said. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery can all impact the ability of the body to produce new blood cells and transfusions are frequently given to treatment patients. Jones said radiation therapy can impair the ability of bone marrow to produce new red blood cells that require the body to be heavily oxygenated while chemotherapy can enhance bone marrow stability to reproduce red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets that can contribute to bleeding. In addition, the impact of certain surgeries can contribute to bleeding or the loss of blood and reduce the reproduction of red blood cells, which could lead to patient infections or conditions like anemia, Jones said. Currently, Jones said they are only seeing about a one to three day supply of blood and they have already put in place conservation measures and restrictive criteria around routine uses of blood to assist with saving those critical supplies. For example, many times physicians are comfortable with transfusing a patient with anemia or red blood cells when they have a hemoglobin between eight and 10, Dr. Jones said. However, in the conservative measures we encourage physicians to conserve red blood cells and not transfuse unless the hemoglobin is seven or below. 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. MATTOON Josiah J. Lyons, the Mattoon High School gunman, appeared in Coles County Circuit Court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing to see if there was probable cause to try him on a charge of breaking sentencing requirements by failing to register a change of address. A judge ruled he was satisfied there was probable cause to try 19-year-old Lyons who has been held in custody since his arrest on Dec. 14 and the defendant entered a plea of not guilty. His case was then scheduled for a status hearing Feb. 7. In 2018 Lyons, then aged 15, admitted to a juvenile petition, the equivalent of a guilty plea, after opening fire in the high school cafeteria on the morning of Sept. 20, 2017. One fellow student had been shot and wounded before Lyons was overpowered by a teacher, Angela McQueen, who was hailed a hero. Part of Lyons sentencing as a juvenile requires him to register his current address. His alleged failure to do so opens him to being sentenced as an adult for the school shooting, and could see him facing a prison sentence of up to 25 years if convicted. Coles County States Attorney Jesse Danley has said he is pursuing the maximum penalty available against Lyons, whom he has said stands guilty of the most heinous of offenses after the school shooting. Bail for Lyons has been set at $25,000. He has hired defense attorney Edwin Piraino to represent him. Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. FORSYTH Carson Hagood, the man accused of trying to beat and kick three women to death at a group home in Forsyth, may not be mentally fit to stand trial. Hagood, 40, appeared for arraignment Thursday in Macon County Circuit Court and the Macon County State Attorneys Office said it had serious doubts about the defendants mental state. Judge Rodney Forbes agreed and, appointing the public defenders office to represent Hagood, ordered that he be examined by a doctor. Forbes scheduled the case for a fitness review on March 2. Hagood remains held in the Macon County Jail with bail set at $2 million. He faces three charges of attempted murder after the Macon County Sheriffs Office said he attacked three fellow residents of the Hickory Point Terrace group home Wednesday morning. The female victims, aged between 47 and 58, were beaten and kicked by Hagood and all suffered life-threatening injuries, according to a statement released by the sheriffs office. The victims, now hospitalized in Decatur, Springfield and Urbana, remain in critical condition. Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR The city of Decatur has received $3.76 million from a pair of state grants for transportation projects under the Rebuild Illinois capital program. They were among nearly $111.4 million worth in grants announced by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday for downstate transit providers. In Decatur, $2.76 million will go toward the purchase of four new buses for the Decatur Public Transit System and $1 million will be spent on construction of a busport to house the city's fleet of six paratransit vehicles Decatur Public Transit has 22 buses in its fleet and operates 15 bus routes Monday through Saturday. The city has replaced 18 of its buses over the past two years. The average lifespan of the buses are 15 years and 500,000 miles, but Decatur's fleet has been averaging 17 years and more than 700,000 miles, according to Deputy City Manager Jon Kindseth. Kindseth said the city would explore purchasing hybrid buses with the grant funds. Those buses typically cost about $200,000 more than a typical diesel bus, but lead to about 25% savings on fuel efficiency. In April, the city council voted to use $785,000 in federal funds to purchase of two new hybrid trolleys for the downtown route, which shuttles around the central business district every 15 minutes from early morning until 6:15 p.m. six days a week. Kindseth said that discussions on the buses should take place sometime this year. "We'll do that analysis again before we bring it to council to seek their authorization to actually purchase them," Kindseth said. Meanwhile, busport construction likely won't happen this year, he said. But it will be needed in order to maintain the city's paratransit vehicles, which currently are stored outside. "We're going to have an all brand new fleet on the paratransit side as well, and so the idea was if we're buying a brand new fleet, we need to take care of them," he said. The Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System, on the other hand, was awarded $8 million for the purchase of electric buses. Coles County received $1.5 million for facility upgrades. Beyond transit, Pritzker also announced more than $108 million for Illinois ports. These awards to our ports and transit systems will only strengthen our status as the multimodal transportation hub of North America, said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijani TV channels, which are broadcast via the Azerspace-1 satellite, will switch to HD format from January 28, 2022, Azercosmos has reported. The switch will take place in accordance with an agreement reached between the National Television and Radio Council, the Azerbaijani Space Agency, the Radio-TV Broadcasting and Satellite Communications Production Association, and the State Administration of Radio Frequences to improve the quality of local TV channel broadcasting. It should be noted that compared to the SD format, in the HD format the number of pixels increases, which ensures the better quality of the image. National Television and Radio Council Chairman Ismat Sattarov stated that terrestrial broadcasting is provided by the state, whereas satellite broadcasting can just be chosen by citizens, Trend reported. "There's potential for using terrestrial broadcasting after transitioning to HD-format in satellite broadcasting," he said. Stating that in some cases satellite tuners do not support the HD format, the chairman added that the transition to the HD format will require the reset of tuners. Sattarov noted that currently, four TV channels are broadcasting in HD format in Azerbaijan, while the rest broadcast in SD format. "Most of the TV channels of neighboring countries already broadcast in HD format. Switching to HD format will provide Azerbaijani citizens with better broadcasting and increase the competitiveness of local TV channels," he said. It should be noted that HD (High Definition) television describes a television system providing a substantially higher image resolution than the previous generation of technologies. High-definition (HD) digital formats provide 720 or 1080 lines of resolution. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Cloudy and windy this evening with scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 73F. SSE winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy and windy this evening with scattered thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 73F. SSE winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible. BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. A Sullivan County deputy continues to recuperate after authorities say he was shot by a Bristol man who died Thursday, three days after being found unresponsive in a jail cell under unknown circumstances. On Monday, Deputy Evan Wade was released from the hospital. We are happy to report that he is expected to make a full recovery, the SCSO said in a statement Thursday. Wade was shot last week while attempting to take a wanted man, Alan Coulter, 54, into custody. This is an example of the danger officers are faced with every day, the SCSO said. We are thankful that Deputy Wade is recuperating and we look forward to having him back to work soon. During the early morning hours of Jan. 21, officers with the SCSO attempted to initiate a traffic stop in the 400 block of Riley Hollow Road. The pursuit led deputies to a property on Riley Hollow Road in the countys Hickory Tree community, where deputies encountered Coulter inside a garage structure, according to a criminal affidavit filed in Sullivan County General Sessions Court. During the encounter, Coulter fired shots and struck Wade, who then returned fire along with Deputy Corey Hall, the affidavit states. Due to his injuries, Wade was removed from the scene, and Sullivan County SWAT was called to assist. While deputies were present, along with other officers from surrounding jurisdictions, Coulter continued firing shots toward the officers, the affidavit states. Eventually, Coulter came out of the structure and was taken into custody. Officers recovered a semi-automatic handgun from Coulters waistband, the affidavit states. Then, on Monday at 7 p.m., corrections officers at the Sullivan County jail in Blountville were alerted to a situation inside a cell, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said. Upon checking the cell, Coulter was found unresponsive. Officers and medical staff immediately began CPR until paramedics arrived, the TBI said. Coulter was taken to a local hospital for treatment but died early Thursday. No information about what may have led to Coulters death has been released. The TBI said his body will be sent for an autopsy. Both Fridays shooting and standoff and the circumstances surrounding Coulters death remain under investigation, the TBI and Sullivan County District Attorney General Barry Staubus said Thursday. They declined to release any additional details. Coulter, who was charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, among other charges, in the shooting and standoff, had a lengthy criminal history. He also had pending charges, including aggravated assault, domestic assault and failure to appear in Sullivan County. The pending aggravated assault charge was from December 2021, records show. Coulter had made his first court appearance on the charges stemming from the shooting and standoff earlier in the day on Monday. The judge denied bond and reset the case to February. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. Ballad Health System officials face the real possibility of having to terminate 1,000 employees next month if they fail to comply with a federal vaccine mandate, at the same time hospitals are filled with record numbers of COVID-19 patients. Last November, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a mandate that all hospitals that receive funds from either federal insurance program must have all of its employees and associated personnel vaccinated against COVID-19 by a January deadline. The matter was challenged in two federal courts, but the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the mandate to stand as the cases continue. It is catastrophic. If there werent 800 people at home today and we had to fire 1,000 employees, that would be catastrophic, Ballad CEO Alan Levine said in response to a question during a news briefing Thursday. About 80% of Ballad inpatient revenue comes from the two federal insurance programs and Levine said the system has no choice but to comply with the federal mandate. Thursday was the deadline set by CMS for unvaccinated health care workers to receive their first injection, but Ballad declared Feb. 12 as its deadline, since the mandate was challenged in court. We did that so that everyone who wanted to seek an exemption could do so. Were being very liberal with our approvals of those exemptions for both medical and religious reasons. As it stands today, we have just under 1,000 employees who have not taken the vaccine and who have not sought an exemption, Levine said. Obviously, were very concerned about that. It seems quite illogical at a time when were having to put crisis staffing into place to then turn around and ask 1,000 people to leave. Were going to do everything we can to encourage our team members to get vaccinated, recognizing this is a choice they have to make. Under the mandate, unvaccinated employees arent supposed to work. I cant even imagine what it would look like to terminate 1,000 employees right now, he said. Given the record levels of hospitalizations due to the pandemic, the mandate clashes with a basic tenant of the federal programs, he said. One of the critical CMS standards for conditions of participation is hospitals provide safe levels of staffing for their patients. Now we have two conflicting provisions one that says you have to have safe levels of staffing and another that says you have to fire people that arent vaccinated, Levine said. Ballad is going to do whatever we need to do to protect the safety of our patients and make sure we are adequately staffed to care for the needs of those people. We will do everything we can to work with CMS as we try to comply with the vaccine mandate. Were not going to put our patients at risk, he said. Ballad has and will continue communicating with employees, primarily through managers and other team members to encourage as many as possible to take the vaccine, Levine said. The situation is more challenging, he said, given that less than half of the regions residents are vaccinated, compared to about 60% of Ballad employees. We have provided enormous data underscoring the safety and efficacy of these vaccines. The problem is people get their information from so many sources now. Ive always wondered why some people would prioritize information they get from anonymous people on social media before their own employer or physician but thats what were competing with, he said. Levine admitted that, technically, Ballad is currently out of compliance with the federal requirement by setting its deadline in February. Some, he said, have asked why natural immunity didnt count since theyd already had COVID, they didnt have a religious opposition to vaccines in general but had concerns about this specific vaccine. They say to me, Im not going to hide behind my faith for something that isnt true. Im afraid. Im not ready for it at this point. I respect that, Levine said. Unfortunately, the Medicare and Medicaid rules do not allow us any other provision. I dont believe CMS will be unreasonable in enforcement, but I do believe if they dont see us actively trying to comply then the penalties could be pretty severe. 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. JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. Record-shattering numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have prompted Ballad Health System to declare a staffing emergency. More than 14,600 new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia over the past week rising 13.7% compared to last weeks previous record, according to health departments in Tennessee and Virginia. On Thursday, Ballad Health reported a new one-day record of 436 inpatients, with 78 in intensive care units and 55 on ventilators. The previous record was set Wednesday at 427. Health system officials held a news briefing Thursday to discuss what may lie ahead and steps being taken to address the surge. Coinciding with those records, more than 830 Ballad employees were home with COVID-19 or in quarantine awaiting results but now Ballad has declared a crisis and plans to recall some of them. We have 834 team members out who are COVID-positive or been tested and waiting for results. Thats 6.4% of our workforce and 79% of those who are home are vaccinated, which serves as a reminder that the vaccines do work and its keeping people out of the hospital, Ballad CEO Alan Levine said. With that many team members out, and the growth of inpatient cases - which is now 30% of our volume, nationally its about 25%. Its evident that were carrying a disproportionate burden. We have to figure out how to get staff back to work. And today, we have declared crisis staffing. Team members who are home, have tested positive and are asymptomatic, our expectation is they will come back to work. We will deploy those team members where appropriate to help support our clinical staff. If theyre clinical, they could come back and work in a COVID unit, its possible they could work in the emergency department as a sitter when we have mental health holds. At our hospitals, 20% or more of our ER visits in a given day could be mental health holds and each requires a one-to-one sitter, Levine said. Those who are symptomatic, but whose symptoms have improved, we invite them to come back. Those employees must be fever-free without the aid of fever-reducing medications for at least 24 hours. If they test positive, they will not be allowed to work in oncology, NICU, labor and delivery areas or Niswonger Childrens Hospital or hospice. As a hospital system that has to care for patients that are very sick there is a point beyond which it becomes more risky to keep these people at home and not take care of the people who need help. Thats the point were at. Weve hit that threshold both in terms of volume of patients here in the hospitals as well as those who are at home employed by Ballad. Levine said currently there is no plan to temporarily discontinue elective procedures or non-emergency surgeries as was done twice in the past. About two-thirds of those who are out with COVID are clinical or clinical support employees and the majority of them work at larger facilities like Johnson City Medical Center, Bristol Regional Medical Center and Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, which is also where the majority of COVID patients are being treated, Levine said. Eric Deaton, chief operating officer, said the current surge has surpassed anything theyve seen before and the numbers will likely continue rising in the coming days. The modeling shows were near the peak. We think it could last up to another seven days. We think we could be in the mid-400s for another week, Deaton said in response to a reporters question. Our modeling has always shown the peak was going to be around the end of January or early February. Thats still where we are today. Deaton did say they saw an unexpected increase Wednesday at their testing sites. That was not what we expected. Our modeling has historically worked pretty well but it is modeling, it is forecasting. Were using the very best data we can. We still see a high number of inpatients for another week or so, Deaton said. Dr. Lisa Smithgall, Ballads chief nursing executive, said many are working four, five or more straight 12-hour shifts and many supervisors are working seven days a week to help keep up with the demands. With more patients and fewer caregivers our patient ratios are higher than normal, meaning each nurse must care for more patients at one time. There simply arent enough bedside caregivers available to handle this crisis in our and other hospitals across the nation, Smithgall said. While nursing shortages have long been a challenge in rural America, this pandemic is stretching our staff like never before. The fight our front line has waged since the start of the pandemic, nearly two years ago, cannot be overstated. Smithgall urged the public to be patient if they go to a hospital because of the lack of staffing and glut of patients. She also urged people to consider taking the vaccine to lessen their chances of getting sick enough to require hospitalization. In addition to 436 inpatients, Ballad is caring for an additional 297 less serious COVID patients through its Safe at Home monitoring program. Nearly half of the inpatients are between the ages of 40 and 69 with 86% unvaccinated, meaning there were 61 breakthrough cases. The rate is much higher in intensive care, where 92% are unvaccinated and 96% of patients on ventilators are unvaccinated, Deaton said. The average age of unvaccinated patients is 63.6, or about nine years younger on average than the average age of vaccinated patients. The regions seven-day average testing positivity rate is also a new record at 44.7% -- meaning nearly half of all those tested are positive for the virus. Eight of 10 counties in Northeast Tennessee had a rate above 40%, with Hamblen County at 52.2%, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. Six of 12 Southwest Virginia localities had rates over 40% with Bristol, Virginia at 46.4%, according to the Virginia Department of Health. That equates to a record numbers of cases amid widespread community transmission. Sullivan County reported more than 2,700 new cases in the past week, while Washington County, Tennessee had over 2,200 and Greene County over 1,500. In Virginia, Washington County had 700 new cases, Wise had nearly 500 and Tazewell County had 475. Bristol, Virginia reported 309 new cases in the past seven days. 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. Conover has a new city manager. The Conover City Council voted unanimously Friday afternoon to approve a contract with Tom Hart, 36, who currently serves as the manager of Clinton in eastern North Carolina. Fridays vote brings an end to the four-month search by the city with the assistance of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments to fill the vacancy left by longtime manager Donald Duncan. Duncan is now the county manager in Caldwell County. Hart, who graduated from Appalachian State University and served as manager in Boiling Springs, said he and his wife Megan were eager to be back in the western part of the state. They will bring with them their two young children, Eliza and Thomson. I think that the city of Conovers history of long-tenured managers really speaks to the community and the elected officials, Hart said. He also spoke to some of the challenges he will face as he steps into the job. Theres a lot of supply chain issues when youre trying to get projects done, Hart said. Its hard to get good folks into positions and obviously municipalities are struggling with all of those same things, so I think were going to be trying to run the city and trying to attract quality development here. And I think were going to do a good job with that. He said he believes effective communication will be essential to tackling these problems. Mayor Kyle Hayman said the city received interest from many candidates from as far away as Texas, but it was Harts experience that appealed to city leaders. He has experience building downtowns with the Main Street Program, Hayman said. The thing that stuck out to me is he has a lot of experience with infrastructure, and I think thats important for him to have that. Hes going to be able to come in and hit the ground running with a lot of the different projects that we have. Hart officially takes over as manager on March 14, and he said he is in the process of moving to Conover. He will earn a $130,000 salary. Duncan was earning almost $105,700, according to data provided by the city last year. Hayman said Jimmy Clark, the citys former public works director who is serving as the citys interim manager, would likely stay on for a time after Hart takes the job to help Hart get acclimated. Kevin Griffin is the City of Hickory reporter at the Hickory Daily Record. 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. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Police have seized 5.1kg of drugs from 15 suspected drug traffickers in Azerbaijan's Lankaran region, Azertag reported on January 28. As a result of the Lankaran city-regional police department's search operations, Lankaran residents Ibrahim Akhundov, Shahriyar Ibadli, and Saida Askerova, who were suspected of drug trafficking, were detained. The drug was obtained by the suspects from Saida Askerova's son, Mugaddas Adiyev, according to the investigation. On Adiyev's property, over 5.1 kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine were discovered. It was determined that he got the drug from a foreigner. Eleven more suspects were apprehended as a result of other search operations conducted by the Lankaran police department. During a personal search, heroin and dried marijuana were found and confiscated from them. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A federal judge resentenced Tiger King Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison on Friday, reducing his punishment by just a year despite pleas from the former zookeeper for leniency as he begins treatment for cancer. Please dont make me die in prison waiting for a chance to be free, he told a federal judge who resentenced him on a murder-for-hire charge. Joe Exotic whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage was convicted in a case involving animal welfare activist Carole Baskin. Both were featured in Netflixs Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. Wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, Maldonado-Passage still had his trademark mullet hairstyle, but the bleach-blonde was fading to gray. Baskin and her husband also attended the proceedings, and she said she was fearful that Maldonado-Passage could threaten her. He continues to harbor intense feelings of ill will toward me, she said. Friday's court proceedings came about after a federal appeals court ruled last year that the prison term he's serving on a murder-for-hire conviction should be shortened. Supporters packed the courtroom, some wearing animal-print masks and shirts that read Free Joe Exotic. His attorneys said they would appeal both the resentencing and petition for a new trial. The former zookeeper was sentenced in January 2020 to 22 years in prison after he was convicted of trying to hire two different men to kill Baskin. A three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Maldonado-Passage that the court should have treated them as one conviction at sentencing because they both involved the same goal of killing Baskin, who runs a rescue sanctuary for big cats in Florida and had criticized Maldonado-Passage's treatment of animals. Prosecutors said Maldonado-Passage offered $10,000 to an undercover FBI agent to kill Baskin during a recorded December 2017 meeting. In the recording, he told the agent, Just like follow her into a mall parking lot and just cap her and drive off. Maldonado-Passages attorneys have said their client who once operated a zoo in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, about 65 miles south of Oklahoma City wasnt being serious. Maldonado-Passage, who maintains his innocence, also was convicted of killing five tigers, selling tiger cubs and falsifying wildlife records. The Nebraska women's gymnastics team (1-1, 0-0 Big Ten) is set to take on No. 17 Iowa (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) this Saturday, Jan. 29, at 5 p.m. CT at the Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. The last time the two teams met was in 2021 when Iowa won, 195.175-196.625. Nebraska leads the series, 29-9. Last Time Out NU is ready to compete after having their last meet postponed due to COVID-related issues within the Illinois program. Prior to that, the Huskers competed against BYU on Saturday, Jan. 15, falling 193.925-195.750. Kinsey Davis led the Huskers, notching a season-high 9.900 on uneven bars to claim her second title on the event this season. Freshman Halle Rourke made her collegiate debut and claimed the floor title with a score of 9.875. Nebraska sophomoreled the Huskers, notching a season-high 9.900 on uneven bars to claim her second title on the event this season. Freshmanmade her collegiate debut and claimed the floor title with a score of 9.875. Scouting the Competition Iowa started their season against No. 29 Texas Woman's University, tallying a team score of 196.125. The Hawkeyes finished in second in a triangular against Minnesota and UCLA. In their last time out, Iowa narrowly beat No. 15 Michigan State, 196.475-196.350. The Hawkeyes claimed the balance beam and floor exercise titles against the Spartans. Marissa Rojas led the meet on beam with a score of 9.925 while Lauren Guerin claimed the floor title with a score of 9.950. Follow the Huskers Fans can follow the Huskers on Facebook at NebraskaWGym, Twitter at HuskersWGym or Instagram at HuskersWGymnastics for live updates during the meet. The meet will also be streamed on BTN+. A legal and regulatory dispute has been resolved involving whether the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services fairly awarded prepaid health-plan contracts for the states Medicaid managed care reform initiative. Two insurers whose contract bids were denied by DHHS Aetna Better Health of N.C. Inc. and My Health by Health Providers voluntarily dismissed their appeal to the N.C. Court of Appeals on Jan. 19, DHHS said. Cone Health, Novant Health Inc. and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center are three of 12 hospital supporters involved with My Health. The state's Medicaid Managed Care program covers 1.7 million North Carolinians. At stake were three-year contracts for the insurers that are projected to be worth $6 billion a year. The contracts began July 1. With two optional one-year extensions, a health contract could be worth a total of $30 billion. DHHS announced in February 2019 that it had chosen physician health plans from Centene (operating as WellCare of N.C.), AmeriHealth Caritas N.C., Blue Cross and Blue Shield of N.C. (operating as Healthy Blue) and UnitedHealth Group. Aetna and MyHealth have been challenging the legality of DHHS decision-making process. In particular, Aetna claims it should have been chosen over Blue Cross NC. After a Wake Superior Court judge approved the contract bidding process in February 2021, an appeal to the N.C. Court of Appeals was made by Aetna and MyHealth. In September, the state appeals court affirmed that DHHS followed proper guidelines in awarding the contracts. The appeals court determined that the Superior Court ruling was supported by reason and was not arbitrary. The Superior Court clearly determined Aetna had accused the opposing parties of procedural gamesmanship, rather than acknowledging a procedural mistake during service and asking the court to excuse that mistake for good cause shown. Aetna had not demonstrated good cause for the court to extend the otherwise mandatory deadline. At that time, My Health said in a statement that the appeals courts decision "did not in any way touch" its separate appeal. Dave Richard, the state's deputy secretary for Medicaid, said in a statement that "we are pleased at this outcome and believe it affirms the integrity and fairness of the departments procurement process." Background A key selling point for the Medicaid transformation initiative is focusing on a patients overall health for those experiencing mental health, substance abuse and developmental disability issues. Five years worth of often-controversial public health and legislative debate culminated July 3, 2020, when Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper signed Republican-sponsored legislation that provided pivotal start-up funds. Managed care is a system under which people agree to see only certain doctors or go to certain hospitals, as in a health maintenance organization, or HMO, or a preferred provider organization, or PPO, health-insurance plan. Under the current Medicaid system, providers are paid on a fee-for-service model administered by DHHS. By contrast, the physician plans will pay health care providers a set amount per month for each patients costs. There will be a limited number of special-needs individuals who will remain with fee-for-service providers. DHHS reimburses the physician plans. Blue Cross has said it plans to create 500 jobs for its portion of the transformation. Centene has committed to creating an East Coast regional headquarters and technology hub in Charlotte with an estimated 6,000 jobs and $1.03 billion capital investment. Scott Irwin is a professor and researcher in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he unravels agricultural economics questions. He is a founding member of the universitys award-winning farmdoc digital product, which distributes ag marketing and management information to farmers and folks in the industry. As an ag economics Twitter celebrity, he has more than 25,000 followers with posts which can ignite debate. Irwin hails from an Iowa farm, earned his bachelors degree at Iowa State University and his masters and doctorate at Purdue University. His latest endeavor is writing a book that will take readers Back to the Futures, expected to be published this year. IFT: What started your interest in agriculture and economics? IRWIN: I grew up on a grain and livestock farm in west central Iowa, northwest of Des Moines, in the 1960s and 70s. I was the only son, and it was assumed I would return to the farm after college. But from a young age I was fascinated by the markets. I would go with my dad to the fields and livestock and we would stop in at the local grain elevator to check the markets. I picked up his interest and it became a template for my professional life. IFT: What has been a highlight in your career so far? IRWIN: There are so many highlights, but one is being the director of farmdocs and being here since it started in 1999. When it started, it was a website with links to other websites. I cant believe it was a new idea then. Its objective was simple to talk about traditional topics including farm management, finances and crop insurance and put it all in one place. We did that for about 10 years as things changed and people got mobile phones, Google and a 24-hour news cycle. In 2011, we started farmdoc daily. The highest value of our work for society turns out to be what we write, and technology allows us to do that every day. Farmdoc is a team of people with experts who write on relevant subject matters and do the analyses. Thats the magic. Another highlight has been the research weve done with more than 10,700 citings of our work in other papers and earning about $6 million in research grants. IFT: What has been the biggest surprise about farmdoc? IRWIN: How quickly feedback appears in our inbox. We hit the button and publish it. If they disagree with you, you hear about it right away. Sometimes they are really angry and disagree with an angle weve taken or they uncover an embarrassing typo or error. We have grammar police who are not shy to inform us if we are wrong. More often, we hear from groups that have a policy and our analyses might be damaging to their position. Ive run into that with biofuel issues. Ive learned to navigate that. Sometimes ag economics make both sides furious. IFT: What is a professional accolade you are proud of? IRWIN: It would be awards from the Agriculture and Applied Economics Association, of which I have had professional affiliation since the 1980s. Their annual awards are national and global and highly competitive. Farmdoc has won the award four times in the last 20 years. We have won 20% of the time. I truly believe that is a record that could never be broken. I could be wrong. I am not aware of any program that has won for more different aspects. IFT: Describe a good work day for you. IRWIN: My favorite days are when I can sit down alone at my computer, do research and write for eight to 10 hours. I am a people person and love engaging with the public, but at the heart, Im a writer. IFT: What would students be surprised to know about you? IRWIN: I have a personal policy of bending over backwards to help a graduating senior in a bind to pass my course. A professor did me an extraordinary favor in 1980 when I was near death academically. You can find out the rest of the story in my book. So, whatever I can do, within the rules, to help a graduating student, I do. Usually I am a tough professor; this is the one exception. IFT: Tell us a little more about this book you are writing. IRWIN: I personalize the structure by illustrating a point with a story from my life and using technical materials to try and teach people how commodity and future markets work. I have a huge amount of fun in the telling. It was crazy growing up. Im grateful I made it to adulthood to have the fantastic career Ive had. And Im grateful for what Ive been able to study to explain how the mysteries of the markets work and how important it is. IFT: What has changed your career the most in recent years? IRWIN: Twitter has somewhat upended everything. You can put something out there and you get a reaction in a few seconds. In the past, publications took years to get to people. As soon as I put something up, there is engagement. People have their own opinions on economic issues and are not shy to express it. This has a rising demand of my time. It is a blessing and a curse. I am humorous, but my objective is to be responsible. IFT: Can you give an example of a comment that ignited the Twitter community? IRWIN: On the Nov. 30 Market Outlook for 2022 webinar, I said my estimate for planted corn acreage in 2022 is 96 million acres. In the following days, Twitter reacted. Ag journalists, financial press and a huge number of people see it. I got a lot of feedback because my analysis is different than the consensus that called for corn acreage to go down. Even at church yesterday, a farmer mentioned it. Even for me, its an extreme position compared to the market consensus. It comes from my analyses. If its an epic fail, it will just be an epic fail. IFT: What is the best advice you have received from a mentor? IRWIN: If you are any good, the main problem you will have is managing 300% of the demands on 100% of your time. Another long-retired Purdue University professor told me that if you can find a job where three days a week dont suck, thats a good job you should keep. I never forgot that. Its a really realistic perspective on job satisfaction. Three-fifths of the time job satisfaction is good. My good days honestly far outnumber that criteria. Im blessed to enjoy my job more now than in my first year. Im 63 years old and Im more excited about my job than I have ever been. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MATTOON A Mattoon woman has been charged for failing to register as a violent offender against youth. According to a news release from the Mattoon Police Department, Kayla N. Girard, 25, was arrested on Jan. 15. Girard was previously charged in Shelby County Circuit Court for the aggravated battery of her newborn child, a Class X felony, in 2016 before pleading guilty in 2018 when the charges were amended to a Class 1 felony. As part of a plea agreement she was sentenced to five years in prison, with credit for time already served in custody and day for day credit. The child suffered multiple injuries including a fractured skull and two tibias, as well other bruises, cuts, and human bite marks. Due to the previous criminal conviction against a juvenile, Girard must register her address annually or after a change in her address. Officials said records indicated that the last time Girard registered her address was in September 2020, violating her annual registration. A check of the Coles County Safety and Detention Center records shows that she is free after posting a bond of $100 on bail set at $1,000 and a preliminary hearing is in Coles County Circuit Court for Jan. 31. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MATTOON The University of Illinois Extension welcomes new county extension director Jessie McClusky to Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, and Shelby counties. Jessie brings with her tremendous experience in building networks and partnerships and utilizing those partnerships to fund programs, said Illinois Extension interim regional director for southern Illinois, Doug Harlan, in a news release. In her new role, McClusky will guide and work with a team of educators and program staff to bring research-based knowledge to extend university resources in communities across Central Illinois. Illinois Extension educators and specialists connect every county in Illinois with university research through in-person and distance-learning programing and other educational outreach. McClusky, who worked for 10 years at Parkland College in Champaign where she focused on career training and professional development courses, has served on several statewide boards including the Illinois Council for Continuing Education and Training and Leadership Illinois. In 2019, she received the Forty Under 40 award from Central Illinois Business magazine, which is published by News-Gazette Media, for her achievement in leadership and community involvement. I look forward to helping individuals and local organizations see what could be possible and working through Extension to help them be successful, McClusky said in the news release. McClusky received a masters degree in higher education administration from University of South Dakota and a bachelors degree in recreation and park administration from Illinois State University. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MATTOON Josiah J. Lyons, the Mattoon High School gunman, appeared in Coles County Circuit Court on Thursday for a preliminary hearing to see if there was probable cause to try him on a charge of breaking sentencing requirements by failing to register a change of address. A judge ruled he was satisfied there was probable cause to try 19-year-old Lyons who has been held in custody since his arrest on Dec. 14 and the defendant entered a plea of not guilty. His case was then scheduled for a status hearing Feb. 7. In 2018 Lyons, then aged 15, admitted to a juvenile petition, the equivalent of a guilty plea, after opening fire in the high school cafeteria on the morning of Sept. 20, 2017. One fellow student had been shot and wounded before Lyons was overpowered by a teacher, Angela McQueen, who was hailed a hero. Part of Lyons sentencing as a juvenile requires him to register his current address. His alleged failure to do so opens him to being sentenced as an adult for the school shooting, and could see him facing a prison sentence of up to 25 years if convicted. Coles County States Attorney Jesse Danley has said he is pursuing the maximum penalty available against Lyons, whom he has said stands guilty of the most heinous of offenses after the school shooting. Bail for Lyons has been set at $25,000. He has hired defense attorney Edwin Piraino to represent him. Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MATTOON At Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, the local blood bank supply has remained stable, with the exception of type O negative blood. Type O negative blood is always in short supply, said blood bank supervisor Tim ONeal. They are one of the bigger needs because we use them for emergency uses in trauma cases, emergency surgeries or any situation where we dont know the blood type of a patient. On average, the health center will go through about 15 units of blood a day with the O negative supply being reserved for emergency situations, ONeal said. Being the most common given blood type in transfusions, he said its more important than ever for people to donate blood to keep local supplies up as much as possible. This is a concerning situation for us, our hospitals, our patients and our communities in general, said Amanda Hess, vice president of donor relations and marketing at ImpactLife. Blood is not something that can be manufactured, it has to come from other people. As blood supplies across the U.S. become scarce, local health care providers and hospitals emphasize the need for blood donations during a joint news conference Thursday hosted by ImpactLife. ImpactLife is a not-for-profit organization providing blood supply to 126 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin. Local hospitals include those in Decatur, Mattoon, Bloomington, Lincoln, Taylorville, Pana, Shelbyville, Monticello, Springfield, Champaign and Effingham. The conference highlighted the various uses of blood donations in hospitals throughout the Central Illinois region while advocating for the public to donate as much as they can. Hess said they are still seeing significantly less donations because of the pandemic and are operating at about 27% fewer mobile donations compared to what they had in February 2019 before the pandemic began. Its been emphasized well that blood is a life saving intervention, its a critical medical resource and no matter the reason, we must have blood components on the shelves at all time, said Dr. Ruchika Goel, ImpactLife medical director. Unfortunately, blood is becoming an increasingly scarce resource and not only is the severity of the critical blood shortage getting attention but the frequency of the critical blood supply is increasing as well. Goel, who is a physician with Memorial Health and HSHS Illinois, said they are hearing about blood shortages more now then they did a few years ago and the issue itself spans outside of the state as a national problem that hospitals across the country are experiencing. As blood collectors, ImpactLife faces a challenge with managing the growing instability of blood inventories across the region which becomes an urgent need to employ all resources for blood conservation as hospital demands eventually go unmet, Goel said. The pandemic has also created roadblocks, preventing them from restocking their blood inventory as blood drives are being canceled or consolidated and the heightened urgency continues, Goel said. At a hospital level, these critical blood shortages can have significant operational consequences, including the cancellation of elective procedures, Goel said. We really want to work and continue to supply blood product availability and avoid any disruptions. Dr. Gurpreet Mander, chief physician executive at HSHS Illinois, said having enough blood on hand to treat patients is critical to their hospital network that includes HSHS St. Marys in Decatur, HSHS St. Anthonys Memorial in Effingham, and HSHS Good Shepherd in Shelbyville. Blood is important from a number of perspectives clinically, Mander said. In the case of major trauma, major heart surgery or significant blood loss after childbirth, it helps replace the blood pressure and manage that but also helps with oxygen transport and with facilitating clotting in the body. Without the administration of blood and this important therapy in these situations, our patients can die, Mander said. Cancellations and postponements are a possibility as they are managing their blood inventory on a day to day basis, constantly making sure they have the necessary supply to meet the demands of patients, Mander said. Mander said the blood is also needed for patients undergoing dialysis or with other blood disorders which require multiple blood transfusions a week and if they do not receive their necessary transfusions, they can then become sick over a period of time. Other than surgical and trauma patients, Dr. Linda Jones, vice president of ancillary operations at Memorial Health, said blood donations are important for the hundreds of cancer patients they treat across their hospital network that includes Decatur Memorial and Springfield Memorial hospitals. Many cancers cause loss of blood from unusual bleeding when cancers invade organs and blood vessels but also the impact of treatment is very serious, Jones said. Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery can all impact the ability of the body to produce new blood cells and transfusions are frequently given to treatment patients. Jones said radiation therapy can impair the ability of bone marrow to produce new red blood cells that require the body to be heavily oxygenated while chemotherapy can enhance bone marrow stability to reproduce red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets that can contribute to bleeding. In addition, the impact of certain surgeries can contribute to bleeding or the loss of blood and reduce the reproduction of red blood cells, which could lead to patient infections or conditions like anemia, Jones said. Currently, Jones said they are only seeing about a one to three day supply of blood and they have already put in place conservation measures and restrictive criteria around routine uses of blood to assist with saving those critical supplies. For example, many times physicians are comfortable with transfusing a patient with anemia or red blood cells when they have a hemoglobin between eight and 10, Dr. Jones said. However, in the conservative measures we encourage physicians to conserve red blood cells and not transfuse unless the hemoglobin is seven or below. Jim Watts, manager of donor and governmental relations, said they are encouraging new and frequent donors or people to find a location near them and to make an appointment by calling (800) 747-5401 or visiting www.bloodcenter.org. The Mattoon ImpactLife is located inside the Cross County Mall, 700 Broadway Ave., and is open Mondays and Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Were the sole provider of blood to HSHS Illinois, Memorial Health and many other hospitals in Central Illinois and beyond and as you heard from the hospitals, we need more blood on the shelves, Watts said. Blood is such a valuable resource that must be constantly replenished and we are asking that you consider making blood donation a part of your regular routine. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Trend A record increase in COVID-19 cases worldwide has been observed over the past week due to the spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19. According to the weekly bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 21 million COVID-19 cases have been revealed in the world, about 50,000 people died over the past week. The number of COVID-19 cases increased by five percent while the number of deaths - by one percent compared to the previous week. The number of COVID-19 cases has greatly increased in Russia even among children. Some 2,000 children were infected with COVID two weeks ago in Moscow while to date, more than 28,000 children are infected. That is, COVID-19 cases among children have increased by 14 times. More than 500,000 COVID-19 cases were revealed in France and the US during the day. Azerbaijani infectious disease doctor Mardan Aliyev expressed his opinion on this topic. The omicron variant of COVID-19 continues spreading in many countries, especially in Europe, Aliyev told Trend. The number of COVID-19 cases is also increasing in Azerbaijan, Aliyev added. It has recently exceeded 3,000 and will continue to grow due to the high contagiousness of the omicron variant. The doctor added that there is a high probability that the number of COVID-19 cases will reach the highest level by the end of February and will decline in the following months. People must avoid close contact with each other, use protective masks in indoor spaces and observe personal hygiene rules to protect against the virus, the doctor said. People who are at higher risk from COVID-19 must be careful. There is a high probability of infection among children, although without complications. Aliyev stressed that the most effective way to protect against a new and rapidly spreading omicron variant is vaccination against COVID-19. The COVID-19 antibody level decreases in 5-6 months after injecting the second dose of the vaccine, the doctor said. Therefore, it is necessary to inject the third (booster) dose of the vaccine. According to the decree ?419 of the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers dated December 30, 2021, the "Certificate of vaccination against COVID-19" will not be considered valid from February 15, 2022 for those who injected the second dose of the vaccine and more than six months passed from that moment. DES PLAINES A fire at a suburban Chicago apartment that killed four young girls and their mother last year was caused by two electrical cords that had been improperly spliced together, a fire official said. One cord was part of a space heater that had been the focus of the fire investigation from the outset, while the other was a heavy-duty extension cord plugged into a wall outlet, said Division Chief Dave Schuman of Des Plaines' fire prevention bureau. Schuman said Wednesday that the space heater was inside the family's second-floor apartment near a stairway and the extension cord was plugged into a kitchen outlet, The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reported. The Jan. 27, 2021, fire in Des Plaines trapped the victims inside because there was no safe exit other than the stairs, officials said at the time. The fire killed Cithlaly Zamudio, 25, and her daughters, Renata Espinosa, 6, Genesis Espinosa, 5, Allison Espinosa, 3, and Grace Espinosa, 1. Juan Manuel Espinosa, Zamudio's husband and the girls' father, wasn't home when the fire occurred and he has since moved out of state, Schuman said. Forensic electrical engineers hired by an insurance company and an attorney for the family's estate examined the building and debris inside last June as part of their investigations, Schuman said. They concluded that the spliced cords caused the fire, he said. The ends of the cords had been cut off so the wires inside could be spliced, but as manufactured, the male end of the heater's electrical cord and the female end of the extension cord did not match, Schuman said. "If those wires aren't connected properly, it can generate heat and that electrical cord can arc," he said, referring to when electricity jumps from one connection to another. The resulting electrical flash could be seen in surveillance video from a municipal facility across the street from the family's apartment. Investigators don't know who spliced the cords. Strings of Christmas lights inside the apartment were also improperly wired to each other, but Schuman said they likely weren't to blame for the fire. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 More than six months of exploratory drilling on a 500-acre Yadkin County site is expected to end within a few days. Exactly what the project aims to unearth remains a mystery. Jack Mitchell, president of a Tennessee-based company involved in the work, refused again this week to reveal what he hoped to find in holes bored as deep as 500 feet, or provide any hint of potential uses for the farmland and forests that make up the rural site northwest of the intersection of Old U.S. 421 and U.S. 21 near Hamptonville. Were still trying to determine the highest and best use for the property, Mitchell told the Journal in a phone interview this week. A group of concerned neighbors fear Mitchells past ties to fracking and mining hint at his preferred plans. When asked by the Journal this week if mining was a potential highest and best use for the property, Mitchell paused briefly before responding. I cant say right now, he said. While Mitchell remains coy about any visions for the site owned by former N.C. Rep. Wilma Sherrill and her husband, Jerry Sherrill the nature of the drilling and physical characteristics of the area offer hints about potential uses, said Maggie Curry, a geology professor at N.C. State University and a former ExxonMobile geologist. He could just be poking holes and seeing what he finds, though that would be some expensive dice-rolling, she noted. My speculation is some sort of commodity with industrial applications. Lithium, a crucial ingredient in batteries for electric vehicles, is one possibility given its skyrocketing demand and prevalence in parts of the North Carolina Piedmont, Curry suggested. Regional demand for the so-called white gold will only increase with the planned 2025 opening of Toyotas $1.3 billion electric vehicle battery plant near Greensboro. Silica, which has multiple industrial applications, and feldspar, used widely in the glass and ceramics industries, also could be targets for possible extraction, Curry added. A big holeWhile such an operation could be an economic boon for the county, it also would be disruptive to an area that remains a relic of North Carolinas agricultural roots. Thats because extracting lithium, silica and feldspar typically involve destructive open-pit mining, Curry said. These arent things you get from drilling a well and pumping it out of the ground like oil or natural gas, she explained. The footprint is bigger, and it would have an effect on surrounding areas. That potential impact is why a group of nearby property owners and residents consider an open-pit mine to be a worst-case scenario for the property. As the name suggests, material is removed at the surface rather than through tunnels dug underground. The result is a massive hole that typically remains after the mining operation ends. Because the minerals sought in open-pit mines constitute only a small portion of the rock extracted, there typically is a high volume of vehicles coming and going from the sites. Also, explosives are often used to blast apart large sections, making noise an issue. Open mining disrupts watersheds and ecosystems, Curry added. It requires a lot of water and, in turn, can contaminate water. Danny Steelman, a Winston-Salem financial adviser who owns 35 acres adjacent to the site, said he and other neighbors fear that a mine would be a drain on the areas water table and threaten hundreds of nearby wells it supplies. Its the secrecy thats got everybody concerned, added Steelman, who has become the point person for other nearby property owners and residents concerned about Mitchells plans. The uncertainty also troubles Yadkin County Schools leaders because the site is immediately north of West Yadkin Elementary School. As superintendent, I worry about the potential impact on air and water quality and what that would mean for the students and employees at the school, Superintendent Todd Martin said in an email to the Journal last month. The potential for increased traffic is also concerning. Always a possibility The drilling has required no state or local permits, but any mining operation would need a county rezoning of the site and state approval. Yadkin County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kevin Austin said he has heard the concerns of some constituents who would oppose any kind of mine. But he added that commissioners would weigh all aspects of any rezoning request. Its always a possibility, Austin said when asked if his colleagues would allow such an operation. If its considered to be good for the community, its something wed need to look at. But he added that the county like neighbors of the property have zero facts about Mitchells potential plans. Mitchell said this week that the drilling was a few days from completion and that the mystery and persistent speculation surrounding the operation should also end soon. When we determine the best plan well go to the community and discuss it with them, he said. John Deem covers climate change and the environment in the Triad and Northwest North Carolina. His work is funded by a grant from the 1Earth Fund and the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. 336-727-7204 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. Proposals to reduce Nebraska's top personal income tax rate and corporate income tax levy won broad support Thursday from business interests along with sharp opposition arguing that the bills would disproportionately assist the wealthy while slashing state government revenue. Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, sponsor of the corporate tax reduction plan contained in LB938, said the reductions would attract businesses and talent to Nebraska, helping meet the challenge posed by its current workforce shortage and opening the door to growth in the state. Linehan is chairwoman of the Legislature's Revenue Committee, which held a public hearing on the bills. Bryan Slone of Omaha, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the bills could "make a game-changing difference" for the state, meeting the challenge of "a brand new economy with a different workforce structure" as the nation emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be "a new competitive environment," he told the committee. Currently, Slone said, there are an estimated 80,000 jobs open in the state. Craig Beck, senior fiscal analyst for Open Sky Policy Institute, said the plan would "disproportionately benefit the highest-paid Nebraskans" by sharply cutting their taxes while reducing state revenue by $400 million annually within a few years and leaving state government programs "vulnerable to major budget cuts." The average tax cut for most Nebraskans under LB939 would be $62.75 a year compared to more than $8,900 annually for the highest 1% of income-earners, he said. About 84% of the personal income tax cuts would go to the highest-earning 20% of Nebraskans, he said. Linehan's LB938 would follow on the heels of an earlier corporate tax reduction plan approved by the Legislature designed to reduce the rate from 7.81% to 7.25% in 2023 by adding further incremental reductions that would take it to 5.84% in 2026. Linehan said the reduced rate will "attract more businesses" while allowing taxpayers to "keep their own money." Supporting the proposal were representatives of the Nebraska Federation of Independent Business, the Nebraska Bankers Association, the Lincoln Independent Business Association and Americans for Prosperity. Benefits from the corporate tax cut would flow mostly to wealthy nonresidents, Beck said, resulting in "reduced revenue for services to Nebraskans." Only $9 million of the $53 million in corporate income tax reductions would stay in Nebraska when the bill was fully implemented, he said. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Marshall Carby was driving westward on I-80, en route to Lincoln -- more specifically, toward the Stables at Wyuka. It's a drive the Omaha resident will get used to as the thrill of being named the new executive director at Flatwater Shakespeare wanes and he settles into the job later this spring. But will the commute grow tiresome? To be fair, the drive between Lincoln and Omaha is traversed by thousands each day in each direction, so this is nothing special. Still, some in charge of hiring him worried about his commute. Carby could only laugh before offering his own version of what constitutes a brutal daily commute and the effort he was once willing to put forth in his first job after college. After receiving his master's degree from the University of New Orleans, he was offered an adjunct professorship position to teach one course in nearby Covington, Louisiana. It was about 50 miles as the crow flies, but about 40 miles of the drive was on a two-lane causeway that crossed Lake Pontchartrain, a huge body of water just north of the Crescent City. Anybody who has ever had to cross water to get to work is keenly aware that you're one fender bender, blown tire or driver error from being stuck in traffic -- most times for hours. And given the proximity of Lake Pontchartrain to the Bayou, rest assured there might have been alligators to contend with, too. "After you drive across Lake Pontchartrain for an entire semester to teach one class as an adjunct, Omaha to Lincoln just seems delightful," Carby said, his laughter as thick as a pot of chicory. Carby likes his windshield time -- especially when there's something special waiting on the other side of his drive. And he believes that's the case with Flatwater. There's little doubt the people of Lincoln will quickly warm to him and what he brings to the table. Not even the challenge of wearing two hats figures to pose much of a problem for Carby, who already has a plan for juggling his two jobs. You see, in the winter and spring, he is the stage manager for the Omaha Symphony, which plays pretty well into Flatwater's season, which runs from the summer to early fall. "There is hardly any overlap in the producing of shows," he said. "I have tried to design my life where I can be fully focused on productions for both when they are happening." Carby is qualified for each of his roles. Flatwater gives him the opportunity to draw on his life experiences. He said theater in the park played a big role in his formative years. "I grew up in Texas and my mother would take me to a show every summer," he said. "It was an integral part of my childhood. It was well before I began to participate in theater. My mother just liked to go to theater in the park and so did I." A self-described high school "drama nerd," he continued his love for theater in college and received his bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi before moving onto New Orleans and earning a master of fine arts. He served as the artistic director at the historic Highlands Playhouse in Highlands, North Carolina, before he and wife, Sarah Klocke, relocated to Omaha in 2019. A week ago, as he drove toward the Stables at Wyuka, his head was filled with ideas for his first summer production. And yet, he wanted to see Flatwater's open-air theater before committing to anything. "I want to see if the space says anything to me," he said, acknowledging there is already a short list of possible plays for the summer. "I want to see if I can walk in there and see something and decide this is a show that needs to be in this space. "I want to honor the space properly." Reach the writer at 402-473-7391 or psangimino@journalstar.com. On Twitter @psangimino Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A more than two-year fight over dress code changes for Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services workers has ended for now with employees able once again to wear jeans not just on Fridays. A Lincoln judge this week upheld an arbitration award that found HHS had violated its labor contract with union workers by unilaterally changing the dress code in 2019, banning jeans Monday through Thursday. But Lancaster County District Judge Robert Otte was clear. His decision didn't mean HHS couldn't ban jeans in the future. In December 2019, the department changed its dress code, requiring all employees to wear business casual clothing Monday through Thursday. Jeans, T-shirts and sweatshirts no longer were allowed. Soon after, Christine Slaymaker and more than 200 other members of the Nebraska Association of Public Employees (NAPE), Local No. 61, the union representing government workers in the state, filed a grievance challenging the revisions. They alleged DHHS violated their contract by not giving union members proper notice, failing to negotiate the changes and implementing the new dress code in an "unreasonable manner." They said some employees who performed the same work at the same location and on the same shift were allowed to wear jeans, while others were not. The grievance went to an arbitrator, Jim Nash, who ruled in favor of the workers and directed HHS to reactivate its previous dress code, allowing jeans. In November 2020, HHS filed a petition asking a judge to vacate the award on the grounds that Nash had exceeded his powers. And NAPE argued the award should be confirmed because he made his decision based directly on the terms of the labor contract. In an order Wednesday, Otte said Nash hadn't concluded that HHS' revised dress code was "arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable and unfair." He concluded that the manner in which it was implemented was. Nash said HHS was imposing different and more onerous standards on similarly situated employees. Otte found Nash's conclusion a permissible interpretation of a contract requirement that the department establish or amend work rules "in a reasonable manner," and that he hadn't exceeded his authority. The judge said the department retains the right to establish any work rule, including dress code standards, even if the union and its members feel it is unreasonable or unfair. The arbitration decision merely precludes the new dress code relative to jeans from being implemented as sought by HHS, Otte said. "Accordingly, if a new dress code prohibits jeans, flip flops or shorts, the prohibition must be implemented reasonably," he wrote. On its website, NAPE called it a "major victory for union members" and told employees they could revert to following the 2017 dress code immediately. "Should DHHS choose to change its dress code in the future requiring a more stringent dress requirement, our contract in Article 25.6 now requires that agencies negotiate with NAPE/AFSCME for a clothing stipend up to $250," executive director Justin Hubly said. HHS could still appeal the decision. Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger Love 0 Funny 1 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. A 32-year-old Lincoln man on Thursday got just under 12 years in federal prison after getting caught with a quarter-pound of methamphetamine while on probation. United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Brandon Parmentier to the prison term, plus five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp said that on Sept. 11, 2020, a probation officer searched Parmentiers home in Lincoln and found 111 grams of methamphetamine, weapons and drug paraphernalia in his bedroom. He later was indicted and pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The citys so-called fairness ordinance shelved for a decade after a successful petition drive stopped it from taking effect without approval of voters is coming back in a broader proposal to revise an entire section of the citys municipal code. Lincoln City Councilwoman Sandra Washington introduced the ordinance, which would revise an entire section of the citys code dealing with equal opportunity. The ordinance is on first reading on Mondays council agenda. A public hearing will be Feb. 7. I think the time is right, said Washington, one of three openly gay members of the seven-person Lincoln City Council. While the change is important for Lincoln to be competitive in recruiting and retaining young talent, updating the citys municipal code to be more inclusive is also the right thing to do, she said. Its always a good time to do right, to do good, said Washington, a fact she said she was reminded of recently while rereading Martin Luther King Jr.s letter from the Birmingham jail. As the original fairness ordinance did, the proposed code revisions redefine sex to include sexual orientation and gender identification but it also includes numerous other changes to the 66-page ordinance that spells out the duties of the Commission on Human Rights and the protections provided to Lincolnites in housing, employment and public accommodation. The proposed ordinance adds military personnel and veterans as a protected class. It also updates several definitions including the definition of marriage (to recognize divorce and separation), race (to include hair texture and protected hairstyles) and national origin (to include tribal affiliation). The revisions also replace outdated or archaic language, and update and strengthen definitions of disability protections and those regarding service animals. Washington said shes been working on the issue for about two years, during which time a landmark 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes protection based on sexual orientation and gender identity. She said she has reached out to former City Attorney Jeff Kirkpatrick, who made an unsuccessful bid for mayor, former Councilman Carl Eskridge, who was on the council in 2012 when it passed the first fairness ordinance, fellow council members and advocates. They discussed the best way to proceed and decided an update to the entire section of the municipal code was best, in part because it hadnt been updated in more than two decades, she said. They also decided to wait for a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court in Bostock vs. Clayton County, which happened in June 2020, expanding the definition of sexual discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity. That case was related to employment, but the Biden administration applied the language to the federal Housing and Urban Development and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which is facing a legal challenge by 20 states attorneys general, including Nebraskas. Given the high court ruling and changes at the federal level, it makes sense to align city code with federal law and to include public accommodation, so the city is operating by the same standards in all areas, Washington said. You should be able to get a job, stay employed, find housing, and go to the movies, go out to eat, go to the grocery store, she said. You should be able to do all those basic functions, no matter who you are or who you love. She said the proposed revisions maintain religious exemption language. In 2012, both the Omaha and Lincoln city councils passed ordinances banning discrimination of people based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Omaha enacted the ordinance, but the Nebraska Family Council and Family First led a successful petition drive, gathering more than the 10,000 signatures required to stop the Lincoln ordinance from taking effect and mandating it be put to a vote or retracted. The City Council did neither and its been in limbo since, despite a completely new City Council and a new mayor. Advocates of such a change have been divided about how to move forward, worrying about not having the resources to mount a successful challenge at the ballot box. Advocates had been focusing their efforts on changing state law, which has yet to happen, and Washington said when she was appointed to the council that shed need assurances from advocacy organizations of their support. Both OutNebraska, a local advocacy group, and the ACLU of Nebraska, said they support Washington's proposal. We are supporting the update, said OutNebraska Executive Director Abbi Swatsworth. I think it's important for Lincoln to be a modern, welcoming city. She said theyre still working to make changes at the state and federal level but that doesnt have to happen in a vacuum. I think its time to do it, she said. Were supportive of the effort and well do all we can to see it succeed. Danielle Conrad, executive director of the ACLU of Nebraska, said its a different time than 12 years ago pointing to the high courts most recent ruling and one in 2015 that legalized same-sex marriage and Washingtons broader proposal is a strong one. Were most excited about the message it sends that says we are welcoming and excited to have young, vibrant people as part of our community, that we welcome and respect them, she said. She noted that Omahas had such an ordinance on the books for years, and the Nebraska Equal Opportunity also has expanded its definition of sex. What we can learn from those examples is we have nothing to fear. Religious liberty and fairness can co-exist, Conrad said. Those are values we all hold dear and cherish. The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce also backs Washingtons proposal, having long supported more inclusive language. Jason Ball, the new chamber president, said more than 300 cities have such an ordinance and its important for Lincoln to recruit and retain young talent. We believe fairness ordinances like this create a more inclusive, welcoming work environment, he said. Having that kind of culture creates a stronger community. The proposal seems likely to be approved by the council. Both Tom Beckius and James Michael Bowers, the councils two other openly gay members, said they support Washingtons proposal, and other members have voiced support, including Tammy Ward, a longtime advocate of the Fairness Ordinance. It begs the question for me, if not now, when? Theres never a perfect moment, Ward said. Some people have been waiting their whole lives for that day in Lincoln. And its the right thing to do. What happens after that remains the biggest question, although Washington said she would support taking the question to a vote of the people, if necessary. Reach the writer at 402-473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSreist Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 3 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. China urges U.S. to correct wrongdoings in trade practices following WTO ruling Xinhua) 07:52, January 28, 2022 Photo taken on July 16, 2020 shows an exterior view of the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo by Li Ye/Xinhua) BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- China has urged the United States to "find no more excuses and immediately correct the wrongdoings" in its trade practices after a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling granted China rights to slap tariffs on U.S. goods, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday. "We will pay close attention to the follow-up enforcement actions that the United States will take, and reserve the right to take further actions for safeguarding the multilateral trading regime," Gao Feng, a spokesperson with the ministry, told a press briefing. On Jan. 26, the WTO issued the decision that China could impose tariffs on goods imported from the United States totaling up to 645 million U.S. dollars a year, as the U.S. side failed to implement previous recommendations and rulings made by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body. "The ruling is of great significance in rectifying U.S. countervailing duties on imported Chinese goods, protecting the legitimate trade interests of Chinese companies and safeguarding multilateral trading systems," a statement posted on the ministry's website noted. Gao said the WTO ruling again proved that the United States had for some time been breaching WTO rules, abusing trade remedy measures and refusing to fulfill its international obligations, which is detrimental to a fair and just international trading environment. It is the second time China has been granted rights to impose retaliatory tariffs on imports from the United States, according to the ministry. China has a faith in the active role of the international rule of law in stabilizing global economic and trade orders, as well as regulating international trade and economic relations, Gao noted. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Belonging to Haryanas Mewat district, 56-year-old Abdul Subhan has been in the prison since July 2014 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Delhi Polices Special Cell has accused him of being a Lashkar-e-Taiba recruiter. Musheera Ashraf | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles NEW DELHI Authorities in New Delhis Tihar jail have shifted a Muslim terror accused to a high security cell after his family alleged that he was facing threat to life from fellow prisoners. Belonging to Haryanas Mewat district, 56-year-old Abdul Subhan has been in the prison since July 2014 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Delhi Polices Special Cell has accused him of being a Lashkar-e-Taiba recruiter. Earlier this month, Subhans son, Aalam, a farmer, posted on Facebook that he was afraid for his fathers life. Aalam said that his concern was based on his interaction with Subhans lawyer, Salma. According to Aalams post, Subhan met his lawyer inside the prison on January 13 and expressed fear for his life. Salma independently confirmed this to Twocircles.net. He was very anxious when I met him last, she said. He told me that a fight broke out between two groups in which he (Subhan) was targeted. One of the men attacked him with a blade leaving him wounded, she added. Subhan also told his lawyer that the changes in housekeeping staff and new inmates being shifted to his cell left him worried about his safety. On January 15, the family moved Patiala House Court demanding Subhans safety and protection. The court ruled in their favor. After three days, the superintendent of prison headquarters submitted a compliance report in court informing that Subhan was transferred to a high-security ward. Aalam, 28, told TwoCircles.net that his father was a farmer and was framed in this case. The case is going on in the court and we are hoping that he will be released soon and all allegations against will be proven false, he said. Data suggests that Asias largest prison routinely faces violent clashes. The Print reported that Tihar witnessed the maximum number of clashes (57) between the prisoners and the staff in 2019, resulting in the death of three prisoners, while 279 inmates and 37 jail officials received severe injuries. Musheera Ashraf is a special correspondent with TwoCircles.net. She tweets at @Musheera_Ashraf. Like many, 38-year-old father and seafood butcher Ryan Wilson has come to believe COVID-19 is probably never fully going away. Itll become endemic and well be stuck with it forever, he says. Its frustrating, but what can you do about it? Many Americans agree that they're going to be stuck with it forever or, at the least, for a long time. A poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that few just 15% say theyll consider the pandemic over only when COVID-19 is largely eliminated. By contrast, 83% say theyll feel the pandemic is over when its largely a mild illness. Three large new studies from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlight the importance of getting a booster shot to provide the best protection against the Omicron coronavirus variant. This is the first real-life data to examine the effect of boosters against Omicron, which now accounts for more than 99% of coronavirus cases in the United States. The studies, released Friday, raise the question of whether people with just two vaccine doses should still be considered fully vaccinated. A "stealthier" version of the omicron variant that has been spotted in the United States and dozens of other countries is being closely monitored by health officials and scientists. The variant, called BA.2, has genetic traits that make it somewhat more difficult to detect, and some experts fear it may also be more contagious than that original omicron variant, CBS News reported. Nearly 15,000 genetic sequences of BA.2 have been uploaded since November by nearly 50 countries to a global platform for sharing coronavirus data, including 96 sequences from the United States. BA.2 appears to be more common in Asia and Europe and accounted for 45 percent of all COVID-19 cases in Denmark in mid-January compared with 20 percent two weeks earlier. Debate in the Nebraska Legislature on a watered-down juvenile justice bill turned fiery on Thursday. Depending who you ask, the exchange could be an example of congressional campaign politics or the manifestation of differing views on the trajectory of juvenile justice in the state. State Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk, who is challenging Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry for his seat representing Nebraska's 1st Congressional District, led the opposition to LB568 during floor debate. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, who's running for that same seat as a Democrat. Originally, Pansing Brooks' bill would've required truant kids to be sent to diversion programs that concentrate on the root causes of absenteeism instead of having truancy as a status offense that requires action in juvenile court. The bill got the bare minimum number of votes it needed to advance to the second round of debate last year, signaling more work was needed. Over the interim, Pansing Brooks said she worked with county attorneys to come up with a compromise that keeps the "hammer" of the status offense in place but requires them to first make every effort to send truant kids to diversion. The new version of the bill would still increase funding to support diversion programs throughout the state. Pansing Brooks said 70% of kids in the juvenile justice system end up in the adult criminal justice system, and argued the bill would save taxpayer money by keeping kids out of the justice system and getting them the help they really need. Flood voted in support of the bill last year. In Pansing Brooks' view, the only thing that's changed is campaign politics. It seems like the only thing that's changed, other than the fact that I got the county attorneys on board and have everybody else on board, the only difference is that we've both filed for a new campaign," she said. She said she was sorry it happened on this bill. I really am concerned about the fact this is on the backs of our Nebraska kids that this issue has come up, she said. Flood, though, said that Pansing Brooks knows he feels strongly about juvenile justice issues. To say it's only about politics would be "out of bounds." Yes, were both running for Congress, but at the end of the day this was going to be a discussion we were going to have anyway," he said. What changed, he said during debate, was that he brought an amendment last year to address a juvenile justice issue that Pansing Brooks opposed. Flood thought they were going to work on the issue over the summer but he was never contacted, he said. Over the interim, Flood visited the local juvenile detention center. I did go talk to prosecutors, and I did go talk to law enforcement, and they are sick and tired of what's been happening with the juvenile court system and juvenile justice reform," Flood said. Past transcripts and records show Flood did not propose an amendment on LB568 or speak about it during debate last year. However, he did bring an amendment to another juvenile justice bill Pansing Brooks sponsored, and he said during debate on that separate bill that Pansing Brooks had committed to hearing concerns from his district related to the issue. He said he got the two bills confused. Pansing Brooks has sponsored many juvenile justice bills. Flood said LB568 is "yet another example" of how juvenile justice has "eroded over time." But, he said, he's not organizing a filibuster on the bill and he thinks reasonable people can disagree on changes to the system. During debate on Thursday, Flood argued that LB568 is unnecessary. He talked about existing programs for truant kids in Madison County, where he lives, and cited opposition from the county attorney there. "When are we going to start trusting prosecutors? When are we going to start trusting juries? When are we going to start trusting judges?" he said. But he also expanded the debate to include opposition to what he and some other conservative lawmakers see as a broader trend in the state's juvenile justice policy. When I served here before these bills would never have come to the floor," he said. "There has been a sea change in the way law enforcement has been regarded in this body." Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln and others also spoke more broadly about juvenile justice issues. Over the past five to six years, we've totally taken consequences for juvenile misbehavior out of the system," Geist said. "And in doing that we've handcuffed not only our law enforcement, but we've also done that with parents. Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha and others pushed back on Flood's comments. Wayne said Flood made a "great tough-on-crime speech." "This bill adds money to make sure everybody can have access to the same programs that you're speaking of," he said. Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha said he'd like to see the bill go further. "The reason we've gotten to where we are now, the reason how we have always done things, is because people make fiery political speeches that are meant to make them look tough on crime, because that is popular. And our job is not to do popular, it is to do right." Whatever the origins of the debate, it may provide a view of what's to come this session. The Legislature is considering a slate of criminal justice reforms, as it faces down the nation's most crowded prison system and rising recidivism rates. "Are we gonna sit here this year and kick the can down the road without actually doing something about this?" Sen. John McCollister of Omaha said. "I'm getting a little tired of it. I'm thinking that those people running for governor and higher political office ought to deal with this issue instead of saying, 'Yeah, lock em up.'" Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A proposal to empower Nebraska's governor to appoint a majority of the members of the state's two largest public power district boards was criticized Thursday as an effort to strip local control from voters. Sen. Bruce Bostelman's plan (LB1046) would reconfigure the governance structure of both the Nebraska Public Power District and Omaha Public Power District, and allow the governor to choose the chief executive officer of each. NPPD ratepayers currently select all 11 members of its board of directors, but under the Brainard lawmaker's plan, the board would be reduced to nine members beginning in 2024. Four of those members would be elected, one from each of four districts created to encompass NPPD's service area, while the other five members would be selected at-large by the governor. Three of the appointed members must live in rural areas, under Bostelman's plan. OPPD would be reorganized in a similar way, with four elected members and five appointed by the governor, and at least one of the appointees residing outside of Omaha's city limits. The governor would also have the power to choose the chief executive officer for each utility. LB1046 says the CEO would "serve at the pleasure of the governor," while also following the direction of the utility's board. Bostelman said after the rolling blackouts caused by a February 2021 polar vortex, his intention was for appointees to include subject matter experts in power generation, transmission and distribution, or other experience in the power industry. Roughly 30% of public power board members across the country are appointed. "Things are changing and there's huge challenges ahead," he told the Natural Resources Committee, where the bill was heard on Thursday. "We need to have a different way of putting people with that working knowledge, that skill set on the board." LB1046 doesn't spell out what qualifications appointees would need to have Bostelman told the committee he didn't want the legislation to be too prescriptive which Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus said he believed would lead to the process becoming politicized. "Every six years you could have a different governor and new board members," Moser said. "What if it's a governor you didn't like?" Bostelman said the current system allows for a large portion of the board to have turnover, and said his proposal could shorten the learning curve for new members. "We need board members to ask the right questions to make the right decisions," he said. No one testified in support of Bostelman's bill on Thursday, nor did anyone submit letters of support backing the plan. Opponents including the sitting CEOs of both NPPD and OPPD, as well as the presidents of smaller public power districts said the plan would create confusion among ratepayers, with the leader and majority of the board being accountable to one person. Tom Kent, the CEO of NPPD, told the committee five members of the utility already have a background in the power industry, while others reflect ratepayers and voters in several different ways. "The public has done a good job of electing people to represent them," Kent said. OPPD's president and chief executive, Javier Fernandez, said public power has served Nebraska well over the last century, ranking among the most reliable and most affordable in the country. "Our history and track record does not warrant the governance changes under LB1046," Fernandez said. Bostelman's plan would result in an "enormous erosion of local control" at the state's two largest power providers, with the representatives of the customer-owners always representing the minority. "There's no accountability for appointed board members other than through the sitting governor," Fernandez added. "Customer-owners must pay for the decisions of such a board without any ability to hold the appointed board members accountable." Neal Suess, the president and CEO of Loup River Public Power District the first public power district in Nebraska said the proposed changes at NPPD and OPPD wouldn't have a direct impact on local public power boards. A change in the governor could result in the change of board members to NPPD, which supplies power to Loup River Public Power District, and thus to the long-term strategy of all utilities, Suess told the committee. "A board of directors of a utility needs to be able to adapt on the fly, but an ever-changing board of directors could create a new strain and expense on the utility and its customers," he said. The committee received nearly 90 letters opposing Bostelman's bill. Ed Schrock, a former state senator who now sits on the NPPD board, said there was merit to the governor having a say in who sits on the board, which he described as growing increasingly partisan due to out-of-state money flowing into elections. "It's a good idea," Schrock said during the time for neutral testifiers. "I hope you can incorporate some of it." The committee took no action on Thursday, which was Day 15 in the 60-day legislative session. Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The art of deconstructing an argument by refutation and holding a person accountable for previous statements that the person now contradicts was once an honored tradition. It has now mostly gone the way of other traditions in favor of sound bite statements formulated in political party meetings and used to confuse the public. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) unpacked this once great technique when he responded to some of President Bidens outlandish claims over his first year in office that included his inaugural address and remarks made at his news conference last week and in an Atlanta speech about minority voting rights. McConnell said the Biden on display at these events was not the Biden he has known for decades. Anyone who has known or observed Biden during his 50 years in politics would have to agree. McConnell began his Senate floor speech by recalling Bidens promise in his inaugural address to unite the nation. Instead, said McConnell, that very same man delivered a deliberately divisive speech that was designed to pull our country further apart. One year ago, said McConnell, Biden said we should not see ourselves as adversaries, but as neighbors. Now he calls millions of Americans his domestic enemies. McConnell noted a year ago the president called for lowering the rhetorical temperature, but now says, if you disagree with him, youre George Wallace. If you dont pass the laws he wants, youre Bull Connor. And if you oppose giving Democrats one-party control of the country, well, youre Jefferson Davis. He might have mentioned that these, as well as many other elected officials who opposed civil rights legislation, were Southern Democrats and that it was mostly Republicans, beginning with Abraham Lincoln, who supported racial equality. McConnell went on to recall that Biden has said disagreement must not lead to disunion, but then invoked the bloody disunion of the Civil War to demonize Americans who disagree with him. He compared a bipartisan majority of senators to literal traitors. How profoundly unpresidential. McConnell said he has known, liked and personally respected Joe Biden for many years. I did not recognize the man at (his news conference). The president acts as if he has a mandate for all the far-left policies he has been pushing, but McConnell noted the 50-50 Senate and the bare majority Democrats hold in the House: the narrowest majorities in over a century and that he did not get a mandate to transform America or reshape society. McConnell said the president did get a mandate to do one thing: bridge the political divide, lower the temperature and end the perpetual era of crisis in our politics. He has done the opposite. He called Bidens rant ... incoherent, incorrect and beneath his office. The president again mentioned Jim Crow 2.0 to assert Republicans are attempting to make it more difficult for minorities to vote, which is untrue. As McConnell noted there are more ways for people to vote in Georgia than Bidens state of Delaware. Jim Crow laws, it should be noted, were also created by Democrats, a fact the major media regularly ignores. Too many of todays journalists sound like shills for the Democratic Party, crafting their questions and writing their stories as if they are channeling that partys talking points and worldview. McConnell did their job for them in his deconstruction of recent remarks by the president. Polls show Biden voters are expressing buyers remorse. They can be expected to reverse course in November. Cal Thomas writes for Tribune Content Agency. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The AltEn environmental disaster nearly spread far wider late last year as operators of the shuttered biofuel plant attempted to sell contaminated solid waste in the form of biochar to a Kansas landowner who planned to spread the waste on fields north of Topeka. That sale, however, was halted in December by Kansas state officials, after they had been notified by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, which is overseeing the investigation and cleanup at the Mead plant where seed coated with pesticides was turned into ethanol and created highly contaminated byproducts that have polluted nearby fields and waterways. Troublingly, AltEn didnt provide the prospective buyer any information about the biochar, seemingly making the sale part of a company effort to conceal and surreptitiously dispense with the pollutants it created. About 600 sacks of the biochar, organic material that has been turned into charcoal, remain in one of the hoop buildings at AltEn. That biochar and any other pollutant-containing material should be prohibited from leaving the AltEn grounds, unless it is being transported for proper, safe disposal. AltEn also should be prohibited from selling the biochar or any other byproducts from the ethanol creation process until the investigation and cleanup of the plant and its pollutants are completed. The massive cleanup, being led by six agricultural giants that disposed of their unplanted, pesticide-coated seed via AltEn, is in its initial months and will last years. Investigations also are ongoing, inquiries that include a 10-year study launched by the University of Nebraska and Creighton University to examine the long-term effects on human health and the environment stemming from AltEns practices. If that research links the contamination to any negative health outcomes experienced by people near the plant, those affected should be allowed to sue the plant and seed companies for their exposure to toxic chemicals. Because that research will take up to a decade, Sen. Carol Blood has sponsored a bill that would extend the statute of limitations for Nebraskans who fall ill after an exposure from four years to 10 years. LB694, which is just one of the measures that the Legislature will be considering to address AltEn and prevent similar future environmental disasters, should be passed by the Legislature this session. Those who are found to have fallen ill deserve the ability to be compensated by AltEn and the seed companies while AltEn and the companies should not be permitted to profit from the disaster by selling byproducts. And, obviously, the polluted material cannot be permitted to spread farther, in Nebraska or any other state. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 TOWN OF WATERFORD Anyone who has struggled to lose weight can understand what LeMoine Worthington has gone through. But few can match what he has achieved. The Town of Waterford man weighed 265 pounds in high school. By his mid-40s, he was tipping the scales at 448. He could not reach to tie his shoes. He could not squeeze into a movie theater seat. He could not wrap a seat belt around himself in a car. But that was a few years ago. Today, Worthington has turned his life around with a weight-loss success story that would be the envy of anyone hoping to drop a few pounds by counting calories or working out at the gym. Worthington has dropped 200 pounds and reduced his weight to 248, making him a national celebrity in the weight-loss program known as TOPS Club Inc. TOPS, or Take Off Pounds Sensibly, has declared Worthington its biggest weight-loss champion among men in 2020 in the United States and Canada. Officials point to Worthingtons status of TOPS International King as an example of weight-loss success at a time when COVID-19 is making it difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Rick Danforth, president of the Milwaukee-based nonprofit TOPS, said the COVID pandemic has caused people to stay at home more and to become more sedentary. As a result, people are exercising less and many are straying from a commitment to healthy foods. Its hard out there, Danforth said. It provides a different set of challenges. Worthington, now 66 years old, has bucked the odds by downsizing enough to reach his goal of 260 pounds, and then dropping even further to his current weight of 248 pounds. The 5-foot-9 retired Modine Manufacturing Co. factory worker said overcoming a chronic problem with obesity has changed his life immeasurably. Not only is he healthier, but he and his wife are better able to enjoy going to the movies, eating at restaurants and taking long walks together. Its an unbelievable thing, he said. It feels great, all the things I can do. His wife, Linda Worthington, said she was impressed at her husbands commitment to losing weight and his determination to persevere, even in the face of setbacks. If he slipped up and regained a few pounds, she said, he would rebound quickly and get back on track with what worked. Hes always never given up, she said. Im beyond proud. He worked so hard for this. Worthington, who grew up near Baraboo, developed a weight problem in childhood, largely because of a penchant for devouring Twinkies and other cake-like sweets. In his freshman year at Baraboo High School, he weighed 225 pounds. By graduation, he was up to 265. Overeating continued to be a problem for him in adulthood, when he was diagnosed with diabetes and sleep apnea. A treatment for thyroid issues had a temporary side effect of causing even more weight gain. He and Linda were married in 1998, and the couple resettled two years later on Sandpiper Trail in the Town of Waterford. Worthington tried other weight-loss programs and occasionally enjoyed limited success. But nothing really proved sustainable, and doctors warned that his health issues could worsen. We knew we had to do something, he said. In 2003, he heard a radio broadcast about a husband and wife who each lost 100 pounds by joining a group that meets weekly to keep its members engaged and committed. The concept sounded appealing, so Worthington found a chapter near his home. TOPS, which started in 1948, emphasizes the basics of eating fruits and vegetables, avoiding junk food, drinking lots of water, and exercising daily. There is no special food to purchase, and no exotic workout equipment. The cost of joining is $49 the first year, $37 for each subsequent year, and then typically $5 a month. The organization has 6,000 chapters nationally, including 173 in Wisconsin. Most meet in churches, town halls or community centers. The simplicity of the program and the reinforcement of the weekly group meetings helped Worthington to focus. He selected walking as his preferred exercise. Starting with just 20 minutes a day in a corridor at work, he progressed until he was walking more than 90 minutes a day. Soon, the pounds began to come off. In his first year, he dropped 100 pounds. Each subsequent year brought more weight loss, until he achieved his dream of losing 200 pounds. Worthington embodies the spirit of Take Off Pounds Sensibly, Danforth said, because he realizes that weight loss requires a permanent change in a persons daily habits. There is no quick fix, Danforth said. Its a lifestyle. For Worthington, becoming the TOPS national champion has been fun and rewarding. It is a reminder, he said, of how far he has come in his weight-loss journey. Once worried that health problems would make him a burden on others, he now feels confident and reassured. You ought to be able to do something for yourself, he said. Its a great feeling. Note: This article has been updated to correct the identity of Carol Dublin, pictured on the magazine cover alongside LeMoine Worthington, and the $5 average monthly charge to attend a TOPS group. Fave 5: Reporter Scott Williams shares his favorite 'real people' stories from 2021 I spend a lot of time digging into public records and holding government officials accountable. But I also enjoy writing about regular people Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BURLINGTON The operators of Veterans Terrace are urging city officials to invest millions in order to save Echo Lake and thus protect the future of the nonprofit event center located alongside the lake. Officials said that removing a deteriorated dam and permanently draining the manmade lake would create foul odors and disruption for private weddings and other events held inside Veterans Terrace. Officials acknowledged, however, that saving the lake would require draining it for repairs and dredging in a way that could cause similar problems temporarily. The city should complete the needed work during fall or winter, officials said, so as not to disrupt the peak season for business at Veterans Terrace and elsewhere in the city. In a letter to the Burlington City Council, Veterans Terrace officials said Wednesday that the future of their event center could be at stake. We believe that decisions as to what would replace the lake could take years to be finalized, the letter said, and our business and financial future would be at risk that entire time. The statement was issued by Veterans Terrace General Manager Beth Reetz along with Joel Weis, president of Burlington Community Fund, the nonprofit ownership group. It comes one week after Burlington Park Board members voted to recommend removing the dam and draining the lake. Park Board members endorsed a strategy designed to save taxpayers the cost of salvaging Echo Lake, while also opening up options for new recreational amenities along a restored White River, which would replace the lake. Burlington City Council members are scheduled to meet Feb. 1 to discuss the issue and then meet again Feb. 16 to make a decision. Why the debate? Collection: Burlington charts a path toward tough decisions on its beloved Echo Lake Follow along as we chronicle the steps that Burlington has taken so far while confronting the dilemma of either investing millions to save Ech State environmental regulators have notified the city that the dam at Echo Lake no longer meets safety standards. The dam must either be upgraded and expanded, or it must be dismantled. City engineers have calculated that maintaining the lake would cost more than $5 million to improve the dam and then dredge the polluted lake, a former mill pond created in the 19th century. Removing the dam and draining the lake would cost much less, with estimates ranging from $1.1 million to $2 million. Adding boardwalks, fishing docks or other new amenities would be optional considerations later that would add more to the projects cost. No matter which option the city chooses, the lake will be drawn down and an odor problem will result either while repairs are taking place or while the lake is draining permanently into a restored White River. City leaders have projected that borrowing $5 million to save the lake would increase property taxes for the average homeowner around $68 a year over 20 years, for a total of $1,368. By comparison, borrowing $1.5 million to drain the lake would cost the same homeowner about $20 a year, a total of $409. The terrace In announcing their support for keeping and improving the lake, Veterans Terrace officials did not indicate whether their organization would help pay for the project. Located at 581 Milwaukee Ave. overlooking the Echo Lake Dam, what is now Veterans Terrace was built in 1963. Initially built for local veterans groups and their activities, it has evolved in a multi-purpose event center that hosts weddings, corporate meetings and other private parties. The facility is managed by Memorial Terrace Management Group Inc., a subsidiary of the nonprofit Burlington Community Fund. Proceeds from Veterans Terrace revenues are allocated to veterans groups and other local nonprofits. Other leaders of the ownership group include Ed Nadolski, Keith Pollack, Brian Wanasek, Laurie Miller, Brad Lois, Bob ONeil and Dave Barkei. In the letter issued Wednesday, officials said that draining the lake could create an odor problem and an eyesore that would make it difficult for them to continue hosting events. They agreed that an attractive new waterfront could be created from restoring the White River and adding new amenities in place of the lake. But, they added: While we can see the potential for beauty in this option, what we havent seen is a presentation that assures us that we wont have years of foul odor and mess before we have something that is beautiful. Veterans Terrace leaders also called for community cooperation on the Echo Lake issue, including if the city decides to remove the lake and create something new in its place. We firmly believe that those who dream big and think outside the box, they said, will push us all to make sure that the area surrounding Veterans Terrace will be a beautiful gateway to our downtown for decades to come. 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. If you get picked up in an ambulance, can you tell the paramedics to which hospital you want to go? The answer: It depends. What it depends on is which fire department operates the ambulance that responded to your emergency. And even then there are a few variables. Racine County is soon going to have three hospitals. Theres Ascension All Saints Hospital, 3801 Spring St., Racine, which was built in the 1970s; Aurora Medical Center-Burlington, 252 McHenry St.; and the new Aurora Medical Center-Mount Pleasant, 13250 Washington Ave. (Highway 20), which is scheduled to open Tuesday. The new Aurora facility sits directly east of Interstate 94. All Saints, the new Aurora medical center and Aurora-Burlington are all Level III trauma centers, meaning the three hospitals are all more or less equally equipped to respond to most emergencies. But there are still differences, not the least of which being their locations. If paramedics from the South Shore Fire Department which covers Mount Pleasant, Sturtevant and Elmwood Park pick you up, most of the time youll be able to tell them which of the two hospitals you want to go to. The same goes for paramedics from the Kansasville Fire Department, Caledonia Fire Department and the Union Grove-Yorkville Fire Department. You can generally tell them where you would like to be taken. But if the Racine Fire Department picks you up, pretty much all of the time youll be taken to All Saints, no matter what. Although that could change in the future. Differences If your primary care doctor is at Ascension, you can ask South Shore, Kansasville or Union Grove-Yorkville paramedics to take you to All Saints. Do you prefer Advocate Aurora? You can tell them to take you there, regardless of where the ambulance picks you up although shorter driving times are preferred. Oftentimes, SSFD, UGYFD and KFD will transport patients to hospitals in Kenosha County, although that probably will become less common now that the nearest Advocate Aurora medical center will be in Mount Pleasant instead of nearly seven miles south of the county line. There also are times when ambulances will take patients to Childrens Wisconsin Hospital in Wauwatosa if the patient has a serious condition and is underage, or to Froedtert Hospital, also in Wauwatosa, because it is the nearest Level I trauma care center. Within reason, its always the patients choice. After that, if they dont have a preference, its the closest appropriate, SSFD Battalion Chief Michael Wienke, supervisor of the departments emergency medical services, said in a phone interview Wednesday. As long as its not a life-threatening issue we will take the patient to whatever hospital is the closest distance. Each fire chief The Journal Times spoke with said what the patient needs is most important. The first priority is the current medical condition of the patient, Caledonia Fire Chief Jeff Henningfeld said in an email. Our personnel assess the patient to determine if the patient is sufficiently medically stable to endure a longer transport or if they need immediate care. Unstable patients are typically transported to the closest facility ... Another (factor) is distance, the Caledonia Fire Department will transport to emergency departments within a reasonable distance, such as into our bordering counties. The fire department does charge a fee per mile of transport. UGYFD Chief Tim Allen, in a text to a reporter Thursday, said: We do allow patients to choose a hospital that we transport (them) to, which usually ends up being either All Saints, one of Kenoshas hospitals, Aurora Medical Center-Burlington or to a Milwaukee County hospital. But for the Racine Fire Department, almost all of the time patients are transported to Ascension All Saints. If somebody needs to be taken from to a higher level hospital like Froedtert or Wisconsins only other Level I trauma center, the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison its more likely for the Racine Fire Department to transport them to All Saints where they can be stabilized before Flight for Life takes them the rest of the way. Part of that is how dense the RFDs coverage area. While Kansasville or UGYFD may have more square miles to cover, they have fewer people (and thus fewer emergencies) per square mile than in the City of Racine. At the present time the Racine Fire Department does not transport patients to any facility outside the City of Racine, and therefore Ascension All Saints is the destination for our patients, Racine Fire Chief Steve Hansen said in an email Wednesday. However, The question on whether Racine Fire Department will transport to Aurora Mt Pleasant is still under review. A firm decision is expected in spring, Hansen said. And unlike with South Shore, where the new medical center will be in its jurisdiction, the new medical center is more than five miles west of the City of Racine. Bringing patients that far west can be a significant waste of time if All Saints could do just fine, if not better, when it comes to treating a heart attack. We need to look at the metrics in terms of call volume for the city, availability of ambulances to serve the city, type of medical emergency the patient may be suffering, and whether the additional 14 to 19 minutes of one way transport time may have a critical impact on the patients health, Hansen said. If the patient is suffering a severe acute medical emergency it, does not make sense to bypass Ascension All Saints and drive another 14-19 minutes to Aurora Mount Pleasant thus delaying critical medical care that could worsen the patients condition. Hansen continued: We are certainly taking a hard look at this as we recognize some patients may request transport to Aurora Mount Pleasant. The challenge for us will be the added 14 to 19 minutes of one way transport time which translates into that ambulance being unavailable for future calls for up to 40 minutes. For the month of January we are approaching 1,000 emergency calls and summer is not even here yet. Similar to Racine, when there are patients in more serious conditions such as heart attacks, Kansasville Fire Chief Ron Molnar said that his paramedics will often transfer the patient to Aurora Medical Center-Burlington, from where Flight for Life can take them to a higher level facility. There are exceptions to much of this, such as with the specialty cases that necessitate taking patients to Milwaukee area hospitals. The Aurora Medical Center-Mount Pleasant does not plan on doing births, for example. As Wienke noted, Not all hospitals are the same. Other times, such as if theres a snowstorm or if first responders are already stretched thin because of simultaneous emergencies, a patients request to go to a hospital that is not the closest may be rejected. Wienke said that SSFD transports approximately 5,000 patients a year. Maybe once a year, a patient will put their foot down and demand to be taken to a specific facility that spits in the face of all medical advice. In that case, SSFD will advise the patient as to why its best to go to the nearest hospial, but would need to sign what Wienke called an against medical advice document that can be used as evidence that the patient ignored the expertise of first responders. Still, having more options for health care is a benefit, according to Wienke. Its going to benefit our two stations on the west side of town Its going to benefit us. 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. RACINE Two families have been displaced, but no injuries were reported, after a house fire on Wednesday. According to a release, the Racine Fire Department responded at noon for a house fire in the 1100 block of Nelson Court on the north side of the city. Tenants in the upper unit of the house reported having discovered a fire coming from near an electrical outlet in a bedroom. A parent called 911 to report the fire and evacuated both upper and lower apartments in the house. Eight people were evacuated. The fire companies first to arrive found the building evacuated; fire was coming from a second story bedroom window. Firefighters attacked the fire first from the outside, then crews made their way inside, encountering heavy fire on the second floor, the release said. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, but cold weather exposure was a concern in subzero wind chill conditions. The Racine Fire Department Rescue Squads transported the eight residents to the Community Oriented Policing (COP) House at 1140 Geneva St. The families included a mother and two teenage daughters living upstairs in the house and a family of five including three children under three years old living in the lower apartment. They are being assisted by Red Cross. Estimated damage to the house is more than its assessed value of $68,000. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to the RFD. The RFD is urging readers to purchase renters insurance in light of this incident. Renters insurance may seem like the $13 expense to cut from a familys monthly budget until the unthinkable happens and all of your belongings go up in smoke, read the release. Responding units to the incident included three fire engines, two ladder trucks, a rescue squad, battalion chief, safety officer and two fire investigators. We Energies secured utilities, Racine Water Utility secured water service and the Racine Department of Public Works treated the area where firefighting operations created slippery road conditions. Racine Police Department also assisted with traffic control and caring for displaced families at the COP House. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The U.S. House committee investigating the insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol has subpoenaed two Wisconsin Republicans, including the former chair of the state Republican Party, who signed official-looking documents in late 2020 seeking to hand Wisconsins Electoral College votes to President Donald Trump. Committee chair and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said in a statement the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol seeks information about attempts in multiple states to overturn the results of the 2020 election, including the planning and coordination of efforts to send false slates of electors to the National Archives. The committee has subpoenaed 14 individuals in seven states, including Andrew Hitt, former chair of the state Republican Party, and 8th Congressional District GOP chair Kelly Ruh, who joined eight other Wisconsin Republicans in the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign official-looking documents purporting that Trump had won the state. The meeting occurred on the same day that the Democratic slate of Wisconsin electors convened in the same building to deliver the states 10 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden. We believe the individuals we have subpoenaed today have information about how these so-called alternate electors met and who was behind that scheme, Thompson said. We encourage them to cooperate with the Select Committees investigation to get answers about January 6th for the American people and help ensure nothing like that day ever happens again. Official-looking certificates like those signed in Wisconsin were also submitted by Republicans claiming to be electors in six other states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. The subpoenas call for Hitt and Ruh to sit for depositions on Feb. 28 and provide documents by Feb. 11 detailing any information about your role and participation in the purported slate of electors casting votes for Donald Trump and, to the extent relevant, your role in the events of January 6, 2021. Hitt is listed in the signed documents as the chairperson, and Ruh is listed as the secretary. Hitt said in a statement he absolutely will cooperate with the committees request to provide information. As I said in the past, the Wisconsin Electors were simply following the guidance of Wisconsin legal counsel to preserve the ongoing Wisconsin legal strategy, Hitt said. There was no intent beyond that and Im happy to participate in this process to clarify any confusion that may exist. Ruh, a De Pere city council member, did not respond to a request for comment Friday. Others to sign the documents in Wisconsin include Robert Spindell, a Republican who sits on the state Elections Commission; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Carol Brunner; Dane County Republican Party chair Scott Grabins; La Crosse County Republican Party chair Bill Feehan; 5th Congressional District GOP chair Kathy Kiernan; 6th Congressional District GOP chair Darryl Carlson; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Pam Travis; and Mary Buestrin, vice chair of the Midwest region for the Republican National Committee. Liberal law firm Law Forward last year filed complaints with the Wisconsin Elections Commission and Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office alleging the Wisconsin Republicans committed fraud. A third complaint was filed against Hitt with the Office of Lawyer Regulation, the agency that handles complaints against lawyers. So far, none of the agencies has formally taken up the complaints, while Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Westphal sent a letter last week to Jeffrey Mandell, an attorney with Law Forward, suggesting that the state or federal justice department would be best suited to determine what steps, if any, should be taken on the matter. Mandell on Wednesday wrote in a letter to the Elections Commission that, if the agency fails to take action on the complaint in a timely manner, Law Forward will file a lawsuit over the matter. Assistant Attorney General Mike Murphy replied to Mandells request in a Friday email indicating that the complaint could be taken up in closed session as soon as March 9. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, who has not ruled out the possibility that he may look into the complaint, said earlier this month he believes its critical that the federal government fully investigates and prosecutes any unlawful actions in furtherance of any seditious conspiracy. In a separate letter sent to Kaul on Wednesday, Mandell urged state and local prosecutors to also investigate the matter. Republican Party of Wisconsin chair Paul Farrow, who earlier this month called the allegation of fraud a frivolous complaint that doesnt deserve the time of day, said in a statement Friday the Republicans who signed the documents were advised to do so by attorneys and the actions were done in accordance with precedent. That Democrats are now trying to fabricate a story from a simple procedure is nothing more than a desperate attempt to divert attention from their record as they face the electorate in 2022, Farrow said. National news reports indicate the Republican electors were coordinated by Trumps legal team in an attempt to present Vice President Mike Pence with conflicting slates of electors during the congressional certification so that he could throw the election to a House vote, which would have handed the election to Trump. Pence refused to participate in the purported scheme. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 With legislation and court challenges stalled, Wisconsin regulators have deadlocked on the legality of a financing mechanism that could expand access to clean energy. Two Public Service Commissioners disagreed Thursday on whether the states largest utility acted legally when it blocked an Iowa solar company from leasing solar panels to the city of Milwaukee. Eagle Point Solar won a contract in 2018 to install 1.1 megawatts of solar panels on municipal buildings to help the city meet its clean energy goals. But We Energies refused to allow the panels to be connected to its system, saying Eagle Point would be selling electricity to one of its customers in violation of its monopoly agreement. The utility later agreed to hook up panels on three of the seven sites after the city decided to buy rather than lease the panels. Eagle Point appealed the denial and asked the PSC to clarify whether a financing arrangement would make it a public utility. Commissioner Ellen Nowak agreed with We Energies position that the arrangement is illegal under current law. Eagle Point seeks permission to operate as a public utility ... in another public utilitys exclusive area, she said. Chair Rebecca Valcq said We Energies had no legal basis to deny the connection, which would allow electricity from the panels to flow onto the grid. What were talking about here are purely financial arrangements, Valcq said. These are scare tactics of a monopoly trying to hold on to the very last scraps of their monopoly. Citing his advocacy for third-party financing prior to joining the PSC, Commissioner Tyler Huebner recused himself from the decision, and the split vote resulted in no action on Eagle Points appeal. Representatives of Eagle Point and the city of Milwaukee did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. Follow the law We Energies spokesperson Brendan Conway said policies like third-party financing favor wealthy customers at the expense of those who cant afford solar. He said the utility will continue to urge the commission to follow the law. We Energies and other utilities have developed their own programs to lease customer rooftop space for utility-owned solar panels, recovering the costs with a 10% profit from all ratepayers. Clean energy and consumer advocates say utilities are standing in the way of a financing mechanism that could make solar energy available to more people, including residents who dont have thousands of dollars to pay up front and local governments, schools and nonprofits that cant benefit from federal tax credits. (We Energies) supports renewables that it can build itself and for which it can recover a return on equity, solar advocates wrote. And at the same time, (the company) seeks to block third-party financing that could open the door to affordable and accessible distributed self-generation by customers. A hot potato Thursdays vote marked a turning point in the commissions willingness to engage on the issue. In 2019, Nowak and then-commissioner Mike Huebsch voted to deny Eagle Points request to rule on the legality of third-party financing, arguing that was a job for the Legislature. But the commission did agree to take up the narrower issue of the interconnection denial. Eagle Point then asked the courts to weigh in. A Dane County judge dismissed the case, throwing the issue back to the PSC, and Eagle Points appeal was also rejected. The commission is facing a separate lawsuit from clean energy advocates seeking to force it to allow third-party financing. Last year a pair of Republican lawmakers introduced legislation to allow third-party financing for solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. But the bills have yet to receive a hearing. Theyre not moving at this point, said one of the sponsors, Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay. Valcq said the commission has an obligation to evaluate connection agreements based on the existing law. Clearly to me the Legislature has not demonstrated an interest in taking this up. It has become a hot potato, Valcq said. We already have a statute in front of us that we have the expertise and experience interpreting. Nowak agreed that the commission can evaluate individual agreements on a case-by-case basis, but said this one was not legal. If Eagle Point wants the law changed ... they must petition the Legislature for a change in the law, she said. The Legislature has had the opportunity to modify it and they have chosen not to. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The threat of Russian military invasion of the remainder of Ukraine represents the most serious military crisis and challenge in Europe since the Balkan wars of the 1990s. The ongoing substantial buildup of Russian military forces around that nation continues, ominously. Copperas Cove, TX (76522) Today A widely scattered shower or thunderstorm is possible this evening. Then cloudy skies overnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight A widely scattered shower or thunderstorm is possible this evening. Then cloudy skies overnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Copperas Cove, TX (76522) Today Isolated thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Isolated thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%. 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 Gov. Tony Evers visited Vernon Communications Co-op in Westby, Tuesday, Jan. 25, to highlight a broadband access grant the cooperative received to expand fiber broadband internet in Crawford County. VC Co-op was awarded a $5.6 million grant. This project will utilize a fiber to the premise service to reach 52 businesses and 993 residential locations in the towns of Freeman, Utica and Seneca, and the villages of Mount Sterling and Lynxville in Crawford County. VC Co-op and its partners will provide matching funds of $1 million. Rod Olson, CEO of the cooperative, said the grant application process is a good opportunity for small businesses to right a wrong in areas not covered by large telecoms. He said the cooperative has the mindset that fiber optics are to last for the long-term. We go above and beyond the minimum requirement. Evers said the VC Co-op project is a good example of a recurring trend in rural areas of smaller telecoms and businesses reinvesting in the community. Smaller businesses are more willing to make investments. We know the digital divide is holding us back, especially in rural areas, he said. Evers noted thats why he declared 2021 the Year of Broadband Access and investments in broadband will continue. According to a press release from the governors office, the project is a part of Evers larger investment of $100 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, which is providing grants to 83 projects across the state, as announced in October. Last year, according to the press release, Evers allocated $100 million in ARPA funds for broadband expansion and authorized the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) to administer the funds. Grant applications were due on July 27, 2021. Internet service providers, telecommunications utilities, cooperatives, local governments, and for-profit and non-profit organizations were eligible to apply. According to the press release, the Commission evaluated broadband projects based on applicant capacity, capability, performance, project budget, proposed matching funds, and the proposed service areas existing broadband service needs. In total, more than 40 counties and three Tribal communities will receive fiber broadband internet through this investment. Angela Cina can be reached at angie.cina@lee.net. 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. Local organization Hope Restores received a much-needed vehicle Friday morning, courtesy of Mayo Clinic Health System. Hope Restores, which works to empower members of the Black and African American community through education, preservation and advocacy, was in need of a new van to replace its existing aging vehicle, which is used to help transport individuals to the grocery store, school, appointments, job interviews or helping with moves. Lack of transportation can be a barrier, so we help people get where they need to go. Unfortunately, our van is in constant use and has become increasingly unreliable ..., says Tashyra Jackson, co-founder of Hope Restores. Because the van needs frequent repairs, thats been a challenge. We dont want people to be late for job interviews because the van broke down. Mayo Clinic Health System gifted the organization an eight-passenger GMC Suburban previously used by the hospital. Dr. Paul Mueller, regional vice president for Mayo Clinic Health System Southwest Wisconsin, said, Its a large vehicle and its in great shape. Were pleased it will be used to help people in our community. Hope Restores and Mayo previously collaborated for the local Juneteenth Celebration and hold a food and supplies drive for the Hope Restores Giving Cabinet. Hope Restores contacted Mayo about its need for a new vehicle, with repairs on its current, undependable van growing costly. Hope Restores is a relatively new organization, but theyre already making an impact on our community, says Mueller. Weve been impressed by their ability to identify needs and take action to address them. When we learned they needed a vehicle, we wanted to help. Jackson says the organization is grateful for the donation, and hopes they will be able to obtain another vehicle to help with growing transportation needs. Entities or individuals wanting to donated a vehicle can call Hope Restores at 608-881-6418 or emailhoperestoreswi@gmail.com In addition to transportation and the Giving Cabinet, Hope Restores offers two hour, drop in child care, nonperishable foods, hygiene items and cleaning supplies. It also operates or facilitates programs including support group Women of Melanin, mentorship program Brothers Battling Barriers Mentorships, the FAST program (families and schools together), Black Student Leaders, financial education, diversity training and more. For more information on Hope Restores, visit https://hoperestoreswi.org. Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MILWAUKEE A Milwaukee police officer was shot and wounded in an exchange of gunfire with a man who was initially found slumped over in a vehicle, the third shooting of a law enforcement officer in the city in two weeks. The officer was called to the city's Menomonee Valley neighborhood about 6:30 p.m. Thursday to check on a person in a vehicle who was sick or injured, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said. The man in the vehicle attempted to flee and produced a gun, police said. The officer and the 22-year-old man exchanged gunfire, police said, and both were struck. The officer was hospitalized with wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening, authorities said. After an exchange of gunfire, the suspect entered the wounded officer's squad car and fled, Norman said. The man crashed into another vehicle, ran away and was later captured by police. He and the person in the vehicle he crashed into were taken to the hospital for treatment, Norman said. Names of those involved weren't immediately released. The officer is 26 years old with over seven years of service. It was the second shooting of a law enforcement officer in two days in the city and the third in two weeks. Milwaukee County Sheriff's Deputy Christian Almonte was shot on Wednesday. Almonte, 26, was released from a hospital Thursday after being treated for multiple gunshot wounds. A 19-year-old man, who later killed himself, shot at Almonte as officers searched a Milwaukee neighborhood following a traffic stop, authorities said. Almonte was struck in both arms and his torso. On Jan. 13, an off-duty Milwaukee police detective was shot and wounded when he intervened in an attempted robbery in the city's Third Ward. Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson, speaking at a police briefing Thursday night, railed against people's access to guns. "There are too many people, in this community, who have too easy access to guns who should not have them in the first place . I need for this community to wake up to the issue of gun violence," he said. The Milwaukee Police Department Homicide Division is leading the investigation into Thursday's shooting. The officer will be placed on administrative duty, per policy. Criminal charges against the 22-year-old will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office in the coming days. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Legal contracts signed by Republican legislative leaders with taxpayer-funded attorneys leading up to Wisconsins decennial redistricting process were entered into legally, the state Supreme Court decided Thursday. The 4-3 ruling comes as the Wisconsin Supreme Court prepares a decision on how the states next legislative and congressional district maps should be drawn a decision that could have major implications for state elections over the next decade. The lawsuit alleged Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, illegally signed contracts with two law firms more than a year ago. The lawsuit charged that because no redistricting litigation existed in the state at that time, state law doesnt allow for the Legislature to hire outside counsel at taxpayer expense. It appears that, at least with regard to redistricting, the majority of the Supreme Court has determined that the Legislature can hire outside counsel when it thinks it might have an interest in a lawsuit, Lester Pines, an attorney who is representing the taxpayers in the case, said Thursday. Its a disappointing decision. Chief Justice Annette Ziegler, who wrote the majority opinion, was joined by fellow conservative justices Rebecca Bradley, Brian Hagedorn and Patience Roggensack. Liberal justices Ann Walsh Bradley, Rebecca Dallet and Jill Karofsky dissented. While the redistricting case is now underway, the courts ruling determined that the Legislature does have the authority to hire attorneys in anticipation of a lawsuit, rather than have to wait until after a formal legal challenge is launched. Pines said the ruling could set up a precedent for future preemptive attorney contracts and the state Department of Administration, which monitors state spending, will need to be the check and balance against this apparent unlimited power of the Legislature to spend whatever amount of money it wants whenever it thinks it might have a lawsuit that it might be involved in. The Legislature doesnt pay its own bills, the executive branch pays the bills and theyre going to have to look very carefully at whether the legislature is spending like a bunch of drunken sailors, which they will do if given the opportunity, he said. Vos and LeMahieu entered into a contract in December 2020 with the law firm Consovoy McCarthy for possible redistricting litigation and in January with Bell Giftos St. John for advice on legal requirements for redistricting as well as potential litigation. The Republican leaders argued they were justified in hiring the law firms, despite there being no current redistricting litigation, based on the Legislatures core power under the Wisconsin Constitution. In a 4-3 decision last summer, the state Supreme Court put on hold a previous ruling from Dane County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Ehlke that voided the legal contracts signed by the Republican legislative leaders with taxpayer-funded private attorneys to represent them in the anticipation of litigation over the states redistricting process. Ehlke last April granted the request filed by a taxpayer group that includes the head of the Madison teachers union, Andrew Waity. He also turned down a motion by the Legislature to put his ruling on hold, which the Supreme Court overturned a few months later. The Supreme Courts decision Thursday reversed Ehlkes ruling. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Former Marine Kevin Nicholson on Thursday launched his expected bid for Wisconsin governor, setting the stage for a likely heated and expensive GOP primary with fellow Republican and former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. Nicholson, an avid supporter of former President Donald Trump who launched his campaign website Thursday, has already clashed with Kleefisch and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Republican Party of Wisconsin chair Paul Farrow. Vos, R-Rochester, earlier this month called on Nicholson to not run for governor with hopes of avoiding a contested GOP primary, which could provide a leg up for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is seeking a second term this fall. Nicholson formally announced his campaign in an interview with WTAQ Thursday, describing it as an anti-establishment effort targeting both Democrats and entrenched Republicans alike. Our society is off track and everybody knows it, Nicholson said, adding later, We need people from the outside to step up and actually fight. We cant take Wisconsin to new heights if we elect a Governor from the same, tired political class that lacks the vision, ability, and will to fight for the future of our state, Nicholson said in a statement announcing his candidacy. Wisconsin needs someone with solutions to the problems plaguing our state and the leadership skills to implement those solutions. Kleefischs campaign and the Republican Party of Wisconsin did not provide comment on Nicholsons announcement Thursday. Nicholson, a business consultant, described his campaign as one aimed at re-establishing law and order, getting our schools back on track, and securing our messy elections. At least one conservative megadonor has already indicated his full support for Nicholson, who lost in the 2018 U.S. Senate Republican primary to state Sen. Leah Vukmir, who went on to lose to U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Billionaire Richard Uihlein, CEO of Uline shipping company, issued a statement Monday strongly urging Nicholson to run for governor. The announcement comes after Uihleins wife, Elizabeth, donated $20,000 to Kleefischs campaign, as well as $200,000 to a political action committee supporting Kleefischs run for governor. Kevin is a born leader, Uihlein said in a statement. If he decides to run for Governor, he will have my full support and commitment to win the primary and general elections. A GOP battle While Nicholson and Kleefisch have traded barbs in the past, the battle for the GOP nomination in the Aug. 9 primary is likely to amplify the discourse between the two. After the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported comments made by Kleefisch last October expressing interest in hiring mercenaries to take on ballot-gathering activities in the state to compete with Democrats, Nicholson called the idea as dumb as a bag of hammers. Vos last week said Kleefisch should remain the most prominent Republican running for governor this fall. He also called on Nicholson not to run, noting that his entry could help Evers. On Thursday, Nicholson referred to Vos urging as taking political advice from Scooby-Doo. Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll, said its likely the apparent divisions within the Republican Party are a setting of the stage or the conditions in which Nicholson and Kleefisch will have it out. Its unclear how much that will be part of the Republican primary, but its hard to believe it wont play any role, and it could play a pretty big role if Kleefisch and Nicholson appeal to different segments of that fracture in the GOP, Franklin said. Anthony Chergosky, UW-La Crosse assistant professor of political science, said a hotly contested primary could either benefit the eventual winner by drumming up support for the campaign, or push the winner further away from the ideals of general election voters. Voters in primaries are not at all representative of the general election voters, Chergosky said. Appealing to the primary election voters can certainly push a candidate outside of the mainstream. It can cause them to take positions that may alienate more middle-of-the-road voters. Dale Schultz, a former Republican state Senate majority leader who has bucked his party on various issues in the past, bemoaned the likelihood of a primary battle that serves to gin up the base, which he said ultimately fails to address the local issues that many voters care most about. Were going to see the Republican Party get further and further out on a limb with conspiracy theories, attempts to stir up the base and I think the general public is going to see this as a further shift toward extremism, Schultz said. I personally think its going to help Gov. Evers. Money pours in Nicholsons addition to the race will almost certainly push an already expensive gubernatorial race into likely historic levels of spending as Republicans look to unseat Evers, who is seeking reelection for the first time this fall. Evers and Kleefisch both announced their 2021 fundraising totals earlier this month, with the incumbent governor holding more than $10 million at the close of last year, while Kleefisch raised more than $3.3 million in the first four months of her campaign, which she launched in September. Both fundraising totals have been touted as record-breaking by their respective campaigns and underscore what could be unprecedented spending for a Wisconsin governors race. While Kleefisch has built a campaign directly targeting Evers, she first will need to go through her fellow GOP candidates in the Aug. 9 primary. On Monday, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the states largest business organization, endorsed Kleefischs campaign for governor. WMC president Kurt Bauer said on WISN conservative talk radio the last time the organization endorsed a primary candidate was in 2010, when it backed Scott Walker. The then-Milwaukee County executive and former legislator went on to serve two terms with Kleefisch as his lieutenant governor. Madison businessman Eric Hovde said earlier this month he also is weighing a potential bid for the Republican nomination. Former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, who will depart from his role as interim president of the University of Wisconsin System in March, has also indicated he may be considering a gubernatorial run, but said on Wednesday he has not made any firm decisions. Of the other Republicans already in the race, business owner Jonathan Wichmann reported raising just over $42,000 in the second half of last year. Former police officer and businessman Adam Fischer raised a little over $28,000 in the last six months of 2021. Independent candidate Joan Beglinger reported raising about $24,000 in the second half of last year, compared to about $850 raised by fellow independent Jess Hisel. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 With hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, Wisconsin regulators are signaling interest in scrutinizing plans to decommission a former nuclear power plant, but questions remain about how much authority the state has. The Public Service Commission will require the owner of the shuttered Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant to disclose details about a deal to transfer the plant and its decommissioning trust fund to a contractor that will also be required to share information about its financial resources. Dominion Energy is seeking approval to sell the 49-year-old plant to EnergySolutions, a Utah company that specializes in nuclear waste disposal and decommissioning. Under the proposal, EnergySolutions would assume ownership of the plant and about $780 million set aside to cover the cost of decommissioning, which the company estimates will cost about $724 million. A competitor, NorthStar Group Services of New York, says it could do the job for just $550 million and return the rest to ratepayers. The commission is reviewing the sale to determine whether it complies with a 2005 order that authorized Alliant Energy and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation to sell the plant to Dominion for $220 million. That order included a condition that any excess decommissioning funds be returned to ratepayers and gave the utilities the right of first refusal to match any future offer to buy the plant. NorthStar offered the utilities $25 million for that right of first refusal, but the utilities declined. Without competitive bidding on the project, NorthStar argues that Dominion and EnergySolutions, which contracts work to its own subsidiaries, have no incentive to spend the funds prudently. NorthStar is seeking information on EnergySolutions financial resources and details about Dominions decision to sell the plant, which the company says will help regulators evaluate whether the sale is in the public interest. EnergySolutions, Dominion and the utilities asked the PSC to suppress that information and limit the proceedings to the questions of whether EnergySolutions has the financial resources to complete decommissioning and whether the utilities acted prudently when they declined to buy back the plant. The PSC took no action Thursday, effectively denying the request. Chair Rebecca Valcq and Commissioner Tyler Huebner said they want more information to determine how much authority the PSC has over the sale and the funds. These are Wisconsin ratepayer dollars, Valcq said. What type of controls or guardrails can we put in place to make sure whoever ultimately decommissions the site doesnt just blow through the entirety of that decommissioning trust? Commissioner Ellen Nowak suggested the commission may have given up that authority long ago. You cant relinquish jurisdiction you dont have, she said. Nowak cited the order authorizing the sale to Dominion. The commission is willing to relinquish its approval authority over the use of (Kewaunees) decommissioning funds and rely on federal control because of the overall benefits of the sale, yadda yadda, Nowak said. Its some strong language. Valcq noted the issue may not be so clear. I think its the yadda yadda part, right? Valcq said. What are those benefits and what is the yadda yadda in the rest of the order? All three commissioners said theyd like to know more about the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions authority over decommissioning expenses. The NRC oversees site cleanup and verifies that license holders have enough money to cover the costs, which it says generally costs $300 million to $400 million, but does not review line-item expenses, said spokesperson Viktoria Mitlyng. A spokesperson for Dominion Energy declined to comment on the commissions actions. A spokesperson for EnergySolutions did not respond to a request for comment Friday. NorthStar CEO Scott State said he was encouraged by the commissions focus on protecting ratepayers. It is not the NRCs job to determine whether this decommissioning deal will end up shortchanging state ratepayers of hundreds of millions of dollars, State said. Thats the PSCs duty. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The number of COVID-19 patients in Lancaster County hospitals dropped to 153 Friday, a 33% drop from two weeks before and a continuing sign that the latest surge due to the omicron variant of the coronavirus is easing, according to data from the state Department of Health. After setting a pandemic record of 233 COVID-19 hospitalizations on Jan. 12, the countys figure fluctuated up and down for about a week before beginning a steady decline out of record territory. Fridays hospitalization number is the lowest since Christmas Day, according to the state data. People who are not fully vaccinated continue to drive the large majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations, comprising about 76% of Lancaster General Hospitals 85 COVID-19 patients and all but three of its COVID-19 patients on ventilators, according to hospital data. Despite the drop in total hospitalizations, the number of COVID-19 patients on ventilators remains in record territory, with 31 patients reported Friday, three shy of the pandemic record set on Jan. 18, according to the state data. The decrease in hospitalizations closely aligns with a sharp drop in new COVID-19 cases. The county seven-day average dropped to 520 cases per day on Wednesday, less than half what it was two weeks earlier when the case average peaked at 1,195 cases per day on Jan. 11. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still designates Lancaster County, along with every other county in Pennsylvania, as having high community transmission of COVID-19. The pace of new COVID-19 deaths has remained relatively stable throughout January, with the county averaging between four and six a day since Jan. 3, according to data from the county coroners office. With 132 deaths reported this month through Jan. 26, the county is on pace to record more than 150 deaths in January, which would make it the third-deadliest month of the pandemic. The deadliest month was December 2020 with 207 deaths, followed by April 2020 with 182. Columbia Water Co. was owed more than $2,500 in December from residential customers whose service was terminated for failing to pay. In an effort to help customers struggling to pay their water bills, it joined other utilities in Pennsylvania participating in a temporary emergency grant program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The state Department of Human Services began accepting applications for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program on Jan. 4. Pennsylvania received $43.2 million to help low-income families with overdue water bills, who had their service terminated, or who have been notified their water service will be terminated in the next 60 days. The water industry has been kind of lobbying for this for a long time because we did see a need for it, and I believe this is a good step forward, said David Lewis, Columbia Water Co. vice president and general manager. Nearly 140 Lancaster County residents have applied for funds from the program, including about a dozen Columbia Water Co. customers. This program has been assisting customers right from the very beginning, said Lewis. I think the participation rate may get better as more customers become aware of it. Columbia Water Co. serves more than 10,000 customers in Columbia, Marietta and Mountville boroughs, and portions of East Donegal, Manor and West Hempfield townships in Lancaster County. It also serves customers in York County. The program provides eligible applicants with one grant for their drinking water service and one grant for their wastewater service, up to $2,500 each. Statewide, as of Jan. 22, nearly 9,800 applications have been submitted for financial aid, and recipients have received an average of $441. Locally, as of Jan. 22, nearly $19,000 has been distributed to residents who applied for help, with an average payout of $448. The grants, which are issued directly to water service providers, do not have to be repaid. There is no cap on how much funding each county receives for the water assistance program, which will end when the funds run out. More than $500,000 in grants statewide has been given out through the program to date. Its really important Catherine Buhrig, director for the bureau of policy for the states Department of Human Services, said she hopes all funds for the program are used by next summer or fall. We have seen numbers from across the state, as we were setting up the program, that show there are arrearages for both drinking and waste water that far exceed the $43 million that was awarded to us by the federal government, Buhrig said. So, we know there are people out there who definitely have a need. While only customers of utilities participating in the grant program are eligible to apply, the state Department of Human Services encourages anyone to apply so it can identify and contact nonparticipating utilities about enrolling. Jess King, chief of staff for Lancaster city Mayor Danene Sorace, told LNP | LancasterOnline that the city is working on a way to notify city customers with delinquent water bills about the grant program and how they can apply for help. The city, which owns, operates and maintains two drinking water-treatment facilities that provide drinking water for more than 110,000 people, participates in the program. I think its really important, said King. Obviously water is a human right and its essential for people to survive and thrive. King said the program is also important because if someones water gets shut off, it can trigger a condemnation of that property. The city has put a moratorium on water shut-offs for the entirety of the pandemic because its the right thing to do, said King. And so, our goal is to make sure people who need the assistance can get the assistance before we come out of this. Notice problems? Email the Lancaster Watchdog at watchdog@lnpnews.com, or go to LancasterOnline.com/watchdog and tell us about it. Lancaster County Commissioner Ray DAgostino on Friday urged the states highest court to rule as soon as possible on whether the expanded vote-by-mail law passed in 2019 is constitutional, because the clock is ticking on preparing for the primary election in May. DAgostino and other top county officials said they were monitoring the status of a Commonwealth Court ruling issued early Friday that declared the law unconstitutional. The case is expected to be taken up by the state Supreme Court. Until the high court rules, Lancaster County is bracing for another election cycle filled with uncertainty and churn, DAgostino said in an email. It is incredibly frustrating and challenging for the elections office staff in this county, and every county, to not have very clear, simple rules that are decided well in advance, said Josh Parsons, DAgostinos fellow commissioner. Christa Miller, the countys top election official, said in an emailed statement Friday that the county is watching the Act 77 case and, as always, will work to ensure fair, transparent elections under the rules provided to us. Like the plaintiffs in the suit heard by the Commonwealth Court, Parsons and D'Agostino have been outspoken critics of the no-excuse mail ballot portion of Act 77 of 2019. Parsons pointed to a section of the Pennsylvania constitution that says all voters must cast their ballot at their assigned polling place unless a voter meets the criteria for an absentee ballot. Any objective observer who can read the PA Constitution would say it is clearly a correct legal ruling, Parsons wrote in an email on Friday. In addition to constitutionality questions, both DAgostino and Parsons criticized the Wolf administration and the state Supreme Court for adding to the confusion on how the officials should count or accept mail ballots. In every election, all parties should know the ground rules well ahead of time, Parsons said in an email. Just like in financial systems, there must be standardized internal controls to rule out any possibility of illegal conduct. There can be no ambiguity. There can be no opportunity for counties to handle matters differently. Parsons, like many Republicans, criticized rulings and guidance issued in the weeks prior to the November 2020 election, specifically Department of State guidance allowing counties to contact voters whose mail-in ballots contained errors and allow them to fix them, and a Supreme Court decision that said absentee ballots must be counted if received up to three days after Election Day. DAgostino said elections officials and voters have been voicing concerns about no-excuse mail voting since 2020. Regardless of what one thinks of the premise of no excuse mail ballot voting and the court decision, we can say that the last two years have been a trial run based on Act 77, DAgostino said in an email. A large majority of voters and elections officials have weighed in and have said that it has not worked so well. Lesson learned. Any future election code changes must take into consideration the conduct of elections from those who conduct them, especially when it comes to timelines and vote integrity. Act 77 has also been a target of grassroots conservatives who argue that mail-in voting is too vulnerable to fraud and cost former President Donald Trump a win in the state in 2020. Trumps larger effort to paint his loss as the result of widespread fraud rejected across the board by federal and state courts has only increased the appetite among his supporters for stricter voter ID laws, more restrictions on voting by mail, and more assertive scrutiny of voter registrations. Fridays Commonwealth Court ruling was issued by a Republican-majority panel of judges. Their ruling is widely expected to be overturned by the Supreme Court, where Democrats are in the majority. When: Manheim Township commissioners meeting, Jan. 24. What happened: The board voted 4-1 to allow the municipalitys mask mandate to expire on Jan. 31. Commissioner Barry Kauffman cast the dissenting vote, urging the board to keep the mandate because numbers are still increasing and hospitals are overwhelmed. The mandate took effect on Oct. 13, 2021. Against masks: Resident Julie Rudisill said masks dont work because COVID-19 particles are so small. I had COVID two times, and Im fine now, she said. I wish everyone would stop being so scared. Lets let go of masks. Rudisill did not wear a mask despite a sign on the door to the Manheim Township Public Library, where the meetings are held, stating that masks are required to enter. For masks: Resident Emily Hosey spoke in favor of the mandate not because masks are 100% effective but because they are helpful and we are still in extreme conditions. She urged the board to consider the entire community as long as people are sick in hospital beds and need to be intubated. A lot of kids are getting sick as well. You have the power. Resident Brenda Kauffman added, Hospitals and families are overwhelmed. Children are missing school. Its important to continue until the numbers drop. Revised budget: Finance Director/Treasurer Jennifer Steigelman reopened the 2022 budget, removing some items and shifting some to be paid by the American Rescue Plan Act. Our spending is about $3.5 million, said board President Donna DiMeo, noting that the municipality has not had a tax increase in 12 years. When the municipal, fire and police departments outgrow their buildings, she asked if they should be replaced by one big, $20 million building. What do we do? she asked. How do we spend safely and wisely? We need to talk about this so nothing comes as a surprise. ... We need to get an idea of what were facing. Were charged with bringing it to everyones attention. Stonehenge Estates: The board approved a subdivision and land development plan for 22 single-family detached houses on 13.86 acres along Buckwalter Road and Northampton and Southampton drives, near Sarsen Road. Linear trail: The board approved a motion to grant access to a trail at Landis Valley Christian Fellowship and Landis Valley Mennonite Cemetery by removing part of a fence and connecting the trail at the intersection of Landis Valley Road and Oregon Pike. Boettcher House Museum Board: The commissioners agreed to dissolve the board for the museum in Landis Woods, which is now used for a preschool, and place it under Parks and Recreation which runs the program. Coffee with the Commissioners: Due to COVID-19, the board postponed the February event until 8:30 a.m. March 12 at the Richmond Square Fire Station. When: Pequea Township supervisors meeting, Jan. 19. What happened: The board voted unanimously to proceed with road improvements for which the township budgeted $500,000 from the general fund and highway fund. Roadwork planned: The roads being put out for bid are Nettie Lane, Leaman Road, Shultz Road, Second Lock Road, Nolt Avenue, Budview Drive, and Byerland Church Road. The township also plans to do in-house stormwater work on Linestown Road. Chairman Harry Lehman said after the meeting that road bids are expected by March. American Rescue Plan expenditures: Supervisors unanimously voted to spend $20,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funds to upgrade the police departments technology. The township will invest the money in four special duty laptops for the police cruisers, four new computers for the police station and necessary upgrades. Other funds disbursed: The board approved a donation of $10,806 to Lancaster EMS, as requested. While $6,806 of the donation will be paid with relief money, the township had budgeted $4,000 for the ambulance company. A donation of $1,000 will be made to the Lancaster Public Library to help pay for the broadband access program for virtual school learning. Leadership: Lehman was reelected chairman at the Jan. 3 organization meeting. Thomas Haas was elected vice chairman. Newly elected supervisor Michael Novak joined the board, which includes returning board members E. John Hlavacek and Eric Lucas. LNP|LancasterOnline publishes submitted obituaries in each of its daily editions and in a searchable format online at lancasteronline.com/obit Peacefully and patriotically. Why are these two words almost always excluded when what I view as the fake-news media quote then-President Donald Trumps Jan. 6 speech? In my view, its because it doesnt fit their narrative. I believe the protesters on Jan. 6, 2021, were protesting the voting process, not the results. They wanted an investigation into that process about how the ballots were distributed, collected and counted. The harm they may have caused to our democracy was but a drop in the ocean, in my opinion, compared to the rioters, looters and even some killers who caused millions of dollars in damage during the summer of 2020. Kamala Harris, then a presidential candidate, gave her support to those demonstrators and later had to clarify her words. In Seattle, the demonstrators set up an autonomous zone. Inexplicably to me, some of those who rioted on Jan. 6 are accused of insurrection. Ironically, I believe they could claim they were protecting democracy by protecting the voting process. But, again, that doesnt seem to fit the medias narrative. Its my opinion that the Democrats, in collusion with the media, are creating a narrative that demonizes anyone who disagrees with them including Trump and everyone who voted for him. Glenn Martin East Earl Township Comeback Checks Program Open for Small Businesses The City of Los Angeles is proud to announce that applications are now open for Round 3 of the City of Los Angeles Comeback Checks Program, which will provide $5,000 grants to 5,000 eligible businesses impacted by COVID-19. The grant program is designed to promote economic recovery for small businesses, especially in disadvantaged communities hard-hit by the pandemic. So far, more than 2,300 small businesses have been awarded grants. South LAs small and minority-owned businesses are in recovery mode. Grants from the Comeback Checks represent an opportunity to restore economic losses incurred during the pandemic. It is imperative that CD9 businesses apply for this program as part of our efforts to revive our communitys small businesses, said Councilmember Curren Price, who represents Council District 9. ADVERTISEMENT To continue to support the small business community, Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City Council, through the 2021-2022 budget process, allocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to implement a series of pandemic recovery programs, including the Comeback Checks Program. More small businesses are encouraged to apply. Grant recipients will be selected through a weighted lottery process, with final award recommendations based on the availability of funds, program guidelines, submission of all required information, and supporting documentation. Grant funds may only be used for allowable costs incurred on or after March 3, 2021. The program is administered by the City of LAs Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD). The Comeback Checks grant program provides a much-needed boost for the Citys mom-and-pop shops, local restaurants, and small businesses to rebound. Angelenos are resilient, and these grants offer our small businesses financial support to fortify and propel their journey toward economic recovery, said EWDD General Manager Carolyn Hull. For information about eligibility requirements and to apply, visit ComebackChecksLA.com. Round 3 applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022. Lawmakers Announces Bill to Get School Students Vaccinated Against COVID-19 A state lawmaker said he wants ensure that all school students in Los Angeles and throughout the state are vaccinated against COVID-19, and do to that, he announced a proposal today to eliminate personalbelief exemptions and expand upon a state vaccine mandate. We have an opportunity here to keep kids safe, Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, said during a California Medical Association news conference at Arleta High School in the San Fernando Valley, where the legislator and pediatrician announced details of the Keep Schools Open and Safe Act. ADVERTISEMENT As a pediatrician, parent and legislator, I am committed to giving the public confidence and certainty that we are working to prevent or slow down the next coronavirus surge, Pan said. Legislators have the ability to pass laws to make our communities safe, including increasing vaccination rates to keep schools open and safe. Under state law, personal belief exemptions must be allowed for any newly required childhood vaccine unless the legislature passes a law banning them. Pan said closing the personal belief exemption loophole for the safe and effective shots ensures that every medically eligible student attending school in person is vaccinated. Gov. Gavin Newsom has announced a statewide school vaccination mandate, but it will not take effect statewide until a vaccine receives full approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Pans bill would require the shots even if they are only being offered under an emergency-use authorization by the FDA. Anyone aged 5 and older is currently eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Los Angeles Unified School District Interim Superintendent Megan K. Reilly on Monday called vaccine requirements an integral part of keeping students safe, especially those from low-income communities who are disproportionately impacted by the deadly virus. All employees at our schools are 100% vaccinated, and nearly 90% of our students 12 and older are in compliance with our vaccine requirement, Reilly said. We have lowered case rates with our students and employees and in our schools because of the many layers of protections and safety measures but, most of all, because of vaccines. She voiced her support for a statewide vaccine mandate. ADVERTISEMENT With a county as large as Los Angeles, where there are nearly 1.5 million students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade across 80 different school districts, this consistency in health standard will help ensure all of us in the school community are doing our part to keep community transmissions low and ensure a safe school environment for our most vulnerable student populations, she said. San Diego Unified Board member Richard Barrera also attended Mondays news conference. He called a vaccine requirement a common sense way to protect students and educators and keep kids in schools. SDUSD has unsuccessfully tried to implement its own such vaccine mandates for students and staff for the spring semester, but those policies are being held up in the courts. The state Legislature does have the authority to require a vaccine mandate, he said. What Senator Pan is doing is stepping up and doing what all people following the science understand We welcome this necessary legislation by our state leaders to help end the roller coaster of the pandemic and allow schools to go back to focusing on what we do best educating our students. The Keep Schools Open and Safe Act builds on SB 277, also sponsored by Pan, which eliminated the personal belief exemption loophole for all other childhood vaccinations required for public and private school students when it became law in 2015. The most effective way to keep schools open and safe is to ensure the COVID vaccination rate of students and school staff is as high as possible in addition to masks, testing and good ventilation to minimize infections, Pan said. My legislation will give parents great certainty that their child is unlikely to get seriously sick and their school will stay open during COVID. Metro slashes bus service amid driver shortage Yolanda Mejia scrolled through her phone as she waited, again, for a late bus on Wednesday at the intersection of Slauson and Vermont avenues in South Los Angeles. They come super late, said Mejia, a 37-year-old cook who relies on buses to get to her job. Shes not alone. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus service has been reduced systemwide by as much as 18% since September as the agency struggles to find enough bus drivers amid the Omicron-fueled COVID-19 surge. At least one heavily used line in South L.A. has seen rides fall by 42% in the last month, Metro said. Rampant COVID-19 infections among employees, a competitive labor market and a hiring freeze during the pandemic have left the agency without enough drivers and many riders without reliable transportation. Were currently facing a crisis Metro slashes bus service amid driver shortage Were currently facing a crisis both for our customers and for our employees, Conan Cheung, who heads Metro bus operations, said at a meeting of the agencys board on Thursday. In a bid to stabilize the system, Metro will cut bus service 10% across most lines and reduce rail frequency beginning Feb. 20 in what officials described as an emergency measure intended to spread the pain across a system used by about 740,000 people daily. Metro directors unanimously approved a plan directing Chief Executive Stephanie Wiggins to set a goal for restoring full service by June. She told them she could make no promises. Im here to tell you that today, the goal is not a guarantee, she said. 120 bus lines across the county Metro slashes bus service amid driver shortage The agency runs about 120 bus lines across the county. Buses on the most heavily used lines will arrive weekdays every five to 15 minutes, on average, up from every five to 10 minutes, Metro said. Subway passengers will wait an average of 15 minutes for a train, up from 10; light rail riders will see waits go from eight minutes to 10. The agency has about 3,400 bus and rail operators but says it needs at least an additional 586 drivers to cover all of its routes. Siguenos en Google News, Facebook y Twitter para mantenerte informado. The cost of a well-loved snack in Japan is increasing for the first time in over 40 years. Umaibo corn puff was introduced in Japan in 1979. Its name means delicious stick. People have loved Umaibo for many years for its special crunch and its 10-yen price. One Japanese yen is less than one U.S. cent or one-hundredth of a dollar. The maker of Umaibo, Yaokin Corp, is increasing the price to 12 yen. The snacks first-ever price increase will begin in April. The price change is a reminder that Japan is feeling the effects of rising costs of raw materials and transportation. Prices of goods have been rising in many countries. But Japanese companies have so far avoided increasing prices out of fear of losing buyers. Longtime fans of Umaibo are surprised and saddened by the cost change. Umaibo have been the same price for so long, so a 2-yen increase is a big deal, 59-year-old Noriko Eda told Reuters. I was surprised. Umaibo come in 15 flavors, or tastes, such as cheese, seasoned fish egg and creamy corn soup. Around 700 million of the crunchy sticks are sold each year. The cost has stayed so low that even children can buy themselves Umaibo. For many Japanese, the snack reminds them of when they were young. Takeshi Nemoto has been in charge of purchasing snacks at Tokyo snack shop Kawahara Shoten for many years. He said other snack manufacturers may also have to raise prices. "There's nothing we can do," he said. "From the manufacturer's point of view they can't stay profitable anymore unless they raise the price." Some fans of Umaibo saw the change as the end of an era. "We're witnessing a turning point of history," rock musician Atsushi Osawa said on Twitter. His band, Uchikubi Gokumon Doukoukai, included the snack in a 2010 song. They sang about Umaibo's "miracle price." The musician said, "The price has started to diverge from the lyrics. Im Ashley Thompson. The Reuters news agency reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said 10 Japanese yen were less than one U.S. cent. At current exchange rates, one Japanese yen is worth less less than on U.S. cent. We apologize for the mistake. __________________________________________________ Words in This Story snack n. a small amount or kind of food eaten between meals delicious adj. very tasty crunch n. the sound of something being crushed (often by the teeth) point of view n. a way of looking at or thinking about something era n. a period of time associated with an event or some thing miracle n. an unusual or wonderful event As Vietnam prepares to celebrate the Year of the Tiger on February 1, artist Nguyen Tan Phat is busy creating hundreds of tigers to mark the Lunar New Year. Over the next few months, Phat aims to make 2,022 tigers from wood and red clay. Phat often creates art with the 12 animals of the lunar calendar. But he said he is especially drawn to the tiger this year. "I am very fond of tigers as an animal, as they are so powerful yet so majestic," Phat said. The 39-year-old artist talked with Reuters reporters from his home and work area in Duong Lam, a village just north of Hanoi. His tiger sculptures are made from local materials. The materials include wood of the jackfruit tree and a clay-like substance commonly used in buildings in the area. He also uses crushed eggshells and seashells to form markings on the surface of some sculptures. Phat said it takes about six weeks to complete one tiger. He must paint and then cover the sculptures in a protective substance. He works on several tigers at a time and employs two or three people to help him. As of January 25, Phat had finished more than 800 tigers. Once he is fully finished, he plans to show all 2,022 tigers at a special event. Then he plans to sell them. The Lunar New Year, known as Tet, in Vietnam will look different than usual years. Officials in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City said there will be no traditional firework shows because of COVID-19 concerns. I'm Ashley Thompson. Reuters reported this story. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English. _______________________________________________ Words in This Story clay - n. a heavy, sticky material from the earth that could be shaped and becomes hard when it is dried or baked fond - adj. strongly felt majestic - adj. large and impressively beautiful sculpture - n. piece of art that is made by molding or carving clay, stone, metal, wood, etc... Peter Robbins, a former child actor who provided the original voice for Peanut Charlie Brown, has reportedly died by suicide. Relatives on Tuesday confirmed Robbins' passing to Fox 5 San Diego. He was 65. Robbins, whose real name was Louis Nanasi, was born in Los Angeles in 1956. He began acting at he age of 7 in 1963, the same year he was cast to voice Charlie Brown. He also went on to play the the beloved blockhead, created by Charles Schulz, in holiday specials including A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Boy Named Charlie Brown and Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. His passing comes after a lifelong battle with mental illness, including bipolar disorder, and addiction. In 2015, Robbins was sentenced to time behind bars for threatening the manager of a mobile home park and San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore. He served more than four years of his five-year sentence and he also spent time in rehab for addiction issues. Following his release in 2019, Robbins discussed his mental health challenges and urged those with similar struggles to seek out help. I would recommend to anybody that has bipolar disorder to take it seriously because your life can turn around in the span of a month, like it did to me, he told Fox 5. I came out of prison and Im a better person for it. Im much more humble and grateful and thankful that I lived through the experience. In addition to voicing Charlie Brown for four years, Robbins appeared on the 1968 comedy Blondie and guest starred on several television shows including Rawhide, The Munsters, The Donna Reed Show, F Troop, Get Smart and My Three Sons, according to Deadline. Robbins quit acting in 1972 and went on to work as a real estate agent in San Diego. He also briefly worked as a DJ in Palm Springs. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, help is less than a moment away. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text 741741 or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org for free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. *** 2022 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. THURSDAY, Jan. 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A "stealthier" version of the omicron variant that has been spotted in the United States and dozens of other countries is being closely monitored by health officials and scientists. The variant, called BA.2, has genetic traits that make it somewhat more difficult to detect, and some experts fear it may also be more contagious than that original omicron variant, CBS News reported. Nearly 15,000 genetic sequences of BA.2 have been uploaded since November by nearly 50 countries to a global platform for sharing coronavirus data, including 96 sequences from the United States. BA.2 appears to be more common in Asia and Europe and accounted for 45 percent of all COVID-19 cases in Denmark in mid-January compared with 20 percent two weeks earlier. It is not known yet if the new variant causes more severe disease or if it is better able to evade vaccines. An early analysis by scientists in Denmark shows no differences in hospitalizations between the two versions of the variant. Still to be answered are how infectious this newer version is and how well vaccines work against it. It is also unclear how well treatments will fare against BA.2. "Thus far, we haven't seen it start to gain ground" in the United States, Wesley Long, M.D., a pathologist at Houston Methodist, which has identified three cases of BA.2, told CBS News. "We have some indications that it just may be as contagious or perhaps slightly more contagious than [original] omicron since it's able to compete with it in some areas. But we don't necessarily know why that is." To start with, BA.2 has lots of mutations. About 20 of them are in the spike protein and are shared with the original omicron, but this new version also has genetic changes not seen in the earlier variant. It is unclear how significant those mutations are, especially in a population that has encountered the original omicron, Jeremy Luban, M.D., a virologist at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, told CBS News. Luckily, the two versions of omicron have enough in common that it is possible that infection with the original mutant "will give you cross-protection against BA.2," Daniel Kuritzkes, M.D., an infectious diseases expert at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told CBS News. Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. A few days ago, I dedicated one of my new livestreaming videos to one of the first building products used by man. Discovered thousands of years ago, hydrated lime is perhaps one of the most amazing multi-purpose building products ever put into widespread use. A modern analogue to this revolutionary building material might be steel. While steel was first invented in India thousands of years ago, the widespread manufacturing of what we know as steel didnt start until the middle of the 19th century. Steel has countless uses and can be found in tens of thousands of items. Hydrated lime can be found all over the world in countless buildings, used both as a mortar and as plaster. You might wonder what lime has to do with ancient concrete steps. Well, lets begin by talking about modern concrete that you might have at your home or all around you in your city or town. The internet is littered with hundreds and thousands of woeful stories from homeowners about how their new concrete is crumbling. Ive got no fewer than 10 older columns in my archive at AsktheBuilder.com that explain why this happens. I suggest you read those. I wish you and I could take a road trip to Cincinnati. Id take you to a few neighborhoods, one being Pleasant Ridge on the east side of town. There Id be able to show you at least 20 or 30 outside sets of concrete steps that are just like the one in the photo appearing with this column. These ancient concrete steps are original in almost all cases and installed when the quaint houses were built in the early 1900s. How is it that these concrete steps all of them coated with cement stucco have survived nearly 100 years and look almost brand new? Thats a great question, and one you should ask each time you see some new product fail and wonder about how an older product that was pushed aside is still in service. The reason why these old concrete steps lasted so long is really pretty simple. Back then concrete masons knew that if you added more Portland cement to the concrete mix, it made it stronger. This magic gray powder is very similar to hydrated lime. When you mix both with water, you start a chemical reaction where trillions of microscopic crystals start to grow. These crystals act like modern Velcro. Theyre the glue that holds together the sand and stones in the concrete mix. Theres a very good chance the concrete masons who installed the concrete steps in Pleasant Ridge also added hydrated lime to their mix, although it would take a chemical analysis to confirm. I get excited about hydrated lime for two reasons, one being my college degree in geology. I grew up in Cincinnati, and as a youngster had no idea that geologists from all across the world visited my city. It turns out Cincinnati is the world-type section for Upper Ordovician sedimentary rocks. If you want to see the best plant and animal fossils of that time period, you come and split apart the limestone rocks interbedded in the shale at all the road cuts in greater Cincinnati. I knew limestone was hard and durable as a geology student, but I wasnt aware that dense, fine-grained limestone can be heated to create the lime thats then used as brick mortar, plaster and a super-adhesive additive in regular concrete. When you heat up limestone, its chemical composition is CaCO3, you drive off the CO2 and are left with CaO. Once you grind up this CaO into a powder and then add water, you end up re-creating the limestone. This is why plaster is so hard. This is why true whitewash made from lime and then painted on brick buildings, fences or other walls lasts for decades. Youre basically painting on or troweling on a thin layer of limestone, for goodness sake! You can now see why its a good idea to add hydrated lime to concrete, cant you? The Portland cement is strong, but why not give it a little boost. Keep in mind the normal minimum standard for exterior concrete exposed to cold temperatures is a six-bag mix. This means six 94-pound bags of Portland cement are in each cubic yard of concrete. Its probably a better idea to add seven or eight bags to your exterior concrete. You can bet the old masons building the steps added extra cement, and they most likely put in a shovelful or two of hydrated lime. The railroad bridge engineers did the same. This is why you see concrete railroad bridge abutments in your city or town in such great shape after 100 or more years. (Subscribe to Tims FREE newsletter at AsktheBuilder.com. Tim now does livestreaming video M-F at 4 PM Eastern Time at youtube.com/askthebuilder.) The substitute teacher shortage is hitting the educational arena in Grand Island on another front. The Grand Island Education Association, the collective bargaining unit for Grand Island Public Schools teachers, alleges the district is shorting some of its members pay under a misclassification. We discovered that many of the long-term subs, who the district had classified as long-term subs, were actually filling a full-time equivalency position, said Michelle Carter, GIEA president and a fifth-grade teacher at Dodge Elementary. Under Nebraska law, an employee who is hired to fill an open position is not considered a substitute. A news release from the Nebraska State Education Association states: The petition points out that those misclassified employees are part of the GIEA bargaining unit and should be paid under GIEAs agreement with the district. The district, however, is paying them as substitutes. According to the school district website, the highest pay a substitute teacher can make per day is $200. Additionally, the website specifies, there are incentives for substitutes who work a high percentage of available days per pay period and/or work 125 days or more. Still, that falls short of certified staff pay, Carter said in the Nebraska State Education Association release. They could be making $250 to $300 a day if they had a contract. A full days pay for a teacher who has been here at least five years is over $300. As a result, the Grand Island teachers union filed a petition with the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations against the school district Jan. 21, alleging a violation of the Industrial Relations Act. In a statement, the district said: GIPS is confident that we are operating in good standing with the terms of our existing agreement. Jessica Votipka is the education reporter at the Grand Island Independent. She can be reached at 308-381-5420. 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. Local featured Health district initiative aims to solve care inequities HERNANDEZ Though dreadful in its methods, the COVID-19 pandemic served to highlight gaps in care in communities across the nation. It also highlighted serious inequities in the health care residents of the same communities receive, according to local health officials. As a result, the Angelina County & Cities Health District, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Texas Department of State Health Services funding, is attempting to glean a better understanding of health inequities in the community. Leadership at the health district named Martha Hernandez director of health equity and special programs to spearhead the initiative. It has been a role that came into existence with the CDC wanting to promote more of what health equity is, Hernandez said. The health district was one of 54 eligible local health departments offered funding to build authentic community engagement in targeted communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, a document Hernandez provided on the program states. Health equity means every person can receive optimal health care regardless of the color of their skin, level of education, gender identity, sexual orientation, job, neighborhood or disabilities. Hernandezs role will be to get out in the community to determine where the ball was dropped, she said. Even more with the pandemic coming into play, she said. It affected a lot of people as they were not able to keep their health up to par. Were seeing more people come in with problems of other natures, not just being infected with COVID, but people dropping the ball and not being up to date with their health screenings. A large part of this is individuals worried they might catch the virus if they show up to their doctors offices, she said. After two years of fighting the pandemic, it has exacerbated myriad other health problems in the community, she said. Her focus will be on those with low income or who are uninsured, while also keeping in mind minorities including Black or Hispanic/Latino individuals. American Indian or Alaska natives were 3.3 times more likely to be hospitalized from a COVID-19 infection than a white, non-Hispanic person and 2.2 times more likely to die, according to the CDC. Hispanic or Latino individuals were 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than a white person and 2.1 times more likely to die. Black or African American individuals were 2.6 times more likely to be hospitalized and 1.9 times more likely to die. The hope is to understand how local public health entities can better serve those individuals and help them improve their health, as well, Hernandez said. We all have a perception of what health equality or equity is, she said. And we often confuse the two because theyre so similar but very different. Equality is bringing it to everyone, so we give the opportunity to everyone. What were missing out on is not realizing that there are different barriers in these communities that affect them and they cant get to the same standard. These obstacles can be transportation, education and communication language barriers especially, Hernandez said. Under an equitable system, residents could achieve the same level of health, even though some might require more assistance to get there, she said. The things that have affected this is if theyre in an impoverished area, whether their income is below the standard income, the discrimination some people face, unsafe environments and the lack of resources of any kind food, money, Hernandez said. So that is where were trying to make sure we can bring the best parts of information, healthcare, providing transportation or housing. An example of this type of work the health district has already initiated is in working with the Meals on Wheels program to determine how many elderly individuals had received their COVID-19 vaccinations. A survey went out with the meals, and responses indicated many residents who are confined to their homes have not received their vaccines or their booster shots, Hernandez said. As a result, the Lufkin Fire Department took that information and went to houses of homebound residents who said they wanted the vaccine and administered it to them, Hernandez said. Hernandez is working on posting a survey to the health district website created to accept responses from all county residents, though the hope is those who are directly or closely impacted by health inequities will respond. The survey will ask residents to identify the three most important health problems in the community, what three things are most important for a healthy community and what barriers residents have encountered in being tested for or vaccinated against COVID-19. It also will ask them questions about their demographics: age, race, gender, etc. The health district also will host town hall meetings in coordination with other local organizations in the future to dive further into the issue. Hernandez said anyone interested in helping move the initiative forward should reach out. Whether it is by providing information or helping set up an event where she can meet more of the community, Hernandez wants to hear from people, she said. The initiative is temporary and will last 24 months, Hernandez said. Her hope is the community will use the information she puts together to address these gaps to create a more equitable system. We need to make sure we collaborate with our local leaders to ensure this doesnt happen again, she said. Related An appointee of former Republican Gov. Scott Walker has been selected to lead Wisconsins natural resources policy board. In a secret ballot, the board voted 4-3 Wednesday to appoint Greg Kazmierski to serve as chair for 2022. A hunting advocate and archery shop owner from Pewaukee, Kazmierski defeated board member Bill Smith, a retired Department of Natural Resources staffer appointed by Gov. Tony Evers in 2019. Kazmierski said the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the cancellation of in-person meetings, has inhibited the boards cohesion as a group. This board hasnt really gotten to know each other very well except on YouTube, he said. Im looking forward to getting this board to gel like we have in the past. Kazmierski, who has served on the board since 2011, will take over the leadership role from fellow Walker appointee Fred Prehn, who will continue serving as a board member. The last years have been, shall I say, interesting, Prehn said. Despite public pressure, the Wausau dentist has refused to step down since his term expired May 1, denying Evers appointee Sandra Naas a seat. Prehn argues he can continue serving until the Senate confirms Naas. The Republican-led Senate has made no moves to do that, ensuring Walker appointees majority control over the board, which will be asked to consider politically charged policy decisions, including approval of a new wolf management plan and the states first attempts to regulate toxic chemicals known as PFAS. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit in August asking the courts to force Prehn to step aside. The state Supreme Court has agreed to decide the case, though its unclear when the conservative-majority court will issue a decision. The court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on March 10. Senate Republicans have also stalled confirmation of Evers appointees to boards overseeing the higher education system, a move that could allow the GOP to quickly retake control if the party wins the governors race in November. Five of Evers picks for the state technical college system board are unconfirmed, with three of them unable to serve because Walker appointees have refused to vacate their seats even though their terms expired last spring. 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 U.S. House committee investigating the insurrection attempt at the U.S. Capitol has subpoenaed two Wisconsin Republicans, including the former chair of the state Republican Party, who signed official-looking documents in late 2020 seeking to hand Wisconsins Electoral College votes to President Donald Trump. Committee chair and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said in a statement the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol seeks information about attempts in multiple states to overturn the results of the 2020 election, including the planning and coordination of efforts to send false slates of electors to the National Archives. The committee has subpoenaed 14 individuals in seven states, including Andrew Hitt, former chair of the state Republican Party, and 8th Congressional District GOP chair Kelly Ruh, who joined eight other Wisconsin Republicans in the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign official-looking documents purporting that Trump had won the state. The meeting occurred on the same day that the Democratic slate of Wisconsin electors convened in the same building to deliver the states 10 electoral votes to President-elect Joe Biden. We believe the individuals we have subpoenaed today have information about how these so-called alternate electors met and who was behind that scheme, Thompson said. We encourage them to cooperate with the Select Committees investigation to get answers about January 6th for the American people and help ensure nothing like that day ever happens again. Official-looking certificates like those signed in Wisconsin were also submitted by Republicans claiming to be electors in six other states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Pennsylvania. The subpoenas call for Hitt and Ruh to sit for depositions on Feb. 28 and provide documents by Feb. 11 detailing any information about your role and participation in the purported slate of electors casting votes for Donald Trump and, to the extent relevant, your role in the events of January 6, 2021. Hitt is listed in the signed documents as the chairperson, and Ruh is listed as the secretary. Hitt said in a statement he absolutely will cooperate with the committees request to provide information. As I said in the past, the Wisconsin Electors were simply following the guidance of Wisconsin legal counsel to preserve the ongoing Wisconsin legal strategy, Hitt said. There was no intent beyond that and Im happy to participate in this process to clarify any confusion that may exist. Ruh, a De Pere city council member, did not respond to a request for comment Friday. Others to sign the documents in Wisconsin include Robert Spindell, a Republican who sits on the state Elections Commission; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Carol Brunner; Dane County Republican Party chair Scott Grabins; La Crosse County Republican Party chair Bill Feehan; 5th Congressional District GOP chair Kathy Kiernan; 6th Congressional District GOP chair Darryl Carlson; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Pam Travis; and Mary Buestrin, vice chair of the Midwest region for the Republican National Committee. Liberal law firm Law Forward last year filed complaints with the Wisconsin Elections Commission and Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office alleging the Wisconsin Republicans committed fraud. A third complaint was filed against Hitt with the Office of Lawyer Regulation, the agency that handles complaints against lawyers. So far, none of the agencies has formally taken up the complaints, while Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Westphal sent a letter last week to Jeffrey Mandell, an attorney with Law Forward, suggesting that the state or federal justice department would be best suited to determine what steps, if any, should be taken on the matter. Mandell on Wednesday wrote in a letter to the Elections Commission that, if the agency fails to take action on the complaint in a timely manner, Law Forward will file a lawsuit over the matter. Assistant Attorney General Mike Murphy replied to Mandells request in a Friday email indicating that the complaint could be taken up in closed session as soon as March 9. Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, who has not ruled out the possibility that he may look into the complaint, said earlier this month he believes its critical that the federal government fully investigates and prosecutes any unlawful actions in furtherance of any seditious conspiracy. In a separate letter sent to Kaul on Wednesday, Mandell urged state and local prosecutors to also investigate the matter. Republican Party of Wisconsin chair Paul Farrow, who earlier this month called the allegation of fraud a frivolous complaint that doesnt deserve the time of day, said in a statement Friday the Republicans who signed the documents were advised to do so by attorneys and the actions were done in accordance with precedent. That Democrats are now trying to fabricate a story from a simple procedure is nothing more than a desperate attempt to divert attention from their record as they face the electorate in 2022, Farrow said. National news reports indicate the Republican electors were coordinated by Trumps legal team in an attempt to present Vice President Mike Pence with conflicting slates of electors during the congressional certification so that he could throw the election to a House vote, which would have handed the election to Trump. Pence refused to participate in the purported scheme. 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. BOISE Idaho Teacher of the Year Todd Knights first address to lawmakers was pointed: Standardized tests are not helping our students or teachers in the way they are currently administered, written and used. He especially took issue with the Idaho Standards Achievement Test, which is administered to students in grades 3-8 and 10 at the end of each school year. Knight told the House Education Committee Wednesday that he and many of his fellow educators believe tests like the ISAT are too high stakes, have unclear questions, and dont foster a love of learning, nor do they nurture a growth mindset. The ISAT in particular, he said, puts too much emphasis on how many students score highly enough to be deemed proficient in certain subject areas, with no regard for whether individual students improved throughout the school year. Policymakers and superintendents propose and initiate policies based on numbers, charts and graphs. They look at the final product of a single test to determine the proficiency of teachers and students within their district or area of influence. However, teachers see the tears, stresses, heartaches and difficulties students go through to achieve those scores. We see the lives impacted by the stress of taking a high-stakes test, compounding their already complicated lives and decisions each day. Knight said he also knows educators who devote two or three days each semester teaching students how to be better test takers, an instance in which the pressures of performing well on the ISAT erode away at valuable instructional time. To compound this issue, schools are celebrated and encouraged to compete with each other to determine the best school, he said. Further, Knight said, administrators urge teachers to give outsize attention to students who are close to hitting proficiency marks, causing them to neglect students who are far ahead or behind the pack. Is that fair? Is that right? Knight, a West Ada alternative school teacher, was named 2021 Teacher of the Year in September. He teaches science, engineering and coding at Crossroads Middle School in Meridian, where, as with other alternative schools, disadvantaged students receive extra support. The 12-year career teacher used his presentation before the powerful committee to request that lawmakers add interim ISAT testing near the start of the school year, and to use the new numbers to track students progress throughout the school year not just from one spring to the next. (Schools can offer testing throughout the year now, but the state only collects end-of-year marks for its annual report card evaluating K-12 schools performances.) His focus isnt new. State superintendent Sherri Ybarra praised Knights emphasis on student growth over achievement scores the day he was named Teacher of the Year, EdNews previously reported. The ISAT was first developed to satisfy federal requirements cemented by the George W. Bush-era No Child Left Behind Act, an historic law that forced test-based accountability in school agencies across the U.S. Now, the test fulfills revised requirements set by the Every Student Succeeds Act, No Child Left Behinds Barack Obama-era predecessor. House Education Chairman Lance Clow, R-Twin Falls, noted Wednesday, If we dont offer an ISAT-type test, we jeopardize potential funding for some of the key issues that you might be concerned with. But Clow joined his Vice Chairman Rep. Ryan Kerby, R-New Plymouth, in noting that committee members have scrutinized the ISAT, and said policy shifts could be forthcoming. Said Clow, I think a big group, at least of this committee, is in concurrence that we probably need to do some major change. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 BOISE Legislation containing Idahos largest-ever tax cut continued its apparent unstoppable trip through the Legislature on Thursday. The measure cleared a Senate panel with no Democratic support and headed to the full Senate where Republicans hold a super-majority of seats. The measure has already cleared the House, and Republican Gov. Brad Little has twice sent his budget chief to testify on its behalf, indicating his support. The record $600 million cut includes a one-time $350 million in rebates and $250 million in permanent income tax reductions going forward for people and businesses. Backers said the tax cuts return money to the people who paid it. Opponents said the tax cuts mostly benefit the wealthy at the expense of essential government services such as education. Littles budget chief, Idaho Division of Financial Management Administrator Alex Adams, said the state over the last year had a 23% revenue growth, compared to 5.7% revenue growth annualized over the last 10 years. Thats part of the reason Idaho has a projected $1.9 billion surplus. So Idaho is in a position to do some things that the state has never gone before, Adams said, framing the argument as an overall function of good governance. He said Littles budget includes a record $300 million education spending increase, plus spending $200 million ongoing for roads and bridges, the largest ever increase for transportation. He also said the governors budget paid off debt, put the state on a path to pay off deferred maintenance and increases the states rainy day fund to the maximum allowed under state law. He also said Littles ongoing budget spending growth is 8.1% despite the 23% revenue growth this year. He played it conservatively, Adams said. We ensured that this budget balances over the next five years doing various economic inputs and stress tests. Democratic Sen. Mark Nye said hed like to see the measure at least delayed, citing concerns that approving the bill would immediately remove $600 million that lawmakers later might want to spend someplace else. Id like to see it deferred at least until we look at the other needs, he said. In an ideal world, it would be nice to put this off for a little while until later in the session. Budget bills involving the big education and transportation increases are weeks away from being voted on in the House or Senate, and the education budget will likely face opposition from far-right-wing lawmakers. Republican Sen. Regina Bayer said the income tax cut bill has been perceived as a tax bill for the wealthy. But she said there are other bills in the works, including one that increases a tax refund for sales taxes on groceries and another that increases a property tax exemption she said could help keep seniors in their homes. If we can advance all of those things together, we will have achieved something, she said. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 TWIN FALLS New and improved restrooms are coming to Frontier Park at the southeast corner of the College of Southern Idaho campus. The Rotary Club of Twin Falls has raised more than half of the funds needed to replace the decrepit 1970s-era building that currently serves the community near the colleges Frontier and Skip Walker fields and the citys pickleball courts, just off Frontier Road in Twin Falls. Rotarian Jill Skeem presented the plans for the community restroom project to the group Wednesday at its weekly meeting at the Turf Club. On Thursday, First Federal Foundation presented the club with a check for $5,000, bringing the total raised to $157,750. Want to help? If you would like to donate to the Frontier Park community restroom project, go to www.twinfallsrotary.org or call Jill Skeem at 208-321-2786 or Kevin Bradshaw at 208-212-0265. Frontier Park, which is on CSI property leased by the city, has been in desperate need of new restrooms for some time now, Skeem said. At one time the city placed portapotties outside the building, she said. The portapotties were nicer than the bathrooms. The existing restrooms are woefully inadequate. The sinks hold water and are often unusable because the water backs up..., Skeem said. The stalls are dark and the floors are often damp along with the toilet paper. Rotary will add baby changing tables in both the womens and mens bathrooms along with a water fountain... she said. The $300,000 project was conceived in 2017. In addition to First Federals donation of $5,000, the Janice Seagraves Family Foundation donated $34,340 and the Pickleball Association of Twin Falls donated $5,000. Nearly 20 other groups and businesses have chipped in so far. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Martinsville man is dead after a two-vehicle crash involving a Henry County School bus Friday morning. The crash occurred at 6:53 a.m. on Preston Road, near Meadowood Trail in Henry County. A 2011 Bluebird school bus, #145, had pulled out of a driveway and was making a left turn onto Preston when it collided with a 2018 Kia Optima driven by Michael Scott Dunkley, 51, of Martinsville, a release stated. Dunkley was not wearing his seatbelt and died at the scene. School bus driver Thomas E. Dillon, 71, of Martinsville, was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured, the release said. Henry County Schools Communications Director told the Bulletin that no students were injured in the crash. At the start of the morning bus run, bus #145 was struck by an oncoming vehicle on Spencer Preston Road, wrote Hatchett by email. There were no students onboard at the time. The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team is assisting with the crash, which remains under investigation, but the release stated that speed was a factor in the crash. The crash becomes the fourth incident involving a Henry County school bus this year. On Nov. 12, a Ford pickup truck and Henry County School bus #54 struck each other head-on on North River Road at the U.S. 220 bypass exit in Fieldale. There were no students on the bus when that crash occurred, and although VSP Sgt. Rick Garletts was unsure at the time he spoke with the Bulletin if there were any injuries, a 911 communications dispatcher relayed information from a first responder on the scene that two people had been injured. The school bus ran into a guardrail on the northbound side of the North River Road and sustained significant damage in front. The pickup truck was destroyed. On Nov. 9 a Dodge Ram pickup collided with the side of Henry County School bus #86 in the 5,000 block of Appalachian Drive (State Route 57). No one was injured, but the collision sent the school bus through a guardrail and down an embankment and the bus came to rest near the railroad track below. Three students and the bus driver suffered non-life threatening injuries on that Nov. 9 wreck, a VSP report stated. On Sept. 23, Jaxon Harris, 8, was struck by a Toyota pickup truck on Chatham Road (Route 57) in Henry County after getting off of Henry County School bus #147. Harris was flown by air-care to Roanoke Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries, but survived. Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 2360. Follow him @billdwyatt. 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 Egyptian government is considering the privatization of state companies every month to attract private investors, Planning Minister Hala al-Said told Reuters. Were trying to select the right companies that can attract good institutional and good private sector (investors), and at the same time help in deepening the capital market in Egypt, she said, declining to name any firms. Were almost targeting a company every month, or every two months. The Arab republic in 2018, Reuters notes, named 23 state companies slated for privatization but almost all the sales have been delayed, partly due to market turbulence linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. The minister also revealed that Egypt, as part of a three-year structural reform, would begin classifying different sectors of the economy and their potential for private investment. A document for that purpose will be produced and identify sectors for total private investment, areas for state investment and sectors for partnership between the state and the private sector, Said also told the agency. Lebanons Finance minister Thursday told local media that replacing the Central bank governor, Riad Salameh, today is not wise, Zawya reports. Youssef Khalil, speaking to broadcaster MTV, indicated that nobody proposed removing the central bank governor, but I do not imagine changing the central bank governor today is a wise matter. Khalils advice comes amid growing demands for Salamehs removal. The head of the countrys central bank is being investigated in Lebanon and at least four European countries in connection with the economic hardship that has gripped the Middle East country since 2019. Enjoying backing from several top politicians, Salameh has denied any wrongdoing. Two passengers who left Cotonou were arrested in Abidjan with hundreds of thousands of euros and tens of kilograms of gold. The two passengers left from Cotonou airport. They were going to Istanbul via Abidjan. The Ivorian stopover will be longer than expected, due to bad weather in Turkey. The passengers of the flight were invited to get off and the Ivorian customs will make a surprising discovery and an exceptional seizure. According to our information, she discovered that the two passengers had more than two million euros and more than 250,000 pounds sterling, in cash, packed several times and hidden in their hand luggage. And thats not all. The two men, of Beninese nationality, aged 35 and 52, were also carrying 84 kg of gold. The Ivorians immediately informed the Beninese services and authorities who immediately ordered an investigation. They want to know how all this could have passed through the airport and whether the two travelers respected the procedures for transferring and holding currency. This case comes just one week after President Talon created a complaint and denunciation window for corruption. Three customs officers, including the head of the customs brigade at Cotonou airport and his deputy, have been in custody at the economic and financial brigade since Thursday. The police want to know if there was no complicity so that so much money escapes the various controls. The death toll from Tropical Storm Ana, which hit several southern African countries, has risen to 77 and tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes, according to the latest reports Thursday from authorities in Mozambique, Malawi and Madagascar. Governments and relief agencies in the three countries are still assessing the extent of the damage caused by heavy rains that began last week on the coast bordering the Indian Ocean and in the Mozambique Channel. Some 48 people were killed in Madagascar, 18 in Mozambique and 11 in Malawi. The storm also hit Zimbabwe but no deaths were reported. Tens of thousands of homes were damaged, some collapsed under the weight of the gallons of water that fell in a few days, victims were trapped. In Madagascar, 130,000 people have been forced to leave their homes. In the capital Antananarivo, gymnasiums and schools have been requisitioned and transformed into emergency accommodation. In northern and central Mozambique, storm Ana destroyed about 10,000 homes, dozens of schools, hospitals and downed power lines. Malawis President Lazarus Chakwera, bound by a campaign promise to root out state corruption, appointed a partial government on Wednesday night, after the surprise dismissal on Monday of all his 33 ministers. Ten former ministers have been reappointed to the new government, which for the moment consists of twelve members. But the head of state has chosen two new allies: a loyalist from the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Sam Kawale, and the powerful businessman and member of an allied party, Mark Katsonga Phiri. He has yet to appoint ministers for the key portfolios of Finance, Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs. The president unexpectedly announced the dissolution of his government on Monday, presenting the decision as a measure to fight corruption. He had already announced the dismissal of Lands Minister Kezzie Msukwa, who was arrested last month in a corruption case. The announcement followed pressure from influential groups in the country, the Malawi Episcopal Conference and the Public Affairs Committee, which includes religious groups that act as watchdogs of the government. They had expressed concern about the presidents wavering approach to fighting corruption. Chakwera won the 2020 presidential election by campaigning on anti-corruption issues in the poor southern African country. The arrest of the land minister was the second corruption scandal to erupt in less than a month. Earlier in December, an investigation led to the arrests of the former finance minister and the former governor of the Central Bank on suspicion of manipulating accounts to obtain loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Cost-effectiveness plane: base case, societal perspective, 3% discounted. All screening strategies resulted in ICERs between 9444 (10 000 SEK) and 47 218 (50 000 SEK), which are classified as moderate cost per QALY gained in Sweden. ICER = incremental cost-effectiveness ratio; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; M = million Euro; PSA = prostate-specific antigen; QALYs = quality-adjusted life-years; SEK = Swedish Krona; S3M = Stockholm3 test. Credit: DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2021.12.021 The combination of a novel blood test and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can reduce overdiagnosis of low-risk cancers as well as societal costs in prostate cancer screening, according to a cost-effectiveness study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal European Urology. The results provide support for organized prostate cancer testing in Sweden, researchers say. A barrier to the introduction of nationwide prostate cancer screening has been that PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests combined with traditional biopsies result in the detection of numerous minor low-risk tumors. MRI has been shown to reduce this overdiagnosis but presents a challenge due to limited health resources. Further reduction in MRI The STHLM3MRI trial has previously shown that a blood test called Stockholm3, developed by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, can reduce the number of MRIs by a third for a single screening occasion. Now, the same research group reports that this combination is also considered cost-effective in Sweden compared with both no screening and PSA test in MRI-based screening. "Our latest results show that using Stockholm3 reduces the number of MRIs over a lifetime by 60 percent. This also avoids unnecessary biopsies by 9 percent, which reduces the overdiagnosis of low-risk cancers," says Mark Clements, associate professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, who is responsible for the cost-effectiveness study. The analysis predicted that MRI-based screening combined with PSA or Stockholm3 would reduce prostate cancer-related deaths by 79 percent over a lifetime compared with no screening at all. The health economic evaluation showed that, compared with no screening, screening with PSA followed by Stockholm3 and MRI in high-risk individuals is classified as a moderate cost per quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) gained as defined by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. Furthermore, PSA combined with MRI is classified as a very high cost per QALY gained compared with Stockholm3 combined with MRI. Support for OPT in Sweden "This new combination with Stockholm3 can save healthcare resources and reduce societal costs while maintaining the health benefits from early detection of prostate cancer. This presents an interesting option for prostate cancer screening in Sweden," says Shuang Hao, Ph.D. student at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet and the first author of the study. Several regions in Sweden have started to plan and implement pilot projects for organized prostate cancer testing (OPT) through the regional cancer centers. The National OPT Working Group has recommended that the OPT pilots investigate the use of different strategies for prostate cancer screening. "Our evidence provides support for using Stockholm3 as an additional test in MRI-based screening, which could be evaluated through one of the OPT pilots," says Tobias Nordstrom, associate professor of urology at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital at Karolinska Institutet, who is the principal investigator for the STHLM3MRI trial and a co-author of the cost-effectiveness study. The current health economic evaluation is specific to Sweden, but the simulation model used in this study is open source and can be readily adapted to assess the use of Stockholm3 and MRI in other countries. The Stockholm3 test is available for clinical use in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Spain and Germany, and will be made available in additional European countries in 2022. Explore further New blood test improves prostate cancer screening More information: Shuang Hao et al, Cost Effectiveness of the Stockholm3 Test and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Prostate Cancer Screening: A Microsimulation Study, European Urology(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2021.12.021 Journal information: European Urology Shuang Hao et al, Cost Effectiveness of the Stockholm3 Test and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Prostate Cancer Screening: A Microsimulation Study,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2021.12.021 A health worker in personal protective equipment awaits patients for Covid 19 testing at a health center, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Indian health officials said that the first signs of COVID-19 infections plateauing in some parts of the vast country were being seen, but cautioned that cases were still surging in some states. Credit: AP Photo/Manish Swarup Indian health officials said there were signs of COVID-19 infections plateauing in some parts of the country but cautioned that cases were still surging in other states, linked to a new, stealthier version of the omicron variant. Most of the cases were concentrated in 10 states, where over 90% of patients had mild symptoms and were being treated at home, Lav Agarwal, a federal health official, said at a media briefing. The rate of infection in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in the north, Maharashtra on the western coast, and West Bengal, Odisha in the east has begun dipping, he said. However, cases are still rising in the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu along with Gujarat and Rajasthan in the northwest. "Early indication of a plateau in cases are being reported in certain geographies," Agarwal said Thursday. He said that the number of people who needed oxygen support or had to be hospitalized during the current surge was lower than in the one fueled by the delta variant last year, which capsized India's public health system. There are only a few states in India where the delta variant is still circulating. Genetic sequencing indicates that the initial spike in cases in December was powered by an early version of the omicron variant. But most new cases are now linked to a different version called BA.2a stealthier version of the omicron, which some scientists worry may also be more transmissible. An elderly receives Covid-19 vaccination at a makeshift center in a government school in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Indian health officials said that the first signs of COVID-19 infections plateauing in some parts of the vast country were being seen, but cautioned that cases were still surging in some states. Credit: AP Photo/Manish Swarup The dip in cases has prompted some local authorities to relax restrictions. In New Delhi, restaurants, bars, and movie theaters can now run at half capacity. Health experts cautioned that with restrictions loosening, infections were likely to increase. "This is a balance that we always have to play with," said Dr. Jacob John, who studies viruses at the Christian Medical College in southern Vellore city. Over half of India's population is fully vaccinated. And around 20% are waiting for a second shot. India started giving a booster shot to some vulnerable groups earlier in January, but health officials said that there has been no discussion about whether booster shots were necessary for the wider population. The country detected over 250,000 new infections on Friday, but Dr. Vineeta Bal, who studies immune systems at the Indian Institute of Science Education Research in Pune city, warned that these were definitely an undercount. A girl waits in an observation room after receiving Covid-19 vaccination at a makeshift center in a government schoolin New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Indian health officials said that the first signs of COVID-19 infections plateauing in some parts of the vast country were being seen, but cautioned that cases were still surging in some states. Credit: AP Photo/Manish Swarup A health worker administers Covid-19 vaccination to a boy, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Indian health officials said that the first signs of COVID-19 infections plateauing in some parts of the vast country were being seen, but cautioned that cases were still surging in some states. Credit: AP Photo/Manish Swarup A woman waits for her Covid 19 antigen test result as other waits to get tested at a health center, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Indian health officials said that the first signs of COVID-19 infections plateauing in some parts of the vast country were being seen, but cautioned that cases were still surging in some states. Credit: AP Photo/Manish Swarup A health worker in personal protective equipment takes a swab test for Covid 19 testing at a health center, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Indian health officials said that the first signs of COVID-19 infections plateauing in some parts of the vast country were being seen, but cautioned that cases were still surging in some states. Credit: AP Photo/Manish Swarup A health worker administers Covid-19 vaccination to a girl, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Indian health officials said that the first signs of COVID-19 infections plateauing in some parts of the vast country were being seen, but cautioned that cases were still surging in some states. Credit: AP Photo/Manish Swarup A health worker registers people for Covid-19 vaccination at makeshift center in a government school in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Indian health officials said that the first signs of COVID-19 infections plateauing in some parts of the vast country were being seen, but cautioned that cases were still surging in some states. Credit: AP Photo/Manish Swarup People wait in a queue to register for a Covid-19 vaccination at a makeshift center in a government school in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Indian health officials said that the first signs of COVID-19 infections plateauing in some parts of the vast country were being seen, but cautioned that cases were still surging in some states. Credit: AP Photo/Manish Swarup An elderly man leaves after getting Covid-19 vaccination at a makeshift center in a government school in New Delhi, India, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. Indian health officials said that the first signs of COVID-19 infections plateauing in some parts of the vast country were being seen, but cautioned that cases were still surging in some states. Credit: AP Photo/Manish Swarup She said that India's pandemic efforts were still being marred by chronic issues like under-reporting of infections and patchy data, but minimizing the number of people who needed to be hospitalized was key. "And fortunately, so far, even in the good, the bad and the ugly ... it hasn't gone out of hand," she said. Explore further India starts booster shots for vulnerable amid omicron surge 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Regular swims in cold water can help the body get used to the seas temperature. Credit: Peter Turner Photography/Shutterstock With the growth in outdoor swimming during the pandemic, and with more people trying it out this winter, the question of whether the body gets used to cold temperatures if you swim often is much debated. The short answer is "it can." But it's a bit more complicated than that. Your body can acclimatize to cold if you repeatedly swim outside, but whether or not this is a good thing depends on what happens to the body's adverse responses. What happens to your body? There are three potentially hazardous physiological responses associated with going into cold water. The first is the cold shock response (CSR), this is the uncontrollable gasping, breathing and increase in heart rate that occurs for about 90 seconds when you first go in. The second is cooling of the nerves and muscles close to the surface of the body, particularly in the arms and legs that, when cooled enough, incapacitate you and stop you exercising . The third is hypothermia as deep body temperature falls below 35C, this normally takes at least 30 minutes to happen in an adult in cold water. Each of these responses varies in the amount it "acclimatizes" with repeated exposure to cold water. But as few as six, three-minute immersions in cold water can reduce your cold shock response by 50%. This reduction in the response to a repeated constant stimulus is called "habituation." How to survive cold water? Both children and adults can become used to the CSR and this habituation can still be reduced seven months after being established. Habituation makes swimmers feel more comfortable getting in to cold water, so it becomes easier to take the plunge. If you immerse one side of the body repeatedly in cold water, the habituation you develop remains if the other side of the body is immersed in cold water. This tells us that this habituation is happening somewhere more central in the body than at the skin cold receptors. Even having cold showers can help people get used to cold water, but showers are not as effective because they don't cool the skin as much or as quickly. Interestingly, the ability to suppress the CSR and hold your breath on initial immersion can be improved without going into cold water. If the body doesn't get used to the chilly temperatures drowning and heart problems can happen on initial immersion. So, the habituation of the CSR is important if you want to swim in cold water. It is best to stay still for a couple of minutes when first going into cold water to reduce the risk of taking water into the lungs. Even people who swim regularly in cold water run the risk of becoming physically incapacitated if they overstay their welcome. This problem can start after just 10 minutes of swimming in very cold water and, because people who swim outside regularly feel more comfortable in cold water, the incapacitation can come as a bit of a surprise. The only useful defense against this response is increased insulation (body fat or wet suit). Shivering less People may shiver less with repeated dips in cold water. Swimmers can feel more comfortable in cold water as a result, but cool more quickly. One of the first studies to show this was undertaken by the physiologist Griff Pugh (the scientist who also helped Hilary and Tenzing get to the summit of Everest), and Otto Edholm. They studied the best open water swimmer of his time (1950s), Jason Zirganos, and demonstrated hypothermic adaptation when he was sitting still in cold water. When swimming, Zirganos stayed warm because of the heat he was producing by swimming, and the fact that he had a significant amount of body fat. Unfortunately, his acclimation had also reduced his ability to sense cold. This led to his death in 1954 whilst trying to swim the Irish sea; he died from hypothermia having never felt particularly cold. Finally, some believe that those who are acclimatized to cold develop more "brown fat," a special type of body fat that can produce heat. But the small amount of such fat is unlikely to make up for the reduction in heat production caused by the habituation of shivering. So, yes, your body can get used to cold if you swim in cold water regularly. A reduction in the cold shock response and associated risks is a good thing. Importantly, however, you can still become physically incapacitated in a short time in cold water. Finally, once you have become adapted, no matter how comfortable you may feel, this doesn't necessarily reflect how cold you are. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Protesters and supporters against a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers cheer as a parade of trucks and vehicles pass through Kakabeka Falls outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Credit: David Jackson/The Canadian Press via AP Crowds cheered, waved flags and hoisted signs in Ontario on Thursday as parts of a convoy of truckers headed for Ottawa to protest the Canadian government's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border drivers. Several thousand people are expected in Ottawa as early as Friday as part of group demanding an end to vaccine mandates and COVID-19 restrictions. Some of the group's leaders are calling for a peaceful event, but statements from some associated with the group have included threats of violence. The road in front of Parliament Hill is to be closed to general traffic. Buildings in the Parliamentary district are being closed and locked except for essential staff as of Friday and workers warned of threats of physical damage. In a packed mall parking lot north of Toronto, supporters threw cash and food up to truckers in their vehicles on Thursday, while others held up signs protesting the government as transport trucks gradually rolled out. Some people harassed journalists covering the rally. Others cheered trucks on from overpasses. The convoy of truckers set to descend on Canada's capital has prompted police to prepare for the possibility of violence and politicians to warn against escalating rhetoric linked to the demonstration. A top Parliament official warned lawmakers to avoid the protest and to lock their doors amid reports their private homes may be targeted. Protesters and supporters against a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers cheer as a parade of trucks and vehicles pass through Kakabeka Falls outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Credit: David Jackson/The Canadian Press via AP The truckers are, in part, protesting a new rule that took effect Jan. 15 requiring truckers entering Canada be fully immunized against the coronavirus. The United States has imposed the same requirement on truckers entering that country Jan, 22. "Canadian truckers rule," Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted in support of the convoy. Some with extreme, far-right views have latched onto the protest against the mandate. One online video includes a man expressing hope the rally will turn into the Canadian equivalent of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Canadian Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said nobody should "trivialize the organizers' distorted claims that this is a protest about freedom." "It's about a fringe group, many of whom are not truckers, who are spreading lies, about vaccines, about health workers, and frankly, about the media," Mendicino said. "And the vast majority of Canadians reject those extremist views. And they understand that if we really want to safeguard our freedoms and vaccines and vaccine mandates are the best way to get ourselves out of the pandemic. Protesters and supporters against a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers cheer as a parade of trucks and vehicles pass through Kakabeka Falls outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Credit: David Jackson/The Canadian Press via AP Protesters and supporters against a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers cheer as a parade of trucks and vehicles pass through Kakabeka Falls outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Credit: David Jackson/The Canadian Press via AP Protesters and supporters against a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers cheer as a parade of trucks and vehicles pass through Kakabeka Falls outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Credit: David Jackson/The Canadian Press via AP Protesters and supporters against a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers cheer as a parade of trucks and vehicles pass through Kakabeka Falls outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Credit: David Jackson/The Canadian Press via AP Opposition Conservative leader Erin O'Toole said he will meet with truckers but not the organizers of the convoy. The Canadian Trucking Alliance has estimated that about 15% of truckers in Canadaas many as 16,000are not fully vaccinated Mike Fabinski, a truck driver from Barrie, Ontario, said the mandate means he won't be able to work cross-border routes any more. "You want to be vaccinated, go ahead, your choice. I don't want to be vaccinated, that's my choice," he said. Fabinski said he has been driving trucks for 20 years but has not been able to travel to the U.S. since the mandate became effective Jan 15. "I was going non-stop until they started last Saturday," he said. "Now I cannot go. I cannot work no more." The federal government ended truckers' exemption to the vaccine mandate two weeks ago, meaning Canadian truck drivers need to be fully vaccinated if they want to avoid a two-week quarantine when they cross into Canada from the U.S. Explore further Quebec to lift COVID-19 curfew on Monday 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Vegas curfew sign. Credit: SnugglePilot/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 Over Christmas, the Canadian province of Quebec imposed a curfew on its citizens. This curfew, like lockdowns, mask mandates and other restrictions, was aimed at stemming the latest omicron-fuelled pandemic tide. Starting on New Year's Eve, the curfew required citizens to be at home between 10pm and 5am. Though curfews have not been a hot topic in the UK, they have been deployed relatively frequently as a response to the pandemic around the globe. In 2021, several European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and France, imposed curfews of varying lengths. And in Canada, Quebec imposed its first curfew on January 9only ending it in late May 2021. More recently, in response to the omicron variant, India also introduced curfews, of varying lengths, in 30 states. Despite the relative ubiquity of curfews, and despite the relative acceptance of the curfew in Quebec last year, this time the policy was met with criticism, derision and defiance. Quebec political analyst Patrick Dery tweeted over the first weekend of 2022: "I have never felt so infantilized by the government." Though curfews have gained notoriety over the pandemic, they are not new. In the medieval period, curfews came in the form of an evening bell, rung to signify that the cooking and heating fires of the day should be covered for the night. From the French couvre feu, literally to "cover the fire," these regulations were aimed at preventing unattended flames growing out of control. Many people associate curfews with blackouts and bomb shelters that attempted to protect citizens from nocturnal air raids during the second world war. Here the rationale has often been an appeal to public safetyto keep civilians off the streets. But curfews were also strongly associated with conserving resources. During the first world war, curfew orders were instituted on British shops and other venues to save fuel for the war effort. Likewise, during the second world war, obligatory "dim outs" on Broadway cut short New Yorkers' nightlife to conserve "fuel and manpower for the boys overseas." If curfews in times of war don't ring a bell, then most will have heard of curfews placed on children and young adults. Curfews imposed by governments on young people tend to rhetorically navigate the line between the protection of impressionable youthfrom the "trouble," as Harold Hill famously sang in The Music Man, associated with a lurid 1920s landscape of pool halls and horse racing when curfews were all the rageand the protection of a city from those same young people. By the middle of the 20th century, many cities worldwide had permanent youth curfews. California law still states that new, teenage drivers cannot be out driving by themselves after 11pm. And Detroit's curfew on the under-18s was instituted to reduce violence and vandalism. It is probably this context that Dery was thinking of when he called the current Quebec curfew "infantalizing." Conman Harold Hill (Robert Preston) sings Trouble in the 1962 film, The Music Man. Racism and prejudice Infantalising though curfews may be, this is hardly their most significant feature, historically. Curfews are also associated with a long history of racism and prejudice. And it is with this legacy, and not some vision of the nanny state, that contemporary curfews most need to contend. In the 1700s, many cities in Europe and the US imposed curfews that targeted populations of enslaved people and low-income laborers. This troubled legacy of social control continued into the 19th century. In the wake of the American Civil War, for example, many communities in the southern states imposed curfews on newly freed slaves in an effort to perpetuate the conditions of slavery after its abolition. These were brutally enforced, beginning the legacy of racially fuelled police beatings that continue. They also radically restricted the economic opportunities for black workers. These practices did not abate in the 20th century. In the 1920s, the British military authorities in Belfast instituted the Curfew Law, under which all citizens were required to remain indoors from 10:30pm to 5:00am. It is also worth noting that while New Yorkers were complaining about the inconvenient curtailing of their nightlife during the second world war, across the continent, in the west and southwest, the US army was enacting stringent curfews that specifically targeted Japanese Americans as part of a set of policies that also included internment camps. It is this sort of legacy that taints current justifications for curfews, especially, but not only, those imposed in the wake of civil unrest and violence. Perhaps most notable have been the curfews imposed after George Floyd's murder, or those that followed the 1992 brutal beating of Rodney King by LA police. But it is certainly not only in the US that curfews have been used to quell protest. In 1970, the British Army imposed a 36-hour curfew on the Falls neighborhood of Belfast, which rather than calming tensions, bolstered anti-British feeling in the city. Punishing the vulnerable Indeed, it is against this backdrop, and not the more benign legacy of errant teenagers or war-inflected patriotism, that we need to read curfews now because the people they most disadvantage are still marginalized populations. From sex workers to rough sleepers, from migrant workers to those experiencing domestic violence, curfews' punishment of already vulnerable people is no historical artifact. But that's not all. There is evidence to suggest that curfews have little effect on disease dynamics, especially when other measures, such as restricting large gatherings or business closures, are already in place. As a result, the imposition of curfews has rightly sounded alarm bells. Not only do curfews elicit what social scientists call "reactance"a feeling of anger that drives non-adherencebut they also may motivate people to shift activities from night to day. Exactly that happened in cities like Detroit, where the initially promising statistic, that curfews on youths reduced the amount of crime at night by 7%, was met with the more sobering one: that over this same period, day crimes increased by 13%. Disease, like crime and police brutality, does not observe distinctions between day and night. With the assurance that people will find other times of the day to conduct the activities that supposedly make the night so dangerous, curfews seem a doubtful solution. Predicated on flimsy logic, supported by limited evidence, capable of doing more harm than good, and with the capacity to perpetuate long-standing stigmatization of certain people, curfews perhaps should be relegated to the history books where they belong. Explore further Uber, Lyft and DoorDash pause services in cities with curfews due to protests This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Scanning electron microscope image of SARS-CoV-2 (round gold particles) emerging from the surface of a cell cultured in the lab. Image captured and colorized at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana. Credit: NIAID A clinical trial has found that the combination of remdesivir plus a highly concentrated solution of antibodies that neutralize SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is not more effective than remdesivir alone for treating adults hospitalized with the disease. The trial also found that the safety of this experimental treatment may vary depending on whether a person naturally generates SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies before receiving it. The results of the multinational Phase 3 trial were published today in the journal The Lancet. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, sponsored and funded the trial, called Inpatient Treatment with Anti-Coronavirus Immunoglobulin, or ITAC. The trial was conducted by the NIAID-funded International Network for Strategic Initiatives in Global HIV Trials (INSIGHT). Mark Polizzotto, M.D., Ph.D., head of the Clinical Hub for Interventional Research at the College of Health & Medicine of The Australian National University in Canberra, led the trial. The antibody solution tested in the ITAC trial was anti-coronavirus hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulin, or hIVIG. The antibodies in anti-coronavirus hIVIG came from the liquid portion of blood, or plasma, donated by healthy people who had recovered from COVID-19. These antibodies were highly purified and concentrated so that the anti-coronavirus hIVIG consistently contained several times more SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies than typically found in the plasma of people who have recovered from COVID-19. "In our quest to find safe and effective treatments for COVID-19, we had hoped that adding anti-coronavirus hIVIG to a remdesivir regimen would give the immune system a boost to help suppress the virus early in the course of hospitalization," said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "Unfortunately, the ITAC trial demonstrated that this strategy did not improve the health of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 and may be harmful for a certain subset of patients. Studies testing this strategy in non-hospitalized adults earlier in the course of infection are underway." Four companies collaborated to provide anti-coronavirus hIVIG for the trial: Emergent BioSolutions of Gaithersburg, Maryland; Grifols S.A. of Barcelona; CSL Behring of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; and Takeda of Tokyo. Remdesivir is a broad-spectrum antiviral currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and recommended for treating certain patients with COVID-19 based on data from several randomized clinical trials, including the NIAID-sponsored Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (ACTT-1). FDA granted the approval to Gilead Sciences, Inc. of Foster City, California. The ITAC study team enrolled nearly 600 hospitalized adults aged 18 years or older who had COVID-19 symptoms for up to 12 days and did not have life-threatening organ dysfunction or organ failure. Enrollment took place at 63 sites in 11 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America between October 2020 and February 2021. Study participants were assigned at random to receive infusions of either anti-coronavirus hIVIG and remdesivir or a placebo and remdesivir. Neither the participants nor the study team, except for pharmacists who prepared the infusions, knew who received which treatment regimen until the end of the trial. All participants also received supportive care reflecting local practice and national guidelines. The main goal of the trial was to compare the health status of participants seven days after beginning treatment with hIVIG plus remdesivir with that of participants seven days after beginning treatment with remdesivir alone. The primary endpoint was an ordinal outcome with seven mutually exclusive categories ranging from no limiting symptoms due to COVID-19, to death. Safety was assessed at day seven with a composite outcome that included death, serious adverse events including organ failure and serious infections, and severe events that made performing basic functions impossible. The ITAC investigators found that participants who received hIVIG plus remdesivir did not have better health status seven days after beginning treatment compared with participants who received remdesivir alone. Similarly, participants who received hIVIG plus remdesivir had no improvement in other clinical outcomes during the 28-day follow-up period compared to those who received remdesivir alone. The investigators also found no overall difference in safety at day seven for people who received hIVIG plus remdesivir compared to those who received remdesivir alone. However, the researchers additionally undertook a pre-specified subgroup analysis of safety among participants who had developed SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies before receiving hIVIG. In this group, the odds of a worse safety outcome at day seven were 1.6 times as high for people who received hIVIG as for those who did not. Further research is needed to understand why. The difference was no longer apparent at day 28. The ITAC trial was associated with the Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) public-private partnership. Further information about the trial is available in this NIAID press release and at ClinicalTrials.gov under study identifier NCT04546581. Reference: MN Polizzotto et al. Hyperimmune immunoglobulin for hospitalised patients with COVID-19 (ITAC): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3, randomised trial. The Lancet DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00101-5 (2022). Explore further Interferon does not improve outcomes for hospitalized adults with COVID-19 More information: Hyperimmune immunoglobulin for hospitalised patients with COVID-19 (ITAC): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3, randomised trial, The Lancet (2022). Journal information: The Lancet Hyperimmune immunoglobulin for hospitalised patients with COVID-19 (ITAC): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3, randomised trial,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00101-5 Morocco said on Thursday that it would end a ban on flights to the kingdom, in place since November 29 in an effort to limit the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus. A government statement published by the country's official MAP news agency said that the ban would end on February 7. The decision followed "the evolution of the epidemiological situation in the kingdom", the statement said, adding that entry requirements for visitors would be announced at a later date. Rabat imposed restrictions to run initially from late November until December 31, although a mechanism had been in place for Moroccan citizens stranded abroad to travel home. But in December Rabat stopped that mechanism, meaning the de facto closure of the country's borders. The only passenger movements permitted under the current rules have been one-off repatriation flights for foreign citizens in the kingdom, authorised on a case-by-case basis by Rabat. The restrictions have dealt a punishing blow to the North African country's vital tourism sector, already on its knees after two lost seasons because of the pandemic. Explore further Saudi Arabia, UAE report first Omicron cases in Gulf 2022 AFP This has many people wondering whether omicron could act as a vaccine of sorts, inoculating enough people to effectively bring about herd immunitythe threshold at which enough of the population is immune to the virus to stop its spreadand end the COVID-19 pandemic. As immunology researchers at the University of South Carolina who are working on inflammatory and infectious diseases, including COVID-19, we find the characteristics of omicron in the pandemic setting particularly intriguing. And it is these characteristics that can help answer that question. Some 4.73 billion people across the globeabout 61.6% of the world's populationhave received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. In the United States, 63.4% of the population is fully vaccinated with two doses as of late January 2022, while only 39.9% of Americans have received the booster dose. Such low levels of vaccination resulting from vaccine hesitancy and the complexities of the global vaccine supply chain cast doubt on reaching herd immunity through vaccination anytime soon. How does omicron mimic a vaccine? All vaccines work on the principle of training the immune system to fight against an infectious agent. Each vaccine, regardless of how it is made, exposes the human or animal host to the critical molecules used by the infectious agentin this case, the SARS-CoV-2 virusto gain entry into the host's cells. Some vaccines expose the host only to select portions of the virus. For example, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines use a molecule called messenger RNA, or mRNA, to encode and produce a fragment of the "spike protein"the knobby protrusion that is expressed on the outside of SARS-CoV-2 virusesinside a person's body. These spike proteins are the key way that the coronavirus invades cells, so the mRNA vaccines are designed to mimic that protein and trigger an immune response against it. In contrast, some vaccines against other infections, such as chickenpox and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), expose the host to a "live attenuated" form of the virus. These vaccines use small amounts of a weakened form of the live virus. They mimic a natural infection, trigger a strong immune response and afford lasting resistance to infection. In some respects, omicron mimics these live attenuated vaccines because it causes milder infection and trains the body to trigger a strong immune response against the delta variant, as shown in a recent study that is not yet peer-reviewed from South Africa. Deliberate infection with omicron is not the answer While omicron may share certain characteristics with a vaccine, it should not be considered a viable alternative to the existing vaccines. For one, COVID-19 infection can result in severe illness, hospitalization or death, especially in vulnerable individuals with underlying conditions. It can also cause long-term health effects in some people, called long COVID. In contrast, vaccines currently available against COVID-19 have been tested for safety and efficacy. The high transmission of omicron combined with ongoing vaccination efforts could help attain herd immunity soon and end the most acute phase of the pandemic. However, there is little chance of it eradicating COVID-19, since all signs point to the likelihood that the virus will become endemicmeaning SARS-CoV-2 will be in circulation but will likely not be as disruptive to society. Thus far, smallpox is the only infectious disease that has been eradicated globally, which shows how difficult it is to fully eliminate a disease. However, it is easier to control an infection effectively. One example is polio, which has been reduced or eliminated in most countries through vaccination. What happens when the body meets a virus or vaccine Both viral infections or the mimicking of a virus through vaccination activate a critical component of the immune system, called B cells, in the body. These cells produce antibodies that bind to the virus, preventing it from infecting cells. These antibodies act much like anti-ballistic missiles that shoot down an incoming virus missile. However, once a virus manages to get inside the body's cells, antibodies are less effective. That's where another key player in the immune system, called killer T cells, come in. These cells can recognize and destroy a cell as soon as it is infected, thereby preventing the virus from multiplying and spreading further. Think of this as an anti-ballistic missile that detects and destroys the factory where missiles are manufactured. Immunologists believe that antibodies against COVID-19 prevent an individual from catching the infection, while the killer T cells are crucial in preventing severe disease. Despite its numerous mutations, omicron can trigger a strong killer T cell response. This may explain why the COVID-19 vaccinesby triggering the T cellshave provided strong enough immunity against omicron to, in most cases, prevent hospitalization and death. But, critically, the first wave of antibodies and killer T cells produced during infection or vaccination last for only a few months. This is why recurrent infections of COVID-19 have occurred even in the vaccinated population, and it's also why booster shots are needed. In contrast, some vaccineslike the one against smallpoxhave been shown to trigger immunity that lasts for several years. Memory immune response So what exactly triggers strong and lasting immunity? The lifelong immunity seen in certain infections such as smallpox can be explained by a phenomenon called "immunological memory." After the B cells and killer T cells first encounter the virus, some of them get converted into what are called memory cells, which are known to live for several decades. As their name suggests, when memory cells "see" a virus again after initial exposure, they recognize it, divide rapidly and mount a robust antibody and killer T cell response, thereby preventing reinfection. For this reason, memory cells are critical for establishing strong, long-lasting immunity. This is evidenced from studies with smallpox in which people that were infected or vaccinated were found to have the antibody response even after 88 years! Why some infections or vaccines trigger long-lasting memory and others do not is under active investigation. Because COVID-19 is only two years old, we researchers don't know yet how long the memory B and T cells last. Based on recurrent infections, it looks like longer-term immunity does not last very long, but that could also in part be due to the evolution of new variants. All of these considerations leave room for hope that when new variants of SARS-CoV-2 inevitably arise, omicron will have left the population better equipped to fight them. So the COVID-19 vaccines combined with the omicron variant could feasibly move the world to a new stage in the pandemicone where the virus doesn't dominate our lives and where hospitalization and death are far less common. Explore further PHOTO GALLERY: Supermoon puts on a show around the world This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Clinic receptionists often bear the brunt of patients anger. Credit: Shutterstock Even before the pandemic, managing patient expectations and dealing with disruptive behavior in medical clinics was already the top stressor for physicians. It was identified as the biggest contributor to burnout in a recent survey by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA). Examples of stressful clinic encounters include things like patients who demand drug prescriptions that aren't medically needed, and those with unrealistic expectations about appointment availability, treatment results or wait times. During COVID-19, some patients became angry or confrontational about measures like masks and vaccinations. A 2021 survey by advocacy group Doctors Manitoba found that 57 percent of physicians reported mistreatment from at least one patient in the previous month. Verbal abuse included racist and sexist attacks, as well as being compared to a Nazi and accused of profiting from the pandemic. Other aggressive incidents included being spit on, vandalism, social media attacks, physical assault and death threats. As the COVID-19 pandemic continued, physicians and other health-care workers faced new threats to their physical safety as protesters outside hospitals harassed staff over vaccine mandates. A national petition to put pressure on the federal government resulted in Bill C-3, enhanced legislation that increases penalties for harassment directed at health-care workers or restricting their ability to provide care. Top stressor, but last priority As a primary-care researcher, I focus on family physicians. My current exploration of interventions to reduce burnout in their workplace is providing some intriguing data. The Quadruple Aim approach to health systems has four pillars: optimizing patient experience, improving population health, reducing costs and supporting health-care providers. Previous research indicated that "care of the provider" was least likely of the four aims to be addressed. Similarly, the OMA survey found that addressing patient expectationsthe No. 1 stressorand providing solutions to deal with it falls way down on the list of priorities for those same physicians, behind addressing other stressors like administrative overload and work-life balance. This suggests the biggest contributor to physician burnout is unlikely to change even when the added stressors of the pandemic end. At a time when Canada is facing a health human resources crisis, burnout is one of the key issues driving health-care workers to leave the field. Meanwhile, abusive interactions and demands from patients with unrealistic expectations are increasing, contributing to that burnout and adding extra strain to a difficult role. Supporting doctors and clinic staff Changes to the Criminal Code are welcome, but penalties only come after violence occurs. With a nod to the value of prevention, changes that support making clinics respectful and safe workplaces would support physicians as well as health-care staff and support workers. Clinic receptionists also bear much of the brunt as displeased patients direct anger at them about inability to access immediate appointments or have insurance forms completed within a day or two. With minimal protocols or strategies in place to guide them, receptionists primarily rely on their experience to manage threatening situations. Family physicians have limited choice as to who they provide care to. Reprisal from regulatory colleges limits physicians who want to speak out about aggressive patients, leading to acceptance as a way of adjusting to the demands of the job. The pressure to remain "patient-centered" should not limit a physician's ability to outline clear expectations for patients, which should include civility at all times. Addressing incivility Making change requires speaking out about what needs to change, such as calling the abuse and mistreatment of physicians what it is. That is what Doctors Manitoba did following the disturbing results from its physician survey. Nudging patients to reconsider demands made of their family physician may require consistent messaging to be used and supported by all levels of government, so that there are no repercussions for physicians to speaking up. In addition to raising awareness about incivility in clinics, there is a need for in-office protocols to provide direction for physicians and staff when faced with incidents of aggression. Clearly laid out principles for the clinical work environment may provide added authority to address incidents of aggression when they arise, and may reduce burnout among physicians. Such protocols could also inform patients that, as a basic standard of behavior, aggression is not acceptable. Physicians are accustomed to dealing with patients at their most vulnerable, and manage emotionally charged patient encounters with compassion and understanding. They are trained to take each individual situation into account. However, workplace intimidation and violence must be considered occupational hazards for anyone working in a medical clinic. A physician-patient agreement, which can spell out the responsibilities and accountabilities for both parties may be useful to establish a common understanding of what should be a positive, and long-term relationship. Clinic behavior expectations which include zero tolerance for violence are not unreasonable. Federal party leaders have expressed support for health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including condemned the harassment of health-care workers and blocking patient access at hospital protests. This support should not dissipate when COVID-19 eventually ends, and the time comes to address growing problems in health care identified during the pandemic. The health-care system belongs to us all. As a major cause of physician burnout, this crisis of incivility and abuse threatens the people who patients need to trust when their health is at stake. It affects anyone who is a patient, has ever been a patient or is hoping to become a patient of a family physician. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Shutterstock Many parents across Australia will be COVID testing their kids at home using rapid antigen tests (RATs), as school returns across many states next week. The Victorian and New South Wales governments strongly recommend twice-weekly testing of school students and staff. This may be challenging for many parents, especially if their child has developmental or behavioral difficulties. So, how can you safely perform a RAT on your child at home and help them to engage in the process? Students could be asked to take rapid antigen tests at home twice a week as part of efforts to minimize omicron infections and keep schools open | @JordsBaker @adamlcarey https://t.co/MmqXJKmV85 The Sydney Morning Herald (@smh) January 17, 2022 Preparing for the test As with vaccination, the key to performing the test successfully is preparing the child well and explaining what will happen, to give them some control over the situation and to minimize anxiety. Sit down and talk with your child and explain: they will need to do a RAT in the morning twice a week (if in Victoria or NSW). It wont be forever, but will be needed for the first four weeks of school, at least they can go to school if the test is negative and that all their friends will be doing it as well. It doesn't need to be scary or painful. With the right technique, you'll be able to perform this test quickly and safely at home, or allow your child to do it themselves if they can. In general, give yourself about 20 minutes, and remember not to rush the process the first few times you do it with your child. It would help to show your child a video, like the one below, on how it's done as you familiarize yourself with the instructions. There's no need to downplay the experience by saying "it won't hurt." Acknowledge it may be a little uncomfortable. Explain you'll do it together and they can show you how they would like it done for them. You may like to practice with a small cotton bud prior to using the actual RAT kit, either with them or another adult. How to perform the test First, lay the kit out on a table with the swab packet ready to be opened, the liquid solution tube and caps, and the test device. For a nasal swab test, begin by blowing their nose and washing your hands. Then rest their head on a chair with a headrest, or on a pillow on the sofa where they can rest comfortably. In younger kids, you can have them sitting on your lap with their head resting on the fold of your elbow. The swabbing hand holds the swab like a pencil, with the rest of your hand or little finger on their cheek, upper lip or chin, as if you're about to draw a mustache on their face. This will help stabilize the swab in case the child suddenly moves or sneezes. They key is to aim the swab low (flat against the bottom of the nasal passage) in the nose and go in slow. Many people have a crooked nasal septum, which is the wall dividing the left and right of the nose, meaning there may be more room on one side of the nose than the other. There's also much more room lower down the nose, and going too high and too fast will cause discomfort. Think low and slow and aim down and back, rather than up high. This will reduce pain and allow more time for the swab stick to capture as much material as possible, thereby increasing the likelihood of a more accurate test. Insert the swab about 12 cm into the nose and rotate it for 15 seconds, or about 45 times. Repeat on the other side. Never push against a hard resistance which may cause pain. Then, dip the swab tip into the liquid solution, giving the tube a good squeeze and mix for about 15 seconds before closing the lid and then dropping the solution into the well on the test tray. Discard the swab stick carefully. Wash your hands and wait. Most test kits require 15 minutes, but please follow the instructions for your particular brand. Congratulate your child on doing a great job! We want this to be a positive experience for them as it'll be part of our routine for a while. After having this done a couple of times, some kids may prefer to do this themselves. Giving them autonomy and the knowledge that it's not painful or scary will be empowering. Believe it or not, they may even start to think of it as quite fun if it doesn't hurt. What about saliva tests? Saliva liquid tests are different altogether. They're not a throat swab. They may require a short period of fasting, depending on the kit, up to 30 minutes of no food or drink prior to the test. The child will have to learn to do a few deep coughs into a closed mouth and then either express their saliva into a container or to have a lollipop device which they suck on. The timing on reading the result is also dependent on the brand. RATs aren't the only way to minimize transmission No matter how well you do it, some children will find this harder than others. We understand that. But honest education and practice runs will help the vast majority of kids. The key is planning, discussion, watching videos and attempting to make it a bit fun to try and take away some of their anxieties. Demonstrating the test on an adult may also help. Of course, RAT testing isn't the only way to try and minimize COVID cases at school. There will be a range of other strategies that kids will be asked to do. This includes vaccination, wearing masks inside and potentially some outdoor learning. Changes are being made to improve ventilation in schools by installing air-purifiers, especially in high-risk areas in schools such as sick-bays and canteens, and trying to install shade sails for outside learning. There's a huge push to get as many kids as possible to receive one dose of vaccine before schools starts. Over 30% of primary kids in Victoria have had one dose, with the aim to reach over 80% by mid-February. There will also be pop-up clinics at some schools in the next few weeks. The dose interval for children at higher risk of COVID (including those with some underlying medical conditions) has been shortened from eight to three weeks in the context of ongoing community transmission to ensure vulnerable kids are prioritized. Booster doses for teachers are also critical. There's much to do to support teachers, families and children, especially medically vulnerable kids, to make schools as safe as they can be. It's important to prioritize face-to-face learning to maximize the education, well-being, and mental health of our kids. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Hepatitis C can now be effectively treated, thanks to modern drugs. However, despite having been cured, some patients can go on to develop liver cancer. Currently, biannual ultrasound screening is done to monitor for incipient cancer. A research team at MedUni Vienna has now developed a new tool that can determine patients' cancer risk in a single examination. Their study on this subject was recently published in the Journal of Hepatology. Hepatitis C is a viral infection that is widespread throughout the world. For some years now it has been treated with modern drugs, so that it can be cured in more than 95 percent of cases. Despite surviving the viral infection, some patients who have developed scar tissue in their livers are left with a risk of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). A six-monthly ultrasound scan is currently recommended as a screening measure for early detection, but this is inconvenient for patients and costly for the healthcare system. Algorithm determines risk Now, a research group from the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at MedUni Vienna's Department of Medicine III has developed a risk stratification tool that only requires a single, one-off examination. Based on various non-invasive tests, the team led by Mattias Mandorfer and Georg Semmler was able to identify an algorithm that can assess the individual risk of liver cancer based on blood values and liver stiffness. This examination is performed at the end of hepatitis C treatment and also takes account of additional risk factors such as age and alcohol consumption. This new tool serves to differentiate patients at very low risk from those at high risk. While the previous recommendation for ultrasound screening would not appear to be efficient in the case of patients at low risk of cancer, consistent monitoring is needed in the group of high-risk patients, say the researchers, pointing out the value of the study findings. The study has already confirmed the predictive value of the algorithm in a group of patients from several European countries and it could greatly simplify follow-up procedures after hepatitis C treatment in the future. "Our study has enabled us to build on our previous scientific work and take a further step towards personalized follow-up care in patients cured of hepatitis C," adds Mattias Mandorfer. Explore further Determining the risk of liver cancer after recovery from hepatitis C infection More information: Georg Semmler et al, HCC risk stratification after cure of hepatitis C in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease, Journal of Hepatology (2021). Georg Semmler et al, HCC risk stratification after cure of hepatitis C in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.11.025 Credit: CC0 Public Domain It only takes a quick Google search to find an up-to-the-minute list of school shootings in the United States. According to Education Week's 2021 School Shooting Tracker, there were 34 last year. On Nov. 30, many people watched in grief and horror as news broke about school shooting No. 28, in which a 15-year-old Michigan high school student opened fire on his classmates, killing four and injuring six others and a teacher. One week later on Dec. 7, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy issued an advisorya rare message to the nation "reserved for significant public health challenges that need the nation's immediate awareness and action"on the emerging youth mental health crisis. Murthy urged institutions, community centers, schools, parents, family friends and others to rapidly come together to provide resources and support for our nation's youth. School shootings and violence on campus are not new, but they are becoming more commonplace. Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, young people are in the midst of a mental health crisis that has been exacerbated by the pandemic itself. Stephanie Marcy, PhD, ABPP, a licensed psychologist and Medical Director of Integrated Behavioral Health in General Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, says she has noticed a steep rise in anxiety and negative behaviorsbut has advice for how adults can help the young people in their lives. In her clinical work, Dr. Marcy sees firsthand the negative mental health impacts of the pandemic. While the vast majority of young people facing mental health issues do not carry out acts of violence, she has seen a "staggering" increase in the number of children, adolescents and parents presenting with moderate to severe anxiety, depression, and grief for all that was lost during the pandemic. "The relationship between control and anxiety has been studied for decades," says Dr. Marcy, "with the general finding that the less one feels they have control over a particular outcome, the more anxiety they will experience. When the country shut down literally overnight, we lost our sense of control, which made most of us scared and anxious. People could not control the fact that their place of work shut down and they lost their income, that they could not see a family member or loved one even if they were ill or dying, or that their children could not go to school and were forced to stay home. Most people experienced some type of loss, and many people lost a great deal." According to Dr. Marcy, anxious parents are more likely to engage in behaviors that, in turn, make their children more anxious, so it is not surprising that the rate of anxiety in children has gone up significantly during the pandemic. In fact, a recent finding published in JAMA Pediatrics looked at over 80,000 youth globally and found that the prevalence of anxiety symptoms in children has doubled as compared to pre-pandemic estimates, to an alarming rate of 20.5%. In the summer of 2021, with vaccines widely available and talk of offices and schools reopening in the fall, it started to feel like life was getting back to [a new] normal. Mask mandates and indoor dining restrictions were lifted, and many people hoped that the details of life they used to take for granted were coming back under their control. So why didn't the anxiety lift too? "When I started to see more anxiety in our youth when school re-opened, I realized, 'Okay, this is normal. Of course, they're anxious," says Dr. Marcy. "They've been away from this for 18 months. They just need to adjust." Contrary to her prediction, though, Dr. Marcy is seeing the anxiety that set in during the lockdown causing secondary behaviors and symptoms that are even more concerning: aggression, violence and bullying. The Washington Post reported that the number of gun-related incidents in schools during the first three months of the 2021-22 school year are more than triple the amount during the same time period in 2019. It's important to remember that anxiety can affect how well children can pay attention, understand and retain information. With many kids already behind due to gaps in learning during home-schooling, further regression exacerbates the anxiety which can lead to school avoidance. Teachers are also observing increased rates of students withdrawing from friends, abusing drugs and alcohol, battling depression and even experiencing suicidal ideation. In his recent advisory, the Surgeon General offered hope: "Mental health challenges in children, adolescents and young adults are real, and they are widespread. But most importantly, they are treatable, and often preventable." As we continue to navigate this ongoing pandemic, Dr. Marcy says it is crucial that adults model appropriate and positive behaviors that are likely to contribute to children's resilience and success. "First, having at least one stable, responsive and nurturing adult in a child's life is a huge protective factor," she says. "It doesn't have to be a parent, just someone who can convey to the child that they are important, valuable and cared for." Dr. Marcy also stresses the importance of teaching and modeling core life skills like mindfulness, conflict resolution, problem-solving, coping and stress management. "Help your child get good sleep, physical activity and proper nutrition. Try to spend time outside in nature." Finally, parents need to model self-care by giving themselves the time and space to achieve a sense of calm, peacefulness and self-regulation. Even a few minutes of reprieve from their stress can go a long way. "This practice is about letting your child 'borrow your calm' rather than share your chaos," she explains. "But first you have to create your own calm for them to borrow." Explore further US surgeon general report warns of mental health crisis hitting youth More information: Nicole Racine et al, Global Prevalence of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Children and Adolescents During COVID-19, JAMA Pediatrics (2021). Journal information: JAMA Pediatrics Nicole Racine et al, Global Prevalence of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Children and Adolescents During COVID-19,(2021). DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.2482 J Calvin Coffey, Foundation Chair of Surgery at UL's School of Medicine in Ireland, whose major discovery led to the reclassification of the mesentery as a new organ in 2016, has published new research on the makeup and structure of the abdomen. Credit: Alan Place A pioneering University of Limerick professor of surgery whose groundbreaking research led to the reclassification of an organ has published new evidence detailing the fundamental order of the abdomen. J Calvin Coffey, Foundation Chair of Surgery at UL's School of Medicine in Ireland, whose major discovery led to the reclassification of the mesentery as a new organ in 2016, has published new research on the makeup and structure of the abdomen. In a research paper published in the Nature Portfolio journal Communications Biology, Professor Coffey's team has detailed the development and structure of the mesentery. In doing this, they uncovered a new order by which all contents of the abdomen are organised or arrangedor the "fundamental order of the abdomen". The importance of these findings on the mesentery and the impact these have on our understanding of the abdomen have been further explained in a review article just published in The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology. "Since 2016, Kevin Byrnes, Dara Walsh and members of the team been looking at the development and structure of the mesentery," explained Professor Coffey, who is also Head of Department of Surgery, Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon at UL Hospitals Group. "We showed how the mesentery is a single and continuous organ in and on which all abdominal digestive organs develop and then remain connected to throughout life. "These findings revealed a simplicity in the abdomen that was not apparent in conventional descriptions of anatomy," he explained. In an international collaboration, Professor Coffey's team used a variety of state of the art techniques to clarify how the mesentery develops and the shape it has in adults. The conclusion of the work revealed that the organisation of the abdomen has a remarkably simple design. This design is summarised in a description called the 'Mesenteric Model of Abdominal Anatomy'. "The abdomen is not the dauntingly complex collection of separate organs it was previously thought to be," said Professor Coffey. "Instead, all digestive organs are neatly packaged and arranged by the mesentery into a single digestive engine. That simplicity lay hidden until clarification of the nature of the mesentery." The model itself was described by the team in the most recent edition of Gray's Anatomy. The supportive evidence was published in Communications Biology and the clinical importance was explained in the review in The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology. "The most important finding here was the discovery of the fundamental order of the abdomen. At the foundation level, all contents of the abdomen are simply organised into one of two compartments," explained Professor Coffey. "The fundamental order of any structure is of considerable importance, in particular when it comes to diagnosing patients with illness and treating their disease. The fundamental order is the foundation from which all science launches and clinical practice is based. "The organisational simplicity of the abdomen now immediately explains the behaviours of viral and bacterial infections, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, diabetes and many others," he added. Better understanding of the mesentery and its functions has already led to improvements in surgery and the new research builds on those advances. There are also exciting areas for future investigation, Professor Coffey outlined. "Patients are already benefiting from what we now call mesenteric-based approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of most abdominal conditions. The Mesenteric Model of Abdominal Anatomyor the description of the order of the abdomenis being incorporated into numerous reference curricula at this moment," he said. "Regarding the future, it is being argued that we are seeing a paradigmatic shift from old to new order. Already, intriguing questions are emerging that we can call 'legitimate or admissible' in the strictest scientific sense. Science can approach numerous questions in a new light. Clinicians can design diagnostic and treatment approaches based on a new foundation," Professor Coffey concluded. Explore further Surgeon identifies mesentery as unrecognized human digestive organ More information: Kevin G. Byrnes et al, The development and structure of the mesentery, Communications Biology (2021). Kevin G. Byrnes et al, The development and structure of the mesentery,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02496-1 Calvin Coffey et al, Update on the mesentery: structure, function, and role in disease, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology (2021). DOI: 10.1016/S2468-1253(21)00179-5 Journal information: Communications Biology Beth Lo, of Missoula, and Steven Young Lee of Helena, represent two different generations of ceramic artists. Their new show at the Radius Gallery, Intersections, pairs them side by side and in cups they worked on together. Theyve long had an affinity for each others art, Lo said, as Asian Americans who have an offbeat take" on Asian ceramics and aesthetics. Seen together, gallery co-owner Lisa Simon said it gives viewers a greater appreciation for how deeply their bi-cultural identities influence every aspect of their making. Los work addresses food, raising children and how children absorb cultural values through etiquette, language, food, and Lees are steeped in historical references, including an incised-drawing technique that is Korean ceramics largest innovation. Cross-state collaboration Lo came to the University of Montana in the 1970s, the daughter of Chinese immigrants who raised her in the Midwest, and studied under Rudy Autio. Lee grew up in Chicago, the son of Korean immigrant parents. He came to Montana for a residency at the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena; which happened to have started its rich history of resident artists with Autio and Peter Voulkos. He started as the Brays resident art director in 2006. Lee said he's always been a fan of her work, even before I came to Montana." She was on the board of directors at the time and they got to know each other. The friendship started to layer over into the work in an organic way, through collaborations on vessels and cups, years ago. At the Radius show, they take the form of a set of cups. Lee would make one in his signature style of decorative lines and engraved designs, and have someone drop it off in Missoula, where Lo would paint it with figures children swimming, out in the mountains, eating and drinking. She loves his craftsmanship and sense of design, which provide her a great canvas to paint on, she said. Meanwhile, he gets to guess how shell fill in the surface. Every time its a bit of a surprise for me, he said, Shes so smart and creative, and always comes up with these really great kind of riffs on the setting hes created. Collectors seem to have the same kind of anticipation. Simon said both are internationally known and in high demand. The gallery began getting inquiries last summer when they announced the show. By the end of opening weekend both artists had sold over 75% of their works, she said. Beth Lo Los solo pieces in the show come from the past several years and cover a range of her recurring motifs and themes. One series, 99 Years, pays tribute to Los mother, Kiahsuang Lo, who painted in a traditional calligraphic style. The two collaborated on pieces, with Kiahsuang decorating the surfaces of Los ceramics. Kiahsuang, who lived with Lo here in Missoula, died in 2019 two months before she would have turned 100. In this series, shes crafting one sculpture for each year of her mothers life each is a takeout box like youd get from a Chinese restaurant. The box was invented in America, she said, and is a symbol of two cultures that are coming together, and growing up in America with an Asian background and Asian nourishment, so to speak. Theyre hollow, constructed out of slip-cast white porcelain poured into a mold. On the surfaces, she painted landscape scenes in honor of her mothers favored style. She even picked her mothers favorite paintings to copy the traditional way to learn is by replicating masters. The colors are limited to blue and red, a deliberate allusion to the flag and her own life being raised in the U.S. with Asian parents. In a different set of takeout box sculptures, shes made a Chinese-style pail container painted with a child eating a hamburger, and a fast-food burger-style to-go box decorated with a kid eating Chinese food. These all rest individually on wall pedestals for another series, she stacked them and then painted, which gave her lots of puzzles to work out as she tried to resolve 2D imagery on 3D surfaces that can be read from multiple vantage points. Several larger pieces in the center pedestals of the gallery fall under a theme of Give and Take. While artists often feel like theyre giving, theres also the opposite: Shes taking things from her mothers and sons lives for her art; she needs studio time to work. Lately, shes used her work for fundraising more, and made these that address the idea directly. The large jars have faces on both sides, with hands arranged to express either gesture. Shes also sharing bowls and platters with a Year of the Tiger theme for 2022; and cups of children swimming, theyre heads carefully rising above the lip of the object i.e. above water. Steven Young Lee Lee is showing work thats representative of his style that hes shown around the country, and newer ones in stoneware. His decorative motifs are precisely engraved with an X-ACTO knife, carefully spaced out, and not unlike working with ink on paper, have to be enacted in one shot. The designs come from his deep research into different periods, whether Asian or European, a process of grabbing and cutting and pasting patterns and seeing how they evolve. He might come across a banana leaf design popular in Southeast Asia that ends up in German ceramics after it was imported and mimicked. The pattern becomes the vehicle in which information is moving around, he said. To him, theres also a sense of connection with craftspeople from centuries ago who were thinking the same thing he is: How do you lay out a pattern? Another unplanned synchronicity between Lo and Lee is a particular three-color palette, Simon said. "They both do works in red, white, and blue to acknowledge their American identities, even when the forms are distinctly deriving from Chinese and Korean models. In Lees work, it takes the form of porcelain, the blue engraved lines and a copper oxide underglaze that hovers and fades in clouded forms. He said that historically, it was less common than blue because its volatile in the kiln sometimes its very red, other times not as much. He began working with blue and white decades ago. The particular glaze he uses makes it appear as though the blue coloring is being dragged up and pulled out. I love that atmospheric quality, where its not just a static line, he said. Instead, theres depth from the blue haze, the white crackling effects on the surface, and the red hazing effect. For a gallery show in New York in 2013, he created a wall installation with three panels of 100 cups each, in 10 by 10 rows, with one panel per color. He was making allusions to color field painting, the themes of the flag, and pixelation, as the cups bore patterns that had come from all across the world. As he transitions into a new role as the Bray's director emeritus and special projects manager, he's also been experimenting in stoneware, based in a Korean style called Buncheong. He likes the energy and personality that came through in the period. Particularly for him, theres more asymmetry in the forms and the designs than his main style. One has an imprint that functions like a handhold he picked it up while it was still wet. The drawings are different, with some fun and deliberately goofy elements one cup has a Godzilla-like dragon breathing fire across a cityscape, inspired by the way a kid might draw one. They have flatter sides, courtesy of a paddle. Another has a drawing ninja, an obsession from his youth that came back to him recently when he was wearing a hoodie with his mask. Its exactly how I dressed when I was like 8 years old, he said. Some flasks have fish, others a smiley face (or frowny face) depending on the side. The plates have a solid depth to the rim, the kind you want if you were eating out of your lap. They were partly inspired by a French potter named Jean-Nicolas Gerard, who came to the Bray. Lee got one of his plates and took it home. Everyone in the family used it regularly, and were always reaching for that particular one, he said. So he studied it, and why it worked the way it did, and reverse-engineered it. That anecdote points to an area thats quite important to him: All of these pots are made to function, and so theyre not just a means to carry imagery. The pots are very carefully crafted so that they will hopefully work in someones home or kitchen, he said. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Five western Montana nonprofit arts organizations will receive grants of $100,000 to $150,000 through the National Endowment of the Arts latest round. The money comes from the American Rescue Plan and may be used as funding to save jobs, and to fund operations and facilities, health and safety supplies, and marketing and promotional efforts to encourage attendance and participation," according to an NEA news release sent on Thursday. In Missoula, the Zootown Arts Community Center will get $150,000. Western Montana Creative Initiatives, which runs the Open AIR artist residency program, will get $100,000. In Pablo, A VOICE, a program that teaches photography to students at Two Eagle River School, will receive $100,000. In Helena, the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts was awarded $150,000, as was the Mountain Time Arts organization in Bozeman. Open AIR, the artist-in-residency program, places visiting artists at sites in western Montana, as diverse as University of Montanas Flathead Lake Biological Station and the Moon Randolph Homestead, to the Montana Natural History Center and Travelers' Rest State Park. The artists have access to the sites resources, and space and time to work, and also give talks for the public, culminating in an exhibition. The funding will go toward artist stipends, and to hire a program coordinator. Currently, executive director Stoney Samsoe is the only employee. This is transformational for us, Samsoe said. The ability to increase our bandwidth and continue to support the arts and cross-sector programming in a meaningful way, as to bring our work into visibility on a national level, is pretty exciting. A VOICE, which stands for Art Vision & Outreach in Community Education, brings photography classes to Two Eagle River School in Pablo and reaches students across the Flathead Reservation, giving them the skills to document their lives and community and express themselves through images. Past projects from the program, started and run by photographer David Spear and Jill Erickson, have included exhibitions of the students work, as well as trips to New York and New Mexico to shoot photos, visit museums, photo centers and in the latter case, the Institute of American Indian Arts. The grant is new territory for us, Spear said, and its largest to date. This year marks its 20th anniversary, and up until now all prior funding had to go directly back into programming. This grant allows them to look at investments in administration and internships to help broaden its outreach and growth. Last year, they launched a new website, avoice-outreach.org, that highlights student work and are looking at an expanded publication of a book with photos covering the programs history. The ZACC, which opened in its large new building downtown Missoula in late 2019, has a long list of programs they include community and youth galleries; classes for adults and children in visual art, writing, music and more; a recording studio; affordable studio spaces for rent; a printmaking shop; and a performance space called the Show Room. "We are super grateful," said Executive Director Kia Liszak. "It will help support staff and operations as we continue to weather the pandemic. When we created our budget this year, we realized we are still facing many unknowns and a long road to normal. We were forced to budget for a loss rather than lay anyone off or cut programs, so this money will be instrumental for just keeping us going." You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. FRIDAY, Jan. 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Two rheumatoid arthritis drugs show potential for lowering the risk of Parkinson's disease, new research shows. Some previous studies have found that people with rheumatoid arthritis have a lower risk of Parkinson's, and it was suggested that a class of rheumatoid arthritis drugs called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may play a role in that reduced risk. To learn more, researchers analyzed data from thousands of patients in Finland. The use of most DMARDs including methotrexate, sulfasalazine, gold preparations or immunosuppressants at least three years before Parkinson's disease diagnosis was not associated with the risk of the disease in those with rheumatoid arthritis, according to the study published online Jan. 21 in the journal Neurology. However, the researchers did find that rheumatoid arthritis patients who took the DMARDs chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine had a 26% lower risk of Parkinson's disease. Both of these drugs affect the immune system and have been shown to have anti-Parkinson's potential in animal studies, according to the researchers. But results of animal studies are often different from those in humans. The new study was led by Anne Paakinaho of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio. Her team called for further investigation of the drugs' possible protective effects against Parkinson's. The study funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research controlled for length of time with rheumatoid arthritis, age, sex and other health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes. The risk factors for Parkinson's disease are unclear, the study authors noted in a journal news release. Previous studies have linked rheumatoid arthritis with Parkinson's. But they have yielded conflicting findings, with rheumatoid arthritis being associated with either a lower or higher risk of Parkinson's. More information The Parkinson's Foundation has more on Parkinson's disease. SOURCE: University of Eastern Finland, news release, Jan. 24, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. THURSDAY, Jan. 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- In response to claims that a man was denied a heart transplant because he refused to get vaccinated against COVID-19, Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston said Wednesday that its transplant policies mirror those used across the United States. In a crowdfunding appeal for 31-year-old D.J. Ferguson, a father of two, his family said the hospital told him he was ineligible to receive a new heart because he was not vaccinated, the Associated Press reported. His mother, Tracey Ferguson, said her son is not against vaccinations but has concerns about COVID-19 vaccines because he has atrial fibrillation. "D.J. is an informed patient," she told the AP. "He wants to be assured by his doctors that his condition would not be worse or fatal with this COVID vaccine." Citing patient privacy laws, the hospital would not comment directly on the case. Instead, it noted that its website clearly states that the COVID-19 vaccine is one of several immunizations -- including a flu shot and hepatitis B vaccines -- required by most U.S. transplant programs, the AP reported. The hospital also said its policies line up with American Society of Transplantation recommendations, and that research shows transplant recipients already have a higher risk for death from COVID-19 than nontransplant patients. Other U.S. hospitals have faced criticism for denying transplants to patients who were not vaccinated against COVID-19. A Colorado woman suffering late-stage kidney disease said in October that she was denied a kidney transplant because she was unvaccinated. Leilani Lutali, a born-again Christian, said she opposed immunization because of the role that fetal cell lines play in some vaccines' development. But any surgery strains a patient's immune system and can leave them vulnerable to contracting COVID-19, and organ transplant recipients are even more vulnerable because they have to take powerful drugs that suppress their immune system to keep their body from rejecting the new organ, Nancy Foster, vice president for quality and patient safety policy at the American Hospital Association, said in a statement at the time of the Colorado case. Because there is a shortage of donor organs, transplant centers only place patients on the waiting list whom they deem the most likely to survive with a new organ, experts said. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.